The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-01-19
NEWsY LETTER.
FROM THE HUsTLING TOWN OF
BOWMAN.
Economical Method of Growing
Crops and Other Matters of Gem
er0l Interest.

Crops and Other Matters of GEN
eral Interest.
Bowman, S. c., Jan. 1S.-Special:
Last Saturday was quite busy day
in the cotton market at Bowman,
and a number of bales changed
hands at a sharp advance in price
paid for the staple some weeks ago.
1t seems to have been the rule for
some years back that cotton must
advance in price little, at least,
at this season of the year in order to
encourage the farmer to liberal
use of fertilizer for the coming crop.
Let this be as it may, there is dis
position among the lien merchants
here to order less and sell more
sparingly than usual The reckless
and unintelligent use of fertilizers
in this "slip shod'' manner often
seen on many a lieners farm, is COM
paratively wasted in numbers Of
instances, so far as the individual
crop is concerned.
Allow me, Mr.. Editor, to quote
few sentences from an intelligent
farmer in writing on the subject of
Economical methods of growing
profitable crops" He says Many
think that the liberal use of ferti-
lizer on crops is highly profitable, if
of the right kind in proper proper
tions and right amounts. To secure
the best results one must understand
the needs Of the particular soil for
the crop planted. Many farmers
spend large amount of money for
fertilizers; this is loss to them
when the application is unnecessary
climates and improper farms of
plant food and then secure only a
hap-hazard system" Some of our
intelligent farmers make mistakes
along this line, but the growing ten
dency is to study closely the needs
of the soil. supplying the deficiency
with proper fertilizer.
This correspondent has been scru-
tinizing closely from day to day the
management of some of the best
farmers in Orangeburg county, along
with some that may be termed poor
ones, and is prepared to state in his
experience of six years as an R. F.
D. carrier, that while there is very
marked improvement in the intelli-
gent and economical manner in
which some farmers are cultivated,
there is gross negligence and much
waste Of valuable time, and careless
preparation in a number of others
in some instances abandoning crops
that have been planted and fertilized.
A merchant of Bowman doing an
extensive lien business told this cor
respondent not long since that his
loss in the lien business last year
would aggregate 100000, and yet
he is doing business at the old stand,
in hopes of doing perhaps a success
full business this year. Liens are
being taken out daily but merchants
are more cautious in their dealings
than heretofore, as they were badly
bit" in a number of instances the
past year.
The Bank of Bowman is in good
shape financially, with nice sur
plus fund to its credit. This bank
IS cautious but successful in the man
agement of its business affairs.
Col. R. L. Shuler, one of Bow
mans pioneer merchants and a
prominent citizen, was seen on the
streets in town Saturday. Col. Shu-
Ter has been out of the mercantile
business for some years now, on ac-
count of failing health. He is jovial
and lively at times, as he used to be.
Miss Rubie Evans left here Fri
day to spend some time with her
sister, Mrs. j. B. Prickett at St.
Matthews.
D1r>-n-U