SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
19 
gather fertilizers from every available source ; these are the 
means mainly resorted to by the writer for augmenting 
the fruitfulness of a badly worn, impoverished plantation. 
Without any special contrivance, or extraordinary hus- 
bandry, fertility will grow like a young peach orchard in 
a good soil, under a wise system of farm economy. 
When our calves, pigs, lambs and colts thrive and wax 
fat, our rejuvenated fields will share in the general change 
for the better. At the present writing, the best grass on 
the farm is the Bermuda ; and we wish it covered every 
rood on the plantation. We would then purchase another 
one near by for the cultivation of winter grasses. Pos- 
sibly the writer v/ill be disappointed in the value of these 
at the South; if so, the experiment will, even in 
that case, be worth something to the public. A man 
should act according to his convictions of what is sound 
in principle as well in agriculture as in all other pursuits. 
Dr. Terrell desired that the South should adopt an im- 
proving system of farm economy ; and if the writer should 
fail to find out the best way to attain the object of his dis- 
tinguished friend, it will be something to have sought it 
with all due diligence and earnestness. One may not 
command success, b ut he may be govern himself as to de- 
serve it. 
As another item in farm economy, a fev/ words may be 
said on the art of making winter butter. With a very 
commendable desire to produce a good article, that which 
has been made recently on the farm of the writer, contains 
about twenty-five per cent, of white cheese curd, and is 
without color or fragrance. If the weather was a little 
warmer, it would not keep a week without becoming 
rancid. The defects arise, first, from the feed of the cows; 
secondly, from the improper management of the milk and 
cream; and lastly, from not knowing how to separate all 
the buttermilk and sugar of milk so as to have the but- 
ler in a pure and beautiful condition. The fine golden 
color ot May butter is hardly attainable in winter unless 
one has green rye or wheat fields for cows to graze on, or 
unle^ss one cures green corn, millet, oats, or grass, at that 
period in the development of the plants when the soluble 
coloring matter is most abundant. Neither ripe corn 
blades, nor straw of any grain or hay, will impart a rich 
color to butter. But cut and cured at the right time, like 
the best green or black tea, both the aroma and color of 
herbage may be preserved in an available state for the 
production of delicious winter butter. It is desirable that 
every family know how to supply itself with sweet and 
long keeping butter at the least possible cost ; and we 
shall discuss the subject at length in the present volume 
of this journal. It is certainly bad economy to be so de- 
pendent on the North for butter, cheese, hay, horses, farm 
implements, grass seeds, and a thousand other things 
that might be named. To teach the art of producing 
most of these things on a farm, we are more than 
half inclined to open an agricultural School. Such 
an institution ought to meet with encouragement, 
but whether it would or not is doubtful. One can best 
understand the principles of farm economy by seeing 
them illustrated in daily practice at the time when 
they are studied as a profession. The human mind ac- 
quires its best knowledge by careful obsersation where 
all the aids and appliances for making progress favor the 
ends sought. To remove the defects so apparent in 
Southern economy, the friends of improvement have only 
to foster the efforts of those who seek to work out a gener- 
al and permanent reform. L. 
Books, Pamphlets, &c , received at this Office, since our 
last issue : 
Catalogue of the Agricultural Library in the Office of 
the Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture. 
Address delivered before the N. Y. State Agricultural 
Society, at Syracuse, Oct. 8, 1858, by Joseph P. Wil- 
liams, President of the Michigan State Agricultural Col- 
lege, 
Catalogue of Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Shrubbery, 
Vines, Roses, etc., cultivated and for sale at the Cherry 
Hill Nurseries, West Chester, Pa, Hoopes & Bro., Pro- 
prietors. 1859, 
Illustrated Annual Register of Rural Affairs, for 
1859, Price, 25 cents. Address Luther Tucker & Son, 
Albany, N. Y. 
[j^^The “Virginia Farm Journal” is the title of a 
very neat folio sheet published weekly at Richmond, Va, 
M. S. Crockett, Editor. Price, $2 per annum. 
Cotton Seed Cleaner. — Every improvement in the 
cotton culture, or manufacture (says an exchange paper) 
is of importance to this country. A citizen of Antwerp, 
in Holland, is said to have invented, and to be now oper- 
ating there, a machine for cleansing cotton seed. From 
two to three tons of seed can be daily cleaned of its ad- 
hering cotton, by a machine of four-horse power, with 
the assistance of three persons. The cotton which en 
velopes the seed is taken clean off, and is readily purchased 
by the carpet manufacturers and paper makers. The oil 
is then pressed out by means of powerful machinery, and 
the cakes are then saleable at the same price as other 
oleaginous seeds. The invention might be imported v/ith 
advantage to our American cotton fields, if native ingenu- 
ity has not already accomplished the various success re- 
ported of the Hollander. 
The Wheat Midge. — Geo. S. Woodhull, of Fenton, 
Mich., asserts that the midge does not leave the wheat un- 
til it is threshed, and then it goes in the chaff and straw, 
and probably lies dormant till spring, when it hatches 
into a fly and deposits its eggs. He thinks this trouble- 
some pest might be destroyed by burning straw and chaff 
of affected wheat for a few years. 
Sorgho Syrup Keeps Well. — Among the articles 
shown at a late Fair in Winnsboro, (S. C.) was a sample 
of Sorgho Syrup, of which the editor of the Fairfield Herald 
says : 
“ A bottle of Chinese Cane Syrup, prepared in 1857 by 
Hon. E. G. Palmer, was submitted to our taste. It is in 
fine keeping, pure, and of flavor richer than when new. 
So, Syrup will “keep.” Note that.” 
Sheridan said beautifully, “ Woman govern us ; 
let us render them perfect; the more they are enlightened, 
so much more shall we be On the cultivation of their 
minds, depends the wisdom, of men.” 
