Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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f ????^?mm?mmmmmmrnm?mmmm?mmmmmmmm?mmm?mmmmm????????? lewis m. grist, proprietor. J Jnbtptnbtnf JfamilD Itetospaper: Jfor % promotion of tjie political, facial, ^gricnltaral aab Commeraal Jntensls of % jSoalji. |terms--$2.50 a year, in advance. VOL. 27. YOEKYILLE, S. O., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1881. NO. 35. $be (Stop f rffspctt. THE CROPS IN YORK. AN EXHAUSTIVE REPORT. Od the 18th ultimo, we addressed a circulai of inquiry to farmers in every section of the county, asking for information as to the cotton and corn crops in their respective localities, and also asking what preparations, if any, are being made to supply the probable deficiency in provender for stock. In response to this circular we have received a large number of replies covering the whole county, aud for the information of our readers we publish them all, by townships, as beiug the most effective plan for giving the true condition of the crops in every section of the county: BETHEL TOWNSHIP. J. L. A., Bethel: Our section of the county has suffered from drought as much as any other, I suppose. The ground has not been wet for four months, lacking a few days. Our corn crop on uplands is a failure. Moch of it will not make as much as the seed planted. Aa compared with last year's crop, it will not yield more than one fourth. Cotton will not yield even so well?it will probably not exceed one fifth of the last crop. As for provender, we are cutting up our corn and curing it on the stalk, saving all the bay we can get in low, grassy spo ts, and preparing ground for rye and oats for early spring grazing. G. L. R., Zeno, reports : In this section, cotton will not make over one-fourth of a crop. Corn on uplands will not average more than a bushel to the acre. Bottom lands, where the stands are good, will make three-fourths of a crop. Our farmers are preparing to sow largely of oats and wheat this fail, if the seasons are favorable. S. S. S., Zeno, says: In my opinion the cotton crop of this immediate vicinity known as the "Point," will not average more than one-third of a crop as compared with last year. The corn crop on uplands is almost an entire failure. The bottom lands will make from one fourth to one-half a crop. We had no rain of any consequence from the 27th of April to the 7th of August, when it came too late to benefit cotton much, though it will help out late corn to some extent. The farmers of this community propose cutting and curjng a great portion of the corn in the stalk, thereby increasing the quantity and value as forage for stock. Prospects for the future are gloomy, indeed. Dr. T. \V. C., Catawba River P. 0., reports from a section of 12 miles, extending from Wright's Ferry to Woodlawn, in Gaston county, N. C., that the corn crop is an entire failure on uplands. Bottom lands will yield * half a crop. Cotton will not average more than one-fourth of a crop. Wheat was good, though but little was sown. No rain in this immediate vicinity since the third of May. No prepararalions more than usual making to supply the deficiency in provender for stock. D. T. P., Catawba River P. 0., writes: I think the cotton crop will not average more -* than one fourth. Bottom coro a half crop; upland corn almost a failure. Have not learned of any preparations for supplying deficiency in provender for stock. J. C. P., who lives near Bowling Green, writes : Cotton will not make more than onethird of a crop as compared with last year. Where planted on red land it will not make so much. The upland coru is almost a failure. Bottom land corn is tolerably fair, but will not average a heavy crop. We had a moderate "plow season" on the 7th of August, which was the first time the ground had been wet since the 27th of April. It has been so dry that our farmers could not reset to any means to raise provender for stock. They are now cutting upland corn and curing it for .that purpose. BETHESDA TOWNSHIP. R. E.G., ofGuthriesville, writes: After consultation with my immediate neighbors, T am enabled to renort the sandv land cotton ? 1? ?r j in this section fully up to last year, and the *ed land promising a yield of about three;fourths of last year's crop. Corn is a little better, or at least fully equal to the crop of Hast year. Except on my own lands, I do mot know of any preparations whatever for increasing the forage crop in this neighborhood. I am sowing corn and peas on my stubble land for the purpose of making hay. C. S. W., living 2* miles east of McConnellsville, reports: The sandy laud cotton has been injured by the hot and dry weather of last week, by which the yield then promised has been reduced fully one-fourth, as compared with the crop of last year. Cotton is opening very fast in consequence of the dry weather. It would be Bafe in this section to conclude on a fair half crop. Upland corn is a failure, but bottom lands are good. By the failure of our uplands the corn crop will be decreased fully one fourth of the crop of last year. To supply the deficiency in the corn crop, those who can obtain them are planting peas. J. D. McC., McConnellsville, reports upland corn a failure, but bottom lands goodequal to last year's crop. Cotton will not average a third of a crop. To supply provender for stock, the farmers have sown peas, and turnips, and will sow oats. They will sow wheat extensively also. J. A. E., Smith's Turnout, on C. C. and A. Railroad, near the Chester county liue, replies : I don't think we will make more than one third of an average crop of either cotton or corn. Nothing doing to supply the defi' ciency in provender ; in fact it has been too .dry for grass to grow. E. N. C., McConnellsville, says : Our section may be considered one of the favored spots of our county, we having had good sea jBona since the 1st of July. Consequently, upland corn is not an entire failure, but will make a half crop, while low lands are better than usual. There will be an average corn crop made in this immediate vicinity, owing to the increased production of the bottom lands. Oats were about a half crop; wheat was good, but enough was not sown. Some cotton, where it was planted early, was doing well until the second week of August, when it was apparently injured by the cool spell, causing it to cast its forms rapidly. I think it will not make any late crop. I would put the crop of this vicinity at from two-thirds to three fourths of an average crop. Peas have ^ been largely sown, and are looking exceptionally fine. I think there will be a larger wheat and oat crop sown than has been for many years. J. F. H., Bethesda, says : Cotton, in snudy laud, with a late fall, will make a good average crop. On red lands it will not make over two thirds of a crop, owing to the recent dry weather. Cotton is opening rapidly. Corn on bottom land is good, and a full crop will be made if not destroyed by storms and freshets. Early planted uplaud will not yield ov?r half a crop. Late planted corn looks fairly well. Peas are promising, but were planted to a limited extent. 