28 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
Initiciiltttial lijiaitment. 
WOEK FOR THE MONTE. 
[January, (Latin, Januarvus) was so called by the Ro- 
anans from, Janus, one of their superior deities, to whom 
the first day of the year was sacred. It corresponds to 
Sebat, (Zech. i. 7,) the fifth dvil and eleventh sacred 
month of the Jews, The Anglo-Saxons called it Aftera- 
Geola, that is, After -Christmas.'] 
THE PLANTATION. 
Push yoxxt plowing vigorously, whenever the ground is 
not too wet — turn under all vegetable matter, that it may 
•decompose, and yield nutriment to the coming crops of 
Cor7i and Colton. Plovo deep, and if you have no regular 
subsoil plow, let your turning-plow be followed in the 
•same furrow, by a bull tongue, or broad coulter, di’awn 
by a stout team. This will loosen up the subsoil, and 
bring into cultivation a portion of your land, which here- 
tofore has been of no use to you. The old system of sur- 
face scratching, to the depth of three or four inches, must 
be abandoned. No planter in the South should pretend 
to plant a crop of Corn or Cotton in less than 10 inches of 
mellow and well-manured soil. Try deep plowing one 
year, and you will need no urging hereafter, 
A/h?iure should now be hauled out, distributed over the 
ground, and plowed deeply under. Scatter it evenly, so 
that all the plants may be fed. 
Spread all trash, weeds, corn and cotton stalks, &c,and 
turn them under with the plow. Haul leaf-mould from j 
the hollows of the woods, and compost it with barn yard 
manure, lime and ashes, before you spread'it on your fields. 
Fill up gullies with logs, brush, &c., and run ditches 
horizontally along your hill sides, to prevent washing. 
Deep plowing will also be found of great benenefit on hill 
sides subject to wash. 
Repair old buildings — erect new ones — look over and 
repair your farm implements — take good care of your 
stock, and keep all work animals in good condition for 
the hard labor they will have to accomplish the coming 
sesson. 
Commence your farm operations this year, with the de- 
termination to make lai’ger crops than heretofore — to prac- 
tice a more thorough system of plantation and domestic 
•economy — to avail yourselves of all the lights of agricul- 
tural science — to improve your old worn-out fields — to 
keep out of debt — and by your earnest and persevering ef- 
forts to elevate the vocation of the Farmer to its rightful 
position at the head of all other professions. 
TEE GARDEN. 
Sow early varieties of English Peas during the first 
fortnight iiv January, and continue to sow a succession 
•every week during the spring and early summer. Hoe 
and earth them up in dry, warm weather, and set a row 
of sticks to support the vines as soon as they require it. 
Ccdjhage, hettuce, Radishes, Sahafy, Spina^e, Parsnips^ 
Beets j &c.,may now be sown on ground properly prepared 
dhoosc a warm exposure — spade, manure and pulverize 
your beds well, and do not plant your seed too deep. 
Irish Polatocs may now be planted for an early crop. 
Plant the sets 8 or 10 inches apart, on coarse litter, long 
■manure or straw, in the bottoms of deep trenches, three 
feet apart. Put a handful of manure on each set, and cover 
it with five or six inches of earth. Haul the earth well 
about the stems as they advance in growth, but do not 
eorer the tops wiih dirt. 
Prepare ail your garden implements for use, this month ; 
and get your groundspaded or plowed thoroughly, turn- 
ing deeply under all the manure or vegetable matter tkat 
you can obtain. 
Hot Beds should be prepared the latter part of this 
month, in order that you may have a good supply of Cu- 
cumbers, Cabbage, Tomato, and other plants for spring 
operations. 
THE ORCITAED. 
Plant out all the finest varieties of Apples, Pears, Peach- 
es, Plums, Apricots, Nectarines, Quivccs, Pomegranates, 
Figs, Grapes, &c., giving the preference in all cases, to 
trees and vines propagated on Southern raised stocks. 
Graft choice varieties of the Plums and Apricots, into 
strong, healthy roots of the wild Chickasaw Plum. Pro- 
pagate the Quince, the Pomegranate and the Fig largely 
by cuttings, planted in deep, moist soil and mulched. 
Graft choice varieties of the Pear 'into roots of the Angers 
Quince for dwarfs. The Pear and the Apple will grow 
from cutlmgs, but not very freely — try them, however, 
using scions from choice varieties, See directions 
for planting trees in present number. 
Orchards that have been allowed to grow up in grass 
and broomsedge during the Fall and Winter, should be 
cross-plowed between the rows, leaving a space as far as 
the branches extend to be stirred up with the grubbing 
hoe. Be careful not to injure the roots by this working 
— dig in some well -rotted manure, (muck, lime and ashes) 
—cut away all suckers, and leave a space around the tr-ee 
open and mellow. As soon as warm weather approaches, 
this space must be mulched with saw-dust, pine-straw, 
forest leaves, long manure, or any substance that will re- 
tain moisture. 
PACKING TREES FOR TRANSPORTATION. 
Trees over three or four feet in height, should be made 
into bundles for transportation. Small plants go best in 
boxes, unless with large trees in the same bundle. Swamp 
or pond moss is the material in which to pack the roots. 
It holds moisture a long time, and is not liable to heat like 
other vegetable matter. When for a distant destination or 
subject to detention by the way, it is best to “puddle” the 
roots of trees previous to packing ; that is, dip them in a 
thin mortar of clean sand and clay: and let it harden a 
litile before packing ; or what is better, dry the surface 
by sifting over fine dry sand or soil, stored up for the pur- 
pose. Rye straw is the best covering for the stems, and 
to serve as a second envelope for the moss covered roots — 
the whole to be firmly bound with cords, (with a half- 
hitch at each turn) or what is deemed preferable — good 
of hickory — osier or native willow — or species of 
cornus, very abundant in moist woods, and on stream 
borders. For a fini.sh, envelope the bulb of roots (and 
when thought best, the whole bundle,) in Russia matting, 
or any broad sacking fabric, and with a curved needle and 
stout twine, secure it in nlace ; and then, rest assured that 
your bundle will bear any reasonable amount of rough 
handling ; and if neither exposed to rain or frost will keep 
a month and more in good condition . — Prairie Farmer. 
THE CONCORD GRAPE. 
At a meeting of the Concord Farmers’ Club, Oct. 5th, 
the following gentlemen were appointed a Committee, to 
examine and test the Concord Grape and make report to 
the Club. Joseph Reynolds, W. W. Wheiklon, S. G. 
Wheeler, Wm. D. .Brown, James P. Brown. The Com- 
mittee made the report which I now send you. 
The Committee upon the Concord Gape report that 
they have attended to the agreeable duty assigned to them, 
and that in their opinion the Concord grape possesses, in 
a high degree, the e.ssential properties of a perfect grape, 
beauty of form and color, richness of fragrance and flavor, 
and abundant juiciness. Its skin is thin and remarkably 
free from astringenc.y. The vine is a free grower, an 
abundant bearer, and very hardy in its habits, and what 
