Digitized by the Internet Archive 

in 2012 with funding from 

LYRASIS Members and Sloan Foundation 



http://archive.org/details/southernplanterd117sout 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 

IBeboteU to agriculture, ffiortfcultunr, nn% the ffiouseliol* &vts. 



Agriculture is the 'nursing mother of the 1 
Arts. — Xenophon. 1 


Tillage and Pasturage are the two breasts 
of the State— Sully. 


Vol. XT'. . RICHMOND, 


JULY, 1851. No. 7. 


FRANK: G. RUFFIN, Editor. 


P. D. BERNARD, Proprietor. 



TO THE PATRONS OF THE PLANTER, i 

Frank: G. Ruffin, Esq. of Albemarle, with | 
this number, assumes the editorial conduct of 
the Planter. The Proprietor, being convinced 
that a person who could speak from observation 
and experience upon the subjects that might 
come before him, was the best qualified to con- j 
duct an agricultural journal, congratulates the I 
readifrs of the" Planter that he has secured the 
services of one so eminently fitted in these re- j 
spects for the position. Mr. R. is a practical! 
farmer, and well known as one of the most I 
successful tillers of the soil in the State, and 
•will be able to bring a large amount of practi- 
cal knowledge to the discharge of his duties. 

The Proprietor contemplates some impor- 
tant improvements, if the agricultural interest 
will second him by their aid— and he hopes, 
with the valuable assistance of the new editor, 
to make the Southern Planter a journal worthy 
the cordial support of the farming community 
of Virginia and the South. 

Below is Mr. Rufhn's Address, in which he 
states his designs, to which the attention of 
the reader is particularly called. 

By a recent arrangement with Mr. P. D. 
Bernard, the Proprietor of the Southern Plan- 
ter, I have become its Editor. I have assumed 
this office on very short notice, at the busiest 
season of the year, when corn, tobacco, hay 
and wheat, all call for our close and constant 
attention. Myself, a practical farmer, living 
upon and by the soil, I offer the demands of 
those crops upon my time as some excuse for 
the faults of this number of the Planter. The 
cause of its general defects lies, I fear, much 
deeper, and is to be found in the little favor 
that this paper has had at the hands of the 
farmers of Virginia. Saying nothing of my 
own merits or demerits, one way or the other, 
I may be allowed to regret that of the many 
Vol. XL— 7. 



farmers in Virginia who adorn their profession, 
there should be few so willing to communi- 
cate to their fellows in what manner they have 
made it profitable, and themselves independent 
and respected. I know the common excuses 
that they have noihing to write about, and 
that they don't know how to write; have heard 
them long ago, and combatted them long be- 
fore it ever occurred to me that I should have 
this particular interest in doing so. Such ex- 
cuses are childish, unworthy the men who 
make them; and they know it. That which 
forms the business of nine-tenths of the men 
of Virginia must have something in it to write 
about. Wantof capacity has nothingtodowith 
their silence: nor, as some think, want of in- 
dustry. Taken as a body, I firmly believe, 
and thank God that 1 can believe, that the 
farmers of the commonwealth of Virginia in 
these two requisites of success, compare with 
any people in the United States; that they 
have intelligence equal to any undertaking 
within their sphere; and an amount of energy 
that is not dreamed of by those who do no' 
know with what obstacles they have to con- 
tend. A thorough Virginian myself, I honor 
my countrymen because I know them. But 
they have two great defects, pride, and, her 
daughter, pretension; and they are at the bot- 
tom in this matter. Unpractised in composi- 
tion, as most of them are, they know that they 
cannot write with the ease and mellifluence of 
professed authors, and fear that others will 
discover it and deride them. They forget that 
strength, not grace, sholud characterize the 
farmer, that plainness and directness form the 
groundwork of his whole character, and that 
polish would be out of place in writings which 
should exhibit only manly vigor. In these 
qualities they abound: and these, let me say, 
are all that the public want at their hands. 
Plain facts plainly narrated, and speculations 
and theories clearly stated, are conditions 



& --> y-»^ *&-^s?s&mrj' / /f 



194 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



within the reach of every dear-headed man, 
and will fill the requirements of the commu- 
nity, as they should the aspirations of the con- 
tributor. The name of John Taylor, of Ca- 
roline, stands high on the roll of the eminent 
farmers of Virginia; no one disputes his fame: 
and yet his style was "harsh and rugged," 
but full of matter. 

I do my brethren of the plough the justice 
to suppose that they desire to see a Virginia 
paper which shall represent the ability and 
the dignity of their profession; and which 
shall, at the same time, set forth and satisfy 
the wants of Virginia agriculture; that they 
have very warm and decided feelings on 
this subject, and would, if solicited, cheerfully 
make pecuniary contributions to this end. — 
But I must tell them that this is not all; that 
v/e nee-' nerves as well as sinews; and that it 
they individually shall not work and write fur 
their own paper, and that voluntarily, that no 
one man, how great soever his ability, can 
keep it up unless he makes a speculation of it ', 
and fleeces, whilst he instructs, his readers. 

The very pride which forbids them to write 
should, if properly directed, induce them to 
do it, that they may exhibit to the world our 
skill and our success; the ad/aniages of our 
climate, institutions, soils, natural resources, 
and all those things which comprise the ele- 
ments of an empire; and that they may aid 
in dispelling the errors which prevail in many 
quarters as to our true condition. 

Another reason of the defects of this paper 
is the want of public spirit among our farmers. 
At the North, where combination is the order 
of the day, and is likely, whether for weal or 
wo, to carry all before it, the spirit of associa- 
tion pervades the agricultural interest, and ma- 
nifests its results in many ways, all tending 
to in/rease the products of land and the power 
of landlords. Its force is perfectly understood, 
and the use of it has enabled agriculture to 
keep pace with the strides of other trades and 
arts, and to preserve some influence in the go- 
vernment. But here, among the farmers o; 
Virginia, where this principle cannot obtain 
the mastery for a long time, and cannot, there 
fore, in our own class be perverted to our in 
jury, and where it has long been used against 
us by capital, and the mechanical pursuits 
we refuse to employ it, and endure a degree 



of isolation, not only in .sections, but among 
the individual farmers, which is any thing but 
favorable to agricultural advancement, whe- 
ther in wealth or power. There, by means of 
this principle, intelligence is conveyed, through 
well supported farm journals, to every mem- 
her of the class; who is at liberty to avail 
himself of it as common property. Here, for 
want of this means of communication, the 
march of improvement is slcv compared with 
what it might re; and our knowledge of each 
other's habits and practices is imperfectly ac- 
quired, either from vague rumor and report, 
or through the medium of these same Northern 
journals. In like manner we get our ideas of 
the literature and science of agriculture, and 
of the improvements that are made in it, from 
papers wrjich cannot know what is adapted to 
our condition. What wonder, then, if we are 
ignorant of many things which it behooves us 
to know? and especially that we are such 
strangers to each other that Loudoun and Fau- 
quier, in an agricultural point of view, are 
as remote from Charlotte and Halifax as from 
Western New York or Northern Mississippi? 
Is this right? Is it creditable to our patri- 
otism? Is it wise in us to permit such a state 
of things to continue, now that a neto force is to 
be introduced into our political system, and a new 
machinery to be put in operation, requiring 
that we should be prepared to resist those who 
in such a government always live by assault- 
ing property. 

In every State in the Union, save the very- 
newest, are one or more agricultural papers. 
In the North and West we think there is not 
a solitary exception. In Massachusetts, where 
agriculture is a secondary object, and their 
bread and meat is imported in great quantity 
from other States, there are t«o or 'hree agri- 
cultural papers of some years' standing. And 



so of every New hlngland State exct-pt, per- 
haps, Rhode Island. In New York, also, 
there are several ably conducted papers, three 
of which, the Cultivator, the Genesee Far- 
mer, and the Working Farmer, receive a large 
• upport, not only at home, tut with us. Jt was 
only a short while ago that one of these, the 
Genesee Farmer, wrote an aiticle on the im- 
nrovement of Virginia lands for "its mime- 
ous readers in Virginia,' and in the same 
number stated that the number of subscribers 



f 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



195 



are 
n Vir- 



to the paper had been nearly doubled by "the 
exertions of voluntary and unpaid agents-," and 
that the list contained "more than thirty-five 
thousand regular subscribers." It is true that 
some of these Northern papers are able, and I 
do not know of one that is not worth its subscrip- 
tion price; for I hold that any twelve numbers 
of this kind of paper are worth the money 
asked for them. I really wish to see them 
taken and read, because they stimulate to re- 
flection. But I cannot help thinking that it 
would be money not entirely thrown away, if 
as much support in money and writing, (being 
that much in addition to the present quantity 
applied to such purposes,) were applied to a 
paper within the limits of this State, as is now 
spent on those without them. As it is, the pau- 
city of its original matter is pretty fairly in- 
stanced in the present number, and we 
ashamed to say that the only journal 
ginia devoted exclusively to the farming in- 
terest, has only about nineteen hundred sub- 
scribers; that of these only about twelve hun- 
dred pay up punctually, and only about sixteen 
hundred pay up at all. 

It is obvious that a paper thus inadequately 
sustained can only drag on a sickly existence, 
and can never become what the wants of the 
State demand. Indeed, in that respect I am 
free to say that I/io not think the Planter the 
sort of paper best calculated to promote pro- 
gress in agriculture. Such a publication as 
the Farmers' Register, was, in my opinion, far 
better. It appealed to a different class of 
' readers, to men better able, for many reasons, 
to introduce reforms, to overcome prejudices 
and correct bad habits. But its fate warns 
against a similar adventure now; and no effort 
will be made to convert this paper into any 
thing like that, however desirable such a 
change might be to the more enlightened agri- 
culturist. But if, in future, more encourage- 
ment shall be extended to the Planter, I am 
authorized to say that it will be issued more 
frequently, or be enlarged in size, so as to cor- 
respond with its patronage. It will also be 
more comprehensive in its character and some- 
what higher in its aim. But nothing of all 
this can be done now. The Proprietor's means 
are limited, and he is not disposed to risk them 
in an underiaking which may not receive more 
favor than the public have heretofore shown 
to the Southern Planter. 
7g 



For myself I can only engage to do what 
I may conceive to be my duty as an Editor. 
I am not insensible to its responsibilities, nor 
disposed to abuse its privileges. If the pros- 
pects of the paper, and my own remuneration, 
mainly contingent thereon, shall justify it, I 
hope to be able to visit most of Virginia in 
person, and to become acquainted with the 
lands and the men who till them. And if I 
should fail to give satisfaction 10 the public 
there is nothing in my engagement with Mr. 
Bernard to prevent my withdrawing to make 
way for a more acceptable Editor, which, in 
such an event, I pledge myself to do at once. 
Frank: G. Ruffin, 
Shadwell, Albemarle. 



THE JOINT WORM. 

It is known to a good many of our readers that 
a new and most destructive enemy to wheat 
has appeared under the above name. Many 
crops in Albemarle are hardly worth cutting 
in consequence of its attacks, and all that we 
have seen or heard of, except one, are badly 
hurt by it. In the area it has traversed, and 
the completeness of its devastation within it, 
it has no rival amongst insects in this country. 
The dreaded Hessian fly is nothing to it; and 
no atmospheric calamity can pretend to a 
comparison. It sweeps whole districts. Be- 
sides Albemarle, it exists in Orange, (J.eene, 
Madison, parts of Louisa and Fluvanna, and 
in Augusta, Rockingham and Page counties; 
and every where, we hear, has done great 
damage, and it is feared will do much more 
before it is checked, or destroyed. 

An intelligent and observing friend has 
given us the following account of its appear- 
ance and habits, as far as he has been able to 
discover them: 



"It commerces its work of destruction the 
first warm spell in the spring, and, unlike the 
locust or the musquito hawk of the South, 
does not make its appearance suddenly, or in 
a few days, but continues to come 'from the 
last of March to the latter part of May. If 
you will examine the old wheat stubble during 
this period you will find them in their cells; 
about the joint, some in the form of maggots, 
and others in the more advanced stage of 
something like a gnat, with a small, slender, 
black body, about one-sixth of an inch long, 
supplied with very delicate, transparent wings, 



196 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



and having towards its hinder end two very 
frail and slender filaments or haits, about one- 
third of an inch in length, and most fancifully 
turned up when it is in lull life and vigor, and 
*re,'tilarly in for it.' Its lower extremities are 
armed with a sort of proboscis, or tube, with 
which it pierces the stalk near a joint where 
a blade has put out, and through which, after 
this operation, it ejects its egg. This cannot 
be seen for sometime with the naked eye, be- 
ing just the color of the plant wherein it is 
deposited ; but after a few weeks it is discerni- 
ble in the form of a minute worm, about one- 
sixteenth of an inch long. The wounded plant 
in attempting to heal itself throws out a lump 
or knot which forms a snug house for the little 
devil, and here he remains in a dormant state, I 
growing as the wheat grows, and quietly await- 
ing another crop and warm spring weather, 
when he emerges to commence his work of 
devastation. In these knots there are always 
several worms, frequently as many as ten or 
more, each occupying a distinct chamber. I 
have been unable, alter diligent search, to find 
any trace of this worm except in wheat and 
rye. I had heard that it would attack cheat, 
but think it a mistake. This spring the parent 
insects passed from mv last vear's stubble 
field through, or over, a fine lot of cheat without 
leaving a trace of their iransit, and through 
my rye, (Multicole variety,) touching that very 
lightly, — I should suppose, not more than one 
stalk in many thousands,— into the wheat, 
which they have so completely destroyed that 
it will not be worth cutting. This is all I 
know about the joint worm, and I have no 
wish for a more intimate acquaintance. I 
shall most assuredly cultivate, no more wheat 
for his 'use and benefit.' 

"You say, what will T do. I answer, sow 
mor* oats and rye; make large crops of to- 
bacco, and wait until the worm is destroyed 
or expelled." 

I 

We hope that this account may meet the 

eye of some one who can throw further light 
upon the subject. Perhaps Dr. Gideon Smith, 
of Baltimore, can do it. We have heard that 
some such thing existed a few years since in 
Dutchess county, New York, compelling the 
farmers there to give up the culture of wheat 
for a few years. Our contemporary, the Al- 
bany Cultivator, can, no doubt, inform us if 
this be the fact, and we will thank him to do 
so. 

The symptoms of joint worm are peculiar. 
Every cow and then it is deposited in the joint 
next below the head, which shortly thereafter 
bends, at an angle to the balance of the stem, 
and lies across the general perpem icular — 
Comparatively few are thus affected, but they 
are easily descried, and evidence the more 



serious, though at first less palpable, damage 
done to the balance of the stalks. These re- 
tain their attitude, but become very much 
"scdged" as we term it, looking much worse 
than any fly-eaten wheat. The under'ing 
heads never rise, fill imperfectly, always too 
late for the balance of the crop, and many of 
them cannot escape from "the boot." 

It is thought by some that this insect has 
existed here for some time, and has become 
conspicuous of late from accidental causes. 
A gentleman whose crop was among the first 
to suffer from it, about three years ago, says 
that he has known and observed it for ten 
years. Another has had it on his land for five 
years. An old man in ihe county of Louisa 
recollects to have seen or heard of it in that 
county many years back; and we have un- 
derstood that a gentleman on the lower James 
says that more or less of it exists in wheat 
every year; that he has often seen it; but 
never in such force as it appears in Albe- 
marle and other places. It takes about three 
years from its first general appearance to get 
into full blast, and its rate of annual progress 
is estimated at twenty miles, radiating in all 
directions. It is said to have extended as far 
down the country alrpady as Beaver Dam 
creek in the county of Goochland. If it be 
there now the farmers in that region may cal- 
culate with some certainty upon its reappear- 
ance and increase. 

We do not partake of the belief entertained 
by our community as to the continuance of 
this worm, vr the damage it is destined to do. 
The first appearance of the chinch bug ex- 
cited similar apprehensions; and eminent men 
indulged in speculations of famine to be pro- 
duced by it. But the chinch bug now does 
but little harm. Independent of attacks from 
the general enemies of the insect tribe, and of 
Ihe influence of seasons, in diminishing their 
numbers, every such thing, as far as natural- 
ists have been able to ascertain, has also its 
specific enemy, or parasite, as in the case of the 
Hessian fly, for example, which keeps it within 
bounds. We confidently trust that this worm 
in like manner as it becomes diffused will do 
less harm, and, meeting with such impedi- 
ments to its increase, will ere long resume its 
insignificance. Meanwhile no precautions 
against it should be neglected by those who 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



197 



may be able to take them; and the wheat crop 
should not be relied upon exclusively in the in 
fected districts. Among such precautions we 
would advise against sowing wheat next (all 
alongside of a field that has had joint worm 
this year. We have suffered most from it in 
such situations, and it was evidently dimi- 
nished as it advanced into the field. We 
would recommend a strip of rye or oats be- 
tween the two about iwenty yards wide. We 
would also recommend the seeding of early 
wheat. The portion of our crop that is leasi 
injured is "RufnVs Early Purple Straw," the 
earliest wheat known hereabouts, and which 
has measurably escaped on this farm, whilst 
the Blue Stem or Turkey Wheat on greatly 
superior land is totally ruined, and in nearly 
all places very seriously injured. Sow also 
on the best lands. Generally they are least 
infested, possibly from the earlier maturity of 
wheat on them; though some of the richest 
spots, as in our own fields, have fared as badly 
as any. In some instances it would seem that 
guano has saved the crop, and in others not. 
We have seen cases of ihis kind so opposite 
in all their features that it would be unsafe to 
draw or state any inference from them. 

Since writing the above we have received 

A the subjoined abstract of the proceedings on 

this matter of the Hole and Corner Club, No. 

1, of Albemarle, at their meeting on the 14ih 

day of June: 

"Mr. F. E. G. Carr sowed two varieties of 
wheat, the Woodfin and RufnVs Early Purple 
Straw. Guanoed on corn land. Woodfin 
wheat sowed first and farthest off from old 
stubble field — not injured materially by joint 
worm. Early Purple Straw joined old stubhle 
field on two sides, and edges of it very much 
'injured. Portion of Early Purple Straw on 
land not guanoed, also distant from stubble 
field, not injured in proportion: this was al- 
most the very last wheat sown. A small por- 
tion of fallow, (Early Purple Straw,) not gua- 
noed, with an acuie corner running up to last 
year's stubble field, almost entirely ruined, ex- 
cept where top-dressed with, stable manure: this 
was the last wheat sowed. 

