THE SOUTHERN PLANTER; 

33ebotetr to ^srtculture, j^ortfculturc, arrt the ^oustholK girts. 



Agriculture is the nursing mother of the Arts. 

Xenophon. 


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


C. T. BOTTS, Editor. 


Vol. III. RICHMOND, OCTOBER, 1843. No. 10. 



For the Southern Planter. 
IMPROVING OLD LANDS. 

Mr. Editor, — At the request of a friend, I 
wrote to Dr. R. D. Palmer desiring him to com- 
municate any knowledge which he had derived 
from experience as to the best mode of improv- 
ing our old lands. I send you for publication 
what he says on the subject, as he gave me 
permission to do so if I thought any one might 
be benefited by it. It is evident that we shall 
have to resort to his or some other mode for re- 
storing our worn-out lands. From my own ex- 
perience and observation I feel no hesitation in 
saying that I believe the Doctor's plan to be 
the most practicable and economical I have seen 
suggested. 

J. Morton. 
Spring Grove, Campbell, Aug. 11, 1843. 

"In 1827, I settled on a farm of 560 acres, 
in the lower end of Campbell county, in the 
most exhausted condition of any, perhaps, in 
the State of Virginia. It had been under the 
very worst system of management from the 
time of its settlement in 1755. The soil being 
red, its aspect generally was more that of a 
gully-side than any thing else. Hundreds of 
gullies were everywhere to be seen, some from 
forty to fifty feet wide, and as deep as a common 
house-top. The previous occupant had annu- 
ally expended from one to two hundred dollars 
for corn. An intelligent lady remarked to me 
that ' the land was so thin that we would have 
to double it.' 

" From this appalling picture the question 
will naturally arise, ' why did you purchase V 
The answer is that 'I thought it a suitable 
stand for the practice of medicine, and that from 
some eighty or ninety acres of creek bottoms I 
should be able to draw a support until the ex- 
hausted land could be reclaimed.' 

"At first I divided the farm into four equal 
shifts, and cultivated in corn, followed by wheat, 
where the land waa thought to be good enough 
to produce it, and where not, in oats or rye. In 
consequence of the great poverty of the soil, 
rye wa3 generally preferred, as oats would not 
grow high enough to be cut. My aim, from 
the first, wa3 to clover and plaster all of the 
land in small grain ; but, from the paucity of 
Vol. III.— 28 



my means, much could not be done in that way 
for several years. Experience soon taught me 
that one-fourth of my land would not produce 
enough to support my family of ten or twelve in 
number. And that the belter way would be to re- 
sort to a ring-fence: and cultivate the flat land 
and such places as required cleaning up, while 
I was manuring the thinner parts of the farm. 
My aim has ever been to raise as much manure 
as I possibly could, without neglecting other 
necessary things ; and always to haul out in 
the spring. The principal resources have beeii 
from corn-stalks, leaves, straw, &c. When put 
in the stables and farm-pens they afford com- 
fortable beds to the horses, cattle, &c, while, at 
the same time, they absorb and retain the liquid 
manure, which otherwise would be lost. 

"The present condition of my farm will tell 
whether my efforts have been in vain. 

" I should not neglect to say, that as soon as 
all of my galled land got in a condition to bring 
grass, I again divided my farm into five, instead 
of four shifts ; and that now we fallow one, so 
as to have, annually, one in corn and two in 
small grain. 

"I made no tobacco until my fields every 
where, through the assistance of manure, clover, 
plaster, &c., had taken on a rich mantle of 
green. 

" The first object of the farmer, in reclaiming 
worn-out lands, should be to extend his manures 
so as to get as much stuck in grass as he can. 
For this purpose I think top-dressing answers 
the purpose best. A mixture of red clover, 
herdsgrass, timothy, greensward seed, &c, with 
plaster of Paris, sown late in February or early 
in March, so as to put a bushel of plaster to the 
acre, will generally stick Well, especially if the 
thinner places have a little top-dressing. But 
little grazing should be done except on the field 
intended for corn the ensuing year; and that, 
principally, after the full blossoming of the clover. 

"As time and leisure may be afforded me, 
from the pressure of my engagements, I may 
address you on some of the individual branches 
hinted at in the foregoing desultory epistle. 
Very respectfully, R. D. Palmer." 



LIME, SALT AND ASHES. 

We lately saw an instance of ihe wonderful 
effects of the above substance as a manure, on 



218 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



the place of Mr. G. W. Shaw, in Needham. 
The soil was a light, sandy loam, that had be 
com 3 so exhausted that it produced little else 
than sorrel, as was there shown by adjacent 
lands. So small was the produce, that the per 
son who sold the land and had a claim to its 
use one year more, was willing to relinquish his 
claim to four acres for three dollars. 

Last spring the land was ploughed and har- 
rowed, then half an acre for corn was manured 
with two bushels of salt, two casks lime, and 
the ashes from one ton of coal, mixed with six 
or seven cords of loam, taken from a ridge, 
where a wall had been removed. On one side 
the wall, the headlands had been thrown, and 
on the other, some little loam from the side of 
the road. 

The salt and lime were refuse ; the former 
cost twenty cents per bushel, and the latter se- 
venty-five cents per cask. The ashes and loam 
were reckoned but of little value. This manure 
was spread on the land, and remained on the 
top, the corn was dropped on it, without furrow 
ing or hoeing. 

We saw this corn July 20th, and it was one 
of the most luxuriant and handsome pieces that 
we have seen, and more forward than any other. 
It was all spindled out, and beginning to silk. 
Il was throwing out two, three, and in many 
cases four or five shoots for ears. A good deal 
of it was five and six feet high ; and though in 
the time of a severe drought, it did not suffer 
from this cause, as there was moisture between 
the rows at the surface. We noticed the same 
appearance as to moisture in the garden ma- 
nured in like ma7iner. As an experiment, a rod 
or two of this land was manured with a shovel- 
ful of stable manure in the hill (not a good way 
of applying it) and on that the corn was not 
much more than half so high and not so for- 
ward, as it was just spindling, while the other 
was beginning to silk. 

This experiment, with mineral manures so 
successful and so promising, thus far, is worthy 
of attention. We hope to be able to give the 
result by and by, and show a specimen of the 
crop. The corn is about twice as thick as 
usual, besides pumpkins and turnips on the 
same land. The rows are less than three feel 
apart and the hills less than two. As the corn 
is forward, if it be cut up at the ground and 
shocked, when the grain is well glazed the crop 
will doubtless be belter than it will if the stalks 
be cut a little before this time, and it will let in 
the sun so as to give a good growth to the tur- 
nips. — Boston Cultivator. 

These ingredients, lime, salt, and ashes, are 
the principal agents emploj'ed in "Bommer's 
process," which we verily believe is to effect 
wonders for the agriculture of the country. 



For the Southern Planter. 

MECKLENBURG AGRICULTURAL HOLE 
AND CORNER CLUB. 

J\lr. Editor^ — At a meeting of the Upper 
Coiner Agricultural Club of Mecklenburg con- 
vened on Saturday, the 26th instant, at the 
house of the subscriber, for the purpose of eat- 
ing peaches and melons, and looking at the to- 
bacco crop, after hearing the editorial comment 
on the report on the farm of Dr. Paul C. Vena- 
ble in the last number of the Southern Planter, 
the Club unanimously adopted the following 
resolution, and offer it for publication. 
Yery respectfully, 

A. C. Morton. 

C. T. Botts, Esq. 

Sir, — By order of the Club we are required 
to give you the information contained in the re- 
solution which follows, and we take pleasure in 
discharging the duty imposed upon us : 

"Resolved, That Dr. Howel L. Jeffries, Dr. 
Paul C. Venable and Anderson C. Morton, be 
a committee to inform Mr. Bolts, of the South- 
ern Planter, that the Club feel flattered by the 
interest expressed by him in their proceedings, 
and would be happy not only to have his con- 
tinued co-operation in the great cause of agri- 
cultural improvement, but to see him and give 
him the right hand of fellowship at any of our 
Club dinners — and also to inform him that it is 
the uniform practice of the members of our Club 
to carry corn to mill in both ends of the bag, 
and that however much we venerate our ances- 
tors, we utterly eschew and repudiate, not our 
debts, but the old system of galling and exco- 
riating our lands — and that if he will come to 
see us, we will show him some clover fields, 
meadows, muttons, veals, peaches and melons 
that will make his mouth water for a month." 

The Committee beg leave to add for them- 
selves their best wishes for you and the success 
of your valuable periodical. 
Very respectfully, 

Paul C. Venable. 
Howel L. Jeffries. 
Anderson C. Morton. 

Bluestone, August 29, 1843. 

We are much obliged to the Club for the li- 
beral and handsome manner in which the}' have 
been pleased to pardon the almost unwarranta- 
ble liberty we took with the report of their com- 
mittee. If ever circumstances should permit 
us to visit the county of Mecklenburg, the 
greatest pleasure we should anticipate would 
be the making the personal acquaintance of ihe 
members of the Mecklenburg Hole and Corner 
Club. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



219 



For the Southern Planter. 
YIELD OF INDIAN CORN. 

JMr. Editor, — I see that the Cultivator has 
rather vauntingly put forth a list of some forty 
individuals, who have raised upwards of an 
hundred bushels of corn to the acre. I also ob- 
serve that these wonders were all achieved north 
of the Potomac. Now, I am not exactly like 
the Kentuckian who bragged that the water in 
his native State was wetter than it could be 
found elsewhere, but I am too good a patriot to 
permit a brag to go round without saying some- 
thing for my own country. This, then, I will 
say for the people of Virginia and North Caro- 
lina, that I believe they can beat any people 
upon the face of the earth in cultivating poor 
land. God knows, if experience is of any va- 
lue, they ought to be peifect. And in fact, I 
believe there are many of them that can, and 
do, get an average of five bushels to the acre 
where Liebig himself could'nt get one. I have 
met with some long, lank, sun-burnt fellows, of 
six feet high, and still growing 1 believe, who 
can tell you the only way in the world to get a 
barrel of nubbins off a certain piece of land, 
and who, upon his own ground, could beat the 
world in making corn. 

The Cultivator intimates that it could have 
made its list still longer, and we all know a long 
list is something, especially in the bragging 
line. Let him, then, do his best, and I will en- 
gage for every man he can produce, north of 
the Potomac, who raises a hundred bushels to 
the acre, to find two at the South that do not get 
five; so we will beat him in length of list at 
least. 

In the list referred to in the Cultivator, except 
on the virgin lands of Kentucky and Ohio, this 
product is confined to little patches. Nor do I 
believe that in any of the older States such a 
yield is attainable, except at great expense and 
the consumption of fertilizing manures that 
would exhaust upon a few acres all the attaina- 
ble means of an ordinary farmer. But I do be- 
lieve, that there are thousands of acres of our 
own lands now yielding less than five bushels 
to the acre, that, by a judicious system of im- 
provement and a concentration of means upon 
a smaller space, might be made to yield a per- 
manent, average of ten or twelve barrels to the 
acre. He would be a public benefactor, who 
would by actual experiment demonstrate this 
fact to the people of Virginia. I do not mean 
the fact, that, by annual hauling of manure 
from our towns, land can be made to yield ten 
barrels of corn to the acre, but that by a judi- 
cious system of cultivation, the resources of the 
farm itself will produce this yield. There is no 
man who would not be willing to exchange a 
hundred acre3 of land yielding five barrels to 
the acre, for fifty acres that would give him ten 



barrels to the acre ; and ye\, by selling the fifty 
acres and bestowing the proceeds on the remain- 
ing fifty, I believe, in nine cases out of ten, the 
same result might be obtained. 

The old notion .that large crops of corn can- 
not be made in this climate, that it must have 
"distance" to keep it from " firing," begins to 
be exploded. Firing is now considered to be a 
failure for want of nourishment, which a hot 
sun quickly evaporates from a shallow soil: 
therefore the hotter the sun, the deeper and richer 
should be the soil, and the greater will be the 
crop of corn. 

It is astonishing what an effect one individual 
will have upon a neighborhood. I have some- 
times seen a clever improving farmer settle down 
in a province of Bceotian darkness: at first he 
is looked upon with distrust, and even derision, 
if he is known to get an agricultural newspaper 
from the post office: but in a little while, the 
result of superior management becomes appa- 
rent, and one of two consequences ensues: his 
neighbors either begin to imitate him, or they 
remove their quarters. 

It is utterly impossible that any man can 
continue to make one barrel alongside of an- 
other, who makes twelve to the acre ; he must 
either j T ield or fly, and in this way it is, that one 
good example often reforms a neighborhood. 
Your obedient servant, 

A Reformer. 



