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constitutional vigor, bottom and general powers' of endurance.*

" The term Hackney, in common use, is employed to denote a kind of horse fitted for general services; and is, therefore, understood to exclude the horses of the highest breeding, as the Thoroughbred horse and Hunter; and there is further associated with the idea of a Hackney, an annual of moderate size, not exceeding fifteen hands, and possessing action, strength and temper."' But he adds—"The Hackneys of the present day [1840, and much more so in 1855,] are of lighter form than those formerly sought for, and -there is greater difficulty in obtaining them to suit the services required from our present mixed varieties of half-bred horses, than when horsemen were contented with the older class of Hackneys of stouter form but inferior breeding." It is important to bear in mind that Low, in the passage just cited, means part-bred by half-bred, and that the English apply the term half-bred to every horse with any degree of breeding, no matter how minute, if it be appreciable, nor how gr-eat, provided it be short of full blood.

The term saddlc-Iiorses sometimes signifies only Hacks,—no body now-a-days taking the trouble to say Hackneys,—but it is commonly employed in a more general sense to embrace Hunters and Chargers as well, but not Race Horses, although they go under the saddle on the turf. Horses for the field or the chase are Hunters. Horses used only for road purposes under the saddle, or for road riding in contradistinction to both field-riding and turf-riding, are Hacks. The most showy and elegant variety of Hacks are called Park Hacks, the nobility and gentry of the British Empire riding them in Hyde Park in Rotten Row during the London season. Han-y Hieover,t if I recollect rightly, divides Hacks into three classes, and gives his opinion of them respectively, in substance, as follows:

" The thoroughbred or nearly thoroughbred Hack," whose trot is nothing to boast of, and whose chief gaits are the walk, canter and gallop. This is, according to the English phrase, a most " gentlemanly horse" in appearance.

" The general Hack," not so highly bred as the foregoing, but with general paces,—one who canters and gallops well but does not "slip along" like the thoroughbred or nearly tho-

=» On the turf .stoutness is used in contradistinction to mere speed; and it is applied to a horse who can run and win long races, and many of them to an advanced age, with heavy jockeys, on deep ground, and, if need be, make his final brush with advantage up hill,

•f Practical HorsemaDsbip.

roughbred, and also trots well, but not like the Trotter or Trotting Hack, next to be mentioned. This is quite a gentlemanly-looking animal, and entirely a gentleman's horse.

The Trotting Hacks or Trotters [resembling the Yorkshire Roadsters] diSer a good deal in their breeding, but are not as highly bred as the first two classes. Harry Hieover-evidently thinks the riding a strongly pulling trotter at his fast pace presents a very vulgar and butcherlike appearance. He likes, however, fast trotters in harness in light vehicles, and considers their looks in action then not imgentlemanly.

Under ail circumstances Harry Hieover unites with the French in condemning as abominable the gait of the amble or pace to which some of our Virginians at the present day are so partial.* He complains of the term Cob as a hacknied one, and it is plain from his undercurrent of opinion that he dislikes the whole class of Cobs as ungentlemanly brutes. Cobs, fi'om the docility and quietness of their tempers and their nearness to the ground [pres de terre) are well adapted to the service of inactive and old men,—old fogies, as Yoimg America would disrespectfully say. I remember to have seen Lord Lansdowne, among others, riding a Cob, taking care, however, to have the sorry figure he made redeemed, in a measure, by an attendant groom mounted on a horse of the most distinguished style.

The Rev. John M. Wilsonf speaks of the Hunting Horse as the country gentleman's saddle horse, and of the Hack or Hackney as a riding or road horse of any kind. He adds— " The common saddle horse, technically a Hackney, may possess any character intermediate between that of a well-tempered, easy-going and long-enduring Hunter, and that of the most miserable road hack. The farmer's saddle horse is, in some instances, a Hackney, in some a Hunter, but in the great majority, a horse of all work, adapted equally to the saddle and to draught."

I have not the English or any unmutilated edition of Youatt, but I believe he speaks of " the farmer's horse," and describes him as half Hackney and half Cart Horse. He probably refers to a horse very similar in character to the heaviest Yorkshire Roadsters or the old Road Horses mentioned by Low. Cecil and other well known English writers, I think, employ the term Roadster in so vague a sense aju to embrace every thing of the horse kind that can go out of a walk, and is used on the road, whether in harness or under the saddle, in eon-

* The tx-at Virginia horsemen of the old school did not ride -pacerd.

f Kara! Cyclopedia—Sdinburgh afld Loadon.

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tradistinction to the field and tlie tm-f;* and Nimrod occasionally employs the word road-horse as synonymous with stage coach horse. It must be confessed that there is much confusion in hippological nomenclature, partly iu consequence of the modern change and continued advance to a lighter standard of all the classes and varieties of English horses for quick movement.

Although Yorkshire is the most decided breeding coimty of the Race Horse in the Kingdom.—the Rawclifie Paddocks Company alone having the past season forty-three, and Sir Tatton Tykes thirtj'-seven, racing foals,— the Agricultural Society leave him out of view, (except as the progenitor of Hunters.) as having other patrons in abundance, and perhaps as not falling strictly within the description of a "useful"' horse, and recognize but the three distinct classes of horses for service out of a walk which I have considered,—Coaching or Carriage Horses, Hunters and Roadsters; but you will have perceived that one of these classes, that of Hunters, is not a breed by itself.

4. The horses for agricultural purposes, the plough or the cart, in Great Britain, are incapable of any other than a walking draft, and are divided into the three following classes:

The Suifolk Punch horses are characterized by general uniformity of color, varying, however, in shade. In England they are called "red"' and "chestnut;"' but we should, for the most part, designate them as of a light yellowish sorrel, with lighter manes, tails and legs. They have often a blaze in the face and some white feet, and are vary plain in appearance, being pig-eyed and having heavy, coarse heads. Their strong predisposition to the numerous hereditary diseases of the hock, and indeed unsound legs and feet generally, are such insuperable objections to the Suffolks, according to the old proverb of "no feet no horse,"' that it would not lie worth while to criticise them further, more especially as I believe I am entirely supported in this estimate by Mr. Yager, the competent and intelligent agent whom our public spirited friend, Mr. Dulany, despatched to England to bring over horses for him. I should infer—it is impossible to know—from a comparison between the Suffolks of the present day and the descriptions of the preexisting breed, that crosses upon the original stock of that name with a view to their elongation, to give them a more adequate stride, or enlargement for additional weight in the collar, had not in the aggregate result been successful, but had

* A " Roafl.ster" in the northern portion of tlie United Statcfi h a horse vaed in a light pleasure ▼eiiic'.f'

caused them to lose much of their former energy and pluck. At the last Annual Country Sleeting of the Royal Agricultural Society the Suiiolk stallions were badly beaten.

The other English race of agricultural horses, usually designated the " Cart Horse," is various in color, but more frequently black. The largest specimens are seen in the brewers' drays in London, and, as you are aware, are the heaviest horses in the world. This race was, to a certain extent, modified by crosses of native stallions ixpon some mares which Bakewell imported from Holland. The horses of this breed, I presume, would be dissolved by our sun in summer, and are moreover only adapted to circumstances in which no sort of activity but merely massive power is required,—very smooth flat land and perfect roads and the slowest draught.

The Scotch horses, the Clydesdales, of different colors, are for us, I am satisfied, the best horses of the British Islands in the class of exclusively walking draugJd. It is a significant fact that the distinguished President of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, Mr. Pusey, employs them, and that General de Lamoriciere* states that, from experiments made in France, they despatched their work much more quickly than either the Suffolks or the indigenous races of France. They are handsomer and more active than the Suffolks, with longer limbs and longer bodies. This conformation gives them a greater stride by which they make more rapid progress, but it may augment the expensiveness of their keep. Tradition refers the origin of this breed to an importation, by one of the Dukes of Hamilton, of Flanders stallions which were crossed on the native mares of the county of Lanark, in the vale of the Clyde.

Though the French have occasionally imported British horses, which are larger than their own, for agricultural purposes, I found the universal opinion in France to be that they had nothing to envy the British in the way of horses for slow draught, {gros trait,) and that they prided themselves very much on a valuable, hardy and energetic race, mostly of a gray color, properly called Percheron, from their native district Le Perche, but which our American writers have vaguely styled Norman, (as the synouyme of French, perhaps,) from the fact of having first seen them in the diligences in Normandy on the way to Paris. While many of the larger animals of this breed, which pass by insensibe gradations into the Boulon-naLs, (the biggest and coarsest horse ofFrana • )

"Happwx au eoniw'il d')b Hara.s

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are used for the heaviest draught, the smaller and more agile are employed throughout the Empire in the diligences,—an intermediate draught [trait intermediaire — trait moyoi) ■which does not exist either in England or in the United Stintes,—for the simultaneous transportation of passengers (with their luggage) and merchandise, at a pace between that of the English stage coach and tlie heavily laden wagon. To secure the requisite energy and quickness for this special and severe labor, it is necessary to employ stallions; and I do not believe that geldings,—from the peculiaritj^ of the race in losing much of their power, spirit and endurance on castration,—would answer in our country except for slow work. Indeed, T never saw or heard of French gentlemen riding; or driving Percherons; and I mention them only, because they may be deemed the archetj'pes of the French horses and are the dominant race employed in the public vehicles and in rural labor. The French prefer their horses for all private rapid uses {chevaux de luxe) to be of the blood of the races distln-guees, which they are compelled to seek either across the channel or the Mediterranean.* Crosses with Percherons vulgarize for many generations the English stock for quick draught [trait legcr, by which is meant every draught from that of the coach or carriage inclusive to that of the lightest vehicle) and for the saddle, by shortening their necks, (which is fatal to a saddle horse and to the stjde of a harness horse,) by enlarging their heads, clodding their shoulders, drooping their rumps, cleaving their quarters, putting hair on their legs, or otherwise marring their symmetry, beauty or activity.

[To be continued.]

» • For the Southern Planter. REMARKS

Oil the dispiitcii ijinstUm, whether the OroirUi oj Sorrel is Prevented hy l/i€ Soil being Made Calcareous — and on the facts oAdnced as opposing evidcacr.

Some months past, there appeared in die Southern Planter a coiiimunication from Dr. P. B. Pendleton, ol" Louisa county, in whicli was opposed and condemned my doctrine of acid soils, and also questioned my position tliat the making of acid soils (or those so termed) calcareous, will prevent the growlh of field or sheep-sorrel. This article has been republished in the last American Farmer. (February, 1S55,) ac-

* It is true that France, of i.cccssity, imports a good many liorscs from Germany, not for the purpose of reproduction, however. Tlicy are not ill looking except that they frequently have the Roman nose, (TV^e A?/.s(/?,:(V,) hnt it is said tliey soon sink under fatigue.

companied by another by the editor of that periodical, uniting in the slrictures, and presenting other and more remarkable testimony to sustam his designed refutation of my positions, assumed in the Essay on Calcareous Manures. Deeming that I have already j)ressed upon the public notice these views of mine at as much length as the circumstances required, or would excuse, I had at first determined to make no reply to these strictures. And it is with reluctance now that I shall even partially depart from my first designed inaction. It is only as to my fads which are disputed that I propose to answer; and even this would be unnecessary if the actual results in question were fully known to the readers of the strictures. As to the theory of acid soils, or any merely theoretical opinions of mine, I shall say nothing more in their defence. They will be left to stand or to fall by what I have before set forth. If all that has been already adduced in their support is insufficient, I will not weary the public by repetition, or by attempting to furnish other and more convincing proof

But while thus declining to argue in defence of any theoretical opinions, it is proper to remind my opponents, and their readers, that these views were formed on observations made entirely in the tide-water region; and so fearful was I of extending my doctrines farther than the observed facts authorized, that my assumed positions were limited in expressed and guarded terms, to the tide-water region of Virginia. The preface to the earliest separate publication of the essay in question, commenced with the following saving clause, and which has been republished in every succeeding edition:

'•Tlie object of this Essa}-is to investigate the peculiar features and qualities of the soils of our tide-u-at<:r district, to show the causes of their general unproductiveness, and to point out means as yet but little used, for their effectual and profitable improvement. My observations are particularly addressed to the caltivators of that part of Virginia which lies bctn-ceyi the sea coast and the falls of the rivers, and are generally intended to be applied only within those limits. By thus confining the application of the opinions which will be maintained, it is not intended to deny the pro{)riec3' of their being farther extended. On the contrary, I do not doubt but that they may correctly apply to all similar soils, under similar circumstances: for tlie operations of Nature are directed by uniform laws, and like causes must every where produce like effects. But as I .shall rely for proofs on such facts as are either sufficiently well known aireadj-, or may easily be tested by any inquirer, I do not choose to extend my ground so far, as to be opposed by the assertion of othtr facts, the truth of which can neithur he established nor overlhroim by any available or sufficient testimony."

These sentences certainly and strictly should confine any controversy on my propositions to facts and proofs furnished within my own prescribed limits. My reasoning should be met by opposing facts within these limits, and not drawn from '-Middle Virginia," in which Dr. Pendleton maintains that such opposing facts, of vegetable growth, &c. are presented. But Avhile I claim to have thus limited my assumed ground, in re-

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gard to known facts, and strict reasoning therefrom,it is readilyadmitted that I had alsoinferred (and still infer,) that the same doctrines will apply elsewhere, under like conditions of soil, &c.; and that like facts will appear as the effects of the like causes, in any other locality. The difficulty is to know when the conditions or causes are alike, or che same—and whether the assumed facts and premises are correctly and fully known, or otherwise have been incorrectly observed, and are, therefore, mistaken in their operation; and their report, as evidence, of no value whatever. It Is entirely proper and legitimate that inquirers, or doubters of my propositions, should apply my proposed tests oi' soils in other regions—and if finding different results, to declare that my doctrines were not sustained by the facts in that locality. But it is not legitimate reasoning, to apply views designed especially for and limited to one region, to another very different in important characteristics. If my alleged facts are false, or questionable, they should be assailed, and their weakness exposed. But it should be by conflicting facts and testimony furnished in the same region. Of facts and testimony on the subject, there is no scarcity, among the hundreds of experienced marling farmers in lower Virginia. Among all these, I doubt whether one can be found who will not fully confirm the particular position which the supposed fact.? of Dr. Pendle'on and the editor are brought to disprove—which is. that sufficient marling (and, by necessary inference, also liming,) will speedily destroy the growth of sorrel, and also render the land incapable of producing that plant. And if it be required to know what I mean riy "sufficient" marling or liming to produce this preventive effect, I answer, that it is not any certain quantity, but y\st so much as will leave everywhere in the soil, after thorough intermixture by tillage, the smallest excess of remaining and free carbonate of lime. \C correct analy.^es of soil, after marline: or liming and sufficient tillage processes for thorough intermixture, will truly exhibit a genera! remaining ingredient of carbonate of lime of but one-fburtfi of one-hundredth part of the tilled soil, that soil, (as I believe) will be sufficiently calcareous lo prevent the growth of field or sheep-sorrel.

