THE CULTIVATOR. 
339 
HEATED AIR. 
«A hot air apparatus,” says the late John Loudon, 
complete in all its parts, is a desideratum yet to be 
reached.” It is believed that the “ Hot Air Furnace,” 
brought into notice, and recently much improved by the 
subscriber, will give entire satisfaction to those who de¬ 
sire summer all the year. Unlike the coal furnace, it does 
not decompose the air, or in any way unfit it for respira¬ 
tion, but a large volume is constantly introduced at a 
low temperature. The increasing demand for this ap¬ 
paratus, where it is most known, is the best testimonial 
in its favor; but numerous references to individuals and 
public institutions can be given if desired. Post-paid 
letters of inquiry, or orders, promptly answered if ad¬ 
dressed to William R. Smith. 
Macedon, Wayne county , N. Y. 
BOTANICAL TOUR.—No. IV. 
Mr Tucker —On the 5th of May, I left Dandridge in 
Tennessee, and went thirty miles up the French Broad 
river, to Mr. Huff's, on the road to the Warm Springs in 
North Carolina. The next day about noon, arrived at 
Painted Rock, six miles east of the springs. The road 
from Dandridge up the French Broad, presents some 
grand and beautiful scenery; sometimes the river pur¬ 
sues a quiet crooked course along broad and rich valleys, 
and again it is pent up between mountains, and then it 
rushes with a foaming current as if anxious to obtain 
quiet in the plains below. To me the scene was inspir¬ 
ing. I felt new life.—new vigor—besides my eyes were 
gladdened with the sight of some rare and beautiful flow¬ 
ers, among which were the Dielytra formosa (D. C.) and 
Cladrastis lutea , (Raf.) or yellow wood. The former 
grew in the greatest profusion in tufts on the precipitous 
sides of the rocks, overhanging the river, near the rock. 
Of the yellow wood, I saw but one tree, but was inform¬ 
ed that others grew in the vicinity of the Warm Springs. 
It has large white flowers, resembling the common 
locust. I was told that a decoction of its roots was of 
great use in cases of consumption. After dinner I sallied 
out among the mountains in the vicinity of Painted Rock, 
on the road towardsGreenville, and collected Viola hastata 
(Mx.) Convallaria majalis, (lilly of the valley,) which 
occurs frequently on the Allegany mountains, and is also 
a native of the mountainous districts of Europe.. Con¬ 
vallaria umbellata was also common. Andromeda recurva 
(nobis,) a small shrub, in flower, was of frequent occur 
rence, but its locality appears to be quite limited, as I 
did not afterwards find it. Buckleya distichifolia, (Torr.) 
a new genus, occurs frequently on the banks of a small 
stream a few rods above the rock. It grows also along 
the road in the vicinity of the Warm Springs. It is a 
shrub, four to six feet high, with pinnate leaves, and has 
recently been introduced into the Botanical Garden of 
Harvard University by Prof. Gray, one of the well known 
authors of the Flora of North America, which, when 
completed, will undoubtedly be our very best Botanical 
work. 
Painted Rock is on the line between the States of Ten¬ 
nessee and North Carolina, and derives its name from 
several large spots of red paint at the height of about 
twenty feet on the perpendicular rock of a part of the 
mountain facing the river. These spots are said to have 
been made by the Indians, but for what purpose I could 
not ascertain. These rocks are composed of a silicious 
Graywacke, reposing on a bed of granular limestone, 
which last occurs at the Warm Springs. A large portion 
of East Tennessee, or that part of the State lying east of 
the Cumberland mountains, is composed of strata of 
Graywacke slate, limestone, and sandstone, alternating 
with each other, by which it will be seen that it contains 
the elements of a good soil. It is also rich in iron ore, 
which is manufactured to considerable extent. The 
traveller cannot fail to be struck with the luxuriant ap¬ 
pearance of the vegetation; even the sides and table 
lands of the mountain are generally composed of a rich 
vegetable mould, covered with the pea vine, (vicia,) 
mixed with native grasses and white clover, affording 
an excellent range for stock. The while clover seems to 
delight in these mountain situations, and is already widely 
diffused. No country can be better calculated for the 
raising of sheep. The mountains would afford an excel¬ 
lent summer range, while the sheltered situations of the 
valleys would yield ample protection during the winter. 
