116 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



portance, you would do well to republish the 

 Essay above alluded to. 



Yours truly, 

 Nottoway, Va. Richard Irby. 



March 13^, 1855. 

 P. S. — You will deem my situation a very 

 peculiar one, when I tell you that one of the 

 greatest hindrances I encounter in keeping my 

 flat land dry, is dams made by beavers. I 

 would not err much in saying that I have had 

 as many as twenty dams on my land, which 

 are rebuilt as fast as I pull them down. The 

 courses of large branches have been changed 

 and the whole flat land inundated in some in- 

 stances, and not satisfied with branches, the 

 community has become so large as to put a 

 dam across the river, selecting a rock founda- 

 tion ; which dam no freshet will remove. This 

 would not appear so strange if the banks of 

 the river were not cleared ; as it is there are 

 only a few straggling trees for a mile or fur- 

 ther. A fence olfers but little impediment to 

 them, as they soon cut a hole through. If 

 you or any of your readers can suggest a 

 practicable mode of getting rid of them, you 

 would confer a favor on me, which can be 

 communicated privately or publicly, as deemed 

 best. I suppose but few are suffering from 

 the same cause. 



SEYMOUR'S BROAD CASTING MACHINE. 



See the advertisement of this machine as well 

 as Mr. Seymour's Grain Drill, in the advertising 

 sheets of this paper. We were so much struck 

 with the operation of this machine on Col. Ran- 

 dolph's farm where we had an opportunity of 

 seeing its capacity tested that we ordered one 

 at once. Last fall, from causes not necessary 

 to mention, we found it out of our power to ope- 

 rate it. But we are so perfectly convinced of 

 its great value in efficient working capacity, 

 cheapness, durability and simplicity of construction 

 that we do not hesitate to recommend it to the 

 public, a thing which it is known we do not often 

 venture upon. But let it be remembered that 

 it is a machine, and therefore will not take care 

 of itself. We believe, as Mr. Stabler of Maryland 

 observes, that very many of the failures of machines 

 arise as much from the ignorance or unskilfulness 

 of those who operate them as from defects of the 

 machines themselves. 



This machine will not sow damp guano or 

 wet lime to advantage. No machine will ; though 

 that merit is claimed for some of them ; but it will 

 sow damp plaster (though it should be dry when 

 sown by a machine,) better than plaster of the 

 same consistence can be sown by hand. 



Though not agents for this or any other machine 



we will gladly aid those who wish to contract, but 

 as any one can manage that matter for himself by 

 consulting the advertisement, we hope the trouble 

 will be saved us. 



We have induced Mr. Seymour to promise to 

 have a supply for the fall seeding of wheat in 

 Virginia and those who apply in time can get 

 an implement, which, having once tried it they 

 will not afterwards, we think willingly dispense 

 with. 



With proper care we are well convinced that 

 with trifling repairs this machine will last twenty 

 years on a plantation of ordinary size ; but it must 

 be properly taken care of. 



We very much regret that the accompanying 

 letter of Mr. Rives, introducing the interesting 

 communication of his son, T. R. Rives, the conclu- 

 sion of which is published in the present number 

 of the Planter, should have been accidentally 

 omitted, thereby giving a very awkward and 

 abrupt appearance to the article : 



For the Southern Planter. 



Castle Hill, 25th January, 1855. 



My Dear Sir : — The accompanying letter 

 on the Horse has been addressed to me recently 

 by my son Francis, as containing the result of 

 observations and inquiries which he pursued 

 very closely and earnestly during a tour he 

 made last summer and autumn in England 

 and France. You will perceive that, like 

 myself, he is quite an enthusiast on this 

 subject, and warmly enlisted in the cause 

 of improving our native breeds. Supposing 

 the information he communicates to me would 

 not be without interest and utility to many of 

 our agricultural brethren, and knowing there 

 is nothing he has more at heart than to be 

 useful, in however humble a degree, to his 

 native State, I have concluded to place the 

 letter at your disposal for the columns of the 

 " Planter," as his contribution to a branch 

 of rural economy which, I am glad to observe 

 is beginning to attract the general and earnest 

 attention due to it Lest it may prove too 

 long for insertion in a single number of the 

 Planter, it has been divided into two parts 

 adapted to publication in two successive num- 

 bers, if that should be deemed by you more 

 convenient and appropriate. 



I remain, my dear sir, with great respect, 

 very truly and faithfully yours, 



W. C. Rives. 



F. G. Ruffin, Esq., Ed. So. PI. 



Butter. — In churning cream, add a lump of butter to 

 the cream before commencing, and the butter will come in 

 two-thirds the time it would without. 



