THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 

Bebote&to Agriculture, ^ortfculture, attU the ^ouscholtr Arts. 



Agriculture is the nursing mother of the 
Arts. — Xenoplum. 



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



FRANK: G. RUFFIN, Editor. 



P. D. BERNARD, Proprietor. 



Vol. XIII. 



RICHMOND, MAY, 1853. 



•No. 5. 



Communicated to the Virginia State Agricultural 
Society. 

REVIEW 

Of "An Essay on Calcareous Manures by Ed. 
Rufiin, fifth edition, amended and enlarged : n 
J. W. Randolph, Richmond, 1853. 



EY HON. WILLOCCH3Y NEWTON. 



[Published by order of the Executive Committee.] 

The farmers of Virginia have just reason 
to thank both the author and publisher for this 
enlarged and improved edition of a most va- 
luable book. A recent biographical sketch of 
the author, as graceful as it is just, has pre- 
sented us with some of the incidents of his 
early life. From these we learn how few ad- 
ventitious advantages he had for the perform- 
ance of the difficult task which he has so well 
executed. At a very early age, with habits of 
study unformed, we find him leaving the walls 
of the college for the camp. After a very 
brief service as a soldier, having just attained 
his nineteenth year, he entered upon his pa- 
ternal estate, which he found greatly impo- 
verished. With an ardent zeal that has never 
known abatement, he commenced, without 
knowledge, either theoretical or practical, the 
hopeless task of enriching it. He studied all 
the foreign authors on agriculture that came 
within his reach. He followed with untiring 
industry the instructions of "Arator," but all 
to little purpose. His labors, like those of 
Sysiphus, were never ending, and ever to be 
performed. He became convinced that some 
fatal error existed in our modes of culture and 
efforts at improvement, and he determined, if 
possible, to find it out. A remarkable talent 
for observation, and a sagacity almost intui- 
tive, soon enabled him, without other aid, to 
find the true path, whilst Young and Sinclair 
and Peters and Taylor and others, almost 
equally distinguished for learning and agri- 
cultural experience, were groping in the dark. 
In the month of October, 1818, he announced 
in a communication to the Agricultural So- 
ciety of Prince George, for the first time, at 
least in this country, the cause of the general 
sterility of lands, and the proper remedy. 
This communication, though unpretending in 
Vol. XIII.-5. 



its character, and written before the author 
had any experience as a writer, is the germ of 
the "Essay." And whilst it states, with sin- 
gular clearness, the points insisted on, is dis- 
tinguished by a force of reasoning and a pu- 
rity and vigor of style which could only have 
been acquired by a careful study of the great 
masters of the English language, whose works 
at that day graced the library of every Vir- 
ginia gentleman, and had not then been su- 
perseded by the cheap literature which now 
threatens to sweep away all sound learning in 
its eternal wishy-washy flood. 

The author in his preface alludes to this 
communication, an extract from which is pub- 
lished in the appendix to this edition of the 
Essay, and vindicates his claim to originality 
in the four following specifications of disco- 
very which he was the first to announce: 

"1. The capacity of impoverished soils for 
receiving improvement from putrescent ma- 
nures, being in proportion to their original or 
natural measure of fertility; and that soils 
naturally poor (especially in this country) 
could not be enriched by these manures, du- 
rably or profitably, above their natural degree 
of productiveness. 

"2. The almost universal and total absence 
of carbonate of lime in the soils of the Antlantic 
slope of Virginia, and (by inference) of most 
others of the United States — and even in most 
limestone soils — while, from all existing tes- 
timony of preceding writers on agriculture, 
the very general, if not universal prevalence 
of carbonate of lime would have been inferred 
by every reader. 

"3. The general presence of some vegetable 
acid in all our naturally poor soils, and this 
acid acting as a cause of sterility. 

"4. The application of carbonate of lime 
to soils deficient in that necessary element, 
serving to neutralize the acid — and, by that 
and other stated and important operations or 
effects, serving to fit the before poor and un- 
improvable soils for speedy and profitable im- 
provement." 

It is unquestionable that our author was the 
first, at least in this country, to make the dis- 
tinct announcement of these important truths. 
And his credit is not the less, even as an ori- 
ginal discoverer, though it be admitted that the 
same opinions were contemporaneously ex- 
pressed by eminent men in other countries, of 
whose views he was entirely ignorant. Such, 



i 



130 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



indeed, is the usual progress of scientific dis- 
covery. It rarely happens that to any one 
man is due the entire credit of first conceiving 
and successfully carrying forward a great im- 
provement. Doubtless, many philosophers at 
the time of Franklin's great discovery were 
speculating on the nature of electricity, the 
practical illustration of which has rendered 
his name immortal. Yet of no other person is 
it said, eripuit fulmen ccdo sccptrumque lyrannis. 
The claim for original discovery, as set forth 
in the first two specifications, is distinctly re- 
cognised by one of the highest agricultural 
authorities of Great Britain. J. C. Loudon, 
the Editor of the "Gardener's Magazine," in 
the year 483G, used the following language: 
'jMr. Ruffin has the merit of first pointing out 
that there can be no such thing as a naturally j 
fertile soil without the presence of calcareous 
earth; but where this earth is present, the soil, 
however exhausted it may have been by cul- 
ture, will, when left to itself, after a time re- 
gain its original fertility; that soils which con- 
tain no calcareous earth are never found na- 
turally fertile; and that all that art can do to 
them, exclusive of adding calcareous earth, is 
to force crops by putrescent manures; but that 
when these manures are withheld the soil will 
speedily revert to its original sterility." And 
so important did he deem this announcement, 
that at the close of the year he again alludes 
to it in the following manner: "In agricul- 
tural science the only point that we can re- 
collect worthy of notice, that has occurred 
during the past year, is the advancement of 
the principle by the American agricultural 
writer, Mr. Ruffin, that no soil whatever will 
continue fertile for any length of time that 
does not contain calcareous matter. This we 
believe was never distinctly stated as a prin- 
ciple, by Kirwan, Chaptal, Davy or any other 
European chemist or agriculturist." The ap- 
plication of lime and marl for the improve- 
ment of the soil has been very extensive in 
Europe for many centuries, even going back 
to the time of the ancient Romans, yet it can- 
not be denied that its use, even by the most 
scientific agriculturists, has, until very lately, 
been entirely empirical. The numerous au- 
thorities, collected with great research by our 
author, prove beyond question that the pecu- 
liar qualities of marls were not properly ap- 
preciated, and that various earths were used 
indifferently under the name of marl, without 
the least reference to the amount of calca- 
reous matter contained in them. In confirma- 
tion of the opinions expressed and sustained 
by the numerous authorities cited, we will 
quote some expressions of Petzholdt from his 
lectures published in London as late as 1844; 
a writer certainly of great clearness and abi- 
lity, though he is charged by his contempora- 
ries with having propagated some gross errors: 
"Lime, in its calcined state termed quicklime, 
is undoubtedly most frequently used in agri- 
culture with the view to directly fertilizing the 
soil. It can, however) answer this purpose 



only to a very slight extent, or in a few rare 
instances, since cultivated plants will find as 
much lime in the soil as they require for their 
growth and perfection, owing to the exceed- 
ingly profuse diffusion of lime upon the sur- 
face of the earth; so that an artificial supply 
of this spbstance would appear to be, in this 
respect, perfectly superfluous." 

In regard to marl he says, "So much, how- 
ever, is deducible from all experience, that the 
mere application of marl to an exhausted soil 
is of no use whatever, unless it is carried on 
the field in such quantities as to constitute a 
new soil, covering the whole surface to the 
depth of a foot!" Professor J. F. W. Johnston 
has given indubitable evidence in his lectures, 
also, first published in England in 1844, that 
he thoroughly understood the whole subject, 
and with the aid of his scientific knowledge 
has been very successful in its elucidation. 
Yet no careful and intelligent readercan doubt, 
from the internal evidence afforded by the two 
works, that the Essay on Calcareous Manures, 
furnished the great principles which the Pro- 
fessor has so successfully elaborated in his 
lectures on lime and marl. He does not give 
his views as at all new, or original, yet they 
had been stated before by no British writer. 
Of the existence and contents of the "Essay" 
he could not have been ignorant. Four edi- 
tions had been published in this country. It 
was republished in the Farmers' Register, and 
extensively commented upon, and commended 
by the agricultural press throughout the United 
States, and, as we have already seen, noticed 
with the highest approbation by one of the 
first British agricultural authors, and also re- 
published almost literally in the British Far- 
mer's Magazine. It was also reviewed in a 
most complimentary manner in Silliman's 
Journal, a work of high reputation and exten- 
sive circulation among men of science through- 
out the world, and which work we find quoted 
by the lecturer. To suppose that Professor 
Johnston was either ignorant of this work or 
that he did not avail himself of its facts and 
reasonings in preparing his lectures, would be 
to impute to him a degree of negligence and 
indolence, in striking contrast with the indus- 
try, research, and accurate knowledge of facts, 
affecting the interests of agriculture in all 
parts of the world, displayed in almost every 
page of his learned and valuable work. 

The claim of our author to the discovery 
of acids in soils, and the first announcement of 
its injurious effects on agriculture, cannot, we 
fear, be so easily vindicated. For years after 
the publication of his views we supposed his 
claim to originality would never be contested. 
The fact of the existence of acids in soils was 
doubted by all, denied by many, and ridiculed 
as unphilosophical by those who affected to 
be particularly learned. We find, however, 
that Thaer, perhaps the most justly renowned 
of European scientific agriculturists, had either 
contemporaneously with him or in advance 
of our author, made a public announcement 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



131 



of the same truths. On page 82 of the Essay 
will be found a note containing the views of 
Thaer, with Mr. Ruffin's comments. The 
truth of history constrains us to express it as 
our opinion that to Thaer is due the credit of : 
having first presented to the public those im- I 
portant truths. The first edition of his great 
work was published in 1812. We have do I 
evidence that any second edition was published | 
during his life, which closed after near two 
years "of illness, on the 26th of October, 1828. 
A chronological list of his writings accompa- 
nying his treatise on agriculture, published in ' 
the Farmer's Library, makes no mention of 
any publication by him later than 1815, except 
one on wool and sheep breeding, in 1825. It , 
is certain, therefore, that the facts and reason- 
ings in regard to acids in soils, must have 
been made public before 1833, the period fixed 
by our author as that subsequent to which he 
supposed these views were added in a new , 
edition. We think, moreover, there is internal ; 
evidence that they were part of the original 
work. They are so perfectly incorporated 
with Timer's reasoning on humus that they ' 
could not be struck out without destroying the 
unity of the whole. As a mere matter of 
literary curiosity it would be very gratifying 
to see the first edition of Thaer's great work, j 
if more than one edition was published by him, 
which would be conclusive of the question. 

We have deemed these prefatory remarks j 
due to the author of the book under review, > 
whose labors have marked an era in the his- 1 
tory of agriculture, and whose services to Vir- 
ginia and to mankind cannot, in ourestima-i 
tion, be too highly appreciated. If the limits 
prescribed to us would permitwe would gladly 
enter upon the examination of the entire work, 
and point out the many striking views of the 
author, in which we entirely concur. In this 
respect we must content ourselves with reeom- 1 
mending it most cordially to the agricultural 
public, and especially to the young farmers of 
Virginia with the assurance that every intelli- 
gent and careful reader will find in it much 
instruction and abundant food for thought. 

Premising that everv reader of this review 
shall also read "the Essay" with proper at- 
tention, we think that our task will be much 
more satisfactorily performed, and the cause 
of true knowledge better promoted by noticing 
in a spirit of just discrimination the few points 
on which we differ in opinion with the author, 
rather than the very many on which we en- 
tirely agree with him. We propose, there- 
fore, briefly but freely to discuss some impor- 
tant questions, as well of theory as of prac- 
tice, considered in the Essay; and in the course 
of our observations we shall suggest for the 
adoption of the cultivators of poor lands a 
mode by which, taking the instructions of our 
author as the basis of their operations, they 
mav irnorove their farms much more speedily, 
profitably and cheaply than by the use of cal- 
careous manures, as usually applied. We 
enter upon this discussion with great diffidence 



of our capacity for the undertaking. A learned 
professor has truly said "that the art of cul- 
ture is almost entirely a chemical art, since 
nearly all its processes are to be explained 
only on chemical principles." How is the 
practical farmer, who has not entered a che- 
mical laboratory for thirty years, to be suffi- 
cient for such a'lask'? He must derive his in- 
structions entirely from books and his own. 
unaided observations in the field. Upon many 
important points of theory and practice some 
of the most enlightened authors are at issue. 
And unfortunately, whilst among them ihere 
are many true disciples who worship at the 
altar of science with proper docility and hu- 
mility, always ready to confess the limits of 
human knowledge, there are others, on the 
contrary, mere empty pretenders, who either 
delude themselves with a vain show of know- 
ledge, or seek to impose upon the understand- 
ing of the ignorant by unmeaning verbiage. 

As an illustration of our remark we may 
mention that to aid us in our present investi- 
gations, we took up a late edition of Turner's 
Chemistry, said in the preface, to combine 
the learning of Turner, Liebig, Gregory and 
of two American professors. We turned to 
the process of fermentation for instruction, as 
to the chemical agencies at work in that ope- 
ration of Nature, deemed so important by the 
practical farmer, and to our great edification 
we were informed: "Now, we can offer no 
other explanation of these facts of fermenta- 
tion than this, that when a body in a state of 
progressive change, the particles of which are 
consequently in a state of motion, is placed in 
contact with another body, the particles of 
which are in a state of unstable equilibrium, 
the amount of motion mechanically commu- 
nicated to the particles of the latter from those 
of the former, is sufficient to overturn the ex- 
isting equilibrium, and by the formation of a 
new compound establish a new equilibrium, 
more stable under the given circumstances." 
We are gravely told "There is nothing un- 
philosophical in this explanation, and it is to be 
considered as the best theory of fermentation 
yet attempted." [Turner's Chemistry, Rogers, 
pp. 537-8] 

If this be philosophy, we beg to be informed 
what is nonsense. Our reading furnishes no 
better parallel for this profound disquisition 
than the very learned discourse of the re- 
nowned Mr. Jenkinson, in the "Vicar of 
Wakefield," to which we beg leave to refer 
the reader, for edification and amusement. 

It would be well for the advancement of 
true learning, if professors, whose duty it is 
to teach the rising generation useful and prac- 
tical knowledge, would imitate the clear and 
vigorous style of onr author, whose reason- 
ings though often profound, are always intel- 
ligible. 

Whilst it cannot be denied that in the de- 
partment of agricultural chemistry much has 
already been accomplished, yet to the earnest 
inquirer after truth, it is obvious that much 



132 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



more is yet to be done before its claims to the 
character of an exact science can be success- 
fully asserted. 

In its present condition, of doubt and un- 
certainty, the student of Nature, athirst for 
knowledge, enters with ardor on the pursuit, 
and traverses an arid waste, with only here 
and there a green spot to cheer him on his 
way, hoping, ere long, to refresh himself at 
the pure fountain of truth; but finds, at last, 
that he must be content with the muddy wa- 
ters of a broken cistern. He cannot reconcile 
the conflicting opinions of the learned, nor 
comprehend their discordant facts. To him 
all is confusion, and he vainly attempts to 
educe order out of chaos, until weary with 
the effort, he exclaims, when will another Ba- 
con arise, who with cautious step and com- 
prehensive grasp, shall collect, arrange and 
classify our existing knowledge, distinguish 
clearly the bounds of the known and the un- 
Jcnovm, and open anew the pathway of true 
investigation! Professor Johnson in his lec- 
tures, which we take pleasure in commending 
as replete with good sense and sound learning, 
has the following just remarks: "The history 
of science shows, by many examples, that 
those men who adopt extreme views — who at- 
tempt to explain all phenomena of a given 
kind, by reference to a single specific cause — 
have ever been of very great use in the ad- 
vancement of certain knowledge. Their ar- 
guments, whether well or ill founded, lead to 
discussion, to further investigation, to the dis- 
covery of exceptional cases, and finally to the 
general adoption of modified views which re- 
cognise the action of each special cause in 
certain special cases, but all in subordination 
to some more general principle. 

"Thus, if some ascribe the fertility of the 
soil to the presence of the alkalies in great 
abundance, others to that of the phosphates, 
others to that of lime, others to that of alu- 
mina, and others, finally, to that of vegetable 
matter in a soluble state, all these extreme 
opinions are reconciled, and their partial truths 
recognised, in one general principle, that a soil 
to be fertile must contain all the substances which 
the plant we desire to grow can only obtain from 
the soil, and in such abundance as readily to supply 
all its wants; while at tlie same time it must con- 
lain nothing hurtful to vegetable life." ( Page 288.) 

In speaking of his early labors and of his 
earnest endeavors to impress his views upon 
others, our author very happily describes him- 
self as "an enthusiastic and successful pro- 
jector." Of his eminent success, the result of 
his labors in enriching himself and adding 
vastly to the resources of the Commonwealth, 
is conclusive evidence, whilst the ardor with 
which he is known to devote himself to any 
object which he deems useful or praiseworthy, 
gives assurance that he has a full stock of 
that enthusiasm, without which nothing great 
was ever accomplished, and which indeed is 
the " open sesame" to success in all important 
enterprises. This constitution of mind, how- 
5e 



ever, so indispensable to success in all active 
pursuits, is not the best suited for calm and 
impartial philosophical investigation. It is 
very apt to cause an entire concentration of 
the faculties upon the great end to be achieved, 
whilst other matters, perhaps equally impor- 
tant, not coming fully within the scope of the 
intellectual vision, like objects seen in the dis- 
tance, lose their just proportions. 

The Essay on Calcareous Manures, as its title 
imports, is intended to illustrate the impor- 
tance and necessity of one special means of 
improvement. To be scientifically accurate, 
and to prevent all misconception of his true 
object, the author has introduced a new term, 
"calxing," to distinguish the special operation 
recommended, from the more complex opera- 
tion, usually termed marling. 

Under this term he embraces lime, whether 
quick or effete, and the carbonate of lime, in 
every form in which it can be presented; whilst 
sulphate and phosphate of lime are excluded, 
though having the same base, and possibly in 
some of their transformations in the earth, the 
same effect, they might, with propriety, be em- 
braced under the general head of calcareous 
manures. This exclusive idea has had a pro- 
minent place in all the former editions, and 
although in the present one, the author has 
very properly availed himself of the new 
lights afforded by agricultural chemistry to 
modify such of his views as seemed to him to 
require change, he has seen no reason to mo- 
dify them at all in regard to the peculiar value 
of calxing. 

