c**-& e, (^ without 12 b i alteration, 1st insertion, Each continuance, 6 months, > without 12 •' ) alteration, 1st insertion, Each continuance, G months, ) without 12 " S alteration, $5 00 1 00 75 4 50 8 00 6 00 4 50 25 00 40 00 10 00 7 50 40 00 70 no Advertisements out of the city must be accompa- nied with the money or city references to insure inser- Uion. TH E Devoted to Agriculture, Horticulture, and the Household Arts. Agriculture is the nursing mother of the Arts. I Tillage and Pasturage are the two breasts of -Xenophon. the State. — Sully. FRANK. G. RUFFIN, Editor. F. G. RUFFIN & N. AUGUST, Prop'rs Vol. XVIII. RICHMOND, VA., MAY, 1851 NO. 5. For the Southern Planter. Franklin and Gypsum Again. An article in your February number, "Frank- lin and Gypsum," induced me to write to a friend near Philadelphia on that subject — the answer is enclosed, and though not offered as satisfactory, it contains matter of interest worthy of publication. Its use is there traced back to about 1770 ; and the earliest notice I can find of it is, that it was first used in Ger- many, by Mr. Mayer, a clergyman, about 1768. Now in -'66 and -'67, Dr. Franklin travelled over Germany, France and Holland, and its being so soon brought into his own State, and used so extensively there, is most probably due to him. The absurd particulars in the French account are well criticised in the article referred to ; and yet it seems most probable that Dr. Frank- lin did first introduce this invaluable agent into this country. The English were clearly behind us, and refer largely to American au- thorities on this subject. M. Coprj of a Letter from Dr. Elwyn, Dated Philadel- phia, Feb. 23d, 1858. My Dear Sir : The question you put to me concerning the introduction of gypsum I have asked of others often, but with no satisfactory reply. It proba- bly came in so gradually, and with so little notice, that people were not aware of the exact period of its being used for the first 17 time. I will give j "all I know. One fact is unquestionabi -that plaster was used in this State for tu.v first time that it was ever employed on this Continent. In Deane's Farmers' Dictionary, - published in .Mass.', in 1797, he speaks of its use in Penn- sylvania, but as not known in New England. Lorrain speaks ef it as having been known to the farmers of this State for many years, but specifies no time for its first introduction. Bordely, whose work was published in 1799, gives the question sent to farmers, as to the time when they began the use of plaster, and eleven men reply to the question " how long have you used plaster?" West, William of Upper Darby, brother of Benjamin : Reply, years 11 Aannum, - - - - 12 Philip Price, ----- 6 Hand, 10 Curmen, ------ 10 Sellers, 8 Duffield, - 13 Roberts, 7 Richard Peters, 25 Chancellor Livingston introduced plaster to New York Agriculture in 1700. The last answer would carry its use verv near to 1770. But these were only experi- ments, and indicate that its use was, by no means, general, though of course, its benefits being known, the use of it soon became gene- ral in this quarter. Philip Price was, he says, 258 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. in his communication to the Agricultural So- ciety in 1796, I think, the first who employed it in the County of Chester, and upon the field on the right, as you enter my gate, then a wide gullied ravine. This is all I know, or could ever learn, and the question you put to me remains unan- swered. The anecdote of Franklin I have heard, and it looks like him, but he was in Europe when Peters' experiment was made, and if he ever wrote upon the ground in the way mentioned, it must have been many years before P.'s ex- periment or many years after. Another fact is settled, or seems to be — that the first plaster ever known here, came from France. May we not suppose the following chain of events. Franklin was in France in 1766 or 1767, and in Europe till 1773 ; he had a practical mind — he saw the great advantage of plaster in that country — he sent some to a friend here — this friend sowed it in the way you give — and thus it was made known. These things being taken for granted, Franklin would have a claim to be considered its introducer. I remember Dr. Mease telling me, that some one, I forget who, sowed it on a grass plot in front of his house in Chesnut Street before the Revolution, and attracted attention by some words in grass. This is probably the story of Franklin. But where the person got the plas- ter is an important point. From France I always understood ; if so, the chances are much in favor of Franklin having sent it. It is a strong argument in Franklin's favor, that no one else has ever had the first use ascribed to him, and there would have been a ho^t of claimants if the thing had not been settled at the time. With respect and esteem, A. L. ELWYN. [Dr.Elwyn is one of the officers of the Penn- sylvania Agricultural Society.] Whether Dr. Franklin introduced plaster, we cannot conclude from the above testimony ; but, as we learn from a late number of the Massachusetts Ploughman, he certainly had a small farm, in New Jersey, if we remember rightly, not far from Philadelphia, where, among other experiments, it is most likely he used plaster. — Ed. Southern Planter. Reply to Mr. Yardley Taylor on Soil Analysis. Bear Sir : In the Southern Planter for March, Mr. Yardly Taylor criticises an article of mine which appeared in the Genesee Farmer for September, 1856, on "Fertilizers for Fruit Trees," and which you did me the honor to copy into the Southern Planter. In the para- graph relating to the value of soil analysis, there was a serious .error in the figures, made either by myself or the printer. There is one cj/j)Jier too many in every case. Instead of say- ing " a soil ten inches deep would weigh about 10,000 tons, gross, per acre," it should be 1,000 tons ; and instead of 40 lbs. of phospho- ric acid being "one part in 560,000," it should be one part in 56,000 ; and instead of an analy- sis being properly made " when duplicate analyses of the same soil agree within one-ten thousandth," it should be one-thousandth. My argument in regard to the inutility of soil analysis was based on the correct figures, and it is not at all affected by the mis- take, though I am not surprised that Mr. Tay- lor pronounces it a " most glaring error." .Tho same argument is more fully illustrated in an article on the " practical utility of soil analysis" in the Genesee Farmer for 1857, and which is copied into the Southern Planter of December last. I think Mr. Taylor will find most of his objections anticipated in that article, and in others which have appeared on the same subject in the November (1857) and February (1858) numbers of the Genesee Farmer. I would send Mr. Taylor these arti- cles if I knew his post-office address. Mr. Taylor asks : " If no analysis can deter- mine the point," whether there is enough of one element for one plant and not enough of the same element for another plant, how can an analysis tell whether that element is miss- ing or not in a soil that will produce no plant," as I had stated. In other words, if he can as- certain the presence or absence of any particu- lar substance in a soil, cannot he tell the pre- cise quantity ? In many cases, most certainly not. In " quantitaticc" analyses chemists often state, that they find such and such ingredients in mere " traces ;" thus admitting that they can detect their presence without bein£ able to determine the amount. I have not now time to examine the other questions raised by Mr. Taylor. They appear to me to have little bearing on the point at issue. Yours, respectfully, JOSEPH HARRIS. For the Planter. Experiments in Mixing Guano with TJnleached Ashes and with Lime. We give the following experiments a place now because they may be tried on corn. — Ed. So. Planter. Dear Planter : It is generally believed that lime or ashes and guano should not be mixed together, as suitable manure for wheat, or indeed anything else. They are certainly incompatible, accord- ing to chemical theories of the present day. Guano derives its chief excellence from the amount of "ammonia" it contains — mixed with lime, the ammonia is "given off" or ex* THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 259 pelled. This result is certain : but there can 'not be a certain loss of the ammonia to the farmer always from mixing them as I propose to prove, by detailing two experiments which have fallen under my observation. The first was a mixture of strong, "unleached" ashes of oak and hickory wood with guano (Peru- vian). It was used for wheat, and ploughed in- When I heard of it I expected the crop would prove an entire failure, thinking the ammonia would be lost. But the crop was a fine one, and the land was evidently improved. The crop of corn after the wheat, showed, by its su- perior height and color, the exact line up to which the mixture extended. I could only account for the result of this experiment by supposing the ammonia was " fixed by the clay as soon as it escaped — hence its escape " under ground " was no loss. The success of this experiment emboldened me to make another, on my own hook, which was also a violation of the laws of chemistry. I had a field which had yielded a fine crop of straw, the harvest before last — having had 175 pounds of guano per acre sowed on it with the wheat the preceeding fall. As soon after har- vest as practicable, I had peas sowed on the stubble and turned in with a single plough. The peas were much injured by drought and army worm, and I am very sure would not have averaged more than 8 inches in height. In lien of applying guano alone, to this field for wheat, I made up the following mixture, and sowed it on the peas with the wheat, and ploughed them in with a single plough. The bulk of the mixture applied to an acre was supposed to be equal to 175 pounds of guano. Nitrate of Soda j of each Guano (Peruvian and Mexican mixed) j 1 part Lime from the " Gas Works/' 5 parts. The lime was previously sifted, so as to make the mixture as easy to sow with the hand as guano. This kind of lime is said to be, by several chemists a " Hydro Sulphuret" with % portion of it uncombined. As I expected, as soon as I mixed these "incompatibles" together, the smell of ammonia was xery strong. I had it put in thick bags, and tied up tightly, and ploughed it in as speedily as was possible. The wheat on this field last harvest was of very fine quality, and handling the sheaves produced a " soapy" feeling about the fingers, such as every one is accustomed to observe after holding soap-stone, or French chalk in the hand. This was not the case with the wheat on any other field, and I believe it is unusual. As to the quantity it was estimated by several j persons at from 20 to 25 bushels to the acre, j My father says it was the best crop ever made ! on that field. My idea in making this com- j pound for wheat was : 1st. That the ammonia ' would be absorbed by the clay as soon as ex- pelled, and push the young wheat forward, giving it;a "good start." 2d. That nitrate of soda having a strong affinity for moisture, would with the lime (Hy- dro-Sulphuret) be speedily dissolved, and thus enter more readity into the circulation of the plant, supplying the necessary alkaline pabu- lum for the grain. It was what Professor Wood would call " a bomb-shell prescription," and I give you my theory for what it is worth. I am sorry I did not have the yield of an acre measured ; but I did not know you would want this account of the experiment. I in- tended to try it again last fall ; but the price of the nitrate of soda deterred me. That I used cost me 5 cents a pound. Yours, truly, J. E. WILLIAMS. For the Planter. "Gearing Horses," in Eeply to P. In the March number of the Planter an arti- cle appears over the signature of " P. ;; in which he says that "Observer's views" on the proper mode of gearing horses, {in the January number of the Planter,) do not exactly coincide with his experience. I rather think "P." did not clearly comprehend "Observer's" ideas; which may be very natural, as "Observer" does not often write for public journals, and therefore may not have been as plain in his statements and explanations as he ought to have been. I think, however, " P." will ob- serve by a more careful reading of " Obser- ver's " article on the subject in question, that "Observer" in the 1st place shows, or at- tempts to show, how the horse should be geared in order to apply, both his weight and power to the work to be done, in the best manner, which, of course, will be the easiest to the horse performing a given amount of labour. The objections urged by " P," to " Obser- ver's " views, apply not to the gearing of the team, but to the arrangement of the plow ex- clusively ; for "P." does not, in his remedy of the evil of which he complains, make any change in the gearing of the team ; but he clearly makes an alteration in the arrangement of the ploiv and the fifth-chain, which in its effect in the hands of the plowman, is a re- moval of the hinge connection of beam and fifth-chain from the end of the beam, back to his "hook, over the point of the plow;" the effect of which gave the plowman more control over the plow, and the team less control, by re- ducing in the beam of the plow the leverage against the plowman, which, on level land would not be needed, and would cause the plow to run more unsteadily than the attachment of the chain to the end of the beam — on the prin- ciple that the shorter the beam of the plow the greater is the power of the plowman to control it, and the more unsteady is the running of the plow, especially on level land. " P." is correct in saying, there are two lines of draft in working four horses to a. plow ; two before two : and that principle' is set forth in 260 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. an article from the editor of the Planter in the January number, 1858, page 45. The change that "P." made was to control the plow regardless of the position of the team in respect to the plow; and in making that change, "P." may have placed his "hook" sufficiently low down to have caused the fifth- chain to be exactly in the centre draft-line of the front horses, and if so, he thereby lessened the draft; but "P." does not say he did put the hook in said position, and it is altogether questionable if he did lessen the draft on the team in that way. " P." speaks of making the " hook G or 8 inches long to raise or lower it as you may desire/' but " P." pre- viously says, " The hook must touch the beam when screwed up f well, the idea of the long hook, winks strongly at a means of getting the centre draft-line for the fifth-chain — but screw- ing the hook up to the beam destroys this idea entirely ; and therefore no gain could have accrued to the team in lessening the draft of the center-draft pull. It therefore follows that the plowman got a benefit by the change which enabled him to govern the plow, and by that means helped the team in keeping the plow at a regular depth on uneven lands — but on level lands there would have been no benefit what- ever to team or plowman by said change. " P." asks the editor to explain what " Ob- server ;; means by "hitching a horse in a straight line from the hame." " Obseri'er's language is this : " The traces should run back from the names exactly at ri/jlit angles until they reach the back-band, &c," " then if the traces be hitched any higher than the straight line of its (instead of there is used) direction from the hame to the back and belly-bands, the animal will be enabled to exert his power to the best " advantage under the circumstances, .&c." This correction will, perhaps, answer " P.'s " question better than I can do it in any other way. I would go further into this subject if it were not a trespass on valuable pages, which -should command not only the perusal, but the p«-id of every friend to the farming interest in the State. OBSERVER. For the Southern Planter. De Burg Excelsior— A Libel Refuted. F. G. Rvffin, Esq : Sir: — The communication in your last num- ber, over the signature of " N," from Geo. C. Gilmer, Esq., Carter's Bridge, Albemarle Co., Va., is calculated to mislead and deceive niany if not refuted and explained. This gentleman published an article of the same character in the American Farmer, July 1857. As we keep the address of every one who pur- chases of us, we at once referred to our list, and not finding his name there, mailed him one of our circulars, containing testimonials from all parts of the country, "to open his eyes," that he might see at a glance he had made a great [mistake. Shortly thereafter, we received a I letter from him, stating "that he had procured ! in Richmond and used one ton of De Burg on 'his tobacco, and one on his wheat, and it did i not tell one cent's worth that he could see, but ' j would buy 5 tons more of us if we would fur- ! nish him with it, to be paid for if it succeeded," &c, &c. At that time, as was the case several ! times last fall, we had not a pound on hand, ; and a great many orders on our books. We j wrote him on the 28th of August, as our letter ! book shows, informing him of our inability to | comply with his proposition in consequence of j short supply and great demand, also that he j was very much mistaken, That he had never j used the genuine " De Burg," the article he ; got in Richmond was not the same, and we | knew he was mistaken when we read his arti- jcle denouncing it, in the American Farmer a short time before. We now reiterate that assertion, for he for- i nished us with the most positive proof of its | correctness. The genuine De Burg is made ; only for us, by our own formula, sold only by ' us and our agent. We never had any agent in | Richmond, " and none is sold there." We are not answerable for the quality of any article sold there, as De Burg's superphosphate of lime, to which he refers. The compound of De Burg is manufactured for us, and guaran- teed by written contract to contain 5 per cent jof pure ammonia, 45 per cent of bone phos- phate of lime, 5 to 7 per cent of potash and soda, and other equally as valuable fertilizing properties, and is subjected by Dr. David Stewart, chemist to the Maryland State Agri- cultural Society, to the most rigid inspection by analysis, of samples drawn from all parts of the cargoes on arrival here, and if of standard quality it is marked so ; if not, it is rejected by us and thrown on the maker's hands. Now" Ave would ask Mr. Gilmer and the farmers of Virginia if it would be to our interest to re- ceive and sell a single pound under that stand- ard. Of course not ; we are indebted to the farmer for his custom, not the manufacturer. We know that the better the article the more we will sell, and every ton sold this year will sell ten tons the next. This is our experience, and is a very strong inducement indeed for us to adhere strictly to the letter of our contract with the manufacturer, between whom and the farmer we stand as a third party as deeply in- terested in the quality as the farmer can possi- bly be, of which we will give one very strong proof. Last fall an article was shipped to this city from Richmond, Va., branded De Burg's super- phosphate of Lime. It was offered for sale, and some sold as De Burg by the consigner. We cautioned him against so doing, as by the analysis made here it was much below our standard. We could only prevent its sale by having it ourselves, and adding to every tog 400 pounds of No. 1 Peruvian Guano, besides THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 2G1 chemically prepared flesh and blood (heteroge- nous matter) at an expense and loss to us of $10 per ton, to make it of standard quality. Had we not have done so, it would have been sold and have injured the reputation of our article, none of which was then in market, and the demand much larger than the supply — hundreds of orders, could not be filled. For the information of Mr. Gilmer and the farmers of Virginia, we will state one or two facts. " De Burg " is better known in Mary- land than elsewhere, and with the exception of Peruvian and Mexican Guanos, more of it is used by the farmers of Maryland than any two other guanos or artificial manures, and having heard from nearly every pound sold last spring- to Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Vir- ginia, North and South Carolina, have received testimonials enough to fill every page of the Southern Planter, and have only received some . 