246 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



importance, in this respect, is their use in feed- 

 ing hogs. From the middle of October to the 

 middle of November, the hogs may be turned 

 on the artichokes, and with salt always in 

 troughs to which they can have access, they 

 will grow T and thrive till next spring, particularly, 

 if the ground is not too hard for rooting. I 

 have not experimented to ascertain the quantity 

 of hogs to the acre of good artichokes; but 

 from the observation of two seasons, I am of 

 the opinion twenty head will do well on an acre 

 for months. As some have complained their 

 hogs would not root after them, it may be ne- 

 cessary, as hogs, like men, know not much be- 

 fore learning, that they be taught to root after 

 them. This is clone, by calling the hogs after 

 a plough that will throw out the roots, till the 

 grunters learn their habitation, which will re- 

 quire but a very short time. 



"10. Improvement of Land. — As the stocks 

 grow from ten to fifteen feet in height, and have 

 thick, porous foliage, much of the food of the 

 plant is received from the atmosphere, and there- 

 by the soil is not so heavily taxed as by other 

 crops, the ground is protected from the killing 

 rays of the sun and the stocks and leaves fall 

 and rot very soon, — these advantages, with the 

 manure from hogs, afford the cheapest, and 

 amongst the richest coats in my knowledge. — 

 It is my conviction, (in the absence of long ex- 

 perience) that artichokes in summer, and hogs 

 in winter, will enrich our poor lands cheaper 

 and much better than upon any other plan. To 

 be sure, a farmer cannot have all his land in ar- 

 tichokes, but every one should have enough to 

 support his hogs through the winter, and I ven- 

 ture those who give this crop a fair trial, will 

 reluctantly abandon it. 



"11. General Remarks. — A few farmers of 

 my acquaintance have informed me, that they 

 have succeeded with corn and artichokes toge- 

 ther, and it is highly probable this will prove a 

 successful mode of cultivating these two crops ; 

 but on the system of 1 one thing at a time,' we 

 would prefer each crop separately. Some have 

 supposed the second year's growth on the same 

 ground would be more valuable than the first ; 

 but this is a mistake. The plants grow so 

 thick the second year, that not more than half 

 a crop can be anticipated. It might answer, to 

 plough out rows and cultivate the second year ; 

 but the practice of putting artichoke lands in 

 something else the second year, is the plan 1 

 much prefer. 



"Amongst the arguments which might be 

 used in favor of this crop, it should not be for- 

 gotten, that there is no labor of digging, but for 

 seed ; that more troublesome weeds and grasses 

 are completely smothered out ; and last, but not 

 least, the young plants the second year are 

 more easily subdued than almost any weeds 

 known. Take artichokes, all in all, I think 



them worthy the attention of every farmer who 

 wishes to enrich his lands, or raise his pork 

 with a small outlay of grain. T. F." 



THE MOST RAPID GROWING MAPLE. 



How many persons, undertaking to improve 

 new and bare places, are at a loss for what trees 

 to plant for immediate effect! "Something 

 which will grow fast," is to them the great de- 

 sideratum of life. To talk to such persons 

 about steady and slow growing trees — beeches 

 and oaks — is like talking to the manager of the 

 electric telegraph about the advantages of the 

 old fashioned mail coaches. 



We must have the pleasure of recommending 

 to such persons that excellent tree, the Silver 

 Maple, Acer eriacarpum. It is, we believe, to be 

 had in all the large nurseries ; though indige- 

 nous here and there, it is seldom planted as an 

 ornamental tree north of New Jersey. It is a 

 large and handsome tree, with leaves as large 

 as those of the Sugar Maple, but more delicately 

 formed, and with a silvery or downy under sur- 

 face. 



But the habit of the tree is quite distinct from 

 the other maples. When it has once formed a 

 head, its branches begin to decline or droop 

 slight^, with just enough of a sweep to be 

 graceful, but not sufficient to amount to a weep- 

 ing wood. In short, with its pleasing habit, 

 clean foliage, and smooth bark, it is one of the 

 most agreeable of trees. 



As regards its rapidity of growth, it is quite 

 remarkable. We do not know any fairer wooded 

 tree, except the elm and the abele, which sooner 

 throws a fine shade. As compared with the 

 sugar maple, its growth is double. In five years 

 it really makes a fine large head. And as a re- 

 commendation of still greater importance, we 

 may add that it will thrive in almost any toler- 

 able soil, from a light sand to a strong clay 

 loam. — Horticulturist. 



THE OSAGE ORANGE. 



A gentleman lately left in our office a very 

 fine specimen of the Osage orange, which was 

 quite a curiosity to several of our visitors. A 

 correspondent of the Ohio Cultivator, speaks of 

 it as being superior to any thing else for hedging 

 purposes, and we have heard others express the 

 same opinion. Mr. NerT gives the following 

 directions for its cultivation and management : 



" The plants," he observes, " are best propa- 

 gated from the seed, which I have always 

 planted in the spring, (from not having been 

 able to get them in the fall,) in a nursery, in 

 broad drills, about a foot apart, the seed scattered 



