V0 (*£/(' S7 without 12 •• \ alteration, C 1st insertion. J Each continu J 6 months, > ( 12 " < nnce, without alteration, One-half of a column, 12 1st insertion, Each continuance, 6 months, } without 12 " 3 alterations, 1st insertion, Each continuance, 6 months, ) without 12 •' ) alteration, 1st insertion, Each continuance, 6 months, ) without 12 " \ h Iteration, Advertisements out of the city must be accompa- nied with the money or city references to insure in.-er- tion. One column, or Half a page One page, $5 00 1 00 75 4 00 7 50 1 75 1 25 7 50 14 00 3 25 2 50 14 00 25 00 6 00 4 50 25 00 40 00 10 00 1 50 40 00 70 00 A full sMpply (in hand, and for sale bv H. M. SMITH, oc 58— tf. 11 Main Street. MILCH COWS AND DAIRY FARMING* The new work on this subject by C. L. Flint, Sec- retary of the Mass. State Board of Agriculture, con- tains the most recent information on all matters con- nected with the dairy, including a full explanation of Guenon's method of selecting cows, the modes of ma- king the most celebrated English, Dutch and Italian Cheese, the diseases of dairy stock, &e., &:<•., fully il- lustrated throughout. l2mo. 416 pp. Published bv J. H. LIPPINCOTT & CO., Philadelphia: A. O. MOORE, New York: and for sale by Booksellers ami Periodical agents in all parts of the country. November 185>i — 2t IMPROVED CATTLE AND HOGS." I have several nearly iboroiiiili bred Durham BULL Calves for sale — "ml Having a large herd of Cows and Heifers — eleven of which are thorough bred, T shall have in future for sale 'the descendants of the best bred cattle, and will take pleasure in showing them to admirers of good stock. Also for sale the choice PIGS of eight Sows, sired by the best boar I ever saw of bis age. I will sell a fine Chester Boar, having no farther use for him. A portion of this stock will be exhibited at the Pe- tersburg and Richmond Fairs. S. W. FICKLLN. Charlottesville, Va.. Nov 1858. — It THE Devoted to Agriculture, Horticulture, and the Household Arts. Agriculture is the nursing mother of the Arts.] Tillage and Pasturage are the two breasts of — Xenoplion. the State. — Sully. J. E. WILLIAMS, Editor. AUGUST & WILLIAMS, Prop'rs. Vol. XVIII. RICHMOND, YA, NOVEMBER, 1858. NO. 11. [From the Transactions of the Virginia State .Ag- ricultural Societij.~] The Economy of Farm-made Putrescent Manures— In reference to their Prepar- ation, Preservation, and best Applica- tion. BY EDMUND RUFFIN, ESQ. [Continued from page 588.] The application and action of putrescent manures — and especially of barn-yard or winter-made manure. For nearly twenty years, the manure from my stable and cow-yard has been mostly, and, so far as circumstances per- mitted, applied on the surface of the land, and to clover. To most persons, this mode of application may seem the most waste- ful and destructive of fertilizing princi- ples. But, according to my limited expe- rience and information, as well as to rea- son and sound theory, this mode is the cheapest, the most convenient, and also the most profitable use that can be made of the ordinary manures for field crops, wherever clover is suited to the soil and climate ; and it is the more cheap and profitable, compared to the usual modes of application, in proportion as the ma- 41 nure applied is in a coarse and unrotted condition. Before proceeding to the details of this process, and endeavouring to show its pe- culiar advantages, it will be necessary to make some general observations on the action of putrescent or alimentary ma- nures, and the causes and manner of their waste ; from which premises, if they be correct, may be deduced what would be the most or the least wasteful modes of application, even without the support of my experience and testimony. Putrescent manures are composed of vegetable or animal matters, or mixtures of both. All such manures are subject to decomposition, or rotting ; and, therefore, to the gradual change and final destruc- tion of their substance, and waste of all the parts not put to use during' the pro- gress of decay. The parts thus subject to waste are capable of feeding and supporting plants; and hence, in their main value and proper use, putrescent manures are (or ought to be) almost entirely alimentary in their action. All vegetable manures contain some mineral and indestructible parts — earthy, saline or metalic. But these parts are so minute in quantity, that they scarcely need to be mentioned as ex- I ceptions to the general character of pu- 5 I G42 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER trescent manures as stated — that is, their being wholly fit for the food of plants, | and as wholly subject to waste if not sol used. Fermentation is the process, or means, by which putrescent matters become ac- 1 tive manures or fit for the nourishment of j plants, and if they be not so used, when j ready, fermentation proceeds to the utter i destruction and waste of the manures. Fermentation may be either violent, as j often is seen in heated stable manure, and rapidly producing the greatest possible J waste — or as slow and gradual as in the j natural decay and rotting of the leaves or grass fallen on the soils where they grew. | But fermentation cannot begin, or, it al- 1 ready begun, cannot proceed, without the j concurrence of three conditions. These j are — 1st, moisture; 2d, temperature above j forty-eight degrees Fahrenheit ; # and 3d, I the access of atmospheric air. All these, conditions are necessary, and if either one be wanting, there can be no fermentation or progress towards decomposition, and, of course, no waste or loss of fertilizing principles. These positions are among the established and received doctrines of chemical science, and therefore need no proofs here. From them it is an obvious deduction, that if manure, or any putres- cent matter, be supplied with sufficient moisture and air, but the temperature be kept below forty-eight degrees, (or what- ever is the minimum,) then there can be no fermentation, and consequently no waste of manure. Or if air could be en- tirely excluded, the most favourable con- ditions as to moisture and heat could not induce fermentation or decay. The total exclusion of air, however, (though it may be obtained for chemical experiment,) is impossible in agricultural practice. But every farmer must have observed how much the commencement or progress of fermentation in a body of manure, is re- tarded by the mass being closely compress- ed, and its state thus approaching to that of exclusion of air ; and how rapidly fer- mentation is excited, or renewed, (the other necessaiy conditions being favoura- ble,) by the mere loosening or re-heaping * This is the minimum stated by the late work Bouissingault, Some earlier writers have placed it as low as the freezing point. of the before compact mass, so as to per- mit the entrance and supply of air. Again : If air and heat be furnished under the most favourable conditions, and yet moisture be entirely wanting, there can be no fermentation, and no waste of manure. And this latter state is nearly approached when manure has been spread thinly on the unshaded surface of plowed or otherwise naked and clean land, and remains thus exposed in warm and dry weather. And, therefore, in this state of entire exposure to sun and air, which is deemed by most persons to be the most wasteful for manure, there is, in truth, as little waste of solid parts as can possibly occur, so long as hot and dry weather con- tinues. There may be some small loss of volatile parts only, under these circum- stances. There has been presented on many farms practical proof of the truth of this deduction, in summer cow-pens, left with the rich and highly putrescent manure ex- posed on the otherwise naked surface of the ground. This was formerly the gen- eral practice of Eastern Virginia ; induced not by correct reasoning, but by the gen- eral carelessness and indolence of the cultivators. Our first distinguished agri- cultural author, John Taylor, maintained the propriety and high importance of plow- ing these temporary pens as quickly as the cattle are moved to a new one. He supposed " evaporation" to be the great agent of the waste and destruction of ma- nure ; and its being left exposed on the surface as the sure means of producing I these results. But this was one of the I points on which this enlightened agricul- turist was entirely mistaken. Most of his many zealous disciples proceeded to obey his instructions, which seemed so reason- able. But the most judicious of those who adopted this new practice, as well as many other merely practical and ignorant farmers, observed that, on the cow-pens thus plowed in summer, the manure was much less effective and lasting than on similar pens not plowed until winter. This result seemed so strange, and so contrary to all sound reasoning, as well as to the highest authority, that many farmers could not believe the alleged facts; and even to this time, some continue to be incredu- lous, no matter how strong the testimony of such facts. But if tested by the chem- THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 64; ical laws above presented, it will be . seen that they remove the opposing difficulties, and sustain the position even more strong- ly than has been done by experience and observation of actual results in farming practice. The summer cow-pens were not littered, and the trampling of the cat- tle in a tew nights destroyed all vegeta- tion, and made a hard, close, and bare surface. On this bare surface, the remain- ing manure consisting entirely of the ex- crements of the cattle, was left after a week or two, when the animals were mov- ed to enrich another space. If this rich and very putrescent manure remains thus exposed, the hot sun soon dries it so per- fectly, that fermentation either does not begin, or is soon checked ; and this state must continue as long as the weather con- tinues dry. When rain occurs, it pene- trates the dried manure so slightly, that it again becomes dry very quickly, and before fermentation can make much pro- gress, even if it begins. And, therefore, for want of enough and continued mois- ture, there must be but little waste of the manure. But suppose this manure to be turned in by the plow, and covered by some four or six inches of soil : then moisture, the condition before wanted, is furnished to the manure from the earth, while the air still continues to have sufficient easy ac- cess, and the temperature, though lower- ed, is still as high as need be. All the three conditions necessary for fermenta- tion are there operating in the most fa- vourable manner, and its progress must be rapid accordingly. And, as there is no crop then growing on the land, nor any vegetation, to take up the products of fer- mentation, they must pass from one stage of decomposition to the next, subject to waste at every successive change, until the final result is reached, of the forma- tion of gases, and their expansion and escape into the * atmosphere, and being mostly carried far off by winds. The strongest case of known practice has been here presented, to show how manures may be the most completely and quickly wasted by the very means used for their better preservation. But the principle is the same in all cases. And the foregoing statement may have more or less of application to many other and different kinds of manuring of land. If the positions assumed above are consider- ed as established, then enough has been said already to show the fallacy of the generally prevailing opinion, that the cov- ering of manure with the soil is the most effectual mode of securing it from waste. What will next follow, will serve as premises for the main proposition designed to be maintained, viz: that by top-dressing, on clover especially, there is less loss of manure, less labour re- quired, and more sure and profitable re- turns, than in any mode of applying ordinary stable and cow-yard manures. Let us proceed to consider the manner in which putrescent manure acts on soil and plants, and is acted upon by decom- posing agents. All putrescent manures, or vegetable or mixed materials of which manures may be made, and in every different state as to soundness or decay, consist of matter I partly soluble in water, partly insoluble. The proportion of soluble parts in any one mass or kind of material, is the least be- fore fermentation or decay has commenc- ed, and also the less in proportion as the substances are solid, hard and unbroken. In this state of vegetable matter, the part which water can dissolve is very small. This soluble or extractive matter is the part, and that only, which serves as food for plants. Of course, manure, in this fresh and unbroken state, can then furnish but a very minute proportion of what is useful and nourishing to any crop ;» and nearly the whole mass is, for the time, in- ert and useless as manure, if not absolute- ly an incumbrance to the soil and crop, or an obstacle to the tillage. However, with every step of advancing fermentation or decay, more and more of the insoluble and inert parts become soluble and fit for use ; and if permitted to teed plants as fast as the parts become soluble, then nothing of the manure will be wasted, and all will be put to immediate and pro- fitable use. But fermentation or decom- position, which acts so beneficially, first in reducing the hard and before useless parts of manure to the soluble and useful state, proceeds next to act upon them in- juriously, If the soluble parts of manure are not taken up by plants, their decom- position still advances — and every suc- cessive step serves to destroy or lessen ome of the remaining fertilizing princi- 644 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. pies. The last result is the conversion ol' the remaining solid parts, soluble in water, to different gases, or aeriform fluids, high- ly expansive, and which must, as formed, burst forth from the confined space in the soil, to rise in the air. When such changes, of insoluble to soluble matter, and finally to aeriform, occur in a heap or body of manure, not in immediate con- tact with soil, and of course not to be drawn upon by the roots of growing plants, then the successive products are more or less exposed to w 7 aste ; and when they reach the last or gaseous state, their escape and total loss is inevitable. It the changes and successive steps of decom- position took place in vegetable or mixed putrescent matters dispersed upon or in- termixed with soil and within reach of the roots of enough growing plants, then noth- ing would be lost; because, as fast as the parts became soluble, they would be ab- sorbed and put to use. And even if, un- der these circumstances, some gaseous products should be slowly evolved, it is most probable that they should be dissolv- ed in the moisture of the soil, and thus pass into and help to support the plants. The general changes and results of de- composing manure are the same, and as above described, without respect to the rate or manner of fermentation. If the manure be in mass, as left thickly cover- ing a winter's cattle-yard, or is subse- quently heaped, the fermentation will pro- ceed with more or less energy, according to the degree of exposure to, and combin- ed action of the three agents of fermenta- tion, heat, air, and moisture. And the action will be the more quick in propor- tion to the richness of the mass in animal matter : or such as is the most putrescent, and which, therefore, serves as a leaven to excite fermentation in the whole mass. In such condition, and by too violent fer- mentation, the present or early acting value of the whole bod}', for any one time, may be greatly increased, by the great bulk of insoluble and inert materials being to considerable extent, made soluble. And all the previous gaseous products were driven ofF and lost by the same operation ; and if thus remaining, the then soluble parts also in their turn, will become gase- ous and lost in like manner. If, on the contrary, the manure, when fresh, and before fermentation had made much progress, had been diffused through the soil, the same changes would have oc- curred, though more gently and slowly ; and even the same losses — unless growing plants were present, and sufficiently nu- merous to take up the manure as fast as it became fit for their use. My remarks have led me to anticipate incidentally, an opinion which ought to be more fully presented. This is, that the extractive and soluble parts of putrescent manures form the food of plants. This doctrine is that maintained by the great agricultural chemist, Davy ; and clear and indisputable as he has made it appear, the doctrine was not only opposed to previous and received opinions, which are now left without an advocate, but is now opposed by the more recent and fashionable au- thority of Liebig. But it is not my pur- pose here to examine or discuss opposing opinions ; and they are thus slightly re- ferred to, merely to avoid producing the same in.pression, that Davy's opinion had been adopted and still adhered to, for want of comparing them with those, and espe- cially the latter opinions, of others. Davy says : "Vegetable and animal substances de- posited in the soil, as is shown by univer- sal experience., are consumed during the process of vegetation ; and they can only nourish the plant by affording solid mat- ters capable of being dissolved by water, or gaseous substances capable of being ab- sorbed by the fluids in the leaves of the vegetables. But such parts of them as are rendered gaseous, and that pass into the atmosphere, must produce a compara- tively small effect; for gases soon become diffused through the mass of the surround- ing air. The great object in the applica- cation of manure should be, to make it af- ford as much soluble matter as possible to the roots of the plant, and that in a slow and gradual manner, so that it may be en- tirely consumed in forming sap and or- ganized parts." — (JIgr'l Chem., Lecture VI.) The concluding sentence of this pas- sage may be considered as the text of my discourse — the rule which I desire to be strictly followed in practice, and the test to which I submit the details of the par- ticular mode of applying manure, here recommended. THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. G45 The only portion, then, of putrescent r manures which, for the time, can nourish | plants through their roots, is so much as is soluble in water, and then actually dis- solve a t for no matter how much soluble matter may be in manure when applied, it cannot act as food for plants until rain, or some other source of moisture, pro- duces solution. The much larger part of the soluble matter ,'jf manures is such as is either solid or liquid. But even if the change be slow enough, such aeriform products may be absorbed by the moisture of the earth, and thus, in solution, be conveyed through the roots to nourish the plants, j Water readily absorbs carbonic acid gas, ' by mere contact ; and ammonia is so easi- ly absorbed, that there may be condensed: in water more than seven hundred times its bulk of this highly fertilizing gas. And even after gases, produced by fer- mentation, may have risen, by expansion, above the surface of the manured soil, partially saved by being absorbed and con- densed in dew, and thus conveyed back to the roots. But the most important mode by which plants receive carbon as food is in car-' bonic acid, from the atmosphere and by | absorption through their leaves. This gas! is diffused, throughout the atmosphere; near the earth, universally and at all times, though in very small proportion, so that it is always present and abundant for the wants of growing plants. Thus it ap- pears that there is no limit to the supply of this essentially necessary food, which, whether obtained through the roots from the earth, or through the leaves from the atmosphere, serves to supply the large quantity of carbon which helps to consti- tute every plant. But though there is no limit to the supply of this food, (carbonic acid gas,) from the atmosphere, and it is thus offered to all plants and in all situa- tions, still there is a strict limit imposed upon the appetite of plants, or upon their ability to consume and 'be nourished by this food, and that limit is determined by the constitution of the soil, and the char- acter of the other manures feeding the plant through the roots. From all the foregoing preliminary pro- positions or premises, presented in this section, I shall now proceed to deduce the truths which it was the main design of this paper to establish ; that is, to deter- mine by which mode of application the fertilizing principles of manure may be best economized, by the largest possible portion being put to use as food for plants, and the least possible suffered to go to waste. It has been stated above, that all putres- cent manures, (in whatever stage of the progress of fermentation and decay, and also in the freshest and soundest state of the materials, before fermentation has be- gun,) consist partly of soluble matter al- ready fit to serve as food for plants, and p --tly of hard, insoluble matter, inert and at that time useless as manure. The pro- portions and quantities of these different parts continually vary in the same body, with the progress of decomposition, by the insoluble parts changing to soluble, and the soluble to the gaseous form, and then passing off, and being lost. Jf ma- nure, whether in its newest and soundest, or in its oldest and most reduced state, or in any intermediate stage of decomposi- tion, be applied to land, and plowed un- der, as is usual, the soluble parts will be dissolved by the first abundant rain. If roots of then growing plants had already spread throughout the soil, and were everywhere present when this solution of the manure took place, they would begin immediately to suck up the liquid food thus offered, and in a few days the whole supply might be put to use, and converted to parts of the plants so fed. But if no plants were yet growing when this solu- tion occurred, then none of this food could be put to such use. If the soil is properly constituted to combine with, and retain such putrescent matter, and also it then requires the supply, it may be so saved until plants are in possession of the sur- face, and demand and will consume the before useless food. But any excess of soluble matter thus furnished, and not con- sumed immediately by plants, and beyond the ability and need of the soil to combine with and fix — and also all subsequent sup- plies under like circumstances — would be subject to further decomposition, and final- ly to entire waste in the gaseous state. Some parts, while yet in the condition of solids dissolved in water, would pass off from the land with the excess of rain water, and flow into the brooks and rivers. Other parts would sink through the pervi- 616 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. ous sub-soil as low as the solvent rain water could descend in moisture. From this depth, perhaps, the dissolved raatter may subsequently be drawn up again by the deeply penetrating roots of plants. But it is more likely to be carried still lower by other rains, and be lost in the sources of springs and wells. That the latter effect is often produced, and in a de- gree as great as the effect is disgusting, may be witnessed in every city built on level and pervious ground, by the offen- sive condition of the water of shallow wells. Such losses m.ust follow, to greater or less extent, the plowing under of mani^j on soil not occupied by growing plants ; because there would be nothing to take up the soluble and gaseous products as successively and continually produced. If a few scattered plants soon after sprang up, (as in a field of corn just planted,) then some of the otherwise fugitive pro- ducts would be arrested and put to use. But still the greater part would meet with none of the few scattered rootlets imme- diately, and, therefore, would be subject to waste, whether in a liquid or gaseous state, in the same manner as if no plants were there growing. Now let us compare this, the usual mode of application of manure, and its neces- sary wasteful results, with what must be the effects of top-dressing on clover. The preferable time for this mode of application is just before or about the time when the clover (then more than a year old since the sowing) first feels the warmth of spring weather, and begins to show the influence in its growth. Then, also, is the best time for a general clean- ing out of the winter-made manure, be- cause the necessity for feeding and litter- ing cattle has then nearly ceased, and the older parts of the manure have become somewhat rotted, (as lying in the pens.) without any waste from excess of fermen- tation having yet occurred. Such ma- nure, made principally of the straw and insoluble, and of course, mostly inert veg- etable matter, used for litter. H such coarse stuff is plowed under for corn, (as< is usual when used in spring, and unrot- ted,) the difficulty of plowing uHer is considerable, and the coarser part^'of the manure even continue to be obstacles to later tillage processes. These coarse parts keep the soil too open, and dispose it to become and to remain too dry. This dry state retards the decomposition and the occurrence of the useful condition of the manure, and prolongs the state of its be- ing inconvenient to cultivation and hurt- ful to the crop. And, for these reasons, it happens in many cases, that the second plowing, given merely to cover the ma- nure, — (and otherwise unnecessarily,) — or. otherwise, the postponing of the first and only plowing very late, so that it may serve both to prepare the ground for til- lage and to cover the manure, costs more than is gained from all the beneficial ef- fects of that part uf the manure permitted to act. If the same kind of manure be applied to clover, and spread immediately, the first abundant rain carries every portion of matter already soluble and nutritious to the roots ; and these being spread through- out the soil, will immediately take up the whole of the soluble portion. Within a few hours after the manure is laid upon the land, even in its coarsest state, if rain comes so soon, all the portion then fit, is in actual use as food for the crop ; and in a few days just so much of the manure is converted to clover. The increased growth of the clover causes it soon to cover the remaining coarse and insoluble manure, which still is as much in bulk as was the whole application. The shade and mois- ture thus caused, with the increasing heat of the weather, induce and maintain a slow and regular advance of decomposi- tion of the remaining manure, before in- soluble, but now daily becoming more and more soluble in part. Every successive rain carries these newly-made soluble corn-stalks used plentifully for littering, | parts to be absorbed by the roots; and and the remains of the dry and poor food I thus to add more and more to the growth of the cattle, when first dug up for re-|of the crop, and increasing the shade and moval in the spring, will be found to con- 1 moisture of the remaining course manure, sist of a small proportion of rich and sol- and hastening the repetition and augment- uble extractive matter, (of animal more ing the force of the like operations. The than vegetable origin,) and the much manure is thus made to act as quickly as larger proportion of the undecayed, hard, 'possible in feeding the growth; and the THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 04 7 effect on the growth reacts on the manure, producing an increasing similar action and reaction. By August or September, (if not much earlier,) the coarse manure will be almost consumed. Instead of remain- ing either dormant or wasting in the barn- yard, it has before reappeared 'in the new form of clover. And the augmentation thus produced in the two growths of clover, and both obtained within five months, is very far more both in bulk and value as manure, than the prepared ma- nure consumed to produce this increase. For whatever amount of soluble manure may have been received as food through the roots, will have been doubled in its effect, and in the bulk and value of the increased growth, by aid of the additional supply of carbonic acid furnished from the atmosphere through the leaves to the plants. This gratuitous and bounteous supply of manure from the atmosphere, is used by the leaves strictly in proportion to the amount of food for plants, or of the total means of their support, derived from the soil through the roots. And thus, for whatever amount of manure that is given judiciously by the farmer to his crops, through clover as a manuring crop, he is rewarded by having an equal or perhaps greater value added b}^ the bounty of Na- ture. And thus his drafts upon the un- limited manuring fund of the atmosphere will be accepted and paid, in exact pro- portion to the amount of manure or other aid to the productive power of his land, that his own industry and care have fur- nished. All plants are thus supplied with an important portion of their food and support from the atmosphere. This por- tion is nearly all the carbon received into their structure.*' But all plants of the pea tribe, and among them red clover, diaw more from the atmosphere, and less in proportion from the soil, lor nourishment, than any other plants. Hence the great and peculiar value of red clover and of the field (or Indian) pea as manuring crops, wherever they have suitable soil and climate. * According to Liebig's novel (and as I be- lieve incorrect) views, the whole of the carbon in plants is received through the leaves, and none (subsequently to the rirst development of the leaves) through the roots ox directly from the soil. According to the cases above supposed, the farmer who applies his manure,to corn, so fer as it operates on that crop, converts so much of his manuring capital to grain, which he consumes or sells. If applied to clover, the operating part of the ma- nure is as much as that both used and wasted on the corn landy and moreover, the product is consumed, but is reinvested and doubled in amount as manure, within a few months ; and all of which accumu- lation is ready to act upon and to feed the crop of wheat, which will be sown in the autumn of the same year. And there is another case, of a practice formerly universal, and not yet entirely abandoned everywhere, with which the comparison of advantages presents still more marked results. This practice (copied from England, without regard to difference of climate) is the letting the winter-made manure remain in the barn-yard through the summer, either undisturbed, or still more violently and wastefully fermented. In such cases, besides all the actual pro- ducts of fermentation, (the amount of which loss I do not pretend to estimate,) there is of the remaining part, which is saved, the loss of a year's use and profit. And the interest on this capital, if proper- ly used, would have been one hundred per cent, in carbon furnished from the at- mosphere. It may be objected, that the use of the barn-yard manure thus kept is not lost, (always excepting the wasted part,) but that the use is merely postpon- ed for a year. This is true ; but if the manure had been on clover, in the same time the amount and value would have been doubled. It would, in its new form, (of clover,) and in double quantity, be as | fresh for recommenced action the next I year, and as likely to continue acting for as many subsequent crops, as the redu- jced body of barn-yard manure, then first i applied. According to the views presented above, there can be scarcely any waste or loss of the solid, or even liquid and soluble parts of manure, thus applied to clover. There is, however, one source of loss, and which particular loss is greater than on the same score when manure is plowed under. This | is the escape of ammonia, and perhaps other volatile parts of fermenting manure, which if of ammonia, is evident to the i sense of smell when the mass of manure 648 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. is removed, and spread on the land ; and of which the escape is greater in propor- tion to the richness of the mass in animal matter, and to the advanced state of hot fermentation. But this escape of gaseous products ceases with the first slight rain that falls after the manure has been spread ; the volatile parts being taken up by the water and carried into the earth and to the roots. And even before rain may fall, and while the passage of the gaseous product continues, I do not be- lieve the degree of loss thereby caused to be considerable, or to compare in amount with the other kinds of loss at- tendant upon other modes of manuring. The main and by far the most im- portant grounds for preferring the appli- cation of manure on clover, have been presented in the supposed operations of converting the greatest possible propor tion of the manure to the food of plants, and putting it to that use in the earliest possible time, and the better avoiding the waste of fertilizing principles. But though of minor importance, there are other pe- culiar advantages of this practice, well deserving attention. These will be brief- ly stated. The Flemish farmers, whose practices in manuring and improving lands have been so long and deservedly celebrated, act in obedience to a maxim universally received among them, that manure should never be applied immediately to grain crops ; but to others of which it is de- sired to increase, not the seeds, but the whole vegetable product. They believe that the early effects of rich putrescent manure are most upon the stalk and leaf, and much less upon the grain. And, if they are correct in this opinion, then the benefit thus actually produced on grain crops may be more in appearance than reality; or that with a rank and heavy growth of stalk and blade, there may be comparatively but little increase of grain, following heavy and recent ma- nuring. Every farmer has observed, on spots which had been very heavily dung- ed, that the general growth of wheat is as rank and luxuriant as possible, though the stalks are too weak to support the weight of the heads, and the grain is shri- velled and of mean quality. The Flem- ish^ maxim offers another reason for ap- plying the manure to clover. For, in that, the object is not to increase the the quantity of seed, but to add to the growth of the root, t*talk, and leaf. There is a great saving of labour, per- haps amounting to one-half under ordinary circumstances, in applying the manuie to clover, compared to other applications. If for corn, the breaking up of manure, for carrying it out, cannot well be done be- fore April. If much earlier removed, the coarse litter will not have been weaken- ed in texture, by the beginning of fer- mentation ; and, moreover, the cattle ought not earlier to be deprived of any part of their bed of litter. Then let us suppose the removal of the manure to the field to take place just before the time of planting the corn on the same ground, which is the usual and the best time for this application. Then, either the land, having been broken up in winter, will re- quire the extra labour of second plowing merely to cover in the manure; or other- wise, the plowing has been delayed, to be executed after the spreading of the ma- nure. In the latter case, the plowing, by being so late, will usua'ly be much more laborious and less effective ; and as there is no time to wait, it is very likely to be done when the earth is not in good condi- tion. Or, if plowed early, the cost of re- peating the operation, will even be ex- ceeded by other attendant disadvantages. In this case, the manure is hauled upon soft plowed land, with great labour to the teams, and some injury to the ground, even in dry weather, and both of which are much increased by the least wetness of the earth ; and, with the usual amount of rain, the work must be suspended dur- ing half the scant and precious time in- tended to be devoted to manuring : and whether such suspensions of the work oc- cur or not, the labour of carrying out, on plowed land, and plowing under all the manure of the farm, (or as much as ought to be made,) is a very heavy job, to be begun and completed within narrow T and strict limits of time. But, suppose all these difficulties to be overcome, and all the accumulated ma- nure made in winter, and to the end of April, carried out and applied for corn ; still, without resorting to the top-dressing plan, there will be no economical means of applying the stable-manure made dur- ing the next four or five months, or until THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 649 the time for the equally improper applica- tion of such manure by plowing under for wheat. Now, comparing the two modes of ap- plication merely in reference to labour and to waste, all the difficulties are much less in top-dressing. Though there is a pre- ferable time to push this application, indi- cated by both the clover and the manure, still it may be begun much earlier and continued much later, without any mate- rial or obvious loss. And the work may be done, (though not to the best advan- tage,) when the weather is too wet for any labour on plowed land. The manure made in stables or elsewhere on litter, during summer, or any other putrescent matters, needs not to be kept, fermenting and wasting, but may be carried out at any time, and spread on clover in any state. These summer applications, in- deed, are not so beneficial as if earlier, because having less time to act. But it is much better thus to apply the manure, than to let it be wasted, as it would be on any plan of keeping it on hand. There are other applications of manure on the surface longer and better known than that on clover, and which are advo- cated and practised by some farmers as the best modes. One of these is in win- ter upon wheat. When circumstances are favourable, and to limited extent, this is a judicious practice; but it cannot he extended far. It requires manures well advanced in decomposition, and ready to act quickly. The dressing should not be heavy. If it should not act early or strongly enough to produce perceptible benefit on the wheat, it will at least cer- tainly serve to secure the standing of the young clover, which, on poor land, or in a dry season, would otherwise be apt to fail. The chief obstacle to this mode of top- dressing is the usual softness of the wheat land in winter, which forbids carting upon it, except when frozen hard. A practice much more extensive for- merly, was top-dressing, and with unrot- ted manure on corn, applied from the time of planting to as late as when the plants are several inches high. I have pursued this plan to a considerable extent, several crops. But, judging merely from one careful comparative trial of my own making, and one other reported by another farmer of my acquaintance, I infer that the effects of manure thus applied are less beneficial than when the manure is plow- ed untler before planting the corn. Still there is much labour saved in the former compared to the latter application. And this saving perhaps may fully compensate for any inferiority of effect. But my own experience in top-dressing either wheat or corn, is so limited, that opinions founded thereupon are entitled to very little re- spect. To be continued. From the Country Gentleman. Comparative Economy of Spring and Fall Manuring. Professor Stoekler of the Royal Ag- ricultural College, Cirencester, England, together with Professor S. W. Johnson of Yale, and several farmers in the State of New York and elsewhere, are it seems convinced that manures hauled out and spread broadcast on the soil during late fall and winter, do not suffer any material loss of ammonia, and other plant food, from such exposure ; that the evaporation which invariably affects manure in such conditions, does not carry off any consid- erable quantity of the elements used as food by plants, and which therefore it is de- sirable to prevent the waste of, whether such waste results from evaporation or otherwise. As this view, demonstra- ted I believe, at Cirencester College, is novel, and the reverse in some respects of that which has long governed the practice of manuring; and the hypothesis on which it hinges, viz : that it is most economical to plow in manure as soon as it be spread — which includes spring manuring where plowing is delayed into spring — because of the supposed loss by evapora- tion, &c, after spreading — it deserves somewhat closer attention, in order, if possible, to discover the reason of the change. More especially should we in- quire into it, because the improvement of modern agriculture results more from the application of real manure, substan- tial plant food, than from almost any other condition. A certain, say sufficient, proportion of water is necessary as a condition to the partial solution preliminary lo the fermen- tation of any substance it is wished to ex- 650 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER pose to the process of rotting; and if such proportion, which varies according to the composition of the substance, be lacking in any degree, rotting will be incomplete in proportion to the deficit, and fire-fang- ing — the result of too dry fermentation — will result. But when the moisture present is in proportion to the quanti- ty of heat evolved by the commingling of different substances, and the subsequent liberation of their gases from organic combinations, as in straw, humus, animal excrement, &c, &c — no result as fire- fanging, or too dr % y fermentation can take place. A like incompleteness in the pro- cess of fermentation and rotting will be the result, if a similar lack of another of the conditions thereto — as heat — prevails. In this case, however, when water is much in excess of heat, the nutritious properties of the manure heap will not be burned, but soaked out or absorbed by the excess of water ; and in whatever man- ner such excess of water passes off — whether it flows or evaporates — it will carry away a large portion of the best properties of the manure held by it in so- lution, with it ; leaving the manure by so much deficient, as in the case of driving off valuable matters by excess of heat in fire-fanging. It is equally obvious that the presence of air, in either deficiency or excess, would affect the process in the degree of its vatiation from the true pro- portion. (Hence, in England, turning thick yard-dung and -compost heaps, to secure the necessary amount of air, is generally practiced, and therefore practi- cally appreciated.) If too much or too little air be present, the conditions will be out of proportion, and the materials under process will become too dry or too moist, according as evaporation has been too great or too small in extent, excess of air drying the mass, and too little allowing the contained water, together with the equalization of heat by the atmosphere, to cool it below the point required for fer- mentation. Hence the practice of cover- ing unrotted manure heaps with mold, to keep the necessary heat and moisture. These seem to be facts well verified by long exposure to observation — and the re- sulting conclusions are therefore supposed to be correct; and if so, it is certain that whenever air or moisture be present in too great or too small proportion, the con- ditions necessary to produce well rotted manure are incomplete to an equal extent. As to heat, this condition is in a large de- gree produced in the fermenting mass, or perhaps,, rather changed from a latent to to an active state by the frictional move- ment of the parties as they are separated by disorganization, and move to the new positions and relations to which those affinities assign them, the degree of their volability and affinity being the measure of their motion, and often combination. It was demonstrated, I believe, by the same professor at the Cirencester College, that ammonia, the substance which is of so much value to plant and animal, is not set free or lost from manure except as the result of fermentation in some degree. If, then, manure be spread at the time of drawing out, or immediately thereafter, and plowed under, no time comparatively elapses for the loss of its ammonia. But the method is very inconvenient, so much so that sometimes it prevents the drawing out of it in the spring at all. To get the manure under in a fresh state, requires two teams at least, and attendants, a doubling of the ordinary forces — a majori- ty of farmers having but one— and need- ing no more in the usual course of farm work. If the manure be drawn and dumped or heaped, there still remains the spreading to be done, the hauling, heaping and spreading, together require much more time than would be consumed in spread- ing directly from the wagon — if carts be not used — at the Lime of drawing. Be- sides, an objection to heaping is, that there is always more manure left where the heaps stood, than on other parts of the ground — the consequence of breaking up by repeated moving. But even if some waste should take place from the broadcasting of manure on the soil in the fall or winter, and allowing it to be uncovered for several weeks, or months even, before plowing under, such loss must be very trifling, because fermen- tation is prevented by the cold air of this season, and no loss of nutriment takes place by the mere evaporation of water without fermentation; hence manure does not lose its ammonia by being exposed during the winter, even if it blow and rain, and snow and freeze. But to draw out manure at the time the ground is fit to plow — the ground is not dry enough to THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 651 bear up the wheels till it will do to plow — will cost at least twenty-five per cent, more than drawing it in fall or winter, from the difference in the value of time and labor, leaving the indirect loss of thus consuming time needed for the peculiar labors of the season, out of the estimate. Such objections, and others, in drawing out manure in spring, which might be drawn and spread in the fall, present them- selves. Spreading fall or winterdrawn ma- nure should be always preferred to heap- ing, because when manure is heaped, the middle of the heap is exposed to fermen- tation, and this in extent according to the size of the heap — the heat necessary to such effect being set in motion by chemi- cal action, protected from the cold by the outer part of the pile ; the resulting loss by fermentation need not be now reitera- ted. Thus then, although more bulk of and moisture manure appears to be left by heaping, it is really quite otherwise as to real manure, for its essence has been dis- sipated by the liberation consequent on the heat in the middle parts of the heap. These, and the repeated occupation of time and labor, comprise some of the objections to heaping manure at any time. But no treating in the heap and consequent loss, no further occupation of time in spreading, fee, follows, when manure is drawn out in the fall and spread as fast as it is drawn. So treated at those seasons, but little evaporation and no fermentation can take place, and there is therefore no loss of value, or comparative!