SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
245 
So much for the river land mania, so completely cured 
by the fair test they have had of th4ir capability to stand 
drouth. 
But what I intended to say was, principally with re- 
gard to deep and shallow plowing of corn ; a fair test of 
both of which systems we have had, both here and on the 
river, and will simply state the facts as regards the mode 
of cultivation by two men in this neighborhood. About 
the same results have followed similar tests on the river 
lands : 
B has been living here several years; F 
moved here some time in January, rented a piece ofland 
from B , enclosed under the same fence as that 
which B cultivates ; B broke his land deep 
and close ; F- coming in late, had not time to pre- 
pare his so well; B , in planting, after having 
thoroughly broken his land broadcast, opened a furrow 
very deep with a turning plow, then run a shovel as deep 
as possible in the bottom of this and dropped his corn, 
covered it and leveled it with a harrow. After his corn 
w'as up some four inches high, F , having thrown 
his land into high beds, opened a furrow between them, 
covered with a turning plow and knocked off with board. 
The corn in both pieces came up with little or no rain ; 
and about the same time both commenced working. 
B — run round his very shallow with a turning plow ; 
Y run round his with a shovel next to the corn, 
following w'ith a two-horse turning plow, as deep as the 
plow (Peacock) would run, piling the dirt around the 
corn as high as possible. About two weeks afterwards, 
corn being about three feet high, F^ went down to 
work his corn again, and asked B how he intended 
to work his this time ; he answered that he never intend- 
ed to put another plow in it unless it rained, and asked 
what he was going to do with his ; he told him 
to come down and see. He went down, and there were 
’s hands with shovels, turning plows and hoes, 
as before ; the shovels running as close to the corn as pos- 
sible, turning plows following to bank up, and the hoes 
completing the ridging. 
Now for the result. In about one week a light rain fell ; 
P run around his corn with a turning plow about 
one inch deep ; hot, dry weather lasted about three 
weeks; F -’s corn continued to grow, so that when 
the rain came (about the first of June) it was seven feet 
high, rich, and growing, never having wilted; B ’s 
corn at the same time — about two weeks older — Was 
cboutfive feet high, very irregular, silking and tasselling, 
and the stalks about 30 per cent, smaller than F 's. 
Now, fit may be asked, why this is so I B 's 
land was much better broke at first. Why did it not, 
therefore, do best "I Well, this secret scientific men have 
been trying to reveal. 
Although I am not, myself, very scientific, I thir;k 
enough has been said by scientific men to warrant them 
in the conclusion that they done enough to *let Unpreju- 
diced men into the secret. • 
It is a well known fact, that notMng, either ib the ani- 
mal or vegetable kingdom, can thrive without access to 
.air and light ; the simple elements of whibh these impon- 
derable agents are composed areas essential te the growth 
and thrift of the corn plant as of man ; an’d it is plain that 
'Unless the earth is kept well pulverized these fine atoms 
can never enter th% surface nor find thehr way to the ebrn 
-roots'. 
Now, B- -’s error did not consist it\ the thorough 
breaking he gave his land at first ; but in not keeping it 
so pulverized as to admit the light and air, and had it not 
been for this breaking, by which means the roots were 
permitted to extend themselves downward in search pf 
moisture, his corn would not have done as well as it did. 
Now, I am an advocate of close, deep plowing, with 
certain limits ; but after corn has got to be 4 feet high it 
would not do ; for after that time the roots (if previously 
well cultivated) will have spread so as to make deep plow- 
ing seriously injurious, especially in dry weather. If, 
j however, previous to this time, it has received good culti- 
vation it will need no more. What I mean by good culti- 
vation •would amount to deep, thorough breaking, and 
two good deep, close, plowings, followed by the hoes. 
I allude, here, to the lands in our section, where neither 
Crab Grass, Burrs nor Tie-Vine has taken possession, as 
in some of the older States. But I believe the principle 
! of every farmer should be to plow his corn as long as it is 
necessary to pulverize the soil and will not injure the 
roots. So much for corn culture. 
Now, I wish some information. Our large Prairies, al- 
though traversed by running spring branches for every 
half mile in distance, are not suitable to hog raising ; and 
our farmers, before they can raise meat, must raise corn. 
Now, as it is as cheap to raise good hogs as bad ones, I 
wish to know what breeds would be best adapted to this 
sort of country, and which would be cheapest, taking into 
consideration the amount of feed requisite, the amount 
and quality of meat produced, &c. 
Also, what breed of sheep are best adapted to our cli- 
mate ? — which are the cheapest and most profitable, weight 
and texture of wool, amount and quality of mutton, hardi- 
hood, &c., all taken into account! 
Now, being done with bread, meat and wool, we come 
to Cotton. 
Several of our planters have tried the Sea Island Cotton, 
and it proves well. 
Query — Is it essential that this cotton be put up in 
round bags 1 Will packing, in the press generally used 
for common cotton, a small amount, say 300 pounds in 
the bale, injure the lint more or even so bad as the maul- 
ing process generally gone through with, in making 
round bags'? 
I shall be glad to hear from yourselves, or from any of 
your correspondents who may see fit to take notice of my 
inquiries. And if there are any who have the proper 
kinds of hogs and sheep for sale, let me hear from them, 
too; giving all the particulars, with regard to the animals, 
the chances for shipping, price,* &c. 
With sincere wishes for your success, I am truly, &c., 
G. W. L. 
Pleasant Hill, Gonzaks co,, Texas, Jiaie, 1855. 
COTTON EIGGING FOE SHIPS. 
Tnrs article, we are glad to see, continues to grow in 
public favor. The Delta states that at one time, during 
.the month of April, there were the following ships — all 
new and of large tonnage — in the .port of New Orleans, 
with a part or the whole of their running rigging and 
hawsers, of cotton cordage : — North America, Escort, 
ShakespeaiVe, of Boston ; Knickerbocker, of New York; 
Erie, Libetty; St. Patrick, of Thomaston, Me^ Walter 
Scqtt, Civillian, Saniscott, Robt. Lane, Sea Breeze, Sewell, 
of Boston. Tlie officers of all these ships were unanimous 
in their testimony ii\ favor of cotton cordage for running 
rigging, and many of them thought it would be adopted 
I for standing also. ' 
The Delta states that Donald McKay, the celebrated 
ship builder at Boston, the owner and build£r of the 
I famous clipper ship Republic, is adopting cotton cordage 
f/'ir all liis new ships. The large new clipper ship Caleb 
i Cushing, recently built at Newburyport, Mass.*, has all 
, her rigging, both standing and running, of cotton cordage, 
j Capt. J. P. Smith, of the ship Water Scott, gives it as his 
j opinion that it will outlast any rope, whether hemp or 
