92 
THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
everything in abundance necessary on a planta- 
tion fir all the purposes desired ; but to my great 
mortification I did not the past year make, on 
my farm, on good tillable land, ha'f a support for 
my family. These facts were fully developed to 
me during the drought of last summer ; conse- 
quently, I began to devise the means of living the 
present year, by arranging in my own mind the 
most economical measures, to that effect, and 
forthwith ordered a corn and cob-crusher mill, 
and a portable burr stone for grinding corn into 
meal ; both of which I received and have now in 
successful operation, and to the advantage of a 
large family, &c. 
During the drought, the past summer, a lake 
situated on my premises a half mile from a iarge 
creek, and on a level with the same, became en- 
tirely dry, which led to an investigation of its 
composits. From the inspection I gave it, it 
appears to be very valuable as a manure; conse- 
quently, I submitted it to the analysis and tests 
of scientific gentlemen, and amongst them Dr. 
Cottinff, formerly State Geologist, the result of 
which 7 give you below, which you are at liberty 
to dispose of as you may think best for the cause 
you are engaged in. 
Wishing you every success in. the cause of 
agriculture, I am very respectfully, yours, 
D. C. Rose, 
[Copy.] Geological Department, ? 
Milledgeville, March 3, 1846. i 
Dear Sir: — Agreeable to your request, I have 
analyzed the specimen of “ humus,” &c., you 
sent me, and fin 1 it to be a very excellent fertili- 
zer. From its constituents, I am convinced 
that, if properly and scientifically applied, it will 
be found to be the most powerful stimulus to ve- 
getation of any .=ubstance hitherto used in agri- 
culture in the State. It you can obtain it in 
sufficient quantity it will prove a most valuable 
acquisition to your agricultural interest. In my 
opinion it is far superior to any artificial guano 
hitherto prepared, and nearly equal to the natur- 
al. But in order for its producing its greatest ef- 
fects in vegetation, it should be intimately min- 
gled with lO per cent, of lime or ashes. It should 
be covered by the soil 2 or 3 inches to prevent a 
too great evaporation of the gasses and other 
v.rlatile matters, which are the greatest fertili- 
zing piinciples in all manures. 
Its origin appears to be a decomposition of 
vegetable and animal substances, mostly vegeta- 
ble. The following is a correct analysis made 
with genuine tests and re-agents, atmosphere, at 
mean pressure and temperature. 
Quantity 1,000 Grains Troy. 
Water of absorption ...110. 
Organic matter, principally humus and oxalate, 
crenate, apocrenate of ammonia, &c., volatiliz- 
ed by heat 296. 
Bilica 270. 
Oxide of Iron 16, 
Phosphate of Lime 98.5 
Apoc renate of Alumina 150.5 
Phosphate of Magnesia 25. 
Oxide of Magnesia 5. 
Crenate of Potassa 29. 
1,000.0 
It will be seen by the above that almost every 
constituent in the composition is a fertilizer for 
most vegetables, and in greater or less propor- 
tions enter into their composition. 
Yours respectfully, J. R. Cotting, S. G. 
To Maj. D. C. Rose, Meriwelhei Co , Ga. 
Perhaps these discoveries may lead others to 
an investigation of Nature’s works and resour- 
ces. If it should, my object is accomplished. 
One other inquiry: Was it not a great over- 
sight in our State Legislature to have discontin- 
ued the services of Dr. Cotting? or rather not 
to have continued the services of some one pro- 
fessing his knowledge in that way. I, as an 
humble individual and a planter, would freely be 
taxed 2o per cent, on iny estate to know some- 
thing more of our resources— Texas, Oregon, 
Californias, or even Mexico, attached to our re- 
public, to the contrary notwithstanding. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
D. C. Rose. 
P. S. This composit (from the examination I 
have made,) 1 consider inexhaustible, so far as 
my farm, consisting of some three or four hun- 
dred acres in cultivation is concerned, and a 
half dozen others of the same extent. R. 
