THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



755 



Several " Kossuth" colts took Premiums in 

 Petersburg, which no doubt they well merited; 

 viz: R. A. Willis' "Young America," W. C. 

 Archer's "Lady of the Lake," W. P. Bras- 

 ton's "Virginius." 



Hottoway Club. 



This association of practical farmers is one 

 of the most useful auxiliaries in the cause of 

 agricultural improvement and progress to be 

 found among the many clubs existing in East- 

 ern Virginia. They have a standing rule re- 

 quiring from each of its members a report upon 

 some one or more experiments conducted by 

 him, or other essay of a useful and instructive 

 character. 



Some of these reports have been from time 

 to time laid before the readers of the Planter, 

 and we now have to acknowledge the kindness 

 of the secretary in furnishing us with a num- 

 ber of the latest of them, which we shall be 

 pleased to bring out in our next issue. Mean- 

 while, the report of Mr. Wm. Irby is publish- 

 ed in advance of the rest, because if its sug- 

 gestions are followed, as we doubt not to some 

 extent they will be, no time need be lost in 

 procuring and burying the chestnuts for plant- 

 ing in the spring. — [Editor. 



Mr, President: 



As I have been disappointed in perfecting 

 the experiment which I intended reporting as 

 my annual contribution, I beg leave, in lieu 

 thereof, to offer a few suggestions on the expe- 

 diency and benefits of rearing chestnuts trees 

 on farms deficient in woodland. 



On my own and an adjoining farm there are 

 several large chestnuts trees, which, I suppose, 

 sprung from the nuts planted. Around these, 

 as far off in some instances as a half mile, 

 (since the land has been enclosed and thereby 

 rendered inaccessible to hogs,) I find there are 

 a great many young chestnuts springing up 

 among the old field pines, from nuts dropped 

 by crows and squirrels, I find these growing 

 thriftily on poor land, from which I conclude 

 that the tree will grow in our section of country 

 on any dry land that will produce old field pine. 

 As wood for fuel and timber is already scarce 

 on many farms, and must become more and 

 more so, it would be wise for the owners of 

 such farms to make preparation for a supply 

 for future generations. It is true the old field 

 pine springs up spontaneously, and grows ra- 

 pidly on land thrown out of cultivation, but it 

 is very indifferent for fuel and rails, which the 

 chestnut is not only admirably adapted for both 



these purposes, but would also be a great acces- 

 sion for the mast for hogs. As to the mode of 

 rearing I cannot speak from experience, but 

 think it would be well to follow the indications 

 of nature — i. e. to bury the nuts slightly in the 

 fall of the year, and before they germinate in 

 the spring plant them, or they might be plant- 

 ed in the fall where it is designed for them to 

 grow, or a nursery might be made, as I find 

 they will bear transplanting. A very decided 

 advantage which this tree has over the old field 

 pine is, that when cut down, the sprouts spring 

 up very soon from the stump and grow very ra- 

 pidly, which would afford a continued supply 

 of timber on the same land. I am persuaded 

 from my observations that it would not be diffi- 

 cult to have a large portion of our poor land 

 well set in chestnut, which certainly would ren- 

 der it much more valuable than it is, in its 

 present condition. 



Respectfully submitted. 



WM. IRBY. 



P. S. — Although foreign to the subject of the 

 above report, I will state that I am convinced 

 from my present year's experience that a cov- 

 ering of wheat straw on high land plant patch- 

 es is superior to brush. The patch should be 

 covered thick enough to hide the ground, and 

 if found too thick in the spring, a portion of 

 the straw may readdy be removed with a ma- 

 nure fork. T will also state that I think if our 

 plant patches were thickly surrounded by pine 

 bushes, they would be in a great measure, if 

 not entirely, protected from the ravages of the 

 fly. W. I. 



August 13, 1857. 



To Subscribers. 



In consequence of the change in the Propri- 

 etorship of the " Southern Planter," it is very 

 important that our subscribers should remit 

 the amount of their indebtedness with as little 

 delay as possible. 



The amount due from each subscriber is in 

 itself comparatively trifling, but in the aggre- 

 gate it makes up a very large sum, and if each 

 subscriber will consider this as a direct appeal 

 to himself, and promptly remit the amount of 

 his bill, it will be of infinite service to us. 



We commence sending with this number the 

 bill to each subscriber who is in arrear, and 

 shall continue to do so until all shali have been 

 sent out. We ask, as a favor, a prompt re- 

 sponse from all. 



The bills are made up to 1st January next. 

 The fractional part of a dollar can be remittee! 

 in postage stamps, or the change returned in 

 the same. August & Williams. 



