SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
153 
destruction has spread far and wide; and we only hear 
of a few sections in this and the adjoining States, where 
even half a crop of fruit may be expected. 
Since the frost (now nearly a month) we have had but 
one good rain ; and, at the present writing (April 19th) j 
the growing crops are wilted, drooping, almost dying, 
from the long drouth. The mercury in our thermometer 
now (3 P. M.) stands at 92° in the shade, and the slight 
breeze that is stirring is forcibly suggestive of the simoon, 
or the fiery breath of a furnace ! We are no “croakers” 
or alarmists : but we hazard little in predicting “ short 
crops,” (so far as our immediate section is concerned) 
unless the weather soon takes a more favorable turn. 
AETHTJE’S SELE-SEALING, AIE-TIGHT PEESEEVING 
CANS. 
We are indebted to the proprietors for several samples 
of this newly-invented patent Can, for the preservation of 
fresh Pruits, Vegetables, Preserves, &c., &c. It is alto- 
gether the most convenient and economical article of the 
kind that we have yet seen, and bids fair to be of great 
value and utility. We intend to give it a fair trial, the 
present season, and shall repoi't upon its merits. The 
Cans, of assorted sizes, from a pint to a gallon, may be 
ordered through D. B. Plumb & Co., of this city, or from 
the proprietors, Arthur, Burnham & Co., Philadelphia, 
Pa. We will furnish a more particular description of 
tliese cans, hereafter. 
» NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
^ipHS Arator, is the title of a new agricultural monthly, 
0 ^ .32 pages, the first number of which was issued last 
i^th at Raleigh, North Carolina, by Thos. J. Lemay, 
Esq., Editor and Proprietor. It presents evidences of in- 
dustry and zeal, and will, doubtless be an efficient co- 
worker of the Co.rolina Cultivo.tor, which we noticed 
last month. The nap of Rip Van Winkle” may be 
considered fairly broken, if these two journals receive 
the support they deserve from the farmers and planters 
of North Carolina. 
The Horticulturist, for April, is an excellent num- 
ber. The following are the leading articles: — “Is Pear 
Culture Profitable I” by the Editor ; “Biographical sketch 
of Thomas Hogg, Sen.;” “Osband’s Summer Pear; “Jen- 
ny Lind Seedling Strawberry;” “Evergreen Shrubs;” 
“Green Houses and their hlanagement ;” “ Curculio 
Remedies ;” “Village Cemeteries ;” “An Italian Cottage ;” 
Editors Table, &.C., &c. Published monthly at Rochester, 
N. Y., by James Vick, Jr. Plain edition, S‘2 per year; 
colored, 35. P- Barry, Editor. 
The Relation OF Chemistry to Agriculture, and the 
Agricultural Experiments of Mr. J, B. Laaves. By 
Justus V. Liebig. Translated by Samuel W. Johnson, 
at the author’s request. Albany, N. Y.: Luther 
Tucker, Publisher. 1855. 
This excellent little treatise will be welcomed as an 
important addition to our rural literature. It may be re- 
garded as a hand-book of Agricultural Chemistry ; and as 
it corrects many errors into which careless experimental- 
ists have fallen, it will be found worthy of general atten- 
tion. 
It may be obtained per mail for 25 cents, by addressing 
Luther Tucker, Albany, N. Y. 
The New York Quarterly. Devoted to Science, Phi- 
losophy, Literature, and the Interests of our United 
Country. Vol. 4, No. 1, April, h 55. New York: 
James G. Reed, Publisher, 348 Broadway. 
The present telegraphic and daily-newspaper age is 
rather too “fast” for the ponderous and stately “ Quarter- 
ly-,” and yet we confess to a great liking for the “sober 
second thought,” the chastened fancy and the thorough 
scholarship, which characterizes many of these journals. 
I “ The New York Quarterly” claims to be entirely free 
from “sectional and sectarian prejudices,” and as it is a 
work of high literary merit, we can safely commend it to 
the favorable notice of our readers. The leading papers 
of the present number are “Post Office Improvements ;” 
Taste in New York;” “Washington Irving — his Home 
and his Works;” “Lunar Influences;” “The Modern 
Architecture of New York; “The Hawiian or Sandwich 
Islands;” “Contemporaneous Literature, &c., &c. Terms 
— 33 per annum. Address James G. Reed, as above. 
LETTER FROM DR. KERSH—CORRECTION. 
Editors Southern Cultivator. — Oblige me by cor- 
recting one error in printing one word in my letter to 
you in the last (April) number of the Cultivator. I 
wrote thus ; “ Lime never can be bought, in our climate, 
to decompose vegetable matter;” the word I wrote 
bought is printed “ brought,” and it alters or expresses 
a sentiment that I feel ashamed to go before the eye of an- 
intelligent community. However strong I might advocate 
any scientific theory of the yiodus operandi of mineral 
manure — a very great and practical subject, and one, the 
modus operandi of which must be correctly understood, if 
agriculture wishes to rise high in the successful o.pplication 
of those fundimental fertilizers. I never like to express 
anything but the true inductions of science. 
You will find in the EoAr field Herald, another letter 
published ; addressed, through that paper, to Dr. Lee, by 
myself. Read it, and if worth a place, I will be happy 
to see it, also, in the Cultivator. It is a second letter 
rendering more explicit some points I touched on in my 
first letter to Dr. Lee. Very respectfully, 
Wm. D. Kersh, M.D. 
Winnsboro, S. C., April, 1855. 
TO DESTROY RED ANTS. 
We find the following in a late number of the Dollar 
Newspaper. The remedy seems feasible, and should be 
tested : 
Messrs. Editors — Would you give place, in your valu- 
able paper, to a sufferer from a small, but troublesome 
animall I mean the little red ant. The neighborhood in 
which I reside is infested with them to such an extent, 
that nothing is safe from their depredations. We are 
obliged to keep some of our provisions surrounded with 
water, and some on hanging shelves, withthe ropes tarred, 
and I have tried all the advertised remedies, but without 
any sensible effect. Perhaps some of your numerous 
readers who ai'e possessed of a knowledge of chemistry, 
could mention some article which would be efficient in 
bringing about their destruction, and thereby benefitting 
not only my neighborhood, but many others, who may 
be sufierers from these troublesome little “varmints.” By 
giving this an insertion you will much oblige ■ 
Anti-Ant. 
A correspondent sends us the following in answer: — 
We give you a sure remedy — procure a large sjtonge, 
wash it well; press it very dry ; by so doing it will leave 
the small cells open — lay it on the shell' where they are 
most troublesome, sprinkle some fine, white suitar on the 
sponge — (lightly over it); two or three times a d;iy,takea 
bucket of hot w:iter to where the sponge is, carefully dro]> 
the sponge in the scalding water, and you will .slay them 
by tlie thousands, and soon rid the house of those trouble- 
some insects. Yours truly, J. J. 
P. S.— ^Vheri you sqeeze the sponge, you will be as- 
tonished at the number that had gone in the cells. 
