The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-07-17

from ponds and sloughs-the debris from
numerous charcoal pits-sea- weed throw n
up by the waves-and the Otfal OF fish
supply abundant means OF ameliorating
land; aud in the interior pine country,
there are valuable mari beds and limestone.
DAIRY FARMS.
When we see what leveeing, ditching and
pumping have achieved in Holland, in the
fens of England, in our own country, and
in other quarters, we may expect some day
TO find these great natural meadows, con-
verted into hayfields and pastures, the
home of a thrifty people. Trey consist of
alluvium based on sand and clay an arti-
fetal, but eXhaustless soil. The grass, of
several varieties, grows rank and coarse,
but actual experiment has demonstrated
that, the more il is gIazed and moved, the
more tender and succulent IL becomes. The
late Mr.. George, of Grand CoquIlle, in the
Rigolets, shipped fifty bales OF this hay To
New Orleans, which could only be sold for
litter, it was so rough, but he persevered
aud in two or three years he brought his
hay up TO the standard of the Western arti-
Gle. Besides, other grasses might BE- intro
duced to Supercede the native grasses. The
Bermuda grass, set out in turits, or cut up
and plowed in, soon carpets our uplands,
aud covers with its rich verdure even the
naked sand.
FRUITs-oRAN9E CULTURE.
Southeastern Mississippi produces a great
variety of fruit. The peach, apple, plum,
pomegranate, pear and fig /; pecan, grapes OF
many varieties, straw berries, dew berries,
blackberries, the persimmon, mulberry and
pawpaw, or custard fruit, aud melons Of
various kinds, grow in great perfection and
yield abundant returns. Nearer the sea-
shore we find, in addition, the orange,
lemon, citron, shaddOck, jujube, almond,
banana, olive and occasionally the pine
apple. With proper attention aud study
OF the acclimating capabilities of most
valuable roots and fibrous -leaved plants
and textiles, might be planted most OF the
tropical fruits,and many ofthem successfully
cultivated here. The orange is just now
attracting much attention. The tree is
propagated from the secd-by grating on
the wild or sour orange-stock-by suckers
or scions-Or by cutting off and replanting
the tap root. Ii practicable, il would be
well to plant the seed where the tree is To
stand. From nursery beds, the orange is
transplaAted at one or two years old. Shall
low planting and horizontal roots are re-
commended. The tree is tenacious of life,
and may be removed wien ten to twelve
year, old. | have seen biturcated trees
sawed apart, when ten years old, and trans
planted, each section growing and fruiting.
When the roots OF the orange tree run on
or near the surface, the tree becomes har-
dier and fruits earlier. The theory of
planting this tree, IN my opinion, Is never
to dig a hole for it. Plant shallow, and
support with stakes, until it throws out
lateral roots to support itself The eXcis-
ion of the tap root is a mouted question.
AS an accessory to shallow planting, | cut
the tap roots, replant them, and ia due
time get from these a second crop of plants
for setting out, quite as good as the first.
The best locality, it is thought, is near the
water, or salt marsh, with the protection of
the forest on the north On the high bluffs
of our salt water bayous, the orange flour
ishes, and we have trees on this coast in
full bearing, sixty years old, and with no
symptoms of decay. Trees planted in the
open pine woods do we'll, and suffer less
than elsewhere from cold. This tree is more
affected by sudden changes of temperature
than by intense cold. After long, warm
spell, which has started the sap and an un-
expected freeze occurs, is the period of
danger; and the point should be to retard
the flow of sap. The orange, like most
other plants, may be trained to endure cold
weather. | prefer to give my trees north
ern exposure. They flourish on almost any
soil little ashes, oyster shell lime, marsh
mud, and an occasional mulching is all they
require. They may be planted about TWEEN
ty feet apart, and the orchard can be cropped
with peas, potatoes, melons or vegetables.
They will fruit in four, five and six years
the grated fruiting earliest; are subject to
few diseases are very long lived; require
will average, when in full bearing, 1000
oranges to the tree. The demand is unlim-
tied. The oranges on this coast are pro-
nounced superior in flavor to any in the
market. $40 90 per thousand, at the Or
chard, is about the average value.
WINE MAKING.
Wine making bids fair to become one Of
the industries of the pine woods counties.
The Concord, several varieties of Ives
Seedlings, some of the table grapes of
France, succeed well bnt the renowned
Scuppernong is our peculiar boast 1t re-
quires no particular care-little or no prun-
ing. Plant your vine; treat 1t with it's
favorite food-a little bone-dust ashes, char
ccal, vegetable mould, and sweepings from
a blacksmith shop--provide two or three
cart loads OF light-wcOd posts and rails
and let her rip! She will run as long as
you will put down the posts, and in a few
years will cover half an acre of ground. 1t
Is a hardy bearer; seldom rots hangs on
the vine until it shrivels. and has no supe-
rior as wine grape. Mr.. Alfred V. Davis,
of Pass Christian, capitalist, and a man of
great energy and cultivation, has eighty
acres of the Scuppernong, and has made,
and is making first-class still and sparkling
wines, on an extensive scale. Col. A. e.
Lewis, of Jackson county, and other sea-
coast gentlemen, are successfully purs uing
the same enterprise. 1t requires capital to
manufacture wine to compete with the for
eign article a man of limited means may
profitably grow grapes to dispose OF to the
manufacturer, and there IL no interest that
may be more probably followed.
STAPLE CROPS.
Sea Island or long staple cotton is a safe
crop on this coast, anywhere within the in
fuence OF the salt air from the sea. Ii rates
in the market quite as well "a that grown in
seed cotton to the acre-more or less, accord
ing to land, culture and season. Tobacco,
from Florida or Cuba seed, has been tested
and In careful hands would be a paying
crop. large area of land here Is specially
favorable TO its culture. Sugar-cane sue
ceeds admirably, and is a reliable and re-
munerative industry. Rice, so far, is grown
exclusively on uplSnds and only for doInes-
tic use. Its culture might be prOfitably ex-
tended. Sweet potatoes have been made to
yield 500 bushels to the acre. Two crops
of Irish potatoes are grown on the same
land; the first planting in January, the sec
ond in August. Indigo, broom-corn, the
sorghums, and the castoT-Oil bean, have all
been successfully planted.
CHARCOAL AND WOOD.
This is an extensive and paying business
on the sea-board. The coal Is burned near
some navigable bayou, and delivered to
schooners at l21z, Is TO Is cents barrel.
Workingmen, steadily pursuing this BUSH
ness, become independent. Hard wood is
worth, on the bank, 81 so per cord; light
WOOL ~ W; Oaker plhe' ~ %. our sait
water bayous are numerous, running back
generally 10 TO Is miles, affording plenty Of
water and furnishing almost every neigh
bOrhOod with shipping privileges.
MILL LOGS.
The steam saw and planning mills on this
coast are numerous and on a costly and eX-
tensive scale. They pay cash tor all the logs
that can be deliVeredi the price generally
remunerative, but, of course, varying with
the dimensions of the timber and the state
OF the mar'et.
SAND AND SHELLS.
The former for building purposes, the lat
ter for streets and roads. employ many per-