Subscription REDUCED to $1.50 Per Annum in Advance. TO CLUB* OF KIVE OR MOKE. OWE DOLLAR EACH. ESTABLISHED I *T 1840 THE SOUTHBR1T PLANTER AND FARMER UEVOTKD TO Agriculture, Horticulture, and Rnral Affairs. L. R. DICKINSON Editor and Proprietor. RICHMOND, Yi, SEPTEMBER, 1875. No. 9. CONTENTS. Cosi and Value of Composts 4^1 Fertilizei - 483 Gr< en Fallow I ' I »<>es Farming Pay " — Again 188 Blooded Cattle Sheep Raising I I I i kahoe Farmers' Club 492 Grasses: An Es«ay delivered before Tuckaboe Farmer*' Club 493 Report on the Experimental Farm of the University of Virginia 498 1! laimingour Bottom Lands 610 Prof. Villoand Chemical Manures... 512 Amelia Plantation Observations 516 Agricultural Schools 518 Prolapsus of th< ' « rus (Falling of Womb 520 Decisions 521 'ration a Need of the Grange ; Grange — No Antagonism.. * onventioi Planters at rk< i. . \ i. — The Inspection iws 624 Right Kind of a Wife ; How to en to Ik»d ! 525 How to make Rag Carpets 626 Brine for Keeping Butter 527 The Actual Damage .528 Preparation of Wheat Lands 629 Manure in Gardening 530 MeUow Soil around Trpos ; Too Poor to take a Newspap 531 Should Horses wear Blinders 532 Dogs as Sheep Protector* 533 Sow Some Rye for Winter Pas* turage 484 Coat of Thre«bing, Ac 486 Editorial Department: \ ' «>s for the Month 586 Meet ug of Executive Comn. Virginia State Agriculttund So ciety 588 The Ability of Virginia to Continue a Wheat Grower with Profit; From T. S. Coop< -. W iond District Council: New Hotel at the Greenbrier White S i Imr; The Capability of \ - ginia I^nnds to Produce Heavy Crops; White Sulphur Virginia. & . 66 LINDEN" a ROVE." Importer, Breeder and Shipper of English Worses, SJiort Horn aqd Ayrshire Cattle, Cotswold, Oxford and Shropshire-Down Sheep, And Berkshire Figs of the most Fashionable Blood. " SALLIE FAMILY A SPECIALTY " At " LINDEN GROVE." The grand Imp, Boars, " Othello," (sire of Sambo 2d, and other prize winners), "Plymouth," Sambo Tenth, First and Second " Duke of St. Bridge," and " Mark Antony," now in use in my herd at "Linden Grove," and offer Young Pigs for sale, sired by them out of my choice Imp. sows, Sallie IVth, IXth, Xth, Xlth, Xllth, XHIth, XlVth, XVth, " Royal Beauty," " Cleopatra," " Bailey's Duchess," "Stumpey," Vth and Vllth, and full sister to u Sweet Seventeen," (same litter.) Also a few young sows, in pig to some of the above named Boars. Also, a choice lot of Cotswold rams (lambs, yearlings, and two or three shear's) some of them sired by the renowned ram " Diamond Fleece," and all out of imported ewes. Also, some fine Ayrshire calves, both sexes, which will be sold at reasonable prices, from the best milking stock in the country, selected in person from the best breeders in Scotland. Address, t, s, COOPER, "Linden Grove," sep — ly Coopersburg, Lehigh county, Pa. THE SOUTHERN PLANTER & FARMER, DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS Agriculture is the nursing mother of the Arts. — Xkvopho*. Tillage and Pasturage are the two breasts of the State.— Sully. L. R. DICKINSON, ...--- Editor and Proprietor. New Series. EICHMOND, VA., SEPTEMBER, 1875^ No, 9 [For the Southern Planter and Farmer.] COST AND VALUE OF COMPOSTS. Who has not frequently observed that the thorough or at least good cultivator makes fair to good crops from poor land by his good manip- ulations, whilst he has also seen the bad cultivator again and again fail to do more than make a miserable crop from very good land by poor and improper cultivation? It seems to me that no observing, thoughtful man can live long in the country without observing fre- quent repetitions of such things almost every season. And now, as to the comparative cost of home-made putrescent manures and commercial fertilizers. Good fertilizers cost from $45 to $70 per ton — say on an average in the neighborhood of $o0 per ton, or $2.50 per one hundred pounds ; and suppose we admit that 500 pounds of fertilizer equals 25 two-horse loads of barn-yard ma- nure or compost. That would be $12.50 per acre for the fertilizer; the question is, can you make and apply 25 loads of manure for $12.50 ? I think it can be done. Suppose you have stock enough and forage enough. One team and two men will gather the neces- sary soil, compost, turn over, haul out, and spread with great case, an average of six loads per day. Now count 300 working days, and you have 1,800 loads per annum. You can feed your team for $325.00, and your labor will cost you $325.00, or $650.00 total cost. Now, admitting that 500 pounds of fertilizer equals 25 loads of manure, that would be 100 loads manure equals one ton fertiliser; 1,800 loads equals 18 tons, costing $900, exclusive of freight, haul- ing, spreading, &c. To me it is evident that I am a great gainer by the process of composting on the above- basis. Bat I am B&tisfied that 2;"> loads of good compost or manure will yield double the re- sults that 500 pounds of fertilizer will. Again, in order to produce home-made manure I cease to ship 482 THE SOUTHERN [September forage and grain at a cost of 12 per cent, transportation, and con- vert those substances into manure, shipping my product (butter) by express at the cost of 2 J per cent., relieving myself and my team of the heavy hauling, and my township of the necessary heavy travel, and these are no small items in the calculation. Another important consideration for poor farmers is the fact that the money outlay of my 1,800 loads of manure is only $220, the balance being paid in the products of the place, consumed there to reproduce more manure ; and that $220 is paid, say within an average of six months. Now, if you do not pay cash for your com- mercial fertilizers, you must pay a very large additional profit ; in any case it is equivalent to planking down the round sum at once before you can receive the shipment. This, however, is but a faint outline of the picture — look on both sides and decide for yourselves. I have no interest but truth to serve, and am anxious to " buy it and sell it not," and if you can teach me a more excellent way, I will gladly walk with you. G. B. S. [Our correspondent has evidently gotten some very broad glimpses of the truth, but we cannot fully endorse all he says. The trouble with him is the very same that we find with all, or at least a very large proportion of our farmers. It is simply this, he does not know definitely what is the cost and value of his ma- nure — so much depends upon the amount of real fertilizing elements contained in the composts. The distance the material for making it has to be moved 5 the distance the manure has to be transported to the field, and many other cir- cumstances affecting its cost — then the amount and character of provender con- sumed by the stock, whether made under shelter or out of doors, and other circumstances affecting its value as a fertilizer, that it is impossible to form any very definite idea in the matter unless all the circumstances are known. We know a farmer who keeps about 30 head of cattle and 10 horses. The cattle are fed during the winter in an open lot, so constructed that everything that falls in it must run to the cent e. This lot contains something like li acre of ground. Upon one side is the barn and horse stables, and the water from these roofs run into the lot. The cattle are fed on wheat-straw, shucks and corn-fodder, and littered with leaves, &c. The horse stable is cleaned out and the manure spread upon the lot. In the spring this manure, saturated with water, is hauled out, and after lying in the field until dry, is scattered and plowed in for corn. More than three fourths of the weight, hauled to the field is pure water, of which the field already has too large a supply. We think this man's manure costs more than it is worth. Upon the subject of commercial fertilizers] we have very definite and conclu- sive opinions based upon our own experience, and fully sustained by the opinions of others. They are excellent auxiliars, but too costly to use alone unless for such crops as tobacco. As affording the means of improving worn out lands by fitting them for raising peas, clover, or some other renovating crop, we consider them invaluable. But the subject is too prolific and we must defer a full discussion of it for the present. — Ed.] 1875.] PLANTER AND FARMER. 483 fFor the Southern Planter and Farmer.] FERTILIZERS. In your August number, I notice a communication from ex-Gov. Smith, on the fertilizer question, referring more especially to Prof. Ville's Complete Manure, giving the cost of materials, etc. His remarks in regard to a thorough preparation of the soil are good and worthy the attention of farmers, and I should certainly rejoice if the Farmer could find out exactly what his land needs in the way of lime, nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash, &c, but fear, if he depends upon the analysis of the chemist, or any other process, ex- cept by aetual experiment * with preparations containing different proportions of the four principal elements of plant growth named above, he will fail. These experiments should be made by every farmer who feels any interest in successful agriculture — and who does not? As to the cost of the material of " Ville's Complete Manure," I think the Governor has placed his cost mark a little too high. For in- stance, he puts the cost of acid phosphate of lime, at $35 per ton, whereas it can be bought in Baltimore at $25 per ton, and might be furnished at $20 per ton. Nitrate of potash will cost from 80 to 90 cents per pound, and sulphate of ammonia can now be bought for 4 1 cents. The cost of plaster depends on circumstances. I see he puts it at $7.25 per long ton. He proposes to substitute sulphate of potash for nitrate, or salt- petre. Here is a slight mistake. Sulphate of potash, or kainit, con- tains only 1G or 17 per cent, of actual potash, and can be bought anywhere from 14 or 15 to $30, depending on whom you purchase of. The muriate of potash contains 54 per cent, of actual potash, and can be bought for, from 2£ to 3 cents per pound, dependiiig upon the same contingencies. Whether Ville's Complete Manure will be, or should be generally adopted by our farmers, is somewhat problematical. It is made up of the different salts, furnishing nitro- gen to the plant in the shape of nitrate of potash, and sulphate of ammonia. The difficulty I apprehend, is, it is very soluble and stim- ulates the plant in its early growth, and either becomes exhausted in the early stage of growth, or is dissolved in the soil by rains, and fails to give the necessary support in the maturing stage of growth. Morfit, in his large work upon fertilizers, recommends the use of a certain amount of these nitrates or salts of ammonia for the early stage of plant growth, combined with animal matter, guano or fish scrap, which by decomposing gradually in the soil, gives support to the plant in its maturing stage. Allow me to BOffgest a few formulae, which I think will be found to answer an excellent purpose generally : 1200 pounds, S. C. Dissolved Bone, costing, $15 00 300 " Muriate of Potash, costing, 6 75 500 u Animal Matter, costing, 10 00 $31 75 484 THE SOUTHERN [September This will yield 6 per cent, of soluble phosphoric acid; over 8 per cent, of actual potash and about 3 per cent, potential ammonia ; or 1000 pounds, Dissolved S. C. Bone, costing, ' $12 50 200 " Muriate of Potash, " 4 50 700 " Animal Matter, " 14 00 100 " Sulphate Ammonia, " 5 00 $36 00 This will yield 5 per cent, soluble phosphoric acid ; more than 5 per cent, of actual potash ; about 4.2 per cent, of potential ammonia, and 1.25 per cent, of actual ammonia, equivalent to about 6 per cent, of potential ammonia, or 1200 pounds, Dissolved S. C. Bone, costing, $15 00 300 * " Kainit, " 3 00 500 " Eish Scrap, " 5 00 $23 00 Yielding 6 per cent, soluble phosphoric acid, about 2.5 per cent, actual potash and about 2 per cent, of potential ammonia, which is about as good a yield as the most of the fertilizers in the market show, containing as it does, three of the most important elements of plant growth. Dissolved animal bone will cost from $40 to $45 per ton, and will yield about the same amount of phosphoric acid as the South Carolina phosphate, but will yield in addition, about 3 per cent, of ammonia to the ton. Dissolved bone ash will cost about $35 per ton, and will yield about 20 per cent, of soluble phosphoric acid, or twice as much at the others. Your next correspondent, L. S. B. of North Carolina, declares himself astonished that any one with the least pretensions to scien- tific knowledge, should countenance the wild and erroneous theory that Peruvian guano is a mere stimulant to the growing plant. , While I am not prepared to declare myself an advocate of the doc- trine that guano is a " mere stimulant," yet I do declare my belief emphatically, that it is an over stimulant of plant growth. f He gives us a statement of what guano contains, notably : ammo- nia, phosphoric acid and potash, but fails to tell us the quantities of each. Good guano should contain 15 per cent, of ammonia, but does not generally contain more than 10 per cent, even when pure, and often much less ; perhaps 3 or 4 per cent, of phosphoric acid, and 2 or 3 per cent, of potash. Prof. Morfit says, that a good fertilizer should contain phosphoric acid, potash and ammonia in the propor- tions of 7, 9 and 4. Now a fertilizer containing a large proportion of ammonia, forces the growth of plants, and exhausts the stores of potash and phos- phoric acid in the soil, which the fertilizer fails to supply, and in the 1875.J PLANTER AND FARMER. 