SOUTHERN PLANTER (1882) 



Vol . 44 
July- Dec. 1883 



Missing: 



no. 8 



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THE 



Southern Planter 

DEVOTED TO 

AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, LIVE STOCK AND THE HOUSEHOLD. 



T. W. ORMOND, 
W. C. KNIGHT, 
W. C. JACKSON, 



Proprietor. 
Editor. 
Advertising Agent. 



44th Year. 



SEPTEMBER, 1883. 



No. 9 



OONTENTS : 



Farmers and Farming in Virginia in the Olden Time 

Profitableness of Farming 

Mineral Manure on Pea Fallow , 

Rotation -. 

State Agricultural Society 

Rotation 

Wearing out Soil - 

How to Promote Successful Agriculture in Virginia 

The Southern Planter 

" The Survival of the Fittest " 

Florida Phosphates 

Nobility of Agriculture 

Self-Binding and Reaping Machines , 

Letter from President Wickham , 

Shingles for Roofing 

The Crops and Their Influence 

How to Keep up Fertility 

Clover in the Cornfield the only Hope of Restoring our Exhausted Lands.. 

A Plea for more Small Grain and Grass - 

A New Departure in Wheat Growing 

Canning Butter 

Good Management brings Good Luck 

Farmers and Their Wives ... 

Canning Fruits and Vegetables™ 

Editorial : 
An Ice-House above Ground 



423 
427 
428 
430 
432 
435 
437 
438 
440 
441 
443 
444 
446 
448 
450 
451 
452 
453 
454 
457 
458 
459 
460 
461 



I 



Fire Insurance on Farm Dwellings and Other Farm Houses 

Editorial Notes : 
State Agricultural Society, 467;' The Tanner and.Delany Engine Company, 467; 

Magazines, &c., 468 ; Reports, &c, 468; New Advertisements 



462 
464 



470 



Bichmond : J. W. Ferg-usson & Son, Printers. 






a 

4 



OR Gr ANIZ E» 183*3. 



THE 

Virginia Fire and Marine 

INSURANCE COMPANY, 



ASSETS, - - - $557,000.00. 



Insures against Fire and Lightning. 



HALF A CENTURY IN ACTIVE AND 
SUCCESSFUL OPERATION. 







Co. 



A HOME INSTITUTION. 

This old Virginia Institution offers solid security to those desiring Insurance. The 
Company has paid Hundreds of Thousands in losses in this State, and nearly 
Three Millions in all parts of the country. 

All Descriptions of Property in Country or Town — private or public — insured 
at fair rates and on accommodating terms. Agencies in every coun f y and city. 



DIRECTORS. 

W. L. COWARDIN, - - • President. 

E. 0. Nolting, E. B. Addison, G. W. Allen, 

W. S. Donnan, Thomas Potts, D. 0. Davis. 

Home Office, JSo. 10115 Main Street, Kichiaond, Ta, 

W. L. COWARDIN, President. 
WM. H. MCCARTHY, Secretary. 

^CORRESPONDENCE SO LICITED."©8 



■THE- 



SOUTHERN PLANTER. 

DEVOTED TO 

Agriculture, Horticulture, Live Stock and the Household. 

Agriculture is the nursing mother of the Arts. — Xenophon. 
Tillage and pasturage are the two breasts of the State. — Sully. 

T. W. ORMOND, - - Proprietor. 

W. C. KNIGHT, Editor. 

44th Tear. EICHMOKD, SEPTEMBER, 1883. No. 9. 



FARMERS AND FARMING IN VIRGINIA IN THE OLDEN TIME. 



No. 14. 

1. Letter from Col. T. J. Randolph on early fallows for wheat, effects of green 
manures on the soil, &c. 

2. An essay by Mr. Jesse Edgenton, of Brooke county (now W. Va.), on the subject 
of raising sheep. 

, 1822. 

Sir, — From my first commencing as a farmer, I have been 
struck with the great increase of the wheat crop and the im- 
provement of the land from fallows made in July and August 
over those made in September and October. I will state the 
facts as I observed them, hoping that it may elicit something of 
more importance from others. 

In fallowing for wheat in July, 181 2, upon a farm then under 
lease, I was desired by the tenant to leave a piece of land near 
his barn to stack his straw on. In plowing the land a second 
time, he allowed me to fallow the spot not plowed before. It 
broke in fine tilth, and was apparently as well prepared as that 
twice plowed. From its vicinity to the barn it was, perhaps, 
more fertile than the adjoining lands. The crop was much 
better on the early fallow than on the late, and the growth of 
weeds after harvest much more luxuriant. 

On repeated observations since on clover as well as common 
33 



424 SOUTHERN PLANTER. [September 

grass fallow, I have observed that land plowed in July and the 
early part of August, changed many shades darker after plow- 
ing than land adjoining fallowed in September and October,, 
which, if it ever changed at all, the change was imperceptible. 
I have observed the crop to be greater, to ripen better, less lia- 
ble to accidents from rust, &c, the growth of weeds after it to 
be more luxuriant, and the land having the appearance of an 
increased fertility, succeeding early fallows in comparison with 
late ; the preparations in all things the same. What could have 
caused the change in the colour of the clay turned by the early 
fallows previous to being mixed with the soil by a second plow- 
ing? It was not in contact with the vegetable matter turned 
by the plow. The observations were made where it had been 
covered many inches. The sun alone could have produced no 
such effect. I supposed the change to be produced from the 
quantity of gas generated in the decomposition of vegetable 
matter turned under, which, rising through the clay, had im- 
pregnated the whole mass of it, and had fertilized it to the sur- 
face. That in July and August, the days being long and hot, 
the nights warm, vegetation tender and succulent, the decom- 
position was rapid and the quantity of this fertilizing gas very 
great. On the contrary, in September and October, the days 
much shorter, the nights longer and cool, vegetation hard and 
woody, and all circumstances unfavorable for a rapid decompo- 
sition, the air was disengaged in small quantities, and gradually 
wasted without producing a perceptible effect. From these ob- 
servations I have been induced to adopt the following opinions : 

i. That the fertilizing properties of manure exist more in 
the gas that is generated in its decomposition than from the 
body or quantum of the manure itself. 

2. That half-rotted manures are more active in their effects 
than those completely rotted. 

That manure rises by means of this air generated from it, 
and does not sink as has been supposed. 

Respectfully, Th. J. Randolph 

Peter Minor, Esq., Secretary of Agricultural Society of Albe- 
marle. 



Brooke Co., Va., 3d March, 1827. 
"I purchased about two hundred ewes, in the year eighteen 
hundred and twenty-one, in the counties of and Wash- 
ington, for which I paid, when brought to the farm, five hun- 





Tear. 


Wool, per lb. 




I 


1822 


42 cents, 


$ 400 


2 


1823 


44 " 


687 


3 


1824 


46 " 


846 


4 


1825 


45 " 


1,350 


5 


1826 


nVi " 


1,600 



1883.] SOUTHERN" PLANTER. 425 

dred dollars, and also three rams- from N. Dickenson's flock in 
Ohio at twenty-five dollars each — seventy-five dollars. I have 
occasionally bought and sold sheep since, but not so as to vary 
the result of the present number or value of my flock mate- 
rially. The general result in five years is as follows : 

Lambs. 
180 

185 
170 

400 

450 

" Present flock between fifteen and sixteen hundred, some four 
or five rams purchased at different times '$200; the whole sum 
vested in sheep, say $750. The ewes should be kept in sepa- 
rate flocks of not more than two hundred ; the lambs weaned 
at from three to four months old. About one ram to seventy 
ewes will be sufficient, and to a hundred is sometimes allowed, 
but I think the lambs are not so good generally. When differ- 
ent flocks of ewes are kept on the same farm by the same 
hands, I have generally preferred putting the rams to the first 
flock about the 15th of September, so that the lambs will come 
about the middle of February; the next about the 1st of Octo- 
ber, so that the lambs come the first of March. I have never 
allowed young ewes to go to the ram until the first of Novem- 
ber preceding the spring they will be two years old. These 
should be kept also in a separate flock. The lambs come first 
of April, when the grass will afford pasture enough, without 
hay or grain. Generally in the warm season fewer lambs die, 
and they will more likely own their lambs, which are commonly 
more feeble than those of ewes of full age. At weaning, the 
lambs should be put into fresh pastures, and, if practicable, run 
to hay stacks that have been put up in salt, so that eating as 
they will the hay, the scurveying produced by fall pasture, es- 
pecially in wet seasons, will be avoided. If anything of the 
kind should appear, those affected should be taken from the 
flock and fed with oats until they have recovered. The lambs 
should be kept in a flock through the winter and fed carefully — 
from the first frosts in autumn until the first of April, and kept 
in houses or sheds well littered, and fed with hay twice a day, 
and corn or oats once a day ; from one-half to one bushel of 



426 SOUTHERN" PLANTER. [September 

corn at a time in troughs. The ewes will do very well gene- 
rally until about the first of January without grain. After that 
time they ought to be fed at the rate above stated. Wethers 
will do very well on hay and straw and without sheds, but I 
should prefer having them housed, on account of the fleece 
which is injured by winter and spring rains; and grain is of 
great service to them from the latter part of February until the 
first of April. Lambs should be castrated and dressed at from 
eight days to a month old ; early ones in April to escape the 
flies. If done later in the season, fresh oil should be applied 
and tar. 

" In the counties of Western Virginia, I believe about five 
sheep to an acre of good sod pasture will be found a full esti- 
mate for the summer season. The very best land, well set with 
green sward, will pasture eight or nine, breed well the whole 
season for pasture, 'ihe precise quantity of provender neces- 
sary to winter sheep has been variously estimated. The winters 
vary sometimes, so as to make a difference of fifty per cent; 
but, upon an average, I believe about four tons of hay and fifty 
bushels of corn to a hundred sheep, is about a just and proper 
allowance. The skill and attention of a Shepherd in feeding a 
flock has necessarily a great influence upon the quantity of 
provender to sustain a flock. Sheep ought to have salt at least 
twice a week — about one quart at a time to every hundred, and 
taken once a day in winter, when there is no snow on the 
ground. 

" If pastured on improved farms, 200 or 300 is enough for a 
flock. There seems to be a variety of opinions upon the sub- 
ject of having small folds and frequent changes of pasture. 
Most wool-growers are in favour of small folds and frequent 
changes. I am inclined to think that large pastures are pre- 
ferable, and a change of two or three times a season is sufficient. 
Sheep are naturally inclined to roam, and confinement injures 
them. If the range be unlimited, thousands may do well in a 
flock on the plan of temporary sheds. The length according 
to the number of the flock. 

" The rams should be separated from the ewes in Decem- 
ber, so that no lambs may come after the last of April; they 
are generally troublesome, and do not winter well. If they 
run through the winter with the ewes, they sometimes lose their 
lambs ; your lambs are coming at distant times, and are trouble- 
some, without value. If you have several flocks of ewes, the 
best plan is to put all your rams into one flock and let them re- 



* wm*m M 4 t * » *wt* 



1883] SOUTHERN PLANTER. 427 

main two weeks or longer. You can then take them all out 
but one and put them to another flock. They ought to be fed 
once or twice a day with corn or oats, a pint at a time, for the 
first two or three days. The average weight of fleece will be 
four and one-fourth pounds, and washed, will lose, on fine wool, 
fifty to seventy- five per cent. ; coarse wool, twenty -five to thirty. 
One dollar a head is the estimate for keeping sheep a year. 
This includes every expense, rent of land and reasonable profit 
for superintendence, &c." Jesse Edginton. 



PROFITABLENESS OF FARMING. 



There are different ways of looking at the profitableness of farming, 
and the prospect is rosy or gloomy, according to the standpoint from 
which it is viewed. If you want about the most lugubrious opinion of 
this business th°t can be expressed, come this way and we will show 
you where to find it. We will go to some place where the fences are 
lying in tumble-down ruin, the gates hanging by one hinge, the barn 
a lop-sided, leaning pile; the barn-yard a reeking swamp; the house a 
leaking, dismal wreck; its windows stuffed with old coats and hats — 
everything devoid of paint or finish, and nothing in its proper place or 
in decent condition. If you can fight your way through the curs 
around the door to the proprietor, ask him, while he eyes you with 
strong suspicion, whether farming pays. If he is not afraid that his 
answer will give you some opportunity of cheating him, he will tell 
you that farming is the worst business in the world. Then, when you 
have warily backed out from among his dogs, we'll make another 
visit. Let us try a farm where fences, buildings and improvements 
are all substantial, neat and first-class; where paint, window-glasses, 
&c, are abundant: where everything gives evidence of thrift and in- 
dustry. As the proprietor turns from some employment to greet you 
frankly and heartily, ask him whether farming pays. His answer is in 
his surroundings. Such contrasts are by no means fanciful, and we 
have seen them quite sharply defined on farms in the same neighbor- 
hood possessing naturally equal advantages. It is a pleasure to know 
that squalor is being rapidly and steadily driven from progressive mod- 
ern agriculture, and that pictures of the kind first viewed are becoming 
more rare from year to year. The farm is, as a rule, an index to the 
character of the farmer, as well as an exponent of his industry and his 
methods. Other things being equal, much of the success or failure of 
agriculture lies in the directing mind. If this be vigorous, thoughtful, 
studious, earnest results may be depended on to take care of them- 
selves. The bulk of the American people are living by farming, and the 
growth of the country's wealth is sufficient proof that it pays. — Pitts- 
burg Statesman. 



■ ' 



I 



428 SOUTHERN PLANTER. [September 



MINERAL MANURE ON PEA FALLOW. 



Editor Southern Planter, — I fully agree with you that we ought not 
to expect our poor lands to produce full crops, unless we manure them 
liberally. The old adage, "Feed the soil and it will feed you," is true, 
but very much disregarded. Is it any wonder that our lands in Vir- 
ginia, in their exhausted condition from cropping, should fail without 
help to produce remunerating crops ? Take that field over yonder, 
cleared fifty years ago, and think of the vast quantities of mineral ele- 
ments removed from that soil in the crops taken therefrom. The real 
cause for wonder is that it will produce anything, when we reflect that 
uot a particle of fertilizing matter has been returned to supply the 
great quantity of that removed in the crops. 

Plants, like animals, must have food, to grow and develop, and if 
partially supplied, the growth is abnormal ; and if withheld, they 
perish. Some farmers treat their soil like the average freedman treats 
his horse — works it hard and feeds but little ; and the consequence is 
alike — neither get paying returns. 

Mr. Ruffin regarded the application of lime as of most importance. 
English farmers claimed that phosphoric acid, potash and lime were 
most needed as improvers of the soil; and experience has demonstrated 
that their theory, when put to practice, has produced best results. 

Phosphoric acid is never in over-supply in any of our soils, and as 
it is one of the essential constituents in all of our crops, it may be 
safely put down as a fact, that all of our soils need continual applica- 
tions of phosphoric acid to keep up fertility and insure maximum 
crops. 

As regards the cheapest and best form in which to apply phosphoric 
acid, and in what proportion to combine it with other fertilizing ingre- 
dients, there is difference of opinion, growing doubtless out of the 
different soils to which the different forms of this substance were ap- 
plied. 

It is conceded by all that our S. C. deposits furnish the cheapest 
material in this line and constitute the main reliance for phosphatic 
material by our fertilizer manufacturers. Time will prove whether 
the ground South Carolina fossil bone, or that treated with sulphuric 
acid, acid phosphate, is best. 

Applications of kainit, the cheapest and most available form in 
which to procure potash, cannot fail to prove of decided benefit to 
such of our lands as are deficient in that element of plant food. 

That the application of mineral fertilizers alone will restore the fer- 



1883. SOUTHERN PLANTER. 429 

tility of our soils while producing maximum crops has been demon- 
strated, but at an outlay beyond the means of the average Virginia 
farmer. 

But may we not so use the mineral fertilizers as to enrich our soils 
at comparatively small cost? The writer's limited experience enables 
him to answer hopefully, what farmers of larger experience assert 
positively. 

Phosphoric acid, lime and potash combined, form a specific manure 
for the field pea, which is a great improver of our soils. The mixture 
may be applied to peas sown on fallow, or at last plowing for corn 
when both are sown. A rank growth of peas furnish rich pabulum for 
the wheat crop. But in order to grow a maximum crop of wheat and 
secure a good catch of clover, it is well to apply the mixture liberally 
again when the wheat is sown. 

Now, any soil that can be made to grow a good crop of clover may 
in time be made rich, and at comparatively small cost. 

The field pea is a wonderful worker and renovator when we give it a 
fair chance and help it a little ; and prepares the way for clover on 
thousands of our exhausted acres, and the two together are destined, 
under other changes, to revolutionize Southern farming. 

Necessity, the arbiter of all industrial affairs, will force a change 
from the old regime. We scatter our means and energies over too 
broad a field, instead of concentrating them on fewer acres liberally 
fertilized and thoroughly tilled. 

The growing scarcity and unreliability of labor will operate to lessen 
the area tilled and to increase pasturage. Hay, meadows, cattle, hogs, 
sheep, &c, will increase, while the tobacco crop in Virginia and..cotton 
and other crops South will diminish, and less farm labor will be needed. 
More attention will be paid to the little industries on the farm, and 
what is of most consequence, the result of the change, will be the im- 
provement of the soil, the farmer's bank, which honors all his drafts. 
And I take occasion here to say, that any system of farming which 
fails to improve the soil is defective, and ought to be abandoned. 

He is indeed a benefactor who, while growing paying crops, im- 
proves his soil, and his example is worthy of all praise, and should en- 
courage others to do likewise. Men like Farish Furman will live in 
the hearts of future generations, when the memory of thousands of 
ranting politicians and fussy statesmen will have perished in oblivion. 

R. L. Ragland. 

Eyco, Va., July 19. 



430 



SOUTHERN PLANTER. [September 



ROTATION. 



Editor Southern Planter,—! am much interested in the subject of 
rotation, having a quantity of exhausted land in Prince William county 
which I am striving to improve without too much expense, and believe 
it can be best done by a judicious rotation. 

Rotation, if I understand the term, means an unvarying succession 
of crops, so adjusted that each in turn is advantageously followed by 
its successor. Thus, clover is well followed by corn, corn by wheat, 
and wheat by clover, bringing back the series to its beginning. 

If we have as many fields as we have different crops, and if each 
field is under a different crop, it will follow that, year after year, we 
will harvest precisely the same crops, and that, year after year, all the 
work of the farm will be precisely the same, thus avoiding extraordi- 
nary press of work at any time and enabling the farmer to get along 
with only his regular force. Taking the simple rotation above indi- 
cated, the farmer would have three fields, and the result would be as 
follows : 

Fields. First Year. Second Year. Third Year. Fourth Year. 
On», Clover, Corn, Wheat, Clover, 

Two, Corn, Wheat, Clover, Corn, 

Three, Wheat, Clover, Corn, Wheat. 

From this it is apparent that the farmer would make precisely the 
same crops every year. The advantage of this is not only that the 
same preparations and the same force would always be required, but 
that a vast deal of mental wear and tear would be saved that other- 
wise is expended in planing a new campaign every year and getting 
things in order for it. Scientists are beginning to recognize the fact 
that a man's mental energy is, like his physical strength, a limited 
quantity, and many a man is broken down at fifty who, if he had pur- 
sued a regular system of farming as well as a regular system of living, 
would have been good for a score of years longer. Habit saves think- 
ing. System does the same. , 

It is said, and I have known instances of the truth of the saying, 
that navy and army officers make good farmers. If so, the cause lies 
in the svstematic habits they have acquired in service ; and it would 
seem that system, without experience, is fully as effective as experience 
without system. 

It seems, however, that agriculturists are not agreed as to what con- 



1883.] 



SOUTHERN PLANTER. 431 



Fields. 


Acres. 


One, 


Forty, 




Ten, 


Two, 


Fifty, 


Three, 


Fifty, 


Four, 


Fifty, 



stitutes a good rotation, for your eminent correspondent, H. M. Drewry, 
has, in your July number, laid down a plan by which the products 
would be extremely irregular, and in some years essential crops would 
be wanting. Leaving out of view his fifth field, which is to be in per- 
manent pasture or "pet lots," and so does not come into the rotation 
at all, he divides 200 acres into four fields nominally, but really into 
five, because a tobacco lot is taken off from field one, and from these 
five fields there would be harvested as follows, if I understand him : 

First Year. Second Tear. Third Year. 
Corn, Oats, Hay, 

Tobacco, Wheat, Hay, 

Hay, Wheat, Hay, 

Hay, Hay, Wheat, 

Corn, Oats, Hay. 

Thus, he would harvest: 

First Year.— Cora, 90 acres: tobacco, 10 acres; hay, 100 acres. In 

all, 200 acres. 

Second Year.— Oats, 90 acres; wheat, 60 acres; hay 50 acres. In 

all, 200 acres. 

Third Year.— Wheat, 50 acres; hay, 150 acres. In all, 200 acres. 

This, it appears to me, would not answer the purpose of a rotation. 

The rotation I mentioned above is much approved in the lower 
counties of Maryland. Another rotation used there by a most suc- 
cessful farmer was clover, wheat, corn, wheat, clover. Still another 
was clover, wheat, clover, corn, wheat. The first is regarded as the 
most improving, but it has a disadvantage— that of following corn with 
wheat. It is difficult to haul off the corn in time to get the field clean 
and in good order. I would greatly prefer to follow corn with some 
spring crop, and have the whole winter to haul off corn, so as not to 
be pressed and hurried. But what spring crop can one sow in this 
latitude? A root crop would unquestionably be the best, but forty or 
fifty acres of potatoes are not to be thought of. Oats do not pay.^ It 
has been suggested that rye sown during the corn, at the last working, 
and pastured in winter and spring would answer, but I do not hear 
that any one has tried it. 