3 or 4 unsatisfactory accounts out of over 400 — beat that who can. Mr. Gilmer reminds us of the Dutchman that went to New York and got Peter Funk'd and then said, " He pleev't all te gold watches vas prass," as he denounces De Burg as a worthless manure, because he was "stuck" with an inferior article — an imitation. We answer with pleasure the question pro- pounded in the last number of your paper. Geo. G. Gilmer, Esq : Sir : — We have received 8 or 10 cargoes from the manufacturer, which proved, upon in- spection below our standard. We refused and rejected all of them — we never shipped a pound to Richmond or elsewhere below our standard, as it was not to our interest to do so. Such has been the case, we believe, but we had nothing to do with" it. We have cautioned the farmers of Maryland and Virginia time and time again, against imitation of De Burg, and now repeat it, " buy from a reliable person, and see that every barrel has the Baltimore inspection mark on the head, in red letters" that Standard quality, Inspected, Baltimore, 1858. None other genuine. J. J. & F. TURNER, 43 Pratt Street, Baltimore. Hog Raising. Oxford, N. Carolina, March 23, 1858. Editor of the Southern Planter: Dear Sir: — It seems from the inquiry of J- M. C. in your last number, that on the subject of hog raising, I failed to mention how often I give the turpentine to my hogs. In answer to the same, I give it once a week in the spring and fall, and once a fortnight in summer and winter. A teaspoonfull to the hog, being the usual quantity given. WILLIS LEWIS. The following article on the use of salt as a preventive of fire in tobacco is by an experi- enced planter, and its suggestions are well worthy the consideration of tobacco growers. The quantity of salt is little enough to make it a cheap experiment, which all can try who choose. We beg those that do to contribute the result to us for the use of their fellow- planters. Even more salt might be safely used, and if it shall not be applied in such quanti- ties as to check the growth of the plant, which is one of the characteristic effects of salt on wheat, it may do other benefit besides check- ing the rot. About six bushels per acre is found to be the proper quantity when used for the above purpose on wheat. Ed. So. Pl. For the Southern Planter. Salt as a Preventive of Black Fire, or Eot, in Tobacco. Mr. Editor — Doubtless most, if not all, who have cultivated tobacco, have observed, formed on the stems of the leaf, a salt, closely resem- bling saltpetre, and generally so called. From frequent observation the writer came to the conclusion that the ripest and richest leaves were most disposed to thrc ,v out this salt — conceiving this idea, he sought to ascertain its truth as far as practicable, by inquiring of ex- perienced planters. The result has been a full conviction of its truth. This, again, suggested the idea that the elimination of the salt might be immediately connected with the maturation of the plant, and that, as a consequence, what- ever would furnish material for the formation of this salt would encourage the ripening and enrich the plant. Farther investigation led to the conception, that the black fire, or rot, the disease so often disappointing the sanguine ex- pectations of the planter, was the result of the condition of the plant directly antagonistic to maturation, and if so, that whatever would en- courage and hasten the process of ripening, would prevent the disease. Inquiries as to the truth of this supposition have confirmed the hypothesis and fixed the conclusion, that a want of the material to form this salt consti- tutes the cause of the disease, and that fur- nishing the material or elements, would be a safeguard against its ravages. Since arriving at this conclusion, and before he had made ex- periments to test the truth of the theory, by the suggestion of a friend, he was induced to use ground alum salt, with Peruvian guano, as a preparation for tobacco, merely to cheapen the manure, two parts of the guano with one of the salt being regarded as equal to all guano as a fertilizer, which he has found to be true. Since using this mixture he has found that he has had no black fire. The last season, which was very favorable to produce this disease, he 262 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. saw but one or two plants fired in his whole crop. This led to inquiries of his neighboring planters, which resulted as follows : Mr. M. crop 150,000 — land peculiarly liable to fire — whole crop salted except about 30,000 new land — no fire on the old land to attract notice — part of the new fired badly. Mr. C. crop about 250,000 — land much less liable to fire than Mr. M.'s — used no salt — fired very badly and forced to cut prematurely to save from fire. Col. G., about 200,000— no salt- fired badly. Capt. B., about 200,000— no salt- last cutting began to fire rapidly. Mr. II., about 250,000—200,000 salted— M fire— 45,- 000 — guano without salt — fired considerably — 5,000 new land — no manure — fired very badly. Mr. B-, the friend at whose suggestion the writer was first induced to use salt, says he had not thought of its being a preventive of the fire, but upon reflection recollects that whereas he occasionally had the fire before using the salt, he has had none since. In view of these facts, the writer regards* the conclu- sion legitimate, that ground alum salt is a pre- ventive against the black fire, or rot. Perhaps the maximum to the acre should not exceed a bushel. This seems to be the opinion of most who have used it, fearing that a more liberal dose may render it more diffi- cult to secure a good stand. Without question it may be advantageously applied during the cultivation, alone or mixed with guano or the phosphates, and possibly with even better ef- fect. A. Cub Creek, Charlotte. For the Southern Planter. Manuring Apple Trees and Cutting their Roots. "One mend fault, is worth two find-faults." F. O. Ruffin: The writer of this does not intend to step in between "Tyro" and the "Horticultural Edi- tor" of the Planter, the latter can take care of himself, but he wishes to hint to " Tyro," that if he had not been more disposed to " find fault" than to "mend fault," he would have seen that he himself furnishes all the informa- tion necessary to a decision of the question whether his " favorite apple tree" needs a " heavy dressing of manure," or a sharp chisel to " the roots," to make it productive every year. I pass by the comparison of "Tyro" about the " two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff," and of the supposed " complacent mood" of the "Contributor," induced by the utter unconsciousness that there is " anything about plants he does not know," simply re- markingthatsuch insinuations neverstrengthen an argument, and should not be resorted to by those in search of information. He " re-states the point in which he con- ceives the articles referred to come in conflict, the one with the other," and concludes "it may be that these diverse modes of reasoning and treatment entirely harmonize and agree;" but I confess 1 am too much of a simpleton to perceive it? If "Tyro" will consult the writers on pomological science, he will find that they all recommend root-pruning as a remedy, where there is a tendency to over luxuriance, or "the prodigious formation of wood," in order to compel fruit-bearing. This, as a general thing, is only necessary while the tree is young; as when the tree is large, with a heavy amount of foliage and fruit, it is hardly possible for any soil, in its natural state, to make so much growth of wood as to interfere with the formation of fruit buds at the same time. The want of sufficient strength of soil is the reason why so many trees are fruitless every other year. These writers all recom- mend manuring orchards in order to keep up their fruit bearing. If the " Contributor" is in error, he certainly has respectable company, a company supported by experience in opposition to theory. " Tyro" states a case of his " apple tree, a favorite, that, like most of its kind, rarely bears more than each alternate year." He ad- mits " it is a healthy and vigorous tree, but not remarkably luxuriant, and gives no evidence of the prodigious formation of wood." Stop here a bit : put on a studying cap. Pomologi- cal instructions, like laws, are given in general terms, and each individual must examine for himself into the conditions about him, and judge of their adaptation to the case. Has any writer ever urged root-pruning where trees gave " no evidence of the prodigious formation of wood, and were not remarkably luxuriant," and particularly of trees as large as his favorite tree. If not, how can he say he "don't know which remedy to make use of." Again, suppose a farmer should take his land that would " pro- duce twelve or fifteen barrels of corn to the acre," and cultivate it in corn every year for fifteen, twenty, thirty or forty years without manure, would not " Tyro" have good reason to charge him with being a " simpleton" in reality ? Just think a little of the amount of matters taken from the soil by a middling sized fruit tree, in fruit and leaves, for a series of years, and this all taken from 25 to 35 feet square, say the fortieth part of an acre, so much more than can be taken from the same space in grain ; and yet many a man that would resent the charge of being a " simple- j ton," pretends he don't know whether to root- prune or to manure his trees to make them j bear more regularly. Pshaw ! men, put off 'your coats and go to work in earnest; don't wait to be told what to do: go at it; and you will soon be at no loss to know what to do. This thing of waiting for others to do for us, has been the great draw-back to Virginia im- provement ; and if ever she is to shine as she THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 263 ought, it must be by her citizens going to work themselves, and not wanting to be told what to do. Look about you and see if you cannot see some experiment that would look reason- able and suit your case, and profit by it. R. Pell, proprietor of the Pellham farm on the Hudson river, who cultivates the Newtown pippin to such perfection, says, in his experi- ence he found it inconvenient to wait for the the fruit-bearing year, and he compelled his trees to bear every year in this way : he at one time would put a peck of oyster-shell lime around the trees in the Fall, and next Spring had it spread out as far as the roots extended ; perhaps the next year he would give them a dressing of good manure; the third year, pro- bably a supply of bone-dust, perhaps next a compost. He cultivated his orchard in Sum- mer crops, never in winter grain, and as he manured his crops well the trees got their share, and Ipre, every year, fine crops, and his apples have a celebrity in England that any man might be proud of. And now, in this day of general information and pomological science, and while pomological conventions and writers are diffusing informa- tion on fruit culture and the management of orchards, for any man to intimate there are "many other things in these horticultural articles that might well be commented upon ;" to be able to do this, and yet not be able to " know which remedy to make use of," shows a disposition more to "find fault" than to " mend fau It." MENTOR. For the Planter. Experience in Application of Manures to the Surface. Mr. Editor— In the Planter for February I was pleaded to find your article on the applica- tion of manures by " top-dressing," and as con- firmatory of your views as therein expressed, permit me to submit the results of my own practice in the premises. Some five years since, when entering on my career as a farmer, I knew nothing of the merits of the several modes of applying manures; but just then I met with some suggestions of your own in the Planter and resolved to adopt them. And now I state in the general, that after five years' reading, reflection and experience, I am satis- fied of the correctness of your views. My practice is this — whenever there is manure to be carried out, I take it directly to the field or lot where it will be needed, and spread \tfrom the wagon or cart, and I care not whether it be in the cold of winter or the heat of summer — sun-shine, snow or rain. I pile manure neither at the stable, farm-pen, nor in the field. This day (the 6th of April) I have been cart- ing manure to the- tobacco lot — there to remain in its present condition, till I go to prepare the land for hillind ; two of their horses pulling as much as fojir of ours. Nor have we yet stated the whole loss ; for a horse under strain requires more food than one at more moderate labour. To get at this in a tangible form, let us attempt an approximation, necessarily imperfect but yet illustrative, of the cost, in feeding, of the present system, putting the feed at two gallons of meal to each horse 292 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER per day. To supply the fuel of an ordinary 1 mile over a road whose ascent is 5 plantation in winter, requires, on an average, the services of one wagon for two and a half days of every week for four months. It will take not less than thirty days to put the rails for fencing in place, the same to haul the manure, and the same to haul the corn, hay and stalks, and nearly the same (say 20 days) to haul the wheat to the machine. Here we lhave an aggregate of one hundred and fifty days' full work for a farm that works nine or ten horses and mules. At two gallons of meal daily, to the horse at work, this will amount to thirty barrels of corn. But if the team shall have done the same amount of work with i half the exertion, then at least one-third of the 'feed will have been saved. This, supposing the team to be worth $125 each, or $500 in the aggregate, will just pay the interest on the whole team every year. But whilst we save 50 percent, of the work, and the interest on the cost of team, Ave proba- bly prolong the last of the team and their actual working capacity at least one-third. No one who has not tried it can form an idea of the difference in durability of over-worked and under-worked horses. For ten years, in Albe- marle, we kept ten horses, equal to one hun- dred horses for one year — and in that time we lost only one horse, or 1 per cent, of the whole. At the end of that time we took a heavy wood contract, the wood to be hauled to- the Uni- versity, five miles distant ; and though we had a larger number of horses, none of them got any rest. The consequence was, that the pro- portion of deaths began at once to increase. On the above data any one can calculate for himself what he will gain if he can effect the saving by having good roads. But will the roads effect all this if they are good? We reply unhesitatingly, that we be- lieve they will. " Dr. Lardner estimates that on a well Macadamized level road, when in good order, the resistance due to friction, &c.,« amounts to only 1-40 of the load. This being the case, a horse drawinga load of 400 lbs. need exert but a force of 10 lbs. If, however, the road is inclined 5°, he must exert a force of 40 lbs. to move the same load. So that he does no more work in pulling a cart weighing 400 lbs. over four miles of a well Macadamized level road than he would in drawing the same load one even though the latter should be equally well Macadamized." Again, it has been stated, in a table now be- fore us, " which exhibits the ratios of the length of the road at various angles, corres- ponding to the vertical rise, and the resistances of the various slopes, and the equivalents in length of level roads, that with a slope of one in one hundred, one mile of road is equivalent to a mile and a half of level road ; or, to state it differently, a horse, by the same exertion of power, could draw over a level road a load one half greater than he could draw up the in- cline." " Every animal," says the same authority, "can furnish a certain amount of work for a certain time without exhaustion ; and there may be exacted from it, for a brief period, an excess of labour over that amount. This ex- cess has not been definitively ascertained ; but it is generally estimated at twice the amount which can be furnished habitually. In order that an animal may be equal to all the acci- dents of a route, it is evident that such excess of exertions should only be extracted from it at rare intervals and for short periods. If the steepness of the gradient is limited on these considerations, it appears that it should never exceed a rise of one in fifty, at which slope the amount of traction is twice as great as on the level." We know that on many farms such grades are not attainable ; but on many others they can be attained without difficulty: and on all they can be approximately reached. The grade of one in fifty is just about three inches in 12 feet ; and with a span level, such as we use, and such as any one can make, there need be no trouble nor expense in running off such a grade. In regions where the practice of hill-side ditches attains it will be an easy matter, because the prescribed gradient, or one still lower, (2 in. in 12 ft.), is most commonly adopted. On such farms — and we here beg leave to recall our objections to hill-side ditches and humbly retract our error in that regard — it will be the easiest matter in the world to construct such roads at appropriate points, by making the lower bank a fifteen or twenty foot bed, gathered up by the plough ; in some cases arranged as a permanent road, in others as a temporary gangway for the transportation of THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 29: crops or manure. It may no.t be practicable always to preserve the selected grade : but it is certainly so by taking a little trouble to re- duce the sum of the heights to a minimum, and to avoid the sudden pitches which pull the life out of so many horses. If it is necessary to cross a ravine which it is inconvenient to head, then some amount of cutting may be' necessary; but a little judgment and reflection and patience, will enable most men to "balance the materials/' so that the dirt from the cut- ting shall preserve the grade across the ravine: and the water that gathers there, if it is not desirable to lead it away by the side drain, may be led off by a cheap culvert under the fill. Most farmers have a fancy for squares and straight lines. But though squares are the most economical form of enclosure, there is no reason why they should not be crossed at any angle necessary for the transport of heavy loads ; and a gate had better intervene than have a hill to surmount. As to a straight line, it is by no means true, except in pure mathe- matics, that it is always the shortest distance be- tween two points. Even if it were, it is not always handsome or convenient. In a land- scape a road of reversed curves, of wide radius, is always the handsomest, and is just what would be secured by running a span level, at a given grade, on an undulating field. In some* circumstances, of course, these di- rections do not apply. But such cases are left to the discretion of the farmer, who can easily ascertain for himself where they are applica- ble, and where they are even approximately at- tainable. We are very sure they will prove of the greatest benefit if wisely pondered. We have treated this subject just now be- cause the month of May, if a rainy spell shall chance to come, is the best season for working roads. Later, we are all too busy; and in the winter and early spring a freshly made road works up into mud, or cuts up into deep ruts. But in May the warm sun soon dries it, and it will wear smooth by the summer's use. The best implements for working or making roads are the plough, the harrow, the scraper and the Clod Crusher. Do as little hoe work as possible. Last May we took a road one mile long and twenty feet wide, of hard clay that had been tramped for forty years, and proba- bly never worked in all that time. With the exception of two hills