Edgefield Advertiser

Correspondence of the Advertiser.
FLORIDA.
MAGNOLIA HILL, FLA., Nov 7th, 1855.

Mr. Editor: Through the columns of your interesting paper I will again make a few matter-of-fact statements concerning Florida. Last Summer I gave you my views in relation to the "land of flowers," its climate, soil, the prospects of the growing crops, &c., &c. Of course a repetition of what I then stated is wholly unnecessary, and I now simply say that at present I endorse what I then wrote.

Our corn crop is now gathered in, and it proves to be most plentiful. There are now more corn sellers than purchasers in Florida, and the demand is not so extensive as the supply. The beneficial effects of so bountiful a provision crop will tell largely on the general prosperity of our growing country. We have now—before us the cheering prospect of turning to account what funds our cotton may bring us, in developing the agricultural resources of our country, instead of keeping our money market drained in order to provide ourselves with the staff of life.

Many of our distant friends erroneously suppose that the corn produced here is of an inferior quality, and that the quantity per acre is small. I have no precise data on which to base a positive assertion with regard to the average yield per acre this season; but I am persuaded that this average yield is not less than twenty-five bushels per acre. Having for many years resided in the old "Palmetto State," I am fully prepared to say that I have never known so large an average there, by at least one fourth. If the corn produced here is in any respect inferior to that produced with you, I must say candidly that I cannot see wherein it is so. I weighed a bushel of corn grown on Hammock land a few days since and it actually weighed sixty-four pounds. Some things I hear and believe about Florida, but the above I know.

The Cotton crop is not yielding so well as was generally anticipated when I wrote last Summer. In September the caterpillar made its appearance in some localities, and injured the crop very seriously.— But it may yet be said to be pretty fair. In some places the planters are making about as much as they will be able to gather. I will not venture to say what the average yield will be on the land planted this year. A near neighbor of mine told me about three weeks since that he had picked out thirty-eight thousand pounds and was not much more than half done. He has sixty acres in cultivation. He will probably make about one thousand pounds per acre. On another plantation, I saw a short time since a field of forty acres which I am satisfied must give fifteen hundred pounds to the acre. These figures may appear large, but they are as near right as I can get them. Crops generally are not so good as the two just mentioned, but I see no reason why they should not be on the same quality of land, if properly managed.

Just here I would say a word or two concerning cotton picking, ginning, packing, &c. Good pickers, when the cotton is well opened, can get from ninety to a hundred pounds per day, though the general average of hands would not probably be more than seventy-five pounds. The gin now generally used will turn out, if properly managed, from two hundred and fifty to three hundred and fifty pounds of lint per day, and requires two horses to run it. The lint is taken from the seed on a large cylinder covered with leather and made smooth. Most of the large planters about here expect soon to run their gins entirely by steam. There are already several engines in the neighborhood, and they prove to be far preferable to horse power. Some gins when run by steam, will give nearly a pound and a half of lint to the minute. No screws, &c., are used in packing the cotton, and the bales are all made round. One hand can pack two bags each day with ease. The usual weight of a bag is about three hundred and twenty-five pounds. A good article of cotton will yield about one pound of lint for three and a half of seed, but I presume the general average is about one to four. I have been thus particular on the subject of cotton ginning, picking, packing, &c., for the reason that I well know many of your readers think the process of preparing our cotton for market more tedious than it really is. Of course I speak of long-staple cotton.

In Carolina the culture of rice is very extensively and profitably followed, and rice plantations are by far the most valuable lands you have. With us good rice plantations are common, and very cheap. Any good piece of fresh hammock land will produce a bountiful crop without almost any labor at all. I am satisfied that the culture of rice here could be rendered very profitable.

It is somewhat surprising that so many Carolina planters move off to Mississippi and Texas without even looking at Florida. Any thing that grows there grows equally as well here, and many things that do well here can not be produced there. I look upon this as being the greatest country in the world!! There is yet room for a much larger population than we now have, and glad would I be to see more of my Carolina acquaintances moving into a country so desirable.— But let those who feel like moving come and judge for themselves. Let me warn them not to credit the reports of those chicken-hearted customers who have come here and returned prejudiced against the country, because they perhaps found some difficulty in procuring good saddle horses to ride over the country on, or because they found land here about as valuable as their own sorely-tried plantations at home, or because they were in a hurry to get back to their families. Such men will do about as well at one place as another. But to the active, energetic planters among you we would say—"Come to Florida and your chances to make fortunes will be better than they are to make a simple support where you now are."

A. L. O.