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THE SOUTHERN PLANTER; 



Beboteti to &arfcultur* t horticulture, autr the 2.>ousehoU)i Slrts. 


Agriculture is the nursing mother of the Arts. 

Xcnophon. 


Tillage and Pasturage are the two breasts of the 
State.— Sully. 


C. T. BOTTS & L. M. BUR FOOT, Editors. 


Vol. II. RICHMOND, SEPTEMBER, 1842. No. 9. 



For the Southern Planter. 
FOREST TREES. 

(Continued from page 170.) 

34. Chesnut, castanea americana, although by 
no means common in this section of the coun- 
try as a forest tree, is however sometimes met 
with in considerable quantities in some portions 
of our woods; it is chiefly valuable as rail tim- 
ber, and is said to last longer than rails made of 
any other wood. 

35. Chinquapin, castanea pumila, is a mark of 
poor land, and unfortunately we are too well ac- 
quainted with it in Virginia. 

36. Red mulberry, moms rubra. There are 
but few large trees of this variety remaining in 
this part of Virginia having been nearly all de- 
stroyed in reclaiming the lowgrounds, where I 
presume they were once very numerous. It 
delights in a deep and rich soil ; its great dura- 
bility renders it extremely valuable for posts. 

37. White mulberry, morus alba. Although 
this is not properly indigenous, yet it has become 
so completely naturalized that I have thought 
it best to mention it as one of our trees. It is 
to be found growing everywhere, being propa- 
gated no doubt by the birds transporting the 
seed from place to place. This tree is also va- 
luable for posts, but is not so durable, I imagine, 
as the red mulberry. 

38. The catalpa, catalpa cordifolia, is a fine 
tree, it attains a very large size, its flowers are 
very beautiful, and it is exceedingly valuable on 
account of the unparalleled durability of its 
wood. 

39. Hagberry, otitis crassifolia, is a large tree ; 
seems to prefer highlands. It is not common, 
and is, I believe, of no value whatever. 

40. Holly, ilex opaca, is found on the river 
cliffs, and scattered through the woods. Its 
deep green leaves and bright scarlet berries ren- 
der it quite a showy tree. It is of no value as 
timber. 

41. Sycamore, platanus occidentalism is found 
on the banks of the rivers and on lowgrounds 
that have never been reclaimed. It is the largest 
by far of all of our trees, and the contrast be- 
tween the leaves and the white trunk and 
branches render it a very striking object. It is, 
of no value as timber. 

42. Black walnut, juglans nigra, is a very 
handsome tree and very valuable as timber. It 

Vol. 2—25 



is a mark of rich land. The nut of this variety 
is round. 

43. Butternut, juglans cinerea, is very much 
like the last, and indeed they are both commonly 
called the black walnut. The fruit of this va- 
riety is oval. 

44. White ash, fraxinus acuminata, is very 
valuable as timber for various purposes on ac- 
count of its great toughness. 

45. Frazinus sambuci folia, black ash, is in re- 
spect to its timber entirely opposite to the white 
ash, the grain of this being short and coarse, 
and the wood, therefore, brittle and of little va- 
lue for anything but fuel. 

46. Red ash, fraxinus pubzscens, derives its 
name from the color of its heart, which is of a 
reddish brown. It is not as handsome as the 
white ash, being much less symmetrical. 

47. Swamp ash, Jraxinus juglandifolia, is a 
rather dwarfish variety, and is found everywhere 
in the swamps. All of the varieties of the ash 
prefer land that is rich and alluvial, being found 
generally on or near the banks of rivers, and but 
rarely in the forest ; they will, however, grow 
very readily on highland when transplanted. It 
is superior even to hickory as fuel, to say which 
is to say that it is the best of all fuel. 

48. Red cedar, juniperus virginiana, grows 
chiefly in waste lands and in piney old fields of 
some thirty or forty years standing — it is always 
found along fence rows and sometimes in the 
forest. It is valuable for posts. A beautiful 
hedge may be made of it, but unless it is as- 
sisted by a fence it can be penetrated by hogs, 
as the twigs about the bottom of the bushes 
will die before they attain any size, and are 
never replaced. It requires frequent trimming 
to render it thick and to prevent it from assuming 
loo much the form of a tree. When left to it- 
self the cedar attains a considerable size. I 
think that this is the only distinct species of the 
cedar that we possess ; there is, however, cer- 
tainly a considerable difference of appearance 
between some of these trees ; for the branches 
and twigs of some are much more delicate and 
inclined to droop than those of others, which 
are stiff and erect. 

49. Birch, berchemia, is found on the banks of 
rivers and on low, moist spots; it is remarkable 
for its singular and numerous coats of bark 
which may be pulled off readily one after an- 
other. Its long and slender branches afford the 



194 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



best switches in the world, and they were for- 
merly very much esteemed by schoolmasters, 
but now unfortunately for the rising generation, 
they have fallen almost entirely into disuse. It 
is of very little value as timber. 

50. Persimmon, diospyros virginiana, is utterly 
useless. 

51. Sassafras, laurus sassafras, is very com- 
mon, and is an exceeding great nuisance to the 
farmer, it being impossible to eradicate it. 

52. Black gum, rhamnus volubilis, is found on 
swampy ground in the forest and is of very little 
value. 

53. Prickly ash, Xanihoxylumfraxinium., grows 
on low, marshy lands, and is of no value. 

54. Spice wood, laurus benzoin, grows as a 
shrub in the swamps. It is quite gay with its 
rows of yellow flowers in the spring. 

55. Sumach, rhus. There are several varie- 
ties of this plant, but I know them only by the 
collective name. The berries are useful in dy- 
ing. 

56. Poison sumach. Thunder wood. Rhus 
vernix, is very common in and about swamps. 
It should be most carefully avoided as to the 
touch — it is the most severe poison, by far the 
worst of any of our plants. It may readily be 
distinguished from the sumach by the whiteness 
of i!s bark and of the leaf stems. Berries are 
white. 

57. Red bud or iudas tree, cercis canadensis, 
grows quite abundantly on the unreclaimed low- 
grounds of creeks and rivers, but is rarely found 
on high land. It is a tree of no great size but 
of great beauty both in leaf and bloom. It will 
succeed well when transplanted, and is very or- 
namental when in flower. 

58. Lime tree, tilia glabra, is not a very com- 
mon tree, but is often met with on the banks of 
the river. It is large and beautiful and very 
much like the linden. 

59. Honey locust, gleditrchia triacanthos, is a 
large and handsome tree, but not very common, 
and of no value, I believe. 

60. Swamp laurel, magnolia glauca, is very 
common in our swamps, and its large white 
flowers possess the most delightful fragrance. 

61. Sheep laurel or sheep ivy, kalmia angus- 
tifolia, is common on any cliff about the river 
or in the forest. This plant bears branches of 
the most beautiful flowers; it is said to be inju- 
rious if eaten by sheep. 

62. Dogwood tree, cornus ftorida, is universal 
through the forest; it is very showy in the 
spring with its white flowers. It is useful when 
a small piece of hard timber is wanted, for in- 
stance, for whirls, rounds, &c. &c. 

63. Fringe tree, chionanlhus virginicus, grows 
in the swamps very abundantly. It is a most 
beautiful object with its deep green leaves and 



superb clusters of white fringe-like flowers hang 
profusely about it. 

Respectfully, X. 

Note to 52. — I am not sure that I should not have 
called the black gum, nyssa aquatica, rather thaa 

rhamnus volubUis. 



TOBACCO. 

In pursuance of a resolution of the House of 
Representatives, the Secretary of the Treasury 
has transmitted to Congress an interesting docu- 
ment, containing all the information he could 
obtain on the cultivation, manufacture, and con- 
sumption, of tobacco in the United States and 
other countries. 

Although much of these statistics is vague 
and uncertain, from the want of data, yet the 
subject is of such consequence as to impart in- 
terest even to the rude guesses that are attempt- 
ed from what could be ascertained. A great 
deal of the information afforded is perfectly fa- 
miliar to every Virginia reader, but the follow- 
ing estimates, of the correctness of which we 
are unable to form an opinion, are somewhat 
novel and curious : 

" It has been stated that the annual consump- 
tion now amounts to upwards of one hundred 
millions of pounds — giving seven pounds to 
every man, woman, and child. The sum an- 
nually paid by the consumers of this quantity 
of tobacco, in its manufactured state, has been 
computed, by a writer in the 'Portsmouth Jour- 
nal,' at $20,000,000." Dr. Mussey, in his "Es- 
say on the Influence of Tobacco on Life and 
Health," says, "Eighty thousand dollars worth 
of cigars, according to estimate, were consumed 
in the city of New York in 1810 ; at that rate, 
the present annual consumption would amount 
to more than $200,000." 

" The Rev. O. Fowler, from considerable at- 
tention to the statistics of tobacco consumption 
in the United States, estimates the annual cost 
at $10,000,00; time lost by the use of it at 
$12,000,000 ; pauper tax which it occasions at 
$3,000,000. 

"This estimate I believe to be considerably 
below the truth ; it has been estimated that the 
consumption of tobacco in this country is eight 
ti?ncs as great as in France, and three limes as 
great as in England, in proportion to the popu- 
lation. 

"According to the Editor of the 'New York 
Commercial Advertiser,' 100,000 persons in the 
city (about one-third of the whole population) 
are supposed to be smokers, and the average 
cost to each smoker is computed to be 10 cents 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



195 



a day; total daily, $10,000, and the annual 
cost $3,650,000." — American Almanac. 

" In 1831, the consumption of tobacco in value 
was estimated by Mr. Hunt (Editor of ' Hunt's 
Merchant's Magazine') at $ 1 6,000,0(10, of which 
$9,000,000 were supposed to have been for 
smoking Spanish cigars, $6,500,000 for smok- 
ing American tobacco and chewing, (equal to 
the value of the annual export,) and $500,000 
for snuff. In 1838 the consumption of tobacco 
had increased to 100,000,000 of pounds, valued 
at $20,000,000 cost to the consumers." It is 
to be regretted that no data is given on which 
the above estimate is made. Mr. Lyford esti- 
mates the consumption at one-fourth of the 
quantity grown in the United States." 

It would appear that the production is greatly 
on the increase in the United States, especially 
in the new States in the South and West, but 
so far, experience has shown, that for the prime 
article for manufacturing chewing tobacco, the 
region is limited to Eastern Virginia and a small 
part of North Carolina. Upon the subject of 
retaliatory duties, by which it has been proposed 
to force a reduction of the heavy duties imposed 
on tobacco by some of the governments of Eu- 
rope, various letters of inquiry were addressed 
by Mr. Hubbard, of the House, to some of the 
most distinguished tobacco dealers in Virginia; 
amongst these we note Messrs. James Gray, 
John Caskie, and Richard Anderson, of the 
city of Richmond ; Messrs. T. Lyle and W. 
E. Venable, of Farmville ; Professor Dew, of 
William & Mary ; Messrs. Mordecai, Branch, 
and others, of Petersburg; and Mr. J. M. War- 
wick, of Lynchburg. The replies of these gen- 
tlemen, who upon this subject are probably as 
well informed as any others in the Union, are 
published in this document. They unanimous- 
ly, and unequivocally, deprecate any such ac- 
tion as was proposed by the tobacco convention 
held in Washington last winter, for these plain 
and simple reasons. The governments of France 
and England, against whom this contemplated 
action has been chiefly directed, are so depend- 
ant upon the immense revenue derived from 
the high duties imposed upon tobacco, that they 
absolutely forbid its cultivation within their ter- 
ritories. This circumstance gives to the Ame- 
rican product, the monopoly of their markets ; 
but if the duty was so reduced as to cause them 
to look to other sources for revenue, the prohi- 
bition would in all probability be removed, and 
we would find competitors in the cheaper agri- 
cultural labor of both countries, many portions 



of whose climate and soil it is well known are 
adapted to the growth of tobacco. Moreover, 
a reduction of duty is to be particularly appre- 
hended by the American manufacturer ; the con- 
sequence of which would be, that for other Eu- 
ropean markets, he would be brought into com- 
petition with the cheaper labor of the English 
manufacturer, who, by the present rate of du- 
ties, is confined to his home market, from which 
we are entirely excluded. The circular of Mr. 
Dodge, noticed in our number, is hinted 

at by more than one of the writers as an extra- 
vagant humbug. This was pretty much our 
own opinion from the first. We would advise 
those interested in the subject to procure this 
document, which they will find well worthy of 
perusal. 



For the Southern Planter. 
AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 
Messrs. Editors, — At the particular instance 
of several friends of agriculture, I have at- 
tempted to reply, to some of the queries of the 
Board of Agriculture, for the State of Virginia, 
so far as the county of Prince George is con- 
cerned. If you consider the answer as possess- 
ing any interest, you are permitted to use it in 
any way that is calculated to advance the inter- 
est of agriculture. There is a great deal of 
simplicity in some of the answers, but it must 
be attributed to the nature of the queries. 

Robert Harrison. 

