THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, A MONTHLY PERIODICAL, DEVOTED TO * -4 AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE AND THE HOUSEHOLD ARTS. VOLUME III. CHARLES T. BOTTS, EDITOR. RICHMOND: PRINTED BY P. D. BERNARD, MCSEDM BDILDINO. 1843. 5 I v. V4 \4-bV^^> INDEX. A. Address— Review of Dr. Wight's, p. 53. Of Mr. A. C. Morton's, p. 200. Agriculture— Its extent and importance in England, p. 123. The estimation in which it is held in Vir- ginia, p. 124. Nature of the science of agricul- ture, p. 227. Agricultural Schools — Necessity for, p. 14. Animal Manure — Experiments with- decomposed ani- mal matter, p. 11. Ants — To get rid of black or red ants, p. 18. Aphorisms— p. 137, 188, 216, 235, 278. Apricots — To secure the fruit, p. 61. Artichokes — Experiments in raising Jerusalem arti- chokes, p. 10. Directions for cultivating, p. 73. Asparagus — New method of growing, p. 77. Should be watered with brine, p. 41. B. Bees — To choose a swarm, p. 216. How to manage them, p. 256. Beehives — Proper construction of, p. 225. Birds — Advantageous to farms and gardens, p. 183. Bleeding — To stop. p. 120. At the nose, p. 168. Blue Marl — Experiments with, p. 9. Blue Grass — The Kentucky blue grass recommended, with directions for its cultivation, p. 74, 123, 153. Bailer — Bentley's steam generator, with a cut, p. 148. Bommers Manure — The author's account of it, p. 113. Opinions of others, p. 115, 142, 165, 189, 213, 277. Breeding — Rules to be observed in breeding animals, p. 131. Broom Corn — recommended for hay, p. 69, 127. Buckv:heat — Mode of cultivating, p. 110, 142. Butter — Its manufacture and preservation, p. 131, 178. The Richmond market badly supplied, p. 177. Buildings — A plan for farm buildings, p. 251. e. Co.pilol — Proper disposition of farming capital, p. 222. Carpets — Should be frequently shaken, p. 187. Collie — Directions for stall feeding, p. 18. Simple method of managing unruly cattle, p. 39. The points of a good animal illustrated, with an en- graving, p. 179. Cabbage — To free from lice, p. 104. To cause them to head during winter, p. 9. Good manure for, p. 232. Carrots — The white Belgian recommended by Mr. Bement, with directions for their cultivation, p. 4, 72. Carving — To facilitate carving on wood, p. 119. Ch-ickens— Directions for raising, p. 184, 249. See Gapes. Choking— Remedy for, p. 239. Churns — Description of one, with a cut, p. 281. Charcoal — R.esult of experiments with, p. 50, 252, 266. Directions lor burning, p. 74, 80. Recommended for curing tobacco, p. 230. Should not be relied on for the manure heap, p. 274. Chinches — To get rid of. p. 18. —Value of agricultural clubs, p. 117. Clay Lands — How to manage, p. 26. Climate— M r. Locke's theory, p. 39. Supposed effects of a northern climate, p. 265. Clearing Land — How it should be conducted, p. 278\ Clover — A box for sowing, with a cut, p. 60. Ob- jected to, p. 93. Best mode of curing clover hay, p. 194. Cooking — Apparatus for cooking food for stock, with a cut, p. 211. Communications — The Editor's estimate of original communications, p. 186. Covering — Benefit of protecting the soil by a cover, p. 239, 243. Coulter — A winged coulter recommended, with a cut, p. 55. A jumping coulter described, with a cut. p. 139. Colic — In horses, nature of and remedy for, p. 47, 113. Corn — Proper distance for planting, p. 56. Double eared recommended for seed, p. 75. Suckering " objected to, p. 77. Should be soaked in copperas- water before planting, p. 79. A mixture to put in the hill, p. 95. Mr. Woodson's mode of cultiva- tion, p. 99. Commented on, p. 157. Proper time for planting, p. 10, 57. Soaking for food recom- mended, p. 19. Sown broadcast for hay, p. 32, 276. Should not be permitted to ear, 77. Broom corn recommended for bay, p. 69. The Roanoke mode of cultivation, p. 209. Mr. Young's mode of cul- tivation, p. 34. Commented on, p. 66. Mr. Shri- ver's mode of cultivation, with a drawing and de- scription of the implement with which he made his crop of eighty-five bushels to the acre, p. 36. Reviewed, p. 66. Firing prevented by the use of ashes, p. 41. Also by deep tillage, p. 272. Great yield in Henrico, p. 282. Attention should be paid to saving seeds, p. 