descending to a brook, it was nearly a dead level. We ploughed it over twice with a three-horse plough ; we pul- led up the furrows from the side drains with weeding hoes, the scraper not being necessary, and we then went over it twice with a heavy three-horse harrow. TRis took two days' time of seven common hands, and not a day's work of a plough and harrow, though they were on the ground all the time. But the ground was so rough, with enormous clods, it could not be pulled over. But in two hours and a half of a third afternoon we have worked the clod crusher over it, and then it was equal to a race track. The road will never be a first rate one, because it is a clay flat. But it cannot become, as it was before, absolutely impassable. It was the result of only two days' work at a time when but little else could be done; and it is only a fraction of what other persons can do a great deal better. Transactions of the Hew York State Agricultural Society. We are much obliged to B. P. Johnson, Esq., the Corresponding Secretary of the Society, for a copy of the Transactions of the New York State Agricultural Society for the year 1858. Though this volume is not quite equal to some that have preceded it, it is still a valuable work, and its short-comings are not due in any measure to the indefatigable Secretary, who is the best officer of the kind in the United States. and a very civil and obliging gentlemen, as we have had more than one occasion to know. and as all will know who have business with him or favours to ask of him. South Down Sheep. We have annually, for a year or two past, advertised part breed South Down Buck Lambs for sale. We have them still ; and if .they are wanted, can furnish them at the next weaning season at $15 for the half breed, and $20 for the three quarter breed, the remaining cross being of Cotswold and Bakewell. We have uniformly advised breeders who might fancy this breed, to get the pure breed Bucks, at from $40 to $60, either from R. H. Dulaney, Esq., of Upperville, Fauquier Co.. who has the best, or from Raleigh Colston. Esq., of Ivy Depot Albemarle, who has the 294 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER next best, both of whom are gentlemen every way reliable, and are of our own people. . But we have also said that a half of a loaf was a good deal better than no bread in this matter, and if persons did not choose to purchase the /pure bred, they had better get ours than breed from commom rams. It is said of this breed in the standard Eng- lish work on The Sheep: "The South Down is adapted to almost any situation in the Mid- land part of England ; it has a patience of oc- casional short keep, and an endurance of hard stocking equal to any other sheep ; an early maturity, scarcely inferior to that of the Lei- cester's, (BakewelPs,) and the flesh finely grained, and of peculiarly good flavor;" "and the wool of the most useful quality." — The Sheep, pp. Ill, 233. They also make particularly fine lambs for an early market. The Chinch Bug— Two Remedies. These destructive insects are again upon us, and whether they will do mischief or not de- pends on the season. But we ought, to be pre- pared for them. We published, last year, several remedies, some of which we tried in- effectually. The following from Mr. Turnbull, late Superintendent of the Model Farm of the Union Agricultural Society, we clipped, last year, from the Southern Farmer, and put away to be brought forward at the proper time. We advise a trial of it not only because of his un- qualified testimony, but because our friend, Mr. Wm. W. Tompkins, of Richmond, assures us that he saved his corn by the same plan, last year, at his farm in Chesterfield, on the Appomattox, and made enough good corn-stalk hay from what the chinch bug left to pay for the trouble. Where the land is not good enough to produce the row of broadcast corn with considerable luxuriance, it had better be manured. We have but one suggestion to add to Mr. Turnbull's statement ; and that is the propriety of pouring, from the spout of a flower pot divested of the rose, a line of gas tar between the broadcast corn and the field of stalks. It may intercept a good many strag- glers, and save some of the expenditure for the higher priced oil. Until the chinch bug can fly the line of gas tar will certainly intercept them. Another remedy, which maybe used in aid of the above, we have from Mr. Jno. A. Selden, of Westover, who has tried it successfully. In sow- ing his corn-land, wheat strips are left through the field at convenient distances to receive the corn until the wheat is sowed ; when it is ' hauled off, and the strips seeded in oats the fol- lowing Spring. To these strips of oats the chinch bugs go when the wheat is cut. And when the oats are cut, wheat straw, of the previous crop of course, is spread upon the land, and the stubble thus burned over. The fire destroys enough of them to check the breed, and the corn subsequently sustains but little injury. From the Southern Farmer The Chinch Bug— Proposed Remedies. Messrs. Editors, — The chinch bug seems now to be the plague of this country. They are becoming so numerous throughout the length and breadth of the land, that if some- thing is not done they will lay waste the grain crops of this section of the United States. Many intelligent farmers have put their wits to work in devising some mode for extermina- ting this great pest. I have had my feeble powers and energies engaged for some time, trying to conceive a plan whereby the agri- culturist may be enabled to baffle the destroyer. I have tried soap-suds and find it will not do : it stuns the bug only for an hour or two. I applied this remedy in the presence of the Ex- ecutive Committee, when it seemed, to kill the bugs instantly, but in an hour they were them- selves again, ready to re-commence their depre- dations. I gave one lot of chinch bugs four different applications of soap-suds in one day and did not kill them. I used spirits of tur- pentine, which killed both the bugs and the corn. Train oil injures the stalks of the corn. Lamp oil kills the bugs, and it does not hurt the corn in the least. This is a costly oil, be- ing worth $1 50 per gallon, and it takes one gallon per acre where the bugs are very numer- ous. It is applied in the following manner: take a small syringe and squirt the oil on the stalk of corn : as it runs down the stalk it kills every bug it touches instantly. I have a lot that was treated in this manner seven days ago, and as the bugs exhibited no appearance of re- turning life, I take it for granted they are thoroughly dead. Killing chinch bugs with fluids is a very tedious business. It tries the patience of man, for nothing is more distressing to the farmer, after all his hard labor and expense, than to see his daily bread destroyed by such insignifi- cant insects. It almost makes me exclaim in despair, what shall we do ? THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 295 After mature reflection, my friend, Dr. John P. Goodwyn and myself have arrived at the conclusion that chinch bugs must be fed ; we must provide something for them until a kind and merciful Providence sees fit to relieve us of their presence. We have both been close observers; we have tried to destroy them with various fluids, snuff, &c. ; we have also ob- served what kind of vegetation they seem to be the fondest of, with an eye to furnish them food; Young corn is their favorite: I have seen them leave green oats and wheat to go to young corn. Corn sowed broadcast is their de- light... We, now propose that the best manner of saving the corn crop from their ravages is the following: leave a space or belt of land be- tween the wheat, oat and corn fields, in the months of April, May and June : sow broad- cast this strip of land, say in April l-3d, in May l-3d, and in June l-3d. Chinch bugs will not leave the broadcast corn to go to the cul- tivated field. I have an experiment that will satisfy any one on this subject. Before they can destroy the broadcast corn the cultivated corn will be advanced and they cannot hurt it. If, however, a few should go in the cultivated field, use the lamp oil as soon as you see them, and it will kill all it touches. The chinch bug is an epicure, and is fond of the luxury of young corn. I now have on the Model and Experimental Farm millions upon millions of chinch bugs upon a half acre of broadcast corn. I have the same thing on my own farm. I offer these suggestions to my brother far- mers, hoping they will give their energies to this subject, that we may all try to do some- thing. Yours truly, WILLIAM TURNBULL. Model and Experimental Farm, July 20, 1857. — i m m m > — From the Southern Cidtivator. Cut Worms. Editors Southern Cultivator, — I perceive, from the article of W. H. Russel, in the Janu- ary number of the Cultivator, that from my observations, he has fallen into error in his conclusions about the manner in which the cut worm is produced. I cannot positively as- sert that they are oviparous, nor yet that they are altogether viviparous as Mr. Russell, I doubt not, will perceive upon a close investi- gation of the subject. The excessive quantity of these troublesome worms which preyed upon our vegetables last Spring, induced me to attempt to find out something of their habits and mode of being. In order to this end, I got a glass jar, walked into the garden and, after filling it about half full of dirt, I gathered up some half dozen or more, large, fat, well grown worms, and put in it, and kept them supplied, from day to day, with fresh cabbage leaves, until they ceased entirely to eat them; after which all of them, except one, burrowed in the earth, the position and movements of several of them could be well defined through the glass jar. There came forth from the one winch remained out of the earth, after lying in a dull torpid state for some days, the viviparous, Jiv- ing worms; upon this discovery I Avalked into the garden and, upon investigation, found what Mr. Russell states to be true in reference to many which were opened with a stick. The mother and brood in the jar soon died, and I waited for the further developments. In the course of some days I had from 30 to 41 eggs deposited in each place in the jar where the female lay, from which I soon had any quantity of flying insects, resembling, some- what, a musquito in appearance, formed more like a wasp and very tenacious of life. I then remembered, in digging after the worms, to have seen the same kind of eggs all over the garden, but it had not occurred to me that these were the deposits of the cut worm. The female became extinct in every instance, after depositing her brood ; while the male, without passing through the chrysalis state, such as the young of the females pass through, was meta- morphosed into a fly, larger than the common candle fly, and, in appearance, more like the small tobacco fly. The conclusion to which I arrived, in view of these facts, was that while the living worm, or fly, was within the mother, yet if left to the natural and proper develop- ment it would come from her in a- chrysalis state, resembling an egg in appearance, out of which, at the proper time, the fly would come forth, leaving the shell behind. Why the male should be privileged to live through more stages or generations than the female, is a question we may not understand? I have hastily thrown fie^e thoughts to- gether, Me^r.^. Editors, simply for the sake of truth, without le'ng able yet to see what prac- tical good may result from them. JOHN A. TAYLOR. Haywood County, Tenn., January, 1858. History and Habits of the Army Worm. A friend who has made etomology a subject of study, furnishes us with some of the results of his investigations into the character, habits and history of the army worm, of which so many complaints have arisen in various parts of the country. The oat patch west of the Smithsonian grounds supplied him with speci- mens, and an opportunity to observe much concerning ihese devouring pests. Our fi iend's first impression, and which indeed, he retains, was, that the worm in question is identical with the grass worm of the South. Present appearances all attest this identity, but it will require the complete round of transformations to be gone through with before it can be con- sidered certain. This worm destroys corn, clover, grain, and 29G THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. every kind of grass, and in the South is found very abundant on the grass and weeds between the rows of cotton. Its caterpillar, just before changing into the chrysalis, hides under stones, and where the ground is broken under clods of dirt. Their enemies are formidable, the largest being the toad, which stuffs itself with them almost to bursting. The stomach of a toad taken in the oat patcli above referred to, having been cut open, was filled with these worms, mixed with a few wings of beetles. The army worm has another enemy in the black larva of what seems to be a necrophorous, which preys upon the caterpillar. Besides these there is a small inchneumon, or at all events a parasitical fly, which deposits its eggs all over the back of the caterpillar, and they, when matured, spin cocoons, which send forth a cloud of other flies to repeat the process. Specimens of the army worm sent hither from Maryland were entirely destroyed by a fly much like the common house fly, but with a lighter colored series of rings around the abdomen, which is hirsute and tipped with brown, belong to the family of musiadce. It is a merciful provision of nature that, as these worms increase, so do the parasitical foes which feed upon and destroy them. But for this the consequences would be terrible indeed to all the hopes of the agriculturist. — National Intelli- gencer. Hay Caps. The concluding article on this subject from the Boston Cultivator — the first being from that excellent periodical, the Country Gentleman — is in reply to certain questions we propounded to our friend, if we may presume so to call him, Mr. Howard. There can be no doubt that in a catching season, a hay cap, if it answers the purpose, as an experiment of our own sat- isfies us it will, is worth its cost to each cock of hay it covers, especially if it be clover hay. Those who do not choose to purchase any of the parties who have them for sale in Boston, may try them on a small scale with any cheap oznaburgs or sheeting. And if they will even take one or two old bags and rip them up they may manufacture enough caps for a satisfacto- ry experiment. They may paint the caps with gas tar, and if they can wash it out by rain, they will have accomplished a good deal more than we have been able to do by repeated ap- plications of soap and water to a pair of sum- mer pantaloons that got spotted with the tar two years ago in heading chinch bug with it. If this suggestion meets the eye of any mem- ber—one or more— of the Hole and Corner Clubs, of Fauquier, of either of those of Albe- marle, of Amelia, Nottoway, Dinwiddie and Brunswick, of the Talbot County Maryland Club, or of any other, will such gentlemen do us, if not themselves, the favor to have experi- ments in the above regard instituted and re- ported with minute detail? Hay caps, made of stout cotton cloth, have been extensively introduced into use in many sections of* the country, within a few years past, and judging from the best sources of information within our reach, we know they are generally approved of, on the score of economy, by those who have given them a fair trial. In the autumn of 1856, Mr. Flint, Secretary of the Mass. Board of Agricul- ture, directed to one or more farmers in every town in the state, a circular contain- ing a series of questions pertaining to the farm. The tenth question was, " Have you used hay caps ? and if so, with what result in point of economy ? How were they made, and at what cost ?" To the above questions lie received numerous replies, and in almost every case the use of the hay caps was highly approved. A practical farmer of Hampshire county says: "In reply to your question as to the, utility of hay caps, it gives me pleasure to say, that after using them constant ly for the last seven years, I consider them of the first importance in the most critical branch of farming. . "I can safely affirm that my hay has been intrinsically worth on an average, one or two dollars a ton more than my neighbors, w r hich has been proved by the remarkable health of my animals. * * Having these covers always at hand, it has been my practice to mow my grass when it was ready, without consulting the almanac or waiting for a change of the moon, and the result has been, I have had more than - my share of good luck in this impor- tant branch of business. " They are also very useful as a protec- tion against heavy dews, and as a cover for coarse clover and timothy, I consider them indispensable'" A Worcester county farmer says : "I have one hundred, made of cotton sheeting, two yards square ; the hundred cost me just forty dollars. I think they THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 297 have saved me twenty dollars this year. I had at one time this season, one hundred and thirty cocks, standing out in a six days storm. One hundred were covered — not having caps enough, thirty were left un- covered. The uncovered was worth but little, while the covered w T as passable hay. I stooked some oats, which I capped — they stood a two days rain without injury." Recently a New-Hampshire farmer, Mr. W., informed us that he procured one hundred, two yard square caps, at the cost of forty cents each, and he thinks that he more than saved the cost of them in the protection fhey afforded his hay the last unusually wet season. He cut about 80 tons, a large portion of it clover and herds grass. We could cite numerous other similar statements in favor of the utility of hay- caps, but think it unnecessary. There are some farmers, however, who object to their use. A farmer of Middlesex county, in a letter to Mr. Flint, says : " I have never used hay-caps, not having faith enough in them to give them a trial. My objections are that they cannot be of any use as a permanent shelter, but only in a sudden shower, and then we have no time to put them on. We can save more hay by putting it in cocks and trimming well* than by covering with canvass cloth. In fair weather the cap would be decided- ly injurious, as it would prevent the es- cape of vapor of steam. Cocks of hay that are left to stand in the field over the Sabbath, are often, dried enough in the up- per half. But in case caps were put on for Saturday night, Jhe drying would not advance on Sunday, unless you should make it a business to remove them on Sunday forenoon." Perhaps if this Middlesex farmer was to make use of hay-caps for one season, especially as catching as was the last hay season, he might somewhat modify his opinions in this matter. Believing that there is frequently a great saving to farmers, that have a supply of hay caps on hand during the busy sea- son of haying and harvesting, we thus early refer to the subject for the purpose ! * It is our impression that it would require less time to cap a cock of hay, than it would to trim it so as to shed rain, in the case of a " sudden shower." — Eds. of calling the attention of farmers, who are not provided with hay caps, to the consideration of the question at this com- paratively leisure season of the year. If any shall determine to provide against "a rainy day," in hay time, by procuring a supply of caps, we will just suggest to them that in this matter it is better to pro- cure them a few weeks before needed for use, than to be a single day too late. Farmers differ somewhat as to the proper size of hay caps. We have seen them in sizes ranging all the way from one yard to two yards square. We think 4| feet square is as small as any should be made, but should prefer those two yards square. Several methods have been prac- ticed to secure them upon the cocks of hay; some recommend sewing in each corner a stone weighing one or two pounds each ; others have eyelet holes in the cor- ners, through which they thrust small pins of 18 or 20 inches in length into the cocks of hay; others attach to each corner a loop of strong twine 12 