THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



11 



take to deliver shingles Burnettized in Rich- 

 mond at the following prices, viz : (pr. M., four 

 bunches to the thousand) — 



1st quality sawed pine, . . . $6 75 

 2d " " 5 75 



1st quality spruce pine, ... 5 50 

 2d " " 4 50 



Mr. Tracy writes me farther : " I have the 

 impression that you may buy the fluid chloride 

 of zinc in Baltimore with directions for dilut- 

 ing it with water, and soaking shingles in a 

 barrel with it, or any other vessel large enough 

 to hold them, and save something by the ope- 

 ration. , 



From an intelligent Bostonian, with whom I 

 have travelled in the cars to-day to this place, 

 I learn they are beginning in Massachusetts to 

 Burnettize the soft woods, such as pine and 

 cypress, for cross-ties on railroads ! If this 

 will do, what a grand discovery in the 

 construction of railroads ! — an improvement 

 destined soon, literally, to override all other 

 improvements upon the face of the earth. 

 Yours respectfully, 



John IT. Cocke. 



N. B. — Mr. Tracy says further, "the shin- 

 gles furnished by Messrs. Flint & Kent will be 

 warranted that a thousand shall cover a square 

 of ten feet, or one hundred superficial feet/' 



For the Planter. 



To Stock Breeders. 



Policy of Hiring out Male Animals for Breed- 

 ing Purposes, after the manner of the JEng- i 

 lish. 



The account of the " Babraham ram let- 

 ting," of the distinguished English breeder, 

 Mr. Jonas Webb, contained in the November 

 number of the "Planter," suggests the en- 

 quiry whether something of the same kind 

 could not be imitated in Virginia? 



The Annual Exhibitions of the State Agri- 

 cultural Society would afford a good opportu- 

 nity for the letting of superior animals ; and 

 it would have the effect of attracting to the 

 " Fair Grounds" much fine stock that other- 

 wise would not be taken there. The high 

 price of thorough-bred animals of every kind 

 in our State and country prevents farmers of 

 moderate means from purchasing with a view 

 to the improvement of their flocks and herds, 

 and to such persons importations from foreign 

 countries are out of the question. I doubt if 

 those few persons who, combining the pecuni- 

 ary ability with the requisite amount of public 

 spirit, have brought into Virginia from other 

 States and England animals of improved breed 

 have been remunerated for their outlay. 



I am, however, inclined to think, that if a 

 system of public "letting" of thorough-bred 

 animals at our State Fairs, can be "inaugu- 

 rated" under wise and liberal regulations, it 

 would not only tend in an eminent degree to 



the general and permanent improvement of 

 our stock, but would also promote the interests 

 and enhance the profits of those public spirited 

 citizens who have already introduced into the 

 States cattle and sheep of improved breeds. 



My intention, however, is not to write an 

 essay on this subject, but simply to draw the 

 attention of the enlightened breeders of im- 

 proved stock to the matter, as one well worthy 

 of their consideration. 



Dec. 15, 1857. W. M. T. 



For the Southern Planter. 



Raising Hogs. 



Oxford, N. C, Jan. 13th, 1858. 



Mr. Editor, — As I have nothing to do and 

 so much time to spare, I thought I would drop 

 you a hint about hogs. The raising of pork is 

 no small item to every good farmer. In the 

 South, without a plenty of this important article, 

 no good master can feel contented ; and since 

 my return from the South and West, where I 

 heard so much talk about the supply from the 

 West being cut off by that dreadful scourge 

 known as the hog cholera, I feel it a duty to 

 my brother farmers to give them my experience 

 in raising hogs for the last twelve years. 



The first year that I set out on my own hook 

 I was well cared for by my father, who gave 

 me a plenty of stock of all kinds to commence 

 with. I was, and always have been, partial to 

 hog raising, so I gave my hogs all the care I 

 could. I payed much attention to the breed, 

 and what few I raised I thought of a superior 

 kind, behig a cross on the Snapdragon, Berk- 

 shire and Irish grazier. 



Well, Mr. Editor, with this fine breed of 

 hogs, (as they have since proved to be,) I could 

 scarcely raise pork enough for the first three 

 years of my farming life. My hogs would 

 sicken and die, do what I would, with some 

 disease or other. On one occasion, while ex- 

 amining my hogs in a pine field, I noticed the 

 best and fatest of them were employed in root- 

 ing up pine roofs and eating them greedily, '' 

 whilst those in lower plight cared little or 

 nothing for them, and contented themselves 

 with grass. I observed this several times, and 

 came to this conclusion ; that it could not be 

 for the sustenance that the fatest and best of 

 my hogs were devouring these roots so greedily ; 

 if it was, why did. not the poor ones seem as 

 anxious to get the roots? And again, why was 

 it that whenever I lost a hog, or shoat, it was 

 one in fine condition ? 



I am now fully satisfied that my conclusion 

 was correct, that if was not for the sustenance 

 that they eat the root, but that it is a 

 hog medicine, and they use it, and know it by 

 instinct as the dog resorts to grass for all of his 

 ailments. Being satisfied for what purpose the 

 pine root was u ed by the hog, I determined 

 to try this remedy in a more concentrated form, 

 so I got the spirits of turpentine, knowing 



