THE SOUTHERN PLANTER; 

23cbote& to Agriculture, horticulture, unit the fj^ousenoUi girts. 



Agriculture is the nursing mother of the Arts. 

Xenophon. 


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


4 C. T. BOTTS, Editor. 


Vol. III. RICHMOND, JULY, 1843. No. 7. 



For the Southern Planter. 
ROOT CULTURE. 

Mr. Editor, — The flattering reception which 
my communications on the culture of Rutaba- 
gas and White Belgian Carrot, have met with 
in the " Southern Planter," emboldens me to try 
my hand again. I have not the vanity to sup- 
pose that I can enlighten the readers of your 
paper, but if I can even be the means of direct- 
ing to this subject the attention of some of the 
planters, who are skeptical of the value of root 
crops, in comparison with Indian corn, and in- 
duce them to make a fair trial, I feel convinced 
they will throw aside their prejudice and adopt 
their culture hereafter, to a certain extent. I 
would not wish to be understood as recommend- 
ing the cultivation of roots in preference to corn, 
but an acre or two in roots will add much in 
the economy of feeding stock; enabling the 
planter to keep more and keep it in much better 
condition too; and the more stock, the more 
manure, and the more manure, the greater the 
crops. 

Prejudice and conceit are the offspring of ig- 
norance, and the great barrier to agricultural 
improvement. The first requisite to improve- 
ment, in any business, is the conviction, that we 
can learn ; the next, that we will learn. And it 
perhaps is invariably true, that the more we do 
learn, in useful knowledge, the more we become 
sensible of our comparative ignorance, and the 
more we are anxious to learn. This results not 
only from a wish to serve ourselves, and multi- 
ply our enjoyments, but from a sense of sacred 
duty to society. 

I am aware that it is generally supposed, at 
the South, that the same labor and the same 
expense, will obtain more nutriment from an 
acre of corn, than from an acre of any root, crop 
whatever. But such is not the case, here at 
the Norih. From our soil, that will yield forty 
bushels corn to the acre, we can get from four 
to five hundred bushels of rutabagas, and from 
three hundred _and fifty to four hundred of carrots, 
or mangold wurtzel, which, for milch cows and 
young stock, we consider of great value. They 
have not the fatten ing qualities, butareconsidered 
to exceed all kinds of grain in growing flesh. 
One advantage the root culture has over corn 
is, that it does not exhaust, the soil so much, as 
it draws a great proportion of its food from the 
Vol. III.— 19 



atmosphere ; besides, rutabagas can be sown 
after the other seeds, and harvested after all the 
other crops are secured, and no growth leaves 
the soil in better order for a succeeding crop. 

The introduction of the root culture into Bri- 
tain forms one of the most important eras in the 
improvement of British husbandry; and its in- 
troduction into our country will ultimately prove 
highly beneficial. And that they can be grown 
south, and in Virginia too, is evident from the 
following, which was published in an early vo- 
lume of the "Albany Cultivator." Mr. W. S. 
Morton, of Prince Edward, in a letter to the 
Editor, says, "That our soils are well adapted 
to the culture of the rutabaga I have demon- 
strated, to my own satisfaction, by a successful 
trial, on a moderate scale, for a number of years. 
I have cultivated mangold wurtzel last year on 
about the fourth of an acre, and succeeded to 
the astonishment of all who saw the crop." 

If the root culture can be made to succeed in 
Virginia, of which I have but little doubt, I 
should not at. all be surprised to hear that the 
lands there should double in value in the course 
of a very few years. In fact, I am so well con- 
vinced of it, that were I to sell the farm I now 
occupy, I should turn my face to Virginia, and 
take a took at some of the now considered worn 
out lands before I settled down again. 

And now, my good natured readers, permit 
me to recommend, in the culture of either va- 
riety of roots, the ridge system, which I have 
adopted, and given in the first number and fifth 
page of the current volume of this journal. In 
this plan the labor and tediousness in the first 
working is much abridged, and can be done by 
the younger or aged hands, and after a little 
practice, becomes less irksome, and not such a 
tedious job after all. Try it, and let us hear of 
your success through the columns of this paper. 

C. N. Bement. 

Three Hills Farm, May 18, 1 843. 



For the Southern Planter. 
IMPROVEMENT OF OLD LAND. 

Mr. Editor, — The improvement of lands, es- 
pecially such as have long been abandoned as 
worthless, I. am persuaded from some experience, 
is practical. Old fields used for many years as 
commons, require only one good manuring to 



146 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



produce good tobacco. After the to ace 1 crop 
(which is ihe best preparation) seed in wh;ai, 
and, in the month of February, in clover and 
herdsgrass. 

I have a lot of wheat at this time on such 
land, that promises a better crop than other lands 
often manured, and to all appearance much 
richer, (no doubt wearied by much cultivation.) 
When well set in grass, it should not be inter- 
rupted with the plough for two or three years. 

My plantation is one of the oldest in Char- 
lotte, and was first settled by my grandfather, 
who was a woodsman, and took up the lands 
generally in my neighborhood, as may be seen 
by reference to the patents bearing date about 
the year 1756. 

The up-lands were so much exhausted from 
hard cultivation when I got possession, as to 
make it absolutely necessary to improve the 
cleared land, or cut down the remaining forest, 
which was not more than sufficient for fire wood 
and fencing. I had often heard the remark from 
a very practical man, that it was as easy to im- 
prove as clear an acre, and I resolved to try the 
experiment. I am satisfied that an acre can be 
covered and improved, even if under the neces- 
sity of hauling richer earth from hedges, cor- 
ners of fences, ditch banks, sooner than we can 
cut down, grub, and prepare timbered land for 
a crop of any thing. 

It is my uniform practice to make my farm- 
pens on the ground I wish to improve, selecting: 
the poorest spot, especially if it is dry ; it will 
be sufficiently enriched by the juices from the 
litter lying through the winter. It will save 
much hauling from a more permanent shelter, 
often distant from the land to be improved. 

To restore our old lands, we must be patient 
and persevering, adding to the quantum of lot 
land every year as much as convenient; the 
progress, though slow, will tell in a few years. 

The consolation of having bettered the con- 
dition of our lands (to say nothing of the profit 
from better crops) is sufficient to arouse the en- 
ergy of Virginians. We have a soil and cli- 
mate adapted to the production of every crop 
essential to the wants of man, and we have 
only to avail ourselves of the cheapest and most 
practical mode of improvement to change the 
present gloomy prospect, which now hangs over 
us, to substitute a verdant scene, in place of the 
cheerless broomsedge which meets the eye of 
the way-worn traveller from better cultivated 
countries. 

Farm-pen and stable manures for our tobacco 
country are the cheapest and most certain im- 
provers, after all ; plaster, lime, &c. are rather 
expensive articles to be used broadcast. 

From the flat lands the cornstalks should be 
taken, affording a very good feed for cattle in 
the fall, and the best foundation for the farm- 
pens and stable-yards, with as many leaves as 



can be conveniently hauled. The straw should 
i hen be fed by scattering it generally over the 
pen, unless so abundant as to be spared and 
carried directly to the land to be improved. 

1 knew a planter in my county who manured 
mainly with leaves, and a most successful plan- 
ter he was, (the Rev. James Brooks.) covering 
his tobacco lois very deep, with leaves only. I 
would suggest alternately a pile of manure and 
leaves ; by this means a larger surface may be 
aided. The great object is to manure enough 
to make the clover and herdsgrass take ; this 
effecied, much is accomplished — at least our 
barren lands may be converted into good pasture. 
With much respect, yours, &c. 

Samuel D. Morton. 

N. B. — I have been engaged in improving 
waste land about ten years. Probably I may 
not have made as fine crops as ihose who apply 
the whole manure to better lands, but I have 
been profited by enhancing the value of my 
land. Such as I have improved would not have 
been estimated by any judge of land at more 
than three to four dollars, now it may be safely 
valued at from six to eight dollars. 

S. D. M. 

May 10, 1843. 



For the Southern Planter. 
COAL-TAR. 

Mr. Editor, — In your March number, inqui- 
ries are made in relation to coal-tar. Being in 
Richmond when it issued, I wrote a few lines 
in answer to the inquiries referred to, but con- 
cluded not to deliver them to you, but to wait 
until I had an opportunity of re-examining the 
roof upon which I had used it, some four years 
ago. Two weeks ago, I chanced to be at my 
foimer residence, and another gentleman and 
myself examined the roof. The gentleman that 
was with me was an experienced carpenter. — 
We cut into the shingles ; the tar had not pene- 
trated, but formed a thin covering, and the shin- 
gles were full of the fine fuzz, used by wasps 
and hornets to build their nests. We were both 
of the opinion that it was very little, if any be- 
nefit to the shingle, and far less beneficial than 
common paint, It makes, at best, a very ordi- 
nary coloring, soon fades and looks dingy and 
mean. 

The excellence of coal-tar, in my opinion, lies 
in its far excelling, in odor, the best specimens 
of dead cattle, which, through the length and 
breadth of our good old Commonwealth, every 
spring delight the nostrils of those airy epicu- 
reans, the buzzards. Unlike the short-lived hj'a- 
cinth which puts forth to-day and to-morrow 
withers, it keeps up the game for weeks, until 
the poor mortal who has been ingenuous enough 
to buy and use it, can smell nothing but coal-tar, 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



147 



thinks of nothing eke whilst waking or sleep- 
ing, dreams of coal-tar, and rouses himself, hold- 
ing his nose. Those who think they would 
like to sleep wilh a dead hog for a month or so 
in summer, will do well to put coal-tar upon 
their xf ofs, otherwise, not. 

Philip A. Bolling. 



For the Southern Planter. 
DIVISION OF ARABLE LAND— ROTATION 
OF CROPS— EXTIRPATION OF SASSA- 
FRAS, &a 

Mr. Editor, — Brevity shall be observed in 
filling up the heads above laid down ; and under 
the first, I will endeavor to answer this question, 
What is the best division of arable land, compatible 
with its steady improvement ? Profit is what we 
aim at in all our exertions in agriculture ; first, 
in the amount and value of the products drawn 
from the soil, and secondly, in the permanent 
improvement of our fields. If we make large 
crops at the expense of our lands, it becomes 
every year more certain that our apparent gain 
is real loss. We should aim then to get good 
returns, while we make permanent and as rapid 
improvement as practicable. For the purpose 
before me, I will suppose a farm of four hun- 
dread acres of arable land, to be divided into six 
parts; two of these, to contain one hundred 
acres, each, the other four, fifty acres each. The 
two should be so arranged, if practicable, as to 
be contiguous to the farm houses. This ratio 
in the division, is founded on the amount of stock 
actually needed on the farm. If summer support 
can be had from natural meadows or marshes, 
then, the four lots should be still further reduced, 
and the two, proportionably enlarged. The de- 
sign of the plan, is to get the greatest gain — 
support only the stock actually necessary — ex- 
tend our means for giving employment to our 
increasing hands, and to enrich the land. All 
this, the writer is confident may be done upon 
this plan, with a good rotation of crops. This is 
the second point to be considered. On the two 
"hundred arce" fields, let the rotation be com. 
wheat or oals, or part of each, according to soil 
and comparative value. At first, no grazing 
should be allowed on these lots, say, for two 
years ; afterwards, especially if laid down in 
clover, (which will on good land attain to good 
size during the fall after the small grain is taken 
off,) a very good bite may be extended to the 
stock just before going into winter quaners. — 
Without a particle of manure, the land will, under 
this plan, grow better every year. But the in- 
creased product of the large field, over the small 
one, places it in the power of the proprietor to 
apply much more manure over the whole ag- 
gregate surface, than upon other plans. Re- 
flection will convince the reader of this, and 
save the time and space of an argument here. 



I The rotation for the fifty acre lots, should be 
corn ) wheat, clover, pasture. The whole farm 
then, will have on it when the plan is in full 
operation, one hundred and fifty acres in corn — 
the same amount in small grain — fifty acres in 
clover, which should be neither cut nor grazed^ 
unless the land can fully justify it — and fifty 
acres in close pasturage, by which it will have 
its last year's clover well trampled in, and the 
present crop nicely cleaned off for corn the next 
year. We thus get larger crops, more manure, 
j and greater profits. Corn is our great staple in 
j this region — it cannot be dispensed with. Wheat 
is most precarious. Upon other systems, we 
have a sixih, a fifth, a fourth or a third of the 
four hundred acres in corn. This gives us six- 
ty six and two-thirds acres — eighty — one hun- 
dred — and one hundred and thirty-three and one- 
third acres in corn ; while the proposed plan 
gives one hundred and fifty acres. Suppose 
the experiment to begin on land yielding four 
barrels per acre ; look at the result. Two hun- 
dred and sixty six — three hundred and twenty — 
four hundred — five hundred and thirty-three — 
and six hundred. Now count this at three dol- 
lars per barrel. See how rapidly, comparatively 
viewed, the capital is turned over. When fairly 
considered, it appears to the writer that it is im- 
possible to raise a substantial objection to the 
practical operation of the plan. It entirely ex- 
ceeds the old three field system in every point of 
view, and yielding a greater amount of offal, 
its resources are proportionably superior to all 
the other systems that I have examined. The 
plan may frequently be so arranged as to save 
much fencing; no dividing fence being needed 
between the two large fields, on many farms, 
the grazing allowed, being made the care of a 
driver. But I meant to be short. 

