The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-06-29

spring broke the dikes, and the bot
tom lands wore ilonded until about the
middle Of April. These dikes average
about seven feet in height and Is fee
} In thickness. 1t WAS with much labor
that the breaks were repaired.
When the soil was dry enough fol
plowing, the alluvial clay broke up into
clods which offered much resistance tt
to the growth of grain and cotton, but
poets are fine. The drought which has
affected Columbia did not extend tc
the State farm, for some of the bottom
lands there give evidence of heavy
rains recently: and tho crops are
drowned in many spots.
The new managers will as soon as
"the crops are laiG by" begin to
strengthen the dikes against the fresh
cts next spring, and hope to have no
exa5perating overflOws delaying the
planting and the growth Of the crops
next year. Despite all disadvantages,
for tho new managers did not take
charge until March 18th, and no plant
ing had then been done, they expect q
rich harvest this fall.
Along the banks of the river on the
dikes which intersect the farm along
the water courses will be found sprouts
Of apple trees, planted about 80 feet
apart. These sprouts are thrifty and
may in a few years be q source Of re7-
enue to the State.
Twice year the accumulation of
weeds and driftwood ia removed from
the dikes. At such times numD Der Of
rattlesnakes are killed. Across the
river from the farms is q stretch Of
| swamp and virgin forest. The swamps
abound in game-wild turkey, gray
fox, wild cat, and few deer. Up the
| river few miles are great game pre-.
visitors through the agency of Mr.
Allen Boykin, who entertains with
lavish hospitality, as do all Of the good
people Of this section OF plan tations
and game preserves.
While the crops on the State farm
are looking we'll indeed, for the COM
monwealth is able to afford the labor
necessary 10 make grain and cotton
thrive, still the adjoining uplands
show hardy growth Of cotton and
corn, more especially the former.
Such farmers as the Sanders, the Boy
kins and others, sons of long line of
planters, are by thcir industry and
pluck making their estates as prefit-
able, or nearly 80, as the great stretch
OF farm lands owned by the State of
South Carolina.
Mr.. Morris, manager of the Reed
farm, Is native and former successful
farmer Of Marlboro. Mr.. Gardner has
for many years made splendid crops in
kershaw, near the place OF his present
employment. Between the two farms
there Is generous rivalry from manager
to line hand" and from this good ef-
fects may be expected.
The DeSaussure farm works about GO
convicts and the Reed estates about so.
Apart from the homes Of the managers,
the stockades and the saw mill, there
are no buildings on tho farm except a
of miles and miles OF bottom land.
Lime and other disinfectants and puri-
flying agencies are used freely. The
stockades glisten with freshly applied
whitewash.
The mammoth tkreshng machine
was one Of the most interesting sights
on tho farm. The small grain crop has
been encouraging. This thresher Is
said to be the largest in the State, and
has machine which measures the
numbers OF bushels of grain produced.
This will or ought to, eliminate those
troublesome estimates. The farm also
has its own saw mill and gins. There
are herds Of swine and fl0cks of sheep,
and herds of cattle.
These magnificent plantations-a
composite photographers almost in-
spring in their extent, In their devel-
opment, in their fertility. Here are
broad acres Of .stubble land and the
sheaves OF grain leaning their heads
contdinlgy there the stalwart corn
stretches over the bottoms wearying
the eye to watch the erratic course Of
its roughly defined boundaries and
there the crop that perplexes the
smallest farmer, that worries the great
est manipulation Of stocks and ex-
changes-co.ton. Cotton, cotton, cot
ton Seven hundred acres OF cotton.
Green and tender, we'll fruited, and
tempting the boil worm and the scald,
as the lleccy staple tempts the robber
barons OF Wall street.
A visit to the State farms forces one
thought, prominent above all the rest.
Will the day ever come when the rich
bottom lands of South Carolina will be
saved from the floods OF the rivers as
the State farms have been reclaimed
by the dixie and dam from the Wateree?