It is true that there may exist in print little or no direct testimony, other than my own, maintaining this opinion in the general; and it is so, precisely because there are no persons in the marling region to question the flict asserted, or to rpquire its further proof by additional evidence. If some one were to assert that rna-nuridg v/a.-? injurious to the growth of tobacco, it may be doubted whether Dr. Pendleton could prove the contrary by adducing existing testimony to maintain this tact of universal admission, and which, as no one of any experience or knowledge on the .subject had ever questioned its truth, so no one had deemed it necessary directly to affirm it. However, "vlr. VVilloughhy Newton, in his review of the Essay on Calca-reou Manures, (published in Southern Planter.) thou .'h rjol deeming it required to affirm directly

ray opinion in regard to lime destroying sorrel^ does so incidentally and fully to the purpose— and would seem to rely, for the producing of this effect, on much smaller quantities of lime than I have usually applied in the form of marl, I could not refer to any witness on the subject whose opinions, founded on practice and experience, are entitled to or will command more respect, than this distinguished and successful liming farmer.

I have additional reason to protest against my views being tested'-by such facts (of the growtft I of sorrel) as are adduced by both my censors, I because of my personal experience of how ini-j perfectly and incorrectly similar facts have been j observed, and, therefore, incorrectly reported, ! and applied to this question. Long ago, when : the doctrine of lime preventing the growth of sorrel was novel, and was doubled by many, I have heard of many particular and limited facts of the growth on apparently well limed, or calcareous soil—and also have seen and investigated some of the most remarkable of such facts, and apparent contradictions of the doctrine referred to. But every such fact of apparent exception that has come under my personal observation was susceptible of explanation, so as to show abundant reason why the supposed contradiction, though apparent, was not real. In Priace George county, ivhere many such supposed contradictory facts have been noticed, and served at first to strengthen doobtti, probablv not a single marlii:;g farmer, at ilii;. time, could be found to question the truth of the rule that sorrel is certainly destroyed by sufficient marling. When, after marling or liming, sorrel still crowa generally over the land, the fact merely indicates that there had not been applied enough lime to combine with the add, and then to leave ther least surplus of tree lime, or carbonate of lime. If on land certainly well or sufficiently marled or limed, on the general average, sorrel stili grows, and ever so luxuriantly, on particular spaces, it is ov/ing to irregular spreading of the ■ L.anure, or want of its thorough intermixture with the soil by subsequent tillage. A field generally may be too heavily and injuriously marled or limed, and yet any small .<fpaces, left unsup-plied by irregular distribution, would produce sorrel as freely as before. Further, I and many others have seen, and at first with astonishment, sorrel growing vigorously on heaps of highly calcareous marl, which had been dropped, and remained for some rronths before being spread on sorrel-producing land.* No stronger opposing cases in appearance, could be presented. Yet tkese strongest apparent contradicfionrr^, when carefully scrutinized, so far I'rom disproving the existence, afibrded additional confirmation of the antagonistic qualities of marl and sorrel. I found, on examination, that plants so growing sprang out of the natural .soil below.

* Two difT'.Tcnt communication.^, from correspondents ol such facts, were published in different part.s of the Far mers' Rcjristcr, accompanitd by the investigation of similar facl.s, and explanation of the appareot contradiction?, bv the present writer.

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The covering of ground with a heap of marl, Bix or more inches thick, did not intermix with or affect the constitution of the covered soil—and (Kould not, until the marl was scattered, and not effectually until after tillage. The hardy plants, springing in the still favorable (i. e. acid) soil below, pushed upward through the liiarl, as through a mere inert and mechanically opposing mass of matter, without leaving in the marl a single living lateral rootlet, or deriving Irom it the least supply, whether nutritive or poisonous. But however numerous have been these and other apparent exceptions and contradictions to the rule, there is no agricultural fact or rule better established in the now widely extended marling region of Virginia, than that sorrel always disappears, speedily and entirely, from properly marled lands. Lime, different from marl, is applied in light dressings, and never enough at the first time of application, and, therefore, will rarely at first make an acid soil calcareous, even to the least excess of remaining free lime. Therefore, sorrel would not be always removed by one application. But I maintain, and no one will deny, that lime, when serving to make soil equally calcareous, must have the same effect on sorrel as marling.

It is not for me to judge of the opposing facts stated by Dr. Pendleton and the editor of the American Farmer, as reported from their own observations—and still further removed, and less capable of being tested, are those reported to them by other and anonymous witnesses. But, if properly scrutinized by the actual observers, I am confident that all these reported cases of contradiction would have been found to be of as little value for evidence, as were all of the many other cases referred to above, as within my own reach of observation or scrutiny.

But besides the many such alleged and mistaken facts, and things correctly named but misunderstood, which serve to confuse inquiry and mislead deductions, there are other prevalent errors in names which cause even true and correctly observed facts to mislead and deceive. The common sorrel, niniex acetocella, so far referred to, is called sheep-sorrel in lower Virginia. Another kind (which, however, is not of ihe "same family," as Dr. P. supposes,) o.ralis acetocella, is there called horse-sorrel. The former has leaves shaped like narrow and barbed arrow points—and its growth indicates land destitute of carbonate of lime, and deficient in lime of any kind. The horse-sorrel is a trefoil and pod-bearing plant, and its general growth indicates a good soil, naturally rich, or otherwise highly calcareous. Yet in many cases, these two very different plants, are confounded by their common name, and facts in regard to one are applied most erroneously to the other. Still worse—I have recently learned that in some parts of upper Virginia, these two vulgar .'^la.iies are reversed. This confounding, and still more the exchange, of these names would alone beenough to throw thediscussionof ihesub-iect into utter confusion in regard to facts asserted by witnesses applying the names differently.

Again: Pines readily and certainly form the entire second growth of nearly all the exhausted fields, turned out of tillage, in the tide-water region; and also on much of the like lands of the next adjacent higher region. These trees are in both regions termed "old-field" pines. Yet it is a remarkable fact, v.'hich however obvious and plain, is not known or observed by many persons, that the "old-field" pine, which makes the almost universal second growth of the exhausted lands of the tide-water region and a little higher, is a different species from the pines as generally covering old fields still higher up the country—as, for example, in Cumberland county, where my attention was first drawn to this difference. The second-growth pines there all are of the same species of the first or forest growth of both that and the tide-water region— i. e. the "woods" or "pitch" or "yellow" or "short leaf" pine, (pi7i7/6'rari"aii7('s?) The "old-field" pine of the tide-water (pimis tceJa?) has longer leaves, larger cones, and is almost wholly of sap-wood. Further, on our yellowish clay soils, originally of more fertility than the ordinary and more sandy soils on tide-water, the second growth is as generally of pine, but of still a different kind—the "spruce," "river" or "cedar" pine, (pinus inops?) having the shortest leaves and smallest cones of all here named.

IVow, as the seeds of all these kinds must be carried far by the winds, and plentifully diffused everywhere, the almost entire possession of some lands by either kind, and exclusion of the other kinds, in the same climate and like exposures, must indicate different chemical constitution of the soil, or very different conditions as to production. My observations of soils, &c. were made, and views as to their improvement were deduced, in the region where our "old-field" pine (P. tada) was the almost exclusive second growth. I deduced the opinion (which remains unaltered,) that wherever the "old-field" pine thus grew, generally and vigorously, that lime was certainly and greatly deficient in the soil, and that its application would certainly cause speedy and great improvement and increase of fertility. I went farther, and still maintain, that nothing else, without lime, would there efi'ec't profitable and enduring ferlility. Still farther, I maintained that on such soils, witiiout liming or marling, clover could not be grov.-n successfully, and that gypsum would have no effect. But I freely confess that 1 erred in too much generalizing my indications and rules, and erroneously inferred the same to be strictly true as to pine-bearing lands in general. I did not then know that the "old-field" pines so plenty on the red lands of some of ihe counties of mid-land Virginia were of a different specie.?— that those lands refused to bear our "old-field" pine—and also 1 have since learned that clover succeeds there, and gypsum general!}' operates well, and that lime has rarely been found beneficial, on these higher pine-benring, as well as other lands of that region. Such v.'ere my mistakes, caused by too limited observation, and too hastily reasoning from particular facts to general

J

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laws. There is much yet to be learned from observation on these and connected subjects, and on which, correct observation would learn, as furnished by the trees and other plants grow-incT most freely, indications of the peculiar chemical conditions and wants of ditierent soils. It would be very interesting to have observed and made known any such facts—and especially the irregular line of division (which is noi identical with, but somewhere above, the line of the falls of the rivers,) between the regions of the two different "old-field" pine-second growths—and whether this line is, or is not, identical with that which separates the lower lands improvable by lime and not by gypsum, from the upper lands improvable by gypsum (in many cases,) and rarely, as it is reported, by lime. I invite Dr. Pendleton, and every other competent agriculturist, residing near to these lines of separation, to observe and report upon these facts.* I am attempting to pursue this investigation, and will be glad to add my contributions to those asked for from other observers.

Until receptly, I had known almost nothing of the facts just referred lo, of the region above the falls; and my personal observations have been very limited even since their being so directed. Scarcely any satisfactory information is to be derived from foregone observations, by inquiries, because scarcely any one has noticed these differences with care or correctness. But even from my previous very slight and general means for information, and with scarcely any aid from personal inspection, I had reached the conclusion that there existed important and general differences in the chemical constitution of the soils below and those farabove the falls of the rivers, in regard to the proportions of lime contained naturally—and, inversely, their degrees of want of applications of lime—and also of the relative capacities of the lands of these different regions to be enriched by aid of gypsum, and by putrescent manures, without previous liming. These views were stated generally and concisely, but distinctly, in the last (5th) edition, pages 160, 161 of the Essay on Calcareous Manures.

EdMCND PwUFFlN.

Marlhourne, Feb. 7. 1855.

! A GOOD PLAIN CURRY.

i Cut up undone or fresh veal, rabbit, or fowl: j if the latter, take off the skin. Roll each piece I in a mixture of a large spoonful of flour and I half an ounce of curry powder. Slice two or three onions, and fry them in butter, of a light j brown. Then add the meat, and fry all to-I gether till the meat begins to brown. Put all into a stewpan, pour in boiling water enough to cover, and simmer very gently for two or three hours. A little broth is used instead of water, for cooked meat. Serve with pl.njn boiled rice.

APPLE JELLY.

Wash and cut the apples in two m '.-liree pieces, to see if there be any worms in them; put them in a bright brass or porcelain lined kettle, and cook until the apples are done; take out and strain the juice from them, and put them on the stove again, and boil until they begin to look dark; then add one-third as much sugar, by weight, and boil until they become a jelly; put into cups or tumblers, and tie paper over the tops. This is excellent for making jelly cakes. Try it.— Ohio Cultivatw.

Penny and penny laid up will be many.

* To aid new observers of the desired fads, of the presence or absence of different kinds of pine?, I will offer the most certain marks of distinction of the species eorn-mon in either lower or middle Virginia. The "old-field" pine of the lower country, {P. ta:da?) has leaves growing three to^'ether i« each sheath. The "yellow," "pitch" or "woods" pine, (/-". variabilis?) and the "river" or .spruce' pine, (P.inops?) have their leaves growing two in a sheath. These last two differ so much in general appearance, that no observer can mistake one for the other. The only other pines in lower Virginia, are the "slash" pine and the "long-leaf" or Southern pine. The last is seen onlv -n part of the somhcrn margin of Virginia—and the precedli.g grows only in ponds or wet and poor forest land. The long-leaf pine (.P. palmtris or australis) has iu leaves three in a sheath, and also, I believe, the slash p^ne I P. n^rotina?)

[Published by order of the Executive Committee.]

Washington College., Lexington, Va. } October 27, 1854. S

To the Committee of the Virginia State

Agricultural Society on Written Essays, &c.

Gentlemen,—I herewith send you a report of some investigations made on the potato, so far as those investigations have been completed. Had there been time after the maturity of the potato crop, I would have given you a complete analysis of both the specimens examined; but I have been under the necessity of confining my examinations to those ingi-edients of the ash, most likely to be materially influenced by the fertilizers employed. If you do not consider my labors worthy of one of the premiums offered please hand the manuscript over to the editor of the Southern Planter, as a communication to that paper.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

J. L. Camfbell, Prnf. Chemistry Washington College.

ON THE INFLUENCE OP ASiJES, GYPSUM AND COAIMON SALT ON THE CHEMICAL CHARACTER OP THE POTATO.

In the spring of 1852 I applied to a certain portion of a small lot of potatoes, a mixture

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER,

of wood ashes, gypsum and salt—using four bushels of leached ashes, one bushel of gyp-aum and half a gallon of salt. The application was made soon after the tops began to make their appearance above the surface of the ground. Only a part of the lot was treated with these fertilizers, while in all other respects the whole was cultivated alike. The part to which the fertilizing mixtm-e was applied, produced not only a more abundant crop than the other, but potatoes of much better quality.

Tliis led me to try a similar treatment of the greater part of my little crop in 1853. The preparation in this case was varied, by using a gallon of salt instead of half a gallon. The application, too, was somewhat modified. To one portion, it was applied directly to the tubers when planted; to another portion it was applied on thj surface after the tops had appeared above gi-ound. The result this year was more satisfactory than it had been the year previous, although the season v/as unfavorable. There was, however, no perceptible difference between those having the fertilizers applied at the time of planting and those having it subsequently applied on the surface' of the ground.

Such was the effect of this mode of treatment upon the growth and quality of the potatoes, that I resolved to subject to a chemical examination, specimens cultivated both with and without the application of these fertilizers. This was prevented, by unavoidable circumstances, until recently.

In the spring of the current year, (1854,) I prepared for potatoes two small plots of ground, both alike in character and fertility, but both of a stiif clay soil, unfavorable to a good crop. After the ground had been broken up, trenches were opened 2^- feet apart, and about 3 or 4 inches deep. The potato tubers were drilled in the bottom, and the trenches then filled up with a mixture of broken straw and stable manure. Over this the mixture of ashes, plaster and salt was applied on one of the portions of ground, at the rate of about twelve bushels per acre; while it was entirely withheld from the other portion. The subsequent cultivation was the same in both cases. The resulting crop was about as one to five in favor of that to which the mineral fertilizers were applied.

I deem it unnecessary to give farther details, , as to the mode of cultivation, results in quantity, (fee. as the object kept chiefly in view was a chemical investigation. This investigation Is not yet as fully carried out as I desire, and intend it shall be; but I have thought that the results, as far as attained, might possess some

intereet in the mind of the intelligent agriculturist, and probably lead directly to more extended and more accurate practical experiments.

Specimens of the tubers cultivated under both the modes of treatment above given, have been examined—1. With respect to the quantity of ivater contained in each ; and, 2. With respect to the influence of the fertilizing mix-inrc employed^ on the relative jyroportioii of certain inorganic elements.

For the sake of brevity, we will designate the specimen cultivated with the mineral manures by the letter A, while we will call that cultivated with organic manure alone, B.

The specimen A, carefully cleaned, cut into thin slices, and dried at the temperature, 212° Fahrenheit, lost 77.50 per centum of its weight; showing the presence of that proportion of water not combined chemically with other substances. The specimen B, dried in the same way, lost 82.20 per centum of its weight-Thus A was found to contain nearly five per cent, more than B of the solid, nutritious, valuable part of the tuber; that is, of starch, gum, &c., which make the potato valuable as an article of food.

After being thoroughly dried, A yielded 4.15 per cent, of ashes; while B yielded but 4.00 per cent.

