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13C&VIUIJSS ABOUT OIPLI-’SEiMS.
Editors Southern Cultivator: —I am on the eve of
starting a small farm on the Prairie lands, near piney
woods, in this Parish, and would like a few questions an
swered :
I should like to hear something of Gibbs’ Rotary Dig
ger and Compton’s Spader—would like*to know abou said
machines, and purchase the best.
I wish the best hand or horse-power Rice Iluller. Can
Carolina friends give any information?
Also, the best Ilominy beater, Churn and Cheese Press.
Please give us in detail, Dickson’s mode of cultivating
corn and cotton.
Which is the best plowing for poor sandy soil of our
prairie—scarcely rich enough for corn ? Would a sub
soil behind the turning plow do? and how deep plow?
Will the inventors of these implements confer with me,
«s I would take an agency for some of them, if satisfied
as to their merits, for several parishes in this State.
JAS. PARDO.
Washington J\ <9., Parish of St. Lou dreg , La.
Wo leav e to others to answer the inquiries about im
plements. As to plowing, the turning plow should not
go deep, but as* to the sub-soil plow that follows, the deep
er it goes the better. Always keep the good soil at or
near the surface. Deep plow ing, with turning plows, will
not answer, except where large quantities of vegetable
matter can be turned under, so that the soil becomes fill
ed with humus the entire depth penetrated by the plow.—
Ei>. So. Cult.
(£ss"" One of our most valued contributors, whom we
had put on the free list, dont f'eel easy in his mind, lie
writes us:
Editors ' Southern Cultivator : I have subscribed
and paid for the Southern Cultivator, from the first vol
ume to the present lime, and have profited by its teach
ings beyond computation. It has never stirred my bile,
engendered strife, or encouraged sloth. By its wise
teachings, I have been guided, and by the experience and
energy of the practical, 1 have been aided and stimulated
in times-of despondency and doubt. But why attempt to
recount its benefit. My garden and orchard, and fields
and stock, (before the war,) could tell the cheering tale.
I write now only to say, as you have, (for my occasional
effusions,) placed me in the honored list of contributors,
I feel ill ut case with the price of the Cultivator in my
pocket, and therefore remit you £2, for which you wil
please send one copy of the current volume to * * *.
Another writes : “ Enclosed you will find $2 for the
Southern Cultivator. I take no political papers—don’t
think 1 ever will again; but every planter should have
your journal. It is the oldest, and I have always thought
the best Southern agricultural journal.”
Chinese Cabbage Seed. —Our good friends, J. M.
Ihorburn & Cos., 15 John Street, New York city, favor us
with two papers of “New Chinese Cabbage Seed, (differ
ent sorts) said to be well-adapted to hot climates and much
superior to the green glazed cabbage.” We shall give
them a trial and report.
gfffThe numbers for 1866, are now exhausted, except
a few for November, and the files reserved for office use.
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR.
ECUEFINC} TURNIPS.
Editors Southern Cultivator: —l noticed an inquiry
in your valuable paper, in regard to the best mode of
storing away Turnips. 1 had an abundant yield last fall,
and still have nice fresh turnips. I gathered them in the
latter part of November, and cut off the tops in the field,
arid fed them to cows ; let the turnips remain one day in
the field to dry ; then hauled them to a high, dry place,
and placed about 40 bushels in a bank, and covered with
dirt— no leaves or straw —dirt, to the thickness of six
inches, placed on and packed doi.cn well. Gathered and
stored last November, the turnips are still very fresh and
sweet , and beautiful new tops forming. My Ruta Bagas
did remarkably well, averaging 24 lbs. —seme weighing
74 and 8, after trimming. They are easily kept, in the
same manner ; in fact, I believe thev do Letter. I think
every farmer should sow an acre or two of Ruta Bagas.
They are much sweeter, richer, larger, and in every re
spect, better turnips than the Flat Dutch, Red Tops, &e.
No use of sowing, if your ground is pooi\ They require
very rich, light soil. Sow the latter part of August, in
drills 24 feet apart., and thin the plants to 12 inches. Keep
down weeds with the hoe—give two good ploughings, and
in November you will see a pretty sight. I watered mine
with liquid manure from the horse stable. This produces
a remarkable change in a very short time. R. J. W.
Macon, Miss., Feb. 1 1th, 1867.
We kept turnips exactly the same way with our cor
respondent, but in smaller heaps, and they kept well
through February. Ruta Bagas we kept well in piles in
a stable, covered well with straw. Beets kept perfectly
for stock, also covered with a light coat of earth. Wo
found the beet more useful than we expected—hogs pre
ferring it to most other roots. Tim latter part of Februa
ry, all these roots were uncovered, and placed on a lower
door, where they are keeping sound, and are likely to do
so till April.— Ed. So. Cult.
The American Journal or Horticulture.— We have
received from the publisher*, Messrs. Tiltcn & Cos., Bos
ton, the March number of this new Horticultural Maga
zine the success of which has thus far been remarkable. Al
though but yet in its third month, the publishers inform
us, that the receipts more than meet its expenses, and that
its circulation already exceeds the number predicted by
the warmest supporters of the enterprise as a good year's
work. The publishers, in their introduction, say, “As
improvement and progress are to be our aim, we trust
each month may be an improvement on the past;” and
they well redeem their promise. The March number
comes before us an improvement on the February, as that
was upon the January. The information is more varied,
as well as of wider range. We had some fears, after an
examination of the first two numbers, that its usefulness
might be impaired by making it, perhaps, too local. Tlio
present number, however, contains articles eminating
from most distant localities, and the publishers promise,
the matter for its columns, shall be drawn from every part of
part of America. The illustrations and mechanical execu
tions are, if possible, superior to those of former numbers.
The magazine is wonderfully cheap—£3.oo per annum —
giving nearly eight hundred pages in the year.