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borders of ihe fields. Those farmers amongst us who sowed the early purple straw wheal were those only who made anything like a full crop; and the consequence was that wheat sold above the common market price for seed, and the demand for it could not be supplied, the people believing it "joint worm" proof. The next two years thereafter, ihat kind of wheat was worse injured by those worms (with ns) than any other, and really it was amusing to hear the various reasonings given for it— some saying it was the bard frosts, some the fly, some the joint worm, &c. &c. At that date the quantity of flies or joint worms was not sufficient to destroy the whole crop of wheal, as they now are. 1 have endeavored to watch them closely from 1848 to the present time, and find they leave ihe straw or stubble from the 1st to thp 15ih of May, as ihe spring season may be early or laie. In the two seasons alluded to above, in which the early wheat was most injured, the seasons were forward, (the dogwoods bloomed early.) consequently, when they came forth the early wheat was right for thfir use, having kept pace with ihe season, whilst only the forwardest of other kinds was ready for them, and the later portion thereby was the less injured. The spring of 1849 was later, and the early purple straw was too far advanced for them, their numbers not being sufficient then to destroy all the crop. Of their origin 1 know nothing. They are an insect and have their beginning as all others did. I have no reason to believe that they winter any where but in ihe wheat and rye straw and stubble, where they are at first deposited; ami I also have no reason to believe they inhabit any thing else. It is reported amongst us that Col. James Barbour's crop of oats (being forward) is destroyed by (he joint worm. If so, will Col Barbour be so kind as to infirm your readers through the Southern Planter, and give them all ihe particulars in the case. I have seen as fine oats this spring growing amongst wheat, which was entirely destroyed, upon oat (allow for wheat, as I ever saw grow, and ihey lived through ihe winter, and consequently were as forward as any spring sown oats could have been. I have no reason to justify the belief that Ihey will not continue as long as we continue to sow wheat and raise them, unless someihing in ihe direction of Providence destroys I hem. The only way to destroy or get rid of them which I can conceive is, for nil firmers to quit sowing wheal for two or three years, which I think, in all probability, will rid us of them. The opinion ihat the joint worm raises in the woods, raises in clover, raises in timothy ami in weeds, &c. &c Ins mnnv supporters, but all such opi nions conflict with mine, consequently I would be pleased to read the experienced opinion of any farmer upon the subject in the Southern Planter.

I seriously fear Ihat ihe use of guano upon the wheal crop is lo prove to be a curse upon our community, because we have farmers

enough amongst us, who, through the use of it, think iheir interest is sufficiently promoted to justify their continued use of it, and they will thereby raise joint worm enough to seriously injure their crops and totally destroy all their neighbors' crops.

Albemarle, July, 1853.

Ed. J. Thompson.

WHAT IS CHEMISTRY DOING FOR AGRICULTURE'?

From a very able review of a number of valuable agricultural publications, we condense the following, showing, in a degree, what science has done for the farmer. A candid perusal of these extracts will serve perhaps to convince some who are skeptics in re-sard to the value of science, and who look with favor upon practice only, that the subject of farming must be viewed from different stand points, in order to arrive at correct conclusions:

"Among the parts of the living animal, the muscles occupy an important place, not merely in bulk, but in reference also to the health and strength of the body. The muscles contain nitrogen; and, besides a Utile fat, are mainly composed of a substance to which, because of iis stringy or fibrous nature, chemists give the name of fibrin,. Now this fibrin is almost identical, in chemical character and composition, with the white of eggs, (albumen,) the curd of milk, (casein,) with the gluten of wheat, and with certain similar substances which exist in beans, peas, barley, oats, potatoes, turnips, cabbage, and, in fact, in almost every vegetable esculent, in greater or less proportion. All these substances contain nearly the same per centage of nitrogen, and are distinguished by the general name of protein compounds.

"It is now ascertained, that when vegetable food is introduced into ihe slomach, ihe gluten, albnmen, &c. which it contains, is dissolved and extracted from it,.conveyed from the stomach into the blood, and by, ihe circulating blood carried to those parts of ihe body in which, owing lo the natural waste, or to the demands of animal growth, the muscles require to be renewed or enlarged. The power of a vegetable substance, therefore, lo increase or sustain the muscles of- an animal, depends materially on the q.iantrty of these protein compounds it contains—or on the quantity of nitrogen hv which that of the protein compounds is indicated and measured. It must heof importance, therefore, lo knov. how much of these compounds, or in other words, how much nitrogen different vegetahle productions usually contain—how far the usual pioporiion is subject to variation—and how far it is within ihe reach of human control. Such questions / have obviously an intimate relation to the

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actual money value of food in the rearing and nourishment of animals; and a few^illustra-tions will show how chemistry has recently occupied itself in solving them. • "It is the object of chemical research not merely to explain known facts, but to remove misapprehensions and correct erroneous opinions. The recent determinations of the proportion of nitrogen contained in wheat have served both these purposes. Thus it was asserted and believed, that the wheat of warm climates always contained more nitrogen, and consequently was more«iutritive and of higher money value, than the wheat of our more temperate countries. But later researches have corrected this hasty deduction, and have placed our home wheat in its proper position, economical and nutritive, as compared with the wheat of India, of Southern Australia, or of the Black Sea.

"Again, the British miller usually requires a portion of foreign wheat to mingle with our native grain, both to make it grind moreeasily, and to satisfy the baker with a flour which will stand much water. The pastry-conk, and the macaroni maker, also demand of him a flour ■which will make a peculiarly adhesive dough. These several qualities were supposed to be inherent only io wheat which abounded, in an uncommon degree, in gluten, and which was produced underespecially favorable conditions of soil and climate. Modern chemistry has the merit of gradually removing these misapprehension', a'td of directing us to the true causes of all such differences.

"So in regard to the superior amount of muscle-forming matter supposed to exist in wheat in comparison with other kinds of native grain, such as the oat. Experience had Ions taught the Scotch that oats, such as they grow in their climafe, are a most nutritious food; but the habits of the more influential English, and the ridicule of a prejudiced lexicographer, were beginning, to make ihem ashamed of their national diet. Chemistry has here stepped in; and by her^nalysis of both, has proved not only that the oat is richer in muscle-forming matter than the grain of wheat, but that oat meal is, in all respects, a better form of nourishment than the finest wheaten flour.

"But what is more, chemistry has brought ns acquainted with the value of parts of the grain formerly considered almost as waste. The husk or bran of wheat, for example, though given at limes to pigs, to miller's horses, and other cattle, was usually thought to pos.ess but little nutritive virtue in itself. Analysis, however, has shown it to be actually richer in muscular matter than the white interior of the grain. Thus the cause of its answering so well as food for cattle in explained; and it is shown that its use in bread (wholemeal bread) must be no less nutritive than economical.

"The true value of other kinds of food is alio established by these inquiries.- Cabbage

is a crop which, up to the present time, has* not been a general favorite in this country, either in the stall or for the table, except during early spring or summer. In North Germany and Scandinavia, however, it appears to have been long esteemed; and various modes of storing it for winter use have been very generally practised. But the cabbage is one of the plants which has been chemically examined, in consequence of the failure of the potato, with the view of introducing it into general use; and theresultof theexamination is both interesting and unexpected. When dried so as to bring it into a state in which it can be compared wilh our other kinds of food, (wheat, oats, beans, &c ,) it is found to be richer in muscular Trailer than any other crop we grow. Wheat contains only about twelve per cent., and beans twenty-five per cent.; but dried cabbage contains from thirty to forty per cent, of the so-called protein compounds. According to our present views, therefbie, it is preeminently nourishing. Hence, if it can but be made generally agreeable to the palate, and easy of digestion, it is likely to prove the best and easiest cultivated substitute for the potato; and no doubt the Irish kolcannon (cabbage and potatoes beat together) derives part of its reputation from the great muscle-sustaining power of the cabbage —a property in which the potato is most deficient.

"Further, it is of interest—of national importance, we may say—that an acre of ordinary land will, according to the above result, produce a greater weight of this special kind of nourishment in the form of cabbage than in the form of any other crop. Thus, twenty tons of cabbage, and good land will produce, in good hands, forty tons of drum-head cabbage on an imperial acre—contain fifteen hundred pounds of muscular matter; while twenty-five bushels of beans contain only four hundred pounds. The preference which some farmers have long given to this crop, as food for their stock and their milch cows, is accounted for by these facts* while, of course, they powerfully recommend its more general cultivation as food for man.

"We may add, while speaking of cabbage, that it is known to be so exhausting to many soils, that wheat will scarcely grow after an abundant crop of it. It springs up indeed, bui yields little straw, and early runs to a puny ear, containing little grain. But the same analysis which shows the value of the cabbage crop, shows also what it takes from the soil; and explains therefore the kind of exhaustion produced by it, by what special applications this exhaustion is to be repaired, and how repaired at the least cost."

We shall take occasion to make more selections from this excellent article; at the same time we commend the ahove to the close attention of our readers, believing that every. one, whether farmer, mechanic, or merchant, may be benefited by a perusal of them.— Farm Journal,

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For the Southern Planter.

BRINING AND LIMING IN PREVENTING SMUT IN WHEAT.

Mr. Editor,— Confident of the efficacy of brining and liming in preventing smut in wheat, I made a communication last fell, through the Planter, setting forth this remedy, with all the assurance ten or fifteen years success could prompt. Another year's contradictory result renders some qualification just and proper. A high land field of white and red wheat, sown from early in October to the 10ih of November, was exempt from smut, so far as observed. A low ground field, sown in red May wheat between the 10th and 20th of November, was very badly diseased, though the seed sown on boih high and low land were equally treated and prepared, by brining and liming. It will be remembered by many that on and from the 2'2d of November, rains drenched the earth till some time in January, during which time the late wheat came up. Now, though the seed of the smut infesting the grain may have been destroyed by the brine or lime, or the two conjointly, yet the seed of the parasite consiantly residing in the earth or plants, in a dormant state, may have been brought into life and action by wetness qf the season, or some latent circumstance favorable to its development on flat land. A neighbor has observed an exemption from the disease where the remedy was adopted, and its very injurious presence where it was omitted, the circumstances in other respects alike. Another neighbor tells me he used the remedy, permitting the seed wheat lo remain in brine ten or twelve hours, with entire success, whilst on an adjoining farm, all remedy being omitted, the crop was grievously affected.

I shall trv again. Instead of removing the seed from the brining lo ihe liming inb as soon as skimmed, as has been my practice, it will remain in brine eight or ten hours. This is a serious evil, and it is hoped the farmers will compare noies on the subject. Will some gen-Sleman give the result of the bluestone wash, so highly recommended last summer and fa 111 Thomas Meaux.

Amelia, Aug. 17, 1853.

For the Southern Planter.

GRAPE VINES.

Mr E'H/or, —A correspondent from Buckingham inakps inquiry about grape vines. In the ah^encp of something better, please to submit the following. All the most celebrated vine-growing countries known lo us are dry and warm naturally, or made so artificially. We find thev are so naturally in Palestine, Greece and her islands, Italv, Spain and iFrance. On the Rhine the celebrated wine

localities are made dry by their'steep acclivities. So much so, indeed, are they, terracing is necessary to keep the soil together. Looking to our own country, New Mexico and California stand forward, as probably affording as good, if not the best, wines on earth, wlen attention and skill shall be directed to the subject. The absorbent sands on Albemarle Sound yield the most perfect wine known to oureastern slope,from the native Sctippernong.

Jn view of these facts three years ago I made the earth along, a row of some dozen thriftless vines as dry as possible by running ditches some eighteen inches or two feet deep around them, giving a bed of some eighteen, or twenty feet wide, and throwing the earth in a rounded form on the middle, so as to shed the rain as rapidly as practicable. Last year my vines, consisting of native, Isabella and Catawba, were perfect as our country ever yields. The last fall I added three Scupper-nong to my little stock, having made a congenial soil by hauling sand to the spot for this purpose, and forming it into beds. The vines at this time arc vigorous and loaded wilh fruit just beginning to turn. Even the Scuppernong are bearing, as pleasing as unexpectedly.— Ashes constitute the best manure, and a lofty scaffold the best frame. Trimming off superfluous wood and traii:ingequallyover the frame in January, is the treatment. By this means the fruit hangs in the air and out of the reach of interlopers, except birds. How are they to be managed?

Umxea.

Amelia, Aug. 1G, 1853.

For the Southern Planter.

PUT NOT YOUR TRUST IN DAMASK ROSE BUSHES.

Mr. Editor, —Having sworn upon the altar of Flora, perpetual hostility to the rose bug, I am always on the look out for any thing which seems to promise me aid in this war of extermination; and, therefore, I read with much interest the paragraph in your February number, which has since taken the rounds of the papers, headed "A cure for rose bugs."

Now, as I have always given the sweet, old fashioned damask rose a place in my flower beds, I was rather incredulous as to. its protective qualities; but determined this summer to examine into the matter, and the result of my observation has been, that the dama.-k rose is rather less subject to the ravages of this insect than other roses of the same hue. The bug shows a decided preference for vM'e and b/vsh roses; and just in proportion as the color of the rose deepens, do you find it less liable f o attacks from this destructive foe. And I his f ct |by-the-way, is an additiona' rec mmetidr. tion (if any be needed,) to the valuable tribe of remontant roses.

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After trying, without success, a variety of schemes to rid myself of these troublesome intruders, I read, about three years ago, that as they were not migratory in their habits, but remained, from year to year, in the same locality, you could gradually kill them off, without fear of having their places supplied from abroad. I determined to make the effort, and since then, during the season, I go round, morning and evening, and perseveringly shake off the bugs into a bucket of hot water. I think I can see each year their number diminishing; but still they are so numerous as to make me anxious for some quicker mode of warfare. So, Mr. Planter, if you or any of your friends will "show a more excellent way," it will be thankfully received by your numerous lady readers—who, by-the-way, would be still more numerous if your valuable pages would occasionally cease from "guano," "joint-worm," "tobacco," and "M'Cormick's reapers," and freshen themselves with a few flowers culled by the way.

