SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
28 ^ 
A few years since I was informed by a friend, whose 
word was reliable, that he had seen a cure effected by the 
copious use of whiskey, in an Indian family, even where 
swollen tongue and intense thirst had existed. 1 called 
attention thereto through our press, wdiich soon passed 
from paper to paper, and I have the gratification to learn 
that even in our own vicinity life has been preserved from 
such newspaper readings. The same recipe appeared in 
the old American Farmer^ I think, even, perhaps, 10 years 
before I heard it related, which, I presume, escaped my 
attention, from its exceeding simplicity— seeming un- 
reasonable. I have heard of frequent cures, and now be- 
lieve that whiskey is a sure relief, if it can be administered 
in time. 1 learn that if the patient can be made intoxi- 
cated the danger is past. The idea is, to use it as a 
uses it, to make one below the level of the brute ; for it is 
said that man alone becom.es below the brute by liquor. 
Yours truly, M. W. Philips. 
Edwards, Miss., Jidif, 1855. 
SMUT W WHEAT— LOCUSTS— WILL COW PEAS KILL 
HOGS? 
Editors Southern Cultiv.\tor— I design offering a few 
thoughts on three differents subjects, in. this single sheet, 
hence must be very paragraphic. 
Smut in Whe.\t. — In answer to E. E. H., upon tliis 
subject, in the July number of the Cultivator, I would say 
I am not a very extensive wheat grower ; I raise only for' 
my own use. I always sow the wheat raised the same 
year, and never had a head of smut in my life, that I know 
of. How long this may be the case I cannot tell. It is 
rapidly encroaching upon the planters in this country. I 
keep my wheat in a small framed house built for the pur- 
pose, which holds about 300 bushels, the top of which 
rolls off upon small wheels let into the plate holding the 
roof This roof is run ofif every day during the hot weather 
until the wheat is as dry as powder. It is my own inven- 
tion, made to keep clear of weevil. I have used it some 
six years with the most perfect success. Whether it will 
prove sufficient to keep out smut in the future I am not 
prepared to say, but would recommend it to R. E. H., and 
all other wheat growers. I am ready to give any farther 
information in my possession, if desired. I am so pleased 
with this method of putting up grain, that I have, built 
others for seed oats and stock peas. 
Locusts.— I intended to have replied to some Ohio 
Editor, who, as I learned from an extract in some of the 
newspapers, was, in a very praiseworthy manner, seek- 
io«- information in reference to those parts of the country 
where the locusts would make their appearance this year. 
This was not the year for them in the western division of 
tlie State of Tennessee. If I have' reasoned correctly they 
will make their appearance herq in 1859; that wdll com- 
plete the cycle of 13 years which has governed them 
since the time of my limited observation. They were 
here in great abundance in the year 1833. All over the 
country, in the year 184G, they were equally as abund^t, 
except on the lands which had been cleared prior to 1833. 
When they make their next return I presume thfey will 
not appear to any extent on the lands which were opened 
previous to 1846. Orchards which have been set since 
1846 in this country upon lands cleared before that time, 
I do not think will be much troubled by them. I 
know they have the power of locomotion, but whether 
they gather to any great extent upon trees and shrubs re- 
moved from the place when they come out of the earth is 
a question; perhaps your correspondent, J. R. S., can in- 
form us. 
Will Cow Peas Kill Hogs?— There is yet another 
question upon which I wish to be heard, for the benefit 
of all the readers of the Cultivator ; I need information my- 
self, and perhaps you, Messrs. Editors, or some of your 
numerous and experienced correspondents can give it. 
‘The question is, “Will stock peas kill hogs?” I am 
quite unwilling that any planter should get into the same 
scrape that I did in the winter of 1853. I intended to set 
forth my experience on this subject before now, but the 
pea crop of 1854 was so trifling all through this country 
that I thought there was but little chance of any damage 
from excess of that article. The present crop bids fair to 
do much better, and the time is now close at hand when 
all on this question should be known. I design present- 
ing a simple narrative of facts and let every one draw his 
own conclusions. I had about one hundred acres in corn 
well set in peas with a cross fence dividing, and a plenty 
of water. Previous to putting the fattening hogs in, some- 
time in October, I had a quantity of peas pulled up and 
cured and stacked on long poles placed in forks, then poles 
one above the other wuth the peas lashed over these poles. 
Commencing on the bottom pole in the first set of forks 
about two or three feet high, and then the second, some five 
feet, and the third and last pole, about seven feet from the 
ground, which, when finished, makes a most beautiful 
stack, resembling what is termed a top stack — broad at 
the ground and tapering almost to a point at the top. All 
things completed, I put in about 100 head of fattening, hogs 
in one-half of the field, which remained about six weeks 
without any damage from peas. They were taken out 
and put on corn to complete the fattening and the stock 
hogs let into the field with the cross fence down that they 
might have the benefit of the other half. They fattened 
very kindly and seemed to do remarkably well. When 
the winter had far advanced and the peas had nearly failed, 
I sent a boy down every day or two, to throw over some 
of the stacked peas to the stock in general. In riding 
around the field I soon discovered se,veral dead hogs, and 
enquired of the feeder how it had occurred. He attributed 
it to the horning of the cattle when he went to feed. I 
concluded if that were the only cause, that was not suf- 
ficient to take the trouble to separate them and haul the 
peas to them, and told him to open some holes in the pens 
around the stacks and let all the smaller ones in, and did 
not give myself much concern about it, as every thing 
was as fat as could be desired. Some days after this I 
rode over the field to see how the stock looked, and, to my 
great dismay, I found about 100 dead. Out of 100 shoats 
(about the proper size to mark) put in, I could not find but 
about 30 living, and these included, mostly, some shy 
ones which had never got in the pen. They were lying in 
the pens where the peas were ; piled up sometimes three 
deep. It is clear to my mind that the stacked peas killed 
them. None died till they were fed with them, and those 
died most that eat most. I hastened to get them away, 
and ^ few died after taking them from the peas. I con- 
tinued to feed horses and oxen on them and they did 
well Can- any body explain? 
We have raised the largest crop of wheat in this county 
ever before known. Corn crops were never more promis- 
ing> Oats are trifling. Cotton is a little better than com- 
mon. Respectfully, J. A. T. 
Nefcr Brqwnsville, T'cnn., 1855. 
GATE LATCHES. 
Editor.s Southern Cultivator — Two of the indispen- 
sable good things about a good farm are good gates and 
good latches. 
If I can do so without the aid of cuts, I desire to give 
your readers some instructions for making an excellent 
latch; one that will resist all attempts from cattle, and 
never fail to secure your gate, however much it may sag. 
Get out a piece of wood just tfiree feet long and two inches 
square. Now, with your square measure off fourteen 
inches, and with your pencil strike a line, from this line 
commence bcYilling off till you reach the end of your piece 
