Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from LYRASIS Members and Sloan Foundation http://archive.org/details/southernplanterd23sout THE SOUTHERN PLANTER; Devoted to Agriculture, Horticulture, and the Household Arts. Agriculture is the nursing mother of the Arts. Xcnophon. Tillage and Pasturage are the two breasts of the Slate. Sully. C. T. BOTTS, Editor, MAIN" STIiUUT. Vol. II. RICHMOND, MARCH, 1842. No. 3. For the Southern Planter. AN ESSAY ON THE BEST METHOD OF CUL- TIVATING ROOTS. [Continued from p. 27. J The next thing to be considered, is the most safe and economical mode of taking care of these crops. And here I acknowledge myself in- debted to one of my agricultural papers for a method, by which much time and labor arc saved. Instead of the slow and tedious mode of pulling up the roots by hand, of throwing them into heaps, and of cutting off the tops with a knife, one hand passes along the rows of beets and turnips, and with a small garden hoe made quite sharp, with a single stroke, cuts off the top. Another hand follows on, and with a simi- lar instrument, except that it has prongs instead of a hoe, pulls up the roots, drawing two rows into one. A third then comes along with a cart, and collects them. The tops are then raked into heaps with great rapidity, and dis- posed of as you think proper. In storing away the roots, I have found the following a safe and expeditious mode. At some place convenient to the form pen and other feeding places, the sur- face of the ground is scraped off to the depth of about G inches, and to the extent of about 5 feet in diameter. This foundation is amply suffi- cient for one cart load of roots, which is about the proper quantity for one place. The cart, on arriving with its load, is tipped up, so as to dis- charge the whole contents into this place — the roots are then rounded up in the shape of a cone, and the whole well covered with dry litter and dirt. During the first week or ten days, a small hole should be left at the top for the escape of heat and moisture; after which the whole may be permanently closed up, and the process is finished. In this manner, I have known roots to keep in a moist plump state with all their j uices, till the beginning of May. But the beets being more tender ought to be used first. The last thing to be considered, is the pecu- liar root, that experience shows, is best adapted to our climate and soil. Of roots cultivated for stock, and it is only in reference to them that this treatise is concerned — those in most fjene- ral use, are' the potato, the beet, the carrot, the parsnip and the turnip. Of the potato, we have two general varieties, the sweet and the Irish. Vol. 2—7. The former, I have frequently attempted to raise, but have so uniformly foiled, that I cannot trust myself with any account of its cultivation. My old and respected friend John Carter, has had great success in this article, particularly in ta- king; care of it, and : ill lay aside all diffidence, and yield to the gem • il wish of giv- ing to the public, his mode of managing it. I am now (15th of January.) egaling myself and my family, on potato' s rais< 1 and taken care of by Mr. Carter, as sound and as well flavored as they were the day he took them from the ground. The Irish potato is known to us under a great many varieties; nor does there seem to be any end to their multiplication. It is not my pur- pose to enquire, which of the numerous species it would be most profitable to cultivate. The Rohan was for some time, considered as the most productive, and therefore most desirable for stock purposes. But this variety seems now to be superseded by several others. I would rather enquire, if the cultivation of this root as a food for stock, is to be regarded (all things con- sidered,) as an act of sound economy. And for a correct conclusion on this subject, we ought not to go to New England, nor to the British provinces, nor even to any of the middle States. Theie in a moister climate, this crop succeeds to an amount, and with a degree of certainty, which is altogether unknown among us. In our hot and dry climate, I must say, that I have found this a very precarious crop, insomuch that I have foiled, either in whole or in part, one year in three. In a few instances, I have not gathered as many as I planted — in others, the product, has been a liberal one. It is then a question of grave import, if sound economy warrants the cultivation of this root to any great extent. In- deed I rather think, we ought to direct our ef- forts to other crops, relative to which there is not the same uncertainty. It may however be said in favor of this crop, that it is of easy culture. Most of the work, both in the preparation of the land, and in the subsequent cultivation, may be performed with the plow; and when the situa- tion chosen is rich and moist, there is compara- tively little risk of a failure. As to the parsnip, there is but one variety now in general use. Sometime ago, there was another variety, called the Guernsey or Jersey cultivated mostly in Pennsylvania and Ohio, sai 50 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER to have been considerably larger, and of equal- ly fine flavor with that in common use. It is now however so mixed with the common pars- nip, as to have lost its distinctive character. This is certainly a most valuable root, abound- ing in saccharine and other nutricious matters, which make it a most important article of food. Indeed it appears to contain more of the solid, and less of the watery particles, than any other root. In this respect, it approaches nearer to the solidity of grain, than any of its family. It succeeds well also, even when planted in narrow rows, so that its product, from a given quantity of land is generally very great. But there is this great objection to it — that it requires a long time, from early spring till hard frosts, to come to maturity; and during this whole time, the cultivation is a tedious and slow process. When planted at a distance to secure a large crop, the hoe and the spade can alone be used among it, and this detracts, in my view, very much from the value of the crop. If however, there be a sufficient force to carry on the other more im- portant operations of the farm, the cultivator of this root, will commonly find himself amply compensated for his time and trouble. Of carrots, there are two varieties — the orange and the white. The former is the finer sort, and is generally cultivated for the table. The white is much larger, but of a coarser texture. Which of these varieties is in fact most valuable for stock, I have not had the means of determining, but it is a fact, that with the extensive cultivator, the white has almost entirely superseded the orange. This however may be accounted for on the score, that much less labor is necessary in cultivating the larger than the smaller. The product also, is considerably greater. The car- rot by all those who have used it, is spoken of in the highest terms. They represent it as pe- culiarly fine for the milch cow r , asserting that it not only greatly increases the quantity of milk. but that it imparts to it a rich color, and deli- cious flavor. But with the parsnip, it is also a tedious and troublesome crop, and except in pe- culiar circumstances I doubt its economy.