0. J. G., six miles west of McConnellsville, reports: After consultation with my neighbors, I conclude that cotton, in my vicinity, will be about equal to one-third of last year's yield. Corn on uplands is not so good as last year, though there is not much difference. Corn on bottom land is decidedly good, hav* ! ing large, fine ears. Some few of my neighbors did not get their bottom lands planted | early enough, but I think the corn will ma! ture. All those whose prospects are not good i for raisiog a sufficiency of corn, are preparing ' to sow oats largely. J. L. M., Bethesda township, writes: In ' ! our vicinity the cotton crop is still suffering j .j for want of rain aud is rusting. The leaves j ( and forms are also shedding. We cannot, make more than half or three fourths of aj 1 crop as compared with last year. Corn, on j , bottom land, is good; on upland compar. 1 tively a failure. On upland it will make from one to three bushels per acre. The pea ; crop is poor aud but few peas have been ' planted. Oats will be more extensively sown than in former years. bullock's creek township. A. B. C., writing, from Blairsville, says: In some places in this section the weed of the cotton plant is small, but well fruited. With a late fall, it is thought the crop will not fall far short of the average; in fact, some few farmers say their crops are better than the crops of last year. The corn crop is as good, and on some larms, especially in bottom lands, better than last year. Uplands, however, in comparison with the low lands, are not so good. The preparations for provender for stock are about as usual, except that larger crops of turnipe have been sown. Rev. W. W. R.f Bullock's Creek, reports : In this immediate neighborhood we have had but one rain, sufficient to wet the ground, sioce the 27fit of April. This last rain fell on the 7th of August. Cotton has thrown off a large proportioffof its fruit. The boll is very small and opening prematurely. The yield will not amount to more than half a crop. The rust is spreading rapidly within the last few clays. Corn is almost a failure on uplands. Acres can he counted, the yield of which will not be a bushel per acre. On bottom lands probably a half crop will be realized. So far as I know, no preparations are being made for the purpose of supplying the probable deficiency in provender for stock, unless it is in the way of preparing to sow oats. Rev. R. A. R., Blairsville, writes: As to the crop pro pects in Sharon, I think I may say they are moderately fair. Upland corn will be two-thirds of a crop, I think. Bottom corn is very fine. Cotton, with favorable fall and late frost, will be two-thirds of an average crop, probably. There' are a good many cow peas planted with the corn. Some farmers are thinking of gathering and curing them, pea and all, to supplement their supply of forage. I think there will be some rye and a good many oats sown this fell. I hear of no other expedient to supply forage. I think there will be more turnips eown than usually are. It is very difficult to get rye seed. We had abundant rains on the night of the 14th of August. G. L. McN., Bullock's Creek, reports: The continued hot dry weather has had a telling effect on cotton, and corn. On red lands the cotton is geuerally small and will make half a crop; on gray lands about three fourths; and on fresh, sandy land, some farmers will make a fair crop. It has been too dry for fertilizers to be beneficial. Corn on bottom land looks well, with few exceptions. Upland corn is very seriously injured by the dry weather, and will not make over onethird of a crop. The crop of cotton last year in our vicinity was fair. Corn one-third of a crop on uplands and good on bottom lands. With the writer, however, about the same as i last year, as we had hot dry weather last year. The pea crop is backward. As to supplying the deficiency in provender for stock, the farmers have housed all their oats and wheat straw, and expect to sow the red rust proof oats early ; also wheat. "Farmer," Bullock's Creek, says : I think the cotton crop in this section is about as good as last year. Corn is not so good. Perhaps it would be fair to state that there was not more than two-thirds of an average cotton crop made in this immediate vicinity last year, and not exceeding one-third of a corn crop. Very little preparations are being made for the purpose of supplying the deficiency in the provender for stock. I think a large crop of oats will be sown this fall. J. P. H., Hood's Town, on Bullock's Creek, says: We ate having quite dry weather yet. j This has been the dryest season with us since 1845. The (rop of that year was worse than this, but this year our upland corn is a fail | ure, though vre plant but little corn on upI lands. Our bottom corn is very good and j will make an average crop. With no disaster to the bottom lands, I think we will raise corn enough to take us to next harvest. A great deal of upland corn has been cut up and cured for feed for stock, and the ground will be sown in oats this fall. There will be more small g~ain sown this fall than usual, to try to meet the deficiency in the short crop. As for cotton, there will be a falling off from the crop of last year?one-fourth per acre on an average ; may be more. j J. W. C., Bullock's Creek, says: Cotton on gray land has already matured, and will make a fair crop. Cotton on red land is growing and fruiting better than was exj pected. Early upland corn will not make more than a full third of a crop. The lowland crop is as good as the ground will grow I it. The pea crop is better than usual. This ; section of the county has been favored with good rains since the 1st of July, which have put a bright look on all late crops. Forage j will be plentiful, if looked after in time. The !, farmers of this section are hopeful of a crop I better by one fourth than that of last year.! When you see a farmer from this nighbor- j hood, you will observe he has rather a wise ! look. S. B., Blairsville, gives the following reply : I give it as my opinion that the corn and cotton