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SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
MULE POWER, vs. NEGRO POWER. 
Dr. Philips has some very sensible and timely remarks 
in the March number of the Cultivator on the relative ad- 
vantages of mule and negro labor in planting operations. 
The writer is of the opinion that the difference in favor 
of the muscular power of the animal, in point of econo- 
my, over that of the man, is souiewhat greater than Dr 
P. makes it. In a word, most planters use the hand-hoe 
too much, and the horse hoe too little, for the highest pro- 
fit. One hundred and fifty years ago, that truly great tiller 
of the soil, Jethro Tull, demonstrated the decided advan- 
tage of hoeing wheat, turnips and other crops by horse 
power in place of hand power. The same principle ap 
plies with more force to the cultivation of corn, cotton 
and potatoes. In either case the object is to extirpate 
grass and weeds, stir and pulverize the earth. Land that 
has been thoroughly plowed, and planted in straight rows, 
can be kept clear by the cultivator or horse-hoe. Hence, 
the most advanced corn growers work a horse or mule to 
each field hand— having no use for a hoe- hand worth eight 
hundred or a thousand dollars to do one-sixUi the mechani 
cal service of a mule, worth only from one hundred to one 
hundred and twenty-five. Long habit perpetuates all the 
dearer kinds of manual toil for ages after a wiser and bet- 
ter plan has been discovered and practiced by a few. We 
do not sufficiently consider the ends and objects attained 
by ourindustrial processes. What does the /me to the land 
or crop I Why not have men pull plows instead of mules, 
if their labor is really cheaper? Why work any steers, 
or horses on the plantation ? If the muscular power of 
the latter is indeed much cheaper than that of persons, 
why not so systematize all our planting with clean and 
perfect culture, as to render this cheaper power every- 
where available. to the fullest extent ? 
The profitable use of all cheaper motive power will en- 
able all to improve their cultivated fields, to give their sons 
and daughters a better education, and raisethe standard of 
comfort I'or the equal benefit of both master and servant 
Progress and improvement in many little things rather 
than in a few great ones, advance civilzat'on, and make 
man a wiser and a happier being. Agriculture forms the 
enduring basis of human elevation; but if this most an- 
cient art forever remains very near the point where it stood 
when “Cain was a tiller of the ground,” how can it pos- 
sibly sustain any progressive system whatever? It places 
society in an unyielding cast-iron mould, from which no 
prejudice, no superstition, no error, no folly, begotten in 
the darkest ages of the human family, can ce.ase to injure 
mankind, lime itself is not more certainly advancing 
than should be our substantial improvements. L. 
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES AND FAIRS. 
The “ Southern Central Agricultural Society” will hold 
its next Fair at Atlanta, Ga., from the 20th to the 25th of 
October. 
Among the new features proposed, that for the more faith- 
ful performance of duty by Committeesor Judges, strikes us 
as well worthy of trial — especially as all plans heretofore 
adopted at Fairs everywhere have most signally failed 
It is as follows: — Twenty or thirty practical and intelli- 
gent men, (each of whom has made a special study of 
some particular branch of Agriculture, Horticulture, Man- 
ufactures, &c.,; arc to be selected as Judges, and paid ^'3 
per day, during the Fair, for the faithful and impartial 
discharge of their duties. It is hoped that this offer of suit- 
able remuneration for time and labor spent in the Society’s 
service, will call out men able and willing to work for its 
advancement, and that the incompetency and indifference 
of the Judges will no longer continue to be a matter of 
standing reproach to all Agricultural Societies conducted 
on the voluntary principle. We have strong hopes of 
good results from the proposed plan, and tiust it will be 
fairly tried. 
Tennessee — A prominent agriculturist of East Ten- 
nessee says, in a private note to one of the editors: 
“Our Legislature has made appropriations that are 
understood to be liberal for the purchase of Fair Grounds 
for the ‘Division Fairs’ of the State — S10,000 for each, 
and S300 annually to each County Society organized 
under the law establishing the Agricultural Bureau,” &c. 
A most generous appropriation, truly ; and one that 
should put our Georgia Legislators to the blush. Let 
them take shame to themselves, for suffering the all-im- 
portant interests of Agriculture to languish in the “Em- 
jjire State of the South,” for the want of a mere pittance 
from her public treasury. Thousands for the advancement 
of party schemes and not a copper for agriculture! — the 
basis upon wh-ich rests all our prosperity. A sad state of 
things, indeed. But listen to cheering news from the 
Alabama Agricultural Society.— One of the officers 
of this young, vigorous and flourishing association, writes 
us, under date of Montgomery, March 10: 
“The [Alabama] Legislature gave us S-'2,5'i’0 per year, 
for two years, to help our Agricultural Society, and we 
have adopted a Premium List of about $4,500. 
“We hold our next Fair in Montgomery, on the 11th 
of November. I will send you a copy of our Premium 
List as soon as it is published. I trust you will be with 
us. We hope for great things.” 
And with good reason, if the promise of your first Fair 
isfuliy borne oul; We will endeavor again to witness 
your “peaceful triumphs.” Our first visit to your charm- 
ing city was productive of unalloyed enjoyment, and laid 
the foundation of many delightful friendships. 
Chunnenuggee [Ala.] Horticultural Society. — A 
leading member of this very spirited Society, writes us as 
follows: 
“The Chunnenuggee Horticultural Fair, as usual, will 
come off the first Thursday in May. Our Ladies will 
make great efforts to sustain the high reputation of the 
Society, and they are hard to beat. With my best wishes 
for the success and wide spread circulation of your invalu- 
able agricultural journal, I am, yours very truly, &c.” 
The “South Carolina Agricultural Society” holds its in- 
augural Fair at Columbia during the coming Fall, and is 
about to establivsh a journal for the promotion of the inter- 
ests of the Association. This Society, which has, also, 
received Legislative aid, starts on an excellent pecuniary 
foundation, and bids fair to accomplish much for the 
good cause in the Palmetto State. 
We hear, also, of the formation of Farmers’ and Planters’ 
Clubs and County Societies, in various parts of the coun- 
try, and cannot but regard the agricultural “signs of 
the times” as most auspicious. May all engaged in the 
