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SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR 
WATER PROOF CJLOTHING FOR |NEGROES. 
As the Cotton picking season is approaching, vve give 
another method of rendering negro clothing proof against 
dews and showers ; 
Take one pound of wheat bran and one ounce of glue, 
and boil them in three gallons of v/ater in a tin vessel 
for half an hour. Now lift the vessel from the fire, and 
set aside for ten minutes ; during this period the bran will 
fall to the bottom, leaving a clear liquor above, which is 
to be poured oflf, and the bran thrown away ; one pound 
of bar soap cut to small pieces is to be dissolved in it. 
The liquor may be put on the fire in the tin pan, and 
stirred until all the soap is dissolved. In another vessel 
one pound of alum is dissolved in half a gallon of water; 
this is added to the soap-bran liquor while it is boiling, 
and all is well stirred; this forms the water-proofiing li- 
quor. It is used while cool. The textile fabric to be 
rendered water proof is immersed in it, and pressed be- 
tween the hands until it is perfectly saturated. It is now 
wrung, to squeeze out as much of the free liquor as possi- 
ble; then shaken or stretched, and, hung up to dry in a 
warm room, or in a dry atmosphere out doors. When 
dry, the fabric or cloth, so treated will repel rain and 
moisture, but allow the air or perspiration to pass through 
it. 
The alum, gluten, gelatine and soap unite together, and 
form an insoluble compound, which coats every fibre of 
the textile fabric, and when dry, repels water like the na- 
tural oil in the feathers of a duck. There are various sub- 
stances which are soluble in water singly, but when com- 
bined form insoluble compounds, and vice versa. Alum, 
soap and gelatine are soluble in water singly, but form 
insoluble compounds when united chemically. Oil is in- 
soluble in water singly, buf combined with caustic .soda 
OT potash it forms a soluble soap. Such are some of the 
Bseful curiosities of chemistry — Scientific American, 
GIVE A HORSE AN APPETITE.?? 
Editors Southern Cultivator— In the July number 
ofthe Southern Cultivator, “E. G. M.” requests informa- 
tion as to “What will give a horse an appetite.” Let him 
give the horse a teaspoonful of powdered Nux Vomica 
every night, mixed with his food, for three nights, and 
then omit giving the medicine for three nights. When, if 
the horse has not recovered his appetite the dose of a tea- 
spoonful should be repeated for three nights, which will 
usually be found sufficient. 
I have tested this in many cases, both with my ov/n 
animals and those of friends, and have never known it to 
fail. Had I time I would detail seme instances of its ef 
ficacy; but I have not, and, therefore, must leave it to him 
io test the medicine for himself, assuring him, however, 
that I have never known any other than beneficial results 
to follow its administration. Yours, &c., L. 
Aiken, S. C., August, 18.57. 
An Agricultural Society up in Vermont, offers the 
following premium A beautiful silk dress (the color and 
quality to be optional with the fair recipient) to the ma- 
ker of the best loaf of bread — the competitors to be un- 
married ladies, and the committee of judges to consist of 
bachelors and widowers. It is generally thought that bach- 
elors in search of good house-keepers v/ill be on hand at 
that agricultural fair. 
A great deal of discomfort arises from sensitiveness 
of what other people may say of you or your actions. 
Many unhappy persons seem to imagine that they are al- 
ways in an amphitheatre, with the assembled world as 
spectators; wherea.s they are playing to empty benches 
all the while. 
EAWN GRASS FOR THE SOUTH. 
Editors Southern Cultivator— You will confer upon 
me a personal favor, and no doubt upon others of your 
readers, if you will give, in your paper, the information 
you have in relation to the best Lawn grass for the South, 
the mode of preparing the land, sowing seed, &c. 
I have several acres old field, high and dry, with clay 
subsoil, in front of my house which I wish to set in grass 
of some sort suited to our climate. The only instance I 
know of complete success in our Distrist in making a 
beautiful plot has been with the little white Clover. Most 
other grasses, you are aware, die out under our hot sum- 
mer’s sun. I have some objection, here, to the clover and 
would be glad to get a grass that I could rely upon for the 
purpose. The Orchard Grass succeeds with us under the 
shade, but not when exposed to the sun. It is, however, 
not veiy suitable for a lawn — it grows too high. 
If you think the subject would be of interest to your 
readers I would be pleased to see an article in year jour- 
nal which would give us your best information It is very 
probable that it has already been treated of in your 
columns; but I have not access to any of the preceding 
volumes. Very respectfully, A. C. G. 
Newberry, S. C., August, 1857.. 
The Lawn grasses of cool and humid England are little 
adapted to the hot and dry climate of the Southern States. 
Southern grown Blue Grass seed is, perhaps, the best 
single seed ; but duly set, and mown, Bermuda makes 
as green a lawn as any Southern grass known to the 
writer. Will not some of our readers, long familiar with 
both annual and perennial grasses at the South give the 
public a few suggestions on this interesting subject 1 
L. 
COTTON CROP IN CHOCTAW COUNTY, MIS8. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — We have recently 
had very cool nights for the season, which have caused 
our cotton to take almost a perfect stand-still, even where it 
had commenced growing previous to the cool nights. The 
average is about half leg high, some smaller and some 
larger. At the corresponding time last year there was 
cotton in this neighborhood from waist to shoulder high. 
There is but few blooms in the county and they will not 
be common in all parts of the field in less than ten dayg 
or two weeks. In short the prospect is gloomy for a cot- 
ton crop. 
Corn looks well. Wheat and Oats are very good. 
Yours truly, Lobl 
Choctaw County, Miss , July, 1857. 
Bitten by a Scorpions — While unpacking a cask of 
bananas in Boston a few days ago, a man named Meade 
was bitten on the finger by a scorpion concealed among 
the fruit. Remedies vvere promptly applied and it was 
thought the wound v/ould not prove dangerous. — Exch. 
Scorpions don’t bite, they sting like a bee — and their 
sting is nearly as severe and dangerous as that of a honey 
bee. Scorpions are numerous in Texas, and their sling is 
scarcely noticed.— Texas Advocate. 
Labor and Education. — A school has been opened 
at Whinteyville, Conn., to give ymung men a practical 
education. Connected with the school is a large factory, 
filled with machinery, for the manufacture of toys This 
branch has been selected as it comprises the largest vari- 
ety of trades. Each pupil will be required to devote five 
hours each day to the mechanical department, and to 
keep a day-book and ledger of his work and its results. 
