Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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^ VY' f ■ ■ T ' IISES AND ABUSES OF WATER ON THE FARN. We have spoken somewhat of the action of water in the soil and in the slant, fcut—it will be well to look into this more closely. About four- fifth* of the earth’s surface is water, or perhaps we should say about one- fifth of our watery world is dry land. Water is ' in. it everywhere. The soil is full of little pores, and water goes through all these and spread* itself a,l_l over the surface of each little particle. There is an ocegn of earth water constantly eb bing and flowing through the ground. This water is carried by capillary attraction through the earth in ail directions. It goes downward, up ward, and sideways, clinging to the surface of IJthe porous subsoil. When dry, hot weather comes and plant growth calls for large quanti- ties of water, capillary attraction helps to bring the water up from the deep subsoil. All the time it is earning the water along every way through the fine pores of the sub soil and the top .soil. This earth •ocean moves more or less parallel with the surface, but somewhat in waves like the sea. Dig or bore a hole in the earth and you will soon find this water supply in greater or less abundance. It is always moving; never still or stagnant, unless made so' by some outside force. From this source •come all our wells and springs. Not only is this water found in what we call the dry land, but it is found in large quantities in all growing vegetation. Some plants, such • as melons, cucumbers and the like, are about ninety-eight per cent, water; taking in the hardest woods, about seventy-five per cent, of the vegeta ble kingdom is water. A very large quantity of water is always present in the air in the form of vapor. We could not breathe dry air and live. Water en ters very largely into all animal life. The blood, flesh, and even the bones are filled with water. The Bible speaks of “the Water of Life,” and there is no life in this world without the presence and power of water. Water gives power to the germ in the seed to begin life, and carries all the food tp the growing plant. Plants not only need enough water to hold their oc ^solution, but a very much ’ •? i. _r quantity to do the carrying oi »uch food. The reault of long and careful study shows that about three hun dred and fifty pounds of water must be absorbed into the roots, sent up through the sap and thrown off into the air to leave one pound of solui vegetation behind. Single trees are said to ' throw off 24 000 pound-* ol water in a single season. This enormous quantity of water must be in the reach of this tree, but there are also very many other trees push ing their roots into the same ground and gettingjtheir part at the same time. When all of these have taken their supply, a great deal of water must still be left in the soil to keep it moist and to enable it to furnish ample supply to meet future de mands. We thus see that a great supply of water is needed, if we grow large crops. The water necessary to make a common average crop of corn would cover the earth thirteen inches deep. If all of it was present atone time. About two thousand pounds of water must be carried pp through the stalks of eottoo to make one pound of hnt. About the mme quantity is needed to make one pound of corn. It is very plain that the larger the crops we wish to make, the more water we meat have at hand. In a great many farms the amount of crops we gather is in direct proportion to the quantity of water we supply. This is a matter whieh the farmer can largely con trol By intelligent- work he can By neglect or ignorance he and very •ften does, cutoff the We think the hi mecemful megemit of the farm. WewiB is the water help of sunshine and the pumping power of plant roots and cells. The mysterious power of life in plants and animals also helps in reversing and modifying the law of gravita tion. The looseness or hardness of the soil and suosoil have great influence upon the action of both of the great laws mentioned above. If the soil is too compact or tight, the water Van not penetrate it.’