228. Experiments with plaster, p. 170. Best mode of cultivating corn, p. 198. Corn and Cob Crusher — Hussey's described, with a cut, p. 44. Corns — To eradicate, p. 23, 255. Coughing — To stop, p. 96. Consumption — An invention to cure, p. 63. Coal Tar — Recommended for roofs, p. 76. Denounc- ed, p. 146. . / Coal Ashes — Experiments with, p. 198. Cream — A substitute for, p. 135. Directions for mak- ing clouted cream, p. 243. Crab Grass — Its value as a hay crop, p. 222. Cult/ivator — Wood's patent described, with a cut, p. 29. Cucumber — To obtain early, p. 78. Cultivation — Rows of all plants should run north and south, p. 65. Culture — Its effect upon vegetables, p. 134. D. Ditching — Mr. Watkins' mode of ditching, p. 83. See Draining, below. Dogs — To cure the distemper, p. 31. Draining — Covered drains recommended, with an estimate of their cost, p. 161, 262. Drought — Effects of prevented by deep tillage, p. 272. Also by the use of ashes, p. 41. Dyeing — Recipes for dyeing, p. 138. DynoMtrmeter — Description of one, with a cut, p. 21. Another, p. 85. Another, p. 259. IV. INDEX. E. Early — A compost liquid to hasten the growth of ve- getables, p. 251. Economy of Farming — A new work, p. 208. Eggs — To secure a plentiful supply during the win- ter, p. 13. To make hens lay, p. 46, 56. To dis- tinguish male from female eggs, p. 51. To pre- serve eggs, p. 178. Recommended as an antidote for corrosive sublimate, p. 239. Relieve choking, p. 239. Encyclopedia — Johnson's Farmer's Encyclopedia re- commended, p. 160. F. Farming — A pattern farm described, p. 27. Fall Ploughing— Objected, to, p. 79. Recommended, p. 252. Fence — Directions for making a neat and economical enclosure, with a cut, p. 6. A new mode of fenc- ing, p. 85. A machine for making post and rail fence described, with a cut, p. 125. Mr. Miller's plan, p. 156. A neat enclosure for a yard described, with a cut, p. 174. Fire Wood — Should be seasoned, p. 39, 187. Fish — Fish ponds recommended to the farmer, p. 207. Flowers — To preserve them fresh, p. 95. Manage- ment of, p. 196. Fodder — Often pulled too early, p. 278. Food — Nutritive properties of different kinds, p. 133. Founder — The value of a recipe for, confirmed, p, 42. A cure for, p. 96. Fork — A plough-fork for cultivating corn described, with a cut, p. 36. Fowls — Directions for managing during the winter, p. 13. How to fatten, p. 17. To prevent their ra- vages, p. 195. Fruit — The adaptation of the southern climate and soil to the growth of fruit, p. 22, 268. Method of preventing injury from spring frosts, p. 38. An- other, p. 40. New plan of making fruit trees, p. 215. Friction — Reduced by the use of Babbitt's anti-attri- tion metal, p. 60. G. Galls and Gullies — To remedy, p. 279. Gapes — In chickens, to cure, p. 186, 198, 221. Gate — Mr. Rice's plan, with a cut, p. 84. Mr. Wrenn's plan, p. 132. Another, p. 197. Gardens — Too much neglected by the farmer, p. 59. Glass — Recommended as a manure for wheat, p. 10. Gourds — A wonderful yield, p. 262. Grapes — Value of Norton's seedling, p. 262. Green Crops — Value of as manure, p. 231, 242. Grease — To remove from clothes, p. 186. Grass — New method of seeding meadows, p. 9. — Herdsgrass preferred to clover, p. 129. Grubbing — A hook for, described, with a cut, p. 78. Another implement, p. 275. Grubs — To cure, p. 113 % Guano— Its character and properties, p. 196. H. Hay — To cure, p. 162. Value of crab grass as a hay crop, p. 222. Hard Times — Good effects of, on agriculture, p. 59. Herdsgrass — Preferred to clover, p. 129. Hessian Fly — Mr. McKinney's notion, p. 176. Com- mented on, p. 212. Health — To preserve, p. 136. Henrico Agricultural Society — Their fifth meeting, p. 153. Sixth do. p. 267. Hinge — Description of a cheap and durable one, with a cut, p. 155. Hill Sides — Description of an implement for laying off corn rows on hill sides, p. 18. Horses — To cure inflamed eyes, p. 122. Proper mode of feeding, p. 185, 238. To purge, p. 242. To cure the hooks, p. 257. Horse Shoes — Improvement in, p. 58. Horsepower — Some excellent suggestions concerning, p. 30. Hall's patent described with a cut, p. 224. Hogs — Proper management of hogs that run out, p. 42. General directions for managing, p. 