or 18 inches long, and make use of ash or other hard wood pins, eighteen inches long. The pins are about one inch square at the top end, near which they have cut into them a " hooked notch" for connecting them to the twine loop. The lower end of the pin is tapered to a point, so as to easily penetrate the ground. With two yards square caps, the corners of them can be spread out beyond the base of the cocks, so as to carry the rain beyond the hay, which would not be the case with the small sized caps. A small canvass bag is very conve- nient for depositing the pins when the caps aie removed from the cocks. Some, however, make use of a nail keg for this purpose. In a somewhat extensive drive over a farming section of country, last Septem- ber, we saw hundreds of hay caps on shocks of corn and cornstalks, as also upon stooks of beans. We have also frequently seen them used as a temporary covering for stooks ofwhat, oats, and other grain. — Country Gentle itian. Hay Caps. — In reference to the inquiry of our friends F.G. R. and B. P. J., we have called on Messrs. Chases & Fay, 14 City Wharf, and obtained some infor- mation in regard to hay caps. They make four sizes, of the following dimensions 298 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. and prices: No. 1, 54 by 48 inches, sheeting, 25 cents each. No. 2, 72 by 72 in., sheeting, 37c. No. 3, 53 by 48 in., drilling, 37c. No. 4, 72 by 72 in., drilling, 62c. The material used has passed through the process called Kyanizing, by which it is said to be rendered proof against mildew. The caps are prepared with a loop-hole at each corner, into which a metal thimble is fastened. Strings are tied to the caps. through the holes, and pins to hold the caps to the hay are attached to the strings. The strings may be either of wood or iron. Those made of No. 8 wire, fifteen inches long, are fur- nished with the caps, if desired at one cent each. Caps of the largest size here mentioned, will protect 100 lbs. of the coarsest clover or other hay, and the others will cover a proportionate quantity. It is easy to see from this how many would he required to the acre, the yield being stated. There is no question as to the utility of the article — especially for clover, and in " catching weather," like that of last sea- son. The testimony of all who have used them, so far as we know, is strongly in their favor. — Boston Cultivator. For the Southern Planter. Ornithological Sketches— No. IV. To F. G. Ruffin, Esq. My Dear Sir — I believe there are four spe- cies of Orioles, whose habitat is in North America. Only two of these frequent the At- lantic States — the' Baltimore and the orchard Oriole. They are very common birds, and highly interesting, from their lively habits, beautiful plumage, and loud and musical notes. The Baltimore Oriole — Icterus Baltimore — is known in King William under the name of Gold Finch. But it is not even one of the nu- merous and highly respectable family of the Finches ; nor is it allied to them in the remo- test degree. The American Gold Finch, is our beautiful little Lettuce bird, which may be seen in large flocks in our yards, about the first of May, feeding on the seeds of Leon'.o doc. This continued popujar misnomer of birds, and of almost everything else in nature, is rather vexatious, and is a great bar to pro- gress in knowledge. The confusion resulting from it, is that of Babel. It is a great pity that so little attention should be paid to this subject by our people. A young man returns from our colleges, and even the University, covered over with distinctions and degrees — every body speaks of him as a young man of ''Jinished education," and he does not know K the name of the commonest bird or plant thai he sees every day. He may be able to distin- guish between a hawk and a hand-saw, anc that is as much. By the way, may not the old saying be a " hawk and an anser," (goose with the cockney h prefixed — hanser? To be able to tell a hawk from a hanser, is about the extent of our educated young man's ornitho logical knowledge. Show him a plant that he treads on every day and ask its name : " I don't know — it's a weed, is'nt it?" This should % not be so — every gentleman should have his sons and daughters more or less instructed in Ornithology, Entomology, Botany, and Geolo- gy. It is not time thrown away ; it creates a fund of constant enjoyment through life. Such, a one is never alone, in the woods, in the fields, on the road, though no human being is with him. He who communes thus with nature, will look through it up to nature's God. Andfc if he become not a Christian, he will not be ifoi dissipated and fond of low company. A boy I thus educated, never can become a brawling iin pot-house politician. But one of the things I irii dislike is, to pick up one of your Planters and lit, see a communication with a taking title, and * Oi to find that one half of it is fault finding with 'fa the mismanagement, carelessness, and igno- rance of Virginians. I generally pass it by, as written by some Tyro, who knows little of what he is writing about. So I had better re- turn to the Orioles. So soon as the tender leaves proclaim that Spring has fairly set in, and all danger of our usual April snow is over, the groves around our dwellings resound with the loud calls of the male Orioles. They precede the females by about a week. When they first reach here from their long journey, which is performed singly, they appear fatigued, and are rather quiet. But a day's rest refreshes them, and they may be seen glancing from tree to tree, piping as they go. The bright orange and black and white of their plumage, attracts the dullest and most un bservant eye. It is said they were called the Baltimore bird, after Cal- vert, the first Lord Baltimore, whose livery was black and orange. When rising from the ground, the orange red of their breasts glows like burnished gold. The males are seen cha- sing each other with good humored vivacity, darting and plunging about through the over- hanging boughs, and along the glades. Again you will see them inspecting the trees, and looking out for suitable twigs, on which to hang their future nests. They search about the hedges and fence corners, .for spires of greensward, rags, wool, and hair, as if to find out beforehand where the store of these useful articles are to be had. They will fly from limb to limb, and carefully inspect the bunches of young leaves, and p*ck out every insect and many of its eggs. The Ash, Locust, and Elm trees seem more particularly to engage their attention. The Sycamore, though, is their fa- THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 299 4 orite tree for building in, and next to that the ocust. All birds are attached to particular lasses of trees ; and if one desires to have a real variety of birds about his yard, he must lant a great variety of trees, and have Tun- ing water near it. There is one tree that I ever saw any bird build in, the Ailanthus ; or do insects affect it, except the lightning ug. The Baltimore Orioles are fond of build- ig in tall trees, in front of a dwelling house, hey seem to court the society of men. I ever saw the nest of this species in the forest, r over fifty yards from a house. I rather in- line to the opinion, that they will desert a tree ear a dwelling house, if it be left unoccupied, had a house erected to which the little negro hildren were brought by their mothers every &j, to be under the superintendence of one roman. There is a beautiful Red Oak near it ; or building in this, the Orioles showed a great ondness for several years, till the children were emoved from it. Then only a negro man lived n it, and it was kept closed all the day. Du- ing that time the Orioles did not build near t. Upon its being re-occupied in the day, the Moles returned to the Red Oak. Again — my amily lived for many years in a house in one orner of the yard, and in all that time two or hree pair of Orioles built around it, in the nearest trees. A new building was put up in he centre of the yard, and for some years fter it was covered in, it remained unoccupied. Dhere are four tall Sycamores in front of it, xactly suited to the Oriole's taste ; and yet lone, to my surprise, built in them. But he fii$t Spring after the family removed o the new house, the Orioles removed to the Sycamores near it, and deserted the trees about ;he old residence. These circumstances may oe accidental, but from the known preference which these birds manifest for building in ci- ties, and especially the m<5st crowded parts of chem, if suitable trees are at hand, I am led to shink otherwise. It is true they build on the banks of the Mississippi and Ohio ; but so do men. And I suppose that a boat of some sort Loaded with human beings, is scarcely ever out of sight of their nests. I am satisfied that these and many other kinds of birds are highly flattered by the notice and attention of man. And why should this disposition not be planted in them by that same Gracious Hand that put them here? Among other useful purposes, who is there that does not believe that to grat- ify the taste of His rational creature — man — these beautiful little creatures are thus gorge- ously arrayed, and fitted with organs to pro- duce the most varied melody, in order to soothe and fascinate him with their songs? And as man is pleased and soothed by their presence, why should it not be instinctive in them to be equally pleased with his attention ? What a blank in creation it would be to us, if the birds were struck out of existence! The blank would be equally great to the birds if man were to cease to exist. It is natural for them to seek the countenance and court the society of man. They are educated only by sad expe- rience to fear the approaches of him who should be their natural friend and protector. They soon learn to distinguish between friend and foe. Just in the degree that man is brutalized and lost to moral sense, does he persecute and destroy these little enliveners of rural scenery, and endearers of home. The male orioles do not fight each other the (first week of their arrival ; however, they are I not very friendly at any time. Wljen the fe- J males come, — though you may not see them, for they are timid and shy, — you may know it by the change in the conduct of the males to- wards each other. The rather distant polite- ness which they have heretofore exhibited, except when in high glee and frolic, is now laid aside. -All is bustle, confusion, clamour, and fight. If, where there are half a dozen " ruffling blades" in fierce quarrel, you will look narrowly, you will see a coy female in very plain attire, seated among the thick leaves. Doubtless she enjoys the contest internally, though she shows no external marks of it. After quarreling and fighting for a length of time, they all fly off, but one, to commence the same system of courtship with another female. In this they resemble their brother beaux of the human species ; who go a-courting in crowds — and though they make strong protes- tations, of never being able to live without, or to forget the fair loved one, yet upon the first repulse have an alacrity at dipping their pierced hearts in the waters of Lethe, and in sweet oblivion of the pain that was to stop their mortal career, one short month finds them engaged in the same cause with another. The male oriole that is left behind by common con- sent, is looked upon as the affianced lover of the plain-looking dame. How this conclusion is arrived at I cannot ascertain; for the victory in this case, as in others, is not always to the strong. Nor does the female seem to manifest any choice by any sign visible to me. It may be, however, that some sly wag of the tail, some knowing nod of the head, or some ten- der look of the eye, is " confirmation strong" of the inclination of her heart. When left to themselves, with a breast glow- ing with love, the beautiful male approaches, in the tenderest manner, the object of his affec- tion. With coyness she moves off, as if not en- tirely satisfied. He then hops around her, on the nearest limbs, clinging to them sometimes with his head downwards, peeping at her, then changing his position and moving along them with that wonderful agility that character- izes the species, up and down, sidewise and backwards, — not with hops like the wood- pecker, but with an easy, graceful, gliding mo- tion, reaching out first one foot and then the other, as if he could use his feet like a man can his hands. He displays to her from 300 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. every point of view the gaudy colouring of his plumage, and in a low, tender tune carries on his courtship, — assuring her, doubtless, of his never-dying passion aud his eternal fidel- ity, till winter doth them part. She flies off to another tree, and he is by her side ; she tries him often thus in the course of the day, but he quits her not, and at night roosts close by her side. In the morning he uses that delicate note towards her which he never uses except to his wife or his young. You may imitate it, if you will open your mouth moderately : keep your tongue pressed against your bottom teeth, and pronounce from the windpipe the syllable lia-e, with a prolonged stress upon the a, and cutting it off rather short on the e. When you hear this note, you may swear that they are " man and wife V In the course of the day she will take him to some sequestered spot, and seal the hymeneal compact. Then it is he sings in all his glory ; his notes, which are generally four, are then enlarged to even eight or ten. Now, woe betide the bird that comes near his beloved, Things go on very swimmingly for their honeymoon of a week. The female has now put off all of her shyness, and is, if anything, bolder than the male. She takes the wife's prerogative of scolding him for an idle, worthless fellow, and that he has something else to do than sing, eat and fondle all day, and that he must go to work and pro- vide for his oncoming family. So, at least, I interpret the rather querulous note which she often utters now. And he interprets it so, too, for he takes her to the spot which he has se- lected before her arrival. This is generally on the South-east side of the tree. ' Audubon says that in Louisiana, he, foreknowing the great heat of the climate, takes the North side. Three little twigs growing from the same limb and as near the end of it as possible, suit his purpose best. Now, let the ladies, who sometime sit in poarches and bowers, and un- der trees, be cautious how they leave skeins of silk or spools of cotton, or strong thread of any description, in such exposed places. It is possible that servants have often been suspect- ed of purloining these articles, when the orioles have taken them away. I have seen them flying off with thread trailing behind them several yards long. But if you should publish this in the Planter, I would' advise the fair Mrs. Dorothy Dumpling not to read this part of it aloud to her children, in the hear- ing of any of her servants, el-e the orioles will take away all of the thread out of her house. Having secured a piece about two feet long, the male bird will tie one end of it very se- curely to one of the twigs ; he will take the other end in his beek, and gliding off to its length on the limb, he will pull at it as if to test its strength ; having ascertained this, he will fasten it by wrapping it several times ■ around the other twig, and then tie it in a hard knot ; he then lets the middle part c the sti fall 14 :ano n act) ring iau down in a bag or curve tjL... tween and below the two twigs. This curv will be from eight to twelve inches long. ] he cannot find a suitable piece of thread, h will make it of the seed stalk of the fox-tai grass, — or tie two pieces of that of the greerrfr sward together. But it is seldom that he doe not secure a proper string somewhere. It is curious to witness his manoeuvres ii adjusting the next thread, which alway-., crosses the first at right angles. He here ha to overcome, by actual measurement, theun, , equal distances of the twigs from each other .Z To do this, he clips his thread or grass a great n deal too long, ties one end to the third twig takes the other end in his beak, flies beneatl!! the first hung thread, and brings it up to thd . limb. Here he draws it up, shortening th<>. 1 curve till he perceives that it has just touchec' , the bottom of the first hung thread, and wilii ; ' bear an equal stress with the other. He wrap* ' /, the end he holds in his mouth around the , limb and ties it fast. He then ties the twc . hanging strings together at the point of cross-u ing. The female never helps him in this ope- ration. But so soon as his frame-work is com- pleted, she will cut off with him the seed stalks j™ of the greensward or other suitable grass, and i assist him in weaving it around the bottom oi-j the nest. From this point the male carries short suspenders of grass to a kind of rim, which he runs all around at the top of thei J nest. He gathers it up in the right form andl size. Like a basket-maker, carrying his splits of white oak over and under the ribs, so they weave in the grass. As they progress they strengthen the main supports by putting grass along the side of the thread, and often wrapping and tying grass or thread around them. When the nest is fin- ished on the outside/properly hung and shaped, they proceed to line it with wool, cow hair, or such other warm and fine fabrics as they can collect.. After every weaving of any piece of grass, the male always gets into the nest, and turns his body round and round, pressing and swelling out in all directions. This gives it its proper shape, roundness and fullness. It takes them about a week to finish a nest. I saw an oriole, in the spring of 1856, take all the mate- rial out of a nest of the previous year and work it up in a new one on another tree. He only made use of new hanging threads. The old nest was not more than 15 feet from a porch where I observed him. He took it to pieces very scientifically, without pulling or breaking any thing, nor did he leave a spire of grass be- 1 hind ; I would defy any human hand to accom- plish this feat. The female lays 5 or 6 light brown eggs, waved with dark brown, and dotted with black spots. These are hatched in 14 days. The male assists the female to feed them. Their food consists entirely of insects in their first THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 301 eek ; as they grow, he occasionally gives them a srry plucked from the fields or gardens. The ire, watchfulness and courage of the male, isplayed in defence of his wife and young, in not be exceeded by any bird. He pays reat attention to the cltftnliness of the nest r at a,ch visit he inspects n, and takes away the xerement which is covered by a glutinous film, rid seldom drops it under a hundred yards' istance. He does not, like men, think these ecessary cares beneath his notice, and devolve all upon his wife. Nor does he break a ingle pledge given to his homety, plain little late before their union. Their attachment to leir young is exceedingly strong. Miss C. H. f this county, who is an accurate observer, nd a lover of nature, informed me, that at her ouse a limb was broken, to which an oriole's est was attached. The young one's, who were a an unfledged state, fell to the ground. She laced them in a window, where they were fed y the old ones. But not pleased with their ituation, they hastily built a new nest r and re- moved the young ones to it. This is an in- tance of sagacity and affection which but few, f any, of our other birds could show. In about 12 or 14 days the young ones come »ut of the nest and hang on to its sides. They climb back themselves when tired or dis- losed to sleep. In a few days more they leave he nest and settle on trees, where they keep ip an endless chirrup through the day. They ire fed about a fortnight by the old ones after eaving the nest ; they are then left to shift or themselves. The young males are now like ;he mother in color, and they work 'their way singly to the South, and return next season svith the full 'plumage of their fathers — so says Audubon — Wilson says in three years the males attain their full plumage. I rather concur with