124 
THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
the Agricultural interests of our county, time 
alone must determine. If it awake.n an interest 
in the subject of Agriculture— if it arouse a spi- 
rit of inquiry — if it induce men to read and to 
think — it it be the means of causing a more ex- 
tensive circulation of the Agricultural papers ot 
the day, particularly that excellent and useful 
paper that is published in our State— if it lead 
men to look on the profession ot the planter as 
an honorable profession— if its meetings afford 
opportunities for the exercise of the social feel- 
ju2s— if it give rise to a noble and generous spir- 
it of riva'ry, and to topics of conversition more 
rational than the newspaper slangs of the day — 
it will have accomplished much 
Our neighbors in Carolina are taking active 
measures to have analyses made of their staple 
products, and of the soils on which they crow. 
A knowledge of the component parts ot our soil 
and of the plants we cultivate, would enable us 
to be better judges as to the quantity and kind of 
manures that ought to be applied. And we can- 
not but hope that the time is not far distant, 
when a full treasury will enable us to incur the 
expense of having our soils analyzed. 
The dilapidated and unornamented condition 
of most of our plantations is a .subject which 
calls tor the attcn'ion of this Society. What is 
thecause? and how may it be remedied? Plan- 
ters are frequently urged to make all they need 
within themselves, as a matter of economy. 
This may be wholesome advice, bat it is not 
practiced on in those places where Agriculture 
has approached the nearest to perfectioc. 
A division of labor is necessary to a succesful 
prosecution of the different pursuits of life. 
Why is it that we are obliged to bring from our 
Northern States our wagons and our carriages, 
and even the coarser articles of our lurnituro. It 
maybe said that we have not skillful mechanic 
here. That has never been fairly tested. Can 
we expect a mechanic to put up a shop and fur- 
nish it with suitable conveniences and well sea- 
soned timber, so long as the planters attempt to 
make their own wagons, plow-stocks and furni- 
ture? I^ a man have a large number of servants 
he may have among them several mechanics’, 
and at the same time that his tradesmen are en- 
gaged, he may, with his other servants, carry on 
the planting of his lands. But how with the 
man who has only a few servants? If he take 
them to build houses and do all kinds of wheel- 
right business, his lands must go uncultivated. 
If he plant, he must buy his wagons, his carts, 
&c., and he must either pirchase an inferior ar- 
ticle — the result, not of a w’ant of ingenuity on 
the part of Southern mechanics, but of a refusal, 
on the part of many planters, to give them their 
patronage — or he is compelled to have them 
brought from abroad. For a man to meet with 
eminent success in any business, he must give 
his undivided attention to that busiaers. And 
may not the dilapidated appearance of many a 
farm be the result o f an ellort on the part of its 
owner to pursue all sorts of business ? . . . 
Your calling, gentlemen, is an honorable call- 
ing. The situation of the independent farmer 
stands among the first for happiness and virtue. 
“ It is one to which statesmen and warriors have 
retired, to find, in the contemplation of the works 
of nature, that serenity which more conspicuous i 
situations could not impart. It is the situation j 
in which the Maker of all placed his peculiar 
people in the land of Canaan; and it was to the 
shepherds abiding in the field that the glad tidings 
of Salvation was firs.t announced. Health of 
body, serenity of mind, and competency of estate 
wait upon this calling, and in giving these, it 
gives all that the present life carr bestow.” 
To Cure Corn for Boiling. — Take your 
corn, either on the ear or carefully shelled, 
beans in the pods, dip them in boiling water, 
and carefully dry them in ihe shade where 
there is free circulation of air, and our word for 
if, you can have as good succatash in February 
as in August. — Farmer's Gazelle. 
To Trap Rats. — Pul a little valerian anti 
cheese in the trap, and it will attract rats to the 
place. 
C4lass Pans for Milk. — It is said that milk 
set in glass pans will produce more cream, and 
that of a better quality, than when set in other 
pans. 
iUontlilg QTalen^i a r. 
