Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-02


NEAR RIcEBoRo, LIBERTY CoUaTx, Feb.
ruarY 2s.--Edstor Morning Netcs: Durinx
my visit to this interesting and hospitahle
county, I have discovered disposition Amone
the farmers generally to encourage immigra
tion OF a character that would promote the az
ricultural development OF the country. am
informed, however, that the same effort 70 Ia.
duce immigration by making known the agrl-
cultural resources Of the country. has not been
made here which has been made SO successful
ly concerning certain other sections of the
South The advantages OF soil, climate and
situation are as desirable as those pertaining
to any country IN the world. While cotton.
corn, cane and rice are most successfully cui.
tivated without the aid OF fertilizers, the land
Is also especially adapted to the culture Of
fruit an@ early vege .ab,es. The situation ia
easily accessible by rail and water. connecting
with the line OF New York steamers at Savan-
nah. which is the only regular line south OF
Charleston, and by more direct route. The
steamers make the trip as quickly as
those which start from the latter
city. Those who have lived in both places
state that the climate Is as early along the
coast here as : : In northern Florida Certain.
y some Of the crange growers near the coast
have not been injured during the present win
ter. The health OF the county generally q ex.
cellent, some locations being regarded as
healthful as any in the Rocky Mountains The
immediate vicinity OF rice fields which are In
undated, is not considered healthful ia sum-
mer, while some sections might be rendered
more heathfui by q proper system OF drainage.
which could be secured by comparatively
small outlay, in consequence of the existencss
OF numerous canals and bitches which wera
cut by the wealthy planters previous TO the
war, and which need only to be cleaned out TO
be rendered thoroughly efficient
It Is singular fact that colored peopla who
are accustomed to living on the rice planta-
tionS enjoy excellent health thereon
and the reverse If they move away.
In some cases their longevity is remarkable.
Upon a magnificent plantation near Rice
boro, which has been thoroughly arranged I'M
der the skfllful direction of MIR. A. W. Jones
who cultivates it, resides probably the Oldest
negro in the South. Her great grandchildren
are grandparents, and careful investigation
places her age at one hundred and forty years
notwithstanding her great age, she Is quite
strong and active. and supports herself by cul-
ttSating few acres furnished her, and can do
as much work as any hand on the plantation
There are several in the neighborhood who
wards
The culture of the LIE Colte pear ia reeaivine
considerable attention in the county. There
are facts concerning this remarkable pear with
which your readers in this section are familiar
out which are unknown to many. The peculiar
characteristics of the tree are its entire freq.
dom from blight, the greatest enemy Of other
pear trees, and from worms; its prolific Yield
and longevity. The fruit is large, WEIGHING
from u to 10 ounces, delicious in flavor and OF
q hrnl character. which renders it especially
suitable tor shipment The mother, tree from
which all OF the kind in this county originated
was brought to this country from Japan about
forty years ago. is still In vigorous condition
and yields admirably, more than twenty
bushels having been gathered from it in one
season. Eleven OF these trees afforded a net
return to the oN ner of $500 Tor fruit and 81 500
In three years from the graft. Many consider
1t much more satisfactory and profitable
crop than the orange, and it is destined to take
precedence in this section of all kinds of fruit.
With regard to immigration. good men from
every quarter meet with cordial welcome
have had the pleasure of meeting with several
Northern gentlemen who have located here
since the war, and they express themselves as
home. Those who are desirous of coming
South for the purpose of engaging in the cul-
ture OF truck could scarcely hope to find any
place more suitable, healthful, as early ae
Florida. and as near, In point OF time, the
Northern cities as Charleston. little north
o. this, / am reliably informed, five hundred
dollars per acre have been realized
on cucumbers, aud three hundred dollars on
tomatoes, etc Good lands can be bought for
S25 upwards visited plantation TO day
owned by Mr. @. A. EmmeTson. which was
valued before the war at S50o00, and which
can now be purchased for S3,0lO This farm.
like many which might be purchased in part
or whole, by reason of great improvements In
the way OF drainage, made upon them In
former years, could be cultivated with great
success
The pure water is excellent. There are
numerous mineral springs near here 1 have
drank or several strongly impregnated with
alum and sulphur.
There is no liquor sold in the county, and
county taxes have been nearly annihilated
being only one-tenth of one per cent f.