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of about half an inch between them, and then hang 1 them across tobacco sticks.

The best time of the day to gather ground \eaves, before the tobacco is cut, is late in the day, about an hour from sunset; when the tobacco ground is wet, the leaves are at this time of the day in order to be gathered. Leaves gathered when the dew is on them, will injure before they get dry. Tobacco, when being cut. should not, if it can be prevented, be suffered to fall too much—that is, lie on the ground until the leaves become very limber; for when they become too much so, they clam around the stalk, and the tobacco will not cure so good by it. A great deal of care is necessary while tobacco is being cut and carried to the house; it must not be suffered to lie in heaps and heat. While laying in the field, if the sun shines hot at the time, it will be burnt by the sun, if permitted to lay too long. When hauling it to the house, the loads should not be large, as it will bruise when hauled in large loads. I have seen some persons have bushes with green leaves laid in the bottom of their carts before the tobacco was put in the cart. This was done to prevent the tobacco from being bruised.

There are three ways in use for hanging of the tobacco plants on the stick; one way is, by splitting the stalk before the plants are cut; another way is to put a peg in the big end of the stalk; this is a tedious way, and though in old times the only way used, has now nearly gone out of use. The other way is to put a sharp pointed iron spear, with a socket like a chisel on a tobacco stick, and then run the plants on the stick, by running the iron spear through the stalk of the plants. This is the quickest way of the three, but unless there is a considerable space left between the plants, the tobacco will injure. The most careful hands should only be permitted to stick tobacco in this way. Those hands who could not be trusted to put tobacco on the sticks, could be engaged in the tobacco field at other work.

The splitting of the stalk and afterwards straddling it across a stick, though not so quick a way as the one just mentioned, is a better way for several reasons, one js, the plants can be easily regulated when they are put in the house ; another is, the tobacco cures quicker, and when housed late is not so apt to be frozen in the house. It does not require so much judgment when putting the plants on the stick. The tobacco also, is much easier to get off the stick when it is wanted to strip.

We will now suppose the tobacco to be housed and cured and ready to be stripped, that is, taking the leaves from the stalks; whenever the tobacco is moist enough, or in planter's language, in order, this can be done. The different kinds and colors must be tied up in separate bundles, and each kind put away by itself. After tobacco

is stripped care must be taken to prevent it from heating in the bulks, which it quickly does in warm weather if put away in too moist a state. If it should begin to get warm it should be tak< n out of bulk immediately and put in a situation to cool and dry. If bulk's of tobacco should heat in warm, wet weather, and the weather continues so, the best way then is to straddle the bundles across sticks and hang them up in the house. Tobacco of a fine color and good leaf should never be suffered to heat in bulk ; for the color as well as the leaf, is considerably injured thereby. Tobacco of a dull color and coarse leaf is not injured so much by heating in bulk ; though heating in bulk injures any tobacco more or less; the old notion that tobacco was not conditioned to pack in hogsheads, until it had heated in bulk is entirely erroneous. Tobacco maybe packed without injuring in the hogshead, if properly dried after being stripped from the slalks; indeed tobacco after it is stripped requires a great deal of attention to manage it properly; and if managed properly until it is in the house and cured, may be by improper management or neglect, made to be worth less money, after this time. I have seen tobacco myself put up in bulks, and suffered almost to rot before any thing was done to it: It is principally the management and handling of tobacco after it is cured, that makes the distinction between a nice planter and an indifferent one.

When bulking of tobacco the leaves should be kept straight and the bundles spread open somewhat like a fan, which can easily be done, by placing two or three bundles at a time, by the person who is handing the tobacco to the bulker, against his breast and giving them a stroke down with the other. I have found the best way to condition tobacco when stripped, to be as follows:—Take two tobacco sticks and lay them parallel and about one foot apart, then bulk on them about one hundred pounds, by placing the bundles across the sticks. The tobacco should be knee'd down; two persons can move these bulks whenever wanted by taking hold of the ends of the sticks. Tobacco when bulked in this way, if not very moist, will not want any thing more done to it until wanted to pack, especially if the bulks are put up on the tiersof the barn, which can be easily done by lifting them up by the tobacco sticks. After tobacco has been bulked in the way here recommended the small bulks should be on a drying day taken and opened, and the tobacco laid down by hand on the large bulking places. Bulking places should be fixed for the different qualities, and as the small bulks are pulled to pieces the different qualities should be placed apart from each other. Though in bulking on sticks as recommended, each quality as near as can be at that time ascertained, should be bulked to itself. In moving tobacco from the smaller to the larger bulks.

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the large bulks should, if the tobacco is very moist, have only three or four courses of bundles of tobacco placed on them at one time; after they have dried somewhat, three or four more courses can be placed in the same manner, and the operation repeated as long as necessary. Thus a barn of tobacco may be conditioned in this way without any of the tobacco heating.

The best directions that can be given about packing of tobacco in hogsheads, are that the tobacco should only be moist enough to keep it from crumbling, and that fine tobacco should not be pressed so hard as to bruise it. Tobacco though often packed before, is hardly conditioned enough before the month of May.

For the Southern Planter.

THE INFLUENCE OF CULTIVATION ON VEGETABLES.

NO. IV.

A flower is the assemblage of those organs, upon which are produced the germs ofphenoga-mous plants, (such plants as are visibly furnished with sexual organs,) and of those which immediately surround them. These organs are divided into four classes, in accordance with their position, appearance, and physiological role, viz. the calyx, corolla, stamens, and pistil.

These organs are leaves in a particular state of transformation, and are ordinarily arranged in regular whorls; and although they have very different offices to perform,yet examination proves that at a very early period, when they are first formed, they are absolutely the same as leaves of the same age; that it is only after they have been growing sometime that they begin to assume the character under which they finally appear; and that consequently they are very often found resuming the appearance of common leaves if any thing occurs to interfere w T ith their intended structure before it is entirely fixed.— Thus we find leaves in the place of petals, or petals metamorphosed into leaves, in some kind of double tulips; sepals and petals often changed to leaves in double roses; all the parts of the flower turned into leaves in other plants, and even after the formation of the fruit, we find sometimes a part of the flower in the shape of leaves protruding from the extremity of the fruit as in the pear at the garden of Versailles, noticed and described by M. Poiteau.

We will describe these organs in the order in whbh we have mentioned them above, and of the calyx, which is the exterior envelope of a flower, and consists of two or more divisions called sepals, which, however, frequently unite into one piece ; the corolla is found next within the calyx, and consists of two or more pieces called petals, which also occasionally unite into one piece. Petals arc usually of some bright

color differing from that of the sepals; the stamens constitute the whorl of organs immediately within the petals, and each stamen consists of a filament, and anther; the filament being a column to support the anther, which is situated at its superior extremity and affords a matter called pollen, by means of which, the fecundation of plants takes place; the pistil occupies the centre of the flower, and is composed of three parts, viz. the ovary, the style, and the stigma. The ovary is a hollow case enclosing seed or little bodies destined to become seed. The stigma is situated at the superior extremity of the style, whose offlce(the style's) is to connect together the ovary and stigma. The function of the pistil is to receive the pollen upon its stigma and to convey it to the ovary in order to fecundate the seed.

These various parts are not always present in all flowers; for there are some where the calyx is reduced to a mere rim—others where there is no corolla—others without stamens, and others without pistils; besides, these organs are liable to degeneration, abortion, multiplication, and transformation.

From themultiplication of parts,such as the formation of a new whorl of petals, or the separation of a petal, which is composed usually of two soldered together and the transformation of stamens and sepals into petals, result double flowers. As these changes are liable to occur when the plant is forced into an extraordinary development from being placed under circumstances peculiarly favorable to their growth, double flowers are a striking evidence of the influence of cultivation, as is abundantly exemplified in the dahlia and stocks, &c. which in their natural state are single, but which have their claims to admiration much increased by the addition to their gaily colored parts, from cultivation, but at the expense of being called "monsters" by botanists, in consequence of their abnormal condition.

Before I take my leave of you, Mr. Editor, I must beg another correction which is rendered necessary, I have no doubt by my unfortunate hand writing. In the third number of " The Influence of Cultivation on Vegetables," the second sentence of the second column of the 59th page now reads, " Thus a great part of our fruit trees, yielding the most delightful fruit, are the offspring of seed trees, producing indifferent fruit," &c. Now I intended this sentence to read, "Thus a great part of our fruit trees, yielding the most delightful fruit, have, as the offspring of their seed trees, producing indifferent fruit."

Be assured, Mr. Editor, that no one appreciates more highly your courtesy, or feels more anxious for the success of your paper, than A Naturalist.

SUGAR BEET. Although some misbelievers have denied the value of this fashionable article as food for cat-

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tie, especially for milch cows, the weight of testimony preponderates greatly in its favor, and we may safely pronounce it at this time queen of roots.

DEEP PLANTING. A patron of ours informed us a few days since, that while taking his fodder, he discovered a great difference in the appearance between two pieces of corn, which were planted at the same time, and in the same kind of soil. The fodder in one piece of ground dried up so fast that he could scarcely get through with stripping it before it was entirely burnt up, to use the common phrase. On going to the other piece, he found it green to the ground, and in good plight for stripping. He was struck with the difference in the two lots of corn, and on reflection, recollected that on getting ready to plant his corn in the spring, he ran a furrow with a large shovel or barshare plough, after which he followed with a small plough, called a bull tongue, running it pretty deep in the same furrow, till he got half over the piece, where he concluded to plant the balance in the single furrow, and discontinued the use of the bull tongue. The result was that the part planted deep, in the opening made by the small plough, where the large one had previously been run, produced a third more fodder, of a better quality than that planted in the shallow one, made by the large plough alone: besides the great differences there must be in the weight of the corn drying up too fast of course to make a proper article for bread. This should be remembered by farmers, and the evil of shallow planting avoided, especially since all seem to think the seasons are becoming shorter, and much drier than formerly.— South. Cultivator.

Middlesex County, April 20, 1841. To the Editor of the Southern Planter.

Dear Sir,—Having seen the rule of William Murray, Esq. of South Carolina, for measuring a corn house, which was published in the Southern Agriculturist, and copied into your paper, with all due deference, I will submit to your readers some remarks on the same subject. I do not know the principles upon which Mr.Mur-ray based his calculations, except that two barrels of corn in the ear will shell out precisely one barrel. It seems to me, however, his rule upon any principle falls a little short of the true quantity of shelled corn, allowing it to shell out only one-half. The size of the bulk of corn, given by him, is 12 feet long, 11 feet broad, and 6 feet deep, consequently it contains 792 cubic feet, or 1,368,576 cubic inches. Divide these cubic inches of his bulk of corn by 2,150, which are the cubic inches of a bushel, and you will have 636a bushels of corn in the ear, and 318} bushels of shelled corn. The difference between

us is small, it is true, his being 633, 6 0 bushels in the ear, and 316, 8 0 of shelled corn. It ought to be borne in mind that both his and my calculations, so far, are based upon the supposition, that corn in the ear will shell out just half its quantity, which, I think, is incorrect. In this, it seems to me, consists the principal defect of his rule. If the experiment be made carefully, it will be discovered, that corn in the ear will shell out a little more than half. For this surplus, Mr. Murray's rule has no provision.