When brought under analysis the ashes of A and B were found to vary considerably in the proportions of some of their elements. They have been examined only with respect to the relative quanities of ^;otassa, soda, sulphuric acid and chlorine contained in each. It will be remembered that wood ashes afford, even after ordinary lixiviation, an abundance of po-tassa, together with several other valuable fertilizing substances, as liine, phosjjhoric acid, &c. Gypsum gives an abundant supply of snlplturic acid and lime. Common salt, (the chloride of sodium,) is the source of chlorine and soda.

It is unnecessary to give the process of analysis in full detail, as it was that ordinarily pursed in such investigations. Solutions of like portions of the ashes of A and B, carefuUy weighed, were made in dilute hydrochloric acid. From these solutions every thing, except the chlorides of potassium and sodium, was separated by the use of solution of baryta, and afterwards of ammonia and carbonate of ammonia. The solution containing these was evaporated to dryness, the residuum ignited and weighed. The chloride of potassiiun was then separated and weighed as platino-chloride of potassium. The remainder, after subtracting the weight of the cliloride of potassium thus

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER

76

determined, from the original weight of the mixed chlorides, was regarded as giving the quantity of chloride of sodium. From these chlorides, the quantity of potassa and soda may be readily deduced.

The sulphuric acid was separated from solution with chloride of barium, and weighed as sulphate of baryta.

The chlorine was obtained from solutions in veiy dilute nitric acid by precipitation with nitrate of silver, and estimated from the resulting chloride of silver.

The following table will present at once a view of the results obtained by the above investigation, together with the results of analyses made in other parts of the world. The figures represent the proportions of the several substances obtained from 100 parts of the ashes. The columns marked A and B give the results comparatively of the analysis of the two specimens under consideration. The numbers in the third and fourth columns are taken from Johnston's and Norton's Agricultural Chemistries respectively.

Tnfereiices. —From the relative quantities of water found in the above specimens, we may infer,

1. That the presence of inorganic fertilizers has an influence on the character of the organic part of the tubers,

2. We may infer that the inorganic part of the potato may vary considerably, according to the excess or deficiency of certain elements, not generally abundant in soils that have been long under cultivation.

3. We may infer the advantage of applying near to the root of the growing potato those substances taken up by it in considerable quantities.

Remarks. —1. The quantity of phosphoric acid found in the ash of the potato, points to lone earth and other phosphates, as a useful addition to the mixture used in the foregoing experiments, especially on soils which have been much exhausted by the growth of wheat and Indian com.

2. Wood-ashes afford an appreciable quantity of soluble silica, and render soluble some portions of that already existing in the soil. This gives a healthful growth to the stems, and probably has the effect of preventing some diseases. Diseases ha\'ing their origin in the

stocks of plants, often reach both the root, a3 in the potato, and the grain, as in the rusting of wheat.

3. It should be stated that the variety of potato used above, was that known here as the " long red." This variety contains a larger per centum of water than is found in other varieties generally, when maturely grown. Potato tubers contain more water, too, in a dry than in a wet season. This is owing to their imperfect growth. This result, however, maj^ obtain in an extremely wet, as well as in an extremely dry season; the cause being in both cases immature growth.

J. L. Campbell, Lab. of Washington College, Va., Oct. 1854.

LIVE AND NET WEIGHTS OP MUTTON,

The following are the live and net weights of the slaughtered mutton, exhibited at the Maryland State Agricultural exhibition, in October, 1854. The slaughtered mutton were weighed and exliibited with the head and feet on, and 7 lbs. is deducted from the weight of each one, for the head, and feet taken off just below the knee, and is believed to be a full deduction:

Thomas Hughk-tfs Cotsvvold

Mr. Meade, of A'irginia, Mixed Breed . ... A. Castleman's Cotswold and South Down.

M. T. Goldsborough's South Down

■William Keybold'.s Oxfordshire

J. N. Goldsborough's Cotswold

Net, head and feet off.

Rate per cent, of net to live weight, head and feet off.

113i

101

129

124

1201

117*

62 per cent.

63 per cent.

67^ per cent. 61J per cent. 61| percent.

. The above weights were accurately taken on the ground, by the exhibitor of Fairhank's Scales.— American Farmer.

THE SOUTHEKN PLANTER.

For the Southern Planter. DR. BALDWIN'S sflADE THEORY.

In the Southern Planter for the 9th month (September) last is an essay by R. T. Baldwin, of Winchester, headed "Eleven Chemical Changes." This essay is intended to advocate the Doctor's theory of shade, as the best means of improving land, and most worthy of the attention of "practical farmers." While giving full credit to his practice as a farmer and one that has done much in improving his land, we may be permitted to call in question the soundness of his theory. Some may say, no matter what his theory is if his practice is good, but he gives us his theory instead of his practice; and as the one without the other may mislead others, the design of this essay is to induce him to give his practice.

The substance of his theory is contained in liis last paragraph: "That the surface of the earth itself when closely covered with any substance whatever, will readily undergo a chemical change is plainly manifest, for it is changed in color, consistency and fertility," &c. That the vegetable or organic matter in a soil will undergo "a chemical change," is doubtless true, but that the inorganic materials in such soil will do so is by no means certain. For a soil destitute of vegetable matter will not underg-o any "chemical change," however well it may be shaded. Why is not the soil just below the depth of the plough not made rich? It is "in a close, cool, damp and dark location." It may be replied that it has not a proper contact with air, but organic matters placed in such a situation will undergo "a chemical change," though not perhaps as rapid!}- as if placed nearer the surface.

This essay of the Doctor's is teo theoretical; too much in technical language; too much as if lie wanted to show his learning. To be readily understood by the generality of "practical far-n:iers," we want something that we can easily comprehend. He "begs leave to present his individual opinions without reference to those entertained by scientific writers." This is well enough. A man should examine for himself and entertain his opinions, and should be allowed full liberty to express them; but when he gives tliem to the public, and they conflict with (he opinions of others, he may very properly be called upon for evidence in their support. "Of eleven chemical changes enumerated by chemists to which vegetable and animal substances are subject during their decompositions," he enumerates, as "most important," fermentation, ere-macausis, combustion and putrefaction, as four distinct and peculiar "chemical processes, because they require different circumstances to produce them, and leave products entirely dissimilar." He describes "decay, decomposition, eremacausis," as "that chemical change which all animal and vegetable matter undergo when exposed upon the surface of the earth to the vicissitudes of the weather," and says "that the ricks of hay and straw which the farmers, in

their barn-yards convert annually into many loads of valuable manure, if subjected to this process, form a trifling residue, destitute of fertilizing properties." Now, if he had said that if ricks of hay and straw were left untouched until they were entirely rotten down, they would make but little manure, while, if placed in barnyards where stock frequented, and their manure and urine were incorporated with it, they would make a far greater portion of valuable manure, every one would have understood him. "It is a well ascertained fact," he asserts "that the-body of a horse or cow, located properly for pu-trel'action, yields manure enough to produce thirty bushels of wheat," and that wood, "when properly putrified, makes good manure." The assertion of these facts, if true, are of no importance to the "practical farmer," unless he is made acquainted with the process by which the result can be realized, and it is to be hoped that we shall be informed on this point.

The Doctor considers "the residue" resulting from the "putrefactive process" as alone capable of feeding "all plants in all soils in every variety of climate," and asserts, "It is itself incapable of experiencing any other chemical change, and is consequently indestructible."— Are these assumptions true? Does the living plant in assimilating the various substances necessary in perfecting its organism, perform no chemical change? Are all these taken up and deposited precisely as they existed in the earth within reach of the plant, or is not the growth of the living organism the result of chemical changes. What is meant by its being "indestructible" is difficult to conjecture. Philosophers tell us that in the dissolution of matter nothing is lost; that the decomposition of substances form new compounds; and that the destruction of one generation furnishes material for the growth of the next. He considers that "the fertilizing properties" of the "residue of putrefaction" "does not depend upon the ammonia which it contains," and instances the "poudrette prepared by the French chemists," from which he says, "every particle of ammonia is expelled by quick lime." Does this manure contain no ammonia? and would not the materials of which it is composed, be far better fertilizers, if they could be used without being thus manufactured? Chemists tell us that nightsoil, from which poudrette is mainly prepared, contains carbonate, sulphate and chlorate of ammonia. The addition of quicklime might decompose the carbonate, appropriate the carbonic acid to itself and liberate the ammonia, but in decomposing the sulphate, sulphate of lime would be formed, and that substance, we are told, will retain the ammonia, and form a compound not volatile. What would be the value of guano as a fertilizer if it was deprived of its ammonia? Will Dr. Baldwin inform us? All practical chemists exclaim against mixing lime with it.

Another view that appears objectionable is, that a substance that under one form of application is injurious to vegetation is not a manure, though under other forms it may be a good fer-(ilize'r. "Ashes, when recently made, prove in-

THE SOUTHERN PLANTEE.

77

junons to all vegetation, consequently cannot be manure. When incorporated with earth, however, i: does possess the power oi'fertilizing it." Is not this a distinction without a difference." Are not all manures recommended to be well mixed with earth to give them t'ull effect. May Bot stable manure be so applied as to "be injurious to vegetation." Guano, we know, may. and are they to be considered not lo be manures, because of such improper effect. Is not this darkening caused by words without knov/-ledge?

He goes on to explain the ••modus operandi" of the -'putrefactive process." "Vegetable substances, when ploughed under, are favorably located for putretaction; that is, they are placed in a close, cool, dark a?jd damp location. There IS, however, one circumstance wanting which is known to be indispensable to the generation of the putrefactive proces.= ; that is a contact with air." Will the Doctor attempt to make us believe that when "vegetable substances are ploughed under," all that is wanted is a contact with air? Substances placed in such a situation cannot be excluded from it. We who are "practical farmers,"' know very well that vegetable substances so ••ploughed under," ahvays are converted into manure, provided they can be kept sufficiently wet; but if they cannot be so kept, no contact with air will answer the purpose. The past season gave ample testimony to this fact. All that is wanted is sufficient moisture to insure •'the putrefactive process" going on without any necessity of alluding to the "oxides of calcium, potassium, or sodium," as being capable ot ■'completing the chain of circumstances."

-Now if Dr. Baldwin will come out and give his experience as a farmer, the quality of his .goil. the means he employed in his renovation, in a plain way, so that all may see how to follow his practice, he will confer a favor on the agriculture of the country, far beyond what he can ever hope lo, by publishing such essays as the one ander .!;eview.

Y.A.RDLEY Taylor.

For ihe Southern Planter.

ANALYSIS OF SOILS.

Mt. Editor, —I observe a remark in the January number (v;hich I have just received) to which I will invite your attention. Accompanying an article from the Michigan Farmer, oh the -Analysis of Soils," you say "that stimulants exhaust in proportion to their power of producing an unnatural yield." I have noticed •/ery many similar exfiressions. Dr. Stuart, of Balt.more, in an address before the Agricultural Society of .Maryland. October. 18.53, speaking of the effects of guano, says, '-And the effect of this variety of manure is admitted by all good authority to be merely to stimulate the plant to extend its roots and gain nourishment from a larger amount of soil." Mr. Edmunds, in his addre.^3 before the first meeting of the Virginia Society, encourages the yo-jng men of Virgi-

nia who have to deal with soils exhausted by scourging adtivaiion.'' Ke tells them "that the foundation of improvement may be laid in the use of guano and other .special manures." But 1 think he "chills the enthusiasm" he creates when he telle them "that the effect of this class of manures is, to cause a heavy production without supplying all the ingredients which the crops need, and unless ameliorating crops, occur vegetable litter be supplied, exhaustion of the land will follov." their continued use." I have heard others say that the effects of guano on the soil were similar to those produced on the stomach of a dyspeptic by a glass of brandy and water, leaving the organ in a more enfeebled condition. There seems to be a remswliable confusion of ideas on this subject; some say the plant is unnaturally stimulated—others, the soil.

Now, what do Dr. Stuart and his authorities mean? Stimulate a plant to gain nourishment. Are not all stimulants nourishment lo plants? and is there any other mode of stimulating a plant than by nourishment? If two hundred pounds of guano will stimulate or nourish one acre of corn, imparting such vigor and strength as to enable the plant to send its roots all over the neighborhood in pursuit of food, will not 200 lbs. more supply all its wants, supersede the necessity of this frtdtless chase, (for the Doctor is speaking of a poor, barren soil,) and produce a full crop. What does Mr. Edmunds mean? If the land is already exhausted by ^'■scourging cultivation" how can it be exhausted by guano? and how can a heavy production be made ou exhausted land, unless all the necessary ingredients be supplied? And what, Mr. Editor, may I ask, do you mean, when you say. "that stimulants exhaust in proportion to their power of forcing an unnatural yield?" Is there not false analogy in all this? Do not such terms and such effects of stimulus presuppose organic, nervous structure?

On the question, whether science is doing any thing for agriculture is rather, whether chemistry is rendering any practical benefit, I may again invite your attention to Dr. Stuart's address, in answer. I will here make one or two suggestions on the subject of guano. It is complained that this manure is not a permanent improver.

Query 1. In the u.se of all expensive, or "bought" manures, does not true economy recommend that just the amount necessary for the current crop should be used and no more?

Query 2. If 200 lbs. guano will produce 20 or 25 bushels of wheat on land that would not produce 5 bushels without, (see Mr. Newton's statement,) is it not ungrateful and unreasonable to talk about re&iduuni for permanent improvement? and is it not unjust not to give credit for the straw as a means of improvement?

Our wheat crop.? are looking backward and badly. ,

Very respectfully.

Your obedient servant,

PiANKE Tank.

Glvucesier. Jan. 20. 1S55.

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER

For the Southern Planter. USEFUL HINTS FOE VIRGINIA GARDENERS.

BY E. G. KGGELING, FLORIST.

March, the first of the spring months, is of great importance to the gardener. Many processes must be performed, if the weather permit, and not a few vegetables put into the earth. The amount of labor to be performed will vary, of course, as the season is more or less forward; but in any event, he who would have his garden produce plentifully in the corn-ins; months, must be diligent during this. The following hints should be followed without fail, in the

KrrCIIEN GARDEN.

A^j^aragits. —This is the best time to make riew beds, but we cannot now stop to describe the manner of making them. Supposing the beds to have been made in a previous year tlicre is work for the gardener. The chief is to loosen the eartli about the plants. Care must be had that in performmg this, the roots are )iot wounded, or in any wise disturbed. The gardener should provide liimself with a fork, prongs to be one inch wide, with blunt points. A connnou dung fork will answer. Thus provided, pass over the beds, forking tJieni well, so tis to loosen the soil to the depth of sevei'al inches, and moving the manure with the soil. A few radish and lettuce may be sown upon the bed after the forking is done and before the raking. If too many be not put in, no injury will ensue to the asparagus.

Bect&. —To have these early recj^uires a very rich soil. Sow the seed in drills opened from ten to fifteen inches apart and one inch in depth. After they come up the plants sliould be thinned out, leaving a space of five inches between each plant. ^langel wur;;el and sugar beet should be put in drills eighteen inches to two feet apart and twelve inches in the rows.

Beans. —Those desiring to have early snap beans may sow a few in the latter part of the month, but not even then unless the}' can select a spot exposed to the sun and secure from the cold winds which often prevail in Marc'i.

