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[Written fur the Southern Field and Fireside.] A PRIZE ESSAY. AGRICULTURE. BY A PLANTER, ST. SIMON’S ISLAND, OA. In this age, agriculture is so completely inter mingled with prosperity and adversity, that its study should occupy a great portion of our time. As we approach the subject, the first impres sion that the mind receives, is the almost prodi gal waste which has swept over the fairest por tions of our State, by endeavoring to extract treasures from the soil, without returning proper requisites for sustaining frequent yields. To make the theories of the past subservient to our faults, shows an ignorance of the principles that govern the growth of plants, and a depen dance solely upon accident for the reward of our labors. If we so much acknowledge the impor tance of agriculture as to engage in its pursuits, it is essential to acquire those great principles that lead to successful husbandry; and as the subject is investigated, we find beautifully pro vided by nature rules to be governed by, and a a system to make those rules most practicable. Yet, notwithstanding the interest and impor tance of the subject, the endeavors that have been made to kindle in the bosom of agricultu rists a desire of preserving to posterity the pre cious inheritance of Georgia in all her majesty and beauty, and the sad proof we have in the decay of States, once the pride of the South; the same exhausting culture of too fre quent cropping, yearly desolate homes, and causes a healthy clime to be abandoned, for the sickly regions of the West. Although this ex hausting culture was commenced by new set tlers, they were not censurable for beginning it, “but they and their successors are not the less condoranable for continuing it, after which justi fied it had ceased. The system was first begun in Eastern Virgin ia, because it was the first settled part of the present United States; and it continued to pre vail for many years until the country was nearly reduced to barrenness, and the proprietors to ruin. From this erroneous policy so long pur sued in Virginia, and the well known disastrous results in the general, and seemingly desperate sterility of the older settled portion of the State, it seems strange that Georgia should not have taken warning, and learned to profit by the wo ful and costly experience of others. But it ap pears that all agricultural communities must run the same race of exhausting culture, and the proprietors, before £eing convinced of the pro priety of commencing an opposite course, bo come so reduced by yearly failure of crops, that the only alternative is to abandon home, and seek the western wild. It cannot be said that agriculturists in our State frown ujion the warn ing each year teaches, for with pride I can say, there are those in my own neighborhood, who, through love for their Empire State, have availed themselves of the resources an Allwise Provi dence has placed at their disposal, and by prepara tion of soil, and judicious application of manures, have caused sterile fields to produce more than when first planted. It was in 1850, a field which once produced abundantly refused to yield.— The com indicated sourness ot soil, and after the next year’s attempt, the field was abandoned as being completely worn out. A change then took place in the cultivation of the land. A New England farmer turned his attention to re claiming it. His process was, thorough drain age, deep ploiving, manuring with compost , and rotation of crops. The first yea; proved the cor rectness of his treatment, and during the third year I was invited to attend tlio “breaking in’’ and measuring of the corn which yielded from one acre, eighty bushels. As this is not an isolated case, where fields have been reclaimed by the same treatment, I shall contend, that thorough drainage , deep plow ing, manuring with compost, and rotation of crops, are the four great rules of successful ag riculture. The first principle that we must recognise is thorough drainage. The North has seen the mighty influence this subject wields over the destinies of her husbandmen, and her sons have made it their study. We find one of her ablest agriculturists divides it into two parts, Mechan ical and Chemical, and under the head of me chanical changes, writes as follows : Thorough drainage deepens the soil; every one who has atttempted to raise deep rooted vegetables upon half-drained swamp land has observed the ut ter impossibility of inducing them to extend downward their usual length. Parsnips and carrots on such land frequently grow large at the top, but divide into numerous small fibres, just below the surface, and spread in all direc tions. No roots except those of aquatic plants can be expected to grow in stagnant water. If, therefore, it is of any advantage to have a deep, rather than a shallow soil, it is manifestly ne cessary, from this consideration alone, to lower the line of standing water at least to the ex tent to which the roots of our cultivated crops descend. A deep soil is better than a shallow one, because it furnishes a more extensive feed ing ground to its roots. The elements of nutri tion found in the soil are not all upon the sur face, and market gardeners and nurserymen show by their practice that they know, if others do not, that a trenched soil, three feet deep, is better than one of a less depth. We also know that corn in a dry soil sends down its rootlets two feet or more, as well as most grasses.