Rice [pp. 502-511]

TIDE SWAMPS FOR RICE.
Peedee rivers, and subject to their tides, are of similar general character to all other swamps formed by the alluvium of fresh tide waters.
In South Carolina, and generally elsewhere, the soil being wholly
formed by matter deposited by the rivers and by the remains of
plants which died and rotted where they grew, these lands are necessarily composed very largely of vegetable matter, mostly decomposed; and so far as that composition may serve, they were as rich
as lands could be, and of an unknown depth of soil. Their earthy
parts are mostly of fine clay, such as could remain long suspended in
water, and which has been mostly brought by the long course and
turbid current of the Peedee. Of course, rivers flowing through calcareous regions, and washing down fertile and well-constituted soils,
must have also brought down much calcareous matter intermixed
with the clayey, and serving to fix and retain the great and enduring
fertility which these lands have exhibited under the long-continued
and increasing drafts made by incessant rice culture. Still there
cannot be near enough of lime in these soils; and there is a still
greater deficiency of the ingredient of silicious sand necessary for a
properly constituted soil of the best productive power.
The rise and level of the tides have necessarily fixed the final elevation and grade of surface of all such lands. The earthy matters
brought down the river by its floods would continue to be deposited
on the marshes, and wherever else the water was most tranquil, until
such deposited earth reached to the level of the height of tide water.
The lower the surface was at any previous time before this height,
the more water, loaded with materials for alluvium, would be over
it, and the more it would receive of the tribute. And when, by such
additions, the surface had risen to the full height of ordinary high
tide, it would no more be covered, except on rare occasions, and of
course.ts increase would almost cease. Thus, there was for ages a
constant tendency of the waters to raise all the lower parts the fastest, and to make the lower equal in height'to the highest. And
when this was done as nearly as might be over any certain extent,
the operation ceased there, and was continued lower down toward
the sea.
Thus, the alluvial lands formed by the deposits of tide rivers necessarily have surfaces very nearly level. The only general and
slight exceptions are seen in the channels of small creeks or "slues"
as they are called, which are needed to give discharge to the retreating waters, the rapidity of the motion of which serves to keep such
passages open and deeper; and also that the land next the river side
is generally higher than that farthest off, and next to the high lands.
The cause of the latter effect is also obvious in this, that the water
first leaving the more rapid course of the river, and spreading over
the swamp, must necessarily deposit most of its suspended earthy
matter first, and carries only the lighter portions to the more remote
ground. However, the slope thus made is so gradual, that the difference of elevation is very slight between parts of the same swamp.
This general evenness of surface is in a remarkable degree favorable
to rice culture, which requires overflowing the crop at a depth as
nearly equal as possible.
The trees forming the natural growth and dense cover of such
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