I 
80UTH'ERN CULTIVATOR. 
179 
since. It is ‘barely possible, however, that we had not 
the best variety ; though we paid 50 cents each for tubers 
the size of common garden peas. The “Imperial Rice 
White” variety of a noted Northern dealer, was then un- 
known, nor have we yet invested in that tempting escu- 
lent, We mey “get behind the age,” in this matter, but 
we have the satisfaction of knowing that we are general- 
ly in the van, so far as the testing of agricultural and hor- 
ticultural novelties is concerned, and we will endeavor to 
console ourselves with the best Yams and Irish Potatoes 
we can find, until the merits of the “Imperial Rice White” 
Dioscorea Batatas are more fully established. — D. R., Ed. 
So Cult.] 
UNITED STATES AGRICUETURAE SOCIETY. 
Great National Trial of Machinery and Implenicnts of 
every description pertaining to Agriculture^ and House- 
hold Manufactures^ at the 
FIFTH ANNUAL FAIR, 
to be keld in Louisville, Kentucky, during the Fall of 
1857. 
The undersigned, a Committee of the United States Ag- 
ricultural Society, appointed at the Fifth Annual Meeting, 
held at the Smithsonian Institute, in the city of Washing- 
ton, on the 14th day of January, 1857, “to make all the 
necessary arrangements for a ‘National Trial in the field of 
Agricultural Implements and Machinery,” respectfully in- 
vite the inventors and manufacturers of all such articles, 
both in the United States and foreign countries, to parti- 
cipate in a public trial to be made at the Society’s Annual 
Exhilution, to be held in Louisville, Kentucky, during 
the fall of 1857. 
This new arrangement for the exhibition of Agricultur- 
al Implement.s and Machinery of all kinds in actual ope- 
ration, results from a conviction on the part of the Society 
that no just awards can be made, except tipon a practical 
working trial before competent judges ; and the fullest 
opportunity w-dl he afforded to test the comparative merits 
of the various machines that may be entered as competi- 
tors for the awards, both as regaids land for field imple- 
ments, and steam power for stationery machinery, 
A sepiratc trial of Reapers and Mowers will be made at 
the appropriate season, special arrangements for which, 
as to tune, place, &c., will be announced at an early 
date. 
It is intended that these exhibitions shall be on the 
most extensive scale, for the purpose of testing the work- 
ing qualities of these important implements more thorough- 
ly th n has yet been done on any previous occasion, either 
in the United States or in Furope. 
All articles from foreign countries intended for exhi- 
bition may be consigned to the “Agent of U. S Agricul- 
tural Society, Louisville, Ky ,” by whom they will be re- 
ceived and stored fee ofeharge. 
This brief iuinouncement of the proposed trial is made 
at this e.irly date to affoid the most ample time for the 
preparation ami transmission of machinery. A circular 
containing udl particulars as to the regulations will be 
’ssued as soon as practicable, and, with the premium list, 
w’ill be iorwaidfd to per-ons who may apply to the Secre 
tary of I he Committee, Henry S Olcott, American Insti 
tute, N. Y., where all business letters should be address- 
ed. 
To enable the Society to make arrangements on o snf- 
ficien’ly libera! scale, it is absolutt ly necessary tliat the 
Comniiiiee should know what articles will be offered for 
c-omiieiHion ; and they therefore rtque>t that all inventors 
or niaiiufactiu'ers who may be disposed to unite in the 
proposed trial, will communicate their intentions to the 
Secretary at their earliest convenience. 
Tench Tilghman, Chairman, Oxford, Md. 
Jno. D. Lang, Vassalboro, Me. 
J. Thompson Wahder, Springfield, O. 
Geo E. Waring, Jun , Am Institute, N. Y, 
H S. Olcott. Sec., We.stchesler Farm School, N.Y., 
Committee on Implements and yiachinery of U. S. 
Agricultural Society. 
8;^"Editors of Journals of every description, who are 
desirous to promote the interests of Agriculture aud Me- 
chanics, will confer a particular favor by an insertion of 
the above circular. 
TIME OF PLANTING SEEDS— A SUGGESTION. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — I have frequently- 
consulted works on Farming, Gardening, &c., as to the 
best time to plant various kinds of seeds, &c., and some- 
times fail ; the cause (or at least one cause) being evident, 
viz: that the time stated in works of the above class 
might do very well in the locality where the publ sher re- 
sides, but unless one was informed where that was, the 
directions would almost be worthless. How is this to be 
remedied 1 Can directions be given lhat will suit every 
climate (at least in the Southern States) 1 I think there 
can, 
I would suggest, in place of mentioning any par- 
ticular time or month, that a standard tree should be se- 
lected ; for instance, say when the dog-wood or chestnut 
begins to bud, plant or sow such and such seeds; when 
in full bloom such a one, and so on in a similar manner. 
I am not sufficiently well skilled to give any directions, 
and merely offer the above idea, thinking it may possibly 
meet the eye of an older and more able hand than my- 
self. Respectfully yours, J. B. 
Fancy Hill, Murray County, Ga., 1857. 
FALSE COTTON STATISTICS. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — T have a work before 
me by Thos. H. Drescott, entitled the “Volume of the 
World, &c., in which he has given the agricultural pro- 
ductions of each State, and in doing so has made several 
very considerable mistakes, which I regret, as I always 
desire the history I read to be as near authentic as pos- 
sible, so that the information I get may be correct. I am 
not able to correct the gentleman referred to precisely ; 
ihe object of these lines is to request you or £ome of your 
readers to do so. 
He puts down the cotton crop of Georgia, Alabama, 
Mississippi and Louisiana as follows: 
Georgia 400,000 bales 
Alabama .,.360,000 “ 
Mississippi 245,000,000 lbs., or 612,000 “ 
Louisiana 781,886 “ 
Now, in theabave calculation, I think injustice is done 
your State (Georgia), as I have always had the impressioH 
• hat Georgia was ahead of all the States in the production 
of cotton, and Mississippi next, Alabama next, and 
Louisiana next. 
!n a late number of the Cotton Planter 4* Soil, I see 
lhat a “Georgia Subscriber,” and I)r Philips, both say 
lhat .Missi.-'sippi is ahead in the pioduction of cotton, sn 
vou sec that there is diversity of opinion on the subject. 
I want authentic information on this subject, and wilt be 
thankful to you or any of ) our snb.seriuers to give it 
through your journal. Yours, &c. 
G. D. Harmon, 
Utica, Miss., IS.^Z 
g^*All subscriptions o southern Cultivator bog'e 
with the January number. 
