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THE 


FARMER'S  JOURNAL, 


BY 


JOHN    F.    TOMPKINS,    M.   D. 


Vol.  n. 


RALEIGH,  NORTH  CAROLINA. 
1853. 


^  (,^Q.S' 


INDEX. 


Address  of  the  Hon.  Robt.  Strange  page- 
before  the  Cumberland  Co.  Ag- 
ricultural Society, 
Ashes,       .  -  - 

Attention,  Subscribers, 
Agricultural  Quackery, 
Agricultural  Products  of  the  U.  S. 
/^ction  of  Lime, 
An  Agricultural  School  at  Bath, 

North  Carolina,        -  -      (^ 

A  Fact  woithy  of  attention,  50 

A  few  of  the  benefits  of  Agricultral 

Societies,  -  -  60 

Analysis  of  the  Soils,  -  .  -  78 
Agricultural  Address,  -  '  80 
Ashes  as  a  Manure,      -  -         83 

Ag'al  Schools — Experiments,  &c.,  85 
A  word  to  progressing  Farming,  90 
A  Hint  to  Farmers,  -  93 

A  new  use  of  leaves  of  the  Pine,  126 
A  Potato  twenty  years  old,  139 

Agricultural  Axioms,  -  -       140 

Advantages  of  the  Farmer  of  this 

Age,  -  -  -       148 

Analysis  of  the  various  crops,  1*76 

Address  of  Dr.  R.  C.  Pritchard,  199 
Adaptation  of  crops  to  Market,  207 
Agricultural  Education,  -       217 

Address  of  Hon.  A.  W.  Venable,  235 
Attention  called  to  Card,  -       244 

Addres  of  Hon.  A.  W.  Venable 
continued,        -  -  245 


Advertisements,           -            -  266 

Address  of  Hon.  A.  W.  Venable,  267 

Agricultural  Statistics,               -  264 

A  proposed  experiment,      -  271 

A  correction  of  the  Premium  list,  275 

Advertisements,     -             -  287 

40 ^Atmosphere,    -            -             .  29ft 

47   Amateur  Farmers,              -  299 

Agents,            ...  330 

Advertisements,     -             -  351 

Agricultural  Societies,              -  354 

Action  of  Drought  on  Plants,  365 

Advertisements,           -            -  383 


Beaufort  Co.  Agricultural  Society,     58 
Barn- Yard  Manures,  -  89 

Breeding  Horses,         -  -       198 

Baltimore  Manufactured  Agricultu- 
ral Implements,  -  286 
Biojm  Corn,  -            -            -     ;  367 

Communication,  -  -  1 
Communication, by  "Panola,"  Jr.,  2 
Communication,  by  "  Beaufort,"  4 
Clearing,  -  -  14 
Chemical  Apparatus  for  the  analy- 
sis of  Soils,  -  -  19 
Communication,  by  "Moyock,"  33 
Communication,  by  "  J.  W.  Y."  34 
Cure  for  Cholic  in  Horses,  63 
Communication,  by  "Old  North 
State,"     -            -            -  76 


rr 


INDEX. 


Carbon,             -             •          -  80 
Cure  for  founder  of  tho  horse,     -  81 
Chemistry  in  relation  to   Agricul- 
ture,        -             -           -  104 
Constitution  of  the    Agricultural 
Asiocia'ion  of  the  Slaveholding 
StatfS,                  -         -         -  134 
Corn  flat  vs.  Hill  Culture,     -  136 
Cure  for  Chapped  Hands,  140 
Cotton    Gins  in    old  Edgecombe, 

(Editorial,)         -         -            -  146 

Cheese  mailing  for  a  small  dairy,  149 
Constitution    and    By-Laws      for 

County  Agiicultiiial  Socielies,  18( 
Chemistry  as  applied  to  Agricul- 
ture,            -             -             -  219 
Comfort  and  health   of   Country 

Families,  -  -  -  221 
Communications,  -  -  2*77,  27^- 
Cotton  in  the  United  States,  301 
Committees  of  the  Slate  Agricul- 
tural Society,  -  -  -  336 
Cultivation  of  Cotton  in  Algeria,  301 
Correspondents  increasing,  339 
Compost  for  fruit  trees,  28* 
Charcoal  and  Salt  for  Sheep,     -  383 

Diseases  of  Horses  and  Cows.     A 

valuable  receipt,         -           -  46 

Deep  Tillage,         -              -          -  125 

Dr.  Pritchard's  Address,         -  209 

Df6cri])lion    of   the    duil-bearing 

r(x-l>  of  iKep   River,         -  311 


Editor's  Table, 

Ecouou)y  of  Fattening  Hogs, 
EdgecDMihe  as  she  is — and  Evlge- 

combe  as  she  was  5  yi  ars   ap-o, 

by  Alplia, 
Editi'iiMl  Hiid  extract  of  a  letter, 
Examine  in  Agiiculture, 
Eti"!s  ill  awarding    Prem'un  s  at 

the  Fair,  (Editorial,), 


21 
31 


73 
243 
267 

275 


East  India  Cotton,  -  -  302 
Extracts  and  Comments,  (Editorial,)  276 
Editorial  Remarks,  ~  -  -  305 
Editor's  Table,  -  -  -  339 
Experiments  in  Farming,  -  -  369 
Economy  of  Manure,  382 

Farming,         -         -         -         -  15 
Farmers  and  Mechanics  get  ready 
for  the  Fair  on  the   18th  of  Oc- 
tober next,  20 
Farmers  of  North^Carolina,  where 

is  your  State  pride  ?         -         -  50 
Farmers  do    not    turn   your  stock 

upon  your  fields,           -         -  82 
Farmers,  raise  your  own  horses  and 

mules,  -  -  -  -  83 
Farmers'  Gardens,  -  -  -  86 
Feeding  IJees,  -  -  -  63 
Facts  about  digestion,  -  -  94 
Fanners,  write  for  your  paper,  (Ed- 
itorial,) -  -  .  -  145 
Food  for  Crops,  -  -  150 
Farmers,  bring  up  your  soils,  209 
Faimers,  collect  manure,  -  244 
Fisli,  its  value  as  a  manure,  279 
Fatftiiiing  Hogs,  -  -  -  306 
"  "  -  -  -  342 
Fattening,         ....  362 

Good    rules  for  Farmers,         -  42 

Grape  Vines.         -         -         -  128 

Galls  from  Harness,  &c.,             -  140 

Georgia  State  Agricultural  Fair,  143 

Geol  igical  Survey,         -         -  151 

Guano,  ....  iVs 
Good  management,  no  mystejy — 

the  secret  of  it,         -         -  214 

Gardening  for  Farmers,     -         -  260 

Geology  of  the  Coal  District,  311 

Golden  Advice,  -  -  -  267 
Granville  Agricultural  Society  and 

County  Fair,         ...  278 


INDEX. 


Gtfauo,  -  -  -  .  321 
Granville  County  wido  awake,  338 
Grape  culture  at  the  West,         -     360 

How  to  use  Guano,  -  -  38 
Honor  and  profit  of  Industry,  -  91 
Halifax  county  ahead,  (Editorial,)  147 
House-keeping  is  an  essentia!  part 

of  Female  Education, 
Hints  on  breeding  horses. 
How  to  get  rid  of  Musquitoes, 
How  to  raise  fruit  every  year, 
How  to  cure  warts  on  horses. 
Home,         -         -         -         . 
Hogs,  &c.,        -        -        - 
How  many  acres  to  the  hand, 
Horse  vs.  Mule, 
How  shall  we  preserve  eggs, 

Impiovements  of  roads, 
Industry   essential. 
Important  truths, 
Indian  Meal  Waffles, 
Indian  Corn,         -         -         - 


Johnny  Cakes, 

Kicking  Horses, 
Kitchen  Garden, 


244 
265 
271 
271 
283 
327 
333 
349 
356 
381 

43 

96 

223 

367 

377 

381 


303,  350 
337 


Laws  of  the  Stale  of  North  Caroli- 
na, p  ssed  by  the  General    As- 
sembly, al  tilt)  session  of  1852,  5 
Letter  from  Mr.  Street,  of  Craven  co.  20 
"       "     J.  F.  F.,  of  Rjwan  Co.,  34 
-"       "     S.  U.,  of  llockville.  Ro- 
wan Caunty,         -         -         -  34 
Letter  from  J.  J.  Phillips,         -  50 
"       "     J.  D.  Jones,         -          -  67 
Liquid  Mannres,         -          -       -  89 
Leaks  to  be  stopped,          •          -  92 
Longevity  of  Farmers,         -         -  95 


Letters  from    Prof.  Emmons,  156 
"    Richard  H.  Smith,  -  211 
"          "     P.  M.  Edmondston,  212 
"          ''     J.  P.  Bridgers,         -  213 
"     W.  D.  Riddick,     -  213 
List  of  Premiums  awarded,  &c.,  -  225 
Le^  the  blame  rest   where   it   be- 
longs     -         -         -         .  244 
Letter  from  our  Female  Correspon- 
dent "  Mary,"          -          -  307 
Letter  from  one  of  our  Patrons,  308 
"       •'    Jno.  S.  Dancy,  of  Tar. 
boro',           -           -          -  308 
Letter  from  S.   Weller,         -  309 
Limits  of  the  Coal  Field,       -  313 
Letter  from  J.  S.  Skinner,    -  318 
"     Hon.  T.  L.  Clingman,  320 
"     J.  F.  F.,             -  329 
"     S.  W.  Covington,  340 
"         "     a  Farmer,         -  344 
"         "     C.  Willis,           .  345 
"         "     L.C.Desmond,  345 
"         "     A.Latham,         -  345 
"     B.D.  Mann,        -  345 
"     R.    H.  Walker,  346 
"     D.H.Holland,  371 
"     N.  W.  W^oodfi.n,  372 
"         "     Soc'us,       -         -  373 
"     Neil!  McDiigald,  375 
"     L.  W.  H,           -  376 
"         "     Win.  Car-taphen  376 
"         "     Owen    Fennel!,  376 
"    T.  T.SlaJ<',        -  377 

Mr.  Ruffin's  Address  before  the  S. 

C.  Institute,  in  Charleston,  18 

Male  and  Female  Corn,         -  •  27 

Manure,  ...  35 
Meeiinj^  of  the  State  Agricultural 

Sji'iety,          .          .        -     .  4g 

Milking  Butter,  -  -  128 
M  ixiin     for  Farmers  ;   Ringbcn) 

in    Horses,           -           •  137 


Meatiuring  Corn,  -  142 

Motion  ofFeivd  by  Dv.  Pritcliard,  244 
Mr.  Dancy's   Letter,  -  304 

Management  of  barn-yard  manure,  331 
New  process  of  making  Butter,  142 
Necessary  Mechanical  condition  of 

the  Soil,  ...  158 

Neglected  Department  of  Agri- 
culture in  Edgecombe,  -  181 
Neglected  department  of  Agricul- 
ture in  Edgecombe,  -  210 
Our  Introduction,  -  -  16 
On  Liquid  Manure  in  Farm  Yards,  44 
Our  Fiist  Volume  Complete,  -  48 
Our  Traveling  Agent,  -  -  48 
Our  Thanks,  -  .  .  sO 
Origin  of  Mulesin  the  United  States,  139 
Our  Removal,  (Editorial,)  -  144 
Original  Gommunioation,  -  147 
Our  Correspondent,  Alpha,  -  178 
On  the  relations  of  science  to  prac- 
tice in  agriculture,  -  -  193 
Our  Correspondence,  (Ed  torial,)  275 
Oiir  Female  Correspondent,  -  305 
Our  Local  Agenis,  -  -  339 
Poultry  Manure,  -  -  46 
Proceedings  uf  the  State  Agricul- 
tural Society,  -  -  •  113 
Poultry  and  Eggs,  -  -  139 
Phmts,  -  -  -  -  161 
Preparations  for  the  Fair,  -  177 
Plaster  for  Corn— Preserving  Corn- 
stalks, -  -  -  -  191 
Proceedings  of  the  North  Carolina 

State  Agricultural  Society,  225 

Pretty  Good  fjr  one  Man,  -  266 
Potash,         -         -  -         .  282 

Pet(^r  G.  Evans'   Coal  Mine  and 

"Wil  ox  Anthracite,    -         -         314 

Premiums  for  the  Granville  Fair,    341 

Palmer  E^ate,       -         -         -  315 

Piemiimi  Essay  on  the  Treatment 

and  Cultivation  of  Corn,    -         346 


Potato  Culture,  356 

Rules  for  making  an  Applelree,         35 
Right  and  Proper,         -         -  88 

Recipe  for  Starch  ;  Carrots  for  Cof- 
fee, -  -  -  -  140 
Recipe  for  making  Bread,  -  271 
Report  of  the  Coal  Lands,  by  C,  T. 
Jackson,  M.  D,,  Geologist  and 
Chemist,  -  -  310^318 
Roses  from  Cuttings,  -  -  282 
Swine,  -  -  -  .  39 
Soap  Suds,  -  -  ■  .  .  127 
Special  Manure  for  Grasses,  -  128 
Sea  Island  Cotton — Statistics,  &c.  129 
Salt  your  Corn,  ...  133 
Spinning  Cotton  Yarns  for  Export,  142 
Something  not  to  be  forgotton,  176 
Specimen  No.  5,  Sandy  Soil,  179 
Smoke  House,  -  -  -  193 
State  Fair,  ....  2O8 
Salt  as  a  Manure,  .  -  224 
Southern  Fruit,  -  -  -  267 
State  and  County  Fairs,  (Editorial,)  274 
Setting  Meadow,  &c.  -  -  285 
Sheep  Husbandry,  -  -  305 
Saving  Gaiden  Seeds,  -  -  335 
Save  the  dead  leaves,  -  -  335 
Swamp  Lands,  -  -  .  335 
Study  the  insects  that  damage  the 

Farmer,    -         -         -         .         353 
Striking  instance  of  the   benefit  of 
the  thorough   improvement   of 
Land,       -         -         -         -         357 
To  the  County  Agricultural  Socie- 
ties of  the  State,         -         -  17 
The  fertilizing  properties  of  the  re- 
mains of  old  chimnies,         -           20 
To  extirpate  sorrell,        -         -           29 
To  destroy  the  Appletree  Borer,       31 
The  Silver  Cup,     -         -  -      -           48 
The  sweep  stakes  for  the  best  corn 

crop,         ....  50 

The  management  of  negroes,  -  62 


INDEX. 


The  Report  of  Prof.  Emmons,  65 

To  those  who  send  us  money  by 

letter,       -         -        .         .  80 

To  the  friends  of  agricultural  im- 
provement in  N.  C.     -         -  81 
The  present  number  of  our  paper,      81 
The  cultivation  of  fruit  trees   in 

North  Carolina,  -         -  84 

The  Sorrowful  Tree,       -         -  84 

The  Farmer's  Library,  -         -  85 

The  Report  of  Prof.  Emmons,  (con- 
clusion,)  -         -        -         -  9*7 
The  cultivation  of  wheat,        -         108 
Thorough  farming — or,  much  labor 

on  little  land,     -         -         -         111 
The  State  Agricultural  Society     -  112 
To  our  Readers,      -         -         -       113 
Tanning  Leather,         ...  141 
The  China  Tree :  Hard  to  Beat,  -     143 
To  the  Farmers'  Wives  and  Daugh- 
ters.—(Ed.)    -         -         -         -  145 
The  State  Fair.~(Ed.)     -        -       146 
To  Those  who  wish  to  take  oui-  pa- 
per.—(Ed.)    -        -        -        -  146 
The  Prejudices  of  Farmers,      -       153 
To  Make  a  Perpetual  Almanac,   -  159 
The  State  Agricultural  Fair,     -       176 
The  Model  Farm  of  the  West,     -  111 
To  the  Farmers  of  the  State,   -       111 
To  the  Members  of  the  State  Agri- 
cultural Society,      -        -        -  179 
That  Large  Hog,    - 
To  those  who  Compete  for  Premi- 
ums at  the  State  Fair,  -  179 
The  Earthy  and  Mineral  Substances 

in  Plants,  -  -  -  -  189 
To  the  Members  of  the  State  Agri- 
cultural Society,  -  -  -  208 
The  Analysis  of  Soils,  -  -  209 
To  Farmers  who  Come  to  the  Fair,  209 
Theory,  -        -        -        -      239 


The  North  Carolina  State  Agricul- 

ral  Fair,  ....  240 

To  our  Readers,  -  .  .  241 
The  Guano  Trade,  ...  242 
The  Rescue  Grass,  -  -  -  268 
The  Effects  of  Draining,  -  -  269 
To  Cleanse  Jars,  -  -  -  270 
The  State  Agricultural  Soc— (Ed,)  272 
The  Improvement  of  Stock  in  North 

Carolina. — (Ed.)  -  -  -  273 
The  Organic  and  Inorganic  Materi- 
als of  the  Globe,  -  -  281 
To  keep  Tiera  Tight  on  Wheels,  -  287 
To  Destroy  Bedbugs,  -  -  287 
Transactions  of  the  New  York  Far- 
mers Club,  -  -  .  -  289 
The  Indigo  Plant,  -  -  -  303 
The  Anson  County  Fair,  -  -  304 
The  Pea  Crop  :  Fattening  Hogs,  &c.  306 
The  Way  to  Work  it,  -  -  334 
Three  Years  in  Advance,  -  -  338 
The  Farmer,  -  -  -  -  342 
To  Drive  away  Rats,  -  -  -  360 
The  End  of  our  Second  Volume,     308 

Upon  a  strong  platform  at  last,  245 

Value  of  Soil  Analysis,         -  262 

Value  of  deep  tillage,            -  325 

Visits  by  the  Editor,            -  369 

Wind  Galls,        ...  32 

Wood   Ashes  as   a  manure,  87 

Worth  knowing;  to  make  Blacking,  137 
Who  will  take  them,  (Editorial,)  146 
West  India  Cotton,      -        -  303 

What  is  the  true  value  of  manure,  328 
What  the  Farmer  most  needs,        350 

Young  Men,  be  not  ashamed  to 
work,  -  -  -  51 


I 


THE  FARMER'S  JOUENAL. 


VOL.  2. 


BATH,  K  C,  APEIL,  1853. 


NO.  1. 


JOH^  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D.,  Editor  and  Proprietor. 


For  the  Farmer's  Journal. 

Edgecombe  Co.,  N.  C.  \ 
n»  March  15th,  1853.       f 

'Dr.  Tompkins: — Allow  me  to  con- 
gi'atulate  you  upon  the  success  of  your 
enterprise,  the  publication  of  the  Far- 
mers Journal,  the  first  volume  of  which 
h-as  just  been  completed  ;  and  I  am  re- 
joiced to  see  that  the  "work"  will  con- 
tinue to  pay  a  monthly  visit  to  the  far- 
mers of  North  Carolina.  We  have  for 
sometime  needed  some  such  publication 
as  yours,  and  this  is  I  think  the  third  at- 
tempt to  establish  an  agricultural  paper 
in  our  State  upon  a  permanent  basis. — 
The  many  readers  of  your  paper  in  this 
county  are  much  pleased  with.it,  and  all 
■with  whom  I  have  conversed  upon  the 
subject  say  "G-od  speed"  you  in  the  suc- 
cessful prosecution  of  your  task.  The 
beginning,  which  is  you  know  the  most 
difficult  part  of  every  enterprise,  is  now 
accomplished,  and  I  can  see  no  reason 
why  you  should  not  make  "the  Jour- 
nal" a  source  of  much  profit  to  yourself, 
and  great  benefit  to  the  advancement  of 
farming  in  the  Old  North  State.  Wher- 
ever I  go,  I  hear  a  great  deal  said  of  sci- 
entific farming  in  Edgecombe  county, 
but  I  am  sure  that  the  very  great  success 


which  has  attended  the  farmers  of  this 
county  is  owing  in  a  great  measure  to 
their  industry.  They  are  working  men  ; 
they  lose  but  little  time  from  the  first  of 
January  until  the  25th  December ; 
while  in  other  counties  the  farmers  af- 
ter gathering  their  crops,  do  but  little 
in  the  way  of  improving  their  lands,  we 
in  this  county  are  gathering  materials 
for  the  compost  heap,  draining  our  lands, 
and  paying  attention  to  the  general  de- 
tails of  the  fanws.  I  do  not  Avish  to  be 
understood  as  denying  the  application  of 
science  to  farming,  for  such  is  not  my 
belief.  We  have  in  our  county  some  few 
scientific  farmers,  gentlemen  who  have 
had  the  advantages  of  education,  and 
see,  therefore,  the  great  importance  of 
connecting  science  with  their  operations 
upon  the  farm. 

Agricultural  papers  have  done  much 
to  advance  fanning  with  us.  Many  of 
our  farmers  have  been  taking  them  for 
three  or  four  years  past,  and  they  have 
now  found  them  as  indispensable  as  the 
plow  or  hoe. 

I  recollect  well  that  when  our  enter- 
prising fellow  citizen,  Eobert  Norfleet, 
Esq.,  was  using  every  effort  to  get  sub- 
scribers  to  them,  he  was  charged  by 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


laany  of  being  prompted  by  sinister  mo- 
tives. This  gentleman  though  did  not 
regard  the  "croakings"  of  such  as  express- 
ed this  opinion,  and  I  here  state  it  as  a 
fact  without  fear  of  contradietionthathe 
first  gave  impetus  to  the  great  thirst 
which  is  now  evinced  among  our  far- 
mers for  reading  agricultural  papers. — 
"There  are,  1  regret  to  say,  many  of  our 
farmers  who  stand  aloof  and  refuse  to 
lay  hold  of  the  various  improvements  in 
farming.  These  though  are  mostly  old 
men  who  hav^  been  pursuing  their  pe- 
culiar "svay  so  long  that  it  is  quite  diffi- 
cult for  them  to  turn  from  it.  There 
are  many  counties  which  are  situated 
near  the  sea  coast  that  have,  many  ad- 
vantages over  us;  the  means  for  making 
Tjmnure  are  greater  than  we  have. — 
Many  farmers  still  believe  that  unless 
they  have  marl  they  cannot  improve 
their  lands  to  any  extent.;  but  this  is  a 
sad  mistake  ;  for  in  this  section  of  our 
country  there  is  but  little  marl,  and  the 
fact  is  notorious  that  upon  Town  Creek 
are  to  be  seen  the  best  and  most  high- 
ly improved  farms  in  this  county. 

A?  r  said  in.  the  beginiiing,  we  are 
working  fiirmers,  we  endeavor  to  have 
ournegroes  under  the  best  kind  of  dis- 
cipline, and  tlif  y  seem  to  be  much  better 
satisfied  than  those  in  other  counties 
where  they  are  suffered  to  have  so  many 
privileges.  I  hope  that  your  list  in  this 
county  will-  be  much  .larger  than  it  was 
for  the  last  year  ;  indeed  it  must  be,  for 
since  T  have  thought  a  moment,  you  are 
a  native  sou  of  old  Edgecombe,  and  our 
farmers  must,  stir  themselves  in  your 
behalf. 


Succpss  in  agriiMiIiure  depends  not 
go  much  on  the  number  of  acre?,  bu' 
on  the  manner  which  il  is   cultivated. 


For  the  Farmer's  Journal, 
Tarboro',  Edgecombe  Uc,  j 
March  4th,  1853.      j 

Dr.  «Fno.  F.  Tompkins: — I  comply 
>vith  your  request,  but  fear  I  shall  not 
furnisb  you  with;  anything  new  or  inter- 
esting. So  much  has  been  said  about 
'he  agricultural  improvement  in  Edge- 
combe that  an  exaggerated  impression 
has  gone  abroad,  which  will  be  difficult 
to  correct.  The  idea  prevails  we  believe, 
that  there  is  no  poor  land  in  the  county, 
that  all  has  been  made  rich,  whereas, 
the  fact  is,  that  not  more  than  one  acre 
in  fifty  (at  a  guess)  has  been  improved. 
Some  ten  years  ago  our  attention  was 
directed  to  farming  matters,  at  first  as  a 
looker-on,  then  as  an  amateur,  and  lat- 
terly as  a  professional  enthusiast  At 
that  time  you  rarely  heard  the  subject  of 
planting  introduced  as  matter  of  conver- 
sation. Farming  seemed  to  be  regarded 
as  a  dull  clodhopping  business,  and  the 
phrase  that  "any  body  could  be  a  far- 
mer" was  proverbial.  We  can  very  safe- 
ly assert  that  there  was  not  as  much  ma- 
nure applied  throu,ghovt  the  county  Ih^n, 
as  there  is  no  v  on  several  farms  that  we 
are  personally  acquainted  with.  What 
has  brought  about  this  change  v/e  have 
had  asked  us  often,  and  it  has  been  a 
source  of  amusement  to  us  to  Iiave  heard 
at  least  half  a  dozen  lay  claim  to  the  pa- 
ternity. It  is  just  now  as  difficult  a 
problem  to  solve  as  it  was  a  few  years 
ago  to  ascertain  "who  struck  Billy  Pat- 
terson." 

Without  entering  into  an  argument 
with  any  of  the  resident  claimants  for  this 
high  honor,  we  will  give  you  our  opin- 
ion and  let  it  pass  for  what  it  is  worth. 
Fifteen  or  twenty  years  ago  there  were 
in  this  county  a  few  vs'ell  educated  gen- 
tlemett  of  the  old  school,  subscribers  to 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


'Edmund  Ruffin's  Farmer's  Register. — 
The  essay  on  calcareous  manures,  pub- 
lished in  '32  was  then  attracting  great 
attention  in  the  tide  water  region  of 
Virginia,  and  great  results  were  flowing 
from  the  use  of  marl.  The  success  at- 
tending the  experiments  in  Virginia  in- 
•duced  the  readers  of  the  Register  to  try 
the  marl,  which  was  to  be  found  in 
great  abundance  at  various  points  in 
Edjrecombe.  Success  followed  the  ex- 
periments,  and  the  carting  out  of  marl 
(whicli  so  far  as  we  can  hear  was  never 
abandoned  when  once  begun,)  led  to  the 
carting  out  of  otlier  miterials,  until  the 
matter  of  hauling  has  become  the  heav- 
iest item  of  labor  iu  our  larming  opera- 
tions. Latterly  composting  every  thing 
in  the  shape  of  animal  and  vegetable 
matter,  receives  as  much  attention  as  the 
making  of  the  crop.  On  one  plantation 
we  wot  of  a  force  detailed  for  manure- 
making  the  year  round. 

So  then  Mr.  Editor,  you  have  our 
opinion  as  to  the  origin  of  this  move- 
ment. To  E  Imuad  Rutna  is  dua  the 
credit  of  effecting  an  agricultural  revolu- 
tion in  Eastern  Virginia,  and  partially  in 
Eastern  Carolina.  Like  other  reforms, 
it  is  gradually  diffusing  itself  through 
every  tieigliborhood.  Men  who  a  few 
years  ago  believed  that  deep  ploughing 
would  kill  the  soil,  and  thatdraining 
land  wouldn't  pay,  now  adopt  both.— 
There  are  many  farms  that  have  douh/ed, 
some  trebled  and  a  few  quadrupled  their 
product  in  the  last  six  or  eight  years. 
The  most  marked  improvement  is  to  be 
seen  on  the  River  (Tar)  from  Rocky 
Mount  to  the  Pitt  Co.,  line,  from  the 
source  of  Town  Creok  to  its  junction 
with  the  river,  on  Tosnot,  Contentnea, 
Cokey,  Swift  Creek,  Fishing  Creek  ami 


Deep  Creek.  The  improvement  in  the 
large  and  fertile  section  of  the  county 
known  as  Conotoe  consists  mainly  in 
r.  claiming  swamp  lands.  This  region 
raises  principally  corn  and  pork.  Drain- 
ing has  been  confined  mostly  to  the 
cotton  farms.  A  few  of  the  Conotoe 
Farmers  however  have  turned  their  at- 
tention to  cotton  successfully. 

Our  public  roads  are  constructed  at 
some  distance  from  the  streams  on  liiirh 
dry  land,  and  a  stranger  passing  thro' 
the  county  would  wonder  where  the 
mucli-talked-of  improvement  iu  Edge- 
combe was  to  hi  seen.  For  instance, 
the  road  from  Rocky  Mount  to  Tarboro 
varies  iu  distance  from  a  quarter  to  one 
and  a  half  miles,  of  the  river  running 
parallel  with  a  line  farming  country  ex- 
cluded from  view.  So  with  many  other 
roads. 

The  year  '52  was  remarkable  for 
good  crops  throughout  the  United 
States.  Such  a  crop  of  corn  and  cotton 
was  never  grown  in  Edgecombe  wilhia 
our  recollection.  The  cotton  crop  on 
all  iinpruved  land  averaged  1000  lbs 
of  seed  cotton  to  tlie  acre.  A  planter 
near  Sparta  made  1900  to  the  acre  on  a 
goo]  portion  of  his  crop,  and  anotlier  on 
Cokey  swamp  a  500  pound  hale  to  the 
acre  exclusive  of  rope  and  bagging.  I 
have  these  facts  and  figures  tVuni  the 
gentlemen  themselves.  They  are  men 
of  truth.  Their  statements  will  pass 
wherever  they  are  known  as  currently  as 
gold  and  silver.  Tlie  land  whioh  pro- 
duced this  503  pound  bale  to  the  acre 
was  regarded  as  valuales?-  five  years  ago. 
The  owner  told  us  he  did  not  consider  if; 
worth  25  cents  the  acre.  It  is  sandy 
land  with  a  stiff  subsoil. 

Allow  me  to  say,  Mr.  Editor,  in  ccrclu- 
sion,  that  what  I  have  jotted  down  is  no 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


fancy  sketch.  I  prefer  underrating  to 
overrating.  If  any  one  doubts  or  disbe- 
lieves, let  them  visit  us  ;  our  time  and  at- 
tention shall  be  at  their  command  to 
give  them  ocular  demonstration. 

Panola,  Jr. 


For  the  Fanner's  Journal. 

Dr.  Tompkins  : — I  have  been  much 
interested  and  instructed  in  reading  the 
address  of  Edmund  Ruffin,  Esq.,  to  the 
Virginia  State  Agricultural  Society  pub- 
lished in  the  January  &  February  num- 
bers of  the  "Favmer'sJournal,"  and  while 
I  accord  much  credit  to  Mr.  Ruffin  for 
the  ability  with  which  he  has  handled 
his  subject,  and  the  good  he  has  done 
the  farming  interest  of  our  country,  I 
differ  in  opinion  with  him,  though  with 
much  diffidence,  upon  some  material 
points  of  his  address.  He  says  that  land 
may  be  m-de  productive  and  continued 
in  a  state  of  fertility  by  the  use  of  lime 
and  green  crops,  particularly  peas,which 
is  his  favorite  manuring  crop. 

liow  the  grain  and  :'traw  of  most 
crops,  particularly  the  cereal,  contain 
some  fourteen  ingredients.  Does  lime 
possess  all  the  inorganic  elements  of  these 
crops  ?  If  not,  and  I  say  it  does  not, 
from  whence  are  they  obtained?  The 
ashes  of  Avood  consumed  in  burning  the 
lime  will  supply  some  potash,  soda  and 
phosj^hate,  and  if  shell  lime  be  used  the 
heart  of  the  shell  will  also  supply  some 
phosphate  of  lime,  but  not  in  sufficient 
quantities  to  depend  upon  this  source  of 
supply  for  a  succession  of  crops,  and  as 
the  atmosphere  cannot  supply  them,  un- 
less they  previously  exist  in  the  soil  in 
sufficient  quantities  for  the  demand  of 
crops,  must  eventually  become  exhaust- 
ed of  them  under  this  system  of  manur- 
ing. 


As  for  the  turning  under  peas  or  any 
other  green  crop,  they  return  to  the  soil 
just  such  mineral,  elements  as  they  take 
from  it  and  no  more,  and  so  far  as  my 
experience  goes,  the  turning  under  gi-een 
crops  of  any  kind,  only  benefits  land  that 
is  deficient  of  vegetable  matter,  and 
where  lime  is  used  freely  its  quick  de- 
composition of  such  matter  renders  it 
necessary  that  frequent  supplies  should 
be  returned  to  keep  the  land  in  proper 
mechanical  condition  as  well  as  to  sup- 
ply the  organic  elements  of  which  green 
crops  are  composed. 

Lime  is  doubtless  of  great  value  in 
preparing  food  for  plants  by  its  chemi- 
cal action,  as  all  substances  must  be  de- 
couiposed  and  dissolved  in  water  before 
they  can  be  available,  as  water  is  the 
agent  through  Avhieh  the  roots  derive 
food  from  the  soil  and  appropriate  it  to 
the  use  of  plants,  but  in  the  way  of  food 
it  commonly  supplies  such  elements  as 
it  is  composed  of. 

Again,  Mr.  Ruffin  says,  peas  sowed 
with  corn  do  not  injure  the  corn  crop. — 
My  opinion  is  the  reverse.  I  have  ob- 
served generally  that  corn  Avith  which 
peas  have  been  sown  will  mature  10  or 
12  days  earlier  than  corn  without  peas, 
and  the  nroduct  has  fallen  short  10  to  15 
per  cent. 

I  make  these  remarks  to  elicit  discus- 
sion and  hope  that  some  abler  pen  will 
take  up  the  subj  ect.  Beaufort. 

Coin  meal  should  never  he  ground 
very  fine — it  injures  the  richness  of  it. 

Turnips  of  jmall  size  have  double 
the  nutritious  matter  that  large  ones 
have. 


It  is  said  that  a  bad  workman  quar- 
rels with  his  tools. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Laws 

Of  the  State  of  .North  Carolina,  passed 
by  the  General  Assembly,  ai  the  Ses- 
sion of  1852. 

CHAPTER,    r. 

AN  ACT  to  Incorporate  the  North 
Carolina  State  Agricultural  Society. 
Sec.  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  State  of  North  Caroli- 
na, and  it  ts  hereby  enacted  by  the  an- 
ihority  of  the  same,  Thaltlie  Siate  Ag- 
licultuial  Society  of  North  Carnlioa 
be  and  ihe  same  is  hereby  incorporated 
inloa  bodv  politic  and  corporate,  iind 
ia  that  name  may  sue  and  be  sued, 
have  and  exercise  any  and  all  ihe  povv 
ers  and  rights  of  other  c  jrpurutions  in 
this  State,  may  pass  all  such  by-laws, 
rules  and  legulalions  as  they  may  re- 
gard as  necessary  for  the  purposes  of 
this  incorporation,  m  ly  lake  and  hold 
real  and  personal  estate  not  exceed  infj 
fifty  thousand  dollars  worth  of  real 
estate,  may  a-quire  the  same  by  d(  ed^ 
devise,  or  m  any  other  mode,  and  may 
use  the  same  only  for  the  purposes  here- 
inafter specified. 

Sec.  2  Be  it  further  enacted,  That 
the  said  society  shall  annually  elect  a 
president,  four  vice  presidents,  treasur- 
er, recording  eecretary,  correspondino- 
secretary,  and  such  other  officers  as  the 
society  may  from  time  to  tii^ie  find  nec- 
essary; all  of  whom  shall  hnld  their 
officts  until  successors  are  appoint? d. 

Sec.  3  Be  it  further  enacted,  That 
the  North  Carolina  Agricultural  Socie- 
ty, aa  organized  by  a  voluntary  associa' 
tion  on  the  8lh  of  October,  1852,  at 
Raleigh,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  in- 
corporated, and  the  rules  and  by-laws 
adopted  by  said  association,  and  the 
election  of  officers  made  by  them,  shall 


aie  altered  or  superseded  by  the  cor- 
poration hereby  created  ;  and  that  the 
North  Carolina  State  Agricultural  So- 
ciety hsrein  incorporated  shall  succeed 
to  all  the  rights  and  privileges  of  said 
society. 

[Read  three  times  and  ratified  in 
Genera!  Asseaibly,  this  27 ih  day  of 
December,  A.  D.,  1852.] 


chapter  II. 
An  Act  to  Encourage  Agriculture,  Do- 

inesticManufactures  and  the  Mechanic 

Arts. 

Silc.  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  State  of  No'th  Caroli- 
na, and  it  is  hereby  enacted  by  ihe  au- 
thorit^i  of  the  same,  That  it  shall  be 
lawful  for  any  number  of  persons, 'not 
less  than  ten,  in  any  county  in  ^his 
State,  to  associate  together  and  form  a 
county  society  to  encourage  and  pro- 
mote agriculture,  domesiie  manufac- 
tures, and  the  mechanic  arts  therein, 
and  any  such  society,  when  organized 
according  to  the  provisions  of  this  act, 
shall  have  all  the  powers  of  a  corpora- 
tion or  body  politic,  and  may  sue  and 
be  sued,  implead  and  be  impleaded, 
prosecute  and  defend  to  final  judgment 
and  execution,  va  any  court  of  law  or 
equity,  or  other  tribunal  having  juris- 
diction of  the  sum  in  dispute,  and  may 
purchase  and  hold  all  the  real  and  per- 
sonal estate,  which  shall  be  necessary 
to  best  promote  the  objects  of  said  asso*' 
ciation,and  which  estate  shall  be  exclu- 
sively deFoted  to  such  object. 

Sec.  2.  Be  it  further  enacted^  That 
such  society  shall  be  formed  by  written 
articles  of  association  subscribed  by  the 
mennbers  thereof,  specifying  the  objects 


— ,  - _  if  ^aid  society,  and  the    condition  on 

be  and  continue  in  force  until  the  same  [which   the    subscribers   shall   become 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


members  il.eiof.  and  ihe  fii>t  in  e  in:^ 
shall  be  notifi  d  asul  belcl  in  t'lc  man- 
ner p:e-c  ibed  ill  tbe  articles  of  asso- 
ciation They  may  adopt  a  co'poiaie 
name  either  in  the  original  ariicle  of 
association,  or  by  vo'e  ai  ihe  first  meet- 
ing thereof,  in  which  sui-h  s  c  eiy  shiill 
b''  orgiiniz.'d,  and  may  at  any  m'etmji 
adojit  a  corporate  seal,  and  »»iler  ibe 
fiame  at  pleasure. 

Sec.  3.  Be  it  further  enocied,  Thni 
su-ch  socKties,  not  ( seceding  one  in 
«^ch  Cduniy,  s'lull  be  orgaiized  bv  ap 
pointinir  a  prt  sidriit,  two  vic-e  pre.^i 
dents,  secretary  and  'reajur-  r,  au'l  tuch 
©tlw)'  oificers  as  th'  y  iruiy  dc  in  proj  er. 
to  be  ehoaen  annwally,  and  to  hdd 
their  I  liCf'S  until  others  arc  api  ointc  i. 

Sec  4.  Be  it  farther  aiacled.  That 
when  any  .-u3h  soi-ie'ies  are  organized 
asfiiresnd.  they  i^hall  liave  pnwer  lo 
adopt  all  such  hy  laws,  rnhs.ai.d  rcgu- 
latious  as  ihey  sUi-.li  judj^-e  ^ec•'^6ar^• 
and  expedient  tn  prmnoii-i  ilie  ebjects 
iheri  of,  not  inconfi-tent  with  the  la>\s 
of  tills  rti  e  0''  (if  the  Unit  d  Siates, 

Si-.c.  5.  Be.  it  furl  her  euaclcd.  Ttii.t 
ii  sha  1  I  ft  ihe  duty  if  ilif  se  reiary  or 
clerk  nf  fcuch  S!  en  ty,  to  kt-.  p  f.iii  r« 
eoids  nf  ilie  piucee  line's  n|  the  &:,nie  in 
a  b 'ok  pri\i  it'll  for  thai  pu'posf,  iind 
iTicli  hn(jl{5!  may  be  leal  in  evi  enct'  iii 
any  su  t  in  whicli  the  said  curjiuraiion  is 
<Son  •  r  0  i. 

iSec  G  Be  it  further  enacled,  That, 
#li°  n  it  sli.'U  he  male  to  aj  pear  to  ihe 
Siiiisfiinti'cii  <  f  ihe  ire.isurer  d  i[iis  S  ac, 
bv  the  certificiit-  nnd'  r  .veal,  of  tlie 
clerk  of  the  c  un  of  |deas  and  qu  irt'  r  ' 
$e-'si()  is  tiiat  anv  snch  soi'i.  ly  is  duly 
organized  in  any  county  accmdio^'  to 
t'lr  piiiv  sinns  o;  this  aci,  it  .-hail  be  the 
»M<v  or  Ml"  t'e.  SUP'  r  af  ref-aid  to  jay 
iiuauuiiy  tj  the  IreuSurei  of  cvtry  such 


Society  so  orgardzed  as  a  oresaid.  or  to 
lii.<  Older,  on  aj  piicaiion  made  therefor, 
the  sum  of  fifty  dollirs:  Piovided,  rev 
^rthtbss,  that  no  such  Sc  ciety  shall 
draw  out  of  the  ireaaury  of  the  Slate 
as  aforesjiid,  in  any  yeiir,  unt;!  it  shall 
be  made  futiher  to  appear,  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  trcasurtr  thereof,  that 
lb' re  shall  have  heen  sahseiibed  and 
paid  in'io  the  treasury  of  such  socie  y, 
for  the  S(lri  use  and  benefit  theieof  for 
ihe  year  in  question,  the  like  sum  of 
fi.'ty  dollars. 

Siic  7.  Be  ii  further  enacted,  That 
all  monfys  si>  suLs  ribed,  as  uell  as 
that  r  ceived  from  the  State  Sieasurv 
a?  her.  in  pioviied,  shall,  after  fiaying 
ihe  necessa  y  incidental  expenfes  of  so- 
cit  ty,  rt  s,  eciiV'  ly,  be  annually  paid  out 
for  pr.  maims  a\\ar(^ed  by  such  socie- 
ties, in  such  sums  and  in  such  way  and 
manner  as  th<  y  severidly.  under  their 
hylans,  ml  s  and  ngul-uions,  shall 
direct,  on  such  Ii\e  anm  .Is,  a  tide?  of 
produciion,  and  asiiculiural  iraple- 
iiieiit.<  and  toots,  (hjmej-iie  manufactures, 
mechanical  impliment*  and  lools,  and 
|)iodu<j  ions,  as  ase  of  the  giowdi  and 
inanufac  lire  o(  the  ■?!  urry,  and  also  on 
such  I  si'criiiuntj,  uiicoveiir>-,  or  aiiain- 
ment::i  in  Si  i'  ntific  or  piaclieal  agri- 
culture, a.s  are  ir.a  le  u  iduri  the  county 
whe  e  f-u  b  societies  are  re.specSivtIy 
organized. 

Sec.  8.  Be  it  farther  enacted,  That 
t  ac!i  agrculuraj  soci.  ty.  entitled  to 
ro!'i  ive  mom  y  from  ihe  State  trensurVj 
shad,  ihioiigli  iij  ireisu  er,  t'ansmit  to 
die  Treasu  er  ef  the  Stale,  in  the  month 
of  December  or  bi  fore,  a  ^taIement  of 
;hc  moi.ey  so  received  I. em  fene  niein- 
hi  r.->  I'f  i!ie  s  'riety  fT  the  preceding 
y  ar,  a  s'at' iiieni  of  tlie  exienditmcs 
of  uli  bu.hiuajs,  and  the  numhtr  of  iLo 


THE  FARMER^S  JOURNAL. 


members  of  saiJ  society. 

Sec.  9,  Be  it  farther  enacted.  That 
eai'h  agr  cultural  society,  receiving  mo 
ney  from  the  State  as  afoiesaiii,  shall. 
m  each  year,  publish  at  tht^ir  own  ex- 
pense a  full  stijtement  of  tiieir  experi- 
uienls  and  iaiprovements  and  reports 
of  their  committees,  in  at  least  one 
newspaper  published  in  this  State  ; 
and  as  evidence  that  the  requiienients 
of  this  act  hfive  been  omplud  with, 
shall  be  furnished  to  ihe  State  trea- 
fiurtir,  before  he  shall  pay  over  tosu'h 
society  the  sjid  sum  of  fifty  dollars  lor 
the  benefit  of  such  society  for  the  ;ie.xt 
year. 

[Ileaci  three  times  and  ratified  in 
General  Assembly  this  27th  day  of  De- 
cember, A.  D.,  1S5-2.] 


now  (li,ec;ed. 

Sec.  2.  Be  it  ''urthcr  enacted^  TKat 
all  laws  coming  in  eonfltct  v\ith  the 
provisiaus  of  ihrs  act  be  repealed,  and 
thai  this  act  be  in  lorce  from  and  after 
its  rat.ficatiwH. 

[Read  three  limes  and  ratified  io 
General  Assembly,  this  21st  day  of 
December,  A.  D.,  1852] 


CHAPTER.    LXXU. 

AN  ACT  to  amend  the    Ut   Section  nf 
IkeQith  Chapter  pf  ihe  Revised  Slat 
■ales. 

Sec.  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  General 
A'^semhly  of  the  Slate  of  North  Caroli 
na,  and' it  is  hereby  c/iac/ed  by  the  au- 
thority of  the  name,  That  the  first  sec 
tion  oi  the  sixty-fourth  chapter  of  the 
.Jvevi.»eil  SfatutPS,  entitled  "  Legacin.' 
Filial  pot  lions  and  distribuiive  shares,'' 
be  so  iimendi  d,  that  hereafter,  when 
any  person  dirs  intestate  possessed  of 
personal  •  stitf',  1  avmsr  a  widow,  bni 
leaving. na  child  or  children,  nor  any  is- 
sue ol  ibe  same,  one  half  of  said  esia'e 
shall  be  allotti  d  to  sai  1  wi  low,  and 
the  resic'ue  of  said  estate  shall  be  dis 

tribnted  as   now   provided   by   law: 

Provided,  That  if  the  hus^band  makei? 
a  will  and  the  widow  dissents  from  \\h 
same,  she  shall  only  be  entitled  to  one- 
third  of  the  personal  estat*',  and  the 
residue  thereof  shall  be  distributed  a.- : 


The  Address  ofHon.  Robert  Strange, 
Before  the  Cumberland  County  Ag- 
caltucal  Society. 

We  place  before  our  readers  an  ex- 
tract from,  this  able  production,  and  we 
should  be  pleased  ,to  give  the  add'ress 
entire,  but  it  is  rather  long.  That  por- 
tion which  we  have  selected,  treats  es- 
pecially upon  the  renovation  of  sandy 
.soils,  and  will,  we  think,  be  read,  with 
much  interest.  Tkfe  gentlemiin  is  weU 
known  in  our  State  as  an  able  statesmaa-; 
and  if  we  are  fdl'ow.ed  to  judge  from:  thiis 
address,  we  must  conclude  that  amidst 
the  many  studies  which  have  engrossed 
his  time,  he  has  not,  failed  to  devote 
himself  to  the  study  of  agriculture  as  a. 
science :: 

"  Men  are  so  prone  to  prejudge  a  ques- 
tion—to. suppose  themselves  too  wise  to 
learn— that  it  is  difficult  to  get  them 
ever  to.  consider  any  new  piopositioTu 
Strike,  but  hear  me,  said  the  great  Athe- 
nian to  his  impetuous  colleague  who, 
with  cane  uplifted  to  smite  him,  refused 
to  listen  to  his  coun-i^eL  Call  me  enthu- 
siast if  you  will,  but  hear  what  I  have 
to  say, — give  yojir  own  understanding  a 
fpir  chance,  and  then  mark  the  results  of 
your  own  experience.  Why  have  the 
piney  lands  of  this  county  been  pro^ 
nounced  poor  ?  Upon  two  very  specious 
ground.o^  as  I  freely  admit.  First,  be- 
cause t  efr  general  appearance  and  pro- 
ducts are  such  as  usually  mark  poor 
land  ;  secondly,  because  the  ex}>erimentB 
heretofore  made  would  seem  to  confirm 
the  most   unfavorable  impresaiou.     Ig 


8 


THE  FARMER'S   JOURNAL. 


reply,  I  have  to  say,  tliat  even  in  our 
county,  there  is  a  gieat  variety  of  ap- 
pearances among  our  pine  hxnds,  and 
even  without  experiment  it  would  be 
sound  philosophy  Lo  suppose,  that  these 
dissimilarities  in  appearance  mark  like 
dissimilarities  in  productiveness,  or  at 
least  that  they  demand  fair  experiments 
And  with  regard  to  the  experiments 
heretofore  made,  they  have  neither  been 
lair  in  themselve*,  nor  have  just  infer- 
ences been  drawn  from  them.  It  is 
rather  a  wonder  that,  Avith  the  mode  of 
culture  pursued,  they  have  produced  ai^y 
thing;  and  the  fact  that  they  have  con- 
tinued to  produce  for  so  long  a  time  un- 
der it,  rather  shows  that  they  are  supe- 
rior than  inferior  lands.  The  experi- 
ments have  been  about  as  wise  and  as 
fair  as  it  would  be  to  test  the  excellence 
of  a  horse  by  trying  whether  he  could 
live  without  eating. 

We  have  already  had  occasion  to  al- 
lude to  nian's  primitive  condition  of  un- 
alloyed happiness  amid  pursuits  merely 
agiicultural.  Then  he  had  nothing  to 
do  but  to  dress  the  gaiden  of  Eden  and 
keep  iti  In  this  there  was  no  toil.  No 
adverse  principles  were  at  woi-k  to  defeat 
his  success.  No  weed  interfered  with 
the  growth  of  the  wholesome  plants 
springing  spontaneously  from  the  earth. 
No  blight  or  mildew  assailed  the  ri2:>en- 
ing  gi'ain — and  no  anxious  fears  of  com- 
ing evil  or  cares  for  guarding  against  it, 
distuibed.  tlie  repose  of  God's  happy 
children.  But  a  new  law  was  imposed 
upon  him  after  his  disastrous  fall:  "In 
the  sweat  of  thy  bi'ow  shalt  thou  eat 
bread."  No  country  Inis  ever  existed 
out  of  those  favored  limits  where  agri 
culture  has  succeeded  without  toil.  If 
the  soil  be  poor,  it  must  be  made  rich  ; 
if  rich,  the  wild  gronth  putting  up  in 
luxuriance  must  be  kept  down,  or  it  will 
choke  the  harvest,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
tillage  necessary  to  make  soils  produc- 
tive, whether  they  be  rich  or  poor.  But 
there  is  a  great  proneness  in  all  ages  and 
in  all  places  to  foi-get  this  law,  or  to  en- 
deavor to  fvade  it;  and  to  expect  good 
harvests  without  any  expenditure  of  la- 
bor in  their  production.     Man  shrinks 


from  the  cold  of  winter  and  the  heat  of 
summer,  regardless  of  the  warnings  of 
inspiration  or  of  profane  writers. 
"'Tis  the  voice  of  the  sluggard,  I  heard  him 

coiijplain ; 
You  Lave  waked  me  too  soon,  I  must  slumber 

again. 
I   passed   by  his  garden,  I    saw   llie  wild 

brie'-, — 
The. thorn  and  the  thistle  grew  higher  and 

higlier ; 
Tlie  clothes  that  hang  on  him  ai'e  turning  to 

I'ag^ 
And  matters  grow  worse,  till  lie  starves  or 

he  bigs  " 
Now,  in  our  region  of  country,  a  large 
portion  of  the  curse  is  turned  away  from 
the  sluggard;  and  while  most  of  our 
agricultural  men  live  in  indolence,  none 
are  driven  to  starvation,  and  \ery  few  to 
beggary. 

But  let  us  suppose  that  we  are  able, 
willing  and  ready  to  woik,  how  and 
Avhat  shall  we  do  ?  There  is  a  beautiful 
analogy  between  vegetable  and  animal 
life,  and  the  mode  by  which  they  are 
respectively  sustained,  a  knowledge  of 
which  lies  at  the  foundation  of  all  scien- 
tific agricultui'e.  And  that  Ave  may  have 
some  faint  ideas  upon  this  subject,  per- 
mit me  to  read  the  following  from 
Thompson's  School  Chemistry,  page  155: 
"Organic  chemistry  treats  of  the  com- 
position and  properties  of  those  bodies 
which  are  produced  in  the  organs  of 
living  beings,  while  inorganic  substances 
are  formed  without  any  connexion  Avith 
S1 11  ■ia'}sira8t|0  pnuiui?  pui?  8|qi;jaS8A 
-o  '8DU3I0S  9q^  u\  ])Q'i'\mi\>'G  ^icunsn  uoisia 
-ipqns  13  SI  9.i9q^  'sjuvid  .lo  '.i^Mod  siq^jo 
e^ni^sap  9.it5  qoiq.w  asoq')  puij  '■sjv'iinuv  .lo 
'uoi+usuas  JO ;  jqiidr^o  qxs  qotqA\  8soq;  o^ui 
':)iAv  0^  'sassrqo  '^t'aiS  0Ai:j  cjui  eiqisiAip  .oui 
-aq  Inyo's  'sSuieq 8soqi\i  •s.ouisq  p8Ziui;.c.io 
true  that  as  Ave  descend  in  the  animal 
Avorld,  a  point  is  attained  Avhere  no 
nerves  (the  organs  of  sensation)  can  be 
detected;  but  such  beings,  it  is  highly 
probable,  hold  an  intermediate  station  in 
the  animal  and  vegetable  world.  Ani- 
mals and  vegetables  have,  in  their  incip- 
ient condition,  precisely  the  same  appear- 
ance. When  examined  by  a  microscope, 
a  slice  of  a  plant  is  founil  to  consist  of  a 
series  of  cells  or  apartments,  united  to 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


9 


getter  so  as  to  form  a  kind  of  honey- 
comb ;  and  so  it  is  with  animals.  But 
chemistry,  at  the  earhest  period  of  or- 
ganic life,  detects  a  diiiereuce  between 
vegetable  and  animal  cells;  for  if  we 
boil  the  matter  of  which  they  are  com- 
posed in  caustic  soda,  the  animal  cells 
jneld  ammoaia  ;  proving  the  presence 
of  nilrdgun,  in  addition  to  carbon,  hy- 
drogen, and  oxygen^  while  the  vegetable 
cell  contains  no  nitrogen,  bit  is  wholly 
constituted  of  the  last  three  bodies.  AYe 
must  consider  a  bean  then  as  composed 
of  a  cluster  of  cells,  and  that  when  placed 
in  water  or  in  a  moist  soil,  a  series  of 
new  cells  are  united  to  the  old  ones  in 
two  directions;  the  root  passing  down- 
wards, and  'the  stem  rising  upwards. — 
The  root  and  stem  are  therefore  long 
clusters  of  new  cells  added  to  the  extre- 
mities of  the  roots.  As  they  increase  in 
number,'  the  root  lengthens  and  the  stem 
ascends  to  the  air,  where  the  baric  ex- 
pands into  leaves,  corresponding  in  num- 
ber to  the  divisions  of  the  seed.  Be- 
tween the  divisions  of  the  seed  and  the 
stem  there  appears  to  be  no  direct  com- 
munication. Hence  it  is  inferred  that 
the  inorganic  food  is  carried  from  the 
earth  by  the  roots  to  the  divisions  of  the 
seed,  there  undergoes  some  change,  and 
is  transmitted  to  the  radicle  to  be  ele- 
vated by  the  stem.  Besides  inorganic 
salts,  such  as  the  alkaline  phosphates, 
chloride  of  sodim  and  potassium,  phos-- 
phaie  of  hme  and  magnesia,  which  must 
be  all  in  a  state  of  solution  before  they 
are  taken  up  by  the  roots,  it  is  inferred 
that  ammo'/iia  and  water  are  also  ex- 
tracted from  the  soil  by  the  plants,  and 
carried  up  in  the  sap  by  the  spiral  ves- 
sels of  the  sapwood.  The  leaves  by 
their  under  surface  absorb  carbonic  acid 
gas  from  the  atmosphere,  separate  the 
oxygen  it  contains,  and  retain  the  carbon 
of  this  gas.  The  leaves  also  receiv^ethe 
sap  which  is  carried  by  spiral  vessels  be- 
tween the  pith  and  the  bark  to  the  high- 
est point  of  the  jjlant.  The  leaves  sepa- 
rate water  from  the  sap,  and  throw  it 
out  on  their  surfece.  Hence  they  are 
said  to  act  the  part  of  the  stomach  and 
lungs  of  the  animal  system.     After  the 


sap  has  been  purified  by  the  leaves,  it 
descends  by  the  bark,  of  which  the 
leaves  are  merely  an  expansion,  to  the 
lower  part  of  the  plant,  and  during  its 
course  in  many  species,  excretes  on  the 
surftice  substances  known  under  the 
names  of  gums  and  rosins.  It  is  from 
this  purified  descending  juice  or  sap  that 
plants  derive  the  matter  that  causes 
them  to  increase  in  bulk."  And  Liebig 
remarks  in  his  Agricultural  Chemistry, 
that  a  plant  gains  another  mouth  and 
stomach  with  every  new  fibre  of  root  and 
every  new  leaf. 

Seeing,  then,  a  vegetable,  like  an  ani- 
mal, ihust  be  fed  ere  it  can  live  and 
thrive,  and  that  the  appropriate  food  of 
])lants  is  found  partly  in  the  soil  and 
partly  iu  the  atmosphere,  the  next  ques- 
tion, is  wliat  we  can  do  for  supplying 
food  to  our  crops.  As  plants  extract  a 
certain  amount  of  salts  from  the  soil  for 
their  support  which  are  entirely  remov- 
ed at  harvest,  it  is  obvious  that  the  soil 
will  become  gradually  impoverished,  or 
in  other  words,  possessed  of  less  food  for 
plants,  uidess  steps  are  taken  to  replace 
the  matter  which  is  thus  carried  away. 
Tlie  process  of  supplying  this  waste  is 
called  manuring;  and  it  is  inferred  that 
the  analyses  of  the  ashes  of  plants  will 
shew  us  wdiat  are  the  proper  ingredi- 
ents to  constitute  manures.  As  yet,  we 
have  no  means  of  acting  directly  upon 
the  atmosphere,  but  we  have  abundant 
means  of  acting  upon  soils.  In  some 
soils  the  food  of  most  plants  is  found 
while  those  soils  are  in  a  state  of  nature, 
and  such  are  called  rich  lands.  Thus 
there  are  rich  swamps  and  alluvial  lands 
in  our  coimtry  which  only  require  clear- 
ing and  (perhaps)  ditching  and  ordinary 
cultivation  fully  to  answer  the  hopes  of 
the  husbandman;  and  about  such  lands 
nothing  special  need  be  said.  But  it  is 
not  the  majority  of  oiu- farmers  who  own 
such,  or  if  they  do,  that  have  the  force 
to  bring  them  into  cultivation.  The 
larger  portion  of  our  country  within  the 
immediate  reach  of  cultivation,  consists 
of  what  fire  called  our  sandy  lands. — 
Many  suppose  that  these  cannot  be  made 
to  repay  the  expenses   of  improvement. 


K) 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


But  what  has  been  done,  may  be  done 
«gain;  and  so  many  successful  expeii- 
ments  have  been  made  in  the  improve- 
ment of  sandy  lands,  that  it  is  becoming 
not  uncommon  among  our  thinking  men 
'to  eoijsider  them  among  the  mo^t  im- 
■proveable  lands  in  our  country.  If  airj' 
of  you  have  visited  Saratoga,  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  }au  have  passed 
over  some  of  the  loosest  sand  you  have 
ever  seen;  and  that,  too,  of  that  red  col- 
or which  I  v\'ili  shov/  you  presently  is 
co'isidered  the  most  barren  of  all  the 
■sands.  You  have  noticed,  too,  that  there 
tlie  stunted  pines  do  not  rise  iiigher  than 
you  can  reach  v/ith  a  common  whip. — 
And  yet  into  that  apparently  hopeless 
barren,  Judge  Buel,  a  scientific  i'armer, 
■"Ontei-ed  and  lai<i  out  a  farm,  and  by  a 
system  of  judicious  manuring,  eni'iched 
-the  land  and  himself  at'the  same  .time. 

Another  instance  of  which  I  have-'been 
recently  informed,  is  that  of  a  gentleman 
in  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  who  kept  a 
'tavern  in  one  of  its  vilJages.  Ihis  vil- 
lage was  situated  in  one  of  the  most  san- 
dy portions  of  that  very  sandy  State;  and 
near  the  town,  on  /an  adjacent  hill,  was 
a  tract  of  about  one  hundred  acres  of 
land,  of  loose  and  apparently  barren  sand. 
Finding  that  this  tract  could  be  purchas- 
ed for  some  sm  dl  sum,  this  gentleman 
\fixed:hi6  eye  upon  it,  and  beciune  its 
owner,  lie  then  rented  out  his  tavern, 
reserving  to  himseJf  the  use  of  the  annu- 
al accumnlation  of  manure  from  the  tav- 
ern stables.  With  this  mine  for  the 
su^)ply  of  manure,  and  a  free  use  of  lime, 
he  laid  all  the  land  out  in  grass,  and  in 
a,  short  time,  from  a  loose  drifting  -sand, 
it  became  covered  with  a  strong  sod,  ea- 
pabl  _'  of  bearing  a  '^loaded  wagon  and 
■teaui.  At  the  expiration  <Qf  about  ten 
years,  he  was  oli'ei'ed  and  refused  $300 
per  acre  for  the  whole  i'lrm. 

And  I  beg  voiir  attention  to  what  is 
said  in  an  agiiicaltural  work  of  some  rep- 
utation. "The  sandy  soil  is  that  in 
which  sand  predoitni nates;  but  which  at 
lire  same  time  contains  a  sufficiency  of 
oth-^r  earthy : matter  to  make  it  more  or 
loss  retentive  of  moisture,  and  thus  be- 
come endued  with  various  degrees  o£fer- 


tility.  A  pure  sand  is  wholly  barren; 
being  nothing  more  than  a  collection  of 
very  minute  pebbles,  which  are  usually 
of  the  stone  we  call  flint,  though  some- 
times they  are  of  calcareous  stone, 

'■Where  .a  sandy  soil  is  underlaid -vvitli 
a  hai'd  pan,  as  it  is  usually  called,  at  no 
great  depth,  it  adds  greatly  to  the  reten- 
tiveness  of  the  soil,  and  consequently  to 
its  fertility. 

"San<ly  soils  are  usually  of  a  yellow- 
ish or  reddish  cast.  Sometimes  they  are 
grey,  and  tVequently  of  a  dark  color. — 
The  latter  are  usually  the  most  tertilo. 
Generally  they  are  very  productive;  the 
yellowish  ;arid  reddish  are  commonly  the 
least  so;  and  the  greyish  usually  holds  a 
middle  station  between  the  two  ex- 
tremes. 

''Saiidy  so-]s  are  generally  the  most- 
profitable  in  the  cultivation  of  roots  of 
almost  every  desciiption,  particularly  if 
the  soil  is  well  manured  wlien  it  is  not 
natui-ally  rich. 

"Wheat  is  not  very  natural  to  this 
soil;  but  when  in  good  condition,  it  wilJ 
pi'oduce  toler.'ibly  good  cj'ops  of  thi* 
grain;  particularly  when  sowed  on  a 
sward  of  clover  turned  under.  Rye  is 
natural  to  this  soil. 

^'The  lighter  kinds  of  it  are  too  little 
retentive  of  moisture  during  tlie  heats 
of  summer  for  good  crops  of  Indian 
Corn,  though  those  which  are  dark  col- 
ored are  generally  very  good  for  thi» 
o'op. 

"Some  particular  kinds  of  grass  grow 
very  well  in  this  soil,  even  where  it  i» 
very  light  and  dry. 

"Sandy  soils  have  this  particular  ad- 
vantage: they  are  easily  tilled;  so  thafe 
if  what  is  saved  in  tillage  he  expended 
in  additional  manurings,  it  is  doubtful 
whether  this  soil,  when  skillfully  man- 
aged, will  not  be  found  as  profitable  to 
the  farmer  as  most  other  lands  of  mid- 
dling quality. 

"Sandy  soils  are  also  much  pleasanter 
to  till  than  most  other  soils;  so  that  if 
pleasure  be  an  object  with  the  farmer, 
he  will  bring  that  into  the  account  when 
foi-ming  a  proper  estimate  of  the  value 
of  his  soil. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


U 


"A  great  portion  of  the  vast  :ind  pop-  pure  silica  exisiin?,  it  is  naoslv  fou  d 
ulcus  empire  of  China,  is  said  to  be  more  in  comtaniiiion.  f  riiiinaf  a  s  I  cate  of 
or  less  of  saiidy  soil.  ■  a/umina,  lime,  iron,  pataSrh,  so:lcb   mag- 

"Tlie  county  of  Norfolk,  in  Great  Brit-  y?^5ia  or  mnnganese.  and  usually  in  a 
aiu,  which  is  said  to  be  now  among-  the  c  ludition  lo  igms;  ibe  solv-  nt  |  o^ers 
most  productive  traets  in  that  country,  |  of  strodi":  acids.  Oar  sandy  lai.ds  iira 
wa.5  for  the  most  part  originally  a  poor   suf'posed  to  I  e  inosily  a  silic  >te  ol  |  ot- 


liglit  sand. 

''■hi  this  country,  sandy  lands  have 
generally  been  too  little  valued.  They 
liave  been  mostly  occupied  by  poor  far- 
mers, wiio  liave  taken  no  pain^,  in  the 
first  instance,  to  give  them  more  stami- 
na, and  thus  iit,  uiemfor  profitable  cour- 
ses of  ci'ops;  but  on  tiie  coucrary,  what  lit- 
tle fertility  they  possessed  iias  baen  usu- 
ally exhausted  lu  the  production  of  poor 
crops,  and  thus  the  soil  has  at  length  be- 
come entirely  barren." 

It  will  be  seen  that  our  sandy  soil  con- 
sists chietiy  of  the  two  desci'iptions  which 
are  most  approved — tlie  black  and  the 
grey — and  tnat  ue  have  comj)arative]y 
but  little  of  the  yellow  or  the  red.  The 
truth  is,  any  earthy  mineral  in  a  gi-anu- 
lated  foi'm  m  the  soil,  is  called  sand. — 
Grains  of  sand  can  be  produced  by  the 
breaking  up  of  almost  any  kinds  of  rock 
b}"^  frost  and  other  mechanical  forces, 
and  grinding  and  rolling  them  over  eacli 
other  in  moving  water.  And  all  the 
land  on  which  we  now  stand  was  once 
evidently  beneath  the  waters,  and  was 
at  first  a  sandy  waste.  It  i's  still  sili- 
cious.  Tiiatis,  silici  is  its  main  consLit- 
uent.  Silica  is  a  simple  mineral  witii 
acid  properties,  and  is  formed  by  the  I ' 
chemical  union  of  tw^o  atoms  of  oxyigcn 
gax  with  one  atom  of  sil'xa.  It  is  of- 
ten denominated  silicic  acid,  and  con- 
stitutes from  15  to  80  per  cent,  of  all  the 
rocks,  on  an  average,  of  which  this  earth 
is  composed.  Bat  in  so  doing,  it  is  gen- 
erally in  combination  with  some  alkaline 
base,  with  which  it  forms  a  permanent 


ash,  contain in;^  aUo  pHrliaps  si  icates 
ol  so  la,  lime  and  tnagn'  sui,  as  well  as 
(itlit  r  ingieid&iits.  1  Uty  art-  thu^h  re 
quiie  ricli  in  two  a^the  mosi  iin;o  tant 
ariie;es  o:  fool  f -r  |  ]  nt-,  si/rx  ai.d  pot- 
ask  VVIide  >iliea't'  of  potash  letjiins 
iis  ifnegfity.  ii  i^insolubir,  an  1  plants 
raniiot  apj.roj.ria  e  lo  tunr  ush  eituer 
\\ie  silex  >'f  the  pvlasli  But  uidiuufe 
Ijeing  much  <  i  a  ciiein>t,  I  l-aiii  ttiafe 
colonic  acid  lias  tiie  f  >culiy  of  a  t.ick- 
V';g  ill  s  c  Qi  lOtJiid,  ai.d  ?o  far  resoiv- 
iiiii  it  in  o  Its  »!•  m  ns  as  to  allow 
I  lants  io  aval  ihems  Iv.  s,  (  f  diem  <i!L 
Anil  I  leani  f  rth  r,  ihnt  tli  s  com- 
pmnii  di  pend^  upon  si/ixa<\)\d  potash 
ineeiii^r  in  ce  t.iin  p'p  rtion.-,  and 
that  by  bringing  in  com  iCt  wiUi  it  nd- 
ilni'iitl  quail  iiics  of  polish,  new  cliem- 
1.  al  .  Ifiiii  ics  (lie  cail  d  into  actio<i.  and 
ihe  polris/i  ani  Urn  .-il  x  are  b.th  irn- 
den  d  accu-s  bie  to  jila'iis-  Ai;nin:  it 
will  be  obsi  ive  1  diat  in  inns(  i.t  our 
sandv  la^ids  iliere  i-  ;i  q.'ia-ntiiv  oi  iron, 
as  i>  sliouii  by  the  ii  I'mution  of  tha 
:aiid-rvrck  ami  the  Irecpit  nt  i  ccnrieica 
of  chdvbeiti-  springs  'Jdiis  iron,  or 
Mincti  I'l  it  at  le  St,  IS  feh*^  .-tate  if  iron 
pyrites,  as  it  is  ralbd,  or  a  coiripnm.d  of 
ion  aid  sulpliei.  I  biim  tiu.t  oj  ygfU 
acts  ii[on  rt.is  sub  tine- and  forms snl- 
i  hur  c  aci'l,  whi  h.iiti<ici»s  the  sdic  itt-s 
o(,  potasii,  Iitne  aiul  soda,  hii^I  libei;iits« 
ill  i'  basts,  and  in  this  way  hruig.>  both 
the  silex  and  tin'  a.lka'iin-  b.ise  witt.iQi 
1  he  leach  of  plants.  Now  jiinin.-t;  >  ve- 
ly  one  kiiows-tliat  oxvi:Gn  i»  a  ounsiit- 
neiil  of  the  air  we    b  eadie    and   ol  the 


diemical  compound,  and   is  then  called  i  ^^*«''  ^'^  ^""'^■'  '"  ''^'^  ''''^^  ''^^"^  ^''^^^ 
a  silicate  of  lime,  soda,  potash,  Magnesia,    ^""  '"'^  cumbmaMon  uith.GHnain  fixed. 


&'•.     Pure  sand,  or  silex,  is  very  insolu 


prnp  irtions  uf  7iiirogeit  g^is  and  fum- 


ble; and  about  67  percent,  of  the  ashes  I '"^' ^■'""^''"^^"*' ""''  ^"  '    ''^  "'^  ^^'^^"^ 
of  the  stems  of  wheat,  rye,  barley,  oats,  i ''^^'^  ^"^^^'f    "'^'   ^'O'"'^  l»'^tion    witb 

cornand  sugar-cane  is  pure  sand,  silex   ''''"^'"/'f  ^  P'^^^^  ^'°"'   ""^  hydrogeri. 
^r  flint-  Iffascinii    lornih.g     water       Itien-    are* 


or  flint. 


While,  then,  there  is  such,  a  thing  as  i  ma-ny  chtrruQai  prQCi:;ase^,^  bo.ta,naiiu=^ii 


12 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


and  ariificial,  by  which   the  oxvgen'is 
separated  from  the  nitrogen,  in  common 
air,  and  from  the  hydroffe?i,   in   water, 
and  b'-comes  in  what  ihe  chemi  ts  call 
a  nascent  slate;  chat  is,  not  in  combina- 
tion nitb  any  thing,  but  ready  to  unite 
with  some  other    substance  for  which 
it  has  an  aftititiy.      On  such    occasions, 
earth  constituted  like  that  of  which  we 
are  spcai<in<r,  is  sonieiimes  seized  upon 
and  dissolved  by  it.     li   is  also  kn'uvn 
thai  the  common  air   when  exhaled  by 
animals,  or  after  having  been  ertgaijed 
in  the  process  of  bnrn;ny  or  in  the  dis- 
solution   of  animal  subsiances,   f>irms 
carbonic  acid.     So  that  from  these,  sev- 
eral sources  there  is  a  bountiful  supply 
of  thi&  solvent  to  act   upon  the  soil. — 
And  it  is   further  known,    that  both  in 
burning  and  the  spontaneous  decay  of 
wood,  leavt  s,    \\eeds,    &c.   iheie  is  a 
quantity  of  po^as/i  set  free  to  foim  soil 
and  to  act    upon    vegetation.       13y  all 
these  means  a  sanJy  soil,  such  as  1  have 
described,  would  naturally    improve  if 
it  was  merely  let    alone;    while  at  the 
same  lime,   by    the    washing  of  rains, 
evaporation,  and     other   causes,  much 
soil  thus  fo  med  would    also  be  lost. — 
It  is  plain   that  much  can  be   done  by 
man  to  assist  in  these  processes  of  form- 
ing soil,  and  also  in  p' eventing  its  bring 
destroyed   after    it   is  formed.     Many 
have  attributed  the  sandy  character  of 
our  soil  to  the   pine    growth  upon  it, 
and  supposed  that  the  mere  removal  of 
the  pine  would  serve  to  enrich  it.     'Ihis 
is  mistakinc:  cause  for  effect,  and  doing 
great  injustice  to  a  most   beautiful  ar- 
rangetnent    of    Providence,    by   which 
our  hills,    originally    in    truth    barren 
wastes  and  entirely  unfit  for  the  growth 
of  any  thing  el.*e,    have    been   covered 
with  pines:   affording    us   first  in   the 
pines  themselves   a   source    of  wealih; 
while  these  very    pine&    are    in   their 
fjrowth  prepaiiugihe  earth  for  the  sus- 
tenance of  oilier     plants,     when    thev 
shall  have   ceased  to    occupy  it,  better 
suited  to  the  suppoit  of  a  dense  popu- 
lation. 

Allow  me  to  read    }ou    on   this  sub 
ject  a  very  instruciive   article  from  the 


last  volume  of  the   Patent  Office  Agri- 
cultural Report,  (page  68:) 

"The  pines  that  grow  spontaneously 
on  the  impoverished  fields  of  the  South- 
ern Atlantic  States,  present  a  very  in- 
structive lesson  to  all  who  seek    to  un- 
derstand nature's  process  for  restoring 
fertility  to  the  surface    of  the  earth. — 
Natiiie  hauls  no  lime,   nor  marl,  nor 
manure    of    any    kind.        She    never 
ploughs,  nor  hoes,  nor  stirs  the  soil  at 
all;  yet  she  forms  a  bla^k  mould  where 
man  bad  robbed  «.he  ground  of  this  nec- 
essary aid  to  the  support  of  the  liiirber 
order  of  piants  and  animals.      To  study 
closely  her  0|;eratinns  in  the  process  of 
enriching  soils,  is  the   highest  wisdom 
of   the   practical    husbandman.       The 
seeds  of  pine  trees  have  a  structure  pe- 
culiaily  fitted  to  be  carried  a  gi  eat  dis- 
tance by  bi.ds  and  winds,  and  scattered 
far  and  wide  over  the  whole  surface  of 
the  eaith       Under    favorable  circum- 
stances, these  seed  germinate  ruid  crvow 
into  ioresis.      We  havestudiei  only  the 
sprouting  and    orowth    cf  ibe  seed  of 
the  lonf;--iear  d  pine  on  the  poor  sandy 
lands  of   Georgia.     By    the   time  the 
two  fiist  leaves  have  attained  a  length 
ofthiee    inches,    its    tap  root    has  de- 
scendi d    six  inches    into    the  ground, 
and  continues  to   penetrate,    when  un- 
obsirujied,  any  distance  from    three  to 
nine  feet,    anrb  how  much  fmher  we 
knovA'  not.     Pines  are   endowed  wiih  a 
large  quantity    of    foliage,    and   iheir 
leaves  annually  fall,  to  d<cay  and  form 
new  mould.     In    1000  parts  of  these 
leaves,    when    thoroughly    dried,    we 
found  40  of  inco.nbustible  earthy  mat- 
ter;  while  the    same    amount  of  pine 
wood  gave  only  2  1-2  parts  of  ashes. — 
If  the  trunks  of  pine  trees  contained  as 
much  of  earthy  minerals  as  their  leaves 
do,  these  trees  would   always   be  very 
sma  1,  and  could   grow   only    on   land 
rich  in  potash,  and  the  other  elements 
found  in  wood  ash*  s.     But    while   the 
exceedingly  deep  roots  of  this  nee  find 
the  mineral  con^l'iuents   of  vefjetation 
far  below  the  pasture  ofcommon  plains, 
and  the  reach  of  the  farmer's    subsoil 
plough,  these  minerals,   instead  of  be- 


THJ:  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


13 


ing  deposited  in  ihi.  substnnce  of  length- 
ened  roots,  in  tlie  trunk  and  branches  of 
ihe  tre^>,  are  nearly  all  contained  in  its 
innumerable  and  pi.-culiaily  long  leaves, 
and  \vi:h  them,  in  the  ecimoiny  of  In- 
finite Wisdom,  go  to  enii'h  the  sur 
face  soil,  that  it  may  again  beconne 
fruitful  ill  bread-bearing  plants.  No 
soil  DHtarallv  poor  in  potash  can  grow 
a  dense  forest  of  oak,  hickory,  walnut, 
maple,  beech  and  elm  trees,  for  all 
these  store  up  potash  in  their  trunks, 
limbs,  ard  loots,  to  a  large  degree. — 
But  100  parts  of  iheir  leaves,  which 
annually  fall  to  the  earih,  contain  from 
7  to  15  liaies  more  of  incotnbustiol' 
matter  than  a  like  weight  of  their  wood. 
The  bark  of  tliese  i'urtsi  trees,  so  far 
a?  is  known,  j'ields  much  more  ashes 
than  wood.  In  the  tree  called  hem- 
lock this  fact  is  stiikingly  illustrate  I, 
ibr  while  its  wood  yields  very  litile 
ashes,  its  bark  al;ounds  in  incumbusti- 
ble  matter.  This  bark,  like  that  on 
one  variety  of  hickory,  is  c  ist  ofT  and 
falls  to  the  earth  annually." 

You  will  thus  see  how  the  pine,  by 
sending  its  routs  deep  into  the  earth, 
brings  up  vast  quantities  of  potash, 
which  are  carried  by  a  set  of  natural 
elevators  into  the  burs  and  leaves  in 
the  proportion  of  4  per  cent,  of  their 
whole  Substance,  which  are  annually 
cast  upon  the  earth  to  fertilize  it  — 
And  that  not  only  by  imparting  so 
much  additional  po;ash  to  the  earth, 
but  also,  by  its  chemical  action,  setting 
free  for  useful  activity  other  feriilizing 
principles  that  had  been  locked  up. — 
Any  one  must  see  that  this  process, 
kept  up  for  a  series  of  years,  must  pro- 
duce an  entire  change  in  the  face  of 
things.  What  shall  be  said  then  of 
the  niurdero^is  system  of  burning  off 
annually  from  the  surface  of  the  earth 
all  this  supply  for  giadual  improve- 
ment? Every  one  has  seen  how  keep- 
ing ofi"  the  fire  from  the  piney  woods 
for  a  number  ol  years  imp'oves  the  soil, 
and  gathers  upon  it  a  thick  under- 
growth, the  infant  beginning  of  anoth- 
er forest  altogether  different  in  its  kind 
And  yet  with  all  this  observation,    the 


system  of  burning  the  woods  has  been 
followed  from  generation  to  generation, 
to  the  impoverishment  of  the  country, 
that  a  few  miserable  inferior  cattle  may 
find  two  or  three  weeks'  pasture. 

Having  thus,  shewn,  I  hope,  that  our 
sandy  lands  are  not  only  improveable, 
but  that  they  are  singularly  apt  for  im- 
provement, I  proceed  next,  with  very 
great  diffidence,  to  offer  some  hints  on 
the  subject  of  its  accomplishment.  It 
Is  not  to  be  expected,  that  with  a  sub- 
ject so  vast  before  me  I  should  be  able 
to  do  much  with  it  in  tha  time  allotted 
to  a  discourse  like  this,  even  if  I  had 
in  my  own  mind  the  proper  stores  of 
information.  But  the  truth  is,  old  as 
is  th\i  world,  and  long  as  agriculture 
has  been  a  subject  of  so  much  interest 
to  man,  the  science  is  yet  in  its  infancy. 
Men  are  juit  learning  its  rudiments, 
and  even  of  these  I  have  not  had  the 
oppoituniiy  to  possess  myself.  My 
only  hope  is,  to  set  you  to  thinking  and 
making  experiments  for  yourselves, — 
for  to  the  test  of  experiment  all  theo- 
ries should  at  last  be  brought.  In  fact, 
the  main  benefits  of  societies  such  as 
yours,  IS,  thai  the  individual  experi- 
ments of  each  man  through  them  be- 
come public  property,  and  that  an  ag- 
gregate amount  of  cxperimc;its  may  be 
brought  together  sufficient  to  emich  all 
with  agiieultural  knowledge.  In  ihese 
experiments  the  assistance  of  experts 
may  be  obtained.  Chemists  can  ana- 
lyze into  their  constituent  elements 
the  different  soils — ascertain  the  con- 
sii.tuents  of  those  known  by  experiment 
to  be  fertile  and  of  those  in  like  man- 
ner known  to  be  sterile.  They  can 
compare  these  with  any  other  soil — 
discover  what  any  given  soil  may  con- 
tain that  experience  has  shewn  to  be 
favorable  or  unfavorab.'e  for  production,, 
and  suggest  the  sv.itable  agents  for  ren- 
dering the  favorable  qualities  more  ac- 
tive or  for  neutralizing  those  that  are 
noxious.  The  same  author  from  \vhence 
I  quoted  on  a  former  occasion,  (Far- 
mers' Assistant,  92,)  says  :  '•  There  is 
no  way  of  making  improvements  in 
farming   but  by   experiments,     if  the 


14 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


farmer  i?  itifDrmed  of  oi  has  concfived 
a  dilFfietil  an  I  bnt-r  m(  tliotl  o(  cul- 
ture or  raarmgernenl  in  any  branch  of 
Lis  farming,  he  is  to  test  ihe  goodness 
cf  tijat  111' thol  by  exp  riments  ;  iirid 
if  these  p;ove  s-uccessful,  he  may  con- 
gratulate himself  on  having  peifornuHl 
dn  !!ct  whicli  i^.  service;) ble  'o  bis  coun- 
try and  honorable  to  himself." 


Clearing. — The  fir-t  step  in  bring- 
ing loresi  laud  into  niliivation  is  to    e- 
moVf  from  ii  tlie  natural  growth,  eiiher 
altOL'e  her  or  io  part.     It  wovild  Le  an 
exr'elleiii  pian.  u)  ere  one  'ati  afford  to 
wait,  to  rut  aW    down.,  aod  Uave   tiiat 
which   is  not    valuabU^  for   ^oiue  other 
use    t  '  rot  upon    ihe?    ground        Tins 
would  ensure  a  reisonal  i-  ft  ek  of  fer- 
til.iy  ti  beoii)  with.     Ettt  v/hether  this 
hr  done  or   n  t,  I   wo  'Id  suggest  that 
the  1 1  i  .■-^s'eic  of  yrubbing  be  abolish- 
ed.     Fust,  biCridSe  ii  is  in  i;s(  1:  an  ex- 
pensive opiTiiiioti.  and  uidess  ili  cid-  dly 
xi-e  ul.  a   W'  dle.«s  casui  g  iiwny  of  to 
much  money.    Bm  .seco  d!y,  I  venniye 
to  s.iy,  that   <  Vt  ti   if  it  could  bo   done' 
for  noih  ng,  it  uere  better  Let  alor.e  -- 
Ii  If.  tiue   thit  the  first  and  even    the 
siMond  criiji  (  n    a   pi  ee  of  unoiuibid 
land    will    poi  be  no   good  as  if  it  had 
"b'  en   (;rubl>e  I.      Bui.  if  land  is  s\.'Ct>s- 
si\/t  ly  culiivae  I   f  ^r  five  vars.  the  ag- 
gr- gate   viel  i  of  th;^    nni.'r')btied    l.ind 
will  exc<  ed  thai  >d   il;e  ijriibh' d.      And 
in  the  one  '••ase  the  land  wi  1  p'rbably 
T>e  a.s   good  if  not  b-tt^r    t:  an   at  fir>t. 
an  I  in    the-  other  it  will   probably   be 
entirely  exhauste  I.     And  lor  this  lea- 
soi),(l  am  suppys  ii'j  thai  they  aie  both 
cultivated   in  ihf  ordinary  way.  ot^  g'-t- 
ting  all    out  of  thtm  'hat  you  can  and 
giving   no  hing  b  lek,}   in  the  grubbed 
lai;d  yo:i  ha^e  no  h  ng  to  rely  npiiC  bu 
the  natural  nfomiation  of  "^oii  as  it  is 
e.xhansii  d  ;    while  in    the    nngrubbed, 
llie  decay  of  stuinpsand  roo's  supiiliev 
a    manure  of  a  valuable    kind       Like 
iaio?i  otiier  manures,  they  not  onlv  de 
popile  the  ingre  'ients  tlicv  contain,  but 
by  cheuiical  acuon   aid  m  the  ditiiite 
gration  ol  elementa  of  fertilny  alrtady 
m  the  soil. 


Ashes. 

Ashes,  according  to  the  most  aecu- 
ra'e  analysis,  contain   a   valuable   pro- 
portion   of    sulphates,   sil  cates,   phos- 
phates  and   rarbonate.s  of  lime,   with 
phosphates  of  potash,  soda,   lime   and 
magnesia,  together  \vi:h  other  substau- 
c  s  in  smaller  yet  impnilant  quantities. 
An  accurate  and   critical   examination 
of  them  aUo  reveals  the  presence  of  a 
considerable    quantity  of   impeif.ctly 
consti'uted  ca'bonaCf  ons  matter,  (ohar- 
roiil  )     In  ashes,  therefore,    the   ."cieu- 
tific  leader  will  at    once    discover  that 
we  have  all,  or  nearly  all  the  materials 
of  which  some  plants,   and    especially 
wheat,  are  composed.     '•  it  will  seem,'' 
lemarlfs  a  dirtmguithed  wiiter  on  Ag- 
r  culture,  "that  a.shes,  mised   with  the 
^oil,  will  sUj  ply  the  quarter  part  of  the 
substance  of  wheat  "     We  are  afqnain- 
ted  wiih  seV' ral   intelligent   agricnltu- 
dS'S  who  Ti  fuse  to  di.<po?e  nf  their  house 
ashes  on    any  lenns.     Formerly    they 
were  m  the  habit  of  selling   ihem   at  a 
inertly  nominal  price — about  one  shil- 
ling per  bushel,  and  were   glad  to    get 
rid  of  them  at  that  rate,  but   now    they 
are  willing  to  pur  base   at   twice    that 
price.     As  a  stimulant  for  Indian  corn, 
we   consider   ashes,   of  good  quality, 
worth  fifty  cents  per   bushel.     As   an 
ii  grediei/t  in  "he    compost    heap    ihey 
■ire  of  iiicsiimable  value,  «nd  also   as  a 
dressing  for   turnips,    rabbages,  beans, 
&c.     Even     leached    ashes    are   now 
b'lUght  up  by  farmers,  and    appli  d  as 
a  lop-dressing  to   lands  in  grain    and 
sjra-s.     They  are  also  used    with    suc- 
cess a*  an  ingredient  in   compojt,  and 
for  giving   increased    energy  to  fruit 
trees.     There  is  s  -arC'  ly  a  sinijle  modi- 
fication of  vegi  table  I  fe    wliich   is   not 
e*sen'.ially  and  lowe^fully  benefited  by 
iheir  application,— iVt'rii;^?/  Advertiser, 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


15 


Faruiing. 

If  one  half  ihe  zeal,  energy,  and  rx- 
ijiense  that  bluts  so  many  gazettes  with 
low  and  coarse  abuse,  settingthe  vrh^le 
community  by  the  ears,  fur  the  vain 
and  paltry  purpose  of  a  few  dema- 
gi'ffiies  and  office  seekers,  were  bestow 
ed  on  the  advartceinent  of  agricuhuie  ; 
if  the  people  weie  hulf  so  ambitious  lo 
improve  and  beautify  their  fields,  as 
they  are  to  settle  the  affcxirs  of  the  iia- 
ti'tn  ;  and  ha  f  so  angry  with  thistles. 
tho  ns,  and  poor  f -nces,  as  the-y  aro 
■With  their  political  opponents,  who  pro- 
bably wish  as  well  to  the  co-untry  as 
thfy,  -ve  should  have  more  {>roducii-ve 
fit^ld^,  less  complaints  of  poveity,  more 
ability  to  be  charivable  and  munificent, 
and  abundantly  more  gaod  fceliig  — 
From  Pi  tsburg  to  New  Orleans,  the 
son  ploughs  as  his  father  did  b  fo  e 
hiui,  and  the  great  m;iss  of  farmeis  are 
as  stationary  in  the  iry  as  thev  are  in 
practice.  Nine  in  ti^i  btdit^ve  ai  this 
xnonient  that  book  farmii/g  is  the  tncie. 
useless,  visionary  dreaming  of  men  thai 
know  nothing  about  practical  agrieul- 
lure. 

"We  would  tell  them  thai  England 
is  the  garden  of  Europe,  simply  be 
cause  almost  every  acre  erf  the  giound 
is  cultivathd  scientifically,  and  on  piin- 
ciples  wliich  have  been  brought  to  the 
test  of  the  most  rigid  and  exact  expe 
rimerit.  We  i^oirld  lei!  them  that  N. 
England,  of  whose  soil  and  climate 
they  are  accustomed  to  think  as  coii- 
igigi:ed  by  Providence,  to  sterility  and 
|inclemen-y,  is  the  garden  ot  the  U. 
|3tat8s,  only  because  the  industiiuus 
land  calculating  people  do  not  ihrow 
,!away  their  efT^rts  in  the  extrtion  ci 
jmere  bru'e  stien^th  — but  bring  mind, 
ipains,  system  and  experience,  to  bear 


upon  iheir  naturally  hard  tind  thankless 
soil. 

On  every  side,  the  passing  trav*  Her 
sees  verdure,  grass,  and  orchards  in  the 
small  and  liequtnt  enclosures  of  imper- 
ishable rpik,  and  remmks  fertility  won 
f  om  the  opposition  of  the  tlernents 
and  naiure.  Afier  an  ab^encxj  ot  ten 
year*,  on  our  letum  to  f>ur  country, 
we  Were  struck  with  the  [iroud  and 
iiuble  triumph,  conspicuous  over  the 
whole  region. 

a'he  real  benefactiirs  of  mankind,  as 
St.  Piei'e  sob  autifully  ;aid,  a'C  those 
who  cause  two  b  aiies  of  whtat  lo  ma- 
ture wheie  one  did  before.  The  fidds 
I'Ugii'.  to  be  the  morning  and  evening 
iheme  cf  Ame:icins  that  love  their 
c  luntry.  To  fertilizt;  andimpiove  his 
am  should  be  the  pi ime 'temporal  ob- 
j  ct  o£  the  owner  of  the  substantial 
soil.  All  natonal  aggrandizement, 
power  lud  wi  alth,  may  be  ir;iced  to 
agriculiure,  as  its  ultimate  source. — 
Commeiee  and  nianufacturvs  arc  only 
suboiidiiiale  results  of  thi^  main  spring. 

VVe  consider  agiiculture  as  veiy  con- 
ducive, not  only  to  iibm.dance.  indus- 
try, comfort  and  health,  but  to  good 
morals,  and  uliima'ely,  even  lo  religion. 
We  shall  always  say  and  sing,  "Sjccd 
th-e  Plough  "  We  shall  always  rigaid 
the  American  Farmer,  stripped  to  his 
emi'loyment,  and  tilling  his  giounds, 
as  belonging  to  the  first  oider  of  noble 
men  among  ns.  We  shall  always  wish 
him  Louniiful  harvi  sis,  good  beer,  ;ind 
moderate  use  of  cider;  and  if  he  will 
ri  ar  it  himself,  of  the  grape  ;  but  none 
of  the  pert'icious  gladness  of  v\4ii*kfy  ; 
and  we  shail  only  invoke  upon  his  la- 
burs  the  blessings  if  God,  and  say  o- 
him — ''Place  be  within  his  wall>." 

itEV.  T.    Fl!N.T. 


16 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 

BATH,  IJ.  C,  APSIL,  1853 

Attention,  Subcribers! 

We  shall  send  the  first  number  of  the 
Farmer's  Journal  to  all  of  our  last  year's 
subscribers  who  have  riot  renewed  their 
subscription.  "We  do  this  to  remind 
them  of  their  duty,  and  if  they  fail  to 
send  us  at  once  the  dollar,  we  shall  con- 
clude at  once  that  it  is  a  hint  not  to 
make  any  farther  intrusion,  and  shall 
stop  the  paper  immediately. 


Our  Introduction. 
We  again  appear  before  the  fermers 
of  North  Carolina  and  our  readers  gen- 
erally, to  advocate  still  farther  the  agri- 
cultural interest  of  our  country,  in  which 
service  we  have  been  engaged  for  one 
year's  time.  So  far  we  have  not  left  a 
stone  unturned  which  has  come  under 
our  eyes,  the  removal  of  which  would 
conduce  to  the  promotion  and  advance- 
ment of  the  farmer.  In  our  communi- 
cation with  the  readers  of  the  Farmer's 
Journal,  we  have  endeavored  to  bring 
before  them  only  such  facts  as  would  be 
of  importance  to  them  in  the  practical 
operations  upon  the  farm,  at  the  same 
time  studiously  avoiding  all  vague  the- 
ories and  hypotheses.  In  our  seclection 
from  other  agricultural  papers  we  have 
chosen  such  articles  for  our's  as  we  deem- 
ed applicable  to  the  climate,  soil  and 
crops  of  North  Carolina.  Many  of  our 
readers,  we  are  aware,  have  not  had  the 
advantages  of  superior  education;  and 
we  have  therefore  endeavored  to  simpli- 
fy so  far  as  possible  everything  Avliich 
they  would  find  it  important  to  know, 
even  if  in  doing  this  we  have  failed  to 
show  ourself  as  learned  as  some  of  our  co- 
temporaries,  who  seem  to  think  that  sci- 


ence consists  in  a  knowledge  of  deceiv- 
ing the  public  mind  by  the  use  of  big 
words.  In  publishing  the  Farmer's 
Journal  we  have  filled  a  vacuum  which 
existed  before  that  time,  and  had  a.great 
effect  to  retard  the  agricultural  progress 
of  our  people ;  and  we  may  here  add  that 
the  very  face  of  our  country  clearly  indi- 
cates that  the  energies  of  our  people 
must  to  a  great  extent  be  directed  to  ag- 
riculture. We  hope  that  our  readers 
will  wait  with  us  patiently  until  we  shall 
have  completed  our  agricultural  tour 
over  the  entire  State,  which  we  shall  do 
in  the  next  six  months.  Then  we  shall 
sit  quietly  down  to  our  studies,  devoting 
our  time  exclusively  to  such  subjects  as 
will  enable  us  to  be  a  sure  and  safe  guide 
to  the  enquiring  farmer  who  is  travelling 
on  the  road  to  agricultural  advancement. 
That  our  labors  have  already  done  much 
good  none  can  deny,  and  "\^^e  are  in  fine 
spirits  as  regards  the  future  positioli  of 
our  native  State,  which  it  shall  be  our 
constant  aim  to  elevate  to  that  degree  of 
perfection  which  she  has  a  right  to  claim. 
Indeed,  we  say  again,  that  the  materials 
are  close  at  hand  for  making  North  Car- 
olina the  first  agricultural  State  in  the 
whole  South,  and  to  make  a  practical 
demonstration  of  this  fact  it  only  re- 
quires active  and  enterprising  men. — 
If  our  young  men  who  leave  their  na- 
tive State  would  only  use  that  degree  of 
energy  at  home  Avhich  they  do  abroad, 
their  success  would  be  fully  as  great. — 
We  again  urge  upon  our  readers  the 
great  importance  of  taking  c^reofthe 
various  kind  of  manures  upon  the  farm 
and  the  necessity  of  keeping  close  at 
hand  an  abundant  supply  of  the  right 
kind  of  materials  preparatory  to  making 
them.  We  have  not  seen  near  as  many 
manure  sheds  throughout  the  country 


THE  far:mer's  jouri^al. 


17 


as  we  had  hoped  would  be  formed  after 
our  letting  the  farmers  g-enerally  know 
that  tliey  were  losing  at  least  seventy- 
five  per  cent  of  their  manures  by  sufler- 
ing  them  to  remain  exposed  to  the  ef- 
fects of  the  sun  and  rain,  from  year  to 
year.  If  a  farmer  does  not  feel  himself 
able  to  have  a  shed  for  his  manure,  let 
him  by  all  means  keep  his  manures  well 
composted  with  muck,  or  woods  mould, 
and  after  the  heap  is  complete,  cover  it 
over  with  turfs  and  let  it  thus  remain  un- 
til the  time  for  using  it.  The  liquid  ma- 
nure about  the  barn-yard  should  be  sav- 
ed by  all  means,  and  that  also  from  oth- 
er places.  These  contain  veiy  many  of 
the  soluble  salts  which  are  so  necessary 
to  the  healthy  growth  of  plants,  and  are 
in  this  condition  ready  for  absorption  by 
them.  All  of  the  old  bones  which  are 
thrown  away  as  a  general  thing,  should 
be  saved,  for  these  consist  of  such  food 
as  our  crops  require,  and  are  very  impor- 
tant when  in  a  proper  condition  for  the 
compost  heap.  The  manner  of  prepar- 
ing them  may  be  seen  in  our  first  volume 
of  the  Farmer's  Journal.  The  many  re- 
fuse parts  of  vegetable  and  animal  mat- 
ter which  are  thrown  from  the  kitchen 
should  be  deposited  upon  a  compost  heap 
which  should  be  formed  near  that 
place.  The  manure  which  arises  from 
the  A'^arious  fowls  about  the  farm  should 
be  taken  care  of,  let  it  be  put  in  barrels 
and  spread  over  with  plaster  until  ready 
for  use,  and  then  it  should  be  composted 
with  other  manures.  Many  farmers  are 
trying  large  quantities  of  guano,  when 
they  neglect  to  save  the  excrements  of 
their  fowls,  whieh  is  but  little  inferior  to 
this  valuable  fertilizer.  All  of  the  ashes 
should  be  taken  care  of,  for  they  con- 
tain such  elements  as  our  worn  out  lands 
generally  require.     We  have  now  we 


think  given  pretty  nearly  all  of  the  gen- 
eral dii-ections  which  are  so  very  impor- 
tant to  be  known  by  our  readers  at  the 
beginning  of  a  new  volume.  Though 
in  addition  to  these,  we  Avould  advise' 
them  to  look  well  to  the  proper  drainage 
and  plowing  of  their  lands,  for  it  was  by 
strict  attention  to  these  details  that  we 
made  last  year  on  four  acres  of  land 
without  manure,  sixty  barrels  of  corn. 
Many  farms  now  looked  upon  as  value- 
less might  be  restored  to  their  original 
fertility  by  a  proper  attention  to  these 
means  of  improving  lands. 

We  have  been  more  lengthy  in  our 
introductory  thnn  we  designed,  though 
we  could  not  have  said  less,  yet,  we 
might  have  lengthened  it  to  ten  pages» 
and  it  might  not  perhaps  have  been 
read  by  one  half  our  readers.  Short  ar- 
ticles we  have  found  to  be  always  best, 
at  least  they  are  most  apt  to  be  read. — 
We  shall  conclude  this  by  wishing  our 
farmers  fine  crops,  fit  herds,  and  happy 
homes,  and  for  ourself  a  tremendous  list 
to  the  Farmer's  Journal,  which  our  read- 
ers may  soon  know  if  it  happens  by  the 
high  spirit  which  we  shall  be  sure  to 
evince  in  our  writing.  Farmers  of  the 
Old  North  State,  come  to  our  aid  again, 
and  let  us  build  up  the  homes  of  our 
people ! 


To  the  County  Agricultural  Socie- 
ties of  the  State 

We  are  of  the  opinion  that  upon  the 
success  of  our  paper  greatly  depends 
that  of  the  various  County  Agricultural 
Societies  throughout  the  State,  and  it  is 
nothing  more  than  what  we  feel  warran- 
ted in  doing,  to  submit  this  proposition 
to  these  bodies  for  their  consideration. 
The  idea  is  not  original  with  us,  but  we 
obtained  it  from  a  correspondent,  who 


•18 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


•writes  iu  the  December  number  of  the 
''Journal."  The  propositioii  is  that  each 
*C)unty  Society  ptiss  a  law  or  rule,  that 
id  least  tivo  of  its  members  shall  be  ap- 
pointed at  each  meeting  of  the  Society 
to  contribute  an  article  to  the  "Farmer's 
Journal,"  and  tliat  said  article  be  read 
before  the  Society,  and  any  suggestions 
njide  by  any  member,  an  1  approveil  of 
by  the  writer,  may  be  inserted.  We 
think  that  a  hint  upon  this  subject  is 
■entirely  sufficient,  for  all  must  see  sit 
once  the  good  eifects  resulting  from  it. 
It  would  add  much  to  the  value  of  t/ie 
"Journal,"  and  would  have  a  g:eat  ten- 
dency to  get  U])  a  spiiit  of  honorable  ri- 
valry among  the  societies  --.vhich  would 
add  much  to  them  and  insure  their  suc- 
cess. We  make  this  appeal  v.-ith  conti- 
dence,  and  we  really  hope  that  we 
shall  have  in  a  short  time  a  large  mim- 
ber  of  such  articles  upon  our  tabic.  The 
vapi'i  advancement  of  Agriculture  in 
North  Carolin^^  greatly  depends  upon 
the  success  of  tlie  State  and  County  Ag- 
ricultural Societies.  Any  facts  obtained 
in  this  way  would  be  sooner  put  into 
practice  by  the  fiirraers  generally.  Our 
people  differ  in  farming  much  from  eve- 
ry thing  else.  What  they  see  in  an 
Agricultural  paper,  which  is  written  by 
a  neighbor,  they  are  much  more  ready 
to  credit  than  if  it  were  written  by  a 
man  in  another  State.  But  if  that 
same  man  goes  to  a  store  to  buy  a  piece 
of  goods,  he  likes  to  hear  from  the  mer- 
chant that  it  came  from  the  "North." — 
Distance,  iu  this  case,  lends  enchantment 
to  the  view. 


Mr. 


the 


"  What  are  vou  wat  ng  such  a  bij 
hand  for,  P;it  ?"  '■  Why.  yon  see.  my 
j,'randmotiiei's  ila'"e,  and  I'm  writin<'-  a 

o 

Joud  It  tter  lo  her  '" 


Rufftn's     Address  1)ef.>re 

Suuili   Caroliaa    Litstitute 

in   Charleston. 

We  published  in  our  paper  the  able 
and  instructive  address  of  Mr.  Ruffin 
for  the  reason  that  it  contained  much 
that  was  interesting,  and  would  prove 
highly  useful  to  onr  readers.  But  wheti 
we  published  this  address  we  did  not 
have  time  to  urge  our  objections  to  some 
portions  of  it,  though  we  are  now  de- 
prived of  the  task  by  Dr.  Daniel  Lee, 
and  our  correspondent  (Beaufort)  in  this 
number  of  "the  Journal."  They  have 
expressed  our  views  precisely  in  rela- 
tion to  this  production,  which  pre- 
cludes the  necessity  of  our  saying  muvh 
at  this  time.  !dr.  Ruffin  like  most  ag- 
ricultural v.'riters,  has  fallen  into  the 
common  error  of  recommending  the 
same  kind  of  treatment  for  all  kinds  of 
land.  lie  recommends  the  turning  un- 
der of  green  crops,  say  peas  for  instance, 
without  going  on  to  say  that  to  such 
land  as  has  already  a  sufficient  amount 
of  vegetable  matter  this  need  not  be 
practiced.  For  as  our  correspondent  justly 
remarks,  in  turning  under  these  green 
crops  we  do  not  add  a  single  mineral  el- 
ement, save  what  is  extracted  from  the 
soil  in  the  growth  of  this  very  crop. — 
Lime  is  recommended  to  be  applied  to 
land  regardless  of  what  quantity  may  be 
already  in  the  soil,  and  in  this  way  many 
blunders  are  made,  and  men  are  induced 
from  one  failure  to  abandon  experiments. 
That  Mr.  Ruffin  has  done  much  for  the 
fai'ming  interest  of  our  country  none  can 
deny,  and  as  for  ourself  we  have  long 
since  chosen  him  as  our  model.  Lideed 
when  we  occuj'y  the  same  position  in 
North  Carolina  which  he  now  holds  in 
Virginia  we  shall  have  accomplished  our 
object.  But  although  our  admiration 
of  the  man  is  great,  yet  we  feel  it  our 
duty  to  strike  a  difference  upon  this 
subject. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURTS^AL. 


IS^ 


Chemical  Apparatus  for  the  Analy- 
sis oi*  i^oils. 

The  question  was  asked  us  by  a  cor- 
respondent, what  would  be  the  cost  of 
such  chemieal  apparatus  as  would  be  suf- 
ficient to  make  the  most  refined  analysis 
of  soils  ?  Thinking  it  to  be  a  matter  of 
general  interest,  we  have  concluded  to 
give  our  answer  to  the  question  through 
our  columns,  so  that  the  minds  of  our 
readers  generally  may  bo  satisfied  upon 
the  subject.  There  are  many  with  v/hom 
we  meet,  who  think  tltat  the  cost  of 
chemical  apparatus  sufficient  for  this 
purpose,  would  be  at  least  five  hundred 
dollars.  They  seem  to  be  quite  aston- 
ished when  we  tell  them  that  for  one- 
fifth  part  of  that  money,  a  very  exten- 
sive and  handsome  apparatus  can  be 
purchased.  In  order  to  prove  wliat  we 
here  assert,  we  will  refer  to  the  list  of 
prices  of  such  articles  as  are  required  to 
make  up  the  apparatus,  which  v/e  tak& 
from  a  catalogue  of  prices,  furnished  us 
by  Mr.  Kent,  a  very  practical  chemist  in 
New  York.  We  will  begin  with  the 
rose  lamp,  cost  $6  ;  thermometer,  $5  ; 
scales  and  weights,  $15  ;  two  glass  fun- 
nels, $1  ;  graduated  and  test  glasses,  75 
cents,  evaporating  dishes  of  various  sizes, 
1 2  in  number,  |3  ;  nitrogen  apparatus, 
$3 ;  glass  tubes  for  stirring  soil  while 
heating,  25  cents ;  specific  gravity  bottle, 
$1,50, ;  mortar  and  pestle,  75  cents;  an- 
alytical forceps,  $1,50  ;  test  chest  and 
contents  $35  ;  6  common  glass  tumblers, 
50  cts. ;  two  glass  bottles,  10  cents — the 
whole  costing  $73  25.  But  in  addition 
to  these,  other  parts  or  articles  may  be 
added,  though  not  indispensably  neces- 
sary. And  why  should  an  apparatus  for 
this  purpose  cost  so  much,  v.'hen  we  re- 
collect that  Sir  Humphrey  Davie  made 
extensive  researches   in  chemistry,  and 


those  who  know,  state,  that  upon  enter- 
ing liis  laboratory,  one  would  suppose 
that  his  whole  apparatus  consisted  of 
only  a  few  glass  bottles  and  broken  wine 
glasses.  For  farther  information  wa 
would  refer  our  correspondent  to  the 
chapter  on  the  analysis  of  soils  in  Prof. 
Johnstone's  Agricultural  Chemistry, 
where  he  can  see  that  from  what  he 
tliere  directs  to  be  used,  the  cost  cannot 
be  a  great  deal.  In  making^tha  analysis 
of  soils  the  cost  of  the  apparatus  is  but 
a  small  item ;  tlie  main  thing  is  the 
knov/Iedge  of  the  results  when  really  ob- 
tained, and  it  re(pires  the  almost  con- 
stant use  of  the  ;ipparatus  to  enable  one 
to  become  familiar  Avlth  the  various 
manifestations.  We  do  not  pretend  to 
say  that  none  but  really  scientific  men 
can  do  these  things,  but  we  do  contend 
that  by  close  application,  any  man  who 
who  has  the  rn.li mental  education  can 
become  a  chemist.  Indeed  it  is  a  science 
where  the  various  experiments  setting 
forth  the  various  ftiets  are  required  to  be 
seen  in  order  to  be  thoroughly  under- 
stood. Let  no  man  be  deterred  from 
studying  chemistry,  believing  that  ha 
cannot  comprehend  It,  for  we  have  for  a 
long  time  believed  that  a  fourteen  year 
old  boy  could  snore  easily  comprehend 
elementary  cliemistry  with  the  experi- 
ments before  lira,  than  he  could  English 
grammar.  The  whole  science  of  chem- 
istry is  connected  together  as  a  chain,, 
link  by  link.  Our  fanners  at  this  time 
stand  r.iuch  in  need  of  the  services  of  at 
least  ten  young  chemists  to  make  analy- 
ses of  their  soils. 


Iron  scyihe  'nath?,  made  in  ihe  tubiji- 
lar  form,  have  b ''n  patenud,  and  pro- 
mise gi"e!it  advnntag-'S  Ofi  the  score  of 
du'abiiity,  ctrei!gtlj  and  lightness. 


20 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNxVL. 


Farmers  and  Mechanics,  Get  Ready 
for  the  Fair  on  the  ISth  of  October 

We  hope  tliat  tlie  farmers  and  me- 
clianics  tlirougliout  the  State  are  making 
preparation  for  a  fine  exhibition  at  our 
first  Agricultural  Fair  next  fall.  It  is 
liigh  time  that  the  farmer  who  has  a 
fine  young  heifer  or  bull,  which  he  may 
wish  to  exhibit,  to  begin  to  pay  more 
than  usual  attention  to  it.  What  can 
the  enterprising  mechanics  be  about 
that  they  are  not  preparing  specimens 
of  their  ingenuity  for  the  Fair.  Indeed, 
we  should  be  highljr  pleased  to  see  what 
can  be  done  in  the  Old  North  State  in 
the  manufacturing  of  riding  vehicles, 
and  also  specimens  of  cabinet-making. 
Most  certainly  our  young  friend,  F.  L. 
Bond,  of  Tarboro',  will  come  in  for  the 
prize  to  be  awarded  for  the  best  made 
centre  table.  We  hope  to  see  several 
specimens  of  fine  stock  exhibited  at  that 
time  by  onr  friend  Thomas  Jones,  Esq., 
of  Martin;  he  surely  will  come  in.  And 
we  hope  that  there  will  be  a  large  num- 
ber to  compete  for  the  sweepstakes  for 
the  largest  corn  crop. 


The   Fertilizing  Properties  of  the 
Remains  of  Old  Chimnies. 

The  question  has  been  asked  us  by  a 
correspondent,  v.-hy  it  is  the  case  that 
land  is  improved  by  the  application  of 
the  remains  of  old  chimnies.  That  land 
is  improved  by  this  application  most  far- 
mers are  aware  ;  but  the  cause  of  this 
improvement  they  have  failed  to  investi- 
gate. By  the  process  of  burning,  the 
chemical  relations  of  the  clay  from  which 
the  bricks  are  made,  are  not  changed  in 
the  least,  but  the  physical  condition  is 
very  different  from  what  it  was  origi- 
nally. That  which  was  close  and  heavy, 
has  now  become  porous  and  light;  the 


brick  will  absorb  about  four  times  its\ 
own  weight  of  water,  and  it  is  on  ac- 
count of  its  absorbent  powers  exclusive- 
ly that  it  is  a  fertilizer.  The  organic 
elements  of  plants  Avhich  are  contained 
in  the  gasses  of  the  atmosphere  are  ab- 
sorbed by  the  parts  of  brick  in  quite  an 
abundant  manner — hence  the  great  im- 
provement derived  from  their  applica- 
tion. 

£^  We  lay  before  our  readers  a  let- 
ter from  Mr.  Street  of  Craven  county, 
which,  though  not  written  with  a  view 
to  its  publication,  we  hope  to  be  pardon- 
ed for  this  privilege  which  we  have  ta- 
ken with  it.  As  oui-  readers  will  see, 
there  is  a  great  deal  of  good  common 
sense  here  comprised  in  a  small  space. 
What  Mr.  Street  has  v/ritten  in  this  let- 
ter is  precisely  our  opinion  in  regard  to 
such  subjects  as  he  alludes  to.  He  tru- 
ly says  that  the  united  people  of  our 
State  haye  but  to  "will"  it  and  we  can 
have  a  market  tliat  Avill  compete  with 
the  best  in  the  Union : — 

Cravkn  Co.,  Feb'y  20th,  1853. 

Gentlemen  : — Your  letter  of  the  18th 
instant,  inviting  me  to  address  the 
Agricultural  Society  of  Beaufort  Co.  on 
its  annual  meeting  in  March  next, 
has  been  received  in  due  season.  In 
reply,  I  beg  }'ou  to  believe  I  feel  much 
flattered  by  your  notice,  and  did  I  feel 
competent  to  the  task  would  with  pleas- 
ure comply.  But  continued  bad  health, 
pressing  engagements,  and  a  sense  of 
my  inability  will  compel   me  to  decline. 

It  is  conceded  by  all  that  agriculture 
in  North  Carolina,  particularly  in  the 
eastern  section,  is  in  a  languishing  con- 
dition— our  soil,  implements  of  husban- 
dry and  farm  building  too  much  neglec- 
ted.    Our  people  may  find  some  excuse 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


for  this  neglect,  in  the  supposed  superi-  j 
or  resources  of  our  forests  of  pine, , 
cypress  and  oak,  but  as  these  means  are  ) 
nearly  exhausted  we  will  be  compelled  I 
to  place  more  reliance  upon  our  farms 
for  sustenance  and  profit.  The  capacity 
of  our  soil,  generally,  is  im questioned. 
With  a  reasonable  degree  of  attention 
to  its  improvement  by  manuring  and 
draining,  I  am  confident  that  this  por- 
tion of  our  State  can  be  j^laced  second  to 
none  in  Agricultural  productions.  In 
aid  of  these  improvements,  nothing  can 
be  more  efficient  than  the  formation  of 
County  Societies.  They  will  bring  the 
subject  to  every  man's  door,  spread  a- 
bi'oad  information,  and  excite  emulation 
among  all  classes  of  our  farmers. 

Next  in  importance  to  agricultural 
improvements,  is  the  creation  of  a  Mar- 
led  in  which  the  farmer  can  obtain  re- 
munerating prices.  Of  what  avail  to 
the  producer  would  be  his  increased 
products  without  a  market.  It  is  true 
we  liave  Elizabeth  City,  Edenton,  Ply- 
mouth, Washington,  New-Berne  and 
AVilmington,  but  it  :s  apparent  that  these 
inland  sea-ports  with  their  obstructed 
navigation  and  dependence  upon  North- 
ern cities  for  commercial  facilities,  will 
never  aid  in  the  degree  they  should,  the 
spirit  that  is  now  moving  our  farmers. 
Markets  that  can  be  glutted  with  a  few 
cart  or  canoe  loads  of  fruit  or  vegetables, 
or  in  which  the  more  important  staples 
are  subjected  to  great  depreciation  will 
never  extend  much  assistance  to  Agri- 
cultural Societies. 

We  have  in  our  midst  a  sea-port 
(Beaufort,)  of  surpassing  capacity,  in 
which  ships  from  every  quarter  of  the 
globe  can  congregate  for  freight,  situa- 
ted in  the  middle  of  our  coast  and  with- 
in a  few  hours   run  of  the  towns  above 


mentioned.  This  port,  by  means  of  our 
rivers  and  rail-roads  can  be  connected 
with  every  part  of  the  State.  I  can  see 
no  good  reason  why  the  eftbrt  of  the 
people  of  our  State,  East,  AVest,  North 
and  South  should  not  be  directed  to 
that  point.  We  are  all,  much  if  not 
equally  interested  in  the  creation  of  a 
large  Commercial  Mart,  near  at  hand 
and  of  easy  access  in  whicli  our  produce 
can  be  disposed  of  at  the  highest  prices, 
and  return  supplies  can  be  obtained  at 
the  lowest.  Beaufort  can  be  made  such 
a  place.  Our  united  people  have  but  to 
will  and  the  thing  is  done. 

Wishing  your  Society  a  long  course 
of  usefulness,     I  remain  yours 

Very  respectfully, 
NATH.  H.  STREET. 
Messrs.  H.  Dimock, 
J.  F.  Clark, 

J.    F.    TOMPKIXS. 

Editor's  Table. 

The  American  Farmer  still  continues 
to  visit  us  monthly,  fided  with  the  most 
useful  reading  for  the  farmer. 

The  Southern  Planter,  published  at 
Richmond,  Va.,  is  a  most  excellent  work 
of  the  kind,  and  should  be  liberally  pat- 
ronized by  the  farmers  of  that  State. 

The  Farmer  and  Artizan,  we  regard 
as  one  of  the  best  papers  upon  our  ex- 
chauo-e  list.  It  contains  a  laro-e  amount 
of  most  useful  reading  in  each  number 
It  is  published  at  Portland,  Me. 

The  Southern  Cultivator,  publish- 
ed at  Augusta,  Georgia,  is  very  ably  ed- 
ited, and  is  well  adapted  to  Southern 
culture. 

The  Southern  W^eekly  Post,  pub- 
lished at  Raleigh,  N.  C,  is  a  very  excel- 
lent family  paper,  and  should  be  liber- 
ally patronized  by  North  Carolinians. — 
[f  you  live  in  the  Old  North  State,  and 
can  take  but  one  family  paper,  by  all 
means  take  the  "Post." 


92 


THS  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Agricultural  <^uiickei'y. 

" In  otteiing  a  few  lemai'ks  on  the  sub- 
ject named  above,  I  beg  leave  to  dis- 
claim all  personal  reflection.  I  shall 
iini  only  to  expose  things,  not  persons. 

And  lii'st,  permit  me  to  exphiin  what 
I  mean  by  the  term  science.  The  gene- 
ral term  means  truth,  with  all  its  attri- 
butes and  ndjiincts  arranged  systemati- 
cally. In  its  restricted  or  special  sense, 
the  term  means  t'uU  kno>v  ledge  of  an 
art  or  business  in  all  its  parts  reduced  to 
rule.  For  example,  the  science  of  agri- 
culture is  a  com[)iete  theoretical  and 
m-actical  knowledge  of  all  the  arts  and 
means,  practical  and  theoretical,  required 
in  conducting  a  farm  in  the  best  [unnner. 
The  science  of  agriculture  or  scientilic 
agriculture,  does  not  mean  a  few  skim- 
mings of  skum  from  the  well  of  know- 
ledge, a  few  imperfect  analyses  of  a  few 
tandsfal  of  soil  from  a  few  fields ;  nor 
are  the  requirements  of  science  fultiiled 
by  an  occasional  dip  in  the  spiing  of 
kno»>  ledge.  The  most  scientidc  farmer 
I  ever  saw,  couM  nut  analyze  a  handful 
of  soil,  accordiiig  to  what  we  call  science. 
He  had  acquired  by  long  experience  and 
observation  a  knowledge  of  soils,  their 
effects,  and  the  remedies,  that  enabled 
him  to  judge  with  precision  the  quality 
of  any  soil  without  the  aid  of  the  alem- 
bic or  crucdt'e.  Now,  if  he  had  been 
enabled  to  resort  to  the  art  of  chemis- 
try, it  would  have  saved  him  much  time 
and  labor  in  acquiring  his  knowledge; 
but  still  he  was  a  man  of  true  science. 
It  does  not  follow,  because  the  black- 
smith cannot  explain  the  science  of  his 
use  of  air  in  his  forge,  or  why  he  blows 
air  among  his  coals,  or  why  the  doing 
so  increases  the  heat  of  his  forge,  that 
he  is  not  a  scientific  blacksmith — lie  may 
be  and  very  often  is  a  perfect  master  of 
his  branch  of  science,  so  fiir  as  the  prac- 
tice of  his  own  business  is  concerned. 
And  he  can  teach  others  the  art  and 
practice,  though  lie  cannot  teach  the 
mere  theory.  Again,  a  man  may  ac- 
quire a  perfect  knowledge  of  agricultuie 
from  other  teachers,  tlian  professors  of 
chemistry  and  geology.  To.  an  observ- 
ing eye,  a  soil  will  itself  give  indications 


of  its  qualities.  1  knew  a  man — I  know\ 
him  now,  who,  if  he  were  about  pur- 
chasing a  piece  of  land,  would  look  at 
the  growth  of  the  trees,  bushes,  and 
even  weeds  that  were  on  the  land,  and 
could  by  them  tell  wliat  the  land  was. 
I  am  aware  that  I  shall  be  considered  a* 
an  empiric  rather  than  a  scientific  teach- 
er if  I  go  on  in  this  strain  ;  and  there- 
fore, I  shall  ]iroceed  to  my  object,  after 
one  more  remark,  -which  if  some  folks 
consider  it  a  parlhian  sliot,  I  hope  it  will 
hurt  nobody.  I  *vould  give  more  for 
one  ounce  of  good  sound  science,  derived 
from  practical  experience,  than  for  ten 
pounds  of  that  tierived  from  ordinary 
modern  "scientific  analyses  and  essays." 

I  have  long  since  come  to  the  conclu- 
sion, that  as  respects  the  science  of  med- 
icine, there  is  more  quackery  in  the  pro- 
fession than  out  of  it,  abundant  as  is  the 
supply  of  the  latter;  so  also  in  agricul- 
tural science,  there  is  ten  times  ns  much 
quackery  in  the  science  as  tauglit,  as 
thfre  is  in  the  ordinary  practice  of  agri- 
culture. Pray,  sir,  what  is  a  science? 
I  have  endeavored  to  define  the  term 
above;  but  let  ine  try  again.  True 
science  is  a  IcnowleJge  of  a  viaiis  n'>an 
bitsi//e<!s,  is  it  not?  If  a  man  knows 
how  to  make  the  most  profit  with  the 
least  amount  of  labor  and  capital,  I  im- 
agine, whether  you  call  him  scientific  or 
not,  he  possesses  the  best  sort  of  knowl- 
edge of  his  business  ;  and  if  this  be  not 
at  present  called  science,  it  ought  to  be. 
But  here,  just  here,  this  successful  farm- 
er is  C'llled  from  his  plow  to  listen  to  the 
liaraunge  of  some  one  who  talks  to  hhn 
about  the  absence  of  the  calcareous,  or 
some  other  principle  in  his  soil,  and  tha 
necessity  of  his  applying  lime,  potash, 
and  ammonia,  &c.,  (fee.  Well,  the  firm- 
er will  say,  this  is  all  very  well,  but  I 
raise  good  crops,  notwithstanding  the 
absence  of  lime,  &c.,  and  what  more 
will  your  addition  enable  me  to  <lo? — ■ 
But  says  the  lecturer,  let  me  analy.-^e 
your  soil,  and  that  will  enable  you  to 
raise  larger  crops.  He  goes  to  work, 
analyzes  the  soil,  and  furnishes  the  far- 
mer with  a  prescription  as  follows; 

Phosphate' of  Lime,  100  lbs. 


■THE  FAEMER^S  JOURNAL. 


2S 


Sulphate  of  Ammonia,  10  lbs. 

Carbonate  of  Lime,  500  lbs.,  &C.,  &c. 

Mix  thorouirbly,  and  spread  broadcast 
over  one  acre.  Now  this  is  all  very  well, 
but  where  is  the  farmer  to  get  the  vari- 
ous ingredients  .^  The  result  is,  the  lec- 
turer pockets  his  fee,  and  tlie  farmer  the 
loss;  for  it  is  impossible,  <?ven  though 
the  articcles  were  ever  so  necessary  to  the 
soil,  that  they  could  be  obtained  by  all, 
or  even  by  any  body  scarcely,  consider- 
ing the  number  of  farmers.  A  lew  per- 
sons may,  by  extra  exertions,  obcain 
some  of  them,  but  comparatively  lew 
persons  in  the  great  multitude  of  farm- 
ers, can  obtain  any;of  them.  I  need  not 
enlarge  upon  this  subject.  This  quack- 
ery is  at  this  day  eveiy  where  prevalent, 
in  forms  as  various  as  the  pliysiognomies 
of  the  propagators. 

Now  let  all  farmers  take  heed  to 
Ithemselves  iu  this,  and  learn  that  the 
science  of  agriculture  is  that  true  knowl- 
edge of  one's  own  farm  and  its  soil,  that 
enables  him  to  make  the  most  of  it, 
without  impoverishing,  but  rather  con- 
tinually improving  it,  at  the  least  ex- 
pense, in  labor  and'  money.  If  lime  be 
accessible  to  you,  try  a  small  quantity 
on  a  sinall  piece  of  land  of  a  fair'aver- 
age  of  your  farm  ;  if  it  improves  your 
crop  to  the  amount  of  the  exj>ense  of  its 
application  or  more,  then  you  have  a 
scientiiic  warrant  for  extending  the  ap- 
plication ;  if  it  does  not,  then  you  will 
have  lost  but  little,  either  in  money  or 
labor.  So  witli  all  other  experiments; 
try  them  on  a  very  small  scale,  and  en- 
large them  upon  success.  Devoted  as  I 
am,  and  always  have  been  to  srie/ice,  I 
would  not  give  one  practical  experiment 
for  all  the  "scientiiic"  theories  of  Liebig 
and  other  chemists  put  together,  f(jr 
practical  farmers'  use.  The  true  science 
of  agriculture  is  to  be  drawn  alone  from 
intelligent  practical  experience ;  and  in 
the  absence  of  such,  the  most  perfect 
theories  will  be  of  no  avail,  in  agiicul- 
tureor  any  otuer  business.  I  would  by 
no  meatis  be  understood  as  opposing 
the  progress  of  agricultural  chemistry — 
quite  the  contrary.  A  knowledge  of  it 
is  a  great  and  powerful  assistant  to  the 


farmer.  It  will  enable  him  very  often 
to  hit  upoa  an  improv-efiient  in  his  soil, 
that  years  of  practice  might  not  accom- 
plish. But  it  is  not  the  main  or  princi- 
pal agent  that  he  is  to  look  to.  A 
kno!!?ledge  of  the  principal  of  action  of 
all  things  iii  which  we  are  engaged,  is 
essential  to  a  perfect  understanding  of 
the  means  to  arrive  at  the  end  ;  and  we 
should  therefoi'e  study  the  scie/ice  of  an 
art,  let  that  art  be  what  it  may.  But 
this  siurly  of  the  scit-'nce  is  one  thing, 
and  submission  to  the  liunibuggery  of 
ibrazen-faced  pretension  another.  Let 
every  farmer  study  well  and  thoroughly 
the  iheiiry,  as  he  pursues  the  practice  of 
\  agriculture,  and  thus  improve  and  cor- 
I  rect  the  latter  by  the  suggestion  of  the 
I  former,  as  he  progresses,  and  then  ho 
I  will  soon  become  a  scientific  farmer. 
I  On  the  contrai  y,  we  must  all  take  care 
j  that  we  do  not  carry  our  opposition  to 
I  spurinus  science  into  tlie  tcrriiorv  of  live 
I  science.  J^ecause  practice  does  not  al- 
ways or  often  result  in  the  support  of 
theory,  we  must  not  therefore  tyke  it  for 
granted  that  all  theory,  or  even  the  ]iar- 
ticular  theory  involved,  is  unscinid.  We 
must  continually  bear  in  mind  that  aii 
the  operations  in  nature,  the  growth  of 
plants,  tho  formation  of  nutrition,  e  ery 
thing,  are  governed  by  fixed  laws ;  and 
that  theory  is  the  mere  arrangement  of 
these  laws  into  a  system  for  practical 
purposes.  According  to  these  laws,  all 
the  operations  of  the  faim  must  be  car- 
ried on  to  obtain  the  best  results,  and 
all  our  necessary  failures  ^^•ill  h-c,  and 
must  be,  in  proportion  to  our  confoimity 
to,  f)r  deviation  from  those  laws. 

If  for  example,  any  practice  fails  to 
produce  the  result  indicated  by  the  the- 
ory, one  or  two  things  will  be  self-evi- 
dent ;  either  the  theory  is  predicated 
upon  false  principles,  or  the  operator  has 
filled  to  carry  the  theory  into  full  efiect. 
This  failure  should  not  he  ccnsidei'ed  as 
evidence  that  there  is  no  such  thing  a» 
sound  theory.  I  believe  that  nine-tenths 
of  the  so  called  scientific  theories  of  the 
dav,  are  the  veriest  scientific  nonsense  ; 
and  yet  who  shall  say  which  is  the  tenth, 
or  truthful  one  2 


24 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


And  now  to  tlie  main  object  of  our 
paper — the  remedy  for  quackery,  in  all 
its  forms  and  phases,  where  is  it  to  be 
found  and  how  obtained  ?  The  answer 
is  plain — in  the  liberal  education  of  our 
people.  I  cannot  conclude  this  paper  in 
a  more  appropriate  .  way,  than  by  ad- 
dressing a  few  words  to  all  our  agricul- 
tural friends  on  this  sub'eet.  Few  men 
have  mixed  more  in  the  society  of  far- 
mers than  I  have,  and  I  am  compelled 
to  say  that  there  is  no  one  expenditure 
made  by  them  so  grudgingly,  as  that 
for  the  schooling  of  their  sons.  Among 
ordinary  ftinriers,  they  "  cannot  spare 
them  to  go  to  school,  except  one  quarter 
in  the  dead  of  winter ;"  and  even  then 
the  cheapest  school,  if  there  be  a  choice, 
is  sought  for.  Now,  to  obviate  the  evils 
of  false,  and  to  secure  the  advantages  of 
true  science,  a  liberal  education  is  essen- 
tial— the  education  of  all  the  youth  in 
the  State — nothing  more,  notliing  less. 
Until  this  is  accomplished  our  agricultii- 
riil  community  will  continue  to  b-e  the 
prey  of  quackery  in  all  its  forms. 

N.  r>.  According  to  my  idea  of  things, 
the  criticism  in  the  4th  number,  January 
27th,  page  59,  on  the  "Professional  Edu- 
cation of  Farmers,"  does  me  injustice  by 
over  measure,  a  fault  not  often  complain- 
ed of,  in  saying  that  I  have  'deft  notliing 
to  say  on  ttiis  subject."  This  is  a  great 
mistake.  I  have  left  volumes  to  be  said, 
both  by  the  critic  and  the  public;  and 
arranging  myself  among  the  latter,  I  ex- 
pect, (health  permitting,)  even  myself  to 
saj.  a  gi'eat  deal  more.  Certainly,  while 
I  can  use  the  pen,  I  shall  not  cease  to 
urge  the  professional  education  of  far- 
mers upon  the  public,  until  every  farmer 
in  this  broad  Union  shall  consider  him- 
self, and  be  considered,  an  educated  gen- 
tleman— one  who  shall  not  find  it  neces- 
sary to  employ  a  travelling  chemist,  to 
tell  him  wdiat  kind  of  manures  he  must 
use  to  increase  his  crop  of  corn  or  wheat. 
And  when  you,  Mr.  Critic,  shall  seethat 
time,  I  predict  that  you  shall  also  see  the 
farmer  and  the  gardener,  recognized  at 
the  "  store"  door,  and  the  "  hotel"  door, 
and  everywhere  else,  as  gentlemen — 
"OTutlemeu  who  can   dine  with  us,"  as 


an  aristocratic  friend  of  ours  once  said, 
in  speaking  of  the  qualifications  he  de- 
sired in  the  candidates  for  membership 
in  a  Pigeon  Shooting  Club. 

Yours,  ti.  B.  Smith." 


We  lay  before  our  readers  the  above 
extract,  which  we  find  in  "  The  Country 
Gentleiuan,"  an  agricultural  paper  pub- 
lished in  the  State  of  New  York.  We 
do  not  publish  this,  though,  as  we  do 
most  extracts  from  other  papers,  believ- 
ing that  it  contains  any  thing  calculated 
to  instruct,  but  for  the  purpose  of  calling 
the  attention  of  our  readers  to  the  many 
attempts  still  made  to  arrest  the  progress 
of  agricultural  science,  by  demagogues 
endeavoring  to  pursuade  farmers  that 
but  little  knowledge  is  necessary  in  or- 
der for  them  to  become  skilled  in  their 
profession.  The  article  in  question,  if 
read  in  a  careless  and  tliouglitless  man- 
ner, is  calculated  to  do  injury;  bat  by 
giving  it  that  reflection  which  is  impor- 
tant to  obtain  a  correct  view  of  a  sub- 
ject, the  reader  cannot  fail  to  see  at  once 
the  flimsjT-  veil  under  which  the  author 
attempts  to  hide  his  own  ignorance,  and 
arrest,  if-possible,  the  progress  of  agri- 
cultural science.  In  the  beginning  oi 
the  extract  he  gives  a  definition  of  gene- 
ral science,  and  of  agricultural  science 
especially,  to  which  we  do  not  object  in 
the  least,  notwithstanding  the ,  superflu- 
ous language  used.  He  says  that  "the 
science  of  agriculture  is  a  complete  theo- 
retical and  practical  knowledge  of  all  the 
arts  and  means,  practical  and  theoreti- 
cal, required  in  conducting  a  farm  in  the 
best  manner."  This  we  regard  as  em- 
bracing every  thing  which  a  scientific 
farmer  should  know;  but  just  listen  to 
what  he  says  in  the  next  breath :  "  The 
most  scientific  farmer  I  ever  saw  could 
not  analyze  a  handful  of  soil  according 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


25 


to  what  we  call  science.  He  had  ac- 
quired by  long  experience  and  observa- 
tion, a  knowledge  of  soils,  their  defects, 
and  the  remedies,  that  enabled  him  to 
judge  with  precision  the  quality  of  any 
soil,  without  the  aid  of  the  alembic  or 
crucible."  Such  doctrine  as  this  would 
have  done  well  enough  to  have  "preach- 
ed" ten  years  ago,  but  the  scales  are  now 
falling  from  tlie  eyes  of  the  farmers,  and 
they  are  beginning  to  find  out  that  they 
have  already  listened  too  long  to  the 
croakings  of  such  demagogues  as  the 
author  of  this  paper.  He  does  not  seem 
to  be  aware  of  the  rapid  progress  that  is 
being  made  in  agricultural  science  ;  h.e 
is  indeed  far  behind  the  times.  He 
surely  has  not  heard  of  the  great  yield 
of  w heat  on  the  farm  of  Hon.  Reveidy 
Johnson,  in  Maryland,  uhicli  was  the 
result  of  an  analysis  made  of  the  soil 
by  Prof.  Stewart,  of  Baltimore.  This 
land  when  purchased  produced  seven 
bushels  of  wheat  per  acre.  After  the 
analysis  and  a  single  element  only  being 
required,  which  was  supplied  at  an  ex- 
pense of  ten  dollars  per  acre,  it  produced 
an  average  of  twenty -nine  bushels.  This 
is  only  one  of  mauy  such  experiments 
which  we  could  name,  as  being  the  re- 
sults of  analysis  of  soils.  What,  we  ask 
would  have  been  done  in  this  case  with- 
out the  "alembic  or  crucible  ?"  In  what 
other  way  could  the  fact  have  been  as- 
certained that  this  soil  was  wanting  only 
in  the  phosphate  of  lime,  and  this  ele- 
ment was  to  be  found  most  abundant  in 
bone  earth  ?  Still  we  are  told  that  men 
may  become  scientific  farmers  ^^  ithout  a 
kno  A  ledge  of  chemistry.  We  have  never 
contended  that  scientific  farmers  should 
be  practical  analytical  chemists,  but  we 
do  say  that  they  should  understand  agri- 
cultural chemistry,  to  enable  them  when 


an  analysis  of  soil  is  made,  to  be  able  to 
know  what  substances  in  nature  contain 
the   wanting   elements .  in   the  greatest 
abundance,  and  to  supply  them  with  the 
least  expense.     The  difference  between 
making  an   analysis  for  a  scientific  far- 
mer, and  one  who  is  not,  is  tlris :  that 
the  man  of  science  only  needs  to  have  a 
simple  analysis,  and  he  can  readily  see 
from  A^'here  the  substances  are  to  be  ob- 
tained ;  but  in  the  other  case,  the  work 
at  this  stage  is  only  half  completed,  for 
the  chemist  then  has  to  wi'ite  out  the 
analysis  and  give  general  directions  for 
manuring  the  land.     But,  in  speaking  of 
this  man  of  experience  and  observation, 
he  seems  to  be  rather  of  the  opinion 
that  he  yet  might  learn  something,  or 
that  he  might  much  sooner  have  learned 
what  he  did  know,  for  he  says  :  "Now 
if  he  had  been  enabled  to  resort  to  chem- 
istiy,  it   would  have  saved  him  much 
time  and  labor  in  acquiring  his  knowl- 
edge, but  still   he  Avas  a   man    of  true 
science."     Here  we  think  that  he  has 
said    more    tluin    he    iniended — or,  in 
other  worcb,  he  has  contradicted  him- 
self.    But  lie  soon  gets  into  the  same 
old  strain   again,    urging  the  position, 
that  a  man  nuiy  have  a  scientific  knowl- 
edge of  his  profession,  without  knowing 
any  thing  of  the  theory  upon  which  it 
is  based.     He  says  that  "it  does  not  fol- 
low because  a  blacksmith  cannot  explain 
the  science  of  his  use  of  air  in  his  forge, 
or  why  he  blows  air  among  his  coals, 
or  why  the  doing  so  increases  the  heat 
of  his  forge,  that  he  is  not  a  scientific 
blacksmith — ^lie  may  be  and  very  often 
is  a  perfect  master  of  his  branch  of  sci- 
ence, so  far  as  the  practice  of  his  own 
business  is  concerned."     The  blacksmith 
in  this  case  understood  perhaps  the  me- 
chanical part  of  his  profession,  which  he 


THE  FAKMEirS  JOURNAL, 


liad  learned  tVorn  seeing  the  san:te  thing 
done  time  after  time.  He  could  no 
doubt  after  many  failures  coml>iae  two 
metals ;  but  had  he  known  chemistry, 
he  could  have  done  the  fir8t  time  what 
it  may  have  cost  him  many  trials  to  ac- 
complish. The  aLitlior  of  this  paper 
would  perliaps  call  a  man  a  practical 
sailor  who  knew  how  to  steer  a  vessel, 
Iiavino-  the  land  on  either  side  as  a  guide, 
bat  .vhat  would  become  of  a  sailor  when 
blown  off  the  coast,  (whteh  is  often  the 
case,)  without  a  knowledge  of  the  sci- 
ence of  navigation,  even  though  he  had 
Lis  compass  and  quadrant  with  him. 
lie  says,  too,  that  "  a  man  may  acquire 
a  perfect  knowledge  of  agriculture  from 
other  teachers  than  professors  of  chem- 
istry and  geology."  He  does  not,  in 
this  instance,  mean  teachers  of  geogra- 
phy, grammar,  and  arithmetic,  for  if 
riuch  is  the  flict,  he  might  just  as  well 
admit  that  a  youth  who  wishes  to  study 
the  science  of  medicine,  should  place 
himself  under  the  tuition  of  a  lawyer. 
Hear  him  again.  "To  an  observing  eye 
a  soil  will  itself  give  indications  of  its 
qualities.  I  knew  a  man — I  know  him 
novr',  who,  if  he  were  about  purcliasing. 
a  piece  of  land,  would  look  at  the  growth 
of  tlie  trees,  bushes,  and  even  weeds  that 
were  on  the  land,  and  could  by  tliem  tell 
what  the  land  was."  This  seems  to  him 
to  be  really  wonderful  in  the  extreme — 
that  a  man  could  look  at  land  and  judge 
of  its  qualities  from  the  natural  growth 
upon  it.  We  venture  to  make  the  as- 
sertion, feeling  confident  of  the  concur- 
rence of  our  readers,  that  there  is  not  a 
man  in  our  State,  of  common  sense  and 
ordinary  education,  but  is  able  to  judge 
of  the  capacity  of  land  in  its  primitive 
state  from  the  native  growth  upon  •  it 
What  man  is  tliers  who  could  not  tell  that 


land  which  by  nature  produces  the  stur- 
dy gum,  poplar,  oak  and  ash,  would,  if 
cultivated,  yield  good  crops  of  corn,  oats 
and  wheat? — and  who,  if  he  saw  a  fields 
gro.vn  up  in  pine  saplings,  would  not 
say  tiiat  it  was  exhausted  land?.  I3y 
this  we  see  that  his  man. knows  nothing 
more  than  what  most  men  know,  and  in 
not  such  a  "paragon""  as  he  would  have 
his  readers  believe.  The  services  of  the 
chemist  are  not  required  to  tell  so  much 
about  land  in  its  native  state,  but  when 
he  is  most  needed  is  when  the  land  has 
been  exhausted  by  continued  cultivation, 
without  manuring  or  resting.  lie  says, 
too,  that  the  man  who  makes  the  most 
produce  according  to  the  labor  and  capi- 
tal invested,  deserves  the  name  of  far- 
mer. Many  who  do  this  we  term  real 
land  murderers,  for  they  many  times 
make  their  heavy  crop  at  the  expense  of 
their  land,  careing  nothing,  for  the  future 
benefit  which  they  may  derive  from 
them.  At  this  point  he  has  shown  him- 
self a  deraagogue,.outright;  it  seems  that 
he  cannot  keep  it  back  any  longer.  Ho 
fancies  that  he  has  so  completely  "fea- 
thered" the  eyes  of  liis  readers,  that  be 
can  force  down  them  any  thing  ho 
chooses.  After  this  he  springs  upon  ag- 
licultural  lecturers,  and  thinks  to  demol- 
ish them  at  once.  He  says  that  they, 
pre^scribe  remedies  for  the  worn-out  lands 
of  farmers  \\'hich  they  cannot  obtain;. if 
any,  but  few.  Let  us  look  into  this  a 
little.  Chemistry  teaches  that  there  are 
in  a  perfect  soil  sixteen  elements,  a  part 
organic  or  vegetable,  and  a  part  inorgan- 
ic or  mineral.  These  we  might  name^. 
but  we  feel  certain  that  our; readers  have 
become  acquainted  with  them  by  read- 
ing: the  able  address  of  Dr.  J.  J.  Phillips, 
which  we  published  in  the  first. volume 
of  the  "Faimer'a  jQurnal."     These  ele- 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


3? 


ruents  are  to  be  found  in  tlie  aslies  from 
the  various  trees,  the  muck  in  swamps, 
tlie  shell  and  stone  lime,  the  old  bones 
about  the  farm,  the  guano  and  the  stable 
manure.  Still,  in  the  face  of  this,  far- 
mers are  told  by  such  demagogues  as 
the  author  of  this  paper,  that  they  can- 
not find  the  means  to  renovate  their  ex- 
hausted lands.  It  really  seems  to  us 
like  abusing  the  beneficence  of  the  Crea- 
tor, who  has  not  failed  from  the  begin- 
ning to  see  our  every  want,  and  to  sup- 
ply it  bountifully.  He  goes  on  to  advise 
lime  to  be  used  by  the  littles,  in  a  hap- 
hazzard  way,  which  miglit  be  obviated 
if  the  farmer  knew  the  requiiements  of 
his  soil.  There  can,  we  think,  be  onl} 
one  conclusion  arrived  at  in  relation  to 
this  paper :  that  it  is  an  eftbrt  to  arrest 
the  progress  of  agricultural  chemistry — 
though,  he  says,  '"I  u'ould  by  no  means 
be  ihiderstood  as  oi)posiug  the  pro^^ress 
of  a^TicuItural  chemistry — quite  the  con- 
trary. A  knowledge  of  it  is  a  great  and 
powerful  assistant  to  the  farmer."  Thi.- 
can  be  proved  to  be  false  by  his  own  lan- 
guaf>'e,  when  he  boasts  of  two  men  be- 
ing scientific  men  wlio  did  not  have  any 
knowledge  of  chemistry  or  other  branch 
of  science  in  connection  with  agriculture. 
We  miglit  go  on  still  farther  with  our  re- 
view of  this  paper,  but  we  shall  conclude 
by  saying,  that  we  rejoice  very  much  to 
think,  that  the  day  is  not  far  distant 
when  such  croakers  as  the  author  of 
this  production  will  not  be  able  to  hold 
up  their  heads,  and  continue  to  practice 
their  gross  deceptions  ujion  the  farming 
community.  They  will  have  to  come 
down  from  their  higli  positions,  or  in- 
form themselves  more  than  what  they 
liave  done.  They  fin<.l  it  easier  to  de- 
lude the  enquiring  farmer  who  has  not 
had  the  advantages  of  education,  than 


to  make  themselves  acquainted  with 
such  branches  of  science  as  will  enable 
them  to  correct  teachers.  We  are  aware 
that  we  do  not  know  as  much  of  aori- 
cultut-al  science  as  we  should.  We  can 
see  many  deficiences  in  our  communica- 
tion with  our  readers.  But  we  have 
never  lead  them  into  error  knowingly 
for  the  purpose  of  deceiving  them  ;  and 
we  shall  cling  to  the  position  with 
which  we  started  out, — "to  put  error  to 
fiight,"  come  whence  it  may.  This  is 
our  reason  for  attacking  this  paper  at 
this  time.  We  regard  it  as  doing  great 
injustice  to  the  cause  which  we  are  ad- 
vocating, and  consequently  we  feel  prj- 
vileged  to  make  war  upon  it,  and  lend 
our  aid  in  driving  such  "drones"  from 
the  field  of  agricultural  science.  Against 
all  such  ue  warn  our  readei's — they  are 
"wolves  in  sheep's  clothing,"  and  should 
be  treated  as  such. 


From  tlie  Workino:  Farmer. 
Male  and  Female  Com, 

M'Ssis.  EuiTDi;*:— A(  (he  lite  inecf- 
iiig  of  our  Siitt-^  Ag  ii'ultuial  S'  cit  tv 
•it  Mrrt'i.itii,  tlie  renin. k  wus  innd.'  at 
.\u  eveniuir  si  ssioa,  hy  a  friniitimt 
/luui  ;er,  that  tlnre  uert-  male  nnd  fe- 
iirilf  eais  ol  corn.  It  seeiii' d  tltanrre 
to  me,  thill  any  peis  in  i.f  «.b.-er  atinn 
and  ^ci•  nco  should  hiive  tiiailp  such  a 
r  mark,  and  Strang  r  s  ill,  ili.t  w  i^n 
it  h'td  bieii  made,  it  should  imvp  teen 
defendel  hy  such  reason ii»ir  as  ^vas 
then  ihi'ie  iidvanceJ  ;  and  as  tli.- iit- 
'eutioiitf  iniiny  of  your  nadeis  has 
lins  ben  cilb  d  lo  this  tnbjrct.  [  hope 
tiiat  i'  may  in  t  bi;  uidiileieslK  g  lo 
ill'  in,  if  th  O'igh  your  j'aper  I  .-Isould 
invi:i'  ihein  to  tin-  exaiiin  a  ion  of  this 
trnly  '•  due  of  ih'  mn<t  mieresting 
idauts  in  tlie  vegetable  kmijauiu" 


28 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Maize,  or    ladiau  Corn,  belongs  tu 
the  class  of  monoecious  plants,  hnving 
two    distinct  fljwers    upon    the   same 
plant,  the  male  and   female,  the  male 
flower  containing  the  stainans,  bearing 
the  pollen  or  fecuoiiating  powder,  and 
'dpon   the  corn  stalk  is   what  is  called 
the  tassel  or  spindle,  the  female  flower 
containing  the  pisuls,  or  wha.t  is  com 
nionly  called  the   siiif.     This    is    the 
most    wonderful    and  curious  part   of 
the  plant,  worthy  of  the  most  minute 
examination,  and  the  closest  inspection 
of  all  who  love  to  study  and  examine 
the    wondtrful   works  of  God  I     Upon 
examination    we  find    that  there  is  a 
pistil  or  thread  of  silk  attached  to  each 
ovule  or  seed-vessel — i.  e.   lo  each  sin- 
gle keinel  of  corn  upon   the  cob  ;   and 
if  vve  place  one  of  these  pistils  or  tliieads 
of  silk  under  a  magnifying   glass  we 
sball  find  that  it  is  a  tube,  and  the  end 
of  this  tube,  which  protrudes  from  the 
husk,  to  be  enlarged  and  covered  wi'h 
a  fine   do.vn  or    hair,   esuiing   also  a 
glutinous  fluid.     This  end  is  called  the 
stigma,  and  upon  this  stigma  or  end  of 
the  tube,  falls  the  pollen  or  fecundating 
powder  of  the  tassel  or  male  flower, — 
This  powder  is  caught  in  the  down  or 
hair  of  the  stigma,  and  is  caused  to  ad- 
here by  the  fluid  :  when  soon,  this  little 
egg-  of  pollen,  bursts   the   pellicle  or 
skin  that  surrounds  it^  and  the  fecun- 
dating matter  contained  within  is  suck- 
ed into  the  tube,  and  thus  conveyed  to 
the  ovule,  or  germ  of  the  kernel — thus 
the   ovul^  is    fructified,  and  the   grain 
produced  ! 

If  one  of  thesfj  threads  of  silk  be- 
comes injured  in  any  wav  before  the 
ovulo  to  which  it  is  attached  is  fructi- 
fied, the  consequence  is,  a  kernel  of  corn 
will  be  missing  from  that  place  upon 


the  cob  ;  as  is  often  found  to  be  the  case 
when  husking  corn  :  and  if  we  should 
cut  off  the  entire  silk  when  it  first 
makes  its"  appearance,  we  should  find 
no  corn  upon  the  cob  in  harvest !  And 
who  cannot  but  admire  the  wisdom  of 
Him  who  has  admirably  contrived  and 
adjusted  all  these  things!  See  here, 
the  poken  is  upon  the  spindle,  and  it 
must  fall  upon  the  silk,  it  must  break, 
and  the  matter  it  contains  must  be  suck- 
ed in,  or  there  can  be  no  corn  !  And 
here  again  is  wisdom,  in  that  there  is  so 
great  an  abundance  of  the  pollen  pro- 
duced by  the  spindle;  so  that  in  the 
time  of  the  florescence  of  com,  the 
whole  ground  seems  to  be  covered 
by  It ! 

From  these  facts,  it  is  easy  to  prove 
the  absurdity  of  the  remarks  made  at 
Meredith,  in  reference  to  male  and  fe- 
male ears;  for  m  the  first  place  we  sea 
that  the  ears  weie  not  fructified  as  a 
whole,  but  each  single  keri-el  by  itself 
through  its  own  peculiar  pistil  or  silk  ; 
therefoie,  if  there  be  any  truth  in  that 
remarl;,  we  are  to  fcujipose,  that  the 
whole  two  or  three  hundred  or  more 
kernels  upon  the  same  car.  each  fructi- 
fied separately  and  individually,  were 
of  the  same  sex,  either  male  or  female 
while  all  those  upon  another  ear  upon 
the  same-  stalk,  are  of  a  different  sex! — 
the  very  idea  of  which  is  absurd  in  it- 
self. Again,  if  it  were  trui^,  should  we 
take  a  male  or  female  ear,  and  plant  it 
by  itself,  out  of  the  reach  of  the  pollen 
from  other  corn,  it  would  produce  no 
corn,  which  facts  both  from  observation 
and  actual  experiment,  do  not  prove. 
Thi5  shows  us  how  careiul  we  should 
be,  in  giving  currency  to  vulgar  and 
e  romous  iJeas,  lest  we  mislead  those 
who  may  not  have  the  time  or  means 


THE.  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


29 


)f  investigaiing  the  truth  or   falsity  of 
hem.  E.  CI.  Little. 

Remarks  of  the  Editor. -The  above 
irticle  is  per'.inent  lo  its  purpose,  and 
ve  m?y  add,  in  addition  to  the  Tacts 
ihere  set  forth,  that  the  farina  fecundi 
)f  plant;'  is  carried  to  great  distances, 
ind  lodged  upon  others  for  their  fructi- 
ication.  This  pollen  is  composed  of 
small  spheroids  filled  with  hydrogen 
jas,  and  so  sweighed  by  their  coating 
IS  to  float  in  the  aimosrhere  at  the  ele- 
mtion  at  which  they  are  disengaged 
:rom  the  oiiginai  plant,  and  it  is  for  this 
reason  that  these  little  balloons  travel 
Jirectly  to  the  place  where  they  are 
required.  On  arriving  at  their  desii 
nation  ihey  are  attached  by  their  unc- 
bious  surface,  and  from  the  heat  of  the 
3un  and,GGBseq^Jent  expansion  of  the 
gas  contained  within  them,  they  burst 
and  aie  reversed  like  the  skin  of  half 
an  orange  turned  inside  out,  and  in  this 
Bap  form  covering  the  pistils  to  which 
they  are  attached.  A  single  hill  of  red 
or  any  other  corn,  will  cause  ke.uels  of 
1  similar  kind  to  appear  on  almost  eve- 
ry hill  in  the  same  field.  Indeed  to 
this  process  of  hybiidation  we  are  in- 
debted for  all  the  new  varieties  daily 
being  produced.  Thus  the  StowelPs 
Evergreen  corn  is  a  hybrid  between 
the  manomenee  soft  corn  and  the  north- 
ern sugar  corn,  having  the  sweetness  of 
the  one,  and  retaining  fur  a  long  time 
the  peculiar  softness  of  the  other.  Ey 
this  hybridation  it  is  as  hard  and  as  full 
of  leaf  as  the  manomenee  corn,  with  an 
enlarged  sized  ear,  having  all  the  prop- 
erties and  qualities  of  the  best  sugar 
corn. 


Judge  not  of  men  or  things  at  first 
sight. 


To  Extirpate  Sorrel. 

An  exchange  paper  gives  the  follow- 
ing directions  : 

The  presence  of  scrrel  indicates  an 
acid  soil.  It  is  a  sour  plant,  and  thrives 
only  on  such  lands  as  are  destitute  o{ 
calcareous  matters  ;  consequomtly  the 
application  of  the  latier  in  sufficient 
quantities  to  correct  the  acidity  sug- 
ge.-ts  itself  as  the  most  effectual  me- 
thod of  retting  rid  of  it,  and  rendering 
the  soil  fit  for  profitable  cultivation  in 
other  or  more  desirable  crops.  Yet 
the  quality  of  soil  on  which  this  plant 
is  naturally  produced  precludes  the 
hope  that  it  will  ever  be  entirely 
eradicated,  and  it  hence  becomes  a 
part  of  fanning  to  know  in  what  man- 
ner it  can  be  most  successfully  econo- 
mized, and  rendered  valuable  as  au 
article  of  animal  sustenance  or  food. 

There  are,  indeed,  but  few  vegeta- " 
bles,  however  mean  and  valueless  ttey 
may  be  considered,  which  do  not  pos- 
sess some  quality  of  redeeming  them 
from  the  hasty  yet  common  charge  of 
utter  worthlessness,  and  of  this  order 
we  regard  ,«oirel.  As  food  for  horses  and 
sheep,  it  not  only  possesses  considerable 
value,  but  if  chafFdd  and  mixed  with 
mi  {,vl  it  will  fatten  them  as  readily, 
perhaps,  as  English  hay,  prepared  iu 
the  same  manner.  Fed  to  these  ani- 
mals in  its  natural  stale,  and  without 
any  accompaniment,  it  is  found  tore- 
tain  them  in  health  and  heart,  and  the 
seed  ground  and  made  into  'mush'  is 
said  by  those  who  have  had  experience 
in  feeding  it  to  be  equal  to  Indian  corn. 
Yet  no  farmer  will  ever  cultivate  sor- 
rel as  a  farm  product.  It  is  exhausting 
in  the  extreme,  and  it  is  only  when  it 
obtrudes  itselt  on  him  spontaneously 
that  he  should  endeavor  to  render  ifc  of 


«0 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


any  account. 

The  only  effectual  mode  of  extiipa 
ting  it  is  to  sweeten  llie  soil  by  liming, 
or  t(i  irierense  ilie  staple  to  a  d^giee 
that  it  will  proino'H  tiie  de^'  lopmeiit 
»if  a  inoie  valij;ib!e  bfil  age,  amJ  cIeans^■ 
llie  6oil  ihori  ughly  by  a  fucctssion  of 
manured  crops,  such  as  corn,  poiaioes, 
or  som^'  otht-i'  vc^rtiable  which  is  culii 
vated  exilusively  with  a  hoe.  Tlie 
tseo  I  of  the  so;r  I  is  not  abundant,  but 
il  IS  invesM'tt  iu  an  iottgumint,  oi 
horov  involucri'.  which  potse>si;s  the 
power  of  pte'trving  the  vital  [owei 
nriiinpaireJ  f  )r  year.*,  when  phieeil  by 
<  ircllrn^tances  so  dti<  p  in  the  soil  as  to 
be  b<  V  iJ'i  '  G  iiitlufnca  of  those 
Aitalizing  principles  up  )ii  which  ger 
mn'liim    i*  found   niiinly  to  di  pend 

Tiris  peculiarity  ol  th'-sieJ  ex{)lains 
why  s  irrt  1  s-o  i<(u  u  nr  pears  after  a  long 
r!astiir,'A<;c,  ;ind  the  d  suppi  arance  (.f  ihe 
pl^nt  f  oin  the  surface  (,f  the  soil  where 
it  has  previously  groa-n. — uiiiisan. 


Swine. 

l^or  brceili'g  piu-j  oscs.  c'loose  the 
larg^si,  ami  those  having  the  longest 
budv;  dud  none  .-honlJ  bo  selected  un- 
der one  year  ol  a^^e.  Ti.cy  should 
Lave  a  i  asinre  or  laig-^  yJirJ  lo  range  ir_ 
and  be  ;[:iven.  occasiontillv,  green  food. 
Thev  slioulJ  b''  liejt  !is  much  as  possi- 
ble to  ill  niselvesai  tlie  time  of  lister- 
in;^.  For  tiiree  or  f  ur  clays  after  lit- 
teriiifj.  liic  S'pvy  slioul  i  le  fcl  on  boil"d 
bran  or  other  Ii;;hifi.O(i,  and  protf^cted 
from  annoyani-e.  If  iho  ItUr  is  lir^o, 
the  SOW  wdl  need  inuc!)  yreen  or  liquid 
food,  yet  cue  thouKl  be  ihken  thai  the 
ccours.  or  di  irrl  oe  i,  is  not  produce  I. — 
Sonn  tines  sow.-^  devour  ih-ir  |;i"s; 
this  Ciui  h'- prevent' d  by  givm<j  ihein 
fresh  lULUt  iora  day  or  two. 


Treatment  of  Poultry. 

The  following  rules  are  authorita- 
tively Irtid  down  for  the  treatment  of 
Poultry: 

1.  All  young  chickens,  ducks  and 
turkrys,  should  be  k(  pt  under  cover> 
out  of  the  weaiher,  during  lainv  sea- 
sons. 

2.  7Vo  or  three  times  a  week,  pep- 
per, shallots,  shives  or  garlic  should  be 
tnixf  d  up  with  their  food. 

3  A  snnill  lump  of  asafosdita  should 
be  pi  iced  in  the  pan  in  which  water  i& 
given  them  to  drink. 

4.  Whenever  they  manifest  disease, 
by  the  droopir-g  of  the  wings  or  any 
oiher  ouiwaid  .'i^n  of  ill  health,  a  littie 
asa^ce  ita,  broken  into  small  lumps, 
should  be  mised  with  their  food. 

5.  Chickens  which  are  k<'pt  fiora  the 
dung-tjill  while  yi/uiig,  seldom  have  the 
gapes;  iher.fore,  it  should  be  the  ob- 
jrct  of  those  who  have  the  charge  of 
them,  so  to  confine  the  hens  as  to  pre- 
vent their  young  from  the  range  of  the 
barn  or  st;tble  yards. 

6  Should  any  of  the  chickens  have 
the  gap^s,  mix  up  small  portions  of  as- 
sfce.iia,  rhubarb,  and  popper,  in  fresh 
buiter,  and  give  each  chicken  as  much 
of  the  mixture  as  will  lie  upon  half  the 
b'iwi  of  a  small  teaspoon. 

7.  For  the  p  p,  the  following  treat- 
ment is  judicious:  take  off  the  indura- 
ted covering  on  the  point  of  the  tongue, 
and  give  twice  a  day,  for  two  or  three 
days,  a  pn  en  of  garlic  as  big  as  a  pea. 
If  gallic  cam  «t  be  obiaineJ,  onion, 
shallot  or  shives  will  answer  ;  and  if 
neither  of  them  be  convenient,  two 
grains  of  black  pepper,  given  in  fresh 
bu:tfC,  will  answer, 

8  For  the  sa.. files,  the  same  remedy 
as  for  the  gapes  will  be  found  highl^j 


TSE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


5t 


curative,  hat  in  addit'on  to  tlipse,  it 
will  be  necessary  to  melt  a  little  asa- 
fceJita  in  Irrsh  butter,  and  rub  the 
chicken  about  the  nos-tnls,  taking  care 
to  clean  them  out. 

9.  Grown  up  duck*  are  sometimps 
taken  off  rapidly  by  convulsions.  In 
such  cases,  four  grains  of  rhubarb 
and  four  grains  of  cayenne  i)efiper, 
mixed  in  fresh  butter,  should  be  ad- 
ministered.— Scmihfic  American. 


Economy  of  Fattening  Ho^s. 

The  following  expi-riraenl  m  fatten- 
ing hogs,  yj\\]\  ground  or  ungrou?id 
corn,  would  seem — as  far  as  a  solitary 
experiment  can — to  settle  the  question 
of  economy  as  to  the  b*^sl  nriode  oi  feed- 
in»  hogs  It  is  an  extract  from  a  com 
muniration  in  the  Patent  0-ffice  Report 
for  i850-'51,  by  Mr.  J.  E.  Dodge,  of 
Poiosi,  Grant  Cciunty,  Wisconsin.  He 
says  :  "In' October  last,  I  S'  lected  from 
my  stock  two  pigs,  of  the  same  size  and 
apparently  alike  ihiifly  ;  one,  however, 
weighed  250  lbs.,  the  other  247  lbs. 
Immediately  aftfr  being  weighed,  they 
were  put  into  apartments  of  ihe  same 
house,  kept  dry  and  warm,  and  fed  widi 
great  care  for  forty  days  ;  then  they 
were  again  weighed,  and  slau;^hiered. 
The  heaviest  was  fed  with  com  meal, 
mixed  stiff  with  cold  wa^er ;  iho  other 
with  shelled  cum,  with  plenty  of  pore 
water  to  diink.  The  one  fed  witli  meal 
consumed  425  lbs.  and  gained  63  lbs 
live  weight ;  the  p'lrk  weight  after 
dressing,  was  297  lbs.  The  other  ate 
308  lbs.  of  corn,  and  was  found  to  have 
gained  33  lbs.  live  weight,  his  poik 
weight  being  231  lbs.  By  subtracting 
the  pork  weight  from  the  live  wtighi. 
ihe  amount  of  offal  is  aseei tainted, 
wbicK  in   this   experiment,  proired  a 


fraciion  less  than  one-fiflh  of  the  live 
weight.  It  one-filth  be  dedijcted  fiom 
the  amount  each  jig  gained,  we  hcvve 
the  l'ueg,.in,  in  poikweiglit,  produced,, 
which  was  5  3-4  lbs  for  every  56  lbs. 
of  raejil,  and  5  lbs  for  every  56  lbs.  of 
corn." 

'■The  pigs  were  a  cross  betwren  the 
Byefieid  and  Berkshire,  the  best  and 
most  [  r.  fi!ab!e  breeds — the  corn,  y,.l- 
low-dnjt  or  Cleviland,  a  vaiie'y  held 
in  great  estetm  " 

Ga.n  of  the  hog  fed  on  corn- 

^^^<  63  lbs. 

"        "         «       corn.ZZ  lbs. 

Gain  in  favor  of  feeding  on 

meal^  30  lbs. 

To  Destroy  the  Apple  Tree  Borer. 

First,  kill  all  ihe  giul  s  in  the  trunk 
of  the  tree,  by  pushing  a  u  ire  U[>  the 
hobs  as  far  as  possible.  Tlieii  lake  a 
pail — fill  it  half  full  of  thin  soft  fcoap, 
and  stir  in  enough  i..bacco  water  to 
iiiake  it  two  thirds  full.  Having  fjr«t 
scraped  off  any  loose  b;irk,  next  apply 
this  tobacco  iihd  soap  [aiut  with  a  eiiff" 
brush  10  every  part  of  the  trunk,  and 
larger  part  of  the  limbs  — pnttinif  it  on 
espfcifilly  thick  at  the  "crotches,"  and 
ihe  base  of  the  trunk  — the  places  where 
the  b(  rer  likt  s  b<  st  t  ■  d'  posite  i's  egijs. 
If  this  is  done  »  arly  in  May,  I  can  im- 
swr  r  from  experience  for  its  efficacy. 
N;)  borer  will  deposiie  her  ej-gs  in  bark 
cotted  over  in  this  way.  All  the  mer- 
it of  the  prescription  belongs  to  you 
the  Editor,  and  not  to  your  humble 
Servant,  A.  R.  C. 

Rhode  hland,  April,  1852. 

We  may  add  to  the  forei^oing,  that 
the  snap  and  tob  iceo  mixturej  painted 
uverlhe  trunks  of  oiher   tree,  as  the 


32 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


ash,  peacli,  &c.,  infected  wiih  Boi'trs, 
is  eqa  illy  effectual.  The  main  point 
is  to  get  it  0!1  before  the  insect  comes 
out  in  its  winged  state — and  south  of 
Baltimore  that  is  usually  before  thi.> 
time.  North  of  that  poin'.,  the  eaily 
part  of  May  will  answer. — Horticul- 
turist. 

There  is  now  a  daily  mail  between 
New-Berne,  N.  C  ,  and  Plymouth. 


ri^HE  subscriber  will  give  ;nu'  special  ad- 
X  vice  to  Fanners,  Ijy  their  addressing-  him 
and  giving  a  descriptiuii  of  their  farms.  His 
charge  will  be  moderate.  He  will  make 
aBalysis  of  soils  and  marls,  atid  v;rite  out  the 
analysis  for  application  of  manures. 
For  analysis  of  soils,  -  -  -  ^5  Oo 
Writing  out  analysis,      -        -        •  .5  OO 

JOHxV  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D. 

LET  every  True  North  Carolinian  throv? 
his  might  into  the  hands  of  our  own 
Mechanics,  and  by  this  means,  with  our  Ag- 
ricultural advancement,  we  are  bound  to 
become  an  independent  people.  So  let  tlie 
citi.;ens  of  Edffecombe,  and  the  neighbouring 
counties,  call  and  e.xamine  the  magnificent 
stock  of 

FURNITURE, 

which  is  offered  for  sale  at   F.  Li.  Boii<Ts 

Furniture  Store,  in  Tarboro',  consisting  ofthe 
following  articles,  viz  : 

Ladies'  Marble  and  Mahogany  Top  Dres- 
sing Bureaus ;  Ladies  Marble  Top  Wash' 
Stands  ;  Sideboards  and  Plain  Bureaus;  Ward 
Robes  and  Book  Cases ;  Sofas  and  Mahogany 
E>ocking  Chairs;  Mahogany  and  Walnut 
Tables  ;  Pete-a-tetes  and  Divans;  Mahogany, 
French,"  and  Cottage  Bedsteads  ;  Stationary 
and  Portable  Writing  Desks  ;  Wood  an  1 
Cane  Seat  Rjcking  Chairs  ;  Ofiice,  Windsor, 
Cane  and  Ptush  Bottom  Chairs  ;  a  large  as- 
sortment of  cheap  Bed  Steads  ;  Wash  Stands 
and  Candle  Stand.*;  China  Presses,  various 
patterns;  also,  a  few  Nymplis  and  Nuptials- 
Old  Furnituricand  Sofas  repaired  and  made 
to  look  as  a'ood  as  new.  Old  Bachelors  ren- 
ovated in  such  a  style  as  will  malce  them 
accessible  to  the  smiles  of  voung  ladies  and 

old  M s  at  least.     Furniture  kept  on  hand 

to  suit  any  age  or  sext. 

Now  one  word  to  tiie  public  What  is  life 
to  any  one,  if  they  do  not  avail  themselve  of 
the  comforts  and  conveniences  that  are  offered 
for  sale  at  F.  L.  BOND'S  Ware  Room  .'  An 
examination  by  the  public  is  earnestly 
solicited.  F.  L.  B. 

Tarboro',  N.  C, 


VViND-GALLS. — Wind-gaili!,  are  gen- 
erally found  on  the  hind-legs,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  fetlock,  and  are 
generally  occisioiied  by  violent  action 
and  straining  of  the  tendons.  They 
not  only  injure  the  appearance  of  the 
horse,  Luil  oiten  produce  lameness.  A 
very  smuU  wind-gall  may  not  injure  a 
horse  for  a  great  length  of  time,  and 
may  be  removed  by  placing  a  tight 
bandage  upon  it ;  but  if  the  sac  is 
large,  bathe  it  uitli  warm  vinegar  and 
spirits  of  wine,  putting  a,tight  bandage 
round  it.     If  this  should  fail  of  a  cure, 

lay  on  blistering  ointment  until   it   is 
removtd. 


Concord,  N.  H.,  has  voted  to  become 
a  city  ;  yeas  825,  nays  559.  It  was 
organized  as  a  township  in  1722. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.' 

Page. 

Communication,  1 

Consmuuicatiun,  Ijy  "Panola,  Jr.,"  2 

Conmiunication,  by  "Beaufort,''  4 
Laws  of  the  State  of  N.  C,  passed  by  the 

Gen'l  Ajj'bly,  at  the  Sessiun  of  1852,  5 
Address  of  Hon.  Ro  :  Strange  before  the 

Cumberland  CO.  Agricultural'Society,  7 

Ashes,  14 

Cltaiing,  14 

Farming,              "^  15 

Attention,  SubscriLers,  16 

Uui-  Introduction,  16 
To  tlie  County  Agricultural  Societies  of 

the  i^tate,  lY 
Mr.  ituftin'i  Address  before  the  S.C-  In- 
stitute in  Charleston,  18 
Chemical  Ajiparatus  for  the  AnaJvsisof 

Soils,  "  19 
Farmers  and  Mechanics,  Get  Ready  for 

the  Fair  on  the  ISth  of  October  next,  20 
The  Fertilizing  Properties  of  the  remains 

of  Old  Chininies,  20 

Letter  from  Mr.  Street,  of  Craven  co.,  20 

Editor's  Table,  21 

Agricultural  Quackery,  22 

Male  and  Female  Corn,  27 

To  Exiii'pate  Sorrel,  29 

Swine,  30 

Treatment  of  Poultry,  30 

Economy  of  Fattening  Hogs,  31 

To  Destroy  the  Apple-tree  Borer,  31 

^Yiud-Gall3,                       '  32 


THE  FARIEE'S  JOUMAL. 


VOL   2. 


BATH,  N.  C,  MAY,  1853. 


m.  % 


JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D.,  Editor  and  Proprietor. 


For  the  Farmer's  Journal. 

GcTRRiTUCK  County,     ) 
March  24th,  1853.      j 

Does  land  improve  in  fertility  by  lay- 
ing uncultivated  for  one  year  or  more  ? 

In  order  that  this  question  may  be 
answered  with  satisfaction  to  those  who 
have  made  frequent  inquiries,  it  is  nec- 
essary to  consider  all  of  the  requisites  of 
a  productive  soil. 

1.  It  should  be  well  drained. 

2.  It  should  contain  5  per  cent,  of 
vegetable  matter  or  an  average  in  a  state 
of  decay. 

3.  It  should  contain  the  following  in- 
organic elements,  viz :  potash,  soda,  lime, 
magnesia,  silica,  and  iron  with  phospho- 
ric acid,  sulphuric  acid,  chlorine,  carbon, 
hydrogen,  oxygen,  nitrogen.  All  these 
elements  must  be  in  a  condition  availa- 
ble so  that  the  growing  crop  can  easily 
get  them. 

If  the  above  be  the  requisites  for  a 
fertile  soil  and  the  field  iinder  favorable 
circumstances  does  not  produce  abund- 
antly can  all  of  the  above  conditions  be 
fulfilled  by  resting  the  land  ? 

„Is  the  quantity  of  potash,  soda,  or  any 
one  of  the  above  fertilizers  increased  in 
the  soil  2  If  there  is  only  two  per  cent  of 


lime  in  the  soil  is  that  quantity  increased 
bj  resting  the  land  ?  It  is  not. 

By  constant  cropping  the  soil  becomes 
exhausted  of  the  above  fertilizers  that 
the  crops  require  for  one  two  or  more 
feet  or  as  deep  as  the  roots  penetrate; 
then  the  land  is  worn  out.  The  whole 
field  to  the  depth  of  one  foot  or  more  is 
dead  useless  earth.  K  it  is  rested  it  re- 
cruits slowly  from  its  fatigue.  It  produ- 
ces a  few  stick  woods  and  but  little  grass. 
After  it  has  rested  for  one  or  more  years 
its  strength  is  again  tested  but  the  tiller 
gains  a  scanty  reward  for  his  toil.  The 
small  quantity  of  those  fertilizing  ele- 
ments that  are  in  the  soil  has  been  greed- 
ily consumed  by  the  woods  and  they  are 
not  yet  decomposed,  thereby  yielding 
all  of  the  strength  to  the  crops.  The 
land  is  rested  again  and  again  but  it  is 
yet  weak  and  is  abandoned. 

But  some  lands  are  improved  by  lay- 
ing uncultivated  for  a  year  or  more,  and 
in  my  next  communication  I  will  consid- 
er the  means  of  improving  old  lands. 

Mo  YD  CK. 


J^"The  frequent  use  of  asparagus  is 
strongly  recommended  in  afiections  of 
the  chest  and  lungs. 


34 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


For  the  Farmer's  Journal. 

Sneads  Ferry  P  .0.,  Onslow  Co.,  ) 
January  14th,  1853.      f 

Dr.  John  F.  Tompkins  : — Dear  sir. 
Being  a  subscriber  for  your  valuable  pa- 
per, the  Farmer's  Journal,  from  the  first 
number,  and  from  the  information  I  find 
contained  therein  I  can  say  in  truth  that 
I  feel  my  dollar  as  well  spent  for  the 
Farmer's  Journal  as  any  paper  I  have 
evel-  taken,  yea  by  double.  Although  I 
liave  no  person  to  labor  except  myself, 
and  being  somewhat  in  years  and  also 
considerably  afflicted  so  that  I  cannot  la- 
bor much,  yet  as  I  said,  I  believe  my 
money  well  spent,  for  if  I  cannot  do 
much  I  will  do  what  I  can,  and  those 
who  have  a  plenty  of  force  can  do  no 
more.  If  I  cannot  manure  two  acres  of 
land  or  my  hundreds  I  will  try  and  ma- 
nure one  acre.  Dear  sir,  I  doubt  wheth- 
er there  is  any  other  section  beside  the 
one  I  reside  in  that  farming  is  more  neg- 
lected and  at  a  lower  ebb;  I  have  obtain- 
ed by  using  diligence  two  subscribers  for 
wliich  I  enclose  two  dollars.  You  will 
please  commence  their  subscription  with 
the  number  of  this  inst.  This  may  arrive 
too  late  for  the  issuing  of  the  January 
numbar;  if  so,  and  you  have  no  surplus 
numbers  commence  with  next;  enclose 
these  two  with  my  own  directed  to  the 
same  office,  J-  ^  *  •   ^^  * 

RocKViLLE,  Rowan  Co.,  N.  C 
March  7  th,  1853. 
Editor  Farmer's  Journal — Dear 
Sir  : — A  few  days  ago,  I  incidentally 
came  across  No.  1  Vol.  1  of  the  Far- 
mer'si  Journal.  I  looked  through  it  with 
care  and  interest.  Judging  from  this 
No.  as  a  specimen,  your  journal  is  cal- 
culated to  greatly  benefit  that  portion  of 
our  citizens  to  whose  interests  it  is  espe- 
cially devot  d,  and  who  form  tlie  bone  ^ 


and  sinew  of  every  State.  Farming  has 
been  too  little  studied  as  a  science,  but 
the  interest  which  is  being  manifested 
on  the  subject,  and  the  improvements 
which  are  making  in  this  department, 
together  with  our  system  of  internal  im- 
provements and  educational  facilities, 
augur  well,  (in  the  judgement  of  the 
correct  thinking)  for  the  future  prosperi- 
ty of  our  State.  I  hope  your  Journal  is 
still  in  existence  and  prospering.  State 
pride  should  induce  every  citizen  to  en- 
courage State  enterprise. 

Very  respectfully, 
S.  K. 


Rowan  County,  N,  C, 
March  20th 


,  1S53.  f 


Dr.  Jno,  F.  Tompkins — Dear  sir: — 
At  a  meeting  I  was  appointed  on  a  com- 
mittee to  invite  gentlemen  to  address  tho- 
Scotch  Ireland  Agricultural  Society  on 
the  second  Thursday   of  October  next. 

Will  you  do  us  the  favor  of  attending 
on  that  day  and  deliver  an  address.  We 
write  now  in  order  to  give  you  time  to- 
make  your  arrangements'.  If  you  were- 
to  travel  through  this  part  of  the  State 
many  societies  will  be  formed  and  a 
large  number  added  to  your  list  (i.e.)  the 
Farmer's  Journal. 

We  will  renew  oar  subscriptions  at 
our  next  meeting,  which  will  be  in  a 
few  weeks.  Some  one  of  us  will  collect 
the  money  and  names,  and  forward  them 
to  you  immediately.  Your  paper  has 
done  good  inour  neighborhood;  but  still 
there  are  hundreds  of  farmers  in  this 
part  of  our  State  that  take  no  agricuF- 
tural  paper.  So  if  you  will  spend  some 
time  with  us  next  fall,  we  will  do  what 
we  can  for  you.  If  you  could  come  pre- 
pared to  analyse  lands,  some  of  us  would 
like  it.    If  you  come  up  ea quire  the  way 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


35 


to  my  house  and  I  will  take  a  pleasure 
ia  introducing  you  to  our  people. 

Yours  respectfully, 

J.  F.  F. 


For  the  Farmers  Journal. 
Rule  for  Making  an  Axletree. 

Dr.  ToMPKiKS  : — Accompanying   the 
subscription  money  for  the  Journal,  you 
will  find  a  plain  simple  rule  for  making 
an  axletree  to  a  cart,  which  if  you  think 
will  be  of  interest,  or  benefit  the  agricul- 
tural community,   you  can   publish   in 
your  journal.  I  have  often  been  surprised 
in  witnessing  the  great  neglect  of  many 
■of  our  farmers,  not  only  in  the  timely  ap- 
plication of  anti-frictions   made  of  black 
lead,  flour,  tallow   and   oil;    but  the  all 
important  construction  of  a  well  made 
axletree.     Whenever  I  meet  with  a  cart 
<)f  this  kind,  the  squeaking  of  which  can 
be  heard  for  miles,  and  the  under  part 
running  some  twelve  or  fourteen  inches 
wider  than  the   upper,    thereby  causing 
more  labor  to  the   team,  I   at  once  in- 
quire of  the  owner  if  he  has  or  knows  the 
rule  for  making  an  axletree,  and  to  my 
astonishment  I  have  not  met  with  two 
out  of  eight  that  know  there  is  any  cor- 
rect rule;  they  all  say   they   know  how 
to  make  the  thing  but  have  no  particu- 
lar rule. 

I  do  not  profess  to  be  a  carpenter  or 
know  but  little  about  the  use  of  tools, 
yet  I  have  long  experienced  the  advan- 
tages of  an  easy  running  cart,  and  the 
rule  adopted  by  me  was  taken  from  the 
Farmer's  Register  (by  RuflSn)  some  fif- 
teen years  since. 

The  direction  is  this:  get  a  stick  of 
hard  durable  wood,  for  an  ox  cart  four 
by  four  inches  is  a  good  size  and  the 
length  desired  to  suit  the  body  and 
wheels,  strike  a  centre  line  from  end  to 


end;  after  getting  the  width  of  the  body, 
ascertain  the  length  of  the   hub  and  the 
size  of  the  boxes.     For   the  large  boxes 
you  will  lay  off  one  half  on  each  side  of 
the  centre  line  which   gives  the  size  for 
the  large  box,   and  for  the  small  boxes 
first  ascertain  the   difference  there  is  be- 
tween the  large  and   small    boxes,  and 
half  of  the   difference  there  is  between 
them,  lay  oft"  on  the  back  or  bevelled  side 
and  the  remainder  on  the  front  side  of 
the  line   and    you   have  the   size  of  the 
small  box.  For  instance  should  the  large 
boxes  be  six  inches  and  the   small  ones 
four,  half  the  difference  is  one  "inch.   Be 
careful  to  measure  at  the  place  where  the 
small  box  is  to  run  on  the  axle,  and  al- 
low enough  at  the  small  end  to  put  the 
pin.  After  laying  off  in  this  manner,  re- 
duce to  a  square  then  to  an  eighth  and  a 
round   and   you  will   have  a  good  fit, 
and  the   wheels    will  neither  bind  the 
shoulder  nor  run  off  on  the  pin. 

Belmont,  March  1853.      J.  B.  M. 


Manure. 

BV  n.  S.  JOHNSON,  CANTON,  jST.  Y. 


The  subject  of  manure  is  one  of  un- 
limited importance  to  every  farmer.— 
There  was  a  time  when  the  fancied  elixir 
of  life  drew  the  arrested  attention  of  the 
nations.  Its  supposed  value  was  all-en- 
grossing. Happily  for  the  world,  the 
dark  shades  of  that  night  of  igno^anee 
have  retired.  But  still  subjects  that  are 
perceived  to  be  of  high  importance  en- 
gross the  minds  and  become  the  chosen 
hobbies  of  men.  Not  unfrequently  the 
elite  and  the  savans  enter  the  arena  and 
contend  for  the  prize.  The  efforts  t@  dis- 
cover hidden  truths  or  bring  to  light  oc- 
cult science  not  unfrequently  exert  an  in- 
fluence which  conducts  unthinking  and 
bewildered  men  so  far  astray,  that  the 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


either  neglect  tlieir  own  interest,  or  else 
pursue  it  with  such  inappropriate  means 
as  are  sure  to  defeat  their  most  assidu- 
ous efforts. 

But  what  bearing  have  these  remarks 
on  the  humble  subject  of  manure  for  the 
farm?     Reflect,   and  you  will  perceive 
that  they  are  not  altogether  inappropri- 
ate.    By  at  least  common  consent,  the 
subject  of  manure  is  admitted  to  be  the 
foundation  of  agricultural  prosperity. — 
This  is  the  true  state  of  the  case  in  both 
Europe  and  America.    The  admitted  im- 
portance of  manure  to  successful  farming 
is  so  great,  that  the  most  laborious  inves- 
tigations of  science  are  directed  to  it. — 
Men  deservedly  in  the  highest  ranks  of 
talent  and  literature  are  bestowing  upon 
it  their  untiring  labors.     On  this  subject, 
several   of  the  most  learned  men  that 
ever  enlightened  and  adorned  any   age 
or  country  are  gathering  their  most  un- 
fading laurels.     In  our  OAvn  land,  many 
of  the   first  scholars  of  the  age  are  a- 
wakened   and   electrified   by  the   com- 
manding importance  of  this  rustic  sub- 
ject.    So  far,  all  is  well.     Noble  minds, 
men  of  undying  fame,  are,  in   this  par- 
ticular,  giving  their  labors  to  a  subject 
every  way  worthy  of  their  regard.     To 
increase  the   comforts  and  multiply  the 
food  for  the  world  is  no  trifling  concern. 
This  class  of  scientific  men  are  exert- 
ing a  wide  influence — an  influence  that 
aftects   every    agricultural   society    and 
every  agricultural  paper.     Though  their 
labors  have  developed  many  important 
truths  and  disclosed  much  valuable  infor- 
mation, yet  they  have  but  just  entered 
the  wide  field  which  opens  before  them, 
and  much  that  they  have  commimicated 
is  theory,   and  not  fact.     Experiments, 
testing  the  true  value  of  difl"erent  kinds 
of  manure,  have,  as  yet,  been  very  im- 


perfect and  unsatisfactory.  iVfter  all  that 
has  been  obtained,  our  knowledge  on 
this  subject  is  still  in  its  infancy.  There 
is  some  reason  to  apprehend  that  agri- 
culturists may  be  so  infatuated  by  the 
many  theories,  as  idly  to  seek  after  some 
substance  for  manure,  as  men  formerly 
sought  the  philosopher's  stone,  or  else, 
amid  perplexity,  to  conclude  that  all  is 
fancy,  and  leave  their  fields  to  barrenness 
and  decay. 

The  farmer  should  be  very  cautious 
in  regard  to  what  some  have  been  pleased 
to  denominate  special  manure,  and  oth- 
ers, concentrated  manure.  This  consists, 
in  burning  the  materials  and  using  the 
ashes  to  enrich  the  land.  No  doubt 
such  ashes,  or  any  ashes  judiciously  em- 
ployed, are  a  good  fertilizer.  But  is 
there  not  a  loss  in  the  process  of  burn- 
ing ?  Every  man,  who  has  been  at  all 
conversant  with  clearing  new  land,  knows 
that,  in  a  very  drj^  time,  there  is  danger 
of  burning  such  land  too  much.  When 
all  the  vegetable  matter  is  consumed  by 
the  fire  in  clearing,  there  may  be  one 
fair  crop  after  it,  but  the  land  will  be 
rendered  barren  and  subject  to  moss  for 
a  long  term  of  years.  Tha  prairies  of 
the  West  are  rendered  productive  by 
partially  burning  the  vegetable  surface. 
But  burn  deep,  consume  all  the  accumu- 
lation of  vegetables,  and  barrenness  will 
succeed.  Men  of  experience  in  clearing 
land  are  cautious  about  burning  deep 
even  green  timbered  lands.  If  the  far- 
mer wishes  to  increase  the  efficiency  of 
his  manure,  let  him  haul  marl,  -clay,  and 
leached  ashes  on  his  sandy  land,  but  let 
hira  by  no  means  burn  Ids  manure^ 
heap,  nor  suffer  it  to  become -dryby  fer- 
menting. ■  -  ■ 

To  the  farmer  it  is  important  that  the 
investigations  of  agricultural  chemistry 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


St 


should  proceed.  Tlie  farmer  sliould  wait 
patiently  for  the  result  of  those  labors, 
and  as  fast  as  feets  are  established,  he 
should  profit  by  them.  In  the  mean 
time,  he  should  be  diligent  in  using  the 
means  which  all  experience,  since  the 
earth  began  to  be  cultivated,  proves  will 
enrich  his  fields  and  increase  the  reward 
of  his  toil.  Notwithstanding  all  that  has 
been  written  on  agricultural  chemistry  by 
Sir  Humphrey  Davie,  Lampadius,  Goep- 
pert,  Sprengel,  Liebig,  Fresenjius,  Bous- 
singault,  and  numerous  other  worthies 
in  both  Europe  and  America,  still  it  is 
clear  that  one  of  the  best  substances  to 
enrich  the  land  and  increase  the  crop — 
one  upon  which  every  farmer  may  rely 
with  unwavering  safety,  is  barn-yard 
manure.  As  a  farmer,  here  lies  his  pearl 
of  great  price — here  his  mine  of  gold. 
Nor  does  he  need  another  Solomon  to  in- 
struct him  how  to  use  it.  All  that  is 
needed  is  care  and  effort  to  accumulate 
it,  discretion  in  j^reserving  it,  a  liberal 
hand  and  common  sense  to  spread  it  on 
his  fields. 

Twenty-five  head  of  cattle  will,  in  this 
climate,  with  proper  care,  make  one  hun- 
dred cords  of  manure  during  the  fodder- 
ing  season.  This,  spread  on  eight  acres, 
■will  cause  each  acre  to  yield  fifty  bushels 
of  corn — that  is,  on  land  which,  without 
manure,  would  not  produce  more  than 
twenty  or  twenty-five  bushels  to  the 
acre.  Thus  there  would  be  a  clear  gain 
of  two  hundred  bushels  of  corn  the  first 
year,  with  no  additional  expense,  only 
that  of  putting  the  manure  on  the  land. 
The  second  year,  the  same  manure  would 
equally  benefit  a  wheat  crop  or  some 
other  grain.  Nor  would  the  manure 
then  be  exhausted.  The  land  would  be 
in  a  good  condition  for  grass  or  clover. 
Where  corn  is  worth  50  cents  the  bush- 


el, the  farmer  may,  with  safety,  estimate 
,each  cord  of  his  barn-yard  manure  worth 
to  him  at  least  two  dollars  in  cash,  be- 
sides keeping  his  farm  in  a  productive 
state.  The  farmer  who  saves  his  ma- 
nure with  care  and  and  applies  it  with 
common  sense,  will  steer  his  course  with 
safety,  and  not  be  lost  on  a  barren  waste. 
But  neglect  manure,  and  no  part  of  the 
world  can  coutinue  fertile  under  the  ex- 
hausting process  of  agriculture.  If,  with- 
out manui'e,  the  father  obtains  good 
crops,  he  will  surely  leave  desolation  and 
poverty  to  his  sons.  Here  is  a  case 
■where  the  iniquity  of  the  fathers  is  ■vdsit- 
ed  upon  the  children. 

It  then  becomes  a  matter  of  no  small 
interest  to  inquire  what  are  some  of  the 
means  well  adapted  to  accumulate  and 
preserve  manure.  The  farmer  should 
stable  all  his  cattle  during  the  foddeiing 
season.  His  stables  should  all  be  pre- 
pared with  tanks  or  vats  under  them, 
to  receive  all  the  liquid  secretions  from 
his  cattle.  Into  these  vats  should  be 
thrown,  is  the  fall,  a  quantity  of  some 
suitable  substance  to  absorb  and' retain 
the  liquids.  This  putting  into  the  vats 
some  absorbent  should  be  repeated-  two 
or  more  times  during  the  winter.  He 
should  also  have  a  good  yard  connected 
with  his  stables,  in  which  liis  cattle  may 
run  in  the  day-time,  when  out  of  the 
stables.  His  yard  should  be  covered  to 
the  depth  of  six  inches  or  more,  in  the 
fall  with  swamp-muck,  with  leaves  from 
the  forest,  with  any  turf  from  the  high- 
way or  from  his  headlands.  By  lying  in 
his  yard  during  the  winter,  and  being 
mixed  with  the  droppings  of  his  cattle, 
any  of  these  substances  will  be  as  good 
in  the  spring  as  common  barn-yard  ma- 
nure. All  the  coarse  remains  of  the  fod- 
der, which  the  stock  refuse  to  eat,  should 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


be  thrown  into  the  tanks  under  the  sta- 
bles ;  the  manure  from  the  stables  should 
be  thrown  into  heaps,  and  sheltered  from 
tie  rains  and  snows,  to  preserve  it  from 
leaching  ;  all  the  weeds  on  the  farm,  of 
every  kind,  should  be  collected  while 
green,  and  piled  in  the  yard  for 
manure.  The  farmer's  hogs  should  be 
kept  at  work  making  manure.  Their 
pen  should  be  so  constructed  that  there 
will  be  a  hog-laboratory  in  one  part  of 
it.  In  this  apartment  should  often  be 
placed  swamp-muck,  turf,  or  straw,  all 
of  which  the  hogs  will  manufacture  into 
first-rate  manure  during  the  season. — 
They  will  work  diligently  if  occasionally 
encouraged  with  a  little  corn  and  other 
grain  sprinkled  over  their  task,  and  pro- 
vided they  have  a  clean,  dry  place  to 
which  they  can  retire  for  rest  after  hard 
fatigue.  Each  hog  will  produce  at  least 
one  cord  of  manure  in  the  course  of  the 
summer.  The  privy,  also,  should  be 
constructed  with  a  bin  or  portable  box 
under  the  seat,  with  handles,  so  that  two 
men  can  remove  it,  as  occasion  may  re- 
quire, and  empty  it  on  the  manure  heap. 
This  box  should  be  supplied  with  some 
absorbent  material,  and  often  be  the  re- 
cipient of  a  liberal  supply  of  gypsum- 
Every  animal  that  pertains  to  to  the  far- 
mer should  assist  in  accumulating  ma- 
nure— the  family,  cattle,  hogs  and  all. 
A  well-regulated  method  of  doing  this 
will  essentially  contribute  to  the  comfort 
and  health  of  all,  as  well  as  to  secure 
the  thrift  of  the  farmer. 

In  the  spring,  every  place  that  contains 
manure  should  be  cleared  of  its  contents 
for  the  benefit  of  the  field.  Farmers, 
who  cautiously  secure  all  the  manure 
they  can,  use  it  discreetly,  and  exercise 
becoming  economy,  with  the  ordinary 
^lessinga  of  Him  who  rewards  the  dili- 


gent hand,  will  soon  be  able  to  live  in 
palaces,  become  money-lenders,  and  en- 
joy the  appellation  of  the  nobility  of 
America — not  made  noblemen  by  the 
ever-wavering  breath  of  monarchy,  but 
constituted  ike  nobility  by  their  skill 
with  the  plough  and  their  success  in  pro- 
ducing bread  for  the  hungry. 


How  to  Use  Guano. 

Guano  comes  in  bags,  ?.nd  usually 
contains  many  lumps  which  require  to 
be  crushed  into  a  powder,  before  the 
manure  is  applied  to  the  soil.  The 
lumps  are  commonly  separated  from 
the  mass  by  a  riddle  or  seive,  as  lumps 
and  pebbles  are  separated  Irom  sand 
in  making  mortar  ;  or  as  grain  is  some- 
times sifted  by  hand.  The  ammoniacal 
dust  that  flies  off  in  this  operation  is 
pretty  severe  on  the  lungs  and  eyes  of 
the  operator,  and  is  avoided  by  mois- 
tening the  guano  ten  or  twelve  hotirs 
or  a  day  before  the  sifting  begins. — 
The  dampness  should  be  barely  suffi- 
cient to  keep  the  dust  from  being  dif- 
fused through  the  atmosphere.  The 
lumps  sifted  or  riddled  out,  may  be 
moistened  a  Utile  more,  and  crushed  as 
in  making  mortar,  with  the  back  of  a 
hoe,  or  shovel,  on  a  plank  floor,  or 
smooth  hard  ground. 

For  corn,  it  will  probably  pay  better 
to  put  the  manure  m  the  hill  or  drill, 
than  to  scatter  it  broadcast  over  the 
ground.  After  the  field  is  ready  for 
planting,  let  hands  take  guano  in  buck- 
ets on  their  arms,  aid  with  the  two  fore 
or  first  fingers  and  thumb  of  each,  take 
out  a  good  pinch  of  the  snuff  and  drop 
it  where  the  corn  is  to  be  dropped, 
spreading  the  guano,  and  covering  it 
with  a  little  earth  by  using  the  foot  for 
that  purpose.  The  track  of  the  ma- 
nure-dropper   tells    the    corn-dropper 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


3^ 


where  the  seed  should  be  placed  ;  while 
the  earth  between  the  guano  and  corn 
prevents  the  causticity  of  the  former 
doing  injury  lo  the  germ  of  the  latter, 
which,  when  it  begins  to  grow,  U  ten- 
der, and  easily  killed. 

The  above  hints  apply  to  the  use  of 
guano  in  cotton  culture,  not  less  than 
to  the  planting  of  corn.  But  as  coUon 
seed  are  usually  scattered  liberally  in 
drills  or  rows,  one  way  only,  we  should 
not  hesitate  to  scatter  in  the  same  fur- 
row, or  marking,  guano  equal  to  200 
or  300  pounds  per  acre,  and  cover  both 
seed  and  manure  at  one  operation.  A 
few  seeds  might  be  damaged  or  killed 
by  the  manure,  but  enough  and  more 
than  enough,  would  grow.  No  injury 
bas  ever  resulted  from  sowing  guano 
and  wheat  together,  and  the  covering 
both  with  a  harrow  or  plow. 

It  is  only  the  soluble  salts  in  guano 
that  can  injure  any  seed;  and  before 
the  germ  starts  out,  the  salts,  being  at 
once  dissolved  by  the  damp  earth,  be- 
come soj  diffused  and  diluted,  that  no 
injury  can  be  done  to  the  young  plant. 
If  the  soil  IS  dry  where  the  guano  is 
placed,  the  result  might  be  diiferent. — 
In  dry  summers,  this  hot,  caustic  fer- 
tilizer does  more  hurt  than  good.  In 
the  Patent  Office  Report  for  1851,  the 
reader  will  find  a  great  deal  of  informa- 
tion on  this  and  many  other  important 
subject?,  showing  the  best  practices  in 
farm  economy.  On  page  252,  Mr 
Zook,  of  Pennsylvania,  gives  an  ac- 
count of  sowing  broadcast  2000  lbs  of 
gunno  and  1000  of  gypsum  on  a  poor 
field,  badly  worn  by  70  years  cropping, 
containing  15  acres.  The  manure  was 
sown  immediately  after  the  corn  was 
planted,  and  the  ground  harrowed 
when  the  corn  was  two  or  three  inches 
high.     The  cultivator  was  afterwards 


run  between  the  rows.  The  yield  was 
Jifly  bushels  per  acre.  This  crop  was 
made  in  1848.  In  1849  the  field  was 
sown  to  oats,  and  turned  out  over  4u 
bushels  per  acre.  Mr.  Zook  estimates 
the  gain  from  the  guano  and  plaster  at 
300  per  cent. :  cost  per  acre,  $4  50. — 
Mr.  Mumma,  of  the  same  State,  speaks 
highly  of  plaster  used  on  corn,  and  com- 
mends the  free  use  of  lime.  Of  the 
latter  he  says :  "So  powerful  is  its  ef- 
fect on  poor  soil,  if  properly  applied, 
that  on  many  farms  in  this  county 
where  it  has  been  used,  the  value  pf  the 
land  has  been  increased  200  per  cent, 
with  less  than  one  hundred  bushels  per 
acre."  Mr.  Houston,  of  Delaware,  ap- 
plied 300  lbs.  of  guano  per  acre,  to  70 
acres  of  wheat,  in  1851.  He  prefers 
plowing  it  in  six  inches  deep.  He  says 
that  lime  pays  better  than  guano,  ta- 
king ten  years  together.  Hut  he  gets 
lime  cheap,  and  guano  is  expensive 
everywhere. 

His  large  experience  induces  him  to 
say  that  100  lbs,  of  this  manure  will 
give  ten  bushels  of  corn  on  poor  land. 
iVlr.  Wright,  a  very  successful  farmer 
of  Delaware,  says  that  guano  is  too  high 
for  profit  to  the  cultivator.  Mr.  Walsh 
says  :  "Guano  is  also  used  on  our  corn 
crop,  but  not  to  the  same  extent  as  to 
wheat.  It  is  applied,  generally,  to  the 
land  previous  to  its  being  flushed.— 
Sometimes  after  planting  the  land,  it 
is  sown  upon  the  furrow,  and  then  har- 
rowed in,  either  way.  It  adds  materi- 
ally to  the  gain  of  the  crop  ;  increasing 
it  I  should  think,  when  300  pounds  are 
used,  at  least  two-fold." 

Mr.  Charles  Yancey,  of  Buckingham 
county,  Va.,  says  :  "In  the  fall  of  1850 
I  purchased  ten  tons  of  guano,  plowed 
it  under,  as  belore  stated,  (ihree  inches 
deep,)  using  about  200  pounds  jer  acre. 


40 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


and  seeded  wheat,  leaving  occasional 
beds  not  guanoed.  Veiil}',  ihe  eye  said 
the  guanoed  wheat  would  yield  dou- 
ble." 

We  thmk  favorably  of  the  following 
practice  of  Mr.  Young,  although  Irom 
the  drouth  last  year,  it  ii  was  neatly  a 
failure;  "The  ground  when  prepared, 
was  checked  in  squares  three  feet,  four 
inches ;  a  table-spoonful  of  guano  was 
scattered  upon  the  check  ;  the  hilling 
closed  up  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the 
ammonia ;  the  hills  were  cut  off  four 
inches  above  and  planted  in  May.  The 
drought  prevented  the  plants  taking 
root,  or  bringing  the  guano  into  solu- 
tion. There  was  no  growth  whatever 
until  the  27th  July,  when  we  had  rain  ; 
ihe  growth  was  then  in  a  week  won- 
derful ;  the  plants  attained  a  fine  size 
A  second  drought  occurred  in  Septem- 
ber and  October,  which  protracted  the 
ripening,  and  the  plants  faded  and  as- 
sumed a  yellow  hue."  Mr,  Yancey  re- 
gards guano  as  a  powerful  stimulant, 
but  too  espensive  for  general  use.  Our 
notion  is  that  one  may  use  guano  to 
make  a  crop  of  corn  at  a  profit,  if  he 
will  make  the  corn  pay  a  fair  price  in 
meat,  and  yield  as  much  good  manure 
for  producing  a  second  crop  of  corn  aiid 
meat,  as  the  equivalent  of  the  guano. 
In  other  words,  this  costly  commercial 
manure  cannot  be  profitably  purchased 
to  grow  corn  for  commercial  purposes  ; 
but  for  home  consumption,  where  all 
the  elements  of  the  seeds,  cobs,  blades 
and  stalks  may  be  saved  as  manure — 
the  equivalent  of  the  guano,  and  more 
too — this  dung  of  sea-birds  may  be 
brought  to  increase  one's  corn,  cotton 
seed  and  lint.  D.  Lee. 


If  you  wish  health,  take  exercise. 


Agricultural  Products  of  the  United 

States. 

The  official  report  of  the  Superinten- 
dent of  the  Census  is  a  most  valuable 
document.  Its  facts  and  suggi^stions 
embody  an  immense  mass  of  inf  )rma- 
tion  concerning  the  present  condition 
of  our  Republic.  From  it  we  gather 
that  the  number  of  acres  of  improved 
land  in  the  U.  States  is  118,457.622; 
and  of  unimproved  lands  iu  farms 
184,621,348.  The  cash  value  of  tha 
whole  improved  and  unimproved,  is 
$3,270,713,093.  The  average  value  of 
land  per  acre  in  Massachusetts,  Rhode 
Island,  Connecticut,  and  New  York,  is 
about  $30.  In  most  of  the  Southern 
States,  the  average  value  is  estimated 
to  be  below  $5  per  acre.  In  Texas 
the  valuation  is  $1,00. 

The  supply  of  domestic  animals  con- 
tinues rapidly  and  steadily  to  increase. 
The  increase  of  horses,  mules  and  asses, 
from  1840  to  1850,  was  559,053.  New 
York  has  one  horse  to  seven  persons ; 
Ohio  one  to  four,  and  Kentucky  one  to 
three  free  inhabitants.  The  aggregate 
number  of  neat  cattle  in  1850,  was 
18,355,287 — being  an  increase  of  about 
20  per  cent,  in  ten  years.  The  aver- 
age product,  of  butter  is  49  lbs.  to  each 
milch  cow;  of  cheese,  17  lbs.  We  ex- 
port annually  about  a  miliion  and  a 
quarter  dollars  worth  of  dairy  products. 
Of  sheep  there  was  an  increase  be, 
tween  1840  and  1850,  of  2,309,108; 
although  the  number  has  increased  45 
per  cent,  in  New  England,  and  22  12 
per  cent,  in  the  Atlantic  Middle  States, 
In  1840  the  average  annual  yield  of 
wool  was  about  two  lbs.  per  sheep,  and 
in  1850  it  had  increased  to  2  1-2  lbs. 
This  improvement,  with  an  increase 
of  12  per  cent,  in  the  number  of  sheep, 
gives  an  increase  of  46  per  cent,  in  the 


THE  FAR!JER'S  JOURNAL. 


41 


quantity  of  wool.  Yet,  notwithstand- 
ing the  amount  of  home  productions,  a 
large  quantity  of  wool  is  annually  im- 
ported into  our  country.  The  amount 
imported  in  1850  eLjualled  lS,669,7y4 
lbs. — valued  at  81,631,691. 

Of  wheat,  there  was  a  gain  during 
the  ten  years  ot  15,675,348  bushels. — 
The  c«op  of  ISTew  England,  however, 
has  considerably  declined — indicating 
that  farmers  are  withdrawing  thuir  at- 
tention from  the  culture  of  wheal.  I'he 
greatest  increase  has  been  in  the  Slates 
of  Indiana,  Ilhnois,  Michigan  and  Wis- 
consin. 

Of  Indian  cam,  the  increase  of  pro. 
duciion  trom  1340  to  1850  was  more 
than  two  hundred  millions  bushels — 
equal  to  56  per  cent.  Ohio  ranks  first 
in  the  Union  as  a  corn  producing 
State. 

The  rice  crop  of  the  United  States 
in  1840  amounted"  to  80.841,422  lbs.; 
in  1S5U  it  was  2 lf,3 15,720  lbs.— show- 
ing a  remarkable  increase. 

The  amount  of  tobacco  raised  in 
1840  was  219,163,319  lbs.;  in  1850  it 
was  199,752.646 — a  diminution  of  a- 
bout  ten  per  cent. 

Of  cotton,  the  producfion  continues 
largely  to  increase.  The  product  in 
1850-1  amounted  to  937,449,600  lbs. 
The  earliest  record  of  exporting  cotton 
to  Europe  is  in  the  table  of  exports 
from  Charleston  in  1749,  when  seven 
bags  were  shipped.  In  1850  the  amount 
<?.xported  was  927,237,089  lbs.  There 
ha?  been  a  rapid  falling  off  in  the  cul- 
ture of  cotton  in  Virginia,  North  Caro- 
lina and  Louisiana.  Alabama  occupies 
the  first  place  as  a  cotton  growing  State 

and  has  almost  doubled  its  production 
since  1840. 

The  barley  raised  in  the  U.  States 
in  1850  amounted  to  more  than  five 


million  bushels  ;  of  this,  nearly  four 
millions  were  consumed  in  the  manu- 
facture of  malt  and  spirituous  liquor?. 

Of  potatoes,  the  amount  produced  in 
1850  was  104,055,989  bushels,  being  a 
falling  off  of  about  four  million  bush- 
els since  1840.  This  decrease  is  pro- 
bably occasioned  by  the  effiicts  and 
fears  of  the  potato  rot ;  but  this  disease 
seems  now  to  be  passing  away,  and 
the  culture  of  the  root  is  consequently 
reviving.  * 

The  quantity  of  ale  and  spirituous  li- 
quois  produced  in  the  United  States  in 
1850  e.\"cceded  the  enormous  amount  of 
86,000.000  gallons,  and  as  our  imports 
and  exports  just  about  balance  each 
other,  this  would  give  a  consumption 
equal  to  six  gallons  a  bead  for  every 
person  old  enough  to  drink  them.  The 
hop  culture,  which  is  mostly  confined 
to  the  State  of  N.  ^ork,  has  increased 
nearly  to  two  hundred  per  Gent.  The 
breweries  of  New  York  produced  in 
1850,  645,000  barrels  of  ale,  being  more 
than  a  third  of  the  quantity  returned 
from  the   Union. 

Of  flax  and  hemp,  the  production 
has  not  materially   varied  since    1840. 

The  culture  of  silk  is  rapidly  passing 
away  from  our  country.  In  1831  no 
less  than  396,  790  pounds  of  cocoons 
were  tiroduced  ;  in  1840,  only  61,252 
lbs.  ;  and  in  1850  but  14,763  lbs. 

Our  sugar  culture  is  extending. — 
Our  pioductio:i,  maple  and  cane  to- 
gether, in  1840  was  155,100,809  lb?.;  in 
1850  it  was  28 1,830,886  lbs  ;  showing 
an  increase  (mainly  in  Louisiana  and 
Texas)  of  126  730.077  lbs.  The  sugar 
culture  has  now  obtained  command  of 
the  most  admirable  and  efficient  ma- 
ch.inery,  and  is  steadily  working  fur- 
ther and  further  northward,  through 
the  gradual  acclimation  of  the  cane, 
and  can  never  more  be  broken  down. 


42 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


From  the  Southern  Cultirator. 
Good  Rules  for  Fanners. 

We  lake  the  following  rules  from  a 
valuable  exchange,  and  most  heartily 
do  we  recommend  them  to  cur  readers. 
They  should  be  printed  on  neal  cards, 
and  hung  above  the  mantel  piece  of 
farmers,  where  they  would  continually 
admonish  and  interest.  System,  and 
more  strict  the  better,  is  the  secret  of 
success  in  all  business.  These  rules 
furnish  a  brief  but  complete  system  ; 
let  them  be  pursued,  and  the  result 
will  not  fail  to  justify  the  claim  we 
urge  for  them. 

1.  Good  implements  of  husbandry, 
and  plenty  of  them,  which  should  al- 
ways be  kept  m  perfect  order. 

2.  Deep  plowing  and  thorough  pul- 
verization of  the  soil  by  the  fiee  use  of 
the  harrow,  drag,  or  roller. 

3.  An  application  of  liiiie,  marl^  or 
ashes^  where  calcareous  matter  or  pot- 
ash :«ay  not  be  present  m  the  soil. 

4.  A  systematic  husbanding  of  every 
substance  on  a  farm  capable  of  being 
converted  into  manure;  a  systematic 
protection  of  such  subs'ances  from  loss, 
evaporation,  or  waste  of  any  kind,  and 
a  careful  application  of  the  same  to  the 
lands  in  culture. 

5.  The  draining  of  all  wet  lands,  so 
as  to  relieve  the  roots  of  the  plants 
from  the  ill  effects  of  the  superabun- 
dance of  water — a  condition  equally 
pernicious  as  drouth  to  their  healthful 
growth  and  profitable  fructification. 

6.  The  free  use  of  the  plow,  cultiva- 
tor and  hoe,  wiih  all  row-cultured  crops, 
so  as  to  keep  down,  at  all  limes,  the 
growth  of  grass  and  weeds — those  pests 
which  prove  so  destructive  to  crops. 

7.  Seeding  at  the  proper  time  with 
good  seed,  and  an  equal  attention  as  to 
time  with  regard  to  the  period  of  work- 


ing crops, 

8.  A'tcntion  to  the  construction  and 
repair  of  fences,  so  thai  what  is  rcade 
through  the  toils  and  anxious  cares  of 
the  husbandman,  may  not  be  lost 
through  his  neglect  to  protect  his  crops 
from  the  depredations  of  stock. 

9.  Daily  personal  superintendence 
on  the  part  of  the  master,  over  all  the 
operations  of  the  farm — no  matter  how 
good  a  manager  he  may  have,  or  how- 
ever faithful  his  hands  may  be — as  the 
presence  of  the  head  of  a  farm,  and  the 
use  of  his  eyes,  are  worth  several  pans 
of  hands. 

10.  Labor-saving  machinery,  so  that 
one  may  render  himself  as  independent 
as  needful  of  neighboihood  labor,  as  a 
sense  of  the  comparative  independence 
of  the  employer  upon  such  labor  begets 
a  disposition  of  obedience  and  faittful- 
ness  on  the  part  of  the  employed. 

11.  Comfortable  stabling  and  sheds^ 
for  the  horses  and  stock  ;  ail  necessary 
outbuildings,  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  hands  and  protection  of  the  tools 
and  implements,  as  well  as  for  the  care 
of  the  poultry. 

12.  Clover,  and  other  grasses,  to 
form  a  part  of  the  rotation  of  crops, 
and  these  to  be  at  the  proper  periods 
plowed  ir,  to  form  pabalum  for  succeed- 
ing crops. 

13.  The  clover  field  to  be  either  plas- 
tered or  ashed  each  succeeding  spring, 
one  bushel  of  the  former  and  six  of  the 
latter  per  acre. 

14.  To  keep  no  more  stock  than  can 
be  well  kept ;  but  to  be  sure  to  kcp  as 
many  as  the  farm  can  keep  in  good  con- 
dition, as  it  is  wise  policy  to  feed  as 
much  hs  jjossible  of  the  crops  grown  on 
the  farm,  and  thus  return  to  it  thai 
which  has  been  abstracted  from  it. 

15.  To  provide  a  good  0J'c/jor<£  and 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


43 


garden— the  one  to  be  filled  with 
choice  fruits  of  all  kinds,  the  other  with 
vegetables  of  different  sorts,  early  and 
late — 30  that  the  table  may  at  all  times 
be  well  and  seasonably  supplied,  and 
the  surplus  contribute  to  increase  the 
wealth  of  the  proprietor. 


Improvement  of  Roads. 

Nothing  adds  more  to  the  beauty  of 
a  landscape  or  rural  scenery,  and  noth- 
ing is  a  surer  indication  of  the  enter- 
prize  and  prosperity  of  its  inhabitants, 
than  to  see  handsome,  straight,  and  well 
constructed  loads,  well  fenced  with 
boards,  hedge,  or  wire,  and  skirted  with 
ornamental  or  useful  trees. 

Many  persons  pursue  a  very  slovenly 
practice  of  t'uowing  along  the  road- 
side stones,  old  slumps  (ir  orchard  brush, 
which  they  take  from  their  fields,  thus 
obstructing  the  way  so  that  two  teams 
can  barely  pass,  and  the  pedestrian  who 
is  compelled  by  necessity  to  use  the 
only  means  of  locomotion  which  nature 
lias  provided,  or  the  individu^il  who 
chooses  to  avail  himself  of  the  health 
ful  and  invigorating  exercise  of  walk- 
ing a  few  miles,  is  obliged  in  many  in- 
stances to  plod  through  the  mud  up  to 
his  ankles  or  betake  himself  to  the 
neighboring  fields. 

Another  great  source  of  annoyance 
is  the  practice  of  letting  their  long- 
snouted  quadrupeds  run  at  large,  with, 
out  rings  in  their  noses,  who  root  up  the 
ground  along  the  fences,  leaving  them 
rough  and  unsightly,  and  causing  Ca- 
nada thistles  and  other  noxious  weeds 
to  spring  up  in  place  of  the  beautiful 
grass-sward  which  has  been  upturned 
by  these  voracious  grunters. 

1  would  here  remark,  that  I  have  en- 
tirely eradicated  several  patches  of  Ca- 
nada thistles  along  the  road-sidej  bv  cut- 


ting off  every  plant  even  with  the  sur- 
face of  the  ground  as  often  as  they  made 
their  appearance,  as  I  passed  to  and 
from  my  daily  avocation. 

An  error  is  committed  in  many  of 
our  path  masters  in  working  the  roads 
loo  wide,  which  necessarily  renders 
them  fiat,  thus  causing  the  water  to 
stand  on  the  surface,  when  the  tread  o^ 
animals  and  the  wheels  of  carriages 
soon  make  ihem  very  muddy.  They 
plow  clo'je  up  to  the  fences  on  each 
side,  leaving  no  chance  for  a  foot  pas- 
senger to  get  along.  A  good  side-walk 
should  be  left  on  each  side,  at  least  six 
feet  wide.  The  width  of  the  road  from 
the  deepest  part  of  the  ditches  may  be 
32  feet,  and  the  two  side-walks  six  feet 
each  ;  making  in  all  44  feet  clear  of  the 
fences,  or  about  two  and  a  half  rods, 
which  is  enough  for  any  road  except 
some  great  thoroughfare.  Trees  may 
be  planted  along  the  roadside;  especial- 
ly on  the  south  side  of  an  east  and  west 
road,  as  their  shadows  will  be  cast  into 
the  road,  and  will  do  little  or  no  injury 
to  the  growing  crops.  The  trees  may 
be  cut  away  as  soon  as  they  attain  a 
size  sufficiently  large  for  fence  posts, 
and  their  places  supplied  by  setting  out 
new  ones  in  the  intermediate  spaces? 
or  by  letting  a  shoot  grow  up  from  the 
old  stump  to  form  a  new  tree.  New 
trees  may  be  set  in  the  spaces  some 
years  before  cutting  the  old  ones,  In 
this  way  the  farmer  can  furnish  him- 
self with  considerable  timber  and  fuel 
with  little  expense,  beside  adding 
beauty  to  his  farm  and  surrounding 
scenery.  If  all  the  road  work  were 
faithfully  and  judiciously  laid  out,  we 
should  soon  see  a  decided  improvement 
in  our  roads ;  and  especially  as  the 
practice  of  building  plank  roads  bas  be- 
come so  coraraonj  which  throws  more 


44 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


labor  on  the  cross  roads, 

I  would   agaia  cull  the  altention  of 

your  readers  to  the  law  which  requiies 

the  path  master  in   each  road   di^trictj 

the  superintendents  of  canals,  and  the 

corporations  of  railroads,  turnpikes,  and 

plank  roads,  to  cause  Canada  thistle^ 

and  other  noxious  weeds  lo  be  cut  at 

least  twice  a  year — once  between  the 

15th  of  /une  and  the   1st  of  July,  and 

once  between  the  15th  of  August  and 

the  first  of  September  in  each  year. 

Jason  Smith. 
Tyre,  K  Y. 


From  the  London  Farmer's  Herald; 
On  Liquid  Manure  in  Farm  Yards, 

Economy  in  superintendence  of  every 
profession  and  trade  is  absolutely  es- 
sential to  secure  success  and  a  compen- 
sation for  labor  and  t'dl.  We  have 
frequentlv  invited  altention  to  this  im- 
portant branch  of  agricultural  progres- 
sion ;  but  we  believe  it  is  still  necessary 
that  we  should  occi'.sionaily  allude  to 
the  subject,  for  we  regret  to  acknowl- 
edge that  in  the  neighborhood  of  large 
populated  districts  and  towns  there 
is  a  great  waste  of  valuable  feitilizing 
matter,  by  permitting  liquid  manure  lo 
escape  from  the  farm-steads,  and  pour 
its  offensive  ami  contagious  streams  into 
the  brooks  and  rivers  in  iis  adjacent  vi- 
cinities ;  which,  if  collected  in  tank's 
and  applied  to  the  lands,  suogested  in 
the  following  extrai.'fc,  might  be  the 
menns  of  producing  large  crops,  and 
amply  compensating  the  cultivaiion  for 
the  extru  outlay. 

■  '-There  is  a  distillery  in  the  west  of 
Scotland,  where  it  has  been  found  con- 
venient to  establish  a  dairy  upon  a  large 
scale,  for  the  purpose  of  consuming  the 
refuse  of  the  grain.  Seven  hundred 
cows  are  kept  there;  and  a  profitable 


market  is  found  for  their  milk  in  the 
city  of  Glasgow.  That  the  refuse  of 
the  cow-houses  might  be  applied  to  a 
profitable  purpose,  a  large  farm  was 
added  to  the  concern,  though  of  such 
land  as  an  amateur  agriculturist  would 
have  never  selected  fur  his  cxpevimen'.s. 
Thus  there  was  a  complete  system  of 
economy  at  this  distillery  ;  a  dairy  to 
convert  their  draff  mto  milk,  and  a 
farm  to  insure  that  the  soil  from  the 
cows  might  be  used  upon  the  spot. — 
But,  as  is  so  generally  seen  in  thi» 
country,  the  liquid  pai  t  of  the  refuse 
from  the  cow-houses  was  ncglecied.  It 
was  allowed  to  run  into  a  neighboring 
canal;  and  the  proprietors  would 
bavebeen  contented  to  see  it  so  dis- 
disposed  of  forever,  if  that  could  have 
been  permitted.  It  was  found,  how- 
ever, to  be  a  nuisance,  the  very  fishes 
being  pouoned  by  it.  The  prnprietors 
of  the  can;.!  threatened  an  action  for 
the  protection  of  their  property,  and 
and  ihe  conductors  of  the  dairy  were 
forced  lo  bethink  iheu)  of  some  plan  by 
which  they  should  be  enabled  to  dis- 
pose of  the  ficsious  matter  without  in- 
jury to  their  iieighbo:s.  'J'hey  could 
at  first  hit  upon  no  other  than  that  of 
carting  away  the  liquid  to  the  field?, 
and  there  spreading  it  out  as  manure. 
No  doubt  they  expected  some  benefit 
from  ihe  procedure;  and,  had  they  ex* 
pected  much,  they  might  have  never 
given  the  canal  company  any  trouble. 
But  the  fact  is,  they  expected  so  little 
benefit,  that  they  would  never  have 
willingly  taken  the  trouble  of  employ- 
ing their  carts  for  any  such  purpose. — 
To  their  surprise,  the  benefit  w^s  such 
as  to  make  their  Icc.n  land  superior  iri 
productiveness  to  any  in  the  countryj 
They  were  speedily  encourged  to  make 
arrangements  at  some  expense  for  al 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


45 


owing  the  manure  in  a  diluted  form 
to  flow  by  a  regular  system  of  irriga- 
tion over  the  fields.  The  original  pro- 
duction has  thus  been  increased  four- 
fold. The  company,  finding  no  other 
manure  necessary,  now  disposed  of  the 
solid  kind  arising  from  the  dairy,  a- 
mong  the  neighboring  farmers,  who 
stili  follow  the  old  arrangements  in  the 
management  of  cows.  The  sum  of 
£600  is  thus  yearly  gained  by  the  com- 
pany, being  not  much  less  than  the 
rent  of  the  farm.  If  to  this  we  add 
the  value  of  the  extra  produce  arising 
from  the  land,  we  shall  have  some  idea 
of  the  advantage  derived  by  this  cora- 
pany  from  having  been  put  under  a  lit- 
tle compuliioii  " 

It  gave  us  pleasure  when  we  were 
informed  that  at  least  some  of  our 
readers  had  adopted  the  plan  of  econo- 
mizing their  licjuid  manure  by  husband- 
ing it  in  pits  and  tanks,  and  that  its 
beneficial  effects  had  been  visible  on 
•their  farms  in  the  luxuriant  appearance 
-of  iheir  fields;  however,  there  still  re- 
miin  several  farmers  who  cling  to  old 
habits  and  practices,  and  allow  it  to 
waste  and  become  a  nuisanco,  and  in 
some  instances,  the  cause  of  contagious 
diseases.  While  agriculturists  are  ex- 
pending large  sums  of  money  in  ob- 
taining artificial  and.  other  manures, 
and  not  using  up  the  refuse  which  may 
be  collected  on  their  own  farms,  we  are 
not  surprised,  when  they  exclaim  "that 
f^irming  will  not  pay"-^neither  would 
any  other  branch  of  industry  prosper 
if  conducted  on  the  same  principles. 

We  gave  the  following  directions  t'or 
:inaking  a  liquid-manure  tank:  Com- 
mence at  a  point  of  the  yard  'where 
the  draining  can  be  m.ade  to  run  most 
eonveniently,  and  dig  a  circular  pit  12 


feet  in  diameter,  and  10  feet  deep.     If 
the  earth  is  of  a  firm,  compact  charac- 
ter, it  will  need  no  brick,  but  may  be 
plastered  directly  upon  the  sides  of  tho 
excavation,     with    hydraulic    cement 
mortar.     Where  the  earth  is  not  suffi- 
ciently compact  for  that  purpose,  lay  a 
bottom  and  sides  of  brick-work  eight 
inches  thick,  with  common  morter,  and 
plaster  the  cement  upon  that.  It  should 
be  plastered  with  two  or  three  coats. — 
Lay  a  flat  stone  upon  one  side  of  the 
bottom,  in  the  second  coat  of  plaster, 
for  a  foundation  for  a  pump.   Make  the 
covering  of  solid  timber,  or  thick  plank. 
In  strong  clay  ground   a  pit  may  be 
used   many  years   without  walling    or 
plastering,  by  removing  the  loose  earth 
around  the  top,  and  placing  covering 
below  the  action  of  frost. 

Very  good  tanks  have  also  been  made 
by  puddling.  This  is  the  process;  — 
Spread  over  the  bottom  of  the  escava^ 
tion  a  coat  of  clay  mortar  a  foot  thick  ; 
then  place  a  curb,  strorgly  braced,  in- 
side, with  the  lower  end  resting  m  the 
mortaf  at  the  bottom,  and  the  other 
even  with  the  surface  of  the  ground. 
This  curb  should  be  about  18  inches 
less  in  diameter  than  the  pit.  Now  fill 
the  space  outside  the  curb  with  well- 
worked,  stiff,  clay  mortar,  in  which 
coarse  sand,  equal  to  one-half  the  bulk 
of  clay  is  mixed.  As  you  fill  in,  see 
that  it  is  compactly  rammed  down. — 
You  may  let  it  dry,  and  remove  the 
curb,  or  use  it  at  once  with  the  curb 
standing. 

Every  stable  should  have  a  tank,  in- 
to which  the  urine  may  be  conducted. 
This  could  be  either  used  in  the  liquid 
state,  or  absorbed  by  coal  dust,  peat 
earth,  or  dry  loam  and  plaster.  Never 
put  ashes  or  lime  in  the  tank. 


46 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Diseases  of  Cows    and   Horses — A 
Valuable  Receipt. 

Permit  nie  to  tender  my  grateful  ac- 
knowledgements to  Mr.  Lewis  Sanders, 
for  the  information  communicated  ,by 
liim  in  your  llth.  number,  in  compliance 
with  my  request  to  the  public  on  the 
1 2th  November.  I  do  with  pleasure  say 
to  Mr.  Sanders  I  am  well  pleased  with 
the  remedy  he  recommended;  and  on 
reading  it  I  determined  to  try  it;  but  on 
examining  the  cow,  I  found  her  nearly 
well.  And  as  the  cure  is  one  of  such  a 
character  that  I  think  the  public  ought 
to  know  it,  I  conclude  to  make  it  known, 
and  that  it  may  be  understood,  I  .vill  de- 
scribe it.  I  purchased  the  cow  at  Capt. 
Sutton's  sale.  She  had  been  foundered 
and  walked  badly,  and  seemed  to  be 
short-Avinded.  It  was  thought  to  pro- 
ceed from  the  tenderness  of  her  feet;  but 
on  a  close  examination  I  found  a  lump 
of  hard  flesh  growing  under  the  wind 
pipe,  mid  way  between  the  jaw  and  the 
breast,  about  the  size  of  a  hulled  walnut, 
tliatit  could  be  moved  about  one  inch  up 
or  down.  This  lump  grew  so  as  to  clear- 
ly interrupt  her  easy  breathing-.  I  con- 
sulted physicians  about  it,  who  called  it 
a  wen  and  thought  it  might  be  cut  out 
with  safety.  It  gi-ew  to  be  larger  than 
a  man's  fist.  In  June  I  found  the  glands 
of  her  neck  had  enlarged.  They  contin- 
ued to  grow,  as  did  the  wen.  Having 
used  a  mixture,  in  many  cases  of  tumors 
on  horses,  I  determined  to  trj^  its  virtues 
on  the  cow,  and  commenced  the  use  of  it 
in  October;  and  at  the  time  I  wrote,  say 
the '12th  of  November,  I  feared  it  would 
fail  to  effect  a  cure,  but  to  day  I  find  the 
wen  soft  and  under  half  the  size  it  was 
when  I  commenced  using  the  mixture, 
and  the  glands  soft  and  greatly  reduced, 
and  her  breathing  is  much  improved. — 


I  will  now  state  my  treatment   and  the 
ingredients  of  the  mixture. 

Spirits  of  Turpentine,    -   2  parts. 

Oil  of  Spike,     -     -     -      1  part. 

Barbadoes  Tar,  -  -  1  part. 
Mixed  in  bottle — shake  at  every  using. 
Y/et  the  parts  and  nib  it  in  well.  I 
have  had  the  cow  rubbed  with  it  three 
times  a  week,  since  about  the  first  of  No- 
vember, and  kept  her  housed  at  night, 
and  not  permitted  to  be  in  the  rain  at 
any  time.  She  was  from  home  in  Octo- 
ber, and  was  rubbed  but  twice  a  week 
while  absent.  And  novi^  I  say  to  the 
public  that  this  is  a  valuable  mixture.  I 
have  cured  the  big-head  in  the  horse 
ring-bone,  fistula,  swinny,  and  many 
hard  tumors,  such  as  naval  galls.  For 
all  these  diseases,  I  rub  it  a  great  deal 
and  heat  it  with  a  hot  iron. — FrayJdin 
Farmer. 


Poultry  Manure. 

This  is  the  most  valuable  of  the  farm 
manures,  and  is  entitled  to  great  care  in 
its  collection  and  use.  Beyond  the  a- 
mount  of  water  it  contains,  it  is  as  valu- 
able as  guano,  and  therefore  should  never 
be  sold  by  practical  farmers  to  moroccc» 
dressers,  at  25  cents  per  bushel.  The- 
poultry-house  should  be  underlaid  with 
charcoal  dust,  when  it  can  be  procured- 
so  as  to  receive  the  hen  manure  as  fast 
as  made.  The  surface  of  this  charcoal- 
dust  should  occasionally  be  raked  or  re- 
moved off  to  one  corner,  with  a  portion 
of  the  dung.  This  may  be  continued 
until  the  manure  is  required  for  ust-. 
when  it  should  be  thoroughly  mixed 
with  ten  times  its  bulk  of  soil  before  be- 
ing applied  to  ci-ops.  Where  charcoal- 
dust  cannot  be  procured,  well  decom- 
posed swamp-muck,  plaster  of  paris,  or 
even  aluminous  clay,  may  be  frequently 


\ 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL 


4t 


•■iusted.  over  the  floor  of  the  poultry- 
liouse  to  be  mixed  with  this  manure. — 
The  object  of  all  this  is  to  receive  and 
retain  the  ammonia,  so  as  to  prevent  its 
liberation   from  injuring  the   health  of 
the  inmates  of  the  poultry-house.     All 
animals,  man  included,  suffer  from  brea- 
thing the  effluvia  arising  from  their  ex- 
€retia,  and  this  is  particularly  true  of  the 
leathered  tribes.     Their  natural  habits 
in  the   wild  state  cause  them  to   pass 
through  the  upper  strata  of  the  atmos- 
phere, and  with  such  velocity  as  to  rea- 
dily rid  themselves  of  the  noxious  gases 
given  off  the  surface  of  their  bodies,  and 
to  be  entirely  beyond  any  deleterious  in- 
fluence from  the  fumes  of  their  excretia. 
We  should,  therefore,  in   the  poultry- 
houses,  make  such   arrangements  as   to 
prevent  the  poultry  from  inhaling  these 
deleterious  gases. 


form  a  part  of  the  vegetable  structure 
of  most  plants,  and  hence  the  inference 
is,  that  it  is  indispensable  to  their 
healthful  existence.  Lime,  too,  is  said 
to  possess  the  power  of  electricity ;  if 
such  be  the  case,  it  must  act  as  a  stim- 
ulus, and  like  other  stimulants,  if  not 
used  to  excess,  may  exert  a  highly 
friendly  influence  upon  the  constitutions 
of  plants.  These  are  but  a  few  of  the 
properties  assigned  to  lime,  and  experi- 
ence teaches  all  sensible  agriculturists, 
that  whenever  judiciously  applied  to 
lands  needing  it,  it  has  produced  the 
most  meliorating  effects;  that  lands, 
chiefly  through  its  means,  aided  by 
grass  and  clover  culture,  which  were 
worn  out,  have  been  brought  to  a  state 
of  fertility  ; — seeing  these  things,  it  is 
no  longer  a  matter  of  surprise  that  li- 
ming and  marling,  which  is  virtually 
the  same  thing,  has  become  the  fashion., 
and  as  fashion  gives  tone  to  public  and 
As  to  the  question,  of  how  lirae  acts?  I  P'"''^^^  sentiment,  no  one  can  longer 
there  is  some  diversity  of  opinion,— but :  '^°"^''  '^''*'  ^"  ^  ^^^  y^*''^  ™°'"6'  ^^^^ 
there  seems  to  be  a  concurrence  of  sen-;  °^  ^^^  «^'^  ^^^^^^  ^''^^'^  "°'^  ^°  S^^^^ 
dment  among  scientific  men,  as  to  eer- :  "P""  ^^^  feelings  of  the  patriot,  will  be 
tam  offices  which  it  performs,  and  these   «o^'ered  with  luxuriant  crops.     But  we 


Action  of  Lime. 


are  borne  out  by  the  observation  of 
practical  farmers.  Among  the  offices 
aaid  to  be  performed  by  iime  and  marl, 
are  these :  When  applied  in  full  quan- 
tity upon  stiff  clays,  it  serves  to  disin- 
tegrate the  particles  of  clay  and  light- 
ens the  texture  of  the  soils,  while  on 
sands,  it  tends  to  give  tenacity  to  them, 
it  dissolves  hard,  inert  fibrous  substan- 
ces in  the  soil,  and  prepares  thrm  to  be- 
come the  food  of  plants.  It  neutral- 
izes the  acids  of  the  soil,  unites  with 
them,  and  ultimately  deals  them  out  as 
the  food  of  plants,  thus  rendering  nox- 
ious bodies  iribuiary  to  their  healthful 
gf  owth.     Lime  is  found,  by  analysis,  lo 


wish  our  agricultural  readers  to  bear 
these  truths  in  mind,  that  without  one- 
fourth  or  one-fifth  of  the  arable  land  be 
kept  in  clover  and  grass,  no  progressive 
or  permanent  improvement  can  be  ef- 
fected,— that  though  exhausted  lands 
require  lime,  yet  :hey  require  animal 
and  vegetable  manures  also. — that  no 
system  of  culture  can  be  either  intelli- 
gent or  profitable,  that  does  not  com- 
bine the  culture  of  clover  and  the  grass- 
es in  it?  elements, — that  it  is  useless  to 
lime  or  marl  wet  lands  before  they  are 
drained,  and  that,  when  drained,  deep 
and  exact  ploughing,  and  thorough, 
pulverization,  aie  indispensable  to  full 
and  perfect  success; 


48 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 

BATH.  IS.  C,  MAY,  1853. 


Oup  First  Volume  Complete. 

In  order  to  supply  the  increasing  de- 
mand for  the  first  volume  of  the  "  Jour- 
nal," we  shall  be  under  the  necessity  of 
re-printing  the  April  number,  1852, 
which  -will  be  ready  for  delivery  by  the 
first  of  June. 


Meeting  of  tlie    State  Agricultural 
Society. 

Tliere  will  be  a  called  meeting  of  the 
State  Agricultural  Society  on  the  25th 
May,  in  Raleigh.  All  county  agricultu- 
ral societies  ai-e  earnestly  requested  to 
send  at  least  ten  delegates,  as  there  will 
be  business  of  importance  before  the  So- 
ciety at  that  time.  Dr.  J.  F.  Tompkins 
will  deliver  an  address  before  the  Soci- 
ety on  the  same  evening,  in  relation  to 
the  importance  of  the  holding  of  an  An- 
nual Fair  on  the  ]  8th  of  October  next. 

By  order  of  the  President. 

JAMES  F.  TAYLOR, 

Secretary. 


'  We  lay  before  our  readers  the 
proceedings  -of  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Beaufort  County  Agricultural  Society. — 
It  will  be  seen  that  steps  are  being  taken 
to  have  an  exhibition  of  the  products  of 
the  county  this  fall ;  and  they  will  suc- 
ceed, for  the  farmers  of  that  county  are 
beginning  to  learn  the  real  value  of  theii' 
lands,  and  to  seethe  importance  of  inter- 
changing ideas  and  opinions  in  relation 
to' those  subjects  which  require  their  con- 
sideration. We  hope  every  county  so- 
ciety in  the  State  will  have  an  exhibition 
this  fall,  and  after  the  ball  is  once  start- 
ed there  will  be  no  stoj)|)ing  it. 


The  Silver  Cup. 

It  will  be  recollected  by  our  reader* 
that  we  offered  in  our  last  niunber  of 
Vol.  1st,  a  silver  cup,  worth  $30,  to 
any  person  Avho  would  procure  the  larg- 
est number  of  subscribers  to  Vol.  2d  of 
the  "Journal"  by  the  5th  of  April.  The 
cup  will  be  awarded  to  J.  T.  Laurence, 
of  Halifax,  Co.,  who  sent  us  56  subscri- 
bers, and  the  "needful"  with  them.  We 
must  also  mention  here  that  we  had  ap- 
phcation  from  J.  W.  Speed,  Esq,,  of 
Halifax  Co.  for  20  copies  of  our  paper, 
all  of  which  were  to  be  directed  to  his 
address.  This,  we  think,  is  a  bright  ex- 
ample set  before  other  wealthy  men  of 
the  State,  which  we  hope  to  see  generally 
followed.  We  find  that  the  only  difii- 
culty  in  increasing  our  list  is  getting  men 
to  begin, — after  this  they  find  that  our 
paper  is  indispensible,  and  they  are  sure 
to  renew  their  subscription. 


