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4 THE SOUTHERN WORLD, JULY 1,1882. Farm Work for July. The farmer* have great reaeon to be grate, ful for the excellent seasons that have gen* erally prevailed so far. We hear of no drouths or other extended disasters to the crop. May waa too cold for the thrift of the cotton plant, and the un favorable weather extended to the middle of June, resulting in a backward condition of the cotton crop generally. But, by way of compensation, the cool wea'ther has been just suited to the healthy development and matur ity of the best crops of small grain ever grown in the South. COBH. In the Southern portion of the southern world, this crop has already received its last working and the yield is now dependent on tiie seasons. Farther north the first days of July will find the farmer laying by corn. It is well understood by all observing farmers that the last working should be very shallow and not delayed beyond the period of tassel- ling. It Is important that any large bunches of grass that may have been left by previous workings should be removed. A sort of broadcast hoeing will not only add many bushels of com to the yield, but will put the field in much better condition for a succeed ing crop. Peas may be sown broad cast at the last plowing with great advantage to the soil. It seed are scarce it is better to sow thinly—even no more than a peck to the acre—and seed the greater area, since the whole is to be plowed. COTTON. The main object of culture this month, as in tho last, must be to induce good growth of weed and steady, healthy development of squares. Cotton generally, is much smaller than usual at this time, though planted as early as usual. The plants, therefore, are old enough to be fruiting rapidly, and the danger to be apprehended is that the rapid development of forms, blooms and bolls will dwarf the plant and prevent a full crop. This may be measurably prevented by fre quent and thorough cultivation, plowing rather deeply during the first part of the month. The plan of rapid cultivation, which we have heretofore described, may be adopted with great advantage for the re mainder of the season. With comparatively Bhallow sweep culture it is a waste of time to use a plow cutting less than eighteen to twenty inches, and with a plow of this width it Is equally wasteful to run two furryows in a three-feet row at one plowing. To obviate this loss of effort, let every other row be plowed on both sides at one going over. This puts one furrow In every middle, and effectually stirs nearly the entire surface. Next time the alternate rows should be plowed in the same way, and soon until the final plowing, when the sweep or cultivator should be run in the center of each middle. PEAS. It is still timely to sow peas for green ma nuring, and the fields that have just yielded a crop of wheat or oats for the same, should now be sown to peas, and be permitted to grow a crop for their own benefit. For this purpose we incline to hold that the old whippoorwill pea is the best variety for ordi nary upland. They are hardier, grow better on poor land, and are much easier to plow under. Where there is time sufficient, we think It is better policy to allow the vines to mature a crop of peas to be gathered by hand or pastured with hogs, and the debris turned under. roBAox chops. German millet, sorghum, forage corn, etc., may still be planted, but the later the plant ing the richer the ground should be in order to insure rapid and full development and large yields. We have succeeded well with sowing of cat-tall millet even as late as tho tenth of August, for green soiling, or feeding green. Now Is the time to put In crops of com, millet, etc., for ensilage, and advantage should be taken of spare time during the summer to prepare silos. We are not pre pared to advocate the general adoption of this system of preserving forage, but would advise those of our readers who can well afford the loss of labor (if unsuccessful or unsatisfactory) to make trial of a silo this fall. t R. North Georgia. The mountainous region of Georgia, in some respects, Is the counterpart of Switzer land in Europe. The Blue Ridge moun tains here reach their extreme Southwestern limit and break up into a series of radiat ing or parallel‘ridges, detached peaks and mountlets, with narrow valleys and pure sparkling streamlets between. These give great variety and picturesqueness to the landscape. The old mining town of Dahl- onega nestles among these hills at a distance of twelve to fifteen miles from the main ter minal spur of the Blue ridge. It was set tled, we believe in 1836, when the first dis covery of gold was made in Georgia, and rapidly grew up into a place of considerable importance, which was much enhanced by the establishment of a U. 8. Branch mint for the coinage of the precious yellow metal that was found to be so abundant. Dablonega itself is located on hills that are rich in gold, and it is not uncommon for the boys to pick up small nuggets of the metal in the gullies and gutters of the town. The Hand canal one of the most Important works for the development of the gold mines flows through the outskirts of the town and completes its full course of twenty-five miles within a few miles of the town. This canal brings water from near the base of the mountains and supplies several mines at different points in its course. The water is thrown up by strong steam pumps into rude reservoirs built on the apex of a hill to be mined whence it is drawn through gates and sluices and used to tear down the hills, expose the ore, and finally to carry it with re sistless and tremendous force down the hill side and into the stamp mill. The ore is simply dug from its bed broken into con venient sized pieces and thrown into the sluice. The water is then turned on from the reservoir and the mass of rocks, earth and gravel