” Guano Island," Meriwether Co., Apn7, 1846. 
Taladega County Agricultural Society. 
Mr. James Camak: — Dear Sir, — Having 
read, with much pleasure, several numbers ol 
the Southern Cultivator, ot which I perceive 
you are the Edilo’", I lake the liberty of sending 
you a copy of a resolution, unanimously adopt- 
ed by the “Taladega County Agricultural So- 
ciety” at its last meeting, and giving you some 
account of the Society itself. The resolution 
to which I refer is as follows: 
“Resolved, that this Society highly appreci- 
ate the value of agricultural periodicals, as a 
means of agricnltural improvement, and espe- 
ciallp do they appreciate the vaiue of the 
‘ Southern Cultivato.r,’ publised in the city of 
Augusta, under the editoiial direction of Mr. 
James Camak, and pledge themselves to use all 
reasonable exertions to encourage its circula- 
tion.” 
The Taladega Cotmly Agricultural Society 
was organized on the 16 h of August last. The 
officers then elected were, Col Wm. Curry, 
President; John A. Brown, and Green W, Penn, 
Esquires, Vice-Presidents ; Dr. B. W. Groce, 
Recording Secretary; A. Bowie, corresponding 
Secretary; Rev. James Stockdale, Treasurer, 
and Walton D. Riddle, Allen, Elston, Joseph 
Camp, Daniel Rattier and Thos. L. Best, an 
executive committee. 
We are likely to have some difficulty in keep- 
ing upa proper spirit amongst our members:' 
but we shall not yet despair of accomplishing, 
something for the too much neglected cause of 
agiicultural improvement. We occupy a young 
and favored country; and we shall surely be 
criminally blind to our own, and the interests of 
those who are to succeed us, if we suffer our 
virgin soil to fall a victim to the wretched sys- 
tem of culture, which in Carolina and Georgia, 
have almost ruined the fairest and most fruit- 
ful fields ot the sunny South. 1 hope the spirit 
of scientific and rational improvement, on this 
subject, has been at last aroused, and will never 
sleep again. 
I regret ihar, notwiths'anding our “resolu- 
tion,” I cannot encourage you to hope for many 
subscribers in this region. Our people are en- 
deavoring to practice a rigid economy, to re- 
lieve themselves from the heavy pressure of the 
times; and although the price ot the Culiivator 
is exceedingly low, it is difficult to pursuade 
honest men, who are in debt, to increase their 
burthens, unless for strict necessaries. A few 
names will, 1 understand, be soon forwarded to 
the publishers. 
With great respect, your obedient serv’t. 
A. Bowie. 
Taladega County, Ala., May 3, 1846. 
More of the Right Spirit. 
To the Editor— /S ir : I am no writer, nei- 
therdo I exercise any pretensions in that way, yet 
feeling as deep an interest in the cause of agri- 
cultural improvement as any man, perhaps, 
south of Mason & Dickson’s line, and perceiv- 
ing a probability that the Southern Culti- 
vator will be discontinued at the end of the pre- 
sent volume, unless more liberally patronized, I 
am induced to address a few lines ot condolence, 
designed not lor yourself, however, but the en- 
tire Southern States. Is it possible that these 
Slates, claiming the highest seats in the temple 
of civilization and refinement, will suffer this, 
their great Agricultural lever, to become ex- 
tinct, through a culpable apathy or niggardly 
parsimony. Let us hope tor the better. Should 
it however be the case, (which my humbleener- 
gies shall be exerted to prevent,) it will afford 
evidence, clear as demonstration, ofthe extreme 
blindness of the Southern people, to their high- 
est and most substantial interests, and of their 
willingness, patiently to grope their way through 
the same labyrinth of agriculiuial darkness 
which enveloped our ancestors, who, though 
pure, honest, and patriotic, have platted and set- 
tled upon us, their posterity, as a heritage, such 
a multitude of unsightly sedgefields and yawn- 
ing gullies. We call upon Georgia to wake up 
to this important matter in her own bosom. 