Our  Travelling-  Agent. 

Samuel  V/.  Lucas  is  our  only  travel- 
lino-  ao^ent  at  this  time.  He  will  in  the 
next  three  months  visit  the  counties  of 
Edgecombe,  Nash,  Halifex,  Northamp- 
ton, Hertford,  Chowan,  Gates,  Perqui- 
mans, Pasquotank,  Camden  and  Curri- 
tuck. The  friends  of  the  "Journal"  will 
confer  a  favor  uj^on  us  by  extending  to 
Mr.  Lucas  any  aid  possible  in  the  prose- 
cution of  the  difiicult  task  he  has  under- 
taken. 


^^We  have  published  in  this  num- 
ber of  our  paper  two  letters  entire,  one 
from  Dr.  J.  J.  Phillips,  of  Edgecombej 
and  one  from  J.  D.  Jones  of  New  Hano- 
ver, both  of  which  we  take  the  privilege 
of  making  public  without  the  consent  of 
the  authors,  but  we  shall  make  out,  we 
think,  a  very  fair  case  for  ourself,  in  jus- 
tification of  our  course.     The  letter  writ- 


THE  FARMER'S  JOU 


ten  by  Dr.  Phillips,  it  is  true,  was  only  in 
answer  to  a  request  on  tlie  part  of  a 
county  society  to  deliver  an  address,  and 
of  course  he  did  not  give  to  it  that 
thought  which  he  would  have  done  had 
he  been  sure  it  would  have  ever  appear- 
ed in  print.  So  far  as  it  goes  it  is  able 
indeed,  and  the  society  before  whom  it 
was  read  requested  its  publication.  For 
ourself  we  should  be  pleased  to  hear  or 
see  the  subject  upon  which  he  touches  in 
this  letter  extensively  treated  upon  by 
the  Doctor, — indeed  it  is  due  to  our  pa- 
per from  him.  The  other  letter,  besides 
some  extracts  which  we  publish  trom 
others,  show  in  what  liglit  our  humble 
efforts  in  behalf  of  agriculture  are  appre- 
ciated by  those  wlio  are  competent  judges. 
But  we  take  this  opportunitj'  to  say,  that 
in  six  mouths  more  we  shall  have  a  fair 
chance,  and  then  v/e  are  determined  to 
put  the  Journal  in  the  front  rank. 


An  Agricultural    School    at    Bath, 
N.  C. 

"VYe  have  had  in  contemplation  for 
some  time  past,  the  establishment  of  an 
agricultural  school  at  Bath,  near  which 
place  we  reside.  "We  have  given  this 
matter  careful  consideration  and  have 
submitted  it  to  such  men  as  we  knew  to 
be  very  competent  to  judge,  and  their 
opinions  have  coincided  with  ours,  that 
such  schools  are  very  much  needed  in 
various  parts  of  our  State.  The  idea 
that  it  is  not  requisite  for  the  farmer  to 
be  an  educated  man,  is  being  fast  aban- 
doned, and  the  opinion,  too,  is  becoming 
quite  current  that  it  is  neceesary  that 
the  education  of  a  youth  who  designs  to 
makeferraiug  his  business,  should  be  in- 
structed in  the  various  branches  of  agri- 
culture, such  as  chemistry,  geology,  min- 
eralogy and  botany.   We  design  to  have 


employed  in  this  school  one  or  more 
teachers,  thoroughly  competent  tO'  pre- 
pare students  for  any  of  our  colleges; 
and  in  addition  to  these  studies  a  youth 
can  study  the  various  branches  of  agri- 
cultural science,  for  which,  of  course, 
there  will  be  an  extra  charge.  We  have 
a  farm  just  without  the  limits  of  Bath, 
with  a  clearing  of  about  thirty  acres  of 
land,  which  we  are  preparing  for  a  pure- 
ly experimental  farm,  in  connection  with 
the  school.  We  do  not  design  to  require 
any  student  to  labor  upon  this  farm,  but 
only  to  watch  the  various  experiments- 
while  being  made.  We  design,  if  no- 
thing should  prevent,  attending  a  course 
of  lectures  during  this  summer  upon 
chemistry,  w^hich  will,  we  think,  with 
what  we  already  know  in  relation  to  this 
science,  prepare  us  to  enter  upon  our 
new  duty  with  the  full  assurance  that  we 
can  dc)  much  towardslaying  the  ground- 
work of  successful  farming  in  our  State, 
as  a  general  thing.  With  regtvrd  to  our 
location,  we  are  sure  that  there  canle- 
no  possible  objection ;  it  is  beautifully 
situated,  as  it  is  immediately  upon  a 
creek  of  salt  water  a  half  a  mile  wide, 
and  in  full  view  of  the  Pamptico  rive: » 
which  at  this  point  is  five  miles  wide. — 
There  is  not  a  more  healthy  place  in 
Eastern  Carolina,  and  better  water  I 
never  wish  to  drink  than  can  be  had  in 
Bath.  When  we  shall  have  got  mat- 
ters nearer  arranged,  we  shall  give  in 
our  paper  a  full  notice  of  the  school — ■ 
though,  any  farmer  who  has  a  son  whom 
he  would  like  to  give  a  year's  schooling, 
would  find  it  to  his  interest  to  apply  at 
once,  as  our  number  the  first  year  will  be 
limited.  We  will  give  any  information 
privately  in  relation  to  this  matter  when 
desired,  and  we  shall  give  further  notice 
soon  through  the  Journal ;  and  here  le^ 


50 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


K 


C 


US  entreat  all  who  may  either  see  or  hear 
of  this  project,  not  to  exclaim,  "It's  no 
use,  it  can't  succeed."  We  have  in  this 
instance,  as  we  did  in  the  beginning  of 
•)ur  paper,  made  up  our  inind  that  it 
^kall  succeed.  Farmers,  send  in  the 
names  of  your  sous  as  applicants  for  ad_ 
mission,  and  at  the  end  of  the  first  year 
we  will  ask  you,  as  we  shall  every  body 
<^>lse,  to  come  and  see  what  we  have  done 
I'or  the  farming  interest  of  the  old  North 
State.  You  will  instead  of  hearing  your 
sons  say  thus  and  so  is  so,  see  them  able  to 
give  the  why  and  wherefore ;  and  this  is 
the  only  way  that  a  man  can  make  a  real 
practical  farmer,  for  he  must  know  why 
a  thing  is  so,  and  what  end  he  designs 
to  accomplish  by  a  certain  course.  Tliis 
school  will  begin  on  the  first  of  next  Oc- 
tober, and  will  continue  for  ten  months, 
or  two  sessions,  without  any  vacation, 
which  we  think  best,  in  order  to  allow 
those  students  who  reside  in  a  higher 
section  of  the  State  the  advantage  of 
spending  the  months  of  August  and  Sep- 
tember at  home. 


A  Fact  MToi'thy  of  Attention. 

We  were  informed  a  few  days  since 
by  a  highly  i-espectable  gentleman  in 
Pitt  County,  that  he  made  an  application 
of  marl  alone  to  a  field  last  year,  which 
before  that  time  produced  twenty  barrels 
of  corn  and  two  stacks  of  fodder ;  the 
last  year's  crop  was  ninety  barrels  of 
<Torn  and  eight  stacks  of  fodder.  Still, 
in  the  face  of  such  results  as  the  above, 
we  constantly  hear  many  old  fellows 
swearing  that  if  a  man  were  to  apply 
Tuarl  to  their  land  they  would  thrash 
bira,  or  use  him  badly  in  some  other 
way.  But  these  "old  chaps"  are  fast  de- 
parting from  among  us ;  every  spring, 
if  the  weather  be  changeable,  is  sure  to 
<.-arry  off  a  goodly  number. 


The  Sweepstakes  for  the  Best  Corn 
Crop. 

We  have  just  sent  up  to  the  Treasurer 
the  sum  required  to  entitle  us  to  enter  as 
a  competitor  for  this  prize  offered  by  the 
State  Agricultural  Society.  We  do  not 
feel  very  confident  that  we  shall  gain  the 
prize,  for  the  reason  that  Ave  have  not 
pursued  such  a  course  as  we  intended  in 
the  preparation  of  the  acre  designed  for 
the  experiment.  But  we  must  stop  this, 
or  some  might  say  that  we  were  begin- 
ning soon  to  make  excuse  for  failing ;  at 
any  rate,  if  we  fail  this  year,  we  shall 
not  be  discouraged,  but  will  try  again, 
and  continue  to  do  so  until  we  come  up. 
We  have  need  too  to  fear  as  to  the  re- 
sult, for  w^e  have  learned  that  Messrs. 
Dancey  &  Norfleet,  of  Edgecombe,  are 
doing  their  "clean  best;"  their  land  is  in 
fine  order  and  well  manured.  This  is 
our  only  hope,  that  if  we,  the  editor  of 
the  only  purely  Agricultural  paper  in 
our  State,  should  fail,  that  the  first  Presi- 
dent of  our  State  Agi'icultural  Society, 
may  succeed  in  obtaining  this  honorable 
prize. 

Farmers  of  North  Carolina,  Where 
is  youp  State  Pride  T 

"Agricultural  Society  of  Virginia. 
— This  society,  which  has  now  862  mem- 
bers, has  appointed  a  committee  to  con- 
fer with  the  authorities  of  Richmond,  in 
order   to  procure  the  necessary   ground 
for  its  annual  exhibition.     A  large  num- 
ber of  the  members  have  pledged  them 
selves  to  pay  on  behalf  of  their  respee 
tive  counties  ^10§  each  towards  the  ex 
penses  of  the  exhibition,  thus  increasing 
the  society's  funds  from  |1,228,  to  ^3,- 
400." 

We  lay  before  our  readers  in  this  Xo 
of  our  paper,  the  startling  fact  that  at 
this  time  the  State  Agricultural  Society 
of  Virginia  actually  consists  of  SG2 
members,    with   a  fund   amounting 


1 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


51 


Si, 228,  with  a  fair  prospect  of  its   in- 
creasing  to   $3,400  in  a  sliort  time. — 
Wjiat  will  the  farmers  of  North  Carolina 
say   to   this  ?     Is  it   possible  that  they 
will  hold  back  any  longer  ?     Will  they 
hesitate  for  a  moment  about  becoming 
members  of  our  State  Agricultui-al  So- 
ciety.    If  there  is  to  accrue  no   benefit 
from  such   institutions,    why   do  we  see 
them  springing  up  and  prospering  over 
the   whole   Union?     But   it  is  the  al- 
mighty dollar  which  keeps  our  State  So- 
ciety in  its  present  condition.     Why,  we 
say,  is  it  that  when  the  Convention  met 
in  Raleigh   last  fall  to  form  the  Society, 
many  of  the  members  of  the  Legislature 
who  were  delegates  to  said  Convention, 
when  the  Constitution  was  read  and  the 
sum   of  $5  named,  many,  we  say,  came 
to  us   and  said  that  they  did  not  under- 
stand it;  they  did  not  intend  to  be  caught 
in  any  such  a  trap?     But  we  soon  un- 
leceived  them  by  telling  them  that  they 
were  not  members  of  the  State  Agricul- 
tural Society  until  they  subscribed  their 
names  to  the  Constitution.     We  did  this 
the  more  cheerfully,  for  the  plain  reason 
that  we  knew  that  they  would  he  of  no 
service  to  the  Society  if  they  did  go  in, 
but  only  serve   to  keep   us  back  in  the 
yvent  race  of  agricultural  advancement. 
We  see,  also,   that  the   people  of  Rich- 
mond, Va.,    are  expected  to  present  the 
society     of    that    State    with    suitable 
grounds  for  holding   their  annual  Fairs- 
We  should  like  to  know  whether  or  not 
;he  good   people  of  the  city  of  Raleigh 
,vill  treat  our  State  Society  in  like  man- 
lei-.     We  feel  warranted  in  making  the 
issertion  that  they  would  not   lose  any- 
hing  by  it,  but  rather  make  a  handsome 
profit  by  the  investment.  We  have  been 
credibly  informed  that  the  last  annual 
h\v  in  Maryland  brought  into  the  city 


of  Baliimore  the  sum  of  $300,000  in  one 
week's  time.  If  the  people  of  Raleigh 
will  raise  a  fund  of  2  or  $3000,  and 
make  it  a  present  to  the  State  Agricultu- 
ral Society,  they  will  next  fall  make  u 
clear  profit  of  50  per  cent,  on  the  capi- 
tal invested.  We  really  hope  that  a  part 
of  this,  if  not  the  whoh,  will  be  raised 
at  the  called  meeting  of  the  Society  this- 
month.  We  ask  you,  can  it  he  wondered 
at  that  our  young  men  leave  their  na- 
tive State,  when  they  constantly  behoL.l 
so  much  old  "  fogyism"  as  exists  among 
us.  We  again  entreat  our  readers  to 
send  in  their  names  and  the  sum  of  $5 
to  our  worthy  Treasurer,  Wilson  B. 
AVhitaker,  Esq.,  at  Raleigh.  Let  us  re- 
solve upon  a  long  pull,  a  strong  pull,  and 
a  pull  altogether,  and  we  shall  have  in  ;t 
short  time  8G2  members  belonging  tc' 
our  State  Agricultural  Society,  with  a 
fund  of  $3,400,  and  then  Ave  may  safely 
say  that  our  good  old  State  has  thrown 
oft"  her  shackles,  and  stands  free  to  com- 
pete with  other  States  of  our  happy  Re- 
public. 


Young  Men,be  not  Ashamed  to  Work. 

We  were  credibly  informed  a  few 
weeks  since,  that  one  of  the  presiding 
Judges  of  the  Superior  courts  of  law  in 
this  State,  may  be  frequently  seen  dri- 
ving his  own  wagon  and  horses  out  of 
town  to  his  farm,  with  his  plows  and 
other  utensils  aboard.  What  can  these  ' 
silk  glove  gentry  think  of  this  ?  Indeed, 
if  they  were  to  see  the  sight  they  would 
faint.  We  have  for  several  years  been 
in  the  habit  of  driving  the  wagon  and 
plow  at  times,  and  thought  it  nothing 
amiss ;  but  when  we  see  the  most  able 
men  of  our  country  look  upon  labor  in 
this  light,  we  shall  even  love  it  more 
than   ever  before.     We   have  often  re- 


^2 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


igretted  that  we  did  not  have  at  least  one 
year's  schooling  at  the  plow  handles,  for 
we  often  feel  at  a  loss,  when  attempting 
to  do  good  plowing,  for  the  reason  that 
"we  did  not  have  jM-actice  in  it.     We  re- 
collect about  two  years  since  to  have  vi- 
sited the  farm  of  a  wealthy  planter  in 
Washington  comity,  in  this  State,  and 
found  his  three  sons  at  work  in  the  field, 
^nd  his  two   daughters  at  work  in  tlie 
house.    We  were  surprised  at  this  sight, 
but  he  soon  told  us  that  he  had  while 
young  learned  to  work  from  necessity, 
■and  he  never  regretted  it,  for  it  enabled 
him  to  be  a  judge  of  a  day's  work,  and 
lie  was  pursuing  the  same  course  with 
his  children  ;  they  went  to  school  during 
the  first  five  days  of  the  week,  and  work- 
ed until  12  o'clock  on  Saturday.     We 
would  ask,   is  there  any  farmer,  let  his 
wealth  be  what  it  may,  who  can  object 
to  this  plan  ?     There  is  no  man  who  en- 
joys his  breakfast,  dinner  and  supper  so 
much   as  he   who  earns  them    by   the 
sweat  of  his  brow.     Young  men  should 
he  raised  to  woik,  and  to  view  it  in  its 
proper  light,  even  though  they  may  not 
be  compelled  tohibor.   There  is  no  harm 
in  learning  how,  for  the  fortunes  of  men 
are  very  variable.     In  one  generation  v*'e 
see   wealth  abiding  with  some  families 
more  than  others,  and  in  the  next  gene- 
ration tlie  scale  of  fortune  takes  quite  a 
,tu.rii,  and  the  poor  boy  becomes  possess- 
ed of  the  property  of  the  rich  man's  son. 


The  Management  of  Negroes. 

We  have,  since  we  began  our  work, 
called  on  several  gentlemen  to  give  us 
their  views  upon  this  subject,  which  they 
have,  for  reasons  best  known  to  them- 
selves, declined.  The  management  of 
the  farm  hands  is  something  that  re- 
quires much  consideration  from  the  far- 


mer ;  and  a  proper  discipline  among  ne- 
groes relieves  him  who  has  the  care  of 
them    of  a   great   deal   of  unnecessary 
trouble.     Many  so-called   farmers  view 
this  subject  as  they  do  every  other  in 
connection   with    their  business.     They 
say  that  they  will  manage  their  negroes 
to  suit  themselves,  regardless  of  any  sug- 
gestions from  others.     To  such  as  these 
we  do  not  address  ourself  at  this  time, 
for  it  would  be  like  "singing  psalms  to  a 
dead  horse,"  to  attempt  to  instruct  such 
persons.    Our  experience  in  the  manage- 
ment of  servants  has  not  been  very  great, 
but  we  have  in  our   travels  through  the 
countrj^,  heard  the  views  of  those  who 
have  had  experience;  and  what  we  shall 
set  forth  at  this  time  will  in  a  measure  be 
an  embodiment  of  their  views.     In  the 
management  of  negroes  the  farmer  should 
have  in  view  the  duty  of  the  master  to- 
wards the  servant,  as  well  as  that  of  the 
servant  towards  the  master,  and  as  a 
general  thing,  good  masters  make  good 
servants — though  to  this  there  are  excep- 
tions of  course.     In  the  first  place,  for 
what  ]")urpose  does  the  master  hold  the 
servant?     Is  it  not  that  by  his  labor  he, 
the  master,  may  accumulate  wealth  ? — 
And  this  being  the  case,  would  not  rea- 
son teach  one  the  great  propriety  of  a 
master's  paying   attention   to  the  com- 
forts of  his  servant,  to  see  that  he  were 
well   clothed   and   fed,  and  when  sick, 
that  he  had  proper  attention  paid  him  ? 
These  are  things  which  require  the  mas- 
ter's  attention   for   his   own   pecuniary 
benefit,  for  men,   like   animals,  cannot 
work  unless  there  is  furnished  them  the 
necessaiy  comforts  which  by  nature  they 
require.  Any  man  who  knows  any  thing 
about   negroes   can    tell   at   first    view 
whether  that  negro  is  well  fed;  he  need 
not  ask  the  question  bat  only  look  upon 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


53 


h\s  sMn  ;  if  it  is  dry  and  "  husky,"  you 
may  be  sure  that  many  times  when  he 
■sits  down  to  his  meals  he  is  only  allowed 
to  go  through  the  motion.  If  he  pre- 
sents a  sleek  and  greasy  appearance,  you 
may  be  assured  that  he  holds  frequent 
communion  with  mess  pork.  Besides 
the  pecuniaiy  benefit  to  be  derived  from 
the  good  feeding  of  negroes,  there  is 
another  consideration  which  it  seems  to 
us  should  induce  the  master  to  discharge 
his  duty  in  this  respect.  The  responsi- 
bility of  a  master  is,  we  think,  great — 
his  accountability  in  the  world  to  come 
in  relation  to  this  matter,  is  immense. — 
The  slave  who  discharges  his  duty  to  his 
master  in  such  a  manner  as  would  be  ac- 
ceptable to  any  reasonable  man,  has  the 
right  to  require  at  his  hands  the  comforts 
and  necessaries  of  life.  There  are  many 
who  greatly  mistake  kindness  to  their 
servants ;  they  think  that  it  consists  in 
sixtfering  them  to  idle  away  their  time, 
and  as  a  matter  of  course,  half  clothe 
and  feed  them,  and  have  them  running 
over  the  neighborhood,  causing  dissatis- 
faction and  discontent  among  other  ne- 
groes. This  is  not  kindness  to  them,  by 
an  J'  means,  and  they  do  not  regard  it  as 
such.  For  example,  we  will  state  that, 
several  yeai's  ago  (at  least  six,)  we  over- 
heard a  conversation  between  two  ne- 
groes upon  this  subject: — "They  say.  To- 
ne}", that  the  Doctor  is  a  hard  man  to 
live  with — he  wants  a  great  deal  done." 
"Yes,"  says  Toney,  "but  then  he  gives  a 
plenty  of  good  fat  pork,  which  helps  out 
mightily.  I  notice  Sam,  where  there 
is  little  work,  there  is  little  to  eat." — 
What  can  a  man  ia  his  imagination 
conceive  to  be .  of  more  satisfaction  to  a 
laboring  man,  than  enough  to  eat  when 
he  sits  down  to  his  meals,  There  are 
many  farmers  who  feed  their  negToes 


sparingly,  believing  that  it  is  economy 
that  they  save  by  it,  but  such  is  not  the 
fact.  In  the  first  place  the  negro  will 
have  it,  and  he  is  sure  to  steal  it  gene- 
rally from  his  master  believing  that  he 
has  a  right  to  do  so ;  and  pray,  who  is 
there  to  dispute  his  right  ?  We  have 
been  credibly  informed  that  S.  B.  Carra- 
way,  in  Lenoir  county,  gives  his  negroes 
cotfee  to  drink  every  morning  before  they 
begin  the  labors  of  the  day.  This  prac- 
tice he  begun  several  years  past,  when 
the  cholera  was  in  that  section  of  coun- 
try, lie  did  it  then,  believing  that 
it  vrould  prevent  their  being  attacked 
with  this  disease.  He  was  was  so  struck 
with  the  advantages  that  arose  from  its 
use,  that  he  has  continued  it  ever  since. 
Mr.  Carraway  does  this  no  doubt  as  a 
matter  of  economy.  lie  is  one  of  the 
very  best  farmers  of  the  State,  and  is  a 
most  excellent  manager  of  negroes.  The 
master,  after  feeding  and  clothing  the 
negro  in  a  way  which  he  should  do,  it 
is  then  clearly  his  duty  to  see  that  he 
works  well.  "\Ve  have  adopted  this 
plan  even  in  our  farming  operations,  to  ' 
feed  well,  clothe  well,  and  work  well, 
and  chastise  well  when  it  is  needed,  not 
for  the  sake  of  gratifying  any  pas- 
sion of  anger,  but  from  a  sense  of  duty 
It  lias  ever  been  a  rule  with  us  to  give 
the  hands  upon  the  farm  one  half  of 
every  Saturday,  in  order  that  they  may 
have  some  time  to  keej)  their  clothes 
clean  and  do  such  Avork  for  themselves, 
as  to  get  means  to  buy  their  tobacco? 
&c.  We  have  found  them  better  satis- 
fied vfith  this  short  time  every  week  than 
if  such  things  were  furnished  them. — 
This  half  a  day  seems  to  serve  as  a 
stimulus  to  them  to  hurry  their  work  to 
make  time  fly,  as  it  always  does  Avhen 
one  is  actively  employed.     We  do  not 


6-t 


THE  FARMEPi'S  JOURNAL. 


think  that  negroes  should  be  allowed  to 
hire  their  own  time ;  for  by  this  there  is 
great  dissatisfaction  created  among  those 
who  are  not  allowed  this  privilege.  Every 
farmer  should  have  a  certain  number  of 
hours  to  work  d  iring  each  day.  In  the 
■winter  he  may  begin  soon  and  work 
steadily,  and  during  the  night  his  hands 
will  have  ample  time  to  rest.  But  in 
the  summer  he  should  let  his  hands  rest 
at  least  two  hours  at  noon,  say  from  12 
o'clock  tc  2  o'clock ;  by  doing  this,  each 
hand  can  become  free  from  excessive 
heat,  and  after  eating,  if  he  chooses,  can 
take  some  sleej?,  which  greatly  refreshes 
him  for  the  remainder  of  the  day. — 
As  a  general  thing,  it  is  best  to  allowance 
each  hand.  Our  plan  has  been  to  give 
men,  in  winter,  5  lbs.  of  pork,  clear  of 
bone,  and  a  peck  of  meal ;  and  women 
4  lbs.  of  pork  and  a  peck  of  meal ;  and 
in  the  summer  we  reduce  the  allowance 
of  each  one  pound  of  meat,  and  give  a 
quart  of  molasses  in  its  place.  This  is 
quite  enough,  and  in  some  cases  it  may 
be  more.  We  have  seen  negroes  who 
.would  eat  one  pound  of  fat  meat  each 
day — though  this  we  call  gluttony — and 
any  man  would  be  morally  wrong  to  al- 
low it.  When  the  servant,  by  strict  at- 
tention to  his  duty  deserves  it,  he  should 
always  receive  kind  words  from  his  mas- 
ter, and  some  rewards  as  a  testimony  of 
his  approbation.  There  are  masters  who 
never  give  their  servants  a  kind  word  on 
any  account,  and  these  have  to  watch 
them  closely  to  get  them  to  work.  We 
do  now,  as  we  have  ever  done,  contend 
til  at  when  the  relations  of  master  and 
servant  are  carried  out  fully,  that  the  ne- 
gro is  in  every  respect  better  off  than 
were  he  free  to  manage  for  himself.  The 
only  evidence  of  the  truth  of  this  is, 
when  one  has  looked  upon  the  condition 


of  the  negro  in  the  Northern  States,  and 
compared  it  with  the  general  condition 
of  the  slave  negro  in  the  South.  Before 
.  we  conclude,  there  is  one  thing  to  which 
we  wish  to  call  the  attention  of  our 
readers.  It  is  becoming  to  be  a  common 
custom  with  those  who  hire  negroes  at 
sale,  to  first  question  the  negro  as  to  his 
willingness  to  live  with  him.  This  is  a 
ruinous  plan,  and  should  be  put  down  at 
once  wherever  it  exists.  This  was  first 
began  by  a  few  who  did  it  under  errone- 
ous impressions,  believing  that  it  was  tf) 
their  interest  to  pursue  such  a  course. 
There  are  many  men  who  are  really  a- 
fraid  to  hire  a  negro  at  a  public  sale  for 
fear  he  will  be  persuaded  away  by  these 
rascally  fellows  before  the  time  of  ser- 
vice expires,  and  he  does  not  feel  able  to 
lose  the  money.  The  formers  can,  if 
they  will,  put  a  stop  to  this  ruinous  prac- 
tice, and  should  do  it  by  all  means. 


For  the  Farmer's  Journal. 

Mr.  Editor  : — I  wish  to  state  a  fac^ 
and  institute  an  in(piiry.  A  practical 
answer  from  you  or  some  of  your  able 
contributors  will  be  of  great  service  to 
many  of  the  fanners  of  Greene  County. 
Much  of  our  land  which  will  bring  from 
three  to  five  barrels  of  corn  per  acre,  will 
not  produce  peas,  although  oi'iginally 
good  pea  land.  The  land  is  light  and 
sandy,  with  sand  sub-soil.  The  pea 
grows  well  till  about  the  last  of  July  or 
first  of  August,  when  they  turn  yellow 
and  soon  die.  They  have  what  we  call 
the  big  root,  the  roots  grow  large,  resem- 
bling the  artichoke.  Au  answer  soon 
will  oblige  A  FARMER. 

We  received  a  fevv  days  since  from  an 
enterprising  farmer  in  Greene  county 
the  article  above,  and  we  most  cheerfully 
give  him  the  information  sought  for  ; 
and  we  shall  at  all  times  be  pleased  to 
answer  any  question  through  the  Jour- 
nal which  may  be  of  general   interest 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


53 


and  benefit.  But  when  -we  are  consulted 
in  relation  to  a  particular  farm  and  the 
jiroper  management  for  it  we  must  be 
paid  for  our  labor.  And  why  should  we 
not  receive  compensation  for  farm  ad- 
vice, when  the  doctor  and  lawyer  are 
paid  for  their  opinions.  We  make  the 
subject  of  scientific  agriculture  our  study, 
and  when  we  are  not  already  able  to  an- 
swer any  inquiry,  we  go  to  work  and  find 
out,  in  order  to  give  such  instruction  as 
may  be  relied  upon.  The  writer  of  this 
article  states  that  there  are  lands  in  the 
county  of  Greene  which  will  produce 
from  three  to  five  barrels  of  corn,  which 
fail  to  produce  the  pea,  though  they 
were  originally  good  pea  lands.  In  the 
analysis  of  corn  by  DeSaussure,  there  is 
in  the  stalk  and  grain  about  five  per  cent, 
of  carbonate  of  lime,  and  in  the  analy- 
sis of  the  pea  by  Sprengel,  there  is  in 
the  straw  or  vine  and  grain  of  the  pea 
about  thirty  per  cent,  of  the  carbonate  of 
lime.  Now,  if  Ave  were  to  stop  here 
even,  without  entering  more  particularly 
into  the  details,  we  feel  quite  sure  that 
this  farmer  who  stated  the  fact  and  made 
the  inquiry,  would  see  the  main  reason 
why  his  peas  in  the  month  of  July  turn 
yellow  and  die,  and  also  vfhy  they  have 
what  he  calls  the  big  root.  This  soil,  it 
must  be  recollected,  is  based  upon  sand, 
and  lime  is  very  much  disposed  to  sink 
lower  down  all  the  while  ;  and  besides, 
we  are  quite  certain  that  these  lands 
have  been  badly  treated,  by  pasturing 
them  after  the  crop  has  been  taken  from 
them  in  the  fall.  By  pursuing  this  plan 
there  has  been  a  constant  draw  upon  the 
soil  of  the  carbonate  of  lime,  without 
►n^en  leaving  the  vines  or  strawy  upon  the 
field  for  decomposition  to  enable  the 
land  to  produce  good  crops  of  the  pea 
successively.     This  land  should  be  limed 


either  with  stone  lime,  shell  lime,  or 
marl,  and  the  owner  should  be  careful 
that  he  does  not  make  too  large  an  ap- 
plication until  he  furnishes  the  vegetable 
matter  for  its  action  ;  but  a  small  quan- 
tity of  lime  should  be  applied,  about  30 
bushels  to  the  acre.  Land  which  has  a 
sandy  sub-soil  should  be  limed  in  this 
way,  and  indeed  we  would  advise  this 
plan  in  liming  any  kind  of  land.  In- 
stead of  placing  the  lime  on  the  land  and 
plowing  it  in,  the  land  should  be  plowed 
first  and  the  lime  then  put  upon  it  and 
harrowed  in  to  the  depth  of  three  or  four 
inches.  We  would  recommend  as  a 
suitable  application  to  this  land,  the  salt 
and  lime  mixture,  which  may  be  found 
in  No.  1,  Vol.  1st  of  our  paper.  The 
organic  elements  of  crops  will  in  the 
course  of  time,  where  the  mineral  ele- 
ments are  present  in  the  soil,  be  derived 
fi'om  the  atmosphere.  But  if  lime  or 
other  mineral  elements  of  crops  are  not 
in  the  soil  by  nature,  they  must  be  sup- 
plied by  art,  or  they  will  continue  to  be 
wanting.  If  these  lands  spoken  of  are 
properly  limed  we  will  vouch  for  a  good 
crop  of  peas  upon  them  hereafter,  if  they 
are  not  pastured  to  death  so  as  to  soon 
require  a  repetition  of  the  liming.  We 
say  here,  as  we  have  often  said  before, 
that  the  farmer  should  be  content  with 
getting  the  crop  from  his  land,  and  the 
stalk  and  vine  should  be  returned  to  the 
soil,  in  order  that  it  may  be  able  to  pro- 
duce another  crop. 


The  Circlevlile  Watchman  (Ohio)  says 
that  John  Brotherlin,  Esq.,  of  thatplace^ 
has  constructed  a  tea  kettle  made  of  cop- 
per, all  complete  and  entire,  and  which 
weighs  less  than  the  twelfth  part  of  a 
cent.  This  is  a  triumph  of  neat-handc  <^ 
workmanship. 


56 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Dr.  Tompkins: — I  enclose  you  one 
dollar  for  your  valuable  Agricultural 
"Journal."  We  are  much  pleased  with 
the  spirit  and  matter  of  your  truly  valu- 
able "Journal."  It  is  ettecting  great 
good  in  our  farming  community. 

Yours  res])ectfully, 
J.  T.  LEACH. 
March  21st,  '53. 

The  above  note  we  received  from  the 
office  without  the  name  of  the  office  to 
which  the  paper  is  to  be  sent.  We  hope 
that  the  auth.or  will  please  to  send  us 
the  name  of  the  office. 


Edgecombe  Co.,  N.  C, 
February  11th,  1853 

Gentlemen: — Your  letter  of  the  26th 
of  January  did  not  come  to  hand  until 
last  evening.  The  delay  or  cause  of  its 
not  arrivino-  sooner  is  owinof  to  its  hav- 
ing  been  mis-sent  for_I  discover  that  it 
has  the  New  York  stamp  on  it. 

As  a  committee  of  the  Beaufort  agri- 
cultural society,  appointed  for  the  pur- 
pose of  selecting  some  person  to  deliver 
an  address  betbre  that  worthy  body  of 
farmers  at  theiil  next  meeting,  you  very 
politely  tender  this  flattering  duty  to 
me  and  hope  I  will  not  decline  it.  If  I 
thought  I  could  do  justice  to  an  agricul- 
tural subject  in  an  address,  or  say  any- 
thing that  would  either  enteitain  or  in- 
struct the  society,  or  the  farmers  of 
Beaufort,  hovv^ever  unused  to  such  sta- 
tion, I  would  freely  lay  aside  all  person- 
al considerations  and  enter  upon  this  du- 
ty. But  I  do  not  feel  myself  competent; 
withal  owing  to  a  weak  voice  I  should 
be  incapable  of  making  myself  heard. — 
I  am  even  frona  this  cause  a  bad  reader. 
You  will  therefore  allow  me  the  privilege 
with  the  kindest  feelings  toAvards  your- 
selves and  your  society,  to  decHne  it. 

I  am  indeed  an  enthusiast  upon  the 


subject  of  improved  farming,  scientific 
farming  if  you  please,  by  which  we 
should  endeavor  to  understand  the  why 
and  wherefore  of  everything  that  we  do, 
as  much  as  our  present  knowledge  of  the 
laws  of  matter  will  admit  of.  Farmers 
deal  in  matter;  matter  has  its  laws;  many 
of  the  hiAvs  and  the  phenomena  growing 
out  of  a  combination  of  matter  are  to  be 
understood  only  tlirough  chemistry. — 
Some  enlightened  men,  yea  chemists,  do 
not  believe  in  agricultural  chemistry* 
tliough  it  may  be  the  professed  duty  of 
some  of  them  to  teach  chemistry  as  a 
science.  I  have  ever  tli ought  tliat  this 
originated  from  their  inability  to  discon- 
nect chemistry  from  vegetable  physiolo- 
gy which  involves  a  vital  action.  Chem- 
istry teaches  us  Avhat  inorganic  matters 
exist  in  a  plant  such  as  lime,  potash,  so- 
da, iron,  magnesia,  &c.,  and  their  com^ 
pounds;  now  if  they  exist  in  the  plant  the 
laws  of  nature  require  them  for  vegeta- 
ble growth  whenever  found  in  such,  and 
if  the  soil  does  not  contain  them  in  suf- 
ficient quantity,  wdierejs  the  vegetable  to 
obtain  it?  If  a  soil  fails  to  produce  as 
well  as  formerly,  as  that  of  New  York 
and  some  of  the  western  States,  is  it  not 
plain  that  it  is  owing  to  its  mineral  in- 
gredients within  reach  of  the  plant  or 
roots  of  the  vegetable  having  been  car- 
ried off  to  market,  in  the  shape  of  grain, 
grass,  meat  and  bones.  IIow  ai'e  Ave  to 
assign  a  pi'oper  cause  for  the  failure  oth- 
erwise than  this,  and  how  can  Ave  tell 
but  by  chemical  analysis  of  the  soil  to 
Avhat  degree  this  exhaustion  has  been 
carried?  DaA'y  Liebig  and  others  have 
put  England  upon  the  right  track  for  she 
has  doubled  the  productiveness  of  her 
soil  by  shipping  tliese  mineral  ingredients 
home  as  manure;  the  Avliitened  bones 
from  the  battlefields  of  Waterloo  have 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURl^TAL. 


57 


contributed  their  part,  and  even  her  ves- 
sels have  been  laden  in  om-  ports  witli 
bones  to  be  ground  or  dissolved  to  en 
rich  her  soil;  therefore  in  this  way  she 
has  shipped  oft'  some  portion  of  the  con- 
centrated fertility  of  our  soils  in  phos- 
phate of  lime  and  such  other  fertilisers  as 
were  contained  in  these  bones.  Is  it 
not  time  that  farmers  shall  begin  to  study 
more  thoroughly  the  original  and  funda- 
mental causes  of  success  in  some  parts; 
•while  if  not  a  thorough,  at  least  a  partial 
disappointment  attends  agriculture  in 
others.  If  the  soil  is  furnished  with  the 
necessaiy  mineral  ingredients,  farmers 
may  rest  assured  that  it  will  have  some 
recuperative  powers  within  itself,  and 
obtain  from  the  atmosphere  in  process  of 
time  the  constituents  of  the  organic  ele- 
ments, oxygen,  carbon,  hydrogen  and 
nitrogen  even  if  not  aj)plied  by  man  to  it. 
Some  men  are  disposed  to  deny  the  a- 
gency  of  chemistry  to  agriculture,  be- 
cause it  cannot  explain  everything  in 
connection  ■with  vegetable  growth,  be- 
cause they  cannot  discover  by  it  how  ox- 
ygen, carbon,  nitrogen  and  hydrogen  are 
so  put  together  as  to  constitute,  an  acid 
in  one  vegetable,  a  gum  in  another, 
starch  in  another,  sugar  &e.  in  others- 
they  are  disposed  to  repudiate  the  con- 
nection. This  is  the  greatest  of  follies,  I 
will  not  say  from  what  cause,  if  it  be 
not  from  an  inability  to  draw  a  line  be- 
tween a  vital  or  physiological  principle, 
and  a  chemical  action.  Animals  can 
tell  their  wants  of  hunger  and  thirst  and 
exercise  locomotion  to  gratify  them,  but 
how  may  animals  know  anything  of  the 
process  of  digestion,  or  the  increase  of 
growth  or  flesh;  here  is  a  physiological 
process.  Vegetables  as  well  as  animals 
have  their  digestive  process  though  in  a 
more  simple  form. 


But  I  discover  that  I  am  extending 
this  letter  to  an  unnecessary  length.  I 
had  gotten  into  a  train  of  thought  and 
continued  to  write;  this  was  owing  to 
your  kind  notice  of  the  address  delivered 
before  the  Edgecombe  agricultural  socie- 
ty by  me.  Now  I  beheve  it  is  generally 
conceded  to  parents  the  privilege  of  be- 
ing fond  of  their  own  oftspring,  however 
wanting  it  may  be  in  proper  form  and 
symmetry;  indeed  though  this  deformity 
may  be  quite  perceptible  to  them,  yet 
they  are  pleased  to  discover  that  others 
are  disposed  to  over-look  them,  or  give 
to  them  a  charitable  consideration. 
With  much  respect  yours, 

J.  J.  Phillips. 
To  Hejtry  Dimock, 

Jas.  F.  Clark, 

John  F.  Tompkins. 


Topsail  Sound,  New  Hanover  ) 
Co.,  March  19th,  1853.      j 
Dear  Sir  : — Occasional  absences  from 
home  the  last  year,  has  prevented  me 
from  taking  that  interesting  and  profit- 
ing from  your   very  useful   pubhcation 
that  I  would  otherwise  have  done.    Hav- 
ing been  conversant  with  the  most  ap- 
proved agricultural  publications   in  the 
United  States  for  several  years  past,  it  is 
a  source  of  pleasure  and  pride  for  me  to 
say,  that  there  is   now   an   agricultural 
journal  in  our  State  that   will  compare 
favorably  wi  Ji  the  best   of  them.     We 
certainly  in  times   past  have  been  the 
most  inert  and  torpid  race  of  people  that 
breathe  this  vital  air,  and  I  congratulate 
you  on  the  new  era  in  farming  now  about 
to  dawn  upon  us   principally   through 
your  exertions  and  instrumentality.     I 
enclose  you  one  dollar  advance,  subscrip- 
tion for  your  second    volume. 
Very  respectfully 
Your  ob't  serv't. 
J.  D.  Jones. 


58 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Seau€ort  County  Agricultural 
Society. 

The  annual  meeting  of  this  associa- 
tion assembled  in  ihe  Court  house  at 
Washington  on  Tuesday,  the  22d  of 
March,  at  7  o'clock,  P.  M. 

The  President,  Col.  Wm.  H.  Tripp, 
called  the  meeting  to  order,  and  H.  G. 
Hilioa  was  appointed  Secretary,  pro 
tem. 

The  proceedings  of  the  last  meeting 
were  read  by  the  Secretary,  afier  which 
the  committee  of  three  reported  through 
Dr.  Tompkins  that  they  had  failed  to 
procure  any  gentleman  to  deliver  an 
address  upon  this  occasion. 

The  committee  of  nine,  appointed  as 
executive  committee,  also  reported  that 
they  had  not  been  able  to  secure  the 
aum  entitling  the  Society  to  the  amount 
provided  by  our  last  Legislature,  where 
upon  J.  B.  Lucas  moved  that  the  mem- 
bers proceed  to  make  up  the  sum  re- 
quired, which  was  done,  and  that  too 
in  a  spirit  of  enthusiasm  selJom  wit- 
r^essed.  The  committee  of  arrange- 
ments then  proceeded  to  make  the  fol- 
lowing report,  which  was  received  and 
adopted : 

Beaufort  Co.  Agricultural  Society,  ) 
March  22,  1853. '    ^ 

The  executive  committee  to  whom 
was  referred  at  the  last  meeting  of  the 
Society,  the  awarding  of  premiums,  beg 
leave  to  make  the  following  report:  — 

Resolved,  That  in  order  to  encourage 
and  stimulate  the  farmers  and  mechan- 
ics of  this  county  to  a  laudable  compe- 
tition, we  would  recommend  to  the  so- 
ciety that  the  following  premiums  or 
rewards  be  offered  to  those  who  shall, 
according  to  the  terms  herein  stated,  be 
entitled  to  them  : 

Resolved,  That  there  shall  be  held 
in  or  near  Washington,  on  the  8th  of 
Ooiober  next,  an  annual  Fair^  for  the  i 


purpose  of  making  an  exhibition  of  the 
largest  products,  best  stocks,  best  pieces 
of  mechanism,  and  best  specimens  of 
home  industry  made  or  produced  in 
this  county. 

The  following  are  the  premiums  to 
be  awarded : 

For  the  larg't  c'p  of  corn  ra'd  on  one  acre,  $!8 
For  the  largest  crop  of  wheat,  do.  do.  S 
For  the  largest  crop  of  oatg,  do.  do.  3 
for  the  largest  crop  of  cotton,  do.  do.  3 
For  the  largest  crop  sweet  pot.itoes,  do.  2 
For  the  best  stallion  raised  in  the  county  2 
For  the  best  two  year  colt,  do.  2 
For  the  best  one  year  old  colt,  do.  2 
For  the  best  five  month's  colt,  do.  1 
For  the  best  brood  mare,  do.  Q 
For  the  besl  harness  horse,  do.  2 
For  the  best  saddle  do.  do-  2 
For  the  best  Jack,  ^o.  3 
For  the  best  mule,  <3o.  3 
For  the  finest  bull,  do.  2 
For  the  best  milch  cow,  do.  2 
For  the  best  heifer,  do.  2 
For  the  best  yearling  calf,  <Jo.  1 
For  the  best  yoke  work  oxen,  do.  3 
For  the  best  buggy  made  in  the  oountv,  3 
For  the  best  cart  for  manuring,  do.  2 
For  the  best  specimen  of  cabinet  making  3 
I'or  the  best  do.  blacksmithing  work  3 
For  the  best  piece  of  woolen  cloth,  do.  1 
For  the  best  pair  of  stockings,  do.  50c 
For  the  best  do.  of  boots,  do.  2 
For  the  best  snit  of  clothes,  do.  3 
For  the  best  essay  upon  an  agricultu- 
ral subject.                                            do.  5 

Resolved,  That  those  persons  who 
wish  to  compete  for  the  premiums  a- 
bove  named,  shall  make  known  their 
intention  by  letter  to  the  Secretary  of 
the  Society  on  or  before  the  1st  August 
next. 

Resolved,  That  those  persons  con- 
tending for  the  premiums  awarded  for 
the  various  crops,  shall  produce  on  the 
day  of  the  Fair,  a  certificate  signed  by 
three  respectable  per  sons  in  the  coun- 
ty, testifying  as  to  the  amount  of  the 
land  cultivated,  and  of  the  crop  pro- 
duced. 

Resolved,  l^hat  the  competitors  in 
crops  shall  also  produce  on  the  day  of 
the  Fair  a  written  statemeat  of  their 
manner  of  manuring,  their  mode  of  cul- 
ture, and  any  thing  else  worth  noticing 
in  the  production  of  said  crops 

Resolved.  That  the   competitors  £o» 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


59 


the  preiniutns  for  the  best  of  the  vari- 
ous kinds  of  slock,  and  the  best  speci- 
mens in  the  various  mechanic  arts,  and 
of  home  industry,  shall  certify  ibai  they 
were  raised  and  manufactured  in  this 
county. 

Resolved,  That  the  President  of  the 
Society  shall  be  considered  as  the 
chairman  of  the  executive  cammiitee, 
and  if  at  anv  time  he  should  be  absent, 
the  acting  Vice  President  shall  perform 
his  duty  in  this  respect  also. 

Resolved,  That  the  President  appoint 
a  marshal  and  two  assistant  marshals, 
whose  duty  it  sha'l  be  to  attend  on  the 
day  of  the  annual  Fair,  and  see  that 
strict  order  is  preserved,  while  the  exhi- 
bition is  being  ir  ade. 

Resolved.  That  the  President  shall 
appoint  a  committee  of  seven,  to  be 
styled  the  committee  of  arrangements, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  solicit  sub- 
scriptions, for  the  purpose  of  purchasing 
a  suitable  locaiion  and  for  the  erection 
of  suitable  buildings  for  the  holding  of 
the  exhibition,  and  also  to  superintend 
all  preparations  necessary  for  the  sa^jie. 
Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  three 
shall  be  appointed  by  the  President  to 
procure  some  person  to  deliver  an  ad- 
dress before  the  society  at  some  "place 
in  Washington  on  the  evening  of  the 
8lh  October  next. 

Resolved,  That   all   members  of  the 
Beaufort  Agricultural  Society,  and  their 
families  shall  be  allowed  to  enter  the 
Fair  ground-  free   of  charge,  and   that 
all  other    persons  shall,  upon  etitermg, 
pay  the  sum  of  25  ots ,  which  shall  be 
regarded  as  belonging  to  the  Society. 
M.  G.  Hilton,     "] 
Gr.  W.  Guilford,  | 
J.  M.  Patrick,      j   d 
Sam'l  C.  Eborn,   I   g 
J.  B.  Lucas,  Y  3 

H.  A.  Ellison,      |   ^ 
Henry  Hodges,   j   p 
Jas.  F.  Clark,     j 
3no.  p.  Tompkins.  J 
Dr.    Tompkins    then     delivered    a 
speech  in  his  usually  interesting  style, 
and  was  followed  by  F.  B  Salterihwaile, 


Esq.  Mr.  S.  showed  the  difference  in 
the  rank  of  agriculture  now,  and  when 
he  was  a  youth,  and  fully  proved  by  au 
account  of  his  own  experiments  in  ma- 
nure making,  that  all  it  requires  to 
make  it  the  most  profiiable  as  well  as 
the  most  honorable  avocation,  is  the  ap- 
plication of  science,  and  he  longed  to 
see  the  day  when  he  could  retire  from 
the  Bar  and  confine  his  attention  ex- 
clusively to  farming.  He  closed  by 
exhoriing  the  Society  to  renewed  ef- 
forts in  the  cause,  assuring  them  that  a 
brighter  day  is  not  far  distant. 

'I'he  Society  then  prooteded  to  the 
election  of  officers  for  another  year,  as 
follows : 

Samuel  C.  Eborn,  President :  James 
F.  Clark  and  N.  W.  Guilford,  Vice 
Presidents  ;  H.  G.  Hilton,  Recording 
Secreta.'-y;  John  F.  Tompkins,  Corres- 
ponding Secretary  ;  Jesse  Lucas,  Trea- 
surer. 

Dr.  Tompkins,  James  F.  Clark  and 
Henry  Dimock  were  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  wait  on  Mr.  Br:dgers,  of 
Edgecombe,  and  solicit  him  to  deliver 
an  address  before  the  Society. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  ap- 
pointed a  Commit'te  or  Arrangements, 
and  specially  directed  to  get  a  suitable 
location  in  or  near  Washington  for  the 
exhibition  in  October  next,  and  to 
make  such  other  provisions  as  the  na- 
ture of  the  ease  may  demand,  (viz  :) — 

H.  A.  Ellison,  H.  Dimock,  W.  W. 
Norman,  Dr.  Tompkins,  Saral.  Clark, 
Saml.  T.  Carrow,  and  B.  F.  Tripp. 

It  was  moved  and  carried  that  the 
thanks  of  the  Society  be  tendered  to  the 
officers  for  the  past  year. 

It  was  moved  ar.d  carried  that  our 
next  meeting  be  held  in  Washington 
on  Tuesday  eyenmg  of  May  Court. 


GO 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


members  of  the  Society,  (viz:)  Samuel 
Clarlf,  Lewis  Clark,  J.  B  Marsh,  Sam- 
uel T.  Carrow,  B.  F.  Tripp,  Charles 
Tripp,  J.  Ft.  Stubbs,  VVinfidd  Muse, 
Henry  A.  Ellison,  W.  W.  Norman, 
and  Jarvis  B.  Harding. 

It  was  then  ordered  that  the  proceed- 
ings ot  this  meeting  be  published  in 
the  Farmer's  Journal  and  North  Staie 

Whig. 

The  meeting  then  adjourned. 
W.  H.  TRIPP,  President. 
H.  Gr.  Hilton,  Secretary. 


From  tho  Bddgeport  Fanner. 
A  Few  of  the  Benefits  of  Agricultu- 
ral Societies. 

The  question  is  often  asked,  are  Agri- 
cultural Societies  any  benefit  to  tlie  peo- 
ple in  general?  I  reply,  they  are.  Ihey 
hold  annual  Fairs,  at  which  are  exhibi- 
ted every  thing  new  (or  ought  to  be) 
under  the  sun.  It  is  the  Farmer's  and 
Mechanic's  holiday ;  they  assemble  to- 
gether to  see  the  works  of  their  neigh- 
bors, to  hear  their  experience,  and  to 
pass  two  or  three  days  profitably  and 
pleasantly. 

Profitably,  did  I  say  ?  This  put  me  in 
mind  of  a  conversation  which  took  place 
between  one  of  my  neighbors  and  my- 
self after  returning  from  the  Fair.  I 
asked  him  why  he  did  not  attend. 

Neighbor.  O,  I  never  went  nor  cared 
nothin'  about  goin',  and  I  alers  thought 
'twas  time  thrown  away. 

Reply.  Perhaps  you  have  not  thor- 
oughly investigated  the  matter  :  you  on- 
ly think  of  the  days  of  the  Fair,  and  not 
of  the  future  benefits. 

JV.  I  don't  see  what  future  benefits 
can  come  from  spending  two  or  three 
days  and  as  many  dollars  in  what  you 
call  an    Agricultural    Fair;    mj  father 


alers  got  along  well  'nut,  and   he  never 
went  to  one  on  'urn. 

R.  Let  me  explain  to  you  a  little.  We 
will  take  the  article  of  butter.  We  of- 
fer a  premium  of  five  dollars  for  the  best 
butter;  a  man  who  takes  an  Agricultu- 
ral paper  long  enough  tO'  see  what  is  for 
his  own  interest  brings  in  a  sample  of 
fine  butter;  he  tells  his  breed  of  cows, 
the  time  the  butter  was  made,  the  kind 
of  feed  the  cows  had,  the  number  of 
times  they  were  milked  in  a  day,  wheth- 
er the  butter  was  set  in  cold  water  or  hot,, 
the  time  the  milk  stood  before  skimming 
the  time  the  cream  stood  before  churn- 
ing, the  number  of  times  the  butter  was 
worked,  the  quantity  of  salt  used,  the 
manner  of  preserving  the  butter,  &c. — 
He  gets  the  premium.  Is  not  that  a 
benefit  ? 

N.  0  yes,  it  lielps  him  five  dollars; 
but  -what  help  is  that  to  any  one  else  ? 

It.  He  brings  in  his  statement;  these 
are  published  in  the  jSTewspaper,  which 
is  read  by  five  hundred  people  who 
make  butter,  they  follow  his  example, 
and  are  thereby  enabled  to  get  two  cents 
a  pound  more  for  it  than  if  they  had 
gone  on  in  the  old  way.  Now  suppose 
each  man  made  but  500  poimds  a  year, 
and  gets  two  cents  a  pound  extra;  it  gives 
him  ^10;  this  multiplied  by  500,  the 
number  of  dairymen  Avho  read  and  fol- 
low this  statement,  we  have  $5,000;  now 
to  know  that  you  ai-e  doing  so  much 
good  by  taking  your  butter  to  the  Fair, 
will  it  not  compensate  a  man  for  his 
trouble  ? 

N.  Wal,  you  know  that's  one  of  the  ' 
principle  products  of  the  farm,  'laint  so 
with  everything. 

R.  We  will  take  fruit,  and  see  if  that 
is  not  also  a  benefit.    A  few  years  since, 


Mr. 


brought  some  Baldwin  apple^, 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


61 


to  our  Fair  and  received  the  first  premi- 
ii)n;  and  wliat  was  the  consequence  ? 
AVhy,  the  following  spring  I  went  for 
some  grafts,  and  he  afterwards  told  me 
that  he  gave  away  all  that  were  small 
enough  for  grafts,  and  he  believed  they 
would  have  taken  the  body  of  the  tree 
if  they  could  have  used  it.  Those  which 
I  have  obtained  have  commenced  bear- 
ing, and  if  others  have  given  away  grafts 
as  I  have  done,  you  can  see  how  widely 
they  are  spread  at  the  present  time.  If 
a  large  apple  which  is  'beautiful  to  the 
eye  and  delicious  to  the  taste,  is  any  bet- 
ter than  a  small,  mean,  sour  one,  which 
to  bite  is  enough  to  make  a  pig  squeal, 
(I  am  sorry  to  say  that  so  many  pigs  will 
eat  them,)  are  not  Agriculturiil  Societies 
a  benefit?  I  calculate  the  profits  of  ta- 
king this  variety  of  fruit  to  the  Fair,  is 
more  than  we  can  express :  for  who 
would  have  known  that  such  fruit  exist- 
ed, if  they  had  not  seen  it  there  ?  I  have 
only  spoken  of  one  kind  of  fruit  for  exhi- 
bition, and  are  there  no  other  kinds  of 
fruit  of  equal  importance  ? 

N.  I  guess  that  '11  do  on  that  pint. 

R.  If  you  are  tired  of  fruit,  we  will 
feed  on  grain  awhile.  In  the  year  1849, 
I  bought  a  few  bushels  of  Wheat  (wish- 
ing to  change  my  seed,)  and  finding  it 
full  of  trash,  I  was  obliged  to  spend  two 
days  in  cleaning,  before  it  was  fit  to  sow 
in  any  respectable  man's  farm.  The 
next  year  I  had  the  finest  piece  of  wheat 
that  I  ever  saw;  so  I  took  some  to  the 
Fair  and  it  was  just  the  way  to  adver- 
tise it.  It  was  looked  at  and  admired 
by  all,  and  wanted  by  many,  so  I  sold 
all  I  had  to  spare  for  seed.  It  was  so 
much  better  than  common  wheat  that 
I  obtained  25  cents  more  a  bushel  than 
my  neighbors.  So  carrying  my  wheat 
to  the  fair  was   putting  money  in  my 


pocket;  adding  notoriety  to  my  ciiarac- 
ter,  and  more  than  all,  it  was  the  means 
of  people's  raising  ten  bushels  of  wlieat 
T/here  they  formerly  raised  eight  of  trash.. 
What  do  you  think  of  our  Agricultural 
Fairs? 

N.  O  it'ul  do  for  you  book  farmers, 
but  v.'hat  good  does  it  do  to  take  so  many 
horses  and  cattle  to  the  show  ? 

R.  What  good  does  it  do  ?  Why, 
five  years  ago  our  society  offered  a  pre- 
mium of  $5  for  the  best  horse,  and  there 
were  several  exhibited,  but  none  of  them 
considered  worthy  of  a  premium.  The 
next  year  the  society  off'ered  a  premium 
of  $25  for  the  best  horse,  and  the  result 
was  an  ambitious  enterprising  man  went 
and  purchased  the  finest  one  he  could 
find  in  the  country.  And  why  did  he 
do  it  ?  Because  he  knew  he  could  get 
the  premium.  There  are  now  probably 
500  descendants  from  this  horse,  each 
worth  25  dollars  more  than  the  same 
number  were  before  this  horse  was 
brought  into  this  part  of  the  country. — 
Here  we  have  twelve  thousand  dollars. 
Will  not  that  pay  for  spending  tAvo  or 
three  days  at  a  Fair  ? 

iV.  0  I  don't  know  but  'twill  do. — 
But  you  have  a  plough  match,  where 
they  most  kill  their  oxen  to  see  who  can 
plow  the  fcistest;  what  good  does  that  do? 

R.  Yes,  you  would  most  kill  your  ox- 
en and  yourself  to  have  done  what  we 
did  at  oiu-  plowing  match,  with  one  of 
your  old  straight  wooden  mould  plows, 
such  as  I  have  seen  used  among  farmers 
who  never  saw  a  plowing  match,  or  read 
an  agricultural  paper.  Let  us  compare 
two  farmers  for  one  year,  one  with  the 
old  fashioned  plow,  the  other  with  the 
improved  steed  plow.  The  old  fashioned 
man,  with  plow  to  match,  has  five  acres 
of  corn  to  plant.    He  goes  in  the  field 


<)2 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


with  his  plow  and  tries  to  turn  over  the 
,q;reen  sod;  at  every  other  step  the  fur- 
rows want  a  kick;  and  by  Avorkinghard 
witli  hands  and  feet,  he  is  enabled  to 
root  up  a  small  patch  in  the  course  of  the 
day.  It  takes  him  six  days  to  stub  over 
liis  five  acres. 

It  then  takes  him  two  days  with  his 
harrow  to  roll  over  the  clods  and  trj^  to 
snellow  it  up.  A  great  part  of  the  sods 
Avhich  were  disturbed  by  the  plow,  are 
now  showinof  their  careen  faces  to  the  sun. 
I^ext  he  tries  to  plant  it,  but  his  plow 
only  skimmed  the  surface  and  the  har- 
row has  no  loose  mould — and  conse- 
<|uently  it  takes  seven  days  to  plant  it. — 
At  the  first  hoeing  the  corn  looks  as  if 
it  had  the  yellow  fever — but  he  drags 
his  old  plow  through,  shoving  the  clods 
over  the  corn;  he  spends  seven  days  at 
^jach  hoeing — but  few  at  gathering. 

We  "will  now  look  at  the  other  farmer, 
who  has  that  quantity  of  land,  the  same 
kind  of  soil,  and  like  it  in  every  respect. 
He  goes  into  his  field,  with  his  long 
improved  plow,  and  lays  out  his  work. 
If  the  question  is  asked,  are  long  plows 
any  better  than  short  ones,  I  reply  they 
.'ire.  If  you  wish  to  raise  a  hogshead  of 
sugar  two  feet  in  height,  does  it  not  take 
jnuch  less  force  to  raise  the  same,  by  rol- 
ling it  only  fourfeet  ?  So  with  the  plow, 
— you  raise  the  furrow  much  easier  by 
having  your  plow  three  feet  in  length 
than  j^ou  would  if  it  was  only  one  and 
a  half.  All  the  plowman  is  required  to 
do,  is  to  follow  the  plow  standing 
straight  in  the  furrow.  His  plow  cuts  a 
furrow  of  equal  width  and  about  three 
inches  more  in  depth  than  the  common 
plow — instead  of  having  one  half  roll 
back  it  leaves  it  nicely  inverted.  By 
having  his  plow  run  so  much  easier,  and 
'.-.utting  such  a  nice  straight  furrow,  he 


is  enabled  to  save  one  days  work  in  the 
first  ploughing.  As  good  plowing 
makes  easy  harrowing,  he  here  saves  an- 
other days  work  with  his  team  and  still 
has  his  ground  in  good  order  for  the  re- 
ception of  the  seed. 

When  a  field  is  thus  commenced,  the 
crop  is  easily  taken  care  of  through  the 
season,  and  all  will  agree  with  me  in 
saying,  that  it  will  save  at  least  two  days 
Hork  in  planting  and  at  each  of  the  oth- 
er three  hoeing,  or  eight  days  in  all; 
equal  to  eight  dollars.  Here  we  see  he 
saves  twelve  dollars  in  work,  and  makes 
eighteen  dollars  in  his  crop;  equal  to 
thirty  dollars  on  the  single  field  of  corn 
— would  not  a  good  plow  be  of  equal 
benefit  to  other  crops  ? 

The  man  with  his  improved  plow  is 
of  course  a  member  of  the  Agricultural 
Society.  They  hold  a  plowing  match 
at  some  given  time,  and  two  thousand 
men  assemble  to  see  the  work  perform- 
ed. He  comes  with  his  improved  plow, 
enters  the  contest,  comes  off  victorious, 
and  receives  the  first  prize.  One-fourth 
of  these  men  present  wishing  to  pur- 
chase a  new  plow,  procure  one  like  the 
one  which  received  the  prise,  they  use 
them  on  their  farms  the  next  season, 
and  are  benefitted  as  the  man  mention- 
ed above,  to  the  amount  of  twelve  dol- 
lars. This  multiplied  by  one  hundred 
the  number  which  buy  new  plows,  we 
have  1200  dollars.  Don't  you  think 
that  the  Agricultural  Societies  do  some 
good? 

N.  Wal  I  don't  know  but  they  du — 
but  I  guess  my  wife's  got  dinner  ready, 
so  good  morning. 

The  Atlantic  is  nearly  four  miles  deep 
off"  Cape  Hatteras;  so  say  the  U.  S.  Coast 
Surveyors. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


6'c 


Cure  of  Cholic  in  Horses. 

Messrs.  Editors  : — Having  read  30 
naany  incongruous  publications  thig 
spring,  irj  sundry  prints,  purporting  to 
be  remedies  for  the  cure  of  cholic  in 
horses,  induces  me  10  offer  your  readers 
the  correct  treatment,  on  purely  pro- 
fessional principles,  that  the  lives  of 
many  animals,  decidedly  the  most  im- 
portant of  all  others  to  the  farmer,  may 
be  thereby  spared,  which  are  too  often 
sacrificed  through  ignorance  and  mal- 
treatment. 

Cholic  in  horses  is  divided  into  two 
varieties,  viz:  spasmodic  and  flatulent; 
the  treatment  of  the  two  is  decidedly 
different ;  the  symptoms  I  need  not  de- 
tail at  length,  as  most  farmers  are  ac- 
quainted with  them  ;  suffice  it  to  say, 
the  spasmodic  variety  is  attended  with 
intense  pain,  recurring  at  stated  inter- 
vals, sudden  in  its  attack.  The  flatu- 
lent variety  is  not  so  painful  in  its  com- 
mencement, Dut  increases,  together  with 
great  abdominal  tympanites ;  the  swel- 
hno'  continues  to  increase  with  the  du- 
ration of  the  attack  ;  the  causes  I  need 
not  mention,  for  the  treatment  is  the 
magnum  desideratum  with  farmers. 

Spasmodic  variety — if  the  attack  be 
severe,  first   thing  bleed   pro  re  nala, 
then  take  six  drachms  aloe?,  dissolve  in 
one  quart  warm  water,  add  to  the  solu 
tion  two  or  three  ounces  laudanum, 
with  the  same  quantity  spirits  turpen- 
tine, and  administer  it.     Should  this  in 
due  time  fail  to  give  relief,  administer 
half  the  above  dose  ;   the   belly   and 
loins  should  be  well  rubbed,  and  fre- 
quently bathed  in  clothes  dipped  in  hot 
water  ;  injections  are  also  serviceable 
as  a  denier  resort,  a  suppository  of  to- 
bacco, say  two  or  three  drachms. 
Flatulent  Cholic — this  having  been 


too  often  mistaken  for  the  above  vari- 
ety, has  caused  the  death  of  many  ani- 
mals that  might  have  been  easily  re- 
lieved ;  the  swelling  in  the  abdomen  is 
so  great  that  no  one  can  possibly  mis- 
take it,  who  bears  in  mind  the  two  vari- 
eties    Treatment:  two  or  three  ounces 
of  laudanum,  the  same  quantitv  spiriis 
ot  turpentine,  in  a  pint  of  the  spirits  of 
pimento,  given  at  once  ;  to  be  followed 
quickly  by  one  pint  of  solution  of  the 
chloiiJe  of  lime  or  soda  in  a  quart  of 
water,  the  latter  to  be  repeated  if  relief 
is  not  soon  obtained ;  rationale.     The 
tympanites  is  produced  mostly  by  a  coU 
lection   of  sulphurated  hydrogen  gas  ; 
the  chlorine  disengages  itself  from  the 
lime  or  soda,  and  uniting  with  the  hy- 
drogen, forms  hydro-chloric  or  muriatic 
a^id,  Vvhich  unites  with  any  fluid  pre- 
sent containing  water,  and  relieves  the 
tympanites  as  if  by  a  charm.     A  der 
nier  resort  in  cases  where  no  chlorine 
is  at  hand,  is  to  introduce  a  trocer  in 
the  centre   of  the  right  flar.k,   which 
will  penetrate  the  colon  or  caecum  ] 
withdraw   the  slilet  and  let  the  canula 
remain,  until  the  gas  is   discharged, 
then  withdraw  it,  which  should  be  done 
as  soon  as  possible. 

Flatulent  cholic  not  unfrequently  oc- 
curs in  cattle  and  other  animals  of  the 
lower  order,  which  may  be  similarly 
treated  with  the  trocer  and  chlorine. — 
The  following  remedies  every  farmer 
should  always  keep  on  hand,  for  the 
loss  of  one  animal  will  more  than  de- 
fray the  expense  :  laudanum,  spirits  of 
turpentine,  spirits  pimento,  Barbadoe's 
aloes,  sol.  chloride  lime  or  soda. 

VVm.  N.  Raines,  M.  B. 
Horn  Lake,  Miss ,  June,  1852. 

Labor  is  honorable. 


64 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


It  is  said  that  au  attempt  is  being  made 
to  form  a  company  at  New  Orleans  for 
tlie  purpose  of  entering  into  tbe  rosewood 
trade.  The  projector  owns  a  hirge  tract 
of  hind  near  Guatulco,  in  the  State  of 
Oajaca,  on  the  Pacific,  about  240  miles 
from  Acapulco,  which  is  covered  with 
splendid  rose  trees  from  three  to  four  feet 
in  diameter.  It  can  be  delivered  for 
shipment  at  a  cost  of  $6  per  ton,  and  is 
worth  between  50  and  1^60  per  ton  of 
cubic  feet. 


THE  subscriber  will  give  any  special  ad- 
vice to  Farmers,  by  their  addressing  him 
and  giving  a  description  of  their  farms.  His 
charge  will  be  moderate.  He  will  make 
analysis  of  soils  and  marls,  and  v/rite  out  the 
analysis  for  application  of  manures. 
For  analysis  of  soils,  -  -  -  §5  OO 
Writing  out  analysis,  -  -  -  '  5  00 
JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D. 

LET  every  True  North  Carolinian  throw 
his  might  into  the  hands  of  our  own 
Mechanics,  and  by  this  means,  with  our  Ag- 
ricultural advancement,  we  are  bound  to 
become  an  independent  people.  So  let  the 
citizens  of  Edgecombe,  and  the  neighbouring 
counties,  call  and  examine  the  magnificent 
stock  of 

FURNITURE, 

which  is  offered  for  sale  at  F.  L.  Bond's 

Furniture  Store,  inTarboro',  consisting  of  the 
following  articles,  viz  : 

Ladies'  Marble  and  Mahogany  Top  Dres- 
sing Bureaus ;  Ladies  Marble  Top  Wash 
Stands  ;  Sideboards  and  Plain  Bureaus ;  Ward 
Robes  and  Book  Cases ;  Sofas  and  Mahogany 
Ptocking  Chairs;  Mahogany  and  Walnut 
Tables  ;  Tete-a-tetes  and  Divans ;  Mahogany, 
French,  and  Cottage  Bedsteads  ;  Stationary 
and  Portable  Writing  Desks  ;  Wood  and 
Cane  Seat  Rocking  Chairs  ;  Office,  Windsor, 
^ane  and  Rush  Bottom  Chairs  ;  a  large  as- 
sortment of  cheap  Bed  Steads  ;  Wash  Stands 
and  Candle  Stands ;  China  Presses,  various 
patterns  ;  also,  a  few  Nymphs  and  Nuptials- 
Old  Furniture  and  Sofas  repaired  and  made 
to  look  as  good  as  new.  Old  Bachelors  ren- 
ovated in  such  a  style  as  will  make  them 
accessible  to  the  smiles  of  young   ladies  and 

old  M s  at  least.     Furniture  kept  on  hand 

to  suit  any  age  or  sext. 

Now  one  word  to  the  public  What  is  life 
to  any  one,  if  they  do  not  avail  themselve  of 
the  com.forts  and  conveniences  that  are  offiered 
for  sale  at  F.  L.  BOND'S  Ware  Room  ?  An 
examination  by  the  public  is  earnestly 
solicited.  F.  L.  B. 

Tarbor-o',  N»  C, 


We  are  indebted  to  Captain  Henry 
B.  Harman,  of  this  county,  says  the 
Jeffeisonville  (Tazewell  county)  Demo- 
crat, for  the  following  effectual  cure  for 
the  Staggers:  Take  one  quart  of  bran- 
dy or  whiskey,  and  dissolve  one  ounce 
of  camphor  in  it  and  give  for  a  dose 
one  gill.  In  about  two  hours  after 
taking  this  preparation,  they  will  get 
up.  Care  should  be  t;iken  to  prevent 
iheni  from  drinking  water  for  twenty 
four  hours,  in  which  time  complete  cure 
will  be  efTected.  He  warrants  his  re- 
ceipt to  accomplish  a  perfect  cure  nine 
times  out  of  ten,  having  several  years 
tried  it  successfully. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Communication,  by  "Moyock," 

S3 

Communication,  by  "J.  W.  Y." 

S-i 

Letter  from  S.  R.,  of  Eockville, 

Rowan  Co., 

34 

Letter  from  J.  F.  F.,  of  Rowan  Co. 

S4 

Rules  for  making  an  Axletree, 

35 

Manure, 

35 

HoAV  to  use  Guano, 

38 

Agricultural  Products  of  the  U.  S. 

40 

Good  Rules  for  Farmers, 

42 

Improvements  of  Roads, 

43 

On  Liquid  Manure  in  Farm  Yards, 

44 

Diseases  of  Horses  and  Cows^A  Val- 

uable Receipt, 

46 

Poultry  Manure, 

46 

Action  of  Lime, 

47 

Our  First  Volume  Complete, 

48 

Meeting  of  the  State  Agricultural 

Society, 

48 

The  Silver  Cup, 

48 

Oui-  Travelling  Agent, 

48 

An  Agricultural  School  at  Bath,  F. 

Carolina, 

49 

A  Fact  Avorthy  of  Attention, 

50 

The  Sweep-stakts  for  the  Best 

Corn  Crop, 

50 

Farmer's  of  Korth  Carolina,  where  is 

your  State  Pride  ? 

60 

Young  Men,  be  not  ashamed  to  work, 

51 

The  management  of  Negroes, 

62 

Inquiry  Answered, 

54 

Letter  from  J.  J.  Phillips, 

56 

Letter  from  J.  D.  Jones, 

57 

Beaufort  Co  Agricultural  Society, 

68 

A  few  of  the  Benefits  of  Agricultural 

Societies, 

60 

Cure  for  Cholic  in  Horses. 

63 

t 


THE  FARIEE'S  JOUMAL. 


VOL.  2. 


BATH,  N.  C,  JUNE,  1853. 


NO.  3. 


JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D.,  Editor  and  Proprietor. 


The  Report  of  Professor   Emmons. 

We  have  at  last  been  able  to  procure 
tills  interesting  document,  wbicb  we  have 
read  with  much  care  and  pleasure.  It 
presents  to  our  people  positive  proof  that 
its  author  is  a  truly  scientific  man,  and 
well  calculated  to  discharge  the  duties 
which  have  been  assigned  to  him.  This 
document  contains  much  that  will  inter- 
est our  readers,  and  we  have  therefore 
laid  before  them  in  this  number  of  our 
paper  an  extract  from  it  upon  the  "Mean- 
ing of  the  Word  Improvement, — Com- 
position of  Shell  Marl,  &c."  According 
to  the  analyses  of  Prof.  Emmons,  the 
marls  of  the  eastern  part  of  the  State 
are  rich  in  carbonate  of  lime  and  other 
elements  which  our  crops  require  as 
food.  He  has  given  some  general  direc- 
tions in  the  extract  which  we  make, 
that  must  serve  as  quite  a  guide  to  those 
farmers  who  have  marl  and  do  not  have 
it  analyzed  before  making  an  application 
of  it  to  their  lands.  We  hope  that  this 
survey  will  continue  from  year  to  year, 
until  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  re- 
sources of  our  State  is  obtained. — Ed.] 
Meaning  of  the  Word,  Improvement. 

Composition  of  Shell  Marl,  &c. 

§11.  The  soils  of  the  eastern  counties  ] 
it  has  beea  seen,  furnish  several  distinct '' 


varieties,  some  of  which  lie  at  the  ex- 
tremes. The  original  constitution  which 
is  sandy,  aided  by  long  cultivation  with^ 
out  due  attention  to  the  application  of 
manures,  has  brought  them  to  a  condi- 
tion, in  many  instances,  of  extreme  pov- 
erty; and  hence  it  has  become  a  ques] 
tion  of  great  importance,  how  they  shall.' 
be  restored  in  a  measure  to  their  original 
fertility.  This  is  not  the  only  question 
however,  respecting  the  soils  of  the  lower 
counties — how  they  shall  be  restored. — r 
Another  comes  up  of  equal  if  not  greater 
importance,  viz :  How  are  the  soils, 
which  are  nov/-  in  a  good  condition,  to 
be  prevented  from  becoming  poor  and 
exhausted,  and  yet  be  subject  to  cultiva- 
tion ?  Although  we  have  presented  two 
questions,  yet  if  either  is  answered,  the 
other  is  also  in  the  main ;  for  the  same 
principles  are  applicable  to  the  two  cases. 
The  questions  are  not,  how  shall  the 
crops  be  incressed,  for  methods  are  at 
hand  for  effecing  this  without  a  perma- 
nent improvement  of  the  soil.  The 
crops  of  a  plantation  may  be  greatly  in- 
creased by  deep  ploughing,  and  yet  th© 
soil  is  not  virtually  and  essentially  im- 
proved. Many  are  making  a  mistake 
in  this  respect.  So  the  system  of  clo- 
vering,  or  the  use  of  green  crops,  might 
be  followed  out  on  a  system  combined 
with  an  alternation  of  crops.  This  too, 
has  been  regarded  as  an  improvement  of 
the  soil ;  yet,  it  is  not  so,  unless  indeed, 
it  is  accompanied  with  such  additions  of 
inorganic  matter,  which  the  soil  requijFe 


m 


THE  FARMERS  JOURNAL. 


and  wliicli  are  removed  in  the  crops. — 
The  crops  inaj  be  greatly  increased 
■without  an  improvement  of  the  soil,  and 
pUinters  cannot  learn  this  fact  too  soon. 
I  do  not  object  to  the  plan  of  increasing 
the  cro]>sfor  the&eason,  by  deep  plough- 
ing, sub-soiling  and  the  use  of  green 
crops ;  but  each  and  all,  by  themselves 
•cannot  be  regarded  as  an  improvement 
of  t'le  soil.  There  is  something  mare, 
and  it  consists  in  the  application  along 
■v,dth  deep  ploughing,  sub-soiling,  and 
green,  crops,  of  all  the  elements  which 
fertilize  and  are  necessary  to  supply  the 
losses-  it  sustains  in  the  removed  ele- 
ments ;  and  it  is  only  by  pursuing  this 
inethod  that  the  spirit  of  the  word  Im- 
provement  will  be  realized. 

In  one  sense,  it  is  true,  that  any  sys- 
tem whicli  adds  a  stock  of  essential  ele- 
ments to  the  soil,  is  an  improvement ; 
thus,  by  the  use  of  green  crops,  or  clo- 
ver, or  peas,  we  obtain  from  the  atmos- 
phere, organic  matter  in  the  plants,  which 
is  ploughed  in,  and  added  to  the  soil.  If 
ttie  cultivation  however,  goes  on,  this 
new  accession  of  organic  matter  shortens 
the  time  dining  which  the  inorganic 
matter  will  last;  for  more  of  the  latter 
is  «sed  in  the  increased  crops  There 
must  be  preserved  a  balance  between 
the  two  kinds  of  matter;  if,  for  example, 
there  is  too  much  organic  matter  in  the 
straw  of  wheat,  as  there  frequently  is 
when  cultivated  on  new  grounds,  it  is 
weak  and  falls  down ;  or  else  there  is 
an  excessive  development  of  the  herba- 
ceous part  and  but  little  grain  or  seed. 

But  I  shall  leave  this  question  to  take 
care  of  itself  far  the  present ;  it  is  time 
to  speak  of  the  real  sources  of  improve- 
ment in  the  soils^  as  found  in  the  lower 
counties : 

The  first  substance  requiring  attention, 
is  marl,  a  term  which  was  originally  ap- 
plied to  substa»ces  v/hleh  consisted  in 
part  of  carbonate  of  lime ;  l>at  as  often- 
er  used,  it  includes  calcareous  clays,  with 
or  without  shells,  and  argillaceous  mat- 
ters containing  silica,  iron  and  potash, 
and  probably  phosphate  of  lime,  but 
destitute  of  carbonate  of  lime.  The  for- 
xaer  are  the  marly  clays,  and  shell  marl  I 


— the  calcareous  matter  is  in  the  form  of 
a  carbonate ;  the  latter  is  the  green  sand.,., 
and  contains  potash  as  its  principal  fer- 
tilizer, though  it  is  now  rendered  highly 
probable  that  phosphate  of  lime  is  al- 
ways present  and  active  in  producing; 
the  results  which  follow  from  its  use.  In 
the  green  sand,  however,  there  is  no  car- 
bonate of  lime  or  but  a  trace,  and  hence, 
it  may  be  better  never  to  apply  the  term 
marl  to  the  green  sand,  as  it  is  so  differ- 
ent in  cora]:>osition  from  the  true  marls, 
and  so  different  in  its  geological  position 
and  age.  But  both  are  found  in  the 
part  of  the  State  of  which  I  am  speak- 
ing, one  or  the  other  being  found  in  beds- 
from  Currituck  to  Brunswick,  and  from 
Wake  to  Carteret.  The  beds  are  not 
continued  over  very  large  areas :  the 
green  sands  however,  are  less  isolated 
and  more  continuaus  than  the  shell  marl 
beds. 

12.  The  materials  which  are  employ- 
ed on  the  Atlantic  slope,  in  Virginia, 
N^orth  and  South  Cai-olina,  and  other 
States  still  farther  South,  belong  to  two 
great  sections  or  systems  of  rooks.  The 
superior  is  the  tertiary ;  the  inferior  sys- 
tem the  cretaceous,  occupying,  in  the 
latter,  the  lov/est  position  in  the  system. 
It  is  that  part  known  as  the  green  sand, 
trom  the  circumstance  that  the  beds  are- 
green  or  greenish,  from  the  presence  of 
numerous  grains  of  silicate  of  iron  and 
potash. 

I  propose  to  describe  the  first  or  terti- 
ary beds.  These,  so  far  as  my  oliserva- 
tion  extends  are  always  isolated,  or  con- 
fined comparatively  within  narrow  limits. 
They  are  not  spread  out  so  as  to  form  a 
continuous  bed ;  but  limited  usually  to  a 
few  acres,  perhaps  many  acres,  and  com- 
pletely disconnected  or  separated  from 
other  beds.  This  view  of  them  is  im- 
portant, inasmuch  as  it  does  not  follow, 
that  because  a  bed  appears  ia  a  branck 
on  one  side  of  the  plantation,  that  it. will 
be  found  on  the  other  side  of  it  thougk 
very  desirable  that  it  should.  So;nd 
beefs  are  confined  to  an  area  of  an  acre. 
Some  are  but  a  few  rods  square,  a»4 
others  are  still  smaller,  and  appear  lik» 
nssts  of  shells  in  the  midst  of  wiuds-— 


THE  FAKMER^S  JOURNAL. 


m 


The  beds  of  oysters  and  clams  are,  in- 
deed, good  representatives  of  marl  beds, 
as  to  extent:  some  larger,  others  smaller, 
if  we  examine  ■  the  bed  or  floor  of  the 
ocean  by  soundings,  we  shall  find  it 
•composed  of  materials,  especially  along 
the  coast,  very  much  the  same ;  but  its 
surface  is  not  evenly  spread  out.  In 
some  places  it  is  smooth  and  level ;  in 
others,  it  rises  in  ridges  and  hills,  with 
their  vallies.  This  disposition  of  the 
materials  forming  the  ocean's  bottom, 
provides,  if  it  may  be  so  called,  a  variety 
■of  climates — some  adapted  to  the  wants 
of  living  beings  ;  others  incompatible 
with  life.  Some  are  sheltered,  and  oth- 
ers are  exposed  to  the  lashing  of  the 
waves.  It  is  in  these  sheltered  places 
that  we  find  life  in  its  various  conditions 
and  stages  of  development.  While  upon 
shores  and  in  soundings,  where  the  waves 
and  the  elements  are  at  strife,  life  is  ab- 
sent from  its  exposures.  So,  when  the 
beings  whose  remains  constitute  and 
form  these  marl  beds  peopled  the  wa- 
ters, there  were  sheltered  places,  quiet 
and  still  bays,  which  favored  the  devel- 
opment of  life,  and  it  is  upon  such  areas 
that  these  deposits  were  made,  while 
other  areas  exposed  to  sudden  changes, 
separated  those,  teeming  with  life  from 
t^ach  other.  We  have  reason  to  infer, 
from  observations  upon  the  ocean's  bot- 
tom, that  the  areas  of  the  marl  beds 
would  not  be  found  spread  out  continu- 
ously ;  though  marl  beds  possessing  cha- 
racters in  common,  furnishing  the  same 
kinds  of  shells,  will  occur  at  wide  and 
ilistant  points.  Not  only,  too,  are  the 
beds  characterized  by  similarity  of  forms 
and  kinds,  but  the  accompanying  sedi- 
ments, sediments  of  the  same  mineral 
-charactes,  would  be  found  with  them. — 
This  would  be  necessary :  it  is  one  of 
the  provisions  of  life — the  medium  which 
conveys  their  food  and  the  habits  and 
habitants  must  and  should  agree. 

18.  We  r  ason  then  from  life  to  things, 
and  from  things  to  life.  Wherever  the 
conditions  for  the  Hfe  of  the  clam  and 
oyster  were  favorable,  or  to  be  more 
general,  where  the  conditions  of  life 
\7ere  favorable  to  a  larger  number  of 


Molusca,  there  tbey  would  be  congre- 
gated, because  their  food,  the  climate  and 
all,  would  conspire  to  favor  development 
and  growth.  Similarity  of  organic 
forms  then,  become  indicative  of  the 
value  of  marl  deposits,  over  wide  and 
extended  areas.  Marls  which  contain 
similar  shells  will  be  found  ta  possess 
nearly  the  same  agricultural  value. 

14.  The  marls  are  distinguished  by 
difi'erent  names  in  the  vicinity  where 
they  occur.  The  red,  blue,  and  shell 
marl  are  names  applied  to  beds  occupy- 
ing the  same  geological  positions. — >• 
Sometimes  there  are  some  diflerences  in 
their  properties  and  value.  The  red 
marl  owes  its  color  to  a  change  in  the 
oxide  of  iron  commingled  vv^ith'the  shells. 
It  has  changed  from  a  state  of  protoxide 
to  the  peroxide.  It  is  due  to  exposure 
to  the  atmosphere,  and  is  usually  the  su- 
j)erior  part  of  the  bed  which  has  under- 
gone this  change.  The  blue  marl  still 
holds  the  iron  in  a  state  of  protoxide,- 
which  imparts  a  bluish  green  color  to 
the  mass.  The  term  blue  marl,  how- 
ever, is  frequently  given  to  tlie  green 
sand,  an  inferior  and  older  formation, 
and  wliich  owes  its  fertihzing  properties 
to  potash,  as  I  have  already  had  occa- 
sion to  say.  We  might  make  a  distinc- 
tion between  the  sandy  marls  and  the 
argillaceous.  In  the  first,  sand  predomi- 
nates ;  in  the  other,  a  bluish  clay.  Both 
effervesce  with  acids  ; — the  latter  is  the 
most  valuable.  The  proportion  of  car- 
bonate of  lime  is  variable ;  or,  what 
would  amount  to  the  same  thing,  the 
amount  of  sand  is  variable  in  the  same 
bed,  and  in  the  distant  beds  which  occu- 
py the  same  position ;  though  U)  the 
lime  is  due  the  existence  of  the  animal 
which  inhabited  the  shells. 

§15.  the  marls  of  Cape  Fear  river  fur- 
nish all  the  varieties  which  have  been 
noticed  in  the  foregoing  paragraphs. — 
The  first  beds  which  appear  upon  the 
river,  are  about  ten  miles  above  Eliza- 
beth, in  Bladen  Countv. 

Mr.  Lassaine's,  which  is  the  higliest 
point  visited  from  Elizabeth,  is  Sandy  ; 
Mr.  Gillespie's  is  argillaceous ;  and  Mr. 
Cromartie's  is  more  calcareous,  and  parts 


68 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


of  it  are  cemented  together.  It  is  a 
mass  of  shells,  and  has  been  found,  by 
experieace,  a  valuable  fertilizer.  It  is 
seven  feet  thick,  and  underlies  many 
acres. 

Mr.  Cromartie's  marl  yields 

Silex,  52.50 

Alumina,  phosphate  of  lime 

and  iron,  V.lo 

Carbonate  of  lime,  40.50 

Magnesia,  75 

Potash  and  soda,  trace 


100.90 
§  16.  The  quantity  of  marl  contain- 
ing the  per  centage  of  lime  given 
above,  requires  for  soils  not  remarka- 
bly sandy,  about  two  hundred  bushels. 
The  experience  of  planters  is,  that  very 
poor  soils  are  injured  for  a  year  or  more 
by  the  application  of  marl,  except  in 
small  quantities.  One  hundred  bushels 
is  regarded  as  sufficient  for  sandy  ex- 
hausted lands.  When  two  or  three 
hundred  has  been  used  per  acre,  the 
land  is  said  to  be  burnt,  or  the  vegeta- 
tion is  in  part  destroyed  ;  and  the  prac- 
tice is  to  begin  with  the  lowest  quantity, 
and  proceed  in  marling  by  subsequent 
additions ;  being  governed  by  the  quan- 
tity of  organic  matter  restored  to  the 
«oil.  Many  planters  have  observed  that 
heavy  marling  is  injurious  to  poor  lands, 
who  do  not  attempt  to  give  a  reason  for 
the  statement.  If  the  common  opinion 
respecting  the  danger  of  applying  too 
much  marl  to  poor  soils  is  founded  on 
correct  principles ;  or,  if  there  are  lands 
upon  which  it  would  be  lia.?ardous  to 
apply  it  in  large  quantities  at  first,  we 
may  be  assured  that  it  will  be  safe, 
always  provided  it  is  mixed  with  much 
organic  matter.  The  prior  mixture  and 
incorporation  of  the  materials  with  leaves, 
bark,  decayed  wood,  rich  loam,  peat,  &e. 
obviates  the  objection  raised.  The  prac- 
tice in  New  Jersey  is  regarded  as  the 
best : — namely,  the  prior  mixing  of  marl 
and  vegetables.  It  is  true  that  the  Jersey 
luarl  is  destitute  of  lime.  Probably  the 
great  d  nger  of  bringing  the  use  of  marl 
into  disrepute,  by  representing  its  inju- 
xious  effects  upon  poor  soils,  has  more 


frequently  arisen  from  too  high  expecta- 
tion of  receiving  great  effects  the  first 
season  that  it  is  applied  : — whereas,  the 
better  and  safer  course  is  to  bring  the 
land  back  gradually  to  a  good  standard 
of  fertility ;  pursuing  that  course  which 
is  calculated  to  increase  the  vegetable 
matter  in  the  soil  for  several  successive 
seasons.  A  plan  like  the  following  is 
deserving  of  trial :  Spread  upon  an  acre 
seventy-five  bushels  of  the  fifty  per  cent, 
marl,  and  put  it  down  in  peas.  When 
in  blossom,  plough  in  the  crop,  and  sow 
rye  or  millet  for  the  succeeding  crop. — 
The  land  will  have  gained  a  sufiicient 
amount  of  organic  or  vegetable  matter 
to  admit  of  the  use  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  or  two  hundred  bushels  at  the  next 
marling  time.  Some  land  will  require 
the  loss  of  two  crops,  perhaps,  before  they 
can  be  treated  with  a  fresh  dose  of  marl. 
The  doctrine  to  be  inculcated  is  to  exer- 
cise patience  with  light  and  worn  out; 
soils,  and  not  expect  too  much  at  first, 
vyhen  the  first  step  towards  their  fertili- 
zation is  taken.  When  the  work  has 
been  properly  conducted,  the  planter 
may  regard  such  lands  as  so  much  add- 
ed to  his  possessions,  of  durable  and  pro- 
ductivt  fields. 

Abundance  of  the  shelly  marl  lies  in 
the  bank  about  one  half  a  mile,  probably 
less,  belovsr  Elizabeth.  It  forms  a  stra- 
tum from  two  to  three  feet  thick,  in  the 
bank  upon  the  south  side  of  the  river. 
Coprolites  and  teeth  of  fish  are  common. 
The  latter  are  mixed  in  the  bed  with 
the  shells,  more  or  less.  Both  teeth  and 
coprolites  lie  at  the  bottom  of  the  stra- 
tum, intermixed  with  some  bones,  and 
rounded  pebbles  of  quartz.  This  layer 
at  the  bottom,  intermixed  with  pebbles 
and  rolled  coprolites,  is  an  interesting 
feature  of  the  bed.  I  have  been  in  hopes 
that  in  this  position,  in  some  favored 
place,  coprolites,  in  sufiicient  quantitj, 
might  be  discovered,  to  pay  the  expense 
of  extracting  them  separately.  They 
possess  a  composition  superior  to  bones, 
and  may  be -used  for  the  same  purposes 
as  bones. 

The  following  results  of  an  analysis 
represent)  in  the  main,  their  composi- 


THE  FARMERS  JOURNAL. 


€9 


tion-: — 

Silica, 

9.68 

Phosphate  of  lime, 

;71.59 

Carbonate  of  lime, 

11.28 

Magnesia, 

50 

.    Potash, 

a  trace 

Organic  matter  and  water. 

4.40 

97.45 
The   coprolites   of   this  bed   are   all 
black,  or  dark  brown.     They  are   quite 
Jiard,  and  may  e*sily  be  mistaken  for 
the  dark  pebbles  of  quartz,  with  which 
they  are  associated.     They  are  generally 
broken,  and  are  rounded;  but  some  re- 
tain their  original  spiral   form.     They 
are  two  and  a  half  to  three  inches  long, 
■and  three-fourths  of  an  inch  in  diameter. 
§  17.  Below  Elizabeth  in  Bladen  Co., 
the  marls  continue  to  be  exposed  at  inter- 
vals.    One  of  these  exposures  is  Walk- 
er's bluff,   nine  miles  below   Elizabeth. 
It  is  the  highest  upon  the  river.     It  pre- 
sents a  steep  escarpment,  which  consists 
of  different  colored   sands,  with  a  thick 
layer  of  shelly  marl.     The  marl  is  also 
more  or  less  sandy.     Eighteen  miles  be- 
low Elizabnth,  the  bluSs  appear  upon 
the  river,  with  their  strata  of  sands  and 
marls.     The  strata  are  also  well  exposed 
at  Mr.   Robinson's  plantation,  one  mile 
above  Mr.  Brown's   landing.     The   fol- 
lowing  strata  appear  in   the  banks  at 
Robinson's,  beginning  at  the  the  top  :  1, 
'20  feet  of  different  colored  sands,  some 
yellow,   brown   and   white;   2,  twenty 
feet  of  blue  marl,  more  or   less  sandy, 
and  calcai'eous  at  the  bottom ;  3,  a  sin- 
gle layer  of  blue  compact  clay,  8  inches; 
4,  sand  ;  5,  yellow  and  brown  sands  ;  6, 
blue  marl,  containing  a  single  species  of 
ostrea.     Most  of  this  stratum  is   below 
water,  and  hence  its  thickness  is  not  de- 
terminable by  inspection.    The  marl  bed 
is  very  thick,  but  contains  considerable 
sand  in  its  superior  part ;  yet  it  is  found 
a  valuable  fertilizer. 

The  marl  stratum  at  Brown's  land- 
ing is  three  feet  thick,  and  contains 
many  shells  and  much  green  sand,  in 
grains,  and  seems  to  have  derived  its  ma- 
:terials  from  the  green  sand  of  the  creta- 
€60113  formation  below.  At  Mr.  McDow- 


ell's, the  green  or  blue  marl  appears  in 
a  low  bank,  one  mile  from  the  river. — 
Also,  on  the  plantation  of  Miss  An- 
drews. These  beds  are  peculiar  in  their 
geological  relations,  and  merit  a  careful 
examination. 

Ten  miles  below  Mr.  Brown"'s  landing, 
at  Black  Rock,  the  shell  marl  appears 
in  the  bank,  but  is  quite  sandy,  and  ap- 
pears as  if  this  stratum  is  discontinued, 
and  ceases  at  or  near  this  place.  It  is 
scarcely  more  than  ®ne  foot  in  thickness. 
Immediately  below  it,  the  green  sand  is 
well  developed,  and  it  is  well  character- 
ized by  its  fossils. 

On  the  road  from  Brown's  landing,  to 
Black  Eock,  beds  of  marl  appear,  which 
are  evidentlj''  isolated.  The  facts  all  go 
to  show  that  the  strata  of  shell  marl 
never  form  very  extensive  beds ;  <^ven 
that  so  conspicuous  at  Walker's  bluff, 
disappears  suddenly,  and  its  place  is  ta- 
ken by  the  different  colored  sands. 

§  18.  The  strata  of  marl,  which  I 
have  thus  far  spoken  .of,  are  composed 
of  many  kinds  of  materials,  intermixed 
irregularly  with  each  other.  They  pos- 
sess many  fossils,  in  common,  but  often 
rare  kinds  are  found  in  one  or  mai-e  of 
the  beds,  which  is  uot  generally  distri- 
buted. But  again,  iliere  are  many  places 
where  the  oyster-sh-eU  is  the  principal 
one,  and  which,  instead  of  crumbling  in 
the  hand,  and  by  its  own  weight,  are 
firm  and  nearly  as  sound  as  those  now 
living  upon  their  beds.  The  value  of 
oyster-shells  in  this  condition,  is  far  less  for 
immediate  use,  than  those  which  are  de- 
composed :  indeed,  for  -spreading  upon 
the  soil,  the  principal  -effect  must  be  me- 
chanical. If,  however,  five  hundred  bu- 
shels were  used  per  acre,  good  effects 
might  be  expected ;  for  there  is  a  slow 
disintegration,  and  there  is  a  slow  solvent 
action,  also,  by  which  lime  will  be  given 
to  the  soil.  Of  this  character,  are  those 
shell  banks  immediately  upon  the  coast 
These,  though  they  have  been  exposed 
to  atmospheric  agencies  for  a  much  less 
time  than  those  in  the  interior,  are,  nev- 
ertheless, farther  advanced  in  the  process 
of  decay.  The  best  method  of  employ- 
ing the  undecomposed  shells,  will  be  to 


10 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


burn  them  ;  use  the  quick  lime,  or  after 
it  has  passed  into  a  sub-caustic  state. 

§  19.  The  Neuse  valley  is  deeper  and 
lovver  than  the  Cape  Fear,  and  hence  it 
furnishes  a  larger  supply  of  marl  beds. 
The  Chapony  Hills  have  been  known 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  to  be  rich  in 
marls  of  different  kinds.  The  vicinity  of 
Goldsboro',  however,  possesses  most  dis- 
tinctly the  characters  of  those  upon  (Jape 
Fear.  The  beds  which  are  best  known 
are  upon  the  plantation  of  Messrs.  Scott, 
Ham  and  Peacock.  The  beds  are  iden- 
tical in  age  and  position,  and  belong  to 
the  middle  tertiary;  they  are  from  twelve 
to  fifteen  feet  thick.  These  shells  are 
imbedded  in  a  green  marly  clay,  which 
effervesces  with  acids.  Mr.  Ham's  marl 
is  filled  with  small  shells,  which  Lave  so 
fur  decayed  that  it  is  difficult  to  find  one 
entire.  The  covering  to  the  different 
beds  is  quite  varied.  Mr.  Ham's  has 
three  feet  of  peat,  which  is  probably  the 
best  substance,  considered  economically, 
which  could  have  been  placed  there ;  ii 
is  not  determined  what  strata  lie  below 
these  beds,  occupying  as  they  do,  grounds 
which  are  low  and  depressed.  The  marl 
of  Mr.  Ham's  may  be  regarded  as  com- 
posed of — 

Sand  or  Silex,  45.60 

Phosphate  of  lime,  peroxide 

of  iron  and  alumina,  8.25 

Carbonate  of  lime,  44.15 

Water  and  organic  matter,       1.60 


99.G0 
The  marls,  previous  to  analysis,  had 
become  dry  by  exposure  to  the  air. — 
Some  moisture  and  organic  matter  re- 
mained, varying  from  one  to  three  and 
foi'r  per  cent.  The  sand  is  always  great- 
er than  appears  from  simple  inspection, 
and  it  usually  consists  of  fine  grains  of 
pure  quartz.  There  is  also,  one-half  of 
one  per  cent,  of  soluble  silica,  which  is 
usually  omitted. 

§  20.  It  will  be  observed,  that  in  ma- 
king up  a  statement  of  the  analysis,  I 
place  the  ammoniacal  precipitate,  the 
otido  of  iron  and  alumina,  under  the 
head  of  phosphate  of  lime,  instead  of 
placing  it  ia  analysis  under  the  head  of 


alumina  and  peroxide  of  iron.  I  have- 
done  this,  because  this  precipitate  con- 
sists mainly  of  phosphates,  though  the 
exact  amount  of  phosphoric  acid  has  not 
been  fixed  with  accurcy ;  yet,  one-fourtJi 
of  a  grain  of  it  gives  a  strong  reaction 
of  phosphoric  acid  with  moly  date  of  am- 
monia. 

On  the  banks  of  the  Sarpony  hills,  on 
Mr.  Griswold's  plantation,  marl  of  an 
excellent  quality  and  in  great  abundance 
exists.  The  beds,  however,  are  indura- 
ted, or  have  passed  into  that  couditioft 
which  is  known  as  stone  marl. 

The  following  is  a  correct  descriptioE 
of  a  section  of  a  slope  or  bank  wher« 
excavations  have  been  made  for  piocur- 
ing  limestone,  beginning  at  the  water* 
edge : 

1.  Stratum  of  marl  extending  beneatis 

the  water  of  the  Neuse  in'  a  soft 
condition. 

2.  Consolidated  marl. 

3.  Sandy  marl. 

4.  Granular  and   partially  indurated 

marl. 

5.  Stone  marl  fifteen  feet  thick,  sihI 

which  has  been  used  for  lime. 

6.  Sand. 

The  whole  bank  has  a  thickness  of 
thirty  or  thirty-five  feet.  It  is  one  of  the 
best  locations  on  the  river  for  the  manu- 
facture of  lime  for  agricultural  purpost*. 
and  it  is  not  a  little  remarkable,  that 
property  which  might  have  been  very 
valuable,  and  at  the  same  time  useful,  to 
a  whole  community,  has  been  lying  use- 
less and  unproductive. 

§  21.  At  the  Sarpony  Bluff,  the  for- 
mation presents  an  interesting  section  to 
the  Geologist.  It  would  be  expected 
that  the  marl  would  appear  here,  as  at. 
Walker's  Bluff'  on  the  Cape  Fear,  inas- 
much as  the  height  and  formations  do 
not  materially  differ.  The  Sarpony 
Bluff  is  between  seventy -five  and  eighty 
feet  high,  and  consists  of  the  following' 
strata : 

1.  Sand  extending  beneath  the  water, 

four  feet. 

2.  Band  of  pebbles  and  sand,  cement- 

ed by  iron,  with  casts  of  obscure 
regetable  stems,  five  feet. 


THE  FA^KMER'S  JOUR>^AL. 


^1 


3.  Gray  sand,  thirty  feet. 

4.  Ferruginous  baud,  eight  feet, 

5.  Light  colored  ferruginous  hiyer. 

^.  Copperas  beds,  consisting  of  py- 
rites, clay  aud  vegetable  matter, 
nearly  black.  It  is  properly  a  bed 
of  lignite,  charged  with  pyrites. 

*!.  Sand,  twenty-five  feet. 

«.  Earth,  sand,  &c.,  compacted  to- 
gether. 

These  beds,  it  will  be  observed,  are 
-^mostly  ferruginous,  or  those  which  are 
Jiighly  charged  with  the  oxide  of  iron  ; 
and  it  should  be  observed,  that  vs^here 
iron  is  thus  in  excess,  the  beds  do  not 
furnish  animal  remains,  or  marl  beds  — 
Fossils  are  rarely  distributed  in  them  ; — 
sulphuret  of  iron  is  usually  the  source  of 
the  oxide,  in  beds  of  this  description, 
and,  in  decomposing,  forms  an  astrin- 
.gent  of  salt  of  protosulphate  of  iron  or 
copperas.  The  marl  of  Mr.  Griswold's 
plantation  thins  out  before  it  reaches  this 
high  bluff;  a  change  which  occurs  also 
on  the  Cape  Fear,  where  the  marl  sud- 
denly disappears,  it  being  replaced  by 
sand. 

§  22.  The  vicinity  of  Newbern  has 
long  been  known  as  abounding  in  marl. 
New  beds  are  frequently  brought  to 
Sight  by  accident,  and  sometimes  by 
careful  exploration  of  favorable  places. 
Judge  Donnell,  during  the  past  year, 
has  discovered  shell  marl  upon  an  old 
plantation  ; — proving  that  most  planta- 
tions, which  are  elevated  considerably 
above  the  river,  are  not  destitute  of  this 
fertilizer. 

§  23.  The  Tau  river,  in  its  banks  and 
branches,  is  rich  in  marls  of  the  age  of 
the  middle  tertiary,  adopting  the  views 
of  the  Geologists  who  have  examined, 
with  some  care,  the  fossils  peculiar  to 
-these  beds. 

§  24.  Beginning  in  Nash  County,  five 
or  six  miles  above  Rocky  Mount,  we  find 
the  shell  marls  at  intervals  as  far  down 
as  Washington. 

The  first  I  shall  notice  is  from  Mr. 

.  McDaniel's,  five  or  six  miles  above  Rocky 

Mount.      This  marl,   like  many   other 

'.kinds  whose  quality  is  equal  to  the  aver- 

dige,  is  more  or  less  consolidated,  and 


breaks  up  into  masses.  Thin  lamina  of 
coal,  or  lignite,  are  mixed  with  the  shells 
— a  fact  which  indicates  that  the  source 
of  the  earthy  material  was  in  the  coal 
formation,  in  part.  This  marl  is  regard- 
ed as  consis-ting  of  the  two  kinds  : — the 
brown  or  red,  aud  the  blue.  Practically, 
I  think  it  well  to  keep  up  this  distinc- 
tion ;  for  the  red,  tha^  far,  has  given 
better  results  in  analysis  than  the  bine. 
I  do  not  know  what  opinions  are -enter- 
tained by  planters  of  their  comparativa 
value,  who  use  both  kinds. 

The  analysis  of  two  specimens  of  this 
marl  gives  very  good  results  for  the  red 
variety  : 

Silex  or  sand,  16.2^5 

Phosphate  of  lime  and  per  ox- 
ide of  iron,  lO.OQ 
Carbonate  of  lira e,                       71.75 
Organic  matter  and  water,  2.15 


100.15 
The  magnesia  and  potash  were  not 
sought  for. 

The  appearance  of  this  marl  is  cnite 
unpromising,  as  it  is  quite  lumpy  and 
hard,  passing  into  an  indurated  marl. — 
Still  analysis  shows  it  to  be  an  excel- 
lent kind,  and  which,  I  am  confident, 
would  yield  seven  or  eight  per  cent,  of 
phosphates,  over  and  above  the  alumina. 
The  blue  marl  which  is  found  below, 
gives  a  good  analysis,  but  contains  lesa 
lime : 
Sand  or  silex,  21.23 

Phosphate  of  lime,  and  per  ox- 
ide of  iron  and  alumina,  10.00 
Carbonate  of  lime,                       64.65 
Organic  matter  and  water,  2.10 


98.00 
These  marls,  when  tested,  have  always 
furnished  a  small  quantity  of  a^iagnesia^ 
and  a  trace,  and  sometimes  a  weighable 
quantity  of  potash.  The  two  sanaples 
furnish  the  same  amount  of  the  phos- 
phates, and  oxide  of  iron.  The  color  cf 
the  ammoniacal  precipitate  is  darker  in 
the  red,  than  in  the  green  variety,  indi- 
cating a  larger  quantity  of  the  oxide  cf 
iron. 
This  bed,  which  furnished  the  forego- 


v^ 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


ing  samples  of  marl  for  analysis,  is  the 
tighest  known  to  me  on  Tau  river. — 
This  fact,  however,  does  not  prove  its 
.  tion-existence  still  farther ;  and  I  predict 
that  careful  examination  will  reward  the 
planters  in  that  county,  with  many  ad- 
ditional beds.  Every  bed  must  be  re- 
garded as  a  prize  if  it  is  limited  to  fifty 
loads. 

§  25.  The  reputation  of  marl  as  a  fer- 
'tilizer,  in  Edgecombe  county,  has  led 
most  of  the  planters  to  search  for  it  on 
their  premises.  Probably  there  is  no 
better  proof  of  the  value  of  this  sub- 
stance than  is  furnished  by  the  estima- 
tion in  which  it  is  held  by  its  citizens. 
Regarded  in  years  which  are  past,  as  a 
wunty  somewhat  behind  the  times  in 
literature  and  science,  she  has  neverthe- 
less, outstripped  all  other  counties  in  the 
application  of  good  sense  and  common 
sense  to  her  farming  interests.  Facts  are 
•ometimes  misunderstood  as  well  as  mis- 
represented abroad,  when  applied  to  the 
internal  policy  of  a  State.  So,  I  sup- 
pose, Edgecombe  has  been  misunder- 
stood ; — for  agiicultural  improvements 
are  incompatible  with  ignorance  and 
darkness.  If  we  find  a  people  alive  to 
their  internal  interests,  so  vital  as  agri- 
culture, we  may  be  sure  that  mind  has 
been  at  work.  But,  however  this  may 
he,  Edgecombe  has  the  reputation  of 
being  the  first  county  in  its  agricultural 
improvements  and  agricultural  pvosper- 
ity.  Her  success  has  been  secured  chiefly 
by  her  marl  beds ;  it  would  have  been 
secured  in  the  end,  if  marl  had  not  ex- 
isted ;  but  more  time  and  capital  would 
have  been  required  to  have  placed  her 
in  her  present  enviable  position. 

Although  the  foregoing  remarks  may 
be  regarded  as  out  of  place  and  uncalled 
for,  yet  I  deem  it  right  to  give  credit 
where  it  was  so  justly  due;  without  at 
all  questioning  the  ability  of  ber  neigh- 
bors to  compete  successfully  with  her  for 
the  next  five  years. 

There  is  another  fact  worth  recording : 
Edgecombe  has  many  men  who  have 
been  educated  at  her  excellent  Univer- 
sity, who  regard  agriculture  a  befitting 
pi'ofession  for  an  educated  man — an  ex- 


ample which  the  friends  of  agriculture 
will  be  pleased  to  see  imitated  in  othe? 
parts  of  this  Republic. 

§  26.  The  marl  beds  at  Rocky  Mount 
belong  to  the  same  age  as  the  preceding. 
They  are  the  blue  shelly  beds  frequently 
furnishing  that  large  scollop  or  fossil, 
which  is  regarded  as  characteristic  of  the 
middle  tertiary.  The  appearance  of  gra- 
nite and  sienite  at  Rocky  Mount,  has 
produced  a  series  of  foils  in  the  Tau- 
river  ;  and  sometimes  the  marl  is  found 
resting  immediately  npou  those  pyro- 
crystalline  rocks.  The  beds  are  associ- 
ated with  the  following  strata: 

1.  Above  the  marl  is  a  stratum   of 
■  sand  and  rounded  peebles,  which  is 

ten  feet  thick. 

2.  Marl  somewhat  sandy,  but  imper- 
vious to  water,  and  hence,  the  sur- 
face water  percolates  through  the 
upper  mass  and  is  thrown  out  by 
the  marl.  The  upper  is  made  up» 
of  fine  or  small  shells,  like  that  of 
Mr.  Ham's  of  Goldsboro'.  Th« 
lower  is  intermixed  with  the  large 
scollops  and  clams — (  Venus  diffor- 
mis.) 

The  marl,  like  that  of  other  beds,  is 
rich  in  lime,  and  often  consolidated  or 
cemented  in  different  parts  of  the  struc- 
ture. The  whole  thickness  of  the  shelly- 
stratum  is  seven  feet.  The  marl  is  some- 
times charged  with  rounded  pebbles  of 
different  sizes.  The  position  of  the  marl 
is  upon  the  banks  of  the  Tau ;  several 
beds  appearing  in  the  banks  near  th« 
falls,  or  at  one-half,  and  also  about  on« 
mile  below  the  railroad  bridge.  There 
are  points  where  excavations  have  been 
made,  but  it  is  probably  continuous  for 
nearly  a  mile.  Wherever  there  is  an  un- 
dulation by  which  the  strata  are  elevated 
even  a  few  feet,  there  the  marl  appears 
in  the  banks.  Rounded  stone  and  peb- 
bles are  strewed  over  the  surface  in  great 
abundance,  but  this  fact  is  no  indication 
that  currents  have  swept  over  the  coun- 
try in  a  certain  direction.  Some  of  the 
soil  at  Rocky  Mount  is  light  and  requires 
the  application  of  marl  to  give  it  more 
retentiveness,  as  well  as  to  furnish  a  fer- 
tilizer to  supply  the  waste  to  which  tb* 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


TS 


lands  have  been  subjected. 

[Concluded  in  our  nest.] 

For  the  Farmer's  Journal. 
Eiagecombe    as   she    is— and    Edge- 
combe as  she  was  Five  Years  Ago. 

The  rapid  improvement  in  the  agricul- 
ture of  Edgecombe  during  the  last  five 
years  is  justly  attracting  a  large  share 
Cff  public  attention  and  presents  a  grat- 
ifying instance  of  a  people,  by  a  well-di- 
rected impulse,  working  a  quick  and  hap- 
py change  in  their  destiny.  From  all 
quarters  the  voice  of  generous  congratu- 
lations greet  us  on  the  brilliant  results  of 
<3ur  efforts — filling  our  hearts  with  hon- 
■est  pride  and  gratifying  emotions.  Altho' 
we  know  that  the  Agriculture  of  the  no- 
ble "Banner  County"  is  yet  fiir  below 
the  standard  we  would  assign  it — that 
many  of  its  dejiartments  are  still  very 
much  neglected — many  worn  out  farms 
in  her  borders,  and  her  piney  lauds  pre- 
sent miles  of  uninhabited  wilderness; 
yet  there  is  a  striking  contrast  between 
Edgecombe  now,  and  Edgecombe  five 
years  ago.  Five  years  ago,  her  agricul- 
ture was  either  under  the  old  regime  or 
trying  to  escape  from  its  shackles.  But 
imder  every  past  system,  however  im- 
perfect, she  always  took  high  rank  in 
the  agriculture  of  the  State.  Her  natu- 
rally fertile  soil,  though  much  abused, 
jj'et  enjoying  uncommon  security  from 
vicissitudes  of  droughts,  storms,  &c.,  a 
oliraate  highly  favorable  for  varied  pro- 
duction, and  a  people  devoted  to  agricul- 
ture, naturally  gave  her  this  position. 

But  the  same  destructive  industry 
which  early  reduced  to  barrenness  so 
large  a  surface  of  the  Atlantic  States, 
also  worked  destruction  here.  Clearing 
the  forests,  exhausting  the  soil,  and  re- 
peating this  disastrous  operation,  formed 
a  prominent  feature  in  our  agriculture  of 


the  past,  down  to  within  the  last  twenty 
years ;  emigration  was  the  natural  re- 
sult, and  a  wilderness  of  worn  out  plan- 
tations, of  which  there  are  still  many  bv 
Edgecombe.  Who  has  not  derived  a 
melancholy  pleasure  from  visiting  these^ 
miniature  Palmyras?  at  once  the  chief 
antiquities  ana  humiliating  evidences  of 
our  civilization  here.  They  are  often  but 
a  few  miles  from  some  busy  mart  or 
farm,  glowing  in  the  luxury  of  produo- 
tion  and  comfort.  A  short  rif'eth'ough 
wild  woods,  soon  makes  you  feel  thie.' 
striking  contrast.  The  old  fields  open 
on  your  view,  bright,  (vve  will  suppose- 
with  the  sunshine  of  May,)  and  stretch- 
ing like  a  prairie  in  the  distance.  The 
fields  are  worn  out,  but  still  covered  with 
verdure  of  some  sort.  The  broom-straw 
waving  in  the  wind,  the  white  brier, 
the  wild  rose,  the  crab  apple,  and  a 
thousand  humble  shrubs  and  floweis. 
have  thrown  the  mantle  of  cliarity  over 
their  nakedness;  and  grapes  of  different 
varieties  are  grasping  everything  which 
promises  support.  Animal  life  is  not  wan* 
ting  in  the  feature — sheep  and  cows  are 
grazing  there,  but  their  presence  doea 
nj3t  relieve  the  loneliness  of  the  scene. 
Here  was  the  old  homestead;  the  trees, 
of  the  little  grove  have  been  deaded  with, 
the  axe,  and  their  skeleton  arms  are 
stretched  out  toward  heaven,  as  if  de- 
ploring the  recklessness  of  man.  The  roof 
tree  is  gone,  but  there  is  the  hearth-stone- 
— there  stands  the  blackened  chimney^ 
a  solitary  and  gloomy  monument  of  the 
past;  and  on  its  top  the  mocking  bird 
carols  his  lay  as  merrily  asifthechiidreii 
of  the  homestead  still  applauded  his  beau- 
tiful mimicry,  while  in  mournful  contrast 
the  wild  winds  murmur  a  dirge  of  many 
voices  with  the  song  of  the  bird  and  the 
dance  of  the  flower.  And  the  people  who 


74 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


lived  and  labored  here,  where  are  they  ? 
Ah!  they  have  long  since  tbund  a  grave  or 
a  fortune  in  some  newer  and  fresher  land. 
What  causes  these  frequent  pictures  of 
desolation,  not  only  here,  but  in  other 
States  ?  It  is  ignorance  of  nature's  laws  of 
production,  and  our  consequent  violation 
of  them;  from  this  cause  our  past  industry 
was  necessarily  destructive.  The  harder 
we  worked  the  poorer  we  got,  and  des- 
olation followed  our  foot  steps  as  natu 
rally  as  it  did  the  locusts  of  Egypt. 

During,  the  last  twenty-live  years,  our 
agriculture  sank  till  it  found  thebottom; 
it  then  began  to  rebound  under  the  efforts 
of  some  of  our  most  entei'prizing  men 
who  for  fifteen- years  or  more  have  used 
marl  more  or  less  when  they  had  it,  and 
other  manures  to  considerable  extent. — 
This  we  may  safely  ascribe  to  that  great 
benefactor  of  hh  race,.  Edmund  Rtiffin. 
But  whatever  tlieoretic  knowledge  had 
been  acquired,  seemed  either  crude  or 
dormant,  and  the  task  of  putting  it  into 
practice,  too  herculean,  except  for  a  few 
of  our  most  energetic  men,  and  it  is  only 
within  the  last  five  years  that  the  fer- 
Iners  of  Edgecombe  have  formed  any  just 
conceptions  of  the  laws  of  production 
or  of  the  true  principles  of  fertility.  Then 
an  efibrt  was  made  among  us  to  give 
greater  activity  to  such  knowledge  as 
we  possessed  and  to  acquire  more.  This 
resulted  in  the  establisment  of  an  agri 
cultural  society,  Avhich  began  by  distrib- 
uting agricultural  docnments,which  with 
the  co-operation  of  some  spirited  individ- 
uals soon  gave  unanimity  to  a  move- 
ment whose  happy  results  command  the 
applause  of  the  world. 

Although  Edgecombe  has  but  just 
waked  up,  and  the  first  rays  of  true  sci- 
ence just  lighted  her  path — what  a 
change  do   we  behold  ?  See  that  field 


loaded  with  a  thousand  pounds  of  seed 
cotton  to  the  acre,  that  was  a  ^\orn-out 
pine  thicket  five  years  ago;  and  here  is 
another,  white  as  a  snow  bank;  it  de- 
livers to  its  skillful  owner  a  four  hundred 
pciird  bale  fcr  each  acre,  that  was 
thought  hardly  worth  fencing  five  year« 
ago.  Here  and  there  are  vai'ious  lots, 
ranging  from  two  to  three  thousand 
pounds  seed  cotton  per  acre.  As  to  corn, 
some  think  it  almost  a  past-time  to  make 
it..  We  now  have  cotton  fields  and  corn 
patches,  and  yet  ship  thousands  of  bar- 
rels. We  are  no  great  growers  of  wheat, 
yet  it  is  fair  to  presume  that  land  which; 
vv'ill  bring  a  bale  of  cotton  to  the  acre 
ought  to  yield  20  or  25  bushels  of  wheat 
to  the  acre;  and  in  tobacco,  we  have  rea- 
son to  believe  we  could  reach  the  high- 
est point  of  production  elsewhere.  While 
such  cases  of  production  are  not  uufre- 
quent,  and  within  the  capacity  of  most 
of  our  farmers  who  choose  to  use  the 
skill  they  possess,  the  oidinary  produc- 
tion of  the  county  is  of  course  much 
more  moderate,  but  still  bountiful  be- 
yond our  notions  of  five  years  ago. — . 
There  are,  no  doubt,  a  greater  number  of 
master  spirits  in  Edgecombe  whoreacli 
this  maximum,  than  in  most  other  coun- 
ties,^  and  a  larger  portion  of  her  faimers- 
are  fast  treading  on  their  heels,  ready  to 
pass  them  in  the  race  on  the  first  favor^ 
able  occasion.  For  this  honorable  rivalry 
is  not  confined  either  to  members  of  our 
agricultural  society,  or  to  our  reading- 
men;  our  society  numbers  less  than  a 
hundred,  and  theie  are  as  able  farmers 
out  of  it  as  in  it,  who  are  not  behind  the 
times  either  in  action  or  intelligence. 
And  the  hard  working  practical  man 
who  has  but  little  tijiie  to  read,  or  may 
be  cannot,  he  too  drinks  at  the  fountain 
ofknowledffe  which  flows  in  a  thousand 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


76 


rills  among  us.  Ila  does  now  wliat  he 
would  hardly  attempt  five  years  ago. 
Agriculture  seems  shoru  of  half  its  drudg- 
my,  although  more  is  accomplished.  In- 
stead of  an  arena  for  the  exertion  of  mere 
brute  strength,  it  has  become  a  new  and 
inviting  field,  full  of  interest  and  excite- 
ment from  the  mental  exertion  necessary 
to  comprehend  and  obey  its  laws. 

Our  farmers  seem  determined  to  seek 
their  own  happiness,  in  restoring  the 
beautiful  plains  of  Edgecombe  to  more 
than  their  pristine  fertility — instead  of 
!»ucking  up  her  life  blood,  and  then  aban- 
doning her  for  fresher  realms. 

We  have  but  just  entered  on  this  new 
path,  acid  already  it  is  strewn  with  fruits 
as  well  as  flowers.  From  little  more 
than  three  thousand  bales  of  cotton,  and 
other  crops  proportionate,  we  soon  rose 
to  six  thousand,  then  eight  thousand, 
and  now  ten  thousand  will  hardly  tell 
oar  number.  Not  less  than  a  half  rail- 
lion  of  dollars  will,  we  think,  be  required 
to  pay  for  our  aggregate  exports  this 
year,  while  many  times  as  much  must 
remain  a  fixture  in  the  soil  to  generate 
future  wealth  in  rapid  progression.  So 
stands  Edgecombe  in  1853.  How  will 
she  stand  five  years  hence?  The  answer 
depends  on  themselves.         ALPHA. 


For  the  Fai'mer's  Journal. 
Doctor  Tompkins  : — You  request 
jour  subscribers  to  write  for  the  "  Jour- 
nal." I  am  an  old  man  without  literary 
pretensions,  but  thought  I  would  write 
out  in  my  crude  way,  my  past  as  \yell  as 
jny  present  practice  of  farming.  Many 
people,  old  as  well  as  young,  will  learn 
better  under  the  frowns  than  the  smiles 
-of  fortune.  Blunders  serve  as  beacons 
which  we  afterwards  avoid ;  while  "touch 
aad  go"  too  often  makes  us  feel  smart, 


and  we  continue  in  the  same  old  track 
until  shipwreck  overtakes  us.  Thus  it  is 
that  many  farmers  who,  with  great  la- 
bour of  the  body  and  none  of  the  mind, 
manage  to  keep  soul  and  body  together 
and  are  content.  They  think  they  know 
enough,  and  will  not  read  themselves 
nor  be  advised  by  those  who  do;  and  I 
have  observed  generally  in  such  case* 
that  the  deficiency  of  means  to  supply 
the  general  wants,  is  made  up  from  the 
school  fund  of  the  family.  The  children, 
poor  things  ]  are  not  taught  enough  to 
understand  the  blessings  of  the  Gospel 
of  God,  or  the  institutions  of  the  gor- 
ernment  under  which  they  live ;  to  say 
nothing  of  scientific  farming.  This  is 
all  wrong,  for  it  is  as  much  the  duty  of 
parents  to  school  their  children  as  it  is 
to  feed  and  clothe  them. 

I  began  farming  in  1819,  or  34  years 
gone  by,  which  is  I  believe  one  year 
more  than  is  allotted  to  a  generation  of 
mankind.  I  had  good  swamp  land,  but 
no  lights  of  science  ;  yet  there  were  many 
old  farmers,  of  good  repute,  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, after  whom  I  copied. 

The  growth  of  heavy  timber  had  been 
cut  down  on  a  part  of  my  ditched  land 
many  years  before,  which  T  burned,  leav- 
ing large  quantities  of  ashes  on  a  deep 
mellow  soil.  I  planted  one  acre  iu  po- 
tatoes, which  yielded  350  bushels.  I 
attributed  this  lai-ge  product  to  the  natu 
ral  fertility  of  the  soil,  and  to  mi/  own 
skill  in  the  cultivation,  not  supposing 
that  the  ashes  had  any  effect  "whatever- 
Nor  did  I  know  any  better  until  I  had 
reduced  this  land  to  the  small  product  o 
50  bushels  potatoes  per  acre,  even  with 
the  use  occa.sionally  of  barn-yard  ma- 
nure. But  a  few  years  ago  I  heard  some 
noise  about  book  farming,  and  thought 
I  would  lake  an  agricultural  paper,  to 


76 


THE  FARMER^S  JOURl^xlL. 


see  if  it  was  all  it  was  cracked  up  to  be ; 
and  among  other  things  I  saw  the  analy- 
sis of  the  sweet  potato — that  it  was  com- 
posed laig'ely  of  potash,  I  took  the 
the  hint,  and  instead  of  wasting  so  much 
barn-yard  manure  about  my  potato  crop 
I  applied  some  ashes,  and  increased  the 
product  of  this  land  to  150  bushels  per 
acre.  Well,  I  do  not  think  I  have  lost 
much  by  you  Editors  of  farming  papers 
after  all,  for  I  gained  o«t  of  you  400 
bushels  potatoes  on  4  acres  land  the  last 
year,  which  will  pay  my  subscription  for 
yours  and  many  other  papers  the  bal- 
ance of  my  life,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
gains  "too  tedious  to  mention." 

But  I  will  return  to  my  early  opera- 
tions.    In  the  year  1827  (I  think)  I  ex- 
perimented with  ray  cora  crop,  to  deter- 
mine the  distance  that  should  be  given 
between  the  plants  to  yield  the  most. — 
The  land  was  fresh  and  of  excellent  qual- 
ity— no  manure  was  used — I  laid  off  the 
rDWs  5  feet  apart    and  planted  in  drill 
one  acre  12',  one  18,  and  the  balance  of 
the  field  30  inches  part.     The  fii'St  pro- 
duced 12,  the  second  14,  and  the  last  10 
barrels  per  acre.     The  next  year,  how- 
ever, the  two  acres  that  were  planted  so 
thickly    did  not  yield  more   than  two- 
thirds  the  crop  of  the  land  on  either  side, 
and  for  many  years  afterwards  there  was 
an  appreciable  difference.      From  that 
day  to  this  I  have  been  shy  of  tliick 
'corn.     But   I  had  a  large   quantity  of 
stalks.     What  do  you  suppose  I  did 
with  them  ?     Why,  I  burnt  them,  to  be 
sure,  as  my  neighbors  did.     Yes,  for  20 
years  I  continued  this  practice  of  mur- 
dering my  land ;  and  if  I  now  had  all 
the  corn-stalks  that  were  thus  wasted,  I 
could  make  every  acre  of  it  rich.     But 
at  last,  by  bad  usage,  I  reduced  the  pro- 
duct of  my  land  to  about  three  barrels 


of  corn  per  acre,  when  I  discovered  spots- 
of  corn  about  my  field  that  growed  lux- 
uriantly. I  examined  the  cause,  and 
found  these  spots  were  made  rich  by  a 
few  bundles  of  rotten  fodder,  the  remains 
of  old  fodder  stacks.  I  concluded  if" 
rotten  fodder  could  raake  corn  grow, 
the  stalks  must  be  equally  good,  and 
from  that  day  to  this,  I  have  buried  all 
my  corn-stalks  in  the  field  that  I  didnot- 
use  about  my  stables  and  barn-yard.  I 
place  them  in  the  middle  furrow  between 
the  rows,  and  throw  a  furrow  from  eacli 
side  upon  them.  If  I  plant  the  same 
land  in  corn  the  succeeding  year,  whicli 
I  seldom  do,  I  plant  upon  the  stalks,, 
and  put  the  manure  on  the  side  and  plow- 
one  vray. 

If  I  had  had  the  light  of  science  30 
years  ago,  I  could  readily  have  known 
why  a  rotten  corn-stalk  will  supjily  food 
for  a  living  one. 

As  long  as  my  land  was  I'ich  and  mel- 
low, it  gave  good  crops  ;  but  by  constant 
tillage  in  hoed  crops,  it  became  close  and 
compact,  and  the  crops  in  the  middle  of 
the  squares  were  greatly  reduced  and 
inferior  to  those  near  the  ditches,  I 
then  cut  a  new  ditch  between  each  of 
the  old  ones  on  a  part  of  my  field,  to  see 
what  difterence  that  would  make.  The 
effect  was  magical.  The  corn  growetl 
off  quickly  and  matured  two  weeks  ear- 
lier than  the  part  not  thus  ditched,  which 
saved  one  plowing  and  gave  a  considera- 
ble increase  of  product. 

Well,  as  you  Editors  know  everything 
about  "cause  and  effect,"  I  thought  I 
would  have  an  eye  to  that  matter,  and  see 
if  any  of  you  would  explain  the  cause  of 
this  change.  In  a  short  time  I  saw  it 
stated  in  some  of  the  papers,  that  well 
ditched  land  would  pass  the  rain  water 
,  through  the  soil  into  the  springs  of  tlw 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


77 


sub-soil  and  from  thence  to  the  ditches, 
by  which,  process  the  soil  would  absorb 
and  retain  the  gases  of  the  rain  water, 
and  thus  become  improved — that  if  the 
water  could  not  pass  down,  it  must  go 
up  by  evaporation,  carrying  with  it  much 
heat  from  the  soil,  and  that  in  hea\'y 
rains,  under  such  circumstances,  much 
water  would  run  over  the  suiface,  carry- 
ing with  it  the  richest  part  of  the  soil 
into  bogs,  branches,  &c.,  thereby  making 
ihQ  land  both  poor  and  cold.  It  was 
■recommended  to  plow  deep  as  well  as  to 
ditch  close,  to  facilitate  the  percolation 
of  the  water  through,  the  soil,  which  I 
tried  greatly  to  my  advantage. 

With  regard  to  the  tilla^^e  of  crops,  I 
do  not  think  that  any  one  2:>lan  will  suit 
every  soil ;  but  for  many  years  I  copied 
after  my  neighbors,  which  was  to  plant 
in  hills  ill  the  bottom  of  the  fuiTOws  or 
checks,  to  cross  plow  alternately,  and  to 
work  the  corn  until  it  was  in  "  roasting- 
ear."  They  argued  that  corn  had  no  tap 
toot  and  should  be  planted  deep  to  give 
the  side  roots  a  chance  to  run  through  a 
fair  depth  of  soil.  It  is  true  that  corn 
.had  no  tap  root ;  but  it  has  numerous 
roots  running  in  every  direction,  and 
Professor  Mapes  has  traced  them  to  the 
depth  of  five  and  a  half  feet;  and  in 
every  experiment  I  have  made,  corn 
gi-ows  quicker  and  produces  more  when 
planted  upon  than  under  the  list.  The 
cross  plowing  I  found  could  be  done 
without  injury  when  the  corn  was  not 
above  12  inches  high,  but  to  continue  to 
cut  the  roots  on  every  side,  during  the 
.whole  process  of  its  growth  was  in  ef- 
fect to  cut  off  the  supply  of  food  from 
the  soil;  to  obtain  which  they  were  de- 
signated by  the  Creator.  On  comparing 
different  experiments,  ray  injury  in  some 
Cases,  by  cross  plowing,  was  as  much  as 


20  per  cent. 

To  determine  how  late  corn  should  be 
worked,  I  made  many  experiments,  and 
found  in  every  case  late  working  to  be 
injurious.  The  best  corn  I  ever  made 
was  "laid  by"  when  about  four  feet  high. 

It  was  my  practice,  as  it  is  now  with 
many  of  my  neighbors,  lo  plow  tliQ  soil 
from  the  corn  the  first  working.  This 
may  do  in  mild  seasons  ;  and  if  I  had 
the  eccentric  Lorenzo  Do -v  to  juuphesy 
for  me,  that  I  might  know  when  a  cold 
June  was  coming,  I  may  liave  continued 
the  practice.  But  in  Jane,  1843,  m  part 
of  my  corn  was  caught  with  its  bieeches 
down — the  soil  plowed  fjom  it  in  a  cold 
spell  of  weather,  and  it  was  tliereby 
nearly  ruined.  Lorenzo  luul  many  years 
before  predicted  that  in  1843  there 
would  be  no  King  of  England,  no  Pi'csi- 
dent  of  the  United  States,  but  snow  in 
June,  which  was  literally  lulfilled,  for  it 
was  the  coldest  June  I  excr  knew,  anct 
Queen  Victoria  and  Capt.  Tyler  presided 
over  the  two  great  natitais.  From  that 
day  to  this  I  have  not  plowed  the  soil 
from  my  corn,  and  Lorenzo  has  net  since 
prophesied  to  my  injury. 

Large  hills  around  codi  are  injni'ious, 
as  the  soil  to  form  them  ]iiust  be  taken 
from  the  side,  where  it  is  vieeded  for  the 
lateral  roots,  which  run  in  endless  iT.mi- 
fications;  and  in  heavy  blows  or  gusts  of 
wind  the  stalks  are  apt  to  break,  which 
they  will  not  so  readily  do  if  the  soil  is 
but  slightly  elevated  around  them. 

The  distance  that  should  be  given  be- 
tween the  plants  depends  upon  the  qual- 
ity of  the  land ;  though  in  every  case  I 
have  attained  the  best  results  from  plant- 
ing in  the  drill.  I  lay  off  the  dri'ls  on  every 
quahty  of  land  five  feet  apart,  and  give 
a  distance  between  the  i^lants  varying 
^rom  24  to  36  inches.     J;y  expei'iments 


^8 


THE  FARMER^S  JOURN'AL. 


however  have  been  confined  to  swamp 
and  ridge  land. 

To  sum  up  the  whole,  I  have  learned 
more  in  the  last  four  years  b_^  reading-, 
than  in  thirty  years  previous  experience. 
I  had  not  the  aid  of  science  in  iny  early 
operations,  and  I  am  now  too  old  to  pro. 
fit  much  by  it.  But  in  these  four  years 
by  deep  ploughing  and  thorough  drain- 
ing— by  using  all  my  corn-stalks  and 
turning  under  green  crops  occasionally — 
by  the  use  of  lime,  ashes  and  salt — by 
protecting  the  manure  made  upon  my 
farm  from  the  weather,  and  sprinkling 
over  if-  as  it  accumulated,  plaster,  char- 
coal, or  salt,  to  prevent  the  escape  of 
gases — by  saving  all  the  bones  I  could 
get  r.nd  using  the  whole  in  compost  as 
directed  by  the  papers,  I  have  brought 
my  land  up  from  three  to  an  average  of 
six  barrels  of  com  per  acre.  And  if  I 
can  be  spared  a  few  years  longer,  I  hope 
to  retrieve  my  past  errors  and  to  bring  it 
up  to  its  original  condition. 

Before  I  conclude,  allow  me.  Doctor, 
to  urge  yoii  on  in  your  noble  enterprise. 
The  diffusion  of  light  upon  farming  sub- 
jects, is  what  our  people  greatly  need ; 
for  our  apathy  and  ignorance  have  be- 
come a  by-word  and  reproach. 

But  a  brighter  day  is  dawning.  If 
North  Carolina  is  poor  in  wealth  and  in- 
telligence, she  is  rich  in  patriotism  and 
integi'ity;  and  you  and  others  of  her 
sons  -will  have  the  privilege  and  the  ho- 
nor of  wiping  from  her  escutcheon  every 
stain  and  blemish — of  unfolding  to  her 
•  people,  by  your  energies,  guided  by  the 
light  of  science,  her  vast  resources  and 
and  treasures,  and  of  making  her  one  of 
the  highest  stars  of  the  constellation  that 
forms  this  glorious  Uuion. 

Old  North  State. 


Analysis  of  the  Soils. 

That  (he  inorganic  constituent  oJ 
our  cultivated  crops,  as  developed  ira 
their  ash  must  be  derived  from  the- 
soil,  and  that  where  it  is  defective  in 
these,  a  defective  crop  is  the  necessary 
resuh,  are  facts  which,  though  not  new, 
are  only  beginning  to  be  fully  appreci- 
ated by  the  generality  of  our  farmers. 
As  ressonahle  is  it  to  expect  a  mechan- 
ic to  mauufftcture  his  wares  without 
giving  hitn  the  materioJs  of  whii-h  they 
are  composed,  as  to  expect  a  crop  of 
wheat,  Indian  corn  or  potatoes,  where 
the  soil  is  destitute  of  phosphoric  acid, 
potash,  magnesia,  and  other  elementary 
constituents  which  analysis  has  proved 
to  enter  largely  in'o  their  composition. 
Agricultural  chemistry  has  shown  us 
what  most  of  our  cultivated  crops  are 
composed  of.  and  all  ihat  is  wanting  to 
an  enlightened  system  of  cultivation  is, 
for  the  practical  farmer  to  make  him- 
sslf  acquaiuied  with  the  composition 
of  the  soil  so  as  to  adapt  the  one  to 
the  other,  and  thus  be  able  to  apply 
such  food  for  plants  in  the  shape  of 
manures,  and  such  only  as  are  want- 
mg,  or  may  result  from  chemical  com- 
binations therein. 

One  invariable  rotation  of  crop?,  the 
uniform  application  of  the  same  ma- 
nures, prevails  in  this  district  of  coun- 
try, and  in  most  others  through  Penn- 
sylvania. Barn  yard  manure  applied 
to  the  wheat  crop  in  the  fall  of  the 
year,  after  being  exposed  for  nine  or 
ten  months  to  the  weather,  and  an  oc- 
casional dressing  of  lime  and  planter 
are  the  three  great  specifics  for  all  kinds 
of  crops  and  all  soils.  That  thia  sys- 
tem often  results  in  large  products  of 
corn,  oats,  wheat,  potatoes,  &c.,  is  an 
evideace  of  the   natural  fertility  and 


THE  FARilErvS  JOURNAL. 


7^ 


absorbent  power  of  the  soil,  #Dd  of 
these  mateiials,  but  it  does  not  prove 
that  their  indiscriminate  application,  in 
the  way  they  are  used,  is,  in  all  cases, 
the  most  profitable  one.  Nothing  is 
more  common  than  to  hear  practical 
arniers  differ  in  opinion  as  to  the  use 
of  lime  and  plaster. 

One  has  told  us  that  afier  using  the 
latter  far  several  vesrs,  he  had  entirely 
abandoned  it,  never  having  observed 
the  least  benefit.  Anoiher,  ■within  a 
short  distance,  has  unusually  applied  a 
small  q'?ar.tny  to  each  hill  of  corn, 
■and  has  observed  (he  bet  efit,  not  only 
in  that  crop,  but  each  successive  one  of 
oats,  and  wheat,  grass  has  indicated  by 
its  deep  green  and  luxuriant  growth, 
"where  each  hill  of  corn  had  been.  The 
first  concludes  plaster  is  no  use,  and  so 
informs  his  friends  and  neighbors  that 
be  has  tried  it  faiily,  and  it  is  money 
thrcwn  away.  All  within  his  influence 
are  thus  dis^eouraged  from  using  plas- 
ter. His  neighbor  tells  a  difierent  tale, 
shows  its  good  effects,  and  plaster  be- 
comes a  panacea  for  improving  land. — 
One  of  our  best  fanners,  who  has  been 
in  the  habit  for  many  years,  of  apply- 
ing considerable  quaniiiies  of  both  lime 
and  plaster,  tells  us  that  on  one  occa- 
sion, where  the  piaster  fell  short  of  go- 
ing over  the  entire  field,  leaving  a 
whole  land  across  it  untouched,  this 
part  could  be  observed  at  a  disjance  by 
its  increased  luxuriance  over  the  rest, 
indicating  there  was  an  excess  of  sul- 
phate of  lime,  already  in  the  soil,  and 
that  more  produced  a  positive  injury. 
The  same  discrepancy  is  found  to  exist 
with  respect  to  lime  and  barn-yard  ma- 
nure, little  or  no  advantage  often  re- 
sulting from  their  application  to  regu- 
i&t  crops.      The   different  results  in 


these  cases,  is  owing-  to  the  variable 
composition  of  the  soil,  and  we  refer 
to  them  as  an  illustration  of  the  impor- 
tance of  analysis — aa  indicating  what 
is  deficient,  and  enabling  us  to  supply 
it.  Becaute  a  certain  manure  has  fai^ 
ed  or  succeeded  unseen  certain  circum- 
stances, is  no  more  proof  that  it  will 
do  the  same  in  every  ether  soil  and 
situation,  than  that  because  the  La,p- 
lander  can  digest  whale  oil  and  tallow 
candles,  the  same  articles  are  food  for 
residents  of  a  tropiral  climate.  The 
organic  food  cf  plants,  constituting 
60  per  cent.,  is  derived  chiefly  from 
the  atmosphere  ;  the  remainder,  or  in- 
organic constituents,  solely  from  the 
soil,  and  these,  although  in  such  small 
proportions,  are  equally  necessary  with 
the  others. 

The  theory  of  rotation  is  founded  ou 
the  fact  that  every  kind  of  plant  re- 
quires its  specific  food,  the  amount  of 
which  is  of  course  diminished  by  the 
production  of  every  supsequent  crop  of 
the  same  kind.  Although  analysis  may 
sometimes  fail  of  giving  the  exact  pro- 
poitions,  it  may  be  relied  on  safely  for 
indicating  the  general  character,  what 
it  has  and  what  it  want.«.  so  as  to  form 
the  basis  of  improvement.  We  consid- 
er it  thus  far  as  certain  as  mathemat- 
ics, and  its  great  importance,  to  the 
skilful  farmer,  cannot  be  too  highly  es- 
timated. Plants,  like  animals,  seem  to 
have  their  instincts  for  certain  kinds  of 
food,  and  differ  in  their  powers  of  se- 
lection and  assimilation  ;  the  ash  of  dif- 
ferent varieties,  never  exhibiting,  on 
analysis,  the  same  composition.  No 
substitutes  will  answer.  Hay,  for  in- 
stance, exhausts  the  soil  of  silica,  lime, 
potash.  No  application  of  soda,  mag- 
nesia, or  chlorine,  which  it  contains  in 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


very  small  quantities,  will  supply  this 
deficiency. 

It  does  not  sc  m  to  us  necessary  that 
farmers  should  qualify  ihemselvts  to 
"  analyze  their  own  soils  The  practi- 
cal part  of  fiirming  is  amply  sufficipni 
to  occupy  their  whole  lime,  without  at 
tention  to  the  laboratory.  An  analysis 
will  not  often  be  required  more  than 
once,  but  we  hold  ii  to  be  indispf-nsable 
to  correct  and  profitable  management, 
that  they  should,  m  all  cases,  know  the 
consritiieiiis  of  th^ir  sod,  before  they 
can  \whye  what  fertilizers  are  wanting, 
or  in  wt)at  quantities  they  should  btj 
applied. 

In  Maryland,  a  State  Chemist  is  em- 
ployed on  a  fix.'d  salary,  to  analyze 
soils  without  expense  to  the  farmer. — 
There  has  been  no  liberality  of  this 
'kind,  as  vet,  in  Pennsylvania,  but  we 
hope  there  soon  will  be.  We  have 
he.-ird  there  is  an  agricultural  chemist 
in  Philadelphia,  of  some  experience  in 
this  wny.  but  we  do  not  at  present  know 
who  he  is  or  where  to  be  found  If 
anv  of  our  readers  have  this  informa- 
tion, we  shall  be  obliged  by  hearing 
from  them,  a&  our  farmers  are  making 
inquiries  of  us  on  this  subject. — Penii- 
sylvania  Farm  Journal. 


Carbon. — Carbonaceous  matter  in 
som^>  form,  is  necessary  in  all  soils.  In 
some,it  arises  from  the  decay  of  green 
crops;  for  the  result  is  carbon,  (char- 
coal) cis  thoroughly  as  if  burned  in  a 
vessel.  Pan  of  the  results  of  decay- 
•inn-  manures  exist  in  soils  as  carbon. — 
Old  charcoal  hearths,  charcoal  dust 
friim  locurnotives.  and  all  other  sources 
are  valuable  to  supply  this  desideratum 
to  the  soil  Soils  are  retentive  of  ma- 
nures, only  fn  m  the  presetice  cf  carbon 
■~or  p.luiiiina  —  Worki7i^  Farmer. 


FARMER'S  JOURNAL 
BAra7N7c7?uMiri853? 

Agricultural  Address. 

We  shall  by  invitation  deliver  an 
Address  before  the  Agricultural  Socie- 
ty in  Scotland  Neck.  Hulilfix  County, 
on  the  third  Saturday  m  June  We 
shall  at  this  time  present  the  Silver 
Cup  to  T.  '1'  Laurence,  Esq  .  which  we 
awarded  to  him  for  the  largest  number 
of  subscribers  sent  to  the  "Ji)urnHl." 


To  those  who  send  us  Money  by  Letter, 

We  have  receive  J  at  limes  '« tters  in- 
closing money,  with  no  post  office 
named  in  the  letter,  and  on  the  back  it 
is  marked  "Way."  A  few  ''ays  since 
we  received  a  letter  maiked  '-Way."  con- 
taining $5.  and  not  a  woid  wri'teu,  nor 
name  signed,  and  we  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  some  one  seeing  our  stiug- 
glo  to  f*o  something  for  the  old  North 
State,  had  concluded  to  help  us  in  this 
modest  way.  Those  who  send  us  mo- 
ney, should  by  all  means  name  the  post 
office  to  which  the  paper  is  to  be  senu 


Onr  Thanks. 

We  tender  our  thanks  to  Thomas  C. 
Smith,  Esq.,  of  Bladen  county,  and  T. 
W.  Whitley,  of  Johnston  county,  both 
of  whom  have  sent  us  a  large  number 
of  subscribers,  and  say  that  they  will 
still  exert  themselves  in  our  behalf.  If 
thirty  other  gentlemen  in  our  State  would 
only  aid  us  in  like  manner,  we  should 
soon  be  able  to  hold  up  our  head,  and 
manfully  advocate  the  mother  interest  of 
the  "Old  North  State."  Young  men  of 
North  Carolina,  Avhere  is  your  State 
pride,  that  you  do  not  interest  yourselves 
in  behalf  of  a  publication  that  must  con- 
fer a  benefit  upon"  all,  if  properly  sus- 
tained ? 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


81 


To  the  Friends  of  Agricultural  Im- 
proTeiuent  in  North  Carolina. 

This  is  the  third  number  of  the  second 
TOkime  of  the  Farmer's  Journal,  and  we 
must  confess  that  we  have  been  sadly 
disappointed  in  not  receiving  a  larger 
list  than  we  have  at  this  time.  We 
really  have  much  cause  to  be  discour- 
aged as  to  our  effecting  much  in  the  im- 
provement of  our  native  State.  We 
have  gone  into  several  parts  of  the  State 
within  the  last  twelve  months,  and  have 
labored  hard  in  the  cause  which  we  es- 
poused, but  much  of  what  we  did  last 
year  has,  like  a  building  made  of  a  slen- 
der frame,  fallen  to  pieces.  This  we  are 
sure  cannot  be  attributed  to  us,  but  to 
the  bad  timber  upon  which  we  have  had 
to  display  our  maiden  efforts.  If  those 
persons  who  have  influence  in  the  vari- 
ous counties,  will  only  exert  themselves 
in  behalf  of  the  Journal,  we  can  soon  be 
able  to  hold  up  our  head  again.  If  we 
»ee  that  our  eftbrts  are  bound  to  result 
in  a  failure,  we  shall  pack  up  and  follow 
the  example  set  by  others — leave  the 
land  which  gave  us  birth,  in  connection 
with  which  are  associated  reminiscences 
which  afford  us  pleasure  to  reflect  upon. 
What  say  you,  farmers  of  North  Caro 
lina  ?  Shall  the  third  and  perhaps  the 
last  attempt  to  permanently  establish  an 
agricultural  'paper  in  the  State  result  in 
a  failure  ?  If  such  should  be  the  case, 
it  will  be  your  fault  and  not  ours,  for  we 
have  labored  as  hard  as  man  ever  did,  to 
infuse  a  spirit  of  enterprise  among  our 
people.  We  call  upon  our  friends  to  go 
forth  and  aid  us  in  this  our  last  struggle. 
Let  every  subscriber  send  us  five  more 
and  we  are  safe  again. 


The  present  Number  of  our  Paper. 

We  regard  this  as  being  decidedly  the 
best  number  of  the  "Journal"  which  we 
have  ever  published,  and  we  do  not  hesi- 
tate to  say,  is  richly  worth  the  subscrip- 
tion price  for  the  year.  We  have  here 
laid  before  our  readers  an  analysis  of  the 
different  crops  which  are  cultivated  by 
farmei-s  in  difterent  parts  of  our  Stat^ 
which  will  be  of  infinite  service  to  such 
as  are  making  an  eflbrt  to  connect  science 
with  their  farming  operations.  In  this 
article  it  may  be  seen  vvhat  substance* 
make  up  or  compose  the  various  crops ; 
and  by  having  some  knowledge  of  chem- 
istry, a  correct  application  of  manures, 
may  be  made.  We  also  lay  before  our 
readers,  what  we  regard  as  the  most  able 
production  we  ever  saw,  a  treatise  writ- 
ten by  Baron  Liebeg,  the  renowned  Ger- 
man chemist.  It  is  a  review  of  the  pro- 
gress of  agricultural  science  from  the  be- 
ginning to  the  present  time.  There  is 
also  a  communication  from  an  old  far- 
mer of  our  acquaintance,  signed  "  Old 
North  State,"  which  will  be  read  with 
interest  by  every  one — and  we  here  taki» 
occasion  to  remarL,  that  this  communi- 
cation is  just  in  charactrr  with  what  our 
farmers  need — nothing  more  than  a  plain, 
sound  sense  sort  of  article,  which  is  wor- 
thy of  being  read  by  every  farmer  in  our 
State.  We  caution  our  rSadere  to  take 
good  care  of  this  number  of  the  "  Jour- 
nal," for  it  will  serve  to  refer  to  for  years 
to  come. 


^^  Volume  First  of  "Farmer's  Jour- 
nal" will  be  furnished  complete  for  $1. 


Cure  FOR  Foundeh  of  the  Horse  — 
Immediately  on  discovering  ihal  your 
horse  is  foundered,  mix  about  a  pint  of 
unground  sunflower  sei^d  in  his  proven- 
der and  it  will  effect  a  certain  curp.  It 
ji^  a  simple  remedy,  and  one  of  the  best 
evei  used, 


82 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Parmers,  da  not  Turn   your  Stock 
upon  your  FieMs. 

Ifc  has  been  a  very  coramon  practice 
among  the  fauiers  of  tliis  State,  after 
gathering  the  crops  from  their  fields,  to 
turn  their  stock  upon  them  and  let  them 
eat  the  stalks  and  vines.  There  has  in 
our  opinion  been  nothing  that  has  so 
much  conduced  to  the  general  exhaustion 
■of  our  lands,  as  this  practice,  although 
we  have  been  very  often  told  by  farmers 
that  they  regarded  it  as  farm  economy. 
All  writers  upon  Agricultural  Chemistry 
readily  admit  that  the  stalks  acd  vines 
of  plants  mast  be  left  upon  the  field,  in 
order  that  by  their  decomposition  they 
may  return  to  the  soil  the  elements  for 
the  reproduction  of  succeeding  crops. — 
The  various  plants  we  cultivate  are  com- 
posed of  elements,  a  part  of  which  are 
mineral  and  a  pai-t  vegetable,  and  tlie 
mineral  elements  must  necessarily  be  af- 
forded to  the  plant  by  the  soil.  Now, 
is  it  not  very  plain  to  be  seen,  that  if 
year  after  year  these  mineral  elements 
Are  taken  away  from  the  soil,  without 
leaving  any  means  for  a  re-supply,  that 
in  a  few  years  the  soil  in  which  they  once 
existed  will  be  deficient  in  them  ?  A 
very  large  quantity,  it  is  true,  are  carried 
away  in  the  crop;  but  if  in  addition  to 
this,  the  stalk  and  vine  are  consumed  by 
atock,  from  what  source  can  the  soil  ob- 
tain them  again,  unless  they  be  supplied 
in  the  form  of  manure?  Our  readers 
will  recollect  that  in  the  last  number  of 
■our  paper  we  answered  a  question  sub- 
mitted by  a  farmer  from  Greene  county) 
3u  which  we  ventured  to  account  for  the 
failure  of  the  pea  crop  upon  land  that 
formerly  was  well  adapted  to  the  culti- 
vation of  the  pea.  This  exhaustion  had 
iio  doubt  been  caused  by  this  very  prac 
Uce  of  turning  stock  upon  the  fields  in 


the  fall,  as  farmers  say,  "  to  eat  the  pea«y 
and  thereby  save  them  from  wasting." 
In  the  vine  or  stalk  of  the  pea  is  con- 
tained 27  per  cent,  of  the  carbonate  ot 
lime ;  and  these  being  consumed  year 
after  year  by  cattle,  horses  and  hogs,  it 
is  but  reasonable  tO'  suppose  that  the 
land  would  fail  to  produce  the  pea  luxu* 
riantly.  The  exhaustion  of  land  by  this 
practice  cannot  be  perceived  very  readi'y 
in  the  beginning,  and  hence  the  continu- 
ation of  it ;  but  every  farmer  may  rest 
assured  that  he  is  sustaining  a  very  great 
damage  by  continuing  the  practice.  Let 
us  now  look  into  the  saving  that  is  so 
generally  believed  to  be  caused  by  turn- 
ing stock  upon  fields.  Practical  demon- 
stration h;is  proved  the  fact,  that  by  giv- 
ing proper  attention  to  any  kind  of  stock 
in  the  way  of  furnishing  materials  for 
making  and  saving  mj^nure,  that  the 
food  consumed  will  be  paid  for  in  the  re- 
turn made  by  the  manure  to  the  land. 
If  this  be  true,  and  we  do  not  doubt  it  in 
the  least,  the  practice  of  suffering  stock 
to  run  at  large  upon  fields  must  be  a  bad 
one  indeed.  It  is  true  that  hogs  turned 
upon  a  field  in  the  fall  upon  which  peas 
have  been  sown,  will  soon  become  fat; 
but  the  manu^  from  them  may  be  said 
to  be  almost  entirely  lost,  for  it  is  depo- 
sited in  every  direction  and  upon  the  sur- 
face of  the  land,  and  its  volatile  proper- 
ties, by  far  tlie  most  important,  are  scat- 
tered "to  the  four  winds."  As  we  said 
before,  the  hog  improves  at  the  expense 
of  the  land,  which  is  greatly  injured, 
and  without  the  application  of  manure, 
will  fail  to  produce.  If  the  hog  were 
kept  up  in  a  close  pen,  and  the  proper 
attention  paid  to  the  collecting  of  mate- 
rials for  making  manure,  the  land  might 
be  mucli  improved  by  the  application  oi 
this  manure,   and  not  as  in  the  otbe; 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURISTAL. 


ease,  at  the  expense  of  the  hog.  The 
farmer  would  find  it  much  to  his  interest 
t^  keep  every  kind  of  stock  from  his 
fields,  and  thereby  leave  upon  them  the 
materials  for  the  reproduction  of  other 
crops. 


Farmers,  Raise  your  own  Horses  and 
Mules. 

Tt  seems  to  us  very  strange,  that  while 
the  farmers  of  every  other  State  in  the 
Union  are  turning  their  attention  to  the 
raising  of  their  own  horses  and  mules, 
those  in  North  Carolina  still  contine  to 
he  dependent  upon  other  States  for  their 
supply  of  this  kind  of  stock.  ^We  have 
frequently  called  the  attention  of  indivi- 
duals to  this  matter,  and  they  say,  as  a 
general  thing,  that  it  will  not  pa}" ;  but 
when  we  ask  them  if  they  have  ever 
tried  it,  they  answer  in  the  negative. — 
We  contend  that  by  proper  management 
it  will  pay ;  there  is  nothing  either  in' 
the  climate  or  products  of  our  State  to 
prevent  it.  The  amount  of  money  an- 
7iually  carried  out  of  this  State  for  horses 
«nd  mules,  would,  if  summed  up,  be  al- 
most incredible.  This  is  not  a  good  po- 
licy to  buy  abroad  what  could  be  raised 
at  home;  and  in  this  case  our  farmers 
have  been  guilty  of  improper  conduct 
long  enough.  Like  every  other  kind  of 
business,  it  must  have  a  beginning,  and 
every  thing  should  be  in  readiness  be- 
iore  an  attempt  is  made.  A  farmer  who 
made  this  his  business  might  every  year 
manure  richly  a  large  farm  from  his 
horses  and  mules  alone.  In  other  States 
a  large  number  of  farmers  make  stock 
raising  their  chief  business,  and  in  most 
cases  tliey  accumulate  large  fortunes 
and  a  great  deal  of  their  money  they 
carry  from  North  Carolina.  .  In  order  to 
iring  this  matter  more  plainly  before  ou 


readers,  and  to  show  the  thing  as  it  h, 
we  would  ask  them  to  notice  for  one  year 
the  number'  of  droves  of  horses  and 
nmles  which  pass  through  the  county 
town  of  the  county  in  Avhieh  they  live. 
We  hope  that  the  fanners  of  our  State 
will  look  into  this  matter,  and  that  manv 
of  them  will  turn  their  attention  to  the 
raisinir  of  mules  and  horses. 


Ashes  as  a  Manure 

There  is  not  a  farmer  in  the  State  of 
North  Carolina  Avho  cannot  avail  him- 
self of  the  great  advantages  to  be  de- 
rived from  tlie  application  of  ashes  as  a 
fertilizer  tohir?  worn-out  lands.  And  we 
say  here,  as  we  have  often  said  else- 
where, that  there  is  no  one  substance  m 
nature  that  so  abundantly  contains  the 
mineral  elements  of  the  various  crop* 
which  Ave  cnltivate.  Farmers  are  often 
heard  to  complain,  for  the  reason  that 
they  have  not  got  a  bed  of  marl,  or  are 
not  able  to  get  shell  or  stone  lime,  for 
the  reason  that  they  live  so  far  from  a 
navigable  stream.  All  such  as  make 
this  complaint  have  great  advantages  for 
burning  ashes;  and  wehadmnchi  rather 
have  a  bushel  of  ashes  than  tlie  same 
quantity  of  lime,  for  the  reason  mention- 
ed above — that  we  have  in  the  bushel  of 
ashes  so  many  of  the  various  element* 
which  are  required  to  produce  good 
crops.  The  impression  among  farmers 
generally,  is  that  the  burning  of  ashes 
will  not  pay ;  b"jt  such  is  a  great  mis- 
take. But  at  the  same  time,  there  is  a 
proper  way  to  go  to  Avork  to  make  the 
burning  of  ashes  a  good  business  :  The 
heaps  of  wood  should  be  made  small, 
for  if  they  are  large  the  draught  created 
carries  oft"  a  great  many  of  the  ashes 
and  a  larger  quantity  are  burned  up. — - 
x\fter  the  ashes  are  burned,  if  not  use4 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


immediately  they  should  be  protected 
from  the  weather,  for  the  same  reason 
that  the  soluble  parts  contained  in  them 
will  be  dissolved  if  left  exposed  to  the 
rain.  The  best  manner  of  applying 
ashes  is  in  compost  with  muck  or  woods- 
mould,  at  the  rate  of  about  fifty  or  sixty 
bushels  to  the  acre  of  land.  In  the  pro- 
duction of  tobacco  and  potatoes,  the  ap- 
plication of  ashes  will  be  of  matei'ial  ad- 
vantage, for  the  reason  these  plants  con- 
tain a  great  deal  of  potash,  which  may 
be  found  more  abundant  in  ashes,  than 
in  any  other  substance  that  will  justify 
its  use.  Every  farmer  should  save  all  of 
the  ashes  from  the  houses  upon  his  farm, 
and  for  their  preservation,  it  would  be 
•  well  to  have  an  ash  house  made  of  brick? 
into  v/liich  the  ashes  could  be  put  when 
taken  up,  without  any  danger  from  the 
fire  which  might  be  I'eraaiiiing  in  them. 

The  Cultivation  of   Fruit   Trees  in 
Worth  Carolina. 

We  have  been  very  much  astonished, 
"while  travelling  over  this  State,  at  seeing 
so  fc'vV  orchards  stocked  with  the  most 
choice  of  the  various  kinds  of  fruit. — 
According  to  horticultural  writers,  there 
is  no  part  of  the  United  States  better 
adapted  to  the  growth  of  the  peach  tree, 
than  some  portions  of  iSlorth  Carolina. 
Both  the  climate  and  soil  bear  a  great 
similarity  to  that  of  which  the  peach  is 
SL  native  ;  and  there  is  no  country  where 
its  cultivation  is  more  sadly  neglected. 
There  is  no  fruit  within  our  knowledge 
more  pleasant  to  the  taste  and  less  apt 
to  injure  those  who  eat  it  than  the 
peach.  The  peacii  tree  is  subject  to  two 
diseases  which  have  had  a  great  tenden- 
cy to  cause  those  who  have  been  en- 
gaged in  its  culture  to  abandon  it.  The 
diseases  to  which  we  allude  are  the  yel- 


lows, and  the  effects  resulting  from  the  ra- 
vages of  a  worm  called  the  peach  borer. 
The  horticulturist  in  the  northern  States 
are  complaining  very  much  of  the  injury 
which  they  have  sustained  from  planting 
seed  borne  upon  trees  afflicted  with  these 
diseases.  An  application  of  lime  to  the 
roots  of  the  tree  in  the  months  of  May 
and  June  will  greatly  tend  to  remedy 
trees  thus  affected.  The  salt  and  lime 
mixture  mentioned  in  No.  1,  Volume  1  of 
our  paper  is  a  most  excellent  manure  for 
all  kinds  of  fruit  ti'ees  and  vines,  and 
the  soda  wash  may  be  used  with  much 
benefit.  The  cultivation  of  the  apple 
tree  is  also  much  neglected  by  our  peo- 
j)le.  There  are  yearly  thousands  of  bar- 
rels of  this  fruit  brought  here  from  north- 
ern States,  when,  with  due  care  on  our 
part,  we  could  produce  even  finer  apples 
than  we  get  from  the  northern  market. 
But  before  this  is  done,  the  idea  which  is 
so  very  prevalent,  that  fruit  trees  do  not 
require  manui'e,  nmst  be  abandoned. — 
They,  like  all  other  plants,  have  a  pecu- 
liar kind  of  food  which  is  best  suited  to 
their  taste,  and  without  this  be  furnished, 
they  will  not  do  well,  but  pine  away  and 
die.  In  our  opinion  there  is  no  branch 
of  agriculture  that  would  pay  better  in 
a  sliort  time  than  a  well  conducted  or^ 
chanl  stocked  with  choice  fruit,  inNortb 
Carolina. 


The  Sorrowful  Tree.  —  At  Goa, 
neai'  Bonibiy.  there  is  a  singuLtr  vege- 
lable — the'  sorrowful  tree — so  called  be- 
caus*^  It  flourishes  in  the  night.  At 
sunset  no  fjow>'rs  are  to  be  seen  ;  and 
y^'t,  half  at)  hour  after,  it  is  quite  full 
of  them  Thf>y  yielfl  a  sweet  smell, 
btit  thf^  sun  n'>  sooner  begins  to  shine 
on  them  than  some  of  ihcm  fall  off, 
ari'i  others  clost'  up. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


The  Farmer's  Library. 

We  have  been  often  asked  what  boohs 
farmers  had  best  buy,  and  the  idea  has 
occurred  to  us  to  name  them  here,  so 
that  our  readers  generally,  can  avail 
tJiemseives  of  what  we  say  upon  the 
subject.  Every  fiirmer  who  wishes  to 
improve  himself  shouid  have  a  copy  of 
Liebeg's  Organic  Chemistry,  Johnston's 
Agricultural  Chemistry,  the  Farmer  and 
Planter's  Encyclopedia,  Sterin's  Book  of 
the  Farm,  and  Youraan's  Chemistry  and 
and  Chart,  wliich  will  make  every  thing 
in  Chemistry  plain  to  the  reader.  These 
works  may  be  found  at  the  Agricultural 
Book  store  of  C.  M.  Saxion,  in  New 
York. 


Agricultural   Schools--- Experi- 

uieals,  «fc.c. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Farmer. 

I  tender  my  thanks  to  your  printer  for 
the  patience  it  must  have  cost  him  to 
decypher  the  very  bad  manuscript,  wliich 
in  iuy  haste  I  sent  for  your  last  number, 
and  ask  the  privilege  of  making  a  few 
corrections. 

Read  iu  proper  places — not  acti;g  as 
politicians — prove  their  consciousness  o! 
a  truth — forbids  me  not  to  say — and  the 
essence  at  which  we  aim. 

To  you  I  am  indebted  for  an  extract 
from  Col.  Carey's  able  address,  which  in- 
directly furnishes  the  best  sort  of  evidence 
that  my  first  objection  to  State  Agricul- 
tural schools  is  not  without  foundation. 
It  is  not  necessary  to  my  present  pur- 
pose to  go  behind  his  opinions  and  ex- 
amine how  far  they  may  be  soundly  ap- 
plicable to  the  present  condition  of 
things  in  this  country,  where  both  indi- 
,vidual  and  associated  intelligence  have 
already  worked  such  wonders,  without 
pecuniary  aid  from  government,  and  in 


spite  of  legislative  mismanagement,  and 
oppression;  it  is  enough  for  me  to  know 
that  at  the  time  his  address  was  deliver- 
ed, he  either  was  or  had  just  been  a 
prominent  member  of  the  State  Senate, 
and  that  he  either  did  not  attempt,  for 
reasons  worthy  of  his  high  intelligence, 
to  obtain  action  in  favor  of  such  a  pi'oject, 
or  that  he  failed  in  the  attempt,  in  or- 
der to  find  fiiir  proof  that  such  action 
could  not  then  be  procured. 

I  need  scarce  refer  to  the  existing  truth 
that,  notwithstanding  all  that  has  been 
written  and  said,  we  are  still  to  all  ap- 
pearance as  tar  as  ever  from  tli at  consum- 
mation, which  by  so  many  is  professed 
so  devoutly  to  be  wished.  I  have  alrea- 
dy heard,  without  surprise,  that  some 
have  interpreted  me  as  being  opposed  to 
agricultural  education,  but  all  who  read 
with  even  half  an  eye,  will  have  perceived 
that  I  only  object  to  that  which,  un- 
checked by  sober  practice,  would  soon 
degenerate  into  mere  shadowy  form,  and 
that  I  seek  a  something  capable  of  be- 
ing everywhere  taught  as  substantial 
truth.  But  grant  for  a  moment  that  we 
can  and  shall  have  State  agricultural 
schools,  and  they  prove  to  be  all  that 
gentlemen's  fancies  paint  them,  would  it 
not  be  well,  iu  order  to  keepihe  rest  of 
mankind  wi'hin  hailing  distance  of  those 
who  might  find  room  to  be  educated  iu 
them,  to  encourage  a  system  of  experi- 
ments upon  subjects  immediately  con- 
nected with  real  farming,  and  capable  of 
being  carried  out  under  an  ordinary  state 
of  things  ? 

The  general  plan  of  operations  I  would 
suggest  is,  that  the  State  Society  should 
offer  premiums  for  the  best  experiment 
conducted  within  the  State,  and  the  coun- 
ty societies,  for  the  best  within  their  res- 
pective counties;  and  that  they  should 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


©iideavor,  ia  co-operation,  to  obtain  from 
the  Smithsonian  Institute,  endowed  for 
the  ilitfnsion  of  knowledge  amono;  men, 
*>fters  for  the  best  within  the  United 
States. 

Due  efforts  should  be  made  to  agree 
'in  the  selection  of  subjects  for  experi- 
ments, still  leaving,  however,  the  right  to 
evach  association  to  choose  for  itself.  The 
luass  of  information  which  could  thus  be 
collected,  might  be  so  sifted  down  as  to 
derive  general  truths,  where  important 
facts,  comiag  from  various  sources 
would  be  found  to  coincide, — and  spe- 
cial truths  applicable  to  particular  re- 
■gions.  The  general  truths  would  stand 
jn  the  same  relation  to  agriculture  that 
astronomy  does  to  navigation;  and  the 
apecial  truths,  "would,  in  their  application 
to  neigliborhoods,  be  like  well  known 
soundings,  safe  in  practice. 

Time  would  be  required  so  to  collect 
and  arrange  truths  thus  to  be  derived,  as 
to  ha-ve  tliem  in  a  state  to  be  tauglit  in 
our  common  schools;  but,  as  it  is  better 
not  to  teach  anything  which  is  not  cer- 
tainly true,  than  to  fill  the  youthful 
tnind,  untrained  to  reason,  Avith  a  mix- 
ture in  which  fable  may  predominate 
over  fact.  It  is  impossible  to  be  too  cau- 
tious in  the  adoption  of  dogmas  to  be 
taught.  The  application  of  chemistry  to 
agriculture  would  form  the  great  geuer- 
Sil  suliject  for  experiments;  and  in  my 
yiew,  in  order  to  be  made  generally  ad- 
vantageous, it  must  be  tested  under  eve- 
ry variety  of  circumstance,  when  trials 
can  be  induced. 

To  believe  that  it  can  thus  be  made 
practically  more  perfect  as  a  science,  by 
l>eing  more  thoroughly  made  known  in 
*ll  its  bearings  to  those  who  have  already 
adopted  it  as  a  profession,  and  can  thus 
hi  placed  in  a  condition  to  be  much 
more  speedily  and  effectually  taught  to 
those  who  may  hereafter  wish  to  adopt  it, 
I  deem  perfectly  in  accordance  with  that 
.soundest  of  philosophy — common  sense. 


Fanners'  Gardens. 

Asa  general  thing,  farmers  do  not 
provide  themselves  with  good  gardens; 
at  least,  so  f^r  as  the  writer  has  trav- 
eled, he  has  seldom  seen  what  he  would 
call  a  good  garden  on  farms.  The  ex- 
cuse for  the  neglect  is  generally  the  same 
Kilh  all  of  them, — they  'have  no  time 
to  attend  to  such  small  niatters."  And 
yet  it  m;iy  safely  be  asserted  that  an 
acre  of  ground  appropriated  to  a  good 
garden,  will  be  more  profitable  to  the 
faimer  than  any  other  ten  acres  of  the 
tarm.  The  inte'-esis  of  the  farmer, 
the  cotnforts  of  his  family,  the  good 
condition  and  health  of  his  household, 
require  such  a  gnrden  on  every  farm 
in  the  country.  And  it  should  be  a 
garden^  not  a  mere  excuse  for  one, — • 
a  mere  weedy  patch.  It  should  be 
one  so  raanafffd  and  arranged,  that 
every  vfgetable  of  wholesome  quality 
for  human  food  should  be  raised  on  it 
in  perfection,  and  ntthe  earliest  sea?OB. 
After  a  winter's  diet  on  solid  and  gen- 
erally ?alt  animal  food,  the  human 
constitutton  requires  the  deterging  op- 
craiion  of  free  vegetable  and  fruit  di<*t ; 
and,  as  a  general  rule,  no  one  can  dis- 
pense with  it  safely.  Besides  this,  the 
natural  appetite  calls  for  it,  and  there 
are  few  pleasures  that  may  be  ?o  safelj 
and  even  beneficially  indulged  in.  In 
the  latter  part  of  winter  and  eaily  in 
spring,  meaures  should  be  taken  to  se- 
cure early  vegetables  of  all  kind."?  ca- 
pable of  very  early  cultivation.  De- 
tails will  not  be  expected  here;  there 
are  other  books  and  papers  appropriated 
to  such  information.  But  I  cannot 
help  sayinij^,  that  when  I  am  at  a  farm 
house,  at  a  season  when  early  peas, 
beans,  cabbages,  cucumbers,   potatoes, 


Tiios.  R.  HoLiDAV.      1  green  corn,  lettuce,  &c.,  are   properly 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


8^ 


in  sea&OQ,  and  find  aone  of  these  luxu- 
ries on  ihe  table, — rioth-.ng  but  the 
blue  beef,  salt  pork  and  beans  or  pota- 
toes, of  winter, — I  am  fiee  to  say,  I  do 
not  envy  that  farmer's  life, nor  hie  fam- 
ily their  enjoyments.  These  very  peo 
pie  are  fond  enough  of  such  things 
when  they  go  to  the  city,  and  it  is  there- 
fore not  want  of  taste.  It  is  simply  the 
fault  of  negligenet^  Why  may  o 
every  farmer  in  the  State  have  every 
kind  of  early  vegetables  on  his  table 
as  early  as  any  gardeners  near  the  cit- 
ies can  TAise  them  ?  'J'here  is  not  a 
single  reason  why  he  should  not,  while 
their  are  a  great  many  why  he  should. 
The  gardeners  have  to  incur  a  viry 
considerable  expense  in  procuring  hot 
manure  for  their  hot-beds,  while  the 
farmer  has  it  in  his  barn-yari.  The 
gardener  has  every ihing  to  pui chase, 
and  draw  a  considerable  distance,  wiiile 
the  farmer  has  nothing  to  buy.  The 
small  quartiiy  of  lumber  required  is 
probably  rotten  on  his  premi.'^f'S.  It 
would  only  be  a  source  of  ainusemcnt 
duiing  winter,  for  him  to  construct  the 
frame  of  a  hot-bed,  and  prepare  the 
manure  and  bed  fur  use.  Having 
done  this,  and  got  his  plants  in  a  thrifty 
state,  he  can,  in  a  short  time,  when  the 
season  arrives,  get  his  garden  ground 
ill  order  and  make  his  plantations  — 
And  then  he  will  have  ail  these  vegeta- 
ble lu.xuries  as  early  as  any  of  his 
town  fiiends  can  purchase  them.  It 
only  requires  a  little  industry  and  at- 
tention to  accomplish  this,  and  as  we 
said  before,  his  enjoyment,  his  health, 
and  even  his  interest,  as  well  as  the 
comforts  of  his  family,  will  be  benefit- 
ted by  it  — Country  Gentleman. 

Ey  industry  we  thrive. 


VV'oud  Aslieti  as  a  Manure. 

Wood  ashes  may  be  class*  d  under 
the  head  of  stimulating  amtlioratoris 
rather  than  as  actual  manures,  as  they 
perforin  both  these  offices  when  applied 
to  the  soil.  As  an  ameliorator,  like 
lime,  ihey  modify  the  texture  of  the 
soil.  They  also  seem  to  stimula'e  tL*^ 
plant  to  greater  activity  than  it  would 
otherwise  possess,  and  aid  in  preparing 
for  its  use  and  assimilaion  the  lertili:*- 
ihg  materials  already  supplied,  as  well 
as  attracting  ihem  from  the  atmos- 
phere. They  are  found  most  useful  oi* 
lands  which  contain  inert  organic  mat- 
ter, if  ihese  lands  are  tufficitnlly  dry 
for  their  action. 

Prof.  Bentz  remarlis  that  there  is  a- 
great  analogy  in  the  action  of  ashts 
and  lime.  Like  lime,  ih<'y  are  best  on 
.soils  that  are  not  calcareous,  and  upon 
those  on  which  carbonate  of  lime  le 
most  effective.  They  loosen  ar.d  in- 
crease the  fertility  of  compact  soils,  il 
applied  in  sufficient  quaniiiy.  and  inti^ 
matcly  mixed  therewith.  Almost  all 
crops  are  benefitted  by  their  applica^- 
lion,  but  on  old,  worn  out  lands,  they 
generally  give  the  greatest  evidence  of 
their  value  ;  though  pew  soils,  if  defi- 
cient in  some  marked  constiFuent  of 
ashes,  show  equal  eflTeots.  Further  ex- 
periments are  needed  to  show  the  ac- 
tion of  ashes  as  a  manure.  Professor 
Johnston  remarks  that  they  are  largely 
employed  in  many  districts  in  England, 
mixed  with  bone-dust  as  a  fertilizer  for 
turnips,  and  often  with  great  success. 
Fifteen  bushels  of  each  are  applied  t» 
an  acre  and  drilled  in.  Alkalies  are 
abundant'in  turnips,  potatoes,  and  seve- 
ral other  roots,  which  are  almost  inva- 
riably benefitted  by  the  application  of 
his  stimulant.     The  immediate  .-fi'tCk 


86 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


of  as;i^,-,  adds  ihe  same  authority,  is 
mosi  jjer.-eptible  upon  leuutniaous 
plants  .Mi i'li  as  clover,  pi'as,  beans,  &e. 
As  -A  Oj)  Jessing  to  grass  land  ifc  ri.ots 
out  mo-se-i  and  wild  !4!«ss,aMd  prouaoi'8 
thegi'iwMi  of  white  cl'ivi-r.  Upm  ri- 
dovM  its  .'ffricis  arir!  pro;n  )ted  bv  mix- 
ture with  oypsuin.  Ill  small  duses  it 
ahou'd  De  applie.d  to  ihia,  pour  soils,  but 
mor-"  tiian  six  oi  eight  buslvls  p^r  a^r 
woul  !  bi^  I  ^0  exhaust!!'.^,  unles-  th  ■  s  lil 
is  rich  in  vh^ -table  uiatti-r  or  rece!>7'S 
freqiJC'it  applications  ol  itnim  i!  and  ve- 
getable manure's 

Of  th-'  use  of  ash 'S  hs  a  'op  divssina 
for  corn,  almost  e^-ery  farmer  ha-^  Sdiiie 
experience,  and  we  have  hea'd  but  ou!' 
opinion  tixwrjssed  o(  their  valur- — an  i 
ihai  in  lavorof  iheir  ush  in  ^mall  quan- 
tities Thiy  "eera  to  stimiil  i-  ibe 
<H)ni  plant,  enabling  it  to  !n:ikH  usf  "f 
the  mai.ures  furnished  in  other  orjns. 
and  in  ty  also  prevent  'h^  rava.O'  s  of 
various  w^nns  and  insect*,  We  have 
heard  i-r  knovn  but  very  little  "f  tj,e 
a^ppiicntion  of  ashes  to  the  whe^tt  cop, 
though  it  has  been  recoinmendi-d  as  t> 
corrective  of  acidiiy  ia  the  soil — which 
is  phowti  by  th^  gr>>w!h  of  sonel  -  as 
destructive  to  ihe  wire  worm,  and  use- 
ful in  all  cases  in  which  lime  would 
prove  of  berjefit. 

Some  agricultural  wiiters  think  that 
leached  'sio^a  firove  of  morebeo-^fit  as 
a  peitnaneht  ameliorator  of  'he  soil 
than  unleached,  and  that  th-'  longer 
they  hav'.-^  been  exposed  to  the  air  and 
weather  the  more  valuable  they  will 
prove  in  this  respect.  We  have  known 
▼ery  marked  results  to  follnw  their  ap 
plication  to  bofh  grain  and  grass  lands, 
and  would  recommend  the  use  of  le  ich- 
ed  ashes  in  all  cases  where  they  may 
be  I  asily  obtained. 


We  are  ot  the  opinion  that  thf^  na- 
ture of  the  soil,  rather  than  the  -har-- 
.icter  of  the  c-op  to  be  produced,  should 
be  considered  in  deciding  ou  iht' appli- 
cation! of  ashes,  Lind  deficieui  in  the 
tlem  n's  they  supply— the  caib-hales 
sulp  lati  s.  silicates  and  phorphates — 
•vili  rf-pay  th  ir  application,  if  they  aro 
not  ai.so  leficient  in  veg-  table  matter, 
aiii  too  wet  to  r«'ceive  benefit  fVom  any 
ipi'iic  tiion  i)f  amen;imei;is  or  manures. 
In  ijli  exp'  riments  and  r^-uiarks  which 
>vr.  have  U'ted,  until  Vf  ry  recmtly,  wot 
soil-  ai  1  ,-eiOiis  were  tnought  lo  have 
a  mt  ked  <  ffi-ct  on  their  value,  and  wa 
hav-  yi-t  to  see  uny  proof  to  the  con- 
iia;y 

Thus  mncii  on  wond  ash' s  as  an  ap- 
I  licaii  'U  ro  th  -  soil,  we  have  -jaiht-red 
l:om  reliabh'  sources,  but  Ui.re  appeara 
great  u.  ed  f  car»-(ul  experiments  to 
^■teMiiiue  t.iO  worth  of  the  different 
iheori  s  proposed.  Autuciin  is  a  yood 
tun  ■  for  com  a e Doing  such  a  coursCj 
anil  we  ho;)e  those  situated  fav.nably 
for  -0  lioing,  will  try  ashes,  both  I  ach- 
<  <!  and  unleached,  on  the  wheat  crop, 
with  a  view  to  test  their  value,  and  also 
of  comfiaring  it  with  lime  and  marl 
where  tne  la  ter  may  be  obtained. — 
Rural  New  Yorker. 


Right  and  PROPiiti. — A  grnth  man 
in  New  Hainpsliire  has  lately  given  to 
he  AvMculiiiral  Socety  of  that  State 
ihe  sum  of  twenty-five  dolltrs  io  bp 
ofiven  to  the  lady  who  will  show  the 
e^t  specimen  of  patching  at  the  next 
Fair  He  ihinks  the  ladies  have  given 
loo  much  time  to  needle  work  and  em- 
broidery, while  their  husbands  were 
trmting  around  with  holes  in  their 
breeches  and  socks.  He  wants  them 
to  show  iheir  hands  at  patching  and 
darning. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


JxortK  (^aTdina 


^r^ 


Vn 


From  the  Farmer  and  Artizan. 
Liquid  Manures. 

Mr.  Seavey  ; — It  cannot  be  for  the 
flirmer's  interest  to  expend  very  large 
»ams  of  money  for  mineral  and  otlier 
manures,  until  he  learns  to  save  those 
liquid  portions  of  his  barn-yard  manures 
■which  are  too  often  left  to  escape  unno- 
ticed. All  the  fertilizers  that  may  be 
found  on  the  premises  should  be  col- 
lected and  appropriated  to  use  before  we 
think  of  buying  guano,  patent  manures, 
09*  any  of  the  highly  recommended  mine- 
ral substances  to  be  found  in  almost 
every  market.  I  would  by  no  means  un- 
dervalue the  above  named  manures,  for 
they  are  doubtless  possessed  of  many 
highly  fertilizing  properties,  which  should 
gain  for  them  the  good  will  of  every 
farmer;  but  as  I  intimated  above,  no 
farmer  can  well  afford  to  purchase  them 
while  he  neglects  to  save  the  urine  of 
his  stock.  It  is  no  worse  for  the  farmer 
to  lose  money  from  his  pocket,  than  to 
lose  any  portion  of  the  manure  which 
he  makes  on  his  farm.  Wherever  we 
apply  liberal  quantities  of  manure  to 
our  lands,  we  find  ourselves  amply  com- 
pensated by  abundant  harvests  for  a  suc- 
cession of  years.  When  we  come  to  ga- 
ther our  grass  crop,  we  like  to  have,  as 
old  farmer  Damon  used  to  say,  "a  plaguey 
lot  ©'pitching  to  do'' — in  fact  we  want 
to  cut  two  tons  of  hay  per  acre,  and  as 
much  more  as  our  land  will  produce. — 
Biit  how  long  will  it  take  to  bring  our 
farms  to  a  fit  condition  to  produce  these 
excellent  crops,  if  we  continue  so  regard- 
less of  our  best  interests,  as  to  permit  all 
our  liquid  manures  to  be  wasted  ?  It  is, 
perhaps,  evident  to  all,  that  the  richer 
any  substance  is  in  ammonia,  the  sooner 
it  will  begin  to  change  its  quality  by  pu- 
trefaction.   Urine  will,  in  the  summer, 


if  placed  in  a  favorable  situation,  be  hx 
a  high  state  of  fermentation  in  thirty- 
six  hours.  This  fact  alone,  proves  it  to 
be  a  very  valuable  fertilizer.  It  has  beeai 
said  by  good  authority,  that  while  fbui- 
teen  head  of  cattle  would  make  six' 
loads  of  solid  manure,  the  liquid  would 
saturate  seven  loads  of  loam,  rendering 
it  equal  in  value.  This  fact  should 
stimulate  every  farmer  to  save  all  th« 
liquid  manures  that  his  stock  makes. 
A  Farmer. 


?• 


Barn-yard  Manure, 

In  a  prize  eesay,  written  by  Wm. 
D.  Grresham,  to  which  the  Maryland 
State  Agricultural  Society  awarded  a 
premium,  »he  writer  closes  thus: 

Barn-yard,  and  Stable  Manures.-^ 
This  is  the  most  valuable  and  prolific 
source  from  which  the  farmer  is,  bj 
his  own  efforts  and  economy,  to  im- 
proye  his  land.  This  manure,  though 
not  so  permanent  in  its  efi'ects,  yet  ap- 
plied after  lime  and  marl,  is  lasting  and 
beneficial.  It  is  the  great  resorvoir 
from  which  the  farmer  is,  by  his  own 
industry  and  management,  to  draw 
his  supplies  for  the  improvement  of  his 
land,  as  well  as  in  a  measure  to  derive 
his  wealth;  and  he  should  husband  his 
resources  in  such  a  manner  as  to  have 
a  constant  eye  to  the  accumulation  of, 
not  only  all  the  offal  from  his  stock,  but 
all  decaying  vegetable  matter  from  his 
farm.  The  greatest  negligence  prC' 
vails  among  many  farmers  in  relation 
to  the  carelessness  with  which  they  at- 
tend to  their  barn-yard  and  stable  ma- 
nures; the  voidings  from  cattle,  the 
evaporation  of  the  nutritive  portion  of 
manures,  would,  if  saved  and  attended 
to,  improve  more  land  than  what  little 
they  carry  out  upon  them.    There  if 


•^o 


THE  FARilER'S  JOUR^^x\L. 


Nothing  w^ach  a  farmer  can  more  judi- 
eionslv  U3«  than  plaster,  in  the  absorp- 
tion of  the  voidiugs,  as  well  as  the  ct- 
■fectof  fixing  the  valuable  properii-es  of 
ai'iniires,  which  are  coost;nitly  esctip- 
jnor  in  the  form  of  gases;  I  vvoulJ  then 
advise  the  liberal  use  of  plaster  in  all 
the  vegetable  manures  raised  upon  the 
farm.  It  is  esfjential  ii)  a'i  well  rejra- 
lated  and  ventilated  stables  and  cow 
aheds,  in  preserving  the  health  as  well 
as  the  eyes  of  the  animals,  from  the 
aoxious  exhalation  of  the  pungent,  if 
not  poisonous  gases,  which  are  con- 
stantly escaping  from  the  manures. — 
Plaster  fully  repays  the  farmer  who 
uses  it  tenfold. 

In  conclusion,  whether  you  have  the 
-ali'ff  clays  or  sandy  loams  to  contend 
with  on  your  farms,  and  you  desire  to 
Testore  them  to  fertility,  they  must 
liave  the  advantage  of  lime,  clover,  and 
plaster,  and  a  regular  rotation  of  crops. 

You  must  lend  all  your  energies  to 
the  accumulation  ©f  manures,  both  an- 
imal, vegetable,  and  mineral — you  cau- 
liot  expect  your  lands  to  yield  you  re- 
munerating crops  unless  you  contrive 
to  keep  up  its  fertility  by  applications 
of  manure.  Should  your  barn-yard 
and  stable  fail  io  affard  you  a  sufficient 
supply,  you  should  go  to  your  marshes^ 
woods  and  ditch  banks,  and  there  find 
the  elements  for  manure.  We  know 
the  chief  flement  of  all  manure  being 
vegetable  matter,  and  its  production 
being  necessarily  slow  and  laborious 
on  exhausted  soils,  we  should  take  ad- 
vantage ofevery  assistant  in  increasing 
and  applying  it  to  the  soil. —  The  West 
Jer.  Pioneer. 

The  above  is  an   excellent    article, 

and  free  from  that   objectionable  fea- 

•-sSure  so  prevalent  with  most  writers  on 


the  subject  of  manures,  namely,  the 
recommendicg  of  bani-yard  manure 
alone.  Farmers  who  Vifould  pursue 
their  business  profitably,  rtquire  mora 
manure  than  cin  be  made  by  their  cat- 
tle, and,  therefore,  they  are  compelled 
to  import  fertilizing  materials  upon 
their  land.  As  far  as  barn-yard  ma- 
nures occur,  they  should  be  availed  of; 
but  where  their  quantity  is  insufficient 
to  get  maximum  effects,  they  should 
be  increased,  and  this  cannot  be  done 
by  the  use  of  cheap  organic  amend- 
ments only. 

Every  farmer  should  have  an  analy- 
sis of  his  soil;  the  books  already  give 
him  an  analysis  of  his  stable  manure, 
and  a  comparison  of  these  two  will 
show  him  what  constituents  are  miss- 
ing, anJ  what  he  should  buy  from  else- 
where. For  the  management  of  sta- 
ble manures,  we  would  refer  to  our  ar- 
ticle in  this  number  on  Manure  Heaps, 
Loss  of  Ammonia,  etc. —  Woiiihig  Far- 
mer. 


A  "Word  for  Progressive   Farming, 

iMESSRS.  Editors: — Enclosed  you 
will  hnd  one  dollar  for  the  CuUivalor 
for  1853.  I  have  tried  to  get  up  a 
club,  but  cou'dn't  come  it.  Our  far- 
mers trust  too  much  to  their  rich,  fresh 
lands,  to  feel  the  need  of  agricultural 
papers.  Corn  one  year  and  wheat  the 
next,  with  a  little  oats  occasionallv — 
is  the  almost  universal  practice  of  our 
farmers.  Manure  is  never  thought  of, 
except  by  a  very  hw.  Their  stock 
roams  at  large  in  the  woods,  summer 
and  winter — the  eows  sleep  in  the  laD« 
and  the  hogs  make  their  own  living  by 
rooting — except  an  ear  of  corn  occa- 
sionally, to  let  them  know  where  bomd 
is.     In  short,  they  are  farmera  of  tUe 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


91 


old  school.  The  idea  never  entered 
their  heads  that  iheir's  is  an  exhausting 
and  not  an  improving  system,  or  at 
any  rate  they  never  think  of  any  reme- 
dy. Already  the  broomsedge  begins 
lo  wave  over  some  of  these  beautiful 
lands,  where  but  a  few  years  ago  loam 
ed  the  wild  savage  and  his  game. 

The  farmer,  in  these  days  of  steam 
and  eleclriciiy,  must  not  stand  still. — 
The  notion  thai  mind  has  nothing 
lo  do  with  his  pursuits,  musi  be  aban- 
doned. He  must  not  depend  too  much 
upon  his  own  knowledge  of  farming. — 
must  quit  laughing  at  book  farming — 
must  find  out  that  books  are  nol  made 
exclusively  for  luwyers,  doctors  and 
pieachers;  but  that  there  are  buoLs  be- 
longing to  his  C7'aft,  which  he  must 
make  the  acquaintatiCe  of,  if  he  would 
make  a  respectable  member  of  his  pio- 
fession.  The  farmer's  profession  is  cer- 
tainly a  leauied  one — taxing  all  bis 
powers  of  mind  if  he  would  comprehend 
It — a  noble  employment,  and  a  delight- 
ful one  when  thus  followed  as  an  intel- 
lectual pursuit.  A  scituce  unexplored 
— vast  truths  locked  up  in  the  aicana 
if  nature,  which  lime  and  mind  alone 
of  the  highest  order  can  render  availa- 
ble to  the  com.aion  horde.  And  tho 
gullied  hill-sides  and  acres  of  broom- 
sedge  and  piney  fields  iu  Georgia,  are 
proof  enough  that  these  secrets  ought 
10  be  in  the  possession  of  the  common 
horde.  Old  mother  earth  has  been 
sacrificed,  skinned  and  bled  long 
enough  by  ignorance,  and  the  farmer 
in  these  days  of  energy  and  enterprise, 
who  remains  ignorant  and  makes  no 
effort  to  avail  himself  of  such  means  of 
information  as  a  good  agricultural 
newspaper  affords,  is  decidedly  an  old 
Jogy — not  a  conservative    one  either 


but  a  destructive  one — neither  tiue  t© 
himself,  his  children  or  his  country. 

Some  of  your  agricultural  talkers 
ought  to  come  up  into  this  couniry  and 
preach  a  crusade  against  antiquaied  no- 
tions. As  for  my  Individ unl  self,  I  Ao 
not  carry  out  all  the  good  notions  I  get 
oui  of  papers  and  books;  neitiier  doe* 
any  man  do  half  as  well  as  be  knows. 
None  of  us  d'scharge  our  duty,  but  an 
approximate  knowledge  of  our  duty  en- 
ables us  to  approximate  towards  it* 
performance.  The  laimer  thai  runs 
hulfhisland  in  corn  and  coitoii,  and 
the  other  huifin  wheat  and  oal^,  with- 
out either  buying  manure  or  making  it, 
ought  to  know  better.  It  is  his  dutj 
to  know  belter.  It  is  his  interest /od^ 
l<etier.  But  Messrs  Editors,  I  beg 
pardon.  I  took  my  seat  merely  to  ask 
you,  for  and  in  consideration  of  the 
above  mentioned  dollar,  lo  foiwaid  tb* 
Cullivatoi-  for  1853,  to  your  humbi* 
servant.  H.  B.  0. 

Lafayette,  Walker  Cq  ,  Geo  ,  1853. 


Honor  and  Profit  of  Industry. 

The  honorable  position  of  the  labor- 
ing occupations  of  man  is  a  strikini^ 
feature  of  our  age.  Perhnps  at  n© 
former  period  was  ihis  so  eminently  the 
the  rase.  And  it  is  an  encouraging 
fe.-iture  of  the  pge, — one  full    of  hope. 

The  world  has  been  too  long  gov- 
erned by  a  false  notion  cf  aristocracy" 
in  reference  to  labor,  idleness,  efTemi- 
nacy,  and  luxury,  have  ra<?t  -vith  twe 
silly  devotees.  Now  they  are  laughed 
at  and  despised.  One  can  suiFer  ni» 
greater  reproach  than  to  have  it  said 
ot  him  ihal  he  does  nothing.  He  ai 
once  takes  rank  with  "fashionable  gam- 
blers," sometimes  termed  "gentiemea 
of  leisure." 


tH^  PARMER'S  JOURNAL, 


These  effeminaie  gentlemen,  who 
are  sometimes  wont  lo  boust  of  their 
ancestry,  forget — possibly  they  never 
knew — that  the  greatest  of  men  have 
fceen  trained  up  to  "work  with  their 
hands."  God  ordained  that  man  should 
live  by  labor.  It  is  a  law  of  our  being, 
mental  as  well  as  phyica),  that  there 
is  no  development  without  labor.  Ac- 
tivity, health,  strength,  and  intelli- 
gence, can  live  only  in  a  being  of  an 
active  life. 

Our  greatest  men,  in  all  ages,  have 
been  active,  working  men.  Burns  was 
a  plow  boy ;  Ben  Johnson  was  a  brick- 
iayer  ;  Franklin  a  printer  ;  Roger  Sher- 
man was  a  shoemaker ;  and  Washing- 
ton was  a  farmer.  We  might  multi- 
ply a  bright  host  of  names  illustrative 
of  this  fact. 

Our  age  is  an  age  of  action^  and 
none  can  claim  exemption  from  some 
active  pursuit.  And  we  are  rejoiced 
that  it  is  so.  It  will,  in  the  end,  ban- 
ish all  false  distinctions  in  society ; 
and  nothing  will  give  greater  strength 
to  our  national  character  than  this 
healthy  public  sentiment  in  reference 
to  the  honor  and  profit  of  industry. — 
Ohio  Farmer. 


way  of  illustration  :  A  farmer  having 
purchased  a  cov»  from  a  county  abouiid* 
ing  in  the  richest  pasturaoe,  upon  ta- 
king her  to  hia  own  inferior  pistures, 
found  that  she  fell  short  o(  the  yield 
which  he  was  informed  she  had  been 
accustomed  lo  give.  He  oomplaiiied 
to  the  gentleman  of  whom  he  had  pur- 
chased, that  the  cow  was  not  the  one 
he  bargained  for,  or  in  other  words  that 
she  was  ''ctacked  up  to  be."  "  Why,'* 
said  the  seller.  "I  sold  jou  my  cow.  but 
did  not  sell  you  my  pasture,  too." 

The  above,  which  we  cut  from  an 
exchange,  reminds  us  of  the  reply  which 
a  shrewd  old  farmer,  whom  we  knew 
many  years  ago,  made,  to  one  of  his 
neighbors.  The  latter  haa  obtained 
some  pigs  of  a  man  residing  some  miles 
off,  and  who,  because  intelligent,  was 
always  very  successful  in  his  farming 
operations,  particularly  surpajsmg  his 
neighbors  in  raising  pork.  Shortly  af- 
ter, meeting  the  old  gentleman  referred 
to,  he  says:  "Well,  Mr.  Sweetsir,  I'm 
going  to  bef.t  you  in  raising  bogs  this 

year.    I  have  got  some  of  J M — '3 

breed."  "A-a-ah,"  drawled  out  the  old 
man,  "you'd  be-etter  get  the  breed  of 
his  bo-og-trough. 


A  Hint  to  the  Farmer. 

We  may  send  to  England  for  Dur- 
ham cows,  and  to  Spain  or  Saxony  for 
the  choicest  sheep  ;  we  may  .«;earch  the 
world  over  for  cattle  that  please  the 
eye ;  but  unless  they  receive  the  best 
care  and  liberal  feeding  they  will  most 
assuredly  deteriorate  and  eventually  be- 
<some  as  worthless  and  unworthy  of  pro- 
pagation as  any  of  the  skeleton  breeds 
ihat  now  haunt  our  rich  but  neglected 
pasture-lands.  We  remember  an  an- 
ecdote in  point,  and  will  relate  it  by 


Leaks  to  be  Stopped. 

Messrs.  Editors: — No  doubt  during 
your  perambulations  through  the  coun- 
try, you  have  noticed  (especially  if 
these  travels  took  place  in  the  spring 
of  the  year,)  many  leaks  to  the  "farm- 
ers' gold  mine,"  the  barn-yard  and 
manure  heap.  You  will  see,  go  in 
what  direction  you  please,  yards  so  sit- 
uated that  the  heavy  rams  in  March,  or 
the  first  part  of  April,  together  with 
the  rapid  melting  away  of  the  snow, 
causes  the  better  part  of  the  mauura 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


m 


to  run  off  ill  golden,  odorous  sli earns 
into  the  highvvKy,  and  along  said  high- 
Way  to  Sdine  rivuie'.,  thence  to  some 
pond,  or  spread  over  lands  where  it  is 
least  required. 

I  have  spen  farmers  (our  big  farmers, 
too.  if  acres  will  merit  the  appellatii;n,) 
permit  their  stock  to  go  one  fourth  of  a 
mile  or  more  to  got  their  daily  supply 
of  waier,  and  ihis  too,  in  the  highway, 
thereby  loosing  much  manure  which 
should  be  left  in  the  yaid.  And,  an- 
other difficulty  ,  cattle  will  become 
Tery  thirsty,  many  times,  before  they 
will  go  for  vi'aler,  on  account  of  the  se- 
verity of  the  weather,  and  when  they 
do  go,  they  will  drink  until  they  are 
chilled  and  uncorafortable.  A  remedy 
for  this  has  been  heretofore  suggested 
in  the  Rural,  and  many  have  provided 
themselves  with  it,  and  mavy  have  not; 
perhaps  never  will.  If  self-interest  and 
the  attribute  of  mercy,  (for  "a  merciful 
man  is  merciful  to  his  beast,")  and  line 
upon  line,  and  precept  upon  precept 
will  not  do  it,  what  will  ? 

The  folly  of  all  this  waste  is  appa- 
rent to  any  provident  farmer.  For 
from  this  mine  flows  all  his  wealth  : 
and  if  properly  worked,  many  are  the 
blessings  consequent  thereon  ;  if  neg- 
lected and  permitted  to  run  to  waste 
he  vvill  soon  find  his  ship  in  a  perilous 
condition,  and  his  hide-bound  pocket- 
book  crying  with  the  empty  belly-ache. 
What  would  be  thought  of  the  comman- 
der of  a  ship,  who.  having  discovered 
a  leak,  should  neglect  to  stop  itwhen  a 
little  effort  would  do  so,  and  thus  save 
both  crew  and  cargo  ?  To  all  this 
improvidence,  I  say,  stop  thai  leak.  Im- 
itate the  example  of  brave  Perry,  on 
Lake  Erie,  who  discovered  a  leak,  and 
as  the  song  has  it, 

"He  off  with  his  coat,  and  plugged  up  the  boat, 
And  away  through  sulphur  and  fire  did  steer." 


If  you  cannot  stop  it  by  mason  work 
and  absorbents,  such  as  straw,  leaves 
from  the  forest.  muck,&c,  change  the 
site  of  your  yard.  By  all  means,  st'Op 
that  leak.  S.  Eaton. 

Rural  JSeio  Yorker.'] 

Feeding  Bees. 

Mk.  Editor: — Within  the  last  few- 
years,  an  increasing  interest  in  the  pub- 
lic mind  has  been  manifested  on  tbe 
subject  of  keeping  and  managing  bees. 
Nor  is  it  a  matter  of  surprise,  in  view  of 
the  pleasure  and  profit  derived  from  this 
branch  of  labor.  To  examine  with  care, 
the  nature  and  habits  of  this  industrious 
little  insect,  and  to  afford  them  tliose  lit- 
tle attentions  they  require  for  their  pro- 
duction and  comfort,  is  a  very  agreeabfe 
pastime. 

When  judiciously  mananaged,  there 
is  no  hazard  in  saying  that  there  is  no 
branch  of  business  that  will  give  an 
equal  income,  in  proportion  to  the  capi- 
tal invested.  Bees  maj'-  be  managed  so 
as  to  give  very  large  profit. 

But  they  must  be  managed,  and  not 
left  to  take  care  for  themselves.  No  bu- 
siness can  be  profitable,  if  neglected. 

Feeding  has  been  resorted  to,  to  some 
extent,  within  a  few  years.  W^hen  done 
understandingly,  there  is  no  doubt  of  its 
utility. 

But  it  has  been  cracked  up  too  highly 
and  in  some  instances,  carried  too  far. 

Unsuitable  food  has  been  given.  And 
sometimes  feeding  has  been  commenced 
without  suitable  regard  to  the  season,  or 
the  condition  of  the  colony.  The  result 
has  been,  the  colonies  have  been  untimelj 
injured,  and  the  owners  have  suffered 
loss.  A  colony  short  of  food  in  the  win- 
ter or  spring,  should  be  fed  suflScientlj 
to  give  them  an  ample  supply  in  the  ia- 


M 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


terior  of  tlie  hive,  but  not  enough  to  en- 
tirely fill  the  comb. 

Many  persons  experienced  in  the  man- 
agement of  bees,  are  of  the  opinion  that 
if  over  fed  they  will  entirely  fill  the 
Mve,  not  exceeding  the  brood  comb,  and 
thereby  prevent  the  increase  of  the  col- 
ony. And  if  they  do  not  multiply  they 
will  soon  run  out.  Therefore  compara- 
tively little  feeding  should  be  done,  un- 
til the  swarming  season  is  pretty  well 
over. 

The  season  for  gathering  honey  from 
flowers  to  any  considerable  extent,  is  very 
short;  and  during  that  short  season,  the 
practice  of  feeding  exclusively,  is  ques- 
tionable. 

But  from  swarming  time  until  cold 
weather,  feeding  may  be  carried  on  with 
energy.  And,  indeed,  during  cold  wea- 
ther it  may  be  done  with  some  success, 
by  carrying  them  into  a  warm  room. — 
Yet  there  are  doubts  whether  much  can 
!>«  done  profitably,  beyond  filling  their 
empty  comb. 

It  is  not  mere  theory,  but  a  settled 
fact,  that  feeding  is  of  utility.  It  may 
be  made  profitable.  A  young  swarm 
by  the  use  of  feeding, .may  be  filled  once, 
and  become  a  strong  colony,  but  the  pre- 
«wution  should  be  made  when  full,  to  re- 
move the  feeder,  and  give  them  a  chance 
to  increase,  and  to  lay  in  a  supply  of 
bread.  Swarms  that  would  perish  in  win- 
ter for  want  of  honey,  with  a  few  shil- 
lings worth  of  feed  may  be  preserved, 
and  become  strong  and  valuable  colo- 
nies. 

With  the  use  of  the  feeder,  at  a  com- 
paratively small  expense,  the  apiarian 
ms y  fill  all  his  hives  with  a  cheap  and 
■wholesome  food,  late  in  the  fall,  and  as 
a  consequence  the  bees  will  commence 
lining  the  boxes  with  the  precious  honey 


much  earlier  the  following  seasi^n ;  anci 
while  they  would  be  filling  the  empty 
comb  in  the  interior  of  the  hive,  they 
will  be  at  work  in  the  boxes. 

By  selecting  the  strong  well  establish- 
ed colonies  and  applying  the  feeder 
large  quantities  of  excellent  honey  foi* 
domestic  use  may  be  obtained.  In  view 
of  the  above  facts,  we  say  again,  "Feed- 
ing bees  is  of  utility.  It  may  be  made 
profitable." 

Yet  we  would  not  have  any  one  ex- 
pect to  make  a  large  fortune  at  once  in 
this  business.  Men  in  their  business 
transactions,  and  schemes  of  labor,  look 
for  a  remunerating  profit.  We  claim 
for  this  business  a  large  remunerating 
profit,  for  the  amount  of  labor  and  capi- 
t  il  invested. — Granite  Farmer. 


Facts  about  Digestion. 

Many  popular  notions  about  different 
articles  of  food  (and  there  a,re  few  sub- 
jects upon  which  people  indulge  more 
noiions.)  are  totally  disproved  by  scien- 
tific fdcis.  We  proprse  to  write  down 
a  few  well  established  truths  respecting 
the  relative  quantity  of  iiutii[nent  in 
(iifi'erent  kinds  of  food  and  lise  relative 
time  occupied  in  their  digesiion. 

In  the  first  place,  however,  we  would 
remind  our  readers,  that  it  is  by  no 
means  the  ariicle  containing  the  great- 
est proportion  of  nutritious  substance, 
which  takes  soonest  the  form  of  blood 
and  other  necessary  elements  of  animal 
life.  Neither  is  the  most  physical 
strength  supplied  by  the  ariicle  contain 
ing  the  most  nutriment.  Nuts  aie  al 
most  entirely  coBspo^ed  of  nutrit  oui- 
material,  oil ;  potatoes  contain  eighty- 
eight  parts  of  wasted  matter  to  twelve 
of  nutriment.  Yet  the  latter  impart 
far  mere  strength  to  the  body  than  the 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


95 


forme''.  BiRad  is  more  nutritious  than 
meal ;  but  meat  is  stimulating  as  well  as 
nutritive,  and  is  supposed  lo  s'-rengthnr- 
slie  bodily  functions  more  tbaa  bread. 

Another  important  fact  to  remember 
in  this  cjnneclion  is,  that  all  stomachs 
tre  not  alike,  and  thiU  the  circulation* 
viven  below  are  applicable  to  a  healthy 
itomach.  What  proportion  of  healthy 
stomachs  there  are  in  the  world,  we  do 
not  know;  but  the  probability  is,  that 
n  the  mijonty  of  cases,  food  is  not  di- 
gested as  rapialy  as  here  staled.  In 
some  stomach"',  food  of  particular  kind 
ferments,  which  interferes  with  com- 
plete digestion.  This  happens  most 
'requenily  with  regard  lo  vegetables — 
law  dust  doctors  to  the  contrary  not- 
withstanding. 

In  general,  however,  the  mos<.  nutri- 
ious  and  the  most  easily  digested,  are 
the  best  for  health  and  strength. 

Wheat  is  the  most  nutritious  of  all 
substances  except  oil ;  containmg  nine- 
ty-five parts  of  nutriment  to  five  nt 
waste  matter.  Dry  peas,  nuts  and  bar- 
ley, are  nearly  as  nutritious  as  wheat. 
Garden  vegetables  stand  lowest  on  the 
hst,  in  OS  much  as  they  contain,  whea 
fresh,  a  large  portion  of  water.  The 
quantity  of  waste  matter  is  more  than 
eight-tenihs  of  the  whole.  Only  one 
fortieth  of  a  cucumber  is  capable  of  be- 
ing converted  into  nutriment.  The 
nutritious  part  of  the  different  meats 
varies  from  one-fifth  to  one-eighth  of 
the  whole.,  Veal  is  the  most  nutritious  ; 
mutton  next ;  then  chicken  ;  then  beef; 
last  poik.  Fruits  vary  between  two 
and  three-tenths  of  nutritious  matter, 
and  their  order  is  as  foiIows,the  most 
nutritious  being  placed  first:  plumbs, 
^^rapes,     apricots,     cherries,    peaches, 

ooseberries,  apples,  strawberries,  meN 


ons.  Milk  contains  less  than  one-tenth 
of  nutritious  matter,  as  it  is  maiulj 
composed  of  wattr. 

Of  all  the  articles  of  food,  boiled  rice 
is  digested  in  the  shortest  time — an 
hour.  As  it  also  contains  eight-tenths 
of  nutritious  maiter,  it  is  a  valuable 
substance  for  diet,  'i'ripe  and  pig'* 
feet  (strange  to  tell)  are  digested  almosi 
as  rapidly.  Apples,  if  sweet  and  ripe, 
ara  ne.xt  in  order.  Venison  is  digest- 
ed almost  as  soon  as  apples.  Roasted 
potatoes  are  digested  in  half  the  time 
required  for  the  fame  vegetables  boil 
ed,  which  occupy  three  hours  and  a 
half — more  than  beef  or  mutton  ! — 
Bread  occupies  three  hours  and  a  quar- 
ter. S.ewed  oysters  and  boiled  e;j;g8 
are  di^^ested  in  three  hours  and  a  half 
— an  hour  more  than  is  required  by  the 
same  articles  raw.  Turkey  and  goo  e 
are  convened  in  two  hours  and  a  half — 
an  hour  and  a  half  sooner  than  chicken. 

Koasted  veal,  pork  and  salted  beef 
occupy  five  hours  and  a  half — the  long- 
est of  articles  of  food. — Hartford  Re- 
view. 

Longevity  or  Farmers. — It  appears 
from  the  Massachusetts  registry  of 
births  and  deaths  for  1852,  that  the  du- 
ration of  the  lives  of  agriculturists  was 
13  years  above  the  general  average, 
nearly  19  above  that  of  common  labor- 
ers, and  19  per  cent,  above  the  averag© 
age,  at  death,  of  mechanics. 

A  sentimental  cbapin  Rhode  Island 
intends  to  petition  Congress,  at  its  next 
session,  for  an  appropriation  to  improvit 
the  channels  of  affection,  so  that  hence- 
forth the  "course  of  true  love  may  rua 
smooth," 


^ 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Industry  Essential. — If  you  are  not 
possessed  of  brilliant  talents,  you  can  at 
least  be  industrious ;  and  tbis,  witb  stea- 
dy perseverance,  will  compensate  for 
many  intellectual  fiifts.  Tbe  bistory  of 
almost  every  really  eminent  man,  no  mat- 
ter in  wbat  pursuit  be  lias  signalized 
himself  and  served  mankind,  abounds 
Tvitb  proofs  that  to  industry,  fully  as  mucb 
m  to  genius,  bave  all  really  great  human 
achievements  been  attributable.  Great 
scholars,  for  instance,  have  always  been 
not  merely  laborious,  but  they  have  also 
studied  both  methodically  and  regularly; 
tJiey  have  had  for  every  portion  of  the 
■day  its  proper  and  allotted  study,  and  in 
nowise  would  they  allow  any  one  portion 
of  time  to  be  encroached  upon  by  the 
study  to  which  another  portion  was  es- 
pecially appropriated,  in  their  fixed  plan 
of  action. 


HOME  MAlVUFACTUiaii. 

LET  every  ^True  North  Carolinian  throw 
his  might  into  the  hands  of  our  own 
Mechanics,  and  by  tliis  means,  with  our  Ag- 
ricultural advancement,  we  are  bound  to 
become  an  independent  people.  So  let  the 
citizens  of  Edgecombe,  and  the  neighbouring 
counties,  call  and  examine  the  magnificent 
stock  of 

F  U  R  N  I  T IJ  R  E  , 

^hich  is  offered  for  sale  at  F.  L>.  Bond's 

Furniture  Stors,  in  Tarboro',  consisting  ofthe 
following  articles,  viz  : 

Ladies'  Marble  and  Mahogany  Top  Dres- 
sing Bureaus ;  Ladies  Marble  Top  Wash 
Stands ;  Sideboardsand  Plain  Bureaus;  Ward 
Robes  and  Book  Cases ;  Sofas  and  Mahogany 
Rocking  Chairs;  Mahogany  and  Walnut 
Tables ;  Tete-a-tetes  and  Divans ;  Mahogany, 
French,  and  Cotta<je  Bedsteads  ;  Stationary 
and  Portable  Writing  Desks ;  Wood  and 
Cane  Seat  Rocking  Chairs  ;  Office,  Windsor, 
^ane  and  Rush  Bottom  Chairs  ;  a  large  as- 
sortment of  cheap  Bed  Steads  ;  Wash  Stands 
and  Candle  Stands ;  China  Presses,  various 
patterns  ;  also,  a  few  Nymphs  and  Nuptials* 

Old  Furniture  and  Sofas  repaired  and  made 
to  look  as  good  as  new.  Old  Bachelors  ren- 
ovated in  such  a  style  as  will  make  them 
accessible  to  the  smiles  of  young  ladies  and 

old  M s  at  least.     Furniture  kept  on  hand 

to  suit  any  age  or  sext. 

Now  one  word  to  the  public  What  is  life 
to  any  one,  if  they  do  not  avail  themselve  of 
the  comforts  and  conveniences  that  are  offered 
for  sale  at  F.  L.  BOND'S  Ware  Room  ?  An 
•xamination  by  the  public  is  earnestly 
flolicited  F.  L.  B. 

Tarboro',  N.  C. 


THE  subscriber  will  give  any  special  ad'- 
vice  to  Farmers,  by  their  addressing  hinj 
and  giviBg  a  description  of  their  farms.  Hi« 
charge  will  be  moderate.  He  will  mak* 
analysis  of  soils  and  marls,  and  write  out  tbe 
analysis  for  application  of  manures. 
For  analysis  of  soils,  -  -  -  |5  OO 
Writing  out  analysis,      -        -        .  6  OW 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL 
Is  published  monthly,  at   $1  per  annum,  in 
advance  ;  six  copies  for  §5 ;  twelve  copies  for 
S.10  ;  thirty  copies  for  1 20, 

Advertisements. — A  limited  number  of 
advertisements  will  be  inserted  at  the  follow- 
ing rates  :  For  one  square  of  twelve  lines,  for 
each  insertion,  $1 ;  one  square,  per  annum, 
$10 ;  half  column,  do.,  $30  ;  one  column,  do., 
§50;  larger  advertisements  in  proportion. 
JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS, 
Editor  and  Proprietor,  Bath,  N.  C. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

'  -av,  < 

Page. 

The  Report  of  Prof  Emmons, 

65 

Edgecombe  as  she  is— and  Edgecombe 

as  she  was  five  years  ago,  by  "Alpha," 
Communication  by  "Old  North  State,"' 

73 

T» 

Analysis  of  the  Soils, 

78 

Carbon, 

80 

Agricultural  Address, 

80 

To  those  who  send  us  Money  hy  Lett«r, 

80 

Our*thanks, 

80 

To  the  Friends  of  Agricultural  LnproTe- 

ment  in  North  Carolina, 

81 

The  present  Number  of  our  Paper, 

81 

Cure  for  Founder  of  the  Horse, 

81 

Faimers,  do  not  turn  your  Stock  upon 

your  Fields, 

82 

Farmers,  raise  your  own  Horses  and 

Mules, 

83 

Ashes  as  a  Manure, 

83 

The  Cultivation  of  Fruit  Trees  in  North 

Carolina, 

84 

The  Sorovful  Tree, 

84 

The  Farmei-'s  Libraiy, 

85 

AgriculUiral  Schools— Experfaiente,  &.C., 

85 

Farmer's  Gardens, 

86 

Wood  Ashes  as  a  Manure, 

87 

Right  and  Proper, 

88 

Liquid  Manures, 

89 

Bam- Yard  Manures, 

89 

A  word  to  Progressing  Farming, 

90 

lienor  and  Profit  of  industry. 

91 

A  Hint  to  Fanners, 

93 

Leaks  to  be  Stopped, 

92 

Feeding  Bees, 

^„ 

Facts  about  Digestion, 

M 

Longevity  of  Farmers, 

9.5 

Industry  Essential, 

96 

THE  FARIEE'S  JOUENAL. 


VOL.  2. 


BATH,  N.  C,  JULY,  1853. 


m.  4, 


JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D.,  Editor  and  Proprietor. 


The  Report  of  Professor  Emmons. 

UEANINO  of  the   word    IMPEOVKMENT. — CCMPO- 
3ITI0iV   OF   SHELL  MARL,    &C. 

(Conclusion) 

The  marl  strata  reappear  atTauboro', 
at  many  points ;  sometimes  on  the  river 
'banks,  and  sometimes  in  the  banks  of 
creeks.  One  of  the  important  beds  is 
near  the  village,  and  belongs  to  Mr.  Bul- 
lock. 

The  section  which  contains  the  marl,  is 
made  up  of — 

1.  Sand  which  extends  below  the  wa- 

ter of  the  creek. 

2.  Olay  with  lignite,  three  or  four  feet. 

3.  Marl,  seven  or  eight  feet. 

4.  Sand  and  clay  with  fossil,  or  only  a 

few  casts. 

5.  Sand,  gravel  and  soil. 

The  marl  is  intermixed  with  coprolites, 
a  few  bones,  and  water-worn  pebbles — 
Jnostly  at  the  bottom  of  the  bed.  There 
is  the  same  tendency  to  consolidation  as 
at  Rocky  Mount,  and  at  other  places  on 
the  NeUse  and  Cape  Fear  rivers:  The 
same  shells,  consisting  of  large  pectens, 
{Pecfen  Madisonius^)  Venus  difformis, 
and  two  or  three  species  of  Pectunculus. 
Masses  of  sulphuret  of  iron  are  not  un- 
common. 

The  'ffiarl  of  this  bed  is  composed  of — 
Sand  or  silex,  56.25 

Phosphate  of  lime  and  oxide  of 

iron  and  alumina,  7.50 

Carbonate  of  iron,  34.15 

Organic  matter  and  water,  2.10 


Magnesia, 


100.£6 


Mr.  Bridgend  Marl, 
It  win  be  observed,  that  rather  more 
than  one-half  must  be  set  down  as  useltss 
matter.  The  analysis  was  made  of  that 
portion  containing  the  small  bivalve 
shells,  and  as  many  of  the  shells  are  re- 
jected as  convenient;  there  will,  there- 
fore, be  more  lime  than  is  given  iu  the 
analysis  by  three  or  four  per  cent.  It  is, 
perhaps,  unnecessary  to  remark,  that  the 
finer  the  material  the  better;  that  the  mail 
with  small  bibalves  is  better  than  the 
marl  with  large  ones.  The  latter  when 
abundant  is  belter  for  quick  lime: 

Mr.  Knight's  marl  bed  is  three  milts 
from  the  village,  and  has  been  extensive- 
ly employed  in  marling ;  it  is  upcu  the 
banks  of  the  Tau. 

I  obtained  the  following  section  of  its 
beds: 

1.  Sand  and  gravel  at  the  river's  edge. 

2.  Sandy  marl. 

3.  Marl  with  shell,  six  feet. 

4.  Greenish  or  blue  clay,  six  feet,  cop.- 

taining  casts  of  shells  only. 
4.  Sand. 

The  whole  thickness  is  about  30  feet 
This  bed  has  furnished  many  large 
bones,  both  of  Saurians  and  land  quad- 
rupeds, principally  of  the  Mastodon. — 
This  bed  has  been  regarded  as  equal  to 
the  best  of  the  varieties  of  shell  mail — 
Sand  seems  to  be  a  constant  associate  of 


98 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


the  marls.  It  occurs  both  above  and  be- 
low the  stratum  of  shells.  In  this  re- 
spect there  is  a  general  uniformity  in  the 
marl  deposits  in  the  different  vallies — 
the  Caps  Fear,  the  Neuse,  and  the '  Tau. 
The  intermixture  of  sand  is  the  material 
"^hich  diminishes  its  value.  The  coarse 
shells,  as  the  large  scollops  and  clama,  to- 
gether with  certain  species  of  oyster,  con- 
stitute a  poor  kind  of  marl,  as  they  resist 
for  a  long  time  the  action  of  the  weath- 
Where  these  have  abounded,  I  have 


heard  unfavorable  reports  of  the  effects 
upon  the  soil;  or  at  least  the  advantages 
expected  were  not  realized.  This  all 
goes  to  show  the  importance  of  a  com- 
minution of  the  material ;  it  favors  sdu- 
bility.  Those  agents,  as  water  and  car- 
bonic acid,  act  with  more  energy,  and 
the  power  of  absorption  is  increased  in 
the  substances  themselves. 

§  27.  Where  the  coarser  marls  are  ne- 
cessarily employed,  the  advantages  of  a 
crasher  are  obvious.    Plaster  is  operative 
immediately,  because  it  is  ground  fine ; 
if  it  were  more  in  the  condition  of  coarse 
shot,  its  effects  would  not  be  apparent  on 
most  of  soils.     The  subject  of  comminu- 
tion is  one  of  considerable  interest  in  hus- 
bandry.    It  is   not   expected,   hov.-ever, 
that  soils  can  be  ground  or  comminuted, 
except  through  and  by  the  action  of  the 
weather.     The  marls  whicli  are  coarse, 
however,  when  made  into  compost,  will 
be  improved  materially,  especially  when 
this  compost  is  composed  of  organic  mat- 
ter, which  liberates  carbonic  acid.     Fre- 
quent stirring  is  .  also  important..    Ano- 
ther mode  is  by  the  appheation  of  jnarl. 
Exfoliation  of  the  large  shells  begins  at 
once;  the  loss  of  organic  matter  is  re- 
placed by  water,  aud  the  whole  becomes 
porous. .  One  fact  worthy  of  notice  is, 
that  mixtures  are  always  more  valuable 
than  simple  bodies ;  even  phosj:)h.ate  of 
lime  is  more  active  and  beneficial  wdien 
intermixed  with  materials  constituting  a 
compost,  or  intermingled  with  a  compost. 
The  constitution  of  man;  and  animals  re- 
quires mixture.     We  have  seen  that  the 
soil  is  eminently  a  compund  mas  s  ;  and 
when  food  is  taken  ino   the  stomach 
there  are  agents  which  assist  its  recep- 


tion in  large  quantities  into  the  systeirs. 
So  long  as  we  have  regard  to  the  neces- 
sities of  plants,  Ave  can  hardly  form  a 
m.ass  of  compost  too  complex  in  its  con- 
stitution, or  which  shall  consist  of  too 
ruixny  elements,  and  I  think  it  highly 
probable  that  many  failures  have  arisen 
from  neglecting  the  aid  to  be  derived 
from  intermixture, 

§  28.  The  marl  of  Mr.  Bullock's,  near 
Tauboro',  and  upon  his  home  pkntation, 
has  been  fairly  tested,  and  proves  valua- 
ble. 

The  section  of  the  slope  in  which  it 
occurs,  is  represented  by  the  following 
beds,  beginning  with  the  lowest : 


Sand. 

2.  Marl,  with  shells,  scollops,  &c.,  3  1-2 

feet. 

3.  Blue  compact  clay,  which  contain* 

decomposing  pyrites. 

4.  Sand  and  clay,  in  alternating  lay- 

ers, mostly  destitute  of  fossils,  5 
feet. 

5.  S'aad. 

The  blue  or  greenish  marl  of  Mr.  Bul- 
lock'%  plantation  has  the  following  com- 
position : 

Sand,  34.40 

Phospliate  of  lime  and  oxide  of 

iron,  3.20 

Carbonate  of  lime,  64.52 

Magnesia,  1.50 

Potash,  trace- 

Soda,  trace. 

Organic  matter^  4.88 

Water,  1^38 

99.88 
Mr.  Bullock's  plantation  consists  of 
rather  more  than  one  thousand  acres.  It 
lies  in  a  great  bend  of  the  Tau  river. — 
From  the  river  to  the  higher  ground, 
there  are  four  distinct  but  low  terraces. 
The  average  crop  of  seed  cotton  Is  about 
twelve  hundred  pounds.  The  mail  is, 
in  part,  composted ;  it  is  however,  allo-w-- 
ed  to  be  exposed  to  the  weather,  and  un- 
dergoes certain  i^iechanical  as  well  as 
chemical  changes  prior  to  us  \  Proba- 
bly, it  is  always  important  to  give  the 
marl  air,  as  it  may  be  termed,  before  it 
is  spread  upon  the  soil,  evea  if  V-o  m<i. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


90 


chanical  change  is  effected  by  it. 

Marl  which  is  a  year  old,  is  bettel"  than 
xvhen  first  taken  from  the  pit  and  spread 
immediately  upon  the  soil,  especially  if 
it  is  turned  over  three  or  four  times  dur- 
ing the  year. 

§  29.  The  improvements  of  the  Pano- 
la plantation,  under  the  direct  supervi- 
sion of  its  intelligent  proprietors,  Messrs. 
Xorflcet  &  Dancy,  exhibit  something  of 
the  spirit  which  pervades  Edgecombe. 

The  plantation  was  old,  and  was  pui"- 
ehased  for  1 15  per  acre,  and  consists  of 
1^08  acres,  550  of  which  is  now  under 
cultivation;^.  Its  former  proprietor  had 
pursued  the  system  of  rest  so  common 
in  the  South,  without  a  thought  of  pro- 
viding for  the  future,  when  the  most  va- 
luable parts  of  the  soil  had  been  converted 
into  corn,  cotton  and  bacon,  and  sold  in 
ii-distant  market.  Its  new  proprietors, 
on  making  this  purchase,  were  aware  that 
the  old  system  could  not  be  pursued,  and 
they  were  satisfied  that  the  only  system 
which  could  renovate  the  soil,  though 
<>riginal]y  good,  was  to  supply  an  ab;m- 
dance  of  fertilizers  or  manures.  .  The 
plantation  rises  in  three  or  four  toTaces 
from  the  river,  the  lowest  of  which  is  ot- 
iten  overflown  with  the  high  water  pf  the 
liver.  Log's,  flood  wood  and  trash  cover 
the  lower  terrace,  and  occupy  the  low 
ravines.  By  a  judicious  application  of 
the  for(;e  of  only  twelve  laborers,  three 
thousand  bushels  of  ashes  were  made  iu 
two  weeks  from  this  refuse  wood.  In  ad- 
dition to  this  important  fei-tilizer,  twenty 
thousand  loads  of  compost  were  made, 
consisting  of  cotton  seed,  stable  maniu'c 
and  river  se<liment,  and  the  muck  of 
■ditches.  Ample  means  were  taken  for 
draining,  by  a  free  opening  and  deepen- 
ing of  the  old  ditches.  The  main  body 
of  the  land  is  rolling,  the  higlier  parts 
are  sandy,  and  the  lower  formed  of  a 
clay  loam. 

The  points  worthy  of  notice,  are  the 
preparations  for  a  ])roductive  farming, 
and  the  expenditure  of  capital  for  this 
jpurpose ;  and  although  it  would  seem 
that  the  plantation  itself  had  furnished 
a  large  amount  of  material,  at  a  trifling 
■DOtjt,  still,  bones  and   g<K)no   were  also 


purchased  at  a  cost  of  $52  per  ton,  and 
bone  dust  at  50  cents  per  bushel  in  New 
Yorlc. 

§  30.  The  first  and  important  lesson 
which  the  agiiculturist  should  learn  is, 
that  he  must  supply  his  land  with  ma- 
nure, and  if  any  planter  will  calculate 
the  cost  of  a  full  supply  of  manure,  and 
then  the  cost  of  new  clearings  required  by 
tlie  old  system  of  husbandry,  he  will  find 
it  cheaper,  and  hence  more  economical 
to  make  and  buy  maniu-es  than  to  clear 
up  his  plantation  for  the  purpose  of 
cultivating  new  lands  and  those  which 
have  been  partially  restored  by  rest. — 
The  improvements  of  the  Panola  planta- 
tion do.  not  terminate  in  furnishing  an 
pie  supply  of  manures.  The  removal 
of  the  cabins  to  an  airy,  healthy  and 
central  position,  is  one  of  the  most  ini- 
portnnt  improvements.  The  arrange- 
ments too,  of  the  out-houses,  and  water- 
sinks  so  as  to  save  nitrogenous  matter 
with  their  phosphates,  is  another  step  in 
improvement  worthy  of  imitation  1  v 
otliers.  So  also,  it  is  made  the  special 
business  of  some  one  or  two  labcrei-s  to 
collect  all  n^atters  which  may  be  used  as 
a  fertilizer.  But  I  need  not  dwell  upon 
other  nuinutiaj  of  the  improvements  de- 
signed to  secure  in  the  end,  a  profitabie 
investment  of  capital.  Considered  in  the 
light  of  a  speculation  only,  it  does  not 
require  a  prophet's  vision  to  predict  tlie 
result. 

In  the  forgoing  remarks  I  have  liad 
in  view  the  fact,  that  information  of  vvhftt 
others  is  doing,  is  one  of  the  best  stin>" 
hints  to  improvement  by  others.  U  e 
most  important  results  will  be  brougiit 
about  by  the  successful  projects  of  enter- 
prising men,  v^hen  they  are  made  known. 
It  is  a  principle  which  apphes  to  all  pro- 
fessions. 

Now  the  season  having  passed  and  the 
crops  been  gathered  and  weighed, it  turns 
out  that  tire  cotton  fields  have  yielded 
one  bale  of  cotton  of  four  hundred  lbs. 
to  the.  acre,  which  the  year  before  did 
not  amount  to  one  half  of  that,  and  the 
corn  lands,  which  before  the  iraprov.j- 
ment  would  not  and  did  not  yield  throe 
banels  to  the  acre,  have  yielded,   tik 


100 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


year,  eight :  a  well  Marked  and  decided 
improvement.  Tlie  season  it  is  true,  lias 
been  favorable  and  it  ■skould  be  noticed 
in  making"  up  the  results. 

§  31.  I  have  one  more  remark  to 
make  in  this  connexion  :  it  relates  to  the 
effect  en  the  product  when  high  culti-, 
vation  is  ^resorted  to.  This  effect  is  of 
the  highest  consequence,  and  it  does  not 
end  with  a  simple  increase  of  product, 
but^lso  ia  a  product  of  a  better  qual- 
ity. We  probafely,  however,  understafiid 
the  mode  of  increasing  a  production  htt- 
ter  than  giving  it  -a  superior  quality.  The 
liiit  of  cotton  is  better  if  produced  by 
high  cultivation  than  by  an  indiffer- 
ent cultivation.  Indian  corn  is  better 
-when  the  land  is  supplied  sufficiently 
with  its  proper  food.  'It  is  light  if  it 
lacks  food  in  the  soil,  "Wheat  is  heavier 
by  three  or  four  pcKinds  to  the  bushel  if 
grovm  on  a  rich  soil.  Barley  is  sold  by 
weight,  for  different  soils  produce  a  grain 
lighter  and  more  chaffy  than  others. — 
Oats  vary  much  in  their  weight,  by  being 
grown  on  soils  differing  in  tiieir  lertility. 

•New  kinds  are  productive,  and  at  the 
same  time  give  a  superior  quality  of 
grain.  On  old  lands  there  is  a  diminu- 
tion of  weight  and  a  loss  in  the  quality 
of  the  product ;  there  is  more  offal.  At- 
tantioji  should  be  given  then  to  the  qual- 
ity of  the  cotton  as  well  as  to  the  quan- 
tity. The  planter  may  control  in  a  man- 
ner both  results,  or  in  other  words,  he 
may  mollfy  results  by  cultivation.  It 
is  well  known  that  cotton  requires  a  stift'- 
er  soil  than  corn.  The  principles  in- 
volved in  a  cultivation  of  these  two  sta- 
ples of  the  South  are  not  the  same.  The 
object  in  the "culd vation  of  cotton  is  the 
development  of  cellular  tissue.  I  do  not 
yet  know  the  precise  modes  by  which  we 
can  apply  principles  successfully  to  prac- 
tice. Yet  the  cellular  tissue  requires  for 
iis  development,  more  carbonate  of  lime 
than  phosphate  of  lime..  Analysis  of 
the  ditfcrent  tissues  proves  this.  If  this 
is  true  it  is  an  indication  that  the  marls 
are  adapted  especially  to  the  growth'  of 
cotton  ;  that  while  it  contains  some  phos- 
phate of  lime,  as  this  is  necessary  to  all 
tissues,  yet  the  lime  in  the  cellular  tissue 


is  furiiisked  originally  from  the  carbo- 
nate. 

Experiments  might  be  devised  for  test- 
ing  the  truth  of  these  views; — the  object 
being  to  increase  the  lint  and  improve  it* 
quality.  Has  any  attention  been  given 
to  the  selection  of  seed?— selecting  from 
the  field  the  seed  which  has  first  ripen- 
ed, and  which  has  given  the  longest^ 
finest,  and  most  silky  staple? 

The  marl  beds  of  the  Tau  river  are 
exposed  at  points  below  Tauboro,'  from 
Greenville  to  Washington. 

§  32.  At  Greenville  they  have  been 
successfully  used ;  they  belong  to  the 
middle  tertiary.  Just  below  Sparta  the 
left  bank  is  thirty  feet  high,  and  there  is 
exposed  a  remarkable  stratum  of  marl. — 
Above  Sparta  the  bank  is  too  low  k>  ex- 
pose it. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Greenville  the  marl 
beds  are  numerous.  Mr.  Brown's  bed 
exhibits  the  following  strata  : — 

1.  Sand  exposed  at  the  bottom. 

2.  Two  feet  of  sandy  clay. 

3.  Three  inches  of  ;yellow  sand. 

4.  Eight  feet  of  shell  marl  with  green- 

ish grains. 

5.  Sand  with  sandy  clay  of  a  green 

color. 
Mr.  Britton's  marl  exhibits  a  section 
quite  similar  to  the  above  : — 

1.  Green  indurated  sand. 

2.  Marl  six  to  seven  feet  thick. 

3.  Sandy  marl  one  foot. 

4.  Brick  clay  four  or  five  feet  thick. 

5.  Sand. 

This  marl  is  reddish  and  operates  fa- 
vorably and  quickly.  The  stratum  of  day 
occupying  this  position  is  not  uncom- 
mon. In  fact  it  is  almost  continuous 
over  the  whole  country,  though  it  is  not 
always  present  as  a  covering  to  the 
marl. 

A  bed  on  the  plantation  of  Mr.  Boyd 
in  the  same  neighborhood  is  about  fifteen     ! 
feet  thick ;  it  is  overlaid  by  a  band  of    ' 
yellow  clay  upon  which  there  is  sand  -five 
feet  thick.  ,! 

§  3S.  Six  miles  below  Greenville  is  | 
Dr.  ©ixon's  marl  bed,  which  had  just  | 
been  opened  at  the  time  of  my  visit.  It  j 
-is  blue  shelly  marl;  aiost  of  the  shells  • ; 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


lUl 


are  small  aad  the  mass  is  much  disinte- 
grated. 

The  strata  lie  in  the  following  order  : 

1.  Marl  fifteen  feet  thick — its  bottom 

not  certainly  exposed. 

2.  Blue  clay  three  inches. 

3.  White  loose  sand,  differing  Uit  lit- 

tle from  drifting  sand. 
This  marl  is  composed  of  the  follow- 
ing proportions  in  filty  grains  : 

Sand,  15.70 

Carbonate  of  lime,  27.30 

Phosphate  of  lime  and  oxide  of 

iron,  1.60 

Water,  1.69 

Magnesia,  11 

Potash,  trace. 

Organic  matter,  "2.94 


49,34 

In  the  banks  of  the  Tau  at  Greenville, 
numerous  flattened  masses  are  washed 
out  of  the  bank.  The  color  is  a  drab  or 
light  yellowish  brown.  They  are  fre- 
quently perforated  by  a  round  hole  ; — 
they  have  a  close  resemblance  to  the  or- 
dinary clay  stones.  Coprolites  are  asso- 
ciated with  them,  and  I  was  inclined  to 
regard  them  all  as  coprolites,  but  it 
proved  that  many  of  the  flattened  bodies 
are  not  coprolites.  Analysis  of  one  of 
them  gave  the  following  results: — 
Insoluble  matter,  .13 

Phosphate  of  lime,  1 4.50 

Carbonate  of  lime,  10.60 

Magnesia,  trace. 


