THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
19 
loot Id height corresponding to a hundred weight 
ol the lint. 
Hemp exhausts the soil slowly, if at all. An 
old and successful cultivator told me that he 
had thirteen or fourteen successive crops from 
the same field, and that the last was the best. 
That was probably however owing to a con- 
currence ol favorable circumstances. Nothing 
cleanses and prepares the earth better for other 
crops (especially for small grain or grasses) 
than hemp. It eradicates all weeds, and when 
it is taken off, leaves the field not only clean, 
but smooth and even. 
The rich lands of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, 
are, 1 have no doubt, generally well adapted to 
the cultivation oftnis valuable plant; and those 
States enjoy some advantages for the cultivation 
of it which this does not possess. Their streams 
do not dry up as much as ours, and they conse- 
quently employ better than we can the agency 
of water in the preparation of it. Their pro- 
jected canals, when completed, will admit of its 
being carried to the Atlantic capitals at less ex- 
pense in the transportation than we can send it. 
On the other hand, the unfortunate state of sla- 
very among us gives us, at present, probably, a 
more certain command ol labor than those 
States have. 
BOOK FARMING.— A FACT. 
“1 want to know if you believe in this book 
farming?” said a neighbor as he walked into 
the room, where I sat reading the Cultivator. 
“ Be sure I do,” was the reply. 
“ Well, I don’t; I never took an agricultural 
paper in my life. There is B. S. of W -, 
who came into the country fifteen years ago, 
and had to buy fifty acres ol land on credit. He 
has cleared that up, and added from time to 
time, till he now owns two hundred acres — has 
good buildings, and money at interest. He al- 
ways has good crops. He has averaged tioemty- 
five bushels of wheat to the acre for several 
years; it is the same with all his other crops. 
While his neighbor E. W. has not raised more 
than seven bushels of wheat to the acre, and 
some of his other crops he never harvests. I 
would give more for the experience of B. S. 
than for all the book farming and farming by 
rule in the world.” 
“ Very well, sir, now let me have a word. 
This ‘experience’ ofB. S. of which you speak, 
(i. e. the method he adopts to raise twenty-five 
where his neighbor raises seven bushels of 
wheat, and other crops in proportion,) if writ- 
ten out and published, would be the very essence 
of book farming, which you so much despise, 
and might benefit others as well as you. And 
then, secondly, 1 know this B S. also, and it 
gives me pleasure to inform you that he is a re- 
gular subscriber to, and constant reader three 
standard agricultural papers — the Cultivator, 
the New Genesee Farmer, and the Western 
Farmer, while this same E. W. wdll not have 
an agricultural paper in his house, partly be- 
cause he does not 'believe in book farming,' and 
partly because he cannot afford to take such a 
'paper P 
Here the man suddenly remembered his er- 
rand, which was to borrow an improved har- 
row, a plan of which I had found in my paper, 
and which he was pleased to say, “did the 
work so much better than mine,” (his) — so the 
subject dropped. I intend to speak to him again, 
ere long. " H. 
Ohio, Oct. 14, 1844. Albany Cult. 
Cooking Beets. — Having washed them free 
of dirt, roast them in the fire as you do potatoes. 
When the process of cooking is completed, peel 
and serve up in the usual manner. It is a dish 
fit for the stomach ol the most fastidious epi- 
cure, At least, so says one who has tried it. — 
Maine CuU. 
Not to grow better is sure to end in growing 
worse. 
Revenge begins in anger, and ends in repent- 
ance. 
From ihe So. Ca. Temperauce Advocato. 
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETF. 
REPORTS SUB.MITTED, NOV. 1844. 
REPORT ON RICE. 
The past season was one of unusual drought 
throughout the State. In every section, there 
are not wanting instances in which the wells 
failed. 
Although the Rice crop, being irrigated by 
the flooding of the tides, is less dependant than 
any other upon the rains of the season; yei so 
universal and unprecedented a drought could 
not fail to afiecc this, in common with other 
grain crops. 
The Planters on Cooper River have suffered 
most severely — that river having been salt to a 
considerable extent througdout the season, in- 
stead of an average production ol 22,OUO barrels 
on this river— it is believed the crop will fall 
short of 12,000 barrels. 
South of Charleston to Savannah river in- 
clusive, the rivers have been more or less affect- 
ed with salt, and the crop will not prove to be 
a full one. 
North of Charleston on the rivers Santee, 
Pee Dee, Waccamaw and Black river, th’ two 
extremes of the Rice-planting region, have been 
somewhat affected in production; the one by 
salt-water — the other by the short tides which 
occurred in May and June, (the months for 
subduing grass,) but the yield has been so gene- 
rally good on the best pitch ol tides, it is believed 
that notwithstanding the usual tribute levied in 
September, by the rice birds, t..e crop of Rice 
on these rivers, will be an average one. 
The quality of the grain prepared thus far is 
good generally. 
There is in some parcels, however, much of 
the chalky appearance, the cause of which is 
not accurately ascertained, it is respectfully 
suggested that a premium be offered for the dis- 
covery of the cause of this blemish in the grain. 
A premium also, for the disclosure of the cause 
of rust in Rice. The Essay in both instances 
to be accompanied by a detail of the remedy 
most successfully used during a term of years, 
for correction of the evil. 
The “ big grain rice” so favorably mentioned 
in the last report, has been somewhat extensive- 
ly cultivated this year. 
