Vegetation, remarks on 530 Wheat, diseases of 278; smut balls or pepper brand 278; 281 Wheat, on rolling 456 Veterinary practice-removal of a large wen 28 Wheat on clover, considerations respecting 423 Vines, the coiling system of cultivating in pots 508 Vineyard, on the selection of suitable soils for 314; Wheat insect, description of 548 White washing improved by using skimmed milk 404 Wild onion, mode of treating 153 William and Mary College, its state and prospects 239 Volcanic products, their change by the operation of Wine making, treatise on 474; causes of failure of in time, to fertile soil 12 Water, conversion of salt to fresh 413 320 Weather, diary of, for April, May, and June 1834, 246 the United States, by N. Herbemont 478 Wine, Herbemont's trial and report of, by N. F. Ca- of Alabama 637 Worm in pine timber 125 Worn lands, on the improvement of 190, 382 Weather, diary of, for July and August, 1834, 246 Wheat, on reaping before the grain is hard-account of the practice and its advantages 35 Worms and insects destroyed by spirits of turpentine 424 Y Yoking of oxen by the horns 332; figures of 464 OL. II. JUNE, 1834. EDMUND RUFFIN, EDITOR and PROPRIETOR. A LETTER TO THE EDITOR. No. 1. For the Farmers' Register. vidi, et quorum pars fui. In the lower part of ME ACCOUNT OF THE AGRICULTURAL SOIL Louisiana, however, and in East Florida, that AND PRODUCTS OF MIDDLE FLORIDA, IN culture may be advantageously pursued, because there the climate is most favorable for cane, and the soil not so suitable for cotton. The high price of sugar which now prevails, and which is likely duction in those parts of the United States, which to continue, is an additional incentive to its profavor it most. Sir: Agreeably to the wish which you have intimated, I proceed to give you a sketch, though a hasty and imperfect one, of the agriculture, soil, and products of Middle Florida. The Floridas were ceded by Spain to the Uni- So much has, of late years, been written and ted States by the treaty negotiated at Washingture of the sugar cane, that I shall be brief in published in the United States concerning the culton, in 1819, but it was not until the summer of what I have to say on this subject. 1821, that our flag waved in peaceful possession over the fortresses of Augustine, Pensacola, and the Otaheite or Green Cane, and the Ribband Two sorts or species are cultivated in Florida, St. Marks. Soon after this latter event, numbers Cane. The former attains the largest growth; of our people, with their characteristic enterprise, the latter is a more hardy plant, and, therefore, prepared to settle in the newly acquired territory, better adapted to the vicissitudes of our climate. and about the year 1825, the resources of Middle Florida began to be developed. Up to the pe-feet apart; the cane laid horizontally in the trench The mode of planting is in drills, from four to five riod of our acquisition of the Floridas, little was known of their internal condition, their soil, cli- or drill, two or three together, in order to insure mate, &c., and the most contradictory opinions a good stand. The time of planting may be at were entertained. But when Middle Florida had any time between the first of November and the been penetrated and explored, and a country does not approach the freezing point, at which first of April, when the temperature of the weather found possessing a large portion of fertile lands, times the cane must not be taken from its beds, with a beautifully undulating surface, and a cli-and exposed to the air. After it has come up, it mate, as it was fondly hoped, is ploughed and hoed like cotton or Indian corn. "Where the flowers ever blossom, the beams ever shine;" About the middle of October, the grinding and the most favorable impressions were made upon boiling should be begun, as the lower part of the the public mind; the expectations of many were canes is then fit for sugar, and the tops for plantwrought up to an inordinate degree, and they in- ing. But it is usual also to reserve a portion of dulged the belief that they would be able to unite the entire canes for planting. When the approach there the various products of the temperate and of frost is feared, the standing cane is cut off at the torrid zones. Besides cotton, sugar cane, &c., surface of the ground, and laid in large flat beds, many hastened to plant the orange, not doubting or mattresses, in which situation, if the operation that, in due time, they would be gratified by the be properly performed, it is secure from the effects fragrance of its bloom, and the luxury of its fruit. of frost. After this the grinding may be continuBut, in the full tide of experiment, "there came ed, and I have known sugar made from cane that a frost, a killing frost." The memorable frost of had lain in mattresses for forty, fifty, and sixty the 6th of April, 1828, and those of the two suc-days. ceeding