98 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
young wheat. Rolling in the spring has a beneficial ef¬ 
fect ; but rolling in the fall ought to be dispensed with, 
as being very deleterious. 
Before sowing the wheat, if not free from weeds, 
soak it in brine strong enough to bear up a potato, 
and afterwards roll it in lime. By this mode of farm¬ 
ing, the land is enriched, or at any rate not impoverish¬ 
ed, and by apportioning two parts of his farm to be 
cropped alternately, thefarmermay nearly always raise 
about double the quantity than under the old system; 
but it is no use to sow wheat or any other grain on land 
that is not congenial to its growth. 
Yours, in the hope of better times, 
Skaneateles, Feb. 4, 1840. R. C. F. 
The Osage Orange for Hedges. 
To the Editors of the Cultivator —Your letter 
enclosing some inquiries from one of your corespon¬ 
dents on the subject of the Osage Orange for hedges, has 
been duly received ; and I take pleasure in giving all 
the information in my power. For several years I have 
endeavored, on all suitable occasions, to recommend this 
plant to notice, under the conviction that it will prove far 
more valuable than any other now cultivated in this 
country for hedging. 
The Osage Orange ( Maclura aurantiaca ) is a native 
of Lousiania and Arkansas: but it is perfectly hardy 
in this climate. It forms a tree of the second or third 
class, is very branching, each branch armed with a num¬ 
ber of rigid spires; and grows well in any good 
soil. The wood is remarkably tough, and is probably as 
durable as the locust. It bears transplanting as well as 
any plant I have seen. Some of the trees are barren 
and some fertile. The fertile, or female tree, bears 
fruit abundantly in a few years, each fruit or berry 
weighing from twelve to eighteen ounces, and containing 
from 100 to 250 seeds. Planted early in the spring, the 
seeds are certain to germinate; and the plants grow so 
rapidly that in a short time they will make a beautiful 
and impervious hedge. The first tree thatl planted, which 
is now about twelve years old, is fifteen or eighteen feet 
high and very spreading ; and has produced as many as 
200 berries of a season. I have some doubt whether it 
will perfect its seeds as far north as Albany, but it has 
borne fruit in the neighborhood of Philadelphia. 
Although I have been in possession of the Maclura 
for several years, and have raised a number of plants 
from the seed, yet circumstances have prevented me 
from fully testing its merits for hedging. No person, 
however, can entertain a doubt of its adaptation to this 
purpose, who will carefully examine its growth. I have 
seen an excellent hedge of it between Philadelphia and 
Germantown, which was apparently four or five years 
old, and very dense—though less dense than it might 
have been rendered by closer pruning. 
It would be desirable that some of our enterprising 
seedsmen should promote the general interest as well 
as their own, by obtaining a parcel of the seeds and of¬ 
fering them at a fair price. Any gentleman, however, 
may readily get them for his own use if he has a cor¬ 
respondent residing in the vicinity of the Red river. 
They should be brought round in the fall or winter, and 
not picked from the berries until the time of planting. 
There are 600 seeds in an ounce. When a small 
number of plants are had from the nurseries, the male 
and female should be both ordered, and set contiguous 
to each other. I have occasionally disposed of seed¬ 
lings of the Maclura for the accommodation of those 
who wished to make some trial of it; and I tlunk they 
may be afforded at a price not much exceeding that of 
the thorn, for an equal length of hedging. From one 
and a half to two feet apart would be sufficiently 
close. 
Among the uses to which the Osage Orange may 
be applied, is that of feeding silk worms. It is a milky 
plant, and belongs to the same natural order as the 
mulberry, and I have found the worms to feed on the 
leaves with as much avidity as they do on the multi- 
caulis. The silk is very glossy, but I have thought the 
fibre somewhat finer than that produced from the mul¬ 
berry. THOS. S. PLEASANTS. 
Beaverdam, Va., 5 mo. 4,1840. 
