THE 



SOUTHERN PLANTER. 

Scbotto to Sericulture, horticulture, ants the ^ouscholt* arts. 



Agriculture is the nursing mother of the Arts. — 
X.nephon. 



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



FRAXK: G. RUFFIN, Editor and Proprietor. 



T. BAILIE, Publisher. 



Vol. XV. 



RICHMOND, SEPTEMBER, 1855 



No. 9. 



V 

•v, 



THE CROPS, PRICES, ETC. 
To the Editor of tlie New York Herald : 

I am induced, by your article of the 21st 
inst,, on the crops, prices, &c, and by other 
articles of the same sort going the rounds of 
the press, and which I deem of the most mis- 1 
ckievous tendency, not only to the agricul-j 
tural interests but to the whole country, to 
.write again on this subject. You may re- 
ijmember, that in reply to your circular of last! 
[year, I addressed you a letter, in which I en- 
[deavored to show, by facts and well estab- 
"■ Qished principles of political economy, that 
.whe general estimate of future prices at that 
ijtime prevailing, was entirely unfounded. I 
• predicted that prices would rise permanently, 
- : and closed the letter with the following cau- 
tion to the press : 

" In conclusion, I have but a word to say : J 

if the efforts of the press to lower prices, 

' low so genera], should prove successful, and; 

large quantities of corn and other breadstuff's J 

■;_: 3e exported to foreign countries, we may yet 

. >'ue our folly, when the pressing necessities, 

- >f our own country shall demand supplies, 1 

vhich canoe had neither at home nor abroad."! 

, ST on will do me the justice to say that myj 

idietiong were literally fulfilled, and that 

he country would have been better off if my 

laution had been heeded. 

I beg leave ta call your attention again to' 

lie principles embraced in that letter. They] 

ire not new, though, unfortunately, they are' 

. familiar to the genera? mind, yet they are! 

.} worthy of the profound consideration of the' 

fress and of the country. 
Sou estimate the wheat crop just reaped 
^t one hundred and sixty-eight and a half 
I^Blions of bushels, against one hundred mil- 
II^Rs of bushels, the crop of 1849, as re- 
torted by tho census; and the average price 
If this year at 81 25 a bushel. Now, it is 
is, that these estimates must be merely 
Vou XV.— 9. 



conjectural. The crop has not been threshed 
or measured in any one state or neighborhood, 
and all that is known in regard to it is, that 
the grain is of good quality, and that the 
yield from the straw is satisfactory. That 
the quantity produced is, in many sections, 
less than usual, is certain, and we shall have 
great reason to congratulate ourselves if the 
crop should prove an average one. That the 
crop in an agricultural country should keep 
pace with the population in its natural in- 
crease, would seem to be almost a matter of 
course, though, so far as the wheat crop is 
concerned, it is believed not to be the case in 
our country. The wheat-producing zone in 
this country is almost as limited as that of 
cotton, and in some of the principal wheat 
producing States the population is rapidly in- 
creasing in cities and towns, where wheat is 
consumed, and diminishing in the country, 
where it is produced. I incline to the opinion, 
therefore, that the estimate of the Cincinnati 
Price Current of one hundred and fourteen 
millions of bushels, is a much nearer approxi- 
mation to the truth than your estimate, although 
it falls below the ratio of the increase of pop- 
ulation. Examine the census of your own 
State, just completed, and you will find this 
opinion fully justified. The city of New 
York has a population of over three quarters 
of a million. Think of a standing army of 
teven hundred and fifty thousand consumers, 
to say nothing of the vast number of non- 
producers in your other cities and towns ! I 
have before me a table showing the quantity 
of wheat and flour arriving at tide-water 
through the New York cabals during the last 
season, being (with the wheat turned into flour) 
equal to 1,954,213 barrels — which, allowing a 
quarter of wheat to each inhabitant (the Eng- 
lish estimate) would be little more than suffi- 
cient for twice the population of the city — and 
this embraced the larger part of the surplus 
crop of the State of New York and of the 



258 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



West. The consumption of wheat in our 
country has increased immensely. It has 
beeoaie the bread of the masses. For three 
years of my boyhood, when at school in New 
Jersey, I do not remember to have seen wheat 
bread. Rye was the only bread that was 
used, by the boys at least. Now, it would 
excite a rebellion. And I well remember 
when in most -Southern families wheat bread 
was only an occasional luxury; now it is con- 
sumed universally by the whites, and to a con- 
siderable extent by the negroes. Strange as 
it may seem, I think it not improbable that 
the surplus of wheat and flour for exportation 
will be found in future to decrease with the 
increase of population. The effective demand 
for home consumption is rapidly increasing 
with the rise of wages, and the fall of money. 
It is obvious that a laborer getting $1 50 
a day, can better afford lOcts. for his daily 
bread than he could 5 cts. if his wages were 
75 cts. Clothing and most of the other ne- 
cessaries and comforts of life are cheapened 
by continual improvements in machinery and 
the extensive use of steam power, so that the 
fall in the value of money, is, in regard to 
most of the necessaries of life, counteracted, 
leaving the ability of the laborer to consume 
wheat bread and meat, though at high prices, 
much greater than it was before this rise of 
wages and fall of money. The earth has 
never produced, and probably never will pro- 
duce, half enough wheat for all its inhabitants, 
and the demand daily becoming more effective, 
is continually increasing throughout the 
world. Even in our own country, conceding 
that the crop is one hundred and twenty mil- 
lions of bushels over and above seed, which is 
a most liberal estimate, we should have less 
than five bushels to each inhabitant, if we 
were not to export a bushel. But for Indian 
corn ajid wheat grown by slave labor, we should 
be more liable to famine here than in the old 
countries of Europe. In the non-slaveholding 
States there is no class of agricultural labo- 
rers> no cottagers, or serfs adscrijM glcla. 
All are striving to elevate their condition ; 
the laborer of to-day becomes a proprietor to- 
morrow, and where all think they may live by 
their wits,, few are willing to labor with their 
bands. Hence the difficulty of procuring a 
continuous supply of labor has rendered farm- 
ing in the West an exceedingly irksome and 
precarious business. Agriculture in this coun- 
try can only be successfully prosecuted on the 
patriarchal system, cither by slave labor or by 
families of whites. There can be no greater 
delusion* than to suppose it possible for the 
existing agricultural population materially to 



increase the production of wheat by extending 
the surface under cultivation. It is one of 
those errors so extensively prevailing that 
it deserves to be included in a new edition 
of Benthain's " book of fallacies." Every 
practical farmer will tell you that we cul- 
tivate in this country too much land, and that 
we would make more if we cultivated less 
with the same force. The truth is, the farm- 
ers for years have been under a continual 
strain to produce as much as possible, and the 
effort is already overdone, and no rise of prices 
without bringing more labor and eapital intcr 
the business, can permanently increase the; 
crops A farmer may " rip the goose that 
lays the golden egg" and by breaking up his 
rotation and cultivating all the richest spots 
of his farm, increase bis crop for one year, 
but his future loss will be greater than his 
present gain. Our farmers are now too 
enlightened to adopt this suicidal policy. If 
making wheat was so much more profitable 
•than other occupations, do you not suppose 
that more capital and labor would at once 
be devoted to it ? What indications have we 
that such is the fact ? The census of New 
York demonstrates the reverse, so I have no- 
doubt would that of Pennsylvania and proba- 
bly that of Ohio if now taken. It is true 
that in Virginia and other s'laveholding grain 
producing States, emigration has ceased, and 
the natural increase of the population is devo- 
ted principally to producing grain, and here 
proprietors who inherited their property ot 
purchased it years ago are realising large 
profits on their capitals as formerly estimated. 
But let any one start a new enterprise, pur- 
chasing land, slaves, mules, &c, at present 
prices, and he will soon find that at less than 
$2.00 a bushel for wheat he cannot realize 
the ordinary rate of profit on his capital and 
labor. 

Two dollars for wheat in the present state 
of the world is a very low jirice, and notwith- 
standing your prediction, I entertain no doubt 
that the average price of wheat m New Yorl 
will be from this time to the next harvest! 
over $2 a bushel and very probably over $2,50 
Please take a note of this and test it by 
the result. 

This opinion is not expressed rashly or a. ; 
random, but is founded on a deliberate consio| 
eration of all the circumstances of the cas(| 
To some of these circumstances I have alii! 
ded in this paper. I proceed to notice nioij 
particularly others of which mention w&J 
made in my former letter. 

1st. The increase in the cost of productic'l 
or in other words the fall in the value J 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



259 



money. This subject is very clearly illustra- 
ted in McCulloch's political economy, to which 
I beg leave to refer you. He asks why a 
pound of gold is worth fifteen times as much 
as a pound of silver, and answers, because it 
takes about fifteen times as much labor to get 
a pound of gold as one of silver; but if a new 
gold mine were discovered from which a pound 
of gold could be procured with as little labor 
as is now a pound of silver, in a short time 
-gold would be* worth no more than silver. 
This' state of things seemed about to be rea- 
lized by the discovery of the mines of Cali- 
fornia and Australia, so that Congress had to 
debase our silver coins to keep them in the 
country. The silver mines are now yielding 
so largely as probably to restore, in a short 
i:me, the equilibrium between the metals 
which tends still further to disturb other 
exchangeable values. The precise amount of 
the depreciation of the precious metals since 
the opening of the gold mines of California 
and Australia it is difficult to estimate ; but 
that it has been very great none cau doubt and 
is probably little short of one half the esti- 
mated values of thfise metals. It is a matter 
cf history that at the end of a century from 
the discovery of the Spanish mines in Anieri- 

. ca prices had advanced permanently four hun- 
dred per cent — or, in other words, the precious 
metals had declined in value to that extent. 
If such was the effect of those mines, so com 

; paratively unimportant, what must be the 
effect, at n-^ distant day, of the mines of the 
precious metals now in operation in the world? 
Even in Adam Smith's time so great had been 
the fell of money that the question was 
_ ively discussed whether some other measure 
of value than the precious metals should not 
be adopted. At that time the annual product 
of the mines of the world was estimated at 
ten millions of pounds sterling, (vide Edin- 
burgh Encyclopedia, art. Bullion,) now the 
annual product is estimated at two hundred 
lalUlons of dollars, and making the most liberal 
allrwance of what is consumed in the arts, we 
hare much more than a hundred millions of 
liars added to the coin of the world annu- 
ally. Resides this money facilities are won- 
d by banks and bills of ex- 

, change, railroads, expresses, telegraphs, &c. 
What is to be t),e permanently procressive 
effect of all these agencies on prices time only 
can determine. The most superficial must be 
tisf I that this effect v, ill be very great. 
I am noi discussing this a.- a question involv- 
ing desirable re: ilts, hut merely as one of po- 
j ju>! now a very impor- 
tant bearing the i l re I of agriculture. 



The evils arising from the fall in the value of 
salaries, annuities, government securities, and 
all fixed incomes are much to be deplored, but 
these it is not my province to discuss. 

2d. The war m Europe. In the very paper 
in which you estimated the average price of 
wheat during the year at $1.25 a bushel, you 
published the address of the Emperor of 
France to the Legislative Assembly and other 
intelligence from Europe, that gives the assu- 
rance that there are not only no hopes of 
peace but that the war was about to spread 
over the continent. In view of all these 
things can you be in earnest in making so low ■ 
an estimate of the price of wheat during the 
year ? I need not enlarge on the necessary 
effects of the war in disturbing the labors of 
agriculture in the great grain producing por- 
tion of Europe ; the interruption of commerce 
in the Baltic and the Euxine, the enormous 
consumption by large standing armies, and the 
wanton wastes and ravages of war. These 
considerations are obvious to the commonest 
comprehension. But it seems strange that 
they have not only been overlooked hut that 
no weight has been given to facts of past his- 
tory in a journal usually distinguished for 
learning and ability. I have before me the 
annual average prices of wheat in Great Bri- 
tain, according to the Parliamentary returns, 
from 1830 to 1830, and.it will be found that 
the average for the first sixteen years was 
more than equal to the present price of 
wheat in Liverpool. During this time the 
ports were open to all the world, the precious 
metals were not in over supply, and, although 
the Bank of England had suspended cash 
payments, the notes did not for some years 
depreciate more than three per cent., and in 
the two first years of the series the price of 
wheat wa3 1 10 shillings and 5 pence and 1 15 
shillings II pence, respectively, and in 1812 
was as high as 122 shillings and 8 pence a 
quarter. The war in Europe was the chief 
cause of the high prices, for, during that period,^ 
though the crops were occasionally short they 
were frequently good. Why should not the 
present war, taken in connection with the fall 
of money, have now a still greater effect ? 
Yet we are told by the Herald that the ave- 
rage price of the year is to be less than 50 
shillings a quarter ! 

The course of the press, if it may have any 
effect at all must produce nothing but mischief 
to every interest in our country. Consumers 
in the cities cannot be permanently benefitted. 
Wheat may fall under a temporary glut, to 
the great injury of some farmers, but flour 
will not be affected, or if it should deoline 



iCO 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



temporarily our crops will go abroad at com- 
paratively low prices to feed the belligerents, 
and when our oWn stocks are reduced we shall 
be patriotic enough to purchase Canadian flour 
in the Spring, under the reciprocity treaty, at 
almost famine prices to feed our own popula- 
tion. Such is the practical wisdom of a sen- 
sible people. 

To the farmers I would say, be firm ; you 
have the matter in your own hands. There 
are two parties to every contract of sale — the 
seller as well as the buyer. Above all things 
keep clear of the Baltimore Corn Exchange 
until after the close of September. 
Yours, very respectfully, 

WlLLOUGHBY NEWTON. 

Westmoreland Co., Va., Jidy2§th^55. 



From the Michigan Farmer. 

COLIC IN HORSES. 

The causes of colic in horses appear to be 
quite numerous. The drinking of cold water 
when the horse is warm — especialty hard wa- 
ter ; exposure to cold after severe labor, full 
feeding on green forage after being accustom- 
ed to dry food. Indigestion, Dr. Dadd consi- 
ders the principal cause ; but the above causes 
will produce impaired digestion, and it is in 
this indirect way, it may be, that colic is pro- 
duced. We have known horses which would 
be sure to have an attack of this disease upon 
every slight change in feed. 

The symptoms are pretty well known : The 
horse if in the stable, quickly lies down and 
gets up again ; paws the ground violently with 
his fore feet; lies down, rolls, starts up as if 
frightened and looks wistfully at his flanks. 
Perspiration is excessive as the violence of the 
spasms increase, all these symptoms are aggra- 
vated ; the animal becomes regardless of your 
presence and any attempt to approach him is 
dangerous. He seems iuvested with greatly 
increased strength. We once knew a large, 
powerful mare to be attacked with colic during 
a cold winter's night, and when discovered, 
toward morning, was found in the granary ad- 
ioinin"' the stable, having stoven a solid 4 by 4 
inch studded partition, boarded on each side, 
completely to pieces, during the violence of 
the paroxisms, rolling and groaning among the 
ruins. The distention of gas was so great, 
that probably a rupture of the colon or coecum 
was produced, as she died suddenly after as- 
sistance came. It was ignorantly supposed 
that the animal had "bots. n 

Inflammation of the Boivels. — The symp- 
toms of this disease are somewhat analogous. 
Indeed, colic has often produced inflammation 



COLIC. 



of the bowels, {Enteritis.) As this is a very 
fatal disease it is important to know its early 
symptoms, and wherein they differ from those 
of colic. Youatt has pointed them out so- 
clearly that we transcribe his diagram : 

INFLAMMATION OF THE 
BOWELS. 

Gradual in its ap- 
proach, with indica- 
tions of fever. 
Pulse very much 
quickened, but small 
and often scarcely to 
be felt. 



Sudden' in its attack. 



Legs and ears cold. 

Belly exceedingly ten- 
der and painful to the 
touch. 

Motion evidently in- 
creasing the pain. 
Constant pain. 
Rapid and great weak- 
ness. 



Pulse rarely much 
quickened in the early 
period of the disease, 
and during the inter- 
vals of ease ; but evi- 
dently fuller. 
Legs and ears of the 
natural temperature. 
Relief obtained from 
rubbing the belly. 

Relief obtained from 
motion. 

Intervals of rest. 
Strength scarcely af- 
fected. 

The treatment of these diseases formerly? 
may be justly characterized as abominable- 
Turpentine, opium, aloes and bleeding, were 
the favorite remedies. Youatt condemns the I 
use of gin and pepper, for fear of a tendency j 
to inflammation within the stomach; but strong- j 
ly recommends turpentine, one of ' the most 
penetrating and pungent irritants in common I 
use. As there is always a tendency to inflam- ! 
mation of the stomach and intestines in cases of 
colic, the only safe way is to avoid all irritants I 
if possible, and resort to simple sanative reme- j 
dies. A strong dose of peppermint tea will gen- 
er'ally relieve ordinary cases of colic. Mr. j 
Dadd says : "If the gas is supposed to exist \ 
in. the stomach, the following is the best pre-' 
paration : — Carbonate of ammonia, 1 drachm,* > 
tincture of ginger, 1 oz., water, 1 pint; mix, 
and drench the horse. 

" If the acid or gas exist in the bowels, sub- ! 
stitute lime-water for ammonia, and add half 
an ounce of tincture of gentian." 

Por inflamation of the bowels the same ex- j 
cellent author gives the following : — Linseed 
oil, 8 ounces, Lime-water, 2 ounces. Another:! 
— Epsom salts, 8 ounces, thin gruel, 1 quart, j, 
Another : — Common salt, 6 ounces, warm wa- J 
ter, 1 pint," 

"Frequent injections are to be given until! 
the bowels respond ; and if after a reasonable 



*About a tea-spoonful. A tea- cup will holdj 
about 4 fluid ounces of water. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



261 



time they should not do so, one of the above 
prescriptions, in about half the proportion, 
may be ventured on ; yet it is best not to be 
too hasty, for supurgation, induced by active 
cathartics, would be equivalent to a sentence 
of death. 

A handful of common salt to three quarts 
of warm water forms a very good injection." 

He further advises to give the horse diluting 
drinks, to dissolve the hardened mass within 
and cause it to pass off. Warm water is as 
good as anything in easy reach. The diet 
must be very light, and the drink water in 
which slippery elm bark has been thrown. 

By a little care in procuring the above ma- 
terials, and keeping them on hand, the lives of 
many valuable horses may be saved, and the 
owners from heavy losses. 



PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE. 
A paper was recently read before the Farm- 
ers' Club of New York, by Dr. R. L. Water- 
bury, which seems to have conflicted with the 
views of Messrs. Mapes, Warring & Co., who 
undertook to answer it. On reading the re- 
port of their remarks, Dr. W. found it neces- 
sary to disclaim the views attributed to him, 
and in doing so, gives the purport of the paper 
read by him as follows : 

That, without the use of any foreign ferti- 
lizer, produce enough may be sold off from a 
farm, in most portions of the Union, to pay the 
expense of conducting it ; and yet, by judi- 
cious management, the soil may be annually 
improving in condition; 

That this can be effected the easiest in those 
portions of the Union where the value of land 
is the least, and where, consequently, the farms 
are largest, and the longest rotation of crops 
can be profitably resorted to ; 

That no system of farming is deserving of 
our attention that does not recognize the ne- 
cessity of farm exports; 

That a State may, to some extent, export 
agricultural products, without diminishing its 
capability to produce them ; 

That an inspection of the census returns of 
the United States and of the State of N. York 
shows that the amount of crop3 of this State 
1i:js increased for the last ten years much faster 
than the area of improved lands in the State, 
and that, consequently, the lands cannot be 
"running out ;" 

That the processes of Nature, to which we 
owe the present alluvial condition of the sur- 
face of the earth, are still at work, and that 



land left entirely to itself will, by the action 
of water and vegetation, improve in fertility ; 

That the process of tillage alone may be 
made to accelerate this improvement, and help 
to provide for the necessary waste of mar- 
keting ; 

That rain penetrates the porous parts of the 
earth's surface, and percolates through them 
until it comes to impervious strata, and that it 
runs along this impervious strata until it finds 
egress as springs, and that spring water is 
impregnated, more or less, with saline sub- 
stances; 

That the evaporation which is continually 
going on of the water from the surface of the 
earth, leaves the saline matter in the surface, 
as but a small part of the water that falls as 
rain ever reaches the sea ; 

That the Mineral Springs of Saratoga, and 
other localities arc exaggerated illustrations 
of this process, and the more fertile condition 
of valleys is to be,. in part, referred to the same 
cause ; 

That, in the present thinly populated condi- 
tion of our Continent, the true purpose of 
American agriculture, at this time, is to wisely 
direct these natural forces, rather than apply 
pinches of guano, and tea-spoonfuls of super- 
phosphates to individual plants, although such 
applications may pay on some farms, and pro- 
bably do pay well all marketing gardening 
operations. 

