288 



THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



in the towns, or on tide-water ; and to get that 

 price, mucli corn is carted from tiie interior 10, 20 

 or 3 J miles over bad roads. We have known corn 

 on York river offered for sale as low as ^1 the 

 barrel by the large quantity. These low prices, as 

 well as the low general products, show very poor 

 returns, as well as bad management. But, 

 even if we lose sometimes by low prices, and cul- 

 tivators perhaps lose always on the poorest lands, 

 Btill, on a general average of years, products and 

 prices, the cultivators ot' our corn-producing re- 

 gion are as well rewarded, and as thriving, as 

 others; and on as poor lands in South Carolina, 

 the planters could cerlainlydo better, inasmuch as 

 the corn would there be all consumed where pro- 

 duced, instead of part being sent to be sold at a 

 distant market. It would be very far more profita- 

 ble, and more necessary, in South Carolina. No 

 agricultural country can afford to buy its bread — 

 and still less at such heavy cost of transportation, 

 compared to the first price, as of Indian corn. 



So far our remarks have been made upon the 

 supposition that the corn culture of South Caro- 

 lina would be on land as poor as ihat described by 

 our correspondent, or as are the unimproved or 

 exhausted lands of lower Virginia. But there is 

 no need of such unproductive culture being per- 

 manently continued, either in Virginia or in South 

 Carolina. The Charleston district especially 

 might be greatly and profitably improved in pro- 

 ductiveness, by draining many of the numerous 

 swamps, and higher and firmer lands, which are 

 now greatly injured by excess of wetness. If this 

 were done, even but to a partial extent, (but al- 

 ways properly and judiciously,) the public as well 

 as private benefits would not liiil to be very impor- 

 tant. And if the calcareous manures of South 

 Carolina were brought into use. (the almost uni- 

 versal neglect of which is so far even more re- 

 markable than the neglect of draining,) the two 

 improvements together would add more value to 

 the agricultural products, genera! wealth, and ge- 

 neral welfiire of South Carolma, than millions of 

 dollars could purchase. In short, if we may trust 

 to our very limiied inlbrmaiion of the existing facts, 

 we are confident that no part of the United States 

 is more susceptible of being benefited by these two 

 imodee of improvement than a large portion of 

 •Souih Carolina. 



Another matter of the highest importance is 

 embraced in the inquiries above— the effect of 

 drainage in improving health. Of such actual re- 

 sults we know nothing from personal experience— 

 and not much from information as to particular 

 facts. But there can be no question as to the ge- 

 neral results. All of the great body of rich low 

 fcut £rm lands in Gloucester county was once a 



swamp, and the inhabitants were then very sickly. 

 Now, nearly all of that extensive and fertile body 

 of land has been brought under good and careful 

 cultivation, and the low-ground estates of Glou- 

 cester are among the most healthy on the tide- 

 waters of lower Virginia. Still, even there, the 

 drainage is far from being the most judicious or 

 effectual — and there yet remain many obvious and 

 fruitful sources of malaria and disease. On the 

 borders of the alluvial flats of James river, above 

 the fialls, though a high and hilly country, the in- 

 habitants were formerly very subject to autumnal 

 levers. The wide low-grounds of the river were 

 then very insufficiently drained and guarded from 

 the effects of inundation. Now, all these lands are 

 well drained, well cultivated, and form one of (he 

 most fertile and admirably managed agricultural 

 districts in Virginia ; and the river farms are gene- 

 rally quite healthy, and at no time suffer from dis- 

 ease in any degree to be compared with what 

 were formerly the annual and regular visitations. 

 When we saw the extent and magnificence of 

 the city of Charleston, and saw and heard the 

 evidences of the wealth of its inhabitants, we 

 were the more astonished — nay, we could not 

 have believed the fact, if on less sure testimony — 

 that the whole surrounding country (saving parts 

 of tlie sea-islands,) was almost an agricultural 

 desert, in which tillage and husbandry were in the 

 lowest staie,and where malaria and disease held 

 undisputed sway through nearly all the season 

 best suited for agricultural labors and enjoyments. 

 When it was stated that it was at great hazard of 

 his life for a proprietor to spend even one night 

 on his estate, from June to October, we did not 

 know whether most to wonder that such a pesti- 

 lential region had not been altogether abandoned 

 —or, not being abandoned, that it had not been 

 more improved, by proprietors who are noted 

 for their general intelligence, wealth, and liberal 

 expenditure. Even if we allow hajf that we 

 have heard of the disastrous effects of malaria in 

 the Charleston district to be abated for exaggera- 

 tion, the remainder would make an amount of pe- 

 cuniary loss, and of physical and mental suffering, 

 which it is astonishing that any people can be 

 content to bear, and that they shotald not exert 

 every hopeful means for even partial relief. 



We are aware that both these great modes 

 of improvement above referred to are not fully 

 available on every plantation, nor even in every 

 considerable district of country. But the advan- 

 tages of either one would be very great, in re-r 

 gard to the increase of products, and improvement 

 to health. For, in the latter respect, genera 