Management of Bees. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —I will relate to you 
some of our experience in regard to the management 
of bees. It was our practice formerly to place them in 
hives in an open bee-house, by which method we were 
liable to losses in three ways, viz : by swarming, by the 
moths, and by severe weather in winter; beside which, 
in order to obtain honey, we were obliged to destroy 
the bees. 
A few years since, we adopted the following plan, 
which has thus far been very successful. A hive of bees 
was placed in a small dark room near the wall with an 
outlet large enough to permit them to pass in and out 
freely. A box was then placed near the hive, with the 
open end facing it, so that it might easily be detached 
from its resting place, and the bees were permitted to 
work unmolested until the autumn. When the cold 
weather has driven the swarm to the larger hive, the 
box is taken off without destroying a bee. I might 
add that it is not essential that a box should be used, as 
they will work on the outside of the hive without it. 
Our practice has been to take up a part in the fall and 
part in the spring, so that they may have enough to 
winter upon. 
We have this year taken off sixty or seventy pounds, 
the product of one swarm. By this method of treat¬ 
ment we avmid the losses to Avhich Ave Avere before ex¬ 
posed, and have besides an abundance of the best of 
honey. I ought perhaps to say, that our bees are in a 
chamber, which may be the reason why they are not 
troubled with moths. Respectfully yours, 
S. G. HUNTINGTON. 
Hadley, Mass., March 7, 1840. 
On the Culture of Cotton. 
Messrs. Editors —Permit me to offer some ansAvers 
to your Princeton (N. J.) correspondent, dated 16th 
November, 1837, published in the Cultivator, vol. 4th, 
page 163. 
Question 1. What soil and climate is the most suita¬ 
ble for the culture of cotton ? 
Answer. A dry, rich, friable soil, and warm climate. 
Question. What kind of seed is found in the southern 
states to be the most productive and profitable? 
Answer. In the northern section, the common green 
seed is best; and in the southern section, Petit Gulf. 
Question. What is the best method of, and best time 
for, planting ? 
Jlnswer. As soon as there is no probability of the 
plants being destroyed by frost. In this latitude (35 de¬ 
grees,) about the 10th of April is thought the best for 
planting. The usual method is to make ridges by throw¬ 
ing four furrows together, Avith a ploAV haA r ing a mold- 
board ; then run a small plow Avith a harroAV tooth or 
colter; sow the seed in this furroAv, at the rate of five 
bushels to the acre, when the rows are 3| feet apart, 
and cover by drawing a block, having a notch in it to 
fit the ridge, over it. The seed should be covered from 
one-fourth to one inch deep, and not deeper. 
Question. What tillage must precede and succeed the 
planting? Can two crops be obtained in one season? 
Answer. If the ground has been Avell cultivated the 
preceding year, nothing more is necessary than putting 
four furroAvs together for a ridge; after planting break 
up the middles; as soon as the plants are up, weed 
them Avith a cotton-hoe, (a light hoe much used in the 
south.) then ploAV it as often as every fourteen days if 
practicable, Avith some light ploAV. The side harrow is 
of great service in cotton culture. (It is made by put¬ 
ting a piece of scantling 22 inches long, 4| inches square, 
across a beam at an angle of 45 degrees, in Avhich is 
placed five common flat-foot harrow teeth.) In plow¬ 
ing, nothing more is necessary than to keep the surface 
melloAV and clear of grass and weeds, except in very dry 
Aveather, Avhen it should be plowed deeper to make the 
ground moist. The hand-hoes should go over it every 
eighteen days carefully, taking out such grass as may 
be left by the ploAV or harrow, and thin out the stalks 
gradually, to four inches. One crop is all that can be 
made in one season. 
Question. When and how should it be gathered? and 
hoAV can it be most expeditiously cleaned, pressed, and 
prepared for manufacture or exportation? 
