THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
85 
vilized countries. The Society conceiving that 
these publications will be the means of commu- 
nications between the two countries, has, there- 
fore, charsed me as its perpetual Secretary, to 
forward to you a copy of our transactions, pub- 
lished in German. 
I take this opportunity to add, that 1 am very 
happy to be the_organ of expressing the senti- 
ments of our Society towards your enlightened 
nation. Alexander Djunkooskt, 
Perpetual Secretarj of the Russian Economical Soci- 
ety, Actual Counsellor of State of H. 1. M., the Em- 
peror of Russia. 
si. Petersburg^ Russia, Aug. 30, 1845. 
Tuesday, November 25, 1845. 
The Society met at 7 o’clock this evening. 
The President having organized the meeting, 
several communications were read from indi- 
viduals contending for premiums. 
Hon. A. P. Butler moved, 
That the next Annual Fair be held at old 96, 
in the Abbeville District, Cambridge; which 
was agreed to, and the 3d Wednesday in July 
appointed. 
On motion of the Hon. J. B. O’Neall, R. F. 
W. Allston was appointed to deliver the ad- 
dress at the Cambridge meeting. 
It was then moved, that the sum of one dol- 
lar be forthwith contributed by each member, 
for the purpose of providing premiums for the 
domestic fabrics. Agreed to. 
On motion of Mr. J. Allston, a committee of 
five was appointed to nominate officers of this 
Society tor the ensuing year, and that the com- 
mittee report on Thursday evening. 
The following were appointed: W. J. All- 
ston, A G. Summer, J. C, Chesnut, jr., F. B. 
Higgins, R. F. W. Allston, 
Col. M’Carthy then moved, that the ladies 
be invited to seats on the floor of the Hall, on 
Thursday night, the 27Lh inst., to hear the ad- 
dress of the Hon. Joel R. Poinsett. Agreed to. 
The following report from the Chairman of 
the Committee on Rice, R. F, W. Allston, was 
read: 
To the Ag/icultural Society of So. Carolina . : 
The Committee, to which was assigned the 
duly to report on Rice, have to regret that they 
have not been furnished as they desired, with 
the results of the experiment in the culture of 
this grain, which was simply mentioned the 
last year, viz: the planting on beds or pea-ridg- 
es, at some three feet distant from each other. 
This method they considered as peculiarly ap- 
plicable to inland plantations, which are liable 
to be sobbed by heavy rains; and the soils of 
which are compact, admitting the free use of 
the plow; and by this implement the beds may 
be thrown up and almost completed. They 
deem it applicable also to very old lands, situa- 
ted high up the rivers in the tide uater region, 
which are generally too compact in texture, 
and frequently when the rivers are lull and 
swollen by rains in the interior, sobbed in con- 
sequence of insufficient draining. These lands, 
worn and sunken by incessant cultivation, are 
almost universally polluted with “Goose 
Grass,” or “ Blanket Grass,” as it is often call 
ed, which it bas been often found is a good deal j 
enfeebled by being bedded in with the stubble of 
the preceding year. 
The undersigned, last year, planted a portion 
(lower than the remainderj of two irregular 
fields in this way, throwing up with the hoe, 
beds, at the distance of twenty-eight inches from 
each other, and sowing the grain broadcast on 
the top of the bed, at the rate of 1 bushel of 
seed per acre. The result of this imperfect at- 
tempt to equalize and level the surface of an 
irregular field, although the product differed but 
slightly from that of the year before, is, on the 
whole, considered satisfactory. 
One measured acre, on which was sown one 
bushel of grain, yielded, on the product being 
thrashed, thirty-seven and a halt bushels of 
sheaf Rice, w'hich is equivalent to near forty 
bushels per acre. The whole field produced at 
the rate of 50 bushels per acre ; the remainder 
of the field (not in beds,) being trenched at the 
distance of 14 inches, from row to row, and 
planted at the rate of Sj bushels of seed to the 
acre. 
The year preceding, the same field produced 
a little over 48 bushels per acre, and the portion 
in question did not produce more than 36 bu- 
shels per acre. 
The last was an uncommonly dry season; the 
tides in the early portion of it being short. The 
same method will be pursued on the same land 
next year. 
It is known how universal was the drought 
last season throughout the State. The tide 
lands, on which Rice is cultivated, were affect- 
ed higher up the River Waccamaw and Pee- 
dee, than was ever known bj' the oldest resident 
on them. On the former, the salt water affect- 
ed the crops, either in quantity and quality, as 
far up as Butler’s Island ; on the latter, as far j 
or high up as the plantation of Chancellor 
Dunkin, or a little below Schooner Creek. 
Cooper River, Sampit, Pon Pon, Combahee, 
Black River and As.hepoo, were affected in even 
a greater degree. 
In consequence of the unprecedented droughts, | 
the effects of which are thus indicated, it is es- 
timated that one-fourth of the lands planted in 
Rice, viz: about 22,000 acres will prove to 
have been unproductive or nearly so. 
The crop of 1843-4, was a little short of 130,- 
000 barrels — 1844-5, was about 117,000 barrels, j 
The crop of 1845-6, will be about 100,000 bar- i 
rels. It has been estimated at even less than i 
this. It is confidently believed the crop will j 
not exceed the estimates herein made. 
Respectfully submitted, j 
R. F. W. Allston, Chairman. 
On motion, the above report was submitted ! 
to the Executive Committee. I 
The Society, on motion of Gen. Means, ad- j 
journed till half past 7 o’clock, on Thursday 
evening. J. B. Davis, Rec’g Secretary. 
Thursday Evening, Nov. 27. 