winters, have demonstrated to the unwil- From the roots of the cane left in the earth, a ling inhabitants of the interior of Middle Florida, second crop is obtained, which is called the "Ratthat, with them, the orange cannot be produced toon crop," which ripens earlier and more perfectin the open air. On the sea-coast and islands, ly than the crop from the plantings. It is desirahowever, no doubt can be entertained of the prac-ble, therefore, to have one half the crop of each tic ability of producing it, because it is produced in year from rattoons, in order that by mixing them, East Florida, in the same latitude, and on the sea- in boiling, the greater maturity of the one may islands of Georgia, in a higher latitude. compensate, in a degree, for the deficiency of the With respect to sugar cane, the disappoint- other. After severe winters, however, the rattoon ments have been less signal and decisive, but the crop has been found to fail to a greater or less exloses far greater. Its production and manufac- tent. In this climate the rattoons can only be reture is an expensive process, and where any lied on for one year, and, without them, it requires thng like a crop is attempted, a failure is attend- from twenty to twenty-five per cent. of the whole with serious consequences. The failures which crop to renew it. It is obvious that this alone, is ve been experienced here in this crop have re- a severe tax upon the sugar planter. ed of lted mainly from want of knowledge, and want The cultivation of cotton which, at first, was adequate preparations for "taking off the crop," but a secondary object with most of the settlers in that is, for grinding and boiling the cane. In com- Florida, has become the principal pursuit of the on with Louisiana, however, much loss has re-planters. m SU F tic in lted from the severe frosts of the last three winters. Three sorts or species of cotton are planted in om my own experience, and from my observa- Middle Florida. First, the common green-seed Ons in Louisiana and in Florida, I believe that cotton, (Gossypium herbaceum) originally from no part of the United States is the sugar cane India, and the Levant. Second, the Mexican cotgood a crop as cotton; Quæque ipse miserrima ton, (Gossypium hirsutum?) Third, the sea VOL. II.-1 island cotton (Gossypium Barbadense?) which is a native of some of the West India Islands. The two former are short staples, the last is the long staple cotton. The modes of cultivating and ginning the latter differs from that of the two former, which is so well known in all the southern states. cotton, and it is said to be used in France for adul terating their silks. Spanish tobacco has been cultivated in Florida, and found to do well. Segars have been made of it which have all the perfume of good Havana segars. It is said to be a profitable crop. I The olive tree (Olea Europaea) has been tried, The sea-island cotton being a plant of larger and found not to succeed. Col. John Gamble imgrowth, requires more space than the two other ported a number of trees from Marseilles, and species. On good soils it is not unusual to see it planted them on his estate. He informs me that ten feet high. It is usual to make the beds or they have perished to the roots by frost, every winridges larger, and to hoe it more carefully than the ter since he planted them. And yet in the garden other sorts; but it may be doubted whether there of my friend Dr. Wray, of Augusta, (Geo.) I have is any essential difference in the plants, in this re-seen a young olive tree, which for several years, spect. It requires a longer season to mature its has borne the winters in the open air. Of the fruit than the others. The difference is probably European olive, however, there are several vaabout four weeks. rieties, and that which I saw in the garden of Dr. The short staple cottons are prepared for market W. is not the one which is commonly cultivated, with saw-gins, which do their work with great de- as it requires a much longer period to come to maspatch. On the contrary, it is necessary to pre-turity. Like the orange tree, the olive would propare the sea-island cotton with roller-gins, in or-bably do well on the sea-coast and islands. der to avoid breaking the staple, and thus destroy-learn that the olive has been reared at Augusing that length of fibre which gives it its superiority tine, where oranges are also produced in abunover the other sorts of cotton. Of the roller-gins, dance. there are several sorts, differing in the mode of construction, as the foot-gin, the horse-gin, &c., but all of which are slow in operation when compared with the saw-gin. Again, the product of this cotton, to the acre, is not so great as the other. But to compensate for these disadvantages, the price of it, when prepared for market, is usually about double the price of short staple cotton. On some of the sea-islands of South Carolina, a