61, 250. , A description of the Sand Hill hog, illustrated with a cut, p. 220, 257. Home Industry — The best protection for home manu- factures, p. 52. Hooks — Nature of and remedy for the disease, p. 257. I. Ink — To make indelible ink, p. 40. Industry— Anecdote illustrating the effects of indus- try, p. 230. Improvement — Dr. Morton's method of improving ex- hausted land, p. 146. Another, p. 149,^ 216. Ivory — To restore its whiteness when discolored by age, p. 187. Ivy — To extirpate, p. 77 Lamp — A lard lamp recommended and described, with a cut, p. 244. Lettuce — To have early, p. 79. Leveller — Description of an implement for levelling ploughed land, p. 166. Lice — To remove lice from cattle, p. 75. See Cab- bages. Lime — Its effect upon vegetables, p. 79. Its effect upon sorrel, p. 98, 198. Combined with salt and ashes for manuring, p. 217. When and how lime should be used, p. 151. To remove lime spots from woollen clothes, p. 186. Locust — The value of the locust tree with directions for its cultivation, p. 80. Looking Glass — The farmer's, p. 225. M. Machinery — Difficulty of making machinery for our farmers, p. 205. Manure — Proper mode of applying, p. 70. Experi- ments with decomposed animal matter, p. 11. Mr. Jones' mode of managing stable manure, p. 107. Directions for managing the dung heap, p. 118. Use of manure dispensed with, p. 136. A synopsis of Mr. Gaylord's essay on manures, p. 150. An excellent arrangement for saving manure, p> 271. See Bommer. Marl — An apparatus for testing described, with a cut, p. 203. Meadows — A new mode of renovating, p. 9. Mecklenburg Club — Report from, p. 171. Commented on, p. 172. Milk — Cellars recommended for dairies, p. 229. Pro- per form for milch cows, p. 231. Mirrors — To clean, p. 155. Molasses — Made from apples, p. 1 19. Recommended as food for horses and hogs, p. 120. Mud — The value of river mud as manure, p. 6, 19, 215. Proper mpde of treating mud for manure, p. 151. O. Old Fields— The proper mode of treating piny old fields, p. 84. Orchards — Too much neglected in the South, p. 268. Overseers — The effect they produce upon the agricul- ture of the South, p. 271. Their wages, p. 234, 276. Oxen— -Effects of training, p. 257. P. Paint — Recipe for an economical paint, p. 57. An- other, p. 104. INDEX. Pasturage — Virginia farmers should till less and pas- ture more, p. 97. Peach Trees — Novel mode of managing, p. 269. Peas — Should be cultivated with com, p. 79. How the}- should be cultivated for the purpose of im- provement, p. 272. Pines — How to convert old field pines into lasting po^ 1 . . p. 57. PZ<«&7— Experiments with, in Prince George, p. 9. Directions for using, p. 156. Experiments with, p. 170. Valuable in the manure heap, p. 274. Ploughing— To avoid a headland, p. 103, 136. Fall ploughing objected to, p. 219. Ploughs — M : Cormick's hill side plough described, with a cut. p. 163. Bamaby & Moer's recommend- ed, p. 164.' The use of a guage wheel recommend- ed, p. 273. Poll Evil— Remedv for, p. 11, 119. Potatoes— JN ew variety, p. 11. Directions for culti- vating, p. 35. Different effects of planting differ- ent parts of the potato, p. 58. To raise early po- tatoes, p. 77. History of the potato, p. 206. Result of an experiment in cutting off the flowers and but- tons, p. 171. A large yield, p. 268. Poudrette — Mr. Woodfin's mode of manufacturing, p. 65. Certificates of its value, p. 11, 242. Wholly inefficacious, p. 245. 'osts — Directions for setting them in the ground, p. 61. An implement for making post holes, p. 239. Sultry — Worthy of more attention, p. 124. ot-Liquor — Its uses, p. 232. Premiums — Suggestions as to the proper manner of awarding them at agricultural exhibitions, p. 128. Puddings — To make one of light bread, p. 237. Pumpkins— New mode of cultivating, p. 17. R. Raspberry — Directions for its culture, p. 198. Razors — How to sharpen, p. 255. Reaping Machine — M'Cormick's described, with a cut, p. 12, 45. Hussey's, do. p. 68. The two com- pared, p. 183. Rotation — A system recommended, p. 147. Roller — Description of one, p. 56. Roots — The value of, p. 4, 65. Advantages of sub- stituting roots for a part of the corn crop, p. 145. Ruta Ba.ga — Mr. Bement's mode of cultivating, p. 