DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF SOUTHERN AGRICULTURE. 
. VOL. XVII. AUGUSTA, GA., DECEMBER, 1859. NO. 12. 
WILLIAM S. JONES, Publisher. D. RED3IOND and C. W. HOWARD, Editors. 
See Terms ou Cover. 
^lEEtatinii 6tDitararj arib 
HINTS FOR THE MONTH. 
The Plantation. — The picking of Cotton should be 
finished at the earliest possible day, and the balance of 
the crop packed and sent forward to market, so that the 
planter and his hands may have a little leisure before 
commencing the next year’s labors. Cotton planting, 
necessarily very laborious, is made much more so by the 
dilatory and procrastinating habits of most of our planters, 
and a reform in this matter should begin at once. 
Corn land of present year, intended for the same crop 
next year, should be broken up thoroughly and deeply ; 
and if stiff, bedded up and exposed to the ameliorating 
influence of the winter’s rain and frost. Plow across the 
rows of the furrows of last year, and subsoil at least to the 
depth of 10 or 12 inches. Land cannot be made too deep 
and rich for corn — it is a gross and exacting feeder. Clear 
up, also, some good, n°w, fresh land for the coming corn 
crop. 
Wheat, Rye, Oats and Barley may, also, be sown yet, 
but the sooner the better. Note what has been heretofore 
said about “thorough prepartion of the soil,” and pulver- 
ize as fine and deep as possible. Apply manure, also, in 
liberal quanties, if you can possibly obtain it. 
Fruit Trees of all kinds should be set out during Decem- 
ber and January, if possible For directions, see articles 
in previous numbers, and for the proper selection of trees 
consult the Catalogues of the various Southern Nursery- 
men, whose advertisements will be found on the cover. 
One good Southern seedling fruit tree, worked on a native 
Southern stock, is worth half a dozen of dwarfish, slow- 
growing, foreign trees. 
Vineyards and Grape Arbors should be planted now as 
soon as possible. See articles on Grapes in previous 
numbers, or consult the treatise of Mr. de Caradeuc and 
oth rs. 
Hedges of all kinds should now be planted. See list of 
plants and directions, in previous numbers. 
V/ith the closing year, close up all accounts ; open new 
books, and make a fresh start with the new year which 
is approaching 
The Garden. —Sow Cabbages, Turnips, Parsnips, Let- 
tuce, Carrots, Radishes, Onions (black seed,) Parsley, &c. 
Haul plenty of manure on your garden, plow it under, or, 
better, still, have it well spaded in, burying under all en- 
riching animal or vegetable matter. Cover up the Globe 
Ardchoke with litter and pine boughs. Dress and ma- 
nure your Asparagus beds, not forgetting to give them 
a liberal top-dreessing of salt before spring. Save all old 
bones, soap-suds, dead leaves, decaying vegetables, &c., 
&c., and make up into compost heaps for future use. 
Plant choice Fruit Trees, selecting varieties which are 
known to be adapted to the South, and begin pruning 
your fruit trees and grape vines [See articles on Prun- 
ing the*Grape in present and preceding numbers.] Our 
Southern Nurserymen have paid especial attention to the 
propagation of choice varieties, and will probably be able 
to supply all orders. 
Strawberry Beds, f®r spring bearing, may, also, still be 
planted, according to directions given in previous num- 
bers. 
The Orchard. — Propagate all the choicest arxl best 
varieties of Southern Fruits. The Quince, the Fig, the 
Grape and the Pomegranate grow readily from cuttings, 
when planted in moist, shady ground. Noio is the best 
time for planting Orchards. 
Look over your bearing Peach trees, arid where the ex- 
uding gum betrays the presence of the borer, apply boil- 
ing water, as one of the best remedies for destroying him, 
VVe have poured as much as 14 gallons of boiling water 
around the stem of small peach trees, after which they 
grew beautifully. Remove the earth from around the 
stem of the tree as recommended in our article on the 
“Pomological Resources of the South,” in October and 
November numbers, which see. Try, also, (after remov- 
ing or destroying the borer) the effect of a few handsful of 
China Tree berries, placed in a cavity around the “collar” 
br trunk of your trees. These berries are very obnoxious 
to all insects, and may, possibly, keep them away here- 
after. 
