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THE SOUTHERN PLANTER; 

Betooteioi to ^flrfcuiture, S^ortfculture, antr the ^ouseholtr &rt#. 



Agriculture is the nursing - mother of the Arts. I Tillage and Pasturage arc the two breasts of the State. 

Xenophon. \ Sully. 



C. T. BOTTS, Editor. 



Opposite Merchants* Coflec House, Main Street. 



Vol. I. 



RICHMOND, NOVEMBER, 1841. 



No. 10. 



AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 
The following article is copied from the Far- 
mers' Cabinet, and is from the pen of the cele- 
brated Dr. Darlington of Chester County, Pa. 
Nothing is more wanting than a perfect under- 
standing between the readers and writers of 
agricultural essays, as to the particular plants 
intended to be designated by particular names. 
The table is not only valuable as affording the 
scientific name of the common grasses, but also 
for the condensed information it affords of the 
properties of each variety. We fear very few 
will follow the Doctor's advice to make a collec- 
tion for themselves ; such as can be induced to 
undertake it, will, we are sure, find it not less 
amusing than profitable. 

"As there seems to be a laudable spirit of in- 
quiry awakened among the agriculturists, in 
various parts of our country, respecting the 
Plants which they are most interested in know- 
ing, — and a desire manifested to be able to iden- 
tify, with certainty, all those which are treated 
of in the agricultural journals, — I have sup- 
posed that the readiest and best mode of accom- 
plishing that object, would be for each intelligent 
farmer to make a collection of all such plants ; 
to have them carefully preserved, and authenti- 
cally labelled, in a convenient volume, which 
he could refer to as a dictionary, or expositor, 
whenever he was in doubt, or wished to verify 
any particular species. 

A collection of this kind, strictly limited to 
the plants in which he is immediately interested 
(whether useful or pernicious,) would be neither 
very bulky, nor difficult to procure, — and might 
be called The Farmers' Herbarium. One 
good specimen of each plant r collected when in 
its most perfect state of development, would be 
sufficient. It should be neatly pressed and dried, 
so as to exhibit its peculiar characters; and 
each species preserved in a separate sheet of 
paper, — accompanied with its appropriate label, 
containing the scientific name whenever it can 
be procured from good authority, and also all 
the popular, or common names, by which it is 
known, — designating the localities, or districts, 
whence such popular names are derived. 

The importance of having the scientific name, 
and in fact, of knowing and habitually calling 
Vol. 1—23. 



each plant by that name, will be obvious to every 
one, when it is recollected that the popular names 
are exceedingly variable and uncertain ; and 
moreover, that the scientific names of plants con- 
vey clear and precise ideas of the objects intended, 
to every well-informed person throughout the ci- 
vilized world. While there is nothing but end- 
less misapprehension and confusion resulting 
from the use of local popular names of well- 
known plants, there is no difficulty in compre- 
hending what is meant, when the scientific 
names are correctly employed. These scientific 
names can now be readily obtained from the 
books, — or from respectable botanists, who are 
always happy to impart information on such 
subjects. They can be acquired gradually, as 
opportunities offer; and when once obtained, and 
committed to writing on the labels accompany- 
ing the specimens, will be always at command, 
even if temporarily forgotten. 

With these impressions, and with a view to 
promote an object which I consider at once use- 
ful, interesting and feasible, I propose to make 
out a list of such plants as every farmer ought 
to know, both by sight and by name. Not to 
swell the list inconveniently, I shall, for the pre- 
sent, limit the catalogue to those plants which 
daily present themselves to the notice of the 
agriculturist, in this region, either as valuable 
occupants of the soil, or as troublesome pests 
and worthless weeds, in our cultivated fields, 
meadows and pastures ; omitting those which 
are usually confined to the gardens. Few per- 
sons, I apprehend, will question the utility of an 
accurate knowledge of the characters, and ha- 
bits, of both the useful and pernicious plants. 
Such knowledge must always be important in 
the operations of agriculture; and it is just as 
disreputable for a farmer to be ignorant of the 
vegetable tribes which claim his attention, as it 
is for an artist to be unacquanted with the na- 
ture of his materials. 

The first step towards a knowledge of ob- 
jects, is unquestionably an acquaintance with 
their external characters, — an ability to discri- 
minate species, and to recognize each, with cer- 
tainty, whenever seen. We may then proceed 
to ascertain their several properties ; and, by the 
use of a precise nomenclature, and accurate de- 
finitions, communicate our knowledge to others. 
This is true of all our researches in the material 
world, and especially so in what arc called the 



202 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 

natural sciences. Natural history is emphati- 1 mer's education — when the natural sciences will 
cally a science of observation and comparison, by i be regarded as the classics of agriculture. To 
which we learn to identify and distinguish ere- I aid in preparing the way for this desirable state 
ated beings ; and no department of the science j of things, is the motive which has prompted 
is more pleasing — as few, if any, are more use- this inceptive essay. The catalogue of plants 
ful — than the study of the vegetable creation. | here furnished, is calculated, as the almanacs say, 
It is a study peculiarly appropriate to the agri- ; for the meridian of Chester county, Pennsylva- 
culturist, whose chief concern is with the pro- ' nia ; but with some slight additions and modifi- 
ducts of the soil. i cations, it may be adapted to any part of the 

As the literary, or professional man, finds both I United States. The scientific names employed 
pleasure and advantage in a good stock of classi- : are those adopted in the Flora of Chester Coun- 
cil lore, so our farmers and planters would derive \ ty — in which work all the plants, here enume- 
much benefit and gratification from a scientific ' rated, may be found described in detail. I have 
acquaintance with the objects of their care : and followed the arrangement, also, of that Flora — 
we may indulge the hope that the day is not far not because it is the best — but because it will be 
distant, when instruction of that kind will be most convenient for those who may choose to 
considered an indispensable branch of the far- refer to it for the descriptions. 

Catalogue of a proposed Farmers' Herbarium, or of such Plants as Agriculturists ought to 

be acquainted with. 

There are some Cyperaceous plants, such as Club Rushes, Sedges, fyc, which are frequent, 
and rather troublesome, in low swampy grounds, and therefore ought to be known by name and 
character to the farmer. The following are the most remarkable, in Chester County. 

1. Cyperus Repens, Ell. A very troublesome plant in the Southern States; but happily 
rare as yet in this region. 

2. Scirpus Palustris, L. \ 

3. S Obtusus, Willd. J Species of Club Rush, frequent in wet grounds. 

4. S Tenuis, Willd. j 

5. S Lacustris, L. Common Bull Rush. There are several other species of Scirpus 

about our low, wet grounds ; and all worthless. 

6. Carex Acuta, L. "] 

7. C Tentaculata, Muhl. \ Sedges. A numerous family of worthless plants, of which 

8. C Multiflora, Muhl. y these species are most common in our wet meadows. — 

9. C Stipata, Muhl, \ often forming large tufts, or tussocks. 

10. C Scoparia, Schk. J 

The principal Grasses, on the farms of Chester county, noted either for their value, or as being 
worthless and troublesome, are the following : — 

11. Digitaria Sanguinalis. Scop. Crab Grass: Finger Grass. Frequent in gardens and 
Indian-corn-fields; rather troublesome. 

12. Panicum Capillare, L. A worthless grass; common in corn-fields and sandy pastures. 

13. P Crus Galli, L. Cocksfoot Panic Grass. A coarse weed-like grass; com- 
mon about drains of barn-yards and moist places. There are several other species of Panicum 
in our meadows and pastures ; and all worthless to the farmer. 

14. Setaria Viridis, Beauv. Green Foxtail: Bottle Grass. A worthless grass; frequent in 
corn-fields and pastures. 

15. S • Glauca, Beauv. Foxtail Grass. A common, worthless grass; usually abun- 
dant in stubble-fields, orchards and pastures. 

16. S Verticillata, Beauv. Another worthless species; becoming frequent about 

gardens and cultivated lots. 

17. S Germanica, Beauv. Millet : Bengal Grass. Affording good ha}'; and is often 

cultivated, both for hay and for its seeds. 

18. Cenchrus Tribuloides, L. Bur Grass: Hedge-hog Grass. A most pernicious pest in 
cultivated grounds ; abundant in New Jersey — but fortunately rare, as yet, in Chester county. 

19. Agrostis Vulgaris, L. Herd's Grass, of Pennsylvania, but not of New York and 
New England : often called Red-top. A Grass of some value, especially in swampy grounds, 
and often cultivated ; but it is not highly esteemed here. There are several other species of 
Agrostis, and of grasses allied to that genus ; but they are not generally considered of much 
value. 

20. Phleum Pratense, L. Timothy : Herd's Grass, of New York and New England ; a 
well-known and valuable grass — generally cultivated in company with red clover. 

21. Anthoxanthum Odoratum, L. Sivect-scented Vernal Grass. Common in meadows 
and pastures : remarkable for its fragrance ; but not very highly esteemed by our farmers. 






THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 203 

22. Avena Stativa, L. Common Oats. Everywhere cultivated. 

23. A Elatior, L. Oat Grass : Grass of the Andes. Sometimes cultivated, but not 

highly esteemed. 

24. Bromus Secalinus, L. Cheat, ox Chess. A troublesome grass in wheat fields; well 
known to every farmer. 

25. B Arvensis, L. Brome Grass. Frequent in pastures and moist meadows : makes 

a tolerable hay. 

26. Festuca Pratensis, Huds. Meadow Fescue. A highly valuable grass : growing spon- 
taneously and abundantly, in all our rich meadows and pastures. 

27. Poa Pratensis, L. Smooth-stalked Meadow Grass : Green Grass : Blue Grass, of Ken- 
tucky ; but not of other districts. This is decidedly the most valuable of all our pasture grasses ; 
and comes in, spontaneously, in all our rich, calcareous soils. 

28. P Trivialis, L. Rough-stalked Meadow Grass. Frequent in moist meadows and 

pastures. It closely resembles the preceding species, and is a valuable grass ; but not so valua- 
ble as that other. 

29. P Compressa, L. Flat-stalked Meadow Grass: Blue Grass. Sometimes called Wire 

Grass. Not so much esteemed as the two preceding species ; but in good land it affords a valuable, 
nutritious pasture. It is sometimes rather troublesome in cultivated grounds. There are several 
other species of Poa on our farms, but greatly inferior in value to these, and some of them quite 
worthless. The P. Pungens, which has been spoken of in the journals of late, is mostly a wood- 
land species and not valuable. 

30. Dactylis Glomerata, L. Orchard Grass. A valuable grass, — more so for pasture 
than for hay ; and often cultivated. 

31. Eleusine Indica, Lam. Dog's-tail Grass. Very common in lanes and wood-yards. 
Cattle and hogs are fond of it. 

32. Secale Sereale, L. Common Rye. Much cultivated in some districts. 

33. Hordeum Vulgare, L. Four-rowed Barley. Much cultivated. 

34. H Distichum, L. Two-rowed Barley. Ditto. 

35. Triticum Sativum, L. Wheat. Universally cultivated; and several varieties, both 
awned and awnless, have been successively preferred. 

36. T Repens, L. Couch Grass. In Virginia called Wire Grass. A grass of some 

value ; but so difficult to subdue, that it is considered a pest where it abounds. It is rare in Ches- 
ter county. 

37. Lolium Perenne, L. Ray Grass, or Rye Grass. Often found in our meadows, and 
sometimes cultivated. It is a grass of considerable value ; but not much attended to in this 
country. 

38. Andropogon Nutans, L. Wood Grass: Indian Grass. A worthless grass, often abun- 
dant in poor, neglected old fields. There are two or three other species, equally worthless, often 
to be met with. 

39. Sorghum Saccharatum, Pers. Broom Corn. Well known, and much cultivated. 
Two or three other species occasionally cultivated. 

40. Holcus Lanatus, L. Feather Grass : White Timothy. A grass of indifferent quality ; 
frequent in meadows. 

41. Leersia Oryzoides, L. Cut Grass : Wild Rice. A worthless grass ; often rather trou- 
blesome along swampy rivulets. 

42. Zea Mays, L. Indian Corn. Cultivated by every body. 

43. Tripsacum Dactyloides, L. Gama Grass : Sesame Grass. A stout, coarse grass, 
which has attracted some notice in the west ; but is probably unworthy of culture. It is but lit- 
tle known in Chester county. The 33 grasses, here enumerated, are perhaps the best known in 
this region. About 20 of them may be ranked among the valuable plants (some 12 or 13 being 
more or less cultivated); and the residue are regarded rather as weeds. 

44. Dipsacus Sylvestris, L. Wild Teasel. A coarse, biennial weed ; quite worthless, and 
rather a nuisance in some neighborhoods. 

44. Plantago Major, L. Common,ox broad-leaved Plantain. A well-known, worthless weed, 
in lots, and about houses. 

46. P Lanceolata, L. English Plantain: Buck's-horn Plantain: Ripple Grass. 

Cattle feed upon this species, and it has been sometimes cultivated for a sheep pasture ; but our 
farmers dislike it — especially on account of its seeds mingling with those of red clover, and re- 
ducing the value of the latter. 

47. Symplocarpus Fcetida, Nutt. Skunk Cabbage. A frequent nuisance in swampy mea- 
dows. 

48. Lithosperum Arvense, L. Stone Weed. A worthless weed ; frequent in pastures. 



204 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



49. Echium Vulgare, L. Blue Weed: Blue Devils. A highly pernicious weed; frequent 
in Maryland ; but rare, as yet, in Chester county. 