A word on the sassafras and other pests. I 
have found the best effects, nay, the only effi- 
cient effects, from grubbing every summer. As 
soon as corn is laid by, grub the pasture and 
wheat field. The cultivation of corn will keep 
it under one year in each rotation. So that the 
blue thistle, running brier or any other pest, for 
six years in succession, and the farmer will be 
so fully convinced of his ability to extirpate, 
that he will have but little more fear of them. 
I have tried if. 

The foregoing matters are respectfully sub- 
mitted to the farmers of lower Virginia particu- 
larly, by 

J. Du Val. 
King Sf Queen County. 



PRESERVING SCYTHES, &c. FROM RUST. 

To preserve scythes, sickles, reaping hooks, 
and other steel tools from rust after the season 
for using them, wipe them clean and dry, and 



148 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



hold them before the fire and keep drawing them 
backwards and forwards until warm enough to 
"melt wax ; then take some beeswax and rub it 
all over. A half-penny worth of wax will be 
sufficient for a scythe. Then put it in a dry 



place, but not warm ; it needs no other covering. 
The usual method is to wrap a hay-band round ; 
but in winter time this naturally contracts mois- 
ture, or the damp air strikes in betwixt the folds 
of the hay-band. — Farmers' Magazine. 



BENTLEY'S STEAM GENERATOR 




Since the practice of cooking food for stock 
has become general, which it has at the North 
at least, many plans have been devised to effect 
this object in an economical manner. Saving 
of fuel has become a matter of importance, even 
to our prodigal friends of the South ; and when 
wood continues to be so abundant as to be little 
regarded, the labor of cutting and hauling is so 
onerous, as to have brought into repute several 
stoves and boilers for cooking and steaming. — 
Of all the different kinds of apparatus which 
we have ever seen for heating water, in point of 
convenience and economy, we greatly prefer the 
one illustrated in the engraving. The principle 
is neither more nor less than that on which the 
well known locomotive boiler is constructed. — 
This plan has been long known as the most 
economical that could be adopted, but the cost 
of construction has hitherto prevented its use, 
except for certain kinds of steam engines. We 
are indebted to the ingenuity of Mr. Bentleyfor 
the invention of labor-saving machinery, where- 
by the cost of this article is so reduced, as to 
bring it within the range of private uses. — 



Wherever any quantity of heated water is re- 
quired, whether in the kitchen or on the farm, 
for washing or for cooking food for stock, we 
have no hesitation in expressing the opinion that 
it is the most perfect apparatus in use. 

A is the boiler, which is filled by unscrewing 
the stopper at E. K is the furnace, in which 
the fuel is deposited. The bottom and the top 
of the boiler A are perforated with holes, vary- 
ing in number from 19 to 30, 1^ inches in di- 
ameter, and hollow tubes of wrought iron ex- 
tend from the top to the bottom, having their 
ends secured in these holes : so that the only 
i egress for the heat and smoke of the furnace, is 
through these tubes : consequently, the heat of 
the fire, instead of extending around the outer 
surface of the water only, as in other arrange- 
ments, is here driven through the body of the 
water in nineteen different pipes. These pipes 
are all covered by the lid F, to the top of 
which a common stove pipe is affixed. This 
lid can be raised up, or taken off, at pleasure, 
for the purpose of cleaning the pipes from the 
soot, &c. which accumulates within. D is a 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



149 



weight of seven or eight pounds, which acts 
the purpose of a safety valve, and is found am- 
ply sufficient to retain the steam for all purposes, 
whilst it prevents the possibility of explosion. — 
i, i, are couplings, by which pipes may be con- 
necte"with the steamer, leading off into such 
reservoirs as may be required : just behind the 
one on the right hand side, is seen a stopcock, 
(there is a similar one on the opposite side, con- 
cealed by the weight of the safety valve) the 
turning Gf which turns the steam off or on at 
pleasure, h, k, are cocks, by which the height 
of the water in the boiler may be ascertained : 
it should not be filled above the upper one, nor 
suffered to get much below the lower one. o, o, 
are branch pipes, of which there may be as 
many as are required, furnished also with stop 
cocks leading into vessels as may be wanted. 

Let us suppose the boiler filled with water, 
and a fire kindled in the furnace, a large double 
handful of wood or coal being sufficient for the 
purpose : as soon as steam is gotten up, which 
will be in about twenty minutes, the vessels are 
filled with water, and the stop cocks in the pipes 
are opened ; immediately the water is raised to 
the boiling point, and as much above it, as you 
may please, by keeping down the lid : it may 
of course be then applied to any purposes for 
which boiling water is used. By means too of 
the cock just above the vessel, the heat may be 
raised or lowered at pleasure. These vessels 
are generally wooden tubs furnished with cocks 
at the bottom through which the water may be 
drawn off, if it is desired, for other purposes. 

Sometimes, upon the other side of the boiler, 
a large tub or reservoir (B) is used, which is 
represented with its lid up : into this reservoir 
one of the pipes of the boiler is introduced, 
through the top, by which any quantity of steam 
may be injected into it. Of course, if this re- 
servoir i3 kept filled with water, the water will 
be kept hot, which, drawn off through the cock 
at the bottom, will afford a constant supply of 
hot water for household purposes. Also, if a 
pipe be carried from the bottom of this reservoir 
to the bottom of the boiler, which it must be 
remembered is hollow and surrounds the furnace, 
to supply the boiler with water, all that we have 
to do, is to open the cock at (w), and let the 
water flow in from the reservoir, which it will 
do, until it rises to its level in the boiler. In this 
case the stopper at E is not used. Of course, 



whenever the boiler is to be filled, the steam 
must first be blown off. 

Some contrariety of opinion exists as to the 
relative merits of boiling or steaming food. This 
apparatus is equally adapted to either mode of 
cooking — a barrel may be filled with potatoes, 
and one of these pipes being introduced through 
the head or lid, they will be thoroughly steamed 
in twenty minutes ; or if the barrel is filled with 
water, they may be boiled in almost as short a 
time. A representation of the various purposes 
to which it is adapted, give this apparatus an 
air of complication, which does not belong to it : 
to us it appears perfectly simple, and within the 
comprehension and management of the meanest 
capacity. So assured is the inventor of its su- 
periority, in point of economy, that he is now 
erecting several in this city upon the under- 
standing, that he is to be paid only when the 
purchaser is satisfied that it saves two-thirds of 
the fuel consumed by any other apparatus in 
use. 

There are three sizes, which are furnished at 
$55, $70 and $85, delivered in Baltimore, where 
they are constructed. These prices are for the 
boiler and furnace alone : the pipes and vessels, 
which vary with the different establishments to 
which they are furnished, are either made by 
the purchaser himself, or charged for separately. 



For the Southern Planter. 

IMPROVEMENT. 

Mr. Editor, — In looking over your truly va- 
i luable paper I do not see any plan advised for 
I the improvement of land, which, in my opinion, 
j is so effectual as the one I pursue. 

I live in what may be called the red land 
district of Amherst. The character of the soil 
is similar to that of Albemarle ; the clay is very 
red, and tenacious, so much so, that it is difficult 
to plough it until it is mixed with vegetable 
matter. 

My plantation is laid off in five fields, so as 
to fallow clover for wheat and for corn. The 
oat crop follows corn, and it is upon this crop 
that I use most of my manure and straw to pro- 
cure a good stand of clover. The clover seed 
are raked in with the oats and the thinnest land 
is liberally top-dressed with long or unfermented 
manure, which nourishes the young clover, and 
protects it from the hot sun, thereby insuring a 
good stand. The oats or clover are plastered 
about the first of May, about half bushel to the 
acre, and as much more the ensuing spring, 
which should be applied by the first of April. 
It is astonishing to see what effect a good 



150 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



clover lay turned in has on our soil, changing it 
from a red to chocolate. What manure I have 
in the fall I apply to the poor spots, raking it in 
with the wheat. If put upon the wheat in the 
winter, as is the custom in the more eastern 
counties, it will be sure to give it the rust, 
though it will produce a heavier crop of straw. 
A Young Farmer. 
Jlmherst, March 25, 1843. 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE NEW YORK 
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

We are indebted to the politeness of Mr. Lu- 
ther Tucker, the Secretary, for the second vo- 
lume of the Transactions of the New York 
State Agricultural Society. As in the last vo- 
lume, so in this, we meet with matter of great 
ability and of general and absorbing interest. — 
Amongst other things, we find two prize essays, 
from the pen of Willis Gaylord, Esq , occupying 
sixty pages, every word of which we shculd be 
glad to transfer to our columns, if the nature of 
our work permitted. As is, we must be con- 
tent with making brief extracts from such por- 
tions of these essays as we deem most interest- 
ing to our readers. The first essay is on 

THE PREPARATION AND USE OF MANURES. 

After examining the nature and constitution 
of plants, Mr. Gaylord remarks, " In the prepa- 
ration of manures, the principal object to be 
aimed at must be to supply materials for the 
formation of carbon and ammonia ; and these 
are found in the greatest abundance in dead or 
decomposed animal and vegetable matter." He 
then proceeds to consider separately the differ- 
ent kinds of manures, under appropriate heads, 
and first of 

ANIMAL MANURES. 

He quotes a late British writer on agriculture, 
who says, " If cattle repay their food and the 
expense and risk attending their keep, the ma- 
nure is sufficient profit. Even with a moderate 
loss, they must be kept when manure cannot be 
purchased. Manure is to a farm what daily 
food is to an animal ; it must be procured at any 
sacrifice." Mr. Gaylord thinks, that to such 
crops as corn, potatoes, &c. that do not require 
foicing in the early part of their growth, but de- 
mand nutriment at a late period of their vegeta- 
tion, to perfect their seeds or roots, long manure 
may well be applied in the spring ; being well 
covered, fermentation will not take place, until 



the gases, which are eliminated in that process, 
will be retained by the earthy covering, and ap- 
propriated by the roots of the plants. To pre- 
serve manure for such purposes, he thinks, that 
the usual plan of incorporating the droppings 
of the cattle with the usual litter of the farm- 
yard, during the winter months when the ab- 
sence of heat prevents decomposition, is fully 
sufficient ; but for other crops, as turnips, beets 
and carrots, where the influence of manure is 
required to be felt at once, in order to push them 
forward at the first start beyond the reach of in- 
sects, he thinks the vegetable matter should be 
reduced to a state of perfect decomposition, be- 
fore its application. Whenever this process 
takes place, the vegetable matter should be pro- 
tected and covered, as in the compost heap, with 
alternate layers of sod. earth from ditches, ponds, 
&c. which may absorb the drainings of the 
manure above, and arrest the ascent of the gases 
from the manure below. He says, " the more 
solid such deposites of manure are made, the 
more slow will the fermentation be. Should 
the dung in these heaps be too slow in fermen- 
tation, it may be hastened by opening the piles, 
or still better, by making holes in the top into 
which the wash of the yards and the urine of 
the stable may be poured." 

If Mr. Gaylord is correct in supposing that 
no loss occurs during the winter months in the 
farm-yard manure, his plan of hathng it out 
and covering it up at that season when the heat 
generates decomposition, is highly to be recom- 
mended ; because it saves all the labor of the 
compost heap during the winter season. But, 
in our southern climate, at least, we imagine 
that the loss, even during the winter, from eva- 
poration and solution, would more than justify 
the labor of daily collection and addition to the 
compost heap. In addition to the earth and 
sods, winch are mere mechanical retainers, we 
do not doubl that valuable chemical agents, as 
gypsum, salt, &c. may be added, whereby de- 
sirable combinations with the gases, &c. liberated 
in the process of decomposition, may be ob- 
tained. Upon this portion of the subject the 
science of chemistry is one day destined to shed 
most valuable light. 

Upon the subject of 

GREEN CROPS 

Mr. Gaylord remarks, " For a plant to enrich 
exhausted soils, affording as it does both top 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



151 



and roots to a large extent, there is no plant 
equal to clover ; and particularly where it is ne- 
cessary or desirable to have the green crop fed 
off by animals. I prefer letting the clover grow 
until nearly or quite in blossom, and then turn- 
ing srxep upon it. They will eat much of it 
and fatten rapidly ; but they will trample down 
more, and this, mixed with their dung, forms in 
its decay a most efficient top dressing; and re- 
peated for two or three years, forms an admira- 
ble preparation of the soil for wheat or other 
grains. When a crop is cultivated to be ploughed 
in, it should be done a.? the time when the plants 
contain the greatest quantity of nutritive matter, 
and have least exhausted the soil in which they 
are growing. This, in most cases, will be when 
the plants have come fully into flower. At an 
earlier period there may be as much weight, but 
a larger portion of it will be mere water; and, 
if allowed to stand much later, the soluble matter 
is lost in theseed ; and .heligr>eous part of the stem 
becomes more difficult of decomposi.ion. Buck- 
wheat is a good plant for a green manure; its 
growth is rapid, and gives a great weight pet acre, 
and two crops may be ploughed under in a year. 
The best way of ploughing in such green crops, 
is to pass a heavy roller over them, which lays 
the plants close to the gro.md, and greatly faci- 
litates covering them by the plough. It is be- 
lieved that corn, sown broadcast, and when just 
showing its tassels, cut and cohered by the 
plough, would be one of the best crops that 
could be chosen for this purpose. A man or 
boy, in this case, would be required to follow 
the plough, to place ibe com in the furrow for 
covering, at the next passage of the plough. — 
Taken at this time, corn abounds in nutritive 
matter, and could scarcely fail of proving a first 
rate fertilizer of the soil." 