"J. S. Minor sowed Early Purple Straw. 
Wheat most injured is farthest from old stub- 
ble All his crop corn land, nnguanoed, un- 
mannred Injury not general through the field, 
but spotted about. 

" Wm. H. Southall. Fallow field of thirty- 
five acres. Two varieties of whe;it seeded, 
Woodfin (or Poland) and RufhVs Early Pur- 
ple Straw. No guano or manure used. Two 



sides of field exposed to old stubble, the other 
exposed to chickens, does and little negroes. 
Two sides first mentioned, three limes as much 
injured as the latter. Also seventy-five acres, 
corn and tobacco land in wheal— all the corn 
land guam.ed except one acte in centre of 
field One side ol this field exposed to wheat 
stubble, one to oai stubble, one to woods. Side 
next wheat stubble ihiee times as much injured 
as that text oat stubble. Side next woods not 
as much as ihe firsi of these, but rather more 
than second. The acre unguanoed, in the 
midst of the guanoed corn land, won't yield 
half the seed, whilst that adjoining it will give 
eight to twelve bushels. 

" William Garth Wherever joint worm is 
worsi can see where it comes fiom. In cor- 
ners next woods very bad; also next fences, 
branches, thickets, and every situation calcu- 
lated to harbor them. Thinks burning in Feb- 
ruary will exterminate them; that is, burn 
every thing which is likely til harbor them, 
such as stubble, fence corners and other situa- 
tions just spoken of; also thinks it will do 
good to rake up leaves along edges of wood 
and put it together with straw into farm-pen. 
Believes the treading of cattle, and freezing 
and thawing and mucking it up will destroy 
them. Means to try these plans any how. 

'' Dr. William G. Carr sowed three varieties 
of wheat: White Flint, Early Purple Straw, 
and Mediterranean. Land all manured with 
stable or farm-pen manure, or with guano. 
Joint worm has injured White Flint most, 
Early Purple Straw next, and Mediterranean 
least. Wherever the wheat, no matter what 
variety, approaches old stubble, woods, or any- 
place which c<4ild serve as a harbor for the 
fiy (which deposits the egj?,) the wheat is de- 
stroyed; and the injury has extended farthest 
into the field where the variety was latest. 
Thinks they come originally from wheat stub- 
ble and old straw, and does not believe that 
burning will get rid of them; or trampling 
either. 

"Raleish Colston sowed two varieties: — 
White Purple Straw on fallow, and Improved 
Red Purple Straw on corn land. Fallow cur- 
tailed one-half. Com land totally ruined.— 
Thinks earlier seeding and improvement of 
ihe land the only reliable preventives. 

"T. H. Goodloe. Most gentlem* n are worst 
hurt nearest old snibble; in my case just the 
reverse. Wheat of several varieties, all gua- 
noed, and all ruined; not worth culling 

" R. W. N. Noland Has three varieties — 
no difference in crop between different varie- 
ties In same field are two sorts: RufnVs 
Early Purple Straw and NolanH's Monumen- 
tal, the latter about one week later than the 
former, and seeded first. The Monumental 
divides two lots of Purple Straw. Upon that 
partof Purple Straw lying remote from stubble 
and stack-yard the worm has not injured the 
crop. Monumental injured near the stack- 
yard and where the land was manured! Purple 
Straw adjoining stubble entirely destroyed. — 



198 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



But in another field not bordering on stubble, 
norm the neighborhood of a stack-yard, wheat 
(Ruffin's Early Purple Straw,) entirely ruined; 
and a third lot (of Poland wheat), similarly 
situated, is seriously injured. The worm has 
gradually increased upon his farm for five 
years — has observed it that long; cannot trace 
il to any cause: cannot suggest any remedy: 
shall curtail his wheat crop. Two fields first 
mentioned either guanoed or manured." 

We shall leave it to the reflecting reader to 
make his own comments on the above testi- 
mony; only adding, in conclusion, that we are 
a member of the Hole and Corner Club, and 
vouch the gentlemen who have here spoken. 



For the Southern Planter. 
BUCKINGHAM GUANO. 

Mr. Editor, — I have for some time promised 
my friends to give notice to the public that a ! 
better and cheaper guano can be obtained in I 
this country than the Peruvian. It can be 
obtained for one-half what that will cost; will | 
answer the same purpose, and will insure 
equally as good crops of clover. Many per- 
sons are of the opinion that if they could spare 
the money to buy guano and spread it over 
their land, they would have found the philoso- 
pher's stone — the whole secret of readily im- 
proving their land, increasing their crops two 
or threefold, and in a short time be making 
money as fast as they could wish. But expe- 
rience proves that ideal notions of things and 
practical results are as the boy that had a 
goose that laid a golden egg every day, but 
being impatient, he ripped up the goose and 
thereby lost all. So it is in farming; if you 
wish to improve your farms you must begin 
upon a well organized plan or system, and as 
cenis make dollars, so one acre improved will 
help you to improve another, and as things 
help themselves you will acquire the means 
of improving on a larger scale. Guano is not 
a manure, as some suppose, but is that stimu- 
lant our impoverished land needs; it strength- 
ens and invigorates our poor soils to bring 
better crops of oats, which should be as a fal- 
low crop for wheat, followed by sowing at the 
same time clover, herdsgrass or orchard grass, 
which latter is little used by farmers; and, by 
the by, 1 consider the best grass to begin with, 
for it will grow most luxuriantly after guano, 
and affords such early and late grazing. 

I propose, in this notice, to say to the public 
I can furnish guano equally as good as thai 
imported, having the same properties, or, in 
other words, mixed with the same things that 
are contained in the guano; and although it 
is not generally known, there are but two va- 
luable ingredients in guano, both of which are, 
in my compound, and shall not cost more than 



half what that does. I can furnish a recipe 
how to use it on tobacco beds so that you can 
plant your crop from ten days to a fortnight 
sooner than you can with manure. It will 
take out that yellow appearance that plants 
sometimes have, and give them the same 
green, healthy growth of the best plants in 
your patch. 

I can also furnish a compound that will de- 
stroy sheep-sorrel, sassafras, or any noxious 
plants or weeds in your fields; show you how- 
to get clear of the curculio in your fruit trees, 
and raise finerfruit,such as plums and peaches 
than the tree ever bore, and apply the remedy 
to your gardens, and raise vegetables much 
richer and larger than you ever raised. 

My address is Virginia Mills, Buckingham 
County, Virginia. 

Robert Bolling. 

N. B.— Will the Enquirer, Whig, Examiner 
and Richmond Christian Advocate, please 
copy? R. B. 

If Mr. Boiling's promised manure shall do 
all that he thinks it will, he has indeed disco- 
vered a mine of wealth, not only to himself 
but to the farming community generally. His 
remedies for weeds and noxious plants, espe- 
cially sassafras, are not less important. We 
presume, of course, that he has fully tested 
the efficacy of these various substances in per- 
forming each its respective office before offer- 
ing them to the public. We would advise 
him, therefore, to state results, and have them 
certified, when necessary. It will insure much 
more speedy attention to his discoveries. 



For the Southern Planter. 

CLUB ROOT. 

Mr. Printer, — "One of the Young Dump- 
lings," in your June paper, wants to know if I 
can tell him anything about a disease called 
the "Club Root," in cabbage and other plants. 
I never heard of it before: and have talked 
about it with all the housekeepers, old and 
young, male and female, among my neighbors; 
but not one of 'em ever saw or heard of it. 
The oldest (and wisest) of them all, says she 
reckons it's a quiz. I would hint to my young 
kinsman (if he is a sure enough Dumpling, 
and not a quiz,) that perhaps the disease he 
complains of is the work of some insect, aided 
by a want of manure, and of good culture. 
The great Caroline farmer, Col. John Taylor, 
when his neighbors talked about the Hessian 
fly in their wheat, used to laugh al them and 
say, it was just "poor land lice." He would 
tell them, "Make your lands rich, and culti- 
vate them properly, and the fly won't do your 
wheat much harm." So I say, plenty of ma- 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



199 



mire, and a plentiful use of the plough, hoe, 
rak.- and harrow, will be the best cure, or pre- 
ventive, for the "club root." 

My yourg kinsman misspells my name, 
cruelly. It is not "Doritha," but 

Dorothy Dumpling. 



WILL GOOD FARMING PAY? 

We are sometimes provoked by the receipt 
of k-tiers from farmers who coolly undertake 
to set us right with regard to what we may 
term high and low farming— they considering 
our notions, occasionally indicated in the Tri- 
bune, entirely ertoneous, or at least unsuited 
to the present condition of agriculture in this 
country. "Land is so cheap and labor so 
dear," say they, "that we can't afford to farm 
so high as the English and Belgians do." 
Now half the men who talk in this way have 
no clear idea of what superior farming really 
is, , but, if pressed for a definition of it, will di- 
late on the unproductive expense of white- 
washing trees, planing boards for fences, or 
something of the sort, which has nothing to 
do with farming at all. A faimer, good or bad, 
may expe.d so much capital in mere fancy- 
work as to render his farm unproductive and 
even an expense to him; but that does not inva- 
lidate the sound general rule, that anything can 
profitably be well dene, that can be profitably dune 
at all To this rule we know no exceptions. 
One man's land may be unsuited to corn, or 
wheal, or barley, so that lie ought not to at- 
tempt the growing of that particular grain; 
but if it will -pay fur growing any crop off it at all, 
it will pay for growing a go>>d one if it will 
not pay for such a crop, it will not for any; 
and should be turned over to something of which 
it will yield a generous return ; and, in default of 
that, given up to pasturage and got into wood 
as soon as possible. To raise a twenty bushel 
crop of Indian corn ought to be indictable as 
a perversion and waste of the bounties of 
Providence. 

The farmer who ploughs (once) five or six 
inches, and manures feebly, and gets in his 
crop late, and about half cultivates it through 
the summer, and gets a meagre half-crop in 
the fall, (unless cattle happen to breakover 
hi> shiftless fences and eat it up mean ime) 
nor only dooms himself to fence and watch and 
pay taxes to twice or v thrice the extent he 
ought, but he is committing a flagrant crime 
agam>t Na'ure by exhausting the soil of its vir- 
tues. An official survey of our national agii- 
culrme estimates the deterioration of the soil 
of this country since iis settlement by whit 
men as detracting at least five hundred mil 
lions of dollars from its value! All observing 
men are familiar with facts which sustain thi 
estimate. There are whole counties, and al- 
most whole States, which would once hav< 
yielded an average of twenty bushels of whe< 
or forty of Indian corn to the acre, yet woul. 



now (unmanured) average not more than 
twenty of corn, and not more than five of 
wheat. "The virtue has eone out of them." 
They have been gradually robbed of their fer- 
'ility by false, miserable, wasteful culture. 
The elements essential to the production of 
the cereal grains have been gradually ab- 
stracted, and not returned nor replaced. They 
have been sent off to the cities, to Europe, and 
have long since served to fertilize Bruixh. 
fields, or have been thrown from the docks, or 
crept through the sewers of our seaboard cities 
into the ocean. E'very dollar of the dimi- 
nished value of the soil is so much jobbed by 
indolence and ignorance in the past from the 
patrimony of future generations. 

Every acre of land under cultivation ought 
to be worth more after each year's tillage than 
it was before. It may not, indeed, be in con- 
dition to produce a larger amount of that 
same crop; if so, that is ample reason for chang- 
ing to something else. To say that a farmer 
can't afford the fertilization and culture needed 
to obtain fifty bushels of corn from an acre, 
but can afford to own, fence, till, and pay 
taxes on it for twenty bushels, is an amazing 
absurdity.— Star of Ike West. 



CORN SOWED FOR FODDEPv. 

Who has tried sweet corn for this purpose? 
Our own experiments have been limited; but 
for milch cows we believe it is preferable to 
other kinds of fodder, as it may be sown thickly 
by using a full dose of special manure, and as 
too thickly sown to form ears, the stalks will 
contain a large quantity of saccharine matter, 
and may be sown frequently so as to keep a 
continuous supply duiing the whole summer 
and fall months.- Professor Mapes. 



SUMMER GRAFTING. 

M. Loiseau employs, for cleft and crown 
grafting, in April, May at.d June, eyes, which 
at the base of the shoots, buds or branches of 
the preceding vear. have not been developed. 
After the end of June, when the young shoots 
have become a little hard, they may, after iheir 
leaves are cut off, be grafted just as the same 
branches would he grafted in the following 
spr.ng If the shoots are Hill too tender, it is 
qs well to varnish th< j m with grafting wax. — 
M. Loiseau made, in this way firm the month 
of May to September, moie han 150 plants, 
both from se°ds and sioin s, and he did not lose 
more ihan one-filth, although his experiments 
vere made on a very dry soil, and no care was 
taken to protect the grail from being destroyed. 
»V birds, or by the dryness produced by ihe 
rieat heat of the months of June and July. 
He even succeeded in cleft-grafting an apricot 
in July. In May, two out of thirteen grafts 



200 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



failed; in June, three out of twelve, in July 
three out of fii'teen ; iir August, none out of 
twelve. It may be as well to remark, that a 
tree cleft, grafted in May, June, and even 
early in July, very nearly overtakes that 
grafted in the Spring, and there is very little 
difference between the two at the end of the 
year. Moreover, the cleft graft, if made in 
summer, begins to grow after a week, while 
the bud does not begin to grow till the end of 
a fortnight. The cleft graft has also this advan- 
tage over the bud — that the former does not 
require the bark to be separated, indeed, the 
less sap there is in this graft the better. — 
Comptes Rendus. 



From the Germantown Telegraph. 
NON-EXHAUSTING CROPS. 

Mr. Editor, — There appears to \>e a 
singular error operating on the minds 
and influencing the conduct of a certain 
portion of our farming friends. I allude 
to the belief entertained by so many a 
few years since, and so strongly urged in 
some of the most influential agricultural 
publications, that certain crops are "non- 
exhausters," and that, instead of depriving 
the soil of its humus, or fecundating pabu- 
lum, they not only do not take anything 
from it, hut on the contrary, add essenti- 
ally to its staple. Among the crops enu- 
merated as belonging to this anomalous 
class, are buckwheat, peas, clover, beet- 
root, carrots, and, as some have supposed, 
tobacco. The most remarkable of the 
above, so far as this putative power is 
concerned, is buckwheat, which is fre- 
quently sown to enrich poor lands, and 
ploughed inattheperiodof inflorescense, or 
when in full bloom. The capacity of soils 
thus treated to a "meal" of buckwheat to 
produce cereal, is supposed by many to 
prove conclusively the non-exhausting 
nature of that plant. The same, though 
in a somewhat restricted sense, is said of 
the other enumerated crops. It will, how- 
ever, be easy to prove conclusively the 
enlire erroneousness of this hypothesis, if 
chemical analyses are to be relied on. — 
A celebrated writer on agriculture, speak- 
ing in his usually lucid style of buck- 
wheat, says: 

"Buckwheat— the entire plant, including 
the seeds, dried at 86 degrees Fahrenheit, 
yields four per cent, of ashes. The con- 
stituents of these ashes must have been 
derived from the soil. The analysis ol 
the ashes of buckwheat shows that they 
consist of 29 parte of potas. salts j 45 parts 



of lime and magnesia salts; and 26 parts 
of silica (sand.) Buckwheat must there- 
lnre be legitimately classed with lime 
plants, since lime and magnesia predomi- 
nate in its ashes. The cultivation of 
buckwheat will therefore deprive the soil 
principally of its lime and magnesia 
salts." 

It will hence be seen that the abstrac- 
tion of so heavy a per centage of these 
salts from a soil, must remove any plant, 
by which it is effected, from the category 
of non-exhausting crops, if indeed any 
such shall be found really to exist. That 
buckwheat derives a considerable, nay, a 
very large proportion of its aliment from 
the atmosphere, there is, and there can be 
no reasonable ground to doubt; but that 
it is capable of actually enriching the soil, 
by the mere act of growing, unless what 
it takes from the soil, associated with that 
which it derives from atmospheric sources, 
i be returned to the former, is a fallacy too 
! absurd for the most simple to indulge. 
| When grown in this manner, turning it 
in unquestionably augments the staple of 
the soil, and thus it becomes an ameliora- 
\ ting crop ; but if the object of its cultiva- 
l tion be simply its grain, no crop, in my 
opinion, is more decidedly exhausting. I 
have grown it on sods in which the most 
accurate chemical analysis detected but a 
very diminutive amount of calcareous 
matter, and on attempting to cultivate the 
same land the next year in corn, with the 
assistance of the most energetic manure, 
liberally supplied, have, without a single 
exception, failed to secure a crop. I have 
now entirely renounced its cultivation as 
a grain crop, except in very peculiar cases, 
and then only on a limited scale. The 
grain is excellent, but, like the gold of 
California, it often comes too dear. 

Agricola. 
Lower Dublin, Oct. 19, 1850. 



DRAININGS OF DUNG HEAPS. 

Professor Johnston concludes, from experi- 
ments made by him, "that the liquid which 
flows from a dung heap, watered it-ilk urine, is 
greatly richer in ammonia and in saline mat- 
ter, than that which flows from the solid ex- 
crements newly washed by rain; that the liquid 
in both cases, contains a considerable propor- 
tion of phosphate of lime. This does not ex- 
ist in cows' urine alone. In both cases it has 
been washed out of the solid dung; and that 
both contain also an appreciable quantity of 
silica not existing in urine — this is derived 



1 

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



201 



from the straw of the fermenting farm yard 
dun?, or from the grass which has passed 
through the digestive organs of the cow; that 
as fermenting manure can yield in a soluble 
state every mineral ingredient which a plant 
requires, the liquid that runs from the farm- 
yard ought to be no less carefully preserved, 
than the pure urine of our cattle."— Johnston's 
Lectures. 



TO PREVENT MOTHS GETTING UN- 
DER HIVES. 

Pound a handful of peach leaves and salt 
them well, and strew them over the bench un- 
der the hive. In two or three days, repeat the 
operation. The flavor of peach leaves is offen- 
sive to the moth, but not to the bees. 

