SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
79 
ied with specimens of the grass, then in seed, to define it 
for us. The day alter the reception of Dr, Nkislk.r’s let- 
ter containing the specimens Prof. T. replied to us that it 
was the Ceraloclilna Breviarislaia"—\n English, “'Short 
awn Horn Grass,” from the resem'olance of the points on 
the heads to the horns of cattle. Tliat it is a distinct vari- 
ety of grass, having the largest seed of any known grass 
of equal nutrition. That it is a native of the Pacific coast,, 
and if climatized, it would be exceedingly valuable for 
grazing stock, for making hay, and as a fertilizer. It is 
proper for me to say, that up to the time of the reception 
of Prof. Torrey’s letter I thought this grass was the wild 
oat of California, and it was so called. In order to be 
satisfied upon this point I got Dr. Neiseer to inform Prof. 
T. of this opinion. He assured us it was not an oat nor 
any kin of the oat family, and he proved it by sending us 
specimens of the wild oat of California, to show the differ- 
ence. He wrote us that he had specimens already of the 
Ceratnchloa Breviaristaia ” (the same as sent by Dr. 
Neisler) in his Herbarium, and referred us to Hooker’s 
late Botanical work for a full and true discription of the 
same. Prof T. says (which is no doubt true) that the 
wild oat of California and Texas is a true “Avena” and 
nothing else, and was introduced by Catholic Padres at 
the time of the establishment of Missions in those countries. 
Now, Gentlemen, I take the above to he good and irrefrag- 
ible testimony. Certainly it is more reliable than the windy 
declarations of Tom, Dick or Harry. Prof Torrey has 
made Botany a profession and study of life, and surely he 
ought to be as well posted up on all plants — their right 
name, class, native place, properties, &c., &c. — as “Alger- 
non,” or Mr, anybody else. 
Your obedient servant, 
B. V. Iverson. 
Colnmhus, Ga., 1855. 
TURPENTINE PRODUCT OF THE SOUTH. 
The following is the report of a committee appointed 
on the part of the turpentine producers of Alabama, in 
December last : 
The committee to whom was referred the resolution of 
Colonel James, upon the subject of the cultivation of tur- 
pentine, (fcc., beg leave to make the following report; 
That the character of the soil best adapted to the produc- 
tion of the turpentine pine should be of light and porous 
nature, with a subsoil of clay, capable of retaining mois- 
ture. The pine should be of an extended low-growing 
top, with thick bark and sap- wood — the trees not to stand 
so thickly upon the land as to be too much shaded by the 
overgrowing foliage. The numljer of boxes to be cut in a 
tree should begoveri'.ed by the size of the same. Asa 
general rule for cutting boxes, the committee recommend 
the following standard : The box to be thirteen inches rn 
horizontal width, three and a half inphes in horizontal 
depth, and seven inches in perpendicular depth. This 
will produce a box of the capacity of one and a quarter 
quarts, which, after a few year’s use, will be reduced to u 
box capable of containing a full quart only; which, from 
experience, your committee bchc.ve to be the most profit- 
able size. Taking a tree capable of sustaining two boxes, 
they would recommend that the boxes be cut side by side, 
with a life-streak of bark of four in'dies intervening be- 
tween them, in preference to cnttitig them opposite to 
each other, and that one-third or more of the bark should 
be left for the support of the tree, the boxes to be cut just 
at tlie bulge of tree near the root of the same. The corn- 
ers of the boxes should be cut out with the inclination of 
the face of the box, and to extend in a line perpendicular 
to the outer corners of the same, co as to show a line hori- 
zontal and the top of the box — the object of chipping be- 
ing to expose a new surface of the pores for the exudation 
of the turpentine. The cut of the hacker should extend a 
half inch in depth into the tree, and one-fourth in altitude, 
and the chipping shoulel be renewed once a week. The 
best instrument for the, purpose is the hacker with a small 
bowl, to be kept exceedingly sharp, and the best instru- 
ment for sharpening the same is the stone known as the 
Siam hone or .slip. 
Your committee have nothing new to suggest or recom- 
mend as to the best mode of dipping, or the best instru- 
ment for that purpose ; but in reference to the scrape or 
hard turpentine, they would advise the use of cloths in- 
stead of the old-fashioned box for receiving the same. The 
committee would recommend the light iron axle two- horse 
wagon as the most expeditious and economical for hauling 
turpentine. The frame for the barrels should be made of 
4 by 6 inch scantling, with segments of circles cut therein, 
one-half across the upper face of the same to receive the 
ends of the barrels, v/ith two interior parallel rails, so that 
when either end of a barrel is removed from the concave 
which it occupies, it can be rolled from the wagon on a 
smooth surface. The committee would recommend that 
when the distiller can avail himself of a hill side, the 
simplest plan to elevate turpentine to the still is to extend 
a railway from the top of the hill to the platform. If upon 
a level plain, the use of the machine employed by flour 
mills to elevate their sacks and barrels to the upper stories 
of the mill, the said machine being a platform, with four 
upright posts, with a roller at the end of each, two ropes 
from the roof of the still -house, passing beneath said roll- 
ers, (one on each side,) thence through sheave blocks and 
around a cylinder turned by a crank from below. In re- 
gard to preparing the turpentine for distillation, we refer 
you to the explanation made by a member of the commit- 
tee, as to the style best adapted to making the best article 
of rosin. 
The experience of your committee would lead them to 
decide in favor of a small size still, or with a flat and 
greatly extended surface. The committee would recom- 
mend that in distilling, the still should be charged to only 
two-thirds its capacity, to allow for the expansion of the 
material during ebullition. The amount of water to be 
supplied should be equivalent to the amount condensed 
in the still- worm, and kept in the same ratio so long us the 
spirit comes over, and should the still have a tendency to 
boil over, an increased amount of fuel is to be supplied 
until the excessive ebullition ceases; the heat is then to 
be diminished, and the still run regularly as before. Your 
committee deem it unnecessary to enlarge on this point, 
as they presume that in all cases of new beginners a prac- 
tical distiller will be employed. 
Your committee recommend that in addition to the usual 
mode of glueing the spirit casks, that the casks, being 
partially drained after eacl; gluing, be placed upon a hori- 
zontal plane, each head alternately placed upon said plane, 
and would further recommend the use of the Scotch glue, 
in all cases in wiiich the di.stiiler is unable to manufacture 
his own glue from good sound hides. The committee 
would recommend that in malting barrels and casks, the 
staves and heading should be fully dressed, ready for the 
tru.ss-hoop, and be permitted to remain some time pre- 
vious to being made into barrels, for the purpose of allow- 
ing the staves, &c., to shrink. By adoptii'g this course 
the barrels are less liable to leakage. The staves for tur- 
pentine barrels should be htJ inches in length, the head to 
be worked in a 20411011 truss-hoop. The spirit cask 
should contain 45 gallons, and, in case oak headirig can- 
not be obtained, would recommend the substitution of 
poplar instead. 
Never be dependent. Eat your crust honestly 
earned. Look the -world in the face; smile at its frowns 
and laugh at its malice. Use energy. Strive and still 
strive, and if all Is lost strive again. Never say die. 
