l&mzWti to agriculture, horticulture, auti the household Bvts. 



Agriculture 


is the 


nursing 


mother of the Arts. 
Xenophoi 


1 Tillage and Pasturaj 
State— Sully. 


r e are 


the two 


bre; 


ists of the 


C. T. BOTTS, Editor. 


Vol. 


IV. 






RICHMOND, 


NOVEMBER, 1844. 








No. 


11. 



ON PLANK ROADS IN CANADA. 

Lord Sydenham, during his long 1 sojourn in 
Russia, travelled on several of them, and found 
them well adapted to the circumstances and the 
climate ; and, as both were very similar to those 
in Canada, he was strongly of the opinion that 
their introduction there would greatly conduce 
to the public interest. A few miles of road in 
the neighborhood of Toronto was first laid with 
plank by the local commissioners who had the 
management of it. The cost of stone and the 
great expense they had been at in macadamiz- 
ing a portion of the same road, as well as the 
heavy annual repairs, had induced them to try 
the experiment in that province of laying a 
planked surface on the road. A gentleman de- 
scribing' it, says: "The few miles nearest the 
city, and over which very considerable traffic 
existed, were planked ; and, upon inspection, it 
was found the top surface of the timber was 
worn in the centre for the breadth of seven feet, 
and to the depth of £ of an inch ; the ends be- 
ing to the full dimensions as the plank came 
from the saw. The bottom or under side of the 
planks, was found throughout perfectly sound. 
In two or three places, where a small cavity 
was left by the foot of a horse or other animal, 
there was found a slight pinkish tinge corres- 
ponding with the cavity, and indicating the 
commencement of fungus. The sleepers ap- 
peared perfectly sound." The facts elicited by 
examination of the portion of the road laid down 
but one season, were the same as the foregoing, 
except that but | of abrasion had taken place. 
From the foregoing, it will be seen — 

1st. That the wear and tear of the plank 
road, even near a populous town, is confined to 
the 7 feet in width of the centre. 

2d. That, for the preservation of the planks 
from decay underneath, it is indispensable that 
every portion of it be solidly imbedded in the 
formation. 

3d. That considerably more than half the 
wear and tear which occurs in seven years' use 
of the road, takes place the first yearj which 
is easily accounted for, by the natural stripping 
off while the plank is fresh, of those fibres 
which were cross cut by the saw ; and from the 
fact of the dung of the cattle getting bound 
with the raised fibre of the wood and thus form- 
ing a tough elastic covering, which saves the 
Vol. IV.-31 



plank in a great measure, from the effects of the 
horse's shoes, and the tire of the wheels. On 
this road the plank is 16 feet long, 3 inches 
thick, laid crossways at cross angles to the road, 
on 5 sleepers of pirie 5x3 laid on edge, and in 
the line of the road ; and this was considered 
the best mode of laying a plank road, except 
that on a country road plank 8 or 10 feet long 
will be found quite sufficient. On the Chambly 
road (plank) the planks are 12 feet, long, but 
laid diagonally, so as to make the road but 8 
feet wide. This was opposed by some, and very 
justly ; for, as apprehended, the weight of half 
the vehicle and load coming suddenly on one 
end of the plank, and the other end not being 
kept down at the same lime, the traffic con- 
stantly tends to disrupt the road, and the planks 
are loose, and spring from end to end. Another 
principle connected with the laying of this road, 
(which was opposed) is that of having the 
sleepers of much larger scantling than on the 
Toronto road. It was remarked that, as all 
earth formation under a road of this nature will 
more or less subside and shrink, the giving to 
the sleepers too much area would enable them 
to bear up the plank, leaving the earth to settle 
from them, thereby causing springing in the 
plank, which tends greatly to their being cut 
away; (in fact, they quickly become rounded 
from the edges;) and, also, that fungus and de- 
cay of the plank would be brought on, in con- 
sequence of the confined air below. These ap- 
prehensions are realized. At Quebec, part of 
the road has been planked, the plank being laid 
lengthwise of the road. It was considered that 
the planks would stand better the friction, and, 
when necessary, could be more easily taken up, 
and the road repaired. One strong objection to 
this mode of laying the plank is found to be, 
that the horses cannot keep their feet when 
much weighted, and are much exposed to fall- 
ing, in consequence. Under all the circum- 
stances, most have approved the manner in 
which the planks are laid on the Toronto road. 
Those now being planked under the department 
in the western section of the province are so 
laid, except that the planks are spiked with a 
b\ inch spike — one in each end. With respect 
to plank roads generally, I wish none to suppose 
that I am an advocate for their adoption, except 
in those sections of the country where nature 
has afforded no better material, and where funds 



242 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



can be obtained for a better structure. There 
are stretches of 30 and 40 miles, in parts of the 
west, where the soil is a deep rich vegetable 
mould, and without stone or gravel of any de- 
scription ; in such cases you must be content to 
wade through the mud, or adopt the plank roads. 
When the traffic or intercourse of a section of 
country requires that good roads should be af- 
forded for it, the adoption of plank or stone roads 
should be governed simply by a comparison of 
the first cost of each, in conjunction with the 
probable annual expense of repairs ; and if this 
comparison is based on the plank lasting twelve 
years, (or some say ten years,) a safe conclusion 
will be arrived at. In some cases in Canada, 
the adoption of plank instead of stone would 
have made such a saving as would have re- 
planked the road every five years, if necessary. 
There are many sections in the west, where 
timber abounds, especially in Ohio, Indiana and 
Kentucky, where such roads might be intro- 
duced with great advantage. 

The article above is extracted from the last 
of Commissioner Ellsworth's reports, and we 
have inserted it under the impression that there 
were many of the forests of Virginia that could 
be traversed cheaper and better by such a road 
than any other. We are much inclined to think, 
indeed we have long thought, that where timber 
was as plenty and convenient as it is to most of 
the thoroughfares in this country, that, every 
thing considered, the cheapest road that could be 
made would be one constructed of wood. With 
a locomotive engine and saw-mill made after the 
most improved construe! ion, to traverse the road 
and cut the timber from point to point, we be- 
lieve the expense in ten years would be less 
than that of a M'Adamised road; whilst the 
evenness of surface would render the facility of 
transportation infinitely greater than the best 
stone road could afford. We should like to see a 
comparative estimate from some one acquainted 
with the subject. 



APPLES AS FOOD FOR ANIMALS. 

Apples, when ripe, afford more or less nutri- 
ment to animals. Sweet apples are generally 
supposed to be most nutricious, though we are 
not certain that this supposition is correct. Our 
fathers and grandfathers held that sweet apples 
would fatten hogs ; but in latter years, it has 
been proved that hogs will fatten on apples that 
are not sweet. 

A hog is naturally an epicure — (we don't say 
an epicure is a hog) — and when left to himself 
is a pretty good judge of what is best. Ob- 
serve, then, what are his natural habits. Put 



him in an orchard where there are various kinds 
of apples, and see how he will work, or rather 
how he will eat. He will always select the 
most palatable apples — he will not confine him- 
self to one kind, nor to sweet apples alone ; 
but will go over the orchard and pick out the 
choicest fruit, always choosing that which is in 
such a state of ripeness that its qualities are 
nearest perfection. Like the boys, his regular 
haunts are the "best trees" whether ihe apples 
are sweet or pleasantly sour ; but he never eats 
a real crabbed apple, or an unripe one, unless 
forced by hunger. We should, therefore, infer 
from the natural habits of the hog, that if we 
wish to obtain the greatest thrift from him when 
feeding on apples, it is best to feed him partly 
with those which are sweet, and partly with 
those which may be called sub-acid. 

When hogs or cattle are being fed principally 
on grain, their appetite, health and thrift, will 
be found much improved by a small allowance 
of raw apples, occasionally. As a regular food 
for hogs, the value of apples is undoubtedly 
much improved by cooking, either by steaming 
or boiling. If they are to be fed by themselves, 
steaming is probably best. But it is believed 
that the most judicious way is to boil or stew 
them thoroughly, and mix with them while hot, 
a portion of meal. This checks the laxative 
nature of the apple, imparts additional value, 
and causes the food to be retained in the stomach 
and intestines a sufficient length of time for the 
whole nutriment to be extracted. The meal 
may be made from Indian corn, rye, barlej^, 
buckwheat or oats and peas. We think we 
have never seen hogs fatten faster, than when 
fed on the following kinds and proportions of 
food, viz : a bushel of potatoes and a bushel of 
apples boiled together, and when sufficiently 
soft, a peck of oat and pea meal stirred into 
them, having the mixture when cold, about the 
consistency of good stiff mush, or "hasty pud- 
ding." The pork was solid, sweet and good. 
Some experiments made several years since by 
Payne Wingate, Esq. of Hallowell, Maine, a 
very close and accurate observer, showed that 
apples were worth more than potatoes for fatten- 
ing hogs, especially when both were cooked 
and mixed with an equal portion of meal. Ap- 
ples are also excellent for cattle. We have re- 
peatedly witnessed their effects in the thrift and 
smoothness of the coats of cattle to which they 
were fed at the rate of about a peck per day, 
during the winter. Fed regularly, in this quan- 
tity, they increase the quantity and richness of 
the milk of cows, while the condition of the 
animal is likewise improved. 

It is the opinion of some very judicious far- 
mers, that a given quantity of ground will af- 
ford more nutriment for any kind of stock, when 
appropriated to apple trees, than when devoted 
to any other crop. Our own experience inclines 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



243 



us to favor this conclusion, and we think our 
friends, who for the promotion of temperance, 
have cut down their orchards, have shown a 
"zeal not according to knowledge." They 
seemed not to be aware that the same sub- 
stances which produced the deleterious effects 
that they desired to avoid, might be converted 
into wholesome and substantial articles of hu- 
man sustenance. — Cultivator. 

Standing in the portico of a hotel in Provi- 
dence once, we were struck with the extraordi- 
nary thrift and apparent grooming of a pair of 
black horses driven to the door by a gentleman 
in a light wagon. When he dismounted we 
took the liberty of making some inquiries about 
the beautiful team that had attracted our atten- 
tion — a true horseman always excuses such liber- 
ties: we were informed that the high flesh and 
glossy coats that excited our admiration were 
wholly attributable to the food on which they 
lived; this for three months preceding had been 
nothing but apples stewed with hay ; and for 
light work their owner considered the best and 
cheapest food he had ever tried. 



From the Farmers' Cabinet. 

TOBACCO AROUND PEACH TREES. 

JWr. Editor, — I have read with interest in dif- 
ferent numbers of the Cabinet, articles respect- 
ing the depredations of the insect JEgeria Exi- 
tiosa, upon the peach tree ; and have seen va- 
rious remedies proposed. I, too, am induced to 
offer one, as simple as I believe it is effectual, 
viz: an application of tobacco in the following 
manner: In the latter part of spring or early 
part of summer, scrape the earth from around 
the body of the tree, to the depth of one to three 
inches, being particularly careful not to injure 
the crown of the roots ; fill the cup thus formed 
with trash tobacco from the shops, and envelop 
the boll of the tree to the height of three or four 
inches, with the stems or leaves. I do not offer 
this as a means to renovate a diseased tree, but 
as a preventive, the efficiency of which has been 
tested for nineteen years by Samuel Wood, one 
of the most approved nurserymen and extensive 
fruit growers, in this section of country; and 
also by other praclical farmers with unfailing 
success. The efficacy of the ill weed, when 
applied in this manner, appears to result in its 
universal nauseousness. The place which this 
insect selects for depositing its eggs is the junc- 
tion of the boll of the tree with the surface of 
the ground, and finding there a substance which 
i3 loathsome to it, it chooses rather to wing its 
way to the orchard of a less provident neighbor, 
than consign its eggs, and consequently to trust 



the reproduction of its species to a tree so forti- 
fied against its attacks; 1 am aware that some 
may be prejudiced against this remedy on ac- 
count of its simplicity; but it may be well to 
remember, that simple inventions, and simple 
remedies are often the most valuable, and are 
besides, not always those that are soonest disco- 
vered. Be not discouraged then, but give it a 
fair trial, and if you are not richly rewarded 
with an abundant supply of one of the most 
delicious gifts of Pomona, then I am a deceived 
Buckeye Farmer. 
Smithfield, Ohio, 2d mo. 21th, 1844. 



COAL TAR. 
We observe many recommendations of coal 
tar as a paint. It is very cheap, costing only 
two dollars and fifty cents a barrel, and is said 
to constitute an excellent pigment. We recol- 
lect recommending it once before and receiving 
a communication from an intelligent correspond- 
ent whose experience lead him to condemn it in 
the most unequivocal terms. It is possible he 
got hold of an inferior article, or they may have 
been particular circumstances attending the ex- 
periment. We are extremely anxious to see the 
dingy weatherboarding of our houses covered 
with something, and the funereal black of coal 
tar would be better than the glcomy poverty of 
its present appearance. 



NEW BUTTER CHURN. 

Application has been made, says the Boston 
Cultivator, for a patent for a butter churn on an 
entirely new principle, which, if report speaks 
true, is to do away with every other mode. The 
plan is to blow a current of air, contained in a 
tin, or other vessel, after the manner of boiling 
by means of steam, the air being raised by a 
machine to be worked by hand in the simplest 
and easiest manner. By this means the butter 
is said not only to come in a short space of time 
but always regularly, adding about one half to 
the quality. An equal temperature is to be kept 
up by blowing cold air in the summer and hot 
air in the winter. Truly we live in an age of 
improvement. — Connecticut Farmers' Gazette. 