Wilson, without professing to have accurate knowledge on the subject. But I see male orioles every spring with plumage duller than others. This would not be the Kase if all attained full plumage the first year, 'he orchard oriole— Icterus Spurius, is not so large a bird as the Baltimore, nor so gaudy in his dress. But he sings a sweeter and more varied song — is of a more amiable and social disposition, and upon close inspection, is really prettier. His head, tail, upper bac£, and upper bill, are of a glossy black. The lower bill and feet blue. All the rest of him, except a por- tion of his wings, are of a bright chesnut color. Thjs bird certainly does not attain his full plumage till the third year. The younger males look like a different species. The food and habits of- the orchard oriole resemble those of the Baltimore. His nest is not half as deep, and is generally built of grass hung between the fork of a limb, and tied to it with all of its upper margin. Some years ago a great many pairs of this species built around my house. Sometimes two nests in one tree, as the males are very friendly. But as the trees grew up tall, the Baltimore orioles took possession, and drove them to the upper part of the lawn, where they build in the lindens, and slippery elms, and also in a contiguous orchard. They are highly useful in clearing the trees of all sorts of worms. They make an excellent cage- bird, sing well in confinement, and retain their plumage in winter. Their docility, sense and attachment to their mates, render them highly interesting. I could write a long history of them, but they are well known to every body. On the whole, I do not know if they are not more welcome visitants to me, though more modest and retiring, than are their more noisy and conspicuous kinfolks, the Baltimoreans. I would rather have both though, and hope to see them in great numbers shortly. F. April 8th, 1858. For the Southern Planter. Seed. Sir, — The many trials and failures I have experienced with seeds of various kinds, have induced me to make some few remarks, or I would rather say enquiries, respecting their nature and durability, for on reflection it will be admitted that within the compass of agri- cultural pursuits, a more important considera- tion does not exist, and one, too, which seems to escape the vigilant scrutiny of our intelli- gent farmers. The few words I am about to say, in this short article, are not to be taken as in- tending to throw any light on the subject ; for my object is to elicit information, and if this will serve as a preliminary step to entering the inner temple of nature and unfolding the se- crets connected with the formation of seed and its vital powers, my desires are satisfied. Every body knows that seed is the parent of every thing in the vegetable and floral kingdoms and were the seeds of one season to prove abortive, or cease to replenish the earth, the grandeur of this beautiful planet of ours would fade away; the landscape no longer wearing its mantle of green, nor the vales nor the forests their sparkling foliage, decadence and ruin would follow, carrying in its train of woe every ani- mal, from the Lord and Master of creation, to the most abject thing that flutters in the breeze ; but no, this blight will not come, for the eter- nal word has ordained that the earth shall be replenished ; every herb bearing seed after its kind, will continue to perpetuate their species, even to the end. of time. And indeed so fruit- ful is nature, that a surface one thousand times more extended that this globe, would not be sufficient for the vegetables which the seeds of one year would produce ; nor is this prodigious yield to create surprise, while we bear in mind that a single stalk of indian corn produces two thousand seeds, and a capsule of the poppy, some eight thousand ; and it is calculated that a thistle, at the second crop, produces five hun- dred and seventy six millions. Thus is the 02 THE SOUTHEKN PLANTER. , link in the chain of the vegetable world con- tinued ; each kind perpetuating its species. But what happens to all this seed and the length of time each species retains its vitality, is the enquiry I wish to make. The best mode of preserving the vital energy of seed, ought to f ngage the attention not alone of our farmers, but seed growers and dealers in this article ; should be conversant with the laws which gov- ern its action. Let us hope then that a spirit of enquiry will be set on foot, and its relation to soil and climate be ascertained. R. C. April 19th, 1858. For the Planter. Profits on Grazing Cattle Again. LET LOWER FAUQUIER SPEAK!. Mr. Editor, — I have read with much inter- est the statements given, and the estimates made, of the profits of graining and grazing of cattle, in the February and March numbers of the " Planter" — it seems that Mr. Loughbo- rough made a nett profit of $27 per *caput on his cattle, and that Col. Wright of Loudoun County, on cattle costing less, also made a nett profit of $28 15| cents per head on his cattle, but in neither instance did the profit amount to 100 per cent on the money invested — the neigh- bour of Col. Wright's, mentioned by Mr. Noble S. Braden, whose cattle cost $17 54 per head, and were sold at an average of $37 — being a nett profit of 110 per cent on their cost — ac- cording to the usual, and only true mode, of es- timating profits, has excelled each of the others, in the per cent received, on the money invest- ed. Mr. Editor, should Upper Fauquier and Lou- doun, permit Lower Fauquier to enter into this contest, and not deem it too presumptuous, it shall be proven to you that I am " sufficiently armed to take up the glove thrown by Mr. Mar- shall" in behalf of Mr. Loughborough, and also that of Mr. Braden on account of Colonel Wright of Lmdour? County, together with that of'Col. Wright's neighbour. 1 have in my possession the statement of Win. S. Dulaney, Esq., of " Locust Hill," (near Rap- idann Station, in Lower Fauquier,) in refer- j ence to a lot of cattle grazed by him in 1855, ; as follows: "I send you a statement of the; cattle vou purchased of me in 1855— Oct. 15th, 1855, 30 head cattle @ $40 per head, Nov. 12th, 1855, 30 head cattle @ $40, making 00 head of cattle at $40 per head, which cattle cost in September 1854, $16 46 per head— the cattle had no com, or meal, but were strictly grass cattle, and were grazed on 200 acres of grass land. " The inquiry is from Upper Fau- quier, to know if any other County can do bet- ter than Mr. Nathan Loughborough has done, in the grazing line. I think if Lower Fauquier were to speak, it would appear too much like boasting, — much less is expected from our re- gion, owing to the disadvantages of procurinj ^ good stock, as Upper Fauquier has the choic<{ of Virginia stock cattle," &c, &e. Now yoil^ will perceive, Mr. Editor, with all their advaof 80 : 1 tages of procuring the best of stock cattle, tha^ wlt both Upper Fauquier and Loudoun have beeif ffi! J left far behind in this ''contest, since Mr. Dulai ney's cattle, costing $16 46 per head, and sohfi at $40 — paid him a nett profit of about 143 pe\i cent. I will here state, that I purchased the above I mentioned cattle of Mr. Dulaney, that the-jj were a lot of very superior beef cattle, avera* ging about 5751bs. nett weight, and were as* cheap a lot (quality considered) as was pu3 O 13 o ° % Cfi GO tl O oa a> £, &- 3 P- c o3 a -° a ° S OD 'O m ■— 3 S o a l- be a CQ pq H 60 7 67 70 8 78 68 10 78 90 15 105 70 8 78 85 5 90 60 12 72 87 10 97 100 8 108 60 8 68 95 10 105 78 10 88 88 13 101 111 14 125 11 11 38 11 23 5 30 41 1 38 21 34 58 The superphosphate of lime was made on purpose for these experiments, and was a pure mineral manure of superior quality, made from calcined bones ; it cost about 2£ cents per pound. The sulphate of ammonia was a good, commercial article, obtained from London, at a cost of about 7 cts. per pound. The ashes were made from beech and hard maple (acer saccha- ratum) wood, and were sifted through a fine sieve before being weighed. The guano was the best Peruvian, costing about 3 cents per pound. It was crushed and sifted before using. In sowing the ashes on plot 7, an error occurred in their application, and for the purpose of check- ing the result, it was deemed advisable to repeat the experiment on plot 10. On plot 5, with 300 lbs. of superphosphate of lime per acre, the plants came up first, and ex- hibited a healthy, dark green appearance, which they retained for some time. This re- suit was not anticipated, though it is well known -that superphosphate of lime has the 304 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER effect of stimulating the germination of turnip seed and the early growth of the plants to an as- tonishing degree ; yet, as it has no such effect on wheat, it appeared probable that it would not produce this effect on Indian corn, which, in chemical composition, is very similar to wheat. The result shows how uncertain are all specu- lations in regard to the manurial requirements of plants. The immediate effect of superphos- phate of lime on corn was so marked, that the men (who were, at the time of planting, some- what inclined to be skeptical, in regard to the value of such small doses of manure), de- clared that " superphosphate beats all creation for corn." The difference in favor of super- phosphate, at the time of hoeing, was very perceptical, even at some distance. Although every precaution was taken that was deemed necessary, to prevent the manures from mixing in the hill, or from injuring the seed, yet it was found, that those plots dressed with ashes and guano, or with ashes and sul- phate of ammonia, were injured to some ex- tent. Shortly after the corn was planted, heavy rain set in, and washed the sulphate of ammonia and guano, down into the ashes, and mutual decomposition took place, with more or less loss of ammonia. In addition to this loss of ammonia, these manures came up to the surface of the ground in the form of an ex- cresence, so hard that the plants could with difficulty penetrate through it. This is a fact which should be borne in mind in instituting future experiments. It would have been bet- ter, undoubtedly, to have sown these manures broadcast; and I'should have done so except for the difficulty of sowing them evenly by hand on so narrow a plot, without risk of having some part of the manures blown on to the ad- joining plots. It will be seen by examining the table, that although the superphospate of lime had' a good effect during the early stages of the growth of the plants, yet the increase of ears of corn in the end, did not come up to these early indica- tions. On Plot 5, with 300 lbs. of superphos- phate of lime per acre, the yield is precisely the same as on Plot 2, with 100 lbs. of plaster (sulphate of lime) per acre. Now, superphos- phate of lime, is composed necessarily of solu- ble phosphate of lime and plaster, or sulphate of lime, formed from a combination of the sulphuric acid, employed in the manufacture of superphosphate, with the lime of the bones. In the 300 lbs. of superphosphate of lime, sown on Plot 5, there would be about 100 lbs. of plaster; and as the effect of this dressing was no greater than was obtained from the 100 lbs. of plaster, sown on Plot 2, it follows, that the good effect of the superphosphate of lime, was due to the plaster it contained. Again, on Plot 4, with 150 lbs. of sulphate of ammonia per acre, we got 90 bushels of ears of sound corn, and 15 bushels of ears of sOft corn (" nubbins "), pere acre ; or a total increase over the plot without manure, of 3£ bushels. Now, the sulphate of ammonia con tains no phosphate of lime, and the fact thai such a manure gives a considerable increase o; crop, confirms the conclusion we have arriveci at, from a comparison of the results on Plots 1 and 5 : that the increase from the superphos- phate of lime, is not due to the phosphate ol lime which it contains, unless we are to con- clude that the sulphate of ammonia rendered the phosphate of lime in the soil more readily soluble, and thus furnished an increased quan- tity in an available form of assimilation by the plants — a conclusion, which the results with superphosphate alone on Plot 5, and with su- perphosphate and sulphate of ammonia, com- bined on Plot 6, do not sustain. On Plot 12, half the quantity of sulphate of ammonia, was used on Plot 4, and the increase is a little more than half what it is where double the quantity was used. Again, on Plot 13, 200 lbs., of Peruvian guano per acre, gives nearly as great an increase of sound corn, as the 150 pounds of sulphate of ammonia. Now, 200 lbs. of Peruvian guano, contains nearly as much ammonia as 150 lbs. sulphate of ammo- nia, and the increase in both cases is evidently due to the ammonia of the manures. The 200 lbs. of Peruvian guano, contained about 50 lbs. of phosphate of lime ; but as the sulphate of ammonia, which contains no phosphate of lime, gives as great an increase as the guano, it follows that the phosphate of lime in the guano, had little if any effect ; a result precise- ly similar to that obtained with superphosphate lime. We may conclude, therefore, that on this soil, which has never been manured, and which has been cultivated for many years in the Ceralia, or in other words, with crops which remove a large quantity of phosphate of lime from the soil — the phosphate of lime, relatively to the ammonia, is not deficient. If such w T as not the case, an application of soluble phosphate 'of lime would have given an increase of crop, which we have shown was not the case in any one of the experiments. Plot 10, with 400 lbs. of unleached wood ashes per acre, produces the same quantity of sound corn, with an extra bushel of "nubbins" per acre, as Plot 1, without any manure at all ; ashes, therefore, applied alone, may be said to have had no effect whatever. On Plot 3, 400 lbs. of ashes, and 100 lbs. of plaster, give the same total number of bushels per acre, as Plot 2, with 100 lbs. of plaster alone. Plot 8, with 400 lbs. ashes, and 150 lbs. of sul- phate of ammonia, yields three bushels of sound corn, and five bushels of " nubbins" per acre, less than Plot 4, with 150 lbs. sulphate of ammonia alone. This result, may be ascrib- ed to the fact previously alluded to — the ashes dissipated some of the ammonia. Plot 11, with 100 lbs. of plaster; 400 lbs ashes; 300 lbs. of superphosphate of lime THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 105 and 200 lbs. Peruvian guano (which contains about as much ammonia as 150 lbs. sulphate of ammonia,) produced precisely the same number of total bushels per acre, as Plot 4, with 150 lbs. sulphate of ammonia alone, and but 4 bushels more per acre than Plot 13, with 200 lbs. Peruvian guano alone. It is evident from these results, that neither ashes nor phosphates had much effect on Indian corn, on this impoverished soil. Plot 14 received the largest dressing of ammonia (500 lbs. Pe- ruvian guano,) and produced mueh the largest crop ; though the increase is not so great in proportion to the guano, as where similar quan- tities were used. The manure which produced the most profit- able results, was the 100 lbs. of plaster, on Plot 2. The 200 lbs. of Peruvian guano, on Plot 13, and which cost about $6, gave an in- crease of 14 bushels of shelled corn, and 6 bushels of " nubbins/' * This will pay at the present price of corn in Rochester, although the profit is not very great. The superphos- phate of lime, although a very superior article, and estimated at cost price, in no case paid for itself. The same is true of the ashes. But the object of the experiment was not so much to ascertain what manures will pay, but to ascertain; if possible, what constituents of manure are required, in greatest quantity, for the maximum growth of corn. All our agricultural plants are composed of precisely the same elements ; the only difference being in the relative proportions in w T hich they exist in the plants. Thus, Wheat and Turnips contain precisely the same elements, but the ash of Wheat contains five times as much phosphoric acid as the ash of Turnips, while the Turnips contain much more potash than Wheat. This fact being ascertained by chemical analysis, it was supposed that Wheat required a manure relatively richer in phosphoric acid than was required for Turnips. This is certainly a plausible deduction ; but careful and numerous experiments have incontrovertibly proved that such is not the case —in fact, that an ordinary crop of Turnips requires more phosphoric acid in an available condition in the soil, than an ordinary crop of Wheat. Erom this fact, and several others of a similar character, the con- clusion is irresistible, that the chemical compo- sition of a plant — the relative proportion in which the several elements exist in the plant — is not a certain indication of the manurial requirements of the plant ; or in other words, it does not follow, that because a plant con- tains a relatively larger proportion of any par- ticular element, that the soil or manure best adapted for the growth of this plant must con- tain a relatively larger proportion of this ele- ment. Wheat, Rye, Barley, Oats and Indian corn, all contain a relatively larger quantity of phosphate of lime ; but it is not safe to con- clude from this, that a soil or manure best adapted for their maximum growth, must also 20 contain a relatively larger quantity of phos- phate of lime. We know positively from nu- merous experiments, that such is not the case with Wheat; and, it is therefore at least doubt- ful, whether such is true of Indian corn. * On the other hand, we know from repeated expe- riments that Wheat requires a large quan- tity of ammonia for its maximum growth, and as Indian corn is nearly identical in com- position to Wheat, it is somewhat probable that it requires food similar in composition to Wheat. This, however, is merely a deduction, and deduction is never a safe rule in agri- culture. We can obtain no positive knowledge in regard to the manurial requirements of plants, except from actual experiments. Hith- erto no experiments have been made in this country on Indian corn that afford any certain information on this point. Indeed, we believe no satisfactory experiments have been made on Indian corn, in any country, that throws any definite light on this interesting and im- portant question. A few years ago, Mr. Lawes made similar experiments to those given above on his farm at Rothamstead, England ; but owing to the coolness of the English climate, the crop did not arrive at maturity. Numer- ous experiments have been made in this coun- try with guano and superphosphate of lime; but the superphosphates used were commercial articles, containing more or less ammonia, and if they are of any benefit to those crops to which they are applied, it is a matter of un- certainty whether the beneficial effect of the application is due to the soluble phosphate of lime, or to the ammonia. On the other hand, guano contains both ammonia and phosphate ; and we are equally at a loss to determine whether the effect is attributable to the ammo- nia or phosphates, or both. In order, therefore, to determine satisfactorily which of the several ingredients of plants is required in greatest proportion for the maximum growth of any particular crop, we must apply these ingredi- ents separately or in such definite compounds as will enable us to determine to what partieu- ' lar element or compounds the beneficial effect is to be ascribed. It w r as for this reason that sulphate of ammonia and a purely mineral superphosphate of lime, were used in the above experiments. No one would think of using sulphate of ammonia at its price, as an ordinary manure, for the reason that the same quantity of ammonia can be obtained in other substances, such as barn yard manure, Peru- vian guano, &c, at a much cheaper rate. But these manures' contain all the elements of plants, and we cannot know whether the- effect produced by them is due to the ammonia, phosphates or any other ingredient. For the purpose of experiment, therefore, Ave must use a manure that furnishes ammonia without any admixture of phosphates, potash, soda, lime, magnesia, &c, even though it cost much more than we could obtain the same amount 