crops in my vicinity are fully one-third i better than they were last year, and not far be| low an average of the last five years. I think, I I by strict economy, this neighborhood will be | self-supporting, as to food for man and beast, j W. H. M., near Blairsville, says: In this section, cotton on an average will yield half j a crop, which will be mainly from sandy j land that was well cultivated. The cotton ! planted on red laud will be almost an entire ! failure. Corn on fresh uplands will yield ! two-thirds of a crop; that on old uplands ' hardly a half crop. Botloin lauds are fine? j as good as ever seen in this section. Wheat j and oats straw were housed for forage, in ad- j dition to which peas have been planted, and the farmers will save all the fodder they can. Oats and wheat will be largely sown this fall. ! BKOAD RIVER TOWNSHIP. Dr. R. R. D., Hickory Grove, writes: I will endeavor to give a statement of the condition of the corn and cotton crops in my section of the county, which in iny practice, embraces an area of the extreme western por- j tion of Broad River township, extending i south of the Smith's Ford road ; north to the J waters of Doolittle creek, near Black's Station on the Air-Line Railroad ; east to the j 1 waters of Clark's Fork ; and west to Broad j river. Having been frequently called over ! different portions of said section for the pa6t six weeks, I think I can give a reasonable j statement. As regards the condition of the j cotton crop, I don't think it can barely reach j a half crop, c-xcept in some localities where ! , recent showers have fallen, which may run ! j it up to half of last year's crop. I do not! , thiuk it can now be benefitted by rain or late i fall. As to the com crop in my section, there j , is but very little planted on upland, and that j is nearly an entire failure. Corn in bottom land, where .farmers secured an early stand,' will make a very fair yield?say two-thirds of a crop. Late planted corn, if rains come soon, will yet make a half crop. But without rains soon, it will be very short. On an average, I think it will run a very little over a half crop. As to the preparations being made to supply the deficiency in provender for stock, it is the prevailing notion of all the farmers with whom I have conversed, to sow largely of small grain of every description, in order to meet the demand, which, from the present outlook, will be forced upon them next summer. D. C. McK., Hickory Grove,says: Cotton, in this section, will not go above 40 per cent. Corn, about 45 to 50 per cent. To supply long forage, upland corn will be cut and cured on the stalk. Farmers have planted largely of the cow pea to augment feed for stock, but unless rain comes soon, this crop will fail. W. \V. T., Hopewell, writes : Before an swering your inquiries, I must express the fear that in general our reports of crops are incorrect, because primitively not enough pains and accuracy are had, and not suffi- < cient inquiry made to establish the general estimate. 1 have attempted, within the limit- i ed time given me, to aggregate a sufficient number of particular cases to say generally i of my own vicinity: That upland cotton, ! which constitues 70 per cent, of our cotton, I crop, is 10 per cent, off from last year. Bot- i torn land is better than last year. Early I planted upland corn is 30 per cent, off from < last year. Late planted bottom corn, which I constitutes about 90 per cent., better than i last year. I would also state that cotton i picking will be generally 10 days earlier than . last year. As to your question about "the I supply of the probable deficiency in proven- I der for stock," I am obliged to make a very 1 discouraging report. In the cultivation of j the grasses; in the cultivation of peas for i hay ; in even the early plowing of ground to ( make crab-grass hay; in attention to mead- i ows; and, with a few exceptional cases, in 1 attention to the August sowing of red oats t for an early (and a full) crop; in all these methods practiced advantageously in some j regions, I am sorry to say we are sadly de- < ficient. So soon as our farmers ascertain i that our future years are apt to be years of i drought from causes well established and ( scientifically recognized, perhaps they will \ bestir themselves for modes of irrigation, aud i by deep plowing and the intelligent apprecia- < tion of manures, and attention to August- 1 sowed rid oats, their profession, which is the bed rock of all commercial, all professional life, may then suggest more pleasing thoughts of happy hearths and well rewarded labor. J In York county, from the silvery band of Broad river to the thriving eastern border; j from the historic ground of the north to its gently-swelling hills of the south, I doubt if { enough red oats are to day sowed to teed iuu horses 100 days, when 2 acres well put in (with attention similar to that given cotton) would reduce the expense of corn feed for horses 75 percent. The man who shall convince our farmers of the value of red oats, and introduce the improved methods of their cultivation, will render more true s?r- j vice to our profession than any compilation of crop statistics or agricultural bureau re- * port, or eveu the scholarly labor bestowed ^ an the revised edition of the New Testament. ^ J. B. W., three miles east of Hickory Grove, reports: Cotton will average half a srop. Corn on uplands will make one-third of a crop, and on bottom lands a medium 2rop. A portion of the com crop was planted late, and without rain it will fail short. In ( this section there will be a plentiful supply ot g forage for stock. Oats and wheat will be ? , town freely, if the season permits. There ^ will be an increase of these crop9. This cor- ^ respondent says that on his bottom lands he has the best crop of corn he has raised 6ince the war. Capt. J. W. M., Hopewell, writes: In mak- ^ ing an estimate of the present growing crop, and comparing it with the crop of last year, from my observation at this stage of the crop j and what was made last year, I can say that not more than two fifths of what was made per acre of cotton last year will be the average of the present crop. The plant will not grow more than half as high as it was last year, j and will bear rot more than half as many ( bolls to the stalk, while the bolls are at least f one third less this year than they were last j n/\f mn?n than linlf oo (>nllnn . J CO J UU IJUb vimu iiu?i mu iuwv?