Another Remedy.— Raise the hive about an 
inch upon four little pebbles. Take a piece of 
half-inch pine board from three to six inches 
wide and a fool long; cut one side full of 
creases about a quarter of an inch deep; lay 
this creased side down under the hive and you 
will find all the millers will use it to raise their 
broods under; because it is a secure place from 
the bees, but not from the bee-keeper. If he 
chooses to watch and kill, he will finally de 
stroy the larvee and save his honey.— American 
Agriculturist. 



From the Massachusetts Ploughman. 
PROFITS OF FARMERS. 

Mr. Editor, — 1 see by your reports of 
the farmers' talk at the State House, in 
your paper of March 8th, that many of 
the speakers think there is small profit in 
forming. 

Hon. Mr. Sprague doubted if the owner 
of a farm could lay by as much as one of 
his workmen. Perhaps he did not duly 
consider the full extent to which that 
expression would apply. 

Undoubtedly the owner of a form, of a 
large and valuable farm, like those pos- 
sessed by most of the speakers last Tues- 
day night, expend more, aye doubly more 
in a year, in what their laborers would 
call luxuries, than they pay to any indivi- 
dual one of them for wages. 

They should not expect to eat. the ap 
pie and keep it too. They have advan- 
tages and enjoyments, of which the hard 
working man knows nothing. I would not 
be understood to say that the rich man is 
happier for his riches, or to engraft a spi- 
rit of discontent in the mind of the man 
who is necessitated to labor on another 
man's land. Far from it. I do not be- 



lieve that wealth necessarily makes a man 
happy, but Mr. Eprague, as I understand 
it, is looking only at the dollars and cents ; 
but there is another view of the case, 
which will make a material difference in 
the footing up; and that is the enjoyment 
which the owner of a farm lias, in making 
improvements and seeing things grow 
that he planted or set out himself, com- 
pared with the laborer who works for 
him. 

We all know (or if there are any ex- 
ceptions, they are among my acquaint- 
ances,) that there is much satisfaction in 
making a good bargain, that there is much 
enjoyment in looking over our accounts at 
the end of the year, and finding a balance 
in our favor; but there is a deeper and 
more heartfelt enjoyment to m,e at least, 
and I doubt not to others, in seeing the 
thrift and lusty growth, year by year, of 
the trees and the vines I have myself set out 
on my own land ; in looking at my fields, 
and knowing that the crops are much 
greater than they were a few years ago. 
Do I make a good trade, or do I lay up 
money at the end of the year? It is but 
transferring it from one to another. It 
might advantage the world more in his 
hands than in mine; but if I increase my 
crops, I increase the real wealth of the 
country. If I set out a tree, I transfer to 
posterity, what my ancestors have be- 
queathed to me. 1 think we Yankees are 
too prone to seek after the dollars and 
cents, and not enough given to the enjoy- 
ments of life. Many a man toils and 
struggles to accumulate property, letting 
slip in his mad haste after the Ignis Fa- 
tuus( all the golden fruits which his God 
has placed in his reach, and finds when he 
has grasped it, nothing but the apple of 
the Dead Sea in his hand, pleasant to the 
eye, but bitter as wormwood to the palate. 

Let our farmers be content with sure 
gains, if they are small and gradual. 

Let them, as one of the speakers has 
said, cut their garments according to their 
cloth ; not striving to outdo in furniture 
and living, those who trade on credit, and 
shine for a little time like a comet, being 
as unsubstantial as that body, and disap- 
pearing as mysteriously at last, leaving 
nothing but a long tail of bad debts be- 
hind them. 

A farmer, if he makes money slower 
than men in other occupations, (which I 
doubt) has much more chance of enjoy- 
ment, to compensate him for his depriva- 
tion of profit in his business. He has not 



202 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



the wearing anxiely of mind which is felt 
by the trader, or shipper. His property 
is mostly in his own hands, not in the 
hands of the thousand and one, whom the 
trader has on his books, nor on the sea 
like the shippers of goods, exposed to the 
tempests and the waves. He is not called 
up like the physician, of a bitter cold 
night, to attend a patient three or four 
miles off, nor like the -lawyer, obliged to 
plead bad cases or starve. He is not po- 
litely or impolitely asked like our modern 
ministers, to leave his home, with or with- 
out a reason ; but, like Robinson Cruisoe, 
he is lord of all he surveys, and my cau- 
tion to him, in that case, is not to survey 
too much, and then he will not need to 
complain of its taking all his profits to pay 
his hired help, as with industrious habits 
he can do his work himself. 

But I would close sir, by saying that we 
should have no more land than we can 
cultivate thoroughly and well. 

A man will undoubtedly make more 
profit from a small farm, well tilled and 
manured, than from one four times as 
large half tilled and half manured. 

J TT TT 

Westford, March 10. 



For the Southern Planter. 

AGRICULTURE IN THE VALLEY., 

Mr. Editor,— Having, during the last few 
years, made several visits to the Valley of. 
Virginia, from one of which I have just re- 
turned, I wish, through your pages, to give 
some of the impressions made on my 'mind by 
a comparison of the agriculture of that part 
of the State with our own. 

> The first tiling that strikes a person on vi- 
siting the Valley from the southern part of 
Virginia is the great difference in the attention 
paid to hay and Hover. In the Valley von 
may ride a whole day in a continuous arable 
country, and hardly find a field, which is not 
tinder some crop, but is well set in clover; 
and you will scarcely cross a stream, how- 
ever small, along which you will not see a 
meadow. You will see this attention to clover 
and hay on the smallest as well as on the 
largest farms. This gives the countiy a most 
cheerful aspect, and become at once asso- 
ciated in your mind with great plenty and 
independence. 

As to the comparative agriculture of the 
Valley and this part of Virginia, I will re 
mark that in attention to clover and hay the 
people of the Valley are incomparably ahead 
of us. Our barren fields, and in consequence 



of these, cur small and poor cattle and horses, 
make a miseiable figure to one who has just 
left the Valley; and they also, to the traveller, 
make an exaggerated impression as to our po- 
verty and general mismanagement. 

But in attention to manures and their appli- 
cation, my opinion is, that as a general thing, 
we, in this pai\ of the State, manage better 
than they do in the Valley. On a large ma- 
jority of farms that I could notice irom the 
r$ad, I could see very decided indications of 
neglect and mismanagement in the production 
and application of putrescent manures. And 
on inquiring of several intelligent farmets, I 
met with an aim >st unanimous declaration, 
that there was great neglect on this head, and 
that their chief reliance for the improvement 
of their lands, is clover and plaster. And it 
was this neglect on the part of the Valley 
farmers that suggested to me the propriety of 
communicating these remarks to the Planter. 
And it is to this point 1 wish particularly to 
attract the attention of the planters of our 
part of the State. If, in connexion with our 
attention to putrescent manures, we could pre- 
vail on ourselves to use clover and plaster 
with liberality and according to some system, 
I am satisfied that in less than five years a 
great change would be seen in the face of our 
part of the State; and this change wouhl in- 
crease every year with our experience of its 
advantages, and with our increased ability 
which this system would certainly produce. 

We are equally able with the Valley far- 
mers to adopt this system. I made inquiries 
of different persons and in different circum- 
stances, and found that the cost of Plaster is 
as great there as among us, being about thir- 
teen dollars per ton by the time it reached the 
farm. And I also found that from different 
parts of the Valley the expense of getting a 
barrel of flour to Richmond is one dollar and 
twenty-five cents, which is the amount from 
Halifax (one of the most remote points from 
market) to Petersburg or Norfolk. And after 
a good deal of observation and some expe- 
rience, I am perfectly satisfied that clover will 
grow as well and produce as great and bene- 
ficial effects in every part of Southern Virgi- 
nia as in the Valley. 

One other particular forced itself upon me 
with a very painful impression, and that is 
the interest manifested in, and the attention 
paid to the prosecution of internal impiove- 
ments in the Valley. Every one seemed to be 
aware of the immense value to any commu- 
nity of good roads; it was a question on which 
I heard no difference, and 1 would but have 
subjected myself to ridicule had I questioned 
the policy of having them; or had I suggested 
to them that they would have been in less 
danger of State or Federal oppr. ssion, if they 
had been satisfied with impassable roads and 
unmarketable products, but with light taxes. 
After a very careful effort to make an intelli- 
gent and impartial comparison of my own 
part of the State with the Valley, I returned 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



203 



home with the full conviction that our climate 
is better, and, which many will think a bold 
word, our soil is as good, and our natural ad- 
vantages greater. All we need is an outlet 
for our products — and I may with truth add, 
our prejudices on certain questions, and an 
inlet to the means and inducements to agri- 
cultural improvement. These, however, I ap- 
prehend, will not be adequately provided, until 
our planters, disregarding all minor considera- 
tions, and treating political metaphysics with 
the cortempt they deserve, will cease to sur- 
render the control of our part of the State to 
every imaginary and fantastic notion and 
whim, and neglect the one Hue and real inte- 
rest among as. The history of the human 
mind does not furnish a more remarkable phe- 
nomenon than the fact that party politics and 
traditionary opinions and feelings have so 
swamped the understanding of Southern Vir- 
ginia, as to make a people on all other sub- 
jects remarkable for intelligence, on* this one 
so stolid as L o make us doubt the utility or 
propriety of good internal communications 
between us and our principal market towns; 
or to suppose that that which improves every 
other part of the country will, in some incom- 
prehensible way, injure or impoverish or en- 
slave us. It is melancholy for so tine a part 
of the State as ours to be sacrificed to such a 
chimera; but there is no hope for any thine: 
else until our planters shall unite and take 
their own interests into their own keeping, and 
no longer give in trust their intelligence, as 
well as their interest to politicians and adven- 
ture is. 

Yours, &c. John T. Clark. 

^ Halifax, Va. June 4, 1851. 



APPLES FOR STOCK. 

In a late excursion through a portion 
of Otsego county, N. Y. we noticed that 
many farmers were in the practice of feed- 
ing apples to iheir stock. Calves of last 
spring, and sheep were the animals to 
which they were more commonly given. 
All agreed that they were very beneficial 
for this purpose. The apples were gath- 
ered in the fall and secured either in a cel- 
lar under the barn or -protected from frost 
in some other convenient situation. The 
quantity fed to calves was about half a 
peck to each daily. They evidently greatly 
promoted the thrift of the animals, notonly 
by the nutriment which they imparted, but 
also by their healthful action as a condiment 
and gentle cathartic sharpening the appe- 
tite and causing the dry iiay to be bettor 
digested and assimilated. We have sel- 
dom seen calves winch made a better ap- 
pearance in inid-winier than several lots 



shown us that had been fed in this way. 
We do not hesitate to say that every far- 
mer would find an acre of ground appro- 
priated to raising apples for stock, one of 
the most profitable investments of his capi- 
tal and labor. — Albany Cultivator. 



THE FLAVOR OF BUTTER AND CHEESE 
AS AFFECTED BY THE KIND OF PAS- 
TURAGE. 

It is well known that the milk of animals 
is readily affected by the quality of food 
used for its production. IMow, as certain 
kinds of herbage are found to impart an un- 
pleasant flavor to milk and butter, why 
may we not conclude that other kinds will 
be likely to improve the ordinary flavor of 
these important products? We think the 
subject is one deserving the experiments 
of the farmer and the investigations of the 
chemist. 

In our paper of June 15, 1846, was pub- 
lished an article by G. Emerson, of Phila- 
delphia, attributing the peculiarly rich fla- 
vor of Philadelphia May butter to the 
prevalence of the sweet-scented vernal 
grass in the pastures of that region, hi 
the recent agricultural report of the patent 
office we find a communication on the same 
subject by Dr. Emerson, in which he reite- 
rates his former opinions, and gives various 
facts and arguments in their support. We 
copy the article with the hope that some of 
#ur Ohio farmers will test the matter by 
experiment. — Ohio Cultivator. 

PHILADELPHIA BUTTER — SWEET SCENTED 
, VERNAL GRASS. 

Sir. — I wish to invite your attention to 
a subject relating to pasturage and the 
products of the dairy. It has already been 
laid before the public, but this so partially 
and imperfectly, that it will still be found 
by most persons invested with novelty, 
and. as I believe, fraught with important 
bearings upon agricultural interests. 

Philadelphia butter enjoys a widely ex- 
tended reputation for its peculiarly higrh, 
yet delicate flavor, well known to all who 
"have had opportunitiesof tasting it. Good 
butter produced in this vicinity is always 
to be found in the Philadelphia market, but 
it is only during the spring that it possesses 
in greatest perfection that delicious flavor, 
to which I. here particularly refer. This 
superior flavor like that distinguishing the 
Epping and Cambridge butter of the 



204 



THE SOUTHERN PLATER 



London market, has been very naturally 
ascribed to something eaten by the cows 
producing it. But what this something is, 
has been a subject for vague speculation, 
and never yet defined or specified so as to 
enable persons in other localities to avail 
themselves of it for the improvement of 
their own pastures and dairy products. 

Extensive observations and many expe- 
riments, made and continued through many 
years, have convinced me that the proxi- 
mate source of the high flavor of our Phi-, 
ladelphia May butter is the sweet-scented 
vernal grass, abounding in the old pastures, 
fields, and meadows of the adjacent coun- 
ties. Some of the facts and reasons upon 
which I found this conclusion are the fol- 
lowing: 

1. In the dairy region around Philadel- 
phia the sweet-scented vernal grass, with 
its peculiar vanilla like fragrance, consti- 
tutes the predominant spring herbage on 
all the pasture fields and meadows left se- 
veral years unploughed. The longer the 
pastures have been left unbroken, the 
greater the proportion of the vernal grass, 
and the higher the flavor of the butter pro- 
duced from the cows fed upon them. Many 
of the meadows and pasture fields have 
remained ten, twenty, thirty, and more 
years unbroken by I he plough. In such 
cases, the sweet-scented vernal grass af- 
fords almost the exclusive spring herbage. 

2. The high flavor continues in the but- 
ter during the development of this grass, 
and invariably declines with the maturing; 
of the seeds, after which the stems become 
dry and hard, and the cattle push them 
aside in search of fresher and greener 
herbage. 

3. The sweet-scented vernal grass is 
shown by chemical analysis to contain an 
aromatic essential oil, of which benzoic 
acid, or flowers of benzoin, is the base. 

This aromatic principle is abundant, and 
can be readily obiained by distillation, fur- 
nishing a delightful perfume and source of 
flavor. As the milk of all animals is so 
very susceptible of acquiring disagreeable 
tastes from substances eaten, such as gar- 
lic, turnips, &c. it is natural to infer that it 
may likewise be imbued with agreeable 
flavors, when the proper agents for such a 
purpose are presented in I he food. 

4. That i he benzoic acid is the principal 
agent in producing the peculiarly agreea- 
ble flavor of butter made from pastures 
abounding in the sweet-scented vernal 
grass, I have rendered probable, if not a 
demonstrated fact, by several experiments 



in which the flowers of benzoin given to 
cows imparted to the butter made from 
them the characteristic flavor. In such 
cases, twenty or thirty grains of the ben- 
zoin were given twice a day, previously 
dissolved in hot water, which was stirred 
into some flour or meal, and then mingled 
with the customary mess. The cows re- 
ceive not the slightest injury from this or 
even a much larger quantity of the benzoin. 

The sweet scented vernal grass, called 
by botanists anthoxanthum adoratum, is a 
native of Europe, from whence, at an early 
period of our settlement, it has doubtless 
been introduced into the vicinity of Phila- 
delphia, its seeds having probably been 
blended with those of other grasses. It 
has long been naturalized, and now dis- 
putes the right of soil with the common 
green grass, and never yields possession, 
but becomes more and more predominant 
until the sod is destroyed by the plough, 
after which it clings to the borders of the 
field, along the fences and hedgerows. — 
When, after a rotation of grain crops, the 
ground is left undisturbed by tillage to be 
again covered by green-sward, the vernal 
grass re-appears, springing from the old 
seed left in the earth. Though seldom 
sown designedly in this part of the United 
States, it is often sown in England, where 
it constitutes a part of the growth of most 
permanent pastures, growing in nearly 
every kind of soil, but attaining its great- , 
est perfection on the deep and moist, loving 
shady places, such as the skirts of woods. 
The sweet odor by which English hay is 
often distinguished, is chiefly deiived from 
an admixture of vernal grass. Although 
when alone, it is not distinguished very 
highly as a hay grass, still its early growth 
and hardiness, with the superior nutritive 
properties of its after-math, give it high 
claims in the composition of all permanent 
pastures. In England it comes into flower 
about the middle of April, and in southern 
Pennsylvania about the middle of May, 
the seed ripening in both countries about 
the second week in June. It is worthy of 
remark, that in the moist climate of Eng- 
land, this grass continues throwing up flow- 
er-stalks, till the end of autumn, while in 
Pennsylvania the efflorescence is confined 
to spring. As the development of the aro- 
matic qualities is mainly confined to the 
period of efflorescence, this fact may ex- 
plain why the period of highest flavor in 
Philadelphia butter is so limited. 

The question might be very naturally 
asked: If the sweet-scented vernal grass 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



205 



communicate* to spring butter the high and 
delicious flavor we have referred to. why 
is not this flavor imparted in winter when 
cows are led on hay cut from meadows 
known to contain this grass? The answer 
I would give is as follows: The principal 
and almost exclusive hay-grass of our sec- 
tion of country is timothy, which, wilh red 
clover frequently combined, matures and 
is mown long after the sweet-scented ver- 
nal grass has dried its stalks and lost its 
distinguishing fragrance. Could the ver- 
nal grass be sown alone, or blended with 
other grasses maturing at the same time, 
and the hay all mown at the stage of per- 
fect efflorescence and highest fragrance, 
there is little doubt that butter made from 
cows fed upon it would manifest more or 
less of the fine flavor at other times than 
in the spring. I think it proper to remark 
that the milky products of cows fed on pas- 
tures where the sweet-scented vernal grass 
abounds, instead of always possessing a 
delightful flavor, are sometimes found im- 
bued with a most disagreeable one, pro- 
ceeding generally from weeds so often ex- 
isting in pastures. In southern Pennsyl- 
vania, garlic, and especially that nauseous 
and troublesome plant commonly called 
the "ox-eye daisy," a species of wild ca- 
momile (chrysanthemum leucanth emum,) 
are very often nipped by cows when the 
herbage is short or scarce. In such cases, 
L all the agreeable qualities that might oth- 
erwise have been derived from the vernal 
grass are not only neutralized but over- 
powered by the disagreeable tastes impart- 
ed by the bad company with which it is 
associated. I consider the sweet-scented 
vernal grass worthy the attention of all 
farmers desirous of possessing the means 
of obtaining butter and other dairy pro- 
ducts in the highest perfection, and of 
having in their fields and meadows one of 
the earliest, if not the very earliest pasture 
grass known. 

