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THE SOUTHERN PLANTER; 

Detootefc to eurtculture, ffiortfcultttre, anlr the JUouseliol* girts. 



Agric 


ulture is the nursing" 


mother of the Arts. 1 T 
Xcnoj)hon. \ 


illagc and Pasturage are the two breasts of the State. 

Sully. 


C. T. 


BOTTSj 


Editor. 




Opposite Merchants' Coflee House, 


Main Street. 


Vol. 


I. 




RICHMOND, 


MAY, 1841. 


No. 4. 



TOBACCO. 

[Continued from page 34.] 
TRANSPLANTING AND CULTIVATION. 

I now come to the transplanting of the plant. 
Having kept the land in which they are to be 
transplanted clear of too much grass and weeds, 
it is now to be got ready for making the hills. 
The ground should be ploughed over, and if it 
should be soddy or lumpy, a heavy tooth harrow 
should be run over it. It is now ready to be 
laid off, which is done by running furrows from 
two and a half or three feet apart one way, and 
then turning and running furrows the same dis- 
tance apart directly across the others, at what 
may be termed right angles ; these furrows should 
be very shallow. Deep furrows make the hills 
too high, and when they come to be worked 
away, the plants are left standing as if they were 
on pinnacles. When making the hills, the top 
should be rounded off, so that the pat of the hoe 
will be no lower than any other part of the hill. 
This, though seemingly of little consequence, is 
more so than it appears to be at first sight. In 
times of heavy rains it prevents the water and 
sand from settling about the plant. Very often 
when plants have only been planted a day or 
two, there are heavy rains. If the hills are not 
made so that the water can run off immediately, 
the plants get covered up by dirt washing over 
them. 

When drawing the plants from the bed, they 
should be drawn with as much of their roots as 
possible. A common table fork, by being run 
under their roots, enables a person to draw the 
plants with all the fine fibres to their main root. 
This mode should not be resorted to until the 
beds have been drawn several times, as the fork 
is apt to loosen the earth about the roots of the 
plants left in them, and consequently injures 
them ; but towards the latter part of the plant- 
ing time, when they will not be much longer 
wanted, the drawing with a fork will cause the 
late planting to grow off immediately. For 
plants drawn in this way, will, by leaving all 
their fine roots, commence growing much quicker 
after they are transplanted, than plants will 
which have been drawn by hand. Plants that 
are used to re-plant with should be drawn in this 
manner. 

When the plant-beds are within a short dis- 
tance of the tobacco land, the plants should be 
Vol. 1-6 



carried to it in baskets or tubs that will not hold 
more than a bushel; for by carrying them in 
large baskets they become bruised. The most 
convenient way is to haul them in a cart ; but 
this way bruises them. The best way to ma- 
nage when the beds are not too far off, is to set 
the most careful hands on the plantation in the 
beds drawing plants, while the smaller and less 
useful hands should cany the plants to those 
who are planting them. 

When setting the plants in the hills, care 
should be taken not to put more of the plant in 
the ground than the root ; that is, the plant 
should be set as near as can be as it was in the 
bed. By putting the plants too deep in the hills, 
ihey frequently stand some time and then rot off 
at the root ; if they should not rot off, they will 
not grow for some time. 

After the plants that have been transplanted 
have commenced growing, or in the language 
of planters, taken hold of the hill, weeding time 
commences. It is well not to weed tobacco too 
soon after it is planted ; for if most of the grass 
seed do not get up before the hill is taken away, 
they will come up after the tobacco is wed out, 
and it will have to be wed again. But on the 
other hand too much grass ought not to be suf- 
fered to grow about the tobacco hills. For filth 
is thought to be the means of producing what 
is called the web-worm, which is sometimes very 
destructive to crops. Many planters are of the 
opinion that weeding away the hills in a short 
time after the plants are planted, will prevent 
the web-worm from getting in the crop. I have 
known some to have all the grass carried out of 
their tobacco ground (when their crop had be- 
come grassy) under the impression that that 
would prevent the web -worm. This is a very 
good way ; for grass left in tobacco lands, even 
if it is no cause of web-worm, prevents the to- 
bacco from growing kindly. When tobacco is 
being wed, too much of the hill should not be 
taken away, as it leaves the plant standing on 
a small spire of earth, and in dry weather ex- 
poses the root too much to the sun. Some 
planters always weed their tobacco plants with- 
out running a plough or cultivator in the space 
between the hills, because the plough and horse 
sometimes knock out of the hills some of the 
plants. This is a very laborious way, and a 
great deal of labor is lost. I have always found 
the most labor-saving way to be, to weed, when 



58 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



the tobacco ground is not very grassy, around 
the plant only, and afterwards plough the land 
by running two furrows between the plants each 
way. While the plants are young, if the ground 
does not get too grassy, I do not plough until 
the tobacco makes some growth. If the land 
should become grassy soon after the tobacco 
is planted, the ground should be ploughed by 
running two furrows in each row, and should be 
wed afterwards across the way it was ploughed. 

After tobacco has been wed out some time, it 
is very often necessary to go over it again with 
the hoes, and take from around the plants grass 
that was left by oversight. This should be done 
without taking away any earth from the plants. 
Two plough ings are enough for tobacco after it 
is planted. A cultivator should be used after- 
wards. When tobacco begins to cover the 
ground in which it is planted pretty well, it 
should be laid by ; then it should be gone over 
again with the hoe and a hill put to it. Hilling 
tobacco is not absolutely necessary ; for I have 
seen fine crops that were not hilled. The most 
advantage of hilling is, it keeps the tobacco from 
blowing down in storms. 

There are two kinds of worms which have 
not been mentioned in this essay; either of which 
are at times troublesome to tobacco growers — 
the common ground-worm and the tobacco or 
horn-worm. The ground-worm is troublesome 
to early planted tobacco. I know of no way to 
get rid of this kind of worm only the old one, 
and that is to hunt around the plants and kill 
them. 

This worm never cuts much after the 10th 
day of June ; about this time they appear to 
have had their day and disappear. The horn- 
worm is troublesome from the time of planting 
a crop of tobacco until it is housed. A large 
gang of turkeys manage this worm pretty well 
When the turkeys cannot manage these worms, 
they must be pulled off the tobacco and killed. 

I will suppose the crop laid by, and that the 
next stage has arrived — that is the topping of it 
There are two opinions about which is the best 
time to top. One opinion is, that the tobacco 
will cure a better color if the plants are per 
mitted to get out in full blossom before they are 
topped. The other opinion is, that tobacco should 
be topped as soon as it shows an inclination to 
flower, or in the language of planters, as soon as 
it buttons. I think it should be always topped 
as soon it shows a button, for the growth of the 
top takes from the plant of tobacco so much 
that would have gone to it had it been topped 
early. The same remark applies to suckers 
that grow between the leaf and stalk. They 
should be taken out early ; that is, they should 
not be permitted to grow large, for they take 
away much from the leaf which at this time is 
making its principal growth, 



OVERSEERS' WAGES. 
The following - is only one of the many injudicious 
customs that continue to prevail in Virginia, notwith- 
standing that the circumstances, which gave rise to 
and justified them, may long since have ceased to ex- 
ist. It is well reproved by our correspondent: 

For the Southern Planter. 

Amelia, March 23, 1841. 
Among the many causes which have operated 
greatly to the injury of the farming interest in 
Virginia, and aided, in no small degree, to ex- 
haust our lands, may be mentioned the practice 
of giving overseers an interest in the crop, in- 
stead of stipulated wages. It originated, no 
doubt, under circumstances, which have long 
since ceased to exist in this part of Virginia ; at 
a time, when our country abounded in lofty fo- 
rests, and when it was the interest of the owner 
to get as much land cleared as practicable, and 
to make as much as possible from his land and 
laborers — an interest in the crop was conse- 
quently a great stimulus to the overseer — a 
strong inducement to increase the proceeds of 
the farm, regardless of the injury the land and 
hands were sustaining. Having few or no galls 
or gullies to reclaim ; manure of little or no va- 
lue, not worth the time or trouble of hauling out 
on the fields ; all their efforts were directed to 
the immediate profit of the farm. But a great 
change has come over our State since that, time, 
and } 7 et we find many persons still keeping up 
the ruinous practice of giving their overseers a 
part of their crop, who, if disposed to do some- 
thing more than merely obtain a home, for them- 
selves and families, will so exhaust the land as 
to make it necessary for them to look out for a 
new place in two or three years, to carry on their 
land-killing system. Perhaps, in a future com- 
munication, I may undertake to show the great 
injury which result to both the employer and 
overseer from the above practice, in this our day, 
by driving many to the south and west, who 
otherwise might have been in a prosperous con- 
dition in our beloved Virginia; which might have 
been the garden spot of North America. 

T. J. P. 



Editor of the Southern Planter: 

Dear Sir, — In theMedico-Chirurgical Review 
for January, 1S41, I find the following interest- 
ing remarks on Broken Wind in horses. They 
occur in a paper read by Dr. Budd on emphyse- 
ma or rupture of the air cells of the lungs, which 
he shows, from twenty dissections, to be the cause 
of Broken Wind in horses : " Mr. Jackson found, 
that of twenty-eight persons affected with this 
rupture, eighteen were the offspring of parents 
(father or mother) affected with the same dis- 
ease, and that several of these had died in its 
course. In some instances, the brothers and sis- 
ters of these persons were also similarly affected. 
On the other hand, of fifty persons unaffected 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



59 



with the disease, three only were the offspring 
of parents who had suffered from it ; whence, it 
follows, that rupture of the air cells of the lungs 
is very frequently an hereditary disease. A fact 
important to man and horse, at all events to the 
breeder of the latter. Majendie attributes the 
difficulty of breathing to want of elasticity in 
the lungs." At all events there is sufficient evi- 
dence of the disease being heriditary to put 
breeders on their guard, a fact, I believe, not ge- 
nerally known to the community. 

Respectfully, M. D. 



For the Southern Planter. 

THE INFLUENCE OF CULTIVATION ON 

VEGETABLES. 

NO. hi. 

It is a universal law in both the animal and 
vegetable kingdoms, that individuals should re- 
semble more or less those from which they come, 
and it might, perhaps, happen in the vegetable 
kingdom that the product of an individual would 
be exactly similar to the parent plant, if all the 
exterior circumstances of soil, of climate, of ex- 
posure, of position, &c. were the same for the 
product that the)'- had been for the parent plant ; 
but this is far from being the case ; indeed, we 
find that on the same plant the buds are far 
from being identical, for there are some better 
placed for development, better nourished, and 
more exposed to the influence of light and heat 
than others ; so that in these things we see a 
source of difference among the products of the 
same plant; we know, too, that the largest 
tubers among the product of a potato vine will 
produce, under the same circumstances, a larger 
variety of potatoes than the smallest ones ; we 
likewise know that cultivators prefer some shoots 
to others for grafts and slips, in consequence of 
their ability to appreciate the differences resulting 
from the causes above alluded to. 

The modifications in the products of plants 
are called varieties, when they are capable of 
being transmitted by a division of the plant, 
such as grafts and sjips. The term variations 
belong to those slighter differences which result 
from external causes ; thus there are plants pro- 
ducing large leaves and few hairs in light and 
dry situations, and bear small leaves and a great 
number of hairs in a shady and wet place. The 
cause of variations is very apparent, but the ori- 
gin of varieties is more difficult to comprehend, 
unless it is admitted, as it is by the most learned, 
that these variations become more and more per- 
manent in proportion as the causes, by which 
they have been produced, have acquired perma- 
nency, by the length of time they have existed, 
and by the intensity with which they have acted, 
until they acquire the power of being transmitted 
by division, and thus become the source of va- 
rieties. 



Plants produced by seed differ more from the 
parent plant than those which are the result of 
division, as might be expected ; since grafts and 
slips are an extension of the original plant, 
whilst the product of a seed is the development 
of a new being. Thus a great part of our fruit 
trees, yielding the most delightful fruit, are the 
offspring of seed trees producing indifferent fruit, 
and it is by division only that we perpetuate the 
fine varieties of fruit. From seed, however, we 
procure new and valuable varieties of plants by 
means of cross-fecundation, that is to say, by fe- 
cundating one plant with the pollen of another, 
from whose seed an intermediate race of plants 
is produced. 

From what has been said it can be easily un- 
derstood, that our ability to effect changes in 
plants depends upon the number of means by 
which they can be propagated — thus a dahlia 
can be propagated by seed, by division, and by 
tubers ; the apple by seed and by division ; and 
wheat by seed : and just in this proportion we 
have been enabled to effect and perpetuate va- 
rieties in these plants. 

In my next communication I propose to give 
some account of double flowers, when I shall 
have executed, in an humble way, all that was 
promised in the first paper of 

A Naturalist. 



BACON. 

Every body in Virginia knows how to make good 
bacon, and if any of our northern friends will cross the 
Potomac, we will satisfy them that the art is confined 
to the South. But that they might, in the meantime, 
be enabled to know something- of Virginia ham, of 
which they hear so much and see so little, we applied 
to a friend in Hanover, upon whom we could rely, for 
his mode of making and curing bacon. The following 
is the result of the application. As we expected, the 
directions are simple, clear, and concise, and we be- 
lieve certain of producing good bacon. 

If any of our whole hog friends have any amend- 
ments to make, we shall be pleased to hear from them 
upon this important subject. 
To the Editor of the Southern Planter! 

Dear Sir, — Feeling anxious for the success 
of your paper, which I think promises to be 
eminently useful to Virginia farmers, and deem- 
ing it incumbent on me, as a recipient of the 
benefit it confers, to aid in filling its pages, I 
will give you my mode of curing bacon. As 
bacon cannot be made good, unless the pork is 
good, I will give some directions for making 
pork. In the first place, your hogs should not 
be of a breed that carries too much fat, for in 
that case, the meat will be too gross and oily to 
make good bacon, (avoid the Chinese and No- 
bone.) Let the hogs when killed be about 
twelve or eighteen months old, and well fat- 
tened, principally on corn or meal, and weigh 
from one hundred to one hundred and seventy- 
five pounds. When you have killed your hogs 



60 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



and had them nicely butchered, hang them up 
and let them drip until the next day — they will 
then be cold and stiff, and may be nicely cut 
out. Put to each joint a large tea-spoonful of 
saltpetre — rub each piece well with salt on both 
sides, and pack them away in a hogshead with 
holes at the bottom to let off the brine. Let it 
remain in this state for five or six weeks — then 
take it out, brush off the salt — rub it well with 
hickory ashes and hang it up in your meat-house, 
so that one piece shall not touch another. You 
should smoke it eight or ten days successively, 
and occasionally in damp weather. Your smoke 
had best be made of small chips, (avoid pine.) 
When the shoulders are small, I usually leave 
the spareribs in them. 