* vwwwm | will be gathered as was last year. As to the corn crop it will be about four fifths of the crop of last year. Early-planted corn is very poor. Late-plauted corn will be fine, if rain comes within a few days. As to forage, if the weather permits, there will be more saved than was last year. CATAWBA TOWNSHIP. Capt. J. F. W., three miles south of Rock Hill, says the cotton crop in his neighborhood is bad?the worst he has ever seen, and as compared with last year's crop, will not reach an average of one half. A large quantity of red land will not make 100 pounds of seed cotton per acre. Some of the uplands in corn will not yield a peck to the acre. A light rain, i which fell on the night of the 18th of August, j may slightly improve corn. There has been nothing done in the way of supplying the deficiency in provender for stock. D. T. L., Coates' Tavern, says : In this section of the county, the crop prospects are very gloomy, indeed. Under no circumstances can we make more than a half crop of either corn or cotton. The cotton plant, from drought and extreme heat, has shed everything, except what was made in the early part of July. The rust is also sweeping over a large portion of the crop, and no doubt will still further reduce the yield. There has been but little done as yet to meet any deficiency in the supply of forage, except the housing of all the wheat and oat straw, which, by the way, is no small item. The farmers are preparing rich plats for the purpose of sowing red oats and other small grains that will come in early, and I have no doubt all the hay and peavines will be saved that can in any way be procured. R. L. C., writing from the "Santuc" section in Catawba township, says: Cotton will not make more than one half a crop, compared with last year. Corn, on uplands, is nearly a failure. On bottom lands it will make about three-fourths of a crop. There is no preparation making to supply the deficiency in provender for stock. We had a light rain j1 on the morning of the 19th of August. :( CHEROKEE TOWN8HIP. ' Dr. J. G. B., Black's Station, makes the ! ( following statement, based upon a pretty accurate observation of the condition of the J crops in Cherokee township: The present condition of the cotton crop is bad. The ( plant is small and has stopped growing, in i many instances shedding its leaves, and has 1 ceased to form squares and blooms. The ] probable yield will not be more than 35 per i cent, of a crop. Upland corn is spent; not t more than 25 per cent, of a crop can be made. 1 On bottom lands the yield of corn will pro- i bably reach 75 per cent, of an average crop. ] No preparations are being made to supply < the deflciency in provender, as the dry weath- t er has prevented the plowing of the land to j plant any late forage crop. The farmers I have, in most cases, saved their wheat and oats s straw. The outlook is exceedingly gloomy. Stock is poor in flesh and will go into winter I quarters in bad condition to stand the winter. I \V. C., writing from Clark's Fork, says: ' In my neighborhood, on lands along King's i creek, corn crops are very good. Cotton will i make scarcely half a crop. As to provender j for stock, we feel pretty safe, if we have weather soluble for curing hay and fodder. VV. M. F., Clark's Fork, report*: In my neighborhood the corn crops on low lands are very good; upland corn is almost a failure. Cotton is not good ; not more than one third of the erop of last year can be expected. If the weather continues favorable there will be Borne provender saved, but not enough to supply the needs of many. J. B., Black's Station, writes : In Cherokee township, so far as my observation enables roe to report, cotton is small, not well fruited, and is dropping a great many of its squares. It will not make one-third of a crop. Upland corn will make one-fourth of a crop. The very low bottoms will make a good crop of corn. The sandy and higher portions of the bottom lands have suffered from the severe drought. On an average the bottom lands will make a two-thirds crop. Fruit and vegetables are an absolute failure. The farmers have housed their wheat and oats straw, which is the only step yet taken to provide provender for their stock. The native grasses, with the pea crop, are exhausted. There is little or no means left them. The outlook, upon the whole, is a gloomy one. F. H. D., Whitaker^ says : From my observation and information, gathered from the most reliable farmers^ there will be only onethird of a cotton crop, while different views are entertained in regard to the corn crop. Some hold that there will be a half crop, and others believe only one third of a crop will be made. I would say the yield will be between one third and a half crop. We had a very good rain on the night of the 18lL of August, which will be of some benefit to late-planted corn. As to provender for stock, but little has been done by the farmers as yet to supply themselves, except what they may gather from crops now growing. However, ill the oats the farmers can procure will be town. Seed oats are very scarce, and all who would sow, cannot, for want of seed. The formers are sowing from three to four times ;he quantity of turnips they usually do. Dr. A. F. H., Whitaker's Station, on the Air Line Railroad, says: The present conlition of cotton is bad. The plant is small, ind has ceased to grow and fruit. The probible yield will be one-third of a crop. Upland :orn will make no yield at all. Bottom land will yield three fourths of a crop. No preparations are making to supply provender, except that farmers are cutting and curing upend corn. EBENEZER TOWN8HIP. D. A. A. W., who lives near Clay Hill xistoffice, hut. in Ebemzer township, reports hat the cotton crop in his section will fall 50 >er cent, below last year's crop, which was an iverageone. If the dry weather continues, vhich will hasten the opening of the bolls, he crop will even fall below the above estimate. Upland corn is a failure. Most of be corn planted in his vicinity, however, is >n creek and branch bottoms. It will not neld more than a half crop. To supply jrovender to some extent, peas have been own ; but on account of the drought, but little an be expected from this source. Oats will >e sown as liberally as circumstances will >errait. J. M., who lives 2 miles west of Ebenezer Church, in Ebenezer township, reports : Coton in this section will not exceed one half a :rop. Corn will average about half a crop. \s to provender for stock, very little peas ind corn have been planted since the rain. G. E. McS., who lives four miles south east if Duff's Mills, near the line dividing Eben:zer and Bethel townships, reports: Corn will iverage one third of the crop of last year, i Though uplands are nearly