FALL PLOUGHING. 
To the Editor of the American Fanner: 

Sir, — I have been for a long time anxious to 
controvert, as I conceive, a very erroneous sj r s- 
tem in agriculture, but one which seems to be 
adopted by most of the writers for your valua- 
ble journal. I allude to the too prevalent opi- 
nion that clay soils should be broken up in the 
fall in order to prepare the land, by the action 
of the frost, for the next year's crop. Now my 
limited experience has taught me that there is 
no system more injurious than this, and had not 
distrust of my ability to do the subject justice, 
restrained me, I should long since have pro- 
tested against a practice so destructive to the 
soil. I confess that my reluctance to attack a 
system, so generally advocated, has been much 
increased by finding this doctrine partially ad- 
vocated in a work, which should be in the hands 
of every agriculturist, published by the late 
Judge Buel, and called "the Farmer's Compa- 
nion." But as I believe the true interests of 
agriculture require that all subjects should be 
thoroughly discussed and tried before they are 
engrafted upon the system, I feel compelled to 
raise my feeble voice to contend that there is 
nothing more destructive to land than exposure, 
without some covering, to the effects of either 
frost or sun, and that no land intended for culti- 



220 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



vation the next year can be benefited by fall 
ploughing, but must, on the contrary, be very 
materially injured. Most of the advocates of 
this system insist that by fall ploughing the clay 
soils will be pulverized through the winter by 
the frost, and thereby rendered more easy of 
cultivation in the spring. If such is the fact, 
which I deny, the clay on my farm must be of 
a very peculiar nature, because I have, now be- 
fore my eyes, a field most of which was ploughed 
in fine weather in January, but the cold weather 
coming on prevented its completion, and the re- 
sidue was ploughed in the spring, and it took 
much more time to put the land, ploughed in 
the winter, in good order for corn than it did 
that which was ploughed in the spring. The 
winter ploughed land, in place of being well 
pulverized by the frost, had run together like 
putty, and if the advocates of fall ploughing 



could only see the difference in the looks of the 
crop and land at present, I think we should no 
longer disagree. The corn on the land ploughed 
in the spring is so far superior to the other lhat 
I am constantly asked the cause of the differ- 
ence by strangers, and the land has been much 
easier to cultivate during the whole season, than 
the other. If these remarks shall elicit some- 
thing from more experienced agriculturists on 
this subject, my object will be fully attained, 
and the cause of agriculture advanced. 

C. 
We know many very judicious farmers who 
go out and out against fall ploughing, upon the 
principle of covering instead of exposing the sur- 
face ; but even amongst its advocates, that kind 
of clay soil which " runs together," is almost 
universally excepted. 



SAND HILL HOG 




We transcribe from the " Western Farmer" 
the following capital description of an old stock, 
under a new name. The species is not alto- 
gether extinct in this region, but probably it in- 
creases in value as it grows scarcer. If Mr. 
Bement, or any of our northern friends, should 
desire to cross their Berkshires with this improv- 
ing breed, we think we can undertake to pro- 
cure them as pure a specimen of genuine blood 
as ever rooted in the sand hills of Alabama. 

Jllabama, July 10, 1842. 
Mr. Editor, — There has been much said and 
written of late years about imported, and what are 
called improved, breeds of pigs ; and I hope you 



will indulge me, in a few practical remarks on 
this subject. I am a practical farmer, and have 
profiled much by experience a-nd observation, 
and think I have learned something about "fancy 
stock." 

The " animal" which I wish to bring to the 
especial notice of your readers, is, what may 
be called the "Cotton Planter," or what is 
commonly called the " Sand Hill Hog." 

I am sorr3 r that I have not a specimen before 
me ; but I give you above, from- memory, a pret- 
ty faithful sketch of a favorite old stock boar of 
one of my neighbors, who, I think, possesses 
the " purest blood" in South Alabama. The 
picture is the more faithful, as you will perceive 
that his ears bear strong evidence of having 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



221 



been gnawed off by dogs while depredating on 
corn fields. 

There are many disputes about the charac- 
teristic forms of different breeds of hogs, but 
about this there can be no dispute — the blood 
speaks for itself. Just look at the magnificent 
animal above, and say whether any one can be 
so stupid as to confound it with the Berkshire or 
any other living animal 1 The long, clean, 
bony head — the thin, flat, lean body — the deli- 
cate razor-blade legs — the remarkably small 
hams — the straight tail, all bespeak genuine 
bloody color in a hog is nothing ; the form is 
the thing we are all after. 

About the origin of this hog there is much 
difference of opinion amongst naturalists ; but 
the most plausible opinion is, that it is descended 
from what is called the " Sanglier," or wild 
boar, in France. It is found still in many parts 
of Europe, and is the hog from which the cele- 
brated Westphalia hams are made. The meat 
of ours is quite as delicate, and never has that 
gross, disgusting taste which our western bacon 
has ; it is the only thing of the kind a gentle- 
man should eat ; and, as you well know, it is 
from this hog that the delicious hams of Caro- 
lina are made. 

They require little or no feeding. On my 
father's farm, (which was in the Sand Hills,) 
my business was minding the hogs, when a 
boy ; and I very well recollect that from two to 
three shirt tails full of corn, was considered a 
very liberal allowance a year, per head. They 
have ihe rare talent of providing for themselves, 
and if food is not to be found in the woods, they 
are sure to find it in somebody's corn field — their 
flatness giving them great facility in slipping 
through fences. 

I have never seen the experiment tried my- 
self, but I am informed by my friend, Col. John 
Smith, (who has been extensively engaged in 
stock breeding,) that a very remarkable, and in 
fact almost incredible transmogrification is pro- 
duced in the " Sand Hill Hog," by putting him 
up when young, and feeding him bountifully on 
corn. The form is made to assume a marvel- 
lous resemblance to the Berkshire ! ! and the tail, 
which is naturally straight, is made to curl as 
beautifully as the ringlet of a young lady. 

But the most valuable and characteristic trait 
remains still to be told, viz: his great activity 
and speed ! It is well known at the South that 
the negro is the natural enemy of the whole 
hog race — it is indispensably necessary that we 
should have a hog that can out run a negro, fair 
race, and, as they say in Kentucky, a negro 
"can't hold a torch for a Sand Hill hog to run 
by." This remarkable and important fact, was 
first brought to my notice by Gen. Wade Hamp- 
ton, who was a great connoisseur and had a 
great fancy for all kinds of fine stock. As he 



expressed it, a duck-legged Berkshire stood no 
chance on a cotton plantation. 

Yours, &c. N. 

P. S. — If you or any of the breeders in your 
section, wish to have some of the genuine 
'Cotton Planter' stock, I shall be happy to supply 
you, on reasonable terms. Prices from $100 to 
$500, according to age and form. Breeders 
cannot be too cautious about the character of 
the person from whom they purchase. I be- 
lieve I can conscientiously say, (and my neigh- 
bors will bear me out,) that I never intention- 
ally told a falsehood, when the truth would an- 
swer my purpose ; and every body here knows 
that my stock of hogs is unsurpassed. 



GOOCHLAND FAIR. 
We lake great pleasure in announcing to the 
public that a fair will be held by the Agricul- 
tural Society of Goochland at their Courthouse, 
on the 9 th day of November next, when the 
usual premiums will be bestowed. We hope 
the attendance may be full, as we are sure the 
exhibition will be highly interesting. 



For the Southern Planter. 
GAPES. 

Mr. Editor, — As you are fond of " fried chick- 
ens," (Planter, page 186, August number,) and 
correctly state the cause of a prevailing disease 
among them, together with a remedy, but an 
ineffectual one, in my opinion, I will give you 
a theory of that cause, which will suggest a pre- 
ventive of the disease. The worms in the lungs 
of the chicken are produced from the inhalation 
of the eggs of the hen lice. The minute eggs 
are deposited on the feathers and down of the 
hen, and the chicken being hovered over by the 
hen, the eggs are drawn into the cells of the 
lungs at each inspiration, which hatch and pro- 
duce the worms, and the worms suffocate the 
chicken. 

Sulphur and tobacco about the nest of the 
hen, during incubation, and a perfectly clean 
hen-house, with lime in abundance sprinkled on 
the floor and roosts, will constitute an effectual 
preventive of the gapes. These articles, you 
perceive, are intended to destroy the lice of the 
hen, which being done, the worms and the gapes 
will never appear. 

A great variety of diseases in hogs and sheep, 
particularly, as well as in other animals, arise 
from a like cause. In fact, sir, this branch of 
pathology, has been greatly overlooked by wri- 
ters on the diseases of man and the inferior ani- 
mals. Animalcules and their eggs, being inhaled 
into the cells of the lungs, and often swallowed, 
generate fatal diseases which are a'tributed to 



222 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



miasmata. Volumes might be written, illustrat- 
ing - this deeply interesting subject, but perhaps 
it would be foreign to your useful journal. 

Excuse this digression, as well as the appa- 
rent insignificance of the subject. Yet how 
beautiful and interesting does a little fact become, 
when it happens to be the nucleus, as it were, 
of a great principle. 

Yours respectfully, L. 



From the South "Western Farmer. 

CRAB GRASS HAY— RESULTS OF 
EXPERIMENT. 

Messrs. Editors, — Last winter I determined 
to make a number of experiments to increase 
the quantity of good food for my stock. Amongst 
others to see if the grass commonly called crab 
grass, could not be made a profitable substitute 
for the timothy of the North. I selected a piece 
of common oak ridge land, which had been in 
cultivation about five years, and in the early 
part of March caused it to be ploughed and 
cross ploughed with one of Hiram Sloop's best 
ploughs, running about six inches deep ; then 
harrowed smooth and fine with an iron-tooth 
harrow, and with this cultivation left it to pro- 
duce its crop of grass. On yesterday I finished 
my hay making and stacking. I measured the 
ground carefully, and found it contained three 
and a half acres (a fraction under.) I weighed 
an average load of the hay and find that I have 
obtained a few pounds over two and a fourth 
tons of hay (as good as I ever saw) to the acre. 

The expense of 'producing, curing and hous- 
ing I estimate as follows : 

Rent of three and a half acres of 
land at $2 per acre, $7 00 

Man and team six days ploughing 
and harrowing at $1, 6 00 

Two men two days mowing at 50 
cents per day, each, 2 00 

Eight hands two days curing, haul- 
ing, stacking and housing at 50 cenls 
per day each, 8 00 

Use of wagon one day, driver one 
of the 8 hands, 2 50 



15 50 



78 75 



Cost 
Value of product — Seven ton and 
seven-eighths hay at $10 per ton, 

Profit $53 25 

The above estimate of cost and value may 
not be satisfactory — the data are correct, and 
each man may make his own estimate. The 
product is above the quantity stated, for none of 
my people had ever seen an attempt to mow, 
and consequently the work was at first very 
badly done — probably a fourth of the grass left. 



They soon improved, and about half the ground 
was well mown. 

Query. May we not supply ourselves with 
hay, and sell to our stable keepers cheaper than 
we can import it from the North ? 1 think we 
can make, and send it to New Orleans on a fine 
profit. Daniel Mayes. 

Ml. Verd, Aug. 5, 1843. 

We have over and over again cut the crab 
grass from our corn fields, to which it seems 
indigenous, and Ave have ever found that 
our horses esteemed it a ban louche, for which 
they would leave any other kind of hay : its 
fattening qualities too are well known to those 
who have turned young colts into a corn field. 
But we have never cultivated this grass as a 
separate crop, nor would we, notwithstanding 
Mr. Mayes' imposing arraj T of figures, care to 
do so : for although as a feed we place the very 
highest estimate upon this grass, as an improver, 
it is worse than useless. To make it nutricious 
it must be permitted to go to seed, which ren- 
ders it an exhauster. Moreover, it disappears 
entirely with the first frost, leaving no sod, rob- 
bing the land and returning: nothing: to it. 



For the Southern Planter. 

PROPER DISPOSITION OF FARMING 
CAPITAL. 

Mr. Editor, — Every man in this country is 
more or less interested in the pursuit of agricul- 
ture ; and the business of a commission mer- 
chant has rendered me as deeply sensitive to its 
interests as if I were directly engaged in its pur- 
suit. After much consideration and attention, 
I am inclined to think that the want of success 
in this profession, proceeds from an error that I 
have frequently observed in my own. This 
consists in an attempt to do a larger business 
than is justified by the quantity of capital em- 
ployed. It is true, that sometimes a "lucky 
hit" in trade will make all right, but ninety-nine 
times out of a hundred, failure is the inevitable 
result of an expansion disproportionate to the 
quantity of capital to be commanded. 

How often do you see an individual with a 
limited capital embarking in the profession of a 
farmer, expend it all in the purchase of his land ; 
which is about as reasonable as it would be in 
a merchant to sink his whole capital in a ware- 
house, without leaving any for the purchase of 
goods. Neither the one nor the other would be 
wiser than the silly fellow, who expended his 
last cent in the purchase of a purse. 

I have grown grey in the pursuit of com- 
merce, and it may be deemed presumptuous in 
an individual engaged in one pursuit to pretend 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



223 



to advise those in another calling ; but the looker 
on can sometimes see what escapes the atten- 
tion of the player, and for the last forty years I 
have been a not inattentive or uninterested spec- 
tator of the progress of an art on which my own 
pursuits were founded, and with which they 
were so intimately blended. It seems to me, 
then, nothing would more promote the cause of 
agriculture than a judicious division of the ca- 
pital embarked in it. To make this division 
constitutes a rather difficult sum in arithmetic, 
one of the quantities only being known, but a 
practical man with a little calculation, can rea- 
dily approximate it without even a recourse to 
algebraical signs. Suppose an individual de- 
sires to engage in farming, and that he has, we 
will say, ten thousand dollars to embark in the 
business. The first object is to ascertain how I 
much land he should buy. Let him remember i 
that it is only a certain degree of fertility that j 
will pay for cultivation, and that within reason- j 
able limits, the greater the fertility the greater 
will be the profit upon the investment. My ad- 1 
vice to him would be to be satisfied with nothing 
that would not yield eight barrels of corn and 
twenty bushels of wheat, at least, to the acre, j 
We will suppose that such land in the location 
he chooses will cost forty dollars an acre : very 
well, let him reserve four thousand dollars to 
purchase negroes, stock, implements, &c. and to 
afford him floating capital for at least one year's 
operations : this leaves him six thousand dollars 
for the purchase of one hundred and fifty acres 
of land. It is a small farm, it is true, and the 
owner could not be esteemed a great landed pro- ! 
prietor; but it is well slocked, well provided,' 
very productive, and the owner with every thing 
well fixed and comfortable, free from debt and j 
with a provision for accidents, is enabled to de- 
vote his whole energies to his business. How 
certain in such a case would be the annual im- 
provement of his land, or the annual extension 
of his acres. 

