144 
THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
MARLING IN SOUTH CAROLINA. 
That there has been, within the last iw^o years, 
a greatly increased and growing interest in the 
subject of agriculture, excited among Southern 
planters generally, is apparent to the most casu- 
al observer; and that its march will continue to 
be onward, diffusing its benefits upon all cla.ss- 
es, needs not the spirit of prophecy to foretell. 
Evidences are not wanting to attest the truth of 
this remark — they are to be found in the forma- 
tion of numerous Agricultural Societies through- 
out the entire South, and particularly in the old 
States, for the diffusion of knowledge, and the 
excitement of a generous and laudable rivalry 
among our people; in the greatly increased at- 
tention which is everywhere bestowed on the 
subject ot manuring; and last, though not least, 
in the desire everywhere manifested for the dif- 
fusion of informatioa by means of agricultural 
papers and periodicals. 
These are the proofs, and they are not only 
abundant, but daily increasing— and they give 
earnest of a brighter and more glorious era, in 
the progress of this important science, than has 
ever dawned upon the sunny South — an era 
■which will be distinguished for the diffusion of 
its countless blessings and unparalleled prospe- 
rity among all classes of our people. We re- 
joice, heartily rejoice, at the flattering prospects 
■which the contemplation of this subject disclo- 
ses to our view. We see in it the evidences of 
a strong and abiding attachment to the hearths 
and firesides of our youth, and the homesteads 
of our fathers— the indulgence of which noble 
feeling, while it will arrest the tide of emigra- 
tion that has for so many years been going on, 
depopulating the old States, and transferring 
many of their most valuable and enterprising 
citizens to the regions of the far west, will 
prompt to the beautifying, adorning, and enrich- 
ing those spots endeared to us by so many thrill- 
ing associations. . Such will be as certainly 
the result of that spirit now exhibiting itself 
among our planters, as that effect follows cause; 
and the day is not far distant, when the States 
of South Carolina and Georgia will boast a more 
intelligent, enlightened, contented and prospe- 
rous people, than has ever tilled their soils even 
in their virgin purity and richness. 
The march of South Carolina to this high 
destiny is onward and rapid. She has seen and 
felt the deleterious influence o>f a system of agri- 
culture which has laid waste her lands and de- 
populated the Slate, and her Legislatures, like 
wise men and patriots, have stepped into the 
breach to arrest the downward tendency of 
things ; and in that spirit which became a pru- 
dent and enlightened people, have ordered a sur- 
vey of the State by a competent and scientific 
agriculturist, which is already beginning to dis- 
cover the advantages that must ere long result 
from such a policy. That the prospect now 
augurs the most happy and beneficial influences 
upon her agriculture and the prosperity of her 
people is evident, and we beg leave to introduce 
the following extract of a recent letter from one 
of her most intelligent planters, to the Editor, 
and also the subjoined article from the Cheraw 
Gazette : 
" Since ihe publication ofMr. Ruflin’s report 
ol the “ Agricultural survey,” much attention 
has been given to the subject of marling. Alarl 
pits have been opened on many plantations, and 
experiments are in progre.ss in th.- hands of edu- 
cated and scientific men, which must improve 
the spirit and enterprise of our agriculturists, 
and be highly favorable to the circulation of a 
good Agricultural paper. A great many im- 
portantfacts, the results of careful experiments, 
should be, and will be reported.” 
Marling. — We are much rejoiced to learn, 
that many estimable citizens on the Pee Dee, 
have at length been c nvinced, by practical ex- 
periments, of the highl)'^ beneficial effects of 
Marling, on our exhausted and worn out lands. 
We have been recently favored with the peru- 
sal of a letter, written by an intelligent, practi- 
cal planter, who has become an enthusiast in 
the system of marling, detailing experiments 
made by himself, which show so clearly its as- 
tonishing fructifying qualities, that none will 
hereafter doubt, who are uotdetermined to reject 
all proof, and remain in stubborn and wilful ig- 
norance and disbelief. 
The writer ol this letter, Mr. James F. Belin, 
says, that he thinks the land he has marled, on 
which he has planted both cotton and corn, will 
yield him a profit, at the very lowest calcula- 
tion, oi one hundred and fifty per cent, the present 
year! A portion of this land was “old fields,” 
which he supposes have been tended for over 
one hundred years. He says he has fifty-five 
acres of cotton on a part of this land, which, 
from present appearances, will yield between 
forty and forty-five bales, of 400 lbs. each. The 
same \&uA, without marling, 'Koxxld.noX produce 
over eighteen or twentv bales at the outside, as 
has been proved uv .suasequeiT. planting. In 
1842, the land here spoken ot was piarAed in 
cotton, without marling, and the weed did not 
grow above knee high ; no w it is in many places 
as high as a man’s shoulders, and remarkably 
full of bolls— many acres, bethinks, will come 
very near averaging a bale to the acre. 
Mr. Belin has also, the present season, 25 
acres ol cotton, not marled, from which he does 
not expect to gather more than ten bales, and 
this from a piece of fresh land, it being only four 
years under cultivation. This would have been 
considered a piece of tolerably good cotton, but 
it will, he says, bear no comparison with that 
growing on his “old fields.” 
The effect of marl < »n corn is equally surprising 
and satisfactory. He has planted corn on marl- 
ed land, which he is convinced wdll yield 14 or 
15 bushels to the acre, which formerly would 
not produce over 4 or 5 bushels ; and he gives it 
as his opinion, that marl is the very best manure 
that can be applied to land, both on account of 
its durability and productiveness. 
