Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-12-02

necessary consequence of thinIy settles
country.
From what little has been discovered b,
experiments lately made, the agriculture
advantages and capabilities of this conn
try, so far surpass the most slngulne ex'
peclatpns, (blsed upon the lde1 that our
lands were sterile sdnds3 thlt most per.
sons here are changing their opinions anc
mode of life, and have determined to give
the honest and virtuous business Of tilling
the soil fair trial. We can always cal
culate with certainty on an average crop
of rice, of 1000 to 1900 pounds per acre,
according to the season, and taking our
lands as they are, bad, worse, and worst,
without any manuring. Indian corn is our
poorest crop, ten to fifteen bushels per
acre on our poorest lands. Sweet pota-
toes, all kinds of peas, water melons, GU.
cumbers, turn ps, carrots, ocra, tomatoes,
onions, Lima and snap beans, &C., all
do we'll hero. Flinders, or Gouber Peas,
will yield about seventy live bushels per
acre. and the tops will make ton of the
finest hay per acre; the pea tops fed to-
gether to horses makes very fine feed
equal to both corn and hay. The crop
grass grows as finely here as ever saw,
and makes fine hay. We have species
of Bermuda grass here, which makes as
fine a grazing grass as ever saw, not sur
passed by the rich blue grass pastures of
Kentucky in any respect, and grows best
on the poorest dry sandy ridges-horSes,
cattle, and sheep, will leave any other
kind of grass for it, even the finest crop
grass, which they are generally very fond
of.
We have no rice mills in this country
yet, and we only clean rice for our own
consumption IN common mortars. | am
now cutting up my rice straw, coed and
all, in common cutting box. and feeding
horses and mules with it, of which they
are very fond, and thrive well on it.
intend pursuing the same plan with my
Pndars and Black-eyed peas, and shall
try in addition, what effect scaling or
steaming will have. Bat the great sources
of agricultural wealth in this country,
conceive 10 he. its capacity TO produce
fruit OF almost every variety, and most
kinds Of the very best quality. The
grape has been sufficiently tested to war.
rant me in saying, there can he no doubt
this country is capable OF producing as
much, or more wine, and of superior
quality, 10 similar eXtont OF any part o!
Europe; some very minute calculations
were made here this year, Il 1900 gailIns
per acre was the least qulnuy allowed by
any one as crop, with ordinary atten-
ton. Figs, no doubt, gr'w as well, bear
as much fruit, and of as fne a quality, as
any part of Italy, and could be dried and
preserved here to supp y our whole coun-
try, as we'll as on the Mediterranean, and
save the transportation.
The chief articles of export from this
country heretofore, has been cord wood,
pine plank, charcoal, sand, fish, oysters,
beef and vinegar. These articles beiag
easily obtained, and always meeting
ready sale, at fair and rich remuneratiug
prices. Considering The labor and capital
necessary to their produclIon,) in the New
Orleans market, whittier they are convey
Ell in sloops, schooners, fishing smacks,
and oyster boats, readily supply our real
wants, to the great detriment of regular,
steady produce, systematic & perseverine
agrlcnlture,and hence the great prosperity,
beauty, and utility of our country is kept
back~-the day is doubtless at hand when
enlightened reason and experience will
reverse this order Of things. Agriculture,
in all the various branches of raising
grasses, grain, fruits, stock, &c., will be
the chief business of our people, and our
surplus time and labor only will be gwen
to those pursuits that now occupy the
greater part of our time and attentions
Heretofore the sell g. uncultivated forests
have bave been the mines from which we
nave drawn our entire sustenance, and
Judging from the capacity to furnish these
Kings in such great abundance with very