25.13 
The  coprolites  have  always  given  pot- 
ash when  tests  are  applied.  These  sub- 
stances in  the  Greenville  beds  are  soft,  and 
unlike  coprolites  which  occur  o;n  the 
Cape  Fear  river.  They  are  unlike  them 
in  color  and  form,  Mo5t  of  them  are  in 
thin,  flattened  cakes,  not  much  unlike  a 
cracker  inform;  though  in  this . respect 
tjiere  19  mueh  diversity. 

The  country  around  Washington  is  to© 
low  to  give  good  exposures  of  sh^li  marl. 
It  is  however,  common  in  the  lowc  baflks, 
but  liable  to  be  overflowed. 

§  34.  Mr.  Myers'  marl  bed  giy>e3  the 
following  sectioni 


1.  Blue  marl. 

2.  Shelly  marl,  three  feet. 

3.  Red  marl,  eight  inches. 

4.  Brifk  clay. 
&  Sanl. 

Another  bed  upon  the  plantatioB  of 
the  sheritt'  of  the  county,  was  too  muck 
concealed  by  water  at  the  time  of  my 
visit.  A  specimen  of  the  marl  furnished 
for  analysis  gave  the  following  propor- 
tions: 

Water.  1-40 

Organic  matter,  2.70 

Sand,  28.30 

Phosphate  of  lime  and  oxide  of 

iron,  5.13 

Lime,  10.81 

Magnesia,  ,1  % 


48.45 
The  analysis  contains  less  lime  than 
was  expected.  The  shelly  portions  were 
rejected  in  part ;  which,  had  they  been 
included,  would  have  given  a  larger  per 
centage  of  lime.  The  efi"ects  as  they 
have  appeared  upon  trial,  were  remarka- 
bly good  and  satisfactoiy.  The  absence 
of  high  banks  increases  the  labor  and  ex- 
pence  of  raising  the  ma;-!. 

I  took  occasion  to  visit  Jones  county 
on  my  return  from  the  examination  of 
the  State  lands  in  Carteret.  The  Hon, 
Mr.  Donnell  of  Newborn,  accompanied 
me,  and  laid  me  under  many  obligations 
for  the  iuformatioa  received  of  the  coun- 
try.    ^ 

This  county  has  an  undulating  surface; 
the  soil  has  more  clay  than  Edgecombe 
or  Pitt,  The  foundation  for  the  highest 
improvement  in  agriculture  exists  in  its 
soil.  Less  cotton  is  cultivated  than  in 
Edgecombe  5  but  when  cultivated,  it  is 
not  difficult  to  raise  the  produce  to  six- 
teen hundred  pounds  of^eed  cotton  pes 
acre.  Marl  of  a  peculiar  kind  exists  in 
the  waters  of  Rainbow  ereek  and  on  the 
banks  of  Milter's  cseek..  The  maii  i« 
formed  of  the  dcMs  of  exceedingly  large 
oyster-shells,  some  of  which  are  fourteen 
inches  long  and  one  and  a  half  inches 
Ihipk.  They  sometimes  weigh  sax  and 
^even  pounds.  The  surface  diell*are  de- 
composing ;  those  deep  in  tka  hediB  are 


102 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


quite  sound.  The  maii  however,  of  thesa 
beds  is  less  valuajblo  tlian  when  com- 
posed of  small  shells.  The  testimony  of 
those  who  have  been  acquainted  with  ils 
use  is  of  a  negative  kind  ;  but  still  I 
could  not  learn  all  the  circumstances  at- 
tending^ its  application.  At  Polloksviile 
oa  the  Trent,  this  marl  appears  in  ita 
banks  and  presents  tlie  following  section : 
■  1.  Sand. 
'     2.  Oyster  bed. 

3.  Sand. 

4.  Oyster  bed. 
6.  Sand. 

It  is  about  twenty  feet  to  the  second 
bad  of  oysters.  Beneath  these  beds  is 
the  lime  rock  of  the  country,  consisting 
of  consolidated  marl,  having  the  same 
chS,]-acters  as  that  upon  the  Trent  near 
x^ev/bern.  In  many  places  its  purity  is 
such  that  it  makes  a  good  lime  ;  in  others 
it  is  sandy  and  makes  a  v/eak  lime. 

§  35.  The  marl  of  Little  Contentnea 
<a-eek  possesses  the  same  characteristics 
a.s  that  of  the  Tau  and  Neuse. 

For  tlio  opportunity  of  making  the  ex- 
amination of  Little  Contentnea,  Tossnot, 
aiid  a  part  of  Nash  county,  I  am  indebt- 
ed to  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Myei-s,  of  Wash- 
ington, President  of  the  Greeuviiie  and 
Raleigh  Plank  Road. 

The  marl  upon  the  plantation  of  BIr. 
Streeter  v/a;5  too  much  conceaieu  by  war 
ter  to  admit  only  a  slight  examination. 
The  fossils  however,  proved  the  deposits 
to  be  of  the  middle  tertiary.  The  large 
Pectunculus  and  Venus  difformis,  com- 
mon at  other  places,  were  observed  among 
otlier  common  fossils  of  th-e  foj'mation. 

Tho  beds  upon  the  plantation  of  Mr. 
May  were  al^so  covered  v»ith  water.' — 
These  in  part  were  sandy,  and  a 
specimen  gave  only  a  SKiall  [ler  centage 
ot  lime  in  the  analysis. 

As  for  .example:^ 

Sand  mvl  siiica,  8li!0 

Phosphate  of  lime  and  oxide  of 
iron,       '  8.00 

Magmsia,  ts-ace. 

Carbonate  of  HinC^  5=60 

V^Tator-,  1.20 

O'rganic  mattea*,  9.60 

<r,i*  i"  >  .        .  .  •     ' 


Potash, 


traee.. 


98.m 
This  marl,  as  poor  as  it  is,  containing.' 
less  than  twenty  per  cent,  of  availab^i 
matter,  has  increased  the  crops,  according 
to.  the  statement  of  Mr.  May,  fourfold. — ^ 
It  is  probable  however,  that  this  satopks 
is  not  an  average  of  the  marl  stratuteJ 
The  soil  of  Mr.  May  is  sandy,  at  least  -cfi! 
parts  of  the  plantation.  '  J 

§  36.  The  marl  of  Col.  Barnes  upoa" 
the  Tossnot,  is  similar  to  that  upon  thm 
plantation  of  Mr.  Ham,  near  Goldsboro'* 
It  is  the  blue  marl  intermixed  with  innur^ 
merable  small  bivalve  shells,  which  hai* 
become  very  thoroughly  decomposed. — 
The  bed  is  eleven  feet  thick  covered  vrkh 
a  stratum  of  sand  five  feet  thick.  ' 

§  37.  The  deposits  of  marl  upon  th:« 
Roanoke  are  no  less  important  than  upoia 
the  Tau,  Neuse  and  Cape  Fear.  My  ex- 
aminations were  confined  chiefly  to  Hali- 
fax county.  The  beds  considered  aa  Qii« 
foi-mation,  consist  of  the  following  rassa- 
bers : 

1.  Layers    of   decomposed    rock? — ^3 

coarse  mica  slate. 

2.  Marl  loaded  with  fossils,  five  feet 

3.  Marl  of  a  green  color,  vi^ith  only  a 

few  sherif.,  eiglit  to  ten  feet. 

4.  Blue  clay,  from  ten  to  fifteen  feet 

thick. 

5.  Reddish  clay,  two  feet.  ' 

6.  Gravel,  fine  and  coarse,  twenty  fo^. 

7.  Gmy  sands  and  loam. 

The  marl  lies  deep  and  is  exposed  onlf 
in  ravines.  It  is  attended  with  much  ex- 
pense in  raising  it.  Mr.  Pope  of  Ilali^ 
tax  haa  used  it  upon  his  plantation,  and 
has  made  preparations  for  its  extenslv« 
consumption,  and  the  results  have  bees 
favorable.  The  soils  of  Halifax  havii^ 
been  under  cultivation  a  century  and  a 
hali^  or  more  than  a  century,  have  becojaa 
exhausted. 

The  soil  on  one  of  the  oldest  plsate- 
tions  gave  the  following  results  on  analy- 
sis : — 

Silex  OT  sand,  &Sj3!5 

Alumina  and  oside  of  iron,  1.44 

Lim^    „  ,  .1  i 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


103 


Organic  matter  aud  water,  2.45 

Totash,  .01 

99.39 
It  is  perfectlj  similar  to  "tlie  saadj  sails 
of  Cape  Fear.  Tkese  examples  »f  sandy 
soils  are  beyond  the  reacli  of  t'ke  over- 
flowings of  tlie  Roanoke,  wkick  always 
leave  a  ricli  sediment  behind,  and  which 
is  employed  as  a  fertilizer  to  a  limited 
'extent. 

The  marl  is  also  too  much  charged 
with  sand  in  parts  of  the  beds.  The  bkie 
•varieties  gave  the  following  Gomi^osi- 
tion : — 

'      Sand,  05. GO 

Phosphate  of  lime  and  oxide  of 

iron,  9.00 

Carbonate  of  km  Q,  21.20 

Magnesia,  trace. 

AVater  and  organic  matter,  2.60 


99.00 
Reg-ardinjj  the  available  matter  in  this 
■iiiarl  as  thirty  per  cent.,  it  should  not  bo 
ranked  with  the  inferior  varieties,  though 
the  sand  amounts  to  sixty-five  per  cent. 
§  38.  The  marl  of  Fishing  creok  should 
not  be  passed  over  unnoticed.  It  con- 
sists of  the  three  varieties — the  red,  the 
blue,  and  consolidated  marl.  Tha  blue 
has  the  following  composition-: — 

Slles,  72.50 

Phosphate  of  lime  and  oxide  of 

iron,  (5.25 

Carbonate  of  lime,  20.00 

Organic  matter  and  water,  1.25 


100.00 
This  blue  variety  underlies,  or  is  be- 
neath the  red  or  brown  variety.    The 
latter  is  composed  of 

Sand,  €2.50 

Phosphate  of  lime  and  oxide  of 

iron,  10.00 

Carbonate  of  lime,  25.00 

l*>Iagnesi2,  .1 1 

Organic  matter  and  water^  1.30 

'^ 

99.51 

Roth  varieties  ar&4nore  or  less^consoli- 

;Hlated,  indicating  a  favorable  composition 

for  agricultural  purposes.  The  parts  se- 


lected for  analysis  contained  fewer  sheila 
than  the  general  mass.  They  are  small 
bivalves,  so  common  in  Wayne,  at  Golds- 
boro',  and  on  the  Tossnot,  which  is  rcaky 
of  a  better  kind  than  the  varieties  con- 
taining larger  and  less  decomposable  fos- 
sils. 

The  shelly  portion  contains  more  lime 
-which  is  derived  frojn  the  shells  them- 
selves.; but  less  precipitate  which  con- 
tains phosphate  of  lime.  This  variety 
giv33  the  following  composition  : — 
Sand,  15.00 

Phosphate  of  lime  and  oxide  of 

iron,  3.75 

Carbonate  of  lim3,  80.0Q 

Organic  matt<3r,  1.25 


100,00 
The  average  qu.antity  of  lime  is  above 
fifty,  taking  the  whole  ma&s  together.  . 
Intervening  betvv'een  the  two  varieties, 
the  blue  and  red,  there  is  a  more  consoli- 
dated portion,  a  variety  v;kich  answers  to 
the  appellation  of  stone  marl,  though  it 
differs  in  itr,  fossils  from  that  of  the  Trent 
at  Nevrbeni  as  well  as  from  that  at  Wil- 
mington. It  gave  me  the  following  analy- 
sis : — 

Sand,  17.50 

Phosphate  of  lime  and  oxide  of 

iren  and  alumina,  7.50 

Magnesia,  .12 

Carbonate  of  lime,  72.12 

Organic  matter  and  water,  .50 


97.74 
This  variety  exceeds  the  blue  ajid  red 
in  the  quantity  of  lime;  and  it  appears 
that  as  the  sand  diminish&s  and  tlie  lime 
is  increased,  there  is  an  approach  to 
the-formation  of  a  solid  substance.  The 
solidity  and  toughness  however,  often  de- 
pends upon  a  quantity  of  soluble  silica 
which,  when  present  forms  an  exceeding 
tough  deposit,  possessing  many  of  the 
characteristics  of  a  burr-stone.  In  tliis 
condition  the  stone  is  unfit  for  agricultu- 
ral purposes;  but  makes  a  durable  s.toiie 
for  walls  and  fences.  It  is  also  an  exeek- 
tent  fire-stone,  and  may  bo  used  for  the 
backs  of  fire-places,  though  it  h  diargedi 
largely  with  lime,. 


104 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


From  the  Working  Farmer. 
Chemistry  in  relation  to  Agriculture. 

The  following  is  from  one  of  Liebig's 
familiar  Letters  on  Chemistry,  and  is  a 
synopsis  of  all  the  knowledge  of  the 
present  day  in  relation  to  Agricultural 
Chemistry,  so  much  of  which  had  its 
origin  in  the  original  writings  of  the 
great  chemist. 

He  stands  forth  now  the  reviewer  of 
himselt^  and  gives  us  in  the  most  laconic 
manner,  almost  in  adage-like  form,  the 
very  rudiments  of  our  knowledge,  and 
this,  too,  posted  up  with  all  the  improve- 
ments and  observations  of  the  day. 

Let  those  writers  who  have  waddled 
to  and  from  his  precepts,  review  their 
apostacy  and  be  chastened  for  their  want 
of  consistency,  by  reading  the  follow- 
ing. 

We  present  it  to  our  readers  as  the 
best  paper  on  Scientific  Agriculture  we 
have  ever  seen.  We  recommend  that  it 
may  -be  studied  hy  rote,  and  that  its 
truths  form  the  basis  of  their  after-in- 
vestigation. We  feel  proud  of  belonging 
to  a  profession,  the  merits  of  which 
should  call  forth  from  bo  great  a 
mind  so  great  an  effort.  We  hail  it  as  a 
declaration  of  independence  for  Scientific 
Agriculture.  With  modesty  we  would 
endorse  it,  and  with  a  full  acknowledg- 
ment of  our  inability  to  equal  the  great 
original,  still  we  fearlessly  throw  the 
gauntlet  to  those  who  would  wish  to  at- 
tack the  doctrines  contained  in  the  fol- 
lowing paper. 

Let  the  caluraniatore  of  Liebig  find  in 
this,  his  maturest  effort,  aught  that  will 
not  cause  them  to  blush  when  they  at- 
tempt to  vilify  their  greatest  benefactor. 
We  heg  of  our  readers  to  study  it  line  by 
line,  and  when  they  comprehend  it  all, 
with  such  clearness  as  wo  hope  they  may 
at  a  single  careful  reading,  they  will  find 
that  they  have  a  grammar  for  their  art, 
a  foundation  on  which  every  observant 
agriculturist  may  build  a  rationale  which 
will  accord  with  practical  truth;  and  de- 
spite the  soj)histry  of  those  who  would 
rob  the  great  original  of  his  due  credit, 
this  letter  will  live  so  long  as  language 
)i2&  a  property  to  recommend  it. — ^[Ed. 


In  the  immense  yet  unlimited  expanse 
of  the  ocean,  the  animal  and  vegetable 
kingdoms  are  mutually  dependent  upon, 
and  successive  to  each  other.  The  ani- 
inals  obtain  their  constituent  element* 
from  the  plants,  and  restore  them  to  the 
water  in  their  original  form,  when  they 
again  serve  as  nourishment  to  a  new  gen- 
eration of  plants.  The  oxygen  which 
marine  animals  withdraw  in  their  respir- 
ation from  the  air,  dissolved  in  sea-water, 
is  returned  to  the  water  by  the  vital  pro- 
cesses of  sea-plants  :  that  air  is  richer  in 
oxygen  than  atmospheric  air,  containing 
32  to  33  per  cent.;  while  the  latter  con- 
tains only  21  per  cent.  Oxygen,  also, 
combines  with  the  products  of  the  putre- 
faction of  dead  animal  bodies,  changes 
their  carbon  into  carbonic  acid,  their  hy- 
drogen into  water,  and  their  nitrogen  as- 
sumes again  the  form  of  ammonia.  Thus 
we  observe  in  the  ocean  a  circulation 
takes  place  without  the  addition  or  sub- 
traction of  any  element,  unlimited  in  du- 
ration, although  limited  in  extent,  inas- 
much as  in  a  confined  space  the  nourish- 
ment of  plants  exists  in  a  limited  quan- 
tity. We  well  know  that  marine  plants 
cannot  derive  a  supply  of  humus  for  their 
nourishment  through  their  roots.  Look 
at  the  great  sea-tang,  fucus  gigantius : 
this  plant,  according  to  Cook,  reaches  a 
height  of  360  feet,  and  a  single  speci- 
men, with  its  immense  ramifications, 
nourishes  thousands  of  marine  animals, 
yet  its  root  is  a  small  body,  no  larger 
than  the  fist.  What  nourishment  can 
this  draw  from  a  naked  rock,  upon  the 
surface  of  which  there  is  no  perceptible 
change.  It  is  quite  obvious  that  these 
plants  require  only  a  hold, — a  fastening 
to  prevent  a  change  of  place, — as  a  coun- 
terpoise to  their  specific  gravity,  which  is 
less  than  that  of  the  medium  in  which 
they  float.  That  medium  provides  the 
necessary  nourishment,  and  presents  it  to 
the  surface  of  every  part  of  the  plant. — 
Sea-water  contains  not  only  carbonic  acid 
and  ammonia,  but  the  alkaline  and  ear- 
thy phosphates  and  carbonates  required 
by  these  plants  for  their  growth,  and 
which  we  always  find  as  constant  consti- 
tuents of  their  ^es.    All  experience  de- 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


105 


monstrates  that  the  conditions  of  the  ex- 
iatence  of  ruaiine  plants  are  the  same 
■which  are  essential  to  terrestrial  plants, 
but  the  latter  do  not  live,  like  sea-plants, 
in  a  medium  which  contains  all  their 
■elements,  and  surrounds  with  appropriate 
nourishment  every  part  of  their  organs; 
on  the  contrary,  they  require  two  media, 
of  which  one,  namely,  the  soil,  contains 
those  essential  elements  which  are  ab- 
sent from  the  medium  surrounding 
them,  that  is,  the  atmosphere.  Is  it  pos- 
sible that  we  could  ever  be  in  doubt 
respecting  the  office  which  the  soil  and 
its  component  parts  subserve  in  the  ex- 
istence and  growth  of  vegetables  ? — that 
there  should  have  been  a  time  when  the 
mineral  elements  of  plants  were  not  re- 
garded as  absolutely  essential  to  their  vi- 
tality ?  Has  not  the  same  circulation  been 
observed  on  the  surface  of  the  earth 
which  we  have  just  contemplated  in  the 
ocean,  the  same  incessant  change,  dis- 
turbance, and  restitution  of  equilibrium? 
Experience  in  agriculture  shows  that  the 
production  of  vegetables  on  a  given  sur- 
face increases  with  the  supply  of  certain 
matters,  originally  parts  of  the  soil,  which 
had  been  tjiken  up  from  it  by  plants — 
the  excrements  of  man  and  animals. — 
These  are  nothing  more  than  matters  de- 
rived from  vegetable  food,  which,  in  the 
vital  processes  of  animals,  or  after  their 
death,  assume  again  the  form  under 
which  they  originally  existed  as  parts  of 
the  soil.  Now,  we  know  that  the  atmos- 
phere contains  none  of  these  substances, 
and  therefore  can  replace  none;  and 
we  know  that  their  removal  from  a  soil 
destroys  its  fertilitj^,  which  may  be  re- 
stored and  increased  by  a  new  supply. 
Is  it  possible,  after  so  many  decisive  in- 
veitigations  into  the  origin  of  the  ele- 
ments of  animals  and  vegetables,  the  use 
of  alkalies,  of  lime,  and  the  phosphates, 
any  doubt  can  exist  as  to  the  principles 
upon  which  a  rational  agriculture  de- 
pends? Can  the  art  of  agriculture  be 
based  upon  anything  but  the  restitution 
of  a  disturbed  equilibrium  ?  Can  it  be 
imagined  that  any  country,  however  rich 
^nd  fertile,  with  a  flourishing  commerce, 
which  for  centuries  exports  its  produce 


in  the  shape  of  grain  and  cattle,  will 
maintain  its  fertility,  if  the  same  com- 
merce does  not  restore  in  some  form  of 
rnanure,  those  elements  which  have  been 
removed  from  the  soil,  and  which  cannot 
be  replaced  by  the  atmosphere  ?  Must 
not  the  same  fate  await  every  country 
which  has  actually  befallen  the  once  pro- 
lific soil  of  Virginia,  now  in  many  parts 
no  longer  able  to  grow  its  former  staple 
productions — wheat  and  tobacco?  In 
the  large  towns  of  England,  the  produce 
both  of  English  and  foreign  agriculture 
is  largely  consumed;  elements  of  the  soil 
indispensable  to  plants  do  not  return  to 
the  fields;  contrivances  resulting  from 
the  manners  and  customs  of  the  English 
people,  and  peculiar  to  them,  render  it 
difficult  perhaps  impossible,  to  collect  the 
enormous  quantity  of  the  phosphate* 
which  are  daily,  as  solid  and  liquid  ex- 
crements, carried  into  the  rivers.  These 
phosphates,  although  present  in  the  soil 
in  tlie  smallest  quantity,  are  its  most  im- 
portant mineral  constituents.  It  was  ob- 
served that  many  English  fields,  exhaust- 
ed in  that  manner,  immediately  doubled 
their  products,  as  if  by  a  miracle,  whea 
dressed  with  bone  earth  imported  from 
the  continent.  But  if  the  export  of 
bones  from  Germany  is  continued  to  the 
extent  it  has  hitherto  reached,  our  soil 
must  be  gradually  exhausted,  and  the 
extent  of  our  loss  may  be  estimated  by 
considering  that  one  pound  of  bones 
contains  as  much  phos])horic  acid  as  a. 
hundred  weight  of  grain.  The  imper- 
fect knowledge  of  nature,  and  the  pro- 
perties and  rehitions  of  matter,  possessed 
by  the  alchemists,  gave  rise,  in  their  time 
to  an  opinion  that  metals  as  well  as 
plants  could  be  produced  from  a  seed. — 
The  regular  forms  and  ramifications  seeB 
in  crystals,  they  imagined  to  be  the- 
leaves  and  branches  of  metal  plants;; 
and  as  they  saw  the  seed  of  plants  grow,, 
producing  root,  stem,  and  leayes,  and 
again  blossoms,  fi'\iit  and  seed,  apparent- 
ly without  recovering  any  supply  of  ap- 
propriate material,  tliey  deemed  it  wor- 
thy of  zealous  inquiry  to  discover  the 
seed  of  gold,  and  the  earth  necessary  fol* 
its  development.      If  the  metal   seeds 


10& 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


were  once  obtained,  might  they  not  en- 
tertain hopes  of  their  growth?  Such 
ic'ea.5  could  not  be  entertained  when  no- 
thitt^"  was  known  of  the  atmosphere,  and 
its  participation  with  the  earth  in  ad- 
ministering to  the  vital  processes  of 
plants  and  animals.  Modern  Chemistry 
indeed  produces  the  elements  ot  water, 
and,  combining  them,  forms  water  anew, 
but  it  docs  not  create  those  elements, — 
it  derives  them  from  water;  the  new- 
formed  artificial  water  has  been  water  be- 
forj.  Many  of  our  farmers  are  like  the 
alchemists  of  old ;  they  are  searching 
for  the  miraculous  seed, — the  means 
•which»  without  any  further  supply  of 
nourishment  to  a  soil  scarcely  rich 
enough  to  be  sprinkled  with  indigenous 
plants,  shall  produce  crops  of  grain  a 
li;tndred  fold.  The  experience  of  cen- 
turies, nay,  of  thousands  of  years,  is  in- 
sufficient to  guard  men  against  the  falla- 
cies; our  only  security  from  these  and 
similar  absurdities  must  be  derived  from 
a  correct  knowledge  of  scientific  princi- 
ples. In  the  first  period  of  natural  phi- 
losophy organic  life  was  supposed  to  be 
derived  from  Avater  only ;  afterwards  it 
was  admitted  that  certain  elements  de- 
5-ived  from  the  air  must  be  superadded 
to  the  water;  but  we  now  know  that 
other  plants  must  be  supplied  by  the 
earth,  if  plants  are  to  thrive  and  multi- 
■-ply.  The  amount  of  materials  contained 
in  the  atmospliere  suited  to  the  nourish- 
ment of  plants  is  limited;  but  it  must 
ha  abundantly  sufficient  to  cover  the 
whole  surface  of  the  earth  with  a  rich 
vegetation.  Under  the  tropics,  and  in 
those  parts  of  our  globe  wl.ere  the  most 
genial  conditions  of  fertility  exist — a 
suitabia  soil  a  moist  atmosphere,  and  a 
high  temperature — vegetation  is  scarcely 
limited  by  space;  and  wdiere  the  soil  is 
wanting,  it  is  gradually  supplied  by  the 
decaying  leaves,  bark,  and  branches  of 
plants.  It  is  obvious  that  there  is  no 
deficiency  of  atmospheric  nourishment 
for  plants  in  those  regions,  nor  are  th.ese 
wanting  in  our  cultivated  fields ;  all 
which  plants  requii'e  for  their  develop- 
jnt^nt  is  conveyed  to  them  by  the  inces- 
sant motions  of  the  atmosphere.     The 


air  between  the  tropics  contains  no  more 
than  that  of  the  arctic  zones ;  and  yefe 
how  different  is  the  amount  of  produce 
■of  an  equal  surface  of  land  in  the  two> 
situations  1  This  is  easily  explicable, — ' 
All  tlie  plants  of  tropical  chmates,  the 
oil  and  wax  palms,  the  siTgar  cane,  etc., 
contain  only  a  small  quanthy  of  the  ele- 
ments of  the  blood  necessary  to  the  nxv- 
trition  of  animals,  as  compared  with  oup 
cultivated  plants.  The  tubers  of  the  po- 
tato in  Chili,  its  native  country,  where 
the  plant  resembles  a  shrub,  if  collected 
from  an  acre  of  land,  would  scarcely 
suffice  to  maintain  an  Irish  family  for  a- 
single  da}^  The  result  of  cultivation  ia- 
those  plants  which  serve  as  food,  is  to 
produce  in  them  those  constituents  of 
the  blood.  In  the  absence  of  the  ele- 
ments essential  to  these  in  the  soil,  starch, 
sugar,  and  woody  fibre,  are  perhaps 
formed ;  but  no  vegetable  fibrine,  albvi- 
men  or  caseine.  If  we  intend  to  pro- 
duce, on  a  given  surface  of  soil,  more  of 
these  latter  matters  than  the  plant  eai> 
obtain  from  the  atmosphere,  or  receiva 
from  the  soil  of  the  same  surface  in  its 
uncultivated  and  normal  state,  we  must 
crmfe  an  artificial  atmosphere,  ?ind  add- 
the  needed  elements  to  the  soil.  Tli© 
nourishment  which  must  be  supplied  in 
a  given  time  to  difterent  plants,  in  order 
to  admit  a  free  and  lanimpeded  growttt 
is  very  unequal.  On  pure  sand,  on  cal- 
careous soil,  on  naked  rocks,  only  a  few- 
genera  of  plants  prosper,  and  these  are. 
for  the  most  part,  parennial  plants. — 
They  require,  for  their  slow  growth, 
only  such  minute  quantities  of  mineral 
substances  as  the  soil  can  furnish,  which 
may  be  totally  barren  for  other  species. 
Annual,  and  especially  summer  plants, 
grow  and  obtain  their  perfection  inacoir.- 
paratively  short  time;  they  therefore  do 
not  pros])er  on  a  s")il  which  is  ])oor  in 
tliose  mineral  substances  necessary  to 
their  development.  To  obtain  a  maxi- 
um  in  height,  in  the  short  period  of 
their  existence,  the  nom-ishment  contain- 
ed in  the  atmosphere  is  not  sufficient. 
If  the  end  of  cultivation  is  to  be  obtain-r 
ed,  we  must  create  in  the  soil  an  arti?,- 
cial  atmosphere  of  carbonic  acid  and  aiu- 


THE  FAEMER'S  JOURJ^AL- 


10  r 


inonia;  and  this  surplus  of  nourishment 
wliicli  the  leaves  cannot  appropriate 
from  the  air,  must  bo  taken  up  by  the 
corresponding  organs,  that  is,  the  roots, 
from  the  soil.  But  the  ammonia,  together 
Tvith  the  carbonic  acid,  are  alone  insuffi- 
cient to  become  part  of  a  plant  destined 
to  the  nourishment  of  animals.  In  the 
absence  of  tlie  alkalies,  the  phosphate 
irad  other  earthy  salts,  no  vegetable  fib- 
rine,  no  vegetable  caseine,  can  be  formed. 
The  pliosphoric  acid  of  tlie  phosphate  of 
lime  indispensable  to  the  ceralia  and 
■«^ier  vegetables  in  the  formation  of  their 
feeds,  is  separated  as  an  excrement,  in 
great  quantities,  by  the  rind  and  bark  of 
jigneous  plants.  How  different  are  the 
wergreen  plants,  the  oleaginous  plants, 
the  mosses,  the  ferns,  and  the  pines,  from 
0\\v  annual  grasses,  the  ceralia  and  legu- 
ininous  vegetables!  The  former,  at  eve- 
ry time  of  the  day,  during  Avinter  and 
summer,  obtain  carbon  through  their 
leaves  by  absorbing  carbonic  acid,  which 
is  not  furnished  by  the  barren  soil  on 
nrhich  they  grow;  water  is  also  absorbed 
fmd  retained  by  thier  coriaceous  or  fleshy 
leaves  with  great  force.  They  lose  very 
Httle  by  evaporation,  compared  with  other 
.plants.  On  the  other  liand,  how  very 
small  is  t];e  quantity  of  mineral  sub- 
stances which  they  withdraw  from  the 
soil  during  their  almost  constant  growth 
ill  one  year,  in  comparison  with  the 
«|Tiatitity  which  one  crop  of  wheat  of 
<f<|ual  weight  receives  in  three  months! 
Jt  is  by  means  of  moisture  that  plants 
j-eceive  the  necessary  alkalies  and  salts 
from  the  soil.  In  dry  summers  a  phe- 
nomenon is  observed,  which,  when  the 
■importance  of  mineral  elements  to  the 
bfe  of  a  plant  was  unknown,  could  not 
be  explained.  The  leaves  of  plants  first 
de,veloped,  and  perfected,  and  therefore 
nearer  the  surface  of  the  soil,  shrivel  up 
aod  become  yellow,  lose  their  vitality, 
and  fall  off  while  the  plant  is  in  an  ac- 
tive state  of  growth,  without  any  visible 
«ccurse.  This  phenomenon  is  not  seen  in 
moist  years,  nor  in  evergreen  plants,  and 
but  rarely  in  plants  which  have  long  and 
fleep  roots,  nor  is  it  seen  in  the  perren- 
iiisjs  in  autumn  and  winter.     The  cause 


of  this  premature  decay  is  now  obvious. 
The  perfectly  developed  leaves  absorb 
continually  carbonic  acid  and  ammonia. 
f)-om  tiie  atmosphere,  v.'hich  are  con- 
verted into  elements  of  new  leaves,  buds, 
and  shoots;  but  this  metamorphosis  can- 
not be  efl'ected  without  the  aid  of  the 
alkalies  and  other  mineral  substances.- — 
If  the  soil  is  moist,  the  latter  are  contia--. 
uaily  supplied  to  an  adequate  amount,- 
and  the  plant  retains  its  lively  green  co- 
lor ;  but  if  this  supply  ceases  from  a 
want  of  moisture  to  dissolve  the  mineral 
elements,  a  separation  takes  place  in  the 
plant  itself.  The  inineral  constituents  of 
the  juice  are  withdrawn  fi'om  the  leaves 
already  formed,  and  are  used  for  the  for- 
mation of  the  young  shoots;  and  as 
soon  as  the  .seeds  are  developed,  the  vi- 
tality of  the  leaves  completely  ceases. — ■ 
These  v.-ithered  leaves  contain  only  mi- 
nute traces  of  soluble  salts,  while  the  buds 
and  slioots  are  very  rich  in  them.  On 
the  other  hand,  it  has  been  observed, 
that  where  a  soil  is  too  highly  impreg- 
nated v.'ith  soluble  saline  materials,  these 
;u-e  separated  upon  the  surface  of  the 
leaves.  This  happens  to  culinary  vege- 
table especially,  Vrhose  I\aves  become  co- 
vered with  a  white  crust.  In  conse- 
quence of  these  exudations,  the  plant 
sickens,  its  organic  activity  decreases,  its 
growth  is  disturbed ;  and  if  this  state 
continues  long,  the  plant  dies.  This  is 
most  frequently  seen  in  foliaceous  plants, 
the  large  surtiices  of  which  evaporate 
considerable  quantities  of  water.  Car- 
rots, pumpkins,  peas,  etc.,  are  frequently 
thus  diseased,  when,  after  dry  Aveathcr, 
the  plant  being  near  its  full  growth,  the 
soil  is  moistened  by  short  showers,  fol- 
lowed again  by  dry  weather.  The  rapid 
evaporation  carries  ofl"  the  water  absorb- 
ed by  the  root,  and  thus  leaves  the  saltB 
in  the  plant  in  a  far  greater  quantity 
than  it  can  assimilate.  These  salts  eli'er- 
vesce  upon  the  surface  of  the  leaves,  and 
if  they  are  herbaceous  and  juicy,  pro- 
duce an  effect  upon  them  as  if  they  had 
been  watered  with  a  solution  coi:{aining 
a  greater  quantity  of  salts  than  iLeir  or- 
ganism can  bear.  Of  two  plants  of  ttiQ 
same  species,  this  disease  befalls  that 


108 


TJE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


which  is   nearest  its  perfection ;  if  one  I 
should  have  been  planted,  later,  or  be' 
more  backward  in  its  development,  the 
same  external  cause  whichf  destvoj's  the 
one  will  contribute  to  the  growth  of  the 
other. 


The  CuUiration  of  Wheat. 

We  can  remember  the  time  when  the 
excitement  of  obtaining  new  varieties  of 
Avheatwas-asgreat  as  the  railway  mania, 
the  South-sea  bubble,  or  the  still  more  ri- 
diculous rage  for  Dutch  tulip-roots.  New 
varieties  were  advertised  dasy  after  day  at 
prices  of  the  most  unreasonable  kind,  v/hile 
the  puffing  proprietors^  trusting  to  the 
mania,  and  the  acknowledged  gulhability 
of  John  Bull,  attributed   to  tlieir  waies 
qualities  the  most  inconsistent  both  with 
themselves  and  with  truth.    We  remem- 
her  asthe  achme,  a  friend  who  bad  caught 
the  mania  sent  for  a  ten  shilling  parcel 
of  a  new  variety  of  great  promise,  and 
he  obtained  twenty-five  grains  of  a  most 
coarsegrained,  unpromising  kind,  costing 
nearly  sixpence  ]:>er  grain — a  price  per 
bushel  and  per  acre  which   we  will  not 
take  the  pains  to  calcidate,  as  it  would 
■only   gratify   cui'iosity ;  hut   at  harvest 
time,  the  sample   from   which  so  much 
was   promised  turned   out  a  miserable 
sp?Gimen;  no  extraordinary  production, 
but  a   sort  of  coarse   Sardinian;  variety, 
doubtless  imported,  and  much  injured  in 
quality  by  being  resov/n  in  this  countiy. 
And  yet  we  believe  all  this  did  good. 
Not  that  any  amount  of  absolute  good 
was  effected  by  the  introduction  of  new 
varieties,   but  the   fact   was  ascertained 
that  the  mere  change  of  seed  did  good. 
Those  who  had  never  changed  a  seed^ — 
never  removed  it  from  a  high  to  a  low, 
a  stroHg  to  a  light,  a  Avet  to  a  dry  vicin- 
ity, and  vice  versa,  got  new  varieties  from 
Sussex,   from  Kent,  fi-om  Norfolk,  from 
Gloucestershire,   and  from  Scotland,  for 
all  new  kinds  were  rapidly  sought  up, 
even  if  they  had  to  be  found  at  the  anti- 
podes, and  were  there  either  approved  or 
jiot.     Most  failed.     Eut  next  year,  either 
from  this  break  of  the  habit,  or  from  ne- 
cessity in  selling  off  the  kind  newly  im- 
ported, a  change  of  seed  became  no  lon- 


ger of  choice.  And  a  good  deal  was  dis- 
covered, too,  of  elasticity  and  adaptation 
in  the  various  kinds  of  newly-introduced 
wheat  to  peculiarities  of  soil  and  climate. 
The  wheat  in  general  is  unsuited  to  a 
light,  porous  soil.  It  canaot  l)ear  oxy- 
gen in  any  large  quantity  to  its  roots. 
It  requires,  as  a  rule,  a  tenacious  soil  ; 
and  to  get  wheat  to  grow  at  all  success- 
fully on  a  light  soil,  it  had  to  W  "daub- 
ed in,"  or  there  was  but  little  cliance  of 
successful  cultivation. 

The  Spalding  wheat  can  bear  the  oxy- 
gen in  a  much  larger  degi'ee  than  the 
older  cultivated  varieties ;  and  hence  take 
a  light  soil,  and  sow  Spaldiiag  and  creep- 
ing in  the  same  field,  and  you  will  find 
six  to  eight  bushels  |>er  acre  on  such 
soils  more  on  the  one  than  the  other. — 
Again,  where  spring-sowing  of  wheat  is 
an  object,  it  is  often  eitheE  too  late  a 
season  in  the  month  of  May,  or  the  frost 
sets  in  too  early  in  Octot>er  to  admit  of 
its  being  fairly  matured.  Here  the  April 
wheat  will  answer  the  purpose..  It  rf- 
quircito  be  sown  in  that  montli  to  an- 
swer at  all. 

These,  however,  are  special  cases,  and' 
are  by  no  means  in  favor  of  any  great 
inducement  to  try  any  variety  not  usual- 
ly grown  m  a  district.  When  an  old  va ■• 
I'iciy  is  moderately  successful,  it  is  far 
best  to  be  satisfied  with  the  same  kind^ 
only  changing  the  locality,  and,  if  pos- 
sible, the  kind  of  soil. 

Mr.  Pawlet,  of  Beeston,  has  made 
some  experiments  on  several  kinds  of 
wheat,  with  a  view,  to  test  their  produc- 
tiveness, and'  some'  other  experiments 
also  on  other  points  connected  with  their 
cultivation.  The  latter  are  of  more  con- 
sequence, we  think,  than  the  former.  As 
indicating  care  and  expeiimental  skill, 
they  deserve  recording.  The  trial  was 
made  on  a  poor  gravelly  loam  after  clo- 
ver ley. 

The  three  u'hites  gave  the  following 
result: 

Imperi.'il  -white,  87  bushels  per  acre. 
C<iusens'  unrivallec],  34  bushels  2  pecks  1 
gallon  per  acre. 

Kent  hfdwn  ch:iff,  21  bushels  S  pecks  1 
gallon  per  acre. 


THE  FABMER-S  JOURNA^^^^^   J.^^ibfE^^. 


As  showing  the  first  kind  to  be  the 
most  remunerative,  it  sold  for  46s.  per 
quarter,  and  the  second  44s,;  and  it  pro- 
duced more  money  per  acre  than  either 
of  the  other  by  upwards  of  a  guinea. 

His  red  wheat  trials,  made  the  same 
day,  the  whole  being  sown  on  the  20th 
of  October,   at  the  rate  of  7  pec-ks  per 
acre,  gave  the  following  results : — 
Defiance,  48  bushels  1  gallon  a  per  acre. 

Golden  drop,  41  bushels,  1  gal.         do. 

Golden  goody,  42  bu8h.,  2  pecks,  1  gallon 
per  acre. 

Ii^palding,  41  bueh.,  1  peck  peracre. 

Here,  again,  is  a  marked  difference  in 
Iha  product  per  acre.  A  small  area  in 
an  experimental  piece  is  of  very  little 
value — it  absolutely  indicates  nothing, 
for  the  same  field,  as  Sir  Vernon  Har- 
court  shows,  will  vary  in  a  very  conside- 
rable degree. 

The  price  obtained  for  the  whole  was 
the  same,  and  the  maximum  difference 
33s.  per  acre. 

In  another  tibial  between  Browick  and 
Sandon's,  two.  red  wheats,  the  one  gave 
47  bushels  and  1  gallon  per  acre,  the 
other  44  bushels  and  3  pecks ;  and  both 
kinds  sold  for  t)ie  same  price,  showing  a 
difference  of  some  lis.  per  acre. 

Now  these  trials  would  have  been 
more  satisfactory  if  we  had  known  that 
any  of  these  kinds  had  been  tried  against 
the  kinds  ordinarily  cultivated  in  the  dis- 
trict, for  it  is  not  surprising  that  a  differ- 
ence as  great  and  even  greater  would 
take  place  between  kinds  all  new  to  the 
locality.  We  quite  imagine  that  if  it 
had  been  a  light  gravel  instead  of  a  loam, 
the  difference  would  have  been  just  re- 
versed, and  the  Spalding  turned  out  far 
more  than  any  other  variety,  but  have 
been  likely  to  sell  for  a  less  sum  per  bu- 
shel. 

We  do  not  think  much  can  be  made 
out  by  any  extensi\-e  adoption  of  new 
varieties,  nor  would  we  venture  to  go  to 
any  length  in  drawing  a  conclusion  from 
the  experience  of  one  year,  or  on  one 
soil.  The  peculiar  season  of  1851-2  is 
not  by  any  means  to  be  taken  as  a  test 
of  the  general  qualities  of  the  different 
kinds  of  wheats ;  and  if  it  were,  any  ex- 
periments at  Biggleswade  would  go  no 


further,  with  any  degree  of  safetjr,  tlian 
to  speak  in  favor  of  the  kind  to  the  lo- 
cality, even  if  it  were  substantiated  by 
next  year's  trial. 

Though  the  wheat  plant  has  been  cul- 
tivated for  nearly  six  times  two.  centuries, 
the  whole  of  the  phases  of  its  cultivation 
are  by  no  means  fully  understood.  Is 
patriarchal  times  w©  asfe  infOTmcd  of  one 
who  sowed  wheat  and  obtained  in  the 
same  year  "an  hundred  fold."'  One  half 
that  quantity,  nay,  one  quarter,  may  now 
be  said  to  be  a  large  return.  If  two 
bushels  of  seed  be  sown  and  fifty  bushels 
reaped,  the  one  is  by  no  moaas  a  plenti- 
ful seeding  nor  the  other  an  inferior 
crop  ;  indeed  we  may  say  it  is  far  more 
seldom  arrived  at  than  exceeded. 

The  discussioas  on-tliioji  and  tliio  seed- 
ing have  now  pretty* fully  disappeared. — 
Thin  seeding  for  the  Noi&  of  England 
and  for  Scotland  has  beoBi  thoroughly 
exploded  ;  but  the  questions  relating  to 
the  different  kinds  of  sowing,  the  modes 
and  circumstances  of  it,  are  by  no  means 
settled. 

So  long  ago  as  1850,  Mr.  Pawlett,.  of 
Beeston,  near  Biggleswade,  made  some' 
experiments  on  the  hoeing  of  wheat.  He 
had  a  portion  of  land  Fown  Avith  Ilessing- 
land  wheat  on  white  clovei'  ley,  prttly 
free  from  wee  s,  hand-hoed  thoroughly, 
and  the  remainder  left  alone.  The  re- 
sult, which  was  carefully  maikcd  at  har- 
vest time,  was  as  follows : — 

Bushels.     Pedes. 
Y  lieat  hoed  produced         SO  2  per  acre 

Wheat  imlioed     "  28  1       " 

In  1851,  for  the  present  year,  he  re- 
peated the  experiment.  He  sowed  a 
piece  of  land  after  red  clover.  The  re- 
sult was  very  much  in  the  same  direction 
as  in  the  preceding  year;  but  we  are 
sorry  he  has  not  given  the  full  advantage 
of  his  experiment  by  stating  precisely 
the  kind  of  soil  as  to  calibre  and  tenacity. 
It  was  as  follows : — 

Bushels.     Pecks. 
Wheat  well  hoed  with  hand  42      0  per  acre. 
Wheat  unhoed  44     3         " 

Making  a  difference  in  the  one  case  of 
nine  pecks  per  acre,  and  this  year  of  two 
bushels   and   three  pecks.      Now,  how 


^?f  ^.«.\* 


110 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


could  this  be  accounted  for  2  It  seems 
to  set  at  naught  all  our  previous  notions 
ot'  things.  It  ignores  Jethro  Tull  and 
Garrett's  hor.?e-hoe — it  shows  hoeing 
wheat,  in  fact,  to  be  absolutely  injurious. 
But  let  it  be  well  understood  :  the  land 
"vvas  free  from  weeds;  there  was  no  ad- 
vantage in  this  respect  in  the  first  in- 
stance, and  this  it  may  be  said  is  a  strong 
reason  why  it  did  no  good  to  the  land ; 
but  how  it  came  to  be  injurious  is  another 
question  not  so  easily  solved. 

It  does  not  seem  to  be  due  to  season; 
for  though  there  was  a  difterence  in  de- 
gree, it  was  certainly  injurioiis  in  both 
cases,  and  no  two  seasons  are  so  tho- 
loughly  similaras  to  completely  overturn 
twice  over  the  ordinary  and  real  nature 
of  the  operation. 

We  are  obliged  to  conjecture  as  to  the 
reason,  and  we  must  conjecture  only  from 
the  fact  before  mentioned,  viz  :  that  we 
are  unacquainted  with  the  nature  of  the 
soil — that  it  must  have  been  some  very 
open  and  light  soil,  and  that  the  stirring 
of  it  where  it  did  no  good  only  tended  to 
open  the  land,  and  so  to  render  the  oxy- 
gen more  easy,  of  which,  as  we  ha\e 
said,  the  root  of  the  wheat  plant  has  a 
dhect  impatience. 

Vv^'e  have  no  means  of  getting  at  the 
nature  of  his  soil.  In  a  previous  expe- 
riment he  calls  it  a  "gravelly  soil,"  in  an- 
other a  "gravelly  loam  ;"  but  neither  of 
these  quite  come  up  to  our  notion  of  that 
kind  of  soil  which  might  be  supposed  to 
be  injured  by  opening  to  the  freer  access 
of  the  air. 

We  have  enough  evidence,  however, 
to  perceive  that  it  was  not  much  benefit- 
ed by  great  consolidation,  a  state  of 
things  which  ww  think  must  have  been 
the  case  had  the  soil  been  of  a  very  open 
character.  The  same  experimenter  had 
two  plots  selected,  Avhich  he  drilled  with 
white  Lammas  wheat  on  a  clover  ley, 
one  pa)t.  lightly  rolled,  and  the  other 
rolled  three  times  over  with  a  very  heavy 
roller.  The  result  at  harvest  was  as  fol- 
lows : 

"Wheat  heavily  rolled,  38  bushels  2  peeks 
per  ficr. 

Wheat  lightly  rolled,    38  bushels    1  peck 


per  acre. 

The  expense  of  this  operation  was 
very  considerable,  and  the  result  not  at 
all  more  than  a  mere  variation  of  the  pro- 
ductive quality  of  one  part  of  a  field 
over  another  side  by  side  of  it  would  oc- 
casion. 

But  these  facts  open  out  no  little  of 
the  question  how  necessary  it  is  to  go  to 
first  principles,  and  to  begin  all  our  pre- 
conceived notions  with  experiments  dc 
novo  as  to  the  modes  and  piinciples  of 
wheat  sowing-.  While  on  the  subject  of 
experiments  in  wheat  sowing,  on  hoeing, 
and  collateral  subjects,  we  cannot  help  re- 
cording Mr.  Pawlett's  experiments  in 
1850  as  illustrating  difference  between 
drilling  and  hand-cast  sowing.  It  turn- 
ed out,  indeed,  in  favor  of  drilling,  but 
not  to  any  great  degree,  taken  with  the 
fact  of  natural  differences  which  will 
take  place  in  any  field  between  one  part 
and  another.  The  drilled  corn  gave  n. 
return  of  34  bushels  and  3  peeks  per 
acre,  and  the  broadcast  gave  33  bushels 
and  3  pecks. 

We  think,  notwithstanding  the  many 
points  of  diffic'ulty  wliich  invariably  pre- 
sent themselves  in  wheat  cultivation,  that 
a  drill  depositing  the  seed  deeply,  and 
care  being  taken,  if  possible,  to  sow  in 
damp  season,  and  to  secure  mccliamcal 
consolidation,  is  the  most  advantageous- 
system  for  the  bulk  of  soils.  And  this 
not  so  much  for  any  other  reason  as  for 
the  irregularity  of  seeding,  which  often 
attends  hand  sowing,  how  well  so- 
ever it  may  be  executed — as  for  the  uni- 
formity of  depth  and  the  mechanical  com- 
pression of  the  soil  when  sowing  takes 
place  in  a  damp  state  of  the  soil. — Far- 
mer''s  Magazine. 


,^5r"  If  ariy  of  our  readers  are  troub- 
led with  loss  of  appetite,  or  a  diseased 
liver,  let  them  take  brush  and  curry- 
comb, (don't  swallow  them,)  clean  oiF 
three  or  foi'r  horses  before  breakfast  eve- 
ry morning  for  a  month.  If  that  fails,- 
carry  in  your  own  wood  and  saw  it. — 
Ilaine  Farmer. 


^^"  Renovate  your  worn-out  lands. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Ill 


Thorough  Farming — or,  Mucli  Labor 
on  Little  Laud. 

Tiie  great  secret  of  European  success 
in  Agiiculture  has  been  described  as 
*'  much  labor  on  comparatively  little 
iand."  But  the  whole  tenor  of  Ameri- 
can husbandry  from  the  first  settlement 
of  the  country,  has  been  directly  the  con- 
trary, or,  "little  labor  on  mu-ch  land." — 
And  this  is  the  cause  of  the  deteriora- 
tion of  our  farm  and  crops, — of  the  ex- 
haustion of  the  elements  of  fertility  in 
tJie  one,  necessary  to  the  production  of 
tlie  other.  It  requires  no  great  amount 
of  labor  or  store  of  knowledge,  to  grow 
a  crop  at  a  cost  equal  or  exceeding  its 
value,  and  leaving  the  land  j^oorer  than 
before ;  but  it  does  require  both  vrork 
and  wisdom  to  pToduce  one  which  shall 
bring  profit  to  the  farmer  and  prepare  the 
land  for  greater  productiveness  in  future. 
Any  one  who  can  follow  the  plow  and 
scatter  the  seed  can  do  the  former,  but 
capital,  experience  and  energy  are  re- 
quired to  accomplish  the  latter. 

Thoroujrh  farmino-  bestows  much  labor 
— wisely  directed  and  skilfully  managed 
labor — upon  every  acre  it  cidtivates.  It 
drains  the  land,  if  it  needs  it,  so  that  it 
may  be  worked  in  the  proper  season,  and 
no  stagnant  water  ever  stands  to  chill  and 
bhght  all  healthy  vegetation.  It  deep- 
ens and  thoroughly  pulverizes  the  soil, 
so  that  every  crop  may  freely  send  down 
its  roots  for  moisture  and  sustenance ; 
and  it  adds  every  needed  manurial  ele- 
ment, that  their  growth  may  be  vigorous 
and  rapid.  It  sufl'ers  no  weeds  to  rob 
the  soil  of  its  riches  and  the  plant  of  its 
proper  and  rightful  nutriment;  and  gives 
tlie  crop  the  needful  care  and  attention 
through  all  the  stages  of  its  gi-owth,  from 
tlie  deposit  of  the  seed  to  the  garnering 
of  the  product. 

"To  cultivate  his  land  well,"  says  a 
contemporary,  "  and  to  increase  its  pro- 
ductive powers,  is  a  prime  object  with  a 
good  farmer.  To  do  this,  it  is  absolutely 
essential  that  he  employ  the  requisite 
amount  of  labor.  This  seems  to  be  a 
self-evident  proposition,  and  yet  it  is 
more  generally  disregarded  in  American 
husbandry,  than  any  other  principle  of 


sound  economy.  Because  we  frequently 
hear  it  said  that  labor  runs  away  from 
the  profits  of  farming,  our  farmers  lay  it 
down  as  a  maxim  to  get  along  with  as 
little  labor  as  possible.  The  consequence 
is,  they  attempt  to  do  with  less  than  they 
ought.  They  are  thus  out  of  pocket  by 
loss  of  time,  loss  of  season,  and  deterio- 
ation  of  land  and  crop,  and  in  other 
ways  of  which  they  hardly  dream. — 
There  is  many  a  farm,  of  broad  and  fer- 
tile acres,  furnished  with  suitable  build- 
ings and  fences,  well  stocked  and  pro- 
vided with  all  needful  appliances  t-o 
make  it  productive,  the  owner  of  which 
undertakes  to  carry  it  on  with  half  the 
force  adequate  to  its  cultivation.  Is  it  to 
be  wondered  at  that  farming  under  such 
circumstances  is  decried  as  unprofitable? 
— that  the  interest  on  the  investment' 
the  taxes,  the  repair  of  buildings  and 
tools,  and  other  incidental  expenses  eat 
up  the  profits,  when  these  profits  are  not 
half  what  they  might,  by  tl;e  employ- 
ment of  more  labor,  easily  be  made  to 
beP 

"  Labor  is  the  root  and  spring  of  all 
profit."  But  well-directed,  earnest,  thc- 
rough  work  is  required  to  produce  large 
results  and  full  remuneration  for  such 
outlay  of  toil  oml  care.  The  farmer  who 
gives  the  cultivation  which  is  needed  on 
five  acres,  to  fifteen  or  twenty,  does  no 
part  of  his  work  well,  and  must  fail  of 
gettiiig  a  profitable  crop,.  Five  acres  of 
corn,  producing  four  himdred  bushels  an- 
nually, is  far  better  for  the  farmer  and 
the  coimtrj^,  even  if  the  same  expense 
be  incurred  in  its  production,  than  six- 
teen acres  skimmed  over  to  yield  the 
same  amount.  Half  a  dozen  choice, 
thrifty  and  productive  firuit  trees  are 
worth  more  than  one  hundred  poor  ones, 
and,  while  the  latter  seem  only  a  curse 
to  the  owner,  the  former  will  prove  a 
source  of  continual  and  increasing  profit. 
The  best  stock — cattle,  horses,  sheep  and 
swine — are  tlie  cheapest  in  the  end,  and 
bring  far  richer  returns  than  the  low- 
priced  and  little-worth  varieties. 


The  terror  of  being  thought  poor  has 
been  the  ruin  of  thousands. 


112 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


FARMER'S  JOJJKJAJL 

BATH.  N.  C,  JTTLY,  1853. 


The  State  Agricultural  Society. 

There  was  a  called  meeting  of  ihis 
body  in  Raleigh  on  the  25th  of  May, 
which  was  well  attended,  and  quite  a 
number  of  names  were  added  to  the  list 
of  members.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
meeting  there  were  belonging  to  the  So- 
ciety only  nineteen  members  who. had 
paid  their  initiation  fee ;  but  when  the 
meeting  adjourned  there  were,  we  think, 
seventy-two  members  Avho  had  paid  up — 
making  at  this  time  a  fund  of  $360  in 
cur  treasury.  That  there  will  be  a  State 
Fair  held  next  fall  does  not  longer  admit 
cf  a  doubt,  Avhich  may  be  seen  by  refer- 
ence to  the  proceedings  of  the  meeting 
of  the  Society,  published  in  this  number 
of  the  Journal.  Among  the  members 
of  the  State  Agricultural  Society  may 
be  seen  the  names  of  many  of  the  very 
first  men  in  our  State,  such  as  Ex-Chief 
Justice  Ruffin,  Judge  Strange,  Ex-Gov. 
Manly,  Gov.  Reid,B.  F.  Moore,  and  others. 
Seeing  that  such  men  as  these  feel  the 
importance  of  such  an  institution  in  our 
State,  it  should,  we  think,  be  a  sufficient 
guarantee  to  any  person  that  the  object 
of  the  Society  is  the  benefit  of  the  State; 
and  it  should  remove  all  objections,  if 
any  exist,  to  becoming  a  member.  We 
Ijope  that  every  enterprising  farmer  and 
mechanic  in  tlie  State  will  feel  it  his  duty 
to  become  a  member  of  this  honorable 
body,  and  will  at  once  send  to  our  trea- 
surer a  $5  bill.  The  Society  was  ad- 
dressed by  Henry  Elliott,  Esq.,  of  Cum- 
berland, in  a  very  able  and  stirring  ap- 
peal, urging  the  few  who  compose  our 
body  to  continue  to  persevere  in  their  ef- 
orts ;  he  pointed  them  to  the  rewards  in 


store  for  them,  which  the  rising  genera- 
tion would  abundantly  heap  upon  them. 
He  is  a  man  after  our  own  heart — he 
feels  the  deepest  interest  in  his  profes- 
sion, and  regards  it  in  its  proper  light. 
He  was  appointed  by  the  President* 
chairman  of  the  Executive  committee,  a 
position  in  such  institutions  that  is  re- 
garded as  highly  honorable.  There 
were  remarks  made  by  several  other 
gentlemen,  in  relation  to  the  getting  up 
of  the  Fair  in  October  next.  Our  Presi- 
dent presided  Avith  marked  ability,  and 
elicited  admiration  from  all  present ;  he 
was  very  affable  and  courteous  to  the 
members,  which  could  not  fail  to  com- 
mand from  them  marked  respect.  On 
Thursday,  the  26th,  we  had  the  pleasure 
of  spending  the  day  in  company  with 
the  President  and  other  gentlemen  of 
the  Society,  at  the  house  of  Henry  Mor- 
decai,  Esq.,  who  resides  near  the  city  of 
Raleigh,  and  owns  that  splendid  farm  in 
Old  Edgecombe,  formerly  occupied  by 
the  late  Hon.  Richard  Hines.  The  '^crea- 
ture  comforts"  of  life  were  spread  before 
us  in  the  greatest  profusion,  and  their 
splendid  preparation  spoke  trumpet  ton- 
gued  in  favor  of  the  acquirements  of  our 
Hostess  in  housewifery.  Mr.  Mordecai 
is  proud  of  his  profession,  and  devotes 
himself  assiduously  to  its  duties^and  s«ch 
a  man  is  bound  to  reap  the  pleasure*  as 
well  as  the  profits  of  agriculture.  The  So- 
ciety adjourned  on  Thursday  evening,  the 
26th,  and  the  countenances  of  ail  present 
wore  a  gratified  look,  indicative  of  their 
being  pleased  at  the  results  of  their  deli- 
berations. Each  member  returned  to  his 
home,  no  doubt  with  pleasing  anticipa- 
tions in  regard  to  the  Fair  in  October, 
which  Avill,  we  think,  be  a  splendid  ex- 
hibition of  the  product  of  our  good  Old 
State.     We  conclude  by  urging  our  far- 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


lis 


mers  and  mechanics  in  every  part  of  the 
State  to  prepare  specimens  of  their  en- 
terprise for  the  Fair ;  and  to  the  ladies 
we  would  say,  bring  up,  also,  specimens 
of  accomplishment  in  the  household  arts. 


To  Our  Readers. 

We  hope  to  be  excused  for  failing  to 
furnish  editorial  matter  for  this  number 
of  our  paper ;  the  reason  which  we  as- 
sign is,  that  we  have  been  closely  en- 
gaged in  attending  to  the  duties  assigned 
us  as  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the 
State  Agricultural  Society.  This  is  the 
first,  and  we  hope  will  be  the  last  time 
that  we  shall  be  under  the  necessity  of 
asking  such  a  favor  from  our  readers. 


Proceedings  of  the  State  ilgricultu 
ral  Society. 

Raleigh,  N.  C, 
Wednesday,  May  25th,  1853 

At  a  call  meeting  of  the  North  Caro- 
lina Agricultural  Society,  held  in  the  city 
of  Raleigh,  this  day  (Wednesday,  May 
25th,)  in  the  Court  house,  the  President, 
Mr.  l)ancy,  of  Edgecombe  county,  took 
the  Chair,  and  called  the  Society  to  or- 
der ;  after  which  the  Secretary  read  the 
Constitution  and  By-Laws. 

The  names  of  the  officers  and  mem 
bers  of  the  Society  were  ordered  to  be 
published.  They  are  as  follows,  to  wit : 
Officers  of  N.    C.  Agricultural  Society. 

1.  President,  J.  Sessums  Dancy  of 
Edgecombe. 

2.  Vice-Presidents,  W.  R.  Poole,  of 
Wake. 

3.  "  N.  W.  W^oodfin  of  Bun- 
combe, 

4.  "  Dan'l  Macdairmid,  Cum- 
berland. 

5.  «         Ralph  Gorrell,   Guilford. 

6.  Rec.  Secretary,  Jas.  F.  Taylor,  of 
Wake. 

7.  Cor. Secretary,  Jno. F.Tompkins, of 
Beaufort. 

8.  Treasurer,  W.  W^  Whitaker,  of 
Wake, 


Members  of  AT.  C.  Agricaltural  Society, 

9.  Jno.  A.  Averett,  Jr.,  Onslow, 

10.  S.  W.  Humphrey,  Onslow, 

11.  W.H.Tripp,  Beaufort, 

12.  W.  F.  Cowati,  New-Hanover, 

13.  B.  F.  Williams. 

14.  J.  Buxton  Williams,  AVarren, 

15.  J.S.Spruill,  Bertie, 

16.  Lewis  Thompson,  " 

17.  Will.  T.  Smith,  Halifax, 

18.  R.  H.  Smith, 

19.  H.  H.  Waters,  Brnnswick, 

20.  Neil.  McDugald,  Cumberland, 

21.  Alplieus  Jones,  "Wake, 

22.  Sidney  Weller,  Halifax, 

23.  W.  S.  Battle,  Edgecombe, 

24.  Rob't  Norfleet,  " 

25.  Henry  Mordecai,  Wake,    * 

26.  David  W.  Sanders,  Onslow, 

27.  J.  Nixon,  Wake, 

28.  David  Hinton,  " 

29.  Charles  Manly,  " 

30.  W.  H.  Scott,  " 

31.  Henry  Elliot,  Cumberland, 

32.  Robert  Strange,  " 

33.  Edward  Lee  Winsiow,        " 

34.  Charles  L.  Hinton,  Wake, 

35.  Thomas  J.  Leinay,  " 

36.  W.  A.  Eaton,      "         Granville, 

37.  B.  F.  Moore,  Wake, 

38.  P.  F.  Pescud, 

39.  W.  H.  Jones, 

40.  James  M.  i  owles,  " 

41.  Thomas  H.  Wright,  New- Hanover, 

42.  Wm.  Boylan,  Wake, 

43.  W.  L.  Pomeroy,  " 

44.  W.  Crudup,  Granville, 

45.  Thos.  G.  Hogg,  Wake, 

46.  R.  W.  Hyman,  AVarren, 

47.  Charles  B.  Root,  Wake, 

48.  Edward  A.  Crudup,  Franklin, 

49.  Thomas  R.  Fentress,  Wake, 

50.  AVm.  W.  Holden, 

51.  Perrin  Busbee,  " 

52.  Eldridge  Smith,  " 

53.  A.  M.  Gorman,  " 

54.  J.  E.  Williamson,         Caswell, 

55.  W.  R.  Scott,  Wake, 

56.  E.  P.  Guion, 

57.  Robert  W.  Haywood,         '• 

58.  Henry  K.Burgwin,  Northampton, 

59.  John  Hutchins,  Wake, 

60.  Jacob  Mordecai,  " 


114 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


il.  Spencer  Maclenahan,  Chatham, 
1 2.  David  S.  Keid,  Rockingham, 

63.  John  C.  MacRae,         New  Hanover, 
<34.  Alex.  MacRae,  " 

65.  Thomas  P.  Burgwin,  Northampton, 

66.  Robert  R.  Foreman,    Pitt, 

67.  H.  J.  B.  Clark,  Warren. 

68.  Joseph  Bonner,  Beaufort, 

69.  Benj.  Trollinger,  Orange, 
10.  George  T.  Cooke,       Wake. 

Mr.  Smith,  of  Hahtas,  moved  the  fol- 
lowing resolution : 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  five 
be  appointed  by  the  President,  and  re- 
port at  next  meeting,  to  confer  with  the 
Council  of  the  City  of  Raleigh,  as  to 
the  conditions  upon  which  they  will  au- 
thorize an  appropriation  to  aid  the  N.  C. 
Agricultural  Society  in  holding  its  an- 
nual Fair  of  all  industrial  operations  in 
the  City  of  Raleigh, 

Which,  after  some  discussion,  was 
adopted,  and  the  following  gentlemen 
were  appointed  by  the  President, to  wit: 
Messrs.  'l'oinpkins,Poo]e,  Lemay,  H.  Mor- 
decai,  and  VV.  W.  Whitaker. 

The  President  called  attention  to  tlie 
.3rd  article  of  the  By-Laws,  to  wit : — 
"That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Presi- 
dent to  appoint  a  committee  of  three  to 
procure  a  speaker  to  deliver  an  annual 
address,"  etc.,  at  the  next  Fair :  when, 
the  following  gentlemen  were  appoint- 
ed*. Dr.  Tompkins,  of  Beaufort,  Mr. 
fimith,  of  Halifax,  Mr,  D.  Hiiiton,  of 
Wake. 

x\fter  further  remarks  made  by  va- 
rious members  on  the  subject  of  holding 
the  October  fair,  on  motion  of  Mr.  Nix- 
on, adjourned  to  meet  at  4  o'clock,in  the 
Senate  Chamber. 


Afternoon  Session, — Senate  Chamher. 
The  agricultural  Society  met  according 
to  adjournment  in  the  Senate  Chamber, 
at  4  P.  M.,  when  the  committees  being- 
called  on  by  the  President,  for  their  re- 
ports, Dr.  Tompkins,  chairman  of  the 
committee  of  conference  with  the  City 
Council,  &c.,  had  not  come  to  any  pro- 
per arrangement,  and  requested  further 
time,  which  was  Ldlov.'ed.  The  other  com 
mittee  likewise  desired  more  time  to  act, 


which  was  also  granted. 

There  being  nothing  before  the  Soci- 
ety for  action,  Mr.  Elliott,  of  Cumberland, 
was  called  on  for  a  speech,  and  responded 
in  stirring  appeals  to  the  farmers  of  tho 
State  upon  the  importance  of  joining  the 
Society,  and  thereby  encouraging,  more 
than  any  other  way,  the  agricultural  re- 
sources of  North  Carolina ;  and  of  pro- 
moting a  better  system  throughout  the 
whole  State — a  better  and  a  more  cer 
tain  system  for  improvement  of  lands, 
tfec. 

Dr.  Tompkins,  of  Beaufort,  addressed 
the  Society,  upon  the  importance  of  hold- 
ing State  Fairs,  and  on  the  importance 
of  holding  a  State  Agricultural  Fair,  in 
October  next,  and  the  manner  of  raising 
funds  for  defraying  expenses  of  the  same, 
etc. 

Mr.  Moore,  of  Wake,  spoke  of  the 
very  maiked  improvement  he  had  al- 
ready witnessed,  as  resulting  from  the 
county  societies  that  had  been  estabhsh- 
cd,  and  alluded  in  terms  of  high  com- 
mendation to  the  county  of  Edgecombe. 
And  in  various  other  counties  he  had 
seen  large  and  extensive  heaps  of  com- 
post, etc.,  where  a  few  years  ago,  such  a 
sight  had  not  been  found  in  the  Statc^ — 
of  the  great  facility  of  making  highly 
stimulating  manure  for  sundry  crops,  &;c. 

Judge  Strange,  of  Cumberland,  was 
next  called  on,  but  had  left  the  Cham- 
ber, when  Governor  Reid  was  called  out, 
and  addressed  the  Society  in  appropri- 
ate remarks  upon  the  great  advantage^* 
other  States  had  realized  in  the  mainte- 
nance of  Agi'icultuial  Associations  and 
Mechanical  Societies,  for  encouraging- 
tlie  arts,  and  the  mutual  assistance  af- 
forded each  class  of  the  commimity  by 
supplying  what  was  wanted,  and  was  es- 
sential to  the  very  existence  of  the  other, 
&c. 

Mr.  W^inslow,  of  Cumberland,  was 
called  up,  and  stated  that  his  county  So- 
ciety President, Mr. Elliott,  had  expressed 
his  own  sentiments  and  those  of  his 
county,  and  that  he  had  nothing  further 
at  present  to  add. 

Mr.  WHiitaker,  of  Wake,  made  a  few 
remarks  on  the  suitableness  of  holding 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


115 


the  October  Fair  in  Raleigli,  aud  tlie 
luauner  of  raising  the  necessary  funds  to 
defray   expenses, — the  eti'ect  that   each 


whenever  a  like  amount  shall  be  paid  by 
the  persons  or  Societies  subscribing  the 
biilance.     The  property  to  be  vested  ia 


itiember  might  have  by  proper  exertion  j  the  Commissioners  of  the  City  of  Raleigh 


in  inducing  farmers  to  join  tLe  Society, 
&c. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Lemay,  the  Society 
adjourned  to  meet  at  9  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 


TnuusDAV,  May  20,  1S.j3. 
The  Society  met  according  to  adjourn- 
ment at  nine  o'clock,  Thursday  morning, 


in  Trust  for  the  use  of  the  State  Agricul- 
tural Society,  to  be  subject  to  the  control 
and  regulations  of  the  said  society,  upon 
satisfactory  assui-ance  being  given  to  th« 
Commissioners  that  the  annual  Fair  shall 
be  located  permanently  at  the  City  of 
Raleigh. 

Eemlved,  That  the  expenditure  of  this 
fund  be  entrusted  (the  State   and  W?ke 


The  jou)'nal  \Yas  read  aud  the  following  \  County  societies  concurring)  to  a    com- 


tiames  of  delegates  were  handed  in  by 
Mr.  Smith,  of  lTalitax,fi'om  the  Scotland- 
Neck  Agricultural  Society  to  wit : 

Messrs.  W.  J.  Hill,  Jacob  Iliggs,  R. 
11.  Smith,  J.  N.  Smith,  Burwcirbunn, 
8.  J.  Baker,  AV.  R.  Smith,  P.  E,  Smith, 
S.  Pittman,  W.  II.  Shields,  J.  Bryant, 


mlttee  of  two  on  the  part  of  each  of 
the  societies,  and  three  on  thepartof  this 
Board ;  a  majority  of  which  committee 
shall  be  necessary  to  act. 

A  true  coijy  tiom  Records  of  Citv. 
J.  J.  CHRISTOPHERS,  Clerk. 

i\Ir.  Moore  moved  that  the  T'esoluiions 


Mr.  Elliott,  of  Cumberland,  handed  in   of  the  City   Board  be  entered  on    the 


the  names  of  delegates  that  were  ap- 
j)ointed  to  attend  from  the  County  Agri- 
cultural Society  of  Cumberland,  to  wit : 
Messrs.  Henry  Elliott,  Robt.  Strange, 
Edward  Lee  AVinslov/,  A.  S.  ^JacNei], 
Joel  WilHams,  Ed.  J.  Hale. 

The  committees  being  called  on  for 
reports  by  the  President,  Dr.  Tompkins 
stated  that  the  committee  had  waited  on 
the  Board  of  Commissioners  of  the  City 
of  Raleigh,  and  would  submit  the  follow- 
ing resolution,  as  their  action  in  the  pre- 
^nises,  for  the  consideration  of  the  Socie- 
ty, to  wit : 

Raleigk,  May  25,  1853. 
At  a  regular  meeting  of  the  Board  of 
Commissioners  of  the  city  of  Raleigh, 
the  following  resolution  was  adopted  : — 
Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Com- 
missioners will  subscribe  and  pay  one  half 
the  amount  which  may  be  necessary  to 
make  the  proper  arrangements  for  hold- 
ing the  annual  Fair  of  the  State  Agri- 
cultural Society,  provided  thatthe  entire 
cost  of  the  land  and  buildings  shall  not 
exceed  the  sum  of  Five  Thousand  Dol- 
lars, and  upon  condition  that  an  equal 
amount  be  raised  by  private  subscription: 
That  the  Commissioners   will  pay   the 


journal,  which  was  adopted ;  and  hn 
then  introduced  the  following  preamble 
and  resolutions,  which,  after  a  discussion 
between  Messrs.  Moore,  Tompkins  aud 
others,  Avas  passed,  namely  : 

Vv'hekeas,  The  City  Council  of  Ral- 
eigh has  proposed  to  subscribe  the  su)a 
of  twenty-iive  hundred  dollars,  (-12,500) 
towards  the  erection  of  the  necessary 
buildings,  and  preparing  the  grounds  to 
hold  the  annual  Fairs  of  the  North  Caro- 
lina Agricultural  Society,  on  the  condi- 
tions specified  in  theibregoing  resolution ; 
and  whereas,  strong  assurances  are  given 
by  the  members  of  the  Wake  county 
Agricultural  Society,  that  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  sum  necessary  thus  to  be 
subscribed  Avill  be  raised  by  the  AVake 
County  Agricultural  Society  : 

It  is  therefore  resolved,  That  the  reso- 
liitions  of  the  City  Council  be  acceded 
to,  and  that  a  committee  of  three  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  President  as  an  assistant 
committee,  to  select  some  suitable  loca- 
tion, \vithin  the  City  of  Raleigh,  or  with- 
in one  mile  thereof,  to  be  the  perma- 
nent location ;  and  submit  the  same  to 
the  next  meeting  of  the  Society ;  and 
that  in  the  meantime   "the  Committee 


amount   subscribed   on  the  part  of  the  j  of  Arrangements,"  appointed  imder  the: 
Oity  in  instalments  from  time  to  time, ,  fifth  article   of  By-Laws  shall  make  all 


lie 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURI^AL. 


tike  necessary  arrangements,  for  the  pur- 
poses therein  mentioned. 

The  following  three  gentlemen  con- 
stitute the  assistant  committee  appointed 
under  the  above  i-esolution,  namely : — 
Messrs.  B.  F.  Moore,  A.  ^I.  Gorman,  and 
T.  J.  Lemay. 

J'lr.  Lemay  introduced  the  following 
resolution,  which  was  adopted  : 

Mesolved,  That  a  conanotittee  of  four 
be  appointed  by  the  President  to  wait 
OR-  the  farmers  and  mechanics  of  Wake 
and  solicit  them  to  join  the  N.  C.  Ag- 
ricultural Society,  and  pi'epare  stock,  &c. 
for  the  exhibition. 

Messi's*  Jjemay,  Root,  Fentress  and 
Scott  were  placed  upon   the  committee. 

Mr.  Elliott,,  of  Cumberland,  moved 
that  the  Secretary  of  each  county  Society 
he  requested  to  solicit  farmers  and  me- 
chanics of  their  respective  counties  to  be- 
come members  of  the  State  Agricultu- 
i-'al  Society,  and  to  receive  the  fees,  and 
i'ej)ort  to  the  Seci'etary  and  Treasurer  of 
the  N.  C.  Agricultural  Society;  which, 
after  discussion,  by  Mr.  Elliott  and  others 
was  passed. 

Mr.  Tompkins,  from  Beaufort,  intro- 
duced the  following  resolution,  which, 
■was  agreed  to^  to-  wit : 

Resolved^  That  the  Corresponding  Se- 
cretary address  a  circular  to  stock  raisers 
and  mechanics  of  other  States,  inviting 
theih  to  exhibit  specimens  of  their  skill 
and  entej'prise  at  the  annual  Fair  to  be 
held  on  the  18th  of  October  next,  at  the 
City  of  Raleigh. 

Mr.  Tompkins  likewise  introduced 
and  discussed  the  annexed  resolution, 
which,  as  amended,  was  passed,  to  wit :. 

Resolved^  That  the  Corresponding  Se- 
cretary be  ordered  to  open  a  correspond- 
ence with  the  Presidents  and  Directors  of 
the  various  railways,  plank-roads,  etc,  in 
this  State,  asking  permission  to  allow  all 
specimens  of  stock  and  mechanism  to 
pass  and  repass  free  of  any  ciiarge  to  and 
from  the  State  Fair. 

Mr,  Tompkins  then  moved  that  a 
committee  of  two  membei's  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Arrangements  be  appointed  b}^ 
Mr.  Elliott,  chairman  of  said  commit- 
tee, to  visit  Baltimore  and  examine  the 


grounds  and  buildings-  used  for  holding 
the  State  AgTicultural  Fairs  of  Maryland, 
and  report  to  the  Committee  of  Arrange- 
ments the  result  of  their  observations, 
including  the  cost  of  construction  and 
arranging  the  same ;  which  resolution 
was  adopted,  two  members  of  the  com-  ■ 
mittee  offering  their  services  to  go  at 
their  own  expense. 

Mr.  Taylor,  of  Wake,  introduced  an 
amendment  to  a  resolution  introduced  by 
Dr.  Tompkins,  which  was  accepted,  and 
adopted,  to  wit :  "  That  the  Treasurer 
be  authorized  to  purchase  Fifty  Dol- 
lars worth  of  the  Farmer's  Journal  con- 
taining the  proceedings  and  journal  of 
the  N.  C.  Agricultural  Society,  and  dis- 
tribute them  generally  among  all  the 
members  of  the  Society." 

Mr.  Smith,  of  Halifax,  moved  the  fol- 
lowing iresolution,  which  was  unani- 
mously adopted,  namely : 

Renohed,  That  the  "  Farmer''s  Jour- 
naV  edited  by  Dr.  John  F.  Tompkins, 
be  considered  as  the  organ  of  this  Socie- 
ty, through  which  its  publications  be 
made,  and  that  it  be  recommended  to  the 
Farmers  of  the  State,  as  an  agricultural 
Journal  deserving  their  patronage  and 
support. 

Mr.  Taylor  introduced  the  following 
resolutions,  which  were  adopted  : 

Resolved,  That  all  members  of  the 
County  Agricultural  Societies  of  this 
State  be  constituted  honorary  members 
of  the  N.  C.  Agricultural  Society,  enti- 
tling them  to  all  privileges  except  voting, 
and  be  considered  full  members,  only 
upon  complying  with  the  requisitions  of 
the  Constitution  and  By-Laws  like  all 
other  persons. 

Resolved,  That  each  county  agricul- 
tural Society  in  this  State,  be  written  to 
by  the  corresponding  Secretary,  and  re- 
quested to  aid  in  establishing  a  fund  for 
Premiums;  to  be  granted  at  the  Fair  in 
October  next,  held  in  the  city  of  Raleigh. 

Resolved,  That  the  names  and  coun- 
ties of  Residence  of  all  members  of  this 
Society  be  published  and  circulated  un- 
der the  same  order,  with  the  Pamphlet  of 
Constitution  and  By-Laws  and  the  Jour*- 
nal. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


11  r 


Oh  motion,  I 

Resoloed,  That  the  necessary  expenses 
of  holding  this  meeting  of  the  Society,  be 
paid  by  the  Treasurer  of  the  same. 

The  President  made  the  following:  ap- 
pointments : 

L.  W.  Humphrey,  of  Onslow,  Chief 
Marshal,  William  H.  Tiipp,  Beaufort, 
Henry  Mordecai,  W;.ke,  W.  S.  Battle, 
Edgecombe,  William  H.  Seott,  Raleigh, 
Thos.  D.  Hogg,  Raleigh,  Assistants. 

COMMITTEE  OF  AliRANGEMENTS. 

Any  three  of  whom  may  act. 
J,  Nixon,  of  Raleigh,  Chairman. 
W..R:  Poole,  Wake,"Thomas  .J.Lcmay, 
Raleigh,  W.  W.  Whitaker,  Wake,  W. 
W.  liolden,  Raleigh,  S.  W.  Wliiting,  Ral- 
eigh, J.  F.  Tompkins,  Beaufort,  Robert 
jSTorfleet,  Edgecombe,  R.  W.  Hyman, 
Warren,  Alpheus  Jones,  Wake. 

EXECUTIVE    COMMITTEE. 

Any  three  of  whom  may  act. 

Henry  Elliott,  of  Cumbei'land,  Chair- 
man. Lewis  Thompson,  Bertie,  R.  M. 
Smith,  Halifiix.  N.  \V.  Woodfin,  Bun- 
combe, H.  H.  Wateis,  Brunswick,  J.  B. 
Williams,  Wan  en,  Chas.  Manly,  Wake, 
Robert  Strange,  Cumbeiland,  W.  A.  Ea- 
ton, Granville,  H.  R.  Burgwin,  North- 
ampton, W.,H.  Jones,  Wake,  E.P.  Gui- 
on,  Wjike,  E.  A.  Crudup,  Franklin, 
Thos.  H.  Wright,  New  Hanover,  John 
Hutchins.  Wake. 

The  Society  took  a  recess  until  eight 
o'clock  P.  M. 

8  o'clock,  p.  M. 

The  Society  met,  and  after  some  dis- 
cussion, adjourned  to  meet  in  Raleigh 
on  the  18th  of  October  next,  the  time 
fixed  for  the  annual  meetings  Mhen  the 
Fair  will  also  be  held,  and  an.  Agricultu- 
ral oration  delivered. 

JCBN  S.  DANCY,  President 

James  F.  Taylor,  Secretary^ 


SCHEDULE  OF  PREMIUMS 
To  he  Awarded  at   the  First  Annual 
Fair  of  the  North    Carolina   State 
Agricultural  Society. 

PARTICULAR  SUBJECTS  AND  PREMIUMS. 

Branch  1. — Exiieriments. — For  each 
of  the  eight  best  experiments,  or  series 


of  experiments,  on  any  of  the  following 
subjects,  a  premium  as  follows  : 

1st.  effects  (in  profit  or  loss)  of  the 
usual  mode  of  saving  corn  fodder,  by 
stri])ping  the  green  blades  and  cutting 
oflf  the  tops,  $20 

2d  Cost  and  cff'ects  of  sab  soil 
ploughing,  under  diflerent  cii'eum- 
stances  of  soil  and  sub-soil,  20 

Sd.  Action  or  non-action  of  lime 
as  manure,  above  the  falls  of  the 
tide-water  rivers  of  North  Carolina, 
on    difierent  soil,  30 

4th,  Action  c  non-action  of  gyp- 
sum, below  the  falls  of  the  tide-water 
rivers,  and  on  soils-  respectively  oii- 
ginallyrieh  and  originally  poor,  and 
on  the  latter,  after  as  well  as  before 
their  being  made  calcareoiJSj  20 

5th.  Cost  and  ofi'ects  of  bone-deist, 
(or  phosphate  of  lime,)  as  a  manure,  20 
.  Gth.  How  late,  in  reference  to  the 
growth,  the  last  tillage  (by  plough  or 
cultivator),  should  be  given  to  corn 
for  its  best  product;  and  whether  the 
said  last  tillage  should  be  shallow  or 
deep,  "  20 

7th.  Best  series  of  comparative 
experiments  in  the  cultivation  of  com,  20 

8th.  Benefits  and  products  of  gua- 
no, compared  to  costs ;  to  be  tested 
by  not  less  than  three  different  expe- 
riments, made  under  circumstances 
move  or  less  different,  20 

9th..  Benefits  or  profit  of  pi-eserv- 
ing  or  applying  human  excrements 
as  maniu'e,  whether  prepared  for  sale 
and  distant  transpoi-tation,  or  other- 
wise, but  the  whole  operation  to  be 
in  North  Carolina,  20 

10th.  Tide  marsh  mud,  or  swamp 
i^uck,  or  peaty  soil  (eithei'  kind  to  be 
accurately  described,  and  character- 
ized) as  manure,  iii  compost  Avith 
lime  or  other  materials,  oi'  otherwise,  20 

11th.  Value  of  charcoal  as.  an  aid 
to  fertility,  20 

12th,  Value  of  sulphate  of  bary- 
tes  as  a  manure,  especially  for  clo- 
ver, 20 

1 3th.  Tobacco. — Culture,  cost  and 
profit  of  cultivation,  and  compara- 
tive effects  on  production,  from  dif- 


118 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


f'^rent  distances  of  phuiling-,  modes  of 
prhning,  topping,  &.c.,  comprising  at 
"least  three  ditierent  experiments,         30 

1-ltU.  Cultivation  and  compara- 
tive feeding  value  of  r\e,  10 

Branch  IL — Esmys  or  written  Com- 
mx.ni  cat  ions. — For  each  of  tiie  best  five 
oji  any  of  the  following  subjects,  a  pre- 
mium as  folio\ys: 

1st.  On  improving  and  enriching 
poor  land — whether  naturally  poor 
or  naturally  rich,  or  good,  and  subse- 
■•queatly    exhausted  by   severe   crop 

pi'igi 

2il.  On  draining, 

3d.  Oa  rotation  of  crops, 

4th.  On  the  accumulation,  prepar- 
ation and  application  of  stock  yard 
s'nd  stable  manure, 

5th.  On  the  "  green  sand"  or  gyp- 
S'">ou3  earth  of  lower  North  Cai'olina 
A.S  nianura — and  the  facts  and  causes 
oi  etFect  or  non-clfect, 

6th.  Oa  the  properties  and  value 
of  tlie  Southern  pea  (or  "cornncid 
p'ja"  of  any  variety,)  and  the  culture 
-thereof,  whether  Ibr  saving  tho  peas 
ripened,  or  ploughing  under  the 
•■rowth,  green  or  dry,  for  manure, 
8/ad  as  a  prepaj'ation  for  v/heat,  or 
other  grain  crops, 

7th.  On  the  comparative  profits 
m  plimtiag  and  farming,  and  of  the 
two  combined — improvement  of  land 
being  considered,  20 

BiiANCJi  III. — Best  Farming/  in  N. 
Carolina — Having  reference  as  much  as 
may  be  to  all  the  territory  of  the  State. 
Honorary  testimonials  for  the  twelve 
best  farms,  which  have  been  managed 
tj)  greatest  benefit  and  profit  in  reference 
to  the  follovv'ing  great  objects  of  cultiva- 
improvement  of  soil — fertility   of 


$30 
20 
10 


20 


20 


20 


tion 

production — increase  of  farming  capital 
— sufficient  annual  profits  ;  and  general 
arrangement  and  procedure  tending  to 
best  secure  profitable  and  enduring  re- 
sults. Greater  superiority  in  one  or  more 
of  these  requisites  may  compensate  for 
deficiency  in  others. 

Branch  IV. — For  the  best  product 
averaged  to  the  acre,  of  each  of  the  fol- 
io wing  crops  raised  in  1853  on  a  ho7ia 


fide  farm,  and  for  an  entire  shift  of  tlie 
farm  according  to  its  usual  or  designed 
rotaiion — a  premium  of  S2u 

1st.  Be-st  average  product  of  Indian 
corn. 

2d.  "  "     wheat, 

3d.  "  "    clover.    : 

4  th.  "  "    tobacco. 

A  pronium  for  the  best  average  pro- 
duct of  each  of  tho  following  crops, 
of  $10 

5th.  Oats. 

6th.  Peas  (Southern  or  comfiuld,)  ei- 
ther among  corn  or  separate,  in  grain  or 
in  green  manure. 

7th.     Sweet  potatoes. 

Sth.     Irish  potatoes. 

Oth.     Turnips. 

10th.  Carrots. 

11th.  Parsnips. 

12th.  Pumpkins. 

For  the  largest  yield  on  one  acre 
of  the  following  cro})S,  each  a  }'>re- 
raium  of  '  $10 

13th.  Tobocco. 

14th.  Cora  (not  less  than  100  bushels 
per  acre) 

15th.  Wheat,  (not  less  than  30 bushels 
per  acre.) 

16th.  Hay  (clover  or  grass,  not  less 
than  2  tons  per  acre.) 

Fi.^r  the  best  varieties  of  the  follow- 
ing crops,  to  be  raised  and  samples 
exlnbited  by  the.  individual  raising 
them,  a  premium  of  t'5 

l7th.  Corn. 

ISth.  Wheat. 

19th.  Tobacco. 

20  th.  Oats. 

21st.  Clover  and  grass  seeds. 

22d.   Turnips. 

23d.    Parsnips. 

24th.  Carrots. 

25th.  Pumpkins. 

2 Oth.  Peas. 

Brancu  V, — Live  Steele  Exhibited. 

HORSES. 

Ist.  For  the  best  thorough  bred 
stalion,  $30 

2d.  For  the  second  best  thorough 
bred  stallion,  15 

3d.  For  the  best  thorough  bred 
mare,  15 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


J10 


4th.  For  2d     "  "  "         8 

QUICK  DRAUGHT  AND  SADDLE  HORSES. 

5th.  For  the  best  Stallion  for  quick 
«lrauglit,  $30 

6th.  For  2d  best  stallion  for  quick 
tlraught,  15 

7th.  For  the  best  brood  mare  for 
quick  draught.  15 

8th.  For  2d  best  brood  mare  for 
quick  draught,  10 

9th.  For  best  stallion  for  saddle,      30 

10th.  For  2d  best  "  "  15 

11th.  For  best  brood  mare  for  the 
saddle,  15 

12th.  For  2d  best  brood  raare  for 
the  saddle,  10 

13th.  For  the  best  pair  matched 
horses,  15 

14th.  For  2d  best  pair  matched 
horses,  1 0 

16th.  For  best  saddle  horse,  mare 
or  gelding,  15 

16th.  For  best  pair  of  draught 
horses,  15 

17th.  For  best  team  of  draught 
horses,  not  less  than  4,  20 

18th.  For  the  best  3  year  old  colt 
or  filly,  15 

19th.  For  the  best  2  year  old  colt 
or  filly,  10 

20th.  For  the  best  1  year  old  colt 
or  filly,  8 

HEAVY  DRAUGHT  HORSES. 

21st.  For  best  stallion  for  heavy 
draught,  30 

22d.  For  2d  best  stallion  for  heavy 
draught,  15 

23d.  For  the  best  mare  for  heavy 
draught,  1 5 

24tli.  For  2d  best  mare  for  heavy 
draught,  1 0 

MULES  AND  JACKS. 

25th.  For  the  best  jack,  30 

26th.  For  the  2d  best  jack,  10 

27th.  For  the  best  janet,  20 

28th.  For  the  2d  best  janet,  10 

29th.  For  the  best  pair  of  mules,  20 
30th.  For  the  best  team  of  mules, 

not  less  than  five,  30 

CATTLE. 

Short  Horns   or  Durkams  and   Here- 
fords,  three  gears  eld  and  upward. 


2d.  For  the  2d  best  bull,  15 

3d.  For  the  3d  best  bull,  8 

4th.  For  the  best  cow,  30 

5th.  For  the  2d  best  cow,  li> 

6th.  for  the  3d  best  cow,  S 

Short  Horns  or  Durhams  and  Here- 
fords  under  thre-.  years  old. 

7th.  For  the  best  bull  between  two 
and  three  years  old,  ^15 

8th.  For  the  2d  best  bull  between 
two  and  three  years  old,  & 

9th.  For  the  3d  best  bull  between 
two  and  three  years  old,  5 

10th.  For  the   best  bull  between 
one  and  two  years  old,  15 

11th.  For  the  2d  best  bull  between 
one  and  two  j'ears  old,  8 

12th.  For  the  best  heifer  between 
two  and  three  years  old,  15 

13th.  For  the  2d   best  heifer  be- 
tween two  and  three  years  old,  8 

14th.  For  the  best  heifer  between 
one  and  two  years  old,  15 

15th.  For  the  2d  best  heifer  be- 
tween one  and  two  years  old,  8 
Hevons  and  Alderneys,  over  three  years 
old. 

16th.  For  the   best  Devon  bull 


1st.  For  the  best  bull. 


30 


three  years  old  and  upwards, 


$30 


17th.  For  the  2d  Lest  Devon  bull 
three  years  old  and  upwards,  15 

18th.  For  the  3d  best  Devon  bull 
three  years  old  and  upwards,  8 

19th.  For   the    best    Devon    cow 
three  years  old  and  upwards,  30 

20th.  For  the  2d  best  Devon  cow- 
three  years  old  and  upwards,  15 

21st.    For  the  3d  best  Devon  cow 
three  years  old  and  upward?,  S 

Aklerneys  same  premiums  as  Devons. 
Devons  and  Aklerneys,  under  three  years 
old. 

2 2d.  For  the  best  Devon  bull  be- 
tvv^een  two  and  three  years  old,  $15 

23d.  For  the  2d  best  Devon  bull 
between  two  and  three  years  old,  8 

24th.  For  the  3d  best  Devon  bull 
between  two  and  three  yearsoid,  & 

25th.  For  the  best  Devon  bull  be- 
tween one  and  two  years  old,  15 

26th.  For  the  2d  best  Devon  bull 
between  one  and  two  years  old,  ^ 

27th.  For  the  best  Devon  heifer 


120 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


between  two  and  three  years  old,         15 

28th.  Forthe  2d  best  Devon  heifer 
l)etween  two  and  three  years  old,  8 

29th,  For  the  best  Devon  heifer 
between  one  and  two  years  old,  15 

30th.  For  the  2d  best  Devon  heifer 
between  one  and  two  years  old,  8 

Alderneys  same  premiums  as  Devons. 
Ayrshires  and  Holsteins  over  three  years 
old. 

31st.  For   the  best   Ayrshire  bull 
three  years  old  and  upwards,  |30 

32d.  Forthe  2d  best  Ayrshire  bull 
three  years  old  and  upwards,  15 

33d.  For  the  3d  best  Ayrshire  bull 
three  years  old  and  upwards,  8 

34th.  For  the  best  Ayrshire  cow 
three  years  old  and  upwards,  30 

35th.  For  2d  best  Ayrshire  cow 
three  years  old  and  upwards,  15 

36th.  For  3l1  best  Ayrshire   cow 
three  years  old  and  upwards,  8 

Holsteins  same   premiums    as    Ayr- 
shires. 

Ayrshires  and  Holsteins^  under  3  years 
old. 

37th.  For  the  Best  Ayrshire  bull 
between  two  and  three  years  old,      $15 

38th.  For  the  2d  best  Ayrshire  bull 
between  two  and  three  years  old,  8 

3  9th.  For  the  3d  best  Ayrshire  bull 
between  two  and  three  years  old,  5 

40lh.  For  theljest  Ayrshire  heifer 
between  two  and  three  years  old,         15 

41st-.  For  2nd  best  Ayrshire  heifer 
between  two  and  three  years  old,  8 

42d.  For  the  best  Ayrshire  bull 
between  one  and  two  years  old,  15 

43d.  For  the  2d  best  Ayrshire  bull 
between  one  and  two  years  old,  8 

44  th.  Forthe  best  Ayrshire  heifer 
between  one  and  two  years  old,  15 

45th.  For  2d  best  Ayrshire  heifer 
between  one  and  two  years  old,  8 

Holsteins   same   premiums  as    Ayr- 
shires. 

Natives  or  Grades. 

46th.  For  best  bull  three  yea  "s  old 
and  upwards,  $30 

47 th.  For  2d  best  bull  three  ye  ir 
and  upwards,  15 

48  th.  For  3d  best  bull  three  years 
©Id  and  upwards,  8 


49th.  For  best  bull  between  two  and 
three  old,  15 

50th.  For  2d  best  bull  between 
two  and  three  years  old,  8 

51st.  For  3d  best   bull   between 
two  and  three  years  old,  5 

52d.  For  best  bull  between   one 
and  two  years  old,  15 

53d.  For  2d  best  bull  between  one 
and  two  )''ears  old,  8 

54th.  For  best  cow  three  years  old 
and  upwards,  30 

55th.  For  2d  best  cow  three  years 
old  and  upwards,  15 

56th.  For  3d  best  cow  three  years 
old  and  upwards,  8 

SYth.  For  best  heifer  between  two 
and  three  years  old,  15 

58th.  For  2d  best  heifer  between 
two  and  three  years  old.  8 

59th.  For  3d  best  heifer  between 
two  and  three  years  old,  5 

GOtli.  For  best  heifer  between  one 
and  two  years  old,  15 

61st.  For  2d  best  heifer  between 
one  and  two  years  old,  8 

Working  Oxen. 

62d.  For  best  yoke   of  oxen  over 
four  years  old,  $30 

63d.  For   2d   best  yoke  of  oxen 
over  four  years  old,  15 

64th.  For  best  yoke  of  oxen  under 
four  years  old,  30 

65th.  For  2d  best   yoke  of  oxen 

under  four  years  old,  15 

Fat  Cattle. 

66th.  For  best  pair  fat  steers,        $30 

67th.  For  best  fat  cow,  15 

68th.  For  best  tat  heiler,  8 

SHEEP. 

Fine  Wools  and  Middle  Wools. 
1st.  For  best  buck— fine  wool,       $20 
2d.  For  2d         "  "  10 

3d.  For  3d         «  "  5 

4th.  For  best  pen  of  ewes,  not  less 

than  three — line  wool,  20 

5th.  For  2d  best  pen  of  ewes,  not 

less  than  three — fine  wool,  10 

6th.  For  3d  be&t  pen  of  ewes,  not 

less  than  three — fine  wool,  5 

7th.  For  best  pen  of  eAve  lambs, 

not  less  than  four — fine  wool,  3 

8  th.  For  best  pen  of  buck  lambs, 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


121 


not  less  than  four — fine  wool,  5 

9th.  For  best  buck — middle  wool,  20 
10th.  For  2d  "  "  "      10 

11th.  For  3d  «  "  "        5 

12th.  For  best  pen  of  ewe  lambs, 

not  less  than  four — middle  wool,  5 

13th.  For  best  pen  of  buck  lambs, 

not  less  than  four — middle  wool,  5 

Long  Wools  and  Natives. 
14th.  For  best  buck — long  wool,    20 
15th.  For  2d  "  "  10 

16th.  For  3d "  "  5 

iVth.  For  best   pen  of  ewes,  not 

less  than  four — long  wool,  20 

18.  For  2d  best  pen  of  ewes,  not 
less  than  four — long  wool,  10 

19.  For  3d  best  pen  of  ewes,  not 
less  than  four — long  wool,  5 

20th.  For  best  pen  of  ewe  lambs, 
not  less  than  four — ^long  wool,  5 

21st.  For  best  pen  of  bui-k  lambs, 

not  less  'than  four — long  wool,  5 

Natives  or  Mixed  Blood. 

2  2d.  For  best  buck,  20 

23d.  For  2d  best  buck,  10 

24th.  For  3d  best  buck,  5 

25th.  For  best  pen  of  ewes,  not 
less  than  four,  20 

26th.  For  2d  best  pen  of  ewes,  not 
less  than  four,  10 

27th.  For  3d  best  pen  of  ewes,  not 
less  than  four,  5 

28th.  For  best  pen  of  ewe  lambs, 
not  less  than  four,  5 

29  th.  For  best  pen  of  buck  lambs, 

not  less  than  four,  5 

Imported  Sheep. 

30th.  For  best  imported  buck  of 
any  description,  20 

31st.  For  best  imported  ewe  of 
any  description,  20 

32d.  For  2d  best  imported  buCk  of 
any  description,  10 

33d.  For  2d  best  imported  ewe  of 
any  description,  10 

34th.  For  3d  best  imported  buck  of 
any  description,  5 

35th.  For  3d  best  imported  ewe  of 

■any  description,  5 

Swine — Large  Breed. 

1st.    For  best  boar  over  two  years 
old,  20 

2d.    For  2d  best  boar  over  two 


years  old,  10 

3d.    For  best  boar  one  year  old,      1 5 

4th.   For  2d  "  "  "  8 

5th.  For  best  boar  six  months  and 
under  one  year  old,  15 

6th.  For  2d  best  boar  six  months 
and  under  one  year,  8 

7th.  For  best  breeding  sow  over 
two  years  old,  20 

8th.  For  2d  best  breeding  sow 
over  two  years  old,  10 

9th.  For  best  sow,  not  less  than  6 
months  and  under  18  mouths  old,      15 

10th.  For  2d  best  sow,  not  less 
than  6  months  and  under  18  months 
old,  _  8 

11th.  For  best  lot  of  pigs,  not  less 
than  two  and  under  five  months  old,  20 

12th.  For  2d  best  lot  of  pigs,  not 
less  than  two  and  under  five  months,    10 

The  large  breed  includes  the  Chester, 
Berkshire,   Russia,    Bedford,    Woburn, 
Grazier,  Duchess  county  and  their  grade. 
S  trial  I  Breed, 

13th.  For  best  boar  over  2  years 
old,  115 

14th.  For  2d  best  boar  over  two 
years  old,  8 

15th.  For  best  boar  over  1  year 
old,  15 

16th.  For  2d  best  boar  over  1  year 
old,  8 

17th.  For  the  best  boar  over  six 
months  old,  16 

18th.  For  2d  best  boar  over  six 
months  old,  8 

19th.  For  best  breeding  sow  over 
two  years  old,  1 5 

20tb.  For  2d  best  breeding  sow, 
over  two  years  old,  8 

21st.  For  best  sow  not  less  than 
six,  nor  more  than  1 8  months  old,       15 

22d.  For  2d  best  sow  not  less  than 
6,  nor  more  than  1 8  months  old,  8 

23d.  For  best  lot  of  pigs  not  less 
than  two  and  under  five  months  old,  15 

24th.  For  2d  best  lot  of  pigs,  not 
less  than  two  and  under  five  months 
old,  8 

The  small  breed  includes  Neapolitan, 
Suffolk,  Chinese  and  their  grades. 

PREMIUM  ANIMALS. 

1st.  For  best  bull  of  any  breed  on 


122 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


exhibition,  $40 

2d.  For  best  cow  of  any  breed  ou 
•<sxliibitioi{,  40 

3d.  F(ir  best  stallion  of  auy  breed 
oil  exliibition,  40 

4tli.  For  best  brood  mare  of  any 
breed  ou  exliibition,  40 

5tli.  For  best  buck  of  any  breed. 
-on  exhibition,  20 

Gth.  For  best  ewe  of  any  br^cd  on 
■exhibition,  20 

7th.  For  best  boar  of  any  breed 
on  exhibition,  20 

8th.  For  best  breeding  sow  of  any 
breed  on  exhibition,  20 

9  til.  For  best  pen  of  tat  hogs,  not 
less  than  twenty,  30 

10th.  P'or  best  pen  of  fat  hogs,  not 
less  than  ten,  20 

11  til.  For  best  pen  of  fat  hogs,  not 
less  than  five,  10 

POULTRY CIIiCKKXS. 

1st.  For  best  pair  of  white  Shang- 
haes,  2 

2d,  For  best  pair  Cochin  China,    2 

;3d.  For  best  ])air  red  Shanghaee,  2 

4th.  For  best  pair  yellow     '•  2 

5th.  For  best  pair  Imperial  China,  2 

0th.  For  best  pair  white  Dorkings,  2 

7  th.  For "l^est  pair  red  Chittag'ong,  2 

8th.  For  best  pair  gray     "  2 

^th.  For  best  pair  black  Poland,     2 

10th.  For  best  pair  white     "  2 

11th.  For  best  pair  Silver  Pheasant,  2 

12  th.  For  best  pair  Golden      "         2 

13  th.  For  best  pair  Spangled  Ham- 
burg, 2 

14th.  For  best  pair  white  or  red 
Oame,  2 

15th.  For  best  pair  Br  am  a  Pootra,   2 
16th.  For  best  pair  N.  C.  Game,        2 
l7th.  For  best  pair  black  Spanish,    2 
18th.  For  best  pair  Indian  Moun- 
tain, 2 

1 9th.  For  best  pair  Wild  Indian 
X]>ame,  2 

30th.  For  best  pair  Sumatra  Game,  2 
21bt.   For  best  pair  Ostrich,  2 

2  2d.    For  best  pair  Bolton  Greys,     2 
23d.    For  best  pair  SeaBright  Ban- 
Inrns,  2 

24th,  For  best  pair  Java  Bantams,  :2 
:25tli.  For  best  pair  Gre^t  Malay,      2 


26th.  For  best  pair  Jersey  Blues,      2 
27th.  For  best  pair  comuiou  Dor- 
kings, 2 
28Lh.  For  best  pair  any  other  breed,  2 

TURKEYS,  GEESE,  DUCKS,  &0 

29th.  For  best  pair  coinmou  geese,   2 
80th.  For  best  pair  wild  geese,  2 

31st.   For  best  pair  China  geese,        2 
32d.   For  best  pair  white   Poland 
ducks,  2 

33d.    For  best  pair  Muscovy  ducks,  2 
34th.  For  best  pair  common  ducks,  2 
35th.  For  best  pair  common    tur- 
keys, 2 
36th.  For  best  pair  wild  turkeys,      2 
37th.  For  the  greatest  variety  of 
poultry,                                                   10 
Branch  VL 
agricultuual  implements. 
Class  No.  1. 
Ploughs,   Caliivators  and  Rollers. 
1st.  For  best  single  horse  plough,  $8 
2d.    For  best  shovel  plough,               6 
3d.    For  best  cultivator,                      6 
4th.  For  best  harrow,                          -8 
5th,  For  best  subsoil  plough,             5 
Gth.  For  best  gang  plough,                 5 
7th.  For  best  liillside  plough,             5 
8th.  For  best  corn  planter,                 5 
9th.  For  best  roller,                          10 
Class  No.  2. 
Drills    and    Broad-casting    Machines, 
Wheat   or    Grass    Rakes   by   Horse 
Power^  Cradles,  Carts,  Vfagons,  Wa- 
gon Gear,  Curt  Gear,  Ox  Yokes,  clbc^ 
1st.  For  the  best  broadcasting  and 
drilling  machine  for  grass  or   grass 
seed,                                                      $30 

2d.  Forbest  broadcasting  machine 
for  sowing  guano,  30 

3d.  For  best  broadcasting  macliinc 
for  sowing  lime,  30 

4th.  For  best  corn  planter  or  drill 
for  depositing  seed  at  regular  dis- 
tances, 10 
5th.  For  best  wheat  drill,                 30 

6  th.  For  best  hoi-se  rake,  5 

7  th.  For  best  set  of  wagon  harness,  5 
8th.  For  best  ox  yoke,  4 
9th.  For  best  grain  cradle,  4 
10th.  For  best  wagon  for  farm  nso,  10 
11th.  For  best  frame  or  body  for 

hauling  wheat  in  the  shea^  hay  or 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


223 


straAV,  10 

12tli.  For  best  ox  cart  with  body 
for  hauling  corn  in  the  shucks,  8 

13th.  For  best  ox  cart  with  body 
for  liauUng  wheat  in  sheaf,  hay  or 
straw, 
^     14th.  For  best  horse  cart, 

15th.  For  best  set  of  cart  gear, 

Class  No.  3. 
l?t.  For  best  sweep  horse  power, 
3d.  For  2d  best  sweep  horse-power,  1 0 
3d.  For  best  railway  horse-power,  30 
4th.  For  best  threshing  machine 
without  separating  and  cleaning  ap- 
'paratus, 

5th.  For  best  machine  for  thresh- 
ing, separating  and  cleaning  grain  at 
<MXQ  operation, 

6th.  For  best  separator  or  straw 
♦arrier, 

Class  No.  4. 
1st.  For  best  hay  and  straw  cutter 
for  horse-power, 

2d.  For  best  hay  and  straw  cutter 
for  hand  power, 

3d.  For  best  corn  sheller  for  horse- 
power, 

4th.  For  best  grist  mill  for  horse- 
power, 

5th.  For  best  grist  taill  for  hand- 
power, 

0th.  P'or  best  saw  mill  for  farm 
use  for  hoi-se  power, 

7t^i.  For  best  corn  and  cob  crusher, 

Glass  No  5. 
1st.  For  best  fanning  mill,       C'lo 
2d.  For  best  churn,  5 

3d.  For  best  hay  fork,  2 

4th.  For  best  hay  or  straw  knife 
for  cutting  down  stacks,  2 

5th.  For  best  dung  fork  and  hoe,  2  50 
tJth.  For  best  brier  blade,  2  50 

7th.  For  best  stump  machine,   10  00 
8th.  For  best  water  ram  in  ope- 
■mtion,  10  00 

9th.  For  best  draining  tile,  5  GO 

10th.  For  best  scoop  or  scraper,  5  00 
11th.  For  best  hay  press,  30  00 

AGRICULTUKAL  STEAM  ENaiJTE. 

1st  For  the  best  steam  (porta- 
ble) applicable  to  agricultm-aJ  pur- 
|:><:*Gs  generalJyj  as  a  feubstitute  for 
iiorse-jxjffej;  _  ^'100 


6 
4 

30 


15 


20 


10 


10 


10 


10 


50 


2d.  For  the  most  extensive  and 
valuable  collection  of  Useful  machines 
and  implements  exhibited  and  made 
at  any  one  factory,  whether  iRcliuling 
subjects  for  other  premiums  or  not,  a 
premium  of  25 

PLOrrOHINO  MATCH. 

1st.  For  the  best  two  horse  plow, 
as  shown  by  work  actually  performed 
and  the  test  of  the  dynamometer,       20 

2d.  For  the  best  3  or  4  horse 
plough,  as  shown  by  work  actuallr 
performed  and  the  test  of  the  dyna- 
mometer, 20 

3d.  For  the  best  plougainan  with 
horses,  i  0 

4th.  For  2d  best  ploughman  with 
horse,?,  5 

5th.  For  the  best  ploughman  with 
steers,  1 0 

6th.  For  2d  best  ploughm^an  with 
steers,  6 

TfHEAT  REAPER.  AND  MOWER. 

For  the  best  wheat  reaper  and 
mower,  to  be  tested  in  such  manner 
and  at  such  place  as  the  Executive 
committee  shall  designate,  a  premium 
of  iO 

HARNESS. 

For  the  best  wagon  harness      '2 
"         "      cart  "  2 

"■         "      Plough     ''  2 

RIDING  VEHICLES,  (fec. 

For  the  best  2  horse  carriage,  2© 

For  2d     "                "  15 

For  the  best  rockaway,  i  5 

For  2d     "          "  10 

5th.    Fx)r  the  best  top  buggy,  i  0 

6th.    For  2d     "          "  5 

7th.    For  the  best  open  buggy,  30 
8th.    For  2d     " 

9th.    For  the  best  sulkey,  5 
10th.  For  best  set  carriage  harness,    5 

11th.  For  best  set  buggy         "  5 
12th.  For  best  gent's  saddle,  bridle 

and  martingals,  7 

13th.  For  best  ladies'  saddle,  bri- 
dle and  martingals,  6 
14th.  For  the  best  centre  table,  10 
iSth,  For  the  best  rocking  chair,  3 
16th.  For  best  suit  gent's  clothes,  10 
l7th,  For  the  best  pair  boots,  ■  5 


10 

1st, 
2d. 

10 

3d. 

8 

1st 

00 

2d. 

00 

Sd. 

50 

4th. 

124 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Branch  VII. 

FRUITS  AND  FRUIT  TREES. 

1st.  For  the  best  and  largest  variety 
of  apples  suitable  for  Southern  raising, 
«ach  labelled,  10 

2nd.  For  the  best  and  largest  va- 
riety of  pears,  8 

3rd.  For  the  greatest  number  of 
choice  varieties  of  ditierent  kinds  of 
fruit,  10 

4th.  For  best  and  largest  collec- 
tion of  apple  trees,  suitable  for  South- 
Tern  raising.  10 
5th.  For  best  pear  trees,  10 
6th.  For  best  peach  trees,  10 
7th.  -For  best  grape  vines,  5 
8th,  For  best  strawberry  vines,  3 
9th.  For  best  raspberry  plants,  3 

VEGETABLES. 

1st.  -For  the  largest  and  best  as- 
sortment of  table  vegetables,  10 

2nd.  For   best   dozen  long  blood 

beets,  3 

3rd.  For  "  head  of  cab- 
bage, 3 
ith.  For  "  carrots.  3 
5th.  For  "  egg  plants,  3 
6  th.  For  best  peck  of  onions,  3 
Vth.  For  best  dozen  parsnips,  3 
8th.  For  best  bushel  Irish  pota- 
toes, 3 

9th.  For  best  bushel  sweet  pota- 
toes, 3 
10th,  For  three  finest  pumpkins,  3 
1 1  th.  For  best  sample  of  beans,  3 
1 2th.  For  best  sample  garden  peas,  3 
Branch  VIII. 

DAIRY    AND    HONEY. 

1st.  For  the  best  specimen  of 
fresh  butter,  not  less  than  5  lbs.  5 

2nd.  IFor  the  2nd  best  specimen 
of  fresh  butter,  not  less  than  5  lbs.       3 

3rd.  For  best  firkin  or  tub  of  salted 
butter,  not  less  than  six  months  old,     () 

4th.  For  2nd  best  fii'kin  or  tub  of 
saltei  butter,  mot  less  than  six 
months  old,  3 

5th.  For  best  cheese,  not  less  than 
25  lbs.  6 

6  th.  For  best  ten  pounds  of  honey,  5 
The  honey  to  be  taken  without  de- 
stroying the  beep,  and  the  'kind  of 
iiive  used,  and  management  of  same  to 


be  stated  by  competitors.  Also,  the 
methods  of  making  and  preserving 
the  cheese  and  butter  to  be  stated. 

BACON    HAMS. 

1st.  For   the  best  ham  cured  by 
exhibitor  $10 

2nd.  For  2nd  best  bam,  cured  by 
exhibitor  5 

Manner  of  curing  to  be  described 
by  the  competitors,  and  the  hams 
exhibited  to  be  cooked. 

FLOWERS. 

1st.  For  the  largest  and  choicest 
variety  of  flowers  10 

2nd.  For  the  2nd  largest  and 
choicest  variety  of  flowers  S 

8rd.  For  the  best  and  greatest  va- 
riety of  dahlias  5 

4th.  For  the  best  and  greatest  va- 
riety of  roses  5 

5th.  For  the  best  floral  ornament     5 

6  th.  For  the  best  and  largest  vari- 
ety of  greenhouse  plants.  5 

HOUSEHOLD    MANUFACTURES. 

1st.  For  the  best  quilt  5 

2nd.  For  the  2nd  best  quilt  4 

3rd.  For  the  best  counterpane  6 

4th.  For  the  2nd  best  counterpane  4 
5th  For  the  best  specimen  of  em 

broidery  3 

6  th.  For  the    best   specimen  of 

worsted  work  3 

7th.  For  the  best  hearth  rug  6 

8th.  For   the  best  pair  of  home 

made  blankets  5 

9th.  For  best  home  made  carpet  6 
10th.  For  best  piece,  not  less  than 

7  yards,  of  home  made  negro  shirting  6 
11th.  For  best  piece,  not  less  than 

1 0  yards,  winter  clothing  for  negroes, 

to  be  woven  by  hand  5 

1 2th.  For  best  piece  heavy  woolen 

jeans,  to  be  woven  by  hand  & 

13th.  For  second  best  piece  heavy 

woolen  jeans,  to  be  woven  by  hand  -3 
14th.  For  piece  best  linsey,  not 

kss  than  7  yards,  to  be  woven  by 

hand  5 

15th.  For  piece  2nd  best  linsey, 

not  less  than  7  yards,  wovt  n  by  hand      3 

16  th.  Forbest  fine  long  yarn  hose       3 

1 7  th.  For  best  home  made  bread  5 
18th.  Forbest  home  made  pound 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


12B 


cake 

19tb.  For  bestliome  made  sponge 
cake 

20th.  For  best  varieties  home 
made  pickles 

21st.  For  best  varieties  home 
jnade  preserves 

22nd.  For  best  varieties  home 
made  fruit  jelly 

23rd.  For  best  sample  of  home 
made  soap,  the  process  of  making  to 
be  described  by  the  exhibitor. 


Deep  Tillage. 

One  of  the  most  important  subjects 
that  should  command  the  attention  of 
the  farmer  is  the  improvement  of  the  soil; 
this  is  done  by  various  means,  some  are 
more  effectual  than  others,  but  there  is 
one  that  is  too  much  neglected,  one  that 
will  amply  repay  for  performing,  one 
that  requires  no  outlay  beyond  the  labor 
required  in  the  operation,  and  one  that 
is  not  uncertain  in  its  results,  as  too  many 
of  the  theoretical  schemes  are,  that  are 
•offered  to  the  farmer's  consideration. — 
That  which  we  allude  to  is  sure  in  its  re- 
sults, and  has  never  been  found  to  fail 
when  thoroughly  and  properly  perform- 
ed. But  to  drop  parleying  and  to  come 
at  the  point,  ^ve  mean  deep  tillage  ;  this 
is  one  of  the  subjects  which  should  not 
be  slightly  overlooked  by  the  farmer. — 
There  are  but  few  if  any  soils  that  can  be 
plowed  too  deep,if  thoroughly  worked  in 
other  respects.  Deep  plowing  gives 
greater  space  for  the  roots  to  ramify  in  ; 
and  as  a  matter  of  course  a  larger  sur- 
face for  them  to  collect  their  food  from. 
It  also  gives  a  greater  depth  of  soil  for 
the  air  to  penetrate,  and  as  the  space  is 
larger,  it  will  contain  more  air,  and  as  a 
natural  consequence  the  soil  will  be  more 
warm  and  congenial  to  vegetation.  The 
air  being  generally  warmer  than  the  soil 
the  greater  depth  that  the  latter  is  bro- 
ken up  and  made  loose  and  free  to  the 
accessof  the  air,  the  larger  will  fee  the 
bulk  of  the  former  which  will  penetrate 
into  it,  giving  out  its  benign  influeace  to 
warm  and  sweeten  it  for  the  use  of  the 
plants.  Thus  thea  deep  tillage  gives  a 
larger  amount  of  soil  for  the  air  to.  act 


upon,  and  the  deeper  the  air  penetrates 
the  larger  will  be  its  fertilizing  effect  up- 
on it. 

Then  again,  soil  tbat  is  deeply  stirred 
and  pulverized,  retains  moist«re  longer 
than  that  which  is  only  move^l  a  small 
■depth,  and  the  crops  on  such  land  never 
suffer  so  mucb  in  seasons  of  drought; 
there  being  a  greateT  depth  of  fine  pul- 
verized soil  it  holds  a  larger  amount  of 
moisture  during  dry  weather,  than  that 
which  is  only  slightly  stirred,  and  the  roots 
having  greater  depth  to  penetrate  they 
are  not  so  soon  effected  by  drought,  the 
result  of  which  is  a  larger  crop. 

■It  has  been  generally  admitted,  that 
for  root  crops  it  is  beneficial  to  plow 
deep  to  give  space  for  the  roots  to  pene- 
trate, but  for  grain  crops  it  has  been  sup- 
posed to  be  unnecessary.  This  is  a  falsi- 
ty, for  almost  every  crop  is  benefited  by 
deep  tillage.  To  prove  this,  it  is  only 
necessary  to  look  into  a  garden  which 
is  tilled  with  the  spade  to  a  good  depth, 
and  then  look  into  the  field  that  is  plow- 
ed only  a  small  depth,  each  being  planted 
with  the  same  kind  of  crop.  You  at  once 
see  the  difference — the  one  on  the  deep 
tilled  soil  is  far  superior  to  the  one  on 
the  shallow  plowed ;  a  perceptible  differ- 
ence is  seen  in  all  its  stages  of  growth. 
This  sbows  plainly  Avhich  is  most  advan- 
tageous, and  needs  no  comment.  Deep 
tillage  gives  depth  to  the  soil,  as  stated 
above,  giving  free  access  to  the  air  which 
acts  upon  it,  changing  as  it  were,  its  na- 
ture, giving  to  it  more  stability.  Let 
these  points  be  duly  considered  by  the 
farmer,  and  he  will  see  that  it  is  to  h's 
interest  to  plow  deep.  But  as  regards 
grain  crops,  let  the  farmer  look  at  the 
roots  of  his  grain  ;  and  by  the  way  he 
should  examine  the  texture  of  the  roots 
of  all  bis  crops  for  there  is  much  -to  be 
learned  from  them.  But  to  the  rootsof 
the  grain  crop :  take_up  a  plant  carefully, 
and  examine 'the  roots,  wbatare  they? — 
for  the  most  part  composed  of  small  fi- 
bres, of  fine  thread-like  texture.  These 
fine  roots  in  shallow  plowed  soils  are 
soon  dried  up  with  a  short  drought,  and 
the  plants  suffer  materially  through  it ; 
but  ill  deep  ploughed  land  they  peue^ 


126 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


trate  deeply  and  therefore  are  not  affect- 
ed by  slight  droughts. 

Another  point  to  be  considered  in  fa- 
vor of  deep  plowing,  is  the  gi'eater  space 
of  tine  pulverized  soil  given  for  the  re- 
recej.tion  of  the  fertilizing  rain  which 
falls  upon  it.  In  shallow  tilled  land  there 
is  but  a  small  quantity  of  fine  soil  to 
take  up  the  rain — the  consequence  is,  that 
a  very  small  qnantity  of  water  falling 
upon  it,  soon  fids  it  full,  and  then  if  the 
rain  continues  it  runs  off  on  the  surface, 
doing  no  benefit  to  the  soil,  not  coming 
in  contact  wilh  it,  tor  it  to  extract  its  fer- 
tilizing particles;  thus  much  of  that 
which  nature  has  provided  for  the  en- 
riching of  the  land  is  lost  on  shallow 
plowed  land.  This  is  no  new  theory, 
but  a  well  authenticated  fact,  for  it  is  v/ell 
knov»n  that  rain-water  contsiins  a  quanti- 
ty of  ammonia  in  solution ;  this  the  soil 
extracts  and  retains  for  the  use  of  the 
plants,  but  if  the  water  runs  off  on  the 
surface  much  of  this  valuable  roatter  is 
lost  to  the  land.  Let  the  farmer  then 
well  weigh  these  facts,  and  let  him  not 
pass  them  over  slightly;  for  if  he  Avishes, 
which  no  doubt  he  does,  to  get  all  he 
•<ian  from  the  soil,  we  say  let  him  provide 
for  the  reception  of  what  nature  gives 
freely, — "without  cost."  In  conclusion 
'we  say,  plow  deep,  and  thoroughly  work 
nhe  land  thus  plowed.  A  greater  yield,and 
a  much  finer  quality  will  be  the  result. 


From  Ihe  Southern  Cultivator. 
A  New  Use  of  Leaves  of  tlie  Pine. 

(riNUS  SILVESTRUS.) 

Near  Breslan,  in  a  domain  called  the 
IVairie  of  Humboldt,  the)-e  exists  two 
.«stablishraents  as  astonishing  for  their 
■produce  as  for  their  union.  One  is  a 
manufactory  which  converts  pine  leaves 
into  a  sort,  of  cotton  or  wool ;  the  other 
•otYere  to  invalids,  as  curative  baths,  the 
waters  used  in  the  manufacture  of  that 
vegetnble  wool.  Both  have  been  erected 
i>y  M.  de  Pannev/itz,  invent<:)rof  acherai- 
<eal  process  by  nieans  of  which  it  is  pos- 
sible to  extract  from  the  long  and  slen- 
<ier  leaves  of  the  ynne  a  very  filac^eons 
substance  which  he  has  namo<l  woody 
_  s^ool ;  it  can  be  curled,  felted  and  woven. 


All  the  aucular  leaves  of  the  pine  fir, , 
and  of  the  coniferte  in  general,  aie  com-; 
posed  of  a  fibillre  extremely  tine  andj 
tough,  surrounded  and  held  together  by  ■ 
a  resinous  substance  under  the  form  of  a: 
thin  pellicle.  When  by  decoction  and 
the  use  of  certain  chemical  ajjents  the' 
resinous  substance  is  dissolved,  it  is  easy 
to  separate  the  fibres,  to  wash  them  and' 
free  them  from  all  foreign  substances. — ' 
According  to  the  mode  of  preparation.! 
employed,  the  woolly  substance  acquires] 
a  quality  more  or  less  fine,  or  remains  in; 
its  coarse  state ;  and  in  the  first  instance- 
it  is  used  as  wadding,  in  the  second  tO' 
stuff  mattresses.  If  the  pine  has  been' 
preferretl  to  oilier  kinds  of  pitch  trees,  it- 
is  on  account  of  its  needle-shaped  leaves.; 
It  is  thought  that  a  similar  result  might; 
be  obtained  from  other  trees  of  the  samcJi 
species.  ■ 

The  tree  can  be  stripped  of  its  leaves! 
when  quit^e  yoimg  without  any  injury.; 
The  operation  takes  place  wdien  they  ard 
stiil  ojreen.  A  man  can  gather  two  hun-l 
drcd  pounds  of  leaves  a  day. 

It  was  first  advantageously  snbstitntedi 
for  cotton  and  wool  in  the  raanufactuKj 
of  blankets.  The  hospital  of  Vienna 
bought  five  Inmdred,  and  after  a  trial  of 
several  vears,  has  adopted  them  entirely. 
It  has  been  remarked,  among  other 
advantages,  that  no  kind  of  insects  K'ou1(J 
lodge  in  the  beds,  and  its  aromatic  odo^ 
was  found  agreeable  and  beneficial. — ■ 
These  blankets  have  since  been  adopte^l 
by  the  penitentiary  of  Vienna,  the  charity 
hospital,  and  the  barracks  of  Breslan.  ' 
Its  cost  is  tb.ree  times  less  than  that  of 
horse-hair,  and  the  most  experienced  up- 
holsterer, when  the  wool  is  employed  in 
furniture,  could  not  tell  the  one  from  the 
other. 

This  article  can  be  spun  and  woTeii 
resembling  the  thread  of  hemp  tor  i; 
strength;  it  can  be  made  into  rugs  an*; 
horse  blankets. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  wool  n; 
etliere^l  oil  of  pleasant  odor  is  produc«(: 
This  oil  is  at  fii-st  green;  exposed  t 
the  ravs  of  the  sun,  it  assumes  an  o- 
ange-yellow  tint ;  replaced  in  the  shade 
it  re3ume3  its  foraaef  green  color  5  recti 


tHE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


127 


fioJ,  it  becomes  colarless.  It  differs  from 
the  essence  of  turpentine  extracted  from 
tJie  same  tree.  It  lias  been  found  effi- 
aient  in  rheumatism  aud  gout ;  also  as 
an  anthelmintic  Hi  cutaneous  diseases. — 
Distilled,  it  is  used  in  the  preparation  of 
lac  of  the  finest  kind.  It  burns  in  himps 
like  o'ive  oil,  and  dissolves  caoutchouc 
completely  in  a  short  time.  Perfumers  in 
Paris  use  it  in  large  quantities. 

It  is  the  liquid  left  by  the  decoction  of 
the  pine  leaves  which  has  been  so  bene- 
ficial in  the  form  of  batli.  The  bath  es- 
tablishment is  a  flourishing  one. 

The  membranous  substance  35  obtain- 
ed by  filtration  at  the  time  of  the  wash- 
ing of  the  fibres  is  pressed  in  bricks  and 
dried ;  it  is  used  as  a  c-ombustible,  and 
produces,  from  the  rosin  it  contains,  a 
quantity  of  gass  suficient  for  the  lighting 
of  the  factory.  The  production  of  a 
thousand  quintids  of  wool  leaves  a  Quan- 
tity of  combustible  matter  equal  in  value 
to  sixty  cubic  metres  of  pine  wood. — 
Phw,   Loo7n  and  Anvil. 

Wiio,  in  this  countiy,  where  long  and 
short  teaved  pines  abound,  will  put  a  few 
thousand  ponnds  of  the  leavers,  now  yearly 
wasted,  to  the  eeonomicaJ  uses  of  our  Si- 
iesian  fziend  l 


Soap   Snds. 

The  vahie  of  this  liquid  as  a  stimulant 
of  vegetation  does  not  appear  to  be  gen- 
erally appreciated  by  our  Agi'icultural- 
ists,  many  of  whom  make  no  use  of  it, 
although,  from  their  well  known  habits 
of  enterprise  and  economy  in  other  mat- 
ters, we  should  have  been  led  to  expect 
better  things.  In  a  state  of  incipient  pu- 
tridity, soap  suds  is  replete  with  the  ele- 
ment of  vegetables,  in  a  state  of  actual 
and  complete  solution  ;  tlie  only  condi- 
tion, indeed,  in  wliich  it  is  susceptible  of 
absorption  and  assimilation  by  the  roots 
of  plants.  Besides  its  value  as  a  power- 
ful stimulant,  it  possesses,  also,  very  po- 
tent anthelmintic  properties,  and  when 
used  in  the  irrigation  of  garden  and  field 
crops — the  best  way,  perhaps,  in  which 
it  can  be  applied  to  vegetables. — ^oper- 
ates as  a  speedy  and  effectual  renaedy 
-against  the  ravagea  of  bugs  wornas,  and 


most  of  the  aligerous  or  winged  depre- 
dators, by  which  vegetables  are  so  oftem 
infested  and  destroyed.  It  is,  also,  a 
most  valuable  adjurant  in  the  tbrmation 
of  compost.  For  this  purpose,  a  large- 
tanJc  or  vat,  capable  of  holding  from 
three  to  four  cart-loads,  should  bd  con- 
structed in  some  place  easv  of  access,, 
and  to  which,  ^\-ithout  difficulty,  the  wash 
from  the  sink  and  laudry  can  be  regu- 
larly conveyed.  In  this  resorvoir  all  the 
wash  matter  produced  on  the  farm  and 
about  the  mansion,  should  be  thrown — 
bones,  refuse,  ashes,  muck,  turf,  rich  soil,. 
and  chip-manure  from  the  wood-shed  ;. 
in  short,  every  substance  capable  of  ab- 
sorbing the  rich,  fertilizing  liquid,  aud 
retaining  it  for  the  benefit  of  the  soil  and 
plants  to  which  it  is  to  be  applied.  By 
a  little  systematic  attention  to  matters  of 
this  nature,  the  annual  produce  of  onr 
agriculture  might  be  immeasurably  in- 
creased, and  the  pi-oductive  capacity  of 
many  ferms,  now  regarded  as  almost 
worthless,  placed  on  a  footing  equal,  in- 
deed, if  not  superior  to  that  of  the  most 
fertile.  Nature  has  everywhere  supplied 
in  munificent  abundance,  the  means 
of  fertility,  and  we  have  only  to  appro- 
priate and  apply  them  judiciously,  to  se- 
cure the  best  and  most  tlattering  results. 
Some  agricultural  writers  have  estimated 
the  value  of  a  hog-shead  of  suds,  in  a 
state  of  incipient  putridity,  to  be  very 
nearly  equal  to  that  of  a  cord  of  prepar- 
ed manure.  This  is  probably  an  over 
estimate  :  yet,  no  one  who  has  applie<l 
suds  to  vegeUitiou,  and  carefully  observ- 
ed the  results,  can  be  otherwise  than 
convinced  of  its  very  great  efficacy  and 
•value.  Where  it  is  used  in  composting 
operations,  it  may  be  applied  in  its  crude 
state,  before  fermentation  has  taken 
place.  It  will  ferment  in  the  heap,  and 
thus  induce  a  powerful  chemical  action 
in  the  ingredients,  which  will  be  in  pro- 
portion as  to  power,  to  their  number  and 
chai-acter,  and  the  manner,  or  rather 
thoroughness  with  which  they  are  inter- 
mixed. With  a  sufficiency  of  soap-suds 
and  urine,  a  valuable  compost  may  be- 
made  of  any  soil— even  sand..— i^arweir- 
and  Mechmiic^ 


128 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Batter  Making. 

Miss  Emily  says,  in  the  Ohio  Cultiva- 
tor, "I  have  for  several  years  had  the 
(entire  care  of  the  milk  depxrtment  in  my 
fathei's  family.  I  therefore  read  with 
great  interest,  whatever  related  to  making 
butter  and  cheese,  and  I  found  much  that 
was  different  from  what  I  had  been  in  the 
;habit  of  practising.  One  case  of  this 
•kind  was  directions  tor  making  butter  in 
winter,  according  to  what  is  called  the 
Russian  method,  by  which  it  was  said 
butter  could  be  made  in  winter  as  in 
(summer,  and  with  as  little  churning.  So 
1  set  about  trying  the  experiment,  and 
the  result  exceeded  my  expectations. — 
My  new  practice  is  as  follows: 

Before  I  go  to  milk  I  put  a  kettle,  say 
one-third  full  of  water,  and  large  enough 
to  let  the  milk  pan  into  it,  on  the  stove, 
where  it  will  get  boiling  hot  by  the  time 
I  come  in  with  the  milk.  I  then  strain 
the  milk  into  another  vessel,  and  wash 
the  pail  (which  should  always  be  of  tin,) 
then  pour  the  milk  back  into  the  pail, 
and  set  it  into  the  kettle  of  boiling  wa- 
ter, till  the  milk  becomes  scalding  hot, 
take  care  not  to  let  it  boil,  then  pour  it 
into  crocks  or  pans,  and  set  it  away  in 
the  cellar  for  the  cream  to  rise  in  the 
Hsual  way.  Cream  procured  in  this  way 
will  seldom  require  twenty  minutes  to 
churn,  while  by  the  common  practice  the 
poor  dairy  maid  may  often  churn  for 
hours,  and  then  perhaps  have  to  throw 
all  away,  as  I  did  on  two  occasions,  be- 
fore I  happened  to  gain  this  valuable  in- 
formation. So  much,  Mr.  Editor,  for 
one  instance  of  the  advantage  that  a 
young  lady  may  derive  from  reading  an 
Agricultural  paper." 

The  process  given  above   will  answer 
in  summer  as  well  as  winter. 


Special  Manure  for  Grapes. — The   | 
wine  committee  at  the  exhibition  of  ihe  i 
Cincinnati  Horticultural  Society,  reportr    ; 
ed  that  of  two    specimens   of  wine,  one   ; 
from  Grapes  to  which  a  special  manur-  , 
ing  of  potash  had  been  given,  the  "wine  ! 
from  the   manured   grapes   was  bright,  \ 
clear,  and  mellow,  like    an  old  wine." —  I 
The  other  was  declared   to  be  less  ma-  : 
turned  in  all   its    qualities,    nor   was  it  i 
clear.     The  grnpes  themselves,  from  the 
two  portions  of  ground,  were  also  presen- 
ted to  the  committee.     "Both  were  de- 
licious and  well  ripened,  but  it  was  con- 
sidered that  those    from   the   manured 
land  were  sweeter  and  that  the  pulp  was  | 
softer." — Ohio  Farmer.  i 

I 

THE  subscriber  will  give  any  special  ad-' 
vice  to  Farmers,  by  their  addressing  him  , 
and  giving  a  description  of  their  farms.  Hi*  j 
charge  will  be  moderate.  He  will  make  i 
analysis  of  soils  and  marls,  and  write  out  the  ' 
analysis  for  application  of  manures.  " 

For  analysis  of  soils,  -  -  -  $5  00! 
Writing  out  analysis,      -        -        •  5  09  j 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D.     , 

THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL  ! 

Is  published  monthly,  at  $1  per  anuom,  in| 
advance  ;  six  copies  for  $6 ;  twelve  copies  for  i 
$10  ;  thirty  copies  for  $20,  , 

Advertisements. — A  limited  number  of; 
advertisements  will  be  inserted  at  the  follow-  i 
ino-  rates :  For  one  square  of  twelve  lines,  for  j 
each  insertion,  %\  ;  one  square,  per  annum. ' 
$10;  half  column,  do.,  $30  ;  one  column,  do., ; 
$50;  larger  advertisements  in  proportion.  j 
JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS,  i 
Editor  and  Proprietor.  Bath,  N.  0.      ! 


Grape  Vines. — A  hint  to  he  remem- 
bered.— The  grape  is  a  great  feeder. — 
Many  people  wonder  Avhy  their  vines  do 
not  bear.  It  is  simbly  because  they  are 
not  fed.  Give  them  an  immense  top- 
dressing  of  stable  manure,  spreading  all 
the  ground  where  the  roots  run,  remem- 
bering that  tney  run  a  great  distance. 
Then  in  the  spring  prune  closely. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


PageJ 


The  Report  of  Professor  Emmons,  (con- 
clusion,) 

Chemiitry  in  relation  to  Agriculture, 

The  cultivation  of  Wheat, 

Thorough  Farming — or,  much  Labor  on 
little  land, 

The  State  Agricultural  Society, 

To  Our  Readers, 

Proceedings  of  the  State  Agricultural 
Society, 

Deep  Tillage, 

A  new  use  of  Leaves  of  the  Pine, 

Soap  Suds, 

Making  Butter, 
j  Grape  Vines, 
1  Special  Manure  for  Grapes. 


104' 
108 

iiii 

114; 

113 

nm 

125' 
126 

127l 
128 
12^ 
12^ 


THE  FARMER'S  JOUMAL 


VOL.  2.  RALEIGH,  N.  C,  AUGUST,  1853.  M.  5. 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKIl^S,  M.  D.,  Editor  and  Proprietor. 


Sea  Island  Cotton"StatisticS"Report 
of  Prof.  Charles  U.  Shepard,  «fec. 

In  a  late  number  of  the  Charleston 
Courier;  we  find  a  "  Heport  on  Soils, 
Marsh  Mud,  and  the  Cotton  Plant^'' 
prepared  by  Prof.  Shepard,  for  the  use 
of  Mr.  E.  W.  Seabrook,  of  Edisto  Island. 
We  publish  it  below,  in  the  hope  that  it 
will  prove  interesting  and  useful  to  our 
readers  on  the  seaboard  of  the  Carolinas, 
Georgia  and  Florida ;  and  prefix  some 
valuable  statistics  upon  the  growth  and 
price  of  the  Sea  Island  Cotton  during 
twenty  years  prior  to  1841.  These  st^tis- 
tick  were  compiled  by  the  Charleston 
Standard,  which  we  quote  as  follows  : 

We  will  add  a  few  Statistics,  showing 
the  value  and  importance  of  the  Sea 
Island  Cotton  crop.  Extending  our  ex- 
amination over  a  period  of  the  twenty 
years  preceding  1841,  we  find  its  pro- 
duction and  price  as  follows  : 

Year.     Quantity.    Average  price  in  Liverpool. 

11,3J4,066  21i^d. 

11.250,635  19d. 

12,136,688  17Xd. 

9,525,722  iSVd. 

9,655,278  28i^d. 

5,972,852  20d. 

15.140,798  14  Vd. 

11,288,419  16d. 

12,833,307  I5d. 

8,147,165  16d. 

8,311,762  13Vd. 

8,743,373  13«id. 

11,143,987  16  Vd. 

8,085,935  19%d. 

7,752,736  24i^d. 

8,554,419  25d. 

5,286,340  26d. 

7,286,340 

1,107,404 

8,770,669 

6,400,000—20,000  bales  at  S201bs.  each. 
Vol.  II — 5 


1821 
1822 
1823 
1824 
1825 
1826 
1827 
1888 
1829 
1830 
1831 
1832 
1833 
1834 
1835 
1836 
1837 
1838 
1839 
1840 
1841 


Since  1841,  we  have  before  us  no  re- 
liable statistics,  except  with  reference  to 
the  years  1850,  and  '51  and  '52.  With 
respect  to  the  crop  delivered  up  to  the 
first  o^"  September  in  each  of  these  years, 
it  will  appear  that  in  1850  it  amounted 
in  the  ports  of  Savannah  and  Charles- 
ton alone  to  26,634  bales,  or  8,522,880 
pounds;  in  1851  to  28,362  bales,  or 
9,075,840  pounds;  in  1852  to  30,878 
bales,  or  9,878,900  pounds.  And  up 
to  this  date  of  the  present  year  we  have 
30,031,  against  28,552  of  the  same  time 
last  year,  giving  us  the  reasonable  assu- 
rance of  a  larger  crop  by  some  2,000 
bales,  than  we  have  had  for  many  years 
previous. 

Nor  is  this  the  only  improvement. 
The  price  has  very  gmeatly  advanced,  at 
least  within  the  last  year.  The  price 
at  present  ranges  fo,r  Santees  and  Maines 
from  50  to  55  cts.  per  pound  ;  for  Flor- 
idas  from  42  to  48  ;  and  for  Sea  Islands 
from  50  to  70  ;  and  though  this  may  be 
slightly  above  the  ruling  prices  for  the 
season',  the  average  of  every  species  of 
long  staple  cotton  for  the  entire  season 
would  not  vary  far  from  48  cents,  leav- 
ing an  immense  profit  to  the  planter 
over  that  afforded  by  any  other  staple. 
To  pay  as  well  as  the  short  staple  cot- 
ton, the  long  staple  must  sell  for  twice 
as  much  per  pound.  At  present  it  sells 
for  more  than  four  times  as  much  ;  and 
its  cultivation  must  be,  therefore,  by  so 
much  the  more  profitable,  and  give  bj 
so  much  the  greater  inducement  to  its 
continuasice  and  extension. 


130 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Report  of  Charles  U.  Shepard  on  Soils, 

Marsh  Mud  and  the  Cotton  Plant. 

1.  Soils. — Of  these,  there  were  three 
varieties,  marked  A,  B,  and  C,  each  va- 
riety being  illustrated  by  two  samples, 
one  supposed  to  have  been  taken  from 
the  surface,  and  the  other  from  a  depth 
of  ten  or  twelve  inches. 

Soils  A  and  B  are  supposed  to  illus- 
trate the  average  Cotton  Soils  of  the 
Sea  Island  plantations,  of  which  it  may, 
in  the  general,  be  remarked,  that  they 
are  of  the  very  lightest  description. 
The  basis,  and  indeed,  almost  the  sole 
mineral  constituent,  is  a  fine  siliceous 
sand,  precisely  identical  with  that  which 
forms  the  sand  beaches  of  our  sea-coast. 
They  are  enabled  to  support  vegetation 
by  the  presence  of  a  trifling  proportion 
of  alummous  earth,  of  oxide  of  iron  and 
vegetable  matter,  to  which  are  added 
small  quantities  of  the  carbonates  of 
lime  and  magnesia,  and  traces  of  phos- 
phates and  sulphates  of  the  same  basis, 
and  of  alkaline  carbonates,  all  of  which 
taken  together,  fall  considerably  below 
1 0  per  cent.  The  alumina,  the  oxide  of 
iron,  and  the  organic  matter,  perform  an 
important  service  in  the  soil,  by  render- 
ing it  binding,  and  retentive  of  its  mois- 
ture and  gaseous  matter,  which  are  es- 
sential to  the  nutrition  of  plants ; 
while  the  salts  enumerated,  either  whol- 
ly or  in  part,  enter  also  into  the  gener- 
al circulation  of  the  vegetable  growth, 
and  are  more  or  less  there  detained,  as 
indispensable  constituents  of  particular 
parts  of  the  same.  But  it  i^  also  clear 
that  a  soil  thus  constituted  would  be 
unfit  for  supporting  vegetation,  except 
for  the  fact  that  it  is  situated  directly 
contiguous  to  the  sea,  and  in  a  temper- 
ature nearly  tropical,  thus  giving  rise  to 
an  atmosphere  perpetually  loaded  with 
moisture. 

Compared  with  inland  and  river  al- 
luvion soils,  the  character  of  the  Sea 
Island  soil  is  very  remarkable.  The 
former  rarely  have  more  than  66  per 
cent,  of  silica  ;  while  their  alumina  and 
oxide  of  iron  together,  often  mount  up 
to  10  or  12  per  cent,  and  the  proportion 


of    organic    matter,    and    hygrometric 
moisture,  to  12  to  15  per  cent. 

This  contrast  will  indicate  the  direc- 
tion in  which  the  efforts  of  the  planter 
should  be  mac'e  for  the  improvement  of 
the  Sea  Island  soils.  Every  addition  he 
can  afford  to  make  of  alumina,  oxide  of 
iron  and  organic  matter,  will  raise  the 
character  of  his  soils.  The  following 
researches  will  also  afford  hints  respect- 
ing other  ameliorations  of  the  processes 
which  lie  within  his  reach. 

It  will  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  anal- 
yses commence  with  the  soil,  after  the 
withdrawal  of  the  feeble  trace  of  solu- 
ble matter  it  contains,  and  after  it  has 
been  rendered  perfectly  dry  in  the  beat 
of  the  sun.  The  soluble  matter  con- 
sists of  the  chlorides  of  potassium,  so- 
dium and  calcium,  and  of  the  sulphates 
and  carbonates  of  potash  and  the  sul- 
phate of  lime — in  all,  probably  not 
equalling  one  part  in  a  thousand  tif  the 
soil. 

There  was  but  a  slight  difference  be- 
tween the  two  varieties  of  soil,  A.  and  B. 
One  exhibited  a  light,  cinnamon-grey 
-color,  the  other  was  cinnamon-brown. — 
The  latter  had  a  little  more  organic  mat- 
ter, and  had  more  of  its  oxide  of  iron  in 
the  condition  of  a  carbonate  than  the 
former. 

On  heating  either  of  these  soils  near- 
ly to  redness,  in  a  porcelain  capsule,  it 
quickly  turns  black  for  a  moment,  emits 
a  slight  odor,  resembling  that  from  burn- 
ing peat,  but  unattended  by  smoke. 
This  black  color,  which  proceeds  from 
the  charring  of  the  organic  matter,  soon 
disappears,  and  the  soil  assumes  a  yel- 
lowish brown  color.  In  this  process  we 
only  obtain  faint  traces  of  ammonia, 
compared  with  what  is  exhibited  by  lich 
inland  soils. 

-One  hundred  grains  of  the  sun  dried 

soil  (A)  gave 

Silica,  in  the  form  of  fine  sand,  92.85 

Water,  hygrometric  moisture,  2  50 

Organic  matter,  mostly  vegetable,  2.75 

Alumma  and  peroxide  of  iron,  the  latter 

containing  traces  of  phosphoric  acid,  1  40 
Carbonate  of  lime  and  magnesia,  .  0.50 

100.00 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


131 


SOIL  B.  1 

Silica,  91.73 

Water,  2.50 

Organic  matter,  2.75 

Alumina  and  peroxide  of  iron  with  traces' 

of  phosphoric  acid,  2.30 

Carbonate  of  lime  and  magnesia,  0.72 

109  00 
SOIL  C. 
This  soil  differs  strikingly  from  the 
foregoing,  containing  as  it  does  an  ex- 
cess of  organic  matter,  and  in  conse- 
quence possessing  a  ranch  higher  reten- 
tive power  for  moisture.  It  is  noticea- 
ble also  that  the  silica,  or  sand-grains, 
are  move  easily  cleared  of  the  adhering 
oxide  of  iron  by  the  action  of  acids.  In- 
deed they  can  be  washed  clean  with 
warm  water  only,  while  the  same  effect 
is  with  difficulty  produced  with  dilute 
acids  even  ;  an  actual  adhesion  seem- 
ing to  exi.st  between  the  impalpable  ox- 
ide of  iron  and  alumina,  and  the  sand- 
grains,  thus  admirably  adapting  such 
soils  to  the  purposes  of  vegetation,  the 
more  they  are  worked,  and  the  more 
they  are  enriched  with  marsh  mud, 
which  it  will  be  seen  abounds  with  ox- 
ide of  iron ; 

Silica,  87.53 

Water,  3.50 

Organic  matter,  7.50 

Peroxide  of  iron  which  in  the  soil  must 

have  existed  as  carbonate  of  iron,  0.60 

Alumina,  0.12 

Carbonate  of  lime,  0.30 

Carbonate  of  magnesia,  0.45 


100.00 
I  should  suppose  that  this  soil  is  not 
at  present  adapted  to  the  Cotton  Plant. 
The  organic  matter  is  in  excess,  and  in 
quality  it  is  too  nearly  allied  to  that 
found  in  peaty  land.  Thorough  drain- 
age, successive  cropping  with  corn,  with 
the  additions  of  the  marsb  mud  and  ar- 
tificial manures,  might  prepare  it  for 
cotton.  This  opinion,  however,  is  ad- 
vanced with  reserve,  being  wholly  sug- 
gested by  chemical  theory,  and  may, 
therefore,  require  considerable  modifica- 
tion in  practice. 

I  noticed  that  the  carbonate  of  mag- 
nesia is  more  abundant  in  this  soil  than 
in  A  and  B.  This  suggests  the  idea, 
that  magnesia  may  be  an  important  in- 

Al 


gredient  in  the  Cotton  Plant,  even  when 
compared  with  its  sister  element,  lime  ; 
for  soils  which  have  been  under  long 
cultivation  in  cotton,  although  they  still 
contain  magnesia,  nevertheless,  contain 
less  of  it  than  this  newer  and  more  un- 
exhausted soil  presents.  It  occurs  to 
me  also,  that  one  peculiarity  of  the  Sea 
Island  Cotton  may  be  owing  to  the 
larger  proportion  of  magnesia  in  sea 
shore  soil.s — this  element  being  ever 
plentifully  derived  from  the  waters  of 
the  ocean,  in  which,  in  one  form  or  an- 
other, it  is  ever  found  dissolved. 

2 MARSH-MUD  AND  MARSH-TURF. 

The  specimens  analyzed  were  first 
thoroughly  sun-dried.  No  sensible  dif- 
ference subssisted  between  them,  except 
in  the  proportions  of  organic  matter, 
adhering,  or  hygrometic  moisture  in  the 
100  parts. 


Marsh-Mud. 
Water,  19.56 

Organic  matter, 

(mostly  vegetable,)   3.50 
Silica     (very     fine 

sand)  67.50 

Carbonate  of  iron,        4.75 
Alumina,  ,   1.50 

Carbonate   of  lime 

and  magnesia,  1.64 

Phosphate    of   lime 

and  magnesia,      traces. 
Chloride  of  sodium, 

(common  salt,)  0.45 

Chloride  of  potassium,  0.01 
Chloride  of  magnesi- 
um, 0.05  j 
Sulphate  of  lime  and 

nxagnesia,  0.05 


Marsh-Turf. 
25.50 

10.00 


Loss, 


99.01 
0.99 


Soluble  substances 
either  in  water  or 
water  containing 
carbonic  acid. 


100.00  J 


The  marsh-mud,  before  drying,  con- 
tained 70  pr.  ct.  water.  In  the  process 
of  sun-drying,  therefore,  it  loses  half  its 
weight  of  water. 

The  marsh-turf,  before  drying,  was 
found  to  contain  58  pr.  ct.  of  water.  In 
the  process  of  sun-drying,  therefore,  it 
loses  33  pr.  ct.,  or  one-third  its  weight 
of  water. 

This  consideration  suggests  that,  un- 
der some  circumstances,  a  saving  of  la- 
bor might  be  made  in  the  transports- 


132 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


tion  of  these  articles  in  a  dry  state, 
■which  might  be  effected,  perhaps,  by 
throwing  them  up  into  heaps,  near  the 
marshes  were  obtained,  and  there  allow- 
ing them  to  wither  and  dry,  under  a 
roof  of  boards,  to  exclude  the  rain. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  also,  that  if  the 
marsh-mud  and  turf  could  be,  to  a  de- 
gree, pulverized  and  composted  with 
other  materials,  and  in  this  condition 
uniformly  spread  over  the  cotton  lands, 
a  decided  advantage  would  be  gained 
in  planting. 

We  are  now  prepared  to  comprehend 
the  uses  of  marsh-mud  and  turf.  In 
the  first  place,  the  carbonate  of  iron, 
when  blended  with  the  soil,  (in  consid- 
erable quantity,)  slowly  turns  into  per- 
oxide of  iron,  with  the  extrication  of 
nearly  one-third  its  weight  of  carbonic 
acid,  (which,  it  will  be  kept  in  mind,  is 
the  chief  aliment  of  vegetation,)  the 
peroxide  of  iron  acting  together  with 
the  alumina  as  a  cement,  or  binder  to 
the  loose  grains  of  sand,  and  as  an  at- 
tracter  of  moisture  and  a  retainer  of  nu- 
tritious gases.  In  the  next  place,  the 
soluble  substances  present  in  the  marsh 
manures,  are  of  essential  consequence 
to  vegetable  life  ;  not  to  omit  the  or- 
ganic matter,  which  is  very  considera- 
ble ;  and  in  the  ease  of  the  marsh-turf, 
is  very  abundant ;  thus  giving,  as  might 
be  supposed,  a  preference  to  this  over 
the  marsh-mud,  unless  the  difficulty  of 
reducing  it  to  a  powder,  and  of  incor- 
porating it  with  the  soil,  presents  an  ob- 
stacle which  overbalances  the  advantage 
arising  from  this  superabundance  of  or- 
ganic matter.  Finally,  it  may  be  added 
that  the  silica,  or  sand,  in  the  marsh- 
manures,  is  in  a  more  comminuted  con- 
dition than  that  in  the  soil,  and  there- 
fore serves  an  important  purpose  in  ren- 
dering the  land  to  which  it  is  added, 
closer  and  more  retentive  of  moisture. 

The  question  may  now  arise,  can  the 
planter,  with  advantage,  substitute  any 
artificial  manure  or  mixture,  for  that 
of  the  marsh  soils  ?  The  quantity  of 
saline  matter  in  it  is  cert^nly  small ; 
only  about  six  pounds  common  salt  to 


the  ton;  about  one  pound  chloride  of 
magnesium,  and  one  of  the  sulphates 
of  lime  and  magnesia;  of  insoluble 
constituents,  twenty-three  of  carbonates 
of  lime  and  magnesia,  to  the  same 
weiglit,  and  not  far  from  250  lbs.  of 
good  white  clay.  Of  these  ingredients, 
ail  but  the  clay  could  be  cheaper  ob- 
tained ;  nor  would  this  be  very  expen- 
sive, as  it  exists  in  great  quantity  near 
Augusta,  contiguous  to  the  Savannah 
river ;  but  I  apprehend  the  great  diffi- 
culty would  still  remain,  and  which 
would  be  nearly  fatal  to  the  use  of  ih© 
mixture.  This  would  consist  in  its  uni- 
form application  to  the  soil.  In  some 
places  it  would  be  in  excess,  and  in 
others  in  a  corresponding  deficiency. 
Whereas,  applied  as  at  present,  in  a 
copious  vehicle  of  fine  sand,  its  good 
eft'ects  are  eveiy  where  visible.  It  may 
be  concluded,  therefore,  that  the  Sea  Is- 
land planter  is  in  no  danger  of  using 
the  marsh  manure  to  excess,  nor  have 
we  any  intelligent  grounds  for  thinking 
that  any  substitute  will  ever  be  discov- 
ered, which  shall  render  their  employ- 
ment superflueus. 

3 ANALYSIS  OF    THE  COTTON  PLANT. 

Two  varieties  of  the  plant  were  sub- 
mitted for  analysis  ;  but  no  perceptible 
difference  could  be  detected  in  their 
chemical  composition. 

A  perfectly  sun-dried  plant,  in  which 
all  the  parts  were  present,  excepting 
only  the  cotton-wool  and  seeds,  was 
made  the  subject  of  analysis.  Parts  in 
due  proportion  from  the  root,  the  stem, 
the  leaves  and  the  pod  were  selected 
for  incineration. 

Ih  drying  at  a  temperature  of  320 
deg.  these  parts  of  the  cotton  plant  lost 
15  per  cent,  of  water,  and  gave  a  white 
ash,  which  weiged  2.75  on  the  100 
grs.  of  the  dried  plant.  But  of  this 
2.85  grs.,  0.30  was  separated  in  the  con- 
dition of  fine  sand,  which  must  have 
been  adhering  mechanically  to  the 
plants,  thus  leaving  2.45  per  cent,  of 
ashes ;  of  this  1.0  (or  about  two-fifths) 
was  soluble  in  water. 

The  result  of  the  analysis  when  the 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


133 


carbonic  acid  was  deducted,  which  it  is 
plain  did  not  exist  in  the  living  or  the 
dead  plant  previously  to  its  corabusti  jn, 
may  be  stated  as  follows — leaving  odt 
also  the  water  of  absorption,  and  pre- 
senting the  acids  and  bases  in  their  un- 
combined  state : 

Lima  and  Magnesia,  (mostly  the  former,)  44.50 

Potash  aad  Soda,  27.50 

Phosphoric  acid,  16.50 

Sulphuric  acid,  6.50 

Silicia,  1.80 

Chlorine,  1.50 

Potassium  and  Sodium,  1.70 
Oxide  of  iron  in  traces. 


99.90 
4 COTTON'    FABRIC. 

Two  varieties  were  analyzed ;  but 
without  detecting  any  chemical  diifer- 
-ence  between  them.  Water,  or  hygro- 
inetric  moisture,  7.5  per  cent. 

White  ash  1.2  per  cent.  One  third 
of  this  was  soluble  in  water;  but  of  the 
insoluble  portion,  from  12  to  15  per 
cent,  was  fine  sand,  which  was  obvious- 
ly a  mechanical  impurity,  thus  leaving 
40  parts  soluble,  to  60  insoluble  in  the 
ash.  Deduction  being  made  for  the 
adhering  sand,  therefore,  we  may  set  it 
down  at  a  very  close  approximation,  that 
every  100  lbs.  of  cotton  contains  one 
pound  of  the  following  substanees,  each 
in  the  proportions  of  the  figures  set 
down  against  their  names  respectively : 


Lime  and  Magnesia,  (mostly  the  former,) 

39.66 

Potash  and  Soda,            "        "         " 

28.50 

Phosphoric  acid. 

18.80 

Sulphuric  acid, 

3.80 

Silica, 

2.00 

Chlorine, 

1.75 

Potassium  and  sodium, 

2.00 

With  oxide  of  iron  in  traces. 

98.51 
5 — COTTON    SEED. 

Two  varieties  were  examined,  but 
without  essential  differences.  By  dry- 
ing 100  grs.  lost  5.3  per  cent,  moisture, 
and  the  tlioroughly  charred  residiura,  the 
heating  being  effected  in  a  nearly  tight 
crucible,  after  the  flame  from  the  burn- 
ing of  the  oil  went  out,  weighed  23  grs. 
The  coaly  residuum  when  burned  into 
a  white  ash,  weighed  4.2  gps.  in  one 
variety  and  4.3  in  the  other.  In  the 
former  3.1  grs.  were  insoluble,  and  in 


the  latter  3.4  grs.  were  insoluble. 

ash  in  both  cases  ofave : 


The 


Lime  and  Magnesia, 

(mostly  lime,) 

26.50 

Potash  and  Soda, 

17.50 

Phosphoric  acid. 

47.75 

Silica, 

traces. 

Sulphuric  acid. 

4.73 

Chlorine, 

1.25 

Potassium  and  Soda, 

1.75 

Oxide  of  iron  in  traces, 

99.50 
I  satisfied  myself  that  the  cotton  seed 
contained  no  sensible  quantity  of  nitro- 
gen— a  point  of  some  importance,  as  it 
had  been  suspected  that  its  use  as  a  fer- 
tilizer was  analogous  to  that  of  some  of 
the  oleaginous  seeds.  The  cotton  seed, 
therefore,  unlike  to  rape  and  flaxseed, 
is  extremely  deficient  in  albumen.  As 
a  manure,  it  is  obvious  that  its  use  con- 
sists in  its  richness  in  the  phosphates  of 
lime  and  magnesia,  and  of  potash  and 
soda. 

The  following  is  a  comparative  table 
of  the  results  obtained  in  these  analyses. 


Plant. 

Fibre. 

Seed. 

Lime  and  magnesia, 

44.50 

39  66 

26.50 

Potash  and  soda. 

27.50 

28.50 

17.50 

Phosphoric  acid. 

16.40 

18.80 

47.75 

Sulphuric  acid, 

6.50 

5.80 

4.75 

Silica. 

1.80 

2.00 

traces. 

Chlorine, 

1.50 

1.75 

1.25 

Potassium  and  sodium 

,   1.70 

2.00 

1.75 

99.90  98.51  98.50 
We  are  fully  authorized  in  regarding 
each  of  these  ingredients,  however  small 
their  proportions,  as  essential  to  the  cot- 
ton plant.  Some  of  them  are  abundant 
in  the  soil,  and  scarcely  require  to  have 
the  supply  increased,  such  for  example 
are  silica,  lime,  magnesia,  and  chlorine  ; 
while  on  the  other  hand,  there  is  de- 
ficiency of  phosphoric  acid  and  potash, 
possibly  also  of  sulphuric  acid.  These 
deficient  elements,  moreover,  are  in  the 
rapid  course  of  exhaustion,  especially 
where  the  cotton  seed  is  not  returned 
to  the  sail,  but  employed  on  other  lands 
devoted  to  the  food  crops. 

1  should  therefore  strongly  recom- 
mend to  the  cotton  planter,  the  follow- 
ing artificial  manures : 

First  of  all,  the  super-phosphate  of 
lime  mixture  of  Prof.  Mape».  It  is 
composed  of — 


134 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


100  lbs.  bone  dust, 
56    "    sulphuric  acid, 
30    "    Peruvian  bark, 
20    "    sulphate  of  ammonia. 

Secondly,  wood  ashes;  and  the  more 
these  are  intermixed  with  charcoal  (if 
in  a  somewhat  pulverized  condition,  in 
■which  state  it  is  a  valuable  condenser  ot 
moisture  and  nutritive  gases)  the  better. 

Thirdly,  compost,  formed  as  far  as 
possible  of  the  following  materials  :  sta- 
ble manure,  forest  leaves,  straw,  small 
quantities,  perhaps,  of  rice  chaff,  saw- 
dust, sweepings  of  houses  and  cabins, 
rubbish  of  old  clay  and  plaster  walls, 
lime,  refuse  of  gas  works  from  Charles- 
ton, soot,  drainings  from  stables  and 
gutters,  soap  suds,  and  refuse  saline 
liquids  of  all  kinds. 

It  does  not  appear  to  me  that  the 
cotton  lands  require  either  quick  lime, 
common  salt,  or  gypsum.  They  cer- 
tainly will  not  need  the  last  mentioned 
fertilizer,  if  the  improved  method  of 
Prof.  Mapes  is  employed. 

The  more  perfectly  the  compost  is 
worked  up  together,  and  reduced  by  de- 
composition, to  the  character  of  a  pow- 
der, the  better  will  be  the  effect  it  is 
capable  of  producing.  If  it  could  be 
treasured  up  for  years,  partly  under  the 
protection  of  a  roof,  and  guarded  from 
the  action  of  the  sun,  its  value  would 
still  be  more  highly  enhanced. 

Charles  Upham  Shepard. 

Charleston,  April  8,  1853. 


Constitution  of  the  Agricultural  Asso- 
ciation of  the  Slave-holding  States. 

The  following  Constitution  was  adopt- 
ed by  the  "  Agricultural  Association  of 
the  Slave-holding  States,"  recently  as- 
sembled in  Montgomery,  Ala.  : 

Article  1st.  The  chief  objects  of  such 
an  Association,  would  be  to  the  exclu- 
sion of  all  subjects  purely  political. 

To  improve  our  own  agriculture,  yield- 
kg  peculiar  productions  through  the 
agency  of  a  normal  labor,  requiring  a 
distinct  economy,  and  dependent  on  a 
climate  of  its  own. 


To  develop  the  resources  and  unite 
and  combine  the  energies  of  the  Slave- 
holding  States,  so  as  to  increase  their 
wealth,  power  and  dignity,  as  members 
of  this  confederacy. 

To  enhst  and  foster  those  scientific 
pursuits,  which  reveal  to  us  the  elements 
and  character  of  our  soils,  instruct  us  in 
the  presence  of  those  magazines  of  fer- 
tilizers which  Nature  has  with  so  boun- 
tiful and  considerate  a  hand  provided 
for  the  uses  of  the  industrious  and  the 
enterprising ;  and  search  out  the  histo- 
ries and  habits  of  the  insect  tribes  which 
destroy  (it  is  beheved)  annually  a  fifth 
of  our  crops,  and  supply  us  with  a 
knowledge  of  them,  which  may  enable 
us  to  guard  against  their  future  ravages. 

To  promote  the  mechanic  arts,  di- 
rectly and  indirectly  auxiliary  to  agri- 
culture, and  by  a  generous  confidence 
and  hberal  patronage  raise  those  engag- 
ed in  them  to  a  social  position  always 
the  just  reward  of  intelligence,  industry 
and  good  conduct. 

To  exert  an  influence  in  establishing 
a  system  of  instruction  which  will  make 
Christians  as  well  as  scholars  of  our 
children  ;  which,  in  arming  the  rising 
generation  with  the  instruments  of 
knowledge,  will  instruct  them  also  in 
their  proper  uses ;  impressing  upon  them, 
from  first  to  last,  that  (especially  under 
our  form  of  government)  private  worth 
constitutes  the  aggregate  of  public  good, 
and  that  no  one  can  disregard  his  du- 
ties to  those  around  him  without  posi- 
tive injury  to  himself. 

Art.  2d.  This  Association  shall  be 
composed  of  such  citizens  as  taking  an 
interest  in  its  objects  shall  desire  to  be- 
come members,  and  shall  signify  such 
intention  in  writing  to  the  Secretary. 

Art.  3d.  There  shall  be  annuall)'  elect- 
ed a  President  to  preside  over  the  meet- 
ing of  this  Association.  The  President 
to  be  first  elected  under  this  Constitu- 
tion shall  be  succeeded  by  a  new  elec- 
tion to  be  made  at  the  annual  meeting, 
1854. 

Art.  4th.  The  delegates  and  members 
from  each  State   present  at  any  annual 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


135 


meeting  may  non?inate  to  the  Associa- 
tion a  Vice  President.  The  oldest  Vice 
President  present  shall  preside  in  the 
absence  of  the  President. 

A  RT.  5th.  A  Secretary  and  Treasurer 
shall  be  elected,  who  shall  serve  during 
the  pleasure  of  the  Association.  It 
shall  be  his  duty  to  keep  a  fair  record 
of  the  proceedings  of  this  Association 
and  of  the  Executive  Council,  and  to 
register  the  name  and  address  of  each 
member,  and  to  superintend  all  publi- 
cations under  the  direction  of  this  As- 
sociation, and,  in  its  recess,  of  the  Exe- 
cutive Council.  He  shall  receive  and 
preserve  all  essays  and  addresses,  and 
all  such  communications  as  may  be  ad- 
dressed to  him  for  the  use  of  this  As- 
sociation. As  Treasurer,  he  shall  col- 
lect subscriptions  and  contributions, 
and  receive  all  donations  and  legacies 
made  to  this  Association,  and  disburse 
the  funds  under  its  direction  when  in 
session,  and,  at  other  times,  under  that 
of  the  Executive  Council.  He  shall 
make  a  report  of  the  state  of  his  ac- 
counts at  each  meeting  of  this  Associa- 
tion. 

Art.  6.  An  Executive  Council  shall 
consist  of  nine  persons,  not  more  than 
three  of  which  shall  be  selected  from 
a'ny  one  State,  three  of  whom  shall 
constitute  a  quorum.  The  President 
and  Secretary  and  Treasurer  shall  be 
ex-officio  members  of  the  Executive 
Council.  Five  members  of  the  Execu- 
tive Council  shall  be  appointed  by  the 
President,  at  this  session  of  the  Con- 
vention, one  of  whom  shall  vacate  his 
office  at  the  expiration  of  two  years 
from  his  term,  and  one  thereafter  an- 
nually, whose  place  shall  be  filled  by 
appointments  of  the  President  as  the 
vacancy  occurs. 

The  Executive  Council  shall  have 
charge  and  sole  management  of  the  in- 
come of  this  Association,  and  th^  entire 
control  and  direction  of  all  publications, 
and  the  superintendence  of  all  the  af- 
fairs and  concerns  of  this  Association, 
when  not  in  session,  and  shall  fix  from 
time  to  time  the  salary  of  the  Secretary 
and  Treasurer. 


Art.  Yth.  The  annual  meetings  of 
this  Association  shall  be  held  in  suc- 
cession in  each  of  the  Slaveholding 
States,  the  time  and  place  to  corres- 
pond, as  nearly  as  practicable,  with  the 
annup.1  agricultural  meeting  of  the 
State  to  be  selected. 

Art.  8th.  Semi  annual  meetings  of 
this  Association  ma}  be  called  by 
the  Executive  Council,  to  be  held  suc- 
cessively, in  the  Slaveholding  States,  to 
correspond,  in  time  and  place,  as  nearly 
as  practicable,  with  the  horticultural 
meetings  of  the  State  to  be  selected. 

Art.  9th.  Each  member  shall  pay, 
on  his  admission  into  this  Association, 
to  the  Treasurer,  the  sum  of  five  dol- 
lars, and  at  each  subsequent  annual 
meetins,  one  dollar,  which  may  be 
compounded  for  on  payment  of  twenty- 
five  dollars,  which  shall  constitute  him 
a  life  member,  and  entitle  him  to  a  copy 
of  each  publication  of  this  Association. 

Art.  10th.  Honorary  members  shall 
be  admitted  by  a  vote  of  this  Associa- 
tion, and  be  exempt  from  payment  of 
fees  and  contributions. 

[A.  I  This  Association,  impressed  with 
the  importance  of  annual  agricultural 
fairs  to  the  communities  in  which  they 
are  held,  and  satisfied  of  the  great  ben- 
efit that  may  be  rendered  to  this  Asso- 
ciation, when  held  in  conjunction  with 
such  State  biennial  fairs: 

Resolved,  That  we  recommend  to  the 
people  of  the  several  States  interested 
in  the  objects  of  this  Association,  to' or- 
ganize State  and  county  agricultural 
societies  connected  with  biennial  fairs. 

[B.]  Resolved,  That  each  delegation 
be  requested  to  furnish  to  the  Chairman 
of  this  committee  the  names  of  such 
gentlemen  as  may  be  prepared  to  ad- 
dress this  Association,  together  with  the 
subject  of  the  address,  and  that  the 
chairman  of  this  committee  be  requested 
to  furnish  to  the  President  the  names 
of  persons,  together  with  the  subjects  of 
their  address,  for  each  day  of  the  session. 

MEMBERS    OF    THE    ASSOCIATION. 

Dr.  W.  C.  Daniels,  John  H.  Newton, 
Gov.  George  R.  Gilmer,  David  W.  Lew- 


136 


THE  FAEMER'S  JOURNAL. 


is,  J.  S.  B.  Turner,  Chas.  A.  Peabody, 
Asbury  Hull,  Robert  Toombs,  G.  Bryan, 
W.  B.  S.  Gilmer,  and  Col.  James  M. 
Chambers,  of  Georgia. 

Dr.  R.  W.  Withers,  David  Lordon, 
B.  S.  Bibb,  James  Dent,  Samuel  Jeter, 
Judge  A.  Martin,  Dr.  B.  Johnson,  Jas. 
H.  Smith,  P.  R.  Gilmer,  R.  C.  Shorter, 
Sr.,  T.  B.  Scottt,  B.  F.  Ashley,  Dr.  A. 
Saltmarsh,  Dr.  N.  B.  Powell,  Dr.  Chas. 
S.  Lucas,  Dr.  N.  B.  Cloud,  Col.  McGen- 
ny,  Dr.  J.  H.  HpII,  Col.  E.  Harrison, 
W.  L.  Yancey,  Thomas  R.  Beck,  O.  S. 
Jewett,  J.  D.  Hopper,  E.  A.  Holt,  M.  A. 
Baldwin,  L.  James,  Thomas  M.  Cowles, 
W.  L.  Marks,  W.  B.  Mathews,  W.  C. 
Bibb,  Col.  J.  Darrington,  A.  V.  Scott, 
James  P.  L'win,  W.  W.  Mason,  J 
Goldthwaite,  S.  W.  Harris,  Chas.  Crom- 
mehn.  Dr.  C.  Belllenger,  Chas.  T.  Pol- 
lard, and  Gov.  H.  W.  Collier,  of  Ala- 
bama. 

Dr.  J.  A.  Wheetstone,  of  Louisiana. 

Col.  John  Gilmer,  H.  W.  tick.  Col. 
J.  B.  Cobb,  H.  G.  Vick,  and  G.  H. 
Young,  of  Mississippi. 

Coni.—Flat  vs.  Hill  Culture. 

In  your  last  number,  under  the  head 
of  "Spring  Work,"  you  express  a  desire 
to  be  informed  as  to  the  "  relative  ad- 
vantages of  hilling  up  corn,  or  letting  it 
remain  as  planted,  merely  keeping  it 
clean  by  horse  and  hand  hoeing."  After 
experimenting  both  ways  for  some  time 
past,  I  have  not  the  slightest  doubt  as  to 
■which  mode  is  preferable.  The  planting- 
being  in  rows  at  right  angles,  1  simply 
use  the  Corn  Cultivator  crossiwise,  and 
thus  leave  the  field  mellow  and  level. 
This  may  be  done  as  often  as  necessary ; 
but,  as  it  is  easily  done,  I  do  it  three 
times,  and  at  each  time  let  a  man  follow 
up  with  a  hoe  to  repair  injuries,  which 
is  done  in  a  short  time,  and  also  to  de- 
stroy the  suckers  at  the  last  time.  A  ten 
acre  lot  can  thus  be  easily  and  thorough- 
ly dressed  very  soon,  compared  with 
the  tedious  hoeing  and  hilling  system. 
It  is  obvious  that  this  method  decidedly 
economises  both  ti7ne  and  labor,  as  the 
horse  and  driver  do  nine-tenths  of  it  on 


a  walk.  But  this  is  not  all.  The  stalk, 
having  but  one  set  of  roots  (which  are 
long  and  strong)  shoots  up  vigorously 
and  well  supported,  and  consequently  is 
not  much  atfected  by  strong  winds;  the 
growth  being  steady  and  strong,  the 
yield  is  more  productive ;  there  being  no 
furrows,  ridges,  or  hills,  but  all  on  even 
surface,  it  is  quite  natural  that  this  is 
the  true  way  to  resist  a  drought.  This 
was  abundantly  demonstrated  the  last 
season,  so  unusually  dry,  with  my  yield. 

If  it  be  desirable  to  seed  the  field  with 
clover  and  timothy,  or  either,  it  can 
successfully  be  done  at  the  last  cultivat- 
ing in  July,  for  pasture  or  meadow  the 
next  seasQ,n.  If  this  be  done,  the  stalks 
should  be  cut  oft  close  to  the  ground  in 
the  fall.  It  is  surprising  to  see  the 
happy  effect  of  this  way  and  time  of 
seeding.  I  can  show  afield  treated  thus 
the  last  season,  having  grass  six  inches 
high  and  looking  as  rich  as  an  old  mead- 
ow of  two  or  three  years  husbandry. 

Persuaded  that  the  cultivator  ought 
to  be  adopted,  instead  of  the  old  fashion 
hoeing  and  hilling  system,  I  am  prepar- 
ed to  believe  that  it  will  not  be  long  be- 
fore farmers  will  have  but  one  opinion 
on  the  subject.  To  become  fully  satis- 
fied, I  think  they  need  but  one  trial  in 
a  fair  field.  The  result  will  readily  es- 
tablish this  way  of  managing  corn,  for 
vigorous  growth  and  yield,  for  security 
againsl  the  gale,  for  resisting  a  drouth, 
for  facility  of  seeding  fo  grass,  and  above 
all,  for  economy  of  time  and  labor. 

Fort  Plain,  JV.  T. 


Nails  Growing  into  the  Flesh. — 
A  writer  in  the  Ohio  Cultivator  gives 
the  following  remedy  :  Cut  a  notch  in 
the  middle  of  the  nail  every  time  the 
nail  is  paired.  The  disposition  to  close 
the  notch  draws  the  nail  up  from  tha 
sides. 

To  Cure  Warts. — It  is  said  that 
warts  on  the  hand  may  be  cured  by 
washing  them  several  times  a  day  in 
strong  soda  water,  and  allowing  them 
to  drj  wiihout  wiping. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


137 


Maxims  for  Farmers. 

Do  not  sow  your  grain  or  cultivate 
your  crop  in  any  particular  manner  be- 
cause your  father  did  so.  He  may  have 
foHovved  in  the  footsteps  of  your  grand- 
father, and  agriculture  was  not  as  well 
understand  then  as  now.  "  Prove  all 
things  and  hold  fast  to  that  which  is 
good."  If  not,  reject  it  and  try  another 
plan.  Nothing  of  importance  was  ever 
y@!t  gained  without  some  risk.  Experi- 
ment is  the  mother  of  science. 

One  acre  well  cultivated  will  produce 
more  than  two  only  scratched  at,  and 
with  far  less  trouble.  What  is  worth 
doing  at  all,  is  worth  doing  well. 

Do  not  have  a  superabundance  of 
farming  implements  ;  but  let  what  you 
have  be  of  the  best  kind,  and  keep  them 
well  sharpened.  A  sharp  tool  will  cut 
twice  as  much  as  a  dull  one,  and  do  it 
so  much  better. 

Never  plow  in  wet  weather,  if  you 
can  avoid  it,  Beside  doing  injury  to 
the  crop,  it  impoverishes  the  soil.  It 
will  not  rain  always. —  West  Jersey 
Pioneer. 


Ringbone  in  Horses. — This  disease, 
so  termed  because  it  constituted  bony 
growth  round  the  pastern-bone,  is  of 
two  kinds,  which  are  distinguished  by 
horsemen  as  true  and  false  ringbones. 
The  former  occurs  at  the  pastern  joint, 
and  generally  arises  from  strain  of  these 
ligaments ;  but  the  latter  consists  in 
ossification  of  the  cartilages  of  the  sides 
of  the  foot,  which  become  enlarged,  as 
well  as  converted  into  bone.  The  best 
treatment  for  ringbones  of  either  kind 
is,  after  the  inflammation  has  been  in  a 
great  measure  removed  by  cooling  ap- 
plications, to  fire  the  part,  or  otherwise 
rub  in  the  iodine  cf  mercury  ointment, 
washing  off  the  effects  on  the  following- 
day,  and  thus  repeating  it  again  and  a- 
gain.  We  have  by  such  means  succeed- 
ed in  removing  the  lameness,  diminish- 
ing the  enlargement,  and  restoring  the 
animal,  in  many  cases,  to  a  state  of  use- 
ful ness- — Spooner. 


To  make  Blacking. 

Take  11-2  oz.  gum  arable,  half  an 
oz.  copperas,  2  oz,  muriatic  acid  (spirits 
of  salt,)  and  4  oz.  ivory  black  moisten- 
ed with  half  oz.  oil  of  vitriol,  diluted 
with,  three  or  four  times  its  weight  of 
water.  Mix  them  well  together,  and 
then  add  4  oz.  of  sugar  candy,  1  1-2  of 
sweet  oil,  and  three  pints  of  vinegar, 
which  being  shaken,  then  spread  light- 
ly over  the  boots,  and  rub  with  a  stiff 
brush  until  dry,  when  it  will  give  a  bril- 
liant jet  black.  The  following  is  anoth- 
er method  for  rendering  leather  imper- 
vious to  water. 

Dissolve  1  oz.  of  ivory  black  in  2 
pints  of  water,  and  add  4  oz.  of  ivory 
black  and  2  or  3  oz.  of  sugar ;  mix  this 
with  a  solution  of  gum  elastic  (India 
rubber,)  and  rosin,  prepared  with  spirits 
of  turpentine  and  linseed  oil.  Having 
first  moistened  the  leather  with  a  de- 
coction of  oak  bark,  apply  this  composi- 
tion, which,  when  dry,  will  render  the 
leather  water-proof  In  the  above  pre- 
paration, lamp-black  will  answer  when 
ivory  black  cannot  be  obtained. 


Worth  Knowing. — Some  of  the 
papers,  of  late,  have  had  a  paragraph 
recommending  the  use  of  wheat  flour  in 
the  case  of  scalds  or  burns,  A  gentle- 
man at  Dayton,  Ohio,  saw  it,  and  the 
other  day,  as  he  writes  the  Empire,  test- 
ed it  to  his  satisfaction.     Ha  says  : 

"  While  at  the  supper  table,  a  little 
child,  which  was  seated  in  its  mother's 
lap,  suddenly  grasped  hold  of  a  cup  full 
of  hot  tea,  severely  scalding  its  left  hand 
and  arm.  I  immediately  brought  a  pan 
of  flour  and  plunged  the  arm  in  it,  cov- 
ering entirely  the  parts  scalded,  with  the 
flour.  The  effect  was  truly  remarkable 
— the  pain  was  gone  instantly.  I  then 
bandaged  the  arm  loosely,  applying 
plenty  of  flour  next  to  the  skin,  and  on 
the  following  morning  there  was  not 
the  least  sign  that  the  arm  had  been 
scalded — neither  did  the  child  suffer  the" 
least  pain  after  the  application  of  the 
flour." 


138 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Milch  Cows. 

Mr.  Editor  :  I  propose  to  say  a  little 
something  about  milch  cows.  It  has  ap- 
peared to  me  for  a  long  time  that  peo- 
ple labor  under  a  great  mistake  in  re- 
gard to  the  management  of  cows.  I 
have  been  in  pursuit  of  cows  for  a  few 
days  past,  and  I  find  them  invariaby 
poor,  while  the  oxen  in  the  same  yard, 
are,  most  of  them,  in  good  condition. 
IMow,  what  do  we  keep  cows  for  ;  for  a 
profit  most  assuredly.  If  there  is  any 
profit  in  keeping  them  at  all,  there  is  a 
greater  one  in  keeping  them  well.  There 
are  many  men  that  will  keep  six  cows 
through  the  winter  on  a  scanty  allow- 
ance of  hay,  because  they  can  pasture 
them  Ib  summer.  Hence  the  cows 
come  out  in  the  spring  very  poor,  and  it 
takes  them  more  than  half  the  summer 
to  gain  flesh  and  strength  sufficient  to 
produce  a  fair  c|uantity  of  milk,  while 
if  such  would  keep  only  four,  and  give 
them  the  same  feed  and  attention  that 
they  would  six,  they  would  be  worth 
more  money  if  they  should  wish  to  dis- 
pose of  them.  Or  if  they  are  retained 
on  the  farm  and  receive  the  greater 
amount  of  pasturing  they  will  return  to 
the  owner  twenty-five  per  cent  more 
than  the  six  kept  poor. 

Perhaps  some  may  think  this  a  wild 
statement.  Well,  then,  let  us  make  a 
little  calculation.  First,  take  the  four 
C'jws  that  are  well  kept;  their  calves 
will  be  larger  when  they  come,  and  when 
fatted  they  will  sell  for  four  or  five  dol- 
lars apiece,  besides  the  cow  will  give  at 
least  a  quart  of  milk  a  day  more  than 
the  calf  will  take.  And  at  a  low  esti- 
mate the  calves  and  the  milk,  when  the 
calves  are  thirty  days  old,  will  be  worth 
twenty  dollars  ;  then  the  covv's  will  give 
eight  or  nine  quarts  of  milk  apiece  a 
day.  Now  take  the  poor  cows  ;  their 
calves  will  be  small  and  poor  when  they 
come.  The  cows  as  a  general  thing 
■will  not  give  milk  enough  to  fat  them, 
and  at  the  age  of  thirty  days  they  will 
be  small  and  poor,  and  will  not  be  worth 
Kore  than  three  dollars  apiece  at  the 


mostj  making  eighteen  dollars.  After 
the  calf  is  taken  oft',  the  cows  will  not 
give  more  than  five  or  six  quarts  of  milk 
a  day,  making  a  difierence  of  about  one 
third  in  the  quantity  of  milk.  Hence, 
I  think  the  difierence  of  twenty-five  per 
cent,  is  not  a  very  wild  statement. 

Some  people  when  their  cows  come 
out  poor  in  the  spring,  are  in  the  habii 
of  giving  them  a  little  meal  and  better 
bay  about  a  week  or  ten  days  before 
calving.  This  I  think  a  bad  practice, 
because  it  is  laxative,  and  tends  to  weak- 
en the  cow  at  the  time  of  calving,  and 
she  becomes  more  liable  to  take  cold, 
the  udder  is  more  likely  to  swell,  and 
she  will  not  give  so  much  milk  the  first 
week  as  she  would  without  the  better 
feed.  I  do  not  contend  that  it  is  not 
best  to  give  them  better  feed,  but  I  do 
contend  that  they  should  have  it  at  least 
six  weeks  before  calving  instead  of  two, 
so  that  the  result  may  be  beneficial  in- 
stead of  detrimental. —  Granite  Farmer. 


Salt  your  Cokn. — Put  six  hushels 
of  common  salt  upon  an  acre  of  land 
prepared  for  corn,  and  you  will  just 
pickle  the  wire-worms  to  death,  and  add 
fertility  to  the  soil.  Salt,  after  having 
laid  a  few  days  in  the  ground,  ceases  to 
be  salt,  but  undergoes  a  chemical  change 
highly  favorable  to  vegetation.  There 
is  no  danger  in  planting  after  the  salt  has 
undergone  this  change.  Not  only  will 
salt  applied  to  land  kill  the  eggs  and 
larvse  of  insects,  but  will  kill  many  sorts 
of  weeds  that  would  otherwise  spring 
forth  and  choke  the  crop. —  Carolina 
Watchman, 


The  Garden. — Pass  through  the 
garden  once  a  day,  at  least ;  give  it  an 
hour  in  the  morning,  and  another  in  the 
evening,  if  possible  ;  no  part  of  the  farm 
will  pay  you  better  than  the  garden 
crops.  Coop  some  of  the  hens  near, 
and  allow  the  chickens  to  go  at  will  over 
the  garden  ;  and  they  will  be  able  to 
obtain  what  meat  they  require  with 
their  vegetable  diet. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


139 


Origin  of  Mules  iu  the  United  States. 

Mr.  George*  Wasliington  P.  Custis, 
in  his  last  paper  uader  the  title  of  Re- 
collections and  Private  Memoirs  of  the 
life  and  character  of  Washington,  gives 
the  following  account  of  the  introduction 
of  mules  into  this  country,  which  will 
be  found  very  interesting: 

Upon  Washington's  first  retirement 
in  1783  he  became  convinced  of  the 
defective  nature  of  the  working  animals 
employed  in  the  agriculture  of  the 
Southern  States,  and  set  about  remedy- 
ing the  evil  by  the  introduction  of  mules 
instead  of  horses,  the  mule  being  found 
to  live  longer,  be  less  liable  to  disease, 
requires  less  food,  in  every  respect  to  be 
more  serviceable  and  economical  than 
the  horse,  in  the  agricultural  labor  of 
the  Southern  States.  Up  to  the  year 
1783  scarcely  any  mules  were  to  be 
found  in  the  American  Confederation  ; 
a  few  had  been  imported  from  the  West 
Indies,  but  they  were  of  diminutive 
size  and  of  little  value.  So  soon  as  the 
views  on  the  subject,  of  the  illustrious 
farmer  of  Mount  Vernon,  were  thrown 
abroad,  he  received  a  present  from  the 
King  of  Spain  of  a  jack  and  jennies,  se- 
lected from  the  royal  stud  at  Madrid. 
The  jack,  called  the  Roj'al  Gift,  was  six- 
teen hands  high,  of  a  gra}'^  color,  heavy 
made  and  of  a  sluggish  disposition. 

At  the  same  time,  the  Marquis  de 
Layfiiyette,  sent  out  a  jack  and  jennies 
from  the  fsland  of  Malta ;  this  jack, 
called  the  Knight  of  Malta  was  a  superb 
animal,  black  color,  with  the  form  of  a 
stag  and  the  ferocity  of  a  tiger.  Washing- 
ton availed  himself  of  the  best  qualities 
of  the  two  j-.cks  by  crossing  the  breeds, 
and  hence  obtained  a  favorite  jack, 
called  Compound,  which  animal  united 
the  size  and  strength  of  the  Gift  with 
the  high  courage  and  activity  of  the 
Knight.  The  Jacks  arrived  at  Mount 
Vernon,  if  we  mistake  not,  early  in  1788. 
The  General  bred  some  very  superior 
mules  from  his  coach  mare,  sending 
them  from  Philadelphia  for  the  purpose. 
In  a  few  years  the  estate  of  Mount  Ver- 
non became  stocked  with  mules  of  a. 


superior  order,  rising  to  the  height  of 
sixteen  hands,  and  of  great  power  and 
usefulness,  one  wagon  team  of  four  mules 
selling,  at  the  sale  of  the  General's  ef- 
fects, for  eight  hundred  dollars. 

In  no  portion  of  Washington's  vari- 
ous labors  and  improvements  in  agri- 
culture, was  he  so  particularly  entitled 
to  be  hailed  as  a  public  benefactor,  as 
in  the  introduction  of  mules  in  farminr' 
labor,  those  animals  being  at  this  time 
almost  exclusively  used  for  farming 
purposes  in  the  Southern  States. 

Poultry  and  Eggs. — I  do  a  small 
business  in  raising  and  putting  up  gar- 
den-seeds, and  last  fall  a  year  ago,  as  I 
was  clearing  out  some  red-pepper  seeds, 
in  ray  back  yard,  I  threw  the  shucks, 
and  chaff  promiscuously  about.  I  soon 
observed  the  hens  picking  them  up  and 
swallowing  them  with  great  avidity. 
They  soon  commenced  laying  eggs, 
though  they  had  laid  none  for  a  month 
before.  I  feed  them  regularly,  two  or 
three  times  a  week,  since  then,  with 
red-pepper,  and  they  have  never  stop- 
ped laying,  summer  or  winter,  spring 
or  fall,  except  while  they  were  hatching 
their  chickens ;  and  I  am  confident 
from  more  than  a  year's  experience,  that 
by  this  method  hens  may  be  made  to 
lay  the  year  round. — Dollar  Newspaper, 


A  Potato  twenty  years  Old. — A 
much  valued  friend,  who  resides  in  this 
county,  yesterday  related  to  us  a  singu- 
lar but  interesting  fact,  relative  to  the 
discovery  of  a  potato  which  had  been 
buried  upwards  of  twenty  years.  It 
was  found  in  the  bottom  of  a  well  in 
New  Scotland,  surrounded  by  cinders, 
such  as  can  be  usually  gathered  from  a 
blacksmith's  forge.  This  well  was  fill- 
ed up  with  earth  some  twenty  years 
ago,  and  remained  closed  to  within  a 
short  time,  when  the  property  changed 
hands  and  the  well  was  dug  out.  The  po- 
tato found  was  planted  some  week  sinea. 
It  has  sprouted  up  and  is  now  growing. 
— Albany  Journal. 


140 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Agricultural  Axioms. — In  no  de- 
partment is  Bacon's  celebrated  maxim, 
"Knowledge  is  power,"  worth  more 
tban  in  agriculture.  Hence,  no  farmer 
can  be  accounted  skillful  in  bis  profes- 
sion, who  does  not  avail  himself  of  the 
information  to  be  derived  from  the  ex- 
perience of  others,  and  who  does  not  im- 
prove his  knowledge  of  husbandry  by 
the  perusal  of  the  ablest  works  which 
have  been  written  on  that  subject.  It 
is  absurd  to  imagine  that  the  commu- 
nication of  knowledge,  which  has  pro- 
Bioted  the  advancement  of  every  other 
art,  should  be  of  no  use  in  agriculture. 
Endeavor  to  raise  good  grain,  for  it  will 
always  sell,  even  in  years  of  plenty; 
whereas,  it  is  only  in  dear  and  scarce 
seasons  that  there  is  demand  for  grain 
of  an  inferior  quality.  Let  your  stock 
of  cattle,  horses,  &c.,  be  of  the  best 
bloods,  and  more  remarkable  for  real 
utility  than  for  beauty  or  fashion.  No 
farmer  ought  to  undertake  to  cultivate 
more  land  than  hti  can  manage  to  ad- 
vantage. It  is  better  to  till  twenty  acres 
well,  than  one  hundred  in  a  slovenly 
manner.  A  man's  owning  a  large  farm 
is  no  excuse  for  imperfect  tillage.  What 
he  cannot  improve,  he  need  not  under- 
take to  cultivate.  A  large  farm,  with- 
out skill,  capital,  and  industry,  is  a 
plague  to  its  owner.  It  is  like  what 
somebody  said  of  self-righteousness — 
the  more  you  have  of  it,  the  worse  you 
are  off. 


Carrots  for  Coffee. — T^ash  them 
and  scrape  the  outside  off;  then  cut 
them  into  pieces  about  the  size  of  half 
an  inch  square,  then  dry  on  a  stove. — 
Parch  and  grind  like  coffee,  or  mix  equal 
portions  of  carrot  and  coffee,  and  grind 
and  make  your  coffee  as  usual.  If  you 
know  it  to  be  mixed,  you  may  say  it 
tastes  a  little  sweeter  than  coffee  gener- 
ally. We  got  our  information  from  our 
neighbors,  who  came  from  Germany  a 
few  years  ago,  and  who  say  that  iri  their 
country  there  are  large  factories  where 
it  is  packed  in  pound  papers  and  sold. — 
Prairie  Farmer. 


We  have  often  h«ard  ladies  express 
a  desire  to  know  by  what  process  the 
fine  gloss  observable  on  new  linen,  shirt 
bosoms,  etc.,  is  produced  and  in  order 
to  gratify  them,  we  subjoin  the  follow- 
ing recipe  for  making  Gum  Arabic 
starch  :  Take  two  ounces  of  fine  white 
Gum  Aj'abic  powder,  put  it  into  a  pitch- 
er, and  pour  on  it  a  pint  or  more  boilino' 
water,  (according  to  the  degree  of  stiff- 
ness you  desire,)  and  then  having  cover- 
ed it,  let  it  set  all  night.  In  the  morn- 
ing pour  it  carefully  from  the  dregs  into 
a  clean  bottle  ;  cork  it  for  use.  A  table 
spoonful  of  gum  wataj-,  stirred  into  a 
pint  of  starch  that  has  been  made  in 
the  usual  manner,  will  give  to  lawns 
(either  white  or  printed)  a  look  of  new- 
ness, when  nothing  else  can  restore 
them  after  washing.  It  is  also  good 
(much  diluted)  for  white  muslin  and 
bobinet. 


Galls  from  the  Harness  or  Sad- 
dle.— Major  Long,  in  his  written  and 
valuable  account  of  his  expedition  to 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  says  that  his 
party  found  white  lead  moistened  with 
milk,  to  succeed  better  than  anj^  thing 
else  in  preventing  the  bad  effects  of 
galls  on  their  horses'  backs,  in  their 
fatiguing  march  over  the  plains  that 
border  the  mountains.  Its  effect  in 
soothing  the  irritated  and  inflajned  sur- 
face was  admirable. — American  Farmer, 


Cure  for  Chapped  Hands. — Most 
of  the  our  juveniles,  during  the  winter 
and  spring  are  troubled  with  chapped 
hands ;  for  the  benefit  of  the  mothers 
who  are  obliged  to  listen  to  their  end- 
less complaints,  we  publish  the  follow- 
ing recipe  for  "  chapped  hands  :" — 
"  Take  three  drachms  of  gum  camphor, 
three  do.  white  beeswax,  three  do.  sper- 
maceti and  two  ounces  of  olive  oil — put 
them  together  in  a  cup  upon  the  stove, 
where  they  will  melt  slowly  and  form  a 
white  ointment  in  a  few  minutes.  If  the 
hands  be  affected,  anoint  them  on  going 
to  bed,  and  put  on  a  pair  of  gloves.  A 
day  or  two  will  suffice  to  cure  them." 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


141 


From  the  Commercial. 
Tanning  Leather. 

Mr.  Editor  : — The  manufacturing  of 
Leather,  more  than  aay  other  mechan- 
ical branch  of  business,  is  a  chemical 
process,  almost  wholly  upon  the  skill 
and  judgment  with  which  the  princi- 
ples of  tanning  are  conducted.  To  at- 
tain the  requisite  skill  in  the  laboratory 
of  the  Chemist  is  evidently  impossible, 
it  can  only  b«  acquired  in  the  tanning 
ilself,  by  careful  and  close  observation. 

The  question  has  been  frequently 
asked — how  long  does  it  take  to  tan 
sole  leather?  By  the  old  method  of 
tanning  with  bark,  it  takes  from  nine 
to  twelve  months.  By  Dr.  Kennedy's 
improved  system  of  tanning  it  takes 
from  two  t9  three  months,  according  to 
the  thickness  of  the  sides  and  the 
strength  of  the  liquor  and  the  number 
of  sides  in  the  vats  ;  the  quicker  tanwed 
the  better.  Well  tanned  leather  is  a  ho- 
mogenious  substance,  entirely  free  from 
unchanged  gelatine  or  fibrine,  which 
makes  the  substance  in  the  durability 
of  leather  ;  but  if  the  tanning  prepara- 
tion has  been  deficient  in  tanning  in- 
gredients, or  otherwise  wanting  in  quali- 
ty, if  the  process  has  been  imperfectly  or 
carelessly  performed  it  will  undoubted- 
ly make  an  inferior  quality  of  leather. 
Several  considerations  must  be  noticed 
in  order  to  meet  the  questions  under- 
standingly.  The  weight  in  the  leather 
is  made  by  keeping  it  in  strong  liquor, 
and  close  attention;  if  the  hides  are 
fresh  they  are  capable  of  being  proper- 
ly softened,  and  if  so,  the  process  of 
tanning  can  be  completed  much  sooner 
than  in  the  case  of  old  and  hard  hides 
that  cannot  be  softened  with  the  same 
facility.  If  the  sides  have  sufficient 
room  in  the  vats  so  as  not  to  lay  crow- 
ded, they  will  tan  much  faster  as  the 
tanning  advances.  The  liquor  should 
be  renewed  seasonably,  and  its  strength 
increased  in  ratio  proportional  to  each 
stage  of  tanning. 

Under  the  old  method  of  tanning 
with  bark,  two  men  will  tan  and  finish 
4,000  sides  in  one  year,   at   |30  per 


month  is  $720 ;  the  sides  in  the  raw 
and  dry  state  will  weigh  on  an  average 
13  lbs.  pr.  side,which  will  make  52,000 
pounds  at  16  cent*  per  pound  will  cost 
$8,320  ;  the  above  amount  of  hides 
will  consume  270  cords  of  oak  bark,  at 
$Y  per  cord  will  cost  $1,890,  the  tan 
yard  will  rent  for  $150  per  year,  the  in- 
crease on  the  hides  will  be  $499  20, 
interest  on  the  bark  will  be  $113  40. 
The  whole  cost  and  expense  of  tanning 
the  above  amount  of  hides  in  one  year, 
by  the  old  method,  is  $11,692  60  ;  the 
4,000  sides  of  leather  will  weigh  on  an 
average  16  pounds  per  sid@,  which  will 
make  64,000  pounds  at  22  cents  per 
pound  is  $14,080  00.  The  neat  pro- 
duct will  be  for  one  year's  tanning  $2,- 
387  40. 

Under  D.  Kennedy's  patented  im- 
proved system  of  tanning  without  bark, 
one  man  will  tan  and  finish  4,000  sides 
in  one  year,  at  $30  per  month,  making 
$360.  The  sides  will  weigh  on  an 
average  in  the  raw  and  dry  state  13 
pounds  per  side,  which  will  make  62,- 
000  pounds  at  46  cents  per  pound  will 
cost  $8,820  ;  the  above  amount  of  hides 
will  consume  chemicals  to  the  amount 
of  $1,200  ;  the  tan  yard  will  rent  for 
$150,  the  interest  on  the  hides  for  four 
months  will  only  be  $166  50,  the  re- 
turns from  hides  to  sales  of  leather  can 
be  made  every  four  months,  as  it  does 
not  take  more  than  three  months  to  tan 
the  heaviest  kind  of  a  hide  ;  the  inter- 
est on  the  chemicals  will  be  $72.  The 
whole  cost  and  expense  under  this  sys- 
tem of  tanning,  4000  sides  is  only  $10,- 
268  40  ;  the  4000  sides  will  average 
17  pounds  per  side,  which  will  make 
68,000  pounds  of  leather  at  22  cents 
per  pound,  making  $15,160.  Subtract 
the  expenses  from  the  sales  and  the 
product  will  be  $4,891  60,  which  makes 
a  gain  over  the  old  method  of  tanning 
4,000  sides,  in  one  year,  the  handsome 
sum  of  $2,504  20.  This  will  be  a 
handsome  profit  to  every  tanner,  over 
the  old  method  of  tanning  with  bark. 
Tanners  look  to  your  own  interest,  and 
investigate  this  matter.     The  above  is 


142 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


a  clear  and  accurate  calculation  of  the 
different  profits  of  the  two  methods  of 
tanning,  with  bark  and  without  bark. 


Spinning  Cotton  Yarns  for  Export. 

England  exports  to  the  continent  of 
Europe,  about  fifty  million  dollars  worth 
of  Cotton  Yarns  a  year — importing 
both  the  raw  cotton,  and  food  consu- 
med by  her  operatives,  mainly  from 
the  United  States.  Has  not  the  time 
arrived  when  the  States  that  produce 
cotton  may  wisely  undertake  to  card 
and  spin  so  much  of  their  great  staple 
as  will  supply  one  half  of  the  demand 
of  the  continent  for  cotton  yarns  and 
thread  ?  This  extremely  simple  branch 
of  manufactures,  if  extensively  prose- 
cuted, would  tend  to  diversify  the  pro- 
ductive industry  of  the  South,  increase 
its  independence  and  wealth,  and  check 
the  impoverishment  of  its  soil.  By 
carding  and  spinning  a  bale  of  cotton 
before  it  is  sent  to  any  continental  city 
for  a  market,  it  will  be  nearly  doubled 
in  value.  Enterprising  planters  might, 
one  would  suppose,  easily  unite  in  the 
purchase  of  the  machinery  necessary 
for  making  thread,  and  run  it  mainly 
by  their  own  operatives.  By  keeping 
fewer  mules,  planting,  plowing,  hoeing 
and  picking  less  cotton,  they  might 
still  realize  more  money  by  the  greatly 
enhanced  value  of  the  product  of  their 
labor  and  capital.  Undoubtedly  there 
is  some  risk  attending  this  new  branch 
of  home  industry,  but  probably  less 
than  in  cultivating  land  to  raise  cotton 
for  export;  for  one  must  take  all  the 
hazards  of  insects,  dro  th  and  floods, 
rust  and  an  over-stocking  of  the  market, 
in  addition  to  the  damage  done  to  the 
soil.  Having  made  up  their  minds  to 
advance  in  arts  and  knowledge  with  an 
advancing  world,  the  producers  of  cot- 
ton should  encourage  its  manufacture  at 
home,  so  far  as  practicable,  that  they 
may  not  be  dependent  on  one  kind  of 
employment  for  prosperity,  and  a  few 
foreign  cotton  brokers  and  manufactu- 
rers to  dictate  the  price  of  their  one 
staple.     A  great  people  need  a  much 


broader  basis  for  their  agriculture  and 
commerce  than  cotton  culture ;  and 
among  other  remunerating  pursuits  that 
of  competing  with  England  in  spinning 
cotton  for  European  consumption,  to 
the  amount  of  twenty  or  thirty  millions 
a  year,  appears  to  us  entirely  practica- 
ble.— Southern  Cultivator. 


New  Process  of  Making  Butter. 
Mr.  James  Stubbs,  of  Cuttyliunk  Island, 
informs  us  of  a  new  and  simple  process 
of  making  butter  from  the  cream,  which 
promises  to  supersede  the  labor  of  the 
churn,  at  least  during  the  warm  season. 
At  his  dairy,  recently,  a  quantity  of 
cream  that  had  obstinately  refused  to 
become  butter  under  any  reasonable  a- 
mount  of  '  agitation  '  in  the  usual  mode, 
was  at  length  emptied  into  a  clean 
"  salt  bag  "  of  coarse  linen,  and  deposit- 
ed in  the  ground  at  a  depth  of  about 
twelve  inches  below  the  surface,  to  cool. 
On  the  following  morning  it  was  found 
that  the  buttermilk  had  entirely  separ- 
ated and  disappeared,  and  the  butter 
remained  in  the  sack  perfectly  nice  and 
sweet.  He  has  since  frequently  manu- 
factured butter  by  this  method,  with  in- 
variable success,  in  from  6  to  12  hours. 
As  an  effectual  preventive  of  any  earth- 
ly taste  becoming  imparted  to  the  but- 
ter, Mr.  Stubbs  suggests  that  the  bag 
containing  the  cieara  be  placed  in  an- 
other bag,  or  cloth,  of  the  same  material. 
The  value  of  the  discovery  may  be 
easily  tested. — New  Bedford  Mercury. 


Pleasuring  Corn — Another  Suggestion. 

Messrs.  Editors-  -I  noticed  in  your 
last  number  an  article  on  measuring 
cribs  of  corn.  I  have  noticed  other  ar- 
ticles on  this  subject,  but  have  as  yet 
seen  none  satisfactory  to  my  mind. 
True,  we  can  divide  the  number  of  cu- 
bic inches  in  a  crib  by  2150.2-5 — the 
number  of  cubic  inches  in  a  Winches- 
ter bushel.  But  how  are  we  to  estab- 
lish any  conventional  rule  as  to  the  de- 
duction to  be  made  for  the  shucks, 
cobs,  &c.     If  the  corn   be  closely  slip- 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


14  ] 


shucked  some  rule  might  be  estabHsh- 
ed — but  how  are  we  to  determine  this 
in  many  instances  2  It  seems  to  me 
there  are  insuperable  difficulties  in  es- 
tablishing an  absolute  rule  on  the  subject. 

As  the  object  of  your  journal  is  to  ex- 
tend the  area  of  useful  knowledge,  I  beg 
leave  to  suggest  (if  it  has  not  been 
done  before)  the  following  : 

Divide  the  number  of  inches  in  your 
crib  by  the  number  of  cubic  inches  in  a 
box,  say  2  by  8  feet,  and  measure  the 
box  ;  after  having  shelled  it  out,  multi- 
ply the  quantity  h  contains  by  the  quo- 
tient arising  from    the   above    division. 

Marshall,  Texas,  May ,  1853. 


And  here  we  have  another  sugges- 
tion from  one  of  our  Mississippi  corres- 
i:)ondents  : 

Find  the  solid  contents  in  feet,  by 
measuring  the  length,  breadth  and 
heighth  of  the  crib,  thus — 10  feet  long, 
10  feet  wide,  and  10  feet  high  ;  then 
multiply  the  whole  by  8,  and  cut  off 
the  right  hand  figures — thiswi  11  give 
you  the  barrels  and  decimals  of  a  bar- 
rel of  shelled  corn  in  a  crib. 

Example :     10 
10 

100 
10 

1000 


80.00    Answer— 80  bushels  shelled  corn. 
Southern  Cultivator. 


Georgia  State  Agricultural  Fair. 
— This  Fair  is  to  be  held  in  Augusta  on 
the  17th,  18th,  19ih  and  20th  of  Octo- 
ber. The  society  have  offered  premi- 
ums to  the  amount  of  five  thousand 
dollars,  embracing  nearly  everything 
valuable  in  Agricultural  and  Mechani- 
cal Industry,  Art  and  Science,  and  Taste. 
We  have  been  kindly  furnished,  by  the 
publisher,  with  the  illustrated  premium 
list,  which  we  will  take  pleasure  in 
loaning  to  any  friends  of  Agricultural 
and  Mechanical  improvement,  who  may 
desire  to  look  over  it. — Maleigh  Star. 


The  China  TREE.-The  Mobile  Trib- 
une says :  "  We  are  indebted  to  one  of 
our  citizens  for  an  interesting  reininis- 
cence  of  the  China  tree.  He  informs 
us  that  it  was  introduced  into  this 
country  before  the  Revolutionary  war 
by  a  Merchantle  firm  of  Philadelphia, 
and  Edenton,  North  Carolina,  which 
traded  with  China.  The  first  tree  was 
planted  in  the  former  city,  but,  under 
an  apprehension  that  it  would  not  live 
in  so  northern  a  climate,  it  was  remov- 
ed to  Edenton,  where  it  grew  apace  and 
was  greatly  admired.  After  it  com- 
menced blooming,  the  people  came  as 
many  as  twenty  and  thirty  miles  to  see 
it. 

From  this  single  tree,  it  was  propa- 
gated through  the  country,  and  now, 
in  most  of  our  cities,  it  is  one  of  the 
commonest  of  our  shade  trees.  The 
first  tree  was  vigorous  twenty  years 
ago. — Raleigh  Register. 


The  North  Carolina  Whig,  of  Eden- 
ton, is  responsible  for  the  two  following 
items:  i 

"  Hard  to  Beat. — We  saw  a  few 
days  ago,  twenty-four  Irish  Potatoes 
that  weighed  twenty- eight  pounds,  and 
filled  a  half-bushel  measure.  They  were 
raised  by  Mr.  John  M.  Jones  in  his  gar- 
den at  this  place.  If  any  one  can  beat 
that,  we  would  like  to  have  them  extend 
to  us  the  same  kindness  which  we  ex- 
perienced at  Mr.  Jones'  hands,  viz  :  the 
presentation  of  a  fine  mess  of  the  praties. 

"  We  were  shown  last  week  a  boll  of 
Cotton  nearly  full  grown,  taken  from 
the  farm  of  Mr.  H.  W.  Collins,  whichi 
measured  four  and  a  quarter  inches  in 
circumference.  The  bloom  appeared 
about  the  25th  of  last  month." 


There  is  no  occasion  to  trample  up- 
on the  meanest  reptile,  nor  to  sneak  to 
the  greatest  prince.  Insolence  and  base- 
ness are  equally  unmanly, 


144 


THE  FARMERS'  JOURNAL. 


FAEMER'S  JOURNAL. 

RALEIGH,  N.  C,  AUGUST,  1853. 


Our  Removal. 

As  our  readers  will  see,  we  have 
changed  our  locution  from  Bath  to  Ra- 
leigh, which  we  have  done,  not  because 
we  are  anxious  to  get  among  the  "  swell- 
ed heads  or  upper  tens"  as  they  are  call- 
ed, but  for  the  reason  that  we  believe, 
a  change  of  this  kind  will  confer  a  mu- 
tual benefit  upon  ourself  and  those 
whose  interest  we  advocate.  Before 
coming  to  this  conclusion,  we  advised 
with  many  of  our  friends,  and  we  have 
the  pleasure  to  say,  that  not  the  first 
one  failed  to  concur  with  us  in  the  opin- 
ion that  this  change  would  be  advan- 
tageous to  all  parties  interested.  There 
were  many  objections  to  our  former  lo- 
cation, which  WQ  have  seen  and  felt  from 
the  beginning  of  our  enterprise,  but  we 
could  not  think  of  making  this  move 
until  we  saw  some  prospect  of  a  con- 
tinuation of  our  paper.  We  do  not, 
however,  wish  to  be  understood  to  say, 
that  now  we  are  paying  even  the  ex- 
penses of  publishing  it,  for  such  is  not 
the  case.  But  at  the  late  called  meet- 
ing of  the  State  Agricultural  Society, 
we  flattered  ourself  that  we  saw  a  new 
impetus  given  to  agricultural  improve- 
ment, in  the  establishment  of  an  annual 
Agricultural  Fair  near  Raleigh,  and  we 
will  here  state  that  to  this  action  we 
are  indebted  for  a  continuation  of  our 
enterprise  longer  than  the  present  vol- 
ume ;  for  it  would  be  impossible  to 
keep  up  interest  enough  in  a  publica- 
tion of  this  kind,  to  cause  farmers  to 
renew  their  subscriptions,  unless  it  is 
done  at  these  annual  faifs.     In  a  short 


time,  we  shall  have  traveled  over  the 
entire  State,  and  when  this  is  done,  wq 
shall  give  our  undivided  attention  to 
the  "  Journal,"  the  analysis  of  soils,  and 
our  Agricultural  School,  which  we  shall 
open  in  Raleigh  in  Januaiy  next.  Hav- 
ing a  central  position,  we  hope  now  to 
be  able  to  give  satisfaction  to  all  who 
are  interested  in  our  enterprise,  and  we 
hope  that  our  friends  and  the  friends  of 
agricultural  improvement,  will  use  their 
exertions  to  circulate  the  ''  Journal"  ex- 
tensively in  every  county  in  the  State. 
We  shall  now  look  for  a  great  addition 
to  our  list  immediately,  and  we  hope 
that  we  shall  not  be  disappointed,  as 
we  often  have  been  before. 


Farmers,  Write  For  Your  Paper. 

We  have  tried  often-time,  invited,  and 
we  may  say,  even  begged  farmers  to 
contribute  to  the  only  paper  devoted 
exclusively  to  their  interest  in  the  State. 
We  meet  with  many  in  our  travels 
around,  whom  we  ask  to  write  for  "The 
Journal,"  and  they  promise  to  do  so  ; 
but  this  is  the  last  we  ever  hear  from 
them.  If  they  will  only  reflect  as  to 
the  object  of  our  enterprise,  it  seems  to 
us  that  they  will  no  longer  hold  back. 
We  have  opened  to  them  a  channel, 
through  which  they  may  intei'change 
ideas  and  opinions  with  each  other,  and 
still  they  refuse  to  enter  into  this  ex- 
cellent way  of  adding  to  their  knowl- 
edge, as  well  as  enjoyment.  As  our 
position  is  now  central,  we  hope  to  en- 
list a  large  number  of  contributors 
as  well  as  subscribers  to  our  paper.  Is 
there  not  at  least  one  enterprising  man 
in  each  county  in  our  State,  to  lay  hold 
and  help  us  out ;  if  there  is  let's  hear 
from  him  at  once. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


145 


To  the  Farmers'   Wives  and  Daagh  - 
ters  of  North  Carolina. 

We  have,  for  some  time  past,  been 
tbinking  to  make  an  appeal  to  tbe  la- 
dies of  oar  good  old  State,  entreating 
them  to  lend  us  their  powerful  influence, 
in  getting  up  a  proper  state  of  feeling 
in  regard  to  agriculture  among  our  far- 
mers.    This  we  should  have  done  long 
since,  and  indeed,  may  not  it  be  in  a 
great  measure  the    cause  of  so  much 
apathy  still  existing.     That  sex,  mod- 
est by  nature,  cannot  of  course,  be  ex- 
pected to  lay  hold  of  anything  of  the 
kind,  unless  invited  to  do  so,  and  hav- 
ing the  assurance  at  the  same  time,  that 
they  are  not  transcending  the  bounds 
of  female  action.      We  here   take  the 
responsibility  of  saying,  that  there  are 
ibut  few  ways  in  which  the  ladies  of  our 
State  could  exert  their  influence  more 
jbeneficially,  than   in  behalf  of  agricul- 
tural improvement.      They,   by   right, 
ave  a  particular  branch  of  this  noble 
irofession,  which  strictly  comes  under 
heir  immediate  control ;  and  really,  it 
leems  to  us,  that  the  fact  cannot  be  de- 
fied that  horticulture,  as  well  as  agri- 
lulture,  in  this  State,  is  at  present  in  a 
rery  languishing  condition,  and  it,  of 
;ourse,  is  reserved  for  the  farmers'  wives 
md  daughters    to  elevate  it  from  its 
present  degraded  position  to  that  stand- 
ard which  is  recognized  in  other  States. 
[it  is  true,  we  have  seen  some  well  cul- 
tivated gardens   as   well  as  some  well 
cultivated  fields,  but  they  are   few  and 
]  far  between.      From  whence  does  the 
1  farmer's  family  derive  more  luxury,  in 
the  summer,  than  from  a  well  cultivated 
I   garden,  which  contains  such  a  variety 
/    as  all  gardens  should  contain.     In  the 
summer,  animal  food  is  not  as  healthy, 


by  any  means,  as  vegetables,  and  this 
alone,   should   stimulate    the    prudent 
housewife  to  have  a  fine  garden,  to  say 
nothing  of   the   saving  gained   by  it. 
But  the  little  interest  which  is  manifest- 
ed in  agriculture  by   the  ladies  of  our 
State,  is  mainly  to  be  attributed  to  the 
improper  system  of   education  in  the 
female  schools.     Heretofore,  it  has  been 
the  custom  to  induce  young  ladies,  while 
at  school,  to  believe,  that  a  proficiency 
iu   music,  French    and   drawing     were 
quite  sufficient  to  entitle   them   to  be 
called  accomplished.      But,  is  this,  we 
ask,  really   true ;  can  a  young  lady  be 
said  to   be  properly  prepared  to   take 
charge  of  a  family,  who  knows  nothing 
of  the  household  arts?  Indeed  there  are 
many   who  have  been  made  to   blush 
with  shame  and  mortification  when  they 
first  took  charge  of  the  bachelor  hall  of 
their  husband.    We  have,  in  more  than 
one  instance,  heard  such  confessions  as 
this ;    that   when   company    came,   we 
have  been  told   by   ladies,  they  would 
be  troubled  to   know   what   to  proA'ide 
for  dinner,  and  they  would  have  either 
to  send  far  the  mamma,  or  the  aunt,  to 
give   them  such    information    as    they 
ought  to  have   been    in  possession  of. 
We  contend  that  it  is  high  time  that 
a  system  of  reform  was  being  made  in 
this  branch  of  female  education  ;  that  it 
had  given  to  it  that  consideration  to 
which  it  is  fairly  entitled.     We  hope 
at    the    State    Agricultural    Fair,   on 
the  18th  of  October  next,  to  witness  a 
proper  interest  in  behalf  of  agriculture, 
in  its  various  branches,  by  the  farmers' 
wives   and   daughters.      Let  them  pre- 
sent specimens  of  work  as  well  as  fruits, 
vegetables  and  flowers,  and  this  should 
receive  the  attention  of  the  ladies  at 


146 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


once,  for  unless  it  does,  this  branch  of 
the  exhibition  will  not  present  such  an 
appearance  as  we  should  like  to  see,  and 
we  shall  be  under  the  necessity  of  at- 
taching the  blame  to  those  whom  we 
least  de^iire  to  censure — the  farmers' 
wives  and  daughters. 

In  conclusion,  we  say  that  the  far- 
mers' wives  and  daughters,  and  the  la- 
dies at  large,  are  especially  invited  to 
be  present  at  the  State  Fair ;  for  if  our 
good  old  State  cannot  fairly  compete 
with  her  sisters  in  showing  fine  stock, 
we  are  sure  that  she  can  take  the  first 
premium  upon  "The  Fair." 


The  State  Fair. 

We  are  pleasp-d  to  see  the  Press  of 
our  State  giving  some  attention  to  this 
subject.  They  begin,  we  think,  to  be- 
lieve that  there  will  be  a  State  Fair,  and 
such  an  ©ne,  too,  as  our  State  may  justly 
feel  proud  of.  We  wonder  what  those 
"old  fogies"  will  say,  when  they  look 
upon  this  exhibition,  and  call  to  mind 
how.strenuously  they  opposed  the  move, 
in  the  beginning,  at  the  very  time  it 
most  needed  the  smiles,  instead  of  the 
frowns  of  our  people.  We  know  of 
several  farmers  in  the  State  who  have 
such  stock  as  will  do  them  credit  at  that 
exhibition.  We  hope  to  see  specimens 
of  stock  from  the  farms  of  Thomas  Jones, 
of  Martin  ;  Messrs.  Dancy  and  Norfleet, 

of    Edgecombe;    David    McDaniei,   of 

Ni   ,  rpi    ^      ri    o    u-u        1  rpu  ™       as  we  there  saw   had  but  a  few  days 
ash  ;  Ihomas  (J.  Smith  and   ihomas--  .  •' 


McDowell,  of  Bladen  County.  We  have 
heard  of  fine  stocks  in  other  Counties, 
which  we  hope  soon  to  see,  but  these 
we  have  mentioned,  we  know  to  be 
■worthy  of  being  exhibited.  There  are, 
■we  fear,  many  who  have  stock  good 
enough  to  send  to  the  Fair,  who  will 


keep  it  back,  for  the  reason  that  they 
want  to  visit  the  first  show  and  see 
what  kind  will  do.  If  this  principle  be 
carried  out,  there  will,  of  course,  be  bui 
a  small  exhibition. 


Who  will  take  Them  ? 

We  oiFer  the  following  three  valuable 
prizes,  for  the  three  largest  numbers  of 
subscribers  obtained  to  the  Farmer's 
Journal,  by  the  18th  of  October  next, 
the  beginning  of  the  State  Agricultural 
Fair.  For  the  largest  number,  we  will 
award  a  handsome  copy  of  the  Farmers' 
and  Planters'  Encyclopedia,  cost  $10  ; 
for  the  second  largest  number,  Steven's 
Book  of  the  Farm,  cost  $8  ;  for  third 
largest  number,  a  copy  of  Colman's 
Works,  cost  $6,  which  is  a  highly  val- 
uable work.  These  we  regard  as  being 
more  appropriate  prizes  than  any  others, 
and  we  hope  to  see  the  young  Farmers 
of  our  State  contending  for  them.  The 
subscribers  may  be  gotten  to  vol.  1st, 
2d,  or  3d,  as  v^e  can  supply  the  back 
numbers. 

Cotton  Gins  in  Old  Edgecombe. 

We  saw,  a  short  time  since,  at  a  De- 
pot on  the  Raleigh  and  Wilmingtot 
Rail  Road,  in  Edgecombe  County,  ihi 
large  number  of  twenty-one  Cotton  Gins 
which  had  been  sent  from  Georgia  to 
the  planters  of  that  County.  We  wer( 
informed  by  the  gentleman  who  super- 
intended the  ware-house,  that  as  many 


since  been  sent  out  into  the  County, 
Such  testimony  as  this  cannot  be  doubt- 
ed ;  it  speaks  volumes  in  favor  of  agri- 
cultural improvement  in  that  County. 

To  thoso  who  wish  to  take  our  Paper. 

All  letters  upon  business,  in  connection 
with  the  "  Farmer's  Journal,"  after  this 


THE  FARMERS'  JOURNAL. 


147 


time,  will  be  directed  to  us  at  Raleigh, 
■which  will  be  promptly  attended  to  by 
our  publishers,  until  the  month  of  Oct., 
after  which  time  we  shall  permanently 
locate  there,  and  will  give  our  personal 
attention  to  such  matters. — Ed. 

N.  B.  Back  numbers  of  vol.  1st  and 
2nd,  up  to  this  time,  suppHed  at  the 
shortest  notice. 

Halifax  County  Ahead. 

In  this  county  there  are  a  larger 
number  of  members  to  the  State  Agii- 
\  cultural  Society  than  any  ether,  even 
\  Wake  not  excepted,  so  far  as  our  knowl- 
edge extends.  And  there  are  also  a 
larger  number  of  subscribers  to  the 
Farmer's  Journal  at  the  post  office, 
Scotland  Neck,  in  that  county,  than  at 
ny  other  in  the  State.  This,  though, 
urely  will  not  be  the  case  much  longer, 
s  we  have  now  moved  our  location  to 
aleigh,  where  we  certainly  ought  to 
ave,  by  far,  the  largest  list  in  the  State. 


For  the  Farmer's  Journal. 

Dear   Tompkins  :   In    perusing   the 

June  No.  of  your  Journal,  we  found  an 

article  addressed  to  "The  friends  of  Ag- 

licultural  improvement  in  North  Caro- 

1  na,"  which  seems  to  have  been  written 

h   a  feeling  of  disparagement.     Now 

ir'e  think  this  means  all  it  expresses,  for 

the  reason  that  you  are  never  willing  to 

'  give  up  the  ship"  until  all  hopes  have 

lied  ;  and  therefore,  considering  ourself 

ne  among  the  number  composing  the 

lass  to  whom  this  article  is  addressed, 

e  shall  not  only  endeavor  to  carry  out 

the  plan  you  suggest,  but  shall  claim  a 

place  in   the  Journal  to  submit  a  few 

considerations  to  the  farmers  of  North 

Carolina. 

We  know,  gentlemen,  that  the  time 
has  been  when  "book  farming"  was  a 
subject  of  ridicule  among  us,  but  that 
shameful  era  in  our  State's  history  has 


passed.  Ever  since  the  Legislature  of 
1848  convened,  and  Common  Schools 
were  instituted,  there  has  been  a  gradual 
improvement  going  on,  mostly,  however, 
in  the  upper  part  of  our  State. 

Rail  roade,  plank  roads,  &c.,  have 
been  constructad,  and  have  proved,  with- 
out an  exception  we  believe,  greatly  to 
the  advantage  of  individuals,  and  of 
much  value  to  the  State. 

Our  means  of  transportation  have 
greatly  increased,  but  the  resources  that 
have  been  operated  upon  chiefly — name- 
ly :  Naval  Stores — are  becoming  very 
limited  and  used  up,  while  those  of 
agriculture  and  horticulture,  the  ones 
mostly  to  be  relied  on,  have  not  yet 
been  developed. 

There  remains,  therefore,  much  to  be 
done.  Our  old  lands  must  be  improved, 
and  the  new  parts  more  generally  ren- 
dered susceptible  of  culture.  The  bright 
example  of  other  States  of  our  Union 
calls  us  to  competition.  The  proud 
recollections  of  our  State's  early  history, 
bid  us  to  press  on,  and  no  longer  re- 
main the  poorest  in  all  that  depends  upon 
exertion  and  enterprise.  Our  agricul- 
tural resources  are  various  and  abun- 
dant; our  climate  is  mild  and  soil  gen- 
erally productive;  and  the  time  has 
arrived  when  farming,  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  State,  is  the  only  dependence. 

But  before  we  can  efiect  much,  our 
system  will  have  to  be  improved.  In 
order  to  do  this,  we  must  have  some 
medium  through  which  to  convey  our 
ideas  and  experiments  ;  that  medium 
we  now  have  in  the  "  Farmer's  Journal." 
Its  worthy  editor  has  been,  and  is  now 
doing  all  that  he  can  for  the  farming 
interests  of  the  "  Old  North  State,"  and 
all  he  desires  is  a  liberal  patronage. 
Can  we  not  give  it  to  him  ?  Can  it  be 
possible  that  Old  North  Carolina  will 
not  support,  at  this  age  of  progress  and 
improvement,  one  agricultural  paper  ? 
Can  we  not  find  within  her  borders, 
5,000  men  who  are  willing  to  assist  in 
developing  her  resources  ?  Farmers  of 
North  Carolina,  let  us  awake  to  our 
duty  ;  we  have  slumbered  long  enough. 


148 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNxlL. 


"  Men  at  some  times  are  masters  of  their  fates, 
The  iauh,  dear  Brutus,  is  not  in  our  stars, 
But  in  ourselves:  that  we  are  underlings." 

Let  us  bestir  ourselves,  ere  it  be  too  late, 
and  never  rest  until  the  Journal  has  at 
least  5,000  subscribers  ;  until  we  shall 
have  shaken  off  that  apathy  which  has 
so  long  since  been  a  by-word  and  a  re- 
proach, and  by  developing  our  resources, 
leave  to  our  children  an  example  worthy 
of  imitation. 

Having  said  thus  much,  dear  Tomp- 
kins, to  my  brother  farmers,  let  me  bid 
you  God  speed  in  your  noble  enterprise ; 
it  is  bound  to  succeed,  and  when  your 
untiring  zeal,  industry,  and  abilities  are 
more  generally  infused,  you  will  be  re- 
membered with  praise  and  gratitude. 
Truly  yours,  Pungo. 

Beaufort  Co.,  June  29th,  1853. 


Advantages  of  the  Farmer  of  this  Age. 

Within  the  course  of  a  century,  what 
vast  discoveries  have  been  made  in  re- 
lation to  the  fctructuve  of  plants  and  to 
the  vegetable  economy,  in  the  functions, 
especially  of  absorption  and  persp'ration. 
Science  has  shown  the  mode  in  which 
plants  take  up  their  aliment,  the  partic- 
ular kind  of  aliment  required  for  them, 
and  the  circulation  of  the  food  in  the 
juices  of  the  plant,  its  changes  by  respira- 
tion and  its  evacuations  by  perspiration. 
These  accessions  to  our  knowledge  of 
the  vegetable  kidgdom  have  been  made 
by  degrees,  the  result  of  long  studies 
and  exact  experiments,  by  many  differ- 
ent persons.  In  relation  to  perspiration. 
Dr.  Hales  found  that  a  sunflower  lost  1 
lb.  14  oz.  weight  in  twelve  hours  of  a 
hot  day.  In  a  dry  night  it  lost  about 
3  oz.     In  a  moist  niofht  little  alteration 

o 

was  perceptible. 

Haymakers  know  the  rapidity  with 
which  grass  is  dried,  which  is  owing  to 
this  perspiration,  the  juices  not  being 
again  supplied  by  absorption  as  when 
the  grass  was  living.  It  would  be  in- 
te'-esting  to  trace  the  history  of  these 
discoveries  in  vegetable  physiology,  but 
would  require  more  time  and  space  than 
we  can  now  devote  to  the  subject. 


A  century  ago,  nothing,  it  may  be 
said,  was  known  of  the  vegetable  anat- 
omy. Now  the  structure  of  the  plant 
has  become  nearly  as  well  known  as  the 
anatomy  of  the  human  body,  though 
the  knowledge  of  the  former  is  confined 
to  a  fewer  number  of  persons  than  the 
latter. 

It  is  only  a  little  more  than  fifty  years 
since  the  true  suggestion  of  what  the 
true  sap  vessels  of  plants  were,  was 
given  by  Dr.  Darwin,  and  their  opera- 
tion and  functions  ascertained,  by  ex- 
periments of  himself  and  others,  follow- 
ed to  more  certain  results  by  Mr.  Knight. 
It  was  discovered  from  those  experi- 
ments that  the  sap  ascends  the  spiral 
vessels  of  the  plant,  forming  in  its  ascent 
th !  alburnum,  and  descending  in  the 
outer  bark.  This  knowledge  is  valuable 
to  the  farmer,  who  by  this  knows  that 
if  he  would  destroy  his  tree  by  girdling, 
he  must  cut  through  the  alburnum  to 
the  hard  wood,  while  if  he  merely  gir- 
dles the  outer  bark  of  his  vine  with  a 
narrow  ring  after  mid-summer,  when 
the  sap  is  descending,  he  may  increase 
bis  crop  of  grapes  by  preventing  the 
descent  of  the  sap,  and  retaining  it  for 
the  nourishment  of  the  fruit,  without 
injury  to  the  vine,  if  the  ring  is  not 
made  too  wide  to  unite, — The  two  gen- 
tlemen named,  with  a  few  others,  Mir- 
bel  Malpighi,  Grew,  Wildenow,  Hales, 
Priestly,  and  others,  by  a  series  of  in- 
teresting experiments,  have  made  us 
acquainted  with  the  structure  and  func- 
tions of  the  vegetable  world. 

To  Dr.  Priestly  we  owe  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  respiratory  action  of  the 
leaves  of  plants.  And  his  opinion  was, 
that  the  inspiration  was  by  the  upper, 
and  the  expiration  by  the  under  surface 
of  the  leaf.  This  fact  is  corroborated 
by  the  use  of  the  cabbage  leaf  in  medi- 
cal treatment ;  the  upper  and  smooth 
side  is  always  applied  to  the  skin,  which 
"draws,"  as  it  is  termed  ;  while  the  un- 
der side,  if  applied  in  the  same  manner, 
will  have  no  such  effect. 

It  is  true  a  great  deal  remains  for 
the  research  of  science  to  accomplish. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


149 


"  When  we  attempt,"  says  Dr.  Smith, 
"  to  consider  how  the  parUcular  secre- 
tions of  different  species  and  tribes  of 
plants  are'%rraed  ;  how  the  same  soil, 
the  same  atmosphere,  should  in  the  leaf 
of  the  vine  or  sorrel,  produce  a  whole- 
some acid,  and  in  that  of  a  spurge  or 
machineel  a  most  virulent  poison  ;  how 
sweet  and  nuti'itious  herbage  should 
grow  among  the  acrid  crowfoot  and 
aconite,  we  found  ourselves  totally  una- 
ble to  coraprehend  the  existence  of  such 
wonderful  powers  in  so  small  and  seem- 
ingly simple  an  organ  as  the  leaf  of  a 
plant." — N.  E.  Farmer. 


Cheese  Making  for  a  Small  Diary. 

"We  have  received  requests  from  sev- 
eral of  our  lady  correspondents,  to  write 
a  short  article  on  cheese-making,  espe- 
cially in  reference  to  that  large  class  of 
farmers  who  keep  but  few  cows.  It  al- 
ways gives  us  pleasure  to  comply  with 
the  requests  of  the  ladies,  especially  of 
those  who  are  good  housekeepers — 
know  how  to  milk  a  cow,  make  good 
butter  and  cheese,  and  cultivate  a  small 
flower-garden. 

First  rate* cheese  can  be  made  from  a 
few  cows,  but  it  is  attended  with  more 
labor  in  proportion  to  the  amount  made, 
than  in  a  large  dairy,  inasmuch  as  the 
curd  has  to  be  made  every  morning  and 
placed  aside  till  you  have  sufficient  to 
make  a  good  sized  cheese.  The  milk  is 
placed  in  a  tub,  and  warmed  to  a  prop- 
er temperature,  (65  deg.Fahr.,  or  about 
as  warm  as  when  taken  from  the  cow) 
by  adding  a  portion  of  heated  milk. 
The  rennet  is  then  added,  the  milk  well 
stif-red,  and  afterwards  let  alone  till  the 
cul-d  is  well  come.  The  time  this  oc- 
cuipies  varies  from  fifteen  minutes  to 
two  hours,  according  to  the  amount  of 
rennet,  the  temperature,  &c. — the  hot- 
ter it  is  put  together,  and  the  more  ren- 
net there  is  added,  the  quicker  will  the 
cheese  come.  As  a  general  thing,  the 
longer  it  is  in  coming,  the  tenderer  and 
si^eeter  will  be  the  curd.  If  it  comes 
too  quickly,  it  is  owing  to  an  excess  of 


lactic  acid  beino-  formed  from  the  sugar 
of  milk  ;  so  that  the  curd  has  that  hard, 
tough,  white  appearance,  that  is  the  case 
when  the  curd  is  precipitated  with  vin- 
egar or  anj  other  acid ;  but,  if  there  is 
a  very  slow  formation  of  lactic  acid,  the 
curd  is  gradually  precipitated  in  flocks, 
is  less  dense,  and  very  sweet  ana  tender. 
It  is  then  broken  up  quite  fine,  either 
by  hand  or  a  curd-breaker,  made  for  the 
purpose,  which  cuts  it  into  very  small 
pieces.  After  this  it,  is  allowed  to  stand 
and  settle.  The  whey  is  then  drawn 
off  and  passed  through  a  sieve,  to  re- 
move any  curd  there  may  be  in  it.  The 
curd  is  then  placed  in  a  strong  cloth, 
and  well  pressed,  to  remove  the  whey. 
It  is  then  placed  in  a  cold  place,  and  the 
operation  repeated  daily,  or  every  other 
day,  if  the  milk  will  keep  sweet,  as  it 
will  in  the  fall"-till  there  is  curd  enough 
to  make  cheese  of  the  desired  size. 
When  the  right  quantity  is  obtained, 
the  curd  is  all  broken  up  very  fine,  salt- 
ed and  w^ll  mixed.  .  In  putting  the 
curd  in  the  vat  to  be  pressed,  a  cloth 
sufficiently  large  to  cover  the  whole 
cheese  is  placed  in  the  vnt,  and  into  this 
cloth  the  curd  is  put.  When  the  curd 
has  filled  the  vat,  a  "fillet"  (usually 
made  of  sheet  tin,  and  from  thi'ee  to 
six  inches  wide,  and  sufficiently  long  to 
lap  over  four  or  five  inches  when  plac- 
ed around  the  cheese)  is  placed  inside 
the  vat  for  an  inch  or  so,  and  the  cloth 
drawn  up  straight,  so  that  when  being 
pressed  the  fillet  will  not  cut  it.  The 
VI  hole  of  the  curd  is  then  put  in,  a 
smooth  board  placed  ovea-  this  and  then 
it  is  ready  to  press.  After  it  has  been 
pressed  for  sometime,  it  is  taken  from 
under,  and  punctured  all  over  with  a 
skevfer,  either  of  wood  or  iron.  Place 
it  in  the- press  again,  until  it  has  become 
sufficiently  consolidated  to  take  out  of 
the  vat  without  falling  to  pieces.  It 
must  then  be  turned,  or  inverted  in  the 
vat,  and  a  clean  cloth  put  around  it. 
Place  it  again  under  the  press,  occasion- 
ally turning  it  and  putting  round  it 
fresh  cloths,  till  the  cheese  when  press- 
ed does  not  wet  thera.     It  is  then  all 


150 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL, 


right,  and  should  be  kept  in  the  dairy, 
or  a  cool,  damp  place,  for  a  few  days, 
placing  a  little  salt  around  it,  when  it 
may  be  taken  to  an  upper  room,  where 
it  will  require  turning  very  frequently, 
or  the  side  next  the  floor  will  mould. 
Let  th»  room  bo  dark  and  well  ventil- 
ated.—  Weatern  Agriculturist. 


