The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-08-24
Agricultural Exhibition and Dinner.

We attended, by invitation, IN AgricuI-
tural exhibition and dinner at Dr. Richard
+ Wylic's, on "Wednesday of last week.
1t has been the custom in this District for
s.vrrnl Years past, for different members of
our Agricultural Society to call in their
friends mt some period between planting
season and harvest, and make nm exhibition
OF their crop, farming tools &c. Also cx-
plain his method of culture, and recount
experiments, which it i presumed every
good Agricul'ura'ist is continually making
| The design of such exhibitions is obvious,
and we are not surprised To learn that the
good which las been realized from them,
IN the way of disseminating useful hints,
exciting Il spirit of emulation among over
secrs and stimulating the negroes, is plain
10 al who have participated in them. The
spirit of rivalry which it cXctcs among ne.
grocs, is astonishing. They, it may truly
be said, always feel an interest in the mas.
icrs crop, in proportion to the interest which
he himself manifc>ts in il and in them -
II is usual, we believe. for m inspecting
committee TO be appointed at these rxhibi-
tons, who report at the annWnl mQUi.ng Of
the Society. In our general remarks, we
would not have the committee suppose that
we dcsi ign to anticipate them. They will
OF course make special report. and go into
part ticulars which we will not touch
IN ur,,rI,p,,. ,L; IA
lie, invited his friends around to see his
crop and enjoy his hospitality. We do not
know whether the invitation was general
or special. If special. it almost amo united
to general one, for it seemed that noar Y
every person within convenient reach were
present. At an early hour in the morning,
idencc IN the Village, and those of them
who wished to see the crops mounted steeds
and proceeded TO the work of Inspection
The Doctors farm extends from his resi-
dencc, in II westerly direction, to the creeks,
distant perhaps mile and half. We had
II very good view of the entire crop of cot
ton and corn. We cannot speak of it COM
paratively, for it is the only one that we
have seen since the late rains but let 9TH
ers be rs they may, this is certainly very
eEcclIent crop-many in the company pro-
nounc, Il m exception and the best geI-
eral crop in the District. The cotton crop
was especially pronounced superior. II is
mostly upon upland, the natural quality Of
which is no more than ordinary; the crop
which it shows could only have been pro
duced by y rigid and systematic routine of
cultivation. 1t is clear Tat all Of the fer
tlizlng properties of the soil have been di.
rcctcd to the cotton plant-grass and weeds
have robbed it of nothing. We do not be-
lieve there is grass enough in the Doctors
entire cotton crop Iabout 100 acres, we be-
lieve) to feed one hungry COW. We heard
several esum ates rs to the probable ava
rage yield Of the cotton. Some guessed as
high az 1900 and none less than 500 pounds
per acre. This is certainly extraordinary
for an entire crop, and more especially so
when the unfavorable season is taken into
consideration. The crop is in very for
ward stage also, several open boIls having
been found by the company
The Doctors corn crop is principally up
on bottom land. Some of it IS very fine,
though not extraordinary for the apparent
qualities Of the land. It evidently has not
had the same degree Of nursing that has
been given the cotton, though it has had
ordinary attention. The bottoms are large
and naturally rich, being admirably situated
for catching the deposites from the adjoin.
ing hills.
We remember hearing something in the
last annual report Of the visiting committee,