THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATQR. 
205 
that tlie r-jcker roots are ranged from below to 
above, but the contrary. 
Fium the experiments of Ugazy, who tried 
seventy -.six witti different grains, it is clear that 
shallow sowing, if the seed is only so far cov- 
ered as to sprout, and the germ is protected 
fro.n iiumediate contact with the air, is prelera- 
b!e to laying the seed deep, because it springs 
np quicker, and acquires a stronger growth, and 
has hardier plants. — Burger's Economy of Farm- 
nig, 
THE ECONOMY OF AGRICULTURE. 
Liberality constitutes the economy of agri- 
culture, and perhaps it is the solitary human 
occupation, to which the adage, ‘the more we 
give the more we shall receive,’ can be justly 
applied. Liberality to the earth in manuring 
and culture is the fonntain of its bount}" to us. 
Liberality to laborers and working animals is 
the fountain of their profit. Liberality to do- 
mestic brutes is the fountain of manure. The 
good work of a strong team causes a product be- 
yond the hard work of a weak one, after de- 
ducting the additional expense of feeding if; 
and it saves moreover half the labor of the 
driver, sunk in followiiig a bad one. Liberali- 
ty in warm houses, produces health, strength 
and comfort; preserves the lives of a multitude 
of dome.stic animals; causes all animals to 
thrive on less food; and secures Irom damage 
all xinds of crops. And liberality in the uten- 
sils of husbandry, saves labor to a vast extent, 
by providing the proper tools lor doing the work 
both well and expeditiously. 
Foresight is another item in the economy of 
agriculture. It consists in preparing woikfor 
all weather, and doing work in proper weather, 
and at proper times. The climate of the Uni- 
ted Stales makes the first easy, and the second 
less diiiicult than in most countries. Ruinous 
violations of this important rule are yet frequent 
from teinper and impatience. JNolhing is more 
common than a persistence in ploughing, mak- 
ing nay, cutting wheat, and other works, vFen 
a small delay might have escaped a great loss, 
andtne labor employed to destro}', would have 
been employed to save. Crops of all kinds 
are often planted or sown at improper periods 
or unseasonably, in relation to the state of the 
weather, to their detriment or de.struction, Irom 
the want of an arrangement of the work on a 
farm, calculated for doing every species of it 
pleci^ely at the periods and in the seasons most 
likely to enhance its profit.— ^'Arator's" Essays. 
Toons, AND Toon Sheds. — There should be 
attached to every farm house, a Tool Shed, ca- 
pable of containing all the implements required 
on the larm, during winter, and at other sea- 
sons when not in actual use. The expense of 
such a convenience is a mere trifle, compared 
with its advantages, and would be more than 
economising in a few years. "We have often 
been surprised on beholding the ploughs, carts, 
ox-wheels, harrows, and w^heelbarrows, exposed 
in the yard of a farmer, who was too “saving” 
to pay a couple of dollars a year for a paper, 
and who perhaps would look upon the annual 
disbursement lor such a purpose, as a drain up- 
on his exchequer not “to be endured.” And 
yet, he could complacently behold his tools 
rending and rusting in an exposed situation 
without even thinking of the loss, or the saving 
that might be effected simply by providing a 
substantial protection from the airs and rains. — 
Maim Cultivator. 
Excerpts. — Brass and metal kettles should 
never be used in the preparation of preserves. 
Iron ware lined with porcelain or tin, is much 
preferable, and not subject to the verdigris 
which acids produce on the others. 
Give hens chalk or egg-shells wuth^their food, 
and they will lay double as many eggs as be- 
fore. 
A farmer should never keep more cattle than 
he can keep in good order. An animal in high 
condition the first of December, is already half 
wintered. 
From the American Agriculturist. 
TOPPING COTTON— MARL. 
Sumpter District, S. C., Nov. 4, 1843. j 
In those excellent matter-of-fact articles on j 
the cultivation of cotton, which have appeared 1 
in the late numbers of your paper, by Dr. Phi- I 
lips of Mississippi, and which, by the way, are 
the best I have ever seen on the subject, I do not 
recollect that he has touched upon the subject 
of topping cotton. I have made one experi- 
ment in this, and was pleased with the result. — 
Some planters north ot u-, I understand, have 
also tried this method, and find the cotton is not I 
so apt to shed, as when it is not topped, espe- | 
cially in wet seasons. Ordinarily w e reckon 
the first week in August the best time fortop- 
ping; but this, of course, will depend upon tue | 
season, and the furwardness of the crop — for 
sometimes it mu.st be earlier, and sometimes 
later. 
I tried the effects of what I suppose to be 
marl, on a small spot in one of my fields, say 
about one acre. The marl 1 judge to be of poor 
quality, yet can not sav, positively, as I have 
no analysis of it. 1 dug it out in January last, 
and spread it broadcast, at the rate of 30 loads 
to tlie acre, as large as an ordinary pair of mules 
would carry. It seemed to pulverize well, ex- 
posed to the severe frost of last wdnter, and I 
ploughed it in deeper than I usually plough, and 
harrowed the land w'ell. The result is, I shall 
get full one-third if not one half mot e cotton 
off this piece than any other part of the field, 
which more than pays me for the trouble. 