Food  for   Crops. 

Tins  is  a  '■'•grand  question''''  among 
farmers  at  the  present  day.  In  new 
countries,  where  the  land  has  not  been 
cultivated  much,  little  is  thought  about 
giving  the  crop  any  food,  in  order  to 
make  it  into  food  for  ourselves,  but  af- 
ter the  fresh  soil  has  become  exhausted 
by  constant  cropping — after  the  'new;'' 
is  oft",  or  rather  out — the  farmer  fiixls 
that  to  make  food  for  himself,  he  must 
give  food  to  the  plants  he  wishes  to 
raise. 

Well,  what  must  it  be?  To  answer 
it  with  perfect  accuracy,  you  should  first 
know  what  the  soil  is  made  of,  and  then 
what  the  plant  is  made  of—or,  in  other 
words,  both  should  be  analyzed,  and 
the  ingredients  ascertained,  both  as  to 
their  quality  and  quantity.  But  this 
requires  a  greater  knowledge  of  prac- 
tical chemistry  than  the  majority  of  the 
people  as  yet  possess,  and  also  more  ex- 
pense than  most  farmers  are  able  to 
meet. 

What  is  the  next  best  thing  to  be 
done?  Fortunately  the  remains  of  or- 
ganic bodies,  (by  which  we  mean  those 
bodies  both  of  animal  and  vegetable 
origin,  that  have  had  life  and  a  set  of 
organs  forming  their  bodies,)  possess 
most  of  the  ingredients  requited  for  this 
purpose.  Although  some  of  the  ingre- 
dients which  make  up  the  mass  of  or- 
ganic matter  may  not  be  needed  in  this 
crop,  they  will  not  be  lost,  and  will 
come  in  play  for  some  futore  one. 

We  are  aware  that  there  is  much  said 
about  specific  manure,  and  this  article 
and  that  article  is  loudly  recommended 
as  the  very  thing  and  the  only  thing 
needed.     We  do  not  undervalue  them, 


and  at  the  same  time  we  caution  our 
readers  not  to  overvalue  them.  Watch 
all  experiments — use  everything  of  the 
specific  kind,  such  as  plaster,  super-phos- 
phate of  lime,  sulphate  of  ammonia, 
guano,  tfcc,  &c.,  as  you  know  will  be 
beneficial,  but  at  the  same  time  don't 
give  up  your  manure  heap. 

As  a  general  rule,  the  remains,  or 
manure  made  from  the  remains  of  or- 
ganic bodies  the  nearest  related,  that  is 
the  nearest  in  kind  and  quality  to  those 
which  you  wish  to  raise,  will  make  the 
best  manure  for  them.  Return  to  the 
soil  again  as  much  of  the  crop  as  you 
can,  in  order  to  make  another  one. 

Nature  gives  you  this  advice.  How 
is  it  that  yonder  forest  has  kept  up  for 
so  many  years  such  a  heavy  crop  of 
wood  ?  How  is  it  that  for  as  long  as 
you  can  remember,  there  has  not  only 
been  a  heavy  burthen  of  wood  on  that 
soil,  but  it  has  been  constantly  increas- 
ing in  growth?  It  is  manured  eveiy 
fall,  as  sure  as  the  fall  comes,  by  a  thick 
deposit  of  leaves  and  twigs,  and  small 
branches,  which  the  frosts  and  the  winds 
and  snow  break  ofii"  and  spread  around 
the  roots.  Thcsd  leaves  and  twigs  are 
made  up  of  material,  in  part  drawn 
from  the  air,  and  of  the-  same  kind  as 
the  rest  of  the  wood,  and  so  they  de- 
cay and  supply  food  for  the  standing, 
cfrowing  wood. 

The  vine  growers  in  some  parts  of 
France,  find  the  chippings  and  prunings 
of  their  vines  to  be  a  valuable  dressing 
for  their  vineyards.  The  cotton  grow- 
ers of  the  SouUi  begin  to  find  that  the 
cotton  seeds  and  refuse  col  ton  is  a  val- 
uable dressing  for  cotton  plants. 

Man)''  of  our  farmers  begin  to  find 
that  the  stalks  and  husks  of  Indian 
corn,  plowed  under,  make  a  valuable 
manure  for  the  corn  crop,  and  that  the 
prunings  of  the  orchard,  chipped  up 
and  applied  to  the  trees  from  which 
they  were  taken,  make  a  valuable  dress- 
inor  for  the  orchard. — Maine  Far. 


Intelligence  by  the  last  steamers  is,  on 
the  whole,  favorable  to  our  great  staples. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


151 


Geoli>git  al  Suivey. 

Charlotte,  May  26,  1853, 
To  his  Excellency^  David  S.  jReid  : 

Sir:  I  have  been  in  this  place  one 
"week,  and  have  visited  the  most  impor- 
tant points  of  the  County  ;  I  have  di- 
vided my  time  between  the  mining  and 
agricukural  interests. 

Smce  I  came  here  I  have  made  ar- 
rangements with  Dr.  E.  H.  Andrews  to 
engage  in  the  survey  for  three  months, 
to  receive  per  month  the  same  compen- 
sation as  Dr.  McClennnhan.  Dr.  An- 
drews has  devoted  much  time  to  the 
minerals  of  Western  Nortli  Cai'ohna,  is 
better  acquainted  with  localities  than 
any  other  individual,  probably,  in  the 
State,  and  is  a  man  of  excellent  charac- 
ter and  worth. 

E.  Emmons,  Jr.  has  wished  for  some 
time  to  be  released  from  the  survey.  I 
have,  however,  pi'oposed  to  hitn  to  give 
his  services  with  barely  a  nominal  com- 
pensation. To  this  he  has  not  only 
consented,  but  is  anxious  to  promote 
certain  objects  of  the  work.  I  wish  him 
to  visit  the  mountainous  part  of  the 
State  with  me,  in  order  to  furnish  illus- 
trations of  the  scenery  of  the  country. 
Besides  this,  it  is  quite  necessary  that  I 
should  retain  him  for  the  purpose  of 
executing  the  drawings  of  fossils  of  the 
tertiary  and  coal  formations.  Wherever 
he  travels  in  the  State,  he  is  to  contrib- 
ute all  the  facts  relating  to  geology  for 
the  benefit  of  the  survej'. 

I  can  see  no  objection  to  the  arrange- 
ments, as  the  compensation  both  of  Dr. 
Andrews  and  my  son  cannot  exceed  that 
which  my  son  alone  has  been  entitled 
to.  It  is  proper  also  to  state  that  my 
son  has  continued  mostly  in  the  State 
work  up  to  this  time.  He  is  now  mak- 
ing examinations  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  Hoovier  and  Sawyer  mines.  He 
wished  to  continue  for  a  time  in  this 
connection,  that  he  might  make  up  for. 
lost  time,  by  which  no  one  should  have 
reason  to  complain  that  the  last  quarter 
■was  incomplete.  Dr.  Andrews'  term 
will  not  begin,  for  which  he  is  to  receive 


compensation,  until  the  rtiiddle  of  Au- 
gust ;  but  in  the  mean  time  he  is  to 
avail  himself  of  all  opportunities  for 
furthering  the  interests  of  the  work.  As 
lo  myself,  it  is  proper  that  I  should  say 
tliat  I  expect  to  spend  much  time  in  the 
work  of  the  survey  after  the  present  pe- 
cuniary provisions  are  exhausted,  and 
for  which  I  have  no  expectation  nor 
wish  to  be  compensated.  The  making 
up  of  the  final  report,  and  collecung  the 
odds  and  ends  of  the  work,  will  consume 
at  least  six  months,  after  which  the 
work  will  be  regarded  as  finished.  This 
is  not  a  new  view,  but  one  which  I  took 
of  the  subject  vvhen  I  first  engaged  in 
the  work.  I  hope  now  to  say  that  by 
the  time  your  administration  or  term  of 
office  has  expired  the  survey  will  be  es- 
sentially finished,  so  far  as  out-door 
work  is  concerned. 

It  has  been  my  desire  to  promote  the 
interests  of  the  State  in  some  way  or 
other.  And  it  has  appeared  to  me  that 
a  course  and  plan  which  would  bring  to 
the  State  capital,  was  the  plan  by  which 
its  interests  and  the  interests  of  citizens 
would  be  best  promoted.  It  is,  howev- 
er, unnecessary  that  I  should  dwell  up- 
on this  subject.  I  will  only  add,  that  I 
believe  that  nearly  a  million  of  dollars 
will  be  added  to  the  working  capital  in 
the  mining  districts,  and  that  this  capi- 
tal will,  by  no  means,  be  sunk  and  lost; 
and  I  also  fully  beheve  that  this  inter- 
est will  be  placed  on  a  ^sis  from  which 
the  citizens  will  derive  a  continually  in- 
creasing profit  for  years  to  come. 
I  am  sir,  your  most  ob't  serv't, 

E.  EMMONS. 

Salisbury,  May  21,  1853. 

To  his  Excellency,  David  S.  Reid  : 

Sir  :  I  am  often  surprised  at  the 
amount  of  excellent  land  which  I  meet 
with  every  day.  The  cotton  lands  are 
not  confined  to  Edgecombe,  Wayne,  or 
exclusively  to  the  eastern  part  of  the 
State;  the  valleys  of  the  Yadkin  and 
Catawba  are  equally  good  for  cotton — 
equally  fertile  and  productive  in  all  the 


152 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


great  staples  of  this  latitude.  From  the 
Jersey  Settlement  to  Salisbury,  from 
Salisbury  to  Charlotte,  and  then  South 
to  the  State  line,  excellent  and  produc- 
tive lands  are  never  out  o^  sight  for  any 
length  of  time.  With  attention  and 
cultivation,  but  little  beyond  the  ordi- 
nary routine,  large  tracts  may  be  made 
to  produce  continuously  2,000  lbs.  of 
seed  cotton  to  the  acre.  This  is  the 
product  of  the  plantation  of  Mr.  D.  B. 
Peebles,  of  Providence  District,  in  Meck- 
lenburg county.  The  expense  of  cultv 
vation  to  produce  this  result  is  by  no 
means  great ;  in  this  yield  of  seed  cotton 
there  is  600  pounds  of  lint.  This  result 
appears  still  more  remarkable  when  it 
is  known  that  there  are  no  natural  fer- 
tilizers ;  no  marks  of  lime  ;  and  also  that 
these  lands  belong  to  the  oldest  cultiva- 
ted lands  of  the  State.  Indeed,  one  is 
almost  inclined  to  fall  into  the  common 
opinion  that  they  will  never  wear  out. 
This  idea,  however,  is  delusive.  When 
we  find  such  results  may  be  obtained 
with  ordinary  skill  in  cultivation,  or 
with  ordinary  tillage,  we  are  led  to  sur- 
mise what  might  not  be  effected  by  ad- 
ditional attention  and  skill,  combined 
with  a  free  use  of  such  fertilizers  as  the 
successive  crops  require.  These  lands 
are  distinguished  from  others  by  their 
dark  brown  color — they  are  called  mu- 
latto lands.  I  have  spoken  of  their 
adaptation  to  cotton.  Now,  it  would 
not  be  i-ight  to  fegard  them  as  adapted 
only  to  this  crop,  for  if  there  are  soils 
which  are  universal  in  their  adaptation, 
these  dark  red  soils  of  Cabarrus,  Meck- 
lenburg and  Rowan  are  of  this  descrip- 
tion. It  is  true  that  there  are  degrees 
of  excellency  with  those  which  bear  the 
color  I  have  spoken  of.  The  Providence 
soils  are  looser  than  those  of  some  other 
tracts,  for  the  latter  are  stifter  and  more 
liable  to  bake  under  the  sun  than  the 
former.  It  is  not,  however,  to  be  con- 
cealed that  these  red  soils  are  impatient 
imder  droughts.  The  crops  are  liable 
to  fail  when  the  rains  fail — in  this  re- 
spect they  rank  below  the  sandy  soils 
of  Uuion.     The  latter  are  based  upon 


and  derived  from  the  slates  ;  while  tli® 
former  are  based  upon  and  derived  from 
certain  varieties  of  granite.  This  gran- 
ite contaiss  a  large  amount  of  iron  in 
the  state  of  a  protoxide,  which  on  ex- 
posure to  the  air  becomes  a  peroxide, 
which  has  the  red  color  of  the  soil.  The 
iron,  however,  may  be  in  combination 
with  sulphur,  which  in  decomposing 
passes  into  a  state  of  peroxidation.  This 
latter  condition  of  the  iron  appears  from 
the  color  of  the  soil,  where  the  roots  of 
the  oak  are  found,  and  especially,  when 
they  are  wounded.  In  this  case,  the 
gallic  acid  exuding  from  the  wounded 
roots,  finds  in  the  soil  sulphate  of  iron. 
Ink  will,  therefore,  be  formed  by  this 
combination,  »nd  the  purple  black 
streaks  which  appear  in  the  railroad  cuts 
are  due  to  formation  of  ink.  Ink  soils 
require  for  correction,  lime,  inasmuch  as 
any  considerable  quantity  of  this  as- 
tringent salt  of  iron,  is  poiJ^onous  to  veg- 
etation ;  yet  this  salt  (sulphate  of  iron) 
is  useful  in  small  quantities  in  the  soil. 
It  seems  to  act  upon  vegetables  as  it 
acts  rapon  animals,  viz :  as  a  tonic. 
These  astringent  soils  are  very  common 
throughout  the  State.  They  are  in  this 
condition  from  the  great  abundance  of 
the  proto-sulphuret  of  iron,  which  is  dis- 
seminated through  the  rocks  from  which 
the  soils  are  derived. 

Wake  County  is  remarkable  for  as- 
tringent soils.  In  the  dry  parts  of  the 
season  the  effiorescence  of  this  salt  is  a 
common  occurrence  ;  and  any  one  may 
satisfy  himself  of  the  fact  by  tasting  the 
soil ;  I  have  already  said  that  the  cor- 
rective for  such  soils  is  lime.  This  sub- 
stance, howevei-,  is  noi  only  a  corrective, 
but  it  becomes,  under  these  circumstan- 
ces, an  active  fertilizer.  Gypsum  is  the 
product  formed  by  this  application.  In 
this  connection,  I  may  be  allowed  to  say 
that  the  most  important  results  of  the 
internal  improvement  system,  will  reach 
the  Planter.  It  must  give  him  the  fer- 
tilizers— it  will  also  open  the  door  to 
the  market  which  has,  up  to  the  present 
hour,  been  closed  upon  him.  The  time 
is  not  far  distant  when  North  Carolina 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


153 


will  become  one  of  the  producing  States, 
and  the  taunt  which  has  often  been 
tlirown  into  her  teeth,  "  alas,  for  poor 
North  Carolijia,  she  has  nothing  to  sell," 
■will  pass  away.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact 
that  the  mining  lands  of  this  State  are 
usually  as  productive  and  valuable  for 
plantations  as  the  lands  of  other  States. 
She  has,  therefore,  a  double  source  of 
wealth,  extending  over  large  tracts  of 
country.  In  other  countries,  raining 
lands  are  mostly  poor  and  unproductive 
under  the  best  system  of  tillage.  I  have 
collected  many  samples  of  the  soils  pe- 
culiar to  this  part  of  the  State,  and  I  be- 
lieve that  the  agriculture  is  equally  in- 
teresting with  that  ot  the  eastern  part 
of  the  Commonwealth. 

I  remain,  most  respectfidly, 
Your  Excellency's 
Obedient  Servant, 
E.  EMMONS. 


*' The  Prejudices  of  Farmers." 

The  following  extract  from  the  ad- 
dress of  Wm.  S.  King,  Esq.,  noticed  in 
another  column,  touches  the  question  of 
agricultural  improvement  just  where  it 
labors.  It  shows,  that  good  practice, 
is  true  science,  in  agriculture.  May  all 
our  farmers  understand  the  why,  as  well 
as  the  what ;  the  causes  as  well  as  the 
results,  of  their  practice. —  Western 
Plow-Boy. 

Scientific  Agriculture  is  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  earth  by  rule,  and  not  by 
guess  work.  Indeed,  when  and  where 
guessing  ends  and  system  begins,  then 
and  there  is  the  birth,  and  the  birth- 
place of  science. 

How  many  farms,  gentlemen,  within 
the  reach  of  your  observation,  are,  by 
this  definition,  scientifically  cultivated? 
On  how  many  is  the^iepth  of  the  plow- 
ing guaged  by  depth  of  the  soil,  the 
character  of  the  sub-soil,  and  a  wise  in- 
tention to  render  the  fertile  loam  deep- 
er year  after  year,  inch  by  inch  ?  How 
many  farmers  of  your  acquaintance, 
who  enter  o«n  a  farm  with  a  soil  three 
inches  deep,  undertake,  as  they  well  and 
es^Jy  pi'ght,  to  render  it  in  ten  years, 


twelve  inches  deep  ?  I  would  tell  you 
here,  that  the  experiments  of  thousands 
of  farmers  have  proved,  that  by  thrust- 
ing the  point  of  your  plow  one  inch,  or 
three-quarters  of  an  inch  deeper  at 
each  plowing  and  bringing  to  the  sur- 
face so  much  of  the  inert  sub-soil,  to  be 
operated  on  by  the  atmosphere  and  to 
be  benefited  by  the  manure  year  after 
year,  you  will  to  this  extent  increase 
your  active  fertile  soil,  and  gradually 
create  another  farm,  as  it  were  under 
your  old  one.  But  this  would  be  sci- 
entific farming  ;  and,  consequently,  in 
the  (.pinion  of  too  many  farmers,  mere 
nonsense — notwithstanding  that  facts, 
plenty  as  blackberries,  confront  them 
with  evidence. 

On  how  many  farms  in  this  state,  or 
in  any  state,  is  the  manure  applied  with 
suflicient  knowledge  of  the  component 
parts,  and  consequently  of  the  wants  of 
the  soil  ?  On  how  many  is  the  manure 
itself  prepared  and  preserved,  so  that  it 
retains  all  of  its  valuable  constituents  ? 
Why,  gentlemen,  if  one  were  to  say 
that  plants,  to  thrive,  require  food  in 
certain  proportions;  and  that  if  ®ue  of 
the  necessary  substances  is  not  present 
in  the  soil,  and  is  not  supplied  in  the 
manure,  the  plant  cannot  thrive;  and 
that  in  proportion  as  you  have  or  ap- 
ply the  precise  quantity  of  each  ingre- 
dient necessary,  so  nearly  do  you  c&rrk 
to  getting  the  maximum  crop,you  would 
set  it  down  at  once,  in  scorn,  as  scien- 
tific farming !  And  yet  how  else  do 
you  account  for  the  fact,  that  one  man 
grows  a  hundred  bushels  of  corn  to  an 
acre  and  another  but  twenty  ?  Why, 
clearly,  because  the  land  whereon  grew 
the  hundred  bushels  was  naturally,  or 
by  scientific  treatment,  in  a  proper  con- 
dition for  corn  bearing — had  in  its  womb 
all  the  necessary  kinds,  and  enough  of 
each  kind  of  food,  that  the  young  and 
the  growing  plant  requiredjfpr  its  leaves, 
its  stalk,  its  tassel  and  its  ear.  And 
how  do  you  accourri;  for  the  fact,  that 
you  do  not  get  an  equal  crop  on  the 
same  gi-ound  the  next  year  '\  Why, 
j  because  the  first  crop  kas  eaten  up  a 


154 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


good  share  in  the  ground-pantry ;  and 
the  third  season,  (if  any  man  is  silly 
enough  to  try  corn  again  on  the  same 
ground  without  having  supplied  food 
by  manure,)  the  third  crop  would  find 
the  shelves  pretty  well  cleaned  ;  and 
the  progeny  of  the  year  would  be  pig- 
mies. 

On  how  many  farms  in  New  Hamp- 
shire is  an  accurate  calculation  made  of 
the  cost  of  growing  dift"«rent  crops,  so 
as  to  decide  which  is  the  most  profita- 
ble to  raise  ?  On  how  many  farms  is 
an  account  kept  of  outlay  and  income 
from  each  field  and  each  animal,  that 
the  prudent  husbandman  may  know 
where  is  the  mouse-hole  in  his  meal 
bin  ?  This  is  not  done,  because  it  would 
be  scientific  farming.  To  be  sure,  a 
merchant  who  pretended  to  carry  on  an 
extensive  business  withoutkeeping  books 
and  without  taking  now  and  then  "  an 
account  of  stock;"  or  who  continued 
to  deal  in  certain  styles  of  goods,  with- 
out knowing  whether  he  was  making 
or  losing  money  by  the  operation,  would 
be  held  insane.  But  surely  that  is  no 
reason  why  a  man,  who  prides  himself 
on  beinga  plain  practical  farmer, should 
farm  by  arithmetic. 

Do  farmers  hereabout,  or  farmers  gen- 
erally anywhere,  attempt  gradually  to 
improve  their  seed  by  early  and  judi- 
cious selection,  and  by  always  planting 
the  best,  instead  of  reserving  the  worst 
for  that  purpose  ;  or  do  they  sell  all  that 
is  fit  to  be  sold,  and  keep  the  poorest 
for  home  use  and  for  seed?  This  grad- 
ual improvement  of  seed,  such  as  Mr. 
Brown,  on  an  island  in  Lake  Winne- 
pesauke  has  made  in  corn — known  as 
Blown  corn — and  as  many  others  have 
made  in  many  plants,  and  fruits,  and 
flowers,  by  the  simple  selection  of  seed, 
with  judicious  cultivation — this  smacks 
rather  too  much  of  science,  for  a  prac- 
tical farmer. 

Scientific  Agricultu'e  recognizes  the 
fact,  that  manures  are  not  economically 
applied,  to  exert  their  influences  upon 
soils  where  water  too  much  abounds  ; 
and  recommends  drainage.     "  And  so," 


say  you,  "  does  every  practical  farmer, 
who  knows  beans."  Well,  perhaps  every 
practical  farmer  does  not  "  know  beans," 
or  he  would  recognize  them  in  a  good 
share  of  the  ready  burned  coffee^  that  he 
buys !  At  any  rate,  how  different  the 
operations  of  the  systematic  and  of  the 
guess-work  drainer.  The  first  discovers 
the  secret  springs,  that  supply  the  su- 
perfluity of  water ;  and  so  locates  his 
drains,  and  so  cuts  off"  the  vein  before  it 
opens  on  the  surface.  While  nine-tenths 
of  your  practical  men  dig  ditches  in  the 
lowest  part  of  the  meadow,  where  the 
water  stands — forgetful  that  an  ounce 
of  prevention  is  worth  a  pound  of  cure. 
This  subject  of  drainage  opens  too  vast 
a  field  for  me  to  venture  upon  it  at  this 
time. 

This  same  rule  of  prevention  causes 
your  scientific  farmer  to  do  all  things 
in  season.  He  stirs  up  the  earth  between 
the  drill  of  his  crops,  with  the  hoe  or 
cultivator,  to  kill  the  weeds,  before  they 
attain  to  great  size  and  strength,  and 
appetite.  There  is  no  such  gluttons  as 
your  weed.  Like  a  sharper  among 
honest  folks,  it  defrauds  the  legitimate 
owner  of  what  rightfully  belongs  to  him. 
With  coolest  impudence  it  steals  from 
the  young  and  tender  plant  three  inch- 
es to  its  one;  Mr.  Weedy  over-tops  ifc; 
he  bullies  it,  as  it  were,  after  reducing 
its  strength  by  starvation.  By  and  by, 
he  claims  the  ground  as  his  own,  and 
flourishes  in  undisturbed  possession. 
He  becomes  seedy  at  length  ;  establish- 
es a  large  family,  in  good  quarters,  to 
rob  succeeding  crops  of  potatoes  and 
carrots ;  and  is  only  uprooted  and  pun- 
ished when  he  has  about  run  the  length 
of  his  evil  course. 

Agriculture  is  understood  to  express, 
not  merely  the  cultivation  of  the  land, 
but  also  the  operations  incidental  to  it, 
or  consequential  upon  it.  Accordingly, 
we  find  Science  in  the  Stock-yard.  The 
same  enlightened  system,  that  prevails 
in  the  field,  is  introduced  here.  Acting 
upon  the  well-established  rule  that  "  like 
begets  like,"  she  selects  fit  moulds,  and 
builds  up  breeds  of  cattle  for  the  sham- 


niE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


155 


bles,  square  and  ponderous,  like  tlie 
lordly  Durhan:is  ;  and  again  for  the  yoke 
she  prepares  the  beautitiil  and  agile 
Devon ;  for  the  milk-pail  she  reserves 
families  of  each  of  these  breeds,  in  which 
big  udders  and  profuse  secretions  of 
milk  are  hereditary.  For  the  churn  she 
shows  the  gentle  Jersey  cow,  seven 
quarts  of  whose  milk  will  yield  a  pound 
of  butter. 

Among  Swine,  this  same  wise  Sys- 
tem,— a  synonym  for  Science — has  pro- 
duced the  Suttblk,  the  Middlesex,  and 
other  breeds,  that  run  to  fat,  as  natu- 
rally as  a  turtle-fed  alderman  ; — they 
eat,  they  grunt,  they  sleep  their  lives 
away,  until  they  have  attained  to  a  very 
Lambertism  of  obesity  ;  and  then,  with 
a  gurling  in  the  throat,  they  change 
into  pork  and  are  laid  down  in  the  bar- 
rel. 

These  noble  horses,  too,  whose  ardent 
neigh  comes  even  now  to  our  ears,  were 
fashioned  by  Science  !  Ask  the  breed- 
er if  the  fine  points  of  his  prancing  steed 
are  come  by  chance?  and  he  will  indig- 
nantly tell  you.  No.  He  was  bred  sys- 
tematically, or,  as  we  choose  to  call  it, 
for  short,  "  scientifically.''''  He  has  re- 
gard to  the  best  ^joiw^s  of  sire  and  dam, 
and  with  careful  consideration  has  pro- 
duced the  animal  we  admire. 

Science  is  at  home  in  the  manger  and 
in  the  manure  cellar.  She  tells  us  what 
feed  goes  to  the  making  of  bone  and 
muscle  for  the  young  and  growing  calf, 
and  what  makes  fat  on  the  stalled  ox. 
She  tells  us  what  gives  speed, — because 
it  supplies  the  wear  and  tear  of  tendon 
and  bone, — to  the  racer ;  and  what  will 
lap  the  lazy  pig  "n  Elysium,  until  he 
wakes  to  the  sight  of  the  gleaming  knife, 
struggles,  groans  and  dies. 

So  with  the  manure  heap,  she  is  a 
safe  and  learned  counsellor.  She  tells 
you  that,  when  exposed,  its  strength  is 
wasted  away  by  the  rains ;  and  darken- 
ing the  current  of  yon  bubbling  brook, 
is  carried  away  from  you,  forever.  She 
bawls  in  youf  deaf  ears,  "  house  it ;  pre- 
pare a  cellar  beneath  your  barn,  or  at 
least,  a  roof  to  protect  it  from  the  thiev- 


ish element."  She  points  out  to  your 
wilfully  blind  eyes  the  escaping  gases, 
disengaged  by  the  sun,  and  hying  oif 
upon  the  wind  wing.  Doing  nothing 
by  halves,  she  holds  out  to  your  closed 
and  retracted  hand,  absorbents  and  di- 
visors— such  as  charcoal  dust,  peat,  and 
muck.  She  tells  3'ou  of  the  value  of 
Guano  and  other  fertilizers,  and  instructs 
you  in  the  mode  of  applying  them. 

In  the  Garden,  and  the  Orchard,  and 
the  Greenhouse,  Scienct;  has  been  made 
welcome,  and  we  see  her  doings  there. 
The  mean  Crab  has  become  the  bloom- 
jng  Baldwin  ;  the  bitter  Sloe,  or  the 
Wild-Bullace,  has  been  changed  into 
the  precious  Plum  ;  the  Bea7n-tree  h-ecs, 
no  longer  its  small  and  acrid  berries, 
but  bears  bouncing  Bartletts.  The  wild 
Cole-ivort,  that  grew  small  and  thriftless 
on  the  sea-shore  elifll's,  has  been  improv- 
ed into  the  big-headed  Bergen  Cabbage. 
Pitiful  weeds  of  insignificant  field-flow- 
ers are  made  blooming  ornaments  of  the 
garden  and  the  green-house.  Here,  in 
Horticulture,  may  be  seen  some  of  the 
rarest  triumphs  of  Agricultural  Science. 

In  view  of  what  has  been  said  of  Sci- 
entific Agriculture,  many  of  our  hearers 
will  say, — "  Why  if  this  is  you  scientif- 
ic farming,  we  have  been  scientific  farm- 
ers all  our  lives  without  knowing  it. 
We  plow,  we  manure,  we  drain,  we  breed 
cattle  and  swine  and  borses,  we  house 
our  manure,  we  prune  and  scrape  our 
trees,  and  everything — ^just  as  you  say 
Scientific  Agriculture  commands, — up- 
on "A  system  that  practice  has  proved  to 
be  correct. 

Gentlemen,  fellow-farmers,  I  am  fully 
aware  of  the  fact,  that  many  of  the  stur- 
diest opposers  of  Science  -Ave^i  particular- 
ly, Scientific  farmers,  denouncing  Sci- 
ence as  a  name  without  examination  or 
inqtiiry. 


The  easiest  and  best  way  to  expand 
the  chest,  is  to  have  a  good  large  heart 
in  it."   It  saves  the  cost  of  gymnastics. 


See  more  of  the  Geological  Survey  on 
the  next  page. 


4 


166 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Letters  from  Prof.  Emmons. 

Davidson  Countv,  May  28,  1853, 

To  his  Excellency^  David  S.  Reui  : 

Sir:  In  my  last  communication,  my 
remarks  were  confined  mostly  to  the 
character  of  the  better  lands  and  soils 
of  Mecklenburg  and  Rowan.  These 
lands  are  probably  the  best  in  the  State 
of  their  capacities  as  a  whole,  or  it  their 
producing  powers  in  the  aggregate  are 
considered.  This  view  I  intended  to 
express,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that 
in  dry  seasons  they  suffer  more  than 
others  which  are  much  less  fertile.  But 
these  lands  have  not  been  fully  tested, 
though  they  have  been  cultivated  for 
more  than  half  a  century,  perhaps  more 
than  a  century.  They  must  have  been 
highly  productive  when  first  tilled. 
But  it  appears  to  me  that  great  produc- 
tiveness does  not  belong  to  first  series 
of  years  after  tillage  begins.  It  is  true 
■when  new  lands  are  cleared  of  the  for- 
est that  the  first  crops  require  no  fertil- 
izers. The  growth  is  almost  spontaneous. 
The  planter  sows  and  his  harvest  is  sure. 
But  when  exuberance  of  fertihzing  mat- 
ter is  nearly  exhausted  and  the  soil  be- 
gins to  flag,  it  should  by  no  means  be 
regarded  as  used  up,  that  it  must  be 
abandoned,  and  that  new  fields  must  be 
cleared.  Instead  of  regarding  the  soil 
as  having  passed  its  best  and  most  pro- 
ductive period,  it  should  be  considered 
as  only  subdued  and  ready  for  the  true 
system  of  cultivation.  The  soils  of 
England,  which  have  been  cultivated 
eighteen  hundred  years,  produce  more 
by  the  present  system  of  husbandry 
than  they  could  have  produced  during 
their  first  years  of  tillage.  Parte  of 
New  England  and  New  York  yield  a 
greater  profit  than  they  did  at  their  first 
settlement;  I  mean  that  they  will  yield 
a  greater  number  of  bushels  of  wheat 
and  corn  than  when  they  were  in  their 
virgin  state.  Hence,  the  idea  that  old 
lands  are  comparatively  worthless  should 
be  exploded,  and  the  sooner  this  is  done 
the  better. 

Now,  to  apply  the  doctrine  to  the 


Providence  tract,  the  western  Cabarrus, 
those  lying  between  Concord  and  Char- 
lotte ;  and  to  these  may  be  added  the 
rich  red  lands  of  Uwarre  and  Caraway; 
I  say  to  apply   this  doctrine  to  these 
lands,  I  believe  that  they  are  only  sub- 
dued, and  that  thny  are  only  just  now 
ready  to  yield  their  maximum  harvest. 
No  one,  however,  should  misunderstand 
my  views,  for  1  do  not  mean  that  by 
pursuing  the  old  plan  of  cultivation,  by 
treading   in    the    old    track,  that  these 
lands  are    capable   of  producing  more 
than  they  do  now;  but  it  is  by  tillage, 
by  the  use  of  those  appliances  which 
are  truly  modern  that  these  results  can 
be  expected.      I    have    no    doubt  that 
many  plantations,  whose  yield  of  cotton 
is  ordinarily   1,600  lbs.,  may  be  made 
to  produce  3,000  lbs.,  and  those  which 
yield  800  lbs.,  1,200  lbs.     My  opinion 
is  based  on  present  modes  and  means, 
or  present  labor  and  present  husbandry. 
If  by  a  slight   addition  to  modes  and 
means,  2,000  lbs.  of  cotton  are  produc- 
ed to  the  acre,  why  is  it  not  rational  to 
suppose  that  by  bringing   all  the  pres- 
ent appliaiaces  of  husbandry  to  bear  up' 
on  tillage  that  such  a  result  may  be  re- 
alised ?     There  is  no  doctrine  which  is 
so  importaat  to  be   inculcated   as  the 
foregoing,  for  so  long  as  planters  look 
upon  old  soils  and  old  lands  as  worth- 
less, so  long  their   efforts  will  be  defer- 
red.    But  when  once  they  are  so  satis- 
fied of  the  truth,  that  old  lands  are  sus- 
ceptible of  improvement,  and  especially, 
if  they  can  be  made  to  beheve  that  by' 
culture,  they  are  capable  of  producing 
more  bushels  and  more  weight  of  corn 
and   cotton   per    acre,   than  when   the 
plough  first  broke  up  the  surface,  they 
will  be  ready  for  trying  better  systems 
and  better  modes  of  husbandry.     Well, 
history  sustains  this  view.  All  history  re- 
lating to  agriculture  sustains  it.  It  is  but 
the  experience  of  the  experienced — of 
those  who  have  tested  the  doctrine.  It  is 
true  you  will  not  see  it  stated  in  the  words 
in  which  I  have  presented  it  now,  for 
with  me  it  is  a  deduction  from  history. 
I  see  it  in  the  results  of  English  hus 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


157 


bandiy,  and  I  see  it  in  the  results  of  the 
best  husbandly,  both  of  the  south  and 
north  of  tbis  country. 

I  am  sir,  most  respectfully, 

Your  servant, 
E.  EMMONS. 

May  29,  1853. 

To  his  Excellency,  David  iS.  Reid : 

Sir  :  The  subject  of  improvement  of 
old  lands  takes  a  broad  field.     It  might 
be   expected,  and    perhap   demanded, 
that  I  should  sustain  and  carry  out  the 
doctrine  of  the  last  communication  by 
a  statement  of  details,  how  old  lands 
should  be  treated  in  order  to  bring  up 
their  productiveness  to  a  standard  high- 
er than  they  possessed  in  the  first  pe- 
riods of  cultivation.  I  shall  not  attempt, 
however,  to  do  this  v?ith   any  degree  of 
fullness,  and  before  I  touch  at  all  upon 
this  subject,  I  wish  to  make  a  remark 
or  two  which  have   a  general  bearing 
upon   the  wbole  subject.     In  the  first 
place,  agricultural    writers    when  they 
propose  improvements  are  very  apt  to 
make   them   too  sweeping.     They,  for 
instance,   propose  deep  draining,  deep 
ploughing,  lime  as  a  fertilizer,  etc.,  or 
some  special  mode  of  procedure  in  or- 
der to  obtain  a  given  end.  Now,  gene- 
ral doctrines  are  excellent  when  tlicy  are 
general ;  but  it  frequently  happens  that 
there  are  important  exceptions.     It  is 
not  every  field  which  requires  draining, 
some  may  be  injured  by  it ;  it  is  not 
every   field   which  requires   lime,   and 
even  when  it  is  required  the  condition? 
are  not  the  same.     If  the  soil  is  desti- 
tute of  organic  matter  or  quite  deficient 
in  it,  lime,  though  it  may  be  wanting  in 
the  soil,  still,  without  giving  also  a  sup- 
ply of  organic  matter,  it  will  be  useless  ; 
it  will  fail,  and  the  planter  will  be  dis- 
appointed. He  will  say  to  his  neignbors 
that  he  had  tried  lirae  and  it  did  no 
good ;  he  has  lost  his   money  anel  his 
labor.     Now,  no  sensible  man  need  be 
told  that  sHch  a  result  is  doubly  bad. 
The  same  may  be  said  of  pkosphate  of 
lime  and  of  guano.     If  the  farmer  or 


planter  is  unacquainted  with  the  com- 
position of  his  soil ;  if  he  is  ignorant  of 
the  conditions  which  are  necessary  to 
insure  good  results,  there  are  many 
chances  to  one  that  he  will  fail  in  the 
use  of  a  recommended  mode,  or  in  the 
use  of  a  good  fertilizer.  My  doctrine, 
therefore,  is  that  all  general  doctrines, 
as  set  forth  by  writers,  should  be  reduc- 
ed to  specialties  as  far  as  possible  ;  that 
is,  while  the  doctrine  is  set  forth  in  gen- 
eral terms,  the  conditions  which  are  re- 
quired for  their  successful  working  should 
be  laid  down  also.  But  all  this  would 
require  investigation  ;  it  would  demand 
very  close  observation  ;  and,  perhaps, 
more  still,  the  chemical  examination  of 
the  soil.  Now,  I  believe  that  because 
investigation  is  required,  pjany  failures 
happen  to  the  very  best  modes  ;  that, 
though  there  is  a  looseness  in  stating 
doctrines  and  facts  by  writers,  yet  there 
is  only  one  source  of  disappointment ; 
there  is  remaining  a  want  of  expendi- 
ture of  thought  upon  the  subject  by  the 
farmer  himself.  There  are  some  men 
whom  I  believe  are  more  lavish  in  the 
expenditure  of  money  than  they  are  in 
the  expenditure  of  thought;  though  the 
rule  generally  is,  not  to  expend  either, 
especially  in  husbandry.  There  is  still 
another  class,  quite  unlike  the  two  for- 
mer ;  that  class  who  take  in  all  the  doc- 
trines and  digest  none — whose  minds 
are  like  a  stuffed  sausage,  full  of  meat, 
which  is  not  of  the  least  use  to  the 
membrane  which  contains  it.  Again, 
some  suppose  that  planting  and  farming 
may  be  successfully  prosecuted,  on  the 
same  plan  that  a  cook  makes  up  her 
fries  and  cakes ;  that  is,  by  recipes 
which  tell  them  how  a  good  crop  of 
corn,  tobacco,  or  wheat  may  be  raised. 
There  is  much  of  this  kind  of  husband- 
ry every  where,  for  if  there  is  no  written 
form  of  a  recipe,  there  is  about  the 
same  thing  in  the  brain  ;  there  is  a  rou- 
tine without  thought,  which  is  carried 
out  mechanically.  There  is  no  expen- 
diture of  thought  about  the  conditions 
of  the  soils,  or  the  climate,  or  peculiari- 
ties of  the  seasons.     There  is  no  era- 


i 


158 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


ployment  upon  which  thought  might  be 
so  profitably  expended,  as  agriculture, 
deep  thought,  too ;  but  it  cannot  be 
given  without  elementary  knowledge.  It 
is  true  we  may  think  about  the  result 
of  an  experiment,  but  of  its  success  or 
failure,  we  can  form  no  judgment  with- 
out instruction  in  the  elements  of  Agri- 
culture. 

I  am,  Sir,  most  respectfully. 

Your  obedient  servant. 
E.  EMMONS. 


From  Working  Farmer. 
The  Necessary  Mechanical  Condition 
of  the  Soil. 

Prof.  Maples. — As  to  the  necessary 
mechanical  condition  of  the  soil,  we  are 
all  aware  that  the  fall  of  rains,  and  per- 
haps from  some  other  causes,  the  soil 
becomes  compact.  We  know,  also,  that 
when,  the  ultimate  particles  are  not 
spherical  in  form,  it  takes  much  longer 
to  compact  them.  Some  soils  contain 
clay,  and  in  such  cases  a  single  rain  will 
compact  the  surfaces.  Thus,  in  Colum- 
bia county,  they  keep  their  plums  free 
from  the  curculio  because  the  clay 
washes  between  the  pores  of  the  surface, 
and  gives  a  glass-like  covering;  there- 
fore, the  curculio  cannot  enter. 

It  seems  to  be  necessary  to  plow  the 
soil  for  the  purpose  of  breaking  up  this 
compacting,  and  the  advantages  arising 
from  the  plowing  are  many  and  well 
understood.  It  it  well  known  that  a 
soil  will  change  its  character  by  being 
exposed  to  the  asmosphere ;  that  car- 
bonic acid  and  ammonia  are  more  read- 
ily received,  and  that  it  becomes  a  store- 
house to  these  substances  for  the  use  of 
plants.  Plants,  during  their  decay,  de- 
posit carbon  in  the  soil.  Atmospheric 
influences  are  necessary  for  the  oxyda- 
tion  of  materials  in  the  soil. 

There  are  certain  substances  in  the 
soil  that  have  the  power  of  absorbing 
ammonia,  and  many  other  materials 
that  may  be  brought  in  solution  ;  thus 
clay  (alumina)  has  the  power  of  receiv- 
ing and  retaining  ammonia ;  so,  tooj 
has  carbon,  which  is  restored  to  the  soil 


by  the  decomposition  of  plants,  and  is  re- 
ceived from  the  atmosphere  in  the  form 
of  carbonic  acid  gas. 

V\^hen  a  soil  is  well  disintegrated,  so 
that  air  can  circulate  freely  among  its 
particles,  a  larger  amount  of  moisture 
will  become  resident,  for  the  reason  that 
a  larger  amount  of  surface  is  exposed  to 
the  action  of  the  air.  A  cold  pitcher 
subjected  to  the  influence  of  the  sun, 
will  soon  become  covered  with  drops  of 
water,  which  is  the  moisture  of  tlie  at- 
mosphere condensed  upon  its  surface. — 
In  case  the  soil  be  plowed  deep  enough 
to  cause  thorough  disintegration,  the 
air,  in  passing  through  it,  will  cause 
moisture,  to  be  deposited  through  the 
mass,  because  it  is  at  a  lower  tempera- 
ture than  the  supernatent  atmosphere, 
thus  preventing  crops  from  suffering 
from  drought.  There  has  yet  been  no 
instance  of  sub-soiled  lands  suffering  for 
want  of  moisture.  If  the  crop  sown  be 
corn,  and  that  the  sub-soil  plow  passes 
to  a  proper  depth,  traveling  under  the 
surface  soil  as  a  mole  might  pass  along, 
without  turning  it  over,  this  crop  will 
not  suffer  injury  from  dry  weather,  nor 
will  any  other  crop.  [  saw  the  field  of 
Mr.  James  Campbeli  of  Weston  ;  every 
other  land  of  corn  in  the  field  was  sub- 
soiled,  and  the  parts  so  treated  were 
perfectly  free  from  harm,  while  the  oth- 
er portions  showed  very  much  the  want 
of  cultivation.  There  are  many  other 
instances  of  the  advantages  of  sub-soil 
plowing,  but  too  numerous  to  be  cited. 

During  the  dryest  days  of  summer, 
land  trea*ed  as  I  have  already  mention- 
ed, permits  much  air  to  enter,  and  as 
moisture  condenses,  it  supplies  ammonia 
to  the  growing  plant,  causing  its  roots 
to  be  thrown  to  greater  distances. 

The  power  of  alumina  and  carbon 
in  the  taking  up  of  ammonia,  is  admit- 
ted. If  three  barrels  of  sea  sand,  one 
containing  a  few  per  cent,  of  alumina, 
and  the  other  of  carbon,  and  the  third 
sea  sand  alone,  have  the  fluid  drainage 
of  the  compost  heap  poured  on  the  top 
of  them,  in  passing  through  the  barrel 
containing  the  sand,  it  will   carry  with 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


159 


it  all  substances  held  in  solution,  while 
in  passing  through  the  other  two,  it 
will  be  robbed  of  many  of  these  mate- 
rials. 

It  has  often  been  stated,  and  with 
truth,  that  very  deep  plowing  brings  up 
too  much  sub  soil,  and  it  doubtless  has 
a  tendency  to  injure  for  the  time  being  ; 
but  land  may  be  plowed  with  safety 
one  inch  deeper  each  successive  plow- 
ing, until  the  proper  depth  be  arrived  at. 
Land  should  be  under-drained  before 
sub-soilingf,  or  the  rains  of  a  sinffle  sea- 
son  will  recompact  it.  The  placing  of 
the  sub-soil  on  the  surface,  thus  ex- 
posing it  to  the  atmosphere,  changes 
its  character,  and  causes  it  to  become 
surface  soil.  In  digging  the  holes  for 
many  of  the  trees  upon  my  farm,  I 
had  the  surface-soil  placed  at  the  roots 
of  the  trees,  and  the  sub-soil  placed  on 
top  the  surrounding  soil,  bringing  it  in 
more  immediate  contact  with  the  at- 
mosphere ;  these  parts  are  now  of  even 
quality  with  the  rest  of  the  surffice 
soil ;  and  where  the  land  was  under- 
drained,  and  I  went  pretty  fully  into 
this  subject,  this  change  took  place  in 
a  much  shorter  space  of  time.  This 
land  never  suffers  from  drought,  and  it 
is  not  possible  that  this  arises  from  the 
amount  of  water  in  the  drains.  Wher- 
ever stagnant  water  passes  away  freely, 
air,  in  passing  through,  ensures  a  de- 
posit of  moisture.  The  amount  of  air, 
passing  through  these  drains  at  times, 
would  be  sufficient  to  extinguish  a  light- 
ed candle,  if  placed  at  the  upper  end 
of  one  of  them. 

As  to  the  sub-soil  plows,  many  far- 
mers have  been  deterred  from  using 
them  on  account  of  their  b'td  configura- 
tion. Most  of  them  have  wings  at 
their  sides,  requiring  the  earth  to  be 
elevated  eight  inches.  You  will  per- 
ceive that  in  its  onward  motion,  it 
elevates  100  pounds  of  soil  in  every 
foot  of  its  forward  travel. 

This  plow  has  been  very  much  im- 
proved by^he  carrrying  down  of  the 
side  wing.  Messrs.  Myers,  Prouty  and 
others,  have   carried   it  down,   making 


it  but  112  inch  above  the  base  of  the 
plow,  thus  causing  it  to  be  more  easily 
forced  through  the  soil,  the  point  hav- 
ing the  advantage  that  a  sharp  chisel 
has  over  a  dull  one.  But  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  some  one,  (I  cannot  now  re- 
member whom,)  I  conceived  of  a  plow 
of  superior  construction,  and  proposed 
it  to  Rnggles,  Nourse,  Mason  &  Co. 
They  have  adopted  the  plan,  and  have 
recently  sent  me  two  of  the  plows.  The 
construction  is  exceedingly  simplej-and 
will  do  away  with  the  necessity  for 
employing  heavy  teams  for  sub-soil 
plowing. 


To  Make  a  Perpetual  Almanac. 

Many  years  since,  whep  quite  a  lad, 
we  discharged  the  functions  of  clerk  in 
a  grocery  store.  At  that  day,  all  stores 
that  retailed  other  goods,  sold  spirituous 
liquors  by  the  glass.  A  very  intelligent 
and  well  educated  man,  who  bad  be- 
come a  mere  wreck  of  humanity  by 
frequent  tippling,  was  a  regular  custo- 
mer. Noticing  a  revolving  almanac 
sticking  up  over  the  desk,  he  said  to 
me,  "  what  will  you  give  me  to  teach 
you  to  make  a  perpetual  almanac  ?"  It 
was  finally  agreed  between  him  and  the 
owner  of  the  store  that  whenever  I 
was  able  to  calculate  readily  the  day  of 
the  week  for  a  century  past  and  a  cen- 
tury ahead,  he  should  have  two  drinks. 
The  work  was  immediately  commenced 
and  before  he  left  the  store  one  of  the 
drinks  was  claimed  and  delivered.  Think- 
ing that  it  maybe  useful  to  some  one  of 
our  readers,  we  conclude  to  publish  it. 

It  should  first  be  observed,  however, 
that  there  are  seven  letters  used  as  do- 
minical letters,  which  are,  A,  B,  C,  D, 
E,  F,  G.  One  of  these  letters  is  used 
to  govern  each  year,  and  two  are  used 
for  leap  years,  one  for  the  first  and  se- 
cond month,  and  another  for  the  re- 
maining months  of  the  year.  These 
letters  for  each  successive  year  are  ta- 
ken from  the  alphabet  backwards,  be- 
ginning at  G  and  ending  at  A.  In 
order  that  these  letters  may  be  remem- 
bered in  the  order  in  which  they  are  to 


160 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


be  reckoned,  to  find   the    day   of  the 

week,  they  are  made  the  initials  of  the 

following  couplet : 

At  Dover  Dwells  Geirge  Brown ,  Esquire. 
Good  Charley  French  and  David  Frier. 

These  initial  letters  always  represent 
the  several  months  as  they  come  in  ro- 
tation, thus ;  A  represents  the  first 
month,  D  the  second,  and  third  G  the 
the  fourth  B  the  fifth,  &c. 

If  any  person  wished  to  know  on 
what  day  of  the  week  he  was  born,  if 
it  was  in  the  18th  century,  divide  the 
year  by  4  and  add  tne  product  to  the 
year.  Then  divide  that  product  by  7 
and  take  the  last  remainder  from  tbe 
last  divisor  and  the  product  will  indi- 
CPte  the  dominical   letter  for   the  year. 

Example. — What  day  of  the  week,  was  the 
24th  day  of  May,  1787. 

4U787 
446-3 


7)2233 
319 


We  find  that  the  seventh  letter  which 
is  G,  is  the  dominical  letter  for  that 
year.  Count  the  months  from  January 
to  May,  v,'hich  is  five.  Then  count  to 
the  fifth  initial  in  the  rhyme,  which  I 
find  to  be  thus : — At  Dover  dwelt 
Georofe  Brown.  Tlien  count  from  the 
dominical  letter  to  B,  which  is  three, 
commence  at  Sunday  and  count  as  many 
days  as  there  is  from  G  to  B,  which 
■will  be  Tuesday.  Consequently  Tues- 
day is  the  first,  eighth,  fifteenth,  twen- 
ty-second days  of  May,  Wednesday 
23d  and  Thursday  24th. 

If  the  day  to  be  found  be  in  the  19th 
century,  proceed  as  above  until  you  get 
the  second  remainder,  from  which  one 
is  to  be  deducted. 

Example. — What  day  of  the  ^^eek  was  the 
fifth  day  of  February,  1808.- 
4)1808 
452 


7)2260 


5    322-6 

I 

2  1 

I 

5 

The  second  letter  or  B,  is  dominical 
letter  for  that  year,  but  as  it  is  leap 
year,  the  next  letter,  G,  governs  the  first 


and  second  months.  Then  count  Jan., 
Feb.  two.  The  second  initial  in  the 
rhyme,  is  D.  Count  from  the  domini- 
cal letter  C,  to  D,  which  is  one.  This 
will  show  that  Sunday  was  the  first  day 
of  February,  1808,  making  Thursday 
the  fifth  day  of  that  month. — F.  <fe  Ar. 


THE  Subscriber  will  give  any  special  advice 
to  Farmers,  by  their  addressing  him  and 
giving  a  descriplion  oi  their  farms.  His  charge 
will  bo  moderate.  He  will  make  analysis  ot 
soils  and  marls,  and  write  out  the  analysis  for 
application  of  manures. 

For  analysis  of  soils,  $5  00 

Writing  out  analysis,  5  00 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D. 

THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL 

IS  Published  monthly,  at  $1  per  annnum,  in 
advance ;  six  copies   for  $5 ;  twelve  copies 
for  $10  ;  thirty  copies  for  $20. 

Advertisements. — A  limited  number  of  ad- 
vertisements will  be  inserted  at  the  following 
rates:  For  one  square  of  twelve  lines,  for  each 
insertion,  $1 ;  one  square  per  annum,  ^10  ;  half 
column,  do.,  $30  ;  one  column,  do.,  $50;  larger 
advertisements  in  proportion. 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS, 
Editor  and  Proprietor,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Sea  Island  Cotton — Statistics — &c.,  129 
Constitution  of  the  Agricultural  Association 

of  the  slaveholding  States,  134 

Corn-Flat  vs.  Hill  culture,                .  136 

Maxims  for  Farmers ;  Ringbone  in  Horses,  137 

Worth  Knowing ;  To  make  Blacking.  137 

Salt  your  Corn,  138 

Origin  of  Mules  in  the  United  States,  139 

Poultry  and  Eggs,  139 

A  Potato  twenty  years  Old,  139 

Agricultural  Axioms,  140 

Recipe  for  Starch  ;  Carrots  for  Coffee.  140 

Galls  from  Harness,  &c.,  140 

Cure  for  chapped  Hands,  140 

Tanning  Leather,  141 

Spinning  Cotton  Yarns  for  Export,  143 

New  Process  of  making  Butter,  142 

Measuring  Corn,  142 

Georgia  State  Agricultural  Fair,  143 

The  China  Tree  ;  Hard  to  Beat.  143 

Our  Removal,  (Editorial.)  144 

Farmers  write  for  your  Paper,  (Editorial,)  144 
To  the  Farmers'  Wives  and  Daughters,  (Ed.)  145 

The  State  Fair,  (Editorial,)  146 

Who  will  take  Them,  (Editorial)  146 

Cotton  Gins  in  Old  Edgecombe,  (Editorial)  146 
To  those  who  wish  to  take  our  Paper,  (Ed.)  146 

Halifax  Couity  Ahead,  (Editorial)  147 

Original  Communication,  147 

Advantages  of  the  Farmer  of  this  Age,  148 

Cheese  making  for  a  small  ]  )airy,  149 

Food  for  Crops,  150 

Geological  Survey,                    t*-     ■  151 

The  Prejudices  of  Farmers,  153 

Letters  from  Professor  Emmons,  156 

Necessary  Mechanical  condition  of  the  Soil,  158 

To  make  a  perpetual  Almanac,  1^9 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


VOL.  2.  RALEIGH,  IS.  C,  SEPTEMBER,  1853.  XO.  6. 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D.,  Editor  and  Proprietor. 


Plants,  &c.,  «&;c. 

How  does  the  food  enter  into  the  circulation  of 
plants — Sti'ucture  of  the  several  parts  of 
plants — Functions  of  the  root — Course  of  the 
sap — Cause  of  its  ascent — Functions  of  the 
stem — of  the  leaves,  and  of  the  bark — Circum- 
siances  by  which  the  exercise  of  these  func- 
tions is  modified. 

1. GENERAL     STRUCTURE     OF     TLAXTSj 

AND    OF    THEIR    SEVERAL  PARTS. 

Plants  consist  essentially  of  three 
parts — the  roots,  the  stem,  and  the 
leaves.  The  foriuer  spread  themselves 
in  various  directions  through  the  soil, 
HS  the  latter  do  through  the  air,  and  the 
stem  is  dependent  for  its  food  and  in- 
crease on  the  rapidity  with  which  the 
roots  shoot  out  and  extend,  and  on  the 
number  and  luxuriance  of  the  leaves. 

We  shall  obtain  a  clearer  idea  of  the 
relative  structure  of  these  severrl  parts 
by  first  directing  our  attention  to  that 
of  the  stem. 

The  stem  consists  apparently  of  four 
parts — the  pith,  the  wood,  the  bark  and 
the  medullary  rays.  The  pith  and  the 
medullary  rays,  however,  are  sim.ilarly 
constituted,  and  are  only  prolongations 
of  one  and  the  same  substance.  The 
pith  forms  a  solid  cylinder  of  soft  and 
spongy  matter,  which  ascends  through 
the  central ^art  of  the  stem,  and  varies 
in  thickness  with  the  species  and  with 
the  age  of  the  trunk  or  branch.  The 
wood  surrounds  the  pith  in  the  form  of 
a  hollow  cyhnder,  and  is  itself  covered 
by  another  hollow  cylinder  of  bark. — 
In  trees  or  branches  of  considerable  age 
the  wood  consists  of  two  parts,  the  old- 

VoL,  11— 6. 


est  or  heart  loood,  often  of  a  brownish 
color,  and  the  newer  external  wood  or 
alburnum,  which  is  generally  softer  and 
less  dense  than  the  heart  wood.  The 
bark  also  is  easily  separated  into  two 
portions,  the  inner  bark  or  libe?;  and  the 
epidermis  or  outer  covering  of  the  tree. 
The  pith  and  the  bark  are  connected 
together  by  thin  vertical  columns  or 
partitions  which  intersect  the  wood  and 
divide  it  into  triangular  segments.  A 
cross  section  of  the  trunk  or  branch  of 
a  tree  exhibits  these  thin  columns  ex- 
tending in  the  form  of  rays,  or  like  the 
spokes  of  a  wheel,  from  the  centre  to 
the  circumference.  Though  they  form 
in  reality  thin  and  continuous  vertical 
plates,  yet  from  the  appearance  they 
present  in  the  cross  section  of  a  piece  of 
wood,  they  are  distinguished  by  the 
name  of  medullary  rays. 

These  several  parts  of  the  stem  are 
composed  of  bundles  of  small  tubes  or 
hollow  cylindrical  vessels  of  various 
sizes,  and  of  different  kinds,  the  struc- 
ture of  which  it  is  unnecessary  for  us 
to  study.  They  are  all  intended  to 
contain  liquid  and  gaseous  substances 
and  to  convey  them  in  a  vertical,  and 
sometimes  in  a  horizontal  direction. — 
The  tubes  which  compose  the  wood  and. 
bark  are  arranged  vertically,  as  mAV. 
readily  be  seen  on  examining  a  piece  of 
wood  even  with  the  naked  eye,  and  are 
intended  to  convey  the  sap  upwards  to 
the  leaves,  and  downwards  to  the  roots. 
Thoss  of  which  the  pith  and  medullary 
plates  consist  are  arranged  horizontall 


i 


JI62 


THE  FABMER'S  JOURNAL. 


ftod  appear  to  be  intended  to  maintain  a 
lateral  nitercourse  between  the  pith  and 
the  bark — perhaps  even  to  place  the 
heart  of  tlie  tree  within  the  influence  of 
the  external  air. 

The  root,  though  prior  in  its  origin 
to  the  stem,  may  nevertheless,  for  the 
purpose  of  illustration  be  considered  as 
ils  downward  and  lateral  prolongation 
'  jjato  the  earth — as  the  branches  are  its 
upward  prolongation  into  the  air. — 
When  they  leave  the  lower  part  of  the 
trunk  of  the  tree,  they  differ  little  in 
their  internal  structure  from  the  stem 
itself.  As  they  taper  off,  however,  first 
the  heart  wood,  then  the  pith,  gradual- 
ly disappear,  till,  towards  their  extremi- 
ties, they  consist  only  of  a  soft  central 
woody  part  and  its  coverincf  of  soft 
bark.  These  are  connected  with,  or  are 
respectively  prolongations  of,  the  new 
wood  and  bark  of  the  trunk  and  bran- 
ches. At  the  extreme  points  of  the 
joots  the  bark  becomes  white,  soft, 
spongy,  and  full  of  pores  and  vessels. 
It  is  by  these  spongy  extremities  only, 
or  chiefly,  that  liquid  and  gaseous  sub- 
-stances  are  capable  either  of  entering 
into,  or  of  making  their  escape  from, 
the  interior  of  the  root. 

The  branches  and  twigs  are  exten- 
sions of  the  trunk  ;  and  of  the  former 
rthe  leaves  may  be  considered  as  a  still 
furthea*  extension.  The  fibres  of  the 
leaf  are  minute  ramifications  of  the 
woody  matter  of  the  twigs,  are  connect- 
ed through  them  with  the  wood  of  the 
branches  and  stems,  and  from  this  wood 
T'ceive  the  sap  which  they  contain. — 
The  green  part  of  the  leaf  may  be  con- 
sidered as  a  special  expansion  of  the 
^bark,  by  which  it  is  fitted  to  act  upon 
the  air,  in  the  same  way  as  the  spongy 
iinass  into  whicli  the  bark  is  clianged  at 
the  extremity  of  the  root,  is  fitted  to 
,jict  upon  the  water  and  other  substan- 
ces it  meets  with  in  the  soil.  For  as 
fibres  of  (he  leaf  are  connected  with 
the  wood  of  the  stem,  so  the  green  part 
of  the  leaf  is  connected  with  its  bark, 
and  from  t'his  green  part  the  sap  first 
begins  to  descetixi  towards  the  root. 


2. — THE    FUNCTIONS    OF    TIIK    ROOT. 

The  position  in  which  the  roots  of 
plants  in  their  natural  state  are  general- 
ly placed,  has  hitherto  prevented  their 
functions  from  being  so  accurately  in- 
vestig  ted  as  those  of  the  leaves  and  of 
the  stem.  While,  therefore,  the  main 
purposes  they  are  intended  to  serve  art' 
universally  known  and  understood,  tii« 
precise  way  in  which  these  ends  are  ac- 
complished by  the  roots,  and  the  pow- 
ers with  which  they  are  invested,  arw 
still  to  a  considerable  degree  matters  of 
dispute. 

I.  It  appears  certain  that  they  are 
possessed  of  the  power  of  absorbing; 
water  in  large  quantity  from  the  soil 
and  of  transmitting  it  upwards  to  the 
stem.  The  amount  of  water  thus  ab- 
sorbed depends  greatly  upon  the  nature 
of  the  soil  and  of  th  •  climate  in  which 
a  plant  grows,  but  much  also  upon  the 
s  ecific  structureof  its  leaves  and  the 
extent  of  its  foliage. 

II.  The  .nnalogy  of  the  leaves  and 
young  twigs  would  iead  us  to  suppose 
that,  when  in  a  proper  state  of  moisture, 
the  roots  should  also  be  capable  of  ab- 
sorbing gaseous  substances  from  the  air 
which  pervades  the  soil.  Experiment, 
however,  has  not  yet  shown  this  to  b« 
the  case. 

We  know,  however,  that  they  are  ca- 
pable of  absorbing  gases  through  the 
JTiediuni  of  water.  For  if  the  roots  of 
a  plant  are  placed  in  water  containing 
carbonic  acid  in  the  state  of  solution, 
this  gas  is  found  gradually  to  disappear. 
It  is  extracted  froni  the  water  by  the 
roots.  And  if  the  water  in  which  the 
roots  are  immersed  be  contained  in  a 
bottle  only  partially  filled  with  the  li- 
quid, while  the  remainder  is  occupied 
by  atmospheric  air,  the  ox^^en  in  this 
air  will  also  slowly  diminish.  It  will  be 
absorbed  by  the  roots  through  the  m*^- 
dium  of  the  water. 

Again,  if  in  the  place  of  the  atmo.s- 
pheric  air  in  this  bottle,  carbonic  acid  bt^ 
substituted,  the  plant  will  droop  and  in 
a  few  days  will  die.  The  same  will  take 
place,  if  instead  of  common  air  or  car 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


163 


bonic  acid,  nitrogen  or  liydrog-en  gases 
be  introduced  into  the  bottle.  The 
plant  will  not  live  when  its  lOots  are  ex- 
posed to  the  sole  aciion  of  any  of  the 
tiiree. 

It  is  obvious,  therefore,  that  the  roots 
vi'  plants  absorb  gaseous  substances 
from  the  air  which  surrounds  their  roots, 
at  least  indirectly  and  through  the  me- 
dium of  water.  It  appears  also  that 
from  this  air  they  have  the  power  of  se- 
Lx'inf  a  certain  portion  of  oxygen  when 
this  gas  is  present  in  it.  Thirdly,  that 
though  they  can  absorb  carbonic  acid 
U>  a  limited  amount  without  injury  to 
the  plant,  yet  that  a  copious  supply  of 
this  gas,  unmixed  with  oxygen,  is  fatal 
to  veo-etaole  hie.  This  deduction  iscon- 
iirnied  by  the  fact  that,  in  localities 
where  carbonic  acid  ascends  through 
ptissures  in  the  subjacent  rocks  and  satu- 
rates the  soil,  the  growth  of  grass  is 
found  to  be  very  much  retarded.  And 
Listlv,  since  nitrogen  is  believed  not  to 
be  in  itself  noxiou-;  to  vegetable  life,  the 
death  of  the  plant  in  water  surrounded 
by  this  gas,  is  supposed  to  imply  that 
the  presence  of  oxygen  is  necessary 
about  the  roots  of  a  growing  and  heal- 
thy plant,  and  that  one  of  the  special 
functions  of  the  roots  is  constantly  to 
absoi'b  this  oxygen. 

This  supposition  is  in  accordance  with 
tlie  fact  that,  in  the  dark,  the  leaves  of 
plants  absorb  oxygen  from  the  atmos- 
phere ;  for  we  have  already  seen  reason 
to  expect  that,  from  their  analogous 
siructure,  the  roots  and  leaves  in  sinii- 
j<ir  circumstances  sliould  perform  also 
analot'ous  functions.  At  the  same  time, 
if  the  roots  do  require  the  access  and 
presence  of  oxygen  in  the  soil,  it  would 
further  appear  that  those  of  some  plants 
require  it  more  than  those  of  others ; 
inasmuch  as  some  genera,  like  the  grass- 
es, love  an  open  and  friable  soil,  into 
which  the  air  is  more  completely  admit- 
ted.—[Sprcngel,  Chemie,  IL,  p.  337.] 

III.  We  have  in  a  former  lecture  (IV. 
p,  64)  concluded  from  the  facts  there 
stated,  that  solid  substances,  which  are 
Holuble  in  water,  accompany  this  liquid 

32 


when  it,  enters  into  the  circulation  of  the 
plant.  This  appears  to  be  true  both  of 
organic  and  inorganic  substances.  Pot- 
ash, soda,  lime,  and  magnesia  thus  find 
their  way  into  the  interior  of  plants,  as 
well  as  those  substances  of  animal  and 
vegetable  origin  lo  which  the  observa- 
ti<.)ns  made  in  the  fourth  lecture  were 
intended  more  especially  to  apply. — 
Even  silica,  considered  to  be  almost  inso- 
luble in  water,  enters  by  the  roots,  and 
is  found  in  some  cases  in  cf»nsiderable 
quantities  in  the  stem.  Some  persona 
have  hence  been  led  to  conclude  that 
solid  substances,  undissolved,  if  in  a  mi- 
nute state  of  division,  may  be  drawn 
into  the  pores  of  the  root  and  may  then 
be  carried  by  the  sap  upwards  to  the 
stem. 

Considered  as  a  mere  question  of  ve- 
getable mechanics,  argued  as  such 
among  physiologists,  it  is  (^f  little  mo- 
ment whether  wo  adopt  or  reject  this 
opinion.  One  physiologist  may  statn 
that  the  pores  by  which  the  food  enters 
into  the  roots  are  so  minute  as  to  baffle 
the  powers  of  the  best  constructed  mi- 
croscope, and,  therefore,  that  to  no  par- 
ticles of  solid  matter  can  they  by  possi- 
bility give  admission — while  another 
may  believe  solid  matter  to  be  capabitv- 
of  a  mechanical  division  so  minute  t.* 
to  pass  through  the  pores  of  the  finest 
membrane.  As  to  the  mere  fact  it- 
self, it  matters  not  which  is  right,  or 
which  of  the  two  we  follow.  The  adop- 
tion of  the  latter  opinion  implies  in  it- 
self merely  that  foreign  substances,  un- 
necessary, perhaps  injurious  to  vegeta- 
ble life,  may  be  carried  forward  by  the 
flowing  juices  until  in  some  still  part  of 
the  curient,  or  in  some  narrower  vessel, 
they  are  arrested  and  there  permanent- 
ly lodged  in  the  solid  substance  of  the 
plant. 

By  inference,  however,  the  adoption' 
of  this  opinion  implies  also,  that  the  in- 
organic substances  found  in  plants — 
those  which  remain  in  tlie  form  of  ash 
when  the  plant  is  burned — are  a-ciden-- 
tal  only,  not  essenticd  to  its  constitution. 
For  since  tbey  may  have  been  introdu- 


164 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


ced  in  a  mere  state  of  minute  mechani- 
cal division  suspended  in  the  sap,  they 
ought  to  consist  of  such  substances 
chiefly  as  the  soil  contains  in  the  great- 
est abundance,  and  tbey  ought  to  vary 
in  kind  and  relative  quntity  with  every 
variation  in  the  soil.  In  a  clay  land 
the  ash  should  consist  chiefly  cf  alnrai- 
iia,  in  a  sandy  soil  chiefly  of  silica.  But 
if,  as  chemical  inquiry  appears  to  indi- 
cate, the  nature  of  the  ash  is  not  acci- 
dental, but  \sseniial,  and  in  some  de- 
gree constant,  even  in  very  diflierent 
.soils,  this  latter  inference  is  inadmissi- 
ble ;  and  in  reasoning  backwards  from 
this  fact,  we  find  ourselves  constrained 
lo  reject  the  opinion  that  substances 
are  capable  of  entering  into  the  roots  of 
plants  in  a  solid  state — and  this  with- 
out reference  at  all  to  the  mechanical 
question,  as  to  the  relative  size  of  the 
pores  of  the  ;8pongy  roots  or  of  the  par- 
ticles into  which  solid  matter  may  be 
divided. 

IV.  We  are  thus  brought  to  the  con- 
sideration of  the  alleged  selecting  pow- 
er of  the  roots,  which,  if  rightly  attri- 
buted to  them,  must  be  considered  as 
one  of  the  most  important  functions  of 
which  they  are  possessed.  It  is  a  func- 
tion, however,  the  existence  of  which  is 
disputed  by  many  eminent  physiolo- 
gists. But  as  the  adoption  or  rejection 
of  It  will  materially  influence  our  reason- 
ings, as  well  as  our  theoretical  views,  in 
regard  to  some  of  the  most  vital  pro- 
cesses of  vegetation — it  will  be  proper 
to  weigh  carefully  the  evidence  on 
which  this  power  is  assigned  to  the  roots 
of  plants. 

1".  The  leaves,  as  v^e  shall  hereafter 
see,  possess  in  a  high  degree  the  power 
of  selecting  from  the  atmosphere  one 
or  more  gaseous  substances,  leaving  the 
nitrogen,  chiefly,  unchanged  in  bulk. — 
The  absorption  of  carbonic  acid  and 
the  diminution  of  the  oxygen  in  the 
•experiments  above  described,  appear  to 
be  analogous  efiects,  and  would  seem  to 
imply  in  the  roots  the  existence  of  a 
similar  power, 

2°.  Dr.  Duubeny  found  that  pelargo- 


niums, barley  {hordeum  vulgare,)  and 
the  winged  pea  {lotus  tetragonolobus,) 
though  made  to  grow  in  a  soil  contain- 
ing much  strontia,  appeared  to  absorb 
none  of  this  earth,  for  none  was  found  in 
the  ash  left  by  the  stem  and  roots  of 
the  plant  when  burned.  In  like  man- 
ner De  Saussure  observed  that  polygo- 
num persicaria  refused  to  absorb  acetate 
of  lime  from  the  soil,  though  it  freely 
took  up  common  salt. — [Lindley's  The- 
ory of  Horticulture,  p.  19. 

3°.  Plants  of  different  species,  grow- 
ingin  the  same  soil  leave,  Avhen  burned, 
an  ash  -which  in  every  case  contains 
either  different  substances,  or  the  same 
substances  in, unlike  proportions.  Thus 
if  a  bean  and  a  grain  of  wheat  be  grown 
side  by  side,  the  stem  of  the  plant  from 
the  latter  seed  will  be  found  to  contain 
silica,  from  the  former  none. 

4*^.  But  the  same  plant  grown  in  soils 
unlike  in  character  and  composition, 
contains  always — if  they  are  present  in 
the  soil  at  all — very  nearly  the  same 
kind  of  earthy  matters  in  nearly  the  same 
proportion.  Thus  the  stalks  of  corn 
plants,  of  the  grasses,  of  the  bamboo, 
and  of'many  others,  always  contain  sili- 
ca, in  whatever  soil  they  grow,  or  at 
least  are  capable  of  growing  with  any 
degree  of  luxuriance. 

With  the  view  of  testing  tliis  point, 
Lampadius  prepared  five  square  patches 
of  ground,  manured  them  with  equal 
quantities  of  a  mixture  of  horse  and  cow 
dung,  sowed  them  with  equal  measures 
of  the  same  wheat,  and  on  four  of  thes<j 
patches  strewed  respectively  five  pounds 
of  finely  powdered  quartz  (siliceous 
sands),  of  chalk,  of  alumina,  and  of  osi- 
bonate  of  magnesia,  and  left  one  un- 
dressed. The  produce  of  seed  from 
each,  in  the  above  order,  weighed  24], 
28i  26],  21  J,  and  20  ounces  respective- 
ly. The  grain,  chafi",  and  straw,  from 
each  of  the  patches  left  nearly  tl  e  same 
quantity  of  ash — the  weights  varying 
only  from  3,Y  to  4.08  per  cent,,  and  the 
roots  and  chaff  being  richest  in  inorga- 
nic matter.  The  relative  proportions  of 
silica,  alumina,  lime  and  magnesia  were 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


IC; 


the  same  in  all. — [Meyen  Jahresbericht^ 
1839,  p.  1.]  Provided,  therefore,  the 
substances  which  plants  prefer  be  pre- 
sent in  the  soil,  the  kind  of  inorganic 
matter  they  take  up,  or  of  ash  they 
leave,  is  not  materially  atlected  by  the 
presence  of  other  substances,  even  in 
somewhat  larger  quantity. 

These  facts  all  point  to  the  same  con- 
clusion, that  the  roots  have  the  power 
of  selecting  from  the  soil  in  which  they 
grow,  those  substances  which  arc  best 
litted  to  promote  the  gro«th  or  to 
maintain  the  healthy  condition  of  the 
plants  they  are  destined  to  feed. 

5°.  It  has  been  stated  above,  that  the 
roots  of  certain  plants  refuse  to  absorb 
nitrate  of  strontia  and  acetate  of  lime, 
though  presented  to  them  in  a  slate  ot 
solution — the  same  is  true  of  certain  co- 
lored solutions  which  have  been  found 
incapable  of  finding  their  way  into  the 
circulation  of  plants  wdiose  roots  have 
been  immersed  in  them.  On  the  other 
hand,  it  is  a  matter  of  frequent  obser- 
vation that  the  roots  absorb  solutions 
containing  substances  which  speedily 
cause  the  death  of  the  plant.  Arsenic, 
opium,  salts  of  iron,  of  lead,  and  of 
copper,  and  many  other  substances,  are 
capable  of  being  absorbed  in  quantities 
which  prove  injurious  to  the  living  ve- 
getable— and  ou  this  ground  chiefly 
many  physiologists  refuse  to  acknow- 
ledge that  the  roots  of  plants  are  by 
nature  endowed  with  any  definite  and 
constant  power  of  selection  at  all.  But 
this  argument  is  of  equal  force  against 
the  possession  of  such  a  power  by  ani- 
mals or  even  by  man  himself;  since, 
with  our  more  perfect  discriminating 
powers,  aided  by  our  reason  too,  we 
evejy  day  swallow  with  our  food  what 
js  more  or  less  injurious,  and  occasion- 
ally, even  fatal  to  human  life. 

On  the  whole,  therefore,  it  appears 
most  reasonable  to  conclude  that  the 
roots  are  so  constituted  as  (]")  to  be 
able  generally  to  select  from  the  soil, 
in  preference,  those  substances  which 
are  most  suitable  to  the  nature  of  the 
plant— (2*)  where  these  are  not  to  be 


met  with,  to  admit  certain  others  in  their 
stead — (3")  to  refuse  admission  also  to 
certain  substances  likely  to  injure  the 
plant,  though  unable  to  discriminate 
and  reject  everything  hurtful  or  unbene- 
ficial  which  may  be  presented  to  them 
in  a  state  of  solution. 

The  object  of  nature,  indeed,  seems 
to  be  to  guard  the  plant  against  the 
more  common  and  usual  dangers  only 
— not  against  such  as  rarely  present 
themselves  in  the  situation  in  which  it 
is  destined  to  grow,  or  against  substan- 
ces which  are  unhkely  even  to  demand 
admission  into  its  roots.  How  useless 
a  waste  of  skill,  if  I  may  so,  speak, 
would  it  have  been  to  endow  th-.-  roots 
of  each  plant  with  the  power  of  distin- 
guishing and  rejecting  opium  and  arsen- 
ic, and  the  thousand  other  poisonous 
substances  which  the  physiologist  can 
present  to  them,  but  which  in  a  state  of 
nature — on  its  natural  soil  and  in  its 
natural  climate — the  living  vegetable  is 
never  destined  to  encounter  ! 

V.  Another  function  of  the  roots  of 
plants,  in  regard  to  w'hich  physiologists 
are  divided  in  opinion  at  the  present 
day,  is  what  is  called  their  excretory 
power. 

1°.  When  barley  or  other  grain  is 
caused  to  germinate  in  pure  chalk,  ace- 
tate of  lime  is  uniformly  found  to  be 
mixed  with  it  after  the  germination  is 
somewhat  advanced.  [Becquerel  and 
Ma'eucci,  Ann.  de  Chem.  et  de  Phys., 
Iv.,  p.  310.]  In  this  case  the  acetic  acid 
must  have  been  given  off  (excreted)  by 
the  young  roots  during  the  germination 
of  the  seed. 

This  fact  may  be  considered  as  the 
foundation  of  the  excretory  theory,  as  it 
is  called.  This  theory,  supported  by 
the  high  authority  of  Decandolle,  and 
illustmted  by  the  apparently  convincing 
experiments  of  Macaire,  \Ann.  d«  Chim. 
et  de  Phys.,  lii.,  p.  225,]  has  more  re- 
cently been  met  by  counter-experiments 
of  Braconnot,  [Ixxii.  p.  27,]  and  is  novsr 
in  a  great  measure,  rejected  by  many 
eminent  vegetable  physiologists.  '  It 
may,  indeed,  be  considered  as  quite  cer- 


r' 


166 


THK  FAllMEirS  JOURNAL. 


tain  that  the  application  of  this  theory, 
bj  Decandoile  and  others,  to  the  exphi- 
uation  of  the  benefits  arising  from  a  ro- 
tation of  crops,  is  not  confirmed,  or  pro- 
ved to  be  correct,  by  any  experiments 
on  the  subject  that  have  hitherto  buen 
published. 

According  to  Decandoile,  plants,  like 
sinimals,  have  the  power  of  selecting 
from  their  food,  as  it  passes  throngh 
dieir  vascular  system,  such  portions  as 
are  likely  to  nourish  them,  and  of  reject- 
ing, by  their  roots,  when  the  sap  des- 
cends, such  as  are  unfit  to  contribute  to 
ihelr  support,  or  would  be  hurtful  to 
them  if  not  rejected  from  their  system. 
He  further  supposes  that,  after  a  time, 
the  soil  in  which  a  certain  kind  of  plant 
grows,  becomes  so  loaded  with  this  re- 
jected matter,  that  the  same  plant  refu- 
ses any  longer  to  flourish  in  it.  And, 
thirdly,  that  though  injurious  to  the 
plant  from  which  it  has  been  deriveil, 
ibis  rejected  matter  may  be  wholesome 
food  to  plants  of  a  different  order,  and 
hence  the  advantage  to  be  derived  from 
a  jotation  of  crops. 

There  seems  no  good  reason  to  doubt 
fchat  the  roots  of  plants  do  at  times — it 
may  be  constantly — reject  organic  sub- 
stances from  their  roots.  The  acetic  acid 
given  off  during  germination,  and  the 
same  ajid  found  by  Braconnot,  in  re- 
markable quantity  in  the  soil  in  which 
the  poppy  {jtapaver  somnifer'am)  has 
grown — may  be  regarded  as  sufficient 
,6vidence  of  the  fact — but  the  quantity 
of  such  organic  matter  hitherto  detect- 
ed among  what  may  be  safely  viewed 
as  the  real  excretions  of  plants,  seems 
by  far  too  small  to  account  for  the  re- 
-Moarkable  natural  results  attendant  upon 
a  rotati-n  of  croj)s. 

The  consideration  of  these  results,  as 
well  as  of  the  general  theory  of  such  a 
fotation,  will  form  a  distinct  topic  of 
consideration  in  a  subsequent  part  of 
•ihese  lectures.  I  shall,  therefore,  only 
taention  one  or  two  facts  which  seem  to 
me  capable  of  explanation  only  on  the 
supposition  that  the  roots  of  plants  are 
fiudowcd  with  the  power  of  rejecting, 


and  that  they  do  constantly  reject,  when  ' 
the  sap   returns  from   the  leaf,  some  of 
the  substances    which  they  had   previ- 
ously taken  up  from  the  soil. 

1°.  De  Saussure  made  numerous  ex- 
periments on  the  quantity  of  ash  per 
cent,  left  by  the  same  phmt  at  different 
periods  of  its  growth.  Among  other 
results  obtained  by  him,  it  appeared — 
A.  That  the  quantity  of  incombusti- 
ble or  inorganic  matter  in  the  different 
parts  of  the  plant  was  different  at  differ- 
ent periods  of  the  year.  Thus  the  dry 
leaves  of  the  horse  chestnut,  gathered  in 
May,  left  7-2  per  cent.,  towards  the  end 
of  July  8-4  per  cent.,  and  in  the  end  of 
September  8-6  percent,  of  ash  ;  the  dry 
leaves  of  the  hazel  in  June  left.  6'2,  and 
in  September  7  per  cent.;  and  those  of 
Lhe,pO{>lar  [jjojndus  nigra)  m  May  6-0, 
and  in  September  9.3  per  cent,  of  ash. 
These  results  are  easily  explained  on  the 
supposition  that  the  roots  continued  to 
absorb  and  send  up  to  the  leaves  durin;>- 
the  whole  summer  the  saline  and  earthy 
substances  of  which  the  ash  consistetl. 
But— 

B.  He  observed  also  that  the  quanti- 
ty of  the  inorganic  substances  \u — or 
the  ash  left  by — the  entire  plant,  di- 
minished as  it  approached  to  maturity. 
Thus  the  dry  plants  of  the  vetch,  of  the 
golden  rod  {solidarjo  vulgaris^)  of  the 
turnsol  [heUanth'us  antmus,)  and  of 
wheat,  left  respectively  of  ash,  at  three 
different  periods  of  theirgrowth,  [Davy's 
Agriculbiral  Chemistry^  Lecture  JII,] 

Before  flowering.  In  flower.  Seeds  ripe. 

per  cent.  per  cent,    per  cent. 
Vetch,             15  1-2.2  6.6 

Golden  rod,      9.2  5.7  5.7 

Turnso],  14.7  13.7  9  0 

Wheat,  7.9  5.4  3  8 

This  diminution  in  the  pioportion  of 
ash,  might  arise  either  from  an  increase 
in  the  absolute  quantity  of  vegetable 
matter  in  the  plants  accompanying  their 
increase  in  size — or  from  a  portion  of 
the  saline  and  earthy  matters  thev  con- 
tained being  again  rejected  by  the'roots. 
But  if  the  former  be  the  true  explana- 
tion, the  relative  pi'oportions  of  the  sev- 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


16V 


era!  substances  of  which  the  ash  itself 
consisted,  in  the  several  cases,  should 
have  been  the  same  at  the  several  peri- 
ods when  the  experiments  were  made. 
But  this  was  b}'  no  means  the  case. 
Thus,  to  refer  only  to  the  quantity  of 
silica  contained  in  the  ash  left  by  each 
of  the  above  plants  at  the  several  stages 
of  their  growth,  the  ashes  of  the 

Before  flowering.  In  flower.  Seeds  ripe. 
per  cent,    per  cent,    per  cent. 
Vetch  contained  lo  To  1'75 

Golden  rod,  1-5  1-5  3-5 

Turnsol,  IS  15  3-75 

Wheat.,  12-5         2G  0         51-0 

If,  then,  the  proportion  of  silica  in  the 
ash  increased  in  some  cases  four-fold, 
while  tho  whole  quantity  of  ash  left  by 
the  plant  decreased,  it  appears  evident 
that  some  part  of  that  which  existed  in 
the  plant  during  the  earlier  periods  of 
its  growth  must  have  been  excreted  or 
rejected  by  the  roots,  as  it  advanced 
towards  maturity. 

2".  This  conclusion  is  confirmed  and 
carried  farther  by  another  consideration. 
The  quantity  of  ash  left  by  the  ripe 
wheat  plant,  in  the  above  experiments 
of  De  Saussure,  amounted  to  3'3  per 
cent.; — of  which  ash,  51  per  cent.,  or 
rather  more  than  one-half,  was  silica. 
This  silica,  it  is  believed,  could  only  have 
entered  into  the  circulation  of  the  plant 
in  a  state  of  solution  in  water,  and  could 
only  be  dissolved  by  the  agency  of  pot- 
ash or  soda.  But,  according  to  Spren- 
gel,  the  potash,  soda,  and  silica,  are  to 
each  other  in  the  grain  and  straw  of 
wheat,  in  the  proportions  of — 


Potash. 

Soda. 

Silica 

Grain, 

0-225 

0-24 

0-4 

Straw, 

0-20 

0-29 

2-87 

Or,  supposing  the  grain  to  equal  one- 
half  the  weight  of  the  straw — their  rel- 
ative proportions  in  the  whole  plant  will 
be  nearly  as  21  potash,  27  soda,  205 
silica,  or  the  weight  of  the  silica  is  up- 
wards of  four  times  the  weights  of  the 
potash  and  soda  taken  together. 
'  Now  silica  requires  nearly  half  its 
■weight  of  potash  to  render  it  soluble  in 


water,  or  three-fifths  of  its  weight  of  a 
mixture  of  nearly  equal  parts  of  potash 
and  soda.  The  quantity  of  these  aZ/ta- 
Zi«<?  substances /ow?ic?  in  the  plant,  there- 
fore, is  by  no  means  sufficient  to  hav« 
dissolved  and  brought  into  its  circula- 
tion the  vvhole  of  the  silica  it  contains. 
One  of  two  things,  therefore,  must  have 
taken  place.  Either  a  portion  of  the 
potash  and  soda  present  in  the  plant 
in  the  earlier  stages  of  its  growth  must 
have  escaped  fiom  its  roots  at  a  later 
stage,  leaving  the  silica  behind  it — or 
the  same  quantity  of  alkali  must  have 
circulated  through  the  plant  several 
times — bringing  in  its  burden  of  silica, 
depositing  it  in  the  vascular  system  of 
the  plant,  and  again  returning  to  the 
soil  for  a  fresh  supply.  In  either  case 
the  roots  must  have  allowed  it  egress  as 
well  as  ingress.  But  the  fact,  that  the 
proportion  of  silica  in  the  plant  goes  on 
increasing  as  it  continues  to  grow,  is  in 
favour  of  the  latter  views — and  renders 
it  very  probable  that  the  sarne  quantity 
of  alkali  returns  again  and  again  into 
the  circulation,  bringing  with  it  sup- 
plies of  silica  and  probably  of  othe? 
substances  which  the  plant  requires 
from  the  soil.  And  while  this  view  ap- 
pears to  be  the  more  probable,  it  also 
presents  an  interesting  illustration  ot 
what  may  probablj/  be  the  kind  of  func- 
tion discharged  by  the  potash  and  other 
inorganic  substances  found  in  the  sub- 
stance of  plants — a  question  we  shall 
hereafter  have  occasion  to  consider  at 
some  length. 

The  above  considerations,  therefore, 
to  which  I  might  add  others  of  a  simi- 
lar kind,  satisfy  me  that  the  roots  of 
plants  do  possess  the  power  of  excret- 
ing various  substances  which  are  held 
in  solution  by  the  sap  on  its  return  from 
the  stem — and  which  having  performed 
their  functions  in  the  interior  of  th,e 
plant  are  no  longer  fitted,  in  their  exist- 
ing condition,  to  minister  to  its  susten- 
ance or  growth.  Nor  is  it  likely  that 
this  excretory  power  is  restricted  solely 
to  the  emission  of  inorganic  substance"*. 
Other  soluble  matters  of  organic  origin 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


are,  no  doubt,  permitted  to  escape  into 
the  soil — though  whether  of  such  a 
kind  as  must  necessarily  be  injurious  to 
the  plant  from  which  they  have  been 
extruded,  or  to  such  a  degree  as  alone 
to  render  a  rotation  of  crops  necessary, 
neither  reasoning  nor  experiment  has 
hitherto  satisfactorily  shown. 

VI.  The  roots  have  the  power  of  ab- 
sorbing, and  iu  some  measure  of  select- 
ing, food  from  the  soil — can  they  also 
raodify  or  alter  it  as  it  passes  through 
them  ?  A  colourless  sap  is  observed  to 
ascend  through  the  roots.  From  the 
v.ery  extremity  up  to  the  foot  of  the 
stem  a  cross  section  exhibits  little  trace 
of  colouring  matter,  even  when  the  soil 
contains  animal  and  vegetable  substan- 
ces which  are  soluble,  and  which  give 
dark  coloured  solutions,  [such  as  the 
liquid  manure  of  the  fold-yard.]  Does 
such  matter  never  enter  the  root  ?  If  it 
does,  it  must  be  speedily  changed  or 
transformed  into  new  compounds. 

We  have  as  yet  too  few  experiments 
upon  this  subject  to  enable  us  to  decide 
v,ith  any  degree  of  certainty  in  regard 
to.  this  function  of  the  root. 

It  is  probable,  however,  that  as  tlie 
sap  passes  through  the  plant,  it  is  con- 
stantly, though  gradually,  undergoing 
a  series  of  changes,  from  the  time  when 
ic  first  enters  the  root  till  it  again  reach- 
es it  on  its  return  from  the  leaf. 

Can  viQ  conceive  the  existence  of  any 
powers  in  the  root,  or  in  the  whole  plant, 
of  a  still  more  refined  kind  ?  The  ger- 
ifiinating  seed  gives  oif  acetic  acid  into 
the  soil, — does  this  acetic  acid  dissolve 
lime  from  the  soil  and  return  with  it 
jigain,  as  some  suppose  (Liebig,)  into 
the  circulation  of  the  plant  ?  Is  acetic 
acid  produced  and  excreted  by  the  seed 
for  this  very  refined  purpose  ?  We  have 
concluded  that  in  the  wheat  plant  the 
f'otash  and  soda  probably  go  and  come 
sereral  times  during  its  growth,  and  the 
ripening  of  its  seed.  Is  this  a  contriv- 
ance of  nature  to  make  up  for  the  scar- 
city of  alkaline  substances  in  the  soil — 
cr  would  the  same  mode  of  operation 
\iQ  em.plpyed  if  potash  and  soda  were 


present  in  greater  abundance?  Or  where,' 
the  alkalies  are  present  in  greater  abun-l 
dance,  might  not  more  work  be  done' 
by  them  in  the  same  time, — might  not) 
the  plant  be  built  up  the  faster  and  the^ 
larger,  when  there  were  more  hands,  soi 
to  speak,  to  do  the  work?  Is  the  ac-i 
tion  of  inorganic  substances  upon  veg-i 
etation  to  be  explained  by  the  existence,; 
of  a  power  resident  in  the  roots  or  olh-^ 
er  parts  of  plants,  by  which  such  oper-i 
ations  as  this  are  directed  or  superin-; 
tended  ?  There  are  many  mysteries] 
connected  with  the  nature  and  phenom-: 
ena  of  vegetable  life,  wliich  we  haveJ 
been  uuiible  as  yet  to  induce  nature  toi 
reveal  to  us.  But  the  morning  light  isj 
already  kindling  on  the  tops  of  the.' 
mountains,  and  we  may  hope  that  the^ 
deepest  vallies  will  not  forever  remaia- 
obscure.  i 

3 — THE    COURSE    OV    THE-  SAP.  ) 

If  the  trunk  of  a  tree  be  cut  off  above' 
the  roots,  and  the  lower  extremity  be^ 
immediately  plunged  into  a  solution  of] 
madder  or  other  colouring  substances,! 
the  coloured  liquid  will  ascend  and  wiUj 
gradually  tinge  the  wood.  This  ascent^ 
will  continue  till  the  colour  can  also  be; 
observed  in  the  nerves  of  the  leaf.  If^ 
at  this  stage  in  the  experimejst  thei 
trunk  be  cut  across  at  various  heights,! 
the  wood  alone  will  appear  coloured,! 
the  bark  remaining  entirely  untinged.* 
But  if  the  process  be  allowed  still  toj 
continue  when  the  coloured  matter  hasj 
reached  the  leaf,  and  after  some  further, 
time  the  stem  be  cut  across,  the  bark ': 
also  will  appear  dyed,  and  the  tinge  will] 
be  perceptible  further  and  further  from  | 
the  leaf  the  longer  the  experiment  is ; 
carried  on,  till  at  length  both  bark  and  \ 
wood  will  be  coloured  to  the  very  hot-  \ 
torn  of  the  stem.  ). 

Or  if  the  root  of  a  living  plant,  as  in  \ 
the  experiment  of  Macaire  detailed  in  ' 
a  preceding  note,  be  immersed  in  a  me-^ 
tallic  solution — such  as  a  solution  of  i 
acetate  of  lead, — which  it  is  capable  of ' 
absorbing  without  immediate  injury,  j 
and  dift'erent  portions  of  the  plant  ex-  i 

j 
i 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


169 


amiiied  after  the  lapse  of  different  pe- 
siods  of  time, — first  the  stem,  aftei'wards 
the  leaves, , then  the  bark  of  the  upper 
part  of  the  stern,  and  lastly  that  of  the 
lower  part  of  the  stem,  will  exhibit  tra- 
ces of  lead. 

These  experiments  show  that  the  sap 
v.hich  enters  by  the  roots  ascends 
tlirough  the  vessels  of  the  wood,  dif- 
fuses itself  over  the  surface  of  leaves, 
and  then  descends  by  the  bark  to  the 
■extremities  ot  the  root. 

But  what  becomes  of  the  sap  when 
?t  reaches  the  root  ?  Is  it  delivered  in- 
to the  soil,  or  does  it  recommence  the 
same  course,  and  again,  repeatedly  per- 
Imps,  circulate  through  th6  stem,  leaves 
and  bark  ?  This  question  has  been 
|)-artly  answered  by  what  has  been  stat- 
•ed  in  the  preceding  section.  When  the 
sap  reaches  the  extremity  of  the  root, 
it  ap{>ears  to  give  off  to  the  soil  both 
^olid  and  Ikud  substiinces  of  a  kind  and 
to  nn  amouut  which  probably  differ 
with  every  species  of  plant.  The  re- 
maiRder  of  the  sap  and  of  the  substan- 
ces it  hoMs  in  solution  must  be  diffused 
through  the celhilar  spongy  terminations 
of  the  roots,  and,  with  the  new  supply 
of  liquid  imbibed  fiom  the  soil,  retui'ned 
again  to  the  stem  with  the  ascending 
current. 

But  what  causes  the  sap  thus  to  as- 
cend and  descend  ?  By  what  power  is 
it  first  sucked  up  through  the  roots,  and 
afterwards  forced  down  again  from  the 
l;-aves  ?  Several  answers  have  been 
pven  to  this  question. 

1."  When  the  end  of  a  wide  tube,  ei- 
ther of  raetaS  or  of  glass,  is  plunged  in- 
to water,  the  liquid  will  rise  within  the 
tube  sensibly  to  the  same  level  as  that 
at  which  it  stands  In  the  vesseL  But 
if  a  capillary  tube  be  employed  instead 
of  one  with  a  wide  bore,  the  liquid  will 
rise,  and  wili  permanently  remain  at  a 
considerably  higher  level  within  than 
without  the  tube.  The  cause  of  this 
rise  has  been  ascribed  to  an  attraction 
which  the  sides  of  the  tube  have  for  the 
liquid,  and  which  is  sufficiently  strong 
to  raise  it  and  to  keep  it  up  above  the 


proper  level  of  the  water.  The  force 
itself  is  generally  distinguished  by  the 
name  of  ccqnllary  attraction. 

Now,  the  wood  of  a  tree,  as  we  have 
seen,  is  composed  of  a  mass  of  fine  tubes, 
and  through  these  the  sap  has  been  said 
to  rise  by  ca-pillary  attraction.  But  if 
the  top  of  a  vine  be  cut  off  when  it  is 
juicy  and  full  of  sap,  the  liquid  will  ex- 
ude from  the  newly  formed  surface,  and 
if  the  air  be  excluded,  will  flow  for  a 
length  of  time,  and  may  be  collected 
in  a  considerable  quantity  [Lindley's 
Theory  of  Horticulture,  p.  47,  note.] 
Such  a  flow  of  the  sap  is  not  to  be  ac- 
counted for  by  mere  capillary  attractioE 
— the  sides  of  tubes  cannot  draw  up  a 
fluid  beyond  their  own  extremities. 

1?  To  supply  the  defect  of  this  hy- 
pothesis, Be  Saussure  supposed  that  the 
fluid  at  first  introduced  by  capillary  at- 
traction into  the  extremities  of  the  rooi, 
was  afterwards  propelled  upwards  by 
the  alternate  contraction  and  expansion 
of  the  tubes  of  which  the  wood  of  the 
root  and  stem  is  composed.  This  alter- 
nate contraction  and  expansion  he  also 
supposed  to  be  caused  by  a  peculiar  ir- 
ritating  property  of  the  sap  itself,  whic]i 
caused  each  successive  part  of  the  tube 
into  which  it  found  admission  to  cori- 
tract  for  the  purpose  of  expelling  it. 
Mr.  Knight  also  ascribed  the  ascent  of 
the  sap  to  a  similar  contraction  of  cer- 
tain other  parts  of  the  stem.  Being 
once  raised,  he  supposed  it  to  return 
again  or  descend  by  its  own  weight — 
but  in  drooping  branches  it  is  obvious 
that  the  sap  must  be  actually  driven  or 
drawsi  upwards  from  the  leaves  on  its 
retui-n  to  the  root.  These  explanations, 
thei'efore,  are  still  unsatisfactorj'. 

S.*'  If  one  end  of  .'lu  open  glass  tube 
be  covered  with  a  piece  of  moistened 
bladder  or  other  fine  animal  membrane, 
tied  tightly  over  it,  and  a  strong  solu- 
tion of  sugar  in  water  be  then  poured 
into  the  open  end  of  the  tube,  so  as  to 
cover  the  merabi'ane  to  the  depth ,  of 
several  inches,  and  if  the  closed  end  l)e 
then  introduced  to  the  depth  of  an  inch 
be'ow  the  surface  of   a  vessel  of  pure 


i 


170 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


water,  the  water  will  after  a  short  lime  1  as  low  as  that  of  the  liquid  entering  the 
pass  through  the  bladder  innanis,  and  ■  roots  from  the  soil.  But  in  a  growing 
the  column  of  liquid  in  the  tube  will  I  tree,  clothed  with  foliage,  this  will  never 
increase  in  height.  This  a-cent  will  |  happen.  The  leaves  are  continually  ex- 
continue,  till  in  favorable  circumstances  I  haling  aqueous  vapour,  as  one  of  their 
the  fluid  v.'ill  reach  the  height  of  sever-   coristant    functions,   and    sometimes  in 


al  feet,  and  will  flow  out  or  run  over  at 
the  open  end  of  the  tube.  At  the  same 
time  the  water  in  the  vessel  will  become 
sweet,  indicating  that  while  so  much 
liquid  has  passed  through  the  membrane 
inwards,  a  quantity  has  also  passed  out- 
wards, carrying  sugar  along  with  it.  To 
these  opposite  effects  Dutrochet,  who 
first  drew  attention  to  the  fact,  gave  the 
names  of  Endosniose,  denoting  the  in- 
ward progress,  and  jExos?7iose,  the  out- 
ward progress  of  the  fluid,  lie  suppos- 
ed them  to  be  due  to  the  action  of  two 
apposite  currents  of  electricity,  and  he 
Eikens  the  phenomena  observed  during 
the  circulation  of  the  sap  in  j>lants,  to 
the  appearances  preaenied  during  the 
above  experiment. 

Without  discussing  the  degree  of 
probability  which  exists  as  to  the  influ- 
ence of  electricity  in  producing  the  phe- 
nomena of  endosmose  and  exosmose,  it 
must  be  admitted  that  the  appearances 
fchemselves  bear  a  strong  resemblance 
fco  those  presented  in  the  al)9orption  and 
excretion  of  fluids  by  the  roots  of  ].>lants 
— and  point  very  distinctly  to  at  least  a 
kindred  cause. 

Thus,  if  the  spongy  t'SlMuination  of 
the  root  )-epresent  the  thin  porous  mem- 
brane in  the  above  experiment — the  sap 
with  v.'liich  the  tubes  of  the  wood  are 
filled,  the  artificial  soljition  introduced 
into  the  experimental  tube — and  the 
water  in  the  soil,  the  water  or  aqueous 
solution  into  which  the  closed  extremi- 
fey  of  the  tube  is  introduced, — we  have 
a  series  of  conditions  precisely  similar  j 
to  those  in  the  experiment.  Fluids  | 
ought  consequently  to  enter  finSm  the 
soil  into  the  roots,  and  theiice  to  ascend 
into  the  stem,  as  in  liature  they  appear 
feo  do. 

This  ascent,  we  have  said,  will  con- 
iiuue  till  the  fluid  in  the  tubes  of  the 
wood  (the  SAp)  is  reduced  to  a  density 


very  large  quantity.  The  sap,  there- 
fore, when  it  reaches  the  leaves,  is  con- 
centrated or  thickened,  and  rendered 
more  dense  by  the  separation  of  the  wa- 
ter, so  that  when  it  decends  to  the  root, 
and  again  begins  its  upward  course,  it 
will  admit  of  large  dilution  before  its 
density  can  be  so  far  diminished  as  tu 
approach  tlv«tof  the  comparatively  pur« 
water  which  is  absorbed  from  the  soih 
And  this  illustration  of  the  ascent  of 
the  sap  appears  the  more  correct  from 
the  obvious  purpose  it  points  out — (in 
addition  to  others  long  recognised) — as 
served  by  the  evaporation  which  is  con- 
stantly taking  place  frosn  the  surface  of 
the  leaf. 

Still  the  cause  of  the  ascent  of  the 
sap  is  not  the  more  clear  that,  we  can 
imitate  it  in  some  measure  bv  au  arti- 
ficial experiment.  But  it  will  be  con- 
ceded by  the  strictest  reasoaers  on  phys- 
ical phenomena,  that  to  have  obtained 
the  cemmand,  or  evej'  a  partial  control, 
over  a  natural  power,  is  a  considerable 
step  towards  a  clear  conce])tion  of  the 
nature  of  that  power  itseb.  If  the  phe- 
nomena of  endosmose  can  hereafter  be 
clearly  and  indubitably  traced  tt>  th© 
agency  of  eleetrieity,  v/e  shall  liave  ad- 
vanced still  another  step,  and  shall  be- 
enabled  to  devise  other  means  by  which 
a  more  perfect  imitation  of  nature  may 
be  efl'ected,  or  a  more  complete  control 
asserted  over  the  phenomena  of  veget- 
able circulation. 

4 FUNCTIONS    OF    THE    STEM. 

The  functions  of  tlie  stem  are  prob- 
ably as  various  as  those  of  the  root, 
though  the  circumstances  under  wdiich 
they  are  performed  necessarily  involvo 
these  functions  in  considerable  obscu- 
rity. 

The  pith  which  forms  the  central  part 
of  the  stem  consists^  as  I  have  already 


THE  FARMEirs  JOURNAL, 


Hi 


stated,  of  tubes  disposed  horizontally. 
When  a  coloured  fluid  is  permitted  to 
enter  the  lower  part  of  the  stem  in  the 
experiments  above  described,  tlie  pith 
remains  untinctured  in  the  centre  of  the 
coloured  wood.  It  does  not,  therefore, 
serve  for  the  conveyance  of  the  sap. 
-Nor  does  it  seem  to  be  vitally  necessary 
ti>  the  health  and  growth  of  the  ph^nt, 
since  Mr.  Knight  has  shown  that,  from 
the  interior  of  many  trees,  it  may  be 
removed  without  apparent  injury,  and 
hi  natui-e,  as  trees  advance  in  age,  it 
gradually  diminishes  in  bulk,  and  in 
some  species  becomes  apparently  oblit 
e  rated. 

The  vessels. of  the  wood,  which  sur- 
8-ounds  the  pith,  perform  probably  both 
a  m-achanical  and  a  Lhemical  function. 
They  serve  to  convey  upwards  to  the 
leaf  the  various  substances  which  enter 
by  the  roots.  This  is  their  mechanical 
function.  But  during  its  progress  up- 
wards, the  sap  appears  to  undi^irgo  a  se- 
ries of  changes.  When  it  reaches  the 
leaves  it  i.s  no  ionger  in  th«  state  in 
which  it  a-^cended  from  the  root  into 
the  stem.  Th-e  difficulty  of  extracting 
the  sap  from  the  wood,  at  diflerent 
heights,  has  prevented  very  rigorous  ex- 
perinfients  from  being  made  on  its  na- 
?,nre  and  conteiits  at  the  several  stages 
<sf  its  ascent.  These  it  is  obvious  must 
vary  with  the  species  and  age  of  the 
|vlant,  and  with  the  season  of  the  j-ear 
at  which  the  experiment  is  made.  But 
the  g'eneval  result  to  be  drawn  from 
•such  observations  as  have  hitherto  been 
snade,  is,  that  those  substances  which 
<Miter  directly  into  the  root,  when  min- 
gled with  such  as  have  already  passed 
through  the  circulation  of  the  plant, 
iindergo,  during  their  ascent,  a  gradual 
preparation  for  that  state  in  which  they 
become  fit  to  minister  to  the  growth  of 
the  plant.  This  preparation  is  complet- 
•ed  in  a  great  measure  in  the  leaf,  though 
further  changes  still  go  on  as  the  sap 
descends  through  the  bark.  This  de- 
duction is  strengthened  by  the  fact  that 
gaseous  substances  of  various  kmds  and 
in  varying  quantities  exist  in  the  inte- 


rior of  the  wood  of  the  growing  plant. 
These  gaseous  substances,  according  to 
Boucherie,  »re  in  some  cjises  equal  in 
bulk  to  one-twentieth  p?rtof  the  entim 
trunk  of  the  tree  in  which  they  exist. 
They  probably  move  upwards  along 
with  the  sap,  and  are  more  or  less  com- 
pletely discharged  into  the  atmosphere 
through  the  pores  of  the  leaves.  That 
these  gaseous  substances  not  only  differ 
in  quantity,  but  in  kind  also,  with  the 
age  and  species  of  the  tree,  and  with 
the  season  of  the  year,  may,  I  think,  be 
considered  as  almost  amounting  to  a 
proof  that  they  have  not  been  inhaled 
directly  by  the  roots,  but  are  the  result 
of  chemical  decompositions  which  have 
taken  place  on  the  stem  itself,  as  tho 
sap  mounted  upwards  towards  the  leavcR. 
We  have  seen  that  the  roots  exercise 
a  kiu'l  of  discriminating  power  in  ad- 
mitting to  the  circulation  of  the  plant 
the  various  substances  which  are  pres- 
ent in  the  soil.  The  vessels  of  the  stem 
exhibit  an  analogous  power  of  admit- 
ting or  rejecting  the  solutions  of  differ- 
otit  substances  into  which  they  may  be 
in"imersed.  Thus  Boucherie  states  that, 
when  the  trunks  of  several  trees  of  the 
same  species  are  cut  otF above  the  roots, 
and  the  lower  extremities  immediately 
plunged  into  solutions  of  ditterent  sub- 
stances, some  of  these  sohitions  will 
quickly  ascend -into  and  penetrate  the 
entire  substance  of  the  tree  immerseifl 
in  them,  while  others  will  not  be  admit- 
ted at  all,  or  with  extreme  slowness  on- 
ly, by  the  vessels  of  the  stem  to  which 
they  are  respectively  presented.  On  the 
other  hand,  that  which  is  rejected  by 
one  species  will  be  readily  admitted  by 
another.  Whether  this  partial  stoppage 
of,  or  total  refusal  to  admit,  certain  sub- 
stances, be  4i  mere  contractile  eftbrt  on 
the  pa^t-of  the  vessels,  or  be  the  result 
of  a  chemical  change  by  which  their  es" 
elusion  is  effected  or  resisted,  does  not 
as  yet  clearly  appear.  That  it  does  not 
depend  upon  the  lightness  and  porosity 
of  the  wood,  as  might  be  supposed,  w 
shown  by  the  observation  that  the  pop- 
lar is  less  easily  penetvated  m  this  waj 


172 


THE  FARMERS'  JOURNAL. 


than  the  beech,  and  the  willow  tliau  the 
pear  tree,  the  maple,  or  the  ])lane. 

These  various  functions  of  the  woody 
part  of  the  stem  are  performed  chiefly 
hy  the  newer  wood  or  alburnum,  or,  as 
it  is  often  called,  the  sap  wood  of  th.^ 
tree.  As  the  heart  wood  becomes  older, 
the  tubes  of  which  it  consists  are  either 
gradually  stopped  up  by  the  deposition 
of  solid  substances  which  have  entered 
by  the  roots,  or  by  the  formation  of 
chemical  compounds,  which,  like  con- 
cretions in  the  bodies  of  animals,  slow- 
ly increase  in  size  till  the  vessels  become 
entirely  closed— or  they  are  by  degrees 
compressed  laterally  by  the  growth  of 
wood  around  them,  so  as  to  become  in- 
capable of  transmitting  the  s^scendin^. 
fiuids.  Perhaps  the  result  is  in  m-^st 
cases  due  in  part  to  both  these  causes. 
This  more  or  less   perfect  stoppage  of 


to  tlie  sun  and  to  the  air,  and  in  the 
form  of  vapour  escapes  in  considerable 
proportion  through  the  pores  of  the 
leaves  and  diffuses  itself  through  the 
atmosphere. 

The  quantity  of  water  ^vliich  thus 
escapes  from  the  surface  of  the  leaves 
varies  with  the  moisture  of  the  soil, 
with  tlie  species  of  plant,  with  the  tem- 
perature and  moisture  of  the  air,  anil 
with  the  season  of  the  year.  Accord- 
ing to  the  experiments  of  Hales,  it  is 
also  dependent  on  the  presence  of  the 
sun,  and  is  scarcely  perceptible  during 
the  night.  lie  found  that  a  snn-flowor, 
three  and  a  half  feet  hi:h,  lost  fron)  \{% 
leaves  during  12  hours  of  one  day  30, 
and  of  another  day  20  onnces  of  water, 
while  duriijg  a  warm  night,  withou.t 
dew,  it  lost  only  three  ounces,  and  in  a 
dewy  night  underwent  no  diminutioB 


the  oldest  vessels  is  one  reason  why  the  ■  in  weight. 

coui-se   of  the   sap    is  chiefly  directed]      This  loss  of   watery   vapour  by  th 

throuirh  the  newer  tubes. 


The  functions    of   the    baric,    which 
forms  the  exterior  portion  of  the  stem, 


leaf  is  ascribed  to  two  different  kinds  of 
action.  First,  to  a  datura]  perspiratioii 
from  the   pores   of    the  leaf,  similar  to 


will  be  more  advantageously  de  cribed,    the  inse!:sible  perspiration  wliieh  is  con 
sifter  we  shall  have  considered  the  pur-   tinualiy   proceeding  from   the  skins  of 


poses  served' by  the  leaves. 

5 rUNCTIONS    OF    THE    1.EATES. 


healthy  animals  ;  and  seC'  sjd,  to  a  me- 
chanical evaporation  like  that  wliieh 
graduallv  takes  place  from  the  surface- 


The  vessels  of  which  the  sap  wood  is  !  of  moist  bodies  when  exposed  to  hot 
composed  extend  upwards  into  the  fibres  j  or  dr}'  air.  The  relative  asjiount  of  loss 
of  the  leaf.  Through  these  vessels  the  jdue  to  each  of  these  two  modes  of  ae- 
sap  ascends,  and  from  their  extremities  I  tion  respectively,  must  dilTer  \qyj  jniu-h 
diffuses  itself  over   the  surface   of  the   in  different  *peeies  of  plants,  being  de- 


leaf.  Here  it  undergoes  important  chem- 
ical changes,  the  extent,  if  JK>t  the  ex- 
act nature  of  which,  will  appear  from  a 


pendent  in  a  great  measure  on  the  spe- 
cial struciure  of  the  leaf.  In  all  cases, 
however,  the  natural  perspiration  is  be- 


short  description  of  the  functions  which  lieved  v^ry  greatly  to  exceed  the  mere 
the  leaves  are  knowa  or  are  believed  to  I  mechanical  evape-ration — though  \}\q  ro- 
discharge.  |  suits  of  Hales,  and  of  other  expenmen- 

1.'^  When  the  roots  of  a  living  plant  ;  ters,  sliow  that  both  processes  proceed 
are  immersed  in  water,  it  is  a  matter  of]  with  the  greatest  rapidity  onder  the  in - 
familiar  observation  thftit  the  water  grad- !  fluence  of  a  warm  dry  atmosphere,  aid- 
ually   diminishes  in   bulk,  and   will  at  j  ed  by  the  direct  rays  of  the  ssm. 


length  entirely  disappear,  even  when 
evaporation  into  the  air  is  entirely  pre- 
vented. The  water  which  thus  disap- 
pears is  taken  up  by  the  roots  of  the 
plant,  is  carried  up  to  the  leaves,  is  there 
spread  out  over  a  large  surface  exposed 


Among  the  several  purposes  served 
by  this  escape  of  watery  vapour  from 
the  surface  of  the  leaf,  it  is  of  impor- 
tance for  us  to  notice  the  direct  chemi- 
cal influence  it  exercises  over  the  growth 
of  tbu  plan*.     As  the  water  disappears 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


173 


from  the  leaf,  the  roots  must  absorb 
from  the  soil  at  least  an  equal  supply. 
This  water  brings  with  it  the  soluble 
substances,  organic  and  inorganic,  which 
the  soil  contains,  and  thus  in  propor- 
tion to  the  activity  with  which  the  leaves 
lose  their  watery  vapour,  will  be  the 
quantity  of  those  substances  which  en- 
t'T  from  the  soil  into  the  general  circu- 
lation of  the  plant.  This  enables  us  to 
understand  how  substances,  very  spar- 
ingly soluble  in  water,  should  yet  be 
found  in  the  interior  of  plants,  and  in 
very  con.^iderable  quantity,  ai  aUnost 
every  stage  of  their  growth. 

2.°  Besides  watery  vapour,  however, 
the  leaves  of  nearly  all  plants  exhale  at 
the  same  time  other  volatile  compounds 
in  greater  or  less  abundance.  In  the 
petals  of  flowers,  we  are  familiar  with 
such  exhalations — often  of  an  agreea- 
ble and  odoriferous  character.  In  the 
case  of  plants  and  trees  also  which  emit 
a  sensible  odour,  we  readily  recognise 
the  fact  of  volatile  substances  being  giv- 
en off  by  the  leaves.  But  even  when 
the  sense  of  smell  gives  us  no  indication 
of  their  emission  from  a  single  leaf  or  a 
single  plant,  the  introduction  of  a  num- 
ber of  such  inodorous  plants  into  the 
Confined  atmosphere  of  a  small  room 
after  a  time  satisfies  us  that  even  they 
part  with  some  volatile  matter  from  their 
leaves,  which  makes  itself  perceptible 
to  our  imperfect  organs  only  when  in 
a  concentrated  state.  The  probability 
therefore  is,  that  the  letives  of  all  plants 
emit,  along  with  the  watery  vapour 
vs'hich  they  evolve,  certain  other  volatile 
substances  also,  though  often  in  quanti- 
ties so  minute  as  to  escape  detection  by 
our  unaided  senses.  By  the  emission 
of  these  substances  the  plant  probably 
relieves  itself  of  what  would  prove  in- 
jurious if  retained,  though  of  the  chem- 
ical nature  and  composition  of  these  ex- 
halations Httle  or  nothing  has  yet  been 
ascertained. 

3."  If  the  branch  of  a  living  plant  be 
so  bent  that  some  of  its  leaves  can  be 
introduced  beneath  the  edge  of  an  in- 
verted tumbler  full  of  water,  and  if  the 


leaves  be  then  exposed  to  the  rays  of 
the  sun,  bubbles  of  gas  will  be  seen  to 
form  on  the  leaf,  and  gradually  to  rise 
through  the  water  and  collect  in  the 
bottom  of  the  tumbler.  If  this  gas  be 
examined  it  will  be  found  to  be  pure 
oxygen. 

F  the  water  contain  carbonic  acid 
gas,  or'if  during  the  experiment  a  little 
carbonic  acid  be  introduced,  this  gas 
will  be  found  gradually  to  disappear, 
while  the  oxygen  will  continue  to  ac- 
cumulate. 

Or  if  the  experiment  be  made  by  in- 
troducing a  living  plant  into  a  large 
bell-glass  full  of  common  atmospheric 
air,  allowing  it  to  grow  there  for  twelve 
hours  in  the  sunshine,  and  then  examin- 
ing or  analysing  the  air  contained  in 
the  glass,  the  result  will  be  of  a  precise- 
ly similar  kind.  The  per  centage  of 
oxygen  in  the  air  will  have  increased. 
And  if  the  experiment  be  varied  by  the 
introduction  of  a  small  quantity  of  car- 
bonic acid  gas  into  the  jar,  this  gas  will 
be  found  as  before  to  diminish  in  quan- 
tity, while  the  oxygen  increases.  The 
conclusion  drawn  from  these  experiments 
therefore,  is,  that  the  leaves  of  plants, 
when  exposed  to  the  rays  of  the  sun,  ab- 
sorb carbonic  acid  from  the  air  and  give 
off  pure  oxygen  gas. 

It  has  been  already  stated  that  the 
proportion  of  carbonic  acid  present  iu 
the  atmosphere  is  exceedingly  small, 
[about  l-2500th  of  this  bulk — see  Lec- 
ture II.,  p.  30 ;]  but  if  for  the  purpose 
of  experiment  we  increase  this  propor- 
tion in  a  gallon  of  air  to  five  or  ten  per 
cent.,  introduce  a  living  plant  into  it, 
and  expose  it  to  the  sunshine,  the  car- 
bonic acid  will  gradually  disappear  as 
before,  while  the  oxygen  will  increase. 
And  if  we  analyse  the  air  and  estimate 
the  exact  bulk  of  each  of  these  gases 
present  in  it  at  the  close  of  our  expei'i- 
ment,  we  shall  find  that  the  oxygen  has 
increased  generally  by  as  much  as  the 
carbonic  acid  has  diminished.  That  is 
to  say,  if  five  cubic  inches  of  the  latter 
have  aisappeared,  five  cubic  inches  will 
have  been  added  to  the  bulk  of  the  ox.- 


174 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


ygen.  The  above  general  conclnsion, 
therefore,  is  rendered  more  precise  by 
this  experiment,  which  appears  to  show 
that  under  the  infiuence  of  the  svn''s 
rays  the  leaves  of  plants  absorb  carbon- 
ic acid  from  the  air,  and  at  the  same 
time  give  off  an  equal  bulk  of  oxygen 
gas. 

And  as  carbonic  acid  (CC)  contains 
its  own  bnlk  of  oxygen  gas  combined 
with  a  certain  known  weight  of  carbon, 
it  is  further  inferred  that  the  oxygen 
given  off  by  the  leaves  is  the  same  which 
has  been  previously  absorbed  in  the 
form  of  carbonic  acid,  and  therefore  it 
is  usually  stated  as  a  function  of  the 
leaves — that  in  the  sunshiie  they  absorb 
carbonic  acid  from  the  air,  decompose 
it  in  the  interior  of  the  leaf  retain  its 
carbon,  and  again  reject  or  emit  the  ox 
ygen  it  contained. 

This  conclusion  presents  a  very  sim- 
ple view  of  the  relations  of  oxygen  and 
carbonic  acid  respectively  to  the  living- 
leaf  in  the  presence  of  the  sun,  and  it 
appears  to  be  fairly  deduced  from  the 
facts  above,  stated.  It  has  occasionally 
been  observed,  however,  that  the  bulk 
ef  oxygen  given  off  by  the  leaf  hae.  not 
been  precisely  equal  to  that  of  the  car- 
bonic acid  absorbed,  [see  Persoz,  Chi  ■ 
mie  Moleculaire,  p.  54,]  and  hence  it  Js 
also  fairly  concluded  that  a  portion  of 
the  oxygen  of  the  carbonic  acid  which 
enters  the  leaf  is  retained,  and  made 
available  in  the  production  of  the  vari- 
ous substances  which  are  formed  in  the 
vascular  system  of  different  plants.  On 
the  other  hand  it  is  stated  by  Sprengel, 
that  if  compounds  containing  mucb  ox- 
ygen be  presented  to  the  roots  of  plants, 
and  thus  in'roduced  into  the  circulation, 
they  are  also  decdmposed,  and  the  oxy- 
gen they  contain  in  part  or  in  wiiole 
given  off  by  the  leaves,  so  that,  under 
certain  circumstances,  the  bulk  of  the 
oxygen  which  escapes  is  actually  gi-eat- 
er  than  that  of  the  carbonic  acid  which 
is  absorbed  by  the  leaves.  Such  is  the 
case,  fur  example,  when  the  roots  are 
moistened  with  water  containing  carbon- 
ic, suiplmric,  or  nitric  acids, — [Sprengel 
Chemie,  II.,  p.  344.] 


It  is  of  importance  to  note  these  de- 
viations from  apparent  simplicity  in  the 
relative  bulks  of  the  two  gases  which 
are  respectively  given  off  and  absorbed 
by  all  living  vegetables.  There  are  nu- 
merous cases  of  the  formation  of  sub- 
stances in  the  interior  of  plants  which 
iheory  would  fail  to  account  for  with 
any  degree  of  ease,  were  these  apparent 
anomalies  to  be  neglected.  This  will 
more  distinctly  appear  when  in  a  subse- 
quent lecture  we  shall  inquire  how  or 
by  what  chenjical  changes  the  substan- 
ces which  plants  contain,  or  of  which 
they  consist,  are  produced  from  the  food 
which  they  draw  from  the  air  and  from 
the  soil. 

The  most  general  and  probable  ex- 
pression, therefore,  for  the  function  of 
the  leaf,  now  under  consideration,  ap- 
pears to  be  that  in  the  sunshine  the 
leaves  absorb  from  the  air  carbonic  acid, 
and  at  the  same  time  evolve  oxygen  gas, 
the  bulk  of  the  latter  gas  given  oil'  be- 
ing nearly  equal  to  that  of  the  former 
which  is  taken  in — the  relative  bulks  of 
the  two  gases  varying  more  or  less  with 
the  species  of  plant,  as  well  as  with  the 
circumstances  under  which  it  is  caused 
or  is  fitted  to  grow. 

4°.  Such  is  the  relation  of  the  leaf  to 
the  oxygen  and  carbonic  acid  of  the  at- 
mosphere in  the  presence  of  the  sun. 
During  the  night  their  acti.  n  is  rever.'-- 
ed,  they  emit  carbonic  acid  and  absorb 
oxygen.  This  is  proved  by  esperimonis 
similar  to  those  above  described.  For 
if  the  plant  whii-h  has  remained  under 
the  bell  glass  for  12  hours  in  the  sun- 
shine— during  which  time  the  oxygen 
has  sensilily  increased,  and  the  carbon- 
ic acid  diminished  in  bulk — be  allowed 
to  remain  in  the  same  air  tlirongh  the 
following  night,  the  oxygen  will  be 
found  to  have  decreased,  while  the  car- 
bonic acid  will  be  present  in  larger 
quantity  than  in  the  evening  of  tlio 
previous  day. 

The  carbonic  acid  thus  given  off  du- 
ring the  night  is  supposed  to  be  partly 
derived  from  the  soil  through  the  roots, 
and  partly   from   the  substance  of  the 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


175 


plant  itself.  The  oxygen  absorbed  either 
combines  with  the  carbon  of  the  pUint 
to  form  a  portion  of  the  carbonic  acid 
which  is  at  the  same  time  given  oft'  or 
b  employed  in  proi'uciiig  some  of  the 
other  oxydized  [containing  oxygen  in 
considerable  quantity]  coaipouuds  that 
exist  in  the  sap. 

As  a  general  rule,  the  quantity  of 
carbonic  acid  given  oft*  during  the  night 
is  far  from  being  equal  to  that  which  is 
absorbed  during  the  day.  Still  it  is  ob- 
vious that  a  plant  loses  carbon  pi'ecisely 
in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  this  gas 
given  oft;  Hence,  wlien  the  days  are 
longest,  tlie  plant  will  lose  the  least,  and 
where  the  sun  is  brightest  it  will  gain 
the  fastest;  since  otlier  things  being 
equal,  the  decomposition  of  carbonic 
acid  proceeds  most  rapidly  where  the 
sky  is  ihe  clearest,  and  the  rays  of  the 
sun  most  powerful.  Hence  we  see  why 
in  Northern  regions,  where  spring, sum- 
mer and  autumn  are  all  comprise  '  in 
one  long  day — vegetation  should  pro- 
ceed with  such  rapidity.  The  decom- 
position of  the  carbonic  acid  goes  on 
without  intermission,  the  leaves  have  no 
night  of  rest,  but  nature  has  kindly 
provided  that,  wdiere  the  season  of 
warmth  is  so  fleeting,  there  should  be 
no  cessation  to  the  necessary  growth  of 
food  fur  man  and  beast. 

This  comparison  of  the  functions  per- 
formed by  the  leaf,  during  the  day  and 
night  respectively,  explains  the  chemi- 
cal natui'e  of  the  hlanchincj  of  vegeta- 
bles practised  by  the  gardener,  as  well 
as  the  cause  of  tiie  pale  colour  of  plants 
that  grow  naturalSv  in  the  absence  of 
light: 

When  exposed  to  the  sun,  the  leaves 
of  these  sickly  vegetables  evolve  oxy- 
gen, and  gradually  become  green  and 
healthy.  Woody  matter  is  formed,  and 
the  stems  become  strong  and  fibrous. 

The  light  of  th«  sun,  in  the  existing 
economy  of  nature,  is  indeed  equally 
necessary  to  the  health  of  plants  and  of 
animals.  The  former  become  pale  and 
sickly,  and  refuse  to  perform  their  most 
^important  cheniical  functions  when  ex- 


cluded from  the  light.  The  bloom  dis- 
appears from  the  human  cheek,  the 
body  wastes  away,  and  the  spirit  sinks, 
when  the  unhappy  prisoner  is  debarred 
from  the  sight  of  the  blessed  sun.  la 
his  system,  too,  th«  presence  of  light  is 
necessary  to  the  performance  of  those 
chemical  functions  on  which  the  heal- 
thy condition  of  the  vital  fluids  de- 
pends. 

Tiie  processes  by  which  oxygen  and 
carbonic  acid  are  respectively  evolved 
in  plants  have  been  likened  by  physiol- 
ogists to  the  respiration  and  digestion 
of  animals.  It  is  supposed  that  when 
plants  respire  they  give  oft'  carbonic  acid 
as  animals  do,  and  that  when  they  di- 
gest they  evolve  oxygen.  Respiration 
also,  it  is  said,  proceeds  at  all  times,  di- 
gestion only  in  the  light  of  the  sun. 
Though  these  views  are  confessedly  con- 
jectural, they  are  founded  upon  strik- 
ing analogies,  and  may  reasonably  bs 
entertained  as  matters  of  opinion. 

6°.  Other  species  of  decomposition 
also,  besides  that  of  de-oxydization^  go 
on  in  the  leaf,  or  are  there  made  mani- 
fest. Thus  when  plants  grow  in  a  soil 
containing  much  common  salt  (chloride 
of  sodium)  or  other  chlorides,  they  have 
been  observed  by  Sprengel  and  Meyen 
to  evolve  cldoride  gas  from  their  leaves. 
This  takes  place,  however,  more  during 
the  night  than  during  the  day.  Some 
plants  also  give  off"  ammonia,  (Lecture 
IV.,  p.  YO,)  while  others  (cruci ferae,)  ac- 
cording to  Dr.  Daubeny,  [in  \\\?>  Three 
Lectures  on  Agriculture,  p.  59,]  emit 
from  their  leaves  pure  nitrogen  gas. 

The  evolution  of  chlorine  implies  the 
previous  decomposition  of  the  chlorides, 
which  have  been  absorbed  from  the  soil ; 
while  that  of  nitrogen  may  be  due  to 
the  decomposition  of  ammonia,  of  nitric 
acid,  or  of  some  other  compound  con- 
taining nitrogen,  which  has  entered  intb 
the  circulation  by  the  roots.  The  exact 
mode  and  nature  of  the  decomposition 
of  these  substances,  and  the  purposes 
served  by  them  in  the  vegetable  econ- 
omy, will  come  under  our  consideration 
in  a  subsequent  lecture. 

{^Continued  on  page  183.) 


I'ze 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


RALEIGH,  N.  C,  SEPT.,  1853.  ^ 


Something  not  to  be  Forgotten. 

That  all  letters  addressed  to  us  upon 
business,  in  connection  with  the  Farm 
er'5  Journal,  will  be  attended  to  if  ad- 
dressed to  Dr.  J.  F.  Tompkins,  to  care 
of  Wm.  D.  Cooke,  Esq.,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 


An  Excuse  to  our  Readers. 

We  hope  that  inasmuch  as  we  have, 
in  the  last  two  months,  been  sick,  our 
readers  will  excuse  the  delay  in  the  re- 
ception of  the  August  number  of  the 
Journal.  But  we  have  endeavored  to 
make  up  for  that  delay  in  the  variety  of 
editorial  matter,  and  the  highly  inter- 
esting selected  matter  which  we  lay  be- 
fore them  in  this  number.  All,  we  are 
sure,  will  agree  with  us,  that  this  is  the 
best  number  of  the  Journal  ever  yet 
published,  and  if  we  did  not  have  such 
languid  support  from  the  farmers  of  the 
country,  we  could  advocate  their  inter 
est  with  a  much  more  cheerful  spirit ; 
but  it  will  not  always  be  so. 


The  State  Agricultural  Fair. 

This  is  the  last  time  that  we  shall 
have  it  in  our  power  to  lay  this  subject 
before  our  readers,  before  the  time  will 
have  arrived  for  showing  what  can  be 
done  in  the  way  of  a  State  Agricultural 
Fair,  in  North  Carolina.  We  hope  by 
this  time  that  our  Farmers  generally 
feel  the  proper  interest  in  this  matter, 
and  see  the  many  advantages  which 
must  result  to  the  improvement  of  the 
Agriculture  of  the  State.  We  are  sure 
that  the  proper  materials  for  a  good  ex- 
hibition are  in  the  State,  if  %\^Yy  farmer 
who  has  fine  stock  of  any  kind,  will  on- 


ly present  them  ;  and  if  they  fail  to  do 
so,  what  a  source  of  mdVtification  it  must 
be  to  those  present,  to  see  the  fii'st  at- 
tempt at  a  thing  of  the  kind  a  failure. 
This  will  be  a  fine  opportunity,  too,  for 
the  mechanics  of  the  State  to  make  a 
show  of  their  excellence,  in  their  respec- 
tive branches  of  thi  mechanic  arts.  Let 
everybody  who  can,  come  to  the  State 
Agricultural  Fair. 


Analyses  of  the  various  Crops. 

We  lay  before  our  readers  at  this 
time,  an  analysis  of  the  various  crops 
made  by  that  eminent  chemist  Spren- 
GEL,  which  will  be  examined  with  in- 
terest by  enterprising  farmers.  The 
farmer  who  has  an  analysis  of  his  soil, 
can,  by  reference  to  this  table,  tell  at 
once  what  elements  in  his  soil  he  is  ex- 
hausting most  by  the  cultivation  of  cer- 
tain crops.  He  can  also  tell  what 
field  is  best  adapted  to  the  cultivation 
of  the  different  crops ;  and  to  sum  up 
the  whole,  he  can  go  to  work  upon  cor- 
rect and  fixed  principles. 


AVe  lay  before  our  readers  a  lecture 
from  Johnston's  Agricultural  Chemis- 
try, upon  the  structure  of  the  varioiis 
parts  of  plants,  and  their  different  func- 
tions. This  lecture,  we  hope,  will  be 
read  carefully  by  our  readers,  for  it  con- 
tains a  great  deal  of  such  information 
as  farmers  should  have ;  and  the  read- 
ing of  this  will  create  an  anxiety  te 
know  more  of  such  subjects  :  and  the 
farmer  will  find  himself  investiirating 
the  subject  of  Agricultural  Chemistrv, 
almost  before  he  is  aware  of  what  he 
is  about,  and  he  will  soon  find  that  he 
will  understand  what  he  reads,  and  will 
be  much  profited  besides. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


it: 


The  Model  Farm  ot  the  West. 

We  had  the  pleasure  a  few  weeks 
since  of  visiting  the  farm  of  Dr.  Wm. 
,T.  Holt,  in  Davidson  county.  Both  the 
owner  and  the  farm  have  been  known 
to  us  for  some  time  by  reputation,  but 
different  from  most  descriptions  of  per- 
sons and  things  they  really  excelled  our 
most  sanguine  expectations.  This  farm 
is  situated  in  that  part  of  the  county 
called  the  Jersey  Settlement,  which  is- 
celebrated  for  being  by  nature  the  most 
productive  soil  in  the  State.  This,  like 
most  of  the  farms  near  it,  has  been  in 
cultivation  for  a  long  time,  and  was, 
when  Dr.  Holt  purchased,  very  much 
exhausted,  many  parts  of  it  scarcely 
producing  enough  to  pay  the  expenses 
of  cultivation.  But  it  presents  a  very 
different  appearance  at  this  time,  for 
every  field  is  in  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, which  has  been  effected  by  thor- 
ough drainage,  deep  plowing,  and  a 
correct  application  of  such  manures  as 
each  crop  required  for  its  nourishment. 

But  the  appearance  of  the  farm  did 
not  contribute  so  much  to  our  enjov- 
ment,  as  the  fine  stock  of  various 
kinds,  which  we  saw.  The  impression 
generally  is,  that  we  have  no  fine  stock  in 
North  Carolina — that  they  are  all  of  the 
"raw  bone"  breed — but  this  is  a  great 
mistake,  which  may  easily  be  corrected 
by  traveling  over  the  State.  There  are 
upon  Dr.  Holt's  farm,  more  than  one 
hundred  head  of  thorough  bred  Devon 
c-attle,  and  as  many  or  more  of  an  im- 
proved stock  of  sheep,  all  of  which  look 
finely,  as  they  have  fine  pastures  to 
graze  upon  in  the  summer,  and  the  best 
of  hay  to  feed  upon  in  the  winter, 
though  as  regards  sheltering,  they  have 
fared   like  our  native  stock,  which  goes 


clearly  to  prove  that  the  Devon,  are  th® 
kind  of  stock  which   will   best  suit  our 
climate,  and  general  treatment  of  stock. 
We  saw  a  Devon  Bull   in    the  herd, 
j  which,  for  symmetry  of  form  and  tho- 
j  rough  blood,  cannot  be  excelled  in  the 
I  whole   Union.     He  is  a  descendant  of 
i  the  celebrated  Milken,  in  the  herd  of 
I  Mr.  Bloonifield,in  England.     We  think 
that  we  may  promise  the  farmers  quite 
a  treat  in  the  exhibition  of  some  speci- 
mens of  stock,   from   the   farm    of  Dr. 
Holt,  at  the  State  Fair  in  October,  and 
a  greater  treat  still  in  conversing  with 
the  Doctor  himself.     He  is  what  we  call 
a  really  scientific,  practical  fanner,  well 
infurmed  upon  eve:y  subject  in  connec- 
tion with  agricultural  improvement. 


To  the  Farmers  of  the  State. 

Those  farmers  who  have  soils  or  marls, 
v.hich  ihey  may  vvis]i  correct  analysis 
made  of,  would  do  well  to  bring  up 
specimens  to  the  State  Fair,  on  the  18th 
of  October,  and  I  will  make  th.'  analy- 
sis according  to  the  usual  to ms — for  sin- 
gle specimen  of  soil  and  directions  fur 
manuring  $10,  for  single  specimen  of 
marl  $5.  I  would  be  pleased  that  far- 
mers generally,  who  may  cope  to  the 
Fair,  would  bring  any  spfciraen  of  marl 
or  other  minerals,  which  they  may  find 
upon  their  farms.  Specimens  of  soils 
for  analysis  should  be  taken  fiom  four 
to  six  inches  below  the  surface,  about 
a  double  handful  will  be  enough  to  pro- 
cure, which  should  be  well  wrapped  in 
paper,  or  put  in  a  bottle,  and  closely  con- 
fined.        J.  F,  TOMPKINS,  M.  D. 


Preparations  for  the  Fair. 

The  committee  ot  arrangements  are 
making  every  necessary  preparation  for 
a  fine  show  on  the  18th  of  October  next- 


^. 


1 


178 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


The  grounds  for  exliibilion  are  vvitliin 
one  mile  of  the  Capitol,  east  of  the  city, 
which  are  as  convonieiit  as  could 
iiHve  been  selected.  We  hope  that  now 
the  fanners,  mechanics  and  manufac- 
turers of  the  Siale,  see  that  the  people 
of  Raleigh  and  Wake  county  have 
made  the  prej-arations,  and  expended  a 
large  fund,  tliey  will  bring  speci- 
mens to  the  Fair.  Every  person  is  re- 
quested to  furnish  what  tliey  can  to- 
wards making  out  the  show,  there  is  no 
tax  laid  on  any  thing  that  may  be 
sliown,  and  all  ^t-^eks  are,  entertained 
by  the  Saciety,  while  the  exhibition  is  go- 
ing on.  We  have  seen  in  various  parts 
of  the  State  as  fine  cattle,  horses,  hogs, 
and  sheep,  as  can  be  found  any  where, 
and  there  s  nothing  that  would  more 
generally  improve  the  general  agricul- 
ture of  the  State  than  this  State  Fair. 
We  say  let  every  body  w]jo  can,  come 
to  Raleigh  on  the  18th  of  October  next, 
.'ind  our  woi-d  for  ii,,  every  one  will  re- 
turn home  much  better  satisfied  with 
liis  situation,  and  will  fed  proud  that 
lie  can  claim  to  be  a  North  Carolini- 
an. 


Our  Correspondent  Alpha. 

We  take  great  pleasure  in  laving  be- 
fore our  readers  in  this  number,  another 
article  from  tlse  pen  of  our  highly  es- 
teemed correspondent  Alpha,  of  Edge- 
combe County.  We  liope  often  to  hear 
from  liim,  as  it  will  be  seen,  he  is  one 
of  the  few  men  in  our  State  who  have 
l)aid  attention  to  agriculture  as  a  science, 
and  he  can  be  of  much  service  to  the 
farming  eummunity  by  such  contribu- 
tions as  this.  The  subject  is  one  of  in- 
finite importance  to  the  future  progress 
of  the  agriculture  of  the  whole  State. 


Guano. 

This  highly  valuable  manure  is  excit- 
ing much  interest  amonc;  the  farmers  of 
our  country.  Thousands  of  pounds  are 
still  sent  into  our  State.  Those  who 
have  used  it  seem  to  be  much  flattered 
at  the  result  of  the  application,  and  con- 
tinue to  enlarge  the  amount  upon  their 
farms.  Some  contend  that  it  may  be 
applied  to  hoed  or  cultivated  crops, 
.vhile  others  sav  that  It  should  rather 
serve  as  a  basis  of  imp'rovement,  by  en- 
riching the  land  so  as  to  cause  it  to  pro- 
duce such  green  crops  ;ss  may  be  turn- 
ed in  and  mfiile  fertilizers.  We  ara 
much  inclined  to  agree  with  the  latter 
class,  for  as  it  is  so  highly  volatile,  when 
applied  to  crops  wliich  require  the  fre- 
quent stirring  of  the  soil,  these  volatile 
principles  must,  to  a  great  extent,  pass 
otF,  before  atTording  much  nourishment 
to  the  crops.  But  the  benefit  which 
guano  has  conferred  upon  the  agricul- 
tural interest  of  the  country  has  not 
been  direct  alone  ;  it  is  not  confined  to 
the  increased  product  arising  from  its 
application,  but  many  farmers  have  been 
greatly  benefited  by  guano,  who  have 
perhaps,  never  applied  more  than  one 
hundred  pounds.  The  great  improve- 
ment which  ihcy  ha.ve  seen  to  arise 
from  the  application  of  so  small  a  quan- 
tity ot  a  substance  to  their  crops,  has 
had  the  ofi'ect  to  cause  th:m  to  look 
about  and  see  the  many  means  which 
they  have  around  them  for  enriching 
their  lar.ds,  and  of  which  they  have  nev- 
er availed  themselves  before.  There 
are  many  rich  fields  in  mau}^  parts  of 
the  country,  which  but  for  guano  would 
have  still  been  barren,  failing  to  pro- 
duce enough  to  pay  the  owner  for  their 
cultivation. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURN'AL 


iTy 


Specimen  No.  5,  Sandy  Soil. 

Amount  for  analysis  400  Grains 

Water  of  absorption,  29       " 

Loose  stones  and  gravel  43       " 
Vegetable  fibre  (undecomposed,)        12       " 

Fine  siliceous  sand,  214       " 

Minutely  divided  matter,  81       " 


Containing  carbonate  of  lime. 
Carbonate  of  magnesia. 
Matter  destructabie  by  heat — 

principally  vegetable. 
Silica, 
Alu'iiina, 
Oxide  of  iron. 
Soluble  humus, 
Sulphate  of  lime 


15 
2 

14 

M 
15 


2 

81 


379 

21 


as  we  learned,  after  inaking  the  analysis, 
the  result  of  a  lieavy  marling;  and 
such  was  the  case  to  some  extent  in  re- 
lation to  the  l:irge  amount  of  vegetable 
matter  which  has  been  supplied  for  the 
action  of  the  marl  to  prevent  its  per- 
nicious influence  upon  the  groxsing 
crops.  This  is  deficient  ofthevari.ni* 
*  to  a  considerable  extent,  by  the 


addition  of  which  it  might  be  regarded 
as  a  highly  productive  soil. 
*  A  word  is  here  omitted  in  the  MS. — Pce. 


400  Grs. 


Loss  by  analysis, 

Whole  amount, 

We  have  been  frequently  ca  led  on 
to  give  analyses  of  soils  made  by  us, 
which  we  should  have  done  long  since, 
but  there  seemed  to  be  oO  little  eonti 
dence  placed  in   the   advantages  result- 


To  the  Members  of  the  State  Agricu'- 
tural  Society. 

Yon  are  requested   to  be  present  in 

Raleigh  on  the  morning  of  the  17th  of 

October  next,    the  day  preceding   the 

Slide  Fair,     This  request  is  especially 

enjoined  on  the  members  of  the  socie- 

ing  from  them,  that  we   were  resolved  \  ty,  for  the  reason,  that  on  that  day,  the 

to    wait  and  see   wliether  our  farmers  j  various  committees  will  be  formed  and 

would  not,  after   reading  more,  become  !  the  premiums  awarded 

convinced  of  theadvantnixes  derived  from 


a.  knowledge  of  the  soil  which  they  cul- 
tivate. 

REMARKS     UPON     THE     NATURE     OF    THE 
ABOVE   SOIL. 

From  the  large  quantity  of  various 
kinds  of  sand  reported  in  the  analysis, 
this  soil  may  safely  be  classed  as  a  san- 
dy soil.  The  absorbant  poweis  of  this 
soil  are  fine,  much  better  than  those  of 
soils  generally  are.  The  quantit}'  of 
vegetable  matter  is  considerable,  but 
there  is  but  a  small  portion  in  a  state  of 
soliitiou  at  present,  yet  the  amount  of 
carbonate  of  lime  is  such  as  to  decora- 
pose  it  rapidly,  thereby  keeping  a  con- 
stant supply  ready  for  the  nourishment 
of  plants. 

The  quantity  of  carbonateof  lime  in 
this  soil  is  about  four  per  cent.,  which 
i  6  an  unusually  large  quantity,  and  was, 


That  Large  I£og. 

We  saw  a  few  wteks  since  in  Salis- 
bury, a  li r.g,  aged  eighteen  months,  and 
quite  poor,  weighing  600  lbs,  by  cor- 
rect weight.  This  hog  belongs  to  iJr. 
11.  James  of  that  town,  an  enterprising 
gentleman,  who  has  a  fine  stock  ot  hogs, 
and  we  hope  to  see  several  of  them  at 
the  Fair,  and  especially  the  big  one 
which  with  care  will  weigh  much  more 
than  he  does  at  present. 


To  those  who  compete  for  Premiums 
.  at  the  State  Fair. 

It  is  desired  that  those  who  present 
specimens  for  exhibition  at  the  Fair  have 
them  in  Raleigh  on  or  before  the  16th 
of  October.  This  is  more  particularly 
required  of  those  who  bring  stock,  in 
order  that  they  may  be  restored  from  fa- 
tio'ue  and  look  well  on  Monday. 


180 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Coiistitjitioii  asid  By-laws  for  County 
Agricultural  Societies. 

We  lia\e  frpqueiitl3',  within  the  last- 
year,  been  called  on  to  furnish  a  writ- 
ten constitution  aiuJ  by-laws  for  county 
ai^ricultural  societies,  which  we  have 
always  done  with  pleasure.  It  has  al- 
so been  often  suggested  to  us  to  lay 
before  our  readers  such  a  copy  of  them 
as  will  answer  for  county  societies  gen- 
erally, which  we  would  have  done  long 
since, had  we  not  kiiown  that  we  should 
have  been  charged  with  a  wish  to  dic- 
tate by  many.  We  have  of  late  seen 
tiie  constitutirms  and  bj -laws  of  various 
county  agricultural  societies,  which,  we 
are  clearly  of  opinion,  are  ranch  too  long 
and  go  much  farther  than  there  is  any 
need  for.  We  were  handed  a  short 
time  since  a  copy  of  the  constitution 
and  by-laws  of  the  Guilford  county  so- 
ciety, in  which  this  fault  of  which  we 
have  spoken  is  very  prominent  indeed  : 
in  this  there  are  even  regulations  made  j 
for  the  holding  of  a  cattle  show  or  fair, 
and  we  were  informed,  while  in  the 
county,  that  there  had  been  but  one 
meeting  of  the  society  since  its  forma- 
tion, though  two  years  have  nearly 
passed  away.  The  copy  which  we 
have  furnished  comprises  all  that  is  re- 
quired, in  the  beginning,  in  any  society 
of  the  kind,  and  as  we  are  often  told 
by  persons  in  various  counties,  that  they 
would  establish  societies  if  they  had  a 
consitution  and  by  laws,  we  hope  to 
hear  nothing  of  this  kind  as  an  excuse 
again. 

CONSTITUTION. 

Whereas,  we,  the  undersigned,  a 
portion  of  the  farmers  of coun- 
ty, looking  with  pleasure  upon  the  rap- 
id advancement  wh'ch  is  being  made  in 
cur  profession  by  the  formation  of  ao-ri- 


cultural  societies  as  a  mainspring  of  im-l 
provement,  have  this  day  associated! 
ourselves  into  a  body  of  this  kind  for] 
our  mutual  instruction  and  enjoyment.; 

Thcrrfori.',  Repaired,  That   tliis  body! 

be  called  the county  agricultural; 

society.  \ 

Resolved,  That  for  the  good  govern- , 
ment  of  said  society,  there  shall  be^ 
elected  annually  the  following  officers, ; 
viz:  a  President,  two  Vice  Presidents,  j 
a  Coi'responding  Secretary,  a  Record-j 
ing  Secretary,  and  a  Treasurer.  ; 

Resolred,  That  it  shall  be  the  duty'; 
of  the  President  of  the  society  to  pre-; 
side  over  its  meetings,  call  meetings  afcl 
any  time  that  it  may  be  necessary,  and' 
when  there  is  a  tie  in  the  members  vot-; 
ing,  he  shall  give  the  casting  vote.  ] 

Resolved,  That  it  shall  be  the  duty; 
of  the  Vice  Presidents,  or  the  senior  one; 
present,  to  preside  over  the  meetings; 
during  the  absence  of  the  President.     .; 

Rewlvcd,  That  it  shall  be  the  dutyj 
of  the  Corresponding  Secretary  to  talte' 
in  charge  and  answer  all  letters  in  con-j 
nection  with  any  business  of  the  Society,j 
and  to  make  all  enquiries  possible  in  re-' 
lation  to  such  subjects  as  will  be  of  in-i 
terest  to  the  Society.  ■ 

Resolved,  That  it  shall  be  the  dutyj 
of  the  Recording  Secretary  to  keep  a< 
correct  account  of  the  proceedings  ofj 
the  Society  in  a  blank  book  furnished! 
for  that  purpose,  and  to  i-ead  the  pro-| 
ceedings  of  a  preceding  meeting,  correct;; 
the  Journal  and  call  the  names  of  mem-i 
bers  at  the  opening  of  the  meetings,  and; 
mark  absentees.  | 

Resolved,  That  it  shall  be  the  dutjl 
of  the  Treasurer  of  the  society  to  tahB: 
charge  of  all  funds,  pay  all  claims  upon- 
the  society  when  properly  authenticate 
ed  ;  and  when  retiring  from  office,  to; 
take  a  receipt  from  his  successor  in  of-s 
fi  e  for  the  amount  of  money  paid  over^ 
to  him.  •' 

BY-LAWS.  ; 

Resolved,    That    this    society    shall- 

meet  once  every  two  months,  at ,, 

during  the  year. 

Resolved.  That    a    subject   shall    b^j 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


181 


ixo  2.] 
jlec(etl  derarimBiits  of  Agriculture 
in    Edareconibe. 


'iHE    GRASSES, 

iSo  branch   of  our   agriculture    is  >o 
much  iu'Of!<-'CtCMl  ;-ts  the  grasses;  in  tliis 


chosen  for  debate  atone  meeting,  to  be  i  large  circulation  when  we  recollect  the 
(iiocussed  at  the  next ;  and  that  four  ;  very  many  scientific  men  living  in  various 
members  shall  be  chosen  by  the  Presi-  |  p;irts  onr  country,  who  must  claim  our 
dent  to  debate  the  subject;  and  when  University  as  the  fountain  of  their 
they  have  concluded,  the   debate  siiall   knowledire. 

tiicn  be  declared  to  be  general,  and  any  '  

member  is  at  liberty  to  express  his  opi-  ; 
nion.  :  N'e 

JRcsolved,  Tliat  members  shall  be  al- 
lowed to  give  their  views  in  their  seits 
if  they  see  proper,  instead  of  rising  to 
tiieir  feet. 

Resolved^  Tiiat  an  address  shall  be  ;  de|nirtineut  our  destitution  is  almost 
delivered  by  some  member  of  the  socio- :  complete.  Tliere  is  somewhere  an  old 
ty  at  each  meeting,  who  shall  be  voted  '',  maxim  to  the  effect  that,  "  An  extermi- 
for,  and  elected  by  the  members,  they  '  noting  war  on  the  grasses,  is  death  to 
voting  by  ballot.  jlhe    soil.''     Nearly    the    wiioUj   South, 

Resolved,  That  each  member  upon  \  from  the  Potomac  to  the  Gulf,  seems  to 
joining  the  rociety  shall  pay  the  sum  of  have  declared  this  war, except  Kentucky 
,  to  the  Treasurer.  '  and  parts  of  the  mountain  region.    Corn, 

Resolved,  That members   shall  ;  Cotton,  Tobacco,  (fee,  have  all   in  turn 

be  considered  a  quorum  to  transact  bu- 1  demanded  the  extermination  of  grass, 
suie'^s  of  any  kind  before  the  society,      j  Our  herds  of  horses,  cattle,  sheep,  hogs. 

Resolved,  That  if  a  member  wishes  to  •  (fee,  no  longer  thrive  in  the  land,  nor 
alter  or  amend  the  constitution  or  by-,  crowd  the  roads  to  market  as  in  former 
laws,  he  shall  at  one  meeting  make !  times  ;  for  our  wild-mast  ranges  ara 
known  the  fact  that    at  the  next  meet- I  exhausted,  and  extensive  new-grounds 


ing  he  will  make  such  a  motion. 


The  Editor's  Table. 

The  Revolutionary  History  of  Xout  i 
Carolina. — This  highly  valuable  work  is 
before  us  at  this  time,  which  is  neatly  jjot- 
ten  up  upon  the  part  of  the  Compiler,  and 
reflects  much  credit  upon  him,  and  really 
deserves  the  patronnge  of  our  people  gen- 
erally.    The  matter  of  the  work  needs  no 


rarely  offer  iheir  heavy  winter  foraging 
to  our  stock  as  formerly.  The  tide  has 
turned  back  upon  us  ;  mules,  horses, 
hogs,  beef,  pork,  cfec,  from  the  west  and 
north,  bear  witness  to  our  deficiencv, 
while  the  lands  themselves  present  equal 
evidence  that  a  destructive  and  unnatu- 
ral system  has  robbed  them  of  their 
powers  of  production.  These  are  some 
of  the  consequences  of  a  system  which 
makes  us  look  upon  all  grass  as  a  pest ; 
and  i'^stead  of  giving  it  a  proper  place 


comment;  the  names  of  Hawks,  Swain 

and  Graham,  the  authors,  are  a  sufficient!  among  our  crops,  and  with  skill' and 
guar:int(?e  of  its  value.  This  work  may  j  judgment  directing  the  efforts  of  nature 
be  had  of  the  Compiler  and  publisher,  Wm.  I  to  cover  and  protect  our  soils  with  grass, 
D.  Cooke,  Esq.,  of  Raleigh,  at  the  sum  of  I  ^^e  spend  an  immensity  of  labor  in  coun- 


$1,  and  will,  we  presume,  if  not  now,  soon 
be  for  sale  in  the  various  Bookstores. 

The  University  Magazine. — We  have 
been  presented  with  the  September  num- 
ber of  this  work  by  the  publisher,  which 
is  really  interesting,  and  may  truly  be  said 


teracting  them,  although  we  know  that 
nature's  own  process  for  improvement  of 
the  soil  is  by  the  growth  and  decay  of 
vegetable  matter  upon  it,  and  that  no- 
thing can  better  perform  this  office  than 
the  grasses.  We  know  that  no  agri- 
culture can  be  complete  without  a  good 


to  rank  high  with  other  works  of  the  same    rotation  of  crops  ;  no  rotation  can  be 
kiad.     This  pediodical  is  entitled  to  a  very  !  complete  without  the  grasses  ;   and  no 


182 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


(•oiintry  can  be  vvnil  find  cheaply  sup- 
plied with  stock  animals  witliont  ivrasses 
for  soilino-  and  grazing.  An  oid  French 
song  expresses  nearly  the  same  ideas  : 

"Cultivate  little— but  cultivate  well 
Your  crops  alternate — if  good  produce  you'd  sell. 
Your  soil  manure  often  :  the  return  it  will  yield, 
Will  tenfold  repay  what  you  spend  on  the  field. 
Sow  gra.=s  too,  at  times,  ii  you  wish  to  make  sure 
Of  havinu  a  plent  ful  stock  ol  manure  : 
Without  ,q;rass  you  've  no  cattle,  without  cattle 

'tis  plain, 
You'll  have  no  manure  ;  and  without  that  no 

grain. 

Tints  the  grasses,  whether  as  a  part  of  a 
judicious  rotation  or  as  asonrce  of  forage, 
are  indispensable  to  every  kind  of  agri- 
culture— civilized  or  savage.  We  have 
among  us  no  system  of  rotation,  good 
or  bad  ;  but  as  a  substitute,  we  some- 
times rest  our  lands  as  Ave  call  it;  that 
is,  let  it  lie  one  year  in  weeds  ;  and 
every  one  knows  tlieir  grointh  and  decay 
on,  t}>.e  land  produce  a  happv  effect.  Now 
very  few  nMiect  that  these  weeds  are 
juHt  as  much  a  crop  as  an}'  oilier,  and  a 
•■estiferons  crop  at  1  hat ;  and  if  taken  off, 
w'jiild  be  as  exhaustin/;,  or  more  so,  th.an 
many  crops  we  value  much  higher. 
Why  not  then  substitute  for  the  ivsed 
crop,  one  of  peas,  chiver,  grasses,  &c., 
and  so  institute  a  just  and  true  rotation 
of  cleansing  crops,  iiistead  of  pestiferous 
w<^eds  and  biamliles  ?  We  would  thus 
realize  the  maxim  that,  "  The  b?st  rest 
for  the  sail,  is  a.  judicious  rotation  of 
crop^.''^ 

The  plow  is  a  mighty  inslrunient — 
so  is  the  sword  -and  an  indiscrisninate 
use  of  either  must  make  sad,  liavoc. — 
From  a  general  view  of  ditl'erent  latitudes 
and  tlieir  productions,  we  are  induced 
to  think  that  the  plow,  like  the  sword, 
is  much  oftener  applied  to  iinpro[)er 
uses  than  we  of  this  age  are  apt  tosup- 
])ose.  From  the  equator  to  more  than 
half  the  temperate  zones,  pi'oduction 
and  decay  are  very  rapid,  lieat  intense, 
rains  heavy,  summers  long,  and  evapo- 
ration great.  It  is  natural  to  suppose 
that  all  these  phenomena  must  make  all 
summei' .culture  far  moie  destructive  to 
the  soils  of  southern,  than  to  those  of 
higher  northern  latitudes,  where  they 
do  not  exert  the   same    power,  where 


evaporation  is  slow,  winters  long — and 
summers  short.  This  again  would  in- 
duce us  to  suppose  that  permanent 
crops — as  orchards — small  giain,  and 
grasses,  <kc.,  requiring  but  little  sum- 
mer culture,  are  especially  adapted  to 
southern  soils,  while  the  reverse  would 
seem  more  appropriate  to  northern  lati- 
tudes. We  have  no  doubt,  these  infer- 
ences are  just :  That  for  all  soils  per- 
manent crops  are  best,  because  more  in 
accoi'dance.  with  nature,  that  northern 
soils  withstand  summer  culiure  best,  and 
that  the  further  south  we  go  (towards  the 
equator)  the  less  summer  culture  the 
soil  should  have.  Yet,  it  is  notorious, 
that  present  usage  is  just  the  reverse — the 
small  grain  grass  and  stock  regions,  are 
mostly  to  the  north  of  us,  requiring  but 
little  summer  culture,  while  all  our 
crops  at  the  south,  demand  the  constant 
harr.assing  operation  of  the  p)low  and 
hoe,  exposing  the  soil  to  the  scorching- 
suns  of  summer,  and  heavy  rains  of 
winter.  The  whole  process  is  un- 
natural, and  no  doubt  impoverishes  the 
soil  as  mnch  as  the  crops  which  are  re- 
moved from  it.  Look  at  our  broad 
plantations  in  A])ril  and  May — wheie 
is  the  carpet  of  green,  which  the  eve 
expects  to  find  on  the  fields  in  these 
balmy  months  of  spring.  In  vain  it 
roves  over  countless  acres — except  an 
oat  or  wheat  patch  here  and  there — the 
fields  present  the  barrenness  of  winter, 
the  sod  is  flushed  up  with  the  plow, 
and  reflects  back  the  sunshine  like  the 
sand  of  a  desert.  It  is  generally  June  or 
July,  bef(;re  the  growing  crop  can  c(n^er 
the  soil  with  green,  even  in  appearance  ; 
and  we  feel  how  unnatural  it  is  to  see 
the  fields  so  naked  in  spring. 

But  our  valuable  productions,  cotton, 
corn,  tobacco,  &c.,  all  require  summer 
culture,  and  these  summer  crops  and 
summer  culture  can  never  be  abandon- 
ed. Neither  ought  they  to  be;  but 
they  could  be  placed  in  a  more  natural 
system,  with  a  rotation  embracing  a 
proper  series  of  permanent  crops,  which 
aid  in  giving  such  fertility  to  the  soil, 
that  one  acre  would  yield  what  four  or 


THE  'FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


183 


five  produce  now  ;  leaving  tlie  general 
suiface  of  the  country  under  the  recn- 
j'crating  intluence  of  a  ujore  njilural 
.■system.  Then,  two  or  tliree  thousand 
})iiunds  of  cotton,  ten  to  tiftet  n  bane!;- 
(.f  corn,  many  tons  of  hay  or  wheat, 
iSzc,  in  proportion  per  acre,  might  be- 
come the  common  i.>roduction,  and  the 
ciiuntry  a  gard'enin  fertility  and  beaut} 
as  God  first  made  it.  Then  the  thou- 
sands -which  we  spend  for  horses,  mules, 
liogs,  &c.,  would  lemain  with  us,  to 
lead  us  into  those  proper  divisions  of 
labor  in  agriculture,  manufactures  and 
commerce,  without  which  no  country 
can,  in  this  age,  well  fulfil  its  destiny. 
This  would  establish  the  first  great 
principle  for  a  healthy  progiess,  viz: 
multiply  and  increase  your  valuable 
jiroductions  first,  no  iiiatter  what  they 
be — granite,  ciyal,  copper,  gram,  or 
manufactures — and  they  will  break  down 
the  barriers  which  sliut  them  from  the 
markets  of  the  world — which  ivill  have 
them — commerce  and  wealth  will  very 
soon  bring  navigation  and  railroads  to 
smoothe  the  way  for  their  transit,  and 
fixed  wealth  will  be  fostered  on  the  soil 
of  our  own  Carolina — instead  of  leaving 
her  to  settle  on  the  barren  hills  of  the 
North  or  to  eniich  the  more  fertile  re- 
ofions  of  the  west.  ALPHA. 


Sheep. — There  have  been  landed 
from  the  steamship  Humboldt,  one 
hundred  and  eleven  sheep,  of  the  im- 
]iroved  merino  stock — remarkable  for 
their  very  large  size  and  weight  of 
fleece.  They  were  imported  by  Solo- 
mon W.  Jewett,  of  j\:liddlebury,  Ver- 
mont, who  purchased  them  in  the  inte- 
rior of  France.  Most  of  them  were 
<ib'ained  of  Mr.  Victor  Gilbert,  of  Vid- 
deville,  department  of  Seine  cV  Oe'se,  who 
has  improved  them  of  the  original 
stock.  Their  average  cost  per  head  is 
$40 — expense  of  transportation  from  20 
to  $30.  Here  they  rea?lily  bring  from 
100  to  $200,  and  for  several  valuable 
rams,  Mr.  Jewett  has  refused  loOO  and 
upwards.  His  importations  during  the 
last  three  years  amounts  to  $55,000. 
— Journal  of  Commerce. 


{Covtinved  from  page  175.) 

The  leaf  has  been  dc'-cribtd  (p.  76) 
MS  an  expansion  of  the  bark.  It  con- 
sists intern;dly  of  two  layers  of  veins  nr 
vascular  fibres  laid  one  uver  the  otlier, 
the  upper  comncied  with  the  ^\ood — 
the  louer  with  the  inner  baik.  It  is 
covered  on  I'oth  sides  by  a  thin  mem- 
brane (epidermis),  the  expansion  of  the 
outer  bark.  This  thin  membrane  is 
studded  with  numerous  small  pores  or 
months  (^tomata.)  which  vary  in  size 
and  in  number  with  the  nature  of  the 
plant,  anil  with  the  circuiristances  in 
which  it  is  intendeil  to  grow.  It  is  from 
the  poles  in  the  upper  part  of  the  lent 
that  subsLiinces  are  supposed  to  be  cx- 
haled,^  while  everything  that  is  inhaled 
enters  by  those  which  are  observed  in 
the  under  side  of  the  leaf.  This  opin- 
ion, however,  is  not  universally  received, 
it  being  admitted  by  some  that  the  pow- 
er buth  of  absorbing  and  of  emitting 
may  be  ])os.-essed  by  the  under  surface 
of  the  leaf 

7".  We  have  seen  that  the  chief  sup- 
ply of  the  fluids  which  constitute  the 
sap  of  plants,  is  derived  from  the  soil. 
The  under  side  of  the  leaves  of  plants 
is  also  supposed  bv  some  to  be  capable 
of  absorbing  moisture  from  the  air,  eith- 
er in  the  foim  uf  watery  vapor,  or  when 
it  falls  upon  the  leaves  in  the  state  of 
dew.  Like  the  roots  also  they  may  ab- 
sorb with  the  dew  any  substances  the 
latter  happens  to  hold  m  solution.  And 
thus  plants  may,  in  sonn;  degree,  be 
noU'ished  by  the  volatile  oiganic  sub- 
stances which  ascend  from  tiieearili  du- 
ring the  heat  of  llie  day,  and  wdiich  are 
agaui  in  a  great  measure  precipitated 
\yith  the  evening  dew. 

\\  hether  the  leaves  ever  absorb  ni- 
trogen gas  from  the  air  has  not  as  yet 
been  determined  with  sufficient  accura- 
cy. If  they  do,  it  must  in  general  be 
iu  very  small  quantity  only,  since  it  has 
hitherto  escaped  detection.  In  like 
manner  it  is  doubtful  how  far  they  reg- 
ularly absorb  any  other  substances 
which  the  air  is  supposed  to  contain. — 
Thus  it  is  known  tliat  iiitric  acid  exists 
in  the  air  in   very    minute  quantity. — 


^<, 


184 


THE  FARMER^S  JOURNAL. 


Some  chemists  also  believe  that  ammo- 
nia is  extensively  diffused  through  the 
atmosphere  in   an   exceedingly  diluted 
state.     Do  the   leaves  of  plants  absorb 
these  substances?     Is  the  absoi'ption  of 
then,  one  of  the  constant  anil  necessary 
functions  of  the  leaves  1     The  reply  to  | 
these  questions  must  be  very  uncertain,  ' 
and  any  principle  which  professes  to  be  , 
based  upon  such  a  reply  niust  be  regard-  I 
ed  only  as  a  matter  of  opinion.  •■ 

8°.  The  petals  of  flower  leaves  perform  j 
a  somewhat  different  function  from  those 
of  the  ordinary  leaves  of  a  plant.  They 
absorb  oxygen  at  all  tinies — though 
more  by  night  than  by  day — and  they 
eonstanily  emit  carbonic  acid.  The 
bulk  of  the  latter  gas  evolved,  however, 
is  less  than  that  of  the  oxygen  taken  in. 
The  absorption  of  oxygen  gas,  and  the 
constant  production  of  caibonic  acid,  is, 
]))  some  flowers,  so  great  as  to  cause  a 
perceptible  increase  uf  temperature— 
and  to  this  slow  combustion,  so  to  speak, 
the  proper  heat  observed  in  the  flov.-ers 
of  many  jilants  has  been  attiibnted. 

According  to  some  authois,  the  flow- 
erdeaves  also  emit  pure  nitrogvn  gas. 
[Sprengel,  Chemic,  II.,  p.  3-47.]  This 
tact  has  not  5'et  been  deternined  by  a 
suflicient  number  of  accurate  experi- 
ments; it  is  in  accordance,  however, 
with  the  results  of  Boussingault,  that, 
when  a  plant  flowers  and  aj)proaches  to 
maturity,  the  nitrogen  it  contains  be- 
comes less.  If  coulirmed,  this  evolution 
of  nitrogen  woi'.ld  throw  an  interesting 
light  on  the  most  advantageous  em- 
ployment (f  g!".'en  crops,  both  for  the 
porjioses  of  manure  and  for  the  feeding 
of  cattle. 

9°.  When  the  leaves  of  plants  begin 
to  decay,  either  naturally  as  in  autumn, 
or  from  artificial  or  accidental  causes, 
they  no  longer  absorb  and  decompose 
carbonic  acid,  even  under  the  influence 
of  the  sun's  rays.  On  the  conrary, 
they  absorb  oxygen,  like  the  petals  of 
t'le  flc-wer,  :ew  (orr^pc  und%  are  formed 
within  their  substance — their  green  col- 
or disappeai-s — they  become  yellow — 
they    wither,   die,  and   drop  from   the 


tree — their  final  function,  as  the  organs 
of  a  living  being,  is  discharged.  They 
then  undergo  new  changes,  are  subject- 
ed to  a  new  series  of  influences,  and  are 
made  to  serve  new  purposes  in  the 
economy  of  nature.  These  we  shall 
hereafter  find  to  be  no  less  interesting 
and  important  in  reference  to  a  further 
end,  than  are  the  functions  ofthe  living 
leaf  to  the  growth  and  nourishment  of 
the  plant.-  — [See  subsequent  lecture, 
"  On  the  law  of  the  decay  of  organic  sxib- 
.sta/ices."] 

G. FUNCTIONS    OF    THE    EARK. 

The  inner  bark  being  connected  with 
the  under  layer  of  vessels  in  the  leaf,  re- 
ceives from  them  the  sap  after  it  has  been 
changed  by  the  action  of  the  air  and 
light,  and  transmits  it  downwards  to  the 
root. 

The  outer  bark,  especially  in  young 
twigs  and  in  the  stalks  of  the  grasses, 
so  closely  resembles  the  leaves  in  its  ap- 
pearance, that  we  can  have  no  ditficuUy 
in  admitting  that  it  must,  not  unfre- 
quently,  perform  similar  functions.  In 
the  Cactus,  the  Stapeiia,  and  other  plants 
which  produce  no  true  leaves,  this^outer 
bark  seems  to  perform  all  the  functions 
which  in  other  vegetable  tribes  are  spe- 
cially assigned  to  the  abundant  foliage. 
During  its  descent  through  the  inner 
bark,  therefore,  the  sap  must  in  very 
many  cases  undergo  chemical  changes, 
moie  or  less  analogous  to  those  which 
usually  take  place  in  the  leaf. 

It  is  by  means  of  the  inner  bark  that 
the  stems  of  trees,  such  as  our  forest 
and  fi'uit  trees,  are  enlarged  by  the  d'*- 
position  of  annual  lajj^ers  of  new  wood. 
Tlie  woody  fibre  is  formed  or  prepar- 
ed in  the  leaf,  as  the  sap  descends  it  is 
deposited  beneath  the  inner  surface  of 
the  inner  bark.  It  thus  happens  that^ 
as  the  sap  descends,  it  is  gradually  de- 
prived of  the  substances  it  held  in  sohi- 
tion  when  it  left  the  leaf,  and  in  conse- 
quence it  becomes  difficult  to  say  ho"»«' 
much  of  the  change,  which  the  sap  is 
found  to  have  undergone  when  it  reach- 
es the  root,  is  due  to  chemical  transfer- 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Illations  produced  during  its  dt-scent, 
and  liow  iiiucli  to  the  deposition  of  the 
woody  fibre  Mnd  other  matters  it  lias 
parted  with  by  the  way. 

Among  other  evidence  of  such  chang- 
es really  taking  place  during  the  des- 
cent of  the  sap,  I  may  mention  an  ob- 
servation of  Meyen  [/(///.re'i^em-//^,  1S39, 
p.  27,]  made  in  the  course  of  iiis  expe- 
•riraents  on  the  reproduction  of  the  bark 
of  trees.  In  these  experiments  he  en- 
closed the  naked  wood  in  strong  glass 
lubes,  in  three  cases  out  of  eight  the 
tubes  were  burs;t  and  shattered  in  pieces. 
This  could  only  have  arisen  from  the 
disengagement  of  gaseous  substances, 
the  result  of  decomposition.  While, 
therefore,  such  gases  as  enter  by  the 
roots  or  are  evolved  in  the  vessels  of  the 
wood  during  the  ascent  of  the  sap,  es- 
cape by  the  leaf  along  with  those  wliicli 
fire  disengaged  in  tlie  leaf  itself,  it  is 
probable  that  those  which  are  ])roducrd 
as  the  result  of  changes  in  tlie  bark, 
descend  with  the  downward  sap,  and 
arc  discharged  by  the  root. 

In  the  bark  of  the  root  it  is  probable 
that  still  further  changes  take  [dace — 
ai-d  of  a  kind  which  c;m  only  be  cft'ect- 
cd  during  the  absence  of  iio-ht.  This 
is  rendered  probable  by  the  fact  that 
the  bark  of  the  root  frequently  contains 
substances  which  are  not  to  be  met  with 
in  any  other  part  of  the  plant.  Thus 
from  the  bark  of  the  fresh  root  of  the 
apple  tree  a  substance  named  pldurkl- 
zlne^  possessed  of  considerable  moiii^tinal 
virtues,  may  be  readily  extracted,  though 
\i  does  not  exist  in  the  bark  either  of 
tlie  stem  or  of  the  branches. 

In  fine,  as  the  foexl  wdiich  is  introduc- 
ed into  the  stomachs  of  animals,  under- 
goes continual  and  successive  chemical 
changes  during  its  progress  through  the 
entire  alimentary  canal — so,  numerous 
phenomena  indicate  that  the  sap  of  plants 
is  also  subjected  to  unceasing  transfor- 
mations,— in  the  root  and  in  the  ^era 
as  well  iu  the  leaves, — at  one  time  in 
the  dark,  at  another  under  the  influence 
of- the  sun's  rays, — exposed  when  in 
tho  leaf  to  the  full  action  of  the  air, — 


land  when  in  the  root  almost  wdiolly  se- 
I eluded  from  its  presence; — the  new 
j  compounds  produced  in  every  instance 
being  suited  either  to  the  nature  of  tlie 
j  plant  or  the  wants  and  functions  of  ihat 
[  part  of  it  iu  wdiicli  each  transformation 
;  takes  ph\ce. 

To  some  of  these  transformatioiis  it 
will  be  necessary  to  advert  rnoi-e  paitic- 
ularly,  when  wo  come  to  consider  the 
I  special  changes  by  which  those  snb- 
;  stances  of  which  plants  chietly  consi-t. 
I  are  formed  out  of  these  compounds  on 
[  which  they  chieilv  live. 
I 
1 7. — CnicuMSTANCKS    nv    wincit    tuk 

j         FfXCTIOKS     OF    THK     VARIOUS     PAllTS 
i        OF    PLANTS    AKE    MODIFtED. 

I      Plants  grow  more  or  less  kixurianllv, 
j  and  their  several   parts  are  more  or  less 
j  largely  devel"»ped,  in  obedionce  to   nu- 
i  merous  and  varied  circumstances. 
j      I.  In  regard  to  the  special  functions 
i  of  the   root,  we  have  already  seen  that 
:  the  access  of  atmospheric  air  is  in  some 
I  cases  indispeiisable,  while  in  others,  by 
'  shooting  vertically  downwards,  the  roots 
appear  to  shun   the  approach    of  either 
air  or  light.     It  is  obvious   also  that  a 
certain  degree  of  moisture  in    the  soil, 
and  a  certain  temperature,  are  necessarv 
to  the  most   healthy   discharge  of  the 
functions  of  the  root.     In  liot  weatln  r 
j  the  plant  droops,  because  the  roots  do 
'  not  absorb  water  from  the  soil  with  suf- 
ficient rapidity.     And  thoi.gh  it  is  prob- 
able that,  at   every  temperature  above 
that  of  absolute  freezing,  the  food  con- 
tained in  the  soil  is  absorbed  and  trans- 
mitted more  or  less  slowlv  to  the  stem, 
yet  it  is  well  known  that  a  genial  warmth 
in  the  soil  stimulates  the  roots  to  in- 
creased activity.     The  practice    of  gar- 
deners in  applying  bottom  heat  in  the 
artificial  climate  of  the  green-house  and 
conservatory  is  founded   on  this   well- 
known  principle. 

But  the  nature  of  tho  soil  in  which 
plants  grow  has  also  much  influence  on 
the  way  in  wdiich  the  functions  of  the 
root  are  discharged.  As  a  general  fact 
this   also  is   well    known,  though   the 


186 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


special  qvuilities  ot'  the  soil  on  which  the 
greater  or  h^ss  activity  of  vegetation  de- 
pcruls,  are  far  from  bin'ng-  generall}'  un- 
derstood. If  the  soil  contain  a  sensible 
quantity  of  any  substance  which  is  nox- 
ious to  plants,  it  is  plain  that  tlieir  roots 
will  be  to  a  certain  degn.'e  enfeebled, 
and  their  functions  in  consequence  only 
imperfectly  discharged.  Or  if  the  soil 
be  deficient  either  in  organic  food,  or  in 
one  or  other  of  thuse  inorganic  suljstan- 
ces  which  tl;e  plants  necessarily  require 
for  the  pro<lucLinn  of  their si;veial  parts, 
the  muts  cannot  perform  their  office 
with  any  degree  of  efficiency.  Where 
th(.'  necessary  materials  are  wanting  the 
builder  must  cease  to  worl:.  80  in  a 
soil  which  contains  no  silica,  the  grain 
of  wheat  may  germinate,  Imt  the  stalk 
ctnnot  f)e  produced  in  a  natural  oi' 
healthy  st;?t,e,  since  silica  is  indispi-nsa- 
l)le  to  its  healthy  construction. 

II.  The  ascent  of  the  sap  is  modified 
chietly  bv  the  season  of  the  year,  I)y  the 
heat  of  the  day,  and  by  the  genus  and 
age  of  the  plant  or  tree. 

There  seems  reason  to  b'.'lieve  that 
the  plant  never  sleeps,  that  even  during 
the  winter  the  circnlntion  slowly  pro- 
ceeds, though  the  first  genial  sunshine 
of  the  early  spring  stimulates  it  to  in- 
creased aciivity.  The  general  increased 
temperature  of  the  air  d-.>es  not  produce 
this  acceleration  in  so  remarliabie  a  man- 
ner as  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun.  The 
sap  will  flow  and  circulate  on  the  side 
of  a  tree  on  which  the  sunshine  falls, 
wiiile  it  remains  sensibly  stagnant  on 
the  other.  This  is  shown  by  the  cut- 
ting down  similar  trees  at  more  and 
more  advanced  periods  of  the  spring, 
and  iujuiersing  their  lower  extremities 
in  coloured  solutions.  The  wood  and 
birlc  on  one  sitle  of  the  tree  will  be  col- 
ored, while,  on  the  other,  both  will  re- 
main unstained.  If  a  similar  difference 
in  the  comparative  rapidity  of  the  circu- 
lation on  opposite  sides  of  a  trunk  or 
branch  be  supposed  to  prevail  more  or 
less  throughout  the  year,  we  can  readi- 
ly account  for  the  annual  layers  of  wood 
being  often   thicker  on  the  one  half  of 


the  ciicumference  of  the  stem  than  on 
the  other. 

The  sap  is  g  nerally  supposed  to*  tfow 
most  rapidly  during  the  spring,  but  if 
trees  be  cut  down  at  different  seasons, 
and  immersed  as  above  described,  the 
colored  solution,  according  to  Boucheri*-, 
reaches  the  leaves  most  rapidly  in  the 
autumn. 

The  heat  of  the   day,  other  circum- 
stances being   the   same,   material Iv  af- 
fects, for  the   time,  the  rapidity   of  the 
circulation.     Tlie  more  rapidly  watery 
and  other  vapors  are  exhaled  from  the 
leaves,  the  more  quickly  must  the  sap 
flow  upwards  to  supptly  the  waste.     If 
jon  two  successive  days  the  loss   by  the 
I  leaves  be,  as  in  the  experiment  of  llale«:, 
I  above  described,  (p.  90.)  as  2  to  3,  the 
i  accent  of  the  sap  must  be  accelerated  or 
i  retarded  in  a  similar  [irojiortion.  Ilenc?', 
I  every  sensible  variation  in  the  tempera- 
I  ture  and  moisture  of  the  air,  must  also, 
j  to  a  certain  extent,  modify  the  flow  of 
I  the  sap  ;    must  cause    a  greater   or  less 
I  transport  of  that  food    which  the  earth 
:  supplies,  to  be  carried  to  every  part  of 
I  the  plant,  and  must  thus  sensibly  afiert 
i  the  luxuriance  and  growth  of  the  wliole. 
I      But  the  persistence  of  the  leaves  is  a 
I  generic  character,  which  has  considera- 
!  ble  influence  upon  the  circulation  in  the 
\  evergreens.     In  the  pine  and  the  Isolly, 
1  from  which  the  leaves  do  not  fall  in  the 
I  autumn,  the  sap  ascends  and  descends 
!  during   all    tlie   colder    months, — at  a 
I  slower  rate,  it  is  true,   than  in   the  hoj 
j  days  of  summer,  yet  much  more  sensi- 
j  biy  than   in   the  oak  and   ash,   which 
I  spread  their  naked   arms    through   tli« 
W'intery  air.     This  is  illustrated  b}'  the 
experiments  of  Boucherie,  who  has  ob- 
served that  in  December   and  January 
the  entire  wood  of  resinous   trees   mav 
be  readily  and  thoroughly   penetrated 
by  the  spontaneous  ascent  of  saline  and 
other  solutions,  into  which  their  stents 
mfw  be  immersed. 

III.  From  what  has  just  been  staled, 
it  will  appear  that  the  mechanical  func- 
tions of  the  stem  are  subject  to  precise- 
ly the  same  influences  as  the  ascent  of 


THE  FARMER'S  JCURXAL. 


187 


t;ie  sap.     As  the  tree  advances  in  ;+ge,  |  gerness  witli  whicli  tiicy  a])[)ear  to  lou;^ 
the  vesst'lt- of  tlie  interiur  will   become  j  tor  it.     lluw  iiUiiUsylv    (in-.'s    tlnr;    snu- 


re  or  less  ob'iteratotl,  aiui  the  gener- 1  fl  iwer   \yat(;h    llie 


nii'se  of    the 


:tl  course  of  the  sap  will  be  gradually  !  sun,— how  do  Liie  cMinticss  lilossonis 
transferred  to  annual  layers,  njore  and  j  nightly  urojp  when  ii*i  rctiies, — and 
more  removed  from  tl.e  centre.  Itislihe  blanched  phiut  sivive  to  rt-ach  an 
this  transference  of  the  vital  circulation  |  open  chink  ihiough  winch  his  light  may 
to  newer  and   more   \nivfvct  vessels  thati  reach  it  • 

enables  the  tree  to  grow  Jind  blossom  |  'J'liat  the  «v7r/,>;,/A  of  the  sun  iias  com- 
and  bear  fruit  through  so  long  a  life.  |  paratively  little  to  do  with  this  spccilio 
In  animals  the  vessels  are  gradually  ]  action  of  his  rays  on  the  chemical  fuar- 
worn  out  by  incessaiit  action.  None  of'  tioas  of  the  leaf,  is  iilustratt-d  bv  sunu^ 
them,  tiirough  old  age,  are  permitted  to  '  intei-esting  experiments  of  .Mr.  Hunt,  on 
retire  from  the  service  of  the  body — and  !  the  effect  of  rays  of   light  of  diiferent 


the  whole  system  must  stop  when  one 
of  them  is  incapacitated  for  the  further 
jierformatice  of  its  appointed  duties. 


colours  on  the  growing  plant.  Jle  sowed 
cress  seed,  and  expo-ed  different  por- 
tions of  the  soil  in  which  the  seeds  were 


In  repaid  to  the  chemical  functions  germinating,  to  the  action  of  the  red, 
of  the  stem,  it  is  obvious  that  they  are  I  yellow,  green,  and  blue  rays,  which  weie 
not  assicnied  to  the  mere  woody  matter  !  transmitted  by  equal  thicknesses  of  so- 
(if  the  vessels  and  celU.  They  take  j  luti(.>ns  of  these  several  colours.  "After 
I'lace  in  these  vess<ds,  but  the  nature  |  ten  days,  there  was  undei- the  blue  fluid, 
jindextentof  the  chemical  changes  them- j  a  crop  of  cress  of   ;is  bright  a  green  as 


selves  must  be  de[)endent  upon  the 
(juantity  anil  kinds  of  matter  which 
ascend  or  descend  in  the  sap.  The  en- 
tire chemical  fimctions  <jf  the  plant, 
therefore,  must  be  dependent  upon  and 
must  be  modilied  by  the  nature  of  the 
substances  which  the  soil  and  the  air 
respectively  present  Lo  the  rooc^  and  to 
the  leaves. 

IV.  In  describing  the  funclions  of 
the  leaf,  I  have  already  had  occasion  to 
advert  to  the  greater  number  of  the  cir- 
cumstances by  which  the  di^cliarge  of 
those  functions  is  most  materially  affec- 
ted. We  have  seen  that  the  purposes 
served  by  the  leaf  are  entirely  different 
accordiiig  as  the  sun  is  above  or  below 
tise  horizon  ;  that  the  temperature  and 
moisture  of  the  air  may  indeed  mate- 
rially influeifce  the  rapidity  with  which 
its  functions  are  discharged — but  that 
tiie  light  of  the  sun  actually  determines 
their  nature.  Thus  the  leaf  becomes 
green  and  oxygen  is  given  off  in  the 
])re3ence  of  the  sun,  while  in  his  absence 
carbonic  acid  is  disengaged,  and  the 
whole  plant  is  blanched. 

llow  necessary  light  is  to  the  health 
of  plants  may  be  inferred  from  the  ea- 


any  whii-ii  grew  m  full  ligl.'t  and  far 
more  abundant.  The  crop  was  scanty 
under  the  gican  fluid,  and  of  a  pale, 
yelh>w,  unliealthy  color.  Under  the 
yellow  solution,  only  two  or  tlnee  plants 
appeared,  but,  less  p.nle  than  tiiose  un- 
der the  gi-een. — vvlii'e  beneath  the  red, 
a  few  more  plants  came  u]*  than  under 
the  yellow,  though  tliev  also  were  of  an 
unhealthy  colour.  The  red  and  blue 
bottles  being  now  mutually  transferred, 
the  ci'op  foinierly  benea'h  the  blue  in  a 
i'vw  days  appeai'ed  blighted,  while  on 
the  patch  previously  ex[)osefl  to  the  red, 
some  additional  plants  s|irmie'  up." 

Besides  (the  rays  of  heat  and  of  light, 
the  sun-beam  contains  wfat  have  been 
called  chemical  rays,  not  distinguisha- 
ble by  our  senses,  but  capable  of  being 
recognized  by  the  chemical  effects  they 
produce.  These  ravs  ajjpear  to  differ  in 
kind,  as  the  rays  of  different  coloured 
light  do.  It  IS  to  the  action  of  these 
chemical  rays  on  the  leaf,  and  especially 
to  those  which  are  associated  with  the 
blue  light  in  the  solar  beam,  that  the 
chemical  influence  of  the  sun  on  the 
functions  of  the  leaf  is  principally  to  be 
ascribed. 


s\ 


188 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


[t  cannot  be  doubted  that  the  warnith  '  by  the  practical  farmer  are  only  so  ma- 
and  rnoisturoof  a  tropical  climate  act ;  ny  modes  by  which  he  hopes  to  influ- 
Hs  powerful  stimulants — assistants  it !  ence  and  promote  the  growth  of  the 
)nfiy  be — to  the  leaf,  in  the  absorption  I  whole  plant,  and  the  dischara;e  of  the 
t)f  carbonic  acid  from  the  air,  and  in  i  functions  of  aU  its  parts, 
that  rapid  appropriation  (assimilation)  Though  manures  in  the  soil  act  inv- 
of  its  carbon  by  which  the  growth  of  I  mediately  through  the  roots,  they  stim- 
tlie  plant  is  hastened  and  promoted,  i  ulate  the  growth  of  the  entire  plant; 
But  the  bright  sun,  and  especially  tlie  I  and  though  the  application  of  a  top- 
chemical  influence  of  iiis  beams,  must !  dressing  may  be  supposed  first  to  af- 
be  regarded  as  the  main  agent  in  the  :  tect  the  leaf,  yet  the  beneficial  result 
wonderful  development  of  a  tropical  !  of  the  experiment  depends  upon  the 
vegetation.  Under  this  influence  the  i  influence  which  the  dressing  mav  exer- 
growth  by  the  leaves  at  the  expense  of  |  cise  on  every  part  of  the  vegetable  tis- 
the  air   must   be   materially   increased,  |  sue. 

and  tlie  plant  be  rendered  less  depend- j  In  connection  with  this  p^rt  of  the 
ent  upon  the  root  and  the  soi!  fur  the  ■  subject,  theiefore,  I  shall  only  further 
food  on  which  it  Ii\e.-.  advert  to  a  very  remarkable  fact  men- 

V.  The  rapidity  with  which  a  plant ;  tioned  by  Spreagel,  which  seems,  if 
grows  h:'.s  an  important  influence  u]>on  icorrfC',  to  be  susceptible  of  important 
the  share  which  the  bark  is  ])ermitted  practical  applications.  lie  states  that 
to  take  in  the  general  nr>uri>hment  of  it  has  very  frequently  been  observed  in 
the  whole.  The  green  shout  })eiforms  ;  llolstein,  that  if,  on  an  extent  of  level 
in  soiiie  degree  the  fun^-tions  (jf  the  leaf.  |  ground  sown  with  corn,  some  fields  \ye 
In  vascular  plants,  therefore,  wliich  in  a  ;  marled,  and  others  left  unmarlc-d,  the 
congenial  clim.nte  may  almost  be  seen  ;  corn  on  the  later  portions  will  grow 
to  grow,  tha  entiie  rind  of  a  tall  tree  l^ss  bi.ruriantli/  and  will  yield  a  poorer 
}nay  more  or  les-^  cflectually  absorb  car-  ']  crop  than  if  the  whole  had  been  unmarl- 
bonic  acid  from  the  atmosphere,  during  ec^.  Hence  he  adds,  if  the  occupier  (,  f 
the  jirescnce  of  the  sun.  The  broad  i  the  unrnarled  field  would  not  have  a 
leaves  of  the  palm  tree,  when  fully  de- !  surcession  of  poor  crops,  he  must  marl 
veloped,  render  the  plant  in  a  great  de-  \his  land  also. 

gree  independent  of  the  soil  for  organ-  {  Can  't  really  be  that  nature  tlius  re- 
ic  food — and  the  large  amount  of  ;ib- |  wards  the  diligent  and  the  improver? 
sorbing  surface  in  the  long  green  tender  |  Do  tne  plants  which  grow  on  a  soil  in 
stalks  of  the  gras-;es,  and  of  their  trop- '  higher  condition  take  from  the  air  more 
ical  analogues,  must  mat<'riall3' contrib- 1  than  their  due  share  of  the  carbonic 
ute  to  the  same  end.  Hence  the  pro-  j  acid  or  other  vegetable  food  it  may 
])'>rtion  of  organic  matter  derived  from  j  contain,  and  leave  to  tlie  tenants  of  the 
the  air,  iu  any  crop  we  reap,  must  al-  j  poorer  soil  a  less  proportion  than  they 
ways  be  the  greater  the  more  raj)id  its  |  might  otherwise  draw  from  it?  How 
■gi^neral  vegetation  has  been.  !  many  interesting  reflections  does  such  a 

It  is  a  fact  familiarly  known  to  all  of  j  fact  as  this  suggest !  What  new  views 
you,  that,  besides  those  circumstances  j  does  it  disclose  of  the  fostering  care  of 
by  which  we  can  perceive  the  special  t  the  great  Contriver — of  his  kind  en- 
functions  of  any  one  organ  to  be  modi-  ;  couragement  of  every  species   of  virtu- 


fied,  there  are  many  by  which  the  en- 
tire economy  of  the  plant  is  materially 
and  simultaneously  affected.  On  this 
fact  the  practice  of  Agriculture  is  found- 
ed, and  the   rarious  processes  adopted 


ous  labour  !  Can  it  fail  to  read  to  us 
a  new  and  special  lesson  on  the  bene- 
fits to  be  derived  from  the  application 
of  skill  and  knowledge  to  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  soil  ? 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


183 


■2. 41) 

0-^9 

-    0  90 

2  40 

0.90 

0.3-1 

on  0.2f> 

0.>0 

-    4.00 

28.70 

0  50 

0.37 

-    0.40 

1.70 

0.10 

0.30 

The  Earthy  and   Mineral  Substances 
ill  Plants. 

1.  In  Wheat.— 2.  lu  Barley.— 3.  In  Oats.— 4.  In  Rye. 
6.  In  Beans,  Peas  and  Vetches.— ti.  In  Turnips, 
Carrots,  Parsnips,  and  Potatoes. — 7.  (ira.sscs  and 
Clover. 

I. —  OF  THE   ASH   OF  WHE.VT. 

According  to  the  analysis  of  Spren- 
gel,  1000  Ib.s.  of  vvhejit  U^ave  11.77  lbs., 
and  of  wheat  straw    25.18   lbs.  of  ash, 

c<jnsisting  of — 

Grain  of    Straw  of 
Wlieat.       Wheiit. 

Potash     ...        -    2.25  lbs.    0.20  lbs. 

Soda     - 

Lime       -        • 

Magnesia 

Alumina.wiih  a  trace  of  Iron  0.20 

Silica        -        - 

Sulphif^ic  Acid 

Phosphoric  Acid 

Chlorine 

11.77  lbs.  3o.l8  lb.s. 
If  the  produce  of  a  field  be  at  the 
'■rate  per  acre  of  25  bushels  of  wheal, 
e.^ich  60  lbs.,  and  if  the  straw  be  equal 
to  twice  the  wei_Li'ht  of  grain,  tiie  quan- 
tity of  each  reaped  per  acre  will  be 

Straw  3000  I  '"'^  ""  I«  oduce  of  25  bushels  ; 

so  that  the  c^uantity  of  the  different  in- 
organic compounds  carried  oti'fyo7n  the 
do'd  of  each  acre  wil  be,  in  the  grain  ^ 
more  than  is  represented  in  tlie  second 
column,  and  in  the  straw  3  times  as 
much  as  is  presented  in  the  third  col- 
umn. 

II. —  OF  THE  ASH  OF  BARLKY. 

A  thousand  pounds  of  the  grain  of 
barley  (two-rowed,  horchum  distichon,) 
leave    2o2   lbs.,    and    of  the    ripe  dry 


straw  52.42  lbs.  ot 

ash.     This 

ash  con- 

sists  of — 

Grain. 

Straw. 

Potash 

2.78  lbs. 

1.80  lbs. 

Soda 

-     2.80 

0.48 

Lime    -        -        - 

1.06 

5.5t 

Magnesia 

.     1.70 

0.76 

Alumina 

0  25 

1.46 

Oxide  of  Iron   - 

-  a  trace. 

0  14 

Oxide  of  Manganese 

— 

0.50 

Silica       ... 

-  11.82 

38..56 

Sulphuric  Acid     - 

0.59 

1.18 

Phosphoric  Acid 

-    2.10 

1.60 

Chlorine 

0.19 

0.70 

per  acre,  and  the  straw  e.xcoed  the  grai" 

in  weiglit  one-si.xth,  the  weight  of  eacu 

reaped  per  acre  will  be  about 
I 

i  2000  lbs.  of  grain, }  from  a  produce  of  38  bueh- 
j  2300  lbs.  of  straw,  S      els  ; 

I  and  the  inoraanic  matter-;  carried  off 
I  from  the  soil  by  each  will  be  obtained 
!  by  mu!tii)lying  those  cuntained  in  the 
I  second  coluiuu  (above)  by  2,  and  in  the 
i  third  by  2^. 
i 

i  III. OF  THE   ASH  OF  OATS. 

{  111  1000  lbs.  nf  the  grain  of  the  oat 
I  are  contained  about  2t)  lbs.,  and  of  the 
i  dry  straw  abuut  57  1-2  lbs.  uf  inorgan- 
I  ic  matter,  ct.'UsisLing  of — 


i  Pota>h, 

i  Soda, 

;  Lime, 

I  Mjigiiesia, 

j  Aluniiim, 

I  Oxide  of  Iron, 

I  Oxide  of  Ma^ncoia, 

j  Silica, 

i  Sulphuric  Acid, 

Phosphoric  Acid, 

Chlorine, 


25.80  lbs.        57.40  lbs. 

If  an  acre  of  land  yield  50  bushels, 
each  54  lbs.,  of  oats,  and  two-thirds 
more  in  weight  of  straw,  there  will  b<i 
reaped  per  aire. 

Of  grain  2250  lbs.  )  from  a  produce  of  50  bush- 
Of  straw  3750  lbs.  )"     els. 

and  the  weigh  tf  the  inorganic  matters 
cairied  oti'  will  be  equal  ro  22  limes  the 
qunhtities  contained  in  the  second  col- 
umn, and  84  times  those  contained  in  the 
third  column. 

IV. t)F    THE    ASH    OF    RYE, 

The  weight  of  ash  contained  in  1000 
lbs.  of  the  grain  of  rye  is  IO2  lbs.,  and 
of  the  straw  28  lb.s.     The  ash  consists  of 


23.49  lbs  52.42  lbs. 

If  the  produce  of  a   crop   of  barh'v 

amount  to  38  bushels  of  63    lbs.   each 


Giain. 

Straw. 

1.50  lbs. 

8.70  ibt 

1  .:J2 

0  02 

0.05 

15i 

0.07 

0.22 

0.14 

0.06 

0.40 

0.02 

0.((l 

0  03 

19.70 

45.88 

Oo5 

0  79 

0  7o 

0.12 

0.10 

0.05 

Potash,  ) 

Soda,     f 

Lime, 

Magnesia, 

Alumina, 

Oxide  of  Iron, 

Oxide  of  Manganese, 

Silica, 

Sulphuric  Acid, 

Phosphoric  Acid, 

Chlorine, 


5.32  lbs. 

1.22 

178 

0.24  ) 

0.42  ) 

0.35 

1.64 

0.23 

0.46 

0.09 


Straw, 

(0.32  lbs. 
]  0.11 

1.78 

0.12 

0.25 


22.97 
1.70 
0.51 
0.17 


10.40  lbs.      27.93  Ibt 


i 


103 


XnS  FzlRMER'S  JOURN"AL, 


Rve  is  remarkaMii  for  the  quaritifv  of 
siraw  it  yields,  wliich  is  ofien  from  3  to 
4  limes  t>lio  wei.';-lit  of  the  grain.  The 
reiuni  in  grMin  readies  about  the  sami' 
uverage  as  that  of  wheat.  From  an 
ticre  of  hind  vieLliiig  a  crop  of  25  hush- 
-OiS,  each  54  lbs.,  there  would  be  reaped 
Of  grain  1353  lbs,  ;  of  straw  4000  lbs, ; 

the  whole  weight  of  iiiorgarHC  matters 
contained  in  which  is  equal  to  ^  more 
ihan  is  represented  in  the  second  col- 
\i:nn,  added  to  4  times  the  weights  con- 
tained in  the  t'lii'd  cohmjti. 

OF     THE     ASH      OF     BEANS,      PEAS,      AND 
VErOHEB. 

The  ash  of  the  seed  and  straw  of  the 
tiiild  bean,  the  liekl  pea,  and  the  com- 
mon vetch  {^uicia  satira,)  dried  in  the 
air,  contains  in  1000  lbs.  t!ie  several  in- 
organic c:.impounds  in  the  foliowing  pro- 
jioriions : 


Field  Buan.      Fi.ld  Pea.     Com.  Vetch. 
SceJ.  Str.Tw,  Seed,  Hr^xv,  Seeti.  Slraw,' 

Potash  4  13  16,56  8.10  2  33  8,97  18.10 

Si,.da  8  16    0.50  7,39 6,22    0.52 

Linid                      1  65  6  2t  0,53  27.30  1.60  19  55 

Mas^ne.sia               1,53  2,09  1.36  3.42  ]. 42    3.24 

Alumina                 0,34  0.10  0,2.0  0.60  0,22    0,15 

Oxide  of  Iron         —  0,07  0,10  0,20  0.09    0.09 

Da  of  Manganese  —  0.05  —  0  07  0,03    0  OS 

^ihca           "           1.26  2.20  4.10  9.96  2  00    4.42 

Sulphuric  Acid      U.89  0,34  0  53  3  37  0,60    1.22 

rhosphoric  Acid  2.92  2.26  1  90  2.40  1,40    2.80 

C-hlorir.e                0,41  0,80  0,33  0,04  0.43    0,74 

2).3cj    3r2i     24. C4    49.71     22  90     ol.Ot 

On  corapai-ing  the  iuirab'.;rs  in  these 
columns,  we  ciniior  fail  lo  iv>uiai'k,— ^ 

1°.  How  much  potash  there  i.s  iu  the 
eiraw  of  the  bean  and  the  vetch. 

2°.  Thau  while  theit;  is  only  a  trace 
o\'  soda  in  any  of  the  three  straws, 
there  is  a  considerable  quantity  in  all  the 
seeds. 

3°.  How  large  a  proportion  of  lime 
i-usts  in  the  i:iraw  of  the  pea  and  of 
the  vetch — compared  with  that  of  the 
bean — and  how  much  larger  the  pro- 
j.'ortion  is  in  all  the  straws  than  in  any 
*  of  the  grains — and 

4°.  That  the  quantily  of  silic;i  in  pea 
itraw  is  double  of  what  is  contained  in 
the  straw  of  the  vetch,  and  tour  times 
that  of  the  bean  straw. 


The  produce  of  straw  from  these  three 
varieties  of  pulse  is  very  bulky,  but  va- 
ries in  weight  from  I  to  1  3-4  tons — or 
jis  on   an   average   about    2300  lbs  per 
'  acre.     The  produce  of  grain  is  still  more 
variable. 

The  bean  gives  from  16  to  40  bush 
el.s,  of  about  63  lbs. 

The  pea  gives  from  12  to  84  bushels 
of  about  64  lbs. 

The  vetch  gives  from  16  to  40  bush- 
els, of  about  60  lbs. 

'Ihe  mean  return  from  beans  is  esti- 
mated ])y  Schwertz  [Anhilanr^  Zum 
Praktischen  Ac/cerbau,  IL,  p.  346]  at 
25  bushels  (1600  lbs.,)  from  peas  at  15 
bushels  (1000  lbs.,)  and  from  vetches 
at  r7  bushels  (1100  lbs.)  per  acre. 

The  qu  ntity  of  the  several  inorgan- 
ic matters,  therefore,  carried  oft"  from  an 
acre  in  the  straw  of  these- crops,  will 
be  about  2  1-3  times  the  weights  o-iveu 
in  the  table— and  in  the  grains,  where 
the  crop  is  near  the  above  average,  1  2-3 
times  the  weights  in  the  tables  lor'beans 
and  for  peas,  and  for  vetches  very  near- 
ly the  actual  weights  above  o-iven. 

OF  THP;    ASH,    OF  THE     TURNIP,      CARROT 
PARSNIP,   AND    PO.TATO. 

These  four  roots,  as  they  are  carrie<i 
fVou)  the  field,  contain  rJ,spectively  in 
ten  thousand  pounds — • 

TUEOTP.        CIREOT.  PARS-XIP.      POTATO, 
Jioots.    Leaves.  D     .        ~      '■ 

Potnsh,       23,86    32,3  35  33  20  79  40  28    8?9 
boda,  10,48    22,2     9,22    7  02  '^'3  31      ng 

Lime,  7,52    62,0    6,57    4., IS    3'3l  1297 


Magnesia,  2,51 
Alumina,  0,19 
Oxide  olr'n  0.32 

Do.  Manga. — 

Silica,  3  88    12  8 

Sul.  Acid.    8,01     25.2 
Phos  Acid,  3  67 
Cliiorine,       2.39 


5.9  3  84  2  70 
0,3  0,3J  0  24 
1.7 


3.24 
0,50 


0,33    0.05  0,35 

0.60       —  _ 

1.62  0.84 

1.92  5,40 

1.00  4.01 

8.7    0.70    1,78  160 


1.37 

2.70 

9,8    5.14 


17,0 
04 
02 

49,4 

4.2 

19.7 

5.0 

C3.03  180.9  66.19  4I8O  82^  SOSji 
These  roots  contain  \ery  much  water 
so  tliat,_iu  a  dry  state,  tho 2Vopor (ion  of' 
inorganic  matter  present  in  them  is  verf 
much  greater  than  is  represented  by 
the  above  numbers.  I  have,  however 
given  the  quantities  contained  in  the 
crop  as  it  is  carried  from  the  field,  as 
alone  likely  to  be  of  practical  utility. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


101 


The  ciops  of  tliese  several  roots  vary 
very  much  in  dift'erent  localities,  beitig 
in  some  places  twice  and  evQXi  thrice  as 
much  as  in  others — every  nine  tons, 
liovvever,  which  are  carried  oft'  the 
ground,  contain  about  twice  the  weight 
of  saline  and  earthy  matters  indicated 
by  the  numbers  in  the  table. 

OF  THE  ASn  OF    THE    GRASSES    AND  CLO- 
VERS. 

I  The  following  table  might  have  been 
much  enlarged.  1  have  tiiought  ii  ne- 
cessary, however,  to  introduce  in  this 
place  only  those  species  of  grass  and 
clover  which  are  in  most  extensive,  use. 
I  have  also  calculated  the  weights  given 
below,  fur  these  ])lants,  in  the  state  of 
hay  only,  as  the  succulency  of  the  grass- 
es,— that  is,  the  (juautity  <jf  water  con 
tained  in  the  green  crop, — varies  so 
much,  that  no  correct  estimate  could  be 
made  of  the  quantity  uf  inorganic  mat- 
ter present  in  ha}'  or  grass,  from  a 
knowledge  of  its  weight  in  the  green 
state  only. 


the  growth  of  each  may  be  promoted, — 
in  so  far  as  this  growth  depends  upon 
the  supply  of  inorganic  food  to  the 
growing  plant. 

3d.  To  the  feeding  properties  of  each, 
and  to  the  kind  of  stock  they  are  sever- 
ally most  lilted  to  nourish. 


Ivf  Grii 

Red 

V.'hilc 

'  liny. 

Cluur. 

Clover.  L 

ucerne.  Sainfoin. 

Potash, 

8.81 

19.9.-) 

31,05 

13.40 

20,57 

Soda, 

2  94 

5.-29 

5,79 

6.15 

4.37 

Lime, 

7.34 

•27,80 

23  48 

48.31 

21.93 

Maornesia, 

0.90 

3.33 

3.05 

648 

2  88 

Alumina, 

0.31 

0.11 

1.90 

0.30 

— 

Oxide  of  Iron,  — 

— 

0.63 

0.30 

— 

Do.  Manganese,— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

Silicia, 

'27.7-2 

361 

14.73 

3.30 

5.00 

Sulph.  Acid 

3,5:^ 

4.47 

3,53 

4.04 

341 

Phos.  Acid, 

0.'23 

6.57 

5.83 

13.07 

9.16 

Chlorine, 

0.06 

3.6-2 

2.11 

3.18 

1.57 

5-2.86 

71.78 

9132 

95.53 

69.57 

The  above  quantities  are  contained 
in  a  tiiousand  pounds  of  the  dry  hay  of 
each  plant. 

On  comparing  the  numbers  opposite 
to  potash,  lime,  magnesia,  alumina,  si- 
lica, and  phosphoric  acid,  we  see  very 
striking  difterences  in  the  quantities  ol 
those  substances  contained  in  equal 
weights  of  the  above  different  kinds  of 
hay.  These  differences  lead  to  very  im- 
portant practical  inferences  in  refer- 
ence— 

1st.  To  the  kind  of  soil  in  which 
each  will  grow  most  luxuriantly. 

2d.  To  the  artificial  means  by  which 


From  the  Faj-mer  and  Artizan. 
Plaster    for    Corn — Preserving   Corn 
Stalks. 

Mr.  Skavev. —  With  your  permission, 
I  should  like  to  occupy  a  small  pcrtitm 
of  your  publication,  with  a  statement  of 
my  experience  in  usinof  plaster. 

In    the    spring    of  1851,    I    planted 
about  two  and  a  Jialf  acres  of  corn.     As 
plaster  was  not    mueh    used  in  this  s«  c- 
tion,  I  th(;ught  1  would  try  it  U]ion  one 
had'  acre,  by  wa}'  of  e.xpeiiment,  putting 
in  a  small   spoon    full    to   the  hill,  after 
dropping    the    corn.       1    manured    the 
whole  two  and  a  half  acres   in  tie  hill, 
rile  plastered  corn  cam*^   up  green,  and 
held  so,  and  at  the  second  hoeino-it  was 
I  a  quarter    larger  than    the   other   that 
j  was  not  [ilastered,  which    c;<me  up  3'.'i- 
i  low,  and  as  the  spring  was  rather  cold, 
j  it  continued  to  look  so,  while  the  other 
was  a  dark  green  and  grew  very  fast. — 
As  far  as  you  could  see  the  corn,  you 
could  tell,  to  a  row,  how  far  it  was  plas- 
tered. 

Last  \-ear  T  planted  the  same  piece, 
and  plastered  the  whole,  using  a  coni- 
moK  table  spoon  full  to  the  hill.  As 
the  weather  came  on  dry,  and  windy, 
after  planting,  some  of  my  neighbors, 
who  did  not  use  plaster,  were  obliged 
to  plant  their  corn  over  again,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  drought,  while  every  liil! 
of  mine  came  up  in  time.  As  their 
land  was  as  fiivorably  situated  as  mine, 
and  as  well  manured,  I  attribute  mv 
success  to  the  use  of  plaster.  Plaster 
costs  about  $3  25  a  cask,  of  500  lbs, 
but  I  think  it  amph'  pays  to  use  it. 

It  does  equally  as  well  for  potatoes. 
I  planted  a  piece  of  about  three-fourths 
of  an  acre,  manured  in  the  hill,  all  alike 
and  plastered  two  rows  through  the 
centre  of  the  piece.     The  two  rows  that 


1D2 


TUE  FARMERS'  JOURNAL. 


were  plaslerfd  came  up  quicker,  and  \  Salt  as  a  Preservative. — We^did 
ore w  faster,  and  were  a  much  darker  |  not  understand  our  correspondent  "S. 
■rreen,  than  the  others.  At  digging  |  W."  to  say  tliat  salt  would  not  pre- 
liaie^  those  two  rows  yielded  five  busli-  |  vent  corn  stalks  from  moulding  under 
els,  dug  together,  (the  rows  were  short,)  i  any  circumstances,  but  that  those  ho 
those  not  plastered,  three  bushels,  and  I  was  speaking  about,  were  in  so  bad  cou- 


inuch  interior  in  size,  nnd  many  mor 
small  ones  in  proportion. 

Salt  on  Cokn  Stalk  . — In  the  last 
number  of  the  Farmer  and  Artizan,  "  L. 
^V."  says  that  putting  salt  with  corn 
stalks,  when  they  are  put  into  the  barn, 
■will  not  prevent  their  mouhling.  Salt 
hay  will  not  mould,  although  it  be  quite 
o-reen  when  it  is  put  into  the  stack. 
And  clover,  the  most  succulent  upland 
liay  tliat  we  raise,  may  be  stowed  into 
the  mow,  without  risk  of  moulding,  if  it 
be  but  partially  cured,  by  salting  it.  If 
salt  will  have  such  an  effect  upon  hay, 
why  will  it  not  act  in  a  similar  way  in 
preserving  corn  fodder.        Fkvk,  J  is. 

Andover,  Me. 


ition,  that  even  salt  would  not  preserve 
them.  If  this  is  not  correct  we  shall  be 
glad  to  hear  from  him  or  "  Fiye  Jr." 
again  on  the  subject,  or  on  any  other  sab- 
ject  on  which  they  may  please  to  favor 
us  with  a  communication. — [Ed. 

THE  Subscriber  will  give  any  special  advice 
to  Farmers,  b}'  their  addressincr  him  and 
giving  a  description  of  their  farms.  H;s  charge 
will  be  moderate.  He  will  make  analysis  of 
soils  and  marls,  and  write  out  the  analysis  for 
application  ot  manures, 
for  analysis  of  soils,  $5  00 

Writing  out  analysis,  b  00 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D. 

TI-IE  FARMER'S  JOURN.IJL 

IS  Published  monthly,  at  -f  1  per  annnum,  in 
advance;  six  copies  for  $5;  twelve  copies 
lor  iplO  ;  thirty  copies  for  $20'. 
Advekiisements. — A  limited  number  of  ad- 


T>.  ,,.„,.o       r>i.,.i^,. ;-  „-.^f,.i  .-.■,,!  „<-^,-.  !  vertisements  will  be  inserted  at  the  following 
Remarks.— 1  .astei  i=,  usefu,  aad  even    ^^^^g.  y^^.  ^^^^  g^,,^^^^  ot  twelve  lines,  for  each 

essential    to  the    succe-ssfui    culture 


some  kinds  of  crops,  antl  on  soils  where 
it  does  not  e.xist  as  our  coi-respondent 
shows,  it  has  a  powerful  and  beneficial 
ettect.  In  many  parts  of  our  country 
and  in  England  ii  exists  in  the  soil  in 
various  proportions  ;  and  .some  crops  re- 
quire a  much  larger  quanlity  than  oth- 
ers do,  to  bring  them  to  their  highest 
state  of  perfection.  On  soils  where  it 
alreadv  exists,  and  on  crops  into  which 
it  does  not  extensively  enter,  no  percep- 
tible benefits  will  be  derived  from  its 
spplicatioii.  Tliis  is  what  has  produced 
such  a  diversity  of  opinions  as  to  the 
advantages  of  using  it,  and  shows  the 
benefit  a  man  derives  for  an  analysis  of 
his  soil.  There  are  some  cases  bo\yev- 
er,  in  which  it  may  be  used  without 
any  risk  of  mistake.  Asa  top  dressing 
f(>r  worn  out  grass  land,  its  benefits  are 
universally  admitted;  and  after  succes- 
sive crops  of  .peas,  turnips  or  wheat 
have  been  taken  from  a  field,  whatever 
may  have  been  the  original  character  of 
the  soil  plaster  will  produce  a  good  ef- 
fect, provided  the  succeeding  crop  is  to 
be  one  that  requires  it. 


square  ot  twelve  Unes,  tor  each 
insertion,  $1 ;  one  square  per  annum,  $10  ;  half 
column,  do.,  $30  ;  one  column,  do.,  $50;  larger 
advertisements  in  proportion. 

.70I1N  F.  TOMPKINS, 
Editor  and  Proprietor,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Page- 
161 
176 
176 
176 
177 
177 
177 
17a 
178 
179 


Plants,  etc.,  etc., 

Something  not  to  be  forgotten, 

The  State  Agricultural  Fair, 

Anajyses  of  the  various  crops. 

The  Model  Farm  of  the  West. 

To  the  Farmers  of  the  State, 

Preparations  for  the  Fair, 

Our  Coirespondent  Alpha, 

Guano, 

Specimen,  No.  5,  Sandy  Soil, 

To  the  Members  of  the  Stale  Agrieultnral 
Society, 

That  Large  Hog, 

To  those  who  compete  for  Premiums  at  the 
State  Fair 

Constitution  and  By-laws  for  County  Agri- 
cultural Societies, 

Editors  Table, 

Neglected  departments  of  Agriculture  ia 
Edegcombe. 

The  Earthy  and  Mineral  Substances  in 
Plants,  189 

Plaster  for  Corn — Preserving  Cornstalks,     191 


179 
179 


179 


]80 
181 


181 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


VOL.  2.  RALEIGH,  K  C,  OCTOBER,  1853.  NO.  7. 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D.,  Editor  and  Proprietor. 

Oa  the  Relations  of  Science  to  Prac- 
tice in   Agricultme. 


The  following  is  an  extract  from  a  lec- 
ture delivered  by  Dr.  Anderson,  Chem- 
ist to  the  Highland  and  Agricultural 
Society  of  Scotland.  We  publish  this 
extract  because  we  are  desirous  that  our 
readers  should  become  intimate  with 
Dr.  Anderson.  He  is  now  engaged 
making  an  interesting  series  of  analysis, 
■which  we  shall  from  time  to  time  lay 
before  them,  and  we  therefore  bespeak 
a  kindly  reception  in  advance. — [Ed. 

The  application  of  science  to  agricul- 
ture is  a  subject  on  which  so  much  has 
been  said  and  written  during  the  last 
few  years,  and  which  has  occupied  so 
much  of  the  attention  of  the'  agricul- 
tural public,  that  it  may  seem  almost 
superfluous  to   add   what   has  already 
bsen  penned.     It  has  always  appeared 
to  me,  however,  that  there  are  still  ma- 
ny points  of  great  importance  for  the 
practical  man  to  consider,  which  have 
either  never  been  sufficiently  prominent- 
ly presented  to  his  view,  or  which,  from 
their  being  less  striking,  or  perhaps  less 
enticing,  have  been  allowed  to  fall  into 
the  background,  and  have  hence  led  to 
a  certaia  amount  of  misapprehension  in 
regard  to  the  exact  position  of  science 
and  its  relations  to  practice.     Such  mis- 
apprehensions it  would  be  desirable  un- 
der any  circumstances   to   dispel ;  but 
now  that  the  Highland  and  Agricultu- 
ral Society   has  actively   taken  up  the 
prosecution  of   agricultural  chemistry, 
it  is  of   primary  importance  that  the 
Vol.  11—1. 


farmer  and  the  chemists  should  come 
to  a  distinct  understanding  with  regard 
to  the  mutual  bearings  of  scientific  and 
practical  agriculture — the  manner  m 
which  they  can  be  made  to  assist  one 
another — and,  what  is  of  all  others  the 
most  important  point,  how  they  can  be 
made  to  co-operate,  so  as  to  establish 
on  a  firm  basis  the  general  principles  of 
agricultural  science,  which  must  neces- 
sarily be  the  first  step  towards  the  de- 
velopment of  a  scientific  practice.  Un- 
der these  circumstances  I  have  thought 
that  I  might  advantageously  refer  very 
shortly  to  some  of  these  matters,  and 
point  out  what  we  are  in  future  to  exi- 
pect  from  the  application  of  chemistry 
to  agriculture,  the  more  especially  as  it 
is  not  very  difBcult  to  perceive  that  tha> 
interest  which  attached  to  it  has  some- 
what abated  with  the  general  public, 
though  I  believe  it  to  be  undiminished 
with  our  most  active  and  intelligent, 
practical  men. 

This  very  diminution  in  the  interest 
attaching  to  chemical  agriculture,  I  be- 
lieve to  be  mainly  founded  on  one  of, 
the  most  serious  misapprehensions — se- 
rious .alike  to   agriculture  and  to  chesa- 
istry — with  which  we  have  now  td  con- 
tend ;  and  that  is,  the  erroneo'os  and  al- 
together extravagant  expectations  which 
some  persons  entertained,  regarding  the 
extent    and  rapidity   of  the   influence' 
which  chemistry  is  likely  to  exert  upon : 
agriculture.     To  hear   them  talk  of  it, 
one  might  almost  im^ine  that, chemis- 
try, as  by  tlxe  wand  of  a  magician,  is  at.. 


J94 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL 


once  to  spread  fertility  over  our  barren 
moors,  and  raise  abundant  crops  where 
nothing  ever  grew  before  ;  and  that  the 
chemist  can,  by  a  few  simple  experi- 
ments, determine  with  absolute  precis- 
ion the  circumstance's  under  which  the 
farmei  must  go  to  work,  so  as  to  pro- 
duce an  abundant  crop.  It  needs  not 
to  be  mentioned  that  such  views  are 
the  exception,  not  tie  rule  ;  hut,  be- 
tween this  extreme  case  and  those  like- 
ly to  be  fullilled,  there  are  manj'  expec- 
tations which,  with  less  apparent  ex- 
travagance, are  equally  beycnd  the  pow- 
ers of  chemistry  in  its  present  imperfect 
state,  and  involve  questions  which,  if 
they  ever  can  be  answer'. d,  must  •dwait 
the  advance  of  pure  science  to  a  point 
much  beyond  that  to  which  ii  has  yet 
attained.  Nor  is  it,  perhaps,  matter  of 
much  surprise  that  such  expectations 
should  have  been  entertained,  as  it  must 
be  admitted  that  the  general  public  is 
not  in  a  position  to  estimate  correctly 
the  extent  cf  the  benefits  which  it  is 
'likely  to  derive  from  the  application  of 


had  existed  almost  from  time  immemo- 
rial to  one  at  least  of  comparative  per- 
fection. Such  facts  may  lead  us  at  first 
sight  to  expect  tliat  the  application  of 
chemistry  to  agriculture  should  be  fol- 
lowed by  equally  rapid  results  ;  but  a 
little  further  consideration  seems  to  ])oint 
out  a  very  uiaterial  difference  between 
such  arts  and  the  cultivation  of  the  soil. 
In  such  a  case  as  the  manufacture  of 
soda,  lor  instance,  and  indeed  in  all 
these  in  which  the  application  of  science 
has  produced  the  most  marked  results, 
the  cliemist  has  presented  to  him  for 
solution  a  defiiiite  and  circumscribed 
problem,  involving  the  mutual  relations 
of  some  three  or  four  different  substan- 
ces ;  and  he  is  able  to  ti'ace  the  changes 
which  the  coal,  common  salt,  and  linie 
employed,  undergo,  from  tlse  commence- 
ment of  the  process  through  each  suc- 
cessive step,  until  the  soda  is  obtained 
in  the  perfect  state;  but  in  the  art  of 
agriculture  eacli  question  frcqutn'ly  in- 
volves, not  one,  but  many  probums, 
connected  with   the   highest  and  most 


ecience  to  any  art ;  and,  unfortunately,  abstruse  doctrines  cf  the  science,  in 
■in  the  present  instance,  it  has  been  mis-  which  not  merely  chemical  forces,  but 
^led  by  the  far  too   laudatory   terms  in    the  far  more   lecondite  phenomena  of 


which  the  application  of  chemistry  to 
agriculture  were  talked  of  some  yeais 
ago.  iJopcs  were  then  excited  which, 
.to  those  intimately  acquainted  with 
.-(chemistry,  it  was  very  evident  could  not 
•be-sustained,  but  which  the  enthusiastic 
embraced  at  once;  only,  however,  when 
they  were  disappointed,  to  abandon  as 
worthless  the  whole  science  itself  along 
with  the  unobtrusive  modicum  of  real 
progress,  which  was  altogether  lost  sight 
of  amidst  the  .ruins  of  their  lofty  ex- 
j>€Ctations.  Even  those  who  take  a 
jnore  cantious  and  sober  viow  of  the  pro- 
g-ress  of  agricultural  chemistry  are  apt 
to  be  led  into  expectations  greater  than 
.facts  justify,  by  the  extraordinary  pro 
gress  which  the  application  of  chemistry 
: has  effected  in  some  other  arts,  such, 
Jor  instance,  as  the  art  of  bleaching  and 
the  manufacture  of  sodj»,  which  chemie- 
-iiy,  by  one  great  stride,  raised  from  the 
fetaje  of  primitive  rudeness;  in  wWch  tbej' 


life  come  into  play,  and  in  v.hieh  the 
investigations  cf  the  chemist  are  carried 
on,  and  in  his  conclusions  tested  under 
the  influence  of  weather,  climate,  and 
many  other  perluibing  causes. 

The  extreme  complexity  of  the  pro- 
blems with  which  agricultural  chemis- 
try has  to  deal  maj'  be  con.eeived  fr<'m 
the  fact,  that  m.ost  plants  contain  from 
twelve  to  fifteen  different  substances,  all 
essential  to  their  existence,  the  relations 
of  which  must  be  investigated  before 
definite  views  can  be  obtained  regarding 
the  changes  which  go  on  in  the  organ- 
ism of  the  plant.  These  relations, 
moreover,  are  far  more  complicated  than 
even  the  number  of  the  elements  alone 
would  lead  us  to  suppose  :  the  single! 
element  of  sulphur,  for  instance,  which 
does  not  constitute  more  than  two  or 
three  parts  in  the  thousand  of  most 
plants,  exists  therein  not  less  than  threw 
different  forms  of  combination,  in  each 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


19S 


of  which  it  is  as  essential  to  the  plant 
as  thjie  which  form  the  :reat  propor- 
tion of  its  bulk.  Now,  it  mast  be  suf- 
ficiently manifest,  that  quesLioiis  involv- 
ing elements  of  such  complexity  are  not 
to  be  solved  as  rapidly  or  easily  as  the 
far  simpler  problems  of  mineral  chemis- 
try ;  an^l  that  not  merely  on  account  of 
their  superior  complexity  alone,  but  be- 
cause, in  the  one  case,  theoretical  che- 
mistrv  sets  as  far  on  our  way  towards 
the  solution,  while  in  the  otb.T  there  is 
still  a  o-reat  gap  to  beiilled  up,  a  who 


chemistry  in  its  present  state,  is  mani" 
festly  unreasonable.  The  progress  must 
necessarily  be  slow,  in  some  instances 
almose  imperceptible  ;  and  much  must 
be  done  which  at  first  sight  the  practi- 
cal agriculturist  may  be  inclined  to  con- 
sider altogether  foreign  to  his  object. 
Extended  resear  lies  will  frequently  be 
requisite  which  do  not  directly  lead  to 
practical  results — that  is  lo  say,  wliich 
are  not  immediately  convertible  into  an 
equivalent  of  current  coin,  but  which 
are  the  foundation   of  such  results,  and 


mine  of  scieiuirtc  ficts  to  hi  worked  out    form  the  starting  point  of  perhaps  a  very 
b'ifore  we  are  in  the   con.lition    to    ap     dilferent  series  of  experiments,  having 
proach  sufficiently  near  the  comprehen-    ;mi  immediate  bearing  upon  practice.  It 
■■         ■     '  is  of  great  importance  that   this  should 

be  distinctly   understood  and   borne  in 
mind,  for  it  is  by  no  means  uncomraon 


snns  of  these  more  complicated  pheno- 
mena. In  fact,  the  latter  are  n-'t  ques- 
tions of  [)ure  chemistry,  but  are  inti- 
mately interv/oven  with  vegetable  phy- 
siology— so  much  so,  indeed,  that  in 
many  instances  it  is  scarcely  possible 
to  decide  to  which  of  these  two  sciences 
they  ought  strictly  to  belong.  And  it 
is  ju-it  herein  that  their  great  difficulty 
consists,  for  there  is  nothing  more  cer- 
tain than  that  those  questions  which 
lie,  so  to  speak,  on  the  confines  of  two 
sciences,  require  for  their  successful  in- 
vestigation a  high  degree  of  develop- 
ment of  both  the  sciences  on  which  they 
depend.  Now,  chemistry  is  still  far 
from  having  attained  all  that  develop- 
ment of  which  it  is  capable,  as  the  time 
during  which  it  has  been  cultivated  has 
not  been  sufficiently  long  to  admit  of 
much  progress,  except  in  si)ecial  depart 
ments.  Few  of  those,  who  are  not  them- 
selves chemists,  are  aware  that  the  facts 
and  doctrines  of  modern  chemistry  have 
been  determined  during  little  more  than 
the  last  sixty  years  ;  and  that,  with  few 
exceptions,   all  the  laborious  investiga- 


tions of  the  older  chemists,  and,  with 
out  excHption,  all  their  general  doctrines 
were  then  swept  away,  to  be  replaced 
by  the  science  as  it  now  exists;  while 
organic  chemistry,  with  which  agricul- 
ture is  more  intimately  connected,  has 
been  successfully  prosecuted  for  not 
more  than  lialf  that  period. 

To   expect  any  rapid  advances  in  the  1  practical  bearings 
practical  applications  of  agriculture^  of 


to  suppose  that  nothing   more  is  neces- 
sary than  at  once  to  convert  sciei^tifio 
facts  to  practical  purposes  ;  while,  so  far 
from  this  being  the  case,  the  agriculture 
af  ch'MTiist  has  a  two-fold   duty    toper- 
form — he  mu<t  both  cletermine  thesci- 
entific  facts  of  agriculture,  anil  eliminata- 
from  them  the  practical   conclusions  to. 
which  they  lead.     It   may,  perhaps,  be^ 
said  that  the  establishment  of  these  facta, 
fdls    within  the  province  of  the   pure 
chemist,  and  that   their  practical  appli- 
cation only  ought  to  be  the  province  of 
the  agricultural   chemist.     But  if  this 
principle    were  to   be  acted-,  upon,  tho- 
progress  of  chemical  agriculture  would; 
be  slow  indeed;  for  the  investigations^ 
of  the  pure  chemist  lead  him  now,  and 
are  likely  for  a  very  long  period  to  lead 
him,  in   directions    very  remote    from, 
those  most  likely  to  afford  the  materials,., 
which  the  agricultural  chemist  requirea 
to  work  upon.    The  hitter  would,  there-- 
lore,  require  to-  sit  idly  waiting  till  the- 
former  supplied    him  with   facts,  which& 
his  own  exertions   would  have  enabled' 
him  to  ascertain.    Nay,  the  agricultural 
chemist  may  even  do  a  better  service  to. 
agi-iculture^  by  pursuing  the  investiga- 
tion of  those  apparently  theoretical  sub- 
jects, than  by  directing  himself  to  those 
which  seera.  to  hav-A  the  most  imraediata 


196 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


There  is  another  point  on  whicli  there 
has  been  a  good  deal  of  misunderstand- 
ing between   the  chemist  and  the  agri- 
culturist, which  is  intimately  connected 
with  the  erroneous  estimate  of  the  ex- 
tent and  perfection  of  chemistry.     It  is 
not    uncommonly   supposed   that    the 
chemist  is  in   the  condition  at  once  to 
solve,  by  the  investigations  of  the  labo- 
ratory, all  such    questions  in   practical 
agriculture  as  may  happen  to   be  sub- 
mitted to  him — that  he  can  determine, 
when   nothing   else   can,   why   certain 
methods   of  cultivation    are  successful, 
others  unsuccessful.     It  is  just  possible 
that  he  may  in  some  instances  be  able 
to  do  this,  but  far  more  frequently  his 
researches  enable  him  not  to  slate  posi- 
tively what  is  or  what  is  not   the  case, 
but  rather  to  draw   a  probable  conclu- 
sion— to  form,   in    fact,    a   hypothesis, 
which  is  not  in  itself  a  truth,  but  which 
must  be  further  tested  by  experiment  in 
the  field,  whereby  it  may  be  either  con- 
firmed or  entirely  refuted.     Now,  very 
unfortunately,  this  hypothesis   is  often 
taken  for   a    positive   statement;   and 
when  it  turns  out  to  be  erroneous,  it  is 
immediately  held  up  as   an   instance  of 
the  fallacy  of  science  by  those  who,  not 
being  themselves  acquainted   with  the 
method  of  investigation  by  experiment, 
are  unaware  that  all  scientific   facts  are 
ileveloped  in  such   a  manner.     No  one 
ever   thinks   of  going  fortuitously    to 
work,  when  he   proposes  to  determine 
a  scientific  fact.      He  first  weighs  all 
facts  of  a  similar  character,  or  having  a 
bearing  on  the  subject  which  he  desires 
to  elucidate,    and   then    founds    upon 
these  a  hypothesis,  the  truth  or  fallacy 
of  which  is  to  be  tested  by  experiment. 
Now,  without  any  explanation,   it  has 
frequently  happened  that  such  hypoth- 
esis have  been  handed  over  to  the  prac- 
tical maiA,  whose  field  experiments  hav- 
ing r^'fute^  them,   he  has  forthwith  a- 
bandoned  the  science  which  seemed  to 
him  to   :give    erroneous    results,    not 
knowing  that  these  results  were  only 
in  progress  of  being  arrived  at  by  those 
very  experinaeats  which  he  was  engag- 


ed in  performing.  The  very  same  pro- 
cess has  been  employed  in  the  applica- 
tions of  science  to  every  other  art ;  but 
the  difl'erence  between  them  and  agri- 
culture is,  that,  with  the  former,  the 
hypothesis  is  formed  and  the  experi- 
ments executed  by  the  same  person,  in 
agriculture  the  hypothesis  must  in  ma- 
ny instances  be  handed  over  for  experi- 
mental elucidation  to  the  practical  man. 
The  many  failures  which  are  made  in 
other  arts  remain  unknown  to  all  but 
those  by  whom  they  have  been  made, 
while  in  agriculture  they  become  known 
k)  all  and  sundry ;  and  by  them  it  is 
not  understood  that,  though  these  re- 
sults are  negative,  they  still  serve  to 
bring  us  all  nearer  to  the  truth. 

And  this  leads  me  to  observe,  thatj 
the  true  manner  in  which  chemical  ag- 
riculture is  to  be  advanced,  is  not  mere- 
ly by  the  exertions  of  the  chemist,  or 
the  labors  of  the  laboratory  alone.  It 
must  be  by  the  simultaneous  efforts  of 
science  and  .of  practice,  each  endeavor- 
ing to  develop,  with  care,  steadiness  and 
accuracy,  the  facts  which  fell  within  its 
province.  Nor  must  each  pursue  its 
own  course  irrespective  of  the  other. — 
They  must  go  hand  in  hand,  and,  tak- 
ing advantage  of  each  other's  experi- 
ence, and  avoiding  all  sort  of  antago- 
nism, they  mu~t  endeavor  to  co-operate 
for  the  elucidation  of  truth.  The  chem- 
ist and  the  practical  man  are,  in  fact,  in 
the  position  to  give  each  other  most 
importai't  assistance.  The  one  may 
point  out  the  conclusions  to  which  his 
science,  so  far  as  it  is  gone,  enables  him 
to  come ;  while  the  other  may  test 
these  conclusions  by  experiment,  or  may 
be  able,  from  his  experience,  at  once  to 
refute  or  confirm  them.  But  it  will  not 
do  to  imagine  that  there  is  here  either 
a  triumph  or  a  defeat.  Such  a  spirit 
cannot  be  anything  but  injurious.  It  is 
rather  to  be  looked  upon  as  a  fortunate 
state  of  matters,  which,  admitting  of 
the  examination  of  our  conclusions  from 
two  different  points  of  view,  directs  us 
with  the  greater  certainty  in  the  path 
of  truth. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


197 


For  the  development  of  agricultural 
chemistry  in  this  manner,  the  Highland 
Agricultural  Society  appears  to  possess 
peculiar  advantages.  It  has  within  its 
own  body  a  large  number  of  members, 
who  are  both  able  and  willing  to  assist 
in  furthering  its  views  in  this  direction 
by  experiments  in  the  field ;  and  I  am 
glad  to  say  that  some  are  actually  al- 
ready commenced,  the  results  of  which 
I  hope,  at  no  very  distant  period,  to 
communicate  to  the  Society. 

As  it  may  be  interesting  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Society  to  learn  the  nature 
of  these  investigations,  I  shall  state  very 
shortly  the  method^in  which  we  propose 
to  pursue  the  work  of  the  laborator}'. 
Our  plan  is,  as  fur  as  possible,  independ- 
ently of  the  ordinary  analyses  of  ma- 
nures and  the  like,  to  carry  on  two  dif- 
ferent classes  of  researches.  1st,  Ex 
tended  investigations  on  subjects  of  in- 
terest and  importance,  and  the  comple- 
tion of  which  must  necessarily  occupy 
a  considerable  period ;  2d,  shorter  in- 
vestigations of  subjects  of  a  more  cir- 
cumscribed character,  which  do  not  oc- 
cupy so  long  a  period  ;  and  3d,  subjects 
which  from  their  consisting  of  isolated 
portions,  may  be  taken  up  in  the  inter- 
vals which  occur  in  the  investigation  of 
other  matters. 