He has, on the contrary, found in modem 
writers new views which have been used with 
great ingenuity and ability to enhance his esti- 
mate of the advantages of this peculiar opera- 
tion. We are, if possible, more and more 
convinced by every day's experience and ob- 
servation, of the indispensable necessity of 
calxing to the improvement of our naturally 
poor lands. It is indeed the fulcrum on which 
to fix the lever of improvement, and without 
it we are entirely powerless. Yet it is to be 
feared that unreflecting persons, influenced by 
the earnest reasonings of the Essay, and by 
the extraordinary success of Mr. Ruffin and 
his neighbors, may adopt erroneous opinions. 
Their great improvements, though mainly at- 
tributed to calxing, are, in a great measure, due 
to other most valuable enriching materials ex- 
isting in the Pamunkey marl. And persons 
who attribute these remarkable effects to calx- 
ing alone, while themselves using a very dif- 
ferent article, will certainly be disappointed 
in their expectations, and perhaps abandon in 
disgust all efforts at improvement. The marl 
used, with such striking effect, by Mr. Ruffin 
and others, in the neighborhood of Newcastle, 
contains about 40 per cent, of carbonate of 
lime, and is what fs known as eocene marl, and 
is confined, so far as yet ascertained, to a few 
limited localities. It has been applied on com- 
paratively a few farms, lying on the Pamunkey 
and James rivers. "We learn, as we now write, 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



133 



upon the best authority, that Professor Gilham 
has found by recent analysis that it contains, 
besides carbonate of lime, a large per centage 
of sulphate of lime, and also, in particular 
samples, large proportions of ammonia and 
phosphoric acid. These marls are almost guano 
and calx combined, and their effect is not sur- 
prising, when this fact is understood. The 
■miocene marls, on the contrary, are found ab- 
solutely destitute of these fertilizing ingre- 
dients, and owe their value entirely to carbon- 
ate of lime, and are the only marls known or 
accessible in much the larger portion of East- 
ern Virginia. We look with interest to the 
forthcoming report of Professor Gilham, in 
confirmation of our views.* Deeming this a 
subject of vast importance in the present stage 
of agricultural progress in Virginia, we shall 
present our views upon it somewhat at large 
in the following pages. The power of calxing 
has prescribed limits, beyond which it cannot 
go. We believe there has been no instance in 
Virginia, or elsewhere, nor do we think it pos- 
sible that there can ever be one, of the product 
of any naturally poor farm being brought up to 
an average on entire fields, from year to year, 
of more than ten bushels of wheat and twenty 
bushels of merchantable corn, to the acre, by 
calxing alone, however long continued, though 
the operation be aided by the use of all the 
putrescent manures that could be produced on 
the farm, and by plaster, clover and peas, and 
the best possible rotation. This is a strong 
assertion, but such a farm has certainly never 
come within our observation. We do not 
speak of crops, on particular fields, or parts of 
fields, on which all the putrescent manures 
may have been expended, but of entire fields, 
and farms, all brought under cultivation, and 
the average crops taken for a series of years. 
From this sweeping remark must, of course, 
be excepted some of the alluvial lands on 
James river and elsewhere which are known 
to have been very highly improved by a judi- 
cious system of cultivation, aided by lime, 
clover and plaster, and putrescent manures. 
The farm at Coggin's Point, of the improve- 
ment of which, under the management of its 
two most judicious and energetic proprietors, 
we have an authentic report, can barely claim 
exception. And this partial success only con- 
firms our views when we are informed that a 
portion of this farm, at least, consisted of ori- 
ginally rich land, and that the improvements 
were made, to a considerable extent, by marl 
not very unlike that of the Pamunkey. We 
find, from the table on paee 184, that its ave- 
rage product in wheat for the first fifteen years 
of marling, was 8.22 bushels per acre, and 
during the last series of sixteen years was 
12.10 per acre — the crops increasing consi- 

* In connexion with this subject we append to 
this review an interesting letter from Robert W. 
Tornlin, Esq. of Hanover county, containing some 
raluable statistics as to the effects produced by the 
eocme marl in the neighborhood of Newcastle. 



derably towards the close of the series, the 
last crop having been 16.81 per acre. Now it 
is not denied that these crops are much greater 
than could ever have been realized from any 
amount of putrescent manures alone, and with 
our valuable and effective labor, they were 
highly remunerative; but as we shall attempt 
to show, in the sequel, they are not equal to 
the products that may be reasonably expected 
from the poorest lands of Eastern Virginia in. 
one-fourth the time by the use of calcareous 
manures as the basis, together with other ne- 
cessary mineral and enriching manures that 
may be applied with much less labor and ex- 
pense than have been incurred in making the 
improvements on this farm. It is impossible, 
we think, that we can be mistaken in these 
views, if any reliance is to be placed on our 
own experience and careful observation, and 
on those principles of agricultural chemistry 
that are now undisputed and recognised by ail 
men of science, of every shade of opinion, as 
established truths. 

These admitted truths being the basis of 
our reasoning, and often referred to, we desire 
the reader to bear in mind. They are the 
following: 

1st. That all cultivated plants consist of 
certain organic and inorganic elements, which 
in all healthy plants, of the same species, pre- 
serve nearly invariable proportions. 

2d. That the organic elements are carbon, 
oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen. 

3d. The inorganic consist of various mineral 
substances, such as soda, potash, magnesia, 
lime, phosphoric acid, &c. found in invariable 
proportions in the ash of the grain and stalks 
of plants of the same species, varying in plants 
of different kinds, but deemed essential in 
proper proportions, to the healthy existence of 
all plants. 

4th. That the organic elements are derived 
chiefly from water and atmospheric air and 
the inorganic entirely from the soil. 

In the twenty-fourth chapter we find many 
ingenious and plausible arguments in support 
of new doctrines, in some measure inconsist- 
ent with the views just indicated, and from 
most of these doctrines we must, with all due 
deference, express our dissent. We think that 
nearly every difficulty suggested by our author 
is susceptible of easy explanation, on princi- 
ples first announced in this country by himself, 
or since ascertained by others, and now ad- 
mitted to be chemical truths. We shall refer 
to acknowledged principles, without encum- 
bering our pages with numerous authorities, 
taking it for granted that those who follow us 
in these investigations will not only examine 
closely the work of our author, but also the 
writings of the modern agricultural chemists. 

The chapter discusses "other fertilizing 
powers and effects of calcareous earth" under 
the following heads, to wit: "1st. Causing the 
more rapid decomposition and perfect solubi- 
lity of vegetable matters, otherwise inert or 
insoluble; 2d. Enabling either the soil, or the 



134 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



plants growing ihereon, to draw from the at- 
mosphere greater supplies of manuring or ali- 
mentary principles, namely: 1st. Carbon, to 
growing plants; 2d. Azote (nitrogen), from the 
atmosphere, through the instrumentality of 
leguminous plants; 3d. Nitric acid, and ni- 
trates, to the soil, and thereby increasing the 
supplies of azotic principles to growing plants." 
It is not our purpose to argue in favor of any 
peculiar theory of vegetation, nor to become 
the partisan of any particular school of che- 
mists. Our wish is to reconcile agricultural 
phenomena with known and established prin- 
ciples; and when a cause sufficient to account 
for a given effect is ascertained to exist, we 
deem it true philosophy to be content with 
that, without speculating as to other possible 
causes. 

Our author in referring to the solvent power 
of potash and soda, and, by analogy, of cal- 
careous earth, in reducing inert vegetable mat- 
ter to a condition in which organic manures 
may be absorbed by the roots of plants as food, 
brings into collision two conflicting schools of 
chemists, maintaining opposite opinions with 
much show of reason oa both sides; and so 
far from establishing a theory on solid grounds, 
only opens a wider field for controversy. The 
action of carbonate of lime and of the alka- 
lies and alkaline earths, in neutralizing acids, 
now known to exist in most soils, and to be 
generated in the process of vegetable decay, 
in all soils, and admitted to be poisonous to 
plants, seems to us to be a key at once to every 
difficulty. Walk with us into the laboratory 
of Nature for a few moments, and we will en- 
deavor to make these matters plain. Observe 
this new ground; it was cleared three years 
ago of a growth of oak, hickory, dogwood and 
chestnut. It is what is described in the Essay 
as "free light land," capable of producing 
about twenty bushels of corn to the acre, when 
first cleared; it has not been limed. Two years 
ago it was in wheat, very roughly ploughed in 
after the first crop of corn, and dressed with 
one hundred pounds of Peruvian guano, and 
yielded eighteen bushels of wheat to the acre. 
Observe the stumps, especially of red oak; 
around each is a vigorous growth of sorrel, 
interspersed with the decaying fragments of 
the wood that fall from Ihe stumps as the de- 
cay goes slowly on. This land, now covered 
with weeds, would not without lime produce 
half a crop of wheat; not because it is poorer 
in vegetable matter than before, for it is, in 
truth, richer in that respect, but it is decaying, 
and not decayed vegetable matter, and the acid 
that arresis the decay also poisons cultivated 
plants. Observe the adjoining piece of land 
cleared a year or two earjier — this has been 
limed — the sorrel has nearly disappeared, and 
a vigorous growth of red clover has taken its 
place. Go with us now into that extensive 
field of black low ground. Ten years ago the 
larger part of this field was almost destitute 
of grass, and the little that appeared among 
the coarse weeds seemed to have no hold on 



the earth, but might be scraped off with the 
sole of your boot. It was not then drained, 
and abounded with slowly decaying but not 
decayed vegetable matter, and was spongy and 
puffy. If in wheat, half the crop, at least, 
would be winter killed, and the remainder 
would yield a scanty product of shrunken 
grain on straw with scarcely strength to stand 
up. It has been drained and limed; you see 
now every spot is thickly covered with beau-- 
tiful clover, with now and then, in the wettest 
parts a sprinkling of sorrel. It is now firm to 
the tread, and produces heavy crops of corn 
and wheat without guano. Observe this little 
peninsula, nearly surrounded by ditches — this 
was the head of a gum swamp, so shaded that 
the vegetable matter in it was nearly peat. 
Upon being exposed to the sun and air it be- 
came sufficiently decomposed to produce corn. 
Wheat was attempted but was destroyed by 
sorrel, the result of the acid generated by the 
slowly decaying peat. It has not been limed. 
It will be sowed in oats after corn, and not 
having lime at hand, we shall dress it with 
ashes, which will neutralize the acid, and at 
the same time furnish the potash necessary 
for the immediate use of the oat crop. Now 
what is the philosophy of all thisl Decay 
(or eremecausis) is nothing more nor less than 
slow combustion, and the dust, which is the 
final result of complete decay, is precisely the 
same in its chemical elements with the ash of 
the same vegetable substances, yielded by 
burning with fire. And it is not until this 
process of decay becomes complete that any 
portion of the inorganic food of plants is fur- 
nished. Acids of all kinds arrest or retard 
decay, and water, in excess, has the same ef- 
fect. Now when the lands, which we have 
just visited, were drained and limed, the checks 
to decay were removed, the vegetable matter 
in the soil, in the presence of heat and atmos- 
pheric air, proceeded, without hindrance, in 
the natural process of decay, until the inert 
matter was reduced, in a great measure, to its 
ash, and furnished a large portion, at least of 
the mineral elements required for the perfec- 
tion of the cultivated plants; and the soil re- 
lieved of its redundancy has become firm and 
sound. It does not follow, because reduced to 
its ash, that all this vegetable matter has been 
destroyed; its mineral elements, except such 
parts as have been consumed by the crops, 
remain still in the soil for future use; and the 
ammonia, which existed in combination with 
the vegetable matter, though set free by ihe 
operation, is not dissipated, but is retained by 
the absorbency of ihe earth, or enters into new- 
combinations in the soil, and is preserved until 
used up by the growing plants, as explained 
by Johnson in his lectures.— (410-11.) The 
crops, however, being greatly increased by 
the process of liming and draining, have con- 
sumed a much greater amount of the neces- 
sary elements found in the soil, which must 
of course be restored, to keep up the fertility 
of the land. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



135 



The remarkable effect of calxing on the 
rich neutral soils of James river, of which a 
new explanation is attempted in this chapter, 
may, we think, be sufficiently accounted for, 
by the necessity of lime to neutralize the acid 
generated by the decomposition of (he immense 
mass of vegetable matter accumulated on 
these lands under the enclosing system. And 
if further explanation be required it may pos- 
sibly be found in the effect of clover acting as 
a "fibrous manuring" on calcareous soils, to 
which we shall have occasion hereafter more 
fully to refer. 

On the second head of this chapter, "The 
effect of calcareous manures in drawing in- 
creased supplies of nutriment from the atmos- 
phere," our author does not appear to write 
with his usual precision, or to reason with the 
clearness for which he is distinguished. Thus 
he says, page 243, "This qtrestion is, if the 
atmosphere always contains all the organic 
constituents of plants in inexhaustible quan- 
tities — and if plants derive from the atmos- 
phere -nearly all of their constituent parts — why 
should they ever suffer for want of a sufficient 
supply of nourishment, whether growing on 
rich or poor soils'? The answer is, that the 
laws of nature forbid some of these gaseous 
bodies to be taken up directly by growing 
plants — or, at least, only tinder certain condi- 
tions; and these conditions are not dependent 
on the quantities of tjjese gases present in the 
surrounding atmosphere, and are but slightly 
under the control of man, limited in know- 
ledge as at present." We do not see how we 
are advanced at all in this investigation by 
reference to the laws of nature, which is a 
mere re-affirmation of the general fact to be 
explained, and which fact may be explained 
with entire satisfaction by referring to another 
fact, admitted by all agricultural chemists that 
even though all the organic constituents of 
plants, were furnished by water and the atmos- 
phere, the inorganic, though less in quantity, 
are quire as essential, and must be supplied 
hi t/ie soil. Nearly all the elements of an egg 
may be in the food of a hen, yet if denied lime 
to form the shell, she cannot lay a perfect egg. 
Again he says, "Thus the smallest but richest 
element, azote, would seem to be obtained by 
plants principally, or entirely, through their" 
roots, and from the soil. Therefore, the supply 
to plants is in no degree increased by the prodi- 
gious quantity of azote in the atmosphere." 
This is plainly a non sequilv.r, besides being 
directly opposed to the experiments of Bous- 
sinsrault, detailed under the next head, and 
adopted by our author; and also, in conflict 
with the teachings of Liebig, Petzholdt, and a 
number of modern agricultural chemists, who, 
■whilst they deny that the nitrogen of the atmos- 
phere is ever taken up by growing plants, yet 
maintain that the ammonia, which is always 
present in the atmosphere, is the principal,' if 
not the only source of the supply of nitrogen 
Cor azote; to plants. (Liebig. Organic Chemis- 
try, 146. Petzholdt, Lectures, 57.) We do not 



mean to take sides in this controversy, or to 
express an opinion as to the source of the azote 
of plants, a matter, in our view, yet requiring 
elucidation. Again he says on page 247, "The 
foregoing views seem to offer the only plausi- 
ble explanation of that great mystery of vege- 
table life, that plants on barren land should 
pine or starve when surrounded by unlimited 
supplies, in air and water, of their necessary 
elements." Now this is no mystery at all, if 
by barren land is meant a soil entirely destitute 
of the necessary inorganic elements of plants, 
which can be derived from the soil only. And 
if by that expression is meant soils destitute 
of vegetable matter, the statement is not con- 
sistent with facts, said to be well attested, of 
soil, rich in minerals, continuing to produce 
large crops of grain, though destitute of vege- 
table matter, and never manured; as is said 
to be remarkably the case with the land in 
the neighborhood of Naples, which is kept 
rich, under continual cropping, by the disin- 
tegration of the minerals of which it is com- 
posed. Again he says, "If then we suppose 
that the very small proportions of necessary 
salts, found in the ashes of plants, are already 
in the soil (as is generally the case,)" &c. Now" 
this is a supposition by no means to be made, 
because not consistent with well established 
facts, and indeed the contrary has been de- 
monstrated in the "Essay," in regard to one, 
at least, of these necessary salts, lime, which 
has been shown to be almost entirely wanting 
in the poor lands of Eastern Virginia; and we 
have no doubt that these lands are equally de- 
ficient in nearly every other necessary inor- 
ganic element. The evident confusion of the 
author, in treating this part of the subject, 
arises, we think, from his attaching too little 
importance to the inorganic portions of plants 
as a necessary part of the vegetable economy. 
Johnson, who is no disciple of Liebig, speak- 
ing of the presence of the inorganic elements 
in different plants, in definite proportions, Re- 
cording to their different kinds, says, "They 
are constant on every soil, and in every cli- 
mate; they must, therefore, have their origin 
in some natural law." "A doubt can hardly 
remain that this inorganic matter forms an 
essential part of their existence and that they 
cannot live without it." (Lecture, 179 and 181.) 
Johnson says, again, "If one of these neces- 
sary inorganic forms of matter be rare, or 
wholly absent, the crop will as certainly prove 
sickly or entirely fail, as if the organic food, 
supplied by the vegetable matter of the soil, 
were wholly withdrawn. It is, therefore, as 
much the end of an enlightened agricultural 
practice to provide for the various require- 
ments of each crop, in regard to inorganic 
food, as it is to endeavor to enrich the land 
with purely vegetable substances." We have 
been somewhat amused at the seriousness with 
which our autltr and Dr. Wight have put 
forth their facts and reasonings with regard 
to the supposed peculiar effect of carbonate of 
lime, as enabling plants to draw more carbon 



136 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



from the atmosphere. It is only another evi- 
dence in addition to the great many furnished 
by the annals of -science of the facility with 
which even the acutest intellects may be de- 
ceived by appearances when in the ardent 
pursuit of desired results. All these facts and 
reasonings may be conclusively answered by 
the general affirmation, tliat whatever tends to 
increase the growth of the plant enables it to draw 
an increased supply of carbonic acid from, the at- 
mosphere. For it being conceded that about, 
fifty per cent, of all plants consists of carbon, 
and that all, or nearly all, of the carbon of 
plants is derived from the carbonic acid of 
the atmosphere, it is obviously impossible that 
the growth of plants can be materially in- 
creased by manure of any kind without caus- 
ing a greater absorption of carbpnic acid from 
the atmosphere. And the very ingenious and 
elaborate experiments of Dr. Wight amount 
to no more than this. Doubtless if he had 
tried a weak solution of guano or liquid ma- 
nure from the stable, instead of carbonate of 
lime, his experiments would have been much 
more strikingly successful. 