I think any one who will observe the above 
directions will almost certainly have good bacon. 

D. 

Our readers must understand, that when our corre- 
spondent limits the weight of the hog to one hundred 
or one hundred and seventy-five pounds, he is speaking 
of what is provincially termed family bacon, that is, 
a ham, which the good Virginia housewife will permit 
to head her table. He does not speak of such as being 
most economical, or intended for the use of laborers. 



For the Southern Planter. 

Mr. Editor, — It is with no small degree of 
pleasure I inform you of the application of horse 
power to collecting and heaping woods manure 
composed of leaves and the skimmings of earthy 
particles and mould deposited on the surface of 
the land in the woods. A horse rake is made 
by boring eight two inch holes through a locust 
or gum log and putting teeth made of seasoned 
locust, drawn to a true point, and driven through 
from the top of the log. The teeth should be 
two feet long and the log should be eight inches 
in diameter if locust, or ten inches if gum, and 
three and a half feet long ; the shafts should be 
just long enough to balance the rake, which 
falls back very much, from the great lean the 
teeth are obliged to have, to collect the trash 
readily. 

A correspondent in the Farmers' Register, of 
last year, thinks, to rake and haul six loads, a 
good day's work for a hand, or twelve loads for 
two hands and one cart. With this rake, I 
raked myself fifteen large cart loads in an hour, 
and above one hundred loads a day can be col- 
lected. I set a higher value on this rake than 
I do the labor of a hand, for a year ; for without 
it, I found it very troublesome work to collect 
and haul three loads a week, in good weather, 
and taking wet times after rains I calculated on 
two hundred and fifty loads a year ; but now, I 
am obtaining at the rate of one thousand five 
hundred loads, and lose only such time as I can 
spare from the crops. 

The portions of earth raked with the leaves, 
keeps them very compact, and makes the whole 



rot much sooner than when gathered by a hand 
rake. Hoping that those in the vicinity of pine 
woods will avail themselves of this Planter's 
Aid, I am respectfully, 

Yours, J. H. D. Lownes. 



COUCHING. 

From a highly valued medical friend we have re- 
ceived the following: 

U A fine mare of five or six years old, in the 
possession of Mr. Perkins, of Fredericksburg, 
became blind from cataract in both eyes. Hav- 
ing confined her in a close pen, with a twitch 
on her nose, I stood upon a high bench and per- 
formed the operation of couching, as it is called, 
and succeeded completely in removing the cata- 
ract. About a fortnight afterwards, from being 
stone blind, the animal could see a corncob at 
the distance of two or three yards. She was 
too restive to allow me to remove the disease 
from the other eye. I attempted, after throwing 
her, but without success. There are many 
horses about the country which might be ren- 
dered much more valuable by this operation, 
and, no doubt, any physician would be willing 
to attempt it for the sake of keeping his hand 
in practice. 

" In inflammation of the eye, after free bleed- 
ing from the neck and purging, it is an excellent 
practice, to take about half a pint, or a pint, 
every day or two from the vein of the face which 
passes down from the corner of the eye next the 
nose. This vein carries off the blood from every 
part of the ball of the eye, and the surrounding 
parts. A fine mare tore the front of the eye 
against a nail, causing severe inflammation, 
which threatened to destroy the eye and cause 
it to sink in the socket. This disaster was com- 
pletely prevented by the treatment recommended 
above. If the inflammation proves obstinate, a 
rowel in the back of the neck will relieve it 
when nothing else will." 



BREEDING. 

An idea prevails amongst breeders that the 
first offspring is of little value, consequently, 
where the services of the sire are held at a high 
price, it is not uncommon to breed a valuable 
female, the first time, to an indifferent male, on 
account of the supposed economy. But the fol- 
lowing well authenticated case, amongst many 
others, should warn breeders from such a practice: 

When the Earl of Morton's Arabian mare was 
bred to the duagga, not only did the offspring 
partake of the character of the sire, but when 
the mare was subsequently bred to an Arabian, 
by whom she had three foals, at different times, 
the first two continued to exhibit some of the 
distinctive features of the Q,uagga conjoined 
with the character of the Arabian. 

Mr. Mayo mentions that a similar occurrence 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



Gl 



was observed by Mr. Giles, in a litter of pigs, 
which resembled in color a wild boar, by whom 
the sow had had a former litter. 



COB MEAL. 

Of all the classes of which society is com- 
posed, the agricultural portion of the community 
should most encourage the growth and dissemi- 
nation of periodicals devoted to their use. Other 
professions herd together, and arc brought into 
daily contact, but the avocation of the farmer 
necessarily separates him, in a great measure, 
from the other members of his profession. Me- 
chanics, who chiefly congregate in cities, learn 
from intercourse with one another any improve- 
ment that may have been made in their branch 
of business, and consequently, if such improve- 
ment be really substantial, it flies from mouth to 
mouth with the rapidity of lightning, and is 
quickly introduced into every part of the coun- 
try. But the farmer is deprived of this oppor- 
tunity of personal intercourse, which is produc- 
tive of so much good, and he can only supply 
its place by substituting the pen for the tongue, 
and eyes for ears. He, who refuses to do so, 
is about as wise as the individual, who, for a 
few dollars, would agree never to hold a conver- 
sation with mortal man upon the subject of his 
profession. 

How small a portion of our information can 
be derived from our own experience. Amongst 
the most practical, the cheapest, and by far the 
largest portion of knowledge must be derived 
from the information afforded by the experience 
of others. He is only as one of a million, all 
of whose attainments may be at his disposal. 
We ourselves have already hundreds constantly 
making experiments in agriculture for us, the 
results of which we are reporting ; and yet, we 
have met with farmers whom we in vain en- 
treated to pay us the pittance of a dollar for 288 
pages of such reports — farmers, we mean, who 
took no other agricultural paper — we entreated 
them to subscribe for some agricultural work, 
(we will act as agent for any in the Union with- 
out charging a cent of commission) and we 
have been refused on the score of what, think 
you ? — Economy. Really, they said, they could 
not afford to spend a dollar for any such purpose. 
At what rate must such a man estimate the im- 
provement derived from his own experience, if 
he considers the results of so many of his co- 
laborers not worth a dollar 1 We cannot help 
considering such economy to be "penny ivise and 
pound foolish." 

We sincerely believe that there are very few 
farmers who could make a better investment of 
a ten dollar note than to spend it judiciously in 
agricultural papers. The country is flooded 
with them; some of them edited with great 
abilit}^. Amongst such it might appear invi- 
dious in us to attempt to draw distinctions, but 



we can safely say, that there is none upon our 
exchange list that is not worth ten times the 
price of subscription. 

Into such a digression have we been uninten- 
tionally led, thai, but for the title with which wo 
happened to head this article, we should have 
forgotten what particular subject gave rise lo 
these reflections. We remember now that it was 
the fact that the value of the cob of Indian corn 
should be so little appreciated notwithstanding 
its having been so satisfactorily ascertained. 

The properties of this article have been fre- 
quently analyzed, and various results have been 
reported ; but all concur in declaring it. to be ex- 
tremely valuable. Some have considered the 
nutritious matter of the cob to be one-third of 
that contained in the grain. 

So satisfactorily has the economy of ground 
and cut food been established of late years, that 
it is now almost universally used. Every body 
knows, that the meal from the grain of the corn 
requires some separating admixture to make it 
a healthy food, and our merchant mills in this 
city sell enormous quantities of wheat bran for 
this purpose. Now, cob meal is found to be at 
least four times as nutritious as bran, and equally 
as separating, and yet, farmers throw away the 
corn cob and come to Richmond to buy bran. 

Every corn mill should be furnished with a 
crusher or cob grinder, which may be added at 
an expense of about fifty dollars ; and all the 
com that is intended for feeding cattle should be 
ground up corn and cob together. At the lowest 
estimate, corn cobs must be worth six and a 
quarter cents a bushel at any mill door, where 
a crusher has been erected. . If they can be ob- 
tained at any thing like that price, they might 
very profitably be made to enter largely into the 
feed trade. To the farmer, who would have 
them ground for his own use, they arc worth 
double or treble that sum. How long will far- 
mers continue to complain of hard times yet fail 
to avail themselves of the most obvious princi- 
ples of rural economy ? 



TOBACCO. 



The true object, in a choice of crops should 
be to select that which will afford, even by the 
highest cultivation, the greatest yield from a 
given surface. We do not mean yield in bushels, 
but product in money. A very observing and 
intelligent farmer in this neighborhood has sug- 
gested to us, that tobacco is a crop which very 
admirably fulfils these conditions. He thinks 
that it pays better for high cultivation than any 
crop he knows, and that it may be raised to 
great advantage in the neighborhood of cities 
or other places affording facilities of manure. 
His opinion is, that an acre of land, highly ma- 
nured and well cultivated in tobacco will afford 
a greater clear profit in the market than any 
root crop that can be cultivated. 



62 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



The idea is a novel one, and if our sagacious 
friend is right, may have a wonderful effect upon 
the system of cultivation in Eastern Virginia. 
We mentioned the subject to a very intelligent 
tobacco manufacturer of this city, and he thought 
very favorably of the notion. He said, that he 
had for some time been of opinion, that a change 
in the tobacco regulations in England would 
probably return the tobacco crop to the worn out 
lands of Eastern Virginia. That change and 
its supposed action he explained thus : 

The manufacturing demand in this country 
is for a light silky tobacco, which will only grow 
upon new land, and cannot be made with ma- 
nure. Formerly, in England, an excise duty 
was laid upon the tobacco, which was weighed 
after it had passed through the hands of the 
manufacturer, with a certain fixed allowance for 
additional weight, caused by the use of certain 



articles employed in the manufacture. This al- 
lowance was too small to justify the manufac- 
turer in using much of these foreign substances, 
upon the excess of which he paid tobacco duty. 
Now this duty is removed, and after the tobacco 
comes into the hands of the manufacturer, it is 
not again visited by the excise officer. The 
consequence is, that the British manufacturer 
now uses immense quantities of heavy liquids, 
as molasses, &c. for which he gets paid as to- 
bacco. Now the tobacco that will bear this kind 
of treatment is exactly the strong coarse article, 
produced upon highly manured land. Conse- 
quently, a new and very large market has been 
created for this hitherto, comparatively speaking, 
unsaleable species of tobacco. 

We design to investigate this subject further. 
One fact is certain, that the most independent 
class in our community is the tobacco growers. 



GATES 




To the Editor of the Southern Planter: 

Sir, — I have read with much interest some 
communications in your paper upon the impor- 
tant subject of farm gates. Although much 
has been written upon it, I do not think the sub- 
ject has been entirely exhausted, and hope your 
readers have not become weary of it. Some 
excellent hints may be obtained from what has 
already appeared in your columns ; but I have 
lately been using a gate, of which I send you a 
sketch and description, that I think, for economy 
and durability, far exceeds any other I know. 

The cedar pole gate looks better on paper than 
in practice. Your engraver makes his poles 
much straighter, rounder, and more even, than j 
nature, and much of the strength as well as 
beauty of the gate is dependant upon these l 
qualities. 

One of your correspondents very plausibly j 
urges the necessity of a light gate. Now, sir, j 
on the contrary, inasmuch as I derive strength ■ 



from weight, I prefer a heavy gate, provided the 
weight is properly disposed. No. 1 represents 
the frame of such a gate ; A B, the back up- 
right, is a piece of timber 6 by 4, or even larger 
if thought desirable ; A D and B F, the hori- 
zontal rails, are tapered, being 4 by 4 at the back, 
where they are united to A B, and 3 by 3 at the 
other end, where they join D F. The upright 
D F is also 3 by 3. The brace E G may be 
made of any size that is thought desirable. 
Here now, the leverage, which may be consi- 
dered as operating upon the end farthest from 
the hinges, is, in a measure, counterpoised by 
the additional weight at the other end, and, so 
far, the liability to swag is prevented. Conse- 
quently, the narrower the gate, or the greater 
the overplus of weight at the hinged end, the 
more will this liability be counteracted. Owing 
to the necessary length of this leverage in a 
wide gate, it is impossible to entirely balance it, 
without perhaps making the hind post cum- 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



G3 



brously large ; then, the strain comes upon the 
joints and upper hinge ; these are the points of 
danger, and these it behoves us particularly to 
guard. The most secure union is formed by a 
dove-tail and a wedge. I never depend upon 
nails or pins. Every body, I presume, knows 
what a dove-tail is : it may be formed either by 
morticing and tenoning, or more readily, by halv- 
ing. The key or wedge is driven underneath, 
so as to force the tenon up as tight and close into 
the mortice as possible, and if the wood should 
shrink, which it will certainly do if not tho- 
roughly seasoned, the wedge may be driven 
again. Thus, you have a joint which cannot 
rack, because it is made to fit close and bear 
evenly at all times. For additional security, a 
small nail may be tacked through the wedge 
after it is driven up; but, with this exception, 
the frame is made without the use of a nail. 
The tops of the horizontal rails are all bevilled 
slightly inwards, so that the rain water may run 
off with facility, instead of settling in and rotting 
the wood. Upon this frame light palings may 
be nailed, either perpendicularly, or horizontally, 
according to the taste or pleasure of the maker. 

No. 2 is a more expensive and showy gate, 
npon the same principle ; where the single brace 
is supplied by the transverse slats, which are 
morticed flush, into the horizontal rails. 

The first gate can be made in half a day by 
a good carpenter, or in ten hours by any man, 
who can use a saw, a chisel and a hammer, and 
if the joints are well made, the gate will last 
until the timber rots. 

