editors’ table. 
101 
(Suitors’ ^Table. 
O. B. Scott, of Pierrepont Manor, Jefferson county, 
N. Y., is travelling agent for the Agriculturist. 
£ Solon Robinson in Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkan¬ 
sas, and Missouri. —Mr. R. is under many obligations 
for the good wishes repeatedly expressed by his kind- 
hearted friends in the above states, and at the same 
time assures them, it is his intention to visit them one 
by one, as soon as circumstances will permit. He has 
several times already passed through parts of these 
states, and remembers with gratitude the generous, 
warm-hearted hospitality that greeted him during his 
short stay there; and he also well recollects the fer¬ 
tility of the soil, the great natural advantages of the 
country, the intelligence and enterprise of the people, 
and the many excellent examples he found there of a 
high and enlightened culture of extensive farms and 
plantations. Kentucky is probably the finest stock- 
raising country in the United States, although parts of 
Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio are be¬ 
coming strong competitors with her in this department. 
But there is room and a good market for all. May the 
spirit of improvement, kindness, and mutual assistance 
pervade in every American bosom. 
Dr. M. W. Phillips, of Mississippi. —We are pleased 
to learn from a letter recently received from this dis¬ 
tinguished friend of southern agriculture, that, partly 
from the urgency of his friends, and partially from his 
own thirst for agricultural knowledge, he is shortly to 
make an extensive tour in Europe. We shall hope 
for considerable information on the various topics of 
agricultural interest from his shrewd observation while 
•abroad. 
Missouri Wine. —Herman, in Gasconade county, is 
the chief wine-growing district in Missouri. It is sur¬ 
rounded by luxuriant vineyards, from which there will 
be produced this year, from 30,000 to 40,000 gallons 
of wine. The day may come when Missouri will be as 
distinguished for her grapes and wines, as hemp, tobac¬ 
co, and other heavier products. 
Manufacture of Castor Oil in South Carolina.— 
We noticed a shipment of tliip article last fall, from 
, Charleston. It was manufactured from seed grown in 
that vicinity, by Mr. C. Alts. The product per acre 
averaged 30 bushels. 
The Tobacco Business. —There are in operation at 
present time in Richmond, Va., 43 tobacco factories, in 
which are employed over 2,300 hands, and which pro¬ 
duce in manufactured tobacco 14,500,000 lbs. annually. 
Snow Balls in Horses Feet. —-It is stated that soft 
soap, well rubbed into the bottom of the hoofs, when 
clean, and before the horses leave the stable, will pre¬ 
vent the collection of balls of snow:— Exchange. 
Louisiana Sugar Culture.— A new variety of cane, 
called the crystalline, has been introduced from Cuba, 
that appears to possess some better qualities to resist 
frost than the Bourbon or “ red ribbon,” which are the 
two kinds most preferred, though three others—the 
“ green ribbon,” Otaheite and Creole cane are cultivated 
The new kind is represented as a large cane, with a 
tough rind, large firm eyes, juicy, vigorous, and pro¬ 
lific—excellent qualities. The product of sugar last 
year has been very fair and the cultivation increasing. 
The Properties of Maize, or Indian Corn. —The 
fact that starch could be profitably extracted from this 
great product of America, is a comparatively recent 
discovery. Yet, it is found to contain almost as great 
a proportion as wheat. The per-centage of starch in 
the best varieties of corn, is about 60 per cent.; nitro¬ 
genous substances, some 15, with a good portion of 
sugar and 10 per cent, of oil and gum. No wonder 
it has such fattening'properties, as all practical men 
are well aware of its great superiority over every other 
kind cf grain for that purpose. 
The amount of starch in sweet corn is very small, 
not over 18 or 20 per cent.; but the per-centage of 
sugar is very great. The nitrogenous matter about 20, 
gum 14, and oil, 11 per cent. If it could be made to 
yield as much per acre as the more hardy kind, it 
would be the most profitable, because the most nour¬ 
ishing of all the varieties. 
The Half Century ; or a history of changes that 
have taken place, and events that have transpired, 
chiefly in the United States, between 1800 and 1850, 
with an introduction by Mark Hopkins, D. D. By 
Emerson Davis, D. D. Boston: Tappan & Whittemore. 
The half century that is now just completed, has 
been, on many accounts, the most remarkable the 
world has ever known. The progress of liberty, edu¬ 
cation, and religion has been very great. Intellectual 
and moral culture and the arts of civilised life have re¬ 
ceived a new impulse. The author has performed a 
good service to the country, in presenting this con¬ 
densed view of those great events and changes which 
have taken place in our social condition. The volume 
will prove highly useful. It contains 444 pages, and is 
sold for $1.25. 
The Great Metropolis ; or New York Almanac for 
1851. Price, 25 cents. New York; H. Wilson. 
A Winter in Mederia and a Summer in Spain and 
Florence. 12mo., pp. 380. Price $1. Wm. Hol- 
dredge. The book might with propriety be called the 
panorama of Madeira ; for it gives the reader as correct, 
an idea of the places visited, and the manners and cus¬ 
toms of the people as if painted on canvass, or he were 
present and saw them. The author’s son has shown 
himself equally skillful in the beautiful sketches of the 
house of Columbus, Funchal, Galileo’s Tower, &c. 
The Night Side of Nature ; or Ghosts and Ghost 
seers. By Catherine Crowe. In one volume, 12mo.. 
pp. 450. Price, $1.25. New York: J. S. Redfield. 
The object of this book seems to be to suggest in¬ 
quiry and stimulate observation in order that we may 
endeavor, if possible, to discover something regarding 
our physical nature, as it exists here in the flesh; 
and as it exists hereafter, out of it. We see the 
book has already passed through several editions 
within a few months. 