Mr. Gaylord thinks that wherever other ve- 
getable matter can be had, fallen leaves will 
not pay the expense of gathering. 

PEAT, SWAMP AND POND MUD 

he esteems very highly, but these substances 
applied in their natural state are almost inopera- 
tive, as compared with stable manure. To ena- 
ble it to give out the ammonia, with which it 
abounds, peat or swamp muck must be fer- 
mented, and it is for want of this process that it 
is so little esteemed, in general. To bring it to 
this state, we are recommended to compost it 
with half its bulk of stable dung, which it is 



asserted will form a heap equal in fertilizing 
properties to three times the quantity of dung 
employed. 

Poudrette, urate, guano and other peculiar 
manures are brought under our notice in order, 
but passing over these we come to the more 
general one of 

LIME. 

Upon this subject our author remarks, "It 
appears as the result of experience, that lime 
produces 'he best effect on what, are called stiff 
loams, or loams inclining to clay, and in which 
a g-ood proportion of decayed organic matter is 
found. 

" It is found, too, that it operates more favora- 
bly on soils natural to oak and its kindred trees, 
such as walnut, poplar, &c. ihan on those where 
the beech, elm and maple constitute the principle 
timber. It is singular that the richest limestone 
lands, as they are called from being based on 
this rock, are frequently those on which heavy 
dressings of lime operate like a charm. 

"If used as a 'op dressing, lime is usually 
applied to the sod in the fall ; but the practice 
most approved, is to lime the coin ground in the 
spring, on the inverted sod. Manure is applied 
to the wh^at crop after lime. The quantity of 
lime used varies much. There is no doubt it 
has sometimes been used in excessive quantities; 
and when used on soils nearly destitute of ve- 
getable matter, can produce no good effect. On 
a medium soil, fifty bushels per acre may be 
considered an abundant dressing; but three or 
four times that quantity is sometimes used. The 
best method of using lime, is to take it from the 
kiln, unslacked, and deposit it in heaps in the 
field where it is to be used, not more ihan three 
or four bushels in a place ; and either slack it 
by pouring water over it, or, which is better, by 
covering each pile with earth, and letting them 
slack by the moisture thus furnished. When 
sufficiently fine, the earth and the lime are mixed 
by shovelling over, and the mass is then scat- 
tered over the land to be dressed. The soil 
should be well harrowed after the application, 
to incorporate it more completely with the sur- 
face earth." 

SALT 

is very highly recommended. "It appears that 
salt in small proportions, promotes the decompo- 
sition of animal and vegetable substances; that 
it destroys vermin and kills weeds ; that it is a 
direct constituent of some plants, and therefore 



152 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



necessary to their perfection ; that all cultivated 
plants of marine origin contain it, asparagus, for 
instance ; and that all such succeed better when 
watered with salt water, than when deprived of 
it ; that salt preserves vegetables from injury by 
sudden transitions in temperature, salted soils 
not freezing as readily as those to which salt 
has not been applied ; and that it renders the 
earth more capable of absorbing the moisture of 
the atmosphere. When salt is applied as a 
manure, it may be used in quantities from six 
to fifteen bushels per acre ; although some have 
gone as high as fifty bushels. Farmers, how- 
ever, should be cautious how they venture on 
excessive doses, as an extravagant one could 
scarcely fail of being fatal to any crop. 

" Salt and lime, artificially mixed as a ma- 
nure, promises to be a valuable aid to the farmer 
in those positions where the soil abounds with 
insoluble silicates or geine, and where other ma- 
nures necessary to produce decomposition or 
fermentation are not at hand. Professor John- 
ston recommends a mixture of two parts of lime 
and one part of salt, the mixture to remain in- 
corporated in a shady place, or covered with 
sods two or three months before using. Salt 
and lime should not be used immediately after 
mixing, as bad results are apt to ensue ; but after 
being well mixed in a dry state and lying as di- 
rected, it may be applied at the rate of from 
thirty to sixty bushels per acre, either before or 
at the time of sowing. 

" Dr. Dana directs to take one bushel of salt 
and two bushels of lime ; to make the salt into 
strong brine, and with it slack the lime. Mix 
both well together, and let them remain ten 
days ; then let them be well mixed with three 
cords of peat, shoveled well over for about six 
weeks, when it may be used. A quantity of 
salt sufficient to destroy all vegetation, may be 
applied to a soil with safety when a few months 
are to elapse before the crop is to be put on ; as 
the chemical changes which take place, partially 
neutralize its effect during this time. A small 
quantity mixed with the soil in each hill of corn, 
has been found to protect it from the wire worm 
and the cut worm ; indeed there is no substance 
that insects of all kinds more dread than salt. 
It is probable, therefore, that further experiments 
will show that not the least value of salt is to 
be found in its preventive properties against 
these depredators. Mixed with soot, salt acts 
with great power on roots." 



We know how objectionable long articles are 
in the general, and have endeavored to compress 
the gist of this valuable essay into a few pages. 
The subject is in its nature extensive, and we 
fear we have done injustice to Mr. Gaylord in 
our abridgement. Indeed, properly considered, 
the essay, long as it is, is nothing but a series 
of condensed remarks upon a variety of sub- 
jects, all coming under the general head of 
" manures." 



For the Southern Planter. 
SWEET POTATO.— BLUE GRASS. 

Mr. Editor, — After reading your account of 
Mr. Gordon's mode of cultivating the sweet po- 
tato, I came to the conclusion that it was my 
duty, in return for the information I had obtained 
from your numerous contributors, to send my 
mite to you. I have been successful in keeping 
the sweet potato, and I know of several others, 
whose success has been greater than my own, 
by pursuing the same method. 

The great danger is, from the confinement of 
the moisture which arises from the potato after 
it is dug. Indeed, for some weeks after they 
are housed, the " sweating," as it is called, is 
very great ; and is always more or less, as the 
season has been wet or dry before they were 
dug. This moisture must be allowed to escape ; 
and if it does not go off spontaneously, artificial 
means must be used to expel it. The best way 
is to have the house or cellar kept open for some 
weeks until this evaporation ceases — and gra- 
dually to diminish the ventilation until the po- 
tato has been well cured, or ceases to sweat. — 
They will become moist frequently in the winter, 
spring and summer, in which case, they must 
be smoked — that is to say, a parcel of coals 
must be put in a dutch oven, or something of 
that kind, with some small pieces of wood (chips 
are used by us) and this placed in the cellar or 
house where it should remain until the fire goes 
out, shutting the door close. You will find the 
moisture is soon expelled, and the potatoes are 
dry. It would be best to have this done every 
day or two, as long as they last — certainly, every 
day when the weather is moist or cold. These 
two cardinal objects should never be lost sight 
of — to keep them dry, and moderately warm. — 
An excess of moisture, or cold will certainly 
destroy them : the smoke and fire will be found 
to be adequate to these ends — if attended to 
every day they need it. 

My friend, Col. William R. Baskervill, of 
Mecklenburg, keeps them in large quantities, for 
family use, for years. 1 have eaten potatoes at 
his house, I think, fully two years old. I be- 
lieve that he has had old ones on hand when the 
new crop was housed, for many years past. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



153 



This plan was introduced by an old man in 
Mecklenburg-, some thirty or forty years ago, who 
never failed to keep his potatoes; and it has 
been slowly adopted in that neighborhood, until 
it has been established by the invariable success 
of the practice. 

The/ -Id fashioned potato cellar is preferred, 
dug under a house which does not leak, and 
where fire is usually kept — but the plan will as 
well apply to any other place — houses built ex- 
pressly for that purpose, no doubt, would suc- 
ceed just as well; but fire and smoke must then 
be more abundantly and oftener applied. Where 
the bulk of the potatoes is large, it would be 
well to have small places in the bulk so arranged 
that the moisture could escape from them — for 
instance, if several hundred bushels were toge- 
ther, stakes should be driven down in a circular 
form, in two or three places in the thickest part 
of the bulk, so as to secure an open space or 
funnel for the moisture to escape ; and in each 
of these funnels it would be well to introduce a 
few coals and chips, when needed. 

The sum total of the whole secret is, to keep 
them dry, and to keep them moderately warm ; 
and this being done, they can be preserved until 
they can be disposed of as the owner may desire. 

Whilst I am writing perhaps I can give Mr. 
Scales a hint in relation to the blue grass. In 
this part of the State, it is difficult to get " a 
stand" of blue grass from the seed. The hot 
and dry summers, if the seeds shall germinate, 
usually destroys the little delicate plants. I 
have a yard of about two acres, for the most 
part shaded by oak trees, on the summit of a 
ridge which separates the waters of two creeks, 
and I found it very difficult to get any grass to 
grow on it, particularly under the oaks. The 
idea occurred to me to transplant the grass, by 
sticking a very small bunch of it in the ground, 
at intervals of about twelve inches — nothing 
could succeed better. I have now a yard well 
set in beautiful sward, under the oaks, as well 
as in the open spaces. 

If the land is in good heart, it will spread en- 
tirely over it in two years ; and if it is not in 
good heart, top dressing will soon make it rich 
enough for the grass. No preparation of the 
ground is necessary in a yard, but no doubt it 
would be better. People frequently dislike to 
plough up their yards — let them take a hoe and 
dig a very small place, and put in a small sprig 
of grass, in March, and it will soon shew itself 
as a successful antagonist to any other plant. 

For pasturage, no doubt it would be best to 
prepare the ground well ; and rows of eighteen 
inches apart, and plants the same distance, will 
give a good turf sooner than you can get it 
from the seed, if the young shoots should be 
crippled, as they always are with us by the 
heat and drought of summer. Under oaks, if 
the leaves are suffered to remain on the grass, 
Vol. III.— 20 



it will be destroyed. Transplanting can be com- 
menced as soon as the grass shall begin to put 
out, and continued until the middle of May, if 
the weather is seasonable. 

I have now discharged a debt which lay on 
my conscience ; but it may be I am only telling 
your subscribers what they knew before. Be 
this as it may, as long as I avail myself of the 
information given through j'our paper, I feel I 
owe my fellow-subscribers a debt, if I think I 
have found out any thing, until I let them know. 
If they will all do likewise, we shall give great 
assistance to each other. 

With best wishes for your paper and for the 
good cause it advocates, 

I am, most respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

E. B. Hicks. 

Lawrenceville, Brunswick, June 5, 1843. 

We sincerely wish all of our subscribers were 
as conscientious as Mr. Hicks. 



AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION. 

The Henrico Agricultural Society held their 
fifth fair at the old stand, " Goddin's Spring," 
on the first day of June. In the general stag- 
nation of all business, it was refreshing to see 
with what zeal and interest our town and coun- 
try people devoted themselves to the getting up 
this exhibition. It was really and truly a grand 
affair — far, very far, superior to any of a similar 
character which has ever been presented to our 
citizens. We arrived on the ground about nine 
o'clock, and immediately hurried off to the 
ploughing match, for Which a level sward had 
been selected about a quarter of a mile west of 
" the Spring." Excited as we were, and as 
every body around us wag, we could not help 
remarking, as we went along, the beauty of the 
morning, and the preparations nature herself 
seemed to have made for the occasion. A heavy 
rain had fallen the night before, putting the 
ground in the finest possible order. Every ves- 
tige of a cloud had fled before the triumphant 
march of the fiery sun, whose heat would have 
been oppressive but for the cool and gentle 
western breeze that gave life and motion to 
every flower and shrub. 

As we rose the hill, the scene was novel and 
striking in the highest degree. In the midst of 
five hundred spectators, eight splendid teams, 
with ploughs and men to match, were silently 
and lightly progressing in lines as straight as an 
arrow, cutting and whirling the dirt with as 
much apparent ease as the joiner throws a shav- 



154 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



ing from his plane. The ploughmen, some of 
the most substantial and respectable farmers in 
the county, were neatlj' and cleanly dressed, in 
the best possible taste, with every thing appro- 
priate to the business in which they were en- 
gaged. Their loose shirt sleeves and the long 
black boots coming half waj' up the leg and 
protecting the white pantaloon, added much to 
the picturesqueness as well as fitness of their 
appearance. The interest upon the part of the 
spectators increased with every furrow, and the 
ploughmen themselves evidently became very 
much excited. As each competitor arrived at 
his last furrow, the crowd gathered about the 
end of the row with all the stillness and excite- 
ment that marks the closing of a horse race. — 
Each in his turn received the meed of public 
approbation, but when Mr. W. I. Grieve turned 
to finish his last furrow, and it was observable 
that such had been the evenness and regularity 
with which his furrow slices had been cut, that 
the comb or ridge left for the last turning, clear- 
ly defined by the green sod in the midst of the 
ploughed land, was as even and as straight as 
if it had been laid off with a garden line, and 
when in coming down, this comb was com- 
pletely subverted in its whole length, there was 
but one opinion of the merits of the ploughman. 
This opinion was confirmed by the decision of 
the judges, who unhesitatingly awarded Mr. 
Grieve the premium, amounting to fifty dollars. 

