SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
zn 
GRAPE CROPS OF OHIO AND THE SODTH. 
We learn from the Ohio Valley Fanner that only about 
a third of a crop will be realized in Ohio this year. The 
cold winter killed a large number of the fruit buds, and the 
rot has injured many vineyards that had partially escaped 
the extreme cold. 
We do not hear of any failures in the South, where j 
native Grapes have been properly cultivated. Much dis- j 
appointment, however, has always resulted from the at- 
tempt to naturalize grapes in our vineyards, and 
observing vintners are fast coming to the conclusion long 
since reached by our Ohio friends, that the Catav:ba\s the 
great Wine Grape of the country. The samples of Mr. 
Axt, (elsewhere noticed) were very superior, and we 
doubt not his Wine will sustain its last year’s reputation, 
when it acquires sufficient age. 
We trust all Southern vintners will promptly respond to 
the challenge thrown out in Mr. A.’s communication in 
present number. JVe consider the success of Vine cal- 
:ure in the South beyond all question ; but will be glad of 
further proof to quiet the scruples of the doubters. So, 
let us have the Wine test, by all means. 
Fine Catawba Grapes ! — We are indebted to Mr 
Gharles Axt, the well-known Grape Grower, of Craw- 
fordville, Ga., fora very liberal supply of his Catawbas, of 
the largest size and fihest flavor. These Grapes w’ere pro- 
duced on vines only 2^ years old from the cutting, and are 
really astonishing samples of what skill can do in our 
highly favored clime. We wish Mr, Axt abundant suc- 
cess in his laudable efforts to turn our old fields and waste 
lands into productive and profitable vineyards. 
CHINESE SUGAR CANE, OR “SORGHO SUCRE.” 
Truly ! “great oaks from little acorns grow.” In the 
spring of 1855, v/e sent our friend, Mr. Peters, of Atlanta, 
a few seeds of the Chinese Sugar Cane, and the note be- 
low gives the result. Accompanying this note, came to 
us a sample bottle of thick, sweet syrup, equal in all re- 
spects to New Orleans “Sugar House,” but of a racier 
and more agreeable flavor. Every planter in the South, 
who chooses, can now make his own syrup and sugar at 
a very cheap rate, and gather from the cane an excellent 
' top of fodder besides. See elsewhere, the Report of 
. ov. Hammond, of South Carolina, which is very conclu- 
de on this subject : 
Editors Souther.v Cultivator — I send you a sample 
c syrup from the Chinese Sugar Cane, or Sugar Millet. 
I r.e wife of my overseer boiled in a common iron pot 20 
cf the canes and sent me as the result one quart and two 
gills of the syrup. 
Early next week I shall have my iron rollers at work 
and expect to turn out the syrup by the barrel, as I have 
several acres from the seed you sent me for garden culture 
in April 1855. Richard Peters, 
Atlanta, Ga., Sept., 1856. 
Colic in Horses.— Take 1 oz. of Laudanum, 1 table- 
spoonful of Salerretus, and 1 pint of Whiskey. Put all 
into a quart bottle and fill with water. If the attack is not 
severe, give half at a drench. If severe, all. It seldom 
fells of effecting a cure . — A Correspondent, J. P. F. 
The Downing Monument. — A tasteful monument 
(says the National Intelligencer) to the memory of the 
late Andrew J. Downing, has just been placed in tlve 
Smithsonian grounds by the fi fends of that valuable and 
lamented citizen. The monument consists of a large and 
massive vase, finely carved, resting on a block four feet 
square, with sunken panels, each containing appropriate 
inscriptions, descriptive of the virtues and professional 
merits of the deceased, who was disiinguislied as a land- 
scape gardener and writer on rural subjects. The entire 
structure is ten feet six inches high. The Government 
and public of Washington are indebted to the taste and 
judgment of Mr. Downing for the beautiful arrangement 
of the parks and public squares of that city. 
The Sugar Crop in West Baton Rouge. — The crop 
of sugar in West Baton Rouge, averages about 8,000 
hhds. We are told by a gentleman who has been over the 
parish since the wind and the rain of last week, says the 
Cornet, that ihe crop this season will not amount to more 
than 1,400 hhds. As much as S225 per acre has been 
offered for cane, standing in the field, for seed — N. O. 
Creole. 
Our Louisiana friends will be obliged to plant seed of 
the Sorgho Sucre, or Chinese Sugar Cane — a plant in 
many respects superior to the true cane. See report on 
the merits of this new plant, in present number, also the 
advertisement of D. B. Plumb & Co. — Eds. 
Errata. — The heading of the article on page 298, pre- 
sent number, should read; — “Chinese Sugar Cane; its 
value as a Sugar, Forage and Grain Producing Plant.” 
Since preparing that article, we have received further and 
incontrovertable evidence of the great value of this plant- 
and shall probably return to the subject in our next. 
The Ohio wine crop is estimated at 500,000 gal- 
lons. The quantity bottled by Mr. Longworth this sea- 
son is 150,000 bottles, and with that added to his previous 
stock, he has now in cellar full 300,000 bottles, mostly 
quarts, of which twenty thousand are of Isabella. The 
demand rapidly increases. 
Chloroform upon Animals. — Itbeing necessary a few 
days ago, to perform an operation upon a favorite horse 
belonging to Rev. A. W. Burnham, of Rindge, N. H , 
chloroform was applied with complete success. The horse 
laid down quietly in a sound sleep, and did not wake till 
fifteen minutes after the operation w'as over, having ap- 
parently suffered not a particle of pain. 
Crops in Texas. — The editor of the Houston Telegraph 
writing from Anderson, under date of August 13, gives us 
the following gloomy account of the crops in that neigh- 
borhood : 
There has been no change for the better in the crops. 
Cotton is unusually backward, the picking very light, 
and the new forms shedding rapidly. The prospect is 
slim for half a crop. One half the hands in the country 
are idle. The corn crop will fall short of a third yield 
j Very few fields will average fifteen bushels per acre, while 
! others will not produce a bushel in ten acres. This is 
no exaggeration. There-is here and there a farmer who 
: will make thirty to forty bushels to the acre, and have 
j corn to sell. Old corn is still selling at $‘l per bushel. 
