252 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
sent'where these land mollusks abounds; for their shells, 
ike those of the oyster, are mostly the carbonate of lime. 
Instead of selling off the farm every element of fruitfulness 
which one may develop in crops by good cultivation, the 
true policy is to husband the resources of arable land, and 
Isell air and water as far as practicable. Ninety-nine parts 
in one hundred of a bale of cotton are convertible into 
water and air. The injury done to the soil by its exten- 
sive production, where the seed is used as manure, ac- 
crues more from shallow plowing and washing the sur- 
face than from the value of the primary ingredients extract- 
ed from the earth and exported. Land should be so tilled 
as not to wash, but retain all the fertilizing salts that raise 
up in the water which evaporates on the surface of the 
ground during every twelve months, so far as these salts 
are not consumed by plants. Deep tillage greatly facili- 
tates the ascent of water charged with all the elements of 
plants, as it equally encourages their roots to descend far 
into the earth, and thus command her best powers of nu- 
trition. By pursuing this practice cf opening up the 
subsoil from year to year, it is soon filled with decaying 
roots, and these actually manure it — dissolving and decom- 
pounding the most refractory minerals ever found in 
plants. The chemistry of Tillage teaches the cultivator 
to manure the subsoil while raising crops for market 
through that part of them which he leaves to rot in the 
field. It is far better to have corn and cotton stalks, straw 
and leaves decay under the ground than above, it. The 
deeper you cover them with the plow the better in 
the long run, where the permanent fruitfulness of the soil 
is an object. Let mould (or manure) be perfectly incor- 
ported with clay and sand, if you would bring out the 
higest powers of each. L. 
A WORD OF EXPLANATION. 
The article headed “Education in Rural Districts,” pub- 
lished in the July number of the Cultivator, was written 
for a previous paper, but arriving at the office too late for 
insertion, it was laid by for future use, and its existence 
entirely forgotten by the writer, who resides something 
more than 100 miles from Augusta. This lapse of the 
memory compels us to apologize for using a part of the 
same matter again in another editorial under the heading 
“Agricultural Colleges,” which appears in the same num- 
ber. 
During our long connection with the press, our memory 
has never failed so badly before; and were it convenient 
to see proof sheets of what we write, or were we at the 
time less absorbed in collecting facts and making re- 
searches in connection with our public lectures, such a 
blunder could not have been perpetrated. L. 
The Cabbage Worm. — Mr. E, D, Hewitt, of East 
Randolph, Columbia county, Wisconsin, in a letter to the 
Commissioner of Patents, remarks that he observed in the 
Patent Office Report for 1855 that the cabbage worm eat ^ 
the cotton plant wlien small. The way in which hetreat- 
ed his cabbage was, to sow in the spring two and a half 
bushels of salt to the acre before planting it, In all instan- 
ces, after such treatment, the worm disappeared. In his 
opinion, salt v/ould not kill cabbage, and if one teaspoon- 
ful of salt was put into the cabbage before it matured, it 
would head much better, and would not be affected by the 
bugs and lice. In conclusion, he hoped that some of the 
cotton planters would try a similar experiment. 
“Excelsior” — “Young America.” — The Corn and 
Cob Crusher described by G. D. Harmon, Esq., in our 
July number, page 227, is better known by the name of 
Young America'^ than that of Excelsior^'’ which Mr. 
H. uses by mistake. 
Sugar Mills. — Mr. Glaze, of Columbia, S. C.. writes 
the Farmer & Planter as follows ; 
“ As to the Sugar Mills, we are getting up three pat- 
terns. One will cost, all complete, S75 ; one, ^125; and 
the large size, $169. I think of putting up a small size, 
with rollers of 6 or 8 inches, which will do for small plant- 
ers, at about $40. 
latlitElttttiil Itfaitmeul. 
— ~ 
FRUITS FOR THE SOUTH — APPLES, &c. 
Editors Southern Cultivator— Since the spirit for 
raising fine fruits has been awakened amongst us, new 
varieties are constantly comJng into notice, many of them 
being found in remote and out of the way corners of the 
country. We have long been used to look to the moun- 
tainous sections of the South for fine apples, not suppos- 
ing they Would thrive in the low-country ; but last au- 
tumn I Went down to Laurens county, Georgia, and 
paid a visit to the orchards of Mr. S. Yopp, who for many 
years has devoted his attention to the cultivation of fine 
fruits. It is Mr. Yopp’s principle to make as much as 
possible within his own premises, and to buy as little as 
possible, and I never met with a man that comes so near 
up to it as Mr. Yopp, for, with the exception of tea, cof- 
fee and sugar, I think that everything is home-made, from 
shoes and clothes for white and black ones, to wine and 
molasses. It was on the 20th of September, and I found 
an abundance of splendid peaches, apples and plums, the 
latter, however, being rather on the decline. I will de- 
scribe a few of his Apples. 
Yopp's Favorite— This variety, being at the time in full 
perfection, I sent it to the Fruit Committee, at Athens, 
which, in the Feburary No. of the Cultivator, reported 
so favorably on it, that it wmuld be useless to say any- 
thing more about it in the way of recommendation. I 
consider it the finest Southern apple, in its season; which, 
unfortunately, does not extend much beyond the month oi 
September. 
Blacksliear.—l cannot say where it originated, as Mr. 
Yopp had received the grafts from Col. Blackshear, from 
whom this fruit has taken its name. If I am not very 
much mistaken, Col Blackshear lived at that time in Tel- 
fair County, still farther to the south. The tree is of vig- 
orous and upright growth, and a good bearer. Fruit very 
large, often measuring 14 or 15 inches in circumference; 
rather flat. Skin dull, milky white, with a few faint red 
stripes, and dotted with dark colored spots. Flesh white, 
crisp, very juicy, and with a rich vinous flavor. Fit for 
use during October and November. 
Laurens Greening— Aho\e. medium size, nearly globu- 
lar. Skin dark glossy green; flesh greenish white, crisp, 
subacid and highly flavored, somewhat resembling the 
Rhode Island Greening. Fit for eating during November 
and December. 
Dea7i Crab. — This is a very pleasant eating Apple ; its 
chief value, however, consisting in yielding an excellent 
cider. Fruit below medium size, globular; skin deep 
yellow, considerabl^covered with red streaks and splash- 
es. It is an immen^ bearer, but will only last until the 
latter part of October. 
On the same journey T also found an excellent peach, 
a seedling from Houston County, Ga., and bearing for the 
first time. Its name is— 
