vines. They are then better ripened, freer from 1 or sap, and consequently keep better. They shoul be suffered to remain undug until the ground fre as they will become frostbitten and rot.

The most approved mode of preserving the potato, is to place them in piles or heaps of about tw five bushels each, on raised ground, with a floori corn-stalks and straw, the sides being lined with same material, the whole covered with three or inches of earth or sod, a small aperture being left the apex of the cone for the escape of the moi which passes off from the potato when undergoing sweat, which always takes place soon after they placed in bulk.

Put up properly in this way, they will keep perf sound and sweet until June or even later.

The potato patch affords a good gleaning to the fa ing hogs, which are usually turned upon it, and fi the small tubers, cut and waste potatoes, a favorite on which they thrive rapidly, and is a good prepar for after feeding on corn in the close pen.

Some planters put in a large crop of sweet potatoe this purpose, and when corn is scarce give no other The meat is said, however, to be less firm, and the more oily, than that of the corn-fattened hog.

THE IRISH POTATO-SOLANUM TUBEROSUM

The Irish potato is not extensively cultivated, seldom beyond the limits of the garden.

Two varieties-the Meshanic, and the Purple E are those which seem to be most approved, the red rarely planted, under the common belief that the v

13

ieties succeed the best. For what we do plant we are endent every year almost entirely on those brought in the Mississippi from the Western States.

▲ course embracing the planting, cultivation, and r treatment, which has been tested many years, may confidently recommended as one attended with much

cess.

n suitable weather, soon after the first of January,
the even, clean, but unbroken surface of the ground
ropriated for the purpose, place the cuttings, with
eye upwards, three inches apart, in rows two feet
ant from each other. Cover well with light rich
etable compost. Well rotted corn-blades, straw, or
ves from the woods are well suited for this purpose.
w over this a moderate ridge of earth. As soon as
tops show themselves generally above the surface,
inch or two high, ridge up with earth, again covering
top entirely, and repeat this in ten days or so, when
tops appear the second time. This will give a ridge
ufficient size, and completes the cultivation.

About the middle of April the potatoes are fit for use,
I are to be dug daily, as required.

About the first of June, especially if the season be dry,
tops begin to fail and gradually die; the grass and
eds which spring up between the rows must not after-

ds by any means be removed; otherwise, when deved of the shade afforded by the top, the potato will ome partially scorched or baked in the ground by the ense summer heat, which makes them watery, and ses them to rot. Protected by the grass and weeds, y remain fresh and sound, and will keep in excellent dition until frost.

t is generally conceded that the Irish potato cannot our climate be kept through the summer out of the

e are

ught

and

may

much

nuary, round , with

To feet

ground. For this reason, and possessing no value stock, together with the preference which most so erners give to the sweet potato, it is not more c vated.

The crop of 1849 was about 260,000 bushels.

There is a considerable consumption of the Irish tato in our cities and towns convenient to the ri which are obtained from the Western States, at a p much below what they can be produced for here.

t rich

aw, or urpose. soon as

surface, overing , when

a ridge

for use,

be dry,

rass and not afterwhen de tato will d by the

tery, and d weeds, excellent

to cannot ut of the

PULSE.

The bean is not cultivated at all in Mississippi field crop. Several varieties of the cornfield pea, ever, are extensively grown.

One million of bushels is reported as the produc of 1849; but, when it is remembered that a very la portion of the crop is consumed by stock in the fiel that being cultivated with us mainly for the ameli tion of the land, the period for gathering coming on in the press of the cotton-picking season; and that sequently a large proportion of planters save little m than is necessary for seed, it will at once be percei that the quantity stated in the census returns, as production of Mississippi, is very greatly below t actually raised.

The chief varieties cultivated are the Cow Pea (1 seolus), the Crowder, and the White Pea.

The first is supposed to be indigenous to the Uni States, as it was found in cultivation among the Indi by the first English settlers in Virginia. The colo this pea is a dark yellow inclining to red, and tinges

h

ter in which it is boiled a dark color, inclining to
ple. It is of coarse flavor, and fit only for stock.
The Crowder is considered more prolific. The pod is
ger and longer, and the peas, which are numerous in
h pod, cylindrical in form, the ends truncated or
tened by compression one against another, growing
close contact. It is for this reason very subject to
ldew and rot in wet weather-an objection from
ich the other named varieties are in a great measure
empt.

The last mentioned, or White Pea, introduced within
ew years, and not yet very generally, seems to remain
ind in the field for a length of time, and can therefore
housed at the convenience of the planter. Besides
is good property, it forms an excellent dish for the
ole, being light in color when dressed, and even of
ore delicate flavor than the marrow fat pea of the gar-
n. There is reason to believe that if it could super-
de the other varieties, the prejudice against the pea,
ising from the frequent loss of stock of all kinds from
eding too freely upon it in the fields, would in a great
easure be overcome, these casualties arising probably
om the unsound and consequently unwholesome con-
tion to which the Crowder especially is subject.

The pea is most usually sown broadcast between the rn rows at the time it receives the last working with

e plough or harrow; sometimes in the rows at an rlier stage of the growth of the corn-a practice that any object to, as it impedes the gathering the fodder hich becomes entangled by the vine.

A new variety, said to come from Oregon, has been troduced the present year, and highly recommended a fertilizer of the soil.

In the first stage of its growth, the Oregon pea stands

g to

od is us in

d or

wing

-ct to

from asure

within emain

erefore

Besides For the

ven of

he gar super

The pea, s from a great robably

me con

een the

ng with

s at an ice that e fodder

has been mended

a stands

erect, and is not unlike the cotton plant, brand somewhat in the same way, the stalk near the gr being at least an inch in diameter. After attaining height of about three feet, it bends to the ground, w it soon covers with a heavy mat of tangled branch vines.

The hull or pod is perfectly cylindrical, n straight, and not exceeding three or four inche length, quite black, and well filled with a small pea, resembling in form and size the ocra seed.

From the size and strength of the stalk or vine ploughing it in the green state is quite impractic It returns, however, a large amount of vegetable m to the ground, and on this account will probabl found to excel the common pea vine. The pea seems to be too small and insignificant to be of value.

GRASSES.

Of our grasses, no attempt will be made here to even a catalogue. Only a few of the most characte: and useful will be noticed.

Foremost of these, although an introduced sp stands the Bermuda. It is rather a later grass. revels in the hot, dry weather of midsummer, most of our other grasses fail.

It will bear two or three heavy cuttings, and pro an almost incredible quantity of delicate nutritious excelling, it is believed, in this particular, any grass.

Like the sugar cane, it has not yet been so far nat ized as to perfect its seed, and is therefore propag