THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



237 



could have wished, but the former much better 

 than the latter. The fly made an attack on a 

 portion of the Red May, which was top-dressed, 

 and damaged it materially, but did not touch 

 the other, of either kind, immediately adjoining, 

 and a pari of the same piece — which compelled 

 me to ascribe it to the top-dressing — the dress- 

 ing served it with a comfortable shelter for the 

 winter. The Red May is the prettiest wheat 1 

 ever saw grow — the straw being a beautiful 

 gold color. The straw is rather slender and 

 tall, which renders it more liable to tumble — and 

 suffered to get too ripe before it is cut, it shatters 

 very much — but this 1 consider no fault, as all 

 wheat, by universal consent, ought to be har- 

 vested in the dough state — the grain being 

 firmer and plumper, than if suffered to stand till 

 thoroughly ripe. 



This crop satisfied me that wheat, and even 

 corn can be made with but little rain. Deep 

 and discreet cultivation, with showers u few and 

 far between" will make respectable crops of ei- 

 ther. The wheat crop with us, 1 think, ought 

 to be sown from the lUh to 20th October. To 

 avoid the fly and make the best crops, it is impor- 

 tant that it should take vigorous root, if possible, 

 before the winter. I have advised some of my 

 friends to sow the Red May, and if upon strong 

 land, such as wheat ought to be put in, 1 have 

 offered to insure against the fly and rust. Upon 

 a good clover fallow, or manured land, (the ma- 

 nure to be put under the surface,) the fly may 

 feed plentifully, and still have enough to yield a 

 fine crop. The wheat will grow, if the season 

 is good, faster than the insect can eat it. 



The reason the top-dressed land gave way to 

 the fly, as mentioned above, was, that there was 

 no rain to bring up the wheat and give it a good 

 start in the fall. Poor land cannot resist the ny, 

 and must yield the best part of the crop for its 

 portion. 



While wheat of every variety, delights (if I 

 may so speak) in reasonably dry weather and 

 soils, no kind will live through an ordinary win- 

 ter, it matters not how strong the land may be, 

 where it is subject to much water. Low, wet 

 land, if put in wheat at all, should be bedded 

 above the water. 



For the Southern Planter. 



Recipe to make a Light Bread Pudding. — Slice 

 the bread, and butter it, politically, (on both sides,) 

 and lay it in an earthen baker, or whatever is 

 used for that purpose. Let a little mace and 

 some raisins or sweatmeats besprinkled between 

 the slices. Then make a custard of eggs, su- 

 gar and milk and pour it over the light bread. 

 After it has stood till the bread is saturated with 

 the custard, bake slowly in an oven for ten or 

 fifteen minutes, and if it is not good eating I will 

 surrender my judgment. There should be more 



than enough custard to cover the bread, and it 

 should not be baked till the custard is hard. 



A Lover or Puddings. 



Nottoivay, 1843. 



For the Southern Planter. 



Mr. Editor, — I have paid some attention to 

 the cultivation of the grasses for several years, 

 and have found them highly beneficial in the 

 improvement of the soil, and the assistance 

 which they afford in raising cattle, &c. For 

 instance, for two winters my sheep have sub- 

 sisted entirely in my fields without being fed at 

 all. They were fed two or three times during 

 the past winter, but in no instance did they eat 

 more than a blade or two of fodder. The same 

 may be said of my cattle. True, they were 

 fed, and they generally eat what was given 

 them, but it is evident the grass which they ob- 

 tained when the ground was not covered with 

 snow, contributed greatly to their support. And 

 what, I would ask, is better for horses than nice- 

 ly cured Herd's grass hay 1 



But my object was not to write an essay on 

 the grasses, but to ask for information. Twelve 

 months ago, last spring, I sowed one peck of 

 Timothy seed on a pretty piece of flat land, 

 having previously prepared it nicely, and sowed 

 it in oats. When I went to cut it this summer it 

 was with difficulty I could distinguish the Timo- 

 thy from the weeds and other grass. I howe- 

 ver had the heads cut off with a scythe, and 

 from them obtained several bushels of nice seed. 



Now, sir, will you, or some of your grass- 

 growing correspondents, give me a little infor- 

 mation relative to this grass? 1st. As to the 

 land best adapted to its growth. 2d. The time 

 and manner of sowing. 3d. The quantity of 

 seed per acre. 4th. The method of cutting and 

 curing; and lastly, as to its merits compared 

 with other grasses. In short, any information 

 relative to it will be acceptable to me, and per- 

 haps to others of your constant readers. I would 

 here take occasion to remark, that. I have, for 

 several years, adopted the plan of mixing Herd's 

 grass seed with my oats, previous to sowing, and 

 where they were merely raked in, they came up 

 beautifully. This I think a good plan when 

 seed are scarce, and it is desired to get the grass 

 generally scattered over the plantation, and not 

 designed for cutting. 



Yours truly, P. B. W, 



Nottoway, September, 1843. 



THE RED MAY. 

 A gentleman of this city attracted by the re- 

 putation of the "Red May," addressed some 

 enquiries concerning its merits, to one of the 

 most enlightened and experienced farmers in the 

 county of Goochland ; these enquiries drew 



