SOUTHERN MATTERS, ETC. 
33 
first rate Saxon sheep. To give our readers an 
idea of these superb animals, we would inform them 
that a three-year-old buck weighs 150 lbs. ; at the 
same time, he is of fine proportions, and carries the 
largest, and one of the finest and softest fleeces we 
ever inspected. The younger rams are equally 
promising of their age. The lot strike us as being 
as much superior to ordinary Saxons, as Mr. Tain- 
tor's several importations of the Spanish Merinos 
have proved. His personal acquaintance with the 
largest wool growers of Spain, France, and Germa- 
ny, gives him a decided advantage in importing the 
very best sheep which those countries produce. 
The number of really fine or Electoral Sheep in 
Saxony, has never exceeded one and a half millions. 
At this time there are but about thirteen hundred 
thousand. 
During the past four years, large numbers have 
been taken to Russia for the purpose of improving 
the sheep of that country. Immense flocks are 
now forming near the sea of Azof, where the soil 
and climate have proved highly favorable for the 
production of fine wool. In the United States, we 
have millions of acres equally well suited to the 
growth of this superior quality of wool, and we 
regret that more attention is not given to its pro- 
duction, for it could not but be profitable. The 
clip of the best flocks in Saxony, is sold in fleeces 
at very near a dollar a pound, to the fine broad- 
cloth manufacturers of Belgium and France. As 
the duty is low on wool imported into these coun- 
tries, why may not the United States assist to sup- 
ply the demand as well as Saxony ? 
We recommend those who desire to improve their 
fine flocks, to examine this importation of Messrs. 
Taintor and Catlin. We are confident they will be 
highly gratified in doing so ; and acknowledge with 
ourselves, that they are deserving the best wishes 
of all American flockmasters, for their patriotic and 
meritorious efforts in so liberally furnishing the 
means of improving the fine-wooled sheep of our 
country. 
SOUTHERN MATTERS. 
R. L. Allen having withdrawn from the agri- 
cultural implement warehouse, in New Orleans, the 
business will hereafter be continued, at the cor- 
ner of Magazine and Poydras streets, in that city, 
; hy Mr. Stephen Franklin. From his large stock, 
i ability and long acquaintance with the business of 
1 the south, we do not hesitate to recommend his estab- 
\ lishment as every way worthy the support of intelli- 
gent and improving planters. 
Now, that our own interest is not concerned in 
k the remark, we may be excused for telling our 
southern friends plainly, what we have long been 
satisfied, was the truth. And this simply is, that 
their interests and advantage are vastly more con- 
\ cerned in the adoption of improved, well-made im- 
plements, than either the manufacturers or venders. 
I They can realize as much profit, and frequently 
\ more — on a poorly-made or indifferent article as on 
i the best ; but it is the consumer who is to be bene- 
fited by the good and the durable implements. 
It is said, " improved tools are not suited to the 
I south." This is a song that is sung from the Po- 
tomac, the Ohio, and Missouri to the gulf, and 
when the chorus for the thousandth time is repeat- 
ed, the planter thinks the argument exhausted. 
Let us reason together for a moment on this mat- 
ter. Are there any steam engines, tobacco and cot- 
ton presses, hemp brakes, and water-rotting vats % 
Any plows, hoes, spades, and shovels 1 Any sugar 
machinery, costing from $5,000 to even $50,000 
for a single plantation 1 Why is all this if im- 
proved implements are not adapted to the south 1 
The Indians did not use any of these. A bow and 
arrow, a stone sharpened by rude attrition, or some 
coarse wooden implements prepared by the fire, 
were all the tools brought to the aid of savage life. 
Had the suggestion been made to them of the adop- 
tion of better tools, the reply would have been just 
what is now daily made elsewhere — " they are not 
adapted to the capacity and habits of our laboring 
people." The answer should be — " if they can do 
the work better and more expeditiously, or econom- 
icallv, we will instruct them to their use, we will 
make them habitual to them." Surely the advance 
in the capacity for using farming tools between an 
original Congo or Guineaman, and his well-instruct- 
ed descendant, on our best-managed southern plan- 
ations, is sufficient evidence of capacity to justify 
advancing a step farther in the career of improvement. 
This fact decides something besides incapacity of 
the laborer ; it rather proves imbecility or negli- 
gence on the part of master or overseer. We have 
so often seen the success of a different policy where 
properly undertaken and perseveringly followed up, 
that we doubt all conclusions that deny the possi- 
bilities of progress in improvement at the south. 
We would then say to such of our southern 
friends as may thus far have noticed our remarks, 
go on in the career of improvement so auspiciously 
commenced ; — there is no real obstacle to your pro- 
gress ; nothing but what is wholly imaginary, and 
will vanish on any well-directed efforts to remove 
it. Sufficient success has already been realized, to 
justify the most sanguine anticipations hereafter. 
We shall look confidently to the future for aug- 
mented; crops, while the cost of their production is 
diminished — a result easily attainable wherever sci- 
entific treatment of the soil, manures, and products, 
with the use of improved implements is adopted. 
The Volatile Parts of Plants when Con- 
sumed by Combustion. — The substances which it 
would he possible, according to known chemical 
phenomena, to dissipate in the combustion of plants, 
are carbonic acid, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, 
chlorine, and the metallic bases of the alkalies 
potash and soda. The other constituents of plant 
ashes, namely, silica, oxide of iron, lime, and mag- 
nesia, cannot, it is conceived, be liable to loss in 
any form. — Way. 
Small Holdings. — A small proprietor, who 
knows every part of his little territory, who views 
it with all the affection which property, especially 
small property, naturally inspires ; and also, upon 
that account, takes pleasure not only in cultivating, 
but in adorning it, is generally of all improvers the 
most industrious, the most intelligent, and the most 
successful. — Adam Smith. 
To Destroy Insects. — Trenching the ground in 
autumn, or early winter, is one of the best securi- 
ties against most subterranean insects. 
