SCHOPF AMERICAN TRAVELS. 



yellow-pine only to very old pitch-pines, and believe that the tree makes 

 no good timber until then. It is difficult to get a clear notion of the 

 many names, varieties, and sub-varieties of this region. 



South Carolina. 



[II, 247-252.] The lands of our host, being dryer and sandier, 

 were not suitable for the culture of rice ; therefore he occupies himself 

 chietiy with Indigo. 



They have sundry varieties of indigo; but in this flat, sandy region 

 that which is best and most profitable is called, to distinguish it from 

 the other sorts, "false Guatimala" or "true Bahama." It does well on 

 soil of a moderate fertility, but if circumstances allow, new land is used 

 or that previously dunged. A few prepare the land for indigo by green 

 manuring, that is. they put on very thin seedings of oats or wheat, and 

 when nearly ripe turn in horses and cattle to eat it ofif and firm it to- 

 gether. 



The seed is planted after the first rainy weather in ]\Iarch or April, 

 in rows 1^-2 ft. apart, the plant growing almost that high. When 

 towards the beginning of July the lowermost leaves grow yellow and 

 begin to fall, and the blooms commence opening, the plant is regarded 

 as ripe for cutting, which is done a second time about the end of 

 Augi:st, and if it is a warm fall a third cutting may be had towards 

 the end of September. In order that the work of cutting may be done 

 forehandedly, and not hurried on account of the quantity to be handled 

 at any one time, fields are sown so as to come in at distinct intervals. 

 The plant should not grow over-ripe. Indigo-fields require much at- 

 tention, and must be diligently kept clean of caterpillars and weeds. 

 Some 20 negroes are necessary to look after a plantation of 50 acres 

 of indigo land and prepare the indigo, over and above what must be 

 done in raising what they themselves and Uie planter's household 

 need. 



After rice, indigo is the chief staple of Carolina, and the yearly 

 production and export reaches several hundred thousand pounds' 

 w'eight. Its cultivation may and will increase, since there is no lack 

 of suitable land, nor is any great capital necessary for a first begin- 

 ning. At Charleston a pound at this time brings 3-5-7 shillings ster- 

 ling; but neither in quality nor in price is the South Carolina indigo 

 equal to that from the Mississippi, the West Indies, or South America. 

 Besides that mentioned as most usually raised, the "false Guatimala," 

 there is cultivated here and there in Carolina the French or His- 

 paniola Indigo, which however does not do so well, because more 

 susceptible to cold, and on account of its deep roots demanding a fatter 

 and richer soil. A third sort is called Wild Indigo (Aiiiorpha fruti- 

 cosa L.) ; an indigenous growth, regarding the quality of which opinion 



3 23 