485 course of a few years, these stores fail and the soil becomes exhausted- Allow me to suggest, 800 pounds, Dissolved Bone Ash, costing, $14 00 350 " Muriate Potash, " 7 87J 850 " Guano, (Guanape), " 25 50 $47 37J Yielding about 8 per cent, of phosphoric acid, about 9.5 per cent, of actual potash, and about 4.25 per cent, of ammonia. Edinburg, August 18*/*, 1875. D. W. Prescott. * Note by the Editor. — The human system and the soil are alike in many re- spects. The elements in both have been arranged by Providence, not by us, into machinery with the ability to do perfect work : but, if not properly looked after, it is liable to derangement and faihire. Experience shows us that the 44 constitution" of the man must determine how best he should be fed and cared for. to make his powers the most serviceable, and when he is sick, what reme- dies are best to secure his recovery. So in respect to the soil. The chemists 1 analysis determines nothing absolutely ; and in practice we find that we must try. by experiment, what will best suit its ''constitution." The conclusion of our correspondent is, therefore, to our mind, a correct one. f Ibid. — As exceedingly interesting in this connection we present an extract from the "money article" of the "London Times,' 1 of the 5th August ulto.: 11 We have been favored with a sight of some private letters by the Captain of a vessel sent out to the Peruvian coast to load guano. They are dated in May and June, and give a very interesting, evidently true, but also disastrous account of the state of affairs there. It would seem that the good guano is exhausted at Pabellon de Pica, and what the vessels had to take in was mixed with stones and gravel to the extent of from 20 to 50 per cent. The engineers in charge were burrowing and blasting among the rocks in search of more guano, said to be under them, and to supply the ships with this dross, the rocks were also being swept. Over 100 vessels had arrived off the coast, (there is no harborage it would appear) and some of them had lain three months waiting for their loads, unable to get an ounce of guano to put on board. Some ships refused to take in such rubbish unless on the responsibility of the government contractors. Dreyfus & Co., who it is rumored had obtained a discount of 40 per cent, on the remainder of their contract, in consideration of the dross they had to take, stood passive in the matter. Many ships had gone to another part of the coast called Lobos Point, seven miles from Pabellon de Pica, where guano was said to be plentiful, but there they fared even worse than in the old spot. In the first place, they had to lie in open water 40 to 50 fathoms deep, where the swell was so heavy that, the lighters, out of which they loaded, were continually getting smashed, and ships themselves losing anchor and chains. The writer of these letters was told by a brother Captain who had been at Lobos, that fourteen anchors and chains wore so lost in a fortnight, nor was there any compensation for these evils, the guano at Lobos being M full of stones as the other. We have heard many statements to the same etVeet lately, but here WS have the testi- mony of men actually on the spot, and at this juncture it is impossible to rate its importance." 486 . THE SOUTHERN . [September [For the Southern Planter and Farmer.] GREEN FALLOW. It is now the season of the year when farmers begin to fallow land for wheat. Some have already fallowed, and the opinion prevails here that the earlier it can be done the better. The last of May, or first of June, would be preferred by some of our farmers if other business did not interfere. The object of this communication is to report an accidental experiment I made last year. I had a field di- vided between wheat and oats, and after the wheat was cut, the chinch-bug, which had nearly destroyed the wheat, turned to the oats, and in order to retard their movements I took two-horse turn plows and plowed a strip of the oats under, some thirty feet wide, and the plowing had the desired effect, it effectually stopped them until the oats got ripe. In the fall. I fallowed the whole field and sowed it in wheat. The strip of course was re fallowed. The whole crop was an indifferent one. I supposed I would Bee some difference where the oats were turned under, but there was no perceptible difference ; but I was surprised in passing over the field the other day to see little or no green grass, weeds or anything else spring up on that strip. The wet season has been most favorable to the shooting up and growth of vegetation on all stubble land, but that strip is naked, and the very line may be traced by the eye from one end to the other by its nakedness. Now, how is this to be accounted for? Was it an accidental result, or was it a legitimate result from an adequate cause ? I conclude that being plowed about the first of July, the sun scorched the life out of it, so that it has not yet recovered, if it ever does. This opinion is strengthened by another circumstance : A neighbor of mine fallowed a field early last year for wheat, and it w r as good land, and his crop at the last harvest, which ought to have yielded a hundred bushels, is estimated at fifteen. I do not know what crop he had on the field previous to the fallow, but I think it was oats. I have been accustomed to fallow oat stubble for wheat, but I am not pleased with the result. The crops of wheat have in- variably fallen short of my expectations, taking into consideration the known quality of the land. Am I right in this ? Is there any- thing in the oat that is detrimental to the growth of wheat ? The season in this region for the last crop of wheat was not favorable, there was little or no snow during the winter, and the spring was cold and dry, so that the wheat did not grow, and branch out as it usually does, and a great deal of wheat was then on the land in con- sequence ; but the quality of the wheat that is made, is unusually good. This, however, does not account for the difference between an oat stubble fallow and a sod fallow. If you or some of your correspondents will give us information on the points I have raised, you will much oblige me, and perhaps promote the public interest. S. M. Shepherd. Greenwood Depot, August 2d, 1875. Note by the Editor. — Why the strip in which the oats had been ploughed 1875.] PLANTER AND FARMER. 487 behaved in the manner it did, we confess is more than we can explain. How- ever, as throwing some light upon it, we submit the conclusions of Dr. Voelcker, in the exhaustive examination he made of the Clover plant, as a preparatory crop for wheat, recorded in the transactions of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, year 1808: / " 1. A good crop of clover removes from the soil more potash, phosphoric acid, lime, and other mineral matters, which enter into the composition of the ashes of our cultivated crops, than any other crop usually grown in this country' '' 2. There is fully three times as much nitrogen in a crop of clover as in the average produce of the grain and straw of wheat per acre. "3. Notwithstanding the large amount of nitrogenous matter and of ash con- stituents of plants in the produce of an acre, clover is an excellent preparatory crop for wheat. "4. During the growth of clover a large amount of nitrogenous matter accu- mulates in the soil. "5. This accumulation, which is greatest in the surface soil, is due to decay- ing leaves dropped during the growth of clover, and. to au abundance of roots, containing, when dry, from l£ to 2 per cent, of nitrogen. "6. The clover roots are stronger and more numerous, and more leaves fall on the ground, when clover ia grown for seed than when it is mown for hay; in consequence, more nitrogen is left after clover seed than after hay, which accounts for wheat yielding a better crop after clover seed than after hay. "7. The development of roots being checked when the produce, in a green condition, is fed off by sheep, in all probability leaves still less nitrogenous mat- ter in the soil than when clover is allowed to get riper and is mown for hay, thus, no doubt, accounting for the observation made by practical men that, not- withstanding the return of the produce in the sheep excrements, wheat is gene- rally stronger and yields better after clover mown for hay than when the clover is fed off" green by sheep. "8. The nitrogenous matters in the clover remains, on their gradual decay, are finally transformed into nitrates, thus affording a continuous source of food, on which cereal crops specially delight to grow. 11 9. There is strong presumptive evidence that the nitrogen which exists ia the air in the shape of ammonia and nitric acid, and descends in these combina- tions with the rain which falls on the ground, satisfies, under ordinary circum- stances, the requirements of the clover crop. This crop causes a large accumu- lation of nitrogenous matters, which are gradually changed in the soil into nitrates. The atmosphere thus furnishes nitrogenous food to the succeeding wheat indirectly, and, so to say, gratis. '■10. Clover not only provides abundance of nitrogenous food, but delivers this food in a readily available form (as pitrates) mure gradually and con- tinuously, and consequently with more certain tv of a good result, than such food can l»c applied to the land in the shape of nitrogenous spring dressin. As the juices of greea fruit, being unmatured, are unwholesome to the human economy, while nothing could be more wholesome when matured, it is not un- reasonable thai the same principle should operate in the case of fallows intended for the sustenance of the wheat crop. If the conclusions arrived at by Dr. Voelc. ker teach anything, they show conclusively that miff fallow relied upon to feed the wheat crop. ;/»/. feet, where the soil was of a lighter gray color ; more compact and less rocky, indeed, poorer. May 10th, the wheat headed 500 THE SOUTHERN [September out ; June 17th, cut with a scythe and cradle ; Sept 6th, threshed. Yield of wheat, 2J bushels, or 9 bushels per acre ; weight per bushel, 60 pounds ; straw, 200 pounds, or 800 pounds per acre ; chaff, 55 pounds, or 220 pounds per acre. Value of crop {including straw and chaff. ) Value of crop $4.60 or $18.40 per acre. Expenses of crop 7.03 or 28.12 " Loss $2.43 or $9.72 per acre. The expenses are recorded and are estimated as follows (over, rather than un- der, valuation) : Ploughing $ .75 Harrowing , 25 Seed 63 Superphosphate, 100 pounds, at $2.75 per 100 pounds $2.7j> Potash, 25 pounds, at 4 cents per pound 1.00 Sulphate of Ammonia, 12 pounds, at 5 cents per pound 60 Sowing fertilizers *. 25 Cutting and bundling wheat 50* Threshing 30 $7.03 There was no rust or smut ; the stand of red clover was very good. Injury from Hessian fly much greater than that inflicted on any other variety of wheat. Experiment (2) 1872-73. — " Touzelle winter white wheat '* — seed from " IT. S. Department of Agriculture, imported from France ; one-fourth of an acre plot ; soil and exposure very nearly the same as that of last experiment with Tap- pahannock wheat ; in Indian corn the previous season. Sept. 20th, ploughed ; Sept. 26th. harrowed ; Sept. 30th, a seam made with the double shovel plough y and Touzelle wheat sown at rate of lj bushels per acre. " Superphosphate ' T (same as in last experiment), 400 pounds ; potash, 100 pounds ; and sulphate of ammonia, 50 pounds rate per acre, all harrowed in at the same time with the wheat. April 8th, sowed with red clover seed, at rate of 8 pounds per acre • plaster at rate of one bush, per acre. May 1st, affected slightly by Hessian fly. Bad - ly injured by rust ; ten days later than the Tappahannock in the last experiment. Sept. 6th, threshed ; Yield of wheat, 2 bushels, or 8 bushels per acre (one less than Tappahannock variety) ; weight per bushel, 60 pounds ; straiv, 150 pounds,, or 600 pounds per acre ; chaff, 50 pounds, or 200 pounds per acre. Value of crop $4.75 or $19.00 per acre. Expenses of crop 7.01 or $28.04 " Loss $2.26 or $9.04 per acre. Experiment (3) 1872-3. — Fultz wheat — seed grown on the Experimental Farm the year previous. One-half acre plot of comparatively level land, with a dark gray, compact soil, mixed with hard slate rocks ; cultivated in oats the previous season. Sept. 24th, ploughed; Sept. 25th, harrowed twice ; Sept. 30th, a seam made with the double shovel plough for reception of seed ; and Fultz wheat at the rate of l£ bushels per acre was sowed by hand, along with " superphos- phate" (Flannagan's) at rate of 400 pounds per acre, potash, 100 pounds, and sulphate of ammonia, at rate of 50 pounds per acre, all harrowed in at the time. The " Record " states, that the wheat came up and grew off well during the fall and winter. First of April, 1873, Alsike or Swedish clover was sown at rate of 1875.] PLANTER AND FARMER. 