VoL. II. 
AUGUSTA, GA., OCTOBER IG, 1844. 
No. 21. 
SELECTIONS, EXTRACTS, &,c. 
From the Farmers’ Cabinet. 
WORN-OUT LANDS. 
In the American Farmer, ot December 27th, 
appeared an extract trom a communication by 
John Jo les of Wheatland, to the Farmers’ Cab- 
inet, in which he makes allusion to the aston- 
ishing effects brought about in the renovation 
of worn-out lands in Delaware, by Dr. Noble, 
of Philadelphia. On land which cost but filteen 
dollars per acre, and produced but five bushels 
of wheat three years ago, by the application ol 
eight loads of manure, costing, freight included, 
less than one dollar and fifty cents per load, the 
Doctor has raised forty-seven bushels of wheat 
from otic acre, and trom the remainder rather 
less, the average being an enormous increase 
over the produce of former years. The Editor 
of the American Farmer expresses an “ increase 
desire” to learn the secret by which the Doctor 
has been enabled, at the small expense of less 
than twelve dollars per acre, to effect such as- 
tonishing results. 
We would inform him there is no secret 
whatever in the method pursued, but such as 
any farmer might discover for himself, if he 
would but take the trouble to read some of the 
numerous works upon the application of chem- 
istry to agriculture, lately published. Know- 
ing by chemical analysis or examination, the 
composition of the grain and straw of wheat, 
and that of the soil, it was an easy matter to ap- 
ply those materials which were needed, in order 
to produce a healthy and vigorous growth. He 
prescribed for his wheat and soil as he would 
fora patient, and with equal success, health 
and strength have been restored to the suffering 
subject. 
The Doctor formed a compost obtained from 
various sources, consisting of the reiuse of tan- 
ners, soap boiling establishments, &c.; in short, 
of such animal and vegetable substances as 
contain soluble salts, or which can be made sub- 
servient to the growth of plants. In the selec- 
tion of these substances he was guided by their 
composition, as made known by chemical ana- 
lysis. “ Give,” says the rational agriculturist, 
“ to one plant such substances as are necessary 
for its development, but spare those winch are 
not requisite, lor the production ol other plants 
which require them.” 
“ An empirical,” or quack system “of agri- 
culture, has administered the same kind of ma- 
nures to all plants, or where a selection has 
been made, it has not been based upon a know- 
ledge of their peculiar composition.” The phos- 
phate of soda or lime, the silicate of potash, and 
sulphate of ammonia, or other salts containing 
these in other combinations, are necessary for 
the production of wheat; these have been sup- 
plied by the Doctor, and why should we be as- 
tonished at the results which have fallowed their 
application'? He has adopted the scientific me- 
thod of manuring, and if his knowledge of the 
composition of the soil and wants of the crop 
was exact, and his conclusions correctly drawn, 
he could not err in the application of his ma- 
nures. His is indeed a triumph of science over 
the old fashioned, uncertain, and empirical 
mode of farming ; here is an example worthy 
the attention of every farmer, and especially 
should it be considered by those whom prejudice 
has so blinded that they cannot perceive the vast 
benefits arising from the judicious application 
of scientific knowledge to agriculture. It is in- 
deed ‘ creditable to the Doctor as a scientific 
farmer;” we hail him as a benefactor, and de- 
sire that he may persevere in that path of use- 
fulness in which he has found both pleasure 
and profit. J. s. l. 
Philadelphia, Second month, 6th, 1844. 
LABOR-SAVING PLOUGH. 
The Columbia (So. Ca.) Advocate says: — 
The following is a description of the Labor-sa- 
ving Plough exhibited at Greenville, S. C. We 
also append certificates furnished by gentlemen 
who have tried the Plough, in order to satisfy 
the incredulous that it is no “ humbug.” Out 
readers are aware that it was highly approved 
by the committee appointed to investigate its 
advantages over other similar ploughs. 
Labor-Saving Plough, or a new c.nd improved 
model . — The subscriber has tested the utility of 
this Plough by six years experience. It is an im- 
provement taken from a Plough first constructed 
by Mr. C. Garlington, and afterwards improved 
by Mr. Smith, and combines the following de- 
sirable qualities : 
In the first place, its struct ure is such as to 
prevent the horse from injuring the corn or 
cotton with his feet. In cultivating hill sides 
the rear Plough fills up the furrow made by 
the one in front, which cannot be done so 
compactly with the single plough. On stony 
land from the operation ot two plough shares 
and the increased weight, the work can be per- 
formed much better than with a single plough. 
