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more than our indolent habits will allow us to perform, and the consequence is, an entire, or at least, a partial failure. The turnip however must form an exception to this bad rule. The ground being well prepared, well manured,and well pulverised, and the proper season having arrived, we may venture to sow the seeds, and if the after culture be conducted as directed above, we may, with the blessing of Providence, calculate on a bountiful crop.

For the Southern Planter. CULTURE OF INDIAN CORN.

In the last number of the Southern Planter there is a call from N. T. Green for information on the culture of Indian corn, and although I doubt not but that some other more capable and experienced corn planter will undertake to answer the young farmer's queries, yet I too,cheer-fully assume the task, hoping that all I shall say may not be in vain, or impertinent.

In time past, I followed Col. Taylor's plan of bedding or ribbing all my corn land, but now I bed only such as is nearly level and tenacious of water. But instead of making those beds only five and a half feet wide, as directed by Col. Taylor, I now make them five and a half yards, putting three corn rows in a bed. Formerly I spread my manures, either short or long, immediately before the fallow plough, but now I spread my short and fermented manures on my gardens and meadows, and my long manures on the land intended for corn the following year; that is, I am now spreading straw, &c. and shall shortly cart out and spread the contents of my cattle yard, and sow plaster, on the land intended for corn in 1843. Instead of my land intended for corn being hereafter potch-ed and botched by the treading of teams, wheels, drivers, and spreaders, it is expected in future to be rich, mellow, and neat, at the times of fallowing and planting; and harvested accordingly. My theory and general practice is to fallow deep both rich and poor land, but if I were forced to reap the greatest immediate return from my poor grounds, I would use the subsoil plough, or coulter, thereby breaking the subsoil, yet retaining the soil on the surface. Much however will depend on the depth of soil, the nature of the under stratum, and the crop intended to follow the corn, a treatise on which would fill my sheet; consequently I must forbear.

The proper season for ploughing corn ground is from November till April; first, the turfy or soddy lands—second, the naked clays—third, such others as are infested with insects—and lastly, unimproved sands, &c. Land which has been ploughed with a tough sod, should be broken down with a harrow twice before plant-

ing; once in February, and again when all corn ground should be harrowed, to wit, immediately before planting. Of late years I do not plant corn until the woods are fairly leafed, say between the first and tenth of May ; when my industrious neighbors are all done, and laughing at my apparent sloth. Bat as a little advantage in the start of a race of five months, is nothing wdien compared to a clean track and a pampered '-' nag"—so I prefer to put both land and seed in good condition before I plant.

When the time for planting has arrived, and the seed corn is ready, the break harrow starts, for the triple purpose of leveling, pulverizing, and destroying the quickness of weeds and grasses. The shovel plough follows to open furrows, and immediately dropping and covering, closes the job. The seed having been sprouted before planting, it is up the third or fourth day, and having taken a vigorous start before the weeds, it is disposed to choke them down through life. I have tried several different kinds of stimulative steeps for corn, and have finally concluded that the undermentioned is best. About eight or ten days before planting, fill a barrel about half full of hot water, then cast therein alternately three measures of tobacco and one of meal of some kind of grain, until certain of a sufficient quantity to create a strong and glutinous liquor, after fermentation; after which, fill the barrel with more hot water and cover it. This fermented liquor will have the scent and much of the consistency of honey, and will not only invigorate the germ, but hold on to a quantity of plaster for the same purpose. About forty-eight hours before planting, I put into a tub as much seed as may be sufficient for one day's planting, and saturate it with the liquor; and as needed, it is lifted out and as much plaster added as will adhere; and so for future operations. Twenty or thirty gallons of liquor may suffice for seeding forty or sixty acres of land: as what remains after soak* ing can be returned to the fermenting barrel,

I have tried both drill and cross planting, but finally adopted drilling, supposing that my land would yield thus a much better crop.

I have also tried various width for rows, and distances on the row, with one, two, and three plants together; and have finally concluded that for my climate, land and kind of corn (which is a large stalk and ear) rows five and a half feet apart, with about 8,600 plants to the aere, suits me best. For the purpose of better smothering pests, it would no doubt be better to have single stalks, which at 8,600 to the acre, would make them one foot apart, but my gene, ral practice is to plant at two feet, leaving two, and on very rich spots, three stalks together.

On ground lying pretty well, and not incumbered with stones or stumps, I cover my corn with a very light harrow—otherwise with the

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hand hoe: and on like ground the crop is worked with the cultivator, otherwise with the Dutch shovel, or coulter. The number of workings which I give my corn, is from four to six, and oftener would be serviceable, provided not too late so as to prolong the growth to be in danger of frost. I never hill my corn, either with plough or hoe, and would thank no man to do it for me; indeed, the hand hoe is only used once, and sometimes not at all; and that once is when the corn is small, merely to brush off the few weeds which may be growing on the row. The tillage stops about the 15th of July, when the ground is so shaded that nothing can grow beneath. When corn is planted as thick as it should be, it is useless to plant amongst it either pumpkins, cimblins, or peas, for they cannot yield fruit.

I am a grower of tobacco, consequently do not sell corn; indeed, being a pork seller, I have sometimes to buy a little grain ; but I am presumptuous enough to believe that no man in the Commonwealth does produce larger crops of corn than I do, on land of the same quality. My average to the acre, for the last two years, would be about 45 bushels, and that on land which a few years past was considered worthless by many. But I fear that my cornfield of this year will not tell more than half of this number, for it is of but ordinary quality and gets no manure.

My cultivators are made with three hoes put in a frame, so that they can be placed at required distances; the hoes being about as wide as the four fingers, and shaped like that called the bull's tongue. With this implement, every growing vegetable can be cut to death, by three passes at a row; and both horse and ploughman work with more ease than w T ith a plough. It may be necessary to say to the inexperienced corn planter, that weeds and grass must be slain very quickly after they peep from the earth, otherwise the plough must be used. There is much in the kind of corn, but more in its culture, and most in the land.

Query —What advantage can there be in cultivating the double cared corn?

Za. Drummond.

Amherst, Feb. 12, 1842.

COVERING.

We have received a communication from "A Hanoverian," in defence of his former position, that litter should pass through the farm yard rather than be put on the land for the benefit of the "cover." He maintains that the testimony of W. W. proves nothing, as it does not appear whether he was formerly in the habit of top dressing or ploughing in the manure. He ad

mits, such are the advantages of top dressing, that the undecomposed litter, applied to the surface, might have made the crop of W. W. much better than he had ever obtained by ploughing in the decomposed matter; but he maintains, that a top dressing with the decomposed litter would have been better than either. He says that many farmers make more wheat straw than they can pass through their stable yard, and that they universally regret being compelled to carry out their straw without the benefit of the farm yard process. He infers that, if the value, attributed to covering by W. W. had existed in reality, such farmers must long ago have discovered it.

Nottoway, Va. Feb. 18, 1842.

To the Editor of the Southern Planter.

Dear Sir,—I hope that some of your correspondents, in contributing their valuable information to your pamphlet, will please be so good as to answer the queries herein stated. In giving them a place in your pamphlet, you will much oblige

Yours, most respectfully, A Subscriber.

Question 1. Can the farmers in this part of the couutry afford to make tobacco for less than ; $5 per hundred ?

Q. 2. Is it not more than probable that the price of tobacco will always hereafter be less than $5, taking all things into consideration?

Q. 3. Will not this State (Va.) be compelled to discontinue the practice of making tobacco, in a few years, and what can be its substitute to those living from 30 to 50 mi)cs from market ?

Q. 4. As the wheat crop is so very uncertain, and no tobacco to be made, under good management, how is farming to be rendered profitable in this part of the State ?

BONE DUST.

An agriculturist, rendered attentive to the vast importance of bones for manure, instituted privately some comparative experiments; the results of which prove, that bone dust acts in the cultivation of ground, as compared to the best stable manure, 1st. In respect to the quality of the grain, as 7 to 5. 2d. In respect to quantity of grain, as 5 to 4. 3d. In respect to the durability of the energy of soils, as 3 to 2. It produces several collateral advantages. 1st. It destroys weeds. 2d. It diminishes the necessity of fallow-crops. 3d. This concentrated manure, or substitute for manure, is more

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easy of conveyance, less laborious to spread, and | can with facility be applied to the steepest lands, j in very hilly countries, or in wet meadow lands. ! 4th. It renders agriculture practicable without cattle breeding, grazing, &c.

Mark Lane Express.

From the Farmers' Cabinet. COOKING FOOD FOR STOCK.

At length a due regard to the importance of cooking food for stock seems to be awakening up amongst us, and many are the inquiries for the best mode of conducting the process— whether by steaming or boiling—as also for the best and most convenient and economical apparatus for the purpose. Steaming has generally obtained the preference in the estimation of those who have been cogitating on the subject, but I am inclined to believe that, when it becomes generally practised, boiling will be preferred, and chiefly for these reasons:—first, all articles may be properly and easily cooked by boiling, but not by steaming—witness cabbage, meal, and the flesh of animals, that might often be devoted as food for hogs, under circumstances that would not warrant its use for man. And, second, the water in which these and all other articles are boiled will be found to contain a very large portion of their essence: conse-j quently, it ought to be retained for use; the opinion that the water in which potatoes have been boiled is deleterious, being without foundation. And in this a quantity of meal should always be boiled for the whole of the time the operation is going on, when, at the end, the soup will be of greater importance, as an article of food, than any steaming could be made to produce— the dead carcass of a sheep, for instance, with a dozen large heads of cabbage cut fine, and a bushel or two of corn and cob meal stewed together in a couple of hogsheads of water, until the whole forms an amalgam—what could constitute a more luscious repast to fatting hogs? and in a proper apparatus the cooking could be performed slowly and effectually for a very trifling cost of fuel. Then, again, the cooking of cornstalks—how much better could this be done by boiling, when a small quantity of corn and cob i meal might be added, and a thick soup prepared i that, with a small quantity of cut hay mixed, [ would form altogether the most palatable food | either for cows or horses. There appears to me j no question which would be the best mode of preparing cut food, while those who advocate j steaming seem to have been biassed by the con-I sideration that it is a quicker mode of proceed-i ing. Mr. Editor, all our proceedings are marked ( by a hurry that would almost deserve the name I of recklessness—we cannot be content to do a | thing well, it must be done quickly and cheaply, ! and often indeed without regard to any other

consideration. It is granted that steaming may be made a quicker process, but by properly constructed boilers working in pairs, according to a plan that has been proposed a sufficient quantity of food for a very large stock of cattle and hogs could be prepared by a lad of fifteen, the cost of labor being more than repaid even by the superior quality of the manure produced—a consideration which some of our friends might designate as a trading in trifles—well, be it so; 1 am sure that the manure prepared by such a process would be found very essential to the raising of heavy crops.