-oHaul soil inter feres with the action of both laws. If we have a few inches of subsoil on a thick hardpan, the rain water can not penetrate it. If the rainfall be heavy or continuous, the - small quantity of loose earth is soOn saturated with water and can hold no more. So there will be a surplus collecting. Now what does this sur- plus do? The law makes the water run in the direction nearest toward the center when it can not go down in that direction. So the water takes the most convenient way down the hillside. In doing this, it is sure to carry with it first that part of the soil held in solution, and next the finest and lightest of that which is not in solution. Soon gullies are formed, and the best of the land is carried away to the bottom lands or the creeks, rivers and oceans. Some times, where we do not see gullies, great damage has been done by carrying away the finest of the soil, and leaving only the heavy sand or coarse clay. We not only lose the w-ater, but the soil also. To do the best farming we need all the water that falls. All that runs off 1s that much lost. More damage has been done to the soil, and through that to the farmers, by washing, than by all oth jr causes, in | the hilly land? of the South. The washing shouW never have been allowed. It has taken many millions of dollars from our fields. We can ! not afford to let it continue. W’e need all the water we hayei. Can we keep it? We answer, we can. We say so, because it has already l>een done on many farms. How can it be done? We will explain. Break up the hardpan. Plow deep enough to connect with the porous earth, generally found twelve to fifteen inches from the top. Keep this loose and porous by frequent fall plowing with two to four-horse plows, Harrow often and mix all the vegetable matter with the soil. Run a complete system of levels on the farm, to be used as guide rows to plow and plant by. Do not pend on the levels to hold the wafer, but on the deep plowing, bl this way the rain water can be controlled and made to enrich the fields instead of gullying and ruining them. In this way many of the abuses of Water on the farm can be stopped. But washing is n^t the only abuse of water. Plowing and pasturing land when it is too wet is another abuse. This is generally the cause of hardpan. Soil worked too wet and dried by sunshine and rain loses its value as a food bed for plant-. Millions of clods of all sizes are made which are worth no more to planta than to many sun-dried brickbats. The plant food in these clods be comes insoluble. They can not fur nish any help to the growing crops. This is not all the damage. •re too hard for .the tender s: o’es to enter. Theae little hair •re made to go around them. Being thus constantly hindered in their work they are greatly delayed and damaged. Plants aha small and un healthy where otherwise they would be strong and healthy. The damage Lorn this source can not be fully counted up. It is like interest; It while we sleep. Land thus damaged may recover, where well treated, after many years, but whan this process is constantly repeated the land is finally worthless tor terming uses. As clay soils hold water longer, they are more apt to ha injured than sandy or loamy nils. Another abuse of yater is found in exactly the opposite direction. While *watar fa needed, too much if still, may be harmful air, and water mustba miitftedin. proper proportions, or aeration can not do Ho work. Too water egU retard or entirely step this work, So we moat sat are able to get the best results by underdrains. These should be well plowed and laid with pipe or tile. Never work shur land.—Agriculture *o , ■ for the Common School?. “A PLEA FOR ALL R F D ROADS TO BE MADE PUBLIC”. The greatest boon that the people of the-rural districts ever directly or indirectly received from the Federal government, Hf the R. F. 1). service while it is still its infancy, it has grown marvelously and has worked wonders in the advancement of civil ization. But still it is not perfect, even though there has been many improvements made, still there is one thing that has been entirely overlooked, not by the United States government; but by the • different states, and that is the subject of good roads. Should all the rural routes roads be made public? In my opinion the justifiable of the question will be un animously answered in the affirma tive, by the average thinker. There are now in several of the states laws declaring all R. F. D. roads public, but Tm sorry to say South Carolina, although a leader of states i i great and important matters, hasn’t as yet awaken to a sense of duty on this one important subject. Mr. Rural Patron, would you like to see your rural route road made public and worked in order that your carrier can