C. BUSH, Publisher Volume XXVII No. 41 T ' " "" T-1 ' - " ' ' ' i - : OUR COUNTY AGENT'S DEPARTMENT Some Timely Talks to Polk County Farmers, and others, on Tiaely Scb jects. bv County Agent, J. R. Sams. What I Saw at J. D. Blackwell's Farm Greens Creek Township. ' When I drove up in front of his house; the first thing: I saw was a nice substantial hitching post, well supplied with accou termenfs for tying up a horse. The next thing was Mr. and Mrs. 'Blackwell with that genial smile that is always, visible when one visits' their home. The only dif ference in their visible anatony was that Mrs. Blackwell was in possession of a watering pot, studiously applying - water to some thirsty flowers by the" walk in yard, while Mr. Blackwell was leisurely standing around seeing it well done; but it is well known that Polk county is famous; for having the best womon in the world to take care of their hus bands. But without futher per sonalities. I saw something which I did not know what I saw, the whole surrounding was so changed that it was" hard to rea lize what had happened, it look ed as if the home grounds had Old boxwood and hedges had been trimmed up and the "whole place overhauled almost beyond recognition, we first visited the hoglot where Mr. Blackwell had some fine porkers, nicely and comfortably enclosed for a boun tiful supply of meat for the fam ily next year, we then went to a near by Irish potato "plat which is planted Jn an up to present day style, planted five feet apart with intentions of a row of.ee rn' between the rows, and cow peas to follow when this corn is worked the last time. We then visited a field of oats and vetch which had been prop erly inoculated and it makes our heart glad to see" that such good stuff can be grown' Qn boll wevil "cotton-land in Polk county. We then went through a wheat field which is not so promising as the oats and vetch; but is safe to say Mr. Blackwell will eat - bis cuit from his own soil nest yearr We then passed throucrh a field of oats and vetch thatisa volun teer crop from last year's ' cut ting, without one stroke of labor and it is almost as good as the vue reierrea to. it only shows what a wonderful country "" Pied mont, N. C. is. We then passed oy a little cotton house when Mr. Blackwell opened the door and there stood on end 9 bales of' as fine cotton as ever grew in Pied nt.N. C, which grew year Wrelast. ' - To hear, Mr. Blackwell talk 0ne would think he was about reto take Quarters in the cunty home; but look around f. his farm and the 'ida is 80011 dispelled. Wp wfitit to the warden which was well enclosed W1th good wire fencing, and first saw a strawberry1 bed extend all the way across the good m garden. NpYt porno gov- rows of cabbage, well' culti Jgted and nearly' ready- for use. came some rows of beans ana swoof a t i i . vc UJ1I1 some msn po tatoes, English peas, beats, etc., W1tn a strm t u., -r j.- g j V11 Ui wur ciuver iu grow to stock his entire farm. , y tnen COOk HIP tn a aoinn nf Darn where there was a pile el ris Potatoes, about 20 bush- which, he means to plant yet; bepn uPr0Ut on them they have B J -kept so well. I asked Mr. pavtwell if he found it hard to h s tax since the boll wevil WhatT61 Pshaw! he responded, ao I care for the boll wee- The Only vil, when I can plant 3-4 of an acre of land and pay my tax and have that pile (20 bushels of do- tatoes left. In addition to all the resources for a support for his family. He has apples tre6s, peach trees, grape vines, sweet potatoes, sorghum cane, pastures and some good 'milk cows, and poultry. I asked Mr. Blackwell what plans he had for heading off the cotton boll weevil? fie replied that he had him already headed off. That instead of be ing starved out by him; that he expected to starve Mr. Weevil out; unless he changed his mode of living Mr. Blackwell buys no corn, no hay, no any thing ex cept sugar, coffee, salt etc, and I would not be surprised if he improvised some way to get around the purchase of these articles. Let all farmers in the cotton belt do likewise and fare likewise. To Polk County Farmers. " ' This is a very important season of the year. The season of be binnings. If nothing "is begun; Nothing will be accomplished through the year.