501 four pounds per acre (not enough), the seed being mixed with one bushel of plas- ter and raked in with a horse-rake. The stand of clover was thin ; not as good as red clover on the other two plots eight pounds per acre. May 14th, wheat headed out, scarcely affected by Hessian fly ; June l'Jth, cut with a scythe aud cradle [two days after the Tappahannock, and eight days earlier than TouzelleJ ; Sept. Gth, threshed; Yield of wheat, 11 bushels, or 22 bushels per acre ; weight, per measured bushel, G2 pounds ; straw, 1700 pounds, or 3400 pounds per acre. Chaff, 175 pounds, or 350 pounds per acre. Value of crop, including straw and chaff $22.25 or $44.50 per acre. Expenses of crop 15.31 or 30.02 " Profit $ 6.94 or $13.88 per acre. Experiment (4) 1872-73. — Fultz wheat ; seed grown on Experimental Farm ; one-half acre plot, one-half of which the soil is sinilar to the latter : but more sloping ; washing; and a northwestern exposure. The lower half rather better; a gray soil ; sandy ; mixed with fine flint rocks ; was in Indian corn the previous Season. Sept. 25th, ploughed ; Sept. 26th, harrowed ; Sept. 30th, seam made with double shovel plough for reception of seed; Oct. 1st, Fultz wheat sown r^ the rate of 1J bushels per acre by hand, along with "superphosphate" (Flanna- gan's) at rate of 400 pounds per acre; potash, 100 pounds, and sulphate of am- monia at the rate of 50 pounds per acre ; all harrowed in at the same time. The wheat came up and grew off well during the fall and winter. April 7th, 1873, "Alsike" or Swedish clover, seeded at rate of four pounds per acre, (not enough) — the seed being well mixed with plaster sowed at the rate of one bushel per acre, and raked in with a horse-rake. The stand was much worse than on the other plot — too washy. May 1st, more affected by Hes- sian fly than the last plot, but not as much so as the Tappahannock wheat; May 24th, wheat headed (ten days later than in Experiment 3) ; June 19th, cut with scythe and cradle ; August 23d. hauled and stacked; Sept. 6th, threshed. Yield of wheat, seven bushels, or 14 bushels per acre ; weight, per bushel, 62 pounds ; straw, 714 pounds, or 1428 pounds per acre ; chaff, 120 pounds, or 240 pounds per acre. Value of crop $15.00 or $30.00 per acre. Expenses of crop 14.81 or 29.62 " Profit $ .19 or .38 per acre. The weight of this wheat and that on plot No. 3, is alike remarkable. Exi'kkimknt (5) 1872-73.— Eureka winter red wheat, bearded (say like old Mediterranean) — seed a new variety from U. S. Department of Agriculture. One and one-fourth of'an acre plot of land — sloping to the southwest — quite steep ; soil reddish, with a mixture of fine flint :meed, with a double-shovel plough. Oct. 13th. Seed sowed by hand at rate of two 504 THE SOUTHERN [September bushels per acre. One-half of this plot was sowed with the fertilizers, viz: on eighth of an acre "Soluble Pacific Guano," (Allison & Addison, Richmond, Va.) at the rate of 400 pounds per acre; another eighth of an acre was sowed with "The Wheat Fertilizer," (Maryland Fertilizing Company of Baltimore) at the rate of 400 pounds per acre, (which I was informed subsequently was entirely too much; the manufacturers recommend the use of only 160 pounds per acre — and, from experiments the present season, I think they are correct). Hickory ashes, un- leached, were also sowed, at the rate of 600 pounds, over the whole plot. The whole was then harrowed in with the seed. March 21st. Red clover seed was sown, at the rate of eight pounds per acre. This wheat was almost exempt from chinch bug, and entirely so from Hessian fly, but suffered severely from rust, notwithstanding the dry season. June 23d. Cut with scythe and cradle (four days earlier than the same wheat the year previous). August 11th. Threshed. Yield on section sowed with "Soluble Pacific Guano" — Wheat, 2£ bushel, or 17 bushels per acre ; weight per bushel, 56 pounds ; straw, 190 pounds, or 1520 pounds per acre ; chaff, 56 pounds, or 448 pounds per acre. Yield on the sec- tion sowed with " The Wheat Fertilizer "—Wheat, 2 l-16th bushels, or 16£ bush- els per acre ; weight per bushel, 56 pounds ; straw, 180 pounds, or 1440 pounds per acre ; chaff, 42 pounds, or 336 pounds per acre. The difference in the action of the fertilizers, expenses, cost, &c, is seen in the following tabular statement : [ i FERTILIZERS. Yield of grain per acre. Weight per bush. Weight of straw per acre. Weight of chaff per acre. Value of crop per acre. Expenses and cost fertilizers per acre. Profit. " Soluble Pacific Guano".... " Wheat Fertilizer," Md.Fer Co 17 bush. 16% bush. 56 pounds. 56 pounds. 1520 lbs. 1140 lbs. 448 lbs. 336 lbs $30 88 $29 20 $22 88 $22 88 $8 00 $6 32 Notice the deterioration in weight of this variety of wheat, which, in the ex- periments heretofore, has weighed 60 pounds per bushel — too late and too liable to rust and mildew. The stand of clover was equally good on the land ; and the yield of hay the present season was at the rate of two tons per acre, besides a splendid second crop now being ploughed in for wheat this September. Experiment (4), 1873-74 — Fultz Wheat — Seed grown on the experimental farm the previous year ; one-fourth of an acre plot of land sloping gently to the south ; soil red — quite free from rocks ; was in tobacco the previous season — well fertilized, but not manured. Oct, 8th. Ploughed and harrowed. Oct. 14th. A seam was made with double shovel plough for the reception of seed, which was sown by hand at the rate of 1? bushel per acre. One-half of the plot was sown with " Patapsco Phosphate," at the rate of 400 pounds per acre — the other half with " Guanape Guano," at rate of 400 pounds per acre, and hiekory ashes, unleached, at the rate of 600 pounds per acre, was then sowed over the whole, and all harrowed in together with the seed. The wheat came up, and grew very well during the winter and spring ; was not injured by chinch bugs or fly. March 21st. Red clover seed, at rate of eight pounds per acre, sown. June 22d. Cut with scythe and cradle (three days later than the same wheat the previous year) ; entirely free from rust. August 12th. Threshed. While this wheat was being harvested, being called off for a few miles, a heedless cradler cut over the line between the two plots with different fertilizers, embracing in his snathe the wheat of both, which rendered the experiment useless as between the Patapsco and 1875.] PLANTER AND FARMER. 505 Guanape fertilizers. During the growth of the wheat, there was no perceptible difference in the crop. I have no doubt, however, but that there would have been a perceptible difference, if the experiment had been preserved intact, and put to the test of weight. The yield of the plot was— Wheat 6 bushels, or 24 bushels per acre ; weight, 00J pounds per bushel; straw, 005 pounds, or 2420 pounds per acre ; chaff, 154 pounds, or 010 pounds per acre. Value of crop $10.07 or $43.88 per acre. Expenses 7.02 or 28.08 " Profit $ 3.05 or $15.80 " The stand of red clover was very good ; was cut on June 10th — hauled and weighed June 14th, 1875, producing over two tons per acre. The second crop — equally as good as the one cut for hay — is now being ploughed in for wheat in September. Notice that this wheat had no rust, was cut three days earlier than the Touzelle, and weighed 00£ pounds per measured bushel, while Touzelle only weighed 50 pounds per bushel, and suffered terribly from rust. The following experiments were made on seven plots of land, with five varie- ties of wheat, and with different commercial fertilizers, during 1874-75 : Experiment (1) — Fultz Wheat — Seed grown on the experimental farm ; sowed on half acre plot (the same described in experiment 3 for 1873, page of this communication). This plot has been submitted to the following rotation and fertilizers — Sept. 24th, 1872, fallowed after being in oats. Oct. 1st, 1872. Sowed with Fultz wheat, with Superphosphate (Flannagan's) at rate of 400 pounds per acre, potash 100 pounds, and sulphate of ammonia 50 pounds per acre. April 7th, 1873, sowed with "Alsike clover," which was too short to mow; was not grazed during summer of 1873. Ploughed in August 21st, 1874. August 22d. Harrowed. Oct. 3d, 1874. Ploughed with double-shovel. Oct. 0th. Was sown with " Ammoniated Bone Superphosphate," (Zell & Sons, Baltimore, Md.) at the rate of 400 pounds to the acre, and harrowed in immediately afterwards. Oct. 12th, 1874. Fultz wheat was put in with Bickford & Huffman's "old drill, '» at the rate of five pecks per acre. This wheat was badly drilled, and was too thin ; was not affected by insects or rust — seemed to be badly injured by the se- vere frost of the 18th of April, but soon recovered. June 21st. Cut with scythe and cradle (three days later than the same wheat on the same plot June, 1873). July 0th. Hauled. July 24th. Threshed — with an indifferent machine, which left five per cent, of the grain in the straw. Yield of wheat, 10| bushels, or 21 \ bushels tor acre; straw, 075 pounds, or 1350 pounds per acre ; chaff, 175 pounds, or 860 pounds per acre. Value of crop $21.23 or $42.40 per acre. Expense 11.20 or 28.68 " Profit $ 0.04 or 20.88 per acre. This \v:n ;ui indifferent u Alsike clover " fallow, and the wheat was pat in with an indifferent drill, and was too thin. "kiumk\t2. 1K74-75 — Fultz Wheat— Seed grown on experimental farm — half-acre plot of land (the same that was sowed with Fultz wheat after OOTD Oct. 1st, 1872. See Kxperiment 1. Report L878). This was also an indifferent "Al- sike clover'" fallow, not mowed or grazed. August 22d. Ploughed in and har- rowed. Oct. 3d. Ploughed with a double-shovel. Oct. 6, Snperphosi Wheat Fertiliser, obtained from the Maryland Fertilizing Company, Baltimore, 506 THE SOUTHERN [September Md., sown at rate of 160 pounds per acre, and harrowed in immediately after. Oct. 1 th. Wheat sown wiih the drill at the rate of five pecks per acre. This wheat was free from insects and rust, but was badly injured by the severe frost on the 18th of April. June 21st. Cut with scythe and cradle. July 9th. Hauled. July 24tb. Threshed with same machine as the last. Yield of wheat, 11 bushels, or 22 bushels per acre : straw, 700 pounds, or 1400 pounds per acre ; chaff, 200 pounds, or 400 pounds per acre. Value of crop $20.59 or $41.18 per acre. Expenses 7.94 or 15.88 " Profit $12.65 or $25.30 per acre. Experiment (3) 1874-75. — Fultz Wheat, seed grown on experimental farm- sowed on one-fourth of an acre plot, [the same that was sown in Tappahannock wheat after corn, October 1st, 1872. See experiment (1), report for 1873.] This was a red clover fallow ; the first crop was mowed May 29th. 1 874 ; the second crop was ploughed in, August 23d, was not grazed. October 2d, harrowed ; Oct. 3d, plowed with double shovel; Oct. 6th, The " Stonewall" Fertilizer from B. C. Flannagan & Son, Charlottesville, [manufactured by Lorentz & Rittler, Chemi- cal and 'Superphosphate " Factory, Baltimore, Md.] was sowed at the rate of 400 pounds to the acre, and harrowed immediately. Oct. 12th, the wheat was " drilled " at the rate of one and a quarter bushels per acre — badly done, caus- ing the wheat to be too thin. Not affected by insects or rust ; but injured by the frost of 18th of April. . June 22d, cut; July 10th, hauled; July 24th, threshed, with same machine as last. Yield of wheat six and a quarter bushels, or twenty- five bushels per acre ; straw 375 pounds, or 1500 pounds per acre; chaff 120 pounds, or 480 pounds per acre ; weight of wheat, 60 pounds per bushel. Value of crop $11.64 or $46.56 per acre. Expenses of crop ,....