I prefer for my upper hinge, upon which much 
depends, an iron ring, embracing the upper and 
rounded part of A B, terminating in a bolt to 
pass through the gate post with a screw and 
nut on the opposite side. Nothing, I believe, is 
cheaper or better for a lower hinge than the end 
of a glass-bottle already recommended, provided 
the upright is large enough to cover it and keep 
out the water, which will otherwise settle in it, 
and rot the end of the upright. I generally, 
however, use a more expensive iron toe and 
ink. 

Hoping, that, in presenting these views, I have 
been enabled to do something for the cause in 
which we are mutually embarked, I remain 
Yours, J. B. 

Of all the plans for gates that we have ever seen, we, 
hy far, prefer this now presented by our correspondent, 
who is entitled to great credit for the philosophical and 
practical investigation he has bestowed on this subject. 
As far as some mechanical united with a little agricul- 
tural knowledge will give weight to the opinion, we 
express our conviction that, with some alteration in 
the brace, which we will notice hereafter, it is the 
most perfect gate we have ever seen. Mr. B. has left 
a small model at our office, about 10 by 12, which, 
although coarsely made, will bear a man's weight on 
the extreme end without yielding in the slightest 
degree. 



HOGS. 

There seems to be a universal propensity in 
the human mind, which can only be satisfied by 
the pabulum of continual exaggeration. As 
soon as one bubble becomes too expanded to last, 
another is immediately inflated. This shifting 
and exciting passion for various objects reminds 
us of the zest with which children pursue, in 
turn, their various sports or pastimes, and the 
readiness with which they abandon an old fa- 
vorite for another which possesses the attraction 
of novelty. We have had the season for blooded 
horses, for blooded cattle, and this is the day for 
blooded Hogs. The whole country being agog 
upon the subject of this really useful, but not 
very poetical, animal, we have been at some 
little pains to gather the best information we 
could procure for the benefit of our readers. 

Three questions naturally present themselves 
in this investigation : 

1. Can our farmers raise pork cheaper than 
they can buy it ? 

2. If so, what is the best mode of raising? 
and 

3. What stock is best adapted to our circum- 
stances ? 

The first question has been long mooted in 
Virginia, and the prevalent opinion used to be, 
that the fertile lands and rich forests of Ohio 
enabled its graziers to furnish us this article 
cheaper than we could produce it. But a better 
system of farming has taught better things ; 
and now, even in Eastern Virginia, the agricul- 
turist seems satisfied of the economy of raising 
his own pork. 

Mr. Colman, who is considered perhaps the 
highest authority in New England, lately de- 
clared that, even there, where the' natural ad- 
vantages must be much less than here, he was 
satisfied, from considerable experience, that when 
corn is seventy cents a bushel and pork will 
bring in the market six dollars a hundred, it may 
be fattened at a profit. Hogs, he remarks, are 
particularly valuable to the farmer on account of 
the large amount of manure which they may be 
made to furnish. If well supplied with raw ma- 
terial, a hog may be expected to produce ten 
loads of good compost manure per year. 

Upon this first point, however, we must pre- 
sume that our readers are satisfied without fur- 
ther evidence, that we may advance to the other 
two heads, which it would be needless to discuss, 
except upon this supposition. 

On the second head, as to the mode of raising 
hogs, we presume much will depend upon situa- 
tion. There are some, however, who maintain, 
that, even with the convenience of the finest 
mast it is cheaper to raise hogs in pens, where 
the manure pays for more than the difference in 
the cost of feed ; but we are inclined to doubt 
this position, and think we have seen some situa- 
tions, where nature afforded such abundant sup- 



64 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



ply of the richest food, in the shape of mast, 
that it would have been little short of madness 
in the proprietor not to have availed himself of 
it. It may be, however, that, even in such cases, 
it would be better to collect and bring the food 
so abundantly afforded to the hog, than to ex- 
pose the animal abroad in search of it. The 
hog is an animal in his nature proverbially slug- 
gish, and it is possible, that when we minister 
to his laziness by waiting on him, he more than 
repays us for our trouble in the increase of flesh 
this indulgence of his habits may afford. 

This, however, we consider beyond a doubt, 



that to attempt the 



of hogs, out of a 



pen, except upon the richest pasture range or 
the finest mast, is to throw away pretty much 
the whole cost of the animal. Any man had 
certainly better buy his pork than attempt any 
such system. 

The answer to the third question will depend 
very much upon the solution of the second. In 
other words, the kind of hog selected should 
depend very much upon the treatment to which 
he is to be subjected. Pew hogs are not always 
field hogs. Our northern friends, we find, always 
estimate their hogs in proportion to the manner 
in which they thrive in pens. They know no- 
thing of old fields or even of forests and marshes. 
Of their different varieties, the Berkshire, we 
presume, is beyond doubt the most fashionable ; \ 
although, Mr. Colman says that a cross of the 
Berkshire with the Mackay has produced the 
finest and most thrifty race of animals that has 
ever come under his (Mr. Colman's) notice. 
Notwithstanding the popularity of this breed, 
which, for some purposes, we believe to have 
been most justly acquired, we think we could 
put a pure Berkshire in some places where he 
would find himself a very unequal match for 
his longer legged and more active brethren. 
For an active life, and to such most of the hogs 
in Virginia are consigned, we would prefer se- 
veral crosses we have seen even with our native 
hog to the pure Berkshire. Our farriers should 
remember that the origin of this and all other 
improved breeds was the careful selection of 
such individuals as by nature possessed the pro- 
perties required for the purpose for which the 
animal was designed. Now, if the Berkshire 
exactly suits our climate and other peculiarities, 
there can of course he no necessity for attempt- 
ing any improvement ; but, if our peculiar cir- 
cumstances require properties which this stock, 
excellent in some respects, does not possess, why 
shall not we, by judicious crossing, create a 
stock which shall, as near as possible, answer 
our purposes ? 

We believe this object to be desirable, and we 
believe that it can be effected. Hence, we hope 
to see gentlemen procuring not indiscriminately 
any hog that may be called a Berkshire, but se- 
lecting with care such individuals, no matter 



under what name, as may possess, in the highest 
degree, the properties they most esteem. 

We have been led into these remarks by no 
prejudice against Berkshires. On the contrary, 
we consider them a most valuable cross ; but 
we do think that they are valued too indiscri- 
minately, and that they are not always judi- 
ciously bred from. We would rather encourage 
a farther improvement of the stock, and would 
advise an eye to the form rather than the name 
of the animal. 



There is something entirely new in the following - . 
We like the originality of the idea, and in the name of 
the agricultural community, thank the Doctor for the 
application of professional principles to the sister sci- 
ence. We know of no other profession to which agri- 
culture is as much indebted for scientific and practical 
improvements as to the country practitioner of medi- 
cine. We reckon amongst our most valuable corre- 
spondents some of that class. 

We would however advise the Doctor, whilst we give 
him credit for the immediate communication of any 
observed fact, not to be too hasty in his conclusions. 
Our fruit trees generally, we believe, have been freer of 
late years from the ravages of the worm than they were 
formerly. If the cedar does no good, it certainly does 
harm; but, if subsequent experiments should confirm 
the Doctor's theory, a valuable discovery will have been 
made : 

A NEW AND SUCCESSFUL MODE OF GUARDING 

PEACH TREES FROM THE WORM. 
To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 

Fincastle, Va. 7 Feb. 27, 1841. 

Although my name is not on the list of your 
subscribers, I have had the satisfaction of read- 
ing some of the valuable articles which appear 
in your journal. Though unacquainted with 
you personally, as I feel some interest in your 
periodical, I will take the liberty of introducing 
myself, by giving a brief sketch of an experi- 
ment I have made, with success, on the peach 
tree ; and if you deem it of any importance, or 
worthy the notice of your readers, you can give 
publicity to it. 

As I consider the peach the most delicious 
fruit of our latitude, I have long since thought 
it a desideratum that it should be made inde- 
pendent of the destructive worm which kills the 
tree. I thought it practicable: and it occurred 
to me that there was in reach an antidote for the 
enemy to that luxurious growth. Having ob- 
served, in the practice of medicine, that the cedar 
berry was a powerful vermifuge, I transplanted 
cedar scions and peach scions together six years 
since, in the following manner : 1 set one of each 
in a hole, with the roots entangled and set close 
together, believing that the strong odor peculiar 
to the cedar would prove offensive and sickening 
to the worm, and thereby prevent its approach 
to the peach tree. Every circumstance seemed 
to conspire in favor of the experiment. There 
was no danger of the peach tree being choked 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



65 



by the cedar, because the former is a rapid, 
whilst the latter is of very slow growth. The 
peach scions bore the second year, and have put 
forth their leaves as black as a cloud every sea- 
son, and bore most luxuriantly every season, 
until the last, which was the sixth year. I have 
set out a number since, in the same way, which 
are all flourishing. I think a soil should be se- 
lected much mixed with sand, in order to prove 
successful. Wm. N. Anderson. 



From the tone of our agricultural papers, ge- 
nerally, one would infer that they considered a 
farmer designed for no other purpose but mo- 
ney making — they seldom treat him either as a 
man or as a Christian, but devote all their ener- 
gies to the improvement of his pocket, to the 
utter neglect of his mind and social condition. 
Of all the professions that have arisen from ci- 
vilization the farmer's has the greatest tendency 
to render its followers the most cultivated, re- 
fined and disinterested of mankind. The nature 
of their pursuits, whilst it affords them the very 
best opportunities for reading and reflection, frees 
them from the necessity of that daily system of 
bargain and intrigue to which most other classes 
are subjected, and which has such a powerful 
tendency to corrupt and degrade the nobler qua- 
lities of the human heart. 

Notwithstanding that the direct tendency of 
his occupation is to elevate the farmer's mind, 
what evidences of refinement and cultivation, 
even of comfort, will you generally find about his 
abode? Are they to be found in a decaying 
house, a straggling fence, or a neglected yard ? 

There is much more in such things than a 
utilitarian might be inclined to suppose. No 
man ever saw a business prosper where there 
was a lack of good order, neatness, and arrange- 
ment. The homestead is generally a fair speci- 
men of the farm, and where the dependant sees 
the principal indifferent to good order, it would 
be singular indeed if he was very careful in ob- 
serving it. 

Now although but little inclined in the ge- 
neral to find fault witlrthe ladies, when we have 
seen a dirty, neglected and uncomfortable resi- 
dence, betraying a great lack of soap and paint, 
a yard without a shrub or flower to glad the 
heart or refresh the eye, we have sometimes 
been unable to repress the thought, that the mis- 
tress of that dwelling was wanting, not only in 
taste, but also in some of the most essential qua- 
lities of a wife and mother. 

A man has other senses besides his appetite, 
and when he returns from a day of toil to the 
bosom of his family, he requires something more 
than a meal to appease his hunger. It is not 
less the interest, than the duty, of a wife to throw 
every charm around her husband's home. It 
should be to him the source of pleasure and re- 
pose—the recompense for his toils, and the 
Vol, 1—7 



faithful centre of his hopes when abroad amid 
the cares of the busy world. To throw around 
it this halo, and to impart this charm, the evi- 
dence of a tender and watchful spirit alone is 
necessary. Let him see his comfort provided 
for in his well ordered household, his senses gra- 
tified by the fragrance of carefully cultivated 
flowers, a general air of neatness and taste af- 
fording the most delightful contrast to the rude 
and dirty scenes into which his daily avocations 
may drag him, and our life upon it no ale-house 
can vie with such a home. A man will ever 
be found in the bosom of such a family, except 
when his business calls him forth to encounter 
the toils which the curse has entailed upon him. 
To produce this mighty effect is within the 
means of the humblest. A faithful heart and 
a ministering hand is all that is wanting to en- 
sure the certainty of domestic preference in any 
individual, who is not already lost to all that is 
good and noble. 

These remarks are not intended only for the 
wealthy and exalted. They are even more ap- 
plicable to the poor and humble. If a man has 
nothing else to cheer and comfort him, there is 
still more reason in providing for him the charms 
of Home. 

We second our views on this subject by the 
following lively and sensible extract from the 
Western Farmer : 

TO THE LADIES. 

" No more toil 

Of their sweet gardening labor than sufficed 
To recommend cool zephyr, and make ease 
More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite 
More grateful," — Milton. 

Since the editors of this work are doing so 
much to enlighten the stronger half of creation, 
as to the ways and means of securing the solids 
and durables of life, it is but fair that something 
should be said to enlist the attention of the gen- 
tler sex, in regard to the ornamental. 

Let me be understood, then, as giving you, 
one and all, an earnest request to take up the 
science of cultivation, in what pertains to orna- 
mental gardening. " Poh !" — says some house- 
wife, looking up from a portentous pile of stock- 
ings — " what's the use of fussing and quiddling 
over plants and flowers?" " Dear me !" — says 
a young lady, between sixteen and eighteen, 
engaged in the momentous pursuits incident to 
that time of life — "how is any one to find time 
to attend to such things?" "Oh !" says another, 
" I admire plants and fine shrubbery, but then 
they are so expensive ! one must pay so much 
for them, and have a man to tend them," &c. &c. 
And there are still others, we must confess, even 
among our own sex, who, should you show them 
the most peerless of flowers, in its fullest bloom, 
would tell you quite composedly, " La," that's 
only a rose, I've seen thousands of em !" To 
this last class any argument on the subject of 



66 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



such very common affairs, we suppose would 
be entirely out of place. 

But as ladies in general, and American ladies 
in particular, never do any thing, even to under- 
going the tightest lacing, and wearing the thin- 
nest shoes in the coldest winter weather, without 
having good and sufficient reasons to sustain 
them, we must of course give a few solid ones, 



the use of handsome tablecloths and bed-spreads? 

one might eat on a board, and sleep under a 

buffalo skin, and not really starve either ! 

So much for the " utile." Perhaps many of 
; our readers will remember how involuntary was 
' the judgment they have formed, in riding by 
| houses, as to the character of their inmates. 

When you see a house standing all alone, bare 



as to why the pursuit of ornamental gardening | of shrub or flower, except perhaps some volun- 



is so particularly to be recommended totnem. 