The objection to soil analysis is this : 

The difference between the early soil of Vir- 
ginia and the same soil in its present condition 
has been made by the loss of 1 ,200 pounds of 
alkalies to the acre. But this 1,200 pounds 
forms not quite three ten-thousandths (000.27) 
of the soil to the depth of a foot. 

The idea that any amount of variation,with- 
in such infinitesimal limits, can be mea- 
sured and defined by quantitative analysis is 
absurd. Top dressing of the same amount 
would, in the same way, fail of being detect- 
ed. 

That directions given by agricultural che- 
mists have led to successful results is undoubt- 
edly true ; but these directions have been 
founded rather upon experience and observa- 
tion than upon chemical analysis. — Country 
Gentleman. 



For the Sitr.hern Planter. 

Waterford, Loudoun July 17th, 1854. 

The joint worm will promote one good thino- 
for the farmer ; the cry is coming up from all 
| quarters that a new and almost invisible ene- 
; rny is blasting the hope of the wheat grower 



262 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



that this dreaded thing is rapidly extending 
the field of his destructiveness ; however suc- 
cessful individuals have been in producing this 
valuable grain, they, too, join in the question : 
What will prove an effectual means of over- 
coming the ravages of this destructive insect ? 
Inquiry is invited, communication is encour- 
aged, (are not these of themselves great 
means of advancing the agriculture of our 
State ?). The wheat grower now can only 
succeed by fully enlightening his fellow labo- 
rer upon the means he himself would employ. 
There is then a double motive to communicate 
everything pertaining to the subject. 

I have just read in the June number of the 
Planter, Mr. Jno. Roy Baylor's interesting 
communication, on this subject. I observe he 
suggests " the plough in time is the remedy." 
With some disposition to begin at the fountain 
head, viz: the plough, hi the extirpation of 
this evil, I come up to the aid of Mr. Bay- 
lor, and offer the Michigan Double Plough, a 
card exhibiting which I send you enclosed. I 
only saw a trial of this plough with one of 
the ploughs in much use in this county, (the 
MeCormick) which was in the month of August 
last, when the particular (clay) soil was hard 
and tough, and surely there could be but one 
opinion as to the operation of the two ploughs, 
which was beyond comparison in favor of the 
Michigan, for ease of draught, uniform depth 
of furrow, complete turning and pulverization 
of the ground, and, what I remarked at the 
time, the perfect covering of the surface or 
whatever was upon it, while the MeCormick but 
partially broke the tough soil; and that in 
hunks and chunks which repeated harrowing 
would not reduce to a proper state for seed ; 
while 'the ground broke by the former plough 
was in admirable condition for the seed with- 
out even one harrowing. 

If there be any virtue in covering effectu- 
ally and deeply to provide against the joiut 
worm, I know of no implement so well calcu- 
lated for the purpose as this plough. 

Such a plough, burying deeply the^ surface 
soil and with it all noxious seeds and insects, 
would be a valuable improvement, and though 
turning up raw earth that never saw the light 
the usual quantity of guano applied would 
still produce a crop, for this wonderful agent 
seems most certain of action where there 
is least vegetable matter in the soil. I might 
add, that it is stated that the growing wheat 
in Northern Michigan is, in appearance the 
most magnificent that has ever been seen 
in that country, and this Michigan Double 
Plough may be the plough in use in that sec- 
tion. 



If you, Mr. Editor, or any reader of the 
Planter, have any experience with this plough, 
I should be glad to have your testimony, as I 
know of no one who has used it. I under- 
stand they are on sale in Alexandria and per- 
haps elsewhere. Lewjsn T. Jones. 



MOISTURE IN SOILS. 

It is known that soils which contain much 
humus, or decayed vegetable matter, have 
great power in drawing moisture from the air. 
It might be supposed, therefore, that an appli- 
cation of peat- — which contains much humus 
— would prove beneficial in a dry season on 
sandy soils. Has such been the case ? Clay, 
too, possesses this power to a great extent, but 
it should be well pulverized in order to allow 
the air to permeate through it. Pure sand 
does not possess the power at all; and yet 
sandy soils which contain a little clay and 
humus, often suffer less from droughth than 
tenacious clays, owing doubtless to their per- 
meability. Sir Humphrey Davy says : " The' 
soils which are most efficient in supplying the 
plant with water, by atmospheric absorption, 
are those in which there is a clue mixture 
of sand, finely divided clay, and carbonate of 
lime, with some animal or vegetable matter; 
and which are so loose and' light as to be 
freely permeable to the atmosphere. With 
respect to this quality, carbonate of lime and 
animal and vegetable matter are of great use 
in soils ; tljey give absorbent powers to the 
soil without giving it tenacity. Sand, on the 
contrary, which also destroys tenacity, gives 
little absorbent power. I have compared the 
absorbent power of many soils with respect to 
atmospheric moisture, and I have always 
found it greatest in the most fertile soils; so 
that it affords one method of judging of the 
productiveness of land." There is a rich 
field open for investigation in this direction. 

The quantity of water required to thor- 
oughly saturate the various earths, is a ques- 
tion of much importance. Schubler found 
that a cubic foot, when thoroughly saturated, 
contained of water as follows : — Silicious sand, 
27.3 lbs.; gypsum powder, 27.4; calcareous 
sand, 31.8; carbonate of lime 47.5; fine slaty 
marl, 35.6 ; pure grey clay, 48.3 ; stiff clay 
or brick earth, 45.4 ; garden mould, 48.4. 
The fact that " garden mould " imbibed more 
water than any other soil, and the poor " sili- 
cious sand " the least, indicates that rich soils 
are less easily saturated than sterile ones. 
Here, too, is a fine field for study. 

The power of retaining water, when exposed 
to the atmosphere, is abo known to differ ma- 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



2G; 



terially in the several earths. Sehubler found, 
calculating the evaporation as from 100 grains 
of water contained in the eartb, that 200 
grains of earth, spread on a surface of ten 
square inches, at a temperature of 65 3 4 0, 
evaporated in 4 hours as follows : Silicious 
sand, 88.4 grains ; calcareous sand, 75.9 ; 
gypsum powder, 71.7 ; sandy clay, 52 ; loamy 
clay, 45.7 ; stiff clay or brick earth, 34.9 ; 
pure grey clay, 31.9; fine lime 28 ; garden 
mould, 24.3; magnesia, 10.8. 

[Rural Neio Yorker. 



good sized piece of fresh butter or some sweet 
oil. 

Let the person, as soon as may be 
after being bitten, eat this cake, in the morn- 
ing, and taste neither food nor drink for six 
hours, when he may eat and drink as usual. 
Three such cakes to- be eaten as above, on three 
alternate mornings. 

This is for an adult ; the quantity for a child 
may be administered according to age. — Coun- 
try Gentleman. 



REMEDY FOR THE BITE OF A MAD DOG. 

While on a tour recently in the vicinity of 
the Ottowa river in Canada, Ave frequently 
heard it said that there was no difficulty in 
preventing the usual fatal results from the bite 
of a mad dog. It was said the remedy had 
been long known and administered with inva- 
riable success by many of the Catholic clergy 
throughout the Lower Province. • Having as- 
certained that the Rev. John Edwards, Baptist 
minister at Clarence and Petite Nation, could 
furnish the recipe, we applied to him, and he 
has favored us with the following : 

Luther Ticker, Esq. — I send the annex- 
ed recipe for insertion in your valuable paper, 
hoping it may meet the eye of any individual 
who should have the misfortune to be bitten by 
a mad dog. Of its efficacy to prevent Hydro- 
phobia, I have fullest confidence, having seen 
persons when bitten, who took the remedy, and 
no harm followed, whilst animals bitten by the 
same' dogs, died raving mad, or were killed to 
prevent mischief. 

A gentleman of undoubted veracity, from 
whom I obtained this recipe 20 years ago, as- 
sured me that he had known it to be used suc- 
cessfully in at least 20 cases, where there was 
not a doubt as to the madness of the dog in- 
flicting the bite, nor of the entire exemption 
from any serious consequences to the person 
bitten, after following this prescription. 

I would add that while many instances have 
come to my knowledge of persons having been 
bitten by mad dogs, in this part of the coun- 
try, I never heard of a single fatal result ; 
which I am satisfied must be attributed to the 
knowledge of the above remedy. Jno. Ed- 
wa£1)^, Baptist Minister, Clarence and Pe- 
tite Nation, Ottowa River, Canada. 

Recipe. — Burn oyster shells to lime ; pul- 
verize and sift through fine gauze or muslin; 
put two table-spoonfuls (heaped) into a vessel; 
•mix with eggs to the consistency of cream or 
butter for pancakes, and fry in a pan with a 



ON THE MANAGEMENT OF YOUNG HORSES. 

Cecil, the well known and able correspondent 
of the Marklane Express, has an interesting arti- 
cle on the subject, from which we make the follow- 
ing extracts : 

Many persons are of opinion that it is un- 
necessary to administer physic to foals and 
young horses ; but a few observations will dis- 
pel that notion. After a foal has been weaned 
and deprived of its mother's milk, the liver 
very frequently assumes an inactive, sluggish 
disposition. The coat indicates this by its 
harsh unhealthy appearance, and the animal 
gives evidence of being what is termed hide- 
bound. Very often the legs will fill from an 
irregularity of the circulation, consequent upon 
the state of the liver. In such cases one or 
two mild doses of aloes become indispensable. 
Diureties are of no use under these circum- 
stances, their action being on the kidneys and 
urinary passage, which are not the seat of disor- 
der. For foals recently weaned, one drachm of 
aloes with an equal portion of ginger and of soap 
if? the proper quantity; but if that does not 
relax the bowels sufficiently, the proportion of 
aloes may be increased on the second occasion. 
A slight dose is only required, because the 
aloes being supposed to act primarily on the 
liver, it is merely- necessary to stimulate that 
organ to its healthy action. The only restric- 
tion necessary in the diet is substituting bran 
mashes for hay during the twenty-four hours 
preceding the time of administering the medi- 
cine, and carefully providing the animal from 
the effects of rain ; otherwise, if the weather 
be favorable, no danger need be apprehended 
from the usual enlargement in the paddock Or 
field during the operation of the physic, while 
the exercise will assist the desired result. 
Foals which have been fondly treated when 
with their dams, and subsequently, will not 
occasion much trouble in administering the 
ball. When they are weaned a light head 
collar or halter should be put upon their heads 
and being accustomed to that, the ball may 



264 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



readily be given by placing it on the end of a 
])iece of whalebone or cane. 

Those foals /which have 'been fed upon an 
abundance of grass, are very subject to be 
troubled with worms ; and some pastures are 
very liable to produce them. Many remedies 
have been adopted for their expulsion, but I 
have never found anything so effectual as 
calomel or emetic tartar, if properly adminis- 
tered; that not always being attended to, has* 
led to the conclusion that the remedies are not 
infallible. Neither calomel nor emetic tartar 
should ever be given, if the expulsion of 
worms be intended, with the medicine admin- 
istered to work it off ; nor should soap, or any 
other alkali, form a portion of the ball, as 
those substances counteract the effect by de- 
composing both calomel and emetic tartar. 
The plan which I have always found successful 
to dislodge worms from horses, at any age, 
has been as follows, appropriating the quantity 
of medicine to the age and constitution of the 
subject. Keep the patient without any kind 
of food six or eight hours, when the appetites 
of the insects will become keen. A small 



many defects may be relieved or corrected, if 
attacked in the earliest stage, before the parts 
have assumed an unyielding texture. Many 
of the imperfections to which the form of the 
leg is susceptible, may be traced to a portion 
of the hoof having been broken, worn away, 
or clipped off. In the event of such accident 
the opposite side of the foot grows more 
luxuriantly, and the weakest portion, or lower 
side, having to sustain an increased weight, an 
uneven bearing for the foot is established. This 
will assuredly cause the leg to grow crooked, 
and very probably occasion a turning in or out 
of the toe. The irregularity of shape is often 
seen in one leg, while the other is well formed. 
The pastern joints, in many cases, evince a 
disposition to grow too upright, or on the other 
hand to assume too much obliquity. The 
same principle which accidentally causes a 
limb to take an unfavorable growth or form 
may be adopted to restore it to its proper 
shape, providing it is attended to in time. 



quantity of bran mash is then offered to the 
animal, in which is mixed the calomel or 
emetic tartar : for a foal the proportion is from 
twelve to fifteen grains, and for a yearling from 
fifteen to twenty. This dose repeated after an 
interval of ten or twelve hours, during which 
period no other kind of food must be presented; 
otherwise the worms, seizing upon the nutri- 
ment which it affords, will not be destroyed, 
. Six hours after the last dose has been given, 
it must be worked off with linseed oil or aloes. 
The quantity of the former is from four to six 
ounces; but if aloes be preferred, the dose 
will be from one drachm to one and a half, 
which should be dissolved over the fire in a 
quantity of oil or lard, and made into a ball 
with ginger and treacle. .The quantity of 
calomel or emetic tartar for horses at a more 
.advanced age may be augmented to the extent 
of sixty grains; but for two and three-year- 
• olds, .from twenty to thirty is sufficient, with 
the purgative remedy in proportion. 

• Considering the important functions as- 
signed to the legs and feet, upon which a great 
portion of the horse's value depends, it is a 
matter of some surprise that more attention is 
not bestowed on the subject. There are many 
breeders who never think of inspecting them 
till the animals are about to be broken, or, if 
they observe any imperfections, they leave the 
remedy to its fate. The legs of young horses 
may be justly compared to willow twigs; you, 
may train them to almost what form you 
please. By careful and judicious treatment, | p as t month 



Thus, if the inside of the near forefoot of a 
colt or young horse be broken off or worn 
down, it will cause the animal to tread more 
heavily on the inside than on the out, and the 
leg will become bent in consequence. To cor- 
rect this it is only necessary to reduce the 
superabundant portion of the foot with a 
drawing knife or carp, so that the limb may 
have an even bearing. When the pasterns 
grow too upright, the heels require to be 
lowered ; and the toes of those which are too 
oblique must be shortened. The texture of 
of the hoof varies considerably in different 
animals. In some measure it is constitutional; 
and it is likewise affected by the state or con- 
dition of the land upon which the animal is 
reared. Before shoes are applied, if the land 
be dry, the hoof is very liable to be broken 
off at the edges ; and if neglected they will 
shell off, and frequently occasion soreness — 
sometimes even inflammation. To obviate 
this, the part should be rounded a little with 
the rasp, and the foot dressed with ointment 
composed of tallow, fat, or lard, two parts, 
tar one part, and treacle half an equivalent of 
the latter. These being melted together and 
applied warm on the soles and hoofs of horses 
at any age, will be found to promote the growth 
and toughen the parts effectively. If the land 
is very dry, it is advisable to throw water in 
some particular spot, where the animals may 
be induced to stand occasionally in order to 
keep their feet in a healthy state. — Country i 
Gentleman 



The weather has been unusually favorable the 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



265 



BEST MODE OF RAISING WOOD. 

Reading an article in the Farmer of March 
8th., on the " growing of wood," it struck me 
at once that many did not know how to pro- 
duce nut-trees from the seed. Now a few 
hints would set every one aright. I have tried 
a good many years to raise oaks, chestnuts 
and other kinds of trees, but met with no suc- 
cess, planting them as I did in drills, in com- 
mon soil. Not one would sprout. In the 
summer of 1853, 1 noticed several sprouts as 
I was working under a chestnut tree, and in 
digging down through the leaves I came to the 
nuts from which the sprouts came. I took the 
hint, and the next fall I procured a quantity of 
nuts; thinking I would imitate nature, I pre- 
pared a rich bed, strewing the nuts thickly on 
top of the soil, covering them with leaves. All 
the nuts came up and are now doing finely. 
This manner of planting is to be observed only 
for those trees that are designed for transplant- 
ing. For wood lots I would recommend the 
following mode of planting : Select a still 
day. Let one man drop the seed eight feet 
apart each way, covering them with a small 
handful of leaves. Let another man follow 
with a barrow of heavy soil, sprinkling on 
just enough to keep the leaves from blowing 
away. Two men in this manner can plant 
one acre in one day with ease. 

If these facts are followed, it will save much 
labor in the production of wood land. Hop- 
ing they will be the means of doing much 
good. I remain your ob't servant, 

W. Howard. 
East Orrington, 1855. 



WINTER MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. 

In wet weather it is of great advantage to 
be able to fodder under shelter. I have aban- 
doned the practice of salting my hay, except 
when compelled by stress of weather to house 
it before it is thoroughly cured. My sheep 
are salted about once a week the year round, 
and instead of giving them tar as recommend- 
ed by some persons, I occasionally strew the 
yard with pine boughs, of which they are 
fond. 

I regard the management of lambs as one of 
the most important branches of sheep husban- 
dry. Having paid for my experience on this 
point as well as that of winter shelter, I can 
speak with confidence. They should be separa- 
ted from their darns about the first of Septem- 
ber, and with a few sheep, that require nursing, 
■trued to the best pasture. Care should be 
taken that they are not stinted till removed to 
winter quarters, when they should have a} Me. Farmer. 



small allowance of grain or oat-meal in addition 
to a plentiful supply of good hay. As soon as 
the pasture begins to fail the ration of grain 
should be supplied. By neglecting to provide 
suitable partures for a lot upwards of 100 very 
superior lambs one season, I lost the greater 
part of them the ensuing winter. My utmost 
efforts, after I had discovered the error, were 
of no avail. I gave them a comfortable shed, 
plenty litter, good hay, a regular allowance of 
meal and free access to water ; but they never 
recovered, and the greater part died before 
spring. 

My bucks and ewes are put together about 
the first of December. The flock, which I 
keep at my home barn, under my own eye, 
and- from which I raise bucks for the supply of 
my own, and many of my neighbors' flocks, is 
managed in this way. The; ewes in lots of 20 
to 35 are placed in separate pens, and a select 
buck is turned into each pen, where they are 
kept together 15 or 20 days. The ewes in 
each pen are marked with a letter in tar and 
lampblack, to indicate what buck they were 
served by. At shearing time, the buck lambs- 
are selected, and receive a mark to denote 
their origin. 

In my judgment, water is as essential to 
sheep and is to any other animal. They will 
go through the winter on snow instead of water, 
and so would a man or a horse, if compelled 
by necessity to do so; but either would prefer 
to have it thawed before using it, rather than 
perform that office, in his bowels. 

When my sheep ran in large' flocks without 
shelter, they were occasionally affected with. ^ 
the scab, but since I have provided comforta- 
ble sheds for them, they have been troubled 
with no serious disease. This climate is well 
suited to sheep. — E. Kirby, in MorrelPs 
Shepherd. 

Every one who has a spot of land should 
raise fruits, that he may have them fresh from 
his trees; for in no way will it yield more 
profit for one's own house; and where there is 
a market, they are profitable for that purpose 
also. 



NEW MODE OF RAISING FRUIT TREES. 

A Bohemian agriculturist has success- 
fully introduced a new mode of planting. — 
Instead of using the process of grafting, he 
takes an offshoot of any fruit tree — an apple 
tree for instance — and plants it in a potato, 
both being carefully placed in the soil, so that 
five or six inches of the shoot shall be above 
the ground. This latter takes root, grows 
with rapidity, and produces the finest of fruit. 