The following, as a general rule, is submitted to the consideration of your readers, to ascertain how much a corn house, cart body, or bulk of corn of any size, will shell out. 21,500 cubic inches will contain ten bushels of shelled corn, but the same space, filled with corn in the ear, will shell out a little more than five bushels. These 21,500 cubic inches contain 12 cubic feet and 764 cubic inches. Two barrels, or ten bushels in the ear, will, generally in shelling, overrun just about these 764 cubic inches.— Therefore, after levelling the corn in the house, multiply the length and breadth together and this product by the depth, which will give the cubic feet of the bulk of corn; then divide this last product by 12, and the quotient will be the number of barrels of shelled corn the house, cart, or bulk contains. If there be a remainder after the division, it will be so many twelfths of a barrel of shelled corn.

EXAMPLE.

12 feet long. 11 feet broad.

132

6 feet deep.

Divisor 12 ) 792 cubic feet.

66 barrels of shelled corn. 5

330 bushels of shelled corn. Between Mr. Murray's calculation andthis.it will be seen, there are 13 X o bushels difference of shelled corn. This difference, however, arises principally from the fact, that he made no allowance for the overrunning of the corn in the ear. According to my calculation, 53 bushels in the ear, will shell out about 27^ bushels instead of 26g. This rule, I think, is sufficiently accurate to enable a firmer to estimate the amount of his crop after it is housed, without the trouble of measuring it.

Respectfully, yours,

George Northam.

We have received one or two other communications to the same effect as the above, which the publication of this renders it unnecessary to notice, except that we may return our thanks to our correspondents for their favors.

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The following is from a correspondent to whom the readers of the Planter are already much indebted:

DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING BUTTER,

Principally extracted from a work published by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, in England. %

TO MAKE BUTTER FROM CREAM.

When the milk is first drawn it should be carried as gently as possible to the dairy—strained through sieves—deposited in shallow pans or coolers not exceeding three or four inches in depth. The best cream rises within twelve hours, but it is more generally left for twenty-four or thirty-six hours, according to the season. A small quantity of water, cold in summer and warm in winter, assists the cream to rise, but is perhaps injurious to its quality. The milk first drawn is the thinnest, and it becomes thicker and richer to the very last drop squeezed from the cow's bag. The reverse, however, is the case with the cream. The richest rises first, and it gradually becomes thinner to the last. Thick milk throws up to the surface a smaller proportion of the cream it actually contains than thinner milk, but that cream is of richer quality. If water be added to thick milk it throws up more cream but its quality is greatly inferior. Milk carried some distance, agitated and allowed to cool before putting it in pans, never gives so much or so rich cream as when put into pans immediately on being drawn. To make butter of very superior quality, separate the milk first drawn from the last—use the cream of the last only, and use only that part of the cream which rises first. Skim the milk three or four times until no more comes off; best to skim with a skimming dish pierced with small holes. The cream is then to be put into a deep vessel with a spigot close to the bottom for drawing off the thin part, which drains through to the bottom; for this, if alio wed to remain in ever so small a quantity, injures the quality of the butter very seriously. It is best to cover the inside of the hole at the spigot with fine silver wire gauze, or a small piece of thin silver, pierced with fine holes, to keep back the cream. A five cent piece beat out thin would be larger than necessary. The best butter is made from cream which is not fresh, and it should be even somewhat acid. Keep the cream from •three to seven days, stirring several times a day. The cream of every milking should be kept apart and the sweet and sour should not be mixed— at least not until the moment of churning.

For the Southern Planter. Tobacco being the great staple production of our State, I have concluded to write for the Planter a short essay on its culture. For plant land I generally select creek flats in the woods. 1st, because the land is generally better than any other which is uncleared; 2d, becuusc wood is

more convenient; and lastly on account of the greater safety from the ravages of the fly.

Having made choice of land for the plant bed; wood in large quantities is provided; the land cleared without grubbing; a fire made across the bed, and wood piled on at least three feet high, and about four or five feet wide. When the land is sufficiently burnt, a move is ordered, and men with long poles with hooks at the ends, pull the wood on land unburnt, and the fire is renewed by putting on more wood. Generally two hours is necessary from move to move. After the bed is burnt, the coals are carefully swept off, and the bed hoed with grubbing hoes, great care being observed not to turn over the earth, but to keep that which is burnt and the ashes on the top: fine stable manure, or that taken from hen houses, &c. is spread over the bed, which has been saved clear of grass seed; the bed being hoed over again, the roots removed which show themselves, and then well raked, is ready for seed.

An even table spoonful of seed to one hundred square yards is the quantity I prefer; one half of the seed, mixed with ashes, is sowed lengthwise the bed; and the other half sowed across the bed; then tread it well by the negroes, going entirely over it—their tracks placed side by side.

In the prize essay published in the Planter, I think the writer is mistaken in advising thick seeding; when too much seed is used the plants are long and slender (usually termed long legged) and nothing like as good as when they are not too thick. The time of year advised in the above mentioned essay, is certainly not the best in Virginia, whatever it may be in Maryland. I prefer preparing and sowing a part of my plant land before Christmas, and the remainder as soon thereafter as the weather, when the land is in good order, will allow. My plants at this time, (1st May) which were sowed early, are generally as large as a quarter of a dollar, whereas those sowed in March, the largest not more than square; and as it is of great importance to plant the crop early, it must be apparent to all persons, that early sowing is best. Tobacco plants are very hardy, and with fifteen years experience I have never known them killed by frost; nor have I ever during that time been scarce of plants. 1 cover also differently from the writer referred to; using bushes without leaves, laid parallel to each other, and the butts lapped on the tops of the first courses laid down; nor do I uncover until the leaves of my plants are generally as large as dollars, when they afford sufficient protection to keep the land moist. I usually burn about one hundred square yards to the hand; a smaller quantity might suffice; but as a scarcity of plants is of serious consequence to the planter, and as wood is plenty, I prefer burning largely.

The preparation of the land for the tobacco

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crop will now be noticed. I prefer the ground to be ploughed in the fall or early in the winter, that the frosts may pulverize it; except such as I expect to put the coarse farm pen and stable manure on, made during the winter. In the spring this manure is got out as early as possible, spread broadcast and ploughed in, and then harrowed. The fine manure, such as is well rotted, and scrapings around houses, barns, &c. is carried out on land which was broken early. As soon after the planting of corn as cenvenient, I again plough the land, harrow it, and lay it oiT both ways (unless wet land) from three feet two inches to three feet six inches, and the hills made as soon as possible. I prefer the hills being made early, as they are more compact, and retain the moisture better when planted ; but in this I differ with some of our best planters, who do not make a part of their hills until the plants are nearly large enough to be transplanted.

I always use small ploughs in the second ploughing, and in stiff clay prefer the coulter,

When the plants are of good size for transplanting, the hills are cut off at about the middle, and if hard, from remaining long after being made, the earth is loosened with the hoe in the middle of the hill; and when a season comes, (that is a good rain) the plants are set in the hills, if the season be light, (that is not much rain) the plants should be set deep and the earth pressed hard to the roots; whereas, if the land be very wet, by pressing the earth hard to the roots, it makes mortar; and if a clay soil retards the growth of the plants ; therefore, in the latter case the pressure of the earth to the root should be light.

In stiff clays, during the culture of the crop, the coulter plough is all important to break the land deep, and thereby let in the rains and retain the moisture.

A frame with three parallel pieces and three coulters, working seven inches apart, the middle coulter being one inch longer and one foot in advance of the other two, I; have found an excellent implement to be used as soon as the land gets in order after hard rains. A strong horse will pull it, and twice running in a row puts the land in beautiful order, prevents it from baking, destroos the young grass, and gives it a deep ploughing.

I expect my present communication will fill as much space as may be fairly allowed to one subject in a single number of the Planter. If you think it desirable, I will, before the time 'of curing the crop, give you my method. M.

Buckingham, May 1, 1841.

One of the chief objects we had in view in the publication of the prize essay was to chaw forth the opinions of Virginia planters upon this important subject. The above is from the pen of a gentleman, whose success has given him great reputation, and whose connection with one of the most celebrated planters in the State

has afforded him the best opportunity of becoming master of his subject. We regret that Mr. M. did not authorise us to give his name to the public, as we know it would have added great weight to his communication.

GATES.

In our last number we promised to point out a defect in the plan of a gate furnished by Mr. Bernard, which we esteem so highly in other respects. Consequently, we have had a cut made which combines Mr. Bernard's plan with the improvement at which we have hinted. The alteration is in the position of the brace; a very material point, very frequently neglected. The brace to a gate is almost useless unless it connects the top rail with the back upright so that the three may form the common crane, upon which you may hang certainly a much greater weight than the frame of a gate is required to support.

The great difficulty that we have to encounter, as has been explained before, is to prevent the common fault of swagging. There is a tendency in the whole gate to fall forward, which there is a difficulty in restraining, because the points of support are all at one extreme of the gate—being confined to the back upright. But supposing by good hinges we have succeeded in securing this upright permanently in its proper position, there is an evident tendency in the top and bottom rails, with the parts attached, to droop, because they are also united only at one extreme to this upright, which is itself the only part secured. Now, to run a support from one of these rails to the other, is as unreasonable as it would be to attempt to prop up a drunken man with a fellow who was so intoxicated that he could not stand up himself. Having your upright permanent, you may tie your top rail by a diagonal or brace in such a manner as to render it impossible to permit the extreme of the rail to drop without crushing the brace, which, applied as it is, lengthways, it is impossible to do. Having secured your top rail, you may proceed to fasten the extreme end of your bottom rail to it with the front upright, and thus

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you proceed from step to step in your structure as you would in a well conducted argument, showing that there is reason even in building a gate.

We think we have now nearly attained perfection in this important point of rural economy, and we take this occasion to return our thanks to those friends and correspondents who have assisted us in accomplishing so desirable an object. If, however, any thing more remains to be said, the subject is of such universal interest, that we shall not fear to tire our readers with it.

For ihs Southern Planter. LEAF MANURE.