NEW YORK STATE FAIR AND AGRICUL- 
TURAL CLUBS. 

We are much indebted to our friend H. O. 
Reilly, Esq. of Albany, for an account of the 
fourth fair and exhibition of the New York 
Agricultural Society, held at Poughkeepsie on 
the 17th of September. It was undoubtedly a 



244 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



most brilliant affair, and all we can say is, we 
wish we had " been there to see." 

To the friend of agriculture no sight can be 
more interesting than the display which the 
means and opportunities of this Society enable 
them to afford at one of their annual exhibitions. 
All other attempts of the kind sink into utter 
insignificance when compared with it. We 
have never advocated the system of exhibitions 
in our own State, because, beyond the vicinity 
of the city of Richmond, we feel assured that 
any such attempt will probably prove a failure 
We infinitely prefer to see substituted for it 
neighborhood clubs, which we are pleased to 
find are becoming as popular as they are useful. 
To get up any thing like an attractive exhibi 
tion, requires a great deal of moveable material, 
in the first place, and a great deal of trouble, in 
the second. Stock and domestic manufactures 
are the subjects to which agricultural exhibitions 
are indebted for all their interest and all their 
eclat. To both of these departments we pay 
too little attention in Virginia to enable us to 
furnish out an agricultural exhibition. But 
there is no reason why we should not institute, 
what are infinitely more useful, neighborhood 
clubs, where friends may meet and talk over the 
projects, plans, and theories that are afloat in 
the agricultural world ; where we may compare 
notes, laugh at each other's hobbies, gather a 
lesson from the folly or wisdom of our neighbors, 
and go home with our social and tilling faculties 
highly improved. 

As a proof of the value of agricultural clubs, 
we lately heard a distinguished farmer in the 
lower part of Albemarle living upon the river, 
say, that ten years ago land was fifteen per 
cent, higher in his neighborhood than in the vi- 
cinity of Charlottesville, and that such had been 
the improvement effected by the Hole and Cor- 
ner Club of Albemarle, that the positions of the 
two portions of the county had been exactly re- 
versed ; there lands were now estimated fifteen 
or twenty per cent, higher than those below. — 
We do not hesitate to say that this is the gen- 
eral effect ; the formation of a club increases the 
value of land in the neighborhood ten or fifteen 
per cent. We are largely engaged in an agency 
for buying and selling lands in the State of Vir- 
ginia, and we are frequently asked by persons 
looking for farms, if the one recommended to 
them lies within the circle of a neighborhood 
club. 



LIMING LAND. 

In the application of lime to land, it seems to 
me that one great object is generally overlooked. 
All the lime intended to be applied in one season 
is generally spread at once, thus leaving it in a 
kind of stratum, instead of being, as it ought to 
be, thoroughly mixed with the soil. Would it 
not be better to proceed as follows : Suppose you 
intend to apply sixty bushels to the acre. First 
spread twenty bushels carefully over the acre of 
ground ; then turn the soil with the heaviest, or 
rather deepest operating plough you have. Then 
spread twenty bushels more in the same way, 
and turn that in with a medium plough passing 
across the previous furrow. Then spread the 
remaining twenty bushels, and harrow that in, 
or tern it under with a light seed plough. This 
would effectually mingle the lime through the 
whole depth of the soil. Any one can see the 
reason of the thing and the advantages of it ; 
the only objection to it being the labor; but that 
is not more than is requisite to bring the soil 
into the proper condition for seeding. If wheat 
or any small grain be intended, then the third 
application can be made at the time the seed is 
sown. 1 do not much like the usual plan of 
applying thirty bushels one year, and three or 
five years thereafter thirty bushels more, and so 
on, unless deficiency of means prevents the whole 
being applied the same year. The idea gener- 
ally is, that, like manure, the first application is 
exhausted or nearly so in three or five years, 
and that then another application is necessary. 
I do not think the lime is exhausted, but the 
small quantity applied having been diffused 
through the whole of the soil by successive 
ploughings, the soil is not sufficientlycalcareous. 
Now if we apply the whole quantity as sug- 
gested above, the soil to its entire depth will 
have become charged with it ; and, if enough 
is applied I do not believe it will be exhausted 
in twenty years, if then. — Cultivator. 



THE HAW OR HOOKS. 

We had supposed that the absurd and cruel 
practice of cutting out the haw from the eye of 
the horse for the purpose of relieving a fancied 
diseasecalled the hooks, had ceased amongsteven 
the most ignorant of veterinary practitioners ; 
but a gentleman assured us that the plan was 
frequently resorted to still in the country by 
those who should know better. 

The haw is an expansive membrane with 
which nature has provided the eye of the horse 
for the purpose of removing the dust and other 
impurities that may chance to fall upon that 
delicate organ, and to cut it off under any cir- 
cumstances, is not less cruel than ridiculous. — 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



245 



This membrane, sympathizing with other dis- 
eased parts of the eye, frequently becomes in- 
flamed and swollen, and then it is, that, instead 
of bathing it with cooling solutions, it is called 
the hooks, and is cut out by ignorant quacks ; 
and thus the horse is deprived of this natural 
appendage, and is subjected to all the pain and 
misery that the introduction of foreign substances 
is calculated to inflict upon that sensitive organ, 
the eye. We would condemn the man guilty 
of this barbarity to stand thirty minutes with a 



gnat in his eye, his pocket handkerchief stolen, 
and his hands tied ; he would be then able to 
comprehend the extent of the misery he had in- 
flicted upon an animal oftentimes nobler than 
himself. 

It is true that the bleeding that follows the 
cutting, sometimes reduces the inflammation 
and gives some apparent countenance to this 
barbarous practice — but surely blood letting can 
be effected under such circumstances upon better 
terms than the loss of this valuable appendage. 



VENTILATORS 




Some time since we furnished our readers with 
a cut and description of Dr. Espy's remedy for 
a srnokey chimney. At the time we suggested 
that the Doctor's invention was not altogether 
novel, and now we are authorized to say that it 
is not the best form of using the apparatus. — 
Some experiments have been instituted by Mr. 
Mott, of New York, which, to use his own 
words, have resulted as follows. To those who 
have suffered from the evil of a smokey chim- 
ney we need not apologize for introducing the 
article. 

"To test the relative value of the various 
chimney caps and ventilators in use, 1 have 
made, during the past twelve months, many ex- 
periments, assisted by Thomas Ewbank, Esq. 
of this city. Many caps were sent to me for 
trial by others. The experiments were wit- 



nessed by members of the American and Me- 
chanics' Institutes, and several other scientific 
gentlemen, who were much interested, and ex- 
pressed their surprise at the results. 

"Trials were made in the following manner: 
A glass tube, of one inch bore, and eighteen 
inches long, was provided ; on the top of this 
tube the various caps were placed ; the lower 
end of the tube was immersed in a vessel of 
water, the upper end with the cap, each in turn, 
was placed in the blast produced by a blowing 
apparatus driven by a six-horse steam engine, 
used for melting iron in my foundry at Morrisa- 
nia. The blast was through a six inch pipe 
contracted to three inches, the caps being placed 
about twelv.e inches from the pipe, so that the 
wind could have free action on the outside as 
well as inside of those caps that were hollow. 

" More than one hundred caps were tried, con 
sisting of the various kinds in use in this coun- 
try and in Europe. The experiments were re- 



246 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



peated several times with the same results. The 
mode of experimenting is here illustrated. 

" The results with the better kinds in use 
were as follows : (the dark part of the tube 
showing the height the water was raised :) 

" No. 1 is a common T, with the cross-pipe 
of a continuous diameter. When the blast was 
directly through the cross-pipe, it had a tendency 
to depress the water in the glass tube. 

" No. 2 is the same cap turned at a right an- 
gle to the wind, when the water rose from 1^ 
to 2 inches. 

" No. 3 is a well known and common cap. — 
With this the water rose from 2 to 1\ inches. 

" No. 4 is a common elbow, with the blind 
side to the blast. The water rose from \\ to 2 
inches. 

" No. 5 is the conical ventilator, with the point 
to the wind. The water rose 2>\ inches. This 
cap was tried with the side forming a right an- 
gle with the blast ; in that position the water 
rose 5 inches. 

" No. 6 is a cap much used and highly prized 
in Boston, and other places in the Eastern States. 
It has a small tube in the end the next blast, 
opening in the large cross cap, as shown by the 
cut. With this the water was raised 4£ inches, 
which was higher than any other (except with 
the cone, when placed with its side to the wind,) 
previous to the trials with 7 and 8. 

" No. 7, it will be seen, is two conical frus- 
trums, joined at their smaller ends to a centre 
cross-pipe. With this cap, either end to the 
wind, the water rose to the full length of the 
glass tube, 18 inches, and was blown out the 
opposite end. Trial was made again and again 
with this cap, at a right and other angles to the 
blast, and in every instance the water was raised 
from 7 inches upwards. A board was placed 
behind, on the side, and in every mode, to break 
or deflect the blast, yet the water rose in the 
tube. This is a very simple cap, easy of con- 
struction, and not likely to get out of order, as 
it differs from most others in being stationary. 

"No. 8 is a single conical frustrum, with the 
smaller end to the wind ; the effect was the 
same as in No. 7. With the open end to the 
blast, the water was raised the length of the 
tube, and blown out the opposite end." 



GUANO. 

Messrs. Dunlop, Moncure & Co. of this city, 
called our attention to an assignment of guano 
they have lately received from a house in Balti- 
more, which they are offering to sell at three 
dollars the cwt. 

Guano is, we will not say the prominent hum- 
bug, but the prominent subject of the day. For 
the last forty years it has been known in Europe 



that a deposit of extraordinary fertilizing pro- 
perties, believed to be the excrements of birds, 
was to be found upon the Pacific coast of South 
America. But it is only within the last five 
years that it has begun to form a subject of 
commerce ; now it is estimated that upwards of 
eight hundred vessels are engaged in the British 
trade alone. 

We know that the excrement of different ani- 
mals possesses different fertilizing qualities, and 
the strength of bird dung is proverbial. The 
superiority of this manure over the dung of pi- 
geons, fowls, &c. is supposed to be derived from 
the animal food which the birds on the sea coast 
draw from the depths of the ocean. Guano, 
then, is nothing more than the strongest kind of 
bird dung. Although this deposit is made every 
where upon the sea coast, being extremely so- 
luble, it is only in those countries where rain 
seldom or never falls, that it retains its virtues. 
From the coast of Africa it has been lately im- 
ported, but upon analysis the African has been 
found, it is said, to be different in composition 
and inferior in fertilizing properties to that 
brought from South America. As to the quan- 
tity to be had, recent examinations prove it to 
be almost inexhaustible ; the deposit is mea- 
sured in miles, and the depth seldom falls short 
of thirty or forty feet. 

The question is, what is guano worth to the 
farmer, and what can the merchant afford it at. 
The price in this country until lately has ranged 
from five to ten cents a pound ; but the African 
product has already been offered in Scotland for 
about two cents, and it is contended that it can 
be profitably imported at a cent, or a cent and 
a half. Dr. Gardner, in an essay read before 
the New York Agricultural Institute, asserts, 
that an artificial composition can be formed 
equal to the best guano, for two cents a pound. 
The effects of this manure, exaggerated as they 
undoubtedly are, have been frequently almost 
magical. We have many marvellous reports of 
experiments made in Europe, but Dr. Gardner, 
who does not seem to be a very partial investi- 
gator, says that the result of the best conducted 
and most authentic seem to prove, that when 
applied to roots, as turnips, &c, 100 lbs. of gua- 
no is about equal to 8 tons of stable manure — 
on grass 100 lbs. equals 6 tons, and on wheat 
100 lbs. guano is equal to only 4 tons of stable 
manure. He thinks the finest effect would pro- 
bably be produced on tobacco. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



247 



It has been ascertained that guano measura- 
bly fails in a drought, and that it should be ap- 
plied during or preceding showery weather. Its 
chief virtue is derived from the urate of ammo- 
nia which it contained. When brought in con- 
tact with lime the ammonia is liberated in a 
gaseous form, and is lost in the air. No such 
result ensues from a union with plaster; indeed 
it is recommended by some to mix plaster or 
charcoal with it. Perhaps as good a mode as 
any other is to mix the guano with two or three 
times its own bulk of fine loam, and sow it 
evenly over the land. As to the quantity re- 
quired, from two to four hundred weight should 
be applied to grass lands — for turnips and upon 
poor land, to produce a permanent effect, from 
five to seven hundred weight should be applied. 
The guano should never be permitted to come 
in contact with the seed : it is too exciting, and 
burns the tender gerrn — it is best to divide it, 
and sow at different times — first, when the plant 
is fairly started, and then about the period of 
flowering. At periods, says Dr. Gardner, when 
the attacks of injurious insects are apprehended, 
(rust would probably come under the same cate- 
gory,) a new application may do- much good, 
by giving the plants sufficient growth to resist 
the injuries. When applied, says the same au- 
thority, to corn or tobacco, it should be well 
worked into the land. On tobacco, it may be 
added when transplanted and at the topping 
season. We will add, that it would undoubted- 
ly prove a great auxiliary to the plant bed. 

