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

usual has been planted, and In others lesf.
We do not think that there will be any great
variation from the crop Of 1868. Oats are
In good condition. +
The area in cotton is larger then usual,
except In Orangeburg. The yield to tho
acre is expected to be as large as usual,
which would make the crop exceed that Of
last year. The cotton worm has been seen
in both Orangeburg and Barnwell. With
favorable seasons the caterpillar is not ex-
peoted to be dangerous to the crop.
Fertilizers, as in the other divisions,
have been used in great abundance. The |
negroes are working pretty well, but are
farming on their own account much more |
generally than ever before. This is es-
peoially the case in Orangeburg and Barn
WELL
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 on
early period of hostilities partly abandoned,
and the valuable improvements allowed to
60 to ruin. From che impoverishment of
the owners and the absence of successful
crop seasons, the work of restoration has
necessarily been slow, and in some oaseshas
not yet~been- attempted.
~ Df go 49,
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 o
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 1867-6S, will prob
ably approach $4,000 tierces for 186s-69
The growth now coming forward would, if
favored, show 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, ualess 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
er 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 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 nearly 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 q oonsid-
cradle amount Of corn necessary as the sea-
SON advances. Labor ON the sea islands is
abundant, and is only scarce in the rico
districts. The negroes are reported to TO
working well. There being but little mo-
neyin 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 s.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 gang Of twenty. This plan,
with different notifications, has been wide
" adopted this year. The prospects Of the
division are good, and the planters believe
that the dry spring will make the oaterpi,
lar harmless.
Weighing carefully the condition Of the
crops in the different parts of the State. we
arrive, then, at the folio wing conclusio ons
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, q considerable quantity Of
grain must be bought before the Greg %
1870 comes in. Not nearly as much as was
bought in l867-68 should, however, be nee
essary. More oats will, IL is believed, be
raised than ever before.
q The cotton crop OF the State will
more likely fall short Of than exceed the
crop Of 1862. TIE increased area in
cotton and the liberal use Of fertilizers win
be fully neutralised by the cold opring, and
by the fact that the freedmen are now more
largely than ever planting on their own 40