THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
103 
ing on coins produced from the stumps of an 
apple tree, as cheat produced by a grain of rye 
or wheat. And moreover, a premium of $100 
was olFered by J. J. Thomas, one of the editors 
oi the New Genesee Farmer, about two years 
ago, for a specimen that would satisfactorily 
substantiate the fact of such change. We have 
not yet learned that the premium has ever been 
claimed, and we are not apprehensive that such 
a specimen will ever be produced. 
We have no kind oi doubt that Mr. J. is ful- 
ly convinced that his rye was changed into 
cheat. But had he been as unbelieving as we 
are on that subject, he would, no doubt, have 
made discoveries that escaped his observation. 
N. C. Farmers' Advocate. 
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1843. 
Back Numbers. — All new subscribers to the 
“Southern Cultivator” can be supplied with the 
back numbers. 
OUR VOLUME. 
As the present number concludes the first half 
of the first volume, it may not be improper ior 
us to say a few words to the friends ol the en- 
terprise. In entering upon the duties of pub- 
lishing an agricultural work at the South, we 
were not unadvised of the difficulties we should 
encounter in prosecuting the labor. We are 
the pioneers in Georgia — the planters generally 
had not accustomed themselves to consult theo- 
ries and to investigate the experiments of others 
in the pursuit of their labors — indeed, they had 
followed so long in the beaten track of their fa- 
thers, that we anticipated no little opposition, 
and not a few sneers at the introduction of what 
is usually denominated “booh farming.'” We 
are happy to perceive, however, that the preju- 
dices of a large portion of the people on the sub- 
ject are rapidly dissipating, and we confidently 
believe that the day is not far distant when the 
great mass of our planters will be constant pa- 
trons of an agricultural paper. This feeling is 
daily manifesting itself by the continued and ra- 
pidly increasing circulation of the “Southern 
Cultivator,” and the interest which seems 
generally to be excited in its behalf. Indeed, 
we may almost assert that it is already placed 
on a firm foundation, and will certainly become 
one of the permanent agricultural periodicals of 
the country, such is its present prospects, which 
we confidently believe will be fully realised. — 
For its success we have to thank numerous 
friends in various sections of the country, who 
have interested themselves in its behalf; and 
particularly are we under obligations to the 
press, for the very flattering notices we have re- 
ceived from our brethren of the corps editorial, 
to all of whom we return our most sincere 
thanks. Although we are well aware that our 
little sheet is far surpassed by some of the North- 
ern periodicals, whose facilities for publishing 
an interesting and valuable paper are much 
greater than ours, nevertheless the very flatter- 
ing reception which the “Southern Cultivator” 
has met at the hands of Southern planters, while 
it gives earnest of the future, testifies, in the 
most grateful terms, the estimation in which it 
is held by them. And we sincerely trust we shall 
go on and continue to ingratiate ourself more 
and more into their favor, till we have attained 
the highest point of our ambition, the rendering 
the work among the most in tere.sting periodicals 
in the country. This we will do if the planters 
will give us their countenance and support, for 
which Ave feel confident we shall not plead in 
vain. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
In returning our thanks to our friend Farrar 
for his communication in this number, contain- 
ing as it does so many valuable practical hints, 
we avail ourself of the occasion to repeat Avhat 
we haA'e before said to our planters on the sub- 
ject of writing communications for the press. — 
We know that very few of you are accustomed 
to write for the press, and you therefore feel 
some delicacy in doing so. This should not be 
— you do not hesitate to tell your neighbor, or 
even a stranger when you meet one, what you 
have accomplished by this or that experiment, 
or what improvement you have made by this or 
that system of culture. Then Avhy feel any de- 
licacy in telling it to every reader of the “South- 
ern Cultivator,” in the shape of a communica- 
tion? W e have before said to you, give us your 
facts and experiments, and tell them in the same 
easy, familiar style that you talk to your neigh- 
bors, and if you should happen to spell a word 
Avrong, or write an ungrammatical sentence, 
we Avill make all these corrections for you and 
put it in ship shape. You need not, therefore, 
feel the slightest fears about your spelling or 
diction. 
DOMESTIC SILK. 