50. Echinospermum Virginicum, Lehm. Beggar's Lice. A frequent weed in pastures, 
and along fence-rows ; the burr-like fruit often matting the fleeces of sheep, and manes of 
horses. 

61. Convolvulus Arvensis, L. Bind Weed. A worthless vine, introduced into some culti- 
vated grounds, and exceedingly difficult to eradicate. 

52. C Batatas, L. Sweet Potato. A well known esculent ; often cultivated here, but 

still more in New Jersey, and in the South. 

53. Datura Stramonium, L. Jamestown Weed, or Jimson : Thorn Apple. A well known 
noxious weed ; in waste grounds, &c. 

54. Verbascum Thapsus, L. Common Mullen. A worthless biennial, abounding in the fields 
of slovenly farmers. 

55. V Blattaria, L. Moth Mullen. A frequent weed in pastures ; but not so trouble- 
some as the preceding. 

56. Solanum Nigrum, L. Nightshade. A noxious weed, in waste grounds. 

57. S Tuberosum, L. Round Potato: Irish Potato. Universally known, and cultivated 

for its valuable tubers, of which there are several varieties. The Lycopersicum or Tomato, is also 
much cultivated, in gardens, for its esculent fruit. 

58. S. Carolinense, L. Horse Nettle. A most pernicious weed, and extremely difficult to 
eradicate ; happily rare, as yet, in this region. 

59. Lobelia Inflata, L. Eyebright : Indian Tobacco. An acrid weed, frequent in pastures. 
It has been suspected as the cause of slabbering in horses, but the fact is not well ascertained. It 
is the famous medicine of the Thompsonian Doctors. 

60. Cuscuta Europ^a, L. Flax Vine: Dodder. A pernicious vine, frequent among culti- 
vated flax. 

61. Chenopodium Album, L. Lamb's Quarters: Goose-foot. A coarse weed, common in 
gardens and cultivated lots. 

62. Beta Vulgaris, L. Garden Beet : Sugar Beet. A valuable esculent ; the variety, called 
Sugar Beet, much cultivated for feeding stock in winter. The B. Cycla, or Mangel Wurtzel, is 
also cultivated but not extensively. 

63. Cicuta Maculata, L. Water Hemlock : Wild Par snep : Spotted Cowbane. A poisonous 
weed ; frequent in wet meadows. 

64. Archemora Rigida, Dc. Cowbane. A weed, said to be highly poisonous to cattle ; fre- 
quent in low, swampy meadows. 

65. Pastinaca Sativa, L. Common Parsnep. A valuable esculent ; chiefly cultivated in 
gardens, but often straying into the borders of fields, and becoming a troublesome weed. 

66. Daucus Carota, L. Carrot: Wild Carrot. The cultivated variety is a valuable escu- 
lent ; but the Wild Carrot is becoming a serious nuisance on many farms. 

67. Sambucus Canadensis, L. Elder Bush. A troublesome shrub, in many enclosures — 
especially along fence-rows, hedges, and borders of fields ; giving them a slovenly appear- 
ance. 

68. Rhus Glabra, L. Common, or Smooth Stmiach. A frequent nuisance, in poor old neg- 
lected fields, and along fences. 

69. R Radicans, L. Poison Vine : Poison Oak. A frequent pest along fence-rows, and 

clinging to old stumps and trees ; poisonous to many persons. JR. Venenata, Dc, is a very poi- 
sonous species, occuring in swampy thickets, along rivulets. 

70. Linum Usitatissimum, L. Common Flax. A plant well known for its valuable fibrous 
bark, and oily seeds; but sparingly cultivated, of latter years, in this district. 

71. Allium Vine ale, L. Garlic: Crow Garlic. An obnoxious and troublesome plant, espe- 
cially in dairy pastures, and among wheat crops. 

72. Ornithogalum Umbellatum, L. Ten O' Clock. A plant which has escaped from the 
gardens, and is a vile pest on many farms. 

73. Juncus Effusus, L. Common Soft Rush. A worthless plant ; common in low grounds, 
and often forming tufts, or tussocks. 

74. Veratrum Viride, L. Swamp Hellebore: Indian Poke. A frequent weed in swampy 
grounds. 

75. Rumex Crispus, L. Sour Dock: Curled Dock. A troublesome weed, in moist, rich 
grounds 



76. R Obtusifolius, L. Bitter Dock. Also a worthless, troublesome weed. 

77. R Acetocella, L. Sheep Sorrel. Another worthless species, and often so abundant 

as to be a nuisance. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 205 



78. Polygonum Aviculare, L. Creeping Knot Grass."] 

79. P Erectum, L. Erect Knot Grass. \ All worthless ; and often trouble- 

80. P Punctatum, Ell. Water Pepper. y some about houses, lots and 

81. P Persicaria, L. Lady's Thumb. waste grounds. 

82. P Pennsylvanicum, L. J 

83. P Sagittatum, L. ) These two species are commonly called Tear-Thumb, and are 

84. P Arifolium, L. ] often abundant in swampy meadows. 

85. P Convolvulus, L. Climbing Buckwheat, Frequent in wheat fields. 

86. P Fagopyrum, L. Buckwheat. The only valuable species of this numerous genus 

known here. It is much cultivated in new and hilly grounds, though considered a severe crop 
on good soils. 

87. Agrostemma Githago, L. Cockle. A troublesome pest among wheat. 

88. Phytolacca Decandra, L. Pokeberry Bush. A well-known, coarse weed ; frequent in 
rich soils and new grounds. 

89. Crataegus Crus Galli, L. Cockspur or New-Castle Thorn. ) Both these species of Cra- 

90. C Cordata, Ait. Washington Thorn: Virginia Thorn. ) tcegus are employed in 

hedging — the latter to a considerable extent in this country, though the former is probably the 
better for tliat object. 

91. Potentilla Canadensis, L. Cinquefoil. A worthless little weed; common in poor, 
old neglected fields. 

92. Rubus Occidentalis, L. Raspberry. \ These three species of Briar, though } r ielding plea- 

93. R Villosus, Ait. Blackberry. \ sant fruit, are rather troublesome intruders in our 

94. R Trivialis, Mx. Dewberry. ) fields and pastures. 

95. Rosa Carolina, L. Swamp Rose. Annoying weeds, in low grounds. 

96. Portulaca Oleracea, L. Purslane. A common weed, in gardens and corn-fields. 

97. Papaver Dubium, L. Field Poppy. An introduced weed ; becoming a nuisance on some 
farms. 

98. Hypericum Perforatum, L. St. John : s-ivort. A pernicious and troublesome weed ; 
common in pastures. 

99. Ranunculus Bulbosus, L. Butter-cup: Crow-foot. Worthless ; and becoming a nui- 
sance in some meadows. 

100. Nepeta Cataria, L. Catmint. A common weed, in waste grounds. 

101. N Glechoma, Benth. Alehoof: Ground Ivy. A frequent weed about gardens, lots, 

and along fences. 

102. Lamium Amplexicaule, L. Dead Nettle: Hen Bit. A common weed, in gardens and 
cultivated lots. 

103. Leonurus Cardiac a, L. Mother iv or t. A troublesome pest about gardens, houses, and 
in waste grounds. 

104. Lin aria Vulgaris, Mcench. Toad-flax : Ransted Weed. A vile nuisance in our pas- 
tures and along fence-rows. 

105. Verbena Urtic^folia, L. Vervain. A worthless weed, in our pastures. 

106. Camelina Sativa, Crantz. Wild Flax. A weed; frequent among flax, and other cul- 
tivated crops. 

107. Capsella Bursa Pastoris, Mcench. Shepherd's Purse. A troublesome weed, in culti- 
vated grounds and pastures. 

108. Lepidium Virginicum, L. Wild Pepper Grass. A worthless weed ; the reddish-brown 
seeds often occur among Timothy seed. 

109. Sisymbrium Officinale, Scop. Hedge Mustard. A common weed, in waste grounds, 
lanes, and borders of fields. 

110. Brassica Campestris, L. Turnip-rooted Cabbage. A variety of this, called Ruta Baga, 
or Svjedish Turnip, is sometimes cultivated for stock. 

111. B Rapa, L. Common Turnip. Generally cultivated. The B. Oleracea, or Common 

Cabbage, in its numerous varieties — and the sub-species, called Cauliflower, and Broccoli — are also 
much cultivated ; but the culture is chiefly confined to gardens. 

112. Malva Rotundifolia, L. Running Mallows. Common weeds, about gardens, houses, 
and cultivated lots. 

113. Sida Abutilon, L. Indian Mallow. A troublesome weed, in cultivated lots and waste 
grounds. 

1 14. Medicago Sativa, L. Lucerne. A valuable plant for pasture and hay in some regions, 
but very little cultivated in Chester county. 

115. Trifolium Arvense, L. Stone Clover: Welsh Clover: Rabbit foot : Hards-foot Trefoil, 
A worthless species ; often abundant in poor old fields, 



206 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 

116. T Pratense, L. Red Clover. Highly valuable, and generally cultivated. 

117. T Repens, L. White Clover: Dutch Clover. Common in our fields, and much es- 
teemed as a pasture, though rarely cultivated. 

118. Arctium Lappa, L. Burdock. A well-known nuisance, in waste grounds, &c. 

119. Carduus Lanceolatus, L. Common Thistle. A common pest on good land. 

120. C Arvensis, Smith. Canada Thistle. The vilest nuisance which has yet invaded 

our farms. Though not common, it has got possession in several localities, and will be found ex- 
ceedingly difficult to eradicate. There are three or four other species among us, but not so trou- 
blesome as these. 

121. Cichorium Intybus, L. Wild Succory. A worthless weed; becoming frequent in the 
northern districts of Chester county. 

122. Leontodon Taraxacum, L. Dandelion. A common, well-known weed. 

123. Sonchus Oleraceus, L. Sow Thistle. A frequent weed, in cultivated lots. 

124. Vernonia Ph^ealta, Willd. Iron Weed. A troublesome pest, in moist meadows. 

125. Eupatorium Perfoliatum, L. Thorough-stem: Thorough-wort. A frequent weed, in 
wet meadows and low grounds. Generally known as possessing medicinal properties. 

126. Solidago, L. Golden Rod. A numerous genus ; of which some of the species abound 
as weeds, in old fields and along fence-rows. 

127. Aster, L. Star-wort. Another numerous family ; some of which (as A. Tenuifolius, 
or Ericoides, L.) are troublesome weeds in our pastures. 

128. Erigeron Canadensis, L. Horse-weed, "j Worthless weeds; generally abundant in our 

129. E Strigosus, L. Flea-bane. > pastures, and especially in the first crop of 

130. E Heterophyllus, Muhl. J upland meadows. 

131. Xanthium Strumarium, L. Clot-bur. A common nuisance, in waste grounds, road- 
sides, &c. 

132. X Spinosum, L. Thorny Clot-bur. A most vile pest, wherever it appears ; rare, 

as yet, in Chester county. 

133. Ambrosia Trifida, L. A coarse, worthless weed ; in waste grounds, fence-rows, &c. 

134. A Elatior, L. Bitter-weed: Rag-weed. A common nuisance ; generally abun- 
dant in stubble-fields, after harvest. 

135. Bidens Chrysanthemoides, M.x. Beggar Ticks. A frequent nuisance, in swampy 
meadows, along rivulets, &c. 

136. B Frondosa, L. ) Spanish JYeedles. Troublesome pests about gardens and 

137. B Bipinnatifida, L. j cultivated lots. 

138. Anthemis Cotula, L. Stinking Chamomile: Dog's Fennel: Richardson's Pink. A 
troublesome, fetid little nuisance ; common in waste grounds, lanes, and pasture lots. 

139. Achillea Millefolia, L. Yarrow: Milfoil. A common weed in our pastures ; con- 
sidered entirely worthless here, though English writers speak of it as being food for cattle. 

140. Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum, L. Daisy: Ox-eye Daisy. A vile pest ; becoming 
very abundant on many farms in the north-eastern portion of our county, and will doubtless soon 
pervade the whole country. 

141. Gnaphalium Polycephalum, L. Life Everlasting. A frequent weed, in old fields 
and pasture-grounds. 

142. Senecio Hieracifolius, L. Fire-weed. A coarse weed ; common in new grounds, 
especially in and around spots where brush heaps have been burnt. 

143. Euphorbia Hypericifolia, L. Spurge: Eyebright. An acrid little weed, full of milky 
juice ; common in pastures and cultivated grounds. This, like the Lobelia, has been suspected 
of causing the slabbers in horses : how justly, has not been ascertained. 

144. Urtica Pumila, L. Rich Weed. A common weed, in rich moist grounds, about 
houses, &c. 

145. U Dioica, L. JYettle. A well-known pest, in waste grounds, &c. 

146. Amaranth us Albus, L. A coarse, branching weed; about barn-yards and waste grounds. 

147. A Hybridus, L. A coarse, troublesome weed, in gardens and cultivated lots. 

148. A Spinosus, L. A still more pernicious species ; but rare, as yet, in this region. 

149. Cucurbit a Pepo, L. Pumpkin. Generally cultivated among Indian corn, &c. as food 
for stock. 

150. Smilax Caduca, L. Green Briar. A troublesome nuisance, in poor, old neglected fields. 
The *S. Rotundifolia, L. is another well-known pest, in thickets and clearings. 