Mr. Editor, —I am pleased to see several recommendations in your paper of the use of leaves and wood offal for compost, and particularly do I admire Mr. Lownes's idea, in your last number, of a horse rake for collecting trash. My own experience has fully satisfied me of the profit of hauling into my farm pen vegetable matter from my wood land: but my experience has also satisfied me that it will never do to rob the land where wood is permitted to grow of this, the sustenance of that growth. In other words, this nutritious substance is as much needed for the growth of trees as for the growth of corn, and you can only afford it to the one at the expense of the other. I am satisfied that I completely impoverished a very valuable piece of wood land by the annual removal, for several years, of the fall coating of leaves, whereby nothing was left to restore the depletion caused by the growth of the preceding summer. My plan now is to haul in only the unrotted vegetable matter on the surface of the land I am clearing; for when the growth is stopped, the food may be taken away for other crops. But even here, if I am about to cultivate the cleared land, I am careful to remove no mould, since it is certainly better to plough it under than to carry it to the farm yard for the purpose of bringing it back again.

Whilst undecomposed matter may be profitably removed from the surface of land on which there is no growth, I think a very erroneous and common opinion exists, and is increasing, that an indiscriminate removal of wood compost may be advantageously made. It is to remove this impression, and to afford others the benefit of my experience, that I offer this communication for the columns of your popular and useful paper.

E. W.

For the Southern Planter. MANURE LOO. My Dear Sir, —A party of young farmers happened to be detained by rain all night at our county court house on Monday last. Sitting round a cheerful fire, we were interrupted in a very interesting agricultural discussion, in which the prospects of the " Planter" were not forgot-

ten by a proposition from one of our more thoughtless companions to play a game of loo. An old gray headed farmer, who happened to be of the party, replied to the youth that it had been a long time since he had been guilty of any kind of gambling, but that he would have no objection to take a hand at his favorite game, if he in turn would indulge him in a game, at which he thought he would be more at home. The young man consented to this fair proposition, and we sat down to to the table where the old gentleman lost some two or three dollars, when he proposed that his game should be tried, and as it was a slow one he said the stakes should be increased. He directed each man at the table to put up twenty dollars, which, we who knew his moderate habits did in silent astonishment. He then called the landlord and deposited in his hands the $140, with directions to give it to the man, who, by the first day of January, 1842, should have accumulated the largest and best pile of manure. He drily remarked, that if his young friend had listened more patiently to the conversation which he had interrupted, he would have stood a better chance to win the stakes.

We were all much amused with the manner in which the proceeding was conducted, although some of the party, who are not celebrated for good farming, looked upon their money as gone, and grumbled a little at the take in; but the old gentleman reminded them that to accommodate them he had played at a game of which he knew nothing, upon the express condition that he should afterwards be indulged in one of his own.

As we were riding home on the following morning, two of the company, whose road lay the same way with mine, and who perhaps were the most indifferent farmers of the party, in talking over the night's proceedings, good humor-edly resolved to beat the old gentleman at his own game, and concluded that from the moment they got home they would commence scrupulously to save every thing on earth, of which they could make manure.

When we separated, my mind naturally dwelt upon the circumstances detailed, and I could not help moralizing upon the singular fact,that these gentlemen for the sake of a joke, were about to do that to which the strongest principles of self-interest could not prompt them.

If they succeed in winning the stake, instead of mortifying, I am much mistaken, if they do not highly gratify our old friend, and indeed, I am half inclined to look upon the whole transaction, on his part, as a happy attempt to effect that by a ruse which could never have been produced by argument. How strange it is, that men should require to be decoyed into measures so obviously for their own advantage. Like the sons of the old farmer in the fable, who, in digging the vineyard for gold found a treasure in

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a?

its increased product, these gentlemen, in seeking to win the stake, will probably unwittingly secure a much greater amount in the increased product of their farms. You shall certainly be advised of the result of the game. W. P.

For the Southern Planter. C. T. Botts,

My Bear Sir —I am much pleased with your recommendation of cob meal in the last number of the Planter. I am perfectly satisfied of the value of it. Having understood that Col. Bur-foot, of Chesterfield, never wasted a cob, but considered it capital feedj I took some pains to discover his mode of using them. It is as follows : Whenever he shells corn for mill, the cobs are thrown into a half hogshead of salt and water, to which his cows have access. By the time he sends to mill again, there is plenty of room for more cobs. I have tried this plan with great success. The cobs are hardly soaked by the salt water, before they are eagerly devoured by my cattle. I would as soon think of throwing away my fodder as my corn cobs

Yours,

A. B. S.

We have understood, upon inquiry, that Col. Burfoot now boils his cobs, instead of soaking them. He breaks them with an axe, and throws them into his feed kettle, and we are assured that there is no portion of its contents that are preferred to these bits of corn cob.

These plans are no doubt both good; much better than throwing away an article which contains so much nutriment; but where it could be done conveniently, we should greatly prefer to relieve the animal from the labor and trouble, which he frequently only half performs, of grinding the cob. Besides, when ground, it is food for either horse or cattle. If its nutritious qua-lities are admitted, there is surely as much reason in grinding the cob as in grinding the grain.

For the Southern Planter. Traveller's Rest, near Fredericksburg, May 22, 1841.

Mr. C. T. Botts, —I have seen the May number of your "Planter," and observe your request for some information concerning the "Fly-proof Wheat" now growing on this farm.

As it is well known, at least in this vicinity, that I have that wheat for sale as seed wheat, I must confine myself to a few concise facts, rather than puff it to the skies, as is too common in the agricultural papers of the North.

In the first place, then, its introduction here is not due to my father, as supposed by your correspondent, but to the Hon. John Taliaferro.

Whether, in the abstract or practically, the opinion of several farmers, for two or three seasons, authorise the opinion that it is fly-proof, and in one case, the ordinary wheat of the country was entirely cut to pieces by the fly, whilst this wheat, immediately alongside, escaped altogether.

Vol. 1—10.

Of its productiveness, last season, at least three bushels were made for one of the common varieties of the country. It has the largest grain I have ever seen, and is a red bearded wheat: from which it is argued by a miller, with whom I have just conversed, that it will not make superfine flour. It admits of being sown as soon as the 15th of September. My present crop is so luxuriant, that, a month past, 1 was advised to mow or graze it, notwithstanding a heavy harrow had been passed over it.

Respectfully, yours, J. B. Gray.

I am promised a full account of the origin of this wheat, by Mr. Taliaferro, and will forward it to you. J. B. Q.

WHEAT.

Wo learn from the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, that a Mr. Le Contour, of the Island of Jersey, has been for some time engaged in making experiments on wheat; by which he has attained some most important results, By a series of careful selections and crossings, he has obtained over 150 varieties of this grain, many of them exhibiting the most valuable properties. Mr. Le Conteur has a constant eye to an increase of the grain, and a decrease of the straw and hull, and he has at last succeeded in obtaining a variety, which yields over twenty-four hundred pounds of superfine flour to the acre. His wheat is so very thin skinned, that fifty-two bushels grown upon an acre, give only five hundred and forty-two pounds of bran, middlings and shorts. This gentleman considers it quite practicable, by judicious selections, so to improve the nature of this grain as to increase the product eight bushels an acre, without any additional expense.

Mr. Le Conteur has written a work upon " Wheat" which is very much esteemed in England, and his essay "on pure and improved varieties of wheat lately introduced into England" received a prize of twenty sovereigns.

Whilst, by pursuing a similar course in this country we have much increased and improved our varieties of Indian corn, the not less important article of wheat seems to have been comparatively neglected. The gardener is constantly employed in improving and producing new varieties of flowers, fruits and vegetables, to please the eye and gratify the palate, whilst the " staff of life" remains as it was delivered to us from the hand of nature, as though it was not subjected to the laws which influence the rest of the vegetable kingdom.

ON SOAKING SEED CORN.

The editor of the Boston Cultivator reprehends the soaking of seed corn, and says it is generally abandoned by good farmers. They think that when the seed has been soaked and swollen and

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then suffered to shrink before sprouting, its vegetative powers are much injured, if not entirely destroyed.

CORN vs. ROOTS.

The same writer expresses the opinion that if the English climate permitted the cultivation of maize, or Indian corn, that we should hear much less from them of turnips and other roots, to which their moist climate is much better adapted than our own.

COAL ASHES. In the British Farmers' Magazine, this article is very highly recommended for its effect upon stiff tenacious soils, opening the texture and correcting the tenacity; and in a pulverized state, they are said to form an excellent top dressing for young grasses. If we mistake not, several farmers in this vicinity can testify to the value of this much neglected fertilizer, both in its operation upon stiff clays, and its beneficial effects when used in top dressing. Our city and neighborhood furnish many banks which the owners would be obliged to the farmers to remove from their doors.

GRUBS.

any connection between the gad-fly and the grub worm. Our own opinion is, that the worm ma} be found in the stomach of the foetus, and if an) of our friends should be so unfortunate as to lose a mare in foal, we would be obliged to them to examine the fact and report to us the result. This point is not only interesting to the naturalist but highly useful to the farmer, since by removing a popular prejudice as to the origin of a disease, we may more certainly arrive at a preventive of, or remedy for the disease.

In connection with a theory of Dr. Harding's upon the subject of this disease, we mentioned some time since that there was reason to believe that the grub-worm is a natural inhabitant of the stomach of the horse, and not an accidental invader of a province which he seeks to destroy. The popular idea that it is the product of the egg of the gad-fly, which is supposed cunningly to deposit its nits within reach of the horse's mouth, is proved by several circumstances to be nothing more than an ingenious hypothesis; for instance, grubs have been found in the stomachs of horses in England groomed in the most careful manner, from which an egg would have been eurried as soon as deposited. This would of itself be sufficient to disprove the popular opinion of the origin of the grub, but Mr. Dicken lately informed us, that Martin Pate, Col. Ambler's overseer, once mentioned to him what he considered a very singular circumstance. He said that he was once observing a very beautiful colt belonging to the Col.'s estate, about ten days old, playing and frisking about its mother, when it fell suddenly dead, without any apparent cause; upon opening its stomach, it was found filled with grub-worms; and Pate very wisely concluded, that it was impossible that these worms could have been the product of eggs, laid, taken in and hatched within ten ckiys. Here now is a fact furnished by an individual, unbiassed in favor of any particular theory, that, if it can be sustained, must forever put to flight the idea of

NEW MANURE.

