TOUR FROM ALABAMA TO TENNESSEE. lived stock, and those who plant plum, apricot, and nectarine trees budded upon it, will frequently lose their trees just as they commence bearing. English gardeners will not use even the peach inoculated on the peach stock, and universally reject the plum, apricot, and nectarine, inoculated in that way. The peach stock is not only shortlived, but is preyed upon by a worm which does not attack the plum stock, and is frequently destroyed by its ravages. Dr. R. has also lost a number of trees by electrical changes in the atmosphere. 311 fruit-trees are remarkably thrifty and bear most abundantly. We found the lawn of superior turf, and coated with thick, fine grass. We inquired how this was produced, and were answered by the use of plaster; thus giving another evidence that this salt possesses fertilizing properties in the vicinity of sea water. The Hon. C. C. Cambrelling is a near neighbor of Dr. Rhinelander, and is said to have a beautiful place, which we much regretted we had not time to visit. TOUR FROM ALABAMA TO TENNESSEE. marl would prove the proper manure for our sandy soils, still I have no doubt of the correctness of Dr. Gardner's opinion. His vineries are perhaps more extensive than any in the state, and are constructed in a very I WAS SO fortunate, a day or two past, as to get cheap, but necessarily rough style. They are made hold of the August No. of the Agriculturist, and of wood, each about one hundred feet long and was pleased to observe, that you had received the twelve wide, with brick flues. The glass is at an sample of marl and the sample of cotton I sent angle of about 309, and the vines are trained up you. The opinion given by Dr. Gardner of the the rafters, four or five inches from the glass. They value of the marl is the only data we have had as are very thrifty and luxuriant, and filled with large yet, although I have made many efforts to have bunches of the Black Hamburg, Muscat of Alex-its value known. I was in hopes that the blue andria, and other fine varieties. He has a new variety of volute grape, which he has found perfectly hardy, and to mature its fruit well in the most exposed situations. It is very similar to the Muscadine in appearance and flavor, and will undoubtedly prove a valuable acquisition to our stock of hardy grapes. Dr. R. is also adopting, with every prospect of success, the plan of putting vines and stone fruits in pots. I shall endeavor to learn from him his success, and shall, in a measure, follow his example, and test under glass all our varieties of peach, plum, apricot, and nectarine. Dr. R.'s general success is such, that no lover of good fruit may despair of obtaining all that he desires; for when the soil is not suitable it may be made so, and the production will amply repay for the labor. All those who feel an interest in these things, will reap much instruction and pleasure from visit to Dr. R.'s place, whose success in horticulture is only equalled by his hospitality and kindness; and those of strongly marked peculiarities will find in the Doctor an admiring observer. S. B. PARSONS. I will now give you some account of our trip from Eufaula, Alabama, to this place, and in doing this I will confine my remarks to such matters as alone relate to agriculture. We set out on the 24th of June. Our route for the first hundred miles was due west, and mostly over a new country. We passed a number of fine cotton farms in the county of Macon, in the neighborhood of Union Springs; indeed, the best cotton we saw on our entire route of 400 miles, was on what is termed the woodland prairie of Macon county, Alabama. On reaching Montgomery county, we passed one of the most beautiful sections of farming country I have ever seen. For 14 miles before reaching the city of Montgomery, it was one continued cotton and corn field-the cotton and corn looked well for the season. After crossing the Alabama river at the city of Montgomery, our course was due north, until we crossed that bold and beautiful stream, the Tennessee. From Alabama to Tennessee river we saw but little that could interest a farmer; the distance is nearly 200 miles, over a poor, sterile country, except in the vales of the Cahawba and James Valley. Commercial Garden & Nursery, Flushing, L. I. Since the above was in type, we too have been highly gratified by a visit to Reinland. It is a charming place, on a hill rising 150 feet from the shore of the inner bay of Huntington, and commands beautiful views of the sound, the opposite After crossing the Tennessee, we entered on the coast, and the country around. All that Mr. Par- rich, level lands of Madison county. Perhaps few sons says of Doctor Rhinelander's success in rais- counties in all the south west afford more rich and ing choice fruits we found more than verified, and level