The foregoing catalogue comprises the more obvious of the plants known to our farmers, either 
for their usefulness, or as weeds and pests. Of the useful plants, there are but about thirty-five 
species in the list, of which some twenty-five are more or less objects of field culture; leaving the 
large proportion of more than three-fourths of pernicious or worthless weeds, to be extirpated, or 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



207 



kept in clue subjection. To do this, requires 
both skill and vigilance ; and every one will ad- 
mit, that an important preliminary step will be 
to acquire an accurate knowledge of the plants 
to be dealt with — to know them by sight, by 
name, and by character. Having made himself 
botanically and practically acquainted with the 
species here enumerated, the intelligent farmer 
may gradually and readily extend his knowledge 
to other less important plants, which he finds on 
his grounds ; and also to the various species 
usually found in the garden ; as well as to the 
several kinds of timber trees and shrubs, in the 
woodlands. 

Such knowledge will not only be practically 
useful, in many ways, but will be found highly 
interesting to inquiring minds. It will, more- 
over, tend to elevate the intellectual character of 
agriculturists to that rank which is due to a no- 
ble profession, and to which every American 
farmer should earnestly aspire. 

In conclusion, I will add, that, if the sugges- 
tions here made should find favor with any of 
our Chester county farmers, and they should 
think proper to commence collections of such 
plants as they find on their premises, whether of 
an useful or pernicious character, it will give me 
great pleasure to assist them, to the extent of 
my ability, in determining the names and pro- 
perties of those occupants of the soil. 

Wm. Darlington. 

West-Chester, Penn., Aug. 25, 1841. 



ECONOMY OF LABOR. 

The following extract from the Farmer's Ma. 
gazine, whilst it affords some useful hints upon 
the construction of farm buildings, also exhibits 
a minuteness of attention to the economising of 
labor, that will surprise some of our readers. — 
There, it is very properly considered, that the 
quantity of labor required, regulates the cost of 
production, and, consequently, that, labor saved, 
is money made ; notwithstanding its cheapness, 
in England, this golden rule is never forgotten ; 
and the farmer is constantly upon the alert, by 
the exercise of his ingenuity to lessen his labor, 
and increase his profits: 

"In selecting the site of farm-offices it is desi- 
rable to combine in the greatest degree which 
circumstances admit of, the following objects: — 
proximity and easy access to a public road ; a 
situation central, as regards the tillage-land, and 
so as to communicate with all parts of it by the 
levellest road possible, as the intervention of a 
single hill that could be avoided may make the 
difference between two horses in a cart and one. 
A southerly aspect ; as cattle are found to thrive 
better and to fatten sooner, in folds open to the 



sun, than in those from which his rays are ex- 
cluded. A command of water; so that a sup- 
ply may be conveyed through the different parts 
of the buildings, and if the grounds affoid it in 
sufficient quantity, where it can be brought and 
collected to work the thrashing machine, and 
thence conveyed away, with little expense and 
without injury, or, it may be, with benefit to the 
adjoining lands ; where a sufficient supply of 
water cannot be had, the cheapest and best pow- 
er is steam, if coals be within a moderate dis- 
tance; water enough for that purpose may be 
collected, if a spring is not at hand, from the 
roofs of the offices, if preserved in a tank made 
in a shady situation and lined with clay or 
bricks. If the economy of labor is to be studied 
in fixing the site of farm buildings, it is not less 
to be attended to in their construction and ar- 
rangement ; they commonly form three sides of 
a square open to the South ; the highest build- 
ings being on the North side, and those of a 
lower description filling up the East and West. 
The stack-yard is on the North side of the square, 
and the barn containing the thrashing-machine 
projects into it at right angles with the line of 
hovels which constitute the northern side of the 
square, the straw being thrown from the rakes 
into a large barn or straw-house in the centre of 
that range, where it is piled up for use. It is of 
conseqence that the barn be in the centre of the 
range, because the straw to supply the cattle is 
carried out right and left, and only to half the 
distance which much of it would require to be 
carried if the barn stood in any other situation ; 
the same reason holds with regard to corn which 
is being thrashed and intended to be laid up in 
granaries : grain keeps much better in granaries 
that are over open hovels, than those that are 
over close houses in which horses or cattle of any 
kind are tied up : and by this arrangement the 
granaries are made over the hovels, which ex- 
tend from each side of the barn, and the corn is 
carried to them from the dressing floor below, 
without being taken from under the same roof, 
or the sacks are drawn up by a pulley and 
tackle worked from the wheel of the thrashing 
machine whether driven by water or steam, and 
conveyed on hand-barrows with wheels to all 
parts of the granaries; from which again they 
are loaded into carts through trap-doors in the 
floor, below which the carts are placed within 
the novels. The saving of labor attending the 
laying up and removing of corn from granaries 
so situated, as compared with others at a dis- 
tance from the thrashing barn, is very obvious. 
It is desirable for the same reason that the straw 
barn should stand the cross way of the thrash- 
ing barn, and not in the same range with it, so 
that the rake of the machine may deliver the 
straw into the middle and not the end of it ; in 
this way the straw has only to be carried half 
the length of the house instead of the whole : 



208 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



and when two kinds of straw are in use, one for 
fodder and another for litter, they canbe kept quite 
distinct, and are easily taken out by leaving an 
open space between them. Peculiar situations 
may very properly render deviations from these 
general rules at times right and necessary, but 
where so important a consideration as the econo- 
my of labor is involved, and that for a long 
course of years, as in the erection of an exten- 
sive and permanent set of farm buildings, too 
much attention cannot be paid to it in the ar- 
rangement to be adopted. 
Dilston, \8th Feb., 1841. 



BREWERS' GRAIN. 
Mr. Buckland, in the Farmer's Magazine, 
gives an account of a most prodigious crop of 
ha}' produced by scattering brewers' grains over 
an indifferent meadow. He advances the opi- 
nion that vegetation is most rapidly promoted by 
manuring plants, in general, with their own spe- 
cies, in a state of decay. 



MANURES. 
Investigations are going on in the scientific 
world to ascertain, by an analysis of the consti- 
tuents of certain plants, the applicability of par- 
ticular manures to their production. It is pro- 
bable that, in this way, some very satisfactory 
results may be obtained. A " Table of Manures," 
made out on this principle by Mr. John Robin- 
son, has already been published in London, of 
which we hope to obtain a copy very shortly. 



PLOUGHING. 

The following extract from Chaptal's Agri- 
cultural Chemistry, shows the necessity of work- 
ing a crop, especially during a drought: 

" The air may be considered as a vehicle, con- 
stantly loaded with a quantity of water in va- 
pour, of which the coolness of the night causes 
it to deposit a part upon the earth. The sur- 
face of the ground and the leaves of plants are 
often moist in the morning: the return of the 
sun, and the heat of the day, evaporate this li- 
quid, to be deposited again at sunset, and during 
the night ; thus, by an alternate movement, de- 
termined by the changes in the temperature of 
the atmosphere, at different periods of the twen- 
ty-four hours, water is constantly applied to 
plants, to preserve them from the excess of heat, 
which would wither and dry up their organs. 

" The aqueous vapours suspended in the air 
begin to be condensed and precipitated at sun- 
set, and with them is deposited the greatest part 
of the emanations which have arisen from the 



earth during the day ; these exhalations, though 
beneficial to vegetation, are almost always inju- 
rious to man, and it is not without reason that 
he fears and shuns the night damps. In south- 
ern climates, where the heat of the sun is more 
intense, and rains less frequent than in the north- 
ern, vegetation is supported by the dews, which 
are very abundant. In order that the dews of 
night may produce their best effects upon vege- 
tation, it is necessary that the soil should unite 
certain qualities, which it does not always pos- 
sess. 

"When the soil is hard and compact, and 
forms, by the action of the air, an impenetrable 
crust, the dew is deposited upon the surface, and 
evaporated by the rays of the sun, without hav- 
ing moistened the roots of the plants or softened 
the earth around them ; so that, of the organs 
that serve to convey nourishment to the plants, 
the leaves are the only ones benefitted by the 
dew, while the roots, which are the principal ve- 
hicles of nutriment, when the plant is fully de- 
veloped, are not in any degree benefitted by it. — 
It is necessary in such cases that the soil should 
be softened, lightened, and divided, so that the 
air may convey the water with which it is 
charged to the roots of the plants, and to every 
part of the earth surrounding them, to a certain 
depth ; thus the plant can imbibe, through all 
its pores, the reviving moisture ; and that which 
it received by its roots is more lasting than that 
which it absorbs in any other way, because the 
roots being sheltered from the rays of the sun, 
evaporation takes place less rapidly, and the 
moisture is retained, whilst the leaves are speedi- 
ly dried by the heat. Besides, that earth which 
is most easily affected by the dews yields most 
readily to the action of the roots, whether it be 
to fix the plant firmly, by their extension, or to 
draw from the soil its nutritive properties. 

" This explains in a natural manner the ori- 
gin of a custom observed by all agriculturists, 
and of which all acknowledge the advantages. 
When vegetables, such as peas, beans, potatoes, 
and other roots, are sown in furrows, at equal dis- 
tances from each other, the soil in the intervals 
is hoed or dug with the utmost care, and thus 
rendered light, soft, and favorable to the air ; 
whilst at the same time weeds, which would be 
hurtful to the cultivated plants by depriving them 
of nourishment afforded by the ground, are de- 
stroyed, and the soil rendered more fit to receive 
the rain and convey it to the roots. I do not de- 
ny that these benefits are real, but I hold them 
to be secondaiy, and subordinate to the advan- 
tage derived from opening access to the air, and 
permitting it to deposit its dew T s upon the roots, 
and upon the earth in contact with them. 

"I have uniformly observed the effects of this 
method to be equally speedy and favorable in 
the cultivation of beet-roots, and I have never 
employed any other to restore their vegetation to 



THE SOUTHER^ PLANTER 



109 



its freshness, when they become yellowish and 
drooping ; in three or four hours it will become 
ft beautiful green, and the loaves spread them- 
selves out, although no rain may have fallen ; 
and this often when the soil had not contained a 
single weed. I have observed the same effect 
produced upon the other culinary roots. 

11 In the South of France, where it hardly ever 
rains during the summer, the foot of each set- 
ting of the vine is laid bare, by digging around 
it a circular trench, deep and wide enough to 
contain, uncovered, the stump, and the radicles 
proceeding from it ; and the opening is speedily 
covered over by the leaves and branches. It is 
evident that this method has no other advantage 
than that of facilitating the access of the air to 
the roots, that it may deposit there the dews 
with which it is more abundantly charged than 
in cold climates — if it were not thus, this prac- 
tice 'would expose the vines to be dried up by the 
scorching heat of the sun." 



TRENCHING. 
We have been lately furnished with the- expe 
rience of a very judicious manager in favor of 
the system of trenching, recommended by Cob- 
bett for garden purposes, and published in an ear- 
ly number of the Planter. The propriety of 
turning up the subsoil, or virgin earth, involves 
the old question of deep or shallow ploughing 
which, we believe, has been chiefly a subject of 
doubt, because it is one dependent upon circum- 
stances. Certain it is, that there are subsoils, 
that contain some of the necessary constituents 
of vegetation in a high degree. Amongst these, 
may be mentioned the mineral alkalis. All soils 
are supposed to have been formed, originally, 
from the separation and solution of rocks — this 
operation, commenced by the carbonic acid of 
the atmosphere, is continued by the roots of 
plants. The alkalis of the soil are by this pro- 
cess dissolved and used up by the plant. The 
quantity of potash obtained from vegetables 
shows that they draw* this article from the earth 
in great abundance — unless replenished by arti- 
ficial means, the stock is exhausted. But, if we 
go deeper than the roots of plants have penetrat- 
ed, we turn up a soil which, by the new action 
of the carbonic acid, afforded by the atmosphere 
and the roots of plants, becomes more thorough- 
ly disintegrated, and thereby yields the necessa- 
ry supply of alkali. Upon this point, Liebig 
remarks : 



" The first colonists of Virginia found a coun- 
try, the soil of which was like that mentioned 
Vol. 1—24 



above." " Harvests of wheat and tobacco 
were obtained for a century from one and 
the same field without the aid of manure ; 
but now, whole districts are converted into 
unfruitful pasture land, which, without manure, 
produces neither wheat nor tobacco. From 
every acre of this land there were removed, 
in the space of one hundred years, 1200 lbs. 



of alkalies, in leaves, grain and 



w ; it be- 



came unfruitful, therefore, because it was depriv- 
ed of every particle of alkali, which had been 
reduced to a soluble state ; and, because that 
which was rendered soluble again in the space 
of one year, was not sufficient to satisfy the de- 
mands of the plants. Almost all the cultivated 
land in Europe is in this condition. Fallow is 
the term applied to land left at rest for farther dis- 
integration. It is the greatest possible mistake 
to suppose that the temporary diminution of ferti- 
lity in a soil is owing to the loss of humus : it is 
the mere consequence of the exhaustion of the 
alkalies." 

In ploughing though, when we turn up 
the new, we turn down the old soil : and whe- 
ther we are to profit by the exchange will de- 
pend upon the particular constituents of each. 
We may, possibly, turn down a rich loam, whilst 
we bring to the surface an unimprovable subsoil. 
In this case, which, we believe, very seldom oc" 
curs, we hear of the injurious effects of deep 
ploughing. By stirring deeply, we, at any rate, 
secure the advantage of loosening the earth, and 
thereby admitting the air, to a greater depth'; 
and if the top soil is not turned under very deep 
we place the nutriment it may afford just in the 
way of the roots of plants. Our advice is then, 
plough deep ; you will be right nine times out of 
ten. 

