SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR 
185 
verbial carelessness of the negro, so far as fire is concern- 
ed. The foundation^ to one foot above the surface, is of 
concrete, as before described. 
Ample and full ventilation is provided for; and we 
are sanguine of producing a very comfortable adobe house 
at a cost not exceeding that of a wooden one of the same 
dimensions. Further particulars respecting concrete andi 
mud or adobe buildings hereafter — provided our readers de- 
sire the information. D. R. 
RUS.SELIi’S MAGAZINE. 
We welcome the appearance of a three dollar Monthly 
Magazine in Charleston, S. C., emanating from the well 
known book establishment of Russell & Jones. Neat 
and attractive in appearance, we are happy to believe 
that the work is in able hands, and that its success is en- 
sured by men who have counted the cost, and possess pe- 
culiar facilities for reaching and rightly estimating the 
reading public. Its active literary digestion demands ap- 
propriate aliment oftener than quarterlies are issued ; and 
hence it is, that so many Northern monthly and weekly 
journals are eagerly read at the South. If these were free 
from a mischievous spirit of propagandism, if they did not 
tend to weaken the South by emasculating its thought 
and literature, its art and science, we should not notice 
the obvious wrong of starving our own publishers and edi- 
tors while the manufacturers of fictitious ‘'Uncle Tom’s” 
reap a double harvest of fame and fortune. Our duty, 
our sell respect, and our manifold interests, material, moral 
and intellectual, urge us to cultivate at home the power 
and wealth of Letters. By so doing we do injustice to 
no one, but simply help ourselves. 
The working Mind of the North is natarally aggrandiz- 
ing ; and for the South, it has more blows than coppers. 
As an element of strength, whether for defence or offence, 
the Press is unrivaled. Yield this to the enemies of South- 
ern Society, and it will soon poison all our domestic re- 
lations, and divide every family against itself Magazines 
have become a part of the life of advancing civilization. 
They must be consulted or one loses caste for common in-^ 
telligence; and the only question is whether we shall 
have Northern or Southern ideas disseminated throughont 
the planting States. Not to give our own best thinkers a 
fair hearing is shabby treatment to say the least of it 
The Magazine in question contains much that is both in- 
structive and interesting — matter adapted to the tastes of 
both sexes, and worthy of perusal. 
Sold at '2b cents a number, and S3 pef annum. Ad- 
dress “Russell’s Magazine,” Charleston, S. C. 
Rare Pr.ANTs for Distribution. — It is stated in a let- 
ter from Washington, that the propagating department of 
the United States Botanical Garden there, is in a position 
to distribute a large number of seedling trees, cuttings and 
other like matters, in the same manner as dry seeds are 
given out at the Patent Office. Mr. W. A. Smith, LTnited 
States Horticulturist, it is said, has now under glass in 
the garden near the Capitol grounds, hundreds of species 
of trees, flowers and shrubs, procured through the expe- 
dition to Japan, and to the South Seas, w'hich will be dis- 
tributed to the public this year. A considerable addition 
to the green houses is under way, in the shape of a large 
octagon, to accommodate the rapidly growing results of 
Mr. Smith's diligence and scientific enthusiasm. The in- 
creased liberality of Congress to this highly useful enter- 
prise will soon be felt throughout the whole country, and 
we hope our readers will not be backwaad in availing 
themselves of these facilities. 
American Grapes — It is appears from a letter read 
before the last meeting of the Cincinnati Wine Growers’ 
Association, by Mr. Robt. Buchanan, one of the largest 
and most successful cultivators of the grape in that region, 
that the American grape is being substituted to a con- 
siderable extent in the vineyards of Europe for the native 
varieties, on account of its exemption from the prevailing 
disease. 
An Editor’s Audience.— Amid the trials incident to 
the life an editor, the following thoughts of a brother of the 
quill, bring some consolation ; at least to him who feels 
that his audience fully sympathizes in his tastes and pur- 
suits ; 
“Whom are you talking to?” Why, to a much larger au- 
dience than the best conversationist ever could boast of, and 
to more than ever listened to him during a month. Haw 
few clergymen, how few lecturers, how few public speak- 
ers of any description ever witnessed an audience half so 
large as that to which the editor of the smallest country 
paper preaches ? How many clergymen are tliere who 
are accustomed to audiences of a thousand, and how few 
papers are there which do not strictly and literally find 
more than a thousand readers ?” 
Iron Wire for Baling Cotton. — An Alabama cor- 
respondent of the Chojledon Courier argues warmly in 
favor of this new mode ol baling cotton. The principal 
advantage is that wire will not burn like rope, and, burst- 
ings, scatter the cotton to the flames and the wind, caus- 
ing the destruction of every other bale wdthin its reach. 
Cotton bound with wire, moreover, could scarct-ly be made 
to blaze, and if combustion be carried on at all it must be in 
a smouldering condition. The wire would hold the cotton 
more firmly than rope, in a compact mass, so that air 
could scarcely reach the parts on fire. The danger from 
the devouring element being less, the insurance in store 
or on shipboard ought to be reduced. Wire also is cheaper 
and lighter than rope, and could afterwards be used in 
baling up goods or for other purposes. It should be very 
malleable and galvanized or dijiped in coal lar, so as to 
prevent the possibility uf its rusting. Like rope, it can 
be adjusted to any sized bale, both in packing and com- 
pressing. 
IMPKEE, OR AFRK’AN .SUGAR CANE. 
There is none of the seed of the Imphee for sale here, 
at present. Mr. Wray is testing all his varieties on the 
plantations of Gov Hammond, of South Carolina: and 
hopes to be able to supply an abundance of seed the com- 
ing fall. 
Blooded Horses in Tennessee. — The Nashvide Union, 
states that the Tennessee Agricultural Bureau, has in- 
structed the Secretary to prepare a “History of the Blood- 
ed Horses in Tennessee.” The materials for this history 
must mainly come from those who have been engaged in 
raising this stock. 
