The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-07-16

the usual farm products with little
or no small grain. Long cotton
was formerly planted exclusively !;
but since the war, it has been
found more remunerative to plant
the short staple, which, when it
can be properly worked. produces
from one to two bales per acre.
This, however, is rarely done, as
Cutie is the chance, and is more
consuming than producing.
The soil is usually dark and diff
fcult of cultivation, requiring a
much greater proportion of hoeing.
liz was told that since the war they
have tried a system of cultivation,
but that it was invariably a failure
on account of the rapid and rank
growth of the grass.
At the close Of the war a great
many were sanguine of success IN
in farming, and judging the pres
ent by The past, invested largely,
with a borrowed capital in rice and
cotton, losing sight, it seems, OF
the fact that Cuffie was a citizen
and politician rather than a laborer.
This delusion was, however, soon
dispelled, for even when a crop
was made, Cutie harvested the
heads off the rice in the fields at
night. leaving only. the straw for
| the employer, and when he with
high hopes went to gather his gol-
den crop, it was all but the gold.
These failures produced a perfect
retroversion, and soon bankruptcy
and the sale of land became as
common as liens on crops are here.
"The best government the world
ever saw has appropriated most
Of these lands for, taxes, relieving
many of an incubus, for a large
land owner down there reminds
me of the man who bought the
elephant, he does not know what
to dowith it.
These wealthy classes are as a
rule, much worse off than those
who were always poor; wealth
and poverty seem to have shaken
hands, those who were wealthiest
now being poorest. This is more
strikingly the case with the plan
ters. The sad issue- Of the war
was to those vicissitude indeed.
Raised in the lap of'luxury, rolling
in. wealth and pleasure, having
nothing to do but to order and re-
eeive, they are now incapable of
adapting themselves to the circum-
stances by which they are.surround-
ed. The change seems as great as
the transit from palace to log hut.
While those who occupied the
pine country stretching towards
Barnwell-once the poorest people
in the land, being tutored in the
school of adversely had nothing to
lose or regret. and much to en-
courage, for with emancipation
came greater demand and better
pay for labor.
The negroes are as thick
as black birds at harvest, and as
indolent as their necessities will
permit. This, is much to be re-
gretted inasmuch as they could be
made useful and appreciative peo-
pie under proper regime. Asst is
in this section of country, the
crops have to be guarded as close
ly as picket line from harvest until
shipment.
About the town negroes are
much more intelligent and with
few exceptions there are none over
the age of 12 years Of age who
cannot read and write. They are
everywhere in this section more
civil and polite to the whites than
in the up-country.
In conclusion it gives me much
pleasure to state that Rev. Edward
Palmer, father of Dr.. Benjamin
Palmer, the great pulpit orator of
New Orleans, ia still pastor Of the
Presbyterian church at this place,
though now in his S7th year. On
the Sunday before I left this place
I heard him preach an excellent
sermon from Romans, in which he
eloquently and beautifully portray
ed the conflict of good and evil in
the human heart. His figure is
erect and although all his life spare
and of delicate constitution, is the
most remarkable instance Of pres
ervation I have ever seen. This,
he said, was the reward of temper
ance in all things. 'Mark the
perfect man.
Vonrs trnlv