Answer. It should be picked as soon as it is sufficient¬ 
ly opened, so that a hand can do good Avork. It is ga¬ 
thered by one hand’s going betAveen tAvo toavs Avith a 
small hamper basket, which will hold 30 lbs. called a 
hand-basket: he picks alternately from these rows un¬ 
til he fills his hand-basket, then empties it into a large 
one, which he keeps for that purpose—when this has 
as much as he can carry, he takes it to the gin or cot¬ 
ton-house, Avhere it is sunned if necessary, and housed. 
A hand will pick in the early part of the season 100 lbs. 
of green seed, and 200 lbs. of Petit Gulf. It is cleaned 
by a very common machine called a gin, which will 
pick about 1,800 lbs. of seed cotton per day ; and press¬ 
ed by a vertical Avoodea screw into bales of 400 lbs. re¬ 
quiring 5 yards of bagging and seven ties of rope to 
hold it in shape. 
Question. What is the fair a Average yield, cost of cul¬ 
ture, bagging, machinery, 8tc. and the nett profit per 
aefe ? • 
Answer. In this latitude, 800 lbs. is as much as may 
be) calculated on. On the rich lands of Mississippi, 
South Alabama and Florida, 1,600 lbs. may safely be 
calculated on. A gin is worth $150; screw $50; ne¬ 
groes of good qualities and suitable age, sell for men 
$700 ; Avomen $500; girls, boys, and those adr-anced in 
age, less. There is little cotton made by hirelings. 
One hand can cultivate 10 acres in cotton, and make a 
sufficiency of corn, Avheat, oats, &c. for family use, on a 
large farm, and something less on a small one. The 
price of cotton varies, as well as bagging or rope. A 
great portirn of cotton is made by slave labor. Cotton 
in bale, averages 8 cents per pound, and bagging 3 a 3| 
cents per yard. 
Question. To what diseases is the cotton plant of our 
country liable, and hoAV remedied ? 
Answer. Lice, when young ; remedy none. _ When 
more advanced, rust, Avhich is more destructive than 
every thing else. This is also caused by a minute in¬ 
sect scarcely discernable to the eye, Avhich deprives the 
plant of its sap, and it turns of a russet color, whence 
its name. Cotton is also sometimes much injured by 
the common cut-Avorm, and by a small Avorm called the 
army worm, from their going in A'ast quantities toge¬ 
ther ; sometimes grass-hoppers are troublesome. 
Question. Is the soil or climate of East Florida, 50 
miles south-Avest of St. Augustine, adapted to the groAvth 
of cotton, and what kinds ? 
Answer. The climate is suitable in any part of Flo¬ 
rida, and so is the land when dry and rich enough. 
There is some fine land in the direction spoken of, on 
Hoav Creek, Dunn’s Lake, Lake George, and the St. 
John's river: (though, perhaps, sugar Avould be a more 
profitable crop.) The Petit Gulf, or Mexican, is the 
best cotton to raise in Florida, except just on the sea- 
coast, where the Sea-Island grows. I think in the vici- 
nity of Fort King, and in Alachua county, the best cot¬ 
ton country I saw in Florida. Cotton, rice, indigo, su¬ 
gar, Spanish tobacco, Indian corn, all groAv avcII in Flo¬ 
rida—it is susceptible of being a fine silk and wine 
country. With respect, I am, &c. 
CHARLES S. JONES. 
Bolivar, Alabama, March, 1840. 
The Place to Dig a Well. 
I observe in the second number of the Cultivator, a 
communication from Myron Adams, on the method of 
determining the places of underground streams of Ava- 
ter, by a tAvig from the peach tree. As I have also seen 
that method practiced in former years, I xvish to state 
briefly my experience. The principal experiments 
were made by a friend, of unimpeachable uprightness 
and honesty of character. 