- The season up to now has been very unpro pitious; but the sun is now shin ing and the leaves making head way on the trees. Gardening is an all important thing and needs attention. Don't allow the good wife to do all the planning and work too in the garden. Then it is corn planting time. Are you going to plant that little mixed yellow and blue grain non descript seed or will you look around and secure the best seed corn possible. Then don't for get to plant a liberal supply of soybeans, cow peas, velvet beans etc. To make the best of feed for the milk cow next winter, and help to keep lip the fertility of youV land. If you have not pruned the peach trees, do so at once, it will not in jure them nor thin the peaches. Everything is behind and calling for immediate attention. Don't work your selves to death; but keep kicking like the ' 'frog in the pail of milk" and you will not drown. On wet days, improve the pastures instead of loafing at the stores and foolishly spending your nickles for soda pop. See that the poor horse or mule that pulls the plow does not have sore shoulders. How would you like to be caught up and put in a tread mill with bit in your mouth and pull all day with raw shoulders, and go to your stall with bleed ing shoulders, and unsatisfied stomachs? I have seen some milk cows last week so poor they could almost swim in a pint of milk, while I have seen others fat enough for good beef, which kind are you keeping? New what about that sorghum syrup to test the, market this fall. If you mean to do any thing; get busy. Plant a good lot of sugar drip cane, you can't go far wrong along that line, the stalk, fodder and seed will make fine feed for your cattle if you decide you don't want the syrup. Now is the time to think out all these things that you have riot already thought out, and what ever you do, or don't do; don't plant to much cotton; but what you do plant, plant it in the best best cultivate, and fertilize in the most approved way, and as the summer comes on, keep cool, I mean your temper, for there will arise this summer many perplex Pcper Published in Pclk Ccanty Tryon, N. C, ing things; but the man 4 or wo man who keeps a sweet temper and a cool head will be those who come through the year in best physical and financial con dition. Be patient, watch, wait and see. Odds and Ends. v Easter is gone and " peaches plentiful on the trees. The apple crop at this time - is very promising. The Farmers Federation is coming right along. All the way on earth it iould do better, is for all farmers to come right- along and join the brothers and sisters. Why don't every Federation member subscribe for the Polk County News that will keep you posted on the market See me or the editor, we have a little secret for you, ask. In Polk County there are five banks pulling for themselves and for Polkcounty. There are sev eral merchants pulling for them selves and for each other, and there is the Farmers Federation pulling for itself and for all the rest, is'nt there going on a great pulling in the county. Now let us all pull together, a long pull a hard pull, and put old Polk on the map. I I Honor Roll for the 8th Month of Tryon School. J First Grade Harley Kuykendall Warrington Preston Mamie Cantrell " Fred Swann : Qranford Hart Second Grade 4 Elizabeth Avant Julia Crawley Nellie Bradley Ruby Newman Ruth Williams Third Grade Janet Durham Florence Moore Thos. Blackwell Roy blackwell Jean Beatson 1 Roy Blackwell Mary McFarland j Fourth Grade j; Louise Andrews I Louise Averill John Kittrell - - Aberdeen Mills William Screven v Iantha Pate Edwin Wilson Elsie Whitmire 'Cleo Watson Ollie Lindsey Helen Leonard K , Emma Pettit Fifth Grade j Myrtle Kuykendall ! Zella Ballew Virginia Simmons. ; David Caldwell Sixth Grade Sydney Sayre Geraldine Sayre Thelma Durham Josephine Hill . James Fisher Polly Screven Seventh Grade Dan Rion - ! Betty Doubleday Hugh White Rodman Smith Carolyn Simmons Caroline Jervey Grace Durham Louise Dunn Sallie McClure Mary Lockhart High, School . i Ruth Andrews . Austin Wilcox' U Margaret Doubleday This is our largest and most encouraging Honor Roll. 1 ; For the past month, we had only 18 tardies; the fewest we have ever had; Still we" have not reached pur ideal. - A Live Clean Paper for the Home May, 11, 1922 Apple Growing In the Best Undeveloped Section of the United States On the Eastern Slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains lies a sec tion of country Which is excep tionally adapted to the growing of Fine Fancy Apples, grapes, peaches, strawberries, and other small fruits. The