The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-11-11

$l6u, is one-tenth of tho investment,
ana mas to be renewed by purchase in O
short number of years. One mare to
every eight or ten mules, bred annuallv
to the jack, will keep up the supply of
mules. Her services as an extra plouoh
horse, or as the managers saddle horse,
will fully repny her keep. The expense of
rearing the colts will be so incurred ns
hardly to be appreciated; aud one COM
ing into service annually permits an
older mule, before it is worn out. to be
SOLD OFT ut as much or moro than tho
cost OF tho recruit. Of tho money paid
Tor labor, at least S130 is its board; add
to this the SS7 for mulo feed, the $l3 for
SEED, and SIG for miscellaneous articles
purchased that could very we'll have been
made on the place, and we have $246.
nearly tour-tenthS of the current ex-
pense. 1t is true that the seed, and part
OF the mule feed, and part OF the labor
ers board IS always produced on the
place; but the rulo is general that tho
other part is purchased, and, together
with all our bacon. comes to us bur
dened with the profits of the pro-
ducer IN the far Northwest, and the ex-
ponses OF & long transportation. Why
not transfer these profits and expenses
Oh transportation to the credit side of
our own accounts? The answer on all
sides is, that hogs cannot be proftably
reared on rs expensive feed as corn is
with us, and that thieves make it impos.
slble to avail ourselves of our natural
pastures-the uncnclosed woodlands of
the country. But the bacon we buv ia
not reared in the ''range;" and even
mere, such stock rs is kept in enclo-
sures and yarded at night is safe from
tho depredator. More attention to the
pea, and root, and nut crops. which
thrive nowhere better than with us: and
the culture of artificial grasses suited to
the climate, together with the use of
cotton seed meal-a cheap and excellent
iced for hogs-would, I am convinced
protltably solve this difficulty. The
increased production of compost. perma-
nently enriching tho soil, would be no
small part of the profit to be derived
from the change.
am not for dethroning cotton as the
market crop. 1t exhnusts land less than
any hoed crop we cultivate; it returns to
the soil IN its seed ono of the best ma
nnres We can use; and converted into
meal, 1t Is most decided addition to the
!ooo crop. Its compactness gives cotton
IN transportation to market advantages
over all the other products of the plan
tntlon, and its cash value there makes il
the true golden fleece. But to avail
ourselves of all the advantages we nos
scss In this staple, Me plantation should
as JW' as possible, be made seLf.sust,linino.
ana me cotton product be The erponem OIL
1'r9m Adopting this as the cardinal
iuea OF our system, and realizing it as
nearly as we can under the circumstances
amid which each Of us is placed, we will
ma our herd crops decreasing in area.
ami as their limits decrease their product
Will increase. Instead of bale to two
acres, we will have two bales to the acre
and our corn and small grain fields will
experience the same changes. The lands
Withdrawn from these crops will bo de-
voted to hay and pasture fields, which
yield their profits with but little OUTLAY
OF annual labor. Our laborers, instead
OF the motley gang which every January
Is with difficulty enlisted. will be reduced
IN number; aud as their number is re-
duced and selection becomes possible.
their character and efficiency will i'm.
prove. Having fewer to feed and paw.
we can afford to give higher wages-suoh
wages as will be powerful stimulant to
the native laborer, to qualify himself to
earn and such as will draw to us from
abroad the skillful and intelligent labor.
which would be more valuable to the
State than all the blessings of soil and
climate with which bountiful Provi-
dence has blessed her. Living more
within ourselves, our pockets would not
feel 80 sharply the vicissitudes of com
merce or the vagares of politics. Hand
ing less money, more would stick. Aud,
ABOVE all, we will be doing justice to the
land (which is our inheritance" and
transmit 1T 10 those who come after us,
Deantified and enriched by our posses
sion.