The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-02-04
SANTUC


seems; it has gone over one month
and scarcely realize it.
| And then how many New Year res
olution have already been broken, do
you suppose? l hope the resolutions
not to have any more liquor-selling
will not be broken. By the way,
have not seen any of those petitions
not to reopen the dispensaries. 1t
takes some "galr" to ask the legisla-
ture to allow whiskey-selling when
just last fall the people said "no."
am glad that Telephone is still
able to write, and hope he will remain
able long time to come. l am per-.
s,nally acquainted with him, and have
already regarded him as a friend
"ltnout palaver, or attempt to flatter,
bst tone and dependable, and l am
sure he is a Christian, and | feel in
terested in him.
L saw an article, "Reclaiminr
swamp land raising corn instead or
bullfrogs," and l am trying to do
that very thing. have been reclaim
ing certain portion of swamp land
every year for five years, and have
been hard at it since January 1st, but
the ditching is the big item, but it
makes fine corn. l have about three
more acres to clear and drain, but l
can hardly complete it this year.
The small grain crop is looking very
well at present. There was not enough
sown last fall. After the season be-
gan to get late some got scared, as
many weather prophets" predicted
very severe winter and they thought
grain would be winter killed, but now
1T seems grain will be all right We
ought not be too easily scared.
There is not any farm anywhere,
large or small, scarcely, but that there
are chickens, hogs, cows or fruit But
there may be vastly too little of hogs
or cattle Some may not have any
OF these except chickens. Some NAV
| be narrowed down to runt of
| Shoat for hog, or a little measlv
little canine, and only true or two
OF fruit, but these conditions ought
not to be. AS to fruit, that REQUIRES
no feed bill properly, but Enthusiastically
needs attention, and there is a lack
of variety, and of kind that was
once thought impracticable. Pecans?
Yes, pecans. Mr.. j. M. Jeter, Sr., of
this section, has an orchard of them
and about all bearing well at less
than II years of age. l saw some of
the nuts recently, large fine ones, and
just fine for taste. The age at which
many thought it would take to come
into bearing kept many from plant
ing, but these grated trees of Mr..
Jeter,s are very young, and are pay
ing their way. 1t is known now that
they can be raised here, and, if not
for profit, then for delicacy. That
they are.
AS a general thing, farmers have
been more busy this year than usual.
They are game and going right ahead
with work, but do not know what thew
are going to do for fertilizers. Many
really do not know how to farm with
out it, and it does seem to be more
expensive to farm, at this time, with
out it. Fertilizer, judiciously used,
and the crops worked, is cheaper than
labor at this period. To say the least
OF them, they are not inclined to loaf,
and beat" you, as is labor. More
land, consequence must needs be
seeded to get a full crop, when no fer
tlllZers are used, and most farmers
need to make full crop to "pull
through More than you think are
In debt. The short crop and fair
prices last year did not balance up
the bad, or low prices of the 1914
crop. If the land was all better sup
Piled with humus than they are now.
far better crops could be made than
is. Without commercial fertilizers
L
depleted soils makes now with com
merclal fertilizers. The hurting part
now is the land is mostly void or
humus, and so, the most of the farm
ers are up against it. The present
condition might prove blessing in
disguise if we are made to strive for
soil building with humus and keep
on trying even after it is possible to
get complete fertilizers at living
price. But being able to get ferti- |
lizers rather cheap has made the
most of US indolent as to soil building.
AS 1t is now, many poor farmers who |
are In debt may be forced under and |
out, and back to renters or share
farming.
This reminds me, especially of
what humus will do. Last August | |
was over at Lockhart several DAYS |
and Mr.. Jeter Butler came up and
took me down to his farm about two
miles. My time was short, but we
walked until dark "seeing" and l |
was impressed. First, will say that
Mr. Butler has fine farm, though
considerable amount is worn, rocks
and gullles and steep, but the most
OF this he has in pastures and the
more level land he is cutting off the
pines and putting that in cultivation.