266 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



THE DEAD HORSES OF PARIS. 
Four hundred horses die or are killed in 
Paris in one week. There is a common pound, 
surrounded by a stone wall, covering some ten 
acres. According to some municipal regula- 
tions (there is an ' ordinance ' for everything 
in F ranee) all dead carcasses, except human 
ones, must be brought to this general recep- 
tacle. The carcass of a horse is valuable for 
the bone, the hide, and the hair, to say nothing 
of the flesh, much prized when fresh, in cer- 
tain sausage manufactories. But should you 
wait until the horse has actually shuffled off 
his hairy coat, you might miss a bargain — 
another of the trade precedes and purchases. 
Hence it is important to buy the horse, before 
he is dead. It is a regular business in Paris. 
You can tell these agents for the purchase of 
dead horses at a glance ; the dress is that of 
an English groom, save the vignette on the 
visor of the cap, representing a dead horse's 
head and cross-bones; a memorandum book, 
a pencil, a stamp, and a piece of caustic com- 
plete his accoutrements. With scrutinizing 
eye he travels the thoroughfares of Paris ; 
should a horse go lame, break a leg or neck, 
should he show symptoms of distress — in a 
word, anywhere or in any way evince signs of 
the many ills to which horseflesh is heir, im- 
mediately is an offer made for the animal, 
deliverable when really dead. The bargain 
concluded, the ' signalement ' of the horse 
and owner is carefully' recorded, and a private 
mark stamped- on the inside of the fore leg 
with the caustic ; the horse goes perhaps 
rejoicing on his way for weeks, perhaps 
months, only to be met with and identified 
after death, at the grave yard for horses. 
Now, except in cases of fresh specimens, as 
mentioned above, the first operation on a dead 
horse is to take off the skin ; then the flesh, 
to get at the bones. The skinning portion is 
easy, and performed with a dexterity and ra- 
pidity truly astonishing. I have se,en in the 
enclosure spoken of, at one time, over one hun- 
dred horses skinned, or being put through 
that process. The next point is to divest the 
bones of adhesive and often putrid flesh — 
bones are valued in proportion as they are 
clean, neat, and free from other matter. To 
take off the flesh by hand is a tedious and 
difficult operation. An ingenious Frenchman 
solved the difficulty. He noticed that rats 
are very fond of horse flesh ; he advised the 
authorities to colonize the horse pound with 
these animal's ; the catacombs of Paris fur- 
nished them by thousands. It was done, and 
now-a-days a dead horse's carcass put in over 
uight, is literally nothing but a neat and beau- 



tiful skeleton in the morning. The pecuniary 
saving to the bone dealers from the voracity 
and gnawing propensities of the rat family, is, 
I am told, very considerable. 

Our Yankee Frenchman did not, however, 
stop there. It was natural to suppose that 
rats so well fed and provided for, would 
rapidly increase and multiply ; hence the 
necessity of regulating the matter. Every 
three months a grand ' battue' is made 
upon the aforesaid colony of rats, and all 
caught above ground die the death of rats. 
The manner of doing this amused me. Hori- 
zontal and cylindrical holes are bored all 
around, in and at the foot of the inclosing 
walls — the depths and diameter being respec- 
tively the length and thickness of the rat's 
body. Upon the morning of the 'battue,' 
men armed with pans, kettles, drums, &c, 
rush in at the peep of day and ' charivari' the 
poor rats, who, frightened to death, poke their 
heads into the first opening. Of course, all 
those in the wall holes have tails sticking out. 
The rat collector, with bag over his shoulder, 
now makes a tour of the premises, and the 
scientific and rapid manner with which the rats 
are seized by the tail and safely (to both rat 
and operator) transferred to the bag, chal- 
lenges admiration. ft even surpasses the 
' Chiffonniers' rag picking. Perhaps you wish 
to know what becomes of the rats. These, 
also, are sold before they are caught or killed. 
The privilege of gathering rats on the 'battue' 
days is farmed out by the authorities, and a 
profitable business it is. These rats, sleek 
and fat as they necessarily are, fetch a highly 
remunerative price — the fur, skin, and the 
flesh, meet with ready sales. / 



TO PREVENT METALS FROM RUSTING. 

Melt together three ports of laid and one part of 
rosin. A very thin coating, will preserve Russia- 
iron stoves and grates from rusting during summer, 
even in damp situations. The effect is equally as 
oood on brass, copper, &c. The same compound 
forms an excellent water-proof paste for leather. 
Boots, when treated with it, will soon after take 
the usual polish when blacked, and the soles may 
be saturated with it. 

Cleaning Gun Barrels.— We have some 
where heard of spirits of turpentine as being 
good to use on the swab instead of water in 
cleaning out gun barrels. It strikes us that 
this is a good recommendation, as there would 
be no danger of rusting if this article be used* 
We think, C however, that a mixture of one part 
of spirits of turpentine and two or three parts 
of strong alcohol (spirits of wine) well shaken 
together, would be preferable. Cleaned in this 
way, they will dry and be ready for use imme- 
diately. — American Agriculturist. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



267 



LABOR, 

The first great difficulty which a New Eng- 
land farmer has to contend with, at the present 
time, is the difficulty of procuring labor, and 
its excessive dearness. It is a fact, too, 
strange as it may appear, that the quality of 
labor has deteriorated in an almost inverse 
proportion to its demand and price. We pay 
double the wages of twenty years since, and 
we receive not much more than half as much 
labor in return, and at the same time the gen- 
eral products of the farm have not materially 
advanced in value. This state of things must 
lead to one or two results ; we must either 
supply the place of much of this labor by 
machinery, or we must give up our farms, 
allowing them to return to their original waste. 
We are forced to do that which sharp compe- 
tition and the desire of gain have accomplished 
in all other industrial pursuits, by calling to 
our aid mechanical skill, and applying, 
wherever it is possible, its labor saving power 
to the operation of the farm. Yankee farmers 
should certainly verify, to the fullest extent, 
the old proverb, that " necessity is the mother 
of invention," for there is rTo place where the 
demand upon her prolific powers is more 
urgent than upon New England soil. 

\J\Ir. Fai/s Address. 



THE DESTROYERS OF OUR GRAIN. 

In looking over our Wheat reports to ascer- 
tain, if possible, the relative amount of dam- 
age the crop has received from each class of 
-•the prevailing destructive insects, we have been 
surprised at the confusion of terms or names 



more generally destructive insects that prey 
especially upon the wheat crop. Among these 
are the Grain Weevil, the Hessian Fly, the 
Clear-winged Ely, or Wheat Midge, several 
varieties, of Grain Moth, the Chintz or Chinck 
Bug, &c. 

The Grain Weevil ( Calandra Granaria, or 
Curculio Granarious of Linnaeus.) — There 
is a wrong impression as to the character of 
this insect, and especially in reference to the 
time of its chief depredations. Quite early in 
the Spring, while wheat was not yet in blos- 
som, reports came from some interior counties 
of Michigan that the weevil was thus early 
committing extensive depredations. From 
many other localities we heard similar reports, 
but a little later in the season. These were 
founded in misconception, for the truth is the 
weevil proper preys only upon the grain, com- 
mencing its ravages about the time of its ri- 
pening, and continuing them long after it is 
gathered into the granary ; hence the name of 
grain or granary weevil. 

The grain weevil in its perfect state is a dark 
or pitchy red, winged beetle or bug, about a 
line and a half, or one-eighth of an inch long. 
It has a slender proboscis or snout, curving a 
little downwards. The thorax, or chest, con- 
stitutes about one-half of its body, and is 
nearby as large as the abdomen, or belly, lying- 
back of the middle ring The thorax is punc- 
tured with a large number of holes, giving it 
a rough appearance. Over the abdomen are 
delicate wings, which are shielded by wing- 
covers, having lines or furrows upon their up- 
per surface running parallel with their length. 
The wings do not entirely cover the tip of the 
abdomen. The female punctures the ripening 



used in the descriptions. Indeed, there seems 

to be no intelligent comprehension of the dif- 1 or ripened grain with her beak or rostrum 
tween these various insects. Thus, and deposits one and sometimes two 



from the same town where all the injurious re- 
sults appear to be traceable to the same cause, 
we have one writer saying, " We shall lose 
half our crop by the weevil /" another says, 
" The fiy is doing us immense harm;" and 
another still — more cautious in making a dis- 
tinction—writes, " Much injury was°feared 
from the insect, but it will be less than was an- 
ticipated." These three reports from a single 
town are- a fair sample of those from the coun- 
try at large. 

It would materially assist investigations 
upon those insects, and also convey a more de- 
finite idea ot the character and amount of in- 
jury to be estimated, if editors and all others 
reporting upon this matter, would state exact- 
ly what kind of "insect" is at work in their se- 
veral localities. To facilitate such a course 
we will give a brief description of some of the 



eggs. — 
From the &'& is hatched a grub or worm, 
winch eats its way into the gram, closing up 
the aperture behind it with excrements so that 
it lies perfectly shielded trom external injury. 
No mechanical action short of crushing the 
kernel can disturb the destroyer. They are 
effectually destroyed by kiln-drying the grain. 
This worm or grub grows to about one-twelfth 
of an inch in length ; its body is white and 
soft, with nine rings around it. The head is 
small, round, yellow colored, and provided 
with cutting instruments. Arriving at matu- 
rity, which is not till after the flour portion of 
the wheat kernel has been principally devour- 
ed, this worm or larvge assumes a nymph or 
chrysalis state, (like that between the worm 
and the butterfly,) and within two weeks after, 
the perfect weevil is formed, which eats its way- 
out through the shell, and goes forth to depo- 



268 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



sit its eggs in turn upon other sound kernels. 
They are very productive, a single pair often 
multiplying to five or six thousand in a single 
year. Both the perfect insect and the grub 
feed upon the grain. 

The Hessian Fly, (Cecidomija destructor,) 
is so named because introduced, or supposed 
to have been, by the Hessian soldiers employ- 
ed by the British during the Revolutionary 
war. It was first discovered in the -vicinity of 
of New York, from which noint it extended 
. in all directions, its usual rate of advance be- 
ing from 15 to 25 miles a year. The full grown 
Hessian Fly is nearly the size of a small mus- 
quito, which it resembles in general form. It 
has, however, no bill for sucking blood, and 
has proportionately a larger thorax or chest, 
and a smaller abdomen or belly than the mus- 
quito. There are two broods hatched annual- 
ly, from eggs deposited in September and May. 
The full-grown fly deposits its eggs, which are 
very small, reddish grains, in the upper chan- 
nels of the wheat leaf, soon after the stalk be- 
gins to branch. As this takes place in Sept. 
or early in October, late sown wheat usually 
escapes the Autumn egg. These eggs hatch 
out in about 15 days, producing a small worm 
which works its way down between the leaf- 
sheath and stalk to a point below the surface 
of the ground, where, in the form of a white 
or spotted maggot, it lies concealed, and sucks 
out the juice of the plant. In a few weeks 
it arrives ; t full growth, and changes to a pu- 
pa or chrysalis state, of a cone-like or flax- 
seed shape. In this state it lies until the fol- 
lowing Spring, when the perfect fly comes forth 
and deposits a second brood of eggs, which at- 
tack the wheat stalks above the ground, but 
near the lower joints. The juice extracted 
weakens the stalk and it crinkles down. Its 
effects are not very visible until the stalk has 
attained nearly its full growth, when by going 
through a field the extent of its depredations 
is generally known by the number of lodged 
or fallen stalks. The flaxseed grub when pre- 
sent, may be found much earlier by carefully 
stripping down the leaf-sheath from the still 
green and upright stalk. Since the point of 
attack is usually below the gathered portion of 
the straw, the grub is left in the field, where it 
undergoes its transformation to come out the 
perfect fly again in Autumn. It is on this ac- 
count that burning the stubble soon after har- 
vest has proved a partial remedy against fu- 
ture attacks. There is a parasitic insect ene- 
my, which multiplies faster than the Hessian 
fly, and to which we are indebted for the disap- 
pearance of this pest after its prevalence dur- 
ing a few years in any locality. 



The Clear-winged Wheat Fly, ( Cecidomija 
Tritici.) — This fly, by many called the Midge 
or Wheat Gnat, resembles the Hessian fly in 
general form and size, but differs from it in 
having an orange-colored instead of black body, 
clear or transparent wings instead of dark; its 
anttennre or horns are longer and more fringed, 
its legs are longer and more slender, and its 
abdomen is covered with short hairs and blunt 
at the extremity, instead of smooth and point- 
ed, like that of the Hessian fly. It undergoes 
its changes in the soil and attacks the blos- 
soms and immature grain instead of the straw. 
These distinctions should be studied, for upon 
a clear understanding of them depends the 
treatment to be pursied. 

The clear-winged wheat flies conceal them- 
selves among the grass and leaves during clear 
midday, but morning, evening, and on cloudy 
days, they appear in swarms over a wheat field, 
and deposit their eggs in the heads. In the 
course of a week or so, these eggs hatch out 
orange-colored maggots, which feed upon the 
pollen of the flour, and finally attach them- 
selves to the soft grain. They cannot injure 
the kernel after it has acquired some degree 
of hardness. They do not make their appear- 
ance until the latter part of June or forepart 
of July, according to the latitude, and only 
attack the wheat while in a soft state,. and on 
this account early wheat escapes injuiy. — 
Using only the'early, hardy varieties, or sow- 
ing early, and forcing to quick maturity with 
guano or other stimulating manures, are the 
best known means of escaping this insect. 
The yellow or orange-colored maggots are eas-» 
ily observed — there frequently being as many 
as twenty or thirty, or more of them, on a sin- 
gle wheat head. We have often found several 
of them on a single kernel, upon carefully re- 
moving the chaff or sheath. From the imper- 
fect descriptions given, we think that much the 
greatest "insect" injury of the present season 
has been done by this species. During the 
latter part of July and the forepart of August, 
the maggots or worms obtain their full size, ■ 
cast off their skins, descend to the ground and 
bury themselves half an inch or so below the 
surface, where they remain during the Winter, 
and come forth perfect flies the following sea- 
son, to continue and multiply their depreda- 
tions. It is against this fly that sprinkling 
lime over the growing wheat, burning sulphur 
in the field, and such-like means, have proved 
a partial remedy. 

The Grain Moth ( Tinea Gri/ielZa,) when 
fully developed, is a small winged insect, a lit- 
tle resembling a butterfly in its general form. 
Upon its head is a white hairy tuft, and two 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



269 



short antennae or horns. Its fore wings are 
mottled with black, white and intermediate co- 
.lors, always with one black rectangular or 
square spot near the middle of the outer edge. 
The eggs are deposited in Spring, and again 
in the latter part of the Summer. The first 
brood are hatched in July, and take the form 
of a sixteen-1 egged caterpillar, with a naked 
soft body, nearly half an inch in length. 
They gnaw the surface of the grain, and cover 
it with a thick web, which sometimes fastens 
together a number of kernels. After a time 
these caterpillars spin a cocoon, in which they 
undergo the usual transformations, like those 
of the butterfly. 

The Angoumois Moth {Anacampsis cercal- 
eUa) is another grain moth, which has proved 
immensely destructive in France, especially in 
the province of Angoumois, from whence it 
derives its name ; and the same moth, or one 
very similar, has appeared in this country. — 
The perfect insect is a very small moth, of a 
pale cinnamon brown color, and satin lustre. 
Its wings are long, narrow, broadly fringed 
and ash or lead-colored. It has two thread- 
like antennae or horns, consisting of numerous 
bearded joints; a spiral tongue of moderate 
length, and two tapering feelers turned back 
over the head. It lays twenty or more eogs 
upon each of three or four wheat grains, and 
within a week these hatch out little worm-like 
caterpillars not thicker than a hair, which im- 
mediately disperse, each selecting a single 
grain and burrowing into its most tender part. 
Within the grain (and not upon the surface 
like the grain-moth) it devours all the heart 
portion, then spins a web to divide its cell into 
cavities, in one of which it deposits its excre- 
ments or rejected fragment of food, and in the 
other it undergoes its transformations prepar- 
atory to coming forth a perfect moth. These, 
like the grain weevil, may be destroyed by 
kiln-drying. 

There are several other species of grain- 
moths, but they are yet imperfectly known, 
and have not been generally destructive. 

Chintz or Chinch Bug(Lygceus leucopterus.) 
— This insect has proved more destructive in 
Virginia and other Southern States than at 
the .North. In its perfect state it has a black 
downy body, about one-sixth of an inch in 
length, and is readily distinguished by its white 
(ring-covers, upon each of which there a short, 
bkck central line, and a large, black oval spot 
upon the margin. They do not arrive at their 
perfect state until about the time the wheat is 
ready to cut. Previous to this they are with- 
out wings and resemble the bed-bug in odor 
and color. It is at this time that they are 



most destructive. From the eggs laid in the 
ground the previous season, the young come 
forth in the Southern States in May — later at 
the West or North — at first of a bright red 
color, but changing with age to brown and 
black. ' They travel from field to field in im- 
mense columns, like locusts, destroying every- 
thing as they proceed. They destroy wheat 
by attaching themselves to the green stalk and 
sucking out the entire moisture. They have 
been arrested in their course by running ditch- 
es across the field before them, filling these 
with dry straw which is set on fire when the 
bugs are seen thereon. They have also been 
destroyed by burning the dry leaves of the 
forest, upon which they have settled. 



From the Boston Cultivator. 

CORN FODDER. 

Messrs. Editors — It is the opinion of many 
farmers that the butts of corn stalks cannot be 
used as fodder for cattle, without bestowing 
upon them some extra labor to prepare them 
for that purpose, — such as cutting, steaming, 
and sprinkling them with meal ; and some 
have but little faith in them as fodder after all 
these means of preparation. Your correspon- 
dent, Wm. J. Pettee, I conclude by his com- 
munication in a late number of your paper, al- 
most, if not wholly, belongs to this latter class. 
He says, I have a sort of an inkling, that there 
is OTit very little nourishment in them, but 
adds, any information on this subject will be 
highly prized by me. I have waited to see 
what some of your able and intelligent corres- 
pondents might have to say in reference to this 
matter, but none having spoken, I am some- 
what inclined to tell my brother farmers what 
little I know about it, and with you permis- 
sion will endeavor to do so. And let me re- 
mark in the first place, the value of this kind 
of fodder depends very much on the way in 
which it is secured or harvested. By the old 
method of cutting off top-stalks at the ear,and 
letting the butts remain standing in the field 
until late in the fall, they become dry and 
weather-beaten, and hence, are very much in- 
jured for fodder, and when fed to cattle, they 
will reject a large portion, and look very anx- 
iously for something better, and who blames 
them *? Every one knows that grass must be 
cut and properly hayed before its sap is whol- 
ly dried out ar>id its greenness gone, or its nu- 
triyeness "qualities are mostly lost, and why 
can't we know as much about eorn-fodder ? 

Experience teaches me that when corn is 
harvested by cutting it up at the ground and 
shocking or stocking it in the field at the right 



270 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



time, that is, when the ears are fairly glazed 
over, cattle will eat every pound of the stalks, 
the butts not excepted, and that too, without 
their being steamed, cut, crushed, or any such 
thing. All that is wanted, after the shocks be- 
come properly hayedfand are dry is to get them 
into the barn,, husk out the corn, mow up the 
stalks with a proper mixture of straw, pea-vines, 
bean-pods or any such materials, so that they 
shall not heat too much and become mouldy, 
giving them also a few sprinklings of salt as 
we mow them up, and then, don't be in too 
much hurry to get rid of them ; give only one 
foddering of them in a day, and let that be the 
last at night, and I know that in this way cat- 
tle will relish them well, and the butts with 
which many farmers find so much trouble, will 
be found in the morning " among the things 
that were, but are not." 

The practice of harvesting corn by shock- 
ing, is not yet adopted by all farmers, partly, 
because they have an idea that the corn is 
not so valuable, and partly, because the proper 
way to do the work is not understood. Now, 
in regard to the first point, let me say, what 
little experience I have had, satisfies me that 
the shocked corn is equally as good as that 
harvested in the old way, and this is the testi- 
mony, I believe, of all practical and scientific 
farmers who have experimented with respect 
to this very business; and in regard to the 
latter point, I find various ways and methods 
are adopted in shocking ; I have also tried a 
number of ways, but have found none I like 
so well as the following : The implements to 
be used — take aground stick, about two inches 
in diameter, and long enough to reach up to 
the tops of the ears of corn as they stand in 
the field ; insert in the lower end an iron point 
about eight inches in length, of the shape of a 
large butcher-knife, only thicker ; bore two 
one-inch holes through this stake close to 
the top, and at right angles ; then have two 
rods about four feet long that will easily slip 
into these holes. Now, with this simple ma- 
chinery under your arm and an old sickle on 
your shoulder, you are ready for the corn-field. 
Stick down your stake with two rows on your 
right hand and two on your left, so as to put 
four rows of corn into one row of shocks, and 
so as to have one of the rods in the top of the 
stake point, directly with the rows, and let this 
rule be observed every shock ; from eight to 
sixteen hills are euough for a shock ; stout, 
heavy corn require l .a less number than eight. 
After a sufficient number of hills have been 
set as equally as possible around the stake in 
the four corners between the rods, pick up 
your wisp of straw, or whatever else it may 



be, which should be previously dropped along 
through the corn for bands; fetcli together the 
tops of the shock, bend down the top of the 
stalks, and with your band put once round, 
make all fast, then with your right hand take 
hold of the rod that points with the rows, at 
the same time securing the top of the stake 
with your left hand, draw out that rod, and 
then the other also with the same hand, 
and there is nothing more to do, but to take 
out the stake with your left hand, and your 
shock is finished. 