We entertain the most lively hopes, that, now that agriculture has gained the ear of science, some mode will be devised for condensing the fertilizing properties of manures so as to lessen the heavy expense of transportation. The inconvenience of spreading stable-yard manures operates most injuriously to their extension, which might be wonderfully increased by a separation of the active from the gross and useless particles. This property of condensation causes bone dust and pou-drette to be much sought after, notwithstanding the cost of production, and the following which is extracted from the Cultivator, points out a new article, which, with the same properties, has assumed a cheaper form. The high sanction under which it is given to the world certainly justifies the trouble of an experiment:

U A short time since, a committee of the French Institute was appointed to examine the nature and effects of a new mauure, represented as of extraordinary power. It was found to be composed of gypsum, saturated with urine, the mass then dried and pulverized, and applied to plants in the form of a powder. It was pronounced the most effective of a large variety of the ani-malized manures, so much so indeed that the committee recommended great caution in its use. A small quantity applied to corn, gardens plants, &c. gave a most rapid and vigorous growth."

CORN CULTURE.

If there is any point in cultivation which ought to be thoroughly understood, fixed, and established, one would think it should be the proper mode of treating this great staple of America. Yet, even upon this subject where our information is most extensive, the greatest doubt and discrepancy prevail. No question in husbandry is probably more disputed than the proper depth of moving the earth in the cultivation-of Indian corn. The late Judge Buel, whose opinion upon any point of husbandry was entitled to the greatest respect, was very averse to deep ploughing, after planting—he conceived that the corn was injured by severing the lateral roots, and advised the frequent use of shallow culivators, after corn had been planted in ground well and deeply moved with the plough. On the other hand, Cobbett, backed, we believe, by

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the opinions of a large majority of our southern farmers, recommend that corn be well ploughed and the earth carefully turned over. Cobbett imagined that severing the roots of the corn produces an effect similar to that caused by topping a tree, a re-production of a greater number of lateral shoots, which he considered as increased sources of nourishment. Judge Buel's plan, which is certainly the cheapest, is in great vogue to the North, and seems to gain popularity with time. Many of their largest crops are made with level cultivation, where a plough is never used after planting.

Let us have the experience and opinions of some of our great corn planters upon this important point. Can the cultivator be substituted for the plough with advantage?

EXPERIMENTS.

We are much pleased with a communication in the last Cultivator from a Mr. Weems, of Maryland. This gentleman, it seems, in the true spirit of agriculture, keeps a little miniature farm, upon which he makes experiments at his own risk, for the good of the community; where, however, he seems to have conducted his operations with so much judgment and discretion, that they have redounded not less to his own advantage than the promotion of agricultural knowledge. Nothing can be more philanthropic or praiseworthy in individuals, who have the requisite means and leisure, than the pursuit of such investigations. We recommend them only to the wealthy, because, experiments are attended with expense, and cannot all result as profitably as some detailed by Mr. Weems. Even the most wealthy cannot afford to make them except upon little model farms, where, like Mr. Weems's, the space cultivated does not exceed some seventeen or eighteen acres. The working of a model is a cheap and generally an effectual mode of testing the operation of a machine, and so, thpse experiments, conducted upon a comparatively cheap scale, may be highly satisfactory in establishing agricultural principles. And, as the mechanical arts, so agriculture has derived the greatest assistance from the experiments of men, who have been considered as visionaries, and who have too often incurred contempt for imprudently spending their means in the attainment of some scientific principle, which the scornful and ignorant world frequently reject because the attainment of the principle has emptied the pockets of the discoverer. Thus does imprudence in this respect frequently injure the individual without benefitting mankind.

Therefore, we repeat, that where experiments can be afforded they are worthy of all commendation, but, where they are pushed beyond the means of an individual they are not only the source of private ruin, but they operate most in-

juriously by exciting prejudice against the sacred cause of science. And this we hold to be the true doctrine of experiments.

The experiment reported by Mr. Weems has often occurred to us a very desirable one, and the result is exactly in accordance with the opinions of a very distinguished farmer in this neighborhood, expressed in our last number, viz. that tobacco is the most profitable crop that can be cultivated.

Mr. Weems kept an accurate account of the outlay and income from four acres of land, cultivated in the best manner, in corn, oats, wheat, and tobacco. He found that the tobacco (1832 lbs.) at less than 5 cents per pound netted $ 00. 22 bushels wheat at $ 1 50 per bushel netted $ 20. 60 bushels oats at 45 cents, $ 15. 40 bushels corn at 50 cents, $ 10.

The account seems to have been accurately and strictly kept, and is extremely satisfactory in its results.

ANIMAL MANURES. A Mr. Tomlinson suggests, in the Cultivator, that the qualities and value of the different kinds of animal manures is dependent solely upon the richness and quality of the food which they consume. It is very reasonable to presume that the dung of animals derives its powers of promoting vegetation from the properties of the food from which it is formed, rather than from any peculiarity in the operations of the organs to which it is subjected.

BUSHES, WEEDS, &c. Young farmers should remember that experience has demonstrated the advantage of cutting down weeds, bushes, &c. which it is desirable to eradicate whilst the sap is up. They scarcely ever sprout again, which is not the case if they are cut in the fall. A Mr. Peck, in the Cultivator, seems to attribute great virtue to the second quarter of the moon in June for the performance of this operation.

MACHINERY.

The farmer's objection to machinery must be overcome. The day has passed by when it was imagined that the comprehension of a farmer did not extend beyond a hoe or an axe. One great reason why other arts have advanced so far beyond the noble science of agriculture, is because of the assistance they have derived from the adoption of labor-saving machinery.

The farmer of the present day who would compete with his brethren must be a mechanic. He works with tools, and therefore, is a mechanic. Many of his operations are complicated, and may be much facilitated by more or less of labor-saving machinery. Let not our friends be

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alarmed at the word—every tool is a machine— a plough, a saw, a plane, are labor-saving machines—simple in their action, affecting simple results. But other operations are required which may be much facilitated by the use of an implement, uniting in itself the ability to perform 6everal operations, which must else be performed by hand. It becomes, therefore, complicated, and is supposed to be unfit for the farmer's use. At present, it frequently is, because no business on the face of the earth is conducted in such a slovenly manner as this favorite pursuit of agriculture. What would you think of a carpenter who did not know how to grind a chisel or whet a saw? Advise an individual, who has eome capital* to commence the business of master builder, and he will tell you, ''Sir, I have never served my time at the trade, I know nothing of the use of tools, and am totally unfit to take charge of a set of hands who are required to use them." Yet that same individual will embark his capital, unhesitatingly, in a business much more complicated, about the tools and implements of which he is still more ignorant. Why is this? Because, in the first case, he knows that he would encounter skill with which his ignorance could not compete, and in the latter his products come in competition only with those of persons as ignorant as himself. We want schools of agriculture—opportunities of serving an apprenticeship to this complicated, scientific, mechanical trade of profession, upon which all others depend. Nature may make poets, but depend upon it, she has never yet tried her hand at farmers. A genius may be self-taught, but to expect the great mass of mankind to arrive at excellence in so complicated a branch of the arts, by their own unassisted exertions, is the height of folly. If, instead of the rude unskilful botches who now cultivate the earth, you could make every farmer a master workman, thoroughly skilled in his business, the wealth of the country would be more increased than it can ever be by tariffs, created by legislative enactment ; and he, who devotes his mind to effecting this great desideratum, will do more for his country than can ever be accomplished by visionary schemes of producing wealth without labor.

We are daily brought in contact with individuals who are called good farmers, who are ignorant of the simplest principles of mechanics. Many of them do not actually understand the principles of a plough, are not aware when it is out of order, and could not for the soul of them superintend the grinding of an axe. Show them a labor-saving machine, which requires a small degree of mechanical skill to operate it properly, and they turn away in disgust. " Such a machine," say they, will never answer for my negroes; it is not worth while to examine it." But can't you teach yoig: negroes to manage it?

No; because I am as ignorant, as lazy, and careless as they are, should be the reply. We firmly believe that two-thirds of the labor now employed in agriculture could be saved by the use of machinery—but never by such as is to be operated only by men, who will not learn to comprehend and teach others the principle upon which one cog wheel drives another.

We are very often asked could not a machine be contrived to perform such and such an operation? Yes, without any difficulty. Could it be worked by negroes ? We answer no. Nor by white men either, unless they will take the pains to understand it and keep it in order. What an exalted opinion must such persons entertain of the capacity of their negroes, to imagine, that, without instruction, they can understand and manage a machine required to perform at once the work of a half dozen different hands. This is a perfection to which we solemnly believe neither negroes or machinery will ever arrive, at least, in our day.

There are undoubtedly differences in machines, and simplicity is the great desideratum. Many of them are entirely worthless either from defect of principle or indifference of workmanship, and if the farmer discards all because he has not learned to distinguish between the good and the bad he is to be pitied for his ignorance, and must be content to remain in the rear of those better skilled in his profession. We have generally found that active, industrious, practical farmers were the men to appreciate a valuable improvement in agricultural machinery, the principles of which they make it their business to understand thoroughly, whilst the mere theorist, who, full of science, lays abed until ten o'clock in the day, very properly declines putting such an article into the hands of his negroes who would probably destroy it while he was asleep.

In short, farmers must second the efforts of ingenuity to apply science to agriculture, and this can be effected only by their becoming thoroughly versed in those mechanical principles that are applicable to their profession.

CORN.

The following comes a little too late for the Virginia crop, but our iarmers may treasure it up as derived from one, who is, we believe, considered high authority. The editor of the Boston Cultivator says:

u Corn should not be buried more than one inch deep in any soil. It starts more vigorously at this depth than when put deeper in the earth. Corn and cucumbers require a great share of warmth, and it is quite absurd to endeavor to hide such productions from the genial warmth of the sun.

ASHES ON CORN.

Those who plant corn on green sward land should endeavor to procure ashes to put on each

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93

hill; and the sooner they are dropped after the corn is covered the better will be the effect. We warn the inexperienced against putting wood-ashes into the hill with the corn lest the strong lie which they soon make should destroy the young shoots from the kernel. Ashes have a tendency to drive away worms, and they always promote the decomposition of the matter contained in the green sward. Those who have poudrette to apply can put it in the hill with the corn, or they can put it on the hill as they do wood-ashes. When applied to the surface it should be done just before the first hoeing, as the corn will take care of itself as soon as its roots have extended to the spread manure.

MODE OF FURROWING.

Most people use a horse plough to mark out the rows for the corn—some plough each way in order to make the rows more straight. There is much labor in this and to very little advantage; for whether we pass the plough along once or twice we generally form a hard and low bed for the reception of the seed. If the field has been well ploughed and harrowed we make a far better bed for the corn by simply dragging a chain—or what is still easier—by letting the horse drag a simple frame over the ground, with two or three teeth in it, set at a proper distance from each other—we can then mark out three rows at a crossing and leave a trench well prepared for the seed. A little frame with two teeth only, will accomplish twice as much as a plough, and it may be made by any man in half a day."