best commer cial varities of apples grow to perfection here. 1 Such favorites as Starks Delicious, Stayman Winesap, Grimes Golden, Rome Beauty, Winter Banana, Sena tore, and Limber Twigt are all found in orchards here. Pota toes of first quality may be pro duced and dairy products, poultry and livestock all offer, profitable returns. None of the above are now produced in sufficient quan tities to supply close by markets, At Saluda, in Saluda Township, Polk County. North Carolina, the conditions are particularly ideal, The soil is of good Porter Loam, rich in potash, and by the right attention will produce apples of the finest flavor and color and best keeping qualities in the U. S. This has been repeatedly demonstrated by competitive con testsras far back as the Paris Ex position where North Carolina apples took first prize for richness of flavor. Good partly developed lands may be bought here at from $15 per acre within five miles of the railroad. This section has a bountiful rainfall of about sixty inches, well distributed through- ' the year. Being in the Thermal Belt," the air drainage is as near perfect as can be found. The elevation dropping from 2500 ft. to 1000 feet in placjes causes the cold air to seek th6 lower levels and helps to insure a crop of ap ples. Many orchards here never had a .. crop failure. Being on the east slope of the mountain it is sheltered from Severe - storms and cold, and thus produces a har vest two to three weeks earlier than some sections only thirty miles away, thus giving the ad vantage of the first markets. Saluda is in the jland of . sun shine. The climate is. mild in winter , and most ; delightful in spring summer and! fall. There are very few sultry days and always cool nights.! Men unac customed to out-of-door work find they do not suffer when they try it her e. Sunstroke! is unknown: The government reports more Oz.bne in the air thin any where el ?e. It is well watered by springs . and streams of finest soft Lithia - water.) Many resi dents will testify , to its lasting benefit. . V. iSaludais an undeveloped scenic ge n. '' More fine viewsxmay be se- 3n within a mile ; of the. post- bflice than in nearly any other part of our country; The sum mer people attracted ; in large numbers by these natural advan tages help to create ' a niarket for they buy and send home to their friends many apples. Besides this one has access to all the big markets of the south and east through the Southern Railway,' with good , passenger and freight services However, as previously mentioned the im mediate section, which includes Asheville, - an excellent apple market, is not now producing enough f qr its own use. .V.;''- Saluda is s4 tuate d' on the. Federal Highway maintained by the State of North Carolina. This is one of the j best roads from all pointain South Carolina, and Georgia through Saluda to Hendersonville and Asheville. - Tb t!Gv;s,;$2-a year i : - , . ; : : OUR FRIENDS IN THE COUNTRY J Items of Interest Gathered From Various Sections of Polk County by Our Corps of Faithful Correspondents. - Saluda. May 5th, closed the commence ment of the Saluda High School. Archdeacon Griffith gave the ad dress to the graduating class. It is jieedless to say that every one enjoyed this address. After the address. Mr. Upton of Tryon delivered his medal in the prize essay contest to Jessie H. Green of the Saluda High School. There were good inproriiDtu speeches by the local trustees. And last but not least there was the presentation of diplomas and the High School Commencement Was over. . . ' W. P. Davis, the oldest mem ber of Mt. Page church passed away April 23, 1922. Mr. Davis was 90 yrs. 6 months and 10 days at the time of - his death. He had been a deacon in Mt. Page church for fifty years. ' F o r kseveral years Mr. Davis had been living with his daughter Mrf. R. W. I. Pace. At the funeral the deacons of Mt. Page church acted as pall bearers. Robert Jones- of Saluda ' died Monday April 24th and his body was laid to rest at Mt. Page on Tuesday. Mr. Peeler a Meth odist minister of Asheville and a friend of the deceased assisted hy-Miv Howard conducted the funeral. - Mr. Jones is survived by Tiis wif e. Mary who was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Staten, and by two sons Harley and Louis both of Saluda. The body of Cumby Page, who laid down his life in the World's War, arrived in Saluda 'May 4th. His