— - These crops are not only a long time on hand, and the cultivation tedious, but after they have come to maturity, the ordinary mode of harvest- ing is attended with great trouble and loss of time. I have however seen it recommended to pass the plough along one side of the row, throw- ing the dirt away from the roots, and leaving them bare; which certainly very much expe- dites the process of collection. Of beets, besides the finer sorts which are cul- tivated for the table, there are two varieties which are of great value as food for stock. These are the mangel wurtzel and the white Si- lesian, commonly called the French sugar beet. Of these varieties, the latter, under the same cir- cumstances, certainly attain the greatest size and weight, and in addition to this, is found upon analysis, to contain the greatest amount of sac- charine and other nutricious matters. If this be the case, the thing is at once determined as to which it is most expedient to cultivate. In France, Belgium, Austria and the German Union, the sugar beet is cultivated to a very great extent, so that in these several countries, they actually manufacture sugar to the amount of 170,000,000 lbs; and after the sugar has been extracted from it, the residuum is still found of great value for their stock. If then the beet, af- ter being deprived of one of its most nutricious properties, is still important in this way, how much more important, with all its properties en- tin;? Besides, experience warrants me in saying that the foliage is of great value as a green food both for hogs and milch cows. They devour the leaves with great avidity, and their value is much enhanced from the fact, that they come in when clover and other green food begins to fail. Nor does the removal of the lower leaves injure the plant in the least, for if left on they always perish and drop off. The beet therefore, whe- ther we regard it for its great product, its nutri- cious properties, the facility with which it is cul- tivated, and the almost certainty of the crop when properly managed, is to be considered as one of our most important acquisitions. But there is another root, which in a treatise of this kind ought to have a prominent place; and that is the turnip. And here I shall at once pass by all the varieties of the white turnip, which although very desirable for other domes- tic, purposes, I do not think of much value for stock. But there is another variety of this root, much more solid, and according to analysis, much more nutricious, which no stock-breeder ought to neglect, and that is the Swedish turnip, commonly called the Ruta Baga. There is no doubt that the celebrated William Cobbett, Esq., was the first to introduce this valuable root into our country, nor have I seen any treatise on itay cultivation, which in fullness and accuracy of de- tail, together with an inimitable charm of style,' is to be compared with his. This root may be largely and successfully raised in our climate, and that too with an economy which does notl apply to any other; for whilst all the other roots require the whole season to come to maturity,) this requires but half. A crop of clover or even] of small grain, may be taken from a piece of] ground, and then that same piece be got ready| in sufficient time for a crop of turnips. Great care however, as has already been intimated, is indispensably necessary in the preparation of the land. Indeed, in this country, we have as yetj to learn a most important lesson on this subject In England, this branch of husbandry is carried to an extent, which is altogether unknown among us. Here the whole process is too frequently a careless and slovenly affair. We often aim at i THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 51 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 Provi- dence, 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 an- swer 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. For- merly 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 ma- nures on the land intended for corn the follow- ing 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 fal- lowing and planting; and harvested according- ly. My theory and general practice is to fal- low 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 sub- soil, 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 in- tended to follow the corn, a treatise on which would fill my sheet; consequently I must for- bear. 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 be- tween the first and tenth of May ; when my in- dustrious 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 cover- ing, 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 differ- ent 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 tobac- co and one of meal of some kind of grain, un- til 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 plant- ing, 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 gal- lons 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 smo- thering 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 incum- bered with stones or stumps, I cover my corn with a very light harrow — otherwise with the 52 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 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, provid- ed 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 no- thing can grow beneath. When corn is plant- ed 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 worth- less 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 requir- ed 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 plough- man 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, oth- erwise 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 cul- tivating 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 sur- face, 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 compel- led 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 cor- respondents, in contributing their valuable in- formation 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 manage- ment, 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 qua- lity 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 concentra- ted manure, or substitute for manure, is more THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 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 appa- ratus 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 be- comes generally practised, boiling will be pre- ferred, 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 circumstan- ces 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 founda- tion. 