I find that Mott's portable cast-iron furnaces are getting much into vogue for this purpose; they are very convenient and economical, but it is objected their egg-shaped bottom robs the boiler of its capacity, and is not the best form to economize fuel. The patent consists in enclosing a common iron boiler in a cast-iron jacket, by which the heat is given out, and not retained, as is the case when boilers are set in brick-work; iron being a conductor of heat—brick a nonconductor. If, therefore, any one having a boiler were to surround it with a sheet of thin boiler-iron bent into circular form and riveted, leaving a space between it and the boiler about two inches wide, for the heat and smoke to pass, and build up his bricks against it, he would find a great saving of time as well as fuel to arise from the alteration. At all events, the cooking of food for stock, by some mode or other, ought to be adopted, by which an additional profit could be obtained without an additional outlay of capital—an important consideration.

Josiah Kent.

The plan proposed for boilers, to which Mr. Kent refers, we presume to be the one afterwards described in the same work as the invention of Mr. James Pedder, the Editor of the Cabinet. This invention is novel and possesses several advantages over any other we have ever seen. There are one or two things that strike us as difficulties in the way of its operation, but relying upon the sound practical sense of the inventor to remove our difficulties, we shall give a cut and description of his boiler in our next. If the work he edits is to be taken as a test of his ability, we do not hesitate to pronounce Mr. Pedder one of the soundest and most practical agriculturists in the union.

TRAMPLING.

We stated, some time since, that a distinguished agriculturist esteemed very highly the mechanical effect of trampling on a light soil.

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Upon mentioning the circumstance to a James River farmer, he stated, that he had noticed, that a portion of his field that had long been a lane for the use of cattle, since it was put in cultivation, continued still apparent from the superior luxuriance of its vegetable growth; and we find that a correspondent of the Farmers Cabinet mentions as a fact in favor of the pasturing over the soiling system, that he had heard, that clover fields, not pastured in the fall, invariably suffer from the frost, especially in open winters; in one instance, the difference was said to be equal to 100 per cent, in favor of the succeeding crop of a pastured lot over an adjoining one that was soiled.

From the Farmer and Gardner.

SOIL AND LOCATION FOR PLANTING TREES.

I apprehend that many persons who purchase trees, are not acquainted with the soil and location, naturally the best adapted to each particular species of trees or shrubs, and sometimes, it has happened that for want of this knowledge, trees that I have carefully cultivated for years, on being ordered, which were carefully dug and packed, have died because not planted in a soil, suited to their nature.

I therefore propose to state what in my humble opinion, would be useful to some of my customers on the above subject.

To enable us to form a correct judgment on such, subjects, we ought to study nature's works; some sorts of trees (but it is the fewest number) thrive best on a stiff white clay, many others on upland, mellow loam, and other trees and shrubs will hardly grow at all, unless on wet or moist land, and some grow best on sandy land.

An hour's ride through our woods, by a person of common observation, will at once convince him of the way nature works; the White Oak abounds in stiff white clay, the Walnut, Poplar, Hickory, Dogwood and Yellow Locust are found nourishing on the upland mellow loam— but on all wet ground or damp situations, we find the Maple, Magnolia, Willow, Black Alder, Burch, Winterberry, &c, not because those trees are planted where they are found, the winged seed of some of them are carried by the wind a long distance, but they will not grow unless they light on the sort of soil congenial to their growth, which to me is very instructive, showing the necessity of planting each sort of tree on ground suited to its nature as near as we can; however, there are very many species of trees not so particular, but ground may be improved to suit them. The greatest number of trees grow best on a

deep, open, free mellow loam, which is the best for most of fruit trees—our climate is rather warm for the Pear and Gooseberry. To obviate the blight of the first and the smut of the last, select the coolest soil and exposure made rich, particularly for the last—and it has been highly recommended, and I think with good reason, to cover the ground around these trees and shrubs to protect them from the summer's drought and heat, with stone, rotten wood or board.

The European Cherry does best on high granite land, but not so well on lime stone or low bottom land. The Peach will thrive on all sorts of land (except a stiff white clay, or swamp,) if high and wavey, but delights in a rich sandy loam. But plant the Willow, Maple, Magnolia, and such trees in damp situations, or where the rain or other water can be led to their roots occasionally.

Robert Sinclair, Sen.

TO PREPARE VEGETABLE MOLD QUICKLY.

As early in November as the leaves of trees can be collected, let them be brought in a considerable quantity, into a close place, and dressed up there in the form of a hot bed. Let this be well saturated with the drainings from the dung-heap, with suds from the wash-house, and with urine from the stable and cow-house, where this latter article can be procured. Let this bed or heap be covered and lined with fresh stable dung to make it heat. When the heat is sufficiently subsided, let the leaves be uncovered and turned over, to mix the dry and wet well together, and if moisture be required, let them have it of the same description, repeating the process till all be reduced to fine mold. This will be ready for use in two months from the time of collecting the leaves, and to prevent any waste of the liquid recommended, a layer of maiden earth, two feet thick, should be made the substratum, which would receive any of the valuable liquid that would otherwise run to waste. Leaves of slow decomposition should be avoided, as those of the oak, &c. which, however, are the best for retaining heat in hot beds and pits. The leaves of Fir should also be avoided, but those of the Sycamore, Elm, Alder, Maple, and all the soft kinds are best suited for the purpose. This compost should be kept dry in an airy place, and ridged up, so that the rain cannot wash out the salts with which it abounds.— Doyle's Practical Gardening.

SOAP SUDS. The Horticultural Society of Massachusetts have bestoAved a premium of one hundred dollars on Mr. Haggcrston, for the discovery, that * a solution of soap, made from whale oil, is de

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structive of the bug that infests the rose, commonly called the rose bug. As we do not know the principle upon which it acts, we cannot say whether the whale oil is a necessary ingredient, or whether the application, which is made with a common syringe, would be equally effectual as to bugs of other kinds. The experiment is worth making.

BROWN CORN.

This is a variety much talked about in the Northern papers, and we had intended to have gotten some of it for experiment, but a writer in the S. C, Agriculturist says, that he has given it a fair trial and pronounces it worthless at least in the Southern climate.

sorbed. But, even if these gasses are evolved faster than they are consumed, we should remember that several of them, the carbonic acid gas especially, arc heavier than atmospheric air, and do not rise at all. Another great advantage of this system is, that, by proper management, a sod may be always kept ready for the reception of the manure, so that the heavy business of hauling may be done at leisure, instead of being forced upon the farmer, probably, at his busiest season.

AGRICULTURAL ADDRESS.

We have been favored with a copy of an agricultural address, delivered by Gen. Steinber-ger, President of the Agricultural Society of Mason, Cabell and Kanawha. We make an extract confirmatory of the opinion heretofore expressed by the General, that the proper application of manufe is to a grass sod. He says:

*' I expressed my sentiments so fully in my last communication on the growth and culture of the corn crop, that I will now say but little on that subject. 1 yet entertain the opinion that the best preparation that we can give to land, to produce the greatest yield, should be applied when it is in a grass sod, and previous to turning it over. Whatever efforts are then made to manure and enrich the soil, the benefits resulting therefrom will be immediate and direct. I consider that deep ploughing at the same time is essential, and almost of equal importance to secure a successful crop. In no other way can ! we guard more effectually against the withering | influence of our dry seasons, than by thus creating a depth of mellow soil, which repels its ef-| feets by lessening evaporation."

We have more than once expressed our opinion of this mode of applying manure. We would never put out an ounce of it, except upon a growing sod of grass or clover. That portion, that is soluble and sinks, will be apprehended by the roots; whilst the leaves will feed upon the gaseous constituents. It has been urged that unless the manure is covered, the volatile gasses rise and are lost, before they can be ab-

COFFEE.

A French gentleman of distinction has called upon us to say, that the directions for making coffee published in our last, are " all right" with one exception. The rnilk should never be boiled, but heated by placing the vessel in which it is contained in another of boiling water.

BONNETS.

A new article of American manufacture, called the Amazon Bonnet, was produced at an exhibition in New York. It is manufactured of Manilla grass, 6500 fibres of which are required for a bonnet of the finest class. This bonnet, the committee say, can be taken apart and washed or cleansed, and put together again, losing thereby none of its original beauty or value.

The committee speak of the article in high terms, and say that they have the authority of ladies, with whom they consulted, for the expression of such an opinion. They make an appeal to the patriotism of our country women to prefer this article of domestic production to any of foreign importation.

If the article is strong, durable, and economical, we will guarantee it never becomes fashionable ; and in a contest between patriotism and fashion, we believe the result may be predicted with considerable certainty.

WOBURNS AND BERKSHIRES.