Mr. Henry Davis, in the same neighborhood, 
has also been experimenting with marl with en- 
tire success. He has cotton growing on fresh 
land,, well marled, the stalks of which are six or 
seven feet high, and well filled with bolls. 
Land, with marl beds on it, has suddenly ris'’n 
in price, and cannot even now be purchased for 
many times its former valuation. A.11 are deep- 
ly impressed with its intrinsic worth, and anx- 
ious to renovate their worn out lands from these 
inexhaustible mines of nature’s own formation. 
May we not justly hope that a new and belter 
era is dawning upon our State — an era of im- 
provement, not of exhaustion — when her sons 
will cling to the homestead of their fathers, and 
with patriotic ardor improve the old domain, ap- 
ply the fructifying marl, reclaim the “ old fields,” 
and make them once more blossom and bear, 
and yield to the sustenance of man 7 
We have heard of one gentleman who, a year 
or two ago, bought a tract ot land, having marl 
on it, for $1500, and- would not now take S6,000 
for hi.s purchase. Indeed, the spirit of improve- 
ment appears to have seized upon the whole 
agricultural community in the vicinity of the 
marl beds. Another highly intelligent, exten- 
sive and successful planter, we are informed, is 
preparing to build a steam tow-boat, tor the pur- 
pose of supplying himself with marl and carry- 
ing his crops to market. This spiiit ol enter- 
prise and practical improvement, is truly grati- 
fying to the philanth.''opisi and patriot, and au- 
gur.s well fjr the lulure prosperil}' of this section 
ol the State. 
“Every man of us down here,” says the wri- 
ter of the letter from which wegl -an many of 
the facts above stated, “I'rom Henry Davis’s to 
Harllee’s, is hauling out marl as fak as he pos- 
sibly can. 1 have two ox-carls going, and will 
in a day or two have three more, and every ne- 
gro I own, engaged in this business — some dig- 
ging it up, and others hauling and spreading it 
upon the land. Mr. L. M. White has been aiit 
for about a month before I commenced, hauling 
out with a one-ox cart, and spreading it on his 
fields. Just come down and go with us over 
our farms, and you will agree with us that it is 
by far the best manure that has ever yet been 
found out, or ever will be discovered, while the 
world lasts and the earth is cultivated.” 
We are informed, that contracts for any con- 
siderable quantity of marl, may be made lor its 
de ivery at the Cheraw Isnding, for five cents a 
bushel. In Virginia, the quantity u.^ed to the 
acre is from one to two hundred bushels, and 
when this quantity is applied, the land resumes 
its original fertility, and becomes almost inex- 
haustible. It may now become a matter of cal- 
culation with our planters, whether this would 
not be a profitable outlay of capital. It is proba- 
ble, if the demand became extensive, the price 
or aelivery would be reducedj as the supply is 
said to be inexhaustible. 
COUTEHTS OF THIS HUMBER. 
Selections, S;tracts, $cc. 
Thrifty and TJiilhrifty Farming 137 
Root Culture — Rotation of Crops — Deep Plowing. .138 
Clean Culture ; Philosophy of Wheat Culture. .138, 139 
Turneps and Turnep Liquor 139 
The Smut in Wheat 139 
Subsoil Plowing 139-140 
Too much Land ; Agricultural Pursuits 140 
Reclaiming Exhausted Lands 140-141 
S-ruth Carolina State Agricultural Society .141 
Comparative Value of Articles used as Food ,141 
Products of National Industry; Maple Sugar ; To 
Preserve Hams ; Arkansas Insects ; Distraining 
for Rent ; Paralysis ; A Yankee Wager ; 141 
Durability of Salt as a Fertilizer; To Des'roy 
Twitch Grass; Spirit for Chilled Lambs ; Black- 
berry Syrup ; Poetry, by J. S. Lyiide ; Soap-suds 
to kill Plant Lice. 142 
Editorials. — W ool; Lucerne; Salt and Soot; 
Table of Soils ; Cockle Burr,, etc 143 
Marling in iSouth Carolina .144 
B ACON’S LARD LAMPS.— Anew 
article, superioi to all others for this pur- 
pose, emitting a good clear light without smell or 
smoke, and at an expense, counting Lard at 8 
cents a pound, of about a quarter of a cent aa 
hour. 
These Lamps have been satisfactorily tested, 
and are recommended as “just the thing” for 
the use of planters, and all others who study utili- 
ty, neatness and economy. 
A supply of the above Lamps, with Fillers and 
Wicks for them. For sale by 
HAVILAND, RISLEY &, GO. 
jy 24-d,c&Cultf 
THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR 
IS PUBLISHED BY 
J. W. & W. S. JONE S, 
And will be issued every other Wednesday. 
TERMS. 
1 copy one year $ 1 00 
6 copies “ “ 5 00 
25 “ “ “ 20 00 
100 “ “ “ 75 00 
The CASH SYSTEM will be rigidly adhered 
to, and in no case will the paper be sent unless 
the money accompanies the order. 
Advertisements pertaining to agriculture ■will 
be inserted for one dollar for eveiy square of 
TWELVE lines, or less, for the first insertion, and 
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS pel' squaie for each continu 
ance. 
J3^PosT Masters are authorized to receive and 
forward money free of postage. 
13= All COMMUNICATIONS MUST be post paid 
All subscriptions to commence with the vol- 
ume. 