Mr. Towers, in an article published lately in 
the British Farmer's Magazine, asserts, that po- 
tatoes, and some other vegetables, will be found 
to flourish ia a very extraordinary manner upon 
a soil newly turned up. He says : 

"In 1S30 I had a striking example of the 
good and evil of raising the soil of the substra- 
tum to the surface. I had the garden trenched 
in portions, two and three spades deep. In one 
portion we brought up a deep orange, ochrous 
loam, abounding with flint stones and aluminous 
adhesive masses ; this soil, had, surely, never 
seen the light, or imbibed the air. I arrived on 
the property after the first week of June, and 
therefore, could not effect this trenching till the 
end of the month. Then, or early in July, seed 
of Portsmouth broccoli was sown : the season 
till August proved showery. The plants, when 
ready, were transplanted in this new loam, and. 



210 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



late as it was, they grew surprisingly : the win- 
ter of 1830 it was very snowy, but not rigo- 
rously frosty. However, no plant was lost, and 
when the growing season commenced, the 
growth was surprising, the yield great, the heads 
large, and of a quality that I never since have 
been able to rival." 



VINEYARDS. 
It is asserted, upon good authority, 
trimmings of grape vines, chopped 



that the 
fine and 



hoed in, furnish the most bountiful supply of ma- 
nure for the succeeding crop. Circumstances 
are daily coming to light, that lead to the infer- 
ence, that decayed portions of a plant form the 
very best means for its reproduction. 



EPIDEMIC. 

An epidemic has lately made its appearance 
amongst the cattle of England, which like the 
cholera, seems to have travelled progressively 
from East to West. We extract the following 
notice of it from a lecture delivered by Mr. Fer- 
guson in the Dublin Society House ; " it had 
travelled through Spain, Portugal, France, 
Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Bohemia, Hun- 
gary, and Prussia, previous to its making its ap- 
pearance in England, which it seems it did on the 
western coast of that island, about two years 
ago. Every description of animal, living in a 
state of domestication, have been affected by the 
peculiar state of the atmosphere that has for 
some time past existed. Man, himself, has not 
escaped, and even poultry has been affected. — 
All cloven footed animals have evinced pretty 
nearly the same symptoms ; the principal cha- 
racteristics amongst this class of animals being 
an affection of the mouth, feet; and udder — the 
former having a number of vesicles or blisters 
formed in it, on the tongue and gums : the feet 
and udder being frequently affected in the same 
manner, although sometimes they are merely 
tumified." The learned gentleman then pro- 
ceeds to prescribe a wash, which we will keep 
in case we are visited, as most likely we shall 
be, by this formidable disease. Inoculation, 
which has been practised to a considerable ex- 
tent, and is recommended by Mr. Ferguson, is 
extremely deprecated by others. 



WARTS ON COWS. 

I had a cow that had a large bunch of wart 
grown under her udder, as large as the back of 



my hand, and it kept increasing. I made a 
strong decoction of alum and water, and wash- 
ed the part two or three times a day : in a short 
time it was as clear as any part of the udder. — 
I likewise have had cows teats so covered with 
warts that it was difficult to milk them ; by ap- 
plying the above decoction to the teats after 
milking, morning and night, the warts soon dis- 
persed. — Bell's Messenger. 



HEALING WOUNDS IN TREES. 

The branch is cut off at a distance of three 
or four feet from the tree, care being taken to 
support it in a manner to prevent it from splin- 
tering the stump. The bark of the stump is 
then cut into narrow longitudinal strips,which, af- 
ter being carefully peeled off with a barking tool 
as far as the body of the tree, are tied back so as 
to keep them clear of the saw in the amputa- 
tion of the stump close to the body of the tree. 
The saw-cut surface is then smoothed with a 
wide mortice chisel, and is covered with the 
strips of bark, cut and fitted to it as accurately 
as possible, and fastened down with brads driven 
nto the depth of about one-eight of an inch. — 
The wound and surrounding parts are next co- 
vered to the depth of two or three inches with a 
cataplasm, according to the following receipt: — 
Clay, 4 parts ; fresh cow dung 2 parts ; finely 
sifted wooded ashes, 1 part; add cow's hair, 
such as that used by plasterers, a handful or 
more, according to the quantity of the composi- 
tion required. Mix these materials together in 
a very regular manner, moistening them with 
water to bring the whole to a proper consistence. 
To preserve the cataplasm from injury, a stout 
canvass is passed over it and sewed round the 
body of the tree ; both of which must remain six 
or eight months ; their removal depends solely 
on the healed state of the bark. When the bark 
is healed, the part of the tree where the branch 
was amputated will appear as if no limb had 
grown there. The operation should not be per- 
formed in the winter months, for the bark will 
not run or separate from the wood, and the 
wounded part would be liable to be attacked by 
frost. — Transactions of the Society of Arts. 



AMERICAN LABORERS. 

The American laborer is most expert at the 
use of the axe and the scythe, but handles the 
spade most awkwardly, having no idea of bank- 
ing, hedging, and many other operations com- 
mon to English laborers. The versatility of his 
talent, however, renders him far superior to the 
British laborer in America, the latter having no 
chance with him in the use of the saw, the ham- 
mer and the trowel: it forms part of his ordi- 
nary business to build log-houses, mend ploughs, 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



211 



wagons and harrows, and even kill and dress 
sheep and pigs. — BeWs Weekly 31essenger. 

It is this minute division of labor, which, 
while it renders the British husbandman unfit 
for the rough roll and tumble life of the woods- 
man of America, makes him so much more per- 
fect in the particular branch in which he has 
been educated. To the fact, that there is a 
place for every man, and every man in his place, 
much of their superior husbandry is to be attri- 
buted. 



MOTT'S AGRICULTURAL FURNACE. 




It is very seldom that we have an opportunity 
of speaking of any agricultural invention with 
the unqualified approbation that we are enabled 
to bestow upon the utensil figured at the head 
of this article. It was constructed in conse- 
quence of a suggestion from the American In- 
stitute, that a simple, portable, and low priced 
furnace was much wanted by the farming com- 
munity. 

Mr. C. N. Bement, a distinguished agricul- 
turist in New York, testifies to its superiority 
over every other contrivance that he could obtain 
for trial. The desideratum of applying the whole 
heat to the boiler is obtained completely by a 
very simple construction. No individual, who 
desires to obtain boiling water upon the most 
convenient and economical plan, should hesitate 
to procure one of these furnaces. They can be 
had in this city of Messrs. D. & C. R. Weller, 
for prices varying from $12 to $35, according 
to size ; the largest holding about sixty gallons. 
We conclude our notice of this excellent inven- 
tion with the following certificate, which is not 
a whit beyond the testimony of several other 



excellent farmers who have called on us to tes- 
tify to its merits : 

Messrs. D. & C. R. Weller: 

Gentlemen, — We have given " Mott's Agricul- 
tural Furnace" a fair and impartial trial, and for 
boiling food for cattle or hogs, recommend it to 
the agricultural community, as decidedly the 
very best article of the sort we have ever seen 
for convenience, despatch, and economy in fuel. 
We are perfectly satisfied, that no farmer, having 
use for any thing of the sort, would, upon trial, 
be without one for double the cost. Such also 
is the universal opinion of every one with whom 
we have conversed, who has used them. In the 
language of one of much more experience than 
ourselves, " we cannot say too much for them.' 1 
Yours, A. B. Shelton. 

John Poe. 
Thos. J. White. 

Nov. 1, 1841. 



SEED POTATOES. 

In the Chronicle I observed some remarks 
from Perth relative to the failure of the potato 
crops ; and I have no doubt the failure has al- 
most always been caused by keeping the seed 
in large quantities together, frequently before 
being perfectly ripened. I have for many years 
past, at the time of taking up, adopted the plan 
of laying upon the ground for some time, till 
they become green and hard, such potatoes as I 
intend for seed the following year, and keeping 
them by themselves during the winter. "By this 
means I have never known any to fail when 
there has been a very general failure throughout 
the country ; and I have noticed that a general 
failure has mostly followed a bad season for 
ripening the tubers the year before. I feel con- 
fident that if this mode of hardening the seed 
tubers were adopted, there would be no failure 
in potato crops, and the plants would come up 
much stronger and more healthy. 

Gardeners 1 Chronicle. 

Whilst on this subject we beg leave to detail 
the purport of a conversation held lately with a 
most observant and intelligent grower of Irish 
potatoes in this vicinity. He stated that, from 
sundry experiments, he was satisfied of the ne- 
cessity of procuring his plantings every year 
from the north. In 1839 he purchased northern 
plantings, and never saw finer potatoes than they 
produced in 1840. He re-planted them in 1840, 
and finished out a few rows with more indiffer- 
ent looking potatoes purchased from the north. 
Notwithstanding the purchased plantings were 
not apparently so good as those he raised him- 
self, and although they were subjected to exactly 



212 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 






the same treatment, the product was infinitely 
superior. The fine potato of 1839, although 
very superior in 1S40, had degenerated into an 
inferior article in 1841. Upon a visit to Massa- 
chusetts this fall, he was informed by a potato- 
grower of that State that the same necessity 
existed there of looking further east for their 
plantings. Every year he obtained them from 
Nova Scotia, and he found upon inquiry that 
even there the potato degenerated upon cultiva- 
tion, and that they were compelled to resort to 
the seed every two or three years. 



BRAN. 

A writer in a British agricultural journal sug- 
gests that the bran of wheat should, from the 
stimulating salts it contains, form an excellent 
manure especially for wheat. He begs that it 
be tested at the rate of from three to six hundred 
weight to the acre. The experiment is worth 
trying in our milling region, where it is so 
abundant ; particularly, as we are satisfied, that 
wherever its properties as a feed are fairly tested, 
it will certainly fall to a suitable price for manure. 



To the Editor of the Southern Planter: 

JSJ.y Dear Sir, — I am a subscriber to several 
agricultural papers, because I think the meanest 
amongst them is worth ten times the amount of 
subscription. Yours is the only one I lake south 
of the Potomac, and from the specimen } T ou have 
afforded me of a southern production, I feel in- 
clined to extend my list in our own section. 
Will you be good enough to assist me with your 
advice on this point 1 

Whilst I have my pen in hand I will take 
occasion to protest against the spirit of my north- 
ern periodicals upon the subject of the fair sex. 

Why sir, their gallantry, which freezes up 
during their long winters, has not time to thaw 
in summer. They are as cold ns frogs. Here, 
woman is associated with all that is bright and 
charming. The great object of man is, by in- 
cessant labor, to make her life one unvarying 
scene of ease and pleasure. There, her name 
is never mentioned but in connection with work. 
Work, work, is their incessant cry. Our women 
do not work enough, is the burden of their song. 
I wonder the dear creatures do not make their 
escape from these cruel task masters, and fly to 
the arms of the gallant sons of the south. Why 
sir, the poorest man in Virginia would scorn to 
tax the gentler sex to contribute more than was 
agreeable to his support. He will tell you that 
he took his wife to his bosom, to cherish, protect, 
and support her, and that as a man, he does not 
shrink from the task. He will advise the fe- 



males of his household to engage in the gentle 
occupations of their sex, for the sake of securing 
their own happiness, but never for the purpose 
of lightening the burden which nature has so 
properly devolved on his broader shoulder. We 
hope the day is far distant when the gallantry of 
a southerner will permit him to make those, 
whose happiness should be his only care, par- 
takers in his toils and burdens. 
Yours, 
A Farmer, Husband, and Father. 

Upon the first point of our correspondent's 
essay, w r e are most happy to respond to his in- 
quiry. Although, where all are good it is invi- 
dious perhaps to distinguish any, we cannot for- 
bear to call his attention, particularly, to the 
Western Farmer and Gardener, published 
by Mr. Affleck in Cincinnati ; the Southern 
Agriculturist, published in Charleston. The 
Agriculturist, published in Nashville, Ten- 
nessee, we have heard of, but never seen. The 
Ploughboy is the title of a cheap periodical, 
that has lately appeared on our exchange table. 
Of course, he is familiar with the excellent work 
of our neighbor, Mr. Ruffin, which has done 
so much for Virginia, and the south. Indeed, 
as he intimates, he cannot go amiss. Although 
some are certainly worth much more than others, 
we will hazard the assertion, that there is no 
agricultural paper, published in America, that is 
not worth, to any farmer who w r ill read it, ten 
times its cost. Of course we do not mean to 
recommend any one man to take all — the labor 
of sifting would be too great — that is rather the 
business of the editor, or editors, he may choose 
to employ. 

On the second point, we are a little more chary 
of our opinion. It is a delicate subject. We 
certainly admire the gallantry of our corres- 
pondent, but we cannot consent to the proposi- 
tion, that our friends of the north are wanting 
in this essential quality. Our system of agri- 
culture and civil institutions differ in many re- 
spects, but we feel well assured that they enter- 
tain, in common with us, the most profound re- 
spect for the female character. Woman has 
undoubtedly her duties to perform in a certain 
sphere, and whilst we never wish to see her de- 
graded to a productive drudge, yet her operations 
though quiet, are not unimportant, and if we do 
not greatly err in our correspondent, there are 
many of the products of female labor about his 
household, which it would be testing his gal- 
lantry pretty severely to deprive him of. 






THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



2i:i 



IRRIGATION. 
Whether rain water is efficacious because of 
the ammonia with which it is charged, as sup- 
posed by Liebig, or by its action in dissolving 
this and other salts contained in the soil, as ima- 
gined by his predecessors, certain it is, that this 
element is absolutely necessary to vegetation, 
and also, that it is valuable in proportion to its 
impurity. Indeed the waters of running streams 
arc rendered impure by the accessions, which 
continued washings are constantly affording of 
the richest portions of the soil. It is the part of 
wisdom in man to counteract the operations of 
nature, where those operations militate to his dis- 
advantage. Hence, to force the river to give up 
this rich deposite may be done to great advan- 
tage, under certain circumstances. The circum- 
stances, upon which the profit of irrigation will 
depend, are of course the nature of the locality, 
and the extent to which the particular stream 
happens to be charged with enriching properties. 
This varies much under different circumstances ; 
below a city, the water is found to be much 
more fertilizing than above it, and there are ma- 
ny streams into which nature throws such bound- 
less riches that they should be forced to disgorge 
them, if it be possible to accomplish it. 

Irrigation is much practised in the East; 
where, to be sure, it is absolutely- necessary to 
counteract the dryness of the climate. But even 
in Europe, it has been resorted to, it is said, at 
great expense, with wonderful advantage. We 
are sure that there are many situations in our 
country of hills and streams where this practice 
might be adopted with the greatest benefit. 
Wherever there is a waterfall, with a level below 
it, at a comparatively trifling expense the water 
may be lead into a canal above, from which it 
might, at pleasure, by means of gates, be per- 
mitted to flow upon the land below. This ac- 
tion, especially upon meadow lands, is said to be 
most astonishing ; indeed, the immense expense 
that is sometimes incurred to obtain it in Europe, 
proves that there, at least, the natural advantages 
attending thousands of localities in this country 
would never be neglected. We will be more 
specific hereafter in a description of the work 
and its effects, hoping that some of our readers, 
whose circumstances justify it, will be induced 
to encounter the expense of a trial of the system- 



is their capacity for absorbing moisture. The 
extent of this capability may be easily tested 
with even a specimen of earth. Let the portion 
to be tested be thoroughly dried and weighed ; 
then, after it has been subjected to the atmos- 
phere, let it be weighed again. The difference 
will show its capacity for absorption. By mak- 
ing frequent use of such simple means, the prac- 
tical farmer can easily render himself familiar 
with the relative capabilities of soils in this re- 
spect. 



TEST OF SOILS. 

One of the most valuable properties of soils, 
and one in which there is a wonderful difference, 



TURNIP FLY. 

In the report of the Stoke Ferry Farmers' 
Club, it is stated that " the fly had been proved 
to abound most in wooded enclosures, and gene- 
rally prevailed most near the hedge rows, there- 
by showing that in them they were bred and 
hatched. This circumstance it was which led 
the late Mr. Robert Paul to devise the plan of a 
decoy stetch ; which, in fact, was nothing more 
than a border or head land round each side of. a 
field, and which he recommended should be 
ploughed and sown with white turnips, a month 
or so before the main crop was sown. He always 
contended that the fly was more partial to white 
turnips in the broad leaf, than to a young Swede. 
As to any application of soot, lime, elder boughs 
or smoke of any kind, to the growing crop, it 
was considered utterly useless — a rapid growth 
was all in all, and this could obviously be best 
obtained by a clear, fine tilth, and high manur- 
ing" 



SEEDS. 
We some time since quoted an opinion from 
the Louisville Journal, that northern seeds would 
ripen earlier upon southern fields than seed raised 
in the same latitude. The editor therefore ad- 
vised the importation of northern wheat for seed. 
It is certainly a great desideratum to obtain early 
maturity in this crop : a few days will often af- 
ford security both against fly and rust ; but we 
are inclined to think that this effect is to be ex- 
pected rather from southern than northern seed. 
Dr. Lindley says that plants, which for a course 
of years have been cultivated on a warm dry 
soil, will acquire habits of great excitability, 
which they will not readily part with even un- 
der circumstances very different as to soil and 
climate. The late Mr. Knight, too, used to say, 
that the crops of wdieat on certain high cold 
ground he cultivated, ripened much earlier when 



214 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



he obtained his corn seed from a warm district 
than when he employed the seed raised in the 
immediate neighborhood." 



To the Editor of the Southern Planter : 

Bear Sir : — This paper will be devoted to 
what I consider the best mode of treating the 
hog. And in the offset, I bespeak the patience 
of your readers, for to do any thing like justice 
to the subject, I must necessarily be somewhat 
particular. 

We will suppose then that you have the pro- 
per accommodations for your hogs, such as have 
been described, or something similar to them ; 
and that in addition to this, you have a boar of 
the improved breed, (the common hog, with but 
few, if any exceptions, is of very little value,) 
and that he has been kept constantly apart from 
. your sows. This is a matter of great consequence 
for if he be unrestrained, he will either stray 
away, so that you will lose him, or he will have 
intercourse with the sows at improper periods of 
the year, or what is still worse, he will set them 
to breeding when they are too young for the pur- 
pose. And here I will remark, that the best 
time for the sows to have their pigs is about the 
first of March, or first of September, consequent- 
ly the proper time for them to go to the boar is 
about the 10th of November or 10th of May, for 
it is well known that the usual time of gestation 
with this animal is just about sixteen weeks. 
We will suppose, further, that you have a likely 
well grown sow, ten or twelve months old, 
(younger than this will be too early) and that 
at one or the other periods indicated above, she 
manifests an inclination for the boar. She may 
now be indulged, and if she stands quietly during 
the whole operation, one coitus will ordinarily be 
found sufficient. Indeed, I consider one as pre- 
ferable to a dozen or more. The boar is then to 
be returned to his pen, and the sow to be put in 
another, and there kept apart from all other hogs, 
until she is entirely out of heat. After this she 
may be turned out, and commonly requires no 
other attention, except that she be kept in good 
growing condition. A few days or even a week 
before the expiration of her term, she ought to 
be put up in a good sheltered pen, with a small 
quantity of short litter to make her bed with, and 
then my practice is to feed plentifully, not only 
with solid food, such as corn or meal, moistened 
with water, but with such succulent food as I 
can command at the time. This I find to be a 
certain preventative of that vile and unnatural 
propensity, which some sows have to devour 
their young. When treated in this manner, I 
have never known in any instance a sow to eat 
her pigs. The " after-birth" is always disposed 
of as nature prompts them — they eat it. 

After farrowing, almost the only attention for 
the first two or three weeks is to the sow. The 



pigs during this time are dependent entirely 
upon her for their food. And here let me parti- 
cularly impress it upon all breeders to be very 
sparing of food for several days after bringing 
forth. The creature now, as all other creatures 
in a similar condition, is in a feverish state, and 
a plentiful supply of food, especially of an ex- 
citing nature, would but increase the difficulty. 
Let her be kept on strictly a short allowance, 
until by her clamour and importunity, she mani- 
fests herself to be very hungry, and then } r ou may 
gradually venture upon more plentiful supplies. 
After the first week, there is commonly no risk 
in giving her as much food as she will eat quick 
and with a good appetite. But by all means, 
avoid satiety, and upon the first indication of 
loathing the food, take the whole away, and let 
the next supply be proportionably moderate. 

At from two to three weeks old, the pigs will 
commonly manifest a disposition to begin to eat. 
This ought by all means to be encouraged, for 
by it, you relieve the sow, and in addition to this 
promote the more rapid growth of the pigs. To 
effect this I have tried two plans ; the first was 
to place food (sour milk mixed with meal is very 
good) on the outside of the pen, to which the 
pigs have access, by means of a hole made for 
that purpose; or, secondly, keep the pigs con- 
stantly shut up, and when you wish to feed them 
turn the sow out, for she will not let the pigs eat 
with her. The first plan I have tried, and found 
this objection to it, that the stronger pigs would 
drive away the weaker, and thus my purpose 
was in part frustrated. The latter I am now 
trying, and thus far, though a little more trouble- 
some, I am pleased with it, but the experiment 
has not proceeded far enough for me to speak in 
confidence about it. 

I ought to have remarked earlier, that if after 
farrowing, your young sow brought, forth more 
than^ye pigs, the smaller and more feeble ought 
to be taken from her, so as to reduce them 
down to that number. Four or five thrifty and 
well grown pigs will be worth more at two 
months old, than ten poor meagre ones. And 
then again at weaning, which lakes place at six 
or eight weeks old, if there be a poor and un- 
promising pig, (and this is often the case,) I 
mark him, and he is destined to leave the herd. 
To effect this, 1 have three resources, in one or 
the other of which I have always succeeded. 
The first is to sell him for what I can get, or if 
I fail in this, then to kill and eat him; or if he 
is too poor for this, then to give him away, and 
in the latter I have never yet failed. I have al- 
ready remarked, that five pigs is the extreme 
number that ought to be left with a young sow. 



I will further remark, that 



)w, however 



large, ought to have more than seven. 

At the time of weaning, or even earlier, would 
be better, the males are castrated, and when this 
operation is performed very early, the wound 






THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



215 



soon heals, and the pigs appear to suffer almost 
nothing from it. The sows with me are never 
spayed nor shotted. As a substitute for this 
very disagreeable and even barbarous process, I 
endeavor to make the pigs quite fat at as early 
an age as possible, and when I succeed in this, 
they very rarely show any inclination for the 
boar. If, however, this inclination should ma- 
nifest itself, I indulge them about two months 
before the time of slaughtering ; and I find that 
the young open sow treated in this waj', makes 
just as good meat as thespajred sow or the barrow. 

Weaning is effected by shutting up the pigs 
in their pen for about a week or ten days, in 
which time the sow's milk dries up, and there is 
commonly no more difficulty about it. The pigs 
ought now to be turned out, and suffered to go 
pretty well at large, for neither the pig, nor any 
other young animal, will thrive much in a state 
of constant confinement. This liberty is allow- 
ed them, until they become so large as to be mis- 
chievous ; they are then confined closely to their 
pen, except that they are allowed the use of 
the lane belonging to the piggery, for occasion- 
al exercise. And this continues to be the case 
till they are sold or slaughtered. 

I ought, perhaps, before concluding, to say 
something relative to the diseases of hogs. But 
really I have had so little experience on this sub- 
ject, that I feel very great diffidence in entering 
upon it. Till recently, I never knew what it 
was to have any sickness among my hogs, but 
lately they have been visited with a very fatal 
malady. It is not my intention to give a de- 
scription of this dreadful disease. They who 
are curious on this subject, will find it very ac- 
curately described in the last number of the Far- 
mers' Register, page 554. This disease among 
my hogs, I consider as a judgment justly deserv- 
ed for my carelessness. Sometime ago, I was 
in the habit of keeping ashes mixed with char- 
coal constantly in my hog pens, and as long as 
I did this, my hogs were perfectly free from dis- 
ease. But for six months or more I have neg- 
lected it, and the consequence was, that this fatal 
disease made its appearance among them. After 
trying various remedies, all of which turned out 
ineffectual, I at last resorted to ashes and char- 
coal, and this is the only thing which has made 
the least impression upon it. My hogs are not 
yet well, but are evidently convalescent, as phy- 
sicians say. 

And now, sir, in summing up the whole, you 
will perceive that I lay great stress upon the fol- 
lowing particulars : 

A good thrifty breed of hogs, coming early to 
maturity. 

Good and comfortable accommodations for 
them. 

The number of hogs kept, graduated by the 
amount of food which you have for them, so that 
they may ahoays have an abundance. 



The number of pigs allowed to a sow, re- 
stricted so as never, under any circumstances, to 
exceed seven, and generally below it. 

Getting rid, on some terms or other, of all un- 
promising pigs, so that none but the likely and 
thrifty are kept for store hogs. 

Pushing the pigs when young, so as to get 
them fat early, and then it will not be difficult to 
keep them so. 

"And last though not least," the food to be 
given at regular stated times. 

If you can make up your mind to attend to 
all these particulars with steadiness and perse- 
verance, you will have, or I greatly mistake, 
success in rearing the hog. And now wishing 
you and your readers all possible prosperity, 
I am, &c. J. H. Turner. 



HESSIAN FLY. 

We w T ere struck by an observation made in 
our office, a few days since, by one of the best 
farmers and most extensive wheat growers in 
the state of Virginia. We showed him a sam- 
ple of " fly proof wheat." " Why, says he, the 
Hessian fly is the chief source of my profit. 
By judicious management and high cultivation 
I keep clear of the fly, whilst the slovenly farm- 
ing of my neighbors fosters it, and so keeps up 
the price of wheat. If the fly (laughingly) did 
not kill the wheat, it would be so plenty that it 
would hardly be worth raising. Seriously, if a 
good manager were to look to his own advan- 
tage only, he would dread the day when the 
much talked of remedy for the Hessian fly shall 
be discovered. As a patriot and philanthropist, 
he might rejoice that the great mass would be 
benefitted even at his own expense." 

We are assured, from other sources, that this 
gentleman has, by a system of high cultivation, 
discovered the only remedy that, in our opinion, 
will ever be found for the Hessian fly. We shall 
address ourselves to his, philanthropy ahd patriot- 
ism to make that system public ; although we 
rather suspect that it involves too much industry 
and attention to be generally popular. 



For the Southern Planter. 
PRESERVATION OF TIMBER. 

