The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-10-18
IMPORTANCE OF SYSTEM ON THE
-7." PLANTATION.

PLANTATION.
Mr.. EprroR:-It has occurred To me
that the most important matter connected
with Southern Agriculture has been omit
ted in all the writings have seen upon the
subject. MANY things valuable and 'mp"r-
,a,,t in themselves have been treated OF. but
| do not remember to have scen anywhere
any attempt 70 build up a genera Svacm OF
agriculture for the South. When speak
III system, az thus applied, mean that mode
af conducting the business which shall have
its times and It's seasons; which shall mark
out and define the time and the manner IN
which the most important OF the operations
offarming shall be commenced aud ended;
by which the great outlines of the business
which are 10 govern all minor matters shall
be settled, and become regular and unchang-
ing.
There IS no want Of industry in the South.
There is no set of men in the world who
bring to bear, in the pursuit Of their business,
a greater amount OF energy. industry and
perseverance than the Southern planters,
but these qualities lose much "i their i"rce
and,saIue from want Of wcll-deiined sys-
TEN in their application.
- NV object in this communicative is not TO
form this system. | have not the capacity
to do il. and perhaps no one man has, tat
NAV be able to direct attention to II, and II
every man will cast his mite towards It,
doubt not that improvements will SOON be
made which will result in great g od TO the
country.
The first great object TO be attained is 10
fix the period when the labnrs connected
with the crop shall begin and end. Yoar
readers will perhaps with one accord, an
swer, that this is perfectly well settled, and
that is with the beginning and the end OF the
wear. This is true theoretically, aud every
man naturally and irslinctively, feels that II
should be SO practically but how is The fact!
How many planters arc really ready on the
6rst day of January TO begin in good earnest
with ali their available force their Prepera-
tons for new crop' Long after that tune
very many of them are still! engaged in gath
ering last years crop. and still greater
number in preparing it for market.
In my opinion, there is no change IN
Southern Agriculture so loudly called for
and so important as that every farmer shall
be ready on the FIRST day of January to com
mence in good earnest, with all his avaIla-
ble fnrcc. his preparations for the crop OF
that year. may be told that this is inl-
practicable. think differently. All will
admit that this is desirable, and to effect it IS
worth an effort. Ii is true that many laIl to
gather their cotton until long after that time,
but it does not therefore follow that they
might no, haze gathered it by adopting
different course. They started behind and
kept behind. Planters generally begin to
gather cp,ton in August-n some parts OF
the country in July. From the lst Of Sep
1cmber t, the 25th of December, there are
a hundred working days; during that time
the hands that make the crop. with the aid
of,he smaller ones not engaged in it, can av-
erage one hundred pounds per day-thls
waImake two thousand pounds OF seed cot
ION, which will make at least five bags OF
500 lbs. each TO the hand.
II will be perceived that have left no
time tor anything but picking cotton, and
have made no allowance for bad weather,
but when it is remembered that throw in
all of July and August, which may be de-
voted to that purpose, and all the services of
those not engaged in making the crop; and
ihat during much of the time many OF The
hands will gather from 200 TO 400 lbs. per
day. think it may be we'll conceded that
my calculation is not exlravagant, and that
this may be done besides the other work
necessary about the balance of the crop.
may, perhaps, hereafter attempt to point
out the best manner Of effecting it, but for
ahe present, assuming that it may be done
/ think FIVE good bags to the hand is very
good crop, and that after the first day OF
January the planter may be much better
employed, at least with all his available
force, IN preparing for new crop than in
gathering during short. cold, wet, days, the
injured cotton be it little or much, remaining
in his fields.
Here | had intended to close this com.
munication, but as part of what had Intcn-
ded to saw on future occasion may be of
some service now, will say few words
more. 1t is a lriie remark and true one.
that The way to do great deal is TO do
one thing al time. 1t is also valuable
precept. @whatsoever thy hand tinde'h to DO,
doh with thy might" Then, everything
TO opicking cotton that can possibly be spared
from other work. Your corn can be gath
cred. and great deal Of other work about
which farmers fritter away a portion OF