Description. — Prince George County is situ- 
ated on James and Appomattox rivers, and lies 
contiguous to Dinwiddie on the west, Sussex on 
the south, and Surry on the east. It is inter- 
sected by several streams that run generally a 
south-east direction. These streams are denomi- 
nated Otter Dam, Blackwater, Second Swamp, 
Warwick, Joseph and Joneshole — the two last 
mentioned empty into Nottoway river, and the 
others terminate in Blackwater. The land ly- 
ing immediately on these streams is light, and 
some of it produces good crops of corn and 
oats, but it is not so well adapted to the culture 
of wheat. The land intermediate from Black- 
water and Otter Dam and the river is generally 
stiff, and naturally unproductive, except the bot- 
tom land. 

Climate. — The climate is generally healthy, 
and the atmosphere salubrious, but from the de- 
cay of vegetable matter in the fall, marsh mias- 
ma is generated, and autumnal fevers peculiar 
to a southern climate are the consequences. 

Surface. — Its surface is generally level, or 
even, considered as a whole ; but that portion 
contiguous to the rivers, is agreeably diversified 
with hills, plains and valleys. 



196 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



Minerals. — Its mineral sources are not abun- 
dant, but she contains within her bowels abun- 
dant materials for the renovation and improve- 
ment of her impoverished soil. Prince George 
has been remarkable for the poverty of her soil 
and the scantiness of her production, except the 
part lying immediately adjacent to the rivers ; 
even this latter part, a few years back yielding 
but a scanty allowance to the hardy exertion of 
the agriculturist. This sterility was produced 
by a skinning process of cultivation, and land 
naturally fertile was successively cultivated, un- 
til it would barely remunerate the expenses of 
its culture. Under this deplorable state of things, 
calcareous manures were discovered, applied, 
and demonstrated to be, an enricher of the soil 
We are informed, the first application of calca- 
reous manures was made by Mr. James Cocke, 
of Bonaccord, and may be dated some time an- 
terior to thier general application ; this first effort 
was very partial and iis effect barely noticed, or 
remembered by some of the oldest members of 
the Bonaccord family. This is recorded merely 
as an incident of agricultural history, which de- 
serves to be chronicled, for the benefit of posteri- 
ty. What appears " passing strange" is, that 
after its use was begun, it should have been dis- 
continued, and the circumstance barely remem- 
bered ; but we are informed an overquantity was 
applied which produced injury, instead of benefit. 

About the year 1816 the general or extended 
use of calcareous manures was commenced and 
successfully applied on the Coggins farm by Mr. 
Edmund Rutin, of Prince George; and to him 
we are principally indebted for all the advantages 
arising from its introduction and application. 
The merit of raising from obscurity what had 
become dark, or reviving what had become ob- 
solete is equal to that of original discovery. 

These manures are familiarly denominated 
marls and the places of their deposite marl beds, 
which abound on James River, from a point a 
little below the confluence of James and Appo- 
mattox rivers to PowePs creek, yet it may be 
found in different parts of the county, but more 
particularly confined to the streams above speci- 
fied, and the marl varies in quantit} T , quality, 
color and superincumbent earth. The inhabi- 
tants generally possessing this valuable enricher 
of the soil, have used it to considerable extent, 
and it is the current opinion, that the region of 
country, which has been subjected to the appli- 
cation has increased generally in value one hun- 
dred per cent, while individual instances far ex- 
ceed this estimate. The production of the soil 
is considered to be generally doubled, and in 
some instances quadrupled. Corn, wheat and 
clover, grow now luxuriantly upon soils which 
a few years ago were poor indeed. Fields of 
clover may be now more frequently seen than 
acres, previous to the use of calcareous manures, 
and this astonishing and delightful fact is made 



apparent to the most incredulous observer, that 
a crop of clover is sure to follow and succeed 
after a dressing of from two to three hundred 
bushels of marl, provided the land is seeded with 
good seed, and at a proper time. The instances 
of disappointment are so rare, as to constitute 
scarcely, an exception to the general rule. The 
growth of clover may be increased in quantity 
by other manures, by plaster and gypseous 
earths. This latter substance frequently abounds 
in the same bed, with the marl, and is supposed 
to possess the properties of sulphate of lime; 
but other properties may be superadded. It has 
generally a greenish cast, and is also of a sopo- 
naceous character; consisting of innumerable 
shining particles, and it forms most frequently 
the sub-stratum of these beds. By the applica- 
tion of this earth to clover in the proportion of 
forty bushels to the acre, the most decided bene- 
ficial effects have been discovered, enough to 
satisfy the most sceptical that it is an improver. 
Its effects are considered to be equal to the plas- 
ter of paris. The possession of these powerful 
agents and other auxiliaiies, lying contiguous 
to a large navigable river, by which our produce 
may be carried abroad to foreign markets, entitle 
Prince George to be described as possessing ad- 
vantages, and a locality far beyond counties in 
the interior; and it only requires industry and 
frugality, to render her hardy yeomanry not only 
to be abundantly supplied with all the necessa- 
ries of life, but also with its delicacies and luxu- 
ries. And the marl region of Virginia will 
finally constitute, in our opinion, a delightful and 
desired district of country. 

Water. — The water is generally good and 
abundant; wells and springs abound to consi- 
derable extent ; and there is no part of the county 
but what is well supplied. Besides the streams 
before mentioned, there are Ward's, Flour de 
Hundred, Powel's, Bicuses, Jinny's and Bailey's 
creeks, which are tributary streams to James 
River, or branches of it. 

Land. — The greater portion of open land is 
devoted to tillage, and but little to pasturage, 
and the latter is generally the most inferior. In 
the marl region the open land predominates and 
(here is a scarcity of wood, rail timber, and 
building timber, but in other sections there is an 
abundance of wood and rail timber, and consi- 
derable proportion in its native forest growth, 
that has never yielded either to ihe plough or 
axe; and there is yet a considerable proportion 
of land that must not be overlooked in our esti- 
mate, called " piney old field," a term sufficiently 
significant to every Virginian : this kind of land 
far exceeds in quantitj', the land standing in its 
natural growth. 

Size of Farm?. — The size of the farms may 
be properly described as being of a medium cha- 
racter, and the greater number of their owners 
comfortably situated. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



197 



Rotation of Crops. — The rotation of crops in 
lands, that have received an application of cal- 
careous manures, consists first of corn, then 
wheat, followed by clover, — and the farms are 
consequently divided into three shifts ; and this 
may be described as the most frequent rotation ; 
yet many may be found who pursue the four 
field system. In the section of the county 
which has not been marled, the process of ro- 
tation is corn, oats, sometimes rest, but most fre- 
quently pasturage. 

Corn. — The average product per acre in that 
section of the county that has received an ap- 
plication of calcareous manures, we consider 
equal to four barrels, and the remaining portion 
of the county is considered not to exceed two 
barrels per acre. And we believe it more fre- 
quently falls below, than exceeds this estimate. 

Wheat. — The average product per acre in the 
marled district of our county, will amount to 
ten bushels per acre, while on the contrary the 
part unmarled will not more than amount to 
five bushels. Indeed in this latter section, the 
land is considered to be so poor and light as to 
be rarely sown. The grain crop in this section 
is principally oats, and generally follows corn. 
The oat crop is considered to be hardier, safer, 
and from our proximity to Petersburg, to be a 
much more profitable upon our light and gray 
soils, than wheat. But at the same time, the 
opinion generally prevails, that oats exhaust land 
more rapidly than wheat, that there succeeds 
them less vegetation, they are more rapid in 
their growth, and the land is more exposed after 
they are cut to the rays of the sun. 

Rye is occasionally sown, sometimes as an 
improver, at other times for the benefit of its 
grain and straw. Our very light and sandy 
lands will yield more profit in this grain, than 
in wheat or oats. 

The march of improvement in agriculture, 
though slow in its advancement, has been pro- 
gressive as is manifested by the greater care of 
stock and attention to providing suitable articles 
of food for them. The cultivation of the root 
crops is of modern date, when we consider them 
as field crops proper, potatoes, carrots, mangel 
wurtzel, sugar beets and turnips form important 
articles towards providing for the w r ants of many 
of our domestic animals. 

Prices of Crops. — The value of the wheat 
depends upon the quantity made and the de- 
mand both at home and abroad — but the price 
per bushel varies from one dollar to one dollar 
and ten cents ; and corn varies from forty to 
eighty cents per bushel ; and the average price 
of oats may be set at forty cents. 

Fencing — The fences are made mostly of 
rails, and run generally a zigzag course, known 
familiarly with us as the Virginia worm fence. 

Grass. — The grasses have been successively 
tried, but none have succeeded so well in our 



hands as the red clover. We have cultivated 
herdsgrass, lucerne, orchard grass and timothy, 
and so far as our limited experience would en- 
able us to form an opinion we would not recom- 
mend their culture as field crops ; they have not 
proven in our hands sources of profit. We do 
not wish, however, to deter others from experi- 
ments, nor declare their culture will be unpro- 
fiiable, but merely mention the result of our ex- 
perience. 

There are several varieties of hogs introduced 
among us which have their respective advocates. 
The Berkshires are the favoriies of some, who 
contend they stand unrivalled for symmetiy and 
beauty of form, aptitude to fatten, and of obtain- 
ing their growth at an early age ; that they are 
superior to any hog for the stye and clover field, 
that they are a prolific stock, quick in action, 
and that they make better bacon than any other 
variety. Their opponents contend they are one 
of the humbugs of the age, of which the pre- 
sent generation is so fruitful ; that they are very 
subject to disease; that they are very delicate, 
and cannot stand the sevrities of the winter, and 
contend the large white hog is best, with large 
pendulous ears, introduced into Prince George 
by Capt. Gary from near Liverpool ; but on the 
other hand it is said they are very subject to 
mange, which impedes their growth ; that they 
are not fit to be kept in the winter. Others con- 
tend for the no bone; others again, condemn all 
breeds but the " razor backs" — they can best 
stand the short keep, and that there is more in 
the corn crib than there is in the variety. 

Woods and Waste Lands. — The woods and 
waste lands are appropriated chiefly to the graz- 
ing of our cattle, and afford also the range for 
our hogs. Some years our hogs in some sec- 
tions become almost fat from the quantity of 
acorns, and they also fare well on the marshes 
of creeks; but whether this is the best mode of 
raising them remains }^et to be ascertained; for 
it is agreed, that generally when they are put 
up they are so miserably poor that the food and 
trouble more than equals their value, particular- 
ly during the low price of pork — and so long as 
our corn commands a good price and pork is 
low, it would be considered good economy not 
to raise it. 

Our cattle consist principally of the native 
breed, yet tw T o Durham bulls have been intro- 
duced into our county, and our stock has been 
much improved in public estimation. The half 
breed has been demonstrated to be both good 
milkers and good oxen, with more size and 
greater strength and full capacity to endure, so 
far as the trial with them has been made. 

The Dairy. — The great, requisite in this de- 
partment is neatness. The buckets, pails, bowls, 
strainers, should all bear the marks of the care- 
ful supervision of the housewife. The appear- 
ance of a plate of butter is a pretty fair index 



198 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



of the character of the female that prepares it. 
The butter in the marled district of the county 
is a source not only of pleasure but of profit ; it 
is considered to be better, sweeter, richer, and 
has almost a golden aspect when compared with 
the inferior article made in the adjoining district. 



THE WHITE ASH. 
This tree, which is not uncommon in our for- 
ests, and which is not surpassed as an ornament 
for our yards, is endowed with several virtues at 



the north. The leaves, wood, or bark, are sup- 
posed to afford an effectual antidote to the bite 
of a serpent ; indeed, it is said to be so obnoxious 
to those reptiles, that a single log will secure a 
wood-pile from their presence. The application 
of the bruised leaf, it is said, affords instanta- 
neous relief to the sting of the musquito, bee, 
&c. We would recommend a trial of its pow- 
ers to our unfortunate friends of the low coun- 
try at this season. 



HORSE DRAG RAKE. 




In our last we gave a cut of the revolving 
rake recommended by Mr. Fontaine, and so 
highly esteemed at the North ; we now present 
our readers with an engraving of a rake for the 
same purpose, upon, what we conceive to be, a 
cheaper and simpler principle. This rake, like 
the other, is carried forward by a horse between 
the shafts, and when the teeth are full, they are 
cleaned simply by lifting trie rake at the handle, 
when the tines will come up together between 
the bars of the fixed frame, and leave the hay 
raked up neatly in the field. We copy this en- 
graving from the advertising sheet of an Eng- 
lish almanac, which is filled with representa- 
tions of agricultural implements, and for which 
we are indebted to the kindness of a friend just 
from London. We shall probably resort to it 
again, if for no other purpose, only to give our 
readers an idea of the complication and prices 



that the English agriculturist is willing to put 
up with in his implements, for the sake of fur- 
thering his art. 



For the Southern Planter. 
MAY WHEAT. 

Messrs. Editors, — Mr. Barbour wishes to be 
informed why the May wheat is preferred on 
the low lands of James River. 

The principal reason is, that there is but little 
to be apprehended from rust, which has been so 
destructive of late years to the wheat crop. 
From 1826 to 1834 I cultivated the white May 
wheat, and did not fail during that time to make 
good crops: the last year, 1S34, the smut made 
its appearance, and not being able to procure 
seed elsewhere I discontinued its culture: since 
then until the last year I have sowed late wheat, 
and every crop with the exception of one has 
been injured more or less by rust, and several 
years almost entirely destroyed. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



99 



The last year I sowed a part of my crop with 
May wheat and the residue with late wheat, 
(red shuck.) The May wheat is of ihe finest 
quality, whereas the part of the red shuck which 
was sowed in September is also good ; but the 
part sowed in October is very much injured by 
rust. 