Cehnj will flourish best in a deep, moist soil, friable, and inclinifig to lightness, and withal very rich. It should have been sown in February. If it was not done then, let it be done at once. The earth should be prepared very much like tobacco plant-beds are. It iiourishes best in a deep moist, I'ich, friable soil. It is of prime imporiance that the spot selected be free from weeds, as the plants when young are very" delicate and easily destroyed. The seeds arc put in broa,dcast and scattered thinly.

Cabbage Plants which are growing in the hot-beds should be cautiously introduced to the outer air, to render them hardy and fit for transportation. This process may be performed about the last of the month. From and after the 15th of the month beds maybe sown in the opei-i ground.

Egg Plant. —If sown this month should be in a hotbed, with a view to forward them. When from five to six inches high the plants should be pricked up and planted in the bed, to prepare them for the final removal to the open ground.

Lettuce should be sown without delay where they will have a warm southern exposure, and should be transplanted at the earliest possible period.

Onions. —Sow white Portugal onions. These produce the finest for pickling purposes. If the buttons have not been planted, let it be done without delay.

Parsley should be sown this month. It makes a very pretty border if sown in single rows on the edge of the square. , This is the most economical method, and while it economizes space it ornaments the garden.

Peas. —This delightful vegetable rec|uires careful cultivation. To hare them early, sow without delay, in ground well prepared for the reception of the seed. Continue to sow every two weeks, and thus a constant supply may be secured throughout the season, for as one set of vines cease to bear another will begin. About the last of the month the soil should be drawn up to the plant to shield and protect it and aftbrd nutriment. When the plants have attained the height of six inches let them be supplied with sticks. The best method of sticking peas is to form a species of lattice work, by putting the sticks into the earth.

Potatoes. —Plant without delay.

Peppers, Red, may be sown on a warm border. When the plants have attained a sulficient size, they should be removed and planted out in rows about twelve inches apart.

Radish. —Sow at this season where there is a warm, sunny exposure, and if it be desirable to have a constant supply, let the sowing be repeated every ten days.

Radish, Horse. —The best method of cultivating this is as follows: dig a trench eight to nine inches deep and fill the bottom with manure; cut the roots into small pieces about four inches long and drop them eioht or ten inches apart. In five or six weeks the plants will make their appearance.

Salsify should be sown the last of the month in drills about an inch deep and twelve inches distance between the driUs.

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER

79

Tomatoes. —At this period sow in a hotbed, to forward the plants. When the pLxnts have attained five or sis inches height, they should be pricked up and set out in the bed, to prepare them for final transplanting to the open ground. They should be placed about six inches apart, and so soon as. the weather becomes settled the plants should be removed to the position they are to occupy in the garden.

These suggestions are designed particularly for gardeners about the vicinity of Richmond, but they will be found generally applicable for gardenins throughout Virginia and North Ca-rolina. They have been very hastily put together, but they are the results of many years' experience, and, so far as thej- go. may be implicitly relied upon. In the future numbers of the Planter we may give fuller information to guide the operations of the Virginia gardener.

FLOVv'EPi. GAE.DEN.

Yery little can or ought to be done among the flowers during the present month. ' Next month there will be more occasion for work in this department, and full directions will then be given. No homestead should be without its flower garden, and a very moderate share of attention will add largely to the attractiveness of Virginia houses. Surely such labor were well bestowed.

WORK I.N' THE ORCIL\E.D.

All kinds of fi-uit trees should be pruned immediately. In doing this, remove all the inside shoots, as these absorb sap to no profit. The outer branches are the only ones that produce, and they will absorb all the juices which are drawn up from the roots of the tree. Whatever there is consumed by these useless appendages of the trees tend only to impoverish the fruit bearing branches. Judicious pruning not only improves the fruit, but causes the tree to bear earlier and prolongs its life and the period of fruitfulness. Thus a tree kept well pruned will bear double as long as one that is neglected. In pruning, tlie branches to be removed should be cut oif close to the body of the tree, and the cut should be made smooth by a very sharp knife. This should never be neglected where the branches are more than one inch thick. Be careful to have the branches, so that one shall not cross another, and all with the extremities pointing upward. It is desirable in most cases that the scar made by the pruning knife be covered with a composition, made of er^ual parts of beeswax and tallow or lard. This causes it to heal more readily.

Peach Trees are often injured by what is termed the cancer worm. A winged insect de-

posits its eggs at the base of the tree and just below the surface of the earth. The eggs are deposited in July, become larvre in the fall, and the next spring are worms. They not unfre-quently destroy Avhole orchards, and nowhere are they more common than in this region. These scurges are easily destroyed by the following process: Make a small basin' or trench around the tree and fill it with air slaked lime or leached ashes. This not only prevents the deposit of the eggs, but effectually destroys worms or larva; which may already be there.

Gooseberries. —The method generallj- pursued with gooseberries in Virginia pre^'ents anything like success in cultivating this delightful berry. The grand mistake is in the manner of propagation. Let any gardener follow the directions here submitted and he will be astonished at the result. Gooseberries should be propagated from cuttings. Select wood of the growth of the last year. Make cuttings from six to eight inches long. Carefully pinch off all the eyes, or 1)uds, from the bottom to within two inches of the top. Insert the cutting thus prepared in the earth, burying it up to the point to which the eyes were removed. Roots will put out wherever there was an eye, and the stock will grow up clean and comely like a tree. It will not be troubled with suckers, and while much iiiore ornamental than gooseberry bushes usually are, will produce much finer fruit. The writer can show berries nearly equaling iu size a partridge-egg, and produced simply by following the plan herein suggested. If others will do likewise, they will find the produce of their gooseberry nurseries very much improved. It remains to add, that gooseberries should be placed where they will have plenty of sunshine. They do not thrive well in the shade.

Ciirranls. —The remarks concerning the propagation and cultivation of gooseberries are equally applicable to currants. They should be treated in precisely the same manner and haye the same freedom of access to the rays of the sun.

StraU'berrlcs. —The beds should be well cleaned during this month from all litter and weeds, and the earth well loosened with the hoe. After this has been done the plants should be covered over with pine tags or wheat straw; the former is the better. The object of thus covering the strawberry plant is to keep the fruit from contact with the soil. Some persona erroneously suppose that litter is spread for the purpose of protection. Nothing of the kind is needed and the only good purpose subserved is that we have noted.

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

For the Southerrf"Planter. BUCKWHEAT.

2Ir. Editor, —A writer iu the last January Planter said some ''good words"' for the grain placed at the head of this article; yet he seemed to give into the generally received opinion that it is a great exhauster of tlie soil when sown for the grain and not for the purpose of being-ploughed under, when green, as a fertilizer. I wish, with your permission to say a word or two in vindication of buckwheat, from the. almost universal opinion that it is, in an unusual degree, an impoverisher of the soil.

I am much inclined to think this opinion and the prejudice against the grain arising therefrom, is, in a great measure, owing to the clean and naked condition in which it leaves land—literally destroying every other kind of vegetation, and leaving "no green thing," consequently giving to the field a most " poverty-stricken'' appearance. But I think appearances in this, as in many other cases, are against the truth, and for the following reasons : The roots of buckwheat do not strike deep into the ground, but are confined chiefly to the surface, which materially narrows the extent of soil laid under contribution by the growth and maturity of the plant. Again: it grows better than any other crop on poor or exhausted soils—making a good yield on lands that will scarcely produce wheat or corn at all. Whether this is owing to the fact that it requii'es less nutriment for its maturity than other grains, or derives it mainly fi"om the atmosphere, is not worth while to inquire, the main point being that the soil is called upon but for a small contribution to its growth and maturity. I think the fact that it succeeds best when sown on thin lands, conclusive that it is not a great exhauster.

I have not been an extensive grower of buckwheat, yet as far as my experience goes it confirms the opinion expressed above. Neither iny experience nor observation furnishes me with any evidence that it impoverishes the soil more than any other grain crop.

T.

Av."i(sta, Jan. 29. 1855.

For the Souther)i Planter.

CULTIVATION OF INDIAN CORN.

Mr. Editor, —As the time has now arrived for tho farmers to be malting preparations for a corn crop for the present year, I think it bighly important that they should interchange opinions, (through the Planter, by and with your consent.) of their different modes of preparation and after culture of this important

crop; and first of all, the kind of land as all farmers know all land cannot be successfully farmed in the same way. The land in this section is limestone with a considerable quantity of sand and in many places gravel; also a good clay subsoil. My mode of preparation is, when I have sod, to plough as early in the winter as possible, that the land may undergo a thorough freezing. About the middle of April, after hauling all the well rotted manure I can get, harrow to a fine tilth; lay off both ways four feet, drop a small quantity of ashes and plaster in each hill; then drop from three to five grains in a hill and cover from two to three inches deep. As soon as the corn is well up, drop some of the same mixture on each hill; then harrow with a two-horse harrow, the middle teeth a little raised, one horse walking in each row. Replant and thin as soon as possible, leaving two stalks in a hill; I then commence ploughing with double shovel ploughs; plough three times before harvest, if possible, and once directly after, which finishes the cultivation.

When I have stubble land to prepare for corn I haul all the rough manure on the land before I plough it; harrow and lay off in the same way, except that I first lay off with the single shovel plough, and then in the same furrows with a ripper, from twenty to twenty-two inches long, made of a bar of iron two inches wide and one inch thick; I then drop the mixture as before stated; harrow the same way, and then use the rippers in ploughing both ways twice in each row, as near the corn as possible—twice with the double shovels bef:>re harvest, and once after.

I hope this will cause you to give your experience in the culture of corn, also many others. I propose, at the same time, if the present size of the Planter is not sufficient to give the subscribers an opportunity of publishing their different modes of culture, that it be issued semimonthly.

"Yours, respectfully, M. E. K.

Prcdrrlr]: Co'_. Va.. Jan. 26, 18-5.5.

EGGS, CONVENT FASHION.

Boil four eggs for ten minutes, put them in cold water, peel asd slice thin one onion, put into a frying pan' one ounce of butter; when. melted, add the onion, and fry white: thtm add a tea-spoonful of flour, mix it well, add about half a pint of milk, till forming a nice white sauce,, half a tea-.spoonful of salt, and a quarter ditto of pepper; when nicely done, add the eggs, cut into six pieces each, crossways, toss them up—and when hot through, serve on toast.

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

31

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

RICHMOND, MARCH, 1855.

TERMS.

One Dollar and Twexty-pive Cents per annum, which may be discharged b}- the payment of One Dollar only, if paid in office or sent free of postage within six months from the date of subscription. Six copies for Five Dollars; thirteen copies for Ten Dollars, to be paid icrariably ia advance.

^^^ No subscription received for a less time tlian one year.

' Subscriptions may begin with any number. ' No paper will be discontinued until all arrearages are paid, except at the option of the Editor. ly Office corner Main and Twelfth steets.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

A limited umnber will be inserted at tlie following rates: For each square of ten lines, first insertion, One Dollar; each continuance, Seventy-five Cents. Advertisements out of the City must be accompanied with the money, to insure their insertion.

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

NOTICE.

^^ If subscribers do not order a discontinuance of the Planter before the commencement of a new year, or volume, it Will be considered as a renewal of their subscriptions, and they will be charged accordingly.

__ 'Postage on the Southern Planter, (when paid in advance,) to any part of the United States one cent and a half per quarter, or six cents per annum.

MECKLENBURG.

I>r. 'WiLLtAM H. .JoNE.s IS our agetit for the county of Mecklenburg. Our friends in that county will please call a.nd j^ay him, and they would add gi-eatly to the obligation if each one would bring two additional .sub.scribers when he comes to pay hi.s due.s. Is that too much to ask in behalf of the Planter!

SOUTHERN FARMER.

We omitted, accidentally, to notice in our last isjue that the Southern Farmer has jjassed into the hand.s of the Union Agricultural Society of Virginia and North Carolina, without, however, a change Of editors, Messrs. Pleasants & Nicol still remaining at it.s head. We wi.sh it all po.ssible success under i' ' r-w auspice.'..

ENLARGING THE PLANTER.

A kind friend, in a letter lately received, proposes that we shall double the size and the price of the Planter, and offers his subscription and influence in aid of the scheme. We have had the same thing proposed to us several times before by a verj' few of the more public spirited of our farmers, and nothing would be more agreeable to us, for several reasons, than to adopt the suggestion. But we fear it will not answer. The fashion of cheap publications and the fondness of "reading for the million," which renders it difficult for any paper, unless devoted to politics and general news to sustain itself, especially here in the South, would seem to make it a hazardous experiment; and with tlie lights at present before us we would rather decline to try it. Still if a sufficiency of the friends of agricultural improvement shall think differently, and will sustain the attempt and insure against loss, we are willing to receive suggestions in regard to the enlargement.

The advantages of such a publication would be very great. Take one item as an example—the effect of information as to the state of the markets of the world on a farmer's profits. We here do not study that question at all. We rarely look into it, or even at it. The great object here is to get our wheat into market as soon as we can thresh it, and many, in their hast«, thresh it damp and in bad order. Yet it is a fact the February and March marlvet, especially in Richmond, is as good, if not better, than earlier in the season; and for these reasons: that then tlie supply is pretty generally exhausted, and the millers, anxious to ruafull time-up to the close of the season, are willing to pay more, whilst the channels of supply in the North and West, which have been closed up by the winter, are still unopened, and there is a demand for freights to Europe. This indifference to the market is not felt anywhere else that we know of. In the South, certainly the planter watches the fluctuations in cotton and the probable range of prices quite as keenly as the speculator or tlie factor, and to ciuite as mucli purpose. In England The Mark Laiie Express, an agricaltiiral journal and at the same time the leading paper of the corn-growing interest, is read not less eagerly by the farmer than the com factor, and he is as well versed in all the term.-, of the market, and as skilful in taking advantage of them. We cannot agree with the general opinion that the best plan is to sell a crop as soon after its maturity as it can be prepared for market, or, as a very eminent and successful farmer .says, that the only use a farmer has for his wheat after cutting it, is to sell it to the miller. We do not see why he, if he has the same means of forming an opinion that the buyer possesses, cannot as weli

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

judge of the best time to sell. We have a case in point in our own experience, which we hope it will not be egotism to quote in illustration. There was no more able or sagacious merchant than the late General Bernard Peyton, who was our commission merchant. The fall before the great Irish famine he had on consignment some three hundred barrels of flour for us. At that time flour was low, and he was anxious to sell as fast as the tiour came to hand. Generally and habitually we deferred to his opinion, which we knew to be better than ours; but it so happened that at that time we read regularly the money articles of the Union newspaper, which were written by Thos. P. Kettell, the present editor of the New York Economist, a valuable commercial journal. In these articles ho predicted the famine so clearly, and the rise of prices so confident!}', that we chose him for our guide, and resisted repeated advice from our friend to sell, as prices rose from S4, $4 50 to $5, and upwards, until at last we closed doubtfully at ;S6 26, and made enough on the consignment to pay many times over all the subscriptions v>-e ever expect to pay for newspapers.

We do not mean that the farmer should undertake to speculate on his crops; that is a risk for anyone; but that he should be guided by more rules than the single one of getting out his crops with all haste, and to the neglect of other things of possibly more importance at the time.