But to these advantages, great as they 
are, may, I think, be added others of no 
small importance; one of which is the ca- 
pacity to confer a fine flavor upon the meat 
of stock grazed upon a species of herbage 
fraught with a his:h aromatic principle. — 
Such advantages have, from time immemo- 
rial, been the inheritance of people in cer- 
tain localities, where they were originally 
indebted for them to chance, as, for exam- 
ple, with those residing in the vicinity of 
Philadelphia, few if any of whom are 
aware that there exists in their pastures 
any grasses not common to those of other 



places. To identify the immediate agent 
from which such advantages are derived, 
is to remove them from the uncertain con- 
trol of accident, and place them at once at 
the disposal of all. 

A description of the grass, the merits of 
which I have been describing to you, may- 
be found in the Farmers' Encyclopaedia, 
(Philadelphia edition lor 1850.) under the 
head of Anthoxanlhum Adoratum., figured 
in plate 6, a. 

Very respectfully, 

G. Emerson. 

Philadelphia, Oct. 1843. 



MULES vs. HORSES. 

A correspondent of the South Carolina 
Farmer and Planter, who appears to have 
had much experience in raising mules and 
horses, states that he has kept a particular 
account of the expenses of each, for the 
last ten years, and he says, "in no instance 
have I ever been able to bring the horse 
to the plough for less than from fifty to sixty 
dollars; on the other hand, I have invari- 
ably brought the mule to the collar for 
twenty to twenty-five dollars." In regard 
to the comparative expense of keeping, he 
says "the mule can be kept in as good 
condition as the horse, and will perform 
the same labor, however severe, in the 
same lime and on about one half the feed." 
In addition to this, the mule will out-live 
(he horse by fifteen to twenty years and is 
seldom sick or crippled. — Albany Cult. 



PLANTING OUT ELMS. 

A Philadelphia correspondent of the 
Horticulturist states that in setting out a 
hundred elms from the forest, about eigh- 
teen feet high and as large as a man's arm, 
he fully tested the advantage of heading 
back. The tops were so handsome that 
he was reluctant to touch them ; he accord- 
ingly left a part entire, and shortened back 
the remainder about one-third, to corres- 
pond with the necessary shortening of the 
roots outside of the large balls. 

Few trees were lost; most of those with 
entire heads made little or no growth the 
first year, and many limbs died and had to 
be cut out. Of those cut back, all lived; 
and their leaves the first summer were 
three times as large as on the nnpruned 
trees. They have outstripped the others 



2C6 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



eo much as to have entirely regained the 
symmetry and beauty of their heads. — Al- 
bany Cultivator. 

Although we have very frequently al- 
luded to the subject of heading back newly 
planted trees, yet we too often see it en- 
tirely neglected, or if done at all, in so un- 
skilful a manner that it proves equally fa- 
tal. Many trees removed from the forest 
and set as shade trees in the yards and 
streets of our towns and cities are by a 
clean stroke with the axe deprived of their 
entire, head, which leaves them in a condi- 
tion about as likely to vegetate as a bean 
pole. In heading back a shade or fruit 
tree, its branches only should be cut, leav- 
ing two or more prominent eyes or buds to 
each, from which new shoots will be readily 
formed and the tree firmly established in 
its new position. — Louisville Journal. 



FLINT ENAMEL WARE. 

Some ten or fifteen years ago, Mr. Fen- 
ton, a manufacturer of fire bricks, &c. at 
Bennington, Vermont, commenced a course 
of experiments on the liquefaction by heat 
and intermingling in various proportions, 
of the flint quartz, &c. used in his business 
or existing in the mountains around him, 
with an eye to the production of wares 
adapted to household uses. In these ex- 
periments he persevered, until at last he 
was enabled to produce a ware combining 
strength, purity and beauty — composed en- 
tirely of flint, feldspar and quartz, ground 
together, bolted like flour, then formed into 
a clay or paste, and moulded into any shape 
which taste or use may suggest, then co- 
vered with a delicate enamel and baked to 
a consistency exceeding that of marble. — 
The enamel is formed entirely of flint, 
without a particle of the metallic bases 
which renders much of the ware now in 
use always dangerous and often virulently 
poisonous. 

The flint enamel ware, though especially 
prized by us for its capacity to supersede 
the enamelled wares now used for milk- 
pans, stew-pans, coffee urns, &c. is intended 
to subserve a far wider circle of uses. — 
Among the articles into which it has al- 
ready been fashioned, are water-jars, stove- 
urns, mantel and other parlor ornaments, 
lamps, and candlesticks, table-slabs, door- 
plates, door-knobs, block-letters, daguerre- 
otype frames, inkstands, pitchers, wash- 
bowls, bathing-tubs, spittoons, &c. &c. 



The usual color of this ware is a rich, 
dark brown shaded and fleckled or mottled 
with white and blue, though it is made of 
pure white when desired. It is harder 
than marble, and a delicate pitcher may 
be thrown on the floor with violence with- 
out starting the handle. The point of a 
nail driven smartly against its side with a 
hammer makes no scratch or dent of any 
kind. The enamel stands heat perfectly, 
and all this ware may be, as most of it is, 
made absolutely fire-proof, so as to be bu- 
ried in a pit of burning anthracite and 
come out of the ashes as good as new. 
Withal it is nearly as cheap as the "stone 
ware" now in use. We cannot doubt that 
it will rapidly find its way into very gene- 
ral use throughout the country. The ware 
is patented, and agencies for its exclusive 
sale, by counties and towns, are being 
formed throughout the Union. — New York 
Tribune. 



A NEW DRAINING PLOUGH. 

We find the following account in an 
English paper of a new draining plough. 
We know nothing of its merits other than 
What we see stated; but its construction 
strikes us favorably, and shou'd the follow- 
ing description do nothing more than incite 
our ingenious mechanics to get up some- 
thing similar, our object in copying the ar- 
ticle will be effected. We presume this 
plough will be exhibited at the World's 
Fair in London. 

Mr. Cotgreave's principle consists of a 
series of ploughs derived from the carpen- 
ter's plane; in fact it is nothing more nor 
less than a land plane; and when seen, 
every one must wonder why the principle 
now brought into operation has not been 
applied years ago. Witb the exception of 
the main drains, all the work, even to the 
obtaining the perfect level of ihe drain, is 
performed by the plane plough. Mr. Cot- 
greave has so adapted his plough that with 
four horses he can throw cut a drain from 
four to five feet deep. The saving of time is 
another material object. The work by this 
process is almost incredibly expeditious, 
and very little damage is done to the sur- 
face; indeed, in gr iss lands, a heavy roller 
will repair all damages. The cost of work- 
manship is half the price of manual labor, 
on the present system; and the lime occu- 
pied one-tenth, Tvhile the work, to say the 
verv least of it, is as efficiently and durably 
performed. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



207 



We novv proceed to the detail of the 
plough. We find that the necessary stafl 
of men is ten, and of hordes four; and with 
this at command, Mr. Colgreave will be 
enabled, without distressing eilher horses 
or men, to commence two statute acres in 
the morning, and finally complete, thai is. 
cut the drains, (including the main drain,) 
lay the pipes, fill in and make good the 
surface of one statute acre, and half pre- 
pare the second to be ready for work the 
next day. The plough, as we have already 
explained, is on the plane principle, and, 
by means of screws, can be adapted as 
occasion requires, even while in operation 
in the cutting, to take a shaving or two, 
three, four, fwe, or six inches in depth. — 
This control of the plough is most, neces- 
sary, as it must, be evident that certain por- 
tions of the land, requiring to be drained, 
frequently have undulations; and if there 
were no regulating principle, it is quite 
certain no water level could be obtained 
by a plough. This pqint, we particularly 
impress on the attention of our readers; 
because every practical man, at first, would 
inquire how this difficulty is to be over- 
come. — American Agriculturist. 



SWEET POTATO CULTURE. 

Mr. Editor, — Believing that the follow- 
ing extraordinary yield of sweet potatoes, 
with the system of cultivation adopted, 
would be interesting to your readers, 1 fur- 
nish the same. To those of us living on 
the seaboard, the potato crop we consider 
very important; and our planters have de- 
voted no little attention in ascertaining the 
best system of culture. The subjoined 
account, as you will perceive, was furnished 
to the Agricultural Society of Liberty 
county, by one of its members, Mr. G. B. 
Dean. I would further remark, that the 
gathering of the potatoes was under the 
supervision of a committee, of which I 
was chairman. 

"In 1843," says Mr. D. "I cow-penned 
some old wornout lands filled with carpet- 
grass, and in July I planted the same in 
slips. In the fail of the same year, I duii 
the potatoes, and turned in hogs, which, 
by rooting, turned up and exposed the roots 
of the grass to the winter's cold. In the 
month of January, 1849, I listed it up in 
five feet rows; in February. I ploughed up 
the alleys again; in March, I bedded up 
the ground, and planted sweet potatoe.- 
about the 25th. I put twenty bushels to 



the acre, or five to the task, taking good 
care to have both ends cut off; and, cutting 
the seed two or three inches in length, 
placed them two inches apart in a tr rich 
three inches deep, covered, deep. So soon 
as the potatoes began to come up, I shaved 
off the top of the bed with hoes, some five 
tasks to the hand. This work destroyed 
all the fine grass, and the plant then came 
up finely. As soon as the potatoes were 
all up some three or four inches, I listed 
down with the hoe some three tasks to the 
hand. Four days after, I run two furrovva 
with the Ruggles plough, and drew up the 
bed, being careful to place the dirt well 
under the potatoes. I allowed them to re- 
main until the vines were about twelve 
inches long; I then listed down again near 
to the plant very lightly, turning up the 
vines carefully. After allowing them to 
remain for two days, I broke up the alley 
by running one furrow with the double 5 
mould board plough, deep in the centre. 
I then bedded up closely, returning the 
vines to their places carefully with the 
hand. I did nothing more, except to pick 
over, in the month of June, all the grass. 
The yield was from nine to ten and, a 
quarter bushels to the task row. One-fourth 
of an acre yielded two hundred, and ten 
bushels, or at the rate of eight hundred 
and forty bushels to the acre." 



OBITUARY. 

We are pained to have to announce the 
death of Mr*. A. D. Abernkthy, the Horticul- 
tural writer for the Southern Planter. He 
died in this city on Saturday, the 28th of June, 
of congestive fever. He was a native of 
Scotland, but for a number of yeats past had 
been a resident of this city. By his industry 
and skill he was very successful in his busi- 
ness as a Horticulturist; and by his obliging 
manners and strict integrity he won the esteem 
and enjoyed the confidence ol our community. 



Plants perspire more abundantly than 
animals. Thus a sun-flower wiil perspire 
in a warm day thirty ounces, or, as it. is 
said, as much as seventeen men. The 
stem of a vine cut off near the head, with 
a bladder fastened tightly around it. will, 
in the sun, soon send off in the form of 
perspiration, sap enough to swell and to 
burst the bladder. 



208 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 







THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



RICHMOND, JULY, 1851. 



TERMS. 

One Dollar and Twenty-five Cents par 
annum, which may be discharged by the pay- 
ment of One Dollar only, if paid in office or 
sent free of postage within six months from 
the date of subscription. Six copies for Five 
Dollars; thirteen copies for Ten Dollars, 
to be paid invariably in advance. 

fjf* All subscriptions must commence with 
the January or July number. 

f^r Office on Twelfth, between Main and 
Cary Streets. 



glp Communications for the Southern Plan- 
ter, upon other than business matters, may be ad- 
dressed to the Editor, Frank: G. Ruffin, Esq. 
at Shadwell, Albemarle Co., Va., which will in- 
sure their being more speedily attended to. 

Business letters will be directed as here- 
tofore to "The Southern Planter," Richmond, 
Va. 

g^= Postage prepaid in all cases. 



The July Number is a good time to com- 
mence subscriptions. Every farmer ought to 
take and pay for one or more Agricultural 
Papers — and Virginia farmers ought to sup- 
port their own paper in preference to others. — 
We confidently anticipate a large increase of 
our list, and shall print a larger edition of this 
number than usual, for the purpose of furnish- 
ing new subscribers. We wish to make our 
journal second to none in the Union, and we 
will do it, if the agricultural community will 
sustain us. Will the farmers of Virginia give 
us the necessary support?. 



POSTAGE ON THE PLANTER. 

Under the new law, which takes effect on 
the 1st of July, the following will be the rates 
of postage on the Planter, per quarter, for the 
distances annexed— to be paid quarterly in 
advance: 

Not over 50 miles, 1\ cents. 

Over 50 and not over 300 miles, 2£ cents. 

Over 300 and not over 1000 miles, 3$ cents. 

Over 1000 and not over 2000 miles, 5 cents. 

Over 2000 and not over 4000 miles, 6^ cents, 

Over 4000 miles, 1\ cents. 

The above is taken from the late decision of 
the Postmaster-General; and it will be seen 
that the rates are so low as to amount to al- 
most a freedom of any postage at all. For- 
merly there was much objection made by 
many farmers to subscribing to the Planter on 
the score of the high rates of postage — now 
that objection has been removed, and we trust 
that there will be not a few who will test their 
appreciation of the benefits of cheap postnge 
by sending us their names to be added to our 
lists. 



fji* Our correspondent who wishes to know 
how and when to save clover seed, shall have 
a full answer in the August number. 

We expect a first rate Essay on Tobacco for 
our next number. 



Many of our subscribers are considerably 
in arrears. Such as are, will confer a favor 
upon us and do an act of justice to themselves 
by a prompt remittance of their several dues. 



TALL WHEAT. 



Mr. Nathaniel F. Bowe, of Henrico, has 
left inouroffice a sample of pretty tall wheat — 
measuring six feet, six inches in length of stem. 
The heads are about six inches in length and 
are well filled. It is of the " Woodfin" variety. 

We have also a small sample of wheat 
raised in our patch, (the publisher's) over which 
we are disposed to brag a little. The straw is 
not very long, but the heads are well filled, 
and measure from seven to nine inches. It is 
said to be. of the "Mediterranean" variety, 
with smooth heads. 

We have a sample too of "Troy" bearded 
wheat raised in our patch, which is well worthy 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



209 



the notice of those interested in such things. 
It presents a well filled head, and is the largest 
wheat we have ever seen. The seed of this 
^sample were obtained from ihe Patent Office, 
and we will be glad to distribute them to those 
of our patrons who desire to try them as an 
experimental crop. 



CROPS— WEATHER. 

Wheat.— The early wheat crop has been 
harvested, and from almost all quarters we 
hear that the labors of the husbandman have 
been rewarded by a generous yield. In this 
neighborhood (Richmond) the returns have 
been very prolific, and the quality of the grain 
as good if not better than it has been for years. 
The weather for harvesting has been most 
propitious, and we congratulate the seedsman 
upon the ample recompense that Nature has 
bestowed upon his exertions. 

Corn. — Whilst the dry weather in June has 
retarded the growth of this crop, it has ena- 
bled the farmers to kill the grass and gel their 
fields clean, — the late copious rains have greatly 
improved it, and with good seasons during this 
month and August, the yield will be a very 
heavy one. 

Oats. — The oat crop, we hear from different 

^sections, is almost a failure. The dry weather 

has cut the crop short fully one-half, if not 

more, and a very general scarcity is anticipated. 



"THE FARMER'S GUIDE." 

We have received Nos. 19, 20, 21, and 22, 
which complete the " Farmer's Guide." They 
are filled with valuable and interesting matter. 
- The "FARMER'sGuiDE"comprisestwo royal 
octavo volumes, and contains 1600 pages, in- 
cluing 600 woodcuts and 14 engravings on steel. 
Price in Nos. $5. In vols, bound in the best 
style of emblematic gilt muslin, $6. To be had 
of Nash & Woodhouse, Agents, Richmond. 



SHRINKAGE OF CORN. 

Knowing that a great difference of opi- 
nion exists among farmers as to the loss of 
corn by shrinkage or drying, from the time 
it is cribbed in the fall, until spring, say 
the. latter part of March, I determined to 
satisfy myself on this point — at least so far 



as one single experiment could determine. 
On ihe 23d of November last, the day on 
which we finished husking, I measured 
two bushels of ears in a standard bushel, 
as accurately as I could. I then weighed 
each bushel, found the weight forty-eight 
and a half pounds respectively. The num- 
ber of ears was fifty-eight in one, and fifty 
in the other. I had one barrel shelled, and 
got thirty-three and a half pounds, by 
weight, and half a bushel and half a peck 
by measure, and ten pounds Gf cobs. The 
corn was spread in a dry, airy place, where 
it remained till a few days since, when it 
had lost just half a peck, or fifty per cent, 
by measure, and a fraction over three 
pounds, or ten per cent, in weight. 

This shows a difference of forty per 
cent, between the loss by weight and mea- 
sure. How is this difference to be ac- 
counted for? It is owing to the minute 
division of the water in the corn, that while 
we find a loss in weight that should occupy 
a space less than three pints, thrre is an 
actual loss of eight pints in bulk-. The 
cobs of this parcel were accidentally de- 
stroyed; so that I was prevented from as- 
certaining the loss of the cob. 

The other bushel of ears was kept in a 
dry, airy place and shelled a few days ago, 
and gave just half a bushel of corn, weigh- 
ing just thirty and a quarter pounds. 

These are the facts, as gathered from 
my sryall experiments. The corn was a 
variety of the white, between the gourd 
seed and flint — a mixed variety, having 
from ten to twenty-six rows. The corn was 
in good condition for housing at ihe time 
we finished husking. — Albany Cultivator. 



From the Albany Cultivator. 

ASHES OF ANTHRACITE AND BITU- 
MINOUS COAL. 