One of the greatest difficulties the farmer will 
have to encounter in the use of guano, is the 
liability to imposition as to the purity and qua- 
lity of the article. In the first place, there are 
different varieties differing very much in their 
composition and qualities — secondly, exposure 
to air and moisture lessens materially the value 
of the article, and thirdly, it is liable to be dis- 
honestly adulterated. For a test of purity we 
quote again from Dr. Gardner's essay : 

1st. Provide a balance sufficiently delicate to 
turn with a seed — that used for prescriptions 
will answer if exact. 

2d. Reduce about a tea-spoonful of guano to 
fine powder. 

3d. Weigh ten grains of the powder, freed 
from any adventitious leaves, feathers, or other 
impurities ; spread on a piece of paper, and ex- 
pose to the sun upon a stove or other warm 
place, not exceeding two hundred and twelve 



degrees Fahrenheit, until perfectly dry. Re- 
weigh, to estimate the loss of water, which 
should not exceed twenty-five per cent. 

4th. Place the dried powder on a strip of 
platinum, and heat over a spirit flame to a full 
red heat. As the guano warms, it begins to 
exhale the smell of ammonia, turns black, and 
if oxalate of ammonia be present to any extent, 
throws up a dense white smoke of oxamide, 
which is a certain sign of the oxalate. The 
heat must be continued until the blackness is 
entirely gone. Upon cooling, the remainder is 
weighed and the loss marks the amount of vo- 
latile matter. A good specimen should yield 
forty per cent. By this means all the ammonia 
is driven off, with oxalic, uric and humic acids, 
as well as carbonic and muriatic acids, in com- 
bination with ammonia. The only objection to 
the process arises from vegetable and animal 
impurities, which must always be separated be- 
fore-hand by reducing the guano into a very 
fine dust, and picking or sifting out every parti- 
cle which is not easily crushed. The method 
is applicable to every variety of guano, and 
knowing the peculiarities given, leads us to cor- 
rect estimates of the value of a specimen. 

The manure is partly in the state of a dark 
powder, and partly in lumps. The latter are 
less decayed than the powder, and are, there- 
fore, a test of the goodness of a specimen, which 
should be very coarse and full of lumps. 



CURING GREEN CORN-STALKS. 

The difficulty which has sometimes attended 
the curing of corn-fodder, has been considered 
quite a drawback to the advantages of sowing 
corn for winter feed. In curing hay from grass, 
we prefer the sweating mode, as it is called, 
having practiced it with success. We have 
never tried this mode for green corn, but a writer 
(F. M. Butler) in the New York Farmer and 
Mechanic says he has practiced it with corn to 
as good advantage as with grass. He recom- 
mends to cut the green corn and let it lay in the 
swarth to dry off the dews or moisture and to 
become a little heated. As soon as this is done, 
put it up in large cocks or rather into shocks, 
trample it down close ; let it remain in the 
shocks until it wilts and sweats or ripens, then 
dry off the sweat and remove the fodder to your 
barn. He says, "I remember a lot of green 
corn which for ten days baffled the skill of the 
farmer to cure it, and which was finally handed 
over to my care as being incurable. Feeling a 
firm reliance in the principles that should govern 
the curing of succulent vegetation for fodder, I 



248 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



proceeded to dry off the dews, and as soon as 
this was done formed the green corn into large 
cocks, trampling it down close, although a fine 
warm sun was pouring down its heat upon the 
field. The cocks became heated, the corn-stalks 
wilted, but were suffered to remain until the 
next day, when towards afternoon the sky be- 
coming clear, and a fine breeze blowing, the 
heaps were thrown open, the stalks dried and 
taken into the barn perfectly cured, tt kept 
well, and in the winter the cattle preferred it to 
hay." — Cultivator. 



ECONOMICAL MODE OF MANURING. 

We laughed a little while ago to see some 
account of a German's pretending to make a 
crop in the most barren soil by manuring the 
seeds before they are planted ; but we find that 
very grave pretensions are put forth to the merit 
of this process, and it has actually formed the 
subject of a pamphlet, in which there is some- 
thing more of reason than we would have been 
induced to expect from the apparent absurdity 
of the proposition. The author's name is Vietor 
and the principle upon which he proceeds is 
that the actual consumption of the cultivated 
plants constitutes a very small proportion of the 
food that is given to the field in the ordinary 
way of manuring ; very little of it comes in 
contact with the rootlets or mouths of the plant ; 
that in fact very little is necessary, and that by 
using a concentrated fertilizing article made into 
a paste, enough may be made to adhere to the 
seed to support the plant through the whole pe- 
riod of its growth. The mixtures that he uses 
for this purpose are the following as we find it 
in the Farmers' Cabinet: 

1. Blood, in the liquid- state, is mixed with 
one-eightieth of its weight of glauber salts, dis- 
solved in a little water ; when thus mixed, it 
may be kept for a long time in a cool place 
without congealing or undergoing decomposi- 
tion ; or clotted blood may be dried either alone 
or mixed with a little earth or powdered clay, 
and then reduced to fine powder. 

2. Wool, hair, parings of leather, horns, hoofs, 
and bones, are charred in close vessels, until 
they are capable of being reduced to powder. 

3. The dung of all animals is dried and re- 
duced to powder. 

4. Fats and oils of all kinds are mixed with 
so much earth, clay, or rye-meal, as will enable 
the whole to be reduced to powder. Oil-cakes 
are also powdered for use. 

Mode of using them. — He makes up a semi- 
fluid mixture with which he mixes the seeds, 



and then he dries up the whole by the addition 
of the powdered manures already prepared. Hi3 
semi-fluid mixture is thus prepared. For a 
bushel of wheat or other grain, take 

20 to 30 lbs. of clay in fine powder. 

\\ lbs. of pounded sal ammoniac, or 3 lbs. of 
common salt. 

3 to 5 quarts of whale, rape, or other cheap oil. 

15 to 20 quarts of fresh blood, or blood kept 
in a fluid state by means of glauber salts, or, in 
the absence of blood as much water. 

3 to 5 lbs. of linseed meal or pounded oil-cake. 

These are mixed together intimately, and wa- 
ter added, if necessary to make a half-fluid mass. 
The seed is then to be poured in and stirred 
about till every seed is completely enveloped by 
the mixture. A layer of one of the following 
dry mixtures is then spread on the floor, over it 
the manured seed, and then another layer of the 
dry powder. The whole is then stirred together 
and left to dry. 

Dry Mixtures. — Of these drying mixtures he 
describes several, consisting chiefly of powdered 
clay, mixed with one or other of the dry pow- 
ders already mentioned. Thus he recommends 
mixtures of 

1. 75 of powdered clay, S horn shavings, and 
17 of bone dust. 

2. 85 of clay, with 15 of fluid, or 5 of dried 
blood. 

3. 85 of clay, 5 of charred hair, and 10 of 
oil-cake. 

4. 60 of clay and 40 of powdered dung. 

5. 70 of clay, 25 of charred leather, and 5 
of bone dust. . 

6. 80 of clay, 1 of fat, tallow, or oil, and 2 
of powdered dung. 

These are all to be finely powdered and inti- 
mately mixed. The principal alleged use of the 
clay is, to make the other substances cohere to- 
gether, and to attach them more strongly to the 
grain. 

When the mixture of grain and manure is 
dry, it is broken up with the hand and thrown 
upon a fine sieve, which allows the loose powder 
to pass through and the uncovered grains, and 
then upon a coarser sieve, through which the 
dressed seeds pass, leaving the lumps, in which 
two or three seeds may be present, and which 
are to be carefully broken up. He prescribes 
further, that much caution is to be used in com- 
pleting the operation so quickly that the grain 
may not be permitted to sprout, and thus be- 
come liable to injury during the succeeding ope- 
rations. 

When it is wished to grow corn after corn in 
fields manured in the usual way, Vietor recom- 
mends mixing, for each bushel of seed, two to 
three pounds of sal ammoniac, or four to six 
pounds of common salt with ten to fifteen of rye- 
meal, adding a little water, stirring the seed well 
among it, and drying the whole in a stove. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



249 



For the Southern Planter. 
ECONOMY OF FARM LABOR. 

There is no subject of greater importance to 
the farmer than the judicious application of his 
farm labor, and there is none that receives so 
little of his attention. False economy often in- 
duces men to use an old worn-out tool when, for 
want of a good one, they lose more every hour 
than would pay for two. A wood-cutter wiih 
an old stumpy axe labors hard all day and is 
dispirited because he has nothing to show for 
his labor ; he is scolded probably for what is en- 
tirely the fault of the tool : with a good tool he 
is active and cheerful, because he feels that his 
day's work will speak for itself. Some men use 
wooden pitchforks for hay ; the time lost in 
hunting for a proper stick and in cutting it, 
would often secure as much hay as would pay 
for two steel ones ; and then to see a man make 
five or six ineffectual efforts to stick the fork into 
a pile of hay, and at last take tip about one-third 
of what he might with a good one, and having 
one-half of that falling back into his face, is 
enough to disgust any body in the world who 
loves to see work done as it ought to be. It is 
the same thing with dung forks. Give an or- 
dinary hand a good steel fork and he will load 
a cart in less time than the best hand will with 
an inferior one — but to observe the indifference 
of our farmers to such things is to me, who have 
been used to different things, a matter of asto- 
nishment. 

RAKING UP HAY. 

As I observed in your paper once before, one 
man with a horse rake is as good as four and 1 
believe six with the ordinary hand implements. 
Pine beards for compost should be collected 
whilst the ground is wet ; then a portion of 
earth is taken up with them, which keeps them 
compact, and a cart carries in the same bulk 
double the weight. The size of the manure 
heap depends upon the facility with which it is 
accumulated ; what we obtain easily we use 
bountifully. As to the 

APPLICATION OF MANURE. 

Suppose a farmer has twenty head of cattle ; 
he pens them in his farm-yard and hauls in 
trash to litter it with. In this way he may 
make eight hundred loads of manure, which it 
will take him eighty days, at ten loads a day, 
to haul out upon his fields. Of this probably 
five hundred were litter, which it has taken him 
fifty days to haul in. Here is one hundred and 
thirty days employed in hauling. Suppose, in- 
stead of this, he pens his cattle upon his ground 
previously broken up, on a quarter acre at a 
time, and hauls the five hundred loads of litter 
directly to these pens of ploughed land, is it not 
evident that he gets the same amount of manure 
with fifty days hauling, instead of one hundred 
Vol. IV.- 32 



and thirty? If this process is followed, and 
lime added where the soil is deficient in it, the 
loss from evaporation and washing is less than 
by any other means that I know of, and cer- 
tainly the saving in labor is very great. 

HOURS AND WEATHER FOR WORK. 

It is bad economy to rouse your hands, as 
some do, by starlight, keep them at work for 
several hours on an empty stomach, make them 
guzzle down their meals, and off again to work 
as long as they can see, and then depend upon 
their feeding in the dark. Some think a little 
rain wont hurt, and drive on through a drizzle ; 
the body hot from work and the skin cool from 
rain, induces cold, and lays the foundation often- 
times of the very worst diseases. The loss of 
time, and sometimes of life, from such causes, 
together with the doctor's bill, doubles the amount 
of gain that can ever accrue from such means. 

The following is my plan of 

WORKING CORN. 

Lay off the corn rows deep with a two-horse 
plough ; plant in the bottom with the usual co- 
vering ; then when high enough to work, put in 
the cultivator so that the right hand tooth will 
split the edge of the furrow on each side, and 
the corn will be wed, and hilled a little, and the 
ground left light and fine, toil/tout hoeing. Now 
be not deceived here ; deep planting is not deep 
covering. Plant deep down, but cover light, and 
when well rooted below, work as above directed, 
and your corn will bear working close to the 
stalk, and will, in my opinion, when the dry 
weather comes, bear working at least ten days 
longer. 

I could enumerate many other points afford- 
ing a fair scope for the exercise of economy in 
labor, but it is probable that he who will not 
take the hint from what has been alreadj' said, 
would hardly be profited by a more detailed 
view of the subject. I will close this communi- 
cation by a single other remark upon tools in 
general, and one of my own in particular. It 
may be asked, shall we throw away our old 
tools and buy new ones ? I answer, if your 
good fork is worn too short for a strong man to 
make a good day's work, give it to a boy, or 
keep it for work that may injure a new one; 
but never expect a full day's work from a good 
hand with an inferior tool. 

I would mention an implement of my own 
invention for cutting down and picking up corn ; 
it is the circular part of an old reap hook, with 
a shank bent to it, which is a little turned and 
driven into a short handle : with it when ground 
keen, a man can cut with the right hand and 
heap with the left as fast as one can cut and 
another heap in the ordinary way. 

My aim in this communication is to encou- 
rage those who are without means to be their 



250 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



own means, and to work out their own indepen- 
dence by the shortest route; but do not think 
for a moment that your implements are complete 
without having some agricultural work coming 
constantly to you with the latest news, that you 
may profit by the advice and experience of others. 
J. H. D. Lowjnes. 