I consider it established that clover, corn, wheat and clover would 
be the most improving and easiest system of cropping, unless a paying 
crop could be interposed between the corn and wheat, and I would be 
verv thankful to any of your readers who would suggest such a crop. 

J. D. M. 



432 SOUTHERN" PLANTER. [September 



STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Charlottesville, July — , 1883. 
Editor Southern Planter : 

As you take so much interest in the so-called " State Agricultural 
Society," and seem so anxious to promote its future prosperity, per- 
haps you would like to see it from the standpoint of a farmer of the 
new generation who has had to struggle with the burden of debt-laden 
and impoverished land so long that he has learned the value of his 
time and money too well to throw them away upon a Society which 
seems to have for its chief object the holding of an annual show'm Rich- 
mond, in which agricultural productions and farming implements, etc., 
are amongst the minor attractions. 

How do we practical farmers away from the vicinity of Richmond 
ever hear of the State Agricultural Society? Only being solicited to 
become life-members at an expense of $20, or to attend the fair, with 
an occasional suggestion that if we have anything extra fine we might 
as well take it down with us. When we inquire what good we are to 
get from the expenditure of our time and money, there is talk of the 
promotion of the agricultural interest of the State, with a lot of high- 
sounding generalities, but not the slightest prospect of any work of real 
benefit to that interest, or even mention of any, to be accomplished by 
the Society, have I ever heard of. Its whole end and object seems to 
be to hold a successful annual show of some sort at Richmond and 
thus to keep itself alive. Now, sir, if after so many years of bare ex- 
istence it is found to be of so little benefit to the farmers of the State 
that they leave its maintenance to the railroads and the people of the 
city of Richmond and its vicinity, and care so little for it as not even 
to go to see its show, is it not time either to let the concern die, as 
having survived its usefulness, or else let it get out of its old, time-worn 
rut and show its claim to being considered entitled to its name by be- 
coming a real, live Agricultural Society. 

It clearly cannot stand much longer as merely a Society for holding 
a show. We can get at our doors more show for our money from 
Barnum or any other good circus mauager. We can more satisfacto- 
rily see and have explained to us the merits of an agricultural machine 
by inspecting the catalogues of the implement dealers and visiting their 
warerooms. We can get a great deal more desirable information about 
fine stock by visiting one of our numerous breeders and inspecting his 
Stock in their every-day condition and conversing with him as to their 
management, growth, etc., than we can by a cursory inspection of stock 



L883.] SOUTHERN" PLANTER. 433 

ind implements at a crowded fair, where no one has time to devote to 
is, even if our time and attention is not wholly taken up with the 
superagricultural features of the exhibition. Who would go to a horse 
'ace to discuss plows and reapers, or to a circus or military parade to 
liscuss pigs and cows ? The Society's exhibitions are yearly becoming 
uore and more places of amusement, with its agricultural features be- 
coming less and less prominent, and the real farmer's interest in the 
Society has almost died entirely out. 

The question now is, How can the Society become of such real and 
Dractical benefit to the farmer as to attract his attention and secure his 
support? In answer to this I make the following suggestions : 

1. Popularize the Society by bringing it nearer to the body of the 
country. Let the fair grounds at Richmond go, pay off the debts and 
nvest the residue of its proceeds, if any, as an endowment fund, and 
hereafter hold the fairs in rotation at such places as can and will fur- 
aish suitable accommodations, say at Lynchburg, Staunton, Danville, 
Petersburg, Culpeper, Alexandria, Fredericksburg and Richmond, if 
ihe sees fit to provide a proper place. Many of these places have 
ilready fair grounds and accommodations for local societies which 
vould be gladly yielded once in five or six years for the grand State 
Fair. 

2. Require every recipient of a premium to give in a written com- 
nunication the particulars of the means whereby his production or 
inimal acquired its excellence. What good does it do a farmer to 
lee a big pumpkin or a fat ox if he is not informed how it was made 
o grow so large or to take on so much flesh ? What idea of any prac- 
ical value can he acquire from a simple inspection, or how can he tell 
vhether it will pay to strive for like results unless he can get some idea 
>f the trouble and cost of the process ? Let premiums be given for the 
>est crops of our leading productions and a detailed account of the 
reparation, cultivation and management be required. Offer pre- 
niums for best practical essays on various agricultural problems, and 
hen publish them. 

3. Let the Society publish either in an annual volume, or in the shape 
>f a periodical, its transactions, giving these methods of production and 
nanagement of premium products and animals, these premium essays, 
md detailed information on such other subjects and enterprises as the 
society may deem most important. Let this volume or periodical be 
ent free to all members of the Society, and for a proper subscription 
o any others. There will thus be an inducement to farmers who have 
[either time nor inclination to attend the Richmond shows, to become 



434 SOUTHERN PLANTER. [September 

members of the Society. As it is now, if a farmer pays $20 to become 
a life-member, he has to spend some $20 more yearly to get any kind 
of a. return for his first investment, in the shape of expenses to and in 
Richmond to see the show, and then when he gets home has only a 
confused jumble of recollections of soldiers and ships, of street-cars and 
race-horses, mountebanks and pickpockets, with a slight mixture of 
cattle and sheep, pigs and pumpkins, and queer machines, of whose use 
he was too confused and hurried to enquire, as the sole result of his 
expenditure of time and money. The next year, if he wants to see a 
show, he spends fifty cents on a circus, and saves time and money by 
staying at home during fair week. 

Let the Society become worth the farmer's support, and it will not 
have to depend on horse-racing and military displays for its existence. 
Give a farmer something of value to show for his money, whether he 
gets to the annual fair or not, and he will not be so indifferent about 
membership. 

Let the Society show its capacities for work beneficial to our agri- 
cultural interests, and there is public spirit enough amongst us to sup- 
port it without its becoming a dependent of railroad corporations or the 
recipient of the reluctant alms of the city of Richmond. Since the 
farmers have ceased going to the fairs, bring the fairs to the farmers, as 
the Royal Agricultural Society of England does not disdain to do. 

4. Let the Society, as the representative of the agricultural interest 
of the State, work for our relief from some of the oppressive and unjust 
burdens now weighing us down, such as the one mentioned by your 
correspondent, " W.," in your July number, viz. : the unjust and op- 
pressive discrimination against us in freight charges on the railroads 
built by our money. How can our agrculture prosper when it costs us 
as much, or more, to get our products to market than it does the occu- 
pier of the comparatively new and cheap soil of the West? If the So- 
ciety, ceasing to have for its only object a big and successful show at 
Richmond, devotes the talents and means at its disposal to the objects 
for which it was formed — the promotion of successful agriculture in 
Virginia, — and will let the farmers know it, they will not fail of a hearty 
and earnest support." H. M. Magruder. 

[As a farmer of the State, our correspondent has a right to express his views. Whilst we 
differ with him in the apparent tone of his communication, as well as to many of his sug- 
gestions, we thoroughly agree with him in others. We have neither time or space now 
to discuss the subject, and may express the hope that other friends of the Society will do 
so. His second and third points are well taken. For years we advocated, as a member 
of the Executive Committee, the publication of the Society's transactions, either annu- 
ally or in the form of a monthly journal. The latter for one year was adopted, and 



1883.] SOUTHERN PLANTER. 435 

though it brought not a dollar of cost to the Society, it was allowed to perish. An organ 
of this kind would be the means of keeping the work of the Society always before the 
farmers of the State, and of distributing much valuable information. — Ed. S. P.] 



ROTATION. 

June 17th, 1883. 
Editor Southern Planter : 

"While the majority of farmers barely make a living by agriculture, 
observation teaches us that many men make money, some even for- 
tunes in its pursuit. This is sometimes due to the location, soil, and 
other advantages of the farm itself. Yet it is not always so ; on the 
other hand, we see men whose advantages are quite equal, differ widely 
in results — one from day to day improving his condition, the other 
remaining in statue quo, or more frequently drifting astern. Nor is this 
difference always due to the superior intelligence or energy of either. 
"Where, then, is to be found the reason ? Is it not most likely in the 
system pursued by the one or the other ? No one system can be de- 
vised that would suit every individual case, even in the most limited 
neighborhood. Certain fundamental principles, however, underlie all 
permanently successful farming. Such are a judicious rotation of crops, 
drainage, adaptation of crops to his surroundings, thorough preparation 
and cultivation of the soil, sufficiency of manures, limiting of expendi- 
tures within receipts, the master's brain employed in his calling and 
his eye upon the details. These, among others, are universally 
acknowledged essentials — rough outlines by which each case must be 
moulded. Living like the polar star as guides to all, however different 
may be the distinction of each. Reasons that cannot be lost sight of 
without danger to the successful continuance of the voyage. Having 
thought much of the system best adapted to the farmers of to-day in 
Tidewater Virginia, the following seems to me certainly as good as 
any that have been offered. 

Assuming that three hundred acres is the average size of farms, of 
which seventy-five are woods and waste ground, and twenty-five com- 
prised within the yards, garden, orchards, truck patches, and grass lots, 
etc., leaving two hundred in the farm proper of arable land. Lay it 
off in ten shifts of twenty acres each. The whole may be in one ring 
fence, or it may be divided into five fields, if convenient. Beginning 
with shift No. 1, we would apply upon it the preceding autumn or 
winter (the earlier the better) all the manure that can be raised from 
the stables, from pens, pig-pens and dung-hills. If enough cannot be 



436 SOUTHERN PLANTER. [September 

procured from these sources, supplement with scrapings from the roads/ 
trash from the woods, mud from the creek and marshes or ditches. 
Spread as hauled. Have the ground thoroughly plowed, whether be- 
fore or after the application of the manure at that season is not mate- 
rial. The earlier the plowing is done the better for the crop. Should 
the land become much compacted, a replowing will be necessary, but 
generally a vigorous application of the shovel plows and harrows will 
bring it to the proper degree of tilth. The land should be thrown into . 
beds of not less than 18 feet in width ; before laying it off, apply lime 
at from 10 to 25 bushels to the acre, reharrow and lay it off in rows to 
suit. I prefer 4J feet and checked. If possible have some compost 
prepared to sprinkle lightly in the drills in order to start the corn vig- 
orously. Cultivate thoroughly with shovel-plows and cultivators ; at 
the last working sow one gallon clover seed or one bushel black peas 
to the acre. If in clover the second jear cut the first crop, graze off 
the second closely, fallow and sow to wheat. This year, field No. 2 
having undergone like treatment, is in corn. The following February 
No. 1 is again sowed in clover upon the wheat, as before, one gallon 
per acre. The third year No. 3 is in corn, No. 2 in clover, and No. 1 
in wheat. The fourth year No. 1 is in clover, No. 2 in wheat, No. 3 
in clover, No. 4 in corn. Fifth year — No. 1 in wheat, No. 2 in clover, 
No. 3 in wheat, No. 4 in clover, No. 5 in corn. This year, in the fall 
or the following spring, No. 1 being for the second time in wheat, is 
sowed to grass. Sixth year — No. 1 in grass, No. 2 in wheat, No. 3 in 
clover, No. 4 in wheat, No. 5 in clover, No. 6 in corn. Seventh year — 
No. 1 in grass, No. 2 in grass, No. 3 in wheat, No. 4 in clover, No. 5 in 
wheat, No. 6 in clover, and No. 7 in corn. Carrying this on for ten 
years, we then have five shifts (100 acres) in grass, two shifts (40 acres) 
in wheat, 40 acres in clover and 20 acres in corn, when the rotation 
begins again. Oats may be substituted on ten acres in place of wheat, 
and pea3 may be planted broadcast or drilled after corn, in place of 
clover, as may be preferred. 

Such is the outline of the system which, after much reading, reflec- 
tion and some practical experience, I have determined to adopt unless 
a better presents itself. It seems to me that under this or some similar 
system, the maximum of profit with the minimum of hired labor may 
be found. And at the same time our lands, instead of growing more 
and more worthless each year, will steadily improve until we stand 
agriculturally where nature in its bounty intended us to, among the 
foremost of farming communities.^ 

I have written the foregoing with two objects — to show our brother 



«l I! 



£U 



1883.] SOUTHERN PLANTER. 437 

farmers in other sections of the State that down here by the murmuring' 
waves many»f us are striving with brain and muscle to redeem the 
homes, with a firm faith, believing that the years to come will witness 
the brightest day agriculture has ever seen ; and chiefly to elicit the 
views of older and more experienced farmers on the system here pre- 
sented, conscious that in many things it may be amended for the better. 

"Young Virginian." 



WEARING OUT SOIL. 



"We hear a good deal said constantly about soil deteriorations and 
their ultimately wearing out. In all old settled countries where a slack 
system of farming is carried on, the soil soon loses its fertility, the re- 
sort must be had to heavy manuring, or such a system of fallow reju- 
vinatioD, that while the soil may have rest in the direction in which it 
has been depleted, some crop may be raised to shade the ground, and 
eventually be turned under to furnish food for succeeding crops. It 
is quite true that we may not draw on any soil year after year in the 
production of special crops, without unfitting it for fair produc- 
tion. We may easily unfit most soils mechanically so that their pro- 
ductive qualities will be locked up ; yet this being done under inefficient 
cultivation, a practical man will take the farm, and in a few years bring 
it again up to a fair standard of fertility. It is a fixed law that what- 
ever elements of fertility are carried away from a soil must again be 
in some way replaced. Hence the well know value of manures, of 
clover and grasses, and of various plants that may be plowed under to 
again render the soil fertile. Hence again in well-conducted farming 
the necessity of a well-digested rotation of crops, adapted to the special 
soils worked. All farms are not adapted to wheat, or to 'corn, or to 
stock grazing or dairying. Hence every farmer grows such crops as 
his judgment dictates as best adapted to the nature of his land, and 
the more intelligent ones seek by diversified crops not only to keep the 
fertility intact, but to improve it. 

In this way the soil is rich and fertile over vast areas of country. 
There are plenty of instances where farms have been cultivated for 
over forty years to corn as the principal crop, without especial dimi- 
nution of fertility. While so growing corn, stock has been made a 
speciality. This necessitates plenty of grass, and grass in the rotation 
is one of the best possible means of fertilization. In other words, 
nothing has been carried off from the farm but the meat products 
made. In this way the soil of ordinary fertility may be kept intact 
indefinitely, if the mechanical texture of the soil be kept intact. This 
is done by careful plowing, never when the soil will not cleave, in a 
friable state, from the plowshare, and by good and clean cultivation. 
Another man has a farm well adapted to wheat. Does he make this 
the sole crop ! By no means. It may be the crop from which he gets 



. 



438 SOUTHERN PLANTER. [September 

his money profit, but clover is the strong integer in the system of ren- 
ovation, and thus again stock must be used. The good farmer culti- 
vates not only such crops as are best adapted to his own f foarket, and 
by the exercise of good business sagacity keeps his soil not only intact, 
but often increases his yield materially. There is indeed much sense, 
as well as nonsense, mixed up with this question of soils running 
down. It is, however, the non-reading and generally slack farmer who 
lets his soil run down, while the business farmer is not only careful to 
keep his farm fully up to its natural fertility, but seeks by every means 
in his power to make it more productive year by year until at last he 
is gratified with knowing that he has reached the point of maximum 
and more fertility. — Prairie Farmer. 



[Extracts from a communication from Col. Robt. Beverly to the Industrial South.] 

HOW TO PROMOTE SUCCESSFUL AGRICULTURE IN VIRGINIA. 



First. Cultivation of smaller areas of land, and prepare that area 
for the successful use of all approved labor-saving machines. 

Second. Encourage the establishment of factories for all these ma- 
chines, and for the manufacture of all the raw material of whatever 
sort produced in Virginia. 

3 Third. Encouragement to all railroads that are not monopolists con- 

tending for through traffic at the expense of Virginia agriculture by 
excessive local freight rates. 

Fourth. Let politics alone, except State policy as it may affect agri- 
culture and the material prosperity of the State. 

First. It is absolutely certain now that with the smooth prairie lands 
of the West, brought in immediate competition with our worn lands 
(that have been exhausted in building up the greatest nation on earth), 
by the extension of railroads to every part of the West, we cannot con- 
tend successfully with the producers in those countries simply with the 
plow and hoe. We must prepare our lands by taking small areas an- 
nually for the use of all labor saving machines. Most prominent 
among them, next to improved plows, are the wheat drill, the mower, 
the reaper and binder, the corn planter, and last but not least, except 
in price, is a lately invented broadcast grass-seed sower. Then the 
corn sheller over the hand shelling ; the wheat thresher over the old 
fashion of treading out; the portable steam saw mill to go and locate 
in any woods over the old water power, and further back still over the 
"pit saw," are improvements so long known that it is obsolete to men- 
tion them now ; yet I have seen all the old sort used only fifty years 
ago. 

What do these improved implements do ? Reduce the cost of culti- 
vation to one-third, and with some implements, such as the reaper and 
binder and the broadcast grass seed sower, to one-fourth the old ex- 
pense of cradling wheat and hand sowing seed. In addition the drill 
and the grass seed sower save at least one fourth the seed, which in 



1883.] SOUTHERN" PLANTER. 439 

clover seed at §8 per bushel is an item ; aud the reaper and binder save 
in the harvesting fully one bushel of wheat to the acre over the old 
plan with the cradle and rake — thus putting us more nearly on a foot- 
ing with the western farmer. There is no section of our State that 
can't be brought to a perfect condition for the use of these labor saving 
implements by judicious farming, taking small ares for cultivation each 
year, and putting the same labor on the small area that you would in 
the slovenly cultivation of the large surfaces, except our rough moun- 
tain sides, and they are in most cases admirably adapted to grass, and 
will compete with any country in the dair} products. A wheat drill, 
with one hand and two horses (or if you are applying fertilizer for 
more expedition you may have two hands), will put in ten acres a day, 
which in the old broadcast way would require five hands and three 
horses — and it will save one-fourth the seed and do the work more per- 
fectly than it is possible to do it by hand. The binder will put in 
shock twenty acres of wheat per day with four hands and four horses 
(these horses during harvest being otherwise idle), when in the old way 
with the cradle and rake it would take sixteen hands to put in shock 
twenty acres, and that very imperfectly done, the binder saving fully 
one bushel of wheat per acre more than I have ever seen done by 
hand. The mower with two horses and a man will cut eight acres a 
day, more than six hands will cut with scythes. The grass-seed sower 
will, with one hand, sow ninety acres per day, as much as four hands 
will do in the old-fashioned way, and distribute the seed more perfectly 
than it is possible to do by hand, and save fully one-fourth the seed, 
at a cost for the implement of $10, and it will last a man's lifetime. 
Thus by preparing our lands for the use of these implements (no prep- 
aration is necessary for the latter), our proximity to the seaboard will 
enable us to compete with any section of the country that has not a 
market at its door in the shape of a large town or city. Why can't 
we have a manufacturing |pwn at our doors in every section of our 
State ? 

This brings me to the second pi-oposition — to encourage .the estab- 
lishment of factories for all these machines, and for the manufacture 
of all the raw material of whatever sort produced in Virginia, and a oreat 
deal produced out of it. I take the broad ground that there is no 
country on the earth that ships out of it all the product of the soil 
whether agricultural or mineral, for manufacture that can long live and 
prosper under the depletion. The minerals, though said to be inex- 
haustible, will of course be gone in time. The soil will much sooner 
be depleted of its possible agricultural resources unless you return 
something to it. How can you most economically and profitably do 
this? By establishing manufactures and building up towns and cities 
in your midst, and saving the offal to return to the soil. We are now 
cutting down our forests, shipping away our hickory for spokes, our 
white oak for cars and ship-building, our poplar wood for paper, our 
maple and walnut, &c, for furniture, our sumac for tannin, our iron 
and copper ores for smelting into metal, to cities outside of the State, 
and some of it to foreign countries to be manufactured, when it should 



if 



440 SOUTHERN" PLANTER. [September 

be done bere at bome.; and, worse still, we are sending our meat, our 
wheat and corn, and our vegetables and dairy products all to feed ope- 
ratives in manufacturing cities, which should be consumed in cities 
and towns here, thus saving the enormous cost of transportation, and 
better still the offal of all these products to return to the soil. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



[We are indebted to the Lynchburg Advance, of July 30, for the following complimen- 
tary notice of the Planter. We publish it not so much for its kind words, which are 
pleasant enough, as for the sound and practical advice it gives the farmers on the value 
of agricultural reading. — Ed.] 

No business, profession or trade can be carried to perfection and made 
most profitable without a special literature of its own. The founda- 
tion may be gotten from elementary books or from actual experience, 
but every man who would excel, or even succeed, in anything requiring 
labor of mind and body, thought, calculation and experiment, must 
have the current information of the day — must have the views and ex- 
perience of the best men of his class. A lawyer who does not know 
what the courts are doing every day, as the legislature does, would 
soon get out of court. A merchant who did not keep himself posted 
about the manufacturing and importing of the goods he sold, would 
have to keep a shop. The farmer must read in these days,when he is 
called to save every possible expense — stop every leak — use the best im- 
plements, seed, team, and to diversify his crops. The truth is, the far- 
mer, grazier and planter, to say nothing of fruiterer and dairyman and 
butcher, is compelled to have a greater amount of current reading mat- 
ter than most workmen. A small elementary library will suffice for 
his wants. One or two standard genej^l works on soil manures, 
plants, fruits, stock, &c, will do, but he must have daily, weekly and 
monthly readings and information, if he intends to keep up with and 
get the advantage of improvements, markets, new crops, new demands,, 
new implements, fertilizers, &c. A daily paper contains much that is 
valuable to the farmer and agriculturist, and they have saved planters 
and graziers many a dollar. A weekly paper, selected with special refer- 
ence to the business engaged in, is indispensable, and then there should 
be a monthly magazine for information and reference. We do not see 
how a Virginia agriculturist, who can read, and get his bread out of 
his land, can do without the Southern Planter. Those who tell you 
that a weekly paper (and the Advance is as good as the best for this 
purpose) supplies the place of an agricultural magazine, show their igno- 
rance, and shows that they are not competent to make their own weekly 
• what it ought to be. 