get your papers and letters to you more promptly? Would you like to have your roads worked so that it will tie a pleasure to drive over to see your neighbor or to haul a load from town? If you do you can get it if you will only try. This year is campaign year for legislators. Go to the campaign meetings, put your proposition to the men who are seeking the honor able job of making our state laws, get their views, then cast your vote for the men who are in hearty sym pathy and are willing to work tor this important proposition. Re member, the men we send to Colum bia interested with the duty of mak ing laws by which we are to be governed are only human and'often make mistakes by leaving very im portant things undone; but still they want to do the proper thing. So voters, lets all strike this popular chord and I’m quite sure our law- makes will cater to the music and in one year hence, every inch x of road traveled by rutel mails will be made public. * • But what are we going to do until this proposed law can be made and put into effect? I have about eight miles of neigh borhood road on my route. Last year I gave my sub-carrier a few days employment, sounded the come help me much call, which was responded to by a large number of my patrons, consequently quite an i.nprovement was made on that eight miles of neighborhood road for which I’m heartily thankful. I am going to call bn my patrons again this summer, and feel sure that I will get a greater support than I did last year. We people up this way want good roads and are willing to pay the price to obtain them. I hope a large number of voters heard Mr. D. H. Winslow, the good roads man, while he was in Colleton. 1 heard him in Newberry at our R. L. C. A. meeting and fed sure he is accomplishing much good, aahia views on ."building roads are excellent. Rush your bond issue Mr Editor, I hope to see South Carolina, the banner state in the Union, on the good roads proposition, and I want to see Colleton county the banner county in the state. Yours for Public R. F. D. roads. . Thomas Black, * R. F. D. Carrier No. 1. Ruffin, July, 16. CO. K. RETURNS. AFTER A DELIGHTFUL TRIP TO CHICK AMAUGA HE) WARD RIFLEMEN RETURN. NOTICE. To Obtala the Highest Ouli Rrfee ■ j for Year Cattle, Calves, The local military company, the Howard Riflemen, known in military parlance as Co.. K. 3rd Reg. N. G. S. C. returned Thursday evening, tired out and weary of travel and camp life incident . to a week’s encamp-J ment at the famous baftle ground of Chickamauga. The officers and men have expretu- efl themselves as being well pleased with the trip, in the military sense, as well as being one of much enjoy ment and piersure. Company K., as was to be expect ed, has been one of the best, and has been complimented, on divers occasions, for the prompt and cor rect manner in which all orders were obeyed and executed, and for its ex ceptionally good behavior and gen erally good deportment, which is very gratifying to officers and men* To those not familiar with the routine life of a soldier, it w'ould be perhaps not amiss to give in detail the usual camp routine: Reveille is sounded at 5:20, which is the begin ning of the days work. The senior non-commissioned officer musters the men at 5:30, reporting all absen tees and sick. Tents are then rolled up, and the company street is clear ed of all rubbish, which is termed "policing the street” At seven, breakfast is served and sick call sounded, from then until 8, get in uniform of the day. At 8 as sembly is sounded, the companies fall in on their respective streets, then battaliion formation and com mence the prescribed drill for the day, which lasts until 1, when din ner is served, and in this instance, there being no afternoon drill, the men engage in scrubbing clothes, cleaning rifles, and various other duties. At 6, supper is served, after which general leave is granted, some availing themselves of the opportun ity of going to the city, and some remaining on the reservation, spend ing their time in camp, reading, writing and the Army and Navy Y. M. C. A. has a huge tent, where reading and writing tables, piano and some entertainment is provided every night during the week, relig- eous services being held on Suuday. The majority however, go over to Chatanooga, 15 minutes by trolley from Chickamauga, taking in the various points of interest. Probab ly the most popular of these is Look out Mountain, which is enthusiastic ally conceded by all who have