HOW TO KEEP HARNESS IN ORDER.

The subject indicated by the above heading has been discussed of late in the Rural, by two or three correspondents, hut is of sufficient importance to bear further comment. With all due deference, we are constrained to express the opinion that few of those directly interested give proper attention to the durability and appearance of harness, carriages, &c. We will, therefore, give the mode of oiling and washing harness, practised by one who is qualified to speak understanding^ upon the subject.

Observing the good condition and fine appearance of the harness of Aid. Baker, proprietor of the most extensive livery establishment in Rochester, we requested hirn to impart to as, for publication, the modus operandi by which so desirable a result was achieved. In compliance therewith, he stated the eou/se adopted as the best and most economical, after twenty years experience in a business which required considerable attention to tackling apparatus. His process of oiling and washing harness is substantially as follows:

Takeneats foot oil, and ivy or patent black; the latter well pulverized, or to be made so before using. Mix thoroughly—adding the black until the oil is well colored, or quite black. In cool weather the oil should be warmed somewhat before mixing. With a sponge apply a light coat of the mixture—only what the leather will readily absorb, unless the harness is very dry, in which case a heavier coating may be necessary. After the harness is dry—which will be in from two hours to a half or a whole day, depending upon the weather and previous condition of the leather-wash thoroughly with soap-suds. In making the suds, use gwid Castile soap and coldrain^wo> Ur. (Warm water should never be used on

harness leather.) Apply the suds with a sponge. Rub off with buckskin. This will give your harness a nice, glossy surface, and the leather will retain a good color and continue pliable for months. If it becomes soiled wiih mud 0/ sweat, an application of soap and water, as above directed, (without oiling,) will be sufficient to give it a bright appearance.

Two applications of this oil and black mixture a year, (or once every six months,) will be sufficient to keep harness, as ordinarily used, in good order. It may be necessary for livery men and others who use harness constantly, to apply the oil oftener—but in most cases two oilings a year, and washing with suds when soiled, will keep a harness in good trim for sight and service. This process will pay a large dividend in extra service and durability —to say nothing of improved appearance.

Aid. B. assures us that the same, or a very similar application is just the thing for carriage top? which are made of loplcalkcr.i The only difference in treatment is, that less oil should be used, or rather a light coating applied—and it should be washed off before drying in, top-leather being thin and much more penetrable than harness. Of course the mixture would not answer'for enameled leather, of which some carriage tops are constructed.— Rural New Yorker. •

From the Wool Grower and Stock Register. MERINO SHEEP FOR MUTTON.

Mr. Editor, —In the Wool Grower for May, is the following statement, or advice: " If you grow sheep for muttqn, grow the large, coarse kind." Believing that the sentence contains a sentiment calculated to mislead men, and defeat their object, viz. the greatest income of cash from a given number of acres stocked with sheep, we deem it a duly to examine and expose its incorrectness. It is a generally conceded point, that animals of the same kind, or breed, being of the same age, flesh and temperament, will consume food in proportion to their live weight—i. e. an ox which weighs 2000 lbs. will consume daily 25 per cent, or one-quarter more food than any ox of the same breed, aae, flesh and temperament, that weighs only 1600 lbs. A sheep that weighs 200 lbs. will consume just double* of one that weighs only 100 lbs.—the age, the breed, the flesh, &c. being alike in both. Sufficient experiments, both in England and America, have established this axiom beyond all reasonable doubt. No scholar will deny it. Hence, it follows that the estimate of profits should be reckoned by the acre, and not by the head.. Here is the tip-stone of multitudes—this is a common blunder. If an acre or ten acres turn off annually more profit when stocked with South Downs, than ten acres will, stocked with Spanish Merinos,

" This is stating the case a lectle too strong. — Ed.

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then the South Downs are preferable; if the I Merinos yield the best returns in dollars and cents, then the palm of honor must be awarded j :o them.

In this comparison we do not propose to estimate the Merinos at their value for stock purposes, but simply as the coarse sheep are reckoned—for their fleece and meat. This [ will be considered fair by the friends of the j coarse sheep. And first, we assert that we can raise as many pounds of Merino mutton from an acre, or given number of acres, stocked with the Merino wethers, as we can stocked ! with the coarse sheep; and, secondly, we affirm that it is equally as good, and will fetch as much by the pound; and our third state- [ ment is, that the acre will yield one-third more wool, and every pound is wojrth one-third more than coarse—so that the fleeces are worth more I than double those from the'acre slocked with coarse sheep. I am aware that it is said by rradition, or self-interest, that the mutton of the Merino is comparatively valueless. We | have, on hearing these objections, been re- I minded of the South Sea Cannibal's repast on I the flesh of his dead enemy, or of the chap that managed to shed tears to sell at so much a pint. The truth is, the objection is without foundation—it is false and disreputable. Take j a leg of fat Merino, and one of fat South | Down mutton, have them equally well cooked, and not all the epicures in America can tell which is which if they be blindfolded before sitting at the table.

We will here introduce testimony from several highly intelligent gentlemen from different States corroborative of our position. Says Mr. Theodore N/Davidson of Virginia: '• 1 can raise as many pounds of Merino mutton to the acre as of any other breed, and I am sure, of decidedly better quality." Says H. W. Chapline, Esq. of Virginia: " The Merino highly recommends itself to all farmers." After enumerating several qualities in theirfavor over the coarse sheep, he adds: "Their mutton, when fat, is excellent, being tender, juicy and of fine flavor, when well cooked." Says Mr. Bidleman of New York, "I know, from experience, that the Merino makes better mutton than the coarse-grained English sheep." Says Nathan Dustan of Galena, Ohio, "A grade of sheep between coarse and fine, are better for mutton than the coarse English iheep." Says John Young of Belleville 1 , Ohio, speaking of Merino sheep, "It is allowed to be a good business to rear them for mutton." Says James DeMott of Seneca county, New York, " Butchers here declare that they prefer jheep of medium size—from 60 to 70 lbs. and at least one-half Merino—they show more fat when opened, and the flesh is better generally than the common large sheep, or English breeds." Says Humphrey Howland, Esq. of Cayuga county, New York, "The Merino wether is fully equal to South Downs for mutton/" Says Mr. Samuel Wood of Scottsville, Monroe county, New York, "The Merino

sheep are the most profitable both for mutton and wool." [See Patent Office Reports for 1850-51.] This array of evidence might be extended, ad infinitum. Thousands in the vicinity of Brighton market will give in similar testimony.

Aside from all this, the following are a few among many other reasons which the Merino claims as characteristic of the race:

1st. They are hardy and endure the severities of the climate much better than the English or native breeds of sheep, for the best of reasons, viz. they are much better protected, having 400,000 wool hairs to the square inch', while common American sheep have 62,000 only. 2d. Their longevity is great: they propagate, doing well, until tweve and fifteen years old. 3d. They never shed their wool when kept in uniform condition. 4th. They are very quiet, and seldom jump a fence four feet in height, and hence take on flesh much easier than the coarse sheep. 5th. They will bear crowding in large flocks and do well, while coarse sheep invariably decline when heavily stocked. 6th. They will do well on pasture so short and indifferent that on it a flock of coarse sheep would most certainly decline. 7th. They yield about one-third more wool, which is worth one-third more per pound, so their fleeces bring double those of common sheep. 8th. The wool hairs have 2400 serrations,or saw-teeth to the inch, being much more than that of common wool, and consequently its felting properties are unsurpassed. 9th. The luxurious yolk of the fleece furnish these sheep with an impervious eoat-of-mail, which resists rain and snow, and impurities that would injure the wool, and gives to the manufactured fabric a softness and finish that adds '20 per cent, to its price when thrown upon the market.

In short, we believe they combine more excellencies than any other breed of sheep on the globe, and when their merits are fully and every where known, will take the place of all others. S. B. Rockwell.

Cornwall, Vermont, June 1,1853.

POINTS OF DIFFERENT BREEDS OF CATTLE.

We clip from an exchange the following account of the relative points of cattle from the Mark Lane Express. They were written in regard to the animals exhibited at the show in Gloucester, England:

The Hereford cattle were represented in the first prize by a bull of Lord Berwick's, who is known as a winner for fat cattle. The present case showed an animal of very superior merit—probably the best beast in the show-yard. The width and depth of carcass, with the length of body, were very superior,

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and the animal showed an activity that does not always attend such heavy carcasses. No more supetior animal of the breed has ever come under our notice. The shoulder was uncommonly well covered*, which produces an uniformity of shape along the whole frame. It is a point of great importance, and the Hereford beasts excel in it. A sloping shoulder joining the neck and ribs, admits the covering of flesh, and removes the heavy objection of bare bones. The present animal was well provided in this point. The cows showed uncommonly well, especially in the first prize, ■which has been seldom equalled. The fattened condition might be objected to in a lean animal. The other prizes of this breed were equally distinguished.

The Hereford cattle were largely and richly exhibited at the show, the contiguity of their native county to the place of exhibition favored the convenience of transit, and it was extensively used. No superior animal to the bull of the foremost prize has ever been presented to our view, and we believe general opinion supported our judgment on that point. The palm of merit between the Hereford and Short-Horn cattle may never be settled; but the former are superior in the fore-quarter, or in the shoulder and first ribs. The slanting shoulder slopes into the neck and ribs; and has not the bony projection of the Short-Horn, producing much bare bone, and a great weight of useless formations. This superiority cannot be, and, we believe, is not generally disputed; the Short-Horns show a heavy coarseness in the fore-quarter, with much leathery skin from the shoulder and neck. The very best breeders have not been able to banish this property from their herds, along with a lean girth joining the shoulder and first ribs. Eight out of ten Short-Horn bulls inherit this defect. On the oiher side, no animals of any kind exhibit such an ample development of the hind-quarter,—the deep and fleshy thigh, wide twist, and length of cut in the rump. This superiority advances to the forepart of the middle ribs, and there cea?es, and other animals take the lead. This superiority was never more conspicuous than in the Hereford first prize bull of this year.

The Devon cattle excelled in two bulls, which well supported the reputation of the breeders. The first prize was the smaller beast, but probably unequalled even in the symmetry of the handsomest of all British cattle. The straight carcass from the shoulder to the rump, along the back and both sides, formed a point of preeminence not at all equalled in the show-yard, and probably never surpassed by animals of the Devon breed. No cattle in Britain exhibit the same squareness of carcass as the Devon; especially along the sides, from the point of the shoulder to the extremity of the mid thigh. This breed, and the Hereford, lose the posterior width behind ok-boaes, which the Short-Horns maintain, and even expand; but in the fore-quarters, in the covered shoulder, and fulness of

girth, the Devon probably exceeds the Hereford—at least the equality is fully supported. If the Devon were one quarter heavier, and the horn reduced in one-half the length, the appearance in worth might be improved, although not very materially advanced. As with the Suffolk horses, the uniformity of colormuch ! recommends the Devon cattle; the character J throughout is equally uniform, and the symme-I try is unequalled by any cattle in Britain; and the general and most entire character has | never been more fully upheld than by the two I bulls now mentioned. The protuberant but-\ tock of the Devon and Hereford beasts forms I a defect in comparison with the upright stand-! ing of the Short-Horn, confirming the former j observations on the respective merits of the different breeds. The cows and heifers of the Devon breed at this show supported the usual character—small in appearance, but capable of yielding a larger progeny than is indicated by the size of carcass.

PROFESSOR MAPES.

We publish below some strictures on Prof. Mapes, who has lately condescended to notice the article in the Planter in which G. Blight Browne and the Editor of this paper—the latter with assistance that Prqfessor Mapes little dreamed of—had taken the liberty of exploding an analysis of his, made by his pupil, it is true, but adopted as his, and acted upon professedly by him in a prescription for a sick soil. When we get leisure we shall reply to Prof. Mapes' article. As to his personalities we need only say now, that we suppose he acts on the principle of Dr. M'Jargon, the Chemist, in Moore's little farce of the Blue Stocking, who upon being reproached with his slovenliness replied, that "he had no objection to dirt for h\c knew what it was composed of."

To the Editor of the Southern Planter:

I perceive that the Southern Planter hat fallen under the censure of Professor Mapes for having copied Mr. Browne's essays on lime, originally written for, and published in the Farm Journal.

The Southern Planter has dared to agree with the views of Mr. Browne and to disagree with thote of Mr. Mapes on a purely scientific matter.

Mr. Browne, in bis essays, has strictly confined himself to such matters as are clearly and legitimately proper subjects for public discussion, and throughout has avoided the use of epithets, and has not introduced into his articles any expressions which would be out of place in a drawiDg room. .

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The first article which appeared from the j pen of Mr. Browne, which in any way alluded to Mr. Mapes, is to be found in the Farm Journal at page 68, June, 1852. This article j calls in question'the virtues attributed to the i salt and lime mixture of Professor Mapes, and further says, that the chemical changes as laid down by Mr. Mapes cannot, and do not take ' place.

I am not aware that this article has ever been noticed, but on the contrary, the gentleman has not ceased to reiterate his advice to the readers of his journal that such valuable results do take place.

The promulgation of incorrect information on purely a scientific subject by the editor of a public journal, surely is fair subject for criticism, in another journal devoted to the same branch of knowledge. Mr. Mapes in his ani- j madversions of the Southern Planter (August, 1853, page 121,) asserts that the objections urged by Mr. Browne have been fully answered by himself and others in the paper where they first appeared. I am not aware of any an- j swer of the Professor's appearing in the co-lamas of the Farm Journal. At page 3, April, 1853, Pennsylvania Farm Journal, will be found a short article copied from the Working Farmer of the same month, and which is from the pen of Mr. Mapes. The Editor of the Pennsylvania Farm Journal, says to his readers on the subject of this reply by Mr. Mapes, "In discussions on such matters of great im-; portance to the farmer, we see no advantage musing persona] and offensive epithets. There is no argument at least in them. We omit here some expressions of this character which we think uncalled for. All analyses, professing to be of a scientific character, are certainly open for critici.<m and examination." In the May number of the Pennsylvania Farm Journal at page 5-1, will be found a short arti-! cle, by J. H. B. This article touches merely : upon Mr. Browne's views of the mechanical | effect of lime, and does not attempt to support the rationale of Mr. Mapes, but on the con-: trarv, puts forth a hypothesis of his (the au-! thor's) own creation. The article in question bears upon its face the evidence of the au-1 ihor's want of erudition as a chemist.

