280 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



as it is not so rich ; and this preference to the 

 white over yellow has already occurred in Eng- 

 land, where the article is new. 



There is only one more observation which I 

 wish to make. As Indian corn meal contains 

 so much fat in it, kept too long, it is liable to 

 become rancid, and is then more or less unfit for 

 use. In the shipments made to the West Indies 

 the meal is commonly kiln dried, to obviate as 

 much as possible this tendency to rancidity. — 

 For reasons just detailed, the white meal will 

 keep rather better; and from its being lighter 

 and milder, it is as much preferred for use in 

 warm climates, as the yellow for similar induce- 

 ments, is in cold. 



A GOOD ARRANGEMENT. 



In France, all ladies who do not possess a 

 decided ample fortune, make it a point to learn 

 some practical art or business, which, in case of 

 reverses of fortune, they may use to obtain a 

 living. There are said to be six thousand fe- 

 males among the easy classes in this city, who 

 are destitute of any acquirement that could be j 

 made available in case of necessity. — JY. York 

 paper. 



Prom the Maine Farmer. 

 SUGAR OR MOLASSES FOR PRESERVING 

 MEAT. 



The season is approaching when farmers will 

 commence slaughtering and laying down meat, 

 ^such as beef and pork, for use during the coming 

 year. 



Almost every one has some rule by which he j 

 governs himself in this operation. The Editor 

 of the Cultivator quotes from the "Montreal Wit- 

 ness" various rules for curing provisions, from 

 which we extract the following in regard to the 

 use of sugar or molasses in preserving meat. 



"The use of sugar or molasses is gaining fa- 

 vor among packers, as preserving meat in a su- 

 perior manner, having a finer flavor, keeping bet- 

 ter and never becoming rusty, and however old, 

 never excessively salt. It has been asserted on 

 high medical authority, that the use of sugar in 

 curing meat would prevent that fearful disease, 

 sea-scurvy. It has been used in curing hams for 

 a long period; indeed, a good flavored ham can- 

 not be procured without it; but it is of the great- 

 est importance in curing beef, which is to be kept 

 any length of time, or which is required of a fine 

 flavor. It is used in the first process along with 

 the salt for dried provisions — say one pound of 

 sugar, or one pint of molasses to four pounds of 

 salt. With pickled meats it is used in the last 

 process along with salt, to pack up the meat in 

 the cask, say about half of each, sugar and salt." 



In order that our readers may understand what 

 is meant by first process and last process above 

 named, we should say that the manner of curing 

 is as follows: no salt-petre is used. First. The 

 pieces must consist of beef, six pound pieces; of 

 pork, four pound pieces. Second. The salt must 

 be good, and if salt-petre is desired, but very lit- 



tle should be used. Third. The meat must be 

 dry rubbed for three or four days, at least once 

 a day, to extract a certain quantity of water, and 

 to chemically alter the meat. Fourth. The meat 

 must be put into pickle so as to cure it sufficient- 

 ly; in this it should remain ten days, or until it 

 is required to be packed. Fifth. It must be well 

 washed with water; if necessary scraped or cut. 

 Sixth. Packed away in barrels with coarse salt, 

 and the package filled up with clean pickle. If 

 they are to be dried or smoked, the drv salt is 

 enough. 



From the Boston Cultivator. 

 MANURE AND ITS APPLICATION. 



Messrs. Editors, — In your paper of last week, 

 I read, the communication on top dressing, with 

 great pleasure. It has been my opinion that 

 much manure is lost by ploughing it in. I have 

 tried several ways, and at several seasons of the 

 year; and I have come to the conclusion that the 

 best time to plough greensward is in July and 

 August, as soon as the crop of grass is gathered. 



The best method of manuring is to spread on a 

 good coat of manure after the ground is ploughed, 

 and harrow it in well. If desired, scatter in some 

 turnip seed, and a good crop can be obtained 

 with less injury to the land than at any other 

 time, and they will not come amiss for cattle in 

 the winter and spring. 



The next winter the same ground should be 

 ploughed again, and another dressing of manure 

 put on as before, and harrowed in well; and then 

 the seed may be put in with or without manuring 

 in the^hil], and a good crop will be obtained. 



It should be observed in all cases, that deep 

 ploughing is absolutely requisite to prevent 

 drought in high or clayey land, and to drain off 

 water in low land. By mixing the manure with 

 the soil, as above described, plants have their 

 food all prepared, both for early and late crops. 



In an orchard I have tried ploughing in ma- 

 nure, and spreading it on as top dressing, but in 

 no case has it done so well as ploughing first and 

 harrowing in a good coat after. I should think 

 that twice as much benefit is obtained from the 

 manure as by depositing it under the furrow. 



In every ploughing, some of the subsoil should 

 be turned up. By pursuing the above method, 

 a farmer, in a short time, would have his whole 

 farm in a good high state for cultivation, and 

 never regret that he has given to his plants the 

 best food, and in the best possible manner. 



While speaking of manure, I would say that 

 no farmer should be without a cellar to his barn, 

 and he should house his cattle every night, so as 

 to save all his manure, both liquid and solid. If 

 this was done, and all the bushes, weeds and sods 

 were put into this cellar, and a few hogs, if kept 

 there, w T ould mix it, and when a load of mud 

 should be added, it would help it very much. 



In the fall, rake up and put in all the leaves 

 that can be obtained, and they will pay three fold 

 for the labor expended. I make my barn cellar 

 a general deposit for all kinds of rubbish that I 

 wish to get out of sight, and in the spring it 

 comes out good manure, paying me well for my 

 trouble. S. A. Shurtleef. 



Spring Grove, Sept. 17, 1846. 



