The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-08-28

Captains plantation, as a whole, is poor
fur from it; for y better plantation, one ca
pablc of greater yield us a whole-corn,
wheat and cotton taken togethcr-is not to
be found i'll the District, in our opinion
Some spots on this farm which, few years
ago, we were informed, would hardly grow
peas, will yield this dry year the amount of
cotton indicated above, per acre. In seeing
this, we could but ask ourself the question
If "he who makes two spires of grass grow
where but one grew before, deserves to be
enrolled among the bcncfactors of his race"
what place among those worthless does not
our friend deserve to he ranked, for the cx-
ample he has set us in the cncrgy-in the
untiring industry-in the agricultural sci
cncc thus displayed. This immense bot
tom-jus: think Of t!-eiyhty Or ninety
acres, all in body, almost in the heart of
our District, was a Wilderness till two years
ago. The Captain bought it. Up to that
time, the idea $50 high did the stream, run
ming through ana along side of it, rise at
times,) of suLjecting it to agricultural pur-
poses, had perhaps never been seriously en-
tcrtained. No sooner however, had our
friend thoroughly surveyed, than he deter
mined to cultivate it. But to do this, that
ovcrflowing stream had first to be managed
To this task, then, he bctool himself with
large force, last winter was year ago,
and 10y the ensuing spring, the lcrcc, raised
some six Or eight feet higl out Of heavy
tinbers and earth, and to q distance of
eleven hundred yards, was the rcsult-a
work that will remain 4 monument to our
friends energy, long after many amongst
us who have made, and are making, a
louder noise, shall lave passed away and
been forgotten, they and their works.
After thus examining the cotton and
corn, we returned to the house, and found,
ready for lis, a neatly prepared barbccucd
dinner, of which all partooll will, an appc-
tite which had been sharpcncd no little 10y
the mornings exercise. This bountiful re-
past was closed by spreading before lis
enough, and more than enough, for all
present, Of the richest favored water melons,
grown on the place. Dinner over, the
slaves on the place, some sc, were brought
out to be seen, and Il better fcd-a better
clad-a more cllccrful-a more intelligent
looking-a slckcr-a happier set of nc
grocs, VIC never saw. We also saw the
mules, and were surprised to find them
looking SO well, after seeing the condition
Of the crop. An hour or two then passc,
in the most pleasant conversation, in which
all took part, about the Captains crop-tht
ncatncss Of its cultvation-his farming
utcnsils-his mode Of culture-about arr
culture i'll gcncral-the probable price o.
cotton this fall, and the shortncss Of tho
crop throughout the District generally
closed tie exercises Of this interesting and
long-to-be-remcmbcrcd day. We left, deep
ly impressed with what VIC Lad seen and
heard, and resolved TO carry into practice
what we Ind thus gathered. We shalt no
forget the day soon, nor cease to profit 10y
the agricultural lessons there taught us. O
all the agricultural meetings we ever at
tended, this was the most interesting ant
practical. The planters in our Distrc
could not do themselves better service
than by visiting this farm and examining
IFS implements. Such visit would dc
them more good than twelve months read
ing on the subject.
But, Mr.. Editor, we have already extend
cd this communication TO a greater length
. than we intended when we took up our pen
A word moro as to the intelligent gentle
man who oversees the Captains place thi
year, and we have done; and when it i
considered how difficult, if not impossible
it is. for the employer to carry into clfec
his notions Of planting, in the absence o
capacity, industry and intelligence on lh'
part Of the ovcrsccr, it will be seen how
much is due to Mr.. SAMUEL WILSON, OIL
friends ovcrsccr, for the neatness, the supc
rior culture and excellence of the crop w
have seen. Mr.. WILSON, if lie has not al
ready done so, will yet certainly make hi
mark as planter, and with those capal
= Of appreciating them, his services, in thi
capacity, will be in higl, rcquisition.
But we must close. Long may our fricn'
be spared to carry on his systems Of i'm
provcmcnt in this most indispensable dc
partmcnt of labor, and may those also VIII
spent so pleasant an hour there on last Fri
day, be spared to meet there again at til
:, next, and many succeeding annual festivals
to renew the social intercourse and cxper
cncc over again the instructive pleasures, 70
which that day was so distinguished.
ARREVIIJE