seen it to be the finest in the world. The trip is made by inclined railway. This wonderful panorama with its splendid variety of scenery, and in tense historical interest, is visited by people from all part* of the world. At its summit one has an uninterrupted view of seven south ern states—Tennessee, Georgia, Ala bama, Kentucky, North and South Carolina, and Virginia. Lookout Mountairf is one of the beauty spots in the land of beauty; in addition to this, it furnishes the most thrilling page in the history of Tennessee, bearing as it does: the marks of mahy wars, and of two dis tinct races First, the habitation of Indians, from whom the great river washing its base received the name that af forward became the name of the atate—Tennessee a spoon. Visitors from all parte of tha world make special pilgrimages to Lookout Mountain, and pro nounce tha view aa unsurpamed by by any in Europe. Off to the West, the purple line of mountains mark the trend of the Sand and Raccoon. Easily tha aye many follow the line of Waldron's Ridge, aaotl historic battlefield; SbermaA Haights Oaroeroo Hill, Mlsrionary Ridge and thater faint purple of tha Grant Smokies making its last link in tha magnifirent dreomforeoce. Thrill ing legenda and lore attach to this Xfth. meat interacting saury was on tha return trip, through the Piedmont HUM of North and South Carolina. D.C.H. Monos TO OBBDITOR m * w * * Orangeburg College Orangeburg:, S, C. ^ “A Thorough Education at Uio I.ow»«t Coot” SEVENTEETH YEAR FOURTEEN TEACHERS^ 0 The school stands strictly on its own merits, and offeia to the hh young people of the Slate the best of good training, under Chris- ^ tian influences, and at a cost within their reach. No better loca- 5 tion in the State, and health record unsurpassed. Sewerage. M Electric Lights. * Artesian Water Best personal care taken of hh students. Here is your opportunity to prepare for life’s work, 2 without its costing you a fortune to begin with. Student* are 5* given excellent board “On the Club Plan” at actual cost. By ill •applying business principles the co*t of living is reduced to the ML minimum. Patronage comes from every section of the State. ler English, Ger- Elocution, _—-ling. Com- mercial. Penmanship Shorthand, Typewriting, Review. * ’ We would like to mail you a copy of our catalogue. It is free for the asking. Write for it today—right now. Let us prove to you that Orangeburg College is the school for you.* ' — — — mm mr w m*m J V* • V. V Iteftirtmenfc Preparatory, Classical, Higher Engl; repairmen!* man French, Science. Pedagogy, E 2 Teachers, Primary, Music, Art, China Painting. Cookii Address, W. S. Peterson 147 S. Broughton St. ORANGEBURG. S. C. A IS A A ¥ A ®%*%*%*%***%***%%%%%%%%%%9 LUMBER, ROUGH AND DRESSED Flooring, Ceiling, Weatherboarding, Sheeting, Mouldings, Casings, Etc. ■r We give you good grades and our mets AH MU. Get our prices befoi*e placing your next order. Colleton Mercantile & Meg. Co RITTER, S. C. .. " Caswell & Brewer City Market ' (f -.. Savannah, Ga. Produce Commission Merchants o * r \ ’ ■ j. . ;' v - Solicits consignments of Poultry, Egg, Dressed Hogs and Calves, Irish and Sweet Potatoes, Peas. Onions, Celery, Cabbages, Oranges, Apples, Peaches, Pineapples, Watermelons, Strawberries, 4 Hides. Furs, Beeswax. Tallow. We are giving our consignors prompt payments, highest market rates, full weights and measures. U Ci We Need Mope^hippers. Wdl YOU Not Be One? Long Distance Phone 2813. M. JAFFA The Most Reasonable Seller Closes Out Summer Gooch At Practically No Profit CLOTHING SHOES DRY GOODS LACE EMBROIDERY ETC. OFFER GOOD FOR ONE MONTH MAIN ST. WALTERBORO, S. C. I HAVE SOLE AGENCY FOR THE L910 Model I SB AUTOMOBILE FOR COLLETON COUNTY fit climbed Pike’s Peak in 8 hours, every inch of the way under its own power. fPrice delivered ft ■ >525.00 in any part of the county. f Will take pleasure in giving instructions to all purchasers at any time. .A. DURANT CottageviOe, S. C. I will b« located at ray hams near Williams lor me present* end ww, be pleaaad to communicate with those wishing surveying dona, or my kind of aaginotoing work. \ • o nsnuATm PROMPTLY SUSMtmD. r • bams, WmilAMS. SOUTH CAROUHA. STOKES LEITHL * Stokea, R. F. D. 3. July 2S.-H» WHU* BMur mi dOiamt ti FWt am M- . : * »*»- **- Tampa, ns., are vwung o mu < former's paranta, Mr and Mis J H Hlott. SNHiottie all amOm over 1 tfcfe wuht to Mmr »■ P, • ’'f ■ y, tot, V&f } ''f V; 'ir-. /d.v'J < <r- •' tvs*'’ » -v i*.. ^ ; ■ - Mfl-l