a failure, with i vbat may be expected from that source and he yield of bottom lands, a full third of a :rop will be gathered. Cotton will average ine-third of a crop as compared with last rear's crop. The prospect for forage is not infavorable. Some farmers are cutting late>)anted corn that will not mature, and curing t for fodder, and others are sowing corn now or the same purpose. Much crab grass could, md probably will be, saved for hay if the eason favors. P. G., Ebenezer township, reports the corp-l in uplands as an entire failure. On bottom and it is good. Cotton, in this township, unler the most favorable conditions, will not uake more than a half crop. We are sowng red oats, and some have sown cow-peas 't fodder. J. L. W., Ebenezer, writes : I have lately een nearly all the crops in the vicinity of Ebenezer, and must say in justice to our good arraers that the crops have been well worked, )ut the drought is distressing. My caudid ipiuion, in regard to the cotton crop, is that ve cannot gather more than two-fifths of an iverage crop, with the most favorable seasons, ate fall, &c. Upland corn is almost a perfect failure. The greater portion will only do o cut off for long forage. The bottom or ow-land corn, with favorable seasons, will nake almost, if not quite, an average crop. Jnfortunately for our vicinity, we have too mall a quantity of low lands, and some farners did not even get all their bottom lands )lanted. I do not think that any preparaions as yet are being made for the purpose if supplying the deficiency in provender for tock. Some speak of sending to Virginia or hay ! F. H. B., iu the neighborhood of Tirzah Church, Ebenezer township, writes : The cotnn r>ron of this townshin will not average me-half of last year's crop. It is too late or rain to do much good, except for bottom ioru, which is very good ; but not more than me third enough will be made to supply the lemand. At present it is too dry for any jreparation to be made for supplying provenler for stock. S. D. B., in the vicinity-of Tirzah Church, vrites: Cotton is small, but sufficiently fruittd to make a half crop, yet owing to the small ire of the bolls only two fifths of a crop can >e expected. Last year the crop in this secion averaged from seven to eight bales to the lorse; this year three bales will be a good iverage. Corn will make one fourth of a ;rop, or enough to last until the first of next lanuary. The difficulty in procuring peas to jroadcnst, together with the late and unfavorible seasons, left the farmers without a relource for forage, except the little grass furlished by damp meadow spots. Dr. W. B. F., Ebenezer, says : I think here will be about one tbird of a crop of :otton and one-fifth of a crop of corn in my lpirrtihnrhnnH T Ho not know of ftnv nreDa ? / J 1? ation for supplying t..e deficiency in provenler for stock. FORT MILL TOWN8HIP. J. W. M., Fort Mill, reports: The cotton ;rop in this section is very much improved by ecent showers, and with a late fall sandy and will yield something over a half crop. Red and blackjack land will not turn out nore than one-fourth, and on many farms, en acres will not make one bale. The upand corn is almost an entire failure. Many armers have already cut it down for fodder. Bottom corn looks well and will make a fair ;rop. There is considerable effort being made o supply a deficiency in provender, by sowing peas and rye, and on every farm in the neighDorhood there is double the amount of turnips sown as heretofore. T. G. C., Fort Mill, reports : The crop in iiis township is very short?especially all lhat section west and north of the railroad, fhe farmers report that there will not be more than one-fourth of a crop of cotton made, as compared with last year, and some put it as low as one fifth. The upland corn in the same bounds will scarcely make anything. Bottom land is pretty good. All east of the railroad to Steele creek, and down in the fork of the river and Sugar creek, will make about three-fourths of a crop of cotton as compared with last year. As for corn in that section, they will make a sufficient quantity to meet necessities until next crop, provided there are no freshets or other disasters to the low lands Upon the whole, I do not tbink this township will make over one third of a crop as compared with last year. As to supplying the deficiency in provender, our people are not doing anything more than sowing all the grass and corn they can. Turnips have been sown, and were benefitted by a fine rain on the morning of August 19th. Red oats will be sown largely. Capt. S. E. W., Fort Mill, replies : There is some difficulty io giving a correct estimate of a crop. Farmers, as a class, are easily discouraged, and often underrate their crop pros pects. Since receiving your circular, 1 have been making observations and diligent inquiry, and have concluded that the cotton will yield about one-half in comparison with the crop of 1880 ; the corn crop three-fourths or seven-eighths. We depend very much on our oat and wheat straw, in connection with our corn fodder for long forage. Then, with what hay we can gather, I think we will have nearly a supply. B. H. M., Fort Mill, says : The crops of both corn and cotton in Fort Mill township will be short. Cotton will not average more than half a crop. Corn on bottom lands is tolerably good, but on uplands an entire fail ure. 1 think we can gather two thirds of a crop of corn if we have no high waters to de *?roy it on the low lands. We will sow largely of wheat, oats and rye to supply forage. king's mountain. Dr. A. P. C., Clover, writes: In answer to your inquiries of the 18th, I will give an opinion of the section of York county bounded on the north by North Carolina, east byBethel, south by Allison's Creek, and west by King's Mountain battle-ground. In the scope embraced in the above boundary, upland, corn will not make an average of one bushel to the acre. Bottom land will make half a crop. Uotton will not exceea onefifth of a crop. Many fields will not make the seed that was planted iL the spring. Farmers are generally cutting the corn stock to make more bulk for rough feed, and will sow oats?which are the only preparations being made to supply the deficiency in provender for stock. Capt. M. H. C., three miles east of Clover, says : The corn and cotton crops in my vicinity are very poor, indeed. On high uplands one bushel to the acre will be the general average. Bottom lands will yield a good half crop. The yield of seed cotton will be from 200 to 300 pounds per acre. No preparations are making in this section for supplying the