The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-25
THE SEA ISLAND QUESTION.
Change from Sea Islands to Uplands

tory and careful exposition Of the questions
proposed in my last article. 1t shall be my ef-
fort to reach substantial conclusions as con-
cisely as possible, but it requires minute and
painstaking investigation in all highly practi-
cal subjects to make either our observations
safe or our deductions cogent and useful.
When say we can grow uplands compara-
lively as well as is done in the interior, 1t is
meant not only that we can do as 1oelt, but
that we can do on an average better to the
acre. Why should not this be so if the up
lands grow heallhily with us at all Our lands
are richer by 30 to 100 per cent as is proved
by our capacty in corn and every other crop,
save small grain, which does not generally
grow healthily with us.
The presumption that the temperature, salt
air or soil of our section is unsuitable to up
land varieties of cotton is clearly without me-
rit The general temperature is the same, II
not better, than that of the most favored short
cotton regions The fact of our soil being
sandy Is no hindranco to cotton growth, as Is
exempliied by the fine growth of the sea
islands; besides which, it is we'll known that
some of the best upland sections of our State
are also sandy, as is the case with the Allandale
vicinity, in Barnwell District, and the lower
part of Edgedeld. The salt air or saline prop
critics Of soil are by no means prejudicial TO
growth of uplands. 1t is well known fact
that large crops of the same have been made
on our reclaimed marshes, and this when these
lands would not mature the sea islands so as
to escape the great injury from frost. AS to the
fatness of our soil, and In some instances
luxuriance of growth, deemed by some In
compatible with uplands, would cite the
Mississippi bottoms and Louisiana fields, some
of the finest Of which are as level as though
they were graded by rule, whilst some of these
very fields have to be planted six feet each
way owing to the great luxuriance Of growth.
So far as our coast is concerned, the growth
of cotton for the most part is not excessive.
1t is blessed with remarkably equable tempera-
ture and seasons. We have never known be-
fore 1867 and 1868, in the memory of man,
those overwhelming floods Of rain or extreme
yicissitudes of season so frequent in the South
west. Exempt from all possibility of frcshets
and overflows, we again have no striking peri
odicities always so injurious and sometimes
destructive to slow growing crop like that Of
cotton. It is to this noxious popularity that
both the East and West Indies, as well as the
coast of Africa, are subjected, which necessari-
ly involves expense and loss
However we examine the condition of things
we find it in the main with us most favor
able 10 the cotton growth. But no less i'm
portant question arises as 70 our gathering sea-
son. may as well state here, as farther on,
that in this particular our coast at least Is un-
surpassed, as is fully borne out by what is ne
cessary to the silky fibre of the sea islands,
requiring, as it does, so much nicer gathering
than any otter variety Of cotton known.
Thus it appears, reasonably taken, If our soil
has superior fertility it has the adaptability
otherwise to grow larger crops of uplands to
the area than is done in the interior. SO much
for the reasonable presumption; what of the
actual facts 80 far at our command? have
previously dealt with the past, its attempts
and experiments, and have given the same, |
think, with candor and frankness. The expe-
rments of the day differ widely from the past.
The crop of upland reported in The NEWS as
made on Edisto Island, during the past season,
is to the point and striking. Here we have
800 pounds of lint to the acre gathered by the
lst of November whilst no more than fifty
pounds of sea Islands to the acre was deemed
possible Us the whole yield. This, too, in favor
of uplands being planted much later than the
sea islands, both on the same plantation and
both swept by worm. Surely nothing could
credibly informed Of another crop on Johns
Island pointing in the same direction, If not
extending TO the same degree.
I have before me Il still more striking and
interesting case, if possible, ofa crop raised
In st. Lukc's on inferior lands and un-
der the most unfavorablc circumstances. A
highly respectable and reliable overseer,
who managed with repute in this vicinity
before the war, informs me that he cultl-
vated during the past season five acres OIL
uplands under his own hand, having neither
plough or black labor at his disposal. He
planted without manure common kind oil short
cotton late, and in the lists" first chopping
together of rows reports with emphasis stand
as "badly missing" and the crop entirely eaten
out by worm, in his opinion sinking half Of
the same. He makes $50 pounds of lint to the
acre, and does not think, in his Informed
Judgment, that the lands could have produced
over 40 pounds to the acre of good ordinary
sea island, say at present market value 10 cents
per pound.
| know these fields, and think that If plant
ed without manure the estimate of forty
pounds of sea islands, supposng injury suffer-
ed from worms to be one-half, is too high for
the same. 1 have no idea that more than six
ty pounds to the acre, without worm, could
have been safely calculated upon, and with
late start, hurriedy planted, badly missing
stand, and chopped through already with
provision crops, think forty pounds to an
acre is about all that could have been made
This may have been what was meant, but as
nv informant is not within my reach whilst
write. | have first given the statement AZ 1t
NAV possibly have been intended. MY inf0r-
mant saws that ''stand" can with us, be as well
caught by two good furrows Of the plough,
carefully thrown together, as otherwise HIS
opinions are not only valuable On account OF
his entire reliability, but on account OF his va
ried experiences, having been reared In Barn
we'll District. and familiar with the cultivation
thereof: afterwards removing to the coast,
where he has had long and thorough training
and experience In the sea island cultivation
and lands. He is concluslvely oil opinion tnat