J^or do we pretend to that scope of vision whicli shall enable us to scan the commercial future with prophetic ken, and predict to the farmer the best time to run his crops into market. But, like any one else with equal opportunities, we can collect the views of men who study such things and lay them before him, leaving him free to form his own opinions upon the data given.

Another and an equal advantage of an enlarged paper would be, that we would have greater room for selections, and space for more lengthy and elaborate articles on questions of agricultural theory or farming practice, which are now excluded by their length from our columns, though in many cases of the greatest interest and utility. Such communications as are now offered to the State Society are generally of that character, and we* mean to put them in the paper, but then that, on the other hand, involves, pro tanto, the exclusion of other articles of more interest to the desultory reader.

Still another advantage would be in the creation of a horticultural department and the conveying instruction on what is now one of the greatest wants of the Southern farmer. Independent of the cultivation of the national taste, which needs all the nurture it can have, and is intimately dependent on horticultural pursuits, and independent of all hygienic considerations, the profits of this depart-

ment are worth attention. It has recently been shown by our friend, Mr. Hubbard, of Buckingham, that the South, which is natural to all the best fruits of the country, surrenders to the North nearly all the revenue derivable from the supply of horticultural products.

jRural architecture, too, should form a part of every well conducted agricultural journal; yet it is necessarily excluded in its larger features from so cramped a publication as the Southern Planter.

But we have said enough on this head, and the reader, who has not anticipated our remarks, can follow up the above suggestions with his own reflections. We shall be glad to hear from such of our friends as take interest enough in the subject to consider it.

HORTICULTURAL.

We have been frequently asked by our friends, why we do not give more frequent essays and extracts on horticultural and kindred subjects.

Heretofore there have been two reasons for it. The first is, that cramped as we are for room, we find it generally difficult to get in all the original articles that are sent to us. The second reason lies in a defect of ours, (v.'hich we are ashamed to confess in the face of that public which expects every editor to be a rmiversal genius and will not tolerate at the head of a farming paper anything but a living encyclopedia of agriculture,) but whicli candor nevertheless compels us to admit. It is that there cannot be found probably in Virginia any farmer of our station who knows less about such things than we do. In all the niceties of hotbeds and forcing frames, of egg-plants and lettuce, male and female strawberries, and in that still nicer discrimination of fruits and fruit trees which detects the hundreds of varieties of apples, peaches, pears, apricots, nectarines, cherries and figs, in all these things we are a dunce, and have a very well grounded doubt of our ability to instruct. This has made it a matter of delicacy to enter upon these grosser subjects, and a matter of conscience to touch roses of any hue or perfume. We might, to be sure, like Mr. Alexander Pope, who, De Quiocey tells us, studied Greek, (and never became a Grecian,) after he had contracted to deliver the Iliad to subscribers, cram for the occasion and fill ourselves to repletion with horticultural lore, but, like Pope, we should be offering a translation of whose merits we could not judge, and, in many instances, run the risk of misleading our readers.

Still we admit the wants of the farming public in these matters, and have accordingly made an effort to supply them in a more satisfactory manner than we ourselves could do. We have engaged the services of a professional gardener, residing near

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Richmond, who Tvill furnish us eacli month with the appropriate practical horticultural reading for the season. We cannot speak of the accomplishments of Mr. Eggeling, or his fitness for the post we have induced him to assume, for we have just confessed ignorance of the things he deals in. But a very slight acquaintance has impressed us so favorably with him that we have felt no scruple in soliciting him to aid us in this minor, but most important and interesting, department of rural economy.

With this announcement of another new feature, and we hope improvement, in the Planter, and this introduction of Mr. Eggeling we leave him now and hereafter to speak for liimself We hope and believe he will do it satisfactorily.

SEEDS FROM THE PATENT OFFICE.

Those of our friends who have not been supplied with samples of the above seeds according to their requests by letter are informed that the supply was exhausted almost as soon as it was announced. We have written for a fresh batch, but having failed thus far to hear from our application, we fear we shall get,no more. We could distribute a bushel j if we had them. By the way, it was a misprint to ► speak of Mr. Peabody of The Soil of the South, as i remarkable for his success with the cranberry. It I should have read strawberry. Of this fruit Mr. ■ Peabody raises and sells with directions, we believe. I for management, perhaps the most prolific straw-beiTies in the world. The only instance of successful cranberry culture in the South, except in the mountains beyond the Alleghanies, that we know of is that of Mr. Riddle, about six miles from Richmond, on the ChickahomiBy, who has lately embarked in their culture. He exhibited samples at the Fair last fall, and tells us that the average acreable value of his present very small plat was about eight hundred dollars.

P. S. Since writing the above we have received several packages and distributed nearly the M'hole of their contents.

A CERTAIN CURE FOR SCROFULA.

Our friends of the faculty will bear witness that we rarely tre.spass on their domain by publishing " infallible recipes.'' We are afraid to do it. We know too well how little we know to tamper with life and health and feeling by such a course. Believing, religiously, in what a dear friend of ours calls "the triumphs of medicine,'' and in good nursing, we generally pas.s by the ten thousand "cures" we sec in the papers, sorry for those that cnt them out, and grieving for the patients they are to be tried on. But scrofula is a privileged

question, that is to say, any one is privileged to ." discuss" it if ho can.

Like the watch of the portly gentleman in the Pickwick Papers, which every pickpocket in London had had a pull at, thousands have tried their hands, ineffectually, on scrofula, and it has resisted with equal stubbornness the assaults of the quack and the "triumphs of medicine." Whether it is left for Mr. Longworth and Captain Ilarkness to extract it from the system by a final" cure," %ve,of course, cannot say. But we would advise, if success in what " he undertakes" be the object of the " famous Millionaire," that he should confine himself to his Catawba wines, though his Champagne is none of the best. There at least, except perhaps before a jury of teetotallers, he cannot bo convicted of malpractice.

A Certain Cure for Scrofula. —Nicholas Longworth, the famous Millionaire and wine grower of Cincinnati, publishes the following cure for scrofula:

Put two ounces of aquafortis on a plate, ou which you have two copper cents. Let it remain from eighteen to twenty four hours. Then add four ounces of clear strong vinegar. Put cents and all in a large mouthed bottle, and keep it corked. Begin by putting four drops in a tea-spoonful of ralD water, and apply it to the sore. Make the application three times a day, with a soft hair pencil, or made of rags. If very painfvl put in more water. As the sore heals apply it weaker.

I request editors, in all parts of the Union, and abroad, to copy this, and to republish it quarter yearly; it may save many lives.

N. LONGWORTH .

Cincinnati, Ohio, November 18, 1854.

P. S. Captain Harkness, of our city, the first person cured by this remedy, applied it without water and he informed me that he thought it would burn his leg off; but the next day it was cured. His was a small .sore, and had beea attended to for months by one of the best physicians, without any benefit.

PAY UP ELEVEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED AND NINETY-ONE DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS.

On the first day of February the dues to ths Southern Planter amounted to $11,691 50. Since then we have received, including new subscribers, about three hundred dollars, or one-fortieth part of the debt, and the payments of January and February are generally heavier than in any other months of the year. Now we ask our subscribers, in all candor and good nature, if they think this is right"? We are compelled to trust them, and we do not regret that necessity, for we suppose we have the most solvent newspaper list in the State; but we do regret that so many worthy and substantial men should, from mere carelessness or indolence, put off the payment of a sum of money, small in nearly everj' individual case, and, therefore, of little mo-

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

ment to the debtor, but in the aggregate, as the above figures show, of a vast deal of importance to the creditor. We shall this month send out accounts in all cases where we have not regular local agents, and we beg those indebted, to remit us the money without delay. We have contracted engagements which must be complied with or we will suffer by them. Will the hoiie and sinnu permit that, when bare justice on their parts will prevent it? We hope and we beg that they will not. Pay up now, like honest men and good fellows.

HITCHING THE TAIL TO THE PL©UGH.

The other day we received a new paper called the "Practical Farmer," just started in Vincen-nee, Indiana. While looking over it our eye caught an article copied from the "La Fayette Courier," headed "Plough Presentation." It contained remarks of Woodford Stringfield, of Kentucky, who was authorized by Messrs. Brin-ley & Co. of Kentucky, to present the Hon. H. L. Ellsworth one of their best ploughs. We were much interested both in the address of Mr. S. and the answer of Mr. Ellsworth, but not a little surprised when we came to the following remark: "1 cannot omit to notice the wonderful change between ancient and modern farming. A rude crooked stick, fastened to the oxen's tails was the cruel practice that once prevailed in the north part of England, and such was the attachment to this practice, that it required an act of Parliament to remit the barbarous torture to the poor animals; and more lately I have noticed, while in JSiew England, in the purchase of horses for a southern market, a preference "was shown to those which had strong docks and long tails, that the plough could be attached directly to the long hair!"

Really! we should like to know in what part of New England Mr. Ellsworth found himself It must be that the Yankees had all died out, and their places been supplied with the ghosts of some of the old Druids.— Exchange.

And we should like to know another thing. Whether Mr. Ellsworth supijoses that any one will believe that horses are hitched by the tail to ploughs in any part of the South 1 No one knows better than Mr. Ellsworth that the statement is a libel on i^outheni farmers.— Ed. So. Pl.

LIME AND ITS CHEMICAL CHANGES.

A reader of the " Rural" desires us to give an article on the chemical changes which take place in burning and slaking lime, &c. Lime is not, as was once supposed, an dement, but consists of the metal calcium united with the gas oxygen, and is properly an oxide of calcium, just as potash, soda and mag-nesia are oxides of potassium, sodium and magnesium. It is never found pure in natui-e, except occa-

sionally in the craters of volcanoes, but is usually united with carbonic acid gas for which it has a strong attraction. In this state it is neutral, and insoluble in pure water. When lunestone or any other form of carbonate of lime is exposed to a sufficiently high temperature with access of air or moisture, the carbonic acid gas is driven off, and the lime which remains is called quick or caustic, from its strong alkaline reaction. When such lime is plunged into water for a short time, or water is potired upon it, heat is evolved, the lime swells, cracks, gives off much watery vapor, and finally falls to a powder. This powder, or slaked lime, is a hydrate of lime, water being chemically combined with it. In this state it is stilb caustic, though somewhat m.ilder than when fresh from the kiln.

The rise of temperature is so great when large heaps of good lime are suddenly slaked, as to inflame gunpowder and scorch wood; it certainly exceeds, accordingly to Pelletier, 500°, and when the operation is performed in a dark place light is also evolved. All sorts of imaginary causes have been assigned to account for these phenomena. They are referable, however, to a very simple and universal law. All substances during their change from a gaseous to a liquid, or from a liquid to a solid state, evolve heat, and xice versa. The intense cold produced by liquefying ice or snow by admixture with salt is a familiar instance of the latter; and the heat evolved in solidifying carbonic acid under intense cold and pressure is sometimes dangerous evidence of the former— the expansion of air consequent on the sudden liberation of heat from the carbonic acid in the moment of congelation, not unfrequently shattering the vessel to atoms.

Lime in slaking will absorb one-fourth its weight of water; but the slaked lime is not more moist than before. The water unquestionably, therefore, is chemically combined with the lime and becomes solidified; and it is simply owing to this solidification and chemical combination of the water that heat is evolved.

Caustic lime has a strong affinity for water and carbonic acid. When kept in a dry place it gradually slackens; cracking, splitting and crumbling to powder with the evolution of heat—which, however, is not so perceptible on account of the length of time during which the process is extended—^just as though it had been slaked by pouring on water. In this case the luue has obtained the 25 per cent, of water it needs to slake it from the atmosphere. There is this difference, however, between air slaked lime and that which is water slaked. The former is slaked precisely as the latter by the ab-

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sorption of water, but it also absorbs carbonic acid from the air, and instead of being simply a hy^atc of lime, as when water slaked, it is a definite compound of hydrate and carbonate of lime, 42.6 per cent, of the former, and 57.4 of ;he latter. Air slaked lime, therefore, is far from being so caustic as water slaked—upwards of one-half of it being reconverted into the same chemical state it was in before bui-ning.

After the lime has absorbed sufficient water and is completely fallen to pieces, carbonic acid is absorbed much less rapidly, especially in damp situations. In fact, though there is a constant tendency in lime to return to the state of carbonate in which it existed previous to burning, yet, by mere exposure to the air it does not attain this state in any assignable time. In some walls six hundi-ed years old, the lime has been found to have absorbed only one-fourth of the carbonic acid necessary to convert the whole into carbonate; in others, built by the Romans eighteen hundred years ago, the proportion absorbed has not exceeded three-fourths of the quantity contained in natural limestone.

When slaked in the ordinary way, by the application of water, Hme falls to pieces with the absorption of but little, if any, carbonic acid. But when slaked and exposed to the air the absorption of carbonic acid is at first very rapid, but it gradually becomes more slow, and probably the same definite compound of hydrate and carbonate of lime is formed as in the case of air slaked lime.

The original limestone, or any other form of carbonate of lime, then, is perfectly mild. By driving ofi" the carbonic acid by heat, we get lime which is very caustic. By slaking this with water, we get a less caustic substance— hydrate of lime. By allowing it to air slake, we get a still less caustic compound, a definite compound of hydrate and carbonate of lime. And by exposing it to the air for a sufficient length of time, we ultimately get the whole reconverted again into its original mild form of carbonate of lime.— Rural New Yorker.

LBIEWATER IN BAKING BREAD.

In bread-making, the vineous fermentation sometimes passes into the acid, thus rendering the bread sour and disagreeable. Liebig has lately performed a series of experiments to improve the preparation of bread, from which he comes to the conclusion, that the only effective and innocuou.s means of improving the qualities of wheat and rye bread, is limewater. In making dough he advises one pint of clear lime-water to be used for every five pounds of flour.

The limewater is first added to the flour, after which a sufficient quantity of common water is added to work the whole into good common dough—the leaven being mixed with water can be prepared by sthring some quicklime in a vessel containing pure cold water, then allowing the sediment to settle. The clear is then to be pom-ed oil", and kept in bottles for use. No care is required respecting the quantity of lime to be stii-red in the water, as it will only take up a certain quantity of lime, and no more. Those who use saleratus (bicarbonate of soda) in the raising of bread, are recommended to cease its use, and employ pui-e baker's yeast and a little limewater. Our bones are composed of the phosphate of lime, and those who use fine flour require for their health a little more lime than is contained in their food. Cream of tartar and carbonate of soda are inferior to common yeast for making healthy bread.— Scientific American.

CHEAP SOAP.

A correspondent of the " Southern Banner" gives the following recipe for soap-making, and adds, that it would be worth one thousand dollars in the hands of a selfish person, and the world would have to untie the purse string to get it, but here it is free gratis:

Take six pounds of potash 75

Four pounds of lard - 50

One-fourth pound of rosin 25

All amounting to - - - $ 1 50 Beat up the rosin, mix all together well, and set aside for five days, then put the whole into a ten gaUon cask of warm water and stir twice a day for ten days, at the expiration of whicli time, or sooner, you will have one hundred pounds of excellent soap for $1 50.

AMERICAN HORSES FOR BRITISH CAVALRr.

