2 
THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
stanlial, to enable it to carry the increased body 
ot water. For this and one other reason, when 
I have a field to ditch, the situation of which 
will admit of it, I run the ditches from the high- 
est part of the field to each side, if there is any 
situation that will admit of their being emptied. 
This plan gives a shorter and safer ditch, and 
by leaving a narrow space on the departure ol 
each ditch to its side, aflords a pass way for a 
cart, «&c., lor hauling. 
The opinion prevails among some planters, 
that land will naturally improve after being 
well ditched, and that there will be no more 
washing; both of which I think are erroneous. 
1 have yet to see the piece ot land that will im- 
prove, under constant cropping, without the aid 
of manure; and as regards washing on our 
steep hill-sides, when a heavy rain falls, there 
will be certainly some little cross washes on 
certain situations; for instance, when there is a 
jittle rise or sink on the land between the ditches, 
either of these will hinder the gradual drain ol 
the water that collects in the rows that cross 
those places, which will cause a little cross 
wash to the first ditch below. In all such pla- 
ces as these, when I sow my wheat or oats, I 
have corn-stalks gathered and thrown, and as 
the plow passes over them, make the plowman 
shake the dirt off his plow on them. . And wheat 
and oats will grow in such places as well as 
any where else. 
I do not extend the heads of my ditches out tp 
my fences by some 8 or 10 feet, unless circumr 
stances require it; that much is left for the cpn- 
venience of a cart-way. 
I do most earnestly recommend all those who 
intend to ditch their hill-sides, to do so before 
the gullies form, as after gullies are once made 
it requires much labor to fill them up, and then 
in nine cases out ol ten, the ground is left lower 
about them than it was before any wash had 
taken place. All such sinks will catch the drain 
of water from each row that crosses them, and 
cause a cross wash t# the ditch below. I would 
not, however, discourage those who wish to 
ditch their hill-sides that are already in gullies, 
but advise them to proceed forthwith, and when 
gullies are of much size, make a secure dam 
wherever a ditch crosses one — one at least safe 
enough to keep the water in the ditch — then fill 
up the gullies between the ditches with any 
thing that is most convenient. 
I have failed, Mr. Editor, as i expected I 
should at the commencement of this communi- 
cation, to do this subject that justice which it 
so much merits. I have not made the descrip- 
tive part as plain and as easy to understand as 
I wished to have done; the ideas given are not 
as connected as they should have been; but I 
will make no other apology than that I have 
done as well as my limited ability would afford. 
Allow me, in conclusion, to say to those who 
wish to ditch their hill-sides, not to wait for any 
more information one the subject; that one day’s 
practice will teach them more than a half dozen 
communications. 
I saw in the Cultivator some time back, that 
there was an Agricultural Society formed in 
Morgan county, and that they had prescribed 
certain premiums, to be awarded some time 
this year. The best sample of hill-side ditching 
was to receive (if I am not mistaken,) the high- 
est premium. I then thought, and do yet con- 
sider that object one of the 1 est selectiofis for a 
prize that I have known. When that object is 
properly carried into effect, it will be of more 
benefit to the planters of this section of coun- 
try, than any fat ox, horse or hog, whose own- 
ers have received their ^5 for their skill in 
raising them. 
Yours respectfully, 
John Farrah. 
Bryan County, January 1, 1844. 
Gentlemen — I have been a subscriber to the 
Cultivator for the past year, and have just for- 
warded to you, through the Post Master, the 
amount of subscription for another copy, the 
receipt of which you will acknowledge by send- 
ing me the first number for 1844. 
How does it happen that I have never, to my 
recollection, seen in your paper a single para, 
graph in relation to Sea Island Cotton"? Can 
it be that you have so few patrons on the sea- 
board, or that they send you no communica- 
tions'? I have waited patiently myself for such, 
and perhaps others have done the same, from 
the same motive. Our lands yield in value a 
large portion of our exports, and it is a matter 
of considerable interest to our small number at 
east, to give and receive information on that 
subject; and although I am by no means an 
adept in the culture of the long staple, I might 
occasionally throw out a hint which might be 
extended and improved upon by others more 
capable than myself. But to the object of this 
communication: We have large portions of 
land oil the main, adjoining our salt-water riv- 
ers and inlets, such as live oak flats, &c., which 
produce what is termed, in our fraternity, "Blue 
Cotton” from, I presume, the blueish cast of the 
plant. These lands are very rich, and produce 
fine crops of corn, but so far as I am acquaint- 
ed, there has been no remedy applied for “Blue 
Cotton,” which they almost invariably produce. 