lands than Madison. From Dillon's Landing such a feast as we had there of the various kinds to the beautiful town of Huntsville, it was one was a luxury indeed. His George-the-fourth peach continued field for the distance of 11 miles, over a is the most delicious we have tasted for years, and macadamized road; and what a pleasurable senwe give it the same rank among peaches as the sation we felt after having been jolted and tossed Seckle pear has taken among pears. Then there from side to side for 300 miles, to strike a perfect was a magnificent great juicy peach, all white pavement-the carriage seemed to move forward save slight specks of red, the name unknown, and without the least effort of the horses. After others too numerous to mention. Several varieties leaving Madison county, we passed through the of plums we saw there, large, rich, and juicy, were county of Franklin, and on entering the state of unknown varieties. The grapes were very fine; Tennessee commence the rich lands of the west. and among other things, strawberries, still ripening In passing from Huntsville to Winchester, the on the vines-the first week in September. The county seat of Franklin, the scenery is most beaugarden soil is a poor, thin gravel, and notwith-tiful. The corn crop, which is the principal crop standing Dr. R. has applied little manure to it, the of the state of Tennessee, we found good; the toward the top will absorb the moisture from the upper part of the stalks. When sufficiently dry, put it under cover or stack it like oats or wheat. price of corn generally is 50 cents per barrel, or 10 cents per bushel. We next entered on the still richer lands of the counties of Giles, Murray, Williamson, Davison, Rutherford, and Bedford, and to me, who had been all my life a cultivator of the light soil of the south, I was everywhere struck with the black, rich lands of Middle Tennessee the fields groaning under the weight of the grow-ply them with an ample amount of long food. ing crop of corn-the large, fine cattle roaming over the rich clover fields-and I came to the conclusion, that if the farmers of Tennessee would determine to cultivate less land, study agriculture as a science, form agricultural societies, and read agricultural works, that they would be the happiest people in the whole country. Persons on small farms, who raise only small quantities of Indian corn, and therefore have but little stock fodder from their corn-fields, will find that a few acres of corn sown broadcast will supHere in the west, where so much corn is raised to be converted into hogs, horses, mules, and cattle, the supply of winter fodder from the corn-fields is generally sufficient. But to the north and east, where less corn is raised, and the winters are longer and colder, there is no crop, I believe, which will supply the necessities of horses and cattle I must before closing mention the beautiful better, or with less labor. I have therefore given sewing silk made by the interesting and indus-you my testimony in its favor; and as I am anxtrious daughters of Col. Nell, in the kind family ious that the farmers to the east, and especially in we have spent the last eight days. One word as Virginia, should try it, should you publish this in to the immense size of the trees of the west. Mr. your excellent paper, please to send the No. which James M. Shields, residing near Lynnville, lives in may contain it to Mr. Botts, editor of the Southern a house 46 feet by 18 feet, made out of one tree. Planter, with my request to urge it upon the farmI measured a poplar in company with Col. Nell, ers in that state to give it a fair trial. near his house, which was 25 feet in circumference, and we supposed it was 70 feet to the first limbs ! ALEXANDER MCDONALD. Bedford Co., Tenn., Aug. 13, 1844. CORN FOR SOILING AND FODDER. I HAD read several accounts of Indian corn sown broadcast for soiling and curing for hay, and I determined to try it. My experiment made last year was conclusive as to the great quantity which can be made on an acre, and as to its value when cured for winter food for cows and horses. None of it was fed in the green state, as I had sufficient pasturage for my stock during the summer and fall months, and therefore I can say nothing about it for soiling from my experience; but I presume that whatever grass makes good hay will answer well for that purpose. There is no other vegetable which will yield so large and nutritive a quantity of dry fodder to the acre. It will produce from 5 to 7 tons to the acre of dry food, if the ground is rich and well prepared. (a) The only difficulty is in curing it if the weather should be wet when it is cut, or in cutting it too green. The ground should be well plowed and thoroughly pulverized with the harrow, and 2 bushels of seed sown to the acre immediately after