But let us contrast with this operation the 
course usually pursued by those investing in 
real estate. From an inordinate desire that 
seems to be born with us here in the South, to 
be the owners of " broad acres," the whole ca- 
pital is expended in an extensive and barren 
waste, or probably half the purchase money 
paid, and a debt incurred for the balance. Little 
or nothing left for stock or implements, which 
are probably bought on credit, and are frequent- 
ly of the rudest and poorest kind. Already 
saddled with a heavy debt, the interest on which 
begins to stare him in the face and haunt his 
imagination in his dreams, what does it avail to 
tell this poor wight of some improved imple- 
ment of agriculture or of a judicious system of 
husbandry? Why, if you advise hirn to pay 
a dollar a year for an agricultural newspaper, 
he replies, and with a great deal of truth indeed, 



that " he can't afford it." There is a perpetual 
struggle upon the part of this great land owner 
to keep body and soul together, and instead of 
ease, thrift, and improvement, he exhibits fiom 
3 - ear to year the increasing marks of care, po- 
verty and want ; until at last his great estate 
slips through his fingers and falls into the pos- 
session of soue individual, perhaps, who having 
the means of improvement, doubles or quadru- 
ples the product, and thereby makes the whole 
an excellent investment. 

It may be said that land worth forty dollars 
cannot always be found in situations to which 
particular circumstances may confine an indi- 
vidual. Let the purchaser then give ten dollars 
an acre for one hundred and fifty acres, and re- 
serve the balance of the six thousand dollars for 
improving it j he must be very unfortunate in- 
deed if he does not succeed in a few years in 
bringing it up to the forty dollar standard. — 
What I mean to maintain is, that it would form 
a much more profitable investment, generally 
speaking, to buy one hundred and fifty acres of 
such land for fifteen hundred dollars, keeping 
thirty-five hundred dollars to improve it, than to 
pay the whole six thousand dollars for six hun- ' 
dred acres. 

I have been led into these considerations by 
conversations which I have held with many of 
our farmers, who, apart from this common error 
into which they have fallen, are sound and ju- 
dicious men. I have found universally a much 
greater want of abilit}', than of desire, to im-. 
prove. I say ability to improve, because 1 be- 
lieve the improvement of poor land without mo- 
ney is a very slow business ; to a man in debt, 
it is unattainable. 

There are in Virginia a great many rich men 
owning extensive tracts of land that yield them 
little or no revenue. Suppose such an one 
would lay off a tract into farms of one hundred 
and fifty acres ; erect neat, cheap and convenient 
buildings, and offer them for rent on long leases 
to substantial, moral men, to be cultivated upon 
particular systems, prescribed by the landlord. 

By the purchase of a few good negro me- 
chanics, the buildings could be erected very 
economically, the material being generally to be 
found on the spot, and it seems to me that ten- 
ants could be readily obtained on terms that 
would make the investment an excellent one. — 
Fifteen hundred acres so disposed of, might, by 
judicious restrictions in the leases, be converted 
into a splendid estate in twenty years. If it 
only paid six per cent, on the improvements in 
the meantime, it would constitute a safe and 
capital investment. There are many good and 
substantial men in the country, who have capi- 
tal enough to farm it advantageous!}', if they 
could only rent good land on fair terms, who are 
sure to fall through when they attempt, with 
their limited means, to purchase for themselves. 



224 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



If these suggestions should excite the atten- 
tion of those much better qualified to discuss all 
the questions appertaining to the art of agricul- 
ture, than one, who has never been connected, 



except incidentally, with its pursuits, my object 
will have been attained. 

Your obedient servant, 

A Merchant. 



HALL'S PATENT HORSE POWER 




The engraving represents a horse power late- 
ly invented by Mr. H. G. Hall. It is of the 
treadmill character, and, as the patentee con- 
ceives, is infinitely superior to any other horse 
power in use. Its chief peculiarity consists in 
the particular form of the revolving floor and the 
use of friction rollers, by which the weight is 
entirely taken off the axletrees. 

We take particular pleasure in bringing to 
the consideration of our readers any improve- 
ment in horse powers ; for there is no machine 
for which there is a greater demand, and none 
in which improvement is more required. As at 
present constructed, they are heavy, expensive, 
and complicated, very liable to get out of order, 
and by no means adapted to the wants of the 
farmer. 

Of this machine of Mr. Hall's we are hardly 



prepared to speak, having seen nothing of it 
except a small model, which has impressed us 
with a very favorable opinion of its merits. If 
it is one half what the inventor claims for it, 
there must be a universal demand for it in the 
State of Virginia. 

It is only adapted to two horses, with which 
Mr. Hall asserts he will do all the work that 
can be accomplished with four upon any other 
machine. 

We understand that rights have already been 
sold in some thirty counties in the State, and 
that preparations are now making for building 
the machines in Rockbridge, Lynchburg, and 
other places. Our citizens will thus soon have 
an opportunity of settling its merits by that best 
of all tests, experience, and we shall be pleased 
to learn the result. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



225 



For the Southern Planter. 
BEEHIVES. 

Mr. Editor, — I find in your last Planter a re- 
quest from some individual for information upon 
the comparative merits of different beehives. I 
would recommend no hives to the gentleman 
wishing to make honey. Direct him to build a 
house eight by six, ceil it well, and have a door 
with lock and key, also two small windows, 
two feet in length, wide enough to allow the 
bees to pass through. In this house let him 
place, all of his hives. The darkness of the 
house prevents the foolish rattling of tin pans 
and bells, also the destruction of valuable fruit 
trees and ornamental branches. After the bees 
fill the hives, they will continue iheir working 
operations on the side of the house, or on the 
benches, never swarming again. In addition 
to this, muriate of soda or common salt, the 
most powerful preventive to the worm, can be 
placed under each hive, which could not be used 
effectually in a situation exposed to wet. The 
room should be made as dark as possible, ad- 
mitting no light except through the windows. 
By attending to the above, no man will want 
for honey. 

Yours, respectfully, Mohican. 

Mohican, Aug. 10, 1843. 



The following is taken from an old number 
of the " Cultivator," and is worthy of preserva- 
tion both as an admirable imitation of a style 
which has been rendered immortal by the say- 
ings and doings of- Sam'l Suck, Esq., and for 
the intrinsic merits of the matter. We rather 
think Nick Bradshaw has " imigrated to a 
warmer climate," and we are very much mis- 
taken if we did not meet with him about three 
weeks ago on a piece of land that "had run 
out," not more than forty miles from the city of 
Richmond. 

A LOOKING GLASS. 
J. Buel, Eso_. 

Dear Sir. — When I was a boy, I can well 
remember how I used to be induced to wash my 
smutty face, by having a looking glass held be- 
fore my eyes. For the same purpose, I have 
extracted the following picture of "a farmer," 
from the writings of that most eccentric and 
excellent writer, "Samuel Slick," in the hopes 
that if any of your readers should happen to 
see any part of himself therein, that he will 
improve by the view. Here it is. 

"* * * That critter, when he built that 

wrack of a house, (they call 'em a half house 

here,) intended to add as much more to it some 

of these days, and accordingly put his chimbley 

Vol. III.— 29 



outside, to sarve the new part as well as the 
old. He has been too " busy" ever since, you 
see, to remove the banking put there the first 
fall, to keep the frost out of the cellar, and con- 
sequently it has rotted the sills off, and the house 
has fell away from the chimbley. and he has 
had to prop it up with that great stick of timber, 
to keep it from coming down on its knees alto- 
gether. All the winders are boarded up, but 
one, and that might as well be, for little light 
can penetrate them old hats and red flannel pet- 
ticoats. Look at the bam ; its broken back roof 
has let the gable eends fall in, where they stand 
staring at each other, as if they would like to 
come closer together (and' no doubt they soon 
will,) to consult what was best to be done to 
gain their standing in the world. Now look at 
the stock ; there's your " improved short horns." 
Them dirty looking, half starved geese, and 
them draggle-tailed fouls that are so poor the 
foxes would be ashamed to steal them — that lit- 
tle lantern jawed, long leg'd, rabbit ear'd runt of 
a pig, that's so weak it cant curl its tail up — that 
old cow frame standing there with her eyes shut 
and looking for all the world as tho' she's con- 
templating her latter eend — (and with good 
reason too,) and that other reddish } 7 ellow, long 
wooled varmint, with his hocks higher than his 
belly, that looks as if he had come to her fune- 
ral, and which by way of distinction, his owner 
calls a horse — is all " the stock," I guess, that 
this farmer supports upon a hundred acres of as 
good natural soil as ever laid out door. Now 
there's a specimen of "Native Stock." I reck- 
on he'll imigrate to a warmer climate soon, for 
you see while he was waiting to finish that 
thing you see the hen's roosting on, that he calls 
a sled, he's had to burn up all the fence round 
the house, but there's no danger of cattle break- 
ing into his fields, and his old muley has larnt 
how to sneak round among the neighbors' fields 
o' nights, looking for an open gate or bars, to 
snatch a mouthful now and then. For if j'ou 
was to mow that meadow with a razor and 
rake it with a fine tooth comb, you couldn't get 
enough to winter a grasshopper. 'Spose we 
drive up to the door and have a word of chat 
with Nick Bradshaw, and see if he is as pro- 
mising as outside appearances indicate. 

Observing us from the. only light of glass re- 
maining in the window, Nick lifted the door and 
laying it aside, emerged from his kitchen, parlor 
and smokehouse, to reconnoitre. He was a 
tall, well built, athletic man, of great personal 
strength and surprising activity, who looked 
like a careless good natured fellow, fond of talk- 
ing, and from the appearance of the little old 
black pipe which stuck in one corner of his 
mouth, equally so of smoking, and as he ap- 
peared to fancy us to be candidates, no doubt he 
was already enjoying in prospective the com- 
forts of a neighboring tap room-. Jist look at 



226 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



him — happy critter — his hat crown has lost the 
top out, and the rim hangs like the bail of a buck- 
et. His trowsers and jacket show clearly that 
he has had clothes of other colors in other days. 
The untan'd mocasin on one foot, which con- 
trasts with the old shoe on the other, shows him 
a friend to domestic manufactures-; and his beard 
is no bad match for the wooly horse yonder. — 
See the waggish independent sort of a look the 
critter has, with his hat on one side and hands 
in his breeches pockets, contemplating the beau- 
ties of his farm. You may talk about patience 
and fortitude, philosophy and christian resigna- 
tion, and all that sort of thing till you are tired, 
but — ah, here he comes. Morning Mr. Brad- 
shaw — how's all home to-day ? Right comfort- 
able, (mark that — comfort in such a place,) I 
give thanks — come, light and come in. I'm 
sorry can't feed your hoss — but the fact is, tan't 
bin no use to try to raise no crops, late years, for 
body don't git half paid for their labor, these 
hard times. I raised a nice bunch of potatoes 
last year, and as I couldn't get nothing worth 
while for 'em in the fall, I thot I'de keep 'em till 
spring. But as frost, set in, while I was down 
town 'lection time, the boys didn't fix up the old 
cellar door, and this infarnal cold winter froze 
'em all. l'ts them what yon smell now, and 
I've just been telling the old woman that we 
most turn too and carry them out of the cellar, 
'fore long they'll make some of us sick like 
enough — for there's no telling what may happen 
to a body late years. And if the next legislator 
don't do something for us the Lord knows but 
the whole country will starve, for it seems as 
tho' the land now a da}'s won't raise nothing. 
It's actually run out. Why, I should think by 
the look of things round your neighbor Hor- 
ton's, that his land produced pretty well. Why, 
yes — and it's a miricle too, how he gets it — for 
every body round here said, when he took up 
that tract, it was the poorest in the town. — 
There are some folks that thinks he has deal- 
ings with the " blackart," for't does seem as 
tho' the more he work'd his land, the better it 
got. 

Now, here was a mystery — but an easy ex- 
planation of Mr. Slick soon solved the matter, 
at least to my mind. The fact is, says Mr. 
Slick, a great deal of this country is run out. — 
And if it want for the lime, marsh-mud, sea- 
weed, salt sand, and what not, they've got here 
in such quantities, and a few Mortons to apply 
it, the whole country would run out and dwindle 
away to just such great, good natured, good-for- 
nothing, do nothing, fellows as this Nick Brad- 
shaw, and his woolly horse, and woolless sheep, 
and cropless farm, and comfortless house, if in- 
deed such a great wind rack of loose lumber, is 
worthy the name of a house. 

Now, by way of contrast to all this, do you 
see that neat little cottage looking house on 



yonder hummock, away to the right there, where 
you see those beautiful shade trees. The house 
is small, but it is a ivhole house. That's what I 
call about right — flanked on both sides by an 
orchard of best, grafted fruit — a tidy flower gar- 
den in front, that the galls see to, and a most 
grand sarce garden jist over there, where it takes 
the wash of the buildings, nicely sheltered by 
that bunch of shrubbery. Then see them 
everlasting big barns — and by gosh, there 
goes fourteen dairy cows — as sleek as moles. 
Them flowers, honej'suckles and rose bushes, 
shows what sort of a family lives there, just 
as plain as straws show which way the wind 
blows. 