506 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. of ammonia in other manures. I make these remarks in order to correct a very common opinion, that if experiments do not pay, they are useless. The ultimate object, indeed, is to ascertain the most profitable method of manur- ing ; but the means of obtaining this informa- tion, cannot be in all cases profitable. Similar experiments to those made on In- dian corn, were made on soil of a similar char- acter, on about an acre of Chinese sugar cane. I do not propose to give the results in detail at this time, and allude to them merely to men- tion one very important fact, the superphos- phate of lime had a very marked effect. This manure was applied in the hill on one plot (the twentieth of an acre,) at the rate of 400 lbs. per acre, and the plants on this plot came up first, and outgrew ail the others from the standard, ultimately attained the height of about ten feet; while on the plot receiving no manure, the plants were not five feet high- This is a result entirely different from what I should have expected. It has been supposed, from the fact that superphosphate of lime had # no effect on Wheat, that it would probably have little effect on Corn, or on the Sugar cane, or other ceralia ; and that as ammonia is so beneficial ■ for wheat, it would probably be beneficial for Corn and Sugar cane. The above experiments indicate that such is the case in regard to Indian corn, so far as the production of grain is concerned, though, as we have stated, it is not true in reference to the early growth of the plants. The super- phosphate of lime on Indian corn stimulated the growth of the plants in a very decided manner at first, so much so, that we were led to suppose for sometime that it would give the largest crop ; but at harvest it was found that it produced no more Corn than plaster. These results seem to indicate that superphosphate of lime stimulates the growth of stalks and leaves, and has little effect in increasing the production of seed. In raising Indian corn, for fodder or for soiling purposes, superphos- phate of lime may be beneficial as well as in growing the sorghum for sugar-making purpo- ses, or for fodder — though, perhaps, not for seed. In addition to the experiments given above, I also made the same season, on an adjoining field, another set of experiments on Indian corn, the results of which I now send you. The land on which these experiments were made is of a somewhat firmer texture than that on which the other set of experiments were made. It is situated about a mile from the barnyard, and on this account has seldom if ever been manured. It has been cultivated for many years with ordinary farm crops. It was ploughed early in the spring and it was har- rowed until quite mellow. The corn was planted May 30, 1857. Each experiment oc- cupied one tenth of an acre, consisting of 4 rows 3| feet apart, and the same distance be- tween the hills in the rows, with one row with- out manure between each experimental plot. The manure was applied in the hill, in the same manner as in the first set of experiments. The barnyard manure was well rotted, and consisted principally of cow dung with a little horse dung. Twenty two-horse wagon loads of this was applied per acre, and each load would probably weigh about one ton. It was put in the hill and covered with soil and the seed then planted on the top. The following table gives the results of the experiments : Table showing the results of Experiments on Indian Com, made near Rochester, New York, in the year 1857. CO «4-< (H b o IS 3 53 <+- c cc ° 4 \ i ears soft co re ov. unma. 1 increase o f corn per a c A co z 6 " C 4> 1 No manure, - ..--__ 75 12 87 2 20 l.mds barnyard manure, - 82* 10 92* 7* 1 51 8 '150 lbs. of sulphate of ammonia, - 85 30 115 10 18 28 4 300 lbs. of superphosphate of lime, - 88 10 08 13 :...|n 3 400 lbs. of Peruvian guano, - 90 30 120 15 18 33 6 400 lbs. of " Cancerine," or fish manure, - 85 20 105 10 8 ! 18 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 107 A.i before stated, the land was of a stronger nature than that on which the first set of ex- periments was made, and it was evidently in better condition, as the plot having no manure produced 20 bushels of ears of corn per acre more than the plot without manure in the other field. On Plot 4, 300 lbs. of superphosphate of limes gives a total increase of 11 bushels of ears of corn per acre over the unmanured plot agreeing exactly with the increase obtained from the same quantity of the same manure on Plot 5, in the first set of experiments. Plot 3 dressed with 150 lbs. of sulphate of ammonia per acre, gives a total increase of 28 bushels of ears of corn per- acre over the un- manured plot ; and an increase of 22-J bushels of ears per acre over Plot 2, which received 20 loads of good, well rotted barnyard dung per acre. Plot 5, wiih 400 lbs. of Peruvian guano per acre gives the best crop of this series, viz : an increase of 33 bushels of ears of corn per acre over the unmanured plot, and 27| over the plot manured with 20 loads barnyard dung. The 400 lbs. of " Cancerine" — an artificial ma- nure made in New Jersey from fish — gives a total increase of 18 bushels of ears per acre over the unmanured plot, and 12|- bushels more than that manured with barnyard dung, though 5 bushels of ears of sound corn and 10 bushels of " nubbins" per acre less than the .same quantity of Peruvian guano. JOSEPH HARRIS. Rochester, N. Y., Feb. 8th, 1858. Cooling Rooms. The warm weather will shortly be here, and every one will be seeking the refresh- ing influence of a cool and shady place, whereunto they can retreat from the blaz- ing sun ; so we will give our readers a few hints concerning the cooling of their houses. The first necessity is a thorough draft. This can always be obtained by opening every door and window in the basement, the top of every window above, and by throwing each door wide open ; but above all, be sure that the trap door in the roof is open, and there is plenty of air room from it down the stairs, so that whichever be the direction of the wind, there will be at least one ascending cur- rent of air in the house. Another requi- site is shade. Our common slat shutters answer well for the windows, but the most cheap and convenient shelter for the roof is to cover it thickly with straw, dried reeds, or rushes. These will resist the influence of the noonday sun, and keep the garret almost as cool as the basement. One of the most simple methods, and at the same time cheapest means of artificially lowering the temperature of a room is to wet a cloth of any size, the larger the bet- ter, and suspend it in the place you want cooling ; let the room be well ventilated, and the temperature will sink from ten to twenty degrees in less than half an hour. The above hints will be useful to many, and as a last suggestion we will inform the reader that, in summer it is well to keep a solution of chloride of lime in the house, and occasionally sprinkle it in the more frequented parts, as the passages and stairs. — Scientific American. . < m e » » Great Yield of Corn in South Carolina. We are very happy to see by the following authentic report that Dr. J. W. Parker, of Columbia, S. C, has obtained the premium of the State Agricultural Society, of that State, for the largest yield of corn, per acre, of which we have ever seen any record. Intensely sectional as we admit ourselves to be, it gives us pleasure to make known as far as we can everything which goes to show the capacity of the slave States. We sympathize fully, there- fore, in the pride and gratification with which The Farmer and Planter announces the success of Dr. Parker. Dr. PARKER AGAINST THE WORLD. It is with much pride and gratification that we publish Dr. Parker's report of the extra- ordinary production of 200 bushels and 12 quarts of corn from one acre. Who does not feel proud of his success in being the largest producer of corn in the whole world? And what true Carolinian does not feel elated at such a glorious triumph in the field of agri- culture? It was a proud day for South Caro- lina and for the successful competitor, when it was publicly announced at the late annual Fair of our State Agricultural Society, that Dr. Parker had produced from one acre of land, 200 bushels and 12 quarts — the largest product on record. We believe that 190 bushels is the largesc product heretofore reported, and this, if. we mistake not, on some of the rich lands of the valley of Mississippi ; but this greater pro- duct was made in the neighborhood of the Town of Columbia, a region not remarkable for fertility of soil. His success, therefore, must have been owing, as is seen from his re- port, to a high system of manuring and a deep and thorough preparation of the land.. But to whatever it may have been owing, he is entitled to the credit of being the largest producer of corn in the whole world. If it had be^en a die-- 308 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. ;overy in science, a new planet or asteroid in the solar system or a new principle in me- chanics, or some boasted effort of literary genius, or some great military exploit, such as the seige of Sevastopol, it would have been heralded through the world with all the pomp and parade usually awarded to such achieve- ments. But the trophies of the plough are not wont to be so blazoned ; they are usually found in the vale of obscurity, with none to herald their deeds to the world. But who are the real benefactors of mankind? We are told " they who can make two ears of corn or two blades of grass grow where only one grew before," Take the simple proposition, that the productions of the earth can be doubled by good culture, and what an amount of increased supply of human want and comfort would be produced. What an increase to the profits of agricultural capital, of individual and national wealth. ]But the experiment of Dr. Parker goes greatly beyond doubling the ordinary produc- tions of our lands. Ta^e the average produc- tion of the lands of the State at 20 bushels per acre — his is ten times greater — and as Ave fall below, as many of us are in the habit of doing on our old lands, the ratio is increased in the same proportion. What a lesson should this teach us, and what' a powerful argument does it afford to reform our system of farming. As we heard one of our neighbors, who plants good land, and whose crop was 2000 bushels from 100 acres, say that according to Dr. Par- ker's production, he ought to have made the same quantity from ten acres. But as this was an extraordinary production, let us double the quantity of land, and say that 20 acres can be made to produce 2000 bushels, or 100 bushels to the acre, and who can duubt this, when it has been so frequently realized. Suppose the extra labor that is spent on the 100 acres, was ex- pended on the 20 acres, would not the result give a vastly increased crop? And this not for a single year, but for a series of 3 r ears. REPORT ON CORN. To the Executive Committee of the State Agricultural Society: Gentlemen — As a competitor for the premi- um to be awarded for the largest yield of corn from two acres of ground; I herewith present the certificate of the Committee, and the letter of Mr. Veal, who measured the land ;'also, the following report on the preparation of the ground and culture of the crop: The ground selected for my experiment, was sand-hill branch land; after drying it by un- derground drains, it was broken up with a common tongue plough in November, |bout 25 two-horse loads of manure from my cow- house, were spread over each acre in Decem- ber, and well ploughed in with a two-horse iron plough (Glaze), followed with the subsoil plough drawn by two mules. About the first of March, another coat of good stable and cow manure was spread and ploughed in as the first. Early in April, three cart loads of air-slacked lime, and two sacks of salt, were spread over each acre, and lightly ploughed under. On the 14th of May, the ground was thoroughly ploughed with Glaze's large iron plough, harrowed level and laid off thirty inches apart with a shovel plough. Guano and Plaster was sprinkled in the furrows, near 200 lbs. of the former, and 300 lbs. of the latter, to each acre. The seed selected for planting, was from North Carolina, and designated " Bale Moun- tain Corn." After soaking it during the night in a strong solution of nitre, it was planted from 8 to 12 inches distance in the row, covered it with hoes, and rolled the ground, leaving it perfectly level. On the 14th, it was ploughed with a long, very narrow plough, and dressed over with hoes. On the 5th and 17th of June, the same work was repeated, each time leaving the ground level. About the first of July, it was necessary to draw a ridge about the roots of the corn to prevent its falling. During a protracted drought, Acre No. 1 was twice irri- gated, and Acre No. 2 had the water turned on it once. As you will learn from the certificate of the Committee, the yield from Acre No. 1 was 200 bushels and 12 quarts ; from Acre No. 2, M6 bushels and 6 quarts, making from two acres, three hundred and sixteen bushels and 18 quarts. All of which is respectfully submitted. J. W. Parker. Columbia, Nov. 9th, 1857. The undersigned, acting as a Committee, certify that they have, with care, superintended the harvesting and measurement of the pro- duct of two acres of ground belonging to, and cultivated by Dr. J. W. Parker, which ground we would denominate sand-hill branch land ; and find the yield of corn to be on acre No. 1, two hundred bushels and twelve quarts; and on acre No. 2, one hundred and sixteen bushels and six quarts — making from two acres, (ac- cording to Mr. Veal's survey), three hundred and sixteen bushels and eighteen quarts of good sound corn, the manner and measurement of which we regard as accurate, and such as would be entirely satisfactory to us, if we were buying. It is known to a part of the Committee that acre No. 2, or a large portion of it, was ploughed up at a late period, and planted over, which, very probably, was an injury to the crop, and lesseued the yield. John Dent, Jr. Wm. Wallace, W. L. Goodwin, John Glass. "Dairy Farm," Columbia, Oct. 21st, 1857. Dr. J. W. Parker — Dear Sir: — I measured THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 309 on yesterday the corn lot as shown me in the field on the West side of the Main Road, and find it to contain one acre, and have measured off and staked one acre of corn in the field East side of the road. Very truly yours, Thos. C. Veal,- Architect. Columbia, 8. C, Oct. 21st, 1857. Agricultural Humbug at Washington— II. PATENT OFFICE SEEDS. We purposed in this number to continue our remarks, begun on page 40 of last number, in reference to the operations of the Agricultural Department of the Patent Office, but we cheer- fully give way to the article below, from the Philadelphia North American of Feb. 6th, to which we call especial attention. After referring to the benefits that may be, and even have been derived from the distribu- tion of seeds, the writer goes on to say : " • • • Mr. Editor, it is so much more .agreeable to praise than to censure, that the writer would willingly close his remarks with an expression of his earnest hope that the fu- ture efforts of the Patent Office may be most successful — but sir, that office, and the money which sustains it, belongs to the people, and whenever its action requires censure, it should not be withheld through delicacy to the official, who directs its expenditure. It was, beyond question, the object of Congress, when making its several appropriations for the purchase of seeds that the money should be expended in procuring from abroad such varieties of cereals, grasses, esculent vegetables, and, if you please, grafts, &c, as might not speedily be introduced among us through the ordinary course of trade. The first effort to that end was during the administration of the younger Adams, who caused circulars to be issued to Consuls, Naval Officers on distant stations, and other officers in the service of the government abroad, invi- ting them to collect and forward to Washing- ton for distribution, seeds of plants which they might deem likely to prove serviceable to their country ; but as no appropriation has been made to defray the cost, the result was not at- tended by much success ; nevertheless, the plan was praiseworthy. The invitation, be it observed, was not to send home the seeds of vegetables we already had in profusion — "coals to Newcastle" — but novelties, some of which, it was hoped, might prove of practical value. The effort of Mr. Adams was doubtless the germ of the " agri- cultural department" of the Patent Office, and had his well conceived plan been carried out, when at a later day an appropriation was made, we might have seen more than one pro- fitable result — especially, so, when the extraordi- nary expense had been incurred of two or more trips to Europe of the agricultural clerk in quest of seeds — the whole of whose expenses might have been saved, had the subordinate possessed the knowledge suited to his position : and the sum squandered in these pleasure trips- could have been legitimately applied. The writer has been led to call attention to this subject from recently having found on the tables of our Agricultural Society, a collection of vegetable and flower seeds, labelled ' as im- ported by the Patent Office/ most of which were ivell known among us a quarter of a cen- tury ago, and some of them probably introduced by the first English colonists. But a still more striking evidence of the ignorance of the clerk who, it is understood, directs the importations, was the fact that among the seeds just referred to, was a variety of turnip, of Pennsylvania origin, which the writer of this communication had himself spe- cifically named. It had found its way to Eng- land and been imported by the Patent Office, the subordinate referred to not having knowledge to discriminate.. More than six thousand pounds of this very seed, raised in Pennsylvania, have been distributed -since the last harvest by a single Philadelphia house. There is another view of this subject worthy 5&f notice : seeds of foreign growth are admit- ted " free." To this the American seed grow- ers make no great objection, the superior quali- ty of the American giving them the preference. But whilst other branches of industry are di- rectly or incidently protected, is it right that our own seeds should not only go unprotected, but the funds of the government be expended in purchasing abroad and scattering broadcast at home, free of charge, the identical varieties which our own soil produces. What would be thought of it, if, out of the appropriation for the Congressional library, $10,000 was annu- ally expended in the importation from England of Webster's spelling books, and their distribu- tion, under the pretence of diffusing useful knowledge. Yet, preposterous as that would be, the spelling book of Webster is not more an American production, nor is it more readily obtained in every country store than are many of the variety of seeds distributed by the Patent Office. Mr. Editor, is not some amend- ment needed? L. \_American Agriculturalist. Cut Worms. SECOND ARTICLE. The March number of your journal contains an article on the above mentioned insect, from the pen of John A. Taylor, Esq., which is so much at variance with the known laws govern- ing their production and transformation that I have concluded to notice it. In the first place, there are no worms, or more properly speaking, caterpillars, which possess the power of pro- creation, with the exception of the common red earth, or bugle worm ; all the others are in an intermediate or imperfect state, and before 310 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. *hey can become a perfect insect must pass through the pupa, or chrysalis state into that of a moth, butterfly, or some other perfect in- sect, as the case may be. I will, in a brief manner, attempt to account for the phenomena observed by Mr. Taylor, in a different manner from what he has done. He tells us all the worms enclosed in a glass jar buried themselves in the earth, with the excep- tion of one, which remained upon