An opinion prevails, that May wheat is not 
as prolific as later kinds, but this opinion, I think, 
is erroneous, and believe its yield is as great as 
any other; and when sowed as late as the 
10th of October, agreeably to my experience, 
there is but. little danger to be apprehended, of 
injury by frosts. 

Hoping the above information will be satis- 
factory, 

I remain, }'ours truly, M. 

Buckingham, July 20, 1842. 



From the Maine Farmer. 

A PREVENTIVE OF THE WEEVIL IN 

WHEAT. 

Mr. Holmes, — Great loss has been sustained 
in this section of the State for several years by 
the weevil. A remedy has been found — first 
suggested, I believe, by our curious and useful 
friend, Dr. Leach, of Sangerville. The remedy 
is no less than this. Sow spring rye with the 
wheat. I sowed a square lot of six acres to 
wheat last spring, and then to test this prevent- 
ive, I sowed the borders of the field, two rods 
in width, with twelve quarts of rye. The re- 
sult was, the weevils were depositnd in the rye 
in such numbers as to produce a famine in nearly 
every head. There were no weevils in the 
wheat, and 1 think there was not a quart of rye 
grown in a hundred bushels of the wheat. My 
neighbors were apprised of my design of sowing 
the rye, but they were wanting in the faith, and 
their grain sown at the same time suffered very 
materially. Calvin Chamberlain. 



PRINCIPLES OF FEEDING. 

Stewart in his " Stable Economy" says, 

"Slow work aids digestion, empties the bowels, 
and sharpens the appetite: hence it happens 
that on Sunday night and Monday morning 
there are more cases of cholic and founder than 
during any other part of the week. Horses 
that never want an appetite ought not to have 
an unlimited allowance of hay on Sunday ; they 
have time to eat a great deal more than they 
need, and the torpid state of the stomach and 
bowels produced by a day of idleness renders 
an additional quantity very dangerous. 

"By slow work I mean that which is per- 
formed at a walk, not that which hurries the 
breathing, or produces copious perspiration. — 
The moderate exertion of which I speak does 
not, as some might suppose, interfere with the 



digestive process. It is attended with some 
waste; there is some expenditure of nutriment, 
and that seems to excite activity in the diges- 
tive apparatus for the purpose of replacing the 
loss. Farm and cart-horses are fed immediately 
before commencing their labor, and the appetite 
with which they return shows that the stomach 
is not full ; but 

"During Fast Work, digestion is suspended. — 
Of this we have not indeed any positive proof, 
but there is good reason for believing it. In the 
general commotion excited by violent exertion, 
the stomach can hardly be in a favorable condi- 
tion for performing its duty. 

"The Effects of Fast Work on a Full Stomach 
are well enough known among experienced 
horsemen. The horse becomes sick, dull, breath- 
less. He is unwilling, or unfit to proceed at his 
usual pace; and if urged onward, he quickly 
shows all the symptoms of over-work, to which 
I allude among the accidents of work. The 
effects are not always the same. Sometimes 
the horse is simply over-worked, distressed by 
work that should not produce any distress. — 
Some take colic, some are foundered, some bro- 
ken-winded. The most frequent result is over- 
working in combination with colic. Perhaps 
the colic, that is the fermentation of the food, 
begins before the horse is distressed ; but whe- 
ther or not, his distress is always much aggra- 
vated by the colic. 

"These effects are not entirely produced by 
indigestion. The difficult}' of breathing may 
be ascribed to mere fulness of the stomach. — 
Pressing upon the diaphragm, and encroaching 
upon the lungs, it prevents a full respiration ; 
and its weight, though not, perhaps, exceeding 
eight or nine pounds, must have considerable 
influence upon a horse that has to run at full 
speed, and even upon one who has to go so far, 
though not fast. 

" Some horses commence purging on the road, 
if fed directly before starling. They seem to 
get rid of the food entirely or partly ; for these, 
which are light-bellied horses, do not suffer so 
much, nor so often, from any of the evils con- 
nected with a full stomach. The purgation, 
however, often continues too long, and is rapidly 
followed by great exhaustion. They should be 
kept short of water in working days, and they 
should have a large allowance of beans. 

"All work, then, which materially hurries the 
breathing, ought to be performed with an empty 
stomach, or at least without a full stomach. 
Coaching-horses are usually fed from one to two 
hours before starting, and hay is withheld after 
the corn is eaten. Hunters are fed early in the 
morning, and I believe racers sometimes receive 
no food on running days till the work be over. 
Abstinence, however, must not be carried on so 
far as to induce exhaustion before the work 
commences. 



200 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



"After Fast Work is concluded, it is a little 
while ere the siomach is in a condition to digest 
the food. Until thirst has been allayed, and the 
system calmed, there is seldom any appetite. 
If the horse have fasted long, or be tempted by 
an article of which he is very fond, he may be 
induced to eat. But it is not right to let him; 
a little does him no good, and a full feed does 
him harm. The stomach partaking of the gen- 
eral excitement, is not prepared to receive the 
food. Fermentation takes place, and the horse's 
life is endangered ; or the food lies in the sto- 
mach unchanged, and produces founder. 

" Food, then, is not to be given after work till 
the horse be cool, his breathing tranquil, and his 
pulse reduced to its natural standard. By the 
time he is dressed and watered, he is generally 
ready for feeding. 

"Salt and Spices aid digestion. On a journey, 
or after a severe day, horses often refuse their 
food. When fatigued or tired of his feed, a 
handful of salt may be thrown among the horse's 
corn. That will often induce him to eat it, and 
it will assist digestion, or at least render fermen- 
tation less likely to occur. Some, however, will 
not eat with this inducement. Such may have 
a cordial ball, which in general produces an ap- 
petite in ten minutes. I am speaking of cases 
in which the horse has become cool, and those 
in which the work has not fevered him. The 
horse should always be cool before food is of- 
fered ; and if his eye be red, and pulse quick, 
cordials, salt, and the ordinary food are all for- 
bidden. The horse is fevered." 

New York Spirit of the Times. 



four or five eggs, beating the whole well together. 
I When it is well mixed, add a little quick -lime • 
through a sieve, until it has acquired the con- 
sistence of a thick paste. With this cement, 
broken vessels and cracks of all kinds may be 
mended, It dries quickly, and resists the action | 
of water, as well as a considerable degree of 
fire. — Mechanic's Own Book. 



For the Southern Planter. 

In the last number of the Planter an Inquirer 
requests me to state, whether "sheep will not 
neglect to browse the sassafras" when a field is 
thickly set with clover? The field on which I 
destroyed the sassafras had no clover on it, when 
the experiment was made, but was thickly set 
with sassafras bushes. I had the large bushes 
cut down and the small grubbed up, and kept 
the sheep grazing on the land, during the spring 
and summer of that and the succeeding year: 
and the land was closely grazed. Since then 
no sassafras bushes have made their appearance, 
and twelve or more years have elapsed since it 
was done. I suppose the clover would first be 
eaten by the sheep, therefore, to succeed in de- 
stroying the sassafras, it will be necessary to 
graze the field closely. Skrinecsky. 

Buckingham, July 22, 1842. 



FIRE AND WATER-PROOF CEMENT. 

To half a pint of milk put an equal quantity 
of vinegar, in order to curdle it ; then separate 
the curd from the whey, and mix the whey with 



CHARCOAL. 

This substance is attracting great attention 
as a fertilizer, and we make the following ex- 
I tracts from a paper published in the Transac- 
] tions of the New York State Agricultural So- 
I ciety, by Mr. J. H. Hepburn : 

"In the neighborhood in which I live there 
are a great many hearths of coal pits, as they 
1 are called ; places where wood has been piled, 
and burned into charcoal, scattered about the 
country. I have invariably observed, that upon 
! these hearths, in the course of a few years, a 
luxurious coat of grass made its appearance, 
: when all around in the vicinity scarcely a blade 
iof grass could be found, and what ihere was 
found out of the coal hearth was sickly and 
dwarfish. This was so well known that in the 
heat of summer, when the pasture in other places 
was dried and withered by the summer drought, 
it was a common practice to drive the cattle to 
the 'coalings,' as they are called, sure that they 
would there obtain food. During the last au- 
tumn, business called me into Hartford county, 
in Maryland. W T hile there, I was surprised at 
the exceedingly luxuriant growth of a crop of 
grain but lately seeded into a field, on Deer 
creek, and also at the very peculiar appearance 
of the soil. The soil upon which the grain was 
growing had a remarkably dark appearance, 
and appeared to be so mellow and friable as 
nearly to bury the foot at every step, and al- 
though it lay very level did not appear to the 
touch to be so ; not as the soil in the other fields 
around it on the same level. My attention was 
excited by what I saw, and I inquired if the 
field had not been covered with charcoal, and 
was told that it had been. I inquired when it 
was done, and was told it had been spread upon 
it more than twenty years ago ! ! I then asked 
what was the general quality of the crops raised 
upon it, and I was told that they were invaria- 
bly fine, both as to quantity and quality. The 
person who lived upon the properly informed 
me that he had repeatedly hauled the soil from 
that field and spread it upon the surrounding 
fields, and he could, for years, or in fact from the 
time he spread it there to the present day, al- 
ways see, by the growth upon these places, ex- 
actly where he had put it ! ! 

I had for some time past had my attention 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



201 



directed to the subject but here I found it fully 
developed to my full satisfaction. 

" When I returned home, 1 made it the sub- 
ject of conversation frequently with the farmers 
in our neighborhood, and from one of them I 
learned that when he lived in Chester county, 
Pennsylvania, with his father, a part of their 
farm became worn out and unproductive. It 
was abandoned for several years, and in the 
mean time many coal pits had been formed upon 
several of the old fields, by drawing* the wood 
there to burn into coal, that had been cut in the 
adjoining timber lands. After some time they 
again put those fields under tillage, and he states 
that wherever a coal hearth had been left, there 
the crop of grain and the growth of grass was 
equal, if not superior, to that which grew upon 
any of their most productive fields. Another 
case of the application of charcoal I have found 
in this neighborhood was made by a gentleman 
in the iron business to his meadow, near the coal 
house. He had a large quantity of the coal 
that had become too fine to be used in the fur- 
nace ; he did not know exactly what to do with 
it, it was in the way, and he concluded, as the 
easiest way to dispose of it, to haul it out and 
spread it upon the grass land. He spread it 
late in the fall, and for many years he informed 
me he observed the most astonishing effect pro- 
duced upon his yield of grass. The quantity 
was nearly double, and the effect continued as 
long as he owned the property 7 , which was at 
least ten years ; so he informs me. 

"From 'what I can see of its effect, where a 
large quantity is left upon the ground, as for in- 
stance, in the centre of the hearth, it takes a 
considerable time for it to acquire a sufficient 
degree of moisture to penetrate to the bottom, 
and until it has acquired that degree of moisture 
nothing will grow there. Around the outer 
edges of circle where it is thrown upon the 
ground it is soon saturated with moisture, and 
vegetation is soon facilitated, and goes on ra- 
pidly. I should judge, from this, that when 
about to be applied to land the coal should be 
ground fine, and then thoroughly wetted and 
sown or spread with a lime spreader over the 
surface of the soil. From the circumstance of 
its being easily powdered or mashed up, I should 
suppose that the process would be very easily 
effected by making a floor of plank, say circu- 
lar, and procuring a good sized stone, to be af- 
fixed by a shaft to an upright post, throw the 
coal into the circular planked way, and attach 
a horse to the shaft passing through the stone, 
and drive him round, carrying the stone, in its 
passage, over the coals. A very simple and 
easy process, precisely similar to the old fash- 
ioned way of grinding or breaking up bark, 
practiced by the tanners, previous to the inven- 
tion of the cast iron mill now in use. The cost 
of covering an acre would be trifling, and if it 
Vol. 2—26 



produced no other effect than that of forming i 
permanent vegetable basis in the soil, for lime 
to act upon, it appears to me it would well repay 
a greater amount of labor and expense than 
would be necessary to try it. 

"I have just been made acquainted with an- 
other result of the application of charcoal to 
arable land, that if general, from its application, 
will induce its use by every one who can pro- 
cure it at a reasonable price : that is, wherever 
charcoal has been applied rust never affects the 
growing crop of io heat !! My fiiend who has 
communicated this fact to me states, that he has 
observed it particularly, and when the field gen- 
erally has been 'struck with rust,' as it is called, 
those places where he had applied the charcoal 
invariably escaped. J. H. Hepburn. 

Jersey Shore, Lycoming Co., Pa." 

Charcoal is supposed to influence vegetation 
in two ways. By its combination with oxygen 
it may afford carbonic acid gas, furnishing the 
supply of carbon for plants. For this purpose, 
it is probable, that the more minutely it is sub- 
divided, the better. But the property for which 
it has been chiefly valued in agriculture, is its 
extraordinary power of absorption. Pure, fresh 
burnt, charcoal possesses the power of absorbing 
ninety times its volume of ammoniacal gas, and 
thirty-five times its volume of carbonic acid gas. 
This power of absorption is much diminished 
hy reducing it to powder ; it should, therefore, 
when used for agricultural purposes be just 
broken so as to allow of its equal distribution 
over the surface of the soil. Its power of ab- 
sorption is pretty much in proportion to the den- 
sity of the wood from which it is made. 