A very spirited contest is going on in the west with respect to the relative value of these two breeds of hogs. Mr. William C. Hazen, from Tennessee, writes the editor of the Cultivator, that having both, with several other varieties, he greatly prefers the Woburns. The

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claims of the Berkshires, on the other hand, are advocated by others as very far superior to those of any other breed in existence. ; We imagine the difference in opinion arises, mainly from the difference in different individuals of the same stock. We have seen some Berkshires certainly superior to any other hogs we ever saw; but we have seen others, of perhaps the same litter, of very indifferent form, and in no manner superior to thousands without a name or pedigree. Both of these animals are sold as Berkshires; the purchaser of the one is delighted, and praises the stock beyond all bounds; the owner of the other is disappointed, and declares the stock to be little better than a humbug. We have no doubt there are some Woburns better than some Berkshires, and some Berkshires very far superior to some Woburns.

STABLE FLOORS.

We see that some contrariety of opinion exists as to the relative advantages of plank and dirt floors for stables. There is a coolness about the dirt that is generally acceptable to the feverish hoofs of a tired horse, and we believe that a horse's legs will swell less on a dirt than a plank floor. On the other hand, it is urged, that the urine, the valuable qualities of which are undoubted, is absorbed by a dirt floor, which may be conducted into a trough by a wooden one, and so saved. It is said, too, that the ammoni-acal fumes, arising from the dunp- and urine that frequently become incorporated with the earth, where there are no planks, are injurious to the eyes and health of the horse. If planks are used, the floor should be perfectly tight, so as to prevent any of the liquid from running through, and they should also have a little, but not too much, fall, say a half inch to the foot, from the manger to the door. Whether plank or dirt is used, the stall should always be well littered, and the fresh dung regularly removed.

GALDS.

Mr. Jones, who kindly furnished an article for the last number of the Planter, under the head of manures, remarks upon the subject of sterile spots, technically and expressively called "aids :

" We must cure them- somehow—1 have tried many ways. I have ploughed in leaves and straw, after having let them be as a "cover" for a long time, with but little amendment. But I have succeeded completely by hauling the soil from such places as I could spare it from, fence ways, turning rows, &c. depositing it upon the galled spot, thereby giving it a new surface. This I found a heavy business, but it is better than letting them remain an unprofitable eye sore.

" A cheaper way, and perhaps for the present at least, better, is to level the surface, (if gullied) cover with ashes, and harrow or cultivate in the wheat or oats, or even a very shallow furrow will not hurt. This plan I like best, and accordingly save carefully all my ashes for this very purpose. The application repeated some few times will cure the worst gald, or if enough were given it would do it at once. There must be an application of something to change the nature of the earth, and give tenacity to it.— This, ashes, either leached or unleached, effectually does.

MAKING SOAP.

To the Editor of the Ploughman :

Sir, —Will you publish a receipt for making soap? It is in this place, too much a matter of luck, and very bad luck too, tire greater part of the time, and if there is a rule it will be very acceptable, I have no doubt, to many of your subscribers.

Yours, respectfully,

Charles W. Macomber. East Mars/ifield, Dec. 24, 1841.

The following is as good a recipe as we could write. There is no kind of difficulty in making soap if the lie is good.

It is sometimes economical to use weaker soap; if this is desired, the best way is to make the soap strong at first, and dilute it afterwards at pleasure by the addition of water.— Editor.

SOAP.

In the city, I believe, it is better to exchange ashes and grease for soap; but in the country, I am certain it is good economy to make one's own soap. If you burn wood, you can make your own lye; but the ashes of coal is not worth much. Bore small holes in the bottom of a barrel, place four bricks around, and fill the barrel with ashes. Wet the ashes well, but not enough to drop; let it soak thus three or four days, then pour a gallon of water in every hour or two, for a day or more, and let it drop into a pail or tub beneath. Keep it dripping till the color of the lye shows the strength is ex-

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hausted. If your lye is not strong- enough, I you must fill your barrel with fresh ashes, and let the lye run through it. Some people take a | barrel without any bottom, and lay sticks and I straw across to prevent the ashes from falling through. To make a barrel of soap, it will require about five or six bushels of ashes, with at least four quarts of unslaked stone lime; if slaked, double the quantity.

When you have drawn off a part of the lye, put the lime (whether slaked or not) into two or three pails of boiling water, and add it to the ashes, and let it drain through.

It is the practice of some people, in making soap, to put the lime near the bottom of the ashes when they first set it up; but the lime becomes like mortar, and the lve does not run through so as to get the strength of it, which is very important in making soap, as it contracts the nitrous salts which collect in ashes, and prevents the soap from coming; (as the saying is.) Old ashes are very apt to be impregnated with it.

Three pounds of grease should be put into a pailful of lye. The great difficulty in making soap come, originates in want of judgment about the strength of the lye. One rule may be safely trusted—if your lye will bear up an egg, or a potato so that you can see a piece of the surface as bi<j as ninepence, it is just strong enough.— If it sink below the top of the lye, it is too weak, and will never make soap; if it is buoyed up halfway, the lye is too strong; and that is just as bad. A bit of quick-lime, thrown in while the lye and grease are boiling together, is of service. When the soap becomes thick and ropy, carry it down cellar in pails and empty it into a barrel.

Cold soap is less trouble, because it does not need to boil; the sun does the work of fire.— The lye must be prepared and tried in the usual way; the grease must be tried out, and strained from the scraps, Two pounds of grease (instead of three) must be used to a pailful; unless the weather is very sultry, the lye should be hot when put to the grease. It should stand in the sun, and be stirred every day. If it does not begin to look like soap in the course of five or six days, add a little hot' lye to it; if this does not help it, try whether it be grease that it wants. Perhaps you will think cold soap wasteful, because the grease must be strained ; but if the scraps are boiled thoroughly in strong lye, the grease will all float upon the surface, and nothing be lost.

HUMBUGS. We extract the following from a chapter in the Temperance Advocate, on " Humbugs," because the author has expressed our own opinions in a very lively and sensible manner. Vol. 2—8.

There is another department of agriculture which is now receiving valuable accessions, which is doomed, I fear, to prove a humbug, as it will be conducti d.

I allude to the introduction of stock—Durham short horn—Devons, Ayrshire and Here-fords—as well as the Berkshire aad Woburns. I do not wish to be understood as opposing the introduction of such stock—but I do condemn the outrageous puffing daily expend' d upon them. If they are valuable, they will soon propagate their own praises.

We must crawl before we can walk. We must be prepared for the raising of such stock, before we can do it successfully. First, we must learn to treat our native stock better. No cow or hog can be valuable, unless great pains are bestowed upon it. I can show many cows and hogs in the country, which have been well treated, that will equal many of the Durhams or Berkshires. 1 hoard, not long since, a very intelligent lady say, that "she had sren no increase in the quantity and quality of the milk in her dairy, since her husband had introduced his Durham shorthorns."

I am satisfied they will prove a valuable cross on our cattle, if properly attended to.

But the thorough breed require great care, attention and high feeding. If they are allowed to ''rough it," as our common cattle do, you will always set }rour piggin under a pile of bones. It is wrong then to say, they require no better treatment than common cattle—for by that means, you destroy the very aim and object of their introduction. Then I put down all those tales about 25, 30, 36, 40 quarts at a milking from cows, (with ordinary feeding) as humbug; and that man has cattle to sell or to show, or wishes to outbrag his neighbors; and 1 speak these things from experience and observation.

Now for the Berkshire and Woburn. The Berkshire is a perfect specimen of a hog, and if well fed and taken care of, will answer our purpose admirably.

But the very fact that they have been carefully bred and reared, is the strongest possible argument, that he will require the greater care to prevent his degeneration.

The Woburn will attain a greater size, but his meat is coarser, and he requires higher feeding. Ail these tales about pigs being hogs of 300 and 400 pounds at 9 months old, are much such stuff as dreams are made of, when they pretend it was done by ordinary feeding. I know a country hog, which weighed, at 10 months old, 320 pounds. He was a fine hog, and wa finely treated—fed on mush and milk from th score.

But of Berkshire and Woburn, rest assured, whenever you turn them out,like our ouatry hogs, to root pig or die, the 'second g& jT*tlan

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will have to wear a weight to their tail to preserve an equlibrium.

The moral of this chapter is, then, that no

man should have fine stock who has an empty-corn crib. And before you buy, be sure you can afford to keep.

WATER POWER

The engraving represents one of the hundred different modes of obtaining power from the gravity of water. It is not altogether new to us, although it has been patented lately by Mr. John Button. We saw the same principle adopted by a gentleman of this city twelve months ago, who abandoned it after making some experiments. Nevertheless, we think it highly probable that this arrangement may be adopted with considerable advantage under certain circumstances. Where there is a great fall, with a small stream, and a three or four horse power only is need d, we think it possible that this would be the best mode of obtaining it. Under ordinary circumstances, we believe a well constructed overshot to be the most simple and economical application of water power, that has

ever been invented. Mr. Dutton's invention certainly retains the water longer, and applies the power more advantageously, than any other we have ever seen. The patentee claims that it is much cheaper than the common water wheel, and that, being lighter, the friction is less. As to its superior cheapness, \vithout much data on which to found our calculations, we should doubt the fact, especially, if wear and tear are added to prime cost. For a small power, we believe buckets might be made sufficiently strong of light material, so as to render the friction of this less than of the common wheel.

In short, as we intimated in the outset, if we had a thin stream and great fall, we might be inclined to experiment with Mr. Dutton's invention. But with an ordinary fall and stream, we

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should certainly stick to the old, well tried overshot.

Mr. Dutton thus sums up what he considers to be the advantages of his invention:

,c 1st. No fall of water can be too great to be improved by this vertical chain wheel, and the additional expense for one of 100 over that of 25 feet is very trifling. Secondly, however small the stream of water, there can be no waste, and in this way thousands of streams may be brought into use, which at present are considered of no value, and unworthy of notice.— Thirdly, the small compass which this machine occupies, the expensive wheelpits commonly required are reduced to a mere trifle, and where there is a sufficient run of water to supply the mill the season through, dams are useles; the water may be brought to the mill and carried away from it in aqueducts, so that the miller may locate his mill near his dwelling for his better convenience."

