The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-02-25
NEWS FROM BOWMAN.
The Value of Diversified Farming
and Other Notes of Interest.

and Other Notes of Interest.
Bowman, February 22.-Specia':
Washington Birthday" has rolled
around again and the R. F. II.
carriers have their second holiday
for the year. These holidays are
very much enjoyed D.: the carriers,
giving them a day off for recreation,
if they so desire. Some of thera.
however, worked harder at "odd and
end jobs around home than in the
seemingly monotonous work of R. F..
D. carrier day by day.
Well, the much abused, "cussed
and discussed" lien law is deaf at
lat. What is to be gained or lost
by the repeal Of this much abused
State law remains to be seen, but
one thing will plainly be in evidence
next year, and that is the shiftless
horse and mule killer will have to
WI lOl SOlIC Vic VI LII okS.
When a person of ordinary intel
ligence takes notes of what is often
seen on the thriftless one horse
farms scattered here and there over
the country, some body paying up for
advances, while others fall behind
from year to year in the payment of
tt :c }r,11I q Wnn1Gr in
deed, that the lien law existed this
long. Merchants have been in the
habit in a number of instances of
taking liens on tom, Dick and Har-
rvs" side crop if he happens to be
working as wage hand for Mr.. A
or Mr.. B, who is considered good
pay. They will go so far as to let
this small lener sometime get head
over heels" in debt, thinking when
the push comes Mr.. A or Mr.. B will
pay him out rather than have his
hand taken from him and placed in
Jail or bonded for trial as the case
may be. These are no exaggerated
statements, Mr.. Editor, but plain
facts that can be verified, and these
are some Of the abuses of the law
that led many of the farmers to cry
out so bitterly for it's repeal. The
farmers have gained the victory at
last, after fight Of some years, and
it is hoped that new life will be in
fused in farming interests every
where and a few years will chronicle
once again the prosperous condition
of farmers all over the country.
The fall oat crop has been dam
aged to more extent from the hard
cold some weeks ago than was at
first supposed, but the damage can
not as yet be anything like accu
rately stated Considerable spring
oats are being sown, but this is an
uncertain crop as to it's yield, de-
pending largely on weather con-
ditions, quality of land, etc.
The continued high price Of corn
will likely stimulate farmers to an
increased acreage in this important
grain crop. Plenty of corn means
more hogs, with fat mules and hors-
es. OF course plenty of pea vine and
grass, hay, oats, peas, potatoes, ETC.,
are side crops that should be en-
couraged, and that literally, too,
but corn, corn, corn, plenty of corn
should be the battle cry Of farm
ers this year. 1t was said that at
small sale of an estate a few days
ago. ear corn sold for more than a
dollar bushel.
If farmers had practiced the di-
versifcation plan to any much ex-
tent last year, they would have in
all probability realized that long
looked-for "15 cents cotton" but
while some Of them have long
heads" they could not see it that way
and the consequence is corn is SELL
ing at one dollar per bushel and cot
ton below ten cents.
There is no excuse for corn to be
shipped here from the West and
sold to farmers at one dollar per
bushel or more, to be paid for in
cotton at 5 and 8 cents per pound.
Good crops Of corn can be grown
here as proven from time to time,
and it is indeed gratifying to note
that an increased interest along
this line is being manifested among
farmers, but this interest should be-
come more general and all A0Cal
demands supplied at home. There
is gentleman in this community, if
he had to buy corn, would verify go
crazy, and this gentleman has corr,
peas, pinders, potatoes, fodder and
some of as nice bacon and lard as
any one would wish to see, to sell
every year, not counting his cotton
crop in at all, but always something
to sell from the farm is his motto.
Mr. j. B. Prickett Of the Com
mercial Advance, st. Matthews, and
little daughter, Hazel, was in town
visiting friends last week. Mr.. Prick
EFT is an enthusiastic "bird hunter"
and of course, a strict observer Of
the game law" His hunts down
here while visiting some few years
ago were quite successful, plenty of
birds could be found at that time,
~.