88 



THE SOU THE 



RN PLANTER. 



ing communication from the same gentleman. 

 We are aware that the proposition to an Ame- 

 rican to raise his own tea, is calculated, at first, 

 only to create a smile. This plant has so long 

 been associated in our minds with the idea of 

 China, that it is almost ridiculous to attempt to 

 separate the two. But is there any foundation 

 in truth for such a connexion 1 Diversified as 

 are our soil and climate, there is nothing but a 

 strictly tropical production that we cannot grow. 



The great staples upon which we have here- 

 tofore relied, are from over-production and other 

 causes completely failing us, and it is very evi- 

 dent that a portion of our agricultural labor must 

 be diverted to other pursuits. Instead of raising 

 wheat, tobacco, and cotton, to exchange for silk, 

 tea, indigo, madder, &c, the day has arrived 

 when we can grow all of these products to 

 greater advantage for ourselves. We are no 

 advocates of the forcing system ; each plant re- 

 quires its own soil and its own climate, and vio- 

 lence to nature in this respect is neither wise 

 nor beneficial. It may be that there are some 

 of the States of this Union to which the tea 

 plant is not adapted, but it would be very strange 

 if there were not others of them to which it is 

 exactly suited. It is, we know, cultivated at 

 different heights upon the mountain sides in 

 China, and consequently at different tempera- 

 tures, some of them certainly lower than that of 

 the Southern States 1 Is there any thing pecu- 

 liar in the soil of China which neither nature 

 nor art can furnish in America? We have 

 never heard of it, and we will stand by Mr. 

 Puckett and the tea crop, until we hear of a 

 fair experiment and a decided failure. 



But we have already detained the reader too 

 long with our own remarks. We will let the 

 enterprising Mr. Puckett speak for himself: 



Lynesville, Granville Co., JV. C. 



Dear Sir, — I have not met with the encourage- 

 ment in selling the seed of the tea plant that I 

 think I had a right to expect from the testimo- 

 nials that were exhibited in its favor. It has 

 given the most entire satisfaction to all who 

 have tried it, and a good many will cultivate it 

 in this neighborhood the coming season under 

 my directions. 1 am afraid that the mulberry 

 humbug will for sometime prejudice the public 

 mind against the introduction of any new pro- 

 duct, no matter what may be its intrinsic merit. 

 I am unwilling to see an article that I know to 

 be so valuable to the planter of the Southern 

 States thus neglected. The price of the seed, 



accompanied as it is with full and complete di- 

 rections for its cultivation, can surely be no bar 

 to its introduction. If I had the opportunity I 

 would be glad to make its merits more thorough- 

 ly known through the columns of the Planter. 

 Your obedient servant, 



Newbell Puckett. 



We will be happy to allow Mr. Puckett or 

 his friends any space in the Planter that the na- 

 ture of our work will afford. We will at least 

 endeavor to hand down his name to posterity as 

 that of the individual who introduced the tea 

 plant into America. The day may come when 

 it will be esteemed an honor to be proud of. 



For the Southern Planter. 

 PREPARATION OP SEED CORN. 



Mr. Editor) — In a conversation, held a year 

 ago, with several gentlemen who were sub- 

 scribers to your valuable paper, I mentioned my 

 plan of preparing seed corn, which they thought 

 well of, and desired me to communicate it ? 

 through the Southern Planter, to the public. 



I believe farmers are fully persuaded of the 

 advantage of rolling seed corn in plaster, but 

 many have abandoned it, from the fact that the 

 plaster soon becomes dry, and scales off the corn 

 before the hands who are engaged in dropping 

 can reach the end of a row T of ordinary length ; 

 since thus the plaster and its benefits are lost. 



My plan is, to put the quantity of corn re- 

 quired for a day in soak the night before : it is 

 all carried into the field, and a small quantity 

 (say, .something less than a half bushel,) is 

 drained at a time from the w 7 ater, into which I 

 stir shipstuff until the corn is entirely coated 

 over with it ; then put on the plaster, stirring it 

 well together. 



The shipstuff forms a glutinous coat over the 

 grain, to which the plaster adheres with great , 

 tenacity ; and though it may become dry, yet it 

 will not easily fall off. 



I have practiced the above plan for several 

 3 r ears, and have found it entirely satisfactory. — 

 One particular hand should always do the mix- 

 ing; it will then be done with uniformity. 

 Yours, most respectfull}', 



LlLBURN R. RAILEY. 



Woodlands, Albemarle, March 20, 1845,. 



NEW WAY TO MAKE BUTTER. 



The wife of a farmer saves herself the trouble 

 of churning by the following contrivance: She 

 ties up her cream in a linen cloth, over which 

 she places a piece of print, and buries the whole 

 in a damp place in the garden for twenty-four 

 hours. She then takes it up, and turns the 