— Thorough drainage prevents surface washing. All land which is not leveled, or covered with grass, is liable to great loss in spring and au tumn. If the land is already filled with water, or has not sufficient drainage, the rain cannot pass directly downward, but runs away upon the surface, carrying away much of the soil, and washing out much of the valuable elements of fertility which have been supplied at such ex pense. If the land be properly drained, rain passes downward, saturating the soil in its de scent, carrying the soluble substances with it to its roots, and the surplus water runs off in the artificial channels provided by the draining pro cess. So great is the absorbent power of drained lands, the* after a protracted drought all the water of a heavy rain storm will- be drunk up and held by the soil, so that for a day or two none will find its way to the drains, nor will it run upon the surface.” Thorough drainage lengthens the season for vegetation. In some portions of our State where winter is long, and swamp or bottom lands to bo planted, the farmer’s energies should be exerted to get in his crop early, so as to give it full maturity before frost. Drainage prevents those disadvantages that often exist when hav ing to plow during wet weather; which im pede the progress of planting; hence, he is able to plant at least a week earlier, for with the water out of the soil fear cannot exist as to the seed sobbing or the plant dying from cold. “ Thorough drainage prevents injury in times of drought. By the very deepening of the soil, of which I have already spoken, the roots of plants, we have seen, will not extend into stagnant water. If, then, as is frequently the case, even on sandy plains, the water line be in early SOTS 80VX3K3B3UI VXX&D HI HEE&XBE. spring near the surface, the seed may be plant ed, may vegetate, and throw up a goodly shoot of leaves and stalk which may flourish as long as the early rains continue; but suddenly the rains cease, the sun comes out in his June brightness, the water line lowers at once in"the soil, the roots have no depth to draw moisture from below, and the whQle field of cotton, com, or wheat, in a single week, is past recovery. Now, if this soil be drained, so that at the first start of the crop there is a deep seed-bed, free from water, the roots strike downward and pre pare for a drought. This subject commanded the attention of an agricultural meeting held at Albany, New York, in 1855. The great drought of’s4 being the topic, the Secretary stated: The experience of the past season has abundantly proven that thorough drainage upon soil re quiring it has been a very great relief to the farm er ; that the crops upon such land have been far better generally than those upon undrained lands in the same locality, and that in many in stances the increased crop has sufficient to de fray all expenses of improvement.” Thorough drainage improves the quality of crops, for fre quently, in dry seasons, we hear formers boast ing of the quality of their products. Indeed, this topic need not be enlarged upon, as every farmer knows his com, wheat, Jfcc., are heavier and more sound when grown upon land suffi ciently drained. Drainage with tiles has for years been practised in England, and, indeed, in some portions of the New England States. Forcible arguments may be adduced in its favor where land is scarce and expensive; but it is a question if it would be profitable here where land is so abundant. And it really does appear, that the method cheapest and best suited to our country is that with open ditches which are kept open at every working of the field. Good sense and sound philcsophy next de mand the subject of deep plowing, which, as yet, has commanded but little attention at the South; although years have elapsed since we first heard of its beneficial results in Europe and the North ern States. The frequent prevalence of drought during the summer months, which blight fair prospects, seems to call for some practice that will assist the farmer to ward against this evil. At a glance, we must percieve that, if a field be plowed four inches deep, the rain will thoroughly soak that depth, and then the water will with difficulty percolate through the unstirred ground, until the soil becomes so hard as to present a resistance, when it will flow to some lower level or become injurious to the crop. This is avoided by deep plowing and drainage combined; for the deeper it bo plowed—the longer it will retain moisture, the rains preventing any injury from heat. The most skeptical must be convinced that deep plowing furnishes a reservoir of mois ture for the roots to feed upon, long after the surface has been parched by continued heat.