1860.] 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



445 



withhold the utterance of our feelings, and if 

 we have given a notoriety to our friend from 

 which his modesty would have continued to 

 shrink,, we felt it to be due to the agricultural 

 brotherhood that the light of his example should 

 no longer be hidden under a bushel, for we hold 

 it to be a law of Divine enactment that no man 

 liveth unto himself, but is bound to contribute 

 of his knowledge and experience for the benefit 

 of all with whom he sustains the relation of 

 neighbor. 



When to Harvest, and how to Shock 

 Wheat. 



Too late for its appearance in the June num- 

 ber, the following communication was received 

 from N. C. Crenshaw, Esq. ; and that the sug- 

 gestions which it contains might be published 

 in time for this year's harvest, we availed our- 

 selves of the kindness of the Editor of the 

 Whig to lay them before the public thrO'Ugb the 

 medium of that paper. The communication is 

 now copied from the Whig, as we deem it 

 worthy of permanent record in the pages of 

 this Journal for future reference. As Mr. Gar 

 nett thinks an experienced farmer has led Mr. 

 Crenshaw into what he considers a fatal er 

 in regard to the greater safety of shocking un- 

 ripe than fully ripe wheat, when wet, we pub- 

 lish in this number a communication from Mr 

 Garnett, expressing his views on the sub 

 ject. This communication is preceded by 

 some valuable suggestions by him on other 

 topics. 



Shrubbery Hill, Hanover, 



Friend Williams : 



In compliance with my promise, I send 

 thee the following statement: 



Some years ago, I hired a man to cut wheat 

 who did not give me satisfaction. 1 discharged 

 him. As he left the field where the hands were 

 at work, he passed through a piece of wheat 

 that was just in the dough state, and, being an 

 gry al being discharged, cut a row through the 

 field. The seasen was a wet one, and the rust 

 attacked the field. When we came to reap it 

 I found the row he cut and left on the ground, 

 well-filled, plump wheat,, while all around it 

 was scarcely worth cutting. 



Some time back I saw a recommendation in 



the Pla7iter from Garnett, to proceed to cut 



and shock wheat in wet weather. As an ex- 

 periment, I cut and shocked thirteen shocks of 

 wheat, that was barely ripe, in a drizzling rain. 

 Some days after, the weather became fine. I 

 opened and dried ten of the shocks, fearing to 

 risk so much. I found them keeping well. The 



remaining three shocks cured and kept as well 

 as any shocks I put up that season. 



I mentioned this circumstance to an old and 

 experienced farmer, who informed me that the 

 wheat kept because it had not fully matured 

 md dried when cut. That when wheat be- 

 came- fully matured and dry, it could not be 

 put up wet without spoiling, as it would cer- 

 tainly heat and sprout. He further said that he 

 had cut and shocked green wheat that cured 

 well without being opened. 



Last harvest, I cut and put up a shock of 

 wheat in a very green state, which cured well ; 

 the grain was plump and fine. Having heard 

 that seed wheat should always be allowed to 

 thoroughly ripen before being cut, I kept that 

 shock and sowed it to itself; it came up as 

 well, and is now looking as well as the rest of 

 my wheat, on the same quality of land. I there- 

 fore conclude, 1st. That it is best to cut wheat 

 that is likely to have the rust as soon as it is in 

 the dough state; 2d. That it is not safe to cut 

 and shock wheat fully matured except when 

 dry. 



I do not wish any farmer to do more the pres- 

 3nt season than make experiments to test the 

 truth of the above conclusions. 



Respectfully, 



N. C. CRENSHAW. 



Bell Hayen, 



Accomac Co., 

 June 1st, 1860. 



Va., ) 

 ,0. ) 



Editor of the Southern Planter, Richmond: 



Gent. — Have you any information why Cab- 

 bages have the Big Root, and if so, what is the 

 cause, and what the remedy"? I have a square 

 in my garden that had the Big Root last year, 

 in the early Cabbages, which I removed and 

 then. set out others for the fall which had no 

 Big Root. This spring I find in the same square 

 Big Root, and no Big Root in the next square 

 adjoining, all manured alike, plants out of the 

 same bed, from the same seed, planted out at 

 the same time, and worked alike. Please let 

 me hear from you on the subject. 



Yours truly, 



A. J. Ward, P. M. 



REMARKS BY THE EDITOR. 



We referred Mr. Ward's inquiry to Mr. Ren- 

 nie, one of our most intelligent and experienced 

 gardeners, whose observation has impressed 

 him with the opinion, that the " Big Root" is 

 owing to the existence of sourness in the soil. 

 He has heard it said that this has happened in 

 light, dry soil, but no such case has come under 

 his observation. 



We have seen the same disease on the straw- 

 berry plant, and as in every instance it was de- 

 veloped in wet soil, we had come to the con- 

 clusion at which Mr. Rennie had arrived in 

 relation to the Cabbage, Lime and drainage 



