THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



355 



parts, that I thought it impossible for any ma- 

 chine to cut them at oil. One pair of horses 

 worked the machine easily clay after clay ; they 

 have to travel no faster than the ordinary plough- 

 ing pace ; and a boy of lifteen managed them 

 without any difnculty/-' 



It will be observed that while Mr. Hamond 

 speaks up for Dray, Mr. Parrington is eciually 

 strong for Burgess and Key. The corrertpond- 

 \ ence does not extend beyond the remarks of these 

 two gentlemen ; although, if necessary, many as 

 warm an advocate might be found for Mr. Cross- 

 kilFs persevering improvements on the Scotch 

 invention. In the position he now occupies he 

 can well afford to hear this testimony to his con- 

 temporaries — in its effect as grateful to him as, 

 to them. " The reaping machine has now at- 

 tained that degree of perfection which entitles it 

 to be classed amongst implements of real prac- 

 tical utility.'^ 



The award of the judges at Boxted would 

 scarcely lead us to believe as much. For our 

 own part we cannot help fancying that this de- 

 cree is altogether a little too hard in its tone. — 

 Its tendency, too, is impolitic. If there is any 

 implement just DOW which should be encouraged 

 into general use, it is the reaper. We think, 

 moreover, the merits of these several inventions 

 are sufficient to warrant a recommendation. It 

 is with this view that we compare the award in 

 Essex Avith the paper in the Journal. Even if 

 there be no great improvement since last year, 

 the reaper is proved to have advanced so far as 

 to rank amongst the agricultural implements 

 "of real and practical utility.'^ 



A word even now may perhaps be not every- 

 where too late. — Farmer's Magazine. 



THE LIFE OF SEEDS. 

 We suppose that almost every person has heard 

 or read the story of some grains of wheat hav- 

 ing been found in an Egyptian mummy, which 

 were sown, vegetated and yielded grain after its 

 kind. This case and some others of a rather 

 dubious character have been adduced in evi- 

 dence of the great vitality and longevity of 

 seeds ; but we have now very reliable and prac- 

 tical evidence throwing some discredit on such 

 stories. 



The British Scientific Association have, for 

 the past fifteen years, been instituting inc|uirics 

 and making experiments, through a committee 

 of its members — with various kinds of seeds, of 

 various ages. Their labors tend to show that 

 none of the seeds which were tested, although 

 placed in the most favora1)le circumstances that 

 could be devised, vegetated after the age of 40 

 years ; and only 20 out of 288 species did so 

 after 20 years, Avhile hj far the largest numljer 

 lost their germinating power in ten years. 



It has long been known to agriculturists and 

 florists, that fresh seeds — those of the preceding 

 season — possess the greatest amount of vitality; 

 and very many seeds lose their germinating 

 power altogether, even when kept in dry situa- 



tions — in the course of two years. . In the se- 

 lection of any kind of seed, care should be ex- 

 ercised, in selecting it according to its age, as 

 well as its appearance ; the plumpness of a seed, 

 is not always the best sign of its quality for 

 seeding purposes. — Scieniijic American. 



AUGUST STORMS. 

 It is a remarkable fact that between the 1st 

 and 24th of August a severe storm of wind and 

 rain visits our country every year It generally 

 commences in the Gulf of Mexico, and proceeds 

 in a curve round the Atlantic coast, and pene- 

 trates hundreds of miles into the interior. The 

 storm this year was the most severe that has 

 taken place in a great number of years, and 

 committed great ravages. It is also somewhat 

 remarkable that severe storms visit England iu 

 the same month. Great freshets take place, the 

 same as have been experienced this year in so 

 many districts of our country. Of old they hav9 

 been designated " Lammas floods" — Lammas 

 being the name for the 1st of August. — lb. 



Rule for Measuring Corn in the Ear. 



Arrange the corn in the pen or crib, so that 

 it will be of equal depth throughout; then as- 

 certain the length, breadth, and depth of the 

 pile ; multiply these dimensions together, and 

 their product by 4^. Then cut off one figure 

 from the ri^^ht of the last product, and the re- 

 mainder will be so many bushels of shelled 

 corn ; and the figure cut off will show so many 

 tenths of a bushel moi-e. 



Example. — In a crib or pen of corn in the 

 ear, measuring ten feet long, eight feet high, 

 and seven feet wide, there will be 252 bushels 

 of shelled corn. 



Thus— 10x8x7x41 -=252.9.— Valleij Farmer. 



From the American Agriculturist. 

 GARDENING IN VIRGINIA. 

 The climate of this State differing materially 

 from that of New York, the routine of garden- 

 ing is necessarily different in the culinary de- 

 partment. Here we can safely put out cabbage, 

 lettuce, onions, and many other vegetables, to 

 stand the winter. Caljbages planted in Novem- 

 ber produce first-rate heads in the following May, 

 and if attention be paid to securing the proper 

 kinds, a supply may be had in July of those 

 planted in November. Tor example, the Enfield, 

 Large York, and Flat Dutch, sown and planted 

 out at the same time, make a fine succession — 

 the Enfield coming first, followed by the Large 

 York. All these kinds stand the winter well, 

 and make finer cabltagcs than those sown on 

 hot-beds in early spring. Cauliflowers having 

 the protection of a soutli fence, stand the winter 

 very well, and most kinds of lettuce, if properly 

 planted, are unharmed through the winter. We 

 are thus enabled to produce a fine supply of ear- 

 ly vegetables. Peas and other sprin<^ growing 

 vegetables will allow of being sown much earli- 

 er than can be done in the northern States. 



