The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-09-21
For the Lancaster Ledger.

MIR. EDIToR.-Pcrmi; me, by way of
amendment TO my article of last week, TO
offer the following, which was read by the
worthy President of our Agricultural Socie-
ty ut the late exhibition at his house, and
published by resolution of the Society
:. b. NJ.
GENTLEMAN Since you have rode over
my farm, examined my crcp and Inspected
the Implements by which it was cultivated,
together with the situation of my mules
that plowed it. ] beg leave TO make the
following report. But before proceed
will make u few preliminary remarks 1t
might be presumed that | am fond of ma.
king an exhibition of what little have rc
compished in the art of husbandry.
But hope you will pardon me. when
tell you, Notwithstanding | am only an
adopted son of Lancaster District, that | am
more than anxious TO see my fellow citizens
by Yhom am adopted, progressing in the
march Of Improvement, and shall always
feel ready in connection with Others, to
lend what little ingenuity, the great god of
nature has bestowed upon me, as an axil
upon which The wheels Of progression may
turn onward.
will now proceed with my report
have cultivated in this crop within very
small fraction of twenty acres to the hand.
of cotton, corn, sugar cane, potatoes Sc.
q meat TO every acre hand) Besides,
had sowed about six acres in small grain, TO
the hand. My own hands Graded the whol,.
of the grain themselves, and never paid
out one cent in the cultivation of my crop.
| would further state, that two of my own
hands, (who were included in the number
that worked the crop) did great deal Of
did The whole Of the carpenter work about
the farming implements.
would rot have vcnturcd To have plant
ed this crop with the expectation of pIow-
ing ii every three weeks, and sometimes of.
tener if required TO keep il pretty clear of
grass, had il not been for the labor saving
implements used in its cultivation, and also
the different modes of planting and blowing
to what have been accustomed heretofore.
For tell you, have very difficult land
TO work Ii takes n number one negro fell
low to hoe his acre the Year round, or in
cotton hoeing time under the old system.
did rs much, II not moro, to my corn than
did To my cotton with the hoes, according
To the number of acres. would further
state tLat nearly two-thrds of this crop
was cotton. Another idea ] want to con-
vey TO your minds, that this crop has not
been worked by brute force, nor with any
injury TO my negroes and mules. For look
upon 1t that the property we may have ac-
cumula ted, or may have under our control,
is only loaned to US by an Allwise Provi.
dence, and 10 him We are responsible for
I the management of il. | have always con-
Eeidered that every man should manage mis-
Property in such n way as to make the
most he could out of il with the least
depreciation in value of his capital, and also
for Il TO last as long as nature intended it
to last with proper care and attention.
Therefore we have three duties TO perform
to I'll! the above requirements First, our
duty to God. Second, our duty to human.
ity. And the third one in consideration of
our own economy.
Iwonld add in this report, that In work
ing this crop, the hands very seldom went
to work much before sunrise. When they
were hOeing. they, pretty generally speak.
ing. gained from half an hour by sun to
four hours. The piow hands every Satur.
day evening were stopped from one half an
hour to two hours by sun, and sometimes
got the half Of Saturday. Only one me-
gro had to DO corrected about working.
All Of which is respectfully submitted.
JOS. A. CUNNINGHAM.