I have been thus particular in describing 
my method of shocking corn, because I know 
that a great deal depends on knowing how t6 
do any kind of work. Whoever adopts tins 
method of harvesting corn, will find that it 
takes no longer to do it, than it does to cut 
and bind the stalks in the old way. 

Thus, labor is saved, the fodder is worth far 
more, and the grain equally as good, if not bet- 
ter. So, when asked, what advantage has the 
new over the old way ? the answer will be, 
ci much, every way." 

Warner. B. E. HARRIMAN, Jr. 



HOW TO KFEP HARNESS. 

In answer to an inquiry for information as 
to the best mode of cleaning and oiling harness, 
&c, we re-publish the substance of an article 
given in the Rural New-Yorker : 

Observing the good condition and fine ap- 
pearance of the harness of Aid. Baker, pro- 
prietor of the most extensive livery establish- 
ments in Rochester, we requested him to im- i 
part to us, for publication, the modus operan- 
di by which so desirable an object was achieved. 
In compliance therewith, he stated the course 
adopted as the best and most economical, after 
twenty years' experience in a business which 
required considerable attention to tackling ap- 
paratus. His process of oiling and washing 
harness is substantially a's follows : 

Take neat's foot oil and ivory or patent 
black — the latter well pulverized, or to be made 
so before using. Mix thoroughly, adding the 
black until the oil is well colored or quite 
black. In cool weather the oil should be 
warmed somewhat before mixing. With a 
sponge apply a light coat of the mixture — on- 
ly what the leather will readily absorb, unless 
the harness is very dry, in which case a heavier 
coating may be necessary. After the harness 
is dry— which will be in from two hours to 
half or a whole day, depending upon the wea- 
ther and previous condition of the leather — 
wash thoroughly with soap-suds. In making 
the suds use good Castile soap and cold rain- 



THE SO UT HERN PLANTER. 



271 



water. Warm water should never be used on 
harness leather- Apply the suds with a 
sponge. Rub off with buckskin. This will 
give your harness a nice, glossy surface, and 
the leather will retain a good color and conti- 
nue pliable for months. If it becomes solid 
with mud or sweat, an application of soap and 
water as above directed (without oiling )~ will 
be sufficient to give it a bright appearance. 

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

Aid. B. assures us that the same, or a very 
similar application, is just the thing for car- 
riage tops which are made of top-leather. The 
only difference in treatment is, that less oil 
should be used, or rather a lighter coating ap- 
plied — and it should be washed off before dry- 
ing in — top leather being thin and much more 
penetrable than harness. Of course this mix- 
ture would not answer for enamelled leather, 
of which some carriage tops are constructed. 



For the Southern Planter. 

From the Transactions of the Nottoway Farmers' 
Club. 

STACKING WHEAT STRAW— LIGHT BREAD 
RAISER. 

Mr. Editor: 

In discharge of my annual obligation, to 
submit an essay or result of some experiment, 
I remark that on a former similar occasion, I 
presented most of the experiments which had 
been tried on my plantation. 

When threshing my wheat last, I made a 
very simple preparation to receive the straw, 
which I think was advantageous in many par- 
ticulars. On one side was formed such a shel- 
ter as is usual for cows, when made of rails, 
d at an angle of about 45 degrees, ex- 
r-<-\ I that the posts upholding it were more firm- 
ly planted, and the inclined poles were placed 
about one foot apart, and notched into the 
pole on which they rested. On the op- 
posite side, leavings space on the ground about 
3 feet wide, a similar structure was erected. 
Between the two the straw was stacked, length 
and height, according to necessity. The ad- 
vantages arc, that a fine shelter is formed for 



stock, with food accessible at all times, and 
protected from the weather and from wasteful 
depredation. 

I will also report in behalf of my wife, (and 
for the benefit of wives, and consequently hus- 
bands, in promoting good humour at breakfast) 
the result of an experiment with a liedit-bread 
raiser, made after the directions of Dr. Thos. 
Booker — so simple that a common hand can 
easily construct one. A box is first made 
about one foot square — then another, in which 
this is placed — leaving a space of about four 
inches between, all around which is closely 
packed with powdered charcoal; a top is close- 
ly fitted in the hole on top ; then a top piece, 
made like the sides, stuffed with charcoal, is 
put on the top ; 4 pounds of iron are placed 
in a pan at the bottom, heated a little beyond 
endurance by the hand. The vessel contain- 
ing bread is then put on it, the box closed and 
suffered to remain till morning. There has 
never been a failure. On one occasion, wheu 
it was desirable to make up more than the box 
contained, that which was placed in the box 
succeeded, while the balance managed in the 
ordinary way, failed. 

I will add, in reference to my water ram, 
that though it has been frequently out of order, 
still it was not ascribable to any defect in the 
principle. Experience and attention are ne- 
cessary. With their exercise, I see no reason 
to apprehend a failure, where incidental cir- 
cumstances are favourable. Mine is now per- 
forming well, and I see no reason to doubt its 
continuance. 



HAY FOR COWS IN SUMMER. 

t 

An "observing, intelligent and successful 
farmer informs us that he is in the practice of 
feeding his cows with hay in summer, particu- 
larly if the season is such* as to afford flush 
pastures. His reason is that a full, rapid and 
vigorous growth of grass gives to cattle that 
feed upon it a desire for something to absorb 
the excess of the juice of their food. Dry 
hay they devour greedily, and though in ever 
so small quantities, evidently with the most, 
beneficial effects. Every farmer must have 
observed that in dry seasons, horses, cattle 
and sheep keep in good condition upon her- 
bage parched and apparently scant, while in 
wet seasons, in all pastures, though always 
full, the process of fattening with them was 
slow. Dry fodder in such cases is required to 
give substance and tenacity to the green, and 
can be profitably used by feeding it to cattle. 
NevMrsh Tel. 



273 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 




THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 
RICHMOND, SEPTEMBER, 1855. 



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PLOUGHING FOR WHEAT. 

To the heresies that we have occasionally pro- 
mulged,we are now about to add, another, viz: 
that as a general rule, it is an error to plough deep- 
ly for wheat, whether on fallow or corn land. We 
say, as a general rule, because there are certain cir- 
cumstances, and certain conditions of soil, and cer- 
tain sorts of land, which render deep ploughing ad- 
visable. For instance, if the land be poor, and yet 
of such uniformity of ingredients that deep plough- 
ing will not introduce any noxious element into the 
soil, then it is proper to depart from the rule, and 
by deepening, increase the area of sustentation of 
the wheat plant. Else it would not be enabled in 
the shallow mould to find sufficient nourishment. 
In such case, as in most others of deeply ploughed 
wheatland, a risk mnst be run, but it is less than 
the risk of starvation to the plant. 

Again, if a soil be very stiff, flat, and retentive o f 
water, it is necessary to plough deeply, because not 
otherwise, in the present condition of our agricul- 
ture, can it be properly drained. High bedding 
and deep water furrowing, which will allow the 
surplus water, in whole or in part, to percolate to 



the level of the bottom of the water furrow, (or 
bed furrow or alley, as it is variously and impro- 
perly termed,) and so to pass off, are necessary on 
such lands. 

On still another class of soils it is proper to plough 
deep, and that in the very small class which is 
''thorough drained" by nature, — supposing that 
none have reached that' stage of improvement by 
art. We mean by the term " thorough drained," 
those lands in which a subsoil of dry sand, or sand 
not saturated with hidden water, absorbs the sur- 
plus rain and conveys it away so rapidly as not 
to leave any of it stagnant upon the surface for more 
than a few hours, or a few days at farthest. Those 
lands some of which are very stiff clays, or still 
stiffer sands, and some fine loams more or less 
sandy, resting on the substratum we have just 
spoken of, can be ploughed to a very great depth 
with advantage.* 

In each of these three kinds of soil, all very dif- 
ferent, strong reasons prescribe deep ploughing. 
But the great bulk of our soils, especially improved 
soils, are of a different character. They are of im- 
perfect drainage, and wheu deeply ploughed have 
thereby a greatly increased capacity of absorption 
and retention of rain water. 

But the wheat plant loves a dry soil and climate, 
and to give it this, whenever it can be done consis- 
tently with other considerations, should be our 
great aim. Every farmer knows that his wheat is 
most apt to lodge on the richest land that he has, 
and that, other things being equal, it is most apt to 
rust in the rankest growth. If his thin wheat 
rusts, it is either because it is later than any othei^ 
or because it is grown on badly drained or wet spots. 
He also knows that in a wet season, when the 
ground is saturated with water and the air over- 
charged with vapour— in what is vulgarly but ex- 
pressly called " funky weather,"— that his wheat 
is in most danger from the same disease, and that 
then he is constantly hoping for a cool, dry, breezy 
spell. 

Now the drying of land after rain is due to three 
causes : absorption to a lower stratum, flow of the 
water to a lower level, and evaporation, either 
from the soil or its vegetation. But if it be deeply 
ploughed, less will flow off; and of what is ab- 
sorbed much more than usual will sink below the 
influence of evaporation, there to remain until it is 
taken gradually up by capillary attraction, or down 
by gravitation, and is carried by the roots of the 
plant into the leaves, and evaporated through the 
pores which they contain. But in doing this the 
plant becomes supersaturated with sap, the sap 

*For a very able and interesting elucidation of this point, 
though on a soil artificially brought to the above condition,_ 
see " The Yester Deep Land Culture," a small octavo of 
150 pages by Henry Stephens, author of "The Book of 
the Farm," to be had of J. W. Randolph. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



273 



vessels become varicose, and either burst from 
inability to withstand the dilatation, or clog and 
refuse to circulate the sap. In the first case, their 
contents are poured out over the surface of the 
stalk, and when evaporated to the consistency of 
syrup, become the appropriate receptable for the 
miscroscopic seed of the countless millions of 
fungi, constantly floating in the air in such weather 
as we have spoken of, and ready to grow to visible 
plants, feeding on the juices of the stalk as other 
visible and invisible parasites do on other vegeta- 
bles. In the second, the wheat, which was at first 
of a dark, rank, unhealthy green, looking almost 
black at a little distance, becomes darker, the stalk 
and blade gradually dry up, and it ripens of a 
dead, dark colour, the rich golden gloss being en- 
tirely wanting or found only in more favoured 
spots. In both cases the grain of the wheat 
shrivels and loses weight, and is found to be defi- 
cient in both starch and gluten, though the con- 
stituents of the bran remain nearly the same. 

Every farmer of observation will admit that 
such appearances are the symptoms of failure in 
the crop, and that they occur under, if they are net 
the result of, just such a state of things as has been 
described. It is very true that rust sometimes, 
though rarely ,takes place in consequence of a change 
from warm to cold weather, but it is still in conse- 
quence of a derangement in the circulation of the 
sap, most probably, as some verv interesting ex- 
periments on the flow of sap would seem to prove, 
from its rapid descent into the roots, followed by an 
equally rapid rise into the stalk — but that does not 
militate against the general rule here stated. On 
the contrary, it rather seems to confirm it, and to 
warm us against a system of culture which makes 
the plant liable to the consequences of plethora. * 

Another evil of a different sort results from im- 
proper deep ploughing. The rains are taken into 
the soil in excess during the winter, when evapora- 
tion is feeble ; this keeps the' ground so much 
colder, that it freezes more frequently than it 
otherwise would do, and kills the plants by cold 
or by heaving them out of the ground ; or it re- 
tards and enfeeebles their growth beyond the reme- 
dy of the summer's heat, always later in warming 
such spots than any others. 

An abundance of vegetable matter in the soil 
will not remedy the latter evil, and it increases the 



* There areagwd many theories of rust in wheat, which it 
is unnecessary here to enumerate. However the disease 
may be described, all admit this it is caused by a derange- 
ment of some sort in the circulation, originating in sudden 
changes of weather and most usually accompained by 
rain, and the best authorities can only go so far towards a 
remedy as to say, it " may be partly guarded against by 
preserving as free a circulation as possible of air among the 
plan . a, id increasing its current." "British Husbandry, 
Vol. 2, chap 10" Of course this preventive is resolved 
into a ease of evaporation, and the less that is required, the 
KM the danger of rust. 



former. The warmth that it imparts is due to the 
heart of decomposition, which cannot take place 
in winter, whilst the increased porousness it causes 
only produces more absorption; and so more 
wheat is winter killed. In the matter of rust it 
increases the risk by stimulating the growth of the 
wheat and rendering the plant more sappy. 

The best preventive, — for there is no remedy 
save the very slight and partial ones of rolling and 
grazing, not always effectual, and often unattaina- 
ble—would seem to be that sort of culture which 
would leave the land most compact and best capa- 
ble of resisting the entrance of moisture ; and we 
know of no mode of doing this but shallow plough- 
ing. One should aim therefore to have just fine 
dirt enough to cover the wheat and permit it to 
root well before cold weather sets in, and plough 
only so deep as he is obliged to plough to turn the 
sod, break the whole surface, and harrow it 
thoroughly. 

It may be thought that this will not afford space 
enough for the plant to feed in, but there need be 
no fear of that. The roots will easily penetrate the 
subsoil if it contain food for them; and if it be so 
hard that they cannot do so, we may be sure that it 
has not the capacity to elaborate any, in whatever 
abundance it may contain the elements of it. 
Deep ploughing, it is true, will most likely improve 
such a soil for wheat, but it will be proper to give 
it at another period in the rotation, and for another 
crop. 

If the above observations are true of fallow, 
they are much stronger in their application to 
corn land. Corn is a gross feeder, and with its 
large leaves, greedy roots, and rapid growth, is a 
great evaporator, perspiring probably twenty times 
more than a man.* The ploughing for that is 
generally, and, for the above reasons, properly, s,s 
deep as circumstances will allow, and the subse- 
quent tillings have kept it open and mellow. It 
is almost always too light for the wheat crop 
which follows it, to which cause, on some soils, 
perhaps as much as to exhaustion by previous 
cropping, is to be ascribed the comparative 
failure of corn-land wheat. If this be so, the pie- 
parative ploughing of the corn stubble with any 
but light one horse implements, turning a shallow 
furrow, or, better still, slightly scarifying the sur- 
face, must be highly injurious except on those 
lands which require deep and frequent drain fur- 
rows. ' 

The land we at present cultivate is of this 
character, and we plough it accordingly ; but at 
Shad well, where never a drain was wanting, the 
other plan was found best, and was the practice' 
of the best farmers on similar farms. 



* "Hales says his sunflower perspired seventeen times 
more than a man." Lindley's Theory of Horticulture. 
B I. eh tv. 



274 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



The best plan on such lands is to pass a heavy 
harrow or a three horse cultivator over the 
field and across the corn ridges so as to smooth 
them down and drag up the grass, which may be 
afterwards scattered or burned : then sow the 
wheat directly on the land, and the guano, if any 
is used, after that, and plough both in as shallow 
as possible, following with a roller, where that is 
practicable, to compact the soil around the seed, 
retain the guano until it is all dissolved, and en- 
sure an earlier and more certain vegetation. This 
plan will not only give a better crop of wheat, as 
we know by a comparison of the two modes once 
made in experiment, and often subsequently ob- 
served, but it will save a great deal of useless 
labor, and so expedite the process of seeding as 
to give a week or ten days longer for the wheat to 
grow in, at a time when it wants all the pushing it 
can get to prepare it for winter. 

It sometimes happens that the farmer has less 
than the usual press of work between the time when 
he may begin to cut up his corn and the proper 
season for wheat seeding : in such a case another 
mode will set him forward in his wheat sowing 
without compelling him to begin too early ; let 
him, as the corn is cut up, flush the land with one 
horse mould board ploughs running a shallow 
furrow, or with shovel ploughs : then at the proper 
time sow the wheat and guano both together, out 
of the sarre bag, if he. chooses, having previously 
mixed.them, and cover with the harrow, as before. 
This plan will answer perfectly for both wheat and 
guano. 

We have heard it agued that land thus treated, 
merely scratched over, as it were, will be too foul; 
the running briars, it is contended, and the fox tail 
and crab grass, will remain on the land ready to 
spring up with the return of warm weather, and 
choke the wheat. But we have never experienced 
that evil, though some of our laud was run aw r ay 
with running briars. With blue grass land, it is 
true, such a course may be impracticable, but it 
is bad farming to put land in wheat until the blue 
grass is temporarily exterminated; as it easily 
maybe. As to the running- briar, if it were true, 
as we conceive it is not, that that needs cutting 
off, after the plough has passed over it, it is a 
saving of labcr *o chop up with the hoe all that 
requires extermination ; and that process is great- 
ly preferable in view of the greater yield of 
wheat*. The summer grasses that are supposed to 
be in the way, are in fact, a greht advantage to the 
wheat. When there is an unusual prevalence of 
insects, as there may be irj the chinch bug-gcd 
districts next year, it may be well to burn them 
and destroy that much of the harbors in which 
they hibernate, but, otherwise they form a pro- 
tection to the wheat during winter, and enrich 
the land by shade and decomposition in the sum- 



mer. We could name instances in our own and 
others' experience of wheat that has produced 
finely when sowed upon the very rankest grass 
standing as it grew, and merely covered with the 
grass combed down on it, and laid flat by the har- 
row ; and we could give the particulars of nearly a 
whole field of rich low grounds, thus treated, after 
corn, surpassing the rest by its side, of earlier 
seeding put in in the usual way. But it is un- 
necessary now to do more than state it as an un- 
doubted fact. 

Some will object that this is a rough, slovenly 
preparation, leaving the land full of small heaps of 
grass and of hard clods. If it does, so much the 
better. Utility in such matters is the standard of' 
beauty, and what will give the best, yield is the 
handsomest, because it is the best. The nearer the 
hog's figure approaches that of the horse the less 
do we admire him ; and the bull that resembles a 
buck is condemned alike by grazier and dairy 
man. In England, where there is but little cold 
compared with what we experience, and at the 
North, where the snows lie nearty all winter, and 
protect the wheat from sudden oranges of tem- 
perature or from intense cold, a smooth surface 
may not be undesirable ; but here we are liable to 
great and rapid fluctuations in temperature, and 
have no snow to shield the wheat from its effects. 
With us, therefore, some shelter - is indispensable, 
and nothing is better than the grass and the clods. 
If these latter are of moderate size, they occupy 
but little room and interpose most favorably be- 
tween the wheat and the bleak chilling winds : 
they will most of them melt down by successive 
thawings, and as they disappear benefit the plant 
by giving their pulverized substance to its roots. 
A light wooden toothed harrow,* or a roller, one or 
both, passed over the wheat as it takes its spring 
growth, after the frost is out, will easily reduce 
them all to a mass of fine friable earth, and 
smooth and compact the whole soil to the benefit 
of the crop, and in aid of the operations of har- 
vest. 

One other great advantage of this mode of pre- 
paring land is that it fits it better than any other 
for the reception of clo'ver and grass seeds, all of 
which, like a hard shallow soil, well pulverized at 
the top. 

To recapitulate, then : we state that except in 
certain classes of soils, it is of advantage to plough 
shallow for wheat, because it tends to secure for it 
dryness of soil and climate, thereby preventing 
luxuriance of growth, and consequent liability to 
lodging, rust and mildew, because it saves labor 
whilst it enables one to sow in better time, protects 

* We have never had the courage to try the harrow, but 
have no doubt of its utility. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



273 



the wheat better in winter, starts it to growing 
earlier in the spring, and ripens it sooner — and that 
it is more conducive to improvement by better 
fitting the land for a fine _ stand of clover and 
grass. 