Nothing in nature is more immutable than 
charcoal. Its action, as we have described it, is 
merely that of a mechanical holder or receiver 
of the gases with which it may be brought m 
contact, and which would otherwise be dissi- 
pated. Upon the falling of the first rain, they 
are filtered out for the use of vegetables, and the 
charcoal remains unaltered, prepared to renew 
its kindly offices for ages. 



PULVERIZING THE SOIL. 

To demonstrate that dews moisten the land 
when fine, dig a hole in the hard dry ground, in 
the driest weather, as deep as the plough ought 
to reach ; beat the earth very fine, and fill the 
hole therewith ; and after a few nights' dews, 
you will find this fine earth become moist at the 
bottom, and the hard ground all round will be- 
come dry. Till a field in lands : make one land 
very fine by frequent deep ploughing, and let 



202 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



another be rough by insufficient tillage alter- 
nately ; then plough the whole field crosswise 
in the driest weather, which has continued long, 
and you will perceive, by the color of the earth, 
that every fine land will be turned up moist, but 
every rough land will be dry as powder from top 
to bottom. In the driest weather, good hoeing 
procures moisture to roots; though the ignorant 
and incurious fancy it lets in the drought, and, 
therefore, are afraid to hoe their plants at such 
times. 



AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. 
We fully concur with the Editor of the "Agri- 
culturist" in the following views. Indeed we 
undertook last year to demonstrate that the folly 
of the farmer in carrying too far the principle of 
"buying cheap," would deprive him of the op- 
portunity of purchasing good implements. We 
think now, as we said then, that the difficulty 
arises from the fact that he is seldom sufficiently 
skilled in mechanical products to distinguish a 
good from an indifferent piece of work, conse- 
quently, he has not confidence enough in his 
own judgment to induce him to pay a good 
price, for which only good work can possibly be 
afforded ; for, as every body ought to know, a 
good article can only be made by good work- 
men out of good materials, which always have, 
and always will, command a good price. And 
considering the rough and unworkmanlike usage 
to which it is subjected, there is no department 
of art in which a tool requires iO be better made 
than in agriculture. 

" There seems to be a fashion among the 
manufacturers of farmers' implements, that va- 
ries from time to time, not simply in the form 
and style of the article, but in the quality and 
durability al?o. These changes occur to such 
an extent, as sometimes seriously to incommode 
the farmer. And it is observable not only in 
the more complicated instruments whose cha- 
racter for utility is not fully established or gen- 
erally acknowledged, as in some of the mowing 
and threshing machines, but with those of the 
simplest construction and of universal use. We 
have, for ins'ance, found it for two seasons past 
almost impossible to procure at the western ex- 
tremity of this State, a well-constructed durable 
hoe, rake, pitchfork, or basket. Here are uten- 
sils that almost any mechanic can make, in use 
for thousands of years, and of absolute necessi- 
ty, and yet not to be found of a proper kind in 
an extensive market. There are an abundance 
of the articles, to be sure, such as they are, and 
cheap enough, — for no one could object to the 
price ; but being, like Pindar's razors, made only 



to sell, are so utterly useless to any but the ma- 
nufacturer and merchant, as to leave it very 
questionable whether a person could not do al- 
most as well without as with them. 

" This vexatious condition of the tool market 
is, to a great extent, owing to the farmers them- 
selves, who, in their eagerness to get things 
cheap, carry the principle so far, at last, as to 
get such as are utterly valueless. Axes, sho- 
vels, and spades, cradling and other scythes, are 
articles that subject the workman to so much 
less labor when good ones are used, that, for 
many years, by universal consent, only the best, 
the very best, would be tolerated; and it is no 
difficult matter to find, in every market, such as 
are made on the best principles, and of the best 
and most durable materials. The others, by al- 
most as universal consent, have been allowed to 
deteriorate to a point beyond endurance. The 
only remedy we suggest, and it is a sufficient 
one, is for farmers to buy only the best, and give 
such prices as will enable the manufacturer to 
make a fair profit from them : the inferior he 
ought never to buy, if furnished at one-fourth 
the price of good ones. In this way he will 
always secure a supply of such as may be de- 
pended on. We need not add, that every farmer 
should always see that he has tools enough, and 
always in order, and always at hand, that time 
should not be lost in finding or putting them in 
order, when he ought to be at work with them. 
More time frequently is lost by borrowing twice 
of a neighbor, than would suffice to purchase 
the article, to say nothing of the loss and incon- 
venience to them, which is an item not to be 
overlooked by men of even moderate honor and 
integrity. Money cannot be put to better inter- 
est than in a surplus stock of good tools, if kept 
properly housed." 



A CEMENT FOR STOPPING FISSURES IN 
IRON VESSELS. 

Take two ounces of muriate of ammonia, one 
ounce of flour of sulphur, and sixteen ounces of 
cast iron filings or turnings; mix them well in 
a mortar and keep the powder dry. When the 
cement is wanted, take one part of this and 
twenty parts of clean iron filings or borings, 
grind them together in a mortar, mix them with 
water to a proper consistence, and apply them 
between the joints. 

This answers for flanges of pipes, &c. about 
steam engines. — Mechanic's Own Book. 



We make the following extract from an edi- 
torial in the American Farmer, and commend it 
particularly to the notice of Mr. Peyton, as- 
suring him of that of which he is already pro- 
bably aware, that the source from which the 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



203 



suggestion emanates, entitles it to the highest 
consideration I 

THE RUST. 

We subjoin an article upon this subject from 
the pen of W. J\I. Peyton, Virginia, which we 
copy from the Southern Planter. This paper is 
written well, and we confess we incline to the 
same opinion of the writer with regard to the 
cause of the rust, though we are not so sure that 
he is right in the conclusion to which his pre- 
mises and reasoning lead him. After ascribing 
the disease to "excessive vegetation" he says, 

"If then I am right, is it not an evil without 
remedy— dependant upon the seasons, and of 
course beyond human control?" 

Now, it appears to us, that some substances 
may be yet introduced, which will not favor this 
11 excessive vegetation," by producing a more 
gradual decomposition of the manure applied, 
and consequently a more stinted supply of the 
nourishment of the plants. If this retardation 
of food can be effected, we can see no reason to 
doubt that the grain may be preserved from rust. 
It is possible, that by a change in the rotation — 
by making wheat, instead of corn, follow clo- 
ver — and increasing the depth of ploughing, 
the desired healthful check may be given to the 
decomposition of the vegetable matter turned in. 
In addition to this too, it may be found salutary 
to sow plaster over the clover before ploughing 
it down, as an auxiliary agent in preventing the 
too rapid decay of the vegetable matter. Leibig, 
who we must confess, we believe to be the first 
writer who ever explained, upon just principles, 
the mode of the operation of plaster, says: 

"The action of gypsum (plaster) really con- 
sists in its giving a fixed condition to the nitro- 
gen,ox ammonia, (food of plants) which is brought 
into the soil, and which is indispensable for the 
nutrition of plants." 

In further illustration of his views, he says : 

11 The decomposition of gypsum by carbonate 
of ammonia does not take place instantaneous- 
ly ; on the contrary, it proceeds very gradually, 
and this explains why the action of gypsum 
lasts for several years."- 

If then, Mr. Peyton be correct, in referring 
the cause of rust to " excessive vegetation" or in 
other words, to an over, or superabundant sup- 
ply of nourishment, we would respectfully ask, 
whether a corrective might not be found in the 
plan we suggest. At all events, the character 
of the food which the plants would receive from 
decomposing clover, would be much milder than 
that it extracts from the manure usually applied 
to corn, which is, generally, the grossest and 
strongest on the farm; and perhaps, notwith- 
standing the supply afforded to the previous 
year's corn crop, still too strong for the nature of 
a plant so delicate as wheat is known to be. 

But, if in addition to the more bland charac- 



ter of the manure arising from the decomposed 
clover, we are able to regulate the supply, by 
means of the retarding principle ascribed to the 
action of plaster, may it not be, that, in the com- 
bination of the two, we may find the very thing 
to prevent the occurrence of the disease whose 
effects are so disastrous to the wheat grower'? 
We merely throw out this idea for the considera- 
tion of others better able to form an opinion than 
ourself; and from the pleasure we have received 
from reading the communication of Mr. Peyton, 
should be pleased to see his views upon the 
subject. 

Again — the Editor of the Southern Planter, in 
a brief article upon the virtues of salt as a ma- 
nure, says: 

11 The best opinion seems to be that it operates 
chiefly by producing or preventing the decay of 
animal and vegetable matter in the soil, conse- 
quently the quantity applied should be propor- 
tioned to the quantity of these constituents: for 
it is a well known fact that a small quantity of 
salt promotes decay, whilst a larger quantity is 
universally used to prevent it." 

The virtues here ascribed to salt, we know 
from experience in its use upon corn, at the rate 
of six bushels to the acre, to be correct. For 
we had evidence in the growth and ripening of 
that plant, in the same field, all of which had 
been manured and treated precisely alike, with 
the exception that one acre had been salted, the 
other not, that the decomposition of the manure 
was carried on much slower on the part salted 
than on that which was not. Long after the 
blades on the latter part were fired, the former 
remained a dark green, presenting a most health- 
ful condition, though evidently slower in its 
growth of stalk, and later by a few days in the 
maturation of its grain. 

We have alluded to the effect of salt here, 
because we are of opinion that it may be made 
a useful agent in the prevention of rust, if sown 
on the field of growing wheat, in early spring; 
the which operation we would invariably follow 
with the harrow and roller. 

These ideas are thrown out, as we have be- 
fore premised, merely as suggestions, and we do 
so, thus early, in order that there may be time 
left to act upon them. 



LARD OIL. 

This is a new item in the domestic manufac- 
tures of the West. At Cincinnati there are now 
in operation three factories which consume daily 
from twelve to twenty barrels of lard. The oil, 
it is stated in the Cincinnati Republican, has 
already attained a high degree of excellence and 
popularity ; and it is not only used extensively 
there, but is shipped to the East, every week, 
thus completely changing the course of ihe oil 
trade. It is us^d for machinery on the Little 



204 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



Miami railroad, in all the city works, at the hos- 
pital and asylum, in several of the churches, 
and in numerous stores and dwellings. It is | 
very obvious that this new T manufacture will be 
of the greatest importance to Cincinnati and to 
the West generally. 



PLASTER OF PARIS, 
Mr. Allen lays down the following rules and 
principles with respect to the use and application 
of plaster: 

"I. It generally has little or no effect on strong 
clay lands; unless applied in large quantities, 
say fifteen or twenty bushels to the acre, when 
it has been known to change the character of a 
stiff clay in a single season, to a loose, friable, 
mellow and rich soil. 

11 2. It is used with great effect on dry, sandy, 
(not a barren sand,) or loamy soils. 

" 3. One to two bushels per acre, is considered 
a sufficient quantity to apply at once, though as 
high as six, have been sowed with marked ad- 
vantage. 

" 4. Its effects last through two seasons, and 
frequently much longer. 

" 5. It should be sown generally in April or 
May ; (and always applied when the ground is 
dry,) thus affording an opportunity for dissolving 
it by the rains. Its application to crops as late 
as June, have frequently been attended with de- 
cided advantages, though the large quantity of 
water required for dissolving it, being about 500 
parts of water, at a temperature of 60 degrees 
to one of gypsum, renders the advantage much 
more conspicuous when sown earlier. 

" 6. The effects are much more striking when 
applied with manure, and sometimes with lime. 

"7. It is a stimulant, as well as manure, and 
has a tendency to exhaust the humus or geine 
already in the ground, which renders it neces- 
sary to add manures occasionally, when the 
crops are carried off the ground ; when they are 
consumsed on it, the soil is constantly improving 
without the addition of manure. 

" S. It is in some instances a specific food of 
vegetables, by this means greatly increasing the 
quantity of some plants, as clover, sainfoin, and 
other of the broad leaf grasses ; peas, corn, roots, 
&c; while some of the narrow leaf grasses, 
and wheat, barley, oats, &c, are scarcely bene- 
fitted by it. 

"9. In opposition to the suggestion of our 
correspondent, we have well attested experiments 
of its immediate beneficial effect on crops suffer- 
ing from drought, before any rains had come to 
its aid ; it having been in some slight degree 
dissolved by copious dews. 

"10. Its application in the neighborhood of 
salt water, has seldom been attended with bene- 



fit, owing undoubtedly to its combining with the 
saline vapor, wafted to it by the sea breezes. 

"11. Frequent benefit is derived from its use, 
on vines and other plants infested with insects, 
for though the diluted acid constituting a portion 
of it, may be highly beneficial to the vegetable, 
it is poison to the insect. 

"12. Wet lands are not improved by it. 