The harvest is so recently over, and so little 
of the general crop has been brought to market, 
the writer can do no better in respect ol this 
grain than furnishing the results of his own ex- 
perience for the season. With the exception of 
twenty-three acres, he sowed the whole of his 
planting in this seed, treating it in the manner 
usual with him, (excepting '6 acres, upon which 
he experimented, as will be detailed hereafter. 
As far as the crop has been threshed and pre- 
pared, the following are the results, as com- 
pared with the preceding year. 
From field No. 7, 27 acres, less 3, (the margin 
not planted this year)— 24 acres tnreshed early 
in October, made 1344 bushels against 27 acres, 
which last year made 1594 busnels. Nos. 1, 2, 3, 
together 45 acres, made 2116 bushels, against 
2291 bushels last year. No. 10, 46 acres, 2560 
busnels, against 2187. 
In every instance, the Rice brought more in 
market, and when well cured, turned out as 
well under the pestle. A planter on the South 
side ol Savannah river, who sowed some of his 
best land in this seed, says that it yielded m the 
rough 70 bushels to the acre. 
The experiments alluded to above, were made 
with the sulphate of lime, (gypsum,) and the 
nitrate ol potass, (saltpetre.) The tests were 
not complete. They will be repeated another 
year. 
It is understood that rice has been cultivated 
with the plow chiefly the past season, and pro- 
fitably by Mr Gluash, (on inland swamp,) and 
others; also that the method in harvesting of 
cradling rice, has been practised by some gen- 
tlemen on Cooper river with success satisf actory 
to them. 
All which is respectfully submitted. 
Columbia, Nov, 26, ’ik. R, F. W. Allston. 
Mr. President:— I beg leave to present for the 
examination of the Society, over which you 
preside, the enclosed account of an experiment 
made by me the last year in a Mineral manure, 
as applied to the culture of the staple which I 
^ plant, and to submit the production of grain to 
^ the consideration of your Committee, 
s Very respectfully, R. F. W. Aulston, 
Columbia, Nov. 25, 1344. 
1 EXPERIMENT IN RICE. 
? Field No. 12, was planted 16th April, 1844, 
^ 2^ bushels of seed per acre, covered with water, 
^ and plowed until the sprout was entirely green 
. — the water was then drawn. As soon as the 
^ plant was strong enough, it was hoed rather 
^ deep, and the low water put on deep for four 
days,then slacked down to about halt the height 
® of the plant; at this height the water remained 
^ until the plant acquired sufficient strength to 
stand upright, when the water was slacked 
down a little, the grass picked out, and then as 
■ soon as the turbidness of the water had suffi- 
" ciently subsided, it was drawn off. Two or 
three days after, namely, on the 18ih J une, two 
» J quarter beds, (38i feet wide,) at one end of 
^ the field, 698 feet in length, were treated with 
^ 86 lbs. of nitrate of potass, (saltpetre,) finely 
’ powdered, and sowed broadcast over the two 
^ beds. As soon as the ground was sufficiently 
'■ dry, namely, about ten days from the drawing 
' of the water, the rice was hoed deep. Alter- 
*• wards, on the 10th of July, it was lightly brush- 
[ ed tlirough with a hoe, and laid by, the long 
' grass was picked out late in the season, and the 
rice harvested two days after the stormy rain 
’ in September, namely, the 12th, 
, It was threshed and winnowed on the 19th 
Nov., 1844, in the presence of George T. Ford, 
I Esq., who also saw it measured, as well as the 
land. The production was nvnety-tioo bushels, 
three pecks and three quarts, of clean winnowed 
rice, independent ol the straw and flat rice. 
Estimating the contents of the acre at 45,000 
square feet, which is usual among planters, this 
product is at the rate of 78| bushels per acre. 
R, F. W. Allston. 
Matonza, Pee Dee, Nov. 19, 1844. 
1 hereby certify that the foregoing facts, as 
far as the threshing, winnowing and measuring 
of the rice and land is concerned, are strictly 
true, having been done in my presence. 
George T. Ford. 
The foregoing facts are entirely within my 
own knowledge, Jesse Belfeowers, 
Columbia, Nov. 26, 1844. 
Hon. Whitemarsh B. Seabrook ; — 
Dear Sir: — 1 send you herewith a small 
package containing several ears of a species of 
Millet, which is cultivated by many planters of 
Orangeburg District, as a substitute lor proven- 
der for work horses and cattle, during the warm 
season of the year. 
Many planters use no other provender from 
the latter part of May, until about the middle of 
September, and it is regarded by them as supe- 
rior in most respects to the fodder of Indian corn 
— lo oats, pea-vines, gama or rye-grass. One 
acre of it willfeed eight horses — it should be used 
in a green state, and is exceedingly nutricious. 
It is planted like upland cotton in rows, three 
feet apart, in drill or in chops nine inches apart 
on the bed, and in rich land may be cut every 
fifteen days. Cotton seed and stable manure in 
equal parts, make a good manure for it, and it 
should be worked with the plow or hoe alter 
every cutting, 1 have received so much advan- 
tage from planting it, that I would be pleased to 
see it in general use. 
1 am, dear sir, with great respect. 
Your ob’t. serv’t., D. F, Jamison. 
The enclosed statement, together with two 
certificates, designed to accompany a sample of 
fine Sea Island Cotton, is respectfully submitted 
to the State Agricultural Society of South Caro- 
lina, by Archibald H, Seabrook. 
Edista Island, Nov. 18, 1844. 