deficiency in provender for stock. We had a re freshing rain on the night of the 18th of August. J. D. G., Clover, reports: From what! have seen and heard of the crops in this vi cinity, cotton and upland corn crops will prove almost failures. Twelve farmers immediately around here give the following as their prospects: 1, one sixth of a crop; 2 one-fifth; 6, one fourth, 2, one third; and 1 one-half. The one reporting one hall lives near the Allison creek section, in which ia a narrow extent that has had more rain, and crops are something better than with us. 1 have no knowledge of any united effort as yet to provide supplies of provender for the coming season, it is evident, though, that Borne action will have to be taken, and the sooner the better. It is also evident that the amount of supplies furnished next year by perhaps a majority of the merchants will be in proportion to the amount of their collections this fall. If the one falls short so will the other. J. T. Mcli., .Bethany, writes: Uomparing crops in this vicinity with last year's crops, we feel very safe in saying, from present pros pects, that there will be two thirds of a cotton crop made. One third of a corn crop on uplands, and two-thirds of a crop on bottom lands. The majority of the farmers in this neighborhood will have to buy almost all the corn and provender they consume in making next year's crop. The oat crop was almost a failure. We made two thirds of a wheat crop. At present no preparations are making for provender, except the sowing of peas. Many speak of sowing grasses. "Farmer," writing from Zadok postoffice, six miles north of Yorkville, says: The cotton crop has been injured very much by the heat of the last two weeks. Bust and lice have caused it to shed a large portion of the forms and leaves. The present crop will fall stiW of that of last year one-fourth, and on some farms one third. The corn crop on uplands will be one-half less than the crop ot last year. Bottom lands will yield about equal to last year's crop. The preparations for the deficiency in provender are very limited so far. I have sown H acres in turnipssowing in drills and applying phosphate in the drills, in the proportion of 300 pounds to the acre. I expect to sow more turnips, and also one acre in lucerne. YORK TOWNSHIP. J. N. R, 4i miles north-west of Yorkville, reports the cotton crop in his neighborhood at about two thirds of the crop of last year. Corn on upland will make about one-fourth as compared with the crop of last year. On bottom laud the corn crop will average about ! the same as last year. Though it should be ' remarked that last year's crop was not a full i one. As to provender for stock, the only preparation made, so far, is the planting of corn on stubble land, to be gathered for fodder. H. K., two miles north of Yorkville, on the headwaters of Turkey Creek, speaking for himself and immediate neighbors, thinks that section will make of cotton one-half crop as compared with the crop of last year. Corn will make about one-fourth cron. R. H. G., whose farm is about 2 miles j west of town, on the Adair's Ferry road, says j the cotton will be about one third of the crop i of last year on the same land. Bottom corn i will be about three-fourths of a crop, and uplands a complete failure. His observation is that bottom land will not yield fully as well as appearances would indicate, from the fact that on account of the peculiarity of tl? season, the ears filled prematurely, and are consequently short, with light graiu. Peas on j new ground and bottom lands are doing well. 1 Those sown on old uplands a failure. J. A. R., 2 miles south east of town, gives ; as his opinion that in his neighborhood cotton i will not make more than one-third of a crop? certainly not a half crop. Com on bottom j lands is good, and will probably make threefourths. Uplands, so far as he has noticed in his locality, are a failure. He knows of no special preparations being made to supply the deficiency in provender for stock. Col. W. B. A., 6 miles north east of York ville, reports of the scope extending from i Fishing creek to Allison's creek, between i the Wright's Ferry and the Thome's Ferry ^ roads, that cotton will not make more than half a crop. The plant is short, and in many j instances was kept back by the dry weather, which prevented fruiting in due time. It is i opening rapidly. The probable yield of up- j land corn is not worth mentioning. It may be put down as a failure. Bottom lands are j good. They were planted at a fortunate j time, and with no disaster by storm or freshet, will yield a full crop?equal to the crop of last year. Gardens and truck patches in this section were a failure. The sweet po tato crop will also be short on account of the difficulty in maintaining the plants after setting them out. From drougth, or some other cause, large numbers of slips decayed after transplanting, aud a satisfactory Rtand could not be procured. For provender, the people have been saving all the grass they could, and are cutting and curing upland corn. Some rye has been sown and oats will be sown freely, if the season permits. Hon. A. S. W., who lives five miles southeast of Yorkville, and two miles east of Turkey creek, reports from his section, that cotton, with the exception of that planted on red lands, will make half a crop. Red lands will not produce more than one fourth of a A I . OK Ki'o UI'IJJJ. nuuut JLU pj| txilb. U1 kliU WIV|/ IU uio section is planted on red lands. The corn on uplands is almost an entire failure. Bottom lands are a good average?better than usual. Upland corn will be cut and cured for forage. Peas, sown for forage, are doing poorly, on account of the dry weather. Oats will be sown more extensively than usual, and a large crop of wheat will also be sown. D. L. B., two miles east of Yorkville, reporting for his immediate section, says cotton will not exceed one-fourth of a crop. Corn planted on uplands is a complete failure. Bottom lands will yield about one-third of a crop. To supply the deficiency in forage, oats will be sown liberally, and it is probable more wheat than usual will be sown in his neighborhood. L. R. W., six miles ea9t of Yorkville, writes: The cotton and corn crops in my vicinity are certainly very short. I think I would be safe in saying there will be half a crop of cotton, provided it is not injured with rust. I have noticed the appearance of rust in places: In regard to the corn crop, it is an entire failure, with the exception of low lands, on which it is very good. In regard to supplying the deficiency in provender for stock, the