In  the  former  of  those  classes  of  in- 
vestigations we  are  now  engaged  with 
a  series  of  experiments  for  the  purpose 
of  determining,  as  far  as  chemistry  can, 
the  relative  feeding  values  of  different 
grains,  and  other  ordinary  sorts  of  cat- 
tle food — our  object  being  so  to  deter- 
mine their  values  that  the  farmer  may 
know  what  quantity  of  any  given  sort 
of  food  he  ought  to  substitute  for  that 
he  has  ordinarily  employed,  when  the 
price  of  the  former  falls  so  low  as  to 
make  it  advantageous  to  use  it.  In  this 
way  the  farmer  will  be  enabled  to  em- 
ploy the  produce  of  his  own  farm,  in 
place  of  disposing  of  it  at  low  rates, 
and  purchasing  foreign  cake  or  other 
foods.  The  subject  is  one  of  consider- 
able difficulty,  but  when  completed  it 
will,  I  hope,  serve  to  throw  some  light 


upon  the  principles  of  successful  feeding; 
and  it  is  our  intention  to  extend  it  to 
our  root  crops,  and  to  the  different  sorts 
of  grass  employed  or  hay,  as  opportu- 
nity may  offer.  Another  question,  now 
under  investigation,  is  the  alleged  infe- 
riority of  the  butter  of  cows  fed  with 
turnips  grown  with  guano  to  that  of 
those  fed  with  turnips  grown  with  ordi- 
nary manure.  I  do  not  expect,  howev- 
er, that  we  shall  be  able  to  complete  this 
till  the  close  of  the  present  sesson,  as  it 
was  begun  at  too  late  a  period  to  admit 
of  our  obtaining  the  turnips  of  the  last 
crop  in  their  best  condition.  Turnips, 
however,  are  now  being  grown  both 
with  and  without  guano,  by  means  of 
which  we  shall  be  able  to  investigate 
this  matter  more  full}''  than  we  have 
been  yet  able  to  do.  In  connexion  with 
the  turnip  crop,  we  have  also  made  ar- 
rangements for  determining  the  cause  of 
the  different  feeding  value  of  turnips 
grown  in  high  and  low  districts,  and  the 
chemical  department  of  which  will  be 
entered  upon  so  soon  as  the  turnips  now 
being  grown  expressly  for  this  purpose 
are  ready. 

The  subjects  belonging  to  the  second 
and  third  classes  are  of  too  special  a 
character  to  render  it  necessary  for  me 
here  to  go  into  any  details  regarding 
them.  I  shall  only  mention  that  one  is 
a  careful  series  of  analyses  of  standard 
soils  from  different  parts  of  Scotland — 
a  thing  which  is  much  wanted  ;  for,  not- 
withstanding all  that  has  been  done  in 
agricultural  chemistry,  we  are  still  very 
far  from  having  a  correct  knowledge  of 
the  constitution  of  the  soils  best  adapt- 
ed to  different  crops. 

It  will  be  seen,  from  what  I  have  now 
mentioned,  that  we  are  occupied  with  a 
large  amount  of  work,  the  satisfactory 
completion  of  which  will  require  a  con* 
siderable  time,  but  from  which,  I  Lrust, 
we  shall  obtain  results  alike  creditable 
to  the  Society  and  advantageous  to  agri- 
culture. Of  this  I  entertain  little  doubt ; 
but  I  may  be  permitted  to  observe,  that 
my  chief  fear  for  agricultural  chemistry 
is,  that  the  constant  craving  after  im- 


198 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


jinecliaie  rcfiulis  on  the  paiL  of  the  aori- 
©ultuial  [>iil>lic,  may  lead  to  the  jiuldi- 
cniion  of  hurriedly  and  iiiijieift-etiy  per- 
ft>iuitd  investigaLion.s.  Tlie  cheiiiisl 
knows  weil  how  desirable  it  is  to  weigli 
and  ivpejitedly  to  examine  all  his  re- 
sulis,  and  lo  )>roceed  cautiously  and 
slowly  ;  while  tjie  agriculturist,  though 
in  his  own  operations  he  is  content  to 
cast  his  seed  upon  the  ground  and  waii 
patiently  for  the  harvest,  is  too  apt  to 
iiDagine  that  the  tree  of  science  bears 
fruit  at  all  seasons,  though,  in  point  of 
fact,  the  patient  wailing  for  resuhs  is  a 
most  necessary  tdenient  of  scientific  pi'o- 
gress.  If  this  error  is  avoided,  I  am 
convinced  that  good  results  will  be  ob 
tained,  and  that  all  men  will  in  time  be 
convinced,  that  the  slow  and  careful  de- 
termination of  scieniiMc  facts,  is  likely 
to  become  one  of  the  most  impoi'tant 
assisUmts  in  the  improvement  of  prac- 
tical agriculture. 

Smoke  House. 

Many  persons  ( omnut  gieat  errors  in 
building-  smoke  hou.-es.  To  be  nice, 
and  be  a  handsome  and  respectable  ap- 
guitenance  to  a  farm,  it  must  foisooth 
be  built  of  brick  or  sione,  with  close 
fitting  doors,  and  a  single  aperture  for 
the  egr(?ss  of  the  smoke.  Tiie  conse- 
quence is,  the  meat  is  black  and  bitter, 
and  might  as  well  have  been  put  in  a 
pickle  of  pyroligneous  acid  ;  having 
lost  ail  its  fine  liavor,  smelling  of  soot 
like  a  chimney  sweep.  The  walls  are 
so  close  and  cold  that  the  smoke  con- 
denses and  settles  on  the  hams  or  ba- 
con, and  instead  of  drying  it  becomes 
ftabby  and  ill  colored. 

A  smoke  house  can  hardly  be  too 
open.  It  takvs  longer,  to  be  sure,  to 
perfect  the  jirocess,  but  when  complet- 
ed, the  meat  is  dry,  of  a  fine,  chesnut 
color,  and  a  delicate  flavor  of  smoke 
penetrating  the  whole  mass. 

The  best  bouses  we  have  seen,  are 
built  with  a  stone  wall,  three  feet  high, 
flagged  bottom,  and  a  wooden  structure 
4)uilt  on  top  of  the  wall.  Conmion 
siding  i'^  tight  enough,  or  boards  end- 
jfi^a  like  boarding  a  barn  is  sufficient, 


with  a  tight  boai'd  or  shingle  roof.— 
The  bottom  is  used  for  an  ash-  house 
and  the  smoke  fire  is  built  on  the  ashes. 
It  is  safe  for  botli  pur])oses,  and  will 
produce  a  much  finer  article  for  those 
who  have  a  sweet  tooth  for  that  deli- 
cious treat — a  nice  flavored  ham. — 
Guernsey  Tivies. 


Breeding  Horses. 

The  report  of  the  committee  on  liors- 
es,  for  the  Chittenden  County  (Vt.) 
Agricultural  Society,  coniains  some 
good  remarks.  In  addition  tothehered- 
iiary  transn)ission  of  qualities,  it  ob- 
serves:— "The  progeny  will  iidierit  tlie 
united  qusdities  of  their  parents.  The 
g  od  as  widl  as  the  bad  qualilits  will 
descend  from  generation  to  generation. 
Hence  you  will  see  the  importance  of 
a  knowledge  of  the  parentage,  not  only 
as  to  ihj  sire  but  also  as  to  the  dam. 
Peculiarity  of  structure  ;ind  c.  nsiituiion 
will  also  be  inherited.  This  is  an  im- 
[(ortant  considt-ration,  though  too  much 
negleeted,  for  h  wever  perfect  *he  sire 
may  be,  every  good  quality  may  be 
neutralized,  if  not  overcome  by  the  de- 
fective structure  of  the  dam.  Let  the 
esS(!ntial  points  be  good  in  both  pa- 
rents, but  if  there  must  be  some  minor 
defects  in  the  one,  let  them  be  met  and 
overconie  by  excellencies  in  those  pe- 
culiar points,  in  the  other  parent.  We 
would  also  advise  you,  lo  let  your  breed- 
ing mares  be  in  the  full  vigor  of  life. 
Do  not  put  them  to  the  h(M-se  too 
yonng,  and  especially  do  not  let  your 
mares  be  incapacitated  for  work  by  rea- 
son of  old  age.  If  so,  you  may  expect 
that  the  foal  will  have  a  correspomiing 
weakness,  and  scarcely  will  a  single  or- 
gan possess  its  natural  strengto.  Our 
farmers  are  usually  too  negligent  in  the 
selection  of  their  mares.  They  are 
tempted  to  p.-.rt  with  tlieir  best  mares 
and  breed  from  ihose  which  are  inferior." 

The  committee  speak  of  a  young 
horse  of  the  Mt)rgan  stoi-k,  bred  by 
Judge  Bennett,  as  having  "great  coni- 
[>actness  of  structure  and  action  of  the 
best  kind." 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


199 


Address  of  Dr.  R.  C.  Pritihard, 

Delivered  before  the  Agricultural  Soci- 
ety of  Warren^  August  6th,  1853. 

Ma.  President  : — If  I  was  not  fully 
impressed  with  the  truth  of  the  distich, 
which,  so  far  us  harnan  actions  are  con- 
cerned, has  become  n  proverb,  that 

"  Greatest  streams  from  little  fountains  flow. 
And  tallest  oaks  from  smallest  acorns  grow,'^ 

should  fei'l  myseh^  guilty  of  inexcusa- 
ble presu'iiption  in  rising  to  adciress  an 
audience  of  intelligent,  and,  to  a  great 
extent,  (as  things  go,)  successful  farm- 
ers, upon  subjects  immediately  connect- 
ed with  their  own  familiar  pursuits. 

But,  sir,  of  "my   own   i'ree    will  [  be- 
came a  member  of  this  Association,  and 
by  your   will,   not  mine,    I  occupy  the  j 
position  to  whicli    I  very    much   fear  I  | 
shall  not  do  justice  to-day.     My  sense  i 
of  duty,  however,   impels   me  to  make 
an  effort,  however  feeble  it  may  be,  to  j 
obey  your   commands  ;    and    if,   in  the  j 
course  of  the  remarks  I  shall  submit  to 
your  consideration,  one  single  proiitable 
sugo-estion  shall  be  impressed  ujion  the 
mind  of  any  brother  farmer,  1  shall  be 
amply  compensated  for  my  labor;  and, 
at  all  events,  I  shall  have   the  consola- 
tion which  ever  arises  from  a  conscien- 
tious desire  to  peiform  our  duty. 

Our  association  ha'l  its  origin  in  a 
desire  (general,  I  hope,)  to  improve  the 
condition  of  the  agricultural  communi- 
ty— to  render  the  cultivation  of  the 
t'arth  more  profitable,  and  thus  to  ad- 
vaiice  the  great  social  and  moral  inter- 
ests of  our  feilov»'-men  ;  and  he  who 
shall  do  his  best  to  promote  these  im- 
portant objects,  should  at  least  be  ex- 
empt from  the  censures  of  the  wise,  the 
iiueevs  of  the  cynical,  or  the  ridicule  of 
the  silly.  The  experience  of  other 
.eountries — not  originally  more  fertile 
ihan  our  own — proves  beyond  all  rea- 
sonable doubt,  that  the  application  of 
•science  to  Agriculture  greatly  enhances 
th«  productiveness  of  the  soil,  improves 
the  health  of  the  country,  adds  much 
to  its  beauty,  and,  by  reducing  the  a- 
raount  6f  labor  necessary  to  the  com- 


fortable support  of  a  given  population, 
tends  to  elevate  and  refine  its  charac- 
ter ;  and  blest  as  we  are  with  the  best 
social  and  political  institutions  ever 
framed  by  the  wisdom  of  man,  a  fruit- 
ful soil  and  a  genial  climate,  we  need 
but  make  the  effort,  and  our  favored 
land  will  blossom  as  the  rose,  and  our 
people  attain  to  the  very  highest  stand- 
ard of  intellectual  and  physical  excel- 
lence. Having  used  the  v.ord  science, 
allow  me  here  to  say  what  I  conceive 
to  be  its  true  meaning,  as  applied  to 
Agriculture  and  all  other  human  pur- 
suits. Unfortunately  it  has  become  a 
bugbear  with  the  many,  who  ever  asso- 
ciate it  with  the  jargon  of  the  schools 
and  the  mysticism  of  the  charlatan. — 
But,  bir,  alihough  this  has  been  the  ne- 
cessary consequence  of  the  obscurity 
and  concealment  which  the  teachers  of 
mankind  have  fo^  many  ages  sought  to 
throw  around  their  peculiar  pursuits 
and  studies,  it  is  nevertheless  an  error. 
Science,  as  it  should  be  understood,  and 
will  be  understood  in  this  progressive 
age,  means  nothing  more  than  the  ap- 
plication of  human  experience  in  the 
past  to  human  pi-actice  in  the  future. — 
It  i»  simply  but  the  realization  and 
practical  application  of  the  Inductive  or 
Baconian  system  of  Philosophy;  with- 
out which,  the  human  mind  must  ever 
remain  stationary  and  all  improvement 
be  rendered  impossible.  By  its  ener- 
getic and  judicious  application  to  Ag- 
riculture ONLY  can  the  farmer  expect  to 
keep  pace  with  his  brethren  in  all  oth- 
er pursuits  and  professions.  Every- 
Avhere,  amongst  all  classes,  is  the  spirit 
of  improvement  abroad.  Within  the 
lifetime  of  many  who  now  hear  me,  the 
broad  Atlantic  has  become  scarcely 
more  than  an  inland  sea,  and  the  dis- 
tance (estimated  by  time)  which  once 
separated  us  from  the  other  nations  of 
the  world  has  been  reduced  three- 
fourths.  A  visit  to  the  farthest  dwel- 
lings of  our  countrymen  in  the  wilder- 
ness of  the  great  West,  is  but  a  trip  of 
pleasure,  to  be  made  and  terminated 
1  ere  our  pregence  is  missed  in  our  imine* 


200 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


diate  neighborhood ;  and   communica- 
tions from  fiieiid    to  friend    are  made 
from  one  extremity  of  this  vast  confed- 
eracy to  another,  "in  the  twinkling  of 
an  eye."     Even   while  I  speak,  another 
wonderful  invention,  the  Ericsson  Calor 
Engine,  is  attracting  the  attention  and 
receiving  the  approval   ot  the  soundest 
intellects  of  the  age.     Combining  as  it 
promises  to   do,    speed,    economy   and 
safety,  it  is   probable  that  ere  another 
geiieration  shall  have  passed  away,  the 
Steam  Engine,  the  boast  of  the  present, 
will  be  numbered   with  the  things  that 
were.     (Uninitiated  in  the  nnsteries  of 
Clairvoyance  or  Spirit-rappmg,   I  will 
not  undertake   to   say  whether  or  not 
they  will  supercede  the  wonderful  anni- 
hilator  of  time  and   space,  the  Electric 
Telegraph,     whose     lightning-bearing 
wires,  like  an  enormous  spider-web,  en- 
velope the  whole  land  in  their  meshes.) 
Onward,  upward,   is   still    the  word, 
which  rinoiuff  in  our  ears  from  the  voi- 
ces  of  our  fellowmen,  engaged  in  all  the 
occupations  of  life,    calls    upon    us  to 
keep  pace  with  the  improving  spirit  of 
the  age.     And   shall   agriculture — the 
nursing  mother  of  all  the  arts   and  sci- 
encies — the  handmaiden  of  health  knd 
virtue — the  bounteous  patroness  of  all 
industrial  effort — the  liberal  ministrant 
to  the  wants  of  man  and  beast — be  the 
onhj  laggard?     Why,  sir,  should  it  be 
sp  ?  are  the  Farmers  of  our  country  in- 
ferior in  intellect — in   learning — in   in- 
dustry— in    patriotism — to    any    other 
class?     No  sir — as  a  class,  they   are  at 
least   the   equals    of  any    other  in  all 
th^se  qualities ;  but   unfortunately  for 
the  best   interests    of    humanity,  they 
lack  that  which  in   other  pursuits  too 
often  proves  a  curse  rather  than  a  bles- 
sing— ambition!     Let  the  farmer's  son 
turn  po'it'cian,   and  with   what  eager- 
ness he  pursues  the  j-oad  to  popular  fa 
vor.     How  he  toih  to  obtain   votes  to 
e'evate  him  to  a  place — amj  place — in 
public  life  !     How  fieely  he  spends  the 
.fruits  of  his   father's   years   of  toil  to 
make  himself  the  people's  favorite  for  a 
day.      And  when   he  has  succeeded, 


what  is  the  result  ?  Is  it  profitable  to 
himself  or  his  fellow  men  ?  Does  he — ■ 
can  he,  by  preeminent  service,  win 
that  reputation  which  will  ennoble  hisi 
home  and  surround  his  very  grave  with 
a  halo  of  glory,  as  a  benefactor  of  his 
race  ?  or  will  he,  must  he,  take  his 
hunible  place  with  the  long  list  of  in- 
significant names  who  in  all  ages  have 
aspired  to  offices,  which,  by  their  unfit- 
ness they  have  dishonored?  How  rare- 
ly the  first  supposition  is  realized  we 
all  know — how  often  the  latter  1  need 
not  say.  Let  him  become  a'merchant's 
clerk,  and  on  a  salary  no  larger  than 
he  could  earn  by  the  proper  cultivation 
of  one  acre  cf  land,  he  ofteli  becomes,  as 
he  thinks,  the  type  of  fashion  and  the 
cynosure  of  ladies'  eyes.  If  he  has  re- 
ceived a  classical  education,  he  too  of- 
ten feels  that  the  humble,  quiet  life  of 
honest  toil  which  his  fathers  led  would 
be  degrading,  and  consequently  wastes 
his  means  in  fast  horses  and  fine  bug- 
gies, and  expends  the  talents  with  " 
which  he  is  endowed  in  learning  t'icks 
at  cards  and  the  cultivation  of  his  whis- 
kers, whence,  sir,  arises  this  distaste  to 
agricultural  pursuits  ?  This  is  a  most 
important  enquiry,  and  he  who  shall 
satisfactorily  answer  it,  and  do  most  to 
correct  the  evil,  will  merit  the  warmest 
approbation  of  the  wise  and  good. 

Our  youth  are  taught  to  believe  that 
the  least  possible  amount  of  intellect  and 
application   is  all-sufficient   to  make  a 
successful  farmer,  and   that  so   humble 
and  simple  a  pursuit  is  beneath  the  aims 
of  genius  and  learning:  hence  they  are 
satisfied    to   follow   in  the  footsteps  of 
their  predecessors,  trusting  the  manage- 
ment of  their  patrimonial  acres   to  an 
overseer  or  a  driver  to  be  tilled  as  their 
fathers  tilled  them  ;  and  when  forest  af- 
ter forest  has  disappeared  beneath  the 
axe,  and  field  after  field  has  become  ex- 
hausted through   ignorance   and    mis- 
management, they  quit  "  this  poor  and 
worn  out  country,"  with  greatly  dimin- 
ished means  to  seek  a  subsistence  in  the 
unbroken    wilds    of  the    vest,  or  the 
auriferous   "  diggings  "    of    California. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


201 


Could  the  young  farmer  be  inspired  with 
a  proper  appreciation  of  the  dignity  of 
his  calling,  could  he  be  induced  to  be- 
lieve that  the  successful  cultivation  of 
the  soil  will  afford  him  a  suitable  field 
for  the  display  of  all  his  acquirements; 
that  to  become  a  successful  farmer,  he 

.  must  use  Ins  head  as  well  as  his  hands, 
his  mind  as  well  as  his  body,  and  that 
every  step  he  advanced  in  the  way  of 
improvement   would  constitute  him  so 

;  far  a  benefactor  of  his  country,  we  might 
hope  to  generate  an  "Esprit  Du  Corps," 
a  spirit  of  generous  emulation  through- 
out the  entire  agricultural  community, 
which  would  redound  to  the  lasting 
interest,  honor  and  happiness  of  our 
people. 

If  we  desire  that  our  sons  and  daugh- 
ters shall  be  the  happy  possessors  of  a 
land  teeming  with  the  richest  produc- 
tions of  human  indust>'y  and  skill ;  if  we 
would  inspire  them  with  a  prop'^-  at- 
tachment for  the  homes  of  their  child- 
hood and  veneration  for  our  memories  ; 
if  we  hope  to  make  them  worthy  and 
contented  citizens  of  a  prosperous  coun- 
try, we  must  put  our  own  shoulders  to 
the  wheel.  We  must  go  to  work  in 
earnest,  we  must  devote  our  time,  our 
talents,  our  means  to  develop  the  abun- 
dant resources  with  which  a  kind  prov- 
idence has  surrounded  us.  We  must 
establish  schools  and   educate   our  sons 

for  farmers^  and  not  as  at  present,  direct 
the  talents  of  every  one  to  whom  we 
can  afford  to  give  an  education  to  some 
other,  and  as  he  is  taught  and  must 
think,  more  respectable  profession ;  or 
else  turn  him  loose,  a  mere  fashionable 
idler,  a  drone  in  the  social  hive. 

Here  sir,  is  presented  an  ample  field 
for  the  exercise  of  a  truly  noble  ambi- 
tion, and  I  would  fain  hope  that  some 
member  of  this  society  will  yet  vi'in  a 
just  claim  to  the  gratitude  of  this  and 
coming  generations,  by  arousing  a  spirit 
of  enquiry  amongst  our  people,  the  in- 
fluence of  which  will  give  tone  and  di- 
rection to  the  energies  of  our  young 
men,  and  open  up  to  them  a  field  of  far 
more  laudable  emulation  and  pride  than 


ever  was  presented  in  the  foul  and  miry 
paths  of  party  politics,  or  the  giddy  cir- 
cles of  fashionable  life.  Who  will  be 
foremost  in  this  goodly  work  ?  There 
are  amongst  us,  gentlemen  of  education, 
leisure  and  fortune,  proprietors  and  cul- 
tivators of  the  soil  who  might  increase 
infinitely  their  own  enjoyments  and  im- 
prove their  estates  by  the  veiy  means 
which  would  most  surely  promote  the 
great  interesis  of  the  community.  It  is, 
I  believe,  a  well  established  fact  that  no 
soil  can  be  rendered  permanently  pro- 
ductive without  the  aid  of  lime  in  some 
one  of  its  various  combinations.  My 
own  opinion  is  that  in  this  the  basis  of 
all  lasting  improvement,  our  upland 
soils,  {or  subsoils,)  are  not  greatly  de- 
ficient, but  generally  present,  the  char- 
acter when  not  greatly  exhausted,  of 
neutral  soils;  that  is  soils  in  which  nei- 
ther the  acid  or  calcarious  principles 
predominate  to  any  great  extent ;  and 
hence,  if  ray  supposition  be  correct,  but 
a  small  amount  of  lime  will  be  necessa- 
r}'  to  render  it  susceptible  of  the  higliest 
degree  of  fertility.  Now  sir,  if  some  in- 
telligent member  of  our  association 
would  devote  two  hours  a  day  for  six 
months  to  the  study  of  experimental 
agricultural  chemistry  he  would  easily 
qualify  himself  to  test  the  presence  and 
proportion  of  this  universal  fertilizer,  to 
point  out  which  of  its  various  salts,  or  ' 
other  combinations  were  present  in  a 
given  soil,  and  thus  enable  himself,  as 
well  as  his  ne'ghbor,  to  spend  his  mon- 
ey judiciously  in  the  purchase  of  calcar- 
ious or  other  manures. 

By  the  same  small  expenditure  of 
time  and  money,  he  might,  nay,  often 
he  certainly  would  inspire  his  sons  or 
daughters  with  a  taste  for  similar  intel- 
lectual pursuits,  so  well  calculated  to 
refine  and  elevate  their  characters  a^d 
to  fit  them  for  eminent  usefulness  in  life, 
and  thus  gratify  the  holiest  aspirations 
of  a  parent's  heart,  whilst  conferring  a 
blessing  upon  his  less  favored  neighbors. 

Should  any  gentleman  be  induced  by 
the  suggestion  here  thrown  out,  to  un- 
dertake this  delightful  task,  I  am  very 


?02 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


certain  I  shall  loceive  his  thanks  for  the 
hint,  tor  of  all  the  intellectual  pursuits 
of  man,  chemistry  as  a  practical  science 
is  the  most  fascinating. 

If  this,  however,  shoulu  be  asking  too 
much  of  individual  effort^  let  us  as  a 
society  employ  some  well  qualified  gen- 
tieman  to  analyze  our  soils  and  deliver 
a  full  series  of  lectures  upon  agricultural 
chemistry,  and  thus  by  united  effort 
accomplisti  this  important  object.  Here 
sir,  allow  rae  to  say  that  I  do  not  intend 
to  advocate  the,;expensive  humbug  of  a 
general  «nd  minute  analysis  of  soils  sis 
recommended  by  Professor  Mapes  and 
others  of  his  class,  whose  wonderful  la- 
bors only  show  us  that  our  lands  may 
he  rendered  productive  at  an  expense  of 
about  ten  thousand  dollars  an  acre,  but 
wsimply  to  express  a  desire  that  the  gen- 
eral character  of  our  soils,  virgin,  alluvi- 
al or  old  field  be  sulBciently  examined 
to  ascertain  their  relative  proportions  of 
©ilcarious  matter  and  otiier  important 
ingredients  of  a  fertile  soil  ;  in  order 
that  we  may  economically  and  wisely 
adapt  our  manures  to  the  wants  of  our 
respective  farms.  Of  one  thing  sir,  we 
may  all  be  sure,  that  v.'here  there  is 
great  deficiency  of  lime  v*e  cannot  prof- 
iiably  improve  our  lands  without  ils 
application^  and  here  it  is  abundant 
the  proce^-sof  isnprovementtoaii  indefi- 
nite extent  is  as  simplj  as  any  other  re- 
trntt  which  only  requires  the  proper  ap- 
plication of  patieutjndustry  and  com- 
r«on  sense. 

Tiie  expenditure  of  a  few  himdreds  ov 
eveu  a  thousand  dollars  for  an  object 
lilie  this  would  result  in  permanent  and 
endm-ing  good  to  all  clashes  of  (he  com- 
munity and  I  have  no  doubt  there  are 
many  besides  the  members  of  this  so- 
ciety vvho  would  liberally  assist  in  its 
accomplishment.  Let  it  be  our  part  to 
point  the  way  and  set  the  example. 

Or.e  other  suggestion,  and  it  ia  mere- 
If  a  suggestion,  and  1  shall  have  done 
w;;h  tins  part  of  my  subject.  Could 
we  Hut  ('stai>!ish  a  school  based  upon 
isiie  manual  labor  princijile  for  the  edu- 
«it!on  of  our  cinldi'cn  ?    A  school  which 


would  soon  become  a  self  supporting 
institution ;  wherein  our  youth  might 
obtain  a  thorough  english  and  mathe- 
matical education,  and  at  the  same  time 
acquire  habits  of  industry  and  morality 
with  a  thorough  knowledge  of  both  the 
practical  and  theoritical  branches  of 
agricultural  sciences. 

In  a  county  like  ours,  noted  for  its 
intelligence  and  wealth,  such  an  institu- 
tion Q)ight  be  established  on  a  perman- 
ent basis  at  an  expense  which  would 
scarcely  be  felt  by  our  people,  and  I  feel 
confident  that  in  a  very  few  years  it 
would  not  only  sustain  itself,  but  repay 
the  original  outlay  with  interest.  In 
such  an  institution  the  most  promising 
and  meritorious  pupils  of  our  common 
schools  the  sons  of  poor  parents,  or  un- 
provided orphans  might  be  educated 
free  of  cost,  and  all  others  at  a  much 
cheaper  rate  than  is  now  paid  to  enable 
them  to  read  in  the  original  the  "Odes 
of  Horace"  the  "  Satires  of  Juvenal  " 
and  the  disgusting  obscenities  of  Ovid. 
But  sir,  I  will  not  on  this  occasion  en- 
large upon  this  most  intercslitjg  theme, 
I  have  merely  tlirown  out  this  hint  in. 
the  earnest  hojie  that  some  more  com- 
petent memlicr  may  take  up  and  eluc'- 
date  the  subject,  and  I  promise  him  my 
feeble  but  z-.alous  aid  in  any  eifortsthat 
may  be  made  to  reduce  the  suggestion 
to  practical  operation.  Surely  whilst  all 
other  forms  and  various  schemes  of  im- 
provement find  their  ready  advocates 
and  v/iliing  sup|K>rters,  amongst  our 
'.veallhy  and  enlightened  citizens,  this 
which  aims  at  the  iinprovement  of  the 
moral  and  the  intellectual  character  of 
the  rising  generation,  the  hif/h';s',  the 
holiest,  most  useful  of  them  all,  will  not 
be  left  unaided  by  the  purse  of  the 
wealthy,  tiie  pen  of  the  ready  writer,  the 
heart  moving  eloquence  of  t!ie  gifted 
speaker. 

Our  earth  is  a  generous  ;in<l  prolific 
mother,  but  she  cannot  and  will  not  for 
long  endure  filial  ingiatitnde.  All  her 
preordained  and  iraternal  duties  she  is 
ready  and  willing  to  perform,  but  she 
requires,  auil  justly  too,  at  the  hands  of 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


203 


the  children  whom  slie  nouiishts  scjiue- 
thiiig  besides  the  selri-h  eiijoynieut  of 
the  food  she  supplies' the  .  It'  the\ 
inake  her  no  relurn  (or  the  long  con- 
tinued kimliiess  and  support,  she  will  ai 
last  refuse  her  wonted  supphes  and  leave 
her  xiiigTalel'ul  offspring  to  sutt'er  the 
conse(}uences  of  their  neglect. 

'J'iie  experience  of  our  ancestors  and 
ourselves  prove  beyond  all  munnej-  of 
doubt  that  no  system  of  cropping  which 
takes  annually  away  all  the  products  of 
the  soil  and  relies  upon  the  small  amount 
of  fertilising  materials  which  inav  be 
a'^.'cu Ululated  by  pasturing  a  few  half- 
starved  cattle  ur)on    the  old    field  com- 


aliowed  but  $1,00,  [much  too  Utile)  t^ 
pay  for  seed,  hoe  work  and  wear  of  plow*  , 
and  harness,  <fec.  The  result  of  many 
inquiries  which  [have  made  of  the  most 
experienced  faimers  has  satisfied  me 
that  one  barrel  and  a  half  of  corn  to  the 
acre  would  be  a  most  liberal  estimateof 
fhe  average  product  of  Warren  county. 
Now  1  1-2  bushels  of  corn  at  50  cts. 
per  bushel  would  yield  but  6i3,'75,  and 
allowing  that  the  fodder,  &c.  will  repay 
the  exhaustion  of  the  soil  and  cost  of 
fencing,  ditching,  gathering,  &c.,  and 
the  farmer  sustains  a  certain  loss  of  26 
cents  per  a!f;re  on  all  land  so  cwiuvated  ; 
to  which    add    SO  cts  as   interest  upon 


mou,  during  the  day  and  driving  them  U>5,0tJ  the  original  cost  of  the  land,  and 
up  at  night  to  sleep  in  an  unhtt  red  pen  i  you  will  at  once  see   a   sufficient  cause 


c.in  pOssibly  result  in  improvenient.  - 
The  farmer  who  pursues  such  a  course, 
if  he  does  not  in  his  own  day  receive 
the  kindly  attentions  of  the  sheriff,  wdi 
most  certainly  leave  his  children  the 
heirs,  of  penury,  if  not  of  disgrace.  The 
careless  and  indolent  habits  of  the  parent 
will  enevitably  entail  poverty,  and  per- 
haps worse  habits  npon  his  offspring, 
and  he  vvho  endeavours  to  evade  the 
prinial  curse  "in  the  sweat  of  thy  brow 
shalt  thou  eat  bread  "  by  skulking  from 
the  peiformance  of  his  duty,  will  cer- 
tainly reap  a  rich  harvest  of  heavier  cur- 
s(!s  for  himself  or  his  household. 

A  fmidanienfal  error  in  our  farndng 
operations  is  the  practice  aim  >st  univer- 
sal of  cultivating  too  much  unimproved 
land.  What  can  it  profit  a  man  to  cul- 
tivate larire  fields  if  the  cost  of  his  labor 
is  not  compensated  by  the  value  of  the 
croj>. 

Let  us  take  our  staple  bread  crop 
corn  by  wav  of  illustration  and  estimate 
the  cost  of  cultivation  under  our  present 
systen^  at  -|4,00  per  acre,  which  will  be 


tor  the  dissatisfaction  which  so  many 
feel  with  the  homes  of  their  childhood, 
the  land  of  their  birth,  and  cotniirehend 
the  inrtuences  which  are  operating  to 
i)opulate  ttie  west  at  the  expense  of  the 
old  Atlantic  States. 

But  sir,  guided  by  the  lights  of  science 
and  experience  we  may  soon  reverse 
this  order  of  things,  and  by  a  proper  ex- 
ercise of  our  mental  and  physical  ener- 
gies and  the  expenditure  of  a  little  mon- 
ey, we  may  double  our  crops  with  haJf 
the  labor  they  now  require,  and  thus 
have  more  leisure  and  means  to  devote 
to  the  farther  improvement  of  the  soil. 
By  limiting  the  amount  of  land  in  cul- 
tivation, dividing  it  into  suitable  fields 
or  lots  for  a  rotation  of  four  or  five  years 
by  accumulating  and  carefully  preserv- 
ing at  all  seasons  the  immense  ainouut 
of  feitilizing  matter  by  which  we  are 
everywhere  surrounded  ;  in  brief  by  con- , 
stant  untiring  industry  and  rigid  econo- 
my (a  lilieral  and  enliiilitened  economy 
[  mean)  and  an  unyielding  resolve  nev- 
er to  cultivate  an  acre  of  ground  whicij 


found  upon  examination  rather  below  1  does  not  promise  a  fair  renumeration  for 
than  above  the  mark.  The  four  plough-  our  labor.  I  feel  convinced  that  in  tea 
ings  which  are  deemed  essential  to  pre-  years  the  face  of  the  country  will  be 
pare  the  land,  keep  it  in  good  condition  changed,  rich  crops  of  corn  and  wiieat 
and  lay  by  the  crop  in  good  order,  will  wii!  meet  the  wayfarer''seye,  \Nhere  now 
at  a  fair  allcnvance  for  the  labour  of  the  1  broom  straw  and  hen  nest  grass  are  the 
hand  and  horse  cust  at  least  §3,00,  and  !  only  product;  our  grjmeries  will  be 
as  will  be  seen  by  the  estimate,  I  have  j  stored  with  abundance,  our  children,  our 


204 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


servants  and  our  cattle  be  better  cared 
for,  and  hundreds  wbo  have  sought 
homes  in  the  prohfic  wilds  of  the  great 
uest  be  glad  to  return  and  dwell  in  the 
land  of  their  fathers. 

The  amount  of  fertilizing  matter  which 
may  be  gathered  upon  one  of  our  small- 
est farms  in  the  course  of  a  year  would 
be  matter  of  wonder  and  astonishment 
to  one  who  has  never  mad  ■  the  experi- 
ment for  himself.  The  leaves  which 
fall  around  him  before  the  blasts  of  win- 
ter, the  weeds  which  spring  up  beneath 
the  sunshine  and  rains  of  spring  and 
summer  (too  often  allowed  to  generate 
disease  and  death  !)  the  vegetable  mat- 
ter accumulating  about  his  fences  ;  the 
scrapings  of  his  ditch  banks,  the  niud 
from  creeks  and  branches,  all  the  excre- 
ments of  man  and  beast ;  bones,  hair 
and  horns ;  soapsuds  and  potliquor ; 
the  sweepings  of  his  dwelling  and  out- 
houses, and  all  other  materials  of  what- 
ever discription  which  ever  enjoyed  an- 
imal or  possessed  vegetable  life,  may  be 
converted  into  rich  nutriment  for  future 
crops,  add  to  these  materials  the  waste, 
salt  and  brine,  and  the  large  amount  of 
woodashes  (containing  the  most  impor- 
tant inorganic  elements  of  plants,)  which 
we  might  obtain  by  burning  at  leisure 
times,  the  waste  timber  in  our  forest 
lands,  and  we  should  accumulate  almost 
without  expense,  an  amount  of  manure 
vChich  would  ensure  at  least  a  double 
crop  the  ensueing  year  ;  besides,  under 
judicious  management,  adding  much  to 
the  permanent  productiveness  of  the 
land. 

But  sir,  in  addition  to  all  this,  should 
the  supplies  thus  obtained  be  insufficient 
to  renovate  our  lands,  we  have  at  our 
command  at  a  moderate  price,  when  we 
consider  their  vast  fertilizing  poweis, 
lime,  plaster,  bone  dust  and  guano,  the 
last  embodying  in  itself  in  the  most  con- 
ctiutrated  and  convenient,  for  all  that  is 
necessary  to  render  productive,  the  most 
barren  soil. 

How  wonderful,  Mr.  President  are 
the  wajs  of  an  All  wise  Providence. — 
How  beneficent  its  dealings  with 
thoughtless,  erring  man  !  ' 


"Whilst  he  for  ages  has  been  laying 
waste  the  forest  and  scattering  the  sour- 
ces of  earth's  fertility-  in  reckless  pro- 
fusion to  the  winds  of  Heaven,  or,  in 
utter  carelessness  has  permitted  the 
rains  and  tides  to  wash  them  out  into 
the  ocean's  profoundest  depths,  an  in- 
significant sea  bird  of  the  Pacific,  in 
obedience  to  a  higher  law  than  that  of 
human  reason,  has  been  gathering  up 
the  wasted  treasures  and  depositing 
them  in  immense,  immeasurable  quanti- 
ties on  the  coast  of  Peru  and  the  unin- 
habited Islands  of  the  sea,  in  order  that 
we  may  be  enabled  to  resuscitate  our 
exhausted  fields,  and  restore  the  impov- 
erished soil  to  more  than  pristine  fer- 
tility. Sancho  Panza  heaped  blessing* 
on  the  man  who  invented  sleep,  with  all 
our  hearts  we  should  bless  the  man  who 
first  introduced  guano  to  the  notice  of 
our  agriculturisls.  To  it  we  can  resort, 
when  all  other  means  fail  or  prove  in- 
sufficient, with  an  absolute  assurance  of 
satisfaction  and  profit.  And  he  who  in 
view  of  its  now  well  known  profitable 
application  to  the  most  barren  soils,  is 
too  incredulous  or  too  parsimonious  to 
avail  himself  of  the  advantages  which 
never  f;^il  to  result  from  its  judicious 
use,  will  be  left  so  far  behind  in  the  race 
of  improvement,  that  he  had  as  well  re- 
concile himself  at  once  to  a  "Rip  Van 
Winkle  snoose."  Perhaps  when  igno- 
rance and  barbarism  shall  again  enwrap 
the  world  in  their  gloomy  mantle  he 
may  be  awakened  to  find  himself  sur- 
rounded with  suitable  companions  and 
congenial  minds. 

In  order  to  ensure  the  highest  pro- 
ductiveness of  the  soil,  we  must  not  on- 
ly manure  it  highly  and  cultivate  it  well, 
but  we  must  allow  it,  also  its  periodi- 
cal holiday,  its  day  of  rest  for  the  re- 
coperation  of  its  exhausted  energies. 
"All  work  and  no  play  makes  Jack  a 
dull  boy."  And  the  soil  as  well  as  ev- 
erything else  subjected  by  a  kind  Prov- 
idence to  man's  control  and  use,  must 
have  rest.  Rest  not  to  lie  in  sluggish 
repose  and  apathy,  but  to  recreate  itself 
as  fair  ladies  sometimes  do,  in  putting 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


205 


on  its  holiday  robe  of  many  colors,  be- 
decking itself  in  a  rich  mantle  of  its 
own  creation,  which  when  worn  for  a 
brief  peri^id  is  cast  aside  to  increase  its 
more  valuable  productions  for  the  next 
rotation  of  crops.  Or  what  is  still  bet- 
ter we  may  suppl}^  it  with  the  seeds  of 
clover  or  peas  at  proper  intervals  which 
being  allowed  to  remain  uncropped  un- 
til near  their  iwaturity  may  be  returned 
by  the  sturdy  ploughman  to  their  gen- 
erous mother's  bosom,  rendering  richer 
and  more  abundant  her  future  contribu- 
tions to  oui"  wants. 

Next  in  importance  to  the  farmer  is 
thorough  tillage,  without  which  all  his 
labors  in  heaping  domestic  manures  and 
his  expense  in  procuring  those  which  he 
cannot  prepare  at  home  will  result 'n  but 
limited  improvement.    He  should  there- 
fore always  be  supplied  with  the  very 
best  agricultural  implements  and  keep 
his  working  animals  in  the  best  possi- 
ble condition  to   render  good  service. 
AVithout  giving  his   personal  attention 
to  these  things  at  all  times,  he  will  nev- 
er attain  the  highest  degree  of  success 
in  his  noble  calling.  His  servants  should 
at  all  Limes  be   treated  with  kindness, 
their   wants   always  liberallj^  supplied, 
their  clothing  comfortable  and  adapted 
to  the  season,  and  no  means  left  untried 
to  win  their  love  and  i-espect,  but  cool 
undeviatingfirmnessin  requiring  ofthem 
the  full  performance  of  all  their  duties 
must  at  no  time  be  omitted.     Indulging 
in  no  violent  outbreaks  of  temper  him- 
self, he  must  not  permit  others  in  his 
employ  to  do  so,  but  ever  hold  in  mem- 
ory   the    principle    embodied  in  John 
Randolph's  first  article  in  his  directions 
to  his  overseer,  "  never  strike  a  negro 
tmtil  24  hours   after  the  commission  of 
his  offence."     By  a  rigid  adherence  to 
this  principle  he  will  perhaps  never  in- 
flict any  punishment  unjustly,  and  will 
impress  upon   the  minds  of  all  subject 
to  his  rule  an  idea  of  his  firmness  and 
justice,  which  cannot  fail  to  have  a  good 
effect.     There  is  no  contagion  so  active 
and  so  virulent  as  that  of  human  pas- 
sion, and  he  who  allows  it  to  overcome 


his  reason  and  judgment  in  his  dealing* 
with  his  slaves  will  never  fail  to  make 
them  disobedient,  unruly  and  mutinous, 
or  (under  the  intiuence  of  fear  alone) 
mere  eye  servants,  in  whom  no  trust 
can  be  safely  placed. 

He  should  never  overcrop  his  force, 
but  make  in  laying  out  each  annual  crop, 
a  liberal  allowance  for  sickness  and  bad 
weather.  Should  all  things  prove  fav- 
orable during  the  year  he  will  be  no 
loser  by  his  liberalit^^  Whatever  force, 
human  or  brute,  he  may  have  at  his 
command,  beyond  the  requirements  of 
his  crop  can  be  most  profitably  devoted 
to  the  accumulation  of  materials  for 
his  compost  heaps,  and  will  thus  perhaps 
yield  him  more  profit  than  it  would  do 
employed  in  any  other  way. 

The  amount  of  extra  labor  thus  al- 
lowed to  be  called  into  the  crop  in  cases 
of  emergency,  should  be  at  least  equal 
to  one  hand  and  horse,  or  yoke  of  ox- 
en in  every  seven.  By  pursuing  this 
course  he  will  be  at  all  times  able  to 
drive  his  work;  not  to  be  driven  by  it, 
to  do  everything  well  end  in  due  season, 
and  thus  ensure  as  far  as  depends  on 
his  efforts,  full  and  remunerating  crops. 
The  farmer  who  is  always  in  a  hurry 
and  behind  hand  with  his  Avork  cannot 
succeed.  His  fields  are  never  well  pre- 
pared ;  his  fences  always  dilapidated ; 
his  horses  and  cattle  lean  ;  his  laborers 
overtasked  ;  his  growing  crops  smoth- 
ered with  grass  and  weeds,  and  his  build- 
ings out  of  repair.  Like  the  careless 
and  slovenly  housewife,  with  him  every 
thing  goes  wrong,  and  quietness,  neat- 
ness and  order,  are  banished  from  his 
premises. 

Mr.  President,  without  any  disposition 
to  trespass  longer  on  the  time  and  pa- 
tience of  the  society,  I  will  take  the  lib- 
erty of  making  a  few  suggestions  with 
reference  to  the  subject,  matter  propos- 
ed for  the  consideration  of  the  present 
meeting,  viz  :  the  best  means  of  resus- 
citating our  worn  out  lands. 

And  here  various  methods,  all  good, 
present  themsevles  for  our  considera- 
tion.    On  the  present  occasion  I  shall 


206 


TilK  F^VRMER'S  JOURNAL. 


confine  myself  to  one.  Assmning  then 
that  cair  old  field  lands  are  deficient  in 
lime,  at  least  to  the  depth  of  previous 
cultivation,  which  is  ])roven  by  the 
growth  of  broomstraw,  sheepsorrel,  and 
the  sapling  pine,  1  wouid  fuggest  that 
such  lands  be  broken  up  with  two  horse 
plows  at  any  time  between  the  middle 
of  September  and  the  last  of  October, 
then  well  dressed  with  either  lime  or 
ashes — at  the  rate  of  ten  to  fifteen 
bushels  of  the  former  or  fii'teen  to  twen- 
ty of  the  latter  to  tlie  acre,  sown  broad- 
cast and  allowed  to  lie  until  the  middle 
of  March,  at  which  tiiii.^  it  should  be 
agjiiii  filougl'cd  with  one  horse  plows, 
laid  oft' in  11  feet  beds,  thoroughly  har- 
rowed and  a  single  furrow  run  at  5  1-2 
feet  distance  for  corn.  I  would  then 
put  in  drill  our  ordinary  farm  pen  or 
compost  manure  to  the  rate  of  250  or 
300  bushels,  or  150  lbs  Guano  and  1-2 
bushel  of  plaster  to  the  acre,  then  list 
uywn  the  manure  in  the  usual  way,  and 
leave  until  the  middle  of  April  when 
the  list  should  be  opened  and  corn,  pre- 
riouslv  soaki  d  12  hours  in  soap  suds 
and  rolled  in  plaster,  dropped- two  feet 
and  a  half  a  part.  At  the  second 
plowing  of  the  corn,  I  wnu'd  drill  the 
common  Black  or  Cow  pea  between  the 
rows  at  the  rate  of  1-2  bushel  to  the 
acre,  and  when  they  are  6  to  8  inches 
high  sprinkle  them  well  with  ground 
phister,  3  pecks  or  a  bushel  to  the  acre: 
and  run  a  cultivator  twice  in  a  row, 
which  will  be  sufficient  work  for  the 
peas  previous  to  laying  by  the  corn  crop, 
as  soon  as  the  corn  crop  can  be  gather- 
ed in,  the  stalks  should  be  choppi  d 
clown  and  the  beds  reversed  on  the  pea 
stubble,  with  a  two  liorse  plDUgh.  Ti  en 
f,ow  Guano  and  Plaster,  (100  lbs  of  the 
former  and  1  ])eek  of  the  latter,  to  the 
acre,)  harrow  until  fine,  and  sow  the 
winder  oat,  one  bushel  and  a  lialf  to  the 
acre,  and  harrow  or  drag  tliem  in.  If 
the  winter  oat  cannot  be  obtained,  pur^ 
sue  the  same  course  of  preparation  for 
th/'  spririg  oat  as  eavly  in  Fdiruary  as 
the  '^easmis  vill  permit.  If  6  bushels 
slacked  ashes  and  1  bushel  of  salt  were 


now  sown  broadcast  upon  the  oats,  it 
would  add  much  to  the  crop,  and  ma- 
terially contribute  to  the  durable  fertili- 
ty of  the  soil.  The  oat  field  should  not 
be  grazed  but  turned  over  in  the  fall,  so 
that  it  may  get  the  full  benefit  of  the 
large  vegetable  coat,  which  will  accu- 
mulate after  the  crop  is  taken  off.  The 
next  year,  this  field  should  be  sown 
down  in  peas,  at  the  rate  of  1  bushel  to 
the  acre  and  sjirinkled  wita  one  bushel 
ground  plaster  to  tlie  acre,  when  the 
peas  are  G  or  8  inches  high.  Whtn  the 
peas  have  ri|)ened  sufiiciently,  put  in 
your  hands  and  gather  what  you  want 
fur  seed,  then  turn  in  your  liogs,  and  I 
assure  you  they  will  be  much  obliged 
to  you  for  the  treat,  and  peimit  ihom 
to  remain  ontjl  the  vines  are  [iretty  wol! 
trampled  and  cut  to  pieces,  when  they 
should  be  turned  in  with  a  two  horse 
plow,  preparatory  to  another  corn  crop 
the  next  or  fourth  year,  when  the  same 
course  as  recommended  for  the  first  year 
should  be  again  pursued.  Under  this 
three  shift  system,  which  is  ^^e}|  adapt- 
ed to  our  course  of  farming,  your  lands 
will  constantly  improve  in  value  and 
fertility,  and  you  will  be  able  to  reduce, 
at  least  one  half,  the  quantity  of  land 
which  it  now  requires  for  vcur  corn 
crops;  when  you  can  either  adapt  the 
the  four  shii't  system  or  devote  more 
time  andJabor  to  yourtobacco  and  wheat 
crcps.  For  your  tobacco  and  wheat 
cro[i.=i  I  would  strongly  recommf  nd  the 
rotation  of  5  years  from  the  beginning. 
This  rotation  should  be  in  the  follow- 
ing order.  This  year  in  tobacco,  qfcou}:s6 
Will  manured.  If  your  lots  are  n<it. 
very  rich  ajiply  200  ll^s.  Guai  o  icv 
your  w  heat  crop  in  the  fail,  and  m  liether 
rich  or  poor  be  sure  to  give  (hem  at 
least  ten  bushels  of  ashes  or  shakened 
lime  with  one  bushel  of  salt  to  the  acre. 
Sow  clover  in  the  spring,  which  .<-hou!d 
Mot  be  grazed  but  turned  under  in  Si'p- 
temberofthetliirdyear,wl)eai  again  sov,  n 
with  the  same  api)lication  ofgnanoand 
ashes,  or  lime  and  salt  as  recommended 
for  the  first  year.  The  fourlh  year,  af 
ter  the  harvest  you    \.i!l  have  a  luxuri  ' 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


20t 


ant  cn»p  of  clover  which  may  be  grazed 
until  frost.  When  yon'"  preparations  for 
another  tobacco  crop,  tlie  beginning  of 
a  Second  rotation  sliould  commence. 
]>y  rigidly  following  th's  course  you  will 
have  notiiing  to  fear  in  future.  Your 
lands  will  be  quadrupled  in  value  in  a 
very  few  years,  and  each  successive  crop 
v.'ill  doubly  pay  you  for  the  money  and 
labor  expended,  ia  ils  improvement : 
abundance  and  fatness  will  distinguish 
your  homestead:  the  elegances  and 
corafo!t3  of  life  will  accumulate  around 
you  :  your  neighbors  will  profit  by  your 
example,  and  your  children  "rise  up 
Hiid  call  you  blessed.'" 

I  thank  you  Mr.  I'resident  and  gen- 
tlemen for  the  attention  you  have  be- 
stowed on  iny  feeble  effort  to  perform 
the  duty  which  your  partiality  imposed^ 
on  me,  and  I  have  only  to  express  the 
hope  that  oLliers  better  qualified  to  give 
instru -tion  may  be  as  willing  to  aiford  us 
the  beiielit  of  their  experience  and  re- 
tk'ction. 


Adaptation  of  Crops  to  Blarket, 

The  firmer  who  is  wide  awake  to  his 
business  should  watch,  as  well  as  fol- 
]  )w,  the  markets.  lie  should  know 
what  crop-;  w:li  sell  well.  So  far  as  he 
can  form  a  pi'obable  or  approximate 
opinioii  Oil  t'iis  point,  he  should  con- 
form his  cultivation  to  it.  In  some 
places  he  can  produce  milk  to  advant- 
age ;  in  other;?,  butter  or  cheese.  A- 
gam,  he  may  be  so  situated  that  neither 
of  these  articles  will  p,ay  liim  so  good  a 
j)rofit  as  soiu'^  others.  Here  his  main 
crop  will  be  hay,  there  fi'uit ;  here  pot- 
atoes, there  squashes,  and  other  veget- 
ables. 

A  firmer  in  Beverly,  last  year,  raised 
on  two  and  a  li-df  acres  of  land  18,000 
cabbages  per  acre,  the  net  receipt  of 
which  averaged  him  $450.  Another 
farmer,  in  Dan  vers,  cultivated  an  acre 
of  land  with  sage,  find.,  realized  thy 
handsome  profit  of  1^400.  The  cultiva- 
tion of  tlie  onion  in  the  latter  'own 
gives  employment  to  many  hands  and 
is  the  source  of  large  profits. 


Other  examples  might  be  cited  to 
illustrate  the  importance  of  adapting 
crops  to  the  markets,  such  as  the  pro- 
duction of  the  smaller  fruits  in  the 
neighborhood  of  cities.  It  is  not  the 
crop  on  which  the  farmer  himself  sets 
the  highest  value  that  farmer  himself 
sots  the  highest  value  that  should  be 
raised  by  him,  but  the  crops  he  can 
produce  at  the  least  expense,  and  sell 
to  the  greatest  profit. 

Some  farmers  are  fearful  of  loss,  if 
they  diverge  from  the  beaten  track. 
They  go  on,  therefore,  cultivating  the 
same  products,  and  often  on  the  same 
field,  as  did  their  fathers.  Other  farm- 
ers seem  to  entertain  the  opinion  that 
unless  they  raise  the  heavier  products- 
corn,  ])otatots,  grain,  and  bay — they 
are  no  longer  farmers,  but  a  sort  of 
vnarket  gardeners. 

-  But  away  with  idle  fears  and  foolish 
notions  !  Let  cur  farmers  study  their 
true  interests.  Let  them  not  stand  still 
while  others  are  gone  ahead.  Let  them 
be  up  and  doing  something  to  supply 
the  wants  of  the  towns  and  cities  in  their 
vicinity  ;  and  not  the  necessaries  only, 
but  the  tastes  also.  Let  them  raise 
llower.Sj  even,  if  it  will  pay  a  profit  1 
Why  n(,'t  ?  The  taste  for  flowers  is  an 
innocent  and  rational  one;  why  should 
it  not  be  gratifit^d  ? 

.  Tliere  are  many  articles  not  yet  culti- 
vated to  any  extent  among  us,  that  may 
doubtless  be  raised  to  advantage.  For 
example,  some  vegetable  product,  such 
as  the  castor  oil  bean,  might  be  intro- 
duced and  raised,  to  afford  an  oil  for  a 
domestic  light,  or  for  mechanical  pur- 
poses. Wbale  oil  cannot  be  produced 
fast  enough  to  supply  the  demand. 
Some  substitute,  down  from  another 
earth,  will  doubtless  be  soon  introduc- 
ed. Sun-flower  seed  might  perhaps,  be 
fiund  to  answer. — Lewiston  Farmer 
and  Mechanic. 

Good  house\\ives  and  the  best  of 
bread  are  sync  ymous — they  aie  both 
home-made. 


208 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


FIEMER'S  JOURNAL. 

EALEIGH,  H.  C,  OCT.,  1853. 

To  the  Members  of  the  State  Agricul- 
tural Society. 

Since  we  began  the  publication  of  the 
"Farmer's  Journal  "  we  have  made  fre- 
quent appeals  to  those  whose  interest 
we  have  been  advocating,  to  aid  us  in 
getting  such  a  patronage  as  to  qualify 
lis  in  giving  our  undivided  attention  to 
the  conducting  of  it.  While  we  fre- 
quently see  in  political  papers  in  our 
State,  testimony  of  their  increasing  pros- 
perity, we  are  still  compelled  to  carry 
on  the  only  purely  agricultural  paper 
in  the  State,  with  not  even  a  patronage 
sufficient  to  pay  the  expenses  of  its  pub- 
lication, much  less  making  a  protit  from 
it.  We  have  in  the  last  year  and  a-half 
gone  into  many  counties  of  the  State 
and  delivered  lectures  upon  the  subject 
of  Agricultural  improvement,  and  paid 
our  own  expenses,  and  established  coun- 
ty Agricultural  Societies,  and  still  the 
farmers  foil  to  use  any  exertions  to  cir- 
culate our  paper.  We  have  now  con- 
cluded to  make  our  last  appeal  to  you, 
the  members  of  the  State  Agricultural 
Society,  to  aid  us  in  procuring  such  a 
patronage  as  will  justify  us  in  giving 
our  attention  to  the  enterprise  which 
we  have  begun.  In  relation  to  the 
character  of  the  "  Journal  "  we  refer  you 
to  a  unanimous  vote  in  the  two  previous 
meetings  of  your  body,  in  the  first  of 
which  it  was  recommended  to  the  farm- 
ers of  the  State  as  being  worthy  of  their 
patronage  ;  and  in  the  second,  it  was 
adopted  as  the  organ  of  your  body. 
These  testimonials  were  highly  llatter- 
ing  to  us,  and  should,  it  seems,  have 


had  more  weight  than  what  they  have. 
In  a  few  days  the  State  Fair  will  come 
off,  and  we  make  this  last  appeal  to  you 
while  at  this  exhibition,  not  to  fail  to 
use  your  influence  with  your  friends,  to 
become  subscribers  to  the  "  Farmer's 
Journal."  This  you  can  do  with  much 
more  success  than  ourself,  for  it  is  un- 
fortunately the  case  that  many  farmers 
are  so  prejudiced  that  they  believe  that 
every  thing  originated  for  their  benefit 
is  a  "  Yankee  humbug,"  and  thus  they 
repulse  us,  thinking  our  intention  is 
rather  to  injure  than  benefit  them. 


The  State  Fair. 

This  is  the  last  opportunity  that  we 
shall  have  of  communicating  with  our 
readers  upon  this  subject  before  the  first 
exhibition  comes  off.  We  deem  it  our 
duty  here  to  say,  that  we  have  not  left 
undone  any  thing  that  would  in  our 
judgment,  contribute  to  the  getting  up 
of  such  a  Fair  as  our  people  would  be 
proud  of,  as  the  first  exhibition  of  the 
kind  in  the  Old  North  State.  We  have 
visited  farmers  whom  we  thought  had 
such  stock  as  would  show  well,  and  we 
solicited  them  to  be  sure  to  present  theni, 
impressing  upon  them  the  great  impor- 
tance of  our  making  the  first  exhibition 
such  as  to  instruct  and  interest  visitors. 
We  have  seen  some  and  wrote  to  other 
mechanics  in  the  State,  requesting  them 
to  bring  specimens  of  their  mechanism. 
We  have  written  to  proprietors  of  Ag- 
ricultural Implement  Warehouses  ask- 
ing thenj  also  to  be  present  wiih  speci- 
mens. We  have,  in  addition  to  this, 
never  failed  to  encourage  farmers  to  come 
to  the  Fair,  and  bring  their  families 
with  them,  and  we  had  not  the  least 
doubt  but  that  the  good  people  of  Ral- 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


209 


eigli  would  make  ample  provision  for 
their  comfort  while  there.  All  that  we 
can  now  say,  is  that  we  again  express 
our  confidence  in  the  credit  that  the  ex- 
hibition will  reflect  upon  our  people, 
and  we  hope  to  see  thousands  of  the 
farmers  of  the  Old  North  State  there 
with  their  wives  and  daug-hters,  ready 
to  join  in  the  sentiment  of  the  lamented 
Gaston ;  that, 

''  Though  the  scorner  may  sneer  at,  and 

wliittlings  defame  her, 
Our  hearts  swell  with  gladness,  whenever 

we  name  her." 


The  Analysis  of  Soils. 

We  would  call  the  attention  of  our 
readers  to  the  letter  in  this  num- 
ber of  the  "Journal"  from  Mr.  Bridg- 
es, the  present  Sheriff  of  Hertford 
county,  in  relation  to  an  analysis  which 
we  made  of  soils  for  him  last  fall.  That 
there  is  humbuggery  in  the  analysis  of 
soils,  as  well  as  every  other  business,  we 
do  not  pretend  to  deny,  but  the  true 
test  is  such  evidence  as  this  letter  con- 
tains. There  are  many  who  claim  too 
much  for  analysis,  and  from  this,  far- 
mers are  induced  to  place  too  much  reli- 
ance upon  it.  But  one  thing  cannot  be 
denied,  that  plants  require  different 
kinds  of  food,  and  this  they  must,  to  a 
great  extent,  derive  from  the  soil,  and, 
if  not  theie  by  nature,  it  must  be  sup- 
plied B(?fore  the  crop  can  be  grown  with 
any  certainty  of  success.  By  analysis 
the  deficiencies  of  the  soil  can  be  de- 
tected and  supplied.  Farmers  who 
come  to  the  "  Kaii',"  would  find  it  much 
to  their  advantage  to  bring  us  speci- 
mens of  their  soils  for  analysis,  or  they 
can  be  sent  to  us  at  any  time. 


Dr.  Pritchard's  Address. 

We  lay  before  our  readers  this  ad- 
dress, which  is  worthy  of  their  attention, 
though  they  may  not  approve  of  every 
plan  there  suggested  for  the  renovation 
of  lands.  But  it  breathes  a  North  Car- 
olina spirit,  and  it  is  high  time  that  the 
talent  and  enterprise  of  North  Carolin- 
ians had  received  some  attention  at 
home. 


To  Farmers  Avho  come  to  the  Fair. 

We  shall  have  neatly  bound  copies  of 
the  first  volume  of  the  Farmer's  Jour- 
nal, and  back  numbers  of  volume  sec- 
ond on  the  grounds  each  day  during 
the  holding  of  the  Fair. 


Farmers  bring  up  your  Soil*. 

Those  Farmers  who  wish  analysis  of 
their  soils,  would  find  it  much  to  their 
advantage  to  either  bring  or  send  them 
to  us  at  thf'  State  Fair.  We  refer  those 
who  are  disposed  to  doubt  the  practica- 
bility of  analysis  o^"  soils  to  the  letter 
of  Mr.  J.  P.  Bridgers,  which  may  be 
found  in  this  number  of  the  Journal. 


Editor's  Table. 

The  AMERICA^'  Farmer. — This  number 
for  September  contains  matter  highly  val- 
uable to  the  farmer,  and  may  be  read  with 
interest  and  advantage. 

The  Southern  Cultivator. — The  Sep- 
tember number  of  tliis  work  is  very  good, 
and  in  fact,  we  have  scarcely  ever  seen 
any  thing  in  the  Cultivator  that  was  not 
useful  and  instructive. 

The  Southern  Planter  is  worthy  of  an 
extensive  patronagu ;  the  Eciitor,  like  our- 
self,  has  had  a  heavy  job  in  arousing  the 
old  Fogies  of  his  State  to  a  just  sense  of 
his  condition. 

The  Southern  Weekly  Post,  publish- 
ed in  this  city,  has  of  late  been  much  im- 


210 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL, 


proved,  by  a  wiUidniwal  of  all  advertising 
inattiT  from  its  columns,  and  fmnishiiig 
by  this  means  a  larger  amount  of  reading 
matter  than  any  other  paper  of  a  like  char- 
acter in  the  country. 

The  Southern  AdvepwTisf.k  now  i.^  is- 
sued to  the  subscribers  of  the  Post  fiee  of 
nny  extra  charge,  and-is  highly  useful  as 
it  contains  a  notice  of  all  that  is  goin^'  on 
in  a  bu.iii)e:;s  way. 

Nejlected  Dspartmeiits  ol  Asjriculiure 

in  Eigecombe. 
[no.  3.] 
Perhaps  no  country  prodaces  a  great- 
er variety  of  everything  valuable  for  the 
support  and  cbinfort  of  man  than  the 
Stale  of  North  Carolina.  This  variety 
does  not  consist  merely  of  productions 
for  local  uses,  like  the  fruits  of  the  trop- 
ics, but  of  commodities  of  general  use 
and  acknowledged  value  all  over  the 
civilized  world.  Every  department  of 
indusitry  can  pour  out  its  ship  loads  an- 
nually— the  waters  and  the  forests,  the 
animal,  the  mineral,  the  vegetable  king- 
doms are  all  rich  aiid  waiting  to  reward 
the  hand  of  industry  and  capital — while 
her  climate,  not  inferior  to  Italy,  and 
her  soil  a  para'lise,  as  (lod  made  it, 
make  her  agriculture  am;>ng  the  most 
varied  under  the  fiun.  It  is  this  we 
wish  to  deal  with:  ller  position  seems 
to  be  a  choice  medium  between  a  north- 
ern and  a  southern  climate — where  tliv 
productions  of  both  may  flourish  to 
adva))t:!g«.  Tims  the  grains,  grasses 
and  fiuils  of  the  North  may  be  grown 
to  perfection;  and  the  cotton,  rice,  in- 
digo, to'oar'.co  and  fruits  of  the  South, 
many  of  them  of  tropical  origin,  may 
be  cultivated  with  equal  advantage — 
while  ah?ep  and  othe;-  st  )ck,  common 
to  both,  can  be  raised  with  greatest  fa- 
ciii*y.  This  caoacity  for  varied  pi'o- 
duciioa  is  embraced  by  tlie  same  de- 
grees ui'  latitude,  covering  portions  of 
several  oth  ;r  States,  and  lias  never  b^en 
made  fully  available  by  the  inh'diitants, 
but  lias  rather  proved  a  disadvantage 
by  fostering  a  careless   and   destructive 


husbandry  frora'the  facility  with  which 
all  things  are  produced. 

The  county  of  iCdgecorabe  possesses 
the  power  of  various  production  as  much 
as  any  part  of  the  State.  She  buries 
most  of  her  talents,  and  confines  herself 
to  very  f3w  leading  staples,  as  cotton, 
corn  and  peas  ;  aijd  if  others  are  grown 
at  all,  it  is  subordinate  to  these  few. 
ller  cotton  crops  being  comparatively 
free  from  disease,  she  nearly  rivals  Mis- 
sissippi and  Alabama  in  annual  average 
per  acre,  and  probably  equals  them  in 
net  profit — her  certainty  of  realizing 
fair  crops  of  every  variety  is  truly  re- 
markab!e--for,  with  the  exception  of 
Irish  potatoes,  fruit,  and  sometimes  oats 
and  wlieat,  which  are  merely  incidental 
crops,  we  scarcely  look  for  less  than  an 
average  return,  and  these  last  may  be 
rendered  almost  certain  by  proper  cul- 
tivation and  by  making  them  staple 
crops.  This  great  certainty  is  tlie  re- 
sult of  her  geographical  position  ;  her 
geological  features  are,  much  sand,  some 
clay  ant!  no  rock,  level  plains,  slight 
hills  and  broad  alluvial  swamps  and 
bocto'.ns — for'uing  generally  a  light 
warm  soil  sutHeienily  alluminous  fo" 
consistency  and  strength,  embr;icing, 
however,  every  variety  of  soil,  for  a.!- 
ino-t  every  production, 

A  range  of  low  hil-s  runs  acioss  the 
State  nearly  parallel  with  the  coast, 
and  their  line  is  well  marked  on  the 
lifferent  rivers  l)y  the  presence  of  gran- 
ite, as  at  Weldon  on  the  Roanoke  and 
at  R'>cky  Mount  on  the  Tar  River,  &c. 
The  whole  country  between  this  hill 
range  and  the  ocean,  is  one  v;\st  ])]ain, 
heavily  timbered  with  valuable  growth, 
and  varied  by  rivers,  creeks  and  exten- 
sive swamps,  with  intervening  ridges 
of  slight  e'evation. 

Edgecombe  belongs  to  a  tier  of  coun- 
ties—lying at  tlie  head  of  this  vast- 
plain  of  c'.mntry,  immediately  under 
this  range  of  hills  which  are  on  the 
west — these  protect  her  fnMii  storms  of 
the  east  and  north-east — wliile  she  is 
some  eighty  or  more  miles  from  the 
coast    to   the  eastward — whose  vstorms 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


211 


strikiniv  the  timbered  regions  below 
pa?s  almost  harmlessly  above  her — 
consequently  we  raivly  experience  ihi 
great  <levast;uion  of  storms,  kn<r«vn  to 
other  reu.'ion'^.  The  level  and  alluvia: 
character  of  her  soil  makes  ratlier  a 
dry  suanner  desirable  for  heavy  cro[)S  ; 
hence,  we  have  a  maxim,  "  ft  dry  June 
for  a  good  crop  year;"  and  altiiongh  a 
wet  year  may  shorten  the  crops  of  her 
lov*'  lands,  her  ridge  lands  generally 
meet  the  emergenc}'  with  abundance, 
and  a  severe  drought  is  met  by  those 
of  tlie  sv/amps  and  low  lands.  Being 
thus  v»'ell  protected,  her  climate  is  niiM 
and  soft,  and  portions  of  her  pine  1-ind 
are  as  healthy  as  the  mountains.  These 
are  some  of  the  causes  which  give 
Edgecombe  uncommon  certainty  of  pro- 
duction. Y(;t  her  great  field  stHj)les  are 
as  few  as  if  nature  had  given  them  a 
law  of  humiliation,  or  tis  if  she  had  ab- 
dicated her  power  over  other  products, 
and  condemned  herself  to  pay  an  annu- 
al tribute  to  other  States  for  commodi- 
ties, she  can  raise  as  well  or  better  her- 
self. For  mules  and  horses  alone  this 
trbute  is  immense  ;  but  what  is  still 
worse,  we  frequently  import  northern 
hay  to  feed  tliem.  Butter,  cheese,  pork, 
bacon,  iiour,  are  laigely  imported  even 
in  Edoecombe,  while  beef,  apjiles,  cider, 
Irish  p  )tatoes  and  otlier  notions  figure 
in  no  small  way  on   th.e  list.^ 

As  to  the  mechanical  department  of 
agricullure,  we  have  noi^e  but  the  rud- 
est, and  that  is  kept  prostrate  by  im- 
portations of  trashy  productions  of  nor- 
thern workshops.  It  is  true  our  cotton 
screws  are  built  of  wood,  and  gins  re- 
paired, but  we  know  of  no  establish- 
ment ill  t!ie  State  for  making  gins; 
they  ;ire  all  imported  here  {Vom  other 
Btates — i-v.Tv  thino-  is  imported — from 
grain,  fans,  plows  ;\ii(l  wftii-ons,  di'.wn  to 
axe-helves  and  IvirreMinirigs  ; — now  all 
these  are  as  much  our  natural  staples 
as  corn  and  l»*\as,  and  more  so  tli;in  cot- 
ton. \M)y,  then,  abandon  tlie  right  of 
prodnciiig  them?  when  they  cost  so 
much,  and  prevent  any  rational  system 
of  rotaiiou  of  crops,  which   is  necessary 


io  give  character  and  efiiciericy  (o  agri- 
culture, improvement  to  the  soil,  and 
permanent  wealth  to  our  country.  It  is 
to  these  neglected  dcpartuienis  we 
would  invite  special  atteiuion :  they 
a)-e — 

1st.  Grasses  and  meadows. 

2d.  Small  grain. 

3(1.  Garden  stutTs. 

4th.  Orchards  and  fruits. 

5th.  Stock-animals. 

6th.  Agricultural  mechanics. 

Alpha. 


Scotland  Neck,  June  25,  1853. 

Br.  J.  F.  Tompkins. — Dear  Sir  :  In 
vour  favor  of  the  8th  inst.,  you  request 
me  to  comn)unieate  for  the  "Farmer's 
Journal"  what  I  stated  to  you  verbally 
in  Raleigh,  as  to  the  mode  of  conduct- 
ing the  proceedings  of  the  Scotland 
Neck  Agricultural  Society — with  this 
request  I  cannot  refuse  to  comjily. 

The  constitution  and  by-laws  of  our 
society  are  short — difl'ering  but  little 
from  those  of  other  societies  whose  con- 
stitutions I  have  read.  They  provide 
for  the  annual  election  of  the  different 
officers  and  require  a  small  ft-e  to  be 
paid  by  each  member  yearly.  The  meet- 
ings of  the  society  are  held  monthly, 
and  at  every  meeting  a  question  for  con- 
versation is  selected  fur  the  subsequent 
meeting.  Four  members  are  a]ipointed 
by  the  President  to  eonveise  upon  this 
subject;  and  after  it  is  exhausted  by 
them,  any  other  uiember  has  the  right 
to  be  heard,  and  to  ask  any  question  per- 
tinent to  tlie  subject.  You  will  pereeivo 
that  instead  of  being  a  ihhativa  society, 
it  is  a  conversational  one.  Nd  member 
is  required  to  rise  from  his  sf^at  in  ad- 
dressing the  President  ;  but  all  oilier 
rules  of  (.rdi.r  are  enforced.  The  flTcct 
of  tliis  rule  i.-,  tli.'it  mcuibei's  commu- 
nicatee freely  v, bet  they  have  to  say. 
No  display  in  sj.ieecli  ir^aking  is  attempt- 
ed, and  by  tar  the  mo:-t  inleresfing  and 
instructive  remarks  are  made  by  per- 
sons, wh(1,  if  required  to  place  them- 
selves in  a  speakiny  attitude  would  not 
say  one  word. 


212 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


The  great  defect,  in  my  opinion,  in 
most  societies  of  this  kind,  is,  that  the 
speech  making  is  confined  to  a  few,  and 
often  to  those  who  are  least  able  to  com- 
municate what  is  practical  and  of  real 
value  to  others;  whilst  our  mode  draws 
information  from  all  and  that  of  the 
most  practical  kind.  Notes  of  these 
conversations  are  taken  by  the  Secreta- 
ry, and  at  the  next  meeting  when  the 
journal  is  read,  the  chief  points  in  the 
argument  are  again  brought  before  the 
society,  and  every  one  has  an  opportu- 
nity of  correcting  it,  if  he  is  misrepre- 
sented in  his  argument.  The  meetings 
are  usually  well  attended,  and  a  marked 
effect  has  been  produced  among  our 
farmers  in  improving  upon  the  old  ways. 

As  an  example  of  the  mode  in  which 
our  journal  is  kept,  I  copy  from  it,  as  I 
am  authorised  by  a  resolution  of  the  so- 
ciety, so  much  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
meeting  of  the  5th  of  June  1852,  as  re- 
lates to  the  subject  of  discussion. 
Respectfully  yours,  cfec, 
RICRARD  H.  SMITH. 


Extract  from    the   jjrocccdhiffs   of  the 

Scotland  Nech  Agricultural  SorAety 

of  the  5  th  of  June  1852. 

"The  question  for  discussion  being- 
next  in  order,  the  Secretary  read  the 
same,  as  follows  :  The  cultivation  of 
corn,  embracing  the  method  of  prepar- 
ing the  land,  and  whether  it  is  best  to 
plant  in  single,  double,  treble,  or  quad- 
ruple beds,  &c. 

Mr.  Devereux  opened  the  discussion 

by  stating  that  he   ploughs   as  much 

land  in  winter  as  he  can,  and  believes  it 

of  great  benefit  to  the  land  and  crop — 

ploughs    in    beds   greater   than   single 

beds  ;  but  prefers  treble  or  15  feet  beds. 

These  beds  should  never  be  reversed, 

but  kept  peimanently    the  same.     In 

this   manner  he   has  permanent  water 

furrows  which  are  ev,er  being  deepened, 

and  the  body  of  the  bed  raised  higher. 

This  is  less  laborious  to  the^team  than 

by  throwing  the  land  into  single  beds. 

He  is  willing  to  admit  that  when  single 

beds  are  used,  the  land  in  the  first  woik- 


ing  of  the  corn  can  be  more  easily  an 
better  cleaned,  but  does  not  think  thi^ 
compensates  for  the  other  greater  ad" 
vant  ges  of  treble  beds  :  is  in  favor  o' 
bedding  on  all  kinds  of  land,  and  has 
found  single  beds  to  suffer  most  in  time 
of  drought.  He  stated  that  be  was 
opposed  to  weed  fallows  and  would  al- 
ways, as  far  as  he  could,  rest  the  laud 
in  a  crop  of  peas,  clover  or  the  like. 

Capt.  M.  Smith  was  of  the  opinion 
that  light  sandy  land  ought  not  to  be 
broken  up  in  winter  :  he  would  prefer 
to  break  it  up  one  day  and  plant  it  the 
next,  if  lie  could. 

Ml'.  W.  B.  Smith  stated,  that  he  had 
this  year  tried  land  thrown  into  beds 
from  one  to  six  rows  on  the  bed.  His 
land  was  swamp  land,  and  he  reversed 
the  beds  first  before  planting — next  year 
he  will  not  reverse  these  beds.  He 
thought  beds  of  20  or  30  feet  would 
keep  as  dry  as  single  beds — in  all  sinks 
he  runs  water  furrows  to  drain  the  land 
more  thoroughly,  and  has  them  kept 
constantly  o])en. 

Mr.  Brinkley  prepared  the  land  to  be 
thrown  into  single  beds:  he  could  not 
see  the  use  of  throwing  the  land  into 
large  beds,  and  as  in  the  first  or  second 
working  dividing  it  oft"  as  if  planted  in 
sino-Ie  beds.  In  his  first  workino-  of 
the  corn  he  commences  in  the  middle 
of  the  rows  and  throws  the  whole  bed 
down,  leaving  the  land  almost  level. — 
He  thought  that  single  beds  in  wet 
weather  kept  dryer,  whilst  in  dry  or 
windy  weather  the  large  beds  baked 
worse.  He  had  observed  in  large  beds 
that  the  upper  rows,  or  those  nearest  the 
middle  of  the  bed,  were  always  the  best 
looking,  and  thought  this  an  evidence 
in  favor  of  single  beds.  He  keeps  the 
same  water  furrows,  and  does  not  think 
that  the  land  bakes  more  in  single  than 
in  double  beds. 

Mr.  Bryan  cultivated  his  corn  in  dou- 
ble beds,  and  prepared  them  to  double 
beds. 

Mr,  James  Smith  thought  that  single 
b:ds  suffered  more  in  drougiit  than  dou- 
ble beds. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


213 


Mr.  W.  K  Smith,  tlioiight  that  the 
reason  that  the  middle  or  ujjper  rows 
on  large  beds  being  the  best,  was  be- 
cause they  were  pLinted  higher,  and  did 
not  think  this  an  argument  in  favor  of 
single  beds.  He  thought  that  although 
they  might  look  and  grow  up  better, 
those  rows  iieai-est  the  water  farrows, 
would  make  the  most  corn. 

The  President,  R.  H.  Smith,  thought 
that  large  beds  required  fewer  water 
furroVs  to  keep  open.  He  had  found 
single  beds  to  sap  more  easily  than  dou- 
ble beds  in  wet  weather — laige  beds  af- 
ford a  warmer  surface  for  the  growth  of 
corn.  On  his  upland  he  does  not  throw 
his  land  into  beds,  but  plants  upon  a 
level  surface.  He  stated  that  he  listed 
his  land  with  single  or  double  ploughs 
as  was  most  convenient,  and  covered 
his  corn  with  the  cultivator,  the  fore- 
most hoe  being  first  removed  ;  in  iifs 
second  or  after  ploughings,  he  used  the 
cultivator  or  g<ing  plough  twice  in  the 
row,  according  to  the  condition  of  the 
land,  season,  &c.,  and  fonnd  them  to 
answer  an  excellent  purpose.  He  did' 
not  find  them  too  heavy  on  the  team — 
they  will  not  do  good  work  on  gi'assv 
or  hard  land — he  would  as  soon  at- 
tempt to  grub  a  new  ground  with  weid- 
ing  hoes  :  but  when  the  land  was  tole- 
rably clean  and  in  order,  they  did  good 
work.  On  sandy  land,  such  as  that 
cultivated  by  Capt.  Smith,  he  thought 
that  one  horse  might  cultivate  50  acres. 
He  thought  corn  improved  every  time 
it  was  worked,  even  to  the  fifth  plough- 
ing, if  judiciously  done. 

Mr.  Devereux  liked  covering  with  the 
block  very  much — it  was  something 
hke  the  cotton  block. 

Mr.  Pittraan  preferred  planting  his 
corn  in  drills.  He  thought  that  the  la- 
bor of  cultivation  by  this  method  was 
less  both  to  the  team  and  to  the 
hand. 

Mr.  Higgs  did  not  like  too  late 
ploughing  of  corn  ;  he  thought  it  did 
injury  to  the  crop." 

P.  M.  EDMONDSTON, 

Secretary. 


For  the  Farmer's  Journal. 
Hertford  County,  N.  C.      ) 
Sept  10,   1853.  j" 

Dr.  Tompkins  : — When  you  were  in 
this  county  last  fall  I  got  you  to  make 
an  analysis  of  my  soil  and  marl,  and  to 
give  directions  for  the  application  of 
manures  according  to  the  analysis. — 
Upon  land  which  last  year  produced  one 
barrel  of  corn,  I,  this  year  by  going  by 
the  directions  given  by  you,  shall  make 
from  four  to  five  barrels,  and  upon  land 
which  last  year  produced  three  barrels, 
I  shall  this  year  get  from  six  to  seven. 
Upon  soine  parts  of  this  field  I  applied 
my  manures  without  any  regard  to  the 
analysis,  as  I  had  been  accustomed  to 
do  before,  and  the  crop  is  not  near  so 
good  as  where  I  manured  according  to 
the  analysis.  I  also  found  great  benefit 
from  the  analysis  of  marl  in  making  an 
application  of  it,  for  before  I  had  always 
put  too  large  a  quantity  which  injured 
my  crop. 

All  of  my  neighbours  who  have  seen 
my  crop  are  perfectly  satisfied  that 
much  can  be  gained  by  having  the  soil 
and  '^marls  analyzed.  1  am  satisfied 
that  I  have  derived  at  least  fifty  percent 
from  the  investment  made  in  labour  and 
manures,  and  I  expect  to  derive  advant- 
age from  the  manures  in  the  next  year's 
crop.  I  feel  it  my  du:y  to  state  these 
facts  to  yon  in  order  that  others  may 
have  the  advantage  which  cannot  fail 
to  result  from  an  analyhis  of  the  soil. 
The  season  too  was  very  unfevorable  for 
my  crop,  and  I  am  satisfied  thut  it  was 
injured  by  the  heavy  rains  in  July  at 
least  one  fourth. 

Yours  Respectfully. 

J.  P.  BRIDGERS. 

For  the  Farmer's  Journal. 

Newby's    Bridge, 

July  26,  '53. 

Dear  Sir: — Enclosed  you  will  please 

find  four  dollars  to  pay  for  four  copies 

of  your  Journal,  three    of  which  you 

will  send   to    Newby's  Bridge,  P.  O., 

Peiquimans  county,  one  to  the  addre.NS 

of  James  JM.  Stallings,  one  to  John  0' 


14 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Bogue,  and  one  to  Wra.  C.  Simpson  ; 
also  ouo  to  the  Rev.  West  Leary,  Eden- 
ton,  N.  C, 

The  tnerit  of  your  worthy  eilorts  to 
build  lip  an  agiiculuual  paper  in  oui- 
own  Suite,  toy'etiier    with   the  de.sire  I 


seems  to  get  the  start  of  the  finning 
community  aronnd  him  ;  nd  "  to  bear 
the  iiahii  alone  ?"  And  why  is  it  that 
in  eveiy  neighborhood  in  the  Slate  some 
one  individual  takes  up  a  position  ia 
advance  of  his   brethren    and    keeps  it, 


have  t>  see  the  great  agricultural  inter-    and  stands  confessed    by   all   tlie    best 


est  thereof  prosper,  have  induced  me  U 
use  some  little  exertion  in  procuring 
you  the  few  subscribers  whose  naaies  are 
annexed.  I  own  I  have  done  very  lit- 
tle yet;  if  all  who  know  and  feel  the 
great  importance  of  sustaining  an  en- 
terprise like  yours  would  but  act—use 
some  little  efiort  in  your  behalf,  how  soon 
should  we  see  the  good  Old  North  State 
rise  and  take  an  elevated  stand  among 
her  sister  States  in  agricultural  enter- 
prise and  prosperity.  Possibly  we  shall 
yet  awake  to  our  interest. 

With  every  wish  for  your  succes,  per- 
mit me  to  subscribe  myself, 
Yours,  &c., 

W.    D.    RiDDICK. 


From  the  Southern  Planter. 
Good   Maita^'cmgjjt,   K"o   Mystery — tlie 
Secret  of  it. 

Ma.  EnrroR: — A  few  weeks  ago,  I 
had  the  pleasure,  in  company  with  some 
others,  of  riding  over  the  farm  of  a 
gentleman  who  stands  high  on  the  list 
of  successful  ])lanters,  as  well  as  on  that 
of  ihe  best  fai'mers  in  Virginia — and 
when  I  speak  of  good  farming  in  Vir- 
ginia, I  admit  no  superiorty  to  any  State 
or  nation  that  the  sun  shines  upon — all 
the  cii-cu instances  material  to  make  up 
the  issue  being  taken  into  consideration. 
I  do  riot  intend  to  give  a  detailed  state- 
ment of  wdiat  we  saw  there,  or  to  enter 
into  :i  minute  description  of  the  man- 
ag'Oii(0;t  of  this  farm,  (this  I  ho[)e 
you  v.'.'l  eni'ieh  your  pages  with,  from 
th.'  n;.'!i  of  the  proprietor  himself)  — 
My  pui]:io-;e  at  present  is  diti'erent;  I 
wii'i  til  give  expression,  if  I  can,  to  those 
reflections  which  arose  unbidden  to  the 
minds  of  mv  companions  and  myself  at 
til!'  eouvirli  Ml  of  seeing  a  superiority  s 


manager  amongst  them  ?  It  is  easy 
enough  to  answer  these  questions,  as  I 
will  show;  but  it  is  ?v,oi  so  easy  lo  an- 
swer another  which  grows  out  of  them, 
viz.  Why  we,  who  see  their  good  man- 
agement, do  not  profit  by  it,  and  "go 
and  do  likewise.'"  ''Hie  labor — Hoc 
iipus  est."  ]>ut  let  us  return  to  our 
fir.^t  inquiry  :  -Why  is  it  that  one  far- 
mer takes  the  lead  of  liiy  fellows  in  the 
same  ]>ursuit  and  keej.'S  it,  unapproach- 
ed  and  apparently  una]ipr(.»aciiable  ? 
He  may  be  our  own  familiar  fiiend. 
We  may  consider  him  inferior  to  our- 
selves in  natural  endowments,  and  far 
behind  us  in  ac(pnred  knowledge;  and 
yet  he  outstrips  us  in  the  race  o!  life.  He 
takes  the  position  of  the  "  America," 
and  "  tlie  rest  of  us  are  nowhere." 
^Why  is  this?  I  said  it  wa-  very  easy 
to  answer  the  quoslion,  and  I  will  pro- 
ceed to  do  so;  and_you  will  find  that  it 
involves  many  practical  questions,  which 
your  readers  wiil  do  well  to  jionder.  It 
iskno\\nto  yourself,  sir,  and  to  your 
readers,  that  the  l-.ist  and  tlie  j. resent 
years  have  been  the  most  unsea-oiia.ble 
and  unpropitious  for  the  farmer  wdiich 
have  occurred  for  a  long  time,  through- 
out the  planting  region  of  Virginiiu 
Not  only  have  our  corn  and  ti)baceo 
crops  suffered  a  material  diminution, 
both  in  quantity  and  quality,  but  in  ad- 
dition, the  ravages  of  the  joint-worm 
ib.reaten  to  erctcfmiriate  the  wheat  Ci'op, 
As  in  times  of  trial  the  statesman  pj'ovcs 
himself,  so  in  ditlicuit  seasnii.s  the  good 
firmer  staad.s  consjiienous.  Whilst 
most  of  us  yield  without  a  sfrnggle  to 
a.  diminished  income^,  because  the  sea- 
sons are  perverse  and  untractable,  I 
have  not  been  able  to  delect  any  sensi- 
ble dindnution  in  the  products  of  the 
aood  farmers  of  my  aoquaintanc^ ;  and, 


marked  in  oufcommon  pursuit.      Why 

is  it  tliat,  as  in  this  i-nstance,  one  man  ,  sii-,  I  have  a  good  opportunity  ol  judg- 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL, 


215 


ing,  for  my  own  farm  a<ij-oins  and  over- 
looks one  of  the  best  managed  estates 
iu  Viginia,  and  I  liave  the  daily  and 
hourly  opportunity  of  ■vvitnest^ing,  the 
operations  which  lead  to  this  success ; 
and  yet  1  continue  complacently  to  fol- 
low my  own  imperfect  and  defective  de- 
vices, as  if  they  had  never  before  result- 
ed in  comparative  disappointment  and 
failure. 

The  gc^ntleman,  whose  management 
I  alluded  loin  the  beginning  of  this  ar- 
ticle, as  well  as  my  next  neighbor,  both 
i-aised  full  crops  of  tobacco  last  year; 
whereas  most  of  us  were  C' ntent  v,'ith 
from  one-half  to  one  tiiird  of  a  crop. 
To  one  acquainted  as  I  am  with  their 
management,  there  is  no  mystery  about 
this.  In  the  lirst  place,  they  have  their 
plants  ready  to  embrace  the  early  sea- 
sons, and  in  the  second,  their  land  is 
properly  prepared  and  ready  to  receivt 
the  plants.  The  way  to  have  good 
plants  in  time  is  as  plain  as  the  way  to 
raariiet,  and  yet  four-lifrlis  of  the  plan- 
ters of  Virginia  neglect  this,  the  first 
and  most  imj)ortani  step  towards  mak- 
ing a  croj)  of  tobiicco.  These  gentle- 
men, after  selecting  suitalilc  laiid,  ample 
in  quantity,  (allowing  one  iuuidred 
^square  yard:^  fir  evnry  seven  or  eight 
thousand  liiiis,)  i-urn  it  thoroughly  du- 
ring a  i\yy  s]>q\\  in  the  winter,  pro{)are  it 
ire/l,  and  manure  it  he:ivily  with  the  best 
manure  tln-v  can  j)riicui-e, /Vce  of  grass 
seed,  at  the  time  of  jireparing  it,  sow 
the  seed,  tread,  and  cover  thickly.  Af- 
ter the  plants  are  up  they  are  plastered, 
and  occasionally  before  a  shower,  as 
inuch  fine  manure  as  they  will  be;,r  is 
L'arefuliy  sown  over  them.  These  far- 
mers always  follow  this  plan,  and  their 
[jlants  are  always  ready  for  the  seasons 
und  the  hills  tor  the  plants.  Their  crop 
's  growing  and  iuxuriating  in  a  July 
^uu  whicli  parches  asid  vvithers  mine, 
because,  being  just  idanted,  it  has  not 
jret  rooted  itself.  The  good  manager 
excels  just  as  much  in  the  after  nian- 
sgemcnt  oi  the  crop.  It  is  kept  well 
tilled  and  clear  of  worms  and  suckers, 
iind  sufl'i-rcd  to  get  ripe — then  cured  in 


the  best  manner,  taken  down  in  the 
right  order,  and  never  suffered  to  mould 
and  funk  in  the  bulk;  is  then  properly 
asiorted,  neatly  tied  and  packed  away, 
and  of  course  commands  the  highest 
market  price.  Now,  sir,  we  console  our- 
selves for  short  crops  and  low  prices 
year  after  year  in  some  such  way  as 
this:  "That  we  had  a  dry  and  cold 
spring,  an  unusual  glut  of  worms,  or  a 
storm  that  blew  and  turned  our  crop,  a 
warm,  wet  spell  in  s])ring  caused  our 
tobacco  to  mould  in  the  bulk,  or  it  hap- 
pened to  get  to  market  in  rather  soft  or 
j  hard  order,"  &c.  Now  one  would  think 
that  in  the  course  of  the  firteen,  twenty, 
thirty,  or  forty  years  that  some  of  us 
have  been  farming,  we  n^iight  have 
sometimes  escaped  these  disasters;  but 
the  letters  of  our  commission  merchants 
siiov/  that  wo  have  had  no  such  good 
fortune.  If  the  spring  has  been  so  for- 
warf.l  as  to  pusli  the  plants  u|'.on  us  and 
force  us  to  set  them  out  in  good  time, 
the  crop  has  been  neglected  or  misman- 
aged at  some  other  stage,  and  we  have 
the  same  beggarly  account  to  give. 
There  is  no  mystery — there  is  no  secret 
in  tlieir  management  of  this  crop;  and 
yet  four-fifths  of  ue-  '.wo.  as  defeeiivo  in 
our  practice  as, if  we  were  trving  sume 
new  and  untried  experinn^nt  anil  had 
never  I'efove  sfen  or  heai'd  of  the  suc- 
cessful experience  of  our  ne'ghbor. 
Why  is  it  li.'at  we  do  not  fallow  a  prac- 
tice which  we  knov.-  is  attended  with 
uniform  siiccoss  ?  Why  do  n^t  we  "go 
and  do  likewise?"  This  is  a  hard  ques- 
tion to  aiisvi'er.  Docs  the  same  jxlitive 
superioriiy  shovi'  itself  in  the  oiher 
products  of  the  well  managi'd  estate? 
i\.s  regards  the  crop  of  corn,  they  know 
no  such  word  Vi'^  fail.  An  nnseas  jnablo 
year  they  gather  a  crop  vdiich  we  would 
be  satisfied  within  a  seasonable  one.  My 
neighbor  actually  rardvcs  an  average 
crop  of  ten  or  twelve  barrels  to  the  acre, 
vidiile  I  make  six  on  land  which  1  should 
be  unwilling  to  acknowledge  as  inferior 
to  his.  How  is  this?  As  in  the  case 
of  the  tobacco  crop  it  is  easy  encngh.  to 
thcni.     The   field    for    coin    is    dee])ly 


216 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


ploug-hed  in  winter,  thoroughly  pulver- 
ized and  manured  where  it  requires  fer- 
tility. The  corn  is  rolled  in  plaster  and 
planted  at  the  right  time;  taking  care 
to  use  an  abundance  of  seed,  no  replant- 
ing is  required  ;  and  there  are  few  miss- 
ing stalks  in  the  crop — the  thinning  is 
done  as  soon  us  the  corn  toill  bear  it — 
the  working  is  begun  with  coulters  as 
soon  as  the  crop  is  well  up — then  with 
the  winged  coulter  next  to  the  corn,  fol- 
followed  by  cultivators — and  lastly 
with  the  mould-board  plough ;  the 
whole  operation  being  accompanied  in 
the  interim  by  such  hoe  work  as  the 
crop  seems  to  require.  Other  imple- 
ments are  substituted  by  good  farmers 
for  those  I  have  mentioned,  but  they 
answer  the  same  purpose,  viz.  to  keep 
the  ground  mellow,  fine  and  moist, 
while  the  plant  is  small.  The  fodder 
being  gathered  and  carefully  stacked, 
and  the  corn  housed  in  cool  dry  weath- 
er, we  never  hear  any  complaints  from 
them  of  rotten  or  unsound  corn.  Now 
all  this  seems  very  plain  sailing ! — easy 
to  do;  "no  mystery  or  secret"  about  it, 
and  yet  most  of  us  go  blundering  on 
from  bad  to  worse  through  all  the  ope- 
rations, from  planting  to  housing.  We 
begin  with  a  bad  preparation,  late  plant- 
ing, late  working,  and  late  thinning,  and 
often  end  the  matter  by  putting  the  crop 
away  in  a  green  and  uncured  state,  and 
for  the  next  twelve  months  have  to  eat 
-dark  and  musty  bread,  with  the  addition- 
satisfaction  of  knowing  that  our  horses 
and  hogs  are  worse  otf  than  we  are,  as 
we  have  first  choice.  What  is  the  rea- 
son that  we  neglect  to  follow  a  practice 
always  before  our  eyes,  and  which  in- 
variably results  in  an  abundant  crop? 
But  let  us  examine  the  good  farmer's 
mrmagement  still  farther,  and  see  if  the 
other  products  of  the  farm  correspond 
with  the  corn  and  tobacco.  They  do  ! 
The  wheat  crop,  not  so  much  under  the 
control  of  the  farmer  as  the  other  crops 
mentioned,  for  obvious  reason,  is  yet, 
under  the  good  farmer's  management, 
comparatiuchj  certain.  The  past  and 
present  years  they  have  reaped  average 


crops,  while  the  most  fortunate  of  us 
have  only  reaped  half  a  crop,  and  not  a 
few  have  had  to  be  content  with  a  re- 
turn of  their  seed.  It  would  seem  that 
Providence  favors  the  good  husbandman. 
There  is  no  more  "mystery  and  secret" 
in  their  cultivation  and  success  in  rais- 
ing wheat  than  in  the  other  crops  al- 
ready mentioned.  They  prepare  their 
land  perfectly  and  in  time.  They  sow 
good  seed  on  good  land,  naturally  fertile, 
or  made  so  by  manure  or  guano.  The 
seed  is  well  covered  and  the  land  rolled 
if  at  all  cloddy,  and  all  these  operations 
are  performed  in  the  best  manner.  Their 
fields  are  green ^  while  in  ours,  a  few 
spires  only  can  be  detected  here  and 
there,  struggling  through  the  clods. 
Therefore,  it  should  be  no  matter  of 
surprise  if  after  harvest  shocks  stand 
upon  their  fields  as  dozens  do  upon  ours, 
and  that  they  should  count  by  thou- 
sands, and  we  by  hundreds  of  bushels. 
Don't  you  agree  with  me  that  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  account  for  this  state  of  things  ? 
Year  after  year  we  witness  their  good 
management  and  success,  and  yet  we 
either  sow  defective  seed,  or  too  much 
or  too  little  of  it,  or  our  preparation  is 
slovenly,  or  the  covering  is  imperfect  or 
we  get  our  crop'spri^uted  in  the  field,  or 
iniured  in  the  stack,  or  heated  in  bulk. 
So  that  one  good  crop  in  our  agricultu- 
ral experience  is  regarded  as  an  event 
which  a  combination  of  fortuitous  cir- 
cumstances brought  about;  but  the 
chances  are  against  their  recurrence,  and 
we  have  no  assurance  of  a  continuance 
of  our  good  fortune.  The  farmer  who 
trusts  important  interests  to  the  acci- 
dents of  chance,  is  dealing  with  a  whim- 
sical and  capricious  jade  and  does  not 
deserve  to  succeed. 

I  have  taken  the  three  most  impor- 
tant crops,  corn,  wheat  and  tobacco,  and 
have  drawn  a  hasty  comparison  of  their 
management  by  the  good  farmer  and 
the  indifferent  one,  and  if  I  am  not  mis- 
taken the  wayfaring  man,  though  blind, 
can  not  only  see  the  difference,  but  also 
satisfy  himself  in  what  it  consists.  I 
shall  briefly  allude  to  some  other  points 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


2ir 


in  their  nianageinent,  and  the  contrast 
will  be  found  no  less  striking.  The 
good  farmer's  houses  are  of  the  best 
construction  and  kept  in  repair,  also  his 
tences  and  roads  ;  he  has  no  vehicles 
overtui-ned  or  broken  down,  no  bulks 
of  tobacco  or  wheat  leaked  upon,  no 
crop  destroj'ed  by  stock.  His  horses 
and  oxen  are  kept  in  condition  to  do 
their  work — as  the  horses  grow  old  their 
jjlaces  are  supplied  by  younger  ones  ; 
(ours  are  suffered  to  get  poor  and  die) 
his  cows  and  oxen,  as  they  grow  old, 
are  converted  into  beef,  (whilst  ours  die 
of  the  holiow-horn,  or  another  disease 
quite  as  fatal,  which  may  be  shortly  de- 
scribed as — an  emptiness.)  He  sells 
mutton,  lamb,  veal  or  pork — our  lambs 
perish  by  neglect,  or  are  destroyed  by 
hogs  ;  oi'.r  calves  die  of  starvation — our 
pigs  come  at  the  wrong  time  and  are 
overlaid,  or  our  stock  hogs  being  mangy, 
are  worthless.  Now,  sir,  if  we  "  look  on 
this  picture  and  then  on  that,"  does  it 
not  afford  matter  for  serious  reflection  ? 
Is  it  exaggerated  ?  I  think  not.  You, 
Mr.  Editor,  will  remember  that  at  the 
meeting  of  the  State  Agricultural  So- 
ciety, held  in  Richmond  in  February 
last,  when  your  delegation  were  request- 
ed to  enumerate  the  good  farmers  of 
Albemarle,  (the  old  banner  county  of 
the  State  in  Agricultural  improvement,) 
twenty-five  was  the  largest  number 
which  could  be  counted,  and  there  were 
some  of  these  few  whose  claim  to  the 
distinction  was  doubtful.  The  remain- 
ing four  hundred  and  seventy-five  farms 
in  the  county  must  be  more  or  less  mis- 
managed. Why  is  this?  There  is  cer- 
tainly as  great  an  amount  of  informa- 
tion and  general  intelligence  among  the 
four  hundred  and  seventy-five  bad  as 
among  the  twenty-five  good  farmers  of 
the  county.  The  bad  have  the  example 
of  the  good  continually  before  them, 
and  every  conceivable  inducement  to 
follow  their  example,  because  they  have 
the  evidences  of  their  own  senses,  tha 
by  doing  so,  they  can  secure  to  them 
selves  comfort  and  independence  ;  but 
t'ley  don't  do  it,  and  if  we  may  judge 


the  future  by  the  past,  they  never  will. 
The  questi^'U  still  remains  unanswer- 
ed— I  give  it  up  in  despair.  If  it  is 
capable  of  solution,  will  you  or  your 
correspondents  answer  it  iuUlligihly  and 
oblige 

Your  friend, 

A  Virginia  Farmer. 


Agricultural  Education. 

ET  AGKICOLA. 

The  subject  which  is  now  atti'acting 
much  attention,  net  only  in  this  State, 
but  in  many  of  the  States  of  our  Union, 
is  the  education  of  farmers'  sons  for 
their  profession,  that  of  Agriculture. 
The  prejudice  which  has  too  long  exist- 
ed among  farmers,  and  which,  it  must 
be  admitted,  has  arisen  from  a  wrong 
idea  of  the  education  proposed,  is  fast 
giving  away  to  ihe  light  which  experi- 
ence is  bringing  to  bear  upon  this  all 
important  matter.  No  one  thinks  of 
preparing  his  son  to  be  a  physician,  at- 
torney or  divine,  without  providing  the 
means  for  his  acquiring  a  particular 
knowledge  of  the  studies  best  calculated 
to  prepare  him  for  the  pursuit  he  is  to 
follow.  When  we  urge  the  same  con- 
siderations upon  the  farmer  in  regard  to 
the  education  of  his  son,  for  the  pursuit 
of  agriculture,  it  is  not  unfrequently 
said — "  What  more  is  necessary  thnn  to 
learn  the  lad  in  the  field  the  routine  of 
farm  labor — the  practices  which  I  have 
pursued  as  to  the  manner  of  preparing 
my  land — the  time  of  sowing  and  plant- 
ing?" This  is  all  important,  and  we 
advocate  no  system  of  education  that 
will  dispense  with  it.  Suppose  we  should, 
in  the  case  o'^  the  physician,  adopt  the 
same  rule.  The  young  man,ins^tead  of 
pursuing  a  course  of  study  by  which  he 
is  faiT)iliarly  and  thoroughly  instructed 
in  the  complicated  machinery  of  the  hu- 
man body,  the  laws  whicli  regulate  and 
govern  diseases,  the  pecuJiar  nature  and 
habits  of  diseases,  begins  at  once  to  vis- 
it patients  with  the  physician,  pays  no 
attention  to  the  teachings  of  science  and 


18 


THE  FARMEIi'S  JOURNAL. 


the  researches  o\'  others;  he  might,  eveii- 
taallv,  acquire  information  that  would 
he  useful,  but  how  much  le^s  likely  to 
he  successful,  than  one  who,  in  addition 
to  this  praciica!  education  with  his  in- 
structor at  the  bedside,  had  enjoyed  the 
heuetils  of  a  thorougli  education  previ- 
ous to  entering  upon  the  active  duties 
of  his  profession.  May  it  not  safely  be 
;tffii-mcd  that  every  man  in  the  commu- 
nitv  would  prefer  the  one  who  had  com- 
bined with  practice  the  thorouf/h  pre- 
paraiioa  of  himaelf  by  ail  the  aids  which 
science  and  the  experience  of  others  had 
jilforded  liim  ? 


even  iu  the  most  minute  portions  of  la- 
bor. To  accom])lish  this,  a  farm  of  lib- 
eral extent  must  be  connected  with  the 
institution,  where  experiments  could  in 
the  first  place  be  carefully  made  on 
some  small  portion  of  it,  and  when  sat- 
isfactorily tested,  be  carried  into  j.iractice 
in  the  general  culture  of  the  farm.  An 
opportunity  must  also  be  furnished  of 
testing  the  qualities  of  difi'erent  breeds 
of  cattle,  he  rees,  sheep  and  swine.  How 
little  is  now  really  known  by  the  great 
body  of  our  fiirmers  in  relation  t<.)  these 
matters.  Who  is  there,  from  actual 
trial  and   experiment,  prepared    to  say 


of  light  and  knowledge  to  att;empt  to 
sshovv  that  there  is  much  for  every  farm- 
<r  to  learn  from  science  to  aid  hita  in 
Ids  work  :  the  nature  of  soils,  their  con 
fitituent  elenients,  their  adaptation  to 
particular  crops,  the  quality  of  manures 
as  (leterniincd  by  analysis,  tlse  elfect  of 
heat  and  cold  upon  vegetation,  and 
many  other  things  which  can  he  only 
certainly  known  through  the  agency  of 
i-cience.  What,  may  it  not  bo  asked,  is 
to  prevent  every  farmer  who  shall  be 
thoroughly  ii)structed  from  availing 
liimself  for  |ractical  purposes  of  these 
advanUVges  ?  The  researches  which 
h«ve  been  made  by  scietttiiic  isien  have 
di'velopcd  many  interesting  and  impor- 
tant facts — ami  the  time  is  not  far  dis- 
tant when  many  more  will  be  brought 
to  light,  which  will  greatly  lessen  the 
labors  of  the  farmer,  arid  enable  him, 
with  economv,  to  adopt  a  system  of 
farming  that  will  remunerate  him  lib- 
erally. 

Perhaps  it  may  be  asked  what  sys- 
tem, if  adopted  here,  would  thus  aid  the 
farmer?  Without  at  this  time  giving 
what  I  suppose  would  be  a  system  in 
every  respect  well  calculated  to  accom- 
plish such  a  result,  it  may  be  suSlcient 
to  say — that  a  school  to  prepare  young 
)nen  for  tlie  duties  that  are  to  devolve 
upon  them  should  be  so  arrangr)d  as  to 


It  can  be  hardly  necessary  in  this  day  i  which,  of  adl  the  breeds  of  cattle,  is  best 

adapted  to  the  State,  for  the  dairy  or 
for  the  shambles  ?  lias  a  trial  and 
coinparison  been  made  between  the  dif- 
fei'ont  breeds  called  improved  and  th^^ 
native  stock,  so  that  it  can  be  said,  this 
is  the  best  for  llie  farmers  of  New  York? 
I  answer  :  No.  And  I  would  ask,  is  it. 
not  important  that  these  questions,  so 
important  to  the  farming  interest,  should 
be  determined  ?  And  would  not  an  in- 
stitution, discreetly  managed  by  a  judi- 
cious, intelligent,  and  thoroughly  quali- 
fied practical  man,  in  time  work  out  for 
us  a  solution  of  these  questions?  So, 
too,  with  regard  to  horses,  sheep,  and 
swine,  the  above  remarks  are  equally 
applicable. 

There  are  now  in  this  State  a  large 
variety  of  grains  in  use — each  has  its 
advocates — and  yet  it  is  not  true  that 
it  was  decided  there  are  some  varieties 
superior  to  others,  and  better  adapted, 
probably,  to  our  climate  and  soils.  And 
where  shall  these  <{Ucstions  be  settled 
more  satisfactorily  and  certainly  than 
at  an  institution  with  a  liberal  farm,  of 
ditierent  varieties  of  soils,  where  a  series 
of  experiments  could  be  carried  oh  with 
all  the  varied  grains,  for  a  term  sufficient 
to  test  their  qualities  in  every  respect? 
There  are  other  matters  all  important 
to  be  ascertained,  and  which  at  present 
are  but  little  attended  to,  at  least  so  far 


give  them  a  thorough  course  of  educa- 1  as  the  great  body  of  the  farmers  are 
tjon,  combined  with  its  practical  adapt-  concerned.  I  allude  to  a  rotation  of 
ation  to  the  entire   work  of  the  farm,   crops,  ai-d  application  of  manures,  best 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


219 


calculaUd  to  i2,ive  [iroiilable  reuirus  to 
ti'.e  tkrtiier,  while  it  seciKes  to  him  the 
coiistant  R-riiiity  of  liis  soii.  Whei'v 
could  tiiis  be  bi.-'tte!'  ascertained  than  at 
an  inslitutiuii  where  a  series  of  expen- 
luents  wiih  ditierent  crops,  in  different 
retatii'Ms,  and  with  varied  manui'es, 
carefully  analyzed,  cordd  be  carried  out  '^ 
In  each  of  Uie.ve  cnses,  time  is  neces>ary 
to  obtain  satisfactory  results — and  the 
State,  at  an  insiilutiiui  of  this  kind,  could 
secure  .-rich  results  as  would,  in  the  end, 
greatly  add  to  the  prosperity  and  suc- 
cess of  the  fanner,  in  the  management 
of  his  farm. 

Permit  me  to  caution  my  reai;]ers  not 
to  expect  too  much  at  once  from  an  in- 
stitution in  every  rc^.pect  rightly  adaj)i- 
ed  to  tlie  wants  of  the  farnjer.  Tune 
will  be  re([uired  for  it  to  develop  i;s  ad- 
va:Uage3.  The  work  of  in.ipr</\'enn  nt 
is  not  the  woik  of  a  day  or  of  a  V'-a!'. 
Experiments,  to  be  u>e!'ul,  must  be  haig 
continued,  often  repeated,  before  the}- 
can  be  relied  upon  ;  atid  althougli  a 
young  man,  trameti  in  an  instiiutinii 
ihorouglily,  will  himself  be  prej)ared  to 
do  great  good,  yet  the  great  practical 
benefits  to  tlie  farmer  as  to  the  general 
course  of  iiis  operations,  both  as  to  his 
crops,  niimures  and  animals,  must  l)e  a 
work  of  time,  and  cannot  be  hastily 
decided  vviUi  safety.  Time  for  experi- 
inent  to  bo  thoroughly  tested,  time  for 
the  investigations  to  be  in  every  resjiect 
carefidly  made,  must  be  allowed.  Let 
this  bi"  borne  in  mind,  and  I  doubt  not 
an  instiiution,  under  the  charge  of  prop- 
erly qualified  instructors,  men  of  mind, 
men  of  practii,-ai  adaptation  to  the  want;- 
of  the  age— not  mere  theorists  or  fancy 
men — wuuld  eventually  secure  tiie  f!)!- 
probatioii  of  ail,  and  wouhl  be  crowded 
with  th<i  young  men  of  our  State  ;  arid 
would  annually  send  forth  many  in  al! 
respects  well  cjuabfied  todi-charge  their 
duties  as  farniers,  and  also  ].)iepared, 
wiien  called  into  public  life,  to  discharge 
their  higher  duties  as  representatives  of 
their  profession,  the  great  piodijcing 
class  of  our  country. 

Should  !  have  leisure,  and  should  you 


not  have  more  imporlant  matter  for 
\our  paper,  I  design  to  pursue  this  sub- 
ject, and  give  in  detail  the  cour.-e  to  be 
pursued  at  an  institution  w  hich,  in  my 
judgment,  v.oidd  be  well  desiuned  to 
accomplish  the  great  work  now  need- 
e'i — TiJifc;  THOROUGH  education  of  tiik 
SONS  OF  FAKMEiiS. —  IT7<sA.  RqmbUc. 


Cbemisiry  as   apySied  to  Agricullute. 

Within  the  la^t  few  months  a  new 
;-et  of  objectors  to  Chennsliy,  as  ap- 
jdied  to  Agriculture,  seem  to  liave  aris- 
en. Among  the-^e  we  lind  a  few  Edi- 
tors of  Agricultuial  papers,  ;:nd  fortu- 
i'.ately  fur  truth,  they  ha[i|ien  to  ije  in- 
dividuals who  make  no  pretence  to  the 
slightest  knowletlge  of  Chemistry.  The 
>tyie  of  the  objections  is  truly  original, 
for  they  fir>t  admit  that  chenustiy  nsay 
t)e  ns(.'ful  to  agriculture  when  better  un- 
derstood, but  that  analysis  caniiot  be 
depended  Upon  as  a  guide  ^^jy  the 
amendment  of  the  soils;  that  farmers 
had  better  trust  to  experience  tha.n  to 
science,  <fec.,  &c.  Idle  real  intention  of 
these  writers  we  cannot  but  suspect  is 
an  indescribable  jealous  feeling  toward 
those  who  believe  in  the  lull  capabdities 
of  cheniistry  to  be  rendered  iniinediate- 
iy  available  for  farmers,  and  who  pro- 
fess to  understand  the  subj('ct  sufiicient- 
ly  well  to  furnish  the  necessa/y  advice. 
Others  insist  upon  having  full  confidence  ' 
ill  the  efficiency  of  chemistrv,  and  in 
ihe  same  breath  to  repudiate  all  at- 
tempts at  its  practical  adaptation  to  ag- 
riculture. Some  cjuots  special  instances 
of  farmers  who  tried  certain  chemical 
ingredients  without  any  particular  bene- 
iiit  having  arisen  from  their  use,  but 
wifdiout  saying  what  ingiedients  were 
-elected,  or  on  what  kind  of  soil  the\^ 
were  applied. 

Who  have  notpieard  their  x'lunts  and 
Grandmothers  rejjudiate  all  docior''s 
stuff,  and  still,  wdien  truly  sick,  do  not 
stand  ready  to  swallow  the  necessary 
remedies  ?  Are  all  doctors  quacks  be- 
cause some  are  ?  Is  chemistry  to  be 
taxed  with  all  the  errors  of  ignorant 
operators,  or  shall  cliemistry,  when  ap- 


220 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


plied  to  agriculture,  be  construed  to 
mean  its  judicious  application,  and  not 
the  dosing  of  the  soil  with  every  sub- 
stance bearing  an  unusual  name? 

Some  state  on  hearsay  evidence,  and 
not  from  any  knowledge  of  their  own, 
that  chemists  find  great  difficulty  in  as- 
certaining the  precise  constituents  of 
the  soil  :  so  far  as  those  constituents  are 
concerned  which  are  pertinent  to  its 
uses  as  the  vehicle  for  vegetable  growth, 
this  is  not  true.  No  difficulty  exists  in 
ascertaining  the  relative  proportions  of 
each  ingredient,  sufficient!}'  for  all  prac- 
tical purposes  ;  and  even  if  such  diffi- 
culty did  exist  to  the  extent  claimed  b}' 
these  objectors,  it  would  have  no  more 
force  than  would  the  argument  that 
man  has  yet  ascertained  what  propor- 
tion of  vegetable  lood  he  can  consume 
with  the  greatest  amount  of  benefit,  as 
compared  with  the  animal  portions  of 
his  food,  and  therefore  that  he  should 
stop  eating  altogether,  and  starve. 

If  a  farmer  be  told  that  his  soil  re- 
quires potash  and  carbonic  acid,  and  he 
should  pass  by  green  sand  marl  and 
feldspar,  which  he  could  obtain  for  no- 
thing, while  on  his  way  to  the  apothe- 
cary's shop  to  purchase  carbonate  of  po- 
tash, and  he  should  then  apply  this 
dearly  bought  material  instead  of  green 
sarnl  marl,  pulverulent  feldspar,  or  un- 
leached  wood  ashes,  these  objectors 
would  probably  blame  chemistry  for  the 
fact,  that  the  farmer  had  spent  more 
money  than  the  value  of  his  crops  in  ad- 
ding the  few  pounds  of  potash  necessa- 
sary  to  produce  tiiem.  What  chemist 
is  unable  to  decide  when  a  soil  is  short 
of  the  necessary  amount  of  potash  ? — 
and  what  experience  has  shown  that 
potash,  added  to  such  soil,  lias  not  pro- 
ved beneficial  ?  What  sandy  soil  has 
failed  to  be  rendered  retentive  of  ma- 
nures by  the  application  of  carbon  and 
alumina  ?  What  boggy  or  sour  land 
has  refused  to  be  rendered  arable  by 
the  use  of  lime  and  the  proper  protec- 
tion from  excess  of  water?  What  soils 
overcharged  with  putresent  materials  or 
excess  of  vegetable  matter,  have  refused 


to  furnish  the  necessary  amount  of  silica 
to  give  strength  to  straw,  where  oats 
before  lodged  for  the  want  of  necessary 
addition  of  alkalies  to  form  the  soluble 
silicates  of  which  the  outer  coatings  of 
straw  are  formed  ?  What  soil,  other- 
wise properly  conditioned,  has  refused 
to  produce  a  wheat  crop  after  the  ad- 
dition of  soluble  phosphates  ?  What 
crop  has  suffered  by  the  addition  of  pro- 
per quantities  of  any  of  the  missing  in- 
gredients of  the  soil  ?  What  farm  has 
refused  to  give  improved  results  by  ren- 
dering the  soil  more  susceptible  of  retain- 
ing ammonia  by  the  well  known  chemi- 
cal means  recommended  to  produce  such 
result  ?  What  farmer  who  has  had  an 
analysis  made  of  his  soil,  and  who  has 
added  the  missing  constituents  with  a 
just  view  to  economy,  has  ever  found  it 
less  profitable  than  to  plod  on  without 
such  assistance  ?  If  any  such  cases  ex- 
ist, why  not  make  them  known  and  lay 
the  facts  before  the  public,  and  not  at- 
tempt to  do  away  with  the  usefulness  of 
chemistry,  as  applied  to  agriculture,  by 
the  very  means  that  is  sometimes  urged 
against  its  use,  namely,  theorizing  upon 
recommendations,  and  finding  fault  with- 
out their  having  a  chemical  knowledge 
to  base  these  opinions  upon. 

We  claim  that  no  instance  can  be 
found  where  the  well  ascertained  chem- 
ical knowledge  of  the  day  has  been  in 
fault,  when  appealed  to  for  increasing 
the  profits  of  the  farmer  ;  and  until  such 
instances  are  found,  and  the  analysis  of 
the  soil  with  the  amendment  be  placed 
before  the  public  with  an  account  of  the 
failure  of  the  crop,  we  shall  continue  to 
say  that  we  believe  no  such  instances 
has  existed. 

Now  for  the  other  side  of  the  picture. 
We  know  hundreds  of  instances  where 
farmers  have  applied,  in  proper  quanti- 
ties, and  at  less  expense  than  the  usual 
style  of  application,  the  missing  ingre- 
dients to  their  soil  ascertained  by  anal- 
ysis, and  in  every  case  with  increased 
profit  in  results. 

Nothing  is  more  easy  than  to  laugh 
at  that  which  we  do  not  comprehend. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


221 


Nothing  is  more  subtle  than  satire,  and 
nothing  more  ungentlemanly  than  the 
reiteration  of  erroi',  after  that  error  has 
been  clearly  and  unequivocally  disprov- 
ed. 

h'oils  are  well  known  to  contain  cer- 
tain necessary  ingredients.  It  is  also 
well  known  that  chemists  can  ascertain 
which  of  these  ingredients  are  present 
in  any  soil,  and  also  the  relative  pro- 
portions in  which  they  exist  with  suf- 
ficient accuracy  for  all  practical  pur- 
poses. It  is  also  well  known  what  or- 
ganic additions  must  be  added  to  the 
soil  to  enable  plants  to  make  use  of 
these  constituents  resident  in  the  soil, 
which  go  to  ensure  their  proper  config- 
uration, and  to  furnish  those  ingredients 
to  be  found  in  their  ashes  when  burned. 
It  is  equally  well  known  that  if  any  of 
those  ingredients  are  missing,  such 
crops,  as  in  a  perfect  state  should  con- 
tain them,  cannot  be  raised  upon  the 
Boil  without  their  addition. 

We  assert  also  that  a  fair  knowledge 
of  Chemisty  and  Natural  Philosophy, 
such  as  may  be  obtained  by  means  en- 
tirely practicable,  and  withiri  the  reach 
of  every  intelligent  farmer,  will  enable 
him,  with  an  analysis  of  his  soil  before 
him,  to  knovv  not  only  what  it  requires 
lo  render  it  fertile,  but  also  the  means 
by  which  these  requirements  may  be 
most  economically  furnished  to  the  soil ; 
and  we  assert  without  the  fear  of  honest 
refutation,  that  after  an  expirement  of 
some  years,  and  a  practice  on  many 
hundred  farms,  we  know  of  no  excep- 
tion to  this  fact. 

We  see  that  the  organic  portions  of 
the  ordinary  farm  manures  will  1  e 
doubly  serviceable  when  applied  to  soils 
where  inorganic  parts  are  all  present, 
and  if  any  be  missing,  it  is  a  more 
economical  practice  to  add  them,  than 
to  trust  to  their  additions  by  the  atten 
uated  quantities  to  be  found  in  the  ex- 
uretia  of  animals. 

It  is  too  late  in  the  day  for  an  argu- 
ment to  be  maintained,  that  facts  are  to 
be  arrived  at  by  guessing,  more  readily 
than  by  scientific  research ;  and  these 


writers  Avho  blow  hot  and  cold  in  the 
same  breath,  who  are  at  once  the  friends 
and  enemies  of  chemistry  as  applied  to 
agriculture,  will  soon  be  called  on  by 
common  sense  men,  to  give  over  their 
vulgar  practice  of  calling  everything 
scientific  and  chemical,  which  is  at  va"^ 
riance  with  their  opinions,  and  still  may 
be  erroneous. 

The  application  of  salt  where  salt  is 
not  wanted,  or  of  sulphuric  acid  where 
it  is  not  required,  is  not  to  be  consider- 
ed as  an  application  of  chemistry  to  ag- 
riculture. Science  means  knowledge  re- 
duced to  a  system^  so  as  to  he  easily 
tauyht  and  readily  understood  ;  and  the 
application  of  chemistry  means  the  as- 
certaining of  truths  by  analysis,  and  the 
securing  of  profitable  results  by  synthe- 
sis. 

Let  those  who  would  war  with  us  on 
this  subject  biing  forward  their  facts  in- 
stead of  their  satire,  and  we  are  ready 
to  rneet  them.  Thousands  of  farmers 
are  now  practicing  on  the  principles  wo 
have  advocated,  and  those  who  would 
dispute  them  can  find  no  difficulty,  if 
the  principles  are  wrong,  of  bringing 
forward  their  pi'oofs.  Let  them  read 
the  extracts  from  the  address  of  Mr. 
King  in  our  present  number,  and  it  may 
pro\e  a  wholesome  lesson  for  them. 
"Truth  is  mighty  and  must  prevail." — 
Working  Farmer. 


Comfort  and  Health  of  Country 
Families. 

The  remaik  has  often  been  made,  and 
with  too  much  truth,  that  farmers  are 
more  reckless  of  their  health  than  any 
other  class  of  people.  Possessing,  as 
they  do,  all  the  advantages  for  a  constant 
supply  of  the  most  wholesome  and  best 
ripened  vegetables  and  fruits,  they  often 
neglect  these  altogether;  having  plenty 
of  pure  fresh  air  close  at  hand,  they 
live  during  at  least  five  months  of  the 
year  in  closely  heated,  unventilated  a- 
partments  ;  and  becoming  thoroughly 
dusted  every  day  at  their  work  in  the 
midst  of  peispiration,  they  sometimes,  it 
is  feared,  almost  forget  that  daily  ablu- 


222 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


(ions  are  especialh'  needful  in  their  case. 
Wliat  but  this  is  the  reason  that  the 
i)eads  of  families  among  thein  often  ap- 
pear ten  years  older  than  they  really 
are  ;  or  th.'.t  girls  grow  up  mo!-e  sickly 
and  slender  tlian  even  those  iu  confined 
cities  ? 

A  late  writer  remarks,  "  We  know  no 
other  class  of  ])eo[)!e  who  rr^e  so  litile 
fruit  and  vegetables  as  regular  articles 
of  d^et,  as  farmers.  Bread,  meat  and 
cofl'ee,  are  the  American  farmer's  diet ; 
and  by  way  of  variation,  lie  takes  cotiee 
and  meat  and  bread  ;  then  meat,  and 
bread  and  coliee,  from  one  year's  end  to 
the  other.  When  we  reflect  that  it  is 
mostly  inconvenient  to  get  a  supply  of 
fresh  meat,  and  that  therefore  salt — and 
hog  meat  at  that — is  in  constant  use,  it 
is  no  wonder  they  are  injured  in  bodily 
health.  0  yes,  there  is  another  impor 
tant  article  i>f  the  farmer's  diet, — cucum- 
ber pit'kles,  at  all  times,  and  preserve^ 
when  there  are  strangers.  *  *  '''  Miik 
is  fed  to  the  hogs,  and  by  them  convert 
ed  into  human  food;  apples,  corn  and 
pi,>tatO'.^s,  share  the  same  fate. 

"  We  remember,  when  we  commenc- 
ed farnting,  how  ])roud  we  were  the  first 
summer,  at  our  abundant  supply  of  ear 
]y  vegetables,  and  v;ith  what  care  we 
began  prep^iriug  our  harvest  dinners, 
and  wi  h  what  chagrin  we  found  our 
dishes  of  beets,  peas,  potatoes,  beans, 
baked  apples,  &c.,  left  almost  untouched, 
while  any  kind  of  bread  and  meat  would 
be  devoured  by  the  dishful,  or  as  much 
pastry  as  we  could  muster,  vanish  like 
snow  in  June.      We  were   quite  taken 


tuted.     We  believe  the  large  ouantities 
of  both  of  these  drinks,    whieh    are   so 
abundantly  and  habitually  taken,  are  a 
fruitful  source   of   headaches  and  poor 
health  geuer;\lly.     YVe  would  not,  how- 
ever, deny  them  to  those  on  wh<im  the 
habit,  has  become  so  finid}  ^a>ienid  that 
they  "cannot  live"  without  them;  but 
we  always  regret  to   see  young   people 
becoming    fettered    to  their   use.      We 
have  known  many  cases  of  ))ersons  for- 
ty or  fii'iy   years   of  age,  who    have  re- 
nounced them  to  tlie  great  improvement 
of  their  iieahh  ;  and  we  have  known  a 
still  greater  number  habitually  sutturing 
from  that  distressing  disease,  'sirk  head-, 
ache,"   Avlio  were   iuvaiial^ly    cured   by 
^«/iO^/?/ giving  up   tea  ar.d   coft'ee,    (not 
however,  substituting  otlx-r  stimulants 
in  their  place,)  although  for  the  tirstfew 
davs  thay  sonutimes  suffi^red   severely 
I'rom  the  last  assault  of  these  enemies. 
Wliolesome  and    refreshing    vegeta- 
bles, fiesh  from  the  garden  or  skilfnliy 
cooked    fur    the    table — delicious    and 
melting   I'ruits,    including   strawberries, 
currants,  ra-pberries,  aiuicots,  p<aches, 
j)ears,  &c.,are  infinitely  superior  in  at- 
tractive   qualities   to   any   decoction  of 
siimuiatiug  or  sedative  drit^d  plants,  or 
to  masses  of  fried  pork,  I'endercd    hai'd 
and    nearly  insoluble  by  solid  .-alt,— it 
use  iiad  only  rendered  them  etjually  fa- 
miliar. 

Fresh  air,  (of  wliich  there  is  plenty 
at  hanil)  in  connection  with  active  ex- 
ercise, is  absohitely  ess.;ntial  to  tht 
health  of  farmers'  daughters,  and  ])ro- 
cious  little  some  of  them  get  of  either, 


by  surprise  to  find  a  pitcher  of  nice  cool  They  are  afraid  the  sun  will  color  theii 
milk  standing  upon  the  table  wdthout  a  i skins  one  tint  higher;  and  so  to  avoid 
customer  amo!:g  a  dozen  h;ird  working  this  teirible  disaster,  as  they  regard  it 
men,  and  four  gallons  of  hot  cotfee  swal-   incur  a  still  greater   penalty,  that  of  s 


lowed  in  a  jiffy,  when  the  thermometer 
stood  a    ninety  in  the  shade." 

To  this  we  may  add,  that  some  farm- 
evs  enlarge  the  |)receding  list,  by  using 
warm  bread  and  hot  cakes  well  greased 
with  buiter,  instead  of  more  wholesomi' 
cold  bread  ;  and  when  the  weather  is  so 
hot  that  drinkin  r  coffee  seems  like  pour- 
ing oil  on  i\r.i,  tea,  still  hotter,  is  substi- 


skin  tinted  and  furiowed  w\i\\  prcrnaiun 
disease  f  Let  every  country  y<  'Ung  ladj 
(and  we  are  willing  to  accc>ril  this  title 
if  she  will  only  take  our  advice)  cove 
her  head  with  a  bioad  sun  bonnet,  an( 
encase  her  feet  in  a  pair  of  good  rubbers 
rise  with  the  sun  in  summer,  and  tak( 
at  least  three  hours  exercise  by  walking:; 
or  working  in   the  garden  at  interval 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


223 


liiiring  tlie  da\%  and  she  will  have  the 
real,  substantial,  iirice'ess  blc-s.-ing  as 
well  as  the  hioom  of  health.  City  girls 
5iiti'er  iVom  a  eonlined  and  polluted  at- 
mosphere;  and  yet  from  the  faciiilics 
IS  well  as  the  r.eccssities  i\r  walking, 
:,hey  are  usually  mere  healthy  than  coun- 
:ry  girls,  and  can  outwalk  them  three 
to  one.  And  now,  in  this  eonnecliun. 
R'C  wish  to  ;isk  cur  wise  connirymcn, 
[vhy  they  do  not  make  it  a  part  of  the 
road-lavs,  that  a  r;Ocd,  smoolh,  d;-y 
bot-path  is  provided  ;.t  tiie  side  of  eve- 
•y  publie  higliway,  cu.sting,  as  it  would, 
^even  if  a  level,  1  road,  single  plank.) 
lot  the  tenth  part  of  ti;e  rest  of  tiie  road. 
Wculd  ii  K'.t  ]  .-^-y  enormous  dividends 
a  the  furm  of  health  to  the  wives  and 
iaug;  teis  of  our  people?  'J  hose  who 
Vamed  our  present  laws,  seem  to  have 
mtirely  forn-otton  tliat  there  arc  any 
neh  persons  in  the  country;  or  else, 
ike  the  coachman  .who  was  compelled 
,0  haifiess  Iris  horses  lo  go  for  a  pitcher 
>f  wiiter,  lin.y  expected  them  always  to 
■ide  when  venturing  live  i\.<\>.  iVoi;) 
lome,  in  muddy  tiuies. 

In  winter,  oul-door  exercise  is  mere 
lifiicult  but  by  no  means' impossible  ; 
jut  whether' so  or  not,  it  is  vital  y  es- 
itMitial  that  the  in  d„or  territory  be  oc- 
iupied  by  a  pure  atmosphere.  A  close 
•oom  kept  hot  by  an  air  tight  stove,  with 
I  current  of  air  entering  arid  e^-aping 
.hrough  the  chimney,  nut  greater  than 
vould  freely  pass  through  agoose-qu'll. 
vith  ilve  to  ton  persons  in  the  loom, 
lacli  in  his  turn  taking  into  h.is  lungs 
nd  throwing  out  again,  every  successive 
wart  of  air  the  room  contains,  cannot 
ail  to  become  an  unwholesome  jilace  to 
pend  the  winter.  A  great  deal  has 
•een  said  against  stoves,  but  they  are  as 
worable  to  healtii  as  any  other  mode 
f  heating,  not  even  excepting  a  hot-air 
irnace,  (which  is  nothing  but  a  stove 
1  a  concealed  apartment)  provided  al- 
ways that  ventilation  is  attended  to. — 
his  is  easily  accomplished  in  any  case 
y  a  register  placed  above  for  the  egress 
f  tte  upper  stratum  of  impure  air,  and 

aecessary  one  for  the  admission   of 


fresh  air,  alihongh  in  most  cases  this 
gets  in  ftsL  enough  at  the  numerous 
crevices. 

Farmers  are  apt  to  presume  Uo 
much  on  their  natmrd  advantages.  Air 
and  exercises  give  th^m  health — daily 
ablutioi:s  would  give  them  moie — and 
regular  and  wholescme  food  would 
sometimes  prevent  violent  diseases.  "O, 
I  am  St! org  ai;d  hearty;  I  can  eat  any- 
thing I"  So  has  said  many  a  one  on 
devouring  a  pint  of  green  cucumbers  at 
supper,  or  on  eating  a  jiound  or  two  of 
highly  seasoned  food,  deluged  with  six 
cups  of  strong,  hot  coffee  :  but  too  ofic  u 
the  system  Ijas  yielded  suddenly  after  a 
long  seiies  of  heavy  dr^dts  hke  these 
upon  its  resoujces.  ;>nd  irreparable  loss 
of  health  or  premature  old  age  has 
been  the  consequence. 

Wo  throv,'  out  these  hints  for  the 
considenitioD  of  such  »s  may  jirefer  to 
make  country  lify  one  of  health,  coin- 
fi>rt,  attractiveness,  ai'd  usefulness,  in- 
stead of  one  of  sensuality,  disease,  and 
repid-ivenesS,  to  young  people  about  to 
select  a  course  for  life. —  f'ountry  Gen- 
llemun. 


ImpoEtant  Truthr, 

No  farmer  can  realize  the  full  bene- 
fits .if  his  profession  without  adopting- a 
thorough  system  of  culture.  His  suc- 
cess, commensurate  with  his  wishes,  al- 
ways depends  upon  the  manner  in  which 
he  prepares  his  ground,  plants  his  seed 
and  rears  his  stuck.  Neither  of  the'-e 
departmaiis,  whieh  may  bo  considered 
as  cardinal  ones  of  Ids  profession,  will 
take  care  of  themselves.  'J  he  soil  may 
be  lich,  but  it  needs  culture.  His  seed 
may  be  sown,  but  it  should  be  in  due 
time,  and  always  on  soil  well  prepared, 
and  of  a  suitable  quality  for  the  produc- 
tion of  the  stock  desired.  His  stock 
must  be  constantly  cared  for — it  derives 
its  thrift  from  the  soil  and  Bends  back 
again  to  that  soil  the  subfctance  it  re- 
quire<;  tut  this*  is  not  in  a  loosj  hap- 
hazard way.  I'he  farmer's  care  is  re- 
quired, arid  all  his  better  judgment  must 
be  constantly  exercised  in  keeping  up 


224 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL, 


this  system  of  reciprocal  benefits  that 
inav  be  realized  by  every  intelligent  and 
industrious  fanner. — E.  M.  Cultivator. 


Salt  as  a  Manure. 

Salt  as  a  manure  for  grass  lands, 
meadows,  <fec.,  has  been  used  in  all  parts 
of  England  with  varying  success.  It  is 
said  to  sweeten  the  herbage,  and  when 
sprinkled  about  and  over  a  portion  of 
pastures,  catlle,  sheep,  and  horses  will  im- 
mediately repair  to  this  salted  portion  in 
preference  to  any  other  part  of  the  field. 
It  evidently  therefore,renders  grass  more 
palatable  to  live  stock,  and  upon  consult- 
ing the  old  agricultui-al  writers,  it  was 
found  that  the  notices  of  salt  as  a  «na- 
nure  were  many  and  important  and 
that  it  has  been  used  for  agricultural 
purposes  from  a  very  early  period. — 
Salt  renders  the  earth  capable  of  absorb- 
ing the  moisture  of  the  atmosphere,  "  a 
property  of  the  first  importance,  since 
those  soils  which  absoib  the  greatest 
proportion  of  the  moisture  from  the  at- 
mosphere, are  always  the  mnst  valuable 
to  the  cultivator. 

Its  fertilizing  properties,  when  applied 
to  land,  may  be  described  as  five  in 
number : 

1st.  In  small  proportions  it  promotes 
the  decomposition  of  animal  and  vege- 
table substances. 

2d.  It  destroys  vermin  and  kills 
weeds  which  are  thus  converted  into 
manure. 

3d.  It  is  a  direct  constituent,  or  food 
of  some  plants;  and  it  has  been  clearly 
ascertained  that  if  salt  is  to  be  applied 
to  a  soil  the  vegetables  afterwards 
grown  on  it,  are  found  to  contain  it  in 
increased  proportions. 

4tli.  Salt  acts  upon  vegetable  sub- 
stances as  a  stimulant. 

5th.  Salt  preserves  vegetables  from 
injury  by  sudden  transitions  in  the  tem- 
perature of  the  atmosphere.  That  soils 
do  not  freeze  as  readily  as  usual  when 
salt  is  applied  to  them  is  well  known  ; 
and  that- salt  preserves  crops  of  turnips, 
cabbages,  &c.,  from  injury  by  the  frost, 
is  equally  well  established. — Johnson. 


Remember,  when  the  team  is  in  the 
field  and  your  hands  upon  the  plow, 
that  light  furrows  empty  the  pocket 
also.  Put  the  plow  deep  down,  and  see 
do>vn,  and  see  what  golden  fruit  will 
result. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAIi 

IS  Published  monthly,  at  $1  per  annnum,  in 
advance  ;  six  copies  for  $5  ;  twelve  copies 
lor  iKlO  ;  thirty  copies  for  $20. 

Adveriisemekts. — A  limited  number  of  ad- 
vertisements will  be  inserted  at  the  following 
rates:  For  one  square  ot  twelve  lines,  for  each 
insertion,  §1 ;  one  square  per  annum,  SIO  ;  half 
column,  do.,  $30  ;  one  column,  do.,  i$50;  larger 
advertisements  in  proportion. 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS, 
Editor  and  Proprietor,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 


THE  Subscriber  will  give  any  special  advice 
to  Farmers,  by  their  addressing  him  and 
giving  a  description  of  their  farms.  H;s  charge 
will  be  moderate.  He  will  make  analysis  ol 
soils  and  marls,  and  write  out  the  analysis  for 
application  ol  manures. 
For  analysis  of  soils,    •  ^5  00 

Writing  out  analysis,  5  00 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D. 


TABLE  OF    CONTENTS. 

Page. 

On  the  relations  of  science  to  practice  in 

agriculture,  193 

Smoke  House,  193 

Breeding  Horses,  198 

Address  of  Dr.  R.  C.  Pritehard,  199 

Adaptation  of  crops  to  marker,  207 
To  the  members  of  the  State  Agricultural 

Society,  203 

State  Fair,  208 

The  analysis  of  soils,  209 

Dr.  Pritchard's  Address,  209 

To  Fanners  who  come  to  the  Fair,  209 

Farmers  bring  up  your  soils,  209 
Neglected   department    of    agriculture  in 

Edgecombe,  210 

Letter  from  Richard  H.  Smith,  211 

"      P.  M.  Edmondston  212 

"       "     J.  P.  Bridgers,  213 

"  W.  D.  Riddick,  213 
Good  management,  no  mysterj' — the  secret 

ofit,  214 

Agricultural  Education,  217 

Chemistry  as  applied  to  agricolture,  219 

Comfort  and  health  of  country  families,  221 

Important  truths,  223 

Salt  as  a  manure,  224 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURM 


YOL  2.  RALEIGH,  N.  C,  NOVEMBER,  1853.  NO.  8. 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D.,  Editor  and  Proprietor. 


.^  iS^-cList  of  Premiums 
Awarded  at  the  First  Annual  Fair  of  the  North 
r  Varolina  State   Agricultural    Society,    October 

list,  1853. 
2*76.  Devon  Bull  "Nash,"  2  years  old,   David  Mc- 

Dauiel,  NmsIi,  first  premium,  |5,00. 
27*7.  Devon  Bull,  "Rocky  Mount,"   1   year  old,  D. 
McDanit-'l,  Nash,  first   premium,  diploma. 

278.  Devon  Cow,   ''Dust    Foot,"  4   years   old,  D. 

McDaniel,  Nash,  1st  premium,  |10,00. 

280.  Devon  Cow  "P.  sey,"  4  years  old,  D.  McDan- 
iel,  Nash,  3d  premium,  diploma. 

239.  Devon  Cow,  '"Milly,"  8  years  old,  B. 'Johnson, 
Wake,  2d  preuiiura,  15,00. 

582.  Devon  Bull,  "Biily,"  2  years  old,  Wra.  Rus- 
sell, Caswell,  2d  premium,  diploma. 

592.  Devon  Bull,  "Trim,"   2   years  old,  Dr.  Wm. 

R.  Holt,  Davidson,  3d  premium,  diploma. 

593.  Devon  Heifer,  "Bettie,"  2  years  old,  Dr.  AVm. 

R.  Holt,  Davidson,  1st  premium,  |10,00. 

594.  Devon  Ueifar,  "Red  Nose,"  2   years  old  Dr. 

Wm.  R.  Holt,  Davidson,  2d  premium,  |5,00 
Devon  Heifer,  "Cherry,"  1  year  old.  Dr.  Wm. 
R.  Holt,  Davidson,  1st   premium,  diploma. 
Devon  Heifer,  "Star,"  1  year  old,   Dr.  Wm. 
R.  Holt,  Davidson,   2d   premium,  diploma.. 
Large  Red  Cow,  Mrs.  Taylor,  Raleigh,  |10. 
White  and  Black  Cow,  3  years  old,  J.  Kil- 
patrick,  Raleigh,  $5. 
283.  Durham  Bull,  "Henry  Clay,"  6  years  old,  A. 
J.  Leach,  Johnston,  $10. 
3.  1  White  Bull,    Seth   Jones,  Wake,  diploma. 
597.  Cow  and  Calf, 
168.  Cow,  (native,)  J.  J.Dawson,  Halifax,       " 

599.  Heifei',  Seth  Jones,  Wake,  " 

600.  "  "  " 

279.  Ayrshire  Cow  "Jenny  Lind,"  3  yp.ara  old,  D. 

McDaniel,  Nash,  1st  premium,  $10, 

Vol.  n.— 8. 


595. 

596. 

361. 
42. 


Proceediags. 

Of  the  First  Annual  Meet-, 
ing  of  the  State  Agricml-- 
tural  Sociftg  of  Nertk 
Carolina,  held  in  Raicigh^ 
October,  1853. 

The  State  Agrieultural 
Society  of  North  Carolina 
met  at  Raleigh,  in  the  Com-- 
mons  Hall,  oii  Ivlondav,  Oct. 
17,  1853,  the  President,  J. 
S.  Dancy,  6f  Edgecombe,  in 
the  Chair,  when  the  roll  was 
called  and  absentees  noted. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  E.  A. 
Crudup,  of  Franklin,  the 
names  of  gentlemen  upon 
the  various  committees  for 
awarding  premiums  were 
read,,  and  upon  motion  of 
Dr.  J.  F.  Tompkins,  of 
Wake,  the  chairman  of  the 
Executive  Committee  was 
empowered  to  fill  the  vacan- 
cies in  said  committees. 

A  communication  was  hq- 
ceived  from  the  President: 
and  other ,  officers  of  the- 
State  Temperance  Conven- 
tion, at  that  time  in  session 
in  Raleigh,  which  was  read, 
and  after  some  debate  was, 
on  motion,  laid  upon  the 
table. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  J.  p. 
Tompkins,  a  committee  of 
five  was  appointed  by  the 
President  to  confer  with  tha. 


220 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


601.  Ilolsteii)  Cow,  3  years  u!d,   P.   C.   Canieion, 

Oraiigf,  1st  j>iernium,  $10. 

602.  Holsteiu  Bull,  2  years  old,   P.  C.  Cameron, 

Orangt*,  1st  premium,  diploma. 

113.  Durham  l^ull,  R.  D.   Hearit,  Nash,   2d   pre- 

mium,, $5. 

603.  Durham  Cow,  Wm.  Russel,  Caswell,  1st  pre- 

mium, SlO. 
492.  Durham  IJeifrr,   2   years   old,   Wra.  Russel, 
Caswell,  1st  premium,  diploma. 

604.  Durham  Bull,  1  year  old,  Wm.  Russel,  Cas- 

well, 1st  premium,  dijilorna. 

605.  1  Yoke  Workiriir  (Jxeu,  7  years  old,  A.Jones, 

Wake,  1st  premium,  $10. 

606.  1  Yoke  Working  Oxen,  6  year."!  old,  A.  Jones, 

Wake,  2d  premium,  diploma. 
127.   1  pair  Fat  Sieers,  J.  H.  Cooly,  Franklin,  Isl 
premium,  llO. 
89.  Thorough   hred   Stallion,  12  years  old,  Gsn. 
M.  T.  Hawkins,  Warren,  1st  premium,  ^10. 
3.9.  1  Siallion,  R-v.  Josiah  Crudup,  Granville,  2d 
premium,  diploma. 
ilOi.  1  Morgan  Stallion,  W.  S.  Piattle,  Edgecombe, 
{'or  quic-k  draught,  Ist  premium,  $10. 

114.  1  cream  colored  Stallion,  11  years  old,  David 

Gill,  Wj*ke,  for  quick  draught,  2_d  premium, 

diplonm. 
123.  1  Brood  Mare,  T.  C.  Smith,  Bladen,  for  quick 

draught,  l«t  premium,  diploma. 
344.  1  Brood  Mare,   P.   C.    Cameron,  Orang«,  for 

quick  draught,  2d  premium,  diploma. 
33.  1  Brood  Mare,  W    A.  Eatc  n,  Granville,   for 

saddle,  1st  premium,  f  iO. 
2.  1  Bay  Brood   Mare,  Seth   Jones,   Wake,  for 

saddle,  2d  premium,  diploma. 
t2<).  Pair  of  Match  Horses,  Tlios.  Howerton,  Or- 
ange, 1st  premium,  diphjnia. 
•86.  i  Pan-   of  Match   H-rses,   Dr.   J.  F.   Foard, 

Rowan,  2d  premium,  diploma. 
.677.  S&Mle  Horse,  'Blue  Di.k,"  Wm.  H.  High,  Ral- 
eigh, 3st  premium,  $5,00. 
l278.  1  Saddle  Jiorse,  three  years  old,  A.  F.  Page. 

Wake,  Sd  premium,  diploma. 
.605.  1  Sta'lion,  S  years  old,  J.   B.   Leathers,  foi 

■    heavy  draiViglK,  1st  premium.  $5. 
.68^.  1  Stallion,  Giibeit  Cone,  Franklin,  2nd  pre- 

.miuiu.  diploma. 
333.   1  Filly  (Blackbird,)  D.  McDaniel,  Nash,  for 

trotting,  1st  premiuiTgi,  ^^M). 
61.  3  year  old  ViH\\  J.K.   MarrMt,  Wake,   1st 

premium.  $5  -and  diploma. 
.513-  2  year  ol^  Fillv,  J.  B.  J^aifeefs^  <3range,  di- 

pl'jioa. 


City  Council  of  Raleigh  and 
obtain  from  them  a  deed 
and  the  ])roj)er  title  to  the 
Fair  grounds,  and  all  appur- 
tenances thereto  belongiig; 
said  committee  to  report  at 
the  meeting  of  the  society 
on  Thnrsd;  y  evening,  20lh 
instJint. 

The  following  gentlemen 
were  a})pointed  on  this  Com- 
mittee :  Dr.  J.  F.  Tompkiim, 
Dr.  E.  A.  Crudup,  John 
Winslow,  Charles  Manly 
and  Thomas  D.  McDowell. 

On  moti(.>n  of  Mi-.  Wins- 
low,  of  CumVjerland,  the 
•.bllowing  Resolution  was  a- 
dopted,  viz : 

"That  from  and  after  the 
pre-ent  mee  in^f  of  the  Stnte 
Agricultural  Society,  Aruele 
I  Miall  l.-e  so  amended  :\s  to 
requ'ie  the  iniiiation  fee  to  be 
three,  msteiid  of  live  doluirs." 

On  motion  of  Dr.  J.  F. 
Tompkins,  it  was  ordered 
that  the  names  of  the  mem- 
bers be  arranged  in  alpha- 
betical order. 

On  motion  of  R.  H.  Smith, 
of  Halifax,  the  names  of  the 
Judges  to  award  premiums 
was  read,  and  the. Executive 
Committee  were  instructed 
to  etdarge  the  committees 
and  supply  vacancies. 

On  motion  the  Sncietj 
adjourned  to  meet  on  Tues- 
day evening  at  7  o'clock. 


Tuesday  Evening,   ) 
Oct.  ISih,  1853.      \ 

The  Society  met  in  th« 
Commons  Hall  pursuant  to 
adjournment,  the  I'resident, 
J.  S.  Daucy,  in  the  Chair, 
The  roll  was  called  and  the 
Society  proceeded  to  busi- 
ness. 

Mr.  J.  F.Taylor,  of  Wake, 
moved  that  a  special  premi- 
uni  of  $10  b«i  allv^wed  for 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


2ii 


90, 
94. 
95. 

585. 

215. 

282. 

526. 

587. 
679. 
102. 

26. 

25. 

606. 
457. 

417. 

24. 

607. 
147. 

6. 
193. 

195. 

J19. 

271- 

570. 
187. 

192. 

,58. 

r68. 

:72. 

24. 


1  yf-aruld  Filly,  Gen.  M.J.  Hawkins,  Warren, 
diploma. 

1  Jai'k,  2  years  old,  Gen.   M.  T.   Hawkins, 
Warren,  1st  premium,  $10,00. 

1   Jennet,  8  years  old,  Gen.  M.  T.  Hawkins, 
Warren,  1st  premium,  |5,00. 

1  Jennet,  8  years  old,  D.  Gill,  Wake,  2d  pre- 
mium, diploma. 

1  Pair  Mules,  2  1-2  years  old,  T.  D.  M'Dowell, 
Bladen,  $10. 

1   Jack,  6  years  old,  D.  McDaniel,  Nash,  2d 
premiui.i,  $5.00. 

1  Mule,  W.  K.  Lane,  Wayne,  |5. 

1  Jennet,  1  year  old,  D.  Gill,  Wake,  diploma. 

Jack,  1  year  old,  J.  S.  Jones,  Warren,       " 

1  Chester  Boar,    W.  S.  Battle,  Edgecombe, 
1st  premium,  5,00. 

1  Chester  Boar,  S.  S.  Caraway,   Lenoir,  2d 
premium,  diploma. 

1  Chester  Boar,  7  months  old,  S.  S.  Caraway, 
Lenoir,  dii>Ioma. 

1  Chester  Boar,  S.  S.  Caraway,  Lenoir,  diplo. 

1  Sow,  Lish  Grazier,  Rev.  B.  T.  Blake,  Ral- 
eigh, 1st  premium,  dipl  )ma. 

1  Sow,  Irish  Grazier,  N.  Ruse,  Northampton, 
2d  premium,  diploma. 

1  Cl-.ester  Sow,  7  months  old,  S.  S.  Caraway, 
Lenoir,  diploma. 

1  Chester  Sow,  S.  S.  Caraway,  Lenoir,  diplo. 

1  Pair  Chester  pigs,  3  months  old,  J.  Durtch, 
Nash,  dij)loma. 

China  Fowls,  A.  Alden,  Cumberland,  diplo'a. 

Pair  of  Muscovy  Drakes,  B.F.  Moore,  Raleigh, 
diploma. 

Slianghfii  Fowls,  3  months  old,  W.  Whitaker, 
jr.,  Raleigh,  diploma. 

Pair    of  Cumberland   Chickens,  J.   A.   Wil- 
liams, Cumberland,  diploma. 
-'72.  Lot  of  Native  fowls,  W.  H.  Jones,  Ral- 
eigh, diploma. 

Native  Ducks,  W.  H.  Jones,  Raleigh,  diplo'a. 

Muscovy  Ducks,  \Jrs.  Dr.  W.  E.  Hiil,  Raleigh, 
diploma. 

Lot  of  Game  Fowls,  N.  W.  Ari-iugton,  Nash, 
diploma 

Muscovy  Ducks,  Mrs.  J.  0.  Rourke,  Raleigh 
diploma. 

1  pair  Ducks,  Mrs.  E.  Hall,  Raleigh,  diplo. 

2  pairs   Sh.^nghai  Fowls,  Geo.  T.  ^ooke,  Ral- 
eigh, diploma. 

1  Mo'n<rrel  Fowl,  R.  T.'  Barksdale,  Cumberland, 
diploma. 


the  best  single  mule  on  ex- 
hibition at  the  Fair,  which 
was  adopted. 

Mr.  Clark,  of  Warren 
county,  introduced  the  fol- 
lowing preamble  and  reso- 
lutions, which,  after  some 
discussion  by  Messrs.  Little- 
john,  Winslow  and  Tomp- 
kins, were  adopted  : 

Whereas,  the  interests  of 
the  farmer  have  been  imposed 
upon  by  all  classes  of  specu- 
laiors,  the  l.ist  ihoiigh  i.ot 
lenst  of  which  is  the  impe- 
rious act  of  the  nccredited 
airents  of  the  Peruvian  Gov- 
ernment, in  the  distribuiion 
nnd  sale  of  guano,  all  (if  which 
they  have  to  the  present  time 
bi-rne  with  patience,  until 
longer  forbeariince  would 
ceM^e  to  be  a  vir'.ue ;  and, 
whereas,  we  see  wiili  pleas- 
ure thiit  other  State  and  dis- 
trict Societies,  wiih  indepen- 
dent zeal  are  taking  such 
steps  as  will  remedy  this  evil, 
and  sect. re  to  themselves  tliat 
protection  and  slaiiou  in  so- 
ciety to  which  they  are  en- 
titled : 

Be  it  Resolved,  That  th& 
President  of  this  S"ci<!ty  ap- 
point a  committee  of  seven 
members  to  wai  upon  the 
executive  depar.menl  of  llie 
general  government,  to  act  in 
unison  wiih  similar  commit- 
tees, appoin'ed  by  otherSiate 
Agricultural  Societies,  toach- 
intf  the  snme  great  cause,  \o 
t.ike  such  steps  as  ihey  may 
deem  expedient,  and  report 
tlieir  aciion  to  the  next  regu- 
l;ir  meeiiug  of  the  Society. 

Be  it  further  Resohed,, 
That  the  Correspon  iiiiyf  Sec- 
retary of  this  Socie'y  inform; 
the  officers  of  the  Agi  {cultural 
Societies  of  Maryl.ind,  Vir- 
ginia, DehiwKre,  the  District. 
of  Columbi;!,  and  such  others 
as  he  may  think  advisable,  of 
the  action  of  this  Society,  and 
solicit  uni.son  of  aciion. 

The  committee  appointed 


i2S 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


591.  Sbflnghai  Chi'ekene,  J.  C.  Partridge,  Raleigh, 
,,   ^      diploma. 

608.  Lot  of  Japan  Chickens,  S.  Smith,  Raleigh, 
diploma. 

145.  Lot  of  Fruit,  Thos.  Lindley,  Chatham,  for 
'    '        best  variety,  1st  premium,  ^'5. 

4(35.  Lot  ot  Fruit,  John  Stafford,  Alamance,  for  2d 
■  best  variety,  diploma. 

421.  Winter  Pears,  Dr.  Chapman,  Craven,  diploma. 

221.       "  "    Mrs.  G.  Meredith,  Wake,  " 

1-91.  Lot  of  Apples,  W.  Thumi>son,     "       " 

341-'2.  Lot  of  apples,  W.R.  Pool,       " 

253.  Lot  of  Grapes,  Dr.  S.  Weller,  Halifax,  " 

298.  Pomegranites,  Mrs.  L.  M.  Tucker,  Raleigh, 
diploma. 

501,  Lima  Beans,  Rev. Richard  Mason,  D.  D.,  Ra- 
leigh, diploma. 

442-'3.  Peach   Preserves,  Mrs.   GrifBce,   Raleigh, 
diploma. 

561.  Preserved  Glass  Melons,  Mrs,  J.  Evans,  Cum- 
berland, diploma. 

196  to  208.  Variety  of  Butter,  Jellies,  &c..   Mrs. 
Louisa  A.  Holt,  I>avidson,  $5  and  diploma. 

46*7.  Jar  of  Pickled  Peaches,  Mrs.  H.  B.  Bobbitt, 
Raleigh,  diploma. 

'15.  Jar  of  Oil  Mangoes,  Mrs.C.  M.  Winslow,  Fay- 
etteville,  diploma. 

.678.  Malaga  Grapes,  from  the   seed,  Mrs.  James 
Redmond,  Tarborough,  diploma. 

^^27.  Blood  Beets,  Geo.  M.  Whiting,  Raleigh,  di- 
ploma. 
43.  Siigar  Beets,  J.  Kilpatrick,  Raleigh,  diploma. 

21S,  226.  Oregun  Peas   and    lot   of  Turnips,  W^. 
Whitaker,  W'ake,  diploma. 

246  to  252.    Variety    of  Vegetables,    &c..    Dr.    S. 
Weller,  diploma. 
31.  Lot  of  Squashes,  W.  H.  Morning,  Johnston, 
Diploma. 

568.  Mercer  Irish  Potatoes,  P.  C.  Cameron,  Orange, 
Diploma. 
80  Fruit  Trees,  Thomas  Lindley,  Chatham, 

1st  premium,  $10,00. 
1  Large  Beet,  J.  H.  Kincey,  .Jones  Co.  Di- 
ploma. 

SIO.  Jointed  Cultivator,  E.  Whitman  &  Co.  Balti- 
more, Md.,  1st  premium,  diploma. 

'Slh  Geddes  Harrow,  S.  March,  Norfolk,  Va.,  1st 
premium,  diploma. 

612.  Hill  &\de  Plow,  J.  M.  Towles,  Raleigh,  1st 

premium,  ^diploma. 

613.  Wheat  iDrill,  E.  Whitman  &  Co.,  Bait.,  Md., 

1st  pi-eraiuHi^  diploma. 


a5i. 


-412. 


to  carry  out  the  above  pre- 
amble and  resolutions,  are: 
Dr.  Wm.  R.  Holt,  R.  H. 
Smith,  P.  C.  Camen  n.  Hon. 
A.  W.Venabii^H.R.  Burg- 
win,  E.  A.  Crudup  and  H. 
J.  H.  Clark. 

The  lion.  Charles  Manly 
introduced  the  following  res- 
olution, which  was  ado])ted  ; 

Sesolred,  That  the  Presi- 
dent of  this  Society  appoint 
a  Committee  of  three  pt  rsons 
to  take  chr^rge  of  the  Fair 
wroiirids,  fixtures  ind  other 
property  of  the  Society  during 
the  recess,  ;ind  until  the  next 
Annual  Meeting.  And  that 
Si^id  committee  be  instrreted 
to  have  ihe  grounds  plowed 
:ind  leveled,  manured  and 
sown  in  grass,  and  the  product 
be  preserved  for  the  use  of 
the  Society. 

The  fidlowing  gentlemen 
were  appointed  to  carry  out 
the  object  of  the  resolution  : 
Jere.  IS^ixon,  Wm.  R.  Too], 
of  Wake  county,  and  John 
Hutchings. 

On  motion  the  Society  ad- 
journed to  meet  in  the  Com- 
mons Hall  on  Wednesday 
evening  at  1  o'clock. 


Wednesday  Evening,  ) 
Oct.  19th.  1853.      [ 

The  Society  met  accord 
ing    to    adjournment,    th™ 
President,  J.  S.  Dancy,  in 
the  chair,  and  the  roll  was 
called. 

,W.  Whitaker  of  Wake, 
tendered  his  resignation  as 
Treasurer  of  the  Society : 
and  asked  for  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  Committee  to  ex- 
amine his  accounts  and  re- 
port thereon  at  the  nexfc 
meeting  of  the  Society. 

The  resignation  was  ac- 
cepted, and  Messrs.  W.  H 
Jones,  R.  E.  McNair  and  R. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


229 


614.  Horse  Rake,  Boram  &  Co.,  Norfolk,  Va.,  1st 

premium,  diploma. 

615.  Sweep  and  Railway  Horse  Powers,  E.  Whit- 

man &  Co.,  Bait.,  Md.,  1st  premium,  diplo. 
234.  Hay  and   Straw  Cutter,  John  Stafford,  Ala- 
mance, 1st  premium,  |5. 

618.  Grist  Mill,  horse  power,  E.  Whitman  &  Co., 

Bait.,  1st  premium,  diploma. 
13.  One-horse  Plow,  W.  B.  Williams,  Warrenton, 
1st  premium,  $5. 
617.  Subsoil  Plow,  Borum  &  Co,  Norfolk,  Virginia, 
1st  premium,  diploma. 

619.  Ox  Yoke,  Borum   &  Co..  Norfolk.  Virginia, 

1st  premium,  diploma. 
502.  Saw  Mill  for  Horse  Power,  Tappey  &  Luras- 
den,  Petersburg,  Va.,  diploma. 

620.  Faaning  Mill,E.  Whitman  (k  Co.,  Bait.,  Md., 

1st  premium,  diploma. 

621.  Rabbin's  Patent  Churn,  E.  Whitman  &  Co., 

Bait.,  Md.,  diploma. 

622.  Partridge  Fork  and  Hoe,  E.  Whitman  &  Co. 

Bait.,  Md.,  diploma. 

623.  Grist    Mill    for    hand-power,  Borum  &  Co., 

Norfolk,  diploma. 

128.  Cotton  Press,  Alpheus  Jonas,  Wake,  diploma. 

460.  Sitfut  Machine,  J.  A.  McMannen,  Orange,  di- 
ploma. 

624.  Scoop,  S.  March,  Norfolk,  diploma. 

625.  Hay  Press,   E.  Whitman    &  Co.,    Bait.,    1st 

premium,  diploma. 

479.  Cotton  Plow,  Richardson's  patent,  J.  Sim- 
mons, Halifax,  $5. 

026.  Corn  Sheller,  (band-power,)  S.  March,  Nor- 
folk, diploma. 

627.  Wheat  Thrashing  Machine  and  Straw  Car- 
rier, E.  Whitman  <fe  Co.,  Bait,,  premium, 
diploma. 

629.  Collection  of  Greenhouse  Plants,  C.  Lutter- 
loh,  Fayettoville,  diploma. 

245.  1  Citron  Lemon  Tree,  Mrs.  T.  P.  Devereux, 
Raleigh,  diploma. 

516.  4  Cases  Embalmed  Flowers,  R.  B.  Smith, 
Cumberland,  diploma. 

629.  2  Vases  Floral  Ornaments,  Misses  Sarah  and 
Rebecca  Rogers,  diploma. 
29.  1  Net  Counterpane,  Mrs.  Beckwith,  Johnston, 

1st  premium,  |5,  and  diploma. 
48.  Wax  Flowers,  Miss  V.'Gary,  Raleigh,  diploma.* 
50.       "  "     Miss  E.  Co! burn,     " 

52.  Fancy  Work  Stand,  Embroidery  and  Orna 
mental  Work,  Mrs.  J.  C,  Partridge,  Ra 
leigh,  |5  and  diploma. 


Henry  Webb,  appointed -as 
the  Commrttee. 

James  F.  Taylor  of  Wake, 
tendered  his  resignation  as 
Recording  Secretary  of  tlie 
Society,  which  was  accepted. 
On  motion  the  Society 
proceeded  to  tha  election  of 
Officers  f  )r  the  ^nsuinu  year, 
which  resulted  as  follows,  •.■ 
viz  ; 

Richard  H.  Smith,  of  Hali- 
fax, President.  '<'■ 
John    S.  Dancv,   of  Edge- 
combe, 1st  Vice  Pres't.    • 
Henry  Elliott,  of  Cumber- 
land, 2d  Vice  Pres't. 
Dr.  Wm.  R.Holt,  of  David- 
son, 3.1  Vice  Pres't. 
H.  J.  B.  Clark,  of  Warren, 

4th  Vice  Pres't. 
Dr.    J.  /  F.    Tompkins,    of 

Wake,  Recording  Sec'y 
T.  J.  Lemay,  of  Wake,  Cor- 
responding Sec'y. 
T.  F.   Hutchins,  of  Wake, 
Treasurer. 

On  motion  ofMr.L.  O'B. 
Branch,  of  V/ake,  the  fol- 
lowing resolution  was  un- 
animously adoDted,  viz: 

Hesohed,  That  the  thanka 
of  the  Soi-iety  are  due,  and 
are  hereby  tendered  tu  J.  S. 
Dfincy,  Esq.,  of  Edofecoinbe,; 
for  the  able  and  efficient  man- 
ner in  which  he  has  presided 
over  this  body  during  his  terns 
of  office. 

On  motion  it  was 
Resolved,  That  the  Record- 
ing Secretary  and  Treasurer 
be  paid  .an  annual  salary  of 
$100  e:ich,  for  services  ren- 
dered the  Society  in  the  dis- 
charge of  the  duties  of  their 
respective  offices. 

Ml.  Nixon  moved  that  the 
sum  of  $30  be  paid  W.  W. 
Whitaker,  of  Wake,  it  being 
the  amount  of  his  expenses 
while  on  a  visit  to  Baltimore 
to  examine  the  plan  of  the- 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


54.  Sun  flower  Quilt,  Miss  J.  Rutb,  Raleigh,  dip. 
&5.  59.  2  Quilts,  Mrs.  S.  Miller,  " 

g6.  1  "       Mrs.  Murden,  "         " 

g7-'8.     2      "       Mrs.  Barbour,  "         " 

a84.  1       "       Miss  Olivia  Duplin,     " 

84-'5-'6.   2  Counterpanes,  and  1  Quilt,  Mrs.  M. 

A.  Wttlker,  Warren,  diploma, 
g7-'8.  2  Oouiiterpaiies,Mi-s.  M.  E.  Paschal!,  War- 
ren, diploma. 
104-'5-'e.   Rug  and   2   pieces  of  Carpet,  Mrs.  J. 

Staten,  Edgecombe,  diploma. 
Sfi8.  1  Bolt  l>omesiics,  Hayettevilie  Mill,  Cumber- 
land, diploma. 
125-G.  Home-made  Siik,  and   Silk  and  W^orsted 
Cloth,  A.  E.  Fuller,  Granville,  diploma, 
83.  Striped  Domestics  A.  M,  Holt,  Alamance,  di- 
pU  ma. 
134.  2  Pair  Bed  Blankets,  M.  Pullen,  Wake,  dip. 
146.       ''  "  Mrs.  S.  Vincent,  Chat- 

ham, dijiloma. 
144.  Bed  Quilt,  Mrs.  Langlay,  Granville,  diploma. 
148.  Centre-table  Cover.  Mrs.  F.  Lloyd.  Bladen  dip. 
27-'8.  Suavv  and  Palm  Hals,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Morn- 
ing. Johnstcai,  1st  pnniium,  |3,  and  diplo. 
30.  B..X  Tallow  Candles,  W.  H.  Morning,  John- 
ston, diploma. 
32.  1  Bundle    of  News    Printing   Paper,  David 
Murphy,  Cumberland,  Ist  premmm,  $5  and 
diploma. 
497.  1  Bundle  of  Book  Printing  Ptijer,  James  F. 
Jordan   &  Co.,  Raleigh,  1st  premium,  $5, 
and  diploma. 
22.  Specimen  of  Leather.  W.  F.  Hilliard,  Frank- 
lint(  n,  $5  and  diploma. 

108.  Home-made  Soap,   Mrs.   Paul,   Halifax,  1st 

pnniium,  85,  and  c'iploma. 

109.  Merino  Wool,  J.  W.  Cotton,  Halifax,  diploma. 
140    Case    <if  Minerals  and    Oies,  J.  P.  Mabry 

Lexington,  $6  and  diitloma. 

141.  Patent  Camphene   Lamp   and  Filler,  G.  R. 

GriflBth,  Pittsboro,  diploma. 

142.  American  Cr*am  Soap,   G.  R.  Giiffith,  Pitts- 

boro, diploma. 

143.  LotofSlone  Ware,  S.  Lov, Chatham, diploma. 
107  &  166.  Lamp  Mats,  Mrs.  M.  F.  King,  Tarbo- 

rough,  diploma. 
©8.  1  Do«  T  Lock,  Joseph  Weltering,  Raleigh,  $5 

and  diploma. 
3E12.  Specimen  of  Type  for  printing  for  the  Blind, 

W.  D.  Cooke,  Raleigh,  diploma. 
f^9-'40.  Chisels  and  Strew  Plate,  ma.le  by  G.  W. 

Pickard,  Webb  &  Douglass,  Orange,  pre- 

|i3ium,  $5  and  diploma. 


Fair  Grounds  of  the  Mary- 
land State  Agiicultuial  So- 
ciety. Mr.  Smith,  of  Cum- 
berland, moved  to  amend  by 
inserting  150  instead  of  $30, 
which  was  accepted  and  the 
resolution  adojited. 

Mr.  Dancy,  of  Edgecombe, 
introduced  the  following  re- 
solution, which  was  adotn- 
cd  : 

Resolved..  That  in  coivsider- 
ation  of  the  services  of  Dr. 
Jrio.  F.  Tompkins,  in  bel  alf 
of  tiie  cause  of  Agriculture, 
that  the  State  Ajiriculiural 
Society  do  f^ubscribe  for  five 
hundred  copies  of  the  Farm 
er"s  Jourral,  beuinninir  wiih 
the  November  No.,  and  that 
sidd  copies  of  tlie  Jonrmd  be 
distributed  throughont  the 
Slate  under  the  direc.ioii  of 
the  coirespoiding  iSeerctary 
of  the  Society. 

Mr.  Rayner  introduced  the 
following  resolution,  which 
was  adopted  : 

Resohed.  Tliat  if  the  sever- 
al commitlees  should  be  of 
(ipinioii  that  any  article  on 
exhibition,  not  mentioned  in 
ihe  schedule  of  premiums,  be 
entitled  to  merit  on  account 
of  its  peculiar  excellence,  the 
si.id  cdniiniitee  be  directed  to 
awaid  for  said  article  a  diplo- 
ma. 

On  motion  of  J.  S.  Dancy, 
it  was 

Resolved,  That  the  Execu- 
tive Committee  be  lequested 
tot(nder  the  thai.ks  of  this 
Society  to  tho!-e  ladies  of  Ral- 
eigh, who  hi.ve  assisted  in  de- 
corating and  attending  Floral 
Hall,  during  the  Fair. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  Crudup, 
it  was 

Resolved,  That  all  the  offi- 
cers of  this  society  shidl  here- 
after be  elected  on  Wednes- 
day night  of  each  annual  meet- 
ing; but  not  to  enter  upon 
their  duties  until  the  clo'-e  of 
that  annual  meeting  of  the 
society. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


231 


;69. 

39. 

81- 

!43. 
:38. 

172. 

73. 

75. 

76 

62. 

30. 

86. 
61. 
88. 
11- 
28- 
11. 
32. 

33. 

38. 

36. 
37. 
SO. 
45- 


Staivh,  Mrs.  Dr.  Fie!J,  Wnrreti,  diplcuiM. 
iiail  Road  Passenger  Cohl-H,   Jiio.  R.  Ilarri 

son,  RaK'iLfli,  1st   premium  $30  and  dip'a. 
Silk  Shawl,  silk  raised   by  maker,  Mi-s.  F.  A. 

Graves,  Caswell,  $5  and  dipl'ima. 
Corn  St  ilk  Cabin,  G.  Deming,  (12  years  old,) 

Curub  'rland,  diploma. 
iSegar    Case,  Miss   E.   McCullers,  Johnston, 

diploma. 
Cotton  Yarns,  Makepeace  <fe  Christian,  Mont- 
gomery, diploma. 
-'2.  Cotton  Yarns,  A.  M.  TTolt,  Alamance,  dip. 
"       Gen.  B.  Trollinger  " 
"         "       Webb  <fe  Douglass,  Orange; 

diploma. 
1  Raised  Map  for  the   Blind,  W.  D  Cooke, 

Raleigh,  Lst  premium  $5  and  diploma. 
Specimens  of  Card  Printing,    W.   D.   Cooke, 

Rateigli,  1st  ])remin:n,  diplmna. 
Sjjeeimens  of  Printing  in  Colors,  W.  D.  Cooke 

Raleigh,  1st  premium,  diploma. 
S})ecimens  of  printing  in  Gold,  W.  D.Cooke, 

R:deigh,  1st  premium,  dip!  >ma. 
S|»eeimen  of  B-)(;k  Printing,  W.  W.  H>)Iden, 

Raleigh,  1st  premium,  $5  and  diploma. 
For  Best  specimens  of  Priming  of  all  kinds, 

W.  D.  Cooke,  Raleigh,  1st  premium  $5  and 

diploma. 
Basket  of  .Artificial  Flowers,Mrs.  Louise  Bauer, 

Raleigh,  1st  preiuium,  $3  and  diploma. 
Specimen  Book-binding  VV.  L.  Pomeror,  Ral- 
eigh, diploma. 
3  Lamp  Mats,  Graves  &  Wilcox,  Warrenton, 

diploma. 
-'2.  llair  VVreath  and  Pins,  Miss  M.  L.  Mein- 

ung,  Salem,  $5  and  diploma. 
•'20-'3O.  Paper  Cuttings,  Miss  C.  M.  Hunter, 

Warren,  diploma. 
Fire    Sereen,    worked    with   Straw,   Mrs.  Dr. 

Field,  Warren,  premium  $3,   and  diploma. 
Einbroidered    H  indkerchief,   Miss  Stanmire, 

Goldsboro',  1st  premium  $5,  and  diploma. 
1  Quilt,  Miss  Usher,  Duplin,  diploma. 
Phiid  Linsey,  Mrs.  S.  S.  Royster,  Granville,  |5 

and  diploma. 
1  Q  dlt,  Mrs,  Dr.  Hendei-son,  WilliamsboTO', 

diphmia. 
Yarn  Cmiterpane,  Mrs.  Cox,  Hendersar>,  |5 

and  diploma. 
Cradle  Quilt,  Miss  Tompkins,  aged   5  year.s, 

Bath,  diploma. 
-'6-'7.  3  Counterpanes,  Mrs.  J.  Adams,  Wake, 

diploma. 


M I-.  D.  I  n  cy  m . )  V  e J  tf  1  at  1  b« 
Trea-^urer  be  authorized  tjo 
pay  Drury  King  |10,  for 
services  rendered  in  liirbiing 
up  the  Commons  H.hII,  ring-, 
ing  bell,  &c.,  during  meeting 
of  Society,  which  was  adop- 
ted. 

Mr.  Gui  >n  moved  that  the 
sumofSlOO,  bepaid  W.  W. 
Whitaker,  fir  services  ren- 
dered in  making  prepara- 
tions for  the  Fair,  which  was 
carried. 

On  motion,  the  S  )ciety 
adjourned  to  meet  on  Thurs- 
day evening  at  7  o'clock. 


Thursd  y  EvENrNG,  ) 
Oct.  20.      \ 

The  Society  met  according 
to  adjournment,  the  Presi- 
dent, R.  H.  Smith,  in  the 
chair.  The  call  of  the  roll 
was  dispensed  with,  anil  thj© 
Society  proceeded  to  busi- 
ness. 

Hon.  Charles  Manly,  ol 
Wake,  asked  permissian  to 
read  a  com'uunicition  from 
Hon.  George  E.  Ba  Iger,  and 
that  the  same  be  spread  u.p- 
on  the  minutes  of  the  So- 
ciety, which  was  granted. 

Raleigh,  Oct.  19,  1853. 
My  Dear  Sik  :  I  have  noth- 
ing to  cQiniribute  to  the  exhi* 
bition  af  the  North  Cirdiiia 
Fair,  but  T  would  fain  e.vpr;'S8 
in  some  appropriate  manner, 
the  interest  whicii  everv  .wh 
of  the  old  North  State  sh'ivjW 
feel  in  iier  success  in  agricul- 
ture and  the  uieehi.nitral  ariBj 
I  therefore  send  some  b;iy9 
of  the  last  paient  office  re- 
ports, both  aifrieultural  nni 
meehimie  d,  which  I  beg  yoa 
to  have  dislrihused  as  far  as 
they  will  <fi)  amoii<f  the  mem- 
bers of  the  society  and  other 
fiietids  now  in  tiie  city.  Wish- 
ing Ii-Quld  do  I'.oPif,  but  h'.;p- 
ing  that  this  offering  may  not 


232 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


450.  1  pr.  Blanket  W.  C.  Stedinan,  Wake,  diplo. 
4:11.  1    Counlerpaue,    Miss    L.   M.    Stephenson, 

Wake,  diploma. 
^05-'6-'7.  3  Quilts,  W.  W.  Guess,  Orange,  diplo. 
ai5.  1  Colored  Blanket,  Mrs.Thos.  Carrol,  Warren, 

1st  preuiiuni  $3  and  diploma. 
&23.  Wlietstone  grit,  P.S.  Benbow,  Alamance,  dip. 
528-9.  2  Blankets,   Mrs.   A.  H.  Davis,  Franklin, 

diploma. 
&58.  Satin  Bed  Quilt,  Miss  M.  A.  Willhite,  Raleigh, 

diploma. 
573.  2  Quilts,  Mis.  J.  E.  Kyle,  Cumberland,  diplo. 
§,74.  Sample  of  Rye,  J.  Belts,  Raleigh,  diploma. 

575.  1  Spirit  Barrel,  11.  Wright,  Cumberland,  dip. 

576.  Sj>ecimens  of  DenUistry,  made  in   the  State, 

Dr.W.  C.  Benbow,  Fayetteville,  1st  premium 
^3,  and  diploma. 
9-27  to  231.  Specimens  of  Caps,  Mrs.  McGowan, 
Raleigh,  diploma. 

589.  0.  F.  Regalia,  J.  M.  Miles,  Portsmouth,  Va., 

dipli>ma. 

590.  Candle  Shade,  Miss  Madeline  Saunders,  Ra- 

leigh, diploma. 

478.  Home-made  Soap,  J.  J.  Brarae,  Henderson, 
diploma. 

g05.  Negro  Shirting,  Mrs.  S.  Tripp,  Beaufort,  pre- 
mium lo  and  diploma. 

806.  1  Domestic  Carpet,  Mrs.  Guilford,  Beaufort, 
diploma. 

307.  1  Work-stand,  Mrs.  J.  F.  Jordan,  Raleigh, 
diploma. 

308-'9-'10.  Embroidery,  Wax  Flowers,  Coral  Pitch- 
ers and  Work  Stand,  Miss  S.  A.  Partridge, 
Raleigh,  $5  and  dii>loma. 

314.  Silk  patched  bed  Quilt,  Miss  M.  Grimes,  Ral- 
eigh, diploma. 

328.  Embroidered  Chair, Miss  S.  A.  Hines,  Raleigh, 
diploma. 

335_'6_-7,  EndMoidered  Table-covers,  &c.,  Mrs.  An- 
nice  Cowper,  Murfreesborough,  diploma. 

dS3.  1  Dozen  Brooms,  manufactured  at  the  Insti- 
tution for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  and  the 
Blind,  W.  D.  Cooke,  Raleigh,  diploma. 

401-'2-'3.  Carpet  Warp,  Sheeting,  and  Stocking 
Yarn,  J.  Newland   &  Son,  Alamance,  dip. 

408-'9.  Sh<^eting  and  Drilling,  A.  S.  Horney, 
,  ,   Fraiiklinsville,  diploma. 

413.  Hearth  Rug,  Mrs.  M.  Clack,  Granville,  1st 
premium  $5  and  diploma. 

4l4-'15.  Mantilla  atid  Apron,  Mi-s.  W.  J.  Clarke, 
Raleigh,  diphma. 

425-6.  Counterpane  and  Cape,  Mre.  Gregory, 
Granville,  diploma. 


be    entirely   inappropriate,    I 
am,  my  dear  ^ir,  as  ever, 
Your  friend  anti  servant, 
GEO.  E.  BADGER. 
To  Hon.  Chas.  Manly. 

On  motion  of  Paul  C. 
Cameron,  of  Orange,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  tlie  Treas- 
urereleci,9ndall  future  Treas- 
urers be  required  to  execute 
their  boiids,  with  securities 
to  be  approved  by  the  Presi- 
dent, in  a  Hum  double  the  a- 
mount  in  the  Treasury,  which 
sum  shall  be  asceriained  by 
the  President. 

The  President  appointed 
the  following  officers  for  the 
next  year : 

The  Executive  Committee. 
Dr.  E.  A.  Crudup,  Franklin, 
John  S.  Dancy,  Edgecombe, 
Charles  Matily,  Raleigh, 
l^r.  Wm.   R.   Holt,   David- 
son, 
J.  S.  Carroway,  Lenoir, 
W.  W.  Whitaker,  Wake, 
David  McDaniel,  Nash, 
John  C.  McRae,  New  Han- 
over, 
W^m.  A.  Eaton,  Granville,^ 
Wm.  H.   Jones,   Wake, 
Wm.  R.  Pool, 
Wm.  T.Smith,  Cumberland, 
Wm.  Long,  Caswell, 
James  F.  Taylor,  Wake, 
John  Elkott,  Cumberland. 
The  CoMMinEE  of  Ae- 

RANGEMHKrS. 

Jere.  Nixon,  W'ake, 
H.  J.  B.  Clark,  Warren, 
William  D.  Cuuke,  Wake, 
Robert  Norfleet,  Edgecorab 
H.  Mordecai,  Wake, 
E.  P.  Guion, 
Jno.  Hutcbins,     " 
J.  F.  Tomi)kins,  " 
Dr.  W.  R.  Scott." 
A.  J.  Leach,  Johnston. 
The  Committee  to  Selec 

A  Speaker. 

.John  S.  Dancy,  Elgecomb 

H.  K.  Burgwin,  Northamj 

ton, 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


238 


423.  2  Counterpanes,  C.  Alfred,    Wake,  diploma. 
530  to  534.   Worsted   Embroidery,  Miss  Mary    A. 

Turrit  r,  Warrenloii,  $5  and  diploma. 
154.  1  Pin«  Apple  Quilt,  Miss  V.  Cooke,  Franklin, 

premium,  ^2  and  diploma. 
156-'7-'8.    Black  and    Brown   Jeans  and    Negro 

Clotli,  F.  &  H.  Freeze,  Salem,  diploma. 
159.  Home-made  Jeans,  Mrs.  R.  A.  Shultz,  Salem, 

premium  |5  and  diploma. 
161.  2  pieces   Domestic  carpet,  Mrs.  A.  W.  Ven- 

able,   diploma. 
164.  Rye  straw  Carpet,  I.  J.  Sides,  Salem,  $2,50  and 

dii)loma. 

213.  Rice  Straw   Carpet,  Mrs.  R.  A.  Shultz,  $2,50 

and  diploma. 
177.   1  pair  Stockings,  Miss  M.  S.  Graves,  Caswell, 

diploma. 
184.  Wax   Flosvers,  Messrs.  Graves  and    Wilcox, 

Warrenton,  diploma. 

209.  1  Quilt,  Mrs.  B.  F.  Moore,  Raleigh,  diploma. 

210.  1  Quilt,  Mrs.  R.  A.  Shultz,  Salem,  diploma. 
316  to  321.  Stockings,   Gloves,   &c.,  of  silk,    Mrs. 

Mary  Whitaker,  75    years    old,   Wake,  $5 
and  diploma. 
322.  Handkerchief  and  Silk  Stockings,  Miss  Sallie 
Rodgers,  Raleigh,  diploma. 

214.  Lot  of  colored  Sheep  Skins,  Mrs.  R.  A.  Shultz, 
""  Salem,  for  the  variety  of  articles  exhibited, 

a  special  diploma. 

220.  Cotton  Net  Coverlet,  Mrs.  S.  L.  Smith,  Cum- 
berland, |3  and  diploma. 

225.  Lot  of  Sheetings,  Drillings  and  Yarns,  D. 
Kivett,  Randolph,  diploma. 

232.  Home-made  Carpet,  Mrs.  Mary  Whitaker, 
Wake,  diploma. 

244,  253.  Window  Curtains,  Mrs.  A.  W.  Mordecai, 
Wake,  diploma. 

262.  1  Quilt,  Mrs.  H.  J.  Brown,  Raleigh,  diploma. 

266.  1  Mantelette,  Mrs.  Hall,  Fayetteville,     " 

267.  1  Pair  Children's  Socks,  Miss  Hill,  Raleigh, 

diploma. 

274.  1  Siik  Quilt,  Mrs.  Evans,  Raleigh, |2  and  diplo. 

275.  1  Quilt,  Mrs.  D.  Royster,  jr.,  Raleigh,  diploma. 
284-'5.    I  Bed  Curtain   and   Counterpane,  Mrs.  J. 

Strickland,  Wake,  diploma. 
297.  2  Tidy  Curtains,  Mrs.  L.  M.Tucker,  Raleigh, 

diploma. 
304.  Calico  Coverlet,  Mrs.  L.  J.  Sparrow,  Beaufort, 

diploma. 
202.  1  Jar  North  Devon  Butter,  Mrs.  Dr.  Wm.  R. 

Holt,  Lexington,  1st  premium,  diploma. 
440.  1  Jar  North    Devon    Butter,   Mrs.  McDaniel, 

Nash,  2d  premium,  diploma. 


T.  J.  Lemay,  Wafce. 

Marshall  <fe  Assist anib. 
Col.  L.  W.  Humphrey,  Ob- 
slow.  Chief  Marshall. 

C.  B.  Sanders,  Johnston, 
W.  S.  Baitle,  Edgecombe, 
David  Hinton,  Wake, 
•W.  H.  Tripp,  Beaufort, 
Joseph  B.  Fianner,  N.  Haih- 

over. 

Mr.  Rayner  then  intro- 
duced the  following  reso- 
lution, which  was  adopted: 

Resohed,  That  ihe  thanks 
of  tiie  Stiite  Agiicultuial  So- 
ciety are  due,  and  are  hereby 
tendered,  to  the  Commitiee 
of  Arrangements,  and  tiie  Ex- 
ecutive Committee,  for  their 
un  iriiig  attention  and  assidu- 
ous labors  in  the  discharge  oT 
ttieir  rPKpeciivtt  duties  inmak- 
inir  prepii rations  for,  and  in 
holding  the  vState  Fair. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  E.  A, 
Crudup,  the  Executive  Con*- 
mittee  were  directed  to  hand 
over  the  reports  of  the  sev- 
eral committees  on  the  award 
of  premiums,  after  being 
publicly   read,   to  Mr.  Wm. 

D.  Cooke,  of  Wake,  to  cor- 
rect and  conform  to  law^ 
preparatory  to  publication. 

Dr.  Tompkins  moved  that 
the  sum  of  $100  be  paid  tot 
Jere.  Nixon,  Esq.,  for  ser- 
vices rendered  in  making 
preparation  for  the  hdlding 
uf  the  State  Fair,  which  was 
adopted. 

Mr.  Giiion  moved  ihat  the 
Treasurer's  bond  be  deposi- 
ted ill  the  Cape  Fear  Bank, 
in  the  care  of  W.  H.  Jones, 
which  was  carried. 

Mr.  Rayner  moved  that» 
delegation  of  five  ra:  rnt>eHS 
of  this  Society  be  appointed 
to  attend  the  next  anniiJ 
meetings  of  the  Maryland 
and  Virginia  State  Agricul- 
tural Societies.  % 


9S4 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


eS.   1  I'ox  of  Hams,  Mrs.  H.  Elliott,  Cum bei land, 

1st  pieriiiiiin,  $5  and  dij-lonia. 
111.  1  Hmiti,  R.  a.  Davis,  Waiitii.  diploma. 
160.  1  Box   White  Honey,  R.   A.  Shultz,   Salem, 

diploma. 
%03.  1  Box  Hams,  Dr.  Wm.  R.  Holt,  Lexington, 
diploma. 
18.  1  Jar  of  Butter,  Mrs.  W.  B.  Williams,  War- 
ron,  diploma. 
&S4.    4    Spicimeiis    of   Wine  from    Scnppernong 
Grape,  Rev.  Sidney  \^'ell^^r,   Halil';tx,  diplo. 
&80.   1  Jar  Butter,  Mrs.  A.-ktw,  W^arren,  diploma. 
€30.  5  Bottles  wine,  David  Le\vi>,Frai.klin,    " 
190.   1  Bedstead.  W^m.  Tliomp>on,  Raleigli,     " 
62.  0)1  Painting,  "Deuili  of  Jolin  WeslV-y,"  ().  R 
Copeland,  NorthamiitoiJ,  1st  premium,  $10 
and  diploma. 
64.  Oil  Painting, '-Hope,"  0  P.  Copeland,  North- 
amplon,  diploma. 
5&3.  Oil  P;iintintJ^,   "Mooidight  Landscape,"  Miss 
Annie  'i  urner,  WarifUtoii,  diploma. 
44.  2  Paintings,  I'ov  find    (Jirl,  M!^s  S.  A.  Part- 
ridge, Raleigh,  diploma. 

73.  1  Painting,  '-1^  ailing  L<  at,"  Mrs.  L.  H.  \\alk- 

er,  (irt'ensloro',  diploma. 

74.  1  Pa  niiiig,  "Seene  on  the  Hn  'son,"  Mis.  L. 

H.  Walker,  Greensboio',  diploma. 
15.  1   Painting,    "Alpine   Scenery,"    Mrs.    L.  H. 

Walker,  Grwn.>l)oro\  diploma. 
^76.   1  I'aiiiting,  "Siins«:'t  on    Lake  George,"  Mrs. 

L.   H.  Walker,  (irecn^boro',  diplonja. 
S8o.   ]   I 'aiming,  in    pastel,   *'  Fiuil    Peace,''  Miss 

M:  ly  A.  Pari^h,  15  years  old,  of  Warreii- 

ton  Female  Institute,  diploma. 
186.   1  Painting,  in   cra_\on,   "Coiinne,"  Mi.-s  Vic- 
toria L.  Clarke,  15  years  old,  of  Waireiiion 

Fcirale  Institute,  d.pl(  ma. 
IBT.   1  Oil  I'ainlirg,  'O.d  Topers,"  Mrs.  S.  A.  Wil- 

fi  X,  Warreiiton  Female  Inslitilte,  diploma. 

631.  13  Daguerreotypes,    T.   J.   Havens,  Raleigh, 

di|iioma. 

632.  Aiciiiiectural    Dengns,    IL    Harbougli,  Fay- 

ettevi  1.',  (o  and  diploma. 

633.  Draw  iig  (  f  IJiltoii  Bridge.  \Vilmington,N.  P. 

Midler,  Wiimingion,  dipli-ma. 

634.  Dagnerii  oi\  pe  of  tiie  tir.st  Dail\  Rakigli  Re- 

gister, S.  (;.•.!«'>,  Jt.ibigli.  dipl'  ma. 
49.   1  I'aiiitiiig    "Winter  Scene,"  M^-^s  Ellen  Col- 

bum,    liab'gli,  dipli'iiia. 
f37.   1  Dravviiio-,  (ireeiaii  Cottage,  J.   W.  Wolter- 

ing,  Kaleigli,  diploma. 
2S8»5  set>  Wagon  and  Carriage  Couplings  J.  N.  | 

Seely,  Forsytlie  co.,  Geo.,  $3  and  di{)loma. 


Committee  to  atiem>  'iiiK 

B.^LTIMORE    Fa  IK. 

\V.  W.  Whitaker,  Wake, 
Hei)r\  Elliot!,  Cumberland, 
J.  F.Taylor,  Wake, 
H.  R.  Buigwin,  Northamp- 
ton, 
H.  Mordecai,  Wake. 

COMMITTKE    TO  ATTEND    TH] 

VinGiNiA   Faii;. 
Dr.  Wm.   R.   Holt,   David- 
son, 
P.  C.  Cameron,  Orange, 
R.  H.  Smith,  Halifaxr 
Wu).  A.  Eaton,  Granville, 
Hon.  A.  W.  Venable,  " 
H.  Mordecai,  Wake, 
Hon.  Thos.  Ruffin,   Wayne,*' 
Dr.  E.  A.  Crudup,  Franklin, 
Dr.  J.  F.  Foaid,  Rowan. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  L.  O'B, 
Braiich  it  was 

E(S)olred,  That  the  proper 
aulhentieation  of  any  eliiim 
upin  the  Society,  pres-emed 
tor  payment,  sIi.mIi  be  liie  t\  ar- 
rant of  tie  Cii.-.irnii  n  of  the 
Execudve  (  on.nitue. 

Oil    motiou    of    W.    W. 
W'hitaker    it    was     ordered 
that,   the    50    cojiies  of  thej 
Patent  Office  r(])uits  be  dis-' 
iributeil  an  ong    tho^e    who 
olttainul  diplomas. 

The  soi-ieiy  adjourned  to 
m'  et  on  Friday  evening  ai  7 
o'clock. 


FkIDAY   EVENING,     ) 

Oct.  21,M,  18^3.  \ 
The  S.  ciety  met.  the  | 
President,  R.  U.  Smith,  in 
the  chair.  'Iheie  being  but 
little  busiiK.ss  belore  the  So- 
ciety, afti-r  the  thank.'-  of  the 
bo(iy  wi  re  tendered  to  the  i 
<;flicers  the  Soeiely  adjourn- 
ed to  meet  again  on  the 
llnid  Tuesday  o  No\embir, 
185-1,  in  the  city  of  Ra:eii;h, 
when  the  p»esence  of  all  the 
members  is  n  que.-trd. 

II.  H.  SiMl'IH,  Frcs't. 
J.  F.  Tompkins,  JR.  Sec. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


23ft 


263. 

296. 

295. 

435. 

456. 

469. 

470. 

67- 

165. 

302. 

358. 

498. 
563 


23. 

119. 

162. 
173. 

431. 

176. 

182. 

178 

291. 

815. 

552, 

16 


Drawing  of   R.    R.    Car,   and    Plank  Roai' 
Wugoii,  J.  N.  Seely,  Forsythe,  Geo.,  diplo 

1  Cotton  Gin,  E.  P.  Taylor  <fe  Co.,  Columbus 
Geo.,  premium  of  $3  ami  diploma. 

Straw  Gutter,  E  P.  Taylor  &  Co.,  Columbus, 
Geo.,  diploma. 

1  Velvet  Mosaic   Rug,  John   Cocke  &  Co., 
Portsmouth,  Va..  diploma. 

Model  of  Bhike's  Water  Wheel,  L.  W.  Blake, 
Pepperell,  Mass.,  $3  and  diploma. 

Specimens  of  Artifical  Teeth,  <fec ,  Dr.  White- 
head, Petersburg,  Va.,  $3  ;ind  diploma. 

Case  of  Fancy  Goods,  Simmons  &  Whitmore, 
Petersburg,  Va.,  diploma. 

8.  Moleskin  and  Russia  Hats,  D.  Gee,  Cumber- 
land, premium  $5  anil  diploma. 

Suit  of  fine  clothes,  J.  J.  Biggs  <fe  Co.,  Raleigh, 
diploma. 

Wheat  straw  Hat,  Dr.  J.  "W.  Tucker,  Raleigh, 
di])loma. 

Child's  Hat,  Miss  S.J.  Wiggins,  Raleigh,  di- 
ploma. 

Wool  Hats,  Wm.  Andrews,  Chatham,  diplo. 
'4.  Pair  Quilted   and  Plain   Boots,  U.  Porter, 
Raleigh,  d'ploma. 

One  2  horse  Carriage,  Bobbitt   &  Minatree, 
Warrenton,  1st  premium,  ^20  and  diploma. 

1  Open  Buggy,  Bobbitt  &   Minatree,   War- 
renton, 1st  premium,  $5  and  diploma. 

1   Phaeton,   H.  J.  Clawson,  Franklinton,  Ist 
nremium,  $10  and  diploma. 

Open   l>uggy.  White  &  Co.,  Warrenton,  2d 
premium  and  diploma. 

1  horse  Wagon,  J.  P.  Nissen,  Salem,  diploma. 

1  Dumping   Wagon,  J.  M.  Wagner,  Raleigh, 
diploma. 

1  Set   Buggy  Harness,  J.  J.   Conolly,  Wil- 
mino-ton,  1st  premium,  $5  and  di[)loma. 

1  Set 'l'>ugoy   Harness,  T.   W.  Rowlett,  War- 
renton, diploma. 

1  S,n  D  )iil.Ie  Harness,  C.  W.  D.  Hutchings, 
Raleigh,  1st  premium,  $5  and  diploma. 

to  181. 'Best  lot  of  Saddles,  C.  W.  D.  Hutch- 
ings, Raleigh,  diploma. 

1  Open   Bugj^y,  A.  Alden,  Fayetteville,  2nd 
premium,  diploma. 

1  light  Buggy,  G.  ULley,Orange,  3d  premium, 
diploma. 

One  2   horse  Wagon,  J.  N.  Seely,  Johnston, 
di])loma. 

Lau]])   Mat,  Mrs.   G.    Deming,  Cumberland, 
diploma. 


ADDRESS 

OF   THE 
HON.  A.  W.  VESABU&t 

Delioered  before  the.  First 
Annual  State  JFkir  "^f 
North  Carolina,  Octoi^ 
I8th,  18.33. 

It  was  with  much  hesita- 
tion that  1  consented  to  de- 
liver the  address  at  the 
opening  of  this,  the  fii^ 
.•>tateFairin  North  CanJina. 
The  short  time  for  prepara- 
tion, and  the  pressure  of  oth- 
er  engagements,  seemed  t« 
present  insurmountable  dif- 
ticulties,  especially,  when  I 
was  informed,  that  two  dia- 
tinguished  gentlemen,  wh« 
were  much  more  likely  th  va 
myself  to  be  equal  to  th« 
occasion,  had  been  conapel- 
led  to  decline  the  duty. 

The  Committee,  howevei^ 
deeming  that  such  an  ia- 
auguration  could  notbedis- 
per)sed  with :  and  desiroas 
that  nothing  should  be  omit- 
led  that  could  advance  tllb 
agricultural  interests  of  our 
State,  or  arouse  her  citizens 
to  the  fuhilment  of  the  higb 
(le-tiny  which  awaits  them, 
urged  upon  me  to  conseai 
to  be  the  Speaker,  to  day.. 
Deferring  to  thairjudgraent, 
I  determineil  not  to  cousiti- 
er  personal  incimvenienco, 
but  cheerfidly  to  employ 
whatever  influence  I  niiglst 
pos.sess  in  aid  of  the  gvesi 
cause,  a  subject,  of  all  otli- 
ers,  most  likely  to  furuisJj 
compensation  for  the  bri^S" 
s])ace  allotted  to  preparatiou 
in  the  richness  of  the  tliem§, 
the  variety  of  ils  iuteresfej, 
and,  above  all,  the  vastno«?g 
(jf  its  importance.  Borrow- 
ing notliiiig  from  novelty, 
the  interest    which   it  com- 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL, 


■   17.  Cap,  Apron  and  Collar,  Miss  Doming,  Cum- 

herland,  diploioa. 
153.  S;'nip'e  of  Co'tton,  S.  S.  Caraway,  Lenoir,  dip. 
SOd-'l-'S.  Allen's  Patent  Saussage  Cutter,  W.  H,  & 

R.  S.  Tucker,  Ralcigli,  diploma. 
-  334.  N.  edle  Work,  Miss  Maria  Hay  wood,  Raleigh, 

diploma. 
aS5-'6.  Needle  Work   and   Child's  Sack,  Mrs.  W. 

J.  Clarke,  Raleigh,  diploma. 
--  3Y8-'9.  Fine  Crochet  Work  and  Lamp  Mat,  Miss  M. 

E.  Cooke,  Raleigh,  diploma. 
3^80.  Embroidered  Sack,  Mrs.  L.  A.  Cooke,  Raleigh, 

diploma. 
S81-'5.  Bead  Purse  and  Paper  Lamp  Map,  Mrs.  J. 

A.  Waddell,  Raleigh,  diploma. 
382;  1  Silk  Crotchet  Bag  made  on  rings,  Mrs.L.  A. 

Cooke,  Raleigh,  diploma. 
'384.  1  Needle  B^ok,  Miss  M.StC.  Cooke,  Raleigh, 

diploma. 
■  373.  1  Card   Printing  Press,  W.  D.  Cooke,  Ra- 
leigh, diploma. 
.  298-'9.  2  Lamp  Mats,  Miss  Mary  Dickson,  Orange, 

diploma. 
.  410.  S|teciinens  of  Copppr    Ore,    A.    S.    Homey, 

Franklinsville.  diploma. 
,  416.  Specimens  of  Gray  Copper  Ore,  Gitter's  mine, 

Granville,  diploma. 
427.  Model  of  a  Box,  J.  J,  Yarboro,  Caswell,  dip. 
434.  Double   setts  of  Teeth,  Dr.  Kennedy,   Wil- 
mington, diploma. 
463.  Sp'^cimen  of  Worsted  work.  Miss  C.  Harris, 

Raleigh,  diploma. 
'  470.   Crane's^  Patent   Soap    Mixture,    J.  J.  Ryals, 

Raleigh,  diploma. 
,477.  Model    for  Bee   Hive,   P.  S.  Rogers,  Wake, 

diplojTia. 
514.  Pencil  Drawings,   G.   E.   Ketcham,  Raleigh, 

diploma. 
S27.  Coal,  J.  H.  &  L.  J.  Haughton,  Chatham,  dip. 
535.  Basket,  by  blind  man,  a  Sailor,  Newbern,  " 
546  to  40.  Woolen  Cloth,  J.  A.  Guion,  $5  and   " 
560.  Bhickberry  Wine,  Mrs.   H.  Elliott,  Cumber- 
land, di|iloir  a. 
567.  Patent  Steam    Snfety   Valve,   H.   G.   Bruce, 

Rfileigh.  diplomft. 

569.  Needle' Work.  Mrs.  N.  Gully,  Raleigh,  diplo. 

570.  Btir  Basket,  Mrs.  C.  Atkinson,  Johnston,  " 
20.  S;)eciMien  of  Chinese  Rye,  J.  Paschal,  Frank- 
lin, 1st  premium,  diploma. 

91.  Specimen  of  Poland    Wheat,   Jos..    Kearny, 
Franklin,  ]<t  premium,  dijiloma. 
490.  Sppoimen  of  White  Marl,  fMiles  Costin,  Wil- 
mington, diploma. 


mands  is  referable  alono  to 
its  intrinsic  merit.  We  as- 
semble, to-day,  to  do  honor 
to  this,  one  of  the  noblest, 
and  most  useful  of  human 
occupations,that  which  came 
first  to  the  supply  of  the 
wants  of  man,  when  "  Sin 
threw  a  blight"  over  the 
bloom  of  Paradise,  and  the 
curse  curtailed  the  bounties 
of  nature  by  restraining  the 
spontaneous  fruitfulness  of 
the  earth.  Man  was  "sent 
forth  from  the  garden  of 
Edeii  to  till  the  ground  from 
whence  he  was  taken,"  with 
the  assurance,  that  "  in  the 
sweat  of  thy  face,  shalt  thou 
eat  bread."  This  is  the  pa- 
tent from  which  Agriculture 
dates  its  institution,  and  it 
comes  to  us  venerable  as 
well  for  its  high  antiquity 
as  for  its  divine  origin.  And 
he  who  said  to  the  first  ot 
our  erring  race,  "  cursed  be 
the  ground  for  thy  sake,"Iaid 
not  on  that  curse  so  hoavilj', 
but  that  human  skill,  and 
arduous  industry,  might  so 
far  mollify  its  effects  as 
abundantly  to  supply  the 
wants,  incident  to  our  na- 
ture. 

It  was  kindness,  as  well 
as  justice,  which  imposed 
the  necessity  of  labor  upon 
a  race  which  had  lost  its 
innocence.  All  experience 
teaches  that  the  necessities 
of  life  are  indispensable  to 
the  perfection  of  human 
character.  Stern  and  inflex- 
ible teachers  they  are,  hut 
as  faithful  as  they  are  stern, 
and  as  important  as  they  are 
inflexible,  types  and  shad- 
ows of  the  thorns  and  this 
ties,  which  our  great  ances- 
tor for  the  first  time  saw 
springing  from  the  ground, 
a  consequence  of  his  trans- 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL 


237 


635.  Scuppernong  Wine,   Wm.   Evans,   Cumber- jgression,  when  he,  who  had 

land,  diploma.  gathered  the  fruits  of  Para- 

393.  Egg  Plants,  R.T.Webb,  Orange,  diploma.  Mise  for  his  refreshment,  was 

636.  Raw  Haras,  U.  Elliott,  Cumberland,  diploma.  |  told,  that  he  should  "  hence 
To  R.  H.  Wainright  &  Co.,  Granville,  for  the  best  I  forth  eat  of  the  herb  of  the 

Plows    manufactured  in    the    State,  $5   and   field."      Then    began    the 
diploma.  work  which  has  since  con- 

To  Henry  Mordecai,  Wake,   a  premium    of  $5  is   tinned  to  mark   the  genera- 
awarded  bv  the  Committee  on   the  Trotting   tions  of  our  race,  a  mark  so 
Match,  on  Thursday. 
To  Mes^^rs.  Whitman  &   Co.,  Baltimore,  Md.,  for 
the   largt'st  an  1   mo.^t  valuable   collection   of 
useful  implements  and    machinery   from  one 
manufactory,  1st  pro  ium,  SlO. 
To  Messrs.  Staff.>rd,  Clark  &  Dixon,  of  Alamance 
county,  N.    C,    for   the    largest    colh^ction  of 
useful   implements  ^nd    machinery   from  one 
manufactory  in  the  State,  1st  premium  of  $10. 
To  Y.  &  E.  P.  Jones,  Yanvy vide,  for  best  specimen 
of  Manufactured    Chewing   Tobacco,  ^5  and 
diploma. 
To  Satterfield   and   Lun'^ford,  Roxborough  for  2d 
best  specimen  of  Manufiictured   Tobacco,  di- 
ploma. 
To  W.  &  J.  D.  Long,  Caswell,  for  fine  specimen  of 


Tol>;icco.  diploma. 
To  Dr.  Wm.  R.  Holt,  Davidson,  for  specimens  of 

Wheat,  diploma. 
To  Dr.  Wm.  R.  Holt,  Davidson,  for  best  specimens 

of  Flour,  $5  and  diploma. 
Persons  entitled   to  premiums  according  to  the 
above  list,  can  receive  the  amounts  due  them,  upon 
apjil. cation   by   letter    or    otherwise  to    Mr.   J.   F. 
Hutcliins,  Treasurer  of  the  Society,  R  ileigh. 

The  Diploma's  will  bf  ready  for  delivery  as  soon 
as  they  can  be  filled,  and  will  be  subject  to  the 
order  of  those  entitled  to  them,  which  should  be 
sent  to  the  Recording  Secretary,  Dr.  Jno.  F.Tomp- 
kins, Raleigh.  E.  A.  CRUDUP, 

Chairman  of  Ex.  Com. 


Theory. 

Theory  is  distinguished  from  hypothesis,  thus  : 
a  theory  is  founded  upon  inferences  drawn  from 
principles  >«-hich  have  been  established  on  inde- 
pendtMit  evidence  ;  a  hi/poth'^sis  is  a  proposition  as- 
sumed to  account  fi)r  cettain  phenomena,  and  has 
no  other  evidence  of  its  truth  than  that  itaff"ordsa 

satisfactory  explanation     of    those    phenomena. —  I  the  earth,  we  perceive  that 
Olmsteo.  the   feelings   of    the   heart 

May  we  ask  those    who   are  continually    raisap-   have   coursed   through   the 
plying  the  word  Theory,  to  study  the  above.  jsarae  channels  which  led  in 


distinctive,  a  proof  so  con- 
clusive, of  the  identity  of 
that  race,  that  we  may  well 
smile  at  the  credulity  of 
those  enquirers  who  have 
failed  to  find  in  revelation  ■ 
enough  to  remove  their 
doubts. 

Man  alone  tills  the  ground 
for  his  bread.    Sustained  by 
the  recurrence  of  seed  time 
and  harvest,  he  sows  in'hope 
and  cultivates  in  joyous  ex- 
pectation.   In  all  conditions 
of   man,  from   the  deepest 
barbarism  to  the  highest  civ- 
ilization, the  existence  of  re- 
ligious   feeling,    connected 
with  the  cultivation  of  the 
earth,  has  been  discovered. 
The    very    occupation,   de- 
pending for  its  success  upon 
changes  of  season    beyond 
human  control,  points  to  an 
overruling     Providence  ;  as 
the    source    of    prospepi<ty. 
And    the   history   of  every 
people  perpetuates  the  mem- 
ory of  seasons  of  sadness  as 
well  as  of  rejoicing,  as  the 
earth  withheld  or  bestowed 
in    bountifid  profusion   her 
fruits.    From  the  green  corn 
dance  of  our   own   India,n3- 
to  the  Festival   in  honor  of 
Ceres,  our  own  joyous  har- 
vest times,  and   the   rejoic- 
ings of  the  world  over  the 
ingatherings  of  the  fruits^of 


238 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


the  earliest  limes  to  the  oft'eriiig  the 
first  fruits  of  flocks  and  fields  to  the 
Attthor  and  Dispenser  of  all  good. 

The  progress  of  its  improvement  and 
the  extent  of  its  advancement  are  most 
certainly  indicated  bj'  the  manner  in 
which  the  €arth  is  tilled,  from  the  vil- 
lages of  Indian  Wigwams,  and  the  small 
patches  of  grain  cnliivated  b}'  their  wo- 
men, throngh  all  the  gradations  of  social 
organization,  until  we  reach  the  highest 
refinements  of  civilized  life.  Nations 
gradually  emerge  from  the  turbulent, 
semi-baibarcus  and  aggressive  stale  of 
war  and  ciiiquest,  into  the  permanent 
quiet  of  an  agricultural  age.  Men  seek 
Buch  a  coJidition  for  the  security  of  per 
sons  and  property,  the  cultivation  of  so- 
cial aft'ections,  and  that  expansive  be- 
Devolence  which  looks  to  the  human 
family  as  one  and  the  same  superior 
race.  In  the  fall  prosperity  of  agricul- 
ture, national  prosperity  is  complete  It 
ealls  into  existence  and  sustains  a'l  oth- 
er professions,  which  enlarge  and  in- 
crease its  own  success.  Like  an  unfail- 
ing fuuntaiii,  it  refreshes  each  with  con- 
tinuous streams  of  vitality.  As  long  as 
Agriculture  flourishes  and  maintains  its 
precedence,  or,  at  least,  its  equality  in 
human  employments,  a  nation  would 
be  unconscious  of  the  wasting  influence 
of  decline,  or  the  presence  of  decay.  It 
is  when  thost-  who  till  tne  ground,  t 
whotii  the  wildness  of  barhirism  and 
|;he  fierceness  of  a  warlike  spirit,  yielded 
in  the  constitution  of  a  well-organized 
iCroveriiment.  resign  their  leadership  and 
fall  behind  those  who  have  grown  up 
lunder  the  shadow  of,  and  lived  upon 
their  labor,  that  the  imbecility  of  age 
and  dfcline  is  seen  and  felt.  Nations, 
like  mtn,  grow  old  and  feeble,  but  for 
very  difl'crent  reasons.  Neither  the 
highest  virtue,  nor  the  mo*t  unvaiying 
prudence,  can  evade  the  doom.  "The 
dust  shall  return  to  the  dust  as  it  was." 
But  wisdom  to  devise  and  patriotism  to 
execute  good,  just  and  wholesome  laws, 
would  fohtinue  the  existence  of  a  na- 
tion through  the  genera'ti'  ns  of  man. 
There  would  bo  a  current  of  happiness 


and  prosperity,  of  progiessive  increase, 
of  devotion  to  such  a  Government,  that 
wtiuld  give  strength  with  age  and  in- 
spire a  vigor,  which  would  resist  the  in- 
vasion of  decay.  Liberty,  which  con- 
sists in  the  equality  of  right,  opening  a 
field  for  enterprize,  would  give  ceaseless 
employment  to  those  energies  wliich  are 
always  salutary,  when  not  unwisely  re- 
strained. Success  would  be  the  result 
of  well  liirected  efibrt,  and  the  acquisi- 
tion of  independence  and  wealth,  the 
end  of  a  virtuous  and  judicious  indus- 
try. Idleness  and  inprovidenee  would 
find  no  favor  by  autlmrity  of  law.  But, 
whilst  agriculture  is  producing  only, 
and  leaving  the  management  of  nfiairs 
to  those  impelled  by  other  interests, 
another  state  of  things  ari-^es,  the  ten- 
dency of  which  is  sure  and  steady  to  the 
overthrow  of  free  institutions.  When 
wealth  accumulates,  and  d'.fficulties  are 
thrown  around  its  alienation  and  conse- 
qut-nt  return  to  the  common  stock,  thus 
aiding  capital  in  its  war  against  labor, 
a  contest,  in  which  the  right  arm  of  the 
pe(-ple  IS  often  crippled  or  paralyzed,  in 
which  the  c<implete  success  of  capital 
produces  the  most  abject  condition  of 
those  who  look  to  labor  as  a  source  of 
sup]jo!t:  this  is  a  decisive  synq:)lom  of 
national  senility — the  substitution  of  the 
will  of  the  creature  for  that  of  the  Cre- 
ator— that  irregular  diffusion  ot  vital 
energy,  that  inequality  in  the  distribu- 
tion of  those  weights  that  should  bal- 
ance each  other  which  disorgam'ze  and 
destroy — the  rich  kept  very  rich  and 
I  he  po(jr  very  poor,  by  the  force  of  leg- 
islation— a  state  of  things  whieh  finds 
its  leimination  in  revolution,  or  the  law 
of  force,  or  in  our  more  civilized  age,  in 
tiie  emigration  of  poor  an<l  oppre  sed 
labor,  until  capital  is  compelled  lo  yield, 
for  the  want  of  subjects  nj)on  which  to 
o|)e.raie.  It  is  the  old  age  of  Europe, 
the  o])pression  of  labor  by  cajiital,  "  the 
iiiitzzhiig  the  ox  that  treadeth  out  the 
corn,"  and  forget  fulness  of  the  truth, 
that  "  the  laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire," 
thai  Iiasponrid  upon  our  shores  that 
stream  of  emigration    whicli    for  many 


THK  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


239 


years  lias  presented  one  of  llie  raost  re- 
mark-^Lle  phen  jineiia  of  the  age.  Tliey 
cotne  to  til!  the  ground,  where  all  is  new 
and  fresh  and  fr^^e,  and,  above  all,  wliert' 
labor  commands  capi  al,  because  labor 
can  always  comiuand  bread — where  in- 
dustry never  fails  to  secure  comfort  and 
independence  — where  the  cry  of  want 
or  the  ravages  of  hunger  never  liistress 
or  invade.  We  are  this  day  engaged 
in  doing  honor  to  the  great  business  of 
tilling  the  ground,  and  those  who  till 
it,  and  to  the  occupations  which  grow 
out  of  it  and  depend  upon  it — where 
labor  sits  the  presiding  genius  to  control 
and  give  direction  to  capital,  using  it  as 
a  stimulant  to  give  force  and  eft">:'Ct  to 
the  enterp  izes  conceived  and  executed 
by  itself. 

It  is  not  my  purpose  to  confine  mv 
remarks  exclnsively  to  practical  agricul- 
ture. Such  a  di>course  belongs  more 
properly  to  another  occasion,  and  would 
be  better  suited  to  the  meeting  of  an 
Agricultural  S  ,'  iety,  devoted  to  the  ex 
ecution  of  the  details  of  this  great  pro- 
fession. We  meet  not  only  as  farmers, 
but  to  recognize  al  the  results  of  that 
profession  in  the  kindred  productions. 
mechanics  and  the  arts— to  claim  fel- 
lowship with  those  industrial  pursuits 
which,  dt^rivin  r  support  from  the  far 
nier's  toil,  in  return  diminish  the  seve- 
rity of  his  labor  by  im]iroved  agricul- 
tural implements,  and  wliich  add  to  the 
comforts,  luxuries  and  elegancies  of  his 
house,  those  manufactures  which  taste 
designs  and  skill  perfects  — to  demon- 
str.ite  that  agriculture  is  the  great  cen- 
tre from  wh  ch  all  industrial  pursuits 
radiate,  nnt'l  they  fo  m  the  circle  of 
perfect  social  organization,  the  great  ba- 
lance wheel  that  should  govern  and  con- 
trol the  motion  of  all  its  intrinsic  me- 
chanism, securing  regularity  ami  preci 
sion  in  every  movement.  When  anv 
disturbance  in  the  conduct  of  a  free  go- 
veriinif^nt  is  observed  and  f<  It,  it  will  be 
found  in  the  undue  ii.fluence  of  some 
other  |)rofessions  and  interests  which, 
for  the  titiie,  have  eondiined  for  the  op- 
pression of  agricultural  industry.    Such 


grievances  are  usually  patiently  endured 
for  a  long  season,  and  sometimes  left  to 
the  curative  influence  of  time.  Agri- 
culture, like  fabled  Atlas,  which  upheld 
the  Universe,  has  great  strength  and 
great  powers  of  endurance.  Its  recu- 
perative energy  is  inconceivable.  Like 
the  centre  of  a  great  army  when  the 
light  troops  and  skirmishers  .^re  driven 
in,  it  forms  a  nucleus  upon  which  order 
may  be  restored  and  losses  retrieved; 
in  every  crisis  and  calamity  of  a  people, 
the  Agricultural  interest  sustains  and 
enables  tliem  to  endure.  Commerce 
may  flag,  the  industrial  arts  may  cease 
to  be  remunerative,  but  the  tide  must 
turn  in  time,  and  prosperity  return  with 
it.  But  when  the  earth  withholds  its 
increase  and  the  flocks  and  herds  perish 
in  the  fields,  when  the  toil  of  the  hus- 
bandmen is  vain,  and  gaunt  famine 
stalks  forth  in  the  land,  Hope  departs, 
Despair  comes,  and  stern  Ruin  begins 
its  reign.  Large  portions  of  our  earth, 
once  populous  and  rich,  radiant  with  all 
the  splendor  of  art  and  genius,  fusi<'red 
by  wealth  and  power,  are  now,  either 
from  natural  causes  or  tlie  op|ires>ioris 
of  government,  lonely  ar  d  without  in- 
habitants, and  in  the  silence  of  their 
desertion,  speak  to  the  heart  that  the 
lal>ors  of  the  husbandmen  were  vain, 
that  the  genius  of  Agriculture,  having 
lingered  until  all  liope  was  passed,  de- 
|)arted  to  some  happier  an  J  more  auspi- 
cious country,  and  with  its  flight,  wealth, 
power  and  population  have  perished 
from  the  land.  Indeed,  thestmigth 
and  power  o(  any  peopK-  must  be  found 
in  their  Agricultural  c.tpabilities.  No 
nation  can  long  exist  wlio  import  all 
iheir  supijlies  t)f  fo  )d — neither  can  any 
|)eople  prosper  permanently,  where 
Agriciiltural  interests  are  either  oppres- 
sed or  iieglectiid  by  Legislative  power 
and  authority. 

Legislative  neglect  is  as  fatal  as  ac- 
tual oppression,  ami  it  is  demonsiialde 
that  much  of  the  depression  of  ihi* 
great  interest  in  North  Carolina  is  refer- 
able to  such  neglect.  It  is  not  only 
[Coutiniied  on  j>af/e  245.) 


240 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


FAR£EirS  JOURNAL. 

RALEIGH.  N.  C,  NOV.,  1853. 


The  North  Carolina  State   Agricultu- 
ral Fair. 

TBis  exliibition,  the  coming  of  which 
we  have  been  looking  for  with  the  most 
intense  interest,  has  taken  phice,  and  for 
the  first  in  our  State,  we  feel  safe  in 
stating,  that  it  has  never  been  excelled. 
It  is  true,  that  the  show  of  some  kinds 
of  stock  was  not  such  as  we  could  have 
wished,  and  not  fair  specimens  of  the 
\  kind, in  the  State,  yet  the  effect  will  be 

to  stimuhite  the  farmers  to  greater  ex- 
ertion the  next  time.  The  cattle  were 
very  fine  ;  those  from  the  herds  of 
Messrs.  Holt,  McDaniel,  Jones  and  Rus- 
sel,  could  not  be  beaten  easily.  In  or- 
der to  show  the  determination  of  our 
farmers  to  improve  their  stock,  we  will 
state  that  Dr.  Holt  sold  twenty-two 
head  of  young  bulls  and  heifers,  at  an 
average  of  $50  each  ;  they  were  bought, 
chiefly,  by  gentlemen  from  the  eastern 
pavt'ofour  State.  The  building  called 
*' Floral  Hall  "  was  crowded  with  arti- 
cles contributed  by  the  fair  daughters 
of  the  Old  North  State;  this  was  the 
only-department  that  atall  astonished  us. 
But  though  it  seemed  to  us  it  would 
be  very  difficult  to  make  any  improve- 
<  meut  here,  we  have  heard  several  la 
dies  avow  their  intention  to  do  better 
•next  time.  The  specimens  of  goods 
manufactur  d  in  the  State  were  very 
fine ;,  indeed,  there  is  no  branch  of  in 
dusfcry  which  is  progressing  more  rapid- 
ly in  our  State  than  that  of  manufac- 
turing, and  the  time,  we  hope,  is  not  far 
distant,  when  our  merchants  will  be  able 
to  get  a  large  number  of  their  good,  in 


our  own  State.  There  were  in  the 
Floral  Hall,  several  s^peciraens  of  paint- 
ings executed  by  North  Carolinians, 
some  from  the  vaiious  female  schools 
of  our  State,  which  reflected  much 
credit  upon  those  ladies  who  executed 
them.  But  the  paintings  of  Mr.  Cope- 
land,  a  young  North  Carolina  Artist, 
were  much  admired,  and  justly  so,  and 
lie  surely  ought  to  receive  a  liberal  pat- 
ronage from  our  people.  The  display 
of  agricultural  implements  made  by 
Messrs.  E.  Whitman  &  Co.,  of  Balti- 
more, Messrs.  Boriim  &  Fisher  of  Nor- 
folk, and  Messrs.  Tappy  &  Lumsden  of 
Petersburg,  were  highly  creditable  to 
those  gentleman,  and  we  were  happy 
to  learn  from  them  that  they  were  well 
pleased  with  their  visit,  and  at  our  next 
annual  "  Fair  "  they  would  greatly  en- 
large their  specimens.  Various  speci- 
mens of  mechanism  from  our  own 
State  were  upon  exhibition,  which  we 
heard  spoken  of  as  valuable  inventions, 
but  our  time  was  so  much  absorbed  in 
doing  every  thing  possible  to  make 
things  go  off  well,  that  we  did  not  have 
the  opportunity  to  pay  that  attention 
to  different  specimens  which  they  de- 
served. The  specimens  in  the  manu- 
facture of  carriages  was  confined  to 
North  Carolina,  and  though  the  num- 
ber was  small,  yet  the  skill  of  the  work- 
men was  shown  to  be  fine.  There 
were  sever.-d  kinds  of  seed  wheat,  corn 
and  other  grains  upon  the  grounds,  and 
were  distributed  among  the  farmers 
generally.  We  saw  a  fine  specimen  of 
manufactured  tobacco,  pu»  up  in  splen- 
did boxes,  from  the  factory  of  the  Messrs, 
Jones,  of  Yancey ville,  in  Caswell  coun- 
ty. They  are  young  men,  and  deserve 
much  credit  for  the  p-reat  skill   which 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


241 


they  have  shown  in  getting  up  this 
specimen  of  the  "  weed."  There  were 
upon  exhibition  several  specimens  of 
grapes  and  wines,  from  the  vineyard  of 
Dr.  Sidney  Weller  of  Brinkleyville,  N. 
C,  which  were  of  the  finest  kind.  This 
gentleman  has  been  devoting  Ins  time 
for  several  years,  chiefly  to  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  Scuppernong  and  other  na- 
tive grapes,  and  also  to  the  preparation 
of  wines,  which  are  regarded  as  being- 
very  superior,  and  we  are  astonished 
that  those  who  use  wine  at  their  tables 
continue  to  buy  wliat  is  called  cham 
pagne  wine,  when  a  far  superior  article 
can  be  had  from  Dr.  Weller  for  half 
the  price.  This  gentleman  deserves  the 
patronage  of  those  of  our  people  who 
use  wine,  and  nothing  will  give  more 
celebrity  to  his  vineyard  than  this  dis- 
play which  he  has  made.  The  18th  of 
October,  1853,  was  a  proud  day  for 
every  North  Cai'olinian  ;  even  those  w  ho 
denounced  and  ridiculed  the  State  Agri- 
cultural Society  in  its  infancy,  surely 
must,  when  looking  upon  the  display 
on  those  grounds,  felt  that  they  must 
give  up  that  it  was  not  worth  their 
while  any  longer  to  dose  Old  Rip  with 
their  soporifics,  for  he  had  fairly  opened 
his  eyes,  and  that  there  were  a  goodly 
number  of  his  children  who  were  de- 
termined to  keep  him  awake.  We 
heard  several  statesmen  of  high  stand- 
ing say,  tha'  on  the  18th  of  October 
they  saw  what  they  did  not  believe 
could  have  been  originated  so  soon  in 
North  Ca%jiina  ;  indeed,  one  gentleman 
of  known  political  fame,  through  the 
whole  nation,  confessed  to  us  that  when 
we  first  suggested  the  idea  of  getting 
jup  a  series  of  Fairs,  that  he  like  many 
others,  thought   it  a   mere  speculation 


without  anv  basis  upon  which  to  form 
any  hope  of  its  success.  But  all  except 
ourself  have  been  deceived  in  tliis  mat- 
ter ;  many  of  our  friend^  tolds  us  that 
every  thing  had  come  out  just  as  we 
bad  described  It  before  hand.  We  do 
not  ascribe  to  oui'self  any  thing  more 
than  ordinary  judgment,  but  we  have 
done  what  no  other  ])erson  has  done, 
gone  over  a  large  pnrtion  of  the  State, 
and  knew  that  this  thing  could  be  ao- 
compli.^hed  with  a  due  degree  of  ener- 
gy. We  can.  we  think,  now  with  more 
confidence  than  ever  before,  call  upon 
the  farmers  of  North  Carolina  to  sus- 
tain that  paper,  the  Farmer's  Journal, 
which  has  been  acknowledged  to  be  the 
great  lever  in  getting  up  that  spirit  of 
enterprise  which  is  now  spreading  over 
our  State.  Surely  every  farmer  who 
looked  upon  this  first  Fair  will  send  us 
a  goodly  number  of  subscribers,  and 
aid  us  in  shedding  the  light  over  the 
land.  The  only  way  in  which  a  proper 
degree  of  interest  can  be  kept  up  in 
county  Societies,  is  to  get  f;irmers  to 
read  agricultural  works,  and  we  are  re- 
solved that  the  Farmer's  Journal  shall 
not  be  surpassed  by  any,  in  point  of 
adaptation  to  the  wants  of  the  farmers 
of  our  State. 


To  our  Readers. 

The  principal  part  of  this  number  of 
the  Journal  is  taken  up  in  publishing 
the  able  address  of  Hon.  A.  W.  Vena- 
ble,  and  the  proceedings  of  the  first  an- 
nual meeting  of  the  State  Agricultural 
Society  of  North  Carolina,  and  the  pre- 
miums and  awards  given  at  the  State 
Fair. 

There  are  none  of  our  readers  who 
will  fail  to  read  with  interest,  this  num- 


242 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


ber  of"  our  pajuT,  coistaiuing  a:*  it  dues, 
an  «c  •oiiiit  uf  :m  era  in  our  Stale's  liis- 
torv,  which  thev  did  rot  look  forsosuoii, 
and  which  caiinnt  fail  to  (!xe)t  »  hap|n 
intJiieiice  ovei' every  interest  ip  our  euuu- 
try.  And  lieie  \vc  hope  that  we  shall 
not  be  con.>idered  as  transcending'  tiu* 
bi)Uiids  cf  modesty,  when  we  say  tlial 
for  ihe  success  of  the  great  cause  of  ag- 
riculture, we  have  bibored  for  two  years 
will)  al!  our  energy,  atid  surely  we  shall 
not  apjxal  in  vain,  hereafter,  to  farmers 
to  usl^  their  efforts  to  circulate  the  Far- 
mer's Journal  throughout  the  entire 
State.  Send  up  to  us  the  names,  direct- 
ed to  Rdtigh,  and  the  papers  shall  !>e 
sent. 


The  Guano  Trade. 

There  is  sonietiiing"  rotten  in  Den- 
maik"  in  regard  to  the  i)urchase  of  gu- 
anu  by  the  farn)ers  of  our  State,  and 
othi-rs,  where  ii  is  extensively  used.  We 
have  had  several  ootnjilaints  made  tons 
in  relation  to  the  fraud  which  either  the 
agents  for  the  ]'eru\ian  Governmen', 
or  the  commis>i()n  merchants  of  Dalti- 
inoi-ts  Nnifiijk  and  Petersburg,  or  both 
of  them,  have  been  practising  upon  the 
fanning  interest.  Several  have  express- 
ed their  determination  not  to  patronize 
for  the  future,  any  merchant  in  those 
cities  who  buys  this  valuable  fertilizer 
in  order  to  sell  it  to  thi-m  at  a  large 
profit.  Tliis  is  just  the  course  to  take. 
We  say,  farm  rs  ;  you  hav(-  the  power, 
and  it  only  requires  to  be  asserted  in 
order  to  be  li>tt-ned  to.  Onr  Slate  Ag- 
ricultural Society,  it  will  be  seen,  has 
a]>point,i^d  a  coinmiltee  to  act  in  concert 
with  committees  from  other  State  So- 
cieties, to  adopt  sucli  mea-ures  as  will, 
in  their  opinion,  li.ive  a  tendency  to  put 
*Jown  this  gross  fraud. 


Upon  a  strong  Platform  at  Last. 

We  have  been  a  long  litne  struggling 
against  the  current  of  public  oj.inion, 
and  the  prejudices  of  the  farmers  of  our 
State  against  what  they  have  ca-led 
"book  farming,"  but  we  fancy,  that  we 
have  at  last  planted  ourself  upon  a  firm 
basis.  In  the  beginning  of  our  labors, 
in  behalf  of  the  advancement  of  agri- 
cidtur-  in  North  Carolina,  we  had  to 
labor  uiion  our  "own  hook,"  having,  as 
they  said,  the  good  wishes  of  all,  but 
the  active  aid  of  but  few.  We  f  .ught 
n)anfully,  nevertheless,  and  have,  we 
feel,  achieved  a  victory  at  last.  We  can 
now  call  upon  a  goodly  number  of  the 
farmers  of  our  State  who  feel  <leep 
interest  in  the  prosperity  of  ourstdf  and 
the  cause  we  advocate.  The  Stale  Ag- 
licidtural  Society  has,  in  a  year,  grown 
f  om  nineteen  to  about  four  hundred 
members.  The  meetings  instead  of  be- 
ing thinly  attended,  as  at  first,  seen)  to 
interest  all.  The  S  ate  Society  subscrib- 
ed at  the  last  meeting  for  five  hundred 
copies  of  the  Farmer's  Journal,  which 
will  be  distributed  under  the  diriciion 
of  the  corresponding  Secretary,  in  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  Slate.  Thi.-^  testimony 
of  the  due  a]tnrecialion  of  our  labors 
was  highly  gratifying  to  us.  But  it  was 
nothing  more  than  what  we  knew  would 
be  done,  for  the  reason  that  we  were 
sure  that  none  could  deny  our  deserving 
some  such  evidence  of  approl>ation 
from  those  whose  interest  we  have  risk- 
ed everything  in  sustaining.  We  feel 
sati.-fied  that  we  shall,  after  this,  havt» 
several  original  articles  to  pres^eiit  to 
our  readers,  from  farmers  in  our  own 
State  ;  several  }iromisfd  as  much,  and 
we  hope  that  they  will  not  forget  it. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURJ^TAL. 


243 


We  give  below  an  extract  from  a  let- 
ter wliich  we  have  received  from  a  friend 
since  the  "  Fair,"  and  though  he  only 
accords  to  our  humble  efforts,  what  we 
believe  all  do  not  hesitate  to  acknowl- 
edge, yet  we  do  not  lay  it  before  our 
readers  for  the  purpose  of  attracting  at- 
tention to  oursfclf,  but  as  evidence  of  the 
feeling  which  now  pervadt^s  our  whole 
State,  in  relation  to  the  great  necessity 
of  a  general  system  of  improvement  in 
Agriculture.  The  writer,  though  not  a 
farmer,  feels  a  deep  interest  in  the  suc- 
cess of  the  mother  interest  of  our  coun- 
try ;  he  lias  already  witnessed  iho  good 
results  of  the  labors  of  one  man,  and 
very  reasonably  concludes  that  when 
all  who  have  the  ability  interest  them 
se'.ves  in  this  great  cause,  that  the  North 
State  will  no  longer  lag  behind,  but  show 
herself  as  the  "  brightest  star  in  the 
constellation  " : 

WiNTON,  Hertford  County,  N.  C,  ) 
October  24th.  1853.      ] 

Dr.  Tompkins — Dear  Sir :  Allow  a 
casual  acquai  itiince  of-  your  agricultural 
tonrs  to.  s-nd  sojourns  in  this  *oun;y,  and 
an  ever  hearfy  God-spei^der  to  your  peri- 
griiiatiuiis  ai>d  efforts  in  the  cau;-e  of  huild- 
iiig  lip  suffering  agriculture,  to  address 
you  at  ihis  time. 

I  coiigr  itulate  you,  my  dear  sir,  on  the 
success  of  ihc  rei-ent  first  Agrionlmral 
F.iir  in  this  State.  It  isacredir;ible  affair, 
of  which  tht^  State  need  not  be  aslianied, 
but  UKiy  be  proud. 

I  in  i-.onimon  with  many,  had  fearfully 
anticipated  a  f  il  ire,  but  our  friends  from 
this  county.  Dr.  S.  and  niy  brutlier  D.,  as- 
sure me,  wiili  rapture  of  pnisefrom  their 
lips,  th;it  it  w:is  sustained  to  a  degree  of 
cn-di'  far  beyond  the  reasonable  hopes  of 
its  friends. 

The  first  Fair  of  agriculturists  of  this 
our  beloved  f ithfrland,  it  is  yraleful  to 
think,  will  be  heralded  and  recorded  as 
cri'dituble,  undi-r  the  ciivum-tauces,  to  m 
greai  Siate,  .nnd  to  the  noble  conceptions 
of*  ih'isc  wiio  iriiiated  Mid  iiliinm-d  i.,. 
Iti-iiot  les^s  iru  hlul  than  a^reealile  to 
give  the  tribute  of  praise  to  the  editor  of 


the  Fnnner's  Journal,  as  the  prime  mover 
and  great  liend  and  front  of  this  first  State 
Fiiir.  But  for  you  this  proud  advent  in 
the  agriculuiral  annals  of  the  Old  North 
Stale  would  yet  be  deferred,  to  lairhehind, 
and  never  dawn  :it  ;d],  vvi  houL  i-uch  a  pil- 
grim .-IS  issued  from  Bath,  a  self  constitu- 
ted mis-ion:iry,  visiting  ■becounties,arous- 
inir  the  farmers  l)y  lectures,  sliowinjif  in  a 
phiin,  priii-ticid  \v;iy  how  to  rennvate  their 
worn  out  lands,  and  by  an.ilyzinir  soils  .-ind- 
seniii'  g  brnadcasi  every  wiiere  ihe  invalu- 
aljle  Farmer's  Journal.  Looking  back  to 
your  stariini:  point,  behold  the  lan.rel  of 
success.  Tile  whole  Sta'e  is  under  a  debt 
of  irratitude  to  j'ou.  1  oubtless  ynu  ."p- 
preciate  itasaei  izcn  doing  the  State  some 
service,  and  that  j^ou  will  hear  your  honors 
(as  I  trust  yon  v\ill)  gra'-efully.  My  dear 
sir,  liike  no  offence  at  my  frankness  in  ex- 
pression, iind  at  my  freedom  vvith  you.  In 
common  with  you,  I  wish  well  for  my  na- 
tive l.;nd.  If  I  can  acquire  no  [naise  m}-- 
self,  I  c.'innot  withold  it  from  where  it  is 
due.  We  have  too  long  neglecti^d  to  pro- 
perly appreciate  and  encouMge  natives  and 
nitive  efforts.  Hert-  i^  the  first  grind 
State  F.dr — such  it  is.  Without  you  it 
would  not  h  ive  been. 

Pe>mit  me  to  enlarge  more.  Yours  is 
already  an  iionorahle  public  position.  The 
wliole  State  is  attracted  to  you,  as  the 
chief  pioneer  in  renovating  ajiriculrure. 
Enfeebled  and  powerless  tnyself.  consign- 
ed in  humility  to  ime  spot,  I  cnn  but  look 
on  !ind  praise  where  I  uiay.  and  as  here  I 
ought.  I  bid  yt'U  persevere  in  the  noblest, 
u^etulest  c;illitig — ^0  on,  well  guarded  and 
fortified  in  the  rijrht  way  for  success,  and 
great,  suceess  will  reward  you  and  your 
fellow  citizens.  Bv  your  efforts,  blessings 
will  a' tend  ihem  ;  nd  you. 