What the readers of the severnl journals want, and require at the hand of Mr. Mapes,! is, that he should take up each of the objections urged, and show by what authority he has stated that such chemical changes will I take place as he attributes to his salt and lime mixture, and why, if such is the case, such expensive process fs resorted to by the manu-lacturers of carbonate of soda. Next let him take up the three analyses selected by Mr. Browne, and show wherein the knowledge of the exact chemical proportions of the several soils therein mentioned worked any benefit to the parties interested. Let him inform us why, notwithstanding the wide difference between the soils manifested by the analyses, he recommended substantially the same amend-

ments in all these three cases. Let him tell us why he has recommended the>application of phosphoric acid to all of these soils, the two containing, we may say, none, and the other 10S9 lbs. per acre. Let him tell us how it comes to pass that the application of 19 lbs. of phosphoric acid per acre will manifest itself to the farmer by the increased fertility, and what relation this acid so applied bears to the quantity already in the soil. Let him tell us what use it can be to the farmer, to know the exact quantity his land contains, provided he is to go on adding more in any

event. Let him inform us why Mr

Warren of Somerset county, New Jersey, is required to take 10-100 for the standard of organic matter in his soil, when Mr of

Monmouth is only required to take 5-100. Let him inform us why one of these soils is only to be treated by the standard of the 40th of one per cent, of phosphoric acid, and in the other the standard is to be 5-100. Let him inform us why in the one case potash and soda are set down at 7-100 and in the other at only the 1-5 of one per cent.

These analyses were not made, it is true, by Mr. Mapes, but this Mr. Bradley was his student and employed by him to make them, and he afterwards endorsed them by publishing them in his journal, together with his letters of advice founded on them. His readers would like to know how many years he would advise

Mr Warren of Somerset county, New

Jersey, to continue to purchase and apply the Improved Super-Phosphate of Lime. These, with other interesting matters, present themselves to the minds of those seeking information, and I, for one, shall be happy to hear from him on the subject.

As to any offensive expressions, such as "Billingsgate" and "Twaddle" they only fall back on the author of them. The use of such words is very unbecoming a public journalist, and is disrespectful to his readers. Agricultural journals should find their way into the hands of youths of both sexes, and badly selected language is very much out of place in them. As to Billing-gate, it is a low expression, used only by vulgar English writers, and the word twaddle is no where to be found in any language; there is a low expression, taken from Wiseman, and I think to be found in no other author, but he writes it twiddle. It is no compliment to his readers to cater for their taste from such unrefined sources.

THE SHEPHERD'S DOG.

Well might a popular writer say, "Without the shepherd's dog, the mountainous land in England and Scotland would not be worth sixpence. It would require more hands lo manage a flock of sheep, gather them from the hills, force

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them into houses and folds, and drive them to market, than the profits of the whole would he capable of maintaining." And though this may be true as regards the wild and headstrong sheep of the Scottish mountains, it is also correct as applied to our own; and most of the difficulties of gathering and driving will vanish in ihe presence of a really good dog. The sheep seem to know as if by instinct, before they have been many minutes under the charge of such a dog that all their efforts to break away are fruitless, let the flock be ever so wild and numerous, or the field of operation be ever so rugged and unfavorable.

It is surprising to observe what cunning a drove of pure Herdwicks will sometimes exhibit in their endeavors to baffle an ill-trai.ied dog. While the driving or gathering ground is favorable to the dog, all goes on well enough; but no sooner do the wily creatures discover a suitable opportunity, than perhaps one or two break off on one side, and, while the dog attempts to head them, others steal away in different directions on the other side; while the dog attends to them the mischief increases, and nearly the whole flock will disperse, to the utter discomfiture and amazement of the dog; but if at this juncture the tactics of a clever dog are brought to bear on the flock, in an astonishingly short period the whole of them will be subdued and brought into order, and may be driven without difficulty so long as the master spirit is within call.

Some dogs have the faculty of discovering sheep when buried to a considerable depth under the snow, as happens occasionally. A dog possessed of this quality is of immediate value equal to the amount of the sheep he releases or marks. A single dog has been known to point out unerringly the locality of many scores of drifted sheep in a day, even when several of them were at a depth beyond the reach of a shepherd's snow-pole. In the great Martinmas snow storm of 1807 (by lar the heaviest fall within the present century,) the writer was personally engaged though very young, assisting to search Ibr and release about four hundred sheep, being part of a flock of Herdwicks which had been turned out on the common from the fold late in the evening before the snow began to fall. The darkness prevented them from reaching their known heaf; and the 6torm g suddenly, and falling very heavily the p'»or animals were surprised at a disadvantage, and nearly all were covered

up in hollows, under wall, and other places where they had sought shelter. To add to their confusion the wind veered during the night, while ihe snow was falling, from south-east to north-west, and thus all chance of escape was cut off; for those the first part of the* storm had left uncovered were drifted under a still greater depth by the enormous masses of loose snow whirled about by the wind, and blown in exactly the opposite direction to that of the first fall. After a fearful night of tempest, and of useless foreboding on the part of the family, at day break next morning not a sheep of the flock turned out was to be seen, for every one was drifted over, and none could tell where a single sheep was to be found. All hands were put to work probing in the drifts with long poles, and here and there a few sheep were discovered after much laborious exertion and dug out. An untutored sheep dog, not quite a year old, was one of the party, with three or four older dogs of the same kind. The older dogs took little notice of what was going on, but the young one began to be very curious about the proceedings, and amid his gambols among the snow, would every now and then return to the working party to peep into and snuff about the holes they made with their poles. In a little time heseemed to takestill greater interest in the ■ work, and went from hole to hole, examining and smelling at them as the poles were j drawn out. He was purposely unnoticed, to see what the result would be, and to i avoid diverting his attention. He remained looking intently into one of the holes I after the men had gone some distance; jand all at once a new light seemed to I break in upon him, and he began to scratch the snow with all his might. This was just what was desired: and when he was ; seen to be in earnest, the men returned j and dug down through the drift for seven lor eight feet, encouraging the anxious ' whelp, and deeper than their poles could reach, they found a cluster of five or six sheep huddled close together. When these were released, the dog barked and howled with delight, and no doubt the j owner and his assistants felt that the sagacious animal was in a fair way to lighten their labors, as well as to save much property which was in imminent risk. From that moment the dog was the principal and by far the most valuable actor. For a ! while he would insist on helping to scratch out the half suffocated sheep; but as he , got to understand the matter, he merely

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

indicated by a few scratches the locality of the buried sheep, no matter how dee,> they were, and on he went to others, with all the importance of an old hand.

The dog being so anxious, and the peril of delay so great, no cessation of labor was indulged in till evening, when, all were obliged to leave the exciting duty from sheer exhaustion and cold. The result of this, the first day's labor, was the releasing of over two hundred sheep liv-mg, and likely to live, and about a score smothered. The following day, by the exertions of the same young dog, several more were dug out, some living, but many dead; and few indeed were passed over without being marked by the young creature, whilst the older dogs stood listlessly by, though infinitely more accustomed to sheep, and trained to almost perfection in other duties. Day after day added to the numbers of both living and dead, till finally all were found; but the loss amounted in this lot, and on the rest of the farm, to nearly two hundred sheep. The last living sheep discovered was on a new year's day. It had taken shelter in a hollow under a whin, and had remained in the small space of a five feet cave from the 18th of November, with nothing to eat but what it could nibble from the prickly bush; and when liberated on a bright frosty day, it appeared nearly or quite blind.

The dog above mentioned exhibited another trait of intelligence and calculation of a remarkable kind. His master was a constant church-goer, and the parish church was more than a mile distant. By some singular process, the animal arrived at a true knowledge of the day when his master attended church, and of the hour, and almost minute of his leaving again; and was as punctual in going to meet his master about two-thirds of the way.

Another instance, among many, of the sagacity of a Cumberland sheep dog deserves to be put on record. A plot of low and level ground near Muncaster Castle, called Hesiholm Marsh, is usually covered twice in the day by the tide, and sheep were constantly depastured on it, with a field on a higher level to retire to on the rising of the tide; but the stupid animals being fond of the salted grass, were sometimes surprised and impounded by the tide, and then the dog's services were requisite in the rescue. In a little time, he learned to go down and clear the marsh of his own accord, as constantly as the tide flowed during daylight; and thus was the

means of preventing all loss by the waters, so long as he was able to attend to his self-imposed duty.

There may be little remarkable in dogs executing duties occurring daily and at the same hour. Many dogs have learned to bring the cows home at the regular milking hour, without special directions, and one well known by the writer, performed this service with great punctually for many years, as well as hastening home from other work every day, to be present whilst an unru4y bull was let out to water.

There is an old saying, and one not devoid of trulh, that 'the laziest shepherd invariably has the best dog;" but necessity is as powerful an agent in this case as indolence, for no shepherd can have better trained dogs than the one at Stockhow Hall, who has numbered four score years, and whose daily range few young men would willingly undertake. Another old man, a rheumatic cripple, almost unable to walk, and mounted on an ass from morning till night, has ihe sole care of a large stock farm; and, with the aid of his two dogs, can ride into the flock in any part of the fields, and lift a sheep before him on the ass and ride away with it.— Journal of ihe lioyal Ag. So. of England.

For the Southern Planter.

ASHES AND GUANO.

Mr. Editor,— As guano is so much used at this time, and withal, is so scarce and dear, any method by which it can be saved, or made to go over a larger portion of land, will be useful, I will, therefore, proceed to detail to you some of my experience in the use of that valuable manure in the last two years. Among the first who used it in this vicinity were two of my neighbors, as good, if not the best, farmers among us—one of whom, finding his guano would not hold out to go over the land he wished to seed, mixed half and half leached ashes and guano, and applied the mixture to the balance of the field, and he informed me that a"t Christmas following he could distinctly see at two hundred yards distance where the ashes and guano commenced. The wheat was fully as good, if not belter, at harvest with. the ashes and guano as with 140 lbs. guano alone. The other gentleman mixed leached ashes with all the guano he used, and marie a fine crop upon verv poor land. Last fall I mixed my guano with leached ashes and applied only 200 lbs. of the mixture per acre and my wheat was fully as good as any of my neighbors who used 200 lbs. guano alone per acre. In order to test the matter fairly 1 ap-

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plied to one wheat land half bushel of guano | and ashes; to the next, half bushel of guano | alone; to the next, half bushel of guano and Ketilewell's Renovator, mixed. I could perceive no difference in the wheal until harvest, at which time the land with the ashes and guano was certainly the best—the wheat was some six inrhes taller than the adjoining lands. The chemists tell me the a.'hes will destroy the ammonia in the guano. I am no chemist, but from thisexperiment, accurately and fairly made this year, I am entirely sati>fied in my owa mind, that 100 lbs of guano well mixed with the same amount of leached ashes, which have been well protected from the weather, are fully equal to 200 lbs of guano alone. Il this be true, what an amount of money may be saved to the State of Virginia by carefully saving all our ashes.

My plan is to have the ashes, little or much, removed from ihe fire places every day. If they are suffered to accumulate for a week or more, the yield is not half so great. I have a brick ash house in which they are deposited daily from the different fire places, where I hey remain under lock and key until wanted to make soap. After using enough for this purpose they-are put back into the house again until wheat seeding commences.

Few persons have an idea of the amount of ashes which may be saved in a winter in a large family by using a little care and trouble in .removing them every day. We saved last winter from the dwelling house and kitchen alone four tons, which was mixed with an equal amount of guano and applied to wheat at the rate of 200 lbs. of the mixture per acre, by which operation I have about doubled my average crop, though my land is light and not well adapted to the wheat crop. 1 have aNo n^ed guana this summer on pea fallow, with fine effect thus far. 75 lbs. per acre, applied when the peas were sown, about the first of June, has produced as fine a crop of vines as I ever saw, and some of them on the poorest kind of light, stony broom straw hillsides.

1 have made for several years pasta good portion of what may he called domestic guano, by keeping all the poultry houses regularly littered with straw. The goose pen is also littered in like manner, except ihe straw is put in until about a fool thick. Over this pen is the turkey pole. The houses and pens are cleaned om occasionally and a large amount of first rate manure secured with but little trouble. For this idea I am indebted, in part, to my friend, ihr> late highly respected and very intelligent Col. Thomas Roane of this coun'y.

If I can induce any farmer to save all his ashes, and thereby double the value of his guano, I am sore 1 shall do him a great ser-vartienfariy as there is great doubt of getting a supply this fall, even at the last year's high prices.

I nsed a ton of KettlewelPs Renovator last fall on wheat and some on corn this spring.

Mixed with guano, half and half, I consider it about as good as ashes and guano. On corn, mixed in the same way, not much better ihan I should expect ol the guano alone (100 lbs. per acre) Renovator alone, one barrel per acre, shows but very little on coin. Respectfully,

Edward Hill. King William, Avg. 27,1S53.

BEST BREED OF MUTTON SHEEP.