Messrs. Editors, — During the past year, se- 
veral of the students in this laboratory have, 
at my suggestion, been examining the ashes 
of our ordinary coals, with a view to the de- 
termination of their practical value for agri- 
cultural purposes. The analyses now com- 
pleted are so accurate and so minute, that we 
are for the first time able to speak positively 
with regard to coal ashes, and to point out the 
differences which exist between them and other 
varieties of ashes. The researches of modern 
geology have shown that the beds from which 
at the present day we obtain the various forms 
of coal, consist chiefly of the remains of an 
ancient vegetation, which, beyond alJ question, 
covered large portions of the earth's surface 



210 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



at some period in the earlier history of ihe 
planet. This vegetation must have been dense 
and luxuriant beyond anything that occurs at 
the present day. Some of the many convul- 
sions and internal throes which have altered 
the position of rocks, upheaved hills and 
mountains, opened deep valleys, brought up 
dry land from the midst of the sea, and sunk 
whole continents beneath its surface again, 
have overwhelmed this vegetation, and heaped 
materials above it. v?hich have gradually har- 
dened into rock. Stratum after stratum has 
thus accumulated, new layers of vegetable 
growth have even been deposited above the 
first, by a subsequent growth and subsequent 
burial. The vegetable masses thus ciushed 
under the superincumbent pressure of perhaps 
a thousand feet of rock, and exposed to heat 
at the same time, changed into what we now 
call coal. The product was either anthracite 
or bituminous coal, according to the different 
circumstances of formation, and the different 
degrees of heat to which the beds were ex- 
posed. In the immediate vein of the coal, all 
traces of vegetable structure are commonly 
lost, but in the roof of the mine are frequently 
to be found perfectly preserved stems and 
leaves, so perfect that the botanical character 
of the plant can be clearly decided. We are 
thus able to see, and to feel, on the surface 
and in the texture of solid rock brought some- 
times from a depth of sixteen hundred feet, 
the forms of that superb vegetation which 
clothed parts of our globe for centuries, or I 
may say long ages, before man became its 
inhabit nt 

The formation of these vast vegetable de- 
posits seems to have been one of the. means 
by which our all-wise Creator prepared the 
world for our comfort and sustenance; when 
we have exhausted, in our improvidence, 
the vegetable growth of the surface, we find 
buried deep beneath ail of our present dis- 
turbing causes, the organic .structures of pre- 
ceding periods of lime, stored away in a form 
exactly adapted to our uses and wants. 

The quantity of coal now consumed an- 
nually in civilized countries, may be counted 
by millions of tons, and is increasing in pro- 
portion wiih the spread of manufacturi ig, and 
the extension and augmentation of commerce. 
If we take any single bushel, or even a single 
ton of this coal, and burn it, the proportion 
which remains unconsumed is altogether tri- 
fling in comparison with the original bulk, and 
may seem almost unworthy of note; but when 
we come to count our tons by the thousand 
and hundred thousand, this subject of coal 
ashes begfns to expand; and when we consi- 
der in this view the immense aggregate quan- 
tity which every year must afford, we see that 
the disposal of them must be a matter of much 
importance. If the thousands of loads that 
are annually wasted, contain even a small per 
centage of substances valuable to our crops, 
the preservation of these ashes becomes a 
quesiion of great public interest. That they 



mast contain something, is rendered almosli 
certain when we first ascertain the fact ihalj 
coal i> of vegetable origin; the next point isi 
to inquire how much there is that may be oil 
value to our crops at the present day. It i*| 
with the view of deciding this quesiion, all 
least with regard to some of the principal va-j 
rieties of coal used in this country, that the 
analyses herewith given have been made. 

The c>al was ignited in an ordinary fur- 
nace, and the lire, when well kindled, was al-; 
lowed to burn for nearly a whole day, before 
any ash was saved; the grate was then well 1 
raked out, the ash pit carefully cleared and 
swept, and the ashes that fell after this were 
collected. These precautions were taken to 
obviate al! danger of mingling some of the 
ashes from the wood or charcoal employed in 
lighting the fire. 

The samples for analysis were taken each 
from several pecks of ushes, obtained in this 
way. 

The investigations with regard to the an- 
thracite ash, were made by Mr. J. B. Bunce, of; 
Hartford, Connecticut, and his results >«-ere 
the product of much careful labor, nearly all 
of tie per centages bering the mean of two 
closely concurring ttials. He took fair sam- 
ples of the ordinary white and red ash coa's, 
and afier burning in the way that I have de- 
scribed above, commenced his analyses. Ac- 
cording to these, the following table shows the 
general cqm portion of ash, from the common 
kinds of coal. That there is a variation in the 
ash yielded by coal fiom different veins, 1 am 
well aware, but still do not suppose that they J 
are so marked as to materially injure the valur.^jj 
of these analyses. 1 think that they probably? 
approach quite nearly to a true representation 
of the character of anthracite ashes, and that 
they may be looked upon as very valuable for \ 
all practical purposes. 

Each column of figures represents the con- 
stituerits of 100 lbs. of ash. 

White Ash. Rod Ash. 

Insoluble in acids 88.GS 85 (55 

Soluble silica 09 1 24 

Alumina 3 36 4 24 

Iron 4 03 5 83 

Lime 2.11 16 

Magnesia 19 201 



Soda 


22. . 


.. .16 


Potash 


.. .16.... 


.. .11 


Phosphoric acid 


.. .20.... 


. . .27 


Sulphuric acid 


.. .86.... 


.. .43 


Chlorine 


.. .09.... 


.. .01 



99 99 100.11 

These close and interesting analyses, afford 
us much light upon the constitution of coal 
ash, and enable the chemist who has studied 
these subjects, to say at once and with confi- 
dence that this ash is of some value as a ma- 
nure, and shoi'ld by all means be so applied 
in cases where it can be obtained cheaply. 
Of the white ash 3.74 lbs. in 100 were sola- 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



211 



le in water, and in the red ash 3.35. Besides 
his there was a further and larger portion so- 
uble in acids, amounting in the while ash to 
58 lbs. in 100, and in the red ash to 8.00 lbs. 

R'his latter class of substances cannot be con- 
dered as immediately available for the plant; 
>ut they will nevertheless gradually decom- 
)ose and become soluble in the soil, thus af- 
brding a constant supply for a long period. 
On referring to the table, we see that the 
reater part of each ash is insoluble in acids; 
his part consists chiefly of silica, alumina, 
md iron, and thus the great bulk of these 
ishes is inactive as a fertilizer; the remainder 
is we shall find, is of more importance. It 
vill be noticed that the quantity of lime and 
nagnesia taken together, amounts in each case 
o about two and a quarter per cent. A por- 
ion of this lime was in combination with sul- 
phuric acid, forming the common gypsum or 
daster of Paris. The poiash and soda were 
loubtless chiefly combined with the phosphoric 
icid and with the trifling quantity of chlorine. 
The very considerable per centage of soluble 
ilica in the red ash, is worthy of attention as 
i curious fact. 

In looking at the nature of these results we 
may draw the general conclusion, that in the 
lsh of anthracite coal, calling these fair spe- 
cimens, we have in every one hundred pounds 
rom four to eight pounds of valuable inorganic 
Material, of a nature suitable for adding to 
iny soil requiting manures. This is the per- 
fectly pure ash; as we ordinarily find it there 
mixed a greater or less proportion of ash 
rom the wood or charcoal, used in kindling 
the fires. Thjre is without doubt, enough of 
Ujis, in all ordinary cases, to add considerably 
to the richness of the ashes. But even if we 
take them in their pure state, as represented 
t>y the above analyses, we can see that they 
are well worth collecting, and that when ap- 
plied in considerable quantity they may be 
expected to produce a decided effect. Indeed 
I have reports already as to the experience of 
several practical men, who have used them 
with much advantage. 

An analysis of the ash from bituminous 
coal has jus; been completed in this laboratory, 
by Mr. G. W. Weyman, of Pittsburgh, Penn- 
sylvania. 1 do not- insert it here, as it Ls to 
make its first appearance elsewhere. I may 
state, however, in general terms, that this ash 
has about the same proportion of soluble sub- 
Stances as the anthracite allies, but. is superior 
to them in the per centasre of lime, and of 
potash and soda, which it contains. It is, 
therefore, also of some importance. 

When we consider, according to the above 
analyses and statements, that in every ton of 
coal a:-h that is wasted, we throw away from 
100 to 150 lbs. of valuable materials, more 
valuable by far than an equal bulk of our or- 
dinary manure, we perceives plainly that the 
farmers have not understood their true interest 
in lei ting this waste go on. 
These ashes can be applied with advantage 



as a top-dressing on grass land, or as mixed 
in a compost; I hey would also be of service 
when thrown into tanks and hollows, to absorb 
liquid manures. 

'Having thus called attention to this subject, 
it is to be hoped 1 hat our farmers who are able 
to obtain quantities of coal ash, will experi- 
ment on a large scale, and add practical to 
theoretical proofs of its value. 
Yours, tiuly. 

John P. Norton. 

Yale College, Feb. 2$, 1851. 

The bituminous coal is the kind most gen- 
erally burned in Richmond, and, as it appears 
from the above, to be richer in several impor- 
tant inorganic substance's than the other, it is, 
of course, better adapted to the wants ol the 
farmers about Richmond, to whom we believe 
it is always given without charge. Cannot 
some subscriber in that neighborhood give us 
the results of a trial with hi 



From the Genesee Farmer. 

SPRING-TOOTH EORSE RAKE. 

, A good horse rake is now in use, called the 
Spring- Tooth Horse Rake. It is' Jight, and 

may befcarried by one man all about the farm. 
The elasticity of the teeth prevents their 
breaking or fastening to any obstruction with 
which they may chance to*c< me in contact. 
They operate very well on rough or stony 
ground, and are first rate for raking wheat 
stubble, and thus gleaning what would other- 
wise be wasted. From one to two bushels to 
the acre is often secured in this way, and one 
man with this rake can glean twenty acres a 
day. 

The rake, as usually made, has a head about 
nine feet long, and from twenty to twenty-four 
elastic wire teeth. It does not revolve, but is 
raised over the winrow with ease and facility, 
without stopping the horse; the whole rake 
weighing only about sixty pounds, and the 
thills being upheld by the horse, the holder 
has only to lift one end of the rake by the 
handles, and the advance motion of the horse 
will have carried it over the winrow while the 
holder can lift it up and down properly. The 
holder bears down on the har dies more or 
less, according to the size of the winrow he 
wishes to collect, and leaves the winrow when 
and where he pleases, by quickly raising the 
handles, as before stated. Price, eight dollars. 

We have seen the above described rake 
work, and think it works well in gleaning 
wheat; better than the old revolving horse 
rake, which tears up a good deal of clover in 



212 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



its course. Those who follow the practice of 
gleaning with a horse rake of any sort we 
should think would be well pleased with this. 
But the policy of the practice is doubtful. It 
injures the clover as above stated, and col- 
lects nearly as much dirt as wheat, if run di- 
rectly after the reapers, when the ground is 
dry. In wet weather it will not answer at all, 
nor after the wheat has been caught by a rain. 
Several years ago we made two successive 
trials in raking wheat fields: the first year the 
wheat was much injured by dirt, and the barn 
was filled to suffocation with dust: the next 
year we fed the raked wheat to hogs without 
threshing it. 

"From one to two bushels to the acre is 
never secured in this way" here, nor, in our 
judgment, any where. That quantity is rarely 
left on the ground under the worst cutting, and 
cannot be saved by this or any other rake if 
it is. 

If a field is cleared of the wheat as soon as 
it should be, hogs are the closest and most 
economical gleaners. > 

For getting up timothy the spring-tooth horse 
rake will not answer, as the teeih are too weak 
to hold much hay. It is still worse in clover. 
We have never seen a proper substitute for 
the old revolving hay rake at this work, in 
which it is a most valuable implement. And 
even that fails in rank and tangled clover. 



CANALS AND RAILROADS. 

Farmers are largely interested in the 
cheapness with which their crops, whether 
cotton or grain, provisions or tobacco, can 
be conveyed to market. To most agricul- 
turists, the cost of transportation to the 
nearest seaport is a serious item of ex- 
pense; and whoever can furnish any facts 
calculated to lessen this annual tax on the 
great staples of the country will render 
them an esst-ntial service. Most railroads 
and all canals are sustained by freight, if 
sustained at all, more than travel. It is 
worthy of remark, however, that the trans- 
portation of property being an important 
and indispensable business, it naturally 
draws a corresponding amount of travel 
into the same line, and usually upon the 
same thoroughfare. For a railroad to se- 
cure the freight of a planter's cotton, is to 
create a condition of things by which the 



chances are that he will pass twice and 
perhaps four or six times over the road as 
a passenger, and employ it to transport his 
year's supply of salt, iron, groceries, hard- ij 
ware and dry-goods to his residence, of"f 
stopping place. There is always a broad 
district of farming lands under cultivation, 
ju>t without the commanding i fluence of 
a canal or railroad, which is not tributary 
to its revenues without a very nice erdcu- i 
lation of profit and loss. All these works 
of internal improvement may be regarded 
from their present infancy as not having 
settled the practical question how cheap 
their proprietors ought to carry pen ons 
and property to realize in five or ten year3, 
the highest return for their investments.— 
The Erie canal is the oldest work of the 
kind of any extent in the United States, 
and all its trade is subject to the common 
laws which govern the use of a canal or 
railroad every where. It can only com- 
mand the business of the people to a large 
and profitable extent, by doing it at a small 
per cent, above cost, and reducing the cost 
to the lowest attainable point. This far- 
reaching policy brings millions of acres of 
wild land that yielded not a ton of freight, 
nor a single passenger, speed dy under the 
plough, for it has become too valuable any 
longer to remain a waste prairie or forest 
It is wonderful how accurately the cultiva- 
tors of the soil estimate the availability of 
a railroad or canal to reach any market^ 
There was not so large a foreign demand 
for breadstuff's and provisions in 1850 as in 

1849, yet a small reduction of tolls on the 
Erie canal increased the tons sent through 
it from 1,897,310 in 1849,-to 2,475,600 "in 

1850, being a gain in a single year of 
578,290 tons. The value of property 
transported was $127,641,594 in 1849, and 
$140,658,009 in 1850, being a gain of 
$ 13,016,405. The Erie canal delivered at 
tide water from the 13th to the 30th No- 
vember last, in fifteen working days, differ- 
ent kinds of property equal to 100,000 bar- 
rels of flour daily. 

It is no impeachment of the sagacity of 
the able men who manage this public work 
to say, that it has taken them twenty-five 
years to learn that there was a half million 
tons of freight within their reach, but un- 
attained, because they charged a mill or 
two on a ton per mile more for the use of 
the canal than the farmers could afford to 
pay. These farmers were of course outside 
of the circuit of its former business, while 
a few weighty articles near the canal 
passed down it by reason of reduced trans- 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



213 



portation. Ill 1819 there arrived at Buffalo, 
ind were shipped by canal 59,444 barrels 
[>f beef in 1850, 78.899, and over 800,000 
pounds of tallow. Notwithstanding-, there 
laas been a regularreduction of tolls for more 
than twenty years, and only when experi- 
ence demonstrated a gain in revenue by 
an increase of trade, and there has never 
been an advance in tolls since the canal 
was completed in 1825, yet a farther re- 
duction of nearly twenty per cent, is likely 
to be made for the navigation of 1851. — 
The New York and Erie railroad creates 
its business by carrying persons from vil- 
lage to village for two cents a mile, and 
freight at a still lower figure in proportion. 
All are keen to make money in the earliest 
and fastest manner; but the way to do it? 
That is the question. For all purposes of 
freight and travel, the stockholders of the 
iron roads from Chattanooga to Savannah 
and Charleston, own a vast and fertile re- 
gion in the great Slate of Tennessee, and 
not a little in northern Alabama and Geor- 
gia, which now yields no revenue what- 
ever. There is no sound sense in keeping 
this property in its present unproductive 
condition. Wishing that it was fairly set- 
tled, cultivated and highly productive, will 
never make it so, without adding good 
works to a rational faith. If the business 
of the present population is worth anything, 
it is almost self-evident that to double this 
(population will add not 100, but 200 per 
cent, to their annual surplus for export. — 
The law which governs the surplus of a 
civilized community for sending abroad is 
not well understood by those who have 
never made the inland and foreign com- 
merce of a people a study. No inconside- 
rable share of human industry is prompted 
by imaginary wants, or natural ones mo- 
dified and indulged by the habits and cus- 
toms of society. These create the neces- 
sity (or large exchanges, and an ever 
augmenting trade and commerce, which 
in turn give a market for cotton, wool, su- 
gar, and all other products of farm labor. 
The wealth and civilization of America 
are in in its soil; and railways and canals, 
rightly understood and used, are valuable 
machines to develop these latent resources. 
It is a curious fact that with all their ready 
money, numerous manufactories, and vast 
mineral and commercial resources, the peo- 
ple of England are able to consume but 
thirteen and a quarter yards of cotton cloth 
each on average per annum; while the 
people of this new, and as some English- 
men assert, hall L civilized country, annually 



consume thirty-two and a quarter yards of 
cotton to each five inhabitant. Why we 
can and do beat them nineteen yards on a 
basis of thirteen and a quarter to each 
man, woman and child, must be sought in 
our free institutions, our extended area, in- 
valuable Union, and the popular intelli- 
gence that maintain the rights of the many. 
If we will look around and see how many 
poor families there are, and of those not 
poor, that consume less cotton goods by 
two-thirds than they really need for their 
comfort, we shall discover a home market, 
growing with astonishing rapidity, for 
twice the cotton now consumed in the 
United States. There are a hundred ways 
in which railroads and canals increase the 
demand for calico dresses and cotton shirts. 
These highways are the friends of the 
planter, unavoidably so; but their owners 
best consult their own interests when ihey 
study constantly to reduce the cost of freight 
and travel to the lowest point consistent 
with prudence and justice to themselves. 

