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128 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.