37. Another, p. 56. Rust — Recommended to cut wheat at once when it is attacked with rust, p. 79. Wheat prevented from rusting by the use of ashes, p. 169. To preserve tools from rusting-, p. 147. Run-Round — To cure, p. 202. S. Salt — its effect upon worms, p. 134. Used to arrest the exhalation of ammonia, p. 134. Combined with lime as manure, p. 217. Its properties as a fertilizer, with directions for its application, p. 151. Should at all times be accessible to animals, p. 274. ■Sassafras — To extirpate, p. 147. Sausages — Recipe for making Oxford sausages, p. 28. Scaurs — In calves, to cure, p. 40. Seeds — The value of grain for seed dependent upon the soil on which it grows, p. S3. Directions for selecting, p. 247. The depths at which they should be planted, p. 258. Varieties may be improved by proper attention to breeding the plants, p. 266. Servants — Proper system of management, p. 175. Sheep — To cure the foot-rot, p. 33. Silk— Prospects of the silk business in America, p. 112. : '".-Tree — Proper construction of, p. 187. Criti- cised, p. 212. ■ Sorrel — How affected by the use of lime, p. 98, 198. Sowpstorte — Its qualities as a covering for roofs, p. 108. Soot — Its value as a manure, p. 133. Soapsuds — Their value as a fertilizer, p, 190, 195. Bow they should be used, p. 232. Soiling — Its advantages, p. 159. Soap — Directions for making, p. 178. New mode, p. 240. Soils — An apparatus for testing their texture, p. 233. Sponges — To soften, p. 154. Stall-Feeding — Directions for stall-feeding cattle, p. 18. Stays — Mr. McPherson's opinion of the practice of lacing, p. 37. Strain Cutters — The value of cutting feed, p. 46. A new cutter described, p. 92. C. T. Botts' recom- mended, p. 93. Steel — Directions for working cast steel, p. 54. Stones — Should not be entirely removed from land, p. 137. Sturgeon — To pickle, p. 141. Stables — Proper management of, p. 32. Sugar — From cornstalks, directions for making, p. 50. Suckers — Should not be pulled from the corn, p. 77. Sweet Potatoes — Vines should not be covered up, p. 80. Recommended as food for stock, p. 95, 195. Mr. Gordon's mode of cultivating, p. 137. Directions for keeping, p. 152. T. Tables — Showing the number of hills in an acre at certain distances, p. 85. Teats — Remedy for sore teats, p. 238. Timber — Proper time for cutting, p. 57, 90, 98, 188. Essay on timber, p. 89. Machine for felling, p. 101 . A composition for preserving timber, p. 117. Threshing Machine — Exall's, with a cut, p. 116. Tobacco — Mr. Minor's essay upon the management of tobacco from the plant bed to the prize, p. 1. Con- tinued, p. 25, 29. Commented on, p. 63, 87, 109. Tobacco, an improver, p. 95. Denied, p. 111. Comparative merits of different kinds of tobacco, p. 102. To prevent rot, p. 104. To save from the cut worm, p. 104. A prize for tobacco described, with a cut, p. 108. Comments on Mr. Venable's communication, p. 126-7. Charcoal recommended for curing tobacco, p. 230. How to cure, p. 263. Compared with corn, p. 280. Tomato — How to cultivate, p. 62. To procure early, p. 77. Recommended as food for cows, p. 94, 173. Tools — Directions for the management of edge tools, p. 81. To temper edge tools, p. 248. Turnips — Remedy for the turnip fly, p. 167. U. Urine — Fertilizing properties of, p. 35. V. Vegetables — How to have them early, p. 252. Virginia — The present state of agriculture in Virgi- nia, p. 7. Inducements offered by Virginia to emi- gration from the Northern States, p. 66, 262. W. Water — To obtain artificial springs, p. 11. Wax — To prepare beeswax, p. 43. Weather — A table of prognostications, p. 202. Wlicat — Specimens received from the Patent Office, p. 63. Glass recommended as a manure for wheat, p. 10. Proper time for cutting, p. 76. Result of an experiment in drilling, p. 79. Improved by har- rowing in the spring, p. 79. Result of an experi- ment in early cutting to save from rust, p. 79. Me- diterranean wheat, its claims, p. 214, 253, 259. The Red May recommended, p. 214, 236, 238. Proper quantity of seed to the acre, p. 215, 241. Whiteviash — A recipe for making, p. 104. Warms — In-chiklren, to remove, p. 138. Wood — To prevent its decay, p. 199, 117. Worsted Wark— To clean, p. 263. Wrinkles — Cause