240 



THE SGUTHE 



RN PLANTER. 



a field treated in this way by Mr. McKinley, 

 which was fresh and vigorous in the drought, 

 that had shrivelled up the field along side, on 

 land every way equal, treated in the usual way 

 by Mr. Phinizy, who is a good planter. I have 

 just learned the result of the harvest, which is 

 truly gratifying. Mr. McK. made 22 bushels 

 to the acre, when Mr. P. scarcely made two 

 bushels. These are facts of much interest. — 

 May not the rye straw be profitably employed 

 in this way by the farmers of New England, 

 and rotted on the ground as well as in the barn 

 3'ards, nay more so, when the labor of plough- 

 ing and hoeing the corn is taken into the ac- 

 count? — Genu. Farmer, 



For the Southern Planter. 

 " THE AGRICULTURAL YEAR. 



Mr. Editor,-— The inclemency of the season, 

 and other manifest reasons, makes the first of 

 January a very inconvenient period for the far- 

 mer to begin his year. And as in other profes- 

 sions, (as for instance, among merchants, the 

 mercantile year usually commencing in Septem- 

 ber,) convenience is consulted, there can be no 

 good reason why another period than January 

 should not be the beginning of the farmer's year. 

 There is no week in the fifty two more inconve- 

 nient for moving and settling overseers, hireing 

 hands, commencing farming operations, than 

 Christmas week. And that master would great- 

 ly benefit the condition and add to the comfort 

 of his servants who would refuse them the 

 usual indulgence of a holy day at Christmas. — 

 Far better that they should be at work than en- 

 gaged in dissipation and vice, or even in the 

 comparatively innocent pleasure of visiting. — 

 Virginia planters would thus save in Doctors 

 bills enough to supply themselves with every 

 agricultural paper in the union. The first day 

 of November of each year, w r ould be a very good 

 period for commencing the agricultural year. — 

 By that time we have gathered in the crops, 

 and are commencing preparations for a new 

 crop. This would be a more suitable and con- 

 venient time for changing overseers, hiring 

 hands for a succeeding crop: and the health 

 and comfort of our negroes would be promoted 

 by giving the annual holyday in the last week 

 of October. S. S. V. 



Scotlsburg, 5th August. 



NEW MODE OF MAKING SOAP. 



The Westminster Carroltonian mentions the 

 manufacture of a barrel of soap by Mrs Moul, 

 of that town, without the aid of fire. The 

 whole, process of change from ley to soap is ef- 

 fected by the heat of the sun, without any trou- 

 ble. It must be regarded as an economical im- 

 provement on the old process. 



We know of an economical housewife in this 

 city who has been in the habit for many years 

 of manufacturing, in the manner above indicat- 

 ed, all the soft soap she required for house- 

 hold purposes. The process is exceedingly sim- 

 ple, it being only necessary to use an old barrel 

 as a ley hopper, and draw off every now and 

 then a bucket of ley, which is poured upon the 

 grease, that should be placed in another barrel, 

 and set in a position where it is exposed to the 

 rays of the sun, but to be covered over in rainy 

 weather. In this manner, with the aid of occa- 

 sional stirring, the soap will be fit for use in a 

 few w T eeks. One barrel of ashes and four pounds 

 of rendered fat, will make a barrel of soap. It 

 is not necessary, how r ever, lo rend up the fat, as 

 it may be thrown into the barrel in any state, 

 and will be consumed by the ley. 



Nat, Intelligencer. 



CONTENTS OF NO. X. 



Improvement of Old Lands — An account of Dr. Pal- 

 mer's system, p. 217. 



Lime, Salt and Ashes— Effect of the mixture on soils, 

 p. 217. 



Mecklenburg Hole and Corner Club — Communication 

 from, p. 218. 



Indian Corn — Room for improvement in the crop of 



Virginia and North Carolina, p. 219. 

 Fall Ploughing — Objected to, p. 219. 

 Sand Hill Hog — The breed described, and illustrated 



with a cut, p. 220. 

 Goochland Fair — To take place in November next, 



p. 221. 



Gapes — The cause and the remedy, p. 221. 



Crab Grass — Its value as a crop, p. 222. 



Capital — Its proper disposition in agriculture, p. 222. 



Horse Poiver — Hall's patent horse power described, 



with a cut, p. 224. 

 Beehives — A plan recommended, p. 225. 

 A Looking Glass — In which many of our farmers may 



see their faces, p. 225. 

 Agriculture — The true state of the science, p. 227. 

 Seed Corn — Directions for saving, p. 228. 

 Mecklenburg Hole and Corner Club — Their report on 



Mr. Leigh's farm, p. 228. 

 Milk — A cellar the proper place for the dairy, p. 229. 

 Industry — The difference between saying go and 



come, p. 230. 



Old Field Pines — Should be converted into coal for 



curing tobacco, p. 230. 

 Soils — Apparatus for testing texture of, p. 233. 

 Butter — In the Richmond market, p. 233. 

 Hens — To select eggs, p. 234. 

 Overseers — Their wages, p. 234. 

 Aphorisms — No. 6, p. 235. 

 Wheat— Red, May, p. 236. 

 Pudding — Recipe, p. 237. 

 Grasses — Inquiries, p. 237. 

 Red May — The merits of, p. 237. 

 Sore Teats — Remedy for, p. 238. 

 Feeding — Directions for feeding horses, p. 238. 

 Dr. A. C. Morton— Letter from, p. 238. 

 Grass— A call on Dr. Venable, p. 239. 

 Choking— To relieve, p. 239. 



Fence — Apparatus for preparing stake holes, p. 239. 

 Covering — Use of straw and leaves, p. 239. 

 Agricultural Year — To commence in November, p. 

 240. 



Soap — New mode of making, p. 240. 



