The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-05-05

We made ten barrels" said Bun
ker. and out OF apples that were not
solable on account Of specks and
slight defects. A few days ago Jack
Farley offered me $40 barrel for the
vinegar which that cider made. I
have sold $115 worth of apples, and
have twenty-five bushels in the cellar.
have sold SOS worth OF hogs, and
have enough to do me until killing
time again. Our butter and eggs
have paid our grocery bills. We have
fruit enough'to to last until summer,
and barrel and a half OF good sor-
ghum molasses made at home. This
Is what diversified farming has done
for me. II the price Of cotton does
not go up so as to make 1t a profitable
crop to grow. here is one farmer who
will quit growing It,"
"Yes" replied Cooper. you are in
position to do it. but the most of us
are not"
THAT Is Just why I said this thing
can't all be done in one year, nor in
two. But everything must have be-
ginning. My beginning was in trad
ing COW that did not particularly
need for hogs that I did need. They
supplied me with meat for the next
year. This was start The plant
ing OF corn was another step. The
oat crop helped out. Any of you can
do these things this spring. That will
be start, and will help you to go
farther next year. You can't possibly
lose out. You are compelled to have
feed. You must have meat. It is
cheaper to raise 1t than 1t is to buy
IT.. It is very expensive for us to
ship our hogs from 500 to 1000 miles
to have them butchered, pay the
freight both ways and two or three
profits besides"
II was talking about this matter
the other day with Jake Bristow."
said Maston. land he says that iKet-
chem G. Robem told him they would
not furnish supplies to men who cut
down their cotton crop. You know
Jake never has anything ahead. How
Wills such men as that manage to
make crop?"
THAT is one Of the knotty places
In the problem" replied Silas, "and
am glad you spoke Of 1t. The best
solution that have for 1t is that such
men must be helped by their neigh
bors. OF course, they always have to
give mortgage. They would better
give 1t to their neighbors who can
go on their note. get the money from
the bank. or elsewhere. and spend It
where they can buy the goods the
cheapest. OF course. II q man is not
worthy Of the confidence of his
neighbors. he had better be let go his
own way even II he does fall into the
hands OF thieves. But such men are
exceptions. II a man is honest he
can secure the proper assistance.
That Is what the Farmers Union is
for. and am sure It will be able to
meet the situation"
Mrs. Bunker announced that din
ner was ready, and invited her
neighbors to share It with them.
At the table the conservation was
resumed In the way Of discussing
the merits Of different varieties Of
foods and vegetables. many Of which
we're before them prepared in differ
ent styles. Bunker told his friends
how he had avoided making many
serious mistakes in his experiments
with new methods Of farming.
when wanted advice along a
certain line." he said. IT have always
sought 1t from a man who Is success
ful In that line. For illustration.
When I began to plant and grow corn
I knew nothing about 1t. not even
enough to pick out good seed. which
is one of the most important things
to know. Well, everybody knows that
Uncle Jake Thompson is the best corn
raiser In this section. So I said to
myself, I'll go over and talk to Uncle
Jake about 1t. I did. and the old man
was much pleased at my coming. He
explained to me the difference be-
tween good seed and bad. He told
me to pick a grain with the longest
and broadest germ or kernel and
would have O seed corn not only pos
sessing the greatest vitality, but the
most abundant fattening constituents
secured my seed corn from him and.
under his instructions. have improved
1t every year. Before I planted my
orchard / talked with Capt. Stuart,
the most successful orchardist,