The agriculturist wants something — needs something — and if he has 
sense enough to be a good farmer, planter, stock -raiser or fruit-man, 
be knows that be ought to have a work in which men of brains, leisure 
and information give to their brethren the benefit of their thoughts 



1883.] SOUTHERN PLANTER. 441 

and experience. Now, we have, for many years, been a reader of the 
Southern Planter, the old and new — read it when a matter of business, 
and since, when a work of pleasure, and we unhesitatingly say every 
man who is lookiug to his land for a living, and can read his Bible, 
and can borrow one dollar and twenty-five cents, should at once take 
the Southern Planter. Our agriculturists will never take and maintain 
their proper position until they give more thought to their business, 
and test and support their thinking by proper reading. 



"THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST." 



Now that farming is getting to be equally as scientific a pursuit as any 
other, it behooves every man who relies upon the products of the soil for 
a support to keep his brains as active as his muscles. The very fact 
that farming is now being done so successfully by scientific experts, 
while, on the other hand, those who continue to plod along in the old 
ruts are slowly perhaps, but surely getting poorer, is an unanswerable 
argument in favor of what certain ignorant prejudiced persons are 
pleased to sneeringly term "book farming." 

The man nowadays who effects to think lightly of improved processes 
and methods will erelong work out his own destruction, and exemplify 
to his sorrow the natural and unescapable consequences of his own nar- 
row-mindedness. In other words, as was recently stated by our valned 
correspondent " Steele's Bayou," the farmer who is satisfied with an 
average crop cannot make any money, while he who falls below it is 
doom to certain ruin. We might as well look at this matter in its 
true light. "Men cry hope, hope, when there is no hope" — where the 
words of a great patriot at a time when political revolution was im- 
perative. The same situation to-day exists in agricultural methods 
■here in the South. There must be a revolution or we are ruined. 

Now there are a few men in the South who are making agriculture 
pay better profits than can be got out of the same capital and labor 
in any other pursuit. There is Furman, for instance; andFurman'a 
success will this year be equalled by several of his imitators. High 
cultivation, intensive farming and improved labor saving implements — 
these are the three things to be studied by the farmer as the preacher 
his Bible, or the lawyer his Blackstone. There is just as much oppor- 
tunity for distinction and success in the agricultural as in any other 
profession. The fittest, the most active, the most scientific are going 
to survive, the balance are going to perish. 

Let no one delude himself by imagining that the scientific farmer is a 
mere theorist ; on the contrary, he is the enemy of all theoreis that are 
not supported by facts. The ignorant are always the most incurable of 
• theorists, for they cling to methods that experience has proven the 
futility of, and trust to the occurrence of impossibilities whereby to re- 
trieve losses. "Oh, well," says your mossback theorist, " cotton, I firm- 
ly believe, will be higher next year and I am going to make a big crop 



442 SOUTHERN PLANTER [September 

and come out all right." This is the man, too, who attacks everything 
calculated to improve his own condition, and delights in terming real 
scientific methods " new fangled notions." Poor deluded man ! He has 
forgotten that trite but true old saying, "The proof of the pudding is in • 
the eatiug!" 

Now here is an example of what a scientific Virginia tobacco raiser 
has done, and yet most of his neighbors on the very same kind of land, 
and with the same seasons barely kept soul and body together. We 
quote from the Rural Messenger as follows: 

" It is customary for idle men and bad managers to say there is no 
money in farming in Virginia, but every observant man knows that 
labor and good management will tell, and of this, another evidence was 
afforded by the sale on change yesterday by J. J. Wilson, Son & Co., 
2,963 pounds of fine sun-cured tobacco for $^79.53, an average of 
|31.54, per 100 pounds. This tobacco was raised by Mr. J. T. Watkins 
of Louisa county, on 4 acres of ground, by his own labor and that of 
his little son, netting him considerably more than the $700 paid a short 
time since by Mr. Watkins for the entire farm. With such exam- 
ples of what may be accomplished by industry and skill, who cannot 
be made to believe that farming will pay in Virginia, and will not more 
of our tobacco growers resolve this year to try by taking special pains 
to equal the success of Mr. Watkins." 

Though the details and methods by which four acres of ground were 
thus made to produce a crop worth $879.53 are not given, yet we may 
rely upon it science was at the bottom of it. 

The agricultural journals of the country abound in lessons to the in- 
experienced. The Planters Journal has contained detailed accounts of 
how various farmers have recently eclipsed all previous record, and not a 
man of them failed to follow the scientific methods. Meantime those 
who sneer at "book farming" are not only following in the same old 
losing path but trying to discourage other people from having anything 
to do with the "new fangled" ways. How true it is that misery loves 
company. 

There is but one way out of the woods, and that is by the path of 
knowledge. Our farmers must read and think more. Of course we 
do not mean to say that every thing that one sees recommended should 
be done; but where credible evidence is giveu of profits having been 
made by this or that method, it will pay the farmer to experiment with 
it. There are several kinds of experiments and while some are too ex- 
pensive, others need not be so. The man who should sow a ten acre 
field in some untried crop — jute for instance — would be making a fool of 
himself; but if he was to sow a square rod or two of it he might be acting 
wisely. The soil, climate and other considerations may cause very dif- 
ferent results in different localities; hence the wisdom of experimenting 
on a small scale. If it pays, then go in more extensively next year. 

In making experiments, however, there is no specified rule that should- 
be followed. Judgment must be employed here as in everything else 
that leads to successor profit. If a certain plan has proved profitable on 
a soil and under climatic conditions similar to yours, then an extensive 



1883.] SOUTHERN PLANTER. 443 

experiment may be tried ; otherwise let barely enough time, ground and 
money be used to make a fair test. 

One of the most* important things to be considered by the farmer 
who is making an honest effort to farm intelligently, is the character of 
his sources of information. Unquestionably the best of all knowledge 
is gained by experience, but where we can get the benefit of other peo- 
ple's experience, it is often far more economical. Now the* question 
arises how best to do this. A very successful Illinois farmer declares 
that he has outstripped all his neighbors by reason of having made it a 
point to visit fairs and expositions where he examined the products 
displayed and talked with men who raised them, learning thereby not 
only the merits of various implements but many valuable details as 
to their use. A contributor to that excellent publication, the Kansas 
Farmer, states that he has doubled his income by systematic investiga- 
tion of what he reads — which of course amounted to many pages every 
month. Agricultural societies and granges have proven most effica- 
cious in disseminating useful agricultural information. 

In the South, however, the farmers must at present depend more upon 
agricultural journals than any other source of knowledge. If he acts 
wise in selecting these, he may make great headway in scientific farm- 
ing without any other aid, except of his own good judgment. If, on 
the other hand, he should subscribe to irresponsible publication, she is 
liable to be lead into making serious blunders. There are several very 
excellent publications devoted to the interest of Southern agricultural- 
ist that we should be glad to see in any home that the Planters Jour- 
nal enters, for the old saying about two heads being better than one 
may be paraphrased with propriety so as to refer to two or more agricul- 
tural journals. One daily newspaper may be relied upon to give most of 
the news; but no single agricultural journal can cover more than a 
small fraction of the field to which it is devoted. 

If our farmers would only rise to a realization of the dignity of their 
calling and honor it as it deserves, there, would soon be a thorough 
change in the ways and means by which the soil is expected to reward 
its tiller. Let every farmer and every farmer's, wife endeavor to live 
up to the motto, "Excelsior," and a new era will soon dawn upon this 
fruitful, but much abused and neglected land. — Planter's Journal. 



FLORIDA PHOSPHATES. 



In addition to her vast herds of cattle and her numberless orange 
groves and truck farms South Florida will soon have developed and 
in operation phosphate mines that will equal, if not surpass, the famous 
beds that have been so profitably worked in the vicinity of Charleston. 

Several months ago when the dredge, Alabama, was at work deep- 
ening the channel at the mouth of the Hillsboro', just below town, the 
bucket brought up large quantities of substance unlike anything else 
that had been previously seen in this country. Mr. Moeely, an agent 



$1 






444 SOUTHERN" PLANTER. [September 

of the Ashley Phosphate Company, of Charleston, obtained specimens 
and had them analyzed, with the following result : 

Available phosphate acid .' 12.90 

Phosphatic lime 7.95 

Potash 3.70 

Magnesia 2 to 4 

The analysis was made by Professor Allard Memminger, of Charles- 
ton, and is perfectly reliable. It shows that the Tampa Phosphate is 
superior to the Ash element that has been so largely used in this vi- 
cinity, the analysis of the latter showing but 10.70 per cent, of availa- 
ble phosphatic acid. 

This phosphate has been found iu several other localities in this vi- 
cinity as well as at Charlotte Harbor, Braider Creek and Terraccia Bay, 
and the quantity seems inexhaustible. 

The Ashley Phosphate Company has had five agents in the field for 
sometime, investigating the various deposits, and has already purchased 
3,000 acres of land at Charlotte Harbor, where they propose to estab- 
lish works at an early day. 

This phosphate, we are informed, has a commercial value of $32 per 
ton, and is pronounced excellent for vines of all kinds, fruit trees and 
garden vegetables. 

The importance of this discovery to this section, and to the entire 
country, can scarcely be overestimated. If properly developed, these 
phosphate beds will prove the source of greater wealth than our cattle 
herds and orange groves. — Tampa Tribune 



NOBILITY OF AGRICULTURE. 



Our immortal Washington pronounced agriculture "the most healthy, 
the most useful, and the most noble employment of man." When the 
war of independence closed, he was glad to exchange the sword for the 
sickle ; when the services of the statesman were ended, he left the pres- 
idential mansion for the rural cottage. Cincinnatus, of early, repub- 
lican Rome, left the plow to assume the reins of government, to save 
the Roman army and republic. When his mission as dictator was fin- 
ished he returned to his little farm. 

Such. names as these are pilgrim shrines ; 

Shrines to no code or creed confined. 
The Delphian vales, the Palestines, 

The Meccas of the mind. 

The government and public sentiment of China subordinates agri- 
culture to literature alone, but exalts it over other human enterprise. 
If an absolute government thus honors husbandry, mnch more should 
our republican principles create a health} 7 sentiment to encourage and 
ennoble that great pursuit of the great majority of our fellow citizens. 
In the nature of things all men are called to earn their bread by the 



1883.] SOUTHERN PLANTER. 445 



sweat of their brow, on the farm and ranch, unless circumstance or 
special talent direct them to engage in other pursuits. The farm and 
ranch foster the other industries ; furnish manufacturing with materials 
and commerce with its cargoes, and opens to nations the deepest and 
most permanent channels of wealth. Agriculture generates in the 
heart of the people the loftiest sentiments of patriotism. The patriotic 
struggle for American independence and the heroic achievements for 
the Texan revolution, were essentially trophies of agricultural peoples. 
The noblest pages of Grecian and Roman history are the recorded 
deeds of their yeomanry before their great cities had allured them from 
their farms and committed the farm and ranch to slaves. Agriculture 
forms the strongest ties of well-regulated society, and the surest basis 
of internal peace. Nor are there any limits set to its improvements, 
or profitable returns to intelligent husbandry. 

Pliny tells us that four hundred stocks, ripened into ears and grown 
from one seed, were brought to the Emperor Augustus, and in another 
place he says a farmer brought the Emperor Nero three hundred and 
forty ripened ears of wheat which branched forth from a single kernel. 
With the importance and possibilities which belong to the industry of 
agriculture, the leading question before intelligent individuals, com- 
munities and governments all over the agricultural world, should be : 
"How can agriculture be improved, its farm and ranch, so as to pro- 
duce another blade of grass or ear of corn on every square foot of till- 
able land, and how can their quality be improved?" This question 
should especially be put before the American people, who are, by soil 
and circumstances, chosen to be in the main, an agricultural people. 
If the political creed which sounds so sweet, "We believe in the pro- 
tection of American labor," is to be, carried out by government aid, let 
this fostering particularly be shown in behalf of the largest class of 
our laborers, and the most important of our industries. — J. J. Ander- 
son, in Texas Farm and Ranch. 



After all, the money made by farming is the cleanest, best money in 
the world. It is made in accordance with God's first law, under hon- 
est, genial influences, away from the taint of trade or the fierce heat of 
speculation. It fills the pocket of the farmer at the expense of no 
other man. His gain is no man's loss, but the more he makes the bet- 
ter for the world at large. Prosperous farmers make prosperous peo- 
ple. Whatever benefits our agriculture benefits the commonwealth — 
Atlanta Constitution 

One should bring'about neither friendship nor even acquaintance 
with a wicked person ; charcoal, when hot, burns ; when cold, it black- 
ens the hands. 

The superstition in which we were brought up, never loses its power 
over us, even after we understand it. 



446 SOUTHERN PLANTER. [September 






SELF-BINDING AND REAPING MACHINES. 



Editor Southern Planter, — With your consent I will give ray brother 
farmers my experience with a Binder during the last harvest, hoping 
others may be induced to use them. I will say I have no axe to grind 
and no interest in the sale of any machine. Was raised on a farm — 
boy, hand, manager, and earnestly trying to make a living and im- 
prove ray land. Use all the machinery I can — reaper and mower 28 
years, drill, planters, hay fork, chilled plows, &c. ; and this year, the 
first binder sold in the county. Wishing to get one adapted to hilly 
as well as level land, I examined six of the leading machines person- 
ally, and though all had good points and would do good work, for 
light draft, simplicity and ease of handling, I selected a No. 2, six-foot 
cut Champion, on trial, though other machines were offered at lower 
prices. 

I finished setting up the Binder, and started it with a faint heart ? 
but to my surprise, after a few adjustments of the canvass and tension 
for the bundles, it worked like a thing of life and was a success. My 
son, fourteen years old and quite small for his age, took charge of it, 
and cut some 18 acres of heavy orchard grass, 55 of wheat, and 12 of 
oats, averaging about 16 acres a day, with no stoppage or breakage 
except a small spring, which was fixed in the field in a few minutes. 
A Champiou Binder can be used wherever a single reaper can, is 
simple, light draft, strong, and less complicated than any binder I have 
seen, and is under perfect control of the operator without leaving his 
seat. The advantages of a binder are : It cuts and securely binds all 
the wheat, and no amount of handling will untie the knot, and leaves 
so little scattered on the ground raking does not pay. An old farmer, 
amongst the numbers who came to see it, said it was a genuine hog- 
starver. In heavy wheat will cut as much as five cradles, and in light 
wheat four ditto; and three hands can shock the grain better and with 
more ease than five can after cradles. The bundles being securely 
bound, the shocks stand firmer and shelter better than when bound by 
hand. Twine costs from 15 to 25 cents per acre as the wheat is light 
or heavy, and if saved makes bag strings, and can be used in tying 
grape-vines, &c, and is worth one-half of first cost. The saving of 
grain is all the way from the sickle to the threshing machine. Have 
finished hauling, and not a bundle came loose, and can handle and 
pack one-fourth more per day and in less space. 

Heretofore, I have had from 15 to 20 hands during harvest, and 



1883.] 



SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



447 



great trouble and vexation in getting grain cut and bound. This 
season, with four regular hands, costing about 38 cents per day and 
rations about 18 cents, I cut and saved 400 bushels more grain than 
last year, when, with the same number of regular hands, I paid for 
extra labor, besides board, §76.00. This trouble and vexation of cuffee, 
and the constant waste of grain, cannot be estimated, nor the relief to 
to the farmer's wife and cook be appreciated. 
My estimate of the saving per day is as follows : 



4 cradles, 
4 binders, 
1 heaper, 
1 shocker, 
1 raker, . 



CRADLES. 

$1 75 
1 
1 
1 
1 



25 

00. 
25. 
25. 



11 hands, board 30c. each, 
Board one horse, . 





SELF-BINDER. 




$ 7 00 


1 driver, • . . 


$ 38 


5 00 


1 boy, .... 


25 


1 00 


3 shockers (40c.) 


1 20 


1 25 


Board 4 hands, . 


72 


1 25 


" 4 horses, 


1 60 




Twine, 16 acres, 


3 20 


3 30 


Oil, .... 


10 


40 






£7 4-R 



Add for wheat saved by binders, 
($ 1.00 per acre, 16 acres) . . 

Deduct cost of binder, . . . 



$19 20 
16 00 

35 20 

7 45 



$27 75 net saving on the binder. 
Dr. Pollard thinks raising wheat will not p» in Virginia. I send 
you a statement of my crop this year : 
No. Bush. Sown. Yield. Cost of Fertilizer. 

1—27 784 $0 93 

2—26 473 62 

3—59 96 corn land. 



58 



Albemarle County. 



1353 



$1 55 



Increase. 


29 


to 1 


18 


a 


19 


a 


23 


1 9 
58 



Respectfully, &c, 



R, 



[We note some incongruities in our correspondent's estimate : 

1. He has an item for board of the cradlers and attendants at 30 cents per day, and 
for the hands attending the binder, 18 cents per day. 

2. He puts the daily hire of hands who attend the binder much lower than in the other 
case — notably, the shocker is put at $1.25 for the cradlers and 40 cents for the binder. 
Why these differences? It is evident, however, that there is a great saving by the use of 
the binder. A large and observing farmer informed us recently that he estimated it at 
fifty per centum. — Ed. S. P.] 



I 

«i 9 



!F 



448 SOUTHERN" PLANTER. [September 



LETTER FROM PRESIDENT WICKHAIVL 



Office of the Virginia State Agricultural Society, 
Richmond, Va., September, 1883. 

Col. W. C. Knight, Editor Southern Planter: 

In order to prevent disappointment, delay or dissatisfaction among 
exhibitors at our next State Eair, which will take place October 31st 
and November 1st and 2d, and also to carry out the design of the State 
Agricultural Society in furnishing the fullest and clearest information 
in reference to agricultural and other matters, I think it necessary to 
call the attention of our farmers, through your admirable magazine, to 
the following requirements under the rules of the Society, so that full 
time may be given them to supply the papers and information neces- 
sary with their exhibits : 

Rule 51. Exhibitors of implements or machinery will make all 
necessary arrangements for test-trials, &c. 

Rule 52. Exhibitors of thoroughbred stock will be required to fur- 
nish pedigrees in writing. 

Rule 61. Entries of fat stock must be accompanied with a statement 
of the kind of food, manner and length of time of feeding, the breed 
and age of the auimal, &c. 

Rule 62. Applicants for premiums on farm crops, Jwill remember 
that the land on which the crop is grown must be in one piece and 
measured by a competent person, whose affidavit must accompany the 
statement; the location, kind, condition and preparation of the soil; 
the previous crop and. how matured ; the quality, quantity and kind 
of seed and manure used; the time, expense and manner of sowing; 
the cultivating and harvesting the crop, and preparing it for market; 
and the actual yield must be stated in writing, and sample of product 
exhibited at the Fair. 

Rule 63. Applicants for premiums on fruit crops, must state in writ- 
ing the location of orchards, Jthe kind and condition of soil, mode of 
cultivation ; the age, number and variety of trees, and the amount of 
fruit produced; and a fair average sample of the fruit produced must 
be exhibited. 

Also, that the exhibitor] must state in ^writing the mode of making 
and preserving butter, cheese and hams; and that each contestant in 
the plowing-match shall agree to the use of his team in testing the 
various plows exhibited. , 

It will be seen from the above rules [that the object of the Society is 



1883.] SOUTHERN" PLANTER. 449 

not merely to present to the public articles of the highest excellence, 
but that the most successful farmers may, by their exhibits, prove them- 
selves such, and at the same time supply the information by which 
others may be enabled to attain the same excellent results from their 
labor. The intention of the Society is to improve the manner of cul- 
tivation and the increase of production, with the least cost and labor; 
to induce the largest possible dispTay of agricultural machinery and 
implements and other machinery, and to provide judges of sufficient 
capacity and experience to decide as to the merits of the various ex- 
hibits, so that their awards may enable a farmer or purchaser to know 
which is the best for his purposes. 

The benefits of such information they wish to diffuse throughout 
the State ; and to assist them in this laudable motive, they ask every 
farmer to attend the State Fair. 

My own experience, when in no way connected with the manage- 
ment of the Society, has been to derive the very greatest benefit, by 
an interchange of views with farmers from all quarters of the State, 
whose acquaintance I have made upon the grounds; and I think that 
there is scarcely a farmer in the State, no matter how skillful, that 
cannot thus obtain such ideas as will enable him to be more skillful 
still. 

The railroad companies will this year, if anything, exceed their usual 
generosity and liberality in passenger and freight rates. Persons can 
attend the Fair from all sections of the State at comparatively small 
expense ; and there will be few visitors who will not, from the new 
ideas and information received, find their future gain from these sources 
far exceed the cost of their attendance. But the constant labors and 
duties of the farmer's life allows few opportunities for relaxation of 
the mind and body; and therefore the Society considers it also bene- 
ficial to offer attractions and amusements at the Fair in connection 
with the wholly practical features, so that the useful may be associated 
with the agreeable, and that visitors may be invited by both pleasure 
and profit. 

I would also state, that at a general meeting of life members of the 
Society, on the second day of November, 1882, it was resolved unani- 
mously that public meetings of the Society should be held each night 
of the Fair, for the reading of papers and the general discussion of 
matters connected with agriculture. These meetings are open and free 
to all ; and if any of our farmers or stock raisers would occupy their 
leisure time in writing down their experience, results of experiments, 
or any special matters to which their attention had been called, or any 



■•' 






450 SOUTHERN PLANTER. [September 

points on which they desire information or discussion, it would add 
greatly to the pleasure, benefit and interest of the meetings. Such 
papers can be read either by themselves or the secretary. 