We call the attention of our readers to the very interesting communication of the Hon. William C. Rives on sheep, including his own letter and a letter and tabular statement of Mr. Druce. Mr. Rives' importation of the sheep in question is, we believe, the first that has been made into the United States, and we are glad that he will have the credit, as, we cannot doubt, Piedmont will have the advantage, of his public spirit. Those who cannot obtain these sheep may at all events study them as models, and from materials already at band in Orange, Albemarle and Nelson—which we deem the best mutton district in Virginia— may create a breed of precisely the same blood. As our fn'end, the Agricultural Editor of the Advocate, observes, Mr. Colston and Mr. Garth of Albemarle, have, the one the South Down, the other the New Oxfordshire, at least a very large infusion of the blood of the latter, and persons in want of a stock to start from need not send to the North after them. Besides Mr. Garth, Messrs. James Newman, John Willis and Garrett Scott of Orange, have flocks of sheep which we deem quite equal to Mr. Garth's, in the aggregate, and a few lliorouslibred Cotswolds or New Ox-fordshires, they having purchased, at a high price, last fall, of Col. Ware of Clarke, six of his very finest ewes in lamb by his best imported buck.

The quality of these gentlemen's flocks can be seen at our Fair next fall, as they promised to biing twenty-five of their best to the show ground.

Of South Downs, Mr. Dulaney of Loudoun county, has, probably, the best specimens in the United States, if we except Mr. Francis Rotch of Otsego, New York, who lalely, at a ram letting in England by Mr. Jonas Webb, "the Southdown man," gave ,$GGC(!) for the use of his best ram for or.e year! Mr. Dula-

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ney has imported his direct from England,' without regard to expense, and with a sole I view to get the best sheep in the world. At ] present his supply of thoroughbreds is limited, I but his grade sheep are of very fine quality, ! and better, we suspect, than the average Iho-. roughbreds of the Korth. •

Castle Hill, Aug. 20, 1853.

Mij Dear SIt,— \ send you herewith, in com- ! pliance with your request, the very interesting and instructive table exhioiting the comparative profits of the different breeds of sheep in England, which one of the most intelligent and successful practical farmers of that country, (Mr. Samuel Druce of Oxfordshire) had the kindness to communicate to me. I send you also the letter of Mr. Druce which accompanied the table. Mr. Druce is a member of trie Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, and that circumstance alone sufficiently attests the high estimation in which he is held by his brethren.

In the letter which I addressed to yon in the month of October last from Paris in answer to your inquiries respecting the French Merinos and which you honored by publication in the "Planter," I mentioned that I should continue to occupy myself with researches as to the kind of sheep which would probably prove most profitable to us in Virginia. My opinion then was, as it is now, that our aim in breeding sheep should be to produce both mutton and wool, and that the kind of sheep that ■would give us the largest return for the two products united would be the best for us.

Having, af.er much inquiry and seeking information from the most competent sources, come to the conclusion that the Merino is not, :n any of its varieties, to be regarded as a mutton sheep, my attention was turced to the British breeds. I went over to England in the month of April last expressly for the purpose of making myself acquainted, by personal observation, with the different breeds of that country. I visited many flocks, and called to see many practical farmers, whom I supposed to be the besf sources of information in the question with which I was occupied; and it would be ungrateful in me not to say that I found their hospitality and kindness equal to their sagacity and intelligence It was in the course of this excursion that I had desired to call on Mr. Druce, but being prevented from doing so by circumstances beyond my control, I wrote to him on my return to Paris, and the ietterand valuable document I send you were Lis obliging answer.

That you may the better appreciate the bearings of this document, I ought to premise that for some years past the attention of the practical farmers of England has been earnestly turned to the creation of a new and distinct breed of sheep. The Leicesters, once :

so celebrated and still patronized by the Royal Agricultural Society, but mainly as tops for crossing, are now almost universally rejected for mutton, on account of their excessive and disproportionate outride fat. For the same reason and for the imputed coarseness of its grain, the Cotswold mutton is but little in favor. The Sussex or pure South Downs, highly es:eemed for their mutton, are deficient in weight both of carcass and fleece. The practical desideratum, therefore, has been to create a new breed which should unite the quality of the South Down mutton and its finerfleece with a good measure of the superior weight both of fleece and carcass of the long-woolled sheep.

This is not to be done by a first, or a second, or a third, or a fourth cross, as it is well known that there is always a tendency in the produce of such recent crosses to revert to the partien-lar character of one or the other of the original races. The establishment of a new breed, with the requisite fixity of type, is the work only of time and careful and judicious breeding. There is every reason to believe that this has been, at length, successfully accomplished by the Oxfordshire farmers by a progressive blending, long and systematically pursued, of the South Down and the Cotswold. » It is this new breed which appears as the fifth and last in Mr. Druce's fable.

He has not, as you will perceive, drawn out in figures the results of the data given by him for estimating the profits of the different breeds. But the calculation is easily made from the data he has furnished. Taking the average value of the teg (first year's) fleece of each breed, with the weights and prices of the mutton, and supposing each flock to be ewes, of which the produce sent to market annually, at a year old and upwaids, is equal in number to the ewes from which they ate bred, (a safe and ordinary calculation in England,) the aggregate proceeds of the respective flocks will be found to stand as follows, to wit:

£ s. d. Leicesters, - - - - 218 13 3 Pure South Downs, - - 244 2 0

Cotswolds, - - - - 248 6 8 Hampshire Downs, - - 263 10 10

Cross-bred or Oxfordshire Downs, 292 18 0

A striking superiority is thus shown by the results of English experience in favor of the new breed of Oxfordshire Downs. Before the receipt of Mr. Druce's letter I had visited a flock of them (that of Mr. Gillett, South-Leigh, Oxfordshire,) which had taken a first prize at the Birmingham Show in December, 1853, and I at once made arrangements for the purchase of six of them, one buck and five ewes, Mr. Gillett giving me the pick of bis whole flock after reserving the first choice of a ram for his own use. Mr. Druce, w bo, as he says, has been engaged for near twenty years in forming a similar flock, obtained at the Birmingham Show the second prize.

This new breed, which in its dark face and legs shows its close affinity to the Sussex

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Downs, but with a larger carcass and heavier fleece, is considered by the best authorities in England to be the latest and most important advance in the sheep husbandry of that country. You will observe that public attention is strongly drawn to it in the last number of the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society; and 1 have a letter of very late date from Mr. Pusey, the present able and distinguished President of that Society, in which he tells me that so convinced is he of its advantages that he is giving up his old stock of Hampshire Downs and collecting one, as rapidly as he can, of the new breed. My purchase has not yet arrived, but I trust it will do so in time to be shown to my brother farmers in our meeting of the 1st of November, which, I am happy to perceive, promises to be so creditable to the agriculture of the State.

1 remain, my dear sir, -».

With great respect,

Very truly and faithfully yours, W. C. Rives.

Frank: G. Ruffin, Esq.

[ COPY. ]

Eynsham, near Oxford, April 26,1853.

Dear Sir, —I regret you had not the opportunity of paying me a visit when you were on your agricultural tour in England, because I could have given a much more comprehensive account of the relative values of flocks of sheep personally, and by seeing some cross- j bred ones of two kinds than I can by letter. I have, however, arranged a table to communicate my information as lucidly as possible, < from which I apprehend that you will be able, with a r;mall amount of calculation, to arrive at the particular merits as to remuneration in I the sorts that you inquire about.

I may add that the prices named in the table for "Cotswold" and shorter wools are nearer on a par this season than they have been for years, in consequence of the great demand there appears to be for coarse fabrics for the colonies. In a general way, the prices for Cotswold are from ten to fifteen percent, lotver than cross-breds.

So satisfied arn I as to the greater return from the "cross-bred" sheep, that I have continued the flock for nearly twenty years, and some of rny neighbors have done the same; and I see no difficulty in keeping up a good flock with only the common skill of sheep farming, and I maintain that the character, form and appearance can be obtained far better from a cross of long standing than by the fir-t cross.

Although this information would have been more satisfactory to me if given personally, I trust it will throw the light on the subject that you are seeking.

i subscribe myself, dear sir,

Yours, most obediently,

(Signed; Sam'l Druce.

W. C. Rives, Esq., Paris.

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THE SOUTHERN PLANTER

From the Culturist and Gazette.

CURE FOR SCRATCHES IN HORSES.

Wash clean with warm castile soapsuds, then anoint with this mixture, well rubbed together:—Equal quantities of fresh lard, gunpowder and spirits of turpentine.

Faithful attention to the above will cure

even "white stockings," although the horse be constantly worked through "mud time."

The above recipe I have tried frequently, and have given it to others to try, and never have known a failure in curing even "hard cases." If any should have occasion to use it, let them furnish you the results for publication.

William Renne.

COOPER'S LIME SPREADER,

The above cut, borrowed, as is our description of it, from our friends of the Pennsylvania Farm Journal, "represents the Lime Spreader, invented and patented by Lewis' Cooper of Coopersville, Lancaster county, Pa. and is represented as a most admirable implement for the purpose for which it is intended. Although but recently patented, and but little efforts rrrade to introduce it to public notice, its merits have already won for it a high place in the estimation of a large number of intelligent and observant farmers, in our own and adjoining States. Some of the advantages enumerated in its behalf are"—

1. It saves labor and time, and does its work with inimitable evenness.

2. It is an entire machine in itself, to which a pair of horses, oxen or mules may be hitched, and a load carried, without waste, to the place where it is to be used, where it may be put in operation in hall' a minute, and will evenly distribute any desired quantity to an acre.

3. It weighs no more than an ox-cart, and will carry as large a load.

4. It feeds itself, crushes and thoroughly pulverizes all hard lumps, and even small lumps of core, while large lumps will not injure the machine, but having been cleaned of all lime that is on them, may be thrown out as refuse when the trough becomes empty.

5. With it, one man and team can do at least as much work as four men and two teams without it, while the evenness with which the work is done can in no way be equalled.

6. The machinery is simple and strong, not liable to get out of order, and very durable— the working parts being all of iron.

The want of such a machine as this, has long been felt, as it is not only a labor-saving, but a lime-saving implement, "spreading the lime evenly as a snow-fall," thus securing regularity in every part of the field. Besides this, it can be regulated to spread almost any desired quantity to the acre.

Mr. Cooper having made arrangements to manufacture more extensively than heretofore, he will, for the future, be able to supply all demands. Paschall Morris & Co., 380 Girard Row, Market Street, Philadelphia, are the Agents lor that city, and machines may be

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seen at their agricultural warehouse, any time after the first of July.

"We have written to Messrs. P. Morris & Co. and they will send one of these machines to our order. We have also taken steps to have it thoroughly tried by one of our best practical liming farmers, and when we get the result will report it for our readers. The price of the machine is eighty dollars.— Ed. Southern Planter.

POSTAGE ON THE PLANTER,

When paid quarterly or yearly in advance. To any part of the United States 1| cents per quarter, or 6 cents per annum.

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

RICHMOND, OCTOBER, 1853.

TERMS.

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

0*No subscription received for a less time than one year.

53r Subscriptions may begin with any No.

13=- No paper will be discontinued, until all arrearages are paid, except at the option of the Publisher.

§3r Office 6*n Twelfth, between Main and Cary Streets.

NOTICE.

?J* T subscribers do not order a discontinuance of the Planter before the commencement of a new year, or volume, it will be considered as a renewal of their subscriptions, and they ■will be charged accordingly.

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

WARNING.

Those of our subscribers who are in arrears must not find fault with us if they find their bills in the hands of collectors for the lull amount of our terms, Si 25 per annum. We cannot afford to print a paper at $1 a year and pay twenty per cent, for collecting.

THE DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES OF THE STATE.

We are glad to see, by the following extracts from various papers, that these most useful institutions are being organized in various portions of-the State; and we are not less glad to see the press of various quarters lending its powerful help to the work. If they will continue to give their aid and comfort, as we cannot doubt they will, the task will be more than half completed. Heretofore, except the public-spirited Richmond Dispatch, they have been somewhat laggard in the good cause; but it is never too late to do good, and we cordially^ invite them to continue their efforts. It is not to be denied that the local papers can do more good in this way than the Planter, though devoted to this express business, lis circulation is more circumscribed in each locality than the paperof the District,and only reaches its readers once a month; whereas the newspapers can stir up their readers always once a week, in many cases twice, and sometimes every day.

One other thing remains for them to do, and we respectfully appeal to them to do it. Let them state as strongly as they can the claims of the State Agricultural Society, which should be the head and focus of all the District Associations.

We have received from our old friend, Col. James P. Corbin, a copy of the Constitution, &c. of the Rappahannock River Agricultural and Mechanical Society, of which Col. Ed. T. Tayloe is President, and Col. Corbin, W. P.Taylor, Richard Baylor, Richard Royston, Vice Presidents; Richard H. Garrett, Recording Secretary; John Taylor, Jr.Corresponding

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Secretary; RobertCallett,Treasurer,and John W. Kidd, Agent and Collector—(the latter a most important office.) The whole list makes <: a sirong ticket," as the politicians say, and we are not surprised to hear that they are doing well and expect to do better.

In point of territory this Society is headed by Caroline and King George, and extends from east of the Pamunkey and York to the Potomac and the Bay shore. A finer region for every thing that the farmer requires is not to be found under the sun; and~as some of the finest fellows in the world—and most intelligent men too they are—inhabit that country, we shall not believe that they will let this effort of public spirit die out for want of encouragement.

We have had a hint that King & Queen has been somewhat slow in coming up to the mark. Why so 1 ? Where are the Greshams, the Boulwares, Franklin Dew, Colonel Fleet, Tom. Hoskins, Harwood, Jeffries, and twenty 'more we might name—men of means, sense and spirit? In old times there was so much money in King & Queen that they had to lend it to people out of the county, and we have heard "old John Roane" say that Pea Ridge could buy out the Mattaponi flats any day, and sometimes did do it. And now that guano makes peas lodge on the Ridge, and gives an average of fifteen bushels of whoat per acre on land worth eight or ten dollars, whilst lime holds the fertility the peas impart, we want to know what they mean to do with the money. The Planter has not had much of it, and we hear the Agricultural Society is not much better off in that respect. Will our friends let us advise them to three good investments: join the District and State Agricultural Societies and become life members of the Southern Planter; then improvement in land, stock and agricultural intelligence will follow, of course.