- 5.98 or 23 72 " Profit $5.71 or $22.84 " This plot was in Tappahannock wheat, [in 1873, fertilized with "superphos- phate V at rate of 400 pounds ; nitrate of soda, 100 pounds ; and sulphate of am- monia, 50 pounds per acre.] See experiment (1), report for 1873 ; when it pro duced at rate of nine bushels per acre. Experiment (4) 1874-75. — Fultz Wheat, seed grown on experimental farm — sowed on one-fourth of an acre plot, same cultivated in Touzelle wheat. See experiment (2), report for 1873. Was in red clover ; the first crop mowed May 29th, and the second crop plowed in August 24th ; October 2d, harrowed ; and plowed with the double shovel. September 3d, the simple "superphosphate" i. e. the Charleston coprolites ground ; and heated- with sulphuric acid, obtained from the Maryland Fertilizing Company, Baltimore, was sowed at the rate of 400 pounds per acre ; ashes unleached at the rate of 240 pounds per acre ; and plaster at the rate of 50 pounds per acre ; all harrowed in immediately. October 12th, wheat put in with the drill. It was not affected by insects, or rust ; but injured to the same extent as the other plots, by frost of 18th of April. June 22d, cut with cradle; July 10th, hauled off; July 24th, threshed, with same machine as the other plots. Yield of Wheat, five bushels or 20 bushels per acre, weight per bushel, 60 pounds ; straw 370 pounds or 1480 pounds per acre ; chaff 118 pounds or 472 pounds per acre. 1875]. PLANTER AND FARMER. 507 Value of crop $8.G8 or $38.72 per acre. Expenses of crop 7.30 or 29.20 " Profit $2.38 or $ 0.52 per acre. This plot produced eight bushels per acre of Touzelle wheat, when last culti- vated. See experiment (2), report 1873. Experiment i'5) 1874-75.— Tappahannock Wheat, seed from U. S. Depart- ment of Agriculture; sowed on eighth of an acre plot, nearly level ; partly tile drained ; soil dark and more sandy ; was in perennial rye grass, following oats the previous year. The rye grass proved a failure. October 3d, plowed, was scarcely more than a weed fallow; October 5tb, harrowed; October 19th, plowed with a double shovel: and sown the same day with ''superphosphate " (from the Maryland Fertilizing Company, Baltimore) at the rate of 400 pounds per acre ; and 1 } bushels of wheat per acre. About the first of May, some Hes- sian fly was found on the borders of the plot, and on the 21st of May, chinch bugs were also discovered ; but neither of these pests extended their voyages very far. June 2 Id, cut with scythe and cradle : July 10th. hauled ; July 24th, threshed; yield of wheat 2£ bushels or 22 bushels per acre ; weight per bushel 60 pounds ; straw 183 pounds or 1080 pounds per acre ; chaff 65 pounds or 520 pounds per acre. Value of crop $4.72 or $37.76 per acre. Expenses of crop 2.29 or 18.32 " Profit $2.43 or 819.44 per acre. Notice that the Tappahannock is the only variety of wheat affected by Hes- sian fly and chinch bugs. See also experiment (1), report for 1873, when it was more injured by fly than other varieties. Experiment (6) 1874-75.— Jennings 1 WhiieWheat, 'bearded' seed from U. S. De- partment of Agriculture ; sowed on an eighth of an acre plot of land ; soil dark and rather sandy ; at foot of a hill with southwest exposure ; was in peas and Irish potatoes the season previous. October 3d, plowed ; October 5th, harrowed ; October 19th. plowed with a double shovel plow, and sowed the same day with " Simple Charleston Phosphate," ground fine ; [but not treated with sulphuric acid] obtained from the Maryland Fertilizing Company, Baltimore, at rat< j of 400 pounds per acre ; wheat sown at the same time at rate of li bushels per acre. This wheat was not affected by insects, or rust, or smut, &c. June 23d, cut with scythe and cradle ; July 24th, threshed with same machine as other varieties (losing at least five per cent). Yield of wheat two bushels or sixteen bushels per acre; straw 105 pounds or 840 pounds per acre; chaff 50 pounds or 400 pounds per acre. Value of crop $3.70 or $30.08 per acre. Expenses of crop 1.23 or 9.84 " Profit $2.53 or $20.24 per acre. Notice that the phosphate used in this crop, is the Simple Ground Charleston Phosphate, not treated with sulphuric acid, cash $25 per ton. Experiment (7) 1874-75. — Cl'twson White Wheat, seed from U. 8. Depart- ment of Agriculture ; sowed on eighth of acre plot, quite level ; at the hill, with a southern exposure ; in tobacco the season previous, and well fertilised | soil a dark sandy loam, without rocks. October 15th, plowed ; October 19th, plowed 508 THE SOUTHERN [September with the double shovel, and sown the same day with " Orchilla guano," at the rate of 400 pounds per acre ; wheat also sowed [by hand] at the rate of 1£ bush- els per acre. This wheat grew off vigorously ; stood the winter very well ; was not affected by insects ; somewhat by blade rust ; and tumbled where the growth was rankest. July 1st, cut with scythe and cradle (eight days later than Jen- nings' white bearded ; eight days later than Tappahannock ; nine days later than Fultz, and three days later than Eureka wheat cultivated in the vicinity). July 10th, hauled ; July 24th, threshed ; yield of wheat 4 bushels or 32 bushels per acre j weight per bushel 60 pounds : straw 285 pounds or 2280 pounds per acre ; chaff 120 pounds or 960 pounds per acre. Value of crop $7.92 or $63.36 per acre. Expenses of crop 2.26or 18.08 u Profit $5.66 or $45 28 per acre. Orchilla guano cost $30 per ton ; and I have no doubt is an excellent fertilizer ; but the previous condition and treatment of this plot having been very generous, we are not surprised at the result, which shows that our experiment proves very little. The difference in the action of the fertilizers is seen in the following statement: Weight Weight Weight Profit Variety of Wheat. Fertilizers applied per acre. Yield per straw chaff per per acre bushel. per acre per acre acre. Fultz Wheat (1) 400 lbs. Zells Superphosphate.. 160 lbs Superphosphate or Wheat Fertilizer, from Md. 21K 22 60 S^O 98 Fultz Wheat (2) 60 1400 400 25 30 Fertilizing Co. Fultz Wheat (3) 400 lbs. " " 20 60 1480 472 52 Fultz Wheat (4) 400 lbs. Stonewall Fertilizer. 25 60 1500 480 22 84 Tappahannock Wheat (5) 400 lbs. Superphosphate, also Ashes, 240 lbs. and Plaster 50 lbs., from Md. Fer. Co 20 60 1080 520 19 44 Jennings' Wheat (6) 400 lbs. Simple Phosphate from Md. Fertilizing Co. 16 60 840 400 20 24 Clawson Wheat (7) 400 lbs. Orchilla Guano. 32 60 2280 960 45 28 A tabular statement of this kind shows the importance of considering all the conditions in the experiment, as well as the previous condition and treatment of' the land, and how necessary it is to repeat the same experiments in order to ar- rive at correct conclusions. There are a few subjects in connection with the cultivation of wheat that I regard as very important, which have not been men- tioned. One of importance is the preparation of the seed wheat, before it is sowed, in order to cleanse it thoroughly from all filth, imperfect grains, and fungi spores, as smut, &c. To accomplish this, my invariable rule is to wash all seed wheat the day before it is sowed in salt and water, or brine, made strong enough to bear an egg. The wheat is poured into a barrel about half full of brine, and is stirred and rubbed with the hands, and as the filth, imperfect grains, &c, rise to the surface, they are carefully skimmed off. The wheat is then taken out (after pouring the brine ®ff into another barrel), and spread until it is dry enough to sow, which is usually the case the ne"xt day. Another matter which I regard of some importance in seeding the wheat, when it is to be sowed broadcast, is to make a seam for the reception of the wheat, with the double»shovel plow. When the wheat is seeded in this way, it falls into the seams, and is covered by the harrow so well, that when it comes up, it looks almost exactly as if it had been drilled, and in my observation succeeds as well as "drilling," and far better than har- rowing in the wheat. It is especially applicable to the thorough seeding of hill- 1875.] PLANTER AND FARMER. 509 sides and slopes, with western exposures. Another subject of importance to be considered in the cultivation of wheat, is the influence of exposure on these hill- sides and slopes; whether to the north, south, east or west. The southern and eastern exposures, have long since been regarded as those most favorable, while the northern and western are unfavorable. The eastern and southern slopes are the first to catch the rays of the morning sun, and are the least exposed to the influence ot the cold winds from the north and west, which prevail in the winter and spring. It is on this account that " land sloping to the east will have good wheat growing on it, while other parts of the same field, that slope to the west- ward, will be ruined." To what extent exposure has influenced the results of the foregoing experi- ments, I am not prepared to say, but I am sure that he who will read the record of these experiments, will be satisfied, that with a certain amount of capital ju- diciously applied to the cultivation of the soil, he need not fear the result of fair re- muneration for time, labor, and expense, after going through with one" liberal rota- tion of crops. There could scarcely have been found a worse subject to work on, than that upon which these experiments have been made, with commercial fertilizers mainly ; but all the cereal crops are now remunerative — the root crops largely over the average made in the country, and the land in a condition to bring good crops of clover ; and to become well set in the grasses. It is highly important that our farmers should ever bear in mind the importance of having a certain amount of capital, and that, with the judicious application of a small amount, a good deal may be done in the improvement of poor land. " Without a reasonable sum of ready money, every operation on the farm must be done at a disadvantage," and this is the reason why our leasing and tenant system has worked so badly. The English tenant farmer requires £5 or $25 per acre to farm leased or rented land ; and no judicious landlord will rent to a man, who expects to cultivate land successfully on less capital. How this capital is to be acquired is another matter, which demands the earnest attention of our best in- formed domestic economists. Trusting that the length of this communication will not weary your readers, I have the honor to be very respectfully yours, &c. , • John R. Page M. D., Professor of Natural History, Experiments and Practical Agriculture. Note by. the Editor. — We esteem it a great privilege to present to our readers this record of the " Experimental Farm," in Albemarle. These experiments have a greater value than the modesty of the Professor permits him to award them. Aside from their direct bearing, though not conclusive, they are a>i ex- ample, and as sin h must prove a powerful teacher. Time is the essential element in all such operations ; and continued experiment, modified by the vicissitudes of season, only can evolve principles of general application. Such " experimen- tal stations" are much too few anywhere in this country, and their absence is sorely felt by every honest student of the soil. Prof. Johnson, of Vale, (and we all owe him a debt of gratitude) has often expressed this regret, and writing, as he does, mainly fof the benefit of his own country, he has been compelled, from the paucity of material at home, to depend almost wholly upon the experiments and investigations of other countries, for the lessons taught by the field and garden. Isolated experiment! practically prove nothing, and the conductor of ml igrical* tural journal in America, de.