Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-08-20
Thoughts Tor Farmers.


Between 1880 and 1910 the peo-
pie of the South became much inter-
ested in the culture of silk. Visitors
to Limestone Springs about 1S45
might have seen the ragged remnant
OF mulberry orchard, which good,
honest, visionary Reuben Perry
planted out. Where he secured his
plants we never learned. The trees
fiourishsd, or would have done 80 if
they uau received proper attention.
Cocoons were imported, but no silk
was ever produced. 1t was then
supposed to be work adapted to
women, and they could do that in
connection with their household
work. Again interest is revived in
silk culture. 1t would be well if men
and women of means and leisure
would undertake it. 1t can never
be made profitable in this State on
account of the price of our cheapest
labor.
Twenty-Five years ago celery was
unknown by the average house
keeper. 1t was used in small way
as flavoring for soups. 1t is now
getting to be a desirable table
luxury. The greater portion used
in this State is imported from the
Northwest in the fall and from
Florida in the spring. The Kalama-
ZOO celery is tolerably good<when
fresh. The Florida article is poor.
Celery may be raised in this State
and the quality is much better than
even the best that is shipped from
the West. 1t requires little care
and patience to start the plants.
When about three inches high trans
plant them to new bed, giving each
plant 4 to 6 inches square of space.
When well rooted and stocky trans
plant to the rows. These should be
3 to 4 feet wide and the plants 6 TO
8 inches apart. With. shovel or
plow throw up ridge and manure
and subsoil the trench between
ridges. Keep weeds and grass down.
The blanching process should begin
three or four weeks before you wish
to use it. The better and quicker
way is to pull the dirt in from the
ridges, taking care not to bruise the
plants.
The beef trust has the right of way.
Injunctions, legislation, political
harangues and condemnatory resolu-
tions are not going to break it. The
people can break it. This can be
done by raising cattle and hogs and
selling to the trust. They can also
live on much less meat than they use.
A fine milch COW is worth thou
sand pounds of beef year to a
family. The vegetable garden
should be made larger. The sor-
ghum syrup will take the place of
meat. The family that has barrel
or two of this syrup on hand is not
going to suffer much if meat is
scarce. Let more attention be given
to raising of fowls. If the people
would reduce their meat consump-
tion half the trust would fall to
pieces. We would emphasize the
statement that sorghum syrup is the
best and cheapest syrup for the up
per part of the State. In the lower
counties they can make the ribbon
cane syrup, which is better. But
sorghum is far superior to the
glucose compounds and white drips
on the market.
Some farmers are afraid Of strain
ing their land. After cutting wheat
they do not like to plant corn on the
same ground for late crop. But if
they will run off their land in five
foot rows and plant an early variety
of corn with four to six peas between
each Lii they will make fair corn
crop and the pea vines, if left on the
land, will be worth Fl We times as much
to the land as if it had been allowed
to grow up in grass and weeds.
We would eliminate crab grass
from the fields if possible. 1t makes
a -. fair hay if cut just as it begins
to head. But stubble land allowed
to grow up in this grass and then
moved is in poor shape for the next
crop. If it is not moved it is poor
soil renovator. If not turned under
in the fall it is always in the way
when spring blowing begins. BY
clean cultivation and sowing peas,
get rid of crab grass and you will
never regret it.-Spartanburg Spar
| tan.
Biggest Gun in the World.