New York has, by the recent census, 
abcut 260,000 more inhabitants than the 
six New England States. This is one of 
the fruits of a wise and liberal policy; and 
we are hap'py to know that Georgia is ris- 
ing fast in the just estimation of all her 
sisters, and steadily attaining noble enda 
by noble means. We have just broken up 
our last fine specimen of her Burr mill-stone 
rock to supply cabinets with samples of this 
valuable mineral. It has given us pleasure 
to call public attention to this Burr rock in 
a work of which one hundred and thirty 
thousand volumes will be distributed, more 
or less, in every county in the Union. — 
We will venture to name, in this connex- 
ion, one other matter in which we take 
considerable interest and that is the con- 
siruction of a continuous railroad from 
Lake Michigan to Mobile and the Gulf. — 
Although this road will share with the Erie 
("anal in the millions of tons of western 
freight, yet there will be enough for all, and 
the delegation from western and central 
New York voted public lands to aid the 
grand enterprise. This railroad will con- 
fer lasting and inestimable benefits upon 
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South 
Carolina, as well as upon Tennessee, Ken- 
tucky and the vast and fertile regions north 
of those States and of Arkansas. 

The February number of De Bow's Re- 
view contains an able and instructive arti- 
cle on the u The Future of the South," 
which, however, leaves off at the point 
where we should begin, if writing on the 



214 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



eame suggestive theme. It is so inviting 1 , 
possibly we may review the reviewer in 
the pages of this journal; in the meantime, 
we think it not amiss to say, that if any of 
its patrons wish to see a northern publica- 
tion that claims one hundred thousand 
readers, the proprietor of which has done 
something to make the resources of the 
South understood at the North and West, 
they have only to send fifty cents to the 
" Genesee Farmer, Rochester, N. Y." to 
receive the work for a year. Mr. Barry, 
conductor of the Horticultural department, 
is a practical man of large experience, and 
wholly devoted to his profession. We are 
informed that the office of the Genesee 
Farmer booked over twenty thousand 
names in January. We mention these 
personal matters mainly to stimulate our 
Southern friends to extend the circulation 
and increase the usefulness of the South- 
ern Cultivator. It can add to the value 
of your property, and will do so, if you 
will only lend a helping hand. We are 
powerless without your cordial co-opera- 
tion. Double the circulation of this journal 
and we will spend at least four months in 
each year in the cotton growing States, 
giving lectures or doing whatever else 
may promote the agricultural interests. It 
is bad economy for a setting hen to waste 
her time incubating a single egg. Give 
her a nest full and the business amounts to 
something. Very few appreciate the value 
of time. Rightly employed, it is rare in- 
deed that it does not command complete 
success. Numbers are indispensable in 
every popular enterprise, and we must 
have at the South at least twenty thousand 
co-laborers in so large a field, to realize a 
satisfactory result. The cause is worthy 
of much greater support. 



as necessary. Special attention was given 
to the nectarines, which for six years' blos- 
soming had yielded no crop; and to be still 
more secure against this, the lime was ap- 
plied carefully with a brush to each youn^f 
nectarine. About three days in the aggre- 
gate were spent in this way; and the result 
was, that the full number of six entire spe- 
cimens of the nectarine were saved from 
destruction out of the whole orchard. But 
on further inquiry it appeared that these 
six all grew on a tree under which a young 
calf was kept confined during the season 
I of operation; and to whose presence chiefly, 
j these specimens owed their escape. 

The lime was believed to have a repel- 
ling influence, and some hopes were at first 
i entertained of its efficacy; but it was soon 
j discovered that the coating was disregard- 
ed, and the eggs were thrust through it 
i into the green pulp. The whole trees with 
[their entire crop of leaves whitened with 
lime, did not present a very ornamental 
j appearance. 

The application of lime appears to have 
! been elsewhere in some cases quite suc- 
cessful — it becomes a subject for inquiry 
! whether any collateral influences assisted 
! it; whether the favorable result was not 
j owing to something else, and was errone- 
ously ascribed to the lime. — Alb. Cult. 



LIME FOR THE CURCULIO. 

Much having been said in favor of lime 
as a remedy for the curculio, and as the 
time is approaching for its yearly assault 
on young fruit, the knowledge of past ex- 
periments becomes desirable. A near 
neighbor, — who is a distinguished fruit 
raiser, — tried lime in nearly all imagina- 
ble ways last year, and with the following 
results: 

Nectarines, plums, and apricots, were 
thoroughly syringed with thin lim«» wash; j 
and as each successive rain and heavy dew 
carried it o(f from the smooth surface of 
the young fruit, it wa3 re-applied as often 



CUTTING AND LAYING TILE DRAINS. 

Messrs. Editors, — The subject, of laying tile 
drains, is one upon which I have written be fore, 
boih for the Cultivator and other agricultural 
publications, bui there are some reasons why 
it seems best to enter upon it again at the pre- 
sent time. After all that has been spoken and 
written by myself and others in favorof drain- 
ing, and of tiles, it is in my experience still, 
the tact that a majority of the farmers in most 
districts are even yet unable to tell what a tile 
really is, much less to say what should be done 
with it in making a drain. In some quarters, 
however, enterprising men have introduced 
their manufacture, and as fast as their useful- 
ness becomes known, the demand for them is 
increasing. I have received letters from nu- 
merous sources, inquiring as to the nature of 
tiles, where they are to be procured, how they 
were to be laid, &c. &c. 

In my " Elements of Scientific Agriculture," 
I have devoted part of a chapter to a descrip- 
tion of the various kinds of tiles u^ed, the 
modes ot laying them, the tools em ployed, and 
the systems of arrangement best adapted to 
different situations and classes of soil. Mr. 
Colman, in his '-European Agriculture, 1 ' has 
also dwelt upon this subject somewhat at 



M 






THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



215 



length. These b <oks. however, are not known 
to all, and do not, in themselves, furnish any 
thing mure than an outline of what may now 
be called the science of draining. 1 find that 
in practice, various unseen difficulties arise, 
which are not provided for in the books, and 
now propose to notice some points relative to 
the actual working details of drainage, with- 
out referring much to theory. In doing this, 
I am not aware that I may possibly err in some 
of my practical views, but as they have been 
mostly drawn from observations of real expe- 
rience, they probably will not lead any one 
very far astray. Bye-and-bye, when time has 
shown the success or failure of their respective 
systems, some of our practical drainers must 
give us the details of their management.— 
While waiting for such developments, 1 will 
endeavor to answer a few of the inquiries that 
have been from time to time addressed to me. 

1. The form of tile now preferred by the 
best foreign authorities, is the pipe, or simple 
cylinder, cut in lengths, and laid so as to join 
end to end. This form can be made cheaper 
than any other, being all in one place; for the 
same reason it can be transported at smaller 
cost, and is less liable to breakage by handling. 
The common objection on the part'of those 
who have never seen these tiles at work, is, 
that water will not find its way into such a 
close connected tube. I might reason upon 
this subject at length, but cannot now spare 
the space, and will simply assure all doubters 
that the water does, in some way, get in, and 
that thev cannot, even by any process of pack- 
ing stiff clay around the tiles, manage to ex- 
clude it. This has been proved over and over 

again, in practice, and is no longer a point for 
argument. 

2. A frequent subject of inquiry is, the na- 
ture of the tools proper for cutting the narrow 
diich required for tiles. One great saving in 
their use, is this reduced width of the drain. 
It is customary to run one or two deep furrows 
with a heavy plough along the line of the drain, 
thus partially throwing out from eight to ten 
inches of the surface. The loose eanh is then 
cleared away by a common spade, and the next 
ten or twelve inches taken out by a spade of 
the sameshape, but narrower. Anoiberspade 
still, six or seven inches wide at the top, but 
not more than two or three at the bottom, and 
quite long, takes out the lowest portion of the 
earth, leaving just about space for the tiles to 
lie, and for a man's foot to rest. A peculiar 
scoop-shaped hoe is frequently employed to I 
finish the bottom of the drain smoothly, by cut- 
ting out small inequalities, and removing loose i 
earth, which cannot so convenientlv be cleared 
away by a spade. In coarse,, hard gravel, or 
where large stones abound, such a perfectly 
formed ditch as I have described, cannot well 
be made. In these cases the cut must be more 
or less irregular, and in hard soils must be 
much wider than is absolutely necessary to re- 
ceive the tile. 

Z. When the ditch is completed, the tiles 



are carefully laid on the bottom, end to end, 
care being taken thatno wide vacancies occur, 
and that each piece i.> firmly in its place. la 
a very mellow and smooth soil, it is quite pos- 
sible to cut the bottom so accurately to the 
size of tile employed, that the pieces can be 
laid and held in their places by the sides of 
the ditch. In the majority of cases, however, 
this cannot be done, and it is best to wedge 
them in as compactly as possible, by sm; 11 
stones placed at proper intervals along their 
sides. It this precaution be not taken, they 
are liable to be disturbed when the earth is 
thrown in to fill up. The end of a single tile 
thrust an inch out of its place would probably 
cause the stoppage of a long line, so that this 
point must be carefully attended to. Many 
practical drainers recommend laying a little 
piece of turf, grass side down, or a bunch of 
straw or shavings, over each joint, in order to 
prevent earth fiom sifting in. 1 his, of course, 
is a safeguard, but in ordinary circumstances 
it is an unnecessary expenditure of labor. If 
the soil thrown back has become entirely dry 
and powdery, enough may possibly silt in to 
do some mischief; but if it, or at least the first 
few shovelfuls, be in an ordinary state of 
moisture, no such result need be apprehended, 
provided, always, that the joints are well made, 
and the lime firmly secured in its place. A 
point which is often neglected, is the proper 
packing of the earth in filling. This should 
always be done with care, so as to avoid that 
washing of mud into the pipes, which would 
be likely to occur if the soil above them were 
left loose and porous. 

4. If any curves are made in the drain, they 
should be of a gradual character. It would 
be better to blast or remove even a large rock, 
than to make an abrupt curve in a long drain. 
It is easy to see that the tiles would not join 
closely together on a sharply curved line, and 
even if cut to fit, the danger of stoppage would 
be greatly increased, owing to their greater 
liability to get out of place. Such curves, too, 
retard very seriously the flow of the current, 
and for this reason, the drain is less likely to 
clear itself of many small obstacles which 
may obtain entrance. Where the fall is gen- 
tle, this consideration becomes of especial 
consequence. It was said by Mr. Smith, of 
Deanston, that tile drains might be made to 
discharge water, where the fall was but one 
inch in a mile. This, obviously, could only 
be done by the exercise of some engineering 
skill in levelling, &c. Where the fall is one 
foot in a mile, the work is not difficult, although, 
even then, it must be very nicely done, and the 
channel very even. The greatest difficulty on 
a gentle fall, is found in gravelly and stony 
soils; it requires some patience to straighten 
and smooth the bottom of a ditch in such a 
situation. 

5 Some persons have supposed that ma- 
chinery is used abroad for laying the tiles. — 
This, i have never seen, and am inclined to 
think there is some mistake in the matter, for 



216 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



I cannot see that any advantage would result 
from the employment of machinery in such 
work. A good, careful man, when the diteh 
has been well cleaned out and levelled, can 
lay the tiles and secure them in their places 
with great facility. Where the fall is incon- 
siderable, slight inequalities in the bed of the 
ditch, and consequent bends of the tiles, do 
not seem to be injurious. On the sides of hills, 
I have seen them laid quite carelessly, precau- 
tions only being used to keep the ends where 
the tiles met, in close contact. 

6. That as a general rule the drains should 
run straight down the slope, and in parallel 
lines, is now considered a fact beyond all ques- 
tion. Such drains discharge the water better 
than others, and dry the ground more com- 
pletely. At the foot of the slope, they dis- 
charge into a main cross drain, made of large 
tiles, or in some cases of flag stones. Where 
the slope is very long, it is recommended to 
run a cross drain about half way from the top. 
This is to prevent the liability to choke, which 
exists in very long drains of small diameter. 

7. A pipe of one and a half inches inside di- 
ameter, is quite sufficient for the small drains, 
where they have not to run more than two hun- 
dred feet; for greater distances a two inch in- 
teriordiameterwould be preferable. Farmers 
among us who commence draining with tiles, 
are apt to spend more money than is necessary, 
by purchasing larger sizes, under the impres- 
sion that it is not safe to use the smaller ones. 
If, however, any person will calculate how 
much water may be discharged in twenty-four 
hours by a pipe of one inch bore, it will be 
perceived that but a few such pipes constantly 
running to the utmost of their capacity, would 
make quite a brook. The three and four inch 
sizes commonly used, are, in ordinary cases, 
never taxed to more than half of their capacity. 

8. It is apprehended by some farmers, that 
the tiles would soon become choked, if laid in 
that mixture of sand and clay which almost 
runs when saturated with water. I have 
never seen any precautions employed in such 
cases, and do not believe them to be necessary. 
The tile itself, almost instantaneously, dries 
that part of the wet soil with which it comes 
in immediate contact, to such an extent that 
it will no longer run; it becomes a porous me- 
dium through which the surplus from the still 
saturated portions filters clear into the drain. 

9. Jn quicksands, and bogs, where the bot- 
tom is very soft and yielding, it has sometimes 
been found best to lay a foundation of broad 
refuse plank or boards, upon which the line of 
tiles is placed. The pieces being short and 
heavy, are otherwise liable to sink unevenly, 
and gradually work outof place. Drains have 
been laid in this way with eight or ten feet of 
soft bog beneath them and have worked well, 
at least for some years. 

Many of the tiles that I have seen in this 
country, have not been well baked, owing pro- 
bably to inexperience in the makers. They 
should be burned hard, so as to ring when 



struck, and show a full red color. The soft, 
pale-colored ones are apt to crumble away in 
the soil, and will not stand at all when exposed 
to the action of frost. 

I have thus answered briefly, most of the 1 
questions that have been addressed to me by 
different individuals, and shall le happy to 
give any further explanations that m<ty be de- 
sired, as far as I am able to furnish them. 
Yours truly, 

John P. Norton. 



FENCING— WIRE vs. CEMENT. 

An article extracted from DeBow's Review, i< 
on the subject of wire fences, is going the i< 
rounds of the press at the South. A. compa- 
rison is therein instituted, in respect to cheap- 
ness and durability, between the ordinary plank 
fence and the wire fence of a Mr. Sibley, of i: 
St. Louis. It is unnecessary for our purpose || 
to give the details — the results arrived at by 
the writer, are, that a well-made plank fence 
of best materials, four feet six inches in height, 
which cost one dollar and fifty cents per panel 
of same length, will cost only sixty cents. 
The wooden fence, it is estimated, with much 
care, will last fifteen or twenty years — the 
wire, with very little care, (keeping it coated 
with white lead,) will be good for fifty or sixty. 

Now, we do not doubt but that many far- ! 
mers in Alabama will be anxious to give the 
wire fence a trial. It is certainly more lasting, 
cheaper, and infinitely more sightly than the 
plank fence. And then, it is a St. Louis in^ 
vention— it comes from a distance; and "dis- 
tance lends enchantment to the view." We 
ask their leave, however, to make a suggestion 
in favor of a home production, wbich is 
cheaper, more durable, and in every respect 
superior, to board fences, brick fences, or wire 
fences. Its only objectionable features are, 
that the patentee lives in their midst, and that 
the fence may be made by every man from the 
dirt at his own door! 

The cement invented and patented by John 
R. Remington, of Montgomery, is, in our opi- 
nion, a far more useful invention than even his 
iErial bridge. It makes the best roofing in 
the world, and applied as a paint to fences and 
timber buried in the ground, protects forever. 
But its chief use will le for making solid 
fences, rivalling granite in strength and dura- 
bility, at a cost not greater than that of ordi- 
nary post and-rail. So simple, too, is the pro- 
cess of manufacturing, that any plantation 
hand in a few hours can be taught to make the 
cement for fences as well as the inventor. The 
most expensive ingredient being sand, the 
chief cost is the labor of preparing it; and 
this our rerders are, most of them, more com- 
petent to judge concerning, than we. When 
it is recollected how much time is lost on 
every plantation by the hands, during "rainy 
spells," it will be evident to all, that itjhe 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



217 



?nce be as represented, and it can be raanu- 
aciured by plantation hands, it must be the 
heapest and best in the world. 

Mr. Remington's estimate of the cost of his 
:ement fence to the planter, is ten cents per 
ianel of ten feet by five — four inches thick. 
Jul suppose that it is twenty cents, or forty 
;ents, or even double that— it would still be un- 
ler the cost of the wire fence. 

But the wire fence requires a machine to 
>ut it up — the ce*ment panels are conveyed, J 
ike rails, to the spot, and the two legs of each 
et into the ground like ordinary posts. The 
ianel is up in ten minutes; and every day | 
idds to its strength. If a heavy tree should 
all across and crush one of these panels, a 
ew hours would suffice to make the cement 
ind replace it; but, of course, the farmer who 
dopted this mode would keep on hand a few 
urplus panels for such contingencies. 

In the course of a few days, we shall re- 
eive from Mr. Remington, to exhibit to our 
riends, a specimen of panel of the cement 
ence, and also a specimen of the cement 
vhich is applied as paint to fences. The right 
use the invention in all its forms, may be 
>urchased by individuals at from $25 to $100.— 
Tribune. 



From the Plough, Loom, and Anvil. 

ON THE USE OF CHARCOAL. 

BY COL. M. P. WILDER. 

I noticed in the last number of your valua- 
!ie periodical, the request of Mr. Trimble, so- 
iciting advice as to the advantages of char- 
coal, and the best method of using it as a 
nanure. 

I reply with pleasure, but my experience 
las been on a limited scale, and my operations 
onrined rather to the garden than the farm, 
in account of the difficulty of procuring it in 
efficient quantity for the latter purpose. 

My attention was first drawn to the influ- 
nce of charcoal, by the wonderful experi- 
nenrs of Baron Von Liebig, in the propaga- 
ion of plants, and the facility with which 
uttings were rooted in this substance. 

Its use became very general in Europe by 
imateurs and cultivators of plants, and for a 
ime it was considered as a great fertilizer, 
chemists soon ascertained, however, that its 
mief virtue consisted in its great porosity, be- 
ng able to absorb 90 per cent, of its bulk of 
immonia. 

As a medium for storing up the volatile por- 
ions of manure and compost heaps, and for 
ibsorbing the ammonia which descends in the 
snow and rain, it has probably no superior. 
But what renders charcoal still more valua- 
Dle is its power of holding in reserve these sub- 
le elements, and yielding them up only as 
hey are wanted for the purpose of nutrition, 



and as the vital force of the root searches for 
food. 