COMPOST.

The following communication was obtained I by a friend for his private use, and with thecon-| sent of the author is given to the readers of the j Planter. The reputation of the writer for good j management induced the application for his | mode of managing compost.

Dear Sir, —I have observed the following I method of making compost, with great benefit. I select a spot near the stable, where rains can-ii not affect it, and as fast as my manure accumu-i| lates at the stable, I lay it down between stakes j driven firmly in the ground, so as to enable the j laborer to form the compost heap of regular di-I mensions, about eight feet wide and five feet high. Lay the long manure about twelve or j eighteen inches thick, evenly, and regularly.— ! Then place upon this layer of manure leaves, j undecayed weeds, and rich earth, taken from I such spots as cannot be cultivated, i. e. from | corners of fences, hedge rows, ditch banks, &c. | <fcc. Upon this layer of earth, which should be about a foot thick, scatter slaked, but caustic, i lime, one or two inches thick; this makes the j earth highly calcareous. Upon this earth, comes | again a layer of manure, and so alternating, until you get the bank so high as to make it inconvenient to go higher, taking care to keep the I top always flat, and the sides as regular as pos-' sible. In lieu of earth, I frequently use decay-!ed weeds, ashes, the sweepings of kitchens, &c. By attending to this regularly for a time, you ■l will find it easy to accumulate large quantities of compost, far superior for all purposes to any ; manure I ever used, except hog and sheep dung.

When cut down it looks like ashes, and the earth will be found to have absorbed the ammonia, and other gases evolved by the manure in the process of decomposition. So completely absorbent does the earth become, when made calcareous, that in the warmest and moat moist seasons, you cannot discover by the smell the least escape of gas. The quantity of lime required is comparatively small, and this is certainly the most judicious mode of using that important agent in the operations of agriculture. It acts immediately, and for gardening purposes is far superior to manure in the form in which it is usually applied.

If the manure is that made in the ordinary way, in the corn growing country, from cattle bedded on corn stalks and common grasses, it would be best to add more lime to the heap, because com stalks, having a covering of silex, will be found to resist decay for a long time.

By this process you always escape jirefang-ingj which so frequently destroys our manure. Never put the lime on the manure; if you do, it will render the decomposition too rapid, but by keeping earth always on top, you prevent all loss.

In haste, your friend, R. W. C.

BREAKING HOUSES, &c.

Dear Sir —My secret for taming Vicious Horses is gentleness and patience, which removes fear and gives the animal confidence in man. Rubbing a horse in the face will cause him to present his head to you, and talking kindly to him will attract his attention. After having cleared the stable or paddock of every thing (dogs, chickens, &c.) that will tend in any way to frighten the horse, drive him as gently as possible into a corner and approach him by degrees, that he may see that there is no cause for alarm. You must now rub his face gently downwards (not across nor "against the grain" of the hair,) and when he becomes reconciled to that, as you will perceive by his eye and countenance, rub his neck and back, till you come to his tail, repeating the operation several times till he will permit you to handle his tail freely. You may now lead him out, and call upon him constantly, in a steady tone, "come along" (whispering the words, to some horses, is better than to speak loud,) and in about ten minutes or less, he will follow you about quite tame and gentle.

In breaking a horse to harness or saddle, you must be very gentle with him. For the former you may commence by throwing a rope over the back, and letting it hang loose on both sides, then lead him about, caressing him as above, until he becomes satisfied that they will not hurt him ; then put on the harness, and pull o-ently on the traces—in a short time, by this kind of treatment, he will be prepared for work.

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In breaking for the saddle, } ou may begin by showing him the blanket, rubbing him with it, and throwing it on his back; in a short time you may lay the saddle on, and after fondling him for a few minutes, you may fasten it and ride him with perfect safety. It is better for one person to stand by his head at first and keep him quiet; and then to lead him along until all danger is over. If he is dangerous, you may exercise him for some time, by leading him, and leaving him, as he becomes more and more gentle in working. You can then manage him with more safety. It is better to work a horse to make him very gentle; but if this cannot well be done, 1 would recommend the use of bit and harness, that he may learn to be governed by the bridle; be careful not to get his mouth sore. Put on at first a loose harness, and let it remain on for some time; if the harness is tight, it will make an unbroken horse sweat and faint. You may, in the case of a very vicious horse, side line him. In a liitle time he will pass a carriage without shying, and will not caper in gear or under the saddle.

If a horse lies down, and will not get up, drive a stake in the ground and fasten him down for ten or twelve hours, then loosen him, work him for about an hour, water and feed him, and he will " know better next time."

To prepare a horse for hunting, snap a few percussion caps about him—before and behind— by degrees increase the loudness of the report, and in half an hour you may fire a cannon near him.

A vicious cow may be cured by the same treatment.

To make a horse follow you. —You may make any man's horse follow you in ten minutes, or sometimes less ; go to the horse, rub his face, jaw, and chin; leading him about, still saying to him, come along ; a constant tone is necessary; by taking him away from persons and horses, repeat rubbing, leading, and stopping. Sometimes turn him round all ways, and keep his attention by saying, come along; put your arms round his neck, whispering in his ear, saying, come along. I suppose, in some horses, it is important to whisper to them, as it hides the secret, and gentles the horse; you may use any word you please, but be constant in your tone of voice. The same will cause all horses to follow. If a horse has an injury in the face, you had better put off taming him until it is well.

To prevent a horse or mule from breaking his halter. —First, strong halter him with one that will not draw, as that often makes the jaw sore; then fasten him to something which he cannot pull loose, and let him pull: indeed, make him pull until he is unwilling to pull any more. You then get on and ride him a mile or two, and tie him so again, and let him stand quiet By repeating this for a while, in regu-

lar use, you may turn him loose any where, and he will be safe. By the use of a good halter, a horse may be turned loose in a priarie to feed all night, and cannot be "stompeaded," or run off by wild horses; hundreds have thus been lost. Those who have no halters may with ease blindfold a horse, and then he will not run.

To teach a horse to lay down. —First, with some soft handkerchief or cloth, tie up one fore leg; then with a stick tap him on the other, and say, "kneel," sometimes by rubbing him on the head, and patting him on the leg, you will induce him to lie down. It appears all horses are inclined to obey you, and will do so when you teach them that you will not hurt them. You will have to employ some time and attention, you had better take him by himself. Repeat the trial three or four times and you will be successful.

To accustom a horse to the use of a gun, umbrella, Sfc. —Commence by showing your friendship, by rubbing the horse's face with your hand; then snap and explode percussion caps with a pistol,—let the horse frequently smell the powder and smoke ; then you will fire small reports, until you shall see fear removed; then overhead, and behind the horse, until all is free. If yon have a very wild horse, place him in a stall, or small pen, so as to have him safe; then fire a gun all around him, and go often up to him, speak to him, and rub him in the face, and then fire a gun again until he is free from starting. To make a horse used to an umbrella, walk before him, raising it up and shutting it again; let him smell it, and rub it over his head; then get on him, gently raise it, and ride him along, until the fear is over. It is in all cases, better to take the horse to some new place away from home; for if you go to the place where he has been spoiled, you will find he is apt to prove unkinder there than elsewhere. Sometimes, horses will remember for five years, places and habits, both good and bad. You must rub your horse on both sides, for he may be gentle on one side, and not on the other.

How to manage a kicking horse. —First, make a stall, or pen, for your horse, in which he cannot turn round, and with slats, through which you can put your hand to rub him. Then commence by rubbing him in the face, and all over, two or three times,—raising his tail gently, three or four times; then touch one of his forelegs, and say to him, "foot," "foot," until he shows willingness to raise his foot; raise the foot up, and put it down some three or four times; then go all round, until all fear is removed. All you wish a horse to do, ought to be done three or four times, repeated two or three days in succession.

How to manage a cow. —Tie her to some place, so that you can rub her all over; then salt her from your hand ; feed h.r from your hand,

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on half feed, and in three days you may do as you piease with her. Rub her near the root of the tail, as that has a good effect.

Something like "animal magnetism /"—Take a chicken or a turkey, and lay it on its back; then with a piece of chalk draw your hand along before its face to the length of your arm, and it will lay still for some time. Then stand the chicken or turkey on its feet, and draw your hand down its bill, or draw a mark round it, and it will remain in this "magic ring" for a time!

In breaking a shy or skittish horse, never strike him for swerving, but if he is frightened, be gentle; get down, rub him in the face, lead him to the cause of alarm, then back to where you got off, and then ride him back again to the object. Repeat this in the force of his habit, and he will be submissive. If an old horse, you may mend his habits. In training horses to go over bridges, it is a good plan to lead them over some three or four bridges.

To make a horse stand still tvhile you mount. Get on and dismount four or five times before you move him out of his tracks, and by repeating this, any horse will stand still.

In conclusion, I would advise all breeders to be kind and gentle to their foals, and by so doing I will venture to say they will seldom have vicious horses to tame.

I am, sir, your obedient servant, D. O.

The foregoing article is taken from the "Spirit of the Times," and has been going the rounds of the agricultural papers, accompanied with the unqualified commendations of the press. It has given rise to a great many very pretty remarks about humanity, the brutal treatment to which this noble animal is sometimes subjected, &,c. &c. Now whilst we hope we are not wanting in humanity^ and will yield to none in our fondness for this faithful servant of mankind, we cannot help laughing at the sickly sensibility which is shocked at the idea of giving a horse a sound threshing when he deserves it.