During the Canadian rebellion, the English sent over to those provinces a considerable body of cavah'y. Many of these horses died on the voyage, and they were compelled to mount their men by purchases in New York, Vermont and New Hampshire, along the borders of Canada. These animals I saw in Montreal, in exercise. They were specimens of the middling sized Morgan, with striking marks of blood; and Col. Shirley, of the 7th Hussars, informed me in 1842 that they were the best cavalry horses for all work that he had ever seen; so good, he said, that they were not to be sold when the regiment went home, but to be taken to England for u«e.— Address of ,/. Prescott Hall.

THE SOUTHEKN PLANTER.

For the Soutliern Planter. «

SOWING CLOVER SEED.

Mr. luditor, —I have seen several communications in your paper recommending clover seed to bo sown late in the spring. I concur in that suggestion, which is sustained by several years'-experiencc in my farming operations. I sow my clover seed late in April, after all danger of hard frosts is over, and roll or harrow it in, having first sprinkled it with water and rolled it in plaster. Last spring I sowed several bushels about the first of May on some very late wheat, and harrowed it in with a two-horse harrow. The wheat was not injured, and a fine stand of clover was secured on very poor land, baked nearly as hard as a brickbat. The harrow did not tear up sufficient ground to cover half the seed. The whole field was plastered iipmediately after harvest, at the rate of half a bushel to the acre. On oat-land I sow the clovei- seed sometimes after the first harrowing and harrow it in, and sometunes after the oats are two or three inches high, and roll it in— always dressmg the field with plaster as soon as the clover is up. The plaster is nearly as beneficial to the oats as the clover.

The object is to avoid the late spring frosts, which frequently kill the young clover, to put the seed in the ground where it can grow, and to nourish it while young with its specific food, plaster.

As an experiment I sowed a few acres of wheat early in September last with clover seed. It came up well and has thus far stood the winter finely. A large farmer in the neighborhood has practised early fall sowing of clover for several years with general success. I, however, decidedly prefer late spring sowing, as more certaua. If the fall is dry or the winter earty and severe, you are apt to lose 3'our young clover.

C. C. B.

tJ-'Mrldsr. Jim. (iO. 185-J.

For tlio Soutliern Planter.

ICE HOUSES.

There are many conflicting opinions, even among people of experience, about the proper construction of ice houses. I venture to siib-mit my views, with all due deference to those of others.

Chemistry and common sense would teach, that the ice house, above the ice, ought not to be too hot for a man to stay in, and that the external atmosphere ought to be excluded from the ice. True, ice exposed to the open air wiU keep better, perhaps, than will ice in a box in

the open air, without being enveloped in a nonconductor of heat. I have tested the matter. A lump of ice suspended in a basket that will let off the water without being wrapped in any thing, will melt less than it will in such a box. Evaporation is a cooling process, and there may be something in the evaporation from the basket so suspended.

Everybody knows that ice standing in water will melt; hence the custom of digging a pit-hole at the bottom of the house to receive the dribbling water from the ice. But too little care is taken to prevent the infiltration of water from the surrounding earth. There ought to be a high roof just above the eaves and extending under the gable ends of the house.

There ought to be as free a ventilation as possible above the plank floor of the house. This may be easily accomplished by slats after the fashion of window-blinds, opposite each other, in the gable ends.

My ice house was constructed many years ago. It never did keep ice well until the year 1854. One of my predecessors had, in addition to a sink hole at the bottom to receive the water, cut a blind ditch leading through a steep blufi", as additional security against water. In 1846 I filled the house heaping full. It only held out until July. Thinking that possibly the blind ditch might have got choked I dug down to it, and opened and poured water into the house until I saw it running through the ditch at the outlet. I again filled, and still it did not last through the summer. T next got a notion that the warm atmospheric air, regurgitating from the blind ditch, might be at fault. I filled the sink hole with solid clay nearly to the top and just above where the blind ditch opened into it; then threw in stones, pebbles and sand a foot and a half deep, with cornstalks, and my ice kept nearly to October. If I had had my high roof and slats above the floor constructed early in th-e spring, I believe that I could have had it at Christmas, for before I constructed them the infiltration from the dripping eaves had melted the ice on two sides down to the bottom. I took the additional precaution of putting sheds sloping just beneath the slats in the gable ends down to the ■height of a man's head,''and found that they not only answered the purpose of breakmg the force of the morning and afternoon's sun, but furnished convenient shelters for carts, ploughs, &c. . Two hands constructed them in two or three hours, the materials being ready.

Fixed air, or more correctly speaking, carbonic acid gas, sometimes settles in ice houses, as well as weUs, rendering them incapable of supporting respiration. This evil may be very

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87

easily remedied by running a bush, wetted with strong lime water, up and down a few times. Indeed being heavier than atmospheric air, fixed air may be dipped out in a close vessel, except at the top, gently let down and drawn back and carefully tilted over outside.

One of my servants came near dying from this cause. I went to the ice house and found that a candle became extinguished about six feet below the surface. The limewater and bush were run up and down a few times rapidly, then the candle immediately burnt brQliantiy to the bottom.

An Irish well-digger lost liis life in my neighborhood from a disregard of my advice. Without knowing the man I passed him one afternoon, and heard a brisk talk between him and another Irishman about the air in the well which he was digging not being pure enough to support the blaze of a caudle. I halted and cautioned the poor fellow against going ia there until he could get a burning candle or lamp to the bottom, assuring him of the complete efficacy of the bush and limewater. I know, said he, •' that wUl do for a mine but it won't do for a well." I assured him the cause was the same and the remedy the same in both cases— again cautioning him to follow my advice at the peril of his life. His reply was, -'By Jazus, I'll bet you a dollar against ten cents that I am right." He went in recklessly the next mommg, in spite of the remonstrance of his employer, and lost his life by it in an instant. I passed the place two or three hours afterwards and found a crowd around the well, trying to get out the dead body. One had advised burning chips, and another a chafing-dish of burning charcoal—all making the matter worse and worse. I went up and with some difficulty prevailed upon the other Irishmen present to try the bush and lime. A few passes of the bush enabled the caudle to burn to the bottom, and the dead body was drawn up. So much for bigotry—so much for chemistry. Some knowledge of it seems necessary, from the cook-shop to the palace. Even a good cook is a pretty good chemist, without knowing

Fefrruary 4, 18.5.5.

T. H. A.

For the Southern Planter. FRUIT TREES AND FRUIT CULTURE. Fkank: Gr. RuFFiK, Esq.

Dear Sir, —The icy hand of winter has been on us for the past twenty-three days; the earth has been bound up with frost, and the ground

covered with snow. The cattle have picked their food clean, and up to this time have wintered well. The most of our fat beeves have gone to market, at prices ranging from %7 to $9 50 at home. Up to the 22d of January my sheep were not fed a handful, and looked remarkably well, being regularly salted once a week with other stock. The winter has been uniformly di-y and our roads good. Yesterday and last night we had a good rain; the snow is disappearing, and a smoky atmosphere indicates a thaw. The birds are singing this morning, and we may now look for a more genial season. The spring is approaching, and I have concluded to send you a further list of select fruits, from which the amateur farmer and all lovers of good fruit may select, with the assurance that in due time they wiU reap an abundant harvest, if tliey labor and faint not. But let me admonish them that simply sticking a tree in the ground will avail them little, withom good after-culture. They may, with the same chance of success, plant a field of corn and leave it to the grass and weeds.

To begin right, select your orchard lot, and enclose it well with a good fence. I like the Jefferson fence best, or a better fence from wood is made by a heavy hewed or sawfed post, 4 mches thick and 9 inches broad, bored with a 2-^ inch auger, for 5 large broad rails, with the hearts up, well fitted; the posts set in the ground 2 feet deep, and the upper rails pinned with an inch auger through the post. Such a fence, well put together, of locust or cedar posts and chestnut rails, will need little repair for twenty years. Cherry Grove, the farm now owned by Mr. Mc Clung Patton, formerly the residence of the late Col. James BIcDowell, one mile above Fairfield in our county, has such a fence, not of as heavy material as I have described, or as well put up, which I have known for thirty-five years; how long it Avas put up before I saw it first, I cannot say, but perhaps ten or fifteen years; it is now going to decay, but with repairs might yet last ten years. The material is chestnut and locust. Col. McDowell was an eminently practical man, of great good common sense, and one of the best magistrates known in the county of Rockbridge.

I make the Jefierson fence by cutting my stakes 62 feet long, sharpening the lower end, and make a pin 2 or 2^ inches on top, to fit a cap, usually made of chestnut, 12 inches thick, and bored by a 2 or 2-J- inch auger. These are my wet day jobs. The stakes are better to be seasoned. Let every thing be prepared in winter, or of wet days, and ready for use. When needed, take a heavy crowbar 4 or 5 feet long, a little shiarpened, and one good hand,

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

with a correct eye, can set and cap the posts or stakes as fast as two men can build the fence. I pnt a rock 4 or 5 inches thick between the posts, which saves a rail, and keeps the fence off the around for a few years. Seven or eio-ht rails, with the rock, will make a good fence, which should have a worm of 2^ or 3 feet. The top rail should be put on the cap. The pin of the stake above the cap should be S to 10 inches. The stakes should be put in the ground IS inches. Rails should be made of good size, particularly, if made of chestnut, as they are not so liable to spring or warp.

Your orchard being properly enclosed, lay off the rows at right angles for peach trees, one rood apart, is a good distance; for apple trees 30, 35 or 40 feet from each other, owing to the quality of the land. On thin lands 30 feet does very well, but on good lands, with the orchard well cultivated and manured, 40 feet is better. Some of my trees, planted 20 years ago, at 33 feet, are now lapping together where the gi'otmd is good. Corn grew here last summer 10 and 1-2 feet high. On the hillside there is yet ample room.

3Iy land is generally poor, with occasional good spots. It starved out the original proprietors, who moved to Missouri, and are all dead. By a better rotation of crops, two of grain and three of gi-ass, and again three of gram and two of grass, with a regular appli-eation of barn-yard manures, plaster and lime, not forgetting the hen-house, my land, after twenty years' close application, is paying in fair crops, with a fine supply of choice fruits. r have labored much of this time with my own hands, and have given personal superintendence to every part of my business. We are somewhat systematic in oiu" habits, eating and sleeping regitlarly, working constantly, but moderately, and never after night, if to be avoided. My family making free use of fruits and vegetables the year round, we have enjoyed almost tininterrupted good health. Leaving out midwifery fees, in twenty years I have not paid twenty dollars for medical service, in a family ranging from fifteen to twenty persons.

But I have digressed from the subject in hand, and will say to the fruit grower, make your holes in which you set your trees large, 4 feet square and IS inches deep, throwing away the subsoil. Fill the holes half full of virgin soil or compost manure; set your tree in well, about as deep as it formerly stood in the nursery; bind it with a wisp of straw to a stake, to keep it straight. Keep your trees clear of grass, and occasionally work around them, cropping and manuring them carefully, and in a few years you may e.^pect to enjoy

the fruits of yotir labor. By the way, the first fruits are not always a fair sample of what you may expect in after years, being often knotty and ill formed when the trees first come into bearing.

I will now present to your readers some select varieties of fruit, as raised by myself, or highly recommended by others, ripening in succession:

Selection of CJiMce Pears, to lipen from Juhj to April. —Madeline, Bloodgood, Dear-bon's Seedling, Bartlette, White Doyenne, Sec-kle, Surpasse Yirgalieu, Dunmore, Beurre Bose, Dix, Columbian, Winter Nelis, St. Germain.

Of Peach.—EvLvly Tillotson, 't\Tiite Imperial, Early Newingtou, Royal George, Grosse Miznonne, George lY., Crawford's Early, Bergen's Yellow, Brevort, Malta, Heath, Large White Clingstone, Druid Hill, Lemon Clingstone, Washington, Crawford's Early Malaco-tan, Crawford's Late Malacotan, Columbia, Prince's Red Rareripe, La Grange, Morris' White Rareripe.

Of Nectarines. —Early Yiolet, Hardwick's Seedling, Elrudge, Boston, Hunt's Tawny, Roman, New White, Newington, Pitmaston's Orange, Yiolette Hative.

Of Plums. —Royal Hative, Hudson Gage, Green Gage, Jefferson, Huling's Superb, Purple Gage, Coe's Golden Drop, Lawrence's Favorite, Washington, Coe's Late Red.

Of Cherries. —Early Pui-ple Guigne, Ban-mann's Early, Knight's Early Black, May Duke, Bigarrcau, Tartarian, Downer's Late, Belle de Choisy, Kentish, Morello, Montmorency.

Of Currants. —Red and White Dutch, Mayo Yictoria, Knisjht's Large Red. Knight's Sweet Red.

Of Gooseberries. —Red Washington, Crown Bob, Keen's Seedling, Yellow, Woodward's Whitesmith, White Honey, Yellow Ball, Taylor's Bright Yenus, Pitmaston's Green Gage, Green Walnut, Parkinson's Laurel.

Of Straicberries. —Large Early Scarlet, Hovey's Seedling, Ross's Phoenix, Hudson's Bay, British Queen, Red and White Alpine, Prolific Hautbois, Elton, Old Pine.

Of Grapes. [Natives.) —Catawba. Bland, Ohio, Lenoir and Isabella.

Of Raspherr]/. —Red and Yellow Antwerp, Cretan Red. Franconia. Ohio Everbearing. Yictoria.

Of Apricots. —The Large Early, Breda, Peach and Moorpark, are the best.

I will close this communication by adding a list of apples as recommended by Do'ivmng for summer, autumn and winter, and would remark that trees to pay well must, like corn, be kept

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

89

clean of gi-ass, and the gi-ound be stirred around them occasionally.

For Summer. —Early Harvest, Red Astra-can. Early Strawberry, Drap d'Or, Early Red Margaret, William's Favorite.

For Autumn. —Porter, Fall Pippin, Ross Nonpareil, ]NIaiden"s Blush, Jersey Sweet, Fall Harvey, "Golden Sweet, Summer Sweet Paradise, Gravenstein, Rambo.

For Winter. —NewtowTi Pippin, Baldwin, Dutch Miznone, Swarr, Esopus Spitzenburg. {printed in your February number Cooper), I Ladies" Sweeting, Northern Spy, Boston Rus-j set. Lady Apple, Rhode I.slaud Greening, Yellow Belie Fleur, Peck's Pleasant, Hereford-ghire Pennain. Male Carle, Wine Apple, Roman Stem, Golden Ball, Green Newtown Pippin.

Much of the fruit herein named is such as I have in cultivation. Other varieties I have selected from Downing's Fruit and Fruit Trees of America.

I have a few vines of the Isabella grape which have always done well, rarely casting their grapes or being mildewed. I usually prune in winter, mostly in February, leaving three or four eyes. I have sometimes had my vines gi-ow twelve or fifteen feet in a season, but I cut all away in February except fifteen or twenty inches, which throws out the fruit bearing vines after the spring frosts; and with a little attention you rarely fail in having a crop of grapes. The ground should be kept clear of grass and occa.sionally spaded.

When the season comes romid for making apple butter—an article much used in our Valley, Pennsylvania and further North—if alive and well, I will give you an article on that subject. If well made it will keep for years. I consider it a most capital preparation, of cider, fruit and spices. Fifty gallons of cider with six bushels pared and well cored apples, will make about twenty gallons, if well V^iiled.

Your obedient servant,

Henry B. Jones.

Brmcnxburg. Va... Ftb. 7, 185o.