mother Mrs. Henry H. Pace had received a message stating the-time -of the arrival of his body and the funer al was arranged for at Mt. Page, A large crowd assembled to honor the departed hero. The ex-soldiers" in and around Saluda acted as , pall bearers. Cumby was wounded by German machine guns and died in a nospital in France Oct 29, 1919. The body was encased in two caskets and a box. There was the coffin he was resting in " on foreign soil which was placed in a larger steel casket and then in a box to return to his native country. The whole was covered over with theU. S. flag and thus the" body approached its third x and last resting place. ; S I t TTM1 1 1 uaivm nni nas accepted a position in Marion North Caro lina. ' - t A. M. Salley of Orangeburg visited relatives in Saluda last week. ; . ' - H. Z, : Nabers of " Greenville spent the week-end' in Saluda. " Op the evening of May the 4th the Senior Class Day Ex ercises of the Saluda High School yere held in Library " Hall. Ed ward McQueen galley on account of illness was unable to attend. The other eight members of the class carried out the program to the entire satisfaction of all present; ; After the exercises were over a reception was given to the senior class by ; the large crowd assembled in Library Hall. The stores of Saluda had furn ished the punch and John T. Coats Jr. was kept busy an hour or so serving punch from his cozy corner. A. feeling of sadness was cast over the graduating class of the Saluda High School ;on account of the sudden illness of one of its members on the eye of his graduation. ' We refer to Mac Price 5 Cents $2.00 a Year Salley" who ,was taken to Bilt more Hospital for an operation, which he stood like a man and from hich he is rapidly recover ing. 1 will be m Saluda every Thurs day and Friday to do your watch and jewely repairing. Leave . orders at Saluda Pharmacy, W-. L. Tugk;er. 39-4w-pd Columbus The commencement of the Stearns High School was a great success. Large crowds attended all the exercises, espececially Wednesday and Monday, nights when the spacious auditorium was filled to overflowing. The medal for the best recitation was awarded to Hilda Burgess, with Jeanette Feagan a close second, the essay medal was won bv Gertrude West and ah English medal given by Miss Graham was won by Ida Carnegie, whose average was 99. The Bacculau reate sermon was preached by Rev. Mooney of Selby whose text was James 4:14, "What Is Your Life?" The literary address was given by Rev. Mr. Beaman once principle of what was then known as -the Central and In dustrial Institute. D i p lo m a s were awarded by the principle, W. D. Loy, and by Prof . Cobb, to 1? from the Grammar - school. The class day exercises were held Monday at 3:00, : Those graduating were : Robert Landis, Leona Feagan, Eva Pace, Hilda Burgess, Pauline Rhodes, Elma Newman. Gertrude West Veta Pack, Mamie Morgan, Estelle Pace and Aylene Edwards. The H. S. play "Safety First,'' was well received by a large audience. $46.50 was realized. Many say that this was the best play ever given at S. H. S. .The comic ooera ' 'The Famil v Doctor. ' ' whose leading- role was played by Prof. Loy was so well liked'" that by the numerous requests , it was repeated Monday night. The H. S. Chorus and Girl's and Boy's Glee Clubs had several selections throughout .the entire commencement. Piano solos duets and quartetts added variety to the program. We are sorry to note that our principle will not return another year. Mrs. Linsey Swafford of Spar tanburg attended commencement' here last week. ; Mr. Croak and Walter Hooper came monaay ior ine graauat ing exercises. r Lindsey Smith has been at tend the Asheville court.' Miss Ethel Hill of Rutherford ton visited friends here for the past week. Miss Eva Clarke is visiting the Misses Lynch. Plans are being made, for a joint Childrens' Day to be given by the Baptist and Presbyterian Sunday school. Tha program will probably be given the second Sunday in June. Miss Ruth Green has gone to visit her grandparents J. T. Waldrop' arid wife. The Saluda base ball team composed of small boys ; played , the Columbus tearii on' the lat- ' ter's diamond Monday. . The game was very s one sided the score being 7-19 in favor of Co- . lumbus. T-:'' "';J 'r;:::v-;'"'i ; Many people from Columbus attended Memorial day at Mill Spring and Greeris; Creek. v Alvin Lynch was in-Ruther-' (continued on page 8)