Them galls an't 'tarnally racing round to 
quiltin and husking frolics, their feet exposed in 
thin slips to the mud, and their honor to a thin- 
ner protection. No, no, take my word for it, 
when 3'ou see galls busy about such things to 
home, they are what our old minister used to 
call "right minded." Such things keep them 
bus}', and when folks are busy about their own 
business, they've no time to get into mischief. 
It keeps them healthy, too, and as cheerful as 
larks. I've a mind we'll 'light here, and view 
this citizen's improvements, and we shall be 
welcomed to a neat substantial breakfast, that 
would be worthy to be taken as a pattern by 
any farmer's wife in America. 

We were met at the door by Mr. Horton who 
greeted my friend Slick with the warm saluta- 
tion of an old acquaintance, and expressed the 
satisfaction of one habitually hospitable, for the 
honor of my visit. He was a plain, healthy, 
intelligent looking man, about fifty, dressed as a 
farmer should be, with the stamp of " Home- 
spun" legible upon every garment, not forget- 
ting a very handsome silk handkerchief, the 
work throughout of his oldest daughter. The 
room into which we were ushered, bore the 
same stamp of neatness and comfort that the 
outside appearance indicated. A substantial 
home-made carpet covered the floor, and a well 
filled book-case and writing desk, were in the 
right place, among the contents of which 
I observed several agricultural periodicals. I 
was particularly struck with the scrupulously 
neat and appropriate attire of the wife and two 
intelligent, interesting daughters, that were bu- 
sily engaged in the morning operations of the 
dairy. After partaking of an excellent substan- 
tial breakfast, Mr. Horton invited us to walk 
over his farm, which, though small, was every 
part in such a fine state of cultivation, that he 
did not even express a fear of "starving, unless 
the legislature did something to keep the land 
from running out." 

We bade adieu to this happy family, and pro- 
ceeded on our journey fully imprssed with the 
contrast between a good and bad farmer, and 
for my own part, perfectly satisfied with the 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



227 



manner that Mr. Slick had taken to impress it 
indelibly upon my own mind. 

Mr. Slick seemed wrapped in contemplation 
of the scenes of the morning for a long time. — 
At length he broke forth in one of his happy 
strains. "The bane of this country, 'Squire, 
and indeed of all America, is having too much 
land — they run over more ground than they 
cultivate, and crop the land year after year, 
without manure, till it is no wonder that " it's 
run out." A very large portion of land in A me 
rica has been "run out," by repeated grain 
crops and bad husbandry, until a great portion 
of this great country is in a fair way to be ru- 
ined. The two Carolinas and Virginny are co- 
vered witb places that are "run out," and are 
given up as ruined, and there area plagey site 
too many such places all over New England, 
and a great many other States. We havn't the 
surplus of wheat that we used to have in the 
United States, and it'll never be so plenty while 
there are so many Nick Biadshaws in the 
country. 

The fact is, 'Squire, edecation is ducedly ne- 
glected. True, we have a site of schools and 
colleges, but they an't the right kind. That 
same Nick Bradshaw has been clean through 
one on 'em, and 'twas there that he larnt that 
infarnal lazy habit of drinking and smoking, 
that has been the ruin of him ever since. I 
wouldn't give an old fashioned swing-tail clock 
to have my son go to college where he couldn't 
work enough to am his own living, and iarn 
how to work it right tu. 

It aciually frightens me when I think how 
the land is worked and skinned, till they take 
the gizzard out on't, when it might be growing 
better every day. Thousands of acres every 
year are turned inlo barrens, while an everlast- 
ing stream of our folks are streaking it off " to 
the new country," where about half on 'em af- 
ter wading about among the tadpoles, to catch 
cat fish enough to live on a year or two, actu- 
ally shake themselves to death with that ever- 
lasting cuss of all new countrys, the fever and 
agur. It's a melancholy fact, 'Squire, though 
our people don't seem to be sensible of it, and 
you nor I may not live to see it, but if this aw- 
ful robbin' of posterity goes on for another hun- 
dred years, as it has for the last, among the far- 
mers, we'll be a nation of paupers. Talk about 
the legislature doing something, I'll tell you 
what I'd have them do. Paint a great parcel 
of guide boards, and nail 'ern up over overy le- 
gislature, church and school-house door in Ame- 
rica, with these words on 'em in great letters — 
"The best land in America, by constant cropping, 
without manure, will run out." And I'd have 
'ern, also, provide means to lam every child how 
to read it, cause it's no use to try to lam the old 
ones — they're tu sot in their ways. They are 
on the constant stretch with the land they have, 



and all the time trying to git more, without im- 
proving any on't. Yes, yes, yes, too much land 
is the ruin of us all. 

Although you will find a thousand more good 
things among the writings of "The Clock- 
maker," I hope you will not look for a literal 
copy of the foregoing. And if ever this meets 
the eye of the writer of the " Saying and Do- 
ings of Samuel Slick," I beg him to excuse me 
for the liberty I have taken with his own lan- 
guage. 

I remain you agricultural friend, 

Solon Robinson. 



THE SCIENCE OF AGRICULTURE. 

The science of agriculture is yet in its infan- 
cy. The art has been practised for 6,000 3'ears. 
But that art must be in a very imperfect state 
which is not sustained by science; for what is 
science, but a knowledge of general princi- 
ples which serve to guide us in the practice of 
an art ? These general principles can never be 
obtained with certainty but from a knowledge 
of all the facts, or as they are technically called, 
[he phenomena, connected with a subject. Some- 
times in the absence of such knowledge, inge- 
nious guesses, properly called hypotheses are 
formed, but it is not until all the facts are known, 
and from them general principles and inevitable 
laws are deduced, that, a science can be said to 
be established. In this sense we have as yet 
no science of agriculture, and all we can boast 
of are a few hypotheses, some of which are 
very crude indeed. In truth, we have not yet 
arrived at the facts which are the foundation, 
and of course we cannot yet erect the edifice. 
But the great difference between this and pre- 
ceding ages, is, that in our day a spirit has been 
awakened which leads directly to the investiga- 
tion of agricultural phenomena, and from them 
to the deduction of agricultural laws. 

But as we have remarked before, there is no 
subject the phenomena of which are so myste- 
riously concealed, or so slowly developed, as 
those attendant upon agriculture : they are dis- 
cernible only to the practical farmer ; and to 
him only when endowed with powers of the 
greatest patience and investigation. When we 
reflect how many different statements are made 
with respect to the simplest fact in agriculture, 
all proceeding too from the most respectable 
sources, we may see at once how far we are 
from attaining yet a knowledge of the pheno- 
mena, which must be clearly ascertained before 



228 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



we can pretend to establish the science of agri- 
culture. All that we can do now is to observe 
diligently and report faithfully these phenomena 
as they occur, and the great value of agricul- 
tural papers, in our opinion, consists in the re- 
cords they will afford to the future philosopher 
of well authenticated facts, from which he may 
deduce principles that will illumine the darkness 
in which its votaries of the present day are 
groping. But to attain this consummation, we 
must ascertain the facts. How is this to be 
done in the multitude of contradictory statements 
with which we are overwhelmed 1 Nothing 
can be ascertained as long as the statement of 
to-day is unsettled by the statement of to-mor- 
row, coming from as authentic a source and 
carrying with it an equal weight of authority. 
There is only one way to settle these vexed 
questions ; they should no longer be left to in- 
dividual statements, but associations should be 
formed, who should institute experiments upon 
such disputed points as circumstances might 
dictate, and who, mindful of the responsibility 
devolved upon them, should diligently observe 
and carefully report the result in such a manner 
that the record should be made public for the 
present generation, and preserved for the next. 
If this plan were pursued with the zeal and ar- 
dor which has marked its adoption in particular 
instances, we should soon be furnished with 
stores from which principles might be deduced 
to revolutionize the art of agriculture. 



SAVING SEED CORN. 

Very few planters have paid that attention to 
the selection of seed for planting, that their own 
interests demand. It is a principle of vegetable 
as well as of animal life, that "like produces 
like." Every one who raises good stock, is not 
only aware of the truth of this, but he carries 
it out in his selections of animals to breed from. 
He selects his finest calves and pigs, and saves 
them from the slaughter pen, because, being 
well formed, largo and thrifty, he believes that 
their offspring will possess these qualities. But 
although the same thing is true in the vegeta- 
ble kingdom, he seldom thinks of availing him- 
self of the advantage of a judicious selection 
in his seed for planting. Some few have tried 
it, and by care, and a judicious selection, year 
after year, have brought their corn to a high 
state of perfection ; and their neighbors, seeing 
their success, have eagerly sought these im- 
proved seed. It would do well the first year, 
but after that gradually deteriorate to the com- 
mon standard, and the whole thing would be 



pronounced a humbug, The humbug, how- 
ever, was not in the original improvement, but 
in the subsequent neglect. The improver com- 
menced by carefully selecting from his field 
those stalks that bore two fine, large ears, and 
laying them carefully aside for planting. The 
next year he selected with as much care from 
the product of his former selection ; and by 
keeping up this system, reaped each year a 
richer harvest. Whereas, the other, who com- 
menced with his neighbor's fine seed, by gather- 
ing indiscriminately into his barn, and selecting 
his seed from the mass in the spring, would be 
as likely to get the ears from an inferior as from 
a good stalk, and thus his seed would, by a law 
of nature, deteriorate to the common standard. 
We believe that it is perfectly practicable to 
have almost every stalk bearing two good ears, 
on land where but one would be produced ac- 
cording to the usual method of selecting seed. 
This is not a mere opinion. It has been tried 
repeatedly, and with entire success, by various 
persons. What has been called the Dunton, 
the Cook, and the Williams corn, have all owed 
their celebrity to the judicious selection of seed 
for a series of years, by the respective gentle- 
men whose names they bear. True, it requires 
some little trouble to select every year ; but every 
planter should have enough of professional pride 
in improving his system of husbandry, to take 
the necessary trouble especially when he is so 
richly repaid by an increased harvest. 

Columbia Planter. 



For the Southern Planter. 
MECKLENBURG HOLE AND CORNER CLUB. 

Mr. Editor. — Herewith you will receive a 
report made by a Committee of a Club upon 
the farm of B W. Leigh, Esq., which we 
should be glad to see published in your valua- 
ble paper. 

Yours most respectfully, 

R. A. Puryear, Cor. Sec'ry 
Of the Mecklenburg Hole and Corner Club, No. 2. 

Oakley, Mecklenburg, 2lst Aug. 1843. 

The Committee appointed to examine the 
farm of B. W. Leigh, Esq., have performed that 
duty, and report, that Mr. Leigh's farm, as 
known to most of our Club, was formerly the 
property of Mr. John Nelson. The most of it 
was cleared by him, and cultivated on the old 
plan, except that it was preserved by hill- 
side trenching, executed with more than ordi- 
nary skill. When taken possession of by the 
present proprietor, there was scarcely any ma- 
nured surface, and no attention had been paid 
to the cultivation of the artificial grasses. — 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



229 



-The present appearance of the farm evinces 
that great diligence has been used in rear- 
ing these grasses, and particularly clover, to 
which Mr. Leigh gives the preference over all 
other meliorating crops. He has successfully 
adopted the plan of keeping up his tobacco 
land with clover and plaster, and entertains the 
opinion, that any land adapted to the growth' 
of clover may, with the aid of plaster, be im- 
proved to an almost unlimited extent. Mr. 
Leigh has, in fact, by the use of clover, plaster 
and other manures, made rapid progress in the 
improvement of his estate, and if he perseveres, 
there is no doubt, that in a few years, he will 
have the satisfaction of seeing the product of his 
estate doubled, although he is now reaping as 
abundant fruits of his skilll and enterprise, as 
any of his neighbors. He has nearly all his 
land in clover, and intends to continue seeding 
until the whole of it is seeded. The cultivated 
surface affords unequivocal evidence of agricul- 
tural skill and personal attention, well worthy 
of imitation. His corn field is clear and effi- 
ciently cultivated. His tobacco land is well 
prepared and planted. The committee differ 
with Mr Leigh in regard to the mode of laying 
off the corn rows between the hill-side trenches. 
Mr. Leigh lays off his rows by the upper-side 
of the trench, thus throwing the short rows on 
the lower side of the trench above, and exposing 
the land in a greater degree to the pernicious 
effect of washing rains. He assigns the fol- 
lowing reason for the plan he pursues: That if 
in his sandy land the short rows are emptied 
into the ditch, the ditch will fill up, and subject 
the lands to greater damage than is likely to re- 
sult from the plan he now pursues. This is a 
subject well worthy of inquiry and discussion, 
and one to which the attention of the Club is 
particularly invited, 

The committee were struck with the neat- 
ness and attention evinced in regard to the plan- 
tation tools. They were good and well taken 
care of, and proved (what ought to be seen on 
every farm,) that there was a place for every 
thing, and that every thing was in its place. — 
This is a subject that the committee cannot too 
highly recommend to the attention of the Club. 
One of the great errors of Virginia manage- 
ment is the clumsy construction and abuse of 
the implements of the farm. A little neatness 
in construction and care in the preservation of 
them, will save much of time, labor and money. 