If we view a horizontal section of an exogenous 
tree, such as the stump of one of our forest trees 
sawed smoothly off,we find it presentinga regular 
arrangement of certain organs, viz. the pith in the 
centre, next to this, concentric layers of ligneous 
matter, exterior to these, the cortex or bark, and 
the medullary rays which pass from the centre 
to the circumference. During the first year of 



216 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



the existence of a tree, the pith is humid, and 
presents a greenish hue, and performs an impor- 
tant role in transmitting the sap for the support 
of the first ligneous layer that is formed around 
it ; as the tree grows, the pith dries, becomes 
white, and ceases to be important. With each 
year of the tree's existence a new ligneous layer 
is formed consisting essentially of woody fibres, 
and the ensemble of these ligneous layers consti- 
tutes what is commonly called the wood of tim- 
ber trees ; the most exterior of these layers are 
known as sap-wood, and is of a lighter color and 
is less solid and less durable than the heart- wood, 
which is found in the central portion of the tree. 
The sap-wood and the bark are the principal 
channels for the conduction of the fluids of a 
tree, and as the lasers of which the sap-wood 
is composed grow older, they cease to act as 
channels, and the sap concretes in their cells and 
intercellular passages, and gradually gives them 
the dark color, and greater solidity, and weight 
of heart- wood. This is very visible in the pine 
tree, and is easily proved by maceration in proper 
acid, and even oak and lignum vitas submitted 
to rough experiments lose their color and pon- 
derosity, and display their fibrous frame as light 
as that of the willow. 

Thus we see the reason of what observation 
and experience has taught us, with regard to the 
importance of selecting a tree with a sufficient 
portion of heart-wood, and the necessity of trim- 
ming off the sap-wood which contains the very 
elements of decay in the shape of the uncon- 
creted fluids ; and thus we may learn, the im- 
portance of cutting trees at those periods of the 
year when they contain the smallest quantity of 
fluids, which periods are mid-winter and mid- 
summer, whilst spring and autumn are to be 
avoided ; as at these seasons great quantity of 
fluids are required either for the development of 
the buds of last year, or for the formation of 
buds to be developed the next year. Heart- 
wood may be kept under water, or in a dry place 
for hundreds of years without suffering any ap- 
preciable change ; but when it is exposed to 
heat and moisture, or is alternately dry and wet, 
or when it is in juxta-position with putrefying 
matter under water, it undergoes decomposition ; 
and since it is often necessary to use timber in 
situations where it is exposed to these causes, 
many efforts have been made, by various per- 
sons, to counteract their effects, but no one seems 
to have been so successful as Mr. Kyan. This 
gentleman was led to suppose from some of his 
experiments, that the decomposition of wood 
was dependant upon albumen, and knowing that 
animal matter was made durable by the combi- 
nation of gelatine and tannin (as in manufac- 
turing leather) he inferred that he could prevent 
the decay of vegetables by combining some- 
thing with its albumen, and he selected for this 
purpose corrosive sublimate, which has fully an- 



swered his purpose — as wood placed in tanks 
and saturated with a solution of this substance, 
is rendered almost indestructable, as far as the 
usual causes of decay are concerned. 

This fluid is absorbed by the vegetable tissue, 
in consequence of one of its properties (thechy- 
groscopicite of the French) of absorbing fluids, 
as is exemplified by a dry tobacco leaf, coming 
in order as it is called, in damp weather, when 
the humid atmosphere comes in contact with if; 
which faculty exists even after the termination 
of vegetable life, as the case of the tobacco leaf 
proves, as well as the moist condition, that dead 
trees and stumps are found in, when they still 
preserve their erect position even. Mr. Caleb 
Cormalt's paper, copied in your last number, has 
induced me to offer you these remarks in confir- 
mation of his views, and afforded me another 
opportunity of signing myself 

A Naturalist. 



The following is extracted from the Boston 
Cultivator. We know nothing of the character 
of the anonymous correspondent, and we are 
generally loth to even quote statements, the va- 
lue of which depends upon the veracity of the 
relator, where there is no guarantee of charac- 
ter. Such communications are always invalida- 
ted by being anonymous. 

In this instance, however, we are inclined to 
think, from our own experience, that the writer 
is, to a certain extent, worthy of credit. We 
have known peas, beans, and potatoes, under 
certain circumstances, planted in the fall with 
considerable success. We should be pleased if 
some of our market gardeners would make some 
experiments for us and report the result — their 
own judgment will guide them in the selection 
of vegetables. If the germinating principle is 
not injured by the winter frosts, they will cer- 
tainly be obtained much earlier than they can 
be had by spring planting, and we have often 
noticed that, as a general principle, early crops 
are the best. 

AUTUMNAL SOWING. 
To the Editor of the Cultivator. 

Much has been said and written of late by 
our agricultural brethren in favor of sowing the 
seeds of several species of vegetables in the fall, 
instead of deferring it, as has usually been the 
practice, until spring. 

To this subject my attention was first directed 
by an article in the Farmers' Cabinet, and as the 
course of practice pointed out appeared to me at 
the time to be both important and feasible, I de- 
termined to "give it a try." From that time, now 
several years since, I have been constantly en- 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



217 



gaged in experimenting- upon seeds of all the 
various descriptions usuall}' sown in this climate 
that are in their nature sufficiently hardy to sur- 
vive uninjured through the chills and frosts' of 
winter. The conclusion to which these experi- 
ments have led, is, that the seeds of many of 
our garden vegetables, usually so denominated, 
invariably do much better, and yield far more 
abundantly when sown in the fall, and further- 
more, that in all cases where the circumstances 
of soil, aspect, and vegetable stimuli are equal, 
the trouble and expense of cultivation, are far 
less under this system, than under the old. 

Every observing farmer must have noticed 
that seeds, accidentally disseminated from seed 
stalks in autumn, and buried beneath the fine 
soil of the surface by the fortuitous agency of 
winds, rains, or frosts, or, indeed, by any other 
cause competent to such a result, are invariably 
developed some weeks sooner than those sown 
in the spring ; and that the "start" which they 
are thus enabled to obtain, secures to the plants, 
not only a superior forwardness through all the 
subsequent periods of their growth, but not un- 
frequently a happy exemption, also, from the 
ravages of the innumerable hosts of insectiverous 
depredators, by which garden vegetables, in a 
less forward state, are so frequently destroyed. 

There are some varieties, however, to which 
this rule will not apply, as the} 7 are too tender 
and fragile in their nature to endure the effects 
of the chilling blasts and frosts of the early 
spring. But the onion, as well as the carrot, 
beet, parsnip, and cabbage, and indeed several 
other kinds of valuable plants, are in no wise 
injured by these causes, and if favored with pro- 
per attention in the after culture, are almost cer- 
tain to experience no detrimental effects there- 
from. It has, however, been recommended by 
some not to sow the seed in the fall, as herein di- 
rected, but to deposite it in bags or boxes in the 
earth, and then sow in the spring. 

But this can only be necessary where the 
grounds are infested by fowls, for as the sowing, 
if performed in autumn, will of course be post- 
poned by every judicious and reflecting person, 
until the ground is just upon the point of "clos- 
ing up," there will be but little if any danger of 
loss from any other causes. And besides, seed 
thus prepared is never so forward as that which 
is exposed to the full action of the earth the pe- 
ricardium of seeds thus buried, during many 
months, having been found, upon examination, to 
be almost as firm and indurated in its texture, as 
when inhumed ; whereas those seeds that have 
had the full benefit of the operations of frost and 
the elastic gases always germinate with the 
greatest rapidity and produce invariably much 
the most healthy plants. 

More than two-thirds, perhaps three-quarters 
of the productions of the earth, from which man 
and beast derive sustenance and support, mav 
Vol.1— 25 



be cultivated in this way. Many of the cereal 
grains, to wit, oats, wheat, barley, and rye, as 
well as potatoes, and indeed, all the numerous 
varieties of turnips, have been so cultiva-'ed, and 
can be again. The florist also may avail him- 
self, to a certain extent and with equal advan- 
tage, of the same rule. It is a practice, in short, 
founded upon the immutable principles of sci- 
ence, and, what is still more confirmative of its 
" philosophy," and feasibility in practice ; it is 
the system which nature herself pursues. 

A Practical Farmer. 
October 1, 1841. 



M'CORMICK'S REAPING MACHINE. 

Col. Edward Smith, of Rockingham, has 
called our attention to a reaping machine, ad- 
vertised and described by Mr. C. H. M'Cormick 
in the Staunton Spectator. Col. Smith we know 
to be a sound, practical man, and understand 
that he is one of the best farmers in the agri- 
cultural county of Rockingham. He speaks 
in high terms of the machine after witnessing 
its operation in the last harvest. The machine 
is described as being extremely simple and dura- 
ble, an easy draught for two horses, which with 
two hands, have cut readily twelve acres in eight 
and a half hours ; saving, it is said, at least a 
bushel more of grain to the acre than can be 
effected by the best cradling. From the testi- 
monials adduced to support the character of this 
machine, we are inclined to entertain a highly 
favorable opinion of its value. We should be 
extremely pleased to see Mr. M'Cormick and his 
reaper on this side of the mountains next season, 

03* The machine, we observe, is furnished at 
the, as it seems to us, extremely low price of 
$100, and warranted to perform as described. 



TINKLER'S PLOUGHS. 
The Editor of the Enquirer concludes a notice 
of the "Planter," indited with his usual cour- 
tesy, with the following request ; 

" Will the Editor in his next be good enough 
to give a complete description of the Tinkler 
plough, its mode of operating, and the soil to 
which it is best adapted f 1 

The Tinkler plough was introduced into this 
region of country by the inventor in the month 
of March, 1841. It soon grew into great favor, 
and is in many respects the best plough we have 
ever seen. Its great excellence consists, we 
think, in the peculiar shape of the mould board, 
which it is impossible, either by word, or an en- 



218 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 






graving, to describe accurately. Attached to 
the point of his plough, Mr. Tinkler has a coul- 
ter of peculiar construction ; it is of cast iron, 
sharp and thin, extending only seven or eight 
inches above the point; consequently, when the 
plough is in the ground, the upper, point of the 
coulter appears just above the surface. Thus, 
by means of the wing and this coulter, the per- 
pendicular and lateral cuts are made with two 
thin sharp instruments, whilst the long and taper 
wedge of the mould board raises and turns the 
slice in the most beautiful manner imaginable. 
This plough never chokes, and turns under weeds 
and clover in a manner much more perfect than 
we hive seen effected by any other implement. 
Besides the peculiarities we have mentioned, in 
one form of Mr. Tinkler's plough, two mould 
boards are united at the heel, in such a manner, 
that whilst one sets upon the ground, the other 
is elevated at an angle of forty-five degrees. A 
common beam revolves upon the centre, so that 



when the ploughman arrives at the end of his 
furrow, he turns his beam, throws his other point 
upon the ground, and goes back down the same 
row. This of course makes a hill side, or right 
and left hand plough ; but this plough Mr. Tink- 
ler prefers for level land ; contending, that the 
additional weight is not regarded by eithei horse 
or ploughman, and that much is gained by pro- 
ceeding up and down, from one side of a field 
to another, without land or water furrows. It 
is true, that in this airangement, one stocking 
answers for two ploughs, but we are inclined to 
doubt, whether this and the other advantage 
claimed by Mr. Tinkler for his rotary plough, 
are not more than counterbalanced by the com- 
plication, and some other disadvantages to which 
this particular form is subject. He has, how- 
ever, testimonials from the best farmers, of its 
| great superiority. For general purposes we 
should prefer the simpler form of his stationary 
plough. 



TRACK ROAD 




6.R.BUCKELEW. 



We present to our readers a view, taken from ; 
the Mechanics' Magazine, of Williams's track 
road. The inventor thus describes the nature 
and advantages of the plan he proposes : 

" It becomes necessary to inquire in what way 
timber, which is so plenty, and appears to last : 
well, can be disposed of to our advantage. My | 
reflections upon this subject have brought me to j 
believe that timber hewn flat and laid in ways i 
or tracks lengthwise of the road, to bear the 
pressure of wheels, would insure the end desired. 
The method that I believe to be the best is to ; 
hew and lay four ways or tracks, two quite flat, 
say one foot on the face, and two furrowed or 
guttered so as to receive the near wheels of all 
wagons and carriages. 



fa 



" These tracks ought to be laid about five feet 
apart from centre to centre. The gutter or fur- 
row made to receive the near wheels of carriages 
should be about three inches deep, and say four 
inches flat in the bottom, the tops being six or 
seven inches open. This would receive the 
wheels of all or most wagons. The centre of 
this track, laid say five feet from the centre of 
its fellow track, which is a foot on the face, 
would give such a diversity of width, that while 
the near wheel is kept in the furrow, the off 
wheel would be on the other track, notwith- 
standing a small diversity in the width which 
exists between the wheels of different wagons. 

" The two near tracks ought to be laid about 
four feet apart, from centre to centre, and gra- 
velled or M'Adamized between them, for what I 






THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



219 



shall call the driver's path. This path would 
accommodate footmen, horsemen, and teamsters, 
or, if thought best, a horseman's path may be 
constructed on each side of the outer or off 
tracks. Four feet for the driver's path, and five 
feet each for the horse paths, together with six 
inches on each side for the surplus widih of the 
outer tracks, make a total width of fifteen feet 
from out to out of the two carriage ways ; eight 
and a half feet on each side would be the width 
of summer road and ditch in a thirty-three feet 
graduation. 

" In case a carriage of speed should overtake 
one of burthen, it will be easy for it to mount over 
the driver's path and run in the left hand track 
until an opportunity appears for it to resume its 
proper one : the driver's path being raised but 
three inches. 

"As to the lastingness of timber thus situated, 
I am of opinion it would be good. The earth 
or clay would completely envelope every stick 
its whole length, except the upper surface, by 
which its native juices would be completely ex- 
tracted, particularly if the timber be large enough 
to cut through the heart." 

This suggestion has been partially adopted ; 
with what success we are not particularly in- 
formed. How economical and advantageous 
such a plan would be for common roads would 
depend somewhat upon the contiguity of timber, 
&c. We should be more afraid than the in- 
ventor seems to be of the wear and tear attend- 
ant upon the constant friction of wheels upon a 
much frequented road. 

