The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1899-11-24
A MODEL
Farming a SI1
ed in an Int tbo -.
icaI Mann4r. hSGHMserllaiupaaA,E4.
attended a Union Farmer.

1 have often heard it said that farming
does not pay, and that it is battle to
the death to keep the wolf from the door.
l wish to cite an instance which will
show the falacy of this idea, by giving a
sholt sketch of model farm in the Cross
Keys OF Padgett's Creek section of Union
county. This model country home and
farm is owned by one OF Union county's
best and most progressive citizens, one
who manages his farming business in a
most thoroughly business-like manner,
one who has made business of farming
and consequently has made success of
his business, simply by applying business
methods and energetic push, This man
is Mr.. j. d. Graham, whose home is one
of the most hospitable to be found in
upper South Carolina, O section far famed
since the Colonial days, for the unbound
ed hospitality Of her citizens. 1t was
my great pleasure to visit this home
few days ago, and do not hesitate to say
that the home site is one of the most
beautiful that have ever seen, it is sit
uated upOn high eminence formed by
>nieNof the three ridges south Of the Tiger
river. The house fronts in an easterly
direction and from the piazza q land
scape spreads out, way beyond the riSer.
of waving lands to the distant hOrison
leyond, of fertile hills and pastures
green, the magn ticent grandeur Of which
1t is useless for me TO attempt to describe,
suffice it to say it Is simply superb and
is only excelled when one stands upon
some mountain top, and views the land
scape o'er. Though only had few
minutes to spare at this beautiful home,
could hardly take my eyes from the
scene. On the west side Of the house
are to be seen the two other ridges upon
the first, two miles away is to be seen
MIR. T. II. Cores residence, so plain that
people can be seen in the yard, while
straight away two miles further is the
third ridge, upon which stands the home
of Mr.. Joseph Betsill, which with the
broad valleys of farms and forest be-
tween forms a picture almost equal to
the former. One can hardly picture in
his imagination more beautiful site for
a home, such is the home OF Mr.. Jas. D.
Graham.
Mr.. Graham has several hundred acres
in his tract surrounding the homestead.
When he purchased this property it was
considered very inferior land and some
Of his friends feared he would not make
much of success in farming it. But
he went to work, terracing, fertilizing
and building up the land, with that in
domitable pluck, energy and push, that
knows not the meaning of the word fail
he has succeeded in making his one of
the bt st and most prolific farms of this
| fine farm land section; as an evidence of
this we found 10y an inspection of his
mammoth barn that it was filled almost
to overflowing with the harvest Of the
fields. There were some three or four
hundred bushels of corn, a room full Of
peas, a great loft full of fodder, pea.
vines and hay, eight or ten head Of sleek,
fat stock capering around the lot, to say
nothing Of cotton, oats, wheat, potatoes
and other small crops. The culinary
department of this model home is, of
course, managed by his inestimable
wife, assisted by his charming daughter,
and to say that they know how to pre-.
pare spread that will tempt the appe-
tlte and tickle the palate OF an epicure,
but feebly expresses it.
With their cows, milk aud butter
chickens and eggs. shoats and beeves t.
kill at any time, bees to furnish plenty
of honey, and other blessings of this life
surrounding them, can any one help pic
turing this as a happy home on farm
J Mr.. Graham has two sons, robust ant
, intelligent young men, still with hin
who render him valuable assiStantanc,
in the management of the plantation
There arc many other cases that nigh
be sighted even in this county going t.
show that farming can bs made a sue
cessful In inc s. j. r.. NJ.