A Avell had been dug, but the quantity of Avater was 
found insufficient. The person to whom I have allud¬ 
ed, came on the ground with his forked peach stick, 
and by carefully holding it Avith his hands, according 
to the usual method, as he walked across the ground, 
found it to turn and point doAvnAvards, within a few feet 
of theAvell; and the stream thus indicated, was pro¬ 
nounced from the nature of the experiment to be Avith, 
in a few feet of the surface. By repeated examina¬ 
tions, the stream was traced to a distance of manyrods- 
up a gradually rising field, the twig ahvays turning as 
he passed over the line of the stream, from Avhatever 
quarter he approached it. The experiment Avas consi¬ 
dered very satisfactory. 
Before quitting the ground, however, he instructed a 
by-stander, Avho had never seen the experiment before, 
in the manner of holding the twig; Avho, also, found it 
to turn at the stream. This was particularly gratify¬ 
ing, as but feAV appear ever to possess this faculty. But 
the latter soon found that it Avould turn at any place; 
and doubts immediately arose of the infallibility of the 
indications by the former. The experimenter accord¬ 
ingly very obligingly consented to be blindfolded, when 
the trial Avas repeated. The stick no longer pointed 
doAvnwards to the stream, but at irregular and uncon¬ 
nected points. The experiment in short proved an en¬ 
tire failure. It may be proper to add, that a deep nar- 
roAV ditch Avas afterwards cut from the well, beyond the 
point indicated, and beloAV the depth stated, and in fact 
nearly the depth of the Avell, but no stream of water 
was found. 
Did the experimenter mean to deceive? By no 
means—the farthest from it possible. But from the 
peculiar manner of holding the twig, its weight throAvs 
it doAvn \'ery easily, acting with considerable force at 
the points of turning. Hence, at certain places a slight 
motion, or movement of the fingers, would cause it to 
descend. Those who know Avith what force the imagi¬ 
nation acts upon a tense and excited nerve, even with 
the person himself knowing nothing about it, and sin¬ 
cerely believing in another cause, will perhaps consider 
this as a sufficient explanation. If so, it will be easily 
understood why the twig should turn at points Avhere it 
would be expected to do so. 
As this method of finding Avater cannot be accounted 
for by any known principles of electricity, of attrac¬ 
tion, or even of animal magnetism, it requires exceed¬ 
ingly strong proof to establish its correctness. I have 
known many wells to be dug, but never but one or two 
where a sufficiency of water was not obtained at a 
greater or less depth; in fact, there appears to be nu¬ 
merous underground streams ; or the earth appears, in 
other words, to be nearly saturated with water at a lit¬ 
tle distance below; hence, water is nearly always 
found ; and, hence, also, the usual success inspires con¬ 
fidence in the method, Avhile failures are more apt to be 
forgotten. A theory, sincerely believed in, is much 
more apt to cause us to remember all in its support, and 
forget what there may be against it, than one which is 
more doubted. Very respectfully, 
J. J. THOMAS. 
Macedon, 3 d mo. 1840. 
Weight of Berkshire Hogs. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —As to the character of 
the Berkshires which I have, I will state the weight 
and usage of a pair of barrows, which I killed last win¬ 
ter. The summer after they were pigged, (in the 
spring,) they were kept in the pasture field, Avithcut 
any other feed than grass; in the Avinter they had the 
common usage with other shoals, and Avere turned out 
again early in April on sheep pasture, and ran in the 
fields Avith the sheep the whole season until October, 
when they were shut up and fed on corn and rye, boil¬ 
ed beets, potatoes, &c. They were butchered in Fe¬ 
bruary, and Aveighed 1,020 pounds dressed. They were 
not fed more highly than hogs usually are, nor in any 
Avay forced. The pork Avas pronounced by all who 
tasted it, as decidedly superior to the meat of the com¬ 
mon breed of hogs. J. R- CaLDWELL. 
New-Windsor, April 16, 1840. 
The subscriber Avould submit the following statement 
relative to the weight of a Berkshire soav, fatted by him 
last fall. The 1st day of May, was turned out to pasture, 
and had no feed but grass until the 1st day of Septem¬ 
ber, when she pigged. The pigs run with her until the 
first of October,' when they were taken away. She 
