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PAST AM) FUTURE. The year approaches its close, with the far mers of the South discouraged and dispirited; the hopes of the past not realized, and visions of the future obscured liy doubts and uncertain ties. The great decline in the price of cotton within a twelve month, lias upset all calcula tion, disturbed all values and locked the wheels of trade. The wiseacres, whose by-word is “ I told you so” —who always see results very clear ly after they have happened, are disposed to taunt the farmer in his misfortunes; for our part, we cannot find it in our heart to do so, and are much more inclined to sympathise with him than to “ mock at his calamity.” Impoverished by the war —ground down by taxation, not to say robbery, since its close—it was extremely natural for the Southerner to de sire earnestly to make money. The education of his children —provision for old age—to say nothing of immediate present wants, pressed heavily upon him. Under this pressure the Southern farmer unfortunately was induced to do tw T o things: First, to undertake more than the remnant of capital left him warranted— hence, the borrowing of money, lien on crops, Ac., Ac.; and secondly, to give too exclusive at tention to cotton, as the crop most easily and rapidly converted into money. Everything be ing staked on cotton, when, as at present its price unexpectedly goes dow T n, he necessarily finds himself pressed to return his borrowed capital and realize any profit. It is fashionable now to raise the cry of fertilizers, and attribute all losses to them. Would it not be equally sen sible to raise a hue and cry against the employ ment of labor, mules, Ac,, Ac. ? On every acre in cotton, the farmer expends fully twice as much in these last two items, as he does in manure. On all forms of capital employed in making a crop, a certain risk is unavoidable ; but the loss es of one year will, in the long run, be counter balanced by the gains of another, if the farmer is self-possessed and prudent—neither allowing himself to be too much depressed by the former, nor too much elated by the latter—if he is quick to learn the lessons of adversity, and wise enough to avoid the errors of the past. Our faith in Southern agricultural prosperity is not in the slightest degree shaken, by the disastrous termination of the labors of the present year.— In the future, we confidently look for greater at tention to grains and grasses and all the articles SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. needed for home consumption, and less disposi tion to borrow money to make cotton ; and with this faith we not only heartily but hopefully wish our readers a happy new year. Another year is about to close, and the lessons of its experiences and experiments should be put on record —not only in each farmer’s pri vate farm book, but in some public work, like the Cultivator, where it may become the proper ty of the agricultural world, and contribute to its solid progress. “ Full many a gem of purest ray serene, the dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear,” and many a valuable fact is hidden away in the brains of the quiet, secluded farmers of the land, who would perhaps he surprised if told that others did not have them. Let each one remember, that giving his experience, stimu lates others to do the same; and as all the farm ers in the country can’t get together and talk over matters in person, let them do the next best thing, and talk to each other through our columns. Catalogues Received. Descriptive Catalogue of the Georgia Nursery, near Augusta, Ga., by Wms K. Nelson. Descriptive Catalogue of Langdon Nurseries, near Mobile, Ala., by C. C. Langdon A Cos. Allison A Addison’s Fall Circular of Seeds, Implements, &c., for 1870. Richmond, Va. Descriptive Catalogue of Humboldt Nurseries, Humboldt, Tenn., by 13. F. Transou A Bro. Descriptive Catalogue of Cherry llill Nurse ries, West Chester, Penn’a, by Hoopes, Bro. A Thomas. Descriptive Catalogue of Genesee Valley Nur series, Rochester, N. Y., by Frost A Cos. Descriptive Catalogue and Wholesale Price List of Bloomington Nursery, Bloomington, Illinois, by F. K. Phoenix. BOOKS AXI) EXCHANGES. Diseases of the American Horse and Cat tle and Sheep; Their treatment, with a list and full description of the Medicines employ ed. By Robt. McClure, M. D., V. S., Pi of. Veterinary College, Philadelphia, Ac., Ac. This seems to be as complete a work on the points embraced, as the limits of a p. duo decimo would permit, and so far :.s we car. judge, is concisely and clearlywrit.cn, Ly ore who is a master of the subjects treated. That the reader may judge for himself, we have 445