EAU DE COLOGNE. 

The sweetest lady in the world recommended 
to us the following recipe for making cologne: 
Mix 120 drops oil of bergamot ; 
120 drops oil of lavender; 
240 drops oil of lemon ; 
60 grains of musk, and 
1 pint of purest alcohol. 



From the American Agriculturist. 
TO DESTROY RATS. 

The following recipe for the destruction of 
rats, has been communicated by Dr. Ure to the 
council of the English Agricultural Society, and 
is highly recommended as the best known means 
of getting rid of these most obnoxious and de- 
structive vermin. It has been tried by several 
intelligent persons, and found perfectly effectual. 

" Melt hog's lard in a bottle plunged in water 
heated to about 150° Fahrenheit; introduce into 
it half an ounce of phosphorus for every pound 
of lard, then add a pint of proof-spirit of whis- 
key ; cork the bottle firmly after its contents 
have been heated to 150°, taking it at the same 
time out of the water-bath, and agitate smartly 
till the phosphorus becomes uniformly diffused, 
forming a milky-looking liquid. This mixture 
being cooled, with occasional agitation at first, 
will afford a white compound of phosphorus 
and lard, from which the spirit spontaneously 
separates, and may be poured off to be used 
again, for none of it enters into the combination, 
but it merely serves to comminute the phospho- 
rus, and to diffuse it in very fine particles through 
the lard. This fatty compound, on being warmed 
very gently, may be poured out into a mixture 
of wheat flour and sugar incorporated therewith, 
and then flavored with oil of rhodium, or not, at 
pleasure. The flavor may be varied with oil of 
aniseed, &c. This dough being made into pel- 
lets, is to be laid in rat holes. By its luminous- 
ness in the dark, it attracts their notice, and be- 
ing agreeable to their palates and noses, it is 
readily eaten, and proves certainly fatal. They 
soon are seen issuing from their lurking places 
to seek for water to quench their burning thirst 
and bowels; and they commonly die near the 
water. They continue to eat it as long as it is 
offered to them, without being deterred by the 
fate of their fellows, as is known to be (he case 



with arsenical doses. It may be an easy guide 
for those who are desirous of following Dr. Ure's 
prescription, and may not have a thermometer 
at hand, to know that a temperature of 150° of 
Fahrenheit is equivalent to a degree of heat 
midway between that at which white of egg 
coagulates and white wax melts." 



NEW YORK AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE. 

We observe that under the auspices of Dr, 
Gardner, formerly of Hampden Sidney, an Agri- 
cultural College has been established in New 
York. 

We do not know how much of practical 
farming is to be learned in the city of New 
York, nor are we altogether sure that enough 
of the science of agriculture is yet known to 
justify any body in talking about teaching it 
any where ; but this we do know, that a most 
shameful ignorance of the art, by which we 
mean an ignorance of the principles and use of 
the implements they use, exists amongst the 
farmers of Virginia. A school in which the 
aspirant to agricultural profits might be taught 
how a plough is to be fashioned and used, when 
it is out of order and how it should be repaired, 
would be a consummation devoutly to be wished. 
What it is proposed to teach in the new college 
may be learned from the following extract from 
the Doctor's card : 

The studies of the Institute are agriculture, 
chemistry, analysis, and physiology ; and mea- 
sures have been taken to introduce a course of 
instruction in agricultural mechanics and rural 
architecture. These are distinct classes, so that 
students can attend any separately. 

In Agriculture will be taught all facts in che- 
mistry, geology, and botany, useful to the far- 
mer — the drainage and preparation of soils — the 
collection, storage, and preservation of provender 
and fruits — the feeding and improvement of 
stock — management of orchards, vineyards, &c; 
the preparation and economy of manures, both 
organic and mineral, with their action and causes 
of success or failure. In short, all the topics 
embraced in the courses given by Professors of 
Agriculture in European colleges, will be dis- 
cussed. 

Chemistry, as an abstract science, is taught 
by Professor Draper in the University. 

Anatomy and Physiology by Professor Patti- 
son. This course is directed more especially to 
an examination of the structure and functions 
of the human body, and may be attended with 
great profit to the student. 

Analysis of Soils, the ashes of plants, and 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



251 



manures, will be conducted by the students un- 
der the direction of the subscriber, with such 
assistance as may be required. 

The city of New York offers numerous ad- 
vantages in carrying out the objects of the In- 
stitute — the facility of access — the high cultiva- 
tion of many farms, nurseries, &c, in the vici- 
nity — the conservatories and market gardens — 
the large collections of farming implements — 
the choice seeds obtainable — the numerous arti- 
ficial and mineral manures that can be exam- 
ined — constitute it the best locality in the United 
States. Good board and lodging near the Uni- 
versity can be had for from $2 50 to $3 00 per 
week. 

The Institute is situated in the University of 
New York. It opens the first Monday of No- 
vember, and continues in session until the 1st of 
March. This period has been chosen for the 
accommodation of those engaged in farming. 
Fees for the course on Agriculture, $20; for 
Analysis, §30 ; for both, §40. The courses on 
Agriculture and Analysis are conducted by 
D. P. Gardner, M. D., 
Formerly Pofessor of Chemistry, fyc., in Hamp- 
den Sidney College, Virginia. 
For further information address, post-paid, Dr. 
Gardner, 412 Fourth street, New York. 



HINTS WORTH KNOWING. 

Fractured or Dislocated Leg. — Let the sufferer 
be kept on the ground until a couch, door, or 
gate, can be procured ; for in raising him up he 
may die from faintness or loss of blood. When 
a gate, hurdle, or board is procured, place it 
alongside him ; cover it with a bed of straw, 
and pillows, and let men convey him home or 
to a neighboring house. Send a discreet person 
to his surgeon and to his home. On no account 
put him into a vehicle; let him be borne home 
by men, for the motion of a carriage might cause 
splintered bones to fatally wound blood vessels 
in contact with thern. 

Fits. — If a person falls in a fit, let him remain 
on the ground, provided his face be pale ; should 
it be fainting, or temporary suspension of the 
heart's action, you may cause death by rising 
him upright, or bleeding, but if the face be red 
or dark-colored, raise him on his seat, throw cold 
water on his head immediately, send for a sur- 
geon and get a vein opened, or fatal pressure on 
the brain may ensue. 

Hanging or Drowning. — Expose the chest as 
quickly as possible, and throw the coldest water 
you can procure plentifully over it, whilst the 
body is kept in a silting position. 

Children in Convulsions. — Deluge the head 
with cold water, and put the feet into warm 
water, till medical assistance can be procured. 

By a proper application of these simple rules, 



life might often be saved, whilst it is well known 
to medical gentlemen, that what is kindly though 
injudiciously done hastens death. — Selected. 



SALTING HAY. 

In the last number of the American Agricul- 
turist we find some remarks of the Editor upon 
the management of Mr. Pell, whose farm in 
Ulster county, New York, he had lately visited. 
Amongst other things he says, 

"In putting up his hay, Mr. Pell uses the ex- 
traordinary quantity of one bushel of salt per 
ton. The advantages of such high salting are 
thus stated : 

"1st. It can be put up without injury in a 
much greener state than when less salted — 
sometimes within a few hours after cutting, and 
always the same day unless caught in a shower. 
The saving of time, therefore, in handling the 
grass in curing is considerable, in addition to 
lessening its exposure to rain. 

" 2d. Thus highly salted, it will weigh much 
heavier when sold, probably at least one-quarter, 
and it is calculated that this gain is more than 
equivalent to the cost of the salt, when cheap, 
at least five times over. 

" 3d. It is preserved sweeter and greener than 
when cured in the ordinary method. We be- 
lieve the greater the quantity of the natural 
juice or moisture of the grass that can be re- 
tained in the curing process, the more valuable 
the hay will be found ; for this juice, if not the 
most substantial part of the fodder, is certainly 
the most palatable, as it sweetens the food of 
the stock, and makes it more agreeable to them ; 
they consequently eat more, and thrive better 
upon it. In this opinion, we beg leave to add, 
that we are fully sustained by every intelligent 
farmer with whom we have conversed upon the 
subject, either in this country or in Europe. 

"4th. It brings a higher price than other hay 
in the New York market. 

" 5th. Stock relish it as well as any other 
hay whatever, thrive uncommonly well on it, 
and ton for ton, it seems to go further with them ; 
nor has it been noticed that they drink much 
more when fed on this than on hay scarcely 
salted at all. It is well known that persons 
living on salt meat drink very little more than 
when eating fresh. It must be recollected that 
hay put up so green has much more moisture 
in it than when drier; it can consequently ab- 
sorb more salt ; moreover, it is believed that the 
grass can only take up and dissolve a certain 
quantity of salt, however much may be put 
upon it. We know that this is the case with 
meat when pickled in barrels ; it absorbing such 
quantity of salt only as is sufficient to preserve 
it, and whatever more has been added is left un- 



252 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



dissolved. We wish, however, to be understood, 
as neither recommending 1 nor disapproving so 
much as one bushel of salt per ton to hay ; all 
that we ask of our readers is, to settk the matter 
for themselves by carefully experimenting with 
four quarts per Ion up to thirty-two; we shall 
then know which is best." 

It has been asserted that the use of salt in 
curing hay was injurious to the animals fed 
upon it, and it has been as stoutly denied. The 
question is an important one ; for the salted hay 
is cured with much greater facility, security, and 
ease, than any other method affords. Moreover, 
there is no other plan that preserves as well the 
juices of the straw, as is evidenced by its green 
and succulent appearance. In short, as far as 
the mere curing is concerned, the salt is a most 
important and valuable auxiliary. Nor do we 
believe that a moderate quantity of salt, suffi- 
cient to secure its preservation, is at all injurious, 
but we confess except for the purpose of increas- 
ing the weight in market when it was to be fed 
to other people's stock we should be a little dis. 
trustful of using a bushel to a ton. 



For the Southern Planter. 

SMALL FARMS AND THOROUGH CULTI- 
VATION. 

The anecdote of the boy carrying a stone in 
one end of his bag, to balance the corn in the 
opposite end, because his father had done so, 
shows in some degree the force of education and 
habit. This stone-carrying sj'slem is of broader 
application than may be at fust imagined. To 
exemplify. A father has a field of one hundred 
acres of land which he cultivates because he 
has laborers and team to do so ; perhaps fifty 
acres of this yield something like two bushels 
per acre, a little more than enough to feed the 
laborers and team whilst engaged in the culti- 
vation ; the son inherits it, and forsooth, because 
his father had clone so, he continues the practice, 
until he finds it expedient to remove to some 
new country. To arrest a course like this, so 
destructive to lands and fortunes, I propose a 
few remarks. All who have noticed any thing 
about farming operations in Eastern Virginia, 
cannot fail to have observed the thirst for exten- 
sive cultivation, irrespective of the quality of 
land and its productiveness, and those engaged 
in it have found at harvest time that their crops 
have mostly been gathered from a few patches 
of land in tolerable heart, whilst the greater por- 
tion of the field required oxen in pretty good 
keep to collect a load of ears, more resembling 
awl handles than corn. In view of this fact, 
and in view of the immense products of the 



small northern farms highly improved, it is pass- 
ing strange the course should be persisted in. I 
suggest the following one to remedy this evil: 
Say a man has a field of one hundred acres of 
land, half of which is nearly unproductive, 
which will require eight hands to cultivate it; 
let him take three of his hands from his field, 
and commence early in the year to haul from 
his woods, leaves, mould, swamp mud, walls of 
ditches cut through his swamp land, and any 
vegetable matter he may have, and apply it 10 
the unproductive part of his field so far as it 
will go; and I will venture to affirm that the 
product of the part of the field in cultivation, 
will far exceed the product of the whole field in 
any previous year, seasons and cultivation being 
alike. When these sources of improvement are 
exhausted, let the hands above employed in im- 
provement, remove the ground works of fences 
that have been standing for years, and take the 
soil from under them and apply it as manure, as 
it really is, and the product of this process will 
astonish any one who has not experimented in 
this way, and will leave your fences cleared of 
shrubs and briers, which yearly consume much 
time and labor in clearing, and so much injure 
fences by obstructing the wind and sun from 
them. This source of manure having been ex- 
hausted, if you have light or sandy land, take 
from your adhesive clay subsoils, clay to cover 
it, say about twentj'-five or thirty loads to the 
acre, scatter the same so soon as it is deposited, 
so that it may have the frosts and freezes of the 
winter to pulverize it, and turn it under in the 
spring preparatory to planting corn. This will 
give tenacity and fertility to this kind of soil, 
and one experiment of the kind will embolden 
you to a continuance of the practice. As re- 
spects manuring, from repeated experiments, I 
am fully persuaded a surface application is the 
most beneficial on sward or fallow. I would 
prefer applying it on the sward in August for 
the ensuing year's crop of corn. When there 
is great scarcity of manure, a quart of stable 
manure, or a pint of ashes dropped on the corn 
hill after planting, will produce a result in the 
crop, that no one w-ould anticipate who had not 
thus experimented, and I incline to the opinion, 
that it will be the most speedy way to cover 
over a large surface, and make a good crop at 
the same time. It is true that this application 
at first is too limited for a small grain crop, ne- 
vertheless, you have applied the quantity of 
manure over double or treble the surface you 
would have clone, if it had have been applied 
broadcast ; you will have obtained double the 
quantity of corn you would have made from a 
broadcast application of the same, and I believe 
you will make as much small grain from this 
extended surface. On the second cultivation of 
a com crop, with the beds reversed, and a like 
application of manure, it will have diffused itself 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



253 



more generally over the surface than could be 
imagined. All I ask of the skeptical on this 
subject is, to make one experiment. I have fre- 
quently applied it in this way, and invariably 
have derived benefit from it, exceeding my ex- 
pectation. 

