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forage. Fallowing is nowhere practiced, and the benefit derived from the rotation of crops is unappreciated. Cotton and corn occasionally follow each other. On the Norfolk sand crop rotation is even more necessary than on the heavier soils, and the following excellent three-year system has given very satisfactory results j to the few leadings furmprn wKnl have practiced it: First year, oats and cowpeas ; second year, corn; and third year, cotton. The oats, maturing in .June, are followed by the cowpeas, which are harvested in {September and October, and the roots turned under. Stable manure, which has been composted with pine straw, is spread along with the oats. Not much stable manure is used, however, as stock raising plays no part in the agricultural interests of the couuty. Commercial fertilizers are extensive^ ly used, the Twelfth Census showing $70,380 expended for this purpose in the county in the year 1899. No subsoiling is carried on, though in other localities the T66Uits irom that practice have been beneficial. Plowing to the same depth each year explains in part why the heavier types of soil are rendered so compact, and why, as a consequence, they suf fer so materially from drought. Such soils require deeper plowing to secure more thorough aeration and to aid 111 the conservation of moisture. An application of lime would tend to improve the structure of the Cecil clay by rendering the particles less cohesive. It is claimed ha the expense attendant upon fa' i'owmijc does not warrant its t?ei ** -**? *od on, Bince the soils, in consequence of the winter rains, are about as compact in -1- spring as they ordinarily ^ be without fall plowing. AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS. Although the soils and climatic conditions are identical with 'hose found in other highly de^eloped sections of the Piedmont Plateau, agriculture in Lancaster County is backward and is unquestio* ably retarded by the system o^ifarming practiced. The large acreage devoted to certain crops is out of proportion to the amount of labor employed and cultivation given. A larire number of farms are rented to those who hava no personal interest in them, aside from the (jirect returns obtained therefrom. The Twelfth Census shows the total area in farms to tie *271,.'{Id acres, of which 110,117 acres are im^ proved. Only about 2t? per cent of the farms are operated bv the owners. Wlnle most of the landowners | who work their own farms are progressive and prosperous, the tenants as a class are not in a very j enviable condition. This is evi- j deuced by the lack of. comforts and conveniences which charao ti/.es their homes. This condition I is in great part the re-n't ot tf o ) lien system which prevails to a' large extent within the area As ii rnlu fho fonunfo litum I no ca* "*al to carry on their work. Theft.mlt is that in order to snpp themselves an 1 their fari>i.? jb while the crop is beio^ , cultivated, the merchant or land ! owner is allowed to take a mort : gage on the crop or part ol it, i and it frequently happens tha* the value i?f one third, tim e fourths, or even of the whole cr ol is consumed before :t i h i v ested 1 e a v i n e nothing with' winch to commence the next | year's' work. This system is very i ' i unfortunate. Ah a natural conse- A quence, the maintenance of soil ^ productivity is a minor consider- " ation, and statistics show that the lands thus utilized on most of the tenauted farms are steadily deteriorating in productiveness. Several different systems of tenure prevail in the area, the share system being the most popular. In this case the landowner furnishes the stock, implements, and half the fertilizers, and the tenant furnishes the labor; and equal division of the crops being made. In some instances a specific rental is preferred,whereby a certain amount of cotton is taken by the landowner for rent of each "onehorse" farm?in other words, from one to two bales for as much laud as can be cultivated with a single horse, which is huuui ,-tu acres. $ The average farm containa about 1)0 acres, but this average ia considerably lowered when the amall tracts tenanted by the negroes are taken into consideration. Many plantations comprise 1,000 acres or more. The farm values range from $2 or $3 an acre in the more inaccessible parts of the county to $25 or more near the towns, the average for improved land for the county at largo being something over $14 an acre. The farmers of Lancaster County have no troublesome labor questions to deal with as yet. Field handp, usually colored, are available during all the seasons of the year. They receive while working by the month from $8 to $15, and 50 cents a day when a ? -- ~i?