320 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR 
A ‘'Member” of the Newberry Agricultural So- 
ciety makes the following suggestions in the “ Mirror 
AGRICULTURAL PREMIUMS, ifcc. 
Mr. Editor: — We would suggest to the members of 
the Society the propriety of changing tlie mode of reward- 
ing the successful exhibitor at the annual fairs of the So- 
ciety. The plan of the Society in distributing Cups, as 
premiurnsj to the successful competitor, might, we think, 
be changed much to the oenefit of such members and to 
the Society at large It is much easier to suggest a change 
than 10 propose a better plan. Whether the plan we 
would propose is better or not we would leave otliers to 
judge. 
We would propose that instead of the usual premium of 
Cups, &c., that Agricultural Works, Journals rare and 
Valuable Seeds to the value of the premium, be distributed 
to each successful competitor. Let the member make 
choice of which he vviii receive, whether journals or seed, 
or both. The member entitled to a premium of j5 would 
be eiiutled to receive several different journals as he mtgiit 
prefer, or he might receive pat tin rate seeds. 
Vfere a plan ct this kind adopted, it would accord more 
with the design of the Society, and promote a more gen- 
eral diffusion of Agrictiltural knowledge. The silver evp 
can impart no new ideas, nor will it answer for an im- 
piemeni of husbandry — better have a new plo w or a corn 
sheller. In the plan proposed, the member will be able to 
read and redect, and we might say to compare notes with 
others, and thus derive new ideas of cultivation and farm 
management. He would also be able to experiment and 
receive all advantage from tlie introduction of rare and 
valuable seeds. 
When a member receives seed, he should be required 
to report at the next meeting of tne Society as to the mode 
oi cultivation, their value, &c. In this way the various 
see Is could be introduced, (heir value tested, and the farm- 
er saved from a too frequent knowledge of the fact that 
he has been “ taken in and done for" by designing seeds- 
men. 
When a lady is the recipient of a premium, let her re- 
ceive such plants and seeds of rare flowers as will enable 
her to adorn and beautify the homestead. 
We have thus given a rough outline of the plan we 
would substitute instead of the one now pursued by the 
Society. It is hoped these thoughts will draw furtJr ex- 
pressions of opinions from other members of the Society, 
and if the proposed plan meets with favor, let it be adopt- 
ed. A Member. 
Killing the Weevil, ifcc, — The French papers con- 
tain the following statemerit, winch may be important to 
seme of our readers. 
“Marshal Yaiilant comnmnic.-^.ttd to the Academy a 
paper iiy M Diiyere, on the curious and importain tiict 
thai ante^theties (the substances, such as ether, chloro- 
form, &c , which are used to stupify patients previous to 
undergoing surgical operations) have the power of de- 
stroying all kinds of insects injurious to the preservation 
of coi'ii. E.^periments on a large s<-aifc were made at Al- 
giers by order of the Minister of War; and M Doyere 
states as the result, that two grarnsries of chloro'orm per 
metrical quiniai of wheat are sufficient to destroy every 
in.'.ect in the silos (corn nits liermedcally closed commni) 
both in Algieria and Italy) in the ccurse of four or 
flve days. Five grarnmt s suiphuret of carbon will eficci 
the same in twenty foui' houis, Not only the insects, 
but even the larvse inside ihcgiains are completely extir- 
pated ; and me com, after b ing shoveled tour or live 
tunes in the open air, dues not retain a (race of the oper- 
ation. Cattle will eat the barley thus treated even wiii>e 
stdl infected with the odor, and without any injurious ef- 
fect It is well known that corn lying in heaps produces 
a considerable development of caloric, to prevent the bad 
effects of which it must be shoveled two or tliree times a 
dry. M. Doyere has remarked that corn treated with anae- 
sthetics does not evince the same tendency •, he is ri'^ver- 
theless of opinion that his experiments are not sufficient 
to establish this as positive fact, and, therefore, recom- 
mends that farther trials be made.” 
Blind Staggers in Horses. — A friend in Terrell coun- 
ty, sends us the foUbwing remedy for blind staggers: 
“ Take a double, handful of onions, mash them up, and 
with one quart of water boil down to a piht, squeeze the 
juice from them and strain it; when about milk warm 
drench your horse well. Bathe his head freely with strong 
camphor; then lake an empty barrel, set it on end, and 
put about one peck of live coals — oak or cob — throw 
upon them some green pine tops, which will make a large 
smoke — hold youi horse’s head over the barrel and smoke 
him well — then, to a tough stick the si.ze of a gun 
rod, tie a cotton or linen rag fast — dip this in water to 
soften it, and run it up his nostrils as far as it will go v;ith- 
out injury— twist it around in the nostril, and a quantity 
of bloody matter will run out. Affer this, suioke hts 
head in the manner above mentioned, a short time You 
may repeat the above remedy next day, and if it does not 
cure in nine cases out of ten, I am badly deceived, if at- 
tended to in time. Yours, W. W.” 
Neglect of Agriculture. — increased attention to ag- 
ricultural pursuits is very generally recommended as a 
remedy for the stagnation in trade, so often complained of 
in different parts of the country. The Boston 7'ravdler 
says : 
The complaints of the present season are not caused sc 
much by the deficiency of business as by the redundancy 
of traders, and the over supply of manufactured articles fur- 
nished by the improved machinery which has been 
brought into operation within u few years. These are al- 
together disproportionate to the agricultural products of 
the country. 
We cannot look for any substantial and permanent re- 
action, till larger amounts of capital and a much greater 
number of energetic young men are withdrawn from other 
pursuits and concentrated upon agriculture. 
The general depression in commerce and manufactures 
at the present time, and the active demand and high pri- 
ces for almost all great agricultural staples, offers on excel- 
lent opportunity for the profitable transfer of a large 
amount of capital and labor to the cultivation of tlie soil. 
New York Champagne. — There arc at the present 
time thirteen champ Jgne manufacturing establishments in 
New York. They convert, says a NeV York paper, still 
wines into spaTkiing ones ; for no process has yet been 
discovered for producing an anificia! wine which pos- 
sesses the flavor and other qualities of the product of the 
gtape. These manufacturers use for their purpose a light- 
Frencli, ani scmetimes, if .sparkling Flock is to be pro- 
duced, a German wine. 
The wine, after being prepared by precipitating all sub- 
siunces which would, when enarged with carbonic acid, 
be deposited in tiie bottle, is sulqected to a high pressure 
of carbonic acid by machinery, such as is used for (he 
maouf ictare of soda water, and afler being well agitated 
ui comact with the gas, is bottled under pressure with a 
very ii gernous n'aehine. 