variety of the long staple cotton is produced (by able to say with what success. few planters) which is much finer than that which is ordinarily cultivated, and which commands about double the price of the latter, and quadruple the price of short staple cotton. The knowledge of it was for a long time a secret, confined to a few; but the seeds are now freely sold in the Charleston market, at from two to five dollars a bushel. At times when the prices of cottons have been high, this fine variety has commanded a dollar per pound, and the discoverer of it was offered, by a neighboring planter, $50,000 for the secret! As yet, however, the Mexican cotton is that which is most commonly cultivated in Middle Florida, but the soil and climate having been proved to be well adapted to the production of sea-island cotton, it is probable that, as the plantations are opened, and the pressure of out-door labor during winter becomes less, the proportion of this cotton will be increased. Indian corn does well, and the crop is easily made. It may be planted the first week in March, and the cultivation completed early in June. When the spring is favorable, it may be planted in February, and the cultivation completed in May. Oats and rye do well, and ought to be extensively introduced to alternate with cotton and corn. Wheat has been but little tried, and I am una In the soil of Florida there is great diversity. The reader, perhaps, has not to be told that a large portion of the country is occupied by pine barrens, as they are called. Even in these, there is great diversity, some being quite productive, while others are extremely barren. In the former, the pines (pinus palustris, the long leaf, pitch pine) grow large and tall, and are associated with the Black Jack, (Quercus nigra) in the latter they are stunted in growth, and are associated with the "barrens' scrub oak," (Quercus Catesbai) which, in common language, is often confounded with the "Black Jack.” The richest uplands are the Hammocks or Hummocks, a word which probably has its root in the Latin humidus, moist, or humeo to be wet, indicating in this instance, not a wet or swampy soil, but its contiguity to some body of water, either a creek, river, or lake.* Intermediate between these The average product of this species of cotton are the oaky lands, which have a stiffer soil than may be stated at about six hundred pounds to the the others, and by many are thought to excel the acre, though it is not unusual to obtain as much hammocks in the production of cotton. The freas eight hundred pounds. Its yield from the seed,quency and suddenness with which these soils is as one to three, while that of short staple cotton is a little more than one to four. During the past season, some planters of Mexican cotton have obtained seven, eight, and even nine bags to the hand, but the average is probably not more than four or five. Cotton in this climate begins to bloom during the first week in June, and the picking may be commenced early in August. Sea-island cotton should be planted between the 10th of March and the 1st of April. Short staple cotton may be planted at any time from the 10th of March to the middle of May. The sea-island cotton is used for the finest cotton fabrics, and the finest sewing change from one to another, surprises every observer, and baffles every theory to account for it. Frequently after passing a dreary tract of pinebarrens, or barren sand-hills, you come, suddenly, on the borders of a hummock, which greets you like an oasis in a desert, contrasting with the former fertility of its soil, and the beauty of its numerous evergreens.† phere, as the branches of the trees and their dense fo*Or perhaps in allusion to the humidity of its atmosliage detain the evaporation, and keep up a degree of moisture very favorable to the growth of parasitics, as the Long Moss, Mistletoe, Epidendrum, &c. Pre-eminent among these stands the stately Mag Marl is not rare in Florida, and the whole coun A BREEDING MULE. try being based on a shell rock, it is, probably; To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. Very respectfully, yours, H. B. CROOM. Lake Lafayette, near Tallahassee, March, 1834. P.S. With respect to fruits, I may state, that peaches do very well, though they are sometimes destroyed by the spring frosts. Apples, pears, cherries, &c. have not been sufficiently tried. The number of wild plums in this country, is remarkable. A species of gooseberry (Ribes rotundifolium of Michaux?) grows wild in the hammocks, and from the quantity of subalpine growth, it might be inferred that this country would prove favorable to the production of most of the fruits of But the fact remains to be temperate climates. tested. Strawberries grow as large and as fine as I have seen them in any country. They are now ripening abundantly. (March 31st.) Some corn which I planted about the 20th of February