The skill exhibited by Mr. Grieve and other 
gentlemen on this occasion, satisfied many of 
what we knew long ago, that the plough is a 
very perfect and scientific implement, and, in 
the hands of a really skilful man, can be made 
to execute its work in a manner and style cal- 
culated to astonish those who have passed their 
life in witnessing its operation in the bundling 
manner in which it is commonly performed. — 
We know of no lesson more instructive to far- 
mers, many of them called good ones too, than 
this ocular demonstration of what a plough can 
be made to do. 

The ploughing over, we returned to the ex- 
hibition, which by this time had begun to as- 
sume a very imposing appearance. The show 
of stock was particularly fine, surpassing our 
expectations, and far excelling the exhibition of 
any previous year. Mr. Marx, with his beau- 
tiful lot of milch cows, from some of whom he is 
drawing, daily, five and six gallons of the richest 
milk for the benefit of our city market, and Mr. 



Stevenson, with his beautiful cow and her most 
magnificent bull calf, satisfied us, that we would 
have no longer to resort to the North for the best 
specimens of the Duihams and Ayrshires. The 
hogs too were very fine, and a gentleman who 
is himself a large owner of the stock, and who 
has visited all the northern establishments, ex- 
pressed to us the opinion that he had never seen 
a hog, take him all in all, superior to the cele- 
brated Chesterfield, the property of our old friend, 
Col. Burfoot. The assortment of agricultural 
and horticultural implements was varied and 
extensive; the fruits and flowers were luscious 
and beautiful; the evident improvement in the 
taste and skill of our city gardeners bears ho- 
norable testimony to the value of the labors of 
this association, which are felt and acknowledged 
by every individual who frequents our markets. 

The display in the yard was very striking, 
the crowing of cocks, the cackling of hens, the 
whirling of machines, and the din of voices, 
gave an air of life and activity to the scene ; 
whilst the fluttering of ribands and the waving 
of feathers afforded goodly evidence of that in- 
terest which the ladies have alwaj's manifested 
in these exhibitions. The capital address of 
Mr. Lyons, which was delivered with that ease 
and grace of manner for which he is so conspi- 
cuous, was listened to with the most profound 
attention, and the audience dispersed with many 
a hope expressed, that the Agricultural Society 
of Henrico would continue to flourish and in- 
crease in pro?perity as long as it was identified 
with the noble pursuit, to which our southern 
people are so fondly devoted. 

With respect to the particular articles of the 
exhibition, we shall take occasion to refer to 
them more particularly hereafter. 



From Miss Leslie's Magazine. 
THINGS WORTH KNOWING. 

BY MISS LESLrE. 

To Soften Sponges. — A sponge, when first 
purchased, is frequently hard, stiff, and gritty. 
To soften it, and dislodge the particles of sea 
sand from its crevices, put the sponge into a 
clean vessel of water, and boil it about an hour, 
(no more,) changing the water twice, or three 
times if it is very gritty; letting the sponge 
cool so that you can squeeze k thoroughly be- 
fore putting it into the fresh water. When the 
sponge has become quite soft, and there is no 
more appearance of sand and grit, squeeze it 
out, and it will be fit for use. A brown sponge, 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



155 



prepared in this way, is quite as good as a white 
one. But you may bleach it by adding to the 
water, when boiling, a few drops of oil of vitriol. 

After using a sponge, always wash it imme- 
diately in clean water; squeeze it out, and let it 
dry. 

To t 'ean Looking Glasses. — Take a newspa- 
per or a part of one, according to the size of the 
glass. Fold it small, and dip it into a basin of 
clean cold water. When thoroughly wet,squeeze 
it out in your hand as you would a sponge, and 
then rub it hard all over ihe face of the glass, 
taking care that it is not so wet as to run down 
in si reams. In fact, the paper must be only com- 
pletely moisiened or damped all ihrough. After 
the glass has been well rubbed with the wet 
paper, let it rest a few minutes ; and ihen go 
over it wiih a fresh dry newspaper (folded small 
in your hand) till it looks clear and bright — 
which it will almost immediately, and with no 
farther trouble. 

This methed (simple as it is) is the best and 
most expeditious for cleaning mirrors, and it will 



be found so on trial — giving a clearness and 
polish that can be produced by no oiher piocess. 
It is equally convenient, speedy, and effective. 
The inside of window panes may be cleaned in 
this manner, to look beautifully clear; the win- 
dows being first washed on the outside. Also, 
the glasses of spectacles, &c. The glass globe 
of an astral lamp may be cleaned with news- 
paper in the above manner. 

Dusting Furniture. — If a hand-brush is used 
for dusting furniture, it should always be fol- 
lowed by a dusting cloth. A brush merely dis- 
turbs the dust without taking it up or absoibing 
it; and is only useful in dislodging it fiom cre- 
vices. Therefore, if the dust is not afterwards 
wiped up in a cloth (which should be frequently 
shaken out of the window) it floats about the 
room, and settles again ; being only removed 
from one place to spread itself on another. A 
yard of sixpenny calico will make two small dust- 
ers, or one large one. They should be hemmed, 
that the servants may not icgard them as mere 
rags, to be torn up, or thrown away when duty. 



For the Southern Planter. 
CHEAP AND DURABLE HINGE 




Mr. Editor, — Permit me to describe to your 
readers a hinge applicable to gates of every de- 
scription, which in point of durability, simpli- 
city and economy excel any others 1 have ever 
used or seen. 

The part to be inserted in the gate-post is to 
be made of seasoned oak, locust, or any other 
hard wood, 8 inches long and shaped like Fig. 1. 

The hole in the gate-post to be bored with an 
inch and a half auger, and one inch of the outer 
part to be mortised square, to prevent its turning. 

The part to be inserted in the frame of the 
gate is to be made of three-fourths or one inch 
square iron, five or six inches long, the upper 
surface at one end flattened, and a hole punched 
through the other end, as represented in Fig. 2. 

Oak or iron pins, in the shape of Fig 3, pass- 
ing through the holes in the two parts, hang the 
gate — it can be shipped or unshipped in half a 



minute. The bottom hinge 1o be placed some 
distance above the ground, to prevtnt rust or 
decay — a small piece of old shoe sole, greased, 
to be placed between the parts to make the gate 
open and shut more easily by relieving the fric- 
tion 

The part required to be of iron ought not to 
cost more than twenty-five or thirty seven cents ; 
but even this may be made of zoood, by those 
who prefer keeping their money to patting wnh 
it for any thing that can be made at home, and 
there are such. The part to be inserted in the 
gate-post may be secured by a nail or pin driven 
in obliquely. 

Yours, A. TuNSTALr.. 

We had the pleasure of making the acquaint- 
ance of Mr. Tunstall, who was present at our 
[ fair on the first of June. We gathered from 



156 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



him some capital hints, upon the subject of hor- 
ticultural implements especially. Mr. Tunslall 
seems to have a great mechanical turn, which 
is no doubt of infinite value to him in his horti- 
cultural and agricultural pursuits. 



For the Southern Planter. 
FENCING. 

Mr. Editor, — I have lately seen several com- 
munications in the Planter on the subject of 
fencing, and as none of the plans there laid 
down suit me as well as my own, I think it 
probable that a description of it might be ac- 
ceptable to some of your readers. I object to 
some of the plans suggested, because they do 
not save enough rails, and to others, because 
they are too expensive and tedious. On the 
plan I propose, a fence can be made in as short 
a time and with one-third to one-half the num- 
ber of rails that it requires to make a common 
rail fence. It is made by throwing up a sharp 
crooked bank corresponding exactly with the 
worm of the fence. The bank may be made 
high or low according to the number of rails 
you wish to save. The whole operation is sim- 
ple and expeditious, and if properly done, makes 
a neat fence for ordinary purposes. The man- 
ner of operating is as follows : — If the ground 
can be ploughed readily, the plough may be 
used by throwing up a bed ten feet wide, which 
process may be repealed several times, so as to 
make less work for the hoes, taking care to 
have the middle of the bed where the fence is 
to run. The only service, however, that the 
plough renders is to make the hoe work a little 
easier and quicker and may be dispensed with 
if not convenient. 

Where you wish tp have the fence, lay the 
worm (as for a common fence) with as much 
precision as possible, stick up a stick two or 
three feet high in every corner, and then take 
up the worm. The sticks will show exactly 
where the bank should be made. Draw up 
with the hoes a sharp bank not wider at top 
than the thickness of a rail, and take care to 
have it straight from one stick to the other and 
make it a little higher than pecessary, as it will 
settle a little. It is not necessary to give the 
worm more than about three feet crook, for it 
will stand much better than a a fence made al- 
together with rails. It may be made still 
stronger by using stakes and caps — and when 
stakes and caps are used, the crook may be re- 
duced to two feet. I prefer slakes and caps de- 
cidedly to stakes and riders, because they make 
the fence stronger and much lighter and the 
rails do not settle and mash into each other as 
much, and besides, it takes less timber, as the 
stakes need not be more than five and a half 
feet long. If these are used they should only 



be stuck in the ground a few inches, so as to 
make them stand erect — then put on the caps, 
draw the bank up to the stakes and ram the 
dirt around them so as to make them firm. — 
When it becomes necessary to repair the fence, 
it will only be necessary to raise the bank a 
little higher, which can be very easily done, and 
the same rails will answer the purpose. A 
fence on this plan does better than if made on 
the bank of a ditch, and the labor can be per- 
formed by any person that can handle a hoe, 
and requires no more lime than a fence made 
entirely of rails. 

Very respectfully, &c. 

Wm. B. Miller. 
Halifax, Va., May 10, 1843. 

We are glad to see that our efforts are draw- 
ing out communications upon this important 
subject. For our own part, we have seen no 
plan yet that we thought so good, nor so eco- 
nomical, as the post and rail, especially, if the 
posts are mortised in rainy weather with the 
facilities we have recommended. 



PLASTER. 

A young farmer desires to know how he shall 
use plaster. Our advice to him is, to use it 
freely on all his crops, our opinion being, that, 
at the rate of a bushel to the acre, it will do 
good to any crop, and the more where the land 
may have been previously limed. Let him mix 
it in the proportion of one bushel to twenty cart- 
loads of manure, as he may be preparing his 
manure to be hauled out, or sow it, in that pro- 
portion, after his manure may be spread out, 
and previous to its being ploughed in : let him 
spread it on the surface of his ground after be- 
ing ploughed, and then to be harrowed in : let 
him put it, mixed with ashes, in the proportion 
of one bushel of plaster lo five of ashes, in his 
corn hills, or potato rows, graduating the quan- 
tity of the mixture to a gill for each corn hill or 
potato set : let him sow it in the first named 
proportion over his grain fields, his meadows, 
and his old fields, and he cannot go amiss. The 
range we have here marked out, is extensive, 
but not more so than it is calculated to do good 
in : and, in a word, we will say to our inquirer, 
that he will find it to his interest to sow it any 
where, where he may have growing crops, as 
it will attract moisture and food from the air 
and from the earth, and like a good nurse, dis- 
pense it lo the growing plants in such propor- 
tions, and at such times, as may be required by 
their wants. 

But while the agricultor may be providing 
plaster, let him not forget, that it always acts 
best where, as we have before premised, the land 
may have been previously limed. — Jim. Farmer. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



157 



CORN. 

The following is an extract from a letter re- 
ceived from a friend in North Carolina : 

''• Mr. Woodson is correct in his ideas of plant- 
ing eg' i very early. It is our practice on the 
Roanoke. His rows are much too narrow for our 
purposes. We prefer 5 by 3, leaving generally 
two stalks in a hill. Listing just before plant- 
ing is an admirable plan in light, low grounds. 
It will not do so well in aluminous soils, high 
or low. He works too much, as a general rule. 
The number of ploughings should be regulated 
entirely by circumstances, of which each farmer 
must judge for himself. The character of the 
season — the quantity of grass — the nature of 
the soil, and the general appearance of the crop 
must determine it, and a judicious manager will 
accommodate his labor to these things. 



bug, and there is much reason to fear the crop 
wdl be a short one. The fly has well nigh de- 
stroyed every tobacco plant in this section, and 
many planters are planting their lots in corn 
and cotton. 

Respectfully, 

Thomas Goode Tucker." 



