m 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



[No. 10 



neyilect, ihe neck, ears, (especially in the large, 

 lop-eared hotrs,) or other parts become ulceraled, 

 they should be annointeil every (bird orlburth day 

 with a little tar ointment, prepared by niixirig 

 equal parts of mutton suet, and tar over a gentle 

 fire, and straininf;r such mixture while hot. 



The measles exist chiefly in the throat, which 

 is internally filled with small pustules, or tumors, 

 that sometimes appear on the outward surface ol 

 the neck; and also affect the e;rdin of the meat 

 when killed. It is a very common disease, and is 

 known by the lancruor and decline in flesh of the 

 animal affected; and may be removed by giving 

 small quantities of levigated crude antimony in 

 his food. 



The murrain, or leprosy, in swine, is indicated 

 by shortness and heat ol' breath, heads hanging 

 down, staggering, and a secretion of viscid mat- 

 ter from the eyes. The cause arises chiefly from 

 hot seasons, in consequence of v/hich the blood 

 becomes inflamed. Remedy: 



Boil a handful of nettles in a s^allon of small beer, 

 then add half a pound of flour o! sulphur, a quarter 

 of a pound of pulverized aniseeds, three ounces of 

 liquorice, and a quarter of a pound of elecampane. 



Give this liquid in milk, at six doses; and keep 

 the diseased animals on wholesome tbod. Bat 

 the best preventive is to keep swine clean and 

 cool in summer, and to allow no carrioOj or fillh 

 whatever, to remain near their sties. 



^RAPE CULTURE AND PROFITS IN KORTH 

 CAROLINA — RUTA-BAGA. 



To the E<3itor of the Farmers' Register. 



Brinkkyville, Halifax county JV. C. 



Janua'nj 4. 1S3S. 



Dear Sir — Although not having the pleasure 

 of personal acquaintance with you, ye' as the 

 warm friend and efficient promoter of the art of 

 arts — the great business of agriculture, and its 

 kindred employments — you have endeared your- 

 self to me, and seem as a I'amiliar friend. In dis- 

 tributing vines and rr.'ulticaulis plants, I have oc- 

 casionally met with your patrons, and read your 

 pages with much interest. I would have patron- 

 ized you myself, but did not like to discontinue the 

 'American Farmer' and its successors, and do not 

 yet feel able to patronize your's also. Through the 

 suggestion of a few of your patrons as well as my 

 own desire to do .something lor agriculture in your 

 columns, I have, Irom time to time, resolved to 

 offer you pieces lor publication; but my multifa- 

 rious employment, and press of business, have 

 hitherto prevented. I have wished to communi- 

 cate about native grape vines in answer to some 

 of your correspondents. I have been cultivating 

 a native of this county, called the ''Halifax," that 

 I believe is equal to any in the United Stales — in 

 every respect excellent, and not subject to any 

 casualities common to vine culture; such as rot- 

 ting and mildew. I have about lour acres in suc- 

 cessful vine culture. The scuppernong, also, 1 

 should like to recommend in your columns. I 

 lately visited the scuppernong vineyard of the 

 late Capt. Burlingham near Louisburgh in this 

 state, mentioned, you know, repeatedly in the 

 .'American Farmer'. And I cannot forbear brief- 

 .!y naming to you, some particulars of my obser- 



vations; there are just fourteen vines, the branches 

 of which cover with a complete canopy about half 

 an acre, and which yield lo the present proprietor, 

 Mr, John Eroddie. on an average, 20 barrels of 

 wine a year; that is considerably more than a bar- 

 rel to a vine annually. I measured li-um the stock 

 of one vine the extent of the canopy outward, 

 which was 60 (eet; indicating that looking forward 

 to 15 or 20 years, 120 leet is near enough to 

 plant scuppernong vines. With doubly refined 

 sugar (and no spirits) I make scuppernong wine 

 that brings me 30 dollars a barrel, ready market. 

 I calculate that by prosecuting a system oi' man- 

 aging vines, a hint of which originally appeared in 

 the 'Farmers' Register,' I can make 3000 gallons- 

 of wine, either the scuppernong, or my Halilisx, 

 per acre. The hint was this — a fjentleman wrote 

 that he laid by corn vviJh a thickness of wet leaves 

 from the woods. 3 tried it, fthe corn^ with 

 entire success, and also have vines, with eve- 

 ry promise of entire success. After the 3d year, 

 or when no longer profitable, to cultivate the 

 ground, I threw a thickness of pine straw, green 

 pine boughs, and the like, which prevents alL 

 trouble of working the ground, and acts even- 

 tually as the best of manures lor the vines. 



My Halifax makes either a white or red wine 

 pronounced by some equal to Maderia. Il you 

 wish. I will take opportunity to send you samj>les 

 of the above-named vines. 



I have wished to communicate to j'ou on ttie 

 culture of the rata baga. 



Notwithstanding that I was warned liy a friend, 

 that the culture ol' this plant had been attempted 

 in this region without success, about 8 years since 

 f undertook its cultivation, and have not yel liiiled 

 to have good annual crops; but I attend to it 

 personally, and do not commit the business to the 

 care of servants. Some around me are now imita- 

 ting my example. Through my recommendation, 

 the culture has been pursued successfully by some 

 in Granville county; and amonfr a fimiily of the 

 Mr. Walking's, Virginia. Mr.^Williani J. VVat- 

 kins is, or was one of your patrons, and got last 

 winter a hundred dollars worth of the morus mul- 

 ticaulis of me, to enter upon the silk culture. Mr. 

 Massenburgh, near Louisburgh in this state, a 

 patron of yours informed me lately, he had tried 

 the rata banfa culture without adequate success. 

 But on inquiry, I believe the reason was, he drew 

 up dirt to the plant, instead of rather drawing 

 therefrom. One or two points to success I would 

 here name. The planting in our region should 

 be on, or before the middle of July — and in drills, 

 about 3 feet, and about a foot eventual distance in 

 (he drill. I have hereby made a^ the rate of more 

 than 600 bushels to the acre; li<Tht land is prefer- 

 able, but manured well in the drill, any land will, 

 with proper management, produce good crops. 



Not having time to' prepare you at this time 

 any regular, or properly written article, I enclose, 

 or send you two newspapers in which are pieces 

 ol" mine, with which, and tfiis hasty scrawl, you 

 can make such use as you think best. The Ra- 

 leigh paper contains a just compliment of mine to 

 you — not designed to meet your eye when sent 

 ibr publication; but Mr. Gales sending me a 

 copy of his paper, or the number transmitted, I 

 concluded to send it to you, with a request that 

 you would, if thinking of it, return it to me by mail. 

 Sidney Weller. 



