44 
SOUTHEEN CULTIVATOK. 
Stock kept tkt on rich pasturage. This rich compost ma- 
nure, applied to the land once every four years, in quan- 
tities sufficient to make a bale of cotton per acre, contin- 
ues to improve the land, and thus increases annually the 
grain crops and pasturage. All this is simple, plain and 
practical. 
It is objected to in this country by planters and others 
taking their cue from them, on account of its “short bite” 
and sterile pasturage, as they are pleased to call it. Nor 
has there been a designed misrepresentation in this; it is the 
result of observation, derived from the working of this 
universally draining system of growing cotton. Now the 
facts which my practice and observation under this sys- 
tem have demonstrated, are these; that no country is 
equal to this for good and “long nip” pasturage. Our cli- 
mate is remarkably favorable to rich and luxuriant pastu- 
rage. The red man of the forest, and the pioneer white 
man that came here in advance of our “ scratching 
plows,” tell us they found the wild oats and native 
grasses waving thick, as high as a man’s head, and so 
entwined with the wild pea vine as to make it difficult to 
ride among it, all over this country. Every cotton plant- 
er has heard of these fine primitive pastures, and many 
have seen them. If the country or the climate has been 
cursed in our appearance as planters here, it has been in 
the wasting system that we introduced and continue to 
practice. There is no grass, or a hay pasturage, superior 
to our crab grass, a native to the “manor born.” Up by 
the first of April, and continues green and growing (when 
properly managed) throughout the summer and fall till 
frost. The land once set with it never requires seeding 
again. Our crow-foot is also a most invaluable summer 
and fall grass. The short and extreme mildness of our 
winters, with the various evergreen or winter grasses, in 
connection with red clover, rye and barley for winter and 
early spring grazing, enable us to keep stock throughout 
the winter cheaper than farmers can in higher latitudes. 
Under a system affording such facilities for grain in 
abundance, rich and extensive pasturage, with fat, home 
raised stock of every variety, and land improving annual- 
ly in fertility, the culture ©f cotton becomes a process of 
gardening, productive and remunerating. The land may 
always be wrought to the best advantage, without injury 
at any time to either crop or soil. 
Again : Cotton thus treated matures earlier, feeds and 
fruits more rapidly, being strong and healthy, and less 
affected by insects, lice, rust, or the worm. Of course, 
then, it opens earlier, and may be gathered to better ad- 
vantage and in better order. It also affords a greater de- 
gree of certainty for a fair crop, both to the land and hand. 
This is the result of causes both legitimate and philosoph- 
ical ; first, the land is provided with the food in proper 
form and quantity which the cotton plant requires to bring 
it early to maturity ; again, there is time and opportunity 
afforded to prepare the land for the reception of the seed, 
and the mode of seeding also requires a stand, perfect, 
regular and uniform throughout ; by perfect, I mean the 
mathematical arrangement by v/hich the hills or stalks of 
cotton are so placed on the land as to feed equally, grow 
uniformly, and at maturity fill up the land completely. 
Dr. Cloud. 
VINEYASDS rU THE SOUTH— “A WOSD TO THE 
WISE.” 
Messrs. Editors — The almost daily accounts we re- 
ceive of the destruction of wine crops in Europe, and of 
the partial, and, in many instances, total annihilation of 
the vineyards by an exterminating disease, cannot fixil to 
suggest many serious thoughts as to the influence this 
may have upon society in this and other countries. The 
supply bids fair to be diminished fifty or a hundred per 
cent., while the demand has been increasing latterly at an 
almost equal ratio. The consequences will, of course, be 
much higher prices, greater adulteration, and greater con- 
sumption of spirituous liquors. What the ill effects of the 
two last consequences will be, I leave to Physicians and 
to Moralists to discuss and to combat as well as they 
can. 
To us belongs the first of the three evils which may in- 
deed be considered as the immediate cause or parent of 
the others. It is the business of the owners of the soil te> 
grapple it, and in combatting it to benefit themselves, 
their country and the world at large ; in other words tc? 
turn the evil itself into a source of good. 
Let us speak plainly, first to the Farmer and Ilanter 
and then to other classes ot Society. 
Cultivators of the land, (would we say.) what are you 
toiling for I For the comfort of yourselves and family t 
For comfort you raise hogs, chickens, cows, vegetables, 
etc., all of which require a certain amount of labor and 
trouble ; most of you even have a few fruit trees; and then 
you plant vast fields of corn and cotton, to enable you t& 
enjoy comforts or luxuries which you cannot raise at 
home. All this is very well ; but let me request you to 
lay aside the poorest corner of your corn or cotton field 
(provided it be dry land.) Procure cuttings or roots of 
some approved vines, and plant yourself out a vineyard. 
After it is planted, it will give youVery little more trouble 
than an acre of corn or cotton; and only think of the 
amount of enjoyment it will afford you ; an abundance of 
delicious and wholesome fruit will grace your table, and 
the charming bright juice will give pleasure and health to 
your little ones and your “better half;” for be sure they 
will enjoy it after a while. And do not forget that if once 
your boys learn to love good wine they will never take to 
whiskey — they will despise it ! 
Many of you are, perhaps, deterred from the experi- 
ment by some fancied ideas of great difficulties in the way. 
Let me assure that vine culture is the easiest thing in the 
world; any of your sons, or your field negroes will 
“take to it” in one season ; the pruning can be learned in 
ten minutes ; the working is simply hoeing, light plowing 
and tying of branches. The making of the wine and its 
subsequent management require some attention. (Can 
you make good bacon without care and attention 7) All 
this can and will be explained to your satisfaction. Only 
do not let the fear of difficulties prevent you from making 
the experiment on one acre ; the outlay is not as much as 
you v/ould give for a milch cow or a second-hand buggy ! 
An acre should yield, at the very least, 300 gallons of 
wine, which, at the lowest price, is worth Si . 25 or S2 per 
gallon ; say Si (to be within the mark.) One hand can 
attend five acres ; here you have SlfiOO for that onb hand. 
You may say that this is all “paper calculation;” it certain- 
ly is ; but experience proves that many have realized 
more than that amount — it has been made, and it can be 
made. Have the energy to try it. 
Now, to merchants and other men of business in cities, 
I would say : You spend, every summer, vast sums of 
money in search of health and pleasure for yourselves and 
families. You go North where you lavish your money 
among men who hate you, who insult you, who would 
(but let us not indulge in politics.) Finally, you 
travel all summer, undergo great fatigue, experience many 
provocations, enjoy very little pleasure, (if the truth be 
told,) and have spent more than you had anticipated. All 
this is of yearly occurrence, and I doubt not, many would 
be rejoiced to find some more rational mode of passing 
time, and of improving their health v/ith less expense. I 
here propose another plan, which, I hope, will be viewed 
in a fkvorable light, and acted upon by some. In one of 
the, most healthy regions of the world, extending along the 
line of the South Carolina Railroad, from Williston, (105 
miles from Charleston) to the Graniteville Station, a few 