}' none, at- tending fall and winter manuring. These views are based in part on Prof. Voekler's demonstrations, but more so on facts exposed to general observation ; and if correct, the general theory that manure loses its nutrient properties by being drawn out and spread in the fall and win- ter — and should not therefore be thus treated till spring — is based on a fallacy,! and the practice resulting from it may not' only be relinquished without loss or re- gret, but with reason and advantage, and; in many instances doubtless, such will be 1 the result, equally to the individual and 1 public benefit. J. W. CLARK. To kill cockroaches — get a pair of big boots, then catch your cockroaches, put them in a barrel and dance on them. From the Valley Farmer. Cooking Pood for Hogs and other Farm Animals. The most stubborn obstacles to a^ricul- tural progress and improvement, are the the result of long established prejudices and practices that have often grown out of necessities that now no longer exist. To remove these prejudices and establish a reform, nothing short of repeated prac- tical demonstrations will suffice. If facts and arguments were wanting, one would suppose that what we have already given in the Valley Farmer, would convince every husbandman of the importance of the artificial preparation of food for do- mestic animals, particularly at the present advanced prices of farm produce. If we take & physiological view of the subject, and compare the wants of man with cer- tain domestic animals, whose organization differs in no essential particular from his own, we think the importance and econ- omy, (not to say humanity,) of the sub- ject is clearly established. Man, even in his uncivilized state, prepares his food mostly by some method of cooking, and to compel him now to eat it raw would neither prove conducive to health, nor qualify him for the duties and labours he is required to perform. Whether the same necessity exists, or the same advantages are gained, in cooking food for ruminating animals, we are not so fully prepared to establish by well conducted comparative experiments, yet, so well satisfied on this point are some of the best dairymen in the country, that they seldom feed their milch cows on any but cooked food, in- cluding hay, straw, oil-cake meal, and other grains. Mr. B. Rives, an intelligent farmer of Ray count)', Mo., gives his views in the November number of the Farmer, (page 342,) and concludes that when corn is worth fifty or seventy-five cents per bushel, and the labour of a hand is worth one dollar and a quarter per day, it " will not pay," and concludes by remarking that the most economical method under the circumstances, is to fence off a field of corn and let the hogs help themselves. We have no doubt, that if hogs are turned into the field, or fed on corn and stalks cut up while the grain is in the milk, that the same advantages are secur- 652 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. ed that result from the cooking process. But the period is so short when the corn is in this condition, that but a temporary advantage is gained by feeding in (hat way, and some more permanent arrange- ment must be adopted to secure the same results. In the last volume of the Valley Far- mer, (page 376,) we gave a detailed ac- count of the experiments of Samuel H. Clay, of Kentucky, in feeding several lots of hogs, alternately changed from raw to cooked, and from cooked to raw food, ground and unground. With considerable trouble to ourselves, we prepared the statement in tabular form, so as to present at a glance the various facts afforded by a well conducted and most thorough ex- periment. Mr. Clay's experiments show, that to make pork on dry corn, one bushel gave, in one instance, a gain of five pounds and ten ounces. In changing the food, on the same animals, to boiled corn, one bushel produced a gain of fourteen pounds and seven ounces, and a bushel of corn ground and cooked, gave a gain of sixteen pounds and seven ounces ; while in another in- stance, after a change from dry corn to cooked meal, the gain upon one bushel was but a fraction short of eighteen pounds. These experiments then show an aver- age gain of about three pounds, when the animals were fed on cooked food, to a gain of one pound when fed on dry corn. Or, to reduce the comparative cost of the gain per pound, estimating the corn at 28 cents per bnshel, the following are the results : When the hogs were fed on dry corn, the average gain cost a fraction over 4^ cents per pound. The same ani- mals, when fed on cooked meal, the gain cost a fraction over 1^ cents a pound, or when fed on cooked corn, unground, the gain cost 1 cent and 9 mills per pound, leaving but four mills, or less than half a cent, per pound in favour of that which was cooked unground, or allowing but four mills per pound for grinding, exclusive of the greater time required to cook whole corn, over that which is ground. But to come to the point more definitely, we will reduce the price of the corn to 25 cents per bushel, (which is as low as may now ever be expected, except, perhaps, in some remote quarter,) and reduce the gain from two-thirds to one-half, for the difference between cooked and uncooked food, which will be equal to twelve and a half cents on each bushel of corn fed out, and see how the question will stand. With a properly constructed apparatus and suitable feeding arrangements, one man can cook and feed out 100 bushels of meal in a day. To do this, bis meal must be placed in bins so as to be conducted into the steam vat without handling, and his feed troughs so arranged that the slop will flow into them in the same manner, without handling. But if corn is cooked without shelling or grinding, two men would be required to manage the same quantity. In the first instance, then, there would be a saving of 50 bushels of corn, which, at 25 cents per bushel, is $12 50, to be offset by the labour of one man, one day, which, at $1 25 per day, leaves a profit of $11 25 in favour of cooking. But, if the corn be cooked whole, and re- quires to be fed out by hand, allowing two hands, at the same cost per day, there will still be a gain of $10. But to simplify the question still fur- ther. Is it not cheaper to cook 100 bush- els of corn than it is to raise 50 bushels? But besides a saving of one-half of the corn, by the process of cooking, there are numerous other advantages to be taken into the account. The same weight is attained, according to the experiment above quoted, in one-third of the time, or we will reduce this also to one-half avoid- ing the risk of accidents to animals on the time gained, the care and attendance in feeding, the advantages of weather in the earlier and more favourable season for feeding, together with other incidental matters not enumerated. The conclusions, which are generally arrived at, are predicated upon the idea that prevails in regard to the cost of cook- ing food, according to the primitive meth- ods employed in the East in a single ket- tle, or Mott's agricultural boiler. These are adapted only to small operations, and, of course, to depend on them, would in- cur considerable cost for labour, fuel, &c. But we should not forget that this is a progressive age, and the inventive powers of our countrymen are adequate to any emergency of the times, or demands of the age. Every one who is acquainted with distilling, knows that many hundreds THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. C53 of bushels of corn go through the destruc- tive process, in one of these establish- ments in a single day; and if the same quantity was only to be prepared as food for swine, with Doilers constructed alone for that purpose, the same work could be performed with greater facility, and less labour. To provide a boiler and steam vat of a capacity suited to extensive feed- ing, with the necessary fixtures, would cost several hundred, or perhaps a thou- sand dollars, but like many other branches of business, we are convinced that the larger the establishment, the more profita- bly it may be conducted, and that, not only may the cost of the fixtures soon be saved, but a large per centage of the corn usually fed. We have before given a very excellent plan for the construction of suitable steaming works, adapted to ex- tensive feeding. Since then a new and valuable steam boiler and furnace before referred to by us and suited to moderate operations, has been invented and is now manufactured and sold by Hedges & Free, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and which is illustra- ted in the present Volume of the Valley Farmer, page 21. We are perfectly satisfied from our own repeated experiments, which have been fully sustained by those conducted by others, that with a suitable establishment of capacity adapted to the end in view, a great saving may be secured by this method of preparing food for swine, and w T e believe with scarcely less profit for beef cattle. We wish some philanthropic, enterprising farmer, would take the mat- ter in hand, and make an experiment on a dozen or more bullocks, through a full course of fattening, on steamed food, both grain and hay, with an equal number fed in the ordinary way. If grain is not to be cooked, we still contend, as we evgr have, that it should be well ground, whether fed to hogs, cat- tle, or horses, and to cattle and horses it should al ways be given in combination with the coarser food. Waterproofs. — For hats, boil 8 lbs. of shellac, 3 lbs of frankincense, and 1 lb. of borax, in sufficient water. To waterproof cloth for sportsmen, dip it in a solution of acetate of lead, with a gum and solution of alum (both solutions of the same strength.) For modus operandi, see Phar. Jotcr. From the Working Farmer, Water— Its Importance in Vegetation. This general vehicle in nature, by the help of which all the gases resulting from decom- position are collected and carried to the roots of plants ; the excretory gases of all animals find their way through the delicate pores of the skin ; and by its presence as a lubricator, all matter is rendered in degree mobile, as may be required, without a corresponding amount of chafing or friction. It becomes the cleanser of the atmosphere as in the falling of* dew, and the solvent of the more staple inorganic con- stituents of the soil, carrying these into plant- life and exuding itself in a pure condition from the surface of leaves, ready to re-perform its voyage of usefulness. It holds many inor- ganic substances and compounds without in- crease of its own bulk ; during summer, when the scorching rays of the sun might otherwise destroy plants, the curious property of water during evaporation of taking up and rendering latent large amounts of heat, prevents the dis- organization of leaves and tissues by thus re- ducing their temperature. The all-pervading moisture of the atmosphere is carried into soils, and there deposited on the surfaces of particles colder than itself, presenting infi- nitesimal fibres through which nature's gases may percolate, and by the presence of which their effects on inorganic matter are many times multiplied; for to its presence is due that change of condition in inorganic nature which defies the scrutiny of the chemist and the phi- losopher, and without which organic life could not progress. The leader of Hovey's Journal of Horticul- ture for June, is as follows : — [Ed. " Water," says Loudon, " whether as a source of nutriment, or a medium of effecting various other objects, is one of the most im- portant agents in cultivation/' It is, perhaps, quite unnecessary that we should make this quotation from so eminent a writer as Mr. Loudon, who undoubtedly has said only what others have said before him, as the basis of our remarks, or that we should suppose auy culti- vator, who knows anything about vegetation, would have any other idea in regard to the im- portance of water in the growth and culture of trees and plants, than that contained in the above extract. Without water, all vegetation would cease at once. The simplest individual understands this. No plant couid perform its necessary functions for any length of time, un- less we except the cactse and some other pecu- liar tribes ; and hence its use and value are, to a certain degree, appreciated and acknowledg- ed by all. But it is only in degree — for very few even among intelligent cultivators really know how great an agent it really is, and a still less number who understand the princi- ple of its application, or the requisite know- ledge to attain the best results from its use. 054 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. A chapter on this subject, we have thought not inapplicable at this time. Our ideas of gardening have, in the main, been derived from the works of English cultivators, — our own horticultural literature being, of a neces- sity, yet scanty, and, in the main, borrowed from the former. So far as general principles are concerned, there is no difference in this re- spect, whether we study the one or the other ; but in regard to details there is a vast d'ffer- ence, and they are as widely unlike in many things as can well be imagined. But though we follow so nearly in most instances the prac- tice of English writers, in one we fall short — far short of them. And this one is in the use of water. Though with an average tempera- ture several degrees higher, a bright sunshine far stronger, and a fresh breeze direct from the tropics, we think far less of the importance of water than they do, and scarcely use it, except when necessity requires, only for the growth and perfection of plants in pots. It is not necessary that we should enter into a statement of the difference between the cli- mate of Great Britain and the United States, as we have done so before, in our previous vol- umes, and have shown how much more mild and cool the climate of the former is in sum- mer. The average quantity of rain is nearly the same as our own, varying from thirty-five to forty-five inches ; but it is distributed much more evenly, falls in smaller quantities and much oftener, and is more effective from the better condition the plants are in to receive it, their leaves not being so much affected as by the higher temperature and atmospheric dry- ness of our warm summers. True, occasional seasons of drought occur in Great Britain, as in our country, but they are only comparatively dry, and vegetation does not suffer as during one of our July or August droughts, when it would seem as if every particle of moisture was exhausted from the soil. While with us agri- cultural crops are often severely injured by excessive droughts, in Great Britain the} 7 are only damaged by excessive dampness. This difference of atmospheric moisture, though un- derstood by many who are conversant with the climate of that country, is not sufficiently known to render our remarks understood with out this brief comparison. As we have above stated, while we follow so implicitly many of the directions of English cultivators, we fail in one of them, viz : the application of water. Why this is so, we are not able to say. We rarely water garden crops of any kind; occasionally we look after some favourite plant, and see that it is duly supplied with this element till well established, when it is left to itself, — but no systematic attempt is made here, as in Britain, to water whole crops of either fruit or vegetables. Recently having occasion to look over some of the horticultural works of the most experienced English writers, we were struck with the frequent repetition of the advice to apply water to almost every fruit tree, plant or vegetable ; and, as a sample of such advice, we quote the following : — Marshall, an old and experienced author, re- marks, " that strawberries and cauliflowers should generally be watered in a dry season ; strawberries, more particularly when in bloom, in order to set the fruit — and the cauliflowers when they show fruit, in order to swell the head: in a light soil this ought never to be omitted. In very dry weather, seedlings, as- paragus, early turnips, carrots, radishes, and small salads, will need an evening watering/' lie adds, " Water to the bottom and extent of the roots as much as may be. The wetting only the surface of the ground is of little use, and of some harm, as it binds the earth, and so prevents showers, dews, air, and sun from entering the soil, and benefiting the roots as they otherwise would do. The ground about plants which are frequently watered should be occasionally stirred and raked. Many things are impatient of being kept wet about the stalks, and therefore watering such plants should be generally at a little distance." He recommends " watering the roots of wall trees in dry weather effectually ; watering wall trees with an engine in the evening refreshes them much, and helps to rid the trees and wall of insects and filth." Our cultivator complains of the mildew upon the gooseberry. Read how English gardners treat their bushes : " By preparing," says Lou- don, " a very rich soil, and by watering and the use ^ liquid manure, spading and thinning, the large fruit of the prize collection is pro- duced. Not content with watering at the root, and over the top, the Landcashire connoiseur, when he is growing for exhibition, places a small saucer of water immediately under each gooseberry, onty three or four of which he leaves on a tree. This he technically calls suckling." "Water," says Loudon, "is essential to a good crop of strawberries in dry weather, and may be performed on a large scale by means of a barrel fitted in a proper manner, or, on ordinary occasions, by a common watering pot. Some amateurs grow their plants in beds hav- ing small open-huilt channels as alleys, and then, the beds being fornftd on a perfect level, by filling the alleys with water, it penetrates the soil of the beds on each side." Hollyhocks — "If dry weather sets in," says Turner, " keep them well watered after mulch- ing." " Continue," he again says, " to w r ater dahlias over the foliage every evening during dry weather, and practice a good root watering once a week, according to the weather." " Phloxes," says one of the best cultivators of this fine flower, " should receive a good water- ing once a week." We might multiply these quotations to any extent, but they will be sufficient to show to those not familiar with English gardening, the THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 655 extent to which watering is used on some par- ticular crops, and more or less on all, when superior culture is an object. If all this is required in the climate of that country, how much more need that it should be resorted to in our own, where evaporation is carried on with double the rapidity that it is in that cool, drizzly and humid isle? Having suffered much the last two dry years from a scarcity of water for our plants, we have seen the ill effects of short supplies of this im- portant element in vegetation; and now, with the means of its more liberal use, we have al- ready seen how much plants are improved. A sprinkling of water is oftentimes attended with real injury, for the top soil is kept damp, which deceives all but the skillful cultivator j and hence the bottom are constantly dry, while the surface roots are constantly soaked. The effect of this kind of watering, which is quite too general, is, that the roots at the bottom are dried up, and those at the top rotted off. When water is given, it should be in sufficient quan- tity to thoroughly moisten every particle of soil. Our finest fruits are oftentimes a failure, from the want of a liberal supply of water ; the cracking and splitting of our large and fine varieties arises, as we have before frequent- ly stated, from the absence of a proper degree of moisture. If the soil is not naturally deep, so that the roots can penetrate and find the moisture which they need, this deficiency must be supplied, or the fruits will not attain their full size. It is useless to expect any other re- sult. Not only should it be supplied at the root, but, if possible, over the foliage and fruit. The crop of strawberries would be, undoubt- edly, in many instances, doubled by half a dozen liberal waterings. The roots lie near the surface of the ground, and when this is ex- hausted by long continued dry weather, how shall the plants receive their nourishment if not by artificial aid ? We wonder at the size of the large strawberries which are occasion- ally seen at the London exhibitions, but if we knew the pains which were taken to produce them, they would cease to be wonders. The wonder rather is, how we raise such large strawberries in our own climate, where often, during the entire ripening of a crop, not suffi- cient rain falls to moisten the soil to the depth of an inch. Vegetables of many sorts, particularly let- tuces, cauliflowers, broccoli, &c, can only be grown to perfection with the aid of liberal waterings. To have them large, tender, and succulent, they must not be cut off from a con- stant, steady supply of water ; and, when the rains do not supply this, it must be done by artificial aid. It only needs a trial of those raised with proper attention to moisture, with such as are produced without it, to decide which are the best. Every garden should, therefore, have the means of commanding a ready supply of water. It cannot be considered complete without it. There should be cisterns, or wells, or reser- voirs of ample capacity to afford an abundant supply through the longest drought. Not that we would confine watering to seasons of drought alone, but that then, when it is more needed, there should be no want. Watering, we are convinced, is not half enough attended to in what is generally termed moderately moist weather, — for, though occasional showers may invigorate the plants, cleanse the foliage, and keep the surface-soil moist, there is a deficien- cy beneath, which a good watering will re- place, and the colour and growth of the plants will surely attest its presence. Of the details in regard to watering, we have not time and space to enter into at this time, but shall reserve them for a future article, trusting that what we have written will have shown the importance of water in all success- ful horticultural operations. From tftc Louisville Journal. Premium Essay on the Plow and Plowing. We give below the essay on the form, draft, and structure of the plow, and plowing, to which was awarded the premium of the Souihivestern Agricultural and Mechanical Association. — [Editor. The plow is the most important of all the implements used by the farmer. It is proper it should receive proportionate attention from all who are endeavoring to increase the pro- ductiveness of the soil. Nothing, therefore, should be overlooked which promises to throw light upon its improved construction or man- agement. Although much attention has been bestowed upon the plow by scientific men, it has not been much modified by the application of any new principle since it was first made in its present form. It is true that from time to time modifications have been made to meet cer- tain requisitions, and in some minor matters it has been improved, yet a plow of twenty years ago and the plow of to-day differ but little in form or structure, except in better selected ma- terial and improvement in mechanical skill. While we should place the highest estimate upon an implement of such importance as the plow, which has remained nearly stationary as regards improvement, it certainly will not do to rest satisfied or to look upon it as perfect, when, in every other branch of industry, the best implements of yesterday is superseded by one still more perfect to-day; more especi- ally when the importance of stirring the soil to a greater depth than is practicable with our best plows is fully admitted by all farmers. It will be useless in an essay of this kind to review the history of the plow from its first rude structure to its present state; it is thought 656 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER better to take it at its present perfection, and, if possible, suggest improvements which may be made. As mechanical arts make advance- ment it is found that a necessity arises for new varieties of tools, and artisans, who used but few in the infancy of their professions, find it necessary to adopt various modifications of these tools to meet the requirements of their improved art. It is sd to a great extent with the implements of agriculture; instead, there- fore, of endeavoring to find a plow that shall answer for sod, stubble, sub-soil, and tillage, it will be better to find out what peculiarity is re- quisite to make it perfect for any one of these purposes, and form the plow for that purpose alone, instead of endeavoring to make it capa- ble of being used for all. In suggesting improvements in the construc- tion of the plow, as in all other things connect- ed with farming, it will not do to consult sci- ence without taking experience into the council. The calculations of the mathematician are some- times thwarted by some unknown or unfore- seen principle, only detected when attempted to be applied to practice. Every observing farmer, while following the plow, has thought of some improvement which he could make if he were a mechanic, by which its working might be improved; in many cases if these thoughts could be worked out by an ingenious mechanic, the thing required would be accomplished and improvements result. As it is, the farmer having to make his idea clear to the mechanic, who labors generally under the disadvantage of not understanding the object of the proposed modification, it requires generally much patience even to approach the desired improvement. There