Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-07-26

olHeTS, ano proDaoly that Wnlcn COSTS more
vii! produce more in like proportion.
could point out lands through the pine re-.
gon, below the Ridge, broad enough to set
tie colonies, which will produce as much or
more than my estimate, that can be had at
from 81 to S. per acre--the price depen.
ding more on the neighborhcod than the
qualty-and, in all probability, these lands
may lot be much higher for generations,
awaiting the slow process Of increasing
population to advance their value. The
value Of a full task hand mayb estimated
here at about scotland his expenses on
the plantation per annum, including his
shsre Of the overseer's wages, DOCTORS bill,
cloihing, iron, salt, bagging, mules, wagons,
gea. and meat, (if the planter cannot raise
his meat, which in general may easily be
done) and oil o,her consumable plantation
necessarics, | will put down at $50. Long
experience and strict accounts have taught
me that this is fair average, though i'm
agine most planters will think it is too much
especially if they do not keep full mem.
orandum ofexpenses.
Now let US turn to the Western country.
According to the opinions Of the most &c.
curate and judicious Western planters, |
have seen, It may be assumed, that 1000
lbs. of ginned cotton per hand is very
good averay ye crop-probably far above
the average. We hear Of immense pro.
ductions of seed cotton per acre, and Of
bags per han !, which cannot be properly
tested or estimated. | have no doubt g..
500 or 5000 lbs. arc sometimes made. but
think might say, wi hout much fear OF
contradiction, that there are few planters who
cannot compromise at 1000 lbs, one year
,cith another Assuming thrt ten acres Of
cotton and only six Of corn are planted per
hand, and that from the quality of the SOIL
it requires less rest, the best Of lands reqnire
some, | will only allow Tor that purpose, and
for small grain, &c. four acres more OF open
land, and ten instead of fourteen of wood.
land, which will give an aggregate Of thir-
ty acres per hand. ldare say, as among
ourselves, most planters there have more i;
and certainly this cannot be considered a
large estimate, compared with that allowed
our own planters. For this land, in almost
anv part of the West, with tolerable set.
tlement on it, and small proportion OF 1t
cleared, at least $40 per acre must be paid
often much more--seldom less. mean
OF course such land as vii year after year
make an average of200 lbs. cotton to the
acre. A good hand in the West may be
set down as worth S1200-perhaps at this
moment, on account Of the extraordinary
state Of things, he will no: bring it in cash,
bu: lam told much more can be obtained for
him even now on credit. think therefore,
| am justified in valung him at that sum.
TIE annual expenses of hand IN the West,
inx,uding all the items included in expenses
here, may be fairly rated al $50 per man:
Men with US al SIS. Those who have tried
i. will hardly accuse me of exaggeratIng
This item. If any planter is startled by the
estimate I make of the plantation expenses,
let him for FIVE years keep an exact account
of every cent expended for articles not
raised. but consumed on his plantation, by
no means excluding mules and wagon,
which are usually worn out there, and his
doubts will vanish.
Now, from all these data. or perhaps |
oush, to say assumptions, let us make the
following tables, the more clearly to exhibit
the difference between planting here and in
the West.<