SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
171 
der any sedge here, and I have seen what many in Caro- 
lina and Georgia will not believe — pure sedge grass, 
broom sedge, full 6 feet high, I dare not say how much 
more. I do not know the inches of “Broomsedge,” and 
do not mean Mm. I have the Brinley plow now tunning 
the fourth or fifth year and worked on yearly by a very 
common negro smith. 
I will do this. If any inventor will send me a better 
plow and give me permission to make and sell, I will 
adopt his. I banter no man ; have not now any idea, at 
my time of life, to do what I never have done — bet, I 
prefer not being bantered, and yet desire to know of the 
fairest test. Brinley is a Kentuckian and, like myself, 
never ventures, from principle. We cannot afford to give 
plows to societies — would really prefer either B. or P. to 
be present at trials — as we cannot, not only for want of 
the needful, but other duties, but would ask Agricultural 
Societies to order and test. 
The Directors of the Fair under the Mississippi State 
Bureau have offered a premium of $50 for the best plow 
at the next Fair, supposing that would induce manufac- 
turers to come forward. If the several States, say Mis- 
sissippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, would 
each offer say $50 or $100 for the best plow, appoint a 
time when, even one week, if necessary, could be bestow- 
ed npon the trial, have the trial in some central point, 
say Mongomery, Ala , Atlanta, or Columbus, Ga., each 
State sending a committee of three gentlemen to conduct 
the plowing match, there might be a hope to draw out the 
full competition of plow-makers. 
The plow is the most important implement to the plan- 
ter, and I will contend for its being brought more to notice, 
even if called mad. 
The hog is the most important animal, because more 
money for negro is spent for meat by the South than for 
any other, and I have urged it, therefore, I am called a 
hog man, some more poIi:e call me a Berkshire man. 
I leave this, Messrs. Editors, with you to publish or 
not, and your readers to judge. I could have published 
in my own paper {Planter cf* Mechanic)^ but you ask me 
for “light,” that it may shine through the Cultivator ^ and 
your paper has a far larger circulation. 
My planting interest gives me and mine all the neces- 
saries and luxuries we want, unfoitunatoly, no little 
Philips’ or Kells’ to provide for, yet we must work and we 
intend to work ; have long since scratched out can, we do, 
or die trying. Yours sincerely, 
M. W. Philips. 
P. S.— Since writing the foregoing, but before sending 
to the post office, I have received an account of a trial of 
plows made in this State, between the Calhoun plow, 
Hall & Spears and the Brinley. I merely give the con- 
clusion. 
Calhoun plow, with a furrow slice 6 deep and 9 inches, 
54 cubic inches required, or 448 lbs, — a London dyna- 
mometre. 
Hall & Spear, 7 deep, 7 1-2 wide 52 1-2 cubic inches, 
or 623 lbs. 
Brinley, 6 1-2 deep, 9 in width, 58 1-2 cubic inches, or 
336 lbs. 
Brinley, 9 deep, 10 in width, 40 cubic inches, or 350 
lbs. 
The gentleman who was bantered says, when the 
dynamometre was used on the first of Brinley plows, the 
first time seen or used by the judge, they think, upon 
second trial when they learned better “the hang” of the 
dynamometre that the power would not have been over 
308 lbs , instead of 336. 
Another closed report stated that the 1 horse Brinley 
plow and 1 mule done deeper and better plowing than 
either of the others (1 and 2) with 2 mules. M. W. P. 
Edwards, Miss., April, 1859. 
THE JERUSAIiEUl ARTICHOKE. 
Editors Southern Cultivator— Among the numer- 
ous ai tides published in your valuable journal I have not, 
as yet, seen one on the Artichoke. I wish to know 
whether it is a nutritious food for hogs'? Will it fatten, 
&C.'? 
It is to be presumed that among your many subscribers 
and correspondents, some of them have sufficient practical 
experience in growing and consuming the above named 
product to be enabled to give your readers some infcMrma- 
tion on a subject which may prove one of interest to the 
planter. I have been taking the Cultivator only since 
the 1st of January last, but have read a number occasion- 
ally for the last year or two, and it has been rather a mat- 
ter of surprise to me that I have not seen this subject 
touched. 
Is it because it is less useful and less nutritious than' 
all other root crops'? or, has such publication escaped my.' 
notice '? My knowledge of the Artichoke is limited, but' 
from having seen a few hills growing about my yard and 
garden the last two or three years, I am of opinion that,, 
as to the yield per acre, it can scarcely be surpassed, if at 
all, by anything else. 
Will you, or some of your readers who have some 
knowledge of this plant, give the desired information'? 
Respectfully, A. C. M. 
Dresden, Navard Co., Texas, March, 1859. 
We have published articles on this subject in former 
volumes, but we take pleasure in giving the folio ving 
from the Boston Cultivator : 
“Twelve years ago I read of the Artichoke, but found it 
impossible, as I thought, to get seed. In the winter of 
1857 I accidentally came across some which had been 
raised by some Germans, from tubers brought with them- 
from ‘Dutch Land.’ I dug my crop January l3th and 
14th, 1858, it being fine weather. The yield was fifty-one 
bushels— at the rate of 708 bushels per acre. I did not 
consider this half a crop, for thejbllowing reasons : 
“1st. The land was much worn— upland sandy loam — 
and has received no manure for many years. 
“2d. They were not planted until the last week of April, 
which is too late— for, as it is a tropical plant, it should 
have the benefit of the entire season. 
“3d. Owing to scarcity of seed (half a peck) it was cut 
extremely small— the size of a three-cent piece— and had 
lain for several weeks, being much dried and shriveled 
when planted. 
“The Jerusalem Artichoke is, comparatively speaking, 
but little known. Schenck, in his Text Book, says ; ‘It 
is a small sun-fiower, bearing nutritious tubers, for which 
it is cultivated. It is a hardy perennial of Brazil and was 
first carried to England in 1617. * * * The 
stalks are large, frequently attaining the height of ten 
feet; the roots are produced in great quantity, the crop 
sometimes exceeding two thousand bushels per acre.’ 
‘T will take him at one-half his estimate, and put the 
price at ten cents per bushel, and we have $100 worth of 
the best kind of green food for horses, cattle, sheep, or 
swine. My horses eat them with avidity ; yet they re- 
fuse potatoes and turnips. It is a crisp, sweet tuber, 
much more palatable in its raw state, to us, than a tur^>^ 
nip ; and one good quality it possesses as food for 
cows is, it does not impart any bad flavor to the afilk *.- 
The Farmer's Encijclopedia says : 
“ ‘The Artichoke will yield, with similar cuV^g^. 3 ^pej 
cent, more than the potato; and if the l*"^bbrpoor, it 
will yield at least double the quantity Being 
hardy, they can be left during the ^vitaSwinfer in the 
ground, to be rooted up by hoy ^ numbers of which 
may be fattened at little expe» 
