The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-24
LETTER FROM THE COUNTRY.

We commend tho following letter to tho a,tcn-
ton OF our readers, md hopo it will be tho fore
runner OF long series Of interesting communica
tons. The writcr is ON old and experienced mcr-
chant Of Charcston, or lurgo and liberal views and
progressive ideas: -t
To The Editor Of the Daily Ncrs:
circuit OF considerable extent, embracing
Marion, Darlington, Chesterfield, Sumter, Clarcn-
don and Kcrshaw Districts and personal visits to
mnny plantations, enables me to say tint in gem
cral there has ncyor been better prospect for a
cotton crop than now. It is truo that tho plant in
very Irregular. In somo plantations it is very
small, though healthy and of good color, whiIo in
other places tho plant is tall and vol dovelopci.
Inc advantages OF manure and good working are
manifest. Where thcso have both been employed
tho promise Of great crop s evident. Where
thcrc has boon good working without manure the
crop looks fair. There arc somo plantations whcrc
work Inns boon neglected, OF course thcfo can DO
but poor results In such places.
Tho effects OF gunno arc apparent to even a
casual glance. Near Tho depot In Marion thcro
il field Of somo fifteen acres OF cotton, which is
as 'bcauttrl al picture" The land was we'll
manured, tho plant has been carefully tended, aud
tho reward will bo ampio-probabIy two bales clean
cotton to tho acre.
Near tho depot at Society Hill thcro. is ono field
OF cotton-unbrokcn by fcnco ridge, and, as
gentleman remarked. con which a hog could DO
seen all over it"-which contains above four hun
drcd acres, MI i'll good order and looking well.
Noar it is another fold OF about itI,rco hundred
acres. On careful inquiry, I find, 30 far as have
gone over tho ststo, That about tllrce-fourths as
much land has been planted with cotton rs was
planted in 1851 II this estimate holds good for
oil tho State, and tho crop turns out we'll finally,
then our State will produce this year something
over SOC, 900 bales Of clean cotton.
1t gives mo pleasure to say that the corn, though
very unequal looks well, also, and that The pros
pects fol-. an abundant supply nro encouraging.
Our people can supply Themselves with corn, but
fear tho "pork crop" viii hereafter bo gven ND.
Planters say, universally, that thoy cannot raise
hogs. Every ono ia stolen by tho ncgroce or whites
Thoy steal them from tho pens near tho houses,
and kill overy ono found running at large. One
planter told mo he tried it last year, and out oi
ono hundred and twenty head no secured eighteen.
In several hundred milcs Of travol, I have seen
only ten or fifteen hogs.
This difficulty applies also 10 stock Cows and
calves killed constantly, and tho country wi ]
Boon BIO cleared Of becf It is anticipated that this
evil will increase as yngrnnt, lazy negroes take
moro to tho swamps. Thoro Is now largo num-
Der who live by stealing, whose haunts cannot
easily bo reached, Who dcfy tho civil powers, md
who keep coar Of tho military. -
II ia quito evident that q change ia coming over
the modes Of thought and action OF tho bost of our
planters. They nro propnring to moot tho diflcpJ;
tics which surround them, in q practical way
Many OF them noIt year will try improved h,is.
bandry-hgh manuring aud lcss extent OF culti.
vated land. Thoy will reduce their labor and get
rid Of "doad-hoads." Thoy will try to mako m
acre produce what IL has required three acrcs for
under tho old or present system. To this onl
lnrge quantities OF fertilizers will bo required, md
can bo paid for because it is in evidence that $5 Of
guano will produce nt least $40 additional Of cotton
or corn.
The country is quiet and + see faw "loafersr
about, either white or black.
Formerly at oil tho country ta7erns You would
meet constantly groups OF wliskey-drnkers, whose
breath and language both polluted Tho mir, and
with whom ono must. other "drink" or eight,
thanks to--Gon. sIoKLEs' orders-or to poverty
there are no such loafors about now. have mot
but ono man in two weeks who hnd o "brick in Lis
hat," and ho Ind only. 6 ''suiall one."
Tho negroes appear to work well, when not CT.
cited about political meetings.; but Just givo thom
notice OF such nSmooting, though lfteon miles or
and thoy go TO- it, travelling at night and return
ing tho noIt. This unite them for work. Thoy
have messages sent to them ssying thoy will be
fined Ii fhoy don't attond, and whom they do attend
they are expected to ''pay up" freely On tho
whole, however, they behave worry we'll.
Yours, &C.. y (. tta"A, o.