CHILIAN CLOVER SEED.

Persons who wish packases of the above seed are requested to address their letters to Frank: G. Ruffin, Shad well, Albemarle county, Virginia. By doing so it will save me the trouble of re-mailing their letters here, as well as the postage on them from Richmond to Shadwell. P. D. Bernard.

DE BURG'S SUPER-PHOSPHATE OF LIME.

The Proprietorof the Planterin the last issue "invited attention to the advertisement of C. B. De Burg's Super-Phosphate cf Lime." We, the Editor, construe this into a recommendation, however faint, of that article; and as we are not in the habit of recommending, even by calling attention to what we know nothing of, we beg leave to say that we are not responsible for it in this case. We impute no blame to Mr. Bernard, who is no farmer, and has not investigated the claims of any of these new compounds, either theoretically or practically, for giving the notice; but as some persons may be misled by it w"e think it proper to give the above explanation.

Our own opinion of this manure is that it is not the thing Mr. C. B. De Burg makes it out, though it may be a good thing. The exaggerated terms in which he speaks of it makes us suspect as much, and lends a savor of quackery—as does also the expression "other fixed salts, &c. only known to himself I" "It is quite as effective as guano, but much m'ore durable as a manure, and less volatile than any other," says he. This sentence cannot be true. The Royal Agricultural Society of England has a standing premium of .£1000, we think, for a cheap manure equal to guano, and it is given up by their best chemists that such a substitute has not yet been found. It is hardly likely that Mr. De Burg has found it out, and still less so that he should have kept his discovery "to himself," as the fact of having earned that premium would make his fortune at once. For these reasons we distrust this advertisement almost as much as we do Prof. Mapes', and we cannot advise our readers to buy what contains substances known only to their compounder. We do not think that land, any more than animals, should be treated upon empirical principles. If Mr. De Burg will state what substances he uses, and their proportions, and will sell the mixture, warranted genuine, at a moderate cost, and we are satisfied that the ingredients are useful to land, we will very cheerfully recommend his compound, and will insure him large apd profitable sales. He need lear no loss by his candor. The unskilfulness of the farmers is such that they will always pay liberally an/

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man in whom they have confidence to relieve them from the trouble of obtaining and preparing the ingredients of valuable special manures. •

NUTTSVILLE AGRICULTURAL CLUB.

We received in August from Dr. Merriwe-ther Lewis, Corresponding Secreiary, but too late for insertion in that number, the Constitution and By-Laws of the Nuttsville Agricultural Club, of Lancaster county, Virginia. We have not room for the proceedings, and it is not necessary to publish them, as they are si nilar to so many others; but there are two laws not commonly found in such bodies that might well be enacted elsewhere—the one requiring an initiation fee of twenty-five cents, the other, a monthly contribution of twelve and a half cents. A fund may be raised in this way without inconvenience that may be applied to many good purposes.

As we believe in the benefits of such Clubs everywhere, and believe in the improvabilily of the whole northern neck, which is naturally one of the finest countries on earth, we cannot do otherwise than welcome this Club most cordially into the ranks, and wish them all the success which they are so capable of achieving.

GUANO.

On another page will be found a clear and cogent article, signed "King George," on the subjeetof the difficulty of getting guano.

Our contributor has left us but little room and less occasion for the comment which he invites. But we will endeavor to stRte precisely the attitude of the question as far as we have been enabled to understand it.

Mr. Hazlewood, an Englishman, perfectly familiar with the subject, and so stated to be by the London Farmer's Club, through which he was accredited to the public in the (English) Farmer's Magazine, of March, 1852, says, there does not exist the smallest doubt in the minds of those best informed on the subject that the quantity o.f guano is almost inexhaustible, and that (at the then rate of consumption,) there is ample for the next three generations. But, it appears, in the August number of the same pftiodical, that "authori-

ties are conflicting on this point," and that in the opinion of a ' learned professor,' at the rate of existing supply, the stock can scarcely hold out for twenty years. Whichever of these parties be right, if either is, it strikes us that when we remember that Peruvian guano, especially Chincha Island guano, is not the basis merely, but the life of Peruvian agriculture, that the government of that country can not now afford to furnish it at a less price than they— not their agents, or sub-agents—charge for it at present, and that they owe it to their own preservation to ascertain the precise quantity and rale of export, present and prospective, before they consent to a serious reduction in price.

But however that may be, we do not anticipate any great fall in the article under the present contracts, for it appears from the Edinburgh GLuatterly Journal of Agriculture that the British creditors of Peru have the monopoly of guano, and we believe the control of the market every where. By an arrangement entered into between the contracting parties in 1847, a fund was created of £1,800,(100 of active debt at 6 per cent, interest, and £1,900,000 of deferred debt at 3 per cent, interest—equal to £3,700,000. This debt is. to be gradually redeemed out of the sales of guano, one-half the net amount being paid to the Peruvian government, and the balance, after paying expenses, being appropriated to dividends on the stock.

By this arrangement, as we understand it, guanocannot be sold at less than present rates, without the assent of the British creditors; and that they are not very likely to give. As little, we think, will they be disposed to permit the debt to be assumed, even if this government had any right to assume it, which is at c least very doubtful, since the security is now of the very best description; and as capitalists they can have no wish either to change it or to re-invest their money. Some idea may be formed of the difficulty when we state that in July of last year Lord Palmerston said at a meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society at Lewes, that his negotiations in this matter, undertaken at the instance of that Society, the most influential body of its kind in the world, had failed altogether, he having found Peru, as he said, as little inclined to negotiate

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for a reduction of the price of guano, as they would have been to entertain propositions for a reduction in the price of grain. It is true, that such negotiations are very likely to be renewed, and our own efforts, strengthened by as much agricultural combination among ourselves as possible, may aid them, and certainly should not be withheld; but we are not very sanguine of present or even ultimate success for the reasons above stated. Meanwhile we must endeavor to find a substitute, or wait until the English debt is paid off, which, at the present rate of export, will be in some fifty years, or endeavor to get our own government to send an expedition in search of guano islands in the rainless latitudes off the coast of Peru and beyond her jurisdiction: or, better still, aim to increase and improve our stocks of all sorts—cattle, horses, hogs, and above all, sheep particularly fine wooiled sheep, so as to derive both manure and profit from them, which may be gradually and easily done in every part of Virginia. We know lands that are too rich for guano, and many more that might be made so.

Of the complaints against the present agents of the Peruvian government we have heard a good deal, and we have no doubt that they are richly merited; but we do not see much help for them. We are informed that Barreda & Brothers have agents in Richmond and Petersburg, two in each place, restricted in their prices to forty-six dollars a ton, and that they cannot get the article, whilst other persons can supply a large, if not the whole, demand, at a price some fifty per cent, higher than their extreme limit!!

We rake it for granted that the same thing t is true of other cities of Virginia. How this happens we do not know. In common with every body else we have our suspicions, and they are strengthened by a report which we have heard, that Barreda & Brother have advanced $3,000,000 l0 PerU) and thereby secured this monopoly for four years. We think our government owes it to those of us who use guano to investigate this matter, and if it be found that the agents have abused their trust then they should be sent back home, and others put in their places, whose manners as well as principles shall be more agreeable to those who deal with them."

It has been asked if vessels from Richmond to California cannot bring a return freight of guano. We have heard of one such case, where the gentlemen employing the vessel could not obtain permission to load until they had first paid brokerage or a commission of five per cent, to Mr. Barreda.

One way in which the difficulty may be obviated is for the farmers not to purchase until the winter, and then top dress their wheat with guano, sowing it broadcast on snow. We have heard of one or<wo cases in which this plan has succeeded admirably—just as well as when sowed in the usual way; and from an experiment of our own, made on grass, the guano being sowed as above, we have every reason to think it will answer. Another, and a better plart, practicable if some little trouble is taken, will be for the farmers to hold meetings and pledge themselves to buy from none but the regularly authorized agents—a course which we now pursue from principle. Why cannot farmers strike for lower prices, as mechanics strike for higher wages—are they inferior to them in spirit, enterprise, intelligence or power to combine'? If so, we would be pleased to know why.

SOUTHERN CENTRAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

We have been requested to call attention to the next exhibition of this Society. We cannot do so better than by letting its friends speak for themselves, as we do, by inserting the following from the Richmond Whig of Sept. 23d:

We received a letter from a friend in Georgia,in reference to the Agricultural Fairwhich is to be held at Augusta, from the 17th to the 21st of October, from which we make the following extract:

"You will observe by the name 'Southern Central,' as well as bv the great variety of articles embraced in the list of the Society, that its object is to embrace in its influence, and excite an interest in the improvement of everything valuable to our section without at the same time being exclusive in any of its features.

"It will readily occur to you that the position (geographical) of Georgia is eminently favorable for the location of such a Society 'within its borders, It has already a system of railroads within its borders of over one thousand miles completed, and several hundred

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more building and projected with confidence in the building. It has two lines running across the whole breadth of the State, and one line through its whole length—and to all which there are numerous branches. By the meeting of the Society on the 17ih October next, there will be a continuous line of railroad from Augusta to the Capitals of Alabama and Tennessee, and even now, the same car which leaves Charlotte, North Carolina, passing through the Capital of South Carolina, may roll its freight into Augusta. These roads will, doubtless, in a very short time, be extended through Virginia, Kentucky, Mississippi and Louisiana. It is now Only sixty hours from New York to Augusta, and in a few years, the time will be still less between eitherof the inland cities of Georgia, Augusta,-Macon, Atlanta or Columbus, and the most distant South cities, Baltimore, Louisville, St. Louis, Memphis and ]Ne>v Orleans.

"The above mentioned cities of Georgia are now more accessible to all other portions of the Southern States than is any other one point in either of the other States to all the balance of them.

"From the facilities of travel and transportation already existing between this and the adjoining States, I have the pleasure of stating that I have at this early date received notice from contributors in neariy every Southern State of iheir intention to be present at the next annual meeting, with'their products, stocks, &c, &c, for exhibition.

"The railroad companies, connected with the system of roads terminating at Augusta, will, doubtless, extend the usual facilities of conveying passengers to the fair at half price, and articles for exhibition free of charge. Upon this point further advertisements will be made.

"The Society is no longer an experiment. The next will be the eighth annual meeting. From having had a fund of only about forty-five dollars, paid in by forty-five members at its fir-t meeting, it now controls, directly and indirectly,a fundof overseven thousand dollars."

We were informed in the same letier that the premium list and regulations of the Society had been forwarded to us, to which our attention was invited, but not having received the paper, we avail ourselves of the following extract from an article in the National Intelligencer, noticing the premiums:

"These premiums are five hundred in number, many of them as high as fifty dollars, for the most successful cases of planting and farming, and the best crops, the best specimens of all products of the soil, of all kinds of cultivation, of all sorts of domestic animals, domestic manufactures, and in fact of every kind ot useful industry. We wish we could puMish the list entire, but it is too long. It fills several columns of the paper in which it comes to us. The five hundred premiums make an aggregate of near five thousand dollars."

LIBERAL PREMIUMS.

Availing himself of the general invitation to individuals given by the State Agricultural Society, Col. J. W. Ware has offered the following very liberal premiums to purchasers of his favorite and celebrated breed of .sheep, the well known Cotswolds or New Oxfordshire.

These premiums are not only very liberal but proper in themselves, and a new feature in fairs. We hope the example will be followed by others who are in the habit of selling fine stock.

Dear Sir, —Wishing to advance the interest in the approaching Fair, which 1 think can be better accomplished hy increasing the number of prizes to be contended for, I offer the following:

For ihe best thoroughbred improved Cots-wold buck, bought bv its owner of me, $10

For the best pen of ewes, (not less than four,) tho'roughbred improved Cotswold, bought by their owner of me, - - - 10

For the best pen of ewes, (not less than four,) mixed long wools, bought by their owner of me, 5

For the best pen of ewes, (not less than [ four,) middle wools, bought by their owner of me, 5

Contestants will leave their names with the Secretary, at the meeting the night preceding j the commencement I will select a committee, who will decide according to the rules of the Society. 1 give less to the mixed long wools and middle wools, because not half so costly.

Yours, truly,

Josiah W. Ware. Mr. Ruffin, Cor. Sec'y Va. State Ag. Soc'y.

ALFALFA, OR CHILIAN CLOVER SEED.

Thecirculars which accompanied the packages of the above seed having become exhausted, we publish a copy below for the information of the distributees. There are still some packages left.

U. S. Patent Office, June I6/A, 1853. Among the seeds imported for distribution from this office is the Peruvian Alfalfa, (Mcrfi-cagnsativn?) believed tobea varietvof lucerne, accidentally arisen from the seed introduced into South America from Europe. It was procured at considerable cost direct from the mountain valleys of Chili, and has been sent in small parcels to every State in the Union for experiment. Those who have received it are requested to give it a fair ttial, and, if sue-

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cessful, to save ihe seed they raise, and report to this office the result.

The San Ftancisco Herald having received information of its introduction into Calilornia, brings it into notice as follows:

Among the imports from Chili, a list of which appeared in our yesterday's issue, will be noticed the seeds of the alfalfa. We are not aware to whom they arrived, but we think the attention of agriculturists in this State might be called with advantage to the pirn', for whose benefit the importation is probably intended. The alfalfa is a species of lucerne, greatly in use as forage for animals in the mining districts of Chili. It is a vigorous grower, requires little labor, and furnishes two crops a year of most nutritious food for stock of all kinds. As is well known, the mining districts of Chili are for the most part very sterile, and rain is of seldom occurrence. Natural grasses are therefore of scanty growth, and the miners are compelled to rely tor the maintenance of their animals upon alfalfa estates which lie within the valleys of that mountainous region.