— Another advantage of deep plowing is, that all roots are enabled to extend themselves to seek moisture, thus lending great assistance to the tap root in support of the plant. After the first and only rain we had last year during the sea son it was most needed for filling corn, I took up two stalks of corn out of a field, a portion of which had been plowed five inches, the balance not at all. I found that the corn taken from the plowed ground had a much longer tap root, longer side roots, and many more than the stalk taken from the unplowed ground; also, that the rain had run off the unplowed ground almost as fast as it fell (a thing that frequently occurs on land baked by heat.) giving but little nourish ment to the plant ; while the plowed soil was thoroughly soaked to the depth of the plowing. The result was that the plowed com was made by the rain, while the other fired after a few days, producing merely nothing. How important, therefore, is it for us to till our soil so that every rain may be of benefit. The very idea of flush ing up an entire field becomes an insurmonutablo barrier, which has been stormed in this section by a little plow, shaped like a smoothing iron, with shank like a cutter. After laying off the row with a turn plow, it is run in the furrow to the depth of six inches, leaving no other sign than the appearance of a mole having passed over the ground. Two furrows are thrown upon this, and the tap root of the plant then has what is equivalent to deep flushing. Our duties next lead us to a department in agriculture that is yearly becoming more important. The day is too fleetly passing for the subject of manuring to be disregarded; and we must not be unmind ful of the fact, that judgement is essential in deciding its application. Opinions are various as to the best manures. Some consider that all calcareous manure, vegetable and chemical, are fertilizing to the soil; but experience must decide what is best adapted to each particular locality. No greater attention is required than in the selection of marl manures, for although most valuable, yet the inexperienced, by a total ignorance of the soil, they best suit, often apply them with but little success. “ Marls are of various degrees of coherence, some oceuriug in the form of a more or less loose sandy powder. These differences arise in part from the kind and proportion of earthy matter contained. They vary also in their composition. Some rich marls consist of broken and com minuted shells, which clearly indicate the source of the calcareous matter they contain. — The clay and stono marls are very similar in composition, but' shell marl very different. — Clay marls have the appearance of clay. When long exposod to air, or put into water, they crumble into powder. They seem to have much the same qualities as lime. Stone marls are often richer in lime than clay marls. The chief difference is that they dissolve sooner than clay marls, and commonly have a stronger power of neutralizing acids and producing salts. Large pieces of stone marl have been seen in clods upon the land, years after it had been applied. This renders it necessary to apply it in large quantities;.on sandy soil, about fifteen hundred bushels to the acre; on alluvial, one, fourth.— Shell marl is very different from the two just described. It is a fine fertilizer and benefits all qualities of soil, and does not deprive land of its vegetable matters; it can, therefore, be suc cessfully used on clay and stone marl lands that have been exhausted by crops.” Although the effect of marling is not so quick as lime, it lasts longer, and is undoubtedly safer as a manure. Its fertilizing qualities last long- ’ er than, perhaps, any other kind of manure, as once every four years is quite sufficient for ap plying it. Experience often teaches that lime as a manure should be used with caution. — Strong lands for a time may bo benefitted by it; but frequent application does more injury than good. In some instances, its effects are very encouraging, when the next year’s treatment of the crops in the same manner proves injurious. Salt as a manure in some sections proves very beneficial; but an analysis of the soil and plant should determine its use and that of lime. Peruvian guano has been used with apparent success. All concentrated manures, for a time, are used with success, but when their fertilizing qualities are exhausted they leave the land in a more impoverished state than at first. Time must determine the practicability of using any expensive manures when there is a risk of the soil being injured by their application. Atten tion should, therefore, be paid to those manures that suit all qualities of land and can be pro cured without the outlay of money. It is, in deed, unpardonable that every farmer does not correctly appreciate the influence which a pro per application of manure has on his crops. Al though an example is set us in the wise provi sion by the Author of nature, that the growth of one year becomes vegetable food for the next, we remove the sustenance for man and beast, and reject the lesson taught us by the All Wise. Time wears on, and we sadly learn by the ste rility of our soil that we must seek tho lesson once rejected. It has been discovered that plants are incapable of dissolving soluble sub stances, however minutely divided. This fact alone would confute the theory of Tull, and others of his day, that earthy matter is the true vegetable nutriment, and that manure is only useful in mechanically pulverizing the soil. To produee this necessary state of solution of animal and vegetable substances is the principle use of fermentation, and care should be taken of excessive fermentation, the greatest obstacle to the sobbing of manure that can be experienced, as it frequently leaves it in a scorched state, which causes the gaseous escape of fertilizing particles, thus rendering it of little use. As fermentation takes places slowly, lime or ashes should be added in small quantities.