A few words in relation to the varieties of 
corn ; in these I have experimented largely, and 
the result is decidedly in favor of the largest 
kind. Poor land will not bring large or small, 
and rich will produce much more of the large 
than the small. Of one of the small varielies 
I once' obtained eleven ears well matured from 
one stalk. The appearance was very imposing, 
but lo ! when I came to test the product of this 
variety with a larger one, I found one large ear 
to yield one-eighth of a gill more than the ele- 
ven. When the gathering of the ten additional 
ears, the shucking and housing, and the defi- 
ciency in yield are taken in the estimate, I think 
no one will hesitate in awarding a preference to 
the large kind. Rexeurg. 



IMPROVING LAND BY GREEN MANURES. 

It is believed by some, that the best kind of 
vegetable growth for turning in, in the form of 
green manures, is Indian corn sown broadcast. 
If it be intended to apply lime to the land, it would 
be well to do so the fall before. Then as early 
in the spring as circumstances will permit sow 
corn broadcast, say three or four bushels to the 
acre, and as soon as it has grown as high as it 
can be conveniently turned under with a deep 
working plough, turn it under, and immediately 
sow another crop in the same way, turning that 
under as before, but with a medium plough run 
crossways of the previous furrow. In the mid- 
dle and southern States, three crops can thus be 
turned under in one season. It is believed that 
no system of manuring or renovation, except 
the heaviest application of stable manure, can 
compare with this plan in its results. If the 
land be very poor the first crop will be very 
light, but light as it may be it will yet add a 
considerable portion of the elements of vegetable 
nutrition to the soil; and thus the second crop 
will be greatly improved, and the third will be 
all that can be desired. It is believed that in 
this way four times as much improvement will 
be effected in one season, as can be by means of 
clover in three or four years. For this purpose 
farmers in the north should use the tall kinds of 
southern corn, as being of more rapid growth 
and furnishing vastly more matter for the soil. 

Cultivator. 



MECHANICAL AGRICULTURE. 

The day will come, is fast approaching, when 
labor saving machinery will enter much more 
largely than it does at present into the economy 



of southern agriculture. Such is the degree of 
competition now that the whole world has turned 
its attention to the peaceful arts of agriculture, 
that the question is who shall produce cheapest. 
The natural advantages of a virgin and fertile 
soil in one portion of the world must be offsetted 
by superior skill and industry in another ; and 
we of the South can only hope to compete with 
the wheat growers and tobacco makers of the 
West, by resorting to the use of labor-saving 
machinery wherever it is applicable to agricul- 
ture. The ingenuity which produced the cotton 
gin and spinning jenny, is awaiting the orders 
of the agriculturist. But as a general rule, la- 
bor-saving machinery requires the superintend- 
ence of a mechanic, and that the Virginia farmer 
is not ; and yet to that must he, to a certain ex- 
tent, come at last. There is no greater bar to 
agricultural improvement at the South than the 
entire ignorance of our farmers and planters of 
the simplest mechanical details. The cost of 
the farmer's operations depends, in a great mea- 
sure, upon the perfection of the implements with 
which he labors, but to furnish nine-tenths of 
them with any thing beyond a chopping axe or 
a grubbing hoe, is like casting pearls before 
swine, and yet the day will come, we venture to 
predict, when the steam engine will perform a 
large portion of the work of the farm. The 
threshing machine has already expelled the flail, 
and every dajr new drafts are made upon the 
mechanical skill of the farmer. We say, there- 
fore, that the first thing a young farmer should 
be taught (we despair of the old ones) is a tho- 
rough practical knowledge of the implements 
and machines he will require in his vocation. — 
This already begins lo be understood in Eng- 
land, and our readers would be astounded at the 
complication and perfection of many of their 
agricultural implements. Some idea of the ex- 
pense incurred, and the nature of the means 
adopted to save labor, may be formed from the 
following extract from a correspondent of the 
American Agriculturist. It is descriptive of a 
farm in Scotland called Swanston, about three 
miles from Edinburgh : 

"The attention of our party was first turned 
to the farm buildings. These are of stone and 
form an extensive quadrangle. Here are stables 
for the horses, of which sixteen are employed 
upon the farm; also stalls for about twenty-five 
cows ; but these are principally occupied by fat- 
tening cattle, as Mr. Finnie keeps merely enough 
cows to supply his own family. The horses are 



254 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



fed upon fodder, cut by one of them connected 
with the cutter, by a simple contrivance. There 
are appropriate shelters for carts and implements, 
convenient store-rooms, &c. In the centre is a 
small steam engine of six-horse power, which 
drives the threshing apparatus in the outside 
building. The grain falls from the threshing 
machine directly into a fanning-mill, which se- 
parates the awns and light seeds ; by a set of 
small iron buckets revolving upon a leather band, 
it is then raised and delivered into a second, and 
finally a third winnowing machine, from which 
it comes forth beautifully clean. Another set of 
deliverers take the chaff to the room above, 
where the unthreshed grain is first introduced, 
to pass once more through and thus prevent all 
loss. All of this machinery is worked by the 
engine, and much ingenuity is shown in dis-l 
pensing with manual labor. The steam also 
cooks and steams the food for the stock. Mr. 
F. estimates its fuel to cost about £5 a year. A 
large walled space in the centre of the quadran- 
gle is devoted to the reception of manure from 
the stables, piggeries, &c. The stock-yard still 
presents a goodly show of last year's products. 
The frames upon which the stacks stand are all 
numbered, to the amount of seventy-five. This 
must be very convenient, especially with crops, 
the results of experiment." 

From the same article we extract the fol- 
lowing : 

" Manure. — Every possible means for the 
collection of manure is adopted. A portion of 
the grass land is let to some persons from Edin- 
burgh, in order that they may keep a dairy of 
twenty-four cows thereon. Their manure care- 
fully preserved, adds materially to the supply. 
In addition to this, and all the manure from his 
own stables and compost heaps, Mr. Finnie told 
me that he annually paid about £250 for ma- 
nure from Edinburgh, giving from three to four 
pounds for the manure of a single cow. As 
much more is paid for the portable manures, 
such as guano, nitrate of soda, bone-dust, &c, 
making a total of about $2,500 per annum; 
this too by a tenant farmer, one who has his rent, 
and a high one, to pay. Nothing can be more 
conclusive as to the profit as well as the benefit 
of liberal manuring," 



of the limbs, every autumn. The advantages 
are that the wood hardens better — the soft and 
tender twigs, not sufficiently matured to stand 
the winter, and which are besides most likely to 
be injured by the aphis or other insects, are taken 
away, by which the sap and wood of the re- 
mainder, are rendered more sound and healthy. 
The number of fruit buds for the succeeding 
year are increased, and there are plenty of leaves, 
by which the sap is more perfectly elaborated 
and the fruit made larger and higher flavored. 

" The soil of the nursery grounds, is mostly 
a gravelly or stony loam, rather moist. Neither 
the worm or curculio does much damage here. 
The solidity of the earth, makes it difficult for 
the insects to enter it for the purpose of under- 
going transformation." 



PRUNING PEACH TREES. 
The Editors of the Cultivator lately visited 
the celebrated nursery grounds of the Messrs. 
Dowming at Newburgh, in New York ; amongst 
other things they remark, 

" Messrs. Downing practice a new mode of 
pruning peach trees ; at least, it is new to us. 
It is cuttins; off half to two-thirds the new wood 



From the Cultivator. 
BEST TIME FOR CUTTING WHEAT. 

The following experiments just performed by 
the writer, to determine the best time for cutting 
wheat, may possibly be interesting to some : 

1844, 6 mo. 29. — A few heads of wheat were 
cut from the field, when perfectly green, the 
grains hardly having attained full size, and being 
"in milk" or quite liquid within. After drying 
several weeks, a hundred seeds were carefully 
weighed and found to weigh only twenty grains. 
They were almost shrunk to chaff. 

7 mo. 4. — Other heads were cut in the same 
way — they had just begun to assume a per- 
ceptible shade of yellow. One hundred seeds 
weighed when well dried, 35 grains, or nearly 
double the first. 

7 mo. 11. — Other heads were cut — they had 
changed about one-third in color — the grains in 
the dough state. One hundred seeds weighed 
46 grains, and would be regarded as a fair spe- 
cimen of ordinary wheat. 

7 mo. 15. — Mostly become yellow — a few 
streaks of decided green near the tips of the 
chaff — heads quite erect. After cutting in this 
state, and drying some weeks, the seeds were 
very plump and fine looking, 100 weighing 55 
grains. 

7 mo. 29. — Heads dead ripe and curved 
downwards. 100 seeds weighed 53 grains, be- 
ing two grains lighter than the last, which 
would be a loss of about one bushel of wheat 
in every twenty-seven, by cutting, if dead ripe, 
instead of two weeks earlier as in the above in- 
stance — besides the loss by shelling, and the in- 
feriority of the straw. J. J. Thomas. 



SELECTION OF SEEDS. 
In a letter to the Editor of the Cultivator Mr. 
S. W. Jewett says, 

" In Albany, I met Mr. Robert S. Wilson, a 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



255 



planter from Baltimore county, Maryland, with 
whose conversation I was highly entertained. — 
He is a practical agriculturist, and among the 
many experiments which he has been making, 
he mentioned one on Indian corn, which I think 
worthy of note. He has for three consecutive 
years planted seed corn taken from within an 
inch of the butt end of the ear, and the result 
has been he has obtained a mature crop of corn, 
some two or three weeks earlier. I have never 
tried the experiment myself, but I am confident 
the corn crop can be forwarded in this way, from 
the'fact and for the same reason that beans taken 
for seed from the lower part of the vine which ma- 
ture first, have been found on trial to ripen some 
time sooner than those taken from the upper parts 



which mature later. Mr. Wilson informed me 
that great improvements were making in the agri- 
culture of his State, particularly by some enter- 
prising individuals who had emigrated from the 
eastern States, and he thought that those who 
chose to settle there, with help brought from the 
east, would find themselves able to invest money 
very profitably in lands and agricultural opera- 
tions ; that lands were now at their minimum 
price, and would in a few years advance in va- 
lue a hundred per cent. He said that he him- 
self raised last year a crop of corn from a piece 
of 'worn out land,' as the lands exhausted by 
long cultivation are there called, which yielded 
70 bushels to the acre ; and that his crop now 
growing, promised him an average of 100." 



TRANSPLANTING TREES 




Nothing tends more to the elegance of a coun- 
try residence than a proper disposition of the 
trees about the homestead. The wailing for the 
growth of switches is a slow and discouraging 
business ; but although we have often endea- 
vored to transfer the noble tenants of our forests 
to the yard, the only plan with which we have 
ever succeeded in removing trees of a respecta- 
ble size, i3 the following, taken from Jessie's 
Gleanings: 

" I have adopted a method of transplanting 
trees, which I consider more generally to be de- 
pended upon, and much cheaper, than that in- 
vented by Sir H. Stewart. On an experiment 
upon a large scale, and under many disadvan- 
tages, I have not lost a single tree out of many 
hundreds, some of which were of large size, and 
showing their blossom at the time of their re- 
moval. The plan I adopted was as follows : — 
In the first place, the earth must be excavated 
at some distance from the tree, leaving all the 
principal fibres and the earth adhering to them, 
in a compact ball, undermining it as much as 



possible, and taking care not to shake or injure 
the ball by twisting the stem of the tree, or 
using it as a lever to loosen the tap-roots ; when 
this has been done, and a corresponding hole 
made at the place to which the tree is intended 
to be removed, the following method of taking 
it up and conveying it, is to be used : 

" Two pieces of iron must be previously 
formed, of the breadth and thickness of a com- 
mon cart-wheel tire, three or four inches wide, 
and rather more than half an inch in thickness, 
and about six feet long, bent in the form shown 
at A, which will reduce it to three feet across. 
This size will do for trees requiring from two to 
four men to lift them ; but a size, larger and 
stronger in proportion, will be wanted for trees 
which will require from eight to ten or more 
men to carry them. Put these irons under the 
ball of the earth as near the centre as possible, 
leaving a space between them of about two feet, 
and for larger trees a little more ; then run two 
strong poles, about eight or ten feet long or 
more, stout in proportion, and smaller at each 
end, and apply them as shown at B, to each 
side, passing them through the bends of the 



256 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



iron, so as to form a complete hand-barrow ; 
then the tree may be lifted easily. Cross levers 
may be used for larger trees which require more 
men, as at C, so that as many as are wanted 
can apply their strength, without being in each 
other's way. The whole is fixed and unfixed 
without any loss of time, and requires no tying; 
nor is there any danger of slipping off. One of 
the chief advantages of this method is, that the 
tree is supported on the ball of earth instead of 
the earth being supported by the fibres of the 
roots, as is usual in most cases ; for even in 
moving large trees with trucks, sledges, &c, 
most of the mischief is done in loading and un- 
loading, and adjusting the tree to a proper posi- 
tion : all which can be done by the above me- 
thod, without in the least injuring the fibres, &c. 
The roots which extend beyond the ball of earth 
must be cut off at the outer side of the trench, 
and be left projecting ; and in taking up, it is 
advisable to go much wider with the spade from 
it, than the ball of earth is intended to be ; the 
ball being afterwards reduced, if need be, by a 
pick, so that a single root need not be injured 
by it. In removing very large trees, the tap- 
roots which cannot easily be got at, may be se- 
parated readily, by a long chisel applied under 
the ball of earth and driven by a mallet ; but in 
moderate sized trees this will not be found ne- 
cessary. This mode of transplanting trees is 
much cheaper and more successful than that of 
Sir H. Stewart ; more generally applicable to 
every description of tree and shrub, particularly 
to many. whose fibrous roots cannot be exposed 
without destruction to the tree ; by taking them 
up in the manner above described, and when in 
leaf and even blossom, they do not appear to 
feel the removal ; and again, trees thus removed 
do not require support from stakes, as the hole 
dug for their reception might be made to fit ex- 
actly the bottom of the large ball of earth, 
which will then be found to steady them very 
sufficiently." 