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 pro- duce— 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, un- til 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 corn- stalks — 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 con- structed boilers working in pairs, according to a plan that has been proposed a sufficient quan- tity 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 non- conductor. 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 capi- tal — 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 ad- vantages 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 rely- ing upon the sound practical sense of the inven- tor 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 distinguish- ed agriculturist esteemed very highly the me- chanical effect of trampling on a light soil. 54 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 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 cultiva- tion, 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 pur- chase trees, are not acquainted with the soil and location, naturally the best adapted to each par- ticular 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 hum- ble opinion, would be useful to some of my cus- tomers 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 per- son 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 par- ticular, 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 obvi- ate 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, Ma- ple, 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 consi- derable 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 collect- ing 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 dol- lars on Mr. Haggcrston, for the discovery, that * a solution of soap, made from whale oil, is de THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 55 structive of the bug that infests the rose, com- monly 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 re- member 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 recep- tion 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 ag- ricultural 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 appli- cation of manuf e 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 turn- ing it over. Whatever efforts are then made to manure and enrich the soil, the benefits re- sulting 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 crea- ting a depth of mellow soil, which repels its ef- | feets by lessening evaporation." We have more than once expressed our opi- nion 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 por- tion, that is soluble and sinks, will be apprehend- ed by the roots ; whilst the leaves will feed up- on 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 boil- ed, but heated by placing the vessel in which it is contained in another of boiling water. BONNETS. A new article of American manufacture, cal- led the Amazon Bonnet, was produced at an ex- hibition 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 wash- ed 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 ex- pression 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 economi- cal, we will guarantee it never becomes fashion- able ; 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 Culti- vator, that having both, with several other va- rieties, he greatly prefers the Woburns. The 56 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 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 individu- als of the same stock. We have seen some Berkshires certainly superior to any other hogs we ever saw; but we have seen others, of per- haps 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 ex- ists 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 fever- ish 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 un- doubted, 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 sur- face. 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 fur- row 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, effect- ually 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 ma- king 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- THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 57 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 re- quire about five or six bushels of ashes, with at least four quarts of unslaked stone lime; if slak- ed, 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 impor- tant 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 bieen only necessary to use bushes, while graz- ing, 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 cor- ners, one for water, and the other for food ; they answer also for braces. Attach a rope, grape- vine, 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 ev- ery 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 character- ised 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 desig- nating it, we doubt very much, if he ever uttered a greater truth. That we, confiding in our correspondent's ex- perience, 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 unfortu- nately 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 instru- ment 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 arti- cle, and have been at some pains to ascertain the relative merits of those in use. We must con- fess 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 en- graving, which did not clearly explain the im- plement. We waited with some anxiety for a new one, announced in a former No., and en- graved 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 diffi- culty 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 great- ly 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 sub- scribers, 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 research- es 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 con- stituents with which it is brought into contact. These may differ materially, though impercepti- bly 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 applica- tion of this powerful agent. 