Mr. Leigh's attention to his stock is another 
feature in his management worthy of note. His 
horses are always in fine order, and when at 
work are neatly and carefully geared, so as 
to avoid rubbing or galling, and insure good 
work. He 13 successful in raising pork, and 
supplies abundantly the demands of his family. 

The committee must not omit to mention Mr. 
Leigh's wheat crop, which was truly a fine one, 



and clearly proved that good management in 
the preparation of the land, could overcome any 
supposed deficiency in its character, for the 
growth of that particlar crop. 

The committee would remark finally, that 
with the addition of Mrs. Leigh, and a more 
commodious dwelling, he would have great rea- 
son to be contented with his lot. 

P. C. Venable, 
H. L. Jeffries. 



From the Farmer's Cabinet. 
THE MILK CELLAR, 

It is a curious fact, but by no means unac- 
countable, that in many parts of the country the 
milk cellar is superceding the spring-house, — an 
appendage that has always been considered in- 
dispensable for the production of good butter, be 
the other qualifications of a farm and its appur- 
tenances what they might. While on a visit 
to Wilmington, Delaware, I had occasion to re- 
mark the excellence of the butter at my friend's 
table, when he replied, he always selected the best 
cellar butter at market, for the use of his family, 
giving it as his firm conviction, that butter made 
in a cellar, was far preferable to that made in a 
spring-house, its great recommendation being in 
keeping sweet and good much longer, and retain- 
ing its fine flavor and color to the last, which 
spring-house butter would not do. And he ob- 
served, it is customary to account for the greater 
price which some dairymen obtain for their but- 
ter in market, by saying it is cellar butter ; in- 
stancing the fact, in the high character of that 
made by Mr. Bryan Jackson, near New Castle, 
who never fails to obtain the top price of the 
market, for butler of the finest quality; he hav- 
ing a cellar that might be taken as a pattern for 
all that part of the country. Of course, it is 
readily admitted that much depends on the mode 
that is adopted in the management of the dairy, 
commencing with the breed and feed of cows, 
and ending with the manipulations of the but- 
ter ; but the idea is gaining ground, that the 
best butter is to be made in a cellar, all other cir- 
cumstances being equal : a remarkable revolu- 
tion in public opinion, truly. 

On reconnoitering among my friends, T found 
that several of them had substituted the cellar 
for the spring-house ; and I do not know one 
who is not satisfied with the arrangement, ex- 
cept it be where the cellar is dug in a damp soil, 
or has been most injudiciously opened to the 
well, the evaporation from which fills the room 
with constant moisture, which may be found ad- 
hering to the walls, ihe ceiling and the wood- 
work, the shelves, and particularly the inside of 
the door, causing a damp and clammy feel, and 
a nauseous, mouldy smell, which the butter im- 
bibes, to its lasting injury: indeed, no good but- 



230 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



ter can be made in such places. But another 
revolution is taking place, even amongst the ad- 
vocates for the cellar : it is no longer thought 
necessary to dig the cellar very deep, or to arch 
it over with stone or brick, with an air passage 
through it for ventilation — a vault, as it is more 
properly then termed: it is found sufficient, if the 
cellar be sunk a few feet below the surface of 
the earth, with a wide and shallow window on 
each side, the bottom of it level with the ground 
outside ; well protected with a wire guard to 
keep out vermin, large flies, &c, and provided 
with a close glazed sash, which can be opened 
and closed at pleasure, by lifting it up to the 
ceiling, which ought to be no higher than the 
top of the windows ; so that the air of the cel- 
lar can be ventilated by opening the windows 
of the two opposite sides, according to the way 
the wind sets at the time, shutting them quickly 
when necessary ; for in cold, windy, or damp 
weather, the sooner the windows are again 
closed, the better. Indeed to the management 
of the cellar in this particular, much of the suc- 
cess of dairying is to be attributed ; cold and 
damp air being unfriendly to the secretion of 
cream, and its proper and entire separation from 
the milk. Hence, therefore, it is a bad practice to 
set the pans on the brick floor of the cellar ; they 
ought always to be placed around on shelves, 
about three feet in height, and these, after being 
well washed in hot water, should be wiped quite 
dry, that no mouldy evaporation might take 
place to spoil the butter. The air near the floor 
of the dairy is always impure, being loaded with 
acid vapors and putrid exhalations, the density 
of which confines it to the lowest part of the 
room ; hence it is, that the doors of some dairies 
are made with lattice work, that the air near the 
floor, as well as that near the ceiling, might be 
ventilated at the same time; these lattices being 
furnished with sliding pannels, to be kept close 
in bad weather. The milk cellar ought always 
to have a northern aspect, and be well shaded by 
trees, not growing too near the windows, so as 
to impede a dry current of air, or to create a 
moist atmosphere ; this consideration being of 
more importance than would readily be ima- 
gined. 

Cellars thus constructed and carefully attend- 
ed, will no doubt supercede the use of spring- 
houses generally, before many years have passed 
away ; by which the business of the dairy will 
be rendered more agreeable, less laborious, and 
far less inimical to the health of those, particu- 
larly of females, whose occupation it is to attend 
to its never ceasing duties. 

T. Miller. 

Delaware, June I3lh, 1843. 



INDUSTRY. 

The following anecdote may give encourage- 
ment to the industrious. Not long ago a coun- 



try gentleman had an estate of £100 a year, 
which he kept in his own hands until he found 
himself so much in debt, that, to satisfy his cre- 
ditors, he was obliged to sell the half and let the 
remainder to a farmer for twenty years. To- 
wards the expiration of the lease, the farmer 
coming one day to pay his rent, asked the gen- 
tleman whether he would sell his farm. " Why, 
will you buy it ?" said the gentleman. " If you 
will part with it, and we can agree," replied the 
farmer. " That is exceedingly strange," said 
the gentleman. Pray tell me how it happens 
that, while I could not live upon twice as much 
land, for which I pay no rent, you are regularly 
paying me a hundred pounds a year for your 
farm, and are able, in a few years, to purchase 
it ?" " The reason is plain," answered the far- 
mer, " you sat still and said go — I got up and 
said come — you laid in bed and enjoyed 3'our es- 
tate — I rose in the morning and minded my bu- 
siness." 



For the Southern Planter. 

Mr. Editor, — Some of your correspondents 
have been advocating the skinning old field pine 
for posts, others burning them into coal for ma- 
nure, but I prefer making coal of them for the 
purpose of curing tobacco. Suitable wood for 
curing tobacco has become scarce, and the labor 
of getting it to the barn is also considerable ; 
but the coal may be carried from the kiln with 
but little labor. I have seen stoves, flues, dec, 
in operation, but am of the decided impression 
that curing with coal, and a small portion of 
wood, is the most perfect system I have ever yet 
seen. It makes a strong regular heat, free from 
sweat, and will cure the leaf uniformly through 
the house. My mode of using it is, first, to put 
down, what we planters call, bed logs, kindle the 
fires in the usual way, and then keep them up 
with coal alone, until the leaf is cured ; the stalk 
and stem I cure with wood. The coal will burn 
more freely than a person unaccustomed to its 
use has any idea of, and those who have never 
adopted this mode of curing, will be almost cer- 
tain to fire too hard the first trial, but practice 
will guide him after that. My motive for using 
a portion of wood is, to get the benefit of the 
smoke, which is said to be a necessary preserva- 
tive to the plant. Three rows of fires, and never 
more than four, is sufficient for a house 20 by 
24 feet. I cured the last year about 8000 sticks 
from the produce of four ordinary kilns, with 
the addition of wood, as above stated ; and when 
the seasons are favorable for making tobacco, I 
get liberal prices. 

Whilst on this subject, I will state that I think 
it a great error to have tobacco houses so close 
as to admit of scarcely any air ; tobacco cured 
in houses of this sort, I think, go through too 
hard a sweat, but by having them moderately 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



231 



close, with board roof, so as to admit air, the 
leaf will dry quicker, and you will retain all the 
valuable qualities of the plant. I have once 
been an advocate of close houses, but observing 
that the tobacco which hung about the door (for 
I never shut the door until the leaf is cured,) 
generally cured nice, and before the balance of the 
house, convinced me of the propriety of having 
my houses less close. 

After having adopted this course, I conversed 
with a friend on this subject, he gave into my 
views, and stated that he had one very close 
house, in which it was but seldom he could 
cure well, whilst in an adjoining house of mo- 
derate closeness, he had no difficulty of curing 
to his taste. 

The system of curing with stoves and flues, 
required that the houses should be made so close 
as to resist, as much as possible, the admission 
of air. Why is it that this practice was of such 
ephemeral existence? My impression is, that 
the tobacco was subject to so severe a sweat as 
to destroy, in a great measure, its oily properties. 

Some of your subscribers contend that tobac- 
co is an improver of land, others, that it is a de- 
stroyer. Some of my negroes in the year 1841 
planted a portion of old land in tobacco, (no ma- 
nure,) where corn and oats have been growm for 
the last 40 or 50 years ; the tobacco was very 
inferior of course: The field is now in com, 
and to my surprise, I find that the corn where 
the tobacco grew, is far superior to the rest of 
the field, and maybe distinguished as far as the 
corn can be seen. Having given you the fact, 
I shall not attempt to account for it, leaving that 
to abler hands. 

Wishing you and the Southern Planter a long 
and successful life, I remain, yours truly. 

GULIELMUS. 

N. B. As there is still some space on my 
sheet, 1 will give you the mode of keeping sweet 
potato seed in kilns, by myself and others in this 
section. We generally put them up in the 
patch where they are dug. Raise the earth six 
or eight inches in a circular form, as a kind of 
floor, sufficiently large for the quantity of seed 
you wish for one kiln ; set a stake in the centre, 
merely as a guide to put the potatoes around, co- 
ver the earth with boards or pine bark, over this 
strew pine beards, then put on your potatoes, let- 
ting the kiln terminate in a point at the top ; 
cover with the pine beards, say two or three 
inches deep, then with boards or bark, throw on 
earth until the kiln is covered at least six or 
eight inches deep ; over this throw potatoe vines 
plentifully, to prevent the rains from washing 
the dirt down, and in the spring they will open 
in fine order. I design keeping rny potatoes for 
table use in this way the next season. Some 
cover their kilns -vith leaves or straw, and erect 
a temporary scaffold (or shelter) over the kiln, 
but I prefer the vine as they are at the spot rea- 



dy to throw on. The stake should not project 
beyond the top of the potatoes. I generally 
saw them off previous to covering the kiln. 

G. 

The following was taken from a newspaper 
several years ago : 

" The following discovery was, a few years 
ago, communicated by the Royal Society of 
Sweden to that of London. After roofing a 
house with wood, boil some tar, and mix it with 
finely pulverized charcoal till it is of the thick- 
ness of mortar, spread this with a trowel about 
a fourth of an inch thick over the roof, it will 
soon grow hard, and defy all the vicissitudes of 
weather. Roofs thus covered have stood in 
Sweden over a century, and still want no repair." 

G. 

Charlotte, Va., August 5, 1843. 



PLOUGHING IN GREEN CROPS. 

Living plants contain in their substance not 
only all they have drawn up from the soil, but 
also a great part of what they have drawn 
down from the air. Plough in these living 
plants, and you necessarily add to the soil more 
than was taken from it — in oiher words, you 
make it richer in organic matter. Repeat the 
process with a second crop, and it becomes rich- 
er still — and it would be difficult to define the 
limit beyond which the process could no fur- 
ther be carried. — Johnston's Lectures on Agri- 
cultural Chemistry. 



MILCH COWS. 

The Editor of the "Agriculturist" informs us, 
that the unrivalled reputation of the milch cows 
of Jersey and Guernsey, has been obtained by 
the common adoption of a judicious scale of 
" points," with their relative values affixed. 
This scale, which we subjoin, will serve at least 
to remind many of our "good judges" of cattle, 
how vague and loose their ideas upon the sub- 
ject have heretofore been, as we will venture to 
say that not one in fifty of those most accus- 
tomed to selecting cattle, has ever thought of 
fixing in his own mind the relation of one good 
point to another. 

If we understand this scale correctly, it is to 
be used as follows : — Suppose a lot of cows to 
be exhibited for premium. No. 1 is examined, 
first, with respect to her family ; perfection in 
this respect is denoted by 4 marks, the mini- 
mum being represented by one : her number is 
set down as she is entitled to the one or the 
other, or, as in the opinion of the judges, she 
ranges between the two. So with respect to 



232 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



the other 8 points. The same process is gone 
through with each cow, and the one that in 
this way obtains the greatest number of marks 
receives the premium. Mr. Allen mentions that 
such is the particularity of these Islanders, that 
they esteem no cow worthy of a premium that 
cannot reach at least 21 marks. 

It may be a matter of surprise to the uninitia- 
ted, as it was to us, to learn that the virtues of 
a rnilch cow do not lie in her bag, but that the 
udder is to be esteemed to the head, as 4 to 8. 
The following is the table by which these points 
are settled. 

points. 