— When it becomes a practice of placing in the farm yard everything collected off the premises capable of being converted into manure, the farmer will regret not having commenced the practice at an earlier day. Rich swamp muck trampled with cotton seed, broad cast thickly over every other layer, appears more beneficial than all other manures. The muck is often ap plied with admirable effect without any season ing, or intermixed with barn-yard or specific manures. Muck of all qualities, if justly called, is composed of vegetable substances, and by its name we recognise the meaning of “ decayed vegetable-matter; and thus every fanner readily discerns what is meant. It is scientifically called by several names, the most common humus, the Latin for earth or mould.” Stock hart says: “ This term is identical with decay ing organic matter. In this acceptation it has been known and valued for many years in agri culture. Vegetable mould (humus) is the term applied to the upper black or brown layer of tho earth, which has been formed in forests by the decay of fallen leaves. The dark fat arable soil, containing much partially decomposed or ganic (vegetable) matter, is said to be rich in humus , while the dry light soil in which it is wanting is said to be poor in humus. The farm er knows that contrary to what happens in his woodlands, the humus diminishes in his field, and so much the more rapidly as his crops are more abundant; he knows that fields rich in humus are as a general rule more fertile than those which are poor in humus. Accordingly, by the term humus, we must understand a mass of brown, decaying matter, partly soluble, partly insoluble, partly acid, partly neutral, which, with the uninterrupted presence of air, water, and heat, may be still further decomposed, and carbonic acid and water thereby evolved. Carbonic acid and water are indispensable to the nourishment of plants; hence, in a soil rich in humus the plants will grow more vigorously, because they can find these, and can absorb by their rootlets more of these two nutritive sub stance, than in a soil poor in humus. Humus, moreover, exerts a beneficial influence upon ve getation, because it loosens the soil by the de velopement of carbonic acid and because it possesses the power of attracting water from the air, retaining it a long time, and because by means of acids contained in it is able to abstract ammonia from the air, and also from manure, the third means of nutri ment of plants.” Another merit of this great gift of nature is that, although it may be exposed to the air it retains its good qualities, and by yielding its own virtues to roots that traverse it, produces a wonderful effect on all qualities of soil. When applied to clay land, the result cheers the farmer to renewed exertions, where the in juries from drought on unmauured lands become disheartening. To be ensured of success, how over, in its application on clay lands, drainage must be tho first process, for it would be folly to attempt their amelioration with anything so long as water is allowed to destroy the effects. Notwithstanding the privilege many possess of profiting by this truly valuable provision of na ture, we have yet to learn that farmers have seen the folly of their ways, resorted to these expedients for sustaining their fields in those an nual tasks, which they, as severe taskmakers, exact from them. Many are convinced of the importance of these four principles in agricul ture ; a few may have adopted them, and been discouraged by neglecting a rotation of crops ; for unless the four be combined, we contend that success in agriculture becomes doubtful. To prescribe a general rule for rotation would be impossible, as it should be arranged to make it most remunerative, keeping in mind the im portance of having plants of different habits, and constitutions succeeding each other ; deep rooted crops should be succeeded by such as pierce but a little way into the_ earth, for each draws nourishment peculiar to itself. Founded upon an acknowledged fact that every plant takes from the soil different ingredients, a succession of any particular crop must exhaust that partic ular ingredient essential to its growth and be corno extinct. Botanists often experience this fact; for a plant is found in one field for years, in abundance, and in the course of time, wholly dis appears. Fields frequently refuse to yield bounti ful harvests of a crop that once appeared