SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
199 
POISONED FROM EATING HONEY. 
“Week before last, Mr. W. S. Edmonds, who resides 
near Randolph, in Bibb county, was poisoned by eating 
honey. It seems that, Mr. Edmonds, in company with 
several others, cut a bee-tree, and eat of the honey. 
There was a considerable quantity of the comb containing 
honey, which was uncupped, and of this kind Mr. Ed- 
monds eat, while the others eat the cupped honey.— 
Shortly after eating the honey Mr. Edmonds was taken 
with spasms, frothing at the mouth, and almost every 
other symptom of poison was exhibited. A physician 
was sent for immediately, but no relief could be given until 
about a quart of warm whiskey was administered, when 
instantaneous relief was experienced. It is said that un- 
cupped honey at certain seasons of the year is a violent 
poison. If so, persons ought to be careful not to use it in 
the spring of the year.” — Selma Sentinel. 
Editor Southern Cultivator— Once in a while, like 
a comet in its eccentric course, a paragraph like the 
above makes its appearance in the newspapers. I com- 
pare them with a comet, because, like that body, you will 
always find them accompanied with a flaming tale. Just 
read over the thing and see if you can discover one iota of 
proof that Mr. E. was pbisoned. It seems that in the 
tree was a large quantity of honey, some of which was 
uncupped, by which, I presume, is meant unsealed \ of 
this, it appears, Mr. E. ate— perhaps to test the question 
— while the others partook of the cupped, or sealed. It 
appears, furthermore, that Mr. E. was taken with spasms, 
&c, that a physician was sent for, but could offer no re- 
lief till about one quart of warm whiskey was administer- 
ed. Was that an experiment with the doctor, or is it the 
remedy prescribed in the books for such cases 1 Are 
there such cases on record '1 The statement goes on to 
say: “Ji is said, &c.” “if so, &c.” May I be so bold as to 
ask, who said so 'I It is said that the hair of the mad dog 
will cure the bite, but I have no idea that it will. It is 
said that throwing salt in the fire will stop the cry of the 
screech-owl, but I don’t believe it. It is said that bees 
coming in your possession by purchase will not thrive, 
but I know better. It is said that honey is poisonous, I 
say it is not so, and when I call for proof that it is, I re- 
ceive for answer pretty much wkat you see above. I ask 
you, sir, in all candor, is that proof that honey is poison- 
ous “I If everything is true or false, because it is said to 
be, there is no use in philosophy. If a man chose to 
make himself sick from over-eating, he should blame him- 
self, and not that which he has eaten. 
Very respectfully, V. LaTaste. 
Augusta Ga., June, 1859. 
Depth to Sow Turnip Seed. — A correspondent of 
the Boston Cultivator says : 
“I would say from one half to three-fourths of an inch, 
I have found to be the depth best adapted to the turnip. 
My method of preventing the fly, which is all that 
troubles my plants, is to sow seed enough for the fly and 
myself at the same time, and have always had a good 
stand left after the fly had taken his share, which is 
generally the lion’s share. Sow at least ten seeds where 
you want one plant ; thin out, if need be when the plants 
are two inches high, as then the fly will have done his 
work.” 
PASSMAN’S IRON HOOPS AND TIE — SCRAP- 
er, &c. 
Editor Southern Cultivator — Some one (the AgenJ 
I presume, F. Belcher, of New Orleans,) has sent to me 
a specimen of “Passman’s Iron Hoops and Tie,” which, 
from an examination alone, I am induced to think will do. 
The price — 6 cents per pound— recommends it, and if the 
fastening will certainly do, we may, with propriety use it. 
No one will question the great saving, if no other advant- 
age, from Are. I had a bale set Are to last fall in the 
presence of some thousands at our Fair, and though not a 
fair exhibit, owing to the smoke being an inconvenience, 
it was put out measurably with water, yet enough was 
seen that the hoops held. The clasps used were Mc- 
Combs. I see the certiAcates of some eight shipmasters 
who recommend and will take cotton with those hoops, 
preferring the iron tie to the rope. Allow me to ask you 
to write for a specimen. The tie is exceedingly simple 
and unique. 
I have fully tested the Winger Double Scraper and do 
not hesitate to recommend it. I use two mules and scrape 
both sides of a cotton row beautifully. My best plow- 
man says it scrapes both sides as easy as he ever had one 
to do one side, and he is perhaps the Arst man in Missis- 
sippi that ever used a scraper. My 20th crop is now scraped 
with a scraper. When we began here, it was but a sor- 
ry affair, but we have continued until we can now scrape 
a row so well that I can select 10 hands and put in a 40 
acre Aeld and for a day’s race they will reduce to an or- 
dinary stand, with hoe, scraping better than 1 did 1 acre 
each in 1832. 
Yet another Double Scraper, invented and patented by 
Mr. Patrick Sharkey, of this county. This is the block 
scraper, one of the scrapers in advance of the other, and 
intended to obviate the supposed defects of Winger’s — 
which, I must admit, I thought was defective. 
Sharkey’s Scraper did not do on Corn land, where the 
Winger did ; it does well on good clean lands. 1 know 
it can be improved, fault being in the stocking, as it has 
not been perfected by practical use. I must again urge 
upon the Agricultural Societies of the South buying the 
improved implements, testing them and then to recom- 
mend. 
Although many things are given me to test, yet it is 
too expensive for one man. If it is right for one man t© 
do it, there should be some equivalent. As to myself in- 
dividually, the satisfaction is enough, but others have a 
say. Yours truly, 
M. W. Philips. 
Edwards, Miss., May, 1859. 
Burning to Death— How to Prevent it.— Scarcely 
a week passes in which we do not see an account of 
some female burnt to death by the catching on Are of her 
clothing. Much of the danger and fatality of this might 
be prevented by the exercise of a little presence of mind 
and courage. If they would immediately lie down, the 
clothing would burn much less rapidly, and the flames 
would not ascend to the body and face. If parents will 
impress upon their children the importence of this, and 
females will accustom themselves to talk and to think of 
it as the best remedy, they would, instead of missing, 
adopt it at once, because it would occur to them as the 
best plan, and it would save many a life. 
Therefore, let parents talk to their children about it, let 
women generally talk and think about it, and become ac- 
customed to think of it as the only plan of safety upon 
such occasions, and they will instinctively adopt it. — 
Corner Stone. 
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