"13. Many soils are already so highly charged 
with gypsum in their natural condition, as to 
derive no benefit from an additional quantity. 
There is scarcely any saline substance more 
generally diffused, it constituting a portion of 
almost every soil, and is contained to a greater 
or less extent, in all river and spring water ; and 
giving to the latter especially, when in consider- 
able quantity, the character of hardness" 



CEMENT. 



In the New England Farmer, Vol. 12, No. 3, 
p. 21, we find the following statement : 

" The late conquest of Algiers, by the French, 
has made known a new cement used m the pub- 
lic works in that city. It is composed of two 
parts of ashes, three of clay, and one of sand. 
This composition, called by the Moors, Fubbi, 
being again mixed with oil, resists the inclemen- 
cies of the weather better than marble itself." 

Mr. Dorr, of Roxbury, called upon us, a few 
days ago, to look up the above article in our back 
volumes, and stated that he used a cement made 
according to the above directions, around the 
window casings of a stone-house he was building 
about the time this article appeared, and it has 
proved as good as the statement represents. It 
is as hard as marble, and will stick to wood as 
well as to stone. 



GERMAN, OR FLY-PROOF WHEAT. 
Cambridge, Md., July, 1S42. 
To the Editor of the American Farmer: 

You have asked a report of the result of my 
experiment with the sack of German wheat 
which I purchased of you last fall. Concisely, 
I give it below : 

The sack contained 2£ bushels ; I seeded it 
on the 17th September upon two, precisely mea- 
sured, acres ; on this space were two varieties 
of soil, very opposite in character, one portion 
was a low, black, clayey loam ; the remainder, 
a more elevated dry clay, equally rich : the 
growth was very luxuriant, and no difference 
observable in the two portions; its height was 
nearly six feet, with a large straw; it was a 
dense mass of vigorous vegetation — though par- 
tially attacked by the "fly," it sustained no ap- 
parent injury from it whatever; nor was it in 
the least affected by the scab, rust, or any other 
disease. It might have been harvested by the 
17th June, but rainy weather deferred it to the 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



205 



21st : the product was within a small fraction of 
fifty bushels, and its weight upon once through 
the fan was 62£ lbs. The grain is much more 
full and plump than the seed grain was: though 
it was quite as dark ; and this (the color) I think, 
is the only exceptionable point of its character. 
I have tried a bushel of it for flour, but the 
miller reports it to have been too damp for a fair 
experiment. 

It is, perhaps, worthy of remark, that, imme- 
diately alongside of this wheat, and on soil equal, 
or similar, grew several acres of the N. Y. white 
flint wheat, which was injured by the fly, though 
slightly, and finally ruined by scab and rust. 

These facts were so conspicuous, that the lot 
containing the two varieties, being situated on 
the county road they attracted general attention, 
and its unusually vigorous and early spring 
growth was a matter of astonishment to all who 
saw it: and in this, and its early ripening, be- 
fore the return of the blighting season, which is 
known to observe a very regular periodicity, 
consists no doubt the security of this grain 
against the usual disasters of other varieties. 



Respectfully, 



Jos] 



E. Mi 



This is the same wheat we last year received 
from Mr. Gray and advertised and sold under 
the name of " Fly-proof." We should be glad 
to hear from some of our customers how it has 
turned out. We are in daily expectation of an- 
other supply, and Mr. Gray writes us that the 
last season fully established its claims to be con- 
sidered rust as well fly proof. 



BLOWING ROCKS. 

A much cheaper and safer way of breaking 
up rocks, may in many localities be used, instead 
of drilling and blowing them with gunpowder. 
The method referred to has been tried with great 
success in many instances. It is simply to build 
a fire with some dry wood upon them, and when 
they are well heated, throw water upon them, 
which will be as certain to break them as pow- 
der. In this way the largest and hardest rock 
may be reduced to small fragments in a very 
.short time, by the labor of a small boy. 

Newburyvort Herald. 



From the Farmers' Cabinet. 
A FALLACY. 

The popular idea of modern times, and of 
which our agricultural periodicals are constantly 
reminding the farmer, is to cultivate no more 
ground than can be well manured. Make your 
fields small, say they, that you may accomplish 
this end. 

But the writer has been more successful in 



practising upon the converse theory, viz: ex- 
tended cultivation on a small farm. Five years 
since he confined his operations to a small farm 
of little more than fifty acres of arable and mea- 
dow. The land was chiefly rough, and in a 
very moderate stateof productiveness; soil loamy, 
with a good healthy clay subsoil. At present 
the face of it is pleasing to the eye ; and, in 
point of productiveness, nearly double that of 
the former period. Only about thirty-five acres 
of it have been cultivated in grain and artificial 
grasses ; the remainder in meadow, and lawn 
about the dwelling. Of the cultivated portion, 
the grasses are never suffered to lie longer than 
three years, frequently but two, and occasionally 
but one. The basis of this improvement has 
been moderate attention to raising and applying 
manures, all within the farm, excepting lime, 
(magnesia,) and one experiment of ground bones. 
He manures double the space usual among cre- 
ditable farmers ; and last year, by the help of an 
extra supply of fifty loads, obtained by soiling 
cattle before harvest, was enabled to manure one- 
fourth of the whole farm. If it be asked how 
so much manure is obtained, the answer is, 
chiefly by using straw for no other purpose than 
bedding for animals; feeding them on hay and 
the better portions of corn-fodder ; winter-feeding 
a few cattle on meal and some roots; hauling 
most of the manure in the spring, and protecting 
the portion left for autumn use under cover, or 
thrown into shallow banks with earth over the 
top; by confining the cattle in their yard alto- 
gether, until the 15th or 20th of the 4th month ; 
afterward, during a month, let out an houi or 
two every day — then, and not until that period, 
when the grass is strong, and operating as feed 
rather than physic, they go upon their perma- 
nent pasture. 

It will be observed that this practice has re- 
sulted from a belief that the offal of crops is an 
ample basis for the manure which they require ; 
and that, if only tolerably well managed, it is 
capable not only of supplying the annual ex- 
haustion, but also of carrying on a progressive 
improvement. Consequentfv, extended cultiva- 
tion, provided there be a just relation of the re- 
quisite number of animals for manufacturing ihe 
ofTal into manure, is believed to be advantageous 
to improvement of the soil, to the pocket of the 
husbandman, and to the country, rather than a 
stinted cultivation, which provides manure only 
in proportion to its limited extent, and looks to 
extensive grazing, or a disproportion of meat to 
the bread which is to accompany it. This just 
relation of tillage and of stock is supposed to be 
exactly that number of the latter which can be 
kept without eating up the source of manure 
offal of the crops; and, in summer, without pas- 
turing very close, animal manure being looked 
upon only as a small ingredient to ferment the 
mass of vegetable matter ; and all the belter for 



206 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



that object, when the beasts are kept in good 
plight, which feeding on hay instead of straw 
supposes, to say noihingof the superior profit 
of cattle so kept, and the humanity of it. 

Frequent tillage, if supplied with its rights in 
manures, keeps the ground loose and lively for 
the largest product of grasses, supplying exact- 
ly what is wanted, in an abundant hay crop for 
winter; and for pasturage has the utmost value, 
when combined with a portion of perennial or 
green-grass meadow, where the cattle can roam 
from one to the other at their pleasure. 

J. Jenkins. 

West Whiteland, 4th mo., 9th, 1842. 



INDIA RUBBER. 

A new use has been found for this article at 
the South. They make large bags of it, which 
they fill with cotton and then float them down 
the rivers, as the lumbermen do their pine logs. | 
Ninety-three bales were lately floated down the 
Alabama by this method. These sacks may 
supersede the "broad horns" on the Mississippi 
yet. — Mechanic. 



For the Southern Planter. 
CORN RAKES. 

Gentlemen, — I see in the last number of your 
paper a communication headed "Corn Rakes," 
and signed E. G. I am inclined to think E. G. 
is one who from proper use has gone into ultra 
theory upon the subject of rakes. As you re- 
quest an exposition of the objections to the use 
of rakes, I humbly offer mine, in hopes that they 
will at least call out others upon the subject. 

E. G. says, " he knows they have been tried 
and discarded by some, but he is sure this has 
happened only where the experiment has not 
had a fair trial." Now, what is it reasonable to 
call a fair trial ? I say, when a crop of corn is 
worked (when it needs working) with rakes, 
and another piece, at the same stage, and in the 
same field, is worked with hoes. This experi- 
ment I tried, and the result was, that the hoed 
corn so far eclipsed the raked, that many per- 
sons thought I had not worked the latter at all. 

There is one advantage in the rake, and only 
one that I can see, and that is for cleaning and 
weeding very puny, small corn, which is so wet 
and foul that it cannot be well worked other- 
wise. But that advantage is attended with 
great risk, for should the field be so wet that it 
cannot be worked with the plough and hoe, it 
is because of a long rainy season, which will 
probably be followed by a very dry one. Thus, 
when the weather will permit you to use your 
rakes, the clouds will have dispersed, and the 
sun shining out kills the roots of your young 
and tender crop, as fast as you hackle and ex- 
pose them. Again, it loosens the close, wet, 



earth around the stalk, and lets the sun have a 
powerful effect upon the young and tender roots 
of the puny plant. Besides, when corn is in- 
fested with grass before it is large enough to be 
ploughed, it is very small indeed, and the grass 
is as large, or almost as large, as the corn, and 
it is growing so close to it that the roots are en- 
tangled with each other, and then to extricate 
the grass from the corn with the rough and mer- 
ciless teeth of the rake, must, most unquestion- 
ably, injure or molest the whole stalk, and espe- 
cially the roots, in which all the life of the plant 
is contained. 

Now, is not example, practice and proof worth 
more than fireside theory and philosophical rea- 
soning?* 

Let any one try rakes, or any other imple- 
ment, for hackling their corn roots, and they 
will pretty soon see the benefit they derive from 
them. 

I do not mean to say that I am totally op- 
posed to rakes. They certainly are most va- 
luable farming implements, and useful for a va- 
riety of purposes, and sometimes almost necessary 
to save some corn ; but, that they are very va- 
luable for the cultivation of corn, and are worth 
five hundred dollars to the corn grower, I have 
every reason to deny. 

A Young Farmer. 



TO WASH WOOLLEN GOODS. 

The art of washing woollen goods so as to 
prevent them from shrinking is one of the desi- 
derata in domestic economy worthy of being 
recorded ; and it is, therefore, with a satisfaction 
we explain this simple procees to our readers. 
All descriptions of woollen goods should be 
washed in very hot water with soap; and, as 
soon as the article is cleansed, immerse it in cold 
water; let it then be hung up to dry. 

JYashville Agriculturist. 



TAMING HORSES. 

Mr. Catlin, the celebrated Indian painter, says, 
that the savage tribes of North America are re- 
markable for the wonderful facility with which 
they subdue the buffaloes and wild horses of 
the prairie. This astonishing effect is produced 
simply by securing the animal, and placing the 
hand over the eyes and breathing into the nos- 
trils, when it immediately becomes perfectly do- 
cile and subdued. 

An English gentleman, Mr. Ellis, of York- 
shire, says he happened to read this account and 

* I was glad to see the article of "Anti-Philoso- 
phy" in the Planter and to such philosophy I here 
allude. 






THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



207 



remained entirely incredulous of its truth, until 
two experiments upon unbroken and unmanage- 
able colts satisfied him of its efficacy. He sup- 
poses this to have been the secret of the cele- 
brated Irish whisperer. 



INDIA RUBBER PASTE. 

The following- recipe, discovered by a Mr. 
Smith, of Baltimore, is highly recommended as 
a water-proof covering for boots and shoes. The 
following preparation is said to be sufficient for 
fifty pair of shoes. 



Take three ounces of gum-elastic, cut it into 
fine shreds; put it into a gallon jug, add to it 
three quarts of Seneca oil ; let it stand three or 
four days, when the gum will have been dis- 
solved anil the paste fit for use. Stir before using; 
then rub the uppers and soles of the boots and 
shoes well with it three or four different times 
before the fire, so long as the leather will absorb 
it. The degree of comfort which the mixture 
will insure to the wearer of heavy boots can 
only be realized on trial. It might be used with 
an equally good effect upon the harness and 
gearing of work-horses, and we have no doubt 
make one pair last as long as two. 



LAIRD. 




The above portrait represents "Laird," an 
Ayrshire bull purchased by my father of C. M. 
Bement, Albany, New York. He is an animal 
of great power, and considerable size, but very 
low, being short in the leg, and very deep from 
the back to the bottom of the belly — his color 
is red and white, with a yellow skin, that han- 
dles extremely soft and mellow to the touch — he 
is the easiest animal to keep fat I ever saw — he 
was purchased particularly on account of the 
great milking qualities of his family — his mo- 
ther, an imported Ayrshire cow, giving twenty 
quarts per day while suckling him. It is quite 
remarkable how he impresses his own form on 
all of his get. His face is white, and he has 
never in two years gotten a calf, no matter what 
the color of the dam (and they have been of all 
colors) that had not a white face. I think for 
the small farmer, or he who is " blessed" with 



poor land and scanty pastures during summer, 
that this breed is better adapted than any other 
of the many valuable kinds which have been 
imported into this country from Great Britain, 
and at such enormous expense and risk. With- 
out any disposition to disparage the Durhams, I 
confidently assert that the Ayrshire is much the 
best suited to Eastern Virginia and the South 
generally, and those who wish to commence a 
stock of fine blood cattle would do well to give 
to this breed mature consideration and a thorough 
examination before passing it by for larger and 
heavier animals, whether of the Durham or 
Hereford breed. They are particularly prized 
in Scotland as "the poor man's cow," and I 
think all things considered, they will prove to be 
the best and most productive stock for ns. 