In the first place it conduces to health. A 
gentleman of nry acquaintance told me, that he 
would ride twenty miles to see one really healthy 
woman ! and the phenomenon we think would 
be rare enough to justify the effort. Now all 
our treatises on the preservation of health, in 
recommending exercise as its "sine qua non" in- 
sist also, that exercise must be taken in the 
open air, and that the mind must be engaged 
and excited equally with the body. Now what 
occupation fulfils these conditions like gardening? 
Let any one practice it awhile out of doors, on 
a beautiful spring morning, with all the delight- 
ful excitement of laying out a border, sowing 
seeds, transplanting and arranging shrubbery, 
and they will find by the quick beat of every 
pulse, and the glow of the cheek, how healthful 
is the exercise. And as a sort of supplement to 
this part of my subject, I would add, that the 
pursuit of gardening leads directly to early rising, 
since some of its most important offices must be 
performed before the burning heats of the day 
come on. But " dear me !" says some young 
lady, " I never get up early ; if that is necessary 
in order to raise flowers, I never shall do it !" 
Never fear, my fair friend, once get your heart 
and soul in the matter, and you will rise early, 
because you cannot help it. The image of your 
geraniums and your roses will haunt your morn- 
ing pillow, and you will be down with the first 
dawn, to see if the blossoms they promised the 
day before, have stolen forth, like beautiful spi- 
rits in the stillness of night. 

Then again, gardening is a graceful accom- 
plishment for a lady, and has been held even 
from the time of mother Eve — if we may credit 
the saying of a very clever old gentleman, one 
Mr. John Milton, who wrote many handsome 
lines to that effect, and who was very much ad- 
mired in times when every body couldn't write 
such fine poetry as they can no\v-a-days. We 
seriously think that it is every woman's province, 
as far as in her lies, to see that the outside of 
her dwelling is well arranged, trimmed, and or- 
namented, as to endeavor after bright brasses, 
prettjr carpets, a"nd handsome china, in the inside. 

" What is the use of flowers !" exclaims a 
thrifty housekeeper, meanwhile busily polishing 
her fire-irons. What is the use of bright fire- 
irons, say we in reply ? or of any fire-irons at 
all? could not you make a fire on two stones, 
that would keep you quite as warm? What's 



teer bunches of thistle and pig-weed; what do 
you infer of its inmates ? And when you have 
passed even a log cabin, where the sweet brier 
was carefully trained around the door, while 
veils of morning glories and of scarlet beans, 
shade the windows, do you not immediately 
think of the dwellers there, as neat, cheerful and 
agreeable ? This is more especially the case in 
regard to the homes of the poor. The credit of 
the rich man's grounds may belong to his gar- 
dener, but they who can keep no gardener, and 
whose simple flower-garden springs out of mo- 
ments stolen from necessary labor, possess a ge- 
nuine and cordial love of the beautiful, to render 
an humble dwelling so fragrant and fair. 



BEST CEMENT FOR JOINING GLASS. 

If the glass is not likely to be exposed to 
moisture, the pieces may be joined by a solution 
of equal parts of gum-arabic and loaf sugar in 
water: or if these are not at hand the white of 
an egg may answer nearly as well. But a 
strong water proof cement, that is equally trans- 
parent, may be made b} T digesting finely pow- 
dered gum-copal, in thrice its weight of sulphuric 
ether till it is dissolved. This solution may be 
applied to the edges of the broken glass, with a 
camel hair pencil, and the pieces must be put 
together immediately and pressed close till they 
adhere. — New York Mechanic. 



FARM PEN. 

C. T. Botts, Esq. — For the last five or six 
years I have adopted the plan of keeping my 
horses, cattle, hogs, &c. in a lot, around which 
are the stables, cattle shelters, beef pen, and also 
a shelter and separate pen for sheep, and one for 
hogs. There isa stream of water passing through 
this enclosure, and each of the little divisions 
runs to the water. This I consider a great con- 
venience, as well as very beneficial to the stock. 
In these lots my cattle and horses are kept, from 
first November to first April, without ever being 
turned out. Corn stalks, leaves, straw, &c. are 
hauled in and spread, from time to time. The 
barns, stables, corn houses, &c. are ranged along 
the north and west sides, and the intermediate 
spaces are filled up with cheap shelters of plank. 
The quantity of manure is vastly increased, and, 
I believe, the cattle are in better condition in the 
spring, after the first winter, (the confinement 
does not agree so well with them at first,) than 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



67 



when kept in moveable pens. Another advan- 
tage is, that a farmer can stand in one spot and 
see all his stock fed, without walking half a 
mile to see his cattle, and another half mile to 
see his hogs. Again, the different kinds of ma- 
nure are mixed, and the whole contents of the 
farm pen are trodden, and may be used more ad- 
vantageously. Salt, without stint, is kept in a 
trough in the yard, to which the stock have free 
access. 

It is a treat to walk into such a place and see 
the milch cows regaling themselves on sugar beet 
and the greedy Berk shires devouring steamed 
roots, &c. all protected from the cold and rain. 

Ed. Hill. 

We receive a great many communications which lose 
half their interest from the anonymous signatures with 
which the}'- are accompanied. Can not our correspon- 
dents he induced to follow the excellent example of 
Mr. Hill, and accompany their favors with their real 
names? 

It is not the first time we have heard of Mr. Hill's 
barn yard, and, if we are not greatly misinformed, he 
is an enterprising farmer, whose example is worthy of 
imitation in many respects. We shall he pleased to 
hear from him whenever his leisure permits. 



The following statement is only one of hun- 
dreds that we have seen of extraordinary yields 
of the corn crop to the north. Astonishing as 
they seem to us, there can be no doubt, of their 
correctness. Thirty-eight barrels of corn to the 
acre ! and this from " old field," by a judicious 
s}'stem of cultivation ! How many acres are 
cultivated in Virginia, upon which there is be- 
stowed at least one-third the labor appropriated 
to this crop, where the yield is perhaps, if the 
season is a good one— five bushels to the acre % 
We are almost ashamed to write it ; yet, such 
we believe to be the fact. Thousands of acres 
in Eastern Virginia are annually ploughed, har- 
rowed, planted, and hoed, which do not return 
more than a barrel to the acre. If by such cul- 
tivation a man can live, what could he effect 
by scrupulously saving every thing that would 
make manure, and applying it to a limited sur- 
face % What is there in Virginia that we should 
be content with such a miserable yield as fre- 
quently disgraces our fields 1 Our soil is cer- 
tainly not inferior, because, we find our northern 
brethren outstripping us upon every variety of 
soil. Is our climate less congenial to the growth 
of Indian corn than that of New England? 
We know that an idea very generally prevails 
that the heat of our summers prevents us from 
planting close enough to obtain such products 
as we read of to the north. We hope, and in- 
cline to believe, that this is a popular error. 
When land in Virginia is well manured, and the 
planting at the usual distance, the product is, we 
think, equal to what we have observed to the 
north. We are confident that we have seen a 
field in Virginia that would yield forty bushels 



to the acre with as great a product upon it, as a 
field to the north, that would give ninety bushels; 
what was wanting in corn, was made up in stalk 
and fodder. Now, we are inclined to think that 
to exchange stalk and fodder for grain would be 
a good bargain, and this we think the northern 
farmer effects, in a measure, by close planting. 
But, says an old and experienced farmer, I have 
tried it, and when the drought came my corn 
fired. We know that this is the opinion of some 
of the best farmers in Virginia, and we are loth 
to hazard a conjecture in opposition to them. 
Yet we cannot help thinking that our eye fre- 
quently deceives us, and that if we would apply 
the bushel measure to our crops, we would find 
that the thickly planted, stunted stalks, from 
their greater number, yielded much more grain 
than their loftier and more scattered rivals. 

Ashes or lime we are certain prevents firing, 
and in other crops, the best opinion seems to be, 
that the better the ground is shaded, the less the 
crop is affected by drought and heat. 

If it is not too late, we should be extremely 

pleased to see some of our readers following Mr. 

Sheldon's practice, exactly, upon one or two 

acres, and reporting to us the result : 

From the Cultivator. 

CULTURE OF INDIAN CORN— GREAT CROP. 

Messrs. Editors, — I send you a statement of 
Mr. Elias Sheldon, as delivered to the committee 
for awarding premiums on agricultural products, 
of the Cultural and Mechanic Art Society of 
Enfield, Somers, Ellington, and East Windsor. 

S. D. Chapin. 

" The land on which I raised my crop of In- 
dian corn the season past, had been under culti- 
vation a number of years, and is what is deno- 
minated ' old field.' It had the previous year 
been sown to rye, the stubble of which was 
turned in some time in the month of February, 
1840. Nothing more was done to the land un- 
til about the first of May, when I carted upon 
the piece at the rate of twenty-five cart loads of 
manure to the acre, from my barn yard. It was 
spread, and the cultivator passed over it to cover 
the manure. The land was furrowed each way 
with the plough at about three feet distance. 
The hills were made where the furrows inter- 
sected each other. A part of the piece was 
manured in the hill with well rotted manure, 
and a part with plaster of paris. The corn was 
planted on the 17th day of May last, dropping 
into each hill four kernels of corn. The corn 
was carefully hoed twice, and at each hoeing 
the cultivator was used by passing it between 
the rows each way. At the second hoeing un- 
leached ashes were dropped about the hills of 
corn at the rate of half a pint to a hill. The 
third hoeing was omitted, but the cultivator was 
used as before by passing each way between 
the rows. The produce was at the rate of one 
hundred and ninety bushels of ears of corn, 



63 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



weighing forty-five and a half pounds per bushel, 
and two cart loads of pumpkins per acre. 

Elias Sheldon. 
Somers, Conn., Jan. 30, 1841." 



From the Farmers' Cabinet we copy the following-, 
which, if correct, is valuable both as a preservative of 
health and leather: 

WATER-PROOF DUBBING FOR LEATHER. 
KEEP YOUR FEET DRY AND HEAD COOL. 

To render leather water-proof, and at the same 
time to preserve its elasticity, is a matter of great 
importance, as it increases its durability, and 
protects those who apply it to shoes or boots from 
the mischievous effects arising from damp or 
wet feet. The following recipe followed out 
carefully, it is believed, will effect this object; — 
Take a pint of linseed oil, two ounces of bees- 
wax, two ounces of spirits of turpentine, and 
half an ounce of Burgundy pitch, and slowly 
melt them together, continuing to stir them so 
as thoroughly to incorporate them, being careful 
not to set the mass on fire, as the ingredients are 
all combustible. When this compound cools, it 
will be found to be about as elastic as leather 
ought to be. If it were harder, it would cause 
the leather to crack or break when bent ; and if 
it were softer, water would enter and wash it 
out. To apply it, re-melt it, warm the shoes or 
boots, and put it on with a small brush, or a 
sponge, or piece of cloth tied on the end of a 
stick ; continue to warm it in till the leather is 
well saturated with it, and particularly the bot- 
toms of the soles and heels. It should always 
be applied when the boots or shoes are new, and 
then lay them by to season for some time before 
wearing. Leather thus treated will be found 
impervious to water, and will wear twice as long 
as that to which it has not been applied. The 
writer has used this article for many years, and 
can testify to the great benefits derived from it ; 
and he has no doubt but his shoemaker's bill 
has been reduced to one half by the use of this 
composition ; and what has been saved in doc- 
tors' bills he is unable to estimate. 

Common grease applied to leather tends to 
rot it, and it is soon washed out in wet weather 

O. 

N. B — After shoes have been worn a short 
time, the leather will take blacking and shine 
as well as if the composition had not been ap- 
plied to it. 



inconsistency! They will hold on with the gripe 
of a demon to a silver dollar at the very time 
that they are permitting ten times its value in 
manure to " waste its sweetness on the desert 
air." Because its value is somewhat remote it 
is always underrated. But although not imme- 
diate, it is not the less certain. If this fact could 
only be borne in mind, the eye of avarice would 
detect sources of gain in a thousand things that 
are now considered as worse than useless. 

Mr. John Young, in his letters of Agricola, 
says, " The carcass of a dead horse, which is 
often suffered to pollute the air b} T its noxious 
effluvia, has been happily employed in decom- 
posing twenty tons of peat earth, and transform- 
ing it into the most enriching manure." And 
again, " Liquid manures are of the same value 
as solid, and one ton of the solid dung will make 
four tons of compost, and four tons more may 
be made from the urine discharged by the cattle 
in the same given time." 



MANURE. 
There is no one point that we more anxiously 
desire to impress upon the minds of our readers 
than the necessity of saving and making ma- 
nure. We shall continue to urge it in one form 
or another in every number. Farmers are heed- 
lessly permitting quantities of this valuable ar- 
ticle to slip through their fingers, whilst, to them 
it is worth almost its weijrht in jrold. Strange 



To the correctness of the following 1 article we yield 
our entire assent, having- attempted before to enforce 
several of the views here taken : 
CAPITAL. 
There is no mistake more common nor more 
injurious, than that of supposing that the more 
land a man holds, the greater must be his profits, 
for the profit does not arise from the land itself, 
but from the manner of using it ; for the best soil 
may be made unproductive by bad management, 
while the worst may be rendered profitable by 
the opposite course ; but without sufficient capital 
no land can be properly cultivated ; at the same 
time, there is nothing to which capital can be 
applied with greater certainty of a fair return 
for liberal expenditure, when correctly employed, 
than land. In fact, assuming always that the 
expenditure be directed with judgment, it will 
be found that the profit upon the outlay increases 
in more than a proportionate degree to its amount; 
thus, supposing twenty-five dollars be the lowest, 
and fifty the highest sum that can be emplo3 r ed 
in Ihe common culture of the same acre of land, 
it is more than probable that if twenty-five dol- 
lars return at the rate of ten per cent., the fifty 
dollars will yield twenty, or any intermediate 
sum, at the same progressive ratio. And ad- 
mitting this to be true — and it is presumed no 
experienced agriculturist will doubt it — it follows, 
that a capital of five thousand dollars, expended 
in the cultivation of two hundred acres, will only 
yield a profit of five hundred dollars, while, if 
applied to no more than one hundred acres, it 
would produce one thousand dollars ; therefore, 
it is evident that his profit would be increased by 
diminishing the quantity of his land. Many a 
man has been ruined by a large farm, who might 
have acquired a competency with one of half 
the size. Most farmers are anxious for large 
occupations, and many are thus betrayed into 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



69 



the error of taking a greater quantity of ground 
than they have the means of managing to ad- 
vantage; some, in the delusive hope of acquir- 
ing those means by future saving ; others, from 
the vanity of holding more land than their neigh- 
bors: hence arises deficiency of stock, imperfect 
tillage, and scanty crops, with all the consequent 
train of rent in arrear, wages ill paid, and debts 
unsatisfied — distress, duns, and final ruin! While 
he, who prudently commences, with only such 
a number of acres as he has the power of culti- 
vating with proper effect, is certain of obtaining 



the full return from the soil, and not being bur- 
dened with more land than he can profitably 
enjoy, his engagements are within his means ; 
and thus, while enjoying present ease of mind, 
he lays the surest foundation for future prospe- 
rity. It therefore behoves a man to weigh well 
the charges with his means, and never allow 
himself to be seduced by any ideal prospect of 
gain, into the imprudence of entering upon a 
larger farm than his property will enable him to 
manage with the spirit necessary to insure suc- 
cess. — British Husbandry. 



