The Columbus Journal

Oconee Correspondence.

Mr. and Mrs. O. Burns of Osceola, who have been visiting the latter's parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Swartsley for the past few days, returned home on the 22d; they were accompanied by Miss Burns, a sister of Oscar's.

The watermelon harvest is in full blast now, and any person desiring a first-class, A. No. 1 case of colic can have the same by calling on us at our place of residence, or informing us of their desire through the mails.

G. Hodel is plowing now, notwithstanding that the ground is very dry even since the late drizzling rain, which, however, did not come with force enough to penetrate the soil to any great depth.

Hay land is being rapidly divested of its covering, and hay stacks are springing up in all sections of the country. The crop this year will fall far below an average yield, but considering the discouraging prospects of this summer, the farmers are to be congratulated.

The threshing of flax in this vicinity is almost completed, and some of the neighbors have threshed their entire crop, including wheat and oats. W. H. Swartsley informs us that his flax yielded fourteen bushels to the acre, which is an extraordinary yield, but considering the fertility of Nebraska soil is not to be wondered at.

We will state here for the convenience of the public that as our location is near the southern part of Bismark Township, we sometimes mention parties living in Columbus Township under this head, so we have concluded, that our next items shall be under a different head, and to avoid confusion we insert this paragraph.

Owing to our non-correspondence for the past few weeks we failed to mention that the dogs of the neighborhood made a raid on J. C. Swartsley's hogs, and killed several fine ones. We think that all law-abiding citizens should not allow their dogs to run loose in this manner, and leaving them liable to do damage; of course in some cases this is practically impossible, but still we say that a man should be held responsible for the damage done by his animals.

Hog cholera is again manifesting itself in this neighborhood; C. H. Sheldon has lost quite a number of his fine hogs, J. H. Craun is now losing his, and D. Bartles has lost all his young pigs. Now, when it is just appearing, is the time to take all precautions against it, and we think if the proper measures were adopted its ravages might be stopped. But having previously treated of this subject quite extensively we will now close this communication by signing it,

CHARLES.

We are informed that there are parties traveling through the country contracting this year's crop of corn, and in some cases paying a portion of the purchase money down. We hear of a number of farmers who have been offered twenty-five cents per bushel and of one who has sold his crop for that price. We believe farmers are very foolish to contract their crop this year for any such price as those contracting corn are paying. The crop is very short in many of the corn growing states, in fact it is very short in some portions of our own state, and if the supply and demand has anything to do with the market price of this commodity, corn will bring a good price this fall, and the farmer who sells is liable to rue his bargain. Corn in this county is an excellent crop, and the farmers should reap the benefit. Don't sell your corn until it is husked, and then take what the market pays, or hold it for a raise as you see best. Sure it is that it will bring more than twenty-five cents per bushel. It is worth that figure at the present time, and a little more. Hold your corn and reap the benefit of your labor, don't give the benefit of your summer's work to some speculator, who has no object but that of making money at your expense. When these gentlemen give you a call, tell them that you will see them later.-Schuyler Herald.