188 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



lion of a horse's gait, it will be perceived that 

 when a horse thus raises his foot to make an- 

 other step, the lever of his single-tree on that 

 side will correspond with that of f % c, in the 

 double-tree above, and hung longer than that of 

 the opposite side, make the resistance to the 

 shoulder exerted much lighter. The only way 

 in which horses could work at all in single har- 

 ness without having a swing to their single- 

 trees is in drays or carts where the pressure is 

 so great on the back that they pull more by 

 that than by their shoulders. V\ e have little 

 doubt that many of the cases of swiney, big- 

 shoulder, &c. — diseases produced by over-strain- 

 ing the muscles of the shoulder, are produced 

 by a neglect of the principle we have here at- 

 tempted to illustrate in gearing the horse. 



South Western Farmer. 



For the Southern Planter, 



JVlr. Editor, — In your June number " Inves- 

 togator" remarks, " If I lived in or near Rich- 

 mond I should undoubtedly seek the privilege 

 of saturating plaster with urine, at the capitol." 

 "Also, that of composting dead animals with 

 marl near Rocketts." I am composting dead 

 animals with ground plaster. Will he be so 

 good as to give his reasons for preferring marl? 

 Is not ground plaster better? 



Very truly your friend, 



Geo. Woodfin. 



July 7, 1843. 



CUTTING TIMBER. 



Editors of the Cultivator ', — I have long wished 

 to hear an opinion expressed by some of our 

 scientific men, in regard to the proper time of 

 cutting timber, and the cause of worms in wood. 

 I have frequently observed axe handles, and 

 handles of other farming implements, almost 

 eaten up by worms, and perhaps not a hole to be 

 seen on the outside of the wood. The question 

 is, how come the worms in the wood, and what 

 time of }'ear must timber be cut, to prevent the 

 worm from attacking it ? Adolphus." 



There are a multitude of insects that deposite 

 their eggs in wood. In process of time the egg 

 changes to a worm or grub, wdiich feeds on the 

 wood for a time, when it emerges from the tree 

 and becomes a perfect insect. Of these borers 

 those that prey on the apple, locust, &c. are 

 most familiar. There are some kinds of timber, 

 such as hickory, ash, and maple, which are lia- 

 ble to be injured by worms at times, to such a 

 degree as to render them utterly worthless.— 

 They become what is called " power post j" or 

 present when broken, or cut into, little more 

 than a fine dust, while the outside is apparently 

 sound. Hoop poles furnish frequent examples 

 of this insect destruction ; and to avoid it. coop- 



ers prefer having their poles cut in the fall or 

 winter ; from November to February, being con- 

 sidered the best to secure exemption from the 

 worm. It would appear, however, that there is 

 a short time after the leaf has been fully formed, 

 and the bark ceases to peel readily, in which 

 wood if cut will be free from the worm. From 

 some experiments, this period would seem to be 

 in the month of June. The cause of this, doubt- 

 less is that the insect depositing the egg is not 

 developed so early in the season ; but appears 

 immediately afterward. — Cultivator. 



For the Southern Planter. 

 AGRICULTURAL APHORISMS. 



NO. IV. 



Partly Extracts. 



You need not go into the house to seek and 

 know the farmer; only look on his farm, and 

 you know all, except the height of his body. 



Nature bids you to dislike deformity ; there- 

 fore, put 3 7 our work in order. 



If you ask me which is the real hereditary 

 sin of human nature, I answer, indolence — it 

 begets all manner of vice, and starvation of man 

 and beast. 



Who will not see and act, when he should, 

 shall not act when he would. 



Compare carefully and frequently the differ- 

 ent propositions and modes of business, and 

 choose with prudence. 



Who loses the sunshine, shall not profit by 

 moonshine. 



He alone has energy, who cannot be deprived 

 of it by misfortune. 



There are but three classes of men, the retro- 

 grade, the stationary, and the progressive. It 

 is your right to take choice. 



No despondency, friend, you cannot tell what 

 you can do, till you make a mighty effort. 



I would as soon undertake to transpose a 

 mountain, as to subdue indolence and obstinacy. 



Fie who becomes every day more sagacious 

 in observing the works of nature, is himself a 

 noble piece of work. 



The best time to kill grass and weeds in a 

 corn field, is before they have life. 



Who will sacrifice nothing and enjoy all, is 

 a fool. 



The discovery of truth by slow progressive 

 meditations, is ivisdom. 



He who has all confidence in himself, is 

 equally a fool with him who has no faith in 

 others. 



Who will not plough by reason of the heat 

 or cold, shall beg in harvest and get nothing. 



Kiss the hand of him who can renounce what 

 he has publicly taught, when convinced of his 

 error. 



