CHAPTER XXII. MISSISSIPPI. Area, 47,156 square miles. Population, 1,131,899. MISSISSIPPI (mis-'sis-sip-pee) takes its name from the greatest of American rivers, which marks the western border of the State for 500 miles. The word is taken from the "Miche Sepe" of the Indian tongue, which appropriately stands for "Father of Waters." Mississippi is bounded on the north by Tennessee, on the east by Alabama, on the south by the Gulf of Mexico and Louisiana, and on the west by Louisiana and Arkansas, which are separated from this State by the Mississippi River. The surface of the State is undulating, sloping to the south-west. There are numerous bluffs, rising from 50 to 100 feet above the bottom lands which lie between them and the Mississippi River. The hilly or bluff region is covered with a great variety of timber, including ash, hickory, gum, oak, pine, and walnut. The valley of the Yazoo River is not inferior in fertility to any land on the face of the globe. There are occasional swamps and beautiful lakes in this State. At long intervals a considerable portion of adjacent lands are inundated by the floods of the Mississippi River; but it is rarely the case that any very great damage to the planting interest results therefrom. Central Mississippi and a large portion of the eastern division are composed of elevated lands, watered by numerous clear running streams. The soil of these lands is often thin, but generally of a rich character, adapted to the growth of cotton and corn; and the climate is excellent. In the north-eastern section of the State, west of the Alabama line, is what is termed the prairie country. This is characterised by level plains, with black, rich soil, and sluggish streams. There is some sickness along these streams, but the country generally is regarded healthy. Southward from this region is a beautiful country, comparatively fertile, with many pleasant valleys and intervening hills, admirably adapted for grazing, and the cultivation of grain. For more than a hundred miles northward from the Gulf of Mexico most of the country is level, with a sandy soil. Pine forests of vast extent, and many beautiful and healthy streams, and fertile valleys, characterise this region. But the alluvial lands of the Mississippi bottom are the richest in the State, and their producing capacity is truly marvellous. Although Mississippi is comparatively an old State, there are thousands of acres of Government land still in the market. Improved farms, or plantations, may be purchased in a majority of the 74 counties of the State, at prices ranging from $2.50 to $30 per acre. The following excellent letter is quoted, in condensed form, from Mr. Goddard's book, "Where to Emigrate, and Why." It was written several years ago, but the hints and information it contains are as relevant as ever. Mr. Bowman substantially says: "The character of the alluvial land for productiveness is not surpassed by the prairies of Illinois. Cotton was our staple production. I have raised two bales of 400 pounds each to the acre. Our average crop, however, was about one 500 pound bale to the acre, and 40 bushels of corn. Irish potatoes can be raised at the rate of 400 bushels to the acre, but they will not keep through the summer. Sweet potatoes are raised at the rate of 500 Persons to 1,000 bushels to the acre. Poor sandy land produces them as well, or better, than the richer lands. Turnips, if the ground is properly prepared and the season favorable, generally make at least 600 bushels to the acre. The ruta-baga is the best variety for this climate, both for the table and stock. They ought to be planted by the first of July, and cultivated, but will make a good crop planted the first of September. Tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbages, lettuce, beets, water-melons, and cantaloupes, are perfect. Wheat, oats, barley, and all the cereals do well in this climate. The peach grows to great perfection; and any man of industry can have peaches from the seed in two years. Pears and plums, figs, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, all grow here in the greatest perfection. Grapes and apples do well. The fig is the most delicious and healthy fruit, and bears nearly all the summer. Our climate is the most genial and delightful in the United States; our summers more pleasant than winter. coming here have to undergo an acclimating which is generally mild, especially if they are temperate in eating and drinking. White men can raise cotton, as I will attempt to prove, with but little exposure or risk of sickness. Chills and fevers are the principal diseases; almost the only one, peculiar to the climate. Mississippi and Louisiana abound in the finest oak timber in the world. Large bodies of white oak may be found throughout the country, but our cypress, which only grows in low or flat lands, is the great timber of the country. It makes the best fence rails, shingles, pickets, posts, and rails, split board 6 feet long, or even 8 and 10, and saws into the finest plank, studding, flooring, weather-boarding, etc. is not found in East Louisiana or West Mississippi. Along the banks of the Mississippi the planter or farmer can send any of his products to market with convenience. One man living fifty miles above Vicksburg made $3,000 this year, shipping roasting-ears to St. Louis in June and July. Another made $1,500 from five acres of Irish potatoes, shipped to St. Louis in May and June. Our whole country is so well supplied with navigable streams and railroads, that no one has to haul to market over 25 miles; and on the alluvial lands we have thousands of miles of natural canals that only require clearing of trees and brush to make them navigable six months of the year. No improvements were made on them before the war. Schools are to be found in most neighbourhoods, and country and village churches are found in many localities. In the river counties, the large majority of the people are Africans—a docile people, inoffensive if let alone, and not improperly advised; naturally indolent, but small planters have worked them profitably, especially planters who will work with them. EMIGRANT'S COTTON PLANTATION. Pine "We will suppose that three persons, able to work, compose the family, and the location on good upland; arrival on the plantation 1st January Outfit-One mule worth.... : .