the surface, from which, after a few days, came forth living worms ; what these living worms were I can- not say, with certainty, but it is highly prob- able that they were produced by the ich- neumon fly, which had deposited its eggs in the body of the cut worm, and that these worms assumed the chrysalis form which he supposes were eggs deposited upon the surface of the ground. I am almost warranted in this conclusion from his own sentiment ; for he says: " I soon had any quantity of flying insects, somewhat resembling a mosquito in appearance, formed more like a wasp, and very tenacious of life." This flying insect was, be} 7 ond all question, a perfect ichneumon fly, which are eminently useful in checking the increase of certain ial sects, by depositing their eggs in the bodies of various caterpillars and chrysalids. The worm which remained upon the surface of the earth sickened and died in consequence of the rava- ges of these minute worms which preyed upon its vitals. The true history of the cut worm (Agrotis Devastator), known as the cabbage worm, &c., is this : The perfect insect or moth lays its eggs in the month of July, on the ground, and particularly under heaps of weeds and deca}^- ing vegetable matter, which may inadvertently be left on the ground ; they are very partial to heaps of Purslain, Portulace ( Oleracea), prob- ably for the reason that the young larvae may find suitable sustenance from its succulent na- ture. These worms, or caterpillars, in the course of a few days, burrow in the earth, where they remain until the succeeding spring, when their depredations on tender vegetation commence ; as they increase in size they moult, or cast their skins from time to time, and final- ly descend a few inches into the earth where they assume the pupa state, of a brown or ma- hogany color. In this state they remain some four weeks, when a moth emerges of an ashy gray color, with a lustre like satin, with light colored wavy bands crossing their wings. The moths make their appearance about the middle of July and only fly at night, find at this sea- son of the year are seen about the candles in great numbers. There are a great variety of the agrotis to be found at almost any time during the summer and autumn, the worms of which vary but slightly in appearance. Dr. Harris, in his Treatise on Insects, mentions having enclosed a number at one time, taken, I think, from his garden, which, on passing through their trans- formations, eventually produced five differently marked moths. The habits and appearances of this insect are so well known in all its stages that no mis- take can occur in detecting it. Mr. Taylor has, evidently been led astray by the tricks of the ichneumon fly or by some other parasitic insect which have invested the specimens he had captured. There are few insects of more service in checking the ravages of certain of the Lepi- doptera upon the labor of the farmer than these little wasp like flies ; were it not for these and the birds who devour vast numbers, it would be almost impossible to cultivate many of the grains and vegetables we now do. I would suggest to Mr. Taylor, or any one else, to again carry these worms through a course of experiments, examine the worms closely before confining them, so as to see if there are any slight difference in their appear- ance, either in marks or colors : and then, again, to note the marks on the perfect insect or moth. — Southern Cultivator. To Prevent a Horse Catching the Reins Under his Tail. If a horse catches the reins under his tail, make the crupper bow an inch or an inch and a half wider, and buckle it tole- rable tight. This, it is said, will cure the habit. — Exchange. Wheat Prospect. Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Texas and Missouri papers represents the wheat crop as in a very promising condi- tion. If no calamity befals it, the far- mers' granaries will be full to overflow- To Save Harness. It is the hairy side of leather that cracks ; and if harness is made(if double) so that the fleshy sides are outward, and (if single) so that the hair side is next to the horse, it will not crack. The moisture of the horse will soften the hairy side ; and the bend being so that the fleshy side is on the outside of the segment of the circle, no provocation is given to the inside of the circle, to crack. Wagon harness has lasted twenty years uncracked, simply by this means. The harness maker will object to it because he cannot put inferior leather in, as he otherwise could. But stirrup-leathers are made so, and so are shoes, and why not harness ? — Mass. Plowman. THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. .11 EGGELING, Contributor. Ornamental Gardening. In what follows in the present issue of the Planter, and in the articles which shall suc- ceed this, from time to time, we propose to pre- sent some views of the subject of Ornamental or Landscape gardening, including there under whatever relates to the proper selection of a location, proper arrangement of the garden or grounds, the proper disposition of flowers, shrubs, trees and evergreens, the cultivation of each object of ornament which is placed in the grounds to embellish them, and in so far as we may be able shall endeavour to discuss at large the whole theory and practice of land- scape gardening, with such lights and aids as our experience and observation affords, and as we may be able to gather from the best au- thorities on the subject. The line of discussion which we have thus proposed, will lead us over a wide space, and will, of necessity, require considerable time and involve no small expen- diture of labour ; but we are encouraged to adventure the undertaking by the conscious- ness that we shall be contributing in a measure to the beautification of the homesteads of our State, to the enhancement of the value of pro- perty, to the rational and innocent enjoyment of our fellow-citizens, and be strengthening the ties which bind man to home, and check the restlessness and longing for change which is so characteristic of the Americans as a peo- ple, and which we of Virginia share in undue measure. If we have not mistaken the signs of the times, there is a peculiar fitness in commencing this discussion just now. The public mind of the State seems to be awakening to the impor- tance of ornament, as an incident of value and comfort to our homes, and juster ideas of the relations between the useful and beautiful are beginning to grow up among all classes of the people. The notion of some inherent an- tagonism between the useful and the ornamen- tal is measurably exploded, and the truth that the ornamental rightly applied is always use- ful, is becoming daily more apparent to intelli- gent and reflecting men. Juster ideas on the subject of landscape gar- dening, too, are becoming paramount with the public. The day of stately terraces, long, broad, straight avenues, with rows of lo.mbardy poplars on either side, grounds laid out in squares with straight lines leading everywhere, evergreens cut into all sorts of fantastic shapes and images, has passed away with the race' of gardeners, who, with shears and pruning- hook, tortured nature into a semblance of Adam and Eve, and clipped the hedge which hid the dog kennel or the poultry house from view, with a nicety which would have excited the envy of Hobson, or any other distinguished professor of the art tonsorial. What queer figures they were, . to be sure, which greeted the eye. about every gentleman's mansion in those days ! What hideous mockeries of na- ture — what caricatures of animated existence ! And how proudly the honest gardener regard- ed these trophies and triumphs of his skill and cunning. But the grave-digger buried the gardener out of sight, and heaped up the earth over his body, and laid the green turf on the mound, and long since the last of the race has mouldered into dust. Peace to their ashes. And let us award them the praise which is their due. They did well, in that they were the pioneers in the good work of beautifying the homesteads of the land, and according to the light which was in them, did their duty bravely and thoroughly. The traces of their skill are yet with us and the impulse which they imparted is still acting upon the tastes of the people. Still, it must be admitted that since their day, a great stride has been taken, and that we are now far in advance of their ideas of what constitutes proper, fitting, and appropri- ate embellishment for our houses and the grounds around them. The grand defect of the system to which they were wedded was this, that art, human skill and ingenuity were too apparent and nature was kept too much in the back-ground. Their effort seemed to be to get as far away from nature as possible, while at all points art stared you full in the face. Were the grounds ever so extensive you could not by possibility forget the presence of human agency, or for the briefest; space fan- cy yourself in one of nature's sacred haunts. 312 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. That this was all radically wrong will scarcely now be questioned. It deprived grounds, and trees and flowers of .one of their greatest charms, if not indeed their chiefest, — the qual" ity of exciting in us emotions other than those which are excited within us by constant con- tact and communion with our fellow men. The dullest plodder of us all finds it a delightful relaxation and relief, at seasons, to get away from human faces and human voices, and from all the cares and perplexities of this work-a- day world to commune with nature as she is, and " to look through nature up to nature's God ;" and it is only when we behold natural objects that this delicious refuge and solace is afforded us. What wonder, then, that a sys- tem which rendered all natural objects unnatu- ral should have speedily fallen into general disrepute. It has given place to another, and as we hold, a better system, one which has received the emphatic commendation and approval of philosophic and poetic minds. It is that style of ornamental gardening known as the Eng- lish, and of which the national grounds at Washington, and the grounds about the Smith- sonian Institute, are good specimens. It dis- cards straight lines, except where they are introduced for greater convenience, or to add to the variety, eschews the stiff uniformity of mathematical figures, and disposes of trees and shrubs and flowers, as nearly-after the models in Nature as is practicable. The general rule of arrangement and disposition of walks, ave- nues, rills, hillocks, flowers, and everything else which enters into the composition, is, imi- tate Nature, copy Nature, follow Nature. The beauty in Nature is the highest beauty, and as that painting is most meritorious which most nearly approaches Nature, so that landscape gardening is most praiseworthy which repro- duces Nature in all its achievements. Not that the skilful and accomplished artist in this de- partment will blindly and servilely follow Nature in all her moods, and indiscriminately copy deformities and beauties. By no means. He will refine on Nature, as the painter does^ and present Nature, not as it is precisely, but as it appears to the human gaze, with all its beauties open and clear to the eye, while the blemishes are hidden out of sight. In the individual objects which compose his group, there will only be the chosen forms which are found in Nature's wide domain, but the gene- ral effect of the whole will be precisely that which is observed in Nature by the distant; spectator. To him Nature appears not as it really is, when the individual objects com- prising the landscape are separately viewed, and the aim of the skilful gardener is so to ply his art that this illusive appearance of the natural landscape may be rigidly and sacredly preserved. It is thus manifest that the all-pervading idea — the very soul of the system of landscape gardening which we recommend, is a close ad- herence to Nature, allowing only such depar- tures as will not destroy the naturalness of any single object in the group, or the naturalness of the whole group regarded as an entirety, but which simply discards the unsightly ob- jects which in Nature are only observed upon a close inspection of the several objects which together form the landscape. As to instance, you shall see in Nature a gentle streamlet winding around the base of a hill, fringed with beautiful flowers which bend to the breeze and kiss the silver stream, with the green grass sweeping down to the water's edge, but on a nearer approach you shall find between the water and the sward a narrow strip of un- sightly earth, which is by the water kept con- stantly moist, and which yields to your tread. In reproducing this feature of the landscape, the gardener will copy the tortuous path of the stream, will conduct it by gentle and graceful curves along its way ; will give you the green carpet of grass, .but discarding the unhandsome strip of mud along the margin of the stream, will place his turf even down to the water, while from the midst of the delicate spires of grass the flowering plants shall spring to bend in beauty over the stream. So, in copying Nature, he will not plant thorns and briars in his copse to deface them, nor take misshapen trees, or leave dead branches on them, or per.- mit them to wanton in the wild luxuriance of boughs and foliage which is seen in virgin forests ; but here and everywhere his skill comes into play, to heighten natural beauty and to remove everything that is offensive and which would detract from the enjoyment of the scene. Art is here, but as the handmaid of Nature, subsidiary to Nature, art which is so artful that it conceals itself and seems to be, THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 313 11 truth and verity, not art but Nature. A elebrated English dandy is reported to have aid, that a well-dressed man was one, whose ntire dress was so arranged that it would at- ract no attention and excite no comment, and re would pronounce that landscape gardening he best which copied Nature so faithfully that he departures from Nature could not be de- ected, and at the same time avoided the re- )roduction of every accident of natural ar- ■angement and combination which would of- fend the eye of good taste, or excite unpleasant imotions. It will very readily occur to the least atten. ive reader, that upon these principles of proce- lure, we must entirely condemn the very com- non practice in Virginia, of cutting down all he forest trees about the grounds, when mak- ng a clearing for a new settlement. That this s the sheerest folly, seems to us to be too clear ,o admit of an argument. If there are to be ;rees at all about the house, what possible •eason can be urged in extenuation of the utter lestruction of all the trees which are found growing upon the soil, when they are to be re- placed by others which ar-3 to be dug up, planted, nurtured and cared for, for long years 3re they become such as those were which fell beneath the woodman's axe A half dozen negroes, in an hour, have often destroyed trees which it required a quarter of a century to produce, and which the owner of the premises was unable to replace during his lifetime, and for which he might have given the price of the half dozen destructionists, and then have been largely the gainer by the purchase. Once for all we protest against this practice as we would against some others which are equally common, were it not that in the progress of these articles we shall have occasion to refer to them, and ought not perhaps to tarry longer upon the threshold of our subject. Passing by this then for the present, and other practices which are very usual and equally as ridiculous and erroneous, we come to the first serious practical point of inquiry in this discussion, which is — THE SELECTION OF SITE OR LOCATION.' In deciding on this, very many circumstances are to be taken into the account, especially where the object is first of all to rear a roof tree, under which to place the household gods, the Lares and Pennates of the family. Rightly, as we think, in this State, we are accustomed to look for a spot which affords an abundant supply of water for the use of the family, and the presence of a bold spring in one quarter is almost sure to fix the location of the dwelling, especially if with this the spot offers security against the biting North winds of Winter, and invites the visits of the bland airs of the South during the Spring and Summer. All this is most proper and desirable, and where the spring of water is used prudently it may, and always will, greatly aid in the com- position and arrangement of the grounds. The fountain itself can, by a little management, be rendered an extremely picturesque object, and the stream which issues from it, properly managed, will form the most pleasing and at- tractive feature of the entire landscape. As the discussion proceeds we may show how this can be done, but must content ourselves now with the suggestion that water is always an element of beauty in every landscape, and performs a most important part in the play of the gardener's art. Next to this we must look to the extent of surface which can be secured for the use of the ornamental gardener, and we would inculcate large and liberal views on all our readers. Extensive grounds about the mansion house are not so common in Virginia as they ought to be, considering the compara- tive cheapness of land, and the large body which is usually found in the possession of every proprietor. An acre, more or less, taken from the fields of the farmer, make no material difference in his operations when he counts his possessions by hundreds and thousands of acres, and it is a short-sighted policy which brings the cultivated fields within a few feet of the front porch of the mansion, and crowds kitchens, corn houses, stables, poultry pens, and pig styes together, in close proximity to the drawing-rooms and chambers of the family. Never select a location for a dwelling, whatever advantages it may offer, which will not afford ample scope for shade trees, shrubs, walks, flowers, lawn, and every feature of beauty, ornament and grace. Of course, the space which is to be devoted to these purposes, must depend somewhat upon the size and style of the dwelling which is to be erected ; and, on the other hand, good taste would seem to de- mand something of adaptedness between the 314 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. style of the dwelling and the arrangement and embellishment of the surrounding grounds. They must be in harmony in order to the pro- duction of the happiest effects ; for want of harmony is lack of beauty always and every- where. It will not follow, however, that ex- tensive grounds may not entirely harmonize with a small building, provided the building be so placed that there shall be no violent con- trast between the extent of each, and the natural objects scattered over the grounds be so ar ranged as to prepare the mind for the archi- tecture which is presently to be disclosed to the spectator. For a very beautiful exemplifica- tion of these views, we may refer to a sketch in the published works of Edgar Allen Poe, entitled "Landor's Cottage," which, as well as another, entitled " The Domain of Arnheim," is one of the very best essays on landscape gardening w r ith which we are conversant. Besides these points, we must also regard the soil, that such may be selected as will readily sustain vegetation. And here we should find it difficult to be exact in laying down any rule of universal applicability, though we may ap- proximate this result with a series of negations. It is entirely obvious that no low, marshy spot should be chosen, however eligible in other re- spects, since it would be unsuitable for the growth of trees, shrubbery and flowers, except the party should be willing to endure the heavy expense of filling and grading the locality. For reasons equally obvious, no shallow soih filled with stones, should be selected, as such would not afford sufficient depth of earth to sustain vegetation after it had been planted. And in general terms we may say, that any moderately deep, moderately rich soil will suf- fice for the purposes of the ornamental