of their appearance on the homs of cattle, p. Ill, THE SOUTHERN PLANTER; Beuotes to Startculture, horticulture, autr tne ^ousclioiu Brts. Agriculture is the nursing mother of the Arts. Xerwphon. Tillage and Pasturage are the two breasts of the State. — Sully. C. T. BOTTS Mv. 26, 1842. J In connexion with the above, we subjoin the following extract from a letter received from Mr. Robinson, of King & Queen : II The mud of the Dragon Swamp, when hauled out upon the high land, is veiy valuable, and when I was a boy Mr. Thomas Faunileroy, by the use of mill-pond mud, made a very poor field produce the best wheat of any land in ten miles of him. ' I have tried marsh mud after the salt tide was taken from it five years without effect, whilst the mud from an ash-sapling swamp, at the head of the tide water in a state of na- ture, was very beneficial. "Col. Spencer, of this county, tried the em- bankment of a reclaimed rnarsh about eight years after it was thrown up, with very decided effect on both corn and wheat." PROPAGATION OF MENTAL PECULIARITIES. It is stated that one of the fine deer hounds in Richmond park, instead of seizing the deer by the ear or neck, as is usually the case when they stand at bay, i Iways takes it by the skin of the forehead, between the antlers — a difficult place to hold it by, and one of peculiar danger to the dog. On slipping a puppy of this parti- cular hound at a deer for the first time, when it was only nine months old, it immediately seized the deer, when brought to bay, in the same man- ner its mother had done, and still continues to do so. For the Southern Planter. Lake C. H., Indiana, Dec. 12, 1842. In the letter of friend Botts, in the November number, there are some remarks upon his visit to the farm of Mr. dishing particularly worthy of notice. The spirit which prompted Mr. Cushing, a wealthy East India merchant, in his retirement from business, to select a sterile spot in the coun- try, and spend his surplus wealth in making it bloom and blossom in beauty, is worthy of all commendation. What a pity it is that hundreds of the wealthy cits of our large towns, would not go and do likewise, instead of hoarding up their capital in the vaults of some bank, or other shaving shops, the great amount of benefit to society, derived from their operations, consisting in the patronage that they bestow upon paper mills and engravers. At present, the height of ambition in a retired city merchant, seems to be to get a few miles out in the country and build a palace by the side of some great thoroughfare, or upon a naked hill-top, where it will catch the eye and admira- tion, or excite the envy of the passer-by ; where he lives upon the proceeds of his bank stock, etc. instead of devoting his wealth to the actual improvement of the agricultural condition of his native or adopted country ; and actually creating happiness for himself and all around him, like your friend in his James River paradise. True, we have no right to question, or "fall out with the taste" of any individual, as to ihe manner in which he shall spend his money, yet we have a right, nay a duty, to point out a way in which it can be done and produce a greater blessing to a greater number. What noble monuments of fame the retiring merchant might raise to himself, if, when he re- tires from business, he would select some barren spot, like our friend Bement, for instance, and like him, set an example worthy to be followed in all similar situations. Instead of creating a THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 21 splendid mansion only for show, he might create fertility where all was barrenness, and add to his own wealth, while he bestowed comfort and happiness upon those he would employ in culti- vating his land. Besides he might by his abi- lity g.id means, show to the poorer class of cul- tivators by whom he might be surrounded, nu- merous experiments and improvements in the science of agriculture. Let us then try to create a taste and fashion, for that is the despotic rule, to induce those re- tiring from city life, to settle in the country and devote themselves to agricultural pursuits ; in- stead of a life of idleness, ennui, and miserable existence, for want of something