THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 18M. 
O 0 R Correspondents. — Y/e can bat congra- 
tulate our readers on the manifestations of an 
increasing and growing interest on the subject 
of agricultural improvement which is being de. 
veloped in Georgia and the South generally, 
and in nothing is this more strikingly illustrated 
than in the number and character of our corres- 
pondents, w'hich we are much pleased to an- 
nounce are increasing, and we have assurances 
from others of their intention to favor us with 
the results of their observations and experiments. 
In this connection we must inquire, why has 
our early and much esteemed friend and corres- 
pondent John Farrar, to whom we are indebted 
for many favors, been so long silent 1 We hope 
he will continue to enrich our columns. 
“ I would suggest the changing the next vol- 
ume of the Cultivator to the octavo form, as it 
will make a more convenient form lor use. 
How would once a month do, instead of twice a 
month'] Would it afford more time for com- 
munications, &c. ? These are mere sugges- 
tions.; ©1 course, you must consult your own 
convenience, &c.” 
The above is an extract from the letter of an 
esteemed correspondent, to whom we are in- 
debted for several valuable communications 
that have adorned our col umns — and from whom, 
we are gratified to learn, our readers may ex- 
pect others. And, as we have had in contem- 
plation the changes he suggests, it may not be 
improper, on this occasion, to state frankly to 
our readers and friends our purposes in refe- 
rence to the future. 
We have already been negotiating with a dis- 
tinguished gentleman of Georgia, well known 
to the scientific world, who has devoted much 
attention to the subject of agriculture, and a 
writer of acknowledged ability, to take charge 
of the editorial department of the “ Southern 
Cultivator;” and we indulge the hope that we 
shall consummate the arrangement — in which 
event, it was our purpose either to change the 
present form to an octavo of twenty-four pages, 
or continue it the same size as now, with sixteen 
pages, and issue it monthly. The acquisition 
of an editor of acknowledged ability, we feel as- 
sured, would be most acceptable to our readers, 
and we can but indulge the hope that the propo- 
sed alterations would be equally acceptable to a 
great majority of our friends. To accomplish 
this, however, we must throw ourselves upon 
the kind offices of our friends, and invoke their 
aid in extending our circulation in every sec- 
tion. The rate of subscription is so low that we 
cannot possibly send agents through the coun- 
try ; and, to enable us to engage the services of 
an editor so competent as the one in contempla- 
tion, our friends must bestir themselves to ex- 
tend our circulation. 
The arrangement, however, if completed, will 
be announced in due time, and prospectuses will 
be sent to our friends and patrons early in the 
fall, v/ith such an appeal as we may deem fit 
and proper on the occasion. 
The Crops. — A friend from middle Georgia 
writes us under date of July 6: Corn crops are 
fine, plenty of roasting ears in the fields on the 
1st July. Cotton large for the season, some 
bolls appear to be grown or nearly so. 
TO DESTROY BED BUGS. 
As the hot season approaches, (says the Prai- 
rie Farmer,) there will be desperate endeavors 
on the part of the vermin nations to extend their 
settlements. Nor will domestic affairs be at all 
neglected by them. Put as their interests gene- 
rally clash with those of the tenants of buildings, 
closets, and particularly of beds, a contest lor 
superiority frequently takes place. In these 
contests it is very desirable to be armed with 
proper implements, as on that the success ot the 
war mainly depends. Hot water, pepper, to- 
bacco, and smart-weed, are frequently relied on ; 
but we believe that in such cases the victory is 
very generally, finally, with the biting and odor- 
bearing party. We advise the use of mercury, 
or quicksilver, as the most effective instrument 
that can be employed. It is not material in what 
form it is applied, provided it is strong enough > 
but we believe the pure article beat into the 
white of an egg is perhaps as cheap and effect- 
ive as any. 
We have tried this, and have found that the 
vermin cannot endure it at all, A very small 
quantity is sufficient to ensure an im^mediate 
surrender. 
f;^Graft Grape Vinffs when the leaves are 
putting out, as the sap is then thicker, and the 
vine will not bleed and drown the scion. So 
says the Boston Cultivator. 
|:^Plow up the ground you intend to put in 
turneps as soon as you possibly can, taking care 
to divide your manure between the first and last 
plowing. Be sure to plow deep — subsoil if you 
can — and make the soil as fine as harrow can 
make it. 
|:;;|=‘Gapes in chickens may be easily cured by 
giving them small crumbs of dough impregnat- 
ed with a little sofi-soap; once or twice is suffi- 
cient. 
|:^For hots in horses, give one ounce of 
slaked lime three times a week, mixed with his 
food, for three weeks. 
good book and a good woman are ex- 
cellent things to those 'who know how to justly 
appreciate their value; but there are many who 
judge of both only by their covering. 
