20 
THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
Ihe future nourishment ot the plant, which 
would otherwise escape and be lost. We are 
also of opinion, that the importance ol these 
substances combined with ashes, leached or un- 
leached, or with lime, is not duly appreciated. 
It is stated by one ol our celebrated chemists, 
(Dana,) and his assertion is corroborated by 
actual experiment, that one cord of a compost 
made ol ashes and muck, in the proportion of 
one part ol ashes to three of muck, is tully 
equal to a cord of the best cow manure. This 
muck manure, in some one of its forms, is at 
the command of every one. 
We would also recommend to our brother 
farme.'s the necessity of con^tracting lots and 
establishing a regular system of saving and 
making animal manures. For this purpose, 
we would advise a more extensive cultivation 
of grain, particularly of wheat. Wheat straw, 
as an article of food lor stock, in our country is 
considered almost valueless, while a.s a litter 
for well constructed stock pens, it isol the great- 
est importance. We will not attempt to enter 
into a detail of its properties or account for its 
peculiar action upon vegetation; but for the 
purpose of making manures, we give it a deci- 
ded prelerenee over all other light materials we 
have used for that purpose. We consider ma 
terials abundant. All refuse substances are 
fit ingiedients in a manure pen. Some are fine 
absorbents— some, unknown to the plain farmer, 
possess important chemical properties, and all 
add to the quanti’y. AVe are aware that che- 
mical and foreign manures are highly lauded 
in all the agricultural prints of the day, and 
while we are Jar from objecting to any experi- 
ments which may be made in relation to this 
important subject, w’e would still rely upon our 
own resources, as, under good management, be- 
ing fully sufficient lor the purpose of restoring 
fertility to our exhausted soils and of securing 
permanent comfort and independence to our 
people. I. P. Whitehead, of Hancock, 
One of the Comriiitiec. 
BY ANOTHER OF THE COilJlITTEE ON MANURES. 
Your Committee to whom was relerred the 
subject of investigating and reporting on the 
best mode of raising andapplying manuies, ac- 
knowledge that their experience is so limited 
that they are entirely incapable of doing jus- 
tice to that important branch ot agriculture, 
notwithstanding, we beg leave to report — 
1st. That to succeed in raising manure, we 
should find out what are the different composi- 
tions that will ierment and decompose in the 
shortest time and in*the best manner ; and our 
limited experience is this: to haul upon our 
farm yards corn and cotton stalks, leaves from 
the woods, rotten wood, &c., and spread them 
upon the yard, and then cover them with muck 
or dirt from a pond ; after they have been suffi- 
ciently trod, dunged and urinated upon, w'hich 
lime must lie regulated by the season of the 
year, it should be thrown into a pit prepared for 
the purpose, or in pens, taking care, after your 
heap is ccmpleted, to cover it well with muck 
or pond dirt, to prevent evaporation. Your 
stables should be filled up with the same kind 
of litter, except the muck, and cleaned out once 
a week; this system would make it more com- 
fortable for your horses, and prevent the loss of 
a great quantity of urine. The quantity of lit- 
ter to be placed upon the barn yards must differ 
in the different seasons of the year. In the 
spring they should be six inchesdeep, the muck 
or pond dirt, one inch deep. In the summerlhe 
coat or layer of litter and muck should not be 
so thick, and trod not exceeding four weeks, 
then lakefi up and thrown into the pit or pen. 
The reason tor cleaning up in so short a time is 
obvious; it prevents the long hot summer days 
sun Irom burning it up, orkillingthe droppings 
or dung of the cattle, and the evaporation of 
the urine, which we believe to be no little item. 
As the season moderates, the layers of litter 
and muck should be deeper and longer trod. 
We are of opinion that the above preparation 
may be continued for cotton until the last of 
February successfully. 
Your Committee beg leave now to report up- 
on the application of mrnures. In the first 
place, we recommend that the manure be pla- 
ced in the hill or drill, as deep, if possible, as 
the clay or subsoil, immediately under the corn 
or cotton, or any other article, and covered with 
dirt previous to planting'. If for corn, a very 
small quantity of dirt should be placed upon 
the manure; if for cotton, it should be bedded 
upon until tlie manure is covered from four to 
six inches deep. The reason that we recom- 
mend placing manure in the hill or drill is ow- 
ing to the small quantity that we have. If we 
had a sufficient quantity, by all means the sys- 
tem ol throwing it broadcast is the true agricul- 
tural system. All seeds should be planted im- 
mediately subsequent to the application of the 
manures. In treating upon the subject of ma- 
nures, cotton seed comes into the account, as 
it is known to be a great fertilizer. There 
seems, however, to be as many conflicting opi- 
nions and modes in the application of cotton seed 
as manure as any other article of manure, it 
not more. Some contend, (and all say from ex- 
perience,) that the proper mode is to put the 
seed in the bottom of the furrow, after the 
ground is laid off, and then throw a small quan- 
tity of dirt upon the seed, then drop the corn and 
cover in the common way, say with a plow or 
hoe. Others contend that the seed should be 
dropped upon the hill immediately after the corn 
is planted — some sav not until thecorn is up, 
and then they should be placed round the corn 
and covered with a hoe, which is a weeding or 
hilling to the corn. Now, it iollows of course, 
that all these modes cannot he right; and to 
know the proper mode of applying them, it is 
necessary first to- know the feitilizing properties 
the seed possess. This, your Committee be- 
lieve, all will concede, i- mostly contained in 
their oil V substances ; if so the mallei is at once 
settled, for this reason: oil is lighter than vva- 
ter, consequently in a wet lime, or when the 
earth is full ot water, the oil will rise, being 
lighter than water, and in its rising it has to 
work its way throughto the surface, and in this 
process the roots of the corn receive its nou- 
rishment, consequently it should be placed deep 
enough to be below the roots ol the corn. 
