Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1907-10-30
A TRIP THROUGH THE SOUTH.
Representative Of English Associa-
tion Praises Clemson and the State.
(Southern Cultivator.)


Southern States Of the United States,
the object in view being to furnish
such accurate information as hoped
to gather concerning the agricultu-
raj and manufacturing condition OF
this important section of the worlds
most productive region. These OBJ
servations are to be embodied into
an elaborate report for submission to
the Industrial and Economic Asso-
citation Of Manchester, England, un-
der whose auspices this itinerary has
been made.
l commenced my tour of observa-
tion at Lexington, KY, thence west
via Frankfort and Bowling Green to
Clarksville, Tenn, and thence to
Nashville; from Nashville via CO.
lumbia, Franklin and Pulaski to
jackson and Memphis. l had gone
through the best farming sections of
Tennessee and Texas before I COM
menced my tour through the South
ern or Gulf States. This 1 began at
New Orleans, passing through Louisi-
ana, and entered Mississippi at Vicks-
burg, thence to Jackson; from Jack
son north to Holly Springs, thence to
Aberdeen and on to Columbus, enter
ing the State of Alabama at that
city. From Columbus my next jour-
ney was via Tuscaloosa 20 Selma, De-
mopolis, Montgomery, Eufaula, enter
ing Georgia at Columbus. From Co.
lumbus, Ga, I journeyed through
Southern Georgia via Americus, AL
bany and on to Thomasville; thence
via Quitman, Moulirie, Valdosta, Cor
dele, Montezuma, Fort Valley and Oh
to Macon. From Macon to Dublin,
Sandersville, Milledgeville, Eatonton,
Covington, Madison, Greensboro.
Washington and on to Augusta. From
Augusta my tour was extended
through the counties Of Edgefield,
Barnwell, Hampton, Orangeburg and
on to Columbia; from Columbia
through the counties of Kershaw,
Sumter. Clarendon, Darlington, Mar
ion, Marlboro, thence west through
the counties Of Chester, Spartanburg.
Greenville, Abbeville and Anderson.
bringing me back to Columbia, where
l am now making up my report.
AS eight months have been requir-
ed IN which to make this journey per-
NIT me to say that most of it has been
made in private conveyances. wish
ed to ride slowly through the farming
districts, gathering my Information
from the resident landlords, and not
at all reivtng on an observation from
the window Of a railway car.
Allow me now to make brief di-
gest Of my observations for you to
use as you may see proper:
First, / find that the best farmed
(the most systematic and by far the
most thrifty and economic admins
tration Of the farm, is un,. .estion-
ably In the State of South Carolina.
Here the cultivation Of the soil Is re-
garded as lifetime pursuit, and in
the majority Of instances | have
round the farmer, whether a and
lord or tenant, a close student of
those branches of science which en-
able him to know the wants of his
soil and the proper means of supply
ing these wants.
The Clemson College of Agricul-
ture has been a real blessing to the
farmers of South Carolina. Under
Its tutorage young men have discov-
cred that the cultivation Of the soil Is
the noblest and by far the most prof
liable occupation they can engage in.
A journey at this season through the
rural sections of South Carolina is
enough to inspire the most pessimis-
tic with the highest hopes for tire fu-
ture.
Second, In other sections | have
visited, farming appears to be a spec
ulation, or a means of providing for
present need, with no idea of pro.
viding for the future. The landlord
lives. generally, in some city or town,
and rents out his land for single
year 70 some one whom he calls a
tenant. This renter has no interes.
In improving the land OF buildinSs.
Hence the farm or plantation" as
1t Is called, Is as a rule run down;
there is about 1T "slipshod' appear
ance that makes the country Lninvit-
ing. Is 1t any wonder tnat the yield
or products is not satisfactory? Not
so In South Carolina. Here ;he land
lord lives on his estate and bnilds his
residence, his barns and other stric-
lures to remain for Succeuding gen
GRAFTON. 1t is not eXag5erating to
state that the yield per acre Of ;ot-