the last plowing and harrowing, to get the start of weeds and grass. If the seeds were soaked, so as to come up very quickly, it would be advantageous. Plow in the seed with small plows or cultivators, so as to cover them shallow, and roll the ground. The proper time for sowing here, is between the 25th of April and the 5th of May. Poor land will not do for this crop. It should not be cut before the leaves begin to dry, for it is so succulent that if cut too soon, it will mould in curing. After it is cut, let it lie on the ground if the weather be dry, for several days, and if it can be turned once or twice, so much the better; then tie it in sheaves like oats, and put the sheaves in small shocks as open as possible at the bottom, that the lower part of the stalks may dry thoroughly. The dry leaves I venture to predict that as an auxiliary to the small farmers on impoverished lands, it will in many instances prevent the necessity of emigrating from their much-loved native land-a matter of so much pain always, and not unfrequently of sore disappointment. Our crops of oats, corn, and hemp, in Kentucky, are good generally, fully reaching an average. The wheat very indifferent, I should think not more than half a crop of light grain. The rust is the wheat destroyer of this country. How are we to avoid it? He who shall teach us will be our great benefactor, and entitled to our warmest gratitude.(b) If we could get some variety that would ripen before the access of warm wet weather, say the last of May or first of June, perhaps we might escape the rust. Is there any such variety?(c) JOHN LEWIS. Llangollen, Ky., Sept. 4, 1844. (a) We think this a low estimate, and that from 7 to 10 tons per acre, on rich and highly manured land, would be nearer the mark. Some assert that they have grown 15 tons of dried fodder or more per acre. (b) We stated in our September No., page 260, that to sow wheat in drills 6 inches apart or so, had lessened its liability to rust. A top dressing of pulverized charcoal, leached or unleached ashes, or lime, is an excellent preventive. Paring and burning the soil is also highly recommended, but this is too expensive a process at present for the American farmer. When we were at the west, we found that many of the farmers erred in not sowing their wheat sufficiently early; hence its late ripening and greater liability to rust-hot, wet weather almost invariably producing it. (c) An early and hardy variety of wheat is unquestionably necessary for the warm rich soils of the southwest; it ought also to have rather a small stalk, with as small a leaf as possible, so as not to retain the moisture in excess. Has our correspondent ever tried the Virginia May wheat, the Mediterranean, and other early hardy varieties? We have requested Genl. Harmon of this state, to forward him some of the Improved White Flint NORTHERN CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER. for experiment. We hope he will try it in various | NORTHERN CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER. OCTOBER is an important month for the farmer. In this, he has to collect his roots, apples, corn, and store them up for safe keeping through the winter. Secure sugar beet and mangol-wurzel before heavy frosts occur. Very light frosts do not injure them while in the ground. They should be perfectly matured, or they otherwise will afford less nutrition. This may be known by some of their leaves turning yellow. If allowed to remain beyond this time, there is a new elaboration of their juices, and much of the saccharine principle, which is the fattening one, is destroyed. Turneps and parsneps may be left till in danger of freezing in the ground, and the latter, if not wanted for winter use, are better for remaining till spring. In this case, all the water must be carefully led away from the beds, or they will rot. Potatoes are ripe when the vines are decayed, and they should never be dug before. All roots ought to be protected from the sun after digging, by throwing over them some of the leaves or straw, and as soon as the dirt attached to them is dried, carry them at once to the cellar or pit. Too little care is used in storing roots. The air ought to be carefully kept from them, by putting them in barrels loosely covered, or in bins well guarded by straw or turf, and they are still better for having light mould or sand sifted into the interstices. Such as are stored in the fields, may be placed in pits, where the ground is dry and sandy, somewhat excavated below the surface, and piled above it to the height required. A coating of straw must first be laid over them, carefully thatched over the heap like shingles, to carry off any water that may leak through the exterior covering of earth, which may be added to the depth of a few inches, just sufficient to prevent injury