THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



213 



To Mr. Woodfin. — You inquire why I prefer 

 composting dead animals with marl, rather than 

 plaster ? Indeed, sir, I had not thought of com- 

 posting flesh with plaster; consequently I could 

 not have preferred marl. I would, however, re- 

 mark that the dead animals of Richmond during 

 the year, would saturate many hundred tons of 

 plaster, and what would Mr. W. do with this 

 quantity. The marl without other ingredient, 

 is a good manure ; and when composted with 

 animals, it would not only decompose the flesh 

 and absorb the ammonia, but would also dis- 

 solve the bones, hoofs, horns, and teeth ; and 

 when matured the whole could be carted and 

 spread broadcast with shovels. I would like to 

 know of Mr. W. how many, and what kind of 

 dead animals he composts with plaster 1 How 

 much plaster, and how applied to a horse or 

 cow? And whether the compost is applied to 

 the earth by hand or not 1 



To Mr. Botts. — Although I never saw you, 

 yet in my last I took the liberty of casting a 

 few round stones at you, and just as 1 expected, 

 their direction and purpose were timely disco- 

 vered ; and instead of their doing mischief, they 

 were caught in your hands, and used for build- 

 ing purposes. All that I have to add is that 

 you have left no stones on hand except such as 

 are large ; and as I am no Ajax you are now 

 safe. As to the covering of plants or other ve- 

 getable matter, I hope that as this is the first 

 time of calling, the cause may lie over at least 

 one term. 



Investigator. 



and as your object is good they should not be 

 overlooked. 



Yours truly, T. G. T. . 



Mr. Woodfin has a great indisposition to make 

 himself, as he expresses it, so conspicuous in the 

 public prints. But we are authorised to say 

 that he was even better pleased with his last 

 experiment, than with his first, and that every 

 day's experience has only the more fully satis- 

 fied him of the incalculable value of this process. 



As to the poudrette, we are unable to speak. 

 We have received very little information con- 

 cerning its action, and that little of a very con- 

 tradictory character. We shall be obliged to 

 any one with whom it has either failed or suc- 

 ceeded, for a report. 



Hogs are not now the order of the day, and 

 the controversy alluded to by our correspondent, 

 has gone, as old Johnny Q,. would say, " to the 

 receptacle of things lost on earth." 



For the Southern Planter. 



BOMMER'S MANURE. 



Mr. Editor, — Why did not Mr. Woodfin give 

 us the result of his last experiment with Bom- 

 mer's manure? An unfavorable impression is 

 made on the public mind by the fact, and in 

 your next some explanation ought to be given. 

 How is poudrette likely to answer our purposes ? 

 and how is the celebrated controversy between 

 the Dicken's and Berkshire hogs progressing ? 

 Have Gen. Richardson and Col. Burfoot become 

 tired of the matter? These little things give 

 animation and spirit to the thing in the country, 



can never be pulled out of the furrow; if this were 

 so, the tree would never come into the position sup- 

 posed. If Investigator will use a common single 

 tree, all of which are attached as here directed, and 

 pull at (a) against a greater power at (b) he will find 

 when he is dragged to (e) that his power will increase, 

 and he will, if not too much overmastered, begin to 

 regain his ground, or at least maintain his position; 

 and this simply because his opponent's lever has been 

 shortened by his new position; and this, as is demon- 

 strated by the drawing and explanation, in conse- 

 quence of the points of draft, (a) and (b), not being 

 in the same straight line with the point of attach- 

 ment, (c). 



For the Southern Planter. 

 MEDITERRANEAN OR FLY-PROOF WHEAT 



Mr. Editor, — The best wheat for seed, being 

 one of the proper subjects for discussion in your 

 journal, 1 beg leave to call the attention of its 

 numerous readers to that kind known as the 

 Mediterranean or fly-proof. Samples of this va- 

 riety came frequently under my notice last year, 

 and in this and in every instance, presented an 

 unfavorable appearance ; being dark and dull 

 in complexion, and long and irregular in shape ; 

 in short, the reverse in every respect of the 

 sound, plump, and bright variety known as the 

 Red May. I regard the Mediterranean as being 

 in every particular a coarse wheat, and totally 

 unfit for the manufacture of flour of a superior 

 grade. In saying this, I acknowledge that I 

 speak of it from appearance only, never having 

 had it tested by grinding ; but to this test I 

 shall submit it, if opportunity permits, and re- 

 port to you in time for your next number. The 

 impression I now have in regard to this wheat, 

 led me to believe that no experienced buyer in 

 this market, would purchase it, except at a re- 

 duction of ten to twenty cents per bushel from 

 the current value of other kinds. 



Mr. John England, Flour Inspector of this 

 city, and a practical miller of high reputation, 

 has examined samples, and condemns it as unfit 

 for Richmond flour. This Mediterranean wheat 

 has recently been highly recommended in this 

 neighborhood for its astonishing productiveness, 

 and I have no doubt it has merited in particular 

 instances all that has been said of it ; but if the 

 inference be drawn from particular instances 

 that such is its general character, I am sure far- 



