220 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
A Novel Occurrence with Bees. — Mr. V. S. Auglier, 
a wagoner, relates the following curious facts about hiv- 
ing a swarm of bees, during his downward trip. The 
swarm was passing over a train of cotton wagons, when 
all hands commenced yelling at them and cracking their 
v/hips, making such another din as wagoners only can 
make. The bees became confused and descended, first at- 
tempting to settle under the arm of our informant, but pre- 
vented from that, they then attempted to light on the un- 
covered head of one of the party, but as he did not fancy 
the possibility of a thousand stings inflicted on his crani- 
um, he substituted his hat, and finalljr’ got them quietly 
settled on the crown. The hat was then secured on the 
top of one of the loads and thus carried 6 or 8 miles to the 
£rst farm house, where they, were securely hived. — Hous- 
ton ( Texas) Telegraph, of May 7. 
ladicnltiiwl lepaitmtnt. 
WOEK FOE THE MONTH-(JULY.) 
[July, being the fifth month of the old Roman calendar, 
was originally called Quintilis,, ov ffth ; but afterwards 
received its present name (Latin, Julius) in honor of 
Julius Ccesar, v/ho was born in this month. It answers 
to Ab, the eleventh month of the Jewish civil, and fifth of 
their sacred year. The Saxons called it Har, or Hey- 
month, because in it they mowed their grass, and gather- 
ed their hay-harvest ; and also Litha-aftera, the After-mild- 
month, in allusion to the mildness of the weather, or, as 
some think, from “lithan,” “to sail," because at this season 
they made their voyages.] 
THE PLANTATION. 
Cotton. — Work this crop steadily to encourage the de- 
velopment and retention of forms and bolls. Shallow, sur- 
face culture, with light sweeps, followed by the hoe, will 
be found the best method for the accomplishment of this 
object. Do not allow the grass or weeds to “ come to a 
stand" either in the row or middles — wage a steady and 
relentless warfare upon them during this month, after 
which, they will not give you much trouble. An imple- 
ment lately introduced from the North, Knox’s Horse 
Hoef is by far the most perfect and complete Cotton and 
Corn worker we have ever seen. It does the work of at 
least 20 (some say40!) hoe hands, and is unrivalled for the 
culture of all drill or row crops. Its present price, how- 
ever, (S8 or SO) must prevent its general introduction, and 
we only call attention to it in the hope that some inventive 
genius in the South may get up a modification of it in 
cheaper form — also stronger and more durable, for negro 
use. 
Corn. — In many sections, this important crop is already 
laid by. Where it is not, however, it will be well to give 
it a constant surface working until prevented by the 
spreading of the blades across the rows. Allow no weeds 
to appear in your corn field — both cannot flourish on the 
same ground. Do not use the plow among your corn 
after the first two workings. It breaks and tears up the 
young rootlets, and does far more injury than good. At 
the last working, sow Coio Peas broadcast, and cover 
with the sweep, cultivator or harrow. Plant, also. Pump- 
kins, in every second or third hill, and when well up, thin 
to one plant in a hill, and work carefully. 
Cow Peas should now be sown broadcast for hay, at the 
rate of a bushel to six pecks to the acre. Scatter over the 
surface evenly, and cover with a turning plow; or, first 
plow your ground deeply, sow your seed, and drag in 
with a harrow. Cow Peas intended for seed, may be 
sown in drills, three feet apart. 
Pumpkins may be planted as a separate crop. Prepare 
the ground as for Watermelons ; hills 10 feet apart. When 
well up, thin to one or two strong plants in a hill, give 
these a sprinkling of Plaster or Gypsum (a small handful 
to each hill) when the dew is on ; loosen the earth, care- 
fully breaking the crust, without disturbing the plant, and 
then let them run. The after work consists in shallow 
surface culture, and the destruction of weeds, until the 
vines cover the entire ground. 
Pulling Fodder, we consider a slow, laborious and poor 
business — one that “does not pay” in any w'ay, and which 
should be discontinued by all enlightened and economical 
planters. We confidently offer the following substitute : 
Corn Fodder. — Break up, very deeply, a piece of rich- 
land, harrrow it finely, and with the bull-tongue, or rooter 
lay it off in drills three feet apart. In these drills scatter 
corn at the rate of 40 or 50 grains to the foot, and cover 
with a hoe, rake or harrow, drawn lengthwise along the- 
drill. When well up, “run around it,” pretty close, with 
a long rooter, and repeat after 10 or 15 days. In the 
course of 10 or 15 days more, break out the entire mid- 
dles with the rooter, and finally lay'by with the shovel 
plow, running up and down in the same furrow, midway 
between the drills. On good land, prepared and worked 
in this way, the yield will be from 3 to 6 tons, (sometimes 
even 10) of excellent fddder per acre. This is as much as 
oan he pulled from 20 or 30 acres, in the common way, and 
at one-tenth of the labor. Pound for pound, it is as good, 
if not better than pulled fodder, as it contains the entire 
juice and strength of the plant, which, in the other case> 
has gone to the formation of the ear or grain. The loss of 
weight and injury to the grain, by depriving corn stalks 
of their leaves before all growth has ceased, is fully equal 
to the value of the fodder pulled. We, therefore, desire 
that our readers should abandon this “old fogy” practice, 
and give drilled corn fodder a fair trial. It is not yet too 
late, but should be done immediately. Any one who fair-- 
ly tests it, will, we are quite certain, abandon fodder pull- 
ing, forever. 
Curing Corn Fodder. — The proper time to cut drilled 
fodder, is when all the stalks are fairly tass,eled out, or in 
full bloom. It may be cut close to the ground, with a 
long, sharp knife, ora sickle. Select,a dry day, commenc- 
ing early in the morning, and cutting until dinner time. 
As fast as it is cut, spread it thin along the row, and let ii 
lie and take the sun, until after dinner, when the upper 
side will be pretty well wilted. Then turn it over careful- 
ly, and leave it on the ground until 5 o’clock in the even- 
ing, when it must be gathered up, tied in bundles of 
moderate size (say a foot through at the band) and set 
up on the butt end, in shocks of 4 or 5 bundles each. The 
next day, after sunrise, these bundles must be untied and 
the fodder spread out again until noon, and' then turned 
and sunned till evening, as before. It may then be per- 
manently stacked or packed away under cover ; and if, 
while packing, the different layers are sprinkled with salt, 
at the rate of say 4 quarts to an ordinary 2-horse wagon 
load, it will be more highly relished by stock, and all dan- 
ger of heating obviated. Many persons make a great 
mystery of curing drill or broadcast corn fodder; but we 
have ahvays found this simple method sure and effectual. 
Cutting up corn in the field, and using the stalk and leaf 
for the winter feeding of stock, has also many advantages,, 
which we shall speak of more in detail hereafter. 
Sweet Potatoes must now be worked carefully, throv/ing' 
up some fresh mellow earth to the ridges, and destroying 
all weeds. Make your last planting of “draws;” and if 
the weather is very dry, before planting dip the roots in 
a thin batter of muck and water — plant just at night fall — 
and manage as heretofore directed. As soon as possible,. 