from early frosts. The covering for winter need not be completed till later, as by leaving the earth loose, the escape of moisture from the roots is facilitated, as well as the gases, which are generated by the partial heating and curing of the roots, which takes place when they are thrown into heaps soon after they have been dug. When finally covered over for the winter, a hole on the top should be left, or several, if the pit be a long one, in which a wisp of straw must be placed, which will allow the escape of all moisture and gas. If the ground is a stiff clay, the roots must be placed on the surface of the ground, and a ditch dug on every side, one foot below them, so as to carry off all the water; otherwise, the lower strata will be spoiled by the water retained on the surface. Winter apples ought to be carefully picked by hand, and placed in bins or barrels, and entirely excluded from the air. They should occupy a dry cool cellar, or upper room, in which the temperature is not below the freezing point. If they should become frozen, they must be kept covered and allow the frost to escape grad 313 ually, when the effect will be scarcely perceptible; yet when this occurs, they do not keep as long in good flavor as if untouched by frost. If you have clay land, much of the plowing for the following spring may be done in this month, throwing it into high furrows as much as possible. If there be no demand for your fall apples, they are worth much more to feed to stock, wine and cattle, than for cider; dispose of all in this way but such as are wanted for the winter use. eing them in a dry cool place, and you may have the Secure your winter squashes and pumpkins, by plaluxury of good vegetable and pumpkin pies during the winter. All the garden seeds should be carefully selected and placed beyond the reach of decay and vermin. Prepare all your supernumerary stock for market; cull out your choicest animals for breed and use, and sell and fat the remainder. Be careful to avoid an overstock for winter. One half the animals well kept will yield more profit than the whole half kept. Set out trees for the eusuing spring. They may be transplanted any time after the sap has ceased to flow, which occurs when the buds are fully developed. This is the proper time to cut wood for the year. Fuel cut from July till November is more valuable than if prepared at any other season. If not convenient to draw it, let it remain on the ground till sleighing. If hemp is wanted for early breaking, spread it out this month for dew-rotting. The lint, however, is whiter and better to defer it till December for latitudes below 409; a higher latitude, November is the best month. Timber cut during these months is also much more durable, notwithstanding the popular opinion to the contrary. KITCHEN GARDEN.-Keep the crops of spinach entirely clean; they can now be thinned out, leaving the plants four or five inches apart. Lettuces for early spring use should be treated in the same way. Those for late fall use should be transferred to frames, and protected from frost during the night. The same mode can be adopted with cabbage plants for fall and winter use. During the latter part of the month cut down the asparagus tops, and give the bed a coat of well-rotted stable manure to the depth of two or three inches. This can be done, however, as well next month. FRUIT GARDEN AND ORCHARD.-Continue propagating by layers and cuttings; plant beds of strawberries that may have been omitted last month. They will be less likely to suffer from the heat of the ensuing summer, than if planted in the spring. Gather all the apples and pears which still remain upon the trees before the frost injures them. Most kinds of hardy fruit and forest trees may now be trimmed and cleared of lateral shoots and suckers. All kinds of hardy deciduous trees and shrubs can be transplanted this month as soon as they have shed their leaves. Fall planting is preferable for good-sized trees, as during the winter they can firmly establish themselves, and be ready to throw out sufficient roots in the spring to withstand the heats of summer. Small seedlings had better be left till spring, as they are liable to be thrown out of the ground by the frost in the winter. FLOWER GARDEN AND PLEASURE GROUNDS.