The facts, stated on page 253, as to the de- 
terioration in the growth of wheat and other 
crops in the neighborhood of those, growing 
on limed and plastered lands, may be ex- 
plained upon nearly the same principle. We 
may remark that a similar fact is frequently 
observed and commented on by farmers who 
use guano onwheat. So much so, that it has 
now become a subject of common remark 
among overseers and others, who say that 
"the land is insulted by guano," and that rich 
cow-pens, alongside of guanoed wheat, will 
now scarcely produce a tolerable crop. We 
had ourselves attributed this apparent fact to 
contrast, but it may possibly be literally true. 
The supply of carbonic acid in the atmosphere 
is in limited quantity, and the air may be en- 
riched by adding a considerable portion of 
carbonic acid, thereby promoting greatly the 
growth of plants. This process, which, ol 
course, is artificial and on a small scale, shows 
that the supply in nature is not adequate to 
the demand, and as plants consume it in di- 
rect proportion to their bulk, it must follow 
that lime, guano or any other manure that in- 
creases the growth of plants, without increas- 
ing the supply of carbonic acid in the atmos- 
phere will, of necessity, enable the plants, thus 
rendered more vigorous, to deprive the weaker 
in their neighborhood of some portion of the 
already insufficient supply of carbonic acid; 
and thus the smaller would be impoverished 
by the larger, just as weak cattle, in a lean 
pasture, are impoverished by those stronger 
than themselves. 

The effect of calxing, in the improvement 
of land, by enabling leguminous plants to 
draw nitrogen from the atmosphere, as illus- 
trated by the experiments of Boussingault, 
requires further examination before it can be 
adopted as ascertained truth. Johnson ques- 
tions the certainly of Boussingault's experi- 



ments, whilst Liebig, as we have already seen, 
denies the possibility of any portion of the 
nitrogen of the atmosphere entering into the con- 
stitution of plants, whilst he affirms that the 
atmosphere is the abundant source of the ni- 
trogen of plants in the ammonia which is al- 
ways present in small quantity and conveyed 
to the leaves of plants in dew, and to the roots 
in rain and snow water. 

The views presented in regard to the power 
of calcareous soils to attract nitric acid, upon 
the principle of the artificial nitre beds of 
France, open a new and interesting field of 
inquiry, as yet but little explored. The facts, 
when ascertained, will go far to explain the 
remarkable manuring effects of shade, whether 
by clover or other "fibrous" covering. In Al- 
lan's "American Farm Book" there is an ar- 
ticle on "Gurneyism, or Fibious Manuring, 1 ' in 
which most extraordinary effects are ascer- 
tained, by actual experiment, to have been 
produced by a simple covering of straw, and 
the results explained on the authority of a 
communication in the "British Farmers' Ma- 
gazine," upon the principle of the formation 
of nitrates, as is done in the artificial nitre 
beds of France. It is stated upon this autho- 
rity that grass, simply covered with straw, 
yielded six times as much as that not covered, 
and five times as much as that dressed with 
guano and other rich manures. These results 
were ascertained by repeated and most careful 
experiments, and no dolibt is expressed of 
their entire accuracy. The manuring effect 
of clover, which, according to Boussingault, 
is out of all proportion to the quantity of ve- 
getable matter contained in it, may probably 
be also accounted for on this principle. Dr. 
Robert Baldwin of Winchester, maintains, 
with great earnestness, that the sole manuring 
virtue of clover consists in its capacity to 
shade the land. He has maintained the princi- 
ple of "fibrous manuring," without, perhaps, 
ever having had his attention drawn to the 
facts or reasonings by which it has been sus- 
tained in Europe. He maintains that clover 
is in no degree dependent for its fertilizing 
effects on the vegetable matter contained in 
the crop, but that it may be removed, root and 
branch, after it has performed its office of 
sliade, without any diminution of fertility. Dr. 
Baldwin's views have generally been regarded 
as extreme, and we do not mean to endorse 
them. They have certainly new interest in 
connexion with these recent developments, 
and their author being a gentleman of un- 
doubted intelligenceand observation and a suc- 
cessful practical farmer, his facts and opinions 
are at least entitled to respectful consideration. 
We have now under our view the most striking 
evidences of the effects, on a large scale, of 
simply covering fields, in grass, with straw, 
which are vastly beyond any results that could 
possibly be attributed to the mere manuring 
effect of vegetable matter. 

Havingconcluded thestrictures which, in the 
' impartial character of a reviewer, we deemed 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



137 



it just to make, on the new doctrines contained 
in the 24th chapter, we proceed, in the further 
execution of our task, to offer some observa- 
tions on subjects, which, if not so Dew or in- 
teresting, are at least of equal practical im- 
portance. 

There are two offices performed by calx in 
soils now no longer a matter of doubt, which, 
independent of. any other actual or supposed 
effects, make it of inestimable value. These 
are, that it neutralizes acids, now known to 
exist in all our poor soils, and that it furnishes 
one of the essential inorganic elements of cul- 
tivated plants. These alone are sufficient to 
satisfy any reflecting farmer of the indispensa- 
ble necessity of calxing his land, and the prac- 
tical question presents itself, what is the cheap- 
est and best mode of effecting this operation'! 
And intimately connected with this question 
the farther inquirv, what is the necessary and 
proper quantity of the material to be applied 1 

That calx has generally been applied in 
excess, as well in this country as in England, 
we have no doubt, and nothing but the very 
humid climate of England and the large quan- 
tities of vegetable manures applied in that 
country, in every form, has preserved it from 
utter sterility under the enormous dressings of 
lime that we learn from all her writers, an- 
cient and modern, have been applied. The 
later practice of her farmers seems to be tend- 
ing to a more rational system. In Virginia 
as small a quantity as fifty bushels of slaked 
lime to the acre has, in some cases, been found 
excessive. The Messrs. Harrison of Brandon, 
as we learn from a communication in the 
Farmers' Register, found seventy bushels to 
the acre entirely too much, and in their sub- 
sequent large operations reduced this quantity 
to thirty-six bushels. In France, whose cli- 
mate and soil are very similar to ours, a very 
small dressing, evan as little as eleven bushels 
to the acre, as we learn from Puvis, have 
been found sufficient for a single application. 
This practice, where the true office of lime 
is understood, is founded on the principles not 
only of science, but of common sense. Lime 
in the soil acts as a food and a medicine. 
Your horse requires a gallon of grain to-night, 
you do not put in bis manger a bushel in ad- 
dition, to save the trouble of feeding him for 
the next four days. You suffer from a fit of 
indigestion — you know, from experience, that 
a few grains of carbonate of soda, lime, or 
magnesia will neutralize the acid generated 
in the stomach, which retards digestion and 
is the cause of your annoyance. You do not 
take a quarter of a pound, lest some days 
hence you may suffer from the same cause of 
annoyance. Now as essential food for grow- 
ing crops, it is ascertained that a very small 
quantity of lime is required. A crop of wheat, 
both straw and grain, producing twenty-five 
busheis to the acre, consumes less than nine 
pounds of lime, and one bushel, if it could be 
applied in such manner as to be all available, 
is more than would be required as food for all 



the crops in a full rotation of five years. Its 
effects as medicine can only be ascertained 
by close observation; and as the physician 
watches carefully his patient, and applies his 
remedies at every recurrence of the symp- 
toms of the disease, so the enlightened farmer, 
by carefully noting the indications, may pre- 
scribe, with success, for his land. These opi- 
nions are not mere deductions from theoretical 
knowledge, but the result of long experience 
and the closest observation. We have had 
land in our own practice injured temporarily 
by fifty bushels of lime to the acre, and a 
small piece excessively dressed with shell 
lime, entirely effete, so damaged that it has not 
recovered under considerable applications of 
putrescent manures in more than twenty years. 
In the last few days we have walked over ex- 
tensive fields, limed under our own eye, during 
the last fifteen years. The quantity applied 
was fifty bushels on the alluvial lands, chiefly 
black soil abounding in vegetable matter, and 
from fifty down to twenty-four bushels, on the ' 
"forest lands," such as are described in the 
Essay as "free light lands." The effect has 
been carefully noted, and but one portion of 
all this land gives any indication that more 
lime is required, and that is about twenty acres 
of the black land, somewhat wetter than the 
rest, for which, two years ago, we prescribed 
fifty bushels of lime additional to the acre, 
which was applied, and now, although well 
set in clover, a sprinkling of sorrel indicates 
the presence of some acid. In the "forest 
lands," where but twenty-four bushels to the 
acre were applied, we have observed that 
around the red oak stumps the decaying wood, 
(which, according to Liebig, contains at least 
50 per cent, of humic acid,) has been entirely 
decomposed, and the sorrel, which was for- 
merly matted about them, has given place to 
a firm sod of greensward. We conclude that 
more than fifty bushels of slaked lime to the 
acre at one application is never advisable, and 
that twenty-five bushels are more frequently 
quite sufficient, and that reliming, even at this 
small rate, will not usually be required for a 
number of years. 

Slaked limeisdelivered on the riversatseven 
to eight cents a bushel. The cost of hauling 
so small a quantity as twenty-five bushels 
to the acre, upon the estimate of marling ex- 
penses by Mr. Ruffin, presently noticed, would 
be, even for considerable distances, so trifling 
as not materially to add to the expense. 

As a practical matter of great importance 
we have carefully examined the estimates o 
marling expenses detailed in chapters 28 and 
29 of this work. And whilst we entirely con- 
cur in the general remarks with which the 
subject is opened, and have not the smallest 
doubt of the entire accuracy of the detailed 
statements, we think the estimate of expenses 
was much too low, even at the price of labor 
prevailing at the time they were made; and 
that they are now farther below the mark, by 
at least 1 00 per cent, since the late great rise 



13S 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



in the price of labor. The results attained by 
Mr. Ruffin were most extraordinary and are 
attributable only to his own peculiar energy 
and exact method, and to the great efficiency 
of slave labor, when properly directed. With- 
out being familiar with the peculiar details of 
marling labors, we venture the assertion, that 
in no other case, under the most favorable 
circumstances, has any thing like the result 
attained by him been accomplished by any 
other person. By the table on page 351, we 
learn that his labors on a large scale resulted in 
hauling one hundred bushels of marl, weighing 
105 lbs. to the bushel, half a mile from the pit 
to the field, at a cost of 24.46 cents; and in- 
cluding all other expenses, of digging, spread- 
ing, &c. costing on the field less than 54 cents 
the hundred bushels. It will be observed that 
the cost of hauling half a mile is less than 
one-fourth of a cent a bushel, or less than four 
and a half cents for 1890 lbs. a full load for 
two mules. Now we venture to say that in 
any part of the world, out of the slaveholding 
States, the same work would cost four times 
the money, and yet we are constantly re- 
proached with the inefficiency and expensive- 
ness of slave labor. We find in Stephen's 
Farmer's Guide, Vol. II. 669, some estimates 
of the expenses of marling in England, where 
wages are said lo be at a very low point. In 
these estimates the cost of hauling a load of 
forty bushels of marl one mile is rated at three 
shillings and six pence sterling, or about eighty 
cents, or two cents a bushel for one mile, and 
one cent for half a mile — just about four times 
Mr. Ruffin's estimate. But, as we said before, 
we think Mr. Ruffin's estimate much too low 
for operations, even in Virginia, as they may 
be expected to be conducted under the best 
common management. In illustration of this, 
we append a letter from Mr. Charles B. Wil- 
liams, Recording Secretary of the Virginia 
State Agricultural Society, furnishing many 
valuable statistics on this subject. 

The cost of marl, if it were fourfold greater 
than it is, would be fully justified by the profits 
that accrue from it. Our object is not to dis- 
suade persons from its use by magnifying the 
estimate of its expense, but to furnish true 
data from which the relative cost of calxing 1 1 
with lime or marl, may be properly estimated. 
It is obvious that the advantage of one over 
the other depends mainly on distance, as the 
principal expense is incurred in the hauling. 
When the marl is rich, easily accessible, and 
not distant, say not over a mile, marling would 
probably be cheaper than liming. At a greater 
distance than one mile, unless the marl con- 
tain some other fertilizer than carbonate of 
lime, lime would, no doubt, be cheaper. Twen- 
ty-five bushels of slaked lime, in the state of 
fine powder, in which it is applied, is, no ! 
doubt, fully equal, at least, for early effect, to 
one hundred bushels of marl, containing 80 j 
per cent, of carbonate of lime, as it is usually 
found in undissolved shells, and frequently in 
indurated masses. These observations do not I 



apply to marl rich, in phosphate and sulphate 
of lime, and possibly other enriching matters 
of such value as to bear carriage to great dis- 
tances. And some of the Pamunkey marl, 
with even as little as 10 per cent, of carbonate 
of lime, yet abounding in other valuable mat- 
ters, may, upon the principles we have endea- 
vored to illustrate, yet be found of much 
greater value than they have heretofore been 
supposed to possess; thus Prof. Gilham of the 
Virginia Military Institute, is said to have 
ascertained, by analysis, that some of these 
marls contain as much as 18 per cent, of sul- 
phate of lime, besides the phosphate and other 
valuable matters. We have never seen any 
farm on which these marls have been used, put 
under an ameliorating system of cultivation, 
yet we have no doubt, from what we have ob- 
served of their effects on farms in the neigh- 
borhood of Hanover Town, that they would 
be productive of the highest degree of fertility 
if a milder rotation were adopted in lieu of 
the scourging system of cultivation now com- 
mon in that neighborhood. Indeed if any re- 
liance is to be placed in an experiment care- 
fully conducted by Petzholdt, and reported in 
his lectures, (page 99,) the soil would not only 
have the benefit of this manure as gypsum, if 
in that form it has any peculiar value, but the 
sulphate of ammonia would be largely formed * 
in the soil, and the sulphate of lime actually 
converted into the carbonate, so that in this 
view these marls, even for the mere purpbse 
of calxing, have a much greater value than 
has been heretofore attributed to them. 

We had wished to present some statistical 
views of the improvement of lands in Eastern 
Virginia, since the publication of the "Essay," 
and which are mainly due to truths first pro- 
mulgated in that work, and enforced by its 
author and his correspondents in the pages of 
the Farmers' Register, so long and so ably 
edited by him. But our limits forbid it; and 
indeed, statistics are scarely necessary in proof 
of a fact of which we have evidence on every 
side. We see it in the renewed hope and en- 
terpriseof ourpeople; in the increaseof wealth, 
public and private; in the improved condition, 
of our schools and colleges, which thirty years 
ago were like "banquet halls deserted," but 
now a re crowded with ingenuous youths, chiefly 
sons of thriving farmers, in earnest pursuit of 
that knowledge which at once secures and 
constitutes the true riches of a republic. We 
see it in the improved aspect of the country — 
in the old hearths, once desolate, now cheerful 
i and happy — in the increased commerce of our 
cities, and in the renewed beauty of our lovely 
villages. Every citizen who has been induced 
j to remain — every returning emigrant, whether 
; in robust health, with hope revived, to com- 
mence again his labors among us, or broken 
by care and disappointment, he returns from 
his wanderings to lay his bones quietly with 
his ancestors, is a living witness of this grati- 
fying fact. 
The most important part of our duty remains 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



139 



yet 10 be performed. We have now to fulfil 
our promise lo the cultivators of poor lands, to 
poiot out a plan by which they may speedily, 
cheaply and certainly render their farms pro- 
ductive, and themselves, if not rich, at least 
independent. This, we have the pleasure to 
say, is an easy task, yet we would not venture 
upon it, and incur the hazard of being classed 
among empirical pretenders, if we did not 
know that the plan suggested is founded in 
the true principles of nature and of science, 
and has been sufficiently tested by actual ex- 
perience. It consists in correcting in the 
soil whatever is injurious to vegetation, and 
in giving to it all those elements necessary for the 
growth of plants, which science teaches, are derived 
cralij from Hue soil. 

The prescription is for poor lands, and it 
applies to all dry lands from the mountains to 
the sea, let their poverty be ever so extreme, 
provided they are not precipitous, have a sound 
subsoil, and do not contain more than 95 per 
cent, of sand. Alluvial lands are not embraced, 
for though in many cases unproductive, they 
cannot be called poor, and their improvement 
demands a somewhat different treatment — 
embracing a system of careful drainage. The 
lands, more particularly within our view, are 
such as the originally thin and thoroughly ex- 
hausted "forest lands" of the Northern Neck 
and the counties of £ssex, Middlesex, King 
William, part of King and Q,ueen, and Caro- 
line, and all the counties below tide-water, of 
similar geological formation. These lands in 
their most reduced condition, produce scarcely 
a barrel of com to the acre, and no wheat, 
and where turned out to rest, are covered with 
a scant growth of poverty-grass. Few entire 
farms are in this condition — the most neglected 
having small spots of improved land. We 
suppose our plan, however, to be applied to a 
farm on which there is no spot improved, and 
all reduced to the lowest possible condition. 
Yet we would guarantee that in the short space 
of five years, the average crop of wheat shall 
be brought up fully to that attained at Coggins' 
Point in the last sixteen years, of a period of 
marling alone, extending back more than thirty 
years; and that all the expenses of the im-, 
proveraent shall have been paid out of the 
crops, and if the proprietor has been industrious 
and economical, the price of the farm paid 
besides; and that in the next five years the 
average product in wheat shall be so much 
greater than that attained at Coggins' Point 
that the whole expense of manuring and har- 
vesting shall be paid out of the surplus, and 
the average crop of Coggins' Point be left as 
clear profit. And though our experience does 
not extend thus far, we have no doubt that in 
another round, or two rounds of'crops at far- 
thest, the product of this poor land shall be 
found at least equal to the highest average on 
the richest and most highlyimproved farms 
in the State. This seemingly wonderful result 
is lo be produced by adding to the effects of 
calcareous manures the still more striking in- 



fluence of Peruvian guano, aided by a judi- 
cious rotation, proper culture and due attention 
to putrescent manures. 

