314 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR 
OUR BOOK TABUE. 
lUusirated Family Gymnasium ” is a capital 
little work, just published. It is by R. T. Trall, M. D., 
author of “ i'he Hydropathic Encyclopedia,” and other 
useful books on health, exercise, &c. Price SI 25. Ad- 
-Jress: Fowler & Wklls, 308 Broadway, New YorkCity. 
“Fusseirs Magazine" ffov September, is a very good 
■number. The leading articles are: — The Nature and 
Claims of Paradox; Estcourt; Our Town in Summer; 
European Correspondence ; A few thoughts in Southern 
Civilization, &c,, &c. Terms: S3 per year. Address — 
^'Russell's Magazine" Charleston, S C. 
^*The Harticulkirisl" for September contains — Pear 
Culture; Rhododendrons; The American Plane-Tree; 
Legends of Trees ; New Tea Rose; Garden Vegetables; 
Strawberries; The Atmosphere; Foreign Notices; Edi- 
tor’s Table; Calendar of Operations, &c, &c., and beautiful 
illustrations. Terms — $2 per year (colored edition, $5) 
Address: Robert Pearsall Smith, Philadelphia, Pa. 
We should be pleased to notice many other works on 
our table, but time and space are lacking. 
Chinese Prolipic Pea, — ihegrowth of this new plant 
continues to excite the wonder of everybody, and all who 
feel an interest in the subject are cordially invited to 
visit the plantation of Mr. Jas. P. Fleming, on the Sand 
Hills, 4 miles from this city, and judge of its value for 
themselves. The luxuriance of the vine and vast quantity 
of blossoms and pods which it bears, almost surpasses be- 
lief, and more than justifies all that has been claimed for it 
heretofore. 
— ^ » 
Agricultural Fairs, &c. — Do not forget that the Fair 
of out Georgia Society takes place at Atlanta^ from the 
vOth to 24 th of October. 
We are under particular obligations to the Officers of 
the several State and County Societies for invitations to 
attend their exhibitions ; and regret that distance and 
want of time will prevent us from availing ourselves of 
iheir kindness. 
CHINESE SUGAR CANE — SYRUP, «&c. 
The newspapers from all parts of the South are full of 
details of successful experiments in the making of syrup 
from this cane, and wonderful accounts of the enormous 
yield of seed, fodder, &c. We have not room for a tithe 
of these articles nor can we publish half of the private 
letters we have received on this subject during the past 
two months. The following si mining up of the testimony 
(from the Edgefield Advertiser,) seems to “tell the whole 
story,” however, and we give place to it; 
“If a iudgrnent can be formed by any number of trials, 
and if hundieds of our best citizens have not been deceived 
in the experiments they ha ve witnessed and made, we are 
certainly, at last possessed of the means of obtaining 
first-rate sugar, molasses and s^-rup, fifty per cent 
•cheaper than these articles have ever been procured 
in the markets before. A supply of them can be manu- 
factured by ever farmer ; and lie will scarcely miss the 
labor expended therein from his other business. The se- 
cret is found. The children of the South may begin a 
grand jubilee, in anticipation of sweet lips, sweet mouths, 
and molasses and sugar candy a plenty.” 
larticEltEial StfattmtEl. 
GRAPE GROWING AND WINE MAKING 
Made Easy. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — Agreeably to your 
request, I now hand you a few remarks about our method 
of planting out and taking care of a Vineyard. I say, 
“ our method,” for I claim it as peculiar to Dr. McDon- 
nold and myself; and we have adopted it, not through 
ignorance of more complicated and more costly methods, 
but, first, on account of its simplicity and chea,pness, and 
then, having well succeeded, why should we alter our 
course 1 I do not pretend to say it is tlie best, nor do I 
wish to deter any so disposed to go to the expense of 
trenching their lands three feet in depth ; but there are 
very many farmers who have not the means to incur such 
expenses, who wish to plant out an acre or two of vines, 
but are literally frightened out of it, not only by the mys- 
tery and difficulties which have, heretofore, been con- 
nected with the business, but, also, by fear of the money 
which is to come out of their pockets before they receive 
any returns. First, so many hundred dollars for trench- 
ing, and grubbing, and manuring; then so many more 
for vines ; then so many more to learn how to stick the 
cuttings into the ground; and then so many more to 
learn how to prune ; then to learn how to make the wine, 
how to keep it, etc ; and. to crown it all, so many thous- 
ands for a cellar. And, if it so happens, he is able and 
willing to stand all this, a hundred to one, he is frightened 
half out of his senses, and gives up in despair of ever 
being able to unravel the mystery, and master the awful 
science of Wine making, especially if he happens to hear 
of “granite laboratories” being built for the express pur- 
pose of imparting instruction lor a remuneration ! 
preparation of the land. 
I prefer new land, — such as would bring from four to 
six bushels of corn to the acre; select, if possible, a piece 
on easterly, southeasterly, or northeasterly exposure, and 
on a hill side, if you have such ; if you have not, kvel 
land will do, provided it be not too retentive of moisture. 
Sandy soil is the best, although dry clay hill sides will 
answer very well. Clear the land and break it up with 
plows, as for corn ; but all trees must, of course, be cut 
down and removed. Now get a parcel of small stakes, 
from three to four feet long, and proceed to mark out the 
rows ; if the land be level let the rows be straight; but if 
on a hill side, lay them off horizontally, or level without 
regard to straigntness ; this is in order to prevent the 
washingaway of the soil, (see one of the late numbers of 
the Cnitivatar for a simple leveling instrument.) I make 
my rows eight or nine feet apart. 1 prefer that distance 
on account of driving carts between to haul stakes, or 
manure, when it becomes nece.ssary, or in vintage time. 
Having staked off the rows to your satisfiichon, proceed 
to open the trenches or ditches; let them be about two 
feet wide, and from fourteen to eighteen inches deep; large 
plows, followed t)y long shovels, will very quickly do 
the work in sandy soil. The next thing is to plant; this 
can be done, in our Southern climate, from the middle of 
November to the end of March. 1 prefer rooted plants; 
others give the preference to cuttings; the first will save 
you one year, and you can plant them deeper, which is a 
great object. Make yourself a wooden compass, with an 
opening of four feet six inches at the points, and mark 
out the distance for your vines in the bottom of the 
trenches; drop the vines in their places, and proceed to 
plant them. T\vo men, with short-handled hoes, will 
plant a great many in a day ; one deepens the hole to let 