Let herciiizens match up to the support ot tt is 
paper, in solid phalanx, as they would to the 
ballot box ; let all, every one, put his shoulder to 
the wheel, to redeem it from impending dissolu- 
tion. 11 Georgia will furnish us such an ex- 
ample, I have confidence that South Carolina, 
distinguished, as she ever ha« been, fur mag- 
nanimity and patriotism, will tender her sup- 
port freely. We call upon all the Si'Uthern 
States and every individual in those States, to 
rally to the rescue, and avert the pending dis- 
grace, for it could be nothing less. The terms 
of the paper are within every man’s reach, and 
every man who tills one acre of ground should 
have a copy. 
Should this be the state of affairs, Mr. Editor, 
(and we hope to see it realized in a great degree) 
but a few years will roll around ere we will not 
only perceive but reap the advantages — when 
the unsightly sedgefields, to which 1 have alluded, 
would disappear, and those sections so deeply 
marked by the blighting hand of uns’iriUul hus- 
bandry, be made to “ blossom as the rose.” I am 
much flattered with the belief that the long 
night, which has shrouded the people of Ander- 
son on the subject of agriculture and book-tann- 
ing, is passing avvay, and that we can even now 
perceive the dawn. The shackles which have 
heretofore bound them, and the imputed obliga. 
tion to do as “daddy” did is giving way, and a 
new set of corrected principles, based upon the 
discoveries and improvements of scientific men, 
are being generally adopted. 
On sale day in May, a number of the citi- 
zens of the District met in the Court House for 
the purpose of forming an Agricultural Society. 
Although the notice was short, and not perhaps 
generally understood, there was no difficulty in 
procuring thirty subscribers as members. This, 
1 think, augurs well for the cause. I am flat- 
tered with the impression, that at the next meet- 
ing (sale day in June) our number will have 
been doubled, perhaps trebled. 
In conclusion, Mr, Editor, I wish to add my- 
self to the list of Mr, Farrar’s “few” who 
will take the back numbers ol the Cultivator. 
You will please forward Vol’s 1, 2 and 3 to An- 
derson C. H., S. C. A Carolinian. 
Anderson District, S. C , May 13, 1846. 
Dogs. 
Mr. Camak: Buffon thought all these ani- 
mals descended from one and the same stock — 
the wolf. That may be probable; and domes- 
t'calion and the different climates in which they 
are found, may have given them their various 
outlines of conlormation. Like the wolf they 
are all, or nearly so, beasts ot prey, when not 
taken care to be pleniit ully led ; and as the sheep 
is the most easily caught, by consequence, that 
is the animal they most prey upon. 
Mankind have put dogs to various uses. — 
While in China they are butchers’ meat and 
used just as we do hogs, in Kamskatka they 
are horses — harnessed to the sledges, and the 
only coursers in that cold country. In some 
countries, in northern and middle Europe, 
they have wool like sheep, from which hats have 
been made and from which cloth can be, if the 
odor were not, I think, somewhat detergent. 
Again, under the equatorial line, especially in 
Africa, they are hairless, and seem as naked as 
my hand. In Scotland is the terrier, in Paris 
the diminutive lap-dog, in England the bull-dog, 
so serviceable in catching beeves, and the 
mastiff that guards the house. In Cuba the 
well known blood-hound, and in other countries 
the fleet grey-hound — here the generous New- 
foundland dog, and there the valuable shepherd. 
Moreover, apparently scattered abroad over the 
habitable world, are that numerous class called 
curs — which, as the commonalty, thicken over 
the land, even of our country; and whose ser- 
vices seem to be more demonstrated in the assis- 
tance they give man in consuming his bread, 
and in the act of diminishing the amount of his 
fleece in the destruction of flocks of sheep! 
Every dog seems to be serviceable but the cur 
—and, as an aristocracy among these animals, 
