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THE: SOl TIIEItIV CI'LTSVATOU.
Editors Southern Cultivator : —After reading other
.journals of a similar character, (any of which vi 1 pay
double theil* subscription price) 1 am the more thorough
ly satisfied as to the benefits that we are to receive front
the Southern Celt./rotor. It is a home concern, and will,
very naturally, introduce matters and things that noecs
sarily interest us. And, as hitherto, will, no doubt, con
tinue to speak of them in that plain, comprehensive style,
that will enable us toi understand itarich lessons of in
structlon. Why not make it the ncuelus around which,
the lovers of Agriculture, horticulture, household econo
my, and the fireside, (and who is not a lover of all these)
ean congregate and feast over the brightening prospects
of a blighted laud.
Its ionn, size, and mechanical arrangement, are per
fect. Its visits are the more highly appreciated, as they
are only made once a month, and hence, command care
ful study, and diligent perusal
I have but one objection to any feature it presents.—
The fictitious signatures. Why should this be persisted
in? Docs respect or good sense commend it? If so,
then all should be fictitious, and every possible induce
ment offered to educate experts at guessing. The man
•who gives his practice, can sign his name. The man
•who writes theory, must have a chance to dodge while
die watches the effect.
Our conclusions are easily and satisfucfcnily formed,
■when we see the names of Lee, Dickson, Van Buren,
.Gift and others. We,can go to work confidently, and
rCven invest money upon their suggestions. When I
•iTCad a good article over the signature of Amicus, Pano
la, Vox, 11. R., etc., I feel a sense of humiliation. Be
4>idec, I am left to my own judgement, and to experiment
cautiously, if I remain In prudential bounds. Hence,
.time and space is lessened in value, for I am not benefit
ed as I might, otherwise, have been. There is PEE DEE,
for instance, which, to me, is as outlandish, and unmean
itig, *s PEE GEE, wljo almost insures the life of your
horse that dies under his proscription. Then comes Old
Amateur, Young Farmer, Young Sheppcrd. I feel in
terested in knowing how old or how young, Then we
have More Anon. When ? Progress, lfow far *?
Twiggs. What kind? And Acorn. Os what stock?—
\ou may plead modesty —a virtue I highly prize—but
this should not deprive us of manliness, fairness, and
that praeticaPsense of justice we owe to others as social
beings. Whatever others may think of this modesty, I
don’t know but that there may be behind it, “I am sir
oracle,” my light, passing over, should fructify the ver
dent. I would not say a word to discourage one of the
■many worthy contributors to the Cultivator, and would
persuade them to lend their full strength to the cause, a
cause for which they should not be ashamed, but with a
sense of honest pride and noble manliness, bear whatev
er responsibilities may rest upon the helpless in a cause
that must eventually triumph. In battling for this noble
purpose, throw off reserve, and all shyness. This will
secure respect, give confidence, and insure a fraternal
feeling.
Farmers ought to be like brothers, as they have to con
tend against the combinations of other classes. W e can
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR.
combine too, and through the Cultivator, as a common
medium, not only greatly strengthen and facilitate our
enterprises, by relating our experiments, and interchang
ing views, but protect each other from thq unfair deal
ings, and (too frequently) fraud, that is palmed off
upon the unsuspecting, with impunity. Reckless specu
lators and defrauders will be shy of us when they find
that we have the moral strength, and the disposition to
communicate to the brotherhood such circumstances as
are mentioned by Grant, and even a supposed imposi
tion, as in the case of W. J. Parks, (which I hope is ami
cully an I satisfactorily settled).
I see that Mr. Parks, in taking his better half like ma
ny other men, unfortunately fails to discover, and, con
sequently, loses the enjoyment of her intrinsic worth.
But enough. Come, come, let the thousands of strong,
brotherly hands unite in giving the “Old Cultivator” a
continuous push, with hearty good will. Let us look on and
enjoy its onward movement, as ipcareers in its glorious
pathway of light and blessing, gatheiing its tens of thous
ands supporters and admirers, as it dispenses its good
feasts to the joyous and happy million.
Yours, truly, ‘ W. T. COLQUITT
Bowden , Geo.
As editors are sometimes told secrets, we would state
that i- great variety of motives induce our correspondents
to write over assumed signatures, but, so far as we have
discovered, no unworthy ones. We believe the prevail
ing one is true, genuine modesty. “E’en their errors
lean to virtue’s side.”— Eds. So. Cult.
IMPORTANCE OF SOWING GOOD SEEDS.
“As ye sow, so shall ye reap,” was never more true
than to-day. Crop after crop having been taken from
our fields for scores of years, without a sufficient applica
tion of manure, the elements of fertility originally in
the soil, have become partially exhausted, so that much
smaller crops, or of a poorer quality, are now obtained
than formerly ; and we cannot afford to have any of these
elements, still remaining, consumed by the growth of
weeds or poor grain.
A\ by is it that the corn crop is as good now in all parts
of the country as ever ? In those parts of New England
where I am acquainted, it has been better for the last ten
years than in any previous decade, and the quality of
corn, I believe, is fully as good in all parts of the coun
try now as it ever was ; but neither the one nor the oth
er is equally true of any one of our other cereals, except
iu certain small localities ; and why is it? I think it is
because more care has been taken in saving and prepar
ing the seed for our corn-fields ; or rather because we
have been able to select the largest, earliest ripened and
plumpest kernels for seed.
lill recently, wheat, rye, oats and bailey, have been
sown big, plump or small, weed-seeds and all; and as
like begets likc,’#pur crops have been deteriorating in
quality, and continually growing less in quantity. Rea
soning from analogy , I think there is no necessity for
this ; and speaking from observation, I think I can say I
know there is not. In the vicinity of Randolph, Vt., the
farmers have made increased effort for several years past
to sow only the largest, earliest ripened and plumpest
kernels of wheat, with the best result as to quality and