44 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



the re-filtered solution — about a fourth of a 

 pint tumblerful of perfectly clear water— were 

 added a few drops of oxalic acid, which im- 

 mediately changed it into a milky fluid, show- 

 ing the presence of a large per centage of 

 lime, which finally settled down, or was "pre- 

 cipitated" on the bottom and sides of the glass, 

 covering them completely. The analysis was 

 not made with any attempt at scientific accu- 

 racy, either of elements or proportions, but 

 merely to exhibit the abundance of lime and 

 sand in a soil commonly supposed to be defi- 

 cient in one and nearly destitute of the other. 

 We, however, became saiisfied, by ocular 

 demonstration, that the reddest of our South 

 West mountain lands contained about 75 per 

 cent, of white sand, (mostly in the shape of 

 an impalpable powder,) and a large per centage 

 of lime. The lime.occurs, most probably, as 

 a silicate, from which form it is slowly changed 

 into a carbonate in quantities ample for the 

 wants of the plant. See Johnson's Agricul- 

 tural Chemistry, part 2, p. 307— Art. Silicate 

 of Lime. 



But there is a considerable difference be- 

 tween our soil and Mr. Fife's, and we would, 

 by all means, advise him and his neighbors to 

 unite in an analysis of this and other kinds of 

 soil. The cost will not be very great, though 

 it will certainly exceed five dollars, the sum 

 asked by the quacks and impostors, but the 

 satisfaction will be worth the money, even if 

 no practical result be obtained. We will take 

 charge of the specimens and have them pro- 

 perly attended to. 



One word, in conclusion. Is Mr. Fife per- 

 fectly sure that the lands in question do not 

 suffer from superfluous water? — Ed. Planter. 



CURE FOR ROSEBUGS. 



Messrs. Editors, — A subscriber wishes 

 to know if any one can suggest a method 

 of preventing the yearly incursions of the 

 rosebug, and having heard considerable 

 complaint among our neighbors at having 

 their cucumbers, grapes and other fruit 

 destroyed by these insects, I will suggest 

 a remedy. Plant in the centre of your 

 garden a few damask rosebushes, and 

 they will never light on anything else. 

 We have a large garden with almost every 

 kind of fruit, vines, shrubbery, and flowers, 



with several kinds of roses, and in the 

 centre we have four bunches of damask 

 rosebushes, and I never saw in the whole 

 garden a rosebug on anything but the da- 

 mask rose. When they are in blossom, I 

 go into the garden once a day with a pan 

 of hot water and shake the bugs from these 

 roses into the water, and get about a pint 

 atone time; this I practise for a few days, 

 and then they will disappear. — Boston 

 Cultivator. 



From the Farmer and Planter. 



PEAS AND PEA-HAY. 



As to a choice of varieties, we think it 

 depends very much on the object i'&r which 

 they are grown. If the object is to feed 

 negroes, we prefer either what is called 

 the Crowder, the most prolific of all kinds 

 and mild to the taste, or the white pea, of 

 medium size, with a black eye, which is 

 also a good bearer, and quite mild when 

 cooked. 



For cows, if the pea is to be gathered, 

 we again prefer first, the Crowder, and 

 next the large, pale-yellow, called the cow- 

 pea, from its excellent qualities for milch 

 cows. But if the pea is to be left on the 

 ground for stock of all descriptions, espe- 

 cially when they are to be exposed for 

 any considerable time to the weather, we 

 decidedly prefer, first the black, and next 

 the red, or "Tory. 5 ' It is said the black 

 pea will not injure stock of any kind; and 

 if the deleterious effects are, as some sup- 

 pose, owing to a chemical change they un- 

 dergo in sprouting, or to the decomposed 

 state in which they are when taken in the 

 stomach, we believe they would be less 

 apt to produce bad effects than any other 

 variety, as from their peculiar quality 

 they will lie in the ground throughout the 

 winter, without imbibing the least particle 

 of moisture, apparently. For the table, 

 we use only what is called by some the 

 lady, by others the gentleman pea; very 

 small in size and white. If the object is 

 vine, either lor the improvement of the 

 land or for hay, we are not aware that there 

 is much difference, provided they are 

 planted at distances according to the size 

 of the pea. The larger varieties will yield 

 more vine than the small, hut the vine is 

 usually coarse and more difficult to cure. 

 The quantity of vine, however, depends 

 much on the time of planting. Early 

 planting, the seasons being equal, will usu- 