In new land, the double plough does superior 
work after the land is broke with a coulter. It 
is not impeded by roots any oftener than the 
single plough. One round finishes a cotton 
row. 
Mode of Planting. — After the land is broken 
up, I lay off’ with a single shovel plough, drop 
the corn, and then plough round it with the dou- 
ble plough which makes a beautiful ridge, a lit- 
tle the highest in the centre. After the corn is 
large enough for ploughing, plough round it 
with a shovel on the stock, the earth can be 
thrown from each side, so as to cover all the 
grass, and cotton can be made with less hoeing 
taan the ordinary plough requires. 
Mitchell Smith. 
N. B. I can plough six acres in each day, the 
week round. 
I have used the plough of Mr. Mitchell 
Smith, above described, and concur fully with 
the representations made by him. It is, in my 
judgment, the most valuable plough I have ev- 
er seen. In using it, I have w'orked a single 
horse, and have found it easily drawn with the 
ordinary shovel ploughs on the stock. 
H. C. Young. 
Laurens District, S. C., Nov. 9lh, 1842. 
Dear Sir : 1 am highly pleased with the im- 
provement that you have made in the construc- 
tion of a tool that is of such vast importance in 
cultivating our soil. I commenced my crop 
with it and ended with it, and I am now able to 
say to you that I have gathered nearly as much 
more of corn and cotton to the hand, tlian I have 
ever done heretofore. I find the objections that 
I had, previous to using it, were groundless. — 
' It requires no more strength to manage it than 
any other, it matters not what may be the situ- 
ation of the ground; to say the least of it, I 
have no doubt but that in a few years you will 
see them used mote than any other farming to: 1 
now in use. Yours with respect, 
Jno. W, Wallace. 
CURE FOR FOUNDER. 
The seeds of sunflow'er are the best remedy 
known for the cure of founder in horses. Im- 
mediately on discovering that your horse is 
foundered, mix about a pint of the whole seed in 
his feed, and it wull give a perfect cure. — Culti- 
vator. 
Shell-fish as Manure. — Having noticed • 
the good effects of shell-fish in gardens, applied 
to carrot and onion beds, it occurred to a gentle- 
man of our acquaintance that the same species 
of manure would be found equally useful on a 
larger scale, in the case of a green crop cultiva- 
ted in the open field. Accordingly, he instruct- 
ed his laborer to repair to the shore, and exca- 
vate four cartloads of live shell-fish, composed 
chiefly of wdlks, cockles, and muscles. When 
carried home the deposite was throwm into a 
heap, and allowed to remain until it began to 
emit an unpleasant odor. Warning thus given, 
the shells were smashed and mixed with peat 
earth, to absorb the moisture and facilitate the 
application. They wTre then laid in the drills, 
after the manner of bones, at the rate of 16 bush- 
els per acre; sown w'ith turnips ; and, the belter 
to test the utility of the experiment, turnips w^ere 
planted the same day over thick layers of barn- 
yard manure. The seed on the shells took a 
wmnderful start, the plants showing themselves 
at the end of three days, notw'ithstanding the in- 
tense drought; while the dung operated so 
slowly, that eight days elapsed before the slight- 
est tendency to greening appeared. 
Thus far the shells and substance enclosed 
have worked perfect wonders, and bid lair to 
outvie crushed bones, and even guano. The 
carbonate of lime and animal matter in shell- 
fish are great nourishers of vegetable life. — 
Dumfrie's Courier. 
PRUNING FRUIT 'IREES. 
Hints on the system of Pruning Fruit Trees, as practi- 
ced in the London Horticultural Society’s Garden. 
As the raising and cultivation of fruit trees 
forms one of the principal objects of pursuit by 
a great mass of people in this enlightened coun- 
try, I should be pleased to off'er a few hints (if 
you should think them worth publishing) on a 
proper system ot pruning, and a few first princi- 
ples in connection with it, which may prove 
useful to some of your readers who are not tho- 
roughly acquainted with that important opera- 
tion-important, because on the performance of 
it, in a great measure, depends the health, vigor, 
and production of fruit. To have a true know- 
ledge of it, it is necessary that the operator 
should be in some measure acquainted with the 
laws that govern vegetation, and know the func- . 
tions the different parts have to perform; for, 
unless he does, how can he be sure of the conse- 
quences that are to follow; and it is no ways 
improbable that that which was intended for a 
service, may turn out an evil; hence it is obvi- 
ously necessaiy that the operator should be ac- 
quainted with vegetable physiology, in order to 
insure success ; quite as necessary as it is for 
the surgeon to know the functions of the human 
system, in order to perform a successful ampu- 
tation. 