-About the middle or latter end of the month plant tulips, hyacinths, &c. Select a warm mellow soil and let it be highly manured with well rotted compost. The ranunculus and anemone can now be planted, and all other varieties of bulbous and tuberous rooted flowers. Continue to transplant perennial and biennial flower roots. Plant some bulbous roots in flower pots for winter blooming. The latter part of the month, 314 SOUTHERN CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER. pot your tender roses and everything else that requires protection in the winter, and have them ready to move in on the sudden approach of any cold weather. Flowering and ornamental shrubs can now be found and also propagated by layers, cuttings, and suckers. The latter part of this month new pleasure grounds may be formed, and all hardy deciduous trees may be transplanted, as soon as they have shed their leaves. Live hedges can now be planted. Continue to mow your lawns, clean the gravel walks, cut and carry away all weeds, decayed flower stems, fallen leaves, &c., and prepare ground for spring planting. SOUTHERN CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER AND To the sugar planter, as well as the cotton grower, October and November are the most important months in the year. To the cotton grower, the work of these months will be nearly the same as that of September; as to the sugar planter, it will claim his special attention. In the early part of October, let him commence and get everything in readiness for cutting and grinding his cane. Repair the roads leading from the cane fields to the mill, if necessary; put your carts and yokes in order; procure and sharpen the knives or hooks for cutting the cane; see that the mill or rollers are properly geared, well oiled, and are clean. If your business will warrant it, procure by all means a steam engine, rather than use horses or mules in grinding. See that the kettles are well set, and that the flues are strong and cleared of filth. Put in order the coolers, and all minor implements used in the operations. Also prepare barrels or hogsheads for filtering; and look to the gutters or conductors for conveying the juices or syrups, and see that they are tight, and properly fitted to your work. Draw and split fuel for boiling if it has not been done before. By the last of October, in ordinary seasons, more or less of the cane attains its usual maturity in Florida and Louisiana. When this period arrives, the first thing to be done is to provide for future crops. Give early attention to the saving of seed, on account of the injury which seed-cane receives by frost, and which is liable to occur before the middle of November. The general rule observed in saving cane for planting, is to reserve such a portion of the crop as is the least valuable for grinding. Hence, those fields which have produced cane from the same stubble for two, three, or four years, and which now require, from the stinted growth they produce, to be replanted with cane or some other crop, are selected to furnish seed-canes. The canes from such fields are small and short, having the joints nearer together, each of which sends up shoots called rattoons. One acre of such rattoons is sufficient, in ordinary cases, for the planting of three acres of land. They are cut near the ground, and carted to the vicinity of the fields where they are to be planted out, and then formed, when not planted as soon as cut, into long beds, about fifteen feet wide, which are called mattresses. These are made by commencing at one end of the bed, and placing a row of canes, with their tops on, across it-the tops directed outward. Upon this a second row is laid, so that the buts are placed about eight inches or a foot in advance of those of the first row. Upon the second row a third is placed in like manner, and so on. By this arrangement the lower part of the stalk is preserved from the cold, by the tops; except in two or three layers across that portion of the mattress last formed, where the protection is afforded by four or five inches of earth. A great part of the planting may be done with about three feet of the rejected cane tops, to which a greater portion of the green leaves are attached at the time of gathering the crop. These, when not reserved for planting, should be left on the field for the protection of the stubbles; but when cut for planting, it is better to cut them one or two joints longer than usual, and to form them into windrows across the field. In this case, from two to four rows should be thrown into one, and arranged as respects the over-lapping, like the mattresses above described. The fields from which these tops are obtained, are often those that were planted the previous year, and in which the cane is high, and somewhat prostrated at the beginning of the grinding season. Hence it is necessary to cut this earlier to prevent it from rooting at the lower joints. When the force of the plantation will permit, the land should be planted as fast as the seed-cane is cut. Canes planted at this season should be in the driest fields, and covered to the depth of three or four inches, in order that they may take an earlier start next spring than if they remained in the mattresses during the winter. The remainder, and by far the greatest part of the planting, may be deferred until the grinding season is