HANOVER AGRICULTURAL FAIR. 
We have received from the Secretary a re- 
port of the meeting of the Agricultural Society 
of Hanover, held at the Court House on the — 
day of May last. The gallant Secretary rejoices 
much in the presence of the ladies who attended, 
and mourns grievously over the absence of all 
those who did not make their appearance. Our 
There j gallantry was a little dampened by the rainy 
is no formula for making the corn crop. General day, or we would have been there to rejoice, 
principles must be consulted in this as in every I an( j sympathize, with our friend, and also to 
-lor will the same description of listen t0 the addregs of Dl , Braxton, the Presi- 



plough always be the one to use under all cir- 
cumstances. The winged coulter answers a 



dent, which we hear spoken of as a splendid 



very fine purpose at first, and in every stage of i thing. 

the crop when the grass is very small and young. We are requested to publish the awards of 

We regard the turn plough invaluable in low : the premiums, which comprises a long list ; 

grounds. Barring the corn, lapping the grass | w ith this request, as with every other from the 

in the centre of the row, splitting it again and ' same sourc6) we wouW lad , corrjp i yj but the 

destroying the corn, are its varied uses. I sup- ! r » *t » * »* i. j j ,*« m 

yo . ' T „• , \ fact that to Mrs. such a one was awarded $2 50 

pose every farmer on James River understands . . , 

the use of this plough. In Roanoke we plough for the best butter > 1S of such a local character, 

every other row through the crop from the begin- and of so little interest to ninety-nine hundredths 

ning, and every other row is, of course, worked of our subscribers, that, as will be seen, we have 

differently. Let me urge you to impress upon ■ omitted all such details in our report even of 

the community the advantages of this system ! our metropo i[ tan meeting. We are at all times 

of cultivation. Thev will force themselves upon , , •, .,'■ , , • c 

, _ J , , r happy to receive and publish general notices of 

the reflecting- manager at the bare suggestion, i r ^ J . .; ° . , 

Corn never fires when thus worked. A third! such meetings, as well as any part.cular occur- 
more can be cultivated — grass never seems to rerj ce of general interest, 
injure, as one row is always in order, and on 
high lands the washing from heavy rains is not 
half so great. These are important facts, and 
I speak from experience. 

" The Dutton corn I find will yield twenty 
per cent, more than any other I have ever tried. 
The fact has been well tested. 

" Why do you not give us a price current at 
the end of each number of the Planter? Such 
information is very valuable, and as a matter of 
reference hereafter, may be still more so, as the 
work is generally preserved.* 

" Our wheat is much troubled with the chinch 



* We abandoned our price current, because, we 
thought we could Jill its place more to the satisfaction 
of our readers, the most of whom take daily or weekly 
papers affording them the same information. But 
finding that our head of "Markets" was more es- 
teemed than we had supposed it to be, we have made 
for resuming it under the auspices of 



For the Southern Planter. 

COMMENTS ON THE MAY NUMBER OF 
THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 

Pasturage versus Tillage. — The information 
gained from old, experienced, and prosperous 
men, is always valuable ; and it is to be re- 
gretted that such men are not more communi- 
cative with the goose quill. But I know from 
experience, that age begets a dislike for mental 
labor ; yet by writing only a few sentences at a 
time, the mind is so far from being fatigued, that 
it is only properly and profitably exercised. The 
remark of the experienced farmer here quoted, 
that "money coming in a lump, as it does to a 
tobacco planter, is generally spent improvident- 
ly," is a truth and misfortune which I have often 
felt, seen, and regretted. Perhaps the Eastern 



arrangements tor resuming it unaer tne auspices oi ; „„„;•„ „<• v- • ~ « ,™. Q ™,oi tV. Q w^t 

Messrs. Ludlam, Preston & Co. who have' kindly P 0ftl0n of Virginia, can never equal the West- 
undertaken the charge of this department.— Ed. | em, m the production of spear grasses ; tor the 



15S 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



latter has the advantages of lime, more copious 
dews, and facilities of irrigation. There is, 
however, one native of Eastern Virginia, which 
under proper nurture may finally rival the timo- 
thy of the West ; I mean the green-sword. I 
incline to think that this grass does not need 
artificial watering, but does require artificial lim- 
ing. The richer soils of Eastern Virginia are 
generally too porous, and the clays generally 
too poor for grass. Ashes and the treading of 
cattle are the best improvers of porous lands; 
and urine and dung are proper for clays. 

The Com Crop. — Mr. Woodson's method of 
preparing his corn ground, will answer in porous 
ground, not cumbered with turf or long litter; 
but otherwise, the planting and culture will be 
a dragging business. I feel disposed also to 
condemn his method of planting in squares of 
three feet, as well as his breaking and tearing 
the roo'.s in its culture; but will only remark, 
that if his corn is as large as it should be, I 
cannot conceive how he can plough amongst it 
when grown, or nearly so, without tearing and 
breaking it shamefully. 

Richard Russell's Farm. — My respects to this 
Mecklenburger, and to all his full blood brethren. 

Ploughing. — The object in bedding land, is 
to create drains ; and therefore, the width of 
the beds should accord with the nature of the 
land. The width of three corn rows will, how- 
ever, be found to answer pretty well in any si- 
tuation. The greater necessity for draining, the 
higher the beds should be raised by a succession 
of ploughings. 

Culture of Tobacco. — I vouch for every thing 
"A Planter" says ; but let him be cautious of 
permitting hogs to root his clay ground when 
wet ; particularly in spring. 

Manure. — Mr. Jones holds a bold pen, and I 
could have read his work with much comfort, 
if he had not expended so much ink ; yet, I will 
add another line to what he has written. In 
warm weather, stock are so much plagued by 
flies, during the day, that they then feed but 
little ; consequently, if penned, they should be 
pen fed. But horses, cows and sheep, particu- 
larly the latter, require pure air; and if they be 
never housed or penned, except as protection 
against inclement weather, so much the better. 

A Young Planter is certainly mistaken as to 
clover (ungrazed) being an exhauster, without 
plaster. His assertion that tobacco will take 
rot, if the crop is not worked after a certain 
time, is true ; but it is also true, that short work 
produces short crops. 

Practical Directions for Dung Heaps. — This 
is well worth the attention of farmers. My own 
dung pits overflow on a meadow, consequently, 
nothing is lost. 

COMMENTS ON THE JUNE NUMBER. 

Woodlawn Farm. — I wish Mr. Scales had 



given his communication a caption. It is cer- 
tainly the greensword seed which he is desirous 
of obtaining, and not what in Virginia is ge- 
nerally known by the name of blue grass. It 
is useless to sow this grass on land which will 
not produce good wheat ; and the richer the 
better. Either lime or ashes must be applied, 
to bring it to profitable perfection, according to 
my observation and experience. I prefer a mix- 
ture of red clover and greensword, (Kentucky 
blue grass) as they thrive on land of the same 
quality, ripen at the same time, the mixed hay 
is best, and they are both improved by plaster 
and ashes Does not Mr. Scales know that 
this valuable meadow grass, is the same which 
I suppose he has in his yard ? Now, my dear 
sir, don't turn away with loathing, but hold on ; 
for I tell you that I have several acres of green- 
sword meadow, which I would not exchange 
for like quantity with any man. 

Curious Method of Planting Corn. — Some 
years past two of my neighbors prepared and 
planted their corn in the mode here mentioned ; 
one of whom is dead, and the other has aban- 
doned it. If corn-stalks are the best manure for 
a crop of corn, it would seem that from the 
same mode of reasoning, potato-stalks are like- 
wise the best manure for potatoes, yet this au- 
thor seems to repudiate the idea. 

Post and Rail Fence. — This plan of boring 
and mortising posts has been practiced in Ken- 
tucky for many years, with some difference per- 
haps in the construction of the bench. 

On the Comparative Advantages of Herdsgrass 
and Clover. — I am pleased with this communi- 
cation ; for the author exhibits zeal and honesty 
of purpose — one objection, nevertheless. He 
says, "the long practice of seeding poor, thin, 
and pipe clay flats in herdsgrass, has satisfied 
me of its great value." Now, so far so good ; 
for such clay is the natural place for this grass. 
But when the author says, in a general remark, 
that "no vegetable matter can be raised in 
greater abundance than the herdsgrass, nor is 
any more valuable as a manure, I must beg 
leave to differ with him in opinion. 

Soot as a Manure. — 1 suppose cool soot was 
printed for coal soot. Query, is not wood soot 
equally as valuable as coal soot? 

Ploughing. — One objeclion to gathering the 
beds, as here recommended, and that is, an 
awkward ploughman, particularly when the 
beds are wide, will make the number of furrows 
unequal on either side of the bed, consequemly, 
the beds will be of unequal widths ; whereas, if 
they are cast out, till closing in the water fur- 
rows, they will ever remain equal, whether you 
begin on the crown, or on the original water 
furrow. 

Stones on Cultivated Lands. — I cannot conceive 
how stones of quartz, flint, or diamond, can 
" serve to increase the crop," except by absorbing 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



159 



and giving out heat, where heat is wanting. As 
to stones preserving moisture during a drought, 
I would as soon believe that hot siones would 
hold water in a pot. Green stone, feldspar, and 
others which contain matters that are valuable as 
manure, and which matters are continually given 
out hf. decomposition, should not be removed 
from the fields, except when in large masses; 
and then perhaps it were better to beat them 
into small pieces, and scatter as manure.* 

I am noticing the writings of Galen, and hope 
that when he has laid his premises, he will then 
give us the deductions, applicable to agricultural 
operations. 

Investigator. 



The following is a very valuable testimonial 
to the advantages of soiling cattle. The calcu- 
lation is a very simple one, and may be made 
by each individual to suit his particular circum- 
stances. The saving of food and manure is to 
be ofFsetted by the increased labor of cutting 
and hauling. 

The system is daily gaining ground in public 
opinion ; its advantages, however, will vary 
much with circumstances ; in an enclosed, high- 
ly cultivated country, we have no doubt it should 
be universally resorted to. 

From the Cultivator. 
SOILING CATTLE. 

Messrs. Editors, — From the many letters ad- 
dressed to me since the publication in your No- 
vember number of a communication relating to 
Bokhara clover and soiling, it seems necessary 
that I should explain what appeared to my re- 
spectable correspondents so extraordinary — the 
having fed so numerous a herd from so small a 
quantity of land. 

My stock of cattle for the last three years, 
has not been less than forty head, which, had I 
pastured in the usual way, would certainly have 
consumed all the grass on my farm, leaving 
none to mow, which I obviated, as I said, " by 
keeping thern in good condition on some three 
to four acres " It would have been better, had 
I said, with the aid .of three or four acres in lu- 
cerne, rye and clover, which enabled me to save 
more than one hundred tons of good hay. 

I must also add, or throw into the account, a 
lot of eight or nine acres, in which there is a 

* Stones indubitably by the covering they afford 
protect the earth from the rays of tne sun and so pre- 
vent evaporation. We have often noticed, and we 
wonder that should have escaped the attention of so 
diligent an observer as "Investigator" that the most 
)uxu riant tufts of grass or wheat in a field were 
those growing from underneath the stones. We can- 
not imagine that this fact is in any way connected 
with, the nature or composition of the stone, — Ed, 



stone quarry. Its condition may be understood 
when I say, had it been allotted solely to one 
cow for the season, she would have been doomed 
to short commons. There was, however, good 
water in the lot; this, with the change and ex- 
ercise it furnished, made it of considerable value 
for the purpose of soiling. It may also be pro- 
per to remark, that I own a woodland farm, dis- 
tant about two miles from the homestead. — 
Thither I send, in the spring, about a dozen dry 
catile. This division left me on hand last sum- 
mer, to provide for at home, about twenty head 
full grown catile, and a few full blooded young 
heifers, and several calves. 

My resources were two acres in rye and clo- 
ver ; both seeds sowed at the same time, the 
previous August, and one acre of lucerne, in 
the spring of 1841. 1 also sowed, in order to 
be fully provided, an acre of Indian corn, broad- 
cast, which was not used green ; it was cut and 
cured for winter fodder. I began to cut the rye 
for the catile in the middle of April; it was 
very thick and quite tall, shooting into head ; 
before through with it, the heads were formed. 
It was cut high, to save the young clover that 
stood with it. The rye fed off, the lucerne was 
ready; stalks as high as two and a half to 
three feet. When the lucerne was fed, then the 
rye and clover was fit for cutting; and it was 
surprising to see the second crop of rye so thick 
and tall. This time, clover cut with it. This 
through, the lucerne, which may be called "cut 
and come again," was provokingly tall, and 
yielded a heavier crop than at first. Then the 
clover which had been once cut, was ready, and 
before through with it, the lucerne was again 
fit for cutting. It and the clover were cut alter- 
nately, or fed together, as convenience or fancy 
might determine. Before my season for soiling 
(the middle of August,) ended, the lucerne's 
third, and clover's second crop, were not con- 
sumed. The remainder was cut for the hogs, 
who had all the leavings of the cattle previous- 
ly. In fact, this proved very beneficial to them. 
I had about twenty large hogs, and some sows 
and pigs. In the hot weather, confined as they 
were to their pens, what the cattle left of the - 
rye, lucerne and clover, was refreshing and cool- 
ing to them. 

I said my season for soiling ended the middle 
of August. Why? Because I cut no second 
crop for hay. The cattle were then turned in 
upon the orchard grass and clover fields, "up 
to the eyes," and from middle of September till 
1st October upon the timothy fields — in all, 
some sixty acres, on which they made but little 
impression. Early in November they were with- 
drawn, and put to turnips and other roots, of 
which I have generally a large supply for winter. 