The arable land should be divided into five 
equal parts, separated by fences or not, as may 
suit the convenience of the proprietor, and the 
fields cultivated in the succession of corn, 
wheat, clover, wheat on fallow, and pasture: 
every grain crop to be manured, and the land 
to be calxed with twenty-five bushels of lime 
to the acre, or its equivalent in marl, as the 
fields come successively in corn ; the composts 
and well rotted manures to be applied to the 
corn in the hill; and if the supply is insuffi- 
cient to dress the whole, the deficiency tp be 
made up with guano, at the rate of one hun- 
dred pounds to the acre, applied either when 
the land is broken, or aftfir the corn is thinned, 
and just before the dirt is thrown to it. The 
manuring of the corn in the hill is a great 
saving, and pays a handsome profit on the 
manure, but is not relied on as a means of 
improvement. The wheat, on both corn land 
and fallow, to be dressed with two hundred 
pounds of Peruvian guano to the acre. The 
corn-field wheat to be sowed in clover. The 
surplus straw to be applied as a top-dressing 
to the young clover, if it can be applied soon 
after harvest; if not, to the field that had been 
in fallow wheat, and that will be next in pas- 
ture. Let no hogs enter the fields, unless for 
gleaning; and limit the amount of stock of all 
kinds to the actual necessities of the family. 
If this plan is strictly adhered to in every round 
of crops, and the lime repeated, should the 
appearance of sorrel indicate the presence of 
acid, we regard- the result predicted as abso- 
lutely certain. When first taking possession 
of a farm so poor as to be reduced below the 
sorrel point, it may with great profit be all 
fallowed, dressed with guano and put in wheat. 
Such lands havein the first cropyielded enough 
to pay all expenses and the purchase money 
of the farm. But it will not do to repeat the 
wheat crop without, previous calxing, as the 
sorrel will destroy it. These results are cer- 
tain and speedy. They are also cheap. For 
although the plan requires the annual outlay 
of money, yet the capital is certain to be re- 
turned, with more than 50 per cent, profit at the 
end of the year, whilst the land progressively 
improves. The beauty of this system consists 
in the facility with which it may be accom- 
modated to the circumstances of farmers of 
every degree. The rich and the poor, the 
owners of slaves and those who have none, 
Ithe tiller of fifty and the tiller of five thousand 
acres may all equally avail themselves of its 
advantages. All that is necessary to insure 
success is faith, energy, perseverance and a 
little capital, or if that be wanting, reputation, 
for integrity, which, for such a purpose, will 
certainly command it. 

We have thus brought our labors to a close, 
whether satisfactorily or not we must leave to 
our readers to decide. We have endeavored 
to avail ourselves of all the lights before us, 



\ 



140 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



and while it has given us peculiar pleasure to 
do justice to the distinguished merits of our 
author, we have not hesitated to express, with 
the candor -which we know he would both 
practice and approve, our dissent from such 
of his doctrines and reasonings as we deemed 
erroneous. It is not at all improbable that in 
pointing out his supposed errors of opinion 
upon questions purely scientific, we may have 
fallen into much greater errors ourselves. 
Our main purpose has been practical. We 
believe the team of our author both sure and 
strong, yet we think he drives rather too slow 
a coach for this go-ahead age. We desire to 
accelerate the motion, that agriculture may 
keep pace with other industrial pursuits. And 
for this purpose we earnestly recommend the 
use of such additional means as we feel sure 
will accomplish the end in view. We wish 
to see the tide of emigration not only checked, 
but arrested, by convincing the people of Vir- 
ginia that there is no necessity to leave the 
homes of their ancestors in order speedily to 
better their condition. Some are yet distrust- 
ful. We occasionally see one who, appre- 
hending that his family may want, is casting 
a wistful look towards Texas or California, or 
what is still worse, towards Washington. To 
all such we would speak a word of encourage- 
ment. Be of good cheer; " Put thou thy trust 
in the Lord, and be doing good: dwell in the 
land, and verily thou shalt be fed." 

Dilchley, February 21, 1853. 
Hon. Willoughby Newton: 

My Dear Sir, — Yours, post marked 12th, 
reached me on the 18th of this month, and I 
most cheerfully comply with your request, to 
wit: "to give you a statement of the improve- 
ment of my father's land, since the division 
among his heirs," and also send you some va- 
luable statistics of marling, attained by one of 
my immediate neighbors, Mr. Carter Braxton, 
whose estate lies on the Hanover side of the 
Pamunkey river, and immediately opposite 
to my father's land, in the county of King 
William. 

My father's estate was divided among his 
heirs in 1831. At that time, my younger bro- 
ther, Col. H. B. Tomlin, and myself were 
minors. Four portions of the estate (all that 
part lying in the county of King William,) 
were cultivated as one farm, under the manage- 
ment of the late most estimable and excellent 
Gen. Corbin Braxton — our guardian. That 
the estate, under his direction, was judiciously 
managed, I need give you, at least, no assu- 
rance. The land was thoroughly cultivated, 
and drained as rapidly as circumstances would 
permit. All the putrescent manure, both stable 
and barn-yard, that could be made, applied to 
the land in good time; while the poorest spots, 
well covered with partially rotted straw and 
chaff, had the cattle penned on them during 
the summer months. The farm was cultivated 
on the usual exhausting three-shift and grazing 



course of that time. With all the General's 
known skill and good judgment everdisplayed 
in the general details of farming, he was only 
able to keep the corn cropof the farm stationary, 
while the wheat crop diminished yearly, (even 
on the highly cow-penned spots the wheat al- 
ways tumbled and was badly rusted,) until it 
was a nice question whether the wheat crop 
paid expenses of cultivation. In the year 1838, 
the farm was divided into three farms, and 
each of the three put under the four-shift sys- 
tem in 1839. Before the year 1838, some 
marling had been done in spots, at about one 
hundred and fifty bushels to the acre, which 
marl proved to, be very poor in carbonate of 
lime. The scourging rotation of three grain 
crops in four years proved with us improper, 
as the wheat on the fallow field, not marled, 
was so damaged by sorrel as to bring the ave- 
rage below the yield of the corn-field wheat, 
and even on the few marled spots, where only 
a bunch of clover could be found, this was so 
closely grazed by the stock as to give but a 
very poor yield in comparison with results 
since obtained from clover fallow under the 
present five-shift system. The necessity of 
having a pasture and the sorrel together drove 
us into the five-shift system in 1843. Between 
1838 and 1843 we made greater exertions in 
marling yearly from the banks we use at this 
time— the blue eocene marl; that used prior 
to 1838 being the grey eocene marl. Not till 
1844, did we succeed in marling a whole field 
in a season. Since 1842, I have never failed 
to have a good stand of clover, and a good 
growth sufficient to mow. In 1848, we com- 
menced sowing the field pea in our corn crop 
at the last working, and have continued to sow 
it up to this time. 

The wheat crop on the land 1 now own, in 
1838 averaged 3£ bushels per acre. 

The wheat crop on the land I now own, in 

1851 averaged 24i bushels per acre. 

The wheat crop on the land I now own, in 

1852 averaged 21 bushels per acre, notwith- 
standing the fresh of the river in the last of 
April covered two-thirds of the land, and so 
damaged one-third as to yield only 11 bushels 
per acre. 

The corn crop of 1838 averaged 20 bushels 
per acre. 

The corn crop of 1850 averaged 55 bushels 
per acre. 

The corn crop of 1852 averaged 37$ bushels 
per acre— damaged by fresli in April, killing 
my corn, baking my land, had all to be re- 
ploughed and planted just before harvest. 

On Col. H. B. Tomlin's farm, wheat crop 
of 1838 averaged between 2 and 3 bushels per 
acre. 

Wheat crop of 1851 and 1852 averaged 
between 24 and 25 bushels per acre. 

Corn crop of 1838 averaged 15 bushels per 
acre. 

Corn crop of 1851 and 1852 averaged 35 
bushels per acre. 

On my sister's (Mrs. Coulton) farm, man- 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



141 



aged by Col. H. B. Tomlin, wheat crop of 
1838 none sowed — oats substituted. 

Wheat crop of 1839 averaged 3 bushels per 
acre. 

Wheat crop of 1851 averaged 28 bushels 
per acre. 

Wheat crop of 1852 averaged 20 bushels 
per acre. 

Corn crop of 1S38 averaged I7i bushels per 
acre. 

Cora crop of 1852 averaged 40 bushels per 
acre. 

Mr. Carter Braxton's estate, wheat crop in 
1840 averaged not quite 3 bushels per acre. 

Wheat crop in 1851 averaged 18 bushels 
per acre. 

Wheat crop in 1852 averaged 15 bushels 
per acre. Some 60 or 70 acres very much 
damaged — some producing nothing — from the 
fresh of April. 

Corn crop of 1840 averaged 19j bushels per 
acre. 

Com crop of 1852 averaged 50 bushels per 
acre. 

Since 1842 the wheat crops and corn crops 
have steadily increased on each field in the 
rotation over the preceding crops. 

Now, my dear sir, since without marl our 
lands will not bring clover — since without 
marl our lands would not yield a growth of 
pea vine sufficient, in a growing corn crop, to 
be of benefit to pay for the peas — since with- 
out marl the five-shift system will not answer, 
as the sorrel destroys the wheat on the fallow 
field, am I wrong to give to marl the credit of 
being the true and only basis of this increase 
of product'? Before marling, the more sandy 
soils, when not under cultivation, naked and 
liable to be drifted by high winds in very dry 
weather, while the stiffer soils presented little 
in their growth, save poverty-grass, sorrel and 
the running blackberry brier. After marling, 
our fields in winter covered with dark'weeds 
and in the spring with luxuriant red clover, 
and when this should fail, (from bad seeding, 
even on a few feet square,) a certainty of 
seeing a verdant turf of the white clover. Of 
marl, and its benefits, I should never have 
known anything, but for the Essay on Calca- 
reous Manures, by my much esteemed neigh- 
bor and friend, Mr. Edmund Ruffin, which you 
propose to review. In haste, 
Very truly, you rs, 

Ro. W. Tomlin. 

Richmond, Fehrvary 18, 1853. 
Hon. Willocghbv Newton: 

My Dear Sir, — I received your esteemed 
favor of the 11th instant on yesterday, and 
having availed myself of the means of infor- 
mation within my reach, I now proceed with 
pleasure to answer your inquiries. The daily 
hire of a cart, with two mules and a driver, 
when engaged in continuous labor in any of 
the departments you mentioned, is, and has 
been for a number of years, $2 50 per day, 



as I learn from bricklayers, dirt diggers, team- 
sters on the streets, &c. — the driver being an 
able bodied man, capable of loading and un- 
loading with facility and dispatch. For re- 
moving a full load (the standard fixed by City 
Ordinance at 1500 pounds,) for the distance of 
half a mile, supposing it to be part of a conti- 
nuous and large job, the price is 25 cents per 
load. The price for hauling a load of guano, 
is 36 cents from Rocketts, say three-quarters of 
a ton. For wheat there is no price current — 
the millers having for several years received 
that article at the landings and depots free of 
the expense of hauling to the vendor. 

1 had a conversation with Col. T. J. Ran- 
dolph, an extensive railroad contractor, who 
being requested to furnish for the State Engi- 
neer an estimate, founded on his experience, 
of the actual cost per day of a one horse cart — 
horse and driver, with a yearly addition to the 
actual expenses of a reserved fund sufficient 
to reproduce the permanent capital; that is, 
the horse in 6 years and the cart and fixtures 
(I think) in 5 years — entered into the following 
minute calculation, founded on these elements : 

ESTIMATED COST OF CART, HORSE AND DRIVER. 

A cart and gear cost about $40. The same, 
with occasional repairs, will last five years. 
Allowing 270 working days, 10 cents per day 
for interest on cost and wear and tear, would 
be $27 a year; or $135 in the five years to re- 
pair, pay interest and renew. 

A horse will cost $120. The same will last 
six years. 10 cents a day will pay interest on 
cost and renew in six years. Feeding and 
shoeing a horse, at 30 cents a day, $109 50 per 
annum. This amount, for 365 days, is equi- 
valent to 40 cents a day for the 270 working 
days. 

The driver is usually an inferior hand or 
boy, hired from $50 to $80 per annum. Ave- 
rage hire never mofe than $70 00 
Bread for the same — 4 lbs. of meal, at 

$3 50, - - - - 14 00 

Meat for the same— 4 lbs. a week, at 

11 cents, - - - - 22 88 

Clothing for the same, - - 18 12 

Contingencies, - - - 10 00 

270 working days, at 50 cts. per day, $135 00 

Summary. 9 
Repairs, interest on cost and renewal of cart, 

per day, 10 

Interest on cost and renewal of horse, 

per day, 10 

Feedingand shoeing the same, per day, 40 

Cost of driver, per day, - - 50 

Actual cost of horse, cart and driver, 
per day, - - - $1 10 

In this connexion I will mention that the 
daily hire in Richmond for such an equipage 
as above described is, for continuous labor, 
$1 50 per day, with a light boy for the driver. 
Pursuing the line of calculation suggested by 
Col. Randolph, I have estimated the expense 



142 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



of a street, or two-horse cart, and a pair of 
mules and driver, by the standard of Richmond 
prices, which may serve pro forma, as a state- 
ment, applicable, with modifications, to every 
variety of circumstances, which I annex: 

Capital Invested. 
2 mules, at $125 each, - - $250 00 

1 two-horse cart and gear, - - 55 00 



©305 00 



Annual and Daily Expenses. 
Yearly int. on cost of mules and cart, $18 30 
Sinking fund to replace mules once in 

seven years, .... 35 72 
Sinking fund to replace cart and gear 

twice in seven years, . 15 71 

Horse and driver $125, clothing, sub- 
sistence, &c. $60, - - - 185 00 
Subsistence of Mules, Shoeing, fyc. 
40 barrels of corn, or equivalent, at $3, 120 00 
7500 lbs. of fodder,' " $1, 75 00 

Shoeing, &c. .... 12 00 



Amount of annual expenses, - $461 73 

which, if divided by 270 working days, ascer- 
tains the daily expense to be equal to $1 71. 
Take the items to be carried to the sinking 
fund, $35 72 and $15 71, and multiply them 
by 7, and they will be seen to produce the ag- 
gregate of $360. 

Thus it appears that such an establishment 
as produces a daily hire in this city of $2 50, 
actually costs in •perpetuity, $1 71 per day. — 
The cost, as per above statement, is $305; 
the reserve fund, $360, which reduced by the 
purchase of a new cart and gear at the end of 
three years and a half by the sum of its cost, 
$55, leaves the capital entire, at the end of se- 
ven years, for the renewal of the operation for 
a second series of seven years. I hope this 
will be found useful, however inaccurate it 
may be in details, as a formulary which seems 
lo be founded on correct principles, for similar 
estimates, upon actual expenses. I shall look 
for your forthcoming review with considerable 
anxiety, not doubting that it will be a valuable 
contribution to the cause of agriculture. 

Ch. B. Williams. 



For the Southern Planter. 

LANDS IN AMHERST. 

Mr. Editor, — My eye is frequently falling 
upon notices in thenewspapersof Washington 
and Richmond of sales of land at remarkable 
high prices, both in the great Valley of Vir- 
ginia and more recently in some of the counties 
east of the Blue Ridge. I have just noticed 
in the Richmond Dispatch, of the 21st of 
this month, a notice of a recent sale of a farm 
in Culpeper county at $35 per acre. In the 
month of November, in passing through the 



county of Albemarle, I had various farms 
pointed out to me that would bring from $30 
to $60 per acre; and in quite a mountainous 
part of the county, and bordering upon the 
Nelson line, there was a farm pointed out to 
me as a sample of $25 land. The owner, 
who was near by, remarked that he had re- 
fused that sum very recently for it. I am well 
acquainted with the lands from Lynchburg to 
the Potomac river, and have never yet been 
able to see why it is that there is or should be 
such a vast difference in the price of land in 
the counties of Bedford, Amherst, Nelson, 
Albemarle, Orange, Culpeper, Fauquier, and 
Loudoun. In the counties of Amherst and 
Nelson — and particularly Amherst — land, yes 
hundreds if not thousands of acres, can be 
purchased at from $12 to $20 per acre, that 
was originally, and I hesitate not to assert can 
now be made equal to any of the high lands 
in any of the counties I have mentioned, by 
deep ploughing, fallowed with clover, and a 
liberal application of plaster. The county of 
Amherst has and must have advantages that 
no other county in the State can have, viz: 
there is now a canal running around two sides 
of it, and in a few years there will be a rail- 
road through its centre, connecting Lynchburg 
and Chartlottesville. And only behold Lynch- 
burg! It is now a city, with more factories 
and more capital than Richmond itself— that 
is trying to draw everything in the way of 
trade into its jaws. I have been a resident 
of this old free Stale {as it is familiarly called, 
from the fact that once upon a time the citizens 
were so universally in debt that you could not 
get a single case tried in the couuty court — 
but this is not now the case; this county is as 
free from debt as any in the State,) for six 
years, and well do I remember speaking with 
a large farmer, who was an intelligent gentle- 
man, as to my intention of seeding timothy, 
for the purpose of making hay. He and se- 
veral others remarked that this was not a grass 
county, and said if I did seed timothy, I would 
find that it would grow, but would never get 
up high enough to cut for hay. February, 
1848, I did seed timothy and clover with oats, 
on flat land—June, 1849, '50, '51 and '52, I cut 
as good crops of hay as I ever saw cut off of 
land in the great Valley of Virginia; of the 
same strength or fertility. All I did after 
ploughing deep and seeding, was to put on it 
every January from a bushel to a bushel and 
a half of plaster, and when I had it, I would 
add two bushels of ashes per acre. I also 
seeded English blue grass, timothy and clover 
upon upland — really red land, and much of it 
perfectly naked— and in twelve months time I 
had as nice turf for grazing as you can find in 
South Western Virginia. This was all ac- 
complished on rented land. 

I will also stale that I have found that deep 
ploughing and cultivating the same land two 
or three years in succession, with a good ap- 
plication of plaster to each crop, would cause 
the land, if left out a year or two, to cover 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



143 



itself with the valley or dwarf blue grass and 
greensward. This has convinced me that all 
the land in this region wants is deep tillage 
and some sort of stimulant, and protection for 
twelve months after seeding, and it will make 
as good a grass country as any portion of 
Virginia I have yet seen. If tobacco would 
get down to one dollar per hundred, and remain 
at that low price for ten years, Amherst would 
vie with any county east of the Blue Ridge 
for grass and stock. But tobacco has been its 
ruin, and is yet a great drawback to its im- 
provement. Bushes, briers and broomsedge 
are the pests of Eastern Virginia. Bui I have 
found deep ploughing, heavy harrowing with 
crooked teeth, if there are many briers, followed 
with thick seeding of clover and a plenty of 
plaster, and as little grazing as possible, until 
a month or two before fallowing, then graze 
until perfectly naked, if you can before you 
plough, will make more wheat per acre than 
most farmers believe can be grown on $12 or 
£-20 land. 

I had no idea of writing to such lengih, but 
have been led on from one thing to another 
until I have spun out quite a lengthy piece. 
But all I have stated are naked facts, which 
can easily be proven if necessary. 

I. I. HlTE. 

Amherst Co. January 23d, 1853. 



For the Southern Planter. 

SEED CORN. 