$150.00 One plough and gear.. 8.00 One harrow, iron tooth.. 4.00 One axe and three hoes.... 2.50 One light wagon for one horse 50.00 - $214.50 "We will give them 30 acres for cultivation, which would be divided as follows:-9 acres in cotton, 15 acres in corn, 3 acres in oats, 1 acre in sweet potatoes, 1 acre in early field peas, 1 acre in Irish potatoes, cabbage, and other vegetables. If cotton or corn had been planted on the land the previous year, the two hands could clear off the ground for the plough as fast as the one could plough it. Giving the month of January for repairing fences and fixing the place up, ploughing might be commenced on the 1st February. 1st. The three acres for oats should be ploughed well, and the oats sowed and harrowed in, which would take about three days. Then the garden spot ploughed deep and put in good order for planting-first, garden peas, Irish potatoes, sow cabbage seed, lettuce, and radishes, all of which could be done in one day. Feb. 5th. Commence ploughing the ground for corn, which should be done by throwing up ridges from 3 to 5 feet apart, according to the strength of the soil; say, the preparation of the corn land would be completed by the 1st March. Then ridge off the cotton land in the same way, ploughing deeply and thoroughly, which could be completed by the 12th March, allowing for some rainy days. March 12th. Plant corn, dropping from 2 to 3 feet apart in the drill, covering it with the plough, and harrow off; all of which could be done in about four days. March 15th. Lay down five bushels of sweet potatoes in a long bed, say three feet wide, each potato being put down so as not to touch the others; cover them over with light earth, all of which can be done in half a day by one hand. From 15th March till 10th April might be devoted mostly to gardening and preparing potato ground. April 10th. Plant cotton, which would take about two days. April 12th. Commence working in corn, and all of April and to 10th May may be devoted to culture of corn and garden, nor forgetting about 10th to 15th to plant the acre of speckled peas. May 10th. The cultivation of the cotton crop would commence; one hand, running a side scraper on each side of the cotton, could go over the nine acres in two days, and the plough could be laid aside, and the three hands could scrape the nine acres of cotton with the hoe in about three days, and the plough could then be used to mold the cotton, whilst the two hoe hands followed, drawing the dirt round the stalks and thinning the cotton to a more perfect stand: plough and hoe work taking about five more days. After this work was completed the corn would require ploughing again, and the oats would be cut and housed or stacked. The ploughing of fifteen acres of corn would take about ten days, all of which could be completed by 1st June. After 1st May, in all wet weather, the sweet potato ground being prepared, the plants should be drawn from the bed and set on the ridges; this could be kept up till 1st July, and even the oats patch could be planted after the crop was taken off, in sweet potatoes, corn, or field peas, and there would be plenty of leisure to do it. About 10th June, the cotton would require ploughing; and the hoes should follow and take out what weeds were left in the drill-all of which work could be completed in six days. June 15th. Plough the corn again, and plant, either in drills or by sowing broadcast, the yellow field pea, all of which would not require over eight or ten days, and the corn could be then laid by. About 1st July, run the sweep through the cotton to clean the middle, which could be done in three days, and the hoes could pass over it in about the same time. Turnips ought to be planted, if ruta-bagas (which are the best), about 1st July, and if other varieties, in August or September. Cotton will stand longer in the field without injury than any crop grown in the United States. An immigrant raising one quarter of a crop could put off gathering it till January if he chose. The result of the foregoing plan of planting would be, on uplands, say: 5 bales of cotton, worth 15 acres of corn, 25 bushels per acre... Gross crop..... .$500 375 .$875 or double that on alluvial land. Sweet potatoes, oats, and other crops, would go far towards supporting the family. "The second year the immigrant could plant 3 acres of wheat and enlarge other crops, raise his own pork, and make the place support his family, still planting the same corn and cotton. Or, if he was disposed to enlarge his planting, he might hire one or two negroes, and plant double the quantity of cotton, letting the negroes gather cotton from 1st September, and the immigrants joining them 1st October, or as soon as the weather was cool and pleasant. The leading crops of the State, with their products, etc., may be ascertained from the following table: TABLE SHOWING THE PRODUCT OF EACH PRINCIPAL In 1880, over two million acres were devoted to cotton, and one-and-a-half million acres to corn. Limestone and iron have been found in Lauderdale and other counties, but no mineral products are reported from Mississippi. The game of this State includes the deer, bear, wildcat, turkeys, and pigeons. Fish abound in the streams. |