No one can see my grass fields in winter, 
without being surprised at the thick and closely 
matted sod that so perfectly covers them. In- 



160 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



deed, were a sensible farmer led over them blind- 
fold, he could not but appreciate their condition, 
for their softness and elasticity would prove it to 
him ; and this too, on some of the highest lands 
in the highlands of the county of Philadelphia, 
washed by the Schuylkill, and the more roman- 
tic and precipiiate Wissahiccon, on whose banks, 
in my immediate neighborhood, the laurel grows 
as luxuriantly as on the shelving slopes of the 
Blue Mountains. 

Bui to return to the feeding the green food. 
That cut late in the afternoon, was fed early 
next morning; that cut early in the morning 
was fed at noon ; that cut about noon was fed 
that evening. This was the general practice. 
No more was brought into the stables at a lime, 
than what was supposed to be required for one 
feeding. When the cattle were fed in the morn- 
ing, they were turned out to the yard, and there 
left to stand for at least half an hour, or while 
their troughs and stables were being cleaned ; 
then drove to the quarry lot above described. — 
The yard was then cleaned, every dropping put 
away carefully on the dung heap. Before, or 
by eleven o'clock, they were brought home and 
fed ; and by four in the afternoon, when the sun 
was declining, turned out as in the morning, 
drove to the lot ; from which they were brought 
back by sun setting, and fed — remaining in the 
stables all night. The cattle had no other food, 
except occasionally a little good hay, which 
they were provoked to eat a handful of, as often 
as possible, and which is very necessary where 
so much green food is consumed. If the hay 
be thrown to them in quantity, while on green 
food, they will but waste it, not eat it. The 
best way is to tempt them by a handful, which, 
if they bite at, and eat, they may then be served 
with a small wisp in their troughs or racks. — 
This, with a regular supply of clean salt, was 
all the food they had from middle of April till 
middle of August, a period of four months. 

Now as to the expense. One man and a 
boy, whose united wages were seventeen dollars 
per month, did all. The patch from which the 
food was cut, was, as it should be, close to the 
stables. The supply was brought in on hand 
barrows, wheeled into the entry, and served by 
hand into the troughs. Sometimes, when the 
horses were not specially engaged, a horse and 
cart was permitted ; but this led to bringing too 
much at a time, and its being tilted at the door, 
carrifrf on a fork some distance, tossed and 
turned too often, which rendered it objectionable, 
to say nothing of the danger of the food at- 
tracting some dirt or rubbish. Cleanliness in 
feeding cattle, is at all times essential, but in 
soiling it is indispensable; unless the troughs 
or racks are well cleaned after every feeding, 
and the stables kept clean and well ventilated, 
the cattle will assuredly fall off in appetite, if 
not take a specific disease. The expense of 



this practice was in reality nothing to me ; it 
was some work superadded to the man and boy, 
who would be engaged taking care of this 
number of cattle, in cleaning them, driving them 
to and from the fields— the Durhams having to 
be milked three times a day — the keeping the 
stables clean, and taking special care of the ma- 
nure. But suppose this man and boy to be ex- 
tra help, then am I sure it cost me not a farthing. 
Every two horse load of good manure, purchased 
in the city, laid down on my place, will stand 
me in five dollars. Then am 1 free to say, that 
the extra quantity of manure saved by soiling, 
was not less in the period of four months, than 
twenty loads. From this is to be deducted ex- 
tra straw, rent of the three acres, and cost of 
producing the green food. But the great profit 
lay in the many acres producing two tons of 
hay to the acre, which if the cattle had been 
turned out upon, by the first of May, would 
have been despoiled ; and which was prevented, 
by feeding them from the three acre patch, be- 
hind the barn. 

Simple as these details are, they may seem 
to some difficult to put in practice. To such, I 
can only say — try; but let them not begin till 
they are prepared, having a good patch of or- 
chard grass and clover, lucerne, or corn. Rye, 
I do not recommend ; when quite young it may 
do, but when in head and filling, it is not good. 
I adopted it because it came early. How many 
are there, who, if they would mow the headlands 
of grain, corn, and potato fields, might in this 
way furnish a considerable item of the food re- 
quisite for soiling, to which might be added the 
extra shoots in corn hills ; all this would benefit 
the lands b}r clearing the weeds from the fences, 
and it would pay, so far as the growing corn is 
concerned. Our southern friends might derive 
much benefit from partial soiling. A close or 
strict soiling, in our climate, I would recommend 
to none. But the appropriating one field, where 
there is water or shade, for air and exercise, 
while many fields may be used for cropping, 
that otherwise would be made bare by the cat- 
tle, and their equivalent in grass made from three 
or four acres, is a practice that may find favor 
with all, on arable, light, upland soils. 
Respectfully, 

James Gowen. 

Mount Airy, Philadelphia, Feb. 6, 1843. 



JOHNSON'S FARMER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA. 
We are indebted to the kindness of the enter- 
prising publishers, Messrs. Carey & Hart, of 
Philadelphia, for the numbers, as they are is- 
sued, of the American reprint of " the Farmer's 
Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Rural Affairs." 
This work, which from the celebrity of the au- 
thor, has had a great run in England, is pub- 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



161 



lished there at about fifteen dollars. The free- 
dom from taxation, and the enterprize of our 
publishers, afford us the same work, issued in 
neat semi-monthly numbers, for four dollars, less 
than one-third the English price. That the 
work is well executed we have the surest guar- 
antee in the character of the author ; as to the 
plan, there is no department of art or science, to 
which the convenient form of alphabetical ar- 
rangement is more applicable, than agriculture. 
Information upon the multifarious and everlast- 
ing subjects coming within the comprehensive 
range of a farmer's studies, are a hundredfold 
more valuable for being so arranged, that he can 
turn to them at once when he wants them, as 
he always does, at a moment's warning. For 
these reasons, we are of the opinion, that, even 
in these days of cheap literature, a farmer can 
make no disposition of four dollars, that will 
enure more to his own benefit, than to send 
them to Messrs. Carey & Hart, of Philadelphia, 
with an order to mail him, as they are issued, 
the numbers of this excellent work. 



For the Southern Planter. 
COVERED DRAINS. 

Mr. Editor, — Having succeeded in draining 
a part of rny lowgrounds, which was very wet 
from springs issuing forth, I concluded to at- 
tempt to obviate this redundancy of water by 
underdraining. As my plan has fully answered 
my expectations, and as it differs, to some ex- 
tent, from any of which I have read, I have 
concluded to give you a hasty sketch, which if 
you think of sufficient interest, you are at 
liberty to publish in the Planter. 

I had ditches cut three feet deep, and as nar- 
row as a man could conveniently work in, which 
I found was about two and a half feet at top, 
and the width of a shovel at the bottom. They 
were so graded, that the water would run off 
freely to a large open ditch passing through the 
lowgrounds, and so located as to catch as many 
of the springs as possible in their course, and 
carry them off. The slate rock, found in our 
river bills, and generally near the lowgrounds, 
was the material selected to make the water- 
way. The bottom of the ditch was first paved 
with the thinnest rocks, then thick, long, narrow 
rocks were laid on the paving-stones, on each 
side of the ditch, leaving an interval of several 
inches in the middle for the water to pass off; 
the broadest rocks were put on the top, cover- 
ing both the side rocks ; and all the small rocks 
and piece3 were- used to fill the small cavities 
not entirely closed by the large covering rocks ; 
then a stratum of straw, or leaves, was thrown 
Vol. III. — 21 



on to prevent the earth from getting into the 
water-way, and the whole was finished by filling 
the ditch with the earth taken from it. 

In making the stone work, or water-way, it 
is absolutely necessary to begin at the head or 
upper end of the ditch, to prevent its being 
choked, or filled up with earth washed down 
whilst being constructed. 

In the last two years, I have had between 
three and four thousand yards in length, of co- 
vered drains made as above described, and not 
one of them but answers the purpose admirably. 
Covered ditches are more costly in their con- 
struction than those that are open, nor will they 
supersede the necessity of open ditches to carry 
off rain water, nor that of branches and creeks ; 
but to drain springy lands, particularly when 
carried to the fountains, they are much superior : 
first, because no land is lost; secondly, if made 
as deep as I made mine, the plough can pass 
over them without injury; and, thirdly, they 
need no repairs ; whereas, the open ditches take 
much land, the ploughs have to turn when near 
them, consequently head lands must necessarily 
be left, and they require annual cleaning out. 

The cost of constructing covered drains, may 
be an objection to some persons, but this is less 
than would at first appear. A man accustomed 
to the use of the shovel, on land free from rocks, 
gravel and stumps, can, with ease, cut thirty 
yards of ditch as above described, per day. A 
man, and a boy to hand him rocks, can make 
sixty yards of water-way after the rock is hauled 
to the side of the ditch ; a cart, oxen, driver and 
a man to assist in loading, can haul, when the 
rock is not more than two hundred yards dis- 
tant, enough to make sixty yards of water-way. 
The filling up of the ditch can be done by the 
plantation hands, when their labor could not 
otherwise be profitably employed ; but allow one 
day for a man to fill up a ditch of sixty yards, 
then we have, to- cut sixty yards of ditch, two 
days labor — to make the water-way, two days 
labor — to haul rock, two days labor — and to fill 
up, one day's labor ; altogether, 
Seven days labor, worth, say, two shil- 
lings per day, $2 33 
Cart and oxen, worth per day, 1 50 



To make sixty yards of covered drain, $3 83 
or about six and a half cents per yard. But 
when we take into consideration, that we fre- 
quently use rock that is an encumbrance, and 
by putting it in the drains, get it out of the way 
of our ploughs, &c. (as has been the case in all 
the covered drains which I have made) ; and 
that the covering can be done by the plantation 
hands when too wet to work elsewhere, we dis- 
cover that the cost will be considerably lessened. 
Should it, however, cost double the amount I 
have estimated, particular locations would, in 
my opinion, justify the expense. 



162 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



Hoping that this hasty sketch will be of ser- 
vice to some persons who have wet, springy 
land, I remain, 

Yours, &c. 

Richard G. Morriss. 

P. S. — The recipe furnished by Mr. Craven 
in your May number, for making whitewash, I 
have just tried ; it is most excellent, does not 
rub in the least, and is, alone worth one year's 
subscription to the Planter. 

R. G. M. 



A PLOUGHING MATCH. 

So satisfied are we of the advantages result- 
ing from the emulation excited by the noble 
contest which we have lately witnessed, that 
we have opened a subscription paper at the of- 
fice of the Planter for the purpose of raising a 
premium, (which we hope to make $100 at 
least) to be given to the successful competitor 
at a ploughing match, to come off, this fall, in 
the neighborhood of the city of Richmond. To 
this premium, farmers and others, who feel an 
interest in the subject, are invited to contribute 
what they please, from twenty-five cents to an 
hundred dollars. We do not believe that those, 
who could be present on the occasion, could 
make a better investment than a small contribu- 
tion for the purpose proposed. A handsome 
premium, such as might be raised, would bring 
together skilful ploughmen from all parts of the 
Union, which would afford the farmer an inva- 
luable opportunity of seeing and comparing the 
numerous varieties of the plough, some of which 
are brought to a degree of perfection little 
dreamed of by some of our countrymen. 

P. S. — About thirty dollars have been already 
subscribed, and we are highly delighted to find 
that we have not over-estimated the public ap- 
preciation of the value of such an institution. 

We will try and have a dynamometer at hand 
upon the occasion, with which the draft of dif- 
ferent ploughs may be tested. 



giarism. It is enough for us to know, that the 
Editor disclaims such intention, and the mortifi- 
cation naturally arising from such a charge, 
from such a source, is more than cancelled by 
the promptness and kindness of the explanation. 



CREDIT Q,UOTATIONS. 

The Southern Planter will find upon re-perus- 
ing this article, that the N. E. F., and not itself 
was the party in question. We have ever found 
the S. P. particularly scrupulous in giving credit 
for extracts. — American Agriculturist. 

We will not re-peruse the article to see whe- 
ther we were justifiable in inferring that the 
"Agriculturist" intended to charge us with pla- 



HAY MAKING. 

As the time is just at hand, when every far- 
mer should pay some attention to hay making, 
it will be in keeping with our vocation, to give 
what we think important directions to those un- 
practised in this business. 

Clover hay being generally the first to be 
sown, and it being quite difficult with most, to 
sow this kind of hay in such a manner as to re- 
pay for labor, we will tell something of our own 
mode. 

Generally, by the middle or the last of May, 
red clover is in full bloom. When in this stage, 
it should be watched closely, and when about, 
two-thirds of the heads have turned brown it is 
ready for cutting. Of course fair weather is 
the best. Use a mowing blade. When it is 
cut let it be left as thin on the ground as possi- 
ble, and let it lie in the sun, till it is not only 
fully wilted, but till most of the watery particles 
have evaporated ; though it should not be suf- 
fered to dry so as to crumble. The time it 
should lie in the sun is attended with too many 
contingencies to give any specific directions. — 
From six to twenty-four hours is the usual time 
allowed. When sufficiently sunned, haul it to 
the shelters if there are any on the place, throw 
in hay till it is about a foot deep slightly pressed 
down with the fork ; next take a stand so as to 
be able to throw salt on every part of the bed. 
The amount of salt is regulated pretty much by 
the judgment of the operator. It should be 
sprinkled in till there is as much salt as is sup- 
posed will be pleasant to the slock. We have 
generally succeeded best, in putting not more 
than six or eight loads together at, a time. — 
When there is a large amount of hay put up 
at the same lime, and particularly if it is loo 
green, it is apt to ferment, and it often rots. To 
avoid this, let it become as well seasoned as you 
can, so as not to become dry, put in plenty of 
salt, and after you put a few loads together wait 
on it till it is properly seasoned, and there is no 
mistake of having the best of hay for winter use. 

