Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-06-30

corn to be seen was badly in need Of
rain. Between Hickory Grove and the
residence Of Mr.. w. s. Wilkerson, three
and one-half miles to the southwest,
the prospects for both corn and cotton
are good. The country has been dry
and is still dry; but the crops do not
seem to have been badly hurt yet. The
only variation from generally promis-
ing prospects Is to be found In some
Of the red fields, where there are bad
stands, or where the plants have been
growing very slowly. There is at
least one prize acre of corn along this
route and the corn looks fine, except
that 1t is beginning to need rain to
save it from serious injury. If the rain
comes within the next few days, this
patch will be in good shape to wait
its turn for another watering.
From the residence of Mr.. Wilkerson
on down to the river bridge, the crops
are fine. Most of the land is grey or
sandy and although there has been but
little rain since the 18th of April, there
appears to have been little need Of 1t,
especially so far as cotton Is concern
ed. But the best crops are to be seen
along the river. There Is a strip Of
territory extending from a short dis
tance below the river bridge five or
six miles up to Wilkinsville, and about
two miles wide that has been getting
all the rain 1t needed and at the right
time, and neither cotton nor corn
along this territory could be expected
to look better. Mr.. Wilkerson's Dar-
win bottoms are included in this strip,
and the corn crop on them is the best
they have had for years But Mr.. Will
kerson Is not disposed to count much
on the prospects. He has made only
two or three full crops on these bot
toms during the twenty years he has
owned the property, and he does not
count ANYTHING here until after 1t has
been gathered. It Is too easy for the
river to get up and sween everything
away.
The river was at about its normal
stage at the bridge Wednesday after
noon, nearly flush with the banks. It
was quite muddy too, as II there had
been rain above. But for some time
past the water has been low. This Is
always the case on Sundays. The
mower plant eight miles above, shuts
down on Saturday nights, and closes
the gates, to conserve the supply for
the following week AS the result, the
flow of the stream Is almost stopped,
and small boys can wade across the bed
without going deeper than their knees.
One institution Of Hickory Grove that
Is worthy of especial mention Is the
band under the leadership and In
struction Of Mr.. Mason Wilkerson.
This Is the band that won second mon-
ey over at Charlotte In the amateur
hand contest during the Twentieth Of
May exercises, and which would have
won first money II Charlotte had not
strengthened themselves by hiring to-
her assistance all the hest known pro-
| fessionals between Richmond and
| Greenville. In other words. the Hick-
orv Grove boys were euchred The
| band boys. sixteen Of them In all, meet
at the Wilkerson school house two
nights a week and put in two hours
Of hard work each night, Mr. Mason
Wilkerson instructing them as faith
fully and as efficiently as If he were
getting paid big price by the hour,
all because Of his interest in the boys
and his enthusiastic love Of the work.
The band has an engagement to fur
nish the music for Gaffney on July
4, and will receive for its services dur
ing the day the modest sum Of $50.
A Hickory Grove institution that is
not to be overlooked also, Is Mr.. W.
T.. Slaughter, the genial, whole -souled
"Woodman," who Is well and pleas
antly known throughout the county
and state. He extended a cordial in
vitation yesterday morning for the
writer to go with him and see the
"Woodman exhibit" Just what that
admit Of an investigation; but that the
"Woodman exhibit" Is all right, there
Is no reason to question, else Slaugh-
ter would not have extended the invi-
tation. And c. 8. Moorhead also had
his usual pleasant greeting, which was
backed up with gift Of some Of the
finest peaches the writer has seen this
year. They grew in Mr.. Moorhead's
yard. and seem to be for the especial
benefit of his friends. But that was
not all, Mr. Moorhead impaired in con-
fidence little secret, into the truth of
which the writer was Initiated long
ago and which he has not since had
occasion to doubt: "Pll just tell you
what's fact, there are no finer or bet
ter people In the world than these
people around Hickory Grove"
Mr.. N. M. McDill advised the writer
that there Is to be a big Farmers In
stitute at Hickory Grove on July 10,
under the auspices of Clemson and
Winthrop. The faculty will be made
up Of fifteen people including three
ladies, and they are coming in special
cars The Clemson professors are to
bring along car load of exhibition
stock, and they are to give the farmers
lot Of important pointers on agricul-
tural subjects. The Winthrop people
are to have something of interest, es-
pecially to the ladies along the line Of
domestic science and convenience. Mr..
McDill and others will see to 1t that
the people Of the surrounding country
are advised Of the occasion and Of the
time, and will make every effort to see
that the greatest possible benefit Is
derived from the institute.