is one circumstance which tends to render improvements in agri- cultural implements slower than in the imple- ments of the mechanic. The farmer uses his implements generally by seasons, and any sug- gestion, which he may wish to have acted upon by the mechanic, or any experiment by the mechanic, submitted to the farmer for trial, must be tested in the season of that implement, be it plow or reaper, or it must lie over for another season, with great liability of being al- together forgotten. A plow for the purpose of breaking up new ground should be so constructed as to cut all but the largest roots, and not be liable to hang upon those too large for it to cut. To meet this requisition a cutter should be constructed to pass through the beam perpendicular to the surface of the ground, and rest upon the point of the share by a shoulder on its edge nearest the plow, the cutting edge to be rounded from a line with the bottom of the share to such a point on its front edge as shall be found to bring sufficient force upon the roots which it meets to sever all which are not too large to cause the plow to pass over them by their resis- tance against the edge of the cutter. The land side should be closed with a plate of steel, to prevent the ends of the severed roots fron hanging in the plow as they spring back. L every other respect it may be formed like ; common sod plow. An implement somewha on the above principle has been constructec and found to work well on new ground. A light draft and complete inversion of soil are th< desiderata in the new-ground plow. The sod plow is probably the most importan modification of this implement. In breaking up sod land the aim is so to invert the sod a entirely to kill the grass and at the same tim< bury it so deep that the culture of the cro] shall not bring up the grass or disturb the in verted sod. For this purpose the principle o the double plow seems well adapted, as th< foremost plow cuts off the sod and deposits i in the bottom of the last furrow. The objec tion to the double plow now in use seems to bne-tenth or more of their volume on dry- ng, and since at the same tirrje they har- !en about the rootlets which are imbeded n them, it is plain that these indispensable organs of the plant must thereby be rup- tured, during the protracted dry weather. Sand, on the other hand, does not change its bulk by wetting or drying, and when present to a considerable extent in the soil its particles being interposed between those of the clay, prevent the adhesion of the latter, so that, although a sandy loam shrinks not inconsiderably on drying, yet the. lines of separation are vastly more numerous and less wide than in purer clays. Such a soil does not "cake," but remains friable and powdery. Marly soils (containing carbonate of lime) are especialy prone to fall to a fine powder during drying, since the carbonate of lime, which like sand, shrinks very little, is itself in a state of extreme division, and therefore more effectually separates the clayey particles. The unequal shrinking of these two intimately mixed ingredients, accomplishes a perfect pulverization of such soils. Prof. Wolff, of the Academy of Agriculture, at Hohenheim, Wirtem- berg, states that on the cold heavy soils of Upper Lusatia, in Germany, the application of lime has been attended with excellent results, and he thinks that the larger share of the benefit is to be accounted for, by the improvement in the texture of those soils which follows liming. The carbonate of lime is considerably soluble in water charged with carbonic acid, as is the water of a soil containing vegetable matter, and ' this agency of distribution in connection with the mechanical operations of tillage, must in a short time effect an intimate mixture of the lime with the whole soil. A tenacious clay is thus by a heavy lim- ing, made to approach the condition of a friable marl. VI. The relation of the soil to heat are of the utmost importance in affecting its fertility. The distribution of plants in general is determined by differences of mean temperature. In the same climate and locality, however, we find the farmer distinguishing between cold and warm soils. The temperature of the soil varies to a certain depth with that of the air ; yet its changes occur more slowly, are confined to a narrower range of temperature, and diminish downward in rapidity and amount, until at a certain depth a point is reached where the temperature is invariable. In summer the temperature of the soil G80 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER is higher in day time thanjhat of the air ; at night the temperature of the surtace rap- idly falls, especially when the sky is clear. Jn temperate climates, at a depth of three feet, the temperature remains un- changed from day to night; at a depth of 20 feet the annual temperature varies but a degree or two ; at 75 feet below the surface, the thermometer remains perfectly stationary. In the vaults of the Paris Observatory, 80 feet deep, the temperature is 50° Fahr. In tropical regions the point of nearly unvarying temperature is reached at a depth of one foot. The mean annual temperature of the soil is the same as, or in higher latitudes, a degree above that of the air. The na- ture and position of the soil must conside- rably influence its temperature. The sources of that heat which is found in the soil are two, viz : first, an internal one, the chemical process of oxydation or decay ; second, an external one, the rays of the sun. The heat evolved by the decay of or- ganic matters is not inconsiderable in po- rous soils containing much vegetable re- mains ; but this decay cannot proceed rapidly until the external temperature has reached a point favorable to vegetation, and therefore this source of heat probably has no appreciable effect one way or the other on the w r elfare of the plant. The warmth of the soil, so far as it favors veg- etable growth, appears then to depend ex- clusively on the heat of the sun. The circumstances which favor or hinder the transmission or accumulation of the sun's heat, are accordingly worthy of minute consideration. METHODS BY WHICH HEAT IS COMMUNI- CATED. 1. Radiation of heat. — When we ap- proach a hot body we perceive its high tem- perature without touching it; heat streams from it in all directions. This heat passes into the air and other surrounding bodies ; their temperature rises and that of the heated body falls ; there is thus manifest- ed a tendency to equalization of tempera- ture, and such a state is finally reached, after which no more change of tempera- ture is observed except some hotter or colder body be introduced. In the day the sun radiates heat towards the earth "and the latter becomes warmer ; at night the earth radiates heat into the planetary spaces, and itself grows colder. All bodies are capable of radiating heat, but they p. - sess this property in very different degrees. The experimental results on this subject lead to no very definite conclusions. It seems, however, that the porosity, or state of division of the surface of a bodj 7 , has the principal influence on its radiating power. The less dense the surface, the greater its radiating power. Radiation seems to take place not merely from the surface, but also from a little distance be- neath it. 2. Absorption of heat. — In our treatises on natural philosophy, there is much ap- parent confusion on this subject. Absorp- tive power is often stated to be connected with the color of a body. It is, however, the fact that the radiating and absorptive pow- er of a body for heat are absolutely equal. That body which absorbs heat most readi- ly, radiates it also most readily, and vice versa. It must be understood, however, that bodies may differ in their power of absorbing or radiating heat of different de- grees of intensity. Lampblack absorbs and radiates heat of all intensities in the same degree. White-lead absorbs heat of low intensity (such as radiates from a ves- sel filled with boiling water) as fully as lampblack, but of the intense heat of a lamp it absorbs only about one-half as much. — Snow seems to resemble white-lead in this respect. If a black cloth or black paper | be spread on the surface of snow, upon which the sun is shining, it will melt much faster under the cloth than elsewhere, and this too if the cloth be not in contact with, but suspended above the snow. In our latitude every one has had opportunity to observe that snow thaws most rapidly when covered by or lying on black earth. The reason is that snow absorbs heat of low intensity with greatest facility. The heat of the sun is converted from a high 'to a low intensity, by being absorbed and 'then radiated by the black material. But it is not color that determines this differ- ence of absorptive power, for indigo and ! prussian blue though of nearly the same 'color, have very different absorptive pow- jers. So far, however, as our observations extend, it appears that dark-colored soils usually absorb heat more rapidly, and that the sun's rays have least effect on light THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. G81 colored soils. This topic will be recurred to. 3. Reflection. — Bodies exposed to radiant heat may reflect it to a great extent. This is the case- with polished metals, while glass is a poor reflector. Reflection is op- posed to absorption. 4. Transmission. — Radiant heat may also be transmitted through bodies precisely in the way that light is. Rock salt transmits 92 per cent, of the heat that falls upon it; alum allows only 12 per cent, to pass, while blue vitriol intercepts radiant heat totally ; it is so to speak, opake to heat. — On the other hand black glass, which is opake to light, allows considerable heat to pass through it. This kind of transmis- sion is instantaneous and must be distin- guished from 5. Conduction. — This is a slower pro- cess, and consists in the passage of heat from particle to particle of a solid sub- stance. Conduction is destroyed by inter- ruption of contact. Metals conduct heat most rapidly, while earthy matters have but a small conducting power. Liquids and gases conduct heat least of all. Po- rous bodies, like feathers, wool, cotton, &c, which enclose much air in their in- terstices, are therefore among the poorest conductors. Soils generally, must there- fore rank among poor conductors, although it is probable that there are considerable differences among them. Humus, and soils rich in decaying organic matters, are doubtless slower conductors of heat than dense clays, but to my knowledge we have no precise experiments on this subject. — Mr. Hutchinson in an investigation of building materials, found that if we as- sume the conducting power of slate to be 100, that of soft chalk is 56, of gypsum 20, of sand 19. 6. Convection. — Though liquids and ga- ses are almost perfect non-conductors of heat, yet it can diffuse through them ra- pidly, if advantage be taken of the fact that by heating they expand and therefore become specifically lighter. If heat be applied to the upper surface of liquids or gases they remain for a long time nearly unaffected, if it be applied beneath them, the lower layers of particles become heat- ed and rise, their place is supplied by oth- ers, and so currents upward and downward are established, whereby the heat is ra pidly and uniformly distributed. This process of convection can rarely have any influence in the soil. What we have sta- ted concerning it, shows, however, in what way the atmosphere may constantly act in removing heat from the surface of the soil. VII. The relations of water to heat. — The soil consists not merely of mineral and vegetable matter — not merely of clay, sand and humus — but it is always more or less penetrated with water. The relations of this universally diffused liquid to heat, i are therefore of the utmost importance in | understanding the conditions of fertility. Three states of water. — Water may exist in three states — solid, liquid and gaseous. In each of these forms it has a separate significance in connection with our subject, and in its passage from one of these states to another, phenomena are occasioned which have great influence on vegetable production. It is a matter of common observation that water exposed to the air in a shallow vessel, rapidly decreases in bulk, and final- ly disappears ; it evaporates, it becomes invisible vapor or steam, and passes into the air. The higher the temperature to which the water is expos ec I, the more ra- pidly is this conversion accomplished. On the other hand, when a glass of cold wa- ter is brought into a warm, moist atmos- phere, or held over the spout of a boiling tea-kettle, a deposition of water takes place on the cold surface; the vapour con- denses, liquefies. Thus, by exposing wa- ter to great cold it freezes, solidifies, be- comes ice; 'by elevating the temperature of a piece of ice, it becomes first liquid and then gaseous ; by cooling vapor, it passes into the liquid and finally into the solid form. Temperature and pressure are the influences that affect the condition of water. The first of these alone needs lengthened consideration here LIQUEFACTION VAPORIZATION LATENT HEAT. When a piece of ice is placed in a ves- sel, whose temperature is increasing, by means of a lamp, at the rate of one de- gree of the thermometer every minute, it will be found that the temperature of the ice rises until it attains 32°. When this point is reached, it begins to melt, but does not suddenly become fluid ; the melting goes on very gradually. A thermometer placed in the water, remains constantly at 682 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 32°, so long as a fragment of ice is present. The moment the ice disappears, the tem- perature begins to rise again as before, at the rate of one degree per minute. The time during which the temperature of the ice and water remains at 32°, is 140 min- utes. During each of these minutes one degree of heat enters the mixture, but is not indicated by the thermometer — the mercury remains stationary; 140° of heat have thus passed into the ice and become hidden, latent, at the same time the solid ice has become liquid water. The differ- ence then between ice and water consists in the heat that is latent in the latter. If we now proceed with the above experi- ment, allowing the heat to increase with the same rapidity, we find that the tempe- rature of the water rises constantly for 180 minutes. , The thermometer then in- dicates a temperature of 212° (32 X 180,) and the water boils. Proceeding with the experiment, the w r ater evaporates away, but the thermometer continues stationary so long as any liquid remains. After the lapse of 972 minutes, it is completely evaporated. Water in becoming steam, renders therefore still another portion, 972° of heat latent. The heat latent in steam is indispensable to the existence of the latter. If this heat be removed by bring- ing the steam into a cold space, water is reproduced. If, by means of pressure or cold, steam be condensed, the heat origi- nally latent in it becomes sensible, free, and capable of affecting the thermometer. If, also, water be converted into ice, as much heat is evolved and made sensible as was absorbed and made latent. It is seen thus that the processes of liquefac- tion and vaporization are cooling process- es ; for the heat rendered latent by them must be derived from surrounding objects, and thus these become cooled. On the contrary, solidification, freezing, and va- por-condensation are warming processes, since in them large quantities of heat cease to be latent and are made sensible, thus warming surrounding bodies. From these facts we are able to under- stand certain natural phenomena, whose influence on vegetation has been recogniz- ed from the earliest times. How does the earth maintain its tempera- ture — What are its relations to the sun's, heat — What is dew? — These are questions' we now come to consider. The earth has within itself a source of heat, which maintains its interior at a high temperature; but which escapes so rapid- ly from the surface, that the soil would be constantly frozen but for the external sup- ply of heat from the sun. The direct rays of the sun are the im- mediate cause of the warmth of the earth's surface. When the sun shines most di- rectly upon the earth, it is warmest, as at summer mid-day. In a winter midnight we have the greatest cold. The tempera- ture of the soil near the surface changes progressively with the season ; but at a certain depth the loss from the interior and the gain from the sun compensate each other, and as has been previously men- tioned, the temperature remains unchang- ed throughout the year. During a summer day the heat of the sun reaches the earth directly, and it is absorbed by the soil and the solid objects on its surface, and also by the air and wa- ter. But these different bodies, and also the different kinds of soil, have very dif- ferent ability to absorb, or become warm- ed by the sun's heat. It has before been mentioned that air and water are almost incapable of being warmed by heat applied above them. Through the air especially, heat radiates without being scarcety ab- sorbed. The soil and solid bodies become warmed according to their individual ca- pacity, and from the air receives the heat which warms it. From the moist surface of the soil goes on a rapid evaporation, which renders latent a large amount of heat, so that the temperature of Ihe soil is not rapidly but gradually elevated. The ascent of water from the sub-soil to supply the place of that evaporated, goes on as before described. The liquid water of the soil has combined with (rendered latent) a vast amount of heat therefrom, and pass- ed as gaseous water (vapor) into the air. When the sun declines the process dimin- ishes in intensity, and when it sets, the reverse takes place. The heat that had accumulated on the surface of the earth radiates into the cooler atmosphere and planetary spaces, the temperature of the surface rapidly diminishes, and the air it- self becomes cooler by convection. As the cooling goes on, the vapor suspended in the atmosphere begins to condense upon cool objects, while its latent heat becom- ing free hinders the too sudden reduction THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 683 of temperature. The condensed water [times to cool down through a given num- collects in drops — it is dew; or in the ber of degrees. In the following table colder seasons it crystalizes as hoar frost. . are given his results, lime sand being as- The special nature of the surface of the sumed as 100. soil is closely connected with the mainte- nance of a uniform temperature, with the prevention of too great heat by day and cold by night, and with the watering of vegetation by means of dew. It is, how- ever, in many cases only for a little space after seed time, that the soil is greatly con- cerned in these processes. So soon as it becomes covered with vegetation, the cha- racter of the latter determines to a certain degree the nature of the atmospheric changes. In case of many crops, the soil is but partially covered, and its peculiari- ties are then of direct influence on the vegetation it bears. Among these quali- ties the following remain to be noticed : 1. The color of the soil. — It is usually stated that black or dark colored soils are sooner warmed by the sun's rays than those of lighter color, and remain constant- ly of a higher temperature so long as the sun acts on them. An elevation of seve- ral degrees in the temperature of a light colored soil, may be caused by strewing its surface with peat, charcoal powder or vegetable mold. To this influence may be partly ascribed the following facts. — Lampadius was able to ripen melons even in the coolest summers, in Friberg, Saxo- ny, by strewing a coating of coal dust an inch deep over the surface of the soil. In Belgium and on the Rhine, it is found that the grape matures best when the soil is covered with fragments of black clay slate. Girardin found in a series of experiments on the cultivation of potatoes, that the time of their ripening varied eight to four- teen days, according to the color of the soil. He found on August 25th, in a very dark humus soil, twenty-six varieties ripe; in sandy soil twenty; in clay nineteen; and in white lime soil, only sixteen. It is not difficult to assign other causes that will account in part for the results here men- tioned ; there seem to be no accurate and extensive observations on this point. That dark soils may actually attain an increas- ed temperature of three to eight degrees over light colored soils, is a .matter of di- rect observation. 2. Rapidity with which the soil cools and warms. — Schiibler found that different soils heated to the same point required different . 100. . 98.1 . 95.6 . 76.9 . 73.8 . 71.8 >d, . 70.1 . . 68.4 . 66.7 . . 64.8 . 61.3 . 49.0 . 38.0 Lime sand, Slate marl, Quartz Sand, Potter's clay, Gypsum, Clay loam, Plough clay land, Heavy clay, Pure gray clay, Garden earth, Fine carb. lime, Humus, Magnesia, It is seen that the sandy soils cool most slowly, then follow clays and heavy soils, and lastly comes humus. It must be re- membered that the experiments were in- stituted on dry soils, i. e., artificially de- prived of water, and hence do not apply to the soil in its natural state, in which water is rarely absent. As to the rapidity with which various soils become warmed by the heat of the sun or of the day, no observations of any agricultural value have been instituted to m}' knowledge. It is easy to speculate upon this topic. The rapidity of cooling appears to stand in direct connection with the lightness and porosity of the soil; such qualities favor radiation, and the loss of heat by the circulation of the inclosed air. Such soils also, in nature, enclose a considerable amount of water, and in them capillary action is strongest in laising sup- plies from the sub-soil. On account of their porosity, this water is constantly evaporating, and therefore by extracting from them the heat necessary to vaporiza- tion, their temperature is speedily reduced. For the same reason moist soils rich in humus, can warm but slowly in the sun's rays. Sandy soils retaining little water, evaporation is less active in reducing their temperature. The surfaces of the grains of sand are glassy and smooth, they there- fore radiate poorly, though this depends of course on the degree of fineness and smoothness. Clays stand in the middle of the scale. 3. The degree of moisture present is of great influence on the temperature of the soil. All soils when thoroughly wet seem to be nearly alike in their power of absorb- 684 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. ing and retaining warmth. The vast quan- tity of heat needful to gratify the demand of the vapor that is constantly forming, explains this. From this cause the differ- ence in temperature between dry and wet soil may often amount to 10° to 18°. Ac- cording to the observation of Dickinson made at Abbot's Hill, Herts, and continued through eight years 90 per cent, of the water falling between April 1st and Octo- ber 1st, evaporates from the surface of the soil ; only 10 per cent, finding its way into drains laid three and four feet dee]). The total quantity of water that fell during this time, amounted to about 2,900,000 lbs. per acre; of this more than 2,t>00 3 000 evaporated from the surface. It has been calculated that to evaporate artificially, this enormous mass of water, more than seventy-five tons of coal must be consum- ed. Thorough draining, by loosening the soil and causing a rapid removal from below, of the surplus water, has a most decided influence, especially in spring time, in warming the soil, and bringing it into a suitable condition for the support of vege- tation. It is plain then that even if we knew with accuracy what are the physical char- acters of a surface soil, and if we were able to estimate correctly the influence of these characters on its fertility, still we must investigate those circumstances which affect its wetness or dryness, whe- ther they be an impervious sub-soil, or springs coming to the surface, or the amount and frequency of rain-falls, taken with other meterological causes. We cannot decide that a clay is too wet or a sand too dry, until we know its situation and the climate it is subjected to. The great deserts of the globe do not owe their barrenness to necessary poverty of soil, but to meteorological influences — to the continued prevalence of parching winds, and the absence of mountains to condense the atmospheric water, and es- tablish a system of rivers and streams. — This is not the place to enter into a dis- cussion of the causes that may determine or modify climate, but to illustrate the ef- fect that may be produced by means within human control, it may be stated that pre- vious to the year 1821, the French district Provence was a fertile and well watered region. In 1822, the olive trees which were largely cultivated there were injured by frost, and the inhabitants began to cut them up root and branch. This amounted to clearing off a forest, and in consequence the streams dried up, and the productive- ness of the country was seriously dimin- ished. 