Timothy and other kinds of grass might be 
saved profitably in the same manner, and far- 
mers should remember good hay will winter 
cattle without any other sort of food. Our 
young cattle have had nothing but salted clover 
hay since last October, and they have done finely, 
notwithstanding the unusually hard winter. 

In reference to all the minulia of saving timo- 
thy and herdsgrass for hay, we cannot speak so 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



163 



fully from experience; but ihe following are the 
most important points. About the time the 
seeds ripen, and before the blades get too dry, 
commence mowing. Let the hay have sun till 
it is wilted and about half dry, then put it in 
cocksy upposed to contain from 180 to 200 lbs. 
when properly cured. Be careful to put it into 
cocks every night to protect it from the influ- 



ences of the dew. If hay be left out in the sun 
till cured, it will be found to have lost most of 
its strength and sweetness; and of course will 
be of but little value. When cured without 
dew or rains in neat little cocks, the hay will be 
found very sweet and excellent. Judgment is 
to be exercised, if success is to be anticipated. 
Tennessee Agriculturist. 



HILL SIDE PLOUGH. 




With the improved system of farming that 
begins to prevail, a considerable demand has 
arisen for a good hill side plough. The throw- 
ing dirt up a slope is found to be an uphill busi- 
ness, and is far too slovenly a mode of proceed- 
ing for the present generation. The old side 
hill plough, commonly known as Rhodes', in 
which the mouldboard turns over, is inconvenient 
and troublesome, and the want of a more perfect 
implement has been generally felt. In an early 
number of the Planter we sketched and de- 
scribed another principle, introduced here as 
Tinkler's, which is still very popular with some. 
But two new candidates for popular favor have 
lately appeared amongst us. One of these is 
M'Gorrmck's hill side plough, and the other is 
the celebrated northern plough, known as Bar- 
naby & Moers'. The plough represented in the 
engraving was patented by Cyrus H. M'Cor- 



mick, of Rockbridge, Virginia, in 1833, and is 
probably the original of the northern plough. — 
They both belong to that class which, like the 
old "trench plough," is produced by the union 
of two mouldboards. This trench plough, which 
is so old that " the memory of man runneth not 
to the contrary," was formed by putting together 
the land sides of a right and left hand plough, 
by which you would have a double mouldboard, 
a double wing, and a double point. The beam 
was immoveably fixed over the centre of the 
plough ; consequently, the dirt was thrown 
equally to the right hand and the left, and it 
was found very useful in opening water furrows 
or trenches, whence it derived its name. Now 
it is very evident, that if the beam, instead of 
lying over the centre, should be turned to one 
side, so as to lie over one of the mouldboards, 
that mouldboard would become in effect, a land- 



164 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



side, and the whole turning would be done by 
the other mouldboard. This is exactly what 
Barnaby & Moers have done : their beam shifts 
from side to side, converting the old trench 
plough, at pleasure, into a right or left hand 
plough. And this is exactly what M'Cormick, 
and others, we believe, before him, had done 
before them ; but the peculiarity of M'Cormick's 
plough consists in this, that, instead of having 
a double point, he has a single point, which re- 
volves from side to side as either mouldboard is, 
by the shifting of the beam, converted into a 
landside. Mr. M : Cormick contends, that, by 
this arrangement, at the expense of a little trou- 
ble, which practice soon reduces to nothing, he 
procures the only self-sharpening point that can 
be devised. The point being turned over at the 
end of every row, is, of course, worn equally 
from the top and bottom, so that the original 
form is always preserved. By this means, also, 
the wing is entirely removed to the turning side, 
and, as it is contended, a more perfect landside 
is formed. On the other hand, it is claimed that 
in Barnaby & Moers' plough, the half of the 
double wing that remains on the landside, by 
cutting under, as it does, prepares the next slice 
for the cutting and turning, which is done with 
the greater facility. The apparatus by which 
the beam is shifted from side to side, is simpler 
and stronger, we think, in M'Cormick's plough 
than in the other. Our own opinion is, that 
there are points in each better than in the other, 
and that from the two a plough might be made, 
combining the advantages of both, that would 
be better than either. 

We do not see that this principle of the dou- 
ble mouldboard plough with the shifting beam, 
is ever likely, as its sanguine advocates expect, 
to supersede the common plough on level land ; 
but if it can be made sufficiently cheap and 
simple, the various purposes to which it can 
be adapted, will render two or three of them 
very desirable upon any farm of considerable 
extent. 

With respect to Barnaby & Moers' plough 
we have long suspected that they used one of 
the most perfect shaped mouldboards known in 
this country. It was to this circumstance, rather 
than to any other peculiarity of construction, 
that we have been inclined to credit the ease of 
draught for which they have obtained much ce- 
lebrity. Their standing in this respect will be 
considerably elevated by the following certificate, 



which some friend from Loudoun has been kind 
enough to forward us : 

TRIAL OF PLOUGHS. LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA. 

We, the undersigned, were present at.ihe trial 
of the ploughs mentioned below, at the farm of 
Joshua Nichols, in the Goose-Creek neighbor- 
hood, report as follows : — The ground was a 
stiff sod, the ploughs in competition were Ta- 
vener's coulter plough, the M'Cormick plough, 
and Barnaby & Moers' double mouldboard. 
Tavener's plough averaged in depth 6£ inches. 
Breadth of furrow 14^ inches. 

The draft by the dynamometer 725 lbs. 

The M'Cormick averaged in depth 6| inches. 
Breadth of furrow 13 inches. 

The draft by the dynamometer 650 lbs. 

Barnaby & Moers' plough, depth, 6| inches. 
Breadth of furrow 14 inches. 

The draft by the djmamometer 450 lbs. 

The work done by Tavener's and Barnaby 
& Moers' ploughs were equally good ; that by 
the M'Cormick plough not quite so well. 

Thos. Nichols, Esq. 

Eli Janney. 

Joseph Gore. 

John Smith. 

Timothy Taylor. 
June 2, 1843. 



DELINQUENT SUBSCRIBERS. 

From a fair experiment, we are perfectly sa- 
tisfied that the credit system will never answer 
with a dollar paper. We were earnestly re- 
quested to extend our time of payment to sixty 
days from the date of subscription. Our friends 
said, we can get you numberless subscribers, but 
it is often inconvenient for individuals to pay the 
money or make the change at the time they 
have determined to take the paper, and after- 
wards, for want of opportunity or for other rea- 
sons, they neglect it, and so you lose many sub- 
scribers, whose names we could send you and 
who would assuredly pay you within the sixty 
days. We were induced by this course of rea- 
soning to adopt the credit system, but to make 
sure of the payment, we imposed an additional 
tax of fifty cents upon all those who did not 
comply with the sixty day rule. The conse- 
quence is, that out of our small subscription list, 
we have five or six hundred from whom we 
have never received a cent. To each and every 
one of these gentlemen we have enclosed a bill 
for $1 50, with a request that they would 
promptly discharge the debt by remitting us 
one dollar through the postmaster. Those who 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



165 



do not choose to comply with this moderate re- 
quisition, can neither wonder, nor complain, at 
our taking the necessary measures to enforce 
the payment of the full amount ; which we 
shall proceed to do immediately after allowing 
due time for the effect of this, our last notice. — 
We are very sure (hat three-fourths of these 
delinquencies proceed from forgetfulness and are 
due to the smallness of the amount involved : 
therefore, it is only necessary to remind such 
gentlemen that they are indebted to us, to pro- 
cure the remittance. 



BOMMER'S MANURE. 
We know of no invention that has excited 
more curiosity than Mr. Bommer's new process 
of making manure. We have had hundreds of 
applications upon the subject, and we have re- 
turned but one answer to all the applicants, viz : 
" We have no personal knowledge upon the 
subject, but we have put the matter in the hands 
of a gentleman in this neighborhood, to be tho- 
roughly tested by him, and his report, whether 
for good or for evil, will be published in the July 
number of the Planter." This report, which we 
are happy to find is of the most satisfactory 
character, is contained in the letter below from 
Mr. Woodfin. It is unnecessary for us to say 
any thing in this community of the standing 
and respectability of this gentleman ; to those 
to whom he is unknown we will say, that we 
selected him as one of those individuals whose 
testimony would go as far as any body's. Mr. 
Woodfin is also known to most of the readers 
of agricultural papers for his skill and science 
in agricultural chemistry, to which, of late years, 
he has devoted much of his attention. 

For the Southern Planter. 
Mr. Charles T. Botts: 

Dear Sir, — Having been requested by you to 
give a candid statement of my opinion of Bom- 
mer's patent method of making manure, for pub- 
lication in your July number of the Planter, I 
will now with much pleasure proceed to say all 
I know about it. 

On the 13th of May at night, I finished the 
preparation of a heap, according to his method, 
composed chiefly of dry wheat-straw, to which 
I added a small quantity of coarse unfermented 
stable litter, which was also, mostly, wheat- 
straw, and proceeded to treat it according to the 
directions laid down in his pamphlet. On the 
18th day after the heap was constructed, it was 
opened in the presence of a number of farmers, 



and other gentlemen feeling an interest in the 
matter. It was found not to be entirely decom- 
posed, but in a high state of fermentation, which 
gave evidence that entire decomposition of the 
materials would very soon be the result : in order 
to facilitate it, however, I gave it another wa- 
tering with the lees, which has effected the 
complete decomposition of the whole mass. — 
According to Mr. Bommer's method, entire de- 
composition should have been effected in fifteen 
days, and I have no doubt such would have 
been the result, if it had been conducted with 
more skill ; up to the tenth day, I had succeeded 
in producing a very high degree of heat ; on 
that day, I gave it a very copious watering, 
thereby adulterating the lees too much, which 
caused the fermentation to subside in a measure. 
If the third watering had been properly made, 
with the lees in sufficient strength, I have no 
doubt the result would have been more satisfac- 
tory. As it is, I have succeeded in thirty days, 
in accomplishing that which I could not, by any 
method known to me, have accomplished in six 
months. I have never used any of this manure, 
this being the only heap I have made, 1 cannot, 
therefore, speak of its effect on vegetation ; from 
its appearance, however, and my knowledge of 
the materials used in its manufacture, I should 
consider it of far greater value than the best 
stable manure, made in the usual way ; I would 
not now exchange mine, load for load, for the 
best I ever saw. 

This method, as Mr. Bommer justly observes, 
has the advantage over all others by enabling 
the farmer to have his manure when and where 
he wants it. I shall make another heap in a 
few days, mostly of green weeds, grass roots, 
&c. &c. when, if you desire it, I will give you 
the result. 

To make manure by this method is not cost- 
ly, but somewhat troublesome ; but what good 
thing can be obtained without trouble or expense? 

I have thus, sir, given you a candid state- 
ment of all I know at present about Bommer's 
patent manure, 

And remain, very truly, 
Yours, 

Geo. Woodfin. 

June 13, 1843. 

From our conversations with Mr. Woodfin, 
we know, that this report is, as it should be, as 
careful and guarded as possible. He felt the 
responsibility of the task imposed on him, and 
determined to say nothing, however sanguine 
his anticipations might be, that could, by possi- 
bility, induce the public to think more of this 
invention than it deserved. For our own part, 
from what we have seen and heard of this ex- 
periment, we feel authorized to say that, which 



166 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



we never felt at liberty to say before, that we 
are fully satisfied of the great value of the in- 
vention. We do not doubt that a certain degree 
of particularity is required in following the di- 
rections that does not belong to some men, and 
which would deprive them of the benefit of the 
method, at least to the greatest perfection ; so 
there are some persons, as every physician will 
tell you, who cannot be induced to administer 
three successive doses of medicine according to 
the simplest prescription. But in the hands of 
any farmer who will strictly follow the method 
as it is explained in Mr. Bommer's pamphlet, 
this invention we believe is worth ten times the 
price at which it is to be obtained. 

Mr. Woodfin speaks of the method as being 
"somewhat troublesome." We wish he had 
been more explicit on that point : large quanti- 
ties of water are used in the process, and Mr. 
Woodfin's heap was so situated as to make the 
application of this material laborious ; but, nine 
times out of ten, it may be so located, that any 
quantity of water may be conducted to it with 
little or no labor at all : we do not know, but 
think it likely that it was to this portion of the 
process, that Mr. Woodfin chiefly alludes in the 
expression quoted. 

As to the time required exceeding that speci- 
fied by Mr. Bommer, it must be remembered 
that this was the first experiment in a process 
entirely new, where the operator, without any 
experience, was compelled to rely wholly upon 
the printed directions contained in the pamphlet. 
Mr. Woodfin does not doubt, that, by avoiding 
an error committed in the first process, the result 
could be effected in the time required. 

