The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-04-16

their farms hard, but put out small
acreage, tend it well, raise a big lot of
hay, and keep lots of stock. Their
methods are much different from what
| was used to. Instead of poultry
raising and butter making being a
side line for the women, it is the chief
business of the men. The men usually
do the milking sometimes both help.
Two farmers meeting, seldom talk
about raising wheat, but "How is your
| chickens doing ~ or "Does this cold
spell affect your COWS any ?' Wheat
is raised only for chicken feed, or at
best, is sold and the -four bought. The
mills do not do custom business, and
in general, do not satisfy the people.
One farmer said he took ten bushels
to mill to get exchanged, and only
got four empty sacks back, and one of
them had hole in it,
We have been having some nice
weather this spring. have been plow-
ing with two teams, and have about
twenty acres to p,ow yet. keep five
horses, twenty-five head of cattle, and
aim to keep dozen hogs.
There are many customs here that
seemed very strange TO me at first.
Two neighbors not having seen each
other for three days, will shake hands,
most warmly. This is not church
habit, either, for it is the same among
the non-goers. In threshing time no
one will work for money, but all the
neighbors will come and help you. If
convenient you help him back; il not,
no hill is charged. If you need any
thing of a neighbor, call on him; he
responds freely; but In general, very
little visiting goes on. In teaming
you never see a man driving more
than two horses. have not seen
four-horse team since / came here, ex-
cept where two teams had doubled up
for steep hill or mud hole. About
one-half of the vehicles used are mar
row-gauge; the others wide. Walking
plows are used; about one-half are
right handed the balance left. In
making hay, they have another novel
way. The hay is mown and raked in
to windrows, then carefully made in
to shocks. Then they have rope
about % feet long; one end they fasten
to one trace, then pass it around un-
der the edge OF the shock and fasten
to the other trace, and the horse drags
1t to the stack with all case and but
very little loss of hay. The advantag-
es claimed are, that the hay can be
brought in by children and old men,
who could not pitch onto a wagon, it
being in flakes, IL also stacks better
The stacks are scattered all over the |
field. 1t Is seldom that two are seen
close together. Needless to say that |
whenI | came to Rome | did as the Ro-
mans do. Farmers, in general, are
we'll equipped with farm machinery of |
the labor saving kind-few OF the
younger ones can handle grain era
die at all.
In general, 1t is very healthy coun
try. My fanny, myself and also my
sister Olive, who is with me, have had
the best OF health since being here
In public affairs / think we have
some advantages. One assessor has
theiwhole county. Tho taxes are all
paid at one time to the sheriff think
our taxes are lower. My taxes last
year on valuation OF seven thousand /
being only $4,000, We can grow al I
most any crop here, but potatoes
berries and fruit are profitable.
Gardening Is . good business, ifclose
TO town Land suitable for gardening
sells for from 1900 TO $3.50 per acre.
A farm adjoining mine was sold this
spring fer &S2 50 per acre There is
considerable OF an oil boom on Just
now: have reelized $3.50 out OF II
but have had no we'll drilled yet la
conclusion would say think I have
bettered my lot but ! yet have warm
sp0t far dear old Fulton county :.
'. III II