Altered from the American Agriculturist's Almanac foi 
1844, and arranged to suit the Southern States. 
ft'OltS AUGUST. 
[The folinwing brief hints lo the fanner, planter and 
gardener, will be found to apply not only to the month 
under which they are arranged, but, owing to diversity 
of seasons, climate and soils, they may frequently an- 
swer (or other mooihs This precaution the consider- 
aie agriculturist will not fail to notice and apply in all 
cases where his judgment and experience may dictate.] 
Complete the haying and harvesting, and 
have all the ground intended lor wheat and rye 
well prepared for the ensuing crop. Many ex- 
cellent farmers in Massachusetts sow their rye 
on light lauds among their corn, harrowing it 
in two ways between the rows, and frequently 
adding clover also. This last is a good prac- 
tice, as it matures the clover a year socner ; un- 
less, as frequently happens, ihe drought of Au- 
gust and September kills the clover. A prefer- 
ence should, however, be given lor that system 
I ol farming which enriches the soil to that degree 
that an approximation to the corn crop of Mr. 
Young may be realized, when there will be an 
eflectual bar to the growth ot rye, clover orany- 
thing else but the main crop. Some pieces of 
after math or rowen may nov' be cut, as it is 
excellent food for calves, lambs and youngcolts, 
their masticators not yet having become ade- 
quate lo grinding down the harder and more 
flinty grasses. It is questionable, however, 
whether it is policy to cut much rowen, as the 
advantage to the growth of the following season 
is a sufficient compensation for its loss, unless 
its place be supplied with a good coat ol ashes 
or compost. Look to your lightning-rods. 
There are more barns and stacks burnt in July 
and August from this cause than in the other 
ten months. The gases now escaping from the 
fresh cut grass and grain, are excellent conduc- 
tors for electricity, though not as good as an 
iron roa, and ii you do not conduct it away by 
the latter, the former may conduct it into your 
mows and granaries, and thus the labors of the 
year be lost. Rutabagas are an exhausting 
crop, and it is well to supply the growing plant 
with a coaling of ashes and plaster. By the 
first they are supplied with potash, which they 
take up largely, and, by the last, they are assist- 
ed in drawing nutriment from the atmosphere. 
Now is the lime to save many of your seeds, a 
duty to be always attended to with the utmost 
caution and care. Save only the best, so that 
your fuluie crops may be improving rather than 
deteriorating. Especially, save your own grass 
and clover seeds. Timothy, orchard-grass, red- 
lop and clover, may be saved at one-fourth the 
expense for which you can purchase them, and 
you may be sure of a good clean article, wh'ch 
you are net when you buy it elsev;here. The 
second growth of clover is suitable for seed, 
and this may be gathered by a machine some- 
what like a fine rake, drawn by a horse, which 
pulls off the head while the stalk remains stand- 
ing. To such as do not tear excessive seeding, 
and it would be well if they were more numer- 
ous, the .seed thus collected, may be sown with- 
out threshing and cleaning. Or it may be cut 
and ihreshecl. When rotation is desired with 
wheat, it is a better plan lo turn in the whole 
crop when ripe, by which the soil is more bene- 
fiited than by turning in a green crop, and the 
seeding is thus effectually done without addi- 
tional labor. 
Tire housewife should be careful to select the 
herbs during this month (and every other when 
in season,) as they are now mostly in blossom. 
They should be cut when the flower is fullv 
matured, and dried in the shade, and when tho- 
roughly cured, placed in tight paper bags, so as 
to preservethe peculiar aromatic principle from 
insensible escape. Many plants, by this neg- 
lect, lose their efficacy and fragrance before 
they are used. Medicine is frequently afforded 
by these at a cheaper rate and of belter quality, 
than can be got of the apothecary. Cut, dry, 
and secure hemp in stacks or ricks. 
Kitchen Garden. — Finish planting Savoy and 
other cabbages for late autumn and winter use. 
