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

To The Editor of ate Daily Netns .Fg,7a.. -
| circuit OF considerable extent, embracing
Marion, Darlington, Chesserfsh, Sumter, 0laren-;
den and Kershaw Districts, aid personal visits to
many plantations, enables meto say that in gen-
ersl there has never been better prospect for q
cotton crop than now E.is Due, that. the plant is
very irregular. In some plantations it is very
small, though healthy and ot}good color, while in
Fethor places the plant is tank and wdf deyeloped
The advantages Of manure and good working are
manifest Where these have both been employed
the promise Of great cropt lie evident. Where
there has been good working Witlout manure the
crop looks fair. There are soWe plantations where
work has been, neslectod, Of Course there can be
but poor results in such places. :e..t 4. ..4a.
. The eteots OF gusno are apparent to even
casual glance. Near the depot in Marion there
is field Of some fifteen acres Of cotton, which is
as s.beautiful as q picture" The land was well
manured, the plant has been carefully tended, and
the reward will be ample probably two bales clean
cotton to the acre.
| Near the depot at Society Hill there is one field
Of cotton 4unbroken by a fence or ridge, and, as
gentleman reparked, son which hog could be
seen oil over itr-which contains abovefour hun
dred acres, all in good order and looking WELL
Near it is another field of about three hundred
acres. On careful inquiry, I find, so far as have
gone over the State, that about three-fourths as
much land has been planted with cotton as was
planted in 1907 II this estimate holds good for
all tho State and the crop turns out well finally,
then our State will produce this year something
over 800, 900 bales Of clean cotton.
1t gives me pleasure to say that the corn, though
very unequal, looks we'll, also, and that tho pros
poets for. an abundant supply are encouraging.
Our people can supply themselves with corn, but
fear the "pork crop" will hereafter be given up.
Planters say, universally, that they cannot raise
hogs Every one is stolen by the negroes or whites
They steal them from tho pegs near the houses,
and kill every one found running at large. One
planter told mo he tried it last year, and out Of
one hundred and twenty head he secured eighteen.
In several hundred miles Of travel, I have seen
only ten or fifteen hogs.
This difficulty applies also to stock. Cows and
calves are killed constantly, and the country will
soon be cleared of beef. 1t is anticipated that this
evil will increase as vagrant, lazy negroes take
more to the swamps There is now large num-
ber who live by stealing, whose haunts cannot
oa silly be reached who defy the civil powers, and
who keep clear of the military.
It is quite evident that change is coming over
the modes of thought and action Of the best Of our
planters They are preparing to meet the difficult
| ties which surround them, in practical way.
MANY of them next year will try improved hus-
bandry-high manuring and less extent Of cult.
waited land. They will reduce their labor and get
rid of "dead-hoads." They will try to make an
acre produce what it has required three acres for
under the old or present system. To this end
large quantities Of fertilizers will be required, and
can be paid for because it is in evidence that s5 OF
puano will produce at least $40 additional of cotton
| or corn.
The country is quiet and I see few "loaiers"
about, either white or black.
Formerly at all the country taverns you would
meet constantly groups OF whiskoy-drinkers, whose
breath and language both polluted the air, and
with whom one must either "drink" or "fght," "
thanks to-Gen. S1oKLEs orders-or to poverty
there are no such\ loafers about now. have met
but one man in two weeks who had o ''brick in his
hat and he had only ''small onc."
The negroes appear to work well, when not ex-
cited about political meetings; but just give them
notice Of such aSmeeting, though fifteen miles of,
and they go to it, travelling at night and return
ing the next. This units them for work. They
have messages sent to them saying they will be
tined if they don't attend, and when they do attend
they are expected to ''pay up" freely. On the
whole, however, they behave very well.
Yours, &C., A.B.C.