Ynu  :;re  ni«w  the  acknowledged  organ 
of  the  .•'grieiiltural  interests  of  the  Sia*e, 
sendinir  Ibrth  your  teachings  from  the 
Cnpital.  I  see,  too.  you  have  tnken  a  de- 
partment in  a  Sihntil  in  R.liiuh,  f^r  the 
purpose  of  teachinir  such  of  the  science  of 
agriculture  as  may  be  tauyhi  in  a  scl  ool 
of  the  kind,  to  which,  L'cni'emen  wisiiing 
to  make  farmers  of  tlieir  so'jP,  can  send 
them.  You  then  nre  to  be  'he  fjirmer's 
boys'  Gamaliel,  at  vvho^e  feet  tliey  are  to» 
take  lessons,  while  ih'-ir  daddys  read  your 
Journal  at  home.  So  yon  feed  h"  faitner 
with  the  tuilk  and  mi  at  of  ai/ricultuia! 
knowledge  which  they  in  turn  aie  io  re- 
produce, by  the  fruclifyiiig  and  bringing 
forth  of  the  soil. 


244 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Farmers,  Collect  Manure. 

This  is  the  time  wlicn  every  farmer 
should  be  stirring  everything  up  that 
will  in  any  way  enlarge  his  next  year's 
crop.  The  making  of  manure  is  like 
everything  else;  practice  will  make  per- 
fect in  it,  and  every  farmer  will  find  that 
he  can,  with  tlie  same  force,  make  a 
larger  amount  of  manure  every  year. 
The  filling  of  the  barn-yard  and  stable 
with  siraw  and  corn  stalks  is  well  enough 
to  serve  as  a  bed  for  the  animal,  but  in 
order  that  the  volatile  principles  of  the 
manure  may  be  retained,  it  is  important 
that  something  like  woods  mould  sliould 
be  put  in  the  stable,  which  is  a  material 
sufficiently  close  to  liold  or  retain  the 
ammonia,  which  would  otherwise  escape. 
Muek,  it  is  true,  is  better  than  mould, 
but  this  can  only  be  had,  to  any  great 
extent,  in  the  lower  part  of  the  State. 
Farmers,  at  this  time,  should  be  devot- 
ing their  time,  too,  to  the  burying  of 
ashes,  especially,  in  that  part  of  the 
country  where  lime  nor  mail  cannot  be 
had  at  such  piice  as  to  justify  their  ap- 
plication. All  manures  made  about  the 
farm  should  be  sheltered,  or  at  any  rate 
they  should  be  put  in  pens  and  tuifed 
over,  whicli  will  pi'event  their  destruc- 
tion to  a  considerable  extent.  The  far- 
met  should  avail  himself  of  every  means 
possible  to  make  manure.  Many,  we 
see,  pay  but  litile  attention  to  it,  and 
still  continue  to  work  poor  land,  which 
course  vvill,  in  a  short  time,  render  tliera 
entirely  incompetent  to  compete  with 
their  improving  neighbor,  who  does  not 
Vuffer  any  means,  for  making  manure, 
to  be  neglected. 


We  take  pleasure  in  calling  the  at- 
tention of  our  readers  to  the  card  of  Mr. 


Gourdin,  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  who  is 
Agent  for  the  sale  of"  Genuine  Peruvian 
Guano  "  for  the  States  mentioned  in  the 
card.  He  assures  us  that  for  the  cash, 
or  satisfactory  feferences,  he  will  supply 
the  farmers  of  our  State  with  a  good 
article  of  Guano  at  fair  prices. 


Let  the  Blame  Rest  Avhere  it  Belong:s> 

Since  we  have  been  editing  the  Far- 
mer's Journal  we  have,  at  different  times, 
been  told  by  subscribers  that  tliey  did 
not  get  their  papers  regularly,  and  in 
five  instances  we  have  gone  with  them 
to  the  Post  Office,  and  there  found  their 
papers  for  them  of  four  months  back. 
Poor  editors  have  the  sins  of  careless 
and  ignorant  post-masters  lo  bear  as 
as  their  own. 


The  following  motion,  offered  by  Dr. 
Pritchard  of  Warren,  should  have  ap- 
peared in  Wednesday's  proceedings,  of 
the  State  Agricultural  Society. 

That  the  thanks  of  the  Society  be 
tendered  to  the  Hon.  A.  W.  Venable  for 
the  able  address-  delivered  by  him  on 
Wednesday,  during  the  Fair,  and  that 
it  be  published  in  pamphlet  form  by 
the  Society,  which  was  unanimotisly 
carried. 


HoCSEKEEPING       IS      AN      ESSENTIAL 

PART  OF  Female  Education. — For  a 
young  woman  in  any  situation  of  life  to 
be  ignorant  of  the  various  business  that 
belongs  to  good  housekeeping,  is  as  great 
a  deficiency  as  it  would  be  in  a  merchant 
not  to  understand  accounts,  or  the  mas- 
ter of  a  vessel  not  to  be  acquainted  with 
navigation.  If  a  woman  does  not  know 
how  the  various  work  of  a  house  should 
be  done,  slie  ndght  as  well  knnw  noth- 
ing, for  that  is  her  expiess  vocation  ;  and 
it  matters  not  how  much  learning,  or 
how  many  accomplishments  she  may 
have,  if  she  is  wanting  in  that  which  is 
to  fit  her  for  lier  peculiar  calling. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


U5 


Continued  from  'page  239. 
natural  and  proper,  but  necessary  to  the 
pernuinence  of  any  such  government  as 
our  own,  tliat  the  cuhivators  of  the  soil, 
those  vvho  direct  the  details  of  the  work, 
should  gDvern  and  control  its  opera- 
tions, and  take  care  of  its  own  interests. 
In  any  other  hands  exclusively  it  is  un- 
safe, because  not  guarded  by  personal 
interest.  A  necessary  consequence  of 
the  neglect  of  our  farmers  to  assert  and 
exercise  the  right  to  control  and  govern 
the  country,  is  the  degradation  of  the 
profession  in  perfect  cultivation  and  di- 
minished profits.  Whilst  agriculture 
asks  no  bounties  from  governments,  no 
inequalities  of  Ic.o'inlation  to  advance  its 
interests,  it  should  d^-mand  the  removal 
of  obstructions,  and  resist  the  iuiposi 
tion  of  burthens.  To  secure  this,  there 
must  be  a  strong  representation  of  this 
interest  in  the  legislatures  of  the  coun- 
try, a  representation  at  once  enlighten- 
ed and  learned  in  all  the  details  of  this 
im|)ortant  subject,  which  sees  in  the 
agricultural  prosperity  of  our  State  and 
country,  something  higher  and  nobler 
than  the  enterprises  oi  cla.-p  trap  politi 
cians,  and  iheir  paltry  -icheraes.  In 
order  to  do  this,  there  must  be  a  change 
in  the  svstem  of  education,  which  has 
prev^ailed  amongst  us.  Agriculturists, 
farmers,  in  the  practical  sense  of  the 
terms,  have  not  been  numerous  amongst 
those  who  administer  our  government, 
either  in  this  State,  or  in  the  confedera- 
tion of  States,  which  f^rm  our  Repub- 
lic. The  result  has  been  manifested  in 
the  burdens  which  agriculture  has  sus- 
tained, in  the  pampering  which  other 
individual  pursuits  have  enjoyed,  in  the 
wealth  which  such  hot-house  culture 
has  placed  in  certain  localities,  and  the 
occasional  di'pressions  which  have  cur- 
tailed the  profits  of  producers.  In  this 
state  of  things,  it  is  true,  we  have  a  de- 
monstration of  the  indestructibility  of 
agricultural  energy  and  productiveness, 
of  its  capacity  to  endure  and  prosper 
under  circumstances  which  would  ensure 
ruin  to  any  other  employment.  Mur 
raurs  hav«  sometimes   been  heard,  and 


impatience  made  so  apparent  that  the 
fears  of  capitalists,  awakened  to  an  ap- 
prehension of  the  loss  of  all,  have  indu- 
ced the  relaxation  of  a  grip  which  would 
never  have  yielded  to  genero-ity  or 'a 
sense  of  justice.  Astuteness  and  cun- 
ning, unrestrained  by  any  particular 
sci'uples  as  to  justice,  gave  an  ascen- 
dancy to  interests  which  had  selected 
such  representatives,  whilst  unsuspect- 
ing farmers  were  diligently  engaged  in 
their  occupation,  leaving  the  govern- 
ment in  the  bands  of  those  who  cliose 
to  manage  it.  In  fact,  educated  farmers 
wi^re  brought  up  for  that  purpose, 
though  all  the  branches  of  the  highest 
literature  and  the  most  enlarged  science 
are  not  sufficiently  numerous  amongst 
us.  The  cultivation  of  the  earth  and 
the  representation  of  those  who  culti- 
vate it,  is  not  often  confided  to  such  a 
one,  principally  because  sdcIi  an  one  is 
not  always  to  be  found.  The  farmers 
themselves  have  notre^'arded  their  pro- 
fession 9S  one  in  which  such  enlarged 
education  is  necessary.  They  have  not 
considered  the  discoveries  of  science  or 
the  treasures  of  art  as  a  powerful  part 
of  the  resources  which  bring  the  soil  to 
iis  highest  state  of  productiveness,  and 
cover  the  face  of  the  country  with  rural 
beauty.  They  seemed  to  have  adopted 
the  conclusion,  that  as  to  other  pursuits, 

"  A  man  must  serve  his  time  to  every  trade. 
Save  Fanners— Farmeis  are  already  made." 

Under  such  auspices,  no  wonder  that 
the  disappearing  forests  are  replaced 
by  worn  out  and  abraded  surfaces,  and 
that  the  productive  power  of  our  lands 
has  suffered  continued  diminuiion.  Ag- 
riculture has  been  considered  as  an  art 
dependent  for  its  success  upon  mere 
lal)or,  however  unskilfully  ajipiied,  and 
improvements  have  advanced  slowly, 
because  neither  understood  nor  adopt- 
ed. Even  in  the  ;ipplication  of  ma- 
nures, the  same  fital  error  has  prevent- 
e  1  success.  An  ign<irMnce  of  awrieul- 
cnltural  chi-inistry,  whii-h  piecludes  any 
certain  knowledge  (,f  the  constitution 
of  the  soils  to    which    manures  are  ap- 


246 


THE  FAIIMER'S   JOURNAL 


piled,  Ii;is  li-ft  it.  j)retty  much  to  acci- 
denl  wiit'iiiei-  they  succeed  or  fUii.  Like 
the  un-kiH'ul  ])rac'titioniT  of  meilichie, 
ihe  sjime  dose  is  ailininistered  fur  every 
disease,  ainl  in  the  same  quantities,  and 
it  slioidd  not  surprise  us  if  the  effects 
are  a^  often  as  miscliievous  as  saUitary. 
Farming  seems  to  have  been  regard- 
ed as  a  business  whirli  may  be  taken 
up  when  ail  others  fail,  and  abandoned 
as  soon  as  any  other  shall  be  offered 
that  ])rnmises  profit,  because  benefited 
by  the  progress  of  iirtprovements  which 
have  been  recognised  and  adopted. — 
Such  lias  been  the  iudiff'erence  to  agri- 
cultural education,  that  by  f^r  the 
gre.a  er  portion  of  wiiat  has  been  writ- 
ten f  )r  the  advancement  of  knowledge 
upon  t  s  subjeer,  has  been  but  litrJ'- 
rrad  and  usually  been  denominated 
hook  f(/r?ninr/,  and  treated  with  neglect, 
if  not  cmlempt.  Any  new  suggestion, 
however  valuable,  must  pass  die  ordeal 
of  a  eompariso'i  with  tiie  sayings  fvnd 
doin;j:s  of  some  individuals,  who,  hav- 
ing, in  some  measure,  succeeded,  give 
law  and  o'>ininn  to  the  circle  in  which 
they  are  known.  The  disapprobation 
or  distrust  of  such  persons  would  be 
conclusive  against  any  improvement, 
unless  its  utility  is  so  (;bvious  as  imme- 
diaiely  to  silence  all  opposition.  Our 
farmeis  have  not  generally  been  edu- 
cated f»r  the  business.  The  opinion 
lias  generally  prevailed  that  the  high- 
est mental  culture  was  not  necessary 
for  succi-ss  in  this  emjiloyment.  They 
linve  been  taught  the  use  of  the  plough, 
the  hoe,  and  the  spade.  They  can  feed 
and  raise  domestic  animals  with  some 
success.  Pint  they  have  not  been  en- 
lightened by  the  concentrated  experi- 
ence and  learning  of  those  who  are 
euccessful  as  v.ell  as  practical,  and  have 
given  their  learning  to  the  world. — 
Tlu'y  have  not  leai'ned  to  make  the 
.best,  the  most  easy  and  jirofitahle  ap- 
plication of  their  practical  knowledge — 
how  to  increase  fertility  with  incavased 
productiveness — how  to  demonstrate 
that  exhanstiiin  is  not  the  Ic'Tjitimate 
conse<iueiice  of   production  ;  and    that, 


under  wise  management,  the  contrary 
is  true.  Our  farmers  have  acquired 
much  from  experience  we  admit,  but 
individual  experience,  although  a  cer- 
tain, is  a  most  slow  and  expensive  teach- 
er. The  loss  of  time  ami  the  failures 
which  it  records  leave  it  far  behind  oth- 
er ill  tructors,  when  we  consider  the 
value  or  amount  of  the  information  ob- 
taine.l.  Men  should  learn  from  expe- 
rience, it  is  true,  but,  it  is  cheaper  and 
better  to  learn  from  the  experience  of 
olhers  than  our  own.  Facts  discovered 
are  common  property  and  a  proper  ag- 
ricultural education  W(juld  store  the 
mind  of  the  young  farmer  at  once  with 
the  facts  which  centuries  of  agricultural 
experience  has  devi  loped  and  preserved. 
The  most  learned  lawyers,  jdivsicians 
and  scholars  ,aie  those  who  devote  a 
long  life  to  their,  profession,  as  well  in 
study  and  investigation,  as  to  the  actu- 
al pract'ce,  and  he  would  be  regarded 
as  simply  presumptuous,  who  would 
claim  distinction  in  any  of  those  pur- 
suits without  similar  preparation. — 
Ilow,  then,  can  a  business,  which  calls 
for  all  that  is  known  in  science  and 
]ihilosopliy,  as  well  as  the  improve- 
ments in  mechanics  and  the  arts,  pros- 
per, when  those  who  control  its  opera- 
lions  do  not  seek  information  upon 
these  subjects  ? 

We  are  often  surprised  at  the  contra- 
dictory experience  of  farmers  upon  the 
application  of  some  concentrated  ma- 
nure. With  one,  the  success  is  aston- 
ishing and  complete ;  with  the  other  a 
failure,  and  so  on  in  every  grade  between 
the  two  extremes.  Usually,  such  expe- 
rience ends  in  the  adoption  of  the  im- 
prover by  those  who  have  succeeded, 
and  its  abandonment  by  those  who  have 
failed,  without  enquiry  as  to  the  cause. 
A  moderate  proficiency  in  agricultural 
chemistry  would  reveal  all  the  mysteiT. 
Perhaps  a  spurious  article  was  used 
when  there  was  a  failure;  possibly,  the 
soil  abounded  even  to  the  proiluction  of 
baireiiness  in  the  very  element  which 
was  introduceil  to  produce  fertility. 
Practical  ai>-ricultural  education  would 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


247 


remove  a!l  sul-Ii  etnbarras<imerii  ai  d  pre 
Vffit  all  such  failures.  The  first  and 
great  step  to  be  taken  is  to  educate  our 
}'ouui>'  men  to  agricultural  and  kindred 
pursuits, — look  tor  our  own  engineers. 
geologists,  ineclianics  and  architects,  and 
instructors  of  youth  amongst  our  own 
sons.  Thus  dignity  will  be  given  to  the 
most  ancient  as  well  as  honorable  occu- 
palions  of  life.  They  will  fill  our  Leg- 
islative halls  and  occupy  the  high  ))lac- 
es  in  our  government.  Tiieir  counsels 
will  always  be  conservative,  fir  their  in- 
terests are  not  based  uj)on  spfecuhition, 
but  the  steady  accumulalion  of  hsbor. 

Peace  is  tiieir  'policy,  because  peace 
is  their  interest.  Their  estates  very  vis- 
ible and  fixed  arj  most  liable  to  the  in- 
riujoce  of  change  fr^i  national  disas- 
ter and  always  the  subject  upon  which 
taxauon  falls.  And  more  than  all,  tin- 
country  will  smiie  under  the  haml  of  en- 
lightened culture,  whilst  population  and 
happiness  will  increase  with  incalculable 
rapidity.  Our  [leople  will  be  satisfied 
with  homes  which  yearly  a.'lbrd  new  at- 
tractions and  ihe  exhausting  drain  of 
emigration  which  has  so  fearfully  <le- 
pieted  Us  will  be  stayed.  I  would  arouse 
the  ploiigliing  people  of  the  State  to  an 
apitreciation  of  their  importance  and 
their  resp  yusibilily.  L^'t  them  remem- 
ber that  thev  are  the  bone  and  sinew  of 
the  Republic,  the  pio|>er  possessors  of 
its  power  and  infiueuce,  and  if  that 
power  is  not  (eltand  that  infliu^ice  not 
employed,  in  a  salutary  iiianner,  the 
blame  rests  with  them.  Elucation, 
knowledge,  and  learning  <levelope  inind, 
and  mind  governs  the  woil  1.  Intellect 
and  virtue,  knowleilge  and  imlustry,  are 
the  aristocracy  of  this  our  haj)py  land, 
a«i'  a  patent  for  this  nobility  is  within 
the  reach  of  all  who  may  devote  them- 
selves to  the  pursuit.  One  generation 
of  farmers,  and  lliose  of  kindred  |)ur 
sui  s,  eilucatedfoi- their  [jrofession,  wouM 
do  more  foi-  North  Carolina  than  all  the 
politicians  have  bet^i  able  to  eticct  in 
the  half  centurv  which  has  passed.  Li- 
stead  of  beiiiLT  their  lo<^ls,  m:ike  tluin 
ui  fact  your  ssrvaats.      Assume  the  di- 


frcciion,  yourselves,  and  none  will  g:,i» 
>ay  or  dispute  your  right.  Tiiere  is  a 
great  work  before  the  fanners  of  North 
(J;irolina. 

I  have  glanced  at  one  of  the  causes 
of  the  jirusent  state  of  deprc'ssion  and 
neglect  which  our  agriculture  discloses  ; 
but  hit  us  not  do  injustice  to  those  who 
have  gone  before  us.  It  is  true  that 
much  of  our  native  forest  has  fallen  by 
the  axe  and  been Wastefully  destroyed; 
large  surfaces  i  f  exhausted  land  pitin 
the  eye  and  sicken  the  heart;  melan- 
choly rnusiiigs spring  up  within  us, when 
we  meet  crowds  of  emigrants  to  other 
S'.aies,  Composed  of  those  to  whom  we 
shonhl  have  looked  to  uphol  1  our  own. 
We  tind  ourselves  censuring  the  wastci- 
ful  agriculture  of  our  ancestors,  and  eon- 
cludmg  that  the  policy  must  iiave  been 
unuise  and  ruinous  which  dictated  such 
a  Course.  Lisuch  a  conclusion,  w^e  take 
counsel  of  our  f/elings.  rather  tiiiin  of 
sound  and  discreet  judgment.  We  are 
deciding  a  question  and  d  termming  a 
system  too  far  removed  from  the  cir- 
cumstances which  controlled  the  first 
setih-rs  of  this  country. 

'Jliey  had  agrent  mission  to  j'erform, 
and  well  and  truly  did  they  do  their 
work.  The  history  of  colonization  af- 
f  )rds  no  jiara  lei  to  that  which  stands 
f  )rth  on  the  North  American  continent, 
occujtied  by  the  Ang'o  Sixou  race.  We 
shall  look  in  vain  for  anything  which 
approaches  it,  either  in  the  r;ipidiiy  of 
its  progress,  the  magnitude  of  the  re 
suits,  or  the  brillimit  succos  which 
crowned  the  whole  enterprise.  Ltuiding 
on  a  foreign  shore,  far  removed  from 
cultivation,  they  encountered  the  haz- 
ards of  climate  and  |.)erils  of  a  savage 
population.  Thev  found  a  wilderness 
wh-ch  they  resolved  to  subdue,  and 
having  t;imed  its  wildness,  to  have  it 
f  >r  a  home  and  a  it^gaiy  to  their  chil- 
dren. The  resolve  'itself  was  sublime, 
but  tl'.ere  was  m  higher  sid)lin)ity  in  its 
execution,  peifected  amidst  the  in;ide- 
tpiJife  resources  which  they  could  com- 
mand. None  but  men  un;;Ci|Mainted 
with  despair  would   have  omi  arked   in 


248 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


^he  enterpii.^e  :  none  but.  tbuse,  wIk 
were  cverv  mau  a  liero,  would  liav(^  su'- 
cet'ded.  To  clear  and  subdue  the  foresi, 
rich  in  virgin  soil,  was  their  work.  Thi 
su])])'}'  of  immediate  wants  couhi  not  be 
deferred  ;  emii^Tation  pressed  so  power- 
fully up'U!  them,  thai  ihere  was  no  tin)e 
left  for  ;uiy  other  employment.  The 
simple  leg  cabin  was  their  shelter,  and 
the  praine.-c  productions'  of  the  earth 
their  fooil.  Surface  for  cultivation  was 
demanded,  and  t!ie  severe  labor  neces- 
"sary  to  ])rocure  it,  taxed. their  energy  to 
the  utmost.  They  had  no  time,  no  right 
to  rest  their  lields,  in  ordei'  to  recuper- 
ate their  powers  of  production.  Human 
wants  pressing  upon  them,  forbade  it, 
and  a  liiglier  duty  compelled  them  to 
continue  for  a  season,  a  system  of  ex- 
hausting cultivation.  They  were  laying 
the  foundation  of  a  great  Republic,  and 
their  thst  duty  was  to  provide  for  the 
nurture  and  support  of  the  people,  wdio 
were  to  give  it  foundation  ahd  endu- 
rance. Circumscribed  by  forests,  which, 
for  all  praclic  d  purposes  of  production, 
were  as  complete  a  barrier  as  the  sands 
of  the  desert,  they  prostrated  them  by 
their  indomitable  industrj',  and  a  great 
and  powerful  people  occupied  the  coun 
try  wdiich  they  had  redeemed  from  the 
wildness  of  barbarism.  Agriculture  was, 
of  necessity,  in  a  primitive  state.  He 
who  removed  the  trees  and  gave  space 
for  the  production  of  bread,  was  a  great 
benefiictor,  and  the  necessity  of  imp'-ov- 
ing  soils  never  occurred  to  those  before 
whom  a  boundless  and  fertile  country 
spread  its  inducements  to  advance  stili 
farther.  They  fidfilled  their  mis^ion, 
and  gave  us  insiituions,  in  which  we, 
in  common  with  the  friends  of  civil  lili- 
erty  throughout  the  civilized  world,  re- 
joice. The  sin  of  exhausting  the  coun- 
try and  brinjring  it  to  its  present  state, 
rests  not  upon  them,  but  upon  the  gen- 
erations who  succeed  them — upon  those 
who  ado|)ted  ih-'s  systen),  after  the  ne- 
cessity which  produced  it  had  ceas(  d  I 
It  cannot  be  justified  by  pleading  the 
example  of  those  to  whose  wi.'^dom  and 
experience  we  looked  for  guidance  and 


lirection.  Their  tnission  was  fulfilled. 
Tlie  reason  ceased,  and  the  practice 
ought  to  have  ceased  with  it.  Tiieir's 
was  the  natural  state  of  agriculture  in 
every  new  country.  It  is  only  necessa- 
ry to  visit  one  of  tlie  frontier  Slates  and 
look  over  the  immense  fields,  wdiere 
cr<)ps  grow  amidst  deadened  trunks, 
standing  almost  as  thick  as  th.e  original 
forests — where  the  exuberant  fertility 
of  the  soil  makes  up  for  imperfect  culti- 
vation, and  you  have  a  picture  of  many 
portions  of  North  Carolina  a  century 
ago.  This  state  of  thitios  with  all  its 
dii~{jdvantages,  has  this  blessing  connect- 
ed with  it :  No  want  of  the  necessaries 
of  life  is  ever  found  in  such  a  state  of 
agriculture.  It, is  only  where  ihe  den- 
sity of  population'gives  rise  to  constant 
ap[)rehension  of  famine,  that  the  earth 
is  taxed  to  its  utmost  capacity  of  pro- 
duction, under  the  influence  of  the  usu- 
al a];)plication  of  stimulating  manures. 
Heaven  has  vouehsafed  this  security  to 
tlie  adventurer  into  the  forest  and  the 
tiller  of  the  rough  soil  of  our  country. 

A  system,  at  first  necessary  and  un- 
avoidable, was  improvidently  continued, 
and  the  consequences,  in  exhausted  sur- 
faces and  the  continued  depletion  by 
emigration,  have  been  fully  experienced. 
It  is  encouraging,  however,  to  be  assur- 
ed, that  a  change  is  commencing,  and 
that  we  are  beginriing  to  realize  the  im- 
portance of  restoring  that  fertility  wdiich 
has  been  lost.  Nature  has  done  much 
in  recuperating  by  her  own  unassisted 
power  the  waste  of  imperfect  agricul- 
ture, and  all  present  indications  amongst 
the  farmers  of  the  State,  justify  the  an- 
ticipation of  a  blighter  and  better  day, 
a  time  when  the  restored  lauds  of  our 
State,  those  which  were  originally  best 
and  for  that  reason  selected  and  cleared 
by  our  forefathers,  shall  be  again  the 
most  productive,  and  when  our  farmers 
shall  not  aniiuallv  calculate  upon  a  far- 
ther invasi(;ii  of  the  forests,  to  make  out 
their  crop.  As  a  general  remark,  it  is 
conclusive  against  the  skill  of  a  farmer, 
who  has  much  open  surface  upon  a  farm 
occupied    by  him   for  a  series  of  years, 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


249 


that  he  has  to  clear  laud,  in  order  to 
obtain  productive  surface  for  cultivation. 
It  is  cheaper  to  rk-^tore  land  once  good, 
than  to  clear  and  cultivate  that  which 
is  inferior,  with  all  the  advantage  of  its 
freshness;  and  when  the  value  of  tim- 
ber, every  dyj  enhanced  by  its  destruc- 
tion, is  considered,  it  becomes  a  .subject 
of  grave  importance. 

An  error,  which  has  been  productive 
of  great  evil  in  the  progress  of  agricul- 
tural improvement,  consists  in  the  opin- 
ion, that  farming  can  be  successfully 
prosecuted  without  the  occasional  aid  of 
active  capital;  that  the  earth,  stimulat- 
ed by  labor,  can  furnish  wealth  coniin- 
ually,  without  suitable  returns  to  sustain 
its  productive  powers;  that  money 
made  by  cultivation,  must  find  some 
other  investment,  and  that  it  is  bad 
management,  to  expend  any  of  it  upon 
the  land  again.  Some  even  avow  that 
the  true  pohcy  is  to  wear  out  and  ex- 
haust one  tract  of  land,  to  afford  the 
means  of  purchasing  another.  Such  :i 
policy  lias  only  to  be  named  to  be  re- 
pudiated. Carried  fully  out  it  would 
reduce  the  country  to  a  bare  desert,  des- 
troy all  the  charms  of  home  with  its 
sacred  associations  and  its  domestic  vir- 
tues.* But  others,  who  would  disavow 
such  a  bold  and  unpatriotic  system, 
practice  upon  one  which  must  ultimate- 
ly lead  to  results  of  a  similar  nature. — 
There  are  those  who  make  money  from 
cultivation  and  expend  large  sums  for 
buildings  and  other  improvements,  who 
would  hesitate  or  refuse  to  make  a  small 
outlay  for  manures,  which  would  at 
once  repay  the  money  advanced  in  a 
superior  crop,  and  leave  the  land  im- 
proved to  an  amount  fully  equal  to  that 
outlay.  Let  it  not  be  supposed,  that 
objection  is  made  to  improvements  in 
our  rural  architecture.  No  money  is 
more  prudently  spent  than  that  which 
adds  to  the  beauty  of  the  houses,  and 
the  per  onal  comfovts  of  those  who  res- 
ide upon  and  till  the  land.  No  indica- 
tion of  general  prosperity  is  more  con- 
clusive than  a  Complete  state  of  repair, 
even  to  neatness  and  elegance,  of  the 


curtilage  of  the  residences  of  the  farm- 
ers of  a  country,  where  gardens,  (orch- 
ards, enclosures,  urnamental  trees  -ind 
shrubs,  all  indicating  the  hand  of  indus- 
try, directed  by  taste,  speak  a  language, 
not  to  be  misundorstoi  d,  tiiat  the  ()\v)i- 
ers  .are  satisfied  with  their  homes. — 
Whenever  the  eye  of  the  traveler  is  re- 
freshed by  such  i^cenes  a;^  these,  he  may 
rest  assured  lh;it  there  agriculture  pi'os- 
pers,  that  the  love  of  their  homes  has 
inspired  tht-  hope  in  their  owners,  that 
their  children  will  oceupy  them,  when 
they  are  gone,  and  protect  th(-ir  graves 
from  desecration  :  tJiat  they  are  resi- 
dents, inhabitants  of  the  countrv,  not 
mere  sojourners  for  a  season,  ready  to 
abandon  all  forspeculativeemigrati^in  — 
are  men  who  feel  that  patriotism  as 
well  as  every  other  vii'tue,  grows  most 
kindly  and  matures  most  perfectlv  un- 
der liie  influence  of  local  attachments, 
the  sacred  circle  which  includes  their 
homes';  who  perceive  great  evils  in  ihe 
frequent  uprooting  of  those  plants  of 
tender  growth,  who  feel  that  it  is  a  bit- 
ter trial  to  sever  and  destroy  those  ties 
which  bind  men  together  in  neighbor- 
hood association.  It  is  not  to  such  ex- 
pemlitures  as  these  that  I  object.  These 
ought  ail  to  be  made,  and  jirosperous 
agriculture  would  in  this  way  adorn 
and  beautify  our  whole  country.  T3ut 
I  refer  to  that  indiscreet  financiering 
which  would  add  thousands  to  the  care 
of  an  estate,  in  buildings  and  like  im- 
provements, but  withholds  moderate 
annual  returns  of  its  own  increase  to 
sustain  its  fertility,-  and  recuperate  its 
powers  of  production,  impaired  by  pre- 
vious bad  cultivation. 

Many  large  fanners  would  pi-omptly 
refuse  to  invest  $500  in  Guano,  Lime, 
Plaster  or  other  concentrated  manures, 
who  would  not  hesitate  to  invest  thrice 
that  sum  in  some  unimportant  enter- 
prise, the  profits  of  which,  in  three  years, 
would  not  equal  the  increased  produc- 
tion of  a  single  crop,  from  the  judicious 
application  of  the  manures  which  that 
sum  would  purchase.  If  all  the  income 
from  agriculture  is  to  be  vested  in  stocks 


250 


THE  FAUMER'S  JOURNAL. 


fuu!  loans — U' ils  most  vjiluable  ami  ex- 
hMiistini;  jin.d'.iclioris  aro  to  be  Mrinuaily 
t'xportt'il,  without  any  suitab!<^  return  to 
the  soil,  uh'niate  exl)anstion  must  be. 
the  result.  The  inercliaut  invest-s  capi- 
tal in  goods,  calculating;  on  a  profit  in 
bis  sales,  and  isu-reascs  theextent  of  bis 
l)U>iness  by  tlie  lelurn  of  those  profits 
to  I  he  purposes  of  trade.  Tliis  seems 
to  be  the  course  of  all  other  oecupatioii.^;, 
with  the  exception  of  agricultural  pur- 
suits. That  is  expected  to  supply  all 
other  demands  from  every  other  direc- 
tion and  still  sustain  itself,  unassisted 
and  alone.  And  yet  nothing  more  c^r 
iainly  makes  a  remunerating  return  for 
money  expend<il,  than  land  ]>r</pi'rly 
manure<l,  carefully  preserved,  and  skill- 
fuliy  cultivated.  IS^o  investment  of  capi- 
tal is  more  secure,  certain  or  satisfac- 
toiy. 

'J'he  history  o  European  ag-icu'ture 
ar;d  es]  <cia  ly  that  of  Kngl'Uid, Reaches 
a  most  in'-tructive  lessfiu.  In  no  coun- 
try has  capital  lioen  mor«  extensively 
employed  in  Farming — in  none  has  the 
land  been  more  jiermanently  or  rapidly 
im]>roved,  and  no  where  lias  increa  ed 
production  made  a  more  certain  and 
satisfactory  return.  One  hrndred  and 
fifty  years  ago,  the  production  of  Wheat 
in  England  did  not  exceed  an  average 
of  ten  bushels  an  acre,  and  the  grain 
itself  was  much  lighter  ancl  poorer.  13y 
regular  impiovcments,  arising  from  the 
liberal  exjienditiire  ofcajiital  in  manures, 
bv  sn{)erior  cultivation,  and  increased 
fertility,  the  production  has  quadrupled, 
witli  an  enormous  increase  of  po]>ulation, 
and  the  correspondent  a<'cumnlation  of 
agricultural  wealth.  In  no  country  is 
there  as  much  capital  and  science  devot- 
<e(\  to  agriculture  and  its  kindred  occu- 
pations, and  in  no  government  is  the 
will  of  the  faimirig  interest  uttered  in 
t^uch  language  of  command  in  tl^e  ba'ls 
of  L''gislation.  The  exp-erience  of  many 
of  the  old  St.ntes  of  our  Unif)n  confirms 
wliat  has  been  said.  Farmers  have 
learne<l  that  not  only  the  vegetable  pro- 
ductions of  the  earth  may  be  returned 
to  enrich  it,  after  the  most  vahiable  ele- 


ments have   been  em]>loyed  to   support 
animal    bfe,  and   to  niitiister  to  human 
comfort,  but    that  the  ocean    and    the 
lakes,  the  foresis  and  the  rivers,  togeth- 
er  with    the    exhauslless    resources    of 
mineral   feriilizers.  treasureii    up  in   the 
earth,  all  create  agricultural  capital  and 
skill  to   successful  progress — to  emplo}' 
'  profitably  that  which    wouUl    be   other- 
jwise  us.  less  or  annoying.     To    invest 
I  money  in  stocks,  w  hich  must  return  pro- 
;  fits  or  all  other  occupations,  must  ceaso. 
I  It  is  true  of  agiMcultural  as  of  other  etn- 
I  ployments,  that  liberal  and  judicious  ex- 
i  penditnre  is  wise  economy,  and  here  we 
jfiid  the    illustration    of  that    seeming 
paradox,    "  there  is  that  scattereth,  and 
yet    incroaseth,  and  there  is    that  with- 
holdeth  more   than  is  meet,  but    it  ton- 
ileth  to  jioverty." 

The  first  step  in  the  right  diiection 
towards  the  renovation  of  ourexh.nusted 
lands,  and  the  increase  of  agricultural 
p'^ofits,  is  a  determination  to  cease  to 
!  cultivate  land  too  i>oor  to  make  a  rea- 
jsonable  relur::  for  the  labor  emph-ved.' 
I  Labor  is  tb  Farmer's  mo??py,  and  when 
thus  employed  it  makes  a  bad  debt — 
one  utterly  inconvertible  to  any  valuable 
use.  The  merchant  whoshouM  sell  his 
wares  on  credit  to  those  who  are  hope- 
lesj-ly  insolvetit,  must  end  in  becondng 
so  himself.  It  is  e(|uai!y  true,  that  ho 
who  devotes  himself  to  the  cultivation 
<»f  lands,  which  do  not,  by  their  produc- 
tion, pay  for  the  operation,  must  ba 
ruined  in  tlie  prosecution  of  the  busi- 
ness. 

If  it  is  asked,  what  are  those  to  do 
who  have  no  rich  land,  the  reply  is: 
make  all  rich  that  you  cultivate,  reduce 
the  s\irface  and  increase  its  fertility,  and 
if  you  have  surplus  labor,  employ  it  a& 
you  would  other  capital,  to  the  acctj« 
mulalion  of  the  elements  of  fertility. — ■ 
The  origina.l  settlers  of  this  countrj 
found  that  resource  in  the  rich  and 
endle.-is  forests  which  tiiey  cleared,  and 
from  the  productions  of  which  they  be- 
came rich.  Clear  land  prudently  but 
not  wastefully,  and  by  judicious  n)an* 
agement  retain  and  incFease  the  furtili- 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


251 


ty.     It  would  astuiiisli  any  one,  who  is 
not  farniliMi-  wiih   such    calculations,  to 
learn,    that    at    least    ont-tliird    of  the 
whole  agricultural  labor  of  the  counliy 
is  wasted    on    exhausted   lands,  or    ap- 
plied   without   skill, — thus    making-    u 
dead  loss  to  ifie  country  and  the  world. 
The  proceeds  do  not  pay  tLe  expenses 
of  the  operation.      How  great  must  be 
the   protiis   of  judicious   labor   on   ricii 
land  to  su>taiii  an  occupation  .vith  such 
an   item   of  luss    in    Us    account  I     An 
acre  of  land    which,   in    its   exhausted 
state,  would  not  yield  live  bushels,  may 
be  made   lo   produce  forty,  with   oiie- 
ei-^litli  of  the   labor   and   expense   that 
would  be  required   to  in;d<e  from  eight 
acres  of  such  land,  an  equal  amount  of 
corn.     This   llu-^trates  the  value  of  the 
application  of  capital   lo  farming.     Af- 
ter having  collected  and   applied  all  the 
manures  which  are  in  reach  and  availa- 
ble on  the  farm,  the  surface  to  be  culti- 
vated may  be  iiicieasel  and  enriched  by 
the  purchase  and  use  of  fertilizers,  wiiii 
which  our   markets    abound.     I  speak 
irom  experience    's  well  as  observation, 
that  in   the    application    of  Guano,   al- 
though apparently  a  high  priceil  fertil- 
izer, the   increased    crop    has    paid   for 
thrice  the  cost  of  the  manure,  and  left 
an  improvement  on  the  soil  fully  equal 
to  the  sum   invested.     This  is  certainly 
true  in  reference  to  wheat  and  tobacco. 
I  learn  that  it  acts    must  powerfully  on 
cotton.     I  know  that  the  production  of 
corn  is  greatly  increased,  but  its  price 
being    less,    the    immediate    return    in 
money  value  is  not  so  great.     Men  are 
covetous  of  securities,  which  yield  with 
certainty  six  per  cent.     Here  is  one  that, 
in  five  years  experience,  has  never  yield- 
ed one  less  than  one  hundred.     Guano 
is  used  as  aii  illustrater,  witiiout  intend- 
ing to  disparage  lime,  plaster  and  other 
fertilizers  with  which  agriculturists  are 
familiar. 

In  reply  to  the  suggestion,  Uiat  the 
system  of  clearing  and  exhausting  land 
ought  to  be  abandoned,  we  are  often 
told  that  this  is  necessary,  because  of 


the  farm.  If  this  were  h  neC' ssaiy 
consequence  of  such  increase,  it  wo.ild 
be  a  great  calamity,  for  it  looks  dii<cily 
to  the  utter  impoverishment  of  the 
country.  Laborers  every  where  grow 
up  and  increase.  Such  ought  not  lo 
be  the  I'esult.  Labor,  it  is  true,  may 
be  so  directed  as  to  produce  desinictioii, 
instead  of  profit,  but  it  is  only  the  uu- 
skiiful  who  make  '■uch  use  of  thi-  great 
source  of  prosperity.  A  farm  has  its 
iiuiit,  for  the  proHta'ul')  aj)phcation  of 
labor,  as  well  as  to  it.i  suriace,  and  to 
surcharge  it  with  labor,  is  ceitainly  un- 
wise. Let  a  farmer,  thus  emliairas>ed 
with  physical  force,  hire  out  some  of 
those  laborers,  and  invest  the  money 
derived  from  the  hire  in  eoncentraied 
manures;  let  him  faithlully  and  skilful 
ly  ajiply  them  to  his  lands,  and  he  will 
find  in  the  increased  crops,  as  well  a» 
the  additional  value  given  to  his  estate 
in  i)erinaneiit  fertility,  a  more  satisfacto- 
ry application  of  suiplus  labor. 

Another  error,  mo^t  fruitlul  in  mis- 
chief, and  which  seems  to  liave  strong 
hold  upon  the  minds  of  the  agrieultiiral 
commuTiity,  is  the  notion  entertained  of 
resting  land,  by  a  rotation  of  crops,  with 
occasional  interspensions  in  cukivaiion. 
Let  it  be  remembered,  that  the  rotation 
is  only  necessary  because  the  land  is 
charged  with  the  production  of  crops 
not  natural  to  the  soil,  and  all  of  whieh 
are  removed  after  they  ai'e  produced. 
Land  never  grows  poorer  by  the  pro- 
('uclion  of  its  native  growth,  however 
abundant  the  crop,  if  it  is  not  rent-wed. 
Our  rich  forest  lands  have  produced 
their  immense  burdens  of  timber,  and 
with  the  small  return  of  the  foliage,  re- 
tain their  fertility.  Nature  does  not- 
look  to  destruciion,  but  to  production. 
The  spring  makes  haste  to  atone  foi  the 
barrenness  of  winter,  by  restoring  the 
beauty  and  perfection  which  its  biting 
frost  had  destroyed.  Indeed,  the  rich- 
est tints  in  the  landscape,  colored  by  the 
benevolence  of  heaven,  are  seen  in  the 
tendency  <^i'  nature  to  ronovate  its  beau- 
ties, and  reproduce  its  fruits.     It  is  only 


4he  growth  Aiid    increase  of  labor  on  i  when  an  artificial  process  is  introduced, 


252 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


that  artificial  aids  become  necessary. 
The  introiluction  of  cereal  grains  and 
other  crops,  not  natural  to  the  soil,  has 
rendered  rotation  necessary  to  the  con- 
tinuance of  fertiiity,  unless  there  is  a 
continual  sujiply  of  suitable  jnanures  for 
the  support  of  the  same  crop,  often  re- 
peated. If  that  were  d<  lie,  cultivation 
might  be  unremitted.  It  is  a  stioiig 
figure  of  s])eech  to  say.  that  1'  nd  be 
comes  tired  and  needs  rest.  Laud  be- 
coiues  poor  by  a  constant  drain  of  the 
elements  of  fertility,  but  it  immediately 
recuperates  when  they  are  restored.  Art 
does  this  piomptly  and  at  once,  and  ua- 
tiire  slowly  and  by  degrees,  and  hence 
the  notion,  that  the  land  acquires  fertil- 
ity by  rest.  So  ftir  from  absolute  rest, 
when  left  without  cultivation,  it  pro- 
duces vegetation  to  the  extent  of  its 
capacity.  If  annually  manured,  culti- 
vation each  year  would  incri'ase  its  pow 
ers  of  production.  Who  thinks  of  rest- 
inff  a  garden  ?  Old  gaiden  spots  are 
the  best,  because,  although  cultivated 
every  vear  in  the  same  and  those  ex 
hausting  crops,  they  are  every  year  ma- 
nured. But  I  am  speaking  of  the  sys- 
tem of  shifts,  as  it  is  called,  as  a  means 
of  improvements.  Many  farmers  seem 
to  suppose,  that,  with  these  shifts,  the 
system  is  complete  ;  that  the  process  of 
cultivatic)!!  luay  continue  in(lei)endently, 
without  deterioration  of  the  soil.  This 
is  a  great  and  fatal  error.  Land,  it  is 
grauled,  will  not  grow  poorer  under 
this  system,  as  rapidly  as  it  would  un- 
der the  mere  alternat.ion  of  crops  froiri 
y,eai'  to  year,  but  the  difterence  of  ulti- 
mate bxhaustion  is  only  a  question  of 
time.  This  is  the  more  certainly  true, 
ftince  the  usual  practice,  in  the  year  of 
rest,  is  to  covs-r  the  field  with  stock, 
which  graze  it  close  and  clean  and  leave 
it  pressed  by  the  hoofs  and  scorch  d  liy 
tiie  sun.  It  reminds  me  of  the  peace 
which  f)llo\vs  the  foot-'^teps  of  a  ruthless 
conqueror: 

"Mark  where   his  carnage  and   his  eonqviests 

ceas6, 
IJe  makes  a  solitude  and  calls  that  peace." 

Land  taxed  with  two  successive  years 


of  production  is  delivered  over  to  the 
teeth  and  hoofs  of  an  overstocked  farm, 
and  that  is  called  rest  !  No  system  of 
rotation,  wdiich  includes  less  than  five 
shifts,  can  secure  increasing  fertility  and 
sustain  a  full  stocking  of  domestic  ani- 
mals. And  even  this  must  be  aided  by 
tlift  introduction  of  artificial  grasses,  and 
ihe  application  of  all  the  manures 
which  can  be  collected  to  cover  the  land 
and  supply  it  with  the  elements  of  pro- 
duction. Grasses  adapted  to  every  va- 
riety of  soil  can  be  readily  found  and 
experiment  will  decide  which  are  the 
best.  These,  with  deep  and  elfectual 
ploughing,  and  relieving  the  fields  from 
the  grazing  of  stock,  until  well  covered 
with  turf,  would  produce  results  in  im- 
provement which  would  astonish^  tiiose 
who  have  not  tried  the  experiment. 

Without  the  diligent  and  persevering 
cultivation  of  grasses,  fariniiig  cannot 
prosper.  Those  belonging  to  one  cli- 
mate appear  late  in  the  spring  and  are 
destroyed  by  the  first  cold  weather  of 
the  winter.  A  number,  such  as  clover, 
herdsgrass  and  others,  remedy  this  evil 
and  afford  abundant  means  for  increas- 
ed profits  in  raising  and  fattening  cat- 
tle. In  the  absenc<'  of  such  a  provision, 
we  are  thrown  entirely  upon  the  crops 
of  corn  and  oats,  both  of  great  value, 
and,  indeed,  indispensable,  but  both,  in 
our  present  system,  great  exhausters. — 
It  is  impossible  to  pa.ss  through  the 
country  in  the  spring,  without  being 
pained  to  observe  the  cattle  wdiich  have 
just  ashieved  the  enlerprize  of  emluring 
the  winter. 

Those  which  have  survived,  give  un- 
mistakeable  indications  that  their  [terila 
have  been  great,  and  the  danger  of  star- 
vation imminent.  No  braftch  of  our 
farming  operations  would  be  more  prof- 
itable than  this,  if  prudently  conducted. 
If  the  farmer,  on  one  iuV.. .!,  would  avoid 
an  overstock,  and,  on  the  other,  provide 
ample  means  of  feedirg,  by  devoting' 
low  and  wet  lands,  which  are  unsafe  for 
cultivation,  to  meadows  for  hav,  he 
would  at  once  perceive,  the  value  of  the 
system,  in  increased  domestic  comfort* 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


55S 


and  the  profits  from  sal.3s  made  from  his 
farm.  There  must  be  badTnanagemeiit 
where  the  sea-board  towns  of  North 
Carolina  purchase  hay  and  garden  veg- 
etables from  the  New  England  States. 
The  remedy  of  this  evil  is  not  to  be 
found  alone  iu  improved  breeds  of  cat- 
tle, hogs  or  sheep  ;  neither  Durharas, 
Devons,  Teesvvaters  or  Ayreshire,  a- 
mongst  cattle — Cotswolds,  Southdowiis 
or  Merinos,  amongst  sheep — nor  Berk- 
shires  or  Irish  graziers,  amongst  hogs, 
will  alter  the  state  of  things,  produce 
prosperity  and  success,  without  first  se- 
curing ample  means  for  their  rearing 
and  the  fattening.  Our  old  variety, 
brought  up  under  privation  and  hard- 
ships of  our  present  matiagement,  are 
better,  unless  this  is  first  attended  to. 
They  can  live  and  endure  even  the  tri- 
als to  which  they  are  subjected  ;  the 
others  would  degenerate  and  die. 

Sheep  farming  is  a  neglected  source 
of  great  profit  amidst  remarkable  facili- 
ties for  the  business.  The  little  State 
of  Vermont  produces  four  times  as  much 
wool  as  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
although  the  cold  season  continues  eight 
months  of  the  year,  in  that  high  North- 
ern latitude,  and  demands  continued 
feeding  to  the  stock;  whilst  our  free, 
mountain  range,  and  unequalled  grass 
country  in  the  Piedmont  region,  remains 
unemployed  for  this  valuable  purpose; 
and  this  too  in  the  face  of  the  high  price 
of  wool,  and  the  heavy  importations  from 
foreign  countries  to  supply  our  home 
consumption. 

Where,  it  may  be  asked,  is  a  remedy 
to  be  found  for  the  state  of  things  we 
have  described  ?  It  is  to  be  found,  first, 
in  diffusing  information  amongst  the 
farming  masses,  by  rendering  them  con- 
scious of  the  profits  wdiich  they  lose, 
and  the  losses  which  tlie^  incur  by  the 
wautof  information,  or  their  own  cen 
surable  neglect, — by  the  formation  of 
Agricultural  associations  in  every  coun- 
ty, and  every  neighborhood,  and  induc- 
ing the  intercourse  and  collision  of  minds 
amongst  those  engaged  in  a  common 
pursuit, — by  the  circulation  of  agricul- 


tural periodicals,  especially  those  in  our 
own  section  and  climate;  and  permit 
me  here  to  express  my  own  sense  of  oU- ; 
ligation  to  the  Editor  of  the  Farmer's 
Journal,  for  the  zeal  as  well  as  ability 
with  which  he  has  commenced,  and  is 
prosecuting  his  valuable  enterprise.  The 
Romans  presented  a  civic  crown  to  the 
man  who  saved  the  life  of  a  citizen  ; 
how  much  more  worthy  of  such  a  dis- 
tinction are  those  gentlemen  who  are.- 
devoting  their  lives  to  the  renovation  of 
a  country  greatly  exhausted  by  imper- 
fect afjriculture,  and  awakening  the  im- 
pulses of  that  pure  patriotism,  which 
nevBY  rests,  until  our  country  sliall  smile 
in  beauty  and  abundance,  one  wide  ex- 
tended scene  of  verdure  and  fertility. 
The  name  and  services  of  Edmund  Ruf- 
fin,  the  author  of  the  essay  on  calcare- 
ous manures,  will  be  reuK^nbeied,  and 
appreciated,  when  politicians  who  filled  a 
large  space  in  public  notoriety  and  who 
won'  high  prizes  by  their  deep  sagacity. 
shall  be  utterly  forgotten  ;  t.ie  one  has 
written  his  name  upon  the  imperishable 
annals  of  the  improved  agriculture  of 
his  State  and  country,  whilst  the  de- ds 
of  the  other  will  slumber  in  the  grave 
which  terminated  his  career,  however 
successful  it  might  have  been  ;  the  one 
is  the  benefactor  of  his  race,  the  other 
the  promoter  of  his  own  personal  in- 
terest. I  would  add  the  promotion  of 
agricultural  libraries,  cheap  and  easily 
obtained  by  every  association,  and  fre- 
quent meetings,  free  discussions,  and 
comparisons  of  experience.  . 

Nothing  is  more  fatal  to  improve- 
ment, or  individual  happiness,  than 
constant  association  with  tho-e.  who 
take  our  opinions  without  investigation, 
or  from  whom  our  own  stock  of  knowl- 
edge is  not  enlarged. 

It  is  a  great  calamity  for  men  to  be 
deprived  of  the  privilege  of  intercourse 
with  their  equals,  ami  superiors  in  intel- 
ligence. The  human  mind  developer 
in  proportion  to  the  frequent  opportuni- 
ties of  putting  forth  all  of  its  powe's, 
and  the  human'  heart  is  improved  and 
cultivated,  by  the  communion  of  feeling. 


254 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


which  siifh  high  exercises  create.  He 
who  is  coiiteiiled  to  be  ihe  oracle  o\  his 
neiujliborliood,  will  becjuie  a  bigot,  and 
be  surrounded  by  sycophants  and  llst- 
ttrt-rs.  lirrors  musi  be  perjietuated  in 
such  a  society,  and  iin|)''oveinent  cease. 
i\s  he  grows  older  he  will  become  more 
unteachable,  and  when  lie  dies,  his  man- 
tle will  most  piobably  fall  ijo  a  worse 
subjt'cl  than  himself,  because  imitation 
i>  tlu;  most  sincere  species  of  thitterj', — 
lie  will  have  acquired  j>o?ilion  by  such 
H  process.  Frequent  a.->semblies  of  the 
Farmers  in  agricultural  clubs,  and  soci- 
ctit'S  ;  the  taking  and  reading  of  jour- 
nals devi)te>l  to  those  and  kindled  pur- 
suits, will  dethrone  such  a  petty  tyrant 
if  he  exists,  and  prevent  his  rise  if  r.ol 
already  in  {)ower. 

Men  will  try  and  see  ;  will  observe  in 
the  trials  of  their  neighbors,  the  success 
(ir  failure  of  each  new  suggestion  ;  and 
their  own  practical  good  sense  will  ap- 
prupriaU'  all  that  is  valuable,  and  reject 
what  is  worthless. 

On  no  subject  is  enquiry  more  anx- 
ious, and  knowledge  sought  with  great- 
er avidity,  when  once  the  mind  is  awak 


zealous  pditor  to  improve  the  State  which 
gave  him  birth. 

Tiie  present  occasion  presents  anoth- 
er source  of  high  gratification  to  evevy 
North-Carolinian.  The  display  of  me- 
chanical progress  indicates  that  much  is 
doing  ill  that  w^iy  for  agricuUural  im- 
provement. The  benefit  to  farmers  in 
imprdved  agiicultural  implements  has 
created  to  our  mechanics  a  celebiity 
which  we  are  proud  to  acknowledge. — 
When  we  look  to  day  upon  the  ploughs, 
the  reap  rs  and  threshing  machines, 
which  tm-chanical  skill  has  given  to  agii- 
cultural industry,  and  remember  the 
inferior  furnishings,  in  these  respects,  of 
thirty  years,  we  congratulate  ourselves, 
and  the  country,  upon  such  unparalleled 
success.  Nor  does  our  high  gratifica- 
tion cease  here.  lu  the  higher  and 
more  expansive  brandies  of  mechanic 
arts,  there  is  equal  progress,  and  like 
improvement.  We  are  at  this  moment 
almost  in  hearing  of  the  sound  of  the 
hammers  which  forge  out  and  complete 
the  Locomotives  for  our  railroads  with 
all  tlu-ir  complicated  machinery,  whilst 
cars   and   coaches   equal  to  any  for  ele- 


ened  to  the  imparlance  which  belongs  |  gance  of  finish,  or  provision  for  the  per- 


to  it.  I  am  told  that  in  liie  cou.  ty  of 
Edgecombe  alone  here  an;  more  than 
eight  hundred  copies  of  agr  cultural 
journals  taken  and  read  by  the  farmers 
of  the  county  ;  and  the  resuscitation  of 
Edgecombe  in  her  agricultural  interests 
demonstrates  the  power  of  knowledge, 
the  magic  effect  of  iuforination  dit^u^ed 
among  the  masses.  The  tame  is  true 
uf  otln*r  portions  of  tiie  Stale  and  the 
progress  would  be  much  more  satisfac- 
torv,  if  there  was  a  more  genernl  circu- 
lation of  those  messages  of  light  to  the 
farmer,  tho.se  papers  which,  unsoile  by 
the  dirty  drivel  of  party  politicians,  and 
rising  above  the  themes  which  they 
su2,"gest,  come  home  to  the  hearts  and 
iiuerest-s  of  the  jteople,  and  direct  them 
to  the  higlie.'>t  and  noblest  of  employ- 
ments. Let  each  member  of  this  State 
Socit-'ty  determine  to-day,  to  extend  the 
circulation  of  our  ywn- Agricultural  pa 
per,  and  thus  cherish    the  effort  of  its 


sonai  comfort  of  passengers,  are  made 
by  mechanics  of  onr  own  good  city.-  — 

When  to  these  we  add  that  the  ladies 
of  North  Caaolina,  our  farmers'  wives 
and  daughters,  have  increased  the  at- 
tractions as  well  as  the  usefulness  of 
this  fiivt  Fair,  this  Gala  day  in  our 
State,  we  cannot  but  believe  that  a  new 
light  has  beamed  upon  us.  I  love  to 
look  upon  a  garden — that  concentration 

f  the  loveliest  productions  of  nature, 
those  ornamental  recreations  to  the  eye, 
refreshing  the  senses  and  improving  the 
heart. 

When  God  made  man  innocent  he 
placed  him  in  a  garden.  When  he  for- 
feited his  favor  by  transgression,  lie  ex- 
pelled him  from  that  garden,  and  laid 
on  him  the  necessity  of  making  one  in 
imitation  of  that  which  he  had  lost,  if 
he  would  cherish  a  recollection  of  its 
cliarms.  There  is  an  indescribable  in- 
terest which  belongs  to  a  garden  :   its 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


255 


roses,  its  byaciutlis,  and  tlieir  lovi  Ij 
comp-iiiions.  Every  jarmershouiil  ti-ac-li 
liis  children  to  lave  a  flower  garden.  U 
gives  a  charm  to  hoin(%  it  teaches  the 
love  <A'  the  beautiful.  In  every  tint  and 
shade  of  its  flowers,  radiates  thai  benev- 
olence of  Heaven,  which  is  in  itself  all 
beautiful.  Who  in  passing  through 
the  fields  has  not  paused  to  admire  the 
wild  flower,  tsiniied  upon  only  by  llie 
sunbeam,  and  kissed  only  by  the  dew- 
drops  ;  and  as  he  looked  felt  grat  ful 
that  there  was  one  more  evidence  of  the 
kindness  of  his  Maker,  in  such  a  refined 
source  of  enjoyment  in  the  beauty  uf  his 
works. 

Ttie  prosperity  of  agrieuliural  pur- 
suits, it  has  been  remarked,  brings  gen- 
eral prnsjierity  to  any  country.  The 
present  is  a  season  jieculiariy  favorul>le 
to  a  gnat  eflbit  on  the  pari  of  those 
thus  euiploved  for  i-rogress  and  im- 
provement. All  of  the  producti(jns  of 
the  earth  are  saleable  at  most  remuner- 
ating' price^s.  Breadstufl>  and  provisions 
will  probably  approach  c<ttion  in  value, 
as  an  export,  more  nearly  th^ui  for  many 
previous  years.  The  prices  a;-e  high, 
and  a  golden  stream  flows  into  the 
purses  of  producers.  Much  ou^ht  to  Yie 
done,  and  much  can  be  done  .in  this  j 
great  interest,  if  the  season  i,s  seii^ed,  and 
the  tide  now  setting  in  oM-r  favor  is  not, 
allowed  to  pass  away.  ]S^ow  is  the  time 
to  I'onse  up  thi-5  great  interest  to  the 
duties  which  they  must  perform  or  sink 
into  an  oVwcurity,  the  very  supposition 
of  whicli  implies  criminal  neglect.  Now 
is  ihe  time  to  shake  off  old  prejudices 
and  to  airest 'the  progress  of  error,  to 
eilence  croakers  and  prophets  of  evil. 
Crorikery  has  been  most  snccessfullv 
culti\ated  as  an  :u;«omplishment  in  the 
Oood  Old  North  State.  Tlie  Raven 
oroaks  as  soon  as  he  is  released  from  the 
egg  shfli  which  covered  him.  and  many 
of  our  citizens  seem  to  have  taken  les- 
-sons  from  that  bird  of  evil  omen.  The 
complete  success  of  this  first  Fair,  the 
vast  assembly  present,  and  the  interest 
felt  and  expressed,  indicate  the  most 
cheering  revival  of  interest  whore  inter- 


est mu>t  be  felt  or  all  is  lost.  To  de- 
velojie  knowledge  by  freedom  of  ei.Kpiiry, 
and  tliorougli  mvesiigalioii,  to  expose 
pojiuiar  and  niiscliie\ou>  errors,  and  to 
find  out  and  make  known  (he  reasons 
which  produce  results,  ilie  principles 
wiiicli  areactixe  in  bringing  them  aboul. 
is  the  intent  of  all  such  in-uinLions,  and 
ought  to  be  considered  a  primai  v  duty 
on  tiie  [;art  of  eveiy  menioer.  I  select 
a  single  instance.  It  is  a  geiieraliv  re- 
ceived o})inion  tiiat  Guaiio,  al  houy;li  a 
stimulant  which  produces  an  iuimediate 
crop,  leaves  the  land  in  an  exhausttHl 
state,  and  finally  unproductive.  This 
may  or  may  not  be  true,  according  to 
the  skdl  with  which  itisapplitd.  Gu- 
ano being  a  highly  concentrated  man- 
ure, composed  c:  iefiy  of  ainnu:)nia  and 
phosphate  of  lime,  acts  as  the  leaven  on 
the  other  elements  of  the  soil  and  secures 
production. 

[To  be  concluded  in  next  Numbsr  ] 


WM.  H.  TAPPEY.  !  WM.  C.  LU.MSDE.V. 

TAPPEY  &  LUMSBEN, 

Iron  and  Urass  FoundeLs  a  id  Mtichiii- 

ist-, 

Opposite  Jarratt's   Tavern  and  Southern  Rail- 
road Depot, 
PETERSBURG,  VA. 
{Cash  paid  for  old  Copper  and  Brass.) 

I  RAILROAD  CARS,  Axles.  Wheels  Self- 
V  dnifj  Boxes,  &.c.  ;  Tobacco  Presses, 
Mills,  Cotton  Ploiifrtis,  and  Knives:  Cast  and 
Wrought  Railing  ;  Stenm  Engines,  Vertical  and 
Circular  Saw  ft'fiils.  Grist  Mill  bons  of  rverj 
description.  Shafting  and  all  kinds  of  Macliine- 
ry.  Wagon  Pox<^s.  Bells,  &c.,  (fcc. 

November.  IS.'jS,  8— 


SAMUEL  OLIVER  &  SOST, 
New  B.ert)e,  N.  C, 

WILL  keep  constantly  on  htmd  a  supply 
ol  Ploughs,  embracing 25  diflerent  styles, 
Straw  Cutlers  Corn  Shelleis,  Cultivators,  Har- 
rows, Grain  Fans,  Crad  et-.  Corn  Mills,  Veget- 
able Cutters,  Grain  Planters,  Corn  Stalk  Cut- 
ters, Castings,  &c.,  &c. 

Agents  for  the  sale  of  Taylor  &  Co.'s  Geor- 
gia Cotton  Gins,  Paiker's  Patent  Corn  Shelter, 
Smith's  Straw  Cutter,  Horse,  Pow.er  and  Grain 
Fans,  Watt's  Patent  CufF  Bi ace  Ploughs. Chap- 
pell's  Fertilizer,  Super  Phosphate  of  Lime  :  al- 
so, Peruvian  Guano,  Bone  Uust,  Kentish  Pre- 
pared Guano,  Gro»nd  Piaster,  Poudrettc,  &c  , 
&c. ;  Ury  Goods,  Groceriep,  Boi,t8,  Shoes,  Hata 
and  Caps,  &.c 

November,  1853.  8— 2t. 


256 


THE  FARMER'S  JOUi.Iw^L. 


J.    M.    LOVEJOY'S    ACADEMY, 
EALEIGH. 

Olassical  Department,  J.  M.  Lovejot,  Precep- 
tor, 
Mathematical  Depaitment,  Geo  C.  Lewis, 
Department  of  Elementary,  Agricultural   and 
Experimental  Chemistry,  Dr.  J.  I''.  Tompkins 

THE  YEAR  IS  DIVIDED  INTO  TWO  SESSIONS. 

The  Ticeniy- Sixth  Session  c(  rnmences  on  the 
1th  of  Jaiiuaiy,  \tibi,—the  Twenty-Seventh 
on  the  1th  of  July. 

TERMS  OF  TUITION  PER  SESSION  IN  ADVANCE. 

Tuition  and  B'lard,   (including  everything 
except  washing,)  $80  00 

Ffench,    Book-keeping  and  Surveying, 

each  extra,  10  00 

No  deduction   made  for  absence,  except  in 

cases  of  protracted  sickness. 

IT  is  ihe  design  of  the  Preceptor,  that  this 
Institutirn  hh;dl  not  be  surpasstd  in  ihe  ad- 
vrmtages  afforded  for  acquiring  an  English, 
Class'ical,  Mathematical  and  Practical  Educa- 
tion. His  employment,  during  the  last  twenty 
years,  has  been  that  o"'  prepanng  boys  tor  the 
University  of  ISorth  Carolina,  and  for  Clleges 
ot  other  iatates  ;  so  that,  if  there  is  any  truth  in 
the  assertion  that  ''  practice  makes  perlect,"  he 
thinks  he  i.s  capable  of  doing  well  ihe  business 
of  his  profession.  He  thereiore  assures  i-arents 
and  guardians  who  may  piace  pupils  in  hi.'- 
Aciid  my,ihnc  they  shall  be  thoroughly  pre- 
pared for  college,  or  educated  for  practical  bu- 
siness men.  Book-keeping,  Surveying,  and  all 
practical  branches,  receive  pt.tticular  attention. 

The  Morals  of  the  Students  will  be  carelully 
guarded  ;  and  lor  the  pujpose  ot  doing  this,  pu- 
pils, (unless  they  have  relations  in  the  City  ) 
will  be  required  to  boaid  with  the  Principal,  or 
with  Dr.  '1  ompkins— who  has  been  engaged  to 
give  instruction  in  AgricuUvral,  Elemerdary 
and  Experimental  Chemistry,  accompanied 
with  Lectures-  in  order  that  pupils  who  de- 
sign to  become  farmers  may  receive  an  educa- 
tion in  those  branches  of  science,  so  necessary 
(o  success  in  their  profession. 

ll  is  not  necessnry  to  speak  of  the  qualifica- 
tions of  Dr.  Tompkins,  since,  as  Editor  of  the 
Former's  Journal,  he  has  shown  himself  fully 
competent  to  discharge  the  duties  of  his  depart- 
ment His  laboratory  is  well  supplied  witn 
such  apparatus  as  mny  be  necessary  to  givu  a 
minute  and  perlect  idea  of  the  science  which  he 
professes  to  teach.  . 

Students  who  prefer  to  give  their  whole  at- 
tention to  Agricultuial  Chemistry,  and  to  ihe 
instruction  oT  the  Laboratory,  can  have  the 
privilege  of  doing  so. 

TERMS    PER    SESSION    IN    DR.   TOMFKIN's  DEPART- 
MENT. 

Foi  Experimental  Chemistry,  $10 

Agricultural  Chemistry,  25 

Laboratory  Students,  50 

J.  M.  LOVEJ    Y. 

Raleigh,  October  17ih,  1853.  8— 


WM.  ALLSTON  GOUEBIN, 
Factor  and  Commission  Merchant, 

NO.  73  EAST-BAY, 

CHARLESTON,  S.  C, 

IS  prepared  to  make  lioeral  advances  on  Con- 
signments  of  Rice,  Cotton,  Corn,  S  gar, 
Elour,  Grain,  Hay,  &,c. 

Agent  for  "  Genuine  Peruvian  Guano"  for 
the  States  of  South  Carolina,  North  Carolina, 
Georgia,  Alabama  and  Tennessee.  Als^o,  A- 
gent  for  Baltimore  and  Southern  Packet  Co.'e 
Steam-ships. 
November,  1853.  8— 


A  CARD. 

JAMES  M.  TOWLES,  General  Agent  for 
the  sale  of  Agricultural  Implements,  and 
Farming  Utensils,  &c. 

N .  B.  A  large  number  of  articles  brought  to 
the  late  Fair  are  lelt  with  me  on  sale,  on  all  of 
which  the  Railroad  freight  will  be  saved  to  the 
purchaser,  a  very  important  item  on  heavy 
goods. 
November,  1853.  '  8— 


THE  FAKMER'S  JOURNAL 

IS  Published  monthly,  at  $1  per  annnum,  in 
advance ;  six  copies  i()r  ^5 ;  twelve  copies 
lor  irlO  ;  thirty  copies  for  $20. 

Advertisements — A  limited  number  of  ad- 
vertisements will  be  inserted  at  the  following 
rates:  For  one  square' ot  twelve  lines,  for  each 
insertion.  $1 ;  one  square  per  annum,  $10  ;  half 
column,  do.,  $30  ;  one  column,  do.,  $50;  larger 
advertisements  in  proportion. 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS, 
Editor  and  Proprietor,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 


''F^HE  Subscriber  will  give  any  special  advice 

JL  to  Fa;rmers,  by  their  addressing  him  and 

giving  a  description  ol  their  farms,    xlis  charge 

will   bo  moderate.    He  will  make  analysis  ol 

soils  and  marls,  and   write  out  the  analysis  for 

application  ol  manures. 

For  analysis  of  soils,  $5  00 

Writing  out  analysis,  5  00 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D. 


TABLE  OF    CONTENTS. 

Page. 
List  of  Premiums  Awarded,  &c.,  225 

Preceedings  of  the  North  Carolina  State 

Agricultural  Society,  225 

Address  of  Hon.  A.  W.  Venable,  235 

Theory,  239 

The  North  CaroUna  State  Agricultural  Fair  240 
To  our  Readers,  241 

The  Guano  Trade,  242 

Upon  a  Strong  Platform  at  last,  242 

Editorial  and  extract  of  a  letter,  243 

Farmers  collect  Manure,  244 

Attention  called  to  Card,  244 

Let  the  blame  rest  where  it  belongs,  244 

iVIotion  offered  by  Dr.  Piitchard,  244 

Housekeeping  is  an  essential  part  of  Fe- 
male Education,  244 
Mr.  Venable's  Address,  (Continued,)  245 
Advertisements,                                             255 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


VOL.  2.  RALEIGH,  K  C,  DECEMBER,  1853.  NO.  9. 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D.,  Editor  and  Proprietor. 


ADDEESS 

OF   THE 

HON.  A.  W.  VENABLE. 

( Concluded  from  last  Number.) 

The  elements  of  fertility  were  many 
of  them  already  there,  just  as  the  ele- 
ments of  bread  are  in  flour;  but  the 
leaven  is  necessary  to  the  production  of 
the  article  in  high  excellence.  Leaven, 
of  itself,  will  not  make  bread — so,  if  this 
stimulus,  without  any  other  supply  of 
manure,  be  frequently  applied,  barren- 
ness must  ensue,  because  there  will  be 
viothing  for  the  leaven  to  act  upon. 
But  if  a  rotation  of  crops  is  adopted  and 
grasses  sown,  there  is  no  improvement 
more  permanent  or  more  efficient,  and, 
I  may  add,  more  cheap.  I  say  cheap, 
because  of  the  ease  and  cheapness  of  its 
application.  Let  the  Farmers  reason 
upon  these  subjects  and  they  will  come 
to  the  proper  conclusions.  Let  them 
read  and  they  will  improve.  Let  them 
assemble  at  our  Fairs,  and  they  will 
find  developmei  ts  and  improvements, 
which  awaken  hope,  give  vigor  to  action 
and  ensure  success.  Wa  shall  be  in- 
uced  to  cherish  native  genius  and  our 
own  mechanics,  and,  by  offering  induce- 
ments, get  the  highest  attainments  in 
every  branch  of  industry. 

I  have  already  remarked,  that  no 
people  can  prosper  permanently,  where 
agricultural  interests  are  either  oppress- 
ed or  neglected  by  legislative  authority  ; 
that  legislative  neglect  is  as  injurious 


as  legislative  oppression,  and  that  it  is 
demonstrable  that  much  of  the  depres- 
pression  of  this  great  interest  in  North 
Carolina  is  referable  to  this  neglect. 

No  State  of  the  Old  Thirteen  pos- 
sesses   more   undeveloped    resources — 
none,  those  of  greater  value.     This  is 
not  a  recent  discovery.     We  have  long 
been  conscious  of  the  fact,  and  have  long 
looked    upon   the  development  of  the 
wealth  and  power  in  the  States,  vvhicl 
surround  us  and  lie  upon  our  borde.. 
we   have  seen    the   immense  practical, 
advantages — the  incalculable    benefits,, 
which   they   have    derived,    whilst    wo^ 
have  just  commenced  a  movement  mi 
that   direction.      Virginia   and   Sosth 
Carolina  have  been  our  exporting  State.'*. 
and  have  obtained  credit  in   their  eoni-- 
mercial  statistics  for  the  produclfons^  of 
North  Carolina.     With  all  that  we  fur- 
nish to  Commerce,  from  the  forest  and 
the  soil,  we  still,  in  our  own  name,  stanrj 
amongst  the  smallest  of  the  old  States 
of  this  Union.     We  have  been  con teut. 
to   leave  the  counties  lying  near  ou!- 
northern  and  southern  borders  to  lo  k 
to  Virginia  and  South  Carolina  for  iho- 
means  of  transportation  as   well  as.  ;!■ 
market  for  our  products.     And  thcK' 
counties  have  prospered  in   proporti<>!(i 
to  their  proximity  to  such  advantages, 
while  the  centre  of  the  State  is  lamK 
locked  and  neglected. 

A  contest  in  the  Legislature,  between 
the  eastern  and  western  interests,  con- 
tinued for  a  long'  sucaession  of  years. 


258 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


The  jealousy   and   distrust,   wiiich  have    pays  |600  in  freight  upon  the  pn^duct 


grown  <nit  of  that  strugo;le  have  para 
lyzed  our  energies  and  left  the  iniprove- 
nient  of  the  State  to  abide  tiie  conse- 
quences of  victory,  which,  if  gained  by 
eitiier,  is  \vorthh.'ss  and  unin)purtant. 
Great  interests  have  been  sacrificed  lo 
the  ])ersonal  ambition  of  thuse,  who  have 
sought  promotion  by  skilful  niangenient 
of  these  elements  of  discord,  and  the 
whole  State  has  suffered  in  tlie  result. 
It  does  not  seem  to  have  occurred  to 
those  to  whom  our  interests  have  been 
committed,  that  if  every  portion  of  c/ur 
State  enjoyed  the  benefit  of  the  n)eans 
of  transportation — that  if  a  way  was 
opened  to  our  own  deep  water,  or  our 
own  ocean-shore — that  if  from  Salisbury 
to  the  Tennessee  line,  and  from  Golds 
boro'  to  Beaufort,  one  band  of  iron 
should  hind  those  remote  parts  togeth- 
er—  THERE  WOULD  BE  NO  EaST  AND  NO 

West  ?     The    obstacles    presented    by 
time  and   space  would   be   so  far  over- 
come, as  to  make  us  feel  that   we    are 
one  and  the  same   people.     With  such 
^eon'inualio  .  of  our  great  Central  Road, 
■jnf)d  the  feeders  and  branches  which  the 
intGjv-<ts  of  our   peojde  would    indicate, 
X)ur  iiejtil  •  lands  and  exliaustless  mines, 
jjiow  }ii  A  great   measure   valueless  and 
5unpr<vd«i'tive,  would   at  once  swell    the 
,sv'ealth  afid  importance  of  the  State  he- 
..yond  cdcnjaijon.     We  should  success- 
;fn|tv  .conipetxj   with    other    lines    from 
#^!,'y!aiid,  Virg?nJu,  South  Carolina  and 
i<G.6orgin,  which  aie  driving  the  produc- 
■  timis  of  tite  ¥alley  .of  the  Mississippi  to 
thedepots.of  .trade  on  t)ie  Alantic  coast. 
Tiiese  enterprises  inyst  ha  begun,  carried 
on  and  pJisbed  forward   chjetly    by  the 
Farmers — the   agricultUsi-al  jnter<'sts  of 
the  country.     The  greatest  benefit  must 
redound   to  the  jQultivator,  who   is  the 
producer,  an<l  he. would  find,  in  di.min 
.islied  expeni=es,:and  the  rise  jn  value  of 
his  land,  .and  jocreased  production,  m 
■  unfailing  source  of  wealth  and  indepen- 
dence.    Whatqv«i"    ^yrn  a    farmer  ai,i- 
nually  pays  for  the  tra.usjwrijitio^n  of  his 
cro])  to  inxirket  .represents sihe  inte.r.est 
.^f  a  nioitgage  upon  his  .estate..     He  vvilio 


of  his  farm  is  under  such  a  niorlgaye  to 
ihi^  amount  of  $10,000  upon  bis  lauds, 
taking  precedence  of  all  other  incnrr;- 
brances.  If  lie  sells  it,  the  purchaser 
knows  that  ex[)enses  must  be  paid  be- 
fore the  profits  can  he  counted  and 
ahatf'S  just  as  much  the  price  which  h  e 
is  willing  to  give.  Now,  if  thrtt  aniuunt, 
by  reason  of  railroads,  or  other  improve- 
ments, is  reduced  to  $100,  lie  is  at  once 
relieved  of  88,000  of  lien,  which,  of 
course,  is  aoded  to  the  value  of  his 
property.  The  |500  annually  saved  is 
perhaps  more  than  (he  same  farnier 
would  pay  in  taxes  fur  a  nurahi-r  of 
years.  It  is  belter  to  pay  a  small  tax 
to  the  State  than  a  largi-r  one  to  the 
carrier — belter  for  all  parties  concerned. 
A  prudent,  general  sy.sten)  of  internal 
Imjtrovcments  is  not  only  wist- and  prop- 
er, but  indispensable  to  the  })rosperity 
of  the  State — a  system  which  keeps  pace 
with,  but  does  not  run  before,  the  wnnts 
of  the  prciducer — one  regulated  by 
sound  discretion  and  not  subj-cied  to 
political  intrigue  or  private  speculation 
— a  system  which  mu.-t  oiiginate  with 
(he  farmers  of  our  State  and  he  ^-ustain- 
ed  by  ihetn,  in  which  they  fee!  a  per- 
sonal and  pecuniary  interest.  For,  v,  hilst 
it  is  proper  that  the  State  sho»ild  po-.sess 
an  interest  in  all  these  great  improve- 
ments, that  interest  should  neither  he 
so  large  as  to  control  nor  so  small  as  to 
be  without  influence. 

Our  farmers  must  become  laroviv  in- 
terested in  opening  every  |H)rtion  of  the 
State  to  the  advantages  of  eh<  ap  tians- 
pi)riation.  Look  at  those  coiuuie.s  now 
enj()\ing  the  advantages  vehich  tin  j)res- 
ent  improvements  afford.  The  i.^ere;  so 
of  production  «(_)nsequent  upon  the  ik- 
cility  and  cheapness  of  transportation 
together  with  the  reinunerati\  e  prices 
of  cotton,  toliacco,  wheat,  and  the  pn> 
ducts  of  our  pine  forests,  have  given 
.■^ueh  an  upward  tendency  to  property 
that  men  grow  ricii  liy  the  nure  appre- 
.ciation  in  value.  We,  who  have  expe- 
rieneexi  the  liberality  of  the  State  in  tiie 
Roaooke    and    Caj)e  Fear    Rivers,  tiio 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


259" 


Wilmington  anJ  Raleigh  and  Gaston 
Railroads,  and  are  enjoying  daily  the 
rich  fruits  of  that  liberality,  would  be 
both  unjust  and  ungenerous  to  refuse  to 
aid  those  remote  portions  of  the  State, 
■whose  taxes  were  paid  to  place  us  near 
a  market.  But  I  will  not  doubt  tliat 
work  will  be  done, — for  our  resources 
are  abundant.  Money  in  the  hands  of 
the  capitalist,  who  has  handled  it,  is  al- 
ways timid  until  that  capitalist  becomes 
-sati.-.fied  of  a  safe  investment.  Let  the 
farmers  of  the  country  take  this  gener- 
al interest  into  their  own  hands  and  en- 
ter upon  it  in  good  faith,  uninfluenced 
bv  sectional  jealofisies,  but  with  a  zeal 
for  the  glory  and  prosperity  of  all  of 
North  Carolina!  Let  haitnony  prevail 
in  our  counsels,  and  a  reliance  upon  our 
own  resources  be  inculcated  by  all  who 
desi''e  to  see  a  new  era  in  our  midst. 
Then,  with  fair  and  liberal  charters  and 
a  prudent  interest  of  the  State  in  those 
wurks,  cajjitalists  will  invest  their  wealth 
with  certain  assurance  of  security  and 
prdfit. 

The  people  of  North  Carolina  are 
eqml  to  every  necessary  effort.  They 
can  accomplish  all  that  is  requisite.  If 
anything  is  ever  done,  she  must  hel'p 
herself,  or  all  former  experience  has 
been  useless  in  its  teachings.  MilBons 
have  been  expended  by  the  Federal  Go- 
vernment to  create  barbors  in  the  lakes 
and  improve  the  security  of  navigation 
on  almost  every  other  portion  of  the 
coast  of  tlie  United  States,  whilst  our 
own  has  been  almost  entirely  neglected. 
I  do  not  approve  of  looking  to  the  ex- 
ercise of  a  doubtful  power  to  make  im- 
provements— but  we  bad  a  right  to  de- 
mand the  removal  of  obstructions  to 
navigation  in  Wilmington  harbor  crea- 
ted by  a  Fort  built  by  the  Government 
itself.  And  under  all  disadvantages, 
the  energy  and  enterprize  of  the  mer- 
chants of  Wilrwington  have  diffused 
wealth  and  prosperity  over  a  great  por- 
tion of  the  State.  A  market  and  an 
outlet  has  been  furnished  to  producers 
— and  may  Heaven  seed  the  good  town 
prosperity. 


The  people  of  North  Carolina,  fur- 
nished with  railroads,  plank  roads,  turn- 
pikes and  canals,  can  do  anything  tht\% 
enterprise  may  devise  and  industry  ef- 
fect.    Place  the  means  of  fertilization 
within  the  reach  of  farmers,  enlighten- 
ed as  (o  their  value — reduce  the  expenses 
of  transportation — give   her   sons   the 
avenue  for  competition — and  she  will 
stand  forth  amongst  the  first  of  her  sis- 
ter states.      Look   at  the  specimens  of 
her   manufactures   here  to-day.      IIi? 
cotton,  from  the  coarsest  thread,  for  tho 
commonest  purposes,  to  that  which  ri- 
vals the  gossamer's  w^eb,  all  grow^n  fronit. 
your  own  soil,  and  spun  by  your  owns 
machinery.   Flour  from  your  own  wh^.3.t, 
equal  to   any  in  the   world.      Tobae-co, 
manufactured  with  such  skill,  and  cur- 
ed with  such  perfection,  as  places  those 
who  make  and  manufacture  those  arti- 
cles in  the  front  rank  of  their-  profes- 
sion.     Her  coal,  her  iron,  her  cop}>fr» 
her  gold  ;  and  shall  we  hesitate  to  open 
her  land-locked  treasures  to  the  i-oiur 
merce  of  the  world  ?     Come  near  to  th'!' 
sections  enjoying  at  this  time  the  bei\c- 
fits  of  railroads,  and  j)lankroads,  mA 
improved  rivers,  and  see  the   coitnti-y 
smile  under  the  hand  of  skilful  cnUurt''i 
hear  practical  men  speak  of  the  rairao!'.- 
lous   effects  of  guano,  with  all  that    ■  ^ 
said  about  the  cost  and  you  will  so'  ;,-^, 
faint   glimpse   of  a  glorious   futuv....^. 
There  stands  before  me  a  single  iaraua-; 
from  Granville,  who,  from,  the  proci:tii.\i 
of  his  estate,  realized  $430  to  tlie  Wsi; 
and  he  will  tell  you^  thattoguan(>n\,..ie 
than  half  is  diie.     Place  all  these  appli^ 
ances  within  the  reach  of  the  fktiur 
princes  of  our  state ;  let  them  so^'.;  in 
hope,  looking  for  success,  and  a  bi;;ii;\;t 
day  will  dawn  upon  us.    For  inya  IF,  I 
will  cease  not  to  call  them  te&e  work 
— to  urge  them  to  its  a'^eojatrpIishnjeMij, 
until  it  shall  be  perfect  and  compUj-e  j 
until  the  genius  of  North  Carolinji,  i'rom. 
the  highest  peak  of  the  Pilot  m.ountaia^ 
shall  shout  in  tones  which  shall  echa 
from   mountain  top  to  mountain   tiop^ 
that  the  glorious  old  State  is  awakx?  nnd 
alive ;  until  the  neighing  of  th«  hoM. 


260 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


horse  shall  be  heard  in  every  monntain 
gorge  and  cove,  bearing  on  the  wings 
of  the  wind,  cars  teeming  with  passen- 
gers and  freighted  with  the  products  of 
the  earth ;  until  those  mountains  shall 
yield  her  mineral  treasures,  and  their 
fertile    sides,    clothed   with    exuberant 
crops,  or  alive  and  smiling  with  flocks 
and  herds,  shall  pour  a  continual  stream 
of  wealth  to  our  own  sea-coast;  until, 
from  east  to  west,  north   to  south,  all 
shall  unite,  and  that  State,  which  was 
first  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
is  acknowledged  the  queen  of  the  south. 
This  the  fanner   princes    of  our  State 
can  effect.     The  nobles  of  other  lands 
derive  their  patents  from  kings,  conque- 
rors and  plunderers — -they  get  the  ar- 
morial bearing  from  the  King  of  Hea- 
ven.     When  our  Legislature  shall  ac- 
complish this,  thev  shall  have  won  a 
title  to  the  gratitude   of  posterity. — 
When  our  railroads  and  other  improve- 
ments shall   pass  in  review,  posterity 
will  be  constrained  to  say,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  most  eloquent  orator  of 
his  day,  they  "  were  testators  to  a  pos- 
terity which  they   embraced    as   their 
own."     These  works  were  great  sepul- 
chres, built  by  ambition,  but  by  the  am- 
bition   of    an   insatiable   benevolence, 
which,  not  contented  with  reaping  in 
ijie  dispensation  of  happiness,   during 
the  contracted  sphere  of  human  life, 
kas  stretched,  with  all  the  reachings  and 
graspings  of  a  vivacious  mind,  to  ex- 
tend the  dominion  of  their  bounty  be- 
yond the  limits  of  nature,  and  perpetu- 
ate themselves,  through  generations  o 
.generatissns,  the  guardians,   protectors 
and  benefactors  of  mankind."     This  is 
glory  enough  for  one  generation,  and 
to  fail  to  fulfil  this  great  destiny,  would 
ibe  the  reproach  of  our  age. 


Gardening  for  Farmers. 

•  'Oufi  re;Kl(-ri*  may  ask  in  what  garden- 
ing Jbr  farmers  dsitVrs  from  ganJening 
f  r  other  people,  as  tlie  title  to  tijis  ar- 
ticle seems  to  imply.  Tlie  answer,  the 
quesiiun  of  how  to  grow,  is  of  course  to 
be  answered  the  same  to  all.     liut  the 


merchant  retiring  for  a  few  hours,  from 
the  wear  and  tear  of  city  excitement ; 
or  the  man  of  wealth,  who  retires  to 
enjoy  the  otlum  cum  dignitate.oi'  coun- 
try  life,  liave  other  objects  in  view  than 
those  which  our  farmers  and  their  wives 
can  properly  direct  their  attention  to,  in 
their  gardening  pursuits.  We  propose 
to  puint  out  to  our  farming  friends,  the 
advantages,  and  the  true  enjoyment 
which  a  garden  adapted  to  their  wants, 
and  so  arranged  as  to  supply  them,  is 
calculated  to  afford.  And  we  promise 
tliem  both  pleasure  and  protit  if  they 
adopt  our  advice. 

Why  should  not  the  farmers  partici- 
pate in  those  pure  enjoyments,  which 
other  classes  of  the  community  are  rea- 
dy to  admit  result  from  gardening:? — 
And  why,  moreover,  do  any  of  lair  far- 
mers profess  to  see  so  little  pleasure  in 
the  practice  of  it?  The  reply  is  easy. 
The  business  associations  of  the  city 
man  are  unconnected  witli  the  green 
iields  and  the  social  pleasures  of  conn- 
try  life.  The  latter,  of  which  thi-  <rar- 
dt-n  forms  so  prominent  a  j)art,  tliere- 
tbre  present  the  greater  contriust  to  his 
mind  ;  and  thence  arises  the  induce- 
ment to  their  pursuit.  In  his-  garden, 
the  zest  of  novt-hv  stimulates  his  exer- 
tions, and  his  zeal  supplying — to  some 
extent— his  lack  of  knowleo'ge,  the  cit- 
izen is  deliifhted  with  the  residt  of  his 
first  attempts  at  growing  cahbages  and 
dahlias;  and  success  soixi  convt^rts  the 
new  pur!*uit  into  a  passion.  The  nov.ce 
l»econies  by  practice,  a  |>roficient.  ISot 
so  with  the  farmer.  Ardent  jierhaps  in 
the  pursuit  of  his  toilsome  duties,  he 
looks  more  for  the  quiet  of  rest,  as  tl  e 
relief  of  his  labor,  than  for  the  success 
of  his  roses  or  liis  tomatoes  ;  which  al- 
though enclosed  within  the  trim  hedg- 
es of  a  garden  are  too  nearly  asscciatcd 
in  his  mind  with  the  .'Cene  of  his  daily 
cares  to  afftird  him  amusement,  or  to  in- 
terest his  leisure  hour;--. 

But  this  sate  of  things  is  n^t  inevi- 
table. And  we  feel  convinced  that,  with 
a  little  aid  from  your  wife  and  da'iiih- 
ters,  v,-e  can   tell   farmers  how  to  enjoy 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


26t 


and  profit  by  a  garden,  and  then  Iiow  Uj 
increase  the  bloom  of  the  rose  in  their 
fair  fheekf,  whiLst  they  tend  thegrowili 
of  it  in  tlieir  flower  borde  s.  To  the 
hidies  then  we  appeal.  And  we  prom- 
ise them  happiness  and  pleasure  from 
pursuing  our  instructions. 

Let  us  look  around  before  we  bi-gin 
our  gardening,  and  see  whether  we  have 
a  fair  ground  to  start  u|>om. 

What  have  we  aroutid  the  farm  house  ? 
Have  we  the  poultry  house,  the  pig- 
pens, the  wood-shed,  and  the  other  do- 
mestic out-oftices  well  placed  at  the 
back  or  ends  of  the  house,  so  that  by 
the  planting  of  a  few  common  shrubs, 
such  as  lilacs,  syringas,  &c.,  we  can  con- 
ceal them  from  view  ?  If  so,  well  and 
good.  If  not,  have  you  not  influence 
enough  to  get  them  removed,  or  fenced 
off  by  a  close  board  fence,  which  you 
can  afterwards  hide  by  creepers  of  some 
kind  ?  Then,  again,  in  front  and  around 
the  house,  can  3'ou  not  sketch  nut  a  lit- 
tle plan  for  a  grass  lawn,  to  be  kept 
mown  close,  and  separated  from  the  ad- 
jacent land  by  a  light  fence,  or  ditch 
and  green  bank,  so  as  to  show  the  world 
that  within  that  magic  boundary  the 
roughness  of  farming  husbandry  ceases, 
and  that  within  it  the  elegancies  of  life 
are  to  prevail  ?  This  being  done,  let  ns 
fix  up<in  a  spot  of  ground  behind  or  at 
the  side  of  the  house  for  the  garden. 
If  we  can,  we  will  seh-ct  one  sloping, 
towards  the  south,  rather  than  other- 
wise, and  where  the  soil  is  as  good  as 
the  neighborliood  will  produce.  S)nie 
shrub><  planted  on  each  side  of  the  house 
with  a  bed  jf  si,\  or  ten  fe-jt  wide  in 
front  t>f  them  for  flowers,  will  at  once 
give  an  air  of  loveliness  and  comfort  to 
our  dwtdling. 

Tlie  pi<'ce  of  ground  for  the  gard  n 
being 'leterinined  upon,  it  must  of  course 
bi' surrounded  tiy  a  good  fence;  and  of 
ail  fences,  the  best  is  a  low  thick  hedge, 
which  may  be  nia<le  either  of  several 
shrubs  varying  according  to  the  kicali- 
tv  and  to  the  taste  of  the  proprietor, — 
Buckthorn,  Hawthorn,  Osage  Orange, 
Privet,  Arbor  Vitae,  and  various  other 


shrubs  planted  young  and  cut  back  con- 
siderably every  year,  in  order  to  make 
it  keep  thick  ai  the  bottom,  will  ii  four 
or  five  years,  form  the  best  fence  in  the 
world,  and  will  last  for  a  life  time  and 
more.  But  whilst  this  is  growing  up, 
some  temporary  rustic  wooden  fence 
must  be  constructed,  outside  the  live 
fence,  which  may  be  made  of  a  few 
rough  posts  and  the  loppings  of  trees, 
which  very  little  ingenuity  is  sufficient 
to  nail  together,  so  as  to  [jroduce  a  neat 
rural  fence  which  will  aftbrd  the  young 
hedge  ample  jirolection. 

The  mo<le  of  laying  out  the  garden 
must  depend  in  some  degree,  upon  its 
shape,  and  that  will  be  in  some  cases  in- 
fluenced by  its  position.  If  it  is  a 
square,  or  approaches  that  sliape,  it  is 
well  to  set  oflf  ail  round  it  ne.xt  to  the 
hedge,  a  border  from  six  to  ten  feet 
wide  ;  next  to  that,  a  broad  walk  of  five 
or  six  feet  all  round  ;  and  then  divide 
the  centre  ground  into  four  quarters,  by 
walks  three  feet  wide,  and  subdivide 
these  quarters  again  i  to  beds  four  or 
five  feet  wide,  for  the  convenience  of 
cropping,  with  narrow  paths  of  only  fif- 
teen inches  between  them  just  to  form 
a  division. 

Now  then  to  crop  the  garden.  W.e 
must  remember  our  purpose  is  to  com- 
bine profitable  utility  with  amusement 
and  healthful  recreation  for  our  fair 
frien  !s. 

With  this  object  we  must  appropri- 
ate the  external  borderround  thegarden 
to  fruit  and  early  vegetables  ;  but  nest 
the  walk,  round  the  whole  centre  quar- 
ters of  the  garden,  we  reserve  about 
three  feet  for  a  flovver  border,  and  at 
thai  distance  (three  feet)  from  this  walk, 
we  advise  either  dwarf  pear  trees,  or 
currants  and  gooseberries  to  be  planied, 
which  will  form  a  background  to  the 
flower  border  and  separate  it  from  t]i<^ 
entire,  centre  ground  ;  which  as  will 
presently  be  seen,  we  inten<l  to  devote 
lo  the  more  important  article,  v.'g- 
etnbles. 

The  wide  border  next  to  the  he<lge 
round  the  garden,  shall  on   the  south 


*, 


262 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


and  east,  \>e  devoted  to  early  lettuce, 
rHcldifthesaiid  otheivsalriditig,  wiili  straw- 
berries ;  and  Jiy  placiiii>;  the  strawberries 
u«xt  to  the  walk,  and  tlie  other  things 
behind  them,  some  approach  is  made  to 
the  oritamental  characte.'  of  the  flower 
Border  on  the  other  side  of  the  walk. 

The  plan  of  the  ganlen  being  formed, 
and  it:>  general  arrangements  pointed 
out,  let  us  now  contemplate  itscapabil- 
fty  to  carry  out  our  purpose  of  combin- 
itig  the  useful  with  the  ornamental. 

The  bare  character  of  a  garden  de- 
voted *'0  vegetaliles  only,  however  val- 
uable, is  not  well  calculated  to  please 
the  eye  of  the  general  observer,  or  to 
ifit'^rest  the  fair  hands  that  should,  par 
tially  at,  least,  superintend  and  dii-ecl  the 
gardening  opi^ralions;  we  propose,  there- 
ton\  to  deck  its  borders  w  ith  some  of 
Flora's  beauties,  whilst  we  are  waiting 
fer  the  utilitarian  awards  which  we 
hope  to  receive  from  Pomona.  The 
walk  round  the  garden  will  frequently 
be  found  fo  yield  a  pleasant  recreation 
from  indoor  duties,  or  will  change  for  a 
ffew  minutes,  the  monotony  of  the  need- 
ful o[>erations  in  tending  the  vegetable 
quartera.  We  take  but  a  minute  [lor- 
don  of  the  ground  for  the  fliiwers,  but 
we  place  these  in  such  a  situation  that 
at  whatever  part  of  the  garden  we  are, 
they  are  ever  present  with  us,  delight- 
ing us  by  their  gay  colors  and  sweet 
odors,  and  prompting  l)y  their  cheeiinir 
Jtiftuerice  our   exertions  to   renewed  ef- 

R)|-t.s. 

From  such  a  garden,  fair  readers,  you 
mny  durin  ■  all  the  summer  and  ^-ntnmn 
Sfeeure  to  yourselves  and  friends  a  scene 
€f  never  failing  enjoyment. 

HaiHiij  introduced  yon,  ladies,  to 
jfour  garden,  we  shall  in  our  next  pa- 
lmer commence  a  ser  es  of  instructions 
fur  its  culture  ;  and  as  the  season  of  tlie 
jear  is  approaching  when  you  slmul 
be  pfepariuir  for  next  year's  operatii>ns, 
we  vt'ould  have  vou  .\t  once  commence, 
andj4>"  prepa,'"ed.  month  by  month,  to 
work.j^i.ing  xviih  ns,  and  become  busy 
Bfor'kers  In  '"Th"  |i';irm"r's  Garden." — 
The  J'(Mi-Mai  (jf  AaricnUnrc 


Value  of  Soil  Analysis. 

Mersus.  Edit</ks  :^ Absence  from 
home  during  the  month  of  August  pre- 
vented me  h'om  availing  myself  of  your 
permission  to  continue  my  article  on  the 
analysis  of  soils,  in  the  September  num- 
ber of  your  journal.  I  regret  this  the 
less,  however,  as  1  have  since  been  able 
to  obtain  Prof.  Booth's  ariicle  on  the 
same  subject,  alluded  to  in  an  editorial 
in  your  paper  for  August,  which  I  had 
not  seen  at  the  time. 

It  has  become  quite  the  rage  just 
now  to  ridicule  the  idea  tha  a  soil  anal- 
ysis can  be  of  any  use  to  the  practical 
farmer;  and  we  can  hardly  open  an 
agricultural  paper  that  we  do  not  find 
a  communication,  g(T)etally  in  a  very 
ill  natured  tone,  intended  to  prove  the 
utter  uselessness  of  any  and  all  soil 
analysis.  Mostof  these  communcati(ms 
sufficiently  answer  themselves,  or  are 
unworthy  of  notice  from  the  temi)er  in 
which  they  are'  written.  There  is  ano- 
ther class  of  articles,  however,  bavino- 
the  same  object  in  view,  of  a  diffl-i-ent 
character,  written  by  men  who  evident- 
ly understand  themselves  and  their  sub- 
ject, and  therefore  entitled  to  respect 
and  notice,  even  if  we  differ  from  their 
conclusions.  Such  we  consider  an  edi- 
torial in  the  National  Intelligencer  for 
August  20tli,  on  the  analysis  of  soils. 
The  editor  ci)mmences  by  observing, 
that  "The  agricultural  journals  gi\e 
notices  of  chetnists  who  analyze  soils 
for  farmei's,  antl  give  advice,  f(»unded  on 
the  analysis,  for  the  application  of  man- 
ures. On  the  other  haml,  we  have  pub- 
lished the  opinions  of  the  men  of  sci- 
ence, to  the  effect  that  such  analysis,  in 
vhe  present  state  of  chemistry,  does  not 
lead  to  useful  nsults." 

Professor  Johnston,  Boussington  and 
Liebig  are  among  the  cheuiists  who 
analyze  soils,  and  speak  highlv  of  the 
importance  to  practical  farmers,  of  iuiv- 
ing  their  soils  analyzed.  Surely  tlie 
editors  of  the  Iniellii'encer  will  not  un- 
rlertake  to  say  that  these  chemists  are 
not  men  of  science. 

When    we    find    such    contradictory 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


opiiiiiins  held  \>y  men  ot"  JU-kiiDwU-di^etl 
a[)i!ily,  if  we  apj/lv  reusuti  lo  aid  us  in 
dt-C'.'liiig  ihe  qiU'^tioii  hi  di>|)Ute,  we 
sliHil  bv  likely  to  tiiid  much  Iriuh  mi  beth 
side-i,  or  at  any  rale,  be  more  likely  to 
arrive  ai  the  truth,  than  if  we  biiudly 
eld  St  on  ones:d>"  or  the  other,  and  shel- 
ter ourselves  bv  iriuni|>hautly  referring 
tn  "  men  of  science."  To  this  end  I  pro- 
pose t<>  examme  tlie  article  in  tiie  Na- 
ti'iiai  Intelligencer,  with  care,  and  en- 
deavor to  rejily  tosonse  of  ihe  olji-clions 
ur:iei.l  against  ihe  analysis  of  soils,  as 
iik«"  V  to  be  of  no  lunetir  to  the  firmer. 
Atier  tiie  remarks  already  quoted. 
Professor  Hallowed,  of  Alexandria,  is 
ciled.  Heexpreses  he  ooinion  that  the 
analysis  of  the  soil  is  "  wholly  us  I.  ss 
for  practical  pvu  poses,"  and  then  g>ies 
on  to  say  that  "the  [iresent  staie  ot 
ciieniicHl  science  is  such  as  to  eiiai)le 
the  chemist  to  determine,  with  the  af- 
most  prt'ctsion,  the  constituents  <if  a 
body  snbjt-cted  to  his  examination  ;  but 
a  difficulty  lies  in  g''tting  a  fair  speci- 
men of  the  soil  to  operate  upon.  The 
qnantitv  usual  y  tnken  to  anal\  ze  is  from 
tif  y  lo  one  hundred  grains,  say  half  a 
teaspoon  fu  1,  an<l  how  is  so  small  a 
onaniity  t<>  be  obtained  that  shall  bean 
exact  sam[ile  of  the  fif!d  ?  li  it  shoiid 
not  i^^  an  exact  s nnple,  •mu\  it  appear- 
a  tit  >st  impossdile  it  e\er  shoii  d  be 
thfti  till'  nsult  wdl  necessurilv  mi-lcad, 
and  is  wholly  useless  for  practical   pur 

pO«l  — ." 

We  are  quite    wiling   to  ;«diiiit  that 
if  tlie   I'll  f.'Psor    inki's    l)Ut    !;alf  a  t<a- 
s]>o  II  full,  of   ihc    soil    to   operate   on. 
«»v(  II  yraiiting    that  it   was   an    "exact 
Sampl''  of  the  field,"  that  no  reliable  o' 
gatist.ictorv  rt'suit  could  be  obtauie<l. — 
The  readers  of  our  art  c^e  on  this  sub 
ject    in   the    August    numlier    of  yoU' 
iuuriifil,  may  remember  thfit  vye  stated. 
ilsfit,  in  order  to  obtain  accurate   re-u'tr 
in  rcg'ird  to  the   substai  Ci-s   sc^lnble  ii 
WMtec.  (which  we  consider   by    far   tin 
m  St  imporiaiit  point  to  ascertain)  '"  not 
1«  ss  than    from    one    to  two   poni;ds" 
should  be  employed. 

Prof.  Ilallowell  goes  on  again  as  fol 
](»ws;  "On    this  account  I  place  ctJiii- 


parativel}  litll''  reliance  upon  aiiy  bene" 
tits  likely  to  arise  trom  a  g<iier;d  an;  ly" 
sis  of  soils  [the  naier  must  rememlen 
however,  that  he  goes  in  the  p  invipie, 
that  but  ""  half  a  teaspoon  full  '  is  nsedl 
tlu'Ugh  such  an  anaiy.--is  may  soneiinies 
l)e  very  beneHcial  in  determitdng  the 
presence  of  some  liiirtful  ingiedieiit  that 
may  be  diti'used  ihrougli  the  soil,  and 
which  may  be  neuiiali/A-d  b\  soinesut*- 
staiH-e  i»  ad  ly  determined  and  applied." 

I'his  is  an  admission  of  M>me  m)]>or- 
taiice,  cominy  from  the  source  it  does. 

Next  an  extract  from  Bous.s'nigauWs 
Rurat  Evonomt/  is  presseil  mto  the  ser- 
\  C'.-,  as  r-uipporiing  the  view  already  ex- 
piessed  by  Prof  IJaih.vvell;  the  editor 
apparently  iorgitting  that  many  pages 
"f  that  valual<ie  work  of  Bous-ingau:t 
are  devoted  to  the  recommend  tii'n  of 
-oil  analysis,  and  much  pains  taken  to 
describe  the  necessary  process.  We  give 
the  extract  entire,  as  it  goes  to  show 
die  "  iiriportance  of  pu!ve"izitig,"  tivftt- 
ed  ot  in  a  previous  number. 

"The  quH  ities  which  we  esteem  in  a 
woikabh)  soil  de|)enc(  a.'most  exclusively 
on  the  mi  chaiiical  mixture  of  its  ele- 
ments. \\  e  are  niuch  less  intt  rested  ii4 
its  chemical  composidi-n  than  in  ihis.^ 
-o  that  simple  washing,  wh  ih  shows 
ihe  relations  between  the  sand  and  clav\, 
lell-..  of  itself,  much  nioie  that  is  im- 
portant to  tis  than  ou  tlie  elaborate 
cliemtcal  analysis  " 

The  article  in  tl  e  Tntelliiieiici  r  closes 
by  giving  entire  Prof  Poolh's  Aihiress, 
read  before  the  J'fiiladelj.hia  S'  c'e  \  for 
tl'e  [)romoiion  of  Agrieij  ture,  'On  the 
practical     \alue     of     the    AhUss    cif 

Soils." 

Professor  Booth  beijins  by  saving 
tiiat  he  "has  fol'owed  ihe  path  ]inr-ued 
■y  many  chemists  in  EuHt})e  ami  Amir- 
ca  iti  analylizid  soils,  wnli  a  vie\\  to 
heir  bearing  on  the  impiin<  nient  of 
agrictdture  ;"  but  that  notwitiisfandn.g 
■iiemistry  has  adxanced  veiy  r^piiU  in 
■  iiaiytical  accuracy,  he  is  in.»reand  moie 
con\iiiCid  that  no  immediate  pificiicat 
/able  can  be  derived  from  the  anrdysisj, 
ol'  soils. 


264 


rHE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


The  first  difficulty  to  encounter  is 
that  of  obtaininir  a  fair  average  of  -a 
soil  in  any  sino-le  locality,  and  he  thinks 
it  would  be  impossible  for  the  "  plain 
farmer,"  or  even  the  "enlightened  a<>- 
riciilturist,"  to  do  what  would  require 
eonsiderable  care  and  skill  on  the  part 
of  the  chemist  to  perform.  Professor 
Booth  should  know  that  in  New  Eng- 
land, at  least,  the  enlightened  agric.d- 
turist  is  to  be  found  in  the  plain  farmer ; 
and  this  distinction,  which  he  takes  oc- 
casion to  repeat  several  times,  is  in  poor 
taste  to  say  the  least. 

The  next  objection  is  the  cost  of  anal- 
ysis. A  poor  analysis,  though  it  cost 
little,  he  very  justly  thinks  a  worthless 
afiair,  and  a  good  one  wou'd  require 
much  care  and  skill,  and  consequently 
would  be  expensive,  which  "alone  is  an 
impassable  bar  at  present  to  the  wide- 
spread application  of  the  analysis  of 
soils." 

As  we  read  this  part  of  the  address, 
we  thought  that  the  professor  had  at 
least  acknowledged,  that  if  we  were  re 
gardless  of  expense,  analysis  could  be 
obtained  that  we  might  depend  upon; 
but  no — the  very  next  objection  is,  that 
"the  difficulty  and  uncertainty  atten- 
dant upon  the  analysis  of  soils  that  has 
any  pretensions  to  accuracy,  are  such  as 
to  render  it  valueless.  So  after  all  I  do 
not  see  that  the  great  expense  should 
be  considered  an  objection,  as  according 
to  Professor  B.  the  cheap  analysis  will 
answer  as  well  as  the  other,  both  being 
equally  valueless. 

Of  the  ingenious  mode  of  estimating 
the  organic  matter  in  soils  proposed  by 
Mr.  Dana,  and  highly  recommended  by 
President  Hitchcock,  he  speaks  as  a 
mere  conjecture  which  we  may  summa- 
rily dismiss. 

As  a  confirmatory  argument  against 
the  practical  value  of  soil  analysis,  Prof. 
Booth  gives  what  we  consider  a  very 
poor  one,  by  Major  J.  F.  Lee,  of  Wash- 
ington, as  follows  :  "  We  know  that,  on 
all  poor  land  of  proper  texture,  the  ap- 
plication of  200  lbs.  of  guano  to  the 
acre  will  produce  fair  crops  of  grain  and 


roots.  And  this  is  the  difference  be- 
tween a  barren,  and  tolerable  fertile 
soil."  [We  don't  know  any  such  thino-, 
and  what  is  more  we  don't  believe  it.] 
"Now,  this  guano  ai:»plies  only  6  lbs. 
potash,  24  lbs.  phosphoric  acid,  and  34 
lbs.  of  ammonia.  But  the  acie  con- 
tains 3,920,000  lbs.  soil,  to  the  depth 
of  a  foot."  He  then  goes  on  with  his 
calculation,  that  it  would  be  impossible 
to  ascertain  one  part  of  potas  i  in  600,- 
000  parts  of  foreign  matter,  and  so  on 
for  the  other  ingredients.  We  can  only 
say  he  could  make  his  confirmatory  ar- 
gument ten  times  as  strong  by  assum- 
ing ten  feetinsead  of  one,  as  the  depth 
of  his  acre,  with  equal  propiety. 

Our  space  and  your  patience  will  not 
admit  us  follow  and  to  expose  all  the 
inconsistencies  and  contradictions  in 
Prof.  B's  address,  but  I  will  only  call 
attention  to  the  last  paragraph,  in  which 
he  urges  farmers  (not  "enlighlensd  ag- 
riculturists,") to  lend  theiraid  by  having 
analysis  of  soils  most  accurately  per- 
formed, not  one  or  two,  but  numerous 
analyses  of  the  same  soil  under  various 
conditions,  and  in  this  way  deliver  hus- 
bandry from  the  thraldom  of  empiric- 
cisni,  and  place  it  under  the  dominion 
of  a  rational  system. 

Why  in  the  name  of  common  sense 
this  advice  is  given,  after  having  inform- 
ed us  but  a  short  time  be  ore  that  the 
difficulty  and  uncertainly  attendant 
upon  the  analysis  of  soils  with  any  pre- 
tensions to  accuracy,  are  sucii  as  to  ren- 
der it  valueless,  is  more  than  I  can 
make  out.  -Journal  of  Agriculture. 


From  the  Working  Farmer. 
Agricultural  Statistics. 

In  no  country  is  the  subject  of  agri- 
cultural statistics  so  much  neglected 
as  in  our  ftwored  land.  Even  those 
given  in  the  last  census  are  disputed  in 
almost  every  state.  The  importance  of 
this  subject  catmot  be  too  much  dwelt 
upon,  and  our  larger  growers  of  grain 
are  compelled  to  become  merchants,  so 
far  as  relates  to  keeping  themselves 
properly   posted    up   in    the  current  a- 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


26« 


mount  of  crops,  for  want  of  poith^  de- 
peiuiabU'  guide.  For  the  use  of  those 
who  are  intercstc^d  in  the  agricultural 
staMNtics  of  Great  Britain,  we  give  tlie 
following  from  the  Belfast  Mercantile 
Jonrnal  : 

In  theearh'  part  of  last  year  we  c'rew 
tlie  attention  of  our  readers  to  the  im- 
portance of  having  an  annual  covern- 
ment  survey  of  the  produce  of  the  soil 
of  these  kingdoms ;  and  as  the  ques- 
tion seems  now  to  have  attracted  more 
of  the  attention  of  the  public,  we  pur- 
pose again  to  recapitulate  our  argu- 
ments on  the  suhject,  as  there  are  few 
qu*'stions  of  more  importance  to  the 
prop<'r  regulation  of  commerce. 

When  it  is  considered  that  the  value 
of  au  average  harvest  has  been  estima- 
ted hy  M'Cnlloch  at  upwards  £120,000,- 
000  sterling,  so  far  back  as  in  the  year 
1846.  sonie  idea  may  be  formed  o1  its 
magnitude. 

This  £120,000,000  sterling  was  then 
apportioned  as  follows  ; — 

In  Wheat....  18,225,000 qrs  val'dati;34,59 1,784 
Outs  and  rye. 20,869 ,049  "      "      "    20,869.049 

Barley 7.940,476"      "      "     10.5  2,49>J 

Beans  &,  peas  1.7;  5,7 15  "      "      «      2,430,000 

48,i70,-.i40 
Ireland,  1,400,0' lO  acres 

potatoes  at  £s jeil,200,000 

England  and  Scotland, 
4,400,000  acres,  with 
potatoes,  turnips  and 

clover 30,000,000 

41,200,000 

Other  crops  and  gardens  10,310,000 


£120,633,332 

Taking  the  above  estimate  as  our  ba- 
sis, although  H  considerable  increase 
has  taken  place  since  then  in  all  ex- 
cept potatoes,  is  it  not  a  matter  of  vital 
moment  to  know  whether  the  crops 
have  yielded  an  average,  or  eighth, 
foutth,or  third  sliori  of  an  average? — 
If  the  deiiciency  is  even  but  an  eighth, 
we  find  that  the  country  has  to  sustain 
a  loss  of  upwards  of  £15,000,000  ster- 
ling !  But  if  it  amounts  to  a  third  as  it 
has  frequently  done,  the  enormous  loss 
of  £40,000,000  has  to  be  sustained  ;  nor 
does  the  loss  even  stop  here,  for  large 


sums  of  money  are  required,  amounting 
probably  to  50  or  £60,000,000,  to  pay 
for  additional  supplies  of  foreign  grain, 
diminishing  the  money  circulation  in 
the  country  by  so  much,  draining  the 
Baid\  of  England  of  her  gold  ;  and,  as 
a  consequence,  disorganizing  our  mon- 
etary system 

At  the  present  moment,  what  relia- 
ble data  liave  we  for  estimating  the 
produce  of  the  last  harvest  in  these 
kingdoms  ?  We  have  certainly  seen 
estimates  of  the  produce,  but  these  have 
oenerally  been  drawn  up  by  parties 
more  or  less  connected  with  the  corn 
trade,  from  reports  furnished  to  them 
1)V  persons  also  closely  interested  in 
the  question,  and  they  cannot  therefore 
be  relied  u])on  with  that  confidence 
which  should  pertain  to  a  question  of 
such  vital  moment. 

Let  us  supiiose  a  case  in  which  the 
estimates  forme<l  of  a  crop  turned  out 
to  be  too  favorable,  ai.d  that  we  found 
ours<'lves  deficient  in  the  supply  of 
food,  what  resources  have  we  to  de- 
pend upon?  Certainly  the  world  is 
now  open  to  us,  and  supplies  can  be 
procured  for  the  mere  expenses  of  trans- 
it; but  still  we  should  have  somethii^g 
inorecertan,  something  more  tangible 
within  ourselves  to  fall  back  upon  in 
case  of  need,  for  it  will  be  readily  ad- 
mitted that  if  foreign  countries  saw  we 
were  really  in  want,  they  would  make 
us  pay  very  dearly  for  our  supplies. 


Breeding    Horses. — 
produce    like."      The 


Hints     on 
1. — "Like    wi 

progeny  will  inherit  the  qualities  or  the 
mingled  qualities  of  the  parents. 

2. — There  is  scarcely  a  disease  by 
which  either  of  the  parents  is  affected 
that  the  foal  will  not  inherit,  or  atle«ist 
the  predisposition  in  it.  The  temper  is 
generally  taken  from  the  mare. 

3. — Peculiarities  of  form  and  consti- 
tution of  botii  parents  will  also  be  in- 
herited. However  good  may  be  the 
sire,  every  good  point  will  be  neutraliz- 
ed or  lost  by  the  defective  form  or  want 
of  blood  of  the  mare. 


2S6 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


4. — The  excellence,  liealth  and  ngi; 
©f  ihfc  mare  are  poinls  of  quite  as  iiiiic!i 
iirjiportatice  a-^  that  of  ilie  horse.  Out 
©f  a  poor  mare,  let  the  hor.^e  be  pi-rfect 
as  lie  ma}',  a  good  horse  will  rarely  be 
produced. 

5. — The  mare's  carcass  should  bi^ 
long  and  well-rounded,  to  give  room 
fbr  the  gron'th  ot  llie  foetus,  niid  yi.-t 
with  this,  there  slionld  be  cntrijiactiK'Ss 
of  form  and  shortness  of  h-g.  Tho 
shorter  the  It-g  from  the  knee  to  tht- 
hoof,  the  fast  r  and  more  valuable  the 
aaiimjd  will  be. 

6 — A.  ni^re  should  always  be  com- 
jparatively  larger  than  the  horse.  The 
v:\ er.->e  Mill  produce  lon<id<ggf<l,  nar- 
row-chested animals.  This  is  a  rule  in 
the  good  bret'diiig  of  all  surts  df  stock. 
An  ovt-rgrowu  male  is  always  objection- 
8l)le. 

7. — The  chief  point  to  be  considered 
in  the  horse  is  compactness  as  much 
goodness  and  strength  as  possible,  con- 
densed in  a  little  space.  Next  to  this, 
the  inclination  of  the  shoulders  should 
h^'  regarded.  A  high  horse  with  up- 
right sh'mldei-s  never  got  really  valua- 
hti  stock,  except  for  heavy  draught. 

8 — Kor  a  month  or  two  before  foal 
.ing,  the  mare  should   be  allowed  some- 
what better  food,  and,  if  worked  at  all, 
moderately  and  slowly. 

B. — As  soon  as  she  has  foaled,  she 
should  be  turned  into  a  well  s'  eltered 
pasture  and  taken  in  during  storms. — 
&  the  grass  is  s'^anty  she  should  have 
imo  feeds  of  good  bran  or  grain  daily. 
Nothing  is  gained  by  starving  and 
stinting  the  foal  at  this  time. 

10. — Let  the  foal  eat  grain  with  its 
naother  as  soon  as  it  will  do  so. 

11. — In  five  or  six  montlis,  the  fonl 
must  be  weaned,  and  [lUt  into  a  bai'n 
wheie  it  c  : n  get  shelter  or  into  a  l-'osc 
stable.  Its  food  ought  to  he  incr;  asicl 
in  goodness,  and  a  U'i'il  daily  of  l.iran, 
vtiixed  with  oats,  made  into  a  :i;asli 
with  warnj  (not  liot)  wat^r,  i\-'-  fti-i 
Wi-ek  or  two  will  pmiiic-  a  gMn,i  dfrrt. 
An  ounce  of  salt  s'l'.uid  he  iiii.\cd  wiih 
each  H.'asii. 


11. — There  is  no  princii)le  of  grti'ter 
importance  than  the  lil)eral  feeding  of 
the  foal  di:ring  the  whole  oi  its  grovvtii, 
and  at  this  time  in  particular,  liiui-ed 
oats,  corn  and  bran,  in  about  equal  pro- 
portions, ahoul  foiin  a  con,-ideratde 
part  of  its  diaily  food.  Clover  hay  is 
better  for  it  than  timothy  hay,  and  bet- 
ter still  if  it  is  cut  and  ndxtd  wiihgrniii. 
The  colt  should  have  loom  to  move 
about,  but  be  always  sheltered  in  cold 
and  stormy  weather.  If  possible  give 
it  roots  oicasionally  during  the  win- 
ter. 

13. — The  {irocess  o^'  breaking  in 
should  commenC':'  fr<im  ihe  very  [lerii/d 
of  wea!  ing.  The  foal  should  be  daily 
handle  d,  pariially  dre>S(d,  aocust<ime(.l 
to  the  halier,  led  about  and  even  tied  up, 
the  tractabil.ty,  goi-d  tiuiper,  and  value 
of  the  horse  depei:d>  more  upon  ihis 
than  most  fanners  aie  aware  of.  —  jFar- 
viers  Com. 

Pretty  good  for  one  man. —  A 
gt  nth-man  of  the  highest  respectability 
sends  us  the  following  account  of  the 
farming  of  a  young  man.  The  rei-ult 
of  the  effort^  of  this  young  man,  ^h(iUid 
arouse  the  dormant  energies  of  hund- 
reds of  young  men  who  are  now  only 
consumers  : — 

Meriwether  Co.,  Ga.,  A]).  21,  "53. 
To  the  Editors  of  the  Federal  Union  : 

Gentlemen — having  seen  theextraoi-- 
dinary  success  of  some  planters  in  this 
State,  in  growing  cotton,  corn,  (fee,  go- 
ing the  rounds  of  the  newsj)ap(  rs,  in- 
duced me  to  ascertain  the  [tncise  a- 
mount  produced  l)y  a  young  man,  Mr. 
-M  xander  Tliomas,  a  citizen  of  this  co., 
in  1852.  and  he-  too  having  to  do  h';s 
own  cooking,  (fee.  viz  : 

1 1  ba'es  of  cotton,  average  weight  450  lbs. 

45  bnrreis  ■  1  corn, 

25  liufhelP  iif  pdatoes, 
5,00'i  bundles  ot  oEit^:. 
Some  vi'hcat,  ibdder  raid  vegclables. 

AH  of  \\1m.--Ii  v,i  )"  galbcreil  ii,  due 
(ime.-!!)d  V,  (  I-- rai-cl  bv  .Mr.  A.  Tie  in. is, 
without  anv  assi-,taiice  whatever.      Iti?, 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


261 


I  suppose  the  second  year  he  ever  ai- 
tempit'd  to  farm  alone.  If  lliis  is  noi 
KU  inducement  to  _vouni>-  ladies,  I  do 
noi  know  whatvvouid  affiird  one. — l*^ed. 
Union. 

Southern  Fruit. — We  saw  in  the 
market,  vesterdH}^  a  full  cart  load  ot 
excellent  apjiles,  raised  in  the  vicinity  of 
this  city.  The  whole  lot  was  taken  by 
a  iVuit  dealer  on  Government  street  at 
$2  ])er  bushel.  These  apples  were  of 
good  size,  handsome  shape  and  excel 
lent  quality.  Ail  the  information  we 
could  obtain  in  regard  to  tliem  was  that 
tliey  had  b'-en  raisfd  and  gathered  with- 
out any  particular  care,  and  that  they 
are  coniinoidy  called  the  June  apple. 
We  refer  to  the  subjwtin  order  to  show 
our  readers  how  easily  and  cheaply  they 
might  produce  all  the  choice  fruits  in 
tlii-  region. 

It  has  been  demonstrated  to  the  sat- 
isfaction of  all  intelligent  culturists  that 
as  fine  ])eaches  are  now  grown  in  our 
immediate  vicinity  as  can  be  produced 
in  ;iny  section  of  the  Union;  and  du- 
ring the  present  season  we  have  had 
such  specimens  of  apples,  pears,  necta- 
rines and  grape~,  as  to  leave  no  doubt 
u|ion  our  iniiids  that  the  counties  of 
Mo'uile  and  Baldwin  are  admiraidy 
adapted  to  tl'.e  production  of  the  finest 
qualities  uf  all  tiiese  fi'uits.  These, 
with  the  fiii',  j)omegra!iale,  orange,  (fee. 
h-ave  us  nothing  to  want  in  delicious 
and  vilioiesome  fruits.  Hut  v,c  iiave  no 
idea  that  our  pomologi-ts  wiilstop  here, 
and  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  wo  ex- 
]!■  et  to  see  the  pUini  and  ajiiicot  yield- 
ii!g  liouniiful  crops  in  spite  of  the  cnr- 
cuiio. — Alahamn  Plante?-. 


floi.Diox  Advice. — Mr.  Il.-vrvey,  the 
W;i-^!!'ngton  corres[;oii;!eiit  ■/  t!ie  Piiil 
adeiphirXorih  Aniericau,  tells  the  fol- 
low lale  :  — 

About  three  years  ago  a  you;ig  man 
preseiiie.l  himself  lo  Mr.  Corwin  for  a 
clerkshiji.  Thrice  was  he  r-fu-ed,  aiid 
still  he  made  a  fourth  effort.  Ilis  ])erse- 
veraiice    and    spirit    of    determination 


awakened  a  friendly  interest  in  Mr. 
C.  who  advised  him  in  the  strongest 
j)ossible  terms  to  abandon  his  purpose, 
and  go  to  the  West,  if  he  could  do 
no  better  outside  the  Departments. 

"  My  young  friend."  said  he,  "go  to 
the  Northwest,  buy  160  acres  of  govern- 
ment land — or,  if  you  have  not  the  mo- 
ney to  purchase,  squat  on  it,  get  you 
an  axe  or  a  mattock,  put  up  a  log  cabin 
for  your  habitation  and  raise  a  little 
corn  and  potatoes ;  keep  your  consci- 
ence clear  and  like  a  freeman,  your  own 
master,  with  no  one  to  give  you  orders, 
and  without  dependence  on  anybody- 
Do  that  and  you  will  be  honored,  res- 
pected, intlaential  and  rich.  But  ae- 
ce[)t  a  clerkship  here  and  you  sink,  at 
once,  all  independence  :  y'  ur  energies 
become  relaxed,  and  you  are  unfitted  in 
a  few  years  for  any  other  or  more  inde- 
pendent position.  I  may  give  you  a 
place  to  day  and  I  kick  you  out  to-mor- 
row, and  there's  another  man  over 
there  at  the  White  House  who  can  kick 
me  out,  and  the  people  by  and  by  can 
kick  him  out,  and  so  we  go.  But  if  you 
own  an  acre  of  land  it  is  your  kiagdoaa, 
and  your  cabin  is  your  castle — you  are 
n  soveieigu,  andyou  will  feel  it  in  every 
throbbing  of  your  pulse,  and  every  day 
of  your  life  will  as-ure  me  of  y<jur 
thanks  for  iiaviug  thus  aiivise<j  you." 

If  the  tlieiusands  who  ardeu'.ly  strive 
foi'  a  place  under  government  would 
j)onder  well  these  words,  and  exercise  u 
sound  di-ci'etion  in  ilieir  'ipj.ncan.vaj 
many  a  young  and  gallant  spsr.t  would 
be  sav'  d  from  inanition,  to  be  useful  to 
the  wo  Id  and  a  joy  rather  than  a  grief 
to  its  [tossessoi'. 


iiiXample  in  Agricolltire. 
There  lias  been  no  j.eriod  in  the  his- 
t'D'V  of  A.iiiT-ultiire  \\i!.liont  its  oxain- 
ples  of  jiroductive,  ai;d  li"-ne- ;;rv;tit:ible 
fuelling,  but  no  eia  h.-is  occm  re.J,  wheu, 
on  the  broad  acres  tilled  by  Ar.ierican 
in'lu.-trv,  so  many  bright  sp.its  have 
shone  out  lo  gladden  tlie  iiearts  and  en- 
courage t!ie  hands  of  the  friends  of  im- 
provement.    The  time   has  been  when 


268 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


nearly  every  farm  which  had  been  in 
cultivation  for  fifteen  or  twenty  years, 
seemed  rapidly  deteriorfsting  in  fertility 
and  value,  but  at  present  many  old 
farms  are  more  productive  than  ever 
before.  This  has  been  accomplished  by 
the  introduction  of  radical  improve- 
ments at  various  points,  and  tli«  inllu- 
ence  of  their  example. 

When  a  thorough,  practical  agricul- 
tunist  goes  into  a  neighborhood  of  well- 
worn  farms,  and  engages  in  the  work  of 
reclaiming  and  impioving  his  new  pur- 
chase, his  success  is  sure  to  awaken  a 
spirit  of  inquiry,  and  his  example  can 
but  exert  a  beneficial  influence  upon  all 
who  witness  or  hear  it.  He  does  not 
grow  crop  afier  crop  of  wheat  or  corn 
upon  the  same  field,  but  he  grows  good 
crops  of  these  grains,  upon  different 
fields  in  a  series  of  years.  He  intro- 
duces new  and  improved  varieties  of 
grains  and  seeds — the  prodiicis  of  which 
are  seen  at  a  glance  to  be  better  than 
those  commonly  grown — at  least  they 
command  a  better  price  in  market.  The 
same  is  true  of  his  cattle,  sheep  and 
horses.  With  improved  plows  and  oth- 
er implements  of  tillage,  i  e  accomplish- 
es a  deeper  and  more  thorou^'h  cultiva- 
tion of  the  soil,  resulting  in  good  crops 
and  insuring  them  against  the  excess  of 
drouth  or  moisture.  He  is  particularly 
careful  in  saving  and  making  manu.e. 
and  seaks  in  every  way  to  enrich  his 
farm;  and  its  products  show  with  wiiaL 
good  result.  Peri'aps  he  affords  them 
an  example  of  the  effects  of  underdrain- 
ing  in  tlie  radical  improvement  of  the 
soil,  or  introduces  the  wheat-drill  and 
mowing  or  reaping  machines. 

Tliese  improvements,  as  we  remarked 
before,  exert  an  influence  upon  the  far- 
mers who  witness  or  hear  of  them. — 
They  may  cavil  for  awhile,  but  the  un- 
mista-kable  signs  of  prosperity — of  the 
profit  of  such  a  course — will  generally 
influence  the  most  incredulous  into  some 
sort  of  an  imitation,  which  is  nearly  al- 
ways followed  by  better  returns,  and 
thus  the  work  goes  on  until  the  whi)le 
aeii>hborhood  shows  the  influence  of  thu 


examjde.  In  this  way,  and  by -the  con- 
stantly r(!curring  less  ns  which  experi- 
ence teaches,  a  better  system  of  cultiva- 
tion has  been  in  part  introduced,  and 
thus  also  dirt'used  and  extended. 

Those  who  learn  by  hearsay  are  also 
influenced.  These  form  the  larger  por- 
tion of  the  community,  and  here  th«  ag- 
ricultural newspaper  shows  its  power 
for  good.  It  brings  home  the  practice 
of  the  best  farmers  to  tlionsands  of  in- 
terested listeners  and  they  can  but  gain 
hints  of  much  value  from  the  perusal. 
The  improvements  of  one  part  of  the 
country  are  diffused  over  the  whole,  and 
benefit  the  whole.  But  it  was  not  our 
intention  to  write  of  newspaper  exam- 
ple;  our  only  thought  was  to  hint  at 
the  influence  which  one  thorough  far- 
mer exerts  over  those  near  him. — Ru- 
ral JY.  Yorker. 


From  the  Souihern  Weekly  Post. 
The  Itescue  Grass. 

CoLUMiJUs,  Geo.,  Nov.  20,  1853. 
Deau  Sir  : — I  have  received  your 
friendly  letter  of  the  1 2th  inst.,  and  in 
answer,  have  to  say,  that  I  have  entt^r- 
( d  your  name  in  my  book  for  one  peck 
of  the  seed  of  my  truly  valuable  spe- 
cies of  grass.  I  have  no  seed  to  dis 
pose  of  ibis  ye;'.r,  but  will  be  able  to 
supply  the  demand  the  next  year,  say, 
in  June,  July  and  August.  The  de 
mand  is  very  great,  and  only  such  as 
send  me  their  names  will  be  certain  of 
seed.  Mj'  price  is  $5  for  a  peck,  which 
is  plenty  for  a  j>erson  to  begin  with. 
You  will  sow  them  as  early  afte,r  re- 
ceiring  them  as  you  can,  as  it  makes 
them  come  up  early  in  September;  and 
as  it  grows  rapidly,  by  the  middle  of 
November,  you- can  ])ut  your  stock  up- 
on it.  It  will  then  keej)  them  fat  through 
the  winter  and  spring  till  you  see  it 
forming  the  heads  for  seed,  when  they 
should  be  removed.  This  gr?u<s,  how- 
ever, has  this  remarkable  quality,  that 
it  may  be  ci't  or  ate  down  alter  the 
head.->  are  formed,  and  then  spring  up 
and  make  as  much  seed  as  if  it  had  not 
been  touched.     This  will  enable  vou  to 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


269 


use  a  field  of  it  until  in  June,  and,  per- 
haps, in  your  climate,  still  longer. 

The  first  year  sow  the  seed  in  drills, 
after  having  the  ground  well  broken  up, 
twenty  inches  apart.    Sow  thin  and  cov- 
er liglitly.     The  seed  will  not  sprout  till 
September,  even  if  sowed  in  June  or 
July,  which  is  the  time  to  plant  them. 
When  the  seed  ripens  they  shed  out  ea- 
sily— you  vvill  strip  the  heads  with  the 
hand  or  shake   them  in  a  basket, — let 
plenty  escape  to  the  ground  for  a  stand 
on  the  same  ground  next  September. — 
After  you  save  your  seed  for  other  fields, 
sow  p<,'as  broadcast  or  in  drills,  and  turn 
under  the  grass,  peas   and    seed  which 
fell  to  the  ground  in   gathering.     This 
is  the  plan    to   restore  your   exhausted 
fields,  and  which  you  must  adopt.  When 
you  get   plenty    of  seed,  ynu   will  find 
the  grass   ploughed  in  makes  an  excel- 
lent manure  to  the  field,  and  will  make 
the  peas  grow  with  a  rush.     The  grass 
saves  the  gronnd  or  field  from  washing 
rains  through  the  winter  and  spring.    It 
keeps  your  stock  fat  throughout  the  win- 
ter and  spring.      It    will   enable   your 
niilcli  cows  to  give  your  wife  the  best  of 
milk,  and  cream,   and    butter.     It  ena- 
bles you  to  have   fat  beef,  mutton,  kid, 
pork,   turkeys   and    chickens.      It   will 
save  your  corn  and  fodder  for  ploughing 
time.     It   vvill,   after   doing  the  above, 
I'ield  you  from    four   to   six  tons  of  the 
most  nutritious  hay  per  acre   for  your 
horses  and  mules  and  cattle.    It  returns 
slso  an  excellent  coat  of  manure  to  the 


plant  the  field  and  you  will  see  it  pro- 
duce as  well  as  it  ever  did,  besides  hav- 
ing paid  you  all  the  time  it  took  to  re- 
store it. 

This  is  my  experience  well  tested,  and 
if  the  pea  does  well  with  you,  it  should 
be  used  with  ray  gi-ass,  as  I  have  said 
above.  If  nut,  then  the  grass  will  do 
it  single  handed.  This  plan  will  cost 
you  but  little,  either  in  money,  labor  or 
time,  and  will  make  your  exhausted 
fields  yield  you  good  crops  again,  and 
that  forever,  if  the  olan  is  followed. — 
The  best  of  it  too,  is  that  you  get  paid, 
richly  paid,  all  the  time,  it  is  effecting  it. 

I  must  ask  you  to  help  me  introduce 
this  invaluable  species  of  grass  among 
your  friends  in  the  good  old  North  State. 
They  will  find  it  the  most  valuable  grass 
ever  introduced,  or  which  can  be  intro- 
duced. It  is,  for  the  South,  far  ipore 
valuable  than  silver  or  gold,  and  its 
worth  is  above  rubies.  I  will  send  seed 
to  you  at  Raleigh,  to  sell  for  me,  if  you 
will  consent  to  act  as  agent. 

Accept   my   best  wishes,  while  I  re- 
main, your  ob't.  serv't., 

13.    V.    IvERSON. 

EvERARD  Hall,  Esq. 

N.  B. — There  is  no  danger  from  this 
grass  spreading  ;  it  can  be  got  rid  of  at 
any  time  before  the  seeds  ripen  and  fall 
out,  by  ploughing  it  up. 

^  ^     ^  R.  V.  I. 


The  Effects  OF  Draining. — "  \°  li 


field.     The  pea  protects   the  field  also  {causes  the  air  to  be  renewed.— It  is  be- 
Vora  the  washing  rains  of  summer  and  I  lieved  that  the  admission  of  frequently 


'all.  The  vines  give  shade  to  the  ground 
•luring  the  hot  months.  In  the  fall, 
when  ripe,  they  are  a  valuable  food  for 
man  or  beast.  And  the  vines  give  a 
large  coat  of  manure  to  the  field.  Now, 
the  Rescue  seeds  will  be  up  in  their 
lime,  and  by  November  20Lh,  is  ready 
'or  your  stock    again — and  so  follow  it 


renewed  supplies  of  air  into  the  soil  is 
favorable  to  its  fertility.  This  the  des- 
cent of  the  raiiH promotes.  When  it 
falls  upon  the  soil  it  makes  its  way  into 
pores  and  fissures,  expelling  of  course 
the  air  which  previously  filled  them. 
When  the  rain  ceases  the  water  runs  off 
by    the    drains ;  and    as   it  leavas  the 


lip  until  the 'bird  or  fourth  year,  when    pores  of  the   soil  empty  above  it.  the 


f  you  wish  to  cultivate  the  field,  put  in 
four  plows  and  turn  the  green  grass 
under ;  it  is  not  hard  to  do.  This  gives 
the  field  another  coat  of  manure.     Now 


air  follows,  and  fills  with  a  renewed 
supply  the  numerous  cavities  from 
which  the  descent  of  the  rain  had 
driven  it.     Where  land  remains  full  o  f 


mo 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


water,  no  such  renewal  of  air  can  take 
place. 

"  2°.  It  warms  the  under  soil. — 
As  the  rain  falls  through  the  air  it  ac- 
quires the  temperature  of  the  atmos- 
-phere.  If  this  be  higher  than  that  of  the 
surface  soil,  the  latter  is  warmed  by  it ; 
and  if  the  rains  be  copious,  and  sink 
easily  into  the  subsoil,  they  will  carry 
this  warmth  with  them  to  the  depth  of 
the  drains.  Thus  the  under  soil  in 
well-drained  land  is  not  only  warmer, 
because  the  evaporation  is  less,  but  be- 
cause the  rains  in  the  summer  season 
actually  bring  down  warmth  from  the 
heavens  to  add  to  their  natural  heat. 

"  3°.  It  equalises  the  'iemperature 
of  the  soil  during  the  season  of 
GROWTH.— -The  sun  beats  upon  the  sur- 
face of  the  soil,  and  gradually  warms  it. 
Yet,  even  in  summer,  this  direct  heat 
descends  only  a  few  inches  beneath  the 
surface.  But  when  the  rain  falls  upon 
the  warm  surface,  and  finds  an  easy 
descent,  as  it  does  in  open  soils,  it  be- 
comes itself  warmer,  an^  carries  its 
heat  down  to  the  under  soil.  Then  the 
roots  of  plants  are  warmed,  and  gen- 
eral growth  is  stimulated. 

"4°.  It  carries^own  soluble 
substances  to  the  ^tots  of  plants. 
— When  ruin  falls  upon  heavy  nndrain- 
od  Uind,  or  upon  any  lanij  into  which 
it  does  not  readily  sink,  it  runs  over 
the  surface,  dissolves  any  soluble  mat- 
ter it  may  meet  with,  and  carries  it  to 
the  nearest  ditch  or  brook.  Rain  thus 
robs  and  impoverishes  such  land, 

"5°.       It  "WASHES    NOXIOUS    MATTERS 

from  THE  UNDER  SOIL. — In  the  s.ibsoil, 
beyond  the  reach  of  the  air,  substance-^ 
are  apt  to  collect,  es^'cially  in  red-col- 
dred  soils,  which  are  injurious  to  the 
roots  of  i^lants.  These  the  descent  cf 
the  rain  aiters  in  part  and  makes  wliole- 
sonie,  and  iii  ]iart  v.^ashes  out.  The 
plough  may  then  safely  be  trusted 
deeper,  and  the  roots  of  plants  mav 
descend  in  search  of  food  where  they 
would  previously  have  been  destroyed. 
"  6°.  It  brings  down  fertilizing 
SUBSTANCES  FROM  THE  AIR. —  Besides, 
the  rains  never  descend  empty-handed. 


They  constantly  bear  with  them,  gifts, 
not  only  of  moisture  to  the  parched 
herbage,  but  of  organic  and  saline  food, 
by  which  its  growth  is  promoted.  Am- 
monia and  nitric  acid,  together  with 
the  many  exhalations  which  are  daily 
rising  fron:  the  earth's  surface,  come 
down  in  the  rains  ;  common  salt,  gyp- 
sum, and  other  saline  substances  deriv- 
ed from  the  sea,  are  rarely  wanting; 
and  thus,  the  constant  descent  from 
the  heavens  may  well  be  supposed  to 
counterbalance  the  occasional  washings 
from  the  earth. 

"  7°.  Much  of  the  rain  is  evapor- 
ated.— And,  lastly,  in  answer  to  this 
objection,  it  is  of  importance  to  state, 
that  in  our  climate  a  very  large  propor- 
tion of  the  rain  that  falls  does  not  sink 
through  the  soil,  even  where  there  are 
drains  beneath,  but  rises  again  into  the 
air  in  'he  form  of  watery  vapor.  Ex- 
periments in  Manchester  have  shown, 
that  of  31  inches  of  rain  which  fell 
there  in  a,  year,  24  are  evaporated ; 
while  in  Yorkshire,  of  24  I  inches  of 
rain  which  fell,  only  5  inches  run  off 
through  pipes  hiid  at  the  depth  of  2 
feet  9  inches,  the  rest  being  evaporated. 
There  is  little  cause,  therefore,  for  the 
fear  expressed  by  some,  that  the  drain- 
ing of  the  land  will  cause  the  fertility 
in  any  perceptible  degree  to  diminish, 
in  conquence  of  t.he  washing  of  the 
descending  rains.  They  may,  as  I  have 
said,  improve  the  subsoil  b}'  washing 
hurtful  sul'Stances  out  of  it  ;  but,  in 
general,  the  soil  will  have  extracted 
fiom  the  water  which  filters  through  it, 
all  the  valuable  matter  it  holds  in  solu- 
tion,-before  it  has  reached  the  depth  of 
a  3-feet  drain." — Johnstone. 


To  Cleanse  Jars. — Fill  them  with 
with  rather  hot  watei',  and  stir  in  a 
spoonful  of  pearlash,  (caustic  potash  is 
better,)  jjouring  off,  and  I'epeating  if 
necessary.  The  adhering  contents  will 
be  immediately  disengfiged.  In  extreme 
cases,  let  the  water  and  pearlash  stand 
a  few  hours.  Rinse  the  jar  with  cold 
water.  Vials  and  other  vessels  are  easily 
washed  in  this  way. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOUfiNAL. 


2*71 


A     Proposed    Experimext. — There 
has  het-n  no  sfiviiigofteuer  repeated,  and 
none  more  worthy  of   repetition,  so  far 
as  farm  economy  is  concerned,  than  ''A 
place  for  everything,  and  everything  in 
its  place."     One  of  tlie  best  moiles  for 
avery  farmer  to  apply  this  rule  in  prac- 
tice, is  to  make  a  complete  list  of  all  his 
farm    iinple  ;  enis.    from    his   wafvirons, 
carts  and  plosvs,  down  to  awls,  gimblets 
and  screw-drivers.   Let  every  imjdement 
be  immediately  returned  to  its  place  af- 
t*'r  u-;ing,  no   matter   hi>w  inconvenient 
this  may  he,  instead  of  throwing  it  on 
the  gronnd    t  II  forgotten,  with    the  in- 
tention of  replacing  it   when  a  suitable 
moni'^nt  occurs  to  d'<  so.     Now, if  any 
one  is   nn prepared   to   adopt  this  plan, 
we  would  recoiurnend  the  f<>lIowi?ig  ex- 
periment, in  order  to   reduce  its  merits 
to  the  test  of  accurate  figuring.     Let 
him  keep  an  accurate  record  of  all  the 
time  lost  in  one  year  by  hunting  for  lost 
tools  in  times  of  emergency,  adding  in 
the  los.ses  occasioned   by  keeping  other 
persons  or  teams  in  wailing,  while  the 
search  is   in    progress,  also   adding  the 
waste  occasioned  by  the  consequent  ex- 
pos-ire of  such  tools  to  the  weather,  or 
by  finally  losing  them, — and  not  forget- 
ting to   estimate  the   detriment   to  his 
crops  and  farming  operations  generally, 
by  the  delay  thus  frequently  occasioned. 
(Me  may,   likewise,  if  he  chooses,  keep 
an    account  current  of  the  amount  of 
vexation    caused    by  these  frequent  an-, 
noyances  nn'ess  he  is  so  far  gone  that 
disorder  and  delay  are  matters  of  indif- 
ference  to   him.)      We  have  no  doubt 
that  sneli  an  experiment  as  this,  faitli- 
fully  followed  out,  would   greatly  sur- 
prise him   at  the  end  of  the  year,  and 
furnish  satisfactory  proof  of  the  immense 
supiM-iorify  of  the  plan  first  prop-ised  by 
ns.      Who  Vv'ill   be   willing  to  give  both 
w;iys  a  full  trial? — Country  Gentleman. 


mirnbly  in  correcting  these  rowdy  in' 
sects  of  their  calithumphm  and  bill' 
sticking  propensities.  It  is  a  volar.il© 
srtiele,  and  therefore  can  do  no  injurjr 
to  the  clothes,  while  the  aromatic  flavor 
is  by  no  means  disagreeable. 


How    TO    RAISE    FRUIT    EVERY    YEAR. 

— If  rightly  understood,  few  trees,  un- 
less absolutcd}^  dccud  or  rotten,  need  oc- 
cupy grountl  without  yielding  a  plente- 
ous   crop.      After    a    long    and    varied 
series  of  experiments,  I  gradually  adopt- 
ed the  following  mode  :    as  soon  as  the 
winter  has  sufficiently  disappeared,  and 
before   the  sap  a-centls,  I  exaniine  my 
trees  ;  every  dead  bough  is  lopp  d  off, 
then   after  the  sap  has  risen  sulHciently 
to  show  where  the  blossoms  will   lie,  I 
cut  away  all  I  he  other  branches  having 
none  on,  and  also  the  extremity  of  every 
limb  the  lower  part  of  which   bears  a 
considerable  number  of  buds,  thus  con- 
centrating the  sap  of  the  tree  upon  the 
maturation    of  its    fruits;   and    saving 
what  would  be  a  useless  expenciiture  of 
strength.     In   the  quince,  apricot  and 
peach   trees,  this  is  very  important,  as 
they   are    very  apt  to  be  luxuriant  in 
leaves  and  destitute  of  fruit.    You  may- 
think  this  injuiiiis    the  trees,  but  it  does 
lot ;  for  you  will  find  trees  laden  with 
fruit,   which  formerly  yielded   nothing. 
Of  cour^e  other  well  known  j)recautioB.'* 
must  be    attended    to,   such  as  cutting 
out  worms  from  the  roots;  placing  old 
iron  on  limbs,  which  acts  as  a  tonic  to 
tlie  sap,  &c.     Try  it,  ye  who  have  fail- 
ed in  raising  fruit. — JSxchanr/e  pape?; 


How   TO   G-ET   RID   OF    floSQUITO ES. 

Th''  oil  or  essence  of  ].K'ni!yi-ova!  [the  oil 
i?  the  best]  sprinkled  around  the  room, 
:\n']  over  the  bed  clothes,  before  retiring 
to    bed,   has   been  found  to  ;uiswer  ad- 


Recipe  for  Making  Bread. — To 
make  the  most^veet,  white,  light,  and 
best  bread  withoTit  the  use  of  yeast,  take 
a  table  spoonful  of  pounded  saleratus,, 
dissolve  it  in  half  a  tea  cup  full  of  wa^er^ 
rid:)  it  well  through  th.ree  jwuiids  of  flour^ 
and  then  mix  it  up  with  butter-milt 
till  it  is  quite  soft.  Plat'O  it  in  pans 
and  let  it  bake  rather  slowly — abc/iit  an 
hour  and  a  half.  A  small  slice  of  Imtter 
mingled  with  the  dough,  will  he  found 
an  improvement. 


212 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


FARMEirS  JOURNAL 

RALEIGH,  N.  C,  DEC,  1853. 

The  State  Agricultural  Society. 

For  the  want  of  time,  we  failed  in  our 
last  numbe.-  to  call  the  attention  of  our 
readers  especially  to  tlie  State  Agricul- 
tural Society.  This  institution,  it  will 
be  seen,  is  now  on  a  permanent  basis 
and  that  it  h>>s  the  prospect  of  accom- 
plishing much  for  the  various  interests 
of  the  State,  will  not,  we  presume,  be 
denied  any  longer.  Those  who  origi- 
nally cm  posed  this  body,  it  is  true^ 
were  few  in  number,  yet  they  were 
strong  in  <'etermination  ;  resolved  upon 
carrying  out  the  object  which  they  had 
in  view.  In  this  they  have  succeeded, 
even  beyond  their  most  sanguine  expec 
tations,  regardle.-?s  of  the  carelessness 
and  utter  indifi'erence  of  many  who 
ought  to  have  lent  a  helping  hand  in 
the  prosecution  of  this  great  work.  The 
first  State  Fair  has  taken  place  under 
the  patronaire  of  the  State  Agricultural 
Society,  and  on  that  occasion,  we  are 
certain  ihat  every  North  Carolinian  felt 
proud  of  his  residence;  indeed,  wo  heard 
some  of  the  most  prominent  men  in  the 
State  frankly  admit,  that  they  regarded 
rst  "Slate  Agricultural  Fair"  as 
being  the  greatest  era  in  the  history  of 
North  Carolina  since  the  Revolution. 
Knowing  that  this  institution  has  and 
will  exert  so  much  benefit  upon  the  va- 
rious interests  of  our  State,  it  is  really 
strange  that  our  people  hold  back  in 
the  way  they  do.  We  have  even  since 
the  F.iir  sotcited  persons  to  become 
members  of  the  State  Agricultural  So- 
ciety, and  the}'  have  told  us  that  they 
would  after  a  while.     But  what  better 


can  be  expected  when  the  fact  is  made 
known,  that  when  the  effort  was  being 
made,  on  the  18th  of  October,  1852,  to 
drag  this  institution  into  existence,  the 
two  hundred  members  of  our  State  Leg- 
islature, with  few  exceptions,  refused  it 
their  countenance  and  encouragement. 
It  is  true  that  many  of  these  "dear  lov- 
ers "  of  the  people  took  their  seats  in 
the  Convention  which  assembled  for  the 
purpose  of  forming  the  Society  ;  but 
when  the  fact  was  made  known  that  the 
sum  of  five  dollars  was  requisite  to  be- 
come a  member  of  this  body,  they  left 
the  Hall  like  sheep  escaping  from  a  wolf. 
But  since  it  has  been  seen  that  the  Stale 
Agricultural  Society,  and  State  Fairs, 
are  likely  to  become  popular  with  the 
people  of  North  Carolina,  the  politicians 
of  the  State,  who  before  held  themselves 
aloof,  are  now  ready  to  "  fain  express 
their  interest  in  some  appropriate  man- 
ner "  in  the  success  of  the  Agriculture 
of  the  State,  wliicli,  if  we  are  to  judge 
by  their  actions  heretofore,  they  did  not 
care  two  straws  for.  We  say  it  is  high 
time  llrt  the  farmers  of  the  State  had 
taken  their  proper  position  among  men  ; 
they  have  the  power  and  should  exert 
it,  and  instead  of  the  people  being  the 
servants  of  the  politicians,  the  latter 
gentlemen  should  become  the  servants 
of  the  people,  and  in  their  official  ca- 
pacity do  their  will.  We  hope  that  up- 
on the  reception  of  this  number  of  the 
Journal,  that  every  subscriber  will  feel 
it  his  duty  to  become  a  member  of  the 
State  Agricultural  Society,  which  he  can 
do  by  forwarding  three  dollars  to  J.  F. 
Hutchings,  Esq.,  Raleigh,  N.  C.  While 
the  State  Agricultural  Society  of  Vir- 
g'nia  has  about  four  thousand  members, 
with  a  fund  amounting  to  fifty  thousand 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


2Y3 


dollars,  that  of  North  Carolina  has  about 
four  hundred  members  with  a  fund 
of — what:  three  thousand  dollars,  out 
of  which  the  expenses  of  the  late  Fair 
are  to  be  paid.  Is  it  to  be  wondered  at 
that  Vi;ginians  are  proud  people  and 
think  well  of  themselves  ? 


The  ImproTement  of  Stock  in  North 
Carolina. 

We  have  from  time  to  time,  called 
the  attention  of  our  farmers  to  this  sub- 
ject, both  in  articles  from  our  own  pen 
as  well  as  in  the  selected  articles  for 
our  paper.  We  have  been  told  (as  of- 
ten) that  there  was  but  little,  if  anything, 
in  the  improved  breed  of  different  kinds 
of  stock  ;  that  it  was  the  care  and  atten- 
tion which  was  bestowed  by  the  ownei 
upon  them  which  gave  to  them  the  su- 
perior appearance  which  some  present- 
ed over  others.  That  this  to  some  con- 
siderable extent  is  true,  we  will  not  pre- 
tend to  question  :  but  then,  besides  this, 
there  is  much  to  be  derived  from  the 
proi>er  regard  to  the  kind  of  stock  which 
the  farmer  breeds  from. 

We  will  take,  first,  horses,  which  at 
the  present  tim  ■,  if  we  must  judge  from 
the  general  display  at  our  "  Fair,"  are 
of  an  inferior  order.  There  was,  it  is 
true,  some  thorough-bred  horses  on  ex- 
hibition, but  these  are  not  the  kind 
which  our  farmers  generally  have  need 
for  ;  tliey  want  har:  est;,  saddle  and 
draught  horses.  Now.  in  the  harness 
and  saddle  horse,  extraordinary  size  is 
rot  so  much  required,  but  in  horses  for 
draught,  it  is  indispensable  that  there 
should  be  much  attention  paid  to  the 
size  as  well  as  the  compactness  of  the 
animal.  In  order  to  obtain  such  horses, 
it  is  important  that  those  who  wish  to 


improve  that  kind  of  stock  in  the  State* 
should  brii  g  them  from  other  States 
and  begin  at  once  to  execute  the  work. 
That  it  will  pay,  we  are  well  satisfied 
from  our  knowledge  of  similar  experi- 
ments in  other  States.  Another  kind  of 
stock  which  needs  improvement  in  our 
Slate,  though  not  to  ^o  great  extent,  is 
horned  cattle.  That  there  are  some 
fine  cattle  in  North  Carolina,  and  as 
fine  as  in  any  State,  we  do  not  deny  ; 
yet,  the  great  majority  are  of  an  inferi- 
or kind.  The  causes  which  have  led  to 
this  great  depreciation  we  have  reverted 
to  in  vol.  1st.  of  our  paper,  but  as  the 
case  now  stands  we  must  make  crosses 
and  alter  the  general  appearance  of  this 
kind  of  stock,  and  instead  of  having  so 
many  of  the  "  raw  bone  breed,"  let  us 
have  only  such  as  we  saw  at  the  Fair, 
in  Raleigh.  The  sheep  of  our  State 
need  to  be  greatly  improved,  for  the 
great  majority  of  them,  instead  of  pro- 
ducing annually  from  ten  to  twelve 
pounds  of  wool,  do  not  aftbrd  more 
than  two  :  and  helfe  we  would  remark 
that  it  costs  no  more  to  feed  those 
producing  a  great  deal,  than  it  does 
such  as  affl)rd  but  little  wool.  The 
stock  of  bogs  in  the  State,  must  also  be 
improved  from  the  real  southern  "  pork- 
er, to  the  fine  Chester  and  china ;  instead 
of  their  requiring  a  week's  soaking  to 
make  them  hold  swill,"  they  should  be 
always  sleeky  fat,  pictures  of  fertile 
fields  and  full  barns.  But,  says  the  en- 
quiring farmer,  how  shall  I  have  the 
kind  of  stock,  which  you  have  here  dos- 
crib  d,  and  keep  them  in  good  conditi- 
on, and  realize  a  profit  from  their  rais- 
ing ?  To  such,  we  would  say,  have 
your  meadows,  from  which  to  obtain 
the  hay  to  feed  with  in  winter,  and  your 


274 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


pastures  f'o  them  to  f.^ed  upon  in  suin- 
mer,  and  in  Jiddition  to  these,  raise  peas, 
potatoes,  turnips  and  carrots;  and  then 
instead  of  your  different  kinds  of  stocl; 
being" actual  consumers  of  their  profits, 
they  will  add  to  the  products  of  the 
farm.  Let  farmers  no  longer  argue 
that  we  cannot  have  as  fertile  fields,  and 
as  fat  herds  in  North  Carolina,  as  in  any 
other  State,  for  such  is  not  the  fact. 


To  the  31pnibers  of  the  St:ite  Agricul- 
tural S«  iety. 

There  are  belonging  to  this  body  at 
this  time   about  four   humlred    men  in 
North  C  Tolina,  most  of  whom  are  far- 
mers, to  a  greater  or  less  extent.     It  is 
known  to  most  of  these   men,  that  we 
have  been  battling  almost  single-handed 
in  d  fence  of  agricultural  improvement 
in  our  State,  for  two  years'  titne.     We 
left  our  homo  and  went  from  county  to 
county,  telling  farmers  how  much  they 
were  behind  in  the    way  of  improve- 
ment in   their    profession,  and  pointing 
out  to  them  the  many  means  which  iliey 
have,  and  could  avail  themselves  of,   if 
they  chose.       Besides    doing   this,    we 
have  burnt  a  midnight  lamp  in  writing 
for,  and   endeavoring  to  circulate  our 
Agricultural  paper  among  them,  which, 
for  the  reason,  that  so   few  have  taken 
an  interest  in  its   success,  has  dragged 
along  up  to  the  present  time.     We  had 
many   promises  from    members  of  the 
Slate  Society,  at  the  Fair,  of  a  large  i(c- 
cession  to  our  list,  which  have  not  been 
complied  with  as  yet.     It  should  be  re- 
collected that   our  paper,  the  Farmer's 
ourna,   the    "  Org;ui    of   the    State 
Agricnltural  Society,"  and  that  the  suc- 
cess of  tlie  one  greatly    depends   upon 
that  of  the  other.      Let  us' ask  acfain  if 


the  members  of  the  State  Society  -will 
each  send  us  five  names  and  five  dol- 
lars.    We  have  the  back  nujiibers  of 
this,  the  second  volume,  which  v/e  can 
supply;  and  also,  we  have  neatly  bound 
copies  of  vol.  1st.,  wbicli  can  be  had  at 
|1   25,  by  application  to  our  publisher, 
Wm.  D.  Cooke,  Esq.,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 
We  shall  publish  in  the  February  num- 
ber, the   names   of  the  ten   gentleinen 
who  send  us  by  that  time  the  largest 
number  of  names  with  the  money,  and 
let  the  people  of  North  Carolina  see 
who  are  the  men  who  feel,  as  well  as 
fain  express,  their  interest  in  behalf  of 
agriculture  in  the  State.      Come,  gen- 
tlemen, stir  yourselves  a  little  and  send 
us,  from  time  to  time,  the  names  you 
get,  and  we  will  keep  a  correct  account 
of  them,  until  the  issue  of  our  Februa- 
ry number,  when  the  public  shall  know 
who  really  have  their  interest  at  heart. 
We  ought,  and  we  must  have   10,000 
subscribers,  we  have  set  our  heart  upon 
it ;  and  many  of  our  readers  know  us 
well  enough  to  beheve,  that  we  are  just 
the  hardest  person  in   all   Carolina,  to 
drive  from   any   determination   which 
we  have  set  our  heart  upon. 


State  and  Couuty  Fairs. 

We  regret  very  much  that  circum- 
stances unavoidable  prevented  us  from 
attending  tlie  State  Faits  of  Maryland 
and  Vii-giniu,  and  especially  the  hitter 
one,  for  we  were  anxious  to  iook  upon 
the  f:ice  of  that  vetenm  sol.li-T  in  (h-fe!ice 
of  Agricii  1 1  ure—  K'  1  in  in  id  Rid Ti  r.— du- 
ring the  Virginia  Fair.  Wi'  are  sure 
tiint,  it  was  lighted  up  with  the  ;uiima- 
ti.-n  of  youth,  and  his  h..';irt  w;is  filled  lo 
overflowing  with  joy  at  the  first  practi- 
cal result,   on   so   large  a  scale,  of  his 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


275 


labors  in  behalf  of  fallen  Agriculture  in 
his  native  State.  And  we  should  have 
been  glad  to  have  seen  F.  G.  RufRn,  the 
able  Editor  of  the  Soutliern  Planter,  for 
our  lieart  has  been  tilled  with  the  kind- 
est feelings  towards  him  since  we  first 
began  our  enterprise.  He  came  out 
like  a  man  and  told  North  Carolinians 
if  they  were  taking  the  Southern  Plant- 
er, and  did  not  feel  able  to  sustain  two 
papers  of  the  kind,  to  stop  the  Planter 
and  take  the  Journal.  Noble  son  of 
the  Old  Dominion,  he  is  fully  worthy 
to  battle  in  defence  of  her  Agriculture, 
riiere  was  also  a  very  interesting  Coun- 
ty Fair  held  in  Norfolk  a  short  time 
since,  gotten  up  by  the  County  Societies 
ofPriiicess  Anne  and  Norfolk  Counties. 
The  exliibition  we  learn  was  fine,  and 
the  company  large.  There  have  been 
during  the  fall,  also  Fairs  held  in  the 
Counties  of  Rowan,  Davie,  and  Bun- 
comb,  ail  of  which  reflected  credit  upon 
the  farmers  and  mechanics  of  those 
Couniies.  We  have  received  a  special 
invitaliun  to  be  present  at  a  County 
Fail  in  Aiison  County  on  the  3rd  of 
Decern bei-,  which  we  shall  endeavor  to 
attend,  and  in  our  next  we  shall  take 
great  pleasure  in  telling  our  readers  of 
the  success  of  the  first  eflbrt  of  the 
farmers  and  mechanics  of  that  county. 


at  what  he  saw.  Mr,  Joyner  is  a  young 
farmers  of  much  promise  in  Eastern  Ca- 
rolina, and  will,  no  doubt,  do  much  for 
the  advancement  of  the  best  interest  of 
his  profession.  We  hope  that  the  gen- 
tle hint  which  he  throws  out  to  the  far- 
mer will  be  taken,  and  that  hereafter, 
our  table  will  be  crowded  with  original 
articles  for  publication  ;  and  those  who 
have  put  their  hands  to  the  plow,  we 
hope  will  not  give  back. 


Our  Correspondents. 

AVfe  would  call  the  atteiition  of  our 
readers,  especially,  to  the  communica- 
tions of  Dr.  Sorsby,  of  Alabrana,  and 
My.  Joyner,  of  Green  County,  N.  C, 
bolli  of  which  are  highly  valuable  ^pro- 
ductions. Dr.  S.  is,  we  think,  a  native 
son  of  the  Old  North  State,  and  quite 
a  distinguished  writer  upon  agricultural 
subjects.  He  was  present  at  our  lato 
Fair,  and  expressed  to  us,  much  delight 


Errors   in   Awarding  Premiums  and 
Diplomas  at  the  Fair. 

We  have  received  several  letters,  and 
have  seen  others,  making  complaints  in 
relation  to  errors  in  the  publication  of 
premiums  and  diplomas,  awarded  at  the 
late  Fair.  This  we  are  astonished  at, 
and  more  especially  at  the  language 
used  in  some  of  them,  when  it  is  recol- 
lected that  this  first  Fair  was  only  an 
experiment,  by  way  of  seeing  what  could 
be  done  in  North  Carolina.  At  the 
next  Fair  these  difficulties  will  be  obvi- 
ated entirely,  and  so  far  as  we  can,  all 
eiTors  shall  le  corrected.  But  it  is  but 
due  to  ourself  and  Mr.  Cooke,  to  whom 
the  making  out  of  the  list,  was  given 
in  charge,  tb  say,that  we  have  compared 
it  with  the  original  from  the  various  com- 
mittees, and  it  is  precisely  the  same. 


A  Correction  ot  the  Premium  List. 

We  notice  in  the  report  of  the  com- 
mittee upon  horses,  at  the  Fair,  that 
the  fine  stallion,  Orange  Bay,  belong- 
ing to  Mr.  J.  B.  Leathers,  was  reported  as 
being  only  three  years  old,  and  only 
entitled  to  a  premium  of  $5,  when  we 
are  sure  that  he  was  entitled  to  first 
premium  of  $10  for  horses  for  quick 
draught,  and  is  six  years  old,  and  of 
Archer  stock. 


276 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Mr.  J.  M.  Dantzler,  a  cotton  plaiiler 
of  South  Carolina,  states  that  in  1852. 
by  way  of  an  experiment,  lie  applied 
241  pounds  of  Peruvian  Guano,  mix- 
ed with  sand,  to  an  acre  of  cotton  plants, 
and  that  the  additional  yield  was  over 
100  per  cent,  on  the  araou  it  expendt^ii 
for  the  guano.  An  acre  without  guano 
yielded  135  pounds  of  seed  cotton 
while  an  ace  to  which  it  was  applied 
produce  I  518  pounds. 

Our  atiimtion  was  called  to  th'^  above 
^rtitlo  by  a  farmer  friend,  who  iiiform- 
had  been  going  the  rounds 
of  th^  papers  in  our  State.  Upon  ex- 
aiui  lati  n,  we  were  struck  at  once,  with 
error  n  it,  which  has  been  too  com- 
mon n  the  writings  of  most  persons, 
upon  agricultural  subjects,  that  is  the 
indeti.iite  manner  in  wliich  experiments 
are  (h  scribed.  The  writer  of  this  arti- 
cle ^ays  that  by  a  combination  of  sand 
and  uuano  in  certain  quantities,  he  ob- 
tained a  large  crop  upon  land,  hereto- 
fore almosi  barren.  That  the  guano 
alone,  will  increase  the  products  of  land, 
is  no  longer  a  question  of  doubt,  and 
that  it  is  better  when  combined  with 
plaster,  has  been  pr-ved  to  be  true,  but 
this  is  the  first  time  that  we  have  ever 
known  sand  used  in  combination  with 
guano  to  facilitate  its  powers  in  any 
way.  The  writer  of  this  article  does 
not  say  that  such  was  his  object  in  this 
case,  but  we  would  ask  if  he  had  not  as 
well  have  said  so,  as  to  have  left  upon 
the  mind  of  the  uninformed  reader  ihe 
impression,  which  cannot  fail  to  be  made 
when  reading  it.  If  he  did  not  intend 
that  the  sand  shouI<l  be  understood  to 
be  of  service,  why  mention  it  at  all,  and 
if  he  designed  it  to  be  used  as  divisor 
for  the  retention  of  the  volatile  princi- 
ples of  the  guano,  why  not  say  so ; 
hough  it  would  have  been,  even  then, 


a  gross  error.  For  actual  experiment 
has  proven  it  to  be  true,  that  sand  is 
less  retentive,  by  far,  of  volatile  manures 
than  mould  or  clay.  There  has  been 
an  experiment  made,  we  think,  by  Pro- 
I'e.ssor  Way,  in  England,  which  clearly 
dt^monstrates  this  fact.  The  plan  of 
the  experiment  was  this,  he  put  up  three 
different  barrels  upon  their  heads,  and 
in  the  bottom  of  the  barrels  there  was 
a  hole,  and  in  one  he  placed  sand,  in 
another  mould,  and  in  the  third  clay 
and  sand,  ten  per  cent  of  the  former 
and  ninety  per  cent  of  the  latter  earth. 
He  then  took  a  liquid  manure  which 
was  highly  volatile,  and  very  offensive 
to  the  smell,  and  first  passed  it  through 
the  barrel  which  contained  the  sand, 
and  when  it  came  through,  it  still  had 
the  offensive  smell  and  dark  color  which 
it  had  before  use.  The  liquid  was  next 
passed  through  the  baire'  containing 
the  mould,  and  to  a  consider  ble  extent 
the  smell  was  lost  and  also  the  color.  It 
was  then  passed  through  the  barrel  con- 
taining the  clay  and  sand,  and  the  odor 
was  lost  entirely  and  the  color  changed 
from  a  dark  brown  to  a  light,  clear  ap- 
pearance. 

Now  this  clearly  proves  that  a  soil 
which  has  in  its  texture  a  certain  quan- 
tity of  mould  or  clay,  will  retain  the 
volatile  principles  of  manures,  when  one 
composed  mainly  or  entirely  of  sand 
will  allow  them  to  escape  to  the  atmos- 
phere. 

Such  being  the  case,  wliy  the  exper- 
imenter in  this  instance  should  hav© 
combined  sand  with  his  guano,  instead 
of  mould  or  clay,  we  cannot  see.  A 
small  quantity  of  either  of  the  two  lat- 
ter earths,  would  not,  it  is  true,  avail 
much,  yet  it  would  be  infinitely  better 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


277 


;e  substances  in  small  qiutntilies 
I  would  retain  instead  vl  setting 
,he  most  valuable  principles  of  a 
re  of  such  known  powers  as  guano 
een  proven  to  possess.  It  is  a  duty 
I  we  owe  to  our  readers,  and  one 
I  we  shall  never  flinch  from,  to 
'error  to  flight,  come  whence  it 
'  and  in  this  case  we  have,  in  a 
r  spirit,  dispelled  the  doubts  which 
have  been  impressed  upon  the 
i  of  those  who  read  but  little  and 
ssly,  when  they  saw  the  sand  in 
xperiment  spoken  of  as  possessing 
importance  as  a  constituent  in  the 
nation.  Should  our  comments 
e  to  meet  the  eye  of  t  e  writer  of 
tide,  we  hope  that  he  will  receive 
in  the  way  in  which  they  were 
led — to  elevate  and  improve  the 
ilture  of  our  country. 


UNT  nor]5,  Green  County,  N.  C, 

Ociober  21  th,  1853. 
'OMPKINS  : 
Dear  Sir, — To  add  permanence 
I  enterprise  it  must  be  supported, 
nly  must  it  derive  support  from 
n-se,  but  it  must  have  the  coun- 
le  of  the  people  to  substantiate 
on  firm  it.  These  considerations 
induced  me  to  venture  a  brief 
unication  to  the  Journal,  and 
I'er  uninteresting  it  may  prove, 
want  of  matter  or  talent,  if  it  will 
>rth  more  communications  from 
of  our  farmers  who  can  write,  my 
,  in  one  sense  at  least,  will  be  ac- 
ished.  I  have  been  surprised 
lortified  at  the  backwardness  of 
subscribers  in  not  writing  for  your 
;>le  paper.  We  have  farmers  in 
lidst,  men  of  intelligence  and  ex- 
ice,  who  are  capable  to  write  if 
lad  the  will.  They  ought  to  do 
^ou  have  opened  a  way  of  com- 
;ation  for  them,  and    by    not  ac- 


cepting it,  they  show  a  kind  of  selfish- 
ness which  is  by  no  means  commend- 
able. They  can  make  their  own  land 
productive,  raise  fine  stock,  &c.,  yet 
ihey  seem  not  disposed  to  communi- 
cate to  their  neighbors.  Is  it  covetous- 
ness — a  fear  that  some  one  will  suc- 
ceed by  the  same  course  better  than 
they  did  ?  Or  are  they  absolutely  un- 
willing, from  a  kind  of  misanthropy,  to 
make  any  disclosure  to  the  world  ? 
Some  such  is  all  the  reason  they  can 
give.  We  want  them  to  speak  out, 
and  tell  us  what  they  are  doing,  and 
how  they  do  it.  This  then  leads  me 
to  the  prime  object  of  this  communica- 
tion, which  I  will  head — 

ADVANTAGES  OF  THE    SUBSOIL    PLOUGH. 

Last  season  in  planning  off  my  crop, 
to  try  an  experiment,  I  laid  oflf  two 
acres  of  land  which,  by  estimation  of 
myself  and  some  of  my  neighbors, 
would  not  have  produced  more  than 
twelve  bushels  of  corn  per  acre.  The 
lot  had  previously  been  marled,  but 
from  want  of  mould,  I  suppose,  it  had 
but  little  efiect :  I  hauled  on  the  land 
fifty  loads  to  the  acre  of  woods  mould. 
On  the  26th  of  April  I  spread  it  broad 
cast,  with  twenty-five  loads  of  stable 
manure.  The  first  acre  I  ploughed 
with  an  Eagle  plough,  turning  under 
the  manure  eight  inches,  and  followed 
it  with  the  subsoil  plough,  which  broke 
the  land  fifteen  inches.  The  second 
acre  was  treated  precisely  in  the  same 
manner  with  the  exception  of  the  sub- 
soil plough.  After  lying  in  this  condi- 
tion until  the  fourth  day  of  May,  I 
hauled  on  the  lot  fifteen  loads  to  the 
acre  of  mould,  the  sciapings  of  my  lot, 
with  about  five  bushels  of  ashes.  This 
I  spread  and  harrowed  well  in  with  my 
cultivator,  (I  had  no  harrow,)  which  put 
the  land  in  fine  tilth.  On  the  6th  of 
May  I  laid  ofi"  my  corn  rows  six  feet 
apart  and  four  inches  deep,  dropping 
my  corn  one  foot  apart.  I  gave  the 
corn  two  good  workings  with  the 
plough,  followed  with  hoet,  and  two 
with  the  cultivator.  Owing  to  the  very 
dry  season,  it  suffered  considerably  for 


278 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


rain  Yesterday  I  gathered  from  tlie 
subsoiled  acre,  fortv-six  bushels  and 
three  pecks  of  corn.  From  the  other 
only  twenty -six  bushels  ami  three  pecks. 
The  subsoil  making  a  difference  of  one 
hundred  per  cent. 

I  would  here  -tate  that  the  acre 
which  was  subsoiled,  did  not  fire  during 
the  dry  season,  while  the  other  turned 
yellow  up  to  the  ear. 

If  you  deem  this  communication  wor- 
thy a  place  in  your  journal  you  are  at 
liberty  to  publish  it. 

I  am  trying  several  experiments  in 
raising  manure,  the  result  of  which  I 
shall  give  you  in  due  time. 

Yery  Respectfully,  &c., 

George  Joyner. 

Dr.  J.  F.  Tompkins,  Secretary  of  the 
North  Carolina  Agricultural  So- 
ciety: 

By  a  Rule  of  your  society  I  am  not 
entitled  to  a  premium  for  the  Bacon 
hams  I  exhibited  at  your  late  Fair,  un- 
til I  furnish  a  certificate  of  the  plan  by 
which  they  were  cured.  Here  it  is  : — 
When  the  hog  from  which  the  ham  is 
taken  is  killed,  care  should  be  taken  to 
have  him  well  bled,  and  tenderly  hand- 
led, so  as  not  to  bruise  the  flesh  ;  and 
as  soon  as  ihe  animal  heat  is  all  out, 
cut  in  th''  u<ual  manner,  and  salt  with 
rock  alum  salt,  ground  verv  fine,  mixed 
with  one  table-spoon  full  (heaped.)  of 
dry  brown  suo;ar,  one  tea-spoon  full  of 
pepper,  (Red  I  prefer)  well  pulverized, 
and  one-eighth  of  a  table  spoon  of  salt- 
])etre  to  each  ham,  thoroughly  mixed 
witli  the  salt  and  rubbed  on  the  ham, 
taking  care,  if  the  skin  should  be  dry 
and  bard,  to  rub  it  with  the  mixture, 
until  it  is  soft  and  pliant  ;  tlien  pack 
with  C'>arse  alum  salt  between  the  liams, 
m  boxes  open  enough  at  the  bottom  to 
allow  the  pickle  that  is  formed  to  escape 
rea  lily  frou)  the  hams.  After  remain- 
ing in  that  condition  from  2  to  4  wi^eks, 
according  to  the  temperature  of  tlie 
weather,  lift  the  hams  and  exMmine 
them,  and  re-s;dt  if  necessary,  and  pack 
again  until  salt  enough  to  dry,  which  is 


usually  from  six  to  eight  weeks, 
take  the  hams  out  of  the  salt 
them  clean  with  a  dry  cloth  ai 
them  on  narrow  strips  3-4  incli( 
meter,  or  round  of  the  same  sizi; 
ing  on  larger  ones,  say  one  strip 
the  middle,  and  one  at  each  esid 
ham,  taking  care  that  the  strips  a 
fectly  dry,  to  prevent  mould  on  tli 
of  the  ham.  Then,  with  woo<l 
free  from  grit  of  any  kind,  alter  I 
passed  through  a  fine  riddle  or 
cover  the  upper  or  flesh  side  of  th 
(not  neglecting  the  hock)  abou 
half  inch  thick,  and  dry  in  the 
manner. 

If  the  weather  is  dry  and  wn 
smoke  but  little,  if  otherwite  s 
more. 

I  prefer  for  smoking,  and  makir 
ashes  with  which  the  hams  are  co 
dead,  dry  post-oak  wood  ;  other 
wood  will  answer.  The  hams  s 
not  be  washed  or  removed  until 
are  to  be  cooked.  To  furnish  a 
luim,  a  hog  must  be  unusually  fat 
14  to  18  months  old,  fattened  on 
ed  food,  and  in  a  thrifty,  growinsi 
dition  at  the  time  he  is  killed. 

Very  respectfully, 

Henry  Elli 

Cum.  Co.  N.C.,  Dec.  5,  1853. 


For  the  Farmer's  Joui 

GranvilSe     A^riculTwraS     Socisty' 
County   Fair. 

x\ccording  to  appointment,  ami 
of  the  citizens  of  Granville  a>sen 
in  the  Court  II<tuse,  in  Oxford,  oi 
19th  of  November,  1853,  for  the 
pose  of  establishing  a  County  Ag 
tural  Society.  After  the  adoption 
suitable  Constitution  and  By-Laws 
Following  ofHcers  were  chosen  foi 
ensuiii"'  \-cai',  \iz  :  S.  S.  Rovster, 
ident;"A.  \Y.  Veaable,  W."  R.  W 
J.  B.  Daniel.  \v'.  B.  Crews,  and 
Hamilton,  Vice  I're-idents  ;  li.  N.  I 
i  ton,  Correspondiiig  Secretary;  ^ 
McClanahan,  Treasurer;  and  R. 
Lassiter,  Recoi'ding  S''Cretary. 

Resolutions  were  then  adopted 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


279 


proper  arrangements  for  the  sue 
government  of  the  Society,  and 
ing  interest  to  its  meeting-,  wliicli 
be  held  quarterly,  eornmeneMig 
lie  third  Satui'day  in  -  ecember, 
;ing  the  fourth,  which  will  take 
two  weeks  previous  to  the  Stale 
;o  be  held  in  Rahigh  ;  at  which 
m  Agricultural  i^'air  for  the  Coun- 
Grranvide  will  be  held  in  Oxford  ; 
w  following  pei'sons  were  appoint- 
c<urimittee  to  make  suitalile  ;  r- 
inents  fur  the  first  anuual  Fair,  to 
K.  A.  Idannitoii,  Chairman  ;  Jno. 
klor,  J.  C  Cooper,  R.  N.  Hamil- 
V.  W.  Yniing,  W.  S.  McCian;di;in 
Taylor,  Jas.  Turner,  Jas.  I').  Ilol-- 
'i'lios.  Millt^r,  and  R.  W.  Lassiier, 
1  motion  the  President  was  ailded 
Committee. 

Society  numbers  about  55  mem- 
kvith  every  prospect  of  increase, 
ighest  hopes  are  entertained  of  its 
rity  and  usefulness. 
i>lutions  wen-  jias.-ed  calling  upon 
low-citizens  to  take  an  interest  in 
•ciet.y,  and  giving  an  invifation  to 
blic  to  co-opnrate  in  making  the 
gricultural  Fair  etpialiy  gratifying 
rotitable  to  the  citizens  of  Gran- 

R.  W.  LASSITER,  Rcc.  Sec. 


For  the  Fanner's  Journal. 
ish,  its  Value  SdS  a  Mauuie. 

Editor  : — The  scarcity  and  high 
'f  Guaiio  has  induced  tlie  Royal 
diural  Society  of  England,  with 

of  obtaining  a  subsiilute  for  it, 
r  a  prize  of  £1,000,  ($5,000)  and 
Id  medal  ol  the  society,  for  the 
^ry  of  a  manure  possessing  equal 
ing  properties  as  guano,  of  which 
imiied  supply  cm  lie  furnished 
;!and.  at  £5, '{>';2o,0r))  prr  ton.— 
bcral  offrsho\v>  how  mucli  value 
ed  uijon  Guano  theie  ;  and  that 
ience  of  manufaciuriiig  and  tlie 
ition  of  manures  li^s  not  betMi 
It  to  [.oilVetioM,  and  is  v'-tdestrv 

niuel)  study  a.nd  M'scarcli. 
iich   be  the  state   of  tlie  science 
bow   much   more  ignorant  of  it, 


are  we  who  are  impoverishing  our  land' 
annuaiiy  by  exjiorting  tlu-ir  products  b; 
tons,  and  r<lurning  nothing  to  the  sui 
fo  replace  theni  ? 

We  seem  to  study  nothing  but  lb' 
syatem  of  rq^roii action  by  nature,  ^nS 
destruciiouhy  man.  We  have  brought 
this  science  to  perfection,  to  our  sorrow, 
and  it  is  high  time  we  should  change 
our  system  of  land-kil'ing. 

In  regard  to  this  Siale,  I  must  beg 
leave  to  do  tho.se  justice  who  have  ta- 
ken the  lead  in  this  matter,  and  quote 
the  language  of  one,  (Mr.  H.  K.  H.,) 
who  is  beiier  acquainted  with  the  iin- 
ptovement.s  made  thai:  I  am,  in  hopes 
that  others  may  be  induced  to  follow 
their  example.  lie  says,  *' except  to 
those  Indv  enlightened  farmers  of  Edge- 
combe Co.,  wliose  names  should  rank 
higher  in  the  State,  than  the  'most 
viuh'Ut  patriot,'  of  the  day,  ami  whose 
exertions  and  succes.'jful  improvements 
have  brought  their  county  from  being 
the  wors'  cultivated,  to  be  the  b-st,  who 
have  raised  the  value  of  their  la.nds  50 
per  cent  above  any  other  in  the  State, 
and  made  money  more  abundant  there; 
except  to  these  gentlemen,  to  propose 
an  expenditure  of  $6  or  $8  pjr  acre 
upon  land,  with  a  view  to  profit,  would 
be  looked  upon  &•<  folly,  and  yourself  as 
demented." 

Since  hearing  and  seeing  what  I  did, 
at  the  Raleigh  Fair,  I  am  induced  to 
believe,  there  are  other  gentlemen,  be- 
sides the  Edgecombe  farmers,  who  are 
"  wide  awake"  to  their  interests  in  the 
important  science  of  agricultural  im- 
provement, in  this  State. 

With  this  digression,  I  return  to  my 
subject. 

A  gentleman  in  London,  is  said  to 
have  made  a  discovery  of  converting 
fish  into  a  manure,  superior  in  value, 
and  cheap. -r  llian  the  pn'sent  price  of 
guano,  V)ut  refuses  to  disclose  his  pro- 
cess of  manufacture,  l)ecaus  ■  lie  can 
make  moi'e  oionev  by  keeping  his  se- 
cret and  selling  his  maiiure,  than  be 
can  by  receiving  the  prize  and  gold  me- 
dal. It,  has  long  been  known  that  tish 
is  a  valuable  manure,  and  being  the  ba- 


280 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


sisof  iyuano,  il  is  not  surpriing  it  should 
have  been  selected  as  the  basis  of  a  sub 
stitule  for  guano. 

No  d  )iibt,  if  properly  prepared,  by  a 
chemical  process,  and  the  proper  ingre- 
dients incorporated  with  it,  a  more  val 
uable,  if  not  a  cheaper  manure  than  gu- 
ano, may  be  made  of  it. 

Guano  is  the  excrements  of  fish-eat- 
ing birds,  mixed  with  some  extraneous 
substances,  deprived  of  the  oil,  some  of 
the  phosphates,  and  other  ingredients  of 
fish,  by  the  digestive  organs  of  the  birds. 

There  is  a  difference  of  for.m,  as  a 
.manure,  between  guano  and  fish,  in  fa 
vour  of  guano  ;  and  the  question  arises 
in  the  absence  of  the  stomachs  of  birds, 
as  a  manufactory,  in  tliis  country,  ho 
to  convert  fish  into  the  fonn  best  adap- 
ted as  a  manure  for  all  plants,  at  a  mod- 
erate cost  ? 

Perhaps,  a  good  Analytical  chemist 
can  bC'st  answer  this  question ;  and  as 
the  Londoner's  discovery  will  not  be 
divulged,  I  suggest,  that  our  wise  men 
put  their  wits  to  work,  and  find  out 
his  secret  by  experiment,  and  make  us 
independent  of  him  and  guano. 

Perhaps,  some  one  of  those  who  have 
used  fish  as  a  manure,  near  the  coast 
of  Carolina,  or  other  States,  can  enlight- 
en us  on  this  important  subject,  and 
confer  a  lasting  boon  upon  the  present 
and  succeeding  generations,  and  hand 
down  his  name  as  one  amongst  the 
greatest  benefactors  of  farmers. 

I  regi-et,  I  have  not  an  analysis  of 
fish  to  compare  it  with  that  of  guano  ; 
and  will  take,  forexaniple,  the  frames  of 
fish  to  illustrate  the  difference  and  sim- 
ilarity, between  bones  and  guano. 

The  followin£r    table    is  taken   from 
^■'  -vv.uujson's  Treatise  on  guano, 
which  exhibits  the  composition  of  both, 
supposing  them  to  be  in  a  dry  state. 

Bone.  G-uano. 

Orf^anic  animal  matter,  S3  56 

Phosphates  of  Lime  and  Magnesia,    59  26 

Ciubonate  of  Lime,  04  06 

Salts  of  Soda,  04        10 

Salts  of  Potash,  trace,  trace. 

Silicious  matter,  00  02 

100       100 


This  analysis  gives  us  an  idea  o 
bones  lose  or  gain  by  passing  (li 
the  stomachs  of  birds.  Tiiej  los 
of  the  valuable  element,  the  phu 
of  lime,  and  would  gain  perhaps 
organic  matter,  and  salts  of  potas 
soda. 

Kx^  analysis  of  fish,  no  doubt, 
show  a  larger  per  centago  than 
does,  of  all  elements,  except  p( 
the  carbonate  of  lime,  and  salts  o 
which  could  be  added  during  tli 
cess  of  the  manufictureof  fish  m 
at  a  moderate  cost. 

The  elements  of  fish  are  moi 
merous  and  more  valuable,  as  ui 
than  those  of  guano,  if  properl 
pared  as  tho»e  of  guano  are,  as  fu 
plants.  The  spontaneous  decoi 
tion  of  fish  prepares  many  of  the; 
that  process  permits  many  of  tl 
portant  ingredients,  the  gases,  to  i 
An  artificial  process  of  decompc 
could,  doubtless,  be  made  to  pr 
all  of  them.  But  can  the  process 
simplified,  and  the  materials  furr 
in  sufficient  qauntities  to  make  a 
cient,  cheap  and  abundant  manu 
Those  who  know  what  quantities  < 
can  be  supplied,  can  aid  us  in  si 
this  question.  Most  farmers  wh 
fish  as  manure,  prepare  it  b}'  spot 
ous  decomposition;  and  an  exc 
manure  they  find  it ;  but,  suppose 
were  to  try  an  artificial  process,  ai 
it  they  do  not  make  more  and  a 
manure. 

I  would  suggest,^ as  an  experi 
that  as  sulphuric  acid— the  browi 
of  commerce — is  cheap,  and  salt, 
ter,  ashes  and  charcoal,  are  abui 
instead  of  rotting  the  fish  in  the 
with  dirt,  they  dissolve  it  with  sa 
Ler  and  sulphuric  acid,  and  dry  the 
tyre  with  plaster,  charcoal  and  i 
This  will  form  a  compound  more 
able  than  the  guano  perhaps,  q 
fish-manure,  as  usually  pre|)ared. 

Without  going  into  a  minute  ? 
sis  of  it,  we  shall  find  the  ammoi 
the  form  of  a  sulphate,  the  boi 
phosphates,  and   the  animal  mat 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


281 


1  of  soluble  salts,  and  tlie  char- 
I  ashes  inteiTnixei-!  and  saturat- 

thera  and  ammonia,  in  a  fine 
be  fed  freely  to  plants.  The 
sircoal  dust  used,  the  better,  as 
great  affinity  for  ammonia,  and 
and  retains  it ;  and,  after  being 
he  soil,  will  continue  to  perforin 
)tfices  for  years,  only  giving  it 
emanded  by  plants,  and  receiv- 

supplies  from   air,  dews,   and 

Id  not  this  compound  be  in  a 
itable  as  food  of  plants,  and 
IS  great  virtues  as  guano  does? 
t  for  others  to  say,  who  are  ol- 
wiser  than  mys-elf,  with  defer- 
the  opinions  of  otliers. 

N.  T.  SORSBY. 

and,  Ala.,  Nov.,  1853. 


;anic  and  Inorganic  Materials 
of  the  Globe. 

BY  H.  C.   VAIL. 

ORGANIC  CONSTITUENTS  — 
HYDROGEN. 

IS  the  last   of  the  organic  con- 

>  left  for  our  examination.     We 

fore  Stated   that  it  is  an  e&sen- 

;tituent  of  all  organized  matter. 

ogen,  like  oxygen  and  nitrogen, 

3uus  body.     It  is  fourteen  and  a 

les  lighter  than  common  air,  and 

reason  is  used  for  inflating  bal- 

It  is  not  a  supporter  of  life  and 

:ion,  but  it  is  inflammable— burn- 

a  dull  flame;  the  product  be- 

r,  foimed  by  its  union  with  the 
of  the  air. 
g  the  combustion  of  wood,  coal, 

c  ntaining  hydrogen,  water  is 
uriiied  in  connection  with  car- 
id  gas.  As  stated  in  our  last  ar- 
e  part,  by  weight,  of  hydrogen, 
d  with  eii^ht  parts  of  oxygen, 
ubstance  entirely  different  from 
f  the  substances  of  which  it  is 
id.     This    compound   is   water, 

so  indispensable  to  our  welfare, 
ogen  is  slightly  soluble  in  water 
undred  gallons  of  water  dissolv- 


ing one  and  a  half  gallons  of  this  gas. 

Hydrogen  combined  with  sulphur  in 
certain  proportions,  forms  sulphureted 
hydrogen — a  substance  which  abounds 
in  some  mineral  springs ; — thus  the 
Springs  of  Aix  de  la  Chapelle,  Germa- 
ny, the  Sulphur  Spi'ings  of  Virginia, 
those  at  Stockport,  Columbia  County, 
New  York,  and  some  at  Saratoga ;  and 
in  many  othe"  localities  are  to  be  found 
springs  saturated  with  this  gas.  It  is 
also  formed  during  the  explosion  of  gun- 
powder. 

During  the  decay  of  blood,  hair,  flesh, 
urine,  excrements,  the  white  and  yolk  of 
eggs,  a  pu'rid  odor  is  evolved,  which  is 
attributable  to  the  sulphureted  hydro- 
gen formed  by  ihe  union  of  the  sulphur 
of  the  decaying  body  and  the  gas  hy- 
drogen. 

Most  vegetable  substances  give  oflf 
this  offensive  gas,  when  decaying.  The 
rocks  about  Niagara  Falls,  and  in  many 
other  localities  are  imbued  with  this  gas- 
eous body,  and  are  known  as  foeiid  lime- 
stone. 

The  water  in  wells,  containing  old 
wooden  pumps,  is  frequently  rendered 
unfit  to  drink,  owing  to  sulpherette.l  hy- 
drogen. The  breathing  of  this  gas 
should  be  avoided,  as  it  is  deleterious  to 
health.  The  dark  color  on  the  walls  of 
privies,  and  other  places  where  animal 
or  vegetable  substances  are  putrifyino-,. 
indicates  its  presence. 

During  the  decay  of  wood,  leaves, 
&c.  in  marshes,  ponds,  and  other  con- 
fined localities,  a  light  gas  is  given  off", 
at  the  same  time  that  carbonic  acid  is 
liberated.  This  gas  is  composed  of  Car- 
bon and  Hydrogen,  and  is  called  carbu- 
retted  Hydrogen,  the'  substance  used 
for  illuminating  cities.  The  town  of 
Gosport,  State  of  New  York,  is  illu- 
minated by  this  gas,  arising  from  tha 
decomposition  of  vegetable  substances 
in  a  confined  locality. 

•  Having  cursorily  examined  the  four 
bodies  known  as  organic,  we  may  turn 
our  attention  to  the  composition  oj' 
these  organized  substances,  which  are 
so  indispensable  to  our  existence.    Cast- 


282 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


ing  thu  eye  over  the  tnble  >ho\ving  the 
coiniJi>.-.iti<iii  (if  tliese  boiiies,  we  ;ire  stir- 
prisecl  tluit  so  great  a  variety  of  stil) 
fc^taiiees.  so  tlifferent  in  ;i[>|)earunce. 
should  be  (orined  from  four  elenieiiiarx 
bodies.  These  ditt'eieiice^  are  supposed 
to  arise  from  ihe  proporiion  of  eacli 
constiuieiit.,  and  the  order  in  wiiich 
ihey  are  arranged.  The  transformations, 
or  changes  winch  tiiese  substances  un- 
di-rgo  wlien  operated  U[>oij  i>y  natural 
cau'^es,  are  too  numerous  and  oo  npHcat- 
ed  to  receive  attenlion  at  this  lime. 

Tiiere  are  too  classes  of  organic  bod- 
ies— one  Containing  the  four  elements, 
Carbon,  (Jxygen,  Dydrog^n,  and  Nitro- 
gen, known  as  azoiizi-d  >.r  introgeuized 
bodies.  Tlie  other  composed  of  the 
three  elements  Carbon,  Oxygen,  and 
Hydrogen,  under  the  term  ikju  az^tized 


the   mineral    })ortiou    of  the   gl^ 
will  otdy  examine  the  ten  whicn  \\ 
essential  to  the  growth  of  plants, 
are  to  be  found  m  greater  or  ie.ss  air 
in  nearly  all    soils   and    pi  tms. 
f  irnierly  --uiiposed  that  the  a-h  ■  f 
was  merely  j>reseniiu  them  by    ic 
but  it  was  proved  long  since,  t!ie 
could   not   exist    without  tli'-ir  n 
|)roportion    of  in-'irgair.c    material 
this  UHs  f  (und  to  c  insist  of  sever 
t'erent  bodies.     The  amount  of  ei 
different   plants   being   variable,  h 
ways  the  same,  at    the    same   st; 
growth  in  plants  of  the  same  spi-* 
Tuese  inorganic    materials    w^i 
rived    from  the  disii'tegraiion  of 
by  tiie  HCiion  of  the  asm  )sph"ri' 
ings  and    l.'iawings  of    water  dep 
in   their    creviees,   and    various   n 


or    non-nitrogenized    substances.     Tiie  causes 


latter  compounds  arc  more  stable — that 
is,  less  easily  decompose! — than  the 
former,  and  during  deeay  give  off  gas- 
ses  without  odor;  while  the  gaseous 
proiluets  of  the  decomposition  of  the 
azoiized  bv)dies  are  most  generally  very 
offensive. 

l"h«'  annexed  table  shows  the  num- 
ber i>f  atom.-,  which  enter  into  the  com- 
position of  the  bodies  nanie<l — 

Car-     Hyil 


Animnl  ti?sue 4S  40 

Animal  meuitiranp, 4-t  33 

Aniinil  liorn,  nails,  &c,..48  o9 

Fe,;iihers 48  39 

Urine  ot  aiaii  ^iid  animals,  li)  4 

Urea, 2  4 

Cir-  Hydrn. 

boil-  gen. 

Acetic  acids,  (vinegar,  ...    4  3 

Alcohul 4  6 

Ox-alic  ac;id,  (in  sorrel)  ..2  0 

Caibudic  ;icid, .  .     ..«...!  0 

Lactic  nci'l.v  n  sour  milk.)      7  4 

Malic  acid,  i.in  apples,) .. .    8  4 

Gum 12  II 

Starch, 1-2  16 

Woody  fibre 11  10 

Milksuear li  \i 

Grape  sugar 12  11 

Cane  sugar  (maple  &  beel)  12  It 


When  sufficiently  comminute' 
easily    dissolved  in  water,  they    a 
••ro|iriated   by  plants,  from    wnicii 
and  animals  receive  the  miner.il  c 
nents  of  their  bodies. 

The  constant    cropping    of   so 
moves  these  materials  as  rapidly  a 
can  be   prepared   by  natural   cans 
the  use  of  plants. 
i      i^ometimes  crops   are  grown, 
Nitro.  oiy.  j  will  reiiiove  a  greater  aimjunt  in  a: 
of  some  one  (ir  more  of  these  eoi 
eiits  tiiaii  &.u\  be  again  presented  i 
or  more  ve.irs.      This  shows  the  lu 
ty    of  b  com'ng    acquainted    will 
Ciaracteii-iios  of  each,  ;m  1  in  wha 
poriion  they   exist  in    phmt-s  ;uid 
entir.  Iv  removed  from  the  soil,  h 
replace  them. 

The  names  of  these  ten  boiitt 
Pota>h,  So  !a,  L'me,  Miirne.sia, 
phoric  acid,  Sulphuric  acid,  CI: 
oxide  <ii  iron,  o.xide  of  rntngane- 
lica  and  .Mumnia.  Ournext  artic! 
des.-ribe  Potash  atid  its  uses  iji  ao 
tare.--  Journal  of  Aqricultirre. 


20 
ir, 
17 
16 
6 
2 


OF  Mlli  INOliCiANiC  CONS  ril  UiC.N'TS. 

Having  disposed  of  the  orgairc  ele- 
ments, we  no\v  have  the  inorganic  or 
mineral  kingdom  presented  for  inspect- 
ion. 

Of  the  many  bodies   which  compose 


Potash. —  A  pr<j)-r  food  for 
F-«c.<f. —  Having,  last    year,  seen  i 
ed  in  a  paper,  that  the   ash(  s  of 
vines  contained  a  large  amount  o 
ash,  I  ciiused  three  vines  of  tlve 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


283 


be  filled  with  equal  quantities  of 
n  ^yllich  I  noted  the  following  res- 

1,  was  watered  when   necessary 
ire  water,  and  in  a  given  time  in- 

six  inches  in  length. 

2,  was  watered  with  a  solution  of 
>il  soap,  and  in  the  same  length 

acquired  nine  inches  of  growth. 

No.  3,  I  watered  with  a  decoc- 

potash,  and  within    the  same 

as  above,  it  grew  18    inches  in 

be  begining  of  November,  No.  1 
Iropped  their  leaves  and  showed 
s  of  fruit ;  whereas.  No.  3,  retain- 
javes  three  weeks  longer,  and  in 
urse  of  the  season  shot  forth 
branches  of  fruit,  which  of  course 
3t  suffered  to  grow.  This  shows 
)ortance  of  knowing  what  kinds 
go  to  form  wood  and  fruit,  in  or- 
t  we  may  apply  such  manures  to 
as  the  vine  or  fruit  trees  require, 
ih  we  could  have  a  full  analysis 
3f  our  great  staple,  Indian  Corn, 
tig   the  grain,  cob,    stock,    and 

R.L.  Colt. 
'irson,  New  Jersey. 


/  TO    CURE  WAinS    ON  HORSES. 

;.  Editors — I  see  an  inquiry  in 
ptember  number  of  the  "  Suutli- 
Itiv.-itov,"  for  a  cure  for  warts  on 

Below  I  give  you  a  remed)' 
have  seen  succepsfidly  tried  when 
)tlier  remedy  had  failed.  If  you 
t  worth  publishing  you  can  do  so. 

The  Remedy. 
e  a  solution  as  strong  as  it  can 
Je  by  dissolving  j)otasli  in  water, 
pi}-  it  to  the  warts  with  a  small 
aking  care  not  to  let  the  solution 
any  but  the  diseased  parts.  It 
be  applied  once  every  day,  until 
re  is  effected. 

Yours,  very  respectfully, 

T.  W.  HardwIck. 
isboro',  Ga.,  Sept.,  1853. 
ther  correspondent,  ('-Elvin,"  of 
inu;e,  Ala)  sends  us  the  follovvini'' 
is,  in   the  main,  similar   to  the 


Take  a  large  quantity  of  red  oak 
bark,  and  burn  it  to  ashes.  Make 
strong  lye  out  of  the  ashes,  and  boil 
the  lye  to  a  thick  paste ;  then  apply 
the  paste  to  the  wart  once  a  day.  Five 
or  six  applications,  I  think,  will  cure. — 
It  is  very  severe.  My  father  had  sever- 
al muh-s  cured  by  this  recipe,  after  all 
others  had  failed. 

P.S. — This  is  to  be  rubbed  on  the 
wart,  without  anything  being  placed 
over  the  wart,  (such,  for  instance,  as 
tying  with  a  bandage,  &c.) 


Setting  Meadow — Uulture  oi  small 
Fruits — Osage  Orange,  &c. 

Monroe,  La.,  Feb.  17th.  1853. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Farmer— 

Dear  Sir: — Having  promised  you 
the  result  of  my  experiment  in  laying 
down  a  meadow,  I  will  now  comply, 
and  give  you  as  briefly  and  explicitly  as 
[  can,  the  whole  process,  and  my  suc- 
cess to  this  date.  In  order  that  all  the 
circumstances,  location,  soil,  climate,  &c, 
may  be  understood,  I  will  premise  by 
staling  that  my  farm  is  in  laliiiide  32** 
north,  in  what  we  call  1  ine  Hills,  that 
is,  a  country  coveted  principullv  with 
short-leaf  pine,  oak,  hickory,  l)lack  and 
sweet  gum,  and  chinqnepin — soil  sandy, 
on  red  clay  f  lundation — ground,  gent- 
ly undulating  hills — extreme  cold  last 
year,  8°,  and  this  year  24°  above  zero 
— extreme  beat  rarely  exceeding  90°, 
For  the  last  18  months  the  weaiher  has 
lieen  most  propitious  for  ail  kitids  of  ag- 
ricultural products,  not  a  single  drought 
having  occurred. 

Our  farmers  here  are  pretty  much 
like  those  of  other  Stales,  having  gen- 
erally no  faith  in  book  farming,  and  be- 
lieving thai  their  experience  in  raising 
corn,  cotton,  &c.,  has  shown  thein  the 
only  true  way  to  plant.  Perhaps  not 
one  in  ten  has  for  years  dfviaied  one 
jot  frotn  the  old  routine,  nor  made  any 
allowance  for  change  of  land,  natural 
deterioration  frotn  their  eternally  taking 
off  all  they  can,  and  returning  nothing. 
Occasionally  one  gets  an  agricultural 
|)aper — he  reads — sees  sonit-thing  that 
strikes   him  as   plausible — tries  it.     If 


284 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


once  you  get  them  to  trj,  there  is  some 
hope  of  etieoting  some  good,  for  fann- 
ing is  hke  chemistry,  the  lOve  of  it 
grows  as  you  progress.  Your  paper 
has  been  takei)  by  a  few  heie  for  years 
— others  are  also  taken,  and  their  cir- 
cuhition  is  increasing.  The  consequence 
is,  that  many  now  begin  to  think  that 
it  mMy  be  very  well  to  make  large  cr(>ps 
of  cotton,  but  that  a  good  orchard  grass 
field,  besides  many  other  things  former- 
ly deemed  by  them  foolish,  enhance  ihi' 
comforts  of  life  and  promote  hedih. 
A  change  is  coming  over  the  face  of  the 
country — you  can  now  find  at  almost 
any  farm,  some  choice  grafted  or  bud- 
ded fruit  trees,  grasses,  raspberries, 
strawberries,  &c.  Although  these  in 
themselves  appear  trifling,  yet  they 
show  conclusively  that  the  right  spirit 
is  abroad. 

But  this  is  digressing  very  far  from 
my  original  intention — therefore  to  my 
meadow  experiment. 

Tn  1851,  I  happened  to  read  atten- 
tively your  address  or  "Essay  on  Mead- 
ows," in  your  April  No.,  and  perceiv- 
in<r  on  page  337  you  gave  a  list  of  seeds 
suitable  for  such  lands  as  mine,  I  resolv- 
ed to  send  for  them  for  two  acres,  in 
ordt-r  to ;  atisfv  myself  whether  we  could 
not  have  meadows  here,  althoUijh  I  had 
often  heard  it  said  our  sninmers  were 
too  jouii  and  warm.  1  al-o  reflected 
that  th  ■  usual  method  here  was  to  put 
in  grass  and  almost  everything  vviih  the 
most  tender  regard  for  the  feelings  of 
mother  earth,  being  fearful  "f  mure  than 
scratching  her  skin.  My  impression 
was.  that  were  we  to  p'ough  d'-^^p.  pul- 
verize well,  manure  tibuiidanily,  sow 
and  roll  in,  we  probably  would  have 
morn  luck. 

Al  li"Uoh  T  sent  f  r  the  set  ds  sjieci- 
fi<  d  ill  your  essay.  I  ri  ceivt^d  fmm  one 
of  your  most  extei»siv'  seed  stores,  fur 
the  two  aiM-i's.  thi'  f  showing: 

12    bushel  Hi'ds  or  lied   !  op, 
'  •'        Or'  h  ird  CJrass 

1  •'       T\!e  dow  Oat, 

1  8         "        Iv  d  0  over, 

4  ibs.  Wldtf  Cbuer. 

3   •'      Sweet  Scented  Vernal, 


They  stated  they  could  not  senc 
the    seed    ordered,    but   had   sent 
some  others  equally  suitable  and  in 
proper    proportions.     Having   fait 
your   statement   and  but  little  in 
kinds   sent   me,   I    Avas    disappoii 
However,  I  prepared  the  ground 
ground)  by  ploughing  three  time 
different  times  harrowed — sowed 
lbs.  Guano  and  1  bushel  plaster  to 
acre,  harrowed  in.     This  was  on  ] 
acre — the  other  1-4  acre  I  leftwitl 
, manure,  to  see  what  would  be  the 
ference.     I  mixed   all   the  above  s^ 
together,   and  soaked  them,  or  ra 
wet  them,  and  let  them  remain 
head  from  6  to  10  hours.     I  finii 
sowing  4  of  the  seed  by  dark,  and 
therefore  compelled  to  leave  the  res; 
till    morning,    say    24    hours,    whc 
finished;  I  raked  tlum  in  with  he 
garden  rakes,  then  rolled  with  a  h( 
roller.     This  was  on  lYth  Sept.  If 
The   seed   soon  germinated,   and 
week  or  ten  days  they  were  all  up. 
clovers  only  now  and  then  were  t( 
seen,  and  in  2  or  3  months  not  a  si; 
stock   was   visible ;  the  sweet  sci 
vernal    did    not   come    up ;  the  ot' 
did,   and   made  as  fine  a  grass  fielt 
one  could  wish  to  see.     Being  desii 
of  giving  it  a  fair  chance,  I  neither 
it  or  pastured  until  it  had   been  so^ 
twelve  months,  wlien  I  turned  my  c 
and    calves   into    it.     I  left  them  o 
some  two  months — that  is,   5  cow 
calves  and  6  horses.     Perceiving  t 
were  grazing  rather  close,  I  then  t 
them  off,  and  now  at  tliis  moment  i 
one  mass  of  green  luxuriant  grass. 

I  noticed  that  the  part  having 
guano  w'as  at  all  times  fully  equa 
the  other ;  it  however  liad  the  advf 
age  of  being  at  tlie  lower  side  of 
slope,  receiving  probably  some  of 
manure  washed  down  l>v  tlie  rains. 

So  well  satisfied  am  I  wi-h  the  r-'f 
of  this  trial,  that  I  am  d-'t*  rtnin  d 
Set  a  considerable  quantity  <  f  lard 
the  same  maimer  this  autumn.  Bt 
will  for  the  present  sow  no  (dovir,  f 
do  not  believe  it  will  do  well  on  ri 
land. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


285 


Intending  to  devote  great  attention 
o  raising  hogs,  I  have  commenced 
)lanting  Jerusalem  Artichokes.  I  have 
ust  finished  planting  all  the  seed  I  had, 
giving  me  3  acres—  next  year  I  intend 
)lanting  20  or  25  acres ;  these,  "with 
ny  peach  and  plum  orchard,  sweet 
)otatoes  and  ground  peas,  besides  my 
)ats  and  field  peas,  will  make  such  a 
ucc<:'Ssion  of  feeding  crops  as  almost  to 
lispense  with  the  necessity  of  using 
lorn. 

Sweet  potatoes  are  as  easily  raised  as 
!orn,  acre  for  acre,  and  the  yield  is  20 
)ushels  of  corn  and  200  bushels  of 
)Otatoes — the  potatoes  keep  perfectly, 
vith  but  little  trouble.  Peaches  we 
lave  from  June  till  frost  ;  plums  from 
\lay  till  August.  So  you  see  there  will 
)e  something  for  the  hogs  to  eat  the 
^ear  round  in  the  field. 

I  have  planted  several  hundreds  of 
he  Catawba  grape  vines,  besides  a  few 
f  several  other  varieties  known  as 
hoice  table  grapes  ;  last  year  I  had  a 
iw  bearing — ihej'^  were  very  fine  and 
ot  a  single  decayed  one  could  be 
3und. 

Raspbernes  grow  to  perfection  here, 

s  also  sti'awberries.     In  fact,  all  fruits 

'ill  succeed  well  if  the  proper  quantum 

f  pains  be  taken  to  ensure  success.    It 

.  fully  to  send  abroad  for  all  the  choice 

uit    trees,    and   when  received,  plant 

lem    badly   and    then  let  them  take 

ire  themselves  -  that  they  live,  is  sur- 

rising ;  that  they  bear  even   inferior 

uit,  is  still  more  so. 

I  frequently  hear  individuals  who  are 

.'puted  good  gardeners  say  that  Celery 

id  Caulitlowers  will  not  grow  well  in 

lis  climate.     I  am  at   this  time  using 

■lery  of  my  own  raising  as  fine  as  can 

)nnuonly  be  found,  and    as   to  cauli- 

nvers,  I  succeed  very  well  with  them. 

)  ensure   a   good  crop   of  either,    re- 

iires  a  great  amount  of  labor  compar- 

with  ot  her  vegetables — but  you    are 

iply  compensated    for    all  this  when, 

th  the  appetite  sharpened    by  work, 

>u  set  down  to  a  few  dishes  of  choice 

getables,  with   the  more   substantial 

ats. 


Speaking  of  meats,  I  must  thank 
you  for  the  fine  hams  I  have.  You 
may  probably  not  be  aware  of  your 
having  placed  me  under  obligations  to 
you  for  as  savory  and  fine  hams  as  the 
most  epicurean  could  desire.  It  is  never- 
theless  true.  The  recipe  you  published 
as  being  the  one  employed  in  curing 
the  -'Old  Maryland"  hnm,  which  took 
the  1st  premium  at  your  fair  in  1851, 
(I  think,)  is  the  one  I  have  adopted. 
Better  hams  I  never  ate ;  and  tho'our 
climate  is  rather  warm,  still  I  save  them 
with  all  the  bone.  I  pickled  a  stall- 
fed  beef  in  the  same  manner,  adding 
red  pepper  and  spices ;  it  is  as  good  as 
any  I  ever  bought. 

Among  other  things  that  I  am  en- 
deavoring to  do  is  to  fence  all  my 
grounds  with  the  Osage  Orange  hedge. 
Having  no  experience  in  that  "line,  and 
not  being  able  to  get  information  as  to 
the  process,  I  last  year  sowed  2  quarts  of 
seed  in  order  to  make  a  beginning ; 
from  these,  on  account  of  the  lateness 
of  sowing  (1st  March,)  I  obtained  only 
2100  plants — they  are  3  feet  high.  I 
have  taken  them  up  and  have  planted 
one  line  700  feet  long,  in  double  rows 
1  foot  apart  and  the  same  distance  in 
the  row ;  I  will  continue  to  plant  in  the 
same  manner  the  remainder.  I  spa- 
di  d  the  ground  and  manuied  i-  well  with 
cotton  seed.  After  planting,  I  cut  them 
oft"  within  5  inches  of  the  ground. 
Should  this  succeed,  next  year  I  will 
sow  seed  enough  to  enclose  all  my  fields, 
believing  that  by  the  time  the  rails 
now  used  will  be  worthless,  the  hedge 
will  be  sufficiently  strong  to  keep  any 
domestic  animals  out. 

I  find  it  difficult  to  take  up  the 
plants  without  lacerating  the  roots.  I 
have  been  obliged  in  consequence  to 
trim  them  pretty  short ;  if  they  can 
bear  the  trimming  I  have  given  them, 
it  will  save  a  great  deal  of  labor  in  tak- 
ing up  for  transplanting. 

Having  set  down  merely  to  give  ycu 
a  sketch  of  my  grass  experiment,  I 
think  I  have  sufficiently  transgressed 
and  should  conclude  this  history  of  my 


280 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


doino;s.  Hoping  you  will  forgive  me 
for  trespassing  upon  your  time  by  in- 
flicting so  long  a  letter,  I  remain,  yours 
truly,  H.  M.  Bry. 


Baltimore  Manufactured  Agricultural 
Implements. 

Pleasant  Hill,  (Ridgeway  P.  0.)    ) 
Warren  Co.,  N.  C,  Nov.  8,  1852.  i 

To  the  jEditor  of  the  American  Farmer. 

Sib — I  have  too  long  d  layed  what 
I  deem,  to  be  an  act  of  justice  to  certain 
manufacturers  of  your  city,  and  co-la- 
borers in  agricultural  pursuits,  but  tliere 
is  an  old  adage  which  teaches,  "better 
late  than  never." 

Many  farmers  in  this  State,  and  I 
have  no  doubt  but  it  is  so  elsewhere, 
are  very  far  behind  the  spirit  of  the  age 
in  the  use  of  imi)roved  agricultural  im- 
plements; and  if,  while  rendering  as  an 
act  of  justice  to  your  mechanics,  my 
m*!ed  of  approbation  for  the  benefit  de- 
rived by  me  from  the  use  of  agricultur- 
al implempnts  manufactured  by  them, 
I  shall  hi  the  humble  means  of  advanc- 
ing their  interests,  I  shall  be  more  than 
gratified. 

I  iiave  used  Sinclair  &  Co.'s  Tobacco 
Cultivator  the  past  season,  both  for  the 
cultivation  of  this  product  and  corn, 
and  feel  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  for 
these  purposes  it  far  surpasses  any  im- 
plemenc  of  the  kind  known  to  me,  and  I 
can  think  of  no  contingency  that  would 
induce  me  to  abandon  its  use. 

It  is  clieap,  perfectly  simple  and  du- 
rable in  construction,  (facts  which  will 
apply  to  most  of  the  plows  and  machin 
ery,  th^it  ^'ave  come  under  my  ob.serva- 
tion,  manufactured  in  Baltimore.)  liut 
while  valuable  on  these  accounts,  its 
chief  meiit  consists  in  the  great  amount 
of  work  it  does  over  any  other  plow, 
and  the  thorough  manner  in  which  tiie 
work  is  done. 

After  the  ground  is  well  prepared  for 
a  crop,  this  plow  will  do  the  work  of 
four  such  as  I  used  prior  to  obtaining  it, 
and  such  as  are  now  used  by  most  far- 
mers of  this  sectiiin,  and  dothe  work  too, 
in  a  perfectly  satisfcictory  manner,  thu< 
saving  the  expense  and  labor  of  tLcee 


horses,  plow  and  plowmen,  or  enabiinrr 
the  farmer  to  cultivate  a  much  laro-er 
crop  with  the  same  force. 

I  have  used,  the  past  season,  one  of 
Sinclair's  Seed  Planters  in  my  corn  crop, 
which  is  also  a  great  labor  saving  ma- 
chine :  it  plants  at  any  required  distance 
with  accuracy,  and  in  such  nnumer  as 
insured  me  a  good  stand.  I  timed  the 
operation  without  the  knowledge  of  tlie 
plowman,  and  found  that  at  the  dis- 
tance of  four  and  a  half  by  three  feet 
it  seeded  one  acre  in  4-2  minutes.  There 
is  one  advantage  this  planter  has  over 
the  ordinary  mode  of  planting,  which  I 
jiave  not  seen  noticed  l)y  any  writei-  on 
the  subject;  it  is,  that  the  roller  com- 
presses the  earth,  yet  not  so  firmly  but 
the  seed  comes  up  well,  and  when  the 
birds  attempt  to  pull  it  up,  the  sprout: 
breaks  off,  and  after  repeated  fruitless, 
efforts  to  obtain  the  seed,  they  leave' 
this  for  some  field  where  they  are  better 
repaid  for  their  labors. 

•1  have  also  used  the  present  season 
one  of  the  improved  Fanning  Mills  and 
25  inch  cylinder  Thrashing  Machines, 
from  the  manufactory  •  of  the  same 
gentlemen.  These  are  both  good  mach- 
ines, equal  I  think,  to  any  tiling  I  have 
seen,  and  are  made  very  durable  in 
their  construction. 

I  timed  the  operations  of  the  Tr;ish- 
ing  Maciiine  after  I  had  got  it  put  up 
and  properly  arranged,  and  found  that 
on  the  first  trial  it  thrashed  out  &1  bui- 
shels  in  two  hours,  and  on  th.e  ne.xt 
day  81  1-2  bushels  in  the  &a'rn.e  time, 
doing-  the  w^ork  in  a  very  s^itisfiictory, 
manner. 

I  know  that  Messrs,  Si-ucL-iir  &  Co. 
and  others  in.  your  city,  who  are  enga- 
ged in  the  manufacture  of  sush  inq^le- 
ments,  have  greatly  advanced  the  inter- 
ests of  the  agpicultub-al  eommunity,  and 
I  feel  it  to  be'  a  duty  to  them.,  to  render 
my  aj>|i!.'ob.a,t;ion. 

That   articles   of  husbandrv   are  put 
forthi    in.    the    community    which     are 
wo,rtliless  in  every    essential    parlicidar^, 
is  equally  true,  and  of  these  I  f'^el  call- 
ed upoa  to  speak,  freely  asd  publicly. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


28t 


but  tiiis  is  iioi  the  occasion  ;  yft  I  fe*;'! 
lieiv  IVi-e  lo  say,  that  I  liave  rerciveil 
nclhuig  oi'  thi-j  kital  from  any  houso 
in  your  ci:)j. 

S.ioulii  you  Ai^e.m   the  whole  or  part 
of  this  CKiimiiinicHiion  tit  mattt-rfor  the 
pui  lio  cyi',  !t  is  Ht  _\oiir  disposal. 
Respectfully, 

llhJNRY  J.   B.  ClAKK. 


TO   KEEP  TIRES  TIGHT     ON   WHEELS. 

Afr.  Elitor — I  Avish  to  communicate 
to  the  public  a  method  by  whic-h  tires 
on  wixeel  carriages  may  be  kept  tight, 
ironed  a  wagon,  some  years  ago,  for 
my  own  u«e,  and  before  putting  on  the 
tires,  I  liih'd  the  felloes  with  linseed  oil; 
and  tlie  tires  have  worn  out  and  were 
nevrr  Inose.  I  ironed  a  buggy,  for  my 
own  uev',  seven  years  ago,  and  the  tires 
are  now  as  tight  as  when  put  on.  My 
method  of  filling  the  felloes  with  oil  is 
as  follows:  I  use  a  long  cast  iron  oil- 
heafev,  made  for  the  purpose,  (a  pattern 
of  wiiich  I  have  left  with  M^'ssrs.  Tay- 
lor (fe  Sowell,  of  Charlottesville,)  the  oil 
is  brouglit  to  a  boiling  heat,  the  wheel 
is  plac*  d  on  a  stick,  so  as  to  hang  in 
the  oil,  each  felloe  one  hour,  for  a  com- 
mon sized  felloe. 

Fill'  timber  should  be  dry,  as  green 
timber  will  not  receive  oil.  Care  should 
be  taken  that  the  oil  be  made  no  hotter 
than  a  boiling  heat,  in  order  that  the 
timber  be  not  burnt.  Timber  filkd 
with  oil  is  not  susceptible  of  water,  and 
the  timber  is  much  more  durable.  T 
was  amused,  some  time  ago,  when  I  told 
a  blaeksraith  how  to  keep  tires  tight 
on  wlieels,  by  his  telling  me  it  was  a 
profitable  business  to  tighten  tires  ;  ann 
the  wagon  maker  will  say,  it  is  profit- 
able to  him  to  make  and  repair  wheels 
-l)ut  what  will  the  farmer,  who  sup- 
ports the  wheelright  and  smitJj,  say  ? 
If  you  think  the  above  worth  com- 
municating to  the  public,  you  can  do 
so;  if  not,  throw  it  under  the  table. 
T.  H.  Brown. 
lJn)Wii\<;  Cove,  M  ireh.  185-'« 
Our  old  friend,  Thomas  II.  Brown. 
j8  well  known  to  us  as  a.  man  of 
Tery     fine     mechanical   genius.       He 


can  make  anything  he  pleases  out  of 
wood  or  metal,  and  whatever  he  advises 
is  worth  doing. — Ed.  Southern  Plan- 
ter. 

To  Destroy  Bedbugs. — A  simple 
and  easy  method  of  destroying  this 
loathsome  tormentor  has  been  discover- 
ed. It  consists  in  spreading  tlie  liquid 
from  the  ripe  cucumber  on  the  bed- 
stead, and  other  places  in  which  they 
secrete  themselves. 


WM.  ALLSTON  GOURDIN, 

Factor   and  Commission  Merchant, 

NO.  73  EAST-BAY, 

CHAKLfc:STO^',  S.C., 

Is  prepared  lo  make  lioeral  advances  on  Con- 
signiiienis   oi    Kiee,   Cotton,  Lorn,  S  gar, 
Flour,  Grain,  Hay,  &.c. 

Agent  tor  "  Genuine  Peruvian  Guano"  for 
the  States  of  South  t  aroliiia,  Morih  Carolina, 
Geortria.  Alabama  and  'J'em.essee.  At-o,  A- 
eeni  lor  Baltimore  and  Southern  PacUet  Co.'g 
Steam-ship.=. 

JJoveniber,  18.)3.  8— 


WM.  H.  TAPPEY.  I  WM.  C.  I.UMSDEN. 

TAPPEY  &  LUMSDEN, 
I  n  lid  jJass  Foundarsajid  Machin- 
ist, 

Opposite  .Tarrau's   Tavern  and  Southarn  Rail- 
road Drpot, 

PHTERSBUKG,  VA. 
{Cash  paid  for  old  Copper  and  Brass.) 

T;>AILROAD  CARS,  Axles.  Wheels  Seif- 
V  iling  Boxes,  &c  ;  Tobaeco  Pre.'sses, 
Mills,  ('ottoti  PI0112I1S,  and  Kn/ve.";  Can  and 
Wrought  Railing  ;  Siearn  fclnjiines.  Veriical  and 
Circular  Saw  Mills.  Grii-t  Mill  liens  of  .-very 
des/Tipiion.ShalUngand  all  kind,^  of  iVlachiiie- 
ry,  Wayon  Boxe«,  Bells,  &c  ,  &c 

Nove    ber.  1:^53.  «--- 


SAMUEL  OLIVER  &  SON, 

New  Berne,  N.  C, 

TTTILLkeep  constantly  on  h'-nd  a  supply 
>  V  01  Ploughs,  embracing 25  different  sivles. 
Straw  Cutlers  i  orn  Shelleis,  Culnvator.".  Har- 
rows, Grain  Fans,  Crad  e;..  Corn  Mills,  Veget- 
able CiiUers,  (irain  Planters,  Corn  Stalk  Cut- 
ter.s.  Castings,  &e.,  &c 

Agents  for  the  sale  ol  Taylor  &,  Go's  Geor- 
gia Cotion  Gins.  Parker's  Patent  Corn  Shelier, 
Smitli's  Straw  Cutter,  Horse  PoWer  and  Grain 
F-ins,  Watt's  Patent  Cuff  Brace  Plouiihw  Chap- 
pell's  Fer'iii'/.er,  Super  Ph<isphate  of  Lime  :  al- 
so, Peruvian  Guano,  Bone  Dust,  K-ntish  Pre- 
pared Guano,  Gio>nd  Plaster,  Poudnnie.  &c  , 
&c  ;  ry  Goods,  Groceries,  BolIs,  Shoes,  Hat« 
and  Caps,  itc 

November,  1853.  »-"2t 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


J.    M.    LOVEJOY'S.  ACADEMY, 
RALEIGH. 

Classical  Department,  J.  M.  Lovejoy,  Precep- 
tor, 
Mathematical  Department,  Geo  C.  Lewis, 
Deparinient  of  Elementary,  AgriculturHl   and 
Expermiental  Chemistry,  Dr.  J.  F.  Tompkins 

THE  YEAR  IS  DIVIDED  INTO  TWO  SESSIONS. 

The  Twenty-Sixth  Session  commences  on  the 
1th  of  Januaiy,  1854, — the  Twenty -Seventh 
on  the  7th  of  July. 

TERMS  OF  TUITION  PER  SESSION  IN  ADVANCE. 

Tuition  and  B  >ard,   (including  everything 
except  washing,)  $80  00 

French,    Book-keeping  and  Surveying, 

each  extra,  10  00 

No  deduction  made  for  absence,  except  in 

cases  of  protracted  sickness. 

IT  is  the  design  of  the  Preceptor,  that  this 
Institution  shall  not  be  surpassed  in  ihe  ad- 
vnntages  afforded  for  acquiring  an  English, 
Classical,  Mathematical  and  Practical  Educa- 
tion. His  employment,  during  the  last  twenty 
years,  has  been  that  oi  preparing  boys  for  the 
University  of  JSorth  Carolina,  and  for  Clleges 
ot  other  States  ;  so  that,  if  there  is  any  truth  in 
the  assertion  that  '"  practice  makes  perlect,"  he 
thinks  he  is  capable  of  doing  well  ihe  business 
of  his  profession.  He  therefore  assures  (larents 
and  guardians  who  may  place  pupils  in  his 
Acad  my,ihnt  they  shall  be  thoroughly  pre- 
pared for  college,  or  educated  for  practical  bu- 
siness men.  Book-keeping,  Surveying,  and  all 
practical  branches,  receive  pfifticular  attention. 

The  Murals  of  the  Students  will  be  carelully 
guarded  ;  and  lor  the  purpose  oi  doing  this,  pu- 
pils, (unless  they  have  relations  in  the  City.) 
will  be  required  to  board  with  the  Principal,  or 
with  Dr.  '1  ompkins — who  has  been  engaged  to 
give  instruction  in  Agricultural,  Elementary 
and  Experimental  Chemistry,  accompanied 
with  Lectures- in  order  that  pupils  who  de- 
sign to  become  farmers  may  receive  an  educa- 
tion in  those  branches  of  science,  so  necessary 
to  success  in  their  profession. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  speak  of  the  qualifica- 
tions oi  Dr.  Tompkins,  since,  as  Editor  of  the 
Farmer's  Journal,  ha  iiAs  shown  himself  fully 
competent  to  discharge  the  duties  of  his  depart- 
ment. His  laboratory  is  well  supplied  with 
such  apparatus  as  may  be  necessary  to  give  a 
minute  and  perfect  idea  of  the  science  which  he 
professes  to  teach. 

Students  who  prefer  to  give  their  whole  at- 
tention to  Agricultuial  Chemistry,  and  to  ihe 
instruction  of  the  Laboratory,  can  have  the 
privilege  of  doing  so. 

TERMS    PER    SESSION    IN    DR.   TOMPKIN's  DEPART- 
MENT. 

For  Experimental  Chemistry,  $10 

Agricultural  Chemistry,  25 

Laboratory  Students,  50 

J.  M.  LOVEJOY. 

Raleigh,  October  17ih,  1853.  8— 


A  CARD. 

JAMES  M.  TOWLES,  General  Agent  for 
the  sale  of  Agricultural  Implements,  and 
Fanning  Utensils,  &c. 

JN .  B.  A  large  number  of  articles  brought  to 
the  late  Fair  are  left  with  me  on  sale,  on  all  of 
which  the  Railroad  freight  will  be  saved  to  the 
purchaser,  a  very  importaut  item  on  heavy 
goods. 
November,  1853.  8— 


I 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAI, 

^  '^''x'llished  monthly,  at  $1  per  annnum,  in 
advance  ;  six  copies  for  $5  ;  twelve  copies 
for  $10  ;  thirty  copies  for  $20. 

Advertisements — A  limited  number  of  ad- 
vertisements will  be  inserted  at  the  following 
rates:  For  one  square  of  twelve  lines,  for  each 
insertion,  $1 ;  one  square  per  annum,  $10  ;  half 
column,  do.,  $30  ;  one  column,  do.,  $50;  larger 
advertisements  in  proportion. 

.JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS, 
Editor  and  Proprietor,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 


TABLE  OF    CONTENTS. 

Page. 
Address  of  Hon.  A.  W.  Venable,  257 

Gardening  for  Farmers,  260 

Value  of  Soil  Analysis,  262 

Agricultural  Statistics,  264 

Hints  on  breeding  Horses,  265 

Pretty  good  for  one  Man,  266 

Southern  Fruit,  267 

Golden  Advice,  267 

Example  in  Agriculture,  267 

The  Rescue  G  ass,  268 

The  efff  cts  of  Draining,  269 

To  cleanse  .lars,  270 

A  proposed  experiment,  271 

How  to  get  rid  of  Mosquitoes,  271 

How  to  raise  Fruit  every  year,  271 

Recipe  for  making  Bread,  271 

The  State  Agricultural  Society,  (Ed.)  272 

The  improvement  of  Stock  in  North  Caro- 
lina, (Editorial,)  273 
To  the  Members  of  the  State  Agricultural 

Society,  (Editorial,)  274 

State  and  County  Fairs,  (Editorial,)  274 

Our  Corres?pondence,  (Editorial,)  275 

Errors  in  awarding  Premiums  at  the  Fair, 

(Editorial,)  275 

A  corection  of  the  Premium  List,  (Ed.)        275 
Extract  and  Comments,  (Editorial,)  276 

Communications,  277,  278 

Granville  Agricultural  Society  and  County 

Fair,  278 

Fish,  its  value  as  a  Manure,  279 

The  organic  and  inorganic  materials  of  the 

Globe,  281 

Potash,  282 

How  to  cure  warts  on  horses,  283 

Setting  Meadow,  &c.,  283 

Baltimore  Manufactured  Agricultural  Im- 
plements, 286 
To  l>eep  tires  tight  on  wheels,                     287 
To  destroy  bedbugs,                                      287 
Advertisements,                                            287 


THE  FAMEPi'S  JOUMAL. 


VOL.  2.  RALEIGH,  N.  C,  JANUARY,  1854.  NO.  10. 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D.,  Editor  and  Proprietor. 


From  the  American  Artisan. 
Transactions  of  the   New   York  Far- 
mers Club, 

R.  L.  Pell — In  answer  to  a  question 
as  to  bis  crop  of  oats  replied  that  lie 
had  raised  seventy  bushels  per  acre. 

The  Secretary  read  a  letter  from  Mr. 
William  Mathews  a  gardener,  on  the 
subject  of  the  plum  tree  and  the  cur- 
culio.  He  recommends  the  application 
of  a  mixture  of  one  bushel  of  slacked 
lime  and  six  pounds  of  sulphur,  thor- 
oughly mixed.  When  the  plum  tree 
is  wet  with  dew  or  rain,  take  four  or 
five  quarts  of  the  mixture,  and  apply  it 
thoroughly  just  before  the  buds  ope)i  in- 
to blossom.  This  is  to  be  repeated 
twice  a  week  for  two  or  three  weeks. 
The  result  of  the  above  application  in 
1852,  when  the  tree  was  in  full  bloom, 
I  saved  half  a  crop.  After  the  fruit 
was  set,  but  a  small  portion.  Just  be- 
fore the  tree  came  into  bloom  (the  day 
before)  a  full  crop.  This  application 
invigorated  the  tree  much.  The  writ- 
er refers  to  Mr.  Sheafe  : — 
E.  L.  Pell— 

'I  wish  to  call  the  attention  of  the 
club  to  a  matter  of  great  importance  to 
agriculturists,  and  one  which  should  in- 
terest every  man  in  the  community,  andj 
that  is  the  los  daily  in  this  great  city,' 
of  the  nitrogen  contained  in  the  excre- 
tia  of  our  600,000  citizens.  According 
to  Boussingault,  a  man  yields  16,41  lbs. 
yearly,  therefore  it  will  be  safe  to  con- 
sider that  children  and  men  yielding 
sixteen  pounds  of  nitrogen  each,  which 


would  supply  800  pounds  of  wheat  or 
rye  with  the  requisite  quantity  of  nitro- 
gen, more  than  is  necessary  for  an  acre 
of  land  with  the  assistance  of  the  a- 
mount  it  would  naturally  obtain  from 
the  air,  in  combination  with  ammonia, 
phosphates  and  sulphates.  Thus  our 
city  might  afford  nitrogen  annually,  suf- 
ficient to  raise  480,000  pounds  of  wheat. 
By  adding  a  small  quantity  of  ashes  and 
bone  dust,  we  could  do  away  with  the 
bulky  excrements  of  cuttle,  which  cost, 
to  transport  short  distances,  more  than 
they  are  actually  worth.  I  paid,  last 
fall,  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  a  load  for 
stable  manure,  carried  six  miles  by  wa- 
ter and  delivered  on  my  dock  ;  to  place 
it  on  the  field  requiring  it,  was  worth 
four  shillings  in  addition.  Forty  loads 
to  the  acre  cost  eighty  dollars.  By  re 
moving,  the  liquid  from  the  ordure,  and 
using  the  nitrogen  only,  sixteen  pounds, 
worth  fifty  cents,  would  be  of  equal  ben- 
efit, therefore  eighty  dollars'  worth  of 
nitrogen  would  enrich  160  acres,  and 
160  could  produce  this  astounding  re- 
sult. The  solid  and  hquid  manuring 
substances  produced  in  the  factories  of 
various  kinds,  together  with  the  sewage 
water  in  the  city  of  New  York,  is  fully 
equal  to  one  ton  for  each  inhabitant,  or 
six  hundred  thousand  tons  per  annum  ; 
nearly  all  of  which  finds  its  way  into 
the  North  and  East  rivers,  portions  of 
which  are  selected  as  food  by  fish,  and 
returned  to  us  as  dainty  morsels. 

The  English  people  are  equally  im- 
provident with  ourselves.    London  con- 


290 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


tains  2,000,000  of  inhabitants,  each  of 
whom  might  manure,  at  the  lowest  cal- 
culation, 600  lbs.  of  wheat.  This  would 
be  equal  to  1,200,000,000  of  pounds, 
or  535,714  tons.  Consequently,  Lon- 
don loses  2,000,000  tons  of  excreraen- 
tatious  matter  annually,  nearlv  all  of 
which  is  carried  by  sewers  into  the  riv- 
er Thames.  This  river  suj^plies  a  large 
portion  of  the  metropolis  with  water, 
say  six  sections  out  of  nine,  costing  each 
inhabitant,  on  an  average,  from  ^12  to 
$14.  In  addition  to  the  six  hundred 
thousand  tons  of  enriching  excrement 
lost  in  the  rivers  encircling  New  York 
city,  there  are  six  hundred  thousand 
tons  of  street  dirt,  ashes,  debris  of  pave- 
ments, etc.,  swept  up,  and  carted  to  dif- 
ferent depots,  costing  the  city  $263,000 
per  annum.  As  we  are  situated,  per- 
haps it  may  be  as  well  to  cart  these 
matters  to  the  river  banks  for  trans- 
shipment to  agricultural  districts.  In 
other  cities  less  favorably  located,  it 
might  all  pass  through  the  sewers  to 
the  proper  receptacles,  or  receiving  res- 
ervoirs. The  solid  matters  would  de- 
posit themselves  preparatory  to  their 
Jnal  removal,  at  stated  periods,  to  the 
/locations  where  required  for  agricultu- 
,ral  purposes,  and  the  water  by  suitable 
arrangements,  could  be  carried  to  the 
riv^ers  or  outlets.  In  New  York,  a  vast 
expense  might  be  saved  by  placing  be- 
^hind  our  carts  Joseph  Whitney's  sweep- 
ing machine,  consisting  of  an  iron  frame, 
in  which  is  suspended  a  series  of  brooms; 
as  the  cart  wheels  revolve  the  brooms 
■  successively  sweep  the  street  and  carry 
the  dirt  up  an  inchned  plane  ;  when  it 
reaches  the  top  it  falls  directly  into  the 
cart.  This  arrangement  is  simple  in  its 
constsu^tion,  and  not  liable  to  get  out 
of  order.  An  indicator  is  attached  to 
it,  which  shows  at  night  how  much  sur- 
face has  been  swept  during  the  day.  A 
steady,  hard  working  man  will  sweep 
from  1,200  to  1,400  square  yards  daily, 
while  a  horse  attached  to  the  machine, 
traveling  two  and  a  quarter  miles  per 
;hour,  will  sweep,  according  to  Mr.  Demp- 
■sey's  account,  4,000  square  yards  du- 


ring that  time,  or  from  16,000  to  24,000 
square  yards  in  a  day.  This  aparatus 
isused  to  a  great  extent  in  Manchester, 
and  might  be  introduced  here  to  advan- 
tage. 

