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latch, I prefer that which swings and falls like a
pendulum into a mortise in the post This gate
was designed for me two years ago by the moth
er of invention, and would not be exchanged for
any yet exhibited. We make all gates, small and
large on this pattern. “ Acorn” has most of the
points. As we make it, we claim that it is the
cheapest. BLOW GO.
Port Gibson, Miss.
Fastening for Farm Gates.— Our corres
pondent W. J. 8., writing from the Michigan
Agricultural College, tells how they fasten farm
gates there : “ They use a piece off inch round
iron bent into tlio form of a letter U. The bot
tom of the letter turns square corners and the
arms are far enough apart and long enough to
reach by the gate and hold it closed. This is se
cured by a couple of stout bolts in a notch cut
into the post. Turn up the U against the post
and the gate can come open ; drop it and all is
more secure than when held by old wooden pins.
It is simple, cheap, durable and handy.— Prairie
Farmer.
COM FLATTER, fco,
“ Can you or any of your subscribers tell us
anything about a good corn planter? Do you
know Stoddard’s, and what do you think of it ?
1 was worried out, disgusted, with my laborers
dropping corn this year. They were hardly able
to walk over the soft ground, dropping from 1
to 1± acres per day, and very badly doiie. If I
can’t do better, I shall sow with my Dow Law,
as I did my peas, and cut out with sweeps on
Thill, or sweeps on Sulky cultivator. There is
but little use about here, to try to do anything
that can’t be accomplished with mule and ma
chine. It is pretty near as much as can be ex
pected of the laborer to guide his mule , and not
many will do even that.—lt., Grahamville, S. C.”
$ oditulf ural § cprtmmt.
For the Southern Cultivator.
THE FLOWER GARDES.
Transplanting can be successfully done this
month, before the ground becomes frozen. If
there are any roses to l>c planted out, dig the
holes for them 2 feet square and 1| deep. Place
all the surface soil to itself, go that it can be
used in planting; the poor sub-sdß remove out
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR
of the way, as it must not be used for putting
around the plants. In the bottom of the holes
put about Cinches of good rich earth, mixed
with well rotted manure. In digging up bushes
and roses, care should be taken to injure the
roots as little as possible. Set in the hole deep
enough to cover the steins just a little deeper
than they originally grew ; throw in carefully
among the roots the surface soil, miied with ma
nure. TVlien the hole is nearly filled up, pour
on water through the rose of the watering pot,
so that the earth will be washed in well among
the roots —giving the plant a little shake from
time to time* to settle the esrth. Fill up well,
and pack tight about the plant. Put around the
plant a good mulching of cow T -pen qjftnure, to
prevent the ground freezing. Roses should have
the most of the present year’s growth cut off be
fore being planted out.
Evergreens can also be planted out this month.
There are a number of our native ones that arc
highly ornamental to the fknver garden and yard.
The Gordonia Lasianthus, commonly called the
Loblolly Bay, is one of the handsomest among
them. It grows in great abundance along the
sea-coast, but strange to say, is rarely seen out of
its native w r oods. It grows from 40 to 50 feet in
thick woods, but when not crow T ded, attains less
height, spreads more, and forms a wider top.—
Its foliage is dark green, and in the summer it is
profusely covered with white flowers inch
es in diameter, with their centres filled with
anthere. A tree begins to bloom when
from five to six feet high. The Magnolia Gran
diflora is so highly esteemed, that it is seen
around almost every home, where ornamental
shrubbery is appreciated; also the Ilolly, the
native Olive, Casina, &c. All of these can be
put out this month with much better success
than when planted later in the season.
The Magnolia family is very attractive and de
sirable, as the flowers of most of them are very
fragrant. The Magnolia Glauca, which is a na
li¥e in our woods, is a handsome tree, with
leaves light green on the top and silvery under
neath, and the flow'ers, although not attractive
in appearance, are exceedingly fragrant.
Some of the foreign members of this family,
are now in common use in our gardens, and the
delightful fragrance of their flowers makes them
much sought after. Chief among them, is the
Magnolia Fuscata, generally called Banana
Shrul|. It grows in fine pyramidal forth, from