To those who have such scruples, we would commend the consideration of the grave ques. tion, that once engaged the attention of the scholists. " If the amount of pleasure to mankind derived from the increased flavor of a whipped pig, be greater than the pain inflicted upon the pig, whether is it justifiable to impose the flaggellation," and it was decided unanimously by the great body of pig eaters that, under such circumstances, the flaggellation might justifiably be imposed. We are prepared to maintain against all comers the justice, propriety,

and policy of this decision, and by the same course of ratiocination, we arrive at the propriety of subjecting, subduing, or "breaking" rather than "training," a horse. "Many horses of many minds," and manifold are the kinds of treatment required for different dispositions. The easiest way is to soothe, the surest to subdue. For the first, the directions of D. O. are excellent, and such will perhaps do well enough for the animal who is to be broken down with daily toil, who has no time and less disposition to play tricks: they generally become tame enough. But it will not do for the mettlesome riding horse, nor will it answer for the high blooded steed, within whose power you place the safety of your wives and children. They should be completely subjected and subdued to the will of man; this is only to be accomplished by a due admixture of reward and punishment. With many of the very best horses the latter ingredient must greatly predominate.

A horse that is merely tamed is never safe; you are always trusting to his good nature and good sense, which frequently fail him. Like his master, his dormant passions are sometimes aroused, and whether fear or anger get the better of him, he is equally dangerous: but when a horse has learned to fear the voice or the whip of his master more than any thing else, then may you trust him.

The best breaker of horses we ever saw began with a wagon whip—(don't shudder, remember the pig question) he would take an untamed three year old in a stable room, free from stalls and every thing else except the walls that confined him, and begin a regular set-to with him. It was a sight worth peeping at through the cracks; the contest commenced with a gentle touch on the hip, which was responded to by a fling of the hind leg that would make the joints crack again. By repeated applications of the whip, the animal would become infuriated, and make at his tormentor with open mouth and curled lip. The calm and piercing eye of the man, with a short sharp crack of the dreadful whip, would cause him to change front to rear, and try the virtue of his heels. Here again, his wily adversary was ready for him, and every kick was answered by another crack. This course was continued until the animal was com*

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pletely subdued. Soothing and caressing now took the place of whipping, interlarded with occasional menaces, as there appeared any symptoms of a relapse. All that he had now to do was to signify his pleasure, and obedience was the certain result. Now it was, that he commenced a system similar to that of D. O. Much pains and great perseverance were used to induct the animal into a knowledge of his duties. He had undergone a discipline that he would never forget: he had learned his first great lesson, to recognise the presence and authority of his keeper. We have seen a horse so broken start to run in a fright, when a single word from the well known voice of his driver would render him as quiet as a lamb. This perfect state of vassalage, it is true, can only be induced by a thorough horseman, but when once established, it may be preserved by a little management forever. A horse broken in this way is often worth hundreds more than one, that has never been thoroughly subdued; if broken limbs and necks will warrant the difference.

For the Southern Planter. POULTRY.

My Dear Sir, —If I understand you rightly, you are particularly desirous to make your paper acceptable to the female portion of your readers. I hope therefore I shall not intrude in offering the following hints upon a subject entirely within their department.

By no one in the world are the products of the poultry yard more esteemed than by the Virginia farmer. What is his breakfast table without its accustomed supply of new laid eggs, and what avail his early peas, if they are not flanked by his favorite accompaniment of fried chicken? But is he sufficiently careful to insure the requisite quantity of these good things, which fill so important a space in his culinary department ? Does he provide his lady, who, it is taken for granted, is always ready to do her part, with the houses, yards, and appliances requisite to enable her to give full scope to her genius in the poultry line? I fear not. I dare say the ungrateful wight oftentimes stuffs himself with pullets, eggs, and chickens, without a thought upon how little he has afforded towards the delightful repast he is enjoying. Nay, I would not be surprised, if the ungrateful recipient of such bounties should be frequently heard to grumble to his better half about the injury her fowls have done to his new sown wheat, their ravages in the garden, and mutter some-

thing about dispensing with the whole lot, as costing more than they come to. Talk about dispensing with her hens! The good lady

an increduh

ke of her head: she

well knows that it is all talk, and entertains no fears for any of her favorites, except those that are destined to tumble into that great reservoir that has engulph< d so many of their progenitors. But still, with that kindness and forgiveness, which is a part of her nature, she feels sorry for his vexation, and wishes much, that the man could eat the hens without quarrelling about their depredations. Well, ladies and gentlemen, between you, this may be easily accomplished ; and as self constituted arbitrator, I require you to mutually sign, seal, interchange, and observe the following articles of agreement.

The gentleman, on his part, agrees and undertakes to erect, or cause to be erected, forthwith, a henery, or house of brick, twenty by twelve, with one door and four small windows in the front, or south side, with blinds which can be shut or opened at pleasure; the roof to be well covered with shingles, and the floor to be of dirt. He furthermore agrees and binds himself by these presents, to enclose a yard of 120 feet square, with a good and substantial paling, of not more than one and a half inches in the interstices, eight feet high, the tops whereof shall be sharpened to a point. He shall moreover, in the part of this enclosure opposite the door of the house aforesaid, insert a gate properly fixed and adjusted for the ingress and egress of a female of—dimensions (here measure the lady, or her maid, as either is the greatest in circumference and insert her proportions;) also he undertakes and agrees to furnish the house aforesaid with as many rows, as may be necessary, of boxes, divided into compartments of such size and kind as are suitable for the accommodation of a genteel and respectable hen; also, in the roof of the house aforesaid, to place roosting poles, with plank? under them, to catch and retain, until it is needed for garden purposes, the manure of the hens aforesaid.

Now, in consideration of the undertakings of the gentleman, hereby expressed, or intended to be expressed, the lady, upon her part, undertakes and agrees, that, upon the happening of such contingency as is herein provided for, viz. the building and erection of the house and enclosure aforesaid, she, the lady aforesaid, will, in the first place, by means of the enclosure aforesaid, forever warrant and defend the gentleman aforesaid from the ravages of the fowls aforesaid, or from any harm or injury happening or resulting by, under or through them, the hens aforesaid, or by, under or through any of their heirs forever. Moreover, in consideration of the premises, she undertakes and agrees, that by building nests, and keeping the same, with all other parts of the premises aforesaid, scrupulously

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clean, and by paying the requisite attention to the matter, she, the lady aforesaid, will warrant and guarantee, and by these presents does warrant and g-uarantee, unto the gentleman aforesaid, a bountiful supply of eggs, hens, pullets, fowls, and all and every of the appurtenances thereunto in any manner, shape, or form, belonging, or in any wise appertaining unto him, and his heirs forever. In witness whereof, the parties to these presents have mutually signed, sealed, and interchanged the same.

[Seal] [Seal]

In conclusion, sir, permit me, in consideration of the family jars I propose to quell, to sign myself,

Your obedient servant,

A. Peacemaker. C. T. Botts, Esq.

We strongly suspect the writer of the above to be a cunning country attorney in disguise; who, under the semblance of fairness and a love of quiet, seeks to inveigle the ladies of Virginia into a contract, which imposes upon them heavy burdens, without a fair equivalent.

By the proposed agreement, the ladies are to undertake forever to supply a rapacious monster of a man with all the delicacies of the poultry yard, whilst he, kind soul, on his part, will undertake to devour them; for, except the expenditure of some pitiful sum in buildings, this seems to us to be about the amount of the gentleman's part of the contract.

As a gallant defender of the rights of the sex, we feel bound to expose what Ave consider to be the insidious nature of this proposition. We have done our duty, our fair friends can do as they please.

For the Southern Planter.

A primary object with you, Mr. Editor, being to procure practical information for your readers, I take the liberty of sending you a northern agricultural paper, containing instructions for the ''culture of Sugar Beets and Mangel Wurt-zel"—and, at the^same time, to suggest the expediency of referring to your files of northern and eastern agricultural journals, as a source of the most reliable information on the subject of root culture.

My own ignorance may mislead me—but I cannot and do not believe that there is one of your Virginia subscribers qualified by his own practical experience, to write upon this subject— unless, indeed, Mr. Corbin Warwick be of the

number; his farm being the only one 1 have seen upon which a systematic course of root culture for stock feeding has be< n pursued for any length of time. 1 do not believe another /arm can be found, which has yet afforded one bushel of roots per head, per winter, for the horn cattle upon it. But be this as it may—those of us who have no information to give, but on the contrary, sorely feci the want of it—when we seek instruction from agricultural journals, require—not theoretical essays—nor accounts of crops made and fed away by the fire sides of gentlemen of leisure—but we want the results of actual experiments with various crops, and "all how and about it" so far as the contributors to agricultural journals have tried them.

For myself, I know it would be presumptuous to profess to give any thing original. Some gleanings, however, which I have picked up from the advice and experience of others, I will mention. I have cultivated the Ruta Baga turnip several years—the Mangel Wurtzel one year, and the Sugar Beet one—yet am by no means certain that crops of corn upon the same land, would not have given more and better food, especially if ground in the cob. As to cultivation—following the published experience and practice of northern and eastern cultivators, I have always passed a roller over these crops immediately after sowing. The roller is also used after seeding" oats with clover and meadow grass, if the land be dry enough, and I think the practice a good one.

The use of the coulter, especially in the culture of Ruta Baga, was recommended to me by a friend from the upper country, and has been successfully pursued ever since.

A means of protecting the turnip crop from the fly, by sprinkling tobacco trash over it, was. suggested to me by one of my negroes (an old farm hand) some years ago, and another and a better one besides—to wit: Soot. And this reminds me of another piece of information, probably (for I do not now remember) derived from the same humble source, which I have tried with equal success—pounded charcoal sprinkled over melon, cucumber and other similar vines, when the dew is on, effectually protects them from the bug, which otherwise very often destroys them. All these things, however, are probably familiar to many of your readers though they were new to me.