I regret this extended occupancy of space in your valuable journal, 
but can devise no means better for reaching the citizens I wish to, and 
calling their attention to the fact that the Society is extremely desirous 
of having a very large and general attendance of our farmers at the 
State Fair, and a full expression of their opinions, so that the Society 
may devote its energies in the most successful manner to the improve- 
ment of our general agricultural interests. 

Yours very respectfully, 

Wis. C. Wickham, President. 



SHINGLES FOR ROOFING. 



Editor Planter, — If what I shall have to say should benefit every poor 
young man — who desires to set himself up on a farm, and expects to 
make a living thereon — as much as the knowledge did me when I set 
out in life, near fifty years ago, my object will be accomplished. 

There are few men who commence a farmer's .life who do not find 
one of the most urgent and continuous items of expense — the outlay 
to put and keep in order the farm buildings and dwelling-house — the 
heaviest expense for which is the covering or shingles. All who have 
had experience know that the price of heart shingles is about seven 
dollars per thousand, and the "last" of which is usually about fifteen 
or twenty years, whilst the sap shingles can always be purchased for 
about what the shingle-getter charges for the labor of drawing them, 
and sometimes for less — 3ay $2.50 ; and, when properly treated with a 
coating of tar, will last you about forty years. In one instance imme- 
diately before my mind, they lasted up to forty-five years, being a good 
old covering sometime after that period, for the house, I learn, has just 
been reshingled about two or three years since. These are the facts, 
and I can't forget them. In eighteen hundred and thirty or thirty one, 
my father's death occurred. Not long previous, say one year, he had 
a lot of shingles gotten to recover the dwelling-house, selecting all the 
heart for that purpose. The sap shingles were thrown aside for cover- 
ing a stable he was then having built. These sap shingles were all 
taken to a convenient place outside of the stable lot, where there would 
be no fear of doing any damage by the fire used in boiling the tar. A 
reliable negro man was placed in charge of this job. As soon as the 



1883.] SOUTHERN PLANTER. 451 

tar was gotten to the steady boiling point (a large iron pot being used), 
the work of dipping the shingles began. They were immersed two- 
thirds of their length in the boiling tar, and after scraping off the 
superfluous tar, were placed edgewise, herring fashion, on sticks of 
timber, there to remain till wanted for use. I think my estimates of 
this extra work on the sap shingles have always been about §1.00 per 
thousand, perhaps a little more, now since tar is higher priced than I 
have ever known it. W. R. 



THE CROPS AND THEIR INFLUENCE. 



Everything in this country of ours turns upon agriculture, and it is 
coming to be confessed more and more every year. According to the 
abundance or the meagreness of the crops are the prospects of our 
commerce and the returns of our varied industry. All depends at last 
upon these. Hence it becomes a matter of the first importance, at 
this stage of the year's progress, to look over the field of agricultural 
prosperity, not only at home but abroad, and note what are the proba- 
ble results of the harvest of cereals which has been and is yet to be 
gathered in. 

To begin with our own New England, we certainly have nothing to 
complain of, but, on the other hand, everything to be thankful for. 
The barns and granaries will be full to bursting. It has in every sense 
been a season of plenty. In the West, which is the great wheat and 
corn producing region, whea 1 ", will be a smaller crop than last year, but 
for various reasons there will be a surplus of it. But corn and oats 
will surpass anything ever known in the history of the country. In 
the South the -cotton yield will fall off somewhat from that of last year, 
and will thus keep pace with the diminution of wheat. 

Thus it appears that our supplies, reckoning in what remains over 
of wheat from last year, are not only ample but abundant, and that low 
prices are to be the necessary result, thus enabling the consumer to lay 
by nfoney for swelling the great current of capital. The country is 
growing rich in spite of all that depressed stock markets choose to say 
to the contrary. If our harvests this year were to be smaller, it might 
become necessary for Europe to send us gold on account of the higher 
prices; but an abundant harvest and low prices are likely to obviate 
that necessity, in view of our increasing importation of foreign goods 
in payment of our exports. The prospect for cheap living never was 
better; with but moderate employment none need apprehend being 
pinched for the necessaries of life, since they are to be had at such 
comparatively low cost. The poor man will feel that he is better off, 
and thus be able to enjoy a year of contentment. Labor finds ready 
employment, and at better rates than ever before; it will be wise to 
pause and study the situation, therefore, before it demands as its re- 
ward what employing capital cannot afford to pay. 



/ 



452 SOUTHERN PLANTER. [September 

There will be enough wheat for export, and it will be needed, if 
present reports may be relied upon. Great Britain expects a home 
deficiency -in her cereal products, though not to any very large extent. 
But that ordinarily means a good thing for this country, always pro- 
vided we have a surplus for export and we do not kill our market with 
speculative prices. We shall export to Great Britain all we have to 
spare next year, on the latter simple condition. In France the harvest 
will in all probability be more or less short, and the same will be true 
of Germany. Inasmuch as these three countries draw their supplies 
of cereals mostly from this country and Russia, though England is ob- 
taining increased quantities from India, it is of much interest to learn 
that the prospects of the wheat harvest in Russia is not encouraging 
for a very strong reliance on that source of supply the present year. 
This, therefore, leaves all the more favorable chance for the United 
States. Still, looking at the general condition of the world, it is not 
to be denied that there is a better average supply of food products 
than is apt to be the case. "We are peculiarly well situated, both in 
respect to exports and to home consumption. — New England Farmer. 



HOW TO KEEP UP FERTILITY. 



One of the most important and at the same time most difficult ques- 
tions for the farmer to solve is, How shall we keep up the fertility of 
the soil ? With the farmer who makes stock raising a prominent fea- 
ture of his business, this ought not to be a difficult question, but, un- 
fortunately for the welfare of our section, stock raising is not a promi- 
nent interest. And what makes it still worse for us, not only is there 
little in the shape of animal manure being returned to the land, but 
the crops produced are of such a kind that the valuable elements of 
plant food are fast conveyed from the farms and sold in the market. 
Our soils are undergoing a rapid depletion, and but little is restored to 
them in animal or other manures. Of course this cannot go on. Some- 
thing must be done to restore what has been lost, and if possible in- 
crease the fertility to a higher producing capacity. 

In this dilemma the first resort is likely to be artificial fertilizers in 
the form of phosphates, chemicals, &c. In a word, "patent medicine 
for a sick soil." Now these are sometimes well enough for special pur- 
poses; when one is more anxious about immediate results than perma- 
nent improvement, they are not reliable, and applied in the small quan- 
tities usually recommended, are wholly inadequate to accomplish any 
lasting good. Their cost is too great to justify using in quantity large 
enough. 

What, then, is the farmer to do ? The cheapest and quickest method 
of improving land known to us is, by means of green crops turned in 
upon the land. And one of the best of all green crops is the field pea. 
Nothing else grows in so short a time or so effectively shades the land, 
and nothing adds more valuable elements of plant food to the soil than 



1883.] SOUTHERN" PLANTER. 453 

this. It is the poor man's fertilizer because so cheap, as by it he may 
compete with his rich neighbor in improving his farm. The coming 
month, June, is the time to sow the seed, and the crop will be in con- 
dition to turn down in August or September. 

And during the leisure intervals of summer and autumn, muck from 
the swamps and mould from the forests may be carted out, either di- 
rectly upon the land or to the compost heaps. Both are excellent after 
they get thoroughly mixed with the soil, and a little applied every year 
would go far to keep up fertility without the addition of other ma- 
nures. With lime or ashes, either of them makes a perfect manure, 
adding to the soil everything that crops need. We cannot say too 
much of these manures as means of permanent fertility, the more so 
as they are so cheap, and so abundant. The manurial elements of 
most farms are enough to keep them rich indefinitely if pi'oper use 
were made of the same. It is not a hard matter to keep up fertility. 
— Weekly Index-Appeal. 



CLOVER IN THE CORN FIELD THE ONLY HOPE OF RESTORING 
OUR EXHAUSTED LANDS. 



Any one who would walk through the wheat field where clover waa 
sown in the spring and observe its present scorched and withered con- 
dition, would not wonder that we are seeking some better method of 
raising clover than sowing it on small grain in the spring. The young 
clover plant is not adapted to struggle with our burning suns and parch- 
ing winds of July and August. As long as we persist in the practice 
of sowing clover in the spring, it must be a very uncertain crop. 

Let the corn be laid by nicely, and the land in a smooth, even, pulver- 
ent condition, if not sufficiently fertile to bring clover, the application 
of 400 to 500 lbs. of the flour of S. C. Bone and Potash mixture, When 
the corn is planted, and clover seed when the corn is laid by, and you 
may rest assured you will get a stand of vigorous clover plants, that 
will yield a crop equal to any that can be grown. There is no neces- 
sity to seed anything to protect them. We have had the seed lay in 
the ground six weeks before it came up and then make an elegant 
growth before winter, and equal the spring-sown clover in its growth 
the next spring. 

Last week of July, 1882, we seeded clover in the corn field on the 
poorest land on the plantation, and the 16th of last May on the poor- 
est places I measured clover 26 inches high, and the growth of the lot 
equalled that on our premium wheat lot seeded in the spring. 

For three seasons we have seeded clover in the corn field with equal 
success, and have become fully persuaded that the method is perfectly 



454 SOUTHERN PLANTER. [September 

reliable, and affords us a sure remedy for the restoration of our poor 
lands, when the S. C. Bone Flour and Potash mixture is used on the 
corn. And here let me say our experience fully justifies all that Dr. 
Elzey claims for fine ground S. C. Bone. 

I believe that the application of 200 to 300 lbs. of the above mixture 
to hay meadows will do more to thicken and invigorate than sowing 
fresh seed. G. B. Stacy. 

[We are obliged by this communication, and our readers will be equally so. It states 
distinctly a fact in reference to clover about which differences of opinion exist. It is also 
a direct answer to the third enquiry of our correspondent, F. L. Taylor, Esq., in our 
last issue.— Ed. S. P.] 



A PLEA FOR MORE SMALL GRAIN AND GRASS, 



The time has now come in the history of Virginia when our people 
should seed more small grain and raise more grass — especially those 
who have a large proportion of their lands lying idle because too poor 
to cultivate in any crop profitably with hired labor. The old idea so long 
entertained by our people that grass could not be raised successfully in 
Eastern and Southern Virginia, has been blasted, for to day can be seen 
hundreds of fields of clover and beautiful meadows of timothy and 
other grasses in almost any portion of the State, which a few years ago 
was covered with broom straw and old field pines. And while I write 
I have only to raise my eyes and behold a large field that a few years 
ago was too poor to raise a fair crop of hen nest grass, now covered 

fwith clover, and its bottom lands well set in timothy and red top, and 
barns well filled with the choicest hay just harvested from this one al- 
most barren field. Contrast this, and other fields like it, to day with 
their appearance a few years ago, and tell me we cannot improve poor 
land or raise clover and the other grasses in Eastern Virginia. Away, 
then, forever with this most hurtful and suicidal old notion, and rise 
up brother farmers and strike out on a new system that will not only 
enrich you and your lands, but your children will bless you, and the 
world will honor you for causing a thousand blades to grow where only 
one grew before. 

Now the question is, How shall all this be done ? 1st. "We would say 
first of all, thorough cultivation and pulverization of the land before 
seeding. It is said of the late General John H. Cooke, of Brerno, one 
of Eluvanna's most successful farmers and honored citizens, that when 
on one occasion his manager reported that he had finished making a 
certain field for wheat was ordered to return and make it again, stating 
that he could take the barren dust of the road and grow wheat in it, 
simply because it is fine, and that it was not so much the soil, but the 



1883.] SOUTHERN PLANTER. 455 

condition of it, that made the yield. We have known of a great many 
failures in a crop of wheat because of a failure on part of the farmer 
to prepare his land thoroughly and in proper time, especially his fallow 
ground, which should always be refallowed and raked thoroughly in 
August or September. The better plan is to fallow the field in early 
Spring, as it is very uncertain about getting sufficient rain in summer 
to break a sod. Besides it is almost impossible to get land in order if 
fallowed late, and the crop is diminished just in proportion to the time 
of fallowing it. This faet we have frequently seen demoustrated. 
Corn and Tobacco do not require so much preparation, because in the 
process of cultivating these crops the land becomes fine. 

2nd. The time and mode of seeding wheat is of great importance. 
And in answer to the former will say that my experience and observa- 
tion prompts me in saying that from the 1st to the 20th of October is the 
best time for us in Virginia. And as to the mode of seeding, I unhesi- 
tatingly assert that the drill, with fertilizer and grass seed attach ment, 
is of all implements the most valuable to successful wheat growing, be- 
cause it sows wheat, fertilizer and grass seed all at the same time, and 
a man and a boy will sow TO to 12 acres per day, and the work is more 
evenly and uniformly done than can possibly be done by hand. Be- 
sides the drill will save at least a peck of wheat per acre in the item of 
seed, as three pecks seeded with drill will be as thick as four pecks 
seeded broadcast, and in a crop of 50 or 100 acres we save these mauy 
pecks, and in the item of fertilizers we will save at least 50 lbs. per 
acre if put in with drill, because it is all applied directly under the 
grain, and none is dIotc n away to the woods or roadside. Then the 
wheat comes up in a small trench, and is thus protected from freezing 
and spewing out in winter. 

3d. The cost and kind of fertilizer to be used is, after all, perhaps 
the most difficult question the farmer has to solve. This he must de- 
termine by actual test, but theory and practice both agree that the fer- 
tilizer containing the largest amount of bone phosphate of lime is best 
suited for grain and grass. The fertilizer that we have been using for 
several years in this part of Virginia for wheat and grass, and which 
was used in the clover field alluded to above is, Orchilla Guano, which 
seems to be specially adapted to the production of grain and grass 
which we might reasonably suppose from its large percentage of bone 
phosphate of lime ; and it is to this guano many of us are indebted for 
the greatly improved condition of our lands and our beautiful fields of 
grass ; and better still, we find its effects are permanent, and are seen 
several years by a single application. 



If 



456 SOUTHERN PLANTER. [September 

Now as we have thoroughly prepared our land, seeded our wheat 
and fertilized it, we must look to seeding the land to grass if we 
would realize fully for our careful preparation and outlay for fertilizer. 
If you wish to sow any portion of your field in orchard grass, timothy 
or red top (herds grass), the best time to do so is when you sow your 
wheat or before the laud has a rain on it after seeding wheat ; but if 
you wish to put it in clover, which is of all other grasses the greatest 
improver of the soil, I unhesitatingly say that from experience and ob- 
servation that from the 10th to the 20th of February is the safest and 
best time to sow. And you can either rake or not as you choose. 

When harvest comes, provide yourself with a reaper, and take your 
time and cut your wheat with as little extra labor and expense as possible. 
You can well afford to do this, because it matters not if a portion of 
your field gets so ripe that the heads begin to tuck, as the reaper will 
cut every straw, which would not be the case with the cradle. Then 
when you get ready to thresh, patronize the steam thresher or buy one 
yourself (and a baling machine too) and have the bulk of your wheat 
threshed in the field and carry the straw from the separator to the thin- 
nest portion of your field and spread it on the young clover which is 
struggling for life under the scorching rajs of a July sun. Thus you 
save the life of the clover and utilize the straw as a fertilizer in its 
most valuable condition. The straw carrier which we have seen used 
for this purpose is a very simple contrivance. A pole 12 feet long, 6 
inches in diameter, with four wooden spikes sharpened put in it with 
an 1J inch auger, all on a line, which runs under the straw as it is 
drawn by a single horse over the pile by means of a rope about 20 feet 
long attached to each end, and in the centre of this rope the singletree 
is attached, the spikes running under the straw and the rope over it 
holds it in place, and thus quite a large pile is gracefully carried seve- 
ral hundred yards by a little mule and a small boj 7 . Two of these are 
sufficient to move the straw fiom any .-team thresher, and all the ex- 
pense of stacking straw and hauling it out in winter at a much greater 
cost, is dispensed with. Begging pardon for this much longer article 
than we intended, and my best wishes for the success of the Planter, 
I am yours truly, Fluvanna. 

[The very interesting article from our correspondent, Fluvanna, meets our views in 
many particulars. It comes in time to meet a recent enquiry made to us on the subject 
of grass and the methods of its seeding, which we have been unable to reply to. The 
principle he lays down, that for both grain and grass the phosphates are to be relied on, 
is a fact that observing farmers are accepting, and is sustaiued by the best scientific 
research. The Orchilla Guano he alludes to is advertised in the Planter, and so far as 
our information goes there is nothing richer in the phosphatic element, besides having 
several valuable saline ingredients. — Ed. S. P-l 



1883.] SOUTHERN PLANTER. 457 



A NEW DEPARTURE IN WHEAT GROWING. 



The following from the editorial department of the Kansas Farmer of 
July 11th, is commended to the careful attention of our wheat grow- 
ing readers, as the accidental discovery in the first instance, but fully 
tested by years of experiment, of a method of seeding winter wheat 
which removs largely the danger of injury by winter killing, and per- 
mits natural influence and causes to do a needed work in adding addi- 
tional soil to the roots of the plant just as needed and when most need- 
ed. Simple as the method of Mr. Smith is, it seems probable — in fact 
-almost certain — that if universally adopted it would add a large per- 
centage to the average yield of winter wheat per acre. On spring 
wheat its effects would probably be less marked. But by compacting 
the soil over the seed it would secure a more uniform germination and 
growth, which would tell upon the yield at harvest. The reduced 
quantity of seed per acre is also an important element. If two pecks 
per acre will produce as good or better crop then five, the extra three 
pecks can be saved for the miller. The article is as follows: 

P. H. Smith, a farmer of Shawnee county, this state, having observed 
that wheat which grew in tracts made by wagon wheels that had beeu 
driven across a wheat field immediately after seeding, was better than 
that not in the tract, was induced to make experiments in the same direc- 
tion. His experiments were made with iron wheels following seed drills 
to press down the earth on the seed. His first experiments were made 
five or six years ago, and he has continued them every year since with 
continuous success. His most difficult problem was to get the seed thin 
enough. He has harvested heavy crops every year, and has been reduc- 
ing the quantity of seed for each successive seeding. Last year he sowed 
one field of about 65 acres drilling one-half bushel to the acre. There is 
in this office now on file an affidavit of Edward McCormick, the man 
who drove the drill, that the quantity of seed sown on that field was as 
above stated. When the seed had sprouted and was up nicely, the ed- 
itor of this paper went to look at it. Tbat was Smith's "wheat field." 
We published our observations and conclusious in our next issue and 
promised to report again in the spring, which we did, and again at 
harvest time, which we now do. 

Last Friday, July 6. rlie wheat was being cut and threshed, and we 
had no opportunity to see the final result. The wheat stood very 
evenly on the ground. The straw was not large, nor were the heads 
heavy. It was simply a good stand of very evenly matured May 
wheat. (The seed was sown in the early part of October.) We have 
often seen longer and heavier straw and heads; but we have never seen 
a more regular stand or even growth, and we have not seen a better 
wheat crop anywhere in a ride over a dozen good wheat countries this 
year. The straw was clean and soft; and all stood up well. It was 
truly a beautiful field of wheat. 

We watched the threshing and tried to estimate from appearances 
what would be the probable yield in bushels per acre. Our guess was 



458 SOUTHERN PLANTER. [September 

about 30 ; but, being particularly auxious on that point, we are gratified 
by the report of an actual measurement, as follows: 

Mr. Smith reports in person (Monday July 9,) that, with the assis- 
tance of two persons, he measured one acre of shocks and bundles, 
hauled them to the machine, threshed the wheat out and measured and 
weighed 56 bushels and 30 pounds. On our expression of surprise 
and doubt, he promised to have the whole field measured by disinter- 
ested persons, and the exact acreage, together with sworn statements of 
the actual yield, will be furnished us for publication. 

These experiments of Mr Smith may be regarded, we believe, as go- 
ing far towards solving the problem of successful wheat growing in 
Kansas. [Why not elsewhere. — Ed. P. R.] Last December, when we 
first looked at the field, we saw nothing but the clean, dark colored 
ground. We were looking westwardly, and the drill had run north 
and south. The wheat blades were lying in the deep furrows left by 
the roller wheels, and carelessly resting on the sides of the ridges. 
The winds, the freezing and thawing, and rains and snows of the win- 
ter, instead of lifting the wheat roots out and blowing them away, left 
them more and more protected by drifting soil gathering over them 
and around the stems. At our spring visit, the ridges had all been 
worn down to a general level; the plants were vigorous; not a dead 
one visible, not a root blown away. Now we see a yield of 50 bushels 
to the acre, weighing 61 pounds to the bushel, and that, too, from one- 
half a bushel of seed per acre. 



CANNING BUTTER. 



The National Live Stock Journal answers a lady correspondent as fo- 
llow she can keep butter perfectly sweet from June to December, as 
follows : 

Take some unused fruit cans — quart and two quarts — and they offer 
precisely the means for preserving butter. When the butter is worked 
ready for packing (and this should always be done the day after churning) 
make a small muslin sack, about a half an inch smaller in diameter of 
the same depth as the glass fruit can she will use. Put this muslin 
sack into the can and fill it with butter through the mouth of the can, 
using a small rammer to press in the butter till the sack is full up to the 
neck of the can. About 3| lbs. may be put in the sack for a two-quart 
can. When the sack is filled firmly with butter, fold over the upper 
edges and place across the top of the sack a strip of wood that has been 
soaked in brine. This is to keep the sack from rising to the top of the 
brine. Now pour in strongly saturated brine made from butter salt, 
and fill the jar, over the top of the sack, completely full; now screw on 
the cover, airtight, and it is prepared for keeping six months or a year 
as completely as you can keep fruit put up in the same can. These 
cans, filled with butter, should be set in a dark box in the cellar. This 
butter may be taken out through the neck of the can with a tablespoon, 
and it will be found as fresh, rosy and delicious in flavor as when first 
put up. 