over, which varies from the 20th of December to the middle of January; and often it is not completed before the first of March. The covering given to the canes is more and more shallow as the season advances, until the close of February, when it rarely exceeds two inches. In preparing the ground for planting cane, it should be first thoroughly ditched or drained, and then plowed and harrowed; after which it should be drilled, at distances varying from thirty-three inches to six feet apart, according to the newness and strength of the soil. Into these drills or furrows there should be laid, three or four inches apart, two parallel rows of canetops, from two and a half to four feet in length, and covered with earth at a depth corresponding to the season of the year in which the planting is done. In the latter part of October, or early part of November, prepare for preserving sweet potatoes for the winter. Select a dry place, level the earth, and lay a bed of dry straw so as to form a circle of about six feet in diameter. On this straw pile up the potatoes until they form a cone four of five feet high, over which spread a little dry grass. Then cover the entire cone with corn-stalks set up endwise with the buts resting on the ground and the tops reaching over the apex, of a sufficient thickness to conceal all of the potatoes. Then cover the whole pile with earth at a depth of at least a foot, without leaving any air-hole at the top, as is frequently done. A small shelter should then be made so as to prevent the rains from washing off the earth. This may be done by inserting in the ground about the pile four forked stakes, on which rails may be placed to support the covering, which may consist of boards, bark, thatch, or other substances. Potatoes can be preserved in this manner until June, nearly as fresh as when first put up. In these months dress burr artichokes, taking away all their suckers, except three to each stock, open their roots, lay about them new earth and manure, and plant out suckers for another crop. Trim and dress asparagus beds by cutting down the stocks and burning them over the beds. Then dig between the shoots, level the beds, and cover them three fingers deep with fresh earth and manure, mixed. Continue to plant celery, set it in gutters, as it grows, and hill up; sow spinach, lettuce and radish seeds, and plant out evergreens-they will do now perhaps better than in April. Plant vines or beans, and early peas. FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL NEWS. FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL NEWS. By the steam-ship Britannia, we are favored with our European journals to the 4th of September. MARKETS. Ashes remained without change-the transactions fair. Cotton had fallen from d. to 4d. on upland, and d. on Sea Island-sales heavy and languid. Stock on hand at Liverpool on the 1st of August, 936,000 bales. Flour and Grain extremely dull and declining in price-the importers will be heavy losers. Provisions. Beef, Pork, and Lard, had improved, and were brisk of sale-but a small quantity of either of these articles on hand, and a steady market for them was anticipated. Naval Stores without change. Rice the same. Tobacco languid when the packet left, though the transactions through August had been unusually large. Money more in demand, and first class bills quoted from 2 to 2 per cent. American Stocks without change, and transactions unimportant. Trade continued steady, and all branches of manufactures were in full employment. The Weather was highly favorable for the harvest, which was going on briskly throughout the country. Tobacco Trade. An alteration in the excise of this article is anticipated. Prolific Cow.-Mr. George Nicholls, of Thornton, near Pocklington, has now in his possession a cow that has produced twins three times. One of the offspring of this animal has also had twins once. Out of the eight calves six of them are heifers, and they are all exceedingly promising. 315 the practicability of inducing the insect to work downward." Saving Flower Seed.-Instead of saving seed from any blooms that may chance to remain on, it should be saved from the best well formed early flowers. The proper way is to mark good flowers as soon as they can be found, and let their seeds ripen well before they are gathered. Let them be from good double flowers. When the seed is rubbed out, only the few outside rows of seed should be used; those which come from the centre or disk, will almost always come high. There are no means so effectual as making the best carly blooms of the best varieties, and relying on those pods of seed only.-Gardener and Practical Florist. Strawberry.-A very fine strawberry, measuring eight inches and three quarters in circumference, was plucked from the garden of Mr. John Saxelby, of Castle Donington, during the past week. Benefit of Soot and Saw Dust.