From the New England Farmer. 
COMPOST MAKING. 
The leisure time which the farmer has in 
summer, cannot be more profitably employed 
than in gathering materials for, and making 
compost. Let large drafts be made upon the 
muck-bed, the surface earth of woodlands, the 
swamp, bottoms and sides of ponds, and the 
road-side; gather all useless vegetation, weeds, 
brakes, &c. ; keep the hogs well supplied with 
the “ raw material,” and your investments of 
this kind, in their manufacturing establishment, 
will bring you in as good a profit as the most 
sagacious capitalist derives from his invest- 
ments in other sources of gain. 
It has been contended that the employment of 
men at a dollar per day, during the sumuier 
months, in gelling materials for compost, would 
be a profitable expenditure of money by any far- 
mer, and we cannot dispute it. 
The more means a man has to do with, in 
any pursuit, (we mean a tvise man,) the greater 
is his thrift— uncommon contingencies aside — 
and how emphatically true is this in the case of 
the farmer. Only give him a plenty of means 
in the shape of manure, and he can get, ordina- 
rily, as much as he wants from the earth; for, 
when liberally treated, she yields liberally ; but 
you cavJt cheat her — you can’t give her little and 
expect much. 
Ho! then, farmers, for the peat meadow, and 
dig into its deposites w'ith an animation and a 
spirit, such as you would be likely to exhibit 
were you digging in a prolific mine of gold. 
Let each resolve to outdo his neighbor in the 
making of compost; get up an enthusiasm in 
the matter. This, sometimes, accomplishes 
much: we have seen its effects in politics, in 
temperance, and other matters; let us now see 
it excited in compost making. He, among our 
subscribers, who shall make the most compost 
this year, with the least means and at the least 
expense, shall have all the fame which the pub- 
lication of his achievement in our columns can 
give — beside the more substantial benefit of in- 
creased crops and improved fields. In respect 
to this business of muck-digging and compost 
making, we would say — 
Let those now dig who never dug before, 
And those who’ve always dug, now dig the more. 
From the American Farmer. 
PIGS SUCKING A COW. 
In an Illinois journal for the present month, i 
see a notice of a cow, when lying down, depriv- 
ed of her milk by a porker. It reminds me of a 
matter occurring under my own observation, 
which I will mention, and when you see Col. 
Bomford of the Ordnance Department, mention 
it to him, as from the short acquaintance! had 
the gratification to form with him in 1840, when 
on a visit to his house with my much lamented 
uncle, the late Hon. Henry Baldwin, I was hap- 
py to see, and make improvement ot his know- 
ledge of the habits and instincts, sports and pas- 
times, ot domestic animals. 
For several weeks in succession, our dairy- 
maid complained that our best cow was depriv- 
ed of her milk by some foul means. That when 
she came from pasture she had just beenmilk- 
ed, and that the udder was still wet, I could 
accuse no one but a tenant who lived near the 
lane through which they passed, and which 
was generally open from the cow-yard to the 
pasture. The accusation was denied with evi- 
dent surprise. At length I determined to watch 
the cattle on their evening walk from the pas- 
ture, and you may judge my surprise, when I 
observed that on the cow mooing as if in search 
of her calf, about fitly yards distant from the 
yard, four shoats, three months old, ran squeal- 
ing down to meet her at their utmost speed. The 
cow remained in the rear of the others, and qui- 
etly and patiently stood still till every drop of 
milk was extracted from her udder by the pigs ; 
they standing the while erect on their hind legs, 
with each a teat in its mouth. The place for 
the operation was most favorably selected, as 
small apple-trees interposed between the parties 
and the house, which stands upon an elevation. 
The extraordinary thrift of my pigs, which all 
along was so discernible, was now accounted 
for; and I learned a lesson which shall never 
be forgotten through life, viz : never to make 
accusation on mere circumstantial evidence un- 
less strongly corroborated. 
I shut my pigs in a pen immediately. The 
next morning the cow appeared as uneasy with- 
out their visit as if she had lost a calf, and the 
pigs squealed in answer as if they had been de- 
prived at the time of their mother sus. 
Now, as Professor Silliman thought his story 
worth publishing, I have concluded to 'lorite 
mine to you. 
