LETTERS FROM THE SOUTH.—NO. 10 . 
277 
is thin and readily exhausted by negligent cultiva¬ 
tion ; yet with careful management, they are good 
cotton lands, and will generally produce about 30 
bushels of corn per acre. The lower and secondary 
bottom-lands on the Big Black and its numerous 
petty tributaries, are much more productive, though 
the former are subject to overflow and are only par¬ 
tially cultivated. Those wflio have examined it 
carefully, say that there is no lack of lime in the 
soil; and that an abundance of shells are found at 
a depth of 100 feet below the surface. But the 
fact that this earth when spread upon the soil acts 
as an efficient manure, would seem to prove that the 
surface has not a full supply of lime ; unless it can 
be shown that this earth contains the phosphates, 
potash, or some of the other fertilizers to an appre¬ 
ciable extent. The Muscadine grape, the papaw, 
the magnolia, and several varieties of the Chicka¬ 
saw plum abound in this part of the State. 
Our destination was the plantation of Dr. Philips, 
seven miles from the depot, which we reached on 
Horseback through a well timbered country of un¬ 
dulating surface. We found the Doctor among his 
crops of corn and cotton, which were looking finely 
under his judicious management. Those on the up¬ 
lands, though not as luxuriant as on his lower 
fields, give promise of a liberal yield. He thinks 
these fields have been improved at least 20 per cent, 
under his rigid system of rotation and plowing in 
the stalks and other vegetable matters grown upon 
the soil. He alternates corn with cotton, and oc¬ 
casionally oats and rye. These are generally fed 
off on the ground. 
The southern rye, which is generally used south 
of Virginia, tillers much more abundantly than 
the northern, a single grain sending up a large 
mass of shoots, w 7 hich yield a luxuriant pasture 
through the winter, and ripens some 15 or 20 
bushels per acre fit for the sickle early in June. 
The only oats that fill out a plump berry in this 
region, is the Egyptian. In the delta further south, 
many planters assure me that their oat-crop is 
generally a failure, producing nothing but light 
straw; while those who have raised the pure Egyp¬ 
tian, say that they have never failed in securing a 
well developed grain. This is an important item 
for such planters as have to resort to the flat-boats 
of the upper Mississippi for their supply of horse- 
feed. But Dr. P. much prefers the rye to the Egyp¬ 
tian oat as green food for stock, thinking the latter 
hardly worth attention for this purpose. 
His main dependence for animal feed, like that 
of most planters throughout the South, is on the 
corn-crop ; and with this he invariably sows the 
cow-pea, after the corn has been sufficiently 
worked. It grows slowly under the shade of the 
corn ; but when this has ripened, the pea shoots up 
vvith great luxuriance, and covers the whole sur¬ 
face of ground and stalks. The corn and a portion 
of the blades and peas are gathered by hand, when 
the stock is put upon the field for a while to gather 
what they choose, and the remainder of the entire 
vegetable growth is carefully turned under. This 
is the system pursued by the best planters, so far as 
I have witnessed, throughout the entire South, 
wherever soils require renovation. 
Dr. P. says that red clover, if sown in the fall, 
will mature a large crop the following spring; but 
as it is in the way of early planted crops, its culti¬ 
vation has not been introduced to any extent. He 
showed me specimens of the Gama and Guinea 
grasses, both of which were flourishing in great 
luxuriance. The former is a coarse reedy grass, 
with a tough, harsh leaf; but he assures me that 
cattle and horses feed upon, it with great avidity, 
and will, if permitted, eat it so closely into the 
ground, as to cause its speedy destruction. The 
Guinea grass is equally luxuriant, and in addition to 
its numerous tender and succulent leaves, it throws 
up flowering stalks, which Dr. P. says do not ma¬ 
ture their seed. Its roots are tuberous, large, and 
prolific, and are much relished by sheep and swine. 
This appears to be identical with that shown me 
last fall, by Dr. Bachman, of Charleston, who com¬ 
mends it as a stock-sustaining plant beyond any 
other grown in the South. 
There is a species of yellow-flowering clover, 
that is sometimes abundant and prolific. Dr. P. had 
selected for me specimens of this, two feet in length, 
which, he says, is only of medium size. This is a 
plant highly relished by sheep, but cattle are not 
partial to it—at least this is the experience in 
Europe. The Bermuda and crab-grasses flourish here 
whenever there is a full exposure to the sun. Both 
are valuable grasses, and make excellent hay, 
though some give a decided preference to the first 
as being most nutritious. 
But what is most peculiar on this plantation are 
the large orchards of peach, apple, and pear-trees 
which seemed in the highest vigor and health. Dr. 
P. has been indefatigable in collecting a great 
variety of the choicest kinds of fruit, which are 
already making large returns for the attention and 
care bestowed upon them. He adopts the system 
of permitting the tops to branch as low down and 
as profusely as nature dictates, thereby securing a 
more effectual shade to the soil under the fierce 
blaze of a southern sun; and he is satisfied that 
this practice is the best he can adopt for the lati¬ 
tude. It is a question whether thinning the upper 
branches, and especially of the apples, may not be 
attended with benefit. 
One of the prettiest hedges I have yet seen in the 
south, is the wild-peach , which partially surrounds 
the lawn. This is found in great abundance in the 
neighboring forest. When placed within 2 or 3 
feet of each other in a hedge-row and closely trim¬ 
med, it gives a strong stalk of 3 to 5 inches in 
diameter, which is closely set with a perfect net¬ 
work of stiff branches. 
I could not but admire the taste which has placed 
the domicile in a natural bower of forest shade-trees. 
The sloping grounds on either side prevent the ac¬ 
cumulation of stagnant water, while the heat of 
the climate effectually prevents any injurious effects 
from dampness. The birds are encouraged to nestle 
among the branches and rear their young, and we 
could count a dozen nests of the mocking-bird, 
oriole, nonpareil, turtle-dove, &c., from the balcony. 
The cotton plant is late this season, owing to the 
long continued cold weather. It has however a 
healthy appearance, and there is every reason to 
anticipate a fair yield. The particulars of its cul¬ 
tivation have been so often given in the Agricultu¬ 
rist, that it would be superfluous to repeat them. 
“Will the caterpillar appear again this season 