The growth of timber is magnificent, composed in part 
of numerous species of oak, ( Quercus ,) chestnut, ( Cas - 
tanea vesca,) hard maple, (Acer sacharinum , sour gum, 
(Nyssa sylvetica ,) sweet gum, ( Liquidamber ,) American 
holly, (Ilex opaca ,) several species of pine, the white 
elm, (Ulmus Americana,) white beech, (Fagus sylvestris ,) 
several species of magnolia, poplar or white wood, 
(Liriodendron tulipifera,) and along the banks of the 
smaller streams the hemlock spruce, (Abies canadensis.) 
Nearly all of these attain a large size. Possessed of a 
fine healthy climate, a good soil, with numerous rivers 
and mountain streams affording water power for manu¬ 
factories, East Tennessee has all the elements to sup¬ 
port a dense and happy population. 
S. B. Buckley. 
West Dresden, Yates Co. N. Y., Oct. 15, 1845. 
INQUIRIES. 
A gentleman sends us the following queries in relation 
to the culture of broom corn. Answers to them would 
undoubtedly benefit the public generally, and we shall 
feel obliged to any one who will furnish the information 
wanted: 
“ 1st. What kind of soil is best adapted to its growth? 
“ 2d. In the present condition of the markets, is the cul¬ 
ture profitable? 
“ 3d. What amount in value can be produced on an 
acre, and what the probable nett profits? 
<f 4th. Is it probable that the increased production 
will be likely to overstock the market and render the 
culture less profitable than it is now? 
“ 5th. Is there any difficulty in procuring the seed 
necessary to plant fifty or an hundred acres, and at what 
price per bushel?” 
Fish Ponds. —B. H. (New Lisbon.) We have often 
seen ponds of the size you mention, with plenty of fish 
in*them. As to the kinds of fish suitable we are hardly 
able to give an opinion. If the water is clear and cold, 
which from its coming from a spring we should nutural- 
ly infer, trout would probably do well. Pickerel might 
do well enough for themselves, but they have so much ot 
the shark nature that they will exterminate all other spe¬ 
cies, in small ponds. As to gold fish, we think it likely 
they could be obtained of Mr. R. L. Pell, of Pelham, 
Ulster county. 
Russian Bee-Hive —The third No. of Johnson’s 
Farmer’s Encyclopaedia contains a drawing and descrip¬ 
tion of a “ Russian Bee-Hive.” I wish to enquire, if any 
of your subscribers have made trial of it, and will report 
thereof through your journal. No mechanic in this 
vicinity will undertake to make one from the descrip¬ 
tion there given, and I should like to know if one can 
be obtained elsewhere. E. G. R. 
Soiling — Greenwood, (Princeton, N. J.) The first 
crop usually used for soiling, before red clover will do 
to cut, is rye, which should be sown on good warm land 
i early in the fall. 
Curing Pork. —In runnning over the October No. of 
the Cultivator, I notice, what I presume, to most of your 
readers, is a rather new method of preserving pork. You 
request, if others have practiced the same method, to 
give information of the results. I have for the last four 
years practiced the same method with the slight differ- 
ence of letting it remain unpacked until the animal heat 
is all exhausted; then pack it with Turk’s Island or rock 
salt, and pour on the brine boiling hot. I likewise heat 
my pickle for my hams the same way. I think it a de¬ 
cided improvement—it makes pork and hams very tender 
and of excellent flavor, and keeps them sweet the year 
round. It is almost universally practiced in my neigh¬ 
borhood with the best results. 
Prosper Elitharp. 
Bridport, Vt. } October 10, 1845. 