1883.] SOUTHERN PLANTER. 459 

GOOD MANAGEMENT BRINGS GOOD LUCK. 



Some people are always talking about their "good" or "bad luck." 
If they happen to plow their land too wet or too late, or neglect to 
drain it properly, or to select the proper kind of seed, or to get it plant- 
ed at the proper time and manner — if their crop fails — then they say, 
"We had such miserable luck," while their neighbor just over the fence, 
who had his land well drained, plowed it and planted it at the proper 
time and in a workmanlike manner, was careful in selecting his seed, his 
crop came on, was well cared for, and produced abundantly. Then 
comes this grumbler, wading through the briers and weeds on his own 
side of the fence, and, looking over at his neighbor's fields, he says: 
"Well, did anybody ever see such luck? He always has good luck. 
Just look at his crops and just look at his pigs. None of his pigs died 
last spring ; while I had the worst luck in the world ; I lost nearly all 
mine. That big snow-storm came, and I was not looking for such a 
thing, and I had no shelter for them, and they perished. O, such luck! 
And he had the luck to have his all up around the barn, and they 
were sheltered, and he never lost one. 

" Why, sir, three years ago both of us bought new self-binders, just 
alike, and we cut the same amount of wheat each year, and he has 
never been to a dollar of expense about his machine, (only he went to 
a heap of trouble building that shed for his, which was more bother 
than it was worth;) and this year he just run his machine out and cut 
seventy-five acres of wheat and never broke a thing; just the best luck 
in the world. 

"And, sir, when I went out to hitch up to my machine, under that 
big elm tree, where it stood last year, I found that the boys had forgot- 
ten to take off those plagued elevator bits, and they were rotted in two, 
and I had to go to town five days, before those fellows that sold me the 
machine could get them from the factory, and they cost me $20 besides, 
and my wheat got dead ripe and straw broken, and I lost a lot of it; 
and such other luck as I have you never saw. I tell you, when a fel- 
low's luck turns agin him, 'tis not much use to try. 

"Just look at my neighbor. 

"He's got board fences along the road and every thig nice, and he 
run3 to every picnic and fair and farmers' club meeting that goes on. 
I tell you, I don't have time to run about that way and sit around and 
read newspapers. And he gets his gals pianers and his boys buggies, 
and sends 'em off to college. If he had such luck as I have he couldn't 
do it. Why, just look at him ; he has not had a bit of bad luck since 
he lived here, and last fall I lost the best horse I had. The stable door 
got broke down two years ago, when that Johnson boy worked here — 
the good-for-nothing scamp — and I had sort o' neglected to fix it, be- 
ing so busy all the time, and my big bay mare got out and got over 
there where that place is so low in the fence, and she eat so much 
green corn that it killed her, and I had refused $200 for her just the 
week before. Oh, I tell you, I'have had nothing but bad luck! Why, 
just thi-j spring the sheep got in and just destroyed that piece of com 



5£ 



460 SOUTHERN PLANTER. [September 

back of tbe house, and they just ruined my young orchard. And 
such luck you never saw. 

And thus he will go on for an hour to every one he meets, when r 
if you will just look a moment, you can see there is no luck about it, 
but simply bad management. Now, instead of having an old horse- 
shoe hanging over the door, this motto ought to be hung up in every 
house and in every farmer's barn and crib : "Good management al- 
ways bring good luck." 

Jamestown, 0. M. A. Paxson, in National Farmer. 



FARMERS AND THEIR WIVES. 



Farmer's wives are human beings as well as the men, but are not al- 
ways treated as such. They have to work and toil, and don't always- 
see as much of a happy life as they should. They are confined too 
closely to the house and largely deprived of the out-door air and sun- 
shine. The Farmer who is interested so much in his farm and mak- 
ing money that he thinks little about his wife, should remember that 
her work is as hard and very monotonous, and when he comes in from 
his work at night he should have a pleasant word for her. If she has 
a good supper, and things look neat and tidy about the house, he should 
take notice of it. Farmers should take their wives out riding more 
than they do, give them pure air, and let them see more of nature and 
the glorious things that God has made for all to enjoy. 

If your wife is a lover of flowers, don't hoe them all up and let the 
stock into the yard. But take an interest in their welfare ; spade up 
the flower beds; buy her seed; set her plants out, and when you see 
the chickens in the flower-beds drive them out. 

Another thing is, see to it that your wife has spending money; noth- 
ing that a woman hates more than to have to go to her husband contin- 
ually for money. Women are made to spend money as well as men,, 
and they should have it. i'hey earn as much as the men if they do- 
housework. Also let your wife have her own way just a little, and 
don't try to run the farm and the house, too. If the men would only 
think how valuable a wife is they would always treat them as angels, 
and as they do during courtship. When house cleaning time comes 
don't scold, but take hold, help her put down the carpet, and see to it 
that she don't overwork herself, and when blue Monday comes around 
help her and see that she is helped; don't get angry because dinner is- 
late on Monday, but whistle or sing or read the Country Gentleman 
and compose yourself; you will feel a great deal better than if you 
scolded your wife and made her feel unhappy all the rest of the day. 
If you want any advice, don't run over to a neighbor, but go to your 
wife. Another thing men do which is unpleasant for their wives is to 
take them to town in mid-winter, and if they meet a farmer they will stop 
and talk with him for two hours and forget that the wife is freezing. 
Talk about women being great talkers! They can't beat the men when 
they get excited. One more thing I almost forgot to say: it is not to 
let your wife milk and chop wood just because she is a farmer's wife. 



1883.] SOUTHERN" PLANTER. 461 



See that she has plenty of wood and coal, not half a mile away, but 
near the house. It will save her a great many steps, and when you 
feel lazy, bring in water and wood, and it will revive your spirits and 
you will have a clear conscience. Let her have the butter money if 
you can't afford to give her cash out of your own pocket. See that 
your wife has good magazines and papers to read, and don't be afraid 
to make it pleasant for her. 



CANNING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 



Having the cans, or jars, the operation is simple. The fruit, what- 
ever it may be, in a syrup just strong enough to properly sweeten it, 
is brought to the boiling point, and it is at once placed in the jars, pre- 
viously warmed with hot water, and when these are well filled, the cov- 
er is screwed down tight Good jars, well filled with boiling fruit, and 
promptly covered by screwing down the caps, will insure success. 
Many years ago, when canning was not so general as it is now, we 
showed how any common wide-mouthed bottle could be used, but at 
present, jars made for the purpose are so cheap, that it is not necessary 
to resort to any make shifts. Among the first things to be put up in 
this manner is rhubarb. This can be readily canned, and green goose- 
berries may be treated in the same manner. Strawberries and rasp- 
berries come uext, and are better preserved in the same manner than by 
any other, but these, especially the strawberry, while vastly better when 
preserved thus than in any other manner, come far short of retaining 
their original flavor. Peaches are easily preserved thus, and are near- 
ly perfect, as are pears, especially the Bartlett, apples and quinces. 
One who has put up the quince in this manner, will never preserve it 
according to the old pound for pound method. All the high flavored 
apples, preserved by canning, makes a finer apple sauce than can be 
produced in any other manner. The usual process is, to cook the fruit, 
of whatever kind, in a syrup made with four ounces of sugar to a pint 
of water. When the fruit is cooked tender, transfer it at once to the 
jar, and add the syrup to fill up every crevice; if there are bubbles of 
air, aid them to escape by the use of a spoon. See that the jar is solid 
full of fruit and syrup, and up to the top, before the cap is screwed on. 
While fruits are easily preserved in the family, vegetables are more di- 
fficult. We have many inquiries about preserving green peas, green 
corn, and potatoes. Those who make a business of canning, fine 
green peas and green corn among the most difficult things to preserve. 
They can only be put up in tin cans by long boiling processes, not 
practicable in families. If any of our readers have found a method by 
which either corn or peas can be preserved by any process practicable 
in the family, we ask them to communicate it, for the benefit of others. 
Last Autumn we made an experiment on tomatoes. Thoroughly ripe 
fruit was cooked as for the table, omitting butter and all other seasoning, 
and put up in ordinary fruit jars. About three out of twelve failed, but 
those that succeeded were vastly better than the tomatoes purchased 
in tin can3. — American Agriculturist. 



It 



462 SOUTHERN" PLANTER. [September 



Editorial. 



AN ICE-HOUSE ABOVE GROUND. 



Editor Southern Planter, — Will you please ask through your paper the best mode of 
making an "Ice-house above ground?" and give your own views, and oblige one of 
your subscribers. 0. M. Knight. 

July 31st, 1883. 

We gladly present this enquiry to our readers, and hope some prac- 
tical information and experience will be given in time to enable the 
uninformed to prepare for the next crop of ice. There is nothing 
which contributes more to the comfort of a family than a good supply 
of ice during the spring, summer and fall months. In many cases the 
lack of this comfort is the result of neglect, or want of timely prep- 
aration. In other cases, the texture of the soil contiguous to dwellings 
makes it unfit for under-ground pits for the preservation of ice. It is 
this condition which prompts the enquiry of our correspondent. 

To our mind the question is easily solved. Select a spot on rolling 
land, the nearest to the dwelling to be had; and if the angle of eleva- 
tion or depression is from thirty to forty degrees, it will be all the 
better. Locate the house on the sloping ground, and let the rear be 
at grade, so as to allow all water from the ice or rains to pass off. 
Make a cut in the side of the hill with a level grade from the point of 
commencement as wide and far as will be necessary to receive the 
frame of the house. This side-hill excavation should be 18 feet wide 
and 15 feet on a level grade penetrating the hill, and will allow for a 
house having a cube of 12 feet, which will be sufficient storage room 
for ice to supply an average family. The house should be constructed 
in this cut, as follows : Have a double frame made of 3x4 heart scant- 
ling, the inner framing to form a room 1^x12 feet wide and 12 feet 
high, and the outer framing three feet wider and higher. These frames 
to be faced with undressed heart boards, so that a space of three feet 
will be left around all four sides of the interior frame. This space 
should be filled with sawdust, well packed, and the door for the filling 
of the house and for taking out the daily supply as used, can be placed 
on the upper side and near the top of the interior room or ice vault. 
The earth taken from the pit should be banked and turfed on the sides, 
except the rear, or lower, side to allow for proper drainage, and a good 
roof, with projecting eaves, put over the house. 

If there are no trees growing at the point selected for the house 
sufficient to furnish shade, they should be planted around and nurtured 



1883.] SOUTHERN PLANTER. 463 

into active growth. The forest will furnish them, with but little 
trouble in selection. 

"When a side-hill location is not convenient, a house, on the same 
plan, can be built on level ground, but it will be seen that the tilling 
and removal of the ice will not be so convenient, as the door will be 
an elevated one. 

"We are pleased that this subject of ice for country homes is men- 
tioned, and more so, that it comes from our brother, than whom, with 
ample means, no one has been more neglectful. For personal reasons, 
therefore, we beg the fullest information on the subject. 

Since the foregoing was written, we have seen in the Country Gen- 
tleman of July 26, a response to an enquiry similar to the one made 
to us. The ideas of this respondent and our own agree very well. 
The brick, or stone, walls had occurred to our mind, but we failed to 
suggest them in consequence of their cost in comparison with wood. 
The fact alone of the cost of stone walls would settle the question in 
the minds of many farmers against such ice-houses, but the cheaper 
material — wood — might induce a trial, and success would insure the 
substitution of the more enduring material. The writer also fails to 
mention the hill-side location, which we regard as important. 

Editors Country Gentlemen, — In reply to Mr. Pearson's letter, which 
you have sent me, I have to say that having had two ice-houses, made 
of wood, rot away, I wished to have something more permanent, and, 
as a stone building would be cheaper and more lasting than brick, we 
used stone. My theory was and is that stone walls would be no better 
than wood, except as to durability. My plan of construction was to 
make a wall thick enough to stand against wind, and on a foundation 
that would not allow settling. Good brick can be made to serve on a 
good foundation; laying the wall only eight inches thick, using good 
common mortar, one part water lime, one part (slaked) quicklime, and 
six to eight parts sharp, good sand, all well mixed before the water is 
added. Wet the bricks thoroughly, and allow them to dry off a little 
on the outside (to save the mason's hands), and lay in close, well-filled 
joints. In short, lay a good eight-inch wall. But to return to my 
stone ice-house. Wishing to have a cube of ice twelve feet on all 
sides, I constructed the walls fourteen feet apart, and set up some studs, 
nailed boards on the sides next the ice, and filled the space between 
this board lining with sawdust, well packed. This lining enabled us 
to pack the ice very easily, and for about five years gave satisfaction. 
By the expiration of that time, this lining was so decayed that it had 
to be removed, and since then we have packed our ice, leaving a space 
of one foot between it and the stone walls. We usually put in about 
three courses (say three feet), then fill the space between the ice and 
the walls with sawdust, well packed. 






! 



464 SOUTHERN PLANTER. [September 

Lately I have learned to cover each course of ice with sawdust, filling 
all the cross-joints, and allowing the sawdust to fill the space to the 
wall, packing close in that space, about every three feet the ice is built 
up. A man walking around between the ice and wall does this pack- 
ing very satisfactorily. 

A little sawdust between the layers of ice excludes air, and that is 
one of the great points in saving ice. Large ice-houses keep ice better 
than small ones, and this packing cross-joints and leveling up the sur- 
face by the use of sawdust is not necessary; but in small masses of ice, 
such as single families use, it is important. 

Mr. Pearson says his soil is a stiff' clay. This being so, he must 
construct his house above ground, unless by digging a shallow well 
under it he can reach porous earth that will carry oft' the drainage, for 
perfect drainage is essential. If he builds brick or stone walls, put 
the foundation below the frosts of the coldest winter, take out all the 
earth to that depth and fill the space with gravel, or other loose, im- 
perishable material. Slag from a furnace, pieces of brick, broken 
stone, any such material will allow the drainage to pass through. Lay 
tile or other drain along the walls all around, and at the lowest point 
continue this drain under the wall and thence away from the building 
to some lower ground, or other place from which the drainage water 
will not set back to the ice. 

I believe I have answered the questions asked by Mr. Pearson, but 
I have covered only a small part of the whole subject of preserving 
ice for family use. Geo. Geddes. 

Fairmount, N. Y. 



FIRE INSURANCE ON FARM DWELLINGS AND OTHER FARM 

HOUSES. 



We have for some time been wishing to talk, through the types, to 
the farmers on this important subject. Our exchanges bring to our 
attention, daily, losses which have been sustained in the country by 
fire, and almost all such announcements conclude: "Total loss and 
no insurance." The tax we pay on property for insurance is self-im,- 
posed, but is equally important as the taxes to the State or county, 
which are obligatory. From the latter nothing is received back but 
the support and protection of a good or bad government. The taxes 
for this purpose average in Virginia about \\ per cent, on all property. 
For this, as said before, the property-holder receives no return except 
the protection given him as a citizeu. This is all right, as no govern- 
ment can exist without proper taxation. If every farmer insures 
against fire, as he should do, his dwelling and furniture and his most 
valuable out-buildings, he will have to pay on the amount of his in- 
surance about the same rate of taxation as he pays to his State and 



1883.] SOUTHERN PLANTER. 465 

county combined, but the aggregate tax will be one-half less. Sup- 
pose, for example, his taxable property is assessed at f 2,000 for public 
taxes, his annual tax will be $30. On such an assessment, covering 
land and other property not necessary to be insured against fire, the 
amount necessary to be insured may be assumed as $1,000, and the 
voluntary, or self-impOsed, tax thereon is $15 per year. If this 
condition continues for ten years, then the farmer will have paid $300 
for government taxes and $150 for insurance; and if at this time the 
property insured is destroyed by fire, he will receive $1,000 in cash. 
This sum, judiciously expended — advantage being taken of the style 
and cheapening of houses, furniture, &c, in the past ten years — can be 
made to double itself almost. Under such circumstances the farmer 
can sleep soundly, and apprehend but little damage from the torch of 
an incendiary, an accident from sparks, or the electricity of the clouds. 
But the farmer may say tbat he cannot afford this annual expenditure,, 
and at the same time he should see that no money ean be better ex- 
pended. No property-holder in a city or town thinks of letting his- 
house, or houses, remain uninsured; but the farmer will think this ia 
all right and proper by reason of the contiguity of buildings, while he 
fails to consider that the fire companies and appliances for extinguish- 
ing fires in the city do not exist in the country, and that in nine cases- 
in ten when a house takes fire in the country, it is a total loss. And 
it is in view of this fact that the insurance rate in cities is much less 
than in the country. 

There is another important aspect in which we desire to present this- 
subject. Insurance in this State — and when we speak of Virginia we 
do so for other States similarly conditioned — is solicited and largely 
carried by companies outside, either in other States or foreign countries. 
The money which is paid to the agencies established in the State by 
outside companies passes at once away from us, and in no way helps 
to build up our home industries. We are not inclined to be clanish r 
or opposed to the fullest competition in all departments of business ; 
but we do say, that if good and reliable insurance companies, chartered 
by our own State, are to be found, they should, at the same cost, be first 
sustained. The failure to recognize home trade and business in their 
proper relations, has done more than anything else to effect the wealth 
of Virginia and other Southern States. Each State or community, so 
far as it has the power, should live within itself; and to do this, every 
legitimate enterprise should be encouraged. The same principle should 
be applied to the farm, which should produce its home living first of all, 
in the shape of bread, meat, and vegetables, grain and hay for live 



466 SOUTHERN PLANTER. [September 

stock, and look to dealers in the nearest cities and towns for clothing 
and groceries. A system which will ensure home production and 
home expenditures, will bring prosperity to all classes. 

We have obtained from a reliable source some figures of a startling 
character, which will show how little our people have regarded their 
obligations in respect to the proper encouragement of their own local 
institutions, which can give full protection in all matters of fire insu- 
rance. The amounts paid in Virginia for this purpose in 1882, were 
as follows : 

To foreign companies $397,399 00 

To companies of Northern States 284,734 00 

To Virginia companies 248,340 00 

By this it will be seen that largely more than a half million of dollars 
are annually sent out of the State for fire insurance, which, if kept 
and expended at home, would make an important item in the wealth 
of the State. 

We can name six companies, chartered by our laws, of undoubted 
credit, which are able to carry every fire policy in the State: 

1. Mutual Assurance Society of Virginia, whose business commenced 
nearly a century ago. 

2. Virginia Fire and Marine, nearly as old. 

3. Virginia Home. 

4. Virginia State. 

■5. Petersburg Savings and Insurance Company. 

6. Portsmouth Insurance Company. 

It is therefore not for the lack of reliable institutions that so much 
money is annually sent out of the State, never to return, but the cause 
lies with our people who fail to appreciate a patriotic duty by contrib- 
uting to those worthy institutions and enterprises which are located in 
their midst. 

In our cities and towns, a fair field of competition is opened between 
our local and foreign companies. The large amount of insurance re- 
quired on factories, stores and stocks of goods, public and expensive 
private buildings, may be equitably divided ; but the farmers, in their 
isolated homes, should always see that the money they pay for the pro- 
tection of their property, is to be kept in the State by being paid to a 
State institution. 



The world deals good-naturedly with good-natured people; and I 
never knew a sulky misanthropist who quarreled with it, but it was 
he, and not it, that was in the wrong. — Thackeray. 



1883.] 



SOUTHERN" PLANTER. 



467 



The Southern Planter. 



SUBSCRIPTION: $1.25 a year in advance, or 
$1.50 if not paid in advance. 



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■ Special rates for cover. 

•Reading notices, 25 cents per line, of brevier 



type. 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Te call special attention to the commu- 
nication of President Wickham in our pre- 
sent issue. It briefly, but forcibly, presents 
the objects of the Society, and the induce- 
ments offered to the farmers of the State 
to attend the next Fair and general meet- 
ing. The Society's first exhibition was 
held in 1853, and others annually since, 
except the years of the war and of recon- 
struction following it, so that the coming 
Fair numbers its twenty-third. During this 
period we have been in active connection 
with the Society, and are warranted, by a 
long experience, in expressiug the belief 
that no institution has accomplished more 
for the advancement of the agriculture of 
the State. Its work and purposes, as de- 
fined, must meet the approval of every un- 
prejudiced farmer. In view of some lan- 
guishment for several past years, and in a 
measure relieved by the present manage- 
ment, extraordinary efforts have been made 
thia year to make the exhibition especially 



attractive, and to secure the largest attend- 
ance of exhibitors and visitors. We may, 
therefore, urge every farmer in the State, 
and all outside who can do so, to come, 
and they will not return to their homes 
without having been benefited by informa- 
tion gained, and refreshed and encouraged 
by a relaxation, for a few days, from the 
duties of the farm. 



As the advertisement of the Richmond 
College and the Virginia Medical College 
expire with this issue of the Planter, we 
would again call special attention to them. 
These are both deserving institutions, and 
should have all the patronage they merit. 



THE TANNER AND DELANY 
ENGINE COMPANY. 
With many other citizens of Richmond 
we were invited, several weeks ago, to visit 
the newly-erected works of this company. 
The visit was a very agreeable one, and we 
were amazed at the extent, beauty and 
completeness of the buildings, the conve- 
nient arrangements for the conduct of all 
departments of business, and the new and 
novel machinery which has been intro- 
duced. In these respects the establishment 
almost "lays the Old Tredegar in the 
shade." There is no jealousy, however, 
in the case, for the first men we met in the 
lunch-room were General Anderson and 
Major Archer. Richmond is, and ought 
to be, the city for big manufacturing enter- 
prises, and all such here now will welcome 
the introductiog of others. The Industrial 
South, of our city, which has earned a na- 
tional reputation in respect to its efforts 
for Southern and national development, 
has spoken at different times, and much in 
detail, of the Tanner and Delany Com- 
pany's works, and we have seen them con- 
spicuously mentioned in prominent North- 
ern papers, so that there is nothing left for 
us but to thank the company for its kind 
invitation and a pleasant evening's enter- 
tainment. 