people in our viciuity have nothing to fall back on. They will try to save their short fodder the best they can. Some are speaking of cutting up and curing stalk and all. Foraee will be verv scarce. There is o - - ?r aome of last year's crop of com on bandprobably enough to last until the present crop is ready to gather. W. W. J., 5 miles north west of Yorkville, reports: The condition of the crops in this section, as compared with last year, is not very encouraging. The cotton crop will fall considerably below the average of last year. Not even in the "rain belt," including a scope commencing 5 miles north west of Yorkville and extending about 5 miles in the same direction, can there be more than a half-crop made. The average yield of corn will fall one 1 fourth short of last year's average. The indi- 1 cation now is that there will be a much larger area sown in oats than usual, provided seed can be obtained. Several farmers are now plowing in oats, and others are hunting seed. The ( area sown in turnips will exceed that of last year. With the late rains, potatoes will be a fair average. The pea crop will prove almost a failure, the area sown beiog small. J. W. N., three miles north of Yorkville, reports that nearly all the corn crop in his neighborhood is planted on bottom land and will not make more than half a crop. Cot- J ton will not yield more than half a crop. IgiscrUattrattSi gUadiwj.: THE LIEN LAW. The lien law is now agitating the minds of our people. The State Grange, at its recent session, voted unanimously for its repeal. This body is composed of intelligent and thrifty farmers who never give liens. The arguments in favor of the repeal are about as follows: 1. No tenant can get an honest living out of the soil and accumulate property when he has to pay 30 to 100 per cent, above the cash price for supplies. 2. This brings about a state of slavery to the merchant as bad as the abject slavery of former days. 3. The tenants drawing their supplies from the merchant cannot be controlled by the landlord. 4. This system makes farmers out of a thriftless class that should be hirelings. 5. Tenants that always live a year ahead will never improve lands and prepare for the future by sowing small grain and preparing pastures. 6. It tends to alienate tenant and landlord, tenant looking on the merchant as his best friend, and his landlord as a hard hearted, grasping man that would take everything made on the soil. 7. It degrades the manhood of the laborer, teaching him to depend on a lien and not character, making him careless as to whether he works or not. If he can manage to settle his lien and get credit for another year, he is contented. These are a few of the arguments advanced on one side. In answer to these, the other side states their case somewhat after this manner: 1. The lien law is optional. No one is 1 obliged to purchase under it. 2. The landlord has a perfect right to furnish supplies to hie hands, and if he would do it as readily as the merchant, and much cheaper, as he claims, then the tenants would buy where they could get the best bargains. 3. Many land owners ! refuse to furnish tenants or go their security for supplies. 5S Often the landlord lives far from his farm and pays no attention to it or the land except to collect rent. 5. The landlords force hands to the tenant system, because they will hire only in the busy seasons of the year, leaving them idle the balance of the time. Then they will not hire the women and children. So a man with a wife and a large family of children is obliged to become a farmer, and work everything that can raise 1 a hoe. 6. As a general thing they offer no | inducements to hands to improve lands by ditching or sowing down or gathering up 1 manure, hence the hands float about with no flxed home, looking to the merchant to support him from year to year. 7. The lien law is simple and easily understood. The humble tenant understands its operations about as well as the ablest lawyer. Neither the merchant nor farmer will furnish supplies with out some security. This law is, in the main, satisfactory both to merchant and tenant. 8. Should the law be repealed, and the ten ants be forced to hire to the landlords, payments would have to be made weekly in order that the families might be supported. Onefourth of the landholders of the country could not meet these payments for hired labor until the first of April. 9. The next year will j be a very hard oue for all classes, and it will I be difficult to get supplies on the best ' and strongest securities. A change the pres- 1 ent year would be unwise, for labor would I thereby be disorganized. 1 Such are some of the arguments advanced 1 on both sides of this question. It is now open I for discussion. The Legislature at the next j < session will have to decide it one way or the < other. They should not only be well inform- < ed as to the merits of the law as it stands, but ( also as to the policy of the repeal.?Spartan burg Spartan. < The Pulse.?Pulse is a throbbing of the ' arteries caused by intermitting pulses commu- < nicated to the blood by the heart. The arteries being elastic expand for an instant with the increased amount of blood forced into I them by each heart beat, and for the same 1 reason contract the moment after, producing < thus a series of ware-like movements from the I heart outward toward all parts of the body. \ The enlargement of the artery by the passing < waves of blood lifts it somewhat from its bed, i so that it becomes perceptible to the touch, i Within the limits of health there may be con- i siderable variation in the frequency of the 1 pulse, the number of pulses per minute differing with age, sex, stature, muscular action, mental action, the state of the digestive process and the time of day. The average frequency per minute is approximately indicated by the following table, given by Carpenter: Pulse in the newly-born infant, 130 to 140 Pulse during'ho first year, 115 to 130 Pulseduring he second year, 100 to 115 Pulse during he third year, 05 to 105 Pulse during he7th to the 14th year,.... 80 to 90 Pulse during .he 14th to the 21st year,.. 75 to 85 Pulse during the 21?t to the 60th year,.. 