The supply would, however, be wholly inadequate were not the plant so remarkably prolific, and possessed of such extraordinary nutritious properties. With the addition of a little barley, it is found to keep mules in the best working condition, and consequently the owner of one of these alfalfa haciendas is able to draw from his estate a much larger revenue than if cultivated in grain. In its green state, cattle feed upon it with the utmost avidity, and acquire flesh so fast that it is a practice in Chili to drive herds from the grass pastures of the south for hundreds of miles, in order to obtain the benefit of its use. The land is prepared for the seed of this plant in the same manner as for clover, it being in truth of the same family as the latter.

Dr. Tschudi, in his Travels in Peru, states that this plant is cultivated in great abundance throughout the whole of Peru as fodder for cattle. It does not bear great humidity, nor severe heat or cold, yet its elevation boundary is 11,100 feet above the level of the sea. On the coast, it flourishes very luxuriantly during the misty season, but during the months of February and March, (corresponding with our August and September,) it almost entirely dries up. In the mountainous districts, it is also most abundant during the humid season, but as soon as the first frost sets in, it decays, takes a-rusty-brown color, and remains in a bad state until the beginning of the rainy season. On an average, the alfalfa, may be cut four times in a year, but in the elevated districts only three times, and in humid soils on the coast, particularly in the neighborhood of rivers, fiv« times. Once in every /bur or five years the alfalfa fields are broken up by the plough, and then sown with barley or maize. The sixth year alfalfa is again sown.'

The most favorable soil for the growth of this plant would appear to be a deep sandy

loam, such as the alluvial deposits along rivers and streams, or the fertile prairie and bottom lands of the South and West. It is not adapted for heavy lands nor those which are wet. Being a deep-rooted plant, it requires a soil that is loose, in order th.it its roots may penetrate to a considerable depth. If the soil is not sufficiently light by nature, it should be made so by the use of the spade or sub-soil plough. Charles Mason, Commissioner of Patcnls.

A TOBACCO PROJECT.

We have been requested to publish, from the "Planter's Advocate," the following call for a convention of tobacco planters at Louisville, Kentucky, on the lGih of November next. We give place to the article with pleasure, but we regret that the author of the call had not signified more definitely what purpose he had in view in the call. Wetioubt not it was intended for good, and we, a tobacco planter, would throw no impediment in the way of anything that can tend to the advantage of our brethren of the weed. But unless something mote precise is set forth, with the means of attaining that something, we fear it will not receive much encouragement from our planters, who, like most others of their craft, are hard to move.

Subjoined, there will be found an intelligent communication from a gentleman in this county, (a grower of tobacco,) addressed to raisers of that product all over the country. His design is to have a general convention of tobacco gravers in Louisville, Kentucky, some time in November next, to take such measures' as may be deemed necessary for the advancement of so large a portion of our countrymen.

Lending, as we always will do, a ready ear to everything that whispers advantage to the planting interest, we most cheerfully publish the communication, and invite the attention of our brother editors and the public generally to the scheme.

The great clue to the success of any calling is Association. As long as the members of any profession or the practisers of any art keep to themselves and aloof from one another, so long will such profession and art remain in the back ground. It is by consultation-by meetings together, by full and free conferences, that the members of any calling can best benefit it. This truth has come to be an axiom. .

That a great convention of tobacco growers, coming from all parts of the country,

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3.11

reasoning and comparing experiences, wciuld effect much for the permanent good of that class of agriculturists, we cannot for a moment doubt. It would afford opportunity for a full interchange of opinion. It would present an occasion for such a harmonious and united action as has never been attempted on their behalf though, of all men, they have most stood in need of it.

We cannot persuade ourselves—we would not persuade our readers—that the effect of such a convention would be permanently to raise or even to steady the prices of the product in question. There is a relation between the supply of every article and the demand for it. (and consequently its price,) which is governed entirely by the general laws of trade, which it would be impossible to alter. But yet there are other and extensive improvements which might be produced by this convention. One is, that it would unite and strengthen the tobacco interest; the other is that referred to by our'correspondent: it might be the means, through Congress, of lightening the duty on the quantities exported.

We earnestly call attention to the scheme, ?nd request our cotemporaries of the press, everywhere, to "pass it around."

August 17, 1853. To the Tobacco Growers of the

United States, greeting:

Whereas, Tobacco is one of the most prominent staple products of the United States, to the growth of which large portions of the States of Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, and small portions of the States of North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Connecticut and Florida are devoted, and the growers of which are, consequently, deeply interested; and whereas the many fluctuations in prices of said staple cause great deiriment'to the growers thereof, by alternately enhancing and depressing the value of real and personal property in the neighborhoods in which it is cultivated. I propose by this address, to suggest a plan which, if carried into practice, will greatly benefit your interests, individually and collectively—and in doing so, I am prompted by no other than the motive of benefiting you and the communities in which yon live and act. Nor do I claim for the plan which I propose, any individual merit or very novel proceeding, unless it be nofel as applied to this particular staple, to hold a convention of tobacco gtpwers from all the States in which it is cultivated.

And this is the fmmdalwn of the plan I suggest: That a Convention be held in Louisville, Ky., composed entirely of Tobacco Planters, and that said convention be represented by delegates, to be selected in each county where lobaeeo is cultivated in such States of the Union where it is raised. And I would here I ihat the first convention be held at the id place, on Wednesday, the lGth day of November next.

The object for which it is called being to promote the interests of the planters of tobacco, by interchanging of views and opinions as to the best mode of its culture, the best descriptions to plant to yield the greatest amount of profit, the quantities which should be aimed at to be raised to pay best forits production, and for such other purposes as may suggest themselves to the convention as being conducive to the welfare of this class of citizens—among which, as last, though not least important which I shall suggest, is, that said convention may unitedly petition Congress to pass such laws as will be calculated to lower the duties charged by foreign governments on tobacco imported into their respective limits.

Individual efforts have, from time to time, been made by citizeus of Maryland and elsewhere, and by individual representatives in Congress, with but little success, as is very generally the case with individual efforts in any very great and important enterprise; but when there is unity of purpose and action by individuals, if persevered in, their greatest enterprises and designs become successful.

You will find, upon investigation, that all or nearly all other classes of citizens have had, and still continue to have, conventions—cotton planters, sugar planters, wool growers, mechanics, physicians, lawyers, &c, &c.—and with great advantages, no doubt, to their respective and various pursuits—but the tobacco planters, comprising a very large and important and influential portion of the citizens of these United States, have all along satisfied themselves with county and Stale agricultural exhibitions for an interchange of views among themselves in regard to tobacco. This should not be so. But, tobacco planters, allow me to urge upon you to attend the convention, and though the first one may be composed of but few members, you may rely upon the prediction that subsequent ones will be largely attended, and ihat good and great benefits will be the result of the consultations and deliberations of such a meeting.

I might say much more in favor of the suggestions herein contained, but lest it may prove tedious to be read, if made more prolix, I close by simply stating the reasons for proposing the time and place for the meeting of such convention; which are, that the place is central to the different tobacco growing sections, and easy of access; and the time such as is the most leisure of the whole fall season to tobacco growers.

A Planter, of Prince George's county, Md.

AUGUST NO. OF PLANTER FOR 1853.

Post Masters, or others, having any of the above numbers, will confer a favor by forwarding them to this office.

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER

SALES OF IMPORTED STOCK IN KENTUCKY.

The estimate that good judges put on good cattle may be^seen—but will be hardly understood by many of our readers—from the following account, which we take from the Ohio Cultivator, of the Sales of the Stock recently brought over from England by the Northern Kentucky Cattle Importing Company. But those who scorn grazing and aim to keep as few stock as possible may doubt the propriety of their course when they see what is done by men who live five hundred miles from the butcher:

The Northern Kentucky Cattle Importing Company resolved to sell their recent importation on the farm of B.J. Clay, near Paris, on the 18th ultimo. Purchasers were restricted to be citizens of Kentucky, and to give borfds in twice the value of the purchase, not to remove it from the State within twelve months. With this limitation, the sale was well attended, and the bidding spirited. The following is the reported list of sales.

The cost of the stock delivered in Kentucky, was about $23,000, while the aggregate of its sales was $55,970, a profit of $32,976! The competition between Bourbon and Fayette for Diamond, the finest bull in the lot, was most spirited, but the nerve of the Favette men failed them; the Bourbon men would not have stopped bidding under $10,000.

BULLS.

1. Young Chilton, white—calved in May, 1850; cost in England, say $600, sold for$3005, to William Warneld of Fayette.

2. Diamond, roan—calved in June, 1850; cost $630, sold for $6001, to Clay, Bedford & Duncan of Bourbon.

3. The Count, roan—calved in July, 1851; cost $525, sold for $2575, to S.Goff of Carlisle.

4. Orontos, red and white—calved September, 1851; cost $630, sold for $4525, to Benj. Gray of Woodford.

5. Fusileer, roan—calved February, 1853; cost $375, sold for $1425, to R. W. Scott of Franklin.

6. Senator, white—calved April, 1852; cost $630, sold for $2000, to Allen & Curd of Fayette.

7. Belleville, roan—calved January, 1852; cost $1050, sold for $1500, to Geo. W. Sutton of Fayette.

8. Challenger, roan—calved January, 1852; cost $450, sold for $4858, to T. GofT of Carl isle.

9. Fortunatus,roan— calved December, 1852; cost $275, sold for $1800, to George Martin of Carlisle.

5 0. Yorkshire Maynard, dark roan—calved in March, 1852; cost $275, sold for $1000, to F. Taylor of Clarke.

COWS AND HEIFERS.

1. Lady Stanhope, roan—calved in 1847; cost $375, sold for $1500 to Brutus Clay of Bourbon.

2. Lady Fairv, red—calved in June, 1848; cost $525, sold for $1100, to W. Warfield of Fayette.

3. Roan Duchess, roan—calved July, 1850; cost $275, sold for $900, to W. Brand of Fayette.

4. Goodness, red—calved September, 1847; cost $525, sold for $2025, to D. Coleman of Fayette.

5. Gem, roan—calved in April, 1851; cost $775, sold for $825, to S. Van Metre of Clarke.

6. Equity, deep red—calved March, 1852; cost $400, sold for $1000, to James Waller of Jefferson.

7. Necklace, roan—calved April, 1852; cost $260, sold for $805, to Henry Clay of Bourbon.

8. Bracelet, roan, twin of Necklace; cost $260, sold for $750, to M. M. Clay of Bourbon.

9. Mazurka, dark roan—calved August, 1851; cost $600, sold for $3050, to Benjamin Gr«y of Woodford.

10. Lady Caroline, light roan—calved July, 1851; cost $400, sold for $1825, to Brutus Clay of Bourbon.

11. Duchess of Sutherland, red—calved December, 1850; cost $375, sold for $900, to W. Brand of Fayette.

12. Maid of Melrose, rich roan—calved October, 1851; cost $775, sold for $2200, to Sam. Humphreys of Woodford.

13. Muffin, red roan—calved June, 1852; cost $225, sold for $535, to Dr. Smith of Scott.

14. Orphan Nell, roan—calved November, 1852; cost $325, sold for $1000, to J. A. Gano of Bourbon.

15. Flattery, white—calved November, 1851; cost $325, sold for $815, to W. R. Duncan of Clarke.

SHEEP.

South Down—3 bucks sold for $755, $400, $340, and 3 ewes for $350, $180, $230.

Cotswold-2 bucks $1010, $710, and 6 ewes $270, $105, $221, $200, $140, $200.

Leicester—1 buck $50, and 2 ewes sold for $52 each.

HORSE.

Cleveland Bay horse, (Young Lord,) cost $1000, sold for $2800.

EASY SHAVING.

We invite attention to the adijertisement of Mr. Micajah S. Meador, who is very skilful in the art of sharpening razors. He set three old ones for me, which I had thrown aside as useless, and they cut as well now as when I first got them. Those who may employ him to set their razors will certainly enjoy the luxury of an easy shave afterwards.

P. D. B.

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER,

313

AGRICULTURAL FAIR IN THE CITY WHEAT DRILL WITH A GUANO AT-

OF NORFOLK.

Od the 15th day of November and the three following days, the Agricultural Societies of Norfolk and Princess Anne counties will hold at Norfolk a joint Agricultural Fair.

We have received a copy of their rules, regulations and list of premiums, which are all right. The premiums are exceedingly liberal, considering the fact that these Societies are only a year or two old, and that only one exhibition, so far, has been held in that region. They embrace all the usual subjects, and amount in the aggregate to something upwards of $1000, which, we think, beats every county or district Society in the State. The modest apology for the smallness of their premiums is therefore unnecessary

THE JUDGES AT THE STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES

Have all been notified of their appointments by a circular. As the Post-offices of several of them were not known—in which cases they were generally addressed at their respective Court Houses—some letters may not have reached their destination. The Corresponding Secretary, who is the Editor of this paper, will be very glad to hear from all such as have not already written. The Executive Commutes meets on the 7ih of October, when it will be very desirable to fill up vacancies in the committees.

Certificates of Membership will be forwarded as fast as possible to all gentlemen who are known to have joined the Society, and such as do not receive them can obtain them in Richmond by application to any officer of the Executive Committee.

ORANGE COUNTY

Beats all others in subscriptions to the State Agricultural Society. She has already sent S130 and has more behind, to say nothing of what she paid before she gave her pledge for 9125. Charlotte comes next. But then Charlotte has a whole Delegate to the Legislature and Orange only half an one.

Albemarle we are sorry to say is not up to what she should be.

TACHMENT.

We have seen a certificate of several gentlemen of the county of Clarke to the effect that Thomas F. Nelson, Esq., of said county, has invented a machine for sowing guano which can be easily attached to an ordinary drill, and that 42 lbs. per acre applied by this machine have produced as much effect as two hundred pounds would have produced if sown broadcast. This is a very important statement, especially if made after a fair comparison of the two modes side by side. No doubt the gentlemen who made it believed it fully, as they are persons of the highest respectability, and we do not gainsay it, but only call their attention to the necessity of a more precise statement than their certificate now gives.

Mr. Nelson, (whose P. O. is Millwood,) and who is very well known to us as a gentleman every way reliable, and practical farmer, has, we learn, applied for a patent.

