Funding for the digitization of this title was provided by R.J. Taylor, Jr. Foundation.
About Southern cultivator. (Augusta, Ga.) 1843-188? | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1869)
88 AGRICULRIIItAI. SOCIETIES. Editors Southern Cultivator: —Permit me, through your valuble columns, to suggest to farmers of the South the importance of organizing societies in their midst, hav ing for their object the encouragement, promotion* and protection of the varied inteiestsof agriculture. Nothing doubtless, would and so much to profit individually and enhance the welfare of the country. They are the “things needful” at this crisis, to erase the memories of past loss es and give to the future a promise of better times. Cos operation and concert of action, are probably the Only means by which farmers can expect to make a decent living hereafter, leaving money making out of the ques tion. The common saying that the profits of farming un der our present system and management are impercepti ble, is only too true. The great province of agricultural societies should be to remedy these defects. Demoralized labor is a serious barrier to success, but by no means the greatest. The fact that the farmer pays exhorbitant prices for swpplies purchased near home , is too well known to admit of controversy or even denial . — That it takes all he makes to settle with his merchant, at the end of the year, is perhaps, the primary cause of imperceptible profits, anS is tob keenly felt by the class fco need elaboration or comment. We submit whether the following plan would prove an alterative, viz: In addition to the benefits arising from conferences of farmers on improved modes of culture, fertilizing or other collateral subjects, they might become of inestimable service to the country in maturing and devising ways and means for the purchase, at greatly re duced rates, of labor-saving implements, manures, seed, stock, and all other plantation supplies in detail. This, probably, might be effected by the enployment of a stock fund and the appointment of a reliable agent or agents under reasonable salary, whose duty should be to procure articles from first hands and ship to designated points, each member of the organizations, receiving his quota at cost and transportation. A depot, with suitable build ings, might be erected by each society for consignment, if deemed most expedient. Railroads and steamboats would, most probably, discriminate in favor of such freight. But the question might be asked what would become of our numerous merchant friends, if the plan suggestod should be generally adopted. We reply. They are no better than us “country fellers.” Let them follow our example. There is more room in the South for farmers than merchants—every merchant can turn farmer with very great ease. T. J. COX. Gadsden , Ala. — I < I mm THE EUROPEAN WALNUT (Juglans Regia.) Editors Southern Cultivator :—ln the January num ber of the Southern Cultivator, Mr. Gift remarks that he has never seen the European walnut growing at the South. It is indeed very rare, not only at the South, but at the North, where it has only been introduced into culvivation at a comparatively recent period—so recent that there are few if any fruit bearing trees of it, in the Northern States. Some writers assert that it will not produce fruit there; however, I have been told that there is a tree of it which bears fruit in St. Louis, Missouri. SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. In the year 1858, I saw a large European walnut grow, ing in the grounds of Mr. Lyon of Columbia South Caro lina. Mr. L. told me that it rarely failed to bear large crops of walnuts, of which he gave me ?ome. They were of as large size as is generally found in the market, and equal ly as good. This tree in Mr. Lyon’s groands had been planted by Mr. Herbemont, an old botanist, who is often quoted by Elliot in his botany of South Carolina and Geor gia, and the garden in which the walnut tree stands, is known in Columbia as the Herbemont Garden. The European walnut is said to be a native of Asia, from whence it was introduced into Europe by the old Greeks and Romans. The flder Michaux saw it in its natural State, in the province of Ghiham, on the shores of the Caspian Sea, between the 85th and 40th degrees of North latitude. There are several varieties of it in Europe, of which Loudon, in his arboretum, enumerates five as worthy of cultivation. The European walnut is now kept in many of the Northern nurseries, and is also for sale atr many of those at the South, but no particular variety of it is speci fied in their catalogues. The maderia nuts of commerce are now mostly obtained from Spain, the South of France and Italy, to which, according to Mr. Gift, we may soon add California. S. B. BUCKLEY. Austin , Texas , Jan. 28,1869. CHUFAS, Editors Southern Cultivator :—I have received a number of letters, making inquiries in reference to the Chufa, and requesting seed thereof. I have exhausted my supply for this season, having sent seed to all appli cants up to this time, (Feb. 20th,) and into eleven differ ent States. Should others desire a few seed, I expect to be able next winter to supply them on the same condi tions, as I regard them valuable for hogs and fowls, and wish them widely disseminated through our country. In reply to the various inquiries received, I take the liberty of extracting a portion of a private letter (without per mission) from E. T. Paine, as answering them better than anything I could write. He says: “In 1860,1 got a small quantity of it (the Chufa) from the Patent Office, and planted it in sandy soil, that would not have brought over 8 or 10 bushels of corn to the acre—l think the yield of Chufas would be (100) one hundred bushels or over to the acre. When it was about six inches high, cattle got in and ate it clean, in preference to corn or any other green food. It immediately sprang up again. By September, it wa3 15 inches high, and I cut a portion and cured it as hay. It made a most fragrant hay, and horses ate it in preference to Northern hay or fodder. I dug them carefully, and could see no difference in the yield, from that which was cut and that which was not, and as it was once eaten down, I think it could be cut for hay, without injury to the tubers. I consider it one of the most valuable plants that can be introduced into the Southern country. For hogs, there is nothing that I know of that can compare with it. In poor pine land, that will not produce one bushel of corn to the acre, it will do well. There is nothing finer for fowls and tur keys, imparting a fine flavor to their flesh. Planted mine in two feet rows, and one foot apart in the drill—one sdfed in each hole. The celebrated ‘ Orgent’ of Spain, a delicious drink, is made from them.”