70 to 75 In old age, - 75 to 80 In inflammatory or acute diseases the pulse may rise to to 120 or even to 160 in the adult, and become so frequent in the child that it cannot be counted. Muscular exertion, menelevation above the sea level accelerate the pulse, and as a general rule it is more fre quent id the morning man in tne evening. It is slower in sleep, and from the effect of rest, cold, or blood-letting. The pulse of a grown woman exceeds that of a man of the same age as much as 10 to 14 beats a minute and according to some authorities is less frequent in tall than in short persons, the variation beiDg about four beats to each six inches of height. ? * METHODIST ECUMENICAL CONFERENCE. The Ecumenical Conference of Methodists to meet in London will, no doubt, be one of the most important religious conventions of this age. It is no depreciation of others to say that this denomination is the most important, in many respects, in America. While not more representative in its character or democratic in its usages than others, it is nevertheless, emphatically a church of the people. It is, perhaps, more distinctively American in the manner of its work, its unhesitating march into all fields, aDd its homogeneous character, wherever it may be, than any other denomination. Its ministry has been one of individual manhood and of aggregated heroism. It has, for the most part, been composed of strong men ; strong for the work it had in hand, which has been, in the main, well done, and never in any of its parts abandoned. Whether the Methodist Church has seen its days of greatest usefulness in America, as at present organized and equipped, as many have predicted, we presume not to say. We believe rather that the wonderful power it has always possessed of adaptation to changing circumstances will lead it into the paths of successful development and enable it to meet all the requirements of our unfolding civilization. It is too strongly intrenched in the affections of the people, its tendrils have run out into and become interlaced with the social organizations of all classes of society to such an extent, that there is little reason to believe there are any causes yet developed which presage its retrogression or decay. Methodism in the world is however, divested of much of its strength by numerous divisions not intrinsically important. In Great Britain there are the Wesleyan Methodists, New Connection Methodists, Bible Church Methodists, Free Church Methodists, United W* L.J'nin DJMAA4A?I A/f nfUrt/Iioto flnd lugbuuuusuo, jl flUVCH/U UiClUVUiObo nuu j^vuu Room Methodists. The British colonies furnish several other offshoots of the great church, of which may be named the Wesleyan Conference, United Brethren and Free Methodists. The two great divisions of the church in the Onited States, by which it is known to the people, are the Methodist Episcopal Church North and South. In the matter of doctrine there are no irreconcilable differences between these numerous divisions. Great liberty is exercised if not specifically sanctioned. Baptism in any desired form is administered and is held valid, though the mode designated by the church, as its own defininition of Scriptural baptism, is "sprinkling." Galvanism is clearly at variance with the Methodist creed, yet no doubt there are communicants in the church who believe in the great French reformer. Methodism in the world embraces nearly 5,000,000 of souls. A very large proportion of this membership is in America. Rapid as tal excitement, digestion, alcoholic drink apd has been the growth of population in the United States* the percentage of growth in this church has in each decade been greater. No new doctrine, we are told, will be enunciated at the approaching conference or council. The meeting is for consultation, and possibly looks to a closer co operation, if not consolidation, of elements which ought not to waste any of their force by divided and distracted efforts. The followers of Wesley, it is hoped, will be brought closer together and the great -work of the church be forwarded by wise and friendly counsels. ? + A Scheme to Encourage Wedlock.?At the next meeting of the Ontario Legislature application will be made for the incorporation < ' vt-.j ? i u?: r?? a 01 me Xiuuouai iriurnagc jlsuwcijt aoouuiation. The object of the promoters of the 9cheme is in all probability to make money, but the result of their quest of money will undoubtedly be to encourage the man and ihe maid to wed. The society first began its operation in Indiana, and is now casting its benevolent arms over the bachelors and spinsters in other States, Territories and Provinces. In the words of the circular, the association is established "to encourage lawful wedlock, to promote economy, to endow homes and to make married life the end and aim of the rich and poor alike." The scheme is as follows: Supposing John Smith, on the 13th day of August, casts his lot in with this association. He pays, in the first place, $5 for bis certificate, and a semi-annual payment thereafter of $1. In case some of his co insurers marry, and there not being sufficient funds in the Treasurer's hands to pay the sum to which the newly married mau is entitled, an assessment of $1 is levied all round. These are the payments to which he is liable. The benefits are that should he marry on the 13th of August, 1882, he is entitled to 8200. Should his marriage not occur for five years, he would been entitled to 81,000, and so on. We don't suppose that ladies are excluded from the association. It's a grand scheme. Any young lady who wasknown to have one of these certificates would be the observed of all observers, and the admired of all admirers. At church and mar' 1 ?1 ? ~ ~ 1 J tnnnt fnn ouiQino KCl places SUC WUUIU UUL WOIH ivi on??uo, A Wonderful Memory.?In the St. Louis Post Office is employed a man with a phenomenal memory. He was taken on in the mailing division about eighteen months Bgo and given the lowest position. He has several times been promoted on account of good record, and at his last examination gave evidence of his close application and phenomenal memory. It is customary for the examirer to name the Post Offices in a certain amount of territory, and require the examinee to give the location. In this case the employee was examined on the Post Offices of Missouri of which there are 1,790. He did not need to be questioned, but withmt prompting named every Post Office in the State and the county in which it is situated, and without mistaking a Post Office or a county, and did this in thirty minutes. Most persons, when they come in from the rain, put their umbrellas in the rack with handle upward. They should put it downward, because when the handle is upward the water rone down inside to the place where the ribs are joined to the handle, and [cannot get out; but stays rotting the cloth and rusting the metal until slowly dried away. The wire securing the ribs soon rusts and breaks. If placed the other end up the water readily runs off.