We hope he will have his invention at the Fair. We regret that an earlier notice of this invention was prevented by our mislaying the paper.

For the Southern Planter.

FRENCB MERINOS.

Mr. Editor, —With a view of renewing the blood of my Spanish stock, I have recently procured of Mr. George Campbell, of Vermont, a buck of the far famed French Merinos. He is the progeny of his favorite buck Matchless, and weighed when only fifteen months old one hundred and fifty-five pounds. Soon after reaching his destined home, his wool was thoroughly washed on the back, and sheared as soon as it was sufficiently dry. The finer parts of the fleece, which were sent to market, weighed a fraction above eight and a half pounds. The portion retained was a fraction less than one pound. This quantity of" pure wool would be about equivalent to nineteen pounds in the grease. The distinctive feature of the French Merinos is, that they combine the qualities of fineness of staple and aptitude to fatten better than any other breed; but what degree of merit attaches to this characteristic is a question sub judice. I incline myself to the belief that in respect of profit, other cir-

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

cumstances being equaj, the difference between the improved varieties of stock is rather apparent than real, and that the question of relative value will be best resolved by the circumstances of locality and a knowledge of the particular mode of management, adapted to the one or the other. For the purpose of illustration, let us institute a comparison between the French and Spanish Merinos, based upon two principles which appear to have been clearly established. These are, first: That the expenditure of food is in the ratio of the size of the animal; and secondly: That fineness of staple and aptitude to fatten are antagonist processes. In accordance with the first principle the same herbage that will keep one hundred Spanish will not be more than sufficient to sustain seventy-five of the French. But the greater expenditure of food in the case of the French being only proportionate to a corresponding return in wool and flesh, the final results will be similar. If, however, the yield in wool or flesh on the part of the French, should exceed that of the Spanish, then consistently with the second principle, the profits would be equalized by the superior quality of the fleece to be derived from the latter.

Thus it appears that number is the equivalent for size, and fineness of staple for diminution in weight. Similar observations are applicable to the New'Oxfordshire and Southdown when compared with each other, or with the Merinos. Each breed has its peculiar excellencies, and the conflicting opinions upon this subject might all, it is conceived, be reconciled by an accurately constructed table of equivalents. Entertaining these views, the question may be asked, why a preference should have been given to the Merinos? The answer is, that my decision was influenced by the single consideration of hardiness of constitution. It is generally conceded, I believe, that in this respect the Merino race is entitled to precedence over every other. But again, this advantage may be counterbalanced by another which attaches to the mutton varieties. I refer to their being more prolific.

"Young Matchless" will be exhibited at the State Agricultural Fair in November, when those who feel an interest in the subject will have an opportunity of judging for themselves.

Yours, respectfully,

Wm. L. Wight.

Goochland, Sept. 15, 1853.

For the Southern Planter.

COTSWOLD SHEEP AT THE FAIR. OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND IN 1853.

" For several years past the exertions of the Society have been directed to suppress the exhibition of animals which were distinguished for nothing more than the enormous quantity of fat they bore about with them. Of late years they have taken morestringentmeasures than ever, until this year they have determined that the^ judges shall pronounce any over-fed animal to be ipso facto disqualified lrom competition. The breeders will take warning in lime and bring their stock in such a condition that their point shall not be lost or undistin-guishable in a mass of fat.

" In the department of sheep, the Leicesters, which have hitherto been the principal feature of these exhibitions, exhibited a considerable falling off— in numbers, that is, not in quality. The same thing may be said of the South Downs, where the animals shown were very few but extremely choice. In fact, the conspicuous feature in this year's show was the exhibition of the sheep, native to the district, the Cotswolds. The appearance of this breed elicited the admiration of every farmer, who all concurred in declaring that such a show of prime animals, all in the same class, never had been brought together before and that it would probably be long before they would be gathered together again. This breed of long woolled sheep has only of late'years attracted the attention of the public, but their merits are becoming every year more recognized. They are dow to be found scattered over the country, and are found to make an excellent cross with the South Downs."— Extract, from an English paper.

We understand that Col. Josiah W. Ware of Berryville, Clarke county, is again the purchaser of the Cotswolds that took the high prizes this year at the above fair, and that they are now on their way to Virginia.— Ed. S. Pl.

PROPOSED FAIR IN NORFOLK CITY.

At a joint meeting of the Princess Anne and Norfolk County Agricultural Societies, held in the city of Norfolk on the 13th inst.:

On motion of Thos. A. Hardy, Esq., Gen'l Henry B. Woodhouse was appointed Chairman and W. H. C. Lovitt, Secretary.

The following resolutions were offered by Thomas A. Hardy, Esq., and unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That the Agricultural Societies of Princess Anne and Norfolk County unite in getting up and holding a fair in the city of Norfolk on the 15th day of November next,

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

315

and that the two Societies share equally in, the privileges and responsibilities incident to the undertaking.

R-solved, That a Commitieeof twelve members (one-half from each Society) be appointed to make arrangements for holding said fair, and the Societies shall be respectively responsible for the action of said committee, and that said committee have power to fill vacancies, and if necessary, to enlarge its number.

Committee of arrangements appointed in pursuance of ihe foregoing resolutions:

From Princess Anne Society, W. H. C. Lovitt, E. H Herbert, J. W. Old, E. Bur-rough*, H. F. Woodhoose and J. W. Lewis.

From Norfolk Co. Society, W. H. Haynes, Thos. A. Hardy, S. March, Gen. H. Dashiel, P. S. Hancock and J. G. Hatton.

On moiion, ordered that the proceedings be published in the Norfolk and Portsmouth papers.

From the Farm Journal.

THE CULTURE OF CAULIFLOWERS.

Ffom ihe 15th to the 25th of September sow the seed in an open border. Let the plants remain until the 20th of October, when they will be small, having four leaves. Plant them dm four inches apart in a pit or frame, where you can protect them from the winter's Irost; let them remain there until the first week in January, then prepare your pit to grow them in.

The pit should be eight feet wide, three feet deep in front, and four at the back. Get one load of leaves and one load of hot stable manure—I mean in this proportion; have the leaves and manure well mixed a week or two before you intend to use it. and then fill the pit to what will settle down to twelve or fourteen inches; take then and get your soil, old sod three parts and one part manure—hog manure is the best; cover your bed over to the depth of at least eighteen inches; dig it nicely, then put on the sashes and keep them close for three days, when the liitle heat that the manure and leaves have created will be sufficient to give the pianis a start. This is all that is nece-sary, for if there be loo much heat, it will spoil all. Then mark out your bed, two rows to each sash, which should be three feet ten inches, and two niches lor the wood of the rafters.

It will he understood that the plants were pri'ked-out in rows, so that ihey could be taken up wiih the trowel wiihout bre-iking any of the ball; set them five plants in the row, and two row,s to each sash; you plant, lettuce between each plant in the row. and a drill ol short-top tirrnip radishes bei ween them. After yoo h'veall planted, let the sashes remain close for a day or two, when they will begin to show they have taken to the ground. You

must ihen give all the air you possibly can— even take the sashes entirely oft in good weather. They must be coveted every night with straw mats and shutters until the first of March, or longer, according to the season.

By ihe I Oth of March they will require to be watered twice a week; leave off the sash every day you can; by ihe first of April give plenty of water—and by this means you can grow early cauliflowers as good as in any part of the world. I have groun them lour, five, and nearly six pounds. For the truth of this staiemeni, as to weight, &c. I refer you to the Tiansaciions of ihe Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, from 1833 until 1837, both years included. 1 took ihe premium so long as I cultivated the cauliflower.

An Old Philadelphia Gardener.

These remarks are intended for the latilude of Philadelphia, where the season is three weeks earlier in the fall than ours is.— Ed. S. Planter.

PAYMENTS TO THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. From 2G/A Au°vs' lo 26th September, 1853.

William Irby to July 1854^ T. B. Dyson to July 1854 | D. M Justiss to Julv 1854 [> $'4 16

J. R. Jones to July 1854 | J. C. Hardv to July 1854 J

J. S. Payne lo January 1855 2 00

Rdward M. Tomkies to January 1854 2 00

Major William Hill to October 1853 1 00

James Wysong to July 1853 1 00

Dr. R. C. Randolph to July 1854 1 00

William A. Reese to September 1854 1 00

John W. Scott to Julv 1854 1 00

Ch-rles A. Scott to July 1854 2 00

Joseph C. Haley to January 1854 1 00

Daniel P. Lewis to July 1853 2 00

M. H. Harris to January 1854 1 00

William Rennolds to September 1853 1 00

William Long to January 1854 1 00

George Still man to Sep'smher 1854 1 00

William Morton lo May 1854 1.00

Roberi P Fickle to September 1851 1 00

John R. Edmonds to July 1854 2 00 Wm. A.Tnrner(forrection)to Jan. 1854 1 00

Dr. W. .1. Harris to January 1854 1 00

Dr. A. H Perkins to October 1853 1 00

C. W. Dabnev lo July 1854 3 00

William J Moore lo January 1854 2 00

John Prait to March 1854 1 00

J. L. Dean lo January 1854 1 00

Rev. George Adie to July 1854 100

J. M. Prav to July 1854 1 00

Jc.hn W. Waikins to January 1854 2 00

John H. Waikins to January 1854 2 00

Joseph S. Thompson to January 1854 G 00

J. A. Dalhy lo January 1854 1 00

B H. Btightwell to April 1854 1 00

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER

Corbin Warwick to July 1854 SI 00

John H. Eustace & Son to Sept. 1854

Estate of D. D. Ross to October 1S54

Estate of T. Barrett lo January 1854

George VV. Carroll lo January 1855

James H. Jameson to June 1854

H. M. Dickinson to July 1852

Thomas Scott to January 1853

William M'Ooy to July 1854

William Martin to January 1855

James H. Lewis to January 1854

M. L. Anderson to July 1854

William K. Moss lo July 1854

J. W. Shiflett to January 1855

Dr. S. P. Hirgrove to July 1853

Georee M. Terrill to September 1853

John'White to July 1854

George VV. Coleman lo July 1854

N. VV. Elsom to July 1854

H. Z. Shackelford to April 1854

James E Chapman to July 1854

D. C. Carver to January J854 Thomas Garland lo July 1853

E. T. Douglas to September 1853 Jeremiah A. Earley to September 1854 John M. Harvey to September 1854 John C. Laird to June 1S54 T. L. Ringzold to July 1854 Albert G. Green to April 1854 Dr. Robett Harrison to January 1854 William C. Graves to July 1854 Charles T. Graves lo September 1854 Walter D. Leake to July 1854 Rev. Samuel D. Steuan to June 1854 1 00 George VV. Turner to September 1854 1 00 Creed Taylor to July 1854 1 00 Wm. B Hobson lo July 1854 1 00 Wm. S Wallis to June" 1854 100 Charles P Moncure to January 1854 2 00 Wm. E. Gaskins to July 1854 1 Wm. H Hatchetllo January 1854 6 Wm.E B. Rnffin to January 1855 2 Hugh H. Fallen to January 1854 2 Mrs. Susan J. Jones to April 1854 1 Alex S. Matthews to July 1854 3 Henry Thompson to July 1854 1 Howson A. Clarke to April 1854 1 Wm J. Robertson to September 1853 1 Ch. I. Cabaniss to September 1855 2 John M'D Alexander to April 1854 1 Wm H. Hite to September 1854 1 W. B. Taylor to January 1854 \ 5 Thomas Jones to January 1854 3 James M. Brown to October 1853 2 Samuel H. Hairston to January 1854 1 A. T. Gordon lo September 1853 2 George VV. Kyle to January 1854 1 E. G. Leigh to January 1*54 5 Carter H. Page to July 1854 1 Thonas H. Drew lo January 1853 1 Dr G. P. Holeman lo January 1855 3 00 Wm A. Wright to Decemher 1853 3 00 Philip Thomas to September 1854 1 00 J F. Edmunds lo March 1854 2 00 S. D. B >ok»r to January 1855 5 01) Cephas Hardie to Jul v 1854 5 00 G. Redman to July 1854 2 00

00 00 (it) 00

on

00 00 00 00 00 00 01) 00 00 00 00 (10 00 00 00 00 0(1 (10 00 00 00 1 CO 1 00 1 00 1 00

1 00

2 00

F. F. Jones to January 1853 $2 00

Alexander Dudley to October 1853 1 00

F. T. West to January 1854 1 00

Col. John F. Finch to September 1854 1 00

Thomas C. Reeks to September 1854 1 00

Dr. W. E. Dodson to September 1854 1 00

M. G. Almand to September 1854 1 00

George S. Penn to September 1854 1 00

John J. Daniel lo September 1854 1 00

James Williamson to September 1854 1 00

Joseph Snead to September 1854 1 00

Charles B. Bomar to September 1854 1 00

Thomas B. Wall to September 1854 1 00

Jesse Adkisson to September 1854 1 00

Thomas L. Jones to September 1854 1 00

Thomas J. Lockett to September 1854 1 00

James Whitice to September 1854 1 00

Alfred Boyd to September 1854 1 00

Wm. H. Blanch to September 1854 1 00

D. N. Carter to September 1854 1 00

S. C. Lockett to September 1851 1 00

James H. Pattillo to September 1854 1 00

Joseph W. Butler to September 1854 1 00

Wm. Roffe to September 1854 1 00

James Hays, Sr. to September 1854 1 00

Robert H. Mason to September 1854 1 00

Peter Puryear to September 1854 1 00

John M. Hays to September 1854 1 00

'James Bowers to September 1854 1 00

Edward H. Toone to September 1854 1 00

Dr. Tingnal Jones to January 1855 2 00

John Duager to September 1854 1 00

B. W Davis to September 1854 1 00

J. S. Moss to September 1854 1 00

Adam O. Daves to September 1854 1 00

A. W. Hanserd to Septemher 1854 1 00

Wm. H. Simmons to September 1854 1 00 Col. W. Baskerville to September 1854 1 00

Wm. J. Smith to September 1854 1 00

Reps A. Barnes to September 1854 1 00

Dr. David G. Smith to September 1855 2 00

John Taylor to Septemher 1854 1 00

P. Bracy to September 1854 1 CO

Thos. H. Castleton to Sepiember 1854 1 00

A. Thweatt to September 1854 1 00

R. L. Cheely to September 1854 1 00

W. M. Gill to September 1854 1 00

Herbert Whitmore to January 1854 0 00

STRPHEK H. FISHFR, MANUFACTURER OF BOOTS AND SHOES, No. 228, Broad Street, notih side, between 3d and 4th streets, Richmond, Virginia, keeps constantly on hand a full assortment of ready made Boots and Shoes of his own manufao-TutiE, for Ladies' and Children's wear, which he wilt sell as low as can be purchased in this city.

