SOUTHERN CULTIYATOB. 
pasture, it should not be pastured the first year, i am al- 
so cultivating a native summer grass I found in my garden 
and intend saving the seed, T have just measured a stalk 
of it, which measured 4 feet 8 inches, and is very tender 
and juicy, and I am inclined to think it a superior sum- 
mer grass. 
I am convinced from my observations and experiment, 
that, with the proper fertilizers and cultivation, ours is 
the great grass growing section ol the United Slates, and 
if the eastern people who have for years past furnished 
this section with hay, could make one half the quantity to 
the acre that we can from our native grasses, they would 
have made fortunes by the trailic ; but the high price the 
eastern hay commanded here the past few years, has di- 
rected the attention of a fi3w to the cultivation of the dif- 
ferent varieties ol ibreign and native grasses, and I hope 
the results of these experiments v/i!l prove so favorable 
that in a few years such an article as eastern hay will not 
be found or known in our markets, P. B. Pomekoy, 
[tVi Country Goillemaii. 
MobiLc,Jiine2b, 1855. 
HOG RANGES, 
When you speak to a cotton planter about raising his 
own meat, and enough to supply his doctor, merchant, 
blacksmith, &c., he will, without hesitation, tell you that 
it will not pay. He can make more by planting cotton, 
even if he has to buy his own meat, or the greater part of 
it. This we admit is true, wiien cotton ranges at better 
prices than at present, provided he iias to feed liis hogs 
exclusively on corn and peas. But we do not admit the 
necessity of tliis process of making bacon. Tiiere is a 
much cheaper process tlian this opened to ai! the planters 
of this counti y, and a better one than to make cotton, and 
pay freight to Savannah, and then pay freight on hogs 
from Tennes.see. Some of our cotton planters have long 
since got a partial insigiit into this p’an, and the result 
lias been that they arc much better oil’ than those who buy 
their own bacon. The most llirifty planters in Hancock, 
are those who raise their own Hour and pork, at the risk of 
raising less cotton, and yet there is a plan by which they 
can raise it much cheaper than they do. 
Every farmer should have a hog range attaclied to his 
farm. It should have a good stream of running water, 
and might embrace from ten to one hundred acres, accord- 
ing to the amount of pork to be raised. The major part 
should be a forest which would answer tiia double pur- 
pose of raising timber for wood and acorns for your hogs. 
All the undergrowth should be cut out and burned. The 
dead trees cut down and split for wood and rails, as well 
us all the thick growth of saplings, pines, gums, dog- 
woods, and in fact all but oaks, hickories, walnuts, mul- 
berries, persimmons, &c. The oaks .should not stand 
thick, but let in plenty of air and sun, and they will bear 
much better One oak siandiu'r thus isolated will bear 
as much as half a dozen crowded. Particular attention 
should be paid to persimmon trees, in saving all that might 
bear. They will prove of immense value. 
Now for the orchard part. As many as you please. 
Plant plum trees that will ripen in May, June and July 
and some even later, in squares six feet each way, and 
they will soon cover the ground. Set out peach trees ten 
feet each way, of such kinds a.s vdll ripen from June to 
October, and try and plow them twice a year if po.ssible, 
and you will have fruit that will gladden the heart of a 
porker. Farmers who will begin this fail by tran.s- 
pianiing all the volunteer peach trees about their premises 
will, in three years, have a 6ne orchard for their hogs. 
With such a ling range, the farmer would have but little 
need to make drafts upon his crib, only in quantities to 
keep his hogs tame. The acorns, hickory nuts, &.c., 
would keep them during the winter and Bpring, and 
peaches, with the gleaning of the oat and wheat feelds,, 
would keep them till fall. Then the pea crop and the 
simmons would bring them up lo acorn lime again. Pei- 
tatoes,. ground pea.s, turnips, mulberries,' blackbemcs:, 
muscadines, would help, and the result would be, in- 
stead ol sending olf hundreds annually to Kentucky 
Tennessee for pork, it would return into your own pockets 
in various ways. You wottid not only save your bacot', 
but you would increase the value of your farm, the amovw!!*!. 
of such a firm, with no such appendage. V/ho will try 
it? — Central Gcarginn. 
^iiTEEAT CTLTURE—BLIJE STONE OR RLU2 
ICE HOUSES, &0. 
EDiTons SouTHEiiN CuL^rivuTOR — -Having but 
years exnericnce in farming, and one only in the cukare 
of wheat, 1 desire some particular information in regard [«• 
that article, since my ed’orts ihi« year have been atteaded 
with a total tailure. J observe from the July number 
the Cuiliuator that you intend answering the inquiries of 
a corre.‘pondeni in Loui.siapu relative to the subject; Ut 
wliich time you will highly favor me if you are able to* 
explain ihecaui'e of smut in Wheat and how it may he 
obviated. 
I itave made many ittquiriss, but it has not been sabs* 
factorily accounted ;br to rne. isawa communication 
iVom a Southern Planter, in the Mc'/nphis Appeal, recora- 
mending the use of blue vitriol as a soak — 1 lb. to four 
or live bushels, soaked J iiours — which course i pursued 
sowed the Kith oi Noveinbcr, which, 1 w-as aware, wac 
too late by one month, or more, perhaps; hut not know- 
ing at the time how to .sow it in cotton avithout injuring 
if, was induced to put k oil until the cotton was piekccs 
out. 
Some persons tell me that blue ston.c and vitriol are Gne 
and the same thing, which is possible, only that vkrio¥, 
possesses much greater strength, i paid four times the 
price of blue stone for iL 
1 also desire that you re- publish the at tide in regard 
the construction of cheap and efficient ice houses, for tlic 
benelit of new subscribers. Hoping to obtain some inlbr- 
malion from yourself or some practical farmers, beliewujiig; 
as ido that “in a muiiiiude of counselors there i.s safety,” I 
subscribe myself, 
Yours v/ith the highest esteem, 
F-Eliuious LmsHT?.. 
R.a3.i.A RRs --Our article on Wheat will be foundin present; 
number. The article oti Ice Houses was published in our 
August number. You used too much Blue Stone. Ott« 
ounce and a quarter in solution, is sufiicient for a busheS 
of seed wheat — sleep for an hour, and dry by .spreading 
out, before sowim;. — Ens. 
AcRicunTunE in Michioan. — The Agricultural College 
at Lan.sing, the capital of Michigan, is a new experimeuL 
The State has purchased a farm of T30 acres, with the in- 
tention of establishing a regular college thereon, in whkh 
all branches ofknowicdge connected with agriculture wiB 
be taught free of expense for tuition. Every Legislative 
district is to send a number of stndents, who shall not. 
only study, but they shall also actually work four hours & 
day. 
Corn from Africa. — 'i’he £ n .' t-on 'Pravcllcr -says: — 
“We nave before us a sample ofeorn, from a lo' 292 bags, 
brought to this city a few days since, from Winnebah, 
coast of Africa. The importation of this useful article 
from that quarter, is a circtwrislance we had never before 
heard ol. The corn resembles our white Southern oorn^ 
nut the kernels are somewhat srnalier. it is said lo 
well” 
