The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-06-20
MisrRllanRuua.
From the Southern AgriculturiSt.
What Should be the Chief Crops OF
rhe S0uIh

the South
Corn and cotton in the cotton planting States
have by common custom become the unlVer.
sal crops of extensive cultivation. How far
this shift is correct, is not entirely proved by
its universalty, nor by the prejudlces, which
sustain itin the minds Of planters. Indian corn
indigenous to the soil, was perhaps the most
convenient and profitable when the country
was first settled, and when an abu7d and
easily prepared crop, to supply the wants OF
both man and beast, was requirement OF the
times. In this relative value, it still is the
most valuable crop grown on the virgin s"Ils
of the Middle and Southern of the Western
States, for it luxuriates upon the vegetable mat.
ter abounding in new soils, and with little pre-
paration and Indifferent culture, yields large
returns for labor bestowed. Such, however,
is not the case in the older States, where the
cream OF the land has been stolen away imper.
ceptibly by the most exhausting systems to
which titled soil has ever been subjected; and,
taking ten years cropping together, the lndIan
corn crop is the most uncertain we can plant.
1t is difficult to grow on any but virgin or al
luvial soil, and the drought of summer, except
in extraordinary and most favorable seasons,
cuts it off to o ruinous extent. The corn crib
is called the store house of the planter in the
South, and indeed it is his main dependence
But this is only because be is not accustomed
to interweave other crops with the cultivation
of cotton. On improved and well prepared
soil, barley and wheat would yield more bush
els of grain Of more value to the planter than
Indian corn. In fact. barley is the most val
liable grain which we cultivate at the South
If sown at the proper season, it readily perierts
itself from the winter moisture in the earth.
and yields heavily. 1t is fine soiling for all
kinds of stock, and comes into harvest in May,
a time when few days can be spared from lhe
cotton crop without detriment to its growth or
production. Its grain is so well protected that
it is not liable to be spolt by exposure to the
weather, and it may lie any length OF time in
the straw, when dryly housed, without being
injured. A barley crop sown with guano, cot.
ton seed, or well prepared compost manure, at
ter the cotton crop is gathered in December and
January, would come off sufficiently early to
sow he-stubble down in peas to be turned
under in autumn, and the rotation OF small
grain with this system pursued, would be the
best and most efficient mode Of improving our
lands. 1t would also be fitted to the encono-
mical and easy cultivation of the alter cotton
CROP by the blowing under of the heritage i"
the fall, which would be thoroughly decompos-
ed by the next spring.
Barley, ground and mixed with the straw
reduced to chaff by cutting machine, is bet
ter food for horses and cattle than any prepara.
ton of Indian corn and to those persons who
have not mills, simply soaking the gram IN
water is a fine preparation for feeding to horses
Swine fatten and keep in condition more eas-
ly on barley than on corn, AS all in its faVor'
more barley can be cheaply grown on an acre
of improved dry upland, than we can grow ol
corn. Wheat sown with guano in like man
ner after the cotton crop, would come lu at a
season when the harvesting could be attended
to without detriment, and after the cotton crop
is laid by, and in the interval between that time
and the commencement Of picking, the thresh-
ing and preparing it for market or the mill,
could be attended to without hindrance. The
middings, shorts and bran of a large wheat crop
all mixed together, would 60 far to feed the
plantation stock, and negroes would relish
wheaton bread as change for the corn bread
usually allowed to them.
We would, from these few reasons stated,
and many more needless to mention, recon-.
mend the reduction Of the corn crop to such 4
degree as would throw all lands not naturally
producing Indian corn, well, into wheat, barley
rye and oats. We could then cultivate our
titled crops we'll and easily, and the avenues
the system would open for improvement would
soon repay for the experiment. We know that
these recommendations will be met with by
all the objections which prejudice and the ty'
ranny of custom engenders in those who cleave
to old practices and theories, but as they are
convictions of true policy, we have no hesita'
ton in making them.
CAUSE ADvANcIEe.-The temperance cause
is steadily progressing in Texas. "The acces
sions." saws the Wesleyan Banner, "of infuen
tial men in the higher walks oflift, is making q
sure and solid progress"
Cheering notes reach US from all parts fthe
State. One great reason Of the rapid advance
ofthe cause in Texas, is due to the unshackel
ed and magnanimous press of that State
They have noble editors, men with souls above
money, who dare to speak the honest convlc
tions of their hearts,
A magnificent country, an independent ane
digni6ed press; warm hearted and whole soul
ed people, we are not Lurprised that the cause
is rapidly elevated to commanding position
We hope they will not leave us too far in tht
rear. On the 18th June, they hold State
Temperance convention. In August, the ques
tion of license or no license is to be submitted
to the whole State. The next thing We expec
to hear is, that they have passed the Maine
law.