206 
THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
For the Southern Cultivator. 
REMARKS OF AN OLD CORRESPONDENT. 
Mr. Editor; — 1 have long thought that it 
■was the duty of each cultivator of the soil, to 
contribute something to the common stock of 
agricultural information ; and if each member 
of the agricultural family would only do his 
part toward spreading useful information on 
the subject of husbandry, how greatly it would 
add to the happiness of mankind; lor there is 
not an individual that follow^s the plow but 
could throw some light upon the subject of agri- 
culture, were he disposed to do so. The great 
misfortune is, that nine-tenths of the cultiva- 
tors of the soil, seem w'illing to turn over every- 
thing in the shape of writing, even on his own 
honorable business, to some member of the 
learned professions. Hence it is, that we find 
it so difScult to persuade the farmers, generally, 
to join an agricultural society, or to take an 
agricultural paper. For some years past, I 
have labored to keep up an agricultural so- 
ciety and to get the farmers to take agri- 
cultural papers. It is true, that I did suc- 
ceed the year now coming to a close, in getting 
about thirty subscribers, having been myself a 
subscriber to those valuable works for twenty 
years, and at this lime I take four works on 
farming, and I find them so profitable to me, 
that 1 contemplate continuing all four of them, 
notwithstanding the low price of cotton. All 
four only cost me four dollars, and they are, in 
my opinion, worth to me twenty, I would rot 
be deprived or the pleasure of reading them for 
fifty dollars, to say nothing of the profit, 
I sent you for publication, my plan of pre- 
paring my cotton for market; when it is sold, I 
■will give you the price it brings. My fine cot- 
ton of last year, sold in December, in Apalachi- 
cola, for 10§ cents. It was sold in New York, 
in June, at 11 cents. Should an opportunity 
offer, I will send you a sample of ray cotton, 
I sent you, as you may remember, an ana- 
lysis of blue marl, which you published some 
time past, 1 have hauled up something over a 
thousand bushels of it, and am preparing it as a 
compost this )’’ear, I first cover the lot wdrere 
my cattle are penned every night with fine 
straw ; I then spread over a coat of marl. After 
the cattle have remained on it for some time, I 
spread a second coat of straw, I have not yet 
determined whether I will manure my cotton by . 
planiing in the check or planting in the drill, 
I cultivate thin pine land. Should I be spared, 
I will give you the result of my experiment 
with the marl, 
I was highly pleased to observe in your last 
number, that Mr, Camak, of Athens, is to be 
the Editor of the Southern Cultivator for the fu- 
ture, I know of no gentleman in the circle of 
my acquaintance, that I think so well calcula- 
ted to take charge of an agricultural work. His 
mind has, for a number of years past, been 
turned to the subject of agriculture and horti- 
culture, In addition to his being a fine writer, 
he is a practical man, and aman of industry and 
perseverance; and whatever he undertakes, he 
attends to it as it should be done. Indeed, Mr 
Camak,. I believe, will do for Southern Agri- 
culture what the lamented Jesse Buel has done 
lor Northern Husbandry, il the farmers will 
everywhere throughout the country come for- 
ward and patronise the Cultivator. And where 
is the cultivator of the soil, if it is only a gar- 
den, that will not give the pitilul sum of one 
dollar for about two hundred pages of matter, 
written by practical farmers, that relates to his 
every-day business, to say nothing of the hun- 
dred and one receipts of the most useful kind. 
When he reads the work, it will be equally va- 
luable to hand down to his children, I will 
procure you all the subscribers in my power. 
Yours, &c. 
Eufala, Ala., 6th Dec., 1844. 
For the Southern Cultivator. 
BERKSHIRE HOGS. 
Mr. Editor; — On a recent visit to the While 
Plains, I learned that Col. Bonner has sent to 
Alabama some of his most valuable, and finest 
Berkshire hogs, and in connection with Mr. 
Crook, ot Benton county, will supply the good 
people of Alabama with the finest pigs of the 
pure Berkshire stock. Among the hogs sent, I 
notice the justly celebrated premium boar, Rip 
Van Winkle, well known in this county, and in 
New York too, for his large size, and fine pro- 
portions. Among the sows, wet e Nonesuch, (a 
premium sow,) Kitty Clover, Victoria, Adela, 
Nelly, and others, comprising a list of the 
choicest Berkshires to be found in the whole 
country, as they were carefully selected from the 
best stock, of the best breeders in New York, — 
But it is useless to particularize. I write this 
merely to direct the lovers of fine stock, and 
good pork, to where they may obtain the pure 
article. Just let them call on Mr. Jas. M. Crook, 
near Alexandria, Benton county, Ala., and they 
will find their highest expectations realized in 
“the stately Berkshires” he can exhibit. 
H. C, W. 
Woodville, Ga., Dec 4, 1844. 
The Smithsonian Begiuest. — Model Farm. 