4. The angle at which the sun's rays- strike a soil is of great influence on its temperature. The more this approaches a right angle the greater the heating effect. In the latitude of England the sun's heat acts most powerfully on surfaces having a southern exposure, and which are inclined at an angle of 25° and 30°. The best vineyards of the Rhine and Neckar, are also on hill-sides, so situated. In Lapland and Spitzbergen the southern side of hills are often seen covered with vegetation, while lasting or even perpeiLv.i snow lies on their northern inclinations.* * Malaguti and Durocher have made some observations on the temper- iture of soils which have come to my knowledge since the above was written. They found that the temperature of a garden soil, just below the surface, was on the average 6° Fahr. higher than that of the air, but that this higher temperature diminished at a greater depth. A theimoaieter buried four in- ches indicated a mean temperature only 3° above that of the atmosphere. Besides the gar- den earth just mentione.l, which had a dark gray color and was a mixture of sand and gravel con- taining but little c'a/, with about five per cent, humus, the thermometric character of the follow- ing soils were observed, t\z: a grayish-white quartz sand, a grayish brown granite sand, a fine light-gray clay (pipe clay) a yellow sandy clay, and finally foui lime soils of different physical qualities. The influ - :ce of a wall or other reflecting surface upoi the warmth of a soil lying to the south of it, was observed in the case of the gar- den soil,. The highest temperature indicated by a thermometer placed in this soil at a distance of inches from the wall, during a series of observations lasting seven days, (April 1852) was 32° Fahr. higher at the surface, and 18° higher at a depth .f four inches than in the same soil on the north side of the wall. The average temperature of the former during this time was S° higher than that of the latter. In another trial in March, the difference in average temperature between the southern and northern exposures was nearly double this amount in favor of the former. Among the soils experimented on it was found that when the ex- posure was alike, the dark-gray granite sand be- came the warmest, and next to this the grayish- white quartz sand. The latter, notwithstanding its lighter color, often acquired a higher tempe- rature when at a depth of four inches than the former, a fact to be ascribed to its better con- THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 685 VIII. Cohesiveness of the soil. — A soil is said to be heavy or light, not as it weighs more or less, but as it is easy or difficult to work. The state of dryness has great influence on this quality. Sand, lime and humus have very little cohesion when dry, but considerable when wet. Soils in which they predominate are usually easy to work. But clay has entirely different characters, and upon them almost exclusively depends the tenacity of a soil. Dry clay, when powdered, has hardly more consistence than sand, but when thoroughly moistened its particles adhere together to a soft and plastic, but tenacious mass; and in drying ducting power. The black soils never become so warm as the two just mentioned, demonstra- ting that color does not influence the absorption of heat so much as other qualities. After the black soils, the others came in the following order; Garden soil, yellow sandy clay, pipe clay, lime soils having crystal ine grains, and lastly a pulverulent chalk soil. To show what different degrees of warmth soils may acquire under the same circumstances, the following maximum temperatures may be adduced. At noon of a July day, when the tem- perature of the air was 90°, a thermometer placed at a depth of little more than one inch, gave these results : In quartz sand, - - - 126° In crystaline lime soil, - 115° In garden soil, ... 114° In yellow sandy clay, ... 100° In pipe clay, - 94° In chalk soil, - . - S7° Here we observe a difference of nearly 40° in the temperature of the coarse quart? and the chalk soil. The experimenters do not mention the influence of water in affecting these results — they do not state the degree of dryness of these soils. It will be seen, however, that the warm- est soils are those that retain least water, and doubtless something of the slowness with which the fine soils increase in warmth is connected with the fact that they retain much water, which in evaporating appropriates and renders latent a large quantity of heat. Malaguti and Durocher also studied the effect of a sod on the temperature of the soil. They observed that it hindered the warming of the soil, and indeed to about the same extent as a layer of earth of three inches depth. Thus a thermometer four inches deep in green sward, acquires the same temperature as one seven inches deep in the same soil not grassed. It is to be remembered that the soils that warm most quickly, also cool correspondingly fast, and thus are subjected to the most extensive and rapid changes of temperature. The green sward which warms slowly, retains its warmth most tenaciously, and the sands that become hottest at noon-day, are coldest at midnight. away, at a certain point, it becomes very hard, and requires a good deal of force to penetrate it. In this condition it offers great resistance to the instruments used in tillage, and when thrown up by the plough, it forms lumps which require re- peated harrowings to break them down. — Since the cohesiveness of the soil depends so greatly upon the quantity of water con- tained in it, it follows that thorough drain- ing, combined with deep tillage, whereby sooner or later the stiffest clays become readily permeable to water, must have the best effects in making such soils easy to work. The English practice of burning clays speedily accomplishes the same purpose. When clay is burned and then crushed, the particles no longer adhere tenaciously to- gether on moistening, and the mass does not acquire again the unctuous plasticity peculiar to unburned clay. Mixing sand with clay, or incorporating vegetable matter with it, serves to sepa- rate the particles from each other, and thus remedies too great cohesiveness. When water freezes, its volume increas- es, as is well known. The alternate free- zing and thawing of the water which im- pregnates the soil during the colder part of the year plays thus an important part in overcoming its cohesion. The effect is mostly apparent in the spring, immediate- ly after " the frost leaves the ground," but is usually not durable, the soil recov- ering its former consistence by the opera- tions of tillage. Fall-ploughing of stiff soils has been recommended, in order to expose them to the disintegrating effects of frost. IX. Absolute weight of soils. — Accord- ing to Johnston, a cubic foot of dry sili- cious or calcareous sand weighs about 110 lbs. Half sand and half clay, . 96 " Common arable land, - 80 to 90 " Heavy clay, . . . 75 " Garden mould, rich in vegetable matter, .... 70 " Peat soil, . . . 30 to 50 » This concludes our study of the physical characters of the soil, as they affect its fertility. It is seen that our knowledge is very incomplete, and the whole subject is in the highest degree worthy of an extend- ed investigation. Such a research is an 686 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. enterprise not at all difficult to carry out, by a proper combination of knowledge, skill and pecuniary means. I am more and more convinced that no one thing would so greatly contribute to increase and maintain the productiveness of our fields, as a thorough knowledge and application of the principles thtit are stated or sug- gested in the previous pages. We should thereby secure the proper basis for the chemical melioration of the soil by means of manures, and as thus one most fruitful source of the failure of fertilizers would be removed, we should have reason to hope that the vexed question concerning them would be brought to a solution, and out of the present confusion of agricultu- ral opinions and practices, would be evol- ved a system having in it some signs of harmony and completeness. That between these different characters of the soil and circumstances in which it may be found an intimate connection ex- ists, is perfectly obvious. In these pages the writer has endeavored to show this connection to a sufficient extent ; much more, however, might be written regard ing it — much space might also be occupied with the discussion of the characteristics of special soils, but it would be necessary in so doing, in the deficiency of experi- mental data, to trust more to speculation than is desirable in cases complicated with so many conditions. The subject is there- fore commended to the careful study of the j'armer, in full confidence that he will here and there be able to derive practical benefit from it. In conclusion it must not be neglected to repeat, that in addition to these physical characters, the chemical properties and relations of the soil (includ- ing the theory of manures), are concern- ed in determining the fertility of soils, and a comprehensive view of the whole sub- ject is indispensable to the highest success in making a practical application of sci- ence. For the full elucidation of the chemis- try of the soil, and for the theory of tho.-e mechanical operations, as drainage and tillage, which, serving greatly to improve the physical condition of soils, also mate- rially influence its chemical character, the reader is referred ti Johnston's " Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry and Geology," or to Stoeckhaidt's " Chemical Field Lec- tures." Does Sunshine tend to Extinguish Fire? The common opinion that the sun shi- ning on a fire tends to extinguish it, and that consequently the embers must be shaded, if we would preserve them alive in a fire place, was made the subject of experiment in the year 182o by Dr. Thomas McKeever, of England, and the results seemed to show a real foundation for the opinion that solar light does actually retard the process of combustion. These results were copied by the contemporary scientific journals, and even the great German chemist, Leopold Gemelin, in his Hand- book of Chemistry, announces Dr. McKee- ver's conclusions, without expressing any misgivings in relation to their accuracy. Sunshineis an agentwhichiscertainly capa- ble of producing very remarkable effects; but the disagreement of this with other facts, has recently led Dr. John LeConte. Professor of Natural Philosophy" in the South Carolina College, to repeat the ex- periments of McKeever, but using greater care; and the results obtained, as detailed by him at the late meeting at Montreal, tend to overthrow the idea, and prove that light has no influence whatever on the rate of combustion. The fire employed in both the sets of experiments was simply a wax candle. McKeever found it to burn about 12 per cent faster in the dark ; but LeConte finds the light of the sun, even when concen- trated by a large lens produces no effect except by heating. If the air in the dark be heated to the same extent, and the air in each case be kept equally quiet, the can- dle burns at precisely the same rate. McKeever's experiments indicated that the candle burned from 5 to 11 per cent faster in the dark than in common sunshine. He supposed that the chemical rays exercised a'deoxidizing power which, to some extent, interfered with the rapid oxydation of the combustible matter, and by trying the candle in different parts of the colored spectrum (produced by decomposing a ray of light in passing it through a prism,) his experiments appeared to indicate that a taper burned more rapidly in the red than in the violent extremity of the solar spec- trum. The whole subject cannot as yet be con- sidered definitely settled, as the recent paper is regarded as merely preliminary THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 687 to a more thorough experimental investi- gation, which Dr. LeConte proposes to un- dertake during the next twelve months. It is obvious that these researches have a practical bearing. Canadian Jlgricu Iturist. Wheat Crop. The New York Courier and Enquirer re- marks, in relation to the wheat crop, that in the several States it may be considered as har- vested, and partially ready for market. We can, therefore, give the following returns with some degree of certainty: — PER CENT. New York. — The crop is under the last year's about fifteen per cent., but the quality is much better, 85 Pennsylvania. — The crop is fully an average one, but ten per cent, less than last year per acre, 90 Maryland. — The crop is an aver- age one, but less per acre, and bet- ter in quality than last year, 100 Virginia. — The wheat crop in this State is twenty per cent, less than last year, for the amount of ground in cultivation, and the quality not much superior, 80 North Carolina. — The crop in this State is probably nearer to a total failure than in any other — the yield being fully fifty per cent, less than last year, and poor in quality, 50 Kentucky. — The crop is above the average, but less than last year ; the quality is, however, unsur- passed, 95 Tennessee. — The crop is a good one, but under the average yield per acre. The quality is good, 95 Missouri. — The amount of the wheat crop in this State is not fully known, but it will generally com- pare well per acre with the other Western States, 95 Ohio. — The yield of wheat per acre is fully twenty per cent, less than last year, but from the increase of land in cultivation, the decrease from an average crop will not much exceed ten per cent., 80 Iowa. — The accounts from the center of the State, in regard to the wheat orpT , are very gloomy. The crop vrill hardly average ten bushels to the acre; Oats are generally a failure, 50 Illinois. — In Southern Illinois the yield of wheat is about a fair average, rather under than over. The winter wheat has been gene- rally successful, and spring wheat the reverse. In other parts of the State the yield will not be over half the usual crop, 75 Indiana. — In Indiana the yield of wheat has been from one-half to two-thirds of the average crop, 67 Minnesota. — The yield of wheat in this State is of better quality than usual, and in quantity nearly two-thirds the usual crop, 68 Michigan. — The yield of wheat in Michigan is over two-thirds an average crop, and generally of good quality, 70 Wisconsin. — The crop of wheat is up to the average, the greater ex- tent in cutivation compensating for any deficiency in the yield per acre, 100 15)1200(80 The upward tendency in wheat, promising good prices, and the present fair prices, will, we think, make the receipts at tide-water this year nearly equal to those of last year. The quality of last year's wheat is such that an at- tempt to store it longer will be ruinous. We have reason, therefore, for believing that the movement of the crop to the seaboard will be active for the rest of the year. [The above is extracted from Hunt's Mer. chants' Magazine for October, with the excep- tion of the column of figures on the right hand, which we add to represent the percentage of last year's crop produced this year. This is done with the view of determining the average deficiency, which we find to be 20 per cent., in the fifteen wheat-growing States above cited. — Editor.] From the Valley Farmer. Hog Killing. BY HETTIE HAYFIELD. The revolving seasons have brought to our homes the two last months of the year, including in their range of business be- yond all comparison the most disagreea- ble duties that devolve on the house wife. But use conquers disgust, and that fact with proper preparation for, and systemat- ic arrangement of the work while in pro- gress, makes even hog killing an endura- ble business. Indeed in large families, we think several hog killings desirable and certainly economical, as many portions of the animal which are considered the per- quisites of the pork house, come in an ex- cellent place at home. It is a pleasure, beside your own well cured bacon, to have 688 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. a supply of sausages and lard that you can use without any disagreeable doubts of their cleanliness. Before hog killing you should have your mea,t house and store room in perfect order, and every imple- ment and vessel requisite, ready for'use. There should be on hand a sufficient sup- ply of salt, saltpetre, ground cayenne pep- per, sage, spices, &c. To have them to hunt up, clean and prepare, is a great back- set to work, while perhaps you are out of doors and rain approaching. Being pre- pared in your department, I take it for granted that your paragon of a husband has had his pork bred and fed in the most approved style. That during the slaugh- ter a hand has been detailed to look care- fully over the heads and feet after the ani- mal ha.* passed off the platform, and after putting them in perfect order, has washed the outside carefully. That a second per- son, armed and equipped with an abund- ance of clean water and towels has follow- ed the opener and washed out the inside until a search warrant could find no trace of the murder. In short, that you have no room to believe that the animal was hu- manely allowed to keep a part of his cloth- ing and take a farewell wallow in his old haunts. These pains can surely be taken for home, and such pork we know com- mands a premium in the family market. — Hogs that weigh between two and three hundred pounds are the nicest for family use. Larger than that they are too gross, and do not allow fresh pieces for the table as often as is desirable consistent with good economy. Smaller there is too much bone and the meat becomes too dry. CUTTING OUT PORK. This work belongs to the male division of the house, and the master or well trained old servant will do it up without your ever thinking of it — probably. But lest you should not have had time to teach that old man, or your patriotic lord should have gone t© the Presidential election, we will give a few brief hints on this branch of the business. Have the hog laid on his back. Clean the carcass of the leaf fat. Take off the feet at the ankle joints. Cut the head of} close to the shoulders ; separate the jowl from the skull, and open the upper part lengthways on the underside so as to remove the brains fully. Remove the backbone in its whole length and with a sharp knife cut off the skin, taking all but about a half inch of fat off the spinal column. The middling or side is now cut from between the quarters, leaving the shoulder square shaped, and the ham pointed, or which may be rounded to suit you. The ribs are next removed partially or entirely from the sides. The fat trim- mings from the hams and flabby parts of the sides are rendered up with the back- bone strip. The sausage meat is cut from between the leaf fat and the ribs ; any other lean pieces are used for the same purpose. The thick part of the backbone being now cut from the tapering bony end you can now proceed to SALTING. When your meat is to be pickled it should be heavily sprinkled with salt and drain for 24 hours. When it is to be pre- pared with dry salt, mix one tea spoonful of pulverized saltpetre to one gallon of salt, and keep it warm beside yon. Cut off a hog's ear, and with it rub every piece of meat with the salt, on the skin side un- til it is moist, then lay it down and rub and cover the flesh part entirely with salt. Pack hams upon hams, and sides upon sides, &c, &-c, for convenience in getting them to hang up at different times, as they will not all be ready at once. It is like- wise best to put the large and small pieces in different divisions. The weather has so much to do with the time that meat re- quires to take salt, that no time can be safely specified. After three weeks fry a piece from the thickest part of a medium sized ham, if salt enough, all pieces small and of the same size are ready for smok- ing, and the larger ones can wait a few days. The jowl and chine are salted in the same way for smoking. The heads after soaking a day and draining well are salted less heavily and used fresh. The backbones and spare ribs are just suffi- ciently salted to keep — the last, if the weather is freezing may be kept quite fresh. The feet may be packed away in salt if not to be immediately used, and will prove almost as good, at any period of the year as when first killed — they are kept thus much better than in pickle, tho' ribs, (when the weather makes much salt necessary) keep sweeter in pickle. Many persons turn over and rub their pork once in a week while it is in salt. We have THE SOUTHERN PLxVNTEE. 