30 
SOUTHEEN CULTIVATOK. 
out this theory, grazing, grain arid root-culture are the 
main processes — ail the grass, grain and roots being con- 
sumed on the farm, and all the manure ever husbanded in 
the most scientific manner. L. 
A DIRT-EATING HOESE. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — Do you know of any 
remedy for a “dirt-eating” horse'? I have a very valuable 
animal that from always being in fine order with a fair 
coat of hair, has become poor and sluggish, and seems to 
care little for anything but dirt of any kind — sand or clay '? 
I have given him poplar bark ; red oak bark, and several 
other tonics. He is and always has been salted regularly. 
I shall be glad to receive any information. 
I remain most respectfully, &c., W. W. R. 
DISTEMPER IN DOGS. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — Will some of your 
numerous readers or contributors give us (if there be such 
a thing) an infallible remedy for distemper among dogs, 
as we have a good many of the finest blooded pointers in 
this country, and have sustained great losses by that arch 
enemy of dogs, distemper '? 
And, also, will some one who has tried “worming” 
dogs give us the result, as a preventive, or other advan- 
tages in making it go more light with them if they should 
take it after being “wormed'?” Also, whether taking the 
worm out of the tongue injures their taste or scent'? and 
oblige one who is interested. 
Yours respectfully, W. G. B. 
Rossville, Fayette County, Tenti., 1855, 
Remarks. — We are informed by a friend tliat 6 grains 
of arsenic, given in three doses (commencing with 1 grain, 
then 2, and ending with 3 grains) is a certain cure for 
the distemper. Each dose to be administered on a piece 
of meat every 24 hours till the 6 grains are given. No 
other precaution is necessary.— Eds. 
WHEAT RAISING IN LOUISIANA. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — Seeing a communi- 
cation from ^Bastrop, ha., from “ W. H. H.,” I will give 
all the information I am in possession of, and do so with 
much pleasure. Bastrop is, I believe, on or near the 
Bartholomew, and I have a plantation on that bayou, per- 
haps the information I may give will be the kind sought 
for ; if you think so, publish ; if not, destroy the commu- 
nication. 
Near my place, on the Bartholomew, lived a gentleman 
by the name of Philip Burfokd, who planted, last year, 
a few acres of wheat. This spring he cut and threshed 
out twenty-eight bushels to each acre. This I have from 
him, and believe him, in every respect, reliable. He plant- 
ed the Golden Chaff. J. L. Goree, 
P. S. — If I mistake not, this wheat was raised on the 
hill lands, adjacent to the alluvial lands in the Bartholo- 
mew bottoms, which have not overflowed for a hundred 
years. J. L, G. 
^We usually call it de Bastrop. 
SUGAR PLANTING IN LOUISIANA. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — Your friend, “G. G. 
McE..” of Alexandria, wishes some experienced Sugar 
Planter, ofLouisana, could be induced to give you, for 
publication, his experience in the saving of sugar cant 
for seed. As the time for diggi ng cane for seed is approach- 
ing, I will give him what I consider the better mode (now 
in use) for putting up cane, so that it will keep. Reserv- 
ing, for other communications, should this be acceptable, 
the better mode of planting and cultivating. 
Cane intended for seed should be cultivated as long as 
it is possible to get your teams and hoes in it, that it may 
be in a growing condition when the season for matrass- 
ing comes on. A proper time for this, I should say, was 
about the first of October ; it may be varied a little accord- 
ing to circumstances. Damp weather is preferable. 
Commence in the middle of an acre of plant cane ; se- 
lect one good strong hill; let it stand; dig all within ten 
paces ; remove it so that you may be enabled to level the 
rows ; then take the cane dug up and stand it up against 
the hill selected, being careful to keep the armfuls straight, 
compact and as near upright as possible, with the roots of 
all the stalks touching the ground. Level space enough 
for your matrass. When it is complete, it should contain 
one acre of cane, and should be round. Dig a ditch about 
four feet wide and one spade deep, throwing the dirt 
upon the cane, so that it will be covered as high as there 
are joints. If the matrass be in a situation where water 
is likely to stand, there should be a drain from the circling 
ditch to some place where the water may run off. 
All seed cane should be dug up for the following rea- 
sons : Roots of cane, or that portion of the stalk that is 
under the ground, has one- third as many eyes as the bal- 
ance of the cane. The root of the cane will preserve it 
from sprouting and from the dry rot. From sprouting, on 
account of it setting upon the newly dug earth, and with 
the earth attached to the root, affords nutriment sufficient 
to keep the stalk in a growing condition for a month or 
six weeks after it is matrassed. As any one may see, by 
examining a stalk that has been put up with the root dug 
up, it will be found that the cane has made several white 
j joints ; whereas, cane cut at the top of the ground if it 
vegetates at all, it will be at the eyes. 
What we call sprouting : When this has gone on to 
any extent, many of the sprouts will be broken off by 
handling. 
Digging the cane preserves it from dry rot, from the 
same cause that the root affords the stalk nutriment suffi- 
cient to keep it in a growing state, consequently, cannot 
dry so long as there is life in the stalk. Seed cane should 
be matrassed as fast as it is cut down, or rather dug. 
Plant cane is preferable for seed for the following 
reasons : — In digging plants, it will separate, and can be 
placed in the matrass as compactly as when cut off at the 
top of the ground ; whereas, stubble or rattoon, dug up, 
will be in bunches, and cannot be separated without 
trouble and injury to the canes — the large tussock will not 
lie compact in the matrass. Plant cane is more juicy, 
and, consequently, will take it much longer to dry. It is 
generally straighter, especially if it be grown in land some- 
what warm, and it is not so likely to be blown down, and 
become crooked from making a growth after it has fallen. 
In conclusion, I will say I never have seen a matrass of 
plant cane put up as above directed, spoiled. 
Very respectfully, &c.. 
Saccharine. 
St. Mary's Parish, La., Sept., 1855, 
