The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-11-23


der contribution to these Southern
States. 1t is my conviction that cot
ton will be cultivated with increasing
success in our State and Georgia when
some OF the boosted lands of the South
West will be utterly valueless for this
purposc-our lands, SO far from be-
ing exhausted, may aud must be i'm
proved by judicious system of cul-
ture. There are perhaps, more worn
out plantations in Alabama ut this
time, than in South Carolina. But we
have turned our attention too en-
clusivcly to the culture of this
plant. We have made the grain crop
too much matter of secondary con-
sideration. The consequence has been,
we have been for long time look
ing to n foreign market for our
meat, our mules, horses, and our
negro clothing-ycs, and we, often
see Northern corn and northern hay in
our markets and on our own planta-
tions. 1t is vain to assert that by
dcvoting our attention almost cxcu
sivcly to the culture ofcotton, we shall
be enabled to purchase these things
more advantaSeously than by reduc-
ing our cotton crop, aud raising them
ourselves. Stubborn facts tell diff.
fercnt story. n bushcl of corn in your
own barn, is worth almost half as much
more in distant market. 1t is pro-
verb among us, that bought corn does
not fattcn well. And the proverb
is founded i'll wisdom, as almost all
proverbs are. Our lands will produce
grain of almost every description a.
bundantIy. And having an abundance
of grain we can easily raise our own
pork. our horses and our mules. A
Southern planter ought to be the most
independent man in the world. He
ought to have all the convenicnccs and
comforts of life not only in abundance
but in rich profusion But the South.
crn planter is not an independent man
lie is dependent upon q foreign mar
kct for his meat, his mules, his hor-
scs his negro clothing: his butter Of.
tcntimes and his cheese always. This
is like the California gold digger, who
neglccts making his bread in his arr
dor after the precious metal, which
when it is obtained he gives most ef
it and sometimes all fit for some.
thing t lat and to put ON. Kentucky
and Tennessee stock raisers, and Nor.
thcrn manufacturers extract from
us large proportion Of our hard earn
ed gains, leaving us with poorly sup
| piled tables, and destitute Of immune
| rable convcnences and comforts which
arc within the reach of lis all. did we
but put forth our hands to claim them.
In order to place before you my
idea of what Southern planter should
have, permit me to draw somewhat
upon your smayinaiion. for cannot
point you to any example by way
of illustration.
| suppose first dwelling house
built upon some approved and con-
vcnient plan. | suppose all the ncccs-
sary plantation buildings TO be sub
stantialiy built ana conveniently ar,
ranged, and all witbiT cnGiusures giy4
| ing protection ana beauty to the
whole. ! suppose a, some convent
ent distance, the negro quarter as it
is termed, consisting of neat and sub
stantial cottages, aifordng ample
room for all their inmates. Then
comes the garden, the very right arm
| Of domestic comfort in the way of
ta"lc snpplics-largc, and supplied
with every variety Of vegetables and
worked with even more diligence than
the all absorbing cotton plant. A
good garden | freely acknowledge to
be one of the rights Of the ladies, of
which they are too often in want, and
for which they should stoutIy contend
Their husbands ought to be cau1ieS;=cd
into immediate reformation in this
particular. They should lock up the
pantry and cxtinguiSh the ktch-
en- fires until their Lei gc-lords shall
haul down their flags and capituIatc
upon such terms rs will insure one
good hand at least from the cotton
field to the vegetable garden.
Next comes the orchard, with its
trees numerous varied and choice:
substantially enclosed and attended
to with care. The opinion that fruit
tree will live and flourish on being
thrust any how into the ground and
left to take care of itself has long since
exploded. Equal pains and cultivation
should be bestowed upon orchards
as upon tiliage land, with the knowl-
edge that, without these good crops Of
| lnrnc and fnir truit rnu uo mara i.
raised than good crops of corn, cotton,
or potatoes. "From the numerous
Pomologcal and Horticultural Associ-
ations now in active operation, at no
distant day the cultivation and con-
sumption of good fruits in this country
will reach figure far above what is
now generally expected. Although,