But, about the root crops—As every man is apt to form some opinion upon subjects of a practical character that arrest his attention, so, no doubt, many experienced farmers have formed opinions upon this; and for the general good, these opinions, especially where they have been tested by experiments, should be given to you.

It has occurred to me, (and I mention it only to elicit the opinions of practical men, not pretending to be one myself,) that where the system

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of agriculture, as in the Northern and Eastern States, is upon a smaller scale, and in many particulars necessarily different from ours—(the climate being- so much less favorable than ours to the growth of Indian corn) the field culture of roots may form an essential part of it. But here, in a corn, wheat and tobacco growing country, where all the manure we can raise is required for those crops—where, among the corn, upon good land, we can raise large supplies of cymlins for summer, and pumpkins for autumn and early winter feeding—it may be questionable whether Virginia farmers can well go farther in the root culture, than a good crop of Ruta Baga turnips, which keeps well through the winter, gives large returns, and requires cultivation at a season when it can most conveniently be afforded.

These, however, are only my own "notions," entitled, I freely admit, to very little consideration—but I shall be gratified if the expression of them has the effect of drawing out those who really are qualified, to give their opinions and the results of their own experiments through the Planter.

One word more. A writer in your last paper seems to think himself entitled to the reward of £20,000 offered by the British government for an antidote to the depredations of the turnip fly. I think my old man Dick has the better claim, and if there is to be competition for the prize, insist upon putting him in as a competitor. Very respectfully,

A Subscriber.

The article to which we are referred by our correspondent, is the following, from the American Farmer:

CULTURE OF SUGAR BEETS AND MANGEL WURTZEL.

As the culture of both these varieties of beets is precisely the same, we shall treat both under one general head. And before we proceed to lay down our plan of treatment, we will say to our agricultural brethren, that if they consult their interest, or give heed to the comfort of their milch cows, they will at once proceed to make arrangements for entering into the culture, though their first experiment may be made upon but a single acre. At three pounds to the acre, that quantity of ground will produce upwards of a thousand bushels, and when we say that we have seen beets, of either variety, weighing-more than twenty pounds, we think we cannot be charged with exaggeration when we assume three lbs. as the average weight of an acreable product. With this brief introduction, we shall now proceed to give such directions as we believe will ensure a good cron.

Preparation of the Ground.

As soon as the ground is sufficiently dry for the purpose, it should be ploughed up with a strong team and heavy plough, as deep as possible. The ploughing completed, let the harrow reduce the clods by being passed over the ground lengthwise and cross-wise. The ground thus prepared should be permitted to remain until just before it is time for putting in the seed, when manure—well rotted is best—should be hauled on and evenly spread over the surface, at the rate of twenty double horse cartloads, say forty bushels each, to the acre. As spread, this manure should be ploughed in about three inches deep—As soon as this second ploughing is finished, the ground should be thoroughly harrowed to render the tilth fine, after which the roller should be passed over it, when it will be in a condition for seeding, which operation should be performed as soon thereafter as. possible, as it is all-important to put the seed into a fresh bed.

Time of Planting.

For a general crop, from the middle of April to the 20th of May, is the period when the seed should be sown, though good sized beets could be raised, in strong ground, at a much later period, say the last of May. We, however, recommend early planting.

Of the Soil. The soil best adapted to the growth of beets, is a deep loam, or rich sand moderately dry.

Method of Planting.

If you have a drilling machine, (and if you have not one, we would advise you to get one,) all you will have to do is to put your seed in it, and after staking off your ground in row T s tico feet apart, to drill in your seed. But if you have no machine, then get a wide mouth bottle, or tin horn with the large end stopped, put your seed into one or the other, and after having a drill made an inch deep, go along the drill with your bottle, or horn, in hand, and drop the seed therefrom, about four inches apart, Jet a hand follow the dropper with a rake, and cover over the seed as dropped, reversing the rake and pressing down the furrow with its back.

In this way, two smart, active hands could put in an acre a day. With a machine four acres may be put in, in the same time with case. The machine makes the furrow, drops the seed, covers them, and rolls the ground all at the same time. Mr. Page of this city has a drill which is highly recommended, a notice of which will be found in another column.

Preparation of the Seed, and quantity to the acre. Make a decoction of horse dung, in sufficient quantity to float the seed, into this put in the

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proportion of four ounces of saltpetre to each gallon. In this soak the seed from 24 to 48 hours, when they will be fit for drilling. As you take them out for that purpose roll them in plaster; 2 lb. of seed to the acre is about the right quantity, though 1 lb. sowed with great care would answer.

After Culture.

After the beets come up and are three or four inches high, let careful hands go through them and thin them out, so as to stand from eight to twelve inches apart in the rows. And as the beets generally come up double, one must be drawn out, otherwise they are liable to grow crooked, or lap over each other, and materially lessen the product. At the time this thinning is going on, the beets should have the ground stirred around them and between the rows, so as to loosen the earth, and cut up every vestige of weeds or grass.

If a small cultivator, 18 inches wide, were to be procured, to run between the rows, it would lessen the cost of culture wonderfully, as then the hoes would only have to stir the earth around and between the roots. The great object in cultivating these roots, is to keep the grass and weeds down until the leaves expand sufficiently to repress their growth. In a word, keep the earth loose and clean ; but never hill. If the cultivator be passed three times through them, and the hoers weed between and around the roots that number of times effectually, the business of culture will be found to have been performed.

Pulling the Leaves.

Late in the summer, when pastures begin to decline, and afford but little succulent food to the milch cattle, the leaves of either of these beets will be found to furnish a most excellent resource, as they may be stripped of all their foliage except the crown leaves, without injury to the root, at least three times between that time and their being harvested. In stripping the leaves, they should be pinched off with the ringer and thumb.

We have thus early called attention to this subject, in the hope that it may awaken a sufficient degree of enterprise to induce many to commence the culture, as we are certain that, if thev but once make a beginning, they will continue it.

A GOOD EXAMPLE. The following letter from Commodore Jones, places in a strong light the profits of agriculture, even under adverse circumstances. A detailed account of the Commodore's agricultural life, from his own pen, would, we think, form an interesting and instructive article, such as we Vol. 2—9.

should very much like to see gracing the columns of the Planter. The same manly independence and indomitable energy, that have won unfading laurels for the naval hero, are conspicuous in the Virginia farmer. Here is one of nature's noblemen, a man, who is resolved to wrest fortune to his purposes, and to make himself independent by his own exertions. Ho chooses agriculture for the purpose of effecting his ends, and finds his noble energy amply repaid. What a glorious example is afforded by this self-denying, energetic pursuit of independence. The flag of our country is ever safe in such hands; he, who will work, will scarcely fail to fight for his liberty.

• * The first steps toward the improvement of land, are to cultivate less land and do it better, collect and apply at proper times, and in due season, all the manure that can be raked and scraped about the premises. If your land is deficient of calcareous matter, supply it either by the application of lime, marl, or bone dust. Cost what it may, it will repay you, and with double interest; although your means may not admit of your improving more than one single acre the first year, the increased products of that acre will enable you to improve two the second, and from those two you may improve [with the help of the first one] six the third year, and twelve or fifteen the fourth year, and so on progressively. For if it be true, that money makes money, so too, in a pre-eminent degree, does manure make manure, for there is no usurious law to limit the interest which the farmer may draw from his manure bank.

1 was thirty years of age when I commenced farming, and I affirm, that no regular farmer in Virginia ever commenced under such appalling circumstances as I did. In 1819, I found myself in possession of 140* acres of land, one half in wood, the other in hen-grass and deep o-ullies, without a pannel of fence or a building of any description on it, and without a wheelbarrow load of manure or any thing to make it of. 'Tis true, I was in the receipt of about $ 700 a year from another source; but what was that when compared with my wants ? Houses to build, laborers to hire, feed and clothe, farm to stock, myself with somewhat extravagant habits to support, &c: in short, every thing to buy and nothing to sell!! And what was worse than all, discouraged at every step by my neighbors, who mostly affirmed, that Fairfax land could not be improved ; and some went so far as

* This lot of 140 acres was designated in the division [by which it fell to me] of a large landed estate, by the commissioners, as lot No. 3, "Poor Hill."

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to say, that clover and plaster would even impoverish it, whilst others declared that plaster of paris would not act at all in Fairfax, to which my general reply was, "I'll try it." I was adrift in the world, without any spot on the wide earth to which I could point as my home [ had to choose between the life of a wanderer, wasting my little income in hotels and boarding houses, or in struggling against the thick an ay of difficulties above enumerated, in endeavoring to build up for myself a home and a resting place in my own native land. I chose the latter, and I rejoice in the decision, and a kind providence has smiled upon my exertions, and spared me to enjoy the fruits of my labors, which have not altogether been lost, [though often injudiciously applied] even on Fairfax land. To what extent I have succeeded, it would not become me to say; suffice it that my farm on which I reside in the enjoyment of wife, children, and friends, has grown from 100 [for I sold 40 acres of the original wood lot, to get money to help along with] to 420 acres, including the 40 sold, which I have since bought back. The whole amply stocked with the choicest varieties of fruit trees, all planted by my own hands. The arable land is in good heart, some of it upon which I have applied lime, only commenced with six years ago, is first rate. Thos. Ap. C. Jones.

For the Southern Planter.

Mr. Editor, —I have lately, with the proceeds of a mercantile business, purchased a farm, by way of experiment. About one-tenth is rich creek land, and the balance very poor, sandy highland. The tract contains about fifteen hundred acres. My pecuniary means have been pretty much absorbed in the purchase of stock, and negroes, repairing buildings, &c. My plan is to get into cultivation, first, such of the low grounds as are not yet cleaned up. This is a light job, and I shall be able to accomplish it ill the first twelve months. To continue the low grounds in their present state of fertility, I shall once in three years turn under the sod of grass with which they are now set, and cultivate a crop of corn upon the top of it, returning again immediately to grass. Of course for this purpose my low grounds will be divided into three fields that I may have one every year in corn.