Boots and Shoes for Gentlemen and Boys on hand, or made to order-flt short notice.

Servants' Shoes of all qualities constantly on hand.

SQrAll work warranted.43

idfiFarmers are invited lo give him a call.

og— ly

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

317

A MOST DESIRABLE FARM FOR SALE.

QCQ ACRES of land, 16 miles from ^t)0 Richmond, 70 acres beirg "James river low grounds" and the residue the best quality of up-land on a clay bottom, separated from the 70 acres by the "James River and Kanawha Canal," which passes through the farm, and over which there is"a bridge, to be supported in perpetuity at the expense of the Canal Company. The buildings on the farm are comfortable and beautifully located, commanding the most picturesque view of James river. This farm offers peculiar advantages from the facility of communication with Richmond—one of the best markets in the country—the proverbial fertility of "James river lands," and the fact that such a farm is rarely offered for sale. It will be sold unusually low, if application be made soon, and on accommodating terms, with the growing crop of com, about 5 acres of Irish potatoes, catile, horses, mules and farming implements, including a new " Hussey's Reaper," &c. &c.&c.

Apply, pre-paid, to

GODDIN & APPERSON,

Richmond, Va. Or to P.D.BERNARD,

Publisher Southern Planter.

Baltimore Sun, Philadelphia Ledger and National Intelligencer insert three times each and send accounts to this office for settlement.

October 1, 1853—3t

SUPERIOR FOWLS.

I WILL offer for sale at the Virginia State Agricultural Fair a large number of the Cochin China, Shanghais, Bramah Pootraand other most desirable breeds of fowls.

LEWIS BAILEY. ' Fairfax, Oct. 1, 1853- 2t

A MORRIS, 97 Main Street, is constantly • supplied with all New and Standard Agricultural Works. ''The subscriber respectfully invites the attention oi the public, especially those visiting the Agricultural Fair, to his extensive assortment of Books on Aericulr.ure,iamong which may he found

The Chemical Field Lectures for Agriculturists, by Dr. J. A. Stockhardt; translated from the German: edited with notes by James E Te«ehema2her.

The Field Book of Manures, or the American Muck Book, treating of the na'ure, properties, &c of all the principal manures in common use, by DJ. Brawn.

The American Farm Book, or Compend of American Agriculture, being a practical treatise on soils, ma mi res. drain ins, &c.and every staple product of the United States, with the best methods of planting, cultivating and preparation for market, by R. L. Allen.

Elements of Agricultural Chemistry and Geology, by James F. W. Johnston, M. A.

The Monthly Jttirnal of Agriculture, containing the best current productions in promo-

tion of agricultural improvement, including the choicest prize essays issued in .Europe and America, with original contributionsfrotn eminent farmers and statesmen, 3 vols. 8vo. John S. Skinner, Editor.

The Principles of Agriculture, by Albert D. Thaer.

The Farmer's arid Planter's Encyclopeedia of Rural Affairs, embracing all the most recent discoveries in agricultural chemistry, adapted to the comprehension of unscientific readers, by C. W. Johnson, Esq.

European Agriculture and Rural Economy, from persona] observations,by HenryColman.

Chemistry in its Application to Agriculture and Physiology, by Justus Liebig, M. D.

The Book cf the Farm, detailing the labors of the farmer, ploughman, field worker, &c. by Henry Stephens.

Elements of Scientific Agriculture, or the Connection Betwetn Science and the Art of Practical Farming, by John P. Norton, M. A. • An Essay on Calcareous Manures, by Ed. Ruffin: 5th ediiion, amended and enlarged.

The Farmer's Barn-Book,by Claier, Youatt, Skinner and Mills.

Together with many other valuable works on farming, the treatment and management of cattle, &c.

A. MORRIS, Bookseller, Stationer and Dealer in

oc—3t Piano Fortes, 97 Main Street.

AGRICULTURAL, WAREHOUSE.

THE subscriber continues lo manufacture Agricultural Machines, viz. Horse Powers, Threshers, Fan Mills, Hunt's Patent Wheat Drill, Hay Rakes, Hay Presses. Siraw Cutlers, Corn Shellers, Hillside and Subsoil Ploughs, Corn and Cob Crushers, Cultivators, Harrows, &c, all of which will be made in the -best manner and of the most approved patterns. My Horse Powerand Thresher with self-oiling box have been tested three seasons, and uniformly pronounced the best in use. Machines rep-rued, Castings in iron and brass furnished at short notice.

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

JEASY SHAVING.

THE subscriber, a mechanic by profession, incapable by loss of health of pursuing his former laborious avocation, now devotes himself exclusively to the business of Setting Razors, Surgical Instruments, Tailors'shears, Merchants' and Ladies' Scissors. For this delicate art he possesses a peculiar facility in having much experience and a very superior and well tested hone. Razors and other instruments prepared on this hone, and used according to the directions given by him, when of real good metal, will retain their edge lor a long time. oc-lt MICAJAII S. MEADOR.

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER,

No. 1 SUPER-PHOSPHATE OP LIME. rilHIS valuable fertilizer has been used for

I several years ia England and other parts of Europe, and next to Guano, holds the highest rank in popularity, and the extent to which it is used among farmers. Its introduction in this couniry has been more recent; but the progress it has made in the estimation of the public has not been less marked or successful than abroad. It is now extensively used throughout the Northern States, after a full trial and investigation of its merits; and it is rapidly becoming, like its predecessor, guano, a favorite manure at the South and West.

It is composed of crushed or ground bones, decomposed by the addition of about one-fifth their weight of sulphuric acid, diluted with water, to which is added a due proportion of guano and sulphate of ammonia. The latter is the active and one of the most efficient agents in the best Peruvian guano.

It is suited to any soil in which there is not already a full supply of the phosphates, which is seldom the case. All crops are benefited by its application.

Forsale in largeorsmall quantities,in bags of 150 pounds each. No charge for packages. All bags will be branded "C. B. De Burg, No. 1 Super-Phosphate of Lime."

For sale at R. L. ALLEN'S Agricultural Warehouse and Seed Store, 189 and 191, Water street, New York. se—4t.

ANALYSIS OF SOILS, &c.

THE undersigned is prepared to execute the analyses of Soils, Guano, Marls, Plaster, &c. &c. at t,he Laboratory of the Virginia Military Institute. Packages may be forwarded through Webb, Bacon & Co. Richmond, or Echols & Pryor, Lynchburg.

Persons desiring further information will please address

WILLIAM GILHAM, Prof Chem. and Agriculture, V. M. I. Feb 1,1852. Lexington, Va.

CHOICE POULTRY.

THE subscriber offers for sale the following varieties of pure blooded Foiels, viz. Cochin China or Canton Fowls; Blac^k, Whitk, Bufp and Brown Shanghais; Chittagjngs or Gray Shanghais.

The above are the largest and best variety of fowls bred in this country, and are from stock originally imported by the subscriber. Gentlemen, Poultry-keepers and others, desirous of procuring choice Poultry may depend upon the above siock being purely bred and warranted true to their name. Address CHARLES SAMPSON, West Roxbury, Mass. The different varieties of these beartiful fowls may be seen at my residence on First Street, between M;iin and Gary Streets.

W A. BU TTERS. 139 Main Street. Richmond, Nov. 1, 1852— ly

FOR SALE.—A fine farm near Mnrysville, Buckingham county, Virginia; well timbered, has good drinking water, fine grass, and is a desirable location for health and comfort. Farms in Talbot county, Eastern Shore of Maryland, on the salt water, in healthy sections. Also, in Baltimore county, within 12 miles of the city.

Cotswold Rams, Ewes, Ram and Ewe Lambs from the best flock's in the United States. Also, Southdown Ram Lambs from fine flocks.

Shanghai Fowls from different importations, and as grown by Professor James M'Clintock, for which, I am the only Maryland agent.

Moor's Patent Premium Wheat Drills, on moie'accommodating terms, with the improvements.

Letters of inquiry and orders, post paid, will receive prompt attention.

MARTIN GOLDSBOROUGH, Asent, Harrisonvitte, Baltimore Co., Maryland. "july-tf

AGENCY FOR THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF IMPROVED STOCK.

STOCK Cattle of &11 the different breeds, Sheep, Swine, Poultry, &c. will be purchased to order, and carefully shipped to any partof the United Slates, for which a reasonable commission will he charged. Apply to AARON CLEMENT, Philadelphia. Refer to Gen. W.H.Richardson, Richmond, Virginia.

N. B.—Allletters,post-paid, will beprompt-ly attended to. ap—tf

SAUSAGE, OR PIE MEAT CUTTERS.

LUDLAM'S celebrated pattern, improved by the undersigned.

This Sausage Cutter received a Gold Medal at the Maryland State Fair of 1853, also, at the Mechanic's Institute, as being the very best article on exhibition. It possessps a number of advantages which are not to be found in any other machine, viz: the krrives can be taken out and cleaned. The whole article is of iron, very compact and durable, and warranted to cut four limes the amount of any other machine in the market, and 33j- per cent, cheaper. Price S5 50. A liberal deduction to the trade. None genuine as the. premium and improved article without our label.

Also, ourimproved Sausage Filler or Stuffer. All of the above articles can be forwarded by express at a very small Expense.

F. B. DIDIER & BRO. No. 97, N. Paca, near Franklin St., Baltimore.

oct—2t.

CHESTER PIGS.

THREE Pair Genuine Chester Pigs, four months old, raised from the stock of Mr. Dobbin of Maryland, for sale by

THOMAS BRANCH, Oct. 1,1853— 2t Petersburg.

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

319

AN ESSAY ON CALCAREOUS MANURES,

BY EDMUND RUFFIN, a practical Farmer of Virginia froin 1812; founder and sole editor of the Farmers'Register; Member and Secretary of the former State Board of Agriculture; formerly Agricultural Surveyor of\he State of South Carolina, and President of the Virginia State Agricultural Society; fifth edition, amended and enlarged.

Published by J. W. Randolph, 121, Main street, Richmond, Virginia, and for sale by him and all other Booksellers; fine edition, 8vo. printed on good paper, and strongly bound, library style S2; cheap edition, 12mo. 31 25— copies sent by mail, post paid, to those who remit the price.

A large proportion of this publication consists of new matter not embraced in the preceding edition. The new additions or amendments serve to present all the new and important lights on ihe general subject of the work, derived from the author's later observation of facts,personal experience and reasoning founded on these premises. By such new additions the present edition is increased more than one-third in size, notwithstanding the exclusion of much of the least important matter of the preceding edition, and of all portions before included, that were not deemed essential to the argument and necessary to the utility of the work.

"This work is from a Virginia gentleman, whose contributions to agricultural science have already given an extensive popularity. Mr. Rnffin is a practical farmer, of great intelligence, and is eminently competent to im- i part information on the subject, which has for so many years engaged his attention."— Methodist Quarterly Review.

The Southern Planter, in speaking about the cultivation of Irish potatoes and liming, says: l

"But for the details of that business, we I would refer our correspondent to a book, which if he hasnotnow, we beg for his own credit that he will get as soon as he goes to Richmond. We i mean the final edition of the Essay on Calcareous Manures."

"The farmers of Virginia have just reason to thank both the author and publisher for this enlarged and improved edition of a most valuable book."— Hern. Willovghby Newton, je—tf

SCHOOL, FOR SMALL. BOYS.

HAVING employed a competent teacher to educate my children, I wish to get five or sfx boys, not more than twelve years old, as boarders. The whole nnmber of pupils will not be allowed to exceed twelve or fourteen. The teacher is a good classical and mathematical scholar and a gentleman in whose capacity, fidelity and high character I have entire confidence. The school will commence the first of October and terminate the middle of August, with a short recess at Christmas. Terms— ?;130 per annum for every thing.

FRANK: G. RUFFIN, July, 1853. Shadwell, Albemarle.

NEW PLASTER AND BONE MILL. ri"\HE subscriber offers for sale fine Ground _L and Calcined Plaster, both of the best and purest quality; he has also a Bone Mill attached, and intends to keep a supply of Ground Bones, fine and pure. Farmers and 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 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: Sodae, - - 20 pounds No. 9. Sulph: Magnesia, - 10 pounds

" 10. Common Salt, - - 10 pounds

* If peat cannot be obtained, use garden mould, or clean virgin 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 calcmed plaster,) wh^ch will absorb the liquid and bring the whole to a dry slate. Mix under cover in a dry place—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 subscribers have made arrangements to furnish any quantity during this season, and will sell the ingredients exclusive of the Peat, Wood Ashes, Plaster and Salt, (articles on every farm,) at the low price of 3510 per ton. One 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.

Chemists and Druggists, corner above the American Hotel, Richmond, Va. oc—tf

FOR SAL.E OR TRADE.

A FINE FARM, containing over 500 acres, lying in Hanover County, Virginia, and one for sale in Buckingham County, containing over 800 acres; also a number of the finest Cotswold Sheep, and the best lot of improved fowls in the United Slates. Address (post paid)

MARTIN GOLDSBOROUGH, Agent. Harrisonville, Baltimore Co., Md. au—tf