-irous, as he sincerely must be, of subserving in fact the great interest whose importance he is called upon to advance, i| only too sen- 510 THE SOUTHERN [September sible of how far short the material he is able to present comes of performing the valuable general service it should. Except the experimental stations at Blacksburg (the " Agricultural and Me* chanical College"), and that in Albemarle, Virginia is without aid in this direc- tion. With lands as diversified as hers, both in respect of character and altitude, these stations should be as numerous as they are in Germany. But this takes money, and presumes also a reasonably settled agricultural economy in the mat- ter of the general conduct of that calling. And yet we are not without a resort that, properly managed, must bear good fruit. We refer to the Grange. It has brought our people together as nothing else could, and we are persuaded that the combined action it is able to command will effect what, under ordinary circum- stances, might never have been brought about. Each subordinate Grange should constitute itself an experimental station. At least one of its members will have ability and leisure enough to arrange a basis of experiment, which each will try oh his own place. The very fact of his willingness to undertake such experiments evinces a disposition to observe more closely, perhaps, than he ever did before; and the natural desire to present his record as intelligently as possible, will beget a wish to acquaint himself with, at least, the elementary principles, in a scientific way, underlying such operations. The English motto is "Practice with Science,'' and this carried out ha* brought the average pro- duct of wheat per acre, throughout that Kingdom, from 14 to 28} bushels 1 These records, analysed by the Secretary of each Grange, would present points for im- proved management to all the members, and when the State organization shall be so compacted as to admit of a permanent central source of administration, these memoirs of careful and faithful observation, would furnish material so copious and so universal, as to admit of a summary instructive, in the highest degree, to every portion of the Commonwealth. [For the Southern Planter and Farmer.] RECLAIMING OUR BOTTOM LANDS. Agreeably to your request 1 will offer a few additional remarks on* the above subject as contained in my communications to the South- ern Planter in 1870. In my first communication, I advanced the policy of cutting our ditches on a sinuous course, but exemplified my position in a subsequent^communication, by stating that we should locate them on the lowest portions of land, taking nature's system of hydraulics for our guide. I have never yet seen a branch or creek fill up in their natural state if they were kept free from hammocks and rafts, and all our branches still have deep channels; and wherefore? Because of the force of the current during a freshet that floats the sand and debr'S on the adjacent lands, and thereby leaving the channels stationary. This law holds equally good with regard to our creeks and rivers, which from time immemorial has received the washings from the hills and their tributary streams, and yet their channels do not fill up. Facts are stubborn things and not to be overturned by theories. I remember well when the reclaiming our bottom lands by ditch- ing commenced. The theory advanced was, that a straight ditch would carry a third more water than a crooked stream, and conse- 1875.] PLANTER AND FARMER. 611 quently our bottom lands would be less subject to overflow. But time, the test of all things, has proven this theory to be fallacious, as the present state of much of our bottom lands will testify. Dr. Gillispie in the Southern Planter for 1^70, gives the true mode of locating our ditches. •• Ride on your bottom lands during an overflow and stick stakes in the current of water, which will be an index where to locate your ditch ; or, if this is impracticable, ex- amine the land, and view the abrasion and track of the current tnade during freshets as a guide." It was by this method that Dr. Gillis- pie cut a ditch which permanently reclaimed valuable bottom land that hitherto had been worthless, and his ditch, three by two feet, washed out wide and deep. In my communications to the Southern Planter in 1870, to fortify the position I had taken on this subject. I mentioned the result on a farm I once owned, the bottom land of which was ruined by straight- ening the creek ; and another farm of once productive low grounds that had been rendered worthless for cultivation by the straighten- ing system. I also mentioned the farm of the late Wm. Russell, containing 400 acres of productive bottom land, through which a large creek runs, that is still in its natural state, and the deceased owner, during a long life, uniformily (in the absence of unusual freshets) made fine crops thereon — that a mill-dam of some 20 years standing at the lower end of the farm, had been cut down, and that portions of the creek had been washed out to the depth of six feet, and this process was going on through the whole length of the farm. I visited this farm again two years after the above was written, and found that the channel of this creek was two feet deeper than on my former visit ; and I doubt not, but that in process of time, the chan- nel of this creek will become as deep as in days of yore. I also in- troduced a relative of mine whose 200 acres of once prolific low grounds had been ruined by straightening the creek, which has a fall of nine feet to the mile. The above facts which might be substantiated by many others, prove conclusively that our mode of ditching heretofore has been contrary to the principles of hydraulics, and to be successful, we must ditch upon the fore ground principle, locating our ditches on the lowest portion of land, because water will seek its lowest level. Or put the creeks back again in their former channels, in imitation of the Board of Engineers, who diverted from its course by a great freshet, should again be conducted to its former outlet into False Bay, through its ancient channels, instead of a canal on a straight line. • I do not wish to be understood as being opposed to straight ditches in toto; on the contrary, when we can cut them so that they will wash wide and deep, our object is attained, but when erroneously located, they fill up, defeat our object, and ruin the land. Yours respectfully, Wm, P. Hatchett. 512 THE SOUTHERN [September [For the Southern Planter and Farmer.] PROFESSOR VILLE AND CHEMICAL MANURES. For two or three years past we have heard little of " Ville" and his new departure in agriculture — it seemed that the doctrines of which he was the expositor, had not stood the test of experience, and had gone the way of so many other vaunted discoveries, now known only to antiquarians. But latterly there appears a disposi- tion to revive his theory. He is quoted in a recent number of the Planter, two or three times by " Levi Bartlett," in the Country Gentleman, and by a dealer in fertilizers in New York, who informs the public that he has made arrangements to supply farmers, &c, with M. Geo. Ville's lectures on chemical manures, translated by Miss Howard — and that " no agriculturist should fail to obtain a copy-" M. Ville is the special advocate of "commercial," "chemical," or "concentrated" fertilizers as disjtingui shed from bulky stable or farm- yard manures, and his teaching is in brief: that by the aid of chem- ical manures scientifically compounded to suit the requirements of different plants we can profitably grow maximum crops on almost any kind of soil — that we can go on from year to year in this way, maintaining and increasing the fertility of the soil without necessa- rily recurring to green crops or any other mode of restoring to it veg- etable matter. Let me quote a few passages from M. Ville, to show that I do not misrepresent him. In his lectures at Vincennes (1867), after a rapid glance at some of the elementary principles of vegetable physiology, bearing on his subject, he says, in substance : That of the ten minerals which enter into the composition of plants, there are only three with which the agriculturist need occupy him- self, because all soils (worth cultivating) contain the others in abun- dance — and that these three, lime, potash, and phosphorus, with the addition of some azotic matter, are sufficient to maintain and increase the fertility of the soil. And further on : " Until within the last twenty years it has been asserted that the farm-yard was our agent, par excellence, of fertility. We maintain that to be erroneous, and that it is possible to produce better and cheaper manures than can the farm-yard." And again : " It has been said that the meadow is the foundation of all good agriculture, because with the meadow we have cattle, and with the cattle manure. These axioms are now varitable heresies." I might multiply these quotations, but it it needless. The scope and tendency of his doctrine is to show that bulky manures and fal- low crops, meadows and intervals of rest (the "longa desidia" of Cato) are not necessary to maintain the productiveness of land, and may be dispensed with under the new evangel. It is true he allows that humus possesses valuable properties in agriculture — but proceeds to 1875.] PLANTER AND FARMER. 513 6how that this is through " dissolvent action," and that it can be sub- stituted by sulphate or nitrate of lime. No one who will patiently follow M. Ville's reasoning and tho detail of his experiment at Vincennes can fail to be impressed with his candor, earnestness and scientific research. It is difficult to with- hold conviction — one is involuntarily carried along, dazzled by the magnificent prospect held out to the farmer — the potential wealth assured to him if he will only use chemical manures as prescribed. Such circumstantial and precise reports of the results of M. Ville's own operations are given ; and in addition, many certificates from farmers in various districts of France who have followed M. Ville's prescriptions, and have reaped crops so large as to make an Ameri- can open his eyes ! Thus a field in Champaign, which, with a heavy application (30 tons and more) of farm-yard manure per acre, had only yielded 19 bushels, with the ''complete fertilizers" (the formula especially recommended for wheat) gave forty-seven (47) bushels of wheat per acre ! And other insta ces as remarkable or more so — there seem to have been no cases of disappointment. Withal, these essays are pleasant reading and not unprofitable, if one is provided with a good conservative stock of incredulity, and will receive M. Ville's assurance, not with "a grain of allowance," but with four. That is, make your calculations on this basis, if you are going to make a venture with fertilizers after M. Ville's formula, that the cost will be in round numbers double, and the re- sult half of what we are told to expect. This assertion is not made loosely. A gentleman of this county, an accomplished and enterprising planter, has tested the theory fair- ly, and on a larger scale than most farmers can afford. The prepa- rations were compounded in Baltimore and in Richmond, by the most reliable houses, after M. Ville's formula and used according to direc- tion on various crops and under different conditions, with a result in each case lamentably disproportionate to the outlay. Had the issue been favorable, it was the design of the gentleman I refer to, to purchase the fertilizers in France. He opened a correspondence with M. Ville, who responded most courteously and with evident gratification ; gave him the address of a firm in Nantes who could be relied on to furnish a good article, and presented copies of several of his essays which have not been translated into English, as far as I know. M. Ville has written much and well on politicoeconomic subjects connected with agriculture — in general bearing on his pet theory. A pamphlet on the "Agricultural crisis in the light of science" (that rendering does not suit me, but it is the best I can give*, ifl well worth reading, wire it only for the noble and eloquent argument for free trade it contains. There is a treatise on the u beet and legisla- tion on tho subject of sugar" — another on tho "potato rot" — "researches on absorption of nitrogen by plants." Courses of leetures at Vincennes in '61 and '07, and at Lyons — and several other essays 3 514 THE SOUTHERN [September and reports. The lectures translated by Miss Howard contain the pith and marrow of his doctrine. -This translation, while sometimes obscure, is good, surprisingly so, when it is considered that it was the work of a lady — that she probably had no previous knowledge of the subject matter — even of its terminology. Besides this translation, there is an abstract in catechetical form, "The school of chemical manures, &c, from the French of M. Georges Ville, by A. A. Fes- quet," Philadelphia. I have too much extended this article, and have not yet accom- plished my object, which is to enter a caveat against this doctrine, because its logical result will be ruinous to our lands. If we can get " better and cheaper manures from the laboratory than from the farm-yard," the farm-yard will be neglected. If we can impose upon our lands and force them to produce a crop every year, clover and other grasses will be crowded out. A continuance of this scourging system for a few years would ruin all the rolling lands through abrasion. Every practical farmer of the hill country knows that land well stored with vegetable matter washes comparatively little — on the other hand, when it is worked down rain has an easy prey. The galls and gullies which drain the faces of Virginia and other Southern States, tell the story of how our ancestors farmed without manure and without