The Society convened as appointed on the 
previous evening. The President called for 
the Reports. 
The committee appointed to ascertain the 
amount of provisions wanted in the State, re- 
ported. 
The Executive Committee, to whom was re- 
ferred a letter from A. Djunkoosky, Secretary 
to the Russian Economical Society; communi- 
cation from E. Ruffin, on Marl, ana the Report 
01 the Committee on Rice, respectfully report 
the following resolutions for the adoption of 
this Society : 
Pccsolved, That the Corresponding Secretary, 
be requested to present to the Russian Econo- 
mical Society, the thanks of this body, for the 
two volumes of translations presented them, 
and that he forward to that Society, through the 
Hon. Alexander Djunkoosky, perpetual Secre- 
tary 01 the same, so much of our proceedings, 
from the organization of the Society, as may 
be useful or interesting to the Russian Society. 
Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretary 
be also requested to tender to Mr. Ruffin the 
thanks of this body, for his valuable commu- 
nication, and that the same with the report of 
the Committee on Rice, be published in the 
South Carolinian and Temperance Advocate. 
Agreed to. I 
The Committee to whom was referred there- I 
solution asking an appropriation from the Le- I 
gislature, for the printing of the proceedings of j 
this Society, from its organization, with the ad- i 
dresses, reports, &c., thereof, as well as for the ! 
prizes that may be awarded at the annual meet- 
ings, report that they have considered the same, 
and would state, that it appears to them ex- 
tremely desirable both for our own sake and 
that of the people in general, that the docu- 
ments alluded to, should be preserved. It is al- 
so of great consequence, that we should be able 
to meet the kind offering annually made to us, 
by the Agricultural Societies, of their proceed- 
ings, by presenting to them our own. To do 
this we have no funds; and hence we must ask 
the aid of the Legislature. So, too, at this meet- 
ing, premiums are to be offered on domestic fa- 
brics, and on crops. The want of means, may 
hereafter prevent this, unless the Legislature 
will make a small appropriation. Believing 
that these objects are essential to the agricultu- 
ral interests ol the State, and that the Legisla- 
ture can do nothing more acceptable to their 
constituents than to contribute to them, by mak« 
ing such anappropriation as that contemplated, 
your committee recommend that the President 
be requested to address the Legislature by letter 
er memorial, asking an appropriation of five 
hundred dollars for the objects pointed out. 
John Belton O’Neall, Chairman. 
The above report was sustained by the chair- 
man and Mr. Rhett, and opposed by Major 
Felder, but agreed to. 
Mr. James Rhett introduced the following re- 
solutions: 
Whereas, from the accounts rendered by 
Capt. Charles Wilkes of the United States Ex- 
ploring Expedition, it appears there are eight 
kinds of Rice, cultivated at Manilla, in the Phi- 
lipine Islands— forming the chief articles of 
food and profit to the inhabitants— the different 
varieties being distinguished by the size and 
shape of the grain; three belonging to the low 
lands and five to the high land culture — and as 
it is important that they be procured for the pur- 
pose of testing their value, as staples in this 
State ; 
Resolved, That the chairman of the com- 
mittee on Rice, be authorized and requested to 
apply to the proper authorities at Washington, 
in the name of ihe State Agricultural Society 
of South Carolina, to procure for us, from these 
Islands, the seeds of the various kinds of Rice, 
above referred to, so soon as the same can be 
effectively done. 
Resolved, That the members of Congress 
from this State, be requested to lend their aid in 
p.''omoting the objects of this application. 
Agreed to. 
Mr. Wm, Summer moved, That this Socie- 
ty memorialize the Legislature upon the pro- 
priety of laying a ta.x on dogs, for the purpose 
ol protecting the sheep growing interest in 
South Carolina. Wm. Summer, Wm. J. Mur- 
ray and W. J. Allston, were appointed to carry 
out this resolution. 
The time now arriving, the Hon, Joel R, 
Poinsett, was called on to deliver the Anniver- 
sary Address, which he did to the great delight 
of a numerous and attentive audience. At the 
conclusion, it was unanimously resolved, on 
motion ol Mr, Rhett, that the thanks of the So- 
ciety be tendered to the Hon, Mr. Poinsett, and 
that his address be published. 
The committee appointed to nominate offi- 
cers, reported the following for the ensuing 
year : 
Hon. Whitemarsh B, Seabrook, Pres’t. 
Chancellor B. F. Dunkin, 1st Vice Pres’t, 
Chancellor Harper, 2d “ “ 
Hon. J. B. O’Neall, 3d “ “ 
Hon. A. P. Butler, 4th “ “ 
Col. R. F. W. Allston, 5th “ “ 
Hon.J. M. Felder, 6th “ “ 
Dr. R. W. Gibbes, Corresponding Sec’y, 
Dr. J. B. Davis, Recording Secretary. 
Hon. J. C. Calhoun, Anniversary Orator: 
which report was unanimously agreed to. 
The President returned his thanks, and at 
considerable length, congratulated the Society 
upon its success, and detailed the interest to re- 
sult from the efforts ol this meeting, &c. 
li was moved and agreed to, that the Execu- 
tive Committee invite delegate.s from other 
State Agricultural Societies, to attend the next 
meeting ol this Society. 
The Secretary called the attention of the So- 
ciety to an omission, to wit: that three members 
were to be appointed by the President, as form- 
ing with the officers, the Executive Committee, 
and A, G. Summer, Wm. J, Allston, and Wade 
Hampton, were appointed. 
The Secretary then moved that the Execu- 
tive Committee, be required to investigate the 
pecuniary condition of the Society, and report 
in full at the summer meeting. Agreed to. 