BERKSHIRE SOW 




Mr. Botts : 

Dear Sir, — Above, you have a portrait of a 
Berkshire sow, eleven months old, with her first 
litter of pigs, now the property of J. M. Sublett, 
Esq. of this city. She boasts the old Virginia 
cognomen of "Suke." The drawing and en- 
graving are the first attempt of Mr. John S. 
Gallaher, Jr., a young gentleman who has ex- 
hibited the most extraordinary talent for an art 
to which he intends to devote himself. It is a 
good likeness and not flattered. 

Suke is by the boar " President," (of whom 
you have a caricature in your February num- 
ber) lately sold by me to the Rev. J. H. Turner, 
out of a sow obtained some time since of Caleb 
N. Bement, Esq. of Albany. She is supposed 
to weigh about three hundred pounds, certainly 
not less. President was sold by me only in con- 
sequence of my desire to avoid breeding in and 
in. 



I have now stock from Bement, and a young- 
boar from John Lossing, Esq. of Albany, some 
from B. Brentnall, of New Jersey, the first im • 
porter of black Berkshires into the United States, 
and stock from Col. Williams's imported boar, 
which took the premium at the American Insti- 
tute, I believe, in 1839. So that persons, who 
wish to obtain genuine Berkshire pigs of dif- 
ferent crosses, can do so of me in the fall, every 
one of my spring litters being already engaged. 

Having gone largely into the business of 
breeding the Berkshires, I feel some diffidence 
in speaking of their superiority over other breeds ; 
and therefore expressly desire that all persons 
may take what I say of them for exactly what, 
they may think it is worth, under such interested 
circumstances. To all such communications I 
shall, at all times, affix my proper name, so that 
the author may be known. 

I believe that, with half the quantity of corn. 



70 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



the Berkshires will make good pork, and more 
of it than any other breed I have ever known. 
Upon good grass they will require no feeding. 
They are the most quiet hogs, and the best nurses 
I have ever seen. I have never known one to 
jump a fence eighteen inches high, and one of 
the greatest recommendations to Virginia farmers \ 
is, that a single cross of the Berkshire upon the 
common stock immediately changes and im- 
proves the character of the offspring. To show 
the additional weight and size obtained by the 
improved cross, I would refer you to a commu- 
nication in the March number of the Farmers' 
Register, page 174, where the weight of several 
large lots in Ohio of the cross are reported to 
have averaged from two hundred and fifty to 
four hundred and thirty-five pounds, at sixteen 
and twenty months old. In the «ame article, 
one single cross, under the most unfavorable cir- 
cumstances, is reported to have effected an in- 
creased average of one hundred and two pounds 
over the weight of the original stock. E. Phin- 
ney, Esq. of Lexington, Massachusetts, sent to 
market, on 22d February last, fifteen half Berk- 
shires, from fifteen to eighteen months old, of 
which the total weight was seven thousand nine 
hundred and fifty-eight — an average of five hun- 
dred and thirty and a half pounds. Some of 
those weighing upwards of five hundred pounds 
were only fifteen months old. 

In a letter from John Mahard, Esq. of Cin- 
cinnati, one of the largest pork packers in that 
city, it is stated that the half-blood Berkshires 
are found to stand driving better than any other 
breed of hogs. 

These facts are sufficient, I presume, without 
thousands of others that could be adduced, to 
establish the superiority of this celebrated stock. 
Yours, A. B. Shelton. 

We have seen the lovely creature whose portrait Mr. 
Shelton has determined to preserve. The likeness is 
excellent, and we are glad to find thai Mr. Shelton has 
done justice to the promising- young- artist to whom 
her ladyship sat. She is indeed a beauty, and her ap- 
pearance alone commands a ready sale for her offspring. 
Mr. Sublett informs us that he finds it impossible to 
supply the demand. 

A remarkable fact has been brought to our notice, 
which exemplifies the value of this cross. We have 
been shown the litter of a common sow by this boar, 
President, the sire of Suke, and a preceding lot of pigs 
from the same sow by a common boar. The disparity 
is astonishing, so much so, that the last litter was sold 
at five dollars apiece, whilst the first could find no 
purchasers at one dollar. This reminds us of Mr. Col- 
man's remark that, "the change which had taken place 
in the hogs of Albany, which arc allowed to run at large 
in the streets, since the introduction of the Berkshire, 
was most remarkable; instead of a lean, hungry, prowl- 
ing, noisy race, objects of universal disgust and dread, 
there were now every where to be seen in the streets 
and styes of that city, fine sleek and plump pigs, which 
appeared to be kept with the greatest care and libe- 
rality." 



DR. HORTON'S PRIZE ESSAY. 

The spirited Editor of the American Farmer 
offered a premium for the best essay upon the. 
renovation of exhausted soils,which was awarded 
to Dr. Horton, of Maryland. The successful ar- 
ticle, which was of course published in the Far- 
mer, has been very severely criticised hy the able 
Editor of the Register. The essay and criticism 
are both devoted, chiefly, to the Doctor's theory 
of the action of lime upon the soil, which cer- 
tainly differs from that which is so great a fa- 
vorite with Mr. Ruffin. The latter gentleman, 
we think, seems rather too irritable upon this 
subject, and a little too jealous of foreign inva- 
sion upon a province, which he has taken under 
his special care, and in which he has certainly 
done himself great credit. The terms he applies 
to the Doctor's production are not the most cour- 
teous and liberal, and such severity of criticism, 
we think, has, at least, no tendency to elicit agri- 
cultural communications. That an editor should 
refute, where he does not approve, is not less his 
privilege than his duty — but argument is always 
better than invective, and sound reasoning more 
effective than abuse. 

Our own opinion, if we may be allowed to 
express it, is, that the theory of neither gentle- 
man, although they are both entitled to great 
credit for ingenuity, is sufficient to account for 
all the facts attending the operation of lime. 
Indeed we know of no important point in hus- 
bandry that we conceive to be still buried in such 
profound mystery as the varying action of lime 
and gypsum. We are obliged therefore to any 
who will advance even a plausible opinion upon 
this subject, although, so long as those opinions 
are not satisfactorily confirmed, we ma.y not 
trouble our readers with them. We would at 
any time prefer a statement of actual results to 
mere opinions of the modus operandi. The latter, 
no doubt, are frequently valuable, but we think 
it hardly worth while to trouble the general 
reader with a statement of complex, conflicting, 
and unsatisfactory opinions of the manner in 
which a substance acts, whilst the facts attend- 
ing its operation are not yet clearly developed. 
For this reason, we have purposely abstained 
from any participation in the lime theories of the 
day. There is none of them so clearly vouched 
as to give it, in our opinion, greatly the preference 
over its fellows, and to become acquainted with 
all that are advanced, would require, we believe, 
more time upon the part of our readers than they 
are willing to devote to the object. We hope, 
however, that the time will shortly come, when 
some satisfactory knowledge will be obtained 
upon this important subject, which we shall avail 
ourself of the earliest opportunity to impart to 
our readers. In the mean time, we shall take 
care to publish from correspondents, or copy from 
other papers,all the well authenticated facts that we 
meet with upon this subject, which we believe 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



71 



to bo one of primary importance to agricul- 
ture. 

But to return to Dr. Horton, and his abused, 
successful essay. The Doctor gives his assent 
to the opinion, that lime, dissolved by rain water, 
actually becomes the food of plants, and very 
modestly advances an idea, that it may loosen a 
close soil, and close an open one, by its power 
of repulsion and attraction for clay and sand. 
He totally rejects the idea of its neutralizing an 
acid it) the soil. 

Another opinion that the Doctor advances is, 
that the morus multicaulis, from its rapid growth, 
is calculated, if the branches are intertwined and 
properly directed, to make an excellent hedge 
for fencing. As we have before intimated in 
this number, we deprecate, in the present situa- 
tion of our country, the use of any live fence, 
whose roots, we believe, would materially inter- 
fere with the prosperity of the adjoining crop. 



WHEAT. 

The people of Virginia have but little right to expect 
instruction from a citizen of New Hampshire on the 
cultivation of wheat; but we extract the following 1 
remarks from a letter of Mr. Th. Fuller's to the Editor 
of the Farmer's Monthly Visitor because although we 
think the writer has fallen into some errors, yet the piece 
bears the impress of an observing and practical mind. 
His preparation of seed is exactly that we have already 
published from Cobbett as applicable to garden seeds. 
His plan of weeding is beyond doubt beneficial if it 
does not "cost more than it comes to." The time of 
harvesting is contrary to the advice of some of our 
best farmers, but has been advocated by others. We 
beg to call attention to the subject: 

PREPARATION OF SEED TO PREVENT SMUT. 

The preparation of the seed I take from an 
English account published some years since, 
which practice I have adopted for five or six 
years past with success, and I do think much 
of it. 

Make a brine of common salt strong enough 
to bare up a hen's egg : then put in your wheat 
not more than the brine will cover. Stir it and 
skim as long as any thing will rise. It will 
float off all the light kernels of wheat, oats, 
light kernels of cockle, smut, or any thing that 
is injurious to the seed. Then take the wheat 
out, and put into the same brine another lot, and 
so on till you have cleaned all you wish. After 
washing put the wheat into a heap — let it lay 
six hours — then mix a sufficient quantity of 
dry ashes, plaster of paris or lime ; then imme- 
diately sow your wheat. I am very particular 
as to time. 

The result is, I have not found but two smut 
heads since I adopted this method, and I think 
it beneficial in preventing worms from destroying 
the seed, as well as adding to the growth of the 
wheat. The English account says, (as well as 
individuals with whom I conversed from Eng- 



land) that it has been tried on a farm for forty 
years, and was always successful. More proofs 
from the same account I might offer ; but I am 
satisfied from my own experience of the benefi- 
cial results. 

WEEDING WHEAT. 

I weed my wheat always twice. The first 
time when the wheat is three or four inches 
high ; then again just before it begins to head 
out. I use an instrument called a grub. It is 
like a cabinet maker's gouge, about one and one- 
fourth of an inch in diameter, with a socket into 
which I insert a handle, say four or five feet 
long. With this instrument one man may go 
over a large piece of ground in a day. The 
method is, to take the grub and cut off a thistle, 
dock, or any thing that is injurious to the wheat 
at the surface of the ground, and leave it on the 
spot where it was cut off. A field that has had 
this dressing will look much better : weeds al- 
ways take the start of the wheat and retard the 
growth. This practice always pays the farmer 
a great price for his labor. 

HARVESTING WHEAT. 

I commence cutting my wheat when it is very 
green, when I find the kernel is out of the milk 
and about as hard as flour dough, which you 
may know by squeezing the kernel between 
your fingers. I then cut it as fast as I can, 
either in fair weather or not. I do not let it lay 
in the gavel on the ground exposed either to the 
sun or rain, but bind it up in single bands near 
the but, set it up in stooks of eight bundles on 
the ground in the form of a pair of rafters, the 
buts, as far apart as possible with two sheafs 
put on the top for protection. In this way it 
will dry very quick, and the sap in the straw- 
will afford nourishment to the kernels sufficient 
to prevent it from shrinking too much. By this 
method I find the kernel retains all its goodness, 
and the straw makes excellent fodder for neat 
stock, because it retains all the sap that the 
wheat does not absorb. Wheat cured in this 
way thrashes very easy, and will not shell out 
by carting to the barn. 

I think farmers are not aware how green they 
may cut their wheat, and what a saving they 
may have in the quality of wheat and straw. 
They have only to try this method, and I feel 
assured they will find it to their interest. 



QUALITY OF MILK. 

Several cups have been successively filled 
while milking from one cow, producing the fol- 
lowing results : in every case, the quantity of 
cream was found to increase in proportion as the 
process of milking advanced: in different cows, 
the proportion varied, but in the greater number 
the excess of cream in the last cup as compared 
with the first, was as sixteen to one ; but, as in 
some cases the difference was not so much, a 



72 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



fair average mi< 



tfit be considered as ten or twelve 
to one. And the difference in the quality of the 
two sorts of cream was no less striking, the 
cream given by the first drawn milk being thin, 
white, and without consistence, while that fur- 
nished by the last, was thick, buttery, and of a 
rich color. The milk remaining in the different 
cups presented similar differences, that which 
was drawn first being very poor, blue, and hav- 
ing the appearance of milk and water, while 
that in the last cup was of a yellowish hue, 
rich, and to the eye and taste resembled cream 
rather than milk. It appears, therefore, from 
these experiments, that if, after drawing seven 
or eight pints from a cow, half a pint remains 
in the udder, not only almost as much cream 
will be lost, as the seven or eight pints will fur- 
nish, but of such a quality as gives the richest 
taste and color to the butter. This fact has been 
corroborated by chemical experiments, and holds 
good with respect to the milk of all other ani- 
mals. — Blocker's Essay. 



HESSIAN FLY. 

