290 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
at one half of its thickness, which operation will give it 
somewhat the appearance of one half of a wedge. Now, 
you perceive, this will never do for a laich, as it now 
stands, so we must go to work and make it spring ; to do 
■this take your square and pencil and draw another line, 
half an inch from the first one you made, and about lour 
<or five inches from the other end make another, then take 
your drawing knife and work down between these twt) 
marks till you have reduced it to the thicknfes of a little 
over half an inch; after you have done this your work 
should locik as if it had been laid off with a gradle rocker. 
Now, by nailing tne bevilied side of this piece on the. front 
•of your gate frame and near the bottom, you will see that 
the top end stands off from the gate, and by presssing it 
to and from the ghte you will perceive that it springs, but 
to give it strength we must do a little more to it. Get out 
another piece twelve inches long, two wide and half an 
inch thick. This sh.ould be made of hard wood, and mor- 
ticed in your latch, before you have nailed it in place, 
some two or three inches irom the top, and as this piece 
must run through the gate frame, you. must make a mor- 
tice through the frame and sufficiently large to allow this 
handle to play freely. To use this latch, the gate should 
not be hung in the usual way, viz: instead of swinging 
between the two posts, it must strike against the post, 
(which siiould be at least twelve inches in size and left 
round, about one-fouith from the edge. You may use the 
common catcl!,oniy you must'driye it in the post up and 
down, so that the latcii may catch it as it sijrikes tJie* post 
By inclining your' posts a little the gate will' plose itself 
To use this latch for a gate that opens both ways, place 
your posts so farapart that your gate may swing between 
them, but your catch is to be let in the post so that the 
latch may catcuin passing. To rn^ike this catch, get out 
a piece som,e ten or eleven inches long, and after rounding 
it something like a cradig-rocker, make a notch wide and 
deep enough to receive your latch, ntul your work is done 
My post office is 'aw Dust, Columbia co., Ga., at which 
place I may be addressed by any requiring further infor- 
mation. , Respectfully, J. M. Hatcher. 
Richmond Co., Ga., July. 1855. 
larticalttiral Sifiaxtinint. 
WOES FOE THE MOKTH-fSEPIEMBEE.) 
[September, now the ninth, was anciently the seventh 
month, as is indicated by its name, which is derived from 
septem. signifying seven. It answers to Tushri, or Ethan- 
im, (1 Kings viii. 2,) the first month of the civil and the 
Mventh of the sacred year of the Jews. Our Saxon acces- 
tors called it Gerst month, or Barley-month, because bar- 
ley ripened with them at this season, and also Harfe.st- 
monath, or Harvest-month 
THE -PLANTATION. 
Cotton will now begin to open fully, and all hands 
must be set to picking, without delay. See that the lint 
is picked clean, and free from trash ; and do not gather 
it immediately after a rijin. It will dry better upon the 
stalk, than any where else, and nothing is lost by letting 
it rest for a day or two. Let your Gin and Press be of the 
best patterns, and in complete order; and see that all 
operations connected with the ginning, pressing and get- 
ting ready for market are performed in the most thorough 
and perfect manner. 
Coio Peas. — After a shower, and white waiting for your 
Cotton to become dry enough to pick, set the hands to 
gathering, drying and putting Peas away. 
Rye, Clover, Encerne, Barley and Winter Oats may be 
sown the latter part of this month. 
Turnips. — If not already sown, or if your first sowing 
did not come up well, lose no time now in putting in Rut* 
Baga, Yellow Aberdeen, Strap Leaf Red Top, large Nor- 
folk and other Turnips. (See directions in July and Au- 
gust numbers.) 
Hay. — Cut, cure and put away an abundance of hay, 
for the winter food of stock, fhould you be short of fod- 
der, make hay from Sweet Potato vines. Do not cu 
them until just before the first frosts in October, at which 
lime the tubers will probably have ceased growing — cur» 
the vines well, put them away under cover, and you will 
find that your cows, mules and even horses, will eat them 
with a good relish. Good fodder may also be made from 
the tops of the Pindar or Ground Pea, if .cut or pulled be- 
fore they wither. 
Weeds, Brush, &.c., may now be cut up, swampy land 
drained, woodlands prepared for pasturage, «S:-c., &c., aa 
heretofore directed. 
THE GARDEN. 
ofall kinds, if not already sown, should be 
put in without delay. (See August number for full direc- 
tions.) A full crop of Onio7is, to plant out in October, 
may now be sown. Sow genuine European seeds of 
Carrots and Beets any time this month. Sow, also, 
European Cabbage seed. Set out all the Brocoli and 
Cojnlifuower plants you may have on hand. Plant Snap 
Beans, and, if the weather is favorable, you will get a 
supply for pickles in October. Spinage, Lettuce, Radishes, 
Cress, Mustard, tf-cg may now be sown. Celery should 
be transplanted, and in dry weather haul earth to tha 
stems of that which you have heretofore transplanted. 
STRAWBERRY BEDS. 
Strawberry beds, or patches may now be prepared, and 
vines planted at any time during the fall or winter. A 
cool, moist, soil, rich in vegetable matter, suits the Straw- 
berry best, in our Southern climate. Subsoil the ground, 
or spade it as deep as possible, turning under an abundant 
supply of swamp muck, decomposed leaves, wood ashes, 
pulverized charcoal, and a little well rotted stable manure. 
Harro\fr or rake the surface, making it fine and even, and 
set-your plants in rows 3 feet apart, and 1 foot to 18 
inches in the row. After the plants become well rooted, 
cover the whole ground with partly decomposed leaves 
from the forest, leaving nothing exposed but the leaves 
and fruit stalks of the plants. 
THE FLOWER GARDEN AND SHRUBBERY. 
Remove layers of the Carnation. Plant Bulbous roots 
for early blooming, last of this month. Plant cuttings of 
the Chmjsanthemum. Plant Anemones also. Dress your 
borders, and trim and plant edgings. Spade and fork over 
vacant places, and prepare for future use. Plant cuttino-s 
of Heart s Ease, and trim off dead leaves from old plants. 
Clip Hedges of Privet, &c. Plant out seedlings — also 
Polyanthuses, Ramtniculuses, &c,, &c. Gather all seeds 
as soon as ripe, and store away carefully in a dry, shady 
place. 
