SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
25 
Yucca Gloriosa, Spanish Bayonet.''^ — This fine, 
tropical-looking plant is not half so much patronized, as 
it deserves to be ; for, independent of the rigid, uniform 
appearance its foliage alv^ays presents, no flowering plant, 
that we are acquainted with, can equal it for length of 
spike and number of florets expanded at one time. It is 
true, they do not flower well in every situation ; but, 
where they do succeed, no plant of late introduction gives 
so distinct a feature as this Yucca, The Yucca Gloriosa 
is, perhaps of the yuccas, most highly esteemed, and a 
finer object when in blossom, can hardly be conceived. 
It is majestic, bold, and even grand. It is a common re- 
mark that every plant is a weed in its own country ; but 
it would be hard to call this a weed, although we meet 
with a forest of them. Wherever it is desirable to im- 
press an exotic character, wherever what is called “senti- 
nels” are needed, and near to buildings of any kind, 
there the yucca will be found at home. The Irish yew is 
another most distinct and significant tree, wherever stiff 
formality or deep contrast is required. And then its col- 
or is so good ; perhaps one of the darkest shades of green 
we possess. — Horticulturist. 
THE USES OF AGRICUETUEAIi FAIRS. 
It has been aptly remarked that there is something in 
these exhibitions which appeals most pov.’erfully to our 
national tastes and sympathies. They attract larger 
masses of people together than any other class of enter- 
tainments. They have the same irresistible charm to 
Americans that bull fights have to the Spaniards, horse 
races to the English, monster musical festivals to the Ger- 
mans, and grand fetes to the French. 
We are an agricultural people, the great body of our 
population being dependent directly upon agriculture for 
their subsistence, and all other interests being deeply in- 
terested in and affected by, whatever promotes the pros- 
perity of the farmer. As a general thing, those engaged in 
agriculture are prosperous, and when they have gathered in 
their summer harvests, and feel that they have well earned 
a little relaxation after their hard labors, they rarely lack 
the means to gratify their moderate aspirations for plea- 
sure. But there must be something utilitarian, or at least 
a pretension to utilitarianism, even in the pleasure of an 
American. He does not feel easy at the idea that a day 
should pass by without making some contribution to his 
material progress. These exhibitions afibrd him a happy 
compromise between his usual routine of employment and 
his desire for recreation. He can gain at them new ideas 
of the great pursuit of tilling the soil from his brother farm- 
ers, see new implements, and find stimulants to his am- 
bition and rivalry in the collections of superior stock 
which are assembled for his inspection. 
But, whatever degree of pleasure and improvement may 
thus be derived from such sources and whatever charm may 
be thrown over these assemblages, by the-array of talent 
which they not unfrequently call together, and the master- 
ly addresses which are delivered, at them, it cannot be 
concealed that the principal interest of those who attend 
these exhibitions seems to be, after all, centered in the 
“trial of speed” of horses, which forms one of their most 
prominent features. Love of excitement is an inherent 
principle of our natures, and it finds one of its most agree 
able gratifications in witnessing the contests of our favorite 
animal. While horse racing is frowned down by the 
moral sentiment of the community, it possesses a facina- 
tion almost irresistable. Nothing rouses the human feel- 
ings and sympathies like a struggle in which two skillful 
antagonists contend with all the energies of their natures 
for supremacy. The passengers of a steamboat are ready 
to risk even their own lives rather than see a rival boat 
pass them on one of our rivers The canvass of two 
strong candidates for a public office awakens so great an 
interest that thousands become willing to devote their 
whole time for weeks to the success of their favorite. 
While the individual tastes of men go far to determine the 
character of the struggle which arouses their sympathies, 
nearly all will find some sort of a contest to interest them. 
The tournaments of the knights of the olden time enlisted 
the attention of whole kingdoms. The sanguinary taste 
of the Romans was best gratified in the terrific death-strug- 
gles of their gladiators. The Grecians delighted to crown 
the victors of their Olympic games. Santa Anna is never 
so happy as when he is witnessing what is nov/-a-days 
grandiloquently termed a “ poultry tournament.” 
If, however, it must be confessed that our national tastes 
have a keen relish for horse-racing, it is a source of grati- 
fication that public sentiment has demanded that these 
exhibitions should be freed from the contaminating and 
corrupting influences associated with the turf. "While our 
people enjoy a display of the highest qualities of the horse, 
they are unv/illing to countenance the wild frenzy of 
gambling excitement, which is an almost inevitable ac- 
companiment of the regular race course. The “trials of 
speed” of our exhibition, as far as possible, give national 
enjoyment, under auspices which prohibit demoralization ; 
and the standard of taste and appreciation of the horses 
is elevated by the variety cf tests to v/hich his qualities 
are subjected. 
It is important that those who have charge of these ex- 
hibitions should be on their guard against making them 
too exclusively arenas for the mere exercises of the race- 
course. Speed is a great quality ; but there are others, 
also, quite as ■well worthy of cultivation. — Weekly Missis-- 
sippian. 
THE HOME JOURNAL FOR 1S59. 
Ws have always regarded the Home Journal y edited by 
Messrs. Morris and Willis, as one of the best literary 
weekly newspapers published in this or any other coun- 
try. The character of the matter, both original and se- 
lected, which fills its columns, is of a high order. The 
poetry of George P. Morris, the sweet song-wiiter cf 
Amerca, and the charming letters ' and pencillings by N. 
P. Willis, are themselves worth more than the subscrip- 
tion. The father of a family can do nothing better to 
amuse, entertain, and instruct himself and family, espe- 
cially the female portion of it, than by subscribing for 
this paper. With 1859, a new series will commence, with 
which also begin a series of beautiful original works of 
fact and fancy, written expressly for the Home Journal by 
the best authors of America. Among other good things 
will be, a tale of sterling merit, by a lady, called “ Two 
Ways to Wedlock;” a tale of the South, called “The 
Avenger,” by an eminent Southern author; and a tale 
called “ The Young Wife’s Diary,” by a daughter of the 
West, with other tales of striking merit, together with a 
number of original comic stories. From this it will be 
seen, that the Homs Journal offers as much, and better 
reading matter, than any other of the many family week- 
ly newspapers. We heartily recommend it to all who 
wish to read a weekly newspaper of a refined, moral, en- 
tertaining and instructive character. As no more cop- 
ies of the new series will be printed than are ordered, 
those who desire to begin with the commencement of the 
volume will be able to do so by forwarding their subscrip- 
tions to “Morris and Willis, No. 107 Fulton street, New 
York,” without delay. — Easton Whig. 
Immense Corn-Crop in Kentuckv. — The ^Louisville 
Jmrnol says that the corn crop has never been so large 
imKentucky as the present crop has been. It states 
that there are fields in the blue grass region estimated at 
175 bu.sli! Is to the acre, while fields yielding 75 to 80 
bnsh»h nre quite common. 
