22 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



merit of the implement, and is much greater, 

 from a greater impediment, at one moment than 

 another. Thus a plough of the easiest draught, 

 by the intervention of some obstruction in the 

 earth, may momentari y press the index to the 

 highest point on ihe scale; it is, therefore, ne- 

 cessary to ascertain how long the index stands 

 at each point of the scale, that we may compare 

 the average force required by one plough with 

 that of another, employed in turning over two 

 pieces of ground similar in nature and extent. 

 The ordinary dynamometer affords no opportu- 

 nity of making such an estimate; for it is ut- 

 terly impossible to watch and record the vibrat- 

 ing motions of the index : therefore, so imperfect 

 is this implement as at present constructed, and 

 so evidently fallacious is the test it affords, that 

 we should have hardly considered it worthy this 

 notice, if we had not had it in mind to make a 

 suggestion, that may lead some mechanical ge- 

 nius to overcome the difficulties we have men- 

 tioned. It seems to us that to the index might 

 be affixed an apparatus, similar to the one-half 

 of an hour glass, supposing it to be cut in two 

 at the centre. This should be filled with sand, 

 and the aperture at the small end stopped until 

 the force was applied. This apparatus, with 

 the small end downwards, should then be affixed 

 to the index in such a manner as to move with 

 it. The scale should then be laid off into mi- 

 nute divisions immediately under the segment 

 described by the mouth of the glass in the move- 

 ment of the index; with these divisions might 

 be connected little drawers for the reception of 

 the sand dropped into them from the glass. It 

 will be readily perceived that the quantity of 

 sand in a division would intimate how long the 

 degree of force it represents had been exerted. 

 There might be some difficulty in estimating 

 very accurately the quantity of this sand, but a 

 little ingenuity we believe would overcome this 

 difficulty. To make the test, even when per- 

 fected as we have imagined, an accurate one, it 

 is necessary that the motion of the ploughs 

 should be the same. This might be, in a man 

 ner, secured, by using the same team to both, 

 but a much more certain plan would be to rig a 

 capstan to be worked by hand. 



Any mechanic, who will construct an imple- 

 ment that will furnish a thorough test of the 

 draught of ploughs, will confer a great favor 

 upon the agricultural community, and will cer- 

 tainly afford them what they have not at present. 



FRUIT. 



Nothing strikes us with more astonishment 

 than ihe superior attention paid to the cultivation 

 of fruit, at the JYurth. There, the most careful 

 planting, the highest cultivation, and the most 

 judicious pruning are bestowed upon a tree, des- 

 tined to yield them a poor, sony, tasteless peach, 

 (hat never knew a " sunny side," whilst, here, 

 where nature stands ready 10 second the efforts 

 of the husbandman in producing ihe richest and 

 most luscious fruit, nothing is done. Indeed, 

 ever ready to find excuses for our own errors, it 

 is gravely asserted that the southern climate is 

 not adapted to the production of fruit. How 

 often do we see farmers, liberal in their expendi- 

 tures, laying out hundreds of dollars in luxuries 

 for their families, that are not really half as 

 grateful to them as the constant supply of deli- 

 cious fruit he might afford them by a much 

 smaller annual expenditure. There is no acre 

 upon the farm so profitable, if money is valued 

 for the comforts and gratification it will procure, 

 as the garden and orchard, especially if your 

 wife and children are fond of fruit and vegeta- 

 bles, as wives and children, and for that matter 

 husbands too. generally, are. Reckon the cost 

 of a fine dish of strawberries, and then see in 

 what other way you can as well bestow your 

 money. 



As to the idea that any fruit is better at the 

 North than the South it is all a mistake; the 

 powers of nature can be only partially substi- 

 tuted by the tenderest cares of man, and the 

 want of flavor in the more delicate fruits is 

 readilj 7 detected by every southern palate. The 

 Jersey peach is fair to look upon, but, like many 

 another glittering exterior, it offers promises that 

 are never realized. The northern men begin to 

 understand this, and a gentleman in Philadel- 

 phia informed us, that, during the last season, 

 peaches from Norfolk, owing to the great faci- 

 lity of communication, were brought perfectly 

 fresh into the markets of Baltimore, Philadel- 

 phia and New York, and that the Virginia fruit 

 was eagerly sought for, not only on account of 

 its forwardness, coming into market two or three 

 weeks before the Jerseys, but also for the sake 

 of its peculiar and delicious flavor. By the bye 

 we know no belter investment than may be 

 made in the light lands about Norfolk, to be de- 

 voted to the growth of fruit and vegetables for 

 the northern markets. They can be delivered 

 in Philadelphia even, the day after they are ga- 



