St. Tammany Farmer

NOTES FROM SHADY GROVE
EDITOR ST. TAMMANY FARMER:

Your correspondent left Covington Monday morning, the 13th inst., and arrived at Shady Grove, on Pearl River, in Washington parish, in the evening, after a long day's ride, through one of the most beautiful countries I ever beheld. The crops do not look so well along the road through St. Tammany, but as soon as I got into Washington parish they began to look better. The farmers say they have not had such fine crops before in a number of years. In some places they are having a little more rain than is needed, while in others the crops are suffering for rain. I paid a visit to the farm of a colored man, by the name of Sam George, who cultivates eighty acres of land, with the help of his wife and a boy. He thinks he will make between twenty and thirty bales of cotton this season; a great deal of it is shoulder high, and well filled with bolls; he has about forty or forty-five acres in cotton. His corn also looks well, and he says he will have enough to supply him through the year, without buying any. Cattle and other stock are in fine condition.

Mr. Seals, the mail contractor from Covington to Shady Grove, has a very nice place. I did not see much of his crop, but he told me it was about the best he ever had.

I made Mr. R. Daniels' my stopping place while at Shady Grove and I never enjoyed myself more anywhere. For genuine hospitality, Mr. Daniels and his amiable wife cannot be excelled. He has the most beautiful place in the country. His crops are also looking fine.

I went fishing several times, and I never had such sport before. The only trouble I found, in fishing with a "bob," or hook and line, was that of taking off the fish. They bit so fast that it kept one continually baiting the hook.

I also paid one or two visits to Mr. M. H. Tally, and was received in good style and had a delightful time. The pleasant manner in which I was welcomed by two of Covington's most fair damsels was enough to insure me an enjoyable time. Mr. Tally also has a very fine crop of cotton and corn.

The roads between Covington and Shady Grove are in a very bad condition, and in some places they are really dangerous. Some one ought to look after the road workers.

The residents in the vicinity of Shady Grove have had considerable trouble in obtaining good school teachers. As the schools are only open three months in the year, the School Board should make every effort to secure good and competent teachers. I believe they have found the right man at last, in Mr. M. E. Brumfield, who is a very quiet and steady young man, and the children will doubtless advance under his tutorship.

But all things must have an end, and so did my visit. Although I regretted to part from my friends, my "biz" would not permit me to stay any longer. So Mr. George Seals, the kind and agreeable young mail rider, offered me a seat in his buggy, which I accepted, and arrived safely at home last Monday evening, after having encountered several rain storms and being "drenched to the skin."

Yours, etc.,
W. F. E.