For the Soulhern Planter. AGRICULTURAL SCIEXCE.

The .science of agriculture is a practical science; it Is based upon experiment and observation, and notliing whatever that contradicts the experience of the practical fanner deserves one moment's serioixs consideration.

The infinite goodness and wisdom of the Creator are strikingly illusti-ated in -this fact, that althoujfh ho has condemned man to earn

his bread by the sweat of his brow, yet he has adapted " the art of deriving from the earth its most valuable organic products" to the comprehension of the plainest understanding. Nothing more appears to be requisite than good sense, industry and attention. Accordingly our observation teaches us, that in all civilized coim-tries this class of men compose the yeomanry of the land—honest, frugal and industrious, they form the bone and sinew of every com-munitj-—inured to labor, active and enterprising, they are always the pioneers in the settlement of new countries, the most valuable citizens and the most successful farmers in the old. Would this class become better practical farmers if they could receive a collegiate education"/ I think not. Unused to labor during the time requisite to complete their educations, and conscious of the mental superiority which education necessarily inspires, they would never consent to return to the drudgery of field labor. They would feel themselves better qualified to make a livelihood by the efforts of their brains, than by the labor of their hands, and they would never become practical fanners.

But we have another class of farmers, a peculiar race to be found, I believe, nowhere upon earth except south of Mason & Dixon's line. These men having completed their education at the best seminaries of learning, with cultivated minds and liberal views return to take possession of their farms provided with abundant slave labor. They know nothing of practical agriculture, it is true, but by careful observation and attention, and by the perusal of the works of the best authors, in a few years they acquire sufficient knowledge of the subject to become successful, practical farmers. This is the gentleman farmer—a man ijualified by education to adorn the councils of a great nation, and compelled by circumstances to attend to the details of farm operations. These con-.stitute the only nobility of a free people. God forbid that this race should ever cease to exist.

If the advantages conferred upon the practical farmer by a collegiate education were as great as they have been represented, this fact would have been more strikingly manifest in Virginia than in any other State. Gentlemen thoroughly acquainted with all the sciences usually taught in the best seminaries of learning, have settled in every county and in almost every neighborhood. These long since would have demonstrated to their uneducated neighbors, the great benefits conferred upon the practical farmer by a collegiate education in the improved culture of their farms and in the increased products of their crops, they would liave exhibited the great advantanjes to ha do-

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER,

rived from the application of science to practical agriculture.

But so far as my observation extends this is certainly not true. A methodical training in early life of the uneducated farmer in habits of industry and attention, appear to me to have given him the most decided advantages over his scientific neighbor.

The science of agriculture has no " kindred science." It claims no affinity, no relationship with any other science whatever. In vain have I sought for one single fact which proves conclusively the benefits conferred upon agriculture by any other science.

The science of chemistry " enables us to discover the peculiar properties of all natural bodies either in their simple or compound state." This is an important science, and one which has undoubtedly conferred inestimable benefits on mankind. But how can this science promote the interest of agriculture ? Of what benefit would it be to the practical farmer to understand that sugar and wood are composed of the same elementary substances differently combined, when his business it is to rear plants to perfection at the least labor and expense"?

If the farmer wishes to know what poisonous substance is contained in tobacco, the analysis of the chemist would demonstrate it to his entire satisfaction. He would separate the nico-tin from it and prove this to be the poisonous principle; but this science certainly would not enable the farmer to grow better crops of tobacco, or even teach him how to cause the plant io produce a greater rjuantity of this narcotic poison.

The science of chemistry has no relation to the science of agriculture, and consequently I believe there is no such science as that of agri-czdtiiral chemistry, for reasons which I shall Eow assign.

1. It contradicts the experience of the practical farmer in the assertion that diiferent plants requii'e difierent kinds of nutriment, for every practical farmer knows that however poor land may be, if well manured it will perfect any crop that ever grew in Virginia.

2. The analysis of all similar vegetable and aaimal substances are alike, whether they be obtained from the north pole or under the equator, nor do the results of analysis differ with the quality of the food consumed by them during life.

3. The processes of digestion and nutrition are chemical processes. This is strikingly exemplified by budding the lemon upon the orange tree. It would be as vain for the chemist to attempt by analysis to demonstrate the existence of the citric acid of the lemon in the sap of tlio

orange tree, as to show the presence of wine of vinegar in the juice of the grape previous to the vinous or acetous fermentation.

4. If the mineral salts found by analysis in the ash of plants are the same which were derived from the earth dm-ing tlieir growth, this would prove that they did not serve as nutriment to the plants, not being chemically changed.

5. Combustion being a chemical process, the analysis of the ash of plants cannot possibly demonstrate the same salts which existed in them previous to combustion.

6. These mineral salts cannot be proved to be the food of plants when separate from the ashes which contained them.

7. All soils, no maticr how poor, or by iviiai jjrocess exhausted., inay he made exceedingly fertile loithout the addition of any substance ■whatever.

With a soil naturally exceedingly fertile and a climate most propitious, with labor cheap and efficient, and a farming population, intelligent, energetic and industrious, why is it that the lands in Virginia are so deplorably impoverished ? I answer, because the Virginia farmer attempts that which he is unable to perform— he attempts to preserve the fertility of his cultivated land by manure made on the land, which no labor, no energy, no industry, can possibly enable him to accomplish; it is inevitably doomed to ultimate exhaustion.

This is the true cause of the impoverished condition of the land, not only in Virginia, but in every other country in which it has been cultivated in large tracts. I believe that no example can be found in the v/orld of the preservation of the fertility of land under cultivation, except in those countries where they have been cultivated in very small tracts.

If the farmers of Virginia will discard all erroneous opinions with regard to the collection and application of manure, and rely solely upon the restoration to the soil of that natural provision for vegetable life, mould, that is, manure made of the earth itself, caused by shade, \ confidently predict that in a few years Virginia will become one of the most fertile, as well as one of the most beautiful countries under heaven. R. T. Baldwin-.

Winchester, December, 1854.

Friiin tlie Southern Farmer.

EXPERIMENT IN SEEDING OF OATS.

Messrs. Editors, —As the time for seeding of oats is near at hand, I take the libertyof sending you tlie following experiments with their results, which were given me by the Prince

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER,

■ 91

George Hole and Corner Club, No. 1, at its February meeting, 1854, of which I was then a member. If you think them worthy of notice, you may make them public. Being a farmer of limited means, I was unwilling to risk a larger outlay for manures than is shown below; nevertheless, small as it is, it may be of some benefit to the farming community. Very respectfully, yours,

JoHX Batte. Prince George, Jan. 11, 1855.

EXPEKIMEXT To Ttsi the Relative Vcdue of Superphosphate of Lime and Peruvian Guano applied to Oats; also, Ihe Relative Value of Different Quaniities of Manure as well as Thick and Thin Seeding of Oats, made by Johri Batte, by order of the Hole and Corn':r Club, yo. 1, of Priiiec George Covjity.

No. 1.—Quarter acre, 84 lbs. seed 13| cents, 50 Ib.s. superphos. at 345 per

2000 lbs. 51 12i cents SI 20i

Yield 176 lbs. oats at SI 25 per 100

lbs S2 20

Deduct cost of seed and superphos. 1 26}

Profit of No. 1 93i

No. 2.—Quarter acre, 8i lbs. seed 1.3f cents, 50 lbs. Peruvian guano,-at

S55 per 2000 lbs. SI 37^ 1 51 i

Yield 389 lbs. of oats, at SI 25 .... 5 34

Deduct cost of seed and guano 1 51i

Profit of No. 2 3 82?

No. 3.—Quarter acre, 8j lbs. seed, at 13f cents, 25 lbs. guano, at $55 per

2000 lbs. 631 cents 82i

Yield 256 lbs. oats, at $1 25 3 20

Deduct cost of seed and guano 82^

Profit of No. 3 ." 2 371

No. 4.—Quarter acre, 5| lbs. seed, at 9i cents, 25 lbs. guano, at ff^oo per

2000 lbs, 68| .. 78

» Yield 275 lbs. oats, at Jfl 25 3 44

Deduct co.st of seed and guano 78

Profit of No. 4 2 GG

I would here state that these experiments were made on a spring fallow, after oats.

J. B.

should be twice as high' as the front, say the back 9 feet high, the front 4 feet 6 inches high. A few inches space should be left behind the back for the insertion of horse-dung to rai.se the heat—a top or frame must be made to stretch the cotton cover over, to be attached by hinges for the convenience of being raised. up to give air to the plants. The cotton is to be oiled when tacked on—yellow pine is the best plank to use for the purpose.

The hot-bed can either be made on the .surface, or by sinking the frame a few inches. The manure should be horse-dung, and it should be turned over, shaken and well mixed with a dung fork as being put in on the bed; every now and then beat it down with the back of the fork, continue this process until the dung is about 4 feet in depth in the frame, when it must be left to settle down 6 or 7 inches, \vhieli it will do in 8 or 10 days. When the dung is put in, lower down the frame to raise the heat. When the heat is sufficiently raised, then put on 4 or 5 inches of dry mould or earth, rake it smooth and even, and then your hot-bed will be fit to receive any seed that you desire to sow upon it. When the bed is first made, fill up the space behind it with horse dung.

Time of Smving the Seeds. —Nearly all Kinds of plants are ready to set out in from 6 to 8 weeks from the time of sowing, and by keeping this fact in mind you can very easily regulate the time of sowing your seed, making the time when in your locality the plants may be safely set out, the governmg point as to the time of sowing the seeds. As an average of time, it would, perhaps, be best to allow but six weeks for the growth of the plants.

ManagcmeJit of the Hot-Bed. —On every good day in mild weather, the sash should be raised a few inches in mid-day, to admit air and graduate heat. Of nights and in cold, bad weather in the day time, the hot-bed should be covered with matting or straw.— Am. Far.

MAKING HOT-BEDS.

That all may know how to get up a cheap hot-bed, we will point out an inexpensive plan to such as may object to glasa frames on the tcore of expense. To such we will remark, that the glass may be very advantageously substituted by cotton cloth, which will be found en trial to' be a very effective conductor of light andyheat.

For most families a hot-bed 12 feet long the width of the border will answer. The border should have a warm southern exposure. Such a frame can be made by any person who can nail planks together. The back of the frame

BIBLE BONES,

An old man once said, " For a long period I puzzled myself about the difficulties of the Scripture, until at last I came to the resolution that reading the Bible was like eating fish. When I find a difficulty, I lay it aside and call it a hone. Why should I choke on the bono, when there is so much nutritious meat for me? Some day, perhaps I may find that even the bone may afford me noui'ishment.''

Would that there were less ai incldtTg of hones., and more of feasting -on the substantial food with which Infinite Love has spread the spiritual board!— Parish Visitor.

THE SOUTHERK PLANTER.

BOOK FARMING,

SpeakiDg upon this subject, the Hon. Kenneth Rayner, in his address before the North Carolina State Agricultural Society, says: "At the time this prejudice was first excited, I am inclined to think there was some reason for it." It attempted (we do not quote his exact words) to bring foreign practices into countries with a different soil and climate, as well as different wants. But science, united with practice, Soon exposed the fallacy of such book farming as this. Because turnips, and beans and hops are among the most profitable crops in England, is no reason why they should be so here. Because blue grass is so valuable a crop in the limestone regions of Kentucky, is no reason why we should exhaust our energies in trying to establish its general culture in North Carolina. Such errors as these, such book farming as this, it is the purpose of scientific agriculture to point out.— Rural New Yorker.

may, not a hill needed replanting or setting. This experiment, however, 1 do not consider a fair test. All the seed here used was "doctored" as above, and non constat that the result would not have been the same, if no ointment had been wsed; but this it does, it settles that the prescription does no injury. This is more than cart Se said of every body's prescription.

Of another field, neither so foul nor wet. which was planted without preparing the corn, I had to replant portions more than once, and then did not secure a good stand.

The object of this note is to ask the attention of corn planters to the proposed remedy, in the hope that some will try it and report the result. The friend above referred to is not only one of the best farmers in the county, but you will not find a more reliable man inside of God's creation. What he says you may regard as a fixed fact. I hope "Dick" may be induced to give the experience of his warfare against the cutworm.

S. Bassett Fhench.

Whitly, Feb.l, 1855.

CREOLE BUTTER.

The neighbors of a certain lady in the Fourth District of New Orleans, have recently discovered the nature of something that has seemed a miracle, for months past. They knew the lady had but one cow, says the Crescent, and they knew also that the lady's two little negroes peddled as much Creole butter daily as could be produced by half a dozen common cows. Inquisition got so high on the subject at last, that the lady has let out the secret, and in its travels it ha.s reached us. She told a friend that her cow was only a common cow, and did not produce any butter, but yielded milk enough in which to re-cliurn any quantity of strong Goshen butter, which she buys by wholesale at the groceries, and converts by liie said re-churning in nevi milk, to that pale, sweet delicacy known as Creole butter, whicfi always commands the highest of prices. She added, also, that by this process she had made a clear profit, since June last, oi'twelve hundred dollars! One cow is not much, but one cow and Yankee ingenuity together are considerable. Our authority in this matter is indisputable, and the speculation is worth imitating.— Petersburg Ex-press.

For the Southern Planter.

CUT-WORM.

Air. Planter., —A friend of mine once informed me that be believed if you would tar your seed corn and then roll it in fine salt you would find a remedy against the ravages of the cut-%corm. I tr'ed this recipe last year (1854) on a very low ano wet bottom, aiming to drop five grains to ihe hill. Every grain, 1 verily beheve, grew off and so continued until thinned. Be this at it

HOUSEHOLD MEASURES.

As all families are not provided with scales and weights referring to ingredients in common use by every housewife, the following may be useful:

Wheat flour, one pound is one quart.

Indian meal, one pound two ounces is one quart.

Butter, when soft, one pound one ounce is one quart.

Loaf sugar, one pound is one quart.

White sugar, powdered, one pound one ounce is one quart.

Best broflm sugar, one pound two ounces i^ one quart.

Eggs, average size, ten eggs are one pound.

Sixteen large table-spoonfuls are half a pint, eight are one gill, four half a gill, &c.

CONTENTS OF NUMBER HI.

Essay on the Horse, part I - -Remarks on Growth of Sorrel, by .E. RuSin Growth of Pines

A pjood plain Curry' . _ .

Apple Jelly . . -

Essay on the Cultivation of the Potato, by

Prof J. L. Campbell, Live and not Weight."* of Mattoa Dr. Baldwin'.s Shade Theory Analysis of Soils . .

Useful Hints for Virt;iiiia Gardeaers Buckwheat _ .

Cultivation of IndiaiB Gorr, Egirs, Convent Fashion Enlargini^ the Planter

Horticultural _ . .

A certain cure for Scroi'ttlio. Pay up—To doliaqsLente

PAGE

65 70 73 73 7-3

73 75 7S 77 78 80 30 . 80 81

THE

SOUTHEEN PLANTER.

93

Hitching the tail to the Plough

Lime and its Chemical Changes

Lime Water in baking Bread

Cheap Soap -

American Horses for British Cavalry

Sowing Clover Seed -

Ice Houses . .

