Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1845-08-13

thew term 1.-THE fields remaining under
water for that period of tune the water
being merely let off 10 frsshSn it, and put
on a gain at the return Of. the Tide. ! beg
to refer those who are desirous OF being
acouanled with further details OF tilese
methods Of culivating rice. 10 MIR. ALI
sons valuable Memuir already noticed,
which contains likewise an elaborate des.
cripliou of the mills in use fUr preparing
the grain for market.
The quantity of rice exported from
South Carolina during the last year, was
estimated al one hundred and thirty thou
sand barrels of six hundred pounds each; !;
aud three hundred thousand bushels oi
paddy or rough rice. transmit herewith
a copy of the analysis Of rice made by
Professor Dr.. Charles U. Sheppard, at
the instance and expense Of the Aericul.
tural Society of Winyaw, and All Saints
in Georgetown district, South Carolina.
The greatest and most important change
in tho cultivation of this State, took place
towards the close of the eighteenth CEN
tury, BIZ the introduction Of cotton. 1t
was first cultivated in 1884, and in 1896
six millions of pounds Of clean cotton
were exported. 'Since that period, lis cul
tivalion has been rapidly extended. so that
the quantity now produced. is little short
of sixty millions Of pounds.
The usual method of cultIvaling cotton
in this State is. after due preparation OF
The land, and manuring il as highly as the
means within the reach of tho planter
will permit. 10 sow the seed on pretty high
ridges, four feet apart. dropping il in holes
made al a distance OF from eight 10 twcn
~ inches from each other according 10 the
qualify of the soil. A liberal quantity ot
seed is deposited in each hole TO provide
against lhe many casualties to which this
! plant is liable. At the proper season Of
their growth, the plants are lhinned out
so as 10 leave only single one al The reg.
uiated distance. In the neighborhood of
the sea coast, where the best cotton is
produced, the plough is used only to pre-
pare the land TO receive The seeds, the re-
maining culture being performed with
the hoe. ltis laborious, tine practice be-
ing to hoe over field six or seven times
in season. In other parts of the State.
where green seed or shor, staple cotton is
cultivated, the plough is in general USE
both for preparing the land, aud the cul-
ture OF the crop. They use for this Pur,
pose a triangular share, which from its
shape is called shovel plough. 1t has
always appeared to me, that the plough
might be used with advantage below. and
a better kind Of implement than the one
described, be adopted by the planters in
the upper districts. From past experience,
am convinced that the subsoil plough
ought ID be more generally used through
ouI1he State. TIE srearest defect, how.
ever, in The agricultur" of South Carolina,
and rha. which produces the most disas-
trous consequences. is the continued cult
vation of the samo description OF produce
upon The same land. Planters fully un-
derstaud the importance of manurine their
lands, and exercise great industry in COL
lecIing and spreading il over their fields.
They use Tor the purpose wood leaves and
straw, either rodden by cattle. and mixed
with animal manure, or in their crude
state, and in the late discoveries OF ex
lensive beds of marl in South Carolina,
by Pr. Rutfin, and that genilcman's ad'
mirdble essays on the uses of Calcarious
Manures have been more widely circulated
both lime and mari have been much used.
Sill hear of 40 improvement in The
manner of cropping tho land. NO rota-
ton. even the most obvious and simple,
has been yet adopted. Mr.. Ruttin rec.
ommeuds alternate husbandry. aud the
use of the pea aud sweet pola'oe. as the
most suitable plants for restoring Or keep
ing The land in heart. Ills recommends
lions will, it is to be hoped, produce a
better system Of farming aud planting Than
has hitherto been pracliced. The SOIL oil
the middle and upper districts being com
posed chiefly Of disintegra'ed primitive
rocks. all containing more or less lime, or
potassium, is well adapted to, the growth
of clover and therefore capable of The
highest improvement; aud The abundance
of mari and shell lime, in The lower coun
lry, would enable the planter there to cul-
tivale hoih clover and ,urneps. in order to
prepare the land for grain. BoIh planters
and farmers, ought to be impressed with
The importance Of the rule adopted in the
best farming countries in EnrnPe-never
to raise TO maturity two culmi!erous crops
in succession on the same iand. The
granite region of South Carolina, by.
which mean that portion of the State,
si,u al ed abuve the first falls of the rivers,
does not presen, the bold and rocky scene
rs which generally distinguishes regions
Of granite aad gneiss; bu, gently uhdu.
lating surface covered with vegetation,
peculiarly arising from the circumstance
of its primitive rocks having become dis
inregra,ed by the action OF the atmosphere
producing loose, friabIe aud fertile soil
from the valley to the hill top easily cul-
tivated and very productive, bat requiring
constant attention TO preserve 1t. The
frequent use of the plough. aud the unre-
mirted culture of the soil in corn and cot
ton, have not only deterlorated the quail
~ of the land. but exposed the surface to
be washed away by the heavy rains OF
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