We thought we were too late until we saw 
the advertisement of Kendall's Spavin Cure. 



468 



SOUTHERN" PLANTER. 



[September 






MAGAZINES, &c. 

The Industrial South and the Southern 
Planter will be clubbed to subscribers at 
$2.50 per annum for advanced payments — 
the regular and respective rates being $2 and 
$1.25. The Industrial South fits its name 
exactly. Its editors are industrious and 
experienced journalists, and are devoting 
their minds and energies to all methods of 
enlightenment in respect to all the material 
interests of the country. It has now en- 
tered upon its third year, and already its 
editorial articles are copied by the press 
in every section of the country, which 
shows an appreciation of its liberal and 
non-sactional sentiments, and the forcible 
and attractive style in which they are ex- 
pressed. 

The North American Review for August 
is, like all issues, full of thoughtful and 
timely discussions ; and no one of culture, 
who pretends to keep up with the questions 
of the day, can afford to be without this 
magazine. 

The Popular Science Monthly for August 
is on our table. It is full, as usual, of good 
and interesting reading. Space will not 
allow us to specify. Send to the publish- 
ers in New York and get it, or apply to 
your home dealers in literary magazines. 

The Art Amateur for August contains a 
striking four-page design of lilies and but- 
terflies for a South Kensington screen 
panel, a design of daisies for a dessert- 
plate, three pages of designs and sugges- 
tions for monograms and jewelry, and three 
pages of wood carving designs. The most 
important article is an exceedingly inter- 
esting account of "Japanese Pictorial Art 
and Artists," profusely illustrated.* There 
is a page of drawings from Paris salon 
pictures; the very creditable work of Amer- 
ican women in the Paris salon is editorially 
reviewed, and "My Note Book" gives a 
spicy record of foreign art events. Among 
the subjects practically treated are land- 
scape painting in oils, lettering on china, 
wood carving, and mural decoration. 
There are also articles of much interest 



on early English pottery, ornamental iron 
work, old illuminations, the remarkable 
print collection of Prof. West of Brook- 
lyn, and numerous other art topics. Price, 
35 cts.; $4 per annum. Montague Marks, 
publisher, 23 Union Square, New York. 

Harper's Publications. — For August 
we have had The Monthly, Weekly, Bazar, 
and Young People. These are regular and 
welcome visitors to our table. All are in- 
teresting in their respective lines, and can- 
not fail to please the most fastidious reader. 
The Monthly has "The Heart of the Alle- 
ghanies," "American Horses," "Vallam- 
brosa," " The Canadian Habitat," "War 
Pictures in Time of Peace," and the 
" British Yoke," and are all profusely and 
beautifully illustrated. The Editor's 
"Table" and "Chair" form no inconspic- 
uous part in the matter of this agreeable 
number. 

The Century and St. Nicholas, from the 
same publishing house, are valuable publi- 
cations. The "Midsummer Holliday No." 
of the Century is truly an intellectual feast. 
The first article, " Bob White," the game 
bird of America, is beautifully illustrated 
by J. C. Beard, and all sportsmen should 
value it. The present condition of the 
"Indians in Southern California" is also 
handsomely illustrated by the same hand. 
"Woman's Reasons," a novel by W. D. 
Howells, increases in interest. A new 
romance, just begun, "Bread Winners," 
bids fair to rival it. 



REPORTS, &o. 

Rothhamsted, England. — We are in- 
debted to Sir Jno. B. Lawes for a valuable 
pamphlet, 33 pages, quarto size, double 
column, which gives the "Origin, Scope, 
and Plan of the Rothhamsted Experi- 
ments.'" 

This is the most noted experimental sta- 
tion in the world, and has been conducted 
by Dr. Lawes for nearly a half century at 
his own expense. It has done more to ad- 
vance scientific and practical agriculture 
in England than all the efforts, if any, of 
the government combined, and its influence 



1883.] 



SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



469 



has been felt and appreciated in the United 
States as if it were on their own soil. To 
perpetuate this valuable institution, Dr. 
Lawes has made an ample endowment from 
his personal means, so that when his valu- 
able life is spent, the work will go on for 
succeeding generations. Where can be a 
nobler contribution to the agriculture of 
the world? We shall preserve this docu- 
ment from Rothhamsted with especial care, 
and will, doubtless, have occasion to make 
many references to it for the valuable facts 
it contains. i 

Sixth Annual Report of the Commis- 
sioner of Agriculture of- Virginia. 
We have received this Report from Com- 
missioner Blanton, in which we find much 
of interest and practical benefit to the 
farmer. We hope he has a sufficient num- 
ber of copies for a liberal distribution 
amongst the farmers of the State. After 
further time for examination, we may be 
ahle to make extracts, and thus help it in 
its good work. 

Report of the Area of Corn, Potatoes 
and Tobacco, and the Condition of 
Growing Crops in the United States 
and Europe, with a Report of the 
Rates of Transportation, issued July, 
1883. 

We acknowledge the receipt of this in- 
teresting report from the Department of 
Agriculture at Washington. 

Pamphlet of 20 pages issued by the South- 
ern Fertilizing Company, efetitled " A 
New Departure." 

"The time is here when a man can, with 
the outlay of a moderate amount of money, 
restore his lands to their ancient fertility. 
Read the within, and see how it can be 
done." 

W. C. Houston, Jr., & Co.'s Handbook 

on Wool. 

This is a brief treatise of 31 pages, bound 
in atifiF paper, which gives much valuable 
information in regard to the wool trade, 
the localities of production, best methods 
of handling, &c, and is issued by the firm 
named, at Philadelphia, Pa. 

We are frequently indebted to the same 
firm for the current prices of wool. 



Agricultural Fairs not before men- 
tioned AND FOR WHICH WE HAVE RECEIVED 

Catalogues. — 1. The St. Louis Agricultu- 
ral and Mechanical Association, from Oc- 
tober 1 to 6. We extend thanks for court- 
esies promised should we attend. 2. The 
Fair at Reading, Pa., October 2, 3, 4 and 
5, with thanks to Secretary Cox. 3. The 
Frederick County, Maryland, October 9 
and 12, inclusive. 

The Reports of the Commissioners of Ag- 
riculture for Georgia and Tennessee, re- 
ceived as we go to press, give a favorable 
account of all crops to July, as does the 
Report of the United States Agricultural 
Commissioner to same date ; but a severe 
drought has prevailed since, in Texas and 
and the Southern and Middle States, which 
very materially effects the condition of 
corn, cotton, tobacco, and garden crops; 
and in Virginia, we are sure those crops 
are reduced one-half below the usual aver- 
age. As we write now, on the 15th of 
August, there has been no general and 
serviceable rain since about the first of 
July. A very excellent editorial article 
which we copy in our present issue from 
the New England Farmer, on "The In- 
fluence of Crops," must, therefore, be qual- 
ified as to results of the year, which seemed 
probable at the date of its writing. 



" Wells' Rough on Corns." — Ask for 
Wells' " Rough on Corns." 15c. Quick, 
complete, permanent cure. Corns, warts, 
bunions. 



It is a fact that Kendall's Spavin Cure is 
all it is claimed to be. See advertisement. 



Protection from Malaria. — The pre- 
ventive is the far-famed Southern remedy, 
Simmons Liver Regulator, a purely vege- 
table tonic, cathartic and alterative. It 
acts more promptly than calomel or quin- 
ine. 



Don't drive a spavined horse as long as 
you can get Kendall's Spavin Cure for $1 a 
bottle. As a powerful liniment for deep- 
seated pains on both man or beast, it has 
no equal. See advertisement. 



470 



SOUTHERN" PLANTER. 



[September 



Don't Die in the House. — "Rough on 
Rats." Clears out rats, mice, roaches, 
bed-bugs, flies, ants, moles, chipmunks, 
gophers, 15 cents. 



NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. 
G. Percy Hawes, successor to Miller & 
Hawes, advertises the Southern Saw-Works 
established in 1852, and recently enlarged. 
Since this advertisement was ordered, these 
works have been consumed by Are; but 
the proprietor, nothing daunted, expects 
to have them speedily rebuilt and his work 
actively resumed, and therefore wishes his 
advertisement to keep his business before 
the public. We will gladly notice the re- 
sumption of business. 

Stearns & Halsey advertise fertilizers, 
which we are sure possess decided merit. 
Mr. Stearns has been somewhat an enthu- 
siast on the subject of good and cheap fer- 
tilizers. Some years ago he endeavored to 
form what may be termed a farmer's syn- 
dicate. His plan was to get a limited 
number of farmers to contribute the capital 
necessary for the machinery, materials, 
&c, which would be required to prepare a 
good and cheap fertilizer, and its products 
were to be distributed as dividends on the 
subscribed capital. There were farmers 
who approved the plan, but not enough 
who could spare the needed capital, and 
the scheme failed ; but Mr. Stearns, having 
many farms of his own, decided to erect 
the necessary works on his own account; 
and making, by a prescribed formula, and 
using the fertilizer on his own land for 
several years with satisfactory results, he 
was induced to sell to other farmers, and 
in this way has built up one of the most 
useful manufactories in the State. 

Dr. T. J. Wooldridge, of Hanover Co., 
Va., offers for sale pure Essex Pigs and 
choice Poultry, for which see his advertise- 
ment in this number. Dr. W. is an old 
and reliable breeder of these varieties, and 
will have on exhibition at our next Fair 
some choice specimens of his stock. 

The Virginia. State Insurance Com- 
pany is one of the most reliable fire com- 



panies in the State. It is managed by the 
best business men of the city, and any 
property-holder may sleep soundly when 
he has a policy in it. 

The Virginia Home Insurance Com- 
pany is entitled to all we have said as to 
the Virginia State. 

The University of Virginia sends us 
its annual advertisement for the session 
opening October 1. What can we say in 
reference to this great institution ? except 
that the youths of the country should think 
less of law and medicine and more of the 
agricultural school. 

The Virginia Agricultural and Me- 
chanical College also sends us its adver- 
tisement. There is no institution which 
can, and does, more benefit to the sons of 
farmers and mechanics of the State. 

Moses & Clemons, of this city, advertise 
their Annual Bone Fertilizers, and their list 
of testimonials is overwhelming from this 
and other States. 

John Saul, of Washington, D. C, sends 
us a new advertisement. Mr. Saul has 
been in our advertising columns frequently 
before ; and there is no florist and horti- 
culturist we can more earnestly recom- 
mend. 

Franklin Dayis & Co. is now a Virginia 
name and institution, and belongs almost 
as well to Maryland. We know Mr. Davis 
personally, and there is no man whose en- 
terprise and integrity in business we can 
more highly commend. 

Mr. E. P. Reeve, druggist, advertises 
Duval & Norton's Horse Tonic. He is now 
the sole proprietor of the recipe for its 
manufacture. This tonic has been long 
and favorably known in Virginia for im- 
proving the condition of horses. It has 
also been ascertained to be one of the best 
cures for hog- cholera. Dr. Reeve is espe- 
cially desirous of giving the fullest test of 
its merits in this respect. 



1883] 



SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



471 



Mr. E. F. Hankeneus, a German settler 
of spirit and intelligence, offers grape-vines 
for sale. 

C. M. Moseman & Brotherb' office is the 
head-center for all prominent horsemen of 
New York City. In a letter of recent date 
says: "We are perfectly satisfied that there j 
never was anything made to equal Kendall's : 
Spavin Cure, nor can there be anything to 
take its place, as it removes the trouble, ' 
and no remedy can do more. 

Read advertisement. 



Catarrh of the Bladder. — Stinging, ir- 
ritation, inflammation, all Kidney and Uri- 
nary Complaints, cured by ''Buchu-paiba." 

31. 



Strange that people will suffer with dull 
feelings and the blues, when they can be so 
surely cured by simply taking a few doses 
of Simmons Liver Regulator. 

DARBY'S 

PROPHYLACTIC FLUID. 

For the prevention and treatment of 

DIPHTHERIA, SCARLET FEVER, 

SMALLPOX, YELLOW FEVER, 

MALARIA, &c. 

The free use of the Fluid will do more to 

arrest and cure these diseases than any 

known preparation. 

Darby's Prophylactic Fluid, a safeguard 
against all Pestilence, Infection, Con- 
tagion and Epidemics. 

Use as a Gargle for the Throat, as a Wash 

for the Person, and as a Disinfectant 

for the House. 

A CERTAIN REMEDY AOAISfST ALL 
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. 

Neutralizes at once all noxious odors 
and gases. Destroys the germs of diseases 
and septic (putrescent) floating impercepti- 
ble in the air or snch as have effected a 
lodgment in the throat or on the person. 
PERFECTLY HARMLESS USED 
INTERN ALL Y or EXTERN ALL Y. 
J. H. ZEILIN & CO., Proprietors, 
Manufacturing Chemists, Philadelphia. 
|®*"Price, 50 cents per bottle. Pint bot- 
tles, $1. nov ly 

FARMER'S Z.ASJD CO., 25 
State Street, New York, sells on com- 
mission Farms and Lands. Correspon- 
dence solicited with all wishing to buy or 
sell. sep It 



rALL PLAN MNlSii ment in the country 
of the best Old and New Fruit and Ornamental 
Trees, Shrubs, Roses, Pseonies, Hedge Plants, etc. 
Abridged Catalogue mailed free. 

~ ML Hope Nurseries, 



ELLWAN6ER& BARRY 



Rochester, N. Y. 



J. T. GATEWOOD, 

dealer in 

LIQUORS AND FEED. 

116 E. Broad Street, Richmond, Va. 

Families having a surplus of anything produced 
in the Dairy, Barnyard or Garden, will do well to 
advise with me. Correspondence solicited. auly 



P. A. SUBLETT. 



W. M. Cary. 



SUBLETT & CARY, 

Commission Merchants 

No. 113 South Twelfth Street, 
RICHMOND, VA. 

Specialties: Tobacco, Cotton, Flour, Grain and 
Forage. Grain Sacks furnished to order. 

J. F. Jacob and B. Lorraine, of Richmond, Va., 
and Nat Frazer, of Orange County, Va., respect- 
fully solicit the patronage of their friends. aul2t 

Preserve the Natural Teeth. 



Dr. JOSEPH WOODWARD. 



OFFICE : 805 E. Franklin Street, 
RICHMOND, VA. 

MORISON'S PILLS 

A remarkable remedy for Stomach, Liver, 
Kidney or Bladder Disorders, Jaundice, 
Chills, Malaria, Sick Headache, Indiges- 
tion and Costiveness. 

Mailed free to any address upon receipt of 
price, 91. W. S. PILCHER, Agent, 
Broad and Pine streets, 
au 12t RICHMOND, VA. 



BEST MARKET PEAR. 

99,999PKAt!H TttEES Alliwi 

varieties of new and old Strawberries, 

j Currants, Grapes, Raspberries, etc. 




1EARLY CLUSTER 

"//New Blackberry, early, hardy, Rood. 
'" Single hill yielded 1 3 quarts at one 

Sicking. .Send tor iree Catalogue. 
. S. COLjUAS, MoorcBtown, N. J- 



sep 3t 




MONO 




RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 

The next session begins 20th September, 1883, and continues nine months. 

FACULTY, 

EDMUND HARRISON, A. M., Professor of Latin. 
H. H. HARRIS, M. A., LL.D., Professor of Greek. 

A. B. BROWN, D. D., Professor of English. 
EDWARD B. SMITH, M. A., Professor of Mathematics. 
CHAS. H. WINSTON, M. A., LL.D., Professor of Physics. 

B. PURYEAR, A. M., LL.D., Professor of Chenvstry. 
WM. D. THOMAS, M. A.. D. D., Professor of Philosophy. 
Professors HARRIS and SMITH, Modern Languages. 

EXPENSES OF A RESIDENT STUDENT. 

Two hundred and four dollars, per nine months' session, cover all the expenses of en- 
trance fees, tuition, board, fuel, lights and washing. 

Eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents will meet the expenses of a non resident student. 

Within the last year more than $30,000 has been expended in building and improve- 
ments, greatly increasing the comfort and conveniences of students, and enlarging the 
facilities of the Institution. 

The sanitary arrangements of the College are exceptionally good. 

The location is high and healthful, embracing thirteen acres of land. 

For Catalogues, apply at the bookstores, or address 

aug 2t B. PURYEAR, Chairman. 



jfE^FOR THE WHEAT AND GRASS CROPS. 

A line of Goods full enough to meet every shade of demand. 

The Southern Fertilizing Go. 

Offer for the Fall Trade the following Standard Fertilizers: 



'Anchor 



COMPLETE 




Brand" 



WHEAT FERTILIZER. 



Dissolved South Carolina Bone. 

K kWiX M Flour South Carolina Bone and Potash Mixture. 

""^ fATKNTCD. 

FLOUR SOUTH CAROLINA BONE. 

The Company has representatives at all points of importance in the Wheat country, 
who will furnish these goods at bottom figures. aug 3t ' 



GRAPE VINES 

FOB. SALE 1 

Two years old and well rooted. Very low. 
Address EMIL F. HENKENIUS, Bum- 
pass, Louisa Co., Va. sep 3t 




Of every kind cheaper than ever. Rifles, 
Shot Guns, Revolvers, Ammunition, Fish- 
ing Tackle, Seines, Nets, Knives, Razors, 
Skates, Hammocks, etc. Large Illustrated 
Catalogue Free. Address 

Great Western Gun Works, 

sep 2t PITTSBURGH, PA. 

F. Stearns' No.l Fertilizer 

TO THE FaBSIERS OP VIRGINIA : 

Gentlemen, — We continue to manufacture this 
SUPERIOR FERTILIZER, composed of PDRE 
BONE MEAL (partially dissolved) combined with 
FISH GUANO, ANIMAL MATTER, and POTASH 
(muriate). 

We grind the bone and fish ourselves, and can 
vouch for its purity. Nothing can be better for 
TOBACCO and ALL SPRING CROPS, as testified to 
by the best farmers in Virginia, who have used it. 
Price, 840 per ton on board cars in Richmond. 

Our PURE BONE MEAL, ground fine, on hand, 
and for sale at the same price. 

Send in your orders at an early day, as our stock 
will be limited, Address 

STEARNS & HALSEY, 
No. 15 Fifteenth street, Richmond, Va. 



Franklin St earns, 
J. Morton Halsey, 



8S,» 

nr.J 



sep tf 



"piliSRSIiIS FARM. 

THOROUGHBRED HORSES, 

SMorn Cattle, Cotsw old Sheep, 

-A.3NJID BERKSHIRE PIGS 
For Sale. Apply to R. J. HANCOCK 

June ly Overton, Albemarle county, Va. 




Address, TAYLOR MFC. CO. 

iPlvme MerMm thit Paper.) Chambereburs, Pa, 



my- 



-6t 



A YOUNG LADY of some expe- 
rience, who is capable of giving in- 
structions in the English Branches, Mathe- 
matics, French, and rudiments of Latin 
and Music, desires a situation. References 
exchanged. Address, stating terms, 
jy 3t Miss L. D., Petersburg, Va. 



dial M\t%t 



OP VIRGINIA, 
ZFtlOPTJ^OILSriD. 




The FORTY-SIXTH ANNUAL SES- 
SION will begin on Monday, October 1, 
1883. 

For Announcement, or further informa- 
tion, address 

M. L. JAMES, M. D., 

au 2t Dean of the Faculty. 

GRAPE VINES! 

Jefferson, Lady Washington, Pocklington, Del- 
aware, Catawba, Concords. Etc. LOWER 
THAN THE LOWEST. Price lift free, with lith- 
ograph cuts of Jefferson and Pocklinsrton. A LI* 
STOCK WARRANTED TRUE TO NAME. 

EVERETT BROWN & CO.lKK^: 

au 3t 

BERKSHIRE AND JERSEY RED 

Pigs & Hogs 

FOB. SALS! 

Berkshire Pigs, tw<~ months old. $4. 
Berkshire Sows, with pigs by Jersev Boar, 
weighing from 100 to 250 pounds, 10c. per 
pound, nett, delivered on the cars. 

C. R CULLEN, 

au 4t 1305 Main St., Richmond, Va. 



REST 

So outfit free, 
not required 



not, life is sweeping by, go and dare 
before you die, something mighty 
and sublime leave behind to conquer 
time. SS6 a week in your own town. 
No risk. Everything new. Capital 
We will furnish you everything. 
Many are making fortunes. Ladies make as much, 
as men, and boys and girls make great pay. Reader, 
if you want business at which you can make great 
pay all the time, write for particulars to H. HAt^- 
lett & Co., Portland, Maine. janly 



Sorghum Evaporators 




The "Sorghum Grower's Guide" mailed free, 
CHAPMAN & CO., Madison, Ind. 

aug 2t 






ftg 



MANUFACTURERS AND DEALERS IN 



AGRICULTURAL MAdMY AND IMPLEMENTS. 

THRESHING MACHINERY for Horse or Steam Power. 
HAY AND COTTON PRESSES FOR HAND OR POWER. 

The Celebrated 3?. K. Dederick's Patent 

Perpetual 
Hay _ 

PrPQQ ^^^^^^^^f LEVER. 

We also keep in stock and can furnish promptly the INGERSOL CHAIN AND BAR 
PRESSES. 

GRAIN AND GUANO DRILLS. 

BICKFORD «*f Sows perfectly 

CORN, 




HUFFMAN 
GBAI N 

AND 

GUANO 
DRILL! 




Farmer's Favorite. 



PEAS, 

Small Grain, 

CLOVER, 

and other 

GRASS SEEDS! 