L. M. Burfoot. 



2C8 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



For the Southern Planter. 

HENRICO AGRICULTURAL AND HORTI- 
CULTURAL SOCIETY. 

The next meeting of this Society will be held 
on Wednesday, the 19ih day of October next, 
commencing at Goddin's Spring. The Societj' 
will be called to order at 11 o'clock precisely, 
when the report of the Executive Committee 
and Committees of Award will be read; after 
which, the annual election of officers of the So- 
ciety will be made. 

At 12 o'clock, the first day's exhibition will 
commence with stock, agricultural implements, 
&c. and a fair be held for the sale of such stock 
and other articles as may be offered. 

The following premiums will be awarded on 
the first day : 

No. 1 — For the best stallion calculated to 
produce stock adapted to the 
saddle, harness or draught, $15 00 

Committee— Gen. Bernard Payton, I. A. God- 
din and Ro. Carter Page. 
No. 2. — For the most highly improved 
and best cultivated farm, a pre- 
mium of $25 00 
For the second best, 20 00 
For the third best, 15 00 
For the fourth best, 10 00 

Reference being had to the means (as well 
pecuniary as others) of the proprietor for im- 
provement — the amount of labor employed — the 
advantages resulting from the vicinity of the 
farm to the city, &c. The object being to place 
the industrious cultivator, with limited resources 
and no other labor than his own, upon the same 
footing with the largest cultivator with ample 
resources. It is to be distinctly understood, that 
not only the actual fertility of the soil will be 
considered, but special attention shall be paid to 
the means which are in operation for enriching 
the farms ; to the condition of the enclosures ; 
to the mode of cultivation, whether conducted 
with neatness, system and economy ; to the con- 
dition of the stock, and especially whether pro- 
vision has been made for their comfortable ac- 1 
commodation in bad weather. The buildings' 
also, fanning utensils, garden, and every thing 
connected with the comfort and prosperit}' of 
the establishment, will come under the review, 
of the Committee. 

Committee on Farms — John Carter, George M. j 
Savage, Charles Marx, Henry L. Carter, and 
William Miller. 
No. 3. — For the best field of corn, not 

less than five acres, $15 CO 



No. 5. 



-For the best crop of beets, car- 
rots and parsn ips, not less than 
half an acre, $7 00 

For the second best, 



For the third best, 



5 00 
3 00 



For the second best, 



10 00 
00 



For the third best, 5 

No. 4. — For the best crop of turnips, not 

less than half an acre, $7 00 

For the second best, 5 00 

For the third best, 3 00 



No. 6. — For the best crop of Irish or 
sweet potatoes, not less than 
half an acre, 5 CO 

For the second best, 4 00 

Premiums 3, 4, 5 and 6 will be determined 
as follows : 

The Committee of Aw r ard heretofore having 
found it extremely inconvenient and burihen- 
some to go over the countj*, and in some in- 
stances, out of it, to view the crops offered for 
premiums, and impossible to view them all, the 
Executive Committee have resolved, that for the 
present year at least, the proprietor of each crop 
of corn offered, shall at his own trouble, procure 
the attendance of two respectable and disinter- 
ested freeholders, who shall carefully view the 
crop, and after fixing upon a spot which shall 
be neither the best nor the worst, but shall af- 
ford, in their candid judgment, a fair average of 
the whole, hall proceed with a rule, chain or 
any other instrument, by which exact accuracy 
may be attained, to measure off one-eighth a 
an acre. The crop on this spot shall then be 
gathered, shucked and fairly measured, heaping 
measure, in the presence of said freeholders, who 
shall certify under their hands, the precise con- 
tents, as also the supposed size of the field. 
This certificate shall be forwarded to A. Robin- 
son, Jr., Secretary and Treasurer of the Society,, 
by the 15th October, and be by him delivered to 
the Executive Committee. 

Crops of turnips, beets, potatoes, &c. to be 
ascertained in the same mode, except that the 
ground measured shall contain five square yards. 
Certificates to be forwarded as before. 
No. 7. — For the best crop of cabbages, 

not less than half an acre, $5 00 
For the second best, 4 00 

Committee. — Francis Staples, Jesse Williams 
and J. M. Sublett. 

Ploughing Match.— C. W. Gooch, W. C. 
Allen, W. B. Sydnor and Albert G. Hobson are 
appointed a committee to arrange and conduct 
a Ploughing Match, on such principles as they 
may agree upon, and premiums of $10 and $5 
are placed at their disposal to be awarded as 
they may determine. 

Committee to arrange and conduct the first day's 
Exhibition.— Wm. D. W 7 ren, C. T. Bolts, Rich- 
ard G. Tunstall and Edwin Hill. 

Committee to receive Delegations from 
other Societies — Richard B. Haxall, Wm. 
H. Richardson and James R. Bridges. 

A substantial farmers' dinner will be provided 
on the first day by Capt. Goddin, for the mem- 
bers of the Society and such others as may de- 
sire to participate. 



■ 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



209 



The members of this Society are particularly 
requested to wear the cusromar}' badge of green 
ribbon on the left lappel of the coat. 

The mechanics of the city, and others to 
whom it may be convenient, are respectfully re- 
quested to send to the exhibition such specimens 
of their own skill and industry, especially agri- 
cultural implements, as they may think proper 
to have exhibited, either on the first day or any 
succeeding day. 

Proprietors of live stock of all kinds, whether 
members of the Society or not, are also requested 
to send it forward for exhibition. It is a parti- 
cular object of the Society to bring together at 
their fairs all those who desire to purchase, and 
to accommodate all, as fully as possible. The 
agricultural portion of the exhibition and fair 
will be continued, if necessary, on the second 
day. The most particular and ample arrange- 
ments have been made for the accommodation 
of stock, for any number of days, and it is de- 
sirable to have it on the ground by the evening 
preceding the first day's exhibition. 

The farmers of the State, and all others who 
feel an interest in the cause, are respectfully in- 
vited to attend. 

The succeeding portion of the Society's exhi- 
bition will be held in the city, in the largest room 
or rooms that can be obtained. 

Committee to select a place for, and conduct the 
same — William B. Chittenden, Gustavus A. 
Myers, Peter W. Grubbs, Richard Hill, Jr., Wm. 
McCrery and Charles S. Thompson. 

The address will be delivered at the com- 
mencement of this part of the exhibition, after 
which the following premiums will be awaided : 
No. 1. — For the neatest and most substantial 
counterpane, $6 

For the second best, 4 

No. 2. — For the neatest and most comfort- 
able mattress, filled with hackled 
shucks or cotton and made at 



home. 



For the second best, 
No. 3. — For the best comfort, 
For the second best, 
No. 4. — For the best quilt, 

For the second best, 
No. 5. — For the best table cloth, 

For the second best, 
No. 6. — For the neatest and most substan- 
tial carpet, not less than 10 yds. 6 
For the second best, 4 

No. 7. — For the best hearth rug, 5 

For the second best, 3 

No. S. — For the best specimens of stock- 
ings, socks, gloves or mittens, 
of Virginia raised silk, thread, 
wool or cotton, worsted or mixed, 5 
For the second best, 4 

For the third best, 3 

Vol. 2-27 



No, 9. — For the best specimen of fruits — apples, 
pears, peaches, &c. $5 

For the second best, 3 

No. 10. — For the best, specimen of dried 

fruits, not less than half a bushel, 5 
For the second best, 3 

No. 11. — For the best specimen of domes- 
tic silk, the production of the 
exhibitor, 5 

Committee to award the eleven last mentioned 
premiums. — Wm. Mitchell, Jr., Mann S. Valen- 
tine, Thomas R. Price and Charles Palmer. 
No. 12. — For the best specimen of plants, 

shrubs or flowers, $10 

For the second best, 5 

Committee. — Nicholas Mills, Thomas Ritchie 
and Loftin N. Ellett. 

Premiums will in all cases be given in mone}' 
or plate, at the discretion of successful compe- 
titors. 

The Committees appointed to act upon sub- 
jects requiring early attention, are requested to 
organise promptly. 

The Executive Committee will be ready at 
all times to give attention to any calls upon 
them. 

Thomas S. Dicken. 
Joseph Rennie. 
William D. Wren. 
Wm. H. Richardson. 



GRASS. 



We have, over and over again, urged upon 
our readers the value of the grass crop. This 
is the season for seeding, and we hope it will 
not pass without seeing thousands of acres laid 
down to grass. We should most undoubtedly 
be exporters, instead of importers, of hay, and 
we rejoice to see that the success of some of 
our most distinguished farmers is daily removing 
the erroneous impression, that this crop, produc- 
tive of more clear profit than cotton in its palmi- 
est days, is unsuited to our soil and climate. 
The following extracts upon the proper mode of 
seeding grass lands are taken from that excellent 
agricultural paper, the Massachusetts Plough- 
man, and meet with our hearty approbation : 

"In a former number we have reminded our 
readers of the advantages of seeding on a green 
sward furrow ; we shall now state the mode of 
ploughing and of seeding which we have found 
the most safe and profitable. 

" We turn the furrow over as flat as we can — 
if there are many rocks or stumps in the way it 
will be well to have one hand with a hoe to lay 
flat those sods that the plough did not turn well. 
After the ploughing is finished a good roller 
should be used to fit the sods more close and to 



210 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



prevent their being torn up by the harrow. The 
next step is to haul on the manure. 

"As soon as the manure is spread the harrow 
should follow to mix it thoroughly with the 
mould of the furrow. The harrow should at 
first be drawn lengthwise of the furrow to avoid 
tearing it up ; it may then be drawn in a diago- 
nal direction, varying, however, but little from 
the range of the furrow, and it is not advisable 
to draw it directly across in any case. 

"After the ground has been well harrowed 
the seed may be sown. We find one peck of 
good herdsgrass and three or four pecks of red- 
top sufficient for an acre ; and we prefer to cover 
the seed by dragging a bush harrow over it. 
The roller may follow if you choose ; and if any 
loose sods remain on the surface they may be 
raked into the dead furrows or other low places 
in the field. 

"A fresh furrow will be more moist than one 
that has been turned several days, and seed will 
vegetate sooner on it. When the season hap- 
pens to be dry, therefore, it is well to plough but 
one acre at a lime and then throw on the seed. 

"All farmers know that lands which lie high 
and have lain in grass three or four years, need 
some renovating process or they will yield not 
half a crop. All know how difficult it, is to 
keep all the high land, not in tillage, in good 
grass ; for so much manure is required for plant- 
ing and raising exhausting harvests of grain 
that many fields are suffered to lie fifteen or 
twenty years, not in grass, precisely, but with 
something on them that yields no profit. Now 
the great objects we have in view in the ' New 
Husbandry' are to keep all our grass lands in 
such a condition as to obtain good harvests ; and 
to avoid planting so much as to take up all the 
manure in tillage. To bring our old bound-out 
mowing lands directly into grass again without 
the expense and the delay of a three year's 
course of tillage. We also wish to avoid the 
risk which we usually run, when we sow grass 
seed with spring grain, of having it summer 
killed on taking the grain away. 

" We, therefore, cut across lots — we turn the 
furrow over at the very best time for seeding, 
and we avoid exhausting the soil by crops of 
grain. We save a green crop under the furrow, 
and we miss no harvest ; we have no fallow for 
the year In this way we may give every acre 
a taste of the manure heap; for instead of giv- 
ing one field a full dressing two years in succes- 
sion, we give but half a dressing, and for one 
year only ; thus we are enabled to go the rounds 
of our mowing fields four times as fast as by 
tilling and raising exhausting crops. 

"The new system admits of ploughing low, 
cold, wet, lands, altogether unfit for tillage, and 
seeding at once on the furrow. And one great 
advantage gained by this system is. the land 
thus seeded will lie more light and will continue 



in grass two years longer than land which has 
been two or three years in tillage." 



THE PLANTER. 
We copy the following from the Hillsborough 
Recorder and hope, since we have afforded our 
brother Editor an opportunity of judging of the 
merits of the Planter, he will be almost ready to 
endorse the flattering estimate of his judicious 
correspondent : 

•• We are not acquainted with the work men- 
tioned below, and cannot, therefore, from any 
knowledge of our own, comply with the wishes 
of our correspondent in recommending the work 
to our readers. But we have confidence in our 
correspondent, and know that his judgment, 
having been assisted by experience, is far supe- 
rior to our own in this matter: we, therefore, 
publish his note. — Ed. 

" l Mt. Heartt, — If by recommending to your 
farming subscribers the Southern Planter, edited 
by Botts & Burfoot, Richmond, you could in- 
duce them all to send for it, I don't know how 
you could do them a greater service. I have it 
from ihe beginning — January, 1841 — and am 
sure that I do not exaggerate, when I say, that 
any one of the nineteen numbers in my posses- 
sion is worth the whole price of the paper per 
j annum, i. e. one dollar, if paid within sixiy days 
j from ihe date of subscription, free of expense to 
the editors. It is edited by practical southern 
farmers, and suited to our southern climate and 
products. Besides it is done up in pamphlet 
form, with neat paper covers, and is, therefore, 
more convenient both 10 read and to preserve. 
Yours, &c. 