'The  sewage  of  the  city  of  Milan,  in 
Italy,  passes  through  two  canals  called 
the  Naviglio  and  Sevese,  into  one, 
known  as  the  Vettabbia,  which  latter 
flows  into  the  river  Lambro,  more  than 
nine  miles  from  the  city.  In  its  course, 
it  overflows  an  immense  tract  of  low 
land,  depositing  upon  it  invaluable  fruc- 
tifying matters,  part  of  which  is  annu- 
ally removed  and  sold  to  the  farmers  in 
tlie  vicinity  for  manure,  in  order  that 
the  proper  irrigation  level  may  be  pre- 
served. I  was  informed,  when  in  Milan, 
that  these  meadows  are  mowed  in  No- 
vember, January,  March  and  April,  for 
feeding  stabled  animals,  afu^r  which 
they  cut  three  crops  of  ha}'  from  them 
in  June,  July  and  August,  and  depas- 
ture them  in  September  and  October. 
Ihis  process  is  pursued  annually,  and 
the  profit  accruing  to  the  owners  is  im- 
mense. The  same  plan  is  adopted  in 
the  vicinity  of  Edinburgh,  Scotland  ; 
lands  which,  thirty-five  years  ago,  were 
worth  from  one  to  two  dollars  per  acre, 
have  for  many  years  rented  for  fro  mone 
hundred  and  sixty  to  two  hundred  and 
eighty  dollars  per  acre.  It  is  supposed 
that  twenty  thousand  gallons  of  sewage 
water  will  enrich  land  equal  to  one  and 
a  half  tons  of  Peruvian  guano,  or  eigh- 
teen tons  of  barn  yard  manure.  Tak- 
ing into  conside'-ation  the  great  advan- 
tage to  be  derived  from  the  use  of  the 
1,200,000  tons  of  invaluable  fertilizers, 
worth  at  least  $600,000,  most  of  which 
are  allowed  to  go  to  waste  in  this  great 
city,  I  would  respectfully  propose  the 
construction  of  deep  reservoirs  at  the 
mouths  of  our  principal  sewers,  with 
proper  buildings  surmounting  them,  to 
collect  the  rising  gases,  and  crystalize 
them  by  simple  chemical  processes  for 
agricultural  purposes,  and  steam  engines 
to  elevate  and  discharge  the  solid  mat- 
ters into  boats,  for  removal  to  the  neigh- 
boring farm.     The  principal  expense  for 


THE  FARMER'S  JOUR]:rAL. 


291 


this  great  saving  has  already  been  in- 
curred, in  the  construction  of  the  sew- 
ers now  built.  We  now  require  reser- 
voirs at  their  termini,  as  jDroposed  above. 
These  should  consist  of  two  compart- 
ments ;  the  first,  into  which  the  matters 
flow  from  the  sewers,  must  be  emptied 
by  the  engine  into  the  second,  in  order 
that  they  may  meet  with  no  backwatc^r, 
or  obstruction  at  their  mouths.  This 
arrangement  will  allow  great  descent  to 
be  g'ven  to  the  new  sewers  hereafter 
built.  As  every  street  leading  to  either 
river  will  ultimately  have  one,  eight  or 
ten  of  these  may  enter  a  main  drain 
running  from  north  to  south,  near  the 
river,  and  through  this  pass  to  the  re^ 
ceiving  reservoir,  the  bottom  of  which 
should  be  six  feet  below  low  water 
mark. 

'  The  same  plan  might  be  adopted  by 
all  our  large  towns  on  the  banks  of  the 
North  river,  Albany,  Hudson,  Pough- 
keepsie,  Newburgh  and  others.  A  few 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  the  vicinity  of 
any  large  town  in  the  United  States, 
may  be  made  to  yield  all  its  require- 
ments by  a  little  economy  in  the  preser- 
vation and  distribution  of  its  fertilizers.' 

Mr. . — Hemlock  is  the  Pinus 

Canadensis  of  Linnaeus.  All  botanists 
speak  of  it  as  suited  {omnibus  locis)  to 
all  places.  This  tree,  when  old,  yields 
a  gum  or  pix  which  is  used  as  a  rube- 
facient, [causes  redness  of  the  skin  with- 
out blistering,]  also  an  oil  by  distillation 
of  the  leaves  and  twigs. 

Col.  T ravers. — In  effect  much  like 
resin. 

Mr.  Coleman,  of  Brooklyn,  exhibited 
a  large,  many  rowed  ear  of  corn  from 
his  farm  in  Maryland.  It  reminded 
some  members  of  the  remarkable,  ex- 
periment of  Baden,  whose  plan  of  se- 
lecting the  grains  from  the  best  ears  for 
many  successive  years,  produced  at 
length  stalks  bearing  five  or  six  good 
ears  each. 

Mr.  Kellogg,  of  Orange,  said  that  he 
had  found  the  wire  worm  a  good  many 
on  his  farm,  and  he  had  found  means  to 
get  rid  of  it  for  the  most  part  by  sow- 


ing on  an  acre  a  barrel  of  fine  salt  im- 
mediately before  ploughing  in  the 
spring,  and  he  beheved  that  his  flax  ac- 
quired a  better  coat  by  sowing  salt 
among  it  after  it  was  up. 

Mr.  Gore  said  the  salt  killed  the 
grubs. 

Dr.  Church  considered  salt  as  very 
valuable  in  agriculture,  and  gave  its 
chemical  charter. 

Mr.  Kellogg  had  tried  to  kill  the 
Canada  thistle  by  salt,  and  succeeded,  to 
a  considerable  extent,  in  destroying 
them. 

Prof.  Mapcs  remarked  that  the  val- 
ue of  salt  as  a  fertilizer  is  entirely  wor- 
thy of  the  closest  thought  of  the  agri- 
culturist. 

It  is  entirely  composed  of  chlorine 
and  soda,  known  by  chemists  as  chlo- 
ride of  sodium  ;  and  each  of  these  con- 
stituents is  found  to  be  wanted  in  most 
soils.  When  moderate  doses  of  salt, 
say  six  bushels  per  acre,  are  applied  as 
a  top  dressing,  it  will  be  carried  into  the 
soil  by  the  dews  of  one  or  two  days. — 
While  existing  as  salt,  it  destroys  a 
great  number  of  the  lesser  insects,  the 
ova  of  insects,  and  many  insects  that 
are  fully  grown,  all  those  of  an  albu- 
minous composition  are  destroyed  by  it. 
Mr.  Aaron  Kellgg,  of  Oswego,  who  i^ 
present,  states  that  one  barrel  of  salt 
per  acre  protects  his  corn  from  the  rav- 
ages of  the  wire  worm.  This  has  beea 
disputed  by  Mr.  Sanford  Howard,  of 
The  Boston  Cultivator,  but  from  the 
various  evidence  ofi"e>  ed  of  this  result  I 
am  inclined  to  think  that  Mr.  Howard 
refers  to  a  difierent  insect  from  that 
known  to  us  as  the  wire  worm. 

The  corn  and  melon  grub  [the  white 
grub  with  a  red  head]  is  entirely  done 
away  with  by  the  use  of  six  bu&hels  of 
salt  per  acre. 

I  apply  that  quantity  every  year  to 
every  acre  of  my  land,  and  since  adopt- 
ing this  practice  I  have  never  lost  a 
plant  by  grubs.  My  neighbors,  who  are 
afraid  to  try  salt,  continue  to  loss  theirs, 
and  are  compelled  to  buy  my  cabbage 
and  other  plants,  to  re-set  their  beds. 


292 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


When  the  salt  is  carried  into  the 
ground  it  undergoes  a  chemical  change, 
for  on  meeting  with  calcareous  matter, 
the  lime  seizes  hold  of  the  chlorine  of 
the  salt,  forming  chloride  of  lime,  the 
soda  of  the  salt,  being  thus  set  free, 
takes  carbonic  acid  from  the  atmosphere 
and  becomes  carbonate  of  soda,  thus 
furnishing  to  plants  chlorine  and  soda, 
two  of  their  most  valuable  constituents, 
and  this  too  after  having  performed  the 
various  useful  offices  to  which  I  have 
referred,  while  in  the  state  of  common 
salt,  aud  before  having  undergone  the 
chemical  changes  we  have  described. 

Small  quantities  of  salt  are  extremely 
useful  in  the  compost  heap,  for  while 
larger  quantities  will  preserve  vegetable 
and  animal  matter,  and  will  prevent  de- 
cay, smaller  doses  will  accelerate  the 
processes  of  decomposition. 

Salt  in  the  soil  assists  in  attracting 
and  retaining  moisture.  Bricks  accident- 
ally wetted  with  salt  water,  if  placed  in 
the  front  of  a  building,  will  remain 
raoist  for  many  months,  and  similar 
results  occur  with  the  soil. 

When,  common  salt  is  decomposed 
by  lime  (in  the  manner  I  h  ve  so  of  en 
described  in  the  '  Working  Farmer,') 
it  results  in  choride  of  lime  and  carbon- 
-ate  of  soda,  four  bushels  of  which  will 
decompose  a  cord  of  any  inert  organic 
matter,  swamp  muck,  river  deposit, 
ditch  mud,  leaves  and  even  saw  dust 
and  tan,  by  insuring  a  proper  degree  of 
moisture  to  be  present. 

During  the  reign  of  George  the  Third, 
the  farmers  of  England  used  common 
salt  as  a  manure,  at  more  than  ten 
times  the  cost  it  ean  be  procured  at  in 
this  country,  and  the  Salt  Tax  Quest- 
ion nearly  threw  the  country  into  a  re- 
volution. The  government  on  the  pray- 
er of  the  farmers,  was  compelled  not 
only  to  reduce  the  duty  but  every 
Turnpike  Gate  in  England,  is  now 
thrown  open  for  the  free  passage  with- 
out toll,  for  every  farmer's  cart  loaded 
with  salt  intended  to  be  used  as  man- 
ure, and  despite  these  truths,  there/use 
salt  of  our  packing  houses,  at   twelve 


and  a  half  cents  per  bushel,  was  without 
a  buyer  until  I  commenced  its  use  some 
few  years  since. 

If  part  of  a  pasture  field  be  top  dress- 
ed vi'ith  six  bushels  of  common  salt  per 
acre,  the  cattle  for  two  or  three  years 
afterwards,  will  graze  on  that  part  alone 
so  long  as  they  can  find  a  single  spire 
of  grass  ;  this  is  not  because  the  cattle 
are  fond  of  salt,  for  as  it  passed  beneath 
the  surface  and  was  changed  to  chloride 
and  soda,  but  because  these  constitu- 
ents made  the  grass  more  perfect  and 
the  instinct  of  the  animal  discovers  this 
fact. 

When  small  places  in  fields  are  over- 
grown with  foul  grasses,  weeds,  &c., 
and  we  add  so  large  a  quantity  of  salt 
as  to  entirely  destroy  vegetation,  we 
get  rid  of  the  weeds  and  render  the 
land  sterile,  but  for  a  single  season,  for 
the  next  year  such  portions  of  land  will 
be  found  to  be  more  fertile  than  those 
not  treated  with  salt. 

When  muck  or  other  cheap  organic 
matter  is  decomposed  by  the  salt  and 
lime  mixture  we  liave  referred  to,  it 
has  peculiar  properties  which  in  its  raw 
state,  it  did  not  possess.  As  a  dead- 
orizer  it  is  surpassed  only  by  charcoal. 
As  a  means  of  supplying  organic  food 
to  plants  it  is  unequalled.  Its  power  to 
retain  ammonia  and  other  gases  arising 
from  putrescent  manures  render  it  high- 
ly valuable.  In  the  compost  heap  it  is 
an  admirable  division,  capable  of  receiv- 
ing and  retaining  the  products  of  the 
decomposition  of  the  more  valuable 
portions  of  the  manure,  underlaying 
the  bedding  in  stables.  It  receives'  the 
fluid  excretia  of  animals,  keeping  the 
bedding  dry  and  itself  retaining  this 
fluid  manure,  more  valuable  than  the 
solid  excretia. 

The  gases  given  off  from  the  bodies 
of  animals  are  absorbed  by  it,  and  rend- 
ered innoxious,  indeed  a  stable  thus 
prepared  is  inodorous  and  a  much  less 
amount  of  food,  in  such  a  stable,  will 
maintain  cattle  in  perfect  health.  Of 
this  decomposed  muck  eighteen  parts, 
by  measure,  which  may  be  mixed  with 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


293 


each  part  of  solid  excretia,  taken  from 
oft'  the  bedding  each  morning.  The 
muck  underlaying  the  bedding  should 
be  removed  to  the  manure  sheds  once 
in  ten  days,  and  its  quantity  should  be 
equal  to  that  mixed  with  the  solid  ex- 
cretia. By  applying  new  quantities  of 
muck  each  ten  days  in  the  stable,  it 
will  be  seen  that  the  manure  heap  will 
be  thirty-six  times  as  large  as  that  ob- 
tained by  the  ordinary  barnyard  pract- 
ice, while  every  load  will  be  of  equal 
quality. 

By  sinking  a  hogshead  or  cistern  at 
the  lowest  point  of  the  compost  heap 
and  supplying  it  with  a  pump  ;  the 
fluid  drainage  of  the  heap  may  be  re- 
store to  its  top  each  day,  preventing 
firefanging  and  securing  an  equal  divis- 
iow  of  all  soluble  matters  throughout  the 
mass.  When  the  heap  refuses  to  sup- 
ply the  necessary  amount  of  fluid,  add 
water  until  its  saturation  secures  a  peri- 
odical return  of  the  necessary  quantity. 
Under  such  an  arrangement,  no  part  of 
the  ammonia  will  be  lost. 

The  heap  will  not  diminish  material- 
ly in  bulk  and  the  admixture  will  be 
more  perfect  than  by  an  hundred  fork- 
ings  over.  Into  this  sunken  cistern  may 
be  thrown  the  wash  of  the  house  and 
such  other  materials  as  the  soil  may 
prove  to  be  deficient  of  by  analysis. 

To  return  to  the  subject  of  salt.  It  is 
supposed  by  many  who  use  salt  hay 
and  salt  muck,  &c.,  on  their  farms,  that 
they  do  not  need  salt ;  this  is  a  mis- 
take, as  these  materials  only  contain  so 
much  salt  as  might  have  been  left  with 
the  last  tide  which  overspread  them, 
and  even  a  less  quantity,  if  afterwards 
subjected  to  dews  and  rains.  England 
is  surrounded  with  the  ocean,  and  small 
enough  almost  to  be  bespattered  by  its 
spray,  still  English  farmers  use  salt  on 
their  lands.  Our  salted  soils  are  im- 
mediately restored  by  slight  doses  of 
lime,  from  the  excess  of  salt.  Our  lime 
lands  are  materially  improved  by  top 
dressing  of  salt.  Salt  may  be  applied 
to  asparagus  beds  in  vjvy  large  quantit- 
ies.    Asparagus  is  a  marine  plant  and 


is  not  injured  by  excessive  doses  of  salt, 
while  the  killing  of  all  other  vegetation 
except  itself,  secures  cleanliness. 

Mr.  Gore. — Salt  is  efficient  in  killing 
the  blight  on  the  gooseberry. 

Professor  Ma^jes. — Open  the  bark, 
let  no  branches  be  closer  than  three  or 
four  inches  and  there  will  be  no  blight. 

Mr.  Seymour. — At  the  salt  works  of 
Salina  the  pan  scale  is  given  away  ;  an 
analysis  of  it  is  contained  in  our  State 
Geological  Survey. 

B.  L.  Pell. — The  subject  for  this 
morning's  debate,  is  the  growth  of 
plants,  their  physiology,  and  fertilizers. 
I  will  continue  from  the  point  where  we 
left  off"  at  the  last  meeting  of  the  club, 
and  premise  by  stating,  that  I  am 
mainly  indebted  to  the  scientific  Jas.  F. 
W.  Johnston  for  the  facts  I  may  state. 

The  chemical  changes  and  substances 
of  which  plants  consist,  formed  out  of 
those  on  which  they  live;  from  the  ger- 
mination of  the  seed  in  spring,  to  the 
ensuing  spring,  particularly  in  perennial 
plants,  may  be  divided  into  four  periods. 

1st.  From  the  sprouting  of  the  seed 
to  the  formation  of  root  and  leaf.  2d. 
From  the  expansioL  of  the  first  leaves 
to  the  period  of  the  flowering.  3d.  From 
the  opening  of  the  flower  to  the  ripen- 
ing of  the  fruit  and  seed.  4th.  From 
the  ripening  of  the  seed  or  fruit,  till  the 
fall  of  the  leaf  and  return  of  spring.  On 
the  ripening  of  the  fruit,  the  duties  of 
annual  plants  are  completed  and  they 
cease  to  exist,  decay,  and  are  converted 
into  fit  food  for  the  succeeding  genera- 
tion.    Not  so  with  perenijial  plants. 

Before  a  seed,  when  placed  in  the 
groiind,  can  possibly  sprout,  it  must 
come  in  contact  with  moisture,  which 
contains  properties  enabling  it  to  per- 
form important  offices  to  the  growing 
seed,  and  is  indispensably  necessary  to 
vegetable  existence,  it  possesses  a  pow- 
er of  rendering  matters  soluble,  a  won- 
derful affinity  for  solid  substances  and 
an  extraordinary  affinity  for  its  own  el- 
ements, which  it  combines  together.  It 
has  been  known  to  restore  life  to  snails 
that  have  been  dried  for  fourteen  years, 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


and  animacula,  twenty  six  years.  When 
rain  falls  it  absorbs  from  the  atmos- 
phere and  earth,  gaseous  and  other  sub- 
stances, and  carries  them  with  it  to  the 
roots  of  plants,  and  recently  sown  seeds, 
circulates  through  them,  and  thus  ad- 
ministers to  their  gi'owth  ;  without  mois- 
ture they  would  remain  an  indefinite 
length  of  time  in  the  soil  without  mo- 
tion. This  is  the  reason  why  in  our 
changeable  climate  it  is  dangerous  to 
soak  seeds  before  they  are  planted,  for 
if  moisture  does  not  immediately  come 
in  contact  with  them,  they  die.  I  am 
convinced  from  experiment,  that  im- 
mense advantage  will  accrue  to  a  grow- 
ino-  crop,  by  soaking  the  seeds  and 
sprinkling  upon  them  their  requisite 
food  in  the  form  of  powder,  but  still  it 
is  a  dangerous  experiment,  for  fear  a 
drowth  may  follow  ;  water  is  indispen- 
sable in  every  stage  of  their  growth. 
Atmospheric  warmth  is  likewise  neces- 
sary to  germination. 

The  degree  required  to  make  seeds 
o-row.  varies  with  the  nature  of  the  seed, 
and  the  climate  in  which  it  is  grown. 
In  Russia  and  Siberia,  they  will  spring 
out  of  the  ground  when  the  temperature 
ranges  above  the  freezing  point,  32°, 
but  in  our  climate  they  require  the 
warmth  of  spring.  Seeds  must  contain 
heat  within  themselves,  to  counteract 
the  surrounding  cool  air.  Atmospheric 
air  is  indispensable  to  their  growth,  as 
is  proved  when  a  farmer  buries  his  seeds 
below  its  influence,  he  finds  they  do  not 
come  up,  and  he  reaps  a  spare  crop  ; 
they  however  remain  unchanged  until 
perhaps  a  long  period  elapses,  and 
several  different  crops  have  been  taken 
off  when  by  accidental  deep  ploughing, 
they  are  brought  to  the  surface,  germi- 
nate, and  amaze  the  agriculturist,  by 
appearing  among  a  different  species,  for 
example,  rye  among  wheat,  barley  a- 
mong  oats,  &c.  I  was  particularly 
struck  with  this  power  of  germination 
possessed  by  seeas  last  year,  having  ta- 
ken out  muck  from  a  swamp  that  had 
been  for  centuries  more  or  less  covered 
by  water,  at  the  depth  of  many  feet, 


perfect  seeds  of  the  ^^ers/saj^'a  were 
found  in  large  quantities,  which  being 
thrown  upon  the  surface,  immediately 
grew,  and  formed  plants  of  great  luxu- 
riance. Light  is  prejudicial  to  seeds, 
consequently  the  necessity  of  coverino- 
them,  which  is  better  accomplished  by 
dibbling  than  by  harrowing. 

During  the  germination  of  seeds, 
acetic  acid  (vinegar)  and  diastase  are 
formed.  This  diastase  has  the  property 
of  changing  completely  starch  into  gum, 
and  then  into  sugar.  This  substance 
contains  niti'ogen,  an^  its  location  is  at 
the  base  of  the  germ  of  the  seed,  where 
it  transforms  the  starch  into  soluble 
matter,  ready  to  be  taken  up  by  the 
vessels,  and  conveyed  by  them  to  the 
point  of  growth  ;  immediately  after  per- 
forming this  indispensable  office,  its 
functions  cease,  and  it  enters  itseif  with 
the  nourishing  ingredients  into  the  cir- 
culation of  the  plant.  Without  the  aid 
of  this  wonderful  agent  seeds  cannot 
grow,  because  their  starch  is  insoluble 
in  water,  therefore  they  remain  buried 
in  the  earth,  defying  cold  and  wet,  until 
brought  under  the  influence  of  air,  heat, 
and  moisture,  when  diastase,  at  the  sig- 
nal of  the  g!rm,  makes  its  appearance 
and  produces  those  surprising  transfor- 
mations which  so  amaze  and  delight  us 
in  the  spring,  and  cause  our  thoughts 
to  rise  toward  the  heavens,  containing 
that  bountiful  God,  who  has  stored  in 
our  seeds  nourishment  in  so  imperisha- 
ble a  form  that  they  are  enabled,  for 
thousands  of  centuries,  to  be  dormant 
in  the  earth,  and  then  spring  into  exist- 
ence for  our  benefit. 

The  moment  a  leaf  is  formed,  the 
plant  enters  a  new  existence  ;  it  ceases 
to  obtain  nourishment  from  the  seed 
and  commences  to  draw  upon  the  soil 
and  atmosphere,  to  sustain  itself.  The 
stem  rises,  and  the  root  descends  into 
the  earth. 

The  leaf  takes  in  from  the  atmosphere 
a  certain  quantity  of  carbonic  acid  gas 
while  the  sun  shines,  leaves  the  carbon 
in  the  plant,  and  gives  off"  oxygen.  The 
starch  and  gum  of  plants  are  formed 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURIf  AL. 


296 


)y  the  union  of  carbonic  oxide  and  pro- 
)ortions  of  hydrogen  and  oxygen,  de- 
ived  from  the  water  of  the  sap.  Oxalic 
icid  is  found  in  the  leaves  and  stems  of 
nany  plants  ;  this  occurs  when  the  car- 
)onic  acid  loses  one  fourth  of  its  oxy- 
!;en.  Some  leaves,  rhubarb,  beech  trees, 
fee,  are  indebted  for  their  sourness  to 
)xalic  acid,  formed,  probably,  by  the 
lifferent  degrees  of  the  sun's  light. 
White  clover  and  sorrel  grow  contigu- 
ously, the  one  sweet  and  the  other  sour. 
[  have  a  plant  called  Portulacaria, 
ivhich  is  extremely  sour  in  the  morning, 
ivitbout  (aste  at  12  o'clock,  and  exces- 
sively bitter  in  the  evening,  caused  by 
the  degree  of  light.  When  the  flower 
Df  the  plant  opens  the  petals,  it  absorbs 
Dxygen  night  and  day,  and  gives  off 
carbonic  acid  gas  constantly,  at  the  same 
Lime,  the  leaves  of  the  flower  emit  ni- 
trogen gas.  The  sap  of  our  sugar  ma- 
ple tree  ceases  entirely  to  be  sweet  when 
its  flowers  come  to  maturity.  The  same 
thing  occurs  to  a  great  exteat,  when 
the  sugar  cane  blossom. 

The  husk  of  wheat  and  other  cereal 
grains,  is  first  filled  with  milk,  which 
becomes  sweet,  theui  consolidated  into 
starch  and  flour. 

The  fruit  in  which  the  seeds  of  many 
of  the  plants  are  formed  is  at  first  en- 
tirely  devoid  of  taste,  then   sour,  and 
finally  sweet.     There  are  exceptions,  of 
course,  particularly  in  those  which  pos- 
sess citric,  and  other  acids,  such  as  the 
lemon,  tamarland,  &c.     When  the  fruit 
is  tasteless,  it  consists  of  the  same  sub- 
stance contained  in   the  leaf,  namely, 
wood  of  fibre,  filled  with  an  insipid  sap, 
tinged  with  coloring  matter,   at  which 
time  it  absorbs  carbonic  acid,  and  yields 
oxygen    gas.      It   then    becomes    very 
sour,  and  gives  off  a  much  smaller  por- 
tion of  oxygen  gas.     After  reaching  a 
certain    stage,    the   acidity  diminishes, 
sugar  is  formed,  and  the  fruit  ripens. — 
Starch,  gum  and  sugar  consist  of  pre- 
cisely the  same  elements — oxygen,  hy- 
drogen and  carbon  united  in  the  same 
proportions.     Still  these  substances  are 
unlike  each  other  in  their  properties. 


Having    considered    the    chemical 
changes  of  plants,  I  will  trespass  but  a 
few  moments  longer,  to  notice  the  origin 
of  the  soil  upon  which  the  plants  grow. 
This  undoubtedly  is  produced   by   the 
slow    decay,  debris    and    crumbing   of 
rocks  that  in  course  of  time  have  been 
washed  by  the  rains  into  low  ground 
and  valleys,  which  they  have  filled  from 
a  few  inches  to  several   hundred  feet, 
and  as  all  the  stratified  rocks  consist  of 
three  kinds,  or  admixtures — limestones, 
sandstones,  and  clay,  so  the   earth  is 
formed  of  all  degrees  of  hardness.  The 
limestone  forms  a  calcareous  soil ;  the 
sandstone   a  sandy   soil;  the    stale,  a 
clay ;  and   a  mixture   of  the   debris  of 
these  rocks  forms  different  earthy  ingre- 
dients, or  soils  ;  some  of  these  rocks  are 
soft,  and  readily  crumble,  and  form  soil ; 
while  others,   containing  precisely  the 
kime  compounds,  break  very  slowl}'. — 
You  may  always  know  the  character  of 
such  rocks,  when  far  from  them,  by  the 
barrenness  of  the  contiguous  country. 
One  rock,  when  it  becomes  pulverized, 
will  form  a  stiff  and  tenacious  clay ;  an- 
other a  rich  and   easily   worked  loam ; 
and  the  third  a  sandy  soil  or  marl. — 
Many  rocks  contain   bones  and  shells, 
which  of  course  improve  the  soils  form- 
ed from  them.     If  you   are  geologist 
enough  to  know   the  character  of  the 
rock  abounding  in  a  particular  district, 
you  will  know  the  kind  of  soil  cultiva- 
ted in  that  section. 

A  few  days  since  1  was  invited  to  vis- 
it the  quartz  crusher  invented  by  Mr. 
Cochran,  of  this  city,  and  immediately 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  would  be 
a  valuable  acquisition  on  a  stony  farm, 
for  the  purpose  of  pulverizing  and  con- 
verting them  into  a  top  dressing  for  land 
thus  forming  a  virgin  soil.  Any  farmer 
who  has  power  on  his  place  could  pro- 
fitably use  it  for  that  purpose.  It  would 
be  particularly  useful  on  farms  near 
granite  formations.  Granite  contains 
felspar,  mica,  and  when  it  is  absent, 
hornblend  ;  when  felspar  is  wanting, 
albite;  felspar  is  composed  of  silicia,  al- 
I  umina,  potash  and  soda.     Mica,  of  sili- 


296 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


cia,  alumnai,  protoxide- of  iron,  mag- 
nesia, potash,  oxide  of  manganese,  and 
fluoric  acid,  from  blending  of  the  same 
in  different  proportions,  and  lime.  Al- 
bite  of  the  silioa  of  alumina,  combined 
with  silicate  of  soda.  Thi-=  machine  s 
capable  of  reducing  these  hard  sub- 
stances to  an  impalpable  powder,  and 
you  may  add  bones,  oyster  shells,  and 
plaster.  I  think  I  may  confidently  re- 
commend this  crusher  to  farmers  for  this 
purpose.  R-  L.  Pell. 

From  the  (N.  T.)  Working  Farmer. 
Atmosphere. 

The  atmosphere  is  the  most  extensive 
as  well  as  the  most  valuable  source  from 
which  organic  nature  receives  her  sup- 
plies ;  and  although  we   have   written 
much  on  this  subject,  continued  inqui- 
ries of  our  readers  lead  us  again  to  give 
a  synopsis  of  the  properties  of  the  at- 
mosphere, and  we  shall  endeavor  to  do 
so  in  a  didactic  manner,  so  as  to  enable 
them  clearly  to  understand  this  greatest 
of  all  sources  from  which  vegetables  re- 
ceive the  chief  part   of  their  constitu- 
ents.    All  of  the  vegetable  except  that 
which  would  form  its  ash,  when  burned, 
is  received   from   nature's  great  store- 
house,   the   atmosphere.      It    may    be 
veiwed  as  an   all   pervading  ocean,  be- 
ing the  source  of  much  physical  force, 
and   the   medium   of  nature's  greatest 
convulsions.     AVithout  it  the   volcano 
would  be  silent.     In  its  gyrations  ships 
are  tossed  about  like  play  things,  trees 
are  ui 'rooted,  oceans  forced   upon  the 
surface  of  continents,  and  nature's  face 
even    denuded    by    its   efforts.      The 
strength  of  the  strongest    materials  it 
sets  at  naught,  and  yet  the  balloon  and 
the  soap  bubble  find  their  harmless  way 
throuo-h  its  ether.     Man   and  animals 
are  continually  bathed  in   it,  the  vital 
air  of  their  existence  is  furnished  by  it, 
■while  the  exuviated  gas  of  their  bodies 
are  removed  by  it   to  give  room  for  a 
new  supply  of  health  from   this  mens- 
truuiTi.     The   very  decay  of  organized 
nature  is  dependent  upon  its  presence. 
When  under  velocity  of  action,  the 


weight  of  the  atmosphere  multiplied  by 
its  velocity,  defies  the  strongest  materi- 
al.    Even   the  lighthouse  of  Edystone 
by  the  combined  influence  of  winds  and 
wave  has  been  twice  demolished,  both 
effects  arising  entirely  from  the  move- 
ments  of    the    atmosphere;    and    the 
&,ame  wind   which  tears  the  strong  iron 
asunder,  may  waft  the  delightful   odor 
of  the  flower  and  convey  its  pollen  thou- 
sands of  miles.     It  is  the  vehicle  which 
equalizes  inequalities  of  temperature. — 
It  supplies   the  north   with    the  bahny 
warm  air  of  the  south,  mid  carries  the 
cooling   zephyr  to  the  fevered  brow  of 
the  invalid,  while  the  healthy  inhabi- 
tant of  the  north  is  invigorated  by  its 
means.     Without  the  atmosphere  the 
glories  of  the  sunrise  would  be  invisible 
— sol  himself  would  appear  like  a  red 
hot  ball,  and  his  rising  would  be  so  sud- 
den that  while  he  relieved  us  from  utter 
darkness,  he  would  overwhelm  us  with 
excessive   heat — without   its   action  as 
the  modifier  and  retainer  of  solar  heat, 
each  day    would    be   accompanied    bv 
drought.     The  excess  of  moisture  from 
one  part  of  the  earth's  surface  is  carried 
by  it  to  replace  its  want  in  anotlier. — 
Without  it,  flowers   would   lose    their 
dew,  and    winter   its  flaky  snows ;  the 
rain  could  never  fall,  all  things   would 
be  burned  up,  and  the  unity  of  nature's 
laws  would  be  destroyed.     Instead  of 
our  glorious   sunset,  the    departure   of 
the  source  of  light   past   our  horizon 
would  be  sudden,  leaving  us,  as  by  im- 
pulse, in  utter  darkness.     The   whole 
handicraft  of  the    husbandman   would 
be  set  at  naught,  and  like  the  surface  of 
the  moon,  our  beautiful  earth  would  be 
sterile,  and  still  with  all  these  facts  be- 
fore us,-  how   many   farmers    may  be 
found,  who  are  not  even  aware  that  the 
thousands  of  tons  weight  of  mateiial 
composing  their  products,  are  principal- 
ly derived  from  the  atmosphere. 

The  atmosphere  must  be  viewed  as 
composed  of  oxygen,  and  nitrogen,  and 
as  containing  carbonic  acid,  water  and 
ammonia.  The  two  former  of  these 
gases  we  have  frequently  described  and 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


29*7 


therefore  need  only  refer  to  them  here 
laconically. 

Oxygen  may  be  viewed  as  the  vital 
air*  it  is  the  most  important  of  the 
gases.  It  is  by  the  presence  of  this 
gas  that  all  the  acids  are  formed,  by  its 
combination  with  inorganic  materials 
all  the  substances  of  nature  necessary 
as  food  for  plants  are  so  acted  upon,  as 
to  render  them  soluble.  When  com- 
bined with  sulphur  it  forms  sulphuric 
acid,  when  with  phosphorus,  phosphor- 
ic acid.  The  bases  of  the  alkalies  by 
being  combined  with  oxygen,  become 
those  alkalies  so  necessary  as  constitu- 
ents of  plants,  thus  oxygen  when  com- 
bined with  the  metal  sodium  becomes 
soda,  with  calcium,  lime,  with  potassi 
um,  potash,  and  even  the  insoluble  sili- 
ca, (the  base  of  flint  and  of  common 
sand)  by  the  assistance  of  these  combi- 
nations with  oxygen,  is  rendered  solu- 
ble and  fitted  to  form  the  coating  of  the 
corn  stalk,  giving  strength  to  woody  ti- 
bre,and  enablingall  plants  requiringstiff- 
ness  of  structure  to  avail  themselves  of 
this  material.  No  conibustion  can  pro- 
ceed without  the  presence  of  oxygen  ;  to 
its  presence  is  due  the  whole  phenomena 
of  putrefaction  and  decay,  and  thus  the 
products  of  one  year  are  thrown  back 
into  nature's  great  laboratory,  by  the 
assistance  of  oxygen,  in  a  form  to  be 
again  appropriated  by  nature's  laws  for 
the  use  of  man. 

Too  small  a  supply  of  this  gas  would 
do  away  wit  i  animal  life,  while  too  large 
a  quantity  stimulates  to  excessive  action 
and  causes  death  by  apoplexy.  Neith- 
er animals  nor  plants  can  exist  in  pure 
oxygen  gas,  and  the  second  important 
component  of  the  atmosphere,  nitrogen, 
is  necessary  for  its  dilution. 

The  agricultural  chemist  need  not  re- 
fer the  form  of  nitrogenous  compounds 
to  any  action  of  the  atmosphere;  this 
quant-ty  probably  is  undisturbed,  mere- 
ly diluting,  the  oxygen  to  render  it  fit 
for  the  respiration  of  plants  and  animals. 
It  is  true,  slight  portions  of  nitric  acid 
are  formed  during  thunder  showers; 
this  formation  as  well  as   many  others 


attributed  to  atmospheric  influences  are 
of  disputed  origin. 

The  carbonic  acid  of  the  atmosphere 
which  composes  25-100  of  its  bulk,  is 
the  result  of  the  solution  of  carbon  in 
oxygen.  Every  vegetable  that  is  burn- 
ed, parts  wiih  its  carbon  to  be  dissolved 
in  the  oxygen  of  the  atmosphere,  and 
then  pervades  it  as  carbonic  acid ;  in- 
deed the  whole  result  of  decay,  wheth- 
er by  digestion  or  decomposition,  or  by 
any  other  process,  goes  to  throw  back 
into  the  atmosphere,  ready  lor  re-ap- 
propriation, a  majority  of  its  dry  weight. 
Even  by  our  breath,  large  quantities  of 
this  necessary  constituent  are  supplied. 
Many  of  the  alkahes  which  in  their 
caustic  state  could  not  be  used  as  food 
by  plants,  by  combining  with  carbonic 
acid,  become  suited  for  their  use ;  thus, 
the  caustic  potash  when  changed  to  a 
carbonate,  becomes  the  mild  pearl  ash, 
and  by  a  still  greater  quantity,  the  su- 
per-carbonate of  potash  known  as  sale- 
ratus. 

Ammonia  is  composed  of  hydrogen 
and  nitrogen,  and  in  this  form  pervades 
the  atmosphere.  It  is  largely  the  pro- 
duct of  animal  life  as  well  as  of  vegeta- 
ble decay.  In  vegetable  growth  it  not 
only  goes  to  form  a  portion  of  the  plant, 
by  the  solidification  of  its  nitrogen,  but 
it  is  the  stimulant  which  causes  plants 
to  appropriate  their  inorganic  constitu- 
ents or  ash-making  principle  from  the 
earth.  To  Liebig  we  are  indebted  for 
the  discovery  of  ammonia  in  the  atmos- 
phere, and  the  wisdom  of  nature's  laws 
is  no  where  more  beautifully  illustrated 
than  in  the  appropriation  of  ammonia. 
All  animal  decay  is  throwing  forth  its 
ammoniacal  vapors  into  the  atmospher- 
ic ocean,  while  vegetable  growth  re- 
ceives it  so  rapidly  as  to  keep  the  at- 
mosphere always  in  proper  balance  for 
the  use  of  man,  animals,  and  plants. — 
The  descending  rains  and  dews  bring 
the  ammonia  to  the  earth  and  carry  it 
to  the  roots  of  plants,  and  from  this 
fact  the  farmer  learns  that  the  more 
thoroughly  his  soil  is  disturbed,  the 
greater  will  be  the  opportunity  of  plants 


298 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


to  receive  ammonia  from  the  atmos- 
phere. 

All  natures  growths  depend  upon 
this  source  alone  for  their  nitrogen* 
But  farmers  i  ow  know  that  the  amount 
of  ammonia  in  the  soil,  to  act  as  the 
stimulant  of  plants,  may  be  increased 
with  profit  and  in  many  cases  soils  are 
so  replete  with  all  the  other  require- 
ments of  plants,  that  by  the  addition  of 
ammonia  alone  they  may  be  rendered 
highly  fertile.  Water  can  absorb  many 
times  its  bulk  of  ammoniacal  gas,  and 
when  it  comes  in  contact  in  the  soil 
with  either  clay  or  carbon,  this  ammo- 
nia is  absorbed,  robbed  from  the  water, 
and  retained  against  all  nature's  influ- 
ences, except  that  of  growing  plants, 
thus  while  these  two  materials  in  the 
soil  retain  the  necessary  amount  of  am- 
monia to  create  plants,  they  at  the  same 
time  assist  in  cleansing  the  atmosphere 
of  the  products  of  decay  rendering  it 
suitable  to  sustain  life.  Thus  it  will 
readily  be  understood  that  the  materi- 
als or  elements  of  which  both  plants  and 
animals  are  formed,  are  to  be  found  in 
the  atmosphere,  with  the  exception  on- 
ly of  the  small  portion  of  inorganic  ma- 
terials, which  are  supplied  from  the 
earth  itself  The  carbonic  acid  of  the 
atmosphere  enters  the  roots  of  plants  in 
solution  with  water,  and  in  passing  up 
through  them  deposits  its  carbon,  form- 
ing the  chief  part  of  the  dry  weight  of 
the  plants,  giving  off  its  ©xygen  again 
to  the  atmosphere  for  re-as<imilation  of 
new  quantities  of  carbon,  while  the  am- 
monia furnishes  the  stimulant  to  pro- 
duce this  and  other  appropriations,  en- 
abling nature's  laws  to  be  continuous 
in  their  round  of  action,  using  the  same 
amount  of  •lements  over  and  over 
again  through  all  time,  sometimes  pre- 
senting them  in  those  proximate  forms 
necessarj'  for  the  use  of  man,  and  at 
others  holding  them  in  the  atmospher- 
ic ocean  ready  to  honor  new  drafts. 

A  class  of  plants  known  as  air  phmts, 
will  grow  only  suspended  from  the  ceil- 
ing of  a  greenhouse,  and  in  contact 
with  the  atmosphere  alone  :  and  oven 


a  clover  crop  receives  so  large  a  portion 
of  iis  constituents  from  the  atmnsphei'e, 
that  when  plowed  under,  and  allowed 
to  decay  in  the  soil,  it  replenishes  the 
carbon,  increasing  the  quantity  of  soil, 
and  renders  it  capable  of  receiving  and 
retaining  ammonia. 

The  evaporation  of  water  from  all 
exposed  surfaces,  enables  the  atmos- 
phere to  deposit  this  valuable  element 
on  surfaces  colder  than  itself,  and  thus 
deeply  disintegrated  soils  admitting  the 
atmosphere  to  percolate  to  a  depth 
where  the  particles  of  soil  are  colder 
than  those  of  the  immediate  surface, 
can  never  sutler  from  drought.  The  sun 
v/armed  atmosphere  renders  the  cold 
soil  in  spring  capable  of  furnishing  the 
conditions  for  growth,  while  in  its  dila- 
ted form  during  the  heat  of  summer,  it 
robs  plants  of  their  excess  of  heat  by 
carrying  off  the  distended  vapors  whicu 
by  their  dilation,  take  the  heat  with 
them,  and  plants  are  thus  protected 
from  the  heat  of  the  sun.  The  atmos- 
phere at  the  level  of  the  ocean,  and 
consequently  on  lowlands,  bears  a  pres- 
sure of  15  lbs.  to  the  inch  consequent 
upon  the  weight  of  its  supperincumbent 
portions.  As  we  ascend  mountains  we 
find  the  surface  atmosphei,'e  having  a 
less'  weight  to  sustain,  it  being  more  di- 
lated, and  thus  its  capacity  for  render- 
ing present  heat  latent  is  increased, 
robbing  heat  from  surrounding  objec-ts, 
and  thus  creating  the  eternal  snow  of 
the  mountain  top;  for  strange  as  it  may 
seem,  the  same  weight  of  air  at  (ho 
mountain  top,  contains  more  heat  as  la- 
tent than  at  the  level  of  the  sea,  and 
thus  the  same  atmosphere  that  freezes 
the  clouds  at  the  peak  of  the  mountain, 
descending  into  the  valley  will  yield  up 
its  latent  heat  as  present  heat  rendering 
the  low  lands  verdant.  Even  the  ani- 
mals on  the  mountains  from  this  dilated 
state  of  the  atmosphere  have  larger  air 
vessels,  for  they  are  compelled  to  breathe 
a  greater  bulk  to  abstract  the  same 
amount  of  oxygen,  and  to  obtain  by  its 
compression  in  the  lungs,  that  ])ortiou 
of  animal  heat  due  to  this  source. 


THE  FARM'ER'S  JOURNAL. 


299 


Let  us  now  consider  some  of  the 
practieal  effects  of  the  atmosphere. 

It  is  now  known  tliat  underdrained 
soils  are  more  fertile  than  those  not  un- 
derdrained, nor  is  this  fact  confined  to 
wet  soils  alone,  for  the  very  hill  top  is 
rendered  more  fei'tile  by  bsing  under- 
drained.  When  both  e-nds  of  a  drain 
are  open  to  the  atmosphere,  it  will  be 
found,  that  a  current  will  continually 
pass  through  it,  entering  at  its  lowest 
end,  and  having  its  exit  at  the  upper. 
As  the  drain  permits  excess  of  moisture 
to  be  removed  from  the  soil,  spaces  are 
left  becween  tiie  particles  for  the  admis- 
sion of  air,  and  the  air  entering  the  drain 
being  warmer  than  the  soil  in  which 
it  is  located,  is  continually  supplying 
heat,  (which  always  rises  in  direct  lines) 
to  the  supernatent  soil,  and  it  is  for  this 
reason,  among  others,  that  underdrain- 
ed s:)ils  are  earliest  in  spring-. 

The  heavy  and  noxious  gases  of  the 
soil,  not  required  by  vegetable  growth 
are  got  rid  of  The  circulating  quanti- 
ties of  air  passing  through  these  drains, 
continuously  furnish  supplies  of  am- 
monia and  carbonic  acid,  and  whila 
the  whole  soil  from  the  drains  to 
the  surface  is  pervaded  by  changing 
quantities  *of  atmosphere,  moisture  is 
deposited  upon  every  particle,  securing 
crops  from  drought,  and  it  is  for  this 
reason  that  underdrained  and  sub-soiled 
lands  never  suffer  from  drought.  Even 
the  inorganic  constituent- of  the  soil  are 
supphed  by  this  full  amount  of  atmos- 
pheric air  with  all  the  conditions  to  ren- 
der them  soluble  and  ready  for  tlie  use 
of  plants,  nor  is  this  influence  confined 
to  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  drain 
itself,  foi  as  excess  moisture  is  removed 
for  many  feet  on  each  side,  the  atmos- 
phere takes  its  place,  and  this  supplies 
the  organic  portions  of  plants.  Under 
drained  and  sub-soiled  meadows  never 
run  out  because  the  roots  of  their  grasses 
never  come  in  contact  vi'ith  inorganic 
matter  imprepared  for  assimilation,  and 
hence  they  do  not  cease  to  tiller,  form- 
ing new  roots  and  new  shoots  to  supply 
those,  which  by  accidental  abras'on  may 


be  broken  at  the  surface. 

In  tlie  stable  as  in  the  field,  the  at- 
mosphere- performs  important  service. 
If  an  animal  be  encased  in  a  varnis''hed 
silken  bag  even  with  the  head  exposed 
to  breathe  the  atmosphere,  it  will  die 
in  a  few  hours.  The  gases  exuded  from 
»jhe  surface  of  the  body  will  not  be  got 
Vid  of,  thus  it  will  readily  be  seen  that 
in  a  badly  ventilated  stable,  animals 
cannot  remain  in  health,  and  while 
their  excretia  may  be  increased  in  val- 
ue, the  animal  itself  cannot  appropriate 
for  flesh  making,  milk,  fat,  &c.,  the 
constituents  of  its  food. 

For  more  full  information  on  the  sub- 
ject of  the  atmosphere  and  its  influences, 
we  would  refer  to  vol.  i.  pp.  7o  and 
181  ;  vol.  ii.  p.  133  ;  vol.  iv.  p.  199. 


From  the  People's  Journal. 
Amateur  Farmers. 

A  coteraporary  has  a  communication 
from  a  "Farmer,"  who  complains  that 
ministers,  lawyers,  jndges,  editors,  phy- 
sicians, and  people  of  all  professions  ex- 
cept farming,  are  usually  called  upon  to 
speak  at  agricultural  fairs.  "  Now,  Mr. 
Editor,"  says  this  farmer,  "  when  I  have 
my  horse  shod  I  employ  a  blacksmith  ; 
when  I  am  sick  I  employ  a  physician  ; 
and  when  I  need  legal  services  I  em- 
ploy a  lawyer.  That  these  gentlemen 
are  ignorant  of  the  subject  of  which 
they  speak,  I  do  not  presume,  but  that 
they  are  the  ones  to  carry  on  an  agri- 
cultural society,  and  to  do  its  talking,  I 
do  not  believe.  The  next  time  you  have 
occasion  to  publish  the  proceedings  of 
this  society,  I  trust  you  will  be  able  to 
give  us  a  sketch  of  a  speech  from  a  iiian 
who  is  practical  instead  of  theoretical  ; 
one  whose  hands  are  embrowned  ;  not 
fVoin  one  who  weeds  his  garden  in 
gloves,  and  silk  ones  at  that." 

The  Journal  of  Agriculture,  in  reply 
to  this,  very  sensibly  remarks  : — "  The 
old-fashioned  farmer  conceives  that  no 
one  knows  anything  about  farming  but 
himself.  He  forgets  that  the  'judge' 
may  have  been  a  farmer's  son,  that  the 
'  physician'  may  have  toiled  weary  years 


300 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


at  the  plough  before  he  handled  the 
scalpel,  and  that  the  'parson'  may  'eke 
out  a  scanty  subsistence'  by  farming  his 
glebe. 

"But  apart  and  beyond  this;  if  our 
indignant  friend  will  look  over  the  agri- 
cultural and  horticultural  fairs,  he  will 
find  that  some  of  the  finest  fruits,  ve- 
getables, and  specimens  of  grains,  are 
exhibited  by  professional  men.  Indeed 
it  is  notorious  that  many  of  our  best 
horticulturists  are  physicians,  who  car- 
ry the  habits  of  investigation  and  of 
watchful  care  fastened  on  them  by  the 
requirements  of  their  profession,  into 
the  fruit  garden  and  greenhouse  Some 
of  our  most  successful  gardeners  are 
clergymen  ;  their  hours  of  relaxation 
from  the  toils  of  the  study  are  spent  in 
the  vegetable  garden  ;  their  garden-life 
is  a  practical  allegory  of  their  pastoral 
life." 

A  lawyer  usually  buys  a  farm — no- 
thing less — and  does  business  on  a  grand 
scale.  He  purchases  or  imports  the  best 
cattle  and  cows  that  are  to  be  found, 
he  introduces  tlie  newest  patterns  of 
labor-saving  farm  implements,  he  fan- 
cies the  trees  of  the  forest,  and  dots  his 
lawn  with  the  clumps  of  the  elm,  the 
hickory,  and  the  maple.  He  rarely 
increases  his  fortune  by  farming.  A 
man  who  has  spent  his  life  in  protect- 
ing the  interests  of  others,  is  seldom 
successful  in  guarding  his  own.  The 
neighbors  borrow  his  tools  and  return 
them  broken,  they  cheat  him  in  horse 
trades,  they  manage  to  take  some  of  his 
best  cows  ofl'  his  hands  every  year,  and 
in  fact  make  of  him  a  general  conve- 
nience. But  even  this  amateur  farmer 
has  done  great  good  ;  he  has  introduced 
a  knowledge  of  existing  improvements, 
he  has  created  a  taste  for  good  stock, 
and  improved  the  breeds  of  cattle, 
sheep,  or  swine  for  a  circuit  of  ten  miles 
or  more,  so  that  many  a  premium  calf 
is  cracked  up  as  being  from  Squire  Cog- 
novit's bull.  There  are  many  lawyers, 
however,  my  wrathy  friend,  a  sight  of 
whose  farms  would  make  you  blush  f  r 
your  own.     In  your  own    State,  is  one 


whom  we  are  proud  to  call  our  friend* 
(we  wish  we  could  add  "  and  occasion- 
al correspondent,")  Henry  F.  French, 
of  Exeter,  N.  H. ;  and  there  are  scores, 
more—hundreds  whom  we  do  not  know. 

The  yearnings  of  every  man's  heart 
is  for  a  farmer's  life ;  a  cottage  em- 
bowered in  trees,  barns  bursting  with 
crops  planted  and  reaped  with  his  own 
hfind,  lowing  kine  loitering  in  the  shade, 
busy  families  of  fowls  "  making  the  air 
vocal,"  the  midday  nap  on  the  grass, 
"  the  old  oaken  bucket,  the  iron  bound 
bucket  that  hangs  in  the  well,''  to 
quench  the  thirst  born  of  toil,  and  "tir- 
ed Nature's  sweet  restorer,  balmy  sleep," 
that  obediently  visits  his  pillow  at  the 
first  call.  This  is  the  cheering  prospect, 
seen  through  the  vista  of  long  years 
of  cooped-up  discomfort,  by  the  busy 
citizen.  And  when  the  long-sought 
object  of  their  heart's  desire  is  attained, 
they  shame  the  heme-bred  farmer  by 
their  earnest  efforts  at  improvement, 
and  their  out-gushing  gratitude  to  God 
who  "  made  the  country." 

In  Ireland  there  is  at  this  moment  a 
man,  (and  he  is  an  amateur  farmer,) 
who  enjoys  to  a  remarkable  degree  the 
esteem  and  honor  of  his  good  works. 
We  allude  to  Mr.  Dargan,  to  whose  sa- 
gacity and  liberality  the  city  of  Dublin 
is  indebted  for  the  existence  of  the  mag- 
nificent Crystal  Palace  and  great  exhi- 
bition, which  is  now  attracting  thither, 
thousands  of  visitors  daily,  from  all 
parts  of  Europe.  The  London  Mechan- 
ic's Jonrnal  says: 

Mr.  Dargan  has  amassed  a  splendid 
fortune,  and,  along  with  it,  an  undying 
name  for  probity  and  professional  skill. 
He  is  an  agriculturist  of  some  preten- 
tions, and  sujiports  the  character  suc- 
cessfully at  the  vaiious  exhibition  meet- 
ings of  the  country.  He  is  a  flax- 
grower,  and  has  expended  a  lavge  a- 
mount  of  capital  in  establishments  for 
the  mantifacture,  and  Merion  Square 
contains  some  brilliant  samples  of  what 
he  has  lent  his  aid  to  produce  fiom 
the  beei  root.  He  is  a  converter  of 
peat  bog,  and  his  operations  may  soon 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


301 


be  expected  to  tell  upon  the  face  of 
what  have  hitherto  been  Ireland's  most 
neglected  spots.  Well  does  be  de- 
serve the  highest  regards  of  us  all,  and 
well  may  every  visitor  to  the  Exhibition 
look,  with  admiring  approval,  upon  the 
statue  of  its  founder. 


From  an  article  in  the  Patent  Office 
Report  of  1852,  by  C.  F.  McCay,  we 
learn  that  the  average   annual    cotton 
crop  of  the  United  States  is  estimated 
at    3,000,000    bales    of  400  lbs.  each, 
1,200,000,000  lbs.    In  1821  the  export 
of  Aiiu'rican  cotton  was  only  124,893,- 
000  lbs.,  it  has  increased  to  1,000,000,- 
000.  These  figures  show  a  vast  increase 
in    thirty   years,  and  the  demand  has 
been   equal,  'f  not  greater  than   could 
be  supplied.    From  this,  the  legitimate 
inference  may  be  drawn  that  the  pro- 
duction  of  cotton   goods  will   increase 
much    faster   than    the    population    of 
nations,  and  that  during  the  next  thirty 
years,  the  increase  of  raw  cotton   will 
be  as  great  in  proportion  as  it  has  been 
during  the  past.     Dr.  Lee  thinks  that 
we  have  land  and  climate  for  the  pro 
duction  of  9,000,000  bales  annually.— 
Allowing  200  lbs.   to  the  acre,  it  will 
only  require  18,000,000  acres  to  pro- 
duce this  amount.     The  four  States  of 
Georgia,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  and  Tex- 
as, contain  four  times  that  number  of 
acres  of  choice  cotton  lands.  It  may  be, 
however — as  most  of  tiur  cotton  is  ex- 
ported— that  those  countries  which  buy 
of  us,  will  devote  more  attention  to  the 
raising  of  this  material  to  supply  them- 
selves.    England  is  endeavoring  to  do 
80,  and  by  recent  news  from  France,  ef- 
forts of  the  same  kind  are  being  made 
by  that  country. 

Cultivation  of  Cotton  in  Algeria. 
— Two  decrees  have  recently  been  pub 
lished  in  Paris  for  the  encouragement 
of  cotton  culture  in  Algeria,  where 
many  successful  experiments — it  is  said 
—have  already  been  made.  By  these 
lecrees  it  is  declared,  1st,  that  cotton 
jd  shall  continue  to  be  furnished  by 
N^overnment  to  colonists.    2nd,  that 


¥ 


for  three  years,  from  1854,  the  govern- 
ment shall  purchase  the  cotton  product 
at  a  price  to  be  fixed  each  year  accord- 
ing to  the  qualit}.  3rd,  that  at  the  ex- 
piration of  those  three  years,  premiums 
shall  be  given  for  two  years  for  the  ex- 
portation of  the  cotton  of  Algeria.  4th, 
premiums  shall  be  given  for  the  introd- 
uction of  machines  for  the  use  of  plant- 
ers. 5th,  there  shall  be  provincial  pre- 
miums— three  for  each  province — of 
5,000,  of  3,500,  and  2,000  francs,  to 
the  planters  who  produce  the  best 
quality  of  crops  and  the  largest  quantit- 
ies. A  sum  of  100,000  francs  has  been 
appropriated  from  the  civil  list  for  the 
encouragement  of  the  cotton  cultivation 
in  Algeria,  to  form  an  annual  premium 
of  10,000  francs,  to  be  called  "The 
Priz3  of  the  Emperor.''  It  is  confident- 
ly expected  by  the  French,  that  in  a 
very  few  years  Algeria  will  supply  as 
much  cotton  as  will  render  France  in- 
dependent of  the  United  States.  We 
have  also  seen  statements  in  some  of 
our  foreign  exchanges  to  the  efi'ect  that 
cotton  has  been  raised  in  Algeria,  equal 
in  staple  to  the  best  American  Sea  Is- 
land. These  statements,  however,  must 
be  received  with  great  caution.  We 
have  endeavored  in  vain  to  obtain  the 
statistics  of  the  amount  of  cotton  con- 
sumed by  France  annually,  but  the 
quantity  cannot  be  small. 

We  speak  in  reference  to  that  obtain- 
ed from  America,  and  all  other  coun- 
tries, for  we  know  that  in  1853  302,000 
bales  of  American  cotton  were  imported 
into  Harve. 

East  India  Cotton. — For  many 
years  Great  Britain  has  endeavored  to 
obtain  a  greater  supply  of  cotton  from 
her  vast  possessions  in  the  East  Indies. 
Some  American  planters  have  been  era- 
ployed  for  years  by  the  East  India 
Company  to  teach  the  natives.  Ameri- 
can machines  have  been  used  to  clean 
the  cotton,  and  every  appliance  to  con- 
duct the  culture  properly  have  been 
employed,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  re- 
Heve  the  Manchester  manufacturers  from 
dependence  on  America.  In  1850,  when 


30^ 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


ihe  price  of  cotton  ^se  to  11  cents  per, 
lb.,  from  Y  aents  in  1849,  owing  to  our 
short  crop,  much  effort  was  made  by 
the  Manchester  Chamber  of  Commerce 
t©  organize  measures  for  the  future  cul- 
tivation of  cotton  in  British  provinces, 
so  as  to  reheve  them  fiora  depending 
on  the  United  St-ates.  A  very  hxrge 
nieeting  of  this  body  was  held  in  Man- 
chester on  the  9th  of  September,  which 
was  attended  by  delegfations  from  Glas- 
gow and  Preston,  the  two  cities  which, 
next  to  Manchester,  manufacture  the 
greatest  amount  of  cotton  goods.  They 
engaged  Alexander  McKay,  the  author 
of  book  named  the  "  AVestern  World^*' 
— which  is  well-known  to  ourpeuplel 
as  being  an  account  of  the  author's 
experience  in  America — to  go'  to  the 
over  again,  that  no  confidence  can  be 
placed  in  the  natives  of  that  country  in 
either  cleaning  or  packing  their  cotton, 
but  the  great  drawback  to  its  success 
hitherto  has  been  the  small  amount 
which  has  been  raised  to  the  acre. 
East  Indies  and  report  on  the  obstacles 
existing  there  to  the  success  of  the 
cotton  culture,  and  the  best  means 
of  removing  them.  He  went  to  that 
country  in  1851,  but  died  before  he 
completed  his  task — a  work  for  which 
he  was  eminently  qualified.  In  1851, 
329,000  bales  of  East  India  cotton  were 
exported  to  England  during  the  high 
prices,  but  this  amount  fell  off  to  200,- 
000  in  1852  at  moderate  prices,  so 
there  appears  to  be  very  little  hope  of 
obtaining  anything  like  an  adequate 
supply  from  that  quarter  of  the  world. 
In  fact,  it  has  been  asserted  over  and 
Down  day,  the  present  to  the  average 
production  on  the  experimental  farms 
recently  established  by  the  East  India 
Company  under  American  planters  in 
Upper  Bengal,  was  only  25  1-2  lbs  per 
acre,  the  maximum  being  57  lbs.  over 
nine  acres,  the  minimum  11  1-4  lbs. 
over  219  acres.  In  Madras,  four  similar 
farms  yielded,  in  1842-3,  an  average  of 
41  lbs.  per  acre,  and  the  most  sanguine 
witnesses  examined  before  the  House  of 
Commons    only    estimated    the   native 


seed  t©  yield  from  60  to  70  lbs.  of  clean 
cotton,  and  the  best  seed  at  90  lbs.  per 
acre,  the  land  even  in  this  case  being 
made  to  bear  such  a  crop  in  a  rotation 
of  only  every  third  year. 

British  Guiana  Cotton. — At  one 
period,  this  portion  of  the  world  raised 
considerable  cotton.  In  1803,  when  it 
was  captured  from  Holland,  it  was  a 
cotton  growing  countrj%  and  produced 
very  superior  qualities ;  the  two  provin- 
ces of  Deraerara  and  Essequibo  export- 
ed 46,435  bales  that  year.  For  two 
hundred  miles  between  the  rivers 
Pomeroon  and  Courantyne,  on  the  sea 
coast  of  Berbice,  it  was  laid  out  at  one 
'time  solely  with  cotton  plantations,  but 
since  1815  its  culture  has  continually 
decreased,  and  at  the  present  moment 
we  believe  not  a  single  pound  of  it  is 
exported  from  that  quarter.  The  export 
virtually  ceased  in  1841.  In  1832,  the 
year  preceding  the  act  of  emancipation, 
1,533,785  lbs.  were  exported.  In  a  dis- 
patch from  Governor  Barkly,  to  Earl 
Gray,  dated  Apri  13,  1850,  he  says,  "at 
the  present  date,  in  all  this  vast  territ- 
ory, it  would  not  be  easyto  find  a  cotton 
shrub  within  its  entire  limits." 

Why  the  planters  of  British  Guiana, 
from  furnishing  one-third  of  the  cotton 
consumed  in  Great  Britain  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  century,  were  induced 
gradually  to  abandon  the  culture  of 
tliat  article,  is  a  question  deser.ing  of 
serious  investigation. 

That  it  was  not  inferiority  in  the  soil, 
or  in  the  quality  of  cotton  jiroduced,  is 
certain.  Cotton  was  here  a  perennial, 
not  as  in  India  or  the  United  States, 
an  annual  plant,  and  the  system  offorc- 
ing  it  into  blossom  by  sea-water  irrig- 
atior'  was,  as  far  as  I  know,  peculiar  to 
this  colony,  and  productive  of  the  great- 
est advance.  Tlie  species  of  cotton,  too, 
was  what  is  called  the  '  long  staple,' 
and  the  quality  so  superior,  :s  still  to 
be  quoted  in  the  price-currents  next  in 
order  to  the  famous  '  Sea  Island"  varie- 
ty." 

The    re.asons    of  the  failure  of  co' 
growing   in  that  country,  he  attr' 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


303 


to  bad  cultivation,  for  while  in  1800 
the  land  yielded  300  lbs.  to  the  acre, 
it  dwindled  down  to  150  lbs.  in  ten 
years.  The  once  flourishing  cotton  fields 
of  British  Guiana  have  been  converted 
into  sugar  plantations. 

West  India  Cotton. — In  1850  con- 
siderable attention  was  also  directed  to 
the  West  Indies,  in  order  to  see  if  cotton 
could  not  be  successfully  cultivated 
there.  A  large  meeting  of  planters  was 
held  on  the  25th  of  September  that 
year,  at  the  Jamaica  Bank,  in  Kingston, 
for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  company 
to  test  the  cultivation  of  cotton  on  a 
large  scale,  in  Jamaica.  A  committee 
was  appointed  to  report  on  the  subject, 
which  report  is  now  before  us  ;  it  pre- 
sents not  the  least  shadow  for  any  hope 
whatever  being  entertained  of  the  suc- 
cessful cultivation  of  cotton  in  that  Is- 
land ;  it  presents  only  a  sad  picture  of 
the  state  of  that  Island. 

Of  Egyptian  and  Brazilian  cotton, 
England  imported  245,000  bales  in 
1852,  so  that  it  is  very  evident  tSatthe 
sole  and  only  country  on  whichthe  cot- 
ton manufacturers  of  England  can  rely 
for  their  supply  of  cotton,  is  the  United 
States.  At  present,  middling  cotton  is 
selling  at  New  Orleans,  for  9  1-2  cents 
per  lb.,  taking  the  crop  for  1853  at 
3,100,000  bales  of  400  lbs.  each  ;  the 
value  of  this  is  $11 7,800,000.  Of  this 
703,000  bales  are  set  down  in  the  Pa- 
tent Office  Report  as  the  home  con- 
sumption, which  at  the  above  price — 
taking  that  as  an  average — amounts  to 
$26,714,000,  leaving  $91,086,000  as 
the  sum  paid  by  foreigners  for  this  A- 
merican  staple.  Instead  of  other  cotton 
growing  countries  ii;creasing  their  sup- 
plies, they  are  falling  off,  and  some 
countries,  especially  British  Guiana,  ap- 
pears to  have  been  swallowed  up  in  this 
cotton  contest.  When  cotton  was  40 
cents  per  pound  in  1817,  Berbice  was  a 
jotton    growing  country,  but  when  the 

{ice  came  to  be  reduced  in  1821  to  19 

\ts,  it  ceased  to.  be  a  cotton    growing 

\^try.  More  than  one  cause  has  con- 

^d  to  this  result,  but  the  principal 


'">ne  is  the  spirit  which  has  always  been 
exhibited  by  American  planters  in  en- 
couraging and  applying  improving 
machinery  connected  with  its  cultiv- 
ation and  in  the  cleaning  and  packing 
of  it  for  market;  also  the  care  mani- 
fested in  attending  to  the  proper  man- 
agement of  the  soil  and  the  choice  of 
seeds,  whereby  the  quantity  raised  to 
the  acre  has  been,  and  is  no  more  than 
sixteen  times  the  amount  raised  in  the 
East  Indies. 


Kicking  Horses. — It  occurred  to 
me  that  a  receipt  published  in  your 
paper  for  the  cure  of  kicking  horses  . 
might  be  of  much  service  to  persons 
afflicted  with  such  dangerous  animals. 
The  operation  for  cure  to  be  commenc- 
ed as  follows,  to  wit  :  Put  on  a  head- 
stall or  bridle,  with  twisted  W,  or 
twisted  straight  bitts  in  the  mouth  of 
the  horse  to  be  cured  ;  then  put  on  a 
common  back  saddle,  with  thill  lugs,  or 
any  strap  or  girth,  with  loops  on  either 
side  of  the  horse,  is  equally  good  ;  then 
buckle  a  pair  of  long  reins,  open  in  the 
middle,  into  the  bitts,  and  pass  them 
through  the  thill  lugs  or  loops  ;  one  to 
each  hind  leg,  above  the  fetlock  joint 
there  make  each  rein  fast  to  the  leg,  al- 
lowing sufficient  length  of  rein  for  your 
horse  to  walk  or  trot,  as  the  operator 
may  think  proper.  Every  thing  com- 
plete, you  will  have  the  animal  com- 
mence the  operation  of  kicking;  the 
first  will  be  a  smart  kick,  the  second 
lighter,  and  so  on  till  your  horse  can- 
not be  made  to  kick  any  more.  By 
the  above  method  many  now  worthless 
horses  may  be  made  valuable. — Maine 
Farmer. 


The  Indigo  plant  thrives  well  at 
the  Sandwich  Islands,  in  all  moist 
situations  and  grows  spontaneously 
wherever  it  once  gets  rooted.  In  fact, 
from  a  single  plant,  it  spread  rapidly, 
covering  'n  a  few  years,  many  con- 
tiguous acres,  and  rooting  out  every- 
thing else,  even  the  thick  sod  of  a 
heavy  sward. 


^04 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 

RALEIGH,  N.  C,  JAN.,  1854. 


The  Anson  Co.  Fair. 

We  had  the  extreme  pleasure  of  be- 
ing present  at  the  First  Agricultural 
Fair,  held  in  Anson  County  under  the 
patronage  of  the  Agricultural  Society 
of  that  county.  In  July  we  had  the 
pleasure  to  form  or  establish  this  insti. 
tution,  and  we  remarked  at  the  time, 
that  we  had  great  hope  of  its  early  suc- 
cess— and  this  fair  has  proved  our  con- 
jectures to  be  true.  There  were  pre- 
sent a  large  number  of  persons  from 
Anson,  and  the  adjoining  counties. — 
The  ladies  were  there  in  crowds,  lend, 
ing  their  smiles  as  well  as  many  very 
elegant  specimens  of  their  own  produc- 
tion, both  of  which  contributed  much 
to  the  success  of  the  Fair.  We  saw 
many  excellent  specimens  in  the  house- 
ho/ld  arts  ;  but  those  Avhich  most 
attracted  our  attention  were  the  nice 
butter  and  jelly  made  by  Mrs.  E.  C. 
Lill}^,  of  Wadesboro,  and  the  fine  ham 
exhibited  by  Major  Richardson,  the 
worthy  President  of  the  Society,  which 
was  well  cooked  ready  for  eating.  The 
show  of  stock,  as  may  be  expected,  was 
nof^ood,  but  then  the  good  tendency 
which  this  exhibition  will  have  upon 
the  improvement  of  the  stock  of  the 
county,  cannot  be  denied.  We  saw  a 
fine  horse  exhibited  by  S.  A.  McLendon, 
Esq.,  and  some  fine  pigs  by  Mr.  Sigman, 
of  Wadesboro.  This  is  only  a  mina- 
ture  form  of  what  the  next  Fair  in  An- 
son will  be,  especially  when  it  is  recol- 
lected that  they  held  one  so  soon  after 
the  formation  of  their  Agricultural  So- 
ciety. Here  is  an  instance  at  once  of, 
the  influence  of  ourself  and  the  "  Far- 


mer's Journal,"  which  has  a  large  cir' 
culation  in  that  county,  which  we  hope 
will  be  greatly  increased  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  next  volume.  Those  gen- 
tlemen who  immediately  interested 
themselves  in  getting  up  this  Fair  were, 
we  learned,  J.  R.  Hargrove,  S.  A.  Mc- 
Lendon, E.  C.  Lilly,  F.  M.  Paul,  and 
Major  Richardson,  and  some  few  others 
whose  names  we  do  not  recollect.  We 
say,  let  every  county  in  the  State  have 
a  county  Fair,  just  before  the  State 
Fair  next  Fall :  and  in  every  instance 
we  advise  the  having  of  an  address  from 
some  farmer  if  one  can  be  had,  who 
will  agree  to  do  it,  and  if  not,  call  upon 
the  member  of  the  Legislature  elect, who 
is  generally  apt  to  be  a  lawyer,  and 
they  are  talking  men,  and  will  be  ready 
to  comply  with  such  a  request,  for  have 
out  that  Fairs  are  becoming  popular  in 
North  Carolina,  and  they  are  boimd, 
as  politicians,  to  consult  the  populal' 
will. 


Mr.  Dancy's  Letter. 

We  take  the  privilege  of  making 
public  a  letter  received  from  Mr.  Dan- 
cy,  the  former  President  of  the  State 
Agricultural  Society  of  North  Carolina. 
This  letter  was,  when  written,  only  in- 
tended for  our  own  eye  :  but  if  it  will, 
in  any  way,  be  of  service  to  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  cause  we  are  advo- 
vating,  we  are  sure  of  pardon  from  its 
author  for  this  exposition  of  it.  He 
truly  remarks  that  such  a  state  of  things 
cannot  be  altered  until  there  is  aroused 
a  proper  spirit  of  State  pride  among 
our  people.  We  ask  with  him  hoyr 
long  shall  it  be  the  case  that  the  fann- 
ers of  our  State,  will  sustain  agricu'tu-y 
ral  papers  published  in  other  States 
when  the  one  at  home  is  appealing 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


305 


them  for  support.  Surely  North  Caro- 
lina will  not  always  be  trampled  under 
foot,  and  those  of  her  sons  who  make 
an '  effort  to  advance  her  interest,  be 
frowned  down. 


Sheep  Husbandry. 

"We  lay  before  our_  readers,  in  this 
nunTber,  a  Correspondence  between  that 
veteran  in  Agricultural  Science,  J.  S. 
Skinner,  and  Hon.  F.  L.  Clingman,  of 
this  State,  which  will  be  read  with  in- 
terest by  all  who  see  it.  We  have 
been  often  struck  with  astonishment  at 
the  little  disposition  evanced  by  the 
people  in  Western  Carolina,  to  enter 
largely  into  stock  raising,  and  especial- 
ly sheep  husbandry.  There  is  no  branch 
of  agriculture  which  wid,  in  a  short 
time,  pay  better  than  stock  raising  in 
the  western  part  of  our  State.  And 
there  is  no  better  evidence  of  the  truth 
of  what  we  say,  than  our  estimate  of  the 
large  amount  of  money  paid  by  our 
people  to  those  of  other  States  for  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  stock,  annually. 


Our  Female  Correspondent, 

Welcome  to  oiir  columns  our  first 
female  correspondent,  and  surely  we 
shall  no  longer  be  deprived  of  contri- 
butions from  our  farmers ;  for  when 
women  take  hold  of  any  enterprise,  it 
is  bound  to  succeed,  and  we  hope  that 
the  gentle  hints  thrown  out  by  our  cor- 
respondent, in  relation  to  the  cultiva- 
tion of  garden  vegetables  and  flowers 
will  be  caught  by  the  ladies  of  our 
good  old  State.  The  bed  of  radishes 
to  which  the  charcoal  was  applied,  it 
will  be  seen,  was  most  luxuriant,  for 
the  simple  reason,  that  charcoal  is  car- 
bon, which  besides  furnishing  the  plant 
■with  food  in  itself,  brings  or  collects 


other  organic  elements  from  the  air,  so 
necessary  to  its  growth.  With  such  a 
contribution  for  a  beginning,  may  we 
not,  in  future  hope  to  be  favored  with 
frequent  articles  from  the  pens  of  the 
fair  daughters  of  the  old  North  State, 
to  fill  up  the  horticultural  department 
in  our  "Journal." 


We  take  great  pleasure  in  answering 
the  questions  asked  by  our  correspond- 
ent who  signs  himself  "One  of  your 
Patrons."  We  state  here,  as  we  have 
frequently  done  before,  that  we  shall 
ever  take  pleasure  in  giving,  through, 
the  columns  of  our  paper,  any  informa- 
tion which  may  be  of  general  interest 
to  our  readers ;  but  if  we  are  consulted 
in  relation  to  the  management  of  any 
particular  farm,  we  must  receive  a  fee 
for  such  advice  as  we  may  give,  which 
charge  will  be  according  to  the  labor 
required.  That  the  boiling  of  food  for 
hogs  will,  we  are  sure,  pay,  for  practi- 
cal experiment  frequently  made,  has  de- 
monstrated the  fact.  The  cooking  of 
corn  or  other  food  must,  of  course,  ren- 
der it  more  easily  digestible,  by  which 
means  the  hog  derives  more  nourish- 
ment from  a  certain  quantity,  than  he 
otherwise  would  do  :  hence,  the  lesser 
amount  is  required  for  his  keeping, 
when  given  to  him  in  a  cooked  state. 
That  a  hog  will  thrive  faster  in  a  close 
pen,  than  when  suffered  to  run  at  large 
in  a  lot,  seems,  too,  to  be  reasonable, 
and  has  also  been  demonstrated  to  be 
true  by  actual  experiment.  The  smal- 
ler the  space  in  which  the  animal  is 
confined,  the  less  exercise  he  can  take, 
Avhich  does  not  make  such  a  demand 
upon  the  food  consumed  to  sustain  the 
]abor  incurred  in  rooting,  as  would  be 
the  case  if  he  were  allowed  to  go  at 


306 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


large  in  a  lot.  But  liere  let  us  remark 
that  tlie  reason  why  many  farmers  do 
not  succeed  so  well  with  hogs  closely 
confined  is,  that  they  neglect  to  throw 
into  their  pens,  frequently,  such  things 
as  ashes,  charcoal  and  rotten  wood, 
which  will  correct  the  secretions  of  the 
stomach  of  the  hog,  and  keep  him  in 
a  healthy  condition,  without  whi(;h,  he 
cannot  grow  fat.  These  things  or  others 
answering  the  same  purpose,  can,  to 
some  extent,  be  obtained  by  the  hog, 
while  allowed  to  run  at  large  in  a 
lot. 

That  the  feeding  of  hogs  upon  the 
ground,  as  is  usually  the  case  with  farm- 
ers, is  a  pernicious  practice,  must  be  ad- 
mitted by  all  who  reflect  upon  the  sub- 
ject. The  waste  is  considerable  besides 
the  injury  sustained  by  the  eating  of  dirt. 
In  fact  it  is  a  great  saving  in  every  in- 
stance to  fatten  hogs  upon  close  floored 
pens  where  the  proper  means  for  making 
manure  from  them  is  aflforded.  The 
pens  should  be  made  to  contain  from 
three  to  four  hogs  each,  comfortably, 
and  let  them  be  built  up  about  three 
feet,  and  filled  in  with  muck  or  wood's 
mould,  and  then  the  floor  may  be  made 
of  flat  rails,  and  the  pen  then  comple- 
ted. By  this  means  the  liquid  manures 
will  be  entirely  saved,  and  these  are  de- 
cidedly the  most  valuable.  But  there 
are,  in  Vol.  1,  of  the  "Farmer's  Jour- 
nal," some  excellent  articles  upon  the 
fattening  of  hogs  as  well  as  upon  other 
subje(  ts ;  and  we  will  state  here,  that 
we  have  on  hand,  neatly  bound,  about 
five  hundred  copies  of  vol.  1st,  which 
we  will  furnish  to  those  who  wish  them, 
at  $1  per  copy.  Address  us  or  our 
publisher,  at  Raleigh,  Wm.  D.  Cooke, 
Esq.,  and  the  book  shall  be  forward- 
ed. 


The  article  upon  the  pea  crop  and 
fattening  hogs,  we  recommend  to  the 
attention  of  our  readers  as  highly  wor- 
thy of  their  consideration.  It  is  from 
a  farmer  of  Edgecomb  county,  and  we 
liope  to  hear  from  him  often,  and  take 
this  opportunity  to  call  the  attention  of 
our  readers  to  tlae  fact,  that  our  present 
number  contains  a  large  quantity  of  or- 
iginal matter  from  North-CarolinianSj 
which  must  add  to  the  interest  of  it, 
and  we  hope  will  cause  farmers  to  take 
steps  to  increase  our  list. 


For  the  Farmer's  Journal. 
The  Pea  Crop— Fattening  Hogs,  &o. 

I  have  had  my  doubts  for  several 
years,  whether  the  Pea  crop,  cultivated 
in  the  usual  way  with  corn,  was  profit- 
able. I  have  asked  some  of  the  best 
farmers  in  the  county,  what  was  the  dif- 
ference in  the  product  of  cornowith  and 
without  peas.  But  I  received  no  very 
definite  or  satisfactory  answer. 

The  present  year  I  planted  my  corn 
four  feet  each  way — six  inches  nearer 
than  when  peas  are  put  between  each 
row;  and  my  corn  crop  's  the  best  I 
ever  had.  But  then,  I  used  m^re  ma- 
nure than  ever  before.  So  I  am  still 
unable  to  say  what  the  difference  is. 

But,  Mr,  Editor,  there  are  other  ob- 
jections to  cultivating  peas  and  corn  to- 
gether, besides  the  loss  in  the  corn  crop. 
The  ditches  on  our  farms,  of  which 
there  is  an  awful  deficiency,  are  filled 
up  by  the  hogs  whilst  running  in  tp 
pick  the  peas,  (for  I  do  not  suppose  any 
farmer  would  say,  that  it  would  pay  to 
gather  and  feed  them  to  the  hogs;) 
and  the  following  spring,  the  busiest 
season  of  the  year,  a  great  deal  of  labor 
is  required  to  clean  them  out;  and  the 
land  is  greatly  injured  by  being  water- 
sobbed  during  the  winter.  Do  not  un- 
derstand me,  however,  as  objecting  to 
sowing  peas  on  out-lying  lanJ,  as  a  ren- 
ovator— as  recommended  by  Mr.  Bur- 
gwin,  in  the  Patent  Office  Report,  a 
year  or  two  ■  since — for  I  very  highly 
approve  of  the  plan. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


SOY 


Yet,  another  objection  to  feeding  peas 
to  hogs  in  the  field,  is  the  great  loss  of 
manure.  If  my  present  experiment  in 
making  manure  from  my  fattening 
hogs,  answers  my  expectations,  I  shall 
never  plant  peas  again  for  stock.  The 
same  experiment  was  tried  last  year,  by 
a,  friend  and  neighbor,  with  great  sue- 
oess.  The  hogs,  (near  eighty  head,)  are 
confined  in  a  lot,  50  by  25  yards,  divid- 
ed into  two  pens,  and  fed  on  shelled 
corn — say  at  the  rate  of  12  bushels  per 
day.  Every  week  I  haul  in  about  one 
thousand  loads  swamp  muck,  one  thou- 
sand bushels  marl,  and  two  hundred 
loads  pine  straw  or  oak  leaves — using 
the  two  last  only,  should  it  be  wet 
weather — the  hogs  being  turned  into 
one  or  the  other  of  the  pens,  until  the 
hauling  is  finished.  This  is  to  be  con- 
tinued until  the  hogs  are  fat.  They 
will  consume  something  like  150  or  1Y5 
battels  of  corn.  Think  of  the  quantity 
of  excrement  and  urine  that  will  be  in- 
corporated in  the  mass,  every  particle 
of  which  will  be  saved,  which  would  not 
be  the  case  if  the  hoffs  were  running  in 
the  fields. 

I  shall  make  from  my  hogs  about 
300  single  loads  of  manure.  Now  let  us 
figure  a  little  and  see  what  this  manure 
is  worth.  It  will  go  over  30  acres,  100 
load^  to  the  acre,  and  I  think,  will  in- 
crease the  product  400  lbs.  seed  cotton 
to  the  acre,  12,000  lbs.  in  all,  which,  at 
$2.50  per  hundred,  will  be  worth  $300. 
Now  tills  is  worth  nearly  a?  much  as 
the  corn  they  will  consume,  and  three- 
fifths  as  much  as  the  pork  they  will 
make,  at  $5  per  hundred.  Do  you  not 
think,  Mr.  Editor,  if  my  calculation  is 
correct,  (and  I  do  not  think  I  have 
erred  much,)  that  I  can  well  afford  to 
abandon  the  cultivation  of  the  pea  crop 
for  stock. 

I  made  last  year  more  than  one  load 
of  manure  to  every  100  lbs.  pork  kill- 
ed, from  the  blood,  hair,  entrails  with 
their  contents,  t.-immings,  &c. — some 
marl  being  added,  which  I  put  into  all 
my  compoft  manures. 

Edgecombe  County,  N.  C,   ) 
December  1st  1853.      \ 


For  the  Farmer's  Journal. 
Mr.  Editor  :  Being  wholly  unused 
to  (and  feeling  myself  utterly  incapable 
of)  penning  anything  worthy  of  publio 
perusal,  'tis  with  feelings  of  extreme 
difl3dence  I  yield  to  your  urgent  sohci- 
tations,  of  contributing  to  your  ''Journ- 
al," (so  valuable  to  the  community,) 
my  humble  experiment  in  the  cult>va- 
tion  of  Radishes.  I  had  a  bed  of  white 
sand,  (apparently  entirely  unproduc- 
tive,) covered,  with  compost  from  the 
fowl-yard — this  I  caused  to  be  regular- 
ly spread,  and  drills  made,  the  usual 
depth  for  this  vegetable,  some  of  which 
I  filled  with  lime,  others  with  pulveriz- 
ed charcoal,  and  the  remainder  contain- 
ed the  manure  alone.  I  found  that 
those  seed  embedded  in  the  charcoal, 
germinated  much  sooner,  grew  more 
rapidly,  arrived  at  maturity  in  much 
less  time,  and  possessed  a  more  pleas- 
ant flavor. 

Such  has  been  the  result  of  the  sim- 
ple experiment  of  a  daughter  of  Caro- 
lina, who  (though  unskilful  in  the  art 
of  gardening,  and  unp:actised  in  the 
use  of  the  pen,)  has  been  induced  to 
cast  off'  the  mantle  of  diffidence,  crush 
the  glow  of  shame  that  arises  from  a 
feeling  of  incompetency,  and  withhold, 
not  what  was  supposed  might  be  use- 
ful to  others.  Then,  as  a  mediatrix,  for 
my  native  State,  may  I  not  call  upon 
her  many  daughters,  whose  information 
far  exceeds  my  own,  to  discard  not,  the 
oft  repeated  invitations  extended  by  the 
Editor,  to  all,  of  making  his  "  Journal" 
the  medium  of  that  interchange  of  sen- 
timents, so  essential  to  the  speedy  ad- 
vancement of  the  scion  of  agriculture, 
(which,  through  his  exertions,  is  so  no- 
bly flourishing-,)  though  now  in  its  in- 
fancy, yet  it  is  destined  to  be  the  pride 
and  glory  of  our  State,  but  its  growth 
can  not  be  accelerated  by  chance,  or  by 
cold  and  languid  approbation,  but  if  we 
would  enjoy  its  benefits,  and  partake  of 
its  fruits,  we  must  see  hat  it  receives 
the  cheering  sunlight  of  perseverence, 
be  moistened  by  the  dews  of  diligence, 
and  refreshed  by  the  showers  of  indus- 
try. 


308 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Then  sisters    of  Carolina,  we  should 
deem  not  (when  giving  forth  our  feeble 
efforts  in  such  a  cause,)  that  we  are  ad- 
vancing beyond  the  sphere  assigned  us, 
are  anxious    to    direct   in    the  onward 
march,    or    attempting   to   wrest  from 
man  his  rightful  position,  such  motives 
I  feel  could  not,    nor    would  not  be  as- 
cribed to  us.     Many  are  the  simple,  but 
important    truths    we  m.ight   reveal  to 
each  other  in  the  rearing  of  vegetables, 
which  are  necessaries,  comforts  and  lux- 
uries, and  in  the  department  of  flowers, 
which  are  tasteful,  beautiful  and  orna 
mental.      And  the   delights  which  na- 
tural science  holds  out  to  all,  even  those 
least  accustomed  to  reflect,  are  pure,  en- 
abling us  to   hold    converse  with  "  Na- 
ture !  great  Parent !    whose  unceasing- 
hand    rolls    round    the   seasons  of  the 
changeful    year" — and    to    see   "how 
mighty,  how  majestic  are  her  works;" 
to  know  that  plants   are  endowed  with 
vitality  so  far  as  to  breathe,  are  fed  by 
the  earth    and    air,    and    the  beautiful 
light  of  Heaven  lends  them  their  lovely 
colorings.      Such    things    must  fill  the 
mind,  producing   certain   gratifications, 
and  so    purifying  in    its  influence,  that 
though    it  should  lead    us  to  the  foun- 
tain of  wisdom,  and  the  hill  of  science, 
a  feeling  of  humility  must  pervade  us, 
and  we  would  gladly  receive  instruction 
from  the  most  lowly  objects.      All  this 
tends  indirectly  to  the  advancement  of 
agriculture,  than    by    which,   saith  the 
immortal    Washington,  "no  more   real 
and  important  service  can  be  rendered 
to  any  country." 

The  blessings  of  a  country  are  enjoy- 
ed by  all,  and  words  of  gladness  will 
fall  from  every  lip  when  the  darkness 
which  has  obscured  our  beloved  State 
is  dispelled — the  light  of  a  new  era 
beam  upon  its  once  benighted  people, 
and  Carolina  no  longer  ■"  sneered  at  by 
scornei'S,  nor  defamed  by  witlings,"  stand 
forth  regenerated  and  redeemed,  one  of 
the  brightest  stars  among  her  manv  sis- 
ters. MARY. 


For  the  Farmer's  Journal. 
Elevatiox,  Nov.  2*7,  1853. 

Dr.  Tompkins,  Dear  Sir  : — I  have 
been  rather  surprised  to  find,  that 
among  the  rich  stores  of  agricultural  in- 
formation sent  forth  to  the  Farmers  of 
the  Slate,  through  the  medium  of  your 
valuable  paper,  the  Farmer's  Journal, 
at  this  season  of  the  year,  when  Fatten- 
ing Pork  is  one  principal  business,  and 
is  an  all-absorbing  topic  of  the  farmers 
of  the  country,  that  you  have  not  given 
us  information  upon  this  subject,  1 
for  one  would  like  to  have  your  views 
upon  the  business. 

First,  Will  it  pay  well  to  boil  the 
food  for  hogs  or  will  it  not? 

Secondly,  Does  a  hog  thrive  better 
in  close  confinement  or  at  liberty — that 
is,  in  an  open  field  ? 

Thirdly,  Does  the  feeding  of  hogs 
upon  the  ground,  (so  universal  a  prac- 
tice in  the  country,)  by  which  their  food 
must  to  a  considerable  extent  be  mixed 
with  dirt,  retard  their  progress  sufli- 
ciently  to  justify  putting  them  on  floors  ? 

Your  views   upon   the  science  of  fat- 
tening  hogs   philosophically  would  be 
gladly  received  through  your  paper  by 
One  of  your  Patrons. 


For  the  Farmer's  Jom'nal. 

Tarboro',  Edgecombe,  Dec.  19,  '53. 

My  Dear  Sir  : — I  grieve  "to  learn 
that  your  paper  is  not  sustained  as  it 
should  be.  With  only  one  Agricultural 
journal  in  North  Carolina,  it  does  seem 
to  me  that  Farmers  should  take  a  pride 
in  subscribing  and  getting  subscribers 
to  it.  Other  works  beyond  the  borders 
of  our  State  are  handsomely  patronized 
in  this  country  and  in  others  that  I  hear 
of,  and  I  really  look  upon  it  as  a  slight 
to  the  good  old  State,  that  our  people 
should  treat  home  journals  in  this  man- 
ner. How  the  matter  is  to  be  reme- 
died I  cannot  devise.  So  long  as  State 
pride  is  wanting  among  our  people,  just 
so  long  will  this  state  of  things  con- 
tinue. 

I  well  recollect  when  we  proposed 
the  establishment  of  a  State  Agricuitur- 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


109 


al  Society,  and  subsequently  the  late 
successful  Fair,  bow  much  croaking  was 
doled  out  to  us,  and  how  often  we  were 
told  that  things  of  that  sort  could  suc- 
ceed in  other  States,  but  in  North  Car- 
olina it  would  be  no  go.  The  month 
of  October  past,  dispelled  all  doubts  and 
exhibited  to  North  Carolinians  the  a- 
mazing  fact,  that  we  were  equal  to  get- 
ting up  a  Fair  highly  creditable  as  a 
first  effort. 

It  must  be  conceded  by  every  one 
that  the  Farmer's  Journ-d,  and  the  per- 
sonal efforts  of  its  Editor,  were  mainly 
instrumental  in  bringing  about  so  desi- 
rable a  result,  and  upon  the  principle 
that  "the  laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire;" 
the  Planters  and  Farmers  of  the  State 
should  come  forward  with  alacity  to  the 
support  of  your  paper.  Will  they  not 
do  it  when  they  hear  that  you  are  poor- 
ly sustained  ?  Surely  they  will,  if  there 
is  liny  gratitude  remaining  in  their 
breasts. 

Hoping  that  the  future  may  be  more 
propitious  to  your  prospects  than  the 
past.       I  remain,  yours  truly, 

JNO.  S.  DANCY. 

Dr.  Jno.  F.  Tompkins,  Raleigh. 


For  the  Farmer's  Journal. 
Dr.  Tompkiks  :  Having  just  return- 
ed from  the  "  Fair  "  at  Norfolk,  Va.,  I 
have  taken  my  seat  to  communicate  to 
the  readers  of  ti.e  "  Farmer's  Journal," 
something  in  relation  to  it.  This  Fair 
was,  I  think,  every  thing,  if  not  more 
tlian  those  who  originated  it  pronounc- 
ed in  it's  behalf,  especially  when  it  is 
recollected  that  it  was  gotten  up  by  two 
counties  only,  Princess  Ann,  and  Nor- 
folk counties.  There  was  on  exhibition 
there,  quite  a  variety  of  stock,  crops 
and  specimens  of  mechanism,  and  of 
the  household  arts,  most  of  which  were 
contributed  by  people  of  Va.  There 
was  such  a  feeling  prevailing  on  the  oc- 
casion as  would  plainly  tell,  what  might 
be  looked  for  in  the  future.  It  is  need- 
less to  say  anything  to  you,  sir,  upon 
tile  subject,  but  it  may  not  be  amiss  to 
suggest  here,  for  the  benefit  of  some  of 


our  readers  "who  are  not  fully  awake  to 
their  importance,  the  great  advantages 
resulting  from  the  holding  of  Agricul- 
tural Fairs,  in  connection  with  societies 
and  the  reading  of  agricultural  papers. 
They  have  a  great  tendency  to  advance 
the  agricultural  interest  of  the  country, 
thereby  advancing  every  other  interest, 
greatly    promoting    the    comfort   and 
happiness    of  the   people,  fixing  more 
firmly  the  bonds  of  republican   union, 
at  the  same  time  guarding  against  fac- 
tional discord.      Our  people  in  this — 
Halifax  county — speak  of  getting  up  a 
Fair  next  fall,  which  I  hope  will  be  ac- 
complished, and   can  be   done  if  some 
moving  spirits   put   their  shoulders  to 
the    wheel      But  the  leaders  of  this 
spirit    of    enterprise,   have    invariably 
been  found  to  be  agricultural  papers ; 
wherever  they  are  seen,  a  light  is  sure 
to  be  shed  upon  the  subject  which  has 
been  hitherto  hidden    by   the  cloud  of 
ignorance.     It  is,  therefore,  to  be  fondly 
hoped,  that  those  farmers  of  our  State 
who  have  witnessed  your  hard  struggle 
in  behalf  of  agricultural  improvement, 
will  come  to  your  rescue,   and  aid  in 
desseminating  such  knowledge,  as  may 
be  found  in  the  columns  of  the  "  Farm- 
er's Journal,  the  only  paper  devoted  to 
the  farming  interest  in  our  State.     Suf- 
fer   me    here  to    relate   two   instances 
which,  without  the  multitude  of  others 
to  corroborate  them,  ought,  it  seems  to 
be  quite  sufficient  to  satisfy  every  one 
of  the  importance  of  reading  the  news- 
papers of  the  country.     A  widow  lady 
near  me,   a  few  years   ago,  refused  to 
take  a  newspaper,  urging  that  it  was  a 
useless  expense.     Shortly  after  this,  no- 
lice  was  given  thatthe  charter  of  a  cer- 
tain bank  would  expire  at  a  certain  time, 
and  that  it  would  not  be  renewed  again. 
After  the  time  appointed  for  this  to  take 
effect,  this  old  lady  had  occasion  to  pay 
out  some   money  and  drew  forth  from 
her  chest  $300  worth  of  bills  upon  this 
bank,  which,  she  was  informed  had  ex- 
pired,   and    the    bills    valueless.      See 
a  loss  was  here  sustained  for  the  want 
of  such   a  monitor   as  a  newspaper. — 


310 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Anotlier  casein  point  h  this  :  I  called 
upon  a  farmer  friend,  on  a  certain  occa 
sion,  and  solicited  him  to  subscribe  for 
an  agricultural  paper,  telling  him  what 
an  advantage  it  would  be  to  hira.  He 
replied  thiit  he  already  knew  more  about 
farming  than  he  could  liarn  from  books. 
Shortly  after  this  we  were  walking  in 
his  field,  and  he  pointed  to  a  certatn 
piece  of  ground  which  he  had  greatly 
improved  by  making  upon  it  several 
crops  of  oats  in  succession,  I  rerxiind- 
him  at  once  of  the  fact  of  his  gross  er- 
ror in  domg  this  which  he  might  have 
easily  have  avoided  had  he  read  agri- 
cultural papers  in  which  he  would  have 
seen,  that  to  cultivate  a  field  in  any  one 
way  for  several  years  in  succession,  was 
highly  improper  and  unfarmerlike. — 
But,  sir,  I  hope  the  day  is  not  far  dis- 
tant when  county  and  State  Fairs,  will 
be  common  in  our  country,  and  that 
every  farmer  will  regard  his  agricultu- 
ral paper,  as  important  to  his  success, 
as  his  hoe  or  plow. 

Yours  respectfully, 

S.  WELLER. 


Report  on  the  Coal  Lands. 

Of  Egypt,  Belnwnt,  Evans,  Palmer  and  Wilcox 

Plantations,  on  Deep  River,  N.  O. 
BY  C.T.  JACKSON,  M.  D.,  GEOLOGIST  AND 
CHEMIST. 
New  York,  Sep.  24,  1853. 

Thomas  Andrews,  Esq. 

Dear  Sir — In  accordance  with  the 
instructions  which  r  received  from  you, 
on  the  13th  ult.,  I  proceeded  to  exam- 
ine the  coal  lands  on  Deep  River,  N. 
C,  which  I  had  partially  and  cursorily 
exploded  with  you  in  April  last. 

Having  now  spent  a  month  in  exam- 
natiori  of  the  coal  lands  in  question,  I 
am  prepa]-ed  to  give  a  pretty  full  ac- 
count of  their  probable  value  for  coal 
mining.  In  this  survey  I  was  most  ably 
assisted  by  your  agent,  Wm.  McClane, 
Esq.,  to  whom  I  would  present  my 
thanks,  I  shall  also  call  your  attention 
to  the  large  deposits  of  valuable  iron 
ores  that  occur  on  the  same  territory, 
and  make  some  suggestions  as  to  tlie 


use  that  may  be  made  of  your  small 
coals,  in  the  manufacture  of  iron  from 
these  ores. 

North  Carolina  has  been,  perhaps  un- 
justly, reproached  for  want  of  enterprise 
in  alloAving  her  vast  mineral  resources 
to  remain  for  so  long  a  time  idle,  and 
the  public  generally  have  not,  to  this 
day,  become  fully  awafe  of  the  fact, 
that  this  State  may  justly  claim*  the 
very  highest  rank  of  a  mineraliferous 
country. 

The  former  want  of  railways  and  of 
canals,  and  of  good  and  deep  harbors 
for  large  shipping  prevented  the  due 
development  of  the  internal  wealth  of 
the  State  ;  and  her  exports  finding  an 
outlet  mostly  from  the  ports  of  Charles- 
ton, South  Carolina,  and  Norfolk,  Vir- 
ginia, led  foreigders,  and  many  of  our 
own  people,  to  undervalue  the  com- 
merce of  North  Carolina. 

Recently,  a  new  spirit  of  enterprise 
has  manifested  itself  in  this  State.  Rail- 
ways and  plank  roads  are  now  laid,  and 
are  rapidly  extending. 

The  slack-water  of  Deep  River  is  to 
be  completed  by  next  Spring ;  so  that 
barges  may  run  to  Fayetteville  with 
their  loads  of  coal.  A  new  port  is  rap- 
idly growing  up  at  Beaufort,  where  the 
largest  class  of  ships  may  enter,  and 
from  whence  they  may  go  to  sea,  let 
the  wind  blow  which  way  it  listeth. 

These  are  among  the  few  improve- 
ments, that  have  accompanied  the  new 


*  North  Carolina  was  the  first  State  that  cans 
ed  a  g^eo]o_a;ical  survey  to  be  made  under  order 
of  her  Legislature — Prof.  Olmstead  having  been 
commissioned  by  the  Governor  to  explore  the 
gold  regions  of  the  State.  Partial  explorations 
were  also  made  subsequently  by  Prof  Mitchell, 
who  prepared  a  geological  map  of  the  State, 
representing  particularly  the  great  bed  of  sand- 
stone belonging  to  the  coal  series  of  rocks.  At 
the  present  time.  Prof  E.  Emmons  is  commis- 
sioned, as  State  Geologist,  to  make  a  geologi- 
cal survey  of  the  entire  State.  It  would,  there- 
fore, appear  that  North  Carolina  has  taken  ade- 
q  nate  measures  for  a  full  exposure  of  her  min- 
eral wealth.  The  fact  that  few  of  the  citizen* 
of  the  State  have  engaged  in  mining  enterprises 
is  ov^ing,  probably  to  their  attention  being  de- 
voted mostly  to  agriculture,  andthey  were  un- 
willing to  enter  upon  business  which  they  ara 
generally  but  little  acquainted  with. 

C    1.   cj . 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


311 


developments  of  her  mineral  resources, 
and  will  tend  to  excite  still  further  to 
develop  the  vast  mineral  and  agricul- 
tural produce  of  the  State. 

Copper,  Gold,  Lead,  Silver,  Iron  and 
Coal,  are  among  the  most  valuable  of 
the  minerals  that  will  be  largely  ex- 
ported, and  quarries  of  -excellent  soap- 
stone  and  of  gray  sandstone  will  also 
be  opened,  when  the  ready  means  of 
.  exportation  are  provndde. 

The  agricultural  produce  of  the 
State  is  well  known  to  be  equal  to  that 
of  any  other  State  of  equal  area  in  the 
Union.  I  have  premised  these  remarks, 
because  I  am  aware  how  little  is  gener- 
ally known  at  the  North  of  the  resour- 
ces of  North  Carolina. 

The  immediate  object  of  this  report, 
is  to  bring  distinctly  into  view  the  im- 
portance of  the  coal  mines  of  Deep  Riv- 
er, which  are  destined  to  furnish  no  in- 
considerable amount  of  fuel  for  steam 
navigation,  and  for  various  manufac- 
turing  establishments. 

The  existence  of  large  beds  of  good 
bituminous  coal,  in  a  region  accessible 
to  boat  navigation,  is  a  matter  of  uni- 
versal congratulation  ;  and  no  one  can 
at  first  fully  appreciate  the  advantages 
that  will  ultimately  arise  from  a  discov- 
ery of  this  kind.  North  Carolina  is, 
therefore,  pecuHarly  fortunate  in  pos- 
sessing such  mines,  so  conveniently 
situated. 

GEOLOGY  OF    THE  COAL  DISTRICT. 

The  Deep  River  coal  formation  is  be- 
lieved to  belong  to  the  new  red  sand- 
stone series  of  rocks,  such  an  opinion 
having  been  formed  by  most  of  the  geo- 
logists who  have  visited  it,  and  exam- 
ined the  fossils  which  occur  in  the 
strata.  By  some  it  has  been  suppos- 
ed that  this  coal  was  of  the  same  age 
with  that  of  Richmond,  Virginia,  which 
has  been  described  as  belonging  to  the 
oolitic  of  lias  group. 

This  opinion  has  in  its  favor  the 
geographical  position  of  the  two  depos- 
its ;  Avhile  the  former  view  is  maintain- 
ed, by  reference  to  the  peculiar  fossils 
that  have  been  found  in  the  Deep  Riv- 


er shales  and  sandstones.  However, 
this  mooted  question  may  ultimately 
be  decided,  it  is  certain  that,  whether 
the  rocks  are  of  the  new  red  or  oolitic 
groups,  the  occurrence  of  workable  beds 
of  coal  in  such  comparatively  modern 
rocks,  is  a  most  curious  and  interesting 
exception  to  conclusions  arrived  at  in 
England ;  for  no  workable  coal  has 
ever  been  found  in  either  of  those  for 
mations  in  Europe.  The  Richmond 
coal  mines  have  been  wrought  for  more 
than  a  century,  in  rocks  regarded  as 
oolitic,  and  now  we  are  able  to  show 
more  extensive  beds  of  coal  in  the 
rocks  which  are  either  the  new  red,  or 
oolitic,  in  the  neighboring  State  of 
North  Carolina. 

It  was  regarded  a  marvelous  excep- 
tion to  the  order  of  superposition  of 
rocks,  that  the  Richmond  coal  should 
be  found  to  rest  in  a  granite  basin. — 
Not  less  remarkable  is  it,  that  the  in- 
dependent coal  formation  of  North  Car- 
olina rests  directly  and  unconformably 
upon  the  auriferous  talcose  slates  of 
that  State. 

It  would  be  very  interesting  to  sci- 
ence, and  of  no  small  practical  utility, 
to  institute  a  rigid  comparison  of  the 
strata  and  of  the  fossils  which  occur  at 
the  two  above-named  coal  mines  of 
North  Carolina  and  Virginia  ;  but  my 
pi'esent  duties  will  not  allow  me  time 
to  do  this,  nor  would  the  discussion 
seem  to  be  fitly  placed  in  a  report  on  a 
purely  practical  question.  The  mer- 
chant leaves  all  such  matters  to  be  dis- 
posedof  by  scientific  men,  and  looks 
chiefly  to  the  practical  bearings  of  the 
results  of  their  deliberations. 

A  simple  and  plain  description  of  the 
rocks  which  contain  the  coal  will  of 
course  be  expected  in  this  report,  and 
such  I  shall  endeavor  to  give  so  as  to 
enable  others  to  know  the  true  position 
of  the  coal. 

DESCRIPTION     OF      THE      COAL-BEARING 
ROCKS    OF    DEEP    RIVER. 

The  bottom  rock  of  the  coal  basin, 
which  rests  uncomfortably  directly  up- 
on the  auriferous  talcose  slates,  is   a 


312 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


coarse  conglomerate,  made  up  of  peb- 
bles of  2:)re-existent  rocks,  whicb  have 
been  worn  round  and  smooth  by  the 
actiou  of  the  ocean's  waves  causing  at- 
trition among  the  fragments  of  rock  at 
the  bottom  and  on  the  ancient  shores. 
These  pebbles  are  now  consolidated  into 
a  hard  rock,  by  cementing  of  the  peb- 
bles and  fine  detritus,  so  that  they  are 
firmly  imbedded,  aud  the  rock  is  suita- 
ble for  millstones.  Upon  this  coarse 
conglomerate  or  millstone,  rests  a  finer 
grained  gray  sandstone,  made  up  of 
smaller  particles  of  the  same  materials. 
This  rock  is  known  as  grindstone  grit, 
and  is  iised  for  grindstones.  Intercala- 
ted with  this  grit,  we  find  beds  of  clay 
slate,  which  was  originally  fine  blue 
clay,  but  is  now  a  fissile  and  tolerably 
hard  rock.  Beds  of  this  slate  also  over- 
lie the  gray  grit.  Over  the  slates  we 
find  a  finer  grained  sandstone,  general- 
ly colored  red  by  peroxide  of  iron. 
Then  comes,  over  this,  a  bed  of  harden- 
ed clay,  called  fire-clay,  or  under-clay 
of  the  coal.  It  is  sup^josed  to  have 
constituted  the  bottcm  of  the  lake  or 
estuary  into  which  the  coal  plants  sunk 
in  the  formation  of  coal,  or  it  may  have 
been  the  soil  in  which  many  of  the  coal 
plants  grow. 

In  the  fire-clay,  bands  of  clay-iron 
stone,  carbonate  of  iron,  and  strata  or 
bands  of  iron  ore  occur,  and  this  finds 
its  analogue  in  de^Dosites  of  iron  ores  in 
modern  peat  bogs. 

Directly  on  the  fire-clay  lie  the  first 
beds  of  coal,  with  a  covering  of  thin 
splitting  slates,  charged  with  bitumous 
matter,  and  called  coal  shales.  Sever- 
al alterations  of  coal,  fire-clay  and  of 
shales  occur  in  these  coal  fields. 

It  is  obvious  both  from  the  structure 
and  mineral  composition  of  coal,  that  it 
was  derived  from  plants,  and  has  re- 
sulted from  a  peculiar  change  in  vege- 
table fibre,  called  bituminization,  which 
resulted  fi'om  a  kind  of  formation  of 
vegetable  matter  under  water,  analogous 
to  the  bituminization  known  to  take 
place  in  vegetable  matter  at  the  bottom 
of  the  peat  bogs. 


There  are  five  beds  of  coal  in  the 
Deep  River  series ;  but  the  two  upper 
ones  are  too  thin  to  be  worthy  of  ex- 
13loration  ty  themselves.  The  aggre- 
gate thickness  of  the  workable  beds, 
which  are  parted  by  a  thin  seam  of 
shale,  is  not  less  than  six  feet,  and  in 
some  i^laces  it  appears  to  be  eight  feet 
in  thickness,  according  to  Professor 
Johnson's  report  on  the  Farmerville 
mines.  It  has  been  observed  that  the 
beds  widen  as  they  descend  under  cov- 
er of  the  rocks,  the  parting  shale  grad- 
ually becoming  thiner.  This  is  gener- 
ally the  case  in  coal  beds  so  divided, 
and  the  coal  becomes  more  pure  as  it 
departs  from  the  exposed  outcrop,  and 
goes  deeper  imder  its  roof. 

The  indications  of  coal  in  this  basin, 
are  the  occurrence  of  thin  splitting 
shingle  of  shale  in  clayey  soil.  This 
generally  is  a  guide  in  finding  the  out- 
crop of  a  coal  bed. 

Fossil  plants,  common  to  the  usual 
coal  formation,  are  not  found  in  this 
shale,  but  small  diamond-shaped  shin- 
ing black  specks  are  seen  in  great 
abundance,  both  in  the  shades  andun- 
der  clays.  These  are  the  scales  of  ga- 
noid fishes,  either  the  catopterus  of 
Redfield  or  some  species  of  palseonis- 
cus.  No  entire  fish  has  yet  been  dis- 
covered in  these  rocks,  though  the 
scales  and  the  teeth  are  very  abun- 
dant, as  are  also  the  teeth  of  sauroid 
fishes  and  their  coprolites. 

It  would  seem  that  the  fishes  all  un- 
derwent putrefaction  before  they  were 
enclosed  in  the  mud,  now  constitut- 
ing the  shales  and  fire-clay,  since  they 
would  have  been  preserved  entire,  had 
they  been  enveloped  before  decomposi- 
tion. 

On  working  the  coal  mines,  it  is  not 
improbable  that  perfect  fishes  will  yet 
be  disentombed,  and  then  we  may  be 
able  to  describe  them  more  accurately. 

Fossil  plants  are  foun3  in  the  slates 
and  gray  grits  that  form  the  lower  se- 
ries of  the  basin,  but  they  cannot  be 
here  described  so  as  to  convey  a  dis- 
tinct idea  of  them,  witliout  lithograph- 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


313 


ic  plates,whic]i  I  presume  will  not  be 
prepared  for  tliis  report.  Lignites  al- 
so occur  in  the  gray  grit,  and  some 
of  them  are  fine  jet  suitable  for  orna- 
ments. 

LIMITS  OF  THE  COAL  FIELD. 

On  the  west  we  find  the  limits  of 
the  coal  at  John  Murchison's  and 
George  Wilcox's  mines  ;  on  the  east,  a 
little  above  Rocky  River,  when  the  coal 
crosses  Deep  River,  a  little  to  the  east- 
ward of  George's  Creek.  It  is  possible 
that  after  crossing  the  river  to  its 
southern  side,  that  it  may  extend  a  little 
to  the  south  of  Haywood  ;  but  no  mines 
have  been  opened  so  far  to  the  east- 
ward. 

The  whole  length  of  the  line  of  out- 
crop of  the  coal,  following  its  curves, 
is  not  less  than  sixteen  miles,  and  its 
direct  length  is  not  far  from  twelve 
miles.  This  outcrop  appears  to  be  ex- 
clusively the  northern  margin  of  the 
basin,  as  will  be  seen  on  inspection  of 
the  accompanying  map. 

It  is  obvious  that  such  an  extensive 
outcrop  of  coal,  dipping  southwardly 
at  various  angles  of  from  ten  to  thirty 
degrees,  indicates  a  most  powerful  bed 
of  coal,  and  the  dips  all  go  to  prove 
that  the  coal  lies  beneath  Egypt  and 
Belmont  plantations. 

We  cannot,  until  the  borings  reach 
the  coal,  give  the  depth  to  which  it 
extends  beneath  the  soil  of  those  plant- 
ations, because  we  do  not  know  where 
the  strata  turn  to  become  nearly  hori- 
zontal, as  the  auger  indicates  the  strata 
are  in  Egypt,  where  they  have  been 
bored  into,  in  several  places. 

AVhen  the  Farmersville  slope  is  work- 
ed to  the  turning  point,  we  shall  know 
the  spot  where  we  can  reach  the  same 
bed,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river 
in  Egypt ;  but  it  is  probable  that  the 
auger  will  settle  this  question  before 
long,  by  penetrating  the  bed  of  coal  it- 
self, for  the  last  borings  indicate  the 
proximity  of  a  coal  bed. 

IS    THE    COAL    IN  A  BASIlSr    OR  TROUGH  ? 

This  question  has  been  raised  by 
those  who  doubt  the  fact   of  the  exis- 


tence of  the  bed  of  coal  south  of  the 
outcrop  ;  and  therefore  I  shall  devote  a 
few  lines  in  exposing  my  view^s  on  the 
subject. 

We  find  one  margin  of  a  coal  depos- 
it, extending  not  less  than  twelve  miles, 
parallel  with  the  line  of  strike  of  the 
strata,  and  the  coal  is  found  to  be  reg- 
ularly included  between  the  strata  of 
shale  and  fire  clay,  and  to  dip  with 
them  to  the  southward.  FoUovnng 
this  line  we  find  it  to  converge  towards 
the  ends,  or  the  north-eastern  and  north- 
western extremities,  so  that  the  arrows 
we  put  on  the  map,  representing  the 
true  direction  of  the  dip,  point  towards 
the  centre  of  a  large  narrow  or  rough 
shaped  basin.  Now,  although  no 
southern  edge  of  this  basin  has  yet 
been  discovered,  we  may  safely  assume 
that  the  coal  deposit  has  a  basin,  or 
trough-like  shape,  for  such  a  form  is 
indicated  by  one  of  its  sides,  already 
well-known.  Again,  we  know  that  that 
this  trough-like  form  is  the  usual  shape 
of  a  coal  field,  and  although  we  may 
never  see  the  other  rim  of  the  basin,  we 
have  a  right  to  assume  that  it  will  have 
another  side,  symmetrical  with  the  one 
we  have  discovered,  as  much  so  as  we 
have  the  right  to  assume  the  existence 
of  symmetrical  planes  in  a  crystal  one 
half  only  of  which  is  exposed  out  of  its 
gangue. 

In  many  working  coal  mines  only  a 
small  portion  of  the  basin  is  known,  but 
still  the  coal  is  regarded  as  in  a  basin, 
or  trough,  such  being  the  general  law 
of  deposits  of  the  kind.  Professor  Sil- 
liman  has  well  described  the  anthracite 
coal-beds  as  being  "  like  a  series  of  ca- 
noes set  one  in  the  other."  Such,  we 
feel  'Confident,  will  ultimately  prove  to 
be  the  form  of  the  Deep  River  coal 
deposits. 

It  is  sufiicient  for  practical  purposes, 
to  know  that  there  is  an  adequate  sup- 
ply of  coal ;  enough  to  warrant  the 
opening  of  regular  mines,  with  the  re- 
quisite machinery  for  pumping  out  the 
water  and  hoisting  up  the  coal,  and  such 
I  am  satisfied  we  have  proved  on  Deep 


314 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


River.  Tlie  coal  certainly  descends 
witli  the  strata,  and  there  is  no  instance 
known  of  such  thick  beds  of  coal  giving 
out  at  a  small  depth. 

To  what  depth  beneath  the  surface 
soil  on  Egypt  plantation  we  must  de- 
scend to  find  the  coal  bed,  is,  as  before 
mentioned,  yet  unknown  ;  but  since  we 
see  the  coal,  not  more  than  half  a  mile 
distant,  dipping  down  beneath  that  plain 
it  is  obvious  enough  that  the  coal  must 
be  there,  and  we  can  easily  reach  it  by 
raining  nearer  to  theoiitcrop,  if  itshould 
be  found  to  be  too  deep  at  the  point 
where  the  auger  is  now  penetrating. 

On  the  Belmont  estate  the  coal  must 
be  near  the  surface,  if  it  continues  to  fol- 
low the  slight  inclination  shown  at  Lau- 
rence Haughton's  upper  pit,  where  the 
coal  bed  is  nearly  horizontal.  There 
are  flexures  in  the  coal  strata,  without 
doubt,  and  hence  it  is  impossible  to  pre- 
dict the  exact  depth  of  the  bed  from  a 
given  point,  though  we  may,  after  pro- 
per sounding  with  the  auger  in  numer- 
ous places,  form  a  probable  estimate  of 
its  depth  for  a  limited  distance,  especially 
if  there  are  no  protruded  trap  dykes 
near,  which  would  be  likely  to  have  dis- 
turbed the  coal  beds  at  the  epoch  of 
their  eruption.  In  many  places  it  is 
obvious  that  the  eruption  of  trjip  dykes 
has  broken  the  continuity  of  the  coal 
strata,  and  produced  shifts  or  faults. 
These  are  common  in  most  coal  dis- 
tricts, and  the  effect  of  such  dykes  is 
well  understood  by  miners,  as  well  as 
by  geologists. 

The  dykes  of  trap  on  Deep  River  are 
numerous  ;  but  they  are  generally  very 
narrow,  and  hence  they  have  exerted  but 
little  mechanical  or  chemical  power 
over  the  coal  bed.  The  conversion  of 
some  of  the  coals  into  semi-bitumin- 
ous and  anthracite,  is  commonly  attri- 
buted to  the  heat  of  the  trap  rocks,  giv- 
en out  during  their  eruption  ;  and  the 
displacement  of  the  strata  is  supposed 
to  have  been  effected  by  the  uplift  that 
took  place  during  the  eruption  of  these 
igneous  trap  rocks. 

Ow.ng  tj  the  smallness  of  the  dykes 


of  trap  their  ohemical  effect  on  the  coal 
is  quite  limited.  Good  and  highly  bit- 
uminous coal  beds  are  found  quite  near 
to  the  semi-bituminous  and  anthracite 
coals,  as  seen  at  Murchison's,  Bingham's 
and  Evans'  coal  mines. 

At  the  Gulf  the  most  bituminous  va- 
riety of  coal  is  found  at  Haughton's 
mines,  and  the  same  kind  is  also  found 
at  the  Farraerville  mine,  opposite  to  the 
Egypt  plantation. 

PETER  G.  EVANS'    COAL    MINE    AND  WIL- 
COX ANTHRACITE. 

On  the  plantation  of  Peter  G.  Evans, 
a  fine  exhibition  of  the  outcrop  of  the 
coal  is  seen  on  the  borders  of  Lxlian 
Creek,  where  it  is  exposed  in  the  natu- 
ral embankment  of  the  stream  for  a  con- 
siderable distance.  The  coal  dips  with 
its  accompanying  shales  and  fire  clav, 
twenty  degrees  south-eastward.  This 
coal  near  the  surface,  is  not  so  bitu- 
minous as  that  got  out  at  Haughton's 
mines  at  the  Gulf,  some  of  the  beds  be- 
ing anthracite,  but  it  is  a  solid  and 
good  coal,  capable  of  bearing  transpor- 
tation, without  breaking  more  than  us- 
ual into  small  coals.  It  is  proposed  to 
open  these  mines  in  season  to  send  coal 
to  market,  when  the  slack  water  navi- 
gation is  completed. 

After  examining  some  dykes  of  tra)> 
rock  which  intersect  the  strata,  in  an  east 
and  west  direction,  on  the  road  be- 
tween P.  G.  Evans'  and  Wilcox's,  w-e 
went  to  Wilcox's  anthracite  mine,  a  lit- 
tle beyond  the  rocks  seen  on  the  road. 

The  anthracite  dips  at  an  angle  of 
twenty-five  degrees  to  the  south-east- 
ward. •  This  coal  is  supposed  to  have 
become  debitumenized  by  the  action  of 
the  heat  from  the  trap  dykes  near  at 
hand ;  but  it  is  remarkable  that  on 
Bingham's  estate,  a  little  to  the  noith 
of  this  anthracite,  a  coal  bed,  with  the 
usual  proportion  of  bitumen,  is  seen 
dipping  below  the  anthracite.  What- 
ever may  have  been  the  cause  of  the 
formation  of  anthracite  at  Wilcox's 
mines,  it  is  certain  that  the  intlnence  of 
it  was  quite  local. 

There  is  some  sulphuret  of  iron  mix- 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


315 


ed  with  the  anthracite,  which,  if  it  con- 
tinues to  occur  throughout  the  bed, 
will  injure  the  value  of  the  coal  for 
nmelting  of  iron  ores. 

PALMER  ESTATE. 

Palmer's  estate  contains  the  same  bed 
of  coal  that  is  exposed  at  Peter  G. 
Evans'  mines,  as  is  obvious  from  the 
line  of  the  outcrop  of  the  bed ;  but  no 
sufficient  openings  have  yet  been  made 
to  exi>lore  it,  though  the  coal  shales  are 
seen  in  the  soil.  Iron  ore  is  abundant 
on  this  location,  and  is  of  good  quality. 
Some  of  the  coal  obtained  near  the  sur- 
face is  a  true  anthracite,  and  much  of 
it  is  dry  coal. 

By  aid  of  the  map,  it  is  easy  to  see 
exactly  the  relations  of  the  coal  to  each 
plantation  delineated,  and  therefore  it 
will  be  necessary  for  me  to  enter  into  a 
repetition  of  remarks  at  each  locality, 
t&at  are  generally  applicable  to  all  of 
them. 

I  have  the  impression,  that  when 
uiiiiiug  operations  extend  excavations 
into  the  debitumenized  or  anthracite 
coal  bed,  that  it  will  be  found,  when  the 
coal  reaches  a  certain  depth,  it  will  con- 
tain bituminous  matter,  as  in  other  parts 
of  the  field.  If  not,  I  should  attach  but 
little  value  to  that  kind  of  coal,  since 
better  varieties  of  anthracite  are  readily 
procured  from  Pennsylvania. 

The'  excellent  bituminous  coals  of 
Deep  River  will  always  command  the 
highest  prices  in  the  market,  and  I 
should  advise  that  the  best  coals  only 
should  be  sent  to  a  distant  market,  and 
the  poorer  qualities  be  kept  on  the 
jrround,  to  be  used  for  driving  the 
steam-engines  o^  the  works,  and  for  lo- 
cal uses  at  steam  saw-mills  and  forges, 
there  being  a  large  local  demand  for 
cheap  coals. 

COAL  MINE  AT  FARMERSVILLE. 

Within  an  oxbow  of  Deep  River, 
nearly  a  mile  from  the  Egjj^pt  planta- 
tion, a  regular  sloping  shaft  has  been 
sunk  into  the  coal  bed,  and  working  of 
this  mine  is  now  about  to  be  recom- 
menced ;  a  steam-engine  having  been 
provided  for  pumping  out  the  water, 
and  for  raising  the  coals. 


Since  this  coal  bed  descends  beneath 
the  river,  and  passes  beneath  the  plain  of 
Egypt  plantation,  it  is  important  to  your 
Company  to  know  what  can  be  learned 
about  it.  The  slope  was  filled  with 
water  while  I  was  there,  so  that  I  was 
able  to  see  only  the  outcrop  of  the  coal 
and  the  shales  and  fire  clay  that  had 
been  got  up  in  working  the  mine. — 
This  slope  now  has  reached  the  extent 
of  eighteen  hundred  yards,  on  a  dip  of 
twenty  degrees,  and  consequently  reach- 
es a  perpendicular  depth  of  16  8-lOths 
feet.  The  coal  beds  at  that  point  are 
stated  in  Professor  Johnson's  report  to 
have  the  following  dimensions  : 
1st.  Bottom  Coal,  2  feet  8  inches. 

2d.  Intermediate  Slate,  1     "    6      " 
3d.  Top  Coal,  4    "    6      " 


8  feet  8  inches. 

Showing  an  aggregate  of  1  feet  2 
inches  of  coal. 

In  the  upper  part  of  the  slope,  the 
thickness  of  the  coal  was  as  follows  : — 
1st.  Bottom  Coal,  2  feet  6  inches. 

2d.  Intermediate  Slate,  2     " 
3d.  Top  Coal,  3    " 


7  feet  6  inches. 

Or,  5  feet  6  inches  of  coal. 

These  measurements  prove  that  the 
coal  beds  widen  as  they  descend,  by  the 
diminution  of  the  thickness  of  the  shales, 
and  the  substitution  of  coal  in  place  of 
them. 

Most  coal  beds  are  thin  and  poor  at 
the  immediate  outcrop,  and  become 
thicker  and  more  solid  as  they  enter 
under  cover  of  the  rocks. 

It  is  obvious  that  when  the  coal  bed 
reaches  beneath  the  plain  of  Egypt,  it 
will  be  more  compact  and  of  better 
quality  than  it  is  at  Farmersville,  near 
the  surface. 

If  the  distance  from  the  line  of  the 
Farmersville  outcrop  is  one-fourth  of  a 
mile,  or  four  hundred  and  forty  yarls, 
if  the  coal  continues  to  dip  at  an  angle 
of  twenty  degrees,  the  depth  of  the  bed 
at  the  borings  in  Egypt,  would  be  two 
hundred  and  thirty  ya-ids  nearly,  or  six 
hundred  and  ninety  feet ;  but  it  is  not 


316 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


probable  that  the  coal  continues  to  dip 
at  such  a  bold  angle,  for  the  successive 
borings  in  Egypt,  in  a  line  toward  the 
outcrop,  indicated  nearly  horizontal  stra 
ta  of  shales  below  Egypt.  The  present 
depth  of  the  borings  is  two  hundred 
and  eighty-two  feet,  and  several  seams 
of  "  bone  coal,"  or  a  mixture  of  coal 
with  shales,  have  already  been  penetra- 
ted, and  the  last  perforated  strata  con- 
sisted of  a  highly  carbonaceous  black 
shale,  like  that  over  the  coal  bed.  We 
may  therefore  expect  soon  to  hear  that 
coal  has  been  reached. 

At  Belmont  the  coal  is  probably  still 
nearer  the  surface,  for  the  outcrop  at 
Haugh ton's  shows  the  coal  plunging 
beneath  Belmont  estate,  at  angles  vary- 
ing from  ten  to  thirty  degress.  If  the 
angle  of  the  dip  should  prove  to  be  ten 
degrees,  then  at  four  hundred  and  forty 
yards  south,  twenty  degrees  east  from 
the  outcrop,  the  coal  would  be  eighty 
yards,  or  two  hundred  and  forty  feet, 
from  the  surface,  and  at  one  mile,  of 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty 
yards  distance,  it  would  be  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  yards,  or  nine  hun- 
dred and  sixty  feet  deep ;  while  if  the 
angle  was  twenty  degrees  in  one  mile, 
the  depth  would  be  six  hundred  and 
fifty  yards,  or  one  thousand  nine  hun- 
dred and  fifty  feet. 

It  is  not  probable  however,  that  the 
coal  will  continue  to  dip  at  a  high  an- 
gle far  from  the  outcrop,  for  we  find  in 
other  American  coal  fields,  as  in  that  of 
the  Wyoming  Valley,  that  although 
the  coal  begms  at  the  outcrop  with  a 
bold  dip  of  twenty-five  degrees,  it  as- 
sumes a  nearly  horizontal  line  when  it 
has  reached  a  depth  of  sixty  or  seven- 
ty feet  below  the  surface.  This  seems 
also  to  be  a  general  law  in  the  forma- 
tion of  most  coal  basins,  and  we  have 
good  reason  to  believe  it  will  be  found 
to  be  the  law  in  the  formation  of  the 
deposit  of  coal  on  Deep  River. 

It  is  obvious  that  if  a  bold  dip  was 
long  continued  beneath  the  strata,  that 
our  coals  would  soon  pass  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  miner,  and  the  coal  would 
only  be  attainable  near  the  outcrop. 


It  is  a  curious  and  providential  ar- 
rangement, that  coal  is  always  found  in 
shallow  trough-shaped  basins,  and  that 
it  is  very  rare  for  it  to  sink  to  in  acces- 
sible depths. 

Professor  Walter  R.  Johnson,  in  his 
admirable  report  on  Farmersville  coal- 
mine, says : 

"  The  thickness  of  even  six  feet  two 
inches  of  coal,  worked  in  a  chamber 
seven  feet  nine  inches  in  height,  or  at 
the  point  where  I  last  measured  the 
bed,  is  abundantly  sufficient  for  very 
profitable  workings. 

"The  whole  coal  will  not  of  course 
be  removed,  but  with  careful  i^nining  it 
would  not  be  necessary  to  leave  more 
than  one-fourth  in  the  ground.  The 
gradual  inclination  of  the  beds  does  not 
lead  to  thesupposition,  that  you.  will 
ever  have  to  descend  to  an  excessive 
depth,  and  be  thereby  compelled  to  use 
a  large  proportion  of  coal  for  pillars." 

In  working  coal  mines  it  is  generally 
found  to  be  most  economical  to  sink 
shafts,  and  to  drive  levels,  and  then  to 
cut  out  chambers  in  working  the  coal  . 
The  advantages  of  this  method  over 
that  of  working  by  slopes,  is  obvious. 
Drainage  and  ventilation  are  moreeasj^^ 
and  a  larger  extent  of  ground  can  be 
opened  by  the  miners. 

It  would  be  most  desirable  to  have 
at  least  one  hundred  feet  of  rock  over- 
head in  working  these  mines;  and 
therefore,  when  we  have  ascertained  the 
exact  position  of  coal  by  the  auger, 
shafts  will  be  sunk  in  such  places  as  will 
insure  that  thickness  of  of  loof  rocks  to 
the  mine.  Considerable  time  and  labor 
will  yet  have  to  be  be  expended  in  ex- 
plorations with  the  auger,  before  the 
mines  can  be    advantageously   opened. 

I  beg  leave  to  refer  to  the  late  Pro- 
fessor Walker  R.  Johnson's  report,  for  a 
series  of  chemical  analyses  and  re- 
searches on  the  value  of  Deep  River 
coals,  and  would  recommend  them  to 
your  careful  consideration,  as  models  of 
correct  analytic  work  on  coals. 

[The  analytical  details  alluded  to  are 
omitted,  because  we  are  pressed  foj. 
space,  and  because  they  would  not  bg 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


31Y 


80  interesting  to  the  general  reader  as 
the  other  portions  of  the  report.] 

I  would  respectfully  call  your  at 
tention  lo  the  large  deposits  of  excellent 
iron  oies  that  are  found  in  the  coal  dis- 
trict of  Deep  fxiver. 

They  are,  the  •  blackband  "  iron  ore, 
carbonate  of  iron,  clay  iron  balls,  and 
brown   haematite. 

These  ores  occur  in  sufficient  quantit- 
ies to  warrant  the  erection  of  a  blast 
furnace,  for  the  manufacture  of  cast 
iron. 

Large  quantities  of  iron  ore,  shales, 
and  strata  of  carbonate  of  iron  will  be 
thrown  out  in  working  your  coal  mines  ; 
and  in  addition  to  this  supply  you  can 
obtain  readily,  from  various  plantations 
in  the  vicinity,  a  large  amount  of  iron 
ores  obtained  from  the  surface  soil,  lu 
working  a  coal  mine  large  quantities  of 
small  coal  are  produced, — at  least  one- 
third  of  the  coal  raised  from  the  mine 
being  broken  too  small  to  send  to 
market. 

This  coal  should  be  made  into  cakes, 
and  may  be  economically  employed  in 
emelting  iron  ore. 

All  the  pig  iron  that  can  be  produc- 
ed from  one  blast  furnace  can  be  readily 
sold  on  the  spot  at  prices  that  will  be 
profitable  to  the  company. 

Re-melting  furnaces  will  employ  this 
pig  iron  for  castings,  and  forges  will 
consume  a  large  amount  of  the  pig  iron 
in  the  manufacture  of  bar  iron,  all  of 
which  may  be  sold  on  the  spot  where  it 
is  made ;  for  it  will  be  cheaper  than 
imported  iron,  that  would  require  so 
much  expense  to  be  paid  for  transpor- 
tation from  the  seaboard. 

Limestone,  suitable  for  flux  is  found 
in  the  western  margin  of  your  coal  field, 
and  the  red  sandstone  will  make  a  good 
stack  for  the  furnace  ;  and  the  excellent 
soapstone  found  at  Womble's  and 
Clark's  quarries  will  make  the  best 
hearthstones,  tymps  and  lining  for  it,  as 
the  fire  clay  of  the  coal  mines  will  make 
fire-bricks  for  the  interior  of  the  furnace. 

I  am  satisfied  that  iron  can  be  man- 
ufactured profitably  on  Deep  River.    If 


the  limestone  found  there  does  not  an- 
swer the  purpose  for  flux,  your  boats  re- 
turning from  Cape  Fear  River,  after  dis- 
charging their  loads  of  coal,  could  bring 
back  loads  of  shell  marl,  which  is  near- 
ly pure  carbonate  of  hme,  and  will 
make  a  better  than  flux  any  limestone, 
since  it  is  more  divided,  and.  will  there- 
fore act  more  promptly. 

There  need  be  no  fear  entertained 
with  regard  to  the  practicability  of  man- 
ufacturing iron  on  Deep  River,  and  if 
the  present  prices  are  manufactured,  the 
iron  could  be  made  at  a  very  high  per 
centage  profit. 

I  have,  at  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Mc- 
Clane,  called  your  attention  to  a  branch 
of  business  not  mentioned  in  your  let- 
ter of  instructions  to  me,  and  am  inform- 
ed by  him  that  there  will  be  no  diffi- 
culty in  finding  capital  in  the  neighbor- 
hood to  carry  on  the  works,  if  it  should 
be  decided  to  erect  them. 

With  regard  to  the  value  of  coal  land 
per  acre,  I  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to 
tbe  excellent  State  report  of  Professor 
Emmons,  pages  132-3,  in  wbich  you 
have  an  estimate  applied  to  tbe  Deep 
River  coal  that  is  obviously  correct 

"  If  tbe  thickest  seam  of  coal  is  work- 
ed, whicb  bas  a  thickness  of  six  fuet,  ex- 
clusive of  a  thin  band  of  slate,  it  will 
give  for  every  square  yard  of  surface 
two  square  yards  of  coal.  A  square 
acre  has  4,900  superficial  yards  ;  hence 
there  will  be  9,800  square  yards  of  coal 
in  each  acre,  and  as  a  square  yard  of 
coal  weighs  a  ton,  there  will  be  for 
every  acre,  9,800  tons  of  coal.  A  thou- 
sand acres  will  give  9,800,000  tons  of 
coal,  or  a  square  mile,  6,272,000  tons." 

Trusting     that    your   enterprise   in 
opening  the  coal  mines  of  North  Caro- 
lina will  be  dulj'-   rewarded,  I  have  the 
honor  to  be  your  obedient  servant, 
CHARLES  T.  JACKSON. 


Since  the  above  report  was  set  up  in 
type,  Mr.  McClane  has  discovered  a 
bed  of  coal,  four  feet  ten  inches  in 
thickness,  in  Egypt,  on  the  south  side 
of  the  river,  where  he  perforated  the 


318 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


coal  at  a  deptli  of  361  feet  from  the 
surface.  Our  predictions  are  therefore 
fulfilled,  and  the  coal  has  been  found 
at  a  convenient  place  for  niininsf. 

C.T.J. 


Washington,  30th  Jan.,  1844:. 
Hon.  T.  L.  Clingman, 

Dear  Sir, — I  have  lately  had  occasion, 
as  a  leisure  hour  has  offered,  to  bestow 
some  consideration  on  the  shee})  hus- 
bandry of  the  United  States  ;  in  the 
course  of  which  it  has  occurred  to  me 
that  the  people  of  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina,  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  have 
not  availed  themselves  to  the  extent 
that  they  might  probably  do  of  that 
source  of  reward  for  labor  and  capital. 
It  seems  to  me  that  the  middla  or  billy, 
and  the  mountainous  portions  of  those 
States  and  of  Maryland,  must  be  pecu- 
liarly adapted  to  the  constitution  of  an 
animal  which  appears  to  have  a  natural 
appetency  for  rolling  and  elevated  pas- 
tures. C)r  is  it  that  the  mountains  in 
Yancy  county  for  instance,  are  almost 
exclusively  covered  with  rocks  and  tim- 
ber or  wood,  affording  no  scope  either 
for  the  plough  or  for  grazing?  Its  ele- 
vation of  some  thousand  feet  above  the 
sea  secures  it,  without  doubt,  against  the 
autumnal  diseases  of  the  tide-water 
country.  Is  it  that  the  ^mce  of  the  land 
there  forbids  investment  in  it  with  a 
view  to  such  employment  of  capital  ? 
Or  why  is  it  that  the  swarms  of  hardy 
yeomanry  that  annually  migrate  from 
the  North  should  not  settle  down  in 
districts  described  by  the  latest  and 
ablest  geographical  authority,  Darby, 
as  being  "  highly  salubrious  and  well 
watered,"  instead  of  wending  their  weary 
way  to  regions  less  blessed  with  health, 
and  so  remote  from  the  comforts  of 
denser  populations  ? 

If  time  will  allow  you.  Sir,  to  answer 
ace  rding  to  your  knowledge  and  obser- 
vation how  far  my  impressions  are  cor- 
rect, as  to  the  resources  of  North  Caro- 
lina in  the  particulars  to  which  I  have 
adverted,  you  will  much  oblige  me ;  and 
the  earlier  you  can  favor  me  with  an 


answer,  the  more  will  the  kindness  be 
esteemed,  by 

Yours,  with  great  respect, 

J.  S.  SKINNER. 

House  of  Representatives,  Feb.  3, 1814. 

Denr  Sir, — Your  favor  cf  the  30th 
ultimo  was  received  a  day  or  two  since, 
and  I  now  avail  myself  of  the  very  first 
opportunity  to  answer  it.  I  do  so  mosi 
cheerfully,  because,  in  the  first  place,  I 
am  happy  to  have  it  in  my  power  to 
gratify  in  any  manner  one  who  has  done 
so  much  as  yourself  to  diffuse  correct 
information  on  subjects  most  important 
to  the  agriculture  of  the  country  ;  and 
secondly,  b  cause  I  feel  a  deep  interest 
in  the  subject  to  which  your  inquiries 
are  directed. 

You  state  that  you  have  directed  some 
attention  to  the  sheep  husbandry  of  the 
United  States,  in  the  course  of  which  it 
has  occurred  to  you  that  the  people  of 
the  mountain  regions  of  North  Caroli- 
na, and  some  of  the  other  southern 
States,  have  not  availed  themselves  suf- 
ficiently of  their  natural  advantages  for 
the  production  of  sheep.  Being  myself 
well  acquainted  with  the  w^estern  section 
of  North  Carolina,  I  may  perhaps  be 
able  to  give  you  most  of  the  information 
you  desire.  As  you  have  directed  sev- 
eral of  your  inquiries  to  the  county  of 
Yancy,  (I  presume  from  the  fact,  well 
known  to  you,  that  it  contains  the  high- 
est mountains  in  any  of  the  United 
States,)  I  will,  in  the  first  place,  turn 
my  attention  to  that  county.  First,  as 
to  its  elevation.  Dr.  Mitchell,  of  our 
University,  ascertained  that  the  bed  of 
Tow  river,  the  largest  stream  in  the 
county,  and  at  a  ford  near  its  centre,  was 
about  twenty-two  hundred  feet  above 
the  level  of  the  ocean.  Burnsville,  the 
seat  of  the  ccurt-house,  he  found  to  be 
between  two  thousand  eight  hundred 
rnd  two  thousand  nine  hundred  feet 
above  it.  The  general  level  of  the  coun- 
try is,  of  course,  much  above  this  eleva- 
tion. In  fact,  a  number  of  the  moun- 
tair  summits  rise  above  the  height  of 
six  thousand  feet.     The  climate  is  de- 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


319 


lightfully  cool  during  the  summer ;  in 
fact  there  are  very  few  places  in  the 
county  where  the  thermometer  rises  a- 
hove  eighty  degrees  on  the  hottest  day. 
An  intelligent  gentleman  who  passed  a 
summer  m  the  northern  part  of  the 
county  (rather  the  more  elevated  por- 
tion of  it)  informed  me  that  the  ther- 
mometer did  not  rise  on  the  liottest 
days  above  seventy-six  degrees. 

You  ask,  in  the  next  place,  if  the  sur- 
face of  the  ground  is  so  much  covered 
with  rocks  as  to  render  it  unfit  for  pas- 
ture ?  The  reverse  is  the  fact;  no  por- 
tion of  the  county  that  I  have  passed 
over  is  too  rocky  for  cultivation  ;  and 
in  many  sections  of  the  country  one 
may  travel  miles  without  seeing  a  sin- 
gle stone.  It  is  only  about  the  tops  of 
t^he  higher  mountains  that  rocky  pre- 
cipices are  to  be  found.  A  large  por- 
tion of  the  surface  of  the  country  is  a 
sort  ef  f-levated  table-land,  undulaling, 
but  sehlom  too  broken  for  cultivation. 
Even  as  one  ascends  the  higher  mount- 
ains, he  will  find  occasionally  on  their 
sides  flats  of  level  land,  containing  sev- 
eral hundreds  of  acres  in  a  body.  The 
top  of  the  Roan  (the  highest  mountain 
in  the  county  except  the  Black,)  is  cov- 
ered by  a  prairie  for  ten  miles,  which 
affords  a  rich  pasture  during  the  great- 
er part  of  the  year.  The  ascent  to  it 
is  so  gradual  that  persons  ride  to  the 
top  on  horseback  from  almost  any  di- 
rection. The  same  may  be  said  of  ma- 
ny of  the  other  mountains.  The  soil 
of  the  county  generally,  is  uncommonly 
fertile,  producing  with  tolerable  cultiva- 
tion abundant  crops.  What  seems  ex- 
traordinary to  a  stranger  is  the  fact  that 
the  soil  becomes  richer  as  he  ascends 
the  mountains.  The  sides  of  the  Roan, 
the  Black,  the  Bald,  and  others,  at  an 
elevation  even  of  five  or  six  thousand 
feet  above  the  sea,  are  covered  with  a 
deep  rich  vegetable  mould,  so  soft  that 
a  horse  in  dry  weather  often  sinks  to 
the  fetlock.  The  fact  that  the  soil  is 
frequently  more  fertile  as  one  ascends 
is,  I  presume,  attributable  to  the  circum- 
stance that  the  higher  portions  are  more 


conmaonly  covered  with  clouds ;  and 
the  vegetable  matter  being  thus  kept 
in  a  cool  moist  state  while  decaying,  is 
incorporated  to  a  greater  degree  with 
the  surface  of  the  earth,  just  as  it  is 
usually  found  that  the  north  side  of  a 
hill  is  richer  than  the  portion  most  ex- 
posed to  the  action  of  the  sun's  rays. 
The  sides  of  the  mountains,  the  timber 
being  generally  large,  with  little  under- 
growth and  brushwood,  are  peculiarly 
fitted  for  pasture  grounds,  and  the  veg- 
etation is  in  many  places  as  luxuriant 
as  it  is  in  the  rich  savanna  of  the  low 
country. 

The  soil  of  every  part  of  the  county 
is  not  only  favourble  to  the  production 
of  grain,  but  is  peculiarly  fitted  for 
grasses.  Timothy  is  supposed  to  make 
the  largest  yield,  two  tons  of  hay  be- 
ing easily  produced  on  an  acre,  but 
herds-grass,  or  red-top,  and  clover  suc- 
ceed equally  well ;  blue-grass  has  not 
been  much  tried,  but  is  said  to  do  re- 
markably well.  A  friend  showed  me 
several  spears  which  he  informed  me 
were  produced  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  county,  and  which  by  measurement 
were  found  to  exceed  seventy  inches  in 
length.  Oats,  rye,  potatoes,  turnips, 
&c.,  are  produced  in  the  greatest  abun- 
dance. 

With  the  respect  to  all  the  prices  of 
land,  I  can  assure  you  that  large  bodies 
of  uncleared  rich  land,  most  of  which 
might  be  cultivated,  have  been  sold  at 
prices  varyingfrom  twenty-five  cents  to 
fifty  cents  per  acre.  Any  quantity  of 
land  favorable  for  sheep-walks  might  be 
procured  in  any  section  of  the  county  at 
prices  varying  from  one  to  ten  dollars 
per  acre. 

The  few  sheep  that  exist  in  the  coun- 
ty thrive  remarkably  well,  and  are  some- 
times permitted  to  run  at  large  during 
the  winter  without  being  fed  and  with- 
out suffering.  As  the  number  kept  by 
any  individual  is  not  large  enough  to 
justify  the  employment  of  a  shepherd 
to  take  care  of  them,  they  are  not  un- 
frequently  destroyed  by  vicious  dogs, 
and  more  rarely  by  wolves,  which  have 
not  yet  been  entirely  extermmated. 


320 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


I  have  been  somewhat  prolix  in  my 
observations  on  this  county,  because 
some  of  your  inquiries  were  directed 
particularly  to  it,  and  because  most  of 
what  I  have  said  of  Yancy  is  true  of 
the  other  counties  west  of  the  Blue 
Ridge.  Haywood  has  about  the  same 
elevation  and  climate  as  Yancy.  The 
mountains  are  rather  more  steep,  and 
the  valleys  somewhat  broader;  the  soil 
generally  not  quite  so  deep,  but  very 
productive,  especially  in  grasses.  In 
some  sections  of  the  county,  however, 
the  soil  is  equal  to  the  best  I  have  seen. 
Buncombe  and  Henderson  are  rather 
less  elevated  ;  Ashville  and  Henderson- 
ville,  the  county  towns,  being  each  a- 
bout  two  thousand  two  hundred  feet 
above  the  sea.  The  climate  is  much 
the  same,  but  a  very  little  warmer.  The 
more  broken  portions  of  these  counties 
resemble  much  tlie  mountainous  parts 
of  Yancy  and  Hayv^^ood,  but  they  con- 
tain much  more  level  land.  Indeed  the 
greater  portion  of  Henderson  is  quite 
level.  It  contains  much  swamp  land, 
which,  when  cleared,  with  very  little  if 
any  drainage,  produces  very  fine  crops 
of  herds-grass.  Portions  of  Macon  and 
Cherokee  counties  are  quite  as  favora- 
ble, both  as  to  climate  and  soil,  as  those 
above  described.  I  %vould  advert  par- 
ticularly to  the  Valley  of  the  Nantaha- 
lah,  in  Macon,  and  of  Cheoh,  in  Chero- 
kee. In  either,  for  a  comparatively  tri- 
fling price,  some  ten  or  fifteen  miles 
square  could  be  procured,  all  of  which 
would  be  rich,  and  the  major  part  suffi- 
ciently level  for  cultivation,  and  especial- 
ly fitted,  as  their  natural  meadows  in- 
dicate, for  the  production  of  grass. 

In  conclusion,  I  may  say,  that  as  far 
as  my  limited  knowledge  of  such  mat- 
ters authorizes  me  to  speak,  I  am  satis- 
fied that  there  is  no  region  that  is  more 
favorable  to  the  production  of  sheep 
than  much  of  the  country  I  have  de- 
scribed. It  is  everywhere  healthy  and 
well-watered.  I  may  add,  too,  that 
there  is  water-power  enough  in  the  dif- 
ferent counties  composing  ray  congres- 
sional district  to  move  more  machinery 


ban  human  labor  can  ever  place  there 
— enough  perhaps  to  move  all  now  ex- 
isting in  the  Union.  It  is  also  a  rich 
mineral  region.  The  gold  mines  are 
worked  now  to  a  consideiable  extent. 
The  best  ores  of  iron  are  found  in  great 
abundance  in  many  places  ;  copper,  lead, 
and  other  vegetable  minerals  exist.  That 
must  one  day  become  the  great  manu- 
facturing region  of  the  South.  I  doubt 
if  capital  could  be  used  more  advanta- 
geously in  any  part  of  the  Union  than 
n  that  section. 

For  a  number  of  years  past  the  value 
of  the  live  stock  (as  ascertained  from 
books  of  the  Turnpike  Company)  that 
is  driven  through  Buncombe  countj^,  is 
from  two  to  three  millions  of  aollars. 
Most  of  this  stock  comes  from  Kentucky 
and  Ohio,  and  when  it  has  reached 
Ashville,  it  has  travelled  half  its  journey 
to  the  more  distant  parts  of  the  South- 
ern market,  viz  :  Charleston  and  Savan- 
nah. The  citizens  of  my  district,  there- 
fore, can  get  their  live  stock  into  the 
planting  States  south  of  us  at  one-half 
the  expense  which  those  of  Kentucky 
and  Ohio  are  obliged  to  incur.  Not 
only  sheep,  but  bogs,  horses,  mules,  and 
horned  cattle  can  be  produced  in  many 
portions  of  my  district  as  cheaply  as  in 
those  two  States.  This  must  ere  long 
become  the  great  manufacturing  region 
of  the  South. 

I  have  thus,  sir,  hastily  endeavored 
to  comply  with  your  request,  because 
you  state  that  you  would  like  to  have 
the  information  at  once.  Should  you 
find  my  sketch  of  the  region  a  very  un- 
satisfactory and  imperfect  one,  I  hopd 
you  will  do  me  the  favor  to  rem.ember 
that  the  desk  of  a  member  during  a  de- 
bate is  not  the  most  favorable  position 
for  writing  an  essay. 

With  very  great  respect,  yours, 

T.  L.  CLIN  OMAN. 
J.  S.  Skinner,  Esq. 

Table  of  contents  and  advertisements 
unavoidably  crowded  out  of  this  num- 
ber. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOUMAL 


VOL  2.         RALEIGH,  N.  C,  FEBRUARY,  1854.  NO.  11. 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D.,  Editor  and  Proprietor. 


Guano. 

Extract  from  the  Third  Report  of  James 
Higgins,  M.  D.,  State  Agricultural 
Chemist,  to  the  House  of  Delegates  of 
Maryland,  1853. 

There  is  no  manure  which  has  so 
suddenly  gained  for  itself  extended  use 
and  high  tavor,  as  ^guano ;  none  which 
costs  more  money ;  none  which  differs 
more  in  its  composition  and  usefulness ; 
and  none  which  should  be  more  strictly 
examined  before  being  bought. 

The  other  manures  in  common  use 
have  been  hundreds,  some  of  them  thou- 
sands of  years  in  gaining  the  confidence 
of  the  public.  This,  in  our  own  coun- 
try, has  leaped  suddenly  into  use,  hav- 
ino"  never  known  the  toils  of  youth  nor 
the  helplessness  of  infancy. 

Isiiall  endeavor  in  this  article  to  give 
its  history,  the  composition  of  the  dif- 
ferent varieties,  and  such  directions  for 
its  use  as  iis  own  properties  suggest,  and 
as  experience  in  the  use  of  it  has  shown 

to  be  proper  and  necessary. 

^         *    *     *         *         *         *         % 

Guano  has  within  the  last  few  years, 
instead  of  being  a  mere  matter  of  scien- 
tific curiosity,  become  a  great  object  of 
commercial  enterprise,  and  of  great  in- 
terest to  the  agricultural  community. — 
Guano,  in  the  original  language  of  Pe- 
ru, signifies  dung,  a  word  spelt  by  the 
Spaniards,  huano.  It  has  been  employ- 
ed in  Peru  from  the  remotes  ages,  and 
given  fertility  to  the  barren  sands  along 
its  coast.  Hence  the  Peruvian  proverb 
— "Huano,   though    no  Saint,   works 


many  miracles."  During  the  govern- 
ment of  the  native  Tncas,  severe  penal 
laws  protected  the  birds  which  deposit- 
ed this  manure.  Death  was  the  penal- 
ty for  landing  on  the  Guano  islands 
when  the  birds  were  breeding,  and  the 
same  punishment  was  inflicted  on  those 
who  might  kill  one  at  any  time.  Over- 
seers were  appointed  to  particular  dis- 
tricts to  see  fair  play  in  the  distribution 
of  this  precious  manure. 

Baron  Von  Humboldt  thus  speaks  of 
it  in  1804  :  "  The  guano  is  deposited  in 
layers  of  50  or  60  feet  thick,  upon  the 
granite  of  many  of  the  South  Sea  Is- 
lands, off  the  coast  of  Peru.  During 
300  years,  the  coast  birds  have  deposit- 
ed guano  only  a  few  lines  in  thickness. 
This  shows  how  great  must  have  been 
the  number  of  birds,  and  how  long  the 
time  necessary  to  form  the  present  beds. 
The  strata  have  undergone  many  chang- 
es according  to  the  length  of  time  they 
have  been  deposited.  Here  and  there 
they  are  covered  with  silicious  sand,*  and 
have  thus  been  protected  from  the  in- 
fluence of  the  weather,  but  in  other 
places  they  have  lain  open  to  the  influ- 
ence of  the  air,  light  and  water,  which 
have  produced  important  changes  upon 
them." 

The  best  Peruvian  guano  came  from 
the  Chincha  islands,  which  are  t^ree  in 
number,  and  lie  in  one  line  from  north 
to  south,  about  a  half  mile  apart.  They 


*  How  does  this  agree  with  the  oft  repeated 
statements  of  interested  individuals  who  say  it 
is  all  alike  ?  -^ 


322 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


are  in  lat.  30  degrees  and  40  degree  S. 
about  12  mifes  distant  from  the  coast 
of  Peru.  No  rain  falls  there.  Each 
island  is  from  five  to  six  miles  in  cir- 
cumference, consisting  of  granite  co\er- 
ed  with  guano,  in  some  places  to  the 
height  of  two  hundred  feet,  in  succes- 
sive strata,  each  stratum  being  from 
three  to  ten  inches  in  thickness,  vary- 
ing in  color  from  a  light  to  a  dark  brown. 
No  earthly  matter  'whatever  is  mixed 
with  this  vast  7nass  of  excrement.  At 
some  of  the  points  where  the  guano  is 
now  worked,  the  height  of  the  deposits 
is  upwards  of  80  feet,  and  the  removal 
of  200,000  tons  has  scarcely  afiected  it 
in  a  single  degree.  As  may  be  imagin- 
ed from  the  immense  weight  of  the  mass, 
and  the  gradual  way  in  which  it  has 
been  formed,  its  solidit}'  is  vqyj  consid- 
erable, and  in  some  cases  it  has  been 
necessary  to  blast  it  as  we  would  a  rock 
of  sand-stone  or  lime-stone.  It  is  very 
obvious  that  in  this  case  the  guano  will 
be  preserved  in  great  purity,  and  that 
we  have  enough  there  to  last  for  all  the 
purposes  of  Agriculture  for  many  cen- 
turies yet  to  come.  There  is  another 
variety  of  guano,  of  which  only  a  few 
cargoes  have  gone  toEngland,  and  none 
of  which  have  come  to  this  country, 
called  Angamos  Angaraos  guano,  bet- 
ter somewhat  than  the  Peruvian. 

Guano  is  also  brought  from  Ichaboe, 
from  the  coast  of  Patagonia,  from  Sal- 
danha  l)ay,  and  lately  from  Mexico.  I 
have  been  informed  that  near  Key  West, 
and  in  several  other  places  on  the  coast 
bordering  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  on 
some  of  the  shores  of  our  Northern 
Lakes,  large  deposits  of  this  manure 
abound.  It  would  be  well  worth  the 
attention  of  some  of  our  enterprising 
u\erchants  to  examine  into  this;  and  our 
naval  officers,  too,  on  duty  there,  would 
confer  a  great  favor  on  their  country 
were  thay  to  examine  and  bring  to  light 
these  deposits.  The  composition  of 
such  of  these  guanos  as  are  sold,  I  shall 
show,  and  their  differences.  Amongst 
what  are  called  concentrated  manures, 
guano,  without  competition,  holds  the 


first  place.  Practical  experience  for 
ages  in  uncivilized  countries  bears  testi- 
mony to  its  value.  Practice  and  science 
alike  confirm  that  testimony/  in  the  lat- 
est times  and  in  the  most  civilised  na- 
tions. 

To  what,  then,  does  guano  owe  its 
confessed  superiority  ?  To  what  its 
high  I'snk  above  other  manures  ?  What 
is  that  in  it  which  makes  it  equally 
sought  after  by  the  savage  on  the  wild 
coast  of  Peru,  the  nobility  of  England, 
and  the  lord  of  the  soil  in  tlie  United 
States  ? 

I  do  not  pretend  to  assume  the  posi- 
tion of  a  discoverer,  in  answering  these 
questions.  It  is  only  a  part  of  my  offi- 
cial duty,  in  giving  answer  to  the  above 
questions,  to  make  public  what  is  known 
of  this  article  ;  so  that  the  Agricultu- 
ralists may  have  facts  placed  before 
them  in  relation  to  it,  and  may  thus 
form  opinions  fixed  on  a  reliable  basis. 
Very  many  elaborate  analyses  o^' guano 
have  been  published  by  scientific  men, 
and  much  light  shed  on  its  composition. 
Unfortunately,  however,  for  practical 
men,  these  analyses  are  so  elaboi'ate,  so 
complex,  and  clothed  in  terms  so  un- 
known to  the  mass  of  these  who  use  it, 
as  to  be  to  them  of  but  little  value. 

But  as  these  analyses  were  made 
purely  for  she  eyes  of  scientific  men, 
they  cannot  be  complained  of.  This  is 
not  the  case,  however,  wdien  analyses 
are  made  for  merchants,  to  aid  them  in 
the  sale  of  particular  cargoes,  and  are 
made  so  as  to  deceive  those  who  are 
not  well  acquainted  with  the  terms  used 
in  Chemistry. 

Again  :  Some  analyses  which  have 
been  published,  combine  together  seve- 
ral ditferent  substances  of  difi'erent  val- 
ues, and  thus  no  one  can  tell  from  them 
the  precise  composition  of  the  article, 
nor  how  much  it  is  worth.  Thus  we 
have,  for  instance,  10  per  cent,  "organic 
matter  and  salts  of  ammonia,"  without 
specifying  how  much  salts  of  ammonia, 
and  what  salts  of  ammonia  they  are. — 
The  diflfereni  acids  unite  with  different 
proportions  of   ammonia  to  form  salts, 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


323 


and  we  caunot  know  how  raucli  ammo- 
nia is  present  unless  the  particular  salts 
be  separately  specified,  although  ammo- 
nia is,  as  I  shall  hereafter  show,  the 
chief  valuable  constituent  in  Peruvian 
Guano.  By  making  analyses  in  this 
form,  the  ignorant  ave  often  grievously 
imposed  upon, — the  analyses  are  pub- 
lished over  a  respectable  name, — a  large 
per  centage  of  the  "  salts  of  ammonia  " 
is  shown,  which  the  purchaser  some- 
times is  made  to  beheve  is  pure  ammo- 
nia ;  he  buys  the  guano,  and  is  cheated. 
Of  course  such  analyses  by  whomsoever, 
or  for  whatsoever  purpose  made,  are  er- 
roneous, have  led  and  may  lead  to  gross 
imposition.  As  the  analyses  of  guano 
are  usually  made,  the  quantity  of  salts 
of  amraooia,  divided  by  three,  will  give 
very  nearly  the  amount  of  real  ammo- 
nia in  the  guano,  and  purchasers  should 
look  well  to  this  before  buying  it.  To 
obviate  these  objections,  and  to  place 
in  a  clear  light  the  agricultural  value  of 
guano,  I  have  always  made  analyses  to 
show  the  value,  in  an  agricultural  point 
of  view,  of  the  different  specimens,  by 
showing  the  quantity  of  the  several 
valuable  constituents — those  things  to 
which  guano  owes  its  value  ;  for  we  all 
know  that  it  is  due  not  to  its  name,  nor 
to  any  hidden  or  mystical  quality  in  it, 
but  to  those  substances  which  plants 
require  for  food,  and  which  must  be 
present  in  soils  before  they  can  be  pro- 
ductive.    These  are — 

First — Ammonia. 

Secondly— Phosphates,  (combinations 
of  phosphoric  acid,  with  lime,  magnesia, 
potash  or  soda.) 

To  these — principally  to  the  first — 
almost  entirely  to  the  two — does  guano 
owe  its  value  ;  and  we  can  assign  a  mo- 
ney value  to  each,  and  thus  estimate  the 
value  of  any  particular  quantity  by  the 
aggregate  value  of  the  diflferent  sub- 
stances which  make  up  that  quantity. 
The  value  of  the  whole  being  equal  to 
the  united  value  of  the  several  parts 
necessary  to  make  up  that  whole. 

By  th.e  most  careful  estimates,  the 
ammonia   is   worth  about  11,  and  the 


phosphoric  acid  as  it  exists  in  guano, 
representing  a  little  more  than  double 
its  quantity  of  burnt  bone-dust,  is  worth 
3  1-2  cents  per  pound,  and  every  analy- 
ses should  state  the  amount  of  Phos- 
phoric Acid,  and  not  the  phosphates 
which  are  variable  compounds. 

There  are  severaf  other  constituents 
in  guano  besides  those  first  mentioned 
— a  little  plaster  of  Paris,  a  smaller 
quantity  of  common  salt,  &c. ;  but  these 
are  in  such  small  quantities  as  not  to 
be  worthy  of  consideration,  because  they 
can  be  very  easily  supplied  from  many 
sources.  The  statements  which  I  made 
upon  this  subject,  when  last  addressing 
your  honorable  body,  I  still  adhere  to, 
for  they  have  been  since  confirmed  by 
repeated  observation,  by  the  concurrent 
testimony  of  many  practical  men,  and 
borne  out  by  other  high  authorities 
than  those  given  at  that  time.  I  then 
said: 

"  Notwithstanding  the  various  com- 
pounds which  enter  into  its  composition, 
yet  its  value  almost  entirely  depends  on 
two  of  them.  On  the  ammonia  already 
present  in  it  as  a  salt,  with  that  which 
is  capable  of  being  formed  by  the  de- 
composition of  its  azotized  matter,  and 
on  its  phosphates,  which  are  combina- 
tions of  this  acid  with  some  base.  The 
small  quantity  of  the  other  substances 
in  it  possess  no  particular  value,  as  they 
can,  if  needed,  be  supplied  much  cheap- 
er from  other  sources. 

Does  the  value  of  guano  depend  on 
its  ammonia  which  it  already  may  have, 
or  which  may  be  formed  in  it,  and  its 
phosphoric  acid  or  phosphates  ?  We 
have,  in  support  of  this,  a  unity  of  sen- 
timent amongst  the  ablest  chemists. — 
Liebig,  Ure,  Johnston,  Way,  and  indeed, 
nearly  all  who  have  written  on  the  sub- 
ject, agree  in  the  opinion  that  guano 
owes  its  value  to  its  ammonia  and  phos- 
phates. These  two  substances  must 
give  guano  its  value,  or  nothing  else 
does,  for  take  away  these  two,  and  only 
a  moiety  of  other  matters  remain,  which 
can  be  cheaply  obtained  from  other 
sources. 


324 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Not  only  are  these  substances  the 
cause  of  the  value  of  guano,  but  as  ei- 
ther may  exist  in  greater  or  less  propor- 
tion, in  any  particular  specimen,  it  makes 
that  specimen  better  or  worse  for  par- 
ticular soils.  Ammonia  is  supplied  to 
plants  in  large  quantities  from  the  at- 
mosphere, being  absorbed  by  soils,  and, 
with  iron  and  clay,  forms  "  true  salts." 
But  if  any  particular  soil  has  not  this 
absorbent  capacity,  and  has  a  deficiency 
of  iron  and  clay,  it  cannot  obtain  am- 
monia from  the  usual  source  of  supply, 
and  will  be  unproductive,  unless  it  be 
supplied  from  some  other  source.  If 
guano  is  used,  then  the  purchaser  should 
know  which  of  the  different  lots  con- 
tain the  most  ammonia.  But  many 
soils  have  the  capacity  to  supply  them- 
selves with  ammonia,  but  are  deficient 
in  phosphates,  and  therefore  barren  ; 
and  if  the  owners  of  soils  find  it  more 
convenient  to  buy  guano  than  any  oth- 
er manure,  they  should  know  what  spe- 
cimens contains  the  largest  quantities 
of  phosphates,  what  samples  contain 
the  most  of  what  they  want.  If  the 
purchaser  does  not  know,  would  he  not 
be  constantly  liable  to  loss  in  Duying 
the  wrong  specimens  ?  If  it  even  acts 
well,  he  is  not  assured  that  another  spe- 
raen  would  not  have  acted  better.  If, 
on  his  land,  in  one  year,  he  makes  a 
luxuriant  crop,  by  the  use  of  guano,  the 
next  year  by  the  use  of  a  different  spe- 
cimen, even  at  the  same  price,  he  may 
make  a  very  inferior  crop.  Guano, 
therefore,  has  a  relative  value  in  relation 
to  particular  soils,  as  it  can  supply  them 
with  a  greater  or  less  proportion  of  their 
deficiencies ;  it  has  an  absolute  value 
depending  on  the  quantity  of  ammcnia 
which  is  already  or  can  be  formed  in  it, 
and  on  its  phosphates.  Most  clearly 
and  unquestionably  then,  its  inspection 
should  show  the  proportion  of  each  of 
these  constituents,  so  as  to  show  its  ab- 
solute worth,  and  its  relative  value  of 
different  soils.  When  a  farmer  is  buy- 
ing guano,  let  him  know  how  much  of 
each  valuable  substance  he  may  be  pur- 
chasing, then  he  will  not  be  spending 


his  money  without  knowing  what  he  is 
getting  for  it,  and  can  better  suit  his 
guano  to  his  particular  soiLt  The  pro- 
portion of  the  two  valuable  substances 
is  very  variable,  and  yet  the  guano,  at 
present,  has  but  two,  or,  at  most,  three 
grades  of  value. 

***** 

-  The  average  of  all  analyses  made  by 
Leibig,  show  the  average  composition 
of  undamaged  Peruvian  guano  to  be 
of  per  cent. 

Ammonia,  17.41 

Phosphate  of  Lime,  24.12 

Potash,  3.5D 

In  England,  this  manure  is  offered 
for  s?i\q,  guaranteed  io  contain  16  per 
cent,  of  ammonia,  by  the  ton,  of  2240 
lbs.  at  a  less  rate  than  it  is  sold  here, 
with  no  guarantee,  for  2000  pounds, 
because  protected  (?)  by  an  inspection 
which  allows,  in  some  instances,  6,  8, 
10,  12,  14,  16  and  lY  per  cent,  of  am- 
monia alike  to  pass  as  No.  1. 

*  *    *      *  *  * 

Mode  of  Application. — The  proper 
rule  to  sow  guano  is  to  place  it  always 
as  near  the  seed  as  possible.  With  wheat, 
therefore,  it  should  be  covered  as  deep 
as  the  wheat,  and  no  deeper,  and  in  the 
same  way  with  other  crops.  After  the 
ground  has  been  properly  prepared  for 
seeding,  let  the  wheat  be  sown,  then 
the  guano,  and  the  whole  harrowed  in 
together,  or  turned  under  in  whatever 
way  the  farmer  has  been  accustomed 
to  do  it.  If  the  drill  be  used  (as  it  al- 
ways should  be)  for  putting  in  wheat, 
then  the  guano  must  be  sown  on  the 
furrow,  and  harrowed  in  before  the 
wheat  is  drilled.  In  a  stiff  clay  soil,  or 
in  soils  stiff  from  a  large  quantity  of 
fine  sand,  such  as  the  "  White  Oak 
Soils  ;"  or  in  light  sandy  or  gravelly 
soils,  if  the  proper  quantity  of  plaste'r 
has  been  used,  no  loss  will  happen. 
The  ammonia  always  benefits  plants 
most  in  the  first  stages  of  their  growth  ; 
in  the  latter  stages  it  is  not  near  so  ben- 
eficial. Hence  the  propriety  of  the  rule 
for  bringing  the  guano  in  proper  quan- 
tities very  near  to  the  seed  as  soon  as  it 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


325 


germinates.  The  plant  is  thus,  in  its 
most  necessitous  condition,  supplied 
with  food  and  receives  corresponding 
benefit.  It  sends  out  numerous  roots, 
which  are  so  many  additional  sources  of 
supply  to  it  of  mineral  matters  in  the 
sofl.  There  is  also  a  corresponding  ex- 
pansion and  growth  of  leaves  which  ob- 
tain the  food  from  the  atmosphere.  The 
guano  thus  not  only  nourishes  the  plant 
directly,  but  enables  it  to  seek  for  ap- 
propriate and  more  abundant  supplies 
from  other  sources.  It  helps  it  when 
it  most  needs  help,  and  then  enables  it 
to  help  itself. 

From  the  Ohio  Fanner. 
Value  of  Deep  Tillage  and  Draining. 

BY  W.  W.  WRIGHT,  OF  OBERLIN,  OHIO, 

Friend  Browx  :  This  evening,  while 
looking  over  your  truly  valuable  paper, 
and  observing  its  interesting  correspon- 
dence, I  was  reminded  of  the  partial 
promise  I  made  you  when  last  we  met, 
to  give  you  some  little  account  of  my 
ways  and  doings. 

Well,  as  my  acres  are  not  so  numer- 
ous as  those  of  some  of  your  correspon- 
dents, I  am  endeavoring  to  get  as  much 
land  to  the  acre  as  possible.  My  title 
runs  pretty  deep,  so  if  there  is  anything 
valuable  beneath  the  mere  surface,  I 
am  bound  to  have  it.  My  intention  is, 
to  double  the  amount  of  my  land^  with- 
out enlarging  my  farm. 

I  expect  to  save,  in  the  first  place, 
the  taxes  on  an  equal  amount  of  land. 
Also,  I  have  no  time  for  unnecessary 
steps  ;  so  if  I  can  get  one  acre  beneath 
another,  I  shall  save  something  in  this 
line;  I  shall  save  half  the  tim^  in  going 
to  and  returning  from  my  labor.  My 
crops  will  be  twice  as  near  my  barn 
,  and  cellar,  and  in  turn,  my  enriching 
materials  will  be  as  much  nearer  my 
land. 

Again,  my  fences  will   cost  but  half 
.   what  they  otherwise  would.      The  sav- 
ing here  is  not  a  mere  trifle. 

When  the  soil  has  been  a  few  times 


THOROUGHLY     TILLED,      AND    ENRICHED* 

twice  or  thrice  the  usual  depth,  it  wiU 
require  no  more  time  to  till  an  acre, 
and  yet  twice  the  amount  of  produce 
may  be  relied  on.  Here  will  be  saved, 
in  the  first  place,  the  time  and  labor  of 
tilling  an  acre  of  land. 

Again,  if  the  produce  is  doubled,  the 
profits  tcill  be  vastly  more  than  doubled, 
and  the  pleasure  of  the  toil  will  be  in- 
creased in  the  same  ratio.  For  exam- 
ple: if  a  man  sows  an  acre  of  ground, 
and  spends  five  dollars  in  preparing  the 
land,  buying  the  seed,  and  putting  in 
the  same,  and  three  dollars  in  harvest- 
ing and  preparing  for  market,  and  gets 
ten  dollars  worth  of  produce,  he  must 
pay  the  remaining  two  dollars  for  the 
rent  of  his  land.  He  has  here  only 
earned  days''  wages. 

Now  suppose  he  had  spent  even  thir- 
ty dollars,  the  then  value  of  his  acre  of 
land,  in  doubling  or  trebling  the  depth 
of  his  soil,  and  enriching  the  same,  he 
then  has  to  add  to  the  annual  cost  of 
tillage  the  annual  interest  of  thirty  dol- 
lars thus  expended — say  two  dollars. — 
Now  if  he  gets  double  the  produce 
from  an  acre,  he  then  gets  not  merely 
his  days^  wages,  seed  and  rent,  together 
with  the  additional  two  dollars  interest, 
but  makes  a  clear  profit  of  eight  dollars 
an  acre  ;  the  produce  now  being  twen- 
ty dollars.  To  be  sure  it  would  cost  a 
trifle  more  to  harvest  and  fit  for  market 
the  latter  crop,  but  this  trifle  would  be 
more  than  compensated  in  the  pleasure 
derived  from  this  kind  of  tillage. 

Or,  if  we  vary  the  yield  of  the  first 
acre  from  ten  to  fifteen  dollars'  worth, 
the  soil  that  was  rich  enough  to  pro- 
duce this  difiisrence,  would  be  equally 
benefitted  by  the  thorough  tillage  spok- 
en of  above.  If  the  yield  be  represent- 
ed by  fifteen,  the  profits  would  be  five, 
and  that  of  the  thoroughly  tilled  would 
be  eighteen  to  the  acre. 

Or,  if  twenty  dollars'  worth  be  ob- 
tained from  the  acre  in  the  first  situa- 
tion, the  profit  would  be  ten  dollars, 
and  the  profit  of  the  deeply  tilled  would 
be  twenty  dollars  an  acre. 


326 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Again,  a  clay  soil  that  is  tilled  twice 
or  thrice  the  usual  depth,  may  be 
wrought  twice  as  many  days  in  a  year, 
and  will  be  vastly  more  pleasant  to  till. 
Again,  such  a  soil  will  be  several  de- 
grees warmer  than  \i  would  be  if  a  large 
proportion  of  the  water  evaporated  from 
the  surface.  Evaporation  either  dissi- 
pates the  heat,  or,  what  seems  more 
probable,  causes  it  to  combine  with  some 
other  element,  so  that  its  sensible  effect 
as  heat  is  neutralized.  Almost  any 
farmers'  boy  knows  that  he  can  keep  a 
■jug  of  water  cool,  under  the  hottest  sun 
of  harvest,  if  he  but  take  the  precaution 
to  keep  his  jug  bound  in  a  wet  cloth, 
so  that  evaporation  shall  be  rapid. 

There  is  also  another  cause  which 
contributes  to  raise  the  temperature  of 
a  deej-),  open  soil.  I  refer  to  the  heat 
that  is  brought  down  in  showers  of 
warm  rain.  Who  has  not  been  sur- 
prised at  the  effect  of  showers  of  warm 
rain  in  melting  snow  or  ice.  Heat 
seems  to  be  heavenly  in  its  origin,  and 
is  ever  tending  upward.  It  descends 
only  when  compelled,  as  in  the  case  of 
falling  rain.  Now  if  the  soil  is  not  deep 
and  ojjen  the  heat  of  descending  show- 
ers is  lost. 

Again,  the  loss  of  heat  is  by  no  means 
the  only  great  loss  sustained  in  these 
circumstances.  The  rain  and  snow 
bring  down  various  gaseous  elements 
which  have  been  absorbed  by  them  in 
the  air,  or  have  entered  into  combination 
with  them.  Some  of  the  most  valua- 
ble elements  of  decaying  vegetable  and 
animal  substances  are  taken  up  in  a 
gaseous  form,  and  thus  held  by  or  com- 
bined with  the  air  and  the  moisture. — 
This  seems  to  be  a  heaven  ai^pointed 
method  of  counteracting  the  shiftleness 
and  wastefulness  of  this  and  past  gene- 
rations. For  the  time  will  come  when 
every  ^;ar^fc?e  of  m.atter  in  earth,  air, 
and  sea,  that  can  be  converted  into  sus- 
tenance for  human  beings,  loill  be  de- 
manded to  supply  the  wants  of  our  ra- 
pidly increasing  race.  Most  of  these 
ascending  gases  are  obnoxious  to  our 
nasal  organs,   and   are  generally  so  in 


proportion  to  their  value  as  enriching 
materials.  The  decomposition,  of  those 
bodies  most  highly  charged  with  nitro- 
gen, such  as  hair,  wool,  leather,  &c  ,  by 
fire,  is  very  offensive.  This  seems  to  be 
to  warn  men  that  a  great  ivaste  \&he\ng 
made. 

There  is  no  cereal  that  has  a  greater 
proportion  of  nitrogen  than  beans.  The 
water  in  which  beans  have  been  partial- 
ly decomposed,  by  boiling,  is  exceeding- 
ly offensive.  Nature  seems  to  cry  out 
against  this  waste. 

But  to  return,  I  design,  and  I  think 
it  was  the  design  of  Providence,  that  all 
the  water  that  falls  should  go  through 
the  soil.  A  French  Chemist  has  been 
engaged  in  analyzing  rain  water.  He 
reports  that  enriching  elements  equal 
to  a  moderate*  dressing  of  Peruvian 
Guano  are  contained  in  twenty-four  in- 
ches of  rain.  Now  we  have  about  for- 
ty inches  a  year.  If  one  half  of  this 
water  runs  off  from  the  surface,  we  have 
sustained  a  great  loss  from  this  source, 
and  also  another,  irom  its  having  wash- 
ed away  much  that  is  valuable  in  the 
soil. 

It  is  poor  policy  to  throw  even  clay 
lands  up  into  rolling  beds.  To  be  sure 
it  is  the  last  of  two  evils — the  standing 
of  water  or  the  wasting  cf  the  soil.  I 
do  not  object  to  ditches,  whether  cover- 
ed or  uncovered,  to  carry  off"  the  surplus 
water,  when  it  has  passed  through  the 
soil.  Yet  I  prefer  to  cover  the  ditches, 
because  over  them  you  reap  your  most 
abundant  harvest,  while  in  the  others 
some  of  your  best  soil  is  going  "the 
way  of  all  the  eai-th,"  , 

Again,  I  want  the  air  to  circulate 
through  the  soil  to  twice  or  thrice  the 
usual  depth.  Why  is  it  that  frequent 
stirring  of  the  soil  has  such  inagic pow- 
er to  lyroduce  great  crops?  I  answer, 
it  is  mainly  because  it  bSovH?,  facilities 
for  atmospheric  contact.  The  air  seems 
to  be  a  powerful  agent,  assisting  in  the 
various  changes  required  in  the  soil  to 
prepare  food  for  plants.  You  may  take 
poor,  lean  earth  from  the  bottom  of  a 
well,  and  expose  it  to  the  action  of  the 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


32*7 


air,  frost  and  rain.  At  first  there  is  not 
vitality  enough  to  give  life  to  the  fee- 
blest plant.  But  in  a  few  mouths, 
though  it  be  not  cultivated,  vegetation 
will  start  forth.  Whence  has  it  derived 
this  power?  I  answer — from  the  ac- 
tion of  these  elements.  It  is  barely 
possible  that  light,  though  it  does  not 
penetrate  far  into  the  soil,  has  some 
agency  in  producing  these  decomposi- 
tions. 

The  above  are  some  of  the  considera- 
tions that  have  prompted  ine  in  deep 
tillarie.  Of  the  mode  of  this  tillage,  I 
will  speak  hereafter. 


From  the  Ohio  Farmer. 

Home. 

BY  GEN.  L.  V.  BIERCE,  OF  AKRON,  O. 

Ever}'  person  has  a  2ylace  to  stay,  but 
how  few  have  homes  in  which  to  live. 
By  home  I  do  not  mean  a  house— but 
a  HOME — where  om-  household  ideas 
dwell,  surrounded  by  comforts.  To  call 
a  cold,  cheerless  pile  of  brick  or  lumber 
home,  because  we  compel  our  loved  ones 
to  live  there,  is  as  inappropriate  as  to 
call  the  felon's  cell  his  home,  because 
his  egress  is  prevented.  To  make  a 
house  home,  it  should  not  only  be  the 
spot  where  we  live,  but  by  its  beauties 
and  attractions,  the  one  of  all  others 
where  we  wish  to  live. 

But  to  my  purpose.  In  travelling 
through  our  country,  how  often  do  we 
see  a  house  with  an  exterior  in  no  ways, 
perhaps,  objectionable,  but  if  you  exam- 
ine very  minutely  you  might  be  led  to 
think  it  a  private  jail,  from  the  fact  that 
you  find  one  of  the  windows  strangely 
barred,  as  if  it  were  the  dungeon.  Un- 
derneath this  grated  window  is  usually 
seen  a  spout  protruding  through  the 
side  of  the  house,  and  under  the  spout 
a  pool  of  a  peculiar  character.  It  can- 
not be  strictly  classified  as  mineral,  or 
vegetable,  or  animal,  but  partakes  of 
all;  as  in  its  turbid  bosom  potato  skins 
and  sausage  ends,  tea  grounds  and 
gnawed  bones,  turnip  tops  and  live  hogs. 


are  mingled  in  horrid,  loathsome  con- 
fusion. And,  oh,  the  horrors  of  a  sum- 
mer's day  !  Unlike  the  Pool  of  Siloam, 
these  waters  are  disturbed,  not  by  an 
angel,  for  one  in  the  infernal  pit  could 
not  be  found  filthy  enough  to  dabble  in 
them — but  by  hogs — and  when  disturb- 
ed, instead  of  healing  those  who  first 
step  in,  the  stench  would  kill  a  horse  a 
Sabbath  day's  journey  off". 

Do  you  call  such  a  place  home  ?  It 
ought  to  be  an  additional  cause  for  di- 
vorce for  a  man  to  put  his  wife  into 
such  a  place  ;  and  a  woman  who  would 
become  pai'tlceps  criminis,  by  consent- 
ing to  it,  ought  to  have  been  compelled 
to  live  an  old  maid. 

But  on  inquiry,  I  am  told  that  those 
bars  are  placed  across  the  pantry  win- 
dow to  keep  the  cats  out !  Why  not 
disfigure  your  house  by  placing  bars 
across  your  front  door  to  keep  them 
out  ?  If  such  is  the  object,  let  me  sug- 
gest a  remedy  for  this  intolerable  dis- 
figuration of  your  house.  Make  a  light 
frame  of  boards,  that  will  just  fit  into 
the  window  casings,  cover  this  frame 
with  wire  gauze,  with  meshes  of  about 
half  an  inch — the  whole  forming  an  el- 
gant  door  window.  Hang  this  on  one 
side  of  your  window  casing,  with  a  nice 
button  to  fasten  it  on  the  other  side, 
and  you  have  a  beautiful  protection, 
which  will  allow  you  to  take  out  your 
whole  window  during  the  hot  weather, 
and  the  whole  at  an  expense  of  not 
over  one  dollar. 

An  examination  will  show  that  spout 
to  be  connected  with  a  sink  (it  ought 
to  be  sunk)  on  the  inside.  ITere  dish 
water,  and  soap  suds,  "  pot-liquor  "  and 
"  clobbered  "  milk,  are  mingled  in  their 
course  to  the  vast  pool  in  which  are 
buried  all  their  beauties,  to  be  cast  forth 
in  the  pestilential  miasma  that  causes 
our  most  putrid  fevers.  And  Vfhy 
should  they  not  be  putrid  when  the  on- 
ly air  we  breathe,  sleeping  or  waking,  is 
filled  with  putridity ! 

Now  this  is  not  only  abusing  his  fam- 
ily, and  his  neighbors,  and  the  public, 
but  rohbiny  himself.     With  a  family  of 


828 


THB  FAliMER'S  JOURNAL. 


six  persons,  and  a  very  little  labor,  a 
man  may  make,  from  this  oflfensive 
compound,  enough  manure,  of  the 
choicest  kind,  to  produce  a  hundred 
bushels  of  wheat.  Let  all  the  house- 
filth  be  added  to  the  mixture,  and  in- 
stead of  running  through  the  side  of  the 
pantry,  forming  a  pool  that  will  scatter 
sickness  and  disgust  as  far  as  its  villain- 
ous smells  can  reach,  you  will  have 
added  to  your  wealth  what  is  equal  to 
one  hundred  bushels  of  wheat  a  year. 

To  save  all  this  effectually,  every 
person  should  have,  near  his  house,  a 
mound  of  straw,  weeds,  muck,  or  some 
other  like  substance.  The  earth  under 
it  should  be  hollowed-bowl  shaped. 
When  the  mound  is  completed,  of  a  size 
to  suit  the  taste  of  the  owner,  it  should 
be  covered  up  the  sides,  like  a  coal  pit, 
with  swamp  muck,  or  turf,  or  earth, 
leaving  a  large  bowl-shaped  depression 
on  the  top,  into  which  to  pour  all  of  the 
oflals  of  the  house.  Into  this,  occa- 
sionally, put  half  a  bushel  of  lime  and 
plaster  ;  the  ffrst  to  aid  decomposition  ; 
the  plaster  to  destroy  or  neutralize  the 
effluvia. 

If  this  mound  is  built  and  finished 
with  taste,  flowers  may  be  raised  on  it ; 
and  thus  what  now  form  the  sickening, 
disgusting  pool,  will  not  only  be  de- 
prived of  all  its  noxious  qualities,  but 
add  to  the  beauties,  and  enjoyments, 
and  wealth,  of  the  lovely  spot  called 
home. 


What  is  the  true  Value   of  Manure  ? 

This  is  a  very  important  question,  be- 
cause upon  the  answer  given  to  it  will 
depend  the  degree  of  appreciation  in 
which  a  farmer  holds  manure,  and  the 
pains  he  takes  to  accumulate  and  apply 
it.  In  countries  long  cultivated,  manure 
becomes  absolutely  essential  for  the 
profitable  growth  of  any  crop  at  all  ; 
and  thus  a  late  English  writer  defines 
the  chief  business  of  farming  to  be  "  the 
bringing  manure  on  to  the  land,  and 
carrying  produce  and  cattle  oflf  it," — 
connecting  together  the  manure  and 
produce  as  catise  and  effect  ? 


In  new  countries,  while  the  virgin 
soil  is  still  replete  with  all  that  vegeta- 
tion asks  for,  manures  are  not  of  such 
essential  importance ;  without  theai 
there  can  be  tolerably  remunerative 
crops ;  but  to  retain  the  soil  in  as  prof- 
itable a  state  as  it  was  when  we  pur- 
chased it ;  to  raise  as  large  crops  year 
after  year  ;  to  make  an  acre  of  land  in 
the  West  bear  as  many  bushels  of  wheat 
as  an  acre  in  England,  manures  are  quite 
as  necessary. 

"We  do  not  wish,  at  present,  to  agitate 
the  question  whether  small  crops  with- 
out, or  large  crops  with  manure,  are  the 
most  j-jfrq/itafe^e.  The  answer  to  this 
may  depend  upon  a  number  of  varying 
circumstances.  The  planters  of  the 
south-west  find  it  most  profitable  to  buy 
wild  land  ;  crop  it  incessantly  for  a  few 
years  till  it  is  impoverished  ;  desert  it; 
and  buy  new  land  again  ;  their  capital 
being  invested  in  their  servants,  the  cost 
of  the  land  is  of  little  importance  to 
them.  So  also  many  of  the  first  settlers 
of  a  new  country  in  the  North  find  it 
most  profitable  to  take  all  they  can  from 
the  soil  as  long  as  it  will  pay  them  to 
work  it;  then  sell  it,  and  move  still  fur- 
ther West.  Their  capital  is  their  sin- 
ews and  muscles  ;  their  profit,  the  in- 
creased value  of  the  farm,  owing  to  the 
clearing  and  setthng  of  the  country ; 
and  as  they  do  not  intend  to  remain 
upon  it,  the  ultimate  condition  of  the 
soil  is  of  no  importance  to  them.  Be- 
sides these,  there  are  other  positions, 
such  as  distance  from  market;  high 
price  of  labor  and  low  price  of  produce  ; 
and  such  like,  where  any  expenditure 
would  entail  a  certain  loss.  When 
therefore  we  ask,  What  is  the  true  val- 
ue of  manure  ?  we  wish  to  consider  it 
on  its  abstract  merits,  and  leave  to  each 
reader  to  make  his  own  calculations 
whether — even  admitting  that  manure 
is  of  far  greater  value  than  he  is  in  the 
habit  of  regarding  it — it  will  pay  him 
to  use  it ;  or  he  wishes  to  wear  out  his 
soil,  and  again  seek  elsewhere  for  prim- 
itive luxuriance.  For  situated  as  we 
farmers  are  in  the  West,  we  have,  final- 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


329 


\y,  only  the  choice  of  three  courses, — to 
keep  up  the  land,  by  the  use  of  artifi- 
cial means,  to  its  original  fertility — to 
wear  it  out  and  yearly  grow  poorer — or 
"  pull  up  stakes,"  and  hew  a  new  home 
(shall  we  call  it)  out  of  the  forest.  The 
farm  is  money  invested :  the  yearly 
crop  is  the  interest ;  and  if  land  which 
once  yielded  20  bushels  of  wheat  to  \he 
acre,  now  yields  only  ten,  we  have  either 
lost  half  our  money,  or  the  rate  of  in- 
terest has  sunk  fifty  per  cent. 

What  is  Manure  ?  This  question 
resolves  itself  into  the  stating  of  a  great 
fact :  The  farmer  creates  nothing  :  he 
only  changes  the  form  of  what  already 
exists.  Wheat,  or  any  other  plant, 
wool,  beef,  cheese,  and  butter,  are  noth- 
ing else  than  earth,  air,  and  water  in 
another  shape.  But  the  earth  is  com- 
posed of  some  ten  or  twelve  substances  ; 
and  that  portion  of  it  capable  of  being 
converted  into  a  plant,  at  anj'  one  time, 
is  comparatively  small, — about  half  per 
cent,  of  the  whole — while  air  and  water 
constitute  the  least  valuable  part. — 
These  three  substances  are  the  Farmer's 
raw  material,  and  out  of  them  he  must 
manufacture  his  grain.  If  his  soil  con- 
tains a  very  small  quantity  of  matter, 
capable  of  conversion  into  a  vegetable, 
he  receives  a  small  crop  at  harvest  time. 
A  baker  can  make  but  little  bread  out 
of  a  nearly  empty  barrel  of  flour  ;  but 
fill  the  barrel  and  he  will  make  much 
bread.  Let  the  farmer  fill  the  earth 
with  substances  capable  of  changing 
into  grain,  and  he  i-eceives  much  grain. 
Nothing  can  be  more  simple  and  yet 
more  true  than  that  whatever  we  receive 
off  our  farms  is  but  a  portion  of  the 
soil,  with  some  air  and  water,  in  a  new 
form . 

When  we  sell  a  crop  of  wheat,  we  do 
not  sell  something  that  we  have  created, 
but  we  sell  so  much  lime,  salt,  phos- 
phorus, potash,  &c.,  which  last  year 
helped  to  constitute  the  soil.  Through- 
out all  nature,  "  Out  of  nothing,  nothing 
is  made."  Now  then  we  can  answer 
the  question,  "  Whad  is  Manure  .^"  It 
is  the   stuff  out  of  which   plants   are 


made  ;  just  as  truly  as  the  fleece  on  a 
sheep's  back  is  the  stuflF  out  of  which 
your  best  coat  is  made.  There  are 
many  substances  utterly  worthless  in 
their  present  shape — nay,  worse,  for 
they  are  offensive,  as  if  to  teach  us  to 
bury  them — which  are  composed  of  the 
very  things  which  compose  wheat. 
Such  are  dung  of  all  kinds,  blood,  ashes, 
old  wooled  rags,  offal,  urine,  dead  ani- 
mals, (fee,  &c.  Still  further,  unlike  the 
greater  portion  of  the  soil,  they  are  in 
the  fit  condition  to  undergo  change; 
and  we  have  only  to  put  them  in  the 
right  way  'n  the  ground  beside  a  seed, 
— that  mysterious  fragment  of  accumu- 
lative Life — for  them  to  turn  into 
whatever  kind  of  vegetable  we  wish 
them.  We  cannot  eat  woolen  rags  or 
ashes,  but  we  can  eat  wheat,  what  they 
are  in  another  shape.  What  the  chrys- 
alis is  to  the  butterfly,  manure  is  to 
grain.  Who  knows  but  this  very  rag 
was  once  before  an  ear  of  wheat  ?  It 
entered  into  a  sheep  and  became  wool. 
Man  took  it,  and  in  bungling  imitation 
of  the  Creator,  made  cloth.  And  who 
can  guess  how  it  was  watered  with 
scalding  tears  from  the  eyes  of  the  half- 
starved  city  seamstress  ? — stains  an  eter- 
nity shall  not  efface — and  then  through 
joy  and  sorrow  and  toil — through  sin 
or  holy  self-denial,  it  clothed  frail  but 
glorious  man  ;  it  faded — fell  into  mean 
uses.  Cast  aside — trod  under  foot — 
buried  and  rotten,  it  again  makes  glad 
the  valley,  and  smiles  in  the  brightness 
of  the  sun  as  the  gentle  summer  breeze 
breathes  over  the  teeming  field. 

Suppose  you  sow  a  grain  of  wheat  in 
highly  manured  ground  ;  that  one  seed 
throws  up  many  stalks,  which  bear 
many  heads ;  these  heads,  being  full 
and  large,  contain  many  grains.  The 
one  seed  has  become  five  hundred,  be- 
cause it  found  much  material  to  work 
up.  Or  sow  it  in  impoverished  soil, 
you  find  but  one  stalk,  with  a  short 
head,  and  a  few  shrivelled  grains.  It 
could  make  no  more,  for  it  cofild  find 
nothing  near  its  roots  to  make  more  of. 
Or  sow  it  in  land  totally  devoid  of  lime, 


330 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


or  phosphorus,  or  ammonia,  and  perhaps 
a  slender  sickly  stalk  may  wearily  striig- 
gle  upwards ;  but  there  is  neither  head 
nor  grain,  because  there  can  be  :  o  such 
thing  as  wheat  without  these  elements 
in  it. 

Nothing  can  enter  into  and  become  a 
plant  which  is  not  eithev  dissolved  in 
water,  or  is  a  gas.  New  land,  as  we 
find  it  in  the  W^st,  contains  a  certain 
portion  of  all  that  is  needed  for  a  plant 
in  this  soluble  state.  Call  it  three  per 
cent,  of  the  whole  soil.  The  first  crop 
of  wheat  may  carry  off  one-fourth  per 
cent.,  and  one-eighth  per  cent,  previous- 
ly insoluble  is  dissolved  by  the  action 
of  air,  water,  &c.  Of  course,  then,  two 
and  seven-eights  per  cent,  fit  for  making- 
plants  alone  remains.  The  next  crop 
reduces  the  amount  still  further  ;  and  by 
the  time  half  a  dozen  crops  are  gone, 
there  is  not  enough  raw  material  re- 
maining to  make  grain  enough  to  pay 
the  expenses  of  working  the  field.^' 
This  is  the  p.ocess  of  "skinning  the 
land" — impoverishing  the  soil,  which, 
according  to  Dr.  Lee,  is  going  on  daily 
in  every  section  of  the  United  States ; 
and  which,  according  to  the  last  Cen- 
sus, is  beginning  to  be  most  alarmingly 
conspicuous  through  all  the  States  east 
of  us. 

Now  you  perceive  the  true  value  of 
Manure^  when  it  is  judiciously  applied. 
It  either  prevents  our  land  becoming 
worthless  ;  or  it  gives  us  this  year  as 
many  bushels  to  the  acre  as  we  had  half 
a  dozen  years  since  ;  or  it  increases  the 
fertility  of  the  land,  and  gives  us  yearly 
a  larger  return  on  the  same  area. 

Suppose  you  make,  save  carefully 
from  the  wet,  and  apply  25  loads  of 
barn-yard  manure  to  an  acre  of  land. 
From  first  to  last  it  has  actually  cost 
you  $10  to  do  so.  You  are  $10  poorer 
than  if  you  applied  no  manure ;  and  if  it 
gives  you  no  return  it  is  $10  lost.  But 
this  Here  of  land  cost  you  $10,  and  you 


■"  Of  course  this  calculation  is  not  intended  to 
36  exact ;  it  is  meiely  an  illustration  ;  the  facts 
changing  in  almost  every  field,  and  season,  and 
'.rop  ;  but  the  principle  is  strictly  accurate, 


do  not  consider  that  lost.  No  !  it  is 
invested  You  expect  it  to  pay  you  a 
fair  interest  over  all  expenses.  It  is  just 
the  sanie  with  the  manure.  Your  acre, 
ivith  the  manure,  has  now  cost  $20,  and 
gives  you  20  bushels  of  wheat.  With- 
out the  manure  you  would  have  got  15 
bushels;  so  the  manure  pays  you  $5,  or 
50  per  cent,  interest  the  first  year.  Next 
year  your  crop  is  $4  better,  the  third 
year  $3  better,  or  $12  in  all.  Add  to 
this  the  impoverishment  of  the  soil  it  has 
prevented,  say  $2  more,  and  in  three 
years  you  have  $10  back  in  your  pock- 
et, and  $4  for  interest.  Can  you  invest 
money  much  better  with  equal  security  ? 
This  is  the  true  value  of  manure.  It  is 
an  investment  paying  interest,  and  not 
only  so,  hut  actually  preventing  loss. 
With  the  educated  scientific  farmer  there 
is  neither  chance  nor  guess-work  about 
it.  He  lays  out  $1,000  in  guano,  certain 
that  it  will  return  into  his  pocket  vrith 
good  interest  on  its  back.  Farming- 
then  becomes  a  skilled  mercantile  busi- 
ness. The  nature  of  the  land  and  crops, 
rotations,  the  best  seeds,  the  best  im- 
plements are  all  studied  or  procured  ; 
and  v/ith  the  help  of  the  Chemist,  who 
may  be  called  the  "  Scientific  Farmer's 
Book-keeper,"  he  knows  just  what  kind 
and  quantity  of  manure  he  must  ajiply, 
and  he  wast:es  nothing. 

In  conclusion,  then,  we  trust  we  have 
made  it  plain  that  manure  is  grain  in 
in  its  raw  and  unmanufactured  state ; 
that  land  full  of  manure,  if  all  detail  is 
skillfully  accomplished,  must  return 
much  more  grain  than  if  manure  was 
not  there;  that  cropping  lands  without 
manuring, must  inevitably  impoverisii 
them,  and  render  them  worthless  ;  and 
that  money  judiciously  ex  ended  for 
manure  is  an  interest-paying  investment 
just  as  much  as  the  cost  of  the  farm  it- 
self is.  An  ignorant  or  inconsiderate 
man — one  who  neither  understands  the 
character  of  his  grain  or  soil,  may  lose 
money  by  manuring  ;  but  so  would  the 
storekeeper  or  manufacturer,  if  equally 
ignorant  of  his  business.  It  is  only  ne- 
cessary to  add  that  all  improvements  of 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


331 


the  soil,  such  as  deep  plowing,  draining, 
&c.,  are  upon  the  same  principle.  Ex- 
pensive thorough  draining  in  England 
has  frequently  paid  for  itself  in  three 
years,  by  the  increased  production,  leav- 
ing the  original  investment  liquidated, 
and  returning  some  30  per  cent,  annual- 
ly,— Farmer''s  Com.  and  Hort.  Gazette. 


Management  oi  Barn- Yard  Manure. 


BY  PROF.  J.  P.  NORTOX. 


"The  following  excellent  paper,  by 
Prof.  Norton,  is  a  synopsis  of  the  whole 
subject  of  manure  making  in  barn-yards, 
and  may  serve  to  induce  farmers  to  read 
our  series  of  articles  on  manures,  in  vol. 
i.,  ii.,  iii.  and  iv.,  where  particular  direc- 
tions are  given  for  the  manifacture  and 
use  of  all  kinds  of  manures. — [Ed.  W. 
Farmer. 

The  manure  of  various  domestic  ani- 
mals is,  in  tliis  country,  most  commonly 
employed  as  a  fertilizer  all  other  ma- 
nures being  used  in  comparatively  small 
quantities  ;  and  yet  even  those  are  sel- 
dom preserved  and  applied  as  carefully 
as  they  might,  or  ought  to  be. 

The  principal  varieties  are  those  of 
the  ox,  the  cow,  the  hog,  the  horse,  and 
the  sheep.  Of  these,  that  of  the  horse 
is  most  valuable  in  its  fresh  state  ;  it 
contains  much  nitrogen,  but  it  is  very 
likely  to  lose  by  fermentation.  That  of 
the  hog  comes  next.  That  of  the  cov/ 
is  placed  at  the  bottom  of  the  list.  This 
is  because  the  enriching  substances  of 
her  foo  1  go  principally  to  the  forma- 
tion of  milk,  the  manure  being  thereby 
rendered  poorer. 

The  manure  of  all  these  animals  is 
fiir  richer  than  the  food  given  them, 
because  it  contains  much  moro  nitro- 
gen. This  is  for  the  reason  that  a  large 
pari  of  the  carbon  and  oxygen  of  the 
food  are  consumed  in  the  lungs  and 
blood  generally  for  the  purpose  of  keep- 
ing up  the  heat  of  the  body.  They 
are  given  off  from  the  lungs,  and  also 
by  perspiration  and  evaporation  through 
the  pores  of  the  skin,  in  the  forms  of 
carbonic  acid  and  water. 


From  animals  fed  upon  rich  food,  the 
manure  is  much  more  powerful  than 
when  it  is  p  or.  In  England,  for  in- 
stance, where  they  fatten  cattle  largely 
on  oil  cake,  it  is  calculated  that  the  in- 
creased value  of  the  manure  repays  all 
of  the  outlay.  This  is  the  reason  why 
human  ordure  is  better  than  manure 
from  any  of  the  animals  mentioned 
above,  the  food  of  man  being  rich  and 
various. 

All  these  kinds  of  manure  should  be 
carefully  collected  and  preserved,  both 
as  to  their  liquid  and  solid  parts.  The 
liquid  part  or  urine  is  particularly  rich 
in  the  phosphates  and  ?n  nitrogen. — 
This  part  is  by  very  many  farmars  per- 
mitted in  a  great  degree  to  run  away 
or  evaporate.  Rome  farm  yards  are 
contrived  so  as  to  throw  the  water  off 
entirely,  others  convey  it  through  a  small 
ditch  upon  the  nearest  field.  The  liquid 
manure  which  might  have  fertilizea  se- 
veral acres  in  the  course  of  the  season, 
is  thus  concentrated  upon  one  small 
spot,  and  the  consequence  is  a  vegeta- 
tation  so  rank  as  to  be  of  very  little 
use.  Spots  of  this  kind  may  be  seen  in 
the  neighborhood  of  many  farm  yards, 
where  the  grass  grows  up  so  heavy  that 
it  falls  down  and  rots  at  the  bottom,  and 
has  to  be  cut  several  weeks  before  hay- 
ing time,  producing  strong  coarse  hay 
that  cattle  will  scarcely  touch. 

The  proper  way  to  save  this  liquid  is 
to  have  a  tank  or  hole,  into  which  all 
the  drainings  of  the  yard  may  be  con- 
ducted. If  left  here  long,  this  liquid 
begins  to  ferment,  and  lose  nitrogen  in 
the  form  ot  ammonia,  which  it  vv'ill  be 
remembered  is  a  compound  of  nitrogen 
and  hydrogen.  To  remedy  this,  a  little 
sulphuric  acid,  or  a  few  pounds  of  plas- 
ter may  be  occasionally  thrown  in.  The 
sulphuric  acid  will  unite  with  the  am- 
monia, and  form  sulphate  of  ammonia, 
which  will  remain  unchanged,  not  being 
liable  to  evaporate.  Others  prefer  to 
mix  sufBcient  peat,  ashes,  sawdust,  or 
fine  charcoal,  with  the  Hquid  in  the 
tank,  to  soak  it  all  up  ;  others  still  pump 
it  out,  and  pour  it  upon  a  compost  heap. 


832 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


One  point  is  to  be  noticed  in  the  man- 
ageraftnt  of  a  tank.  Only  the  water 
which  naturally  diains  from  the  stables 
and  yards  should  be  allowed  to  enter  it, 
all  that  falls  from  the  eaves  cf  the  build- 
ings should  be  discharged  elsewhere. — 
Regulated  in  this  way,  the  tank  will 
seldom  overflow,  and  the  manure  collec- 
ted in  it  will  be  of  the  most  valuable 
and  powerful  description.  The  tank 
may  be  made  of  stone,  brick  or  wood, 
as  is  most  convenient,  and  need  cost 
but  very  little. 

While  the  liquid  manure  is  actually 
in  many  cases  almost  entirely  lost,  the 
solid  part  is  often  allowed  to  drain  and 
bleach,  until  nearly  everything  soluble 
is  washed  away;  or  is  exposed  in  heaps 
to  ferment,  without  any  covering.  In 
such  a  case  ammonia  is  always  formed 
and  given  ofi";  it  may  often  be  perceiv- 
ed by  the  smell,  particularly  in  horse 
manure.  The  fact  may  also  be  shown 
by  dipping  a  feather  in  muriatic  acid 
and  waving  it  over  the  heap.  If  am- 
monia in  any  quantity  is  escaping,  white 
fumes  will  be  visible  about  the  feather, 
caused  by  the  formation  of  muriate  of 
ammonia.  A  teacher  can  exemplify 
this  by  holding  a  feather,  dipped  in  the 
same  way,  over  an  ammonia  bottle. — 
This  escape  of  so  valuable  a  substance 
may  be  in  a  great  measure  prevented 
by  shoveling  earth  over  the  surface  of 
the  heap,  to  a  depth  of  two  or  three  in- 
ches. If  this  does  not  arrest  it  entirely, 
sprinkle  a  few  handsfuU  of  plaster  up- 
on the  top  ;  the  sulphuric  acid  of  the 
plaster  will  as  before  unite  with  the 
ammonia,  and  form  sulphate  of  ammo- 
nia. 

Manures  containing  nitrogen  in  large 
quantity  are  so  exceedingly  valuable 
because  this  gas  is  required  to  form  glu- 
ten, and  bodies  of  that  class,  in  the 
plant;  this  is  particularly  in  the  seed, 
and  sometimes  also  in  the  fruit.  Plants 
can  easily  obtain  an  abundance  of  car- 
bon, oxygen,  and  hydrogen,  from  the 
air,  the  soil  and  manures.  Not  so  with 
nitrogen.  They  cannot  get  it  from  the 
air;  there  is  httle  of  it  in   most  soils  ; 


and  hence  manures  which  contain  much 
of  it,  produce  such  a  marked  effect. — 
Not  that  it  is  more  necessary  than  the 
other  organic  bodies,  but  more  scarce  ; 
at  least  in  a  form  available  for  plants. — 
Ti.e  same  reasoning  applies  to  ])hospho- 
ric  acid.  It  is  not  more  necessary  than 
the  other  inorganic  ingredients  ;  but 
still  is  more  valuable,  because  more  un- 
common in  the  soil  and  in  manures. 

In  all  places  where  manure  is  pro- 
tected from  the  sun,  and  from  much 
washing  by  rain,  its  value  is  greatly  in- 
creased. 

Horse  manure  paiticularly  should  not 
be  left  exposed  at  all ;  it  begins  to  heat 
and  to  lose  nitrogen  almost  immediately 
as  may  be  perceived  by  the  smell.  It 
should  be  mixed  with  other  manures,  or 
covered  by  some  absorbent  earth  as  soon 
as  possible.  Almost  every  one  who  en- 
ters a  stable  in  the  morning,  where 
there  are  many  horses,  must  perceive 
the  strong  smell  of  ammonia  that  fills 
the  place.  I  have  seen  in  some  stables, 
little  pans  containing  plaster  of  Paris  or 
sulphuric  acid,  for  the  purpose  of  ab- 
sorbing these  fumes,  and  forming  sul- 
phate of  ammonia.  The  liquid  which 
runs  from  barnyards  and  from  manure 
heaps,  is  shown  by  analysis  to  consist  of 
the  most  fertilizing  substances;  audit 
is  calculated  that  where  this  is  all  al- 
lowed to  wash  away,  as  is  the  case  jn 
many  instances,  the  manure  is  often  re- 
duced nearly  one-half  in  its  value.  I 
have  seen  yards  where  it  was  almost 
worthless,  owing  to  long  exposure. 

The  farmers  cf  this  country  need 
awakening  upon  the  subject  of  carefully 
preserving  common  manures.  In  Flan- 
ders, where  everything  of  the  kind  is 
saved  with  the  greatest  care,  the  liquid 
manure  of  a  single  cow  for  a  year  is 
valued  at  $10  ;  here  it  is  too  often  al- 
lowed to  escape  entirely.  Either  they 
are  very  foolish,  or  we  are  very  waste- 
ful. 


Sweet  oil  is  a  certain  cure  for  the 
bite  of  a  rattlesnake.  Apply  it  inter- 
nally and  externally. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


333 


From  the  Soil  of  the  South. 
Hogs,  and  So  Forth. 

Messrs.  Editors  :  I  plead  guiltj^  to 
your  insinuations  against  iny  liog  pen. 
I  have  been  buying  western  bacon  ever 
since  I  made  a  bale  of  cotton ;  a  fact  of 
which  I  would  be  heartily  ashamed,  if 
I  were  not  kept  in  countenance  by  the 
reflection  that  I  am  not  at  all  out  of 
fashion  in  so  doing. 

Have  you  ever  made  a  calculation, 
Messrs.  Editors,  to  determine  the  econ- 
omy of  pork  raising  on  a  cotton  planta- 
tion ?  I  suppose  not,  for  unless  you 
have  been  a  more  systematic  planter  than 
any  I  ever  knew,  you  could  not  njake  a 
satisfactory  guess  of  the  true  cost  of 
raising  a  hog.  Do  you  know  how  inuch 
corn  it  will  take  to  make  a  porker  weigh 
two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  at  two 
years  old?  Or  can  you  tell,  from  .ny 
satisfactory  tests,  whether  there  is  any 
cheaper  food  for  hogs,  at  our  command, 
than  corn  ? 

I  tell  you  what  I  intend  to  do  this 
year.  ,  I  shall  put  up  a  dozen  pigs  in  a 
dose  pen,  which  is  to  be  kept  well  lit- 
tered with  clean  pine  straw,  and  feed 
tbera  twice  a  day  on  boiled  corn,  keep- 
ing a  strict  account  of  the  amount  of 
food  which  they  consume.  I  shall 
(»nfine  a  dozen  more  in  an  enclosure  of 
some  eight  or  ten  acres,  and  feed  them 
on  the  same  quantity  of  boiled  corn. — 
I  shall  confine  another  dozen  in  an  en- 
closure of  the  same  size,  and  feed  them 
with  the  same  quantity  of  raw  corn.  The 
balance  of  my  stock  will  be  treated  as 
hogs  generally  are, — that  is  turned  out 
upon  the  "long  pasture,"  and  called  up 
to  be  fed  every  morning.  After  I  have 
tested  the  matter  sufiiciently,  I  will  ad- 
vise you  of  the  result.  In  the  mean 
time  let  me  ask  some  of  your  readers  to 
adopt  similiav  or  othe^experiments,  and 
report  through  your  columns.  Pork 
raising  is  an  item  of  importance  to  us, 
and  we  are  all  interested  in  ascertaining 
the  cheapest  method  of  making  our 
own  meat.  Experiments  which  have 
been  made  in  England,  and  at  the  North 
are  unsatisfactory  to  us;  we  must  in- 
vestigate for  ourselves.     The  subject  is 


moreover,  one  suflBciently  practical  to 
allay  the  fears  of  the  greatest  skeptic 
upon  book  farming.  I  am  almost  ready 
to  join  in  the  cry  of  humbug  against 
scientific  agriculture  upon  Southern 
plantations,  but  hog  and  hominy  is  a 
different  matter.  Oxygen  and  hydro- 
gen and  nitrogen  have  very  little  to  do 
with  this  question,  and  I  therefore,  in- 
vite practical  men  to  its  discussion.  The 
experience  of  a  man  who  backs  his  opin- 
ion with  a  smoke  house  full  of  excellent 
home  made  bacon,  is  worth  more  to  us 
than  the  most  learned  disquisition  of  a 
mere  theorizer.  By  the  way,  Mr.  Edi- 
tor, I  have  heard  that  you  are  a  good 
feeder,  and  that  you  feed  on  home  made 
bacon.  Give  us  the  benefit  of  your 
practice. 

Speaking  of  boiled  food  for  hogs :  I 
have  seen  somewhere  an  excellent  sug- 
gestion for  constructing  a  cheap  and 
convenient  steamer.  Procure  a  com- 
mon iron  kettle,  which  will  hold  20  or 
30  gallons  of  water.  Take  a  hogshead 
and  knock  one  bead  of  it  out,  and  bore 
the  other  head  full  of  three  quarter  inch 
auger  holes.  Half  fill  the  boiler  with 
water;  set  the  hogshead  over  the  boil- 
er, fill  the  hogshead  with  whatever  is  to 
be  steamed  and  cover  the  open  head 
with  a  piece  of  bagging.  The  steam 
from  the  boiling  water  beneath  will 
cook  the  food  as  soon  as  it  would  in  the 
water.  A  couple  of  strips  fastened 
across  the  bottom  of  the  hogshead  will 
serve  as  handles  for  lifting  it  about. — 
The  advantages  of  this  plan  are  that 
you  require  a  smaller  kettle,  less  water, 
and  less  fire  to  cook  a  given  amount  of 
food,  than  if  you  undertook  to  boil  the 
whole  of  it  in  the  kettle,  and,  besides, 
it  is  easier  cooked. 

A.  word  about  ground  peas  may  not 
be  out  of  place  in  this  connection. — 
They  are  an  excellent  and  cheap  food 
for  hogs,  and  are  cultivated  with  as 
much  ease  as  a  corn  crop.  There  are 
two  kinds  of  ground  peas — the  large, 
and  the  small  pea.  Get  the  small  pea 
by  all  means ;  the  large  variety  are  not 
worth  a  thrip  a  thousand. 

PRAIRIE. 


384 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


The  Way  to  Work  it. — Mr.  Drew, 
the  Editor  of  the  Maine  Cultivato?-, 
published  at  TIallowell,  in  that  State, 
gives  the  following  account  of  his  own 
husbandry.  His  Farm  is  not  a  very  ex- 
tensive one,  but  his  nett  income  from  it 
is  greater  than  that  of  some  of  our  far- 
mers, who  ahnost  starve  on  their  three 
or  four  huiidred  acres.  No  investment 
would  yield  more  at  this  time  than  a 
Market  Farm  convenient  to  our  South- 
ern cities  : 

The  Editor  actually  cultivates  but  a 
single  acre  of  land,  but  tltat  he  does 
cultivate,  and  makes  it  yield  all  that 
land  can  yield.  Nor,  small  as  the  quan- 
tity is,  is  the  amount  of  subsistence  ob- 
tained from  it  unimportant  in  the  sup- 
port of  a  large  family.  One  third  o^an 
acre  he  devotes  annually  to  corn — the 
long  eared,  large  clevelled,  eight  row- 
ed yellow  corn,  that  is  not  very  early, 
and  not  very  late.  With  him,  it  has 
ripened  every  year  for  the  last  ten  years 
that  he  has  cultivated  it.  The  soil  he 
makes  rich.  He  applies  to  it,  before 
ploughing,  at  the  rate  of  eighteen  or 
twenty  cords  of  long  manure  to  the 
acre  (or  six  to  the  third  of  an  acre)  and 
turns  it  under  by  the  plough.  He 
plants  the  hills  three  feet  and  an  half 
apart  one  way,  and  three  feet  the  other 
— exactly  by  measurement  with  a  line. 
In  each  hill  hedepositeseither  a  shovel 
full  of  old  rotted  hog  manure  as  will  not 
over  stimulate  the  crop.  From  this 
third  acre,  he  hf^s  raised  on  the  average 
for  years,  over  thirty  bushels  of  sound 
corn  for  grinding,  besides  a  little  pig 
corn  for  the  hogs  in  the  fall  of  the  year. 
This  is  as  much  corn  as  he  needs  in  his 
family,  besides  a  sufficient  surplus  for 
fattening  one  large  or  two  small  hogs. 
From  the  same  land,  he  ordinarily  ob- 
tains some  two  or  three  hundred  pump- 
kins, which  serve  important  purposes 
in  the  family,  besides  being  an  excel- 
lent article  for  boiling  up  with  the  hog's 
potatoes,  giving  a  cow,  &c.  From  the 
same  land  too,  he  has  generally  obtain- 
ed all  the  dry  white  beans  he  has  need- 
ed in  his  family  to  go  with  his  pork — 


which  he  raises  by  the  avails  of  his 
land,  without  purchasing  of  others. — ■ 
The  fodder  is  carefully  cut  and  cured, 
and  helps  as  a  subsistance  for  the  cow. 
So  much  for  one-third  of  an  acre. 

A  small  portion  of  land  is  set  apart 
for  the  cultivation  of  onions.  Ordinari- 
ly, he  has  raised  from  fifty  to  seventy- 
five  bushels  on  a  bed,  say  half  a  dozen 
rods  square.  These  he  sells,  on  an 
average,  at  one  dollar  per  bushel — say 
for  $60  per  year.  This  purchases  his 
flour  and  rye  at  common  prices.  So 
that  from  the  first  third  of  an  acre,  and" 
in  an  onion  bed,  he  raises  all  his  bread 
— brown  and  white. 

On  two  other  large  beds,  he  grows 
generally  about  fifty  bushels  of  Mangel 
Wurtzel  and  carrots.  These  are  for  the 
cow's  winter  provender.  They  more 
than  pay  for  themselves  in  the  milk  and 
butter — to  say  nothing  of  the  saving  of 
hay  and  other  provender.  With  very 
little  hay,  together  with  the  fodder  and 
roots,  a  good  cow — and  he  finds  it 
economy  always  to  keep  the  best — may 
be  kept  through  the  winter. 

Potatoes  for  the  summer  and  autumn 
use,  are  planted  on  the  margins,  and 
wherever  there  is  a  vacant  chance  for  a 
hill,  and  a  department  is  expressly  de- 
voted to  them  large  enough  to  raise  ail 
that  are  wanted  for  the  table,  and 
enough  to  spare  for  the  hogs,  (fee. 

So  rar,  as  relates  to  bread,  butter, 
pork,  and  he  might  add,  poultry. 

Then  the  rest  of  the  land  is  devoted 
to — too  many  things  to  mention  here 
— beets — parsnips — cabbage — turnips 
— green  beans — peas — green  corn — cu- 
cumbers— melons — squashes,  summer 
and  winter  sorts,  <fec., — besides  fruits 
and  flowers  of  various  kinds — grapes, 
rasberries,  currants,  white,  red  andyel- 
ow ;  English  and  obmmon  gooseberries 
— and  a  few  choice  apple,  plum,  cherry, 
peach  and  quince  trees.  All  this  from 
a  single  acre,  which  he  cultivates  most- 
ly with  his  own  hands. 


See  that  your  fences  are  in  a  good 
condition. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


335 


Instructions  for  Saving  Garden 
Seeds. — When  the  seeds  are  ripe  gath- 
er them  withmit  unnecessary  delay ; 
otherwise  the  pods  will  split  open  and 
their  contents  be  scattered  upon  the 
ground.  Do  not  gather  indiscriminate- 
ly, but  take  only  the  finest  looking 
heads.  By  this  selection  of  the  best 
plants  and  the  best  seed,  good  varieties 
may  be  even  improved,  and  they  cer- 
tainly vt'ill  not  deteriorate.  In  this  way 
many  of  our  choice  vegetables  have  been 
obtained.  The  practical  stock-breeder's 
motto  is,  that  '•  Like  produces  like, " 
and  breeds  from  those  animals  only 
which  possess  the  points  he  wishes  per- 
petrated. Thus,  if  you  select  the  ear- 
liest peas  from  the  earliest  vines,  for  a 
number  of  seasons,  you  can  obtain  a  va- 
riety ripening  several  days  earlier  than 
that  witn  which  you  commenced.  It 
has  been  done  once  and  may  be  done 
again. 

Place  the  seed  vessels,  as  soon  as 
gathered,  upon  a  cloth  in  the  shade,  so 
that  they  may  become  perfectly  dry,  at 
which  time  thresh  out  the  seed,  by 
means  of  a  small  stick.  Winnow  out 
the  chaff  and  small  or  defective  seed, 
and  put  the  remainder  in  drawers  or 
small  paper  bags,  Every  kind  should 
be  labeled  with  its  name  and  the  year 
when  raised, — in  this  manner,  '■'■Early 
Salmon  Radish,  1853."  This  vnll  pre- 
vent all  possibility  of  the  inexperienced 
cultivator  mistaking  beet  for  cabbage 
seed,  or  sowing  that  which  by  the  lapse 
of  time  has  lost  its  power  of  germina- 
tion. Keep  these  drawers  or  bags  in  a 
cool,  dry  apartment  where  no  injury 
may  be  apprehended  from  moisture  or 
the  attacks  of  mice.  With  care  seeds 
may  be  preserved  for  several  years,  ac- 
cording^ to  the  annexed  table. 

The  vitality  of  seeds,  under  favorable 
circumstances  may  be  depended  upon 
for  the  following  periods: 

Parsnips,  Rhubarb,  and  other  thin 
scaly  seeds,  for  one  year. 

Balm,  Basil,  Beans,  Cardoon,  Carrot, 
Cress,  Indian  Cress,  Lavender,  Leek, 
Okra,  Onion,  Peas,  Pepper,  Rampion, 


Sage,  Salsify,  Savory,  Scorzonera, 
Thyme,  Tomato,  Wormwood,  and  small 
herbs  generally,  for  two  years. 

Artichoke,  Asparagus,  Corn  Salad, 
Egg  Plant,  Endive,  Indian  Corn,  Let- 
tuce, Marigold,  Marjoram,  Mustard, 
Parsley,  Rosemary,  Rue,  Skerritt,  Spi- 
nach, and  Tansy,  for  three  years. 

Borage,  Borecole,  Broccoli,  Brussels 
Sprouts,  Cabbage,  Cauliflower,  Radish, 
Sea  Kale,  Tarragon  and  Turnip,  for  four 
years. 

Beet,  Bui-net,  Celery,  Chervil,  Cu- 
cumber, Dill,  Fennel,  Hyssop,  Melon, 
Pumpkin,  Sorrel  and  Squash,  from  five 
to  eight  or  ten  years. — Schenck^s  Gar- 
dener's  Text-Book. 


Save  the  Dead  Leaves. — If  every 
horticulturist  would  reflect  for  a  mo- 
ment on  the  nature  of  fallen  leaves, 
which  contain  not  only  the  vegetable 
matter  but  the  earthy  salts,  lime,  pot- 
flsli,  &c.,  needed  for  the  next  season's 
growth — and  that,  too,  exactly  in  the 
proportion  required  by  the  very  tree 
and  plant  from  which  they  fall — nay, 
more,  if  they  would  consider  that  it  is 
precisely  in  this  way,  by  the  decompo- 
sition of  these  very  fallen  leaves,  that 
nature  enriches  the  soil,  year  after  year. 
in  her  great  forests,  it  would  scarcely 
be  possible  for  such  a  reflecting  horti- 
culturist to  allow  these  leaves  to  be 
swept  away  by  every  wind  that  blows, 
and  finally  lost  altogether.  A  wise 
horticulturist  will  diligently  collect,  from 
week  to  week,  the  leaves  that  fall  under 
each  tree,  and  by  digging  them  under 
the  soil  about  the  roots,  where  they  will 
decay  and  enrich  that  soil,  provide  in 
the  cheapest  manner  the  best  possible 
food  for  that  tree.  In  certain  vineyards 
in  France,  the  vines  are  kept  in  the 
highest  condition  by  simply  burying  at 
their  I'oots  every  leaf  and  branch  that 
that  is  pruned  oflP  such  vines,  or  that 
falls  from  them  ai  the  end  of  the  sea- 
son.— Horticulturist. 


Prepare  your  soil  well  before  sowing 
seed. 


336 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 

RALEIGH,  N.  C,  FEB.,  1854. 


TBAVELING  AGENTS  FOE  THE  JOURNAL. 

John  Collins,  and 
Luther  Root. 

LOCAL  AGENTS  FOR  THE  JOURNAL. 

James  Simmons,  Weldon,  N.  C. 

John  S.  Dancy,  Tarboro',    " 

Dr.  R.  H.  Shield,  Winton,  " 

Daniel  Valentine,       "     ," 

Col.  1'homas  Memory,  Whitesville,  N.  G. 

Louis  Desmond,  Kinston,  " 

B.  D.  Mann,  Hilliardston, 
Augustus  Latham,  Switt  Creek,  " 
W.  A.  Darden,  Speight's  Bridge,  " 
W.  L.  Pomeroy,  Raleigh,  " 
Jere.  Nixon,              "  " 
Wm.  H.  Jones,          "  " 
Messrs.  Hyman  &.  Arrington,  Warrenton. 
T.  W.  Whitley,  Smithfield,  N.  C. 
Martin  Sigman,  Wadesboro',     " 

John  M.  Forbes,  Camden  County,  N.  C. 

C.  C.  Bonner,  Rocky  Mount,  " 
S.  W.  Chadwick,  Newberne,  " 
R.  H.  Smith,  Scotland  Neck,  " 
J.  L.  Lawrence,  "  " 
Gen.  H.  G.  Spruill,  Plymouth,         " 

J.  White,  White's  Store,  Anson  County. 

Wm.  R.  W.  Sherrod,  Hamilton,  N.  C. 

Dr.  S-  Weller,  Brinkleyville,  Halifax  Co. 

B.  B.  Rives,  Greene  County,  N.  C. 

E.  C.  &  Y.  Jones,  Yanceyville,  N.  C. 

A.  Willis,  " 

Wm.  Long,  "  " 

Col.  John  H.  Harrison,  Ringwood,  N.  C. 

Gen.  Hiatt,  Guilford  County. 

L.  J.  Haughton,  Chatham  County. 

W.  D.  Reddick,  Newby's  Bridge,  N.  C. 

Dr.  Jno-  Shackelford,  Trenton,  N.  C. 

Committees  the  of  State  Agricultural 
Society, 

The  members  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee, and  of  the  Committee  of  Arrange- 
ments of  the  State  Agricultural  Society, 
are  respectfully  requested  to  meet  at  the 
City  Hall,  in  the  City  of  Raleigh,  on  Tues- 
day the  21st  of  February,  at  10  o'clock,  a. 
M.  A  full  meeting  of  the  committees,  is 
earnestly  requested,  as  business  of  vital 


importance  to  the   Society  and  Fair,  de- 
mands their  prompt  attention. 

E.  A.  CRUDUP,  Ch.  Ex.  Com. 
JERE.  NIXON,  Ch.  Com.  Ar. 
executive  committee. 

E.  A.  Crudup Franklin, 

John  S.  Dancy, Edgecombe, 

Charles  Manly, .Raleigh, 

Dr.  Wm.  R.  Holt, Davidson, 

J.  S.  Carroway, .Lenoir, 

W.  W.  Whitaker Wake, 

David  McDaniel, Nash, 

John  C.  McRae, New  Hanover, 

Wm.  A.  Eaton, Granville. 

Wm.  H.Jones, Wake^ 

Wm.  R.  Pool, Wake^ 

Wm.  T.  Smith, Cumberland, 

Wm.  Long, Caswell, 

James  F.  Taylor, Wake, 

John  Elliott, Cumberland. 

committee  of  arrangements. 

Jere.  Nixon Wake, 

H.  J.  B.  Clark, Warren, 

Wm.  D.  Cooke, Wake, 

Robert  Norfleet, Edgecomb, 

H.  Mordecai, Wake, 

E.  P.  Guion, " 

J.  Hutching, " 

Dr.  J.  F.  Tompkins " 

Dr.  W.  R.  Scott, " 

A.  J.  Leach, Johnston. 

Swamp  Lands  in  Eastern  Carolina. 

In  an  article  in  the  first  volume  of 
The  Farmer's  Journal,  we  called  the  at- 
tention of  our  readers  to  the  value  of 
the  sv?amp  lands  in  Beaufort  County, 
urging  those  who  wished  to  purchase 
lands  to  examine  these  before  going  out 
of  the  State  to  purchase.  The  same 
character  of  lands  described  in  that  arti- 
cle as  being  in  that  county,  may  also 
be  found  in  many  adjoining  countiee. 
The  task  of  reducing  these  lands  to  cul- 
tivation, seems,  no  doubt,  to  be  very 
great  to  those  who  have  never  engaged 
in  clearing  them.  But  admit  it  to  be 
true  that  it  requires  quite  an  amount  of 
labor  and    capital    to  bring  them  into 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


337 


cultivation,  even  then,  the  profit  derived 
from  them  is  great.  Many  of  them,  to 
our  personal  knowledge,  will,  when  on- 
ly indifferently  cultivated,  when  plant- 
ed in  corn,  yield  from  ten  to  twelve  bar- 
rels per  acre.  Supposing  that  to  cut 
down,  fence,  and  drain,  one  hundred 
acres  of  this  land,  it  should  cost  $25  per 
acre,  and  the  original  cost  of  the  land 
to  be  $5  per  acre,  it  certainly  would  be 
a  most  excellent  business.  The  location 
of  these  lands,  their  nearness  to  market 
fe  quite  an  object  to  the  farmer.  They 
are  situated  contiguous  to  the  Cape 
Fear,  Neuse  and  Pamplico  Rivers,  in- 
terspersed with  creeks,  convenient  for 
their  drainage,  and  also  for  the  entrance 
of  flat-boats  for  the  taking  off  the  surplus 
products  of  the  farm.  In  the  county  of 
Beaufort,  such  lan'ds  with  suflScient  fall 
for  thorough  drainage,  well  set  with 
gum,  ash,  poplar,  and  white  oak,  can 
be  purchased  for  from  $3  to  $5  per 
acre.  We  are  of  opinion  that  in  less 
than  ten  years  from  this,  a  large  body 
cf  these  lands  will  be  bought  up  and 
oultivated  by  the  very  men  who  are  now 
sending  their  negroes  to  South  Carolina, 
snd  Georgia,  to  make  turpentine. — 
Those  who  enter  into  this  first  will  act 
most  wisely — those  who  delay  it  will 
see  cause  to  regret  their  procrastination 
in  the  matter.  Farmers  are,  we  find, 
like  men  engaged  in  other  kinds  of 
business,  too  apt  to  sacrifice  the  result 
of  their  better  judgment,  to  whatever 
may  be  fashionable  and  popular.  We 
here  repeat  what  we  have  often  said  be- 
fore, that  in  North  Carolina  the  oppor- 
tunity for  making  money  by  farming  is 
as  great  as  in  any  other  State  in  the 
Union.  Agriculture  in  North  Carolina, 
if  guided  by  her  beautiful  hand  maidens, 


science  and  art,  is  destined  ere  long,  to 
entice  back  those  who  have  left  the 
homes  of  their  childhood  under  taunts 
and  sneers,  which  have  been  heaped  up- 
on the  Old  North  State.  We  say  to 
capitalists,  go  into  those  Eastern  Coun- 
ties and  buy  up  these  lands,  and  in  ten 
years'  time,  without  striking  a  lick  upon 
them,  the  amount  invested  will  in  their 
great  increased  value,  pay  a  handsome 
per  cent.  Do  not,  we  beg,  here  charge 
us  with  enthusiasm,  as  was  frequently 
thrown  at  us  when  endeavoring  to 
awaken  a  spirit  of  agricaltural  improve- 
ment in  the  State. 


The  Kitchen  Garden. 

There  is  but  little  attention  paid  to 
the  cultivation  of  the  kitchen  garden 
by  the  gTeat  majority  of  our  farmers  in 
this  State.  We  have  frequently  heard 
the  remark  made  by  farmers  that  they 
left  this  matter  to  their  wives,  to  be 
conducted  by  them.  But  we  would 
ask,  if  these  farmers  furnish  their  wives 
the  laborers  to  cultivate  the  garden  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  render  it  a  source 
of  profit?  Most  farmers,  whom  we 
know,  are  compelled  to  answer  this 
question  in  the  negative,  and  this  is  the 
great  reason  why  we  see  so  many  bad- 
ly cultivated  gardens  as  we  do.  Those 
who  fail  to  furnish  the  means  for  ma- 
nuring and  properly  cultivating  the 
kitchen  garden,  sustain  a  loss  of  much 
that  might  be  saved  in  the  necessary 
expenditures  for  the  support  of  a  fami- 
ly during  the  year.  A  most  excellent 
way  of  making  manure  for  the  garden 
is  this  ".  have  a  muck  pile  near  by  the 
kitchen  upon  which  should  be  thrown 
all  of  the  remnants  of  vegetables  used 
for  the  table,  the  washings   of  meats 


338. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


and  fragments  from  tlie  same,  and  all 
the  soap  suds  used  in  washing  clothes. 
This  muck  pile  may  he  small  at  first 
and  should  he  added  to  every  few  days, 
^yhich  will  prevent,  to  a  considerable 
extent,  the  escape  of  the  volatile  prin- 
ciples of  the  manures.  In  tliis  way  a 
large  quantity  of  most  excellent  ma- 
"ilm'e  may  he  collected,  well  suited  to 
thegardens,  be^des,  a  great  diminu- 
tion'of  deaths  among  your  chickens 
and'-ducks,  which  is  caused,  .to- -a  great 
extent  'by  their  drinking  the  salt-  wa- 
tCT  thrown  from  the  kitchen,  after  the 
meat  has  been  washed.  A  most  ex- 
■  Qellent  implement  for  the  cultivation 
of  gardens  is  the  hand  cultivator,  by 
the  use  of  which  much  labor  is  saved,: 
and- the  Cost  of  it  is  so  smalt  that  any 
persG-n  who  has  a  garden-  can.-  purchase 
'oiie.  .All  gardens  should  be'' brokeii 
'Sfeep  arid  the  manures  -applied  should 
■Be  thoroughly  fermented  "and- 'the  soil 
must  be  well  pulverized  and  thorough- 
"ly  rich.  A  farmer  who  has  a  good 
'kitchen  garden  saves  a'  great '  deal'T)!' 
'in eat  during  the  summer-  besidesc-fiir- 
"iishirig  his  family  with  that  Mad  of 
"foo'd  which  is  most  healthy.  ■  -"Wie  ■hope. 
'that  farmers'  Avives  will  begin- fo'-'mtike;: 
improvement  in  this  their  legitiinafe' 
branch  of  agriculture,  and'at  oW-nexi' 
■'State  "Fair"  let  practical'  dehidmira-; 
tions  be  set  forth  to  porve  the  ■fact.--'-'--'- 


:■■■;■.■.••,:■  ^  .  Three  years  in  Advance*  ■  ■- 
"'■•OtfR  third  or  next  volume  of-'' The 
Farmer's  Journal,"  begins  with  the 
month  of  April  next.  We  are  resolved 
to  make  considerable  improvement  .in 
its  ap]jearanee  in  every  respect,  without 
additional  cost  to  our  patrons.  In  order 
that    wo  may  do  this,  we  must  have 


means,  and  will  it  be  too  much  to  call 
on  one  thousand  of  our  readers  to  pay 
three  years  in  advance,  which  will  be 
only  three  dollars  each  ;  which  is  noth- 
ing when  compared  to  what  we  have 
risked  in  order  to  advance  agriculture 
in  our  State.  Farmers  have  you  not 
frequently  advanced  more  than  what  we 
ask  for  in  this  instance,  in  order  to  sus- 
tain political  papers.  We  have  seen 
it  often  done,  and  surely  we  cannot 
be  called  presumptuous  after  having 
pub'isiied  an  agricultural  paper  at  a 
heavy  loss  for  two  years  time.  Let  us 
see  vv'ho  are  the  men  in  North  Carolina 
who  are  willing  to  contribute  as  much 
as  three  dollars  towards  an  improvement 
of  this  kind.  We  will  publish  in  each 
number  after  this  the  nr.mes  of  all  who 
send  us  payment  for  three  years  in  ad- 
vance. It  need  not  be  feared  that  "  The 
•Farmer's  Journal  "  will  go  down  before 
the  time  expires  for  which  those  pay 
•who  subscribe  three  years  in  advance. 
W«".  have  •  stood  up  now  under  more 
-di':\x\  any  person  is  aware  of  and  we 
iia'vi;  'hoiidea  of  giving  up  the  ship.  We 
are'.kilxrdits  to  make  this  improvement 
in- the  '■'Journal"  and  it  can  be  done  if 
our  patrons  will  come  into  this  arrange- 
■raent:;    ■ 


■'. :  'Granville  Couaty  'Wide  A'tvake. 

We  publish  in  this  number  of  the 
"Journal,"  a  list  of  articles  for  which 
■premiu-ms  will  be  offered  at  the  First 
County  Fair,  in  Granville,  which  will 
be  held  at  Oxford,  next  fall.  The  Agri- 
cultural Society  of  that  county  have  es- 
tablished regular  grounds  for  the  hold- 
ing their  annual  Fair,  which  should  be 
done  in  every  county  whei'e  Fairs  are  to 
be  held.     We  predict   that  there  will 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL.- 


339 


not  be  a  county  Fair  held  during  the 
next  fall  that  will  excel  the  one  in  Gran- 
ville, and  we  nil  ay  say  more,  that  not  a 
county  in  the  State  will  give  a  moce  lib- 
eral support  to  The  Fanner's  Journal, 
than  that  one.  We  look  f:  r,  at  least, 
five  hundred  subscribers  in  that  county 
to  our  third  volume,  and  vve  shall  get 
them,  for  the  right  kind  of  men  are  at 
■work  for  us  there. 