A NEW FASHIONED MATTRESS. 
We sojourned lately at the house of a coun- 
try friend where we were treated to the most 
comfortable mattress it has ever been our good 
fortune to encounter. At first we thought it 
was fatigue which had converted an ordinary 
couch into a " thrice driven bed of down ;" but 
we soon found that there was a most comforta- 
ble peculiarity about the bed itself, and upon 
inquiry we found that we had been lying upon 
a mattress consisting of eight or ten blankets 
quilted together and encased in a linen cover; 
this mattress rested upon an ordinary feather 
bed. This hybrid between a feather bed and a 
mattress, secures all the softness of the one and 



all the levelness of the other. Moreover, it is 
an excellent mode of disposing of the blankets 
during the summer. We warrant he who tries 
it, never buys another hair mattress. 



From the Cultivator. 
RYE INJURIOUS TO ORCHARDS. 

Messrs. Editors, — In 1839, I ploughed in a 
twenty acre field of rye for manure, when it 
was about developing the tassel, with good suc- 
cess. I would not have it understood that the 
grain was sowed for that purpose, as there are 
many substances less expensive, that might be 
used to greater advantage, but to save a young 
orchard, growing in the same lot, from destruc- 
tion. During my absence, my man through 
mistake, sowed rye instead of wheat ; and on 
my return, I was obliged to turn it under, having 
once injured an orchard so materially by crop- 
ping it one year with rye, that it did not bear 
fruit in five years after, and still feels the effect 
of the injury. R. L, Pell. 

Pelham, Ulster Co'., Feb. 19, 1844. 



TRIAL OF PLOUGHS. 

In a late number of the Cultivator, we men- 
tioned that Mr. Colman had presented to the 
Council of the Royal Agricultural Society, two 
American ploughs — one of which was the Cen- 
tre Draught plough from Prouty & Mears, and 
the other the Eagle plough from Ruggles, 
Nouise & Mason. These ploughs were tried 
in connection with several English ploughs at 
the late show at Southampton. In reference to 
the trial, the Editor of the Farmers' Magazine 
says — " The contrast between the working of 
these trans-atlantic ploughs and the English 
ones was most striking, and was the most per- 
fect practical refutation to the self-congratulatory 
remarks of Daniel Webster, who, on his return 
from England, stated that he had not seen any 
implement in England worthy of comparison 
with those of America. We particularly ex- 
amined the work of these ploughs, and com- 
pared with the level and accurate furrows made 
by the English plough, which appeared as 
though cut out by a plane, were coarse, rough, 
and irregular. The work of the competing 
ploughs, with the two exceptions we have al- 
luded to, was generally good, especially so, con- 
sidering the state of the soil." — Cultivator. 

We imagine that the opinion expressed by 
the Editor of the Farmers' Magazine is in a 
measure at least the result of national prejudice. 
At any rate, a very intelligent Scotch farmer 
brought to our office, last summer, a plough 
which he had brought from home, with a request 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



257 



that we would, if possible, dispose of it for him ; 
as he found the ploughs here cheaper and better 
than any he had ever seen in the old country. 
We offered the plough to Mr. Grieve, the cele- 
brated Scotch ploughman, who preferred going 
into the trial in which he was a successful com- 
petitor with an American plough. 



From the South. Western Fanner. 
CURING PEA VINES. 

Your correspondent C. M., in calling the at- 
tention of your readers to the curing of the pea 
vine, deserves at their hands, thanks. It is an 
important means of keeping stock, which, if 
well cured, will do better than any other species 
of forage we have. I have seen it cured for 
twenty years, and as the mode is different from 
his, I beg to give it you — leaving to your choice 
to dispose of as will suit you. After you have 
either cut the vines near the ground, or pulled 
them up, leave them in a swarth, until they 
have wilted — not taking longer than half a day. 
Then, with forks, throw them up into hand- 
cocks, small at the base, and as high as will not 
press together, only by their own weight ; after 
remaining thus for a couple of days, open out 
for an hour or two in sun and haul up. Having 
provided a rail pen, with surplus rails, and boards 
to cover — then put rails in for floor a few inches 
above the ground — a foot or so apart, on which 
throw in some two to three feet thick the vine; 
put on another floor of rails and fill again two 
or three feet, continue thus until pen is ten or 
twelve feet high and cover. Many persons fork 
in a layer of straw of any kind, oats, rye or 
wheat, with every layer of the vine ; many use 
salt, in both ways, and no question, but what it 
is a saving in the end. 

Now for the reason. If the vine is cured as 
u fodder or other hay," you will lose every leaf, 
much of the stern, and one entirely unacquainted 
with the vine, would lose nearly all — for they 
would let it remain until dry. Lucern, clover 
and pea vine require the same treatment, there 
being so much sap in the stalk, that you would 
lose all the smaller parts before the stems, or thick 
part, was cured — but by merely wilting, the leaf 
and leaf stalk is retained in a degree, and by 
throwing into cocks, the air passes through — 
the moderate heating it receives, has a tendency 
to ripen the juices, making sweeter for stock, 
and toughens the vine — and very little exposure 
will cool it off. Some persons pull and put in 
pens as above, and the use of salt will protect — 
it may mould a little, but try the mouldy part, 
to even a well fed rnule. Those who are saving 
to their land all they can, will not pull up the 
vine but cut off with a grass knife, saying the 
top root is a benefit, and ought not to be taken 
Vol. IV.— 33 



from the land. One thing, I press on those who 
have no experience — rather run the risk of losing, 
by having put up too green, than too dry — I 
have seen them in a house fourteen by eighteen 
and twelve feet high, when two to three feet 
from the wall they were very hot — yet stock ate 
them very c:reedily. I thought they were lost. 
Yours, A. J. N. 



ASPARAGUS. 

A medical correspondent, on whose statement 
we can most implicitly rely, informs us that the 
advantages of this plant are not sufficiently esti- 
mated by those who suffer from rheumatism and 
gout. Slight cases of rheumatism are cured in 
a few days by feeding on this delicious esculent : 
and more chronic cases are much relieved, espe- 
cially if the patient carefully avoid all acids, 
whether in food or beverage. — York (England) 
Cov.rant. 



MILKING. 

. We are fully satisfied from our own expe- 
rience that the quantity of milk afforded by a 
cow depends, in a great degree, upon the art of 
the milker, and that no cow would be a good 
one under the management of a majority of the 
milkwomen of Virginia. The following useful 
but simple directions are taken from the Boston 
Cultivator: 

" Let no small children enter the yard at time 
of milking. Let not the cows be disturbed at 
night, but approach them with kind words. If 
you scold them or whip them you may be 
cheated of half your milk. After you have 
brushed the dirt from the udder and seated your- 
self on the right side of the cow, grasp the 
teats one in each hand near the extremity. — 
Squeeze gently at first, or the cow may be 
pained and start away ; after a few squeezes 
you may venture all your strength. In about 
half a minute, if the cow has been well bred, 
the milk will flow as fast as you can possibly 
draw it from the teats. Now let nothing inter- 
rupt your labor. Squeeze the teat and draw it 
down at the same moment, and at every relaxa- 
tion of your hand for more milk in the teat, 
press up your hand against the bag and this 
will have a tendency to bring all the milk out 
of the udder; it is an imitation of the butting 
of the calf against the bag. 

" You must not stop to speak or be spoken to 
until the cow is finished. If one speaks to you, 
the milk streaming into your pail make so much 
noise you stop in order to hear ; then the milk 
which began to flow so freely, goes back again 
into the ducts that supply the udder, and you 
lose your opportunity. Like the sap of the 



258 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



maple, you must take it when it flows, or its 
juices go to enlarge the tree; so a cow half 
milked will gain more flesh, at the cost of your 
milk and cream. Move the udder at the close 
of milking, in every direction, to be sure j'ou 
have all the milk, but do not spend a long while 
in stripping, lest you get the cow into a lazy habit 
of ekeing out the richest portion of her bounty. 

" In the morning the cows should be driven 
gently two or three times round the yard before 
milking, they will yield more for the exercise 
and they will be less likely to scatter manure in 
the way to pasture. We have seldom hired a 
good milker. Females are better than men — 
they have more patience. A good milker will 
obtain at least one quarter more than one that 
milks slowly. We have often proved this : we 
hired one summer a man from New Hampshire 
who had managed a farm for several years. — 
He was clever, but extremely moderate ; we 
then had four cows in milk, and discovered our 
slow milker was fast drying up our cows ; we 
concluded to give him our aid, and let him milk 
only two ; on the first trial he obtained the same 
quantity that we did. In one week we obtained 
one quart more than he at a milking ; he said 
his cows were not equal to ours ; we then shifted 
and obtained, within nine days, more milk from 
his cows than he did from ours. This was 
wholly to be ascribed to his moderate milking, 
for he left none in the udder. 

" We have forbidden children, and cats, and 
dogs, and talkers of all description to enter the 
yard in the milking season — for all should be 
quiet if you would get all the best of the cream ; 
but if children enter not, how will they learn to 
milk ? If you have an old cow that you intend 
to dry soon, let'your freshman — or freshwoman, 
as they are styled at female colleges — make a 
first trial on her. Teach hin to sit close to the 
cow, for the nearer he sits, the less will he be 
hurt by a kick. He should sit so far back as 
to front the side of the udder, and his left arm 
should constantly rest against the cow's right 
leg — then if she raises her foot, his arm will 
keep it off the pail; she cannot kick him for 
two reasons — her limbs are so formed that she 
must either strike forward or back — and if she 
could kick out directly towards him, he would 
receive no blow while his arm rests firmly 
against her leg — the most she could accomplish 
would be to push him away. 

" The child should grasp the teat close to its 
extremity, and the milk will be easier drawn. 

"Sometimes, in cases of malicious kicking, 
the cow should be whipped with a birch, but 
this should instantly follow the offence, or she 
will not well understand why she is punished — 
still it is better to flatter them into their duty as 
the cunning schoolmaster did his scholars, for 
you must expect no full pail at the time of using 
compulsory measures. 



" Well bred cows seldom kick ; but they often 
raise up a foot to brush the flies off or to give 
you a hint that you do not hold the teats right, 
and that you give them pain. When there is 
the least doubt in your mind whether a mali- 
cious kick was intended, by all means put the 
most favorable construction on her conduct, and 
treat her accordingly — as real gentlemen always 
do on the conduct of females of all descriptions." 



POTATOES A LA MAITRE DTIOTEL. 

Every Englishman who goes to the Conti- 
nent, eats potatoes a la maitre d' 'Hotel. On his 
return he is. desirous of having them at his own 
table, a thing that can seldom be accomplished, 
though the process of preparing them is very 
simple. It is as follows: Boil the potatoes and 
let them become cold. Then cut them in rather 
thick slices. Put a lump of fresh butter into a 
stew pan, and add a little flour, about a tea- 
spoonful for a middling-sized dish. When the 
flour has boiled a little while in the butter, add, 
by degrees, a cupful of broth or water. When 
this has boiled up, put in the potatoes, with 
chopped parsley, pepper, and salt. Let the po- 
tatoes stew a few minutes, then take them from 
the fire, and when quite off the boil, add the 
yelk of an egg beat up with a little lemon juice 
and a table-spoonful of cold water. As soon as 
the sauce has set, the potatoes may be dished 
up and sent to table. — JWagazine of Domestic 
Economy. 



HENRICO AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

This Society held its annual meeting on Wed- 
nesday, the 16th ult. It was intended to have 
been accompanied by a horticultural and me- 
chanical exhibition ; but the committee to whom 
this arrangement, was submitted, soon found 
that the excited state of the political world had 
banished, for this fall at least, any feeling of in- 
terest in agriculture from the minds of our coun- 
tymen. The doors were, therefore, thrown open 
and the meagre assortment offeied for premiums, 
was exhibited to the public without charge. — 
There were some handsome specimens of manu- 
facture and of domestic industry, but nothing of 
very peculiar interest either to the mechanic or 
the farmer ; the whole exhibition, however, was 
better than was expected, under the circum- 
stances. 

