As the disease is seated near the base small subscription even from the more en- | means for diminishing or arresting its lightened of the sufferers will amount to ravages. vastly more than this sum. To permit him to come on any other terms would really be a reflection upon us all, a stain that we would avert by paying his expenses out of our own private purse if we had the means. For the Southern Planter. ON THE JOINT WORM. BY THADDEUS WILLIAM HARRIS, M. D. of the straw, in or near the second or third joint, the greater part of the diseased portions will be left in the stubble when the grain is reaped. This fact has been noticed in barley fields in Massachusetts, and doubtless occurs also in the wheat fields of Virginia. Most of the insects remain unchanged in the stubble till the following year. If, then, we can destroy the maggots remaining in the stubble in the field, before they have completed their transformations and made their escape, we shall, first summer, before the grain is reaped, and will thereby escape being burnt with the stubble; and these, if allowed to increase, will suffice to continue their race. The remedy suggested, to be successful, must be followed up in several successive years, and if generally adopted, and thoroughly and carefully employed, cannot fail to exterminate the Eurytoma The peculiar disease, now affecting in great measure, restrain their further wheat in Virginia, seems to be of the propagation and increase; for it is in the same nature as that which attacked bar-winged state that insects propagate their ley in Massachusetts above twenty-five kind. It has been found in Massachusetts years ago. This disease consists of hard, that ploughing in the stubble has no effect woody, gall-like tumors on the stem of the upon the insects, which remain uninjured plant, situated mostly in the sheathing under the slight covering of earth, and bases of the lower leaves, or in the second or easily make their way to the surface when the third joint, more rarely in the substance they have completed their transformations. of the stem itself. On being opened, these The only practicable way of destroying tumors are found to contain several little the insects, is to burn the stubble containing yellowish white maggots, called joint them. Some few may complete their worms in Virginia, each lodged in a sepa- transformations and take wing during the rate cell rather larger than its own body. These tumors, by their pressure and hardness, obstruct the circulation, obliterate the hollow of the stem, and prevent its due development, thereby greatly reducing the amount of the crop. The greater part of the maggots remain unchanged in the tumors through the winter, and in the following months of May and June are transformed to tiny, blackish, four-winged flies, belonging to the genus Eurytoma. Professor Cabell has ascertained that a very few undergo this change during the first summer. When first observed in Massa. chusetts, these insects were supposed to be parasites, in accordance with the known habits and history of others belonging to the same family; and it was thought that the real culprits would be found to be some species of Cecidomyia, or small flies resembling the Hessian fly and the wheat fly. Hitherto, however, no species of Cecidomyia has been obtained from the diseased barley straw in Massachusetts, or from the diseased wheat straw of Virginia. On the contrary, both, in repeated instances, have furnished large numbers of the same kind of Eurytoma. If, then, this insect be the sole cause of the disease, as Professor Cabell and others are inclined to believe, it becomes important to consider whether by Mr. Edward Stabler of Montgomery the history of the insect will suggest any county, Maryland; in not breaking the Highly manured and thoroughly tilled fields, by promoting a rapid and vigorous growth of the plant, may render it less liable to suffer from the attacks of the insect. Large fields, well seeded, will probably escape better than those that are smaller and thinner sown, in which the insects, when about to lay their eggs, can penetrate easily and to a greater extent. Cambridge, Mass. Aug. 18, 1852. WHEAT DRILLS. Our attention has been called to a new and improved slide drill, invented and made by S. & M. Pennock, at a cost of only $60 and $65 (7 and 8 tubes,) which we learn has been recently tried and approved of grain, or distributing it in unequal quanti- stand that Mr. Stabler (Sandy Spring Post ties, by a fast or slow walk of the team, Office, Maryland,) will receive orders for the inventors claim for their drill a supe- the proprietors and have them made in riority over other slide drills. We under- accordance with his views and experience. forward between the anterior half and the body. The birds can do this at pleasure; and the appearance the manœuvre imparts to their form has procured for them the title of "Ostrich Fowl." The flesh is white and delicate. They are very prolific lay This variety of fowl far surpasses, both at pleasure be doubled up and brought in size and power, all that have ever been seen in the shape of poultry. This has led many persons, not familiar with zoology, to refer them to the family of bustards. They are, however, genuine poultry.Their general color is a rich glossy brown or buff. Besides their gigantic size, how-ers; the eggs are of a buff color and posever, these fowls possess other distinctive characteristics, among which may be mentioned, as the most striking, that the wing is jointed, so that the posterior half can sess a very delicate flavor. The China fowl is well known in America under the name of Shanghai. A pair of these truly magnificent fowls