The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-05-31
From tho Boston Journal.
Southern AgrAc ulauru

bouthsrn AxracuAsure.
We copy from the Savannah Republican the following
letter, giving account OF experiment draining.
made by Major Sarke OF Savannah. Our readers will
be interested not only by the magnitude and result of the
experiment ITSELF but in the polished and humorous
ner in which il is related.
We have been for time aware that Georgia is full
OF activity and enterprise, and that she rapidly outsup
ping in wealth and population every other southern State
With such citizens the writer Of this letter. no other
result can be looked for. Examples like this have
den effect; they stimulate enterprise in all the pursuits
OF lie. and those who set them are public beneacors
1.-The subscriber has plantation OF several thousand
acres fifty miles below Augusta, the Georgia side OF
the Savannah river Nearly in the OF this body OF
land is or was Moby's pond, large, and in Scriven
and eight feet Deep heretofore fruitful source of disease
to the ne,ghborhood and OF revenue the doctors The
upper half was an open plain OF more than thousand
acres where hundred steam boats could ride in safety
and where, from any point, bird could be distinctly
seen The lower section is covered with cypress whose
nch foliage and dropping moss intercepng the suns
view dismal canopy above and horrible landscape
beneath. Here millions of noxious vermin lived and
bounced and died Here the horned owl chanted his
melancholy diItes Here the white crane gathered her
food, built her nest, and reared her young, and, when
congregaed by thousands on the branches of this mag
nihcen tree resembed vast shrubbery OF seringoes in
bloom. The open parts the resort of nnameable
wild fowls, and covered with countless focks OF
ducks This oquacious bird, during the long winter
cation picnics transcribed everything Of record in the
achievements of Venus and Bacchus, and almost
match for the uproarous frocs OF John Bull and Brother
dependence
"The alligator was the king beast of this pontine
marsh; armed with formidable tail and pair OF more
boys and negroes Compared to him in bodily appear
ance the ourang outang was beauty and the jackass
lovely HIS most interesting position was recumbent
Poslue with his upper jaw elevated at right angles and
his teeth shining in the When lying in ambush for
his prey, he could flourish eye that would shame
caamoun and trunk the like Of which founced
in tha Xyatar If ro1o
BILE animal was frequently be prowing upon the
banks with the agility OF the hPpopotamus, and floating
upon the waters with the stiffness OF serpent strongly
suspect that his reputation for manness had its origin in
the writings Of the zoologist who instead of Danipua
ting him gently as ap-dog peeped at him through
soldier among calves, and pigs, and lambs, his courage
and ferocity evidently overrated it is seldom that
iugrown hog realizes the honor Of being digesed in
The terrapn could be counted by thousands and the
finest trout in Georgia there To this horde of
MN the draining of Mobly's pond was epoch. The
fish, left by the recedng waters in the weeds and grass
tell an easy prey to the vultures The terrapn
bilious OF distinction among men, plunged into the ditch,
and hurried himself into the swamps OF Savannah The
the skinner of the seas, babe final farewell this
memorable Of his festivities The alligator, with
melancholy steps and slow, doubt reached some land
of promise where free from danger and the world malice
ne could enjoy in summer his mud hole, and in winter
his i,ghttoood knots.
"Having stated somewhat prolxly, and perhaps with
TO state what Mobys pond Seven years ago. 'soli-
tay and alone, undertook to drain this body OF water
and although out Of pocket some do not regret
the result. TIE landed estate (pond ncuded) cost
$4,000, and am vain enough sometimes to think that
the spade has doubled its value Originally this pond
Joint property, but from want of concord among the
propretors was seemingly destined TO remain nuisance
to the end OF Time Eventually fell into my hands, and
now in this year OF our Lord ls49, prolific of prod
gies, and 80 memorable to monaIchs-wth natural at
mosphere full OF poison and political one full of repub
iiednim-wh the lower ten thousand diving with nth,
and the upper ten thousand with frghf-with despo-
tsm standing a Volcano. and freedom upon rock
Moblys pond (what bathos , is dry ashbank,
or the throat Of loafer in the honey of his temper
| ance pledge
"In the first place. cause to be excavated centre
ditch four miles long, and points from sixteen TO
twenty feet deep, beginning at the Savannah swamp and
passing entirely through the pond. Secondly dug
spring bitches of several miles in length. all suitable
places and. lastly parallel bitches leading from the
centre TO the spring drains these lateral bitches were
placed at intervals OF l40 yards The cypress part. for
mery visited only by canoe, is now easily accessible
and furnishes abundant and durable timber Tor building
and fencing The open uncutivsed part is covered with
nutritious TO horses and other stock Last year sixty
eded sixty heavy bales OF cotton, and the best
acres OF the corn land seventy six bushels.
This work accomplished by Irish ditchers
Negroes is said, could have done cheaper but gov
ened by the maxim nc ultra ersp,dam confined
the black man TO the cultivation Of the staple commodi
ties. .
in the open uncultivated part OF Moblys pond there
are several hundred acres OF peat from twelve TO thirty
SIX inches deep, resting bed oil blue clay al nrs had
great wings regard to this peat land and though,
Of using il exclusively for pasture and manure This year
/ planted seventy acres OF II in corn With knife
plough. similar 10 the blade OF coulter. cut the land
both ways every twelve inches the depth OF the
grass roots followed the furrow with bull tongue,
and bursted every direction square blocks OF peat
After being exposed to the and made dry these
bred and burnt BY this the formidable roots OF
the grass eradicaed and OF ashes
cured In the spring, ridges thrown up, the corn
planted, and, up TO this time, very much question
whether in all Georgia there is better field of grain
Several hundred OF this pond appropriated
to pasture This grass in many places in breast high and
the mowers pronounce equal to any specimens New
England. To me- II is panorama, to- big word.
ranscendenty beautiful Unfortunately, do not reside
on my plantation; but when 90 there (Which il oien)
and look around hatpa in OF velvet. become dreamy
and imaginative, and fancy it TO be the finest meadow
east OF the buffalo praires. When behold the cattle
browsing the rank and cotton and corn spring
ing from soil which for ages generated malaria and
monsters, enjoy the landscape with much gusfo
Arehimedes did his solution OF the problem Of the
King of Syracuse, or Sardanapaus his dinner bull.
frogs. ID
81 independent OF this, have drained on the same
premises fifteen other ponds all of which pro
ductve, and OF which. embracing hundred acres,
worth, IN the opinion OF Carolina gentlemen who
have visited it, two hundred dollars TO the acre.
"Moby's pond is longer eyesore, but Pygms-
lions clay metamorphosed into a beautiful woman. II
throws out its wealth from centre to yield
ing materials for building and fencing pasture for cattle,
hay for work horses and corn and cotton which would
| moi disgrace the banks OF the Mississippi. :
| :" Has your humble servant accomplished anything in
the premises worthy OF your time and trouble in wading
tn rough this letter. Ia IL not something TO introduce
health where pre viousy malignant eyers prevailed II