The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-11-26

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many pounds or bushels we can make pc
acre.
In vain shall the true friends of agricul
tnre calculate on arresting the tide of emf
grafton that is constantly carrying of
numbers Of our most useful citizens from
the homes Of their birth and the tombs O
their ancestors, seeking homes in tho
enchanting South west, and draining til,
State Of the source Of her true wealth, tho
slaves, until reform has taken place IN
our economy and mode of culture. Il
cannot be expected that our children will lt
contentei to sit down and cultivate our ex
hausted fields, when they hear such glowing
accounts Of the fertile lands Of the South
west. If we expect to see them settle
around us as farmers, manufacturers, or
mechanics, we must point them to ouI
fertile lands, TO our great water powers, and
to our inexaust!bc mineral resources
When that is done, then we will see them
settling down in their native State, around
the graves Of their sires, determining to
stand by their State through veal or woe
or nerishing beneath the folds of the Pal
metto Tree.
In connection with the improvement o
your farms, would have you adorn YOU,
homes with neat flower-gardcn, orchard
and vineyard. a rose busl, here and there
with ever greens to fill up the intermediate
spaces, and an orchard with we'll selected
fruit, and vineyard of few choice vines
will give cheering and comfortable pros
pect to the humblest cottage. These cos,
but little, in comparison with the pleasure
in stroll among flowers, or the luxury to
be derived from eating good fruit, or the
contentment of mind that is enjoyed under
our own vine and fig tree. 1t will enlarge
and expand the minds OF our children,
when in their gambols around our roses. or
through the orchard or vineyard These
things around our homes, speak to the
heart, enlist the best sentiments of our IN.
ture, and enable us to realize that Happiness
which home alone can give. The associa-
t'ons that spring up around home, as the
birthplace. as the scene of life's holicst
emotions, rises in after.life, when we are far
away from the scenes Of childhood. and
bring back to fading memory some of its
freshest ard purcst leaves. Nature speaks
to the heart in the lovely vale, in the sand.
hills, on the mountain top, in language sub
lime and beautiful. Then follows the ex.
ample Sc before you by :hc great Architect
OF the universe. Do for yourselves and
your children what nature has done for YOU
-beautify and adorn your homes.
While we are upon the subject of the
improvement of our lands, I would invite
your attention to the reclaiming of some
of our richest alluvial lands, which now lie
in state of nature. allude to our river
swamps Of the low country. The river
swamps commence, generally, at the foot Of
the falls of our large rivers and continue
almost unbroken to the Atlantic, and arc
subject to inundations Of the rivers and ll,e
excessive rains from the surrounding hills
They embrace an area estimated Mt not less
than six hundred thousand acres, and are
valued now only for the prccarious pastur-
age they afford.
Some Of our planters, with an energy
worthy of better success, have attempted 20
cultivate portions Of them; but in conse-
quence of the frequent overhowing of the
rivers, have been compelled to abandon
them. This partial cultivation, however,
established the fact, that they are rich alu.
vial depostcs, and all that is wanting is
some artificial means to keep out the river
water, and sluices to let out the water from
the l'iIl-sides and branches. These lands, il
reclaimed, would give employment to sixty
thousand more laborers, and would he one
OF the great means of arresting the tide OF
emigration that drains our State of her
citizens and wealth.
The Legislature of our State has taken
ONO steP forward on the subject OF reclaim
ing some Of our inland swamps. This,
however, applies exclusively to the low
country. and is left to individual enterprise.
This may answer the purposes for which
the friends of the measure contemplated in
small inland swamps, and would perhaps.
answer very well for the large, ones. But
l lapprehend that in most cases, the own
ers of these large swamps nre situated like
the owners Of our river swamps, have not
the means Of reclsiming them. I know
that there are many of our large swamp
owners, who would be willing to expend la.
Dor and capital'in trying TO reclaim their
rich swamp land, bnt are deferred from the
undertaking., for the want Of the co.opera.
ton of their neighl,ois above and below
them. There are some wealthy planters on