The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1848-03-15
f6as The ,itssis
I RC,TA'TION OF CIR 0Pi SIS

tA OlCasiOiiS ~ JNiitiDS sfOlitStNgss
llic scrutiny ,--to offer q few suggestions,
|by way Of random shot, TO your readers;
and especially those ofthen, who arein.
!terested in the accelerated progress; and
speedy develop 81 Of the ascience of
agriculture, such as is prac actfcally appli-
cable to our section Of country. And as
our staple commodity is still growing
cheaper, and yet seems to be nlonopolizing
our time and energies; for which present
iprices do aot yield sufficient indemnify
leaving outlofthe consideration, The ex-
haustioni Of our lands by q continued SER.
les Of Cotton crops, without alternating
With some other growth ,-Thaping to keep
the soil exposed and clean in order Ia get
Iatfnll yield, and thereby rendering itmore
liable to wash from a want Of due ndmix-
'ture with litter, would suggest a
ohange, by which we migh. more effsc-
.tually prevent our nndulating lands from
washing away continue to improve the
fertility OF the soil, md the eventual peoti-
MARY realization be7eaual, if not superior,
to our present mode ofs proceeding in cul-
tivating our lands; so Injurious and ex-
hausting to the soil, viz: alternating with
small grain, corn, peas, &c, more frc-
qucntly, to assist our ditched bulwarks in
preventing and altering the dolorous gull
lied aspect, which the hilly land Of Caro-
lima has, too long, been wont to assume,
and that too, from a want Of small
amount of very necessary care and pains,
which have such a direct and important
bearing upon our farming interest,"
But the influence Of habit is SO great,
and the Cotton mania, is such prevailing
epidemicin this latitude, that it is mat
ter almost impossible to scare, or drive it
out Of the minds Of the farmers; and it
would be much ado, if the railroad Doc.
TOR could work it out Of them, by sprink-
ling gold dust q. their doors and along
their borders, sufficient to count them rs
or 100 for their corn and potatoes. You
may talk TO farmers ofthe propricty and
superiority ofa change in the relative
amount of the growth oftheir respective
products, and they will yield obsequious
assent 10 your suggestion; but the ensuing
fall, exhibits the snowy locks, in as abun-
dnnt profusion as the preceding year
thus showing the influence of habit and
mania, by their practice, over their judg,
mont Us acknowledged in theory.
Last year we looked down toward Co,
lunbia, from G Grecnville and Laurens, and
could almost see in the windy distance,
the rich smoke from the pine knots OF the
low country, issuing from steam engine
---in the distancc our cars caught the
rumbling sound ofthc invulnerable wheels
grooming under rich ladencd cars Of
acceptable imports. And we had well
nigh begun to trim and enlarge our or
chards-to save greater amount Of pota-
to seed-to enlarge our strawberry md
planting -beds-to turn our patches into
gardens, and to increase the number Of
our swine, poultry and kline, and to cause
the Indian tassel, and the small grain
bloom of 1lay and June to wave trium-
.Phantly DER our cotton fields; with which
to lade the returning car. But alas! The
jarring discords of sectional selfshncss
have hushed the sound though harsh, yet
musical--.euphonious to the ear, and the
sight SO magnficent-5eauiiful- grand ~
has vanished from the sight Of our mental
visions, and seems fas dream when Ills
past, as talethat has been told" But
to return from this depression, as VIC can't
get the roud now; let's raise some rice any
how. A good ,cam can haul 80 or 100
bushels in q rough state to Columbia; and
in this condition, it always demands 81.
in our Metropolis. We have plenty of
low moist lands that would suit the pro.
duction of rice kindly. One Of my neigh.
bours informs me that he, by way of ex-
pertinent, planted one quart of rice in
drills on small spot Of new bottom; and
without cultivation, but slight diging
with the garelen-hoe, it yielded bushels
Of rough rice. One bushel ofseed plan
ted, probably requiring 9 acres Of ground
would yield $40 bushels or $50 dollars
according tothe price already specified
deducting from the expenses, only, Of
transportation, which would, of course
have to he deducted also from any other
commodity to ascertain It's net proceeds.
Another gentleman, under my own OBJ
servntion, raised SO bushels from one acre
with but very slight cultivation. In our
sister district Anderson, the raising Of rice
is exciting considerable interest; the great.
est impeachment is the want Of suitable
mills for cleaningit. A friend related 10
me, when speaking Of its importance, that
ne was present at meeting in that dis.
trict-where a subscription for some ben
evolent purpose was presented--whe
several gentlemen said, they had no mo-
ney to give but If rice would be taken as
money they would subscribe; their propo-
sition was accedcd to on their own terms
and their rice which was considered as
an ample equivalent soon turned into mo-
ney. Last spring Mr.. Charles Key had
a load Of rice passing through this district
from whom purchased as good clean rice
as would wish to have, for $3.50 per