We have given what we think are the correct 
c?.nses of these effects, because people are more 
apt to look into these matters with interest when 
there is an attempt to account for them on princi- 
ple. And we have enumerated the cases in which 
their application is to be modified by circum- 
stances or foreborne altogether. Aiming to .be 
plain and practical, we have written with great cau- 
tion, because we would not mislead or give ground 
for a charge that we had. 

If haply any one of our readers shall have followed 
us to this point, and thinks of acting on the princi- 
ples we have enunciated, we take leave of him 
with this piece of advice, that he consider well 
before hand, what he is going to do, and be con-, 
Vinced by his own reflections, not by our asser- 
tions. We do not wish to do any man's thinking 
for him — our highest ambition, if there be any in 
the case, is to make him think. for himself. 



THE PRICES FOE. WHEAT 
Still keep up. and the time within which we had 
expected them to decline is passing away pretty 
rapidly under a higher market than we had antici- 
pated. As our convictions, expressed in previous 
lumbers, are still unchanged, we have nothing 
more to say on the subject. But to show that our 
opinions are not singular, we call attention to Mr. 
Newton's letter, which we were sorry we could not 
get into the last Planter. We like to divide our 
responsibility with men like him. 

The reader will also find a capital article on 
the general run of the wheat market from the 
New York Economist. When will our leading 
farmers take that valuable paper] 



RYE. 

This is the time to sow rye for soiling or for a 
crop. The sooner it is got in now, the better. For 
a crop, a bushel of seed per acre is the greatest 
abundance. For soiling, it is said, that three or 
four bushels is the proper quantity for an acre. 
In our experiment last fall, we sowed only a 
bushel, and three or four acres soiled ten cows, 
twenty sows and pigs, and fifteen horses for nearly 
a month ; being in all that time, the only long food 
that any of them got. Part of it yielded two 
crops. For soiling the old fashioned rye is better 
than the Multicole : it branches more. 

It may be sowed on land prepared as for wheat, 
and the better it is treated the better the crop will 
be. Those who are scant of long food will find it 
invaluable — those who are not will find it an 
agreeable change for their horses, and a valuable 
and healthy ingredient of their food. For cows 
just going on the short grass it is first rate. 

Sowed now, if the fall is forward, it will be 
high enough to be grazed this winter, until Feb- 
ruary with advantage to the crop, if the stock are 
taken off in rainy weather. 

We want all our pets to try a crop of rye. 



REMEDY FOR CHINCH BUG. 

A subscriber, one of those modest men who 
cannot bear to see his name in print, or to write a 
line for publication, says that he knows soap suds 
will kill chinch bug. The soap must be strong, 
the suds poured on the bud, about half a gill or 
gill to each stalk, and the bug will die. He has 
tried it, and thinks the labor not half so great as 
the labor of working the crop once, at a time when 
all the cultivation in the world wont save it. 

He also thinks that rolling the land will be a 
great preventive of chinch bug in wheat or oats 



GUANO. 

A subscriber from Waynesboro' asked us to say 
something about guano. The paper on page 279 
extracted from the Southern Planterof 1852 or '8, 
gives as much practical information in a short 
space as any we can now lay our hands on. — 
From it our subscriber will see that he may 
use it any way he pleases without risk of loss 
or injury. The only question is, will it answer 
on rich laud. We think it will not, as a gene- 
ral rule; and as we don't believe there is much 
poor land West of South River, in the neigh- 
borhood of Waynesboro' — if there is we never 
saw it, or heard of it either, for Augusta peo- 
ple don't talk much about their poor land — we 
hardly expect to hear of the introduction of 
much guano in that region. On towards Fisher- 
ville the case is different, but we understand 
the Engineer is bribed to run through that country 
at the rate of 70 miles per hour ! that rale to con- 
tinue until they get the land rich. A i xe like 
to give names, we beg leave to state that our 
informant is Mr. J. B. Breckenridge. 



PREMIUM ON KOSSUTH'S COLTS. 

Mr. II. J. Smith, the owner of the fine trotting 
stallion, Kossuth, authorizes us to offer a premium 
of twenty-five dollars for the best colt of said horse 



« smoothing and pressing it will destroy the boles, I of this years foiling. The exhibition to take place 
hollows and clods in and under which they har- on t,ie Fair Grounds of Virginia State Agricnltura 



bor. 



Society at their next meeting, and the award to be 



I made by the Society's Committee on quick draught 
Ihe first expedient cannot be tried now. The | and saddle horses 
latter may be, and will benefit the wheat in othe 



ways. 



We hope the owners of other fine stallions will 
| follow Mr. Smith's liberal example. 



276 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



We have frequently been asked by various 
friends and correspondents about some patent 
stump extractor. What do they think of the fol- 
lowing 7 

PATENT STUMP PULLER. 

Among the visits made by us during the pres- 
ent month to the homes of the farmers in various 
parts of this State and New Hamphsire, was one to 
the town of Orange, Mass., to witness the opera- 
tions of the eighth wonder of the world, the Pa- 
tent Stump Putter, owned and operated by Mr. 
W. W. Wilms, of that town. Notice of the trial 
had been given, so that persons assembled from 
the adjoining towns, and a few had come from re- 
mote distances. 

At ten o'clock the hook of a stout chain was 
placed under the root of a moderately-sized 
stump, and it was turned out with as much appa- 
rent ease as though it had been a mere log with 
no attachments to the ground. Other stumps of 
still larger size, and more extensive roots, were 
then taken out, and all with certainty, and with- 
out the slighest confusion, and the time occupied 
in removing each one after the chain was applied, 
not exceeding ten minutes ! 

At length, the visitors having multiplied to 
quite a crowd, a larger chain was attached, and 
an enormous stump, the growth, perhaps, of cen- 
turies, was selected. With a small half-circular 
spade, room was made under one of the roots and 
a stout hook attached ; the chain passing from the 
hook up over the end of the shears. The whole 
surface of the. ground about the stump was cov- 
ered with the stumps of a later growth of young 
pines, whose roots penetrated the soil, and mingled 
with those of their ancient progenitor. The stump 
itself was between two or three feet in diameter, 
and sound, as were its roots. 

A pair of stout oxen were then hitched to the 
lever, and driven forward. When they had ad- 
vanced some four roost, the chain was taken up, 
and they were turned back without any unhitch- 
ing, the roots in the meantime cracking and 
making a noise like a pistol exploded under water. 
The ground gradually rose about the stump, and 
in five minutes its gnarly roots which had secure- 
ly laid there for ages were brought to the light! 
At the expiration of ten minutes the old hero was 
fairly turned over, and the roots on the upper side 
pointing to the heavens ! Upon actual measure- 
ment, we found the roots extending something 
more than 16 feet from each side of the stump. 

A gentleman from Valparaiso, who accompanied 
us, and who is entrusted by the Chilian govern- 
ment with funds to purchase agricultural imple- 
ments, after witnessing the exhibition, at once 
ordered three of the machines to be sent to his 
country. 

The experiment was one of the most astonishing 
exhibitions of mechanical power that we have ever 
witnessed. The machine is exceedingly simple, 
and not liable to get out of repair. 

A very pleasant and appropriate address was 
made to the multitude at the close of the exhibi- 
tion by Field, Esq., of Athol. All present 

seemed pleased and instructed by the occasion. 

Below we give a statement of the power of the 
machine, furnished by Mr. Willis. 



Orange., June 7, 1855. 

The power of the machine varies according to 
dimensions. Suppose a machine to have a lever 
18 feet long, the anchor loop or fulcrum to be i4 
feet from the end upo% which the power is applied, 
the first purchase loop to be 6 inches from the 
fulcrum ; this will give you 28 times the amount of 
power applied at the end of the lever. Suppose 
your team to draw 2 tons, you have an actual pur- 
chase on the stump of twice 28, or 56 tons, and 
more in the same proportion as you extend the 
lever. 

Suppose, in combination with the lever, you 
rise shears 12 feet high, and the foot of the shears 
placed 2 feet from the stump ; in this case, you 
have an amount of power 168 times greater than 
that applied at the end of the lever. Suppose 
your team to draw 2 tons, you have an actual 
purchase on the stump of 336 tons ! Sufficient to 
hurl out well nigh any monster ! 

When the power of the shears has become ex- 
hausted, if you apply the chain and pulleys, you 
double the power of the lever, which gives 56 
times the amount of power applied at the end of 
the lever. That is, suppose, 2 tons purchase by 
the team, you obtain 112 tons ; this is sufficient 
when the stump is once moved from its bed by the 
greater power, to perfect the work. 

The shears should be placed near to the stursp 
to get the greatest power, and they exert the 
greatest, when, rising, they reach exactly the 
perpendicular position. A large portion of all 
work may be done without their aid. 

A strong horse will answer most purposes, 
though oxen are preferable. One man can work 
this machine slowly, but it requires two or three 
to work it rapidly. A little patience and practice 
will enable almost any one to work it in a short 
time.' Yours, very respectfully, 

Wm. W. Willis. 



Drinks for the Sick. — Lemonade. — Very thin- 
ly shave the rind of two large lemons, not taking 
a morsel of the white pith, which pith should 
next be entirely removed, taking care not to break 
or cut the fruit so as to waste the juice ; cut the 
nviildle part of the lemons in thin slices, (a silver 
knife is best for the purpose;) add from one to I 
two ounces of loaf-sugar. Put these three arti-1 
cles, (thin rind, slices and sugar,) into a jug, pour 
over them a quart of boiling water — let it stand a 
few minutes before using. 

When lemons are nof. in season, the same flavor 
may be obtained by adding to the sugar a drachm 
of citric acid and eight drops of pure essence of 
lemon. 

Orange drink may be prepared in the same 
manner°as lemonade, allow two China oranges and 
one Seville orange to a quart of water, or three 
China oranges. Half the rind will le quite suffi- 
cient. 

Drink from Fresh Fruit. — One pint of cur- 
rants, stripped— a few raspberries make an agree- 
able addition— one pint of water; boil them 
too-ether ten or fifteen minutes, strain to one of 
two ounce of loaf-sugar. When fresh fruit can- 
not be had, dissolve two table spoonfuls of currant 
jelly in a half pint of boiling water. 

\_LwJifs Book. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



277 



[From the Fredericksburg Recorder.] 

A NEW FEATURE FOR VIRGINIA FARMERS. 

It is not too late to call the attention of Virginia 
Agriculturalists to a matter which has given us 
some concern for several years. Itistothe folly 
and stupidity which they evince, in neglecting a 
source of profit that is diligently heeded by Nor- 
thern farmers. Very many of our people, perhaps 
the majority of them", make no effort to save seeds 
of the various plants which they rear. Not un- 
commonly, as the Spring opens, and the season 
for putting seeds into the earth draws near, the 
farmer anil gardener finds himself under the 
necessity of going to the seed store to purchase 
supplies. When he walks in and asks for what he 
wants, where were the seed^ raised, that are fur- 
nished him by the seller 1 The label upon the 
package tells the same story invariably, that they 
were cultivated at the North. Not a spoonful of 
seed of home production can be had for love or 
money. Last spring we visited Richmond and en- 
deavored to obtain a supply of Watermelon seed 
of the varieties cultivated near that city, but none 
could be had, and we were reluctantly compelled 
to purchase others. And yet there are millions 
of melons raised within 20 miles of Richmond 
city every year. Why don't the cultivators save 
the seed 1 

Throughout the State, this policy with respect to 
seeds is pursued by the farmers. In the interior 
counties, men save seed enough for their own 
planting, but who thinks of saving and sending 
seed to market 1 Where they reside near enough 
to the city to visit it and furnish themselves with 
such varieties as they may desire, they give them- 
selves no concern about securing a quantity suffi- 
cient for their private purposes. 

This utter disregard of seed-savi-ag is the more 
astonishing, when we call to mind the long list of 
esculent vegetables cultivated in all our gardens 
and upon all our farms. Cabbages, Beets, Pars- 
nips, Carrots, Egg-plants, Squashes, Cucumbers, 
Melons, Radishes, Beans, Peas, Potatoes, Turnips, 
Lettuce, Tomatoes, and others too numerous to 
mention, all mature well in this climate, and are 
universally cultivated. Why may not Virginians. 
who rear these articles, save a sufficiency of seed, 
not only to supply themselves, but to supply the 
seed stores in all our citiesl Must our merchants, 
of necessity, continue forever to import Lan- 
dreth's garden seeds, when the money thus paid 
out of the State could so easily be retained in cir- 
culation in our midst'? 

It would astound many of our farmers and gar- 
deners to hear what immense sums are annually 
expended in garden seeds by the people of this 
State. It looks like a small business, but there is 
a :-:: t deal of money to be made at it. We 
are without data upon which to form an accurate 
, but we have no doubt that the cost of 
seeds, of various kinds imported into this State. 
reaches to hundreds of thousands of dollars. 
We know of one house that sells every year not 
less than $10,000 worth. 

And then, be it remembered, that in addition to 
what are used by farmers and "gardeners for 
planting purposes, very many seeds enter largely 
into the medical practice of the Stale. Mustard 
wed and watermelon seed,. may be mentioned as 
kamples. Even for these purposes, seed must be 
imported because Virginia tanners are so much 



taken up with corn, wheat, tobacco, oats and rye, 
that they cannot find time to devote to the collec- 
tion and preparation of seeds for market. 

In our judgment, nothing could be more unwise 
than this policy, which has been so persistently 
pursued. Our farmers waste labor and capital 
which they might judiciously employ, if they 
would only open their eyes and give some attention 
to little things. They affect to despise, or they at 
least neglect, such means of money-making as 
that to which we advert, and go on starving upon 
large and half cultivated farms, when they might 
live in comfort and amass wealth. We doubt not 
that there are small farms in Pennsylvania, that 
pay better as seed farms, than many of our mag- 
nificent Virginia plantations do, where nothing 
is cultivated but the staples heretofore mentioned. 

We want also a large seed storehouse, like that 
of Landreth in Philadelphia and Sinclair in Balti- 
more. Who will begin the enterprise 1 The man 
that makes the effort, if he goes to work energeti- 
cally and systematically, and continues it perse- 
veringly, will reap a rich reward for his pains. 
Let him select and prepare his seeds with care, 
and judiciously employ printer's ink, and our 
word for it, he will not fail to find wealth pouring 
in upon him like a flood. 



CROPS AND EXPORTS. 

From the U. S. Economist. 

The estimates of the crops are generally large, 
and of wheat some of the figures run to a high 
range. It does not appear, however, that the effect 
of the export demand is taken generally into cal- 
culation. At such times as the present the public 
feel the necessity of some statistical data in rela- 
tion to the actual products of the soil. The gues- 
ses indulged' in as to the product of each and all 
the States are of no value. Unfortunately, how- 
ever, the census of the United States give the only 
approximation, and it is only by comparing these 
returns with the actual export and current prices, 
that the available crop can be estimated. These 
for the two last enumerations were as follows : 

Wheat Wheat Export 

Popula- Crop. exported. Val per 

tion. bush. hush. bush. 

1840... 17,069,053 84,827,272 11,198,305 $1.05 

1850... 23,266,723 104,799,230 8,056,982 1.02 

The product per head in 1840 was 5 bush., and 
in 1850, 4k bush. In the year 1847, the United 
States wheat crop was estimated as a large one, 
and that year was known as the " famine year" 
abroad. The Commissioners of Patents made, in 
that year, from the best authorities at their com- 
mand, the following estimate in relation to the 
wheat crop : 

Crop of 1847 bush. 1 14,245,500 

Seed.. 11,424,550 

Surplus 102,820,950 

Consumption— 3 bush. per. head 62,239,200 



Disposable for export bush. 40,581,750 

Now the fact was that the export reached but 
26,312,431 bush., and that, quantity only, being far 
more than could be well spared, although rising 
prices diminished home consump ton, doubled the 
price. The following shows the census c*rop of 
1850, the number of bushels actually exported, 



278 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



1.02 


40 


0.95 


38 


0.79 


41 


1.05 


45 


1.80 


80 


2.40 


75 



and the export price in each year since : 

q- od Bushels Price • 

exported. in Eng'd 

1849 12,309,972 $1.09 40 

1850 104,799,230 8,658,982 

1851 114,000,000 13,948,499 

1852 114,000,000 18,680,686 

1853 125,00u,000 18,958,993 

1854 85,000,000 27,000,000 

1855 135,000,000 2,000,000 

It is to be observed that the estimate of 114,- 
245,500 bush, by the Patent Report of 1847, left 
40,581,750 bush, for export, allowing no more than 
3 bush, per head for consumption. The fact was 
that the export of 26,312,431 bush, caused freights 
to rise to $2 per bbl. for flour, and the price in New 
York from $4.44 to $9.50 per bbl., and the price 
did not return to its old level until 1852. It fol- 
lows that the crop was not so large as estimated, 
or that the consumption was much greater. The 
census gave the crop of 1850 at 104,799,230 bush, 
and the population 23,257,720. . The result would 
have been as follows : 

Crop, 1850 bush. 104,799,230 

Seed 10,479,923 



Export. 



94,319,307 
13,948,499 



For consumption bush. 80,370,808 

This would give 3i bush, per head. The export 
of 1851, the year ending in June, was, of course, 
the product of 1850. Now, it appears above, that 
with a crop of 104,799,230 bush., of which 13,- 
948,499 was exported, the price fell, hence the sup- 
ply was excessive ; but the price in England was 
very low. The crop of 1853 was very large ; of 
that crop 27,000,000 bush, was exported in 1854. 
The population in 1854 must have been 26,292,000. 
Allowing the same consumption per head as in 
1850, the crop of 1853 must have been as follows : 

Crop bush. 125,000,000 

Seed 12,500,000 



The result was a very high price, which has 
since continued. The crop Of 1854 was very short. 
The quantity exported has been smaller than any 
year since 1837. The consumption has also been 
less than usual, by reason of the price, which has 
continued high to the present time. If now we 
take the crop of 1855, now being harvested, at 
135,000,000 bush., which is a large estimate, the 
result works thus : 

Crop bush. 135,000,000 

Seed 13,500,000 



Available 121,500,000 

Consumption — 3J bush 94,670,355 



For export bush. 26,921,645 

The quantities imported into England aye as fol- 
lows: 





Wheat. 


Flour. 


Total. 


Price. 




qrs. 


cwt. 


bushWh't. 


s. 


1850. . 


..3,738,995 


3,819,440 


37,702,280 


40 


1851.. 


. . 3,833,636 


5,363.478 


46,760,522 


38 


1852.. 


..3,060,268 


3,865,174 


36,077,666 


41 


1853.. 


..4,949,314 


4,646,400 


53,533,712 


45 


1854. . 






26,449,628 


80 



Available bush. 112,500,000 

Exported 27,000,000 



Consumption, at 3| bush. 



85,500,000 
92,023,090 



England imported all she could get in 1854, and 
the whole supply down to the present moment'has 
not reduced the figure below a famine price. It is 
to be observed that England, in 1853, took less 
than half the exports from the United States, and 
her crop of 1854 was large, added to which 26,- 
449,628 bush, imported "did not reduce the rates. 
If now the United States should have 27,000,000 
bush, to spare there seems to be a customer for 
the whole of it. 

Inasmuch as that all kinds of food are very 
abundant this ye a r in the United States, the con-/ 
sumption of wheat under an active export -.-.rssnd 
may be less than usual. That will result, however, 
from a high price, and there appears to be no 
chance of a small price. 

A table may be constructed as follows : The 
consumption of the country, per the census figures 
of product, population and export, for the years 
1840 and 1850, and the rate of increase in popula- 
tion being known, the results are as follows : 



Deficit 6,500,000 



Years. 


Population. 


Consumption at 
£ bush. 


Actual Export. 


Seed. 


Crop. 


'Price in 
N. York. 