last, came up in due time, has been ploughed and hoed once, and is now thrifty and promising. It is probable that two crops of corn might be made in one season, if it were desirable to do so. But late corn in this climate is apt to be attacked by worms, while in roasting ear. THE WILD ONION. To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. Cambridge, Md. April 18, 1834. Will you allow me through the medium of the Farmers' Register, to make the inquiry of your numerous correspondents, whether there is any effectual mode, and what it is, of extirpating that most destructive of all weeds, the wild onion? I purchased several years ago, a farm near Cambridge, of poor clay soil, filled with starveling onions. I had always been impressed with the idea, that heavy manuring would eradicate them, by the substitution of other vigorous vegetation; but experience teaches me the error of that opinion. I have made the land extremely rich, yet the onions have increased in number, and in vigor of growth, pari passu with the improvement; and now at this moment, my wheat field exhibits the mortifying spectacle of a serious and doubtful conflict, between these best and worst of the vegetable creation; and I fear the onions will bear the palm. An answer to my inquiry will confer an obliga tion on, Yours, very truly. J. E. M. } Spring Hill, Nansemond county, 2d May, 1834. A circumstance has occurred on my plantatation, which seems to be against the general principles of nature. On the 23rd of April, 1834, a female mule of mine, had a colt, never suspected by me until I saw its birth. I had worked her hard all last year, upon the farm, and on the rail road, through the winter hauling marl, and all the month of March hauling logs, from a distance of two miles, six loads a day, and thirty logs each load, making twenty-four miles each day. She was at work all April hauling out manure, until the 23d. On that day I had gone, a little time before night, from the labors of the day, owing to one of my family being sick; and about 5 o'clock in the evening, the boy that drove the mule, came running to the house, colt. I went out and in a few minutes thereafter, saying that Jenny (for that was her name) had a the thing (for I know not what to call it) was delivered, and is now doing well. I never suspected the mother's being with foal, because I thought it contrary to nature, though I had for four or six weeks observed that her belly was enlarged, and so rubbed her. She showed no other sign-so I did much so, that the cart had to be altered, as it not suspect it. She has little or no bag, though I believe she gives a plenty of suck, as her child is now getting fat. At first it was very poor. Now you will ask what is the father of it? I cannot say--but believe, a colt of mine, now three years old. He ran out on Sundays, with the mules, and the black boy tells me that there was cause for such an effect. So it is, the mule has a colt, Hundreds can prove the factand it is exactly like the young stallion. If this is under my name. a matter of curiosity, you may give publicity to it, and several can testify that they were present at the birth. JOHN THOMPSON KILBY. P. S. The mother certainly is a mule, for she was foaled mine, and is now ten years old. [The fact stated by Mr. Kilby is particularly interesting, because so authenticated as to leave not the slightest ground for doubt. But though it is contrary to the general operation of a law of nature, for any mule or hybrid animal to be capable of procreation, it is well known to naturalists that there have been some (though rare) exceptions to the rule. Whether in these cases the offspring is barren, according to the general and wise provision of nature, to prevent the P. S. Has an effectual onion riddle ever been continuance of mongrel breeds, or not, has not yet invented?-by whom?-and, where may it be ob- been determined]. tained? J. E. M. YELLOW (OR WILD) LOCUST. nolia Grandiflora, accompanied by its relative the fragrant Magnolia Auriculata, the Olea Americana, Hopea tinctoria, Ilex Opaca, Prunus Caroliniana, &c. Here too, are the Red-bud and the Beech, the elegant low locust seed is worth $4 or $5 the pound-say $1 Stuartia, the showy Hydrangea, and the gay Azalea. the half pint. And trees of suitable size for setting These are often entwined about their trunks by these may be had at several nurseries in Western New York elegant creepers, the Carolina Jessamine, the Coral at $6 per hundred." At these prices, it would be a Honeysuckle, the Decumaria Sarmentosa, the luxuriant profitable employment of labor to gather the ripe pods Cissus, and the splendid Bignonias, while the Tillandsia Resneoides festoons their branches! Such is a Flo- of the wild locust, where they are produced abunrida hammock-the pride of Flora, and the paradise of dantly, as on the high calcareous banks of the lower botanists. James River. |