1. Breed on male and female sides, repu- 
ted for producing rich and yellow butter. 4 

2. Head small, fine and tapering ; eye 
full and lively ; muzzle fine and encircled 
with white; horns polished and crumpled, 
tipped with black ; ears small of an orange 
color within. ..... 8 

3. Back straight from the withers to the 
sitting on of the tail ; chest deep and nearly 

of a line with the belly. ... 2 

4. Hide thin, movable but not too loose, 
well covered with fine and short hair of good 
color. 2 

5. Barrel hooped and deep, wellribbed- 
home, having but little space between the 
ribs and hips; tail hanging two inches be- 
low the hocks, ..... 5 

6. Fore legs straight and fine, thighs full 
and long, close together when viewed from 
behind; hind legs short, and bones rather 
fine ; hoof small, hind legs not. to cross in 
walking, ....... 2 

7. Udder full, well up behind ; teats square 
and largely placed, being wide apart; milk 
veins large and swelling. 4 

8. Growth. 1 

9. General appearance, ... 2 



quire any others for the next six years to come. 
The reason is that I treat them in the following 
manner; I put a pound of tallow and half a 
pound of rosin into a pot on the fire; when 
melted and mixed, I warm the boots, and apply 
the hot stuff with a painter's brush, until nei- 
ther the sole nor the upper leather will suck in 
any more. If it is desired that the boots should 
immediately take a polish, dissolve an ounce of 
beeswax in an ounce of spirits of turpentine, to 
which add a tea-spoonful of lampblack. A day 
or two after the boois have been treated with 
tallow and rosin, rub over them the wax in tur- 
pentine, but not before the fire. Thus the exte- 
rior will have a coat of wax alone, and shine 
like a mirror. Tallow, or any other grease, be- 
comes rancid, and rots the stiching as well as 
the leather; but the rosin gives it an antisep- 
tic quality which preserves the whole. Boots 
or shoes should be iarge, so as to admit of wear- 
ing cork soles. Cork is such a bad conductor 
of heat, that, with it in the boot, the feet are al- 
ways warm on the coldest stone floor. 



Perfection for Cows. - 



30 



SECRET WORTH KNOWING. 

How to make three pair of boots last as long 
as six, and longer. 

The following extract from Colonel Maca- 
rone's " Seasonable Hints," which appeared in 
the Mechanic's Magazine, dated February 8, 
1838: — After stating the utility of sheepskin 
clothing for persons whose employment renders 
it necessary that they should be much out of 
doors, &c, he says, "I will not conclude with- 
out inviting the attention of your readers to a 
cheap and easy method of preserving their feet 
from wet, and their boots from wearing. I 
have had only three pair of boots for the last 
six years, (no shoes,) and I think I shall not re- 



POT LIQ.UOR, SOAP SUDS, CABBAGE. 

Pot liquor is a good food for hogs ; and soap 
suds contains also some food, and is a good 
medicine. Neither of these therefore should be 
cast away, or otherwise used where hogs are 
convenient to the kitchen. But where there are 
no hogs, or none convenient, then the proper use 
of these articles is on the garden. From time 
immemorial it has been known that salt was a 
good manure for cabbages, and for ages it has 
been known that ashes (potash) was also a 
good manure for this vegetable. As to the ac- 
tion of two of the ingredients of the liquor and 
the suds, there then can be no question ; and I as- 
sert under my own experience that the oiher in- 
gredient, oil, is equally efficacious. I once put 
hogs lard and salt upon my cabbage, when full 
of lice; the lice quickly disappeared, and the 
cabbage improved. The extirpation of the lice 
I attributed to the action of the oil, for in twenty 
or thirty hours I could plainly see its dissemina- 
tion throughout the cabbage ; but in this opin- 
ion I have erred, for probably it was the salt. 
For aught I know, the application of soap suds 
might also destroy lice ; but be this as it may, I 
have no doubt that boih the liquor and suds are 
very valuable, not only for manuring cabbage, 
but many other garden and field plants. Oil will 
adhere to the cabbage, but soap suds and pot 
liquor will not, unless very greasy. It is evi- 
dent then that the best method of applying li- 
quor and suds, would be by the watering pot, 
and that night would be the most proper time ; 
so that the water, and with it the potash 
and oil, may be taken up by the roots, before 
the next morning's sun. As to the quantity to 
be used on a cabbage, I cannot speak with pre- 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



233 



cision, but suppose for a small plant a spoonful 
might suffice, and when nearly grown a gill; 
and perhaps three or four applications during 
the season would be abundant. Cabbage should 
never be planted more than one year on the 



same ground — they are equally good for men, 
cows, sheep, or hogs ; and perhaps also for 
horses. 

Za. Drummond. 

Amherst County, August, 1843. 



TESTS OF THE TEXTURE OF SOILS. 




One of the best methods of ascertaining the 
capability of any soil to take up and retain mois- 
ture, is that described by Mr. C. Johnson, for 
which purpose he employs the apparatus referred 
to above. 

a, is a small lamp ; J, a stool, with a hole in 
the seat for receiving c, a shallow I in vessel, 
closely covered, but having a pipe, d, for the es- 
cape of steam ; h is a pair of accurate scales, 
such as are used by apothecaries and goldsmiths. j 
In order to employ this apparatus, put a small; 
quantity of the soil to be tried upon the top of 
the tin vessel, in which water is kept briskly 
boiling for about half an hour, so as to thorough- 
ly dry the soil by expelling its moisture. Take 
ten grains accurately weighed of this dried soil, 
and add to it, by means of a quill, a drop or two 
of pure water ; if distilled water can be had so' 
much the better. Weigh the whole a second | 
time, which will now be a few grains above ten. 
Take out the weight of the water from the 
scale, leaving in the weights of the dried soil, 
and suspend the beam, so that the scale e may 
rest on the lid of the tin vessel, the water in 
which i3 still kept boiling ; then with a stop 
watch note the exact time which the added wa- 
ter takes to evaporate, as will be shown by the 
beam of the balance becoming level. Mr. John- 
son found that soils requiring less than twenty- 
five, or more than fifty minutes, to evaporate the 
added water, and bring the balance to a level, 
were always proportionally unproductive ; the 
first from having too much flinty sand, and con- 
Vol. III.— 30 



seqeuntly too few interstices to allow the wate r 
to escape. 

Rich soil treated in this way, required thirty- 
two minutes to bring the beam to a level ; chalk, 
twenty-nine minutes; poor flinty soil, twenty- 
three minutes ; and gypsum only eighteen mi- 
nutes. 

A very fertile soil from Ormiston, Hadding- 
tonshire, containing, in 1000 parts, more than 
half of finely-divided materials, among which 
were eleven parts of limestone soil, and nine 
parts of vegetable principles, when dried in a 
similar way, gained eighteen grains in an hour, 
by exposure to moist air, at the heat of sixty- 
eight degrees Fahrenheit ; while 1O00 parts of 
a barren soil, from Bagshot Heath, gained only 
three grains in the same time. 

Mr. Johnson farther found that one hundred 
parts of burnt clay, when exposed in a dry state 
for three hours to air saturated with moisture at 
sixty-eight degrees, look up twenty-nine parts 
of water ; that gypsum, in similar circum- 
stances, took up only nine parts, and chalk only 
four parts. 



RICHMOND BUTTER. 

We grieve exceedingly to hear that our re- 
marks in the August Number, upon the charac- 
ter of the butter in the Richmond market, should 
have excited the ire of some of our female 
friends ; perhaps they consider their characters as 



234 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



housewives somewhat implicated in the charges 
made against the quality of the article with 
which we are supplied. We do not hesitate to 
say, that if any lady in the world makes bad 
butter, it is, we doubt not, in some way or other, 
the fault of her husband. 

We should have been quite overwhelmed with 
the idea that any thing we had said should have 
given offence to the ladies, if we had not been in a 
measure, consoled by learning at the same time, 
that, wiih the generosity characteristic of the 
sex, they hid determined to give us an opportu- 
nity of reforming our opinions, and that several 
"pats," were in preparation for the especial pur- 
pose of demonstrating to us the grossness of the 
libel we have uttered. We are always open to 
conviction, and we know no arguments more po. 
tent than those which appeal so powerfully to 
{he feelings of an individual. Within the next 
twelve months we shall express our opinion on 
the subject again: in the meantime, we are pre- 
pared fairly to consider, and fully to discuss, any 
of these arguments, and upon conviction of our 
error, to make the most full and satisfactory re- 
paration to any lady who may consider herself 
aggrieved by any thing we have heretofore 
written or spoken upon the subject. 



HENS— EGGS. 

If you wish for hens to hatch female chicks, 
select those eggs to set them which are distin- 
guished for having smooth ends. Those which 
have their small ends roughened by concentric 
circles, and which are the most oval in form, 
produce cocks. It is a matter of importance, 
sometimes, to the grower to understand this 
fact. At least so thought Collumella. 

JWaine Cultivator. 



OVERSEER'S WAGES. 
To the Editor of the Southern Planter: 

A communication over the signature of T. J. 
P., endorsed by you, on the subject of "Over- 
seers' Wages," appeared in the first volume of 
the Southern Planter, with a suggestion that 
the subject would be again resumed ; as it has 
not been, I presume he has recanted the views 
maintained in the communication. The propo- 
sition advanced in the communication alluded to 
was, that the giving of overseers an interest in 
the crops, instead of stipulated waces, had ope- 
rated greatly to the injury of the farming inte- 
rest in Virginia, and aided, in no small degree, 
to exhaust our lands ; that the circumstances 



under which this practice originated had long 
since ceased to exist, to wit, the felling of lofty 
forests, when it was the interest of the owner to 
get as much land cleared as practicable, and to 
make as much as possible from his land and la- 
borers ; then an interest in the crop was a great 
stimulus to the overseer, a strong inducement to 
increase the proceeds of the farm. 

Now I agree with you, that the necessity for 
felling loft}' forests in Virginia, in a great degree, 
has ceased to exist, but that the desire to make as 
much as possible from land and laborers remains in 
full force and virtue, I certainly affirm, and to 
do which most successfully, 1 contend that the 
overseer should be interested in the crops ; by 
this interest he is induced to apply the labor be- 
stowed in by gone days, in felling trees, to the 
improvement of the fields ; that whilst his em- 
ployer's interest is advanced, that his will also 
be. He cannot say now, as when he received 
stipulated wages, " Soul, take thy rest," but 
eternal vigilance is his interest, the effects of 
which will be good enclosures, enriched lands, 
good teams, and increased crops. Try my plan, 
Mr. Editor, and if it fails, I will cease to pro- 
phesy. R. R. 

P. S. Can you inform me, through the Plan- 
ter, whether the question is settled by agricultu- 
rists, which exhausts land most, wheat or oats? 

It is no doubt very desirable that the interest 
of the employed should be, if possible, identical 
with that of the employer. But when the over- 
seer receives a share of the crop it is his interest, 
the crontract running, as is usual, only from year 
to year, to draw from the land as much as possible 
during the year for which he is engaged, with- 
out any regard to future profits. On the con- 
trary, the very best use that the proprietor can 
make of his force, sometimes, is, in the prepara- 
tion for future increase : then, as far as improve- 
ment is concerned, the interest of the owner and 
the overseer are diametrically opposed. This sys- 
tem, we doubt not, has, in this way, proved in- 
jurious to the cause of improvement. Moreover, 
there is another objection to this mode of pay- 
ing overseers' wages. To give a share in the 
crop, necessarily implies some authority in the 
management by which it is to be made- Two 
masters are always objectionable ; they are ge- 
nerally destructive to that unity of purpose, by 
which alone any system can be sustained. A 
proprietor is generally a man of superior educa- 
tion, and should too highly appreciate the ad- 
vantages of knowledge to permit his authority 
to be shared by an inferior. We may be told 
that it frequently happens that the overseer is a 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



235 



better farmer than the proprietor ; we know that 
such is too often the case, and until such a pro- 
prietor has, by dint of study and experience, 
qualified himself to assume his proper station, 
he had better leave all to his manager, taking 
care, however, that it shall be to his interest to 
prepare for future crops, whilst he makes reason- 
able drafts on the land for the present. 



AGRICULTURAL APHORISMS. 

NO. VI. 

Partly Extracts. 

One of the most remarkable features of mo- 
dern limes, is the combination of large numbers 
of individuals, representing the whole intelli- 
gence of nations, for the express purpose of ad- 
vocating science by their united efforts, of learn- 
ing its progress, and of communicating new 
discoveries. The formation of such associations, 
is in itself, an evidence that they were needed. 

It is not every one who is called by his situa- 
tion in life, to assist in extending the bounds of 
science, but all mankind have a claim to the 
blessings and benefits which accrue from its 
earnest cultivation. The foundation of scien- 
tific institutions is an acknowledgment of these 
benefits, and this acknowledgment, proceeding 
from whole nations, may be considered as a 
triumph of mind over empiricism. 

Innumerable are the aids afforded to the 
means of life, to manufactures, and to commerce, 
by the truths which assiduous and active inqui- 
rers have discovered, and rendered capable of 
practical application. 

Agriculture is the true foundation of all trade 
and industry — it is the foundation of the riches 
of states. But a rational system of agriculture 
cannot be formed without the application of sci- 
entific principles. 

The life of plants is closely connected with 
that of animals, in a most simple manner, and 
for a wise and sublime purpose. 

The presence of a rich and luxuriant vegeta- 
tion, may be conceived, without the concurrence 
of anirnallife, but the existence of animals is 
undoubtedly dependent upon the life and devel- 
opment of plants. 

Vegetable culture heightens the healthy state 
of a country, and a previously healthy country, 
would be rendered quite uninhabitable by the 
cessation of all cultivation. 

We do not know what height and strength 
nature ha3 allotted to plants; but this we know, 
that a plant gains another mouth and another 
stomach, with every new fibre of root, and every 
new leaf, consequently, as those organs are in- 
creased, so must the plant be nourished and en- 
larged. 