689 never practiced it nor ever lost a joint. — And now having trespassed thus far on the gentleman's province we may as well say that when the pork is ready to hang, the raw side should be well sprinkled with cayenne. About the bones especially a good supply should be laid on. The hams hould be hung highest, because there they are least liable to the attacks of insects. — A fire place on the outside, communicating with a smoke flue, is preferable for a meat house to any internal arrangement, be- cause it does not heat the room, which, by the way, is the best if lofty, cool and dark. We give a receipt for pickle for pork, and the English method of curing bacon, and then retrace our steps clear back to the slaughter house, as possibly, you may have to direct some novice there. PICKLE. One gallon of water, one and a half pounds of salt, one-half pound of sugar, or a half pint of molasses, one-half oz. of salt petre, and (one halt' ounce of potash often omitted.) Boil and skim thorough- ly, and pour over the meat perfectly cold. It must remain a month if for bacon ; and if to keep pork all the year, should be boiled over two or three times in the warm months with an additional cup of salt and sugar. ENGLISH BACON. So soon as the meat comes from the butcher's hand, rub thoroughly and fill every crevice with fine salt. Next day scrape off" the salt not absorbed, cleanse out the vessel, salt the pork as the day be- fore, repeat this three days. The fourth day use 'pulverised salt-petre mixed with a handful of common salt, (1-4 lb. of salt-petre to 70 lbs. of meat.) Then mix 1 lb. of coarse brown sugar and 1 pint of common molasses, and pour over the salt-petre — repeat this four times a day for three days and afterwards twice a. day for a month. Then smoke it with maple or hickory, or clean corn cobs. And now to begin with the beginning of our own proper womanly labor. There should be ready an abundant supply of clean hot and cold , water, tubs, buckets, cloths and so on. A long stout table for ridders to stand by and a tray in which to receive the entrails as they fall from the avity of the animal's body. The opener 44 should hang the livers, &c, on a pole to cool for purposes, hereafter mentioned. The iidders should proceed as quickly as possible to their business ; it is easier done while the intestines are warm. The melts and sweet breads are cut off and thrown into some convenient vessel, then clear the maw of fat, next strip the intes- tines, being careful not to cut them and so soil the grease. The thin gauz}^ parts called the veils should be thrown together in one vessel of cold water. The capes into another and the strippings into a third. The maws and large intestines should be opened, emptied, washed clean and put to soak, to be afterwards used for chitterlings or soap grease. The small intestines are saved and cleansed for stuffing sausages. Close your day's labor by having your fat washed again and put in fresh water to soak ; do the same office for your sausage skins and chitterlings. Your first care after this is the lard. Render up the gut-fat first ; having washed it clean, put it into your kettles, separated as the day before, because being of une- qual bulk it will render up unequally, or else cut up the thick parts very small. You may use a brisk fire until the water is out nearly, when the cracknels are brown and crumble easily, or when the lard will sputter when water is dropped in, it is done. Strain it off into a kettle and when cool put it in what vessel you choose — (hot lard will melt tin or leak through the* best wooden vessels.) Leaf lard should be so handled as not to require washing, as water- increases the chances of its spoiling. It should be rendered up slower than gut fat, as it is easier scorched. Always put a ladle of melted lard in the bottom of your kettle instead of water. Cut up your leaf lard into thin pieces and render it to itself. The strip which comes off the back bone and other trimmings should be skinned and cut up small ; they make good lard but render up slowly. The practice of putting ley in lard which begins to prevail, bleaches but impairs its quality. When you have finished your lard throw all your skins and the fat from around the kidneys, which is usually wormy, into a kettle, and render it up as dirty grease. Subject your cracknels to the strongest available pressure; a patent cider press answers well. Save your cracknels carefully. They shorten a favorite corn bread, make the best of soap 600 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. grease and are a remunerating treat to your poultry. SAUSAGES. Wash your sausage meat in tepid water, but do not soak it, see that it is free from bone, gristle, sinews, See, &c. Cut it up in small pieces ; to 3 lbs. of lean meat, allow 1 lb. of the leaf fat; chop or grind it very fine. Mix in this quantity 3 oz. of salt, 1-2 an ounce of pepper and two table spoons of powdered sage. When well mixed, cook one and try it ; it is easy to add seasoning, therefore be cautious in using it. Your sausage will become more salt as it dries. Add any spice you like. Bologna Sausage, is made by using one- third of beet, seasoning more strongly, and boiling after stuffing, before drying. FEET. Under another head, we have said that we consider it best, to salt down the feet instead of pickling. Previous to salting they should be carefully examined, the hoofs taken off, not a hair left ; be scalded, scraped and soaked until perfectly white. If wanted for immediate use they will be ready for boiling after laying a night in salt water. Many persons boil the feet and ears and keep them in cold spiced vinegar, ready to use cold or to fry ; this is termed souse. Others boil the heads and feet until they can be freed from bones, and mash to a pulp ; this is seasoned with salt, pepper and spices, moulded and kept in vinegar and termed pork cheese # SAUSAGE SKINS Are prepared by repeated soakings and washings. Then being turned they are scraped free from the slimy coating, until when blown up they are perfectly trans- parent. They are again soaked in salt water, several days, changing it every day, and are then filled with sausage meat by some of the various implements devised for that purpose. BLACK PUDDINGS Are made by stirring corn meal into the fre^h blood of hogs. It is seasoned with salt, pepper and spices ; stuffed and used as sausages. Chitterlings, are made by cleaning the maw and large intestines of ihe hog. Quick lime will soon enable you to rid them of all the slimy coat. Having soaked and washed them until white and inodorous: you may keep and use them as you would beef tripe. The livers, kidneys, &c, &c, may be all boiled well with sufficient salt to keep, and a strong seasoning of pepper and kept for your fowls all winter. The livers, however, melts, suet, heads, &c, are esteemed table luxuries, and are kept by sprinkling slightly with salt. The maws and larger intestines, with any other tat parts, should be thrown into a kettle of weak ley, and boiled until the grease from them rises to the surface. This grease is useful for soap, wool or farm im- plements. Lastly, the hair of the hog should be saved for mortar, or with proper prepara- tion makes a good mattrass, or with the I bones may be sent to the compost heap. For the Southern Planter. Lard Cured With Soda. To every gallon of lard, before it is wash- ed, put one ounce of Sal Soda, dissolved in one gill of water ; the fat needs no other washing or soaking than that just before being put on to cook, don't fill your pots as full as when cured without soda, as it makes it foam and it will boil over. When the lard is done, it will be as clear as spring water, all the cracknels eaten up, only a small crust on top, which will sink gradu- ally after it is taken off the fire. You get more lard in this way. It also keeps for two years perfectly sweet, is firm during the whole summer, and is most beautifully white when cold. Great caution should be observed as to stirring when nearly done, too much being apt to make the "pot boil over." Mrs. V. has cured her lard by this recipe for three years, and is indebted to Mrs. Julien Harrison, of Goochland, for it, she having procured it fiom Mrs. Peyton Har- rison of Cumberland. From the Country Gentleman. Winter Feed for Milch Cows. Messrs. Editors — I wrote to you some time ago for information in relation to Sav- age's Steam-boiler, and mentioned to you that I was sending milk to New-York by the Harlem railroad, and wanted to find the best way to heat water in sufficient quantities to scald feed for about thirty cows daily, through the winter. THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. C91 In your reply you requested me to write for publication in your papers, my mode of preparing cow feed in winter, and how I feed my cows in summer; and now, after some delay, I will endeavor to comply with your request. In summer, I turn them to pasture, hav- ing a plenty of rough land that is good for little else. In winter, their feed consists of corn, oats and hay. I bring in a portion of my corn in the stout, without husking, when sutliciently dry, and mow it away for win- ter use. I then cut the corn, together with oats in the sheaf, and tread the mix- ture down in a large feed tub, or a hogs- head with one head, and turn on fifty or sixty gallons of boiling water, which sof- tens the corn so that the cows can eat it without making their teeth sore, and the 3ats will be perfectly cooked through, so hat they will all digest. I have one of Daniel's patent feed cut- ers, which I purchased about three years go at R. L. Allen's agricultural ware- ouse and seed store, at 189 and 191 Wa- er st., New York — cost, twenty-five dol-| ars. It is calculated to go by horse power, ! ut is the best hand power cutter I have! ver seen, and when in good order, two nen will cut feed enough in one hour fori ny thirty cows one day, or two feedings.; One hogshead full of feed, well trod! own, will make about thirty pailfuls, or ne feeding for my cows. I feed them wice a day witl> this feed, and they have! ^hat hay they want besides. The advantage that I find in preparing iy feed in this way, over that of thresh- ig and grinding, is — 1st. It is cheaper to ut my oats and corn than to thresh and usk the same — 2d. I save the trouble of arrying my co] n and oats two miles to )ill, and bringing it home again — 3d. I ive the toll which is something of an em — 4th. The whole of the oats, straw, | naff, &c., and the whole of the corn,! alks, husks, cobs, silk and all, is eaten,' Kcept some of the largest butt ends of the akis are left, which I consider no loss, as ey are not fit for any animals to eat — 5th. ' get more milk than I can make out of y feed; and although I have tried node-i lite experiments, I am satisfied that the me quantity of corn and oats prepared ; this way will go about as far again as to resh and grind them, and throw away the straw and chaff, which, fed dry, (in case a cow can be coaxed to eat it,) will only have the effect to dry up her milk. My cows eat their feed greedily, and with two heaping pailfuls a day to each cow, it requires less hay to fill them up, and as each cow gets three or four gallons of water in her scalded feed, night and morn- ing, while standing in her stall, she will not crave so large a quantity of cold water when let out in the morning, as she would if fed on dry provender and hay ; and the chilling effects of cold water taken in large quantities, cannot be very favorable to the making of milk. Corn, to be fed in this way, should be planted not over three feet apart each way, so that the stalks will not be very coarse and the more leafy, and although the ears will not be very large, yet they will pro- bably yield as much weight by the ace as when planted three and a half or four feet apart, and particular care should be taken to have it secured and brought in in good order. The objection to this mode of preparing food, is the trouble and expense of heating water, which I think might be greatly ob- viated by bringing into use some of the newly improved boilers that are advertised for heating houses, &c, with very little time and fuel, and have them so construct- ed as to adapt them to our use. I believe this to be the true way to feed oats to milking cows, but corn prepared in this way does not perfectly digest, and ought to be put into a large boiler, and by standing a few hours over the same fire that it requires simply to boil the water, the kernels will crack open and become perfectly digestible. I have practiced the latter course for two winters past with good success, by using a wooden box with a sheet iron bottom, but it takes rather too much wood, and the box gets dried up and out of order every summer. The object of my former inquiry was to find some kind of a boiler to meet my par- ticular wants, and any information in rela- tion to the subject through the co'umns of The Cultivator, will be thankfully received by a subscriber. H. H. Wassaic, Dutchess Co,, K. Y. Apples which hang on the trees should be knocked off, as they are fruitful sources of rust and other cryptogamic diseases. 692 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER From the Veterinary Journal. Interesting Article on Mules, Mr. Editor— Supposing that little is known among the generality of your readers as to the extent of the mule business in this State, I con- cluded it would not be uninteresting to ces is apt to kick himself out of the har- ness before he stops. There were in this county, in the year 1855,2,000 mules; in 1856, there were 2,888; the number in the county at pres- ent I have no means of ascertaining, but suppose it is at least as great, perhaps greater than in any previous year. The j probabilities are that all of these, or as them to learn concerning it, and something | m were fed in this count each of the character of the beast itself, as I Th / counties immediately around no doubt take it for granted they have not had an fed n as m SQ £ e no doubt mQr % opportunity of learning all his phrenologi- The CQUnties of B J 0Urb Fayette, Clark cat developments or temperament. The mule trade is one of the largest of Kentucky, and affords one of her chief sources of revenue. The increasing de- mand for them in the South, among the Orleans, New York, and other cities with sugar and cotton planters (which is owin; and Jessamine are engaged quite as exten- sively in the trade as this. Besides the great number of mules fed annually in these counties, we supply New an immense amount of beef, mutton and no doubt to the great number of farms an- 1 bacon. These facts being considered, you nually being opened,) affords a very easy may readily imagine that we must, of ne- solution for the eagerness and extent to icessity, be a grain growing people. Such which stock growers launch into the trade, |is the fact. Yet so extensive is the mule for it is a very heavy business, requiring business, and so great are profits upon a great deal of capital. The mule is fed 'feeding, that those engaged in the trade from weaning time (which is generally at j can afford to give 40 cts. per bushel for the age of five or six months,) to the full; corn, at least they say so, and cannot get extent of its capacity to eat, and that too jit for less. on oats and corn, together with hay and In this portion of Kentucky, a lot ofi fodder. In lieu of the long food, soiling mules is almost considered a legal tender; is usually adopted in the summer, as they i no man is afraid to buy mules at a little are kept confined in a pound or paddock, j less than he thinks they are worth if he i containing an acre or two of ground, which ; has anything to feed them on, for he knows is usually partially shaded, in herds of one jthat some buyer will come along in a few hundred and fifty. In this way they are days and pay him a small profit on the; kept until the fall alter they are two years first cost and the grain they have eaten. — old, receiving a sort of forcing, hot house It is not unusual for a farmer to borrow treatment. At this age they are taken to money out of banks on four or six months'; the southern market, not always by the 'time, to pay for a lot of mules to eat up! feeder, but more generally by the specu-lhis surplus of provender, knowing that it lator # or "trader," there they are sold to is more profitable to do so than to sell the the planter entirely unbroken. The plan- \ surplus at home. ters are too cautious to buy a broke mule, I As a consequence of this great mania, J lest it should prove to be an antiquated, I if it might be so called, and which has broken down beast, fattened up, and sold now existed for several years, good horses for a young one, — as it is more difficult to 1 have become comparatively scarce, saddle 1 judge of their ages than that of a horse, j and harness horses commanding the most The external marks of time, and service 'exorbitant prices, the sports of the turf is not generally so apparent upon them But it is a small job to break a mule. It is only necessary to have a steady horse to work them with and a second hand to drive them an hour or two to keep him up, after which, he is considered ready for any ser- vice that the farmer may require ot him. He may kick once or twice, but is unlike the spirited horse, who when lie commen- were in a perfectly collapsed state, the best stallions were poorly patronized, and mares of finest form, the purest strain and most brilliant escutcheon, were basely " prostituted to the forced and ignoble em-i braces of the assinine ravisher." The average price of weanlings is about $75. No. 1 from S80 to $90, and extra, often as high as $120. A lot will often THE SOUTHERN PLANTER Gtt change hands as often as a dozen times before they are ready for market. Year- lings will average, I suppose, about $100, owing in a great extent, however, to their quality. At two years' old they will bring $125 or $130, if they are average select lots, more. A neighbor of mine is feed- ing a lot of one hundred, for which I am told he has refused $175 around. But this is an extra lot, no doubt the best lot in Kentucky. The same gentleman gave a short time ago $300 for a two year old to work to his sulky, and is working to his farm four, for which I am told he paid $200 each. Another gentleman of this county sold a short time ago, a two year old mare mule for $400. But these are fancy prices for fancy mules. There is a small and inferior class of animals that is considered a sort of dead heads, and which the feeder won't buy if offered alone, and these are ones usually found in service on the farms. Until forced by the scarcity and high price of horses, the Kentuckians would not use mules. But within the last few years they have become common on the farm, pulling the plough and wagon, and occasionally a clever pair is seen in the carriage, some of them are pretty glib goers for an hour or two, when they get lazy and they will then take the lash "like a male." Persons who have tried them on their farms are better pleased with them they say, than they thought they would be. — They never get sick, rarely ever get lame, will do as much work as a horse which will cost twice as much money, and at the same time subsist on less and more infe- rior food, for a mule will work very well on wheat straw and corn shucks, whereas the horse must have grain as well as a good allowance of long food. They are better for our servants to handle, as they can stand neglect and violent treatment better than the horse, and a blemish, such as the loss of an eye does not impair his value as much as that of the horse. As to their temperament and peculiari- ties it is useless to say much, f he world knows pretty much what that is. He is not so apt to run as the horse but more apt to kick. He is fond of company, is deci- dedly gregarious, and his attachments are quite as strong when once formed as those of the horse. It is almost impossible to confine one away from an associate. He will climb over the fence if practicable like a dog, or if more practicable creep through a crack, or worm himself under it like a pig. An acquaintance of mine told me that he was once in the habit of work- ing a pair together, but on one occasion wishing to use but one, he confined the other in a close stable, where as he thought, he would be compelled to remain. But on his return, he found to his astonishment, that the perverse beast had ascended into the hay loft, which enterprising feat it had accomplished by first getting into the trough, thence through the hole left for throwing the hay into the manger. The circumstance forcibly reminded him of the fact that the "Best laid schemes of mice and men Aft gang aglee." And at the same time convinced him that if perseverance will not overcome all things, it will at least surmount a great many seemingly unsurmountable obsta- cles. B. MUNROE, Woodford County, Ky. A Farmer's Library. Dr. Johnson being once asked "whom he deemed the most miserable, replied, " The man who cannot entertain himself with a book on a rainy day." Were the question put, What farmers are likely to make the most rapid progress and improvement in husband- ry? the answer would be, other things being equal, those who read most on the subject of their vocation. A man who reads little, no matter'what his vocation is, will be likely to think little, and act chiefly with reference to tradition received from former generations, or else in imitation of what is going on about him. There is always hope of a man who loves reading, study and reflection. Not all who buy books liberally, and patronize the press generously, are readers. There is a class of fancy book buyers, who purchase freely and expensively, but who read little and profit nothing from the stores of knowledge Measur- ed up in their libraries. Fine collections of books nicely arranged on shelves may beget desires of covetousness, but can impart little or nothing, only as they are read, studied, and referred to. Every farmer, whether rich or poor, learned or unlearned, should have a collection of books on agriculture, horticulture, and the several subjects more or less intimately connected with the objects of his special pursuit. A few good books, costing but little, should beginning of the farmer's library. 694 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. Mr. Fitzhugh Catlett is our authorized agent (at Guiney's Depot, Caroline County,) to receive money for us, and to give receipts. New subscribers are requested to leave their names with him, daily, if not ofiener. Mr. Geo. C. Reid is our Agent in Norfolk, Virginia. F. N. Watkins, Esq'r., at the office of the Farmers Bank of Va., at Farmville, is 'our authorized Agent to receive money due for sub- scriptions to this paper and to grant receipts therefor. Our subscribers in Prince Edward and the counties adjacent will please call on him. Major Philip Williams is our authorized agent to receive subscriptions, and give re- ceipts for us. See his card in our advertising sheet. Oar subscribers in Washington City, and Georgetown, D. C, will confer a favor on us by settling their bills with him. August & Williams. Col. Davis says the rot is produced by pres- sure, and begins in the bottom centre of the pile, gradually fresh potatoes come into imme- diate contact with the rotten ones until it spreads through the pile just as a little leaven leavens the whole lump. The remedy is to take off the pressure — so in- stead of making them into piles, they are pack- ed away on shelves which are eighteen inches apart. These shelves may be nailed up to a common piece of studding 3x4 inches thick. — This studding should be boarded inside and out with common plank, and filled in between with pulverized charcoal, tan-bark, dry sand, or any warm, dry substance. Potatoes thus stored away on shelves made in this manner, in a dry warm cellar, will keep until they dry up into mummies. When potatoes are dug, they should not be '•'piled up" before they are dry, or otherwise upon being cooked, they will taste as if badly frosted, even before any frost has fallen to af- fect them. Keeping Sweet Potatoes. We are indebted to our friend, Col. J. Lu- cius Davis of Henrico county, for the details of a discovery of his in regard to the proper. treat- ment of sweet potatoes in store, which will af- ford a new idea to our potatoe raisers, as well as give them a piece of -information which we believe will be worth to them more than five years' subscription to the Planter (which is only $2 a year), and we trust they will all profit by it. One of our subscribers told us he made last year a very fine crop, but lost a large por- tion of it by the rot occurring after they were stored away. They are worth taking care of from the fact that they sell well, and are among the very best of all the vegetables for table use. They are equal to almost the same quantity of bread —they make a first rate pie, and eaten hot with a plenty of butter and good rich milk, they are good and acceptable to almost every body any hour in the twenty-four. HEW BOOKS. Maury's Wind and Current Charts. Our thanks are most respectfully tendered to Lieut. Maury, superintendent of the United States Observatory, &c, for the first volume, eighth edition, of his great work, entitled Ex- planations and Sailing Directions, to accompa- ny the Wind and Current Charts, approved by Capt. D. N. ingraham, Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography, and published by authority of lion. Isaac Toucy, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, 1858. It would be the height of presumption were we to attempt, with our short line, to take the soundings, or to fathom the depths of this learned work on meteorological science — the fruit of unnumbered facts and observations, collected with immense labor, and generalized with such accurate — we had almost said match- less discrimination, as most clearly to develop the great natural laws which " the wind and the sea obey," and by the promulgation of which millions have already been saved and added to the wealth of nations through the in- creased expedition and safety imparted to the movements of commerce. Wc can but render to genius the profound homage of our admiration for the ability dis- played in the production of this work, while, as THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. G05 comparative babes in knowledge, we draw the pure milk of instruction from its pages and gratefully acknowledge our indebtedness to its distinguished author for introducing us into new fields" of thought and reflection — of in- tellectual enjo3^ment and moral improvement, to be derived from the contemplation of the "unsearchable" "depth, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God" — the Supreme Me- chanist, as displayed in the wonderful adjust- ment of the grand machinery of nature, — the nice adaptation of all its parts, mutually to subserve each other in the perfect order, har- mony and beauty of their operation, in accor- dance with the general laws which govern their relations. Phelp's Bee-Keepers Chart : A Practical