20 
LETTERS FROM THE SOUTH.-NO. 2. 
for the greatest increase, and the greatest product of 
honey, in a certain number of years, from a single 
swarm, we must not go to “ hollow trees.” In the 
case of 45 Reviewer,” perhaps the stock had remain¬ 
ed in the tree ten years, without ever having issued 
a swarm ; now, what would have been the result if 
that swarm had been hived by an experienced 
apiarian ?— not less than one thousand swarms, and 
honey enough to load a ship, during the ten years. 
Ravensivood, November, 1846. T. B. Miner. 
LETTERS FROM THE SOUTH.—No. 2. 
The time limited for my arrival at this place, 
allowed only of a brief visit to two plantations in 
my route. The first of these, belonging to Colonel 
Wade Hampton, is the largest, and one of the best 
managed estates in the South. It consists of several 
thousand acres of light upland, principally, sustain¬ 
ing a natural growth of pine and various species of 
oak ; and some 2,000 or 3,000 acres of very fertile 
bottom lands, occupying the left bank of the Con¬ 
garee, near Columbia. The characteristic hospi¬ 
tality of its gentlemanly and intelligent proprietor, 
demanded that my headquarters, while in the 
neighborhood, should be at his own mansion ; and 
accordingly, after spending a part of the day in Co¬ 
lumbia, I found his carriage waiting to convey my¬ 
self and baggage to his delightful residence about 
four miles distant. 
My attention was first directed to the arrange¬ 
ment of the grounds, buildings, &c., immediately 
adjoining the mansion. "These are commodiously 
and tastefully arranged. The house is a large, ele¬ 
gant modern building, occupying the most elevated 
point, and commanding an extensive view of the 
Congaree and country far beyond it. This is 
flanked by various appropriate outbuildings; and 
on the declivity of the hill (and for the purpose of 
securing water for the aquatic fowls), at some dis¬ 
tance is located the poultry-yard. The latter em¬ 
braces several acres, and on its lower side is a pond, 
which is supplied by several pure springs, and is so 
arranged as to be drained at pleasure, for the pur- 
ose of securing entire cleanliness. The poultry- 
ouse, which contains a separate department for 
the larger and smaller birds, affords ample pro¬ 
tection also against heat and storms, for the ducks 
and geese, and is well stocked with numerous spe¬ 
cimens of some of the best varieties, including 
several wild turkeys. The enclosed buildings are 
well ventilated, and kept scrupulously clean by the 
daily removal of all the dirt. An extensive enclo¬ 
sure adjoining, was sowm with southern rye,, to 
yield a supply of green food for them through the 
winter. These arrangements, protection, ventila¬ 
tion, shade (for there were several trees in the yard 
in addition to the sheds), an abundance of pure 
water, gravel, green and other food, ensure almost 
perpetual health and thrift to the feathered tribes. 
After breakfast, we mounted elegant thorough¬ 
bred saddle-horses, and rode about two miles to the 
mansion of the late General Hampton, now unoccu¬ 
pied, in the vicinity of which is kept a part of Col. 
Hampton’s stud. This embraces numerous speci¬ 
mens of the best imported English horses, besides 
many of great merit, which he has bred himself. 
Col. H. was a large purchaser at the sale of the late 
royal stud of William IV. ; and Monarch and King 
William, two of the animals bought on that oc¬ 
casion, possess good size, fine forms, and are 
scarcely surpassed for reputation as breeders. Two 
of the mares procured at the same time, seemed to 
me to combine all that was necessary to perfection 
in blood stock ; but I wish to add as a salvo to my 
judgment, that I am rather an amateur than a criti¬ 
cal judge of such matters. A ride of another mile 
brought us to a village of laborers, surrounded by 
upland cotton fields, which, though perfectly culti¬ 
vated, owing to the lightness of the soil, produced 
only a moderate crop. Passing these, we came to 
another settlement, where the principal buildings 
for the people on the plantation are located. These 
consist of a grain mill, cotton gins, and presses, all 
of which are driven by water power; extensive 
barns, store rooms for grain and cotton; sheds for 
wagons, harness, and farming utensils; piggeries, 
&c., &c. In addition to the abovb, is a neat and 
commodious building for the religious meetings of 
the slaves. A clear stream, which runs for miles 
on the estate, furnishes perpetual water power for 
a saw-mill about four miles above, and an adequate 
supply for the mill and all the machinery at this 
point. A short distance beyond these, brought us 
into the bottom lands on the Congaree, generally 
elevated above the highest rise of the river, w T here 
800 acres of corn and 1,600 acres of cotton were 
cultivated in a single field. And here the hands 
were busily occupied in gathering the snowy crop, 
and the luxuriant corn, the ears of which are stand¬ 
ing some 6 or 7 feet high, and around most of the 
stalks, the cow-pea clustered, with its long, pendent 
pods, containing from 16 to over 20 peas in each. 
As these are gathered they are loaded, and carried 
by four-mule teams to their appropriate places of 
deposit. The first to be ginned, pressed, and baled 
for market; and the last two, to be stored for future 
sale, or what is more usual, for consumption on the 
plantation. 
Nothing could be more perfect than the cultiva¬ 
tion of these various crops. Numerous ditches 
drained off all stagnant water, and an extensive em¬ 
bankment (underneath which, an aqueduct, care¬ 
fully protected by gates, led off the surface water) 
effectually guarded the lowest of the land from the 
overflowing of the floods. While numerous grace¬ 
ful avenues and copses of shade trees are scattered 
over different parts of the plantation, and ornamen¬ 
tal trees here and there, occupied this field, any¬ 
thing like brush or rubbish was effectually remov¬ 
ed, and the useful vegetation alone covered the 
ground. This is not limited exclusively to the cul¬ 
tivated plants; for though everything like grass or 
weeds is rigidly excluded in the early stages of the 
crops, yet as these approach maturity, the thick 
netting of crab and various other grasses and 
plants, which are ever struggling for existence in 
this warm clime, are allowed to come forward and 
mature ; and their growth furnishes forage for cattle 
and sheep during the winter, and an important ad¬ 
dition to the vegetable manures for turning under 
and adding to the fertility of the soil. By intelli¬ 
gent planters, the cow-pea is usually sown among 
the corn in summer, and without materially dimin¬ 
ishing the grain in any season, which in such as 
are dry and seethy, they decidedly improve b) their 
