The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-07-12
From tho Augusta Chronicle e. Sentinel.
.nAy AT GOV. McDUFFiE'S PLAN
TATION.

have had the qualification of spending
duy n, the plantation of the Hon. George
McDniIic. By invitation oftilat gentleman
I accompanies, him on the 24!h Of May ;o
inspec; his crop; and though ne has at
tanned the greatest reputation az al orator
ard a statesman. he has now achieved the
more envahc distinc,un Of being amnnG
tho best. if no; the very best, planter in the
State of Snu,h Carolina.
,f he he counted great bcnciactor OF
mankind who causes two blades OF grass t"
grow where ouv one had previously grown,
how much greater is he who has discovered
a plan &C rearing two stalks OF cotton where
t,nIy one had but poorly succeeded before.
Gov. McDulfie has drvncd mnch attention,
and with great success to the making oi The
great American staple. cotton; he has car
r,ei the cultivation nf t!!at plant tn the h'gh-
es, Perfection Having devoted the most
of his time to tho service of his country, and
residing a, Cherry Hill. nine miles distant
frmn his planfatr m. he has never been cna-
bicd to carry OF, fully his systc q? plan
ting until he obtained the services of h;s pre-
sent orcrsecr, Mr. Chcatham-in regard /"
whom; take great pleasure IN saying that
he is one of the bcSl uauagcrs have ever
scrn.
The plantation was commenced III lS2l,
with about three hundred acres; has been
enlarged at various times tn the capacity oi
5000 acres; situated in The flat woods al hh
bcviIl,. District, six miles from the Savannah
river. The number OF negroes on t;ie plan
fa,inn is l75; OF these many arc cmp"ych
at indoor occupations, leaving lH2 hhi
workers, manv ni whom are s'na'i. having
but recently left TIC nursery, and number
tf them women. whn occupy mitch nt 'Eclr
time in attending t" their children, 80 that
the effective fnrca of the plantation numbers
10 task hands. The number Of mules 2l.
found tina, this force had prepared and cult
waited with great case $50 acres of cotton.
325 of corn. 10 Of peas, potatoes and
SouaShcS, 100 OF wheat. and 800 ct OATS.
The cotton was thInnct to stand OF one
stalk in place: II was perfectly cican. an
was the largest and most beautiful had
seen this YEAR The corn was particularly
fine, and promised to Weld from 25 IL 30
b ,shcls DER acre; the wheat 10 bushels. am!
the oats Is per acre. and the cotton 1000
neiLhbors who arc acquainted with the mode
of culture. and who knew that greater
Weld than This had been obtained under the
administration Of former ovcrseer, Mr.
Brooks. The buildings. fences. and gates
were in fine order. and the whole crop in as
fine state of cultivation as the garden "f
horticulturaISt who pridcS in his profession.
The mules were fat, and the entire stock o'
sheep. cattle, and hogs looked well Here
is Il plantation cu!.ivalnu over IS acres ot
p,nw and hoe crop 10 the hand. and over 81
acres TO the hand inclusive nt small gram,
and over 81 acres 10 the horse; what nlan-
talion can equal this? Yet the entire crop
clean, even, and beautiful. and the cond'tlnn
of tho land so perfectly fine and pn!vef'zad,
that. as was SAID by great planter IN the
neiuhborhooh, it could not be improved en-
cept bv The process OF running 1t through
sieve. The whole secrc, Of ihn SricccsS OF
Gov. McDuffic. as 4 planter. consists in h*
method of preparation, manuTing and Guilt
vatnn.
The following plan is adopted for cotton:
IF the ground to be prepared for cotton had
been in cotton the prcv!nus year, the first
operation N AZ pun H' I'i" ''''t E''N' "''- 80.
them in them in the middle. between the
rows; hand then walks backwards, and
draws in the soil, leaves. and trash from the
ridges. with the hoe, upon the stalks that
have been pulled up and dcp1sj'cd IN 'hc
row. and on which he walks. THIS opera
ton is called listing in. The taSF; fn: hand
rs half an acre pcr day. Alter all is listed
in, the turning shove! throws 4 lurrow on
each side which entirely hides The stalks aad
trash listed in; this is the first nSc made 0!
the plough and two furrows fire made; tw"
more frrowS run in like manner, iuSt be.
fore planting. finishes the preparation, 81 FAR
as the plough is concerned, the hoe then
draws up from between tiIH rows all tho
loose dirt. Thus twice passing over with
the hoe and four furrows OF the plough makes
perfect preparation for planting on ridge
well MANFRED with stalks and cotton trash,
and whatever of weeds and grass that may
be on the land But if the ground to be
prepared for cotton had been in corn or
grain, ur fallow, the same process exactly is
observed, only that one more furrow of the
plough is required, and that is roorcr or
broad shovel 20 lay of tho rows into who,