Whilst its value for general purposes may be 
somewhat problematical, there can be no doubt 
of its economy in many wet, low places, through 
which much hauling is to be done. We once 
laid such a track through a marsh upon which 
we hauled a large quantity of wood to great 
advantage. 

Upon the Chickahominy, especially, there is 
much valuable timber that is accessible only 
through the low fiats that surround it. Here it is 
only necessary to lay two tracks of flattened trees, 
spiking on them two pieces of three by four 
scantling, so that the width between the pieces 
shall be a little greater than the measurement of 
your wheels from out to out ; thus the wheels 
are kept upon the solid track, and if it is level, 
one horse will pull a cord of wood with the 
greatest ease. If much hauling is to be done, 
it will be better to lay the rails upon a bank, ten 
feet wide, thrown up from ditches on each side. 
Indeed, where much hauling is to be done, as 
of marl, especially over rotten ground, we feel 



assured that this is the best and most economical 
road that can be devised. 

We have no doubt, that upon such a road, 
the mud from the marshes and pocosins of the 
lower country might be hauled upon the upland, 
to great advantage. 



CORN. 



[Dr. Osborne has very kindly furnished us 
with the following letter, read before the Agri- 
cultural Society of Cumberland. We are not 
personally acquainted with Col. Isbell, but un- 
derstand he is just the plain, practical, success- 
ful farmer, whose opinions are most valued where 
he is best known. We would be much obliged 
to the Colonel, if he would favor us with a more 
minute and particular description of his method 
of cultivating his corn crop. Does he not use 
the hoe at all 1 Does he find the product as 
great as where more labor is used, or is it only 
that the difference in product is not equal to the 
difference in labor? Are we right in supposing 
that he objects to a fall fallow, because he wants 
the spring sod, in its decay, to furnish food for 
the young corn ? Answers to these enquiries, 
with any further suggestions to which they may 
give use, are respectfully requested.] 

Willow Banks, Oct. 7ih, 1841. 

Dear Sir, — It was my wish to have joined 
your Agricultural Society to-morrow, but very 
pressing engagements will prevent my doing so ; 
if however the subjoined statement of my mode 
of raising corn be considered worthy of the 
attention of the Society, it is at their service. 
The plan recently adopted by me, and differ ing 
so essentially from all others heretofore practised 
upon is conducted in the following manner : Fal- 
low your land well — carefully turning under all 
turf, and do this in the spring if possible. Har- 
row with light harrows before you plant ; have 
your rows 5 feet 3 inches wide, and 2 feet 3 in- 
ches in the step, lay off with small trowel hoe 
ploughs, not cutting more than 2 inches deep at 
the farthest, so as not to turn up the turf; plant 
early and cultivate quick with single straight 
tooth harrows, seven teeth in each, the frame in 
the form of Y; timber 3 inches square, iron teeth 
1 1-4 inches square, and about 8 inches long. 
Harrow about four times, and la}' by your ciop 
in June. If this method be practicable, and I 
have found it so, its advantages will present 
themselves so apparently as to need no specifi- 
cation. 

Respectfully yours, &c. 

James Isbell. 

To Dr. N. M. Osborne, Stony Point Mills, 
Cumberland, Va. 






220 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION. 

The second exhibition of the Henrico Agri- 
cultural Society came off on the 21st and 22nd 
of October, in the city of Richmond, with great 
eclat. Our narrow limits forbid the extended 
notice of this meeting which our interest in it 
would induce, and which its importance de- 
mands. It is enough to know that the institu- 
tion has realized the expectations of its most 
sanguine friends. Its funds are ample, the exhi- 
bitions interesting, attendance numerous, and 
interest unabating. The first day the Society 
and company met at Bacon's quarter. Here the 
mere looker on found less to interest him than 
usual ; the exhibition of stock was indifferent ; 
indeed, none was to be expected — the fall meet- 
ing is for a different purpose— no premiums were 
offered on any stock except one for the best 
stallion for farming purposes: this was unani- 
mously awarded to a very fine, active, muscular 
bay of Gen. Carrington's, by the imported Cleve- 
land out of a Roanoke mare. The Virginia 
cross has certainly improved the stock ; reducing 
the beef, and condensing the bone and muscle 
of the sire. 

If the sight seeker left the ground disappointed 
in the exhibition of stock, not so the real farmer. 
In the report of the several committees, especial- 
ly that upon farms, he enjoyed a treat of the 
richest character. We wish we had room for 
this excellent report — it is worthy of the source 
from which it emanated. With great discrimi- 
nation and judgment, the hardy laborer, who, 
with his own hand alone, drew from the earth a 
comfortable subsistence for himself and family, 
was selected as the object of the society's second 
premium. This committee exhibited not less of 
taste than discretion in this seeking for examples 
of skill and thrift in the abodes of humble indus- 
try. We must be permitted to quote the follow- 
ing extract from the conclusion of this excellent 
report ; 

" We observed in the course of our examina- 
tion of several farms upon which we have not 
reported many evidences of great industry, di- 
rected without; judgment or skill, and in a great 
degree neutralized, by reason of total ignorance 
of agricultural improvements and the application 
of labor. Still the spirit of industry is there, 
and some have caught the spirit of improvement 
too ; are becoming sensible of the necessity for 
improving their houses and enriching their 
lands j but are uninformed as to the best means 
within their own reach of effecting that object. 



It must seem incredible to those who have not 
witnessed it, that a man with a wife, and eight, 
nine, or ten children to provide for, and who, for 
that end, taxes bis physical powers to the 
utmost, from the beginning to the end of the 
year, should yet be, or appear by his practice to 
be insensible to the inconvenience, discomfort, 
and risk of living in a house whrch has probably 
been occupied by several generations, without 
r epai, and which, with every thing around it, is 
in the most neglected and dilapidated condition. 
Yet such is the fact, and, in many instances, 
with industrious, respectable, and meritorious 
men, who, it would seem, have no conception of 
the importance, and the economy too. of first 
attending to the security and comfort of them- 
selves, and of every thing around them. 

It is not necessary for us to offer a remark 
upon this mistaken and destructive policy — we 
hope to see the influence of the Society applying 
the remedy, wherever there is industry and in- 
telligence for it to act upon. 

In conclusion, we are happy to have it in our 
power to report that, in the course of our exami- 
nations, we had the satisfaction of noticing a 
more general spirit of Agricultural improvement 
than we were aware of There is a fine field 
for the operations of the Society, and every en- 
couragement to perseverance in the cause. But 
there is much to do, and we believe one of the 
great principles of success is to be found in the 
encouragement of a class of cultivators, who, 
heretofore, seem to have been entirely overlooked. 
It is the men who guide their own ploughs, drive 
their own produce to market, and in times of 
danger, shoulder their muskets and take the 
field. 

A distinguished prose writer of our own coun- 
try, satirically remarked of the people of a great 
commercial city of the North — that there, " the 
Lawyer looks clown upon the Merchant, the 
Merchant upon the Grocer, the Grocer upon the 
Green Grocer, and the Green Grocer upon the 
Apple Woman — who don't care a straw about 
any of them. We trust it is not so among us — 
but these sturdy citizens of ours who have as 
much sterling merit and independence of charac- 
ter as any men on earth, who regard with indif- 
ference or contempt the trappings of wealth and 
station, and ask no favor but of the Almighty — 
have been left to drudge on, generation after 
generation, without an effort to improve or to 
aid their agricultural labors. They do not want 
industry, but they want the lights of agricultu- 
ral science and improvement, which the neces- 
sity for constant toil and their own limited 
resources, places beyond their reach, but which 
could so easily be imparted to them by those 
who are favored with knowledge, leisure and 
wealth. 

These, and otherconsiderations which address 
themselves forcibly to the patriotism and liberals 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



221 



ty of our more favored people, this Committee 
would, if in their power, most earnestly endeavor 
to impress upon the wealth and intelligence of 
our old mother Virginia, throughout her extended 
borders. Give our people the lights of practical 
knowledge, improve our system of education, 
our agriculture and our mechanic arts, and the 
Old Dominion will once more be in the ascendant. 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Farm 
Committee. 

Wm. H. Richardson, Chrrtn. 

October 20, 1841." 

After the distribution of the premiums, the 
Society adjourned to the meadow to witness a 
ploughing exhibition. We saw here some 
highly finished and good looking ploughs, manu- 
factured by the celebrated Prouty & Mears, 
exhibited by Mr. Howard ; also some equally 
in appearance, exhibited by Messrs. Gretter & 
Peake, from the factory of Ruggles, Nourse & 
Mason. Mr. Tinkler was also on the ground 
with his celebrated plough, and Mr. Palmer 
appeared with his, that is too well known here- 
abouts, at least to need any further proof of its 
merits. But the ploughing match was absolute- 
ly nothing. There was no dynamometer to 
measure the draught, and the work was done 
upon a clear sod, over a light sub-soil, where 
any plough would do pretty work — consequently 
it all looked well, but it afforded no real test of 
the respective merits of the implements. One 
thing though we took great pleasure in noticing, 
the skill exhibited by one of the ploughmen; 
this was a negro man in the employment of Mr. 
Goddin ; his furrows were as straight as an 
arrow, and his judgment in managing his team 
and his plough entitled him to a premium — he 
is worthy of this notice at least. We should 
like to see Hicks matched against any plough 
man, black or white, north or south. We think 
they would have to confess, " Old Virginia is 
hard to beat." 

The second day the exhibition of domestic 
manufactures excited great interest ; every body 
argued from the first display the most brillant 
success in this department. We were lost in 
the mazes of counterpanes, comforts, and wollen 
stockings; but when we came to the depart- 
ment of the mechanic arts, we were a little 
more at home. The display of agricultural 
and other implements from the workshop of Mr. 
John Hitchcock would have done honor to 
Niblo's itself. Our farmers were delighted to 
find that they could be supplied with such im- 
plements by our own citizens, and many were 



proud to carry home these beautiful specimens 
of domestic manufacture. But what pleased us 
most of all, was the specimens of superb work- 
manship, in the shape of grates furnished by 
Mr. Samuel Denoon, entirely the product of 
negroes in his employment. Here was a prac- 
tical refutation of the doctrine, that negro labor 
is unfitted for the best systems of agriculture ; 
that they cannot be taught the arts necessary to 
a perfect system of husbandry : let such cavil- 
ers and unbelievers exercise the same patient 
industry in teaching their operatives, that Mr. 
Denoon h s bestowed on his, and they will 
find that the class that can produce such beau- 
tiful specimens of iron work, are capable of 
learning any of the more simple aits of hus- 
bandry. 

This article is already much longer than our 
wont, and we are compelled, for want of room, 
to omit much that is worthy of notice. We 
say to our readers, come next spring and judge 
for yourselves. The agricultural spirit that will 
be excited, will be worth more than ten times the 
cost of the trip. We see and feel that the ori- 
ginators of this Society, by the example they 
have set, by the energy and zeal that they 
manifest, are doing more for agriculture and 
human improvement, than the whole race of 
politicians for the last twenty years. 



CORN. 

[We would call the attention of corn grow- 
ers to the variety cultivated by Mr. I. H. Goddin 
in this neighborhood, and so highly recom- 
mended by the Farm Committee of the Henrico 
Agricultural Society. Specimens may be seen 
in the windows of Mr. Howard's agricultural 
store, where the seeds may be obtained — price 
$5 00 a barrel.] 



GRASSES. 

[A valued friend called on us a day or two 
since with two specimens of grass, which he 
thought might prove interesting to the agricul- 
tural public. The fiist was obtained from the 
farm of Capt. Meriwether, in Albemarle, who 
esteems it very highly ; he considers it very 
superior as a hay to either herds grass or timo- 
thy. It grows very luxuriantly, and seems 
admirably adapted to the soil and climate of 
Albemarle. For farther particulars he referred 
us to Capt. Meriwether, himself; from whom we 
should be much pleased to hear upon this or any 
other subject. The specimen is preserved at 
our office, and is worthy the inspection of the 
curious. 

The other specimen made its appearance in 



222 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



the garden of our visitant two or three years 
ago, and grows very luxuriantly. Its appear- 
ance is singular, and we should be very far from 
indulging any very sanguine expectations of its 
value as a hay.] 

AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT. 

We have been highly gratified in noticing 
the march of agricultural improvement, as evi- 
denced by the increase in our good city of 
establishments to supply the wants of the far- 
mer. Mr. Palmer, whose old stand has been 
long and favorably known to the public, has 
brushed up and enlarged prodigiously. Messrs. 
Gretter & Peake have united with their grocery 
establishment a large assortment of agricultural 
implements, and our friend Mr. E. C. Howard 
has lately opened, at the corner above the Banks, 
a select assortment of seeds and implements. 
These with our own small collection, to say 
nothing of the manufacturing establishments of 
Messrs. Parker & Spencer, afford facilities to 
the Virginia farmer, which should render it un- 
necessary for him to go out of his native state to 
supply all of his professional wants at least. 

Much of this agricultural spirit hereabouts 
has been the offspring of the Henrico Agricul- 
tural Society. We sincerely hope, that the 
same means generally adopted, will extend it 
from one end of the state to the other. 