A correspondent writes us, that he is in pos- 
session of what has been denominated " Fly- 
proof wheat," which he has sowed, and of which 
he promises to give us the result, although he 
himself seems to be not very sanguine of its 
capability to resist the attack of the Hessian fly. 
He concludes, however, by saying, " I have un- 
derstood lately that this wheat has been intro- 
duced, (from I know not where or how) by Mr. 
John Gray, of Traveller's Rest, and is much 
sought after." 

Like our correspondent, we should form very 
little expectation of beneficial results from fly- 
proof v) heat 1 in the abstract, but the name of Mr. 
Gray connected with it invests it with an im- 
portance to which we should not, otherwise, 
consider it entitled. Will Mr. Gray be kind 
enough to impart to us his knowledge of this 
article, whether for good or for evil ? An ex- 
tension of a valuable article may be effected, or 
inconvenience and loss of time prevented. 



See what Arthur Young 1 thinks of the adaptation of 
America to the raising- of sheep. He says: 

"In the culture of grass for pasturage, prepa- 
ratory to gain, the profit of sheep husbandry in 
America must be very great : there is every ad- 
vantage of soil and extent of farm, and no draw- 
back but that of labor — and pasturage demands 
scarcely any labor; so that, if there is one sys- 
tem that squares more than another to the cir- 
cumstances of America, it is the adoption of a 
course that embraces the culture of grasses most 
extensively. Wolves and dogs are named as a 
reason for not keeping sheep, but they abound 
all over Europe — and so do sheep. No wolf or 
dog could get into my sheepfold by night, and 
by day a watchful shepherd is a sufficient pro- 



tection. While shep are kept by dozens , such 
objections may hold good; but when by hun- 
dreds and thousands, they instantly vanish. Surely 
the value of wool must instigate to an increase 
in the breed of sheep, even if it be for exporta- 
tion, the freight, when it is pressed into a small 
compass being a trifle, and the fleece alone, from 
extensive American lands, without reckoning 
the carcass as any thing, must be more valuable 
than the profit on a crop of wheat at a dollar a 
bushel, especially on lands producing white clo- 
ver spontaneously. 

" Suppose, on some of the lands which might 
be bought for five dollars an acre, or twenty shil- 
lings sterling — the rent of this is, say twenty- 
five cents : now such land, by carrying but one 
sheep an acre, producing five pounds of wool, 
worth only twenty-five cents per pound, and the 
mutton doing no more than paying for losses, 
shepherding, &c, here is a profit such as corn 
cannot rival — five rents paid by wool alone! 
But the mutton of well fed sheep, if carefully 
salted, would find a ready market, if not at 
home, in the West Indies; and if sold at two 
cents a pound above expenses, the object, on a 
large scale, would be highly important." 



FENCE. 



A Mr. Chatfield recommends, in the Cultiva- 
tor, a fence to be made by planting poplar trees, 
fourteen feet apart, and morticing rails into them 
whilst they are young. This will, no doubt, 
form a very ornamental fence, and, with a longer 
lived tree than the poplar, a very lasting one. 
Where a line of trees is planted, for ornament 
at the foot of a yard, if it was thought worth 
while, something might possibly be saved by 
making use of it for such a purpose. But to 
plant trees of any kind around a field for the 
purpose of making fence posts of them, by way 
of economy, would be, we apprehend, to use a 
homely phrase, to M stop the spiggot and open 
the bung," inasmuch, as the loss of product from 
the shade and the roots of the trees would be 
sufficient to erect a fence every year. 



KIDNEY WORM IN HOGS. 
J. P. Rutland, in the Western Farmer, asserts 
that an infallible remedy for this disease may be 
found in the use of corn soaked in lie. 



LICE ON CATTLE. 

At this season cattle frequently droop, look 
rough, and fail to shed, without the owners being 
aware that it is owing to the fact of their being 
infested with lice. To remove these troublesome 
vermin many expedients are recommended — 
amongst the simplest is the following, from the 
Boston Cultivator : 

" To rid cattle of lice, sift wood ashes on their 
heads and backs, when the weather is dry." 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



73 



TO PREVENT INSECTS CLIMBING UP FRUIT 
TREES. 

At a late meeting of the Entomological So- 
ciety, Mr. James H. Fcnnell communicated the 
following- successful mode of preventing insects 
ascending the trunks of fruit trees. Let a piece 
of India rubber be burnt over a gallipot, into 
which it will gradually drop in the condition of 
a thick viscid juice, which state it appears it 
will always retain ; for Mr. Fennell has at the 
present time some which has been melted for 
upwards of a year, and has been exposed to all 
weather without undergoing the slightest change. 
Having melted the India rubber, let a piece of 
cord or worsted be smear od with it, and then tied 
several times round the trunk. The melted sub- 



stance is so very sticky, that the insects will be 
prevented and generally captured, in their at- 
tempts to pass over it. About three pennyworth 
of India rubber is sufficient for the protection of 
twenty ordinary sized fruit trees. 



If the fact be as stated above, (which, by the by, we 
have some reason to doubt) that India rubber, when 
melted, forms a viscid matter, which will always retain 
its viscidity, a great desideratum has been obtained, 
and the article will be applicable to other objects beside 
the one here mentioned. But even for this purpose, it 
may be worthy of note, since the use of Dennis' patent 
trough, much approved at the North, has shown that 
any thing*, which arrests the upward progress of the 
insect on the exterior, saves the tree. If effectual, no 
contrivance can be simpler and cheaper than the one 
recommended. 



TINKLER'S PATENT PLOUGH 




A specimen of this improved implement lately 
introduced to the public, is now to be seen at our 
office. Mr. Tinkler, we feel assured, has, by 
dint of perseverance and great sagacity, suc- 
ceeded in effecting a most valuable improvement 
in this indispensable implement of husbandry ; 
and^ that upon entirely novel and original prin- 
ciples. 

In the first place, we believe the shape of his 
mould board, which cannot be understood, by 
description, to be the best we have ever seen. 
Secondly, by causing the handles and beam to 
revolve upon a double mould board, he has united 
a right and left hand plough upon the simplest 
and cheapest principles. And thirdly, he has 
adopted a new form of coulter or turf cutter, that 
must wonderfully facilitate the operation of the 
implement. 

The following certificate, however, where the 
names of the subscribers are known, will go 
much farther than any opinion we might express. 
To those to whom they are strangers we will 
venture to say, there are names on that list not 
Vol. 1—8 



surpassed, for practical skill, in the State of Vir- 
ginia. The gentleman who heads it happened 
to call at our office a few daj's since and declared, 
that the individuals signing the certificate, after 
the fullest and most satisfactory trials, were con- 
| vinced, notwithstanding preconceived prejudices, 
! that the plough deserved all that could be said 
I of it. They are all gentlemen engaged in agri- 
I cultural pursuits, some of them well known for 
mechanical skill, and not one of them in the 
slightest degree interested in the article recom- 
mended. 

" Hanover County, April 22, 1841. 

" We, whose names are here subscribed, being 
farmers, have this day witnessed an exhibition 
of Mr. J. Tinkler's patent ploughs, and do not 
hesitate in saying that we consider them supe- 
rior to any plough we have ever tried or seen 
used. We had the ploughs worked in different 
soils and .situations, on flat and hilly land, clean 
and stumpy, and although the day was unfa- 
vorable for good ploughing, (being rainy) the 



74 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



work was admirably done, and surpassed the 
work of other ploughs which had been used 
and made smooth, whilst Mr. Tinkler's were just 
from the shop, entirely new. We, therefore, w ith 
full confidence, can recommend them to all far- 
mers, for easy draft to the horse, little labor to 
the ploughman, and superior execution of work. 

W. B. Sydnor. 

Thomas Acree. 

Gilson Via. 

Edward Sydnor. 

Edward T. Melton. 

Joseph Hooper. 

Thomas K. Jones. 

John King. 

John Haw." 

In addition to this certificate, Mr. Tinkler brings the 
following - along with him : 

"Dry Valley, Union Co. Pa. Dec. 12, 1839. 

"Hon. R. H. Hammond, 

"Member of Congress from Pennsylvania: 

"Dear Sir, — I understand by Mr. Tinkler, the 
bearer of this, that he intends spending a portion 
of this winter in Washington City, with the 
view of selling the patent right of his newly 
invented double plough. I feel it to be my duty, 
as an experienced farmer, and friend to improve- 
ments in agricultural implements, to say, that I 
have broken up about sixty acres of fallow this 
season with one of his ploughs, and liking it so 
much better than any plough 1 have heretofore 
used, I have determined to use no other in future 
for breaking up fallows, and one not being suffi- 
cient, I have engaged another of Mr. Tinkler 
for the next season. My opinion, is, that the 
time is not far off when they will be the only 
plough used in this country. It is a great ad- 
vantage on level land in keeping the ground 
even and free from large furrows which cannot 
be done with the common plough, and on the 
side hill the advantages are still more obvious. 
Any assistance, therefore, you may render Mr. 
Tinkler in bringing his plough to the notice of 
the public, will not only be rendering a benefit 
to the agricultural community, but will be thank- 
fully received by your friend and one of your 
constituents. Isaac Eyer." 

" I am well acquainted with the above named 
Isaac Eyer, and know him to be one of the best 
and most extensive farmers in Union county, and 
that full credit may be given to his statements. 
I would also say from what I personally know 
of Mr. Tinkler's plough, that he has not said too 
much in its favor. R. H. Hammond, 

House of Representatives. 

Washington, Jan. 10, 1840." 

The patentee claims that, even upon level 
lands, many advantages are gained b} r this 
plough, among which he considers the relief 
from unsightly and useless double furrows, which 



must be left by other ploughs. He seems fully 
impressed with its superiority and challenges a 
comparison with any other plough in use. 

Prices. — One horse plough, $12 00 

Two horse do. 16 00 

Large size do. 18 00 

It must be remembered that the purchaser is 
obtaining two ploughs in one. 

Any orders or communications, post paid, will 
be attended to by the Editor of this paper. 



For the Southern Planter. 

Mr. Editor, — I accept your polite invitation, 
so repeatedly urged, to occupy a small portion 
of your columns upon the subject of our peculiar 
department — household recipes. In the name 
of the sex I thank you, sir, for your attention to 
those little matters, which come within our par- 
ticular province, but which, small as they are, 
form a large item in the sum total of the com- 
fort and happiness of a family. As a woman 
and a mother I thank you also for that portion 
of your paper, which, under the head of " Mis- 
cellany," is devoted to our instruction and amuse- 
ment. In return for the gratification you have 
afforded us, I will, from time to time, send you 
some old family recipes, which may be of use 
to your readers. In the mean time, I beg to 
call your attention to the following. It went 
the round of the newspapers a year or two ago, 
from one of which 1 obtained it. That with 
such dissemination it is not in general use I can 
only attribute to the general indisposition to en- 
counter the trouble of a new process, and the 
distaste of servants to novelties. I have been 
using it for three years, and am sure that it saves 
two-thirds of the labor of washing clothes, where- 
by, in small families, the cook may be enabled 
to do the washing, and thus the necessity for 
another servant may be saved. The objection 
that I have heard made, that the recipe has a 
tendency to destroy the clothes, must have arisen 
from the mixture of the materials in improper 
proportions, for my experience leads me to the 
conclusion, that not only are the clothes better 
cleansed, but that they are saved all the wear 
and tear incident to the old method of nibbing. 
Let any practical person give this mode a fair 
trial, and I am very sure they will never have 
clothes washed afterwards in any other manner. 
I give it to you not as something new, but as 
an old thing too much neglected. 

Your friend and well wisher, 

A Housewife. 

RECIPE FOR WASHING. 

To five gallons of soft water add half a gallon 
of lime water, a pint and a half of soft soap, or 
a pound of hard soap, and two ounces of sub- 
carbonate of soda. 

Soak the clothes over night if very dirty ; at 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



75 



any rate wet them thoroughly before putting 
them into the mixture. 

When the mixture is at boiling heat, put in 
the clothes that have been soaked or wet, merely 
rubbing such parts as have been unusually soiled 
with a little soap. Boil them one hour. They 
are then to be taken out and drained, and tho- 
roughly rinsed in warm water, then in indigo 
water, as usual, and they are fit for drying. 

The preparation is intended only for uncolored 
articles. Lime water is prepared by pouring 
about four gallons of water on a pint of lime, 
and the subcarbonate of soda may be obtained 
from any apothecary's shop for about twelve and 
a half cents per pound. 

We kiss our hand to our fair correspondent, thank 
her for her kind wishes, which we most cordially re- 
ciprocate, and hope to hear from her again. 



POTATO BLOSSOMS. 

M. Zelle, director of the Agricultural Society 
of Daunstadt, in 1839 planted two plats of ground 
of the same size, with potatoes. When the plants 
had flowered, the blossoms were removed from 
those in one field while those in the other were 
left untouched to perfect their seed. The former 
produced 476 pounds, the latter 37 pounds. 

This difference has been very plausibly as- 
cribed to the loss of nutriment required to per- 
fect the seed, which, by the separation of the 
blossom, was added to the root. 



PORTABLE SAW MILL. 

We have heretofore entertained and expressed 
doubts as to the practicability of a good portable 
saw mill. Those doubts have been very much 
shaken, if not entirely removed, by the following 
certificate and some additional information lately 
received, respecting a mill gotten up by Mr. Geo. 
Page, of Baltimore. The certificate speaks for 
itself. Mr. Elisha Melton, of Louisa, called upon 
us yesterday, and stated, that the mill alluded to 
had been erected for him, and that with four 
horses he had been cutting 1,500 feet of inch 
boards per day, with ease. He spoke of it as 
having given him the most entire satisfaction. 
Mr. Bratt, of the well known house of Watch- 
man & Bratt in Baltimore, concurred with Mr. 
Melton in thinking, that Mr. Page's mill, with 
the same power, would do infinitely more work 
than any other mill he had ever seen. Mr. 
Bratt formed the highest opinion of it after hav- 
ing seen it constantly in operation in Baltimore 
for several months. Its portability, which is 
such, that Mr. Melton declares he can move the 
whole of it with six hands, is obtained by Mr. 
Page's success in, what has been so often at- 
tempted, the application of a circular saw to 
slitting logs. 