-About a month since three chimney sweeps sold sixty bushels of soot to a neighboring farmer for 25s., each party being very well satisfied with the bargain. Some days after, it was discovered that the gentlemen of the black robe had adulterated the soot with three sacks of very dry saw dust. The farmer, however, is convinced that his crop of turneps is greatly improved by the saw dust, as it materially contributed to the passing the manure through the drill; and the vegetation of the seed looks most propitious, and promises to prove, with bone dust, guano, gypsum, and other experiments, a valuable trial of the virtues of the chimney and saw pit.-New Farmers' Journal. Peruvian Sheep.-The captain of the Leo, at present discharging a cargo of guano at the Quay, brought over with him a very fine specimen of Peruvian sheep. It is a remarkably active looking animal, and bore the rigors of the eight months' voyage with amazing hardihood, its food being chiefly bread and peas. It has four large circular horns, two projecting from the forehead and two toward the shoulders, and its feet resemble those of a goat more than our native sheep. It is a two-shear tup, with wool of a rich silky fibre, and much like what is used in the fabrication of the finer shawls. It was purchased by Mr. Shanks, butcher, Berwick, who purposes crossing him with sheep of different kinds, viz: black-faced horned, Cheviot, and Leicester sheep.-Berwick Warder. Transmutation of Grain.-It is well known that we are an unbeliever in the transmutation of grain; but for the benefit of those who do not agree with us in opinion, we give the following extracts on this subject from a late London Gardener's Chronicle. We shall be pleased to record all such as have a tendency to elucidate principles, whatever result they may lead to, and however they may conflict with established notions. While on this subject we may be allowed to state, that we have recently been shown a stool of wheat and Hiveless Bees. We find the following curious observations on hiveless bees in Capt. Widrington's Spain and the Spaniards in 1843: "Bees abound in this dis- | trict, and increase to such an extent that they return an enormous profit to those who take the trouble of looking after them. The common hive is the hollow stem of the cork-tree, which is cut in lengths and is perhaps the best material in the world for the purpose; next to it is the common straw one used in England; both these substances have the same valuable quality of being non-conductors of heat and cold. They had never heard of such a thing, much less practised it, as killing bees, and were surprised when I mentioned such a custom. I ascertained a very curious fact in their economy that is well worth attending to. The Canon Cepero, so well known in the first Cortes, being shut up in the convent of the Cartuxa at Seville by order of King Fedinand, by way of passing the time, applied himself to study the economy of bees, which he had followed up at Cazalla, and was so successful in his management that in a very short time he had a thousand hives! When the civil war commenced, circumstances caused their being neglected and dispersed, and some swarms, finding no holes or cavities to suit them, at-chess, as nearly as we can judge, originating from one tached themselves to a beam in an out-house, where they made their combs in a similar manner to that by which the tree wasps suspend their curious fabric from the branches. They were so well satisfied with this novel situation that they never left it nor swarmed, but kept adding successive combs, until they nearly reached the ground, and hung from the point of suspension like a huge living and waxen stalactite. The owner never disturbed them, but had the lower combs cut off as they were wanted, and the colony had now remained for a considerable period, without their showing the least disposition to change it. This is certainly rather important information for the managers of apiaries, and may serve to confirm the statements lately published on I seed, in which 5 or 6 stalks of chess were indiscriminately mixed with 25 or 30 of wheat. The account of its origin by its intelligent owner was this: Last spring he discovered in his wheat field a number of wheat plants, thrown out by the frost of an open winter, and being desirous of testing the principle of transmutation, he transplanted several of them carefully to a rich bed in the garden. Many plants produced all wheat, but some produced wheat and chess from the same plant-at least this was the honest conclusion he arrived at from the observations he made in the transplanting and subsequent growth. He thinks he can not be mistaken, as he aimed to take and thinks he did take up every plant singly which gave the double prod |