to engage their minds upon, as we know is the case with the habitants of many of the "beautiful mansions" which we see in the suburbs of every city. I have the pleasure of writing myself your friend, Solon Robinson. Note. — We have had the beginning of a severe winter. The last half of INovember very cold, and good sleighing, which is an uncommon thing in this latitude, which is 41|°. Agricultural productions all extremely low — our market is Chicago, on Lake Michigan, and thence to New York or Canada. Wheat 38 a 45 cents; Com 16 a 18 cents; Oats 10 a 12| cents; Pork 1 a 1| cents; Beef l^a2 cents ; Tallow 6 cents ; Lard 4 a 5 cents. DYNAMOMETER We have been frequently asked what a Dy- namometer was, and we have concluded to illus- trate the explanation with an engraving. The word literally means a measurer of strength, and it has long been employed to test the extent of muscular power. The implement is made in various forms, which are all modifications of the one represented in the engraving. It will be readily understood that any force applied at either end of the elliptical spring, the other end being stationary, will by compressing the spring cause the lever (D), to give motion to the index (E), the lever and the index being both fastened to a small plate, which revolves on a pin at (F). To such perfection has that invaluable imple- ment, the plough, been brought, in the execution of its work, that the great contest now amongst the manufacturers is to furnish the plough that will do its work with the least draught ; this is a point of the greatest importance to the farmer, and only secondary to the qualitj'- of the work. To ascertain the ease of draught, is then the great object of the dynamometer. One end of the spring is fastened to the plough whilst the other is attached to the team ; the force exerted is indicated by the movement of the index through the scale. This implement answers very well for the purpose for which it was originally intended, viz. to ascertain the power of animal muscle when exerted against a fixed and immoveable object ; but here the object is to ascertain, not the power of the team, but the resistance of the plough. This resistance varies with the move- 22 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, ment of the implement, and is much greater, from a greater impediment, at one moment than another. Thus a plough of the easiest draught, by the intervention of some obstruction in the earth, may momentarily press the index to the highest point on the scale; it is, therefore, ne- cessary to ascertain how long the, index stands at each point of the scale, that we may compare the average force required by one plough with that of another, employed in turning over two pieces of ground similar in nature and extent. The ordinary dynamometer affords no opportu- nity of making such an estimate; for it is ut- terly impossible lo watch and record the vibrat- ing motions of the index : therefore, so imperfect is this implement as at present constructed, and so evidently fallacious is the test it affords, that we should have hardly considered it worthy this notice, if we had not had it in mind to make a suggestion, that may lead some mechanical ge- nius to overcome the difficulties we have men- tioned. It seems lo us that to the index might be affixed an apparatus, similar to the one-half of an hour glass, supposing it to be cut in two at the centre. This should be filled with sand, and the aperture at the small end stopped until the force was applied. This apparatus, with the small end downwards, should then be affixed to the index in such a manner as to move with it. The scale should then be laid off into mi- nute divisions immediately under the segment described by the mouth of the glass in the move- ment of the index; with these divisions might be connected little drawers for the reception of the sand dropped into them from the glass. It will be readily perceived that the quantity of sand in a division would intimate how long the degree of force it represents had been exerted. There might be some difficulty in estimating very accurately the quantity of this sand, but a little ingenuity we believe would overcome this difficulty. To make