In the early part ol the m m'h, spinach lor fall 
use can be sown, and that ror early spring use 
in the latter part of the month. To endure the 
winter well, the latter should be sown on dry, 
gravelly ground. Turneps lor autumn or win- 
ter use sow in the early part ol the month. 
Plant now a crop ol late celery, and continue 
to tbrow up the earth to the growing crops. 
Small salading can still be sown every week. 
If the weather be favorable, plant peas and kid- 
ney beans in the early part ot the month. I bey 
may produce a good crop, although the chances 
are somewhat against it. Lettuce for fall use 
can be sown or transplanted Irom former seed 
beds. Crops of melons and cucumbers keep 
particularly clean, and if the weather be very 
dry, moderately water them in the evening. Li- 
ma and Carolina beans hce well, and all runners 
that trail upon the ground cut off"; they only 
take sustenance Irom the bearing vines. At- 
tend to the manure heaps now, and keep them 
clear of weeds, which would otherwise ripen 
and grow in the ground on which the manure is 
placed the ensuing year. 
Fruit Garden and Orchard. —This month is 
the most suitable time lor buddingapples, pears, 
plums, cherries, nectarines, apricots, almonds, 
&c., and no farmer who wishes the luxuries of 
life at a cheap rate should omit to select the 
choicest kinds of fruit buds, and insert them in 
his own young slocks. We have the authority 
ot Virgil and other old writers for saying, that 
it is best to inoculate at the joints where the bud 
is taken off, rather than between them, as is usu- 
al in modern practice. Keep the ground entire- 
ly clear among the seedlings and small trees. 
Flower Garden and Pleasure Grounds . — 
Transplant from the seedling beds the various 
kinds ol annual, biennial and perennial flowers 
that were not transplanted last menth. Plant 
your bulbs which may be out ol the gr ound, such, 
as crocuses, colchicums, narcissus, amaryllis, 
frittellaries, crown imperials, snow drops, li- 
lies, irises and martagons. Also lake up, sepa- 
rate and transplant the roots of jraconias, flag 
irises and other tuberous rooted flowers, whose 
leaves are decayed. Suckers that have been 
thrown up from fibrous-rooted plants can beta- 
ken off and transplanted. Collect and trans- 
plant flowering plants from the woods and fields, 
removing then with a ball of earth, and cut- 
ting off their flowering stems if there are any. 
Water Ireely all newly planted flowerroots, cut 
down the stems ol those that have bloomed, 
loosen the earth about potted plants, clip hedges 
if omitted last month. Mow the lawn once a 
fortnight. Keep clean and in order, the gravel 
walks, flower borders and shrubbery. Trim 
and tie up straggling plants, and inoculate all 
you wish to propagate in that way. Gather 
flower seeds as they ripen, but let them remain 
in the pods until the season for growing. 
Plantation. — Makp it a matter ol special at- 
tention to have everything in leadinessforpick- 
ing cotton. It will require only the same time 
to prepare, and if done in season, there will 
be no detention. Therefore, examine baskets, 
sacks, gin stand,.running gear, presses, &c., and 
if anything requires repairing, do it immediate- 
ly. Continue your improvements all spare 
lime, such as grubbing up bushes, &c., repair- 
ing fences and buildings, making shingles, and 
scaffolds lor drying cotton, and collect forked 
slakes and poles for curing tobacco. Top cot- 
ton early this month if it w'as not done last. 
Cut crab-grass and throw it into heaps, there 
to remain lor a day, and then into heavy w in- 
rows until cured. Gather fodderfrom latecorn. 
Clear polatoe plantings designed tor seed or 
slips. Thresh oats, rye and wheat for fall sow- 
ing, to provide against loss of time from cotton 
picking, when the seed will be wanted, and that 
the straw may be used to pack aw ay pea vines. 
Prepare lurnep ground at once, if it has not 
been done belore, and sow the seed about the 
middle of the month, rain or no rain. In the 
second volume ol the American Agriculturist, 
Mr. Aflleck, ot Mississippi, says: “Turneps 
are usually sowed in August or September, on 
ground enriched by penning the cows and other 
