LETTERS FROM THE SOUTH.-NO. 2. 
21 
thick shade of vines and leaves. They yield from 
10 to 25 bushels of peas, besides good forage for 
mules, cattle, and sheep. An average cotton crop 
on good uplands in South Carolina, is from 600 to 
1,000-lbs.; and on bottom lands, 800 to 1,600 lbs. 
per acre, which yields about 25 per cent, of clean 
cotton. The seed constitutes about 70 per cent., 
and is useful for feeding to cattle; and when boiled 
it is good for swine, and even for cattle it is much 
improved by cooking. When pressed, it yields 
from 15 to 20 per cent, of very good oil ; and the 
cake which is left affords excellent food for stock. 
Both the seed and cake are frequently used for 
manure. Most of the corn crops in the south are 
light, the thin uplands which have been consider¬ 
ably worn, often yielding less than 15 bushels per 
acre; but much of that grown by Col. Hampton on' 
his hot soils, yields from 50 to 80 bushels, in addi¬ 
tion to the cow-pea, or an occasional crop of 
pumpkins, which in some seasons grow in great 
profusion. 
Though expecting to find much superior stock in 
the hands of so spirited and intelligent an agricul¬ 
turist, I was surprised to see so large a herd of pure 
bred Durham cattle. Col. H. informed me that his 
father procured the breed as early as 1793, from 
Mr. Heaton, of Westchester county, N. Y.; and in 
addition to breeding the original stock pure, he has 
at different times incorporated various meritorious 
importations with it. A very valuable cow import¬ 
ed from England, was grazing among the herd; 
and his young bull, purchased a year since from 
Mr. Tail, of Troy (out of Lady Barrington), is 
destined to sustain the high character of his-stock. 
There were also several very fine specimens of the 
Devons crossed with the Durhams. And yet, with 
this continued example of fine and successful breed¬ 
ing, for more than half a century, most South 
Carolina planters neglect to improve their stock 
with these valuable animals, entirely within 
their reach. 
Col. H. has also a choice flock of long-woolled 
sheep, many individuals of which cannot be sur¬ 
passed in the United States. These too he has 
bred for a long time, and finds them every; way 
adapted to the soil and climate. The merits of the 
improved breeds, both of cattle and sheep, fattened 
on southern pastures, were afterwards practically 
illustrated at dinner, by a baron of beef and saddle 
of mutton, which would have reflected the highest 
credit on both Englands, whether New or Old. 
The mules, of which about 80 are kept on the 
plantation, are generally of superior merit, and 
several recently purchased from Kentucky and 
Ohio, could not be exceeded for size, compactness, 
perfection of form, and hardiness. Good mules are 
worth from $100 to $130 each, a price at which they 
will yield a good profit to the breeder. 
The sheep, together with the cattle, mules, and 
horses, which are not at work, are turned into the 
natural pastures in summer, and in addition to 
these, they have the run of the corn fields in win¬ 
der, and without seeing any other shelter against 
•the severest storms, than a thicket or hill-side, they 
thrive and fatten throughout the year. This condi- 1 
lion is secured by the mildness of the climate, and 
•the consequent continued growth of vegetation dur¬ 
ing the entire winter. Swine fare indifferently on 
their wild pasturage, unless fora short time, after a 
plentiful harvest of mast. Many of the Berk 
shires in Col. H.’s pens were fine specimens of size 
and form, but he is more partial to the large white 
pigs you recently sent him from New York. The 
country and soil, which is generally dry and roll¬ 
ing, is admirably adapted to sheep, and it would 
seem to require only proper attention and the de¬ 
struction of the innumerable hordes of dogs which 
infest the state, to secure this as one of the best 
wool-producing regions of the United States. The 
ewes are bred to drop their lambs in autumn, which 
in this hot climate is decidedly preferable to spring, 
as fresh grass is abundant here all winter. I 
regret that the limited time I had to devote to look- 
- ing over Col. Hampton’s superb plantation and its 
choice stock, precludes my giving anything more 
than the above crude and brief notice of it; for 
weeks might be profitably spent here in studying 
its details and admirable general management. 
The whole country about the Congaree is one of 
the most eventful in our Revolutionary strife. It 
was here especially that Marion, the “ swamp fox ” 
and Sumpter, the “ game-cock ,” as they were called, 
ferreted out their miscreant enemies, the Tories, or 
met their more open foes, the English regulars—in 
bold and successful warfare ; and by their indomi¬ 
table courage and skill, accomplished so much in 
finally expelling them from the country. It was 
here, too, the gallant Green, inferior to no other 
American officer that has ever lived, not excepting 
even Washington himself, for courageous attacks, 
or, if overpowered with numbers, for skilful retreat, 
earned unfading laurels for himself, and security 
for his suffering country. The site of Mrs. Mott’s 
house, so long occupied as an English fort, or 
refuge for our enemies, and a terror to the surround¬ 
ing country, but at last so adroitly captured by the 
Continentals under Marion, was pointed out to me, 
a few miles below Columbia, on a steep and elevat¬ 
ed bank of the Congaree—an achievement that 
would‘have been impracticable, but for the patriotic 
sacrifice of the fair heroine in devoting her own 
splendid domicil, with its treasured household gods, 
to destruction, so as to drive out its sheltered in¬ 
mates to certain capture or death, before the arrival 
of a large reinforcement which was close at hand. 
Mrs. Mott furnished the bow and arrows, with 
which flaming combustibles were shot upon the 
roof. This soon terminated in its entire destruction. 
Columbia, the capital of the state, is beautifully 
situated on a commanding eminence, which over¬ 
looks the valley of the river for miles, and an 
almost illimitable prospect beyond. It embraces 
several public edifices, and a flourishing college of 
200 students, under the charge of that eminent 
scholar, statesman, and patriot, the Hon. Wm. C. 
Preston, late Senator in Congress. A branch of 
the Charleston and Augusta railroad is extended to 
this place, and the cotton and other trade enjoy¬ 
ed by the citizens is important and lucrative; 
20,000 bales, one-twentieth of the entire crop of 
the Union, was received .here-two years since, and 
1 the average receipts for the last ten years have been 
107,000 bales. R. L. Allen 
New Orleans, Nov. 26th, 1846. 