We concur fully in the propriety of shallow planting, and consequently in the mode of furrowing. Much of the necessity of replanting, we believe, is produced by putting the grain beyond the reach of the genial rays of the sun.

We hear much complaint of the evil habit alluded to in the following, from the Boston Cultivator, and hope it may afford a satisfactory answer to the numerous inquiries for a remedy for it. A gentleman in this vicinity a short time since remarked to us that he was inclined to think that the use of animal food had a tendency to produce this unnatural habit, as he had observed, that sows purchased from the city, raised in a great measure from the offal of tavern tables, had been almost universally addicted to the practice of destroying their pigs.

BREEDING SWINE. Farmers who raise their own pigs should be very careful to let the breeders have room enough and not to disturb or shift them from pen to pen for some weeks before littering. Sows will often devour their own offspring when shut up in close pens, or when disturbed about that time. Some good farmers practice throwing into the yard some pieces of salt pork or other meat, on the supposition that the female has an unusual craving for animal food at this season, and that this occasions her unnatural destruction of her young.

Great caution must be used in feeding the mother during the first twenty-four hours—if sho be then cloyed with food she loses her appetite and will pine for a long time in consequence of it.

CARE OF COWS.

At this season of the year milch cows should have a little meal daily—one quart will be sufficient. Meal is far preferable to roots for new milch cows. Roots may be given when cows begin to give a diminished quantity of milk, but now, and on their first going to grass, they need something to sustain them rather than to cause their milk to flow more freely.— Boston Cultv.

HOGS.

Many of our farmers are of opinion that the popular mode of soiling is injurious to the health of hogs, we therefore quote the following directions from the Western Farmer, which seem to be sound and reasonable :

11 It has been affirmed that hogs do not thrive well if confined in a pen and soiled with clover; for ourself we are not a believer in this faith, unless where from neglect or abuse of this kind of feeding takes place. When the hog roams at large he has a chance of being his own physician, in the fields or woods on which he may graze he finds numerous herbs and other substances which serve as medicaments to correct the enervating effects of his exclusive vegetable diet; and it is, therefore, but reasonable, when he is cut off from these, that he should be furnished with substitutes to keep down the baneful effects of the crudities of those substances which he receives into his stomach. All vegetable bodies which are edible are charged with more or less of acidities, the which, if permitted to remain uncorrected, will prey upon and vitiate the digestive organs. At this point, then, nature must be assisted, and it may easily be done. Rotten wood, charcoal, chalk, if placed in a convenient part of the pen will be readily partaken of by its tenants, and will preserve them in health. In addition to these it will be found serviceable to mix moderate portions of flour of sulphur and copperas occasionally with their messes.

" If the hogs be confined in a pen altogether, they cannot be kept with too much regard to their comfort and cleanliness, for although when permitted to range they luxuriate in mud and filth, under the former circumstances, their bedding should be frequently changed, and their bodies in warm weather receive the benefit of periodical ablutions. With these precautions, and proper feed, to be given at regular intervals, there is no question but thai they will not only thrive well, but prove a profitable stock to any farmer who may thus try the experiment of raisinp- them."

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ADVICE TO HOUSEWIVES.

Those who make candles will find it a great improvement to steep the wicks in lime-water and saltpetre, and dry them. The flame will be clear and the tallow will not c 'run."

Britannia ware should be first rubbed gently with a woollen cloth and sweet oilj^then washed in warm suds and rubbed with soft leather and whiting. Thus treated, it will retain its beauty to the last.

New iron should be very gradually heated at first; after it has become inured to the heat, it is not likely to crack.

It is a good plan to put new earthen ware into cold water, and let it heat gradually until it boils, then cool again. Brown earthen ware particularly, may be strengthened in this way. A handful of rye or wheat bran thrown in while it is boiling will preserve the glazing, so that it will nou be destroyed by acid or salt.

Clean a brass kettle before using it for cooking, with salt and vinegar.

The oftener carpets are shaken, the longer they will wear ; the dirt that collects under them grinds out the threads.

if you wish to preserve fine teeth, always clean them thoroughly after you have eaten your last meal at night.

Woollens should be washed in very hot suds, and not rinsed. Lukewarm water shrinks them.

Do not wrap knives and forks in woollens— wrap them in good strong paper. Steel is injured by laying in woollens.

Brass andirons should be cleansed, done up in papers, and put in a dry place during the .summer.

When nroiasses is used in cooking, it is a prodigious improvement to boil and skim it before you use it. It takes out the'unpleasant raw taste, and makes it almost as good as sugar. Where molasses is much usecrin cooking, it is well to prepare one or two gallons at once in 4his way at a time.

Never allow ashes to be taken up in wood, or put into wood. Always have your lamp and tinder box ready to use in case of sudden alarm. Ha^ff your important papers all together where you can lay your hands on them at once, in case of fire.

Use hard soap to wash your clothes, and soft to wash your floors. Soft soap is so slippery that it wastes a good deal in washing clothes. It is easy to have a supply of horse radish all winter. Have a quantity grated while the root is in perfection, put it in bottles, fill it with vinegar, and keep it corked tight.

Western Farmer.

that their cattle have the hollow-horn. We have had a little experience in the management of cattle, and know something about this M hollow-horn," and are satisfied that it is nothing more or less than an attendant, a sort of hanger-on, of that worst of all diseases among cattle, the " hollow-belly" We know men who have cattle that during the whole winter have been exposed to the " pitiless peltings" of the storms, with a snow-drift or an ice-cake for a bed, with nothing but a scanty pittance of prairie hay or musty straw for food, and who now wonder that their cattle have hollow-horn! The wonder should be that they have cattle living.

We will make the following proposals to all those owning cattle. Keep them under shelter during the storms and cold weather of next winter. A hovel, built of logs, and covered with coarse hay and straw, standing in a dry place, is sufficient for this. Salt them twice a week regularly ; give them a sufficiency of wholesome provender, and at all times, and each of them a mess of potatoes or turnips at least two or three times a week. Follow these directions fairly, according to their true intent and meaning, and in the spring we will engage to pay for all the damage you have sustained by the "hollow-horn."— Fort Wayne Sentinel.

We do not mean exactly to endorse the obligation of our friend of the Sentinel, but his offer certainly evinces some confidence in the truth of his theory. We recollect to have heard an old gentleman declare once, probably upon the same principle, that a good farmer would always be ashamed to complain that his cattle had the hollow-horn.

PLOUGHING IN GREEN CROPS.

It is a well known fact that an extraordinary development takes place in plants, in a few days, whilst they are engaged in maturing their seeds. Now, this addition, like the rest of the growth, is derived as well from the air as the earth, so that when the plant is turned in much more is restored to the earth than has been taken from it. Hence the improvement effected; but vegetables should never be interrupted whilst they are engaged in making this atrial collection for the earth. We should always wait until they have performed their office, which ceases only with their vitality. To turn in green crops is about as wise as it would be to gather them in the same state.

BEES.

THE HOLLOW-HORN—A FAIR OFFER.

Within a few days we have heard several farmers from the surrounding country complain

A Mr. Jeston, in an English journal, recommends the following simple mode of constructing a bee-hive. He says:

" Some years ago I placed an empty butter-tub under the board on which the hive rested ; the sun cracked the board, and the bees enlarging the opening, took possession of the tub, and after

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filling their own hive, deposited 26 lbs. of honey and comb in the tub below. This I took possession of for my own use, leaving their hive full of honey for their winter's consumption.— By improving on this simple plan, I have carried off the prizes for honey at the Henley Horticultural Society for the last four years. A board, half an inch in thickness, eighteen inches in width, and perforated with two holes, each an inch in diameter, is placed between the hive and the butter-tub. The tub should be placed under the hive as early as March; the bees having a great dislike to any disturbance of their arrangement. I last year took upwards of 40 lbs of honey in this way, although the season was so bad, and an ample supply of food was left for the bees to subsist on during the winter. This plan will prove a good substitute for the 'rear' used to enlarge the common hive; with this advantage, that a supply of honey can be obtained from the strong swarms as well as the old hives."

STUMP EXTRACTOR.

We have been asked by a correspondent, if the laborious work of grubbing could not be lightened by some mechanical contrivance. We are sure it can be, not entirely substituted, but lightened. Contrivances have been adopted for tearing the stump from the earth without any previous digging or cutting, but they have, we believe, like the Indian's gun, "cost more than they come to." It is a violent operation, requiring an immense power, which must also be portable, two qualities generally incompatible. But after digging round and cutting the largest roots, a great deal of time is required for severing the smaller ties by which the stump is still bound to the earth; the smallest of which is sufficient to resist considerable efforts, which must be applied to the stump at such mechanical disadvantage. To obviate this difficulty, various contrivances have been successfully resorted to. A very effectual method is the use of long, strong levers, embracing the flattened sides of the stump and screwed against it by long iron bolts, passing through the two on each side of the stump. Horses, if necessary, may be attached to the end of the levers, and they will readily twist off many of the smaller roots, which it would cost much labor and trouble to get at with the axe.

We intended to have given a cut of this fix-

ture, which we consider the best contrivance for the purpose with which we are acquainted ; but our engraver, by mistake, has represented another method that is even still cheaper, but not so effectual. This is neither more nor less than a common lever with a fulcrum for prizing up the stump—but much less power is required for twisting in two, than tearing apart, the fibres of the root. We have also seen representations of a compound lever upon three legs, which straddles the stump, and prizes it up in a similar manner. Much labor may be saved in clearing by the use of any contrivance of the sort.

We have known gunpowder tried for blowing up the stump, without, however, any great success, owing probably to imperfection in the apparatus.

Clearing land is a heavy business, and affords a fine field for the exercise of ingenuity in lightening: the labor.

We were highly gratified by a visit paid a few days since to the machine shop of our townsman, Mr. Jabez Parker.

Mr. Parker has been long and favorably known as the inventor and manufacturer of several agricultural machines. His straw-cutter has been much approved, and his threshing machine r we believe, is acknowledged to be the best ia this part of the country. His corn-sheller, which received the premium at the late agricultural exhibition in this city, is a very strong and efficient machine. We saw an excellent wheat-fan, and Mr. Parker informed us, that a chain-band horse power, which he manufactures, is much approved and in great demand.

Mr. Parker's long and continued exertions to> supply the country with the best agricultural implements entitle him to this notice, and the support of the farming community.

BONE DUST.