Of my upland, I shall next proceed to make three lots, of twenty acres each. On one of these I shall sow oats next spring, buckwheat on another, and rye on the other in the following fall. All the manure I can make and scrape, I shall apply to the top dressing these several crops. Before they become quite ripe, I shall turn them in. In the fall following, I shajl sow clover seed on one, clover and timo-

thy on the second, and Kentucky blue grass, if I can get the seed, on the third. For two years, 1 shall husband all my resources for nourishing and top dressing these several crops. I shall then begin with No. 1, and turn under the growth and sod for a crop of corn; the next year, No. 2, for a crop of tobacco; and the third year, No. 3, for corn. I shall by this time have six lots, three above, and three below, rich enough to pay for the expense of cultivation.— By this time, my stock, and consequently, my means of making manure, will have so far increased, as to enable me to top dress forty acres more of my high land. This will increase the size of my lots, and the extent of my operations to 33 1-3 acres each. Without then ever cultivating an inch of poor land in corn, I shall, in the course of a few years, have a profitable farm, as extensive as a reasonable man would desire.

It is true, that, making a draft only upon the fifty acres of low grounds in corn, for the first year or two, my expenditures must be very economical, and my stock very small; although I am resolved to keep as many of the latter as I can keep well.

Moreover, I am aware, that if I could command large supplies of ready made manures, either natural or chemical, that I could procure quicker returns, than this system would afford me. I am satisfied that I ought to get my land to a certain point of fertility before I attempt to take any thing from it. In what cheaper manner can 1 effect this, than by taking it little at a time, and by the simple operations of ploughing and sowing, assist the eaith to gorge hersell? If any of your experienced practical readers will review this plan, they will oblige

A Theorist.

So far as improvement by turning in green crops is contemplated, we shall strengthen the intentions of our correspondent by the following quotations. The first is an extract from a report of the editor of the Massachusetts Ploughman of a farmers' meeting in the state house at Boston.

Mr. Stanley said, in regard to vegetable manures, he thought well of the practice of turning in green crops—that a neighbor of his was fully satisfied of the benefits derived from the vegetable growth on an acre. He thought lands should not lie in grass longer than four or five years, for it will then be as full as ever of the roots of grass, and if it is then completely turned over, the whole vegetable matter will become manure for future crops. He said he once doubted whether the grass and grass roots on one acre of land, after the hay crop was taken ofT, would weigh 12 or 13 tons, as some had as-

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ey

serted; but on making- a little calculation he thought the assertion correct. He therefore concluded that any farmer who frequently turns these 12 tons into manure by ploughing, would enrich his lands much sooner than one who should suffer his mowing- fields to lie many years without ploughing. (Was not this a correct conclusion? How can we avoid the force of this reasoning? Ed.)

The other is a very excellent anonymous communication, directed to the editor of the Maine Cultivator.

ON GREEN CROPS FOR MANURE.

Although our most thonghtful farmers are now well satisfied that the raising of crops to be ploughed in while green will much enrich all kinds of soil, there are still large numbers who seem to doubt the efficacy of such a measure. At any rate the number of those who practice upon this principle is still quite small, and the friends of improvement in agriculture must wait with patience the operation of judicious exam-pits.

It is strenuously asserted by some, that a green crop draws just as much of the food of plants out of the earth as can be returned to it again by the plough which is made to bury that crop! They are led into this error by assuming that all plants obtain their whole nourishment from the earth; when the probability is that much the largest portion of the food for plants is taken in from the atmosphere through the leaves. When a stick of wood or a tree is decomposed by the action of fire, what do we find of the whole contents but a little mess of ashes? Not one 1000th part of the weight of the wood. In these ashes will be found a small quantity of earthy matter, while all the remainder of the log has gone off with the smoke. We say that the log is burnt up, —but philosophy teaches that fire annihilates nothing—that it only produces a change in substances on which it acts. A log of wood, then, subjected to the action of fire vanishes into air and passes off directly into other plants through their leaves, or it falls to the earth to be taken up by the roots of other plants.

Furthermore we find that a plant weighing many pounds may be reared in a box of earth, nothing but water being added ; and that when the plant is removed, the earth in the box will weigh nearly as much as when it was put there— showing that but a very little earth has been taken up into the plant.

Now the philosophy of raising green crops to enrich the soil on which they grow is based on the principle that plants obtain a large proportion of their food from sources other than the soil on which they stand. But the question is

often put, why is not one kind of soil just as good as another, if plants obtain most of their living through the medium of the atmosphere? The plain answer is, that the roots do obtain some nourishment from or through the soil; yet if they obtained not a particle of anything but moisture, a good soil would afford a better medium through which to convey such moisture than a poor soil could do. A good soil lies more light and porous, admitting freely the roots of plants and suffering them to extend in every direction ; while a poor soil lies so compact that roots cannot enter; or it is so open and exposed to the sun and air, that the roots perish for lack of moisture.

To give the soil a proper consistency, therefore, neither too close, nor too open; neither too heavy nor too light, is one great object with every good farmer. And it may ^e, that quite as much depends on this circumstance as on the quality of the food which we are supposed to supply when we apply our manures. Tho richest manures will fail to give a good crop unless they are so prepared and so placed that they afford a convenient passage for the roots, whilo almost any kind of manure, well appliedj will prove of great service.

A leading complaint among farmers is, that they have not enough manure, that they cannot purchase it, and therefore their lands must lie till a more convenient season. This, with many, is only an apology for negligence and sloth; for we often find the very men who complain of the want of manure, neglecting year after year, to clean their barns and yards of the manures made by their own stock.

But if it be true that green crops, grown on soil, will enrich the same if ploughed under and suffered to rot, then every man who has a team, may dispense with his excuse for suffering large portions of his farm to lie unproductive. Much of the pasture land of Maine is unproductive for the want of the plough. A few crops of grain were taken from the ground after the first clearing—no grass seed was sown—bushes or moss, or both have taken possession, and if. in modern days, a plough is brought into one of these pastures, it is for the purpose of niching out of the soil one more crop of grain, and then the land is suffered to recruit itself again till another harvest of rye is wanted.

Farmers of Maine, you should not further reduce your pasture lands with grain crops. Grain is an exhauster, and when it is cultivated the land which bears it should be manured in some form or other. Pasture lands which have lain long and are covered with moss rnay be ploughed in Autumn and sown with grass seed and with rye, to be fed the next summer by the cattle. This process will enrich, instead of impoverishing the soil. And any field may be made rich as it need be for any product by sowing and then

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

burying the growth by means of the plough. Three crops of buckwheat may be turned under in one season; or two crops of rye may be treated in that manner to great advantage. But who will dare to bury with the plough a crop of

buckwheat or rye? Some think it an unpardonable sin. Why it may be reaped and saved, say they. But as to impoverishing the soil by taking off exhausting crops without putting on manure they have no fears. B.

A PORTABLE OR GRAZING PIG PEN.

For the Southern Planter.

Dear Sir, —As hog and hominy are inseparable with us Virginians, and having seen in your last number of the Planter, Mr. Fontaine's plan of a hominy-mortar, I am induced to send you a plan, or rather description, of my portable or grazing pig pen; hoping it may prove useful to some of the lovers of good bacon.— To those who keep up their hogs and have elover lots, it will be found very convenient for grazing them; it being only necessary to move the pen, from day to day, as they may require fresh grazing. It will also enable the farmer, annually, to manure a pretty good piece of ground for a sugar beet or some other root patch, during the months there is no grazing, by littering and moving as occasion may require, upon the ground intended to be manured. This, I consider no small matter. During the cold winter weather it will be found necessary to break the joints, before left open, between the planks on the sides of the pen, for the air to pass through freely, and also to give it better covering to keep out rain and snow; it having i>een only necessary to use bushes, while grazing, as a protection from the sun.

Well, now for the plan. Take four pieces of good oak scantling, or polls, three by four inches, and eight, ten or fifteen feet long, as may be preferred, and form as large a square of ihem as they will make, allowing an inch or

two to project over at the ends of two of them, and enough at the ends of the other two, to fix a wheel on each, the scantling or polls, to be let into each other where they cross, by sawing in and cutting out so as to make them fall into each other. The wheels are made by sawing them off of a tree (gum I prefer) ten or twelve inches through, and two or three inches wide. The wheels being fitted on, it will only be necessary to insert a number of pins, three, four or five feet high, into the frame at proper distances with a large auger, to which the planks are securely nailed, which forms the pen. Care should be taken to let one pin pass through at each corner where the scantling crosses, so as to fasten the pen together. Place troughs in two of the corners, one for water, and the other for food ; they answer also for braces. Attach a rope, grapevine, or hickory, twisted to one end, put in your pigs, lay on some brush to protect them from the sun, move often, water and feed well, and I insure good pork next winter. A half dozen pens will graze two dozen pigs, moved once every day on good clover.

If you, Mr. Editor, consider the foregoing worthy of a place in your paper, you are at liberty to insert it.

Respectfully, your friend,

Williamson Tallev.

Hanover, March 1st, 1842.

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

69

THE LEVEL.

Under this head, we published an article signed "A Drainer," in the ninth No. of the last Vol. of the Planter. This article, being copied into the Farmers' Cabinet, is characterised by a correspondent of that paper, as "about as strange a jumble of ideas as could well be squeezed into so small a space," and in so designating it, we doubt very much, if he ever uttered a greater truth.

