The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-07-15
SOUTHERN PLANTER.

We have received the July No. of the Plant
er. 1t is uncommonly full of communicated
articles, upon great variety of agricultural
subjects. In obtaining the aid of gentlemen
who have made agriculture their study through
lite here in the Old Dominion, Mr.. Ruf6n, we
think, has acted with great judgment. Those
certainly know best what are the practical
workings OF any system or pursuit, who have
been longest engaged in it. The great difhcul.
ty, we fancied, at first, would be found in indu-
eng the farmers tu writ1. In our own news-
paper experience, we have always found that
it was very easy to fill paper with commu'
nications, but that those communications came
most frequently from persons who knew least
about the matter in hand. Men who really
know what they are writing about are not the
aptest of all other persons TO seek the public
prints. This we regard as misfortune, and
Mr.. Ruffia has been singularly happy in over
coming the reluctance OF such men. Each
volume of the Planter is valuable treatise
upon priculture, at least it contains the mate
rails from which such a treatise might be east
ly composed.
We are pleased to see that Mr.. r. has re-
published the letter Of General R. Published
bv MS few weeks since. 1t was due TO the
uncommon merit of that letter, not less than
10 the character of the author, and of the ser
vices he has heretofore rendered. and is still
rendering to the cause Of agriculture through
cut the State. A handsome and appropriate
compliment is paid to the General, who we
think we can already see, is about to prove a
most efficient agent in improving the condition
Of agriculture in this State. Cool, rejecting
and interchangeable, Gen. r. possesses what the
phrenologists call individuality in an uncom.
mon degree Of development. Nothing escapes
his notice; and in addition he has, also, very
happy faculty of generalising, and drawing
results fromythe combination OF q number of
causes. The editor of the Planter says, "all
our farmers want is public spirit to induce
them to show both themselves and their com
modities, and if Gen. Richardson cannot nfuse
that into them, we know not who cam"
We have, in the present No, cut of a very
fine French Merino ram, which lis owner
Mr. George Campbell, of West Westminster
Vermont, has named "Matchless." So far as
his horns are concerned, we should Judge he
deserved the name. They exceed any thing,
On paper, we ever saw. They ale twisted like
the worm ofla sill, and are apparently about
the same length with still.worm Of moderate
size. We have no doub, Joshua used precise.
ly such abrams horn when he blew down the
walls Of Jericho, and we suspect this is des
cendant Of the ram from whose head that par.
ocular horn was shed. If things were now
ss they used to be, itwould be good specu.
la'ion to send these horns TO Nicholas for sale
lie might try their power upon the walls Of
Cons'an''nople. This gentleman sheep 1--WE
wl'l not shock the sensibili,ies of the presen
NICE generation by using the expressive sing le.
syhaoied word which defines him, any oftene,
snah We can helpJ is years old, and weigh,
$50 lbs.