ISO 
A REVIEW OF THE MARCH NO. OF THE AGRICULTURIST.-NO. 2. 
is fed, and it opens outward, and is fastened by a 
rail leaned up against it; I know it wont suit 
this latitude. . . . Mr. Miller speaks of his plan 
as of brick or stone. He surely means logs. 1 
never saw one of that family of other materials. 
If not of logs, he need not caution that the partition 
walls should go down to the floor—if of brick or 
stone, I “ reckon” the wall would start from the 
ground. It is a very good way to build a new 
country log stable, but a poor plan for a civilized 
barn. 
Fencing. —This is a fruitful theme. I am a dis¬ 
ciple of yours, Mr. Editor, upon this subject. Let 
us see what says this other South Carolinian. Oh, 
ho ! the South is with us too. Here are a hun¬ 
dred thousand miles in the first paragraph ! A 
quarter of a million of dollars w r orth of land in the 
single State of South Carolina, devoted to a pur¬ 
pose worse than useless ! It is a wicked w r aste of 
the bounties of nature. But, friend Coke, you 
state the quantity entirely too small. Half an acre 
to a mile is only half a rod in width, whereas, 
bushes, baulks, briars, and fence will average 
nearly double that width. “ In most parts of 
Europe,” you say, and so do I, and most other 
parts of the world too, “ they have no fences.” 
Comfort yourself that when this country is as old 
as China, we shall not be such intolerably big fools 
about fencing as we are now. But you nor I wont 
live to see our country enjoying such a blessing. 
A greater boon will it be when fences are unknown 
except as cattle enclosures or yards. Such a loss 
would be worth more than all the gold mines of Peru 
—Guano included. I give you the right hand of fel¬ 
lowship, and thank you for the perusal of your com¬ 
mon sense articles. Although our views are at present 
treated with scorn by those on “ t’other side of the 
fence,” yet v/e rank some strong names upon our 
side. But add to the picture of your own State 
the millions of acres of rich prairie soil in the 
West, which the poor man is deprived from enjoy¬ 
ing, because he cannot fence his crop against 
his neighbor’s cattle. Piracy is an honest oc¬ 
cupation, compared with turning unruly cattle 
out to range over a neighbor’s roadside fences. 
“ Pass a law to keep up stock,” do you 
say ? Why, none but a nation of uncivilized bar¬ 
barians would ever let them run at large. ... I 
am sorry that you did not give us your own name 
and place, for I am going down to your State next 
winter, and I should be proud to take so sensible a 
■writer by the hand. [If Reviewer does go South 
we promise him a letter to Coke, and will ensure 
him a hearty reception at his hospitable mansion.] 
Agricultural Chemistry and Geology. —From the 
reading of this article it actually appears as though 
it was intended for the use of schools. Now this 
may do very well to amuse some of our city youth, 
who will sometimes talk of “ a place in the coun¬ 
try ;” but what country b-oy that has sense enough 
to comprehend anything about the science of those 
few questions and answ r ers, has any idea of 
spending his life as a cultivator of the soil ? No 
sir; he is looking forward to “a place in some 
store,” or something ££ more genteel ” than that of 
being the son of an American agriculturist. 
Steep on the Prairies. —What again ? Them 
chans out West are determined to “wool us.” 
This is an old subject with q,n old writer, but he 
ever has something new. In common with many 
of his friends, I regret that “ miserable health ” 
has prevented him from keeping his ready pen in 
exercise for the gratification of the readers of ££ our 
paper.” . . . And so it is not all gold that glitters 
upon the prairies ? Sheep will starve upon frost¬ 
bitten dead grass in the fall, then? Glad to hear 
the truth spoken plainly. No doubt the Western 
prairies afford a fine country for raising sheep, 
but there are some difficulties there to encoun¬ 
ter. . . . This article of friend Solon’s no 
doubt contains some sound, practical advice to 
those who design to commence the business of 
wool-growing upon the Western prairies. But 
some of us “ up our way,” would like a word of 
explanation about Mr Cockrill’s fine sheep. Does 
the wool deteriorate in quality or quantity in that 
latitude ? Will Mr. R. tell us something more 
about this Southwestern flock ? . . . Too much 
truth about them “ ignorant, stupid, unfeeling, and 
indolent flock-masters,” though it is expressed in 
rather strong language. No danger though of a 
££ libel suit,” as those who treat their flocks thus 
never read. Such suits are more commonly coopered 
up by some very envious cultivators, of a mali¬ 
cious, instead of ignorant disposition, towards a 
rival in business. . . . But is it a fact that people 
live upon the productive soil that you describe, in 
such habitations ? Then truly they are indolent! 
The Yellows in Peach Trees.-—Here is “new doc¬ 
trine” from an old bookv But the translator, if I 
understand the signature, is a gentlemen who may 
be relied upon. And if the article from the New 
Duhamel, which is also reliable authority, is cor¬ 
rect in its theory, as well as the opinion of Persi- 
cus, that this disease is not “ contagious,” then 
must we change our practice in the cultivation of 
this best of all fruits. . . . Let us hear more upon 
this very interesting subject. What is the experi¬ 
ence of those who have cultivated this fruit upon 
the rich soil of the West and South ? It strikes me 
if Dr. Philips, of Mississippi, Dr. Fanning, of 
Tennessee, and Mr. Robinson, of Indiana, would 
tell their experience in raising peaches, that it 
might be good evidence from three points, and dif¬ 
ferent soils and climate, that might be useful w T hen 
“ doctors disagree.” ... I wish, friend Persicus, 
that one of your experience and information at 
home and abroad, would write over his own signa¬ 
ture. I have cause for concealment, you have 
none. 
Southern Crops and Culture .—It appears to me 
that I have seen Dr. Philips described as a small 
man, but he certainly has a large head, and handles 
a free pen. I have been told by one who has been 
“ thar ,” that he also has a large heart. I certainly 
should like to visit him and many others of the 
Southern planters, and lest that fact by testing their 
hospitality. . . . “ Is that so,” as you say in your 
second sentence, that what we conceive, here at the 
North, your Mississippi soil to be, inexhaustibly 
rich, will wear out in twenty years ? Please ex¬ 
plain this, Doctor. What is the soil ? You inti¬ 
mate that cotton is not an exhausting crop. What, 
then, wears it out? For you say, “ the subsoil 
possesses all the requisites of a good soil.” That 
you need no mineral manures s rb as lime marl. 