is impelled by the force of the water to the very stamp battery itself, where the obdurate rock is pounded into fine sand, and the glittering particles of gold collected upon silvered plates of copper. Time and space will not suffice to give a detailed de scription of the various processes. The old mint was discontinuedat the close of the late war, and as a result of the per severing efforts of Hon. Wm. P. Price, the buildings were donated for the use of the North Georgia Agricultural College. They were entirely destroyed by fire several years since which greatly embarrassed and crippled the young college, as the property was not insured. By dint of renewed efforts of the citizens, beaded by the Indomitable Col. Price, and aided by a moderate State appro priation, a very handsome and substantial building has been erected on the ruins and is now nearly completed. The North Geor gia Agricultural College has already proved a great benefaction to this part of the State in spite of its embarrassments; and with reasonable aid from tho State toward the completion of its buildings and grounds and the proper equipment of its several de partments, will prove a most powerful fac tor in the moral, social and industrial devel opment of the mountain country of the State. r. INQUIRY COLUMN. Editor Southern World—I see In your last issue of the Sodthxbn World an article in which mention is made of yellow Lupine as a hay producer, also, as a green fertilizer it was superior to Red clover In Increasing the fertility of the soil. Will you please inform me where I can get it ? What soil Is it best adapted toT Will it do well in this latitude here in Southeast Alabama? Please give me a full description of it whether annual or like clover has to be planted every 4 or 5 years? If you cannot answer these please ask some of your sub scribers to answer them for you. I am go ing into the stock and grass business and feel much interest in any information you con give me on tne subject. Respectfully Midway, Ala. June 1882. A. G. Jordan. Reply: Yellow Lupine—Lupine Latent has been grown for centuries in the South of Europe for green manuring. It is an annual plant having yellow flowers and bearing seeds in pods or legumes, and is well suited for the above purpose especially on thin sandy soils and a comparatively warm climate. We presume it will do well on the sandy soils of Southeast Alabama, but doubt if it is superior to the common field pea with which all are so familiar. We cannot say where seed can be had. Any reader who can give further information about the Lupine will confer a favor on Mr. Jordan by giving the same through the columns of the World. Our correspondent in going into the “stock and grass business” is on .the right line. There can be no true farming without stock and grass. R. In our next, we propose giving an account of the Colorado Dairy Rancho of W. J. Camp, near Covington, and of the Dairy farm of J. B. Wade, in DeKalb county. ^jorliculturnl gjtynrtmmt. drape Culture—Inquiry from Talbot County, Georgia. W R. G., Geneva, Talbot county Georgia: —“Several of my friends living along the railroad are projecting large vineyards and desire to be more fully posted than they are. They wish to know: 1. Wbat are the best market varieties? 2. What would you plant for a succession ? 3. How to gather, pack, etc. In fact they want to know everything nec essary to a successful prosecution of the business. They believe there is as much money in grapes as there is in peaches, pears or any thing else. I request that you write out a short but comprehensive paper on grape culture and give special informa tion concerning the points named.” WHAT TO PLANT. No matter what kind of fruit is to be plant ed, success will depend upon a proper se lection of varieties. A vast deal of time and money has been wasted in the 8outh by a failure to properly appreciate the import ance of such selection. The results of the ex perience of grape-growers in Georgia indi cate the following varieties as the most profitable for market. They will be men tioned in the order in which they ripen, and the per cent of the vineyard recommended to be planted in each indicated in num bers: MARKET VARIETIES. Hartford Prolific, 6 per cent This is a black grape with medium sized berry, com pactly set upon the bunch which is gener ally of good size. The vine Is a vigorous grower and a liberal, though not an abun dant bearer. So far, it is the earliest grape having sufficient merit to justify its culti vation. The principal objection to the Hartford is the tendency of the berries to drop from the bunch when shipped. The quality ot the berries is not first-class, but being early they command good prices. Perkins, 10 per cent., is edible sometime before it is entirely ripe—indeed, is to many tastes, better than when fully ripe. This is a light colored, quite showy grape, which though not of first quality, sells better than any of the black grapes. Last season they brought ten cents per pound more readily than the black grapes did five. The bunches arc very compact and seldom fully should ered. When perfectly ripe they are very showy. The skin is thick and hence not so subject to the attack of birds as other varieties. The vine is a very vigorous grower, hardy and a liberal bearer. Ives Seedling, 25 per cent, is very black, colors up long before ripe and is conse quently generally marketed in a green con dition. This fact has created a false impres sion, as to tho quality of the grape, which though not first-class is very good. The Ives 8eedling bears shipment well, is an early and heavy bearer, probably the most reliable grape we have. The vine grows vigorously and is hardy. Concord, 20 per cent, is a large black grape, covered with a whitish bloom, bunches large and generally well shouldered, presenting a very handsome appearance. The Concord bears very heavily and