THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



ior 



REMARKS UPON THE CROPS. 



Asparagus — an average crop — tied in bunches, 

 six inches in diameter, and shipped in boxes hold- 

 ing three bushels each. 



p cas — an average crop — shipped in flour barrels 

 covered Avith cotton cloth. 



Cyviblines arid Snap Beans — an average crop — 

 shipped in barrels. 



Potatoes — almost an entire failure, not more than 

 one-third of a crop — shipped in barrels. 



Cucumbers — not more than half a crop — shipped 

 in barrels. 



Tomatoes — not more than one-fourth of a crop — 

 464 boxes have been gathered before from half the 

 same number of plants — shipped in boxes, three 

 bushels each. 



The three last named crops were much injured 

 by excessive drought, followed by excessive rains. 



Peaches — a large crop, but from continued rains 

 one-half rotted on the trees, and those that were 

 shipped reached the markets in very bad order. 

 Persons who are considered good judges and who 

 saw the crop, estimated the loss to be upwards of 

 four thousand dollars. This orchard has borne a 

 crop every other year for the past six years. 



William Sayres. 



State of Virginia : County of Norfolk, ss. 



This day personally appeared before me, a jus- 

 tice of the County and State aforesaid, William 

 Sayre, and made oath that the within statement is 

 true and correct to the best of his knowledge and 

 belief. 



Given under my hand this 27th day of October, 

 1853. Ge. W. Grice, J. P. 



MORGAN HORSES. 



Mr. Jewett, the most reliable authority on such 

 matters, thus speaks of the Morgan horse: 



"I believe the Morgan blood to be the best that 

 was ever infused into the ' Northern horse.' They 

 are well known, and are esteemed for activity, 

 hardihood, gentleness and docility, throughout the 

 New England States; wgll adapted for all work; 

 good in every spot, except for racers on the turf. 

 They are lively and spirited, lofty and elegant in 

 their actions, carrying themselves gracefully in the 

 harness. They have size proportioned to height ; 

 bone clean, sinewy legs, compactness, short strong 

 backs, powerful lungs, strength and endurance. A 

 mixture of the Morgan blood, though small, may 

 be easily known from any other stock in the country. 

 There is a remarkable similarity prevailing in all this 

 race. They are known by their short clean heads, 

 wide across' the face at the eyes ; eyes lively and 

 prominent; open and wide in the under jaws, large 

 wind pipe, deep brisket, heavy and round in the 

 body, broad in the back, short limbs in proportion 

 to the size, broad quarters, a lively quick action, 

 indomitable spirit, move true and easy in a good 

 round trot, fast on the walk. Color, dark bay, chest- 

 nut, brown, with dark flowing wavy mane and tail; 

 bead up, moves without a whip ; about fifteen hands 

 high ; action powerful and spirited. 



" They are highly celebrated for general useful- 

 ness, make the best roadsters, and live to a great 

 age. In fact they are the perfect ' Yankee harness 

 horse.' 



" The Morgans are very like the noble Arab, with 

 similar eyes, upright ears, high withers, powerful 



quarters, hocks well under their weight, vigorous 

 arms and flat legs, short from the knee to the pas- 

 tern, close jointed, possessing immense power for 

 their size, with great fire and courage. But few of 

 the Morgans, however, evince extraordinary speed." 



For the Southern Planter. 



STUCCOING HOUSES. 



Mr. Editor, — In a southern climate and damp 

 location will stuccoing a twelve inch wall in a brick 

 dwelling be a sufficient protection from dampness % 

 Or is it better, with the stuccoing to have the in- 

 side furred and lathed before plastering'? Infor- 

 mation on the above point is desired for practical 

 purposes by 



Aligluis. 



The above question is answered in the following 

 letter from one of the best builders and most re- 

 liable men we know : 



Eastern View, Albemarle, April 2, 1854. 

 Frank: G. Ruffin, Esq.. 



Sir, — On the receipt of your note of the 29th 

 ultimo, with the enclosed letter, I hasten to reply, 

 requesting me to give you my opinion relative to 

 the interrogatories sought for in said letter. This 

 I will do with pleasure, and more cheerfully, from 

 the fact that my long acquaintance, observation and 

 interest, as a builder, has afforded me some practi- 

 cal knowledge in guarding against dampness in 

 brick walls, &c. Therefore, I would advise all 

 buildings below the ground (cellar walls) to be 

 hollow drained by an exterior wall four inches, or 

 half a brick thick, to be run all round the cellar 

 walls, (outside of course,) leaving a hollow space 

 between the exterior and cellar walls four inches 

 wide, commencing from the foundation and to be 

 closed at the surface of the ground with bricks, 

 projecting over against the cellar walls. Then a 

 drain, leading from said hollow space, to carry off 

 any water that may rise in the cellar from long and 

 continued rains, filling the earth with water, not- 

 withstanding this is the case sometimes. But if 

 the water is carried off with a drain as it may rise, 

 the walls of the cellar will remain perfectly dry, 

 using this necessary and important precaution, not 

 to suffer the water that falls on the roof of the 

 building to be clashed or blown against the walls 

 by wind, which is the case if it is not conducted 

 off as it falls on the roof by suitable gutters and 

 downfalls, with basins to catch the water, and 

 then a gutter of wood or stone to take away from 

 the wall, (ten or twelve feet, or more, is best.) An- 

 other very important item to be particularly at- 

 tended to for the dryness, &c. of brick buildings, 

 is, not to suffer the guttering of the#oofs, &c ; to 

 get out of order, which is frequently the case during 

 summer (from neglect) by birds' nests and leaves 

 deposited by the wind, obstructing the passage of 

 the water, causing the gutters to overflow and sa- 

 turating the walls with rain. Whenever this hap- 

 pens the evaporation of the moisture is so gradual 

 that it takes a long time for them to dry. 



I have long since come to the conclusion that 

 twelve inch walls, one brick and a half thick, is 

 sufficient protection against moisture when the 

 work is executed in a workmanlike manner and 

 good materials usedf and the guttering, &c. at- 

 tended to as recommended. I have been the occu- 