1840 


17,009,053 


64,565,447 


11,198,098 


8,482,727 


84,827,272 


$5.44 


1850 


23,207,723 


84,182,986 


8,817,010 


11,479,922 


104,479,923 


5.62| 


1851 


24,023,913 • 


84,483,895 


13,948,499 


12.000,000 


1H',032,394 


6.68 


1852 


24,780,103 


86,730.815 


18,600,680 


11,689,803 


117,511,501 


4.37 


1853 


20,536,290 


89,377,025 


18,958,990 


12,500,000 


121,136,048 


4.94 


1854 


26,292,483 


92,023,690 


27,000,000 


13,000,000 


132,023,690 


9.25 


1855 


27,048,073 


94,070,355 


22,000,000 


13,510,000 


110,170.000 


9.50 


1856 


27,804,863 


97,317,020 


30,000,000 


13,000,000 


140,317,000 


— 



The crop, of course, is that of the previous year* At 3£ bush, per head the required consumption is. 
in which the export and consumption take place, as given in the column, but seasons when other 
Thus the crop now being harvested, if it should articles are cheap, the consumption will probably 
reach 140,317,000 bush., must be consume! andibe less. It is manifest, however, that the con- 
exported daring the fiscal year which ends June sumption increases largely, and a crop which, in 
30, 1830. The population is calculated at an an- 1851, allowed of a large export at fair prices, was 
iiual increase of 3]- per cent., the actual inereaseientirely insufficient in 1855. 
between 1840 and 1850 having been 3.J per cent. I 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



279 



For the Southern Planter. 

SYNOPSIS OF AN AGRICULTURAL DISCUS- 
SION, 

Held by the Albemarle Hole and Corner Club, 
No. 1, on the 9th day of November, 1850, 
several farmers from adjacent counties, as 
u-ett as from the county of Albemarle, be- 
ing present, as invited guests. 

The subject of Guano being introduced, Mr. 
PeterMeriwether said that he had made vari- 
ous experiments -with Peruvian guano upon 
wheat, oats and corn, — bad used it on a varie- 
ty of soils, slate, stiff white clay, (holding wa- 
ter,) and upon mulatto soil, — bad applied it in 
various ways; covered it with one, two and three- 
horse ploughs, with the coulter, and with the 
harrow, and bad found it invariably to act 
well, upon all these crops and in all these kinds 
of soils, — he could see no difference from the 
different modes of application, whether cover- 
ed shallow or deep. In one instance, by the 
use of two and a quarter tons of Peruvian 
guano on wheat land, applied at the rate of 200 
lbs. per acre, he made 291 bushels of wheat 
where he was satisfied he could not have made 
20 bushels without it, and in another instance 
36| bushels of wheat from a quarter of a ton 
of guano on very poor land. He values it 
highly for corn and oats, and feels well assured, 
from the improvement which has invariably 
been produced in the clover and second crop 
after wheat and oats, that it cannot be tempo- 
rary in its character, as some suppose. He 
had, in the use of guano on corn, placed it in 
contact ivith tlie grain without injury.* He 
used the guano unmixed with plaster or other 
substances. In one experiment on oats where 
70 lbs. guano were used per acre, be had reap- 
ed 900 bushels of oats, where, without guano, 
he would have expected 300 bushels ; and this 
crop, moreover, sustained great loss from a 
storm. In the use of guano be had several 
times been stopped by rain from ploughing it 
in after being sown, and could detect no diffe- 
rence. He has applied different quantities 
per acre, and found the yield in proportion to 
the quantity used. Mr. Meriwether also gave 
the experience of several of his neighbors in 
the use of Peruvian guano. That of Wm. C. 
Paves, who used a ton on ten acres of wheat 
land, which yielded 167 bushels. This wheat 
was somewhat rusted, though not so much in- 
jured as the adjacent land. The crop imme- 
diately preceding the wheat on this land was 
corn, and the yield about four barrels per acre, 
and he thinks would have made ten bushels of 
wheat per acre without guano. Mr. Meriwe- 



ther stated that Mr. Fra.uk Nelson used it at 
the same rate on mountain land, with a yield 
of ten bushels of wheat- per acre ; but this 
wheat was too thin to be regarded as a fair 
test : that Dr. Mann Page used it at the same 
rate on wheat land, with a yield, of seventeen 
bushels per acre, and this was the third suc- 
cessive crop on the same land, one of wheat 
and one of corn having immediately preceded. 
This experiment, however, was upon good land, 
which would have made eight barrels of corn 
per acre. That Mr. James H. Terrell used 
half a ton of guano upon five acres of land, and 
the yield was 67 bushels of wheat, while the 
crop upon adjacent land was destroyed by rust. 
That Dr. Thomas Meriwether applied one ton 
(200 lbs. per acre) on ten acres, and obtained 
100 bushels from land so much galled and 
worn that it would not have produced anything 
without the guano; and in one case only among 
his neighbors had the use of guano been un- 
profitable, which was that of Mr. R. Gambill, 
who applied it on very poor land, sowed very 
late. This crop was destroyed by joint worm. 
Mr. Meriwether said he thought the use of 
guano would, in a great measure, prevent the 
effect of fly and rust, from the vigorous growth 
it gives the wheat, and the earlier ripening of 
it by three or four days. 

Mr. James Morris, of Louisa, said he bad 
used guano upon tobacco without eli'ect ; ap- 
plied three hundred pounds per acre broadcast 
(without plaster,) ploughed in with three hor- 
ses, in the month of March. The season was 
dry until June, when the tobacco was planted. 
A good crop of tobacco was made on adjoining 
land, manured from the stable and farm-pen. 

Mr. Wm. Garth stated that be bad sowed 
one ton Peruvian guano, in 1849, at the rate 
of 200 lbs. per acre, upon very poor land, fal- 
lowed for wheat, and increased the crop from 
two to fourteen bushels per acre. He applied 
it at the same rate rvpon rich corn land which 
had produced fourteen barrels of corn per acre 
with a proportionate increase of the wheat. 
Mr. Garth also stated that his son, Mr. Woods 
Garth, had applied 500 lbs. on two acres of 
very poor land, and obtained eighteen or twen- 
ty bushels of wheat per acre. Mr. Garth had 
used guano on tobacco, (200 lbs. per acre) and 
on rich land it produced no effect, but on land 
rather thin where he used it at the same rate, 
mixed with plaster, it produced a good crop, 
and acted as well as stable manure. He thinks 
plaster should be mixed with guano in all 
cases, at the rate of one to one and a half 
bushels per acre. He agrees with Mr. Meri- 
wether as regards the effect of guano on fly 
and rust, and his experience of last year in- 



280 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



duces him to use twenty-three tons this season 
on wheat. 

Major Root. Grattan, of Rockingham, said 
that his experiment with guano had not been 
accurate, but that he was satisfied the effect 
was very good where he had used 300 lbs. per 
acre on wheat. 

Dr. William Gr. Carr said he had used guano 
on corn applied in May, (200 pounds per 
acre,) broadcast, and covered vi ith three-horse 
ploughs. The increase of crop was three bar- 
rels per acre ; the season was wet, the land 
poor; reel, high-land. He thinks it would 
be dangerous to apply it to spring crops in dry 
seasons. 

Mr. Wm. Ragland, of Louisa, had used 
guano upon tobacco in poor, grey slate land, 
(old pine field, newly cleared, which 'would 
have brought no tobacco without guano.) He 
applied half an ounce to the hill without plas- 
ter ; the crop was increased in weight, and ri- 
pened earlier. Where one ounce was used on 
rich old land, the effect seemed to be injurious, 
as there was no stand of plants. 

Mr. William Overton, of Louisa, agreed 
with Mr Ragland as to its effect on the stand 
of plants, fie had applied it to tobacco in 
the hill, mixed with plaster and ashes, and 
thought the effect bad, not being able to make 
the tobacco stand. 

Mr. Hugh Minor stated he had £xperiment- 
ed with eiuano on corn, both in the hill and 
broadcast, with good effect; also on waterme- 
lons, Irish potatoes, cymblins and cucumbers. 
The potato crop was the only one not bene- 
fitted. 

Mr. Richmond Terrell said he had applied 
250 lbs. -guano (mixed with one-third its bulk 
of plaster,) per acre on poor red high-land, 
broadcast, and ploughed in with two-horse 
ploughs the 15th of May. Thinks the crop 
of corn increased four or five barrels per acre. 
Applied the same quantity and mixture in the 
same manner on tobacco, with little or no ef- 
fect, the land being red high land of pretty 
good quality ; thinks guano will not pay in the 
tobacco crop. * 

Mr. Wm. H. Southall stated that he had 
made experiments with Peruvian guano on 
wheat similar to those of Mr. Wm. Garth, and 
with like results. 

Mr. William W. Minor said he had used 
guano on tobacco plants. On the 2d April he 
prepared a plant bed without burning, chopped 
in guano thoroughly at the rate of 1800 lbs. 
per acre, and sowed tobacco seed the same 
day. The plants were equal to those on a 
burnt and manured bed adjoining, which had 
been prepared and sown the 1 4th of March ; 



obtained good plants from it 20th of June, 
though the bed was much injured by grass and 
weeds from not having been burned. He had 
applied 200 lbs. per acre on corn, broadcast, 
and ploughed in with three-horse ploughs; 
land poor, grey high land ; increase of crop 
from two to three barrels per acre. Sowed 
plaster on tobacco beds, and rolled corn in plas- 
ter when planted, as usual. Mr. Minor also 
stated that his neighbor, Mr. William S. Dab- 
ney, used guano on tobacco, broadcast, about 
200 lbs. per acre on good land, (though not 
very rich,) ploughed in with two-horse 
ploughs. One bushel of plaster was also sown 
per acre ; the crop showed little or no effect 
from it while growing, but ripened decidedly 
earlier. 

Mr. Geo. Clive said he had tried guanc 
on tobacco, a table-spoonful to the hill, with 
marked effect. He had applied 100 lbs. guano 
per acre (mixed with plaster and ashes) on 
oats ; the crop was double that on adjacent 
land. He thought there was a better stand 
of clover on the guanoed land, which was poor 
grey high land ; he had used it on corn, peas, 
beans, Irish potatoes and parsnips, in the drill, 
with good effect. 



MAPES AND THE GUANO FRAUD ONCE 

MORE. 

We give below the article from the Country Gen- 
tleman, in reply to Prof. Mapes, which we deem 
conclusive. 

Suppose a party should purchase a lot of rye 
and indifferent wheat, and have it ground up at the 
mill of -our friends, the Haxalls of this city, who 
should only charge a fair milling profit for the job, 
and then at the instance of the same party, brand # 
every barrel of the compound Tennessee Flour j 
and then suppose Mr. Delaplane, the inspector, 
should pass it as Extra Superfine — what would be 
thought of the transaction 1 and how long would 
the above gentlemen retain their present high cha- 
racter"? and how long would the Columbian rank 
as one of the highest and most reliable brands in 
the world 1 Yet this is the colour which Mr. 
Mapes' own account gives to the transaction. For 
Tennessee Flour substitute Chilian Guano, for the 
names above substitute those of Mr. Mapes and 
his associates, for the Inspector's name substitute 
the eminent chemist who certified the purity and 
high quality of the article. 

Mr. Mapes manufactures for sale super-phos- 
phate of Lime. 

The August number of the Working Farmer 
contains Mapes' reply to the charges we have been 
compelled to bring against him in regard to his 
connection with the Chilian guano fraud. We wish 
our readers could see the whole article ; but it is 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



281 



I] such a mass of verbiage that it would occupy too 
I much of our space to copy it entire. We will 
■ therefore give its principal points, appealing to our 
I contemporaries, and to all who see both papers, 
I whether we do not give substantially the meaning 
I of the article. We make these remarks lest our 
I reader? should suppose we had distorted Mapes' 
I article, and that he cannot possibly have made 
I such a confession of guilt. Here it is : 

" Some time since, during the dull season of the 
I year, the owners of the Mexican guano applied to 
I us to grind it : * * and we did grind it, at an 
I expense of a little less than ©5 per ton, 200 tons 
I of their material. * * We did this as any miller 
I might grind a quantity of material sent to him for 
| that purpose, having nothing to do with it as. a bu- 
siness matter, further than the receipt of the mere 
cost, without profit of grinding it, while our mills 
were not wanted for other purposes. We consult- 
ed with the proprietors of this article ; and after 
giving our views, we took their instructions as to 
its necessary constituents. After the manufacture 
was commenced, they wrote to the Factory giving 
orders as to the brand to be placed upon it. * * 
We had nothing to do with the name of this arti- 
cle, and think that selected a bad one, calculated 
to cause those who purchase to suppose it a differ-, 
ent article." 

We shall make no comments on the above, but 
would call attention to the fact that, whil^Mr. 
Mapes has hitherto tacitly denied having any bu- 
siness connection with the " Improved Superphos- 
phate of Lime," although made on his farm, he 
here admits unwittingly that the mills and appara- 
tus of the Superphosphate Factory, are his. 
" The owners of the Mexican guano applied to in 
(Mapes) to grind it ;" " and we (Mapes) did grind 
it." '• We (Mapes) dui this as any miller might, 
without profit [of course !] while our (Mapes) mills 
were not wanted for other purposes. We (Mapes) 
consulted with the proprietors, and after giving 
our (Mares') views, v:e (Mapes) took their instruc- 
tions," and made a mixture of Mexican guano, 
sugar-scum, salt, plaster, a little Peruvian guano 
and quick lime, which gave it " the strong smell 
desired by man3 T farmers." " We (Mapes) knew 
the proprietors to be men of the highest integrity," 
and so innocently obeyed their instructions to 
smear the bags with Peruvian guano, being at the 
same time especially careful that no superphos- 
phate of lime stuck to them-, lest it should reveal 
the source of their precious contents ! " We 
(Mapesj thoug/.t the name selected a bad one, cal- 
culated to cause those who purchase to suppose it 
to be a different article" — calculated to deceive, to 
defraud, — but "we (Mapes) were only the miller," 
so we did not scruple to mark this mixture " Chi- 
lian guano," and to endorse Dr, Hayes' statement 
that it was " said to come from the coast of 
Chili." 

We wish to do Mr. Mapes no injustice, and will 
therefore give his explanation of this endorse- 
ment. 

He denied in his July number, having any know- 
ledge of it whatever. He now says " it was not 
fyrittenfor publication," but was"given to one of the 
proprietors for the purpose of being shown to two 
jrimds, one in Philadelphia, the other in 
Baltimore." We are not sufficient casuists to de- 
termine which is viorse to deceive tife public, or 
only " iwo friends," but we give it as our most 
decided opinion that no man — ' even Professor 



Mapes, is morally justified in stating that an arti- 
cle made by himself, in his own factory at New- 
ark, is " said to come from the coast of Chili." 

Although Mr. Mapes fully confesses that he 
manufactured the Chilian guano, he contends that 
it is a manure of great value. If it is, chemical 
analysis is unable to determine the value of a ma- 
nure. Our analysis showed its fertilizing value to 
be less than $15 per ton. The guano inspectors at 
Baltimore and Petersburg, Messrs. Reece and Plea- 
sants, ganalized it and stated it to be very infe- 
rior, in fact, comparatively worthless. The par- 
ties to whom it was consigned, demurred to these 
opinions, and the matter was referred to Dr. Stew- 
art, of Baltimore, who analized it, and gave its 
value as thirteen dollars per ton. 

Mapes says " the sweeping item of organic mat- 
ter which is composed of dried blood * * has not 
been properly alluded to in giving value to its 
parts." The analysis — every one of them, Dr. 
Hayes' included — show most conclusively that the 
organic matter is not dried blood. It is the refuse 
scum of the sugar refiners, of which Mapes has 
thousands of ton&Qii his farm. 



From the Country Gentleman. 
DWARF PEARS. 

We have repeated and almost constant inquiries 
in relation to the value of the pear or quince 
stocks. "Are dwarf pears going to answer'! Are 
they not a humbug 1 Are they as gpocl as stand- 
ards 1 Would you rather have a tree on pear or 
quince root 1" These are some of the questions 
that are continually asked ; and the conflicting 
answers that are given do not help to clear up the 
subject. 

Yet it is a very simple one, and very easily un- 
derstood when cleared of the fog which partial 
observers and interested persons have thrown 
around it. To say which is the best under all 
circumstances, would be like attempting to an- 
swer the question, "Do you think the watermelon 
as good as the strawberry 1" Shall we not confine 
ourselves hereafter-s»to the best of these two, and 
discard the other as a humbug 1 

Dwarf and standard pears are each excellent in 
their places. The standard pear, as a general 
rule, grows to- be a much larger tree, requires 
more time, needs more room, ultimately bears 
much more per tree, will endure more neglect, 
and in most cases live to a greater age. The 
dwarf will come sooner into bearing, will occupy 
less space, and will not bear neglect, but requires 
good cultivation. We are not sure but the last 
quality is'a positive reco7nmendation ; for planters 
certainly need the stimulus of necessity to induce 
them to take better care of their trees. A stan- 
dard will indeed grow and bear under ordinary 
circumstances ; but give it the best chance, and 
the fruit will be so much improved, as sometimes 
to be scarcely recognized. The dwarf is emphati- 
cally the tree for the garden, where two hundred 
may be planted on a quarter acre, instead of but 
twenty-five standards, and where no difficulty ex- 
ists in giving tbem the best soil and treatment. 
Those who are about occupying new places, may 
secure for themselves a supply of fruit in two or 
three years by planting three year dwarfs : and 
pomologists may get the fruit of new kinds the 
first or second year. 

One leading leason why some have pronounced 



2S2 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



dwarfs a failure, is the attempt to raise, too many 
kinds on the quince There are a few sorts that 
are entirely at home on this stock, and are always 
seen in a flourishing state, under anything like 
favorable influences, among which sorts may be 
mentioned Louise Bonne, of Jersey, Duchess of 
Ansouleme, Glout Morceau, and Vicar of Wake- 
field, trees of which, twenty or thirty years old, 
are now productive and vigorous, and will proba- 
bly live to a hundred. Some of these, and es- 
pecially the Jersey and Wakefield, seem to grow 
well on almost any kind of quince. But- all do 
best on the French stock, and this only snould be 
used. The Angoulenie appears to be the hardest 
dwarf under neglect. We have just examined an 
orchard of these, about nine years planted, which 
until the present year, had been almost totally 
neglected for five or six seasons, and enveloped in 
weeds and grass, and growing on a hard stony 
soil. The present season they have been cultiva- 
ted but not manured, and they all show a thrifty 
appearance, and are bending under their loads of 
magnilicent fruit. The trees are about two and a 
half to thre%inches in diameter, and stand erect, 
although allowed to run up as standards, with no 
pruning. They bore very little while neglected. 
As a proof of their superior hardiness, nil or 
nearly all of those originally planted are flourish- 
ing, while other dwarfs, interspersed, have nearly 
all died out from neglect. 

There are several sorts of the pear, that usually 
do well and live long on the quince, if enriched 
and cultivated annually, but not otherwise. 

Partial experiments often lead to erroneous 
opinions. One acquaintance has denounced 
dwarfs, because, having an admirable soil (a 
strong clay) for standards and a very poor one for 
dwarfs, he has been eminently successful with the 
former, and failed with many of the latter. Some 
others have soils on which dwarfs only will suc- 
ceed well, and they consider them as far prefer- 
able to standards. Seasons, also, sometimes have 
an important influence. Many years ago, a hard 
winter destroyed many young standards, while the 
dwarfs escaped. At a later period, another winter 
spoiled a portion of the dwarfs while the stan- 
dards were uninjured. All these and many other 
considerations are to be observed in drawing gen- 
eral conclusions. 



ALPACA, OR PERUVIAN SHEEP. 

The following extracts are from a paper presen- 
ted by Capt. James Pederson, to the United States 
Society : 

Having recently returned from Peru, and brought 
with me to New York, some fine specimens of the 
several varieties of celebrated Peruvian sheep, 
and having, after much difficulty succeeded in de- 
vising means by which I am enabled to calculate 
on procuring from that country a sufficient stock 
of those valuable animals, to warrant an attempt 
to introduce them to the prominent notice of the 
agriculturists of the United States, I am desirous 
to call the attention of the U. S. xigricultural 
Society to the subject. 

******** 

The character and habits of these animals is 
very similar to that of our own sheep, or perhaps 
an amalgamation of them* and of those of the do- 
mestic goat. They are gregarious, excessively 
gentle, and timid to a degree. One valuable quality 
they possess that deserves especial attention: wher- 



ever they are driven, there they remain for hours, or 
for days even, without wandering more than a few 
yards from the spot. 