Mr. Editor, — Thinking over the little 
article in your March number, from Mr. 
IVoland, upon the subject of seed corn, it 
occurs to me that my own experience is 
probably "confirmation strong"of the view 
he takes. When I purchased my farm, 
eight years ago, I found upon it a very 
superior kind of white corn, which had 
been cultivated here, no doubt, upon the 
old-fashioned system of five feet by two. 
I have continued to plant it, but much 
thicker; and whilst making probably dou- 
ble the quantity of corn upon the eame 
land which my predecessors did, I have ob- 
served year after year a manifest deprecia- 
tion in the quality. Several years since a 
neighbor of mine recommended and gave 
me some of his corn, which was very fine — 
a large, flinty, white corn. He, I know, 
practised thin planting. Thai, too, I ob- 
serve, under the thick planting system, 
though upon first quality river bottom 
land, has considerably deteriorated. At 
all events, without these facts, I can but 
think it a matter of no little importance, 
and ehall certainly take some pains forth- 
with to act upon Mr. N.'s suggestion. I 



should think, however, that a separate 
patch for seed was more indispensable in 
your county, where the practice of cutting 
down corn in the green state is pursued, 
than in Eastern Virginia, where that is 
never done, that I am aware of. Apropos 
of that subject — if you will excuse me for 
trespassing further upon your time — I 
should look upon the introduction of that 
practice into this tobacco growing country 
as one of the most beneficial results ever 
brought about, by a mutual interchange 
of thought among farmers of different sec- 
tions, but for some little difficulties which, 
as yet, I have not been able exactly to get 
rid of. In the first place, to stack the corn 
on the wheat field, and go upon it with 
teams afterwards, is out of the question, 
for many reasons; in the second, to haul 
it to the barn at the time it is cut, as Mr. 
Gilmer says he does, it seems to me is 
rather "too much pork for a shilling;" for 
I do think, except wet bricks, green corn 
is about the heaviest hauling I ever under- 
took. But, sir, I do feel exceedingly inte- 
rested in this matter, and hope to see in 
your columns the views of farmers, more 
experienced than myself, in relation to it; 
for if the points above alluded to are set- 
tled satisfactorily, 1 can only say for my- 
self that I would save twice as much good 
fodder as I now do, and at least a fortnight 
of good October weather, and I need not 
tell wheat and tobacco makers what that 
is worth. 

Very truly, yours, 

G. F. H. 
Elkora, April 9. 1853. 



For the SoutheVn Planter. 

Appomattox Depot, Amelia, April 4, 1 853. 
Mr. Editor, — If the following can be 
published in the Southern Planter early 
enough to guard the farming community 
against probable loss and disappointment, 
it will be well to insert it: 

KETTLEWELL AND GUANO. 

Hearing from various quarters that the 
first named article, which has a mixture 
of guano in its composition, was equal to 
or better than the Peruvian guano alone, 
I procured a ton, to experiment with on 
wheat, last fall. On a field of fifty acres 
I sowed forward Purple Straw wheat, ap- 
plying 300 lbs. Peruvian guano to each 
acre, excepting where an equal quantity 



144 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



(300 lbs.) of the Kettlewell was sown in 
such a manner as fairly to exhibit the dif- 
ference in the vegetation, growth and ma- 
turity of the crop. Up to this time, (April 
4th,) the prospect and difference in favor 
of the guanoed part is as two or three to 
one — the Kettlewell being very little belter 
than unaided land. Gentlemen who are 
hesitating on the subject are invited to 
call on me, two and a half miles south- 
west of Appomattox Depot, on the Dan- 
ville Rail Road, any time between this and 
harvest, and make up their own verdict. 
Thomas Meaux. 

P. S. — I omitted to state that the entire 
guanoed surface is as green as a leek, and 
would generally hide a hare. T. M. 



THE MERINO SHEEP SPECULATION 
OF 1815-'17. 

The Merino sheep speculation was one 
of the most extraordinary bubbles that ever 
was known in America. It had its origin, 
in the year 1815, soon after the treaty of 
Ghent; and at a time when thousands of 
our people were actually under the influ- 
ence of manufacturing mania. In the sum- 
mer of that year, a gentleman of Boston 
imported some half dozen sheep from one 
of the Southern provinces of Spain, whose 
fleeces were of the finest texture, as it was 
said, and such undoubtedly was the fact, 
though the sheep were so thoroughly and 
completely embedded in tar and every 
other offensive article, thai it would have 
been very difficult to prove it. But the 
very offensive appearance of the sheep 
seemed to imbue them wiih a mysterious 
value, that rendered them doubly attrac- 
tive. It was said that the introduction of 
these sheep to the United States would 
enable our manufactories, then in their in- 
fancy, to produce broadcloths and other 
woollen fabrics of a texture that would 
compete with England and Europe. Mr. 
Clay was consulted in reference to the 
sheep, and he at once decided that they 
were exactly the animals that were wanted. 

The first Merino sheep sold, if I recollect 
right, for fifty dollars the head. They cost 
a dollar in Andalusia! The speculation 
was too profitable to stop here; and before 
a long period had elapsed a small fleet 
sailed on a sheep speculation to the Medi- 
terranean. 

By the end of the year 1816 there pro- 
bably were one thousand Merino sheep in 



theUnion, and they had advanced to twelve 
hundred dollars the head. 

Before the autumn of that year had 
passed away they sold for fifteen hundred 
dollars the head; a lusty and good looking 
buck was worth two thousand! 

In New England, in the year 1817, the 
speculation, in consequence of the surplus 
importation, began to decline; but it stea- 
dily and rapidly advanced throughout the 
Western country. Kentucky, in conse- 
quence of the influence of Mr. Clay's opi- 
nions, was especially benefited. 

In the month of August, 1817, I saw a 
Merino buck and ewe sold for eight thou- 
sand dollars; and even that was deemed 
a very small price for the animals. They 
were purchased by a Mr. Samuel Long, a 
house-builder and contractor, who fancied 
ne had by the transaction secured an im- 
mense fortune. 

This Mr. Long was actually rabid with 
the Merino fever; and, in proof of it, it is 
only necessary to relate a single anecdote. 
There resided in Lexington — and not more 
than a mile distant from Mr. Clay's villa 
of Ashland — a wealthy gentleman, named 
Samuel Trotter, who was, in fact, the mo- 
ney-king of Kentucky, and who, to a very 
great extent, controlled the branch of the 
Bank of the United States. He had two 
sheep, a buck and an ewe, and Long was 
very anxious to possess them. 

Long often bantered Trotter for the 
sheep without success; but one day the 
latter said to the former, " If you will build 
me such a house, on a certain lot of land, 
as I shall describe, you shall have the 
Merinos." 

"Draw your plans," said Long, "and 
let me see them." The thing was done, 
and Long eagerly engaged in the enter- 
prise. He built for Trotter a four story 
brick house, about fifty feet by seventy, on 
the middle of an acre of land; finished it 
in the most approved modern style, and 
enclosed it with a costly fence, and handed 
it over to Trotter for the two Merino sheep! 
The establishment must have cost fifteen 
thousand dollars. 

Months before the establishment was 
completed the price of Merinos declined 
gradually, and six months had not passed 
away before they would not command 
twenty dollars! 

Mr. Long held on to them til! they had 
reached the par value of any other sheep, 
when he killed them, made a barbecue, 
called all his friends to the feast, and whilst 
the "goblet went its giddy rounds," like 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



145 



the ruined Venetian, he thanked God that 
he was not worth a ducat! He was 
ruined, and soon after died of a broken 
heart — New Enerland Farmer. 




tf&fr 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



RICHMOND, MAY, 1853. 

TERMS. 

One Dollar and Twenty-five Cents per 
annum, which may be discharged by ihe pay- 
ment of One Dollar only, if paid in office or 
seat 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. 

g5* Subscriptions may begin with any No. 

53*No paper will be discontinued, until all 
arrearages are paid, except at the option of 
the Publisher. 

5J- Office on Twelfth, between Main and 
Cary Streets. 



All communications for the columns of this 
paper, and all letters of inquiry, to insure 
prompt attention, must be addressed to Frank: 
G. Ruffin, Shadwell, Albemarle County, Va. 

All business letters connected with the 
Planter must be addressed to P. D. Bernard, 
Richmond, Virginia. 



It is indispensably necessary that subscribers 
ordering a change, should say from what, to 
what post office they wish the alteration made. 
It will save time to us and lose none to them. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

We have a good many articles on hand 
which are crowded out by want of room 
or prior communications. 



REVIEW OF THE ESSAY ON CALCA- 
REOUS MANURES. 

We make no apology for the length of 
this able paper. To us, as to many of our 
readers, no doubt, it is the more accepta- 
ble on that account. Subjects of such in- 
terest as it treats of cannot be compressed 
into very small limits without injustice to 
the public. We cannot better gain a fair 
hearing for it than by stating that it is the 
production of the Hon. Willoughby New- 
ton of Linden, in the county of Westmore- 
land, of whom it may truly be said not 
only that he is a very worthy gentleman 
and a true, though retired patriot, but what 
is, perhaps, more to the purpose in hand, 
that 

"A better farmer ne'er brushed dew from the lawn." 

Thoroughly practical, he has in his pro- 
duction, as on previous occasions, given 
evidence that a knowledge of books and 
theories is not at all inconsistent with the 
highest skill in husbandry. 



VIRGINIA STATE AGRICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 

We respectfully invite the particular at- 
tention of our readers to the schedule of 
premiums proposed to be awarded by the 
Society at its first annual exhibition. We 
hope there will not be wanting among the 
farmers, manufacturers and mechanics of 
Virginia the spirit of generous rivalry and 
active competition which is essential to the 
successful attainment of the ends proposed 
by the Society in offering their premiums 
upon a spale so liberal and comprehensive. 
For it is by such means they seek to pro- 
mote the development of our agricultural 
resources — to cherish and diffuse the spirit 
of improvement in all the departments of 
rural labor and household economy — to 
foster enterprise and skill in procuring and 
rearing the best breeds of live-stock — to 
encourage useful inventions adapted to 
facilitate and economise the labor of agri- 



146 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



culture — and though last, not least, to se- 
cure an annual convocation of the friends 
of improvement from every section of the 
Commonwealth, by which the contact of 
the members in kindly social intercourse 
and public and private discussions with 
each other may elicit important truths — 
correct prevailing errors in opinion and 
practice, and above all, cement in bonds 
of enduring friendship and confidential 
brotherhood those who have hitherto been 
sadly deficient in V esprit du corps which 
ought to signalize them as a class, and 
whose common interest should incite them 
to hearty cooperation in securing to them- 
selves the manifold benefits of associated 
action. The rules and regulations to be 
observed in conducting the exhibition, with 
such other matters as may be deemed per- 
tinent by the Executive Committee, will 
appear in the June number of the Southern 
Planter. 



The Fredericksburg Herald says, "To 
the untiring energy of Dr. E. P. White of 
Caroline, is Tide Water Virginia chiefly 
indebted for the agricultural organization 
now in existence. With an inflexible will 
which knew no surrender, the Doctor 
worked on in this labor of unrequited re- 
ward until a Society was formed, which 
has quite recently been placed upon a 
firm looting." And we have heard from 
others that mainly, if not entirely, to his 
exertions do the people of his district owe 
the existence of this Society. 

He is succeeded by a gentleman of 
known skill, zeal and public spirit; and 
seconded, as we hope he may be, by his 
colleagues of the Executive Committee 
and others, we must anticipate success to 
the Tide Water Agricultural Society. 



TIDE WATER AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 

We have received the proceedings of 
the above Society, which met at Port Royal 
in the county of Caroline, on the 2d of 
April, and organized by the election of 
officers and the adoption of a Constitution 
and By-Laws. The former President, Dr. 
E. P. White of Caroline, resigned and was 
succeeded by Col. Ed. T. Tayloe of King 
George, President, and James P. Corbin, 
William P. Taylor, Richard Baylor and 
Rich'd Royston as Vice Presidents; Rich. 
H. Garrett, Recording Secretary; John 
Taylor, Jr. Corresponding Secretary; and 
R. S. Catlett, Treasurer. 

The retiring President delivered a short 
address, touching upon the benefitsof Agri- 
cultural Societies, the advantages of the 
peculiar region, Spottsylvania, Caroline, 
Essex and the Northern Neck, in agricul- 
tural point of view, and the necessity of 
the farmers of that region keeping up with 
the spirit of the age in agricultural im- 
provement. 



VIRGINIA STATE AGRICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 

The Executive Committee met at the 
Exchange Hotel on Thursday evening, the 
21st of April, 1853. Present P. St.^Geo. 
Cocke, President; Harvie, Overton, F. G. 
Ruffin, Irby, Peyton and Williams. 

Mr. Irby, from the Committee to revise 
and enlarge the scheme of Premiums for 
the first Agricultural Fair, made a report, 
which was laid upon the table for the pur- 
pose of conferring with the Committee of 
the Common Council of the city of Rich- 
mond. 

Messrs. M'Cance, Anderson and Has- 
kins, the committee above referred to, were 
then introduced and announced to the Ex- 
ecutive Committee the liberal propositions 
they had unanimously concurred in as fit 
to be recommended to the Common Hall 
for its adoption in respect to the furnishing 
grounds, fixtures and certain accommoda- 
tions for the first Fair, if the Committee 
should decide to hold it in Richmond. 

Mr. Harvie, from the Committee ap- 
pointed to confer with rail road and other 
transportation companies, reported that the 
Directors of the Danville Rail Road Com- 
pany had agreed to transport live-stock 
and other articles designed for the Society's 
exhibition to and from the place thereof, to 
the extent their road might be available 
for that purpose, free of expense for trans- 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



147 



portation, and that the members of the So- 
ciety might in like manner pass free. 

Mr. Irby made a similar report respect- 
ing the action of the Directors of the South- 
side Rail Road Company, so far as that 
Road might be used in facilitating the 
transit of members And of subjects for ex- 
hibition to and from the place of holding it. 

Mr. Cocke reported that the Directors 
of the James River and Kanawha Com- 
pany had agreed to remit toll on all sub- 
jects for exhibition transported on their 
Canal, and also on members of the Society 
going to and returning from the Fair. 

Similar proposals were directed through 
different members of the General Com- 
mittee to be made to other rail road and 
transportation companies, but no reports 
have yet been received. 

Resolved. That the Executive Commit- 
tee will hold monthly meetings on the third 
Thursday in each month, the place and 
hour of meeting to be from time to time 
designated. 

The report on Premiums was taken up 
and after considerable progress in the con- 
sideration thereof it was again laid upon 
the table, and the Committee adjourned to 
meet to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock. 

Friday morning, 22d April, 1853. 

The Committee met pursuant to adjourn- 
ment. Present P. St. George Cocke, Pre- 
sident; F. G. Ruffin and C. B. Williams. 

The report on Premiums was taken up 
and adopted, per schedule annexed. 

Adjourned to meet at the Exchange 
Hotel on Thursday, the 19th of May, at 
4-£ o'clock, P. M. 

Ch. E. Williams, Rec. Sec'y. 

SCHEDULE OF PREMIUMS 

To be Awarded at the First Annual Fair of tiie 

Virginia, Slate Agricultural Society. 

PARTICULAR SOEJECT3 AND PREMIUMS. 

Branch I. — Experiments. — For each of 
the eight best experiments, or series of 
experiments, on any of the following sub- 
jects^ a premium as follows: 

let. Effects (in profit or loss} of the 
usual mode of saving corn fodder, by 
stripping the green blades and cutting 
off the tops, - $20 

2d. Cost and effects of subsoil plough- 
ing, under different circumstances of 
soil and subsoil, - - - 20 

3d. Action or non-action of lime as 
manure, above the falls of the tide- 
water rivers of Virginia, on different 
soil, - - - - - 30 



4th. Action or non-action of gypsum, 
below the falls of the tide-water rivers, 
and on soils respectively originally rich 
and originally poor; and on the latter, 
alter as well as before their being 
made calcareous, - - $20 

5th. Cost and effects of bone-dust, 
(or phosphate of lime,) as manure, - 20 

6th. How late, in reference to the 
growth, the last tillage (by plough or 
cultivator) should be given to corn for 
its best product ; and whether the said 
last tillage should be shallow or deep, 20 

7th. Best series of comparative ex- 
periments in the cultivation of corn, 20 

Sth. Benefits and products of guano, 
compared to costs; to be tested by not 
less than three different experiments, 
made under different circumstances, 20 

9th. Benefits or profit of preserving 
and applying human excrements as 
manure, whether prepared for sale 
and distant transportation or other- 
wise, but the whole operation to be in 
Virginia, - - - - 20 

10th. Tide marsh mud, or swamp 
muck, or peaty soil (either kind to 'be 
accurately described and character- 
ized) as manure, in compost with lime 
or other materials, or otherwise, - 20 

11th. Value of charcoal as an aid 
to fertility, - - - - 20 

12th. Value of sulphate of barytes 
as a manure, especially for clover, - 20 

13th. Tobacco. — Culture, cost and 
profit of cultivation, and comparative 

S fleets on production, from different 
istances of planting, modes of prim- 
ing, topping, &c. — comprising at least 
three different experiments, - - 30 

14th. Culture, cost and profit of cul- 
tivation, and comparative feeding va- 
lue of rye, - - - - 10 

Branch II. — Essays or written Commu- 
nications. — For each of the best five on 
any of the following subjects, a premium, 
a3 follows: 

1st. On improving and enriching 
poor land — whether naturally poor or 
naturally rich, or good, and subse- 
quently exhausted by severe cropping, 

2d. On draining, - y - 

3d. On rotation of crops, - 

4th. On the accumulation, prepara- 
tion and application of stock yard and 
stable manure, - 

5th. On the "green sand" or "gyp- 
seous earth" of lowerWirginia as ma- 
nure — and the facts, and causes of ef- 
fect or non effect, - - - 20 



20 
10 



20 



148 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



6th. On the properties and value of 
the Southern pea (or "cornfield pea" 
of any variety,) and the culture there- 
of; whetherforsavingthe peas ripened, 
or ploughing under the growth, green 
or dry, for manure, and as a prepara- 
tion for wheat, or other grain crops, $20 

7th. On the comparative profits of 
planting and farming, and of the two 
combined — improvement of land being 
considered, - - - - 20 

Branch III. — Best Farming in Virgi- 
nia — Having reference as much as may 
be to all the territory of the State. Hono- 
rary testimonials for the twelve best farms, 
which have been managed to greatest be- 
nefit and profit in reference to the follow- 
ing great objects of cultivation: improve- 
ment of soil-fertility or production; increase 
of farming capital — sufficient annual pro- 
fits; and general arrangement and proce- 
dure tending to best secure profitable and 
enduring results. Greater superiority in 
one or more of these requisites may com- 
pensate for deficiency in others. 