well adapted to the soil, and failure is attributed to the season, when impartial investigation would trace it to an exhaustion of that particular ingredient ne cessary for its growth. Some other crop requiring different food, planted in such fields would flourish luxuriantly, amply repaying for drainage, plow ing, and manuring. It should also be remem bered that some plants favor the growth of dif ferent weeds and insects, which multiply rapid ly, and can bo destroyed only by rotation. Mo dern farming in Great Britain, in its improved state, does not permit two grain crops to come in succession, and as all other agricultural oper ations are subservient to the perfection of her wheat, which we find is never sown but at in tervals of three years, we are incliued to believe that in our State wheat should follow potatoes, oats, or rye. , As our pride should be the perfection of our King, we would have it rest upon a bed pre pared according to the four great principles of agriculture, which ensure its success when fol lowing the wake of other great staples of our State. Although our varied climate presents raro inducements for the cultivation of products now neglected, we have so few farmers that no crops are planted but such as give immediate profit; and their treatment of the soil perfectly harmonises with this ruinous idea. Could the planter be induced to become a farmer, wo would find hay raised in abundance, rice adapted to land now looked upon as incapable of produc ing anything but cotton ; sugar made in suffi cient quantities for plantation use, Ruta Baga turnips constituting an important crop for win ter forage, orchards adorning lands about the premises now grown up in weeds, and vineyards proving an invaluable acquisition when failures of cotton crops would place the farmer in em barrassed circumstances. 'W e have been blessed with even- facility of independence, and negligence alone conduces an opposite result. The day is not far distant, I trust, when these advantages will be embraced, and it will bo our pride to become famous, prac ticing those great rules of agriculture which en sure independence, prosperity, and happiness. SULPHUR FOR MILDEW ON THE GRAPE. When at Quincy, 111., last summer, we recom mended to a gentleman whose grape vines were much affected by mildew, the use of sul phur, and he now writes us for more definite information in regard to its action, and the man ner of application. Powdered sulphur dusted on the effected parts, lias, for many years, been known as a remedy for mildew on the peach. It is only since 1846 that the grape mildew has attracted much at tention ; but since then, its ravages, some years, have been so extensive in the wine districts of Europe as to create much alarm, but it is now demonstrated that the judicious application of sulphur is a certain remedy—and the only one. The object to be aimed at in applying the sul phur, is merely to bring it in contact with the mildew. This can be done by simply throwing the sulphur on the vines and bunches. Quite a number of machines, called sulphurators, have been invented in England for this purpose, re sembling, somewhat, a miniature fanning-mill— the sulphur being scattered on the plants by the force of the wind. They are used extensive ly in the English hop-yards—sulphur being found equally effectual as a remedy fdr the hop mildew. Sulphur volatalizes rapidly at 180 a , and the fumes destroy the mildew. In greenhouses, therefore, a good method is to scatter sulphur on the hot water pipes, or whitewash them with a mixture of four ounces of sulphur (black sulphur the best), and four ounces of quick lime, dissolved in three gallons of wa ter, closing the house afterwards from thirty minutes to an hour, according to the virulence of the disease. If sulphur is ignited, sulphurous acid gas is formed, which destroys the leaves, as well as the mildew. It will not do, therefore, to burn the sulphur. Sulphur is insoluble in water. But if one pound offlowers of sulphur, and an equal measure of quick lime, are boiled for ten minutes in a glazed earthenpot, with five pints of water, hyposul phite of lime is formed, which is very soluble. It should be constantly stirred while boiling. It is then allowed to settle, and the clear liquid is. when cool, ready for use, after being mixed with one hundred parts of water. The vines, are syringed with this water. This is effectual, economical, and easily applied on a large scale. This hyposulphite of lime may easily be ob tained by leaching the refuse lime of the gas works. The hyposulphite is very soluble, and the less water used for the purpose the better, in order to avoid dissolving other substancos. It should afterwards be largely diluted with water, and applied with the syringe, as before recommended. If seven pounds of sulphur and one pound of lime are boiled in water for several hours, pentasulphuret of caleiiftn is formed. This sub stance contains about eighty per cent of sulphur, and is quite soluble in water. We have never seen it recommended for mildew, but think it eminently worthy of trial. It is the sulphur, and not the lime, that is the effective agent; and the