Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-03-11
For the Yorkyille Enquirer.
Col. J. w R~avvllnson'sS System OF Plantation
manngement--PubIished by request Of
Indian Land Agricultural Society.

CeHHfWcR AT our last MeetlnS, yOurequeslea
me to write out my system of general plantation
management. Believing it to be the duty of every
member to add his experience to the advancement
of agriculture, I will endeavor to comply with your
request. I would have preferred the selection of
a more practical farmer, for | am only putting in
practice what I have studied and seen practiced
by others; adopting such rs I find from trial to be
best. | will IN with the laying off of the
plantation into fields, with an eye to the kind of
cultivation to be given, and the amount of force
employed.
The fields | endeavor to have rs near squares as
possible, to save fencing. Also, if possible, have
woodland and water in every field. l make it a
rule to plant a whole field in one thing. If COM
mence with cottOn-the whole in cotton; and SO
with corn and small grain. l find it to be an adj
vantage in pasturing. If there should be CALLED
spotsi in a field, l have them grade ditched first
then haul on cornstalks, leaves, and often at the
bottom of such places find enough rich matter
that can be removed without impOverishing the
flats, which is often benefited; such filters l have
turned under deep.
The fencing of the plantation should be attended
to and righted up properly-all the bushes and
briars cut and removed. This is economical work,
and adds to the looks and last of the fence. In
repairing, have rails made from timber that show
signs of decay. All low, wet places, should be
drained and brought into cultivation. After the
crops are "laid by" the women and small hands
are employed in making manure by hauling in
leaves and litter from the woods, and spreading
over the COW and stable lots. As soon as it is suf-
cd int convenient place so that drainage does not
escape the rotten litter is then taken from the
lots, q layer put at the bottom of the pen, then q
layer of stable manure, alternate. From the COW
lots, when attended to, q person may expect his
greatest amount of manure. Fields that are too
remote from the lots, I prepare compost heaps in
the woods near the fields. 1 use top.earth scra-
pings from rotted logs, mixed with lime and ashes.
The first of January l commence hauling my man.
ure to the fields, in doing which l use one team to
two wagons, having hands sufficient at the COM
post heaps to load one when the team is hauling
off the other. After getting far enough ahead to
keep out of the way of the hands that strew, l
commence applying the manure to my cotton
lands, which 1 do by opening q furrow with q two
horse plough, and drilling the manure, to be fol-
lowed with a sufficient number of ploughs to COW
er as fast as drilled, leaving q middle to be thown
out just before planting. This is the employment
of this part of my force, until l commence plant
ing cotton the great disadvantage in the cultiva-
ton of which, is the gradual washing off of the
soil. I endeavor to guard against this by selecting
my level lands, and grade-ditching. No cotton
planter can improve the whole Of his plantation by
annual manures, let his e~xertions be ever so great.
What then must we do? Secure as far as possible
from the washing off of the soil by ditching, and
deep ploughing-rest from cultivation Mt fixed pc
RODS. The making ard applying of all the man
ures that can be gathered on the plantation, and
returning to the cotton land all the cotton seed
which it produces, r~eserving only enough to plant.
1 I'm convinced from practice that land with this
treatment will improve yearly.
My grain lands are divided into three fields
one corn, one small-grain, one entire rest. The
field at rest I about the middle of Sep
TENDER, to breaking up with three-horse ~ploughs,
and continue until finished. I select my best
ploughmen for this work. This field I plant in
corn, to be followed with small grain-next year
rest. In preparing my land for corn, the rows are
opened with o two-horSe plough, followed with n
sub-soil-two burrows thrown back with twister,
also followed with q sub-soil. We know that the
food of plants enter by the leaves and rocts-that
the food must be in q state of solution before it
can be taken up by the plants, therefore, water in
some shape is necessary to vegetable life. Every
farmer has observed the increased uncertainty of
the seasons, the frequent occurrences of long
droughts, the injurious effects of which may in
some measure be obviated. We know that ground
~ploughcd to the depth Of 8 or 10 inches and we'll
pulverized, will absorb and retain more heat, air
I'LL IuOlSlulS, Nuth ldlu PIOuSuSu - W y ihShSS'
Deep ploughing will absorb a greater amount of
atmosphere, just in the same proportion it will
convert the insoluble salts into food for plants
It makes the ascent of moisture from below easy,
in dry weather; and allows q superintendent to
escape in wet weather.
I plant to the hand, 8 acres of cotton ; I of corn
I small grain; I at rest.
Treatment Of .Animals.-All animals should have
suitable and convenient shelters. For my mich
cows I have dry and warm stables, where each
COW can be fed without being molested. My
young cattle l have under the same shelter, but
separated. The proyender allotted for cattle, |
have under the same roof. The attention of the
cattle I give to two hands. For my hogs, I HAYES
field of rye sown for q spring pasture-it is the
business of one boy to attend to them. I have
comfortable stables, with q branch through the
lot for my mules and horses. The stables Irequire
to be locked every night.
Homes.-Knowing the filthy habits of the ne
gro, and their propensity to collect trash about
their houses, I selected o location on a hill, so that
the yards could be swept by every rain. My plan
of building negro houses is IS by 20 feet-two
feet off the ground-framed with good brick Chin
neys, with q vegetable garden for each. To every
house I have q man for the purpose Of kecpingf fire
for the women and children. As often as convent
eut, I give the women time to scald, scouer, wash
and mend. 1 require my negroes to keep clean
the owner should attend to this. Convenient to
1,roll;nr 7 hovn a bnucn in which tho sick ora