70 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. CELEBRATED CATTLE. We are much afraid " t' is distance lends en- chantment to the view," and that we see and hear a great deal of certain stocks in agricultural pa- pers, calculated to excite the imagination, rather than to convey impartial descriptions of the ani- mals. 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 esti- mate, he deduces the value of cultivating roots. We are inclined to believe if the expense of cul- tivation 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 fol- lowing 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. Hamp- ton, in rearing the finest stock in the State, enti- tle his opinions to be regarded as of the highest authority ; and the liberality with which he has communicated the results of his experience, en- titles 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 ad- vanced 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 con- dition 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 indica- tion 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 suc- cessful. 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 fre- quently the result of removal from one neigh- boring 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 ( THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 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 exten- sively 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 ap- plied, 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 appli- cation 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 impu- dence 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, manufac- ture 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 laun- dress, 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 bitter- ness 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 disco- vered, 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 drown- ed ; 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 hav- ing 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. 7% THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. Richmond Markets, March 17, 1842. Butter — Mountain butter, wholesale 12£ a 16 cents for firkin ; 20 cents for roll. Brandy — Otard, Dupuy & Co. $1 75; A. Seignette $ I 35 to $ L 40 ; Imitation 25 a 28 cents; Virginia Apple, new, 45c, but lit- tle in market ; Northern Apple 35 a 40 ; Peach, dull at 75c. a $1 50. Cotton — 8 a 9 cents per lb. Cotton Yarns — Richmond and Manchester (factory prices,) Nos. 4, 5 and 6, 20 ; 7, 8 and 9,21; 10, Hand 12,22; 13 and 14, 23 cents; 15 and 16, 24; 17, 15; 18, 26; 19, 28, and 20, 28 cents. Cattle — For Cattle on the hoof, from $4 to $5 50 are the general prices. Mutton — There is great variation in the quality ; indif- ferent sheep bring only from $1 to $2, while the finer qualities bring from that to $5 per head. Cheese — 8^ a 9 cts. per lb., very scarce. Flour — Demand limited — sales at $5 7-8 on the bank. Grain — Wheat $1 05 a $1 15, are the prices now paid for good red and white. Corn — 52^ cents per bushel. Oats 50 cents. Some few sales from wagons and depot at 55 cents. Very little Grain coming into market. Hides — Green 5 cts. per lb., Spanish 13 a 16. Lumber — Clear white pine $36: refuse clear 32b merchantable 22; refuse last sale at 14; flooring 15 a 20 per M. Lime — Thomaston 95c. a $1. Meal — 65 to 70 cts. per bushel. Provisions — Bacon — Smithfield and City cured 7c; Baltimore and Western 5 a 6; old sides 2| a 4^; do. shoulders 2 a 4c. Lard 6 a 1\. All slow of sale. Plaster — On the Basin bank $1 55^. Tobacco — Receipts light this week. We ob- serve no change in prices — a few fine hhds. suited to manufacturing purposes, were offered in the market and sold at rates running from $7 a 9. General sales: Lugs $2£ a 2f. Leaf $3 a 5\ and 6£, as in quality. Teas — Imperial and Gunpowder 80cts.a$l 05 per lb.; Black 45 a 60 cts. Whiskey — Very dull. We quote hhds. 23 cents; bbls. 24 a 24^ cents. Seeds — Clover Seed — $6 50 per bushel; Timothy $3 50; Orchard Grass $2 75; Herds Grass $1; Millet $2 50; Lucerne 37£ cents per pound. Salt — Last arrival sold at $1 80, from the wharf. g 0AP — For brown 4 a 6 cts. per lb.; white and variegated 12 a 14. Steel — American blistered $135 to 140 per ton. Shot — Six cents wholesale. Sugars — New Orleans 4| a 7 sales; Porto Rico6f a7£; St. Croix 9 a 11. EXCHANGE. Foreign— On London 15 per cent, premium. Domestic — New York Checks, 1\ premium. Philadelphia, 2|a3 premium. Baltimore, 6 a 6£ premium. North Carolina Bank Notes, par. South Carolina, 5 premium. Savannah, 2 premium. Augusta, 2 premium. CONTENTS OF NO. III. Roots — Essay on, continued, p. 49. Corn — Mr. Drummond's mode of cultivating, p. 51. Covering — Its value disputed by "A Hanove- rian, p. 52. Queries — Propounded from Nottoway, p. 52. Bone Dust — Its value, p. 52. Cooking Food — Boiling to be preferred to steam- ing, p. 53. Trampling — Advantages of, p. 53. Trees — Different soils required for different kinds, p. 54. Compost — To prepare quickly, p. 54. Soap Suds — To destroy Rosebug, p. 54. Brown Corn — Worthless in the South, p. 55. Address — Extract from General Steinbergens, p. 55. Coffee — Directions for making reviewed, 55. Bonnets — New kind of American manufacture, p. 55. Hogs — Dispute about Woburnsand Berkshires, p. 55. Stable Floors — Relative advantages of dirt and plank, p. 56. Soap — Directions for making, p. 56. Humbugs — Chapter on, p. 57. Water Power — New application of, with en- graving, p. 58. Compost — Management of, by R. W. C. p. 59. Horses — Rules for breaking, with comments, p. 59. Poultry — How to prevent depredations of, p. 62. Roots — Opinions upon the cultivation of, 63 ; rules for planting, &c. 64. Good Example — Afforded by Com. Jones, p. 65. Experiment — Plan of operations proposed and advice asked, p. 66. Turning in Green Crops — Recommended, p. 66, 67. Pig Pen — Portable, or grazing described, with a cut, p. 68. Level — Error, in the article of, "A Drainer," corrected, p. 69. Corn Planter — Different varieties noticed, Pa- ge's preferred, p. 69. Lime — Request for information, p. 69. Celebrated Cattle — Frequently humbugs, p. 70. Hay, Roots and Corn — Relative value of, p. 70. Distemper — Col. Hampton's letter on, p. 70. Lice on Cattle — To destroy, p. 71.