gar- dener, provided he be supplied with fertilizers in sufficient quantities, and where the grounds to be improved are very extensive, the greater the diversity of soils the better. And that for a reason that must commend itself to every reader; that is because while one plant or tree requires one kind of soil, another will* thrive much better in a different soil, although this can be met to some extent by specific applica- tions to the individual plant or tree, even when the soil in which it is planted is not by nature well adapted to its growth. Another point to be considered, and the last which we deem it ai essential to notice, is the exposure, which is i some instances a matter of highest impor The best is an East' or South-East exposur k where this can be secured without the sacrifices of other and more essential advantages the land gently slopes, so much the better, an Jest' the ascent may continue ever so long, if it onl le proceeds with a gentle grade, and the dwellin on be so placed that there shall be a back-groun of hill to relieve it, as the back-ground of painting relieves and heightens the chief figure of the composition. These hints will suffice for the present t direct in the selection of a suitable locatio P for a mansion and the contiguous grounds l)r especially as we shall, as we progress, an irc nounce other principles of taste which wujl still further tend to the elucidation of the point' 21 So far we have done litte more than body fortl' a in words the ideas which are very generall; 1 ' 1 ' entertained by persons of taste in every com If munity, and which have been practically ea[ emplified, except where indifference to all con'* siderations of taste has actuated the individual 11 Persons, however, even intelligent persons, ary " an extravagant superfluity of matter and" larrenness of ideas." The fact that I am un- ble to understand how the same " composi- ion" can combine such qualities, in no degree nsettles my belief in the correctness of his tatement. R. C. says he " agrees to the chiseling off of he tap-root to induce fruitfulness in the wri- ers." From the amount of useful informa- ion, and the number of practical suggestions ontained in his brief communication, I think le must have been, not only " root-pruned," >ut also top-dressed with some highly concen- rated fertilizer. He produces grain without :ither straw or chaff, and fruit without leaves >r flowers. But to point out all the beauties of I. C's article would require too much space. Vo properly appreciate its elegancies of style, md excellencies of matter, it must be studied vi.th care and attention. As a specimen of lu- id writing and cogent reasoning, I commend ;o the readers of the Planter the concluding Dortion of it, commencing with " The enquiry s not so much whether," &c, &c. R. C. expresses the opinion that "it is use- ess to be wasting words with men who cannot distinguish wood from straw, or blossoms from oots." Perhaps he will be kind enough to en- ighten us in reference to the difference between i " barren" and an " unproductive" apple tree, both growing in the same " green spot of ground" in which the most "exact scrutiny" 3annot discover the " smallest difference in the texture of the soil." I hope that no one, after reading the caustic criticism of R. C. on the "bit of a controversy" about the culture of apple trees, and his prom- ise not to "enter upon the same strain of su- perficial reasoning," together with the profound and original remarks upon " spongioles or the most minute fibres" with which he sums up the whole matter, was so cruel and ungrateful as to permit his thoughts to recur to that old fable of the "mountain in labour," or to that pro- verb which has been put into the mouth of the Devil on the occasion of his undertaking to I shear the pig." I will close this communication with a re- mark or two on the culture of apple trees, I have never doubted, but that manuring would hasten the growth and increase the luxuriance of apple trees, and if farmers had an unlimi- ted supply, it would doubtless be advantageous to give to young orchards an annual dressing. But in the valley, I am sure, very few, if any farmers can afford to manure their orchards ; or in "plainer words" a more profitable appli- cation of the manure would be to a grain or grass crop. In this part of the State, whilst trees grow- ing on our richest lands, are larger and appa- rently more vigorous, yet they neither bear bet- ter fruit or with more certainty than trees growing on poor lands. They all appear to be subject to the same law of alternate barrenness and fruitfulness. The general opinion however is, that if there is any difference, it is in. favour of the trees growing on poor land, as being the surest bearers. So far from the facts falling under my obser- vation, establishing the truth of the proposition, that apple trees are in a high degree exhaustive of the fertility of the soil, they tend to confirm the opposite opinion. For I have never known an old orchard, that had not been cultivated, which was not rich and fertile far beyond the surrounding lands of the same kind. The apples that took the premium at the fair of 1856, were grown on land of but a moderate degree of fertility. They however illustrated in a striking manner the effect of climate upon that fruit ; the orchard from which they were gathered was planted from the nursery of Messrs. Sinton & Sons, near Richmond, and they had the same kinds of apples on exhibi- tion, thus affording a good opportunity for, comparison. The apples of Messrs. S. were so far inferior in size and appearance to the same varieties brought from the valley, that they obtained permission to place a card upon the latter, stating that the trees upon which they grew had been obtained from their nurse- ry. My practice with an orchard of about one hundred bearing apple trees, which are heal- thy and vigorous, and from which I have rarely failed to get at least a moderate crop of apples every year — as the barren year of some varie- ties is the fruitful one of others, — has been neither to cultivate nor manure, farther than what is done by fattening from twenty-five to forty hogs in it every year. TYRO. April 15. 4-0- O » For the So. Planter. To Make Cabbages. Henrico, Dec. 1857. Mr. Editor — As I hear great complaints this fall of failures in making a crop of cabbages, I will state the course I pursued with success this summer. In the first place, I manured the land well early in the spring, and plowed it in deep. The manuring, I think, is by far the most important thing in the treatment of the crop, and if many of those who failed would reflect on this, they might probably be enlightened as to the cause of their ill success. The cabbage, of all things, will not come to perfection on a poor soil. About the last of May I sowed the seed, (Flat Dutch are best,) which were preserved from the flea by sprink- ling every morning with pine wood ashes while the dew was on. About a week before planting out, I replowed the land, and afrer harrowing well, sowed fish salt, dried and pounded, at the rate of 4 or 5 bushels per acre; this was done to destroy the cut-worm, of which there was a great number, on account of cow-pen manure 320 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. being used on the land. The salt destroyed near- ly all, however, and had only to re-plant some twenty or thirty in a lot of about the third of an acre, besides it being very beneficial in stim- ulating the plants. I then set the plants in rows three feet apart, and about two feefc distant^ in the rows. The cultivation was performed main- ly with the straight bar coulter and cultivator, without much hoeing, and the land was left as fiat after the crop was made as it was before the, plants were set out, a method I like much better than that of ridging up high with the plough. There are various ways of keeping, or rather of spoiling cabbages, but for keeping them I prefer turning them down towards the North-west, and covering them nearly all over with earth, only leaving a small place expos- ed about the centre of the head for the cabbage to breathe through. -This, of course, should be done before a severe frost. I should state that I consider the last of May too soon to sow the seed for a late crop, and it would be better, no doubt, to sow about the middle of June. My crop this year came to perfection too early, and consequently some of it will not stand the win- ter very well. In turning them down it is bet- ter to turn them away from the sun, because the constant thawing that would otherwise take place is very injurious, and in a long cold spell it is much better for them to remain frozen all the time, than to be alternately frozen and thawed. Yours, T. From the Country Gentleman. Cultivating Plants while the Dew is on. Messrs. Editors. — At least fifteen years ago, I noticed a plot of cabbages, of which the large firm heads I could not account for from any- thing apparent in the soil. On asking the owner how he made from such a soil so fine and uniform a crop, I found his only secret was that " he hoed them while the dew was on." lie thought that in this way he watered them, but of course the good resulted more from the ammonia than the moisture of the dew. I adopted the practice the year following, and with the result was so well satisfied, that I have since continued and recommended it to others. In my "Gardening for the South," published two years since, you will find (page 163) " they (the cabbage tribe) especially like to have the soil about them thoroughly worked while the dew is on them. There will be a very great difference in the growth of two plots of cabbages, treated in other respects alike, one of which shall be hoed at sunrise and the other at midday ; the growth of the former will surprisingly exceed that of the latter." A story in point some time since went the rounds of the agricultural press, of which the substance follows : A small plot of ground was divided equally between the hired lad of a farmer and his son, the proceeds of its cul- ture to be their own. They planted it with Qorn, and a bet was made by them as to which should make the best crop. At harvest the son came out some quarts behind. He could not understand the reason, as he had hoed his twice a week until laid by, while he had not' seen the hired lad cultivate his plot at all, and yet the latter had gained the wager. It turned out the winner's crop had been hoed quite as frequently, but before his rival was up in the morning. Providence, it seems, follows the hoe of the early riser with a special and increased reward. But; there are exceptions. Cultivating while the dew is on, manifestly benefits such gross feeders as cabbage and corn, but there are plants very impatient of being disturbed while wet. The common garden snap and running beans are examples ; and if worked while wet, even with dew, the pores of the leaves seem to become stopped, and the whole plant is apt to rust and become greatly injured. Whether the Lima' beans and other legumes are as im- patient of being hoed in the dew, I have not ascertained. Experiments should, however, be tried the coming season on all hoed crops. Athens, Ga. Wm. N. Wiiite. Sowing Peas. I have before written of my practice in sow- ing Peas ; but as added experience shows me the great advantages accruing from it, I give " line upon line." Some years since I com- menced with sowing peas, and covering them at different depths, varying from one inch to one foot. I found those buried 8 inches deep, appeared above ground only one day later than those buried only two inches; while those that were covered twelve inches deep, were but a little over two days behind. As they grew, no perceptible difference was noticed, until they commenced blossoming and setting, then the advantage of the deep planting exhibited itself; for those that were eight and ten inches deep continued to grow, blossom, and set pods Ion** after those only two to four inches commenced ripening and decaying. If the soil is light and loamy, I will hereaf- ter plant my Peas eight to ten inches deep ; if the soil is clayey, I will plant six inches. I never earth-up, but leave the ground as near level as I can. — Ohio Farmer. Muskmelons. A fine way to force the muskmelon is to take a barrel without heads, fill it with good stable manure, and some six inches from it, plant muskmelon seeds around it. Saturate the ma- nure with water, and once each day afterwards until the melons begin to ripen, pour a bucket of water in the top of the barrel. The melons will be much increased in size, and will grow and mature very quick. — Cotton Planter. SOUTHERN PLANTER.— ADVERTISING SUtiET. REESE'S MANIPULATED OR, PHOSPHO-PERUVIAN GUANO, monia, 8 per cent. — Bone Phosphate of Lime, 45 to 50 per cent. e above fertilizer is superior ,$o Peruvian Guano, and all manufactured or chemically prepared res, for the following obvious reasons : {ST. Its effect on the first crop are fully equal to Peruvian Guano,, as is shown by the uniform ence of all who have used it. :ond. It. is far more permanent, because it contains double the quantity of phospate of lime, s found in Peruvian. tiRD. The product of grain is greater, better developed and heavier because it affords an abun- e of the element (Phosphate) required to form the grain, which is not the case with Peruvian. ubth. It increases the permanent fertility of soils, because it supplies more phosphate of lime is required for the crop, while Peruvian does not afford a quantity sufficient to compensate re loss sustained by the soil. rat. Its condition is that of a fine, dry, uniform powder. Hence it requires no pounding or to prepare it for use, while Peruvian contains one-third at least hard lumps, wbich'canno^ duced as it ought to be, by any means at the consumer's command, from which arises consid- le loss. sth. It is perfectly prepared, and adapted for application by means of the drill, now so exten- y used. venth. It is superior to all artificial or manufactured manures, such as superphosphates (so d) &c, because it is the natural guano, and contains a much larger per centum of both ammo- ind phospjiate of lime, and is sold at as low a price, when its money value is from $15 to $20 as may be seentby simple calculation. re above article is not a manufactured fertilizer, nor does it in any sense partake of the char- or nature of a nostrum, but is simply Peruvian Guano modified, in accordance with the dic- of rational inferences from established facts and uniform experience. It has been satisfactorily L for the two past years by many of the most enlightened farmers and planters of Virginia, th and South Carolina, Delaware and this State. Its effects on Corn, Tobacco, Cotton and Wheat, ■ be seen or heard of in all quarters. We are prepared to exhibit manuscript letters from a e number of gentlemen of the«highest standing, in confirmation of its real superiority and it's. No apprehension need be entertained that it Mall be suffered to depreciate in quality, or r from its past and present proportions of the two guanos. It is prepared under our personal jrintendence and control, with the greatest care and attention, under a sense of our responsibil- the public. 1 order to secure the above article, consumers must be careful to specify in their orders, Reese's, )btain it direct from our agents. The present price in Baltimore is $45 per ton of 2,000 ads, and it may be had from the following agents at the same rate, with the necessary expen- added. 'he bags of our article are branded, "Reese's Manipulated Guano." or a detailed account of this guano, with an argument demonstrating the truth of its theory, we r to our Pamphlet, which will be mailed to any address, upon application, postage free. John S. Reese & Co,, .No. 77 South Streei, (Up Stairs,) Baltimore. Md, AGENTS. G. Waters & Co., Georgetown, D. C. R. Norfleet, Tarboro'. N. C. ;. H. Besant & Co., Point Rocks, Md. DeRosset & Brown, Wilmington, N. C. K. Phillips & Co., Fredericksburg, Va. Jas. Gadsden & Co., Charleston, S. C. T. Winston & Co., Richmond, Va. Wm. B. Horsey, Seaford, Del. 3Bles & White, Petersburg, Va. Nathaniel Horsey, Horsey 's X Roads, Del. i. A. Miller, Lynchburg, Va. Richards & Miller, Philadelphia, Pa. wland & Reynolds, Norfolk, Va, Wheat & Bro., Alexandria, Va. May 1858. Acree & Turner, Walkerton, Va. SOUTHERN PJUNTER— ADVERTISING SHEET 3V/£:r. Lefetovre's Schoo Corner of Grace and Foushee Streets, RICHMOND, VA. The next Session of this Institution will open on the FIRST DAY OF OCTOBFR and close on the First Day of July, 1858. *««•■»» TERMS FOR THE SCHOLASTIC YEAR "For Board, - - . $200 For two lessons (of an hour) a week, 1 or Vi ashing - 20 For three lessons (of an hour) a week, For four lessons (of an hour) a week, For the use of Piano, For Drawing, from Models, For Drawing, from Nature, For Painting in Water Colors, For Oil Painting, Primary Department— for Children un- der 11 years of age, For Lights, For English Tuition, For Modern Languages, (each,) For French, when studied exclusively of the English branches, For Latin, - For Music on Piano, Harp, Guitar, Or- gan or Singing : For one lesson (of an hour) a week, 6 40 20 40 20 40 REFERENCES: The Patrons of the School— Right Rev. Bishop Meade, Right Rev. Bishop Jahn« Right 1 Bishop Elhott of Georgia, Right Rev. Bishop Cobbs of Alabama, Rev. Moses D. llose D., Rev. Charles IT. Read, D. D., Rev of the Episcopal Church in Virginia. HUBERT Rev. II. S. Keppler, William (J. Williams, a. m. John P. Little, M. D. R. A. Lewis, M. D. Eliodoro Camps, MAD'ELLE T. V. Mo .ire, D. D, Rev. B. Gildersleve. The Ch P. LEFEBVRE, A. M,, Principal. John A. Calyo, C. W. Thilow, W. F. Grabau, Mrs. A. E. J. Gibson, Miss Mary Gordon, L. VILLEMET, French All letters to be directed to Hubert P. Lefebvre, Richmond, Va. Miss E. Bartlett, Mrs. M. Taylor, Mad'me M. Estvan, Mad'elle Lacy, Charles II. Roseen, Governess. [July '57—1 Fourth Annual Catalogue of Thoroughbred North Devon Cattle, the property of C. S. WAINWRIGHT, "The Meadows/' Rhine- beck, Duchess Co., N. Y. The subscriber has just issued his Catalogue for the present season, containing full pedigrees of all the unimals composing his herd at this date. Terms of Sale, &c. : He offers nt private sale some half a dozen young Bulls, and about the same number of females ; all of them of the very first quality, and either bred or im- ported by himself. Copies, with the prices marked against such animals as an; for Kale, mav he had by addressing him as above. mav-3t C. S. WAINWRIGHT. ■ry Why is it that E. P. Nash of Petersburg Continues to sell so many Pianos ? THE ANSWER IS PLAIN AND TRUTH- FUL AS FOLLOWS: Because, for more than twenty years he has con- scientiously avoided selling any but the best instru- ments ! And the natural result has been, that evi one of the Thousands of Pianos be has sold has bad the effect of selling others, and thus year after year, his sales have increased until, to meet the demand, he finds it ne- cessary to keep on hand a stock of from fortv to fifty Instruments; but suppose for a moment that his Pianos had been of doubtful quality, can any candid, thinking person fail to see, that the public would long since have found it out, nnd tl't' results have been a falling oft" instead of ineivasi- in sales. K. P. NASH, Petersburg, Va. l. ! ,.''■:".. ihttv — tf 548 ACRES OI ormge miIor sale. Near Bar hour sville, and six Miles from Gord, mile Depot. To both places there is an excellent McAdi ized road. About one-fourth of the hind is he ily timbered, the balance is cleared and adapted to the growth of GRAIN and TOBAC< There are Fifty Acres of Blue Run Lot Grounds ; which is very fine Meadow Land. Tin provemeuta consist of a comfortable dwell and all necessary out houses, in good rep There is a large APPLE ORCHARD, and an abundance of other fruit. The neighb hood is healthy, and the Society inferior to in the State. The farm is remarkably watered: and is (as all acquainted with it V testily) equal to any of its size in the eoun For terms and further information, address i subscriber at Barboursville. Orangi Co. WM. C. GRAVES I also wish to sell, with the laud or separate one moiety of a valuable SAW and GRjj MILL, within one mile of the farm. may — tf