less of the latter in proportion to the former the better. The pentasulphuret of cal cium contains more than ten times as much sul phur, in proportion to the lime, as the hyposul phite of lime. It approximates closely to a solu tion of sulphur. We hope some of our readers will experi ment with tliis compound, not only on the vine, but on the gooseberry, the mildew of which is closely allied to that of the grape. It is not improbable, too, that it would be useful in pre venting the cracking of the pear, which is now generally conceded to be caused by a fungus. Geenese Farmer. MI INTRODUCTION OF EXOTICS EXPERIMENTS WITH THE GRAPE VINE AND WITH TEA PLANT. Among the many squares that are not squares in the plan of this city is one of five acres, bounded on the North by Missouri avenue, on the East by Four-and-a-half street, on the South by the canal, and on the West by Sixth street. Less than a year ago this square was little bet ter than a marsh or morass; but it is now fast assuming form and beauty. Tile-draining has rendered the soil dry, warm, aud friable, and ingenious culture is developing upon the sur face products that have seldom hitherto been found in close proximity. Hero are young but prospering grape vines frefcu El Paso, from Ar kansas, and from other States of the Union, as well as from Hungary and Egypt, all to be test ed in various ways, but especially by experi ments having for their object tho blending varie ties by hybridization, in order that the American, retaining its vigor and exuberance, may have its acerbity, its “ferocity,” as it is sometimes ex pressed, subdued through the influence of the older cultivated grapes of other climes; or that these may be re-invigorated through the influence of the more hardy American vines. The Egyp tian varieties—the “seedless” and the “lady-fin ger”—of which there are eight or ten thousand plants, have been introduced by means of cut tings ; the El Paso, of which there are one or two hundred thousand, liave been produced from seeds. Here, also, is a forest of tiny pines, an inch or two in eight, sprung from seeds brought from the Pacific coast; aiid native plum trees, from seeds obtained in Kansas and in Texas; and radishes from China; onions from Egypt; “Melocliia,” an Egyptian soup plant, the leaves of which are exceedingly mucilaginous and sulated reservoirs for storing up the electric agreeable in flavor; the Pyrethrum caucasicum the dried flower-heads of which produce the far-famed vermin-destroying powder; the wax bearing Rhus of Japan, the product of which has recently created some sensation in com merce ; the hemp palm from China, of which a grass cloth is made; the olea fragrans, of China, from which tho better varieties of tea de rive their rich aroma; the seedless pomegranate of Egypt, highly prized because it is seedless; the camphor tree; the cork tree; the Mahonia of Texas, which produces a fruit of great value for preserving, the osier willow from New England, which soon attains a height of eight or ten feet; cauliflowers, large, healthy, well-headed, and prolific in seeds, and remarkable because of their peculiar cultivation; American oaks from the acorn: tho American larch, Ac. Here, too, may be seen, as developed in this locality, tho products of one hundred and twenty-three sam-. pies of wheat collected from every region of the globe, similar experiments with the same series being in progress in central Pennsylvania and in Texas—wheat bearded, and wheat beardless, and wheat ortfcarvellous variations of appear ance, all attended by the beneficial coccinellidae, which are busily employed in devouring the plant lice and other parasites by which the wheat is attacked; and an apiary of choice bees, we are informed, is soon to be appropriately added to this scene of ingenuity and industry. But the crowning glory of all is comprised in the exhibition, within an admirably constructed propagating house, to which the warmth of steam or fire has never been applied, of more than fifty thousand heathful, thriving, and beau tiful tea plants, the seeds of which have been received from China within a few months. Some of these plants are just peeping above the soil, while others, more superficially covered with earth in the cases, germinated during the voyage, and are now a foot or more in height. We are thus about to determine practically the two-fold problem, whether tea-culture is possi ble, and may be rendered profitable in the Uni ted States—a problem once discussed in its quality respecting wool, again respecting cot- * ton, respecting Sorgho sucre, respecting im proved breeds of bovine animals, and respect ing almost everything good and valuable that we possess in agriculture. It was well said by the honorable Secretary of the Interior, in his last annual report, that “in a country possessed of so great a variety of soil and climate it was wise to essay the propagation of every plant affording any hope of usefulness, especially as such success would more than compensate for all the cost and trouble attending many in stances of failure. We trust the present experi ment may prove a happy exemplification of this remark, and not only a source of immediate ad vantage to our country, but also a stimulus to farther enterprises of like character. The public should feel a deep interest; and it gives us great pleasure to commend it to the continued and increasing encouragement of the people, of Congress, and of the National Administra tion.