So much importance do we attach to this 



subject, that we have determined to avail our- 
selves of Mr. Melton's polite invitation to visit 
his establishment, in Louisa, that we may judge 
for ourselves of an improvement, which, if it is 
what it is represented to be on the highest au- 
thority, is not less interesting to the agriculturist 
than the mechanic. 

Mr. Page has shown us the horse power 
which he uses with his mill, of which we have 
formed a most excellent opinion. We would 
recommend it strongly to farmers who need a 
horse power for any purpose. We shall have 
frequent communication with Mr. Page, and 
will obtain any additional information that our 
subscribers may require, with respect either to 
the saw mill or horse power. 

The following is the certificate alluded to: 

11 We, the undersigned subscribers, have this 
day examined the Portable Saw Mill, drawn by 
four horses, lately put into operation by Mr. Geo. 
Page, of Baltimore, at the Victoria Furnace in 
Louisa county. It was sawing rough pine logs, 
and it cut three hundred feet per hour — the plank 
was exceedingly nice, smooth, and straight. 
The oak timber it had cut before we examined 
it was equally nice. 

Hugh Goodwin, Jr. 

G. B. Taylor. 

Chas. B. Cosby. 

Pattison Boxley." 



BEST CEMENT FOR JOINING CHINA. 

Heat a piece of chalk to a full red heat in a 
fire ; and while this is heating, take the white 
of an egg, and mix and beat together with it, 
one-fourth of its weight of powdered or scraped 
cheese, (such as is most void of cream, or oily 
matter, is preferable) or the curd that is formed 
by adding vinegar to skimmed milk; take the 
chalk from the fire, and before it is cold, reduce 
it to powder, and add as much of it to the mix- 
ture as will form a thick paste, and beat them 
anew all together, and use the composition im- 
mediately. When this is dry, it will resist, in 
a great measure, either heat or moisture. A 
semi-transparent cement suitable for china ware, 
may be made by gently boiling the flour of rice 
with water. — Neiv York Mechanic. 



From the Cultivator. 
BONE MANURE. 
In the Farmers' Register is a record of a se- 
ries of experiments made by T. A. C. Jones to 
test the value of bone manure in comparison 
with stable manures, and he arrives at the fol- 
lowing conclusions: "1. That when applied at 
the rate of from fifty to eighty bushels per acre 
on the exhausted lands of Virginia, one bushel 
of crushed bones is more than equal to one cart 
load of (twenty-five bushels) good farm yard 



76 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



manure in its effect on the crop. 2. That the 
effect of bone manure is more durable than that 
of any putrescent manure usually procured on 
a farm.; .3. That when applied to land which 
is in good heart, the effect is much more power- 
ful than it is on very poor land. 4. That when 
combined with manure and applied in the form 
of compost [eight per cent of bone dust with 
the scrapings of the farm yards] the effect both 
instant and remote, far exceeds that of any other 
application with which I am acquainted ; and 
lastly, if stable manure has to be purchased, or 
even hauled more than half a mile from your 
own stables, bone manure at fifty cents per 
bushel, the price it cost me, delivered on my 
farm, is the cheapest manure of the two." 

From the same paper we learn that a citizen of New 
York has sold twenty tons of bones, at eight dollars a 
ton, to an English gentleman, who purchased for ex- 
portation. 

Here is another most valuable article in daily waste, 
that our wiser neighbors can afford to purchase and 
transport across the ocean. If every farmer would 
prepare a receptacle for the bones left from the daily 
consumption of his family, a valuable pile might be 
accumulated with no expense , for, it is surely as cheap 
to throw a bone in such a place as to throw it away. 
Even pounded with a common hammer, they are found 
to be highly beneficial to the land. In this city thou- 
sands might be procured at the expense of removing 
them. 



LARGE CALF. 

A few days since a calf was dropped on the 
farm of Dr. John R. Woods, near this place, 
measuring two feet nine inches in height, five 
feet in length, and weighing ninety-four and 
three-fourth pounds ; it was of the short horn 
Durham stock, but from a cow of ordinary size. 
Charlottesville Jldvocate, March 20. 



The experienced Editor of the Boston Cultivator re- 
commends the following mode of procuring early po- 
tatoes : 

"The best mode we ever tried to procure early 
potatoes, was to spread out those designed for 
seed on a grass plat in the garden, so thin that 
one should not lie upon another — covef them 
with horse stable manure three inches thick — 
then lay boards or slabs over this to keep it moist 
and to prevent the hens uncovering the potatoes. 
When the sprouts have started an inch or two 
the potatoes should be carefulley taken up and 
planted out in hills. They will ripen two weeks 
sooner than when the seed is taken directly from 
the cellar." 



SUCKERS IN CORN. 



An anonymous writer in the American Far- 
mer asserts, that from careful experiments he is 
satisfied, that suckers do not lessen the quantity 
of grain, whilst they greatly increase the amount 
of fodder. 



SHEEP. 

A Mr. Twyman, who is said to be a very successful 
English farmer, has written a letter to a friend in this 
city, in which he states, 

" I have a complete new family of sheep of 
my own fancy, perfectly different from any other 
in England — as far as lam able to effect it, and 
that in my own opinion, is nearly to perfection. 
They combine all the good points of the Leices- 
ter and the Down — the wool being a mixture 
between the two, long as the former, but much 
finer and closer, like the latter, with dark faces 
and fine countenances. One hundred teggs 
which were shorn on the 16th March last, then 
thirteen and a half months old, produced on an 
average nine pounds of wool each ; and the two 
year old ram fifteen and a quarter pounds — clean 
and well washed — all of w 7 hich may be seen. 
Nine years impartial trial of this breed embol- 
dens me to declare myself open to the ivorld, to 
match it against any other breed, taking as the 
criterion of merit, the combination of those rare 
but grand desiderata, weight and value of fleece, 
sj'mmetry of carcase, quality of mutton, with 
aptitude to fatten and arrive at early maturity. 

" The one hundred teggs above named were 
immediately after being shorn, sold at three gui- 
neas each, out of their wool, for which two shil- 
lings per pound has been refused — calculating 
the wool at this price, the one hundred teggs, 
only thirteen antf a half months old, have pro- 
duced four huudred guineas, or four guineas 
($20) per head ! I seek in vain for a parallel 
in the present, or a record of .a similar price in 
any past age." 

Below is the challenge referred to in the above. 
It was communicated through the Right. Hon. 
Earl Spencer, a leading member of the English 
Agricultural Society. It was not taken up at 
the end of six months and the challenger now 
" stalks the champion." 

" PROPOSAL. 

" That I will produce on July 18, 1S40, twen- 
ty-five wether lambs, drawn from a flock not 
exceeding three hundred, to be wintered against 
a like number of any other breed on arable land, 
and not under cover, to be fed together until the 
commencement of turnip feeding, from which 
time each lot is to be kept separate, and to be 
served with the following portions of food : Two 
pounds of good hay and three gallons of cut 
swedes per head per day, until the 1st of No- 
vember, after which one pint of beans to be given 
in addition until the 15th of April following, 
when the twenty best from each lot shall be 
drawn, sheared and slaughtered, the stakes lo 
be given to the owner of such lot as shall be 
found to return the greatest value in wool and 
mutton. The lambs to have been yeaned after 
Old Christmas, 1839, to have lived on roots, hay 
and green food only ; and their dams to have been 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



77 



regularly folded, on arable land, after the 25th 
of March, until the lambs are weaned. 

" It is an indispensable condition, that the trial 
be conducted upon arable land, the object being 
to obtain hardihood of constitution, with early 
maturity, valuable wool, and young- mutton of 
the best quality, while consuming the food on 
the land which produces it. Stakes £25. 

" The offer to remain open until the 25th of 
March, 1840." — English Farmers 1 Magazine. 

Should any of our agricultural friends be desirous 
to make an experiment of this breed, we could, no 
doubt, procure some of them direct from the breeder, 
through his correspondent, Mr. VV. L. C. of this city. 



the land is far better prepared in our mode than 
in the other, should we have no regard to the 
permanent improvement of the soil ? In many 
towns near Boston, we plant our lands with a 
view, principally, to preparing them for grass — 
a far more profitable crop — we never want our 
manure to be left in hills or heaps. We want 
it to be incorporated with the soil." 



For the Southern Planter. 

Richmond, May 5, 1841. 

A Naturalist begs the Editor of the Southern 
Planter to notice a mistake in the note appended 
to his second communication where the word 
plants is used instead of the word fruits, so that 
the note should read, " It has been observed that 
fruits protected from the motions of the wind by 
walls or espaliers grow to a larger size than 
under other circumstances." This correction is 
the more necessary, as the motions of the wind, 
to a certain extent, are favorable to the growth 
and health of plants. 



Of all animals, of whatever kind, those with 
the smallest and cleanest bones, are generally 
the best proportioned, and covered with the best 
and finest grained meat ; they are the hardiest, 
the healthiest, and best feeders ; able to bear the 
most fatigue while living, and worth the most 
per pound when dead. — Culley. 



INTERESTING TO BLACKSMITHS. 
A blacksmith, of Milan, has discovered that, 
by suspending a length of chain to one of the 
corners of the anvil by means of a ring, the 
noise of the hammer may be almost entirely 
deadened. — Farmers' Monthly Visitor. 



MANURING. 

Much contrariety of opinion has existed upon the 
best manner of applying manure, and the public have 
been very much divided between the broadcast and hill 
systems. The Editor of the Boston Cultivator, whose 
long experience entitles his opinion to much weight, 
greatly prefers the former. He urges that the applica- 
tion in the hill produces much stalk in proportion to the 
corn, and pleases the eye at the expense of the pocket. 
He concludes by saying, 

" Thus in almost all cases — and we have 
watched a thousand fields — we get a better har- 
vest by spreading on than by putting in the hill. 
A trifle in the hill does no injury, but a shovel 
full is often a harbor for worms that get hold 
before the roots are large enough to protect 
themselves. 

" When all are agreed that for future crops 



IMPROVED STOCK. 

Mr. Chilton Allen, in a very able address delivered 
in Kentucky, complains much of the want of legislative 
attention to agriculture. To show how much national 
wealth is increased by the efforts which are now making- 
for the improvement of agriculture, he states, 

"There are 490,613 cattle taxed in the State 
of Kentucky; their average value is but $5 97, 
while the average value of those in three coun- 
ties, that have improved their stock, is $15." 



SOAP SUDS. 

We find a writer in the Southern Agriculturist 
confirming a statement we published some time 
since as to the value of this article, both as a 
manure and a preventive against the ravages of 
worms, bugs, &c. Why is it so generally thrown 
awa} r , when it may be so well applied ? 




A correspondent from Amelia says, "Get Mr. Wm. 
Old, of Powhatan, to give us his views and experience. 
He is a first rate farmer, and knows how to communi- 
cate his information." We most heartily second the 
invitation of our correspondent to Mr. Old. 

The same gentleman says, "I will obtain if practica- 
ble a detailed account from one of my neighbors, (who 
although a young man, has not perhaps his equal in 
this section,) of his successful management of the to- 
bacco crop. His crop has averaged from twelve to six- 
teen dollars round, for six or eight years." 

Success is the best evidence of skill, and we hope 
that our correspondent may be successful in his attempt 
to draw out the gentleman alluded to. We would sug- 
gest the propriety of a review of the article upon this 
subject now in a course of publication in our columns. 
The arrangement seems good, and it would be very 
desirable to have the views there taken cither confirmed 
or refuted. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

The article from W. F. although not without merit, 
is too abstruse, lengthy, and theoretical for our co- 
lumns. If he will grant us the liberty of curtailing 
and condensing- we should be pleased to make use of 
his communication. 



78 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



The statement of "Curtius" would be extremely in- 
teresting- if given over a real signature; but we shall 
make it an invariable rule never to publish the result 
of an experiment for which we cannot furnish the name 
of the reporter. Nothing is more valuable than the 
results of experiments, but misstatements may be as 
injurious as correct reports are beneficial, and where 
so much depends upon veracity, we must at least insist 
upon the ability to refer to the reporter, even if we are 
not allowed to publish his name. We hope our friends 
will acquiesce in the propriety of this rule. 

The communication from G. N., Esq., was received 
too late for insertion in this number, but will certainly 
appear in our next. 

Mr. A. B. of Tappahannock, is respectfully informed, 
that the difficulty of the subject caused his inquiries 
upon the best mode of using iime, to be laid over for 
farther investigation. In the meantime, we invite com- 
munication's upon the subject; especially, the result of 
experiments. 



AGRICULTURAL SHOW AND FAIR. 

This laudable enterprise is progressing with remark- 
able spirit and activity. We are glad to find that our 
citizens generally, alive to their true interests, are em- 
barking in it with great zeal. It promises soon to be a 
most brilliant affair. The coming meeting will be well 
worthy the attention of farmers, even from distant parts 
of the State. We had no idea of the undeveloped re- 
sources for such an institution, even in our own neigh- 
borhood, until the spirit of competition brought them 
to our notice. 

The address of the President, whom we consider one 
of the soundest and most practical farmers of the day, 
will alone be sufficient compensation for the trouble of 
a visit to our city on the 26th of May. 

The site for the exhibition, the beautiful tavern lot 
at Bacon Quarter Branch, has been most happily se- 
lected. Every provision and arrangement will be made 
for the accommodation of competitors and visiters. 

Parties of ladies and gentlemen have already been 
formed to visit the exhibition, which must prove of the 
most interesting character to young and old. 

MISCELLANY. 

CHEERFULNESS. 

Old John Selden, of whom it has been said, that "he 
had made it an honor to be an Englishman," has de- 
clared, that "a contented mind under adverse circum- 
stances was the purest homage to the Deity." Cheer- 
fulness has been esteemed a virtue, and the Christian 
and the sage must, alike, eschew that moroseness of 
disposition, which too often inclines us to repine at the 
decrees of fate. 

How much of happiness in this life depends upon a 
cheerful disposition. It is not only pleasant in itself 
but the cause of pleasure in others. Affect the virtue 
if you have it not; it will sustain and impart new en- 
ergy to those around you, and will sweeten the bitterest 
cup in the draught of life. Gloom and discontent make 
an unhappy home and only serve to feed the evil that 
they war against. 