Accompanying the communication of Mr, 
Cassedy, which will be found in this number, 
AAT received seven skeins ol very beautiful sew- 
ing-silk, equal, if not superior in strength, to 
the Italian, and only inferior to the imported ar- 
ticle in the lustre imparted in the dying and fin- 
ish. Indeed, with such specimens of native 
silk as that noAV before us, we think it not at all 
extravagant to anticipate that the day is not far 
distant Avhen the culture of silk will become an 
important branch of Southern production. It 
is yet in its infancy, ’tis true, and much has yet 
to be learned, but wn doubt not that the enter- 
prise and industry of our citizens will accom- 
plish all that may be attained, particularly when 
Ave reflect that the low price of their great staple 
necessarily will drive many to seek some neAv 
enterprise for the distribution of their labor. — 
We therefore hope that those of our citizens, 
Avho have an opportunity, wall continue to make 
experiments by way of testing its utility, — and 
Avn suggest to all who feel a disposition to make 
such experiments, to pursue the Italian system 
of culture rather than the French. The reason 
for this is very obviofis — the climate of Italy is 
quite the same as our own, Avhilethat of France 
is much colder. — It is, therefore, important that 
we should adopt that system of culture which 
long experience has established in those cli- 
mates approximating nearest our OAvn. 
CULTURE OF GAMA GRASS. 
I feel much gratified by your excellent re- 
marks on the subject of the Gama Grass, in 
your valuable periodical of the 19th April last. 
A practical knowledge of this plant for the last 
twenty years, and having given the first impulse 
to public attention towards it in the South and 
East, I feel some more than usual interest in it, 
especially as this acquaintance and experience 
compels a belief that it is yet the most valuable 
grass for animals, and for the interests of the cul- 
tivator of the soil, considered in every yoint of 
view, wherever the locality is found favorable, 
that is yet known. From the nature of the re- 
marks that I have read regarding it, it is evi- 
dently ranked by some gentlemen amongst the 
coarse grasses. On this part of the subject, I 
must remark, that the degree of coarseness de- 
pends on the mode of cultivation, and the stage 
at Avhich it is cut and used. At fifteen days’ 
growth, I must contend that it is among the most 
delicate known, more neatly resembling the blue 
grass than any other. 
Taking your judicious replies to the queries’ 
proposed as they stand, to the first I beg leave 
respectfully to add, that my first and so highly 
successful essay to cultivate this grass, was on 
a fine sandy land, with a red clay foundation, 
dark grey surface about six inches; although 
some of the finest specimens that I have ever 
seen are found on the Ioaa' grounds of the Tom- 
bigbe, and the black rich limestone prairie 
lands of the Choctaw nation, in about 32^“. — 
Another splendid growth, say many acres in a 
body, is found in a state of nature, twelve or fif- 
teen miles east of the Tombigbe, on the rotten 
limestone land, bordering a small creek. 
2d query. — For a perfect cultivation of this 
grass, trench plough as deep as possible, previ- 
ous to setting a piece of ground with this grass; 
let the largest bar-shear be felloAved by a propor- 
tionably large scooter, or bull-tongue plough; 
and, if possible, cross the land in the same way, 
recollecting this extra work is onty once during 
a life time. Pay no attention to the foundation 
of your soil, but loosen deep. To prepaie other 
land in the Avay to produce the most lasting and 
successful groAvth, I spread, previous to the first 
ploughing, a hearty coat of manure. I admit 
the cultivation will cause the manure to sink^ 
but not half as deep as the roofs will penetrate. 
At the second preparatory ploughing, I lime, if 
the soil is any other than rotten limestone land 
or prairie; I prefer entirely raising the plants on 
a bed and setting the land, as in the case of the 
tobacco plants, and set them fifteen inches apart 
every way. Here, it must be recollected, that 
the disposition of this plant to spread its roots, 
as well as to godoAvn perpendicular, is such that 
at even two feet from plant to plant the cultiva- 
tor cannot calculate on giving ^his field of it 
more than one ploughing, or two at most, the 
first and second year after setting out the plants, 
and indeed, during his life. This can be done 
safely the first and second year by running a 
bull tongue with a small mule, guided by a 
careful ploughman, between the rows, each way 
tAvice in the same tract. All after cultivation 
must be with the pronged hoe. With this tool, 
Avell made, a skilful hand will clean and loosen 
the ground at every hoeing nine to twelve inches. 
GLuery 3d — Fully answered. 4th — Cut it 
with a sickle or scythe; what you cut, scatter as 
fast as cut, before tioelve o’clock; if the weather 
is clear, turn over next morning after the dew is 
off the grass, and stack after 12 o’clock, sprink- 
ling salt liberally while stacking, for hay cut 
every thirty days; not a grain of the salt used 
Avill be lost. 5th — After gathering the seed, 
throw them into a vessel, mixing with them any 
moderately moist sandy soil, keeping the vessel 
in a cool and rather damp place, tintil planting 
time. 6th— If perfectly cultivated for hay, this 