the grasses. " Complete fertilizers " would not have averted this — would only have hastened the catas- trophe. And the result would be disastrous (in a less degree to be sure) in champaign countries where washing rains are not feared. Close cul- tivation without ameliorating crops or manure (I mean farm-yard manure) will exhaust land of its vegetable matter so that it becomes difficult to work, close and grassy in its texture, apt to bake in sum- mer, and be too wet in winter. This is not imaginary — I have seen rich bottom land brought to the condition I have described while the mineral elements of fertility were still abundant, as shown by the fact that it would produce clover luxuriantly, and be rapidly restored by it. And in the absence of clover, a year's rest and a crop of weeds will produce a striking eifect. f The conclusion I would establish is that commercial fertilizers ought to supplement and not substitute the manures of the farm-yard and stable, and ameliorating crops. The enormous prices paid for ' stable manure by the tobacco-growers of Connecticut, and the gar- deners of Long Island and New Jersey, show that these practical men have settled the question so far as they are concerned, and in this section, where guano and superphosphates are largely used, and have been for more than twenty ysars, it is well known that concentrated fertilizers act far more efficiently when used in conjunction with a dress- ing, however light, of home-made manure, or even of bright straw. or .chaff. I have seen a moderate dressing of chaff, plus 400 pounds Peruvian guano, show (in a crop of tobacco) such superiority over 400 pounds alone as could not at all be accounted for, in my judg- 1875.J PLANTER AND FARMER. ; 515 ment, by. the amount of mineral plant-food contained in the chaff I almost accuse myself of uttering platitudes when I state facts so well known to practical Virginia farmers. On the other hand, I am aware that they are susceptible of a different interpretation from the one I have given — that is, it might be so claimed through k- op- positions of science falsely so-called." But this I know : that agri- culture cannot be treated by theorists as an exact science, or if it is attempted, disturbing elements will unexpectedly knock all their nice calculations and fine-spun doctrines into " pi." I presume to charge that M. Ville has little or no idea how greatly the mechanical condition of soils influence their productiveness — this seems to me to vitiate all his arguments. He reasons throughout as though all that is ne- cessary to make and keep the soil productive is to supply it with plant-food — going so far as to assert that it is of no consequence whether land was naturally barren or had become so by exhaustive cultivation. Had he been a "working farmer" instead of a labora- tory one. he would have known better than this, and avoided other errors which I would undertake to point out, but that I have already been too prolix. If, Mr. Editor, you wish for further information on this subject, I suggest that you apply to the gentleman I have referred to, and whose address I take the liberty of giving you, for an account of his experience with "chemical fertilizers." Randolph Harrison. Note by the Editor. — As far as we have been able to learn, the use of M. Yillo's chemical manures has not been attended in Virginia with any very great success ; certainly not at all corresponding to the results reported in his books as having been obtained in France. We doubt, indeed, whether either his manures, or those made by Mr. Lawes, so popular in England (resort being had, in both cases, to active salts), will ever be found serviceable in a climate like ours, where we suffer so much more from drought than we do from rains. Our needs appear to lie rather in the direction of gentler and better sustained action ; at any rate, we observe that good results are more uniformly gotten from manures prepared with this end in view. To s;iy nothing of the reports of our own people in support of the practice, the experiments made, from year to year, by Dr. Goessmann, at the Massachusetts Agricultural College, demonstrate fully how much the use of domestic and chemical manures, in conjunction, is to be preferred over the use of either alone. There is a wonderful difference between land that is "born poor," and that winch is merely exhausted of available material; and we are thankful to say that few Virginia lands are "born poor." If they had been, our case now would be forlorn indeed, whereas under the most trained evi- dence of regard, say a drw rin g of 200 pounds to the aero, they make * grateful return, and that, too, under the pressure oftentimes of seasons far from propitious. We wish our farmers could afford to spend less for labor, and more towards the enhancement in value of their fixed capital — the land. As examples are the best teachers we will cite one in this connection: The average product of cotton, per acre, in our cotton couutry, is nearly half a bale. Col. Lockett. 516 . THE SOUTHERN [September of Georgia, took seven acres of land, no better than the generality of ours, and prepared it for cotton. It was thoroughly plowed ajid subsoiled, and in addition to a liberal dressing of domestic manure, he applied 400 pounds to the acre of the best commercial fertilizer he could command. He picked from these seven acres, not 3^ bales, but 17. He thus saved the labor bill on 27 acres, and spent not as much for manure as his neighbor spent for his, spread over 34 acres ; be- sides, the Colonel's land has improved largely in value, while that of his neighbor has depreciated. It is a mere truism to say that lands rich in vegetable matter are highly pro- ductive. In the essential matter of bread, ample provision is made for us in the clover plant. Nitrogen is the element most desired by cereals, and clover stores it up with an unstinting hand. As manna was sent down from heaven to God's people of old, " without money and without price," so does the same beneficent friend provide for us now in the gift of this most precious plant. Soils possessing the good clay foundations so general in Virginia, broken to a depth that will allow of the free entrance of the air and easy penetration of roots, supply, with inexpen- sive aid otherwise, all the mineral material needed by the clover, the atmosphere and the rains doing the rest. We heartily commend to our readers this instructive paper of Col. Harrison, and do hope that the representative men of the State (among whom he stands justly honored) will not abate their interest in the questions which so vitally af- fect our well being as a people. "We can never expect any better things than we have had in the South since the war so long as we continue, in so many ways, the willing slaves of the North and West. Eschewing general politics, and fostering a disposition to make ourselves absolutely self-sustaining, will bi ing to terms those people who have seen that we could, through our dependence on them, be im- posed upon with impunity. The cotton country has already advanced so far in this direction that we understand Georgia this year will be a seller of food sup- plies. [For the Southern Planter and Farmer.] AMELIA PLANTATION OBSERVATIONS. Last year I gave in the Planter and Farmer an account of experi- ments I made on corn land with several fertilizers. For instance, seven half-acre plots in the same field, all treated precisely alike, so as to secure uniformity of treatment and advantage. No. 1 had nothing hut gas house lime. No. 2 had gas house lime and 100 pounds of Chas. McGruder's Bone Flour. No. 3 had 100 pounds of salts of potash, in addition to lime as the others. No. 4 had 100 pounds of Old Dominion Fertilizer, and the same proportion of lime. No. 5 had 100 pounds of Powhatan Raw Bone Phosphate, from J. G. Downward, as also the lime dressing. No. 6 had 25 pounds each of the fertilizers named above, and the lime. No. 7 had no manure at all. No. 6 showed the best results last year, so far as the commercial fertilizers were concerned. But the effects of the lime was the most remarkable feature in the last year's crop. I found it necessary for the purpose of cleaning the field perfectly to put it into corn again. And I wish to record the results thus far, for the study of my brother farmers. 1875.] PLANTER AND FARMER. 517. This year No. 1 has shown from the first working that it lacked the elements of fertility, and but for the fine season we had for some four weeks, would scarcely have made more than nubbins, while No. 2 has grown vigorously and fruited fully, and the corn is already made No. 3 has shown all along in its growth that it was no better than No. 1. No. 4 showed a decided improvement over No. 3, but is far from equal to No. 2 or No. 5. No. 5 is nearly equal to No. 2, whilst No. 6 is about on a par with No. 4. These observations, with others, satisfy me that Raw Bone Flour is the most effective commer-. cial fertilizer on our soils. My wheat crop showed the same results. Where the Old Dominion Fertilizer was applied at the rate of 200 pounds per acre on the. preceding oat crop, which was cut short by the drouth, harvested early, the land fallowed and sowed to buckwheat, which was plowed under the first week in October. But the wheat was not over four bushels to the acre, whilst that portion of the field where I manured with barn-yard manure yielded over 15 bushels to the acre. We ought not, however, to jump at conclusions too hastily, and therefore I would simply say, that the observed results suggest to me that raw bone applications are more serviceable t:> my land than mine- ral phosphates, others in other sections have found the Charleston phosphates both advantageous and profitable; but the subject of the application of manures to the most profitable advantage cannot be easily arrived at, nor can the experiments of one serve the purposes of another. My neighbor has used Cat Island guano on his tobacco this year, on a lot by itself, and it does not seem to have had a visible effect there. He also used it in the middle of another lot, using Gilliam's Fertilizer on each side, and the Cat Island shows equally to the same disadvantage there as on the first named lot ; whilst our neighbors some five miles below, used it last year very satisfactorily on their tobacco. On the other hand, my neighbor used it on some of his ruta-bagas, on the balance of whieh he used Gilliam's fertilizer. The Oat Island shows to great advantage in his turnips over Gilliam, and Gilhaui shows to great advantage on his tobacco. These and many other like results should teach us that each far- mer must learn to know by actual experiment the real wants of his own soil, for the different crops he wishes to grow, and only use those that meet his own wants best. But above all, make all the home- made manure possible, and use it as far as it will go, remembering that by the process of composting properly conducted, you ean add five times the bulk of your manure M a- divisor and absorbent, which, by the process of fermentation in the decomposition of the organic or vegetable and animal matters, becomes equal to the manure it- self, and will produce equal results. This I have demonstrated to my own unbelieving Thomas this season. Last November I commenced to compost my stable manure with 1 518 THE SOUTHERN [September red clay as a divisor and absorbent, and this spring I hauled out on my upland cornfield, near my house, 250 loads. The field was the admiration of the entire neighborhood, and the corn was made before the rainy season commenced, or in July. Last year my yield of wheat* from this field (12 acres) was not over 20 bushels. It having been badly put up in my predecessor. This year it looks as though the yield will not be less than six or seven barrels of corn to the acre. But h >re, again, I can trace distinctly the effects of the application of 400 pounds of Bone Flour to the acre, on two acres, seven years ago. To me these are instructive observations, and I give them for the advantage of my brother farmers, and hope that each will endeavor to note and report the results of their careful observation, that we may all be quickened and stirred up to renewed activity in our call- ing. Other observations I will report in my next. G. B. S. [For the Southern Planter and Farmer.] AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS. The history of these institutions in this country and abroad has been a history of failure rather than of triumph. This no man can venture to deny who has given the matter a candid examination. In England they have taken no hold ; in Scotland they have agri- cultural chairs and agricultural degrees, but they are without repu- tation or patronage; in France there are agricultural professors of great reputation, but they are occurpied with scientific investigation rather than teaching; in Germany, notwithstanding all that has been said, these institutions are looked upon with no favor by lead- ing educators, and Baron Leibig himself declared, only a few years ago (not long before his death), that after an experience of thirty years' teaching he had not been able to discover a single redeeming feature about them — that they were, in his deliberate judgment, total failures. In New England, the ideas of Prof. Gillman, as set forth in the organization of the scientific school at Yale, are very generally adopted, which are nothing but Leibig's ideas, whose cen- tral idea is to teach only the pure science upon which the technical pursuits are based, and leave the technical part to be learned by practice subsequently in the old way. In the other States, North or South, no important public impression has been made by any of these schools. Much has been said about the Michigan school, but they have there a three years' course and only a six months' ses- sion; whereas one-half the day is devoted to recitations and study, the other to work by the whole school. It is then a half-time labor- school, holding six months session during the year. It is quite certain that upon this plan no important educational results can be obtained — no mastery of any science, or any work, or any subject of knowledge. The professor of agriculture in this school is also a 1875.] PLANTER AND FARMER. 