It will therefore be readily perceived, that 
charcoal is not only valuable as a component 
part of manures, but that its influence, when 
applied alone, is highly beneficial. Instances 
similar to those quoted by Mr. Trimble, where 
large crops had been obtained from lands on 
which charcoal pits had been burned years 
before, are frequently witnes>ed. In this vi- 
cinity a farmer has annually, for the last 
eight years, harvested extraordinary ciops of 
hay on these charcoal lands, without the ap- 
plication of any manure whatever; and from 
the indistructibility of this substance, 1 know 
no reason why he may not continue to do so 
for the next twenty years to come.* 

One of the mo>t striking illustrations of its 
efficacy, when applied alone, that has come to 
my notice, was the experiment made by Mr. 
Hayward, of Sandusky, Ohio, many years 
since, and which, if I am not mistaken, was 
published either in the last volume of your 
Farmer's Library, or the first volume of The 
Plough, the Loom, and the Anvil. The facts 
I think were substantially as follows: Mr. H. 
having prepared his coal by grinding in a mill, 
set apart seven lots for experiments, the soil 
and cultivation being precisely alike on each, 
except as it regarded the application of char- 
coal. The result was, that on the lots where 
fifty bushels of coal were applied, there were 
twenty five bushels of wheat obtained, while on 
those lots where there was no coal applied the 
crop was only five or six bushels. It will be 
borne in mind that there was no other manure 
administered to the crop, and that conse- 
quently the fertilizing properties must have 
been imparted by the ammonia which was 
stored up in the coal. 

This experiment was very satisfactory, but 
not more so than many others which we have 

* The testimony on this point is by no means uni- 
form ; some averring that they could see no diffe- 
rence in the crop where the kilns had been burned, 
while others assert the contrary. The coal brought 
to the Washington market from Virginia, a distance 
of ten or twelve miles, sells for ten cents the bushel ; 
in New York the price is fifteen cents. They say 
a cord of pine wood will make thirty bushels, equal 
to the price for which the wood sells in the same 
market, S3— in New York, $5. But the force 
which would bring the cord of wood will take a 
hundred bushels of coal. Such is the advantage of 
manvfaduring on the spot, whenever it can be 
done. For the same reason that the farmer wants 
to have the mill, and the smith's shop, and the 
school, and the store, not only in his own county, 
but close to his door, he ought to desire to have the 
loom and the anvil close to the plough ; whenever 
the one can be supplied with the wool and the other 
the iron, here at home. Will the time ever come 
when reason and common sense shall prevail over 
early prejudices and uncommon sense? — Edit. P 
L., <$• A. '' 

P. S.— The facts stated are from the plain work- 
ing men whom we meet selling coal in the street. 



218 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



witnessed, particularly in the application of 
charcoal to fruit trees, plants and garden ve- 
getables; and I have yet to see the first in- 
stance where charcoal formed a part of the 
compost, that vegetation did not grow luxuri- 
antly, producing the increasing and quicken- 
ing effects described by Mr. Trimble. In fact, 
it is no unusual circumstance to notice the 
roo ! s of trees and plants either clasping pieces 
of charcoal, or piercing them through with 
their fibres. The be>t meihod, when any con- 
siderable quantity is to be used, would un- 
doubtedly be to grind the charcoal, and I 
should prefer that one-half at least should be 
as coarse as Indian corn. As to the amount 
which may be applied to the acre, I think Mr. 
Havward's experience will furnish a good cri- 
terion, although I have no doubt a larger quan- 
tity than fifty bushels to the acre, for the first 
dressing, might produce an increase of the 
crop. 

If charcoal is to be applied alone, and with- 
ouUmanure, the time is not material, except 
that it should be well incorporated with the 
soil, either by ploughing in, or harrowing, but 
not deeply. Mr. Trimble describes his soil as 
being "generally a strong yellow clay based 
upon limestone." Charcoal will no doubt 
prove valuable on these lands, but more so on 
light soils which allow the salts of manure to 
leach throug'i; for clay is al^o a substance 
which holds securely the volatile portions of 
manure, and when made fine by the frost or 
other^i^e, is a capital ingredient for the com- 
post heap. 

P. S. On recurrence to ray file of letters I 
find Mr. Tiimble's, but which, from the cir- 
cumstance of its arriving just as I was on the 
point of starting on a journey, was laid aside, 
and "being out of sight was out of mind." 
From the character of his land, "limeing" 
would not only be a waste, but worse than a 
waste of time and mone\, the soil being al- 
ready sufficiently charged with lime. And 
here \tt me drop a word of caution, never to 
use lime either in conjunction with charcoal 
or ihe rmnure heap, on account of its disen- 
gaging the fertilizing gases and sending them 
off in ''thin air." I beg his pardon for the 
neglect, and fear from the haste with which 
the ahove had been written, that it will be of 
little service to him or others. 

M. P. Wilder. 

Boston, March 4^, 1851. 



MANAGEMENT OF A COW WITH 
HER FIRST CALF. 

There is so much common sense— so much 
true philosophy in the following, that we feel 
it to be our duty to co'iimtnd it warmly to 
fav>r: 

Mr. Russell Woodward in the Memoirs of 
the N. Y. Board of Agriculture, says: "I 
have found that young co^vs, the firs' year that 



they give milk, may be made, with careful 
milking and good keeping, to give milk almost 
any length of time required. But if they are ' 
left to dry up early in the fall, they will be sure 
to dry up of their milk each succeeding year, { 
if they have a calf near the same season of, 
the year; and nothing but extraordinary keep- 
ing will prevent it, and that bur for a short 
time. I have had them dried up of their milk ' 
in August, and could not by any means make 
them give milk much beyond that time in any ' 
succeeding year. 

"I have "two cows, now, that were miked 
the first year they had calves till near the ! ; 
time of their calving again, and have conti- i 
nued to give milk as late ever since, if we ! 
will milk them." 

We have seen the efficacy of the above plan 
verified.— Editor American Farmer. 



From the Genesee Farmer. 
INTERESTING LETTER. 

Messrs. Editors, — I have but little to 
communicate that will be interesting or 
useful, as regards the cultivators of the 
soil in this vicinity. The labors are pro- ' 
bably as well directed and performed as in 
any section of the western country. One 
fact 1 think is worthy of record, and that 
is, that mother earth, ever kind and always 
unalterably just, his again the past year 
fully compensated all for the labor be- »i 
stowed. How few seem h> realize the fact,-**' 
that although thus kind, she is always in- | 
fiex\b\y just — "As you sow so shall ye also 
reap." 

I deeply deplore the almost universal 
ignorance of the cultivators of the soil in 
reference to their peculiar and responsible 
calling. None of us for a moment think 
of employing any mechanic to work in 
wood, who is not qualified, by education 
and practice, to judge of the adaptedness 
of the different kinds of wood, to determine 
at once whether it ie suited for the uses re- 
quired. Neither do we employ a mechanic 
to work in the different metals, without his 
possessing the like requisite knowledge of 
them. Few are wiHing to employ a sur- 
geon or physician unless he possesses an 
acuir-ite knowledge of the human system, 
and also of the remedial properties of the 
medicine necessary to be prescribed Or 
to engage any lawyer who has not the re- 
quisite acquaintance with the various laws 
enacted for the benefit of society. Few 
are esteemed learned who cannot so ar- 
range the letters of the alphabet as to ex- 
press the simplest truths in the simplest 



I 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



219 



anguage, but also so to arrange them as 
,o convey the mightiest facts and truths in 
ucha manner as to possess both light and 
)ovver. What great and momentous re- 
sults have been produced by the suitable 
irrangement of the simple letters. Nations 
lave been controlled and swayed, as the 
nind of one man. And shall the cultiva- 
orsof the soil be less learned? They are 
he honored foundation upon which the 
ivhole magnificent structure of human so- 
ciety is built. They are the Egypt of the 
jvhole world. By the right'disposal of the 
imple elements placed in their hands, they 
;an supply with food and every comfort, 
uany times more inhabitants than now 
Iwell upon the earth. They can transform 
he wilderness and the desert into the lux- 
lriant and beautiful garden, multiplying 
continually those products that make life a 
)!essing, and their enjoyment by the mil- 
ions equal. Or, by the misuse and abuse 
)f their ample means, convert the rich and 
uxuriant earth into a waste and barren 
lesert, bringing misery, want, wretched- 
less, and depopulation upon the world. — 

ew, comparatively i"ew, of those profess- 
ng to be the tillers of the earth, know 
nuch of the constituents of the soil they 
ry to cultivate — of its wants, capabilities, 
>radaptation to produce the different grains 
md grasses, profitably, they wish to culti- 
vate. Consequently much of their labor 
y unprofitably directed. The proper til- 
age of the earth with all its attendants, is 
he most useful, important and ennobling, 
hai occupies the mind and energies of 
nan. Who, that has a heart to appreciate 
he varied beauties of the ever teeming 
;arth, rich in all that renders life a blessing, 
>ut that will prefer to wisely and judi- 
:iously multiply the needed products of 
;arth. Brother farmers, if we have chosen 
his healthful and useful employment, let 
us strive to obtain the requisite knowledge 
hat shall enable us fully 10 understand our 
,vholc duties. Let us call in the aid of the 
iris and sciences, and tax every faculty, 
intil we can understand the nature and 
Droperties of our various soils, and daily 
pursue our labors with as much intelligence 
md skill as any mechanics or professional 
Tien. Then shall we make our calling 
honorable and useful. He-who hath made 

he earth with all its alternations of light 
*nd darkness, rain and dews, cold and heat, 
jeauty and apparent sterility, has merci- 
fully promised to crown our labors with 
blessings that no other calling or profession 
can claim. He says to us: "He that tilleth 



his land shall be satisfied with bread." I 
witness with pleasure the improvements 
that have been made and thai are being 
made in the various useful implements we 
need to perform our labors. J\o class of 
men have better opportunities to improve 
their minds and hearts than the farmer. 
Let us improve them. 

Orange H. "Wait. 



From the Working Farmer. 

THOROUGH DRAINING, SUBSOIL 
PLOUGHING, &c. 

At a late meeting of the New York Farmers' 
Club, we had an opportuniiy of hearing ihe 
views of a number of praciical fanners on 
the above subject. We were more than ever 
convinced of the great utility of such meetings. 

The views of theorists are fairly tested when 
subjected to the investigations and objections 
of practical men, while the want of tact for 
the ready application of philosophical tiuths 
is compensated for by the suggestions of theo- 
rists, and thus theory and practice lend their 
mutual aid in arriving at not only the truths 
of natural laws, but of their economical ap- 
plication to practice. The following were 
among the remarks made by the members 
present. 

In relation to draining, it was observed that 
the advantages arising from its practice was 
not confined to the mere mechanical operation 
of getting rid of surplus water from the soil, 
but the improved results now so well known 
to arise from under-draining, were, in part, 
attributable to the action of the atmosphere 
on the ingredients of the soil. Land tho- 
roughly under-drained and subsoil ploughed, 
maybe said to be so conditioned as to avail 
of Nature's laws more economically, than 
when such practices have not been resorted to. 

Viewing the soil as the debris of rocks, it 
should be understood that the different alkalis 
and other substances resident in the particles, 
are not always in a condition to be dissolved 
by water or used by plants, but if the atmos- 
phere be brought into immediate contact with 
these particles, changes go on which render 
all the surfaces susceptible of being rendered 
soluble by atmospheric and consequent che- 
mical changes. Thus from feldspar potash 
may be liberated, and by its influence silex 
may be sendered soluble. Sulphurets which 
are unfavorable to vegetable growth, may be 
changed to sulphates; minute surfaces coated 
with alumina may absorb ammonia from the 
atmosphere and retain it for the use of plants, 
and increased quantities of heat abstracted 
from the circulating atmosphere are stored up, 
and thus the genial influences of increased 
temperature, with the supply of organic con- 
stituents derived from the atmosphere, are 
placed at the disposal of the anticipated crop. 



220 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



Should inert vegetable matter be disseminated 
in the soil, these circumstances aie favorable 
to its decomposition, and Nature's great or- 
ganic storehouse, the atmospheric ocean, is 
not debarred entrance by putrid water, as in 
undrained soils, nor does under-draining tend 
to render the soil less retentive of a proper 
amount of moisture. On the contrary, well 
disintegrated soils will receive at all times, 
by condensation from the atmosphere, a fair 
supply of moisture fully charged with ihe or- 
ganic, and capable of dissolving the inorganic 
constituents for the use of plants. 

Aftersoils have been under-drained and sub- 
soiled, they rapidly increase in carbonaceous 
constituents, and a greater depih of arable 
surfice is the result, whilst the ease with 
which roots can percolate to increased depths, 
enables them to bring up the inorganic con- 
stituents of the subsoil, and by th.ir decay to 
deposit it nearer the surface. The entrance 
of the atmosphere at greater depths, assists in 
the decomposition of roots so deposited in the 
subsoil, rendering it rapidly similar in. quality 
to the surface soil, by increasing its organic 
matter. 

It was urged that subsoiled meadows never 
run out; that those plants which tiller, such 
as the grain crops, cereals, &c when grown 
in land not deeply disintegrated, require thick 
sowing, because the termini of their roots, 
when brought into contact with a cold and 
rigid subsoil, would become di-eased, and 
would, therefore, cease to throw out side shoots 
and form tiller or duplicate plants. In cbeply 
disintegrated soils this- difficulty is avoided. 
Manv instances were given of fields, pari of 
which were subsoiled, defying droughts in 
those parts. It was stated thnt the roots of 
the cornsialk would aveage many feet in 
length, and iis broad hardy leaf had never 
been known to roll or curl, while the roots 
had a fair opportunity to roam in a free, deep 
soil. The increased yield from sub-soiling 
was freely admitted by all. It was urg?d by 
one member, that fruit trees, grape vines, &c. 
grown on subsoiled land, would bear fruits of 
superior flavor; the aroma, as well as all iheir 
proximate principles, being mainly dependent 
upon a ready supply of the necessary inor- 
ganic consiiiuents. 

In reply to some remarks relative to the 
downward filtration of soluble portions of ma- 
nure, it was urg j d that a soil comaining a fair 
proportion of alumina and of carbonaceous 
matters resuliing from the decay of vegeiable j 
fibre, would never allow any of the soluble 
constituents of plants to filter downward be- 
yond the reach of the roots of growing crops. 
That if the brown fluids of the brrn-yard 
should be poured on the top of a barnd filled 
with such soil, the water running out from the 
bottom would be found to be limpid and ino- 
dorous, all the parts valuable for the use of 
plant- would be retained, and that if this were 
not true, witer drawn from wells on properly 
cultivated farms could not be drank. 



It was also stated that water issuing from I 
the mouths of under-drains never contained; 
ammonia, the whoe of that substance being ;j 
arrested by the soil during the downward fil«j 
tration of the water. Whereas rains falling^ 
on the surface of so'l disintegrated but to 
slight depth, might pass over the surface run- 
ning away to the river, thence to the oceanj 
carrying with it not only the ammonia re* 
ceived from the atmosphere, but also the solu- 
ble materials it might meet with during its 
passage over the surface soil. All admitted 
that subsoiW lands might be fertilized an^j 
kept in heart at less cost than those not so 
trea ed. The new subsoil plough sent to the 
Institute by Mr. George H. Barr, was exhi- 
bited to the members, and its advantages were 
fully explained. The amount of power ne- 
cessary to move this instrument is so much 
less than thai required by any ol its prede- 
cessors, that the cost of subsoil ing is no longer 
a serious objection to its adoption. 

Specimens of draining tile weie alsoexhi-. 
hired. These are now manufactured by many 
persons in the vicinity of New York, at prices 
varying fr< m eight to fifteen dollars per thou- 
sand, each tile being filteen inches long. The 
use of the Upton draining tool, by which 
ditches of but a few inches in width may be 
dug to any required depth, was fully explained. 
The superiority of tile over stone drains, both 
as to durability and economy, was made too 
evident to be doubted. 

The proper depth for drains formed also at 
part of the discussion It was remarked that' 
but a small portion of waterentered the under- 
drain during its downward course, but thajj 
when the lower pan became filled with watev 
and it rose even with the lower side of the 
drain, it would then enter and run tfT. and 
hence that drains of five feet d^pth and eighty; 
feet apart, would be generally found to equal 
those of three feet deph and twenty feet apart; 
for the water occupying the lower pan could 
not rise by accumulation nearer the surface 
than three feet, at half way between two drains 
eighty feet asunder, and it would be found to 
average an approach of three feet at ten feet 
either side of the cen're point between the two 
drains; thus to secure the i»ame condition* 
with drains of but three feet in depth, they 
would require to be but twenty feet apart. 

Almost every question which could suggest 
itself in relation to subsoil ploughing and un- 
der-draining was asked, and was satisfacto- 
rily answerer!. Indeed, we have never heard 
these subjects more fully and fairly treated. 
We g've above, our recollections of what 
transpired, and hope it may he sufficient to 
induce our farmers to accept the invitation so 
fully extended by the American Institute, for 
them to aitend the meetings of this Club. 

An interesting feature of this Club is, the 
gratuitous distribution of scions, seeds, &c. 
At the proper seasi ns tho^e members having 
superior fruits, bring grafts for distribution, 
and many thousands of worthless trees in the 



* 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



221 



vicinity of New York have, in consequence, 
been rendered profitable to the owners, besides 
supplying our markets wiih fruit of improved 
Sorts. No applicant for scions ever leaves 
jnsupplied, and thus the finer sorts of fruits 
may tie indefinitely multipled. The A/falsa 
clover, received from Captain Glynn, United 
States Navy, is now being distributed. 



CUTTING TIMBER. 

"During an experience of more than forty 
years, as a plain, practical farmer, I have 
taken much interest in ascertaining the best 
season for felling timber, and I now state, with 
confidence, that fencing timber, such as all 
kinds of oak, chestnut, red hickory and wal- 
nut, cut from the middle of July to the last of 
August, will last more than twice as long as 
when cut in winter, or common barking time 
in sp'ing. 

" For instance: cut a sapling, say five or six 
inches in diameter, for a lever, in the month 
of August, and another of similar quality and 
size in winter or spring. I know, if i he first is 
stripped of its bark, (which at that time runs 
well,) it will raise, as a lever, at least twice 
the weight that can be raised by the latter. 