******** 

An evidence of the high esteem in which these 
Alpacas are an addition to the dome-ticated ani- 
mals, I may mention that in my searches in Peru 
to obtain them, I met an individual who is at this 
very time stationed upon a rancho on the border, 
but without the boundary of the country, where 
he is rearing them for the purpose of their export 
to Australia. And I found from him that he has 
made arrangements with the government of Aus- 
tralia for the sale of all the Alpacas that he sends* 
there, at the rate of $60 a head, without, however, 
being restricted from finding a better market for 
thein if he can do so : the sole object of the gov- 
ernment being, to procure the introduction of the 
animals into the country. 

These animals are found in all parts of South 
America, upon the Pacific coast, from the Equator 
to about the twenty-fifth degree of south latitude, 
inhabiting principally the mountainous ranges ; fre- 
quently at the height of twelve to fourteen thou- 
sand feet above the level of the sea; and in the 
region of continual mist and snow. It is not,* 
however, in these intemperate regions alone that 
they find a congenial abode; on the contrary, they 
are found to prosper equally well on the middle 
elevations of the Andes, where in summer the 
clotrls accumulated from the evaporations of the 
sea, are blown over and burst in torrents of which 
we can form but a faint idea. No change of tem- 
perature, appears however, to affect these interest- 
ing animals ; and when to these considerations is 
added the circumstance, that in temper and docil-. 
ity they combine the intelligent vivacity of the I 
deer tribe with the meek and confiding innocence 
of our own sheep, it appears impossible to con-) 
ceive an animal better adapted in every point of 
view to form a valuable addition to our farms and I 
homesteads. Such an animal would live and 1 
thrive where a sheep woflld starve. 

[Practical Farmc , Indiana. 



To t/ie Editor of the Southern Planter : 

As the club (and my wife) seem to think my 
experiment with sweet potatoes in '52, didn't 
prove anything, I concluded to try it again — onljj 
pushing it a little further; I dug them last fall, 
the 25th of November; they kept finely until the 
20th of April, when we afe the last. My wife 
gives up that it is owing to late digging, and I 
think the club ought to, as it is the first time I 
ever knew her to give up any thing. 

Respectfully submitted, by 



An Experiment in keeping Sweet Potatoes. 
I have tried various ways to keep potatoes, 
have put them up in a cellar and kiln, both out 
and under shelter, but never succeeded preserving 
them longer than Christmas, until this winter. 
They were dug between the 20th and last of No- 
vember, after many severe frosts and the day wei 
dug the ground was frozen. We put them up in 
the same cellar we have always used, in the same 
manner, in barrels packed with pine beards, and 
they kept finely until time for planting in Mareh. 

Respectfully submitted to the club, by 
May 11th, 1855. ' . 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



2Sc 



AGRICULTURAL WRITING AND READING. 

There are some fifty agricultural papers in the 
United States, besides a large number of news- 
papers which either have agricultural editors. 
like the Louisville Journal and N. Y. Tribune, or 
copytfreely from the rural periodicals of the day. 
The rapid growth of this kind of literature is one 
of the niosj auspicious signs of the times ; for it 
indicates both an increase aud an elevation of 
knowledge in the masses who own and cultivate 
the soil. That our agricultural writing is not all 
of the best quality, nor our agricultural reading 
entirely reliable, is plain enough to every well in- 
formed observer. Indeed, our defects are often 
so glaring with absurdity, and so injurious to the 
public, that one who really feels a deep interest in 
the character and permanent good of the rural 
literature of the country can hardly abstain from 
exposing and condemning some of the more mis- 
chievous errors with which the agricultural press 
everywhere teems. So far as the writer may at- 
tempt anything of the kind, it will be with no un- 
kindly feeling, much less in a dogmatical spirit, 
but >o!ely to prevent a departure from the true 
principles of the most important profession to be 
found in civilized nations. 

The following remarks are taken from the June 
'r of the New England Farmer, where they 
are commented upon approvingly by one of the 
clearest and le^ informed minds connected with 
the agricultural literature of the Northern States. 
The paragraphs are there ascribed to Prof. Mapes, 
of the Working Farmer: 

" The chemist tells us, by analysis, that blood 
is composed of certain materials and water. Ali 
the-e materials exist in rocks, and may be sepa- 
rated from them. 

"Now let us suppose ten square yards of soil to 
be fertilize 1 by 10 lbs. of bullock's blood, and 
another ten square yards of soil to be fertilized by 
the constituents which analysis shows to exist in 
10 lbs. of blood, a-id that these constituents shall 
not only undergo the greatest degree of mechani- 
cal division by grinding, but they shall absolutely 
din solution, and applied to the soil, still, 
notu ithstanding this great mechanical sub-division, 
the ten yards fertilized by the blood will yield 
double the amount of crop of that fertilized by 
the same constituents from the rocks. 

" As another instance. Should we fertilize one 

piece of land with the bones of an animal, pre- 

y heated to redness, so as to drive off the 

e, fatty matter, etc., and leave phosphate of 

lime only, dissolving it before its application in 

sulphuric acid, and should fertilize another similar 

if land with the same amount of phosphate 

in the rocks as at' the location at 

Dover, N. J., or Crown Point, Lake Cbamplain, and 

< i • Ive this also in sulphuric acid, we should find 

that the portion fertilized by the dissolved bones 

would yield a crop much*larger than th$it arising 

from the u>e of dissolved phosphate from the 

rod- . 

"This- gives rise to the question, Does matter, 
entering into animal and vegetaoie organ- 
isms, undergo any ebangea which are important 
for after-progression, but which changes are not 
discoverable by chemical test or microscopic in- 
il ion ] .\il experiments seem to prove that 
Isomeric compounds, although chemically alike 
so f;;r a, analysis is capable of discovering eondi- 
really do differ in their adaptability for ap- 



propriation in organic life, and thus the ingredients 
found in the blood or bone of an animal, between 
the time of its leaving the original rock and be- 
coming blood or bone, may have occupied place in 
vegetable or animal life a thousand times, at each 
of which assimilation, growth, and decay, it may 
have been more fully suited for its present ad- 
vanced purposes, and thus the phosphate of lime 
and other constituents of blood may differ in their 
applicability for re-appropriation, from the same 
materials in a less advanced state. We all know 
that when a plant or animal decays or is consumed 
in any way, that its ultimates pass back either to 
the soil or the atmosphere, and are re-united in 
some new organic form ; no one particle is ever 
put out of existence — and may not this he the 
cause why many manures are to be found so much 
more effective than others of similar composition 1 

"All know that the ultimates contained in a 
green crop, when applied to the soil from original 
sources, will produce no such result as is conse- 
quent upon the plowing under of a green crop. 

11 We all know that riightsoil, urine of animals, 
stable manure, etc , produce effects in vegetable 
growth not to be arrived at by the use of the same 
constituents direct from the rocks." 

The above reads smoothly and prettily ; but 
whoever shall adopt the theory therein propounded, 
and act upon it in the preparation of manures, 
and the renovation of impoverished fields, will 
soon lose hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. 
It is based on no facts whatever. It rests solely 
on idle assertion; and this assertion on a vivid 
imagination, perhaps, quickened by pecuniary 
interest. 

Where is the evidence that " Should we fertilize 
one piece of land with the .bones of animals, pre- 
viously heated to redness, so as to drive off the 
gelatine, fatty matter, etc., and leave phosphate of 
lime only, dissolving it before its application in 
sulphuric acid, and should fertilize another similar 
piece of land with the same amount of phosphate 
of lime taken from the rock, as at the location at 
Dover, N. J., or Crown Point, Lake Champlain, 
aud dissolve thisalso in sulphuric acid, we should 
rind that the portion fertilized by dissolved bones 
would yield a crop much larger than thai arising 
from the use of dissolved phosphate from the rock" 1 

The above theory may he advantageous to one 
engaged in the manufacture of superphosphate of 
lime from calcined bones, or bones not calcined, 
in competition with others who make their super- 
phosphate from the cheaper phosphate found at 
Dover and Crown Point. But is that fact a good 
and sufficient reason for its general promulgation 
by the agricultural press as a principle in agricul- 
ture ! 

It will be difficult to find a well-informed geol- 
ogist who doubts the existence of vertebrnted ani- 
mals, and others which had sensible quantities of 
phosphate of lin e in their organized tissues, on 
this planet, millions of years ago ; and that from 
their first creation to the present moment they 
have never ceased to subsist on organized food 
containing atoms of phosphoric acid and lime. 
The same is true of atoms of water, (oxj'gen and 
hydrogen) atoms of carbon, (coal,) and atoms of 
nitrogen, sulphur, chlorine, potash, rind other ele- 
mentary constituents of plants, and animals. How 
ridiculous, then, to assume, without- the least 
proof or probability, that an atom of lime or water 
is constitutionally changed every time it perchance 



284 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



e Lists in the li/ing cell of a plant or animal for a 
few days, weeks, or years 1 Who doubts that the 
Author of nature keeps the atoms of pure water 
and all the elements of things terrestrial, in the 
same unchanged purity 1 

What we earnestly denire is, to keep agricultural 
philosophers and would-be. philosophers as closely 
as may be to the inductive system of reasoning. 
Let the critical reader, who knows something of 
the difference between solids and fluids, between 
combustible blood and incombustible rocks, weigh 
v, ell the following propositions: "Let us suppose 
ten square yards of soil to be fertilized by 10 lbs. of 
bullocks blood, and another ten square yards of soil 
to be fertilized with the constituents which analysis 
shows to exist in 10 lbs. of blood, and that these 
constituents shall not only undergo the greatest 
degree of mechanical division by grinding, but 
they shall absolutely be placed in solution, and 
applied to the soil, still, notwithstanding this great 
mechanical subdivision, the ten yards fertilized 
with blood will yield double the amount of crop 
of that fertilized by the same constituents taken 
from the rocks." 

Did not this humbug, like that of Signor Lattis, 
appear to make converts of really intelligent men, 
we should not notice it. But when this false doc- 
trine is travelling over the country, as scientific 
gospel, may we not pertinently inquire, how Prof. 
Mapes will extract organized nitrogen (the most 
important fertilizing ingredient in blood) from any 
common " rock," after he has ground it as much 
as he pleases 1 Naked comminuted rocks form a 
barren earth, (we cannot, call it soil) mainly 
because such rocks and earths lack the fertilizing 
atoms known to exist so largely in the " blood of 
bullocks." The case put is not, therefore, a sup- 
posible one, because the tiling supposed is as im- 
possible in fact, as it is unsound in theory. No 
scientific reader needs to be told that all elemen- 
tary bodies, like iron, gold, lead, oxygen and 
carbon are minerals ; or that vegetable vitality, 
under favorable circumstances, is able to combine 
and organise these minerals, (such as nature has 
adopted to the purpose) into the food of animals, 
man included. The agriculturist evinces his wis- 
dom, or want of it, by the skill with which he uses 
all the minerals and organized elements of his 
crops and domesticated animals. This is the test 
of his scie'itific and ptofessional attainments. 
That knowledge which is bssed on mere assertions 
in books or periodicals, may look well on paper; 
hut you may believe one who has tried it, it will 
not work well in practice on the farm. We yield 
to no one in our profound regard for the due con- 
sideration of the conditions of elementary matter, 
whether solid, gaseous or liquid, soluble or insolu- 
ble, organized or disorganized; for all these ever- 
varying conditions are elements of power and 
wealth in the hands of those who know how to 
turn them to a profitable account. The close and 
careful study of things agricultural, is precisely 
what wc contend for. It is equally unphilosopliical 
and injurious to agricultural progress to make 
assertions like the following : " We all know that 
night soil, urine of animals, stable manure, etc., 
produce effects in vegetable growth not to be 
arirved at by the use of the same constituents 
direct from rocks." 

Instead of suggesting the possibility of extract- 
in" night soil, urine and stable manure " direct 
from rocks," how much better it would be to indi- 



cate the power of certain leguminous and other 
plants to imbibe the elements of these valuable 
fertilizers directly from the atmosphere and the 
subsoil for the use of the cultivator '] In this way 
he may easily increase the aggregate quantity of 
organized food for man and beast on his farft, "and 
also the materials for making an increased amount 
of rich manure. But plain, common sense facts 
of this kind leave not room enough for the full 
exercise of the imagination. It craves the light 
and shade of more pleasing abstractions — the im- 
possible changes, from year to year, of the " ulti- 
mate? of matter." It is, however, the part of. 
wisdom to learn what is knnwable and be content 
therewith, rather than neglect that, and dive ouC 
of sight into the abyss of the unconditioned." I 
— Country Gentleman. L. 



For -the Southern Planter. 

In the July number of the Southern Planter is a 
letter from Dr. Baldwin, of Winchester, offering 
three premiums of one hundred dollars each, iff 
accordance with the rules and regulations of the 
Virginia Agricultural Society. The first is ' a pre- 
mium of one hundred dollars for any fact or facts, 
derived from experiment, which prove conclusively 
that woody fibre, in a state of decay, is the sub- 
stance called humus.' What is the meaning of 
this offer 1 I may expose my ignorance, but I 
frankly confess I do not know. Johnson defines 
humus as ' a modern term given by some chemists: 
to the very finely divided organic matters whicl 
all cultivated soils contain, and which is generalll 
regarded as the chief element of fertility, the 
source from which all plants are directly nourished, 
Woody and vegetable fibre, in a state of decay, 
constitutes the substance called humus/ Dri 
Dana says, ' the essential element of fertility in a 
soil has been called humus, geine, vegetable 
extract, mould, as well as several other names, all; 
meaning a brownish black, powdery mass, tngl 
result of putrefactive decay and the remains of de- 
composed organic matter.' To these names may be 
added those of Sprengel, Barzellius, Leibig, Jack- 
son and Ruffin, all giving the same name to the j 
same substance. To this list of names I shall 
that of Dr. B. himself; he says that 'wood, wh| 
properly putrilied, makes good manure.' What 
the difference between ' woody and vegetable fibi 
in a state of decay,' and ' wood in a state of putn 
faction/?' I would like the Doctor to answer 
does he consider that ' humus ' is not ' good m 
nure V I would advise him to ' make go< 
manure' by ' properly putr ifving ' some woi 
and he will certainly stand a fair chance for getti; 
the premiuni himself. 

His second offer is ' a premium of one hundn 
dollars for ' any fact or facts, derived from expe: 
ment or observation, which prove satisfactori 
that any substance, whatever, possesses the ferti 
zing qualities of manure, except the residue 
putrefaction.' What is meant by the term ' rel 
due of putrefaction V Is it that portion of dccayi 
organic matters that becomes food for plants 
Sulphate of lime cannot be considered the ' rosid 
of putrifaction,' yet I have seen its applicatioj 
increase greatly the crop of both wheat and clove). 
Did it not possess 'fertilizing qualities V 

The third offer is ' a premium of one hundre 
dollars for any fact or facts, derived from expe) 
ment, which i>rove that the surface of the eart 



k 






THE SOUTHERN PLANT EE. 



285 



itself is incapable of experiencing the putrifactive 
process.' It is unfortunate for the Doctor, or 
rather may be fortuuate for his theory, that he is 
not sufficiently explicit to be perfectly understood. 
Does he mean by ' the surface of the earth,' both 
the organic and inorganic matters of which it is 
composed? If so, he is inconsistent with himself. 
In a former number of the Planter he says : ' If 
vegetable substances be ploughed under when 
Saturated with water, the decomposition of the 
water will furnish the oxygen necessary, and ma- 
nure will invariably be the result.' If this be 
true, and all experience proves it, where is thecon- 
sisteney of offering a premium to prove that which 
we know cannot be proven 1 But if he means only 
the inorganic matter in ' the surface of the earth,' 
then we can understand him, and I may say that I 
have never seen anything in niy observation that 
leads me to suppose that the inorganic matters of 
the soil ever undergo the ' putrifactive process ' 
at all. That they undergo decomposition, by 
which they are prepared to be assimilated by the 
growing plant, is doubtless true, and that this de- 
composition is accelerated by the presence of 
organic .matter in the soil undergoing the ' putri- 
factive process,' is also certainly true ; but while 
the ' putrifactive process ' always follows decom- 
position in organic matters, it is not so with regard 
to inorganic; they never putrify. And were it not 
that my pecuniary means prevent it, I would offer 
to the Doctor a premium «f $100, if he could 
prove by any facts, that the inorganic matters of 
the ' surface of the earth' undergo putrifaction, 
either with or without the presence of organic 
matters. 

Dr. Baldwin appears to act upon the principle 
referred to by Wm. Cobbett, as sometimes prac- 
tised by politicians, and that is ' that a lie stoutly 
maintained, is more effectual than the truth 
plainly told.' And while I most sincerely assure 
him I have not the least desire to charge him with 
falsehood, yet I may be permitted to say I consider 
his theory a false one, and he has again and again 
reiterated it, both north and south, and as far as 
known he has r.ever once condescended to notice 
any objections or inconsistencies that have been 
pointed out by other writers against it. Why is 
this 1 Is he fearful he cannot maintain it by public 
discussion 1 Truth needs no concealment, and 
above all a Virginia farmer that stands deservedly 
high as an agriculturist, should studiously refrain 
from giving his experience along with his theory. 
It is something so unusual, and I may say inconsist- 
ent with Virginia generosity, and seems as if he 
wanted his brother farmers to bow down to his 
theory, without the why and the wherefore. 
Ithmo., 16tk, 1855. Yardley Taylor. 



From the address of Hon. M. P. Wilder, 
at the late meeting of the American Pomo- 
logical Society, we take the following re- 
marks : 

There is but one other topic to which I will 
advert : the preservation and ripenino- of 
fruit, ° 

Much progress Las been made in this art 
within a few years, and important results have 
been attained. 



the succeeding spring. "We have seen the 
Seckel, Bartlett, and Louise Bonne de Jersey 
pears, in perfection in January, and even 
later. The maturity of fruits depends on 
saccharine fermentation. This is followed by 
other fermentations, as the vinous and ace- 
tous. To prevent these, and preserve fruit in 
all its beauty, freshness and flavor, the tem- 
perature must be uniform, and kept below the 
degree at which the fermentation or the ripen- 
ing process commences, especially summer 
pears. A summer pear ripened on the tree 
is generally inferior. In respect to the latter, 
Mr. Barry, editor of the Horticulturist, has 
so aptly expressed my own sentiments, that I 
use his language : 

" The process of ripening on the tree, which 
is the natural one, seems to act upon the fruit 
for the benefit of the seed, as it tends to the 
formation of woody fibre and farina. When 
the fruit is removed from the tree at the very 
commencement of ripening, and placed in a 
still atmosphere, the natural process seems to 
be counteracted, and sugar and juice are ela- 
borated, instead of fibre and farina. Thus, 
pears which become mealy and rot at the 
core when left on the tree to ripen, become 
juicy, melting and delicious when ripened in 
the house." 

Various fruit houses have been built both 
in this country and in Europe, and experience 
shows that their object can be attained only 
by a perfect control of the temperature, mois- 
ture and light. Hence, they must be cool, 
with non-conducting walls, or with exterior 
and interior walls, or a room within a room. 
Thus the external atmosphere, which either 
starts the saccharine fermentation or conveys 
the agents which produce it, can be admitted 
or excluded at pleasure. It is possible, how- 
ever, to preserve the temperature at so low a 
degree and for so long a 'time as to destroy, 
especially with some varieties of the pear, the 
vitality, and therefore all power ever to re- 
sume the ripening process. Experience proves 
that for the common varieties of the apple and 
pear about 40 degrees of Fahrenheit is the 
temperature best suited to hold this process 
in equilibrium. 

The proper maturing of fruit thus pre- 
served demands skill and science. Different 
varieties require different degrees of moisture 
and heat, according to the firmness of the 
skin, the texture of the flesh, and the natural 
activity of the juices. Thus, some varieties 
of the pear will ripen at a low temperature 
and in a comparatively dry atmosphere ; while 



The principle has been settled 
that the ripening process can be controlled, others, as the Easter Beurre, are "improved by 
Autumnal fruits have been kept and exhibited a warm and humid air. 



2S6 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



Some varieties of the pear, ripening with 
difficulty, and formerly esteemed only second 
rate, are now pronounced of excellent quality, 
because the art of maturing them is better 
understood. 