The Louisville Journal notices a communication in the April number of this paper from the pen of Mr. R. G. Hadcn, upon the subject of this manure, and to satisfy Mr. Haden of its per-manent, as well as immediate effect, publishes a letter from a Scotch farmer, who testifies to experiments made upon two separate fields with bone dust and stable manure, where the proportion of the former to the latter was as one tc* twenty-eight. Each field was cultivated for five years in consecutive crops of turnips, barley v hay, pasture, and oats, and to the very last, the crop, upon the field manured with the bone dust,, manifested a decided superiority. We are informed that every year only adds to the reputation of this valuable article in England.

POUD11ETTE.

In answer to some inquiries made in the Farmers' Magazine, as to injury likely to result from an applica*

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tion of lime to night-soil; whereby a strong smell of ammonia is evolved, a Mr. Brabyn states that it is highly objectionable, inasmuch as a chemical action is produced by which the ammonia, so valuable to vegetation, is lost: he recommends the use of gypsum or plaster of paris, instead, which destroys the odor and preserves the fertilizing properties unimpaired. He says:

<c There does not appear to be any manure so rich in nitrogen as human excrement (except bone manure, which contains upwards of thirty per cent, of gelatine in its interstices;) so much so, that according to the analysis of JVIacaire and Marcet 100 parts of human urine are equal to 1,300 parts of fresh dung of the horse, 600 parts of the cow, and 450 parts of the urine of the horse. Hence it is evident that it would be of much importance if none of the human excrements were lost, especially when we consider that with every pound of urine a pound of wheat might be produced. Now I would suggest to your correspondent the best and most economical method I know of preserving unimpaired the most valuable element in night soil, which is as follows: To every 100 lbs. of night-soil add 7 lbs. of sulphate of lime (gypsum) in powder, a double decomposition will ensue, and the result will be, instead of sulphate of lime and carbonate of ammonia, carbonate of lime and sulphate of ammonia; the latter a soluble salt which cannot be volatilized. It might now be mixed with other compost, or dried any way thought proper, and applied to the roots of the vegetable, to be again transformed into bread, butter, cheese, &c.

" I would also suggest that if the floors of stables be strewed from time to time w T ith a little sulphate of lime, they will lose all their offensive smell, and none of the ammonia which forms can be lost, but retained in a condition serviceable as manure. In close stables the horses' health would be better preserved, and they would not be so liable to get blind as now. If lbs. of sulphate of lime will fix as much ammonia as is produced by 100 lbs. of horse's urine."

BONE MANURE.

As this fertilizer comes to be more and more appreciated, a cheap and ready method of reducing bones to dust is more and more of a desideratum. It may be that decomposing will be found more available than pounding. A writer in the New England Farmer asserts that he has found bones thrown by his wife into the ashes of which she makes her soap entirely decomposed, and it is stated in a report of the agriculture of the House of Industry at Boston, that bones with earth, one part bone and two parts earth, laid hi a heap and moistened with cow yard wash or water, and turned over oflcn, will become completely decomposed in about two months.

NOMENCLATURE OF GRASSES.

Through the active enterprise of Mr. Ruffin, of the Farmers' Register, whose exertions in the cause of agriculture are untiring, Mr. M. A. Curtis, of Washington, N. C. has been induced to undertake a labor, which will go far to obviate the confusion that arises from the different names by which the same grasses are known in different sections of our country. Mr. Curtis proposes to make a collection of specimens, and by a comparison ascertain exactly the various names by which the same plant is known. The advantages of such a record will be obvious, and we freely offer our aid in furthering the laudable enterprise.

The following is Mr. Curtis's letter to Mr. Ruffin, in which he gives directions for collecting and preserving specimens.

We hope that it will be sufficient to enlist the aid of many of our readers in lending their assistance to the accomplishment of this desirable object.

DIRECTIONS FOR COLLECTING AND PRESERVING SPECIMENS OF GRASSES.

Washington, N. C. March 8, 1841. To the Editor of the Farmers' Register:

Dear Sir,—I now send you, as promised, the mode of collecting and preserving specimens of grasses.

1st. As to the time of collecting. This should be when the flowers are fully grown, but before they begin to fall off If any one is in doubt as to what are the flowers of grasses, the easiest way to inform him is to say, that whatever is not stem or leaves will be the flowers. They have a great variety of forms, but the above rule will readily determine them.

2d. The whole plant should be collected, not excepting the root, though the dirt should be entirely removed. Of the large coarse grasses that attain a height of three to five feet or more, a foot or two of the summit will answer. Plants should never be collected when wet.

3d. Take half a newspaper and fold it once, like a sheet of cap or letter paper; then place within it as many plants as there is room for without their overlaying each other.* Thus do with as many plants as are collected.

Now lay these sheets between other newspapers (called driers) alternately over each other; that is, first a drier, then a sheet with the plants in it, then a drier again, and so on, no matter how large the pile.

The parcel should now be put under a pressure of from fifty to a hundred pounds and remain for about twelve hours, when the driers should be removed and dry ones put in their places. Three days will be sufficient for drying grasses, changing as above every twelve hours. For a press, a piece of board large enough to cover the paper might be used, with a'rock, some large books, or a heavy trunk, for a weight.

* If the plant be longer than the sheet, it may be bent over, or broken, though not severed.

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When the plants have been thus dried, they can be put away in dry papers, enclosed in a newspaper and tied round, so that they may not be injured by being broken or tossed about. They should be put away in a drawer where they will not suffer from careless handling.

4th. In transportingthem,care should be taken that they get no injury from rubbing, which will happen if they are loose. They should, therefore, be packed tight enough to avoid that. When carefully tied up or sealed, they can be conveyed to any distance in a trunk by private conveyance; or in a small box made to the size of the parcel may be sent by any of the ordinary public conveyances. Boxes of plants are yearly traversing the country in this way.

If the work you have put upon me is worth doing.it is worth doing well; but this cannot be attained without the aid of those who are more particularly interested in it. 1 hope, therefore, that no one will leave for somebody else to do what he can so easily do himself. The grasses within the reach of any one man, the names of which he is acquainted with, are not very numerous, and the trouble of preparing two or three specimens of each will be trifling. It must be the agriculturists who will do the work of furnishing the common names, for botanists are generally professional men who are very imperfectly acquainted with them. I will, however, draw upon them personally for their knowledge, if you will secure the labors of the farmer in this work.

If it will furnish any new inducement to the agriculturist to engage in the plan, I will promise to return him his plants, if desired, properly named, so that he may have specimens in hand to refer to in cases of doubt.

Very respectfully, yours, &c.

M. A. Curtis.

WHITE CARROTS.

The popularity of ruta baga, mangel wurtzel, and even the sugar beet is threatened by this new candidate for popular favor. The English papers are making a good deal of noise about it, and we believe the seed may be obtained at the North. We have always esteemed the carrot the best of the roots. They are known to form an excellent food for horses as well as cattle, exercising a healthy influence in the spring of the year, particularly. They are very nutritious, and this is said to be an improved article both in quality and productiveness. We advise our friends to procure some of the seed as soon as possible, as we foresee, that whatever be its real merits, it is about to have its day.

TO RELIEVE CHOKED CATTLE.

A Mr. Jones, in the Nashville Agriculturists, says that all you have to do to relieve choked VoL 1—11.

cattle is to raise the fore foot for the purpose of relaxing the muscles of the leg; then tie a strong string around the arm just above the knee, and if the animal does not put the foot to the ground a quick stroke with the whip will make it do so, when the operation is performed, and the animal relieved. He does not pretend to give the rationale, but asserts that the effect is certain.

PEACH TREE WORM.

We see, from the Western Farmer, that some individual, upon the same principle as that adopted by Dr. Anderson, and recorded in our last, has been trying experiments to protect peach trees from its destructive enemy, the canker worm. Tansy and wormwood were planted nearly in contact with the body of the tree, and were found as effectual in keeping off'the worm as tobacco and camphor are in preserving clothes from the moth.

We were struck by the following, in the Main Cultivator, because it is only a lew weeks since Major Yancey, speaking of the advantages of the value of the hemp crop, stated, that circumstances coming under his own observation, had inclined him to think, that a strip of it between wheat and corn would form an effectual barrier to the advances of the chinch bug from one to the other; though, he expressed an unwillingness to give the opinion to the public, until confirmed by further experiments:

SECURITY AGAINST THE WHEAT FLY.

When there is an abundance of clover or hernp around a wheat field, it has been ascertained to a certainty, that very much less injury will be done to the wheat by the grain flies than in most other situations. The reason is plain. The weevil deposits its eggs on the sweetest plants it can find, and prefers the clover or hemp even to wheat,

NEWSPAPERS.

Mr. Jefferson, whilst a minister in France, wrote to a friend in this country, Col. E. Car-rington : " Were it left to me to decide, whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to choose the latter."

TO CUT GLASS WITH A PIECE OF IRON.

Draw with a pencil on paper, any pattern to which you whould have the glass conform; place the pattern under the glass, holding both together in the left hand, (for the glass must not rest on any plane surface;) then take a common spike or similar piece of iron, heat the point of it to redness, and apply it to the edge of the glass; draw the iron slowly forward, and the edge of the glass will immediately crack; con-

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tinue moving the iron slowly over the glass, tracing the pattern, and the chink in the glass will follow at the distance of about half an inch, in every direction according to the motion of the iron. It may sometimes be found requisite, however, especially in forming corners, to apply a wet fino-er to the opposite side of the glass. Tumblers and other glasses may be cut or divided very fancifully by similar means. The iron must be re-heated as often as the crevice in the glass ceases to follow.— New York Mechanic.

NAGORE BULL.

We present our readers with a portrait of a Nagore bull, an Indian breed of cattle lately introduced into England. From the description of them which we extract from the work published by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, we are inclined to think that from them might be obtained a cross which would unite the quickness of the horse with the endurance of the ox. Indeed they seem to unite in themselves the combination of these properties in a wonderful degree.

u They were bred by Lieutenant-Colonel Skinner, at his farm at Danah, near Pokah, on the borders of the Bichaneer desert, 100 miles to the westward of Delhi. They are not buffaloes, but of the highest breed of Indian cattle. They are used in India by the higher orders, to draw their state carriages, and are much valued for their size, speed, and endurance, and sell at very high prices.

" Colonel Skinner has a large stock of them; and six or seven beasts arc always kept saddled to carry the military despatches. They remain saddled three or four hours, and if not wanted in that time, fresh ones are brought out to relieve their companions. They will travel, with a soldier on their back, fifteen or sixteen hours in the day, at the rate of six miles an hour. Their action is particularly fine—nothing like the English cattle, with the sideway, circular action of their hind legs—the Nagore cattle bring their hind legs under them in as straight a line as the horse. They are very active, and can clear a five-barred gate with the greatest ease. Mr. Perkins bos a calf which has leaped over an iron fence higher than any five-barred gate; and the bull frequently jumps over the same fence in order to get at the water, and when he has drunk his fill, leaps back again.