I need not say that we read the articles on 
manures inthe Agriculturist with much inter- 
est; for many of us are beginning to learn that 
it is not only easier and better, but even cheaper 
to renovate our old lands, than emigrate to a 
new'^ country and bring new lands into cuitiva- \ 
tion. C. McD. l 
Good Fruit. — That it is just as easy to have | 
good fruit as poor, is a truth that every farmer j 
should remember; and this, if acted on, will be 
found not only easy but profitable. It the fruit • 
orchard is deficient in numbers or varieties, lose j 
no time in correcting the evil ; and the best way 
is to apply to some experienced nurseryman for 
the kinds and qualities most desired. A few 
good fruit trees of each desired variety, is far 
better than great numbers with inferior fruit. 
A succession of good fruits is indespensable. — 
The varieties of summer, autumn, and wdnter, 
should follow so as to leave no interval. En- 
large your list of different kinds of fruit, rather 
than your varieties of the same. — A3. Cult. 
Poultry Houses.— If 3mu wish your hens 
to lay through the winter, have their houses 
cleaned out thoroughly. Empty the nests of all 
filth, have them scraped inside and out, and then 
whitewashed. Place contiguous to your hen- 
house, under roof, a peck or two of lime, a bush- 
el of gravel, and a load of sand or ashes, so that 
they can daily have access to these substances. 
Gi/e them chopped fresh meat once a week, or 
oftener, and feed them regularly twice a dayjwith 
grain and potatoe.s — always feeding them near 
the hen-house, so as to attach them to it. Keep 
their nests at all times wmll supplied with clean 
hay, and a few chalk imitation eggs in each : 
if you have no chalk, clay will answer every 
purpose, provided you whiten the eggs by white- 
washing them. See, too, that jmur fowls get 
water regularly. If you follow this advice, 
you’ll find that your hens will lay nearly as ma- 
ny eggs in winter as they do in summer. — Amer. 
Farmer. 
From the Soulhern Planter. 
POUDRETTE. 
Air. Editor — In your last number of the 
Planter you have requested information of the 
results of exferiments tried vith poudrette. — 
You will pro babl}" recollect, having furnished 
me with two barrels of the article, with which 
I experimented as follows : L'pon English peas, 
contrasted with hen-coop manure; upon pota- 
toes, contrasted with stable manure; upon on- 
ions, in union with hen-coop manure, and in 
contrast with it; upon grape vines; and upon 
corn in contrast with the soil; and upon early 
York cabbage. In eveiy' case its superiority 
was manifest, except with the cabbage; the peas 
were decidedly superior. The vines of the po- 
tato, (which 1 have not yet taken up) were lull 
two-tliirds better than the others. 'I'he onions 
were as fine as they could well be — but I could 
not ascertain with accuracy the difference. Its 
effects upon the grape vines was astoahshing, 
and has apparently completely restored them to 
health and vigor. But its most pe.rceptible su- 
periority was upon the corn, the difference being 
fully as three \o one. Why it did not appear to 
benefit the cabbage, I cannot conjecture. If I 
may take the liberty of expressing an opinion, 
I should sai" that I consider it the most valua- 
ble manure I have ever used; but 1 am not as 
yet prepared to say whether its superiority will 
justify the difference in price between it and 
other good manures. I am rather inclined to 
think it will not; but this opinion is not based 
upon a thorough knowledge of its virtues, which 
(it must be admitted) are very great. 1 purpose 
trying other experiments with it, and I hope to 
settle that point, at least, to my own satisfaction. 
You shall know the result. Whilst upon the 
subject of manure, may I ask you whether you 
do not think an individual, fully competent to 
the task, might do a good business by going 
round and analyzing the soil upon different 
farms? or has agricultural chemistry yet suffi- 
ciently diffused itself among the farmers to ren- 
der them sufficiently alive to its importance? — 
For myself, 1 should be much gratified to have 
an accurate analysis of my land, and would be 
willing to pay a fair compensation lor it. 
Respectfully, 
John B. Garland. 
Frederidcsburg, S'pt. 25, 1843. 
We are much obliged to Dr. Garland for his 
report upon Poudrette, and should be pleased to 
learn whether his results have been verified by 
the experiments of others. 
Churning Butter. — Every good housewife 
knows that at times, for some peculiar causes, 
(mo.T generally extra sourness or bittern ers of 
the cream.) much difficulty is experienced in 
making the cream into buUer. A lady writer 
in the Indiana Farmer, recommends the follow- 
ing course in such cases. We have (says the 
Western Farmer,) for years used soda or sale- 
ratusfor the same purpose, and found them usu- 
ally successful: — 
“I wish to inform my sister butter-makers, 
of the means I used, which so successful!}^ re- 
moved the difficulty. 1 churned, perhaps, three 
hours, to no purpose, and then tried to think of 
something that 1 had read in the Indiana Farm- 
er, or some other periodical. I could not re- 
member precisely, but I recollected the reason 
stated, was the cream being too sour. I then 
thought of soda, (pearlash, I presume, would 
do as well,) and dissolved a large teaspoonful 
in a pint of warm water, and as 1 poured it in, 
churning at the same time, it changed in a mo- 
ment, and gradually formed into a beautiful so- 
lid lump of sweet butter.” 
Preserving Manure. — If you have no barn 
cellar or other shelter for your manure that has 
accumulated in the bam-yards, pile it in a heap 
or heaps, and cover it all over, sides as well as 
top, with a muck of any kind or furf. This 
will prevent the escape of much of its enrich- 
ing properties which would otherwise by lost. 
— iVeto England Farmer. 
Flour for Burns. — J. Marshall, Esq., sur- 
geon, recommends, in a communication in the 
London medical Journal, the employment of 
wffieat flour as an application to burns. This 
mild substance, he says, is doubtless pre-emi- 
nent to all others hitherto used, by imparting 
immediate cure to the inflamed and irritated 
surface. 
