The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-11-03

No LIE lollowlng we extract from q
pamphlet, titled AN Essay OH the Asri-
cultural Capabilities of Chester District,
&c,
Agriculture is the basis of our national
wealth and prosperity. 1t is essentially
the Pabulum of all other pursuits, and we
cannot conceive of their success witbomt
having reference, at the same time, TO tho
culture OF the soil. Professor Johnston
says, "that art on which a thousand mill
ions of human beings are dependant for
their very sustcnance-in the prosecution
OF which nine-tenths of the fixed capital
of all civilized nations is embarked. and
probably two hundred millions of men
expend their daily toil-that art must
confessedly be the most important of all
the parent and precursor of ali other arts.
In every country, then, and at every period,
the investigation of the principles on
which the rational practice of this art is
founded, ought to have commanded the
principal attention of the greatest minds.
10 what other objects could they have
been more benefcially applied! I" 1t must
be source of regret to every one, that
agriculture has not received that attention
to which 1t is so prominently entitled in
South Carolina. This has arisen from 4
variety OF causes. At first, the fertility
Other soil precluded the necessity of labor
lous research, nj order to apply scientific
principles to the art, and consequently the
Investigations and counsel of scientific men
were wholly disregarded In fact it was
once considered presumptuous in the chem
lst and geologist to make even suggest, N
to the practical planter; thus committing
the serious mistake Of supposing that tho
only avenue to correct information in az
rlculture, was through the sad rcverses of
Ignorant experience. And it has only
been within few years, when the extern
slve researches Of Liel'ig, and the profound
Investigations of ofJohnston, have establish
ed the utility of scientific knowledge TO the
farmer, that favorable change b S COM
menced IN our system Of agriculture. Yet
1t seems that as long as the soil is not
compltely exhausted, and as long as the
arduous labor Of the husbandman Yields
him comfortable support, although he
secs his plantation becoming less profitable
every year, he adopts the advice of scientific
men With reluctance. If is remarkable
tact, that in countries where the soil is
very productive, and where but little man.
ual labor is- -rani,irad- ,S4-Aaa-Aal.,--.-..---:c
terprize. Look, for example, at that por-
ton of North America lying between the
10th deg, and 4Oth deg. of latitude, Here,
1t Is true, We may see much wealth, but it
is not of that character to stimulate en-
terprize, to promote commerce and TO
enrich the people. We, of course, speak
relatively. Turn now to New England,
where Providence has conferred but few
natural advantages upon the people, and
what do we perceive? Lands which never
could afford maintenance TO her population
"a barren, rocky soil, which presents no
inducement TO the agriculturist, and a
climate OF such severity as to blight all
reasonable expectation of rcmunerative
tillagc. Revert to Massachusetts, about
the period Of her settlement, when her
apparent doom seemed stamped upon her
everlasting hills Of Granite. Who would
have supposed then, that the sterility of
her soil, and the unfruitfulness of agricul-
ture, would but arouse the powers of her
inhabitants, stimulate their energies, and
indirectly make her wealthy, prosperous
and happy: Now, if State like Massa-
chusetts can be thus brought TO accomplish
such results, what right not South Carroll
ma, with fertile soil which will yield abun-
dainty almost every product of profitable
culture known to the world, with as good
waterpower as can be found in the United
States,-with the greatest facilities for
rail road communications, and undoubtedly
with the cheapest labor to be obtained
on earth,-what might lot she do. Who.
could foretell her great destiny, or describe.
In sufficient language her unbounded pros
perity? But how are We to effect this
wished for change! What can be done
to retrieve her fallen fortunes, and make
our people energetic, enterprizing and
wealthy! We answer in the language
of Gov. Hayne, 1--WE should diversity her
pursuits" We should build rail roads.
establish factories, erect mills Of every
description, cease the destruction of our
woodlands, and resort to the reclamation
Of our impoverished lands in cultivation.
by thorough scientific system CT manur-
ing.
Gen. HammonG has shown conclusiveIy.
that the Gulf States must soon supersede
us in the Cotton market, from the fresh.
ness of their lands, and superior staple,
and it has been demonstrated that cotton
will not remunerate the planters, unless it
sells at about eight cents per pound. The
southwestern planter makes more by
raising this staple at FIVE cents than we
can at eight. How then can we success
fully compete with him9 We are inclined
TO believe that the objection to the cessa-
ton Of cotton planting, because these
States will in short time abandon il for
the culture Of the sugar cane, is merely
conjectural: But suppose that the predic-
ton is verified in the course of ten or fifteen
years,-can we not make more by other
products, for that period than by co.,ona