274 
REMOVING STAINS FROM CLOTH. 
cotton, where the same staple has been cultivated for 
fifteen years consecutively What wonder, then, 
that our lands are worthless! Here a judicious ro¬ 
tation of crops, with a proper system of manuring 
(gradual), cleansing the ground with the cow-pea, 
soiling with this and other green crops, and if pos¬ 
sible wood earth, if it can be hauled and thrown into 
the drill (it would require too much to lay it broad¬ 
cast) ; then small portions of lime, if necessary, to 
promote decomposition. And here let me say a word 
in relation to lime. Some of our northern friends re¬ 
commend from 50 to 300 bushels of lime per acre. 
This might do among those who have the carbon¬ 
ate within 100 yards of their doors, and get it cal¬ 
cined there; but those who have to import it and 
have it re-shipped as we do, until a barrel of lime 
is worth as much as the land, wuuld find it rather 
an uphill work. We have some cold clayey land 
to which lime would be beneficial, but not in the 
large quantities as recommended above. 
There are many planters who could afford a few 
weeks hauling for one or two teams, between the 
20th of December and 15th of January. To those 
I would most strongly advise to make their manure 
piles after the manner of Bommer ; to clean out 
their stock yards, pens, stables, &c.; put the ma¬ 
nure in a pen and add wood earth, ashes, soap 
suds, dirt, and all kinds of refuse and offal. 
This by the end of the year would become quite a 
pile, and thus gradually increasing without any ap¬ 
parent effort, will, in the following spring, greatly 
increase the fertility of the land. Now, by 
changing the water furrow and drill, every other 
year, or every third year, all the land will be gra¬ 
dually enriched. If com or cotton is planted, I 
would drop peas between the rows. I think other 
crops may be made as profitable as cotton, and it is 
worth the attention of the Southern planter to ex¬ 
periment and publish statements. At this present 
waiting I am tLying several experiments with differ¬ 
ent manures. When arrived at maturity, if you 
wish it, I will take pleasure in forwarding you a 
statement. I am growing some Cuba tobacco after 
the manner of the West Indians. I derived my in¬ 
formation from a suppressed pamphlet sent to me 
from Havana. 
I find I am transcending my limits at present, but 
the subject is so full of interest to me that I must be 
pardoned. James S. Peacocxe. 
Redwood, near Jackson, La., June 21, 1846. 
REMOVING STAINS FROM CLOTH. 
Nothing is more common than the soiling of 
clothes by grease, oil or fat, acids, inks, sauces and 
preserves, coffee, varnish, white lead, paint, &c. 
All of these, if taken in time, may be removed with¬ 
out much difficulty. As the whole subject is too 
lengthy for a single article, I wall treat them in 
numbers. 
1 . Stains from Oils, Fats, or Grease.— Removed by 
soap, chalk, white clay, French chalk, or ox-gall. 
They most frequently occur on carpets and articles 
of dress. They give a deep shade to the ground 
color of the goods, and continue to spread for some 
time after the accident has happened. They hold 
fast whatever dust falls upon them. On a very 
dark ground the stain becomes lighter than the rest 
of the surface, because the dust which rests on it is 
lighter. Alkalies dissolve most readily these 
stains, but there is great danger of injuring the 
more delicate colors; hence they should not be used 
except by the most experienced scourers. 
Any good hard soap w T ill answer to remove the 
stains from blacks, blues, browns, drab, invisible 
green, &c., by means of hot water, and the soap 
and water may be removed by a sponge, rubbing 
the nap in the right direction. In any delicate 
colors, if soap be used, we should always first try 
a piece of the same kind of goods with the agent 
before using it on the article to be cleaned. 
In all cases, where several colors are involved in 
the stain, as in carpets, it is preferable to use the 
white clay or French chalk. The latter is better, 
on account of being easier to remove, although 
either will answer the purpose, and in the absence 
of both, common chalk will do as a substitute. 
The mineral should be reduced to a fine powder, 
and made into a thin paste with water, and spread 
over the stain, and when dry removed by whipping 
with a rattan, and using a brush. The oil having 
greater affinity for the chalk than for the goods, is 
thus taken up and removed. If the stain be not 
entirely removed by the first trial, the process 
should be repeated. 
It may happen that none of the above materials 
can be obtained on the farm or plantation, at the 
time when an accident happens, but ox-gall could 
ahvays be had in such an emergency, and is both 
safe to use and certain in its efficacy to remove the 
stains. It requires some preparation, and should be 
kept on hand for that purpose. It dissolves all 
fatty or oily bodies, and has a tendency to make 
the colors brighter rather than more dim. 
Preparation. —Pour the galls of recently killed 
oxen into a jar or basin, and after settling 12 hours, 
pour off the clear liquid into a shallow basin of 
copper or earthenw r are such as would float on a 
like basin partly filled w T ith water. Now apply 
the heat of a charcoal fire to the latter, and by 
means of this water-bath evaporate the gall to the 
consistence of molasses, or thin paste. Now re¬ 
move it from the basin, and spread it out on a 
shallow plate before the fire, and there let it dry, 
until it becomes quite solid, not horn-like, but only 
so as to be yet somewhat flexible in the fingers. 
Put it by in earthen jars loosely covered, for future 
use. When it is required, dissolve a small portion, 
enough when dissolved to cover well the stain, in 
12 to 15 times its bulk of hot water; spread it on 
the goods, and when it has remained long enough 
to perfectly saturate them, add a little more, enough 
to make the stain thoroughly wet; remove it, by 
rubbing with a sponge, until the stain is removed. 
It must be remembered that a recent stain is re¬ 
moved very easily, while one of long standing re¬ 
quires more effort to remove. I will next point out 
the method of removing stains of acids, ink, and 
iron rust. G. 
New York, July, 1846. 
Cure for the Yellows in Peach Trees.— 
On the first symptoms of the disease, grub up th© 
trees, and commit them to the flames. 