All the innumerable products of vitality, re- 
sume after death, the original form from which 
they sprung. And thus death, the complete 
dissolution of an existing generation, becomes 
the source of life for a new one. 

Heat and moisture are the principal agents, 
both in producing and destroj'ing. 

Which is cheapest, to fence up a permanent 
pasture for your cattle, or to fence up all the 
lands required for your agricultural purposes? 

There is noway of making improvements in 
farming, but by experiments. If the farmer can 
conceive of a better mode of culture, or manage- 
ment, he should test its propriety by experiment; 
and if successful, he has performed an act which 
is serviceable to his country, and honorable to 
himself. 

The lands of a nation are its principal capi- 
tal ; if these become so exhausted as to yield 
little more in products, than what is merely 
equal to the value of the labor bestowed on 
them, the condition of that nation must, in the 
general, be poor. 

By highly improving a country, its popula- 
tion may be doubled or trebled, and by thus 
bringing the members of the community closer 
together, much labor is saved in their necessary 
intercourse; much in going to church, to mill, 
and to market. 

Good culture, when bestowed on highly im- 
proved land, may be said to be a source of ra- 
tional pleasure; whilst that which is usually 
given to land which is but poorly improved, is 
most commonly productive of much toil and 
vexation. 

The killing of beasts for our use is lawful, 
but surely it is not lawful to torture them. 

Lands are seldom so rich, but it may be mat- 
ter of gain to increase their fertility ; and few 
tracts are so poor, but with proper tillage and 
manuring, they may be made the residence of 
plenty. 

In supplying animal and vegetable manure, 
a temporary food is only provided for plants, 
which is in all cases exhausted by means of a 
certain number of crops ; but when a soil is 
rendered of the best possible constitution and 
texture, with regard to its earthy parts, its fer- 
tility may be considered as permanently esta- 
blished. 

The deeper 3'ou plough, the thicker you may 
sow, for by deep ploughing the range for the 
roots is increased. 

You had as well try to make a greenhorn 
write Greek, as to make land produce a crop 
which is contrary to its nature. If you wish to 
alter the crop you must alter the land. 

The expense of any kind of tillage should 
never be regarded, where clear profit proportion- 
ately great may be expected. 

A cornfield is not rejected because it has a 
few noxious weeds in it; neither should a 



236 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



book be rejected only because it contains a few 
fallacious ideas. 

Without a preparation of the mind, there are 
but few men who can retain a fortune suddenly 
bestowed on them ; so in like manner there are 
but few earths which can retain a sudden gorge 
of manure. 

Choose wisely, and apply as you may need. 

Argus. 

Amherst County, Va., Sept. 1843. 



RED MAY WHEAT. 
A gentleman who has a great repugnance to 
appearing before the public in his proper person, 
but whose name is only needed to any state- 
ment, to secure it the entire confidence of the 
public, placed at our disposal the following com- 
munication : 

Mb. C. T. Botts, 

Sir, — I see the opinion expressed in your 
September number, that the Red i\lay is a deli- 
cate wheat, and will not stand an ordinarily 
hard winter. My opinion and experience are 
directly opposed to this idea. Six years ago I 
purchased from the Messrs. Haxall, from wheat 
which they had bought from a farmer in Ame- 
lia, ibejirst of the variety sown in this vicinity. 
The winter succeeding the seeding was the se- 
verest that had been known for 30 years, not- 
withstanding which this wheat came out splen- 
didly. Three acres well improved, sown about 
10th October, yielded I am confident, at least 
ninety bushels. It got a good start and looked 
beautiful at the commencement of the winter. 
We had two long and severe spells during the 
winter; one in January and another in February, 
and at each spell every spire seemed to be entirely 
killed ; it appeared as if a fire had passed over 
it. After the first spell it soon recovered and 
presented a beautiful green appearance; the se- 
cond spell appeared to have destroyed it again, 
but it soon grew out and yielded as above 
stated. The whole quantity sown, (26 bush- 
els) considering the land, yielded more than 
any wheat I had ever sown. I am perfectly 
satisfied 1 never saw better wheat, but the re- 
ported weight was from 61 to 62 only. During 
the same fall, I procured from Mr. C. C. on the 
Mechanicsville Turnpike, a neat, practical far- 
mer, 25 bushels of as fine looking old fashioned 
White May Wheat as I ever saw, and seeded 
it about the 1st November, in corn land, nicely 
prepared, which I expected to bring 10 bushels 
at least, to the acre, by the side of the Red 
May. It came up badly, and wore a sickly ap- 
pearance from the start, and did not yield two 
bushels for one of seeded — it was so inferior, 
that I doubted at one time whether I would cut 
it. The seed might not have been good, but no 



one would have judged them to be damaged — 
they presented not the least sign of the slighest 
injury. The 26 bushels of lied May yielded 
upwards of 500 bushels of as fine wheat as I 
ever saw. 

The next year I sowed the Red May en- 
tirely, but only 21 bushels — as I set out with a 
firm determination never to sow a bushel .of 
wheat, except on land capable of growing at 
least 10 bushels to the acre. This crop was 
ruined the year of the 21 successive days of 
rain, during the blooming of the wheat. I 
sowed 13 bushels on poor land, manured on the 
fallow, and raked in, and 8 bushels on com 
land, manured for corn, that ought to have 
brought under ordinary circumstances from 10 
to 15 bushels to the acre. The fallow ripened 
10 days before the other, and commenced bloom- 
ing before the rains set in, whereas the other 
did not. I made upwards of 200 bushels from 
21 seeded, the corn land not yielding more than 
30 measured bushels of extremely light and in- 
different wheat — that from the fallow weighed 
from 58 to 59 — the heaviest I knew of that 
year. It was all sold in the neighborhood for 
seed, except what 1 kept for my own seeding. 

My third crop was divided between the Red 
May and the Goose Wheat. The fall of this 
seeding was the driest ever known, perhaps — 
the crop was put into ground as dry as powder, 
there was not a particle of moisture in it. It 
did not rain from the time of seeding till some 
time in December, when very cold weather com- 
menced, and did not come up, much of it, till 
spring. This being a new case to me, I of 
course despaired of making any crop at all. ,lt 
came up very thin, but the weather proving fa- 
vorable in February and March, it grew off to 
my utter astonishment. About the last of 
March, or first of April, I planted corn, after 
which we had a pretty good rain, and from that 
j time to harvest, there did not, to the best of nry 
I knowledge, enough rain fall to wet the wheat 
land a half inch, and during this time heavy 
winds prevailed to a greater extent than I had 
ever observed before. I expected, of course, to 
make no crop, either wheat, corn or oats, with- 
out good seasons, but I was most agreeably dis- 
appointed. For a long time I disliked to see 
the wheat crop. In the morning I was a little 
cheered by its improved appearance, since the 
afternoon before. When the heat of the day 
came on, the blades would twist like the blades 
of corn in very dry and hot weather, (and some 
of the lower blades besran to turn yellow and 
dry up,) but in the morning, from the dew of 
the over night, they would be out of twist 
again — and so it continued until ripe. The 
heads were very large, and the grain as fine as 
I ever saw. I made this year from 85 of seed, 
upwards of 900 bushels. Neither kind, the 
Red May nor the Goose, came up as thick as I 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



237 



could have wished, but the former much better 
than the latter. The fly made an attack on a 
portion of the Red May, which was top-dressed, 
and damaged it materially, but did not touch 
the other, of either kind, immediately adjoining, 
and a part of the same piece — which compelled 
me to ascribe it to the top-dressing — the dress- 
ing served it with a comfortable shelter for the 
winter. The Red May is the prettiest wheat I 
ever saw grow — the straw being a beautiful 
gold color. The straw is rather slender and 
tall, which renders it more liable to tumble — and 
suffered to get too ripe before it is cut, it shatters 
very much — but this 1 consider no fault, as all 
wheat, by universal consent, ought to be har- 
vested in the dough state — the grain being 
firmer and plumper, than if suffered to stand till 
thoroughly ripe. 

This crop satisfied me that wheat, and even 
corn can be made with but little rain. Deep 
and discreet cultivation, with showers "few and 
far between," will make respectable crops of ei- 
ther. The wheat crop with us, 1 think, ought 
to be sown from the 10th to 20th October. To 
avoid the fly and make the best crops, it is impor- 
tant that it should take vigorous root, if possible, 
before the winter. I have advised some of my 
friends to sow the Red May, and if upon strong 
land, such as wheat ought to be put in, I have 
offered to insure against the fly and rust. Upon 
a good clover fallow, or manured land, (the ma- 
nure to be put under the surface,) the fly may 
feed plentifully, and still have enough to yield a 
fine crop. The wheat will grow, if the season 
is good, faster than the insect can eat it. 

The reason the top-dressed land gave way to 
the fly, as mentioned above, was, that there was 
no rain to bring up the wheat and give it a good 
start in the fall. Poor land cannot resist the fly, 
and must yield the best part of the crop for its 
portion. 

While wheat of every variety, delights (if I 
may so speak) in reasonably dry weaiher and 
soils, no- kind will live through an ordinary win- 
ter, it matters not how strong the land may be, 
where it is subject to much water. Low, wet 
land, if put in wheat at all, should be bedded 
above the water. 



than enough custard to cover the bread, and it 
should not be baked till the custard is hard. 
A Lover of Puddings. 
Nottoway, 1843. 



For the Southern Planter. 

Recipe to make a Light Bread Pudding. — Slice 
the bread, and butter it, politically, {on both sides,) 
and lay it in an earthen baker, or whatever is 
used for that purpose. Let a little mace and 
some raisins or sweatmeats besprinkled between 
the slices. Then make a custard of egg^, su- 
gar and milk and pour it over the light bread. 
After it has stood till the bread is saturated with 
the custard, bake slowly in an oven for ten or 
fifteen minutes, and if it is not good eating I will 
surrender my judgment. There should be more 



For the Southern Planter. 

Mr. Editor, — I have paid some attention to 
the cultivation of the grasses for several years, 
and have found them highly beneficial in the 
improvement of the soil, and the assistance 
which they afford in raising cattle, &c. For 
instance, for two winters my sheep have sub- 
sisted entirely in my fields without being fed at 
all. They were fed two or three times during 
the past winter, but in no instance did they eat 
more than a blade or two of fodder. The same 
may be said of my cattle. True, they were 
fed, and they generally eat what was given 
them, but it is evident the grass which they ob- 
tained when the ground was not covered with 
snow, contributed greatly to their support. And 
what, I would ask, is better for horses than nice- 
ly cured Herd's grass hay 1 

But my object w r as not to write an essay on 
the grasses, but to ask for information. Twelve 
months ago, last spring, I sowed one peck of 
Timothy seed on a pretty piece of flat land, 
having previously prepared it nicely, and sowed 
it in oats. When I went to cut it this summer it 
was with difficulty I could distinguish the Timo- 
thy from the weeds and other grass. I howe- 
ver had the heads cut off with a scythe, and 
from them obtained several bushels of nice seed. 

Now, sir, will you, or some of your grass- 
growing correspondents, give me a little infor- 
mation relative to this grass 1 1st. As to the 
land best adapted to its growth. 2d. The time 
and manner of sowing. 3d. The quantity of 
seed per acre. 4th. The method of cutting and 
curing ; and lastly, as to its merits compared 
with other grasses. In short, any information 
relative to it will be acceptable to me, and per- 
haps to others of your constant readers. I would 
here take occasion to remark, that I have, for 
several years, adopted the plan of mixing Herd's 
grass seed with my oats, previous to sowing, and 
where they were merely raked in, they came up 
beautifully. This I think a good plan when 
seed are scarce, and it is desired to get the grass 
generally scattered over the plantation, and not 
designed for cutting. 

Yours truly, P. B. W. 

Nottoway, September, 1843. 



THE RED MAY. 
A gentleman of this city attracted by the re- 
putation of the "Red May," addressed some 
enquiries concerning its merits, to one of the 
most enlightened and experienced farmers in the 
county of Goochland; these enquiries drew 



238 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



forth the following response, which we have 
been kindly allowed to transpose to the columns 
of the Planter : 

Sir, — Your letter of the 8th inst., has just 
been received, in consequence of having been di- 
rected to Dover Mills, instead of Beaverdam, 
which is my Post Office. It would have given 
me great pleasure to have furnished you with 
the Red May Wheat for seed, but am sorry to 
say I had exchanged what had been retained 
for the Blue Stem or Turkey Wheat. In rela- 
tion to the character of the wheat, my expe- 
rience teaches me, that on tobacco or other high- 
ly improved lots, where other wheats are liable 
to fall and rust, it will produce more than any 
other variety ; but on ordinary lands it will not 
yield half a crop. For example, a lot here 
which had been cultivated for a series of years 
in root crops, and annually manured, produced at 
the rate of 47 bushels and three pecks to the acre, 
while the average of the crop did not exceed 
seven bushels per acre. The Blue Stem on the 
same field has ranged from 10 to 15 bushels, 
averaging about twelve to the acre. And this 
I think will be found to be a fair comparative es- 
timate of the two wheats for a term of years. 

Goochland, Sept. 13, 1843. *** 



Remedy for sore Teals and inflamed Udders. — 
White lead and sweet oil are excellent for crack- 
ed or sore teats of milch cows. 