— James Smithson, of Londpn, bequeathed all 
his property to the United States, to found at 
Washington, under the name ot the Smithsonian 
Institution, an establishment lor the increase 
and diffusion of knowledge among men. The 
estate was sold soon after the death of the be- 
nevolent Englishman, and yielded the sum ot 
$508,318, which was paid into the Treasury of 
the United States, December 3d, 1838. On the 
meeting of Congress next month, the interest 
due the Smithsonian Bequest by the Treasury 
of the United States will amount to one hundred 
and eighty-two thousand dollars. The whole 
fund will then amount to six hundred and ninety 
thousand dollaj’s. We have added six per cent 
interest from the date the fund was paid into the 
Treasury. Six years have passed away since 
our agent received this money from the Execu- 
tors in England, and yet nothing has been done 
by Congress to carry out the benevolent design 
of the testator. 
At the close of the last session of Congress, 
Senator Tappan, of Ohio, introduced a bill for 
the establishment of the Smithsonian Institute, 
proposing the establishment of a Model Farm 
upon ten acres of ground in the vicinitv of the 
Capitol, the agricultural and horticultural de- 
partment to be conducted on the most approved 
plans, ample provision being made for experi- 
ments in farming and husbandry : the whole to 
be under the care of twelve citizens of ability 
and experience, appointed by Congress. Among 
the means of usefulness contemplated in the 
bill, is the distribution of such Iruits, plants, 
seeds and vegetables, as shall be found useful 
and adapted to any of our soils and climates; 
so that the people in every part of the Union 
may enjoy the benefits and advantages of the 
experiments made by the institution. All in- 
struction in the institution is to be gratuitous 
to those students who conform to the rules and 
regulations. Petitions in aidof ihisbillare now 
in circulation in various parts of the Union. — 
New Bedford Mercury. 
The idea above suggested for investing a por- 
tion of the “Smithsonian lund,” is certainly a 
very excellent one, and we sincerely hope it may, 
in some shape, be carried out. 
But, common sense forbid that twelve^ersons 
should be appointed to manage a farm of ten 
acres! — that is, if fat salaries, as undoubtedly 
would be the case, are to be paid to the mana- 
gers; and who, in the vicinity of Washinglou, 
would think of serving in the capacity uf an 
agent of the government 'fiiihovtibeingwcllpaid? 
No, no! the atmosphere of the place smells so 
strong of “ public plunder,” that it is almost im- 
possible to resist its influence! It the “Model 
Farm” is established, therelore, let it be some- 
where else than in the Distiictol Columbia; or, 
if that region is selected, Heaven forbid that a 
“round dozen’ of salaried gentlemen should 
be called to preside over it 1 
Growth of'American Cotton in India. — In 
regard to the culture of American cotton iti 
Bengal, it must be admitted, that although the 
experiments have been numerous, and in some 
instances on an extended scale, the whole have 
hitherto been conducted by amateurs, many of 
whom having satisfied a temporary wish to try 
the culture, have abandoned it, whether success- 
ful or otherwise, so that it is almost impossible 
to form a decided opinion as to how far the cul- 
tivation would answer in a commercial point of 
view. Of late, however, there appears to be a 
desire on the part of the Governm' nt of Bengal 
to take up the culture, as evinced in the appoint- 
ment last year of a gentleman who has had con- 
siderable experience in America, for the express 
purpose of reporting, after a careful investiga- 
tion, on the capabilities of the soil and climate 
of Dacca, and the sucruundiDg districts, lor the 
introductron of the foreign staple. We alluded 
to this circumstance on a former occasion, and 
we now learn, from the reports which the 
Deputy-governor has considerately placed at 
the disposal of the Agricultural Society, and 
which were submitted at its last meeting, that 
during the last eight months Mr. Price has been 
engaged in travelling over various parts of 
Dacca, Furreedpore, Tippera, and Bulloah, 
situated on the Dultussary, Conni, Megna, Bur- 
rapootra, Luckia, and other rivers in that tract 
ot country, and has seen many spots on which 
the foreign cotton could be cultivated to advan- 
tage, more particularly on the islands situated 
on the Hottea and Surdeep, as also on other 
small islands situated on the Hottea river, in 
consequence of their contiguity to the sea, 
— Some of his experiments have been suc- 
cessful, while others have failed; but in no in- 
stance does he appear to have received fresh 
seed in time m sow at the proper season ; so, on 
this very essential point, he may be said to have 
labored under a great disadvantage, besides ex- 
periencing other minor difficulties incidental to 
nearly alt first attempts at a new culture. Not- 
withstanding these natural obstacles, he seems 
td ha e seen enough to induce him to hold out 
sanguine hopes that, if advantage can be taken 
of the proper season, he will be able to cultivate 
the plant to advantage in the Dacca district. In 
consequence of this favorable opinion, we un- 
derstand that Government have it in ci ntempla- 
tion to commence the work in earnest, by the 
appropria ion of such tracts in the district as, 
from previous examination, may be considered 
most fitting for the culiivation of American cot- 
ton, and to combine therewith a matter of even 
still greater importance, namely, the increased 
cultivation and improvement of the indigenous 
staple, — Calcutta Star. 