can be seen at the book store of Messrs. Nash & Woodhouse, Eagle Square, upon application to Mr. Wm. A. Butters, who can furnish a few pair, which may be relied upon as being from the pure and original stock, imported into this country by Charles Sampson, Esq. of West Roxbury, Massachusetts. P. D. B. The following letter would have been inserted in the September number with pleasure as it is just what we wanted at that time, and as will be seen elsewhere, wrote for to South Carolina; but it did not come until the paper was in press. We again request that communications intended for a particular time be sent by the 15th of the month preceding; at farthest the 22d. Really valuable articles, such as Mr. Wilson's, sometimes lose nearly all their value from failing to reach us in time. For the Southern Planter. SMUT. Mr. Editor,-There has been an unusual prevalence of smut in many of the wheat crops of parts of this and the adjoining county of Buckingham, at the last harvest; and as blue vitriol affords a couvenient, certain and cheap remedy, I, some weeks ago, promised several friends to furnish, for the September number of the Southern Planter, a short article describing the mode of using it. It was deemed desirable that it should appear in the September number, in order to give time to those who might wish to try it, to obtain, in good season, a sufficient supply of the vitriol, as it is seldom found, in country stores, in quantities sufficient for agricultural purposes. An absence of three weeks from home, to which I returned but a few days since, must be my apology for sending it to you so nearly upon the issue of your monthly publication. I will mention, in the outset, as a necessary preliminary, that the wheat intended for seed should be made as clean as a good wheat-fan can make it. Then the operator, having provided himself with an iron pot, in which to dissolve the blue vitriol, and a vessel of suitable capacity for the wheat to be steeped in, may proceed in the following manner: Dissolve five rounds of blue vitriol in hot water, and add as much cold water as will entirely cover five bushels of wheat, which should be gently poured in, or, what is better, be passed through a riddle, in order that the light and defective grains may float on the surface and be skimmed off. After being repeatedly stirred and cleaned of light grains, let it remain in the liquor from four to six hours-but may remain twelve hours, or, longer, without injury. It is, then, to be taken out, drained and rolled in plaster; or, if that is not at hand, may be spread upon a floor, and, with occasional stirring, dried suffificiently for sowing. A second five bushels may then be put in the liquor, (to which as much water should be previously added as will supply the loss of quantity, or volume, occasioned by absorption of the first parcel,) proceeding in the same manner as at first; and after it a third, but somedeemed advisable to reduce the strength of what less quantity may follow. It is not the solution too much, and it is important that the liquor should rise at least half an inch above the surface of the wheat, when first put in, as the swelling of the grain will, in a few hours, raise it to the surface. Before a fourth parcel of wheat is put in, an additional portion of the vitriol—dissolved as before directed-at the rate of a pound of vitriol for every three bushels of wheat must be given, with the necessary quantity of cold water; and so proceed until the liquer becomes foul or turbid, when a fresh preparation must be made. The foregoing I consider the most convenient, and I have, in repeated trials, found it to be the most certain of all the remedies for smut I have ever tried or heard suggested. It is also a cheap remedy. The blue vitriol can be bought, for agricultural purposes, in quantities of twenty-five pounds, at ten cents per pound. I know at least that Messrs. Adie & Gray and Mr. R. R. Duval of Richmond, will furnish it at that price. The cost, therefore, will be less than four cents per bushel; but if those who may give it a fair trial do not find in an increased vigor of growth and product of healthy grain more than double compensation for all the cost and labor of the preparation, their experience will greatly differ with mine. Respectfully, Your most obedient servant, JOHN P. WILSON. Cumberland, Aug. 24, 1852. THREE RECIPES FOR THE LADIES. | get used to it. They can never get used to dyspepsia. We are sometimes asked why we do not put more things for the ladies' benefit in the Planter. We always reply, and with truth, that we have no room. But we shall take room now to tell the ladies how to make good loaf bread, how to make good soap, and how to make a washing mixture that will save a great deal of labor and trouble, and that is sometimes sold as a secret at something like a dollar to each family. TO MAKE LOAF BREAD. Take yeast made in the following manner: 1st. Boil a handful of hops and two large potatoes in a quart of water for thirty minutes. Then strain off the water, thicken it with two table-spoonfuls of flour and boil it a little. 