The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-05-01
spring Hsesing Of the state Agricultural
SS 0oCtely,-f

The spring meeting Of the State Apri.
cultural and Mechanical Society con.
ysned AZ Hibernian Hall, in Charleston.
Tuesday morning, at II O'Clock. There
was very large attendance of the mem
oers, representing nearly every section
OF the State. The society was called to
order by the President. Major Thomas
W. Woodward, who, upon taking the
chair, delivered an address, reviewing
the history Of the association, lis works
IN the past and prospects for the future.
The report Of the Secretary and Trea.
surer was then read by Colonel D. WYATT
Aiken; showing that the receipts OF the
last annual fair had been 81, 513. "a, ali
OF which had been expended. From
THIS report, it appears that the indebted
ne ness so OF the society amounted to ubout
~: Ooo. The report OF the Secretary was
referred to committee. consisting of
Colonel J. B. Moore, Paul s. Fielder,
ESQ., and u. Il. jacques, Esq.
General Hagood offered a resolution
!Sf the appointment Of q committee to
suggest syllabus and suitable subjects
LOT investigation by the society, and for
discussion at It's regular summer meeting,
~ was adopted unanimously, and the
loilowin committee appointed: Gene
ral johnson Hagood, Hon. ". NI. Law.
ton and George T. Wicks, Esq.
Mr. George T. Wicks, of Richland.
then read the following essoy upon the
Culture Of Upland Rice as Staple of
South Carolina
-Ar. president, Ladies and Gentlen,ei.::
allow me, while thanking you for the
honor conferred upon mo in your invita-.
tion 10 address you, to say that I feel
great dltiidence in speaking on agricul-
tnrai subjects to persons OF 80 much
greater experience and knowledge than
myself. l have not, like yourselves, the
advantage OF having grown up in IN ag-
rlcultural community, and cannot refer
to years of experience, nor give you the
benefit Of careful scientific study bearing
upon planting, but should like, il it were
possible, to say, in plain, straightfor.
ward way. something for the encourage.
ment OF those who, like myself, NAV
come from other parts of the country to
make their homes in South Carolina.
-Four years since, came among you
| with no knowledge Of planting, aud
although ! have been obliged to learn
from that hard teacher, experience, have
each year increased my crops and nv
profits, and in spite of many drawbacks,
feel more than ever inclined to continue.
In coming to South Carolina, T pur.
chased rice and cotton plantation on
the Wsteree River, end it is of this river
bottom and the adjacent lands that am
requested to speak to you; for the
Wateree Is but one OF many rivers run
| oing. through our State and the whole
south which are equally available. There
Is on this river q large body OF allnvinl
land, some four miles in width, and ex-
tending from the town of Camden to the
mouth Of the river, and much of il is nm
improved. These lands are easily cleared.
and the process of decay so rapid that
they are soon free Of stumps. cleared
some OF this land which had not many
trees OF large growth. but on that ac-
count was worse thicket of cane briers,
DC, at an expense of i've dollars an aero.
| IL The streams running through this SEQ
tlon were properly managed, u great deal
OF 1t could be planted in rice. The put.
ting down OF trunks, usually so large an
Item III the preparation Of rice lands, is
not Ill this region attended with great
cost or difficulty. It is not necessary 10
nave them as large as on the coast, and
as we are not forced to contend with the
tides, they cnn be pnt down with less
labor, and made secure before the water
reaches them. Earthwork costs not
more than seven cents per cubic yard,
and in working on my levee, laborers
moved from, fifteen to twenty cubic
yards day. The soil is so mellow. that
with mules and scoops the work could
DO done still moro cheaply. In the case
OF the Watercc, much labor aud expense
in The building of banks would be saved
by strengthening the course of the river,
which from surveys I myself made last
| summer, nm convinced could be done
at comparatively small cost. I do not
know how far this is the case with other
rivers. Rice planting in this upper
country possesses some advantages,
which [ think worthy OF attention. In
the first place. the drainage is from eight
TO ten feet, except in time OF freshets,
which arc Not of long duration, and thus
the planter is enabled to use heavy two
morse Flows in preparing the land.
=. When the water rises in the latter
part OF winter, by opening tho flood.
gates and trunks farthest down the river,
1t is permitted to back in, aud thus the
lcvees protected and the land enriched by
deposit Of river mud
3. Ten days after drawing of the
water, the land becomes sufficiently dry
for putting in mules and harrows pre-.
DQrltOrv tn MIN nti fI,., oro,>