The    Number   of    Correspondents  In- 
.   creasiug. 

Our  readers  will  see  that  the  num- 
ber of  our  original  communications  is 
much;  greater  than  in  any  number  of 
our  paper  ever  before  published.  This, 
shows  the  increasing  interest  which 
Farmers  are  taking  in  the  "Journal," 
and  will  of  course  add  much  to  its  value.' 
We  have  now  on  hand  several  articles 
which  we  shall  publish  in  our  next,  and 
among  them  will  be  found  the  system 
of  culture  and  manner  of  manuring  of 
the  premium  crop  of  corn  raised  by  K.' 
W.  Woodfin,  Esq.  who  was  a  competi- 
tor for  the  prize  offered  by  the  State 
Agricultural  Society  \  he  raised  on  one 
acre  150  bushels. 


Our  Local  Agents. 

We  addressed  several  gentlemen  m 
different  parts  of  the  State  desiring, 
them  to  become  agents  for  the  Farmer's 
Journal,  the  only  paper  in  North  Caro- 
lina devoted  exclusively  to  the  cause  of 
agriculture,  and  several,  whose  names 
we  publish  in  this  number,  cordially 
responded  to  our  call.  We  hope  that 
others  will  consentto become  our  agents 
and  use  some  exertions  to  increase  our 
subscription  hst.  Surely  there  is  not  a 
farmer   in  our   State    who    would   be 


ashamed  to.have  his  name  published-.as 
one  using  his.  .best  efforts  to  ad  vatic©.-  a 
paper  devoted- to  his--own  interest.-  We 
have  seen  time  after' tiriie  the  first  liien 
in  our  State  using  their  most  strenuous.  ;-; 
efforts  to  swell  the  subscription  lists  of -si 
political  papers.     We  liope  that  farmer  y' 
who  reads  the  "Journal"  will  feel-it  to' ''; 
be  his  duty  to  use-every  effort  to  enlarge  '"' 
our  list.   .We  have  .published  some.of    ^■ 
the   answera-.to.out  solicitations,  to  .gen- 
tlemen to' become  onr  agents,  which  wg-   \^ 
have  done  to' show  thafthere  are  those   ^^V 
in  the  Old  North  State  who  deeply  feel,  'f,. 
the  necessity  of  something  being  done.   :; 
to  elevate  the  agriculture  of  Noi'th  Car- 
olina. '■••■" 


Editor's  Table. 

The  Soil  of  the  South,  published  in 
Columbus,  Ga.,  has  been  much  improv- 
ed in  its  general  appearance,  and  still 
continues  to  furnish  the  most  valuable 
information  to  its  readers. 

..The  Southern  Cultivator  for  January,. 
has..been  received,  and  is  edited  with  as 
much  ability  as  any  paper  of  the  kind 
in  the  South. 

.  The  Maine  ,, Farmer,  weekly  Agricul-, "' 
,tui;al''pape;r,::-ftu'nishes  valuable  ag.rtculr=-f 
tural-asw'eli'; -as  other  kind  of  in'forma-" ; 
tion  f 6'  I ls''r eMer's. '  ' '"'  '■•  '  .^. 

The  Ohio  .Farmer,  is  edited  with-aai-upl^  *; 
ability,  and-  contains  many  very  valua^  ■ 
ble  communications  from  practical  far- 
mers. 


For  the  Farmer's  Journal. 
Farming-ton,  Ro-vN^an  co.  N.  C. 

Jan.  20th,  1854.     '  • 
]\Ir.  Editor  : — In  looking  over  the    " 
"  Farmer's  Journal,"  and  other  paperg,. 
I  see  that  the   attention  of  the  public- 
mind  is  directed  to  the  subject  of  wool- 


340 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


growing  in  the  western  portion  of  our 
State.  Our  ricli  hill  sides  are  well 
adapted  for  sheep  pastures.  Our  large 
bodies  of  low  lands,  when  drained  will 
will  make  hay  sufficient  to  winter  any 
amount  of  stock.  And  as  our  climate 
does  not  suit  very  well  to  raise  cotton, 
wheat  and  tobacco,  (that  is  to  compete 
with  other  States,)  we  must  look  to 
stock  raising  and  manufacturing  for  the 
future. 

The  growing  of  wool  is  looked  upon 
by  all  intelligent  farmers  as  the  most 
profitable  business  that  we  are  now  en- 
gaged in,  if  it  was  not  for  the  many, 
more  than  useless,  dogs  that  go  proul- 
ing  about  our  plantations,  and  destroy 
our  sheep  as  fast  as  they  are  rais- 
ed. 

Many  farmers  in  this  country  have 
attempted  to  get  and  keep  large  flocks 
of  sheep,  others  are  now  speaking  of  it, 
but  while  the  dogs  are  protected  by 
law,  we  need  not  expect  to  make  any- 
thing at  the  business. 

You  are  aware,  the  dogs'  life  is  pro- 
tected by  law  beyond  that  of  any  other 
domestic  animal.  That  was  all  right 
while  our  country  was  a  vast  wilder- 
ness and  infested  with  wild  and  feroci- 
ous beasts:  but  now  the  number  of  dogs 
in  our  State,  has  so  increased  beyond 
the  demand  for  them,  that  they  have 
got  to  be  a  great  public  nuisance. — 
Then,  before  we  can  enter  upon  the 
business  of  wool-growing,  we  must  les- 
sen the  number  of  dogs  :  but  as  long 
as  our  present  laws  exist,  that  cannot 
be  done.  Then  let  me  suggest  to  the 
people  of  the  State,  and  especially  to 
the  County  and  State  Agricultural  So- 
cieties, that  we  petition  the  next  Legis- 
lature to  so  alter  our  laws,  that  a  dog 
may  be  killed  for  the  first  offence,  that 
his  owner  be  responsible  for  all  his  de- 
predations, and  also  that  a  tax  be  levi- 
ed on  all  dogs,  excepting  one  or  two 
to  each  family  or  lot,  which  is  necessa- 
ry for  all  needful  purposes.  If  such  a 
law  is  passed,  all  the  surplus  curs  will 
disappear,  and  those  that  are  left  will 
be  well  fed  and  trained  to  stay  at  home. 


Then  our  sheep  will  be  permitted  fit) 
graze  over  our  fields  in  safety.  OiXt 
farmers  will  take  a  pleasure  in  introdu- 
cing and  raising  the  best  varieties, 
which  will  pay  us  handsomely  for  oxSt 
trouble. 

J.F.F, 


For  the  Farmer's  Journal. 
Rockingham,  N.  C,  Jan,  20,  1854. 
Dr.  John  F.  Tompkins  : 

Dear  Sir — You  are  requested  by 
our  Agricultural  Society  to  publish  tte 
following : 

The  Agricultural  Society  of  Rich- 
mond county  held  its  first  annual  meet- 
ing in  Rockingham  on  the  5th  instant 
and  awarded  the  following  premiums, 
viz :  To  James  P.  Leak,  for  a  hog  one 
year  old,  weighing  three  hundred  and 
seventy-five  pounds,  (3*75  nett,)  a  sih'BT 
cup  worth  $5.     To  same  for  a  hog  one 

year   and months  old,  weighing 

four  hundred  and  twenty-two  pounds^ 
(422  nett,)  a  silver  cup  worth  $5. — 
Both  pigs  of  the  same  litter,  placed  in 
a  small  sheltered  lot  at  five  months  old 
and  fed  exclusively  on  fermented  corn 
meal.  Also,  to  the  same  for  the  larg^ 
est  watermelon,  weighing  39  1-2  lbs*, 
$1,00. 

To  James  A.  Covington  for  the  larg- 
est yield  of  cotton  upon  an  acre  of  up- 
land, eighteen  hundred  and  ninety-one 
pounds,  (1891,)  (prolific  Pomegranite,) 
light  gray  soil,  cultivated  in  drills, 
eighteen  inches  apart,  three  feet  be- 
tween the  rows,  manured  with  a  mix- 
ture of  stable  manure  and  cotton  seed. 
Stephen  W.  Covington,  Sec'y. 


For  the  Farmer's  Journal. 
Granville  County  Agricultural  Society 

Dr.  Tompkins, — At  a  meeting  of  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  Granville 
County  Agricultural  Society,  held  in 
Oxford  on  the  16th  inst.,  we  were  ap- 
pointed a  sub-committee  to  prepare  for 
publication  a  schedule  of  Premiums  to 
be  awarded  at  the  first  annual  Fair  in 
October  next,  two  weeks  previous  to  the 
State  Fair  at  Raleigh. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


341 


We  hays  prepared  the  following 
schedule,  which  be  pleased  to  publish 
in  your  v^aluable  Journal.  The  Socie- 
ty, it  is  presumed,  will  be  able  to  award 
several  hundred  dollars  in  premiums, 
which  Avill  be  distributed  amongst  the 
selected  articles  according  to  their  rel- 
ative importance. 

R.  A.  Hamilton, 

S.  S.  ROYSTER, 

C,  C.  Cooper. 
January  20,  1854. 

Schedule  of  Articles  for  zvhich  Premiums  tvUl  be 
awarded  for  the  hest  of  each. 

Crops,  &c. — For  the  largest  yield  on 
m\  acre,  of  the  following  articles : — 
corn,  wheat,  tobacco,  cotton,  oats,  hay, 
turnips.  On  half  acre  sweet  potatoes, 
on  quarter  acre  Irish  potatoes.  Best  bar- 
rel of  flour  from  the  smallest  quantity 
of  wheat.  For  the  first,  second  and  third 
best  samples  of  tobacco.  Samples  of 
corn  and  wheat. 

Horses,  Mules,  &c. — Stallion,  brood 
mare,  thorough  bred  stallion,  thorough 
bred  brood  mare,  three  year  old  colt 
and  filly,  each,  two  year  old  colt,  one 
year  old  colt,  jack,  pair  mules,  saddle 
horse  or  mare,  best  pair  mule  colts, 
mare  and  colt,  pair  match  liorses. 

Cattle. — Bull  of  improved  breed, 
bull  of  native  stock,  cow,  bull  and  heif- 
er calves  under  two  years  old,  pair  of 
working  oxen,  lot  of  fat  cattle,  grass  fed 
not  less  than  two. 

Hogs. — Boar  of  improved  stock,  sow 
cf  improved  stock,  boar  and  sow  each 
of  common  stock,  parcel  of  pigs  not 
less  than  six  and  under  six  months  old, 
heaviest  hog  not  exceeding  18  months 
old. 

Sheep. — Ram  and  ewe,  each,  of  im- 
proved stock,  ram  and  ewe,  each,  of 
common  stock,  lot  of  muttons  not  less 
than  three,  lot  of  lambs  not  less  than 
three. 

Agricultural  Implements,  &c. — 
One  horse,  two  horse  and  three  horse 
ploughs,  each,  subsoil  plough,  harrow, 
cultivator,  grain  cradle,  dung  fork, 
rake,  chopping  axe,   broad  axe,  hand 


axe,  claw  hammer,  pair  of  iron  axle 
trees  and  boxes,  eliptic  springs,  ditch- 
ing spade,  shovel,  heavy  grindstone, 
straw  cutter,  threshing  machine,  Avheat 
fan,  horse  rake,  ox  yoke,  pruning  hook, 
scythe  snath,  axe  handle. 

Ploughing  Match. — For  the  best 
ploughing  with  two  and  three  horse 
ploughs,  each,  best  plonghman  and 
horses. 

Vehicles — Carriage,  buggy,  wagon, 
ox  cart,  one  horse  cart. 

Harness,  &c. — Sett  of  wagon,  car- 
riage and  buggy  harness,  each,  side  of 
upper,  sole  and  harness  leather,  each, 
calf  and  kip  skins,  pair  boots  and  shoes, 
saddle  and  bridle. 

Fruit  and  Fruit  Trees. — Best  and 
largest  variety  of  peaches  and  apples, 
and  best  collection  of  fruit  trees. 

Dairy,  Garden,  &c. — Butter,  cheese 
and  honey,  each,  not  less  than  ten 
pounds,  best  assortment  of  the  largest 
table  vegetables,'  best  and  largest  vari- 
ety of  roses  and  flowers,  best  bacon 
hams. 

Household  Manufactures,  &c. — 
Carpet,  rug,  bedquilt,  counterpane,  pair 
blankets,  piece  heavy  woolen  jeans, 
piece  linsey,  table  cloth,  piece  woolen 
cloth  for  negi-oes,  pair  woolen  stockings, 
piece  striped  cotton  domestics,  orna- 
mental needle  work  of  the  difterent  va-  . 
rieties,  crotchet  work,  oil,  water  and 
theorem  paintings,  each,  pencil  draw- 
ings, best  soap  and  candles,  each  ten 
pounds,  best  starch  three  pounds  and 
process  of  making  each,  best  jar  of, 
each,  pickles  and  preserves. 

Fowls,  &c. — Best  poultry  of  each  of 
the  difierent  varieties. 

Premiums  can  be  awarded  only  to 
articles  which  are  of  the  gi'owth,  man- 
ufacture, or  product  of  the  county. 

All  persons  exhibiting  implements 
will  be  expected  to  accompany  them 
with  the  prices  for  which  they  can  af- 
ford to  furnish  them. 


Get  an  early  start  in  the  morning  and 
ten  to  one,  you  will  drive  your  business 
and  not  your  business  drive  you. 


342 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


For  the  Farmer's  Jovirnal. 
The  Farmer. 

"How  blest  the  farmer's  simple  life  ! 

How  pure  the  Joy  it  yields ! 
Far 'from  the  world's  tempestous  strife, 

Free  'mid  the  scented  fields  !" — Everest. 

If  there  is  any  class  of  people  under 
the  sun,  Avho  may  be  considered  "su- 
premely blest,"  content,  happy,  and  ex- 
empt from  the  "  cares  of  the  world,"  it 
is  those  who  "fell  the  forest  and  till 
the  soil." 

The  merchant,  who-  from  day's  end 
to  day's  end,  stands  behind  his  counter, 
or  remains  at  his  desk  within  the  nar- 
row confines  of  his  counting-room,  de- 
votedly bowing  himself  down  at  the 
shrine  of  Plutus.  The  physician,  whose 
future  "  weal  or  woe "  depends  upon 
the  efl:ect  of  a  bottle  of  bitters,  or  a 
dose  of  rhubarb,  quinine  or  calomel 
pills.  The  man  of  law,  who  consumes 
the  "  midnight  oil  "  in  pouring  over  the 
pages  of  Chitty,  Coke,  or  Blackstone  ; 
or  at  the  bar  enchains  the  audience  by 
the  rapturous  strains  of  burning  elo- 
quence flowing  from  his  magic  lips. — 
The  sable  robed  Divine,  who  bears  the 
awful  responsibility  of  teaching  the  ho- 
ly precepts  and  expounding  the  Word 
of  God.  The  politician,  who  grovels 
for  popularity  at  the  feet  of  his  consti- 
.tuents — and  the  statesman,  who  holds 
in  his  hands  the  balance  of  power  be- 
tween nations — are  all  strangers  to  the 
contentment,  and  calm  serenity  of  mind 
enjoyed  by  the  Farmer. 

'Tis  the  Farmer  who  goes  forth  re- 
joicing at  earl}?-  morn  to  view  the  scent- 
ed fields,  and  to  enjoy 

"  The  cool,  the  fragrant,  aud  the  silent  hour, 
To  meditation  due  and  sacred  soug." 

At  noon,  while  his  herds  of  cattle 
graze  upon  "  a  hundred  hills,"  or  rest 
beneath  the  shade  of  the-  missive  oak 
or  spreading  elm,  the  Farmer  may  cast 
his  eyes  over  the  broad  expanse  of  his 
extensive  fields  laden  Avith  golden  grain, 
and  say  within  himself — 

"I  am  monarcli  of  all  I  survey, 
My  right  there  is  none  to  dispute." 


'Tis  the  Farmer,  who  at  even  when 
his  labors  are  ended,  returns  with  elas- 
tic step  and  buoyant  heart,  to  meet 
with  his  family  around  the  social  fire- 
side ;  where  he  may  undisturbed  read 
from  the  "  Journal  "  the  "  good  things  " 
contained  therein,  or  discourse  with  his 
"better  half"  concerning  those  that 
convulse  the  world  without.  'Tis  the 
Farmer's  loife^  who  with  her  face  wreath- 
ed in  smiles,  greets  him  as  he  approach- 
es the  door  of  their  rural  cottage,  and 
with  her  own  hands  prepares  and 
spreads  before  him  the  choice  viands 
and  finest  fruits  tliat  the  country  af- 
fords. 'Tis  the  Farmer's  wife  who  sits 
by  his  bedside  while  he  is  sick,  mois- 
tens his  parched  lips,  and  gives  to  all 
around  an  air  of  cheerful  resignation 
to  the  divine  will  of  God.  We  hope 
then  that  there  is  no  young  mKi\  among 
us  who  blushes  on  being  called  a  "  rus- 
tic youth,"  or  "  backwood's  swain,"  or 
an  old  sturdy  "  son  of  the  soil,"  who 
feels  ashamed  of  tlie  homely  appella- 
tion of  "  rusty  old  Farmer,"  for 

"  The  noblest  men  who  tread  the  earth. 
Are  those  whose  hands  are  Irown  with  toil, 

Who  backed  by  no  ancestral  birth, 
Fell  the  forest  and  till  the  soil !" 


A.  J.  G. 


Rocky  R.  Springs,  N.  C. 


For  the  Fanner's  Journal. 
Fattening  Hogs. 

Dr.  Tompkins: — A  correspondent  in 
your  last  paper  enquires,  first :  Will  it 
pay  to  boil  the  fuod  for  hogs  or  not? 

Secondly :  Does  a  hog  thrive  better 
in  close  confinement  or  at  liberty,  that 
is  in  an  open  field  ? 

Thirdly:  Does  the  fading  of  hogs 
upon  the  ground  retard  their  improve- 
ment? 

To  the  first  questiosi  I  answer,  accord- 
ing to  my  experience,  that  all  food 
should  be  given  to  hogs  either  in  a  green 
or  boiled  state.  My  plan  is  to  plant 
small  parcels  of  land  in  corn  at  differ- 
ent periods,  beginning  in  March  and 
ending  in  June,  expressly  for  my  hogs, 
by  which  means  I  can  supply  them  with 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


343 


green  food  from  the  middle  of  August 
til  frost.  As  soon  as  tli*»  earliest  corn 
is  in  roasting  eai',  I  put  the  half  of  my 
hogs  in  close  pens  and  feed  them  upon 
green  corn  with  a  constant  supply  of 
green  stalks,  potato  vines,  crab  grass, 
&c.  The  last  three  articles  not  only 
contain  large  quantities  of  nutritious 
matter  of  which  the  hog^*  are  very  fond, 
but  they  form  a  body  of  valuable  ma- 
nure. Early  in  September  I  put  up  the 
balance  of  my  hogs  intended  for  slaugh- 
ter, and  continue  the  whole  of  them  on 
green  food  until  frost,  after  which  I  boil 
all  the  food  given  them.  I  do  not  al- 
low my  hogs  lo  run  in  ray  field  uor  in 
a  potato  patch,  for  a  raw  potato  is  not 
much  more  digestible  than  a  piece  of 
India  rubber,  besides  potatoes  grow 
more  in  September  and  October  than 
all  the  balance  of  the  sea-ion. 

Hogs  will  thrive  faster  on  green  food 
than  any  other,  and  boiled  food  stands 
next  in  value  for  its  fattening  effects  to 
greeij.  But  when  the  food  is  boiled  it 
is  best  to  change  or  mix  it  frecjuently, 
;is  hogs  will  not  eat  freely  of  one  kind  of 
boiled  food  for  a  length  of  time.  My 
plan  is  to  boil  potatoes,  corn,  peas,  or 
pumpkins  togetlier.  During  the  whole 
process  of  fattening,  the  iiogs  should 
have  constant  supplies  of  charcoal  or 
rotten  wood  to  correct  acidity,  and  small 
quantities  of  ashes  ihrov/n  into  their 
food  occasionally  to  exi.iel  worms.  By 
this  plan  of  managing  my  hogs  they 
are  generally  ready  for  slaughter  in  two 
months  from  the  time  they  are  put  up. 

To  give  your  correspondent  some  idea 
of  the  difference  bet-vv-een  dry  and  cook- 
ed food,  I  will  state  that  an  experiment 
was  made  in  England  by  inteUigent 
practiaal  nien,  who  put  three  hogs  in  a 
close  pen  upon  floors,  one  above  anoth- 
er, and  confined  them  upon  dry  raw 
food.  They  found  it  only  necessary  to 
feed  the  top  hog,  for  the  lower  one 
thrived  as  fast  and  the  middle  one  fast- 
er than  the  first.  In  fact  the  top  hog 
only  acted  the  part  of  miller  for  the  two 
belovtf  him,  and  so  imperfectly  that  two 
more  griudings  were  requisite  to  bring 


the  food  to  a  state  of  solubility.  Boil- 
ing accomplishes  this  at  once,  and  the 
food  is  then  easily  assimilated. 

To  the  second  question  I  answer  that 
I  have  found  no  difference  if  all  are  fed 
alike  and  plentifully,  provided  the  hogs 
in  confinement  have  their  supply  of 
medicine — that  is  charcoal  and  ashes. 
But  there  is  a  vast  difference  in  the 
profit  resulting  from  the  two  plans  upon 
which  I  will  remark  hereafter.  If  those 
running  at  liberty  sbeuld  not  be  supplied 
abundantly  with  food,  the  labor  of 
searching  and  rooting  will  retard  their 
improvement. 

To  the  third  question  I  will  say  that 
in  a  dry  temperate  season  the  difference 
is  nothing,  but  in  cold  rainy  v-feather 
the  hogs  without  a  floor  would  be  in 
mud  and  would  necessarily  eat  much 
of  it  with  their  food,  and  as  all  animals 
thrive  best  when  comfortable  and  mod- 
erately warm ;  floors  would  be  best, 
though  shelters  to  protect  them  from 
the  weather  is  better  still.  Much  food 
is  wasted  in  fattening  stock  in  cold 
weather  to  supply  animal  heat,  and  it' 
is  the  opinion  of  scientific  men  that  we 
would  save  money  by  constructing 
houses  for  the  purpose,  with  steam 
pipes  a  tached  to  keep  the  atmosphere 
moderately  warm.  Hence  the  great 
advantage  of  fattening  stock  in  a  tem- 
perate season  of  the  year. 

I  never  allow  hogs  nor  any  other 
stock  to  run  on  my  field  for  the  follow- 
ing reasons  :  First,  I  lose  the  gaseous 
parts  of  the  manure,  which  I  think  of 
more  value  than  the  food  consumed. 
Secondly,  the  making  of  cross  fences  is 
expensive  and  a  waste  of  timber,  of 
which  I  fear  we  shall  have  a  scarcity 
full  soon.  Thirdly,  my  ditches  and 
land  would  be  injured  ;  and  fourthly, 
one  third  of  the  food  required  to  fatten 
them  may  be  saved  if  given  in  a  pre- 
pared state.  As  to  sowing  peas  among 
corn  to  fatten  hogs,  I  have  proved  to 
my  own  satisfaction  by  a  series  of  ex- 
periments that  it  is  a  loosing  game,  for 
my  corn  has  been  injured  to  the  value 
of  the  pea  crop. 


344 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


In  constructing  my  pens  for  hogs,  I 
first  run  them  up  two  feet  and  fill  in 
with  mud,  cobs,  <fec.  I  then  lay  rail 
floors  over  the  mud  and  build  the  pens 
upon  the  floors  to  the  required  height. 
During  the  process  of  fattening,  the 
green  vegetable  matter  supplied  to  the 
hogs  will  form  a  mass  of  excellent  ma- 
nure within,  while  the  soluble  parts  pass 
through  the  crevices  of  the  floor,  and  is 
absorbed  and  retained  by  the  mud  be- 
low. An  occasional  sprinkling  of  plas- 
ter or  charcoal  over  the  manure  in  the 
pens  will  prevent  the  escape  of  the  vol- 
atile parts. 

Wlien  the  hogs  are  killed,  I  remove 
the  floors  of  the  pens,  allowing  the  ma- 
nure on  the  foundation  to  remain,  which 
I  tben  cover  with  mud  to  the  depth  of 
12  inches.  Tne  whole  mass  thus  re- 
mains until  spring,  when  it  is  thorough- 
ly intermixed  and  will  reproduce  a 
quantity  of  food  equal  to  that  consumed 
in  fattening  the  hogs. 

I  have  occasionally  had  hogs  that 
would  not  fatten,  which  I  attributed  to 
disease.  In  such  cases  I  have  turned 
them  out,  and  found  no  difficulty  in 
fattening  them  the  next  season. 


For  the  Farmer's  Journal. 

Randolph  Co.,  Sandy  Creek, 

Jan.  1854. 
Dear  Doctor  : — I  haye  recently 
become  a  subscriber  for,  and  a  reader  of, 
the  "  Farmers  Journal."  I  am  a  young 
man  and,  of  course,  a  mere  tyro  in 
the  art  and  science  of  farming.  But 
reading  in  your  paper  several  injunc- 
tions upon  farmers  to  communicate,  I 
now  set  me  down  to  write  for  the  first 
time  in  my  life,  an  article  upon  agri- 
cultural subjects.  I  do  not  expect,  by 
writing,  to  benefit  any  directly,  yet  I 
may,  by  exciting  inquiry  in  an  indirect 
way,  benefit  many.  Having  read  seve- 
ral numbers  of  the  "  Journal"  and  seen 
nothing  said  relative  to  the  diseases  of 
wheat,  and  having  the  last  season  suf- 
fered severely  from  that  terrible  disease, 
the  rust,  I  write  for  the  purpose  of  eli- 
citing the-  views  of  the  more  experienc- 


ed, with  regard  to  the  cause,  and  means 
of  prevention,  of  this  most  destructive 
disease  to  which  the  wheat  crop  in  this 
section  has  ever  been  subject.  I  have 
long  been  familiar  wdth  that  theory 
which  regards  rust  as  the  result  of  warm 
days  succeeded  by  cold  nights. 

This  theory  looks  so  plausible,  and 
seems,  upon  the  principle,  that  cold 
causes  all  bodies  to  contract,  to  account 
so  satisfactorily  for  rust,  that  I  had 
yielded  implicit  confidence  in  it  until  a 
circumstance  which  I  will  relate,  made 
me  doubt. 

The  circumstance  is  this  :  In  the  fall 
of  1852,  feeling  my  agricultural  pride 
growing,  I  thought  I  would  farm  it  a 
little  better  than  I  had  hitherto  done, 
so  I  broke  my  ground  pretty  thorough- 
ly, and  sowed  my  wheat,  (the  mediteiv 
ranean  variety).  It  came  up  beautiful- 
ly, in  a  few  weeks  I  turned  my  sheep 
upon  it,  and  so  wintered  them  without 
any  other  food.  They  kept  the  wheat 
quite  short,  and  it  kept  them  fat.  About 
the  1st  of  April  I  removed  the  sheep, 
and  my  wheat  seemed  to  grow  luxuri- 
antly. It  promised  more  than  an  ordi- 
nary crop  until  -within  about  two  weeks 
of  harvest,  at  which  time  there  were 
manifest  syrhptoms  of  rust  in  places, 
and  in  a  day  or  two  it  was  over  my  en- 
tire crop  :  a  few  acres,  however,  which 
had  not  been  pastured  was  not  so  bad. 
I  cut  the  wheat  on  the  green  order,  (for 
wheat  that  has  the  rust  bad  wont  get 
ripe)  and  from  straw  enough  to  have 
made  600  bushels  of  good  wheat  I  only 
got  285  bushels  shriveled  wheat,  weigh- 
ing about  45  lbs.  to  the  bushel.  Here 
was  a  loss  of  some  $300  from  rust. — 
Some  of  my  ground  was  manured  with 
barn-yard  manure,  one  acre  with  Gu- 
ano, and  the  balance  with  nothing. — 
All  had  the  rust  alike,  while  my  neigh- 
bors wheat  w^as  scarcely  touched  with 
it. 

Now,  Mr.  Editor  and  scientific  farm- 
ers, what  was  the  cause  of  this  dread- 
ful rust  ?  Was  it  from  the  pasturing, 
from  the  cold  nights,  or  from  some 
other  cause.     Answer  this  question  and 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


34i 


you  -will  much  oblige  a  brother  in  the 
profession. 

A  Farmer. 
N.  B. — My  land  is  what  we,  in  this 
section  denominate  black   gravel,  and 
has  always  been  considered  good  wheat 
land. 


Oak  Grove,  Caswell  Co.,  IS".  C,  ) 
January  20th,  1854.       f 

Dr.  John  F.  Tompkins  : 

Bear  Sir  :  Enclosed  you  Avill  please 
find  eight  dollars,  which  is  the  amount 
of  subscribers  I  have  got  for  your  Jour- 
nal since  yours  of  January.  I  am  in 
hopes  I  shall  be  able  to  get  you  some 
more,  as  the  weather  has  been  bad,  I 
have  not  seen  all  my  neighbors.  I 
want  you  to  send  the  Farmer's  Journal 
to  the  following  names  :  James  Me- 
bane,  Jr.,  Esq.,  Henry  F.  Adkins,  Sam- 
uel Hooper,  James  Evans,  Gen.  Thom- 
as W.  Graves,  Lindsey  Oliver,  Henry 
H.  Hooper.  Their  Post  Office  is  Yan- 
ceyville,  Caswell  County,  North  Caro- 
lina, seven  in  number.  James  W. 
James,  his  Post  Office,  is  Hightowers, 
Caswell  County,  North  Carolina. 

I  regret  to  see  that  your  Journal  is 
not  more  liberally  patronized  by  Farm- 
ers of  the  State,  as  I  look  upon  it  as  be- 
ing the  most  valuable  paper  in  the 
State,  and  one  that  every  citizen  ought 
to  take  a  deep  interest  in.  Please  ac- 
knowledge. 

I  am,  very  respectfully, 
Yours,  (fee, 

A.  WILLIS. 


KiNSTON,  Jan.  21,  1854. 
Dr.  J.  F.  Tompkins  : 

Dear  Sir  :  Your  favor  of  the  17th 
inst.,  requesting  me  to  become  your 
local  agent  for  your  valuable  Journal, 
was  received  last  evening.  You  are  at 
liberty  to  use  my  name  as  such,  feeling 
a  deep  and  abiding  interest  in  the  suc- 
cess of  your  Journal,  I  could  not  refuse. 
Hoping  that  it  may  be  as  profitable  to 
you  as  I  think  it  must  be  to  your  readers. 

Very  respectfully,  yours, 

LEWIS  C.  DESMOND. 


Swift  Creek,  Jan.  20,  1854. 

Sir :  Yours  of  the  14th  was  received 
this  morning,  and  in  reply  I  will  say 
that  anything  I  can  do  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  agricultural  interest  of 
North  Carolina,  I  will  cheerfully  do. 

I  will  see  all  your  present  subscribers 
at  this  place,  and  get  them  to  renew, 
and  as  many  new  ones  as  I  can. 

I  intend  to  try  and  send  a  Buggy  of 
my  manufacture  to  the  next  Fair  at 
Raleigh.  I  purpose  using  no  paint, 
and  intend  to  build  it  of  walnut  entire- 

Wishing  you  much  success, 
I  remain,  yours, 

AUGUSTUS  LATHAM. 


Hilliardston,  N.  C,  ) 
January  20,  1854.  j 

Mr  Dear  Sir, — I  am  in  receipt  of 
your  note  of  the  14th  inst.,  requesting 
the  favor  of  me  to  allow  you  to  publish 
my  name  as  a  regular  local  agent  for 
the  Farmer's  Journal  in  my  county; 
and  in  reply  I  am  constrained  to  say 
that,  although  I  migbt  be  ever  so  averse 
to  become  an  agent  under  other  cir- 
cumstances, I  cannot,  under  the  pres- 
ent, deline  doing  this  small  favor  for 
you  personally,  and  my  neighborhood 
generally.  I  have  seen,  for  some  time, 
that  your  paper  was  suffering  for  the 
want  of  this  arrangement.  And  I  sin- 
cerely hope  that  a  future  prosperity, 
beyond  your  expectation,  may  be  the 
reward  of  your  noble  efforts  in  endeav- 
oring to  arouse  the  agricultural  inter- 
est of  our  good  old  North  State  to  a 
sense  of  its  duty.  Any  business,  what- 
ever, relative  to  the  Fanner's  Journal 
in  my  county,  you  may  send  to  me 
and  I  will  attend  to  it  with  pleasure : 
and  I  will  use  my  efforts  to  have  the 
subscription  list  double  its  present 
number  pretty  soon. 

I  am,  dear  sir,  your  ob't  serv't, 

Benj.  D.  Mann. 


" 


346 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Halifax  County,  N".  C, 
January  12, 1854. 

Dk.  Tompkins  :  Dear  Sir, — As  it 
v/as  out  of  my  power  to  comply  witli 
your  request,  when  I  saw  you  at  Wel- 
don,  to  have  a  hog,  raised  by  my  Avife, 
taken  up  to  the  State  Fair,  I  herewith 
give  you,  as  near  as  I  ,can,  his  age, 
which  is  between  31  and  32  months. 
We  killed  him  the  9tli  inst.,  and  his 
gross  weight  is  687  lbs.  and  his  nett 
T/eight  is  585  lbs.  This  is  the  second 
large  size  hog  that  my  wife  has  raised. 
The  first  one  weighed  616  lbs.  gross 
and  548  lbs.  nett.  They  are  the  com- 
mon stock  of  hogs,  as  far  as  I  know, 
xvitbi  a  small  cross  of  the  Berkshire.  I 
would  be  glad  to  get  some  of  the  large 
breeds  now  in  use,  and  give  them  a  fair 
txial,  his  length,  from  nose  to  root  of 
tail,  was  6  feet  9  inches,  3  feet  1  inch 
high.  If  any  farmer's  wife  can  beat 
the  hog  raised  by  my  wife  I  would  be 
glad  to  buy  some  of  the  stock. 

Yours  with  the  greatest  respect, 
R.  H.  Walker. 

P.  S. — I  see  in  some  of  the  back 
jSTos.  of  the  Farmer's  Journal  something 
about  curing  of  Bacon.  I  will,  if  no- 
thing happens,  before  long,  give  you 
my  mode  upon  the  same  ;  and  I  have 
to  say  to  you,  the  best  way  to  test  the 
quality  of  the  same  is,  for  you.  Dr.,  in 
(.>ne  of  your  tours  in  this  section,  to 
<-all  awhile  and  take  the  occular  proof 
R.  H.  W. 


From  the  Soil  of  the  South. 
S^remium  Essay  on  the  Treatment  and 

Cultivation  of  Corn. 

Eead  before  the  Southern  Central  Ag- 
ricultural Association. 

BY    JAMES    M.    chambers. 

It  would  seem  that  with  a  crop  with 
which  we  had  been  so  long  familiar, 
and  which  enters  so  universally  into  the 
products  of  the  farm,  nothing  new  would 
remfiin  to  be  ui.sclosed,  and  that  practice 
ought  long  since  to  have  made  us  ac- 
quainted with  all  the  best  modes  of  cul- 
ture.    My    observation,   however,    has 


but  served  to  convince  me  that  no  crop 
has  been  subjected  to  more  neglect,  and 
none  has  been  more  left  to  the  mere  risk 
of  chances,  circumstances,  and  the'  acci- 
dents of  seasons,  than  corn  ;  especially 
in  the  agriculture  of  the  South.  When 
inquiry  has  been  indulged  at  all,  it  has 
been  rather  to  find  out  the  shortest  and 
cheapest,  rather  than  the  best  modes  of 
preparation  and  culture,  and  that  we 
have  been  indebted  for  success  rathei'  to 
a  kind  Provideiice,  and  a  generous  soii, 
than  to  any  skill  or  understanding  of 
our  own  in  bringing  about  the  result. 
It  is  true,  that  without  these  aids,  we 
could  not  hope  for  success  ;  but  our  ob- 
jection is  to  a  reliance  so  exclusively 
upon  them,  and  our  purpose  to  show 
how  we  shall  better  succeed  in  co-oper- 
ation with  them. 

I  lay  it  down  as  indispensably  neces- 
sary to  anything  like  perfect  success, 
that  iirst  of  all,  good  preparations  should 
be  made  before  planting  ;  that  the  land 
should  be  thoroughb',  deeply,  and  close- 
ly plowed,  forming  a  deep,  mellow,  and 
well  pulverized  bed,  which  will  allow 
any  excess  of  rain  water  which  may  fall 
upon  the  surface  to  settle  readily  deep 
into  the  earth  below  the  deposited  seed, 
which  will  permit  the  warming  rays  of 
the  sun,  and  the  healthful  gasses  of  the 
atmosphere  to  penetrate,  and  through 
which  the  young  roots,  so  abundant  in 
this  plant  may  spread  out  early  and 
easily  in  search  ot  requisite  food.  This 
preparation,  as  already  intimated,  must 
be  made  with  the  plow.  The  time  of 
doing  it,  and  the  particular  kind  of  im- 
plement to  be  used,  and  the  depth  to 
which  the  land  is  to  be  broken,  must  be 
determined  very  much  by  circumstances, 
the  character  of  the  soil,  &c.,  and  must 
be  left  somewhat  to  the  discretion  of 
the  planter,  to  be  varied  to  suit  the  cir- 
cumstances of  each  case — seeming  the 
object,  deep  ;uid  thorough  preparation. 
It  must  be  admitted  that  very  good 
crops  are  often  made  with  less  prepara- 
tion. These  deficiencies  are  sometimes 
made  up  by  after  culture.  Yet  no  one 
may  safely  presume  upon  the  opportu- 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


347 


nity  to  do  this  ;  nor  can  we  claim  to 
have  done  our  whole  duty,  when  we 
leave  for  to-morrow  the  doing  of  those 
things  which  ought  to  have  been  done 
to-day.  Many  regrets  and  many  fail- 
ures have  resulted  from  the  want  of 
these  timely  preparations. 

The  next  question  in  the  order  of  in- 
quiry is  as  to  the  Mode  of  Planting, 
and  the  best  Time  for  doing  this. 

In  a  climate  with  summers  as  long 
and  hot  as  ours,  and  where  drought  so 
frequently  occurs  in  these  hot  months, 
it  is  of  indispensable  importance  that 
this  crop  should  be  planted  just  as  soon 
as  the  frosts  may  be  avoided.  And  it 
may  be  remarked  in  this  connection, 
that  this  plant,  though  tender,  is  not 
easily  killed  to  the  root,  and  the  giere 
nipping  of  the  young  leaves  of  the  corn 
does  not  mateiially  affi-ct  its  ultimate 
yield  ;  and  that  we  should  not  therefore 
be  deterred,  by  any  of  tliese  apprehen- 
sions, from  early  planting. 

The  Depth  of  Planting  is  an  im- 
portant consideration. 

The  roots  of  corn  are  almost  all  lat- 
eral, and  come  out  near  the  surface ; 
and  it  is  therefore  a  matter  of  great  im- 
portance to  have  t!ie  seed  well  deposit- 
ed in  the  ground.  To  do  this,  the 
opening  furrow  for  planting  should  be 
deep,  so  that  the  tendency  of  all  the 
after  workings  would  be  to  increase  the 
depth  of  earth  upon  the  roots.  The 
seed,  when  deposited  in  this  furrow, 
should  be  covered  to  the  depth  of  one 
and  a  half  to  two  inches,  with  soft,  fine 
earth,  placed  there  by  a  plov/  or  hoe — 
the  latter  I  think  best.  Three  or  four 
grains  should  be  droppi-d,  when  only 
one  is  to  be  left,  it  being  much  'better 
to  thin  out  than  to  liave  to  replant. 

It  is  a  debatable  question,  and  there- 
fore one  about  wdiich  there  is  a  differ- 
ence of  opinion,  as  to  whether  the  Hill 
or  Drill  planting,  or  the  one  or  the 
two  stalk  system  is  the  best.  Circum- 
stances must  necessai'ily  enter  very 
largely  into  the  seitlement  of  these 
questions ;  and  after  all,  the  discretion 
of  the  planter  must  be  often  left  to  set- 


tle them.  My  theory  and  plans  are 
made  to  suit  the  common  uplands  of 
the  country,  and  may  therefore  be  de- 
parted from  as  occasion  and  tlie  difter- 
ence  in  lands  may  require.  Upon  this 
basis  I  shall  take  hill  in  preference  to 
drill  planting,  because  of  the  greater 
regularity  of  distance,  the  greater  cer- 
tainty of  a  perfect  stand,  and  the  great- 
er ease  v/ith  which  it  may  be  cultivated  ; 
and  prefer  one  to  two  stalks  in  the  hill, 
because  it  is  more  easily  cleaned  with 
the  plow  or  hoe — better  sustained,  as 
the  one  receives  all  the  food  from  the 
soil  which  would  otherwise  be  divided 
— because  it  will  bear  drought  with 
less  damage — and  finally,  though  oth- 
er plans  may  produce  more  ears,  those 
on  the  one  stalk  will  be  larger,  equal 
in  quantity  and  better  in  the  quality  of 
the  corn. 

Ha^dng  settled  the  preference  for  one 
stalk  in  the  hill,  the  Distance  to  be 
given. 

I  should  ad^dse  tlie  checking  to  be 
four  and  a  half  feet  one  Avay,  by  three 
and  a  half  the  other.  I  should  then  ex- 
pect to  make  the  crop,  after  this  prepa- 
ration, with  three  plowings — the  first 
to  be  given  the  narrow  way  of  the  rows, 
and  the  two  last  the  wide  way.  The 
crop  is  now  planted,  and  a  very  impor- 
tant branch  of  the  work  is  disposed 
of. 

The  mode  of  Culture  remains  to  be 
told.  I  will  preface  that  part  of  my 
essay  with  this  remark :  that,  hoAvever, 
much  other  things  may  admit  of  delay 
and  neglect,  that  the  corn  crop  never 
recovers  from  injury  of  this  sort.  It 
requires  to  be  worked  early,  rapidly, 
and  to  be  disposed  of  soon.  As  soon  as  the 
third  and  fourth  blades  have  made  their 
appearance,  let  the  operation  be  com- 
menced. The  plow  running  next  to 
the  young  plant  should  Be  narrow  and 
long,  so  that  the  earth  may  be  broken 
very  deep  and  close  to  the  young  corn, 
and  yet  it  not  covered.  The  best  plow 
in  common  use,  for  that  purpose,  is  the 
scooter  or  colter.  The  latter,  in  lands 
that  are  at  all  tenacious  or  close,  is  de- 


348 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


cidedly  preferable.  If  this  operation  is 
as  complete  as  it  should  be  all  the  earth, 
about  the  roots  of  the  plant  will  be 
loosened,  and  when  the  middle  of  the 
row  shall  have  been  also  broken  deep 
and  close,  the  j^oung  roots,  which  soon 
shoot  out  in  great  numbers,  in  search 
of  food,  will  easily  penetrate  the  soft 
earth  and  find  their  appropriate  sup- 
plies, and  impart  health  and  vigor  to 
the  youug  stalk.  The  hoes  should  fol- 
low the  plows  in  this  operation,  perfect- 
ing the  work  by  thinning  to  one  stalk, 
and  giving  the  hill  a  nice  dressing, 
leaving  it  perfectly  clean,  and  returning 
a  litle  more  earth  to  the  root  of  the 
corn.  In  about  twenty  days,  or  three 
weeks,  the  working  should  be  repeated. 
If  the  plow  work  has  been  very  thorough 
at  the  first  operation,  it  need  not  now 
be  quite  so  deep  or  close  as  before,  but 
nearly  so,  using  some  plow  next  the 
corn  which  will  tumble  the  soft  earth 
about  the  roots,  covering  all  small 
grass,  and  saving  much  labor  to  the 
hoe  hands. 

At  this  time,  the  hoes  should  pass 
over  again,  thinning  out  all  surplus 
stalks,  pulling  off  suckers,  straightening 
the  bent  stalks,  and  making  clean  all 
which  the  plows  may  have  failed  to  do. 
In  three  weeks  more  the  third  and  last 
working  should  be  given.  This  is  an 
important  crisis,  and  much  must  be 
committed  to  the  judgment  of  the  ope- 
rator. No  work  requires  the  exercise 
of  a  sounder  discretion  than  that  to  be 
given  to  corn,  in  this  advanced  stage 
and  hot  season.  Ordinarily  the  work 
should  be  much  more  shallow  and  less 
close  than  the  former  workings,  using 
some  plow  which  should  not  penetrate 
deep,  but  which  would  leave  the  sur- 
face as  soft  and  smooth  as  possible.  To 
make  the  corn  perfect,  the  hoes  should 
pass  over  again,  and  make  all  complete 
and  clean.  But  if  ample  justice  had 
been  done  in  the  former  workings,  not 
much  will  remain  now  for  the  hoes  to 
do.  Before  the  commencement  of  this 
last  plowing,  sow  broadcast  with  peas, 
about  ten  or  twelve  quarts  to  the  acre, 


and  the  work  will  be  complete.  In 
every  working  to  be  given  to  corn,  it 
would  be  greatly  preferable  to  have  the 
ground  wet,  or  rather  in  good  moist 
condition  ;  but  it  is  bad  policy  ever  to 
delay  these  operations  for  more  than 
two  or  three  days,  at  most,  to  wait  for 
the  seasons,  holding  the  maxim  that, 
"  He  that  regarded  the  wind  in  seed 
time,  shall  not  reap  in  harvest." 

I  close  my  treatise,  by  a  few  remarks 
on  the  Selection  of  Seed  Corn. 

The  better  plan  is,  to  make  the  sec- 
tions in  the  field,  taking  the  largest  and 
best  filled  ears  and  from  the  best  bear- 
ing stalks.  Much  improvement  may  be 
made  in  this  way.  But  even  here  \y% 
may  nm  into  an  error,  by  looking  too 
exclusively  at  the  number  of  ears,  with- 
out regard  to  the  size.  It  is  a  pretty 
well  ascertained  fact,  that  almost  in 
the  same  proportion  in  which  the  num- 
ber is  increased  the  size  of  the  ear  is 
reduced.  I  should  prefer  neither  the 
soft  gourd  seed,  nor  the  hard  flint  corn  ; 
but  a  sort  of  medium  between,  combin- 
ing in  one  the  advantages  of  both,  with 
a  small  cob  and  long  grain.  Seed  from 
the  butt  end  of  the  ear  are  much  to  be 
preferred,  rejecting  about  one-third, 
from  the  smaller  end. 

After  closing  my  essay,  it  occuved  to 
me  that  the  Saving  of  Fodder  was  so 
intimately  connected  with  the  culture 
of  corn,  that  it  might  be  expected  that 
I  should  say  something  on  that  subject. 
I  suppose  T  should  hardly  be  excused 
for  forgetting  an  old  friend,  (especially 
by  those  who  may  differ  with  me,)  but 
I  would  gladly  strike  it  from  the  cata- 
logue, as  I  have  no  doubt  that  more  in- 
jury is*  often  done  the  corn  crop,  by  in- 
judicious stripping  of  the  blades  from 
the  stalk,  than  the  whole  crop  of  fodder 
is  worth  after  it  is  saved ;  and  I  hope 
that  the  day  is  not  distant,  when  a  sub- 
stitute shall  be  provided,  in  form  of 
hay,  made  from  the  pea  or  some  of  our 
southern  grasses,  which  shall  pave  the 
planter  from  this  most  unpleasant  part 
of  his  work,  the  corn  from  the  chances 
of  damage  from  such  indiscretion,  and 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


349 


give  us  for  our  stock  a  better  article  of 
food.  It  is  indeed  questionable,  wheth- 
er the  grain  of  the  corn  does  not  suffer 
injury  from  this  operation  at  any  time 
when  there  is  sufficient  greenness  left 
in  the  blades  to  make  good  fodder. 

As,  however,  we  have  not  yet  a  sub- 
stitute, I  will  offer  some  suggestions  as 
to  the  time  and  manner  of  saving  this 
crop. 

The  blades  should  never  be  stripped 
uutil  the  shrinkage  of  the  grain  has 
taken  place  :  then  they  may  be  pulled, 
and  either  spread  in  the  row,  or  hung 
in  small  bunches  on  the  stalk  to  dry. 
The  latter  is  perhaps  preferable,  as  it 
dries  nearly  as  soon,  and  is  better  pro- 
tected in  the  event  of  rain.  In  about 
thirty-six  hours  it  is  generally  sufficient- 
ly cured  to  be  bundled  and  stacked. — 
It  should  be  put  into  bundles  in  the 
evening,  when  slightly  damped  by  the 
dew,  or  in  the  morning,  as  the  dew  is 
drying  off.  It  is  then  fit  for  stacking. — 
K  the  fodder  has  been  well  cured  it 
is  best  to  put  up  in  large  double  stacks, 
as  less  surface  is  exposed  to  be  damag- 
ed by  the  rains.  But  if  not  so  well 
cured  as  to  make  this  safe,  let  the 
stacks  be  made  single,  containing  eight 
or  ten  hundred  pounds.  If  sunshine 
should  be  scarce,  pretty  good  fodder 
may  be  saved  with  only  a  half  day's 
sun,  by  putting  into  small  bundles, 
stacking  in  single  stacks,  and  in  a  day 
oa-  two,  when  it  heats,  pulling  down 
and  exposing  to  the  air  ;  when  as  soon 
at  it  cools,  it  may  be  re-stacked,  and 
will  keep  safely  and  make  better  fod- 
der than  that  which  has  been  exposed 
to  the  rain. 


How  many  Acres  to  the  Hand  ? 

Messrs.  Editors  : — My  occupation 
for  the  past  fifteen  years,  has  caused 
rae  to  travel  all  through  middle  Geor- 
gia, almost,  annually.  It  has  been  my 
business  to  notice  the  farming  interest 
closely,  as  my  dealings  have  been  with 
them  entirety,  and  I  have  noticed  with 
profound  astonishment  that  a  large  ma- 
jority of  men,  so  intelligent  too,  should. 


with  all  the  lights  before  them,  pursue 
a  course  of  farming  so  suicidal  to  their 
best  interests.  It  does  really  seem  to 
me,  from  the  present  appearance  of 
this  once  fertile  country,  (all  things  con- 
sidered, it  might  once  have  been  called 
the  garden  spot  of  the  United  States,) 
that  to  kill  and  cripple,  had  been  the 
great  end,  after  which,  as  above  stated, 
a  large  majority  of  the  planters  had 
been  struggling,  and  the  dilapidated 
fences,  and  barren  hills,  tegether  with 
the  diminished  forest,  all  give  the  most 
indubitable  evidence  of  the  success 
which  has  crowned  their  unenviable  ef- 
forts in  a  course  so  injurious,  and  ruin- 
ous to  their  best  interests.  And  where 
are  all  those  planters  gone  to  ?  They 
have  moved  off"  to  various  sections  of 
country,  where,  from  the  same  course 
of  farming,  the  same  results  Avill  follow 
as  a  necessary  consequence.  Is  there 
no  remedy  for  all  this  waste  of  land  ? 
I  think  so.  And  by  your  permission, 
I  will  (with  due  deference  to  the  opin- 
ion of  others  who  think  differently,) 
place  before  the  readers  of  the  Soil  of 
the  South,  for  their  reflection,  some  im- 
provements, as  I  think,  upon  the  pres- 
ent plan  of  farming. 

I  shall  assume  the  position  :  That 
150  acres,  of  cleared  land,  is  as  much  as 
any  ten  hands  can  cultivate  properly, 
and  upon  that  150  acres  they  ought  to 
raise  as  much  cotton,  corn,  wheat  and 
oats  as  they  could  gather  in  seasonable 
time.  "What!"  says  some  of  these 
land  killers  and  cripplers,  "  the  man 
must  be  crazy.  I toorh  hut  eight  hands, 
and  I  cultivate  160  acres  in  cotton  and 
corn,  and  have  no  land  to  spare  for 
small  grain,  and  this  is  the  reason  xohy 
I  have  to  move  : — It  is  that  I  may  pur- 
chase more  land,  so  as  to  raise  small 
grain  to  answer  my  purposes."  Does 
not  your  mind  recur  to  many  planters 
who  left  old  Putnam,  (the  garden  spot 
of  Georgia,)  for  just  such  reasons  as 
above  described. 

Now,  sir,  it  is  my  purpose  to  show  to 
a  demonstration,  that  150  acres  is  alto- 
get  ^er  land  enough  for  ten    hands  to 


350 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


cultivate,  and  by  a  proper  system  of  cul- 
ture, I  think  will  do  all  I  have  said. — 
In  the  illustration  of  my  position,  I  ap- 
peal to  3'ou  as  an  umpire  between  the 
two  systems,  and  by  your  decision  I 
will  abide. 

-  Let  us  run  a  parallel  of  the  two  sys- 
tems of  farming.  The  "old  style" 
first.  A  planter  we  will  say,  has  160 
acres  of  open  land.  Hovv'  does  he  plant 
it?  100  hundred  acres  in  cotton  and 
60-  in  corn-— twenty  acres  to  the  hand. 
That,  I  believe,  is  about  the  usual  num- 
ber of  acres  apportioned  to  the  hand, 
to  cultivate  that  number  of  acres  there 
■is  no  time  for  making  or  spreading  ma- 
nure, all  hands  are  keep  in  a  perfect 
"rush"  from  Christmas  to  Christmas, 
and  take  five  yeai-s  together,  what  may 
we  put  an  average  of  the  crops  at  ?  Let 
us  deal  fair.  100  acres  of  cotton  at 
300  lbs.  per  acre,  we  think  a  fair  aver- 
age, will  give  30,000  lbs.;  60  acres  of 
corn  at  12  1-2  bushels  per  acre,  '.vil! 
give  us  YoO  bushels  all  told.  Now, 
what  is  this  worth.  Vv''e  will  say,  for 
the  sake  of  argument,  that  the  cotton 
is  vi^orth  $2  per  hundred  in  the  seed. 


What  the  Farmer  most  Needs. — 
It  is  not  a  college  endowed  by  the  State, 
says  a  eotemporary ;  it  is  primary 
schools,  to  prepai'e  farmers'  sons  and 
daughters  for  the  higher  walks  in  sci- 
ence as  applied  to  agriculture.  They 
need  organization.  They  want  farmers' 
clubs,  and  neighborhood  libraries  of  ag- 
ricultural books.  They  need  more  in- 
tercourse, not  only  in  tlieir  own  town 
and  county,  but  throughout  the  State 
and  country,  to  see  and  learn  what  oth- 
er farmers  are  doing,  and  adopt  them. 
This  is  the  greatest  need  of  farmers.— 
They  need  to  become  satisfied  witli  their 
vocation ;  to  get  rid  of  the  prevailing 
notion  that  farming  is,  necessarily,  an 
unrnental  employment;  that  is,  that 
the  fiirmer  has  no  occasion  to  think ; 
has  no  occasion  for  education,  and  nev- 
er can  become  wealthy  or  what  the 
world  would  call  respectable,  while  en- 
gaged in  the  culture  of  the  earth,  and 


therefore  he  seeks  the  first  opportunity 
to  escape  from  an  avocation  placed  un- 
der ban  not  only  by  all  others,  but  his 
own  class  also.  The  great  need  of  the 
farmer  is,  that  he  shall  declare  himself 
independent  of  other  classes ;  at  least 
more  so  than  they  are  of  him,  and  of 
course  he  is  entitled  to  engage  in  any 
other  calling  whatever;  and  if  he  is  a 
man  of  toil,  that  is  no  reason  why  he 
should  not  be  a  man  of  intellect.  The 
great  need  of  the  farmer  is  organization, 
and  this  must  be  accomplished  by  a 
few  self-sacrificing  men,  who  W'ill  under- 
take the  labor  of  establishing  and  main- 
taining farmers'  clubs  in  every  neigh- 
borhood. Farmers  need  to  drop  poli- 
tics, and  take  up  agriculture.  They 
must  talk,  read  and  think,  and  they  will 
be  sure  to  act  or  tlieir  children  will  act 
for  them. —  Vermont  Statesman. 


Kicking  Horses. — Mr.  Editor^ — It 
occurred  to  me  that  a  receipt  publish- 
ed in  your  paper  for  the  cure  of  kicking 
horses,  might  be  of  much  service  to 
persons  afflicted  with  such  dangerous 
animals.  The  operation  for  cure  to  be 
commenced  as  follows,  to  Avit :  Put  on 
a  headstall  or  bridle,  with  twisted  W, 
or  twisted  straight  bitts  in  the  mouth 
of  the  horse  to  be  cured,  then  put  on  a 
common  back-saddle,  with  thill  lugs, 
or  any  strap  or  girth,  vnth  loops  on  ei- 
ther side  of  the  horse,  is  equally  good  ; 
then  buckle  a  pair  of  long  reins,  open 
in  the  middle,  into  the  bitts,  and  pass 
them  through  the  thill  lugs  or  loops ; 
one  to  each  hind  leg,  above  the  fetlock 
joint,  there  make  each  rein  fast  to  the 
leg,  allovv'ing  sufficent  length  of  rein  for 
your  horse  to  walk  or  trot,  as  the  ope- 
rator may  think  23i'oper.  Every  thing 
complete,  you  will  have  the  animal 
commence  the  operation  of  kicking  ; 
the  first  will  be  a  smart  kick,  the  se- 
cond lighter,  and  so  on  till  your  horse 
cannot  be  made  to  kick  any  more. — 
By  the  above  method  many  now  worth- 
less horses  may  be  made  valuable. — 
Maine  Farmer. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


351 


UNITED  STATES'  AGEICULTURAL  SO- 
CIETY.—The  Second  Anuiial  Meeting 
of  the  United  States'  Agricultural  Society, 
will  be  be  Id  at  Washington,  D.  C,  on  Wed- 
nesday, February  22d,  1854. 

Among  the  objects  of  the  Association  are  the 
following: — 

The  acquisition  and  dissemination  of  the  best 
experience  in  the  Science  of  Agriculture;— 

The  union  of  the  men  who  desire  to  udTance 
to  its  legitimate  rank,  this  most  important  of 
all  human  pursuits ;— and  The  increase  and 
extension  throughtont  our  country  of  a  more 
cordial  spirit  of  intercourse  between  the  friends 
of  Ao-riculture,  by  whose  countenance  and  co- 
operation this  Society  shall  be  elevated  to  a 
position  of  honor  and  usefulness  worthy  of  its 
national  character. 

Business  of  importance  will  come  before  the 
meeting.  A  new  election  of  officers  is  to  be 
made,  and  in  which  every  State  and  Territory 
is  to  be  represented. 

Applications  will  be  laid  before  the  Society 
for  the  holding  of  National  Exhibitions  in  dif- 
ferent parts  ot  the  Union. 

Delegations  are  respectfully  solicited  from 
all  the  Agricultural  Societies  in  the  countjy, 
and  the  attendance  of  all  Agriculturists,  who 
may  find  it  convenient  to  houor  the  occasion 
with  their  presence. 

MARSHALL  P.  WILDER,  President. 

WILLIAM  S.  KING,  Sec.  Secretari/. 

Feb.  11th,  1854.  ll-^t 


NC.  STATE  AGRIC'ULTURAL    SO 
e  CIETY".— A  called  meeting  of  the  State' 
Agricultural  Society  ol  North  Carolina  will  be 
held  in    Raleigh  on  Wednesday  the  I5th   of 
March  next,   at  which    time  it  is  hoped  that 
the  members  generally  will  be  present. 
By  order  of  the  President. 
J.  F.  TOMPKINS  Secretary. 
'J^  Papers  throughout  the  State  will  p'ease 
to  copy. 
Raleigh,  Feb.  llth,  1854.  11— 5t. 

C-  LUTTESLOH, 

NURSERYMAN    AND    FLORIST, 
Fayetteville,    N.   C, 

HAS  Just  received  a  large  lot  of  Hardy 
Evergreens,  Ornamental  Trees,  Roses, 
ShrubsjRaspberries,  Strawberries,  Bulbs,  Grape- 
vines, Green-house  plants,  Fruit  Trees,  &c. 

Persons  desirous  of  ornamenting  their  grounds 
and  gardens,  will  find  his  stock  very  select. 

The  Chili  Pine,  Cryptomeria,  Deodar  Cedar, 
Cedar  of  Lebanon,  &c.,  standing  at  the  head  of 
the  Evergreens.  The  celebrated  Giant  of  the 
Battles,  Cloth  of  Gold,  &.c.,  among  the  Cata- 
logue of  Roses,  will  be  supplied  to  applicants. 

Orders  will  receive  prompt  attention. 

P.  S. — Plants  can  be  sent  to  Wilmington  by 
Steamboat  for  persons  near  all  the  Railroads. 

Febuary,  1854.  10-tf. 


'  SAMUEL  OLIVER  &  SO^, 
New  Berne,  N.  C, 
ILIj^keep  constantly  on  hand  a  supply 
ol  Ploughs,  embracing  25  different  styles. 
Straw  Cutters,  Corn  Sliellers,  Cultivators,  Har- 
rows, Grain  Fans,  Cradles,  Corn  Mills,  Veget- 
able Cutters,  Grain  Planters,  Corn  Stalk  Cut- 
ters, Castings,  &c.,  &c. 

Agents  for  the  sale  of  Taylor  &  Co.'s  Geor- 
gia Cotton  Gins,  Parker's  Patent  Corn  Sheller, 
Smith's  Straw  Cutter,  Horse  Power  and  Grain 
Fans,  Watt's  Patent  Cuff  Brace  Ploughs,  Chap- 
pell's  Fertilizer,  Super  Phosphate  of  Lime  ;  al- 
so, Peruvian  Guano,  Bone  Dust,  Kentish  Pre- 
pared Guano,  Groand  Plaster,  Poudrette,  &c., 
&:,c. ;  Dry  Goods,  Groceries,  Boots,  Shoes,  Hats 
and  Caps,  &c. 
November,  1853.  8— 2t. 

WM.  H.  TAPPEY.  I  WM.  C.  LUMSDEN. 

TAPPEY  &  LUMSEEl?, 
Iron  and  Brass  Founders  and  Machinist?, 
Opposite  Jarratt's  Tavern  and  Southsrn  Rail- 
road Depot, 
PETERSBURG,  VA. 
(Cash  paid  for  old  Copper  and  Brass.) 

RAILROAD  CARS,  Axles,  Wheels  Self- 
Oiling  Boxes,  &c.  ;  Tobacco  Presses, 
Mills,  Cotton  Ploughs,  and  Knives ;  Cast  and 
Wrought  Railing  ;  Steam  Engines,  Vertical  and 
Circular  Saw  IVfills,  Grist  Mill  Irons  of  every 
description.  Shafting  and  all  kinds  of  Machine- 
ry, Wagon  Boxes,  Bells,  &lc.,  &e. 

November,  1853.  8— 


A  CAKD. 
JAMES  M.  TOWLES,  General  Agent  for 
t3  the  sale  of  Agricultural  Implements,  and 
Farming  Utensils,  &c. 

N.  B.  A  large  number  of  articles  brought  to 
the  late  Fair  are  left  with  me  on  sale,  on  all  of 
which  the  Railroad  freight  will  be  saved  to  the 
purchaser,  a  very  important  item  on  heavy 
goods. 

November,  1853.  8— 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL 

IS  Published  monthly,  at  $1  per  annnum,  in 
advance ;  six  copies  for  $5 ;  twelve  copies 
for  SIO  ;  thirty  copies  for  $20. 

Advertisements. — A  limited  number  of  ad- 
vertisements will  be  inserted  at  the  following 
rates;  For  one  square  of  twelve  lines,  for  each 
insertion,  $1 ;  one  square  per  annum,  $10  ;  half 
column,  do.,  $30  ;  one  column,  do.,  $50;  larger 
advertisements  in  proportion. 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS, 
Editor  and  Proprietor,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 


THE  Subscriber  will  give  any  special  advice 
to  Farmers,  by  their  addressing  him  and 
giving  a  description  of  their  farms.  His  charge 
will  be  moderate.  He  will  make  analysis  o 
soils  and  marls,  and  write  out  the  analysis  fo 
application  of  manures. 
For  analysis  of  soils,  $5  00 

Writing  out  analysis,  5  00 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D. 


352 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


J.    M.    LOVEJOY'S    ACADEMY, 
EALEIGH. 

Classical  Department,  J.  M.  Lovejoy,  Precep- 
tor, 
Mathematical  Department,  Geo  C.  Lewis, 
Department  of  Elementary,  Agricultural  and 
Experimental  Chemistry,  Dr.  J.  F.  Tompkins, 


THE  YEAR  IS  DIVIDED  INTO  TWO  SESSIONS. 

The  Twenty-Sixth  Session  commences  on  the 
1th  of  January,  1854, — the  Twenty-Seventh 
on  the  7th  of  July. 

TERMS  OF  TUITION  PER  SESSION  IN  ADVANCE. 

Tuition  and  Board,  (including  every- 
thing except  washing,)  $80  00 

French,  Book-keeping  and  Surveying, 

each  extra,  10  00 

No  deduction  made  for  absence,  except  in 

cases  of  protracted  sickness. 

IT  is  the  design  of  the  Preceptor,  that  this 
Institution  shall  not  be  surpassed  in  the  ad- 
vantages afforded  for  acquiring  an  English, 
Classical,  Mathematical  and  Practical  Educa- 
tion. His  employment,  during  the  last  twenty 
years,  has  been  that  of  preparing  boys  for  the 
University  of  North  Carolina,  and  for  CUeges 
of  other  States  ;  so  that,  if  there  is  any  truth  in 
the  assertion  that  "  practice  makes  perlect,"  he 
thinks  he  is  capable  of  doing  well  the  business 
of  his  profession.  He  therefore  assures  parents 
and  guardians  who  may  place  pupils  in  his 
Academy,  thnc  they  shall  be  thoroughly  pre- 
pared for  college,  or  educated  for  practical  bu- 
siness men.  Book-keeping,  Surveying,  and  all 
practical  branches,  receive  particular  attention. 

The  Morals  of  the  Students  will  be  carefully 
guarded  ;  and  tor  the  purpose  of  doing  this,  pu- 
pils, (unless  they  have  relations  in  the  City.) 
will  be  required  to  board  with  the  Principal,  or 
with  Dr.  Tompkins — who  has  been  engaged  to 
give  instruction  in  Agricultural,  Elementary 
and  Experimental  Chemistry,  accompanied 
with  Lectures— in  order  that  pupils  who  de- 
sign to  become  farmers  may  receive  an  educa- 
tion in  those  branches  of  science,  so  necessary 
to  success  in  their  profession. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  speak  of  the  qualifica- 
tions of  Dr.  Tomptins,  since,  as  Editor  of  the 
Farmer's  Journal,  \iq\\?is  shown  himself  fully 
competent  to  discharge  the  duties  of  his  depart- 
ment. His  laboratory  is  well  supplied  with 
such  apparatus  as  may  be  necessary  to  give  a 
minute  and  perfect  idea  of  the  science  which  he 
professes  to  teach. 

Students  who  prefer  to  give  their  whole  at- 
tention to  Agricultural  Chemistry,  and  to  ihe 
instruction  of  the  Laboratory,  can  have  the 
privilege  of  doing  so. 

TERMS    PER    SESSION    IN    DR.   TOMPKIN's  DEPART- 
MENT. 

For  Experimental  Chemistry,  $10 

Agricultural  Chemistry,  25 

Laboratory  Students,  50 

J.  M.  LOVEJOY. 

Raleigh,  October  ITlh,  1853.  8— 


WM.  ALLSTON  GOUEDIN, 
Factor  and  Commission  Merchant, 

NO.  73  EAST-BAY, 

CHARLESTON,  S.  C, 

IS  prepared  to  make  liberal  advances  on  Con- 
signments of  Rice,  Cotton,  Corn,  S.  gar, 
Flour,  Grain,  Hay,  &.c. 

Agent  for  "  Genuine  Peruvian  Guano  "  for 
the  States  of  South  Carolina,  North  Carolina, 
Georgia,  Alabama  and  Tennessee.  Also,  A- 
gent  for  Baltimore  and  Southern  Packet  Co.'a 
Steam-ships. 
November,  1853.  8— 


HOPKINS'  HOTEL, 

A    FEW    YARDS    NORTH    OF    THE    COURT-HOUSE 

GREENSBORO',  N.  C 

SOLOMON  HOPKINS, 
Proprietor. 
February,  1853.  12— tf 

TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Guano, 321 

Value  of  deep  Tillage,    325 

Home,   327 

What  is  the  true  value  of  Manure  ? 328 

Management  of  Barn  Yard  Manm-e,   331 

Hogs,  &c., 333 

The  way  to  work  it,  334 

Saving  Garden  Seeds, 335 

Save  the  dead  leaves,    ....  335 

Agents, 336 

Committees  of  the  State  Agricultural  Soc.  336 

Swamp  Lands, 336 

Kitchen  Garden,  337 

Three  years  in  advance,  338 

Granville  County  wide  awake,    338 

Correspondents  increasing,  339 

Our  Local  Agents,    339 

Editor's  Table,    339 

Letter  from  J.  r.  F.,    329 

"        "      S.  W.  Covington,    340 

Premiums  for  the  Granville  Fair,    341 

The  Farmer,    342.. 

Fattening  Hogs,   342 

Letter  from  a  Farmer,  344 

C.Willis,  345 

"    "   L.C.Desmond, 345 

"    "   A.Latham, 345 

"    "   B.D.Mann,  345 

R.H.Walker,  346 

Premium  Essay  on  the  treatment  and  Cul- 
tivation of  Corn,    346 

How  manj^  acres  to  the  hand,   349 

What  the  Farmer  most  needs,   350 

Kicking  Horses,  350 

Advertisments, 351 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 

VOL.  2.  RALEIGH,  N.  C,  MARCH,  1854.  NO.  12. 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D.,  Editor  and  Proprietor. 


study  the  Insects  that  Damage  the 
Farmer. 

For  some  reason  agricultural  entomol- 
ogy is  less  understood  tlian  almost  any 
oilier  braticii  of  rural  knowledge.  This 
general  neglect  of  an  important  science 
is  doubtless  one  cause  ot"  the  alarming 
increase  of  destructive  insects  in  many 
parts  of  the  country.  Let  the  subject 
be  fully  and  critically  investigated,  and 
the  resulc  will  show  that  man  unwit- 
tingly destroys  thousands  of  birds  whicli 
Providence  intended  to  subsist  on  in- 
sects, and  keep  their  larvge  from  devour- 
ing the  farmer's  wheat  and  other  grain, 
and  the  gardener's  vegetables  and  tVuiis, 
If  we  study  Nature's  laws  we  shall  dis- 
cover the  important  fact  that  no  great 
class  of  animals  or  plants  can  be  exter- 
minated without  inflicting  severe  and 
irreparable  dam..ge  on  the  human  fam- 
ily. Even  insects  perform  important 
functions  in  the  economy  and  exact 
balance  of  organic  nature.  Subsisting 
mostly  on  vegetable  substances,  they 
check  tha  strong  tendency,  in  ma- 
ny districts  and  countries,  to  the  over- 
production of  plants.  If  there  were  no 
insects  and  no  birds,  the  existing  rela- 
tions between  the  animal  and  vegetable 
kingdoms  could  not  endure  a  year.  The 
order  of  nature  would  be  broken  up,  and 
the  growth  of  forests  and  grasses  would 
extend  out  of  all  proportion,  as  com- 
pared with  the  graminivorous  and  car- 
nivorous mammalia.  The  change  might 
not  arrest  public  attention  at  first,  but 
soon  the  new  order  of  things  would  in- 


dicate the  usefulness  and  necessity  of 
both  insects  and  birds.  These  were 
created  because  the  plan  of  the  Creator 
would  be  incomplete  without  them. 

If  this  feebly  expressed  view  of  cre- 
ated beings  be  sound,  man  cannot  nearly 
extirminate  the  birds  of  a  country  and 
not,  in  efiect,  augment  indclinitely  all 
the  insects  that  prey  upon  his  crops, 
and  greatly  annoy,his  domestic  animals. 
We  wish  to  lay  the  axe  at  the  root  of 
the  tree,  and  show  that  natural  laws  de- 
mand the  multiplication  of  the  beauti- 
ful feathered  tribes,  whose  music  has  :t 
deeper  meaning  as  the  voice  of  ilie  Ia>- 
visible,  than  man  with  his  murderous 
guns  has  yet  dreamed  of. 

Suppose  the  State  of  New  York  h&d 
a  thousand  robins  where  it  now  has  one 
how  many  caterpillai's,  moths,  worms,, 
grubs,  and  other  voracious  insects  would 
these  birds  consume?  If  public  opin- 
ion were  only  enlightened  0!>  this  sub- 
ject, so  as  to  protect  all  insectivorous 
birds,  we  should  soon  cease  to  complain 
of  curculios,  weevils,  peach  and  apple 
tree  borers,  pea-bugs,  and  a  hundred 
garden  bugs,  flies,  snails,  grasshoppers, 
locu-ts,  cotton,  and  tobacco  wornis. — 
We  have  had  opportunity  for  studying 
most  of  these  depredators,  and  regard 
the  unnatural  dest.uction  of  birds,  or 
their  expulsion  from  all  so-called  civil- 
ized communities,  as  the  principal  cause 
of  the  increase  of  insects.  The  >epro- 
ductive  powers  of  these  are  incredible 
to  one  who  has  paid  no  attention  to  en-^ 
tomoloiy.  There  is  not  an  animal  nor  a 


354 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


plant  known  to  science  upon   wliicli  n^ 
insect   subsists.     The  laivse  of  niu-t.iui 
toes  consume  iiiyi'iacls  of  infusoria  tiuit 
grow  in  slMgnani  water,     'i'lie  iniilioii^ 
of  ''  wiii'Gflers  "  that  may  be  seen  in  re 
servoirs  of  rain  water,  grow  and  wax  f';it 
on  something  more  substantial  than  a  i- 
or  pure  water.     By   consuming  the  or- 
ganized elements   in    whi>.li    decay  l>a 
already  commenced,  insects  often  puri- 
fy   water    and    the   atmosjdiere.      TIk- 
young  of  a  common  flesh  Hy  ailds  200 
fold  to  its  weight  in    24    hours.     This 
can  (^nly  be  done  by  the  enormous  con- 
sumption of  very  nutritious  food.     Im- 
agine an  (X  that  weighs  1,000  .bs.  add- 
ing 190,000  lbs.  to  his  weight  in  a  da} 
or  a  year. 

If  it  were  not  for  the  fact  that  insects 
destroy  one  another,  and  thus  keep 
down  ilieir  numbers,  they  might,  ])er- 
haps,  entirely  extirminate  all  other  liv- 
ing things,  an<l  die  from  starvation, 
leaving  not  a  plant  i1or  animal  on  the 
glo!..'.  Among  all  the  100  000  ditter- 
ent  plants,  and  200  000  <m-  300.000 
diiFerent  animals,  how  wonderful  that 
no  famdy  of  either  obtains  the  mastery 
and  rules  supreme!  Plants  and  ani- 
mals ma-ntain  a  perfect  republic;  the 
balance  of  pov. er  between  them  all  is 
con  plete.  Man,  by  his  superior  endow- 
ments, is  al)le  to  disiurb  this  compre- 
hensive and  delicate  balance  more  liian 
anv  other  of  beings;  and  he  can  never 
fulfil  his  liigh  destiny,  until  he  studies, 
comprt'lK'nds,  and  obeys  the  laws  of  his 
Maker.  To  this  stamlaid  our  agricul 
tural  and  horticultural  knowledge  and 
praciiee  must  rise  before  we  have  a  right 
to  expect  coiriplete  success.  Let  us  then 
stu'lv  Nature  and  observe  liow  nearly 
all  the  feathered  tribes,  with  which  we 
are  familiar,  batch  their  young  at  that 
eeasen  ol  the  year  when  insects  and 
their  1  ir- se  most  aliound,  wlien  so  ma- 
ny millions  are  dai'y  consumed  to  feed 
the  voracious  broods  of  rapidly  grow- 
ing bird-*.  In  Maryland  and  Virginia 
liiige  focks  of  till  keys  are  reared  ex- 
pressly to  be  driven  through  tobacco 
fields  by  children  '*  to  worm  the  crop." 


A  turkev  from  the  time  it  is  lar'-re 
.'uongh  to  eat  a  worm  till  it  attains  its 
iuli  growl!)  will  consur.ie  an  incndible 
number  of  insects,  and  foicibiy  ilius- 
t,rates  an  important  law.  ]3arn-vaid 
owls,  dcjves,  and  |iigeons  may  also  be 
cultivated  a'  a  profit.  Of  all  the  works 
written  on  poultiy,  we  have  never  seen 
one  that  treated  'he  subject  in  a  truly 
scientific  and  jdiilosophic  spirit.  When 
an  adult  turkey  eats  100  ounces  of  dry 
.  orn,  what  will  the  exciements  lormed 
hv  this  corn  weigh  after  they  are  dried  ? 
Who ''as  inv<'Stigated  this  matter? — 
Giuesce  Farmer. 


Asricultuial  Societies. 

In  our  last  nuiid)er,  we  made  some 
n  marks  in  relation  to  the  extent  (jf  the 
usefulness  of  agrieuliuial  St  cieiies. — 
Having  r( fleeted  more  upon  t  e  sub- 
ject, we  are  now  better  prej^ared  to  give 
a  definate  plan  of  operation  fully  aware, 
hoW'  ver,  of  the  delicacy  of  the  ground 
on  wlrich  we  tread,  when  we  say  a  word 
that  will  militate  against  the  perpetuitv 
of  the  old  system.  But  our  duty  lo  our 
conscience  and  our  i'eliow  men  impels? 
us  to  say,  that  the  time  has  ])assed  w  lien 
the  present  organization  of  agricultural 
societies  can  be  of  any  practical  use  to 
the  great  m;iss  of  the  farmers  of  our 
State,  if  it  can  be  iiselul  to  those  ofar)y 
either  Slate  in  the  Union.  From  rejilieg 
to  enquirers,  we  find  that  the  same 
d  fliculty  exists  in  some  other  societies 
that  does  in  ours — a  want  of  interest, 
and  the  whole  benefits  of  the  society 
being  confined  to  a  few  individuals. 

The  plan  we  would  propose,  to  take 
the  place  of  the  present  organization  is, 
lo  form  an  independent  agricultural  so- 
ciety in  every  town  in  the  Slate.  Let 
premiums  be  given  to  the  men  in  each 
town  who  shall  raise  the  most  value  of 
crops  at  the  least  expense,  on  a  given 
quantity  of  land  not  less  than  three 
acres,  each  competitor  to  furnish  asiate- 
ment  of  the  pn  cess  and  expense  of  rais- 
ing the  crop,  to  be  sworn  to  before  a 
magistrate.  If  the  competition  be  a- 
mong  persons  in   the  same  town,  every 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


355 


one  will  feel  more  courage  to  make  an 
«ifort  tlian  tliey  will  if  tliey  have  the 
wliole  countv  against  them.  And  one 
man  being  eligilile  to  receive  the  pre- 
mium for  the  same  thing,  but  once, 
many  others  will  be  encouraged  to 
make  a  trial,  for  if  they  do  not  succeed 
thi-i  year,  they  may  the  next,  so  that  an 
interest  will  be  excited  and,  kept  up. 

The  awarding  committee  too,  being 
in  the  vicifiioy  and  having  some  knowl- 
edge of  the  transactions  of  the  competi- 
tors, can  render  more  equal  justice  ami 
give  better  satisfaction  to  the  parties 
than  possibly  can  he  done  under  our 
present  arrangement.  These  socii'ties 
to  make  a  rej)ort  to  the  secretary  of  the 
board  of  agriculture,  by  the  first  day  of 
December  annually  of  their  pi'oceedings, 
with  such  statistical  information  in  rela- 
tion to  the  productions  of  their  towns, 
as  he  n)ay  require  and  furnish  blanks  to 
be  filled  and  returned.  Every  society 
thus  organized  who  shall  raise  annually 
by  as-essment  on  their  memliers,  a  sum 
not  less  than  ten  dollars  shall  be  enti- 
tled to  ten  dollars  from  the  State  Trea- 
sury, to  be  expended  f^r  the  promotion 
of  agriculture.  Every  town  agricultui'al 
societv  in  each  county  shall  appoint  a 
delegate  to  meet  at  some  convenient 
place  in  their  county  during  the  month 
of  November  or  Decen)ber  to  choose  a 
member  of  the  board  of  agriculture. 

^Vheuever  it  is  thought  best,  county 
aofricu'tural  socie  ies  can  be  continued 
under  their  pr;-S('nt  organization.  The 
delegates  of  town  societies,  when  they 
meet  to  choose  their  member  of  the 
board,  can  discuss  the  subject  of  hold- 
ing coiintv  cattle  shows,  and  agree  on 
any  other  measures  that  may  be  consid- 
ered beiu'ficial  to  the  cause.  It  may 
be  Vvell  at  such  time  to  have  a  mass 
meeting  of  farmers,  and  have  a  lecture 
or  address  from  the  secretary  of  the 
board  or  some  one  else.  Let  the  board 
ef  agriculture  consist  of  one  member 
from  each  county  elected  as  above  stat- 
ed, and  let  them  have  a  grand  State  ex- 
hibition once  in  four  ye^rs,  as  described 
in  our  last   number.      The  secretary  of 


ihe  board  should  meet  the  delegaies  at 
each  County  meeting,  and  either  ('eliver 
a  lecture  or   an    appropriate  addiess  to 
them,  and  pub  ish    a  report,  con-isting 
of  all  the  information  furnished  by  town 
societies,  with  such     other    stat(-ments 
and  matter  as  in  his  opinion  will  be  ma- 
:ortant  to  the  interests  of  ihi^  Stale, — 
and  a  COj>y  of  which  shall  be  fuini.-hed 
to  every    member  of  all   the    regularly 
cohsti.uted    town    agricultural  s.  cit-ties 
in  the  State.     There  is  no  way  that  the 
emulation    of  a    community  can  be  a- 
roused,    like   laying   before  them  state- 
ments of  what  others  in  the  same  busi- 
ness are    doing.      Let    the    tanners  in 
every  town    in  this  State    be  fuiidshed 
with  statistics  of  what  is  doing  by  the 
farmers    of    every    other    town  in  the 
State,  and     my    word    for  it,    you. will 
wake  up    their    sleeping  energies,  and 
excite  a  d>'gree    of  emulation    that  has 
never   bef  )re  been  seen    in  r'la!ne;and 
will  be  [irodiictive  of  immense    .-idvan- 
lages  to  the  welfare  of  the  State,  as  well 
as  to  every  farmer  individually.       We 
assert  without  the   least  fear  of  contra- 
diction, that     in  view    of    the     ple.-^ent 
limited  operations  of  agricultural  socie- 
ties as  now  organized,  that  no  plan  has 
been    devised  productive    of    so  much 
wealth  to  the  State  and  so  much  advau- 
tage    to    our    agricultural  interest,    as 
those  that  brings    the    subject  directly 
before  the  whole  people. 

The  farmers  of  Maine  are  so  constitu- 
ted that  you  cannot  induce  then)  to 
travel  10,  15  or  20  miles  to  get  n)>  an 
interest  in  any  thing,  but  you  excite 
them  on  any  subject  and  you  can  carry 
them  all  over  the  county.  Every  place 
and  all  ieg'slalion  on  this  subject  sh')u!(i 
have  lor  its  end  some  means  by  which 
an  interest  in  agriculture  can  be  ((re- 
duced in  the  minds  of  the  masses  at 
their  homes  and  by  their  own  fire  sides 
and  this  interest  will  diffuse  itself 
throughout  the  country,  and  then  »gri- 
culinre  >v:ll  flourish. 

We  are  not  alone  in  the  opinion  Ihal    • 
the  money  given  by    the  State  to  agri- 
cultural societies,    as  they  are  now  or^ 


356 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


ganizetl,  is  but  little  better  tliari  thrown 
away — tliat  some  cluinge  ought  to  be 
made,  tlie  wnnnest  friends  of  the  pre- 
sent organization  are  willing  to  admit. 
I  do  not  hesitate  to  say,  that  there  is 
not  one  chance  in  a  hundred  for  us  to 
loose  by  a  cliange  of  the  present  organ- 
ization whatever  plan  we  may  adopt  for 
future  operations. — Farmer  and  Arti- 
zan. 


From  the  Southern  Planter. 
Horse  vs.  Mule. 

Mr.  Editor  : — T  have  seen  a  good 
many  communications  in  your  paper 
showing  ihe  advantages  of  mules  over 
borses.  I  wish  to  give  you  a  few  fire- 
side calculations  of  an  old  farmer  on 
the  subject.  Suppose  a  farmer  to  start 
wiih  a  team  of  mules,  wliich  will  cost, 
say  $1200;  the  loses  would  amount  to 
at  least  one  in  two  years,  which  at  the 
same  price,  would  be  sixty  dollars  a 
year  to  keep  up  his  team.  Suppose  an- 
other to  fitart  with  four  horses  and  six 
mares  costing  $1000  ;  he  ought  to  raise 
not  less  than  two  colts  a  year — the  cost 
of  raising  which  is,  say  640.  As  I 
have  allowed  that  five  mules  would  die 
in  ten  years,  I  will  allow  that  eight 
horses  would  die  in  the  same  time, 
which  would  leave  the  farmer  twenty- 
two  horses  at  the  end  of  the  ten  years. 
He  ought  to  have  sold  during  the  ten 
years  twelve  of  these  at  $1200;  now 
deduct  the  cost  of  raising,  $480,  which 
would  make  his  team  cost  $280  during 
the  ten  years.  AVhereas  the  fifteen 
mules  would  cost  him  $1800. 

If  he  were  to  attempt  to  raise  the 
mules,  he  would  have  to  buy  mares, 
which,  added  to  the  cost  and  trouble  of 
raising  them,  would  make  it  chenper  in 
the  end  to  buy  the  mules.  But  where 
are  the  mares  to  come  from  if  we  all 
raise  mules  ?  They  say  that  the  mules 
live  longer,  stand  abuse,  and  eat  less 
Ihan  hoises.  I  have  disposed  of  the 
Jong  life  in  allowing  eight  horses  to  die 
in  the  same  time  that  five  mules  would. 
I  can  allow  nothing  for  abuse  to  either; 
And  afl  foi"  their  «ating  less,  I  have  not 


found  it  the   case;  because  I  can   turn 
my  horses  out  on  grass  every  night  for 
six  months  in  the  year,  besides  all  limes 
when  they  are  not  used,  and   have  al- 
ways found  the  old   saying  true  about 
mules,   "  that  there  was  but  two  places 
for  a  mule,  the  stable  and  the  harness  ;" 
for   soon  as  he  is  turned    out    he  will 
get  into  mischief,  consequently  he  will 
eat  more   grain  in  a  year  than  a  horse. 
Virginia  is  now  paying  to  Kentucky 
$200,000  or  $300,000   per  annum  foV 
mules  ;  and  must  pay  more,  because  the 
Kentuckians  have  already  bought  up  a 
large  number  of  mares  in  Western  Vir- 
ginia at  double  the  price  they  formerly 
sold  for,  and  have  almost   stopped  the 
raising  of  horses  there;  and  we  are  ob- 
liged from  necessity  to  buy  iheir  mules. 
That,  I  believe,  is  the  principal  cause  of 
the   high    price  of  horses  at    present; 
and  I  think  that  you  will  find  that  they 
will  steadily  rise  to  nearly  double  their 
present  value.     Now,  sir,  this  must  bu 
a  losing  game.     Virginia,  once    famed 
for  her  fine    horses,    has    now   become 
tributary  to  Kentucky  for  animals  to 
supply  their  places,  which  cannot  keep 
uj)  their  own   race,  and  must  be  an  in- 
creasing tax  on  her  farmers,  who  could 
raise  their  own  horses  and  some  to  spare* 
Anti-Mule. 


Potato  Culture. — M.  B.  Sears,  esq. 
communicates  to  the  Mechanic  and  Far- 
mer, the  fact  that  potatoes  removed 
from  the  cellar  as  early  in  the  spring  as 
the  weather  will  permit  and  left  to  warm 
and  dry  in  the  sun  and  air  will  come  to 
maturity  earlier  than  if  kept  in  the  cel- 
lar until  planting  time  and  be  ^vae  from 
<lisease.  Mr,  Sears,  is  a  farmer  of  much 
experience,  and  his  statements  may  b» 
relied  on  with  confidence  for  he  never 
says  what  his  own  experience  has  not 
proved  correct.  He  says :  A  potato 
commences  or  prepares  for  vegetation 
the  moment  it  is  placed  in  the  sun  or 
warm  air,  more  etfectnally  than  when 
placed  beneath  the  cold  earth.  You 
may  date  the  period  of  your  harvest, 
not  from  the  time  it   is  placed  within 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


851 


the  wanning,  drying,   fructifying  influ- 
ence of  the  air  or  sun. 

In  order  to  insure  the  earliest  and 
the  greatest  growth  of  the  potato,  es- 
pecially late  varieties,  the  seed  should 
be  drawn  forth  from  the  cold,  dark  cel- 
lar in  early  spring,  even  while  it  is  yet 
freezing,  and  packed  in  horse  dung,  in 
some  sunny  sheltered  situation,  either 
in  or  out  of  doors,  and  remain  thus 
packed  until  the  sprouts  demand  soil  in 
which  to  root.  And  if  the  health  of 
the  crop  depend  upon  this  process,  as 
shown  in  the  Gerraantown  Telegraph, 
here  is  a  grand  desideratum  which 
should  not  escape  the  eagle  eye  of  Yan- 
kee farmers.  Will  you  try  it  and  com- 
municate your  success,  so  that  others 
as  well  as  yourselves,  may  be  benefited 
thereby  ? 

Striking  Instance  of  the  Benefits  of  the 
Thorough  Improvement  of  li&nd. 

It  is  now  some  nineteen  years  since 
we  have  bad  charge  of  the  editorial 
management  of  this  journal,  and  during 
the  whole  of  that  time,  it  has  been  a- 
raong  our  main  objects  to  impress  the 
truth  upon  our  readers,  thai  there  is  no 
invesiment  which  a  farmer  or  -planter 
can  m'tke,  that  will  bring  him  so  large 
an  interest  for  money  expended,  as  tvill 
iudicious  outlays  for  manures  to  im- 
prove his  land.  But  independent  of  the 
question  of  profit — which  shou'd  be  al- 
ways kept  in  view  as  a  cardinal  consid- 
eration— there  are  other  motives  which 
shoidd  incite  him  to  action — motives 
of  the  most  ennobling  character.  When 
one  comes  to  reflect,  that  by  his  expen- 
diture, he  has  so  imnioved  the  pro- 
ductive capacities  of  his  land,  that  one 
acre  vvill  produce  as  much  as  three  did 
before,  he  feels  conscious  pleasure  in 
the  fact,  that  he  liad  thereby  enhanced 
the  value  of  his  estate,  and  fulfilled  an 
obligation  of  duty  towards  liis  children, 
who  are  to  inherit  after  him.  When 
he  reflects  that  the  example  which  he 
has  set  his  neighbors,  will  exert  an  in- 
fluence upon  them,  and  encourage  them 
to  engage  in  the  laudable  work  of  me- 


liorating the  condition  of  their  lauds, 
and  that  he  will  have  been  the  means 
thereby  of  adding  to  the  wealth  of  the 
nation — we  say,  when  one  comes  to 
reflect  upon  the  good  eflfects  of  his  own 
generous  example,  he  derives  a  harvesfc 
of  feelings  even  mote  valuable  than  the 
immediate  benefits  accruing  to  himself, 
because  they  are  void  of  all  selfish  con- 
siderations, repose  upon  the  broad  ba- 
sis of  public  good,  and  difi'use  their 
blessings  throughout  the  community. 
It  has  been  handed  down  to  us  as  an 
axiom,  which  carries  upon  its  face  a  r^ 
proach  to  human  nature — that  "^wc- 
cepts govern  and  examples  fail ;^^  but  so 
far  as  Agricultural  examples,  of  a  salu- 
tary and  profitable  kind,  may  be  con- 
cerned, we  do  not  think  that  the  axiom 
just  quoted  will  hold  good  ;  for,  how- 
ever slow  some  agricultors  may  be,  in 
departures  from  the  old  beaten  tracks 
of  their  progenitors,  the  great  mass,  iu 
the  present  day,  are  disposed  to  take 
counsel  from  the  successful  experiments 
of  the  enterprising  around  them ;  for 
self  respect  and  pride  of  character,  wiB 
urge  men  forward  to  the  peiforraance 
of  good  works,  when  interest  beckonsj 
and  the  onward  spirit  of  the  age  not 
only  marshals  them  to  the  conflict,  but 
forbids  their  inactivity. 

With  this  passing  introduction,  we 
will  introduce  to  our  readers  one  of  the 
most  striking  instances  of  thorough  im- 
provement that  has  ever  come  to  our 
knowledge.  This  improvement  was  ef- 
fected by  Mr.  John  Q.  Hewlett,  of  our 
City.  He  purchased  a  farm  on  the 
Frederick  Road, distant  from  Baltimore 
about  four  and  a  half  miles,  in  the 
Summer  of  1 848.  On  one  of  the  fields 
consisting  of  16  acres,  there  was  a  crop 
of  wheat  growing  at  the  time.  The 
yield  of  this  field  was  such,  as  to  con- 
vince him,  that  the  soil  was  exhausted 
of  its  productive  elements,  and  would 
require  thorough  improvement.  Hav- 
ing understood,  from  what  we  consder- 
ed  good  authority,  that  Mr.  Hewlett 
had  restored  this  worn-out  field  to  a 
high  state  of  productiveness,  we  appli- 


868 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


ed  to  liiin  for  the  facts  in  the  case,  and 
received  fium  him  the  following  n  ply, — 
and  as  we  like  to  give  facis  in  tlie 
words  of  the  narraldv,  we  shall  cojiy 
tbe  note  as  we  received  it  from  the 
writer : — 

Mr.  Hewlett's  Note. 

"  The  land  sjioken  of  catiie  into  ray 
possession  in  June,  1848.  I  bought 
the  crop  of  wheat  on  one  of  the  fields 
containing  16  aeies.  The  product  was 
11  Imsheis  per  acre." 

"During  the  winter  of  18-^9, 1  spread 
100  bushi  Is  of  Baltimore  County  quick 
lime  per  acre,  which  cost  15  cents  [ler 
bushel,  3  cents  per  bushel  for  hauling, 
and  2  cents  per  bushel  for  spreading — 
making  the  cost  of  lime  $20  per  acre." 
[Clover  seed  had  been  previously  sown 
by  the  foimer  proprietor  in  the  spring 
of  1848] 

"1  cut  two  crops  of  clover  in  the  year 
1819  and  1850,  permitting  the  second 
crop,  each  year,  to  fall  on  the  ground, 
oeither  pasturing  nor  cutting  the  se- 
cond .C"0]t." 

"In  the  spring  of  1S51,  I  sowed  100 
lbs,  of  Guano  per  Mcre,  on  the  land, 
broad  cast, — ploughed  it  in,  planted 
the  field  in  corn,  (too  thick  for  the  sea- 
son, I  think,)  and  gathered  10  1-2  bbls 
per  acre. 

"In  the  spring  of  1852,  I  plonglied 
the  field,  and  sovved  thereon  3  bushel, 
of  Black  Peas  per  acre,  for  which  I 
charged  the  land  nothing,  as  the  pas- 
turage in  August  and  September  fob 
lowingi  was  a  full  equivalent  for  the 
cost. 

"In  the  fall  of  1852,  I  sowed  100 
lbs.  of  Guano,  per  acre,  and  ploughed 
in  the  Pea  crop,  harrowed,  then  sowed 
20  bushels  of  Botie-dust,  and  10  bush 
els  of  dirty  salt,  ])er  acre,  harrowed 
these  in,  then  sowed  2  1-2  bushels  of 
Wheat  per  acre,  harrowed  the  \\  heat 
jfa,  and  rolled  the  land..  The  product 
of  the  ci'op  of  Wheat  on  the  16  acres, 
at  th«  harvest  of  1853,  was  617  bush- 
els, which  sold  at  Si  18  100  per  bush- 
«i--'bv  the  crop,  |728  6-100. 

"  Of  the  Hay  grown  on   this  field  I 


sold  18  1-2  tons  at  $9  per  ton,  making 
1 166  50  100,  besides  retaining  for  the 
use  of  my  farm,  supposed,  10  tons, 
which  at  f.9  per  ton  v.  ould  make  $90. 
The  cost  of  the  manures  purchased  by 
me  IS  as  fullows,  per  acie  : 

100  bushels  of  lime,  $20,00 

300  U)s.  of  Guano  at  $2,50  7,50 
20  bushels  of  lione-dlist,  11.00 
10  bushels  of  Salt,  1,25 


$39,75 

The  land  is  now  in  grass,  having  been 
seeded  to  Timothy,  Urchard-gr;  ss,  and 
Clover,  and  is  in  a  condition  to  givo 
three  crops  of  grass." 

Ml',  llewlett,  when  he  seeded  his 
Wheat  in  the  fall  of  1852,  sowed  one 
l)usliel  of  orchaid  grass,  and  one  peck 
of  Timothy  seed,  per  acre,  and  in  the 
spiing  of  1853,  he  sowed  one  bushel 
more  of  orchard  grass,  a'  d  one  peek  of 
clover  setd,  per  acre;  so  that  his  lard 
is  heavily  set  in  grass  and  clo\er,  and 
is  now  in  a  condition  to  give  three  years' 
crojis  of  grass,  without  farther  expense; 
and  the  inference  is  a  fair  one,  that  the 
land  at  the  expiration  of  the  next  ihree 
years,  will  be  in  a  highly  improved 
condition,  capable  with  a  very  little 
help,  by  the  way  of  manure,  of  ])roduc- 
iiig  a  good  and  profitable  crop  of  either 
wheat  or  corn,  whichever  he  may  see 
tit  to  put  in  it. 

Thirty-nine  dollars  and  seventy-five 
cents,  per  acre,  seems,  at  fir.>t  sight,  a 
heavy  sum  of  money  to  ex{>end  in  im- 
proving one  acre  of  land  ;  but  when  we 
come  to  look  at  that  matter  in  an  en- 
larged and  justly  economical  view,  it 
ceases  to  be  so.  When  Mr.  Hewlett 
came  into  possession  of  his  faim  in  1848, 
this  lot  only  produced  eleven  bushels  of 
wheat  per  acre,  whereas,  in  1853,  it  pro- 
duced him  38  9-16  bushels  iier  acre,  an 
increase,  per  acre,  of  27  9-16  bushels,  so 
that  by  his  tl  orough  system  oi'  ma- 
nuring and  management,  he  has  made 
one  acre  [>roduce  as  much,  and  a  frac- 
tion over,  as  3  1-2  acres  <Iid  before  he 
undertook  its  improvement. 

Let  us  see  how  the  account  of  debit 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


359 


ami  cr.Mlit  stands.  To  say  nothing  of 
the  w Leal  straw,  ooru-fndder,  tups  and 
husks,  wliich  iniy  be  assiiined  as  equiv- 
ali^iit  to  tiie  hilioi-  bestowed  in  the  pro- 
duction and  culture  of  the  g-round,  we 
havt'  this  exhibit:  Mr.  IJewlett  sold 
617  bu'ls  wheatin  1853,  at  $1,18 

$728,06 
1 82  tons  of  Hay,  at  |9  per  ton,      166,50 
He  retained  for  farm  consump- 
tion 10  tons  HI  .$9,  90,00 
He  raised    in    1851,    10^  bbls. 
corn,  per  acre,  or  on  the  16 
acres  at  522  bushels  per  acre 
840  bushels,    wliich,    at   50 
cts.  per  bushel,  is                      420,00 


$1,404,56 
He  paid  for  mantire,  as  shewn 
b.'fore,  $39  75-100  per  acre, 
orfor  manuriniij  the  16  acres,    635,00 


Leaving  a  profit  in  favor  of  Mr. 

Hewlett  of  $769,59 

Without  taking  into  the  account  the 
crops  of  Hay  which  syill  be  grown  on 
this  hind  the  next  three  years,  which 
may  be  fairly  estimated  to  yield  on  an 
average  of  two  ton-;  of  hay  per  acre, 
each  year,  or  that  the  16  acres  will 
yield  in  the  three  ensuing  years  96  tons 
of  hay,  which  at  $10  per  ton,  will 
amount  to  $960— and  this  prospective 
yiel<l  should  b^^  credited  to  the  improve- 
ment, as  it  will  be  ascribable  to  the  ma- 
nure ai)plied  ;  then  if  we  add  this  to  its 
credit  a>  ab  >ve,  the  profit  will  amount 
to  $',929  56  100. 

Such  tacts  speak  for  themselves,  and 
we  Nhall  leave  ou"  readers  to  draw  their 
own  conclusions,  as  to  how  far  it  is 
profitable  to  thoroughly  improve  worn- 
out  lands.  b\?fore  we  conclude,  howe- 
ver, we  wi»uld  respectfully  call  attention 
to  tiie  fact,  that  Mr.  Hev\lett  very  wise- 
ly ba<el  his  system  of  improvement  up 
on  the  a[)plicttion  of  lime,  and  to  bear 
in  mind,  that  we  have  always  contend- 
ed, that  lime  should  always  form  the 
base  (jf  every  system  looking  to  the 
permanent  improvement  of  worn-out, 
exhausted  lands. 


We  think  that  Mr.  H.  would  have 
got  along  quite  as  well  in  his  improve- 
ment, had  he  applied  a  much  ;  mailer 
quantity  of  lime  than  he  d:d.  For  all 
the  purpos  sofa  single  rotation,  so  far 
as  the  crops  are  concerned,  we  b-lieve 
that  20,  25  or  30  bu-hels  of  lime  will- 
answer  just  as  well  as  100.  If  the  soil 
.--hould  be  a  stitt".  adhesive  clay,  the  tex- 
ture of  which  it  is  deirable  to  break 
down  and  render  friable,  then  the  ap- 
plication of  the  fir>t  named  quantity 
would  be  es[)ecially  proper,  as  it  would 
take  that  number  of  bushels  to  perfornj 
the  desired  median  cal  service  ;  but  so 
far  as  what  may  be  termed  the  chemi- 
cal operation  of  the  mineral  is  interest- 
ed, our  opinion  is,  that  either  of  the 
three  lirst  named  qu miities  would  prove 
amply  sufficient. 

A  remark  or  two  may  not  be  out  of 
place,  in  connection  with  theapplicatioD 
ofGuatiOto  the  wheal  crop.  It  will 
have  been  seen  by  Mr.  Hew Ktt's  state- 
ment, that  he  oidy  api)lied  100  lb-;,  of 
Guano,  per  acre,  dincily  to  the  wheat 
crop,  and  yet,  that  'he  product  of  the 
acre  was  raised  from  11  bushels  per 
acre,  1848,  to  38  9-16  bushels  in  1853. 
It  is  but  reasonable  to  su|>p  >se,  that 
the  200  lbs.  uf  Guano,  per  acre,  appli- 
ed to  the  corn  crop  in  1851,  was  njost- 
ly  consumed  by  that  crop,  and  the  peas 
which  formed  the  crop  in  1852,  it  will 
be  recollected,  was  depastured  by  st<jck 
during  the  months  of  August  and  Sep- 
tember of  that  year;  and  that,  after ^ 
the  stock  was  removed,  only  100  lbs.  of 
Guano  per  acre,  was  sown,  broadcast, 
over  the  field,  when  the  residue  of  the 
growing  crop  of  peas  was  ploughed  in, 
prepaiatory  to  the  land  being  seeded 
down  to  wheat.  To  us  it  appears  evi- 
dent, from  the  smnll  quantity  of  Guano 
applied,  and  the  Inyeness  of  the  pro- 
duct of  the  wheat,  that  much  of  the  in- 
crease in  the  yit-ld  of  wheat  between 
the  product  of  1848,  and  that  of  1853, 
is  referable  to  the  peas  which  were 
ploughed  in — and  that  the  latter  sup-  ' 
plied  no  small  j)ortion  of  the  nitrogen- 
ous food  taken  up  by  the  crop  of  wheat. 


360 


:EE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Nor  will  this  be  considered  a  matter  ot 
surprise,  when  it  is  recollected,  that 
peas  contain  a  very  large  per  centagy 
of  such  substances,  and  that,  when 
plouglied  in  in  a  grt^en  state,  decompo- 
sition imniediiitely  ensues,  and,  as  a 
consequence,  its  elemental  constituents 
are  promptly  yielded  up  to  every  de- 
mand of  the  growing  plants.  The 
must  reliable  analysis  of  peas,  give  40 
per  centMge  of  starcli — and  2  percent, 
©f  sugar,  wliicli  is  resolvable  into  car 
feonic  acid — a  small  quantity  of  oily 
matter,  which,  as  far  as  it  may  go, 
woidd  ultimately  furnish  carbonic  acid, 
and  from  25  to  SO  per  cent,  of  nitrogen 
ous  matters,  usually  called  legumin  or 
albumen — a  substance  which  we  hold 
f«6  be  nearly  id^'nlit.•al  with  the  aramo- 
aiacal  compouiid>  found  in  GuJino,  and 
to  winch  so  much  of  its  miracle-per- 
forming virtues  are,  and,  as  we  think, 
?ery  properly  ascribed.  The  per  cent- 
ages,  of  the  substances  named  are  the 
residts  of  the  analyses  of  peas  in  their 
dry  state ;  but  it  is  fairly  presumal>le 
•that  the  pea  vines,  also,  contain  very 
large  portions  of  nitrogenous  matters 
ill  a  state  which,  by  oxidation,  was 
promptly  rendered  tributary  to  the  ne- 
cessities of  the  wheat  plants.  If  these 
suggestions  are  well  founded,  then  there 
can  be  no  question  as  to  the  truth  of 
what  we  have  so  long  contended  for, 
viz:  that  where  there  is  lime  in  a  soil 
suited  to  wheat,  that  by  two  crops  of 
peas  l>eing  gr^wn  in  it.  and  turned  in — 
and  this  may  be  done  in  one  season — 
a  good  crop  of  wheat  may  be  thereby 
produced. 


To  Drive  away  Rats. — A  friend 
has  just  informed  us  of  a  plan  he  adopt 
ed  to  get  rid  of  rats.  His  premises 
swaruud  with  them.  He  took  a  small 
fish  hook,  attached  to  a  fine  wire,  and 
suspended  on  it  a  piece  ot  cheese,  let- 
ting it  hang  about  a  foot  from  the 
ground.  One  of  the  rats  caught  at  it 
and  was  hooked,  and  set  up  such  n 
horrible  s-queal,  noise  and  rattle,  that 
all  the  rest  forsook  him  and  fled.  Not 
a  rat  remained  on  the  premises. 


Grape  Culture  at  the     <  est. 

Cincinnati,  Oct.  1853. 

The  grape  powers  of  the  Ohio  Valley 
are  now  in  the  midst  of  their  harvest, 
and  the  vinlage  will  be  the  mo<jt  pro- 
ductive ever  had.  The  grapes  are  re- 
maikably  well  ripened,  full  of  juice 
and  sacliarine  matter.  Not  more  than 
one  third  of  the  crop  has  yet  beeu  ga- 
thered. 

The  Ohio  river  is  termed  the  "Rhine 
of  America,"  and  has  gained  thisa|)pel- 
lation  through  the  instrumentaliiy  of 
Mr.  Nicholas  Longworth,  the  pioneer  in 
this  branch  of  horticulture  in  the  Uni- 
ted Slates.  He  has  now  150  acres  of 
vineyard  under  cultivation,  and  owns 
ihree  winef  cellars,  where  wines  are  stor- 
ed for  fermentation  and  prepared  for 
niaiket,  one  of  which  contains  140,000 
bottles.  Mr.  L.  is  seventy  yeais  of  age, 
but  is  as  vigorous,  and  performs  as 
much  labor  as  many^  in  the  prime  of 
manhood.  He  has  accumulated  an  im- 
mense property,  his  taxes  the  last  year 
having  amounted  to  $1*7,000,  and  which 
are  said  to  be  larger  than  are  assessed 
upon  any  man  in  the  country,  William 
B.  Astor,  and  perhaps  one  or  two  oth- 
ers, excepted.  He  has  long  been  a  p.  - 
tron  of  the  fine  arts,  and  the  parlors  of 
his  residence  are  enriched  with  rare  col- 
Inctions,  both  from  nature  and  art.  In- 
cluded in  the  latter,  is  an  exquisite  bust, 
in  marble,  the  first  of  Powers'  produc- 
tions, Mr.  L.  early  discovered  the  ge- 
nius of  Powers,  and  lent  his  aid  in  its 
development. 

Of  late  years  his  attention  has  been 
chiefly  ab-^orbed  by  the  grape  cul- 
ture. For  thirty  years  he  experi- 
mented with  foreign  grapes,  with  a  view 
to  their  acclimation  in  the  United 
States.  Six  thousand  vines  of  the  best 
Madeira  wine  grapes,  and  seven  thou- 
sand from  the  mountains  of  Jaura,  in 
France,  besides  others  from  the  vicinity 
of  Paris  and  Bordeaux  were  procured, 
but  which  were  all  thrown  away,  after 
a  protracted  trial,  being  found  inferior 
to  the  Catawba,  a  native  of  North  Car- 
olina,     Near    200  vnrieties  of  grapes 


TEE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


361 


have  been  tested,  but  the  two  best  are 
found  to  be  tlie  Catawba  and  lleber- 
mont,  which  makes  a  wine  simiinr  to 
the  Spanish  Manzanillaand  wbich  is  to 
be  more  extensively  cuhivated  than 
heretofore. 

The  vineyards  are  generally  located 
on  the  s'opes  of  the  Oiiio  river ;  and 
nine  teiiths  of  iheni  are  tilled  by  Ger- 
man vine  dressers,  who  have  devoted 
their  lives  to  the  business.  It  has  been 
eustoniary  to  give  a  piece  uf  land,  of 
say  fifteen  to  twenty  acres,  with  a  house 
on  it,  to  those  Germans,  on  the  condi- 
tion that  the  tenant  shall  plant  a  cer- 
tain quantity  of  grapes  each  year,  in  a 
proper  manner,  aid  pay  the  proprietor 
one  half  the  proceeds  of  the  vineyard. 

In  Ohio,  there  are  about  loOO  acres 
of  land  exclusively  devoti'd  to  grape 
growing,  between  300  and  400  of  which 
are  near  Cincinnati.  Withi.i  twenty 
miles  of  this  city,  including  a  part  of 
KiMitiicky,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river,  there  are  1300  acres,  and  double 
the  quantity  of  vines.  More  have  been 
planted  this  year  than  there  were  la;-t. 
In  Missouri,  near  Hermann,  there  are 
500  acres;  in  Indiana,  200  or  300  ;  in 
Ill'tiois  about  100,  and  Kentucky  the 
same — making  al)out  2500  acres  in  all. 
It  is  estimated  that  Itidiana,  Ohio  and 
Kentucky  will  this  ye-\v  produce  at  least 
half  a  million  gallons  of  wine.  Th'* 
yield  on  some  of  the  vineyards  will  be 
equal  to  7000  or  8000  gallons — allow 
ing  2400  vines  to  the  acre,  planted 
about  three  feet  apart,  in  rows  separat- 
ed by  a  distance  of  three  feet.  Mr. 
Robert  Buchanan,  who  is  among  the 
most  successful  cultivators  of  the  vine, 
this  year  obtains  about  300  gallons  of 
wine  from  each  acre  of  his  vineyard, 
which  will  net  him  about STOO  [ler  acre 
Some  other  vineyards  will  do  equally 
Well.  Persons,  however,  are  not  ad 
vised  to  embark  in  grajie-growing  with 
the  expectation  t)f  profit,  if  it  shall  be 
necessary  to  hire  labor.  The  German 
vine  dressers  muster  all  capable  mem- 
bers of  their  families  into  the  service — 
the  wife  often  being  the  most  efficient. 


In  this  manner  they  realize  an  adequate  , 
income. 

The  fruit  is  purchase(|  from  the  vine- 
yard men  for  from  $5  to  $6  per  100 
pounds,  (or  two  bushels,) — a  builiel 
yielding  from  3  1-2  to  4  galk)ns  of 
wine.  It  is  then  maslied  by  the  manu- 
facturers in  the  city,  and  pressed.  The 
juice  is  then  fermeiitt-d  in  the  cellars, 
and  the  s|iarkling  Catawba,  in  prime 
order  ft_r  market  at  the  end  of  fifteen  or 
twenty  miinths,  is  the  result.  Mr, 
Longworth  has  three  huge  subterranean 
vaults,  one  of  which  will  turn  out  50,- 
000  bottles  every  year,  and  anothes' 
100,000  bottles  yearly,  of  ciry  wine. — 
Some  portion  of  the  cellars  is  occupied 
by  immense  butts,  or  cvlindiical  lauksj 
one  of  which  holds  5000  gallons,  or 
$5000  worth  of  wine,  if  bottled.  The 
staves  are  about  three  inches  in  thick- 
ness, and  the  heads  curve  inward,  so  as 
to  introduce  to  the  arch  additionail 
strength,  to  resist  internal  pressure. — 
Other  objects,  quite  as  noticeable,  are 
the  long  rows  of  black  bottles  placed  in 
a  horizontal  position,  and  stacked  up 
like  cord  •.vood  in  solid  piles,  as  high 
as  one's  neck.  In  the  cellars  of  the  ex- 
tensive native  wine  establishment  of 
Longworth  and  Zimmerman,  are  twen- 
ty-four Ciisks,  holding  about  2500  gal- 
lons each,  or  60,000  gallons  altogether, 
of  the  vintage  of  1850,  '51,  '52  ;  and  it 
is  expected  to  store  25,000  gallons  of 
this  year's  wine. 

The  American  win^s  are  of  two  gen 
eral  varieties — the  still  and  the  spark- 
ling.  The  first  is  wine  that  undergoes 
vinous  fermentation,  or  the  process 
which  transforms  the  sugar  of  the  grape 
into  alc<d)ol.  To  produce  a  sparkling 
wine,  a  second  fermentation  is  excited, 
by  adding  a  little  rock  candy,  and  the 
alcohol  is  transformed  into  carbonic 
acid  gas.  Thus,  Western  wine,  aside 
from  being  an  article  of  domestic  pro- 
duction, and  entitled  to  public  favor  on 
that  account,  can  be  relied  on  as  the 
pure  and  unadulterated  juice  of  the 
grape  ;  and  the  substitution  of  it  for  the 
drugged  liquors  of  foreign  importation 


362 


THE  FARMEirS  JOURNAL. 


is  a  must  iinpurlaiit  and  desira'ole  ol)- 
ject  to  be  uaiiH'd.  Even  where  tlie 
manufacture  of  pure  wines  is  attempted 
in  tile  liut  countrii  s  of  Europe,  it  is  ue- 
ces'<ai7  to  mix  brandies  with  them  to 
make  them  keep,  which  is  not  dene 
here,  t)n  account  of  our  wines  possess- 
ing more  bndy  and  sacharine  matter. — 
Americans  are  not  vet  prepared  to  pro- 
perly a])pri  ciate  the  value  ot  pure  wines, 
because  they  so  rarely  find  tiieir  wjv 
across  the  Athintic.  In  the  wine  dis- 
tricts of  Europe,  brutal  intoxication  is 
coniparati\ely  unknown,  or  any  of  the 
efiects  resulting  from  intemperate  drink- 
ing. Mr.  L<ingvv(^rth  n marks  to  us 
that  a  drunken  vine  dresser  is  never 
seen.  The  demand  for  American  wine 
has,  of  late  years,  greatly  increased,  and 
now  exceeds  the  means  of  supply. — 
There  is  at  present  a  market  i'l-r  wines 
of  this  description  to  the  value  of  |l,- 
000,000  annually. 

The  manner  of  cultivating  the  vine 
in  the  valley  of  the  Oho,  is  a  matter  in 
whii-h  many  will  feel  an  interest,  in  all 
parts  of  the  country.  A  hill  with  a 
porous  sub  soil,  is  preferred.  The  cut- 
tings should  contain  at  least  four  joints, 
and  he  taken  from  wood  well  ripened — 
should  he  set  out  in  a  slanting  position, 
with  the  lop  eye  even  with  the  surface 
of  the  ground,  though  covered  with 
half  an  inch  of  light  mould,  if  the  weath- 
er is  dry.  Pruning  is  done  from  No 
vember  to  March,  and  cuttings  are  pre- 
served in  cool  cellars  uniil  the  ground 
is  warm  aid  dry,  or  mellow.  The  first 
seasoi  's  superliuous  shoots  are  pulled 
off.  leaving  but  one  or  two  to  grow,  and 
but  one  eventually.  Jn  the  spring,  the 
vine  is  cut  down  to  a  single  eye,  and 
one  stalk  or  cane  allowed  to  grow,  tied 
to  a  stake — no  suckers  being  al 
k)wed  to  grow.  The  second  spiing  af 
ter  planting,  cut  down  to  two  or  three 
eyes,  or  joints,  and  the  third  year  to  four 
or  five,  pinching  <jft  laterals  and  tying 
up.  This  year,  two  stacks  are  trained 
to  the  staVe,  and  some  grapes  will  be 
produced. 

The  fourth   year,    pruning    requires 


good  judgment.  1'he  best  shoot  of  the 
tbrmer'year  is  cut  tlovvn  to  six  or  eight 
joints,  a-nd  fast  em  d  to  the  adjoining 
stake  in  a  horizontal  position,  or  bent 
over  in  the  form  of  a  bow,  and  titd  to 
its  ovvn  stalk  to  make  bearing  wood  for 
the  next  season.  Mr.  I3uchant»n  favors 
the  bow  system.  The  lime  recommi  tid- 
ed for  lying  tlie  vines  is  when  the  buds 
begin  to  swell  and  look  white.  The 
cuitivHti<'n  t'f  the  grape  has  been  cauied 
to  a  hi<.h  degree  of  perfection  in  the 
Ohio  \-ci\Uy.— Journal  of  Commerce. 


Fattening. 

Feeding  hogs  is,  probably,  generally 
understood   thioup'liout    the    West,    as 
though  each    Slate   appeals  to  have  its 
own    peculiar  mode  ;  but  fatteinng  cat- 
tie  is  only  cariied   to  perfection   where 
there   exists   a  steady   demand  for  the 
Eastern  Markets,  or  for  packing.  Where 
such  demand    exists,   and    com   g«ows 
with  sufficient  luxuriance,  making  beef 
is  geneially   considered  a  very  profita- 
ble  mode    of   disposing  of   the   rough 
grain  of  a  farm  ;  but  it   will   scarcely 
answer  for  a  farmer  to   go   to  the  ex- 
pense of  corn-fediiig  half  a  dozen  head, 
vNiih  the  chance  of  having   to  take  the 
low  prices  of  a  country  market,  and  be 
brought    into  competition   with    coarse 
grass  fed   bea:^ts.     Nrw  Yoik  and  Bos- 
lon  ar    the  t    o   great  Beef  maikets  of 
the  United  States.    Ships  going  on  long 
voyages  must   have  the   best   beef  that 
can  be  procured  ;  and   wealthy  citizens 
having   once   become   accustomed   to  a 
first  rate  article,  wi  1  never  touch  an  in- 
ferior one  ;  so  gr  at  is  the  dillerence  in 
flavor,  and    even    in   economy  between 
well-bred,    young,    corn-fed    beef,    and 
beef  which    has   worked  to  old    age  in 
the  yoke,  and  then  picked  up  its  crumbs 
or    anything   it    could    get.     In    those 
markets,    tlu-refore,   the    highest  prices 
may  always  be   depended  on   f>r  tho- 
ronglily  good  catlle,  in  thorouglilv  good 
contlition  ;  while  inferior  beasts,  badly 
fed,  had  better  be  kept  athome. 

The   Scioto    and    Miami    Vallevs  in 
Ohio,  parts  ot  Virginia,  and  New  Vork. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


363 


Supply  tlie  best  corn  fed  beef;  Mt  Clii- 
cago  Lu'ge  Hinouiits  of  grass-fi-d,  or 
grass  and  corn  ted  beef  are  aniiually 
oaokrd  for  export;  but  Miebigan  lias 
scarc^dy  vet  goi  into  the  business.  It 
is  bidieved,  however,  that  when  our  rail- 
roads are  comjjleted  a  eliauge  will  take 
place  in  this  State;  and  instead  of  ex- 
porting our  cattle  to  be  filtened  east- 
ward, the  great  bulk  will  be  fattened  ai 
home,  and  thus  leave  a  much  larger 
prolil  both  to  individual  and  State. — 
For  it  inurt  not  be  forgotten  that  the 
whulii  animal  sells  for  much  more  \i  hen 
fat  than  when  thin.  x\Ilowing  that 
one  half  the  animal  is  bone  and  offal, 
and  that  it  sells  for  five  cents,  and  ten 
cents  fat,  it  is  evident  that  not  only  is 
the  fat  paid  for,  but  all  that  existed  be- 
fore fatiening  commenced,  brings  a 
higher  price. 

There  are  certain  principles  which  ap- 
ply to  the  feeiling  of  all  aninials  which 
we  wi'l  shoi'tly  nolicf — 

1. — Tlie  breed  is  of  great  importance. 
A  well  bred  animal  not  only  atF>rdsless 
waste,  but  has  the  meat  in  the  right 
places,  the  fibre  is  tender  and  juicy,  an  I 
the  fat  is  put  on  jii>t  where  it  is  wanted. 
Compare  the  hind  leg  of  a  full-blooin 
Durliam  ox,  and  a  c  unmon  one.  The 
bone  at  the  base  of  the  tail  extends 
much  further  in  the  former,  affording 
more  room  for  flesh,  and  the  thigh 
swvlls  out  of  convex  or  circular  shape; 
while  in  the  common  ox  it  falls  in,  dish- 
ing and  hollow.  Now  the  "  rouml"  is 
the  most  valuable  cut,  and  is  only  found 
in  perfection  in  high-bred  stock.  The 
same  is  the  case  over  the  whole  body. 
So  wel!  do  Eastern  butchers  understHUil 
this,  that  their  prices  are  regulated  by 
the  breed,  even  where  two  animals  are 
equally  fat.  They  know  that  in  a  Dur- 
ham or  Hereford  ox,  not  only  will  there 
be  less  offal  in  pp "portion  to  wei<xht, 
the  greatest  quantity  of  meat  will  be 
where  it  brings  the  higest  price  when 
retailed,  and  will  be'  of  a  richer  flavor, 
and  more  tender  fibre.  Tlie  same  is 
the  case  with  hog-i.  A  large  hog  may 
chance  to  make  more  meat  on  a  given 


quantity  of  food  than  a  .small  one,  but 
the  meat  of  the  fir>t  will  be  cuarse  and 
tasteless  compared  with  the  other;  an^ 
in  the  east,  flavor  and  tenderness  great- 
ly regidate  prices.  Consequently,  mo- 
derate-sized, short- legged,  small- headed 
hogN,  always,  in  the  long  run,  beat  the 
large  breeds  out  i^f  favor.  In  preparing 
for  a  market,  "fashion  and  taste"  nmst 
he  as  much  considered  by  the  farmer  as 
by  the  tailor.  This  one  fact  is  at  pre- 
sent revolutionizing  the  Engii.-h  breed 
of  sheep.  The  aristocracy  always  paid 
high  for  small  Welch  and  Scotcli  mut- 
ton ;  but  the  great  consumers,  the  me- 
chanics, preferred  large  fat  joints.  The 
taste  is  now  changed.  In  Manchester 
and  other  such  cithes,  these  1  a rg<- joints, 
have  become  unsaleable;  and  all  the 
eflbrts  of  the  breeder  are  now  turned 
towards  small  breeds  maturing  early, 
with  comparatively  little  fat  Accord- 
ing to  late  writers,  the  large  Leceister 
and  Cotswolds  are  going  quite  out  of 
fasliion.  When  we  give  ^3,000  for  a 
Durham  bull,  it  is  not  that  his  progeny 
are  "intrinsically"  more  valuable  to 
that  amount,  but  the  increased  value 
and  the  fashion  together,  make  up  the 
difference.  And  it  is  thus,  that  while 
Durhams  and  Herfords  are  preferred 
for  ships  and  packing,  Devons  are  high 
in  repute  for  private  faniilies.  The 
joints  are  smaller,  but  the  meat  has  a 
peculiar  richness,  probably  found  in  no 
other  kind  of  stock  ;  and  the  propor- 
tionate waste  is  said  to  be  less  than  in 
any  other  bieed.  Thus  in  the  London 
market,  the  Scotch  Kyloes,  and  tlien 
the  Devons,  (the  former  even  smaller 
than  the  latter)  bring  the  highe>t  price, 
because  preferred  by  the  aristocracy. — 
So  in  Dublin,  spaved  heifers  are  sought 
for.  But  the  breed  also  regulates  the 
profit.  .  There  is  nothing  more  certain 
than  that  one  kind  of  animal  will  fat- 
ten to  a  given  point  on  much  less  food 
than  another,  and  as  fattening  our  stock 
in  only  another  mode  of  selling  our 
grain  and  grass,  those  animals  are  to 
be  preferred  which  come  to  maturity 
soonest,  and  fatten  on  the  least  food, — 


864 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


The  difference  in  hogs  is  very  great  and 
important.  While  some  breeds  must 
be  fed  for  two,  or  even  three  winters, 
others  are  full  grown  and  fattened  at 
ten  months  old  ;  and  the  difference  in 
profit  is  enormous.  We  cannot  go  into 
particulars,  but  the  following  rules  may 
be  considered  as  applying  to  all  :  An 
animal  may  be  expected  to  fatten  easily 
when  it  has  fine  bone,  and  fine  soft 
elastic  skin,  with  thin  or  silky  hair  ;  the 
head  and  legs  short,  the  "  barrel"  large 
but  chest  and  lungs  small  ;  and  when 
it  is  quiet,  sleepy,  and'  easy  in  temper. 
An  unquiet,  restless,  quick-tempered  ani- 
mal, is  generally  a  bad  feeder,  and  un- 
profitable. 

II. — Much  depends  in  ftittening  on 
outward  and  mechanical  management. 
Fat  is  carbon,  or  the  coal  which  sup- 
plies the  body  with  heat.  If  we  are 
exposed  to  cold  it  is  burnt  up  in  our 
lungs  as  fast  as  it  is  deposited  by  the 
blood  ;  but  if  we  are  kept  warm,  by 
shelter  or  clothing,  it  is  deposited 
throughout  the  body,  as  a  supply  on 
hand  when  needed.  Warm  stables  and 
pens  are  a  great  assistance  in  fattening, 
and  should  never  be  neglected.  So  also 
quiet  and  peacefulness  are  imj)ortaiit. 
Every  excited  action  consumes  some 
part  of  the  body,  which  has  to  be  sup 
plied  by  the  food,  and  detracts  from  the 
fat.  In  the  climate  of  Michigan,  warm 
stables,  regular  feeding  at  fixed  hours, 
and  kind  treatment,  with  perfect  clean- 
liness, save  many  a  bushel  of  grain. — 
Animals  fed  at  irregula'-  times  are  al 
'ways  uneasy  and  fretting. 

III.  Ground  and  cooked  food  fatten 
much  nioi'e  piofitably  than  raw  food. 
Mr.  Ellsworth  <bund  that  hogs  made  as 
much  flesh  on  1  lb.  of  corn  ground  and 
boiled  to  mush,  as  2  lbs.  raw  unground 
corn;  though  the  first  did  not  fatten 
qnite  as  rapidly,  as  they  could  not  con- 
sume as  much  food  in  the  twenty  four 
hours.  By  grinding  and  smoking,  ten 
hogs  will  each  gain  100  lbs.  in  weight, 
on  tiie  same  food  that  five  would  do  if 
it  were  raw. 

IV.  A  change  of  food  helps  in  fatten- 


ing. Thus  an  ox  fed  entirely  on  corn 
and  hay  will  not  fatten  as  fast,  or  as 
well,  as  one  which  has  roots,  pumpkins, 
ground  oats  or  buckwheat,  &c.,  fed  to 
it  at  regular  periods.  The  latter  may 
contain  intrinsically  less  nourishing  mat- 
ter than  the  corn,  but  the  change  pro- 
duces some  unknown  iffect  on  the  stom- 
ach and  system,  that  adds  to  the  capa- 
bility of  depositing  fat.  The  best  feed- 
ers change  the  food  very  frequently,  and 
find  that  they  make  a  decided  profit  by 
so  doing.  Salt  should  be  given  with 
every  meal  to  cattle — say  an  ounce  a 
day.  It  preserves  the  aj)petite  and  pre- 
vents torpo  of  the  liver  to  which  all 
fattening  animals  are  subject.  This 
torpor,  or  disease,  is  to  a  certain  extent 
conclusive  to  fat ;  but  carried  too  far 
the  animal  sinks  under  it. 

V.  In  catiie  the  skin  should  be  par- 
ticularly attended  to.  A  fat  animal  is 
in  an  unnatural  state,  and  consequently 
easily  subject  to  disease.  Taking  an 
exercise,  it  has  not  its  usual  power  of 
throwing  off  poisons  out  of  the  system  ; 
and  it  the  skin  is  foul,  the  whole  labor 
is  thrown  on  the  kidneys.  It  is  found 
by  experience  that  oxen,  regularly  cur- 
ried and  cleaned  daily,  fatten  belter  aid 
faster  than  when  left  to  themselves;  and 
if  the  legs  are  pasted  with  dung,  as  is 
too  often  the  case,  it  seriously  injures 
ihe  animal. 

VI.  Too  much  rich  food  is  injurious. 
The  stoniach  csn  only  assimilate  a  cer- 
tain quantity  at  once.  Thus  an  ox  will 
prosper  better  on  30  lbs.  of  corn  ano  30 
lbs.  of  cob  ground  together  daily,  than 
on  40  lbs.  of  ground  corn.  These  mix- 
lures  are  also  valuable  and  saving  of 
cost  for  hogs  when  first  put  in  the  pen. 
If  an  animal  loo.ses  its  appetite,  the 
food  should  at  once  be  changed,  and  if 
possible  roots,  pumpkins,  or  steanied 
liay  may  be  given. 

VII.  Oxen  will  fatten  better  if  the 
hay  or  stalks  are  cut  for  them,  but  care 
must  be  t;dven  not  to  cut  'oo  short. — 
An  inch  in  length  is  about  the  right 
size  for  oxen,  half  or  three-quarters  of 
an  inch  \'oy  horses. — Farmer's  Com.  dh 
Hert.  Gazette. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


From  the  Mark  Lane  Express. 
Action  of  Drous^ht  on  Plants. 

Tiie  specific  aelion  of  oroiigliL  on 
plants  is  one  of  the  problems  not  j'et 
entirely  solved.  Wliether  it  is  the  indi- 
rect waste  of  moisture  on  the  planls  by 
evaporation,  or  the  want  of  due  propor- 
tion of  water  necessary  to  build  up  ihe 
structure  of  plants,  or  wlietiier  it  is 
some  indirect  action  on  the  constitu- 
tions ot  the  soil,  is  by  no  means  a  set- 
tled quesiion. 

Tlie  present  season  has  afforded  abun- 
dant illustrations  of  the  effect  of  want 
of  moisture  on  the  several  plants  the 
farmer  has  to  cultivate;  and  what  is 
more  remarkable,  the  drought,  though 
absolutely  less  than  it  was  l;st  year, 
eeems  to  have  had  a  far  greater  elFect 
on  the  j)lanls.  The  meadows,  especial- 
ly, appear  to  have  suffered.  In  all  the 
nothern  counties,  particularly,  the  grass 
crop  is  peculiarly  tiffected.  The  finer 
grasses  are  absolutely  either  wanting, 
or  so  thin  th-it  they  show  the  meadow 
to  be  without  bottom  grass.  The  coars- 
er gra-^sos  are  tall,  but  thin,  and  running 
to  seed,  forming  no' tillering  stalks,  and 
few  blades  in  comparison  to  those  of 
former  years.  The  corn  is  the  same — 
thin,  stunted,  and  spiry  in  its  character. 
There  has  been  no  tillering — no  thick 
malted  surface.  The  drills  have  been 
visible  up  to  the  present  j)eriod,  and  the 
steins  are  fast  running  to  ear  before  hall 
the  usual  height  is  attained,  being  also 
bard  and  yt-llow  in  color,  and  as  difft-r- 
ent  as  possible  from  the  graceful  flop- 
ping blade  the  wheat  plant  usually  ex- 
hibits at  this  [)eriod. 

Now,  in  what  specific  way  has  this 
drought  so  acted  on  the  plants  I  In 
ordinary  vegetables,  ninety  per  cent,  of 
their  whole  structure  is  simply  water. 
Hence  it  is  ea-y  to  conceive  Iiow  largi- 
a  quantity  of  tliat  material  is  neci-ssary 
during  tlu*ir  growth  and  development. 
But  their  was  no  such  absolute  defi- 
ciency this  season.  The  soii  always 
contained  acmnparatively  large  aiiiouni 
of  moisture;  the  dews  were  often  plen 
tiful,  amounting  to  fully  as  much  more 


as  any  diurnal  develepment  of  the  plant 
could,  require,  and  all  the  tables  of  rain 
fallen  in  the  sjuing  of  the  year,  we  have 
seen,  showed  a  larger  quantity  than  in 
the  corresponding  months  of  last  year. 
Hence,  it  seems,  we  must  look  to  the 
abstract  cause  of  the  injury — to  some- 
what beyond  the  mere  denuding  of  the 
plant  of  water,  as  such. 

We  thiidc  the  theory  of  Liebig  far 
better  established  this  season.  The 
plant,  to  take  up  its  elements,  must 
liave  them  presented  to  it  it.  a  slate  of 
solution.  The  action  of  rain  operates 
to  dissolve  regularly  and  gradually  the 
material  required  by  the  plant,  both  ia 
the  soil  and  in  the  rocks  from  whick 
ihe  soil  is  continually  forming,  by  dis- 
integrating the  small,  particles  existing 
in  the  latid.  These  are  being  supplied 
to  the  plant  by  the  rains  as  it  requires 
them,  but  this  year  they  have  not  been 
so  waslied  out  and  made  ready  for  use. 
But  why  did  the  same  cause  operate 
equally  m  the  spring  of  1852?  Sim- 
ply because  the  incessant  rains  of  the 
autumn  aud  eaily  winter  had  washed 
out  the  soluble  constituents  of  the  soil, 
so  as  to  leave  les-i  free  material  in  the 
land  by  far  than  in  the  previous  s|)ring, 
and  I'.ence  the  ordinary  drought  had 
much  greater  effect  on  the  plants  this 
year  than  it  had  last. 

The  effect  of  water  en  plants,  regu- 
larly supplied,  is  most  wonderful.  Those 
who  have  seen  the  Clipston  water  mead- 
ows, and  the  small  and  clear  stream, 
which  produce  from  three  to  five  cropa- 
of  grass  per  annum,  either  depastured 
or  mown,  or  partly  the  one  aud  partly 
the  other,  must  be  convinced  that  it  is 
almost  as  much  owing  to  the  plentiful 
supply  of  water  in  a  dry  season,  as  to 
any  great  amount  of  manure  held  by 
that  small  river  in  solution,  that  the 
vast  increase  of  irrass  is  pioduced.  By 
watering,  Mr.  Kennedy,  of  Myremill, 
keeps  close  upon  a  thousand  head  of 
stock  on  ninety  acres  of  Indian  rye- 
grass. In  ordinary  seasons,  Irom  five 
to  nine  sheep  can  be  kept  on  one  acre 
of  land  ;  the   latter  may   be  done  in  a 


366 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


dr.'>[)jiiiiir  si-ason,  on  clover  lays,  on  well 
cultivali'd  land;  but  with  the  fti<l  of  a 
little,  ariificial  food  and  by  ihe  a[)i)iic- 
ation  of  liquid  m.inure,  in  the  shower 
form,  by  sie  in,  Mr.  Kennt^dy  can  keep 
fifiy--ix  sheep  per  acre  !  Nor  can  we 
believe  tlia*  this  is  altogether  due  to  the 
manure.  To  that  it  is  partly  owing, 
doubtiiss  ;  but  it  is  by  far  more  owing 
to  its  being  watered  with  tf)at  manure 
in  a  soluble  state,  and.  so  tit  for  the  im- 
mediate use  of  the  plants.  Hence  he  is 
independent  of  season.  The  water-drill, 
to  whic!)  we  before  alluded,  is  an  appli- 
citioiiof  the  same  piinclple;  and  the 
^vo^d  rful  rt^sults  of  the  dressing  of  dis- 
solved bi'ttH  litpiid,  in  adry  season, by  the 
Duke  of  RicluiKjnd,  is  a  powerful  fact 
in  I  he  same  direction. 

Ttiat  it  IS  the  v?ant  of  soluble  manure, 
or,  m  other  words,  elements  of  plants, 
which  is  mainly  the  cause  of  the  injury, 
is  manifest  from  the  fact  that  all  the 
poorest  land  has  suffered  by  far  the  most 
from  the  drought.  The  very  highly 
manured  land  has  sustained  the  It-asl 
d;unage  ;  while  on  land  to  which  very 
highly  soluble  manures, Peruvian  guano, 
for  instance,  and  similar  mat'-riaK,  have 
been  applied,  the  crops  are  growing 
vigorously. 

Nor  let  it  be  forgotten  that  the  rain 
brings  down  the  ammonia,  which,  in 
dry  states  of  the  atmosphere,  will  float 
imdistiirbed ;  and  this  fjxiling,  as  wed  as 
the  soluble  supply  below,  would  of 
course  aggravate  the  cause  of  injury. 


How  to  rasie  the  finest  stia^vberries. 

In  the  Horticulturist,  we  find  the  fol- 
lowing upon  thesnl-ji'Ct  of  raising  straw- 
berri(\s,  'rom  R.  G,  Pakdeb,  of  Palmy- 
ra, N.  Y.,  wdio  a]-)])ears  to  have  had 
mucii  experience  in  the  culture  of  this 
delicious  fruit  : 

The  foil  wing  is  the  best  way  that  T 
know,  of  cultivating  the  strawberry  in 
our  favorable  soil  : 

Select,  in  the  early  spring,  rich,<leep, 
mellow,  gravelly  loam,  if  pos>ibl<'.  in  ra- 
ther low. moist  ground,  \Aith  a  good  ex 
posure  to  the  sun.     Then  spade    it  full 


a  spade  deep,  repeatedly.on  the  first  of  ev- 
ery month  until  July,  when  the  ground 
will  have  become  thoroughly  broken 
and  melknv,  and  also  the  danger  of  the 
earth  packing  and  becoming  hard,  will 
mainly  have  past.  After  breaking  up 
the  ground  well  on  the  1st  of  July,  and 
levelling  otf  the  soil  instead  of  raising  it 
into  beds,  then  immediately  set  out  the 
strawberry  plants,  two  in  a  stt  ol,  18  to 
24  inches  apart,  i  hen  mnKdi  forth uilh, 
the  whole  ground,  including  the  walk, 
with  fm  inch  and  a  half  deep  of  old  tan 
bark,  sawdust  or  well  rotted  m  nure  ; 
but  1  would  carefully  prevent  any  barn- 
yard manure,  or  even  ashes,  becoming 
incorporated  in  the  soil  j.i'ev-ously  or  at 
this  time.  Next  I  would  thoroughly 
water  them,  and  keep  them  sufficiently 
watered  to  insure  a  constant  and  vigor- 
ous growth,  which  is  not  a  task  if  well 
mulched.  After  this,  the  occasional 
pulling  of  a  very  few  weeds,  hat  find 
their  way  through  the  mulching,  and  a 
slight  coating  of  leaves  and  straw  on 
the  approach  of  winter,  is  all  the  care  I 
would  give  hem,  until  the  o])ening  of 
he  following  spring,  when  I  pursue  the 
following  process  : 

On  removing  the  coating  on  theopen- 
ing  of  .-pring,  1  fertilizes  the  plants  with 
a  liberal  sprinkling  of  a  solution  of  1-2 
•b.  each  of  sulphate  of  pottassinm,  olau- 
ber  salts,  and  soda,  add  one  ounce  of 
of  muriate  ammonia,  to  eight  gallons 
water,  and  continue  this  once  in  a 
week  or  ten  days  until  they  blossom, 
when  I  give  them  pure  cold  water  till 
they  ripen,  when  I  discontinue  all  aj)- 
plications.  I  do  not  say  my  combina- 
tion of  fertilisers  cannot  be  improved, 
but  it  proves  efficient  enough  with  rae 
ui:til  I  learn  of  a  better  one. 

If  not  convenient,  I  do  not  break  up 
the  ground  until  the  l.-t  July,  when  I 
plant  out ;  although  I  think  it  better 
not  to  allow  the  ground  to  be  occupied 
the  previous  part  of  the  season,  and  to 
be  fi'equently  stirred,  I  j)rpf<M',  all  ( hings 
f'ontJdered,  the  1st  to  lOih  Jidy  for 
planting  out,  the  reason  the  soil  does 
not  bake  so  hard  as  if  set  out  m  spring, 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


sgY 


and  at,  this  ^(iasoii  I  can  secure  the  larg 
est  crop  next.  J  Line.     It'the  setting    oui 
is  delayed  lid  August,  I  ean  oidy  depend 
on  hai^"  a  crop,   and    only  a    quar  er  it' 
delriyed  till  September. 

I)y  this  phtn,  it  will  be  seen,  I  avoid 
all  tmnble  in  forking  over  the  ground 
in  the  fa  1  or  spring — I  do  not  find  ii 
necessary. 

Aiih'.Mgh  so  nianv  sncceed  uiis;itis- 
fac:oriiy  in  raising  strawberries,  yet  I 
know  of  in>  fruit  raised  in  tliis  climate 
on  wliich  I  can,  with  such  ci)n!ideiice, 
rely  for  a  certain  and  regular  large  crop 
by  this  plan,  with  good  varieties — nnly 
am-iteuis  who  wish  to  raise  remarkably 
fine  fruit  many  choose  to  take  so  luueh 
pains  as  the  whole  process  here  laid 
mvolves,  yet  wiiatis  worth  doing  at  all, 
is  generally  worth  doing  will. 

I  will  not  presume  to  say    that    this 
plan  is  perfect,  or  the  best.     Oilier  soils 
and  climate  may  demand  some  modili 
cation,  yet  after  examining  a  large  nnm 
ber  of  grounds  for  years  past,  and  1  sten 
ing  to,    or    reading    the    mode    ofprc- 
ceiure  of  a  large  number  of   the  most 
successful   cultivatu'rs,    I  have    summed 
them  all  uj),  and  prefer  the  above  to  all 
others  which  have  come    to  my  knowl- 
edge.   Every  cultivator  has  his  own  best 
way  to  accoinjjlish    the  object,    and  yet, 
per<;hance,  all  have  much  to  learn  from 
the  experience  or  observation  of  others. 


Broom  .  orn. 

In  the  Mohawk  Valley,  New  York, 
vast  qnanlities  of  this  crop  are  annually 
grown.  Pennsylvania.  Ohio  and  Con- 
necticut are  the  next  largest  producers 
of  it.  Its  origin,  as  a  cultivated  plant 
in  this  country,  is  attributed  to  Dr. 
Franklin.  It  is  a  native  of  India. — 
Fraidclin  saw  an  imported  wlii.-k  of 
corn  in  the  possession  of  a  lady  in  Phil- 
adelphia, and  while  examining  it,  as  a 
curiosity,  found  a  seed  which  he  plant- 
ed, and  from  this  small  beginning  arose 
this  valuable  product  of  industry  in  the 
United  Slati-s.  In  the  -ame  manner, 
England  and  America  are  indebted  for 
the  weeping  willow,  to  the   poet  Pope, 


who  finding  a  green  stick  in  a  basket  of 
figs  sent  to  him,  as  a  present,  trom  Tui- 
key,  stuck  it  in  his  garden  at  Twicken- 
ham, ami  ihence  propagated  this  beau- 
tiful tree. 

Broom  corn  is  of  a  different  genus 
from  Indian  corn.  They  will  not  mix. 
In  the  Mohawk  fiats  the  best  culiivators 
of  it  sow  with  a  drid  as  early  in  s}iiiig 
as  the  ground  will  admit,  in  rows,  three 
and  a  half  feet  a[)art.  As  soon  a-  it  is 
above  groun<l  i  is  hoed,  soon  after  thin- 
ned to  three  inches  apart.  Il  is  only 
hoed  in  tlie  row  to  remove  the.  weeds 
near  the  plants ;  the  harrow  and  culti- 
vator are  then  run  through  to  kee:p 
down  the  weeds,  aud  a  small  double 
mouldboard  phnigh  is  run  shallow  be- 
tween the  rows.  It  is  not  left  to  ripen, 
but  cut  green.  Il  is  not  l"|)j)ed  till 
ready  to  cut.  One  set  of  hands  goes 
forv/ard  and  lops  or  bends  the  tops  on 
one  side;  another  follows  and  cms  them 
oil  when  bent;  a  third  gathers  them  in 
carts  or  wagons.  At  the  factory  th  .y 
are  sorted  over  and  put  into  bunches, 
each  bunch  of  brush  of  equal  ieeg'h. 
The  seed  is  then  taken  off  by  a  soi  l  of 
hatchel.  worked  by  six  liors'  s.  It  is 
then  spread  thin  to  dry  on  racks  in  a 
building  for  the  purpose.  In  about  a 
week  it  can  be  packed  away  doseiy. — 
The  bri^oms  are  made  in  winter,  a.bont 
75,000  dozen  to  each  100  aces  of  land. 
The  stalks  are  left  on  the  ground  to  be 
p'oughed  in  ih'e  next  spring.  For  the 
handles  a  peculiar  lathe,  turned  by 
horse  power,  is  used,  which  manufac- 
luies  them  with  great  rapidity. —  Far- 
mn-^s  Companion  and  Horticultural 
Gazette. 


Indiak  Meal  Waffles. — Boil  two 
cups  of  hominv  very  si  it,  add  an  equal 
quantiiy  of  silted  Indian  meal,  a  table- 
si)ooi)ful  of  salt,  half  a  tea-cup  of  but- 
ler, and  three  eggs,  with  milk  snfHcient 
to  make  a  thin  bmter.  Beat  all  well 
tovcther,  and  bake  in  waffle  irons. 
Wlien  eggs  cannot  be  nrocured.  yeast 
is  a  good  substitute — put  a  sj)oonful  in 
the  butter,  and  let  it  stand  au  hour. 


36s 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


FAllMi^:irS  JOUIINAJL. 

RALEIGH,  N.  C,  MAECH,1854. 


TEAVELING  AGENTS  TOR  THE  JOUENAL. 
John  Coi.ijns,  and 
Luther  Root. 

LOCAL  AGENTS  FOR  THE  JOtJRNAL. 

James  Simmons,  Weldon,  N.  C 

John  S.  Dancy,  Tarboro',    " 

Dr.  R.  H.  Shield,  Winton,  " 

Daniel  Valentine,       "       " 

Col.  Thomas  Memory,  Whitesville,  N.  C. 

IjOuis  Desmond,  Kinston, 

B.  D  Mann,  Hilliardston,  " 
Augustus  Latham.  Swift  Creek,  " 
W.  A.  Darden,  Speight's  Bridge,  " 
W  L.  PoMEROY,  Raleigh,  " 
Jere.  Nixon,  "  * 
Wm.  H.  Jones,          " 

Messrs.  Hyman  &,  Arrixgton,  Warrenton. 
T.  W.  Whitley,  Smiihfield,  N.  C. 
Martin  Sigman,  Wadesboro',     " 
John  M.  Forbes,  Camden  County,  N.  C. 

C.  C.  Bonner,  Rocky  Mount,  " 
S.  W.  Chadwick,  Newberne,  " 
R.  H.  Smith,  Scotland  Neck,  " 
J.  L.  Lawrence,  "  " 
Gen.  H.  G.  Spruill,  Plymouth,  " 

J.  White,  White's  Store,  Anson  County. 

Wm.  R.  W.  Sherrod,  Hamilton,  N.  C. 

Dr    S-  Weller,  Brinkleyville,  Halifax  Co. 

B.  B.  Rives, 'Greene  County,  N.  C. 

E.  C.  &  Y.  Jones,  Yanceyville,  N.  C. 

A.  Willis,  "  " 

Wm.  Long, 

Col.  John  H.  Harrison,  Ringwood,  N.  C. 

Gen.  HiATT,  Guilford  County. 

L.  J.  Haughton,  Chatham  County. 

W.  D.   Reddick,  Newby's  Bridge,  N.  C. 

Dr.  Jno.  Shackelford,  Trenton,  N.  C. 

Owen  Fennel,  Harrell's  Store,  N.  C. 

Joseph  G.  McRee,  Elizabethtown,  N.  C. 

C(>1.  L.  W.  HuMi-HREY,  Richland's  N  C. 

C<  1.  L.  W.  Montfort,  Onslow  County. 

Henry  Ei  liott,  Esq  ,  Cumberland  Co. 

Col.  W.  H.  Tripp,  Beaufort  County,  N.  C. 

The  Fnd  of  our  Second  Volume. 

Tliis  miinber  eotiipletes,  the  .second 
volume  (if  "The  Fa rmer'.s  Journal,"  the 
only  paper  in  North  Carolina  devoted 
especially  to  the  farming  interest  of  the 


State.  That  we  have  astonished  soma 
people  in  holding  up  so  long  we  are 
sure,  they  are  disappointed  in  their  first 
calculation,  when  they  said  "its  no  usa 
it  can't  succeed."  We  regret  though 
that  we  cannot  join  in  with  most  of  our 
brethren  of  the  political  press  in  the 
State,  in  rejoicing  over  our  success,  and 
complimenting  those  who.<e  interest  we 
have  advocated,  for  the  active  zeal  which 
they  have  manifested  in  our  behalf,  but 
this  will  continue  much  longer,  at  anj 
rate  we  console  ourself  with  such  ft 
hope.  The  pages  of  the  "Journal" 
have  not  at  all  times  presented  such  an 
appearance  as  we  would  have  liked,  but 
we  have  we  think  a  good  e.\cuse  to  of- 
fer for  this  seeming  neglect  on  our  part. 
It  has  been  the  case  in  the  other  States, 
when  such  pf  pers  as  ours  were  estab- 
lished, the  editor  was  allowed  to  remain 
in  his  office  investigating  such  sulject-s 
as  required  his  attention.  But  we  have 
not  been  so  fortunate,  for  we  have  been 
compelled  to  go  from  county  to  county, 
and  make  public  speeches  up  n  the  sttb- 
j'^cl,  telling  the  farmers  personally  of  the 
importance  of  ac  ange  in  their  system 
(,>f  farming.  By  these  means  we  have 
accmplished  what  many  persons  did 
not  believe  could  be  dune,  and  we  feel 
free  to  saj',  that  if  under  such  ircum- 
.-tances  receiving  the  cold  approbation 
of  the  farmers,  instead  of  their  support, 
we  have  held  up  our  head,  what  could 
not  be  done  if  we  could  enlist  the  ser- 
vic<  s  of  those  whose  interest  we  havs 
been  advocating.  We  shall  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  next  volume,  clothe  th« 
Journal  in  anew  dress,  each  number  of 
the  paper  will  have  a  handsome  cover 
and  will  be  stitched, and  this  too  without 
any  additional  expense  to  the  subfcriber. 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


369 


Come  farm!  rs,  di>  noi  liold  oti"aiiy  luugt-r 
but  come  np  and  help  us,  we  nt'ed  your 
aid  and  must  liave  it,  or  at  least  we  are 
resolveil  10  deserve  it.  Recollect  that 
you  are  North  Carolinians,  and  that  we 
«re  Uhino-  our  best  endeavors  to  |)!ace 
our  good  <.ild  Slate  in  the  front  rank  in 
ngriciiltural  advancement,  and  if  the 
farnuMN  will  burst  the  bonds  of  preju- 
dice, and  avail  themselves  of  such  iu- 
formaiioti  as  we  ofier  them,  a  glorious 
destin3'  awaits  our  ])eople,  and  okl  Ri[i 
Van  Wiiddii  will  shine  the  brightest 
Star  in  the  constfllalion.  Where  is  the 
son  of  Carolina,  who  would  not  give 
three  times  three  cheers  to  witness  such 
a  sight.  To  those  who  are  loth  to  be- 
lieve this  assertion  we  cite  them  to  the 
State  Fair,  as  proof  of  what  we  say, — 
Will  not  every  subset iber  who  has  been 
enjoying  the  fruits  of  our  labor  so  long 
at  so  bttle  cost,  feel  it  his  duty  to  see 
his  neighbor  and  get  him  to  contribute 
the  sum  of  one  dollar  to  his  own  as  well 
as  the  advancement  tf  our  State. 


paper  as  both  they  and  ours^lf  m;iy  feel 
proud  of. 


Vi»iits  by  the  Editor. 

We  shall  address  the  fiUowing  coun- 
ty AgiicuUural  Societies,  by  invitation, 
at  the  following  times  and  places. 

Granville  Couniy  Society,  at  Oxford, 
on  the  third  Saturday  in  JVlarch,  and 
the  Caswell  County  Society,  at  Yancey- 
ville,  on  Monday  after  the  third  Satur- 
day in  March. 

We  have  received  several  other  invi- 
tations to  address  diftVrent  County  So- 
cieties which  we  would  like  to  accept 
but  it  will  be  highly  important  hereaf- 
ter that  we  devote  our  time  to  the 
Jouinal,  in  ord>M-  that  we  may  furnish 
the  fu-rners  of  North   Carolina  such  a 


Experiments  in  Farming. 

This  being  about  the  lime  when  our 
farmers  begin  to  prepare  their  lands  for 
most  of  their  crops,  we  know  of  no 
subject  better  calculated  to  interest  them 
than  the  one  which  we  have  liere  select- 
ed. We  are  indebted  to  expeiiment 
for  the.  confirmation  or  reduction  to 
fact,  the  many  well  established  theories 
in  the  various  branches  c)fsci(  nee,  which 
without  its  aid,  would  still  have  been 
overshadowed  with  doubt,  subject  to  the 
bitter  denunciations  of  the  ignorant  and 
prejudiced.  While  it  has  done  so  much 
to  advance  other  braiiches  of  sciince, 
agriculture  has,  to  some  extent,  been 
benefited  by  its  fostering  aitl.  We  of- 
ten hear  men  make  assertion>  in  relation 
to  the  truth  of  certain  [irinciples  in 
farming,  and  the  first  question  asked  by 
ihe  listener,  is:  hav(  you  tried  it,  do 
you  know  what  you  have  stated  to  be 
true  from  real  experiment,  and  if  the 
reply  is  yes,  it  at  once  beeomes  entitled 
to  consideration.  But  the  very  great 
carelessness  which  has  heretofore  char- 
acterized experiments,  made  i>y  our  farm- 
ers in  this  State,  has  done  much  to  ex- 
eite  doubt  in  the  minds  of  many.  And 
besides  it  has  been  by  experiments  in 
farming  made  in  this  way.  that  many 
have,  after  one  specimen,  been  induced 
to  abandon  further  attempt  at  su(cess* 
But  an  experiment  in  farming  ;  w  hat  is 
it  ?  can  a  farmer  be  said  to  make  an 
experiment  in  the  grov\th  of  a  crop, 
when  he  fails  to  prepare  his  land  for  its 
cultivation,  and  when  he  does  not  use 
such  implements  as  are  necessary  to  do 
good  work.     "  Anything  that  is  worth 


170 


THR  F.VRMEIS  JOaP.N  VL. 


doiiiir'"  sa\s    Dr.   Fianklii),  '•  is  woitli 
diiiufr  well  ;"    and   it'  the  occupation  of 
the  fanner  is  worthy  of  his  timf'and  at- 
tention  it  is  worth  devoting   that  time 
and    aitemijfj   to   the   investiiration  of 
sucli  Milj  • -rs  will  enable  him  to  experi- 
ment eui-'-.-'-dy.     A  knowledge  of  tliese 
subj  ctseaii  only  be  obtained  by  reading- 
or  eoiiver-ing  with  those  who  have  read. 
Some  we    know   would  say    here   that 
they  wish  to   I'arn   only  by   experience 
which,  without  the  knowledge  necessa-' 
ry  to   piotii,   by  observation,  cannot  be 
done.      And  even  admitting  that  a  man 
can  at  a  1   times  learn  by  exiierience. — 
See  what  a  waste  of  time  and  labor  he 
must  incur  before  he  obtains  what  he  is 
in  search  of,  tnost  experiments  in  farm- 
ing are  g(^nera'ly   made  upon  too  large 
a  scale,  which,   if  they   do  not  succeed, 
inj'iri'S  him  who  makes    them,    and  de- 
ters him  as  well  as  his  neighbors  from 
another   trial,    bv  takinof  such  a  laro-e 
quantity  of  land  for  an  experiment  the 
farmi-r  is  likely    to   get  some,  which  is 
not  in   t!ie  same  state  of  exhaustion  as 
the    balance,  and  the  results  are  such  as 
not  to  be  satisfactory.      A  case  of  this 
kind    has  occurred  to  us  which  we  wil] 
mention  as    proof  of  the  correctness  of 
our  postion.       A    farmer    in    Scotland 
ma  le  an  experiment   in  the    growth  of 
wheat   and   turnips  upon    two  ten  acv 
fielils,  thinking   that  both   were  in  the 
same  state  of  exhaus'ion  at  the  time  the 
ex|>eiiment    was    begun.       The    result, 
though  proved  differently,  for  the  crop 
of  wheat  as  widl  as  that  of  turnips  up- 
on one  fil  1,  though  bolh   has    received 
the  same  treatment  at  that   time,    was 
nauch  larger  than  that  on  the  other. — 
Here  we  see  was  distrust  and  doubt  ex- 
isting in  the  mind  of  the  experimenters, 


which  probaoly  caused  him  to  denounc^ 
agiiculture  as  a  science,   denying  that 
any  certain  results  could  he  cHU-ulaled 
upon,   from  certain  prmciples  involved. 
Hut  upon  investigation  it  was  a>certain- 
ed  that  several  years  bi-fore  this  experi- 
ment was   made  a   large  ap[)lication  of 
l)onediist  was  made  to  theii.-ld  on  which 
the  largest  crops  of  wheat  and  tjrnips 
wei'e  raised.      The  bone  dust  furnished 
precisely    the   very   kind  of  food  upon 
which  wheat  and   turnips  delight  to  be 
fed,    which    must  very  reasonably  have 
enlarg.'d    the    product    of  both.      This 
diffi.u  ty  will,  of  course,  be  obviated  by 
taking  a  small    quantity   of  land  upon 
winch  to   make   the   experiment.     The 
best  wa}'  in  which  a  farmer  can  make 
a  coi'rect  expe'-iment  in  the  growth  of  a 
crop,  is  this :      Take  one  acre  of  land 
properly  measured,  and  divide  it  equal- 
ly into  two  parts,   and  |irepare  it  pro- 
perly and  treat  both  par;s  alike  in  every 
respect  as  regards  planting  and  cnliure. 
To  one  half  of  the  acre,  apply  the  ma- 
nure,  with  which  you   wish  to  experi- 
ment, and  when   the  crop  has  matured 
gather    from    both    parts  at   the   same 
time,   and    carefidly  measure    the    pro- 
ducts.     If  the  increased   yield    of  the 
part  to  which  the  manure  has  bi-en  ap- 
plied, is  such  as   to  pay  all   ( x[)erses  of 
application  and  show  a  profit  besides,  it 
may  be  said  to  I  e  a  successful  experi- 
ment.      It   is   true   that  a  dry  season 
would    more  materially  eff-ct  the  part 
which  is  manured  than    it    wou'd  that 
which  was  not,  but  the  practical  farmer 
can  detertnine  in   his  own  mind  the  in- 
jury su-tained  in  this  case,  pn-tty  near- 
ly.    If  in  the  application  o*'  manure  to 
one  acre  of  land,  a  profit  is   maile,  the 
saraeaiuount  may  be  derived  from  ten  or 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


S7l 


one  Ijuuilred  acres  of  land  in  proportion. 
An  exp<'riment  made  in  this  way  <an 
be  n  lied  upon,  as  a  sure  land-niaik  fur 
others  to  go  by.  A  great  difficulty  in 
the  way  ot  successful  agriculture  is,  that 
farmers  fji-nerally  keep  to  themselves 
those  exjieriu)ents  whicli  turn  out  to  be 
failures.  This  should  not  be  the  case  ; 
they  should  be  given  to  the  public  us 
well  as  tlmse  which  have  been  success- 
ful, for  they  would  serve  the  samp  pur- 
pose to  the  rising  generation  of  farmers 
as  does  the  bouy  to  the  mariner  who  is 
unacquainted  with  ihe  coast  npon  whicli 
be  is  sailing.  We  shall  be  ever  glad  to 
lay  l)efore  our  readers  all  practiral  ex- 
periintnis  made  by  farmers,  and  we 
hope  that  they  will  furnish  such  as 
come  within  their  knowledge. 


Mr.  Barnhardt's  Letter. 

We  publi.-h  bel<  w  a  letti-r  tiom  oui' 
friend  Geurge  Earnhardt,   Esq..  of  Ca- 
ban us  county,  which  contains  just  the 
kind  ui  news  which  we  like  to  hear,  and 
we  heie   state    that   be   nor  any  other 
friend  need  have  no  hesitation  in  as^^uring 
any  new  subscribers  that  the  "Farmer's 
Journal  "   will  be  greatly   improved  in 
e  e  y  respect.     It  will  contain   a  larg- 
er   amount  of  matter  in   each   number 
that  It  does  now    at  j)resent,  and    each 
nuud)er   will    have  a  handsome  cover 
ready  lor  reading.     We  here  state  that 
it  shall  not  he  excelled  by  any  Ao-ricul- 
tural  pajier  in  the  South,  and  all  we  ask 
of  the  farmers  of  the  State  is  to  give  us 
a  liberal   patronage,  read   our  paper,  be 
govt-rned  by  its  piecepts,  furnish  us  with 
communications,  and  they  will  soon  se*' 
the  lifuren  hills  of  the  Old  North  State 
"  blo.<-«om  like  the   lose."     As  soon  as 
this  ni'mber  is  received,  we  hope  that 


our  readers  genera  ly  will  follow  the  ex" 
ample  of  Mi'.  Barnhardt,  and  send  us  a 
good  number  of  subscribers  and  the 
cash. 

Caeakkus  Co.,  Feb.  20.  1854. 
Dr.  ToMPKI^"s :  Dtar  S'lr—Xcnr 
circular  of  January  has  been  duly  re- 
ceived and  attended  to,  and  1  here  give 
yon  the  results  of  r-ny  labor  in  getting 
new  sul'seribers  to  the  "Faruiei'.s  Jour- 
nal." You  requesieii  each  if  your  pat- 
rons to  get  you  at  least  tive  new  sub- 
scribers, I  have  more  than  double  that 
number  and  will  tiy  to  get  as  many 
Uiore  if  jiossible,  and  send  yv.n  their 
names,  ])ost  office,  address,  and  the  cash 
l)erore  the  1st  day  of  April  next. 

I  have  promised  the  new  snliseribers 
an  enlargement  of  your  n>xL  V'olume, 
and  to  be  as  g.  ud  as  the  best  of  the 
kind  in  the  union.  Now,  if  your  pat- 
rons have  generallv  exerted  themselves, 
yor  are  ennbled  to  do  tins.  Now,  if 
your  next  Volume  meets  our  expecta- 
tions, with  a  little  exertion  of  your  old 
aiid  new  subscribers  we  shall  be  ahic  to 
give  you  quite  a  ttmng  lift,  and  place, 
the  "Old  North  Slate"  in  her  true 
position  which  her  agricultural  and 
niineral  resources  entitle  her  to. 

Accept    the    assuiance    of  my    high 
esteem,  Geo.  Barmiardt. 


For  the  Farmer's  Journal. 

Elevation,  Feb.  1,  lb54. 

Dr.  Thompkins  :  It  may  not  be  un- 
intering  to  your  readeis  to  give  them  a 
brief  account  of  some  of  the  P' ik  that 
has  been  slaughtered  in  this  vic:nity 
I  his  season.  I  did  not  have  a  veiv  large 
lot  of  Hogs  myself— I  killed  34  hogs, 
and  they  made  5000  lbs.  of  poik — but 
there  weri^  some  of  them  I  considered 
fine  to  their  ages,  and  chances  not  hav- 
ing been  push  from  the  fiist,  but  only 
well  fattened. 

I  had  5  hogs,  10  months  old  that  made  VfiO  lbs  Fork. 

"  I  "  11  '  •'  •'  Its  •'       '• 

"  3  "  I  year  "  "  6C0  "       " 

"  1  "  3  "  •'  "  470  "  " 

L.  S.  Hyrd,      "  i  "  3  "  "  "  .jcj  "  •» 

I..  Byrd.  sen.  "  i  "  2  "  "  "  430  "  " 

W.  'Jurlington,  1  "  5  •'  "  "  502  "  " 


372 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Tlies(>g.'iuleriien  are  my  near  neigh- 
bors, and  I  am  almost  reaJy  to  con- 
clude that  this  neigiiborhood  will  be 
hard  to  beat  in  the  way  of  heavy  hogs. 
I  know  of  several  liogs  that  are  heavier, 
but  there  is  only  one  or  two  in  a  place. 

My  hogs  were  not  kept  fat  'n  their 
raising,  it  is  true  they  were  not  suffered 
to  get  very  poor,  as  I  have  seen  liogs, 
but  they  ran  out  and  were  poor  until 
•taken  up  to  fatten  about  the  first  of  Oc- 
tober. I  first  turned  them  into  my 
pea  fields,  and  when  they  had  taken  the 
peas  one  week,  I  turnt  ci  them  into  a 
portion  of  potatoes  fenced  off",  fur  an- 
other week  then  into  the  peas  a  week, 
and  so  on,  changing  fiom  peas  to  pota- 
toes and  back  to  peas  wiih  an  occasion- 
al l»ait  of  corn  wjiich  was  necessary  as 
the  peas  in  a  field  would  become  scarce 
so  that  the  hogs  were  required  to  travel 
too  much  to  get  their  fill,  I  also  gave 
them  slops  fr^m  the  kitchen  often,  and 
ashes  a  few  ilities  along  at  first.  And 
when  the  pea-fields  were  picked,  and 
the  potatoes  intended  for  tliem  in  the 
field  were  gone,  I  placi^d  tliem  in  a  lot 
and  put  them  on  boiled  feed,  chiefly 
corn,  some  peas  and  potatoes.  I  hiive 
an  idea  that  a  hug  is  like  a  man  in  re- 
gard to  wanting  to  change  his  <iiet.  My 
knowledge  of  Farming  operations  is 
chiefly  practical  or  epxerimental  knowl 
edge,  l)nt  I  am  entirely  satisfied  that  a 
man  may  be  greatly  benefitted  by  edg- 
ing in  a  little  book  learningoccasionally 
upon  the  subject,  but  a  mere  book  Far- 
mer generally  makes  a  poor  business  of 
it. 

Yours, 

D.  II.  Holland. 


For  the  Farmer's  Journal. 
AsiiEviLLE,  Jan.  6,  1854. 
Grntlemkn  :   Yours  of  the  29th  An 
gust  hist,   inviting   me    to    address  the 
State  Agricultural  Society,  in  Octobi-r, 
'53.  was  received    vvhile    still   lal)oring 
under  the  effects  of  a  protracted   fever, 
contracted  while  attending  the  Railroad 
Conv(-ntion,  at  Richmond,  Ky.      [  also 
received  that  of  8ih    October,  but  was 


[still  bound  to  the  peace  by  my  pliysi- 
cians,  who  found  that  the  least  excite- 
ment rendered  me  so  nervous  that  I  was 
jcompel!ed  to  withdraw  from  business 
and  allow  everything  to  remain  neglect- 
ed. Nothing  short  of  this  abs(,»liite  nc- 
cesity  could  have  induced  me  thus  to 
have  treated,  with  apparent  indifference, 
any  communication  from  friends  so 
much  esteemed,  and  more  especially, 
on  the  subject  of  agriculture,  always 
claiming  my  attention  over  any  thing 
beside. 

Nothing  could  have  afforded  me  mor« 
pleasure  than  to  have  been  with  you 
at  the  October  jneeting,  not  as  a  speak- 
er, but  a  spectator  and  participator  in 
the  business  generally.  I  have  read 
with  much  interest  the  proceedings  of 
the  meeting,  and  I  hope  that  it  is  but 
the  beginning  of  a  good  work.  We 
have  to  regret  our  great  (li.-tance  from 
the  centre  of  the  State,  and  w;int  of  fa- 
cilities for  travel,  which  cuts  us  off  from 
all  participation  in  any  thing  of  the  sort 
Ht  the  seat  of  government.  This,  how- 
ever, we  yet  hope  to  see  overcome. 

I  am  of  opinion  that  the  evidences 
already  given  in  the  various  counties  of 
the  State  of  intention  to  oiganize  socie- 
ties, and  go  on  to  improve  our  defective 
agriculture,  will  ultimntely  discover  ca- 
pabilities in  our  State  for  producing  that 
have  never  been  dreamed  of.  Indeed, 
in  this  portion  of  the  Stale  the  grass«^8 
are  found  to  grow  so  easily  that  no  at- 
tention imlil  recently  has  been  given  to 
it.  This  must  be  our  leading  business 
as  farmers.  The  raising  of  live  stock,  of 
course  follows.  Our  people  arc  alive  to 
tins  branch  of  bu^iness.  We  find  too, 
that  corn  oti  hind  made  rich  with  good 
maifure,  and  thoroughly  drained  and 
deeply  ploughed  will  do  as  v.ell  as  in 
any  country.  Indeed,  f  dm  lit  whethcK 
more  corn  can  be  made  any  where,  per 
acre,  than  in  this  mountain  country, 
where  it  may  be  planted  so  close.  The 
acre  laiil  off  for  me  in  our  Siate  sweep- 
.■>takes  on  the  Nth  of  Fehruaiy.  was  as 
poor  as  an  old  sedge  field  ever  gets  to 
be,  entirely  exhausted  and  abandoned, 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


373 


wlien  I  piufbased  it  three  years  since, 
with  some  good  meadow  land.  Al 
was  enclosed  together,  but  I  did  nut 
think  of  plowing  it  until  1  might  some 
day  be  able  to  manure  it.  But  a*  it 
was  on  the  south  side  of  the  hill,  and 
near  the  swamp,  muck  thrown  out  of 
my  ditches,  I  attacked  to  it.  With  a 
heavy  Irish  plow,  entirely  iron,  and  a 
strong  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  subsoil  plow 
drawn  b/  t-o  heavy  mules,  we  went 
into  it  about  15  inches,  and  then  cover- 
ed it  with  about  400  loads  of  muck  and 
50  of  barn-yard  manure,  this  was  put 
out  bv  about  an  equal  number  of  large 
and  small  waggons  and  carts,  averaging, 
perhaps,  good  two  horse  loads  up  a  hi  1 
rising  probably  more  than  one  foot  in 
ten.  This  was  turned  under  by  the 
same  plows  crossing  the  furrows  and 
generally  about  16  inches.  Fifty  loads 
of  muck,  and  tifteen  of  good  stable  nia- 
nnre,  and  about  four  bushels  of  grnund 
plaster  were  mixed  together,  and  re- 
main to  be  sjiread  over  the  surface  after 
it  hal  been  stirred  before  planting.  Il 
was  then  harrowed  and  planted  in  drills 
two  feet  and  eight  to  nine  inches  apart, 
(i.  p.,)  in  the  sevtMity  yards  seventy-six 
rows  were  planted,  and  a  grain  placed 
for  six  inches,  an<l  well  rolled.  After 
the  corn  was  up  a  week  or  ten  days,  a 
limall  plow  was  run  near  it,  and  a  top 
dressing  of  plaster  and  ashes  applied. 
It  was  planted  the  7th  of  April,  with  a 
»mall  C'lrn  brought  from  Roan  Moun- 
tain, in  Yancy  county.  The  stand  was 
not  regular,  but  we  fouml  the  corn  as 
good  where  one  stood  in  every  six  inch- 
es* as  near  those  places  that  were  mi-sed. 
The  committee  who  measured  the 
corn  also  measured  the  lengih  of  the 
ears,  (i.  e.,)  many  of  them,  so  as  to  form 
an  idea  of  the  average  length,  and  pro- 
nounce them  to  average  seven  and  a 
half  inches,  and  yielded  one  hundred 
and  furty-nine  busliels,  and  three  quarts. 
From  my  knowledge  of  the  gentlemen 
who  measured  'it,  I  have  no  doubt  of 
the  c*>rrectness  of  the  report.  1  had 
set  it  di>wn  at  one  hundred  and  fifty 
bushels,  at  least,  and   am  satisfied  that 


it  can  be  considerably  increased,  and 
hope  to  see  (wo  hundred  bushels  made. 
I  regiet  a  sufticient  premium  is  not  of- 
fered to  justify  an  effort  to  do  it.  I 
raised  in  x^sheville,  one  lain  'red  and 
twenty  on  an  acre  of  good  ground  in 
our  county  contest.  It  had  not  the 
fourth  of  the  preparation,  but  had  long 
been  in  grass  and  clover,  and  had  top 
dressing,  and  was  limed  the  year  before, 
and  put  in  wheat,  and  was  last  winter 
well  subsoiled  and  manured  broad  cast 
and  turned  in.  It  was  three  feet  apart 
and  the  stalks  from  eight  to  twelve 
inches  of  the  common  corn  of  this 
county.  We  shall  have  many  competi- 
tors next  year,  and  I  hope  to  see  our 
County  Fair  doubly  interesting,  which 
I  expect  to  see  the  c'lse  tnrougliout  the 
State. 

We  need  internal  improvement  to 
give  us  markets,  and  lead  to  u>ing  our 
water  power  for  manufacturing,  &c. — 
North  Carolina  can  i>e  made  a  rich  and 
desirable  State,  and  if  her  sons  would  act 
to  this,  and  i'lstead  of  leaving  her  bounds 
far  less  healthy  countries,  we  should  see 
the  evidence  of  her  resources.  1  fear 
that  I  have  wearied  you. 

I  am  very  respectfully,  your  friend 
and  obedient  servant, 

N.  W.  WOODFIN. 
To  Messrs.  R.  IL  Smith,  D.  Ilinlon  and 

J.  F.  Tompkins. 

For  the  Farmer's  Journal. 
\\  INTON,  N.  C.        I 

Jan.  10,  1854.      f 
Dr.  Tompkins, 

Dear  Sir  : — The  Hert- 
ford Co.  Agricultural  Society  met  at 
Bethel  on  7th  inst.  You  may  say  what 
of  that  ?  Is  it  not  of  the  thousand,  and 
are  things  that  are  daily  doing  ?  'JVue, 
but  as  you  were  the  fntlier  of  I'.jis  Soci- 
ety, I  thought  you  would  like  to  hear 
something-  of  your  brattling,  how  it 
crawls,  or  walks,  and  whether  it  is  yet 
big  enough  to  plow,  to  use  a  spade,  or 
manure  fork.  Your  solitude  I  am  b  )und 
to  ])resume,  is  not  only  laudable  but 
fastly  exacting.    The  head  should  sur- 


374 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


vey  tin'  aiixilaiies  of  boily  and  litnl'S^ 
over  which  it  [itvsides  nnd  gives  diiec- 
tiuii,  and  a  fair  friendly,  and  liono.-t 
stewardship  shotdd  often  as  need,  be 
rendered  up.  It  i«  in  this  spirit  that 
the  cliief  order  of  the  agriculture  of 
N.  C.  is  now  approached. 

Though  the  day  was  unpropituoiis 
and  the  number  few — too  few  indeed 
for  that  planting  and  public  spirited 
section  of  our  country,  the  meeting  was 
deemed  s:>  respectable  as  to  hardly  ask 
to  be  chionicled  in  vour  worthy  Journal. 

Col  S.  B.  Spruifl  of  Bertie  Co.  hav- 
ing yielded  to  the  request  of  the  Society 
to  addre-s  it  on  this  occasion,  was  pre- 
sent, and  perf  )riued  tlie  ta>k  imposed 
upon  him.  His  address  was  a  good  one, 
plain,  practical,  useful  drawn  from  his 
ow'u  experience  as  a  farmer  and  that  of 
others.  It  was  replete  with  what  was 
befitting  the  occasion.  Hon.  K.  Eiayner 
being  present  was  called  for.  He  en- 
tertained the  Society  with  a  very  inter- 
esting and  instructive  discourse.  Dr. 
P.  Henry  of  Coleraine  was  next  called 
out.  He  responded  in  a  speeeh  encour- 
aging and  gratifvingto  the  Society  and 
crednalile  to  himself.  Many  were 
agreeahly  sur|)rised,  as  they  did  not 
know  b  'fore  that  the  doctor  could  speak 
so  vvell.  In  fine,  these  addresses  wore 
highly  edifying  and  encouraging. 

Ho^v  much  more  encouraging  to  the 
speakers  and  gratifying  to  us  all,  had 
there  b^en  a  large  imposing  assemlily 
of  which  these  addresses  were  worthy. 
As  hovvever  a  little  leaven  will  affect  a 
laj'ire  lump,  so  I  trust  what  fell  before 
the  Societv  will  piove  good  seed  Sown 
on  good  Lrround,  which  will  spring  up 
and  produce  good  fruit.  Tlie  neiodibor- 
hodd  may,  and  likely  will,  in  this  way 
receive  a  fresh  im|)ulse  and  renewed  en- 
ergy in  the  cause  of  agriculture;  and 
the  farmers  of  the  county  be  induced  to 
attend  bet'er  and  gladlv  the  meetings 
of  the  Societv,  whose  object  is  to  pro- 
mole  their  great  calling — the  way  and 
manner  in  whi(di  to  dig,  to  plow,  ma- 
nure— to  tnake  the  most  grain  and  fruit 
otF  of  the  smallest  piece  of  land. 


Let  fresh  courage  go  forth  and  bring 
the  farmers  within  the  folds  of  the  Ag- 
r'cultural  Society,  and  ht  them  all  sub- 
scribe for  and  read  the  Partner's  .Journ- 
al, tlie  best  book  for  the  plain  practical 
farmers  of  North  Carolina  they  have 
ever  had,  according  to  my  humble  judg- 
ment. 

Let  our  people  encourage  one  of  our 
own  sons,  a  well  educated  and  qualified 
man  and  practical  farmer,  in  heading 
their  great  agricultural  interests  in  a 
manner  he  has  so  successfully  thus  far 
|)rojected,  and  not  look  to  a  coM  North- 
ern head,  vidio-e  plans  are  uncongenial 
with  our  soil  and  sun,  (we  of  the  South 
live  near  the  sun  ;)  and  let  him,  their 
oracle  and  organ  prove  himself  woi  thy 
of  their  confidence,  the  per.-onifier  of 
these  excellencies  of  head,  and  habit — 
charac.'eiistic  of  a  great  Stale  of  farm- 
ers. Farmers,  allow  an  humbie  aspi- 
rant to  your  vocaiion.  to  i'eseech  you 
to  second  the  noble  eflForts  of  the  ener- 
getic a'ld  enterprising  editor  of  the 
Farmer's  Journal.  (1  did  not  intend  to 
"' lai/  it  on  thick  upon  ym"  Mr.  Editor 
—  I  am  indeed  not  wanting  in  sympa- 
ihy  for  your  modesty — but  in  talking 
plain  things  through  your  Journal  it 
was  necessary  to  be  not  nnncing  but 
understood — so  you  will  allow  a  good 
cause  to  prosper  though  your  ciieek 
blush  as  the  rose.) 

Farming  now  has  its  speakers,  writ- 
ers and  literature.  May  agricutur- 
al  literature  banish  the  trashy,  co  - 
ru])ting.  and  vicious  romances  of  the 
day.  Away  with  the  unsub-taulial 
novels,  particularly  tlje  French,  so  pois. 
onous  and  demoralizing.  Let  the  youth- 
ful mind  be  moulded  into  that  intlus- 
try,  independence,  digrnty,  soberness 
for  which  the  tiller  of  the  soil  has  ever 
been  noted  and  celebrated,  ihe  world 
over  and  ages  remote.  May  North 
Carolina,  arosed  nr.d' moved  onward 
by  the  spirit  that  drovie  Cincinnattus's 
plow,  take  a  position  ere  longamongthe 
first  agricultural  S  ates.  This  done,  she 
will  be  onward  to  the  first  di-tinction 
in  the  political  galaxy.     Such  may  the 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


Sl5 


leailiiig  pursuit  <jf  her  peo})Ie  achieve. 
Her  soil,  l.er  air,  Ikm"  \v;it<^r,  her  sceiK - 
ry  are  infiTor  to  iiune  elsev\here.  If 
she  was  the  land  in  which  "a  pocket 
full  of  (»irf)s  niii>-lit  be  picla-d  n|),"  wliich 
1  opin(-  is  ap.  cr\  plial,  the  land  of  ih(- 
wolf  and  the  bi'ar,  and  Lucy  Neal,  Eu- 
topia,  and  all  tliat — "tar,  pitch  an<l 
turj)enliae"  ihrowti  in  to  boot — that  ot 
whicli  the  people  were  hospitable,  whicli 
con^iist^-d,in  saving  shipwrecked  st.an 
gers  fioin  being  drowned  and  taking 
their  money  from  tlietii — a  coin|)!im("nt 
paid  to  us  by  sapient  travellers,  (set- 
old  gei'giaphifs)  —  what  of  all  this?  on- 
ly PT'iof  tliMt  the  early  eras  of  our  State 
abound  in  truth  and  fiction  and  detrac- 
tion. It,  is  tiue,  she  is  rich  in  tradition 
ary  lore  as  iti  her  mines.  It  is  due  to 
trutli  to  concede  she  has  other  bletnish- 
es  which  the  scrutinising  stranger  has 
been  too  charitable  to  set  down  against 
her — sublime,  the  beautifid,  the  grand. 
She  ple;ids  guilty  of  being  the  region 
of  sublime  thunder  storms,  the  abode 
of  beautiful  women,  the  scene  of  inao-- 
liificent  sunseis.  Thus,  when  made  by 
the  God  of  nature,  Me  pronounced  her 
very  good.  Is  not  this  a  land,  after  all, 
of  which  a  man  may  be  proud,  in  which 
live  ha|ip/iiy.  Let  not  her  sons  lly  from 
her.  Her  tar  and  turpentine  will  be 
no  longt'r  a  reproach  so  long  as  her 
Southern  sisters  are  improachable. — 
Thev  tnake  the  article. 

I>ut  to  the  Soeiely.  The  same  offi- 
cers of  last  year  were  re-elected  at  a  for- 
mer meering,  with  little  exception.  Our 
worty  president,  W.  W.  Mitchell,  E<q  , 
was  absent  ou  this  occa-ion,  no  doubt 
for  excusable  cause.  The  senior  vice 
President,  S.  Sharp,  Esq.,  presided.  In 
conclusion,  1  congratulate  vou  for  sue 
cess  of  the  past,  and  salute  you  with 
ho])eful  auspices  of  a  'prosperous  and 
happy  new  year.  Socius. 


For  the  Farmer's  Journal. 
Fayettevillb,  N.  C,  Feb.  13,  '54. 
Dr.    Tomi^kins  — Dear   Sir. — Last 
summer   I    made    a  small    experiment 
with    Guano    for    my  own  satisfaction, 


and  dill  not  intend  to  trouble  you  or 
any  person  else,  with  publidiitig  it,  but 
I  have  heard  so  many  [)ersons  cont^'ud- 
ing  that  it  would  not  pav,  tlmt  I  con- 
cluded to  send  it  to  you,  ai.d  if  you 
think  it  worth  publishing  you  can  do 
so. 

Respect  fully  yours, 
,  Is'eill  McDugald. 

experiment  with  guano  on  corn. 

I  planted  !•■{  1-2  acres,  the  usual  time, 
■ind  put  tlier>-on  1102  lbs  guano  the 
sod  was  niediuui  being  neithrr  very 
stiti  or  very  light,  the  land  was  wi-il 
flushed  5  or  6  inches  dei^p  and  then 
streaked  3  1-2  feet  from  rmv  to  row, 
and  then  crossid  5  feet  i'ro\u  row  to 
I'oAV,  full  6  inches  deep  in  the  cross,  I 
put  the  guano  withi  ut  mixing  it  with 
anything  at  all  having  a  measure  to 
enable  tne  to  put  an  equal  quaniity 
in  each  hill.  As  soon  as  the  guano  was 
dropp-d  it  was  covered  wish  twu  fur- 
rows, one  from  each  way,  making  what 
is  commonly  called  a  three  fuirow  ridge 
— this  ridge  I  crossed  running  in  one 
of  the  old  furrows  crossed  tiie  ridge 
very  light  immediately  over  the  guaiso 
leaviig  it  undi-^turbed,  over  which  I 
dropped  the  corn  and  covered  as  u-ual. 
I  I'ft  a  pi  ce  of  average  land  uuguauo- 
ed  having  guauu  on  each  side  to  which 
piece  I  gave  the  same  treat  mint  as  to 
the  guanoed  both  in  preparation  and 
cultivation.  It  seems  needle-s  to  say 
that  the  unusuiil  drought  made  the  pro- 
duction less  than  it  would  have  b-eu  on 
both  pieces.  By  calculation  it  will  be 
seen  that  there  were  34,000  hills  guano- 
ed and  that  one  lb.  maimred  31  hills, 
giving  about  I  2  oz.  per  hill,  or  ab  lut 
82  lbs.  per  acre,  I  g<ithere<l  and  mea- 
sured both  the  guano  d  and  unguano- 
ed,  and  the  guanoed  land  produced  15 
bush'^ls  and  a  fraction  over  per  acre, 
and  the  unguanoed  produced  10  bush- 
els and  little  over  per  acre.  It  would 
be  near  enough  for  a  I  practical  ])urposes 
to  siy  one  produced  15  bus'  els  and  the 
other  10  bushels  per  acre.  I  also  gath- 
ered and    weighed  the    fodda-  of  both 


376 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


pieces  and  nt,  §1,25  per  cwt.  the  <>uan()- 
ed  maJe  75  cents  worlli  more  iban  the 
other  j)er  Here.  Tlie  cun  at  75  cents 
per  uusliel,  (which  I  believe  to  be  an 
avet'i'.o-;;  price  in  this  section)  will  give 
|3,75  per  acre  and  the  fodder  75  cenis 
per  acre  added  75  450  the  increased 
production  by  the  u.-e  of  82  lbs,  of 
guano  which  cast  $2.15,  which  taken 
Irorn  $4.50  leaves  $2.35  nett  gain  equal 
to  over  lOO  [ler  cent. 

I  have  rea  1  of  more  profitable  e.xperi- 
ments  than  the  ahove  with  guano,  but 
this  is  an  uiimistakeable  fact. 


Dr.  Tompkins  : — Below  I  send  you 
some  subs<-ribers  with  the  hope  that 
you  may  obtain  a  subscription  list  suffi- 
cient to  carry  out  your  jiurpose  of  en- 
larg  ng  the  next  volume  of  the  Farmer's 
Journal. 

I  am  glad  to  be  able  to  inform  you 
that  the  Agricultural  Society  of  Onflow 
has  been  revived,  and  under  the  most 
favorable  auspices.  The  members  meet 
with  more  promptness  and  an  itilerest 
is  maidfested  which  augurs  well  for  a 
good  result.  At  their  meeting  m  Jan- 
uary', they  elected  officers  for  the  en--uing 
year  and  the  sum  of  fifty  dollars  wa> 
made  lip  by  the  Society,  which,  I  believe, 
secures  a  like  amount  from  the  State. 

Officers  for  the  presetit  year  are  as 
follows:  Col.  E.  VV.  Monffbrt,  Presi- 
dent; Willia  n  Humphrey,  Owen  Ilug- 
gins  and  Jasper  Etheridge,  l'!sq'rs.,  Viee 
Presiileiits ;  L,  VV.  Ilunifihrey,  Record- 
SL-eretary;  Dr.  E,  W,  Ward,  Corres- 
ponding Secretary,  and  Maj.  George  J, 
Ward,  Treasurer. 

This  Society  made  very  little  progress 
last  year,  but  I  think  we  shall  meet  with 
iijore  success  this,  and  have  a  Fair  next 
fall  :  we  will,  I  am  sure,  if  we  but  imi- 
tate your  example — per/severe. 

What  do  you  think  of  a  District  So- 
ciety ?  Some  of  the  best  fanning  Conn- 
ties  in  the  State  are  in  this  district ;  and, 
in  my  opinion,  such  a  Society  would 
prove  an  incalculable  benefit  to  this  por- 
tion of  the  State.  For  developing  farm- 
ing resouices  and  in  aid  of  the  impro>e- 


ineiit  in  practical  .Agriculture,  there  is 
noihiiig  that  will  contribute  so  mueh  as 
Agricultural  S  cieties  and  Jr.urnals. 
Such  Associations  bring  the  subject  to 
every  man's  immediate  atteiitioii  and 
excite  in  their  inin<ls  inquiries — beget- 
ting a  desire  to  read  and  thiidv  which 
dispels  this  miserable  prejudice  against 
"  book  farming." 

Truly  yours. 

L.  W.  H. 
Pleasant  Retreat,  Feb.  1st,  1854. 


Gauysburg,  N.  C,  Jan.  6,  1854. 
Dr.  Tompkins:  I  have  taken  it  upon 
myself  to  act  in  the  capacity  of  Agent 
for  the  Farmer's  Journal  in  this  county, 
which  I  feel  it  to  b'  my  d  ty  to  d(.>  on 
account  of  the  benefit  which  I  have 
received  from  reading  it  myself.  I  have 
been  a  subscriber  for  ten  months  and  I 
am  amply  paid  for  getting  you  one 
hundred  subscribers,  and  (if  this  I  will 
convince  you.  Two  years  ago  I  maJe, 
six  bales  of  cotton,  and  last  year  from 
reading  the  '"  Jonrnal  "  I  made  compost 
heaps,  and  I  made  seventeen  bales  on 
the  same  quantity  of  land,  and  if  I  have 
good  luck  this  year,  I  shall  make  thirty 
l)ales.  Those  persons  whose  names  I 
send  you  at  this  time,  have  had  the 
benefit  of  reading  mine  heretofore. 
Hoping  soon  to  form  j-our  iicqu.iintatice 
I  remain  yours  truly. 

Wm.    CARSTAliPHEX. 


Cottage  Hill,  Feb.  8,  1854. 
J.  F.  Tompkins,  Esq. — Bear  Sir: 
I  received  from  you  a  letter  some  time 
ill  January,  a-Uing  me  the  favor  of  be- 
ing your  local  agent  for  the  Farmer's 
Journal  in  my  county.  I  am  willing  thai 
yoti  should  publish  me  as  such,  and  lean 
assure  you  I  will  use  my  best  exertions 
to  |>roc'ure  subscribers  for  your  vahiabl* 
Journal.  Although  agriculture  in  my 
section  is  at  rather  a  low  ebb,  yet  I  hone 
the  time  is  at  hand,  when  my  neighbors 
will  thro^v  aside  their  old  fashioned 
way  of  doing,  so  and  so,  because  father 
done  so.  I  commenced  two  years  ago, 
with  deep  ploughing  in   the   fall  ana 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


311 


winter,  Hiiil  my  neighbors,  one  and  all 
exclaimed,  you  will  ruin  your  land,  bui 
instead  of  ruin,  as  predicted,  I  had  the 
8ati^facti^)n  of  having  last  season  a  lux- 
uriant crop,  while  iny  neighbors  just 
across  the  fence  was  burning  up  with 
drouuht.  My  address  is  llarrell's  Store, 
New  Hanover  county. 

Yours  truly, 

Owen  Fennell. 


Lincohiton,  N.  C,  1854. 
My  Dear  Sir  '.—Learning  fro  n  you 
that  your  paper  is  not  suslained  as  it 
should  be.  I  have  given  my  neighbirs 
a  call  and  obtained  nine  subscribers, 
which  is  tiie  best  that  I  can  do  at  this 
time.  We  hope  n^^xt  year  to  be  abL- 
to  give  you  a  much  larger  subscription 
With  my  best  wishes  lor  your  paper,  1 
must  subscribe  myself, 

T.  T.  Slade. 


Indian  Corn. 

BY    CHARLES  L.  FLEISCHMANN. 

The  following  article  is  from  the 
American  Polytxhnic  Journal,  and 
furnishes  a  mass  of  information  in  re 
lation  to  our  great  staple,  wliich  can 
not  but  prove  interesting. —  Working 
Farmi'r. 

The  repeated  loss  of  the  potato  crops 
by  rot.  on  the  European  continent,  haN 
«aused  the  va  ions  governments  of  Ger- 
many to  seek  to  provide  a  substitute  for 
that  uselul  root.  Among  all  the  known 
agricultural  vegetable  productions  none 
seemed  to  supply  the  place  of  the  potato 
so  well  at  Indian  corn,  and  extensive  ex- 
periments vcere  ordered  to  be  instituted  to 
ascertain  how  far  north  this  plant  can  be 
raised  there,  and  which  is  the  best  mode 
i>f  culture,  the  best  place  in  tlie  rotation 
of  crops,  and  its  application  as  food  foi- 
man  and  beast.  Professor  Von  Len- 
gerke  collected  the  results  of  the  various 
experiments  made  in  Gearaany,  and 
published  them  in  a  work  entitled  "  An- 
leitung  Zum  Anbaudes  Mais."  Berlin, 
1851.  We  give  here  some  extracts 
from  this  work,  which  may  be,  perhaps, 
of  interesv  to  corn  growers. 


Indian  corn  has  been  sown  in  Spain 
.>ince  the  lime  of  Philip  the  Second 
(1655 — '98.)  The  Italians  and  French 
became  acquainted  with  it  about  the 
same  time,  and  it  was  also  intioduced 
into  Turkey,  from  whence  it  became 
known  atnong  the  people  inhabiiinrj 
the  banks  of  the  Danube.  Hungary's 
aduvial  soil  seemed  to  be  panicularly 
well  suited  to  it,  and  from  there  it  matle 
Its  way  into  Styria  un.ler  ihe  name  of 
Turkey  wheal ;  from  Lombardy  it  was 
taken  to  Karinthia,  Tyro!,  and  from 
thence  it  was  carried  over  the  mountain 
into  Germany,  where  it  was  raised  in 
gardens  up  to  the  16th  century  as  a 
curious  plant. 

Wurtemburg,  Bladen,  Als;ice,  were 
the  first  countries  of  Germany  wh.ero 
the  Indian  corn  corn  was  extensively 
planted,  and  since  the  pot:*to  rot  it  has 
l)een  tried  in  higher  northern  latitudes 
than  those  first  mentioned. 

The  oldest  name  of  the  Indian  corn' 
on  the  continent  of  Europe  is  Formen- 
lum  turc'cam,  Turkish  wheat.  In  port- 
ugal  and  Spain  it  is  called  maiz,  in 
France,  Ble  d'  Espagn: ;  in  Hoi  land, 
fndianish,  Turkish  korn  ;  in  England, 
Indian  corn,  also  Turkey  coin;  in 
Siveden,  Tarklst  twtte ;  in  Russia, 
Kukuraza  ;  sn  Hungary,  Kukurioza  ; 
in  Italy,  generally,  Fronientone,  viz : 
big  wheat,  also  Orano  turro,  Turkish 
wheat  ;  in  Germany,  WekcJi  Korn,  or 
tttrkischer  weiizen,  Italian  or  •  Turkish 
wheat.  Mr.  Von  Lengerke  divides,  ac- 
cording to  Metzger,  the  Indian  corn  in- 
to two  varieties.  A.  Ami'vican  maize, 
(zea  altissima  zea  kirsuta,  and  probably 
also  zea  carragua,)  and  into  B.  Furo])- 
ean  ?naize,  (zea  mats  zea  pracco,  L.,) 
which  he  has  sub  divided  again  into 

1.  Big  maize,  seven  to  eight  feet 
high,  very  long  ears  with  eight  to 
twelve  seed-rows,  large  broad  seeds  ;  of 
whicn  there  are  three  varieties,  a.  the 
white  big  maize  ;  h.  white  and  yellovr 
liig  maize;  c.  big  yellow  maize.  These 
V  irietie-*  are  extensively  raised  about 
Kehl  and  Strasbourg  and  the  upper 
parts  of  the  Rhine. 


3*78 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


2.  Common  maize,  tour  to  six  feet 
liiifii,  sliort  Cub,  eight  to  loiirtecii  rows 
of  si'i  ds,  llie  kernel  somewhat  rnuiid, 
the  rows  are  not  very  regular.  Several 
kinds  of  tiie  yellow  coiniiion  maizi^  are 
vrrv  exti'iisively  raisfd  in  tiie  south  of 
Geriiianv,  b.  while,  c.  light  red,  d.  blno<! 
re<l  e.  dark  red,  /.  blue,  g.  variegat- 
ed. &:■. 

?,.  Maize  with  pointed  ears,  four  to 
six  fi'it  high,  cobs  short  and  small, 
pointed,  frou)  twelve  to  twenty  rows  of 
seeds  very  densely  set,  the  kernel  small, 
a.  veilow,  b.  red,  &t'.,  b'ue  pointed 
maize. 

4.  S''Ort  ear  maize,  five  to  six  feet 
high,  v\iUi  a  very  siiort  blunt  tylindrical 
Cell,  and  the  seeds  are  set  in  irrei;ular 
rows.  It  was  introduced  from  Spain 
and  is  not  much  valued. 

5.  Broad  rob  maize,  five  to  six  feet 
high,  the  cob  somewhat  fl  it,  short, 
blunt,  sometimes  on  the  top  divided  ; 
the  seeds  stand  in  irregular  rows,  the 
kernel  small  and  round  ;  is  much  plant- 
ed in  S,  vria,  but  is  not  as  productive  as 
N.'.  1.  ' 

6.  Branching  maize,  with  branching 
cobs,  appeared  to  be  an  accidental  pro- 
duction. 

7.  Cinqiiantino  maize,  for  four  feet 
high,  the  cob  short,  thick  ;  a.  of  less 
diameter  towards  the  top,  generally 
twelve  raws  of  seed,  somewhat  fiat.  It 
is  exien-^ivcly  cultivated  in  Ttaly,  where 
it  is  called  Cinquantino.  from  the  fact 
that  it  ri])eiis  in  gv- months.  It  lipens 
in  Germany  a  fortnight  sooner  than  the 
common   maize. 

§.  Dwarf  maize,  three  feet,  high,  the 
/ar  sometimes  only  three  in-dies  lung 
It  ri])ens  very  early,  generally  four 
weeks  sooner  than  the  common  maize 
of  Gi'rmany,  and  is  planted  in  regions 
where  th(!  common  maize  does  not  siic 
ceed.  It  is  not  c  uistant,  it  cnanges,  the 
cobs  get  longer,  the  |)!ant  taller ;  thi- 
is  especially  the  case  when  planted  with 
other  kinds  of  Indian  corn. 

American  Impedes  *  f  Indian  corn  liave 
been  extensively  tried  in  Germany,  but 
the  most  intelligent  maize    planters  are 


of  opinion  that  the  German  maize  \% 
much  belter  suited  for  their  climate 
than  the  acclimated  Ameiican  Indian 
corn,  which  requires  much  higher  tern- 
|)erature  to  ripen.  'J'lie  American  Ind- 
ian corn  has  proved,  however,  \Q\y  a- 
dv.-mtageous  as  green  fnd  ler,  and  the 
Piussian  government  ri  c 'iinneiMh  d  ilie 
iujportation  of  Americ m  Virginia  gour- 
seed  curn,  for  that  it  surj^isses  the  Ger- 
man m.iize  in  iis  yield  one  third  to  one- 
half. 

A  Mr.  Non  riotho  produced  new 
kind  of  Indian  corn  in  the  tVllovving 
manner,  lie  plnited  gourdseed  corn 
first,  and  six  weeks  after,  the  Baden 
maize  (of  the  dukedom  of  l^aden)in  the 
rows  between  the  firmer,  and  when  the 
Baden  maize  produced  the  stamen? 
ihey  were  eut  t»fl[',  so  that  its  pistils  or 
silk  received  exclu-ively  thej)oileii  from 
the  American  L  diaii  corn.  The  latter 
part  of  the  summer  (18.50)  was  very 
unfavorable  to  the  growth  of  maize,  still 
Mr.  Ton  Pjoiho  obtained  a  considerable 
quantity  of  the  new  variety  of  maize, 
and  was  enabled  to  continue  and  extend 
his  experiments  the  following  year. 

It  is  a  g.Mieral  rule  that  the  maize 
will  succeed  in  reigons  wliere  the  vine 
is  grown  with  advantage.  Early  kinds 
have  been  raiseil  in  Mecklenburg,  on  the 
>hore  of  the  North  Sea,  and  in  the  va- 
lley of  the  up[)er  Rliine.  It  arrives  at 
perfect  maturity  near  Trons,  2,650  feet 
above  the  sea. 

PLACE  OF  THE  INDIAN  CORN  IN  ROTATION 
OF  CUOFS. 

"After  clover,  tobacco,  beans,  summer 
barley,  Indian  corn  is  always  fouiid 
to  succeed  well.  In  the  vicim'ly  of 
Gralz,  in  Styria,  the  rotation  of  crops 
is,  1.  Indian  corn  ;  2.  Summer  barley 
with  clover;  3.  Clover;  4.  Wimer 
wheat  or  rpe.  In  the  wheat  stuble  they 
plant  turnips  ;  and  in  they  rye  slulde, 
liuekwheat.  Oihers  again  h;'ve  rota- 
tions of  six  exchanges:  1.  Indian  corn 
manured  ;  2.  Barley  or  oats  with  clover; 
3.  Clover ;  4.  Wheat  stubble.  turnijJSj 
with  a  light  manuring ;  5.  Beans  or 
peas ;  6.  Rye,    and  buckwheat    in    the 


THE   FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


379 


III  tlie  viciiiiiy  of  Iiiii<i)ruck,iii  Tyrol, 
inaiz>;  has  bet-ii  raised  f.-r  Uiii  ty-six^e  us 
in  siico'>sini  tVoiu  iLie  same  tielJ  witlj 
coiitiiiu;'.!  success. 

T..is  is  rather  contrary  to  tbe  ingeni- 
ous theories  of  ihe  excrements  of  |jlanL> 
and  the  ll(•ce^sily  of  rota  lion  of  crops. 

A  Professor  IJ.  Bohnu  raised  wheal 
for  thirty  years  iu  the  same  field,  and 
ho  had  every  year  a  fine  crop.  To  ma- 
nure Well,  is  the  key  to  this  secret. 

Von  Ludersdorf  recommends  potatoes 
as  tlie  best  preparatory  ci'oj>  for    maize. 

E^jicriments  have  proved  that  the 
linman  excrements  (rati'esh)  are  the 
most  effectual  for  maize,  d'affesh  is  the 
Chinese  term  fir  tliat  kind  of  maimre, 
and  IJurge'-  recommended  this  word 
forty  years  ai^'o  tn  tlie  ag-riculturists  as 
a  substitute  (ov  the  digusting-  name  we 
give  it  ij,-eiie:'a!ly. 

Woollen  rags  have  also  been  used 
with  great  advantage  to  manure  Indian 
corn,  but  since  ih  '.  old  rags  are  again 
worked  up  into  new  cloth,  they  became 
too  c  stly  to  use  them  for  thatpur(iOse. 

In  Italy,  Frane'ie  Comete,  Burgundy, 
in  some  parts  of  Hungary  and  Styria, 
tlie  maize  is  sown  bro;idcast.  It  is  either 
ploughed  or  harrowed  in. 

In  Germany  it  is  planted  in  rows 
with    the  haul    or  with  drill  machines. 

Ludersdorf  planted  Indian  corn  in 
rows  sixteen  inches  ajiart,  and  the  plants 
in  the  rows  six  inches.  When  the 
plant  formed  the  tassel,  he  had  every 
other  plant  removed,  ?md  gained  ;d>  an 
forty-two  and  a  half  c'^t.  green  fodder 
per  Peruivan  acre.  Dense  planting 
seemed  in  the  beginning  not  to  influ- 
ence the  yield  on  corn,  all  remaining 
!  lants  had  well  formed  and  tine  large 
ears.  Perhaps  this  mode  of  planting 
would  pre-ent  some  advantages,  es- 
pecially in  dry  spells. 

Bulger  ma<le  experiments  as  to  the 
deplh  at  which  maize  should  be  plant- 
ed, as  he  found  that  maize  planted  one 
inch  deep  sprouted  hi  eight  and  a  half 
days;  kernels  planted  four  and  a  half 
inches  deep,  in  thirteen  and  a  half  days. 
All  those  which  had  been  planted  much 
deeper  did  not  come  up  at  all. 


I  consider  the  grealest  fault  of  the 
German  mode  of  cuLivaiing  C'-rn,  ihat 
ciiey  plant  too  many  other  agricukuiai 
plants  between  it. 

The  most  common  and  most  advant- 
ageous of  ihe  plants  between  tiie  rows 
of  corn  is  the  dwuif  bean,  in  A  sass, 
Siyiia,  they  are  very  extensively  culti- 
vated with  maize  ;  the  hoeing  and  culti- 
vating is  done  by  hand. 

Burger  inveuied  a  corn  drill,  wh'ch 
drops  between  evtivy  two  maize  seed 
three  or  four  beans. 

In  Kaiintliia  the  beans  are  planted 
separately  ;  in  the  maize  field  bet^veen 
every  sixteenth  or  tweniietii  row  of 
maize  they  use  rows  for  b  ans.  This 
method  has  the  advantai^e  of  a  1  iwino; 
the  air  more  circulaiion  aunjug  the  com 
and  accelerates  its  ripening,  ilie  b  ans 
are  sooner  gathered  anil  the  vacant 
places  can  be  ploughed  and  the  corn 
transferred  to  the  ploughed  rows,  in 
order  to  give  access  to  the  plough  to 
prepare  the  ground  for  wheat. 

Pumpkins  {cuirubiio  pepo)  are  much 
raised  among  Indian  com  in  Stvria, 
Hungary,  and  Italy.  In  Karinthia,  ihe 
pumpkins  a/e  raifeed  it.  the  same  way 
as  the  beans  ;  after  nine  to  eleven  rows 
of  maize  a  row  of  pumjjkins  is  planted. 
In  souje  places  they  plant  hemp  and 
tobacco  betvvet  n  the  maize ;  in  Wur- 
temburg  and  Baden  the  farmers  plant 
beets,  cabbage,  and  the  like.  Peas  are 
also  very  advantageous  among  maize 
intended  for  fodder. 

In  Wurtenbnrg,  maize  is  sown  with 
stubble  turnips;  it  is  cut  for  fodder  be- 
fore the  siubble  turnips  arrive  at  their 
full  growth  ;  it  is  still  better  to  plant 
the  maize  in  rows  between  the  luruips; 
turaii)s  succeed  very  well,  because  the 
naaize  [irotects  the  delicate  turnip  plants 
in  their  first  stage  of  growth. 

In  Styria  the  farmers  remove  all  side 
or  root  shoots,  and  all  the  plants  which 
produce  no  ear  cut  out.  In  Stt/ria 
C  ain  and  Karhithia.,  the  sta)n"]i:s.  after 
hdr  object  is  secured,  are  cut  off ;  this 
is  done  when  ihe  grain  has  reached  a 
certain  degree  of  jirmneas.     In  Tyrol 


380 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


this  procedure  has  been  entirely  ahand 
oned,  because  it  loa.s  found  that  it  tvas 
ivj'irious  to  the  crop,  and  it  caused,  be- 
sides, much  labor  for  cutting  and  col- 
leciivg  the  tops. 

Ill  Alsass  some  farmers  are  against 
topping;  others  say  in  wet  seasons  it 
haste  as  ripening,  and  they  continue  to 
top. 

Liulersorf  remarks  that  maize  can 
support  more  heat  and  drought  than 
other  plants ;  he  says,  "  this  property 
must  be  ascribed  to  the  structure  of 
the  plant,  the  leaves  surround  the  stem 
like  a  sheath,  and  project  from  the 
stem  in  an  acute  angle,  the  dew  and 
rain  glides  along  the  furrowed  surface 
of  the  leaves  and  accumulates  around 
the  stem  ;  in  dry  spells  the  dew  collects 
there  and  assists  the  plant  to  support  a 
long  period  of  drought."  And  he 
mentions  as  a  very  striking  proof,  that 
in  the  year  1847,  when  the  first  trails 
with  Indian  corn  were  made  ne;>r 
Berlin,  (Prussia,)  maize  was  planted 
upon  a  high  situation  among  a  large 
field  of  peas.  The  drought  destroyed 
the  peas  entirely,  but  the.  maize  grew 
luxuriantly.  It  yielded  a  large  quantity 
of  green  fodder,  for  which  it  was  plant- 
ed. 

To  prevent,  in  the  spring,  the  night 
frosts  which  injure  the  young  maize, 
the  Tyroleans,  on  the  slightest  indica- 
tion of  cold,  make  fires  in  the  maize 
field  and  raise  smoke,  which  has  always 
proved  a  good  preventive.  In  the 
spring  of  the  year  1851, 1  was  in  Styria 
and  saw  such  fires.  The  smoke  being- 
like  a  heavy  canopy  over  the  valley, 
and  it  seemed  to  prevent  the  cold  air 
from  the  mountain  penetrating  it. 

In  Germany  maize  sufters  only  from 
the  brand  ;  the  ear  swells  up  and  the 
husks  turn  a  silvery  grey ;  in  the  be- 
ginning the  interior  of  the  diseased  ear 
is  filled  with  watery  excretion,  which 
turns  by  degrees  into  a  black  powder. 
The  late  time  of  blossoming  of  the 
genuine  American  Indian  corn  make  it 
particularly  adapted  to  green  fodder, 
and  it  is  in  every  respect  preferable  to 


the  European  or  acclimated  American 
maize.  The  former  grows  very  tall  be- 
fore the  blossoms  develop  themselves^ 
and  the  stem  is  at  the  time  of  cutting 
still  very  tender. 

Maize  has  the  excellent  property  that 
the  cattle  never  suffer  from  over-eating. 
It  is  said  it  causes  dysentery,  which  is, 
however,  prevented  by  cutting  the 
stems  in  pieces,  say  six,  eight,  or  ten 
inches  long,  and  soaking  them  in  water 
a  few  hours  before  they  are  fed  out; 
the  water  mix.d  with  the  juice  of  the 
maize  stems  in  much  liked  by  the  cat- 
tle. The  milch  cows  improve  by  it  ic 
their  milking  qualities. 

In  Styria  green  maize  is  always  fed 
with  dry  fodder ;  the  cattle  seem  to 
have  a  desire  for  hay  and  straw  whilst 
they  are  fed  with  green  maizo.  Experi- 
ments have  shown  that  cows  lose  much 
in  their  milking  qualities  when  fed  en- 
tirely with  green  maize,  but  when  hay 
is  added  they  regain  it  soon  again. 

The  American  maize  has  been  found 
not  so  favorable  to  the  production  of 
milk  as  the  native  maize. 

Maize  does  not  feed  much  better 
than  old  clover  and  lucerne. 

In  Karinthia  the  horses  are  fed  with 
maize  which  is  soaked  in  salt  water ; 
its  nournishing  quality  is  considered  to 
that  of  oats  2  :  1. 

Von  Ludersorf  made  experiment* 
with  maize  as  to  the  produvtion  of 
sugar.  . 

One-third  Prussian  morgen  of  land 
was  planted  in  American  maize,  the 
rows  were  eighteen  inches  apart  and 
the  plants  in  the  rows  twelve  inches. 
After  the  blossoming  was  over  th« 
maize  was  cut;  it  yielded  sixty  cwt. 
green  maize.  After  the  leaves  were  re- 
moved, the  stems  weighed  thirty-six 
cwt.;  the  weight  of  the  stems  was  to 
the  leaves  as  3 :  2.  A  Prussian  morgen 
would  yield  one  hundred  and  eight 
cwt.  of  stems  ready  for  the  mill. 

The  best  time  to  use  the  stem  of 
sugar  is  after  b!o«oming.  He  ascertain- 
ed that  the  specific  weight  of  the  jiiic« 
was  1.017 — 40  Beaume.     At  the  tiraffei 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


381 


when  the  stems  begin  to  develop  them 
selves,  tlie  green  item   gave  eiglit    per 
cent,  ch-y  substance.     Wlien  the  maize 
was  in  full  blossom  the  specific  weight 
of  the  juice  was  1.044=5  Beaume;ilie 
green  stems  yielded  12.7  per  cent,  dry 
substance.     x\t  the  latest  perio.l  of  blos- 
soming, tlie  specific  weight  of  the  juice 
was     1.047=61-2     Beaume,  and    the 
green  stems    gave  eighteen    per  cent, 
dry  substance.     At  the  time  when  the 
aeeds  were  formed,  but  yet  in  milk,  the 
specific  weight  of  the  juice  was  1.050= 
7  Beaume,  and  the  gveen  stems  yielded 
23.8  per  cent,  dry   substance.     In  the 
fifth  stage,  when  the  ears   began  to   ri- 
pen, and  when  the  seeds  turned  yellow, 
the  juice  weighed  1.055,  or    71-2  Bea- 
ume.    It   had    on  dry    substance  26.8 
per  cent. 

Ludersdorf  found  that  maize  contains 
in  all  its  stages  of  vegetation  a  larger 
proportion  of  grape  sugar  than  cane 
sugar  ;  and  he  thinks  that  these  circum- 
stances make  it  impossible  to  use  the 
maize  for  the  production  of  sugar.  The 
quantity  of  cane  sugar,  according  to  his 
e.Kperiments,  would  not  amount  to  four 
per  cent.,  and  the  difficulty  of  extracting 
the  sugar  from  it  makes  it  impossible 
to  employ  the  maize  for  that  purpose. 
The  experiments  made,  as  to  the 
weight  and  volume  of  Indian  corn,  have 
shown  that  those  seeds  are  the  heaviest 
which  are  placed  in  the  middle  of  the 
ear.     The  lightest  are  on  the  tops. 

That  the  weight  of  the  seed  varies  ac- 
cording to  the  kind  of  maize  ;  the  mean 
weight  of  thirty  seeds  of  various  kinds 
varied  from  sixty-four  to  two  hundred 
and  ninety  grains.  The  American  corn 
on  an  average  was  one-third  heavier 
than  the  German  or  European  species. 


they  should  be  turned.  It  takes  about 
twenty  minutes  to  cook  them.  When 
done,  spit  and  butter  them. 


JoHNXY  Cakes. — Scald  a  quart  of 
«ifted  Indian  meal  with  suflficient  water 
to  make  a  thick  batter,  stir  in  a  table- 
spoonful  of  salt.  Flour  the  hands  well, 
and  moulded  it  into  small  cakes;  fry 
them  in  fat  enough,  nearly  to  cover 
them. 

When  brown  upon  the  under  side 


How  shall  we  jirescrve  eggs. 

This  is  the  '' ^rand  question.'.  We 
have  in  the  course  of  our  life  tried  near- 
ly all  the  expedients  that  have  been  re- 
commended, and  sometimes  succeeded, 
and  tailed;  from  which  results  y<  u  will 
say  it  is  no  more  than  fair  to  conclude 
that  none  of  the  methods  are  infalable. 
We  have  learned  one  fact  from  these' 
experiments.  Eggs  should  be  perRctly 
fresh  when  you  begin  to  preserve  ihera. 
If  an  egg  has  commenced,  even  but  a 
very  slight  decomposition,  it  is  ditficuh 
arresting  it  ;  in.leed,  we  are  inclined  to 
think  nothing  short  of  freezing  will  do 
It.  The  following  very  simple  plan  we 
have  never  tried,  and  know  nuthino- 
practically  whether  it  be  eftl'ctual  m 
not.  We  found  it  in  the  Farm  Journal 
quoted  from  the  English  Ar/ricullural 
Gazette.  We  pass  it  over  to  our  read- 
ers for  their  consideration. 

Take  a  half  inch  board  of  any  con- 
venient length  and  breadth,  and  pierca 
it  as  full  of  holes  (each  1  12  inches  its 
diameter)  as  you  can.  I  find  that  a 
board  two  feet  and  six  inches  in  length, 
and  one  foot  wide,  has  five  dozen  in  it, 
say  twelve  rows,  of  five  each. 

Then  lake  four  strips  two  inches 
broad  and  nail  them  together  edgewise 
into  a  rectangular  frame  of  the  sara@ 
size  as  your  other  board.  Nail  this 
board  upon  the  fame  and  the  work  is 
done,  unless  you  choose  to  nail  a  bead- 
ing around  the  fop. 

Put  your  egg^  on  this  board  as  they 
come  from  the  poultry  li'^use,  the  small 
end  down,  and  they  yixW  keep  good  fop 


six  months,  if  you  take  the  following 
precaution  :  Take  care  that  the  eggs  do 
not  get  wet,  either  in  the  nest  or  after- 
wards. (In  summer,  hens  are  fond  of 
laying  among  the  weeds  and  grass,  and 
any  egg  taken  from  such  nssts  in  wet 
weather,  should  be  put  away  for  im- 
mediate use.)  Keep  them  in  a  coo! 
room   in  summer,  and  out  of  th«  reaci 


382 


THK  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


of  frost  in  witiler.  If  two  boards  bv 
kept,  one  can  be  filiitig  while  the  other 
is  einpl}iiig. 

Tho  wncer  accounts  for  the  proserv- 
rttion  uf  eg'U'S  in  this  way  by  siipposinir 
tliRt  the  V'llv  floats  more  (.'qiially  in  the 
white,  and  has  less  tendency  to  sink 
down  aijainst  the  siiell,  than  when  the 
eiTcr  is  l.tiii  ou  one  side — cerlaiii'v,  ii 
the  \<>ik  touches  tlie  sliell  it  spods  iin- 
niL'diately. — Maine  Farmer. 

EcoxoMY  OF  Manure. — "Let  none 
of  vour  inaiuire  become  tire-fanwd,' 
wa-*  a  remark  of  the  late  hirnented  Buel 
— -one  o-t  the  nio.^t  intelligent  agricul- 
turists and  hest  men  our  country  ha- 
ever  had  the  honor  to  pjoduce.  When 
the  spiing  opens  early,  and  your  long 
manurt^  lays  in  close  compact  heaps,  of 
considerable  density,  there  is  serious 
danger  of  its  being  greatly  injured  by  a 
violei't  fermentation,  in  the  process  of 
which  the  strong  ammonia,  the  fertibz- 
\n.f  and  volatile  gases  et^ca[)e  into  free 
spaoe,  and  are  lost,  leaving  the  manure, 
if  the  process  proceeds  uninterrupted  to 
its  completion,  exhausted  of  two-thirds 
or  one-iia  f  its  original  value. 

By  covering  the  surface  of  heaps,  in 
this  condition,  with  gypsum  or  plaster 
of  Paris,  the  ammonia  will  be  absorbed 
and  lixed.  It  is  alvv;iys  a  go(id  plan  to 
have  a  quantity  of  tliis  valuable  mineral 
near  at  had  liiat  it  may  be  available 
when  circumstances  demand  its  use. 
The  strong  order  in  stables,  where  a 
large  number  of  horses  are  kept,  results 
from  the  evolution  of  ammoniacal  gas. 
This  ofiensive  nuisance  maj'  easily  be 
abated  by  scatteri  g  plaster  over  the 
floor  or  stalls  daily,  and  the  application 
will  greatly  augment  the  value  of  the 
manure.  Agricola. 

Germantown  Telegraph^ 


Compost  for  fruit  trees, — 
Fruit  trees  must  be /ec/,  if  we  would 
have  them  thrive  and  bear.  Decaying 
leaves,  or  the  scrapings  fn.itn  the  fore.si 
form  one  of  the  best  ingredients  for 
compost  designed  for  any  kind  of  fruit 


trees.  Mr.  Downing,  a  distinguished 
iVuit  cultiirist  and  the  editor  of  tha 
llorticulurist  gives  it  as  his  opinion 
that  the  best  coujpost  of  swauip  muck, 
or  the  black  decayed  vegetabe  matter 
to  be  obtained  from  low  groinnis,  mix- 
ed wiih  wood  a^hes  at  the  rate  ol  five 
bushels  of  tVesh  ashes  or  twice  that 
ijuaniity  of  leached  ashes  to  a  wagon 
load.  This  furnishes  not  only  the  re- 
quisite vegetable  matter,  but  also  those 
mineral  manures  which  are  ess  n  ial  to 
the  production  of  fine  fruit.  'fhi>  com- 
post lie  would  modify  as  fo'lows,  to 
adap*  it  to  the  ditferent  varieties  of 
fruit  trees. 

For  Apple  Tbe  s. — To  every  cart 
load  of  muck  and  lime  mi.vture.  after  it 
has  Iriin  a  fortnight,  add  two  bushels  of 
air  slaked  lime. 

PjiAR  Trees. — To  every  cart  load  of 
the  muck  and  ashes  mixture,  add  a 
ground  or  desolvfd  bones,  and  two 
bushels  of  leaded  ashes. 

Plum  Trees. — To  every  cart  load  of 
the  muck  and  ashes  mixture  a<ld  half  a 
i)ush  of  lime,  half  a  bushel  of  ashes, 
and  a  ])eck  of  salt. 

Grape  VI^fE. — To  everv  cart  load  of 
the  muck  and  ashes  rnixttire,  add  a 
bu-hel  of  lime,  a  bushel  of  asiies,  acd 
half  a  bushel  of  gypsum  or  plaster. — 
Maine  Farmer. 


Roses  from  Cuttings. — Propaga- 
tions by  cuttings  may  be  peiformed 
with  success  all  through  thegrouing 
.season.  As  soon  as  the  forc;  d  plants 
have  bloomed,  the  shoots  taken  off, 
(when  pruning  for  secomi  bloom,)  may 
be  cut  lo  a  joint  with  two  or  three  eyes, 
allowing  the  leaves  to  remain  on,  all 
excepting  the  bottom  eye  intended  to 
be  inserted  in  the  s<>il.  About  six  of 
these  cuttings  placed  round  a  four  inch 
pot,  in  equal  {>arts  of  loam,  leaf-mould 
and  sand,  wih  be  sufficient.  They  shou  d 
be  placed  firmly  in  the  pots,  and  after- 
wards well  watered  through  a  fine 
sprinkler;  then  placed  whne  they  will 
have  a  moderate  bottom  heat,  and  be 
shaded  from  a  mid-day  sun.     In  a  few 


THE  FARMER'S  .lOURNAL. 


38J 


wei'ks  viheii  rooU'd  tliey  ma}'  bi"  putted 
3ej»ar;il<ly  into  llnce-iiich  puts,  and 
gniUual  y  hardened  otf.  The  same  >oii 
may  l>e  iisfd  as  betoie,  but  broken  iij- 
tine,  (»]■  sd'te.l,  will)  tlie  addilitui  ot'a  lii 
tie  ^aiid.  Ciiltings  will  strike  tliroiigii 
the  suiiJiner,  and  any  jieiiod  when  the 
yoiiiiy  v.oud  can  be  laki  ii  so  late  a> 
Sepieiidjer,  but  iiviist  reinaiii  in  the  cut 
ting--]>i.t.s  during- ihe  winter,  and  be  pot- 
ted uii' early  in  s|)rinjr. —  Cottage  Our. 

ClIAKCOAL    AND    SaLT  FOR.  ShEEP. 

"  It  is  g.-nerally  conceded  (hat  we  past- 
ure are  unfavorable  to  the  liealtli  of 
sheep.  1  have  kept  a  flock  for  four 
years  in  a  pasture  ol  this  desiripiion — 
fur  the  {ir>t  two  yrars  with  unfavorable 
results.  My  sheep  were  unhealtliy,  and 
many  of  them  died.  I  ascribed  it  to  the 
^vit^e^s  nf  my  ))astui'e.  Upon  the  re- 
coi!imei:daii<in  of  an  old  fanner.  1  gave 
the  sheep  charcoal  mixed  with  salt. 
The  benelicial  effects  of  thi.s  iiiixture 
were  soon  apparent.  My  shee[>  pre.sent- 
ed  a  more  healthful  apjtearHnee.  I  have 
continued  the  treatment,  and  tiie  an 
imals  hiive  continued  to  thrive.  I  siip- 
po-e  tiie  medicinal  qualities  of  this 
mixture  consist  in  this  disinfecting  pro- 
j  eriy  of  the  charcoal. 

And,  in  the  invaluable  tonic  and 
alternntive  properties  of  the  salt  we, 
mav  add  ;  for,  like  many  other  re 
medial  agents,  this  article,  when  given 
in  small  doses,  augments  the  digestive 
functions.   In  lar„  er  doses  it  is  cathartic. 

Culti. ate  your  own  heart  aright;  re- 
member Jhat  "  whatsoever  man  soweth 
that  sliall  lie  also  reap."  Do  not  begin 
farming  by  building  an  expensive  house, 
nor  erecting  a  spacious  barn  tili  you 
have  Something  to  store  in  it. — Albany 
C'lliiviitar. 

THE  Subscriber  will  give  any  special  advice 
to  Fanners,  by  their  addressing;  him  and 
givinir  a  de^■cri[)non  of  their  farms.  H  s  charge 
will  be  moderate.  He  will  mnke  analysis  of 
soils  and  marls,  and  write  out  the  analysia  for 
applieatinii  ol  manures. 
For  analysis  of  soils,  $5  00 

Writing  out  analy.sis,  a  00 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS,  M.  D. 


B111NKLEYV85  LE    MNICYARD, 

And  Nursery  Establishmeiit. 

ALL  not  taLiiied  with  uiuiand  sh  prejudice 
will  doubtless,  ( other  tli  ng-s  equal,)  pi'efer 
paH'on.z  iig  State  and  couijlry  made  artic'es  of 
any  kiud  i period  cals  excepied)  to  tl.ie'gn  or 
those  away  yonder.  The  uiidcrsigned  ciiizea 
of  North  Carolina  has  wines  ackauwiedgcd  by 
all,  fairly  testing  them,  superior  in  qualiiy  and 
cheaper  than  foreign.  And  upon  which  the 
highest  encomiums  passed  at  <,ur  Stute  and 
the  Norfolk  late  Fairs.  Wines  from  Jl  to  !f6 
per  gallon,  according  to  quality.  And  well- 
ruotcd  Scuppernong  ^best  grape  in  the  world 
for  our  climate,  and  largest  berry  known  as  four 
iiches  rnund  as  exhibited  at  the  Fair  in  Ra- 
le ghj  and  other  vir.es  as  also  trees  at  the  me- 
dium of  a  quarter  each,  and  at  rates  of  ®4  per 
hundred  for  cuttings  of  all  kinds  as  vines  and 
trees. 

And  other  nursery  artic'es  on  most  reasona- 
ble terms  for  cash  or  equivalent  on   del.verv. 
SIDNEY  WELLER. 

Brinkleyville,  Jan.  27,  1854. 

P.  S. — Some  quantify  of  vines  aiid  cuttings 
left  f  jr  d.sposal  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  John  Bk)b- 
bltt,  of  Rale  gh.  S.  W. 


C.  LTJTTERLOH, 

NURSERYMAN    AND    FLORIST, 
Fayetteville,    N     C. 

HAS  Just  receive(f  a  lar^e  lot  of  Hardy 
111 vei greens,  Ornamental  'frees,  Ro.ves, 
Slirubs, Raspberries,  Strawberries.  Bulbs,  Grape-- 
vines,  Gree  i-house  plants,  Fruit  1'iee^,  &c. 

Persons  desirous  o)  o'namentina  their  grounds 
and  gatdens,  will  find  his  stock  veiy  selfct. 

Ttie  Chili  F  ne.  Cryptomena,  Deodar  Cedar, 
Cedar  ol  Lebanon,  &c  ,  standing  at  the  head  of 
the  Livergreens.  I'he  celpbrated  (Jiant  of  the 
Battles.  Cloth  of  Gold,  &c.,  among  the  Cata- 
logue of  l{(.ses,  will  be  supplied  to  applicants. 

Orders  will  receive  prompt  attention. 

P.  S.—  Plants  can  be  seiit  to  Wilmington  by 
Steamboat  for  persons  near  all  the  ivailroads.  " 

Febuary,  1854.  10-if. 


A  CARD. 

JAMES  M.  TOWLES,  General  Agent  for 
the  sale  of  Agricultural  Implements,  and 
Farming  Utensils,  &.c. 

JN .  B.  A  iariie  number  of  articles  brought  to 
the  late  Fair  are  left  with  me  on  salp,  on  n\\  of 
which  the  Railroad  freight  will  be  saved  to  the 
purchaser,  a  veiy  important  item  on  heavy 
goods. 
November,  1853.  8— 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL 

IS  Published  monthly,  at  iBl   per  annnum,  in 
advance ;  six  copies  for  $5 ;  twelve  copies 
for  %10 ;  thirty  copies  tltr  $20. 

Advert  I^EMENTS  — A  limited  number  of  ad- 
vertisements will  be  inserted  at  the  following 
rates:  For  one  square  ot  twelve  lines,  for  each 
insertion.  $1 ;  one  square  per  annum,  ©10  ;  half 
column,  do  ,$30  ;  one  c.ilumn,  do.,  f50;  larger 
advcrtisenienis  in  proportif)n. 

JOHN  F.  TOMPKINS, 
Editor  and  Proprietor,  Raleigh,  N .  C. 


884 


THE  FARMER'S  JOURNAL. 


J.    M.    LOVEJOY'S    ACADEMY, 
RALEIGH. 

lassical  Department,  J.  M.  Lovejoy,  Precep- 


toi, 
Matiiemati 
D 


toi, 

latiiematicul  Department,  Geo  C.  Lewis, 
>epartnient  of  i^iementavy,  Agricultural 

hlxpcsnineiital  Chemistry,  Dr.  J.  F.ToMPB 


and 

IMPKINS, 


THE  YEAR  IS  DIVIDED  INTO  TWO  SESSIONS. 

The  Twenty-Sixth  Session  commences  art  the 
7th  of  Junuaiy,  1854, — the  Twenty-Seventh 
on  the  1th  of  July. 

TERMS  OF  TUITION  PER  SESSION  IN  ADVANCE. 

Tuition  and  B  'aid,  (including  every- 
thing except  washing,)  $80  00 

French,  Book-keeping  and  Surveying, 

each  extra,  10  00 

No  deduction   made  far  absence,  except- in 

(lases  of  protracted  sickness. 

IT  is  the  design  of  the  Preceptor,  that  this 
Institutiin  shall  not  be  surpassed  in  the  ad- 
vantages afforded  for  acquiring  an  English, 
Classical,  Mathematical  and  Practical  Educa- 
tion. His  employment,  during  the  last  twenty 
years,  has  been  that  o^"  preparing  boys  for  the 
University  of  North  Carolina,  and  for  Clleges 
of  other  States  ;  so  that,  if  there  is  any  truth  in 
the  assertion  that  ''  practice  makes  perlect,"  he 
thinks  he  is  capable  of  doing  well  the  business 
of  his  profession.  He  therefore  assures  parents 
and  guardians  who  may  place  pupils  in  his 
Acad  my,  hat  they  shall  be  thoroughly  pre- 
pared for  college,  or  educated  for  practical  bu- 
siness men.  Book-keeping,  Surveying,  and  all 
practical  branches,  receive  pMticular  attention. 

The  Morals  of  the  Students  will  be  caieiully 
guarded  ;  and  lor  the  purpose  ot  doing  this,  pu- 
pils, (unless  they  have  relations  in  the  City  J 
will  be  required  to  board  with  the  Principal,  or 
with  Dr.  '1  ompkins — who  has  been  engaged  to 
give  instruction  in  Agricultural,  Elementary 
and  Experimp.ntal  Chemistry,  accompanied 
with  Lectures  in  order  that  pupils  who  de- 
sign to  bee  ime  furmers  may  receive  an  educa- 
tion in  those  branches  of  science,  so  necessary 
to  success  in  their  profession. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  speak  of  the  qualifica- 
tions of  Dr.  Tompkins,  since,  as  Editor  of  the 
pfflrmfir's  Jo«r«rt/,  he  has  shown  himself  fully 
competent  to  discharge  the  duties  of  hisdepart- 
ment  His  laboratory  is  well  supplied  witti 
such  apparatus  as  may  be  necessary  to  give  a 
minute  and  perfect  idea  of  the  science  which  he 
professes  to  teach. 

Students  who  prefer  to  give  their  whole  at- 
tention to  Agricultuial  Cfiemistry.  and  to  die 
instruction  .d  ihe  Laboratory,  can  have  the 
privilege  of  doing  so. 

TERMS    PER    SESSION    IN    DR.  TOMPKINS  DEPART- 
MENT. 

For  Experimental  Chemistry,  §10 

Agricultural  Chemistry,  25 

Laboralorv  Students,  50 

J.  M.  LOVEJOY. 

Raleigh,  October  17th,  1853.  8— 


WM,  ALLSTON  GOURDIN, 
Factor  and  Coimnission  Merchant, 

NO.  73  EAST-BAY, 

CHARLESTON,  S.  C, 

IS  prepared  to  make  lioeral  advances  on  Con- 
signments of  Kice,  Cotton,  Corn,  S  garj 
Flour,  Grain,  Hay,  «kc. 

Agent  lor  "  Genuine  Peruvian  Guano"  for 
the  States  of  South  Carolina,  North  Carolina, 
Georgia,  Alabama  and  Tennessee.  Al>o,  A- 
gent  tor  Baltimore  and  Southern  Packet  Co.'e 
Steam-ships. 
Movembcr.  18.^3.  8— 


WM.  H.  TAPPEY.  I  WM.  C.  LUMSDEK. 

TAPPEY  &  LUMSDEH, 
Iron  and  Brass  Founders  and  Macainists, 
Opposite  Jarrait's  Tavern  and  Southern  Rail- 
road Depot, 
PETERSBURG,  VA. 
{Cash paid  for  old  Copper  and  Brass.) 

RAILROAD  CARS,  Axles,  Wheels  Self- 
Oil  ing  Boxes,  &c. ;  Tobacco  Presses. 
Mills,  Cotton  Ploughs,  and  Knives:  Cast  and 
Wrought  Railing  ;  Steam  Engines,  Vcriical  and 
Circular  Saw  Mills,  Grist  Mill  Irons  of  every 
description.  Shafting  and  all  kinds  of  Machine- 
ry, Wagon  Boxc,  Bells,  &c.,  &c. 
Noven'ber,  1853.  8 — 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Study  the  insects  that  damage  the  Farmer,  858 

Agricultural  Societies, S54r 

Horse  vs.  Mule,  856 

Potato  Culture, 356 

Striking  instance   of  the   benefits  of  ihe 

thorough  improvement  of  Land, 357 

To  drive  away  Rats, 360 

Grape  culture  at  the  West, 360 

Fattening, 362 

Action  of  Drought  on  Plants,    365 

Broom  Corn, 367 

Indian  Meal  Waffles, 867 

The  end  of  our  second  Volume, 868 

Visits  by  the  Editor,  369 

Experiments  in  Farming, 869 

Mr.  Earnhardt's  Letter,    371 

Letter  from  D.  H.  Holland 371 

"      N.W.Woodfin,    372 

"         "      Socius,    373 

"         "      Neil  McDugald,    375 

Letter  from  L.  W.  II. 376 

Letter  from  Wm.  Carstarphen, 376 

Letter  from  Owen  Fennel,   376 

Letter  from  T.  T.  Slade, 377 

Indian  Com,    ..  877 

Johnny  Cakes, 881 

How  shall  we  pieserve  eggs, 381 

Ecommy  of  Manure, 382 

Compos!  for  fruit  trees, 282 

Roses  from  Cuttings, 282 

Charcoal  and  Salt  for  Sheep 383 

Advertisements,  38* 


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