258 



Osage County alone will amount to not fax- from $150,000. At this date, May 1, the 

 grass is just starting a little, so that the cattle which are still on their feet, may pos- 

 sibly live. 



Marion, Miss. — The raius in the latter part of April exceeded anything within the 

 memory of the oldest inhabitant. The Hood in Pearl River was higher by three feet 

 than has been known since the settlement of the country. One-half at least of the 

 lands in cultivation in the river swamps is totally ruined, either from washing away 

 or by immense deposits of saud. In consequence, the crops in this county will be re- 

 duced at least one-half, even if we are favored with a good season. Cotton is just 

 now. May 1, being planted. Cotton ou lauds not submerged has beeu killed up to the 

 present time by the rain and cold. 



Growing and preserving potatoes. — Marion, Misii. — The destitution likely to re- 

 sult from the failure of the corn crops this year has led me to consider the improvi- 

 dence of the people of this section in failing to plant, in sufficient abundance, those 

 food ci'ops which can be raised in unlimited quantities with a small expenditure of la- 

 bor compared with that required for corn. The first of these is the Irish potato, which 

 now constitutes the staple article of food of the laboring classes in the most thickly set- 

 tled parts of the earth. It is a singular fact that, although the Irish potato can be 

 raised with no more labor, and with far more certainty than in the North, it is univer- 

 sally regarded in the South as a sort of luxury to be planted in the garden and en- 

 joyed only during three months iu the year. Sufficient to supply any family during the 

 "whole year can be raised with ease on one acre of ground, and to a large extent take 

 the place of corn as now used. The only drawback is the fancied impossibility of keep- 

 ing them sound ; but I know of one farmer who has Irish potatoes all summer, simply 

 by letting them remain in the ground, after they come to maturity iu Jlay, until it is 

 time to plant again in the fall. He never has a rotten potato. When he is obliged to 

 dig he spreads them out on a dry floor and has no trouble from the rot. I think they 

 might be kept sound, also bj' burying them when dug, uuder two or three feet of earth. 

 Please call attention of farmers through the South to this matter, and invite discus- 

 sion as to the most certain means of keeping the Irish potato free from rot after dig- 

 ging. Another objection made to its culture iu this section is, that it " runs out," thus 

 requiring the purchase of new seed every year. The experience of several planters 

 during the war has shown this to be a mistaken notion. I know several who raised 

 Irish potatoes from their own seed for five years iu succession, and they suffered no 

 deterioration. 



Another substitute for the corn we buy so largely from the West is the sweet 

 potato. This flourishes here in the greatest perfection, the yield being often above 

 300 bushels per acre. It is now used to a considerable extent for food, but I think 

 the greatest advantage might be realized from its use as feed for horses aud other 

 stock. It can be raised at a cost of i^ cents per bushel, and as a feed for horses 

 two bushels are equal to one of corn or oats, which costs on the average $1. By rais- 

 ing sweet potatoes the saving in money would be great, even if it took five bushels to 

 equal in nutritive capacity one of corn. Here, again, the difficulty of keeping them, 

 in the mode practiced by the majority of farmers, is the only obstacle iu the way of 

 increased use of them for feed. But last year I saw, in October, 3,000 bushels in one 

 pile on the farm belonging to the Lunatic Asylum of this State. The superintendent 

 stated that he had sweet potatoes during the whole year, and explained his method of 

 keeping them. He puts his whole crop in one bank. This, at the time named, was at 

 least 60 feet in length, 14 in breadth, and 1 in height ; over the whole pile dry grass 

 ■was thrown to the depth of one foot ; the earth was thrown on the bank to the same 

 depth, extending to the top on the north side, but only about half way to the top on 

 the south. The whole Avas covered with long plank laid on from the north side at aa 

 angle of 45'^, extending over so as to protect the whole bank from the weather, aud 

 supported by posts standing in the middle of the bank at intervals of 4 feet. The 

 posts were hollow and full of auger-holes, so as to afford ventilation and the escape of 

 moisture generated in the heap. The superiuteudeut, Dr. Compton, stated that his 

 potatoes banked iu this maumu' remained sound during the whole year. 



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONGRESS. 



The third annual session of this body, composed of representatives of 

 the various open and secret local organizations in aid of rural interests, 

 convened at Atlanta, Ga., May 13, and continned in session for three 

 days. The proceedings were entirely harmonious, and characterized bj 

 a fraternal and progressive spirit. 