An Orange Farmer. 

August 15, 1842.' " 



MEDITERRANEAN WHEAT. 

Patent Office, July 20, 1842. 

Messrs. Botts & Burfoot : 

Gemlemen, — I have the honor to transmit a 
parcel of Mediterranean wheat, respecting which 
much has lately been published, and the pecu- 
liar qualities of which are described in the ac- 
companying letters from Dr. Smith, of Philadel- 
phia, and Mr. Powell, seed man, in the same city. 
I am, most respectfully yours, 

H. L. Ellsworth. 

Philadelphia, July 14, 1842. 

Dear Sir, — Yours of the 6th instant, came 
duly to hand, and I should have answered it 
sooner, had business and other circumstances 
permitted. 

That variety of the Mediterranean wheat 
which I have sown for several years past, I con- 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



211 



sider 'proof against the fly and almost proof 
against the rust. 

For the former, no rational explanation has 
thus far been given ; but the instances have 
been so numerous where this and the other kinds 
of wheat among us have been sown on aHjoin- 
ing lands in the same field, with cultivation pre- 
cisely the same — where this has remained un- 
touched by the fly, producing a heavy crop, and 
the others almost entirely destroyed, that the 
most sceptical have no longer any doubts upon 
the subject. 

But that it should so generally escape the 
mildew we have endeavored to explain from the 
fact, that it ripens from ten to twelve days ear- 
lier than any wheat now sown in the middle or 
eastern States (as far as my knowledge extends ) 
But that this is a full and satisfactory explana- 
tion I am not. entirely prepared to believe; for 
the causes to which we have generally attri- 
buted the production of mildew may exist, when 
this wheat is susceptible of being acted upon by 
them, as well as the other kinds. 

These causes we understand to be: 

1. That stale of the plant when the grain is 
fully formed but very soft and milky, the whole 
energies of the plant directed to its perfection, 
and the sap vessels all distended. 

2 That state of the atmosphere which tends 
still farther to distend the vessels; as heavy 
dews, and fogs and clouds, which obscure the 
sun for several hours after his rising. 

3. A sudden outbreaking of the sun, with 
such power as to rupture the sap vessels of the 
plant, thereby giving a nidus for the seeds of 
the parasite to take root. 

But be the causes what ihey may, it is rarely 
injured by the fly or rust; nor are these all its 
advantages over any wheat among us. For it 
may be sown from the first of September to the 
inioVlle of October, and upon soil so thin that 
the farmer would not think of sowing any other 
kind of wheal, and yet produce a fair crop. 

I have sown it for two years, after a crop of 
corn and potatoes had been taken from the 
ground, and fully believ'e, that the yield afier the 
potatoes, was upwards of thirty bushels to the 
acre. 

If sown early one and a half bushels per acre 
will be enough, but if not sown till in October, 
at least two bushels should be sown. 

Now, although the straw is so soft, that it will 
most certainly fall in rich ground, still it ripens 
well, even should the timothy grow up through 
it and hide it from view. And although the 
grain is not so white and mellow, as some other 
varieties of wheat, still, that it will produce more 
superfine flour to the acre for a given number of 
years than any other wheat now extant, I feel 
no hesitation in asserting. 

I shall be able to supply any moderate quan- 



tity in time for sowing, delivered at any place to 
be mentioned in Philadelphia. 

With sentiments of regard, 

I remain your friend, 

Moses B. Smith. 
Hon. H. L. Ellsworth, 

Commissioner of Patents. 

Philadelphia, July 14, 1842. 
H. L. Ellsworth, Esq. 

Dear Sir, — So far as heard from, the Mediter- 
ranean wheat grows more in favor as it becomes 
better known. Mr. White, formerly a merchant 
of our city, stated to me last fall, that he had 
tested side by side with two or three others, and 
that this was the only one escaped rust, fly, &c. 
It is an early wheat, adapts itself to the gener- 
ality of soils, but especially to light land — and 
as it becomes acclimated assumes more the cast 
of our Orange wheat. I find a concurring opi- 
nion from many neighborhoods, that the Medi- 
terranean wheat this season, exceeds by great 
odds, all other varieties. I can supply a clean 
good article, as per sample, at $1 75 per bushel. 
Very respectfully, 

M. S. Powell, 
23 Market Street. 

The parcel for which we are indebted to the 
kindness of Mr. Ellsworth is at our office for 
distribution. The wheat presents a good deal 
the appearance of that sent us last year by Mr. 
Gray, but is, we think, lighter and darker. Our 
millers to whom we have exhibited the specimen 
unequivocally condemn it as tough, coarse, and 
indifferent. One of them went so far as to say 
that he would not recommend the farmers of 
Virginia to cultivate even if he knew it to be 
invulnerable to fly and rust; another said that 
it was at least ten cents in the bushel below 
what he would call good wheat. We feel it 
our duty in making public the recommendations 
of others, to stale thus fully the opinions of gen- 
tlemen, entitled to so much weight as the millers 
of Richmond, and this course, if we understand 
him rightly, Mr. Ellsworth will be the first to 
approve. 



For the Southern Planter. 
I was much pleased on reading the last num- 
ber of the Southern Planter to see that my 
friend Gen. Wm. H. Richardson had accepted 
the proposition made by me some time since, to 
feed some of my best Berkshires against pigs of 
any other breed in Virginia. I was pleased for 
two reasons — first, because the General was the 
man to accept the proposition, well knowing 
that I would then be contending against one 



212 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



who is incapable of practising any thing unfair | 
in the experiment ; and also that he would con- 
duct it in such a way as to make his pigs all \ 
that the breed was capable of being made by 
unceasing attention and the most skilful manage- 
ment ; and then if my Berkshires triumphed 
they would be entitled to so much the more cre- 
dit. Secondly, because the white hogs of iMr. 
Dicken's were the hogs to be fed against my 
Berkshires. These hogs have obtained consi- 
derable notoriety, and if they are or can be made 
superior, or equal, to the best Berkshires, I, for 
one, am anxious to ascertain the fact, as I will 
then purchase a pair of the best of them. 



The General and myself then will feed four 
pigs each next spring ; he four of Mr. Dicken's 
white pigs, I four of my Berkshires, Tip to the 
age of ten months, &c. &c. as proposed in my 
former communication. 

I hope the General will inform me at what 
time, as near as can be, he expects the birth of 
the pigs, which he intends to feed, so that I can 
breed mine at the same time, it being very im- 
portant to have them of the same age. 

L. M. Burfoot, 
Chesterfield^ Va. 




THE FARMER'S REPOSITORY 



The subscribers have taken the room formerly 
occupied by the Exchange Bank, (nearly oppo- 
site the Bank of Virginia) in which they design 
to open an agricultural wareroom and an agen- 
cy for the general transaction of agricultural j 
business. They will buy and sell upon com- 
mission crops, seeds, and implements; in short, 
they offer their services to the agricultural com- ' 
munity for the transaction of any business in 
this city, where the offices of an agent may be 
required. 

They design to keep themselves constantly 



supplied with every variety of tool, implement, 
or agricultural product, that can be either useful 
or interesting to the farmer. To effect this ob- 
ject, one of the partners is about to leave for the 
North, in the expectation of making such ar- 
rangements as will enable them to afford facili- 
ties to the farmers of Virginia, that they have 
never heretofore enjoyed. 

They are now manufacturing, and have ready 
for sale, their Straw Cutter, highly improved. 
The inventor has been long ago satisfied, that 
the qualities required in a straw cutter, were 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



213 



simplicity and durability rather than rapidity of 
execution. We had many cutters that, whilst 
in order, were sufficiently efficient, but it is a 
notorious fact, that, from the failure to bring 
them within the power of a negro's management, 
they have generally been abandoned for the 
clumsy and imperfect cutters made by the com- 
mon blacksmiths of the country. 

Keeping this fact in view, and thinking it 
comparatively unimportant whether it required 
one minute or two to cut a bushel of straw, the 
inventor, who has had some mechanical as well 
as agricultural experience, applied himself to 
the construction of a knife, which, if it was less 
rapid in execution, should be more durable, and 
within the control of the simplest capacity. He 
found this no easy task, but after years of thought 
and trial, he flatters himself he has more than 
accomplished his undertaking, for, whilst he 
thinks that the knife is perfect in simplicity and 
ease of management, its efficiency is not infe- 
rior to that of any other infuse. 

Although others were perfectly satisfied with 
the knife as it was made twelve months ago? 
the proprietor was not. He has finally suc- 
ceeded in rendering it still more simple, and it is 
now offered to the public without fear of com- 
petition. 

The nature of the last improvement consists, 
chiefly in shortening the knives, and is attempted 
to be represented in the accompanying engrav- 
ing. They are now not wider, and are as easily 
ground and set as a plane iron. Except to turn 
the crank, this is all that the operator has to do, 
from one year's end to another. 

These cutters are made up in the most perfect 
and substantial manner, and although the work 
upon them has been a little increased, yet, in 
consideration of the " times," and in hopes of 
securing larger sales, Jhe proprietors have de- 
termined to offer them at thirty and twenty-five 
dollars. An attempt was once made to reduce 
them as low as twenty dollars, but it was found 
that it was only practicable to do so at the ex- 
pense of substance and durability in the ma- 
chine, and the design, after much expense en- 
countered for patterns, &c. was abandoned with 
the %st dozen that were made. 

The thirty dollar cutter corresponds to the one 
that was formerly sold at thirty-five, and the 
one offered at twenty-five is rather lighter and a 
little different in construction. 

One principle the subscribers have determined 



to adopt and rigidly maintain, esteeming it 
equally beneficial to themselves and their cus- 
tomers; this is to buy and sell for cash only. 
Buying for cash, they will of course procure 
their articles on the best terms, and determined 
to be satisfied with very small profits, they hope 
to be able to furnish them as low as they can 
be had in the Union. 

C. T. Botts. 
L. M. Burfoot. 
P. S. — The Office of the Planter is kept in 
the rear of the Wareroom, where the Editors 
will be happy to see their country friends gener- 
ally. To make such a visit the more interest- 
ing, they are making collections of drawings, 
and models, and curious agricultural products, 
to which mechanics and farmers are respectfully 
requested to contribute. 



ROTATION OF CROPS. 

By particular request we make the following 
extracts from a communication in the Farmers' 
Register. 

Although we are fully assured that philoso- 
phers and chemists have frequently drawn upon 
their imaginations for facts otherwise difficult of 
attainment, and although we believe that dis- 
credit has been brought upon the philosophy of 
agriculture by the want of practical knowledge 
in some of its most distinguished votaries, si ill, 
we are undoubtedly indebted to the chemical in- 
vestigations of modern times for a knowledge of 
some principles established almostbeyond dispute. 
Amongst the most valuable of these, we had 
classed the fact presented by chemical analysis 
of the different and opposite constituents of dif- 
ferent plants, from which has been drawn the 
most perfect system of a rotation of crops, upon 
the principle, that whilst one crop was consum- 
ing certain constituents, nature was elaborating 
others rejected by the growing crop, to be con- 
sumed by the succeeding and opposite one. — 
This principle has been denied and ridiculed by 
Mr. J. H. Turner in several articles in the Far- 
mers' Register, and it is in answer to these 
views, and in defence of the established princi- 
ple, that Mr. Peyton has written the article from 
which we copy below. 

We have n»t been unobservant spectators of 
the contest between these distinguished gentle- 
men, and we have failed to give our readers 
heretofore the benefit of Mr. Peyton's handsome 
and able defence of the established doctrine, 



214 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



simply, because it afforded so complete a refu- 
tation of Parson Turner's views. A novel idea 
had been advanced, and, in our opinion, clearly 
refuted. By giving both, we brought the reader, 
after some labor, exactly to the point from which 
he started. We never care to administer poison, 
for the sake of giving an antidote which we 
happen to have in our possession. 

These considerations would still have pre- 
cluded us from this subject but for the request of 
our correspondent. 

After some preliminary remarks, Mr. Peyton, 
refening to Mr. Turner's opinions, asks the 
Editor, 

" What do you think of the leading idea of 
his communication, No. 4, 'that a rotation of 
crops is unnecessary?' Is it not opposed to 
every opinion on this subject ever advanced by 
yourself? Is it not at war with every principle 
established by the experiments in vegetable 
physiology? Is it not directly in the teeth of 
all that is taught us by Sir H. Davy, Chaptal, 
De Candolle, Liebig, Buel, and every other agri- 
cultural writer of reputation? And lastly, is it 
not opposed to the experience of every farmer 
who does not live within the smoke of a city, 
where the fertility of his lots may be almost 
maintained by the continual presence of an at- 
mosphere loaded with gases generated by the 
filth of a crowded population? 