Branch IV. — For the best product ave- 
raged to the acre, of each of the following 
crops raised in 1853 on a bona fide farm 
and for an entire shift of the farm accord- 
ing to its usual or designed rotation— a 
premium of - - - $20 

1st. Best average product of Indian corn. 

2d. ,'.."■ " wheat. 

3d. " " clover. 

4th. " " tobacco. 

A premium for the best average product 
of each of the following crops, of $10 

5th. Oats. 

6th. Peas (Southern, or cornfield, either 
among corn or separate,) in grain or in 
green manure. 

7th. Sweet potatoes. 

8th. Irish potatoes. 

9th. Turnips. 

10th. Carrots. 

11th. Parsnips. 

12th. Pumpkins. 

For the largest yield on one acre of the 
following crops, each a premium of $10 

13th. Tobacco. 

14th. Corn (not less than 100 bushels 
per acre.) 

15th. Wheat (not less than 30 bushels 
per acre.) 

16th. Hay (clover or grass, not less than 
2 tons per acre.) 

For the best varieties of the following 
crops, to be raised and samples exhibited 



by the individual raising them, a premium 
of . ... $5 

17th. Corn. 

18th. Wheat. 

19th. Tobacco. 

20th. Oats. 

21st. Clover and grfcss seeds. 

22d. Turnips. 

23d. Parsnips. 

24th. Carrots. 

25th. Pumpkins. 

26th. Peas. 

Branch V. — Live Stock Exhibited. 

HORSES. 

1st. For the best thoroughbred stal- 
lion, $30 

2d. For the second best thorough- 
bred stallion, 15 

3d. Forthe best thoroughbred mare, 15 

4th. For 2d " " " 8 

QUICK DRAUGHT AND SADDLE HORSES. 

5th. For the best stallion for quick 

draught, ... $30 
6th. For 2d best stallion for quick 

draught, 15 
7th. For best brood mare for quick 

draught, - - - 15 
8th. For second best brood mare for 

quick draught, - - - 10 

9th For best stallion for the saddle, 30 

10th. For 2d best " " " 15 
11th. For best brood mare forthe 

saddle, - 15 
12th. For 2d best brood mare for 

the saddle, - - - 10 

13th. For best pair matched horses, 15 

14th. For 2d " " 10 
15th. For best saddle horse, mare 

or gelding, - - - 15 

16th. For best pair draught horses, 15 
17tb. For the best team of draught 

horses, not less than four, - 20 

18th. For best 3 year old colt or filly, 15 

19th. For best 2 year old colt or filly, 10 

20th. For best 1 year old colt or filly, 8 

HEAVY DRAUGHT HORSES. 

21st. For the best stallion for heavy 
draught, - - - 30 

22d. For 2d best stallion for heavy 
draught. - - - 15 

23d. For the best mare for heavy 
draught, - - - 15 

24th. For 2d best mare for heavy 
draught, - - - 10 

MULES AND JACKS. 

25th. For the best jack, - 30 

26th. For the 2d best jack, - 10 

27th. For the best jennet, - 20 

28th. For the 2d best jennet, 10 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



149 



Short . 



29th. For the best pair of mules, $20 
30th. For the best team of mules, 
not less than five, - - 30 

CATTLE. 

Short Horns or Durhams and Hereford's, 
three years old and upward. 

1st. For ihe best bull, - $30 

2d. For the 2d best bull, - 15 

3d. For the ,3d best bull, - 8 

4th. For the best cow, - 30 

5th. For the 2d best cow, - 15 

6th. For the 3d best cow, - 8 

Short Horns or Durhams and Herefords, 
under three years old. 
For the best bull between two 
and three years old, - - $15 

8th. For the 2d test bull between 
two and three years old, - 8 

9th. For the 3d beet bull between 
two and three years old, - 5 

10th. For the best bull between one 
and two years old, 15 

11th. For the 2d best bull between 
one and two years old, 8 

12th. For the best heifer between 
two aqd th ree years old, - 15 

IStiii For the 2d best heifer between 
two ana three years old, - 8 

14th. For the best heifer between 
one and two years old, 15 

15th. For the best heifer between 
one and two years old, 8 

Devons and Alderneys, over three years old. 

16th. For the best Devon bull three 
years old and upwards, - $30 

17th. For the 2d best Devon bull 
three years old and upwards, - 15 

18th. For the 3d best Devon bull 
three years old and upwards, - 8 

19th. For the best Devon cow three 
years old and upwards, - - 30 

20th. For the 2d best Devon cow 
three years old and upwards, - 15 

21st. For the 3d best Devon cow 
three years old and upwards, - 8 

Alderneys same premiums as Devons. 
Devons and Alderneys under 3 years old. 

22d. For the best Devon bull be- 
tween two and three years old, $15 

23d. For the 2d best Devon bull be- 
tween two and three years old, 8 

24th. For the 3d best Devon bull 
between two and three years old, 5 

25th. For the best Devon bull be- 
tween one and two years old, - 15 

26th. For the 2d best Devon bull 
between one and two years old, 8 

27th. For the best Devon heifer be- 
tween two and three years old, 15 



2Sth.'For the 2d best Devon heifer 
between two and three years old, $S 

29th. For the best Devon heifer be- 
tween one and two years old, - 15 

30th. For the 2d best Devon heifer 
between one and two years old, 8 

Alderneys same premiums as Devons. 
Ayrshires and Holsteins over 3 years old. 

31st. For best Ayrshire bull three 
years old and upwards, - $30 

32d. For the 2d best Ayrshire bull 
three years old and upwards, - 15 

33d. For the 3d best Ayrshire bull 
three years old and upwards, - 8 

34th. For the best Ayrshire cow 3 
years old and upwards, - 30 

35th. For the 2d best Ayrshire cow 
three years old and upwards, - 15 

36th. For the 3d best Ayrshire cow 
three years old and upwards, - 8 

Holsteins same premiums as Ayrshires. 
Ayrshires and Holsteins under 3 years old. 

37th. For the best Ayrshire bull be- 
tween two and three years old, $15 

38th. For the 2d best Ayrshire bull 
between two and three years old, 8 

39th. For the 3d best Ayrshire bull 
between two and three years old, 5 

40th. For the best Ayrshire heifer 
between two and three years old, 15 

41st. For 2d best Ayrshire heifer 
between two and three years old, 8 

42d. For the best Ayrshire bull be- 
tween one and two years old, - 15 

43d. For the 2d best Ayrshire bull 
between one and two years old, 8 

44 th. For the best Ayrshire heifer 
between one and two years old, 15 

45th. For 2d best Ayrshire heifer 
between one and two years old, 8 

Holsteins same premiums as Ayrshires. 

Natives or Grades. 

46th. For best bull three years old 
and upwards, ... $30 

47th. For 2d best bull three years 
old and upwards, - - 15 

48th. For 3d best bull three years 
old and upwards, - - 8 

49th. For best bull between two and 
three years old, - - 15 

50th. For 2d best bull between two 
and three years old, 8 

51st. For 3d best bull between two 
and three years old, 5 

52d. For best bull between one and 
two years old, 15 

53d. For 2d best bull between one 
and two years old, 8 



150 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



54th. For best cow three years old 
and upwards, - $30 

55th. For 2d best cow three years 
old and upwards, 15 

56th. For 3d best cow three years 
old and upwards, 8 

57th. For best heifer between two 
and three years old, - - 15 

58th. For 2d best heifer between 
two and three years old, - 8 

59th. For 3d best heifer between 
two and three years old, - 5 

60th. For best heifer between one 
and two years old, 15 

61st. For 2d best heifer between one 
and two years old, v - - 8 

Working Oxen. 

62d. For best yoke of oxen over four 
years old, - ,- $30 

63d. For 2d best yoke of oxen over 
four years old, 15 

64th. For best yoke of oxen under 
four years old, 30 

65th. For 2d best yoke of oxen under 
four years old, - - » 15 

Fat Cattle. 

66th. For best pair of fat steers, $30 

67th. For best fat cow, - 15 

68 th. For best fat heifer, - 8 

SHEEP. 

Fine Wools and Middle Wools. 
1st. For best buck — fine wool, $20 

2d. For 2d " " 10 

3d. For 3d " " 5 

4th. For best pen of ewes, not less 

than three — fine wool, - - 20 

5th. For 2d best pen of ewes, not 

less than three — fine wool, - 10 

6th. For 3d best pen of ewes, not 

less than three — fine wool, - 5 

7th. For best pen of ewe Iambs, not ■ 

less than four — fine wool, - 5 

8th. For best pen of buck lambs, not 

less than four — fine wool, - 5 

9th. For best buck — middle wool, 20 
10th. For 2d " " 10 

11th. For 3d " " 5 

12th. For best pen of ewe lambs, 

not less than four — middle wool, 5 

13ih. For best pen of buck lambs, 

not less than four — middle wool, 5 

Long Wools and Natives. 
14th. For best buck — long wool, 20 
15th. For 2d " " 10 

16th. For 3d " « 5 

17th. For best pen of ewes, not less 

than four — long wool, - - 20 

18th. For 2d best pen of ewes, not 

less than four — long wool, - 10 



19th. For 3d best pen of ewes, not 
less than four — long wool, - $5 

20th. For best pen of ewe lambs, 
not less than four — long wool, - 5 

21st. For best pen of buck lambs, 
not less than four — long wool, - 5 

Natives or Mixed Blood. 

22d. For best buck, - -' 20 

23d. For 2d best buck, - 10 

24th. For 3d best buck, ' - 5 

25th. For best pen of ewes, not less 
than four, 20 

26th. For 2d best pen of ewes, not 
less than four, 10 

27th. For 3d best pen of ewes, not 
less than four, - 5 

28th. For best pen, of ewe lambs, 
not less than four, ' - - 5 

29th. For best pen of buck lambs, 
not less than four, - - 5 

Imported Sheep. 

30th. For best imported buck, of any 
description, 20 

31st. For best imported ewe, of any 
description, 20 

32d. For 2d best imported buck, of 
any description, 10 

33d. For 2d best imported ewe. of 
any description, 10 

34th. For 3d best imported buck, of 
any description, - 5 

35th. For 3d best imported ewe, of 
any description, - - - 5 

Swine — Large Breed. 

1st. For best boar over 2 years old, 20 

2d. For 2d " " " 10 

3d. For the best boar one year old, 15 

4th For 2d best boar one year old, 8 

5th. For best boar six months and 
under one year old, - - 15 

6th. For 2,d best boar six months 
and under one year old, - - 8 

7th. For best breeding sow over two 
years old, 20 

8th. For 2d best breeding sow over 
two years old, - - - 10 

9th. For best sow, not less than six 
months and under 18 months old, 15 

10th. For 2d best sow, not less than 
6 months and under 18 months old, 8 

11th. For best lot of pigs, not less 
than 2 and under 5 months old, 20 

12th. For 2d best lot of pigs, not 
less than 2 and under 5 months old, 10 

The large breed includes Chester, Berk- 
shire, Russia, Bedford, Woburn, Grazier, 
Duchess County, and their grades. 
Small Breed. 

13th. For best boar over 2 years old, $15 

14th. For 2d « " " 8 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



151 



15th. For best boar over 1 year old, $15 
16th. For 2d " " " ' 8 

17th. For best boar 6 months old, 15 
18th. For 2d " " " 8 

19th. For best breeding sow over 2 

years old, 15 

2fith. For 2d best breeding sow over 

2 years old, - 8 

21st. For best sow, not less than 6 

months nor more than 18 months old, 15 
22d. For 2d best sow, not less than 

6 months nor more than IS months old, 8 
23d. For best lot of pigs, not less 

than 2 and under 5 months old, 15 

24th. For 2d best lot of pigs, not less 

2 and under 5 months old, - 8 

The small breed includes Neapolitan, 

Suffolk, Chinese, and their grades. 

PREMIUM ANIMALS. 

1st. For best bull of any breed on 
exhibition, ... $40 

2d. For best cow of any breed on 
exhibition, 40 

3d. For best stallion of any breed 
on exhibition, 40 

4th. For best brood mare of any 
breedfcn exhibition, - - 40 

5th. For best buck of any breed on 
exhibition, 20 

6th. For best ewe of any breed on 
exhibition, 20 

7th. For best boar of any breed on 
exhibition, 20 

8th. For best breeding sow of any 
breed on exhibition, - - 20 

9th. For best pen of fat hogs, not 
less than twenty, - -30 

10th. For best pen of fat hogs, not 
less than ten, 20 

11th. For best pen of fat hogs, not 
less than five, - - 10 

POULTRY — CHICKENS. 

1st. For best pair of white Shang- 
haes, - 2 
2d. For best pair of Cochin China, 2 
3d. For best pair of red Shanghaes, 2 
4th. For best pair of yellow * 2 
5th. For best pairof Imperial China, 2 
6th. For best pairof white Dorkings, 2 
7th. For best pairof red Chittagong, 2 
8th. For best pair of gray " 2 
9th. For best pair of black Poland, 2 
10th. For best pair of white Poland, 2 
1 Ifh. Forbestpair Silver Pheasant, 2 
12th. For best pair Golden " 2 
13th. For best pair spangled Ham- 
burg. - - - . 2 

14th. For best pair of white or red 

Game, - 2 

15th. For best pair Bramah Pootra, 2 



16th. For best pair Virginia Game, $2 
17th. For best pair black Spanish, 2 
18th. For bestpair Indian Mountain, 2 
19th. For best pair of Wild Indian 
Game, ... - 2 
20th. Forbestpair Sumatra Game, 2 
21st. For best pair Ostrich, - 2 
22d. For best pair of Bolton Greys, 2 
23d. For best pair of Sea Bright 
Bantams, ... 2 
24th. For best pair Java Bantams, 2 
25th. For best pair Great Malay, 2 
26th. For best pair Jersey Blues, 2 
27th. For bestpair of common Dor- 
kings, .... 2 

28th. For the best pair of any other 

breed, .... 2 

TURKEYS, GEESE, DUCKS, &C. 

29th. For best pairof common geese, 2 

30th. For best pair of wild geese, 2 

31st. For best pair of China geese, 2 
32d. B^or best pair of white Poland, 

ducks, ... . 2 

33d. For best pair Muscovy ducks, 2 

o4th. For best pair common ducks, 2 

35th. For best pair common turkeys, 2 

36th. For best pair wild turkeys, 2 
37th. For the greatest variety of 

poultry, 10 
Branch VI. 

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. 

Class No. 1. 
Ploughs, Cultivators angL Rollers. 

1st. Forthe bestsingle horse plough, $8 

2d. For the best shovel plough, 8 

3d. For the best cultivator, - 6 

4th. For the best harrow, - 8 

5th. For the best subsoil plough, 5 

6th. For the best gang plough, 5 

7th. For the best hillside plough, 5 

8th. For the best corn planter, 5 

9th. For the best roller, - 10 
Class No. 2. 
Drills and Broadcasting Machines, Wlieat 
or Grass Rakes by Horse-Power, Cra- 
dles, Carts, Wagons, Wagon Gear, Cart 
Gear, Ox Yokes, $c. 
1st. For best broadcasting and drill- 
ing machine for grain or grass seed, $30 

2d. For best broadcasting machine 

for sowing grain, r 30 

3d. For best broadcasting machine 

for sowing lime, - - 30 

4th. For the best corn planter or 
drill for depositing seed at regular 

distances, 10 

5th. For best wheat drill, - 30 

6th. For best horse rake, - 5 

7th. For best set of wagon harness, 5 

8th. For best ox yoke, - 4 



152 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



9th. For best grain cradle, - . $4 
10th. For best wagon for farm use, 10 
11th. For the best frame or body for 
hauling wheat in the sheaf, hay or 
straw, 10 

12th. For best ox cart with body 
for hauling corn in the shucks, - 8 

13th. For best ox cart with body for 
hauling wheat in sheaf, hay or straw, 8 
14th. For best horse cart, - 6 

15th. For best set of cart gear, 4 

Class No. 3. 
1st. For best sweep horse-power, 30 
2d. For 2d best sweep horse-power, 10 
3d. For best railway horse-power, 30 
4th. For the best threshing machine 
without separating and cleaning ap- 
paratus, 15 

5th. For best machine for threshing, 
separating and cleaning grain at one 
operation, 20 

6th. For the best separator or straw 
carrier, - 5 

Class No. 4. 
1st. For best hay and straw cutter 
for horse-power, - - 10 

2d. For best hay and straw cutter 
for hand-power, - - 10 

3d. For best corn sheller for horse- 
power, ... - - 10 

4th. For best grist mill for horse- 
power, - - 10 

5th. For best grist' mill for hand- 
power, 10 

6th. For best saw mill for farm use 
for horse-power, - - 10 

7th. For best corn and cob crusher, 8 

Class No. 5. 
1st. For best fanning mill, $15 00 

£d. For best churn, - 5 00 

3d. For best hay fork, - 2 50 

4th. For best hay or straw knife 
for cutting down stalks, - 2 50 

5th. For best dung fork and hoe, 2 50 
6th. For best brier blade, - 2 50 
7th. For best stump machine, 10 00 
8th. For the best water ram in 
operation, - - - 10 00 

9th. For best draining tile, - 5 00 
10th. For best scoop or scraper, 5 00 
11th. For best hay press, - 30 00 

AGRICULTURAL STEAM ENGINE. 

1st. For the best steam, (portable) 
applicable to agricultural purposes 
generally, as a substitute for horse- 
power, - 

2d. For the most extensive and va- 
luable collection of useful machines 
and implements exhibited and made 



at any one factory, whether including 
subjects for other premiums or not, a 
premium of $25 

PLOUGHING MATCH. 

1st. For the best two-horse plough, 
as shown by work actually performed 
and the test of the dynamometer, 20 

2d. For the best 3 or 4 horse plough, 
as shown by work actually performed 
and the test of the dynamometer, 20 

3d. For the best ploughman with 
horses, - - - - 10 

4th. For 2d best ploughman with 
horses, - 5 

5th. Forbestploughmanwithsteers, 10 

6th. For 2d best " " 5 

WHEAT REAPER AND MOWER. 

For the best wheat reaper and 
mower, to be tested in such manner 
and at such place as the Executive 
Committee shall designate, a premium 
of .... 50 

Branch VII. 

FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES. 

1st. For the best and largest variety 
of apples suitable for Southern raising, 
each labelled, • - - - M 10 

2d. For the best and largest variety 
of pears, ... 8 

3d. For greatest number of choice 
varieties of different kinds of fruit, 10 

4th. For best and largest collection 
of apple trees, suitable for Southern 
raising, 10 

5th. For best pear trees, - 10 

6th. For best peach trees, - 10 

7th. For best grape vines, - 5 

8th. For best strawberry vines, 3 

9th. For best raspberry plants, 3 

VEGETABLES. 