If the chemical properties of this compost are 
what Mr. Woodfin supposes them to be, of 
which he is much more capable of forming an 
opinion than we are, if it is indeed superior to 
stable manure, it is hard to estimate the value 
of the invention. 



to publish it. Our columns are of course as 
open to accounts of failure as success; indeed, 
we think it is as incumbent upon the purchaser 
of a new thing to warn the public of its worth- 
lessness, when he has been bit, as it is to herald 
forth its virtues, when his judgment has been 
sustained by the result of his purchase. All we 
ask, is, that in making reports of ihis or other 
matters, whether for good or evil, the author 
will be particular in stating every thing that 
could by possibility affect the experiment. 

We have lately received a letter from the ma- 
nufacturer of the poudrette, in New York, in 
which he begs us to urge its value as a top 
dressing to corn, applied at the first or even se- 
cond hoeing. He also seems very anxious that 
its action upon tobacco and cotton, crops with 
which he is unacquainted, may be fully and 
fairly tested. 



POUDRETTE. 

We have made considerable sales of this ar- 
ticle during the present season, and should be 
pleased to receive authentic and particular ac- 
counts of the result of its application to various 
crops. We have received some second hand 
reports of its extraordinary efficacy in pushing 
forward tobacco plants, but we have obtained 
no statement, as yet, so reliable as to induce us 



For the Southern Planter. 

Mr. Editor, — I have for some time been using 
an implement of great simplicity and cheapness, 
with which I am much pleased, for levelling 
newly ploughed land. It may be made of a 
common ox-cart tongue, b} 7 pinning on across 
the forked part of it where it rests on the axle- 
tree, a piece of timber, about six or seven feet 
long, six inches thick, and twelve or fourteen 
inches broad. You will at once see that it is 
intended to be drawn by a yoke of oxen, but 
might easily be constructed so as to be adapted 
to horses. The cost to any of your readers, who 
maj r be curious enough to wish to try it, will 
not exceed fifty cents ; as any field hand can, 
in a few hours, convert the cart tongue into one, 
without unfitting the tongue for its ordinary use. 
W. O. Gregory. 

Waterloo, JV. C., May 6, 1843. 



As we have reason to believe that the root 
culture is on the increase in Virginia, and as the 
fiy is the foe most dreaded by the grower of 
rutabaga as well as the common turnip, we 
publish the following, from the American Agri- 
culturist : 

REMEDIES AGAINST THE TURNIP FLY. 

As the cultivation of the different kinds of 
turnip is becoming somewhat extensive in the 
United States, and wherever adapted to soil and 
economical feeding, it is a valuable crop, a few 
hints for their protection against enemies may 
be useful. The principal danger to the turnip 
plant is immediately after it appears above the 
surface of the grouud. There are a variety of 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



167 



insects that feed upon and destroy it, during the 
first few weeks of Us existence ; but its most 
considerable enemy is a small black bug, that 
seizes upon the tender cotj^ledons the moment 
they make their appearance. Where the enemy 
is not in sufficient force to consume all the young 
leaflet* as they appear, the plant will make a 
gradual, though slow progress ; and when so 
far advanced as to be able to put forth its larger 
and more fibrous leaves, it will generally reach 
maturity. But it must be remembered, that any 
diminution of its leaves, especially in its early 
existence, is prejudicial to its growth. The 
leaves are to plants, what the lungs are to ani- 
mals, and in nearly all cases they superadd, in 
no small degree, the functions of the stomach 
also ; for in addition to throwing off a portion 
of the surplus moisture, ox} r gen, &c, taken in 
by the roots, they absorb carbon largely from 
the carbonic acid of the atmosphere, which be- 
comes fixed in the vegetable as a large propor- 
tion of its matured substance. Of course the 
early leaves of all plants should be protected 
with the utmost care. 

For the protection of the turnip, I have found 
no more efficacious means than soaking the seed 
in the most offensive tanner's oil for two or three 
days previous to sowing. This saturates the 
seed with the repulsive taste and odor, and as 
the germ which first appears above ground is 
furnished exclusively from the seed, the cotyle- 
dons, which are the most exposed to the insect, 
are charged with a flavor everyway adapted to 
their protection from its ravages. In addition 
to this great advantage, the oil is one of the 
most nutritious substances for the support of the 
young plant, and helps it forward with a rapid 
growth, by which it sooner gets beyond the 
reach of danger. 

Phosphoric acid in the proportion of one of 
acid to two of water, forms a steep or soak 
which gives wonderful acceleration to the growth 
of plants; soak in this twenty to fifty hours. — 
Arsenic, in the proportion of one to fifty of wa- 
ter, in which the seed should remain twelve 
hours, produces astonishing effects on the early 
growth of vegetation. The effect of this poison 
on the product cannot be injurious, though the 
seed soaked should be carefully kept from all 
living things, and when taken from the steeping 
vessel immediately buried beyond reach. 

After soaking, it can be prepared for sowing, 
by mixing with plaster, ashes, or air-slacked 
lime, so intimately 'mixed, as to obviate any in- 
convenience from adhesiveness of the seeds. 

If the insect is found to pursue the plants af- 
terward, they may be sprinkled with the stale 
liquid from a tanner's lime-pit. This is most 
conveniently done with a common watering-pot. 
If a tannery is not accessible to the farmer, he 
may easily prepare any desirable quantity of li- 
quid, equally valuable, by collecting stale urine 



and the strongest drainings from the dung-heap, 
in large hogsheads, or what is better, in perma- 
nent cisterns, which should have a place in every 
farm-yard, adding lime in proportion to the quan- 
tity of liquid. The addition of putrid flesh, fish, 
&c, will add to its efficacy. A weak brine, 
diluted sulphuric, or nitric acids (oil of vitriol 
and aquafortis,) may be sprinkled over the plants 
with success. Unleached ashes, lime, plaster, 
and soot, sown broadcast over the plants after a 
rain, or while the dew is on, are sometimes ef- 
fectual remedies. In addition to the value of 
the above applications for killing the insect, 
they are all directly beneficial in promoting the 
growth of the plants to the full value of the 
cost of the material and labor. 

Folding sheep on the ground where turnips 
are to be sown, is an excellent preparation. — 
New land when it can be had, is admirably 
adapted for a turnip crop, as it is free from in- 
sects, and possesses an abundance of the alka- 
lies, which are every way suited to the rapid 
growth of the turnip. Burning the rubbish on 
the land required for this crop is a good precau- 
tion, as thereby a portion of the eggs and insects 
are destroyed. Deep ploughing will extermi- 
nate all that are placed so far beneath the sur- 
face, as to be unable to reach it again. The 
use of long manure, or sowing on a stubble-field, 
are objectionable, as they harbor and protect the 
insects. 

Where enemies are numerous, three or four 
pounds of seed should be sown in drills, and 
twice as much more broadcast, which affords 
more food for the fly, and there may possibly be 
sufficient left for a crop, after supplying the for- 
agers with all they want ; the excess, if any, 
may be thinned with the cultivator and hoe. — 
But in all cases the soil should be in good con- 
dition, and be prepared with some rich, stimu- 
lating manure, such as night-soil or other con- 
centrated aliment, by which the plant will be 
enabled to push itself rapidly beyond the reach 
of marauders. Alternating turnips with pota- 
toes, sugar-beet, and other crops in no way re- 
lated to this family of plants (the cruciferae,) is 
useful, by cutting off the supply of food to its 
enemies, by which it is starved out or compelled 
to shift its quarters for subsistence. 

The frequent use of the cultivator and hoe is 
beneficial in destroying the insects, besides ma- 
terially assisting the growth of the plant. All 
family weeds, colewort, water-cresses, hedge- 
mustard, and the like, which afford food to the 
common enemy, should be carefully extermi- 
nated ; and such other kindred vegetables, as 
cabbages, cauliflower, mustard, table and horse- 
radish, &c, should be cultivated remote from 
the turnip-field, so as to afford no rendezvous for 
their perpetuation. 

R. L. A. 

Buffalo, April 25, 1643. 



168 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



PLEASE NOTICE AND EXCHANGE. 

We almost daily observe this endorsement 
upon some new comer, either political or agri- 
cultural. The exchange we are always ready 
to make, because we are seldom, or never, the 
loser by the bargain, but with every disposition 
to be courteous and polite, we cannot afford the 
room that would be required to notice the hun- 
dreds of papers that are monthly emerging into 
life. Our sheet is so small, and valuable infor- 
mation in these days of diligent research is so 
abundant, that we hardly issue a number from 
which we are not compelled to omit several arti- 
cles that we would feign have given to our 
readers. Besides, what does it avail either the 
Editor or our subscribers, that we should keep, 
as others do, blank forms standing, in which to 
insert the name of new papers as they are re- 
ceived — the unmeaning and formal compliment 
passes for just what it is worth ; our courtesy, 
we hope, is too well known to our readers to 
permit them to expect any sincerity in our no- 
tice of a cotemporary, and our using the com- 
mon terms of politeness, would be no index of 
even our opinion. The most delicate and the 
most sincere compliment that we can pay to 
any paper consists in the extracts we make 
from it ; and it is by this means that our real 
appreciation of any work may be discovered. 

Still, we would not be so churlish as to find 
fault with those whose greater space affords 
them opportunities of indulging in these little 
amenities, from which we ourselves are ex- 
cluded, and to which we are so much indebted. 

TO STOP BLEEDING AT THE NOSE. 
An acquaintance called a few days since to 
say that one of his family having suffered from 
a profuse bleeding at the nose, after a fruitless 
resort to various remedies, some one laughingly 
suggested that the patient should hold up his left 
hand, a remedy that had been recommended some 
where in the newspapers : the suggestion was 
laughingly adopted, and the effect was no less 
surprising than satisfactory. Our informant only 
vouches for the fact that in this case the bleed- 
ing ceased after the hand had been held up for 
about three minutes. Whether the relation of 
cause and effect exists, or whether it will ever 
happen again he does not pretend to say. 



Richmond Markets, June IT, 1843. 



Tobacco. — Inspections for a month past have been 
very heavy, averaging about 225 Hhds. per day, and 
stocks in the warehouses have accumulated to such 
an extent that planters have found it impossible to 
get their crops opened, as brought to market — but the 
bulk of the crop is now in and this inconvenience 
will soon be obviated. The tobacco season will close 
sooner this year than heretofore, and as the market 
has borne their heavy sales without showing any de- 
cline in prices, we do not expect to see them laxen 
throughout the season, and think that fine shipping 
and manufacturing qualities may advance still higher. 
It is too early to form any correct conclusions in re- 
gard to the next crop, but as very little has yet been 
planted, it must be a late one, and may suffer from 
various causes on that account. We quote lugs $2 
25 a $2 75 and $3 — leaf, common $3 a $3 75 — mid- 
dling $4 a $b 50 and good $5 50 a $6 50— fine stem- 
ming and shipping $7 a $12 — fine manufacturing 
$12 a $15. 

Flour. — Canal $4 75 a $5. 

Corn — 55 a 60 cents per bushel. 

Oats — From depot 32 a 36 cents per bushel. 

Exchange on North Jaf. 

Ludlam, Preston & Co. 



CONTENTS OF NO. VII. 



There are often notions which swim in the 
head that never sink into the heart. — Romaine. 



Boots — Culture of, recommended, p. 145. 

Poor Land — Cheaper to improve old land than to 

clear new, p. 145. 
Coal-Tar — A nuisance, p. 146. 
Rotation — Recommended, by J. Du Val, p. 147. 
Sassafras — To extirpate, p. 147. 
Rust — To preserve tools from rust, p. 147. 
Steam Generator — Bentley's described, with a cut, p. 

148. 
Improvement — A plan of, recommended, p. 149. 
Manures — Proper management of, p. 150. 
Green Crops — When to be turned in for improvement, 

p. 150. 
Mud — How to be treated as a manure, p. 151. 
Lime — How it should be applied, p. 151. 
Salt — Its value as a manure, p. 151. 
Sweet Potatoes — Directions for keeping, p. 152. 
Exhibition of the Henrico Agricultural Society — Some 

account of, p. 153. 
Sponge — To soften and preserve, p. 154. 
Looking Glasses — To clean, p. 155. 
Furniture — To keep it clean, p. 155. 
Hinge — A description of a cheap one, with a cut, p. 

155. 
Fencing — Directions for constructing, p. 156. 
Plaster — Directions for using, p. 156. 
Corn — Remarks on the cultivation of, p. 157-. 
Comments — On the May and June numbers, p. 157. 
Kentucky Blue Gi'ass — Remarks on, p. 158. 
Soiling — Economy of, p. 159. 
Farmer's Encyclopedia — p. 160. 
Draining — Plan of covered drains, p. 161. 
Ploughing Match— Proposition for, p. 162. 
Hay Making — Directions for curing and managing 

hay, p. 162. 
Hill Side Ploughs — M'Cormick's, with a cut, p. 163. 
Delinquent Subscribers — Hint to, p. 164. 
Bommer's Manure — Further notice of, p. 165. 
Poudrette — Reeommended for tobacco, p. 166. 
Leveller — Description of an implement for levelling 

ploughed ground, p. 16G1 
Turnip Fly— To prevent its ravages, p. 166. 
Original Communications — False estimate of, p. 168. 
Bleeding at the Nose — To stop, p. 168.