300 
SOUTHERNCULTIVATOE. 
i-un<pe or ihe United States in less than 90 days; indeed 
some of the long-legged, swift- footed clippers have nearly 
perfornned voyages of circumnavigation in but little over 
half that time. 
“I'hus while winds and storms have enabled traders to 
fetch and carry in half the time or less, they did before 
and so reduced the compass of the world to half its former 
dimensions in time, they have on the other hand brought 
markets that were before completely inaccessable and 
placed them within easy reach of the producer, and so 
enlarged the world by increasing its capacities to sustain 
population. The opening of new markets or making old 
ones more accessable is a great thing for the farmer. 1 
had the pleasure, not longsince, of meeting with one who 
was so situated moreover, that while he enjoyed these ad- 
irantages he could appreciate for himself and his neigh- 
bors the benefits arising from them. Tobacco had been 
4he staple of his part of the country, but with these new 
market facilities he and his neighbors, he told me, had 
gone largely into breadstufFs also. 
‘Do you grow less Tobacco than formerly T I asked. 
“ ‘No,’ was the reply. 
“ ‘Whence comes the labor for producing the bread 
slufFs— do you import it V 
“ ‘No’ — our laboring force is the same, and we get it 
for the breadstuff, simply by giving another turn to the 
screw. 
“ Thus, you observe, that these improvements in com 
merce and navigation have a stimulating effect upon pro- 
duction and help the farmer to make ‘two blades of grass 
to grow where but one stood before.’ It appears, there 
fore, that farmers as well as merchants and sailors have 
been benefiited by the ‘wind and current charts,’ and the 
i mprovemenls to which they have led. It would seem, 
then, that they have a great interest in the Meteorology 
©f the sea. Now, if their interest in Marine Meteorology 
be so considerable, how much more so must it not be in 
Agricultural and sanitary Meteorology 'I Why will noi 
the farmers, therefore, ask that the government will 
authorize me to do as much for the Meteorology of the 
land as I have been permitted to do for that of the sea 1 
“And this, my dear sir, brings me exactly to the point 
where you and all other farmers may help out this good 
cause. Will not the farmers and planters of Georgia, as 
well as those of every other Staie, ask their Representa 
iives in Congress simply to extend that degree of encour- 
agement to Agricultural Meteorology that has been so 
cheerfully, and may 1 not say beneficially, extended to 
Sea Meteorology 1 By so doing, you and they might en- 
able me to accept your kind ofFer to co-operate and ob- 
serve gratuitously.” 
“N.B. — Will not your State Agricultural Society take 
action in the premises, and commend the policy, by reso 
lotion, to the favorable consideration of your Representa- 
tives in Congress'? Such action on the part of the Society 
of every State would procure for the plan, certainly, a 
trial.” R. B. 
Rome^ Ga., 1855, 
PLAlJTATIOli AHD FARM GAm 
Editors Southern Cultivator — I herewith send you 
a rough draught of my farm gate, with the latch, described 
in your September number, attached. The upright lever, 
which may be used or not, is useful enough to open your 
gate when you are on horseback. I use scantling 3 by 4 
and 5 by 5^ in length — the slats are 1 by 4 wide and 
10 feet long — 7 slats wuth one good brace is ail-sufficieni 
for an excellent gate. A stout wrought iron nail, made in 
the shop, should be driven through the slats and brace 
and well clinched, as represented in the cut; but if pir.s 
are used, let them be made with a head, and securely 
wedged on the opposite side, for which purpose they 
should be allowed to come through seme hall inch. Let 
the slats be pinned through the .scanting also. For these 
gales any kind of hinge will answer, but 1 prefer one made 
ofl^ by iron, and fitted astride of the back scantling, 
and secured in its place with two wrought rails on either 
side. For the top lunge, 1 use a square large enough to 
slip over the scantling, letting it test on the top slat, and 
secure it with one nail, on either side. 
It will be seen that these gates may be made without 
using a single nail, still 1 would give preference to the 
nails, for the reason that they require no wedging. I 
have two or three made without nails, v^hich have been 
swinging in their places for the last six years, and no 
sign yet of any disposition to sag. If prel'eried, a 
twelve inch at the bottom, v/ith two tenons on each end 
may be used, but with this five slats will be enough. 
Rcspectlully, J. M. Hatcher, 
Remarks. — We were not able to have the drawing sent 
us engraved for present number, but any information 
needed may be obtained by addressing Mr. Hatcher, at 
Saw Dust, Columbia County, Georgia. — Eds. 
BARLEY— SESCUE GRASS— GRAPES, &C. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — Will you or some of 
your subscribers give me some information concerning 
Bailey '?* Is it equal or superior to rye or wheat as cured 
fodder'? Does it bloom as early as either 1 Does it require 
strong land, dry or moist'? Which is the best time to sow 
it? and, finally, where can good seed be obtained? and 
what quantity is commonly sown to the acre? The 
beard of the rye will sometimes effect or even kill mules, 
when fed much on it, and for that reason I would like to 
substitute another grain. Oats are too uncertain. 
While on the subject of grain, will you allow me to say 
a word concerning the Rescue Grass. About the year 
1841 or ’42, 1 do not remember which, a friend of mine, 
formerly of St, Thomas Parish, Charleston District, return- 
ed fromTi xas, his now home, on a visit to his family ; he 
distributed among his friends seeds of a grass which he 
called “Texas Oats.” I came in fora small share, through 
a mutual friend. I sowed it very carefully in a well pre- 
pared spot in a flower garden. It yielded very heavy grain, 
bull did not like it on account of its being so very short, 
scarcely a foot high. I have tried it in other places with 
no better result. It still comes up yearly in my flower 
garden, where I allow it to remain for the verdure it gives 
us during winter. Frost has no effect upon it. It comes 
up in November and December, remains very small until 
the early spring, shoots up for seed at the same time as 
Rye, and dies in June. I have called it by the name of 
Texas Oats, until last spring, when a friend and neighbor 
of mine asked me to look at his patch of the celebrated 
Rescue Grass. To my surprise i recognized the identical 
Texas Oats I had had in my garden for twelve or four- 
teen years, not higher and no more valuable than mine. 
This grass may do better elsewhere, but I fear Mr 
Iverson will have to yield, “R^cue or no Rescue.” 
The Grapes in our vineyards are ripening fast. The 
rot has disappeared. It has, this season, only affected the 
Isabella. The others are splendid. A. C. 
S. C., Auz., 1855, 
To Cure Broken Horns. — Remove the mutilated horn, 
and bind the slump with a cloth well tarred or pitched ; 
any fabric will do to bind with, if the wounded part be 
first well covered with warm pitch. 
* See article on Rye and Barley in present number.— 
Eds, 
