The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-14

in good condition.
The area in cotton is larger than usual,
except in Orsngeburg. The yield to the
acre is expected to be as large as u.asl,
which would make the crop exceed shat Of
last year. The cotton worm has been seen
in both Orangeburg and Barnwell. With
favorable seasons the caterpillar is not e1-
pected to be dangerous to the crop.
Fertilizers, as in the other divisions,
have been used in great abundance. The
negroes are working pretty we'll, but are
farming on their own account much more
generally than ever before. This is es-
peoially the case in orangeburg and Barn
we'll.
Fourth Division. The Seaooast region,
which is capable Of yielding the most
valuable agricultural productions, has
since the war, from various causes, been
more depressed than any other division
of South Carolina. From the facility
with which many portions Of it could
be reached from the sea, it was at an
early period of hostilities partly abandoned,
and the valuable Improvements allowed to
90 to ruin. From the impoverishment Of
the owners and the absence Of successful
crop seasons, the work of restoration has
necessarily been slow, and in some cases has
not yet been attempted.
The leading crops of this section Of the
State have been for long period rice and
sea island cotton. The growth of rice was
nearly destroyed by the war, and only the
most certain and best locations have siuce
been placed under cultivation. But with
home demand rather greater than the ma
tive product, and with the continuance of
fairly remunerative prices, there has been
some disposition to increase the cultivation,
and the crop Of South Carolina, which was
about 25, 900 tierces in 1s67-6s, will prob
ably approach 35, 1000 tierces for 1S6S-69
The growth now coming forward would, if
favored, show q still further moderate in
crease, but the long continued drouth has
caused the streams to be affected with salts,
and on Cooper River and some other points
the damage will be serious, unless relieved
by an early fall of rain.
Notwithstanding the experience OF two
seasons disastrous from the operations of
the caterpillar, the planters Of the long
staple cotton have planted nearly the area
of last year. The plant was somewhat put
back by the late cold spring, but the wealth
or has since been dry and warm, and the
progress of the crop has been favorable
No certain indication Of the yield can
be given until 9 more advanced period of
the season is reached, the plant having to
run the chance Of worms, storms and other
casualties.
A moderate amount Of corn was planted
in this division, but the cold and unfavora-
Bile spring, with the absence of rain since,
have nesrly destroyed the crops where they
were planted on light soils, and the yield
Of this grain will be extremely limited.
This will render the purchase Of consid-
cradle amount Of corn necessary as tho sea-
son advances. Labor on the sea islands is
abundant, and is only scarce in the rice
districts. The negroes are reported to te
working we'll. There being but little mo-
ney in the seacoast region, the negroes are
generally paid for their labor in land. A
planter, for instance, who wants twenty
hands hires sixty hands on the "two day"
system. Every one of the sixty has land to
cultivate for himself, and works for the
planter two days in each week. In this
way the planter, in exchange for the land
used BY the sixty hands, has the labor of
sixty hands for two days each, equal to the
full work Of q gang Of twenty. This plan,
with different notifications, has been wide
ly adopted this year. The prospects Of the
division are good, and the planters believe
that the dry spring will make the caterpil
lar harmless.
Weighing carefully the condition of the
crops in the different parts Of the State, we
arrive, then, at the folio wing conclusions
l. The wheat and corn crops of the year
will be sufficient for home consumption, but
as the yield will be unequally divided, some
counties having more and some less than
they will need, considerable quantity Of
grain must be bought before the crop of
1870 comes in. Not nearly as much as was
bought in lS67-6S should, however, be nee
esssry. More oats will, it is believed, be
raised than ever before.
2. The cotton crop Of the State will
more likely fall short Of than exceed the
crop of 1869. The increased area in
cotton aud the liberal use Of fertilizers will
be fully neutralizsd by the cold spring, and
by the fact that the freedmen are now more
largely than ever planting on their own 40
count. The land 30 planted is included in
tho increased area of the year, but the
yield per acre will, on account Of careless
cultivation, be much less than where the
land is titled by negroes directed by white
men. For these reasons We set down the
crop of South Carolina for 1S69-70 at say