Flax seed oil, well rubbed on the udder when 
inflamed and cracked, will allay inflammation 
and soften the hardness of the bag. Rub well 
twice a day until the inflammation subsides. 
With much respect, 

E. Carpenter. 
American Agriculturist. 



The following is an extract from a letter re- 
ceived from Dr. A. C. Morton, of Mecklenburg. 
We are happy to find that our own opinions are 
in accordance with those of the Committee of 
the Hole and Corner Club of Mecklenburg: 

You seem to have misapprehended the ob- 
ject of the Committee on Dr. Venable's farm. — 
There is not a word in the report condemning 
the cultivation of the grasses, or the grazing 
system, or any improvements made by the Doc- 
tor ; on the contrary, they express their admira- 
tion of them. They however leave it for the 
Doctor and the Club to determine the question 
of the value of the improvements, and have 
treated the subject in a way calculated to lead 
to discussion and investigation. Agricultural 
improvement and the cultivation of the artificial 
grasses, may be said to be in their infancy in 
this region, and the Committee thought that 



more good would result to the community from 
the discussion of these questions than from their 
mere say so. The views of one of the Com- 
mittee might have been inferred from the article 
alluded to in the first part of this communica- 
tion. A resolution transmitted to you, however, 
by order of the Club, at its last meeting, renders 
it needless that I should say more, either in ex- 
planation of the views of the Committee, or the 
practice of our Club. I will remark in conclu- 
sion, in the words of Investigator, " as my ob- 
ject is improvement, I hope I shall give no 
offence." 

Very respectful!}', A. C. Morton. 

Blue Stone, Mecklcnkburg, Sept. 25, 1743. 



From the Southwestern Farmer. 
ON FEEDING HORSES. 

We find in the Farmers' Magazine, London, 
a most excellent article on this subject, by G. 
Jones, of Manchester, England. 

Mr. J. had been the keeper of one horse for 
years, and was in the custom of feeding hay, 
oats, beans and bran ; but having heard there 
was a great saving by the use of the cutting 
box, he was induced to buy one, costing some 
twenty dollars, for one horse too. As he pur- 
chased by weight and fed by weight, he was 
able to ascertain, to a penny, his gain or loss. — 
We will now hear him. " The first week I 
gave the cut hay to the horse, he did not seem 
to like it, but on the second week he appeared 
to relish it very well, (I mention this, that par- 
ties who may wish to try the same plan may 
not be disheartened, if the horse should not take 
to cut hay all at once ;) and at the months end I 
found that I had three trusses, or one and a half 
cwt. hay left," But not satisfied with so much 
difference, he tried the second month, and found 
six trusses left. Not yet satisfied, although the 
second purchase was kept entirely separate, and 
all hay not eaten carefully laid aside, he tried 
the same plan for the third month, and found 
" nine trusses and about one half" left, effecting 
a saving " in three months for one horse," of £1 
2s 6d, (about $5 44.) He says after adopting this 
plan " for two years and one week, he had sav- 
ed the cost of the machine £5 5s, and £4 be- 
sides," ($17 36.) 

He asks if he saves this much "per month in 
the keep of one horse alone, is it not clear that 
all farmers, &c, that keep more horses must be 
considerably savers by cutting their hay 1" 

We have been cutting fodder, shucks, oats, 
millet and hay on one of Eastman's patent straw 
cutters, fourteen inch, price $45, bought of Ro- 
bert Sinclair, jr. &Co., Baltimore, some twentj'- 
six or thirt} 7 months; and alihough we had fed 
a large slock, yet we can show oats and fodder, 
&c, of the crop of '41 and '42, not being yet 
able to get to the bottom of our barn, whereas, 






THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



239 



in former years, we were hardly able to make 
both ends meet, and often a bad meet it was, 
having to splice in with a woods grazing. Our 
horses, mules and colts have not, in three years, 
been turned in the woods one day ; are fed as 
regular now, as if performing their daily labor. 
We cut up and fill our horse troughs, and not 
small ones either, every night through the year; 
what is left at noon, we remove to our cattle 
trough. In the winter we cut up food as for 
horses, and fill the latter every night, 50 feet long, 
two feet wide at bottom, with twelve inch plank 
flaring out at top. We are now using shucks, 
a part of them are from the corn of '41 crop, for 
bedding for our horses, and litter for cow lot, in- 
tending to make manure. Will this, our expe- 
rience, as well as the more accurate " cyphering" 
detail of Mr. Jones, induce any one of our 
friends who even use three or four horses, to try 
cutting up their provender? We are decidedly 
of the opinion, that 30 or 40 dollars will pay a 
handsomer interest to the farmer if laid out in a 
good straw cutter, than in almost any thing else. 
Some of our farmers are so exceedingly in- 
credulous, that we have, at times, despaired of 
being able to make any thing out of them ; 
but we will still try, they are worthy all our la- 
bor and trouble. 



For the Southern Planter. 
GRASS— A CALL ON DR. VENABLE. 

The advantages, Mr. Editor, of the cultiva 
tion of the grasses is no longer a subject of 
doubtful propriety or expediency. Whether as 
food for stock, or as an improver to lands, it is of 
incalculable benefit to Virginia. The most ju- 
dicious mode of cultivation, and the best method 
of making a meadow, are subjects on which we 
need information. 

Dr. Paul C. Venable, of Wheatland, (Meck- 
lenburg,) is one of the most successful cultiva- 
tors of the grasses in southern Virginia, and the 
manifest improved condition of his farm within 
the last ten years, attests the value of the grass- 
es as improvers. I ask you, Mr. Editor, to 
unite with me in asking the Doctor to give his 
brother planters the benefit of his experience, by 
a series of essays (short, sensible and practical, 
as I know he can make them,) on the " Culti- 
vation of the Grasses" noticing more particularly 
the following branches of the subject: — the va- 
rious grasses suitable to the Virginia farmer, the 
relative value, nature and mode of cultivation 
of each ; meadows — the proper time of sowing 
the 3eed — preparing the land — quantity of seed 
per acre — cutting and curing hay — general ma- 
nagement of meadow lands — the advantages 
and best manner of irrigating meadow lands, 
and so forth, which, &c, the lawyers say " corn- 
prehendeth much." 

The Doctor is patriotic enough not to shrink 



from so great a task. He can write, and this ad- 
vantage, with his experience, will enable him to 
confer a benefit on the community. 

Amelia, Aug. 2nd, 1843. Junior. 

P. S. It is highly probable that other farmers 
than Dr. V., will unite with him in giving the 
public the benefit of their lights, on the interest- 
ing subject of enquiry above referred to. Don't 
let them, Mr. Editor, hide their light under a 
bushel. 



EGGS AS A REMEDY. 

The white of an egg is said to be a specific 
for fish bones, sticking in the throat. It is to be 
swallowed raw, and will carry down a bone very 
easily and certainly. There is another fact 
touching eggs which will do very well to re- 
member. When, as sometimes by accident, 
corrosive sublimate is swallowed, the white of 
one or two eggs, taken immediately, will neutra- 
lize the poison, and change the effect to that of 
a dose of calomel. 



For the Southern Planter. 
A POST-PLANTER. 

Mr. Editor, — Annexed is a figure of 
a very useful instrument in making 
the holes for the " stob," (there is no 
such word, I believe, in Johnson, but 
the reader knows what I mean) of a 
post-and-rail-and-rider-fence. Take a 
CL piece of round iron, say four or five or 
six feet long, (an old gig axle tree is 
very good for the purpose,) about one 
and a half inches in diameter, repre- 
sented by the rod a, at the shoulder c, 
let the rod be enlarged having a coni- 
C cal shape, decreasing in size to d, be- 
ing at c, say four inches in diameter : 
the cone being the part from c io d 
makes the hole to plant the post. A 
strong man, by raising the planter, 
and thrusting it with all his strength 
in the ground once or twice, will make 
a good hole in the ground for the post, 
and will in the same space of time, make three 
times the number of holes for posts, than with 
the old dogwood cone, or wedge and maul or 
mallet. 

Cumberland, 3d, 8mo. E. G. N. 



Extract of a Ieter from Georgia. 
USE OF STRAW AND LEAVES. 

When I was here last year, I wrote you that 
Mr. Camack, of Athens, covered his corn fields 
with a body of leaves, so as to protect the grpund 
from the effects of drought, and to save the trou- 
ble of ploughing and hoeing. I also spoke of 



240 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



a field treated in this way by Mr. McKinley, 
which was fresh and vigorous in the drought, 
that had shrivelled up the field along side, on 
land every way equal, treated in the usual way 
by Mr. Phinizy, who is a good planter. I have 
just learned the result of the harvest, which is 
truly gratifying. Mr. McK. made 22 bushels 
to the acre, when Mr. P. scarcely made two 
bushels. These are facts of much interest. — 
May not the rye. straw be profitably employed 
in this way by the farmers of New England, 
and rotted on the ground as well as in the barn 
yards, nay more so, when the labor of plough- 
ing and hoeing the corn is taken into the ac- 
count? — Genu. Farmer. 



For the Southern Planter. 
THE AGRICULTURAL YEAR. 

Mr. Editor, — The inclemency of the season, 
and other manifest reasons, makes the first of 
January a very inconvenient period for the far- 
mer to begin his year. And as in other profes- 
sions, (as for instance, among merchants, the 
mercantile year usually commencing in Septem- 
ber,) convenience is consulted, there can be no 
good reason why another period than January 
should not be the beginning of the farmer's year. 
There is no week in the fifty two more inconve- 
nient for moving and settling overseers, hireing 
hands, commencing farming operations, than 
Christmas week. And that master would great- 
ly benefit the condition and add to the comfort 
of his servants who would refuse them the 
usual indulgence of a holyday at christmas. — 
Far better that they should be at work than en- 
gaged in dissipation and vice, or even in the 
comparatively innocent pleasure of visiting. — 
Virginia planters would thus save in Doctors 
bills enough to supply themselves with every 
agricultural paper in the union. The first day 
of November of each year, would be a very good 
period for commencing the agricultural year. — 
By that time we have gathered in the crops, 
and are commencing preparations for a new 
crop. This would be a more suitable and con- 
venient time for changing overseers, hiring 
hands for a succeeding crop: and the health 
and comfort of our negroes would be promoted 
by giving the annual holyday in the last week 
of October. S. S. V. 

Scottsburg, 5th August. 



NEW MODE OF MAKING SOAP. 

The Westminster Carroltonian mentions the 
manufacture of a barrel of soap by Mrs Moul, 
of that town, without the aid of fire. The 
whole process of change from ley to soap is ef- 
fected by the heat of the sun, without any trou- 
ble. It must be regarded as an economical im- 
provement on the old process. 



We know of an economical housewife in this 
city who has been in the habit for many years 
of manufacturing, in the manner above indicat- 
ed, all the soft soap she required for house- 
hold purposes. The process is exceedingly sim- 
ple, it being only necessary to use an old barrel 
as a ley hopper, and draw off every now and 
then a bucket of ley, which is poured upon the 
grease, that should be placed in another barrel, 
and set in a position where it is exposed to the 
rays of the sun, but to be covered over in rainy 
weather. In this manner, with the aid of occa- 
sional stirring, the soap will be fit for use in a 
few weeks. One barrel of ashes and four pounds 
of rendered fat, will make a barrel of soap. It 
is not necessary, however, to rend up the fat, as 
it may be thrown into the barrel in any state, 
and will be consumed by the ley. 

Nat. Intelligencer. 



CONTENTS OF NO. X. 

Improvement of Old Lands — An account of Dr. Pal- 
mer's system, p. 217. 
Lime, Salt and Ashes — Effect of the mixture on soils, 

p. 217. 
Mecklenburg Hole and Corner Club — Communication 

from, p. 218. 
Indian Corn — Room for improvement in the crop of 

Virginia and North Carolina, p. 219. 
Fall Ploughing— Objected to, p. 219. 
Sand Hill Hog — The breed described, and illustrated 

with a cut, p. 220. 
Goochland Fair — To take place in November next, 

p. 221. 
Gapes — The cause and the remedy, p. 221. 
Crab Grass — Its value as a crop, p. 222. 
Capital — Its proper disposition in agriculture, p. 222. 
Horse Power — Hall's patent horse power described, 

with a cut, p. 224. 
Beehives — A plan recommended, p. 225. 
A Looting Glass — In which many of our fanners may 

see their faces, p. 225. 
Agriculture — The true state of the science, p. 227. 
Seed Corn — Directions for saving, p. 228. 
Mecklenburg Hole and Corner Club — Their report on 

Mr. Leigh's farm, p. 228. 
Milk — A cellar the proper place for the dairy, p. 229. 
Industry — The difference between saying go and 

come, p. 230. 
Old. Field Pines — Should be converted into coal for 

curing tobacco, p. 230. 
Soils — Apparatus tor testing texture of, p. 233. 
Butter — In the Richmond market, p. 233. 
Hens — To select eggs, p. 234. 
Overseers — Their wages, p. 234. 
Aphorisms — No. 6, p. 235. 
Wheat— Red May, p. 236. 
Pudding — Recipe, p. 237. 
Grasses — Inquiries, p. 237. 
Red May — The merits of, p. 237. 
Sore Teats— Semedy for, p. 238. 
Feeding — Directions for feeding horses, p. 238. 
Dr. A. C. Morton— Letter from, p. 238. 
Grass — A call on Dr. Venable, p. 239. 
Choking— To relieve, p. 239. 

Fence — Apparatus tor preparing stake holes, p. 239. 
Covering — Use of straw and leaves, p. 239. 
Agricultural Year — To commence in November, p. 

^240. 
Soap — New mode of making, p. 240.