The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-05-19
Keep q Plantation Journal.

1t is to be regretted that 80 much of
what is learned by observation and expe-
rince, should have no more permanent
record than that of the memory. That
whilst new facts are occurring, and new
opinions are forming, that much that is
valuable in the past should be obliter-
ated. So that knowledge, which should
be always accumulating often turns out
to be little more than a substitution of
new ideas for old. To be practically wise,
and to leave the benefits of others, we
should adopt some plan by which we
should have access to the old, as to the
new thought new thougts anb observations
which We may have mad, If is often
worth as much to us to know where we
have erred, as to know how we have sue
ceeded. This knowledge can never be
fully available. unless we have some record
TO which We can refer and we therefore
advice that all planters and oveneers shall
make full notes Of the business under there
charge. Our interest, as well as our inform
alton, IS greatly increased by entering into
the details Of our business. Set down
the number of hands, and what the real
effective force. The size of the crop
how many acres in Corn-how many in
Cotton, small grain, &c. The size of each
ficld-the character and condition of the
soil-whether old land or new, upland or
bottom, soft or hard, and in what to be
planted. How many plows you run-what
kind, and the character and condition of
the team. Here you have sort of pro-
gramme ofthe years operations, and when
accomplished, you will know what, and
how it has been rome, and with what sort
of instrumentalities valuable information
may thus be derived, and you will be pre-
pared TO speak and act understanding, in
determining the question of ability to cul-
tivate or not such force. This infoma-
ton will be still more complete, if in the
progress Of operations, the time and n,sra-
ner of preparations, as we'll as the time
and manner of planting, shall be fully
noted. Also, when and how the crop was
worked-its size at particular dates, and
when anil how much it rained, or what
may have been the pesuliarity of the
seasons, and their effect upon the crop; and
when, and under what circumstances, the
crop was laid by. These records of events
of each day, with suitable comments and
remarks at the time, cannot fail of benefit
to all those who make them-and in
series ofyears, ifprserved, become valuable
for reference. And we would not
stop here, but note the absence of
every operative, and the cause of such alb
sence, each day, and let that report be
read out publicly at the end OF each month.
Then it will be seen who have been at
their post, and who not and the en-
quiry will arise as TO the sufficiency of the
excuse Of such as are frequently absent,
and their own shame, and the snees of
the faithful, will make hypocricy thomy
garb to wear, and provoke those who have
the work to do, to lift the veil, and let
the <ecret out, if deception be practiced
and if diseases be really the cause, the
attention Of the superintendent will be
constantly directed to the necessity of
proper care and treatment The numbe,
OF cattle, sheep, goats and hogs, and their
condition, ought all to be noted, and these
accounts carfully revised at least once a
quarter.
In gathering the crop, note should
be taken of all the operations, showing
the time Of gathering, and the results, at
least so far as to know what each field
has done. This, and much more ought to
be done; and none who do it, will regret
the labor, or feel that it has been lost;
and though it may seem task in the
aggregate, to the unskilled penman, when
the labor to each day is divided out, it
will not be burthensome, and soon become
a pleasant and interesting work.--Soil Of
tie South.