36 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
vation of the vine and maraifaeture ofwiai is a frac 'O!' 
short of 2,000 000; and 240,000 persons a>-e ensraged a 
selling wine. of the wine lands fre antiliabl , sterile 
and hilly. The wine culture does not average a return 
of raore than per cent annu’dly. 
Disease. -The disciise of the vin^ is pretty genera] 
throng! oat Fiance, though the southern secdon suffers 
most. This disease has prevailed tor three or four years, 
and threatens to destroy the business. 
TO COESESrOHDElSTS. 
tAs usual, we are obliged to defer the publication of 
many favors from our kind and attentive correspondents ; 
but all contributions of value and interest shall appear in 
due season. 
LOTTERY OF IMPROVED LIVE STOCK, FARMIKO 
IMPLEMENTS, &G. 
A CORRESPONDENT, of Enterprise, Avk., suggests that 
some of our wealthy agriculturists should make up a Lot- 
tery '‘scheme,” in which the prizes shall consist of choice 
specimens of the finest breeds of Cattle, Horses, Sheep, 
Swine, Poultry, &c.; also, rare and valuable seeds, agri- 
cultural implements, books on agriculture, horticultural 
and rural affairs, etc., with a view of disseminating these 
different articles widely throughout the country. 
We do not think the idea at all a bad one; and have no 
doubt that it would result beneficially to the country at 
large, if properly carried out. But in this, as in all other 
similar enterprises, everything would depend upon the 
management. Should this fall into the proper hands, we 
stand ready to aid the project to the best of our ability. 
Who will take the initiative step in the “Grand Southern 
Agricultural Lottery P’ 
Artificial Rock and Hurdle Fence. — Among the 
practical novelties of the late Fair, we noticed a speci- 
men of the famous “Cotton Seed Rock” and Fire Proof 
Cement for Roofs, from the Agent, Mr. John Cowan, of 
Memphis, Tenn.; and several ingeniously constructed 
panels of moveable Hurdle Fence, from James Rowe, of 
Bainbridge, Ga. After a careful examination we were 
very favorably impressed with all these articles, and hope 
to see their value properly appreciated by the public. 
Transactions of the New York State Agricultural 
Society.— Hon. B. P. Johnson, (the very able Secretary 
of the New York State Agricultural Society,) will accept 
our thanks for a copy of the Transactions of 1853. This 
volume, (which is the thirteenth issued by the Society) con - 
tains 783 pages, with many appropriate illustrations. It 
abounds in very valuable information On all subjects per- 
taining to agriculture, horticulture, stock raising and gene- 
ral farm economy ; and we hope to present some of its 
contents to our readers hereafter. A further notice is pre- 
cluded by the fact that it only reached us as our paper 
was going to press. 
Sumach Lemonade. — Mr. D. R. W. Davis, of Cottage 
Hill, has not been satisfied with his first experiment with 
Sumach berries for punch and lem'^nade. He has recently 
made a syrup from them, a^ sample of which he has left 
with us. It possesses all the delicate flavors of the lemon 
juice, but unluckily it has too much sugar in it. This de- 
fect does not at all detract from the value of the discovery. 
The fact is established that Sumach berries furnish an acid 
every way equal to that obtained from lemons, which 
may be used for all purposes for which the latter is em- 
ployed, and procurable at the season when the lemon 
is very scarce and high . — Alabama Planter. 
|^°See article on the different varieties and qualities of 
Sumach) in present number. 
Babies and Poultry! — Barnum’s great NoXional 
Poultry Show ” will be held at the American Museum, 
New York, on the 15th inst., and the National Eahy 
Shotoj" at the same place, on the 5th of June next. 
Premiums to the amount of ©500 will be awarded to the 
feathered bipeds, and ©1000 in prizes to the featherless 
darlings. The happy possessors of fine chickens and 
children are notified to be on hand with their best speci- 
mens, in due season and good order. 
Irrigation, Drainage, &c. — A friend of ours, who is a 
very competent Civil Engineer, an accomplished draughts- 
man, &c., wishes to make engagements with planters and 
others for the laying off and construction of Hill Side 
Ditches, Drains, Dykes, Embankments, Ponds, &c., &c., 
oh reasonable terms. Any person desiring his services 
may address the editors of this journal (post paid.) 
A Lady Farmer I — A fair subscriber, near Tuscumbia, 
Ala , writes us as follows : 
Messrs. Editors — Please find enclosed ©1, for which 
send me your valuable journal the ensuing year. Many 
thanks for titc pleasure and profit ofits perusal the current 
year. Here I am with my saw-dust again. Is there no 
way of composting the dust of oak, so as to convert it into 
manure % Where can I get the Baden Corn I 
Y’ours respectfully, A. M. 
Remark. — Saw-dust is an excellent or top-dress- 
ing for strawberry vines, fruit trees, &c., but we do not 
think it would “pay” to use it in any other way. Who 
can give us any information respecting the Baden Corn'l 
— Eds. 
Several interesting articles, original and selected^ 
are unavoidably laid over until our next. 
iDiMBlit CcnEDtni unit IRtrijjeB. 
Baked Beets. — A good housewife assures us that the 
mode of cooking beets herein described, is preferable te 
all others : 
“Beet root cannot be too much recommended to the 
notice of mankind, as a cheap and salubrious substitute for 
the now failing and diseased potato. Hitherto the red 
kind has been only used in England as a pickle, or as a 
garnish for salad ; even the few who dress it, generally 
boil it, by which process the rich juice is lost, and the root 
consequently rendered less nutritious by the quantity of 
water it imbibes, as well as by parting with the native 
syrup, of which it is thus forcibly deprived ; it is, tliere- 
fore, strongly recommended to bake instead of boiling 
them, when they will be found to afford a delicious and 
wholesome food. This is not an untried novelty, for 
both red and white beet root are extensively used on the 
continent; in Italy, particularly, they are carried about 
hot from the oven twice a day, and sold publicly in the 
streets; ; thus they are purchased by all classes of people, 
and give to thousands, with bread, salt, pepper and but- 
ter, a satisfactory meal. There are few purposes for 
which baked, or even roasted or fried beet root, would 
not be found preferable to boiled.” 
Grease for Coarse Boots. — Take a coal made ol 
pine, of the size of a hen’s egg, well burnt, pu’ver- 
ize it finely, mix it with enough of clean melted tallow to 
make it of the consistence of thick paste. Two or three 
applications will make the leather soft, and will keep tire 
water out. 
