114 
LETTERS FROM THE SOUTH.-NO. 5 
tion to the exercise of intelligence, good judgment, 
and the application of some of the first and most 
obvious principles of modern improvements. 
Several choice breeds of swine have been intro¬ 
duced on this plantation; but the preference is 
given to the Neapolitan, which he personally select¬ 
ed and brought from Italy, and their numbers have 
been increased by subsequent importations. These 
are provided with an admirable range of woods, 
shelter, pure water, and green and dry food in 
abundance; yet they are frequently subject to a 
mortality, common both at the South and West, the 
cause or causes of which have hitherto eluded dis¬ 
covery. This is a subject well deserving the in¬ 
vestigation of skilful physiologists ; and it is to be 
hoped that its importance will not fail to enlist 
some gifted mind, in what is still a desideratum in 
agriculture, viz;—a thorough knowledge of the 
habits, diseases, and proper treatment of swine. 
Many of the best modern implements have been 
introduced here, and their operations have been 
found to economise labor and perfect the operations 
in a highly satisfactory manner. A grain an,d saw¬ 
mill, and the cotton-gins, are all propelled by water 
power, which is furnished by a small but permanent 
stream, on a convenient part of the grounds. 
The cultivation of the fields was of the most 
perfect kind, both as to design and execution. The 
greatest regularity, and entire cleanliness from 
worthless vegetation, seemed to pervade all the cul¬ 
tivated part of the plantation. There Were many 
of the miscellaneous products, too generally limited 
to a higher latitude, and the successful crops of 
turnips, ruta bagas, beets, southern rye, and other 
green crops for soiling, showed that attention and 
skill alone are wanting to insure the most satisfac¬ 
tory results. This is equally true of the soil and 
climate as far south as the Gulf of Mexico. If 
a system of culture embracing a much larger pro¬ 
duction of fodder (to be consumed on the premises) 
were introduced, the effect would be beneficially 
felt, not only in the much greater immediate aggre¬ 
gate value of the crops, but also in the gradual 
improvement of the soil, that would ultimately 
swell the amount of the present staples. This is 
obvious from the system now too generally practised, 
which consists in appropriating fields to one article 
alone, as of corn, cotton, tobacco, or the like ; and 
when too much exhausted to make a remunerating 
crop, it is turned out for years, to recover by the 
slow operations of unassisted nature. The appro¬ 
priation of a part of the fields to the growth of 
forage, which should be consumed upon the ground, 
would necessarily introduce a rotation, whose bene¬ 
fits would soon be felt in the gradual amelioration 
of the soil. If fewer acres would thus suffice to 
occupy the plantation force, the proprietor would 
probably find at the end of the season that his profit 
and loss account was more satisfactory. Dr. Bach¬ 
man, of Charleston, informed me that one person 
had recently realized a larger net income from the 
product of green forage, on less than 100 acres of 
land in that vicinity; and although an equal amount 
of profit could not be expected remote from the 
large markets, yet it cannot be questioned that its 
more extensive production and consumption at 
home would be attended with the happiest effects. 
There is a large natural growth of sumac on this 
plantation, and many others in this and the neigh¬ 
boring States; and growing in a soil and climate 
not unlike much of that in the Mediterranean (from 
which we import some of the best for the various 
purposes of dyeing, tanning, &c.), this may be 
found a good substitute for it. A brief summary 
of the manner of curing and packing for shipment, 
through the columns of the Agriculturist (which I 
find has a wide circulation among the intelligent 
planters in the south), might eventually lead to the 
export of large quantities to the northern markets, 
where it is now extensively used.(a) 
The elevated bottom lands which border the left 
bank of the river, and which here occupy an un¬ 
divided field of two or three miles in extent, mostly 
covered with corn and cow-pea, present a beautiful 
appearance. Near their centre is Silver Bluff, thus 
named from the fancied existence of silver ore 
within it, when first settled by the Spaniards two 
centuries ago. There is an old brick house near 
the bank, whose antiquity is beyond tradition, 
which was used by the English during the Revolu¬ 
tion, as the nucleus of their fort and barracks ; and 
a large indenture from a cannon shot, shows con¬ 
clusively that it has witnessed one of those hot 
encounters which everywhere marked the fierce and 
sanguinary contests of that eventful era. A double 
row of magnificent live or swamp oaks marks it as 
a site of ancient and cultivated occupancy. 
There are many species of these oaks closely 
resembling each other in shape and general ap¬ 
pearance. When fully grown, the trunk is from 3 
to 5 feet in diameter, erect, and at a height of 15 
to 20 feet branches into thick outspreading limbs, 
of great regularity; and presenting, at a little dis¬ 
tance, the appearance of a beautifully proportioned 
dome. The closely interwoven branches, every¬ 
where covered with small laurel-shaped evergreen 
leaves of the deepest verdure, complete the outlines 
of these species, which are without a rival in their 
peculiar features, among the indigenous forests of 
North America. 
It was a source of sincere regret that I could not 
comply with the urgent invitation of my kind host 
and other friends along my route, and spend days 
instead of hours in witnessing the successful efforts 
which are now making by many of the most en¬ 
lightened and spirited planters, in their laudable 
and patriotic efforts for the improvement of southern 
agriculture. R. L. Allf.n. 
New Orleans , Nov. 27th , 1846 
The above should have appeared in the February 
number of our paper, as No. 3 of Letters from the 
South, but got misplaced. 
(a) Our readers will find an excellent article on 
the culture of the Sumac, in vol. 2, page 239 of the 
Agriculturist. We here quote what relates to cut¬ 
ting and curing, and refer to the article for full in¬ 
formation as to the rest. 
Sumac should be cut or gathered in clear weather, 
and should be so spread on a floor as to dry rapidly ; 
for if only a small part should ferment, the whole 
mass will be seriously injured in its marketable 
value. It should be fine ground when dry, and 