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"The bull (Jupiter) was in high condition when exhibited. He was employed in a light cart, and various jobs about the farm : sometimes he goes fore-horse in the wagon-team, to deliver corn ; he also drags the bush-harrow,and draws the light roller over the ploughed land. He is very docile and tractable, when one man drives him, and attends upon him, but he has, now and then, shown symptoms of dislike to others.

,c He is fed entirely on hay. Except that when he works, a little bran is given to him, and in the turnip season he is treated occasionally with a few slices of Swedes, of which he is very fond. He was at first very troublesome to shoe; and it was necessary to erect a break in order to confine him. He was unwilling to go into it for some time, but now walks in very contentedly.

Mr. Perkins very properly observes, that the chief advantage of these Brahmin bulls would probably consist in their speed and strength, in both of which they surpass any of our breeds."

HENRICO AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The first exhibition of this institution was held, as advertised, on the 26th ult. In interest and effect it exceeded the anticipations of its most sanguine friends; the exhibition generally was of the most respectable character, whilst that of the hogs, particularly, elicited the warmest approbation. Notwithstanding the extensive preparation, the crowd was very great even at an early hour of the morning. The grove, in which the assembly was held, is most appropriate for the purpose, but was hardly sufficient to accommodate the numbers that thronged to hear the address. The yard with its beautiful spring and lofty trees lent an additional charm to the scene. Here was to be seen the beauty and fashion of the city mingling with the sweetness and simplicity of the country. The glowing sun and refreshing shade, the city belle and sturdy yeoman, the anxious countenance of the competitor and the careless face of the spectator, formed a tout ensemble of the most pleasing description.

The ceremonies of the day were opened by a prayer of the mos'. impressive and appropriate character from the Rev. Dr. Empie, of St. James's church, which was followed by the address of the President.

Of this address it is sufficient to say, that the portion devoted particularly to the proper management of a farm, was, like its author, sensible and practical in the highest degree. So valuable do we consider it, that, although our limited size and plan of condensation forbid the publication of any speech, we yet design to obtain a synopsis of these remarks for a future number. Although we did not coincide entirely in all the incidental remarks, some of them met our entire approba-

I tion, and satisfied us, that the Parson was as I skilful in the use of the lighter weapons of ridicule and satire as he had evinced himself to be j in the heavier ones of reason and argument. In passing, we cannot forbear to notice a most severe and caustic hit at the last Legislature, who, representing an agricultural community, a people seven-eighths of whom are farmers, were only by great exertions, importuned into doing so much for the agricultural interest, as to grant leave to certain individuals to meet, if they chose, at their own expense, and take into consideration the wants and wishes of this great interest. And this mighty boon they dignified with the name of a Board of Agriculture.

It is indeed an anomaly, that an interest, so powerful and so extensive, having the entire control of the legislation of the country, should find so great a difficulty in obtaining the passage of an act as impotent and powerless as the one establishing this same Board of Agriculture.

It is a crying evil that this subject of most general and vital interest should be so totally neglected by those whom it concerns most nearly. The remedy, Mr. Turner thinks, is to be found in the election of men, who are valued, more for their devotion to the true interests of the country, than for the ability to make garrulous and empty oratorical displays.

WHEAT.

Since the receipt of the letter from Mr. Gray on our 89th page we have been politely favored with the following from the same source. We shall procure from Mr. Gray a specimen of his crop for examination and probably a small quantity for sale.

Mr. Bolts, —I herewith forward the letter of Mr. Taliaferro, giving a further account of the fly proof wheat.

Up to this date there is no appearance of fly in my crop, whilst an adjoining field is materially injured by that insect.

Respectfully, J. B. Gray.

June 3, 1841.

Hagley, May 22, 1841.

Dear Sir, —Your note, desiring a history of the wheat you had*of us last fall, is received, and I regret that my information, in regard to its origin, does not enable me to give such an account of it as may be satisfactory to you, or to your agricultural friend in Richmond. In a conversation with my friend, Dr. A. Naudaine, United States Senator from Delaware, about five years since, on agricultural topics, I mentioned the ruinous ravages committed by the Hessian fly on our crops of wheat in Virginia, whereupon he informed me, that the farmers in Delaware had for some years cultivated a species of wheat entirely exempt from the ravages of that insect; and he kindly offered to send me a specimen of

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it for trial. Accordingly five years since he sent me a fraction over two bushels of this wheat, and we now have the fifth crop of it, and a remarkable fine one it is, without the least injury from Hessian fly, or rust, two formidable adversaries to wheat. During all this time our other descriptions of wheat, in juxta position in the same field, and often on very superior land, as well as that of our neighbors, have been seriously injured both by fly and rust. Such is my experience in regard to this wheat, and such is the result in all cases where it has been tested by many to whom we have furnished it the last two years foi experiment. A few facts in relation to this wheat will satisfy any farmer why it escapes the Hessian fly necessarily, and why it is more exempt from rust and rot, than any other winter wheat. It will be found, by all who try it, to possess more energy of root than any other known wheat. So that if seeded, as it ought to be, between the 15th and 25th of September, though the fly will attack and cut off the fall shoots, its energy of root is such as to leave that uninjured. And in the spring, ow ng to this energy of root, the growth is more vigorous and rapid than any other winter wheat, so that by the 15th of April, a few days before th.3 spring fly begins to hatch, the ground-joint O; this wheat becomes hard and sapless, and consequently free from the spring ravages of the fly. This wheat ripens about one week earlier than any other winter species, and is, therefore, more exempt from rust and rot. All I could learn of Dr. Naudaine as to the origin of this wheat was, that it came from Germany, but by whom it was introduced into Delaware he could not inform me. All who cultivate this wheat should not omit to sow it between the 15th and 25th of September—in all that month will do. It should be seeded thick, because if thin, the uncommon weight of the head will bear much of it down. And it should not be harvested till fully ripe, for if cut in the milk state, the grain assumes a dark and unsightly aspect. Unless we could get rid of the Hessian fly, I have never known so desirable a species of wheat as this.

I am, dear sir, faithfully yours, J. B. Gray, Esq. John Taliaferro.

HOGS.

It is with great pleasure that we lay the following before our readers, which w r e are sure, from the reputation of the author, particularly in this special department, will form the introduction to a series of most able and interesting essays upon this popular subject:

To the Editor of the Southern Planter.

Dear Sir, —My conscience has been troubling me for a considerable time past, and I have determined to relieve it. The cause of my trouble is. that I have been feasting on the rich stores whir.h you and your correspondents have spread

before me, and I have contributed nothing in return. Feast after feast has been served up for me, whilst I have done nothing to swell the repast. I confess in the onset, that I have very little talent in catering in this way. I have notwithstanding, resolved to try; and if no other good results from the effort, I shall at least relieve my troubled conscience.

1 have, therefore, resolved to prepare, as may be convenient to myself, a few short practical essays, which I hereby offer for publication, in the Southern Planter. To these essays, laying-aside all false modesty, I intend to append my own proper name. I prefer that they should appear in this form; for if they have any merit, L wish to have the credit of it, and if they tend to my reproach, let the blame attach to the proper person.

The subject on which I propose to treat is the hog—an humble subject, I am aware, in the estimation of many. But with your aid, I think I can make it appear an important one. I wish you, therefore, Mr. Editor, whilst I am engaged in other matters, to sit down in your office and to calculate what it costs to supply the eastern section of Virginia with bacon for one year. If, in your estimate, you include the large droves of hogs which come to our several markets, all of which were sold last year at from $7 to $7 50 the.hundred pounds; and if to this you add the almost incredible quantities of bacon which are disposed of among us at various prices, I am persuaded you will find the hog business a no small affair. Now it is to arrest this immense expenditure, and in lieu of sending these vast sums to the West, to keep the whole among us, that I propose writing the following essays. To illustrate my purpose, I will suppose a case of continual occurrence. The farmer, after supplying his family with bread and clothing, has a surplus of corn, of wheat, of tobacco, or of some other article. This he sends to market and disposes of it to the best advantage in his power. But it is certain, that the poor man is no better off than if he had no surplus at all; for it takes all the money he can raise in this way to procure meat for his family. But suppose that, in addition to the other necessaries, he raises his meat and still has a surplus; why here is at once an amount with which he may pay his debts (and this ought always to be his first course) or may add it to his capital, or improve his farm, or expend in any other manner he thinks proper. Now it is evident that in the latter case, the man is improving his condition, whereas in the former he is going backward, or at most remaining stationary.

The great question at issue is simply this: Can meat be profitably raised? The proper solution of this question depends upon certain circumstances which I shall now detail. It cannot be raised to a profit when corn, the chief article

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of their support is very high, nor with a stock cf hogs deteriorated and broken down by the unnatural system of breeding in and in. But under other circumstances—with corn not very dear, and with a stock healthy and vigorous, I believe and I undertake to prove that it is to the interest of every farmer to raise meat, at least, to the amount of his own consumption. I undertake to go further and to show that with many, it would be a profitable business not only to supply their own wants, but to furnish a surplus for the market. In treating of this subject, I must direct the attention of my readers to the three following things:

1st. To the most profitable stock of hogs;

2d. Their comfortable accommodation ; and

3d. Their treatment in general.

These three propositions will probably furnish matter for three or more separate essays, which (should my life be spared) I authorize you to expect. Having now relieved my conscience, in some measure, I will defer till your next number what I have further to say on this subject. J. H. Turner.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

The result of the late exhibition of the Agricultural Society of Henrico has filled us with the most pleasing anticipations of what is to be effected by this means in Virginia.

We congratulate the members of that Society and the agricultural community generally upon the most decided success of this exhibition. The fate of this laudable enterprize is no longer doubtful. The zeal, the ardour, the interest, manifested on that occasion by its members and visiters generally are the surest presages of the dignity at which it is destined to arrive. Already has it excited a spirit of improvement and a pride of husbandry that entitle its originators and supporters to the appellation of public benefactors. If the people of Virginia could only know the interest that has been awakened in this neighborhood by a single exhibition, every county in the State would have its agricultural society. Every neighborhood would organize, and every individual would lend himself to the cause. Information would be gathered and scattered— agriculture, which is the favorite and natural pursuit of our people, would be elevated to its highest standard, and our proud old State would resume the station for which nature and nature's God designed her.

