SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
m 
A ditch of the width of about three feet is marked along 
the whole length of the piece of ground to be prepared, 
and carefully dug out to the depth of from 18 to 24 inches. 
A second piece is then laid off adjoining the first and the 
dirt taken out of that thrown into the first, top down, com- 
pletely filling it up, and leaving the second ditch only, 
open; then another and another until all is finished. By 
this process the whole soil will have been subverted, leav- 
ing a loose bed of 2 feet or more in depth, in which the 
rich surface soil is at the bottom, a point of more conse- 
quence than at first appears, and wherein the subsoil plow 
is deficient. The roots are invited down, beyond the 
scalding influences of the rain and sun — (the now estab- 
lished cause of the rot.) and in a condition of constant and 
uniform moisture. 
The benefit of this was rather expensively demonstrated 
to me by the great rain two weeks ago, a large body of 
water rushing from a hill side above, burst through the 
picket fence, and tore out a very savage looking and 
ghastly channel about two and a hal feet in depth through 
a portion of my vineyard which had been trenched in this 
manner about fourteen months ago The vines were slips 
of only one year’s growth, and yet the bottom of the 
trenched ground was netted with the young roots some of 
them three feet long, whilst near the surface there were 
comparatively few’. The trenching is permanent in its 
effects, keeping loose for years. I did my first trenching 
in the fall of 1844, and lean now at any point run my 
walking cane down to the bottom of the trenches — at least 
if the ground ever does become compact it will be long 
after the roots have had lime to become firmly established 
at the depth. 1 dwell on this subject of thorough trench- 
ing and subversion of the soil from a conviction of its 
importance. Those whose impatience leads them to re- 
sort to the plow as a substitute will assuredly find that 
they have made more waste with less speed. 
In the spring of ’55, I set out in the ground so trenched 
some four or five thousand slips, and, still retaining at 
that time a lingering hope in the efficacy of the plow, I 
overruled my vinedresser, and prepared an addition- 
al piece of ground by plowing and subsoiling, in 
which I set out 3 by 5 feet apart, two thousand roots 
The summer growth of the slips in the trenched portion, 
was rapid and healthy; the roots in the plowed 
ground, which should have been a year in advance 
scarcely grew so much and had all the while a sickly ap- j 
apearance. My oldest vines which had been trenched 
between the rows, grew with great strength and rapidity 
making canes ten or twelve feet in length and bearing here 
and there a few grapes. I watched these scattering 
bunches during that summer with great anxiety ; they 
continued to grow large and full — passed through the hot 
and rainy season without the least appearance of rot — 
ripened about the 1st of September, altogether, without 
leaving upon the bunches any green and withered berries, 
and in fulness of lime were gathered in and eaten, with 
more gratification and flourish, perhaps, than the occasion 
demanded, b«t with the full conviction, that they were as | 
good as Catawba grapes ever get to be, and proved, as far | 
as they went, that the thing would do. 
The last winter (previous to which I had employed an 
additioival vigt^eron) was employed wholly in trenching 
additional ground, for the extension of the vineyard, and 
Tmade another importation from Cincinnati of 8.000 cut- 
tings, which, with about 3,000 taken from my own vines, 
w’eve all set out in spring. My oldest vine.shave been 
pruned and staked for a regular vintage next fall, and are j 
promising a very full crop. The vines have grown about i 
5 feel in length and are filled with bunches, as many as I 
would he willing to see them bear. They are now tied up 
to the stakes as fast as they grow, and kept carefully 
dressed; attended, as you may believe, with the most 
watchful anxiety. Everything looks cheering in the ex- 
periment, and I hopefully anticipate the fulfilment of ray 
wishes in a rich vintage next September. 
Thus much only have I begun to do. The end is yet 
to come. I, have ardently and steadily pursued, at some 
cost, an object, the accomplishment of which I am sure 
would be fraught with the richest blessings to the State. 
I have met with much encouragement from other quarters, 
not only by word but from having observed that others here 
and there, have become impressed with the same idea, and 
are experimenting in the same way. I consider it yet ar# 
“experiment” in this State, althogh a promising and hope- 
ful one. Each year will render it more of certainty— novii- 
quite rapidly since the preparatory work is done. Ifk 
should do, how much better than emigration is it, as popu- 
lation increases, for a man and his wife and children, 
laboring cheerfully together, to support themselves in com- 
fort and refinement, on fi-ve or six-acres of land ? 
J R. Eaklv. 
THE HOLLY APPLE. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — In the June number 
of the Cultivator yoxxT correspondent, “Windsor,” of At- 
lanta, suggests that as the Mangum apple was, in Vir- 
ginia, called the Holly, the Holly apple described by R. 
Nelson is probably the same. In reply I would state 
that the apple described by Mr. Nei.son takes its name 
from a Mr. Hot.LY, who lived near Saluda, in Coweta co., 
Ga. Neither does the description of the one apply to tha 
other apple. The Mangum is rather small, while the 
Holly frequently weighs over a pound. A gentleman, 
who last year sent me some cuttings of the Holly, called k 
“The King of Apples. 
In connection with this subject I would remark lliat 
the Carter Apple is in size, shape, color and time of 
ripening"^ almost identical, with the Mangum. Yet the 
former is unquestionably a seedling. I infer this not only 
from the location and age of the original tree (probably 
not less than 50 years old) ; but from the fact that suckers 
from the roots produce the same fruit. It is a constark 
and very abundant bearer. So mild is its flavor that the 
fruit is quite palatable for more than a month before it iis 
ripe. Tree and fruit with us remarkably healthy. 
Yours, &c., Tattler. 
Sleepy Hollow, Ala., 18.5G. 
FRUIT IN MISSISSIPPI— -THE ORCHARD OF DB. 
PHILIPS. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — To day, for the first 
lime in three years, I have examined the Elmira Peach. 
A friend, captain of one of the New York and New Orlearvs 
packets, has been here some 10 days and luxuriating on 
the peaches of Mississippi, and crui.vji^ about over the 
orcliards, hunting rabbits and fruit, spoke so enthusiasti- 
cally of the fruit that I walked out to see for myself I 
have about GO trees, put out in orchard the spring of 1840 
and I find the fruit red all over, and ou the sunny side a 
deep red. I have a speciineu on my des-k now iJiat 
measures 8 inches in circumference, only the average of 
fair specimen of former years, though my fruit generally 
is smaller than I have ever seen it 
I find not a rotten specimen. Heretofore the only ol)- 
jection was the rottintc of the frnit. The seedling from 
which I first worked did not rot, but the trees have here- 
tofore rotted, and were not so deep a red, nor so fully 
covered over. This is one of the peaches ! grew from u 
seedling and named after an esteemed sister. It is a plum 
or cling stone, and decidedly the best market peach 1 
know, though no finer ilian Lemon Cling, yet its season of' 
ripening was never so late before, u.sually about Early 
’"I.s not the Mangum six weeks or two montlis eorlicr than tlco 
Carter' We think so. — liDS. 