We were much pleased to witness the reviving 
zeal which seemed to animate the members in 
the meeting of the Society, and were glad to 
hear that the prospects for a grand exhibition 
next fall were better than they had ever been 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



259 



before. It would be a shame indeed if the me- 
tropolis of such an agricultural State as ours, 
should fail to sustain an association which has 
done so much for the cause of agriculture as 
this. 

To us the most interesting occurrence of the 
day was the following report from the farm com- 
mittee, which it gives us great pleasure to trans- 
fer to our columns, coming as it does from the 
pen' of one of the most zealous farmers and 
public spirited gentlemen in Virginia : 

REPORT OF THE FARM COMMITTEE TO 
THE GENERAL MEETING OF THE HEN- 
RICO AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

The Committee appointed to make an agri- 
cultural tour of inspection through the county 
and to report generally and specially upon the 
state of agriculture within the bounds of the 
Society, as also upon other matters set forth in 
the resolution of appointment, respectfully report, 
That from various causes, among which may 
be mentioned the general ill health of the coun- 
try for some time past, the duties assigned to 
them, though in part performed, are yet not so 
far completed as to enable thern to present such 
a report as would meet the views of the Society 
in their appointment. The survey of the lower 
part of the county, comprising probably the 
finest agricultural district in it, was made during 
the last of May and first of June, and afforded 
the highest gratification. Various written in- 
quiries designed to elicit important agricultural 
information, were addressed to many apparently 
successful farmers and to the managers of se- 
veral large estates under highly improved culti- 
vation, and replies in full were promised, but 
have not been received ; most, if not all those 
to whom they were addressed, having, as we 
suppose, been disabled by sickness. 

Partial examinations in the vicinity of Rich- 
mond have also been made, exhibiting evidences 
in many cases of a fine spirit of improvement; 
but the extensive and important district bound- 
ing on the Chickahorniny, and the upper end of 
the county bordering in part on James River, 
the Committee has been unable to visit, or to 
procure the assistance of a subcommittee to 
examine. 

The Committee regret the more that they 
could not complete the tour of inspection, not 
only because the Society had a right to expect 
it of thern, but because at every step in the pro- 
gress of the examination they were enabled to 
make, the practical importance of this plan was 
more and more manifest. 

In addition to improved cultivation upon a 
large scale aided by the application of lime, se- 
veral new cases of individual industry and en- 
terprise fell under our observation. But as we 



are not prepared to report in full upon the duties 
assigned us, we forbear at present to mention 
particular cases, hoping and expecting that it 
will be the pleasure of the Society to continue 
a similar committee for the next year, and that 
then it will be practicable to carry out the plan 
of a general survey. 

Upon one point, however, that of diffusing 
information and improving and encouraging the 
cultivators of small farms, the Committee will 
take the liberty of offering some suggestions. — 
The paramount importance of an agricultural 
school is almost universally admitted, and if the 
pecuniary means of the Society were equal to 
the undertaking, we should have no hesitation 
in urging that, as the first and most effective 
means for attaining the most desirable and truly 
patriotic purpose which this Society from the 
first has constantly kept in view. But this being 
impracticable at present, we entertain the opi- 
nion that the establishment of farmers clubs in 
every neighborhood would be highly advan- 
tageous — not however composed exclusively of 
the class of larger farmers, and meeting alter- 
nately at houses where an elaborate entertain- 
ment can be served up to them without much 
trouble. This plan necessarily excludes a nu- 
merous class of our most industrious and meri- 
torious cultivators, who will not participate in 
entertainments which they cannot return — and 
who in truth, are seldom thought of in associa- 
tions of that character. Every honest, indus- 
trious and temperate man, whether he enjoys 
the luxury of a coach or drives his own cart 
and plough, should, especially among farmers, 
occupy the same ground of consideration and 
respect. The adventitious advantage of wealth, 
greater or less, interposes an imaginary barrier 
to free and social intercourse, which, at least so 
far as the improvement of the poorer is involved, 
it should be the object of the richer to remove. 
The farmer who is not obliged to labor himself, 
possesses facilities for improvement and the ac- 
quisition of agricultural skill, which are not ac- 
cessible to the laboring class, but which might 
be made available to them with little trouble on 
the part of the more fortunate. Yet so far as 
this Committee is informed, no such effort has 
been made, but by a single individual, (Mr. Wm. 
Miller,) nor has it seemed to have presented it- 
self to the mind of any other with whom we 
have conversed. Once suggested, however, and 
some readily accede to it, and if judiciously car- 
ried out, it might become the means of great 
and extensive improvement. 

The true principle for the establishment of 
farmers clubs, or that at least which appears to 
us the most equal and liberal, would be to select 
in each neighborhood some central place (not a 
private house if it can be avoided) for the meet- 
ing of the club — let each member bring with 
him whatever refreshment he may require, or 



260 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



each contribute according to his ability to a joint 
entertainment, substantial though frugal in its 
character. Let the farms of the members be 
examined in succession by the club at an early 
hour of the day of each meeting. Ering into 
these clubs every respectable and industrious 
farmer within reach, how humble soever his cir- 
cumstances may be — encourage them by every 
means to come in. Let each member commu- 
nicate whatever information he possesses, either 
from practical experience or otheiwisc — and con- 
duct these meetings chiefly for the benefit of 
those who most need improvement. 

There is probably not a tiller of the soil in 
the whole county so poor that he cannot afford 
a dollar for an agricultural paper, and yet if the 
list of subscribers to the Southern Planter were 
referred to, it is much to be apprehended that 
comparatively few, even of the-most independent 
farmers would appear to have given it their sup- 
port. We would respectfully but earnestly ap- 
peal to those who have it in their power, to in- 
terest themselves for those who are compelled 
to labor — to visit them at seasons of leisure — to 
offer them in a spirit of kindness, suggestions 
for their improvement — to endeavor to reform 
habits of defective cultivation and management 
where such are observed — in a word, to do what 
they can for the improvement of those around 
them. Let this be done everywhere, and we 
cannot doubt that it would be attended with the 
happiest effects. Yet though this would occa- 
sion but little trouble if all would apply them- 
selves to the work — indeed would seem to be 
rather a pleasure than otherwise— few, if any, 
of those who have it in their power, have, so far 
as we are informed, made the attempt. The 
truth is, and it is too manifest to be denied, that 
the great mass of our farmers want awakening 
to a sense of their own true interests, and to 
more active and extensive usefulness. The list 
of our Society discloses the startling fact that 
not more than a third or a fourth of its members 
are farmers, and without the generous and liberal 
support of the citizens of Richmond it could 
not be sustained. It is certainly true that the 
city is benefited by the success of the Society, 
but it is also true that no such calculation in- 
fluences the noble liberality which has built up 
and sustained it. And when the names of the 
mechanic, the merchant, the professional man, 
and even of some of the reverend clergy, are 
found upon our list, every farmer of the county 
whose name is not there should hide his head in 
shame. 

There is undoubtedly an increasing spirit of 
improvement amongst our farmers, but it is too 
circumscribed in its character; each seeming to 
look only to his own concerns and attempting 
nothing, even where it is obviously easy, for the 
benefit of others. Selfishness is not a charac- 
teristic of our people — but they require stimu- 



lating to more exertion and activity — and if all 
would come promptly forward to the aid of the 
Society and of papers devoted to the interests of 
the farmer, we verily believe that complaints of 
hard times and bad crops would soon cease to 
beheard among them. 

The Committee again beg leave to express 
their deep regret that they have unavoidably 
fallen short of the service to which they were 
appointed, and they hope that the imperfect sug- 
gestions here presented will, under the circum- 
stances, be accepted by the Society with its 
usual indulgence. 

Wm. H. Richardson, Chairman. 



From the Farmers' Cabinet. 

DEEP PLOUGHING. 

The impression among unreflecting farmers is 
almost universal, that the value of deep plough- 
ing consists in the increased amount of soil in 
which the roots may vegetate. Whatever ad- 
vantage the greater amount of loose soil may 
be, it is by no means the most important one. — 
We all know, that growing grain suffers from 
extremes of heat and cold, wet and drought. — 
Late in the fall, when we always have rain, the 
six inches of vegetable soil are soon filled with 
water, and perhaps the cold of the succeeding 
night freezes it, and thus are the roots of your 
wheat embedded in ice, to suffer during the ap- 
proaching winter. But if the land had pre- 
viously undergone the operation of a "Prouty 
§ J\]ears," nine inches deep, followed by a sub- 
soil plovgh, nine inches more, the rain had scarce- 
ly ceased 10 fall until it had sunk beneath that 
surface which the roots occupy. In a soil six 
inches deep, with a hard limestone subsoil, rain 
has no place to go ; but in eighteen inches or 
less, its own weight sinks it below the possibility 
of doing harm. And while you thus have your 
wheat secured for the winter, in a comparatively 
dry soil, clear of ice and its evil consequences, 
in the spring you have a vigorous plant, free 
from the sallow sickness of an icy bed, prepared 
to take advantage of the first genial sun which 
the spring brings with it. And now, from this 
period until harvest, the hopes and fears of the 
farmer are controlled by the season : too much 
wet drowns his wheat ; too much heat blasts it 
with mildew, and drought prevents it from fill- 
ing. Deep ploughing obviates all these contin- 
gencies. Wheat is drowned out, because its 
roots are in the water ; mildew blasts it, because 
the hot sun beats upon a surface saturated with 
water, and produces a sudden flow of sap in the 
plant, which is unnatural ; and it is the more 
destructive, because the constitution of the plant 
has previously suffered from one of the extremes 
of cold, wet or drought : your wheat does not 
fill, because, peihaps there is not moisture enough 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



261 



in the earth to replenish the plant ; but if your 
loose soil be deep enough, no matter how much 
or how long it rains it will have scarcely ceased 
until the roots are relieved. Pour a bucket of 
water upon a sponge, and you have but just 
quit pouring until the upper surface is compara- 
tively dry ; so it is with the spongy earth, the 
water's own weight takes it immediately below 
the place where harm is done, not to be lost, but 
to remain there as a reservoir, to replenish the 
thirsty plant through ibat season when drought 
so often does its destructive work. In our lime- 
stone land, a rain may fill the six inches of ve- 



getable soil, and when full, so hard and imper- 
vious is the subsoil, that the residue runs into 
the hollows, and its place of escape among the 
sink-holes and crevices of the rocks : the heat 
of a week's sun dries this up, and the wheat re- 
quires more rain, and it suffers. But if you 
have twelve inches of water in jour reservoir 
below, there it remains to answer the drafts of a 
six or eight weeks sun, with that regularity of 
moisture which the plant requires, and which 
brings you through all the contingencies of heat 
and cold, wet and dry. W. 

Carlisle, Aug, 4, 1844. 



A RASP. 




The cut above represents a rasp much used 
in the sugar making districts of France for 
crushing the beet. It appears to us that it 
might be advantagedusly used for cutting up 
roots for stock or for grinding apples for cider. 
It may be put in motion by either steam, water, 
horse or hand power, and if propelled at the rate 
of eigbt hundred revolutions, makes sixty-four 
thousand cuts a minute. It is cheap and simple 
in its construction, and can be readily understood 
by means of the following references: 

No. 1 is the rasp containing eighty saws, half 



an inch apart. These may be made of sheet 
iron. 

No. 2 is the plunger, by which the articles 
are forced down to the saws and kept there while 
crushing. 

No. 3, the box to contain the articles to be 
crushed. 

No. 4, the opening in the receiving box by 
] which the articles when crushed are taken out 
by a wooden shovel. 

No. 5, the frame or table. 
i No. 6, the strap by which it is propelled. 



262 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



A VEGETABLE MAN. 

Among the many curious specimens of art 
and nature exhibited at the State Fair at Pough- 
keepsie, New York, was a figure which, says 
a cotemporary, would have made a stoic or a 
misanthrope split, his sides with laughter. Here 
is his portrait drawn by an eye witness : — "It 
was a perfect vegetable man, or perhaps I should 
say woman, for 1 believe it was called the ' Hin- 
doo Goddess.' It was composed of vegetables, 
the face only excepted. The head was a huge 
cabbage, large enough to furnish a small family 
with a winter's supply of sour crout. Then 
came the mask face. The ear rings were corn- 
posed of fine strings of beets ; the arms were a 
compound substance, being composed of about 
equal parts of onions, beets and carrots ; around 
the neck was strung a necklace of peppers ; the 
body was a huge pumpkin, so large and tempt- 
ing in appearance, that it seemed to say ' come 
and eat me ;' two mnskmelons served as thighs, 
heads of cellery for the knee parts of the legs, 
and crooked-necked squashes made no mean 
imitation of a Chinese shoe ! This antique and 
valuable statue was perched upon a pedestal 
composed of several cargoes of pumpkins and 
squashes. This curious looking production was 
the handiwork of the family of Gen. Da vies, of 
Poughkeepsie. One could not blame the igno- 
rant Hindoo for worshipping such a goddess, for 
the idol, unlike the great mass of its kind, could 
at least be eaten, and thus contribute of its sub- 
stance to his bodily support." — Mass. Ploughman. 