"Another great advantage derived from fell- 
ing timber in the last running of the sap, (the 
time above specified,) is, that it is neither sub- 
ject to dry rot, nor to be injured by worms; 
while oak cut at this season, if kept off the 
t^ound, will season through two feet in diame- 
%t, and remain perfectly sound many years; 
whenas, if cut in winter or spring, it will be 
perfectly sap rotten in two years. 

■ For shipbuilding and other purposes where 
great expense is incurred in construction, the 
immense advantage of preparing the timber at 
the proper season must be evident to all. I 
h;ive no doubt, a ship built of timber cut be- 
tween the middle of July and the hist of Au- 
gust, would last nearly twice as long as one 
built of timher cut at the usual time; and 
would bear infinitely more hard usage, as the 
timbers season more perfectly and are far 
harder. A few years since, one of the large 
government ships, built in Philadelphia, of the 
very best materials, but several years in con- 
struction, when ordered to be finished and 
launched, was found upon inspection to be en- 
tirely worth ess in many of the timbers^though 
kepi under cover.) from dry-rot. In all my 
building for m-iny years past, with large lim 
bers of white or other oak. this has never oc- 
curred, nor are they subject to be worm-eaten. 
Even firewood cut at the proper season is 
worth from thirty to sixu per cent, more than 
when cut in spring or winter." 

Mr. William Painter, of Concordville, Pa. 
communicated the above to the Patent Office 



Report last year. The season is at hand for 
all to make trial of this mode of getting tim- 
ber, who choose to do so. Wherever it is 
wished to make a clearing it may answer very 
well either for fuel or timber, but we doubt 
the propiiety of it where the land is to grow 
up ag.iin in wood. August is the season al- 
ways chosen by those who have leisure to 
mow off sassafras and other pests from their 
fields, because ihey put up less then than at 
other times; and we would fear that forest 
trees would not "spout" as readily if cut at 
the same season. 



From the Working Farmer. 
SOWING CORN FOR FODDER. 

Where corn fodder ia intended to be 
used in the green sfate, we would recom- 
mend the Slowell's evergreen corn, as it 
has a large stalk, and if planted too thickly 
to give ears, is nearly as sweet as the sugar- 
cane, and therefore particularly well suited 
for milch cows. When Stowell's seed 
cannot be had, use the Northern sweet 
corn. 

A no! her writer in the Michigan Farmer 
say?: "Dent corn is the best for fodder, it 
grows taller; by no means sow the yellow 
kinds. Dutton is next best. 

"Before l'rost, bend up the tops of two 
rows and t'e them; set up as much as you 
can conveniently bind at the top; the crop 
is now secured from frost and rain; let it 
stand until late in the fall, &c." 

"Macedon, N. Y. 3d mo. 21, 1351. 

"Mr. Editor, — I observe, in a late num- 
ber of the Michigan Farmer, an inquiry 
for the best mode of raisins corn for fodder, 
and having tried seveial different ways the 
results may be of benefit to others. 

"A common, and a very objectionable 
praciice. is to sow broadcast. This requires 
at least four bushels to the acre, and even 
with this amount of seed, the growth ia 
not dense enough to keep down the weeds, 
and as a consequence, the ground is left in 
a foul condition. 

"The best way is to sow in drills. First 
plough and h;:rrow the ground, as if for 
corn or potatoes; run furrows in one direc- 
tion, with one horse, about three feet apart; 
with a hand-basket of corn on the left arm, 



222 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



walk rapidly along-side the furrow, strew- 
ing the seed with the right hand, at the 
rate of about fifty grains to the foot, which 
will be about two bushels and a half to 
three bushels per acre. A little practice 
will enable any one to do this evenly and 
expeditiously. The seed may be covered 
in the bast manner, by means of a one- 
horse harrow, a one-horse cultivator, or a 
two-horse harrow, passed lengthwise with 
the furrows. Two men will thus put in 
five or six acres in a day. 

"The only subsequent culture needed, is 
to pass a one-horse cultivator between the 
rows, when the corn is about a foot high. 
No hoeing is required. Its growth will 
soon cover the whole ground, and all weeds, 
no matter how thick they may be, will be 
completely smothered and destroyed; and 
when, at the close of summer, the crop is 
removed, the ground will be left as smooth 
and clean as a floor. No crop have I ever 
seen equal to this, for reducing grassy, 
weedy soil, into mellow condition, in a sin- 
gle summer. 

"If the crop stands erect, it is most con- 
veniently cut with a stiff scythe. A little 
practice will enable the workmen to throw 
it all in an even swath, with the heads in 
one direction, so as to admit of easy bind- 
ing in bundles. If much thrown down by 
storms, it must be cut with a corn-cutter. 
When bound, it is to be put up in large, 
substantial shocks, to stand several weeks, 
or till winter, unless the ground is to be 
sown with wheat, in which case the crop 
must be deposited to dry elsewhere. 

"Every beginner spoils his first crop, by 
its heating in the stack. Even after dry- 
ing several weeks, there is moisture enough 
in the stalks to cause violent fermentation. 
The only mode of preventing this disaster, 
is either to leave the shocks on the ground 
till winter, or to build very small stacks, 
with three rails placed upright together at 
the centre, for ventilation, and applying 
plenty of salt. 

"Fodder thus grown, and well cured and 
salted, is greatly preferred, by cattle, to 
hay. A neighbor thinks three tons are as 
good as four tons of good hay. It should 
be grown so thick, that the stalks will be 
quite small; then they will be wholly eaten 
by cattle, and none lost. 

"I have tried different quantities of seed 
per acre, and find that a much less rate 
than about three bushels, is attended with 
a diminished crop, although the stalks may 
be taller. One bushel per acre, will yield 
but little more than half as much. 



"I usually obtain, on land that will yiel 
thirty or thirty-five bushels of corn pe 
acre, from four to six tons per acre of drie 
fodder. Counting all expenses, including 
interest on fifty dollars per acre for th 
land, the dry fodder, as an average for fiv 
or six years past, has cost me about oni 
dollar and a half per ton. Hay is usuall 
sold here for six or seven dollars a ton, an 
sometimes for ten. Yet it is astonishin 
how reluctant our farmers are in adoptin 
the corn fodder cultivation. T hope thi 
farmers of Michigan may set a better «i 
ample of economy. 

"The best variety of corn appears to bi 
that which will afford the greatest numbd 
of stalks to the quantity of seed sown- 
Coarse fodder is not as good as fine. J 
rather moist soil is best, as immense quai ■■ 
tides of moisture are thrown off by suc^ 
a mass of leaves. 

"Besides the cheapness of this crop, an 
the great ease of its cultivation, it possesst T 
the following advantages: 1. It may \ 
sown after the hurrying work of spring 
accomplished, or at the end of spring, i 
early in summer. 2. It may be harvestei 
after the wheat and hay crops are secure 
or during the comparatively leisure seasc; 
at the close of summer. 3. Not yieldiil 
any grain, it does not exhaust the soil, ail 
is, perhaps, the best crop to precede whec 
4. It is an admirable crop lor smotherir 
and destroying weeds and grass. ^ 

"A brief glance at the advantages of ti 
general cultivation of this crop, may n 
be out of place. The value of the annu 
hay crop in the United States, is about oi 
hundred millions of dollars. Those wl 
have already adopted the corn fodder cio 
winter their cattle at less than half the 
former expense. Would it, therefore, I 
extravagant to believe that one-quarter ' 
the present expense in the use of h;i 
throughout the country, would be savt 1 
by its general use? Yet one quarter 
about twenty-five millions of dollars year 
— enough to endow agricultural schoo 
and build railroads, by the score — and 
well worthy of some exertion for its intr 
duction at larjre. T 



TO FARMERS. 

THE subscriber has for sale Bambrougl 
Superior Wheat Fan, Ruggles & CO 
Horse Hake, Improved Yellow Ruta Baj 
White Flat Summer and Red Top Turr 
Seed, Long Green and Long Prickley C 
cumber Seed, Yellow and Black Cow Pea. 
July 28, lt51-lt WM. PALMER. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



223 



TO AGRICULTURISTS. 

/TORN IS & BROTHER have received the 
Kl following valuable Books, pertaining 10 
griculiure: 

Elements of Scientific Agriculture, or the 
fcnexion between Science and the An of 
radical Farming. This was the prize essay 
' the New York State Agricultural Bociei) ; 
I J. P. Norton, M. A. 

Elements of Agricultural Chemistry and 
eulogy ; by Jas. P. W Johnston. 

American Agriculturist, for the Farmer, 
lantt-r. Stock Breeder, and Horticulturist; 
,* A. B. Allen; numerous plates. The 8ih 
nl 9th volumes of this most valuable work are 
crimed, also complete sets. Every farmer 
lould have this work. 

American Farm Book, on Soils, Manures, 
rainings, In igation, Grasses, Grain, Roots, 
ruii, Ooiton, Tobacco, Sugarcane, Rice, and 
;ery s aple product of the United States. — 
bis is a perfect fanrer's library, with upwards 
f 100 ensraving^; by R. L. Allen. 

Farmer's Manual, with the most recent dis- 
iveries in Agricultural Chemistry; by F. 
aulkner. 

A Muck Manual for Farmers; by S. L- 
ana. 

Farmer's Land Measurer, with a set of use- 

1 Agricultural Tables; by Jas. Pedder. 

American Husbandry.— Series of Ess^yson 

sriculture, with additions; by Gaylord and 

uckcr. 

Fanner's Encyclopaedia; by Cuthbert W. 

■pson. 

productive Farming, with the most recent 
joveries of Liebig, Johnston, Davy, and 

hers. 

European Agriculture, from personal obser- 

ition; by Henry Coleman. This is a very 

>pular work. 

Jolinon's Chemistry and Geology, with their 

)plic>ition. 

Jolm-<f n's Dictionary of Gardening; by Da- 
rt Landreth. 

London's Gardening, for Ladies; by A. J. 

owning. 

Squa rev's Agricu'tnral Chemistry, Bonssin- 

ult, Rural Economy, Buist's Kitchen Gar- 
ner, Landscape Gardening, and Rural Ar- 

lii'pciure; by A. J. Downing 

Fessenden's American Ganlener. 
f Atneican Fruit Book, with lull iustructions; 
S. W. Tole. 

Downing on Fruit Trees. 

T. eory of Horticulture; by LindW. 

Florist's Manual; by H. Bourne; 80 colored 
ravings 

Bridg-nan's Kitchen Gardener. 

In addition to which, Morris & Brother have 
of the late Works on Agriculture, Horti- 
C lure, and Raising ?tock, of any celebrity. 
Rick, ond, March 12, 1851— ly 




NEW STYLE MGDALMON DA- 
GUERREOTYPES IN COLORS. 

This splendid improve- 
ment must be seen to be 
appieciated. Uuilrnnds 
are invited to call at the 
original Virginia Sky- 
« Light Daguerrkan Gal- 
HeB lkry, where may be found 
J &s ~H all the latest "improve 

ments, consisting of the 
CELEROTYPE, 
I P^ffliSHWii a by which infant children 
" n;ay be taken in one se- 
cond; 

TALBOTYPE, 
or Daguerreotype on Pa- 
per, and 

HYALOTYPE, 
or Daguerreotypes on Glass, which, with every 
o her improvement, may now be obtained at 
the Gallery, No. 139 Main street, above Go- 
vernor. 

N. B.-Their NORTHERN COMBINA- 
TION SKY LIGHT is now open in full op- 
eration—it is the largest in the State. 

WM. A. PRATT & CO. Proprietors. 
MEDALLION DAGUEREOTYPES IN 
COLORS.— We have inspecied the a! ove 
style of Daguereotypes, lately and so success- 
fully hi m> I need here by Messrs Pratt & Co., 
132 Main street. By this piocess, a leliet al- 
most magical, and a variety highly pleasing, 
is obtained. In some cases, the picture so 
closely resembles an enamelled miniature, in 
its ivcry lone, as to deceive even an artiste; 
in others from the midst of a dark back ground, 
appears the ''human lace divine," in all ihe 
vividness ol life; then, by still another process,, 
the picture appears entirely upon a brilliant 
white ground, surrounded by wreaths ol' flow- 
ers. But, we leel our inability to do full jus- 
tice to these beautiful medallion Daguereo- 
types, and must, therelore, request ihe curious 
in such matters to call and judge for them- 
selves. Messrs. Pratt & Co. claim to be ihe 
fit st to introduce the sky-light system into the 
State, and appear to be constantly inventing 
something Lr the improvement of the ait Re- 
pair to their gallery and "secure the shadow 
ere the substance fades." — Richmond Times. 



WILLIAM P. LADD, 

APOTHECARY AND DRUGGIST, 

No. 319, head of Broad Street, Shockoe Hill, 

Richmond, Virginia. 

DEALER in English, Mediterranean, India 
and all foreign and Domestic Dings and 
Medicines; also, Paints, Oils, Varnish, Dve 
Stuffs, Window Glass, Putty. &c For sale 
on the mosi accommodating terms. 

stOr* Orders from Country Met chants and 
Physicians thankiully received and promptly 
attended to. 
ja 1851— tf 



224 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



CONTENTS OF NUMBER VII. 

PAGE, j 

To the Patrons of the Planter 193 I 

The Joini Worm 195 j 

Buckingham Guano 198 i 

Club Root 198 j 

Will Good Farming Pay 1 199 

Corn Sowed for Fodder— 199 

Summer Grafting 199 

Non-Exhausting Crops ■ 2n0 

Drainings of Dung Heaps 200 

To Prevent Moths Getting Under Hives. .201 

Profits of Farming 201 

Agriculture in the Valley 202 

Apples for Slock 203 

The Flavor of Butter and Cheese as Af- 
fected by the Kind of Pasturage 203 

Mules vs. Horses 205 

Planting out Elms. . 205 

Flint Enamel Ware 206 

A New Draining Plough 206 

Sweet Potato Culture 207 

Obituary of A. D. Abernethy 20" 

Editorial Notices 208 

Crops— Weather 2C9 

The Farmers Guide 209 

Shrinkage of Corn 209 

Ashes of Anthracite and Bituminous Coals209 

Spring-Tooth Horse Rake 211 

Canals and Rail Roads 212 

Lime for the Curculio 214 

Cutting and Laying Tile Drains *...2l4 

Fencing— Wire vs. Cement 216 

On the Use of Charcoal 217 

Management of a Cow with her First Calf^l8 

Interesting Letter. 218 

Thorough Draining, Subsoil Ploughing,&c.2l9 

Cutting Timber 221 

Sowing Corn for Fodder 221 



NOTICE TO FARMERS. 

mHE RICHMOND AND PETERSEUR 
JL RAIL ROAD COMPANY respectful 
inform farmers living on the Roanoke Riv 
and on the line of the R.aleigh and Gastc 
Rail Road, that they are transporting tobaci 
and other produce between Richmond and P' 
tersburg with promptness and despatch, rm 
ning daily trains of eight wheel covered cai 
securing tobacco and goods from damas 
Tobacco consigned to the care of J. Lyr.c 
Rail Road Agent, Petersburg, will be io 
warded, free of commissions, to Ricbmon 
Goods purchased in Richmond and consign! 
to the Rail Road Agent at Gaston will be fo 
warded up the river without charge for io 
warding. THOS. DODAMEAD, 

Sup't R. & P. R. R. 
June 24, 1851— tf 



COMMERCIAL. RECORD. 

WHOLESALE PRICES CURRENT, 

Reported for the Southern Planter by 
NANCE & GOOCH, COMMISSION MERCHANTS. 

Tobacco — The inspections for the month of 
June, although large, have not equalled the 
corresponding month of last year. Prices 
have been well maintained during the month, 
with an occasional dulness in sales, which, 
however, soon rallied again. We do not no- 
tice any material alteration since the late rains. 
Sales were made yesterday with moredifiiculty, 
yet prices were fully sustained. We quote 
Lugs $2 50 to $6 50; Leaf $7 to $12 50; 
general sales Fair Leaf at $8 to $9 50; very 
Fine Manufacturing kinds at much higher 
figures; Fair Stemming $10 to $11. 

Wheat— None in market— millers expect 
the market to open at $1 per bushel. 

Bacon— Virginia cured 10$ cents; Balti- 
more sides 9 J cents. 

Sugar— Porto Rico 6| cents to 1\ cents; 
New Orleans 6 cents to 7j cents. 

Richmond % June 26, 1851 



FOR SALE, 

QA BUCK LAMBS of the Cotswold, < 
/£j\J New Oxfordshire Breed, deliverable i 
Baltimore after 1st of August proximo. 

For several years past, great care has bee 
given by the subscriber to the selection of h 
Breeding Ewes, part of which, and the Ran 
have been selected from the Celebrated Floe 
of Clayton B. Reynold, Esq. of Delaware. 

Price SI 5 to $20, according to choice. 

For further particulars inquire of S. Sand 
Editor of the "American Farmer," Bahimor 
or HENRY CARROLL, 

Westermans' Mills, P. O. Baltimore Co. M< 

je— 3t 

AGRICULTURAL WAREHOUSE. 

npHE Subscriber continues to manufactur 
X Agricultural Machines and Implements j 
such as Horse-powers, Threshers or Drums 
Fan Mills, Straw Cutters, Corn Shellers, ,\ 
variety of patterns, Hill Side and Subsoi 
Ploughs, Corn and Cob Crushers, Cultivators 
Harrows, &c. all of which will be made ii 
the best manner, and after the most approve) 
patterns. My Horse-power has been teste< 
two seasons, and uniformly pronounced to b 
the best in use. Machines repaired in the bes 
manner. Castings in iron and brass furnishec 
at short notice. H. BALDWIN, 

je— 3t 148, Main St. Richmond. 



AGENCY FOR THE PURCHASE ANt 
SALE OF IMPROVED STOCK. 

STOCK Cattle of all the different breeds 
Sheep, Swine, Poultrv, &c. will be pur- 
chased to order, and carefully shipped to any 
part of the United States, for which a reasona- 
ble commission will be charged. Apply tp 
AARON CLEMENT, Philadelphia. 
Refer to Gen. W. H. Richardson, Richmond, 
Virginia. 

N. B.— All letters, post-paid, will be prompt- 
ly attended to. ap— tf 



NON-Cr.rJlATlO