SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
2m 
RECLAIMING SWAxMPS-REPLA" TO “J.W.OL.” 
Editors Southern Cultivator — I see in the July 
•number of tlie Cultivator, that the above rhetorical j 
gentleman is doing his utmost to persuade his friends and 
'^‘the public in general,” to desist from the “modern ruin- 
>ous practice,” of reclaiming their lowlands and stagnant 
pools. W ell, what would he have them do in lieu thereof] 
Why, of course, continue to scratch their old sand-hills — j 
that were worn out before he was born — and let their most i 
fertile lands remain in a condition dead to all profit, to 1 
send forth a poisonous malaria to generate fevers and ! 
deadly diseases, to sweep in “ Doctor’s fees,” the | 
■scanty earnings of the gullied, poverty-stricken highlands! ! 
“J. W. 01.” has imposed upon himself a hard task indeed, | 
and his C'Scrts to stay the ponderous wheels of the car of 
agricultural progress will have about as much effect as 
those of the rain'.s did, who vainly endeavored to stop the 
■swinging of a hickory maul by butting against it, until 
he knocked out his own brains w'ithout scratching his 
formidable adversary. 
But it seems that “ Ol” has the advantage of many, as 
he professes to base his argument upon bona fide “ expe- 
rience.” I will admit that experience is good, for it is an 
old adage, that “even fools can learn in such a school.” 
I do not apply this to the gentleman by any means, but 
there are diffr.rent kinds of “ experience,” viz: thorough 
and partial. L presume that “ Ol’s” is emphatically of 
the latter kind: in a “nut shell.” Necessity, years ago, 
<irove our farmers into the swamps, and what is the re- j 
suit ] Why, a great portion of our earthly domain, once 
considered useless, has been beautilied and purified, and 
made luxuriant in the richest fruit, to cheer our hearts and 
gladden our eyes, and stay the spirit’s flight to its eternal 
liorne. This ditching process is carried on in every highly 
civilized agricultural country on earth — and I say let it 
speed on in North America from the v/ilds of the moun- 
tain’s top to the ocean’s verge, from the Atlantic's wave 
to the rock-ribbed shore of the Pacific, until our low- 
grounds shall wave in one general harvest, and starvation 
be forever driven from our land ! 
But what is “ Ol.’s” herculean argument against ditch- 
ing, &c. ] "Why, to use his language, some of his neigh- 
bors “ have been broken totally and absolutely forever,” 
by it ! ! It seems that they are not only smashed for time, 
but all eternity, for he not only uses the term “ forever,” 
but thunders it out with emphasis ; if this be the case, 
they are bankrupts indeed, both spiritual and temporal. 
Now, I knov/ his neighbors, w’ith the exception of those 
poor unfortunate creatures that “ have been broken totally 
and absolutely icrever” — I know nothing about them ; 
though there is no kind of business that men deficient in 
judgment will not sometimes manage to disadvantage, 
and also forget that “ large ships may venture more, but 
little boats should keep near shore.” 
His neighbors, as a general rule, do not regret the capi- 
tal that they have expended in reclaiming their swamp 
lands, and the work goes bravely on. They take far more 
pleasure in gathering from fiorty to seventy-jive bushels of 
good solid, heavy corn per acre, than tripping over a gul- 
lied plantation after a few bushels of “nubbins.” Though it 
be true that highland ponds at present are somewhat “pre- 
carious,” it is also true that if we would use a little sandy 
soU for admixture, in most of cases, we would soon have a 
foundation that would stand the drouth and weather the 
storm. Of course, farmers will learn more about this after 
a little more experience. As for the swamps of the run- 
ning streams in “Ol.s” neighborhood, I never knew one 
of them when fairly tried, to prove in the least deficient. 
That highland pond that he has reference to is more cer- 
tain where sand has washed in, but it generally produces 
well all over, unless the seasons prove such as to injurs 
the uj^and cpops of tire neighborhood. 
I have had strange feelings creep over me, while stand- 
ing in that very pond, upon the margin of the “ Alliga- 
tor’s Play Yard,” and looking upon the fine corn and cot- 
ton growing in the monster’s hall, and blooming around 
his very throne, that was once shut in by deep waters 
and dark woods. All praise to the “Irish ditcher” — “may 
he live a thousand years and his shadow never grow less,” 
for, 
The ’Gator’s thunder is heard no more. 
The bullfrogs too, have ceased their roar, 
Croaking toads, ten thousend strong 
Have fled away in dread alarm. 
Com, hay and rice, now have the rule, 
Where lately lay a stagnant pool ; 
Chills and fevers, sickness, death. 
Are now dethroned by bright-eyed health. 
O, let t he glorious work go on. 
In every swamp and highland pond. 
Until that same old Irish nation” 
Proves its value to all creodion. 
Jefferson Comity, Ga. Davy Crocket. 
IRON HOOPS FOR BINDING COTTON. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — We find in the July 
No. of this paper two articles upon the subject above in- 
troduced, One over the signature of “ Dixit,” denounc- 
ing their use — the other, “A Subscriber,” recommending 
their adoption. 
As the subject is full of interest to the cotton planter, 
we propose to submit a little testimony and a few thoughts 
of our own in its favor, thereby answering the call of “ A 
Subscriber,” and the objections urged by “ Dixit.” 
The testimoney is from the “ Vicksburg Wliigfi a copy 
of which is herewith enclosed for publication, on the late 
invention ©f D. McComb, of Memphis, Tenn., which sets 
forth most of the advantages claimed for it. 
It is known as “ D, McComb’s Iron Tie of Hook and 
Clasp,” and the right to sell the same throughout this 
State, South Carolina, Florida, &c,, is owned by a com- 
pany in this place, who are now preparing them for sale- 
for the growing crop. 
A few specimen bales has been distributed over a por- 
tion of the above territory, and some on exhibition at the 
warehouses here, and are the admiration of all v/ho see 
them. 
A circular will soon be issued by this Company with 
, certificates from most of the press owners in New Orleans, 
Mobile and Savannah, saying they will receive them on 
the same terms as rope banded cotton. Also certificates 
from sea Captains or owners of vessels. Insurance Com- 
panies, Cotton Brokers, &c,, &c., recommending their 
genera! adoption by planters. 
It is not to be presumed that the price of iron will be 
greatly augmented, as suggested by “ Dixit,” by this ad- 
ditional demand, since there has been no material change 
in the price of the article for many years, nothwithstand- 
ing the heavy and increasing demand for Rail Roads only. 
The ties being painted with an anti-corosive substance 
when prepared for sale, cannot rust, and will still be valu- 
able as hoop iron, even after getting into spinners’ hands. 
If they are universally adopted, rope will be neglected 
— hence Kentucky bagging will be greatly reduced in 
price, and perhaps will supply the “India” altogether, 
which for the last few years has been very light and infe- 
rior. 
We approve of “ Dixit’s” suggestion as to the weight of 
hales, 4.50 to 500 lbs. By adopting the former weight and 
“ Iron Tie,” we doubt if Captains of vesBcls would have 
them compressed, while planters would save much in the 
item ofmending. 
Colmibus, Ga., August 1857. A Planter. 