Treatise on the instincts, habits and manage- ment of the Honey-Bee, drc. New York : A. 0. Moore, Publisher, p. p. 96, 1858. This little manual, by E. W. Phelps the in- ventor and patentee of the Ohio Combination Bee- Hive, is designed as an accompanyment of it, to give practical and full instruction on the treatment of Bees. One of these hives is in full operation in the window of the Agricultu- ral Office adjoining ours, and affords an agreea- ble subject of examination to numerous visi- tors. The proprietors of this paper are agents for the sale of the hives. New England Chattels : Or, Life in the Northern Poorhouse. New York : II. Day- ton, Publisher. The above is the title of a fictitious narra- tive which, leaning to one extreme, may very well serve as a foil to Uncle Thorn's Cabin, which represents the other. It is designed to expose an evil said to exist in some of the towns or parishes of New England in relation to the manner of providing by contract for the support of that class of indigent persons who, by reason of old age or other infirmity, are un- able to earn a livelihood, and are therefore de- pendent on public beneficence for their mainte- nance. The revolting idea of seeking to di- minish the public charge, by contracting within the narrowest limits the comforts and privi- leges of this unfortunate class of fellow-beings whose forlorn condition pathetically appeals to public kindness and pity is represented as (in effect) an approved principle of public policy in some of the New England townships. The competition of cupidity is enlisted by inviting proposals, or by instituting an auction-scram- ble for the privilege of maintaining, the town paupers. They are publicly cried out in either event to the lowest bidder, and surrendered as chattels to the tender mercy of the successful competitor, who seeks remuneration for his outlay in the largest amount of labor, which can be wrung out of them by such expedients of cruelty and oppression as the greed of avarice may suggest, while grudgingly al- lowing them the scant provision for their physical wants which falls within the limits of the small aggregate of money for which he has bound himself to support them. " Go gladly, with true sympathy, Where want's pale victims pine, And bid life's sweetest smiles again Along their pathway shine. Oh, heavily doth poverty Man's noble instincts bind ; Yet sever not that chain, to cast A sadder on the mind." The North Carolina Planter. The Editor of this paper, in an address to the Agriculturists of the State of North Caro- lina — which we copy below — distinctly informs his patrons that if they desire the continuance of his paper, "the number of subscribers must be greatly increased." Will the intelli- gent and patriotic Farmers and Planters of the Old North State suffer this excellent paper to languish or die, for the want of adequate support ? Do they not owe it to themselves to sustain a home organ, (and where will they find a better,) for the advocacy of their inter- ests, and for the dissemination of knowledge on those branches of husbandry in which, if they are not in advance of the age, they must all feel a conscious need? Who among them possessed of a particle of State pride, or enter- taining a kind sentiment towards his neighbour, that would prompt him to a trifling sacrifice to promote his good, can refuse the mere pit- tance demanded of him for such purpose ? Especially, when it is remembered, that, the benefit conferred, will react in blessings upon himself in "good measure, pressed down, and running over," while he will instrumentally contribute to the common weal in helping to erect a fountain of knowledge, which will send forth its healing streams to enrich and bless the .State ! For very shame, gentlemen,, double the sub- 096 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, scriptiou list of your Planter, and for the love of well-doing increase it five-fold ! ! You will feel all the better for it ! We heard of a wealthy gentleman who was bewailing to a friend, the determination of a very talented son-in-law, (of whom he was justly proud,) to remove to a distant part of the country for the purpose of bettering his pecuniary fortune. " He is right to go away," answered his friend. " lie has been waiting on you for years, and you have done nothing to- wards meeting his just expectations. He is of course right, in determining to leave you. But, if you wish to intercept his purpose, provide for him according to your ability and his mer- it?, and my life upon it he will not leave you." It was done. The removal was arrested. In a short time afterwards, the father-in-law ac- knowledged to his friend that he had found the greatest satisfaction in following his advice. "Would you double your satisfaction?" re- joined his friend. "Then just double your benefaction !" But to the address. " TO THE PLANTERS OF NORTH CAROLINA. "At the instance of numerous Agricultur- ists of the State, the undersigned was induced to commence the publication of the North Carolina Planter, a copy of which you have before you. On the 1st of January last, the first number was issued, and it has continued to make its appearance regularly, the first of each month, since that time. " Both the other Agricultural Periodicals — ' The Arator/ and the ' Carolina Cultivator' — had been discontinued ; and it was deemed highly important to the great Agricultural in- terests of the State, that a home organ should exist in North Carolina. Notwithstanding the failure of every other enterprise of the kind, we determined to try the experiment, and see if North Carolina Planters would support one journal, devoted especially and exclusively to their interests. " We secured the services of highly compe- tent gentlemen to take charge of the Horticul- tural, Pomological and Botanical department of the Planter, — and have been fortnnate in secur- ing contributions from several intelligent, prac- tical Farmers in furnishing editorial and com- municated articles upon the general subject of Agriculture ; and have enlisted the aid of our able and scientific State Geologist, Prof. E. Emmons, in advancing the enterprise by valu- able contributions from his pen. We have pub- lished a much neater and more tastily gotten up Periodical than any of its predecessors; and yet after all these efforts to get up a first-class North Carolina Agricultural periodical, at the low 1 rice of one dollar per annum, we find, at near ly the close of the year, less than a thousand subscribers' names on our books. " We lay these facts before those interested in the continuance of our publication, and will simply add, if they desire its continuance, the number of subscribers must be greatly increas- ed. We ought to have five thousand subscri- bers ; but if we can get two thousand to begin the next year with, it will be at least a guaranty that it will besustained, and will justify us in making/ the improvements we desire for the ensuing-year. " It remains now to be seen whether the Farmers and others in the State, interested in its continuance, will give us their aid in in- creasing its circulation. The times for holding our State and County Fairs is near at hand. It will be inpossible for us to attend all of them, but if a few friends, at each of them, will ex- ert themselves a little, our list can be increased hundreds, and perhaps thousands. Some will, help us, we trust, freely, from a sincere desire to promote the Agricultural interests of the State in which they live, and in which they are so interestedly identified ; and we are willing to allow a liberal per centage to others who will energetically press the claims of the Plan- ter. We have no doubt an industrious man can make several dollars per day at these Fairs, by soliciting subscribers for the N. C. Planter. We offer twenty per cent, on all sub- scription money sent us, and hope to have several Agents operating for us, at each and all the Fairs in the State. " A. M. GORMAN." Milch Cows and Dairy Parming. The reader's attention is invited to the ad- vertisement of a new work on the above sub- ject, by C. L. Flint, Secretary of the Massa- chusetts Board of Agriculture, and published by J. B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia, and A. 0. Moore, New York. 1858. The book is a 12 mo of 416 pp., fully and liberally illustrated, and comprises the breeds of stock, and especially the dairy breeds, the principles of breeding, the selection of milch cows, with a full and complete explanation of Guenon's Method, the feeding and management of dairy stock, the raising of calves, the cul- ture of grass and forage plants, a treatise on the dairy husbandry of Holland, (where this branch is made a specialty and is carried to great perfection,) HorsfaH's dairy management in England, &c, &c. Our Own Paper. We have witnessed with deep sensibility the kindness of our brethren of the press in their too flattering notices of the Southern Planter since our accession to the Editorial chair. THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 09^ Emory's Journal of Agriculture and the Prairie Farmer. The above Journals, hitherto maintaining a separate existence, have been united by the transfer of the entire interest of the Messrs. Medill in the last named paper with its good will, to Messrs. Emory & Co. " Ry the union of the Journal and Farmer," say the Editors, " we shall have a wider range of experience and experiments to assist us. We ask for the continuance of that con- fidence and support that has so long been given to the Old Prairie Farmer" We hope the appeal of the Editors will not be disregarded, and that all concerned may find reciprocal advantage in the change. The character of the paper, judging from its ante- cedents, will doubtless be such as to entitle it to a generous support. We have received the Catalogue of the Ag- ricultural Library in the office of the Secreta- ry of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture; an octavo pamphlet of 29 pp. Boston. 1858. Containing a valuable variety of standard, use- ful and instructive works on Agricultural and Cognate Sciences, and on Stock Raising, Prac- tical Husbandry, &c. We desire to express our grateful sense of the kindness of C. L. Flint, Esq., the Secretary, in sending it to us, and to commend to the notice of the State and dis- trict Societies of Virginia the importance of taking measures for the gradual accumulation of similar works. The Proprietor, Franklin Davis, Esq., has furnished us" with the "Descriptive Catalogue of Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Evergreens, Flowering Shrubs, Vines, &c, cultivated and for sale at the Staunton Nurseries, Staunton, Virginia, 1858." See Ms advertisement. Henry R. Robey, Proprietor, has also fur- nished us with the " Catalogue of Fruits, or- namental Trees, .Evergreens, Flowering Shrubs, Plants, Roses, &c., &c, cultivated and for sale at the Hopewell Nurseries, near Fredericks- burg, Virginia." See his advertisement in our advertising columns. We have received a list of the premiums of the Seaboard Agricultural Society. The exhi- tion comes off on the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th of November next. We are indebted to the courtesy of the Secretary, for an invitation to the Fair, of which, we hope to be able to avail ourselves. Agricultural Agency. We publish a letter from Samuel Sands. Esq., (the retired veteran of the American Farmer) in our present number. Mr. Sands will purchase for the farmers anything they may want in Baltimore, machinery, guano of every sort, and improved stock of every de- scription. We wish him much, success. To Postmasters and Others. We are satisfied, that with proper exertion, any person who will interest himself for us, will be able to make up a list of new subscri- bers for the " Planter," in almost any neigh- borhood, in this or any other of the Southern States. We offer, as an inducement to those who are disposed to aid and encourage us in our efforts to extend the circulation of this paper, the following premiums in addition to our hitherto published terms: To any person who will send us clubs of 3 new subscribers and $6, — The So. Planter for 1857. G new subscribers and $12, — The So. Planter for 1857 and '58. 9 new subscribers and $18, — The So. Planter for 1857, '58 and 7 59, 15 new subscribers aud $30, — The So. Planter for 1857, '58 and '59, and a copy of the Southern Literary Messenger for one year. To single new subscribers we will send thd present volume, (commencing with the number for January, 1858,) at the low price of $1 50, paid in advance. We call upon every one interested in promo- ting the progress and improvement of agricul- ture, to lend us his aid in contributions of original articles on practical or scientific agri- culture, in order that our paper may continue to be worthy of the confidence and support of those who have hitherto so liberally sustained it, and to whose interests its pages will con- tinue to be zealously devoted. August & Williams. We invite the attention of our readers to the interesting essay on the Physical Properties of Soils, &c, by Prof. Johnson of Yale College. 698 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, To Subscribers. In consequence of the change in the Propri- etorship of the " Southern Planter," it is very important that our subscribers should remit the amount of their indebtedness with as little delay as possible. The amount due from each subscriber is in itself comparatively trifling, but in the aggre- gate it makes up a very large sum, and if each subscriber will consider this as a direct appeal to himself, and promptly remit the amount of his bill, it will be of infinite service to us. We commence sending with this number the bill to each, subscriber who is in arrear, and shall continue to do so until all shall have been sent out. We ask, as a favor, a prompt re- sponse from all. The bills are made up to 1st January next. The fractional part of a dollar can be remitted in postage stamps, or the change returned in the same. August & Williams. To the Editor of the Southern Planter : Dear Sir I — You can safely recommend to your "lady friend," who asks you for "a remedy for the roaches," the " Vermin and In- sect Exterminator," of which I send herewith the printed label of the proprietors. It has been used in my family several years, and we have found it very effectual in destroy- ing roaches and mice, and in driving off rats, (many of whom it probably kills.) It can be readily procured in Portland, Maine, by any of your druggists, who will, I think, find a ready sale for a faithful extermi- nator of vermin and insects. Yours most respectfully, ED. T. TAYLOE. Powhatan Hill, Sept. 20th, 1858. [The above specific is entitled Parsons & Co.'s "Vermin and Insect Exterminator." It is war- ranted to destroy rats, mice, cockroaches, ants and other insects. The label directs the manner of using it, and is signed Chas. Parsons & Co. It can be obtained through any of the prin- cipal druggists of Richmond. Editor.] Farmer's and Planter's Agency. Baltimore, Sept. 20th, 1858. It may be interesting to many of your read- ers to learn that, in a day or two, the Peruvian agents in this city will resume the sale of their guano, which a month or more ago they sus- pended. They had a stock on hand at New York, which, it is supposed, they wished to close up, and accordingly gave notice to deal- ers that, when their stocks were sold, they would be obliged to obtain their future supplies for the season at New York. But the demand has been very limited this season — the high price of the article, and the inability of the farmers to buy in consequence of the shortness of their crops, has caused a very small amounts to be sold this fall, thus far, to what has~Ueen disposed of heretofore at this season of the year — and most of those who are using it, are buying the phosphatic guanoes to mix with it — which, no doubt, is the best plan to use it. The price, from this date, will be $1 per ton less than it has been selling at for the past month, as the dealers had, generally, put it up to that amount, expecting when their supplies were out, to send to New York for more I quote it at $56 per ton of 2000 pounds in small lots — best A. A. Mexican Guano $25 per ton of 2240 pounds. Navassa or Brown Colombian $28 per ton of 2240 pounds. Elide or Califor- nia do $40 per ton 2000 pounds. Manipula- ted, Reese's or Kettlewell's, $47 per 2000 pounds. All accounts concur in regard to the shortness of the crop of wheat in the United States. In Maryland it will not be more than a third of a crop, and, so far as I have heard from your State, it will not, I think, be any bet- ter with those sections which have their princi- pal trade with our city. White wheat was sell- ing to-day at 'Change at$l 25@,$1 35 cts. for fair to good, $1 40@$1 48 for prime, and $1 50@,$1 55 for choice family flour parcels ; Red $1 25@$1 28 cts. for fair to good, and is in de- mand. Corn is also in request, sales to-day at 78@80 cts. for good to prime parcels of white, and 90@;.9L cts. for yellow. Maryland oats 38 @44 cts., Pennsylvania, 45@,46. Rye, West Virginia. 82, Maryland 70(rt)72 cts., and Penn- svlvania 85@87 cts. Flour, Howard St. and Ohio, $5 50, and City Mills $5 37 per barrel. Rye Flour $4 25@4 50, and Corn Meal at $4 25@$4 37. Respectfully yours, SAM'L SANDS. For the Southern Planter. On Centre Draught. Dear Planter : Can you not aid me in awakening in the minds of the community generally, and of the farmers in particular, an interest in the proper mode of gearing horses and mules to the dif- ferent vehicles and implements to which they arc daily worked ? Would the community think me a madman if I were to assert, that at least one-fourth of the power of the teams used, independent of the injury done them, is lost by being improperly geared? There is a certain line of traction — the center-draught line, upon which, if the animal is so geared as that he can exert his power accurately upon it, he cannot only carry a much greater burthen, but carry it with much greater ease to him- THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 699 self, while he will be protected from the gauls so common among work-horses and mules. My object, at present, is not to discuss particularly that center draft-line, and how to obtain it, but simply to call attention to the fam itself. I wish also to call attention to the erroneous mode of hitching horses and mules to the shafts of carts instead of to a swingle- tree, as is done to buggies, wagons, &c. I have but a moment to write, and therefore will waive the discussion and explanation of the mode, or advantages hinted at. Indeed, if I had ample time, I think it would be better first, to excite, if possible, a curious interest in the subject, and then gratify it. For the pres- ent I leave the subject in your hands, and will wait to see if the farmers do really feel an in- terest in the matter referred to. Yours truly, OBSERVER. Remarks. — We hope our friend W. will con- tinue his observations on all agricultural mat- ters and give our readers the benefit of his ex- perience and teaching. We knoio him to be a keen and careful " observer," and a thoroughly practical man in every respect. It is from just such men that we expect to derive benefit in farming, and we have no doubt our readers will be glad to hear from "Observer" fre- quently. For the Planter. "Bots" or "Grubs" In Horses. Dear Planter : I hand you a recipe for entirely destroying "Grubs" or "Bots" in horses. It is furnished me by a friend who is very skilful in veterina- ry matters. Take of Indigo, half oz. . " Molasses, " pint. " Water, one quart. Mix these well together in a bottle, and drench the horse with it. I am assured that after taking this drench, the horse will begin, in ten or twelve hours, to pass the worms from 'the bowels, and that it will certainly " knock them blue." Origin of Brandy. Brandy began to be distilled in France about the year 1313, but it was prepared only as a medicine, and was considered as possessing such marvelous strengthing and sanitary pow- ers, that the physicians named it " the water of life," [V eau de vie,) a name it still retains, though now rendered, by excessive potations, one of life's most powerful destroyers. Raymond Lully, a disciple of Arnald Villa Nova, considered this admirable essence of wine to be an emination from the Divinity, and that it was intended to reanimate and prolong the life of man. He even thought that this discovery indicated that the time had ar- rived for the consummation of all things — the end of the world. Before the means of deter- mining the true quantity of alcohol in spirits were known, the dealers were in the habit of employing a. very rude method of forming a notion of the strength. A given quantity of the spirits was poured upon a quantity of gun- powder in a dish and set on fire. If at the end of the combustion the gunpowder contin- ued dry enough it exploded, but if it had been wetted by the water in the spirits, the flame of the alcohol went out without setting the powder on fire. This was called the proof. Spirits which kindled gunpowder were said to be above proof. From the origin of the term "proof," it is obvious that its meaning must at first have been very indefinite. It could serve only to point out those spirits which are too weak to kindle gunpowder, but could not give any in- formation respecting the relative strength of those spirits which were above proof. Even the strength of proof was not fixed, because it was influenced by the quantity of spirits employed — a small quantity of weaker spirits might be made to kindle gunpowder, while a greater quantity of stronger might fail. Clark, in his hydrometer, which was invent- ed about 1830, fixed the strength of proof spirits on the stem at the specific gravity of 0920 at the temperature of 60 degrees. This is the strength at which proof spirit is fixed in Great Britain by act of Parliament, and at this strength it is no more than a mixture of 49 pounds of pure alcohol with 51 pounds of wa- ter. Brandy, rum, gin, and whiskey, contain nearly similar proportions. Scientific American. From the Cotton Planter and Sod of the South. Untie the Hame String*. Dr. Cloud: Dear Sir. — Not a year passes but what we hear of some negro being thrown from his mule or horse, going to or from the field, his feet hanging in the traces, and getting killed, or badly injured — perhaps for life. I have thought for five or six years past that I would give, through some agricultural Journal, a remedy for these disasters, which never Jails j to prevent all accidents of this sort, but kept forgetting it ; being reminded of it only when I would hear of some unfortunate plowman being thrown and badly mangled. Had I dona so sooner, it might have saved the life of some one now in his grave. I now give the remedy without charge, but beg " everybody and the rest of mankind" to adopt it at once. Never permit a negro to get zipon the hack of a mule ' 700 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. or horse, under any circumstances whatever, with the hame string tied — if they do, whip them without fail. Then if they are thrown from their animals, and they get tangled with the chains, negro and gear all come to the ground together, nine times out of ten. Remember it everybody. Yours, &c, G. D. Harmon. From the Ohio Cultivator. The Sewing Machine. Among the departments of labor towhich the attention of inventive genius has been turned, resulting in the production of labor saving machines, we are glad to know the department belonging more especially to women, has not been passed by. The sphere of labor, which seems to fall natu- rally to the lot of woman, is composed of an unceasing round of duties, the majority of which, perhaps, considered singly, ap- pear trivial, yet when performed faithfully by the patient housewife, leave her little or no time for rest, intellectual enjoyment, or mental culture, and often prove too much for her physical strength. As a wife, she has no time to cultivate her mind and acquire knowledge fitting her to be a social companion for her husband, or, as a mo- ther, to implant the germs of knowledge in the minds of her children, and lead them forth in the paths of moral and in- tellectual advancement. One thing which