" It is a common observation of farmers in this 
quarter, that when lands are worn down with 
long continued and severe cropping, so that their 
yield in grain is not worth the labor of cultiva- 
tion, they will produce a luxuriant crop of clover. 
Not less common is the observation, that old 
tobacco lots, when they grow tired of the crop 
which they have borne for a long succession of 
years, and refuse to produce the same heavily, 
however well cultivated or highly manured, can 
only be restored as a tobacco lot by a rotation. 
It would be easy to illustrate these opinions by 
many striking examples around me ; but I deem 
it unnecessary to cumber this letter with them, 
as I presume there are palpable illustrations of 
their truth in every neighborhood in the State. 

" We have always thought that these results 
were perfectly natural, and consistent with the 
organic laws of vegetable physiology. We have 
been content with the theory, that some plants 
require a peculiar species of food, whilst others 
require a different. That, of course, when the 
peculiar food of the cultivated plant was ex- 
hausted, it. was no longer capable of producing 
it, whilst its adaptation to the giovvth of other 
plants, demanding a different pabulum, was un- 
affected. We have always believed, too, that 
the excrementitious matters, thrown off by plants, 
were as incapable of nourishing plants of the 



same kind, as the excretions of animals are of 
being assimilated by the same species. W T e 
have believed, too, that the analogy is farther 
maintained in this, that these excretions may 
nourish other plants, differently constituted, as 
the excretions of one species of animals affords 
nourishment to another. Such have been the 
opinions of all enlightened agriculturists for a 
great man}' years; certainly ever since the theo- 
ry was revived and illustrated by the genius of 
De Candolle. Liebig, in his great work on 
agricultural chemistry, maintains it, with some 
slight modification, in all essential particulars. 
He thinks that the excrementitious matters suffer 
various transformations in their passage through 
the organism of the plant, (pp. 54 and 55,) till 
at last, being capable of no further changes, they 
are separated from the system, by the organs 
destined for that purpose. That these exuda- 
tions, though they may be absorbed, can never 
(until decomposed) be assimilated by the plants 
producing them, while they may very well be 
fed on by plants differently organized. 

"Independent of the cogent inferences from 
the known principles of vegetable physiology, 
in support of this theory, the experiments of 
Macaire Princep, alluded to by Liebig, seem to 
place its correctness above controversy. How 
will Mr. Turner, except upon the principles here 
advocated, explain the fact that plants of the 
leguminosce family, wither in the water in which 
the same species have grown until the excre- 
tions have colored it brown, whilst corn plants 
grow vigorously in ihe liquid, and the brown 
color diminishes sensibly with the growth of the 
plant. 

"You will observe in this experiment, that 
the plants selected are unlike in their organism, 
and whilst the one feeds largely on the phos- 
phates, and other requires scarcely any. 1 ask 
Mr Turner if the inference is not irresistible, that 
the beans first grown in the water, had destroyed 
its fitness to sustain a second crop of them, either 
by exhausting the peculiar food on which they 
fed, or by poisoning the water with their excre- 
tions? It is not equally clear, that at the same 
time that the liquid was thus rendered unfit for 
the support of beans, it still retained a capacity 
for producing corn, and that this corn, instead 
of rejecting, actually fed upon the exudations of 
the beans? If true, as is proven, with regard 



to the water, I would again respectfully ask your 
intelligent correspondent, would it not be equally 
true of the soil? Cnn there be any difference, 
when every thing absorbed by a plant from the 
soil must necessarily be previously dissolved ? I 
am sure he will at once admit that the second feet 
is a legitimate corollary from the first, and in so 
doing his own theory loses its foothold, and falls to 
the ground. If this experiment were noi so per- 
fectly conclusive, it would be very easy to pile proof 
upon proof, ' Pelion upon Ossa,' in support of it. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



215 



" Liebig relates an instance of a landed pro- 
prietor in the vicinity of Gottingen, who, to ob- 
tain potash, planted his whole farm with worm- 
Wood. The consequence of which was, that it 
so effectually exhausted the potash in the sod, 
that it was incapable of bearing grass for many 
years — the grass requiring a large supply of the 
silicate of potash. 

" In combatting these universally received opi- 
nions, Mr. Turner sets out, rather ominously, in 
the midst of a strange confusion of technical 
terms, and an entire misapprehension or misap- 
plication of authors quoted, and when he has 
thus, under the delusion of an honest zeal for 
his theory, dove-tailed an ingenious and plausi- 
ble argument, he then endeavors to varnish over 
the whole with some striking facts. 

"In adverting to this part of Mr. Turner's 
essay, I will not confine myself to his precise 
language where it is unimportant, as it would 
unnecessarily lengthen what I have to say, but 
merely quote the substance. 

" He says there is one ingredient which is 
necessary to all crops, and that ingredient is fer- 
tility ; and that this ingredient is just as neces- 
sary to one crop as another. Fertility, as un- 
derstood by him, is synonymous with humus, as 
understood by Prof. Webster, geine, as called by 
Professor Dana, and ammonia as maintained hy 
Liebig. He makes, in confirmation, an extract 
from the Second Report on the Agriculture of 
Massachusetts, whereof Professor Dana says, 
'If we can induce the state of geine best fitted 
for each plant, then adieu to the doctrine of the 
necessity of a rotation of crops.' Without 
quoting farther at present, let us halt and review 
the ground. 

" That this fertility here referred to, and easily 
comprehended by every former, is not, as Mr. 
Turnersupposes, synonymous with humus, geine, 
&c. will be perfectly obvious when it is recol- 
lected that many plants, wheat, for instance, will 
not thrive in pure humus. The word fertility, 
as used by Mr. Turner, is much more compre- 
hensive. Liebig states that, in many parts of 
Brazil, where the soil is particularly rich in hu- 
mus, wheat will not thrive, and in many parts 
of Europe, where they have formed soils of 
mouldered wood, [pure humus,! it nas ue en at- 
tend with the same result. The stalks attain 
no strength, and droop prematurely. The cause 
assigned is, that the strength of the stalk is due 
to silicate of potash, and that the grain requires 
phosphate of magnesia, neither of which sub- 
stances a soil of humus can afford. Liebig adds 
that wheat will not flourish on a sandy soil or a 
pure calcareous soil, (e. g\, the bald, calcareous 
prairies of Alabama,) unless it be mixed with a 
considerable quantity of clay. These soils are 
deficient in the alkalies, which are indispensable 
constituents of wheat, while potash and soda 
are universally present in clay. 



" But Professor Dana says, ' if we can induce 
the slate of geine best fitted for each plant, then 
we may bid adieu to the doctrine of the neces- 
sity of a rotation of crops. This may be true, 
but the very condition on winch it is made to 
depend destroys its applicability, as used by Mr. 
Turner. l If we can induce the state of geine? 
&c. is the language of the author. But how 
induce it? Geine or humus, or to be more spe- 
cific, the decomposed organic matter of ihe soil 
can only be brought to the stale necessary to 
give vigor to the growth of plants indiscrimi- 
nately by the presence of alkalies. Humus is 
not soluble in any useful degree in water, re- 
quiring as it does two thousand five hundred 
parts of water for one of humus, while it is rea- 
dily soluble in alkalies. If then you can always 
have the requisite supply of alkalies present, 
you at once induce that state of geine so much 
desired by Professor Dana. But can any prac- 
tical mode be devised of effecting this, other 
than a judicious rotation of crops, which will 
feed successively on the different constituents of 
the soil, and give to the great laboratory of na- 
ture time to restore what has been taken away ? 

" But Mr. Turner, feeling probably the weak- 
ness of his argument, and the inconclusiveness 
of his authority, endeavors to sustain himself by 
a few isolated facts. It seems to me, however, 
that little weight should be given to these few 
straggling examples, (' rari nantes in gurgite vas- 
tof) which his industry has picked up over our 
extended country, against the proofs of philoso- 
phical investigation, and the almost unanimous 
testimony of enlightened farmers in every quar- 
ter of the w T orld. It is an old adage 'that a 
single swallow does not make a summer,' and 
my Loid Coke says, that exceptions to a gen- 
eral rule, instead of weakening, prove it. The 
most striking example relied upon by Mr. Tur- 
ner is that recorded by Mr. Colman, the Massa- 
chusetts commissioner, who says, that he saw a 
rich alluvion field on the Connecticut river, the 
proprietor of which told him that without any 
manure it. had continued to produce good crops 
of wheat for thirty years in succession. This, 
you will observe, is a piece of intervale land on 
the borders of a stream whose low grounds are 
of remarkable fertility, and whose inundations 
annually, or at intervals of several years, may 
have deposited new soil, and thus maintained its 
capacity to produce the same crop. The Nile, 
the Po of Italy, and many of the principal rivers 
of France, have long been employed as fertilizers 
of their low lands, and wherever they have been 
able to irrigate them, they exhibit the same ca- 
pacity for production with the example cited by 
Mr. Colman. The most important alkalies al- 
ways abound in such lands. The overflowing 
waters, too, hold oxygen in solution, and are 
thus enabled to act promptly and effectually in 
producing the putrefaction of the excrementitious 



216 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



matters contained in the soil. But, Mr. Editor, 
I did not take up my pen with the view of dis- 
cussing this question with so skilful an antago- 
nist as Mr. Turner, but merely to draw your 
attention to the subject, that you may enter the 
lists, and allow me to retire. This letter has 
insensibly grown to so inordinate a length, and 
so contrary to my intentions, that I feel that 1 
almost owe you an apology for troubling you 
with it. When I had once embarked 1 found 
all my efforts to regain the shore fruitless, until 
the present moment. 

Yours respectfully, 

Wm. M. Peyton." 



M'CORMICK'S REAPING MACHINE. 
Since the publication of our last we have re- 
ceived several additional certificates of the supe- 
riority of this implement, and also a statement 
from the inventor that he is prepared to furnish 
machines of the best quality for $100, or to sell 
rights upon accommodating terms. His address 
is Steele's Tavern, Augusta, Virginia. 



tions to increase our list. The number of sub- 
scribers we have received since our July issue 
has far exceeded our expectations, and is wholly 
attributable to the exertions of our friends, whose 
kindness we hope to have an opportunity of re- 
ciprocating. 



THE NEW WORLD. 

We acknowledge the liberality of the Editor 
of the New World, who is not only kind enough 
to exchange with us, but who lays us under 
additional obligations by the transmission of the 
novel publications of his extras. Mr. Benjamin, 
by the enterprize and spirit which he has exhi- 
bited in the attempt to cheapen American pub- 
lications, has entitled himself to the gratitude 
and support of every lover of light literature. 



RECIPE. 

The fumes of brimstone are useful in remov- 
ing stains of linen, &c. — thus, if a red rose be 
held in fumes of a brimstone match, the color 
will soon begin to change, and at length the 
flower will become white. By the same process, 
fruit stains or iron moulds may be removed from 
linen or cotton clothes, if the spots be previously 
moistened with water. 




TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

We are much obliged to J. M. of Fredericks- 
burg, for his valuable communication. W r e es- 
teem it too highly to introduce it at the fag end 
of this number : it shall have an early insertion 
in the next. 

Many other communications have been re- 
ceived, all of which will be duly attended to. 



OUR LIST. 

We cannot omit this opportunity to return our 
thanks to our friends for their successful exer- 



CONTENTS OF NO. IX. 

Forest Trees — A list and description of those in the 
tide water district of Virginia, (continued,) p. 193. 

Tobacco — Notice of a report made to Congress by the 
Secretary of the Treasury on the Tobacco Trade, 
p. 194. 

Prince George — Agricultural report of, p. 195. 

Ash — Leaves cure snake or musquito bite, p. 198. 

Rake — English horse rake, with a cut, p. 198. 

Wheat— Reasons for preferring the May wheat, p. 198. 

Weevil— To prevent, p. 199. 

Feeding — Principles of, p. 199. 

Sassafras — To destroy, p. 200. 

Cement— To make one fire and water proof, p. 200. 

Charcoal — Its value for agricultural purposes, p. 200. 

Frequent Ploughing — Advantages of, p. 201. 

Cheapening — The impolicy of buying indifferent im- 
plements because they are cheap, p. 202. 

Cement — For stopping cracks in iron, p. 202. 

Rust— Observations on, from the American Farmer, 
p. 202. 

Oil— From lard, p. 203. 

Plaster — Rules for using, p. 204. 

Cement — For building, p. 204. 

Fly-pivof Wheat — Recommended, p. 204. 

Blowing Rocks — Cheap method, p. 205. 

Fanning— The advantages of extended cultivation, 
p. 205. 

India Rubber — Used for cotton bags, p. 206. 

Rakes— Their value in the com crop disputed, p. 206. 

Woollens — To wash, p. 206. 

Horses — To tame, p. 206. 

Water-proof Paste — Recipe for, p. 207. 

Ayrshire Bull— Col. Burioot's described, with a por- 
trait, p. 207. 

Henrico Agricultural Society— Premiums for the fall 
meeting, p. 208. 

Grass— Value of hay as a crop— mode of seeding, p. 
209. 

The Planter — Complimentary notice of, p. 210. 

Wheat— Sample received from the Patent Office, p. 
210. 

Challenge— Col. Burfoot's reply to Gen. Richardson, 
p. 211. 

i^///^'.«;'/?^w5/7w7/— Newestablishmentin Richmond, 
p. 212. 

Ro/ah on— Views of Messrs. Turner and Peyton, p, 
213. 

Reaping Machine— M'Cormick's further noticed, 216