the test, even when per- fected as we have imagined, an accurate one, it is necessary that the motion of the ploughs should be the same. This might be, in a man ncr, secured, by using the same team to both, but a much more certain plan would be lo rig a capstan to be worked by hand. Any mechanic, who will construct an imple- ment that will furnish a thorough test of the draught of ploughs, will confer a great favor upon the agricultural community, and will cer- tainly afford them what they have not at present. FRUIT. Nothing strikes us with more astonishment than the superior attention paid to the cultivation of fruit, at the North. There, the most careful planting, the highest cultivation, and the most judicious pruning are bestowed upon a tree, des- tined to yield them a poor, sorry, tasteless peach, that never knew a "sunny side," whilst, here, where nature stands ready to second the efforts of the husbandman in producing the richest and most luscious fruit, nothing is done. Indeed, ever ready to find excuses for our own errors, it is gravely asserted that the southern climate is not adapted lo the production of fruit. How often do we see farmers, liberal in their expendi- tures, laying out hundreds of dollars in luxuries for their families, that are not really half as grateful to them as the constant supply of deli- cious fruit he might afford them by a much smaller annual expenditure. There is no acre upon the farm so profitable, if money is valued for the comforts and gratification it will procure, as the garden and orchard, especially if 3'our wife and children are fond of fruit and vegeta- bles, as wives and children, and for that matter husbands too. generally, are. Reckon the cost of a fine dish of strawberries, and then see in what other way you can as well bestow your money. As to the idea that any fruit is better at the North than the South it is all a mistake; the powers of nature can be only partially substi- tuted by the tenderest cares of man, and the want of flavor in the more delicate fruits is readily delected by every southern palate. The Jersey peach is fair to look upon, but, like many another glittering exterior, it offers promises that are never realized. The northern men begin lo understand this, and a gentleman in Philadel- phia informed us, that, during the last season, peaches from Norfolk, owing to the great faci- lity of communication, were brought perfectly fresh into the markets of Baltimore, Philadel- phia and New York, and that the Virginia fruit was eagerly sought for, not only on account of its forwardness, coming into market two or three weeks before the Jerseys, but also for the sake of its peculiar and delicious flavor. By the bj'e we know no better investment than may be made in the light lands about Norfolk, lo be de- voted to the growth of fruit and vegetables for the northern markets. They can be delivered in Philadelphia even, the day after they are ga- THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 23 thered, and one gentleman, from Norfolk, in- formed us that he had, during the last season, sold the produce of a Utile place hardly more than a "truck patch," for $2,500, to a man, who Mime and gathered it for the Baltimore market. With respect to apples too, the very best pip- pin we know, is grown in the county of Albe- marle. Those who buy and sell are the best judges of an article, and our next door neighbor, Mr.' Bonavita, tells us, that he will pay fifty cents in the barrel more for the Albemarle pippin than for any northern apple he can get. The truth is, the flavor of southern is incomparably superior, as well it may be, to northern fruit, and yet thousands of dollars annually pass out of this State for northern apples. Our farmers are not aware to what an extent the apple business is carried. American apples are now exported to every part of the world, and we understood that one merchant in Boston, alone, was desirous to contract for thirty thousand dollars worth of apples. We hope these remarks, which apply with even greater force, perhaps, to our friends farther south, will have the effect of arousing attention to a subject now most wofully neglected. taken out by the person to whom they are sent, you will