The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-08-03
A Visit TO the Desaussu-e State Farm.

Have you ever been there?
If not visit Will repay you
for your trouble. It is in the
extreme northwest Of Sumter county
and contains twelve hundred acres
cleared land, half of which is river
bottom and hundreds of acres uncleared
nearly all of which isswamp land. saw
fine land there but few feetabove low
water mark under cultivation, prcduc-
ing from year to year the finest crops
Of grain.
Every one knows that these swamp
lands, having soil of unlimited
depth, have been reclaimed by means Of
huge dams, some of which run within
thirty yards Of the river. Some of the
best land now under cultivation only
year or so ago was covered with
water which by means of large canal
was carried away to the river. All
of these canals or bitches which pass
out through the dams are we'll trunk
ed, each trunk having a gate to let
water off. They never let in water
from the river during fresh or at
any time because it imperils the
dams. Mr.. ". R. Gardner, the super
intendent, told me how on one occa-
sion one of his best and strongest
dams was broken by freh water, rails
ed into waves by heavy winds and
beating against it. They never, if
they can prevent it, allow fresh wa
ter to come in; the lands are plenty
rich so as not to require it. Practi-
cally all the swamp land can be put in
condition for cultivation, and I sup
pose will be in the course of time.
''Why not now?" Because it is so ex-
pensive, is herculean task, and be-
cause at present they have ali the
land they need.
In company with W. S. Thompson,
one of our best farmers, your CORES
pondent went to the farm last Sat
urday, expecting to see something
fine in cotton. but not SURPRISING
what we had left behind, but as we
wended our way through the broad
acres all in the finest condition, per-
fectly clear of grass, Mr.. T. remark
ed, voicing my feelings exactly, 81
feel just as if had been doing moth
ing We were we'll received by Mr.
Gardner and his kind wife, who show
ed Us every attention We could desire,
Mr.. G. taking US on & drive through
the farm. I never saw better devel-
oped or better fruited cotton in my
life.
No doubt, Mr.. Editor, you noticed
in my writings about farming that l
was bit conceited. Yo do not now, it
is all gone; that trip to the State
Farm cured me.
Mr.. Gardner, who is forty-three, and
was reared in old Kershaw county,
small of statute, with dark hair and
eyes, is practical farmer, who can in
terest and instruct you. Under his
management the Desaussure farm is
a paying institu ton Bad as last year
was it paid to the State over and above
all expenses Sc, SEQ, which amount
would have been swelled considerably
had number of incidentals been con-
side-ed.
Dessussura is every whit the equal
of the upper farm in value, in appoint
ments, ETC., etc.
"Shall we keep Mr.. Gardner
there" By all means; he is the right
man in the right place. l must quit,
not before -emarking that [ saw toe
largest heaps of clean wheat and oats,
end onions enough to season the coCn-
Crops in and around the Peninsula.
Eagood, etc. are ahead CT anything I
have seen elsewhere lately with one
possible exception.
We have some excellent farmers;
besides those already mentioned in
your columns we would name Clar
ence and Charley Jackson, Young and
full Of energy, Charles Mitchell, y. S.
Thomson, ". ". Mellette and Wiloe-
James
I do not tlink cur community car
be surpassed fer upland corr, j. S:
jackson ard others having as good
as l ever saw, and this too In spite CT
the drought. Yes, we suffered from
the drought, but not SO badly as
some communities: everything seems
to have fully recovered now.
There is 10 sickness to speak Of
among US.
John Harris, man of color, 'i-ee
Issue" was bitten, as was supposed
by moccasin. For the benefit (?) OF
others I give his heroic treatment:
half pint spirits of turpertine, one
Joint tobacco aud ali the nicotine of
an old pipe taken iEwardly. The
theory is that when this meets the
poison of the snake they will ell come
mp together.
Mr. a. E. Jackson went OF the
other day to Florence and brought
back as his wife une Of its most
charming girls il the person OF Miss
Rosa Gilbert.
Mr.. Herbert Gilbert CT Florence is
spending some time with relatives in
our community.
Hagood.