The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-04-20
LOafng Acres.

We have for a good many years
been calling the attention of farmers
to the fact that many of them, and
IN some sections most of them, have
loaf1ng acres. By this we mean acres
that add nothing to the income of the
farmer and yet are chargeable with
interest or rent, taxes and fences.
Frequently, and in many sections
generally, 1t is land that needs drain
| age, land that would work if it could
get warm, but which can not get
warm enough to produce anything as
long as the heat Of the sun must be
employed in evaporating the water.
If the water could run off, the sun
would have some effect on it; but if
IT. can not run Off, then the sun must
spend Its energy in changing that
water into vapor. necessarily cooling
or the surface and the air, just as you
cool your porch on hot summer day
by throwing bucket of water over
it and letting it evaporate.
These lands needs drainage. You
say you have no time to drain? Well
take time. You say you have no
money and can not afford it? You
can not afford not to do it. You had
better lend the field $40 an acre in
order to ge the water off than to
spend the force Of the suns heat.
which is yours by the gift Of an over
ruling providence, in evaporting the
water instead Of growing grain Wet
acres are always loafing acres much
or the time. and when not loafing,
like all loafers, they are doing bad
things instead of good, growing rush.
es, cattails, Muhlenberg smartweed,
or some other weeds that will pollute
the farm.
Then there are gravelly points
which produce little or nothing, which
probably ought not to be plowed.
Well. don't plow them, but cover
them with manure, SOW grass seed.
and use for pasture. In time with
proper management you will develop
SOIL even on these gravelly points and
change them from unsightly bogs
and Improbable acres to fairly
profitable part of the farm.
Again, you may have a few acres
cut off by slough or river or
creek which it is not convenient to
farm, and you have let them grow
up In weeds, forcing them to become
loafers. Why not plant these in
trees, catalpa, if you can't get seed
or plants of the genuine speciosa?
Or if you prefer something else
black or yellow locust, where the
borer will not affect them; black
walnut, ash, or if nothing better
willow. With the recent improved
methods of preserving wood you can
make fairly good post out of the
willow. Make these loafing acres do
som ,thing.
The most unsightly loafing acre on
most farms is the feed lot allowed to
grow up with mustard or jimson, that
disreputable member of the disrepu-
table tobacco family, with velvet weed
or button weed, and with dog fennel,
until it prOclaims to all passersby:
This is a shiftless farmer. You can
grow something there; if nothing
else. then rape or sorghum, something
that will keep down the weeds and
will furnish feed throughout the
winter. This abandoned corral or
cattle yard is the richest part of
your farm, and YOU know it, We
have known men to grow enough
pumpkins on ,.acant corral or feed
lot during the summer to add very
materially to the contents of the
pork barrel before Christmas
Get rid Of these loafng acres. 1t is
not the fault of the acres that they
loaf, but your fault They are doing
the best they can, the best you give
that you have to pay taxes or interest
or rent on these acres. Put them to
work; they are far. more willing to
work than you are to make them
Wallaces' Farmer