519 professor in another State, whose agricultural school seems to be drifting away after the new-fashioned German idea of ''experimental stations" in place of educational establishments. An accurate in- vestigation of their doings in Massachusetts shows that they are going in the same direction. In Pennsylvania fckey have broken down in mid career, their faculty wholly or partially disbanded, their revenues appropriated to the payment of their debts, their three model farms pointed at as objects of scorn, too melancholy to be ridiculous. In Maryland they have drifted away from agri- culture to become a coaching-school for the naval and military academies of the United States. The idea of half-time manual labor schools, where, in the lan- guage of Professor Gillman, they make a blundering attempt to eke out their support by work, while they bungle over an ill-digested course of study the other half of the day, is effete, moribund, and everywhere abandoned as utterly hopeless. It seems, indeed, that any institution which relied upon the totally unskilled labor of a lot of raw boys, ill-directed, grudgingly-performed jobbery, as its prin- cipal feature, might have been expected to end in failure, for the original idea was totally absurd and ridiculous. I feel somewhat ridiculous in attacking this old notion — somewhat as the sportsman did who crawled over a frozen marsh for half a mile and poured a heavy broa iside into a lot of old decoy-ducks anchored just off the shore — wasting my powder, as it were, upon dead ducks, or per- forming the supererogatory task of slaughtering dead Indians. We are witnessing everywhere the verification of the crabbed # old Baron's declaration, "It is an absurd and impossible attempt." You can never successfully combine in one school, at one and the same time, the study and mastery of the science upon which the technical part of any pursuit depends with that amount of practice which will ensure the mastery of the craft. In attempting both, you will surely encounter a double failure. What, then, shall we do? Abandon the whole thing as a failure ? Give up the whole theory of industrial education as chimerical? By no means. The Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College seems to be on the high road to success. Nothing but the worst management can now turn it back in its career. Hitherto it seems to have mastered its difficulties and solved its problems wisely and well, and to have rapidly advanced in public estimation, and we trust a great future is before it as the true pioneer of success in this direction. There are two great professions — medicine and civil engineering — from which the model of technical education should be drawn. Not- withstanding all that has been said, medical education is the most perfect technical instruction in the world. Now the model farm should be used as the medical teacher uses his hospital clinic, to illustrate and explain the great principles of the concrete BOie upon which his art is based; for agriculture, like physio*, is both a science and an art — a complex art based upon a concrete science. 520 THE SOUTHERN [September How are we to teach medicine ? By compelling the student to mnke pills and boluses, and wash pots and bottles, and carry out bed-pans ? No more are we teaching agriculture by compelling the student to do drudgery work on the college-farm. Let the st dent work at proper times and intervals for his own advantage and in- struction, especially to inculcate the great precept, " know thy work and do it, for this is the whole duty of man." Our theory is, no man is in any wise degraded or disgraced by work, but "there is one monster in the world — that is the idle man." At a future day, Mr. Editor, I may return to this question, if you can spare me space; for the present this is enough to ask. • Civis. [For the Southern Planter and Farmer.} PROLAPSUS OF THE UTERUS. (falling of the womb.) The June No. of the Planter and Farmer fell into my hands a few days since, containing an article on the above subject by P. Peters, V. S. Now, I am no veterinary surgeon, but having had some experience and uniform success in the treatment of prolapsus (properly procidentia of the womb) in the cow, I venture to suggest a plan of treatment far more easy of application than the one sug- gested by Mr. Peters. I take a piece of timber about 18 inches lon^, make a ball at one end' 2 J inches in diameter, cutting down the balance of the piece to about 1J inches, boring a hole in the small end for a strong twine string, which is passed through and firmly tied. I then wash and oil the womb — also oil the timber — return the womb, and as soon as it is in the vulva, insert the ball end of the timber and push the womb to its place. I prepare beforehand to keep the timber in place by putting hames on the cow; on each side make fast a cord, and carrying it tightly around the sides; make it fast to the string through the end of the stick. To keep the cord from slipping up or down, I place another cord around the body of the cow and make it fast to the cord on the sides. Everything remains now in the position above described from twenty-four to forty-eight hours, or until the straining ceases; it is then taken away, and the cow is well. I adopted the above plan first in a cow of my own, and have since been repeatedly applied to for instructions on the subject. I pre- sume a dozen cases have been treated upon this plan, some of them a week old before anything was done, and it has not failed to effect a cure in a single instance. Try it, and you will never think of keeping the hand in the womb of a cow again from one to twelve hour?. Mt. Lebanon, La. F. Courtney, M. D. 1875.] PLANTER AND FARMER. 521 GRANGE DECISIONS. BY THE MASTERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL granHcri|>ilv<> bikI IlliiN(r«»tc«l Priced Cainl-*Kn<*» H«"» »• foll»w«: No. • — Fruits, lOo. No. • — Ornamental ) reCB, new t-.i., with O0lor«d plate, Site. No. »— u:«,rirs, >:o('HESTF.ll. .V. )' 3fp NURSERY STOCK. FALL, 1875. We desiro to call the attention of Nurserymen and Dealers to our exceedingly large, thrifty, and great variety of stock for Fall trade. Special Inducements offered In .standard. Dwarf and Crab Apples; Standard and Dwarf ra, Cherries, (iooseherries, Currants, Finis, Maples, Evergreens, Shrubs and Roses. < brretpondena Solicited. SMITH & POWELL, Syracuse Nu rseries, Syracuse, N. Y. PERUVIAN GUANO. Until further notice. Peruvian Guano, guaranteed to contain lo per cent, of Ammonia, will he sold by the Under* signed or their Agent*, in lots of not loss than Ten Tons, at SIXTY DOL- LARS CURRENCY per Ton of 2210 pounds, full weight at the time of deliv- er!/. A liberal discount will he made to dealers or others on the entire amount bought during the Spring or Autumn seasons. i.ti||SO\, II I'KTAItO n ED TO $40 for single ton ; > ;s for five tons and over; $.'{."> for ten tons and 4t#~ Wmmmttd BftuU it, n,,,/ Mnnufaclurfd. Bead forpampblei of testimonials, BOWEN & MERCER, mar— ly S. Gay Street, Baltimore. TIN Y5f,! RE R«ncs. ., Will not muke a llotfV «f." £!V»« Ko«e Sore «co. Hardware Dealern sell them. Bmger, $1; Tin Ringa (100), 60o; Coppered HinpB. 50c; Tonga, 61.26 : by mail, post- paid. Circulars free. DCCATUR.ILl pai BRIIff LiY PLOWS B*>T AM) UlEAl'kyr U ISt. e taken over 300 Preminnu at » throughout the South. Send for illustrated Cataloguewith Price List,and certificates of planters who use them. SOLK MANUFACTURERS: BRINLY, MILES & HARDY Louisville, Kx. ' TooroMhbreil Stock for Sale. lam breeding Thoroughbred Devon Cattle, Poland China, and Essex Hogs, South Down Sheep, &c. Also Light Brahma Fowls, ana have for sale seve- ral pairs of White and Black Guineas. Persons ordering from me can rely on getting as good stock as any in this country. My herd of Devons are of the most improved strains. They took 7 first premiums at our last Virginia State Fair. For further particulars, F. W. CHILES, feb— 6m Louisa C. H., V a . CANCER ! CANCER ! ! Attention is called to the great suc- cess which has been achieved in the per- manent cure of this loathsome disease, 'BeSiK Eureka Cancer SalTe. Hitherto it has baffled the beat medical skill, and the pOOX unfortunates with this lepro>y, clinging to their bodies and eating out their vital-*, are left to drag out a miserable existence. Testimonials of the most convincing character an' accumulating daily, and many heretofore Incredulous, ar.' doit entirely latielfd ai ti> Ua Inestimable value. H. ROBERTSON A BOW, fmitr Apptat Office, Petersburg, Va, are the General Agenta, to whom all letters for Information, and orders i ve should be addn M rch tf BOTTOM TOTJOHED. Dry Goods at Lower Prices than Ever. Money saved by bnyii yonr Dry Goods from Levy Brothers, Who have made large purchases since the recent decline. Fancy Grenadines at 8£, 10 and 12?c per yard, worth 16f, 20 and 25c; Rich Styles Fancy Grenadines at 16§, 20, 25, 30 and 35c, worth from 25 to 50c; Black Grenadines in all qualities from 12|c. up to $2.25 per yard — this em- braces not only the cheapest, but best assorted stock ever offered in this city ; Ecru Linen Tussore Suiting at 8£c per yard, worth 16fc; at 12£c, would be a bargain at 25c; at 16fc, worth 30c — these goods must be seen to be appre- ciated; Silk- Warp Japanese Stripes and Plaids at 30c per yard, worth 50c; Japanese Cloth at 12£c, worth 25c; Wash-Poplins, best goods manufactured, at 12£c and 15c, worth 16| and 25c; Debeges, at 25, 30, 35, 40 and 50c These goods can be had in all the new shades ; New style] Plaid Dressj Goods from 25 to 50c; per yard — a reduction of from twenty-five to fifty per cent, has been made in these goods ; Fast- Colored Lawns at 8£, 10, 16f, 20, 25, 30, 37£ and 50c; Also, at the lowest prices, Pongees. Mohairs, Japanese Silks, Jaconets, Cam- brics, Linen Lawns, and all other styles of fashionable dress goods ; Black Al- pacas at 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 75, 85, 90c, $1 and $1.25 ; Australian Crepe at 50, 60 and 75c, worth 65c, 75c and $1; Yard- wide Printed Percales and Cambrics at 12£ and 16§c per yard — regular prices, 16f and 25c; Victoria Lawns at 16f, 20, 25 and 30c; also, Piques at 16f, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40c — all remarkably cheap ; Swiss Muslins from V2%c. up to 50c per yard — all very cheap ; Checked and Striped Nainsook Muslins, Checked and Striped Swiss Muslins ; Corded, Striped and Figured Piques — all at extraordinary bargains ; Lonsdale Cambric, first quality, one yard wide, at 16f per yard; Knight's Cambric, 33 inches wides, at 10c, would be a bargain at 12^c; Utica Sheeting, 10-4 wide, in remnants from two and a half up to ten yards, at 40c per yard ; 50c is the regular price everywhere ; Remnants of Dress Goods of every description to be sold at less than half value ; Black and Colored Silks at lower prices and in greater variety than at any other establishment in this State; Embroidered Curtain-Muslin, one yard wide, at 25c, worth 37£c; Hamburgh Net for Curtains, at 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50c, and up to $1 per yard ; Hamburgh Lace Curtains