But so many experiments have been tried, 
or are in progress, and so much has been 
written on this branch of our subject, tbat I 
need not enlarge except to say that the art of 
preserving and ripening fruit in perfection in- 
volves so much scientific knowledge as to re- 
quire great attention and care; and, until its 
laws are more fully developed, must be at- 
tended with considerable difficulty. I there- 
fore commend it to your special attention, as 
second in importance only to the raising of 
new varieties. 

Oat straw is best for filling of beds, and it 
is well to change it as often as once a year. 

Cedar chests are best to keep flannels, for 
cloth moths are never found in them, lied 
cedar chips are good to keep in drawers, ward- 
robes, closets, trunks, &c, to keep out moths. 

When clothes have acquired an unpleasant 
odor by being from the air, charcoal, laid in 
the folds, will soon remove it. 

If black dresses have been stained, boil a 
handful of fig leaves in a quart of water, and 
reduce it to a pint. A sponge dipped in this 
liquid and rubbed upon them, will entirely re- 
move stains from crapes, bombazines, &c. 

In laying up furs for summer, lay a tallow 
candle in or near them, and danger from 
worms will be obviated. 

CON'l'ESI'i'is OA"' NUMJiEK IX. 

PAGE 

The Crops, Prices, &c, '257 

Colic in Horses, 26Q 

Principles of Agriculture,' ■ ■ ' ; 261 

The joint Worm, ■' 261 

Moisture in Soils, 262 

Management of Young Horses, 263 

Best mode of Raising" Wood, 26-5 

Winter Management of Sheep, -265 

The Dead Horses or Paris 266 

Labor 267 

The Destroyers of our Grain,. 267 

Corn Fodder, • • • 269 

How to keep Harness, -270 

Slacking Wheat Straw -271 

Hay for Cows in Summer 271 

Ploughing for Wheat, 272 

The Pi ices for Wheat 275 

Remedy for Chinch Bug, 275 

Rye,. 275 

Guano 275 

Patent Stump Puller, ■• 27 6 

A new Feature for Virginia Farmers, 277 

Crops and Exports, 277 

Agricultural Discussion on the Uses of Guano 279 

Mape and the Guano Fraud Once More 2Sn 

Dwarf Pears 281 

Alpaca, or Peruvian Sheep 282 

Agricultural Writing and Reading 283 

Dr. Baldwin's Theory Examined 284 

Wilder u.i tha Preservation and Ripening of Fruit ■■ • -285 



RICHMOND MAKKETS, AUGUST 3 1, '55. 

Apples — Va. $5 per bbl. none m market. 

Bacon — City cured, none in market; Western Sides 
(new) held at 12Jc, new Shoulders, Ilk., Hams, I2jal5 
c, Smithfield hog round, 12Jc. Queen City Hams, 13J. 

Butter — Mountain 24 to 25 cts., Goshen 23a25 cts., 
old and inferior, 8al0£ cts. 

Beeswax — 25ia26i per lb. 

Cotton — ll£al2cts. per lb. 

Cotton Yarns — 17al8 cts., cash. Cotton Cordage 20 
cts., per lb. 

Corn — We quote 87ja90 cts., per bushel. 

Corn Meal— 95ca$l. 

Coffee — Rio lOtallf cts, Laguyra 11 J cts., Java 15 
c, Mocha 15Jc. 

Flour — We quote country superfine at $9a9 25 
extra $9 50, family $10 Jail. Stock very light and very 
little arriving. 

Flaxseed — We quote at Si 60al 65 per bushel. 

Feathers — Live geese 40 cts. per lb. 

Fish— Herrings, N. C, cut, S'7 a 7 25 ; Halifax, 
clipped, No. 1, $5 50; No. 2, $5. Shad— Last .sales'! 
$9; Mackerel, No. 1, $21 per bbl., No. 2, S12 50, No. 3, 
small, $4 50a5, No. 4, $4 50a5, medium 5 50a6, large 9 25,;. 
a9 50. 

Ginseng — 25 cts., per lb. 

Grass Seeds — Clover $8 per bushel, Timothy 
$4a4 50, Herds' Grass Si 25al 50 per bushel. 

Guano — We quote $52 from wharf, $52 50 delivered, . 
for Peruvian, Mexican Guano S30a$35. 

Gunpowder— Dupont's and Hazard's Sporting, F, FF, 
and FFF, $4§, Blasting, S3aS3,50 per keg. 

Hoop Poles — We quote at $7 per- thousand. 

Hides — Slaughtered 6} cents per lb., green weight; calf 
skins, green, $1. No Spanish Hides in market. 

Hay — Sales from store $1 30. 

Iron and Nails— Pig Iron, $30a$ 35, SwedesSlO" 50; ' 
English refined and Tredegar $95, Common -English 
$80, American country $S5. Cut Nails 4a44 t c. 

Liquors — Brandy, Otard, Dupuy & Co. $3a5 per gal.; 
A. Seignette, $2 25a$4; Sazerac, $3 25a $4 50; Hennessey,' 
$3 95a$5; Peach, scarce at Si 25a$2; Virginia Apple, 60o. 
a85c; do. old, 75c.aSl 50; Northern do, 55a75c; Imitation, 
45a47Jc. Rum, New England, 48c. Gin, Holland, Sl,20ai 
$1 75; American 45 cts. 

Lead— Pig 6fa7-J-c, cash and time. 

Lard — Prime Lard, in bbls. 12c, scarce, in Kegs, 13ial4, t 
in pails, 14c. 

Leather — Good stamp 22a25c, per lb., damaged 22c, 
poor I5al7c, upper leather $1 50a$3, as in size, weight"! 
and quality, the latter price only for superior heavy sides. ■ 
Skirting and harness Leather is more plenty, with less] 
demand. We quote 20 to 30c, as extremes, principally I 
sales 22a26c. 

Lime — Si 37 in store, $1 12 n from vessel. 

Molasses — New Orleans 32a35c per gallon. Cubaj] 
28. Porto Rico, 35. 

Oats — Stock very light — sales at 40cts. per bush. 

Offal — Bran, 15c per bushel; shorts, 20t; brown stufi^ I 
30c. shipstuff, 50c. 

Potatoes — No demand for old and nothing doing. 

Plaster — Ground $9 per ton; calcined $2 50 per bbl. 

Rye — $1 per bushel. 

Rice — New 7\ cts. per pound. 

Salt— Liverpool fine Si 60 per sack .from wharf. fl 

Sugars — Fair to strictly prime New Orleans Ti cts., 
Coffee Sugar 8a8f, refined loaf 10j>al0J, crushed and'] 
powdered 9Jal0c. 

Shot — 7£a7f cts. per lb. 

Teas — Imperial and Gunpowder 55ca-Sl 20. 

Touacco— We quote inferior lugs at$5a-5 25; good and, 
fine, $5 50afl 62; inferior leaf, $7a8 ; good, -SOalO; find 
shipping, $llal2,50aSl3 ; fine manufacturing, $12al7. J 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



287 



Wheat. — Arrivals pretty large — last week about 100,- 
000 bushels and no falling off this. Prices have 
dropped a notch lower. We quote Si 80 to Si 85 for 
prime Red and White. 

Wines Port, Burgundy, $la2,50, Port Juice §2, 50a 

4, Madeira, Sicily, 45a$l,75 old Madeira, $2,50a4, Sherry, 
Perraartin, Duff Gordon and, Amontilado, S2a6,50. 

Wood — Oak S3 50 per cord, $2a2 25 for Pine, retail 
S4 50 for Oak, S3a3 25 for Pine. 

Wool— Small parcels of tub-washed sold at 27m 
Unwashed 18al9c. No sales of firm fleece made as yet. 

Beef — S3.50a4, per cwt. gross, which is $7a8 net. 

Hogs — $8 per hundred, supply moderate. 

Sheep — Mutton sells for S2 50a5 apiece for ordinary and 
superior c heeo Lam^s $9. a 3 50 each. 

Stocks. Virginia 6 per cents, 34 years to run, last 

sales at the Treasury, S100 ; Virginia 6 per cents, 25 years 
time, sales at S99 and int. ; Coupon Bonds of Virginia. $99 
and int. ; Bonds guarantied by the State, last sales at S96 
and int. : Richmond City Bonds, 34 years to run, sales at 
98 and int.; Virginia Bank Stock, par 870, sales S73 ; 
Farmers' Bank Stock, sales at 104i dol. ; Exchange Bank 
Stock, 105; Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Rail- 
road Stock, 95 dol.; Virginia Central Railroad Stock, 
42 dol. ; Richmond and Petersburg Railroad Stock, 50 dol 
Richmond and Danville Railroad Stock, 50 dol. ; James 
River and Kanawha Stock, 13 dol. 



PAYMENTS TO THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 

To the 29ih of August, 1855. 

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

George W Carroll January 1357 2 00 

N S Braden July 1856 2 00 

A J Wise January 1856 1 00 

WM Bowie July 1856 1 00 

I)r I) E Watson January 1857 3 00 

Richard Irby July 1856 2 00 

Ro Scutt January 1856 2 00 

W F Hobbs January 1856 1 00 

Ro Douthat April 1856 1 00 

John Hendrews Estate 1 75 

Capt W M Thornton December 1855 1 00 

J D Scarborough January 1856 3 00 

John Tabb January 1858 4 00 

Dr J P Tabb January 1856 1 00 

J L Ganaway November 1856 1 00 

H C Boyd July 1356 1 00 

O C Fowler N. C. 1 00 

E Carrington, July 1356 1 00 

John George July 1850 1 00 

J K Pitzer July 1855 2 00 

G A Sinclair October 1856 2 00 

T O Rowlett January 1857 1 00 

James Whitehead January 1856 1 00 

H Bynurn July 1356 • 2 50 

James T Jones January 1856 1 00 

P A Blackburn July 1856 1 00 

J D Makeley July 1856 1 00 

E P Douglass September 1854 1 00 

James S Tarborough April 1858 * 5 00 

R F Harnmon January 1356 1 00 

Joseph H Rowlett January 1856 1 00 

Capt J F Callaway January 1856 1 00 

H F Bocock January 1356 1 00 

John W Woodson January 1856 1 00 

J R Warron January 1356 1 00 

A Gills July 1856 1 00 

Dr W L Wight January 1356 2 00 

John I) Christian January 1854 2 00 

Joseph Segar' January 1859 5. 00 

N }i MasMnbnrg January 1857 2 00 

S M Harvey July 1-.56 . 1 00 

J M Morriss September 1855, F J Vest January 1856, S 



B Henson January 1S55, R H Fox July 1856, J M Vest, 
January 185G, Wm Michie January 1856, Col. W O Har- 
ris January 185G, B Kiriley January 1856, C Dickenson 
January 1356, W Reynolds September 1856, J O Clay- 
brook January 1856, N Q, Lipscomb January 1856, R M 
Graves January 1856, J D Smith July 1856, R S Ellis 
January 1856, Col J Woolfolk January 1856, P Boxley 
January 1856, R W Goodwin January 1356, D T Arm- 
strong January 1856, W T Wright January 1856, A J Per- 
kins Jan 1856, George Turner Feb 1856, DE Hickman Jan 
1S56, AC Vest Jan 1856, A W Talley Jan 1856, DrF Per- 
kins August 1855, Dr W W Beadles January 1856, R N 
Trice January '856, A M Baker January 1856, A F But- 
ler Jan 1856, Dr E F Ginter Jan 1856, B T Winston 1S56 
H W Jones Jan]1856, John R Quarles January 1856, W M 
Ambler January 1856, A T Goodwin January 1S56, C G 
Coleman January 1856, D Anderson, jr. January 1856, G 
A Payne January 1856, T P Smith January 1856, J T 
Fayne January 1856, M T Gooch, Louisa county, re- 
turned. 

A T Perkinson July 1856 1 00 

A H Garnett July 1856 1 00 

T W Atkinson July 1856 1 00 

R P Cooke July 1856 1 00 

J M Royster July 1856 • 1 00 

James Stamper July 1356 1 00 

B D Christman July 1856 I 00 

Dr W J Seymour July 1856 1 00 

W A Dandridge July 1856 1 00 

W R Crump July 1856 1 00 

James Chandler July 1856 1 00 , 

John Sclater July 1856 1 00 

J M Goddin July 1356 1 00 

H D Vaiden July 1856 1 00 

A V Scott July 1856 1 00. 

Dr E Powell 1 Of, 

Jacob Morton June 1856 1 0q 

S H Hairston January 1856 1 0fj 

Miss C Carver January 1856 1 0rj 

Ro Whitehead January 1856 1 OfJ 

J Pamplin January 1857 2 00 

J F Hite July 1856 1 Oo 

James W Henry July 1856 1 00 

A L Kelly July 1856 1 00 

A Wren April 1855 1 00 

Samuel Booker December 1855 1 00 

W H C Reynolds July 1356 1 00 

Dr J B Kirby July 1356 1 00 

J A Bruce August 1856 1 00 

W H Sizer July 1856 3 00 

Judge P V Daniel January 1856 2 00 

W B B Walker January 1855 1 00 

Dr R T Jones May 1856 1 00 

N Sherer July 1856 1 00 

P Bosseau January 1857 \ 00 

Thomas Garland July 1855 1 00 

J Horner September 1356 1 00 

S B Atwell July 1856 1 00 

G C Dickinson Jnnuary 1856 1 00 

John White January 1856 1 00 

John A Mosby to April 1856 1 00 

H St George Harris to July 1855 1 00 

RIDGEWAY SCHOOL. 

f^pTIE tipxt session of my School will begin on 
JL the first Monday in September and end on the 
last Friday of June, 1856. There will be a vaca- 
tion of two weeks at Christmas. I charge &220 
for a whole session, or $25 a month for any period 
less than a whole session. I furnish my pupils 
board, lodging, light, fuel, washing, and all else ne- 
cessary to comfort, and make ro extra charges for 
anything. T have three assistant teachers and am 
prepared to give instruction in every branch of 
education proper to lit boys to enter the University 
Virginia. For further particulars apply to me 

Charlottesville, Va. 

au— tf a FRANKLIN MINOR. 



>38 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



V/e very cheerfully insert the following explana- 
tion of our friend, Mr. Nelson, of Clark, in respect 
to his guano attachment. We beg leave to assure 
all who may not know him, but know us, that full 
faith and credit may be attached to every thing he 
says. He is incapable of intentional wrong of any 
sort : 

rpHE subscriber, on a recent visit to some of 
X the southern and middle counties of this Siate, 
has learned with surprise and regret that he is, by 
many persons, held responsible for the pernicious 
errors into which machinists have fallen, who have 
availed themselves of his invention for sowing gu- 
ano with wheat by machinery, wiihout adopting the 
proper principles of said invention. One gentle- 
man, of very high standing in the State, estimated 
his loss on the last crop of wheat, from using a 
badly constructed drill and guano attachment at 
seven hundred dollars. Another gentlemen slates 
that his loss on the crop of the same year from the 
same cause, was at least four hundred bushels of 
wheal. The subscriber was not aware that eilher 
of these gentlemen had ever owned a wheat drill or 
attachment at all. Other cases of serious failure 
from this cause have come to the knowledge of the 
subscriber, in which much blame has been imputed 
to him. He claims now, as ever, the full, entire 
and original invention of applying guano in this 
manner to grain, but he has no lot, part or interest 
in any drill or guano attachment manufactured 
north of Richmond, Va., and he hereby disclaims 
emphatically all responsibility, present or future, for 
all such implements. Unforeseen events have pre- 
vented his bringing out, this fall, a lot of drills and 
attachments, for 'the work and workmanship of 
which he would have held himself responsible to 
the purchasers. Of the success of this invention, 
carried out upon his own principles, experience has 
given him full assurance. In proof of this asser- 
tion he would adduce the result of his last crop s f 
wheat. A portion of this crop was sown with 
a drill and attachment, as it came, from the hands 
of a drill maker of high reputation. This part of 
the crop was much injured by bad sowing; the 
machine was then altered by a son of the subscri- 
ber under his supervision, and the remainder of the 
crop seeded with it. 

The wheat sown atler the alteration was, for the 
season and circumstances, the best ever produced 
on'the same land since it has been|owned b\| the 
subscriber. T. F. NELSON. 

A ugust 17th, 1855. 

M'LANE'S VERMIFUGE IN TEXAS. 

Hear what the Proprietor of the "Star Hotel" 
has to say of the wonderful effects of M'Lane's 
Vermifuge : 
Star Hotel, Centheville, Texas, Aug. 22, 1854. 

I feel in duty bound to make the following state- 
ment : Several of my children have been unwell 
for the last week or two. I called at the " Big 
Mortar" to get some Oil of Wonnseed and other 
truck, to give them for worms. The Druggist 
recommended M'LANE'S VERMIFUGE, but 
having, heretofore, tried every Vermifuge, in my 
knowing, without advantage, I told him it was not 
worth while, as my children appeared proof against 
them all. He said to take a bottle, and offered if 
it done no good to refund the money. To satisfy 
him I done so, and the effect was so much better 
than expected that I got another bottle, and the 
result was most astonishing. Three of my chil- 
dren discharged a great number of the largest j 
worms I ever saw. To a young man, my Mail I 



Carrier, who was weak, puny and poor as a snake, 
for a month or so, I gave two doses, which brought 
from him at least a pint of what's called Stomach 
worms! Strange as this may appear, yet it is as 
" true as preachi?ig." How the boy stood it so long 
as he did, with ten thousand " bots" gnawing at 
his stomach, is the greatest wonder to me. All 
these cases are now doing well. No doubt the 
lives of thousands of children have been saved by 
the timely use of this extraordinary medicine. 
Don't fail to give it a trial. 

se THOS. R. THURMAN. 

fjf Purchasers will be careful to ask for DR. 
M'LANE'S CELEBRATED VERMIFUGE, and 
lake none else — all others in comparison are worth- 
less. Dr. M'Lane's Vermifuge, also his Celebra- 
ted Liver Pills, can now be had at all respectable 
Drug Stores in the Uniled States. se ly 



DK. M'LANE'S CELEBRATED LIVER 
FILLS IN TEXAS. 
TtiAYis Co., Texas, June 12, 1854. 
Messrs. Fleming Brothers. Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Gentlemen: This is to certify, that my mother 
had been subject to periodical attacks of sick 
headache for a great manv years; all the usual 
remedies failing to give relief, one of your pam- 
phlets accidentally falling into her hands, she at 
once determined to try DR. M'LANE'S CELE- 
BRATED LIVER PILLS, and immediately pro- 
cured a box,' from the use of which she received 
great benefit, and so long as she continued to use 
them was entirely relieved. 

We have now been in Travis Co., Texas, for 
the last four years, and not being able to procure 
these valuable pills, her attacks of sick head ache 
have again returned — for time back has been grad- 
ually getting worse — and has determined me to 
send to you for a few boxes of Dr. M'Lane's Cele- 
brated Liver Pills. I herewith enclose you one 
dollar, for which you will please send me Pills per 
return mail. Address Austin, Texas. 

J ihink you would do well to establish an agency 
in Austin ; the Pills are well known here and would 
meet with ready sale. 

MEREDITH W. HENRY. 

13=- Purchasers will be careful lo ask for DR 
M'LANE'S CELEBRATED LIVER PILLS, and 
take none else. There are other Pills, purporting 
to be Liver Pills, now before 4he public. Dr. 
M'Lane's Liver Pills, also his celebrated Vermi- 
fuge, can now be had at all respectable Drug Stores 
in the Uniled States. se ly 






WANTED, 

A MANAGER for the Marlbourne farm, Hano- 
ver, for the ensuing vear. A person properly 
recommended for good ability, intelligence, compe- 
tent education, good morals and habits, and high 
character and respectability, is desired, and no 
other need apply. To such a one, deemed alto- 
gether suitable, a liberal salary and good position 
will be offered. An unmarried man, or, if married, 
one without children,, will be much preferred. 

In the case of being unable to engage an expe- 
rienced and well qualified farmer and manager, 
ihen a young gentleman of good connections, even if 
with but small experience in farming, though other- 
wise well fitted to act under advice and general 
direction, would be employed, to live as a member 
of the employer's family. Any of the personal and 
intimate friends of the proprietor of the farm, who 
may know of a person suitable for the duties, will 
confer a favor by giving such information by pri- 
vate letter. Address either Edmund R tiffin, or 
JULIAN E. RUIFIN. 

se It Old Church P. O., Hanover.