1st. For the largest and best assort- 
ment of table vegetables, - 10 
2d. For best dozen long blood beets, 3 
3d. For " head of cabbage, 3 
4th. For " carrots, - 3 
5th. For " egg plants, 3 
6th. For best peck of onions, 3 
7th. For best dozen parsnips, 3 
8th. For best bushel Irish potatoes, 3 
9th. For best bushel sweet potatoes, 3 
10th. For three finest pumpkins, 3 
11th. For best sample of beans, 3 
12th. For best sample garden peas, 3 
Branch VIII. 

DAIRY AND HONEY. 

1st. For the best specimen of fresh 
butter, not less than 5 lbs. - 5 

2d. For 2d best specimen of fresh 
butter, not less than 5 lbs. - 3 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



153 



3d. For best firkin or tub of salted 
butter, not less than six months old, $6 

4th. For 2d bestfirkin or tubof salted 
butter, not less than six months old, 3 

5th. For best cheese, not less than 
25 lbs. 6 

. 6th. For best ten pounds of honey, 5 
The honey to be taken without destroying 
the bees, and the kind of hive used, and 
management of same to be stated by com- 
petitors. Also the methods of making and 
preserving the cheese and butter to be 
stated. 

BACON HAMS. 

1st. For the best ham, cured by ex- 
hibitor, $10 

2d. For 2d best ham, cured by ex- 
hibitor, - 5 
Manner of curing to be described by the 
competitors, and the hams exhibited to be 
cooked. 

FLOWERS. 

1st. For the largest and choicest 
variety of flowers, - - $10 

2d. For the 2d largest and choicest 
variety of flowers, - - 5 

3d. For the best and greatest va- 
riety of dahlias, - - 5 

4th. For the best and greatest va- 
riety of roses, - 5 

5th. For the best floral ornament, 5 

6th. For the best and largest va- 
riety of greenhouse plants, - 5 

HOUSEHOLD MANUFACTURES. 

1st. For the best quilt, - 5 

2d. For the 2d best quilt, - 4 

3d. For the best counterpane, 5 

4th. For 2d best counterpane, 4 

5th. For the best specimen of em- 
broidery, ... 3 

6th. For best specimen of worsted 
work, .... 3 

7th. For the best hearth rug, 5 

8th. For the best pair home made 
blanket?, ... 5 

9th. For best home made carpet, 5 

10th. For best piece, not less than 
7 yards, of home made negro shirting, 5 

11th. For best piece, not less than 
10 yards, winter clothing for negroes, 
to be woven by hand, 5 

12th. For best piece heavy woollen 
jeans, to be woven by hand, - 5 

13th. For 2d best piece heavy wool- 
len jeans, to be woven by hand, 3 

14th. For piece best linsey, not less 
than 7 yards, to be woven by hand, 5 

15th. For piece 2d best linsey, not 
less than 7 yards, woven by hand, 3 

16th. For best fine long yarn hose, 3 



17th. For best home made bread. $5 

18th. For best home made pound 
cake, .... 3 

19th. For best home made sponge 
cake, .... 3 

20th. For best varieties home made 
pickles, ... - 3 

21st. For best varieties home made 
preserves, ... 3 

22d. For best varieties home made 
fruit jelly, - - - - 3 

23d. For best sample of home made 
soap, the process of making to be de- 
scribed by the exhibitor, - 5 

HOUSEHOLD IMPLEMENTS. 

24th. For the best sewing machine, 15 
25th. For the best apple peeler, 3 

Branch IX. — Honorary testimonials to 
each individual of Virginia who, previous 
to 1853 has discovered or introduced or 
brought into use, any principle, process or 
facility, or generally any improvement by 
which important value has been gained 
for the agricultural interests of Virginia. 

Branch X. — Special premiums for any 
useful subjects not embraced under any of 
the foregoing heads. 

let. Discovery in Virginia of mineral 
phosphate of lime in sufficient quantity to 
be valuable for sale and distant transpor- 
tation as manure, a premium of $20 
If more than one claimant, the most va- 
luable discovery to have the award. 

Branch XI. — Premiums to be proposed 
of not less than $20 value by any public 
spirited individual or association of indi- 
viduals, who may thus desire to induce 
experiment or investigation on any parti- 
cular subjects of inquiry which shall come 
under the general design of the Society. 
In any such case the premium shall be 
offered in and by the name of the indivi- 
dual donor, or association, but shall be 
awarded, as all other premiums, by the 
Executive Committee, acting under the 
general instructions of the Society. Of- 
fers under this branch may be made at 
any time, admitting of sufficient public 
notice thereof being given previous to the 
day of award. 

Under this branch, and subject to the 
regulations above referred to, Edmund 
Ruffin, Esq. offers a complete set of the 
'Farmers' Register," ten volumes, well 
bound in calf, and to be lettered suitably 
to the destination, and to be denominated 
the Ruffin Premium, for the most valua- 
ble series of analyses, conducted by, or 
under the particular direction of any one 
chemist, of* different kinds of marl of lower 



154 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



Virginia, or of the accompanying beds of 
other earths supposed to contain manuring 
ingredients. 

In deciding upon the relative superiority 
of claims of competitors for this premium, 
regard will be had to the number of ana- 
lyses, the diversity and importance of the 
particular subjects, the accuracy of the 
methods used and described, the proper 
direction of investigation, and especially 
the probable utility and benefit of the re- 
sults, in their application to agricultural 
practice and improvement of soils. It is 
understood that the award of this premium 
shall not invalidate or lessen any claim 
which the receiver might otherwise proper- 
ly present upon some of the same grounds 
for any other premium offered by the So- 
ciety on subjects of scientific investigation, 
useful discovery, or of communications or 
essays thereupon. 



Prom the Richmond Enquirer. 

ACTION OF GUANO ON TOBACCO. 

A subscriber furnishes us with the fol 
lowing interesting letter, relative to the 
importance of guano in raising heavy crops 
of tobacco. The letter, at this season, par 
ticularly, cannot be otherwise than inte- 
resting to all growers of tobacco. 

Cumberland, Feb. 8, 1S53. 

My Dear Sir,— Yours, of the 10th ult., 
did not reach me until last Saturday, in 
consequence of having been directed (o 
Farmville, instead of Stony Point Mills; 
and I take the earliest opportunity to reply 
to it. 

My experiment in growing such a heavy 
crop of tobacco last year, has attracted a 
great deal of attention, and I take plea- 
sure in detailing it for the benefit of the 
planting interest of the State. The ground 
was pretty liberally dressed with home 
made manures, from my stables, farm-pens 
and pits, as I think ought always to be 
done, if we would grow tobacco profitably. 
When I was going to bed the land for 
hilling, or rubbing down, which I prefer, I 
sowed on each acre the following mixture: 
2 bushels sifted Peruvian guano, weighing, 
] judge, about one hundred pounds, inti- 
mately mixed with one bushel ground 
alum salt. 1 then mixed 2\ bushels Mexi- 
can guano, weighing, I suppose, one hun- 
dred and sixty or one hundred and seventy 
pounds, and \\ bushels of Ketllewell's 



mixture of potash and plaster; or about 
one hundred and sixty pounds; and sho- 
velled them all well together, and sowed 
the mixture broadcast. The cost of the 
i whole was about $6 25 per acre. The 
I crop that was planted in good time — I was 
| scarce of plants, and the seasons very dif- 
! ficult — I am sure, gave me two thousand 
I pounds per acre. The tobacco was topped 
j from eighteen to twemy-five leaves, ripened 
remarkably well to the top leaf, without 
firing. The tobacco was cultivated for 
the manufacturers, and is of very fine 
quality, and remarkably sweet. 

My reasons for this mode of cultivation 
are few and simple. Our old lands in this 
j region, and, I doubt not generally in mid- 
dle Virginia, are more deficient in phos- 
\ phates and potash than any other of the 
mineral manures; and the tobacco plant 
must have these elements in order to ripen 
it well. The Peruvian guano has but a 
small part of its value in phosphates — only 
about one-sixth, and five-sixths of its mo- 
ney value, or near forty dollars to the ton, 
in ammonia, which powerfully stimulates 
the growth of tobacco, without causing it 
to ripen, or without giving it the healthy 
growth which will secure it against firing. 
The Mexican guano is the richest that has 
been brought to the country in phosphates, 
containing 57 to 60 per cent, of ammonia; 
consequently about five-sixths of its money 
value is in the phosphates, and about one- 
sixth in ammonia. This suggested the idea 
of mixing the two. The salt was put with 
the Peruvian to fix the ammonia, and to 
furnish the muriates and the soda. But 
the tobacco plant specially needs potash, 
especially in its ripening process, the outer 
coat of thestalk and thestems beinglbrmed 
principally of silicate of potash. Thus, 
you see, at a glance, what I aimed to ac- 
complish by my mixture. 

The success was beyond my expecta- 
tions. It was the heaviest crop of tobacco 
I ever saw, and so said every one who 
saw it. 

The Mexican guano»can be had at Bal- 
timore at $25 per ton, of 2240 lbs. Ster- 
ling & Ahrens deal in it. The potash and 
plaster, Mr. Kettlewell of Baltimore, jpre- 
pares, and sells at $2 50 per barrel, of 
about 320 pounds. 

I lost, I may say, no tobacco by fire, while 
every one of my neighbors had to cut their 
crops for fire. 

With high regard, 

Yours, very truly, 

J. S. Armistead. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



155 



COLLARS AND BACK BANDS. 

Select a good piece of cotton bed-tick, 
cut strips ten inches wide and of sufficient 
length— double this strip lengthwise and 
sew the edges together — turn up and sew 
the ends loop fashion for the traces to run 
through, and the back band is finished. 

Rip up an old leathern collar, wet it and 
beat the leather out flat; cut from this a 
pattern in brown paper, then cut out the 
bed-tick by the paper pattern— sew up the 
work with strong double thread; fill the 
case thus made with clean sound wheat 
chaff, well packed in with a stick— join the 
upper ends of the collar by means of a bit 
of sheep skin, and you have as good a 
collar as can be bought for $1 25. Try it. 



PAYMENTS TO THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 
From 15 th March to 25th April, 1853. 

All persons who have made payments early 
enoazh to be entered, and -whose names do 
not appear in the following receipt list, are 
requested to give immediate notice of the 
omission, in order that the correction may be 
made in the next issue: 
Joseph C. Cabell to January 1854 $1 00 

Samuel Haldeman to March 1854 
Samuel Watkins to March 1854 
A. Cheatham, Jr. to July 1853 
M'Kpwn Johnstone to January 1853 
Col. E. Rowe to July 1854 
Thomas Young to January 1854 
Robert Hill to January 1854 
Capt N. L. Paleske to January 1854 
Dr. H. Harris to January 1854 
Edward J. Burton to January 1854 
■William Gough to January 1854 
Col. R. F. Parker to January 1854 
Dr. A. S. Hall to January 1854 
Dr. Geor?e C. Scott to January 1854 
Wm. O. Fontaine to January 1854 
Dr. W. A. Christian to January 1854 1 00 
A. M Hobson to January 1854 1 00 

John D. Hobson to January 1854 1 00 

Winston Sutherland to July 1851 2 00 

Dr. R. E. Haskins to January 1854 1 00 

Josiah Smith to January 1854 1 00 

Beverlev Randolph to January 1854 I 00 

Randoph Harrison to January 1854 1 00 

Wm. H. Brown to January 1854 2 00 

T. B. Hamlin to January 1854 1 00 

H. M. Nelson to January 1855 1 CO 

John S. Henshaw to January 1855 2 00 

Col. Genrsre W. Harris to July 1853 1 00 
Col. J. J. Bowcock to July 1853 1 00 

William Patterson to March 1854 1 00 



00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

1 00 

1 00 

1 00 

1 00 



John D. Craig to March 1854 
James A. Patterson to March 1854 
S. S. Gresham to March 1854 
Dr. R. C. Mason to March 1854 
Rd. W. Barton to March 1854 
Martin M'Ferran to March 1854 
Charles M. White to March 1854 
F. H. Mays to January 1855 
Dr. C. W. Wormley to January 1854 
Shanklin M'Clintick to January 1854 
P. T. Lomax to March 1854 
H. Bynum to January 1854 
Dr. J. B. Harvie to January 1854 
Wm. E. Meade to March 1854 
W T illiam Brittingham to January 1854 
Gilderoy Yeates to March 1854 
James Hill to January 1854 
Smith Petty to January 1853 
David Fry to January 1854 
Balaam Osborne to January 1854 
John Scott to January 1854 
Ananias Hancock to January 1854 
Wm. H. Barksdale to July 1853 
Joseph Hightower to January 1854 
H. H. Ferguson to January i854 
James Burton to January 1854 
Moses D. Echols to January 1854 
H. M. Kirby to January 1854 
Bird Dodson to January 1854 
Stephen C. Townes to January 1854 
T. O. Soyars to January 1854 
Isaac T. Oliver to January 1854 
Thomas Chaney to January 1854 
William Wilson to January 1854 
Joel H. Tanner to January 1854 
Dr. T. J. Pretlow to September 1853 
Rev. B. Devany to March 1854 
Dr. Joseph Watkins to January 1854 
H. A. Sydnor to January 1854 
William Logan to January 1854 
William Turnbull to January 1854 
William Webb to April 1854 
Edw. Friend to April 1854 
T. W. Lowry to January 1854 
Milton Garnett to January 1854 
Daniel M. Tucker to April 1854 
Thomas L. Pleasants to January 1855 
W. Sutherland to July 1854 
Thomas Perkinson to April 1854 
R. A. Weaver to July 1854 
Thomas A. Fox to January 1853 
Dr. Carr Bowers to January 1854 
Dr. Thomas Meaux to January 1854 
Michal P. Moyers to April 1854 
Wm. Pope Da'bney to July 1853 
B. T. Winston to January 1854 
W. P. Shepherd to January 1854 
James S. Bristow to January 1852 
T. W. Fauntleroy to January 1852 
Capt. E. R. Puilen to January 1852 
R. C. Belfield to January 1853 
Dr. W. A. Brockenbrough to Jan. 1851 
J. C. Mitchell to July 1849 
W. M. N. Crabb to January 1853 
Estate of J. A. Palmer (in full) 
Samuel Gresham to January 1852 
Thad. Forrester (in full) 



$1 00 
1 00 
1 00, 
1 00 
1 00 
1 00 



00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

1 00 

1 00 

1 00 

1 00 



00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 



±G 66 



1 00 



1 00 



00 
00 



1 00 



00 
00 



1 00 



2 00 

1 00 

2 00 
2 00 
1 00 
1 00 
1 00 

1 00 

2 00 

1 00 

2 00 

1 00 

2 00 
2 00 
4 00 

2 00 
1 00 

3 50 
1 00 

50 



158 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



Eppa. N. Dunaway (in full) $6 00 

James P. Flippo to January 1852 1 00 

John A. Chappell to April 1854 1 00 

Dr. Thomas W. Neal to January 1854 1 00 

Thomas O. Dearen to January 1854 1 00 

Joshua Gannon to January 1854 1 00 

Samuel T. Miller to January 1854 1 00 

Thomas R. Marshall to January 1852 5 00 

Thomas G. Burks to January 1854 1 00 

Joseph Gilmore to January 1854 1 00 

James L. Siringfellow to January 1854 1 00 

Itussel J. Dickinson to April 1854 1 00 

Charles B. Bullard to January 1854 3 00 

Andrew Hart to January 1854 1 00 

Henry Duerson to January 1854 1 00 

John Lackland to January 1854 1 00 

John A. Brilton to January 1854 1 00 

Richard L. Rudasille to January 1854 1 00 

John Patterson to August 1853 1 00 

Thomas G. Tinsley to January 1854 1 00 

Powhatan Jones to September 1853 1 00 

Thomas H. Sharp to September 1853 1 00 

Elsey Fogg to January 1854 1 00 

Bev. Douglass to July 1853 3 00 

B. F. Garrett to April 1854 1 00 

Jas. B. Newman to September 1853 1 00 

A. W. Womack to January 1854 1 00 

Joseph T. Priddy to April 1854 2 00 

Thomas Arvin to January 1854 1 00 

John Hughes to January 1854 1 00 

J. C. Rowe to April 1854 1 00 

James A. Snell to July 1853 1 00 

H. A. Kite to January 1853 1 00 

James C. Cook to April 1854 1 00 

"Wm. L. Pannill to January 1854 1 00 

A. W. Nolting to January 1854 1 00 
George W. Carter to January 1854 1 00 
John R. Gilliam to September 1S53 1 00 
John A. Ratliff to January 1854 1 00 
James H. Cox to January 1854 6 00 

B. T. Williamson to April 1854 1 00 
R. H. Field to January 1854 1 00 
W. S. Dulaney to January 1853 1 00 
William Warren to January 1853 1 00 
A. P. Rowe to January 1854 1 00 
James M'Dowell to'January 1854 1 00 
Dr. J. R. Taylor to January 1854 1 00 
John R. Taylor to January 1854 1 00 
Henry Taylor to January 1854 1 00 
James W. Moorman to April 1854 1 00 
John S. Groseclore to April 1854 1 00 
Dr. W. J. Hawkins to January 1851 2 00 
Dr. B. Dennis to January 1854 1 00 
Dr. Wm. Gwathmey to January 1854 1 00 
Hervey Handly to April 1854 1 00 
William Webb to January 1854 2 00 
Capt. Thos. E. Haskins to April 1854 1 00 
John Goodwin to January 1854 3 00 
Edward G. Sydnor to March 1854 1 00 
Wm. D. Haden to September 1853 1 00 
Dr. John A. Michie to July 1853 1 00 
J. E. Smith to January 1854 1 00 
K. S. Nelson to January 1854 1 00 
George Carr to January 1854 1 00 
Absalom Rowe to March 1854 1 00 
T. K. Miller to July 1853 1 00 
John S. Hightower t<j September 1853 1 00 



John E. Schley to October 1853 $1 00 

Tully W. Parker to April 1854 I 00 

Capt. J. L. Davis to January 1854 1 00 

Dr. W. T. Banks to January 1854 1 00 

R. A. Banks to January 1854 1 00 

Belfield Cave to January 1854 1 00 

Peter Gluarles to January 1854 1 00 

Luke J. Palmer to October 1853 1 00 

Pascal Hicks to April 1854 1 00 

Ed. T. Morris to April 1854 1 00 

Walker B. Blanton to January 1854 1 00 

Wm. R. Hackett to January i854 1 00 

Dr. L. Edwards to January 1854 1 00 

Wm. H. Davis to January 1854 1 00 

E. Brown to January 1854 1 00 

Capt. F. M. Wiley to April 1854 1 00 

L. Brockenbrough to April 1854 1 00 

Francis E. Rives to April 1854 1 00 

Alex. H. Raney to April 1854 1 00 

Joseph Hay to January 1852 2 00 

A. Michaels to January 1854 1 00 

A. Phillips to January 1854 1 00 

E. W. Poindexter to January 1852 1 00 

W. C. Latane to January 1854 1 00 

Col. R. Rowzee to January 1854 1 00 

John Tarrant to January 1854 1 00 

Ro. S. Luck to April 1854 1 00 

L. W. Allen to January 1854 1 00 

R. G. Bibb to January 1854 1 00 

Dr. Willis Lewis to July 1853 2 00 

Beverly E. West to April 1854 1 00 

David Murray to January 1854 1 00 

W. P. Harrison to January 1854 1 00 

J. E. Murray to January 1853 1 00 

E. Murray to January 1853 1 00 

T. N. Murray to January 1853 1 00 

Wm. N. Holstead to April 1854 1 00 

Wm. N. Nicholson to April 1854 1 00 

John T. Whitehurst to January 1854 1 00 

John B. M'Cloud to January 1854 1 00 

Dr. Albert G. Read to April 1854 1 00 

Wm. W. Cosbv to April 1854 1 00 

Archer Wren to April 1854 1 00 

N. B. Richardson to January 1854 1 00 

Ro. Scott to January 1S54 1 00 

C. L. Dicken to January 1854 1 00 

Dr. James L. Jones to January 1854 1 00 

W. R. C. Douglas to January 1853 1 00 

Dr. W. D. M'Guire to April 1854 1 00 

William Eddins to April 1854 1 00 

Dr. William Meredith to July 1854 1 00 

R. E. G. Adams to May 1854 1 00 

R. Blackwell to April 1854 1 00 
Fabian Armistead to January 1854 
Ro. Gilliam to January 1854 
Col. John Peterson to January 1854 
Dr. R. Eppes to January 1854 
J. H. Batt'e to January 1854 
Josiah M. Jordan to Januarv 1854 
Charles Friend to January 1854 
Cor. Russel to January 1854 
William F. Bowden to January 1854 
Jesse H. Heath to June 1854 
John W. Eppes to Januarv 1854 
P. P. Batte to January 1854 

Wm. H. Talbot to April 1854 1 00 

Richard Walke to April 1854 1 00 



)■ 10 00 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



157 



AGENCY. 