* -- j cuipiuj i ui niiuriur periuuH. During thecotton-picking season hands are paid according to the amount picked, the price ranging from 40 to 50 cents per hundred pounds. The interests of the farmers are largely absorbed in the cultivation of cotton. According to the Twelfth Census, 40,646 acres were devoted to this purpose in the county. Corn is the next most extensive crop, the acreage for 1800, the latest available exact figures, being 33,050.Oats, wheat, peas, and truck, in the order named, are cultivated to a less dpgree. Small patches of sorghnm are seen on many of the farms, the sirup made being used for domestic purposes. In the southeastern part of the county the sandier soils around lleath Springs and Kershaw are ernin eiiuy adapted to melons, which are grown to a considerable extent. None arc shipped, however, ttie home market receiving tin greater part of the supply. 1 here are a few orchaads, 1 >111 very li'~ tie i-i done toward keeping them in g.xnl condition. There is every reason to believe that the growingot' fruits, such as poaches, pears, and plums, would tie at tended with great success. Roi ^ th-se crops the sandier koi h i ^ would prove better than the ^ heavier types. I ? It is rather singular that o j ,m little attention is given to the gl, production of vegetables for je, home consumption. I'here are to -n be found on almost every farm fal suitable soils for tiie cultivation |},( of garden truck, which would ' cr( help the farmer not only to >"e- J RC duce his living expenses to a I ?? mini mum, but would furnish a i Qll greater diversity id <lief for hiiu? 3ll( s?11 and bis family, yet theiejtt' is a marked lack of interest ,n | ' ilie j?r'"iin"nou in mo-H nec-^iH "" Ml r! M?I# CM Since Rti?okraipinn in not follow a.; eii in tliia county, hik! uilequate j th I I Trejc THAT IT li PARENTS TC CHILDREN v |T\ CREDIT UP Vhf?X AS V/ELL / I k J$ CHILDREN|/M7 B w The mother and father v dren well seem unworthy ir and they haven't many frie kind enough to give you do you not owe it to them 1 appear well ? Of course w clothes. For every-day w< knitted out of steel wire, : iron and knee pants and sl ship armor plate?if we coi next best thing and in orde for everyday wear we get t ?and cheap, 75c to 5.00. wish for your little Buster you? A nice 2.50 suit will In men's mid summer li have a very full line and tl For 4.00 we can fit you in better grades from 4.00 to bargain counter a big job 11 and see these?the price v line ol sample hats going to see us for any of your w hi nosier 11 I 1 tnunal elements can not ho east direction, pplied from this source, the I( *cil line sand, ;ume til 11 ht he chiefly upon as equally well hi , . . I here is lit t economical soil renovator. 1 he (l ... ,7 .. .. i however, lor . rmers are gradually realizing I ()t (>rons a. a beneficial results of sucliiol 1,monster (t ?ps. and a more extensive likely continue reage is beinir devote<l to i h( ir !" ' h-1: t ci o: . . t - Jl i i i -. . t . . . . . il II l >! c I l-I J I > V I II ltivation. It can not be pointed , ^ | t too clearly how in valuable} j|,n <>ro'itor iii cli crop" are in almost ail xiic- Ur;ovvn in ilie >n? ot the South, not only lit < R >c.Uh: .1. ?*i ( pp!\ ing plant fot d to the *oiI, tin- mm !ue. i ?l-o i :j improving lta phyai I I* <ir. v torn! I Htructnre In addition to h. i all rih-d bv tn wpea, alf ili a Ion been growi vhich niter th th Huecea* in other localitter on err. Hub ad : e Cecil Handy loam, ami the county in a iioi i )lveb 1 > the dutyor 1 > dress theif- | \/elu.it reflects! _ ' ON THE P/1RENT3 < ?|S ON THE TER PROVry. ^stfeSSR * B^ownCo C'hicmeo. 7lf^)ufejA No.l'.t. vho neglect to dress their chil1 the eyes of their neighbors nds. When nature has been bright and beautiful little ones to do your part and make them e know little boys are hard on tar we would have stockings shirtwaists made of galvanized lits manufactured from battleaid, but we can't. We do the iring our stock of boys' goods 5 he best wearing stuff possible J When Sunday comes you Browns to appear well, don't |i cost you only 2.00. ght weight two-piece suits we he prices are in reach of all. a nice suit, and have them in 1 o 00. We h ave put on our 1 ladies' hue shoes. Come in 8 vii 1 astonish you. Also a hi^ at most any old price. Come ants. l>h>nnii through I <ho kuvh < ! 1. uica-lt r ; tin* Seav i :n would be board Air Line niton eels the 1 j pled to it. j p ton it 1 le in I lie exf r nio n > r t file encouragement, vv?-stern t-?rt, tnurhiat? the vi 1 i wider liitrodur ll-igi-s of \' niwy.k and Oseola ; ilupted fo the col It* pv hi If* th?? Lancaster and 1 hf>'er niutv. C'o i ton will Rnln-ad offers a moans of t:- Ific to be the ail-irn j h- tw -en I he towns nt Lancaster \ l?i m * market iRland Chester. The eastern I? -?' <1 * ' ?* i >.*?? innl situat | the county is Hinncv\ hal at :i tli-r. which con-ume . v ... t:; a< r uai\i> : i ..:. r ,1 i t i tin* ?:<>iti?u 1t ion, aiice mo railroads traverse roiiMtv, <'11 ?.r ' that section. > ttnden i".tMv 111 ^ I I... p111.'ic highways i- t v- v "i isfm't .rv. Several years transport 'Moo i^ a ; >'?.c. we to w irked by convictthree railroads t labor, but the farmer - are now ? urea The S uith require ! to do thi< work, and the uo' t ? r m:'i t he j roads a re not ho good as former11 u west a ml south -1 I v r