26 
THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
For the Southern Cultivator. 
INDIGO. 
Mr. Editor; — As 1 am anxious to see a por- 
tion of the labor at the South diverted from the 
culture of cotton, and know no better way of 
doing it than by commencing it myself, I would 
be glad if you would furnish me with some ac- 
count of the culture and manufacture of Indigo 
— the probable quantity raised to the acre, and 
what soil is best adapted to it. Any informa- 
tion on this subject would be interesting, and at 
the same time obliging to Yours, &.c. 
Waynesboro', Dec. 21, 1844. 
Remarks. — We are glad to find that men’s 
minds are beginning to be turned to other agri- 
cultural products besides cotton. The condi- 
tion of things in the cotton-growing States im- 
periously demands it. Those who, like our 
correspondent, are thinking of Indigo, will, on 
referring to the many sources of information 
that are e.xtant on the subject, find its culture a 
very simple business Indeed. The profit is 
another matter, which has to be tried yet. 
We design hereafter giving in the Cultiva- 
tor the iDform;ation sought for. For the present, 
we can only refer inquirers to the following, 
viz;— 
Southern Cultivator, Vol. Ilf. page. — 
Farmers’ Register, (So. Ca.,) Vol. IV. “ 421 
Do (Bengal,) 572 
Do (Java,) “ “ 591 
Do (forfamily use) Vol. II. 314 
For the Southern Cultivator. 
FINE STOCK HOGS. 
Mr. Editor: — I am quite a small farmer, 
though I generally raise my own poik and corn. 
Last September, I was in company with seve- 
ral gentlemen, vT-ho were conversing on the sub- 
ject cf hogs. i observed that I would give a 
pig six months old, to any gentleman that would 
beat me in weight, on from twenty to thirty 
hogs, not to exceed two years old, raised on his 
own farm. Capl. Wm. G. Smith, of Jasper 
County, (though not present,) sent me word 
he would take the banter on twenty-five. 
His twenty-five weighed 7238 pounds, ave- 
rage 289^. My tw’enty-five weighed 7332 
pounds, average 293j. Mine were the common 
stock, land pikes, it you please. Should there 
be any persons that are raising the same breeds, 
that have taken no more pains with them than 
farmers ordinarily do with their stock of hogs, 
I should like to hear from them. 
Respectfully, John Webb. 
P. S. I have a fine Berkshire Boar, of Col* 
John Bonner's stock, two years old 25th April 
next, for sale ; Price, S20. 
Webbs, Ga., Jan. 10, 1845. 
Hauling it back. — We are informed, says 
the Columbus (Ga.) Enquirer ol 22d inst., that 
James Dowdell, Esq., of Harris County, who 
has for some time past had his Cotton in the 
Warehouse of this city, during the past week 
sent his teams down and had it hauled home, 
preferring to hold it over, rather than sell it at 
the present beggarly prices. Although he may 
liolmaice anything by the operation, he is pretty 
certain not to lose. 
For the Southern Cultivator. 
OVERSEERS. 
Mr. Editor: — Much has been said recently 
in the columns of the Carolinian, in regard to 
the improvement and duty of overseers; but it 
seems to me some exciting cause must first ex- 
ist before men can be roused to great energetic 
action, leading to a permanent improvement in 
anything. Let us examine and see it any of 
these causes now exist on the part of overseer 
or employer. At the present time the country 
is filled with men looking for business as over- 
seers. Many have left their employers (not 
turned off) because they will not and cannot 
give the same wages in 1845 as they did the 
last year. Others have left their homes, where 
they have only been able to make a scanty sup- 
port, if that, to seek an overseer’s birth. Many, 
may 1 not say one-half, of this number, will not 
be able to fiind business : and the reason why, 
must be obviaus to every green seed cotton plan- 
ter at least, I venture nothing in saying that 
we have men enough, of good character too, 
who have for many years employed overseers, 
but would now most willingly themselves be- 
come one, provided such a price could be ob- 
tained for their services as has been common 
among larmers and overseers lor years past. 
But who among the green seed planters are able 
to give high wages to even men of character 1 
Many who have employed overseers lor years 
past, will not do so in 1845, because the price 
asked forbids at once the farmer to give it. 
Where then will be found these necessary ex- 
citing causes on the part of overseer or employ- 
er to prompt them to improvement? Surely not 
the high price the one will be able to obtain for 
his services, or the other able to give. The fact 
is^ the overseer’s business is retrograding daily ; 
and that large retrenchmen'.s, as regards num- 
bers and wages, will be made among this class 
of men in 1845, I believe no one will undertake 
to deny. 
Now the question is, how are we to cure these 
evils so justly complained of? It would be 
vain to suppose for a moment that individual 
action alone could remove them ; while a united 
action on the part of farmers will fully ac- 
complish the object aimed at. And, for this 
purpose, I now call upon one and all of my 
brother farmers throughout the cotton growing 
States '0 join me in a remedy, to cure the evils 
spoken ot, as practicable as it is sure in the end ; 
and one which is ready at hand and fully alike 
in the power of all to participate. “A long 
pull, a strong pull, and a pull altog'^ther,” will 
consummate this great work ot reform as sure 
as there is day and night. 