2d. Put one quart of potatoes to boil; when done and whilst they are still hot mash up with them half a pound of flour. Then add half a gallon of water and a pint of hop yeast. Stir them well together and set the mixture to rise. This makes the yeast. For two quarts of flour take one tea-cup full of this yeast, one table-spoonful of salt, and as much water as will make it stiff, work it well and set it away to rise. In the morning work it over, make it out into rolls or loaves and let it rise again one hour. Then bake it as long. This is the recipe which we obtained from the cook at the Exchange Hotel, and we have had good bread ever since without exception. Those who practise upon it will assuredly have good bread if they have good flour, and may thank our friend Ballard for the luxury. Better bread than he has we care not to see. But we do not guarantee that this bread, or any other cooked in the usual way, shall be healthy. To obtain that desideratum, bake the bread over again the next day. It will then be dry and wholesome, so says the best physician we know. Some persons object to the flavor of bread thus baked a second time. They had better TO MAKE SOAP. Take lye strong enough to bear an egg, measure it into tubs or barrels, and to each gallon of the above strength put one pound of grease. Stir it every day until it thickens-then to sixteen gallons of this mixture add four gallons of lye as strong as the first. Boil until the grease entirely disappears, which it will generally do in one hour. If you wish to make hard soap, dissolve six quarts of salt in four gallons of water, add it to the soft soap, stirring it in well and boil fifteen minutes longer. Pour out into tubs and cut it out when it is cold. This is a recipe of two generations of We have tried it notable housewives. successfully for some four or five years. TO MAKE A LABOR-SAVING WASHING Take twenty pounds of soap melted in one gallon of lye: let it cool a little, and stir in one quart of spirits of turpentine, one pint of hartshorn and four ounces of pearlash. Put it in a stone pot, and tie up tightly. Put one pound of this mixture to twelve gallons of water. When it is dissolved put in as many clothes as the water will well cover, which will be about five or six dozen; let them stand half an hour; then press, not wring, them out and put them in boiling water to boil. Boil the usual time and throw them into cold water, rub them out, (the most soiled will require a little soap, but many pieces will not need a particle,) rinse them, pass them through blueing or starch water and hang them out. It is all the better to let them soak the previous night. The water that the clothes are soaked in will do to work the colored clothes if they are not very dirty. These last should stand about twenty minutes. Flannels after soaking in the mixture should be washed in clear hot water and hung out. ing tried it some three years, that it is very valuable, saving at least one-third of the time of washing, and being also a saving of soap. It never hurts the clothes. We can testify of the above, after hav-| is, in our opinion, all the better for that. We are thus particular in calling attention to this animal, because he is a Virginian, and so are we. We go for the home made article to the exclusion of the Northern ALWAYS, when the article is as good an one, and will freely give the space necessary to let people know that they can be supplied at home as well as abroad. Here, then, are three recipes, each valuable of its kind and each vouched by us after a satisfactory, and in two instances, a long continued trial. We hope others will be as much pleased with them as we have been. SOUTHERN FRUITS. Our thanks are due to Mr. Henry R. Robey of Fredericksburg, for some apples and pears from his nurseries near that town. We do not know all the varieties he sent us-but they were of delicious flavor and very fine, particularly the "Golden Pippin" and "Cathead." See his advertisement in another column. BULL FOR SALE. ERRATUM. In the communication of "Anon," on "the Hessian Fly-the Black Fly-and the Joint Worm," published in our September number, there occurred an error in punctuation which made the author express directly the reverse of what he intended. Page 283, second column, 15th and 16th lines, should read, instead of as printed, thus: "Supposing it could only be recognized by the bent joints, when the wheat was heading. Upon examination," &c. SMUT IN WHEAT. The following letter we promised to pullish as soon as received. It is very satisfactory, and we hope not too late for the use of some of our friends. NEWBERRY COURT HOUSE, S. C.) 17th August, 1852. The bull advertised for sale in another USE OF BLUE VITRIOL TO DESTROY part of our paper belongs to Mr. Charles Yates of Jefferson, and was raised by Mr. Ro. W. Baylor of the same county. He is of the stock of Mr. Shepherd of Shepherdstown, on the dam's side, perhaps on the sire's also he was an imported Ayrshire-and that should be, to those who have heard of Mr. Shepherd, a guarantee of the purity of the breed. We have heard this of him on what we deem good authority, that he imports and owns the best bred stock in Virginia. The bull is sold for no fault whatever, but only because his owner has enough of his progeny, and must move him out of their way. Some of his calves are now at the pail, and Mr. Baylor, who owns them, says in a certificate before us that "they are very superior milkers." Should the purchaser desire it, he can also get of Mr. Yates one or two other animals of good blood to drive with the bull. He is also broke to work, and F. G. Ruffin, Esq.-Sir: Your favor of the 21st ult. has been received, asking information relative to the mode of using blue vitriol as a remedy for smut in wheat. It is very simple, and at the same time very effectual, as the experience of every farmer, in this section, goes to prove, from a use and test of at least twelve or fifteen years. The following is the mode and manner in which it is used and applied with us. Dissolve in water, sufficient to cover or swim the wheat well, 1 pound blue vitriol for every four (some farmers add five) bushels seed wheat; let the wheat remain in this soak eighteen to twenty hours; take out and sow immediately, or before |