from $4 to $30 per set for two windows ; Hamburgh Lace Lambrequins, from $2.50 up to $5 a pair — all very cheap and desirable ; Window-Shades in great variety, among which will be found an exact imitation of lace shades, now so fashionable : A large assortment of Curtain Fixtures, such as Cornices, Bands, Loops and Hooks ; f Black, White and Ecru Hamburgh Nets, at a reduction of 50c ; A full assort- ment of Laces suitable for trimming ; A large assortment of Silk Neck Scarfs and Ties ; Also, Black Lace Scarfs and White Lace and Muslin Scarfs ; Ready-Made Dresses for ladies in all of the latest styles, from $3 to $25 ; A full assortment of Under-Garments at extraordinary low prices ;; A large assort- ment of Ducks and Drillings for boys' and men's wear; Sash Ribbons at 25c, 30c, 35c, 40c and 50c, and up to $1.25 per yard— all extraordinarily cheap ; A full assortment of Ribbons from a half-inch up to seven inches at the lowest prices ; Gauze Shirts for men and women — some as low as 40c for men ; Bustles in all the new styles ; also, Hoop Skirts and Balmorals ; Matting, Oil- Cloths, Rugs, Carpets, Mats and Hassocks ; Rubber, Jet and Gold Plated Jew- elry in great variety ; Summer Shawls, Lace Points and Jackets ; Black Grenadine Shawls at $3, worth $4 ; Laces and Embroideries in endless variety at low prices ; Goodrich & Barnum's Tuckers at 75c; Machine Needles at 4 and 5c; Machine Oil in large bottles at 15c; Clark's and Coat's Spool Cotton at 70c per dozen : And thousands of other articles not enumerated in this advertisement. Prompt attention to orders. July— tf LEVY BROTHERS, Richmond, Ya. CHESTNUT GROVE Stock Farm and Poultry Yards, McKEAN & HULICH, EASTON, PENN. Fine Bred and English Draft Horses, Asiatic Poultry and Fancy Pigeons, Light and Dark Bramas, Buff, Partridge and White Cochins, Antwerps, Carriers, Barbs, Owls, Magpies and Almond Tumblers. POULTRY took fifteen Society and nine Special Premiums on Fowls and Chicks, and seven on Pigeons at Lehigh Valley Poultry Exhibition, held at Al- lentown, January, 1875. FOR SALE Fine Bred and Draft Stallions, Gold Dust and other Colts. Eggs, Chicks and Pigeons in season. RICHLAND STOCK FARM, NEAR QUAKERTOWN, PA. THOMAS L. McKEAN, Proprietor, P. O. Easton, Pennsylvania. PURE BRED SHORT-HORN CATTLE, JUBILEES, LOUANS, YOUNG MARY'S, &c. The above stock has been removed from Chestnut Grove Farm, and on hand and for sale at reasonable prices. Parties wishing to examine the Herd will be met at Quakertown Station, (which is one and a quarter hours ride from Phila- delphia, via N. P. R. R.) by writing in advance to the Proprietor, at Easton, Pa. fta^~ Catalogues and Circulars upon application. Aug — tf Notice to Wheat Growers. Reduction of Price of CELEBRATED Ammoniated Bone Super Pliospliate, Unrivalled for the wheat crop. For sale by agents and dealers throughout the country. PRICE, $4500 per ton, at Baltimore. " Dissolved Bone Super Phosphate " supplied to manufacturers and dealers at low figures. Wo are prepared to furnish Granges with an " Ammoniatcd Bone Superphosphate of a standard quality, adapted to grain crops, at very lowest price. P. ZELL & SONS. Manufacturers, aug— 3t 80 South St.. Baltimore, Md SOLUBLE PACIFIC GUANO, FOR TOBACCO, CORN AND OTHER CROPS. After ten years' continuous use, throughout Virginia and the South, Soluble Pacific Guano has acquired a reputation for reliability equal to that formerly erjjoyed by the Peruyian Guano, and the quantity used annually exceeds that oi any other fertilizer. It has been the aim of all connected with this Guano to produce the best possible fertilizer at the lowest possible cost, and we claim that the unusual resources and facilities of the manufactu- rers have enabled them to approach this more nearly than h3s been done in any other fertilizer with which we are acquainted. Those who have been using it unite with us in the opinion, that by its use the consumer gets THE GREATEST BENEFIT FROM THE SMALLEST OUTLAY. We offer it with great confidence for use on the Tobacco and other crops to be grown in 1875, with the assurance that it is, in all respects, equal to what it has been in the past. PURE PERUVIAN GUANO, AS IMPORTED. We have a full supply of JTo. 1 Guanape Peruvian Guano, from the Government Agent in New York, selected from one of the finest cargoes ever imported. It is dry and in beau- tiful order, and contains within a fraction of 13 per cent, of Ammonia, which is within two per cent, of what the old Chincha Peruvian used to contain — in fact, it would be difficult to tell one from the other. We offer these standard and thoroughly tested fertilizers for Tobacco, Corn, and all Spring Crops, and are prepared to sell them at such prices as will make it to the interest of consumers and dealers to purchase their supplies of us instead of sending their orders to New York, or elsewhere. For further information and supplies, address, ALLISON & ADDISON, mar— tf Seed and Guano Merchants, Kiclimonci, 7a Pleasantly- located on Twelfth Street, facing Bank Street and the Capi- tol Square. In the centre of the business portion of the city, within one square of the Post Office and Custom House, it is, by its retired location opposite the southeast corner of the beautiful park surrounding the Capitol of Virginia, the most quiet hotel in Richmond. The proprietor having had a life long experience in hotel business — first at the Everett House, New York, and afterwards as proprietor of the Spotswood Hotel, Richmond, in its best days — and now assisted by Mr. JOHN P. BALLARD, the popular veteran hotel-keeper of Vir- ginia, assures visitors of the ST. JAMES that no effort on his part will be spared to make them comfortable and to keep the house in first-class style. Coaches will attend the arrival of all trains. Elegant carriages are at all times at the service of the traveling public, june T. W. HOENNIGER, Proprietor. THE GREEN SPRINGS ACADEMY, LOUISA COUNTY, VA. This pleasantly situated private School for Boys and Young Men preparing for College, will resume recitations October 1st, 1875. Persons wishing to send their sons to school are requested to ap- ply to us at once. We wish to have only a small school of some twenty-five scholars — one that can be well taught. For reference, apply to editors of " Religious Herald " or to Pro- fessors of Richmond College. Address C. R. DICKINSON & SON, jy-3t Trevilian's, Louisa County, C. & 0. R. JR., Va. W, C, SMITH, '] MAMFACTtHKR OF .SPRING WAGONS, BDGGIES.&C I have on hand and make to order on short notice, Carriages, Buggies and Spring Wagons, with special reference to the wants of farmers. Light running and strong, of any desired capacity. Workmanship and material guaranteed. Prices lower than the same quality of work can be bought at in this or any other city. Orders solicited. Letters of inquiry promptly answered. Repairing promptly and reasonably done. W. C. SMITH, my-6m 308 Fifth Street, Richmond, Va. IfAOOaSt VJUftOHB! The subscriber has on hand . Wl.g.glS JSifB &&mxs of various descriptions, that he wishes to dispose of on very mode- rate terms, and is still manufacturing others, and solicits a call from all in want of any article in his line, and he guarantees good work- manship, and first-rate material. A. B. LIPSCOMB, my 116 Cary Street, between Adams and Jefferson. CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO R. R. On and after SUNDAY, June 13th, 1875, passenger trains will run as follows : FROM RICHMOND : Leave Richmond, 9.30 A. M. 9.10 P. M. Arrive at Gordonsville, 12.45 P. M. 12.30 A. M. Arrive at Washington, 7.33 P. M. 6.33 A. M. Arrive at Charlottesville, 1.45 P. M. 1.24 A. M. Arrive at Lynchburg, 4. 50 P. M. 4.50 A .M. Arrive at Staunton, 4.10 P. M. 3.30 A. M. Arrive at Goshen, 5.56 P. M. 5.14 A. M. Arrive at Millboro', 6.17 P. M. 5.36 A. M. Arrive at Covington, 7.51 P. M. 7.06 A. M. Arrive at Alleghany, 8.59 P. M. 8.14 A. M. Arrive at White Sulphur, 9.15 P. M. 8.32 A. M. Arrive at Hinton, 12.15 A. M. 10.35 A. M. Arrive at Kanawha Falls, 4.20 A. M. 1.25 P. M. Arrive at Charleston, 6.15 A. M. 3.25 P. M. Arrive at Huntington, 8.30 A. M. 5.45. P. M. Arrive at Cincinnati, 6.00 A. M. Train leaving Richmond at 9.30 A. M. runs daily, (Sunday excepted) stopping at all regular stations. Train leaving Richmond 9.10 P. M. runs daily stopping at all regular stations west of Alleghany. Accommodation train leaves Richmond for Gordonsville and all intermediate stations daily (Sunday excepted), at 4.80 P. M. Pullman Sleeping Car runs on 9.10 P. M. train between Richmond and White Sulphur. tor further information, rates, Ac, apply at 826 Main Street, or at Company's offices. CONWAY R. HOWARD, General Passenger and Ticket Agent. W. M. S. Dunn, Engineer and Sup't Transportation. jj Imports! BerksMre Sow, "Swaawick's Pride," Winner of HIGHEST PRIZE, at ROYAL SHOW, ENGLAND and First Prizes in Ohio, Penna., Md.,and Va . Under One Tear Old. JERSBY -CAm& Berkshire and Short-faced York, shires a Specialty. GLENDALE STOCK FARM. Bred from the most noted and FASHION. ABLE STRAINS of IMPORTED and PRIZE WINNING STOCK. Selected with great care from the best Herds and Pens, regardless of t expense. I gun ran tee satisfaction, ^^Correspondence and orders solicited. Address (HAS. B. MOORE, sep "Glen Dale Farm," Christiana, Pa FARMERS AND DEALERS PURE BONE FLOUR, PURE DISSOLVED BONE ASH, Pure Dissolved Haw Bone, 66° Oil Vitroil, German Potash Salts, Pure Chemicals for making Superphos- phate at the lowest market price. Call at K. J BAKER & COS. Aug — ly OTUWBMBf PUNTS FOE 8ALB. Forty thousand Wilson's Albany STRAWBERRY PLANTS, $3 50 per thousand. Address T. L. PAYNE, Black Heath, Chesterfield County, Va. Encourage Home Enterprise and buy McGruder's Fertilizer, The most flattening accounts are being constantly received. For the past twenty years it has been manufactured in the city of Rich- mond and the thousands of tons sent out have given universal satis- faction. The price is just as low as a good article can be furnished at. For certificates call at office, corner Cary and Eleventh Streets. Herewith are two as a specimen : Messrs. Currant & Co., Powhatan county, August 23, write that the effects of the fertilizer are all that is represented, and are won- derful on their growing crop of tobacco. In the dry summer of 1872, Dr. R. A. Patterson, with the use of 300 pouifds McGruder's Fertilizer to the acre, made twenty-five bushels wheat on poor land, which was fallowed by a first rate clover crop. For further particu- lars, address, CHAS. McGRUDER, Richmond. Clawson Seed Wheat! The undersigned, who introduced extensively to Virginia the cele- brated Fultz, now offers a new, and in some respects, a superior va- riety — smooth, white, hardy and very productive. Warrant I Genuine. Clawson, $3.25, and Fultz, $2.25 per bushel, including bags. Address, H. S. ALEXANDRIA, sep— tf Culpeper, Va SAUL'S NURSERIES, Washington, D. C. The undersigned offers a fine stock of the following NEW PEARS : Souvenirs du Congress, Beurre 4 d ' Assumption, Pifcmaston Duchess, a. NEW PEACHES : Early Beatrice, Early Louisa, Early Rivers, Early A ! with a collection of new peaches raised by T. Riv. II II Mil- extensive stock of well growi, near, apple, cherry. >o grape vines, small fruits, &c. I I 'i KEENS: Smalt sizes suitable serymen, a as larger stock in great variety. DUTCH BULBS.— Large importations direct from the leading growers in Hol- land, first quality Bulbs: Hyacinths, Lilies, Tulips, &c, new ami Greei house plants for winter blooming; New Clematises, a fine collect v w Wis- terias ; roses new and rare. A large stock grown in four and five-inch pots- prices low. New Rose, Duchess of Edinborough, at reduced rates. Primula Ja- ponica— stony— in five inch pots. Catalogues mailed to applicants. sep— tf JOHN SAUL, Washington City, D. C. FERTILISERS 1 Soluble Sea Island Guano, ESPECIALLY PREPARED FOR THE WHEAT CROP. Ammoniated Alkaline Phosphate, The Granger's Manure. This Manure has been used by them for the past two years, with great satisfaction. % Bone and. Meal Fertilizer. This article is combined with Potash, and contains all the elements necessary for the growth of plant, and maturity of grain. BALTIMORE AND TEXAS FERTILIZING COMPANY'S Flour of Bone and Bone Meal, From our Extensive Factory at Fulton, Texas. Ammoniacal Hatter, Of uniform quality, prepared from the flesh of cattle, at our Texas Factory — an ammoniate superior to Peruvian Guano. Dissolved Bone. Bone Phosphate dissolved in Sulphuric Acid, containing 13r per cent, of Soluble Phosphoric Acid. Potash Salts Of our own importation. Sulphuric Acid, And all necessary articles to make a good Fertilizer. For Sale at Comer of South and Water Streets, - - BALTIMORE, R. W. L. RAISIN & CO.