ships very well. The skin of the berries is very thin and often bursts after a rain when they are ripe. They are very subject to the attack of birds, wasps, etc. The vino is hardy and a very rampant grower. Delaware, 20 per cent. This is tho queen of table grapes and commands the top of the market The grape is small, pale red, deli cate and delicious in flavor—it grows very compact on handsomely shouldered bunches. Unless heavily pruned it is disposed to over bear. The vines grows very slowly and hence, do not come into bearing very early. Wilder, 5 percent, resembles the Concord, but the berries are larger—vine a vigorous grower but not so productive as the Con cord. Diana, 5 per cent, berries medium in size, pale red and very closely packed on the bunch—indeed too closely, vine a good grower—grapes ship well. Goethe, 10 per cent, very late, berries large, very pale red when fully ripe—some times a grayish white if ripened in the shade. Quality very superior—comes in after the other varieties are exhausted and commands a good price. When ripened in paper bags, will remain on the vine till October. The vine is a vigorous grower—re sembles the Concord in appearance. There are other varieties which should have a place in every vineyard. We were asked for the beat market varieties—we have given a list of tried varieties. There are others which promise to supercede some of those mentioned, but we could not advise their use further than for thorough exper imental present. Among these new varie ties possessing superior merit, but not yet sufficiently tested, arePrentis, Duchess, Gol den Pocklington, Lady Washington, etc. Among the other tried varieties of which a limited number should be planted are, Lind- ley, Maxatawney, Merrimack, Salem, War ren, Black Eagle, Elvira, Catuwba, etc. FOR WINE. Clinton, Norton’s Virginia, Ives, Delaware, Concord, Warren, Lenoir, etc. All of these varieties are good for table use os well as for wine. Of those mentioned, Clinton, Nor ton's Virginia and Delaware are especially reccommended for wine. PREPARATION OF TUB LAND. This should, if practicable, be commenced at once by planting peas in drills two feet apart. These should be well manured with acid phosphate to cause as great a growth of vines as possible. One plowing will make the pea crop. In September or October when a few of the pods are ripe turn under the vines and sow twenty bushels of air-slacked lime on the surface of the ground. When the vines have thoroughly rotted, subsoil the land as deeply os possible, check it off 8 x 10 and open out the checks a little deeper than the land is broken. In the openings apply bone meal and ashes and mix thor oughly with the soil. If bones can be got ten, break them up and put a half peck of them in every hole. Fill up with top soil or, if it can be had, with mold from the woods. During any open weather in the fall or winter plant rooted vines and cut back to two eyes, pressing the earth firmly about the roots. Cultivate the first season asarow of cotton and plant peas between the rows, manuring them well. Allow the vines to rot upon the land or plow them under in the fall. Subsequent treatment, pruning the vines, gathering and packing the grapes for ship ment, etc., will be treated in the next issue of the World. To cover the whole ground would require too much space in one issue. J. S. N. Toads In the Garden. We hear and see a great deal about pro tecting the insect destroying birds; we even see occasionally a piece in the agricultural journals headed "a plea for the mole,” follow ed by an argument to prove that the villainous little blind creature does not injure vegeta tion; but we seldom hear or read of the services rendered the farmer and horticul turist by the despised little toad, while we wHl venture the assertion that in any given area in this country, the toads destroy more insects injurious to vegetation than do the birds in the same area, and that too without doing any mischief, as the toads live entirely upon Insects while the birds, with few ex ceptions, do not; and as to the mole, wo will guarantee that if his case should come before a jury of intelligent farmers or gardeners he would be found guilty of criminal destruc tion of vegetation and especially of seeds. Not so with the toad, which subsists entirely upon insects. Not only do they subsist upon insects, but they destroy those which the birds cannot reach—those which depredate at night, when we and the birds are asleep. So highly are they appreciated in Europe that they are there an article of merchandize. The market gardenehs near London, En gland, purchase toads from the Continent at four pence each. A toad put into a hot-bed will effectually protect the plants from the ravages of in sects, and a number of them in an ordinary garden will materially reduce the number of insects and thus protect the plants from their ravages. So far from participating In the common feeling of contempt for the humble little reptile, we have a profound respect for him on account of his friendly services in aid of our perpetual warfare upon insects injurious to vegetation. Instead of being kicked and trod upon, he should be protected by all good citizens. Any one, who will take the trouble to watch a toad for one hour some summer evening, will be astonished at the skill and celerity with which the little ap parently slothful creature captures its un wary victims. Very close attention 1b neces sary to see the operation, so quickly its long tongue is whipped out after its prey. FROM TUB BOO TO THE TOAD. There are some facts connected with the natural history of the toad which may not be familiar to some of the younger readers of the Southern World. The female toad, when the period of incubation approaches completion, seeks water, where she depos its her spawn in shallow places winding the spiral heeds of eggs around the grass, where