By this term we mean such cotton as comes up 
and grows very luxuriantly, without any fruit> 
reaching at times the height of 8 or 10 feet, hav- 
ing large leaves, with crimped edges, and of a 
deep lead color; so much so that a spot in the 
field may be recognised as far as the plant can 
be distinguished. At other times, depending 
perhaps on a very wet season, the plant, after 
growing several feet, and bearing well, sheds 
all its fruit and becomes "blue” 
This is a serious difficulty with our strong 
lands, and I hope among your many readers, 
some one may be able to suggest a remedy for 
he evil. It has been generally supposed among 
us, that land containing a large quantity of iron 
would have this effect— why, I know not; but if 
such is the fact, it appears to me that lime 
would be a good application, and it is my in- 
tention to try it. The chemical action of lime 
on the organic substances of which our strong 
low flats and swamps contain a great deal, is 
very considerable, and this is not only in refer- 
ence to vegetable remains, but it acts with equal 
' energy upon the dead and living animal maM«r. 
Its operation, therefore, may effect a change in 
the production of the plant. Besides, it the 
soil contains sulphate of iron, the iron is de-» 
composed by the lime, which, uniting with its 
sulphuric acid, forms the sulphate of lime, 
which is commonly called gypsum, and which 
is universally admitted to be a great fertilizer of 
the soil. Now the question is, will this chemi- 
cal process have the effect of changing those 
matters in the soil which cause our cotton to 
turn blue. Experience, of course, will be our 
surest guide on this subject, but it would be 
deeply interesting to read the views of some of 
your learned correspondents in relation to it. 
Respectfully, &c.. 
Agricola, 
P. S. I have been using, for some time, the 
plow m the cultivation of the Sea Island cotton 
with advantage, and I intend, this year, further 
to facilitate my work by the side-harrow and 
the cultivator. Be good enough to say, in your 
next number, if I can obtain the latter imple- 
ment in Augusta, whose make, at what cost, 
and whether they will answer between beds 4 J 
feet apart. They ought to be made so as to be 
moved for a greater or less distance. 
Mr. Editor — The following table, showing 
the vitality of seeds, { have copied from Lou- 
don’s Gardening, and as it may be ot service to 
your agricultural readers, as well as to the ven- 
ders of seeds, I send it to you for publication. 
“7027. The latest period at which the seeds most 
generally in demand may be expected to grow free-^ 
ly, are the following: 
Cabbage tribe., 4 years. 
Leguminous Culinary Vegelailes, 1 year. 
Esculent Roots. — Beet 10 years; turnep 4; car- 
rot 1; parsnep 1; radish 2; salsify 2; skirret 4; 
Bcorzonera 2. 
Spinaceous Plants. — Spinach 4 years; white 
beet 10; Orache 1; purslane 2; herb patience 1. 
Aliaceous Plants, 2 years. 
Asparaginous Plants. — Asparagus 4 years; 
sea-kale 3; artichoke 3; cardoon 2; alisanders 
and thistles 2; rampion 8. 
Acetarious Plants, in general, 2 years; lettuce 
3; endive 4; burnet 6; mustard 4; taragon 4; 
sorrel 7; celery 10. 
Pot-herbs and Garnishing Plants, in general, 
2 years; but parsley will grow at 6; dill and 
fennel 5; chervil 6; marigold 3; borage 4. 
Sweet Herbs, generally, 2 years; but rue and 
rosemary 3; ann hyssop 6. 
Plants used in tarts, c., generally 2 years; but 
the rheubarb only I; and gourd pompion, ^c. fO. 
Herbaceous Fruits. — The cucunober and mel- 
on 10 or more years; love-apple, capsicum tribe 
and egg plant, 2. 
Annual and biennial jlower seeds, generally 8 
years; but some grow with difficulty the second 
year; they are seldom kept by seedmen longer 
than one year. 
Perennial fiower seeds, the same. 
Tree Seeds.— Atones 2 years; and some, as the 
haw, 3; but they are in general of very doubt- 
ful success the second year; acorns will scarce- 
ly grow the second year; elm, poplar, and wil? 
low se^s, not at all.” — p. 1237. W . P. 
Eggs. — A correspondent says — ^^“Eggs that 
produce the male chicken may be distinguished 
from those that produce the female, by their be? 
ing longer and more pointed at the ends than 
those of the female; which are more rounded 
at the ends, 
“People who raise chickens for the market 
will do well to select those eggs which produce 
the male chicken to set their hens with, as the 
males will be larger and of more value than the 