Money and time saved by the use of a good Drill. It wastes no fertilizer, but puts it with the grain. It 
puts the grain regular, aud covers it nicely. Send your order in early and get the best. 

Cane "ftXills and. Evaporators. 




Thi3 Cane 
Machinery is 
found to be 
the best ; gets 
most molasses 
from a given 
quantity' of 
cane and re- 
quires less 
power than 
any other. 



MOST JPOFTJJ-.jf^lEl. 




Cook Evaporator. 



Victor Mill. 

STEAM ENGINES, SAW MILLS AND GRIST MILLS. 
STUDEBAKER, MITCHELL, FISH, AND OTHER WAGONS. 

Unequalled for strength and light draft. FEED CUTTERS for ensilage or dry forage. OLIVER CHILLED 
PLOWS, PLASTER SOWERS, MANURE SPREADERS, ROLLERS, WELL FIXTURES, CORN SHEL- 
LERS, &c , &c. We keep on hand a full stock of all styles BARBED FENCE WIRES. 

B®" Send for Illustrated Catalogue. P. 0. Box 8, RICHMOND, VA. 



T.J.WOOLDRIDGE.M.D. 

French Hay, Hanover Co., Va., 



BREEDER OF PURE 



iiiiii 



Essex Pigs 

AND 

CHOiCE POULTRY. 

Has for sale a very Hne collection of WHITE LEGHORNS and BLACK-BREASTED 
RED GAME CHICKENS and WHITE HOLLAND TURKEYS of last Spring's hatch, 
which will be sold on very reasonable terms if ordered at an early day. au 4t 




POCKLI>GTON,PtTCH- 
ESS; LADY WASHING- 
TON, TEKGENNES, 
MOORE'S EARLiY, JEF- 
FERSON, EARLY VIC- 
TOR, BRIGHTON, 



AIsootheT Small Froits.and all older' yarie- 
ties GraDes, Extraqaality. Warranted true. 
Cheapbymail. Low Kate* to Dealers. 

au 9t 




, LARGEST 8TOCK In AMERICA 



0"*§T fc 1^1 ISIS .Prices reduced. IUiis.Cataiogruej'Vl-. 

H ■m.ltai'a I IWWl. S. HUBBARD, Fredon&,N. T. 



THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI. 

The Hand-Book of the State of Mississippi now ready for distribution, containing a 
^Jeographical, Geological and Agricultural Description of the State. Sent free of charge 
to all who desire to learn something about Mississippi. Address E. G. WALL, Com- 
missioner of Immigration and Agriculture, Jackson, Hinds Co., Miss. ap 6t 



CROUP, ASTHMA, BRONCHITIS. 

JOHNSON'S ANODYNE LIMMENT will posi- 
tively prevent these terrible diseases, and will cure nine 
cases out of ten. Information that will save many lives, 
sent free by mail. Don't delay a moment. Prevention is 
better than cure. I S. Johnson & Co., Boston. Mass. 




delyeot 




H. A. S, HAMILTON, 

Pishersville, Augusta County, Va., 

Breeder and Shipper of pure 

Cotswold & Southdown 



WflSkgtfip^ SHEEP. 

Stock of both breeds for sale. 
Write for Description and Prices. 

my— 6t 



DTTVAJL & JSO±lTON'iS 

Celebrated Horse Tonic, 

For improving the condition of Horses. Mules, Cattle and Hogs, giving them an appe- 
tite and relieving them of Bots and Worms, Hidebound Surfeit and Distemper, and all 
diseases to which a horse is subject internally. It is a certain cure for Hog Cholera 
given in half teaspoonful doses twice a day well mixed in the feed. From a large num- 
ber of certificates, we select the following : 

Mr. E. P. Reeves: Richmond, Va. 

Dear Sir, — I have be°n using your Duval & Norton's Horse Tonic for the last eighteen 
months, and find it the best medicine I have ever used for improving the general health 
and appetite of horses in bad condition. Respectfully, 

RO. VAUGHAN, Manager Richmond City Railway Stables. 

HOG CHOLERA. 

The "Horse Tonic" is a certain remedy for the above dangerous disease — the proprie- 
tor will warrant it to cure. Read the following : 
Mr. J. P. Duval : Chesterfield Co. 

Dear Sir, — I take pleasure in saying that I have made a most valuable discovery — it is 
this : that your Horse Tonic will certainly cure the fatal disease called Hog Cholera. 
Last month, finding that I had about a half bottle of your " Horse Tonic" left on hand, 
I thought I would try it ; and I did not lose one of my hogs after I commenced the use 
of it ; but before I began with the tonic, I had lost eight or ten ; and I think I should 
have lost nearly all of them if I had not used your very valuable remedy. 

Very respectfully, JNO. B. LIPSCOMB. 

The excellence of this medicine is testified to by numerous gentlemen of standing, 
amongst them Prof. Ben. S. Ewell, of Williamsburg, Va. ; Thomas W. Turner, Franklin 
Street Stables, Richmond ; Col. Wm. Watts, of Big Lick, Roanoke county, Va. 

seply 



VIRGINIA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL. 





THE ELEVENTH SESSION BEGINS SEPT. 6th- 

State Students Pay No Tuition. Necessary Expenses for 10 Months, $132, 

Apply to your County Superintendent of Schools, or address 

T. N. CONRAD, President, 
se P 3t BLACKSBURG, VA. 

SAUL'S SWftiSMIi® 

"W^A-s:H:i:DTC3-To:rsr, r>. o. 

The undersigned offers a fine stock of the following: New Pears, New Peaches, New Cherries, New- 
Grapes, New Strawberries, &c, Fruit Trees of all kinds 

An extensive stock, viz.: Plums, Cherries, Apricots, Apples, suitable to the So'ith, &c, Grape Vines, 
Strawberries, Raspberries, &c, new sorts Evergreens, New Ornamental Trees, New Shrubs, &c, Small sizes, 
suitable for Nurserymen, as well as large stock in great variety. 

DUTCH BULBS — Large importations direct from the leading growers in Holland. First quality Bulbs, 
Hyacinths. Lilies, Tulips, &c. New and rare Greenhouse Plants, Winter Biooming Plants 

NEW ROSES — Bennett's Hybrid Teas, Queen of Bedders, New French and English Roses, &c. 

49- Everything at low rates. Catalogues mailed to applicants. 



sep 2t 



JOHN SAUL, Washington, D. C. 




I^-NEW VARIETIES OF GREAT 



HYBRED MEDITERRANEANi^i^^^,^S 

the hardiness and prolificacy of the former with the flouring quality of the latter. Bearded ; red chaff. 
Withstood last winter betterthanClawson. Have counted 72 heads oil one stool. DOES NOT 
RUST. Price, g 1 5.00 per bushel, g4.00 per peck (not prepaid), g 1 .OO per pound, prepaid. 
■>■ * Es-pBPJ A MDED Has taken FIRST PRIZE THREE TIMES at Pennsyl- 
IVlAHk 9 BBS AIwafSBrt vania State Fairs. Bushel, gG; peck, g2; 3 lbs., gl. 
Also pure strains of Velvet Cka.ff, Claw9on,Fultz, Red Mediterranean, etc. g2 to S3 per bushel. 

ROCHESTER, N. Y» 
>n CHICAGO, ILL. 



HIRAE1 SIBLEY & CO. 



Send for 
Catalogue L 
and 
Prices. 



INDiANAPOUS, SND., U. S. A. 




CARRY ENGINES and BOILERS !N STOCKfor IMMEDIATE DELIVERY 





PEDIGREE 

EE 



THE U. S. MAIL BRINGS US TO YOUR DOOR! 

The most extensive Seed Growers in America. Founded 1 78-1. Drop us a Postal Card 
for our PRICED CATALOGUE. Address simply LANDKETH, PHILADELPHIA. 



ESTABLISHED IH 1870. 



STONO-PHOSPHATE COMPANY, 

CHARLESTON". S. C. 



WE OFFER TO THE PLANTERS 




GROUND TO A PO.WDER AS FINE AS WHEAT FLOUR— 

"PHOSPHATE FLOATS," 

FOR APPLICATION TO 

GRAIN, GRASSES, AND FOR COMPOSTING. 

The Rock is subjected to FREQUENT ANALYSIS by the Company's Chemist, 
and is of the BEST QUALITY. 

For TERMS, etc., address the Company. 

SAMPLE sent by mail upon application. 
del2m 



Coleman's Celebrated Plough Harness. 

Patented April 2, 1878, and now made and sold in this State by 
JOHN TRIBBLE, No. 9 north Twelfth St., Bichmond, Va. 




This invention supplies many advantages which cannot be enumerated in an ordinary 
advertisement. There being no whiffletrees or traces to load down the beam of the plow, 
no counter-balancing pressure on the handles is required. Orchards ploughed without 
bruising trees. For Gins, Threshers, Lead of Wagons, &c, it can be used to advantage. 

CERTIFICATES. 



Rochester, N. Y., October, 1881. 
J. R. Garrestee, Editor of the Empire State 
Agriculturist, says : We saw it work and can speak 
of its merits; we never recommend any implement 
to our farmers until we know it to be good from ac- 
tual trial. 

North Egremont, Mass., Jan. 3, 1881. 
Mr. A. G Coleman, Charleston, S. C. : 
p- Dear Sir, — Yours received regarding Coleman's 
Patent Harness ; it works well ; the plow runs more 
steady, is easier to handle and much easier on the 
team. I like it much. Have used it two years. 
Respectfully yours, B. F. Loomis. 



Byrd Farm, May 3, 1883. 
This is to certify that we have tried Mr. John 
Trible's (Coleman's Patent) Harness, and are well 
pleased with it ; so much so we expect to use it. 
Jno. M. Butler, W. P. Bowles, W. S. Bowles. 
Elk Island, Va.. May 3, 1883. 
This is to certify that we have tried Mr. Trible's 
(Coleman's Patent.) Harness, and are very much 
pleaded with it. so that we have ordered a set. Will 
be pleased to exhibit it to anyone interested in it. 
Very respectfully, 

W. L. Waring Son & Co., 
Joseph Hobson, W. W. Hobson. 



SEND FOR CIRCULAR AND PRICE-LIST. 

JOHN E. DOHERTY, 

822 EAST MAIM STREET, 

Solicits an examination of his 

Fin© Stock of Foreign Goods 

FOR, FALL AND WINTER. 

UNEXCELLED FOR VARIETY, STYLE AND QUALITY by any offered in this 
market. Will be made by skilled workmen in the LATEST AND MOST APPROVED 
STYLES at PRICES THAT MUST SUIT. 

N. B. — SHIRiS, COLLARS and CUFFS made to order as heretofore and satisfac- 
tion gnaranteed. 



MANHOOD 




A BOOK FOR EVERY MAN. 
YOUNG, MIDDLE-AGED AND OLD. 

The untold miseries that rpsult from in- 
discretion in early life ma' be alleviated 
and cored. Those who doubt this asser- 
tion should purchase a'.d read the new 
medical work published by the Peabody 
Medical Institute, Boston, entitled the 
Science of Life: or, Self -Preserva- 
tion, it is not only a complete and per- 
fect treatise on Manhood, Exhausted Vi- 
tality, Nervous and Physical Debility, Pre- 
mature Decline in man, Errors of Youth, 
etc., but it contains one hundred and twen- 
ty-five prescriptions for acute and chronic 
diseases, each one of which is inval- 
uable, so proved by the author, whose ex- 
perience for twenty-one years is such as 
probably never before fell to the lot of any 
physician. It contains 300 pages, bound 
in beautiful embossed covers, full gilt, em- 
bellished with the very finest steel engrav- 
ings, guaranteed to be a fi tier work in every 
sense — mechanical, literary or profession- 
al — than any other work retailed in this 
country for S2 50, or the money will be re- 
funded. Price, only $1.25 by mail. Gold 
Medal awarded the author by the National 
Medical Association. Illustrated sample 
sent on receipt of six cents. Setid now. 

Address PEABODY MEDICAL IN- 
STITUTE, or Dr. W. H. PAKKER, No. 
4 Bulfinch street, Boston. Mass. The au- 
thor may be consulted on all diseases re- 
quiring skill and experience. ja ly 

~~ TH U R 6 UG H BRED - 

SH0ETH0RN CATTLE. 

MERINO SHEEP and BERKSHIRE 
PIGS. Bred and for snlf>, at moderate 
prices, by S. S. BRADFORD. 

ja 1 — ly Cnlpeper,Va. 

people are always od the lookout for 
lianct-3 to increase their earnings, 
and in time heeome wealthy; those 
who do Dot improve their opportu- 
nities remain in poverty. We offer a great chance 
to mafee money. We want many men, women, boys 
and girls to work for us right in their own localities. 
Any one can do the work properly from the first 
start. The business will pay more than ten times 
ordinary wages. Expensive outfit furnished free 
No one who engages fails to make money rapidly 
You oan devote your wholetime tothe work, or only 
your -pare moments. Full in ormation and all that 
is needed sent free. Address Stinson - & Co., Port- 
land, Maine. janly 



WISE 



Are you DEAF? 

FERRIS' RESTORATIVE will invariably CURE 
YOU. It is endorsed by all home and foreign physi- 
cians and scientists. It eures where all other means 
fail. Don't neglect to send for circulars; it will pay 
vou. Ask your Druggist for it. EDWIN FER- 
RIS & CO., Piker Building, Cincinnati, O. jaly 




Chester, Chester county 
lar and price-list. 



Premium Chester White, 
Berkshire and Poland China 
Pigs, Fine Setter Dogs, 
Scotch Shepherds and Fox 
Hounds, bred and for sale 
by ALEX. PEOPLES, West 
, Pa. Send stamp for circu- 
fe ly 



Fast Potato Digging! 

Tke Monarch Lightning Potato Digger 

Saves its cost yearly, five 
times over, to every 
farmer. Guaranteed to 
^Dig Six Hundred Bush- 
els a Day ! 




Write Postal Card for Free Illustrated Cir- 
culars. Mention this paper. Address „ 

Monarch Manufacturing Co,, 163 Randolph St, Chicago, III 
jy 3t 

Angelo Pearl Painting! 

A WONDERFUL 

TRIUMPH OF ART! 

A new and beautiful process of Portrait Painting. 
The most durable in the world. The Angelo Pearl is 
a new discovery of great, importance to the world ol 
art. and by its superior and marvelous cheapness is 
destined to supersede all other method of oil paint- 
ing. For the purpose of encouraging art. we will 
mail to any person, so that they can easily learn this 
process of painting in a short lime, full p inted in- 
structions on receipt of $1, by addressing 

Anjjelo Portrait Co,, 

myly DETROIT, MICH 



SIOOO REWARD 




ILLUSTRATED 



NEWARK MACHINE CO 
NEWARK. O. 

W\ N. STAGE, 
General Southern Traveling Agent, 
jy 4t Louisville, Ky. 



Receives Mai 

AND 

HIGHEST AWAED 




OF HERlT 

CENTENNIAL. 

Stnd/or Catalogue. 

SAWMILLS 




STEAM' ENGINES, 
LB.FARQUHAR,Iork,P», 

Cheapest and best for all pur- 
poses — simple .-strong, and du- 
rable. Also Horse Pow 
ers and Gin Gear. 

Saw, Grist and Cob 
Mills, Gins, Presses 
andMacht-nehy goner- 
ally. Inquiries promptly 1 
answered. = 

VerticalEngines^itli or without g. 
■wheels, very tonveni- 
ent, economical and 
completein every de- 
jtail, best and 
► cheapest Vert- 
ical in the 

jra/| 1 js engine 

HHHmI innsa. Fig. 

y"}' 5 -'ready for 

groad. 

The Farquhar Separator 

^Warranted) 

Peana. 
A-ricuItural ft 
Worhs, «a 

Torkj Pa. 

Llgbtnt draft, _ 

TTLL»."it durnUc, =ri/: 
ilmpbat, most Zggz 

economic -I 23 

and perfect io " 








TUB 

SILVER 11SEAI, 

AT 

Paris Exposition, 



Address A. V. Farquliar, York,P+ 



sep ly 




All persons say their goods are the best. We ask you to exam- 
ine our Improved Keller Positive Force Feed, Grain, 
feed and Fertilizing Jlrill and our Hay Kakca. They 
are as good as the best, and can be sold as cheap. All are war- 
ranted. Tiro. lars mailed free. Nawark Machine Co-i 
Newark- Ohio. Eastern Branch House, Hogerstown, Md 

W. N. STAGE, 
General Southern Traveling Agent, 
jy 4r Louisville, FCy. 



STANDARD 

CARRIAGE REPOSITORY 

1505 Franklin Street. 

Custom-made work. Buggies, Phtelons, Carriages 
and Farm Wagons at wholesale factory prices. All 
work warranted. ap ly 

>;i F -B miP'NC MAN!iy 

This water-proof material resembles line leather, is used 
for roofs, outside walls of buildings, and inside in place 
of plaster. Catalogue «fc 111 II rjIV P(\ Camden. 
samplesfree.(li:stab.l866)W.n.rAI « tUi A.'. 



NEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY OF 



Schools in all departments, Instrumental and Vocal, 
under the ablest Professors, in classes ami private. 
Lowest Eates. Unparalleled collateral advantages 

DAY & EVENINCSSSS 

obtained in the country. Students may here put sue 
their studies in connection with music, in all the 
K?IVS/^§ S <£ tLl brunches. common andhlgh- 
EL SW %A &m B 9 Fl er, including sciences. M ath- 
ematics, English Literature, liiysiology. History, 
Political Economy, Mental Science, Moral Philoso- 
phy, Latin, etc., etc.. etc. 

LAMCUAGES ££!&&£&?& 

eluding French, Oennan, ltahan, and Spanish. 
D M. Berlitz, principal, L. I). Ventura, Italian. 

ELOCUTSOSM. %S&. ltt£ 

tion, Rhetorical Oratory, Dramatic Art, Eyrie Art, 
and Opera. The course of Instruction is systematic 
and thorough. S. K Kelley, Principal. 

PS 1^8 !E ARTS- Modelling nndT'hufa 
Painting, and Painting from Lite in Oil and Water 
Colors, under Mary K. Carter, Win, l'.riggs, T. E. 
Bartlett, F. M. Lamb, Wni. Willard. ami others. 

PHYSICAL Sa^rtafe 

who thoioughlv understands thescience. Classesfor 
ladies, also for young guls, with special care to their 
growing needs. 

*Ji^%B $ UnM Classes for beginners.nnder best 
VlU&allV teachers, for &M lor twenty 
lessons. Advanced classes at S15 and $J0. Also, 
Lessons on all Orchestral and Band Instruments. 

Best accommodations lor lady students, Rooms, 
Board aud Instruction in the elegantly furnished 
HJ^^fflfflE? Director, Preceptress, Resident 
i1\?B¥8 fe. 1 hysieian, and Matron, reside in 
the building, in the very heart of Boston, co/ijtssedly 
themusicaland artistic cenlreot America, i lass ac- 
commodations for 30U0 lady and gentlemen students. 
J8ew Calendar beautifu/ly illustrated, tree* 
L. XOUKJEE, Director, Franklin Square, Boston. 

sep It 

JTCMTC OBTAINED 

IP% I uiB 1 W B^-A«lvice as to 

F patentability of invention, ■■ v% ■■ f 

and cost of obtaining am« StjP Bra ■>■ 

GOOD and VALID Patent, t ■%. Be. Bob 

I Send Model or Slcelch with full description, advan- 
1 tages, etc. Labels and Trade.Marks registered. 

I REJECTED GASES Please address 

W. E. WITHERBEE, 

(Patent Attorney,) Box 334,Washington,D.C: 




EUREKA! 

Is the Standard Incubator the world over. 
Made bv J. L. CAMPBELL, West Eliza- 
beth, Allegheny Co., Penn. jely 



BUY THE BEST! 



. . 



MILLER'S 

ACME" 

SHIRTS AND DRAWERS 

FINE DRESS SHIRTS a specialty. 

UNDERWEAR of all kinds ready made 
or to measure at short notice. Write for 
printed blanks for self-measurement. 

READY-MADE SHIRTS at from 75c. 
to $1.75 each. Sent by mail on receipt of 
price, and six cents in postage stamps. 

Oar 75c. "Acme" is the best shirt ever 
made for the money. 

TRY ONE. 

H. T. MILLER & CO., 

MANUFACTURERS, 

Cor. Ninth anfl Main Sts.jEicMoMJa. 
CHESAPEAKE AID OHIO RAILWAY 

Opened through the beautiful BLUE 
GRASS region of Kentucky to Louisville 
and Cincinnati. Connecting at these cities 
with all of the Great Lines of Railways 
diverging for 

Indianapolis, St. Louis, Chicago, 
Kansas City, Nashville, Mem- 
phis, and all principal points 
West, South, and Southwest. 
SOLID TRAINS with Pullman Sleeping 
Coaches, run through daily between Wash- 
ington, Richmond, Charlottesville, Waynes- 
boro, Staunton, Clifton Forge and Louis- 
ville and Cincinnati without change. 

SHORTEST & MOST DIRECT ROUTE 

and the only route without transfers, 
Avoiding the uncertainty by other routes 
of making connections. 

For rates and full information, call on 
the nearest Chesapeake and Ohio agent, or 
address 

C. W. Smith, H. W. Fuller, 

Gen'l Manager. Gen'l Pass'r Agent. 

DR. HENRY FRCEHLING. 

ANALYTICAL & CONSULTING CHEMIST 

Laboratory: 17 South Twelfth Street, 
RICHMOND, VA. 