weighs most heavily upon the hands of the housewife, is her family sewing. Every moment of time which she can spare from her active la- bors, must be devoted to the needle. Stitching, toiling, often late into the night, robbing her system of its needed rest, she manages to clothe her family in garments which her own busy fingers have fashion- ed. How many a noble woman has struggled and toiled, rearing a large family, who, when they no longer required her care, beheld her frail, over-wrought form, trem- bling on the verge of the grave, and the existence, which might have been prolong- ed far down the pleasant slope of a peace- ful old age, brought to an untimely close.! But a remedy for the evil has been pre- sented to woman, in the Sewing Machine. It takes the work from her weary fingers, which would occupy them for long, weary hours, and completes it in a few brief min- utes, performing the labor of weeks in a few days, it gives to woman, leisure for recreation and intellectual pursuits : thus enabling her to elevate herself to a posi- tion in which she can be a social compan- ion for her educated husband, a guide, in the paths of knowledge, to her children, and be respected in society, as well for her wisdom and intelligence, as for her wo- manly graces and attractions. The time will yet come, when the Sew- ing Machine will be as essential an article of household furniture as the cooking- stove, and the long, weary task of family sewing will be but little more than a pleas- ing pastime. Ellie Watson. West field, Sept., 1S58. From the Eural New Yorker. Hints on Farm Improvement. "How can I improve my farm — how can I increase its symmetry, fertility, and capacity for profitable cultivation ?" asks the progressive farmer, and the question receives his earnest and frequent consid- eration. He studies the condition of his farm, and its facilities for improvement, with an eye to putting it into the highest state of productiveness within his reach. He looks to its adaptation to different pro- ducts, and to the best means of preparing for large returns from those suited to its capacity ; not by the twilight of tradition alone, but in the sunshine of modern ag- ricultural literature, an aid to which he gratefully acknowledges his obligations. Every farmer should study thus — should earnestly seek to make the best of the means and opportunities he possesses. One of the first questions — to take prac- tical particulars — to be considered is this : " Do I avail myself of every means within my reach to increase my stock of manure ? Do I give care and labor to this object, commensurate with its importance in fur- thering the ends proposed?" If so, the ground and basis of farm improvement is laid. Tf not, let the matter receive great- er attention, resting assured that a reason- able amount of labor in this department will be well rewarded, and cannot be with- held without great prejudice to progress. The division of the farm into fields of an extent appropriated to the amount of manure made in any year, should be ac- complished. Especially should this be the case, on all farms where a mixed husband- THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. Ty is practiced. The true way to put a farm into good order is, take one or more fields, each year, and finish up the work. J^ence it well, clear it of stones and stumps, unblerdrain if needed, manure it heavily, and Yplant to corn and potatoes. These, carefully cultivated, will leave the land in good, condition for a grain crop, and seed- ing to clover and other grasses, and this course followed from field to field, with good management of every crop, will put a new face on any of " our common run" of farms. Upon the amount of manure should de- pend the size of our fields — at any rate, it should be our aim to give each field the quantity, which will enable it to grow a large crop. It is poor policy to attempt the cultivation of more land than we can fully fertilize and thoroughly cultivate. We mention corn, as a first crop, because it is one well suited to the place — one not injured by any amount of manure, fresh or fermented, which can be applied — one which can receive that culture necessary to clear the land of weeds, and one hav- ing no deleterious influence on any after crop. From a field so treated, we took fifty bushels of shelled corn per acre ; the next year, a good crop of barley; and, the clover seed not taking well from drought, had the season following, with a light dress- ing of manure — twenty-five bushels of wheat (the midge took ten of it) — and the present year, two tons of hay per acre, with a luxuriant second crop now on the ground. It may be that a field needs underdraw- ing, the whole or in part, in order to profi- table cultivation. Why should not this be done — this small field which we would de- vote to corn, and which, with draining, will become one of the best on the farm ? Let us not leave this part of farm im- provement unperformed. Its results will be returned for many years in largely in- creased productiveness. It will be taken from the list of hazardous in reward, and be placed among the certainties in pro- duct — no longer demanding a peculiar season and culture in order to the remu- neration of the labor bestowed upon it. — Almost every farm has fields of this char- acter — fields sure for good culture to -re- turn good crops, whatever the season — and almost every farm has those which fail frequently, however much labor may v be bestowed, because the season does not suit them — and the grand difference in soil and character lies in the fact that one is porous and friable from drainage, natural or artificial, while the other is hard and sterile from want of drainage — from the presence or effects of stagnant water in the soil. The present is a good time to begin the work — to look about for materials for in- creasing the manure heap — for clearing off stone — for draining — for making be- ginning and putting the whole farm in its highest state of productiveness. Hints to Farmers. Toads are the best protection of cabbage against lice. Plants, when drooping, are revived by a few grains of camphor. Pears are generally improved by graft- ing on the mountain ash. Sulphur is valuable in preserving grapes, etc., from insects. Lard never spoils in warm weather if it is cooked enough in frying out. Of feeding corn, sixty pounds ground go as far as one hundred pounds in the kernel. Corn meal should never be ground very fine, as it injures the richness of it. Turnips of small size contain more nu- tritious matter, in proportion, than large ones. Rats and other vermin are kept away from grain by the sprinkling of garlic when packing the sheaves. Money expended in drying land by draining or otherwise, will be returned with ample interest. To cure scratches on a horse, wash their legs with warm soap suds, and then with beef brine — two applications will cure the worst case. Timber, when cut in the spring, and, exposed to the weather with the bark on, decays much sooner than if cut in the fall. Wild onions may be destroyed by culti- vating corn, plowing and leaving the corn in the plowed state all the winter. Snow-Ball Pudding. — Pare and core large, mellow apples, and enclose them separately in a cloth spread with boiled rice; boil them one hour; dip them in cold water before turning out. Serve them with cream sauce. 702 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. Keeping the Teeth Clean, Microscopical examinations have been made of the matter deposited on the teeth and gums of more than forty individuals, selected from all classes of society, in every variety of bodi- ]y condition ; and in nearly every case, animal and vegetable parasites in great numbers, have been discovered. Of the animal parasites there were three or four species, and of the vegeta- ble one or two. In fact the only persons whose mouths were found to be completely free from them, cleaned their teeth four times daily, using soap once. One or two of these individu- als also passed a thread between the teeth, to cleanse them more effectually. In all cases the number of the parasites was greater in pro- portion to the neglect of cleanliness. The effect of the application of various agents was also noticed. Tobacco, juice and smoke did not injure their vitality in the least. The same was true of chlorine tooth wash, of pulverized bark, of soda, ammonia, and various other popular detergents. The application of soap, however, appeared to destroy them instantly. We may hence infer that this is the best and most proper specific for cleansing the teeth. In all cases where it has been tried, it receives unqualified commendation. It may also be proper to add that none but the purest white soap, free from discoloration, should be used. [Ohio Valley Farmer. Falling" Fruit. The apples, pears and plums are beginning to drop plentifully from the trees. Every one that thus drops is unsound, and has fallen from disease. We are convinced that the in- creased destruction year by ye*ar caused by the curculio and grub, is mainly owing to the ex- cellent accommodations they are permitted to occupy undisturbed in the fallen fruit which lies upon the ground. The progefiy of the in- sects the next year do ample credit in the way of numbers, to the neglect which allow- ed their undisturbed increase. The pig-sty is the best place for all fruit that falls diseased from the tree. The incipient curculio that finds its way in the recesses of an apple to the domains of Monsieur Grunter, will never eat apples hereafter. famine that's staring my eyet Man alive ! isn't it beggin' I am with a hundred tongues !" The Tongues of Poverty. When Leitch Ritchie was travelling in Ire- land, he passed a man who was a painful spec- tacle of palor, squalor and raggedness. His heart smote him and he turned back : "ii you are in *Waut," said Ritchie, with some degree of peevishness, "why don't you beg?" " Sure it's begging I am, yer honor." " You didn't say a word." "Ov course not, yer honor ; but see how the skj^jiispeakin' through the holes of me trow- ■iuok at me sunken cheeks and the Domestic Receipts. Sweet Pickle Cucumber and Muskmelon. — Take two lbs. of sugar, one ounce of cloves, one of cinnamon, to one pint of vinegar; boil together and skim, then take ripe cucumbers, pare, take out the pulp, cut them into strips one inch thick, throw them into cold water a few moments, then add them to the pickle, and boil until clear ; or you can stick a quill through. For muskmelons, take them just as they ripen, before they get mellow, and pre- pare them the same as cucumbers. When done, put into stone jars, cover tight, and set in a cool place, and you will have a delicious pickle, ready at all times. Corn Oysters. — Take a dozen ears of corn, (the white flour corn is t.ie best,) grate it off the cob, add to it one pint of new milk, two teaspoonsful of ground pepper, one of salt, a teacup of flour; stir together, and fry them small in hot butter as griddle cakes. Send them to the table hot and covered. To be eat with butter. Good at any meal, but fine for tea, and very much resembling oysters. Recipe for Rusk. — To one quart of* milk add one pound of sugar and half pound, butter, one pint of the milk must be warmed to make a sponge of, with yeast and flour, about as thick as pancake batter, let it rise all night. When risen enough, warm the other pint of milk with the sugar and butter, put it into the sponge; knead it, but not very stiff. Let it rise again ; when risen enough, mould it into cakes as large as biscuits, place them in tins and let them rise ; rub them over with sugar and milk. Bake them in a quick oven. When baked, rub in a< a gloss. To Make Sandwiches. — Rub one tablespoon- ful of mustard flour into half a pound of sweet butter ; spread this mixture upon thin slices of bread : from a boiled ham, cut very thin slices, and place a slice of ham between two slices of bread prepared as above ; cut the sandwiches in a convenient form, and serve. Some chop the trimmings of the bulled ham very fine, and lay them between the slices of prepared bread. This is a good dish of lunch, or evening entertainments. Cream Fritters. — Beat six eggs until quite light, then stir in one pint of cream, one tea- spoonful of salt, half a grated nutmeg, and sifted flour enough to make a thin bailer ; stir it until it" becomes smooth, then drop it by spoonfuls into hot lard, and fry, and serve. Molasses Cookies. — One coffee cup of mo- lasses, half a cup of butter, three teaspoonfuls of soda, one and a half cream of tartar, flour enough to roll out. THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. '03 Molasses Pie. — Take nine tablespoon fu Is of jinolasses, six feablespoonfuls of good vinegar, one and a half tablespoonfuls of flour, a small piece of butter, a few slices of lemon, or great- Id lemon peel ; cover with a rich paste. This is decjdedly the best substitute for apple pie. From the Southern Farmer. Progressive Agriculture. The N. Y. Observer says the following good things of progressive agriculture : " Under its influence, spring up tasty and convenient dwellings, adorned with shrubs and flowers, and beautiful within wiih the smiles of happy wives, tidy chil- dren in the lap of thoughtful age — broad hearts, and acts as well as words of wel- come. Progressive agriculture builds barns and puts gutters on them, builds stables for cattle and raises roots to feed thorn. It grafts wild apple trees by the meadow with pippins or greenings, — it sets out new orchards, and takes care of the old ones. It drains low lands, cuts down bushes, buys a mower, house-tools and wagons, keeps good fences and practices soiling. It makes hens lay, chickens live, and pre- vents swine from rooting up meadows. Progressive agriculture keeps on hand plenty of dry fuel and brings in the oven- wood for the women. It plows deeply, sows plentifully, harrows evenly and prays for the blessing of Heaven. Finally, it subscribes for good religious, agricultural and family journals, and pays for them in advance, advocates fiee schools, and al- ways takes something besides the family to the county fair. From the American Ruralist. Embellishments of a Country Home. Heartily can we adopt the following sen- timents, so beautifully expressed, by a friend of the Prairie state : "Let others praise the architectural piles, ihe marbled columns, the glitter ol art and the costly embellishmencs Of the crowded city — where hoarded wealth, that has been abstracted from the hands of hon- est toil, displays itself in the, decorations of fashion — but from the pent-up views oi walled streets, let me hasten to where the pure breezes of heaven freely play over the green landscape, where the leafy- boughs spread their cooling shade over m\ head, while far away, on the broad old (prairie, the glowing beams of light are | softened to the eye : j " Where the tints of the earth and the hues of the sky, J In color, though varied, in beauty may vie." I From the ceaseless din, the tainted air, and the crowded street of the city, let me steal away to some sunny bank, where the light zephyrs bear along the sweet fragrance of opening flowers, where the warble of birds, the murmur of the dancing streamlet and the balmy freshness of nature can soothe and tranquilize every fevered disturbance of the mind. Let him, to whom the va- ried beauties of the smiling earth impart no delight, go to the mart of trade and fashion ; but give me the free air that waves the green meadows and rustles the fields of growing corn—let me enjoy the rich bounties of the orchard and the gar- den — give me the social tranquility and all the rural endearments that cluster around a country home. We live to enjoy happiness ; and the happiness of living necessarily depends very much upon what degree of conveni- ence, comfort and enjoyment the place where we live will afford. The human mind is dependent upon something external to itself for its entire nourishment, culture and expansion. Ex- ternal nature impresses its images, and every thing with which we are surround- ed and associated has its modifying influ- ence. Then let him who would cultivate a love of home, contentment and the finer sensibilities, in his own mind — and more especially in t«he minds of his children — study to make a place pleasing and delight- ful to the senses. As fine strains of music greet the ear and tranquilize the mind, so, also, pleasing objects meet the sight and impart a more happy and abiding influence. Then, how important that the scenery and objects that are almost continually before our sight should be such as most delight our senses. With the individual that has been rear- ed in a pleasant home — in a place sur- rounded by interesting scenery — in the re- miniscence of that childhood, the fondest associations of memory will ever cling around ' The Old Homestead ;' and, with line emotions, he may sing: • How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood.' ; ' 704 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. T From the Southern Homestead. Scatter the Germs of the Beautiful. Scatter the germs of the beautiful ! By the way-side let them fall, That the rose may spring by the cottage gate, And the vine on the wall Cover the rough and the rude of earth With a veil of leaves and flowers, And mark with the opening bud and cup The march of summer hours. Scatter the germs of the beautiful In the holy shrine of home ; Let the pure, and the fair, and the graceful there In their loveliest lustre come ; Leave not a trace of deformity In the temple of the heart, But gather about its hearth the gems Of Nature and of Art. Scatter the germs of the beautiful In the depths of the human soul, They shall bud and blossom, and bear the fruit, While the endless ages roll ; Plant with the flowers of charity The portals of the tomb, And the fair and the pure about thy path In Paradise shall bloom. Bless God for Rain. " Bless God for rain I" the good man said, And wiped away a grateful tear ; That we may have our daily bread, He drops a shower upon us here. Our Father! thou who dwell'st in Heaven, We thank thee for the pearly shower ! The blessed present thou has given To man, and beast, and bird, and flower. The dusty earth, with lips apart, Looked up where rolled an orb of flame As though a prayer came from its heart For rain to come ; and lo, it came ! The Indian corn with silken plume, And tiny pitchers with flowers filled, Send up their praise of sweet perfume, For precious drops the clouds distilled. The modest grass is fresh and green ; The brooklet swells its song again ; Methinks an angel's wing is seen In every cloud that brings us rain, There is a rainbow in the sky, Upon the arch where tempests trod ; God wrote it ere the world was dry — It is the autograph of God. Up Avherc the heavy thunders rolled, And clouds of fire were swppt along, The sun rides in a car of gold, And soaring larks dissolve in song. The rills that gush from mountains rude, Flow trickling to the verdant base — Just like the tears of gratitude That often stain a good man's face. Great King of Peace, deign now to bless ; The windows of the sky unbar ; Shower down the rain of Righteousness, And wash away the stain of War ; And let the radiant bow of Love In beauty mark the moral sky, Like that fair sign unrolled above, But not like it to fade and die. Children. Come to me, ye children ! For I hear you at your play, And the questions that perplexed me Have vanished quite away. Ye open the Eastern windows, That look towards the sun, Where thoughts are singing swallows, And the brooks of morning run. In your hearts are the birds and the sunshine, In your thoughts the brooklet's flow, But in mine is the wind of Autumn And the first fall of the snow. Ah ! what would the world be to us If the children were no more ? We should dread the desert behind us Worse than the dark before. What the leaves are to the forest, With the light and air for food, Ere their sweet and tender juices Have been hardened into wood. That to the world are children ; Through them it feels the glow Of a brighter and sunnier climate Than reaches the trunks below. Come to me, ye children ! And whisper in my car What the birds and the wind are sinking T ° In your sunny atmosphere. For what are all our contriving?, And the wisdom of our books, When compared with your caresses, And the gladness of your looks ? Ye are better than all the ballads That ever were sung or said ; For ye are living poems, And all the rest are dead. Longfellow. SOUTHERN PLANTER.— ADVERTISING SHEET. HEAD-QUARTERS FOR THE CELEBRATED PREMIUM IRON CYLINDER Grain Drill, th the Improved Guano Attachment and Grass Seed Sower. hose wi est. and ev ordei MANUFACTURED BY BXCKFQRD & HUFFMAN, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. fcinff this article, and one that is universally acknowledged bv the Farmers o£ the South, North l>.v all that have examined it, to be the best ever offered to the public, will bea>in mind that im- Parry* may be disappointed, as hundreds were last season, by delay. PRICES, TURE DRILL, II Order* $90 00 85 00 80 00 Guano Attachment, Grass Seed Sower, $25 flfl '10 00 d promptly filled and information given, by application to C. F. CORSER, n~ *r ™ « ™ , „ General Agent ^for the Southern States, Office, J\o. 90 S. Charles Street, between Pratt and Camden, Baltimore, Md. ICH & FLEMING, Agents, Richmond, Va, OA.TJTION; / given to all whom it may concern: That this is to forbid all persons making, vending pon our Guano or Compost Attachment, patented April 22d, 1856, re-issued May 18th" /mla.ing our rights, will he held accountable. None genuine except maoufkcWd hT he bad on application to C. F. CORSER, our General Agent, at No. 9() S. Charles .<<; . Vld., or' co agents appmnVtt to sell the same bv said Corser. " Iy BICKFORD & HUFFMANN. SOUTHERN PLANTER— ADVERTISING SHEET. 3MCr- Lefebvre^s School, Corner of Grace and Foushee Streets, RICHMOND, VA. The next Session of this Institution will open on the FIRST DAY OF OCTOBER* 1858 and close on the First Day of July, 1859. TERMS FOR THE SCHOLASTIC YEAR, For Board, - -. - $200 For Washing, - * - 20 For Lights, - 6 For English Tuition, * ,- 40 For Modern Languages, (each,) - 20 For French, when studied exclusively of the English branches, - - 40 For Latin, - 20 For Music on Piano, Harp, Guitar, Or- gan or Singing : For one lesson (of an hour) a week, 40 For two lessons (of an hour) a week, $ 8l For three lessons (of an hour) a week, 12< For four lessons (of an hour) a week, 16l For the use of Piano, - - I For Drawing, from Models* - 2, For Drawing, from Nature} - 4( For Painting in Water Colors, - 4j For Oil Painting, - - 5< Primary Department — for Children un- der 11 years of age, - 3$ RE1FEREN C ESi The Patrons of the School. — Right Rev. Bishop Meade, Right Rev. Bishop Johns, Right Rev Bishop Elliott Af Georgia, Right Rev. Bishop Cobhs of Alabama, Rev. Moses D. Hoge, D D., Rev. Charles H. Read, D. D., Rev. T. V. More, D. D., Rev. B. Gildersleve. The Clergj of the Episcopal Church in Virginia. HUBERT P, LEFEBVRE, A. M., Principal. Rev. H. S. Keppler, William G. Williams, a. m. John P. Little, M. D. R. A. Lewis, M. D. Eliodoro Camps, John A. Calyo, i Miss E. Bartlett, C. W. Thilow, . Mrs. M. Taylor, W. F. Grabau, Mad'me M. Estvan, Mrs. A. E. J. Gibson, Mad'elle Lacy, Miss Mary Gordon, Charles H. Roseen, MAD'ELLE L. VILLEMET, French Governess. All letters to be directed to Hubert P. Lefebvre, Richmond, Va. [July '58 — ly "paints, paints, paints. PURCELL, LADD & CO., DRUGGISTS, No. 122 Main Street, corner 13th, BICHMOND, VIRGINIA, Offer nt low prices, a large and well asserted stock of articles in their line — embracing PAINTS, COLORS, VARNISHES, OILS, &C. LEWIS' WHITE LEAD, MACHINE OIL. NEW J. WHITE ZINC, Horsejiead brand, PARIS GREEN, CHROME GREEN, CHROME YELLOW, VERDIGRIS. TURKEY UMBKE, TERRA DI SIENNA, LAMP OILS, LINSEED OIL, . SPTS. TURPENTINE. All Colors for Painters, Coach Makers, and others, Dry and in Oil, Paint Brushes, Sand Paper, and a verlfl large stock of best WHSTDOW GJLA.8S, omprising nearly every size made. We are also prepared to take orders for Imported Polished Plate, Sky Light and Ornamental Glass. $3F Particular attention to packing and forwarding all goods— and the quality warrnnted. PURCELL, LADD & CO, Drvggist& "1 J« ne 1S,,S !22 Mnin Street, Richmond;