THE ADDRESS. 
Mr. Turner delighted a large audience with 
the short and pithy address, delivered before the 
Henrico Agricultural Society on the second day 
of its exhibition. The Parson's genuine humor 
and polished wit, render him eminently fitted for 
the delivery of a popular address. It is seldom 
that his hearers fail to be instructed by his sound 
reasoning and amused with his lively pleasantry. 
Amongst his other conceits, he maintained that 
Eden was a farm instead of a garden, and con- 
sequently that Adam was a farmer, and that his 
great success was attributable to the smallness 
of his farm, and the goodness of the farmer's 
wife. 



MISCELLANY 



THE FARMER. 

BY WILLIAM HOWITT. 

There is no class of men, if times are but to- 
lerably good, that enjoy themselves so highly as 
farmers. They are little kings. Their concerns 
are not huddled into a corner as those of a town 
tradesman are. In town, many a man who turns 
thousands of pounds per week, is hemmed in 
close by buildings, and cuts no figure at all. A 
narrow shop, a contracted warehouse, without 
an inch of room besides to turn him in, on any 



or four pair of dirty stairs, is all the room that 
the wealthy tradesman can often bless himself 
with : and then, day after day, month after 
month, year after year, he is to be found, like a 
bat in a hole of a wall, or a toad in the heart of 
a stone, or of an oak tree. Spring and sum- 
mer, and autumn, go round : sunshine and flow- 
ers spread over the world ; the sweetest breezes 
blow, the sweetest waters murmur along the 
vales, but they are all lost upon him ; he is the 
doleful prisoner of Mammon, and so he lives and 
dies. The farmer would not take the wealth of 
the world on such terms. His concerns, how- 
ever small, spread themselves out in a pleasant 
amplitude, both to his eye and heart. His house 
stands in its own stately solitude ; his outhouses 
stand round extensively, without any stubborn 
and limiting contraction ; his acres stretch over 
hill and dale ; there his flocks and herds are 
feeding ; there his laborers are toiling — he is 
king and sole commander there. He lives 
amongst the purest air and the most delicious 
quiet. * * Ample old fashioned kitchens, 
with their chimney corners of the true project- 
ing-beamed and seated construction, still remain- 
ing ; blazing fires in winter, shining on sus- 
pended hams and flitches, guns supported on 
hooks above, dogs basking on the heart h below ; 
cool, shady parlors in summer, with open win- 
dows, and odors from garden and shrubbery 
blowing in ; gardens wet with purest dews, and 
humming at noontide with bees ; and green 
fields and verdurous trees, or deep woodlands 
lying all round, where a hundred rejoicing voices 
of birds or other creatures are heard, and winds 
blow to and fro, full of health and life enjoyment. 
How enviable do such places seem to the fretted 
spirits of towns, who are compelled not only to 
bear their burthen of cares, but to enter daily 
into the public strife against selfish evil and ever- 
spreading corruption. When one calls to mind 
the simple abundance of farm-houses, their rich 
cream and milk, unadulterated butter, and bread 
grown upon their own lands, sweet as that 
which Christ broke, and blessed as he gave to 
his disciples ; their fruits ripe and fresh plucked 
from the sunny wall, or the garden bed, or the 
pleasant old orchard ; when one casts one's eye 
upon, or calls to one's memory the aspect of 
these houses, many of them so antiquely pic- 
turesque, or so bright, looking and comfortable, 
in deep retired valleys, by beautiful streams, or 
amongst fragrant woodlands, one cannot help 
saying with King James of Scotland, when he 
met Johnny Armstrong: — "What want these 
men that a kins: should have 1 ?" 



HANGING JUDGE. 
Counseller Grady, on a trial in Ireland, said, 
he recollected to have heard of a relentless 
hand; without a yard, stable, or an outhouse of i Judge ; he was known by the name of the 
any description ; perhaps hoisted aloft, up three I Hanging Judge, and was never seen to shed a 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



223 



tear but once, and that was during the represen- 
tation of The Beggar's Opera, when Macbeth 
got a reprieve! 

It was the same Judge, we believe, between 
whom and Mr. Curran, the following pass of 
wit once took place at table. "Pray, Mr. Cur- 
ran," said the Judge, " is that hung beef beside 
you? If it is, I will try it." " U you try it, 
my lord," replied Mr. Curran, " it is sure to be 
huntr." 




TO THE READER. 

We once again present ourselves before our 
readers in our individual capacity. This is the 
tenth No. of our little work : for the sake of 
closing with the year we shall publish the two 
last numbers together in the ensuing month, and 
taking time by the forelock, we will beg those of 
our friends who are satisfied with our endeavors 
to please them, to renew their subscriptions at 
once. We should like to form some idea by the 
first of January, as to what number of copies it 
will be advisable for us to print for the coming 
year. To the patrons of the present Volume 
we return our sincere thanks. We started the 
Planter without a subscriber in the world, satis- 
fied that if we did our part, the public would do 
theirs. We formed no sanguine anticipations of 
the first year's success. W T e knew how natural 
it was for the public, in such a case, to require 
one year of probation at least. We offered the 
income to the printer, if he would bear the ex- 
pense, but he was not soft enough to accept the 
proposition. We commenced with an edition of 
twelve hundred, which we have increased to 
three thousand. Notwithstanding all the em- 
barrassments of a beginning, we shall clear two 
hundred dollars for our year's labor. Let not the 
reader smile at our triumphant boast. The 
pioneer in such an undertaking will assure him 
that this is to be reckoned the most distinguished 
success, and we are highly gratified at the 
result. 

But although this is doing remarkably well for 
the first year, it would not answer quite so well 
for the second. We have endeavored to do our 
part. We have been gratified with the most 
substantial and flattering testimonials that the 
public were satisfied. We will promise that the 
Planter shall not deteriorate ; indeed, it will go 
hard, if increased experience should not better 
its condition. Without meaning to arrogate 



any thing to ourselves, except untiring industry, 
and the most zealous devotion to the cause in 
which we are embarked, we think we can un- 
dertake, if our subscription list shall justify it, to 
furnish a paper not surpassed by any in this 
Union, if we can afford to go abroad and visit 
the best farmers in Virginia, witness their system 
of management, learn their modes of cultivation, 
gather and compare their opinions, we do not 
doubt we could collect a fund of information, 
that would render the columns of the Planter 
equal to any paper published in America. But 
this plan requires an abandonment of all other 
pursuits, and an entire reliance upon our paper. 
Of course it requires a great increase of our 
subscription list: will our friends, who concur 
with us in the value of such a course, help us to 
that increase? Let each man bestir himself in 
his own neighborhood. If every subscriber 
would only add another to his name, we should 
be satisfied. 

Depend upon it a reliance upon communica- 
tions will not do. Those who are best able to 
afford information have often least inclination to 
write. In the words of a friend who called on 
us a few days since, it frequently happens that 
those who write most, plough least. We have 
sought communications, in vain, from some of 
the most enlightened farmers in the state ; they 
will tell you any thing but they will write 
nothing. Indeed to collect and condense is the 
labor for which the Editor is paid, and it is a 
burden that he too frequently devolves upon his 
correspondents. 

In conclusion, we say, that if the public will 
make it an object for us to devote our sole atten- 
tion to the " Planter," we will endeavor to make 
it worthy of their patronage. 

Of course, the twelve numbers are all that 
will be sent without the remission of another 
dollar. We open a new list for the second vol- 
ume, and no name will be enrolled without an 
advance of the subscription. Obvious necessity 
justifies a strict adherence to this rule. 

We would beg our friends to remember in 
transmitting their subscriptions, that any Post 
Master will frank the letter, and thereby save 
the postage to both of us. 



We are happy to announce that we have re- 
ceived another article from Mr. Morris on the 
curing of Tobacco, which we are obliged to 
defer to our next, for want of an engraving 
which will accompany it. 



We hope that the length of our opening arti- 
cle will not induce the fear that we are relaxing 
in our labors, or that we mean to treat our read- 
ers to long and tedious essays. We copied Dr. 
Darlington's treatise, not to be read, but to be 
referred to. Its value constitutes the best apology 
for its insertion. 



22"4 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER: 



Richmond Markets, November 15,1841, 



Butter — Mountain butter, wholesale, 12 1-2 
a 16 cts. for firkin ; 20 cts. for roll. 

Cattle Market — Cattle on the hoof, $5 a 
$7 per hundred pounds, according to quality ; 
Rough Fat, 5 a 7 cts. per lb. Mutton, $3 a $6, 
according to quality. 

Fish— Mackerel, No. 3, $7. Herrings, No. 
1, N. C, $3 50; No. 2, $3; Potomac cut, 
$3 25. Shad, $8 50 per bbl. 

Flour — Receipts are still small — sales at 
$6. City Mills is held at $7 50. 

Grain— Wheat, $1 20 a $1 25 for red and 
white of the better qualities. Corn — sales at 65 
cts. per bushel. Oats — much wanted, and good 
parcels would bring 45 cts. 

Hides — Green, 5 cts. per lb. ; Spanish, 15 a 
16. 

Iron— Pig, $25 to $35 ; Swedes, $100 per 
ton; English, 85 to 90; Tredegar, (Richmond 
manufactory,) 90; Up Country bar, 75 a 80. 

Lumber — Clear white pine, $36 ; refuse 
clear, 32 ; merchantable, 22 ; refuse last sale at 
14 ; flooring 15 a 25 per M. 

Lime — $1, and dull — none now afloat. 

Meal — 70 cts. per bushel. 

Provisions — Bacon — Smithfield, 7 a 7 1-2, 
hog round ; Western sides, 4 1-2 a 5 1-2 ; shoul- 
ders 2 a 4 cents. Lard — 7 1-2 a 8. Stock of 
Bacon and Lard good, and demand falling off. 

Plaster — Last sales at $3 25 at Rocketts. 

Sugars — New Orleans, 7 a 8 1-2, sales ; 
Porto Rico, 7 1-2 a 9 ; St. Croix, 9 a 11. 

Salt — $2 per sack. 

Soap — For brown, 4 a 6 cts. per lb. ; white 
and variegated, 12 a 14. 

Steel — American blistered, $135 to 140 per 
ton. 

Shot — 6 cents, wholesale. 

Tobacco — But little doing at our inspections. 
The new crop begins to appear in loose state — 
sales of such range from $1 to $5 25; general 
sales 3 a 3 75 and 4. 

Teas — Imperial and Gunpowder, 80 cts. a 
$1 05 per lb. ; Black 45 a 60 cts. 

Whiskey — Very dull, and prices unsettled. 
We quote hhds. 25 cts. ; bbls. 26 cts. 
FREIGHTS. 

Foreign — Rates to London, 35s. and to Li- 
verpool, 30s. Continent, 30s. a 32s. 6d. 

New York — Flour, per bbl. 25 cts. — very 
little going. Coal, 6 1-2 cts. per bushel. To- 
bacco, $2 50 per hhd., boxes 20 cts., kegs 25 cts. 

Philadelphia — Flour, none going. Tobac- 
co, $2 50 per hhd., 20 cts. for boxes, 25 for 
kegs — none going. Coal, 7 cts. per bushel, 
Richmond measure. 

On the Canal — To Lynchburg and inter- 
mediate places, 10 cts. per 100 lbs. 
EXCHANGE. 

Foreign — On London, 14 1-2 per cent prem. 



Domestic — New York Checks; 4 1*2 pre- 
mium. 

Philadelphia, 1 1-4 a 1 1-2 prem. 
Baltimore, 2 a 2 1-2 prem. 
North Carolina Bank Notes par. 

Do. do. do. under $10, 2 1-2 dis. 

South Carolina, par a 2 prem. 
Savannah, 2 discount. 
Augusta, par a 1 discount. 
Alabama, 6 discount. 
Tennessee, 9 discount. 
Specie, 3 a 4 prem. 



CONTENTS OF NO. X. 

Agricultural Botany — Dr. Darlington's list of I 
common plants, p. 201. 

Economy of Labor — As manifested in English 
husbandry, p. 207. 

Brewer's Grains — Good manure, 208. 

Manures— Table of published, 208. 

Ploughing — Value of in drought, p. 208. 

Trenching — The advantage of turning up new 
soil, p. 109: 

Vineyards — Manured with their own offal, p. 
210. 

Epidemic — Prevailing amongst the cattle of( 
Europe, p. 210. 

Warts — On cows. To cure, p. 210. 

Wounds in Trees — How to heal, p. 210. 

Laborers — Difference between American and 
English, p. 210. 

Moris Agricultural Furnace — Highly recom- 
mended, p. 211. 

Potatoes — Seed should be changed, p. 211. 

Bran — Valuable as manure for wheat, p. 212. 

The Ladies — Their privileges and duties, p. 
212. 

Irrigation — Opportunities for should be im- 
proved, p. 213. 

Turnip Fly — Avoided only by careful cultiva- 
tion, p. 213. 

Seeds — Southern ripen earlier than northern, 
p. 213. 

The Hog — Treatise on, by Rev. J. H. Turner, 
p. 214. 

Hessian Fly — New remedy for, p. 215. 

Timber — Nature of sap and heart, p. 215. 

Seeds — Full sowing recommended, p. 216. 

Threshing Machine — McCormick's described, 
p. 217. 

Tinkler's Plough — Described and recommend- 
ed, p. 217. 

Track Road — Williams' described, p. 218. 

Corn — Mr. Isbell's mode of cultivating, p. 219. 

Exhibition — Of the Henrico Agricultural So- 
ciety, for the fall of 1841, p. 220. 

Corn — Mr. I. A. Goddin's noticed, p. 221. 

Grasses — Nolice of two varieties, p. 221. 

Address— Of J. H. Turner noticed, p. 222. 

Agricultural Improvement — New establish- 
ments in Richmond noticed, p. 222.