But to sustain the spirits and raise the drooping hopes 
of man has been assigned as the peculiar province of 
the gentler sex. Poets, from Spenser to Washington 
Irving, have delighted to paint woman as a ministering 
angel gaining strength and fortitude from what crushes 



and humbles her rougher companion. But not to the 
imagination of poets has been confined this holy attri- 
bute. Amongst the hundred exhibitions of it which 
the French revolution, that day of trial, brought forth, 
the following is related with all the simplicity of truth) 
and the delicacy of poetry. It is only one of the many 
examples, which we have all witnessed, of the posses- 
sion of that amiable and noble quality which makes a 
Frenchman courted and loved wherever he is known. 
We must love the heart which is free and ready to sym- 
pathize in our joys, forgetful of its own sorrows, and we 
cannot but respect the mind which is superior to fate it- 
self. The story is abridged from the American Farmer. 

MISFORTUNE AND EXILE ENNOBLED. 

By Madame Junot, Duchess D'Abrantes. 

In 1793, M. de Talleyrand was in Boston. 
One day, whilst crossing the market-place, he 
was compelled to stop, by a long row of wagons 
all loaded with vegetables. The wily courtier, 
generally so dead to emotion, could but look with 
a kind of pleasure at these wagoners, who, by 
the by, were young and pretty country women. 
Suddenly the vehicle came to a stand, and the 
eyes of Talleyrand chanced to rest upon one of 
the young women who appeared more lovely 
than the others. An exclamation escaped from 
his lips ; it attracted the attention of the lovely 
one, whose country dress and large hat bespoke 
daily visits to the market, and, as she beheld the 
astonished Talleyrand, whom she recognised 
immediately, burst out laughing. " What ! is 
it you ?" exclaimed she. " Yes, indeed, it is I. 
But you, what are you doing here f l " I," said 
the young woman, " I am waiting for my turn 
to pass on. I am going to sell my greens and 
vegetables at the market." At this moment the 
wagons began to move along ; she of the straw 
hat applied the whip to her horse, told M. de 
Talleyrand the name of the village where she 
was living, requested him earnestly to come and 
see her, and disappeared, leaving him as rivetted 
on the spot by this strange apparition. Who 
was this young market woman 1 Madame la 
Comtesse de la Tour-du-Pin, (Mademoiselle de 
Dillou,*) the most elegant among the ladies of 
the Court of Louis the Sixteenth, king of France, 
and whose moral and intellectual worth had 
shone with so dazzling a lustre in the society of 
her numerous friends and admirers. 

At the time when the French nobility emi- 
grated, she was lively, endowed with the most 
remarkable talents, and like all the ladies who 
held a rank at the Court, had only had time to 
attend to such duties as belonged to her high, 
fashionable, and country life. Let any one fancy 
the sufferings and agony of the woman, born in 
the lap of wealth, and who had breathed no- 
thing but perfume under the gilded ceiling of the 
Royal Palace of Versailles, when, all at once, 
she found herself surrounded with blood and 



* She returned to France under the Consulate 
husband was Prefect of a Department. 



her 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



79 



massacres, and saw every danger besetting her 
young and beloved husband and her infant child. 
They succeeded in flying from France. It was 
their good fortune to escape from the bloody land 
where Robespierre and his associates were busy 
at the work of death, Alas! in those times of 
terror the poor children themselves abandoned 
with joy the paternal roof, for no hiding place 
was secure against the vigilant eye of those 
monsters who thirsted for innocent blood. The 
fugitives landed in America, and first went to 
Boston, where they found a retreat. 

They boarded at Mrs. Muller's, a good-natured, 
notable woman, who on every occasion evinced 
the greatest respect and admiration for her fair 
boarder ; yet M. de la Tour-du-Pin was in con- 
stant dread lest the conversation of that good, 
plain, and well-meaning woman might be the 
cause of great ennui to his lady. What a con- 
trast with the society of such gentlemen as M. 
de Talleyrand and the high minded and polished 
nobility of France ! Whenever he was thinking 
of his sad transition, (particularly when absent 
from his wife, and tilling the garden of the cot- 
tage which they were going to inhabit,) he felt 
such pangs and heart throbbings as to make 
him apprehensive, on his return to Mrs. Muller's, 
to meet the looks of his beloved wife, whom he 
expected to see bathed in tears. Meanwhile, 
his good hostess would give him a hearty shake 
of the hand, and repeat to him, u Happy hus- 
band ! happy husband !" 

At last came the day when the fugitive fa- 
mily left the boarding-house of Mrs. Muller to 
go and inhabit their little cottage, where they 
were to be at least exempted from want, with an 
only servant, a negro, a kind of Jack-at-all-trades, 
viz. gardener, footman, and cook. The last func- 
tion M. de la Tour-du-Pin dreaded most of all to 
see him undertake. It was almost dinner time. 
The poor emigrant went into his garden to ga- 
ther some fruits, and tarried as long as possible. 
On his return home his wife was absent ; look- 
ing for her, he entered the kitchen and saw a 
young country woman, who, with her back to 
the door, was kneading the dough ; her arms, of 
snowy whiteness, were bare to the elbows. M. 
de la Tour-du-Pin started ; the young woman 
turned round. It was his beloved wife, who had 
exchanged her muslins and silk for a country 
dress, not as for a fancy ball, but to play the part 
of a real farmer's wife. 

At the sight of her husband her cheeks crim- 
soned and she joined her hands in a supplicating 
manner. " Oh ! my love," said she, " do not 
laugh at me, I am as expert as Mrs. Muller." 
Too full of emotion to speak, he clasped her to 
his bosom and kissed her fervently. From his 
inquiries he learned that, when he had thought 
her given up to despair, she had employed her 
time more usefully for their future happiness. 
She had taken lessons from Mrs. Muller and her 



servants; and, after six months, had become 
skilful in the culinary art, a thorough house- 
keeper, discovering her angelic nature and ad- 
mirable fortitude. 

11 Dearest," said she, " if you knew how easy 
it is. We, in a moment, understand what would 
cost a country woman one or two years. Now 
we shall be happy ; you will no longer be afraid 
of ennui for me, nor I of your doubt about my 
abilities, of which I will give you many proofs," 
said she, looking at him with a bewitching smile. 
" Come, come, you promised us a salad, and I 
am going to bake to-morrow. To-day the bread 
of the town will do ; but oh ! henceforth leave 
it to me." From that moment Madame de la 
Tour du-Pin kept her word ; moreover, she in- 
sisted on going herself to Boston to sell her ve- 
getables and cream cheese. It was on such an 
errand to town that M. de Talleyrand met her. 
The day after, he went to pay her a visit, and 
met her in the poultry-yard, surrounded by a 
host of fowls, hungry chickens and hens. Truly 
might have been said to her, 

From thee unfledged birds receive their food, 
And all that live know well that thou art good. 

She was all that she promised to be. Besides, 
her health was so much improved that she seemed 
less fatigued with the house work than if she 
had attended the balls of a winter. Her beauty, 
which had been remarkable in the gorgeous pa- 
lace of Versailles, was dazzling in her cottage 
in the new world. M. de Talleyrand told her so. 
" Indeed !" replied she, with naivette ; " Indeed 
do you think so ! I am delighted to hear it. A 
woman is always and every where proud of her 
personal attractions." At that moment the black 
servant bolted into the drawing-room holding 
his jacket in his hand with a long rent in the 
back. " Missus, him jacket tore ; please mend 
him." She immediately took a needle and re- 
paired Gullah's jacket, and continued the con- 
versation with charming simplicity. 

This little adventure left a deep impression on 
the mind of M. de Talleyrand, who used to re- 
late it with that tone of voice peculiar to his 
narrations. 



THE ORIGIN OF COCK-FIGHTING. 

As Themistocles was leading the forces of 
Athens against the Persians, he met some cocks 
fighting ; on which he commanded his army to 
halt, and thus addressed them : " Fellow-soldiers, 
observe these animals ; they do not assail each 
other for the sake of country, nor for their pa- 
ternal goods, nor for the sepulchres of their he- 
roic ancestors, nor for glory, nor for liberty, nor 
for children ; but for mastery. How then ought 
you to fight, who have all these things to con- 
tend for?" This homely but apt speech is said 
to have had a powerful effect in animating the 
Athenians to victory : and in order to perpetuate 



80 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



the memory of the incident, a law was after- 
wards passed, that " there should be a public 
cock-match on the stage every year." And 
hence, says iElian, arose the pastime of cock- 
fighting. 



AN ACCOMPANIMENT. 

The most singular spit in the world is that of 
the count de Castel Maria, one of the most opu- 
lent lords of Treviso. This spit turns one hun- 
dred and thirty different roasts at once, and plays 
twenty-four tunes, and whatever it plays, corre- 
sponds to a certain degree of cooking, which is 
perfectly understood by the cook. Thus, a leg 
of mutton a I'Angldise, will be excellent at the 
12th air ; a fowl a la Flamande, will be juicy at 
the 18th, and so on. It would be difficult, per- 
haps, to carry farther the love of music and gor- 
mandizing. 



MUTUAL CONVERSION. 

Jeremy Taylor says — " There is a strange 
spring and secret principle in every man's un- 
derstanding, that is oftentimes turned about by 
such impulses, of which no man can give an 
account. But we all remember a most wonder- 
ful instance of it in the disputation between the 
two Reynolds, John and William — the former 
of which being a Papist, and the latter a Pro- 
testant, met and disputed, with a purpose to con- 
fute and convert each other; and so they did; 
for those arguments, which were used, prevailed 
fully against their adversary, and yet did not 
prevail with themselves. The Papist turned 
Protestant, and the Protestant became a Papist, 
and so remained to their dying days." 



Richmond Monthly Markets, May 5th., 1841. 



Tobacco. — The inspections are large — prices 
keep steady for general qualities — and superior 
kinds for manufacturing sell at $15 a $16. 

Flour. — Supplies small — sales $4 62| a 
$5. At latter price, the quality extra superfine. 

Wheat. — Scarcely any receiving — good $1 
15. 

Corn. — Supplies small — sales at 50 a 55 cts. 
per bushel. 

Plaster. — Sales at the basin landing at $5. 
Bagwell, Smith & Jones. 

Black-eyed peas — in great demand — market 
bare — would probably bring $1 50 per bushel 
by the quantity. 

Beef— dull at $5 to $6 50. 

Mutton $2 to $3 50. 

Butter — in great demand — good firkin 20 cts. 
" " roll at 22 to 25 cts. 

Lard — dull at 9 cents. 

Bacon — Mountain 8 cents. 
Smithfieki 9 cents. 



CONTENTS OF NO. IV. 

Tobacco. — Mode of drawing- and transplanting - , p. 
57 — after cultivation, do. Tobacco worms, p. 58. Top- 
ping, do. Value of crop upon poor light lands, p. 61. 

Overseers' Wages — Objections to giving overseers a 
share in the crop, p. 58. 

Broken Wind — Hereditary, p. 58. 

Influence of Cultivation on Vegetables— The cause 
of varieties — distinction between varieties and varia- 
tions, p. 59. 

Bacon— To cure, p. 59. To make pork, do. 

Horse Bake for collecting leaves, p. 60. 

Couching — Simple operation — frequently applicable 
to horses that are otherwise useless, p. 60. 

Breeding — Effect of breeding- from an inferior male 
upon future offspring, p. 60. 

Cob Meal — Strongly recommended on the score of 
health and economy, p. 61. 

Gates— Excellent plan of— with cut, p. 62. 

Hogs — Can pork be raised to advantage in Virginia? 
What is the best mode of raising-? What breed is best 
adapted to our circumstances? p. 63. 

Peach Trees — To g-uard from the worm— new plan, 
p. 64. 

Neatness— Value of, about homestead, p. 65. 

Flowers — Cultivation of, recommended to the ladies, 
p. 65. 

Cement for joining- glass, p. 66. 

Farm Pen— Mr. Ed. Hill's arrangement of, p. 66. 

Corn— Great crop of, in New Hampshire, p. 67. Com- 
parison between crops North and South, p. 68. 

Manure— Material wasted that might be made ser- 
viceable in its composition, p. 68. 

Capital — Necessity of, in farming". Most profitable 
when concentrated on small farm, p. 6S. 

Berkshire Sow— Cut of Mr. Subiett's. Advantages 
of the stock, p. 69. 

Lime— Dr. Horton's theory of, p. 70. 

Fencing-Moms multicaulis recommended for hedsre, 
p. 71. Propriety of, doubted by the Editor, p. 71. Mr. 
Chatfield's recommendation lor, condemned, p. 72. 

Wheat — Preparation of seed to prevent smut, p. 71. 
Weeding, p. 71. Harvesting, p. 71. 

Milk— Wonderful difference between the first and last 
drawn, p. 71. 

Hessian Fly— Ply-proof wheat, p. 72. 

Sheep — Arthur Young's opinion of, as a stock in Ame- 
rica, p. 72. 

Kidney Worm in Hogs— Mr. Rutland's remedy for, 
p. 72. 

Lice on Cattle— Removed, p. 72. 

India Rubber — Used for preserving- trees from insects, 
p. 73. 

Tinkler's Patent Plough— Described and highly re- 
commended, p. 73. 

Washing— Recipe for, p. 74. 

Potatoes — Advantage of topping, p. 75. 

Saw Mill — Page's, recommended, p. 75. 

Bone Manure, p. 75. 

Cement for China, p. 75. 

Calf— Large, p. 76. 

Corn — Suckers should not be removed, p. 76. 

Potatoes — To get early, p. 76. 

Sheep — New breed, p. 76. 

Animals — Proper form of, p. 77. 

Anvil — To prevent sound of, p. 77. 

Manuring — Broadcast recommended, p. 77. 

Improved Slock, p. 77. 

Soap Suds — Value as a manure, p. 77. 

EDITORIAL. 

Agricultural Shoic, p. 78. 
Correspondents — Note to, p. 78. 

MISCELLANY". 

Cheerfulness — A virtue, p. 7S. Stoiy of Madame de 
la Tour-du-Pin, p. 78. 

Cock-Fighting- -Origin of, p. 79. 
Spit'-— Extraordinary, p. 80. 
Conversion — Mutual, p. 80. 
Richmond Markets, p. 80. 
Table of Contents, p. 80.