Richmond, Oct. 3, 1844. 
To the Editors of the Times: 

Gentlemen, — For several years past I have 
furnished you for publication at this season some 
statistics of Tobacco Inspections, Foreign Ex- 
ports, &c; and supposing it probable that some 
of your subscribers may desire to have such in- 
formation the present year, I give below the in- 
spections of tobacco in Virginia and at two of 
the inspections in North Carolina — the latter are 
included, as has heretofore been customary to 
do so. From both of these places in North Ca- 
rolina the tobacco is sent into the Virginia mar- 
kets for re-sale. The tola! inspections embraced 
in the statement to 30th ult. is ten thousand 
eight hundred and sixty-one hogsheads less 
than at corresponding period in 1843 — but still 
the returns do not accurately exhibit the real 
deficiency between the productions of 1842 and 
1843 — in consequence of a larger quantity of 
tobacco being re-prized and inspected a second 
time the present year ; perhaps fifteen hundred 
hog.-heads at least thus count twice in the in- 
spections. At this time the stock of old tobacco 
held by the planters is very small : relative, 
therefore, to the crop for inspection in 1845, it 



must be mainly confined to the production of 
1S44 — which, in the aggregate, will not exceed 
forty to forty-five thousand hogsheads — fully half 
(as has been the fact with the last crop inspected) 
will be required by the manufacturers. The 
home demand for tobacco, especially the produc- 
tion of North Carolina and Virginia, is regu- 
larly increasing; and well may those planters 
who succeed in raising good crops congratulate 
themselves that so large a portion of the crop is 
needed for home consumption — inasmuch as the 
prices paid by the manufacturers average consi- 
derably higher than can be given by foreign 
shippers. Permit me, therefore, Messrs. Editors, 
through the medium of your journal, to suggest 
to the planters in Virginia and North Carolina, 
who have succeeded the present season in rais- 
ing tobacco of medium size, and perfectly ma- 
tured, to take especial pains in curing thoroughly, 
but to do so with as little firing as possible, and 
not to keep the houses too close during the pro- 
cess of curing. 

Respectfully, John Jones. 

Statistics of Inspections and Slocks to 30th Sep- 
tember, 1844. 

Inspected. Stock. 

Richmond, 19,147 hhds. 8,446 hhds. 

Petersburg, 10,812 " 714 " 

Farmville, 2,714 " 380 " 

Clarksville, 1,954 " 24 " 

Lynchburg, 10,209 " 4,674 " 

*Tye River, 475 " 50 " 
*Milton & Hender- ) 
son's, N. Carolina, J 



575 



75 



45,885 



14,363 



LIMESTONE. 
As lime is attracting more and more the at- 
tention of our farmer's quarries of limestone be- 
gin to be valued more and more for agricultural 
purposes. That there is a difference in the va- 
lue of these quarries is well known to experi- 
menters ; some of the stone containing so little 
carbonate of lime as hardly to repay the ex- 
penses of burning. Johnston furnishes the fol- 
lowing ready mode for testing the purity of lime- 
stone rock : 

" Limestones, however, are seldom pure. — 
They always contain a sensible quantity of other 
earthy matter, chiefly silica, alumina, and oxide 
of iron, with a trace of phosphate of lime, some- 
times of potash and soda, and often of animal 
or other organic matter. In limestones of the 
best quality the foreign earthy matter or im- 
purity does not exceed five per cent, of the 

* Not official, conjectured. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



263 



whole — while it is often very much less. The 
chalks and mountain limestones are generally 
of this kind. In those of inferior quality it may 
amount to twelve or twenty per cent., while 
many calcareous beds are met with in which 
the proportion of lime is so small that they will 
not burn into agricultural or ordinary building 
lime — refusing to slake or to fall to powder when 
moistened with water. Of this kind is the Irish 
calp and the limestone nodules which are burned 
for the manufacture of hydraulic limes or ce- 
ments. It is easy to ascertain the quantity of 
earthy matter in a limestone, by simply intro- 
ducing a known weight of it into cold diluted 
muriatic acid and observing or weighing the 
part which, after twelve hours, refuses to dissolve 
or to exhibit any effervescence. It is to the pre- 
sence of these insoluble impurities that lime- 
stones in general owe their color, pure carbonate 
of lime being perfectly white. 

" The simplest method of detecting magnesia 
in a limestone is to dissolve it in diluted muriatic 
acid, and then to pour clear lime water into the 
filtered solution. If a light white powder fall, 
it is magnesia. The relative proportions of two 
limestones may be estimated pretty nearly by 
dissolving an equal weight of each, pouring the 
filtered solutions into bottles which can be corked, 
and then filling up both with lime water. On 
subsiding, the relative bulks of the precipitates 
will indicate the respective richness of the two 
varieties in magnesia." 



BUTTER. 
Our compliments to Mrs. W. S. Ryland, of 

King William, to whom we are much indebted 
for two pats of butter, which make us heartily 
ashamed of all the abuse we have heaped upon 
the dairies of Virginia. In richness, in flavor, 
and in the perfect expression of the buttermilk, 
this specimen fully equals an}' we ever saw in 
the northern markets. Mrs. Ryland will confer 
a great favor upon the public in general, and 
upon us in particular, if she will teach others 
how to make, and how to dispose of, their butter. 



SUBSTANCES FOR ABSORBING URINE. 

Dr. Jackson's direction in the New England 
Farmer is, " Take twenty measures of dry peat 
and one of ground gypsum, and mix them to- 
gether. Place barrels half full of this mixture 
in places where urine may be collected, and it 
will be found that the salts and ammonia of 
many barrels of urine will be consolidated in 
this mixture, without giving the slightest odor, 
or being in any way offensive, for the salts are 
taken up, and the carbonate of ammonia, formed 
by decomposing urea, is immediately absorbed. 



This method of getting rid of a nuisance and 
of consolidating a valuable liquid manure, full 
of the most useful salts, ought to receive atten- 
tion. A mixture of peat or swamp muck and 
gypsum (plaster of Paris) will also serve to ab- 
sorb all the disagreeable gases of vaults, which 
will be converted into fertilizing compounds with 
the sulphuric acid of the gypsum and the or- 
ganic vegetable acids of the peat." 



OLD CLOTHES "UNDONE." 

The Philadelphia Ledger, says, that a ma- 
chine of English invention has lately been in- 
troduced into this country, which is likely to 
effect important results upon the wool business, 
the old clothes trade, and the home manufacture 
of cloth. It is a simple and very complete con- 
trivance for re-converting old clothes, blankets, 
petticoats, stockings, &c. &c, into wool. Any 
old woollen fabric may be passed through the 
machine and reduced into wool with a speed 
that almost surpasses belief. 



VALUE OF A HEN IN A GARDEN. 

At an agricultural meeting lately held in New 
York, Mr. Smythe, the projector of the Atlantic 
Steam Navigation Company, said that he had 
in England trained two hens to destroy the in- 
sects in the garden with great success. He 
would let the hens into the garden early in the 
morning, and as soon as they had finished their 
work, call them off to feed them, and then keep 
them away until next morning, when they 
would be hungry. He was now in this coun- 
try training a regiment of hens to destroy the 
insects in a field of corn belonging to his ne- 
phew. — Neio York Mechanic. 



CURE FOR THE STRETCHES. 

Sheep sometimes stretch their noses out on 
the ground and around by their side, as if in 
severe pain. This is frequently occasioned by 
an involution of a part of the intestine within 
another, called, when occurring in the human 
subject, inter susccptio. Immediate relief is af- 
forded, when this last is the case, by lifting the 
animal by the hind legs, and shaking it a few 
times, when the pain disappears. — American 
Agriculturist. 



GOOD FARMING. 

A correspondent of the Agricultural Gazette 
says, " Good productive farming does not de- 
pend upon these things, so much as upon drain- 
ing, deep and frequent ploughing, clearing the 
land from all other plants but those you desire 
to grow } early seeding, and last, but not least. 



264 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



preserving every decayed vegetable matter that 
can be found, either on or off the farm, and mix- 
ing it judiciously with the excrement of a well 
selected stock of animals adapted to the charac- 
ter of the soil, preserving the mixtures in pro- 
perly constructed yards and tanks." 



TO EXTRACT THE ESSENTIAL OIL FROM 
ANY FLOWER. 

Take any flowers you like, which stratify 
with common sea-salt in a clean earthen glazed 
pot. When thus filled to the top, cover it well 
and carry it to the cellar. Forty days afterwards, 
put a crape over a pan, and empty the whole to 
strain the essence from the flowers by pressure. 
Bottle that essence, and expose it four or five 
weeks to the sun and evening dews to purify. 
One single drop of that essence is enough to 
scent a whole quart of water. — Selected. 



From the London Gardener's Chronicle. 

CUCUMBERS. 

For two years past I have entirely discarded 
the old method of growing cucumbers on dung 
hot-beds, or of allowing them to grow on the 
surface of the soil at any time. I find that by 
training them to trellises I have not half the 
trouble with them that is required by the old 
plan, and that the plants continue much longer 
in bearing when so treated. 



quantities, or thereabouts. Melt all together, 
and stop your bottles with it. — Selected. 



LIME. 
We are much obliged to our correspondent J. 
S. S. for Dr. Darlington's communication on the 
subject of Lime, and regret that it was not re- 
ceived in time for insertion in this paper. It 
will constitute the " leader" for the December 
number. 



HARROWING MEADOWS. 

Meadows that have been long under the scythe 
are very apt to become turf-bound, mossy, and 
exhausted of good grasses. A dressing of fine 
manure, or ashes, will be a great benefit ; but a 
thorough harrowing, with a sharp, fine-toothed 
harrow, will be found to materially aid such 
dressing, and give a sweeter and better herbage. 
Previous to the harrowing, grass seed of the 
best kind should be sown, which will be covered 
by the process, and a new, healthy crop will be 
the result. — American Traveller. 



EXPERIMENT. 

A Scotch paper says that the Rev. Mr. Ram- 
say, of Arbroath, commenced digging early po- 
tatoes on the 28th of June ; after removing the 
crop, he immediately replanted the stems ; and 
although the first crop was considered good, the 
second from the stems, was superior, more nu- 
merous, larger, and of a better quality. The 
experiment is worthy of further trial. 



TO MAKE CORKS FOR BOTTLES. 
Take wax, hog's lard, and turpentine, equal 



CONTENTS OF NO. XI. 

Plank Roads — Comparative value and cheapness of, 
p. 241. 

Apples — Value of, as food for animals, p. 242. 

Peach Trees — Depredations of insects prevented by 
the use of tobacco, p. 243. 

Coal Tar — Recommended as a paint, p. 243. 

Churn — Upon a new principle, p. 243. 

New York Slate Fair— Notice of, p. 243. 

Agricultural Clubs — Effect upon the price of land, 244. 

Smokey Chimneys — Apparatus for curing described, 
with a cut, p. 244. 

Guano — Its properties, price, &c. p. 246. 

Corn — To cure for hay, p. 247. 

Manuring — Performed by coating the seeds, p. 248. 

Farm Labor — Economical application of, p. 249. 

Manure — Should be made upon the ground where it 
is wanted, p. 249. 

Corn— Proper mode of planting and working, p. 249. 

Cologne Water — Recipe for making, p. 250. 

Rats — To destroy, p. 250. 

Institute of Agriculture — Established in New York, p. 
250. 

Hints — Worth knowing, p. 251. 

Hay — Should it be cured with salt 'J p. 251. 

Thorough Cultivation — Recommended, p. 252. 

Corn— Recommended as a green crop improver, p. 
253. 

Mcclianical Agriculture— A degreeof mechanical know- 
ledge absolutely necessary to the farmer, p. 253. 

Manure — Prices paid for it in England, p. 254. 

Peach Trees — New mode of pruning, p. 254. 

Wheat — Result of experiments in time of cutting, p. 
254. 

Seeds — How they should be selected, p. 254. 

Transplanting — A new mode described, with a cut, p. 
255. 

Mattress — An excellent mode of constructing, p. 256. 

Orchards — Injured by rye, p. 256. 

Ploughs — Trial of American in England, p. 256. 

Pea Vines— Directions for curing, p. 257. 

Asparagus — Medical properties, p. 257. 

Milking — Directions for performing, p. 257. 

Potatoes — How to cook, p. 258. 

Henrico Agricultural Society — Fall exhibition and re- 
port of the farm committee, p. 258. 

Deep Ploughing — Effect of, p. 260. 

Rasp — An instrument for grinding apples, roots, &c. 
p. 261. 

A Vegetable Man— At the New York fair, p. 262. 

Tobacco — Inspections for 1844, p. 262. 

Limestone— -To test its value, p. 262. 

Butter— From Mrs. W. S. Ryland, p. 263. 

Urine — Substances recommended for its absorption, 
p. 263. 

Wool — New mode of obtaining, p. 263. 

Garden— Value of a hen in, p. 263. 

Stretches in Sheep — To cure, p. 263. 

Good Farming — On what does it depend, p. 263. 

Flowers — To extract the essential oil from, p. 264. 

Cucumbers — Grown on trellises, p. 264. 

Meadows — Harrowing recommended, p. 264.