MONEY 



CAN BE MADE without 
hard work if YOU ONLY 
KNOW HOW TO DO IT, 
i housands of men and women, are drag- 
ging out a miserable existence in factories 
and mills, breathing poisonous fumes, en- 
riching their employers and then dropping 
quietly into the grave, leaving their chil- 
dren to the same fate. WE CAN and will 
relieve you. We wish to employ ten or 
more young men and women in every town 
in the United States. We pay good wages 
and give you light, profitable employment. 
No picture, painting, receipts, canvassing 
or other expensive humbugs. You will not 
have to pay out a dollar to test the work. 
All that we require of you is that you send 
us your name and address plainly written, 
and TEN CENTS. Now, don't cry hum- 
bug because we ask you for ten cents. If 
you really are a worker and mean business, 
you certainly can find no fault. We only 
ask it to protect ourselves from "Dead 
Beats" and curiosity seekers. In return 
we will promptly send you by return mail 
a box of goods and full directions, terms 
of payment, etc., that will enable you to 
earn a handsome living with but little ex- 
ertion. We do not promise you riches, but 
something that will bring you in more 
money than you ever made before in your 
life. If you are satisfied with present oc- 
cupation, work for us during your spar© 
hours. IT WILL PAY YOU. Write now, 
as it may not appear again. 
Address, plainly, 

EMPIRE M'F'G CO., 
[Box 63.] Brooklyn, E. D., N. Y. 

je4t 



Wmw® Be©€ &&M1 



of choicest breeds. For sale by FRANK 
LOVELOCK, Secretary Piedmont Sheep 
Breeders' and Wool Growers' Association, 
Gordonsviile, Va. au 3t 

BELMONT 

Stock & Stud Farm. 

I continue to breed Thoroughbred, Riding, 
Trotting, Light and Heavy Draft Horses. 
The best families of Shorthorn Cattle and) 
Berkshire Swine for sale at prices and 
terms to induce sales without jockeying. 
Those stallions not sold early in the year 
may be farmed on sound business terms to 
suit clubs, individuals and patrons. 

S. W. FICKLIN, 
jan Near Charlottesville, Va. 



f '■■ 




We continue to 
act assolicitors for 
patents, caveats, 
trade-marks, copyrights, etc., for 
the United States, and to obtain pat- 
ents in Canada, England, Prance, 
Germany, and all other countries. 
Thirty-six years' practice. No 
charge for examination of models or draw- 
ings. Advice by mail free. 

Patents obtained through us are noticed in 
the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, which has 
the largest circulation, and is the most influ- 
ential newspaper of its kind published in the 
world. The advantages of such a notice every 
patentee understands. 

This large and splendidly illustrated news- 
paper is published WEEKLY at $3.20 a year, 
andis admitted to be the best paper devoted 
to science, mechanics, inventions, engineering 
works, and other departments of industrial 
progress, published in any country. Single 
copies by mail, 10 cents. Sold by all news- 
dealers. 

Address, Mnrm & Co., publishers of Scien- 
tific American, 261 Broadway, New York. 
Handbook about patents mailed free. 





DEDERlCiTSTfAY^. COTT Tffil PRESSES, 

are sent anywhere on trial to operate iagainst all 
other Presses, the custom- 
er keeping the one that 
euits best. No one has ever 
dared show up ary other 
Press, aa Dedcrlck's Press 
» is known to be beyond 
.competition, and will bale 
i with, twice the rapidity of 
'any other. The only way 
■ interior machines can be 
Isold is to deceive the in- 
experienced by ridiculously 
false statements, and thus 
sellwithoutsightorseeing, 
and swindle the purchaser. 
J Working any other Press 
' alongside of Dederick's al- 
i ways sells the purchaser a 
jDederick Press, and all 
■know it too well to show 
np. Address for circular and location of Western 
and Southern storehouses and Agents. 

P. K. BEDEEICK & CO., Albany, N. Y. 



JERSEY RED PIGS 

From largest herd South, which took eight 
premiums and great sweepstakes as finest 
herd in Virginia at State Fairs, 1881— "82. 
This hog is free from disease, a natural 
grazier, prolific and early to mature, and 
in the Western markets brings a higher 
price than any other breed. 

T. LOVELOCK, 
mh ly Gordonsville, Va. 



SedpickSteelWireFence 




Is the only general purpnse Wire Fence in us©, being a 
Strong Net- Work Without Barbs. It will turn dogs, pigs 
sheep, and poultry, as well as the most vicious stock 



Strong Net- Work Without Barbs. It will turn dogs, pigs, 
sheep, and poultry, as well as the moat vicious stock, 
without injury to either fenoe or stock. It is just the fenco 



for farms, gardens, stock ranges and railroads, and very 
neat for lawns, parks, school lots and cemeteries. Covered 
with rust-proof paint (or gal van ized) it will last a life-timo* 
It it Superior to Boards or Barbed Wire in every respect. 
Wo ask for it a fair trial, knowing it will wear itself 
into favor. The Sedgwick Gates, made of wrought- 
Iron pipe and steel wire, defy all competition In neatness, 
strength and durabilitv. We also make the best and 
Cheapest All Iron Automatic or Self-Opening Oats, also 
Cheapest and Neatest All Iron Fenoe. Best Wire 
Stretcher and Howl Auger. Also manufac- 
ture Russell's excellent Wind Engines for 
pumping water, or geared engines for grinding 
and other light work. For prices and particulars ask 
hardware dealers, or address, mentioning paper, 
SE1HJWICK BROS. Jirrs. Richmond, and 
e ly 



■B jfo a week made at home by the industrious. 
B K Best business now before the public. 
t # Capital not needed. We will start you. 
I Em Men, women, boys and girls wanted 
every where to work for us. Now is the time. You 
can work in spare time, or you can give your whole 
time to the business. Noother business will pay 
you nearly as well. No one can fail to make enor- 
mous pay, by engaging at once. Costly outfit and 
terms free. Money made fast, easily aDd honorably. 
Address True & Co.. Augusta, Me. janly 




Dana's White Metallic Ear Marking Label, stamped 
to order with name, or name and address and num- 
bers. It is reliable, cheap and convenient. Sells at 
sight and gives perfect satisfaction. Illustrated 
Price-List and samples free. Agents wanted. 

C. H. DANA, West Lebanon, N. H. 
de 



SOUTHERN A«\ I.MIAIKK REOIS- 
TEREI» JERSEYS for sale at fair prices. 
Eight registered Jersey cows, from 4 to 8 years old, 
bred to choice registered hulls. Also imported bull 
Jersey Express No. 5771 ; solid color, black points; 
dropped December 20th, 1879: and several registered 
bull calves, from 6 to 9 months old, two from im- 
ported sire and dams, and both solid, fancy colors. 
A\soi*6 pure-bred unregistered Jersey heifers, from 6 
to 16 months old, all from good butter stock. Ad- 
dress ROWE'S CO-OPERATIVE STOCK FARM, 
Fredericksburg, Va. jantf 



this xt:e-w 
jEI/LSTIC TRUSS 

j Has a Pad ditTerlD? from al 1 otben, 
' la enp shape, with Self- Adjusting 
i Ball in center, adapts, tselfto all 
po.it icon of the body, while the 
Bal 1 1 n tho mo presses back tha 
iBtesttaesjnat as apornoD would) 
with the Finger* With light 
pressure tho Hernials held securely 
Bayand night, end a radical curerertaln. ilia easy, dorafcU 
md cheap. Sent by mall. Circulars free. 

EGG LESION TSUSS CO.sCMcaffo.HL 
fe lv 




ASHLEY PHOSPHATE CO. 

::OHARLESTON, S- O.:: 



SOLUBLE GUANO— Highly Ammoniated. 

DISSOLVED BONE— Very High Grade. 

ACID PHOSPHATE— For Composting. 

ASH ELEMENT— For Cotton, Wheat, Peas, &c 

FLOATS — Phosphate Rock, reduced to an Impalpable Powder by the Due 
Atomizer, of Highest Grade. SAMPLE sent on application. 

SMALL-GRAIN SPECIFIC— Rich in Ammonia, Phosphoric Acid, 
Potash, Magnesia and Soda. 

GENUINE! LEOPOLDSHALL KAINIT. 

The above FERTILIZERS are of very high grade, as shown by the Official Reports 
of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. 

For Terms, Hand-Books, Agricultural Primers, and good Articles on Floats, Peas and 
Ash Element, Kainit, &c, address the 

ASHLEY PHOSPHATE COMPANY, 

N. B. — Special inducements for Cash Orders. [6mjy] 

Established 1865. Standard Guaranteed. 

ALLISON f£ ADDISON, 

MANUFACTURERS OF 




"STAR BRAND" SPECIAL COMPLETE MANURES 

FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING CROPS: J 

TOBACCO, WHEAT, COTTON, CORN, OATS, VEGETABLES AND GRASS, 

Pure Flour of Raw Bone, Acid Phosphate, Ground Phosphate Rock, Sulphuric Acid. 

— DEALERS in — 

German Kainit or Potash, Nitrate of Soda, Plaster, &c. 

OFFICE— J 322 Cary Street. ) qimm ma g^ nj ■** « ■ « 

FACTOEY-Opposite Eocketts,/ Klvll IVI \J Vi Lfy V Ma 

' All orders and communications promptly attended to. fe tf 



MOSES & CLEMONS, 



MANUFACTURERS AND DEALERS IN 



EOIS FERTIL 



Baldwin & Co's American Dissolved Bones— For Tobacco. 
Baldwin & Co's Bone Compound— For Wheat, Corn and Cotton. 
Baldwin & Co's Georgia Grange Dissolved Bone, with Potash. 
Avalon American Dissolved Bones. 
Avalon Dissolved Bones 
Also, PURE BONE MEAL. 

These goods are of the very highest grade, and are recommended with entire 
confidence to consumers. Circulars will be mailed to parties seeking informa- 
tion, on application. 

MOSES & CLEMONS, 

P. O. Box 126. [sep3t] Shocke Slip, Richmond, Va. 




(Successor to MILLER & HAWES), 

SOUTHERN 




CIRCULAR AM OTHER SAWS, MACHIXERY, EDGE TOOLS, 

TOBACCO, STRAW-CUTTER, BOOK-BINDING, PLANER AND 

OTHER KNIVES. 

1426 and 1428 Gary St., Richmond, Va. 

Burnt Saws Repaired. Special Attention to Repairs of all Kinds. 

sep2t 



IT CURES 1iS«jl_^L« 

SPAV1XS, SPLITS, CCRBS, RIM-BONES 

AND 

All Similar Blemishes, ^^S^g^KENDALL'S 

And Remotes the Bunch Without Blistering. >= g^^g=- J -»-— — —=~^=-^=ggeg- 

For man it is now known to be ONE OF TEE BEST, if not THE BEST LINIMENT 
EVER DISCOVERED. 

The most successful remedy ever discovered, as it is certain in its effects, and does not 
blister. Also excellent for human flesh. Read proof below : 

[From the Akron Commercial. Ohio, of November 25th, 1882.] 

Readers of the Commercial cannot well forged that a large space has for years been taken up by Kendall's 
advertisements — especially of a certain Spavin Cure. We have had dealings with Dr. Kendall for many 
years, and we know of som? large business bouses in cities near by. who have also dealt with him for many 
years, and the truth is fully and faithfully proven, not only that he is a good honest, man. and that his cele- 
brated Spavin Cure is not only all that it is recommended to be, but that the English language is not capable 
of recommending it ton highly. 

Kendall's Spavin Cr.re will cure spavins. There are hundreds of cases in which that has been proven to 
our certain knowledge, but, after all. if any person confines the usefulness of this celebrated medicine to 
curing spavius alone, they make a big mistake. It is the best medicine known as an outward application 
for rheumatism in the human family It is good for pains and aches, swellings and lameness, and is just as 
safely applied to men, women and children as it is to horses. We know that there are other good liniments, 
but we do believe this Spavin Cure to be far better than any ever invented. 

Send address for Illustrated Circular which, we think, gives positive proof of its 
virtues. No remedy has ever met with such unqualified success to our knowledge, for 
beasts as well as man. 

Price, $1 per bottle, or six bottles. All druggists have or can get it for you, or it 
will be sent to any address, on receipt of price, by the proprietors. 

Dr. B. J. KENDALL & CO., Enosburgh Ealls, Vermont. 
Franklin Davis. Edward H. Bissell. 

RICHMOND NURSERBES. 



400 Acres in Nursery Slock ! 100 in (Mart ! 100 in Small Fruits ! 

We offer to our customers an immense stock of APPLES, PEACHES, CHERRIES, 
APRICOTS. GRACES, Ac— all the standard sorts. Also, the new varieties of FRUITS, 
ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, ROSES, &c, Wholesale and Retail. To dealers 
we can offer stock on favorabls terms, and the best facilities for packing and shipping. 
Catalogues mailed on application. 

FRANKLIN DAVIS & CO., 

sep 6t Office : 1013 Main St., RICHMOND, VA. 

BECKWITH'S ANTI-DYSPEPTIC PILLS 

The best and most reliable Anti- Dyspeptic Medicine ever offered to the Public. 

For more than seventy years this medicine has maintained its high reputation. No 
remedy wa° ever offered to the public sustained by such forcible certificates of wonderful 
remedial properties. Presidents of the United States, Judges of the Supreme Court, 
Governors of States, United States Senators and Physicians of the highest standing are 
among those who attest their value from personal tests. • 

E. R. Beckwith, Pharmacist, now manufactures these invaluable pills from the Origi- 
nal Recipe of his grandfather, Dr. John Beckwith. 

40 IPills-s in a Box — I'rioe, 25 Cents. 

Sufferers from DISORDERED STOMACH or DERANGED LIVER, with their at- 
tendant complications, will find relief from these pills. Sold by Druggists Generally. 

E. R. BECKWITH, Pharmacist. 

fe tf Cor. Market and Halifax Sts., Petersburg, Va. 



W. H. Palmer, Pres. B. C. Wherry, Jr., Sec. 0. F. Weisiger, Jr., Ass't Sec. 



r'jn.E: -A.i\ri> i&£AE%.x:Kr3E3. 



VIRGINIA HOME 

Jnsntanre totjnmg, 

EICHMOND, VIRGINIA.. 

Office in Company's Building, No. 1014 Main St. 



§- 



W. B. Isaacs. 
Jno. C. Williams. 

seply 



DIRECTORS. 

P. W. Grubbs. John Enders. 

R. E. Blankenship. Geo. K. Crjtchfield. 

Jas. T. Gray. Moses Millhiser. 



Edward Cohen. 
T. Wm. Pemberton. 



INCORPORATED IN 1865.— 




OFFICE— 1006 MAIN STREET, RICHMOND, VA. 
CASH CAPITAL, - $200,000. 

Insures Dwellings, Stores, Merchandize, and other property against loss or damage by fire 

DIRECTORS.— J. L. Bacon, President ; Thos. W. McCance, Vice-President. Wm. H. Haxall, Jame 
Alfred Jones, A. D. Williams, A. Osterloh. 

Robt. E. Richardson, Sec. Bazil Gordon, Jr., Ass't Sec. Jno. B. Grant, Solicitor. 

*S»Agents in all the prominent Cities, Towns, and Villages of Virginia seply 



vwr? 



~ The Session begins on the FIRST OF OCTOBER, and continues until the Thursday 
before the fourth day of July ensuing. 

The Institution is organized in separate Schools on the Eclectic Svstem, embracing 
FULL COURSES OF INSTRUCTION IN LITERATURE AND SCIENCE, and in 
the PROFESSIONS OF LAW, MEDICINE, 

ENGINEEMNa AND AGRICULTURE. 

THE EXPENSE'S of the student (except such as enter the practical laboratories) ex- 
clusive of the cost of text-books, clothing and pocket money, are from $356 to $391, ac- 
cording to Schools selected ; or, for those who economize by messing, these expenses 
are from $266 to $300. No charge for tuition candidates for the ministry unable to meet 
the expense. 

Apply for Catalogues to W. A. Winston, Secretary, P. 0. University of Virginia, Al- 
bemarle county, Va. JAMES F. HARRISON, M. D., Chairman of the Faculty. 

seply 




I 




BEST A-N^ CHEAPEST! 

We wish to call your attention to" the merits of ORCHILLA GUANO as the most 
wonderful grain and grass producer and real improver of the soil ever offered to the 
farmers of Virginia, whicn fact is not only substantiated by the best chemists in the 
country, but by thousands of the best and most reliable farmers in Maryland, Pennsylva- 
nia and Virginia, who have been using it for the last twelve or fifteen years, and who tes- 
tify to the fact that it is not only a powerful crop producer, but its effects are seen for 
four or five years by a single application. 

This guano is found in the Orchilla Island, in the Carribbean Sea, and comes to us di- 
rect by vessels, and all we do to it on arrival is to screen out the lumps and bag it. 
Every cargo is analyzed before leaving the Island, and comes guaranteed to us to contain 
from 40 to 50 per cent, of Bone Phosphate of Lime, and other valuable ingredients. 

TIEiE CHEMISTS ENDORSE IT. 

The Department of Agriculture of the State of Virginia, under the administration of 
Dr. J. M. Blanton, have recently undertaken the analysis of every brand of Fertilizer, 
sold in the State. The Report of the work done in that respect, by Prof. W. I. Gas- 
coyxe, the well-known Chemist of the Department, during the Fall Season of 1882, has 
just been published. It embraces the analysis of seventy-five different brands of Fertili- 
zers, and certifies to the actual value of their several constituents as developed by the 
analysis. A reference to this Report exhibits the following remarkable results : 

1. The actual value of most of these Fertilizers falls below the prices asked for them 1 

2. Where the actual value exceeds the price asked, the excess, in very few instances, 
reaches 10 per cent. 

3. In the case of ORCHILLA GUANO, the certificate of the chemist is "Actual 
value $41.12," which is more than 50 per cent, over the price asked for itl 

This official statement is only corroborative of similar results, furnished us privately 
by other chemists of high reputation in Virginia and elsewhere; notably Prof. Mallet, 
Dr. Dabney, Prof. Taylor and others. According to Dr. Dabney, the cash value of the 
sample analyzed by him, was $43.97. Prof. Taylor's, by the same calculation, was 
$44.32. 

We are permitted to copy a portion of a private letter from Prop. JOHN R. PAGE 
of the University of Virginia, as to practical results : 

University of Virginia, January 23, 1883. 
***** j h ave use( j Orchilla Guano very successfully on root crops, 
as you might expect from its high percentage of Phosphoric Acid. * * * I 
repeat what I have said repeatedly, that high-priced ammoniated fertilizers can- 
not be used in a large majority of the worn-out lands in Virginia profitably, 
nntil those lands have been prepared by drainage, thorough tillage — the use of 
lime compounds and vegetable matter ploughed into the soil. Until the land is 
prepared thus, there is nothing to hold the nitric acid and ammonia in the soil, 
and it is carried off by the drainage and atmosphere before the crop can use it, 
which often results in no profit and no permanent improvement to the land. I 
have used the Orchilla Guano this fall on wheat. * * * 

Yours, &c, John R. Page. 



Send for our LITTLE BOOK containing the letters of scores of Virginia farmers, 
bearing testimony to the fact, that the Lime Compound which has done them the 
best service, is ORCHILLA GUANO, with its 40 to 50 per ^cent. of Bone Phosphate of 
Lime. 



W©@£®KIB@E^S4¥®I 



@© 



•* 



■IMPOBTEBS- 



64 Buchanan's Wharf, 



BALTIMORE. 



CHAS. G. SNEAD, Importers' Agent, RICHMOND. Va. 



WHEN YOU FLOW 



GET ON TRIAL THE 

WATT CHILLED 



THEY ARE SUPERIOR IN " ' 



ESSENTIAL OF 



STRENuTH, DURABILITY. 



X LIGHT DRAUGHT, 



PERFECT BURIAL OP VEGETATION, THOROUGH DISINTEGRATION OF 
THE SOIL, FREEDOM FROM CHOKING. Warranted to be as represented, and 
sold subject to approval by trial. Return at our expense if not satisfactory. 

"WATT No. D E and No. A B Jr. PLOWS are the favorites in the Cotton 
States. They are the only perfect combined Turning and Cultivating Plows made. The 
BEST and the CHEAPEST for Corn, Cotton, Tobacco and Vegetables. 

S@"Send For Illustrated Circulars. 




FARM WAGONS 

made of the best material and fin- 
ished in the most attractive manner. 
We are prepared to furnish at prices 
as low as any first-class Wagon can 
be sold. Every Wagon warranted 
for twelve months. All expecting to 
purchase Wagons will find it to their 
interest to examine our etock and 
prices. 



CORN SHELLERS 

shell clean 



for HAND or POWER, separating 
Corn from Cob, and guaranteed to 
FAN ATTACHMENTS for blowing out chaff and dust. 



ROSS GIANT ENSILAGE GUTTERS 

HAVE RECEIVED oyer 240 MEDALS 

AND HIGH AWARDS OF MERIT. 

Successful at every competing trial at cut- 
ting. Will do more work with less power 
than any other Cutters made. THIS WE 
GUARANTEE, and warrant every one to 
give satisfaction. We furnish these Cutters 
with a capacity of TEN TONS per HOUR 
down to fodder cutters of one-man power. 
We can meet the varied wants and tastes of 
all, in size, price and make. 




On receipt of six cents in postage, we will mail a HANDSOME BOOK ON 
ENSILAGE, of seventy pages, bound in cloth. 

ALL INTERESTED in the use and sale of IMPROVED IMPLEMENTS 
AND FARMING TOOLS, including Adjustable Iron-Frame Cultivators and Horse 
Hoes, Walking and Riding Cultivators, Mowers, Reapers and Threshers, Wheel Rakes, 
Farm Wagons, Grain Drills, Broadcast Seed Sowers, Harrows of various patterns, 
Plows, Plow Castings, and plow material of all kinds, are invited to send for Special 
Circular and Price-List. 

WATT & CALL, - Richmond, Va.