The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-07-28
THE SAND HILLS OF SOUTH CAR.
OLINA

The Possibilities of Their Agricultural
Opportunities
Much has been written of the corn
and wheat lands of the northwest, the
apple orchards of Oregon, the cotton
fields of Texas, the hop fields of Cali
ifornia and the orange groves of Flor
ida. All of these sections have been
in the public eye for years, but the
best section of the United States has
been persistently overlooked. / refer
to the Sand Hill Country" of South
Carolina. And why is this the best
section? Let's treat the most import
ant item first-health. The health
conditions are perfect, rendered so,
first, because of the porous soil, which
quickly asorbs any impurity that may
be placed. upon the surface; second,
because of the absence of swamps or
any other stagnant water, thus ex-
Guiding mosquitoes and malaria;
third, because of the altitude and con-
sequent lightness and purity of at
mosphere; fourth, the lack of humid
ity in the day and the delightful
GOODNESS of the nights in summer. /
have treated health conditions first
because health should be and is the
first consideration in any country.
After health we must consider in
come. A few years ago it was consid-
cred impossible to make profitable
crop on these lands, in consequence
of which they could be bought for
absurdely low prices. l availed my
self of the opportunity and bought
several thousand acres. During the
past season / operated an experiment.
al farm, under the supervision of a
government farm demonstration
agent, and obtained excellent results.
The poorest land was purposely Sc
lected for this use. Corn, under
which less than 50 worth of fertili-
GERS were used, produced about so
bushels to the acre, besides an bund-
ant crou of fodder and peas, ana this
was accomplished under adverse con-
ditions of planting seasons and poor
ly-cleared land. Excellent crops OF
watermelons, cantaloupes, tomatoes,
beans, carrots, and many other vege'
tables were produced. The soil is
especially adapted to both Irish and
sweet potatoes, and has no equal for
asparagus and onions. For poultry
raising this section is unexcelled
disease among the fowls being practi.
cally unknown. Believing that the
above conditions obtained, and that
they were worthy of being brought to
the attention of the world. | have
taken a tract of 1000 acres, eight
miles from the city of Columbia, and
located thereon the government dem
onstration farm above referred to
The land has been laid off in lots OF
TO- acres, many of which have al
ready been sold and several owners
have planted out orchards of peaches
and pecans. While these trees are
growing to maturity the land is being
cultivated in the vegetables and
other crops mentioned A telephone
line connecting with the Bell system
has been constructed, and wells have
been drilled at convenient distances
over the property, some of them
reaching to a depth of $50 feet, and
affording an excellent supply o.
water. A general superintendent di
rects the work for such owners as
desire to maintain only cheap labor
ers on their property, and this labor
is secured in abundace at the nominal
price of 70 cents per day. A large
clubhouse is being erected, and sum
mer cottagers who do not care tt
have the trouble of servants anC
housekeeping can avail themselves O.
the services of the clubhouse.
This place of mine is only one O
a number of properties now beins
developed in the sand-hill country
and all of us who are thus engaged
believe that it has the creates
future of any part of the country. Elk
perience with these lands during the
last few years has demonstrated the
fact that they are more certain tt
produce crops when seasons are toe
wet or too dry than lower and stiff
fer lands that have heretofore beer
regarded as far more valuable. AL
these lands need is scientific treat
ment, and they will make excellent
yields of any crops that can be raised
I'm this section of the country. There
are thousands of acres of such lands
in South Carolina that offer the great
est possible opportunities to farmers
who desire to settle in a country
where they will have health, comfort
and prosperity, with easy access tt