And first, I propose we plant, in 1845, only 
one-half the number of acres in cotton that we 
did in 1844: from which, by a more careful 
tillage and concentrated manure, (best in hills,) 
we can make at least two-thirds as much as wc 
have made this year; reducing the present over- 
production down to one million, three hundred 
and fifty thousand bales; for which we shall be 
able to obtain at least from 9 to 10 cents per lb. : 
netting the farmer over one-fourth more money 
than the whole ot his present crop, supposing it 
10 average him 5^ cents. This plan adopted, 
we shall be able to withdraw from our cotton 
field— notone-half of our hands, because our cot- 
ton, corn, and everything else, is to be cultiva- 
ted in a much better style than heretofore — but 
one-third, to be busily employed the whole year 
in clearing out old filled-up ditches ; repairing, 
in fact making new, fences, for the first lime, 
perhaps, in ten years, out of new rails; dispen- 
sing with the present plan of grape vine and 
rotten pole fences. And, in the mean time, ne- 
ver to lose sight, for a moment, ot our compost 
heaps, to which we can add daily with our with- 
drawn hands; reducing, at the same time, our 
stock of horses and mules ow-ihird, if no more, 
and, consequently, lessening ourexpenses in the 
implements of husbandry, and increasing the 
number ol our hogs, with the food these horses 
and mules would otherwise eat, for the use of 
our negroes, 
This done, in 1845, I farther propose to every 
cotton planter in the United States, that we plant 
in 1846, the other half of our cotton field, (not 
more,) which remained fallow in 1845; from 
which we shall, with great dhse, be able (from 
our augmented compost heaps, made with these 
withdrawn hands, concentrated in hills upon 
this rested land, with garden-like tillage) to pro- 
duce, at least a full three-fourth crop ; say some- 
thing over one and an half million bales, which 
will readily sell (as the Liverpool warehouses 
and all others now packed to bursting point with 
our over stock of cotton at 4 and 5 cents, will 
be emptied of their burthen) at from lOj to 12 
cents: netting the farmer something more than 
50 per cent over his full crop of 1844. Surely I 
may venture to say, by this time we sl.all be 
in somewhat a better humor and shall be able, 
and 1 doubt noi will feel more disposed, to hire 
and give our overseers such wages as will rouse 
them to at least a generous emulation in the arts 
of husbandry, during this period of two years at 
least, and I should say lor ever afterwards. 
Let every farmer raise his own hogs, horses, 
mule.s, sheep, stock ot every kind, and withal 
make his own negro cloth at home ; and all who 
live south of 34 degrees make their own sugar ; 
not forgetting to bind ourselves to use for the 
packing of our cotton our own domestic cotton 
bagging and rope. A patronage of this kind 
will at once enable the manufacturers of these 
articles to put them at the lowest possible price. 
And how shall we begin this work? Permit 
me, with all due deference, to suggest the plan 
of State Conventions, and then a General Con- 
vention of the cotton growing States, to meet at 
some central point, to adopt such measures as 
will carry this work into effect; or, 1 will unite 
in any other plan that may be suggested, which 
will lead to success. I ask again, will the pre- 
sent oppressed cotton planters unite with me to 
consummate this grand work of reform? If so, 
the work will be done, and much more accom- 
plished than has been conceived in the foregoing 
plan. But it you refuse me your Iriendly aid 
in this work, permit me, gentlemen, to lay be- 
fore you the price ot our cotton crop in the fall 
of 1845 and spring of 1846, if a full average one 
should be made the next year. Here it is under 
the different classifications: — Inferior, 2 to 2^ ; 
middling fair, 2^ to 3 ; fully fair, 3f to 3| ; choice, 
4 to 4L of which class there will be but little. 
The writer of this will be ready at any moment 
to pledge himself to reduce his cotton field of 
520 acres, planted this year, to 250 the next, 
provided like pledges are made on the part of 
every cotton plantei in the United States. But 
should there be a failure of this united pledge 
on their pirt, then he promises on his part still 
to be faithful, and not forsake his oppressed and 
suffering brethren uf the plow, but shall feel 
compelled to aid and assist them with all his might 
in reducing the price of cotton in the fall of 1845 
and spring of 1846 to the prices herein set forth, 
by planting his usual number of 520 acres in 
cotton, if no more. 
Anri it may not be improper or irrelevant to 
slate that he has now ready for use upwards of 
800 yards of negro cloth spun and wove from 
the wool of his own sheep, and will add that 
from 1827 to 1826 he made his own sugar — a sim- 
ple and easy process — and intends, if life last, to 
do so in future. Has raised his own horses, even 
mc're than were necessary for plantation use, 
for the last sixteen years:, also, an ample sup- 
ply of hogs for both white and black, and manu- 
factured, in part, his own negro shoes. 
I have much more to say upon this important 
subject, so flattering to the pride of my ambition, 
which will be done in due time in a subsequent 
communication. In the mean time, I can but 
hope the attention of the cotton planter will be 
turned and fixed upon this grand scheme ol re- 
form, and his best and most serious thoughts 
bestowed leading direct to its final consumma- 
tion. Agricola. 
A western editor, noticing a new mode of fat- 
tening hogs, says he has tried it himself, and finds 
it unexceptionable, 