That we, confiding in our correspondent's experience, should have overlooked his mistakes is perhaps excusable; but that you, Friend Ped-der, should have calmly, coolly and deliberately cut out, and copied such a monstrous absurdity, is, indeed, too bad. If a man should unfortunately be the father of an unworthy child, he is to be pitied, rather than blamed ; but that any one should choose to adopt a crooked mis-shapen bantling, is truly astonishing. As we have been unintentionally instrumental in getting you into such a dilemma, we will do the best we can to help you out of it, by telling you what, we reckon, "A Drainer" meant to say.

He intended to assert, that a fall of one inch in fifteen feet had been found sufficient to carry off the superfluous water ; that to obtain this, a level should be made in the ordinary form, with legs of equal length, fifteen feet apart at the base: having marked on the cross piece the place where the bob line plays when the instrument is resting on a level plane, cut one inch off one of the legs. Then, begin at the lowest point of the intended drain, and keeping the short leg always up the hill, cut down until the bob plays in place. Thus you will obtain a regular fall of 1 inch in every fifteen feet.

CORN PLANTER AND SEED SOWER.

We have had several enquiries for this article, and have been at some pains to ascertain the relative merits of those in use. We must confess we have not been altogether satisfied with any that has come under our observation. We have seen Bachelder's, Robbins', Bement's and Page's. Old's is highly recommended, but we have only had an opportunity of seeing an engraving, which did not clearly explain the implement. We waited with some anxiety for a

new one, announced in a former No., and engraved and explained in the last Cabinet. It is plain enough, but not to our fancy. We have seen the slide tried in various forms, and indeed, exactly as Mr. Jones uses it; but the same difficulty appertains to all; small seeds insinuate themselves between the slide and hopper; or they clog up at the bottom of the hopper. It is possible, if we could see the implement itself, we might find the difficulty removed.

Of the different kinds we have seen, we greatly prefer Page's, made in Baltimore, both for its simplicity and certainty. It is acquiring great reputation. We have procured one of these as a specimen, which we shall be happy to shew at the office of the Planter. We will order as many as may be wanted. We have also a few of Bachelder's, that are a well finished article. Price of both $25.

We were induced by the high encomiums bestowed upon it, to give $ 15 for one of Rob-bins'; any body may have it for fifteen shillings.

LIME.

We have received many requests from subscribers, particularly in the low country, to turn our attention to this important agent. So much has been said and written, that the subject is generally considered to have been exhausted. Nevertheless, our investigations of what has been written, has lead us through a labyrinth, pretty much to the point from which we started. Nothing can be more contradictory than the opinions of the most scientific; and our researches have brought us to the conclusion, that there are some important questions connected with this subject still veiled in doubt. There is no doubt that its chief action is chemical, and therefore that action will necessarily vary with the constituents with which it is brought into contact. These may differ materially, though imperceptibly to the casual observer, with every hundred feet of soil.

We have made arrangements to visit shortly some of the most experienced lime and marl users in Virginia, that from the facts they have observed, and the estimates they have made, we may assist our readers in the practical application of this powerful agent.

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

CELEBRATED CATTLE.

We are much afraid " t'is distance lends enchantment to the view," and that we see and hear a great deal of certain stocks in agricultural papers, calculated to excite the imagination, rather than to convey impartial descriptions of the animals. We are partly led to this conclusion by noticing the sale of Col. Jaques' celebrated " Cream Pot" cattle. The auctioneer's hammer is after all the true test of value, and we observe from Mr. Beinent's letter, that this stock, of which so much has been said and written, was knocked down the other day at an average of $32 pr. head. We believe we know some Durhams for whom their neighbors would give about as much.

HAY, ROOTS, AND CORN.

Professor Coleman estimates, that to support a working horse for one year, it will require the produce of six acres in hay and oats, one acre in Indian corn, or half an acre in carrots or Ruta Baga turnips. The yield is supposed to be at the rate per acre, of a ton and a half of hay, sixty bushels of corn, fifteen tons of turnips, or six hundred bushels of carrots. From this estimate, he deduces the value of cultivating roots. We are inclined to believe if the expense of cultivation and harvesting are considered, that the horse can be kept cheaper, either upon the six acres in hay, or the one acre in Indian corn. But to this expense must be added the risk of keeping. We may be wrong, but we believe, that, after all is said and done, the Indian corn, well cultivated, will be found to be the best crop we can make.

From the Ploughboy.

Mr. Editor: —By giving publicity to the following letter, you will confer a favor on those who feel an interest in improving their stock of cattle. It is superfluous to add that the great skill and acknowledged success of Col. Hampton, in rearing the finest stock in the State, entitle his opinions to be regarded as of the highest authority; and the liberality with which he has communicated the results of his experience, entitles him to the thanks of this community.

J. T.

Columbia, Jan. 24, 1842.

My Bear Sir, —Without detaining you with an apology, for so long a delay in answering your favor of the 31st ult., 1 proceed at once to the subject matter of your inquiries. All cattle imported from England, the north and the west, are very liable to be attacked by a fatal disease, which I take to be, an inflammation of the brain.

Young cattle from eight months, to one year old, are less subject to it, than those more advanced in life. If they survive the summer and autumn, I consider them safe, although great care should be taken of them the second season. They should be brought into the State as early in the fall as possible, kept in good growing condition through the winter, and in the spring be removed to a high healthy position, have easy access to pure water, and their pasture as much shaded as the nature of the ground will admit. In August and September, they should be kept in a cool stable during the heat of the day and at night also, the dew at that season, being almost as injurious, as the intense heat of the sun.

With these precautions, I think more than half would escape the disease, the first indication of which, is usually, a languid appearance of the animal, followed by the loss of appetite, short quick breathing, with more or less fever, and not unfrequently accompanied by a cough.

I have hitherto considered this disease, when once established, incurable. I have recently learnt, however, that by sawing off the horns, close to the head, nine out of ten would recover. In two cases only, have I known the remedy to be tried, and in both, the experiment was successful.

I shall be highly gratified if any of these suggestions shall be useful to you or any of your friends; and wishing you entire success in your experiment.

I am very respectfully, and truly yours,

W. Hampton.

J. Terry, Esq.

We were not aware that our friends of the South run the same risk in importing cattle, that we do in this region. The disease described by Col. Hampton, is precisely the one we have frequently alluded to as known here under the general name of distemper. The cause of this disease remains a mystery, since, here, it is frequently the result of removal from one neighboring place to another of apparently similar soil and climate. There is a popular belief, resting on what foundation we know not, that a ft little creek, about thirteen miles from the city, 1 marks the boundary of this distemper. We (

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fl

have heretofore hinted, that an investigation of this disease was worthy the attention of our men of science, both on account of its singular character, and because of the great good that would flow from the discovery of a preventive or remedy. The latter would be more extensively beneficial than we were aware of.

The attack is almost universally fatal, and sawing off the horns has, we know, failed to afford relief It may have been resorted to too late in the disease.

TO DESTROY LICE ON CATTLE.

Wood ashes are effectual when properly sifted on. Any kind of sand or dirt, if frequently applied, will kill or drive away the lice. Cows hat lie in the sand or loam, are less liable to be roubled with lice than those which lodge on plank floors. This is also the case with fowls.

Young cattle are more troubled with lice than Id ones; and they should always be kept in open sheds, and be suffered to lie loose. They lass the winter better thus and are not so liable Lo be lousy. Some farmers take the trouble to burn loam and pulverise it, then sift it on the backs and heads of their cattle. As to applying ime or any scented substance to the floors of the barn we should doubt the efficacy; we should prefer to pull the floor entirely away. All oily ubstances are destructive to lice, but one application is not always sufficient since it cannot 3asily be made on all parts of the body.

A correspondent of the Central N. York Far-Tier recommends rubbing the skin all over with he water in which potatoes have been boiled. He says the lice will be all dead within two lours—that he has used ten kinds of the strong-3St poison to kill lice, all with effect, but none so lerfect as this.— Mass. Ploughman.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Several valuable communications have been unavoidably postponed to the next number. Our friends will see, and we hope excuse, the liberty we frequently take in razeeing and remodelling their communications. This is frequently done, not to improve the article in the abstract, but when we have several communications upon the same subject, to avoid repetition.

" Short and sweet" is our motto. But our friends need not trouble themselves with the labor of condensing. We have not the impudence to request them to furnish grain for our mill, and grind it too. If they will be kind enough to afford us the raw material, we will try and do that for which we are paid, manufacture it into a passable article.

TIME OF PUBLICATION.

By extra exertion we shall be enabled to get >ut the April No. of the Planter about the first •f that month. After that, the work will be nailed regularly, and certainly, upon the first lay of every month; so that subscribers, by a ittle calculation, may know precisely on what ays to send to the office for their papers.

DANGER OF BEAUTY.

In the first attempt made by Mary Queen of Scots to escape from her imprisonment in Loch-leven Castle, she disguised herself as a laundress, with whom she had changed clothes, and when seated in a boat and putting off from the shore, she was discovered by lifting her hand to her head. The extreme beauty of her hand, with its whiteness, discovered her at once, and she was carried back to her chamber in bitterness and tears.

FIDELITY OF THE DOG.

In digging the ruins of Herculaneum, which was overwhelmed many hundred years ago by an eruption of Vesuvius, the skeleton of a dog was found stretched over the bones of a child. A collar of curious workmanship was discovered, on which was inscribed the history of this dog in Greek. The dog was called Delta; his master's name was Severinus. This animal had saved his master's life three times. Once he had dragged him out of the sea, when nearly drowned ; once he had driven off four robbers, who attacked him; and once he killed a she-wolf, which flew at Severinus on account of his having taken her cubs from her in a grove sacred to Diana, near Herculaneum. The latter part of his life he attached himself particularly to his master's only son, followed him wherever he went, and would take no food except from his hand. No doubt the faithful servant perished in trying to save the boys life. The collar is still preserved in the gallery of the Grand Duke of Tuscany.