Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-12-26
Correspondence of the Advertiser.
Florida

Correspondence OF the Advertiser.
FLORIDA.
MAGNOLIA HILL, Fla, Nov 7th, 1855.
Mn. EDITOR Through the columns Of your inter.
esling paper will again make few matter of.fact
statem.nts concerning Florida. Last Summer gave
You my views in relation to The land Of flowers" its
climate, soil, the prospects of the growing crops,
&C., &c. Ofcourss repetition Of what then stated
is wholly unnecessary, and now simply say that at
present endorse what then wrote.
Our corn crop is now gathered in, and it proves to
be most plentiful. There are now more corn sellers
than purchasers in Florida and the demand is not SO
extensive Us the supply The beneficial effects Of so
bountiful provision crop will tell largely on the
general prosperity of our growing country We have
nowrbefore US the cheering prospect of turning to
account what funds our cotton may bring US, in de-
velopng the agricultural resources Of our country, in.
stead of keeping money market drained in order
10 prav;de ourselves with the staff of life.
Ian; Of our distant friends enormously suppose
that The corn produced here is of inferior quality,
and that the quantity per acre is small. have no
precise data hch to base positive assertion with
regard to the average yield per this season; but
am persuaded that this average yield is less than
twenty-five bushels per acre. Having for many years
resided in The old Palmetto Satc," am fully pre-
pared 10 say that have never known 30 large an
average there by at least fourth II the corn pro-
duced here is in any respect inferior TO that produced
with you must say canddy that cannot see where
in it is so. l weighed busl,e Of corn grown on
Hammock land few days since and it actually
weighed siyty.four pounds. Some things hear and
believe about Florida, but the above know.
The Cotton crop is hot yielding so we'll as was gen.
orally anticipated when wrote last Summer In
September the caterpillar made It's appearance in
some localities and injured the crop very seriously
But it may yet be said to be pretty fair. In some
places the planters making about as much as they
will be able gather. will not venture TO say what
the average yisd will be the land planted this year.
A near neighbor Of mine told me about three weeks
since that he had picked out thirty.eght thousand
pounds and was not much more than half done. He
has sixty acres in cultivation. He will probably make
ahuut one thousand pounds around. On another
plantation, saw short limo since field Of forty
acres which I am satisfied must give fifteen hundred
pounds 10 the acre. These figures may appear large
but they are as near right as can get them. Crops
generally are not good the two just mentioned,
but see no reason why they should not be on the
same quality Of land il properly managed.
Just here would say word or two concerning
cotton picking, ginning, packing, &c. Good Picker,
when the cotton is we'll opened, can get from ninety
10 hundred pounds per day, though The general aver.
age ofhands would probably be than seventy
five pounds. The gin now generally used will turn
out, if properly managed, from hundred and fifty
10 three hundred and fifty pounds Of lint per day, and
requires two horses to run it. The lint is taken from
the seed on large cylinder covered with leather and
made smooth. Most Of the large planters about here
expect to run their gins entirely by steam. There
are already several engines in the neighborhood and
they prove to be far preferable to horse power. Some
gins when run by steum will give nearly pound and
n half Of lint 10 the minute. No screws, &C., are
ued in packing the cotton, und tile bales are all made
round One hand can pack Two bags each day with
ease The usual weight Of bag is about three hun
dred and twenty-five pounds a good article Of cotton
will yield about one pound Of lint for three and half
Of ser but presume the general avearage is about
one to four. have been thus particular IN the SUBJ
cct Of cotton ginng, picking, packing, &C., for the
reason that well know many Of your readers think
tn. process Of preparing our COTTON for market more
tedious Than it really is OF course speak Of lung
staple cotton.
In Carolina The culture of rice is very extensively
and probably followed, and rice plantations are by
lar i;e mos: valuable lands you have. With US good
rf-~ r--iaiin,.-ara cnmmun AMI uAzu- cheap. Any
roul piece of fresh hammock land will produce a
hounliiul crop without almost any labor at all. am
satisfied that the culture Of rice here could be rendered
very profitable.
1t is somewhat surprising that many Carolina
planters Inove oil Mississippi und Texas wiihouI
even looking nj Florida ANY Thing that grows there
grows equally we'll here, and many things HAT do
well here can not be prunced there. look upon this
us being tie greatest country in the world There
is yet room for much arger population than We now
have, and glad would be 10 more Of my Carolina
acquainIances moving INTO country SO desirable
But let those who feel like moving come and judge
for themselves. lie, Inc warn them not 10 credit lie
reports Of those rhicken.heared customers who have
come here and returned prrudced against the country
because they perhaps found some difficulty in pro
curing guud 81; Idle horses ride the country on
nr r.,-ls- they found land here about valuable as
their surelylrcd plantations at home, Or because
they We're in hurry 10 get back TO their families.
Such men will do about well at ono place AZ
you We would say-"Cume to Florida aud your chances
10 make fortunes will be heller than they are TO
make simple support where you auw are"
A. L.O.