Y' Ur Committee not being acquainteri with 
the principles of chemistry, nor that of anah z- 
ing, defers any reference 'o them, but believes 
them connected with agriculture, and do not be- 
lieve that the true system of agriculture can be 
carried out without a knowledge of them. 
Your Committee believe the practice o! heat- 
ing cotton seed in pens or heaps as is the cus- 
tom of the country, entirely at variance with 
the true mode ot preparing seed for manure, as 
it is conceded that oil is the fertilizmg property 
contained in the seed. You readily discover 
that heating the seed destroys a goodly Quantity 
of the oil. To remedy this, we recommend 
that the seed be kept dry under shelter until they 
are wanted for use, and then with some simple 
machinery the seed be so mashed as not to 
sprout after they are applied as manure, and be 
applied in the green state. 
All of which is respectfully submitted for the 
conside.r’ation of the Association. 
John W. Moodt, one of the Conimiiice. 
Soutli Carolina State Agricultur.al Society. 
[From ihe ChMUsion M'jrtury ] 
Dear Sir : — B usiness lies heretofore prevent- 
ed me frona giving you some account of the 
proceedings of the State Agricultural Society. 
I( held three meetings, and adjourned on Thurs- 
day night. Among other papers presented to it 
was a valuable communienffon from Mr. Ruf- 
fin, eniitled, “Marling Facts and Estimates.” 
designed by him as a continuation ol his e'-sav 
on that subject, sub.miited to the Society in De- 
cember last. It would thus appear, and I re- 
joice to mention the fact, Mr. R. still feels a 
deep interest in the prr sperity of South Caro- 
lina, A communication from the Russian 
j Economical Association of St. Petersburg, soli- 
citing an interchange of information on agri- 
cultural topics, accompanied by two volumes 
ol its transactions, in the German language, 
was read by the President. This evidence of 
kindness and courtesy on the part of a foreign 
co-laborer, and the present of books received at 
different limes from the State Societies of ihe 
Union, have induced us to ask ot the Legisla- 
ture an appropriation cf gtSOO, to enable the So- 
ciety to disseminate the mass of useful mailer 
collected from its organization. Il successful, 
we shall have it in our pow'er not only to prove 
to our immediate friends, but to tlie a.griculiural 
communit}' ol the world, that the Slate Society 
of South Carolina is in the faithful and zealous 
discharge of its duties. 
Mr. James P».heti’s motion to request the 
Chairman of the Committee to adopt proper 
measures, by which to secure the introduction 
ot Manilla Rice, was adopted. Capt. Wilkes, 
I think, mentions that on that island there are 
eight varieties, of which five are well adapted 
to high lands. To extend the culture ol this 
valuable grain, is a niatterof great impoitance. 
A copy of the'report of the Committee ap- 
pointed to ascertain the quantity of Corn neces- 
sary to supply the wants of the suffering por- 
tions oj^the community, I forw'arded to you on 
Satu rday. 
The specimens of domestic fabrics exhibited 
were numerous and beauliiul. Premiutns were 
awarded to several ladies, A few' bottles of the 
juice of thegrape. andone of the bene oil, from a 
‘ fairconsiitueni,” were presentea by Mr. Simms, 
of Barnwell. He embraced the occasion of giv- 
ing free vent to his opinions, in a manner, too, 
highly felicitous, of the influence ol the female 
sex in society, and especially in times of dan- 
ger and dislress, and added that the President, 
in his appeal to the patriotism and sympathies 
of the audience, had wholly omitted to apply to 
the only source whence aid at all peri^d-s and 
under all circumstances was certain of being 
rendered — the heart of woman. It was a vety 
neat and appropriate effort on the part of ibe 
gilted novelist, and I scarcely need say that the 
ladies w'ere gratified. 
The audie' ge, on Thursday night, was the 
largest I ever witnessed in the Hal! of the 
House of Representatives — a large number ol 
gentlemen were obliged to stand up until a late 
hour. The ladies were accommodated with 
seats on the floor. Much was expected ol the 
orator, and we were not disappointed. In man- 
ner and matter, Mr. Poinsett was eminently 
succes.'^ln!. At present, I will only .'ay, that in 
my judgment, wJien the address itself is spread 
before the public, the reputation of the author, 
as a man of useful and extensive information, 
will be greatly incieased. 
The Representative chamber was, as usual, 
decorated with fruit, plants and flowers — the 
most of W'hich w’ere from tlie gaiden ol Mr. 
Russell, a public spirited citizen ot this place. 
The next semi-annual meeting will beheld 
at Aiken, on the third AVednesday in July. Tire 
Orator — the Hon. R. P. AA^. Allston. 
Our di-siingiiishecl Statesman and practical 
Agi icnlturisr, John C. Calhoun, will be the So- 
ciety’s Orator in December, 1646. 
It had nearly e.scaped me to state that the 
Society have instructed the Executive Commit- 
tee to invite as many State Societie.s as they 
may deem advisable, tr' attend, liy delegation, 
our next anniversary meeting — the delegates to 
come with written answers to such interrogato- 
ries in relation to the progress of Agriculture in 
their respective States as may be propounded 
by the Committee. Respectfully, yours, 
AA’hiTF.M.ARSH B. SEABROO.rJ. 
Columbia^ December, ]845. 
Hint tc Makers of Candles. — Take two 
penn-' S of alum for every ten peurdsof tal'ow, 
dissolve it in w'ater before the tallkiw is pvtt in. 
and then melt the tall iw in the a um water ; 
with lire f.equent stirring it will clarily aivl 
harden the tallow so as to make a most bcami- 
ful article for either vvinier or summer use, al 
most equal to sperm. 
