366 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
BILIi BUG OR CORN BORER. 
Editors Southkrn Cultivator — In the September 
number of the Cultivator there is an article from a Saluda 
Planter on a subject of much importance to all the low 
land corn planters on the sea board (I say sea board, not 
having ever heard any complaints from the upper parts of 
the State, and do not know if they are common except in 
the region of country bordering the sea coast.) I allude 
to what he calls the Bill Bug, or Corn Borer. This in- 
sect, which, he says, has been erroneously called the Bud 
Worm, is the same, no doubt, so much deprecated by corn 
planters in this region. The Agricultural Society of this 
county has been offering, for several years past, a premi- 
um of $75 for the discovery of a preventive for the ravages 
of this enemy of the corn plant. Your correspondent re- 
commends the destruction ofthe Rag Weed as being a 
preventive. Not knowing that plant by the name he 
gives it, will he or some other person acquainted with it, 
describe it more particularly, and give, also, its botanical 
name^ and, also, whether the fly or bugs, after leaving 
the young corn, do not infest other plants, and what ones'? 
Any information that will lead to the discovery of a 
remedy for the destruction of this insect would be confer- 
ring on corn planters in this part of the country an incal- 
culable benefit. A Liberty Planter. 
Liberty County, Go,., Sept , 1857. 
The Prospect of Prices. — The commercial editor of 
the Fayetteville Observer, appends the following remarks 
to a late report, which we give for the consideration of all 
interested, and in reply to inquiries that are heard in all 
directions : 
Cotton . — We are often asked, when shall we sell our 
Cotton 1 It is travelling out of the v/ay for a reporter to 
offer his opinion as to the future ; but if it is worth nothing 
it shall cost you nothing. Well, when is the time '? I say 
now. Whyl Because Europe Vwmnts her supply now; 
and when she gets that the price will go down, for this 
reason, the United States have now on hand goods enough 
for a whole year, and hence the first rise you will see 
in this country will be on cotton goods, (for cotton is now 
above the price of goods.) Again, the panic in this coun- 
try will require time to have its cure; consequently 
manufacturers cannot go on now losing money as formerly 
for the reason that they have not got it, and capitalists will 
not furnish it if they know they cannot get their money 
back will interest. There is another viev/ to look at. — 
England needs all the gold she has, hence she will not 
part with it unless she gets the worth of it. The panic in 
this country has already had the effect of putting up in- 
terest by the Bank of England, and cotton will feel it first. 
Taking these things altogether, my honest impression is, 
that the planter will get his best prices between this and 
the 1st of February, 1858. 
WORK FOR WET WEATHER. 
A correspondent of the Neioberry {S. C.) Mirror, gives 
us the following hints: 
As the ordering of the seasons belongs not to man, it 
is his privilege and his duty to turn such to the best ad- 
vantage, and every true farmer will turn wet days to per- 
i^aps more profit than the most balmy day of the season. 
What should be done on such days, should always be 
determined beforehand. The farmer is never thrifty who 
can plan not more than one day ahead. The tools and 
other implements of the farm will frequently get out of 
repair. These should always be collected at the shop or 
Work house on wet days, and then and there put in thor- 
ough repair. By this, there is not only good tools on tha 
farm, but the time which would be lost on better days is 
thus saved 
Attention should be given to the gear and harness de- 
partment. These should always be overhauled on wet 
days, and a stitch put in here and a link mended there. 
In this, there is not only a saving of time, but in it there 
is also policy, for there is nothing that will perhaps so 
soon spoil the qualities of a horse or mule as defective 
harness. 
But repairs are not the only thing to be attended to, 
proper material should always be in store and new im- 
plements made. The smith shop might also be kept in 
full blast. Those are a few' of the things that may with 
profit occupy the wet days on every farm. That there are 
others, every skillful farmer will easily perceive, and when 
one sees what needs be done, let him not put off till an- 
other day. 
After the rains have passed, there is a part or perhaps 
several days during which the ground is unfit for tillage. 
Those must not be lost. On those days much might be 
done to reduce the price of Guano, if the farmer would 
consult his interest. Let the horse and cow lot be well 
supplied with oak leaves or pine straw and let the opera- 
tion be repeated as frequently as such days recur, and 
each spring the farmer v/ill have a cheaper and in the end 
a more durable manure than the famous Guano. After 
rain, the hill-side and other ditches will require and 
should have more or less attention. No well regulated 
farm can be without some ©f each kind of ditches. The 
hill-side ditches will do more harm than good if not kept 
in proper order for carrying off the surplus w^ater. 
The gates and fences should not fail to com e in for a 
share on those days. Different seasons of the year may 
and will suggest other and different employments for the 
farmer. The great object is always to have your plans 
well digested and something “ laid up for a rainy day.” 
R 
Home Place, March, 13. 
BRIEEING VS. BROADCAST SEEDING. 
A Saratoga farmer, in the Country Gentleman, gives 
the following testimony on this subject: 
In the spring of 1858, the first sowing was a piece of 
spring wheat. Not knowing anything about the drilling 
system, I sowed part with the drill and part broad cast in 
the same field and on the same day. That put in with a 
drill was more than a quarter better than that sown broad- 
cast, both in straw and grain. I tried my oats in the same 
manner ; they were also better v/here they were drilled. 
I have sowed all my grain since with the drill, being satis- 
fied that it is the only proper method of putting grain in- 
to the ground. My neighbor, in sowing his buckwheat, 
had part sown with the drill and part broadcast, and when 
harvested the drilled was about half better ; it was all 
well filled, while the broadcast was hardly filled, both put 
in the same field. I think it is better on other accounts 
than broadcasting. It saves a quarter of seed ; besides it 
cultivates the land and leaves it in a good condition for the 
crops, better than can be done with the harrow, and I am 
satisfied it is a paying machine. I have also a thresher 
and mov/er, and think they a.re good machines, but my 
drill pays me the most of any. It takes less time and 
seed, and betters the crop, and in dry seasons they are in- 
dispensable. Knowing what I do about the drill, I think 
farmers cannot afford to sow broadcast, if they obtain a 
drill. I would like to have others give their experience 
on the same subject. 
To Stop Horses Frothing at the Mouth. — I have 
completely stopped frothing at the mouth by washing my 
horse’s mouth out with the following mixture : — Six 
drachms of alum dissolved in a quart of sage tea, put it in a 
wine bottle, as you would refresh a race horse, after a race 
each time you go out. — Cor. London Field. 
