The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1917-12-05
PICKINGS
from the
PLANTATIONS

In nearly every section of the coun-
ty the planters are busy preparing
the soil for next years crops. One
fact is quite apparent that larger
acreages are being placed under cul-.
tivation than ordinarily, in all prob
ability as result of the good crops
and high prices prevailing for all
kinds of farm products. Another fea-
ture that attracts attention and which
means one of the most important
steps taken by many Of the planters
is the trend towards diversified farm
ing. Especially is this true in di-
recting their efforts to the cultivation
of those necessities of life, which can
be raised on every plantation in this
section especially wheat, the acreage
to which will be largely increased
next year Many are also devotine,
more attention to the rearing Of live
stock, particularly in amounts that
will eliminate all necessity of the
planter calling upon the butcher Of
the towns where he can quickly part
with quite a portion Of his profits for
little ham or bacon, all of which
should be produced on his plantation.
Present high prices for all the nee
essarIes may prove beneficial to many
OF the planters of this section who
have made it a practise Of sticking
resolutely to cotton, corn or tobacco
and neglected the other and equally
| important products which he must
inevitably purchase, if he has not
been so wise as to produce them, and
divvy up nice portion of his profits
on the other staples, all because he
would not listen to the imperative
call and business demand for divcrsi-
fed farming. High prices of ncccs-
stiles are apparently proving costly
lesson to many Of the planters this
year, but likely will ultimately prove
the best lesson Of their lives and one
from which they will derive the great
est substantial benefits. There is no
excuse for any planter in this section
being without any of the ncccssares
especially of the table, with the pos
slble exception of coffee which is
small item, even sugar or syrup as
the best sugar cane to be grown can
be raised in this section which has
been proven beyond any question.
Again, diversified farming will
eliminate any apprchensions relative
to the anticipated appearance of the
boil weevil as the rotation of crops is
one of the greatest enemies to the
propagation Of this insect and the
best eradicator to its getting even a
look in.
Another commendable action of
some of the planters in this time Of
great scarcity of labor is, the deter
mined spirit to overcome the handi-
caps of the situation by getting into
the fields and not only supervising
the labor but putting their hands to
the levers of industry and by their
labor practically providing the anti
dote for this scarcity of labor. At
the same time they are awarded by
knowing that the work is properly
executed.
So many compliments have been
paid The Times for it's interest in the
planters in the publications in this
column that more of the work Of the
planters and histories of their planta-
tions are here appended.
| Settled Here G4 Years Ago.
r. II. Davis was born on the plan
tatlon occupied and owned by him,
located one mile west of Manning,
GO years ago. His father, r. James
Davis, located in this section and ac-
quired large tracts of land Ga years
ago. At present the tracts owned by
R. H. Davis include between 800 and
400 acres with about $50 acres under
cultivation, all but about rs acres
of which are rented. This seasons
crop was largely to corn which made
very good.
More Diversity in Farming.
j. w. Cochran is one of the wise
planters who devotcs portion of his
broad acres, time and efforts to di-
versified farming. He has 1873 acres,
105 of which are under cultivation.
This year he has made about 20 bales
of cotton, between 700 and 800 BUSH
els of corn, SO bushels of wheat, 300
bushels Of potatoes and, besides has
rs hogs and number of we'll bred
chickens from which he rcaps a nice
revenue. Mr.. Cochran has only been