The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-09-26

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| period of our colonial history, transpanted to
the shores of South Carolina and Georgia
believe hazard nothing in asserting that II u
now growing more iuxuriantiy ON our soil, than
on the one that gave 1t birth, aud that South
Carolina rice, on account OF Its superior quality,
commands the very highest price in foreign
markets. 1t is the staple article OF a section OF
country, which is comparatively vaueess for
any other species Of agricultural productions
being principally raised swampy grounds
naturally subject to inundation. II is, moreover
confined to few localities, aud limited IN guam
tty, though constituting very valuable crop.
| Heretofore, rice has only been raised in South
orn lntitudes but within few years,---since
the territory of Minnesota has been thrown
open 10 scttlers,--it has been ascertained tina,
the nnnmerable small lakes and swamps, which
| dot the mp of that section of the country, upon
the head waters of the Mississippi. contains d
luxuriant and spontaneous growth Of wild rice
which is we'll adapted to culinary purposes. IL
it not then a subject worthy of investigation
whether this new species of rice, native Of the
North, and accustomed to Northern climate
may not be produced in the swamps and marshes
which now disigure our best agricultural re-
| pons, and remain a source OF disease and death
to their Inhabitants! | merely throw out
these hints to direct your attention to the sub
ect not knowing whether others may not have
preceded me. leave it TO your better knowl
edge, and to your practical qualifications as far
mers, TO make the necessary experiments: be-
lieveing that in agriculture, as ia other sciences
and occupations, experience alone is the proper
test Of all discoveries and improvements.
have, within the last year, procured a con-
siderable quantity of the seeds OF this rice from
the Patent Office at Washington, and distributed
them among those whom | tho ught likely to
make experiments in different parts OF the
country but sufficient time has not yet elapsed
TO ascertain the result. Were it not for the
British system of labor, South Carolina and
Georgia arice would have continued to be ex-
ported in large quantities But the system by
which England has, of late years, favored the
agricultural products of her East India pro-
vinces, to the detrment ana ruin of her West
India colonies, has also, for time at least, ex-
ercised Encouraging influence on the rice
growers of America. 1t is subject of congrat-
| ulaton, therefore, to know that more recently,
rice has found ready home market, at such
remuneraung prices as promise to that branch
of agriculture long period of prosperity and
success.
Hemp has long been and still continues to
be a very considerable item in our foreign i'm
por 8. The government itself has, from lis
foundation, been a large importer of hemp for
naval purposes, in addition to what has been in
troduced, on private account, principally for the
use of our commercial marine The importa-
tons commenced when little or no hemp was
produced in this country, and have been con-
tinued, under the impression that American
hemp was not equal to that of Russia for the
manufacture of cordage. 1t has long since been
ascertained however, that our soil and cimaia
are we'll adapted to the growth Of hemp, anG
that we can produce it cheap and in abundance
IT is now believed that the hemp grown in Ken
lucky Missouri, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and
perhaps other States of the Union, is fully equal
to the Russian in strength and in texture, and that
our countrymen have discovered process of
rotting, by which 1t can be rendered equal, il nos
superior, to that Of Rus.'a, for all purposes 10
which the latter has been applied in this coun-
try The fact renders the culture of hemp we
worth the attention of American agricultural
ists A people now only second, and designed
soon to be tire first commercial and maritime ma
ton in the world, ought to bestow special care
on all products necessary to the success of its
commercial and naval enterprise. The capacity
of our soil for the pro iuc''o of hemp, is I'm
limited; while our immense foreign, coastwise,
and internal navigation, insure to it an ample
and increasing home market.
| would fain say few words on the culture
Of mnIberres, ia connection with the raising of
the silk worm and the manufacture Of silk
am aware that the experiments heretofore made
have usually proved unsuccessful; but the en-.
terprse resembled more a mercantile specpla-
ton than fair triil by practical men. am 10th
to believe that within the wide range of our
Northern and Southern ATTITUDES, there should
not be spot favorable to the cultivation of the
ilk-worm. Silk worms, and the peculiar spe-
les of mulberry on which they live, were first
troduced into Asia Minor from China and
the experiment having succeeded in Greece, 10
Turkey, in France, in Italy, in Spain, and in Por-
tugal, Is II not reasonable to suppose that they
would also thrive in many portions of our own
country, II the attention and care were bestowed
upon them which are the conditions of their
growth! Experiments have lately been made
in South Carolina in the cultivation of the Chi
ne e tea-plant, and if the accounts | have seen
are to be relied upon, have entirely succeeded
WHY then should not silk, an article much less
delicate than tea, and W ieh has already succeed
ed in 30 many different climes, be susceptible
also of profitable cultivation in The United
States large portion of our imports from
Europe consists cf manufactured silks, aud II
we could succeed in domesticatlng that species
OF industry, degree of stability would be i'm.
parted to our foreign commercial policy, which
would serve to prevent the confounding of po-
itica economy with partizan politics.
NY remarks on the subject of silk apply per-
haps, with equal force TO the cultivation of the
vine. The vine is native Of Asia, but has Mt
tanned its highest perfection in Europe and AZ
RIGA. While there is scarcely species Of Ash
attic wine known 10 commerce, some Of the
highest priced wines produced in Europe, are
manufactured from vineyards in latitude "a deg
ard 30 min. Carefully tending and manuring,
and the treatment Of the wine in the cssk and
in the cellar, seems 10 have done everything
We have "a many varieties Of the grape as any
part OF the old world Indigenous to our own
country, and growing luxurently wild in wood
and prairie. The greater part Of them, how
ever, remain still uncultivated, without the least
value being attached TO them by our farmers
Yet strange to say, almost every experiment
which has been made with our indigenous
grape, has succeeded Good wines, far superior
in quality to the ordinary hooks and clarets i'm
ported into this country, are now made from pure
Indigenous grape, In many portions Of Pennsvl-
vania Ohio. Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Mis-
souri and doubtless in many other States If tho