The commerce and trade, the wealth and importance of the State must depend upon her agriculture. Is not this sufficient to urge every Virginian to lend his whole soul to the improvement of this noble art? This improvement can only be effected by the dissemination of information, and we hold the opinion, expressed to us by an eminent friend lately, that agricultural

societies and agricultural papers are the only means by which the information of each can be extended to all. In the name of Virgini a then, a name never yet disregarded by her sons, we call upon you to arouse and strike one blow for the prosperity of your native State—unite your strength—form associations in every hamlet for the dissemination of agricultural knowledge. Knowledge is power—and he, who increases the knowledge, elevates the standing and strengthens the position of his people. The true patriot will ever seek this mode of serving his country, and we ask again, if it is possible for him to do so more effectually than by a resort to agricultural exhibitions, which excite pride, and draw forth information from its most secret recesses.

Upon this subject we are glad to find that our countrymen are beginning to be aroused from the lethargy in which they have reposed. Already have we received information from several societies formed in different counties, and we hear propositions for many more. Let them diligently collect the agricultural facts which are continually evolved in every neighborhood, and report them to us, under the sanction of the society. We offer ourselves as their willing, ready, and zealous organ. Our subscription list, owing probably more to the low price of the publication than its intrinsic merit, is swelling most rapidly, and we shall soon afford a vehicle for the most extensive dissemination. Facts gathered in this manner and reported by a society are doubly valuable, inasmuch as they are given under the imposing authority of the collected wisdom of a county, free from the bias and prejudice that frequently distort the observations of individuals. Hearty, zealous and united cooperation is only wanting to render the art of husbandry in Virginia proportional to the blessings of nature.

We beg that every society in the State of Virginia, that is either already in existence or may hereafter arise, will communicate the fact to us by ordering a copy of our paper, which we hereby respectfully tender them.

BERKSHIRE PIGS.

We lately paid a visit to our friend, General Richardson, at his farm in this vicinity. Amongst other things calculated to delight the eye of a farmer, we were particularly struck with a Befk-shire sow, eleven months old, that the General obtained from Mr. Lossing, of New York. In point of fineness of bone and height of finish, we have never seen her superior. She is now stinted to a very fine boar of the pure breed from a different family, and is expected to pig about the first of September. The demands made on us for Berkshire pi^s from our country friends are innumerable. This is the earliest opportunity, and certainly not the worst we know, of

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obtaining a supply in this neighborhood. We would advise those in want to drop the General a line in time. He will supply them at the usual price of $20 a pair. If they employ our services in the selection, &c. we shall charge 10 per cent, on that amount. Boxing, feed, &c. will as usual be something extra.

The public spirited proprietor of this stock selected one of his finest pigs and placed it at our disposal, with a request that we would bestow it upon some industrious deserving young farmer who desired to improve his stock. We presented the pig to Mr. E. T. Melton, of Hanover, and expect, from his management, to see him carry off the palm at the fair next spring.

THE NORTHERN LIGHT.

This is the title of a publication lately commenced in the city of Albany, under the auspices of an association of gentlemen of high reputation and acknowledged ability. In the number that we have received, the matter is excellent, and the style of execution creditable. The design is worthy of the source from which it emanates. The object is to afford a monthly epitome of general information on the lowest terms, viz. one dollar per annum. It is devoted to political economy, agriculture, literary and scientific miscellany, and general intelligence.

We heartily commend the Northern Light to Southern patronage.

ASPARAGUS.

The following, from Hovey's Magazine of Horticulture, proposes a new, and we think reasonable, method of treating this favorite and profitable vegetable. We had been under the impression, however, probably an erroneous one, that the bud lost its delicacy of flavor by being too long exposed to the atmosphere. This point can be settled at once, and if the author of the new mode is right we shall be happy to have his statement corroborated.

" In all the books of gardening which I have seen, the direction for gathering asparagus has always been to cut it several inches below the surface of the ground, as soon as the stalk has advanced a few inches above it. The asparagus generally brought to market is cut in this way, the upper half being green and tender when cooked, the lower half white, tough, and uneatable. The experience of many years has taught me that it is far better to let the asparagus grow to the height of ten inches, or a foot, and then to gather it by breaking with the fingers, as low down as it is tender and breaks easily, which, when the weather has been warm, is generally from six to ten inches. Asparagus, thus gathered, will be found to be much finer, the whole being tender and eatable, the produce much greater, and the process attended with no disadvantage whatever. Asparagus even two feet high, will be found fit to gather in this manner.

if at any time it has outgrown the consumption, or escaped attention, which indeed was the occasion on which this new method of gathering occurred to me. I have since always practised it. Let those who are fond of asparagus give it but one trial, and they will never again resort to the old system."

POUDRETTE AND URATE.

In a very interesting communication to the Southern Agriculturalists, from the pen of "A Southerner," the celebrated establishment of Montfaucon is described as follows:

"A little beyond one of the barriers of the city of Paris, has existed for many years, one of the most singular establishments ever instituted by human industry. This place, called Montfaucon, is designed as a receptacle for all dead and disabled horses, cattle, dogs, cats, and other animals, from the various quarters of Paris; and here, revelling in filth, and debased to the lowest state of human degradation, man may be seen engaged in all the intermediate grades of the most disgusting employments, between the traffic in the stinking carcasses of putrid animal's flesh and offal, and the rearing of maggots, either to serve as bate for fishermen, or to fatten poultry for the tables of the luxurious citizens of the refined metropolis of France. To the same place is also conveyed all the night-soil and urine from the privies of the city, which are submitted to a series of processes, by which they are converted into a dry, almost inodorous powder, called poudrette, which being in great demand amongst agriculturalists, is transported to all parts of the kingdom, and even to the West India Colonies, thus proving an immense source of revenue to those who furnish it, and of profit to those who purchase it for the purpose of enriching their lands."

Many improvements have been made of late years which have resulted in the discovery that by the use of poudered lime, plaster of paris, and vegetable charcoal, these offensive substances are immediately rendered inodorous and very quickly prepared for use: and it is likely, that no discovery of modern times is calculated to produce a greater effect upon agriculture than this ready conversion of disgusting offal into an inoffensive, concentrated fertilizer.

The means of conversion are so cheap and simple, that we consider it calculated to furnish very lucrative employment to individuals in the neighborhood of much smaller cities than Richmond. But whatever the result may be, we hardly think the process inviting enough to engage the fanner to manufacture for himself; we will not, therefore, trouble him with the particulars of the modus operandi. But. we will urge him most strenuously to purchase this article which is very highly lauded, and give it a fair trial. The great desideratum is to find the cheapest fertilizer—let us then fairly examine the claims of poudrette to this title. Urate, procured by a similar process from urine, is said to be even more concentrated and powerful than poudrette. Our readers are probably aware that one or

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two companies are already engaged in the manufacture of these articles in the United States, and we had hoped to have obtained a barrel from one of them for trial be-iore this. As soon as it is procured, further particulars ot its operat ion will be given to the public.

MISCELLANY.

EAR-ACHE.

A member of the Virginia Senate informed us, Jast winter, that an infallible remedy for this painful complaint was to be found in the application of rattlesnake oil. Out of a great number of cases, he declared that he had never known an application of cotton dipped in the oil fail to give immediate and permanent relief. t Upon mentioning the circumstance to a physician of this city, he informed us that he had been long satisfied of the virtue of the oil in cases of rheumatism, and knowing the source from whence the above was derived, he entertained no doubt of its efficacy in the somewhat similar case of ear-ache.

We understand that the oil is prepared and saved every year in the mountains of Virginia, and if it possesses half the qualities attributed to it there, our readers in the snake country may convert it into an article of profitable traffic by supplying the wants of the less favored inhabitants of the low country.

gardens? Look abroad, and wherever you see shackling fences, burry fields, ducks and ^eese in the springs, hogs rooting up to the door? and cattle depredating upon corn hid in the weeds you will find men in the grog-shops, and the children without school-houses, and their mo thers in misery. On the contrary, wherever you see highly cultivated fields, a yard of green sod orchards of choice fruit, and gardens of select flowers, you will find intelligence, virtue, and happiness." '

"LOOK AT HOME." The advice given by a girl to Thales the Milesian philosopher was strong and practical Seeing him gazing at the heavens as he walked along, and perhaps piqued by his not castino- an eye on her attractions, she put a stool in°his path, over which he tumbled and broke his shins. 1 he excuse she made was, that she meant to teach him, before he indulged himself in star gazing, to " look at home."

How many of our morus multicaulis and other visionaries have lately broken their shins over a "stool," and been thereby taught to "look at home."

The following from a Boston paper, is a good hit at the mania, which pervades the country, for (Joins everv thing by means of societies and committees :

" It is proposed that every man should constitute himself into a self-examining committee to inquire into his own conduct. It is believed that the business each committee would have to transact would keep it constantly and usefully em-

Mr Biddle m his agricultural address in October last wittily and truly remarked, that "the farmer's richest mine is the barn yard, and that whatever temptations stocks or shares may offer the best investment for a farmer is live stock and 'plough shares."

happTsentnn^r' 8 """" We «** th * ™™ing

"The end and aim of all the efforts of man is happiness; and happiness is certainly more connected with the good cultivation of the earth than any other occupation. Man, as he came from the hands of his Maker, was placed in a garden adorned with every fruit and flower because these, above all created things, were'the elements of that pleasure most agreeable to a pure mmi And now, where are the retreats of happiness in this world, comparable to well arranged houses, clean yards, and well cultivated

CRESSIN'S MAGIC. Pliny tells us of one Cressin, who so tilled a piece of ground that his extraordinary products were attributed to magic by his ignorant and lazy neighbors. How is it, said they, "unless it be that he enchants us, that he can contrive to draw such a revenue from his inheritance while we with equal lands, are wretched and miserable ?" W hen arraigned before the justice seat, Gressian was his own advocate. "Behold " said he, - these implements of husbandry, these carts, and these oxen Go with me, moreover, to my fields, and behold how they are tilled how manured how weeded, how watered, and'how fenced in ! and when, added he, you have beheld all these things, you will have beheld all the arUhe charms, the magic, which Cressin has

The days of sorcery are not yet over; we think we know some "magicians," some Cres-sms, even in Virginia, at the present day.

PRACTICE is. PHILOSOPHY.

The following little circumstance, related of Sir Isaac Newton, well illustrates the mutual dependence of practice and study. The votaries of either should never despise the other Whenever they are united, useful knowledge is the result. &

The learned philosopher being very busy in his study, a little girl came to ask him for some nre But," says the sage, "you have nothing to take it in," and as ha was goiW to fetch something for that purpose, the little girl stooped