52 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
The average for the last five years, not noticing frac- 
tions of a pound, is as follows : 
Average per acre of topped cotton for the last five 
years 1007 lbs. 
One acre not topped for the last five years 905 “ 
Average gain per acre by topping for last fiveyears 102 “ 
This shows a gain of more than one-tenth by topping 
on my place (or the last fiv? years, 
I am well apprised that the variation in seasons, t 02 'ether 
■with the cultivation would cause, sometimes, different 
results; but I think the average would be about the same, 
taking several years together ; at least I am satisfied and 
■was before I commenced the experiment. If others are 
not satisfied, I hope they will continue it until we are all 
brought to the light. 
Wishing you, in conclusion, Messrs. Editors, every 
success in the most useful occupation on earth, and that 
the youthful science of Agriculture, so slow in developing 
itself, may soon take its elevated stand amongst its sis- 
ters in our Seminaries of learning, I now bid you adieu 
on this subject. Most truly yours, 
E. JiNKINS. 
Horse Pen, Choctaw county, Miss., Jan., 1856. 
P. S, — Were I living on my plantation, I would test, for 
the next five years, the injury, if any, done to corn by 
pulling the fodder off. I hope, though, some one of our 
brother planters in the South will do so, as it would be 
brat little trouble, and give us the result of his experience, 
and I pledge myself if he makes the difference as great as 
Mr. J. H. Batte, of Virginia, viz : the one sixih of the 
crop of corn lost by pulling fodder, I will never pul! any 
more as long as I can make hay of grass. E. J. 
Remarks.— Our readers, no less than ourselves, are 
greatly obliged to friend Jinkins, for these carefully con- 
ducted experiments on Cotton topping. Will not some 
subscriber, equally qualified, test the injury to the corn 
crop by “fodder-pulling,” and report through our pages, as 
he suggests ? — Eds. 
BOTS, OS “GSUBS” IN HOSSES. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — I enclose a recipe for 
Grubs in Horses or Mules, which an experience of 25 
years has proved most infallible and superior to all other 
remedies : 
It is one ounce of London Mustard (powdered), and a 
pint of Vinegar mixed for a drench, and given; immedi- 
ately after drenching, the animals, mouth should be wash- 
ed with cold water, or the skin will be taken oft’ and the 
animal cannot eat. 
I have never known this remedy to fail when used in 
time. J. D. N. 
Lowndesboro, Ala., 1855. 
A New Way to Sharpen Edge-Tools. — A German 
scientific journal tells the following, for the benefit of me- 
chanics. It is tolerably queer, but is going the rounds as 
something good. Who is inclined to spoil his best razor 
by testing it 1 
“It has long been known — says the authority — that the 
simplest method of sharpening a razor is to put it for halt 
an hour in water to which has been added one twentieth 
of its weight of muratic or sulphuric acid, then lightly 
wipe it oft’, and after a few hours set it on a hone. The 
acid here supplies the place of a whetstone by corroding 
the whole surface uniformly, so that nothing further, but 
a smooth polish is necessary. The process never injures 
good blades, while badly hardened ones are frequently 
improved by it, although the cause of such improvement' 
remains unexplained. Of late this process has been ap- 
plied to many other cutting implements. The workman' 
at the beginning of his noon-spell, or when he leaves off 
in the evening, moistens the blades of his tools with water- 
acidified as above, the cost of which is almost nothing. 
This saves the consumption of time and labor in whetting, 
which moreover speedily wears out the blades. The 
mode of sharpening here indicated would be found especi- 
ally advantageous for sickles and scythes.” 
GIN STANDS AND GRIST MILLS. 
Editors Southern CuLTtVATOR — In July last I wrote 
an article on Mechanics, and sent to friend Seaborn, of 
the Farmer and Mechanic, which you will find in the 
September No. Looking over the Cmltivator {for s&y exd\ 
years) during this cold, wet weather, I have accidentally 
fallen upon the September No. of the Farmer tf* Mechanic,. 
and upon the article referred to; some one, during my 
absence, attending to my hogs, having put that number 
on the top of the pile. I do not remember that I have 
said anything of this matter through your paper, and 
having had inquiries made me by three planters, all CuU 
tivator men, upon this very subject, I deem it a duty tO’ 
give the same through your paper, by your consent. I 
am asked for the best Gin, best Mill, Plows, Hoes, &c.^ 
and where to be had. Having been testing these matters, 
with an innate fondness for mechanism, I wdth some con- 
fidence write on the subject. Of course, I only say “best” 
as to what I have tried or seen tried, not m.eaning to do 
injustice to any. 
Of Gin stands, I prefer the one made by the Messrs. 
Hewes, of Clinton, Miss., as combining speed with qual- 
ity. They have some advantages, I think, over any oth- 
er. My friend, Mr Spivey Wells, assured me he had 
pressed seven bales from one day’s ginning ; was so niucb 
astounded that he called the attention of his merchants to- 
the weight and quality. Both proved entirely satisfac- 
tory ; at all events, he received pay for seven bales, and 
at as good a price as any of his neighbors. Mr. W.’s 
word is as good as any man’s. The saw teeth are not 
filed down to an acute angle, as is usual, but concave,, 
(not convex, as in the Farmer & Mechanic,') so as to- 
remedy, in part, the twist in cotton by being forced into 
the heel of the tooth. Both kinds are made, as is request- 
ed. An improvement in the front of stands admits of the 
contents being emptied immediately, without the trouble 
of raising the whole front-box, grates and contents. The 
stands are very neat and well finished. 
Of Grist Mills, Mr. Willis P. Coleman, of New Or- 
leans, formerly and for years a citizen of Mississippi, has 
recently taken the premium in New York, in the Crystal 
Pedace, for his 14 inch Mi!!. I recently saw an allusion to 
tlie Mill and its performance, by an editor in New York, 
as also of New Orleans ; the New York editor saying it 
excelled in finish and performance, grinding a bushel of 
fine meal in five minutes; and those who know what fine 
meal aiihe East means, will understand — about equal to 
four minutes of our meal. All the meal I ever saw there 
was as fine as flour; really, it was bolted. I have known- 
Mr. C since 1837, and know his mills; have been in his 
factory, and seen his preparations. 
I know not why these two articles of prime necessity 
to the cotton planter should be brought from the East or 
tlie West, when we can equal them in quality, and they 
cost no more. I have used an Ohio, and a Mississippi-, 