I AM willing to assist gentlemen in purchas- 
ing and selling farms, stock, and poultry of 
every description; to attend to receiving and 
properly forwarding animals; also, to procure 
suitable overseers and laboring men for farm- 
ers and planters: all of which will be attended 
to for a small commission. My position as 
Marshal of the Maryland State Agricultural 
Society gives me advantages of knowing ma- 
ny men, and most good stock, which with my 
general knowledge of land induces me to ex- 
tend the agency to land, men and stock. I 
have some fine farms to sell in Talbot county, 
and several in Baltimore county: subject to 
my order a number of prize animals, saddle 
and other stallions, and a few fine mares; 
Durhams, Devons, Alderney, and Ayrshire; 
pure long wooled sheep from the best flock in 
the United Slates; Chester and Suffolk pigs; 
Shanghai and other new and large fowls; also, 
two fine Jacks. All letters post paid, will re- 
ceive prompt attention. 

MARTIN GOLDSBOROUGH. 
Harrisonville, Baltimore Co., Md. 
Refer to 

C. B. Calvert & C. Hill, Washington City; 
G. W. Hughs, West River, Md ; J. N. Golds- 
boronsh, Easton, Md.; R. McHenery, Emer- 
ton, Md.; S. G. Fisher, Philada., Pa.; C. P. 
Holcomb, Wilmington, Del.; Col. J. W. Ware, 
Berryville, Va.; I. G. Wright, Wilmington, N. 
Carolina; J. W. H. Brownfield, Charleston, S. 
C; McGill Robinson, Louisville, Ky.; Wm. 
A. Lake, Vicksburg, Miss.; Dr. Henry M. 
R.obinson, Huntsville, Ala.; T. Hayward and 
Maj. R. Hayward, Tallahassee, Florida, 
mar — tf 



CLASSICAL AND MATHEMATICAL 
SCHOOL. 

RUMFORD ACADEMY, KING WIL- 
LIAM, VA.— This school is about two 
miles from Sharon Church, on the stage road 
between Richmond and Tappahannock. So 
healthful is the location, that but few cases of 
serious sickness have occurred in the school 
since its establishment in 1804. No expense 
is spared in providing for the physical com- 
forts of the pupils; treated in every respect as 
young gentlemen, they are required to conduct 
themselves as such. 

The subscriber, who has been engaged eight 
years in guidiDg and instructing youth, will be 
aided by competent assistants. 

The usual English Course, including Che- 
mistry and Philosophy, an extensive course 
of Mathematics, and the Latin, Greek and 
French Languages will be taught. A recess 
of one week will be given at Easter. 

Terms.— For board and tuition, with every 

necessary except lights and stationery, from 

15th of January to 1st of July, $84; payable 

one-half lstof May, the other half 1st ol'JuJy. 

JOHN H. PITTS, 

ja— tf AyUWs P. O. King William. 



THOROUGH-BRED DEVONS for Sale 
by XV. P. & C. S. WAIN WRIGHT. 

BULLS.— 1. Uncas:— calved March 19th, 
1851. — 1st prize as yearling at American 
Institute show in October, 1852. Sire, "Me- 
gunticook;" grandsire, "Prince Albert" (102): 
dam, "Nonpareille," by "Lord Lynedock." 

2. Red-jacket:— calved May 5th, 1852.— 1st 
prize as calf at American Institute show 1852. 
Sire, "Megunticook:" dam, "Meadow Lilly," 
by "Baronet" (6); g. d. "Helena." 

3. Osceola:— calved Sept. 11th, 1852— Sire, 
"May-boy" (71); grandsire, " Duke of York" 
(37); dam, "Moss-rose," by "Duke of York," 
(37); g. d. "Nonpareille." 

4. Dacotah:— calved October 29th, 1852.— 
Sire, "May-boy," (71); dam, "Red-bud," by 
"Megunticook;" g. dam, "Nonpareille," by 
"Lord Lynedock." 

HEIFERS.— 1. Rose:— calved Oct'r, 1849; 
bred by Mr. R. C. Gapper, Canada West. — 
Sire, "Major;" g. sire, " Billy;" dam, "Cher- 
ry," by " Billy ;" g. d. " Beauty." In calf by 
"May-boy." 

2. Gazelle:— calved October, 1850; bred by 
Mr. R. C. Gapper, Canada West.— Sire, " Rob 
Roy;" grandsire, " Santa Anna ;" dam, " Cher- 
ry." In calf by " May-boy," (71.) 

These pedigrees run back to the best herds. 
in England:— "Megunticook," "May-boy," 
and "Nonpareille, "havingbeen imported from 
the stock of George Turner, Esq., and "Hele- 
na," from that of James Quartly, Esq., by 
ourselves; while "Billy" and "Beauty" were 
imported by Mr. Gapper from that of Mr. 
James Davy. 

Animals delivered free of expense in New 
York, or Albany. Our stock may be seen at 
all times on our farm, three hours from New 
York by Hudson River R. R. 

The numbers in brackets refer to the Eng- 
ish Herd Book. 

Rhincbeck, Dutchess Co., N. Y. mar — 3t 



PURE BRED MALE STOCK 

At Private Sale at Mount Fordham, Westchester 
County, 11 miles from City Hall, New York. 

I WILL sell and let from 10 to 12 Short 
Horned Bulls and Bull Calves, 4 Devon 
Bulls and Bull Calves, and from 12 to 15 
Southdown Rams. The annual sale by auc- 
tion will be omitted this year, as I wish to re- 
serve all the females, having recently pur- 
chased another farm to enable me to increase 
my breeding establishment. My Hog stock, 
including all the spring litters, are engaged. 
Catalogues, withfull description and pedigrees 
of above Bulls and Southdown Rams, with 
the prices attached, can be obtained by the 
15th April inst., from the subscriber or at any 
of the principal Agricultural Stores, or from 
the Editors of the principal Agricultural Jour- 
nals. L. G. MORRIS. 
April 1, 1853— 3t 



158 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



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THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



159 



one operation — being simple in construction, 
economical to the fanner, and will thresh more 
in a given length of time than any Machine 
in use. This Machine took the premium over 
some five or six machines at the Maryland 
State Fair, in October, 1852, by acclamation. 
"We manufacture them from 2 horse-power up 
to 12 horse-power. We also manufacture 
Ploughs, Cultivators, Harrows, Grain Cradles, 
Wheat Drills, Com and Cob Crushers, Corn 
Shellers, Straw Cutters of different kinds, 
among which are Smith's Virginia Patent, 
being cheap and simple in its construction, I 
Revolving Horse Rakes, Premium Wheat 
Fans. We will also keep for sale Reapers, 
Mowing Machines, and all kinds of useful 
implements, such as are used by Farmers, 
Planters and Gardeners. We would call par- 
ticular attention to the Wiley or Mott Pre- 
mium Double Pointed Cap Plough, of compo- 
sition metal. One of these Ploughs will last 
as long as three or four of any other kind now 
in use, and the metal will stand rocky or 
stumpy land as well as steel wrought shares — 
the shares only costing from 25 to 45 cents 
each — will plough from 20 to 30 acres each — 
the cap fitting right in the wear of the mould- 
board, the cap costing only from 25 to 45 cents. 
This Plough can be kept in order by the farmer 
or any of the hands, from five to six years. 
With this Plough the farmer is his own black- 
smith. The Ploughs all warranted, and also 
warranted to put the ground in better order 
than any Plough now in use. Also Wrought 
Share Ploughs, both Right and Left; among 
which are the Improved M'Cormick's, with 
Cast Landside and Heels; Livingston County 
Plough, of all sizes; Subsoil Ploughs of the 
best patterns. 

N. U. Mott being a practical and an expe- 
rienced workman for fifteen years in the dif- 
ferent branches of the business of manufac- 
turing of implements, we feel safe in saying 
that articles purchased of us will prove of 
superior workmanship. Call and examine 
for yourselves, when we will be happy to ex- 
hibit our goods. 

MOTT, LEWIS & Co. 
Sign of the Plough, 3G Main Street, 3 doors 
below the City Hotel. 

fe-3t 



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 Drugs and 
Medicines; also, Paints, Oils, Varnish, Dye- 
Stuffs, Window Glass, Putty, &c. For sale 
on the most accommodating terms. 

i^g'OT'lzrs from Country Merchants and 
Physicians thankfully received and promptly 
attended to 
ja 1851— tf 



NEW PLASTER AND BONE MILL.. 

I npHE subscriber offers for sale fine Ground 
| X and Calcined Plaster, both of the best 
land purest quality; he has also a Bone Mill 
J attached, and intends to keep a supply of 
I Ground Bones, fine and pure. Farmers and 
I others are invited to call and examine for 
! themselves. His prices shall be as low as the 
| same quality articles can be bought for, North 
| or South. The highest cash price will be paid 
j for dry bones, delivered at his Mill adjoining 
' the Paper Mill. 

oc— tf R. R. DUVAL. 



DR. VALENTINE'S 


RECIPE FOR 


MAKING ARTIFICIAL 


GUANO. 


No. 1. Dry Peat,* 


- 


20 bushels 


No. 2. Wood Ashes, 


. 


3 bushels 


No. 3. Fine Bone Dust, - 


. 


3 bushels 


No. 4. Calcined Plaster, 


. 


3 bushels 


No. 5. Nitrate of Soda, - 


- 


40 pounds 


No. 6. Sal Ammoniac, 


- 


22 pounds 


No. 7. Carb Ammonia, - 


- 


11 pounds 


No. 8. Sulph: Soda?, 


. 


20 pounds 


No. 9. Sulph: Magnesia, 


- 


10 pounds 


" 10. Common Salt, 


- 


10 pounds 



* If peat cannot be obtained, use garden mould, 
or clean rirgin soil instead. 

Directions for Mixing. — Mix Nos. 1, 2, 3, 
together — mix Nos. 5, 6, .7, 8, 9, 10, in four or 
five pails of water, or enough to dissolve the 
ingredients. When dissolved, add the liquid 
to the mixture, (1, 2, 3,) and mix as in making 
mortar. When thoroughly mixed, add No. 4, 
(the calcined plaster,) which will absorb the 
liquid and bring the whole to a dry state. Mix 
under cover in a dry place — pack so as to ex- 
clude air — observe the proportions in making 
small or large quantities. The above receipt 
will make one ton, which will manure seven 
and a half acres of land. 

Having furnished the above to a number of 
farmers who have tested its qualities — many 
thinking it equal to natural guano — the sub- 
scribers have made arrangements to furnish 
i any quantity during this season, and will sell 
the ingredients exclusive of the Peat, Wood 
\ Ashes, Plaster and Salt, (articles on every 
I farm,) at the low price of 810 per ton. One 
j sugar hogshead will hold ingredients enough 
for five tons. All orders will be carefully and 
promptly executed, and sent to any part of the 
State. 

R. R. DUVAL & BRO. 

C/iemists and Druggists, Bank Square, Rich- 
mond, Va. oc — tf 



BOOKS, PIANOS, MUSIC, &c. 

NASH & WOODHOUSE, Wholesale and 
Retail Dealers in Books, Piano Fortes, 
Stationery, Music, &c. 139, Main St. Rich- 
mond, Virginia. 

Constantly on hand, a full supply of stand- 
ard Agricultural Works. 



160 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



NOTICE. 

To those who have recently subscribed for 
the Planter, and requested us to send the 
back numbers from January, 1853, we are 
sorry to say, it is out of our power to do so. 
The back numbers (January, February and 
March) are entirely exhausted. 



CONTEXTS OF NUMBER V. 



PAGE 

Review of an "Essay on Calcareous Ma- 
nures, by Edmund Ruffiu, fifth edition, 
amended and enlarged." J. W. Ran- 
dolph, Richmond, 1853. By Hon. Wil- 

loughby Newton 129 

Lands in Amherst 142 

Seed Corn 143 

Ketilewell and Guano 143 

The Merino Sheep Speculation of 1815-17 144 

Tide-water Agricultural Society 146 

Virginia State Agricultural Society 146 

Schedule of Premiums offered by the Vir- 
ginia State Agricultural Society 147 

Action of Guano 154 

Collars and Backhands 155 

Payments to the Southern Planter 155 



AGRICULTURAL WAREHOUSE. 

THE subscriber continues to manufacture 
Agricultural Machines, viz. Horse Pow- 
ers, Threshers, Fan Mills, Hay Rakes, Hunt's 
Patent Wheat Drill, Hay Presses, Straw Cut- 
ters, Corn Shelters, Hill Side and Subsoil 
Ploughs, Corn and Cob Crushers, Cultivators, 
Harrows, &c. — all of which will be made in 
the best manner and on the most approved 
patterns. My Horse Power and Thresher 
with self-oiling box have been tested three 
seasons, and uniformly pronounced the best 
in use. Machines repaired, Castings in Iron 
and Brass furnished at short notice. 

H. BALDWIN, 
ap— 2t 148 Main street, Richmond. 



EAGLE FOUNDERY. 

THE subscriber having removed to the 
large Foundery, just erected by him and 
fitted out with machinery of the latest and most 
approved style, is, in addition to the manufac- 
ture of Tobacco Flattening Mills, prepared to 
receive orders for Stationary Steam Engines, 
Saw and Grist Mills, Agricultural Machines, 
Tobacco Presses of every description, and all 
kinds of Iron and Brass Castings. He pledges 
himself to execute faithfully, and with dis- 
patch, all work entrusted to him. and respect- 
fully solicits a call from his friends and the 
public generally. 

The highest cash prices paid for old cast 
iron, brass and copper. 

PHILIP RAHM, 
je — ly Gary, between Pearl and 15th sts. 



GARDEN BOOKS— Buist's Family Gar- 
dener — 75 cents. 
Fessenden's American Gardener — 75 cents. 
Bridgeman's Gardener's Assistant— SI 50. 
Bridgeman's Gardener's Instructor— 50 cents. 
The American Kitchen Gardener— 25 cents. 
M'Mahon's Gardener's Calendar— $3. 
Downing's Landscape Gardening— $3 50. 

FARMING. 

Fessenden's Complete Farmer — 75 cents. 
Allen's American Farm Book— SI. 
Stephens' Book of the Farm — $4. 
Johnson's Practical Agriculture— 75 cents. 
Saxton's Rural Hand Book, 2 vols.— $2 50. 
Thace's Practical Agriculture— $2 50. 

GRAPE VINE. 
Buchanan on the Grape— 50 cents. 
Spooner on the Grape and Wine Making— 38 

cents. 
Hoare on the Culture of the Grape— 50 cents. 

FRUITS. 
Thomas' American Fruit Culturist— SI 25. 
Cole's American Fruit Book— 50 cents. 
Lindley's Guide to the Orchard— SI 25. 
Downing's Fruit and Fruit Trees — $1 50. 
Barrey's Fruit Garden— SI 25. 

AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY. 
Johnston's Agricultural Chemistry — SI 25. 
Gray's Agricultural Chemistry — SI- 
Norton's Elements of Chemistry — 50 cents. 
Brown's Field Book of Manures, or American 

Muck Book— SI 25. 
Dana's Prize Essay on Manures — 25 cents. 
Dana's Muck Manual— SI. 4 

CATTLE. 
The American Cattle Doctor, just published — 

Si. 
Youatt & Morton, on Cattle— SI 25. 
Allen's Domestic Animals — 75 cents. 
Saxton's Hand Book of Domestic Animals — 

$1 25. 

SHEEP. 

Youatt on Sheep — 75 cents. 

The Shepherd's Own Book, by Youatt, Skin- 
ner and Randall— S2. 

HORSES. 

Youatt and Randall on the Horse— SI 25. 

Youatt and Skinner on the Horse — SI 50. 

Richardson on the Horse — 25 cents. 

Mason's Farrier— $1 25. 

Hind's Farrier— SI. 
Also, a complete assortment of Books on 

Rural Architecture and AGRICULTURE. 
For sale by NASH & WOODHOUSE, 
ap— 6m " Eagle Square, Richmond, Va. 



FOR SALE.— A thoroughbred Bull of the 
Ayrshire and Durham breed, in fine health 
and vigor — color rich red, with slight white 
spots in the flank, characteristic of the Ayr- 
shire breed. Said Bull is immediately de- 
scended on both sides from Imported Stock. 
For testimonials of stock, &c. enquire of the 
Editor. oc— tf