—The Constitution. ——‘MM— SUPERIOR WHEAT. Mr. Charles Smith has exhibited to us some specimens of wheat grown on his place, which surpass anything of the kind we have seen. The grain is very large—twice the size of the com mon variety, very firm, and wo learn make most beautiful flour. The specimen left iu our office is taken from one hundred and twenty-six bush els raised upon five acres of land, which has been in cultivation for sixty years. It is the Gale wheat, and has but recently been intro duced into this State from Alabama. Mr. John White has some of the same variety equally as good.— AlibeviUe Banner. - THE BLACK WALNUT TREE. There are few more beautiful ornamental, and useful trees than the Black Walnut (Juglans ni gra). Well does Dr. Bindley call it the “noble Black American Walnut.” It is better appre ciated in Europe than in this its native country. On the banks and islands of the Ohio river, Mi chaux says he has often seen trees three or four feet in diameter, and sixty or seventy feet in height; and that it is not rare to find them six or seven feet in diameter. “When it stands isolat ed,” he adds, “its branches, extending horizon tally to a great distance, spread into a spacious head, which gives it a very majestic appearance.” Downing well observes: “ The Black Walnut has strong claims upon the Landscape Gardener, as it is one of the grandest and most massive trees which he can employ.” It is admirably adapted to extensive lawns, where there is no want of room for the attainment of full size‘and fair propor tions. Its rapid growth and umbrageous foliage also recommend it for wide public streets and av enues. Os the fruit of the Black Walnut, and of the value of the wood, we say nothing. The tree begins to bear when eight to ten years old, and ago increases its fertility. In New York, the fruit is not as largo or as fine flavored as in Ken tucky or Ohio; but even here it is highly esteem ed. The tree is easily propagated, and should be more extensively planted.— Genesee Farmer. Font Thousand Hogs in Difficulty. —Mr. George Coon’s hog pens, in Millcreek bottom, at tached to the White Mills Distillery, fell down with a tremendous crash, about 4 o’clock yester day afternoon, carrying about four thousand hogs with the wreck. 'Hie pens, of course, were de stroyed, and some forty or fifty hogs were killed, and nearly a hundred were so bruised and maim ed that it was necessary to slaughter them. The squealing of the hogs while involved in the ruins and fragments of the pens, is described as something harrowing—considerably worse than two pigs under a gate. The distillery hands rushed to the rescue of the unlucky pork ers, and extricated them as speedfiy as possible, giving all that were uninjured a sweet respite of liberty, of which they availed themselves by roaming at large all over the valley. During the day a number of persons wereactively employed in collecting the scattered droves, but many were lost. Some fat, swill-fed fellows were overcome by the heat, and were slaughtered. The loss of the proprietor will amount to several thousand dollars. . The pens were located near a bluff bank and over a drain some distance from the distillery, and were elevated from the bottom of the ditch some thirty feet. They had been inundated twice by backwater during the spring, and the foundations were weakened, so that when the pens were filled, they were not strong enough to support the weight upon them. Cincinnati Commercial, July 2. From West Africa.— We have received files of the West African (Cape Coast) Herald to May 11th. The arrival of several cotton gins, presses, and a large quantity of cotton seed, sent out by the “Manchester Cotton Supply Association,” is no ticed. The Herald contains an article strongly advocating the development of the agricultural resources of the country, particularly the growth of cotton, as an aid to commerce. That journal remarks that everywhere between Cape Palmas, on the West Coast, and the river Cameroons, in the Bight of Biafra, we hear complaints that the markets are glutted with European and Ameri can produce, and that there is no corresponding quantity of African produce, to be given in ex change. The trade is manifestly overdone. As yet, no native merchant of any prominence has made any special exertion for the encouragement of cotton culture, though several chiefs and plant ers are growing the plant on their lands iu the interior. In Cameroons, trade was dull; in Brass River, much sickness prevailed. At Bonny, health was improving, and oil was coming in, but was very dear, and a number of ships were waiting car goes. The French man-of-war “Benaudin” was waiting the issue of a demand made by the com mander of some debts of long standing, due a merchant Considerable quantities of cotton continue to be exported from Lagos. H. Y. Journal of Commerce. 79