The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-02-23
THE GARDEN SPOT OF THE SOUTH. >

1.-THE GARDEN SPOT OF THE SOUTH"
We have repeatedly referred to the
advantages of these locations around Port
Royal over those OF any section of Flori-
da or any other part of the South for the
development of small farming and
horticultural enterprises. and we are not
surprised that such projects are taking
shape ard engaging the attention Of
those seeking such investments. Results
have justified The experiments made upon
limited scale and upon the most
trifling outlay, and the profits have sur
passed the most sanguine expectations.
Where hundreds have failed since the
war TO realize a return upon capital
invested in cotton planting upon these
Sea Island lands, which in point of
fertility arc unsurpassed, we have yet to
hear Of one who has not succeeded In
making handsome return, where truck
farming and market gardening has been
attended to. We venture to assert that
II
here the labor and the same amount of
thrift and skill upon half the area of
land they now dig and delve upon the
rocky and barren hills of the New tEng-
land States that instead of two per cent
realized upon their investments, as is the
average there to the farming lands. that
they could count upon fifty per cent
with more certainty, and with greater
satisfaction and comfort.
We take for cxainple the item Of irish
potatoes, fiom an acre of which properly
manured and cultivated, may be gather
ed three hundred bushels. These are
ready for market by early spring, and
are worth from 81 so to So 90 per bushel,
and the demand from the Northern mar
kets for the earliest shipments, is unlim-
tied. Green peas, which are equally
productive and safe crop upon these
Islands, have realized Us much as $3.50
per acre. Strawberries, which are at
least two weeks in advance Of those near
Charleston, can be assumed as safe be-
yond the contingencies of frost, and are
enormously productive. We have seen
the finest asparagus and celery produced
IN this neighbour ood, to say nothing of
heets, turnips, carrots, cucumbers, squash
es, tomatoes and snap beans which the
local demand could not begin to exhaust.
Now that steam communication is per-
manently established with New York
from our port, we believe that the de-
mand cannot commence to lie supplied.
Heretofore, he it remembered, there has
been no systematiZed effort to utilize our
climactic advantages, and while disaster
after disaster has attended tl,e pursuit of
cotton planting, we can begin to see hope
for redemption of these notably pro-
ductive lands, in the increased rcmuner-
alton, which system of small. carefully
and we'll cultivated gardens by skilled
hands, will exhibit in the future.
"The Society of Gardeners" under the
inspiration &C "Boss" shepperd, who has
become interested in some of the lands
that have recently been changing hands,
will make these, row almost abandoned
plantations source of profit and increas
ed revenue. We most of all need to sec a
neat and careful husbandry succeed the
hitherto rude and thriftless labor that
has thus far prevented this garden spot
of the earth," from bearing bounteous
and remuncrative crops, and we assume
it az an assurance ofsuccess when capt.
alists are directing their attention to it.
We regard the Sea Island cotton culture
~ one of the lost arts, and we do believe
that market gardening will render these
Sea Island lands more valuable than
they ever were. Land that car now be
bought in this vicinity for from SIS to
$15 per acre, under an improved system
such as we contemplate, will become
worth from 800 to 5000 an acre Our
own experience and conviction warrant
ns in assuring the "Society of Gardeners"
who have recently organized in New
York, 40 enterprizs for the raising of
carly vegetables on a large scale for the
Northern markets, that they could
sclect no more appropriate site than this
vicinity for all they could seek or desire
either for healthfnlness or adaptabillty.
james A. Bowley escapsd q probab le
ccnvicflcn m Columbia last week through