Fruit Trees and Fruit Culture

Agricultural Science

Experiment in Seeding Oats

MaMng Hot Beds

Bible Bones -

Book Farming -

Creole Butter

Cutworm ~ -

Household Measures

84 84 85 85 85 86 86 87 89 90 91 .91 • 92 92 92 92

PAYiVJENTS TO THE SOUTHERN PLANTER,

To the -ISlk of February, 1855.

All persons who have made payments early enough to le entered, and whose names do not appear in the following eceipt list, are requested to give immediate notice of the mission, in order that the correction may be made in the lext issue:

r. R. Thompson to January 1856

'apt. Samuel Haraway to September 1855

0. Scott to January 1856 Fohn Jacob to January 1856 r. Kosson to January 1856

E. Bowles to January 1856 'ames B. Jones to January 1856 7. H. Roy to January 1855 . R. Mottley to July 1855 1. Brown to January 1856 '. Preston to July 1856 )r. J. 0. Leary to January 1856 V. G. Rogers to January 1856

P. Fickle to September 1855

Houser to January 1856 V. H. Leavitt to January 1856

Whitehead to January 1856

Harris to Januai-y 1856 )r, J. N. Faulcon to September 1855

01. W. Crawford to January 1856 Foote " " W. B unveil " 1855

(avid Neff' to March 1856 ' iobert Pollard to January " erij. Sumner " "

ol, R. W. Carter

Clark

lobert L. Brown '• '

niliam Gordon "

. G. Tur]-,in

enj. Vaughan to April '■■ apt. J. Lucius Davis to January 18Si6 ames R. GillcHpie '•'

ol. J. B. Lindsay W. Baxter «

imer-) Williams "

ohn W. Bovd "

. W. Notling « «

r, J, B. Harvie ■" 1857

irae-s V. Kirkpatrick U. October 1855 3hn Binton to January 1856 •".muel F. Chri.stian to November 1865 A. McPhetc-rs to January 1866 . T Lanie ' "

P. Smitb " ISiij

1 00

m

W. S. Harris to January 185G

Robert Norfleet " "

Wm. W. McGee "

Rev. John T. Clark "

Samuel T. Miller " "

Chiswell Winston " 1865

S, S. Alsop " 1856

Dr. J. E.Hardy

Dr. J, C. McDowcl " "

J. J. Erwin " "

R. F. Ward

Dr. R. Shore

R. H. Boston to September 1855

D. A. Saunders to January 1856

Alex. Brown " "

Col. W. A. Dozier '= 1859

Daniel Jones '" 1866

11. L. Patterson to July "

Jos. R. Gillespie to January "

J. T. Tabb to July

W. VY. Hancock to January "

J. W. L. Fauntleroy '• "

J. G. Ambler to September 1855

Col. Chas. Blue to January 1856

Robert Carmichael " "

Capt. David Pugh " "

Col. Thos. Carscadon " '•

W. S. Major " "

G. W. Key

William Houchins "

Henry Hughes

Warner T. Cooke

Robert Beverly to July 1855

Dr. R. N. Hew'itt to January 1856

Thomas C. Chandler " ''

Thomas L. Page " "

Col. J. Hargrove

Thomas S. Watson

J. R. Barksdale

Gen. 0. G. Clay

William Woodson " "

George E.Geddv " "'\

W. L. Taylor " " {

L.J.Waller " " '

M. M. Martin " " {

Felix Pierce " "

B. F. Piggott " " J

A. D. Martin

Wm. Grimes

W. T. Sledge «

Dr. S. Patrick to January 1856

Gen. ■'. B. Harvie to July "

1865 1865

1857 1866

CLnB

Dr. R. E. Lewis Capt. F. Doyle Wm. C. Powell R. C. Rives E. 0. Fitzgerald Capt. Wm. Thomas Wm. FellOD Wm. Small C. W. Word M. P. Hatherway Peter Williams Jas. H. Hyatt Jos. Morrja W. White G. W. Brooks Wm. Newbold

1

5 OO

1 00 1 00

1 00

2 00 1 00

to January 1856 5 00

to Janaary 1866 9 OO

J

Benj. M. Hamblet t* January 1866 1 00

G. A. Hallo way " " 1 00

James Haya, Sr. to September 1866 1 00

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

Dr. N. S. Waller to January 1856

L. Partlow

O. M. Crutclifield

F. K. Nelson

H. B. Styren to December 1855

Br. R. H. Macon to September 1855

M. R. Kaufman to January 1856

S. A. Buckner to July 1856

Dr. 0. F. Baxter to January 1856

Geo. C. Hannah " "

John H. Steger " "

Robt. A. Wilson

Samuel P. AVilson September 1855

J. A, Dalby to January 1856

H. G. Richardson to July 1856

E. N. Price to January 1856

Maj. J A. AVatson "

J. J. Walker

H. J. Venable

B. F. Terry " "

J. A. Scott

H. A. Puryear " "

Siach & Boza " "

Br.Thos. J. William " "

Beirerly R. Jones " "

A. IDunlap " " E. Gresham " "

B. W. Bailey

Dr. A. T. B. Merritt to April 1855 A. H. Drewry to January 1855 T. Foster " 1856

G. W. Kemper " 1855

C. 11. Moseley " 1856 Wm. K. Perrin " " W. A. Sweet

Colin Bass " "

Mrs. A. L. Ingles

H. J. Graves " "

R. B. Winfree

John T. Gresham " "

Sam'l Cocke to March "

W. H. Vaughan to January "

Wm. B. Lee

John Hodges " "

Archibald Gills to July 1855

N. W. Harris to January 1856

Wm. Anderson " "

Wm. J. Martin , ," "

J. J. Scott to December 1855

E. W. Scott to January 1856 Mrs. Dr.W. B. Smith "

C. A. Morton " "

Wm. E. Bradshaw to April " P. S. Smithson to May " C. C. Read to March 1855 W. II. Venable to January 1856 Robert Maddox " "

Peter McGehee to July 1855

F. Eppes to January 1856 ■ Dr. J. W. Eppes "

John T. Goodwin •

Dr. R. E. Haskins "

Bcnj. Wigginton " 1853

Wm. Cowherd " 1850

Col. Clias. Couno:- ■'

Dr.W. A. Christian '

S. Hansberger "

Peter F. Boisseau ''

0. T. Jones

Isaac B. Edwards ■

R. W. Griswold

Wm. .Anderson ' ■'

Moses T. Hughes to April 1855 P. B. Jones to July 1855 Thos. R. Dew to January 1856 Rev. Sabel Taylor to January 1856 Mrs. C. L. Armistead to January 1856

A. J. Grayson to January 1856

Col. W. II. Sandford to January 1856 Archer W. Womack to January 1856 Asa D. Dickinson to September 1856 J. M. McNutt to November 1856

B. S. Scott to November 1855 Richard V. Watkins to January 1856 Fred. Jackson to January 1856 Wm. G. Maddox to January 1856 Richard B. Lyne to January 1855 John Smith to July 1855

James Martin to January 1856 W. D. Mansfield to January 1856

C. C. Curtis to January 1859 W. D. Blanton to October 1855 Jos. C. Burton to January 1855 Rev. Thos. Kennerly to January 1856 G. W. Massey to January 1856

Jos. Kennerly to January 1856 R. Cauthorn to January 1856 Peter D. Samuel to January 1858 Chas. H. Winfree to January 1856 Absolom Rowe to March 1856 Joseph Kenderson to January 1856 S. R. Hollins to January 1856 James Sale to January 1856 John W. Wilson to January 1856 F. N. Watkins to January 1856

F. P. Wood to April 1854 J. D. Ligon to May 1856

Dr. J. T. Spencer to January 1856 Thos. Goode to January 1850 Edward Tarry to January, 1856 Jos Venable to July 1855 C. C. Baldwin to July 1854 Annanias Hancock to January J.856 John H. Clarke to January 1850 Mrs. Lucy C. Binford to March 1856

G. A. Smith to January 1850 John AVilson to September 1850 Isaac Ilincle to January 1850 W. Sayre to November 1856 Jas. T. Calhoun to January 1856 Dr. D. Patteson " " Lewis C. Botts " " Wm. Mays

Hiram Hansborough " "

J. Smith

J. B. French,

Col. John H. White to July 1855

Robert J. T, White to September 1855

P. H. Jackson to January 1856

W. M. Womack

Rev. J. H. C. Leach "

Melville M. Jones " 1857

S. B. Scott " 1856

Wm. T. Johnson

T, N. Gee " 1857

Wm. A. Scott to September 1855

M. W. AVoods to Januarv 1855

James C. Gates " 1856

Chas. S. Thompson to July 1855

John Trimble " "

Col. Jose))h Dupuv to January 1850

Edward Hill

J, W. Taylor

Thos. Henderson to July 1855

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

95

apt. H. C. Patterson to July 1855 ("endol Chiles to January 1856 rolin A. Fleet " " "

Tames H. McKinnev " 1855

rohn Chandler " " 1856

B, McGehee to April 1853

H. Madison " 1856

V. A. Armistead " •■ V. H. Carter . " '•'

G. Perkinson " '"'

Vlaj. E. F. Eedd to January 1856

. F. Morton . " "

?rancis Fitzgerald " '■

fm. H. Whiting "

OS. Purkins '• '■

B. Jones ■ '• arshall L. Harris '■ - "

C. Dickinson " 1855 lenj. C. Watkins, to Sept. " acob Morton to June "

I. H. Osborne to January 1856

N. Talifaro

T. Alexander, " "

[ichael Whitmore to Sept. 1855 ohn L. Henshaw to January 1856

H. Suttle

10 00

SUFFOLK SWINE.—The same stock that took J the fir.«t premium at Baltimore, 1853—'54, New ork, State Fair at New York, Vermont, at Battle !oro' and at Greenfield, Mass., 1854, being eshibi-i(l at no other places.

The present stock is the product of seven differ-Dt importations, from different parties and has ever in any instance been bred-in-and-in to the ime relations, and contains more desirable points lan any other stock in Europe or America. Refer ) Charles B. Calvert, Riversdale, Md., Thomas A. iardy, Esq., Norfolk, Va., and Martin Goldsbor-nsh, Baltimore, Md.

mh2t GEO. W. WILSON, Maiden, Mass.

i,T ERINO .SHEEP.—Having increased my flock of Me-Vj. rino Sheep on my farm, in Orange county, to over JO I am now prepared to sell a few choic» yearling Bucks id Ewes. To all who have any acrjuaintance with Col. enry S. Randall of" New York, and the reputation of his x;k, it 13 only necessary to say that the yearhngs I pro-;st selling are the product of ewes purchased of him when 2 sold out last year, and selected by him personally as the ;st in his flock. I have his letters, saying that he was Ferf d the same price for his ewes by his neighbors, but at in starting the growth of fine wool in Virginia it was :ry important to have good sheep, and as he knew these ere superior, he preferred selling them to go there. I lall sell no bucks excep' such as show marks of supe-

rity. All who want to raise their flocks to a high Btand-d at once will do well to apply early, as I have but a aited naraber for sale. Address by mail, or apply to WM. G. CREN.SHAW, or CRENSHAW & CO.,

cnc—tf North side of the Basin, Richmond, Va.

M'CONXELT. & BURTOK,

DENTISTS,

ain Street, between 9th and 10th Street-?, Richmond, Va.

torm MCONNELL. W. LEIGH BUBTON.

^F^'f

iNE HUNDP.ED THOUSAND PEAR TREES.— / Or Pear and Qnince roots for sale by

0. VV. WILSON, Maiden, Mass. l^' Refer to Thos. A. 'lardy, E.sq., Norfolk, Va., tiarles B. Calvert, Riv'-.^idtle, Md., and Samuel H)de, Baltimore. mh2t

DR. McLANE'S VERMIFUGE.

.1N0THEB MEDICAL WITNE.SS. It is no small evidence of the intrinsic value of tliis great Vermifuge, when even physicians, who are generally prejudiced against patent medicines, voluntarily come forward and testify to its triumphant success in expelling worms. Read the following:

Harrisokville, Shelby Co., Ky., April 2, 1849.

J. KiDD & Co.—I am a practising physician, residing permanently in this place. In the year 1843, when a resident of the State of Missouri, I became acquainted with the superior virtues of Dr. McLane's Vermifuge. At some more leisure moment, I will send you the result of an e-\periment I made with one vial, in expelling upwards of 900 worms.

L. CARTER, M. D.

Subpurchasers will be careful to ask for "Dr. McLane's Celebrated Vermifuge," and take none else. All other vermifuges, in comparison, are worthles.s. Dr. McLane's genuine Vermifuge, also his celebrated Liver Pills, can now be had at all respectable Drug .Stores in the United States and Canada.

A GREAT BLESSING TO THE AFFLICTED.

|.^y The number and formidable character of diseases of the Liver have long challenged the attention of medical men. Some of these diseases, classed under the general term of Consumption, have been supposed incurable and the unhappy patient allowed to die without medical science to offer him a hope of recovery. Happily this can no longer be the case. A remedy has been found which will cure all j. complaints, of whatever character, arising from derangement ' of the Liver. The Pills discovered by Dr. McLane, of Virginia, act directly on the Liver; and by correcting its operation and purifying it from disase, cuts off and e.xtirpateB the complaints which have their origin in the diseases of this organ. Remedies hilherto proposed for liver complaints, have failed to operate upon the seat of the disease; but Dr. McLane's Pills make themselves felt upon the action of the Liver, and by cleansing the fountain, dry up the impure streams of disease which thence derive their existence.

[J!^'Purchasers will be careful to ask for Dr. McLane's Celebrated Liver Pills, and take none else. There are other Pills, purporting to be Liver Pills, now before the public. Dr. McLane's Liver Pills, also his Celebrated Vermifuge, can now be had at all respectable Drug Stores in the United States and Canada.

For sale by PURCELL, LADD & CO.

malt Corner Main and 14th streets, Richmond.

lELD, GARDEN AND FLOWER SEEDS, AGRE-CULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, &c.—The subscribers have established, in connection with their extensive Agricultural and Horticultural Implement Establishment in Philadelphia, a Seed Farm, for growing all kinds of seeds for Farm and Garden, which they are now able to supply, fresh and genuine, in every variety. Merchants and Dealers supplied at a liberal die-count. A choice selection of rare Flower Seeds—20 fine varieties, neatly put up in fancy boxes, for one dollar.

They are also prepared to supply, either by wholesale or retail, every description of Agricultural and Horticultural- . Implements, with all the recent improvements, being sole agents in Philadelphia for many of the best ones now in the market, for which they received over seventy premiuins at the la.st Pennsylvania State Fair,

They have also for sale Red and White Clover, Timothy, Herd's Grass, Kentucky Blue Grass, Rye Grass, Orchard Grass, Alsike Clover, Lucerne, Sainfoin, Sweet Scented Vernal, Foxtail, F'escues, and other Foreign Grasse.s.

Implement, Seed and Nursery C,atalogue.s furnished to all post-paid applications.

PASCHALL MORRIS & CO., Agricultural Warehouse and Seed Store,

fe3t N. E corner 7th and Market, Philadelphia.

SAMUEL S. COTTRELL, SADDLE AND HARNESS MANUFACTURER, Wholesale and Retail, No. 118 Main Street, Richmond, Virginia, having received the first premium at the Fair of the Virginia Mechanics Institute, feels confident he can plea.^.e all persons in w.int of any ar tide in Lis line. fely