W*S ft Jfc5 £a£ I New York State College of Agriculture At Cornell University Ithaca, N. Y. ■■&? Library CIS**?.' lA*' Date Due UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH 6 LIBRARIES f VY'S I NEW ENGLAND FARMER Published by JOHN B. RUSSELL, at the corner of Congress and Lindal'. Streets, Boston — 1 H< i". MiIA VOL. IV. BOSTON, FRIDAY. APRIL 28, 1826. No. 40. ORIGIN AIi COMMUNICATIONS. I improvement of run-out potatoes, »M for a mo- stated that tc'.o:.i would grow if they were plan' = --— .-r= morst frustrated; however, the next trial was ed with tha end sealed with the compos nor to the editor of the new England farmer. up0n those in the new field ; here the hills nf-l - — forded a good yield of round, fair and clear po- CULTIVATION OF POTATOES. tfttoes ; when boiled, they were about as good Worcester County, 4th Mo. 10, 1826. as the 2d year's growth, but nothing improved. There have been -rievoa. complaints hy the • continued experiments (always careful in the pellet Bo, ton for! number of years (and no, election of the seed) and the 4th year plough- Hut iuft cause) of bad potatoes I have no- |« ™<* **ld age. and of decay. The composition of For- syth, from long experience can be recommend- ed as productive of the most beneficial effects ; although well known, by transcribing it here, it may save the (rouble to refer to hispublication. " Take one bushel of fresh cow dung, half a " bushel of lime rubbish of old buildings, that " from ceilings of rooms is preferable, or lime " which has been slacked at least six months, " half of a bushel of wood ashes, and two quarts " of fine pit or river sand. The three last arti- " cles are to be sifted fine before they are mix- " ed ; then work them well together with urine " and soap suds with a spade and afterwards " with a wooden beater until the stuff is very "smooth like fine plaster, used for the ceilings " of rooms. Then mix again soap suds and " urine, to bring it to the consistence of thick " paint, and lay it on the trees with a painter's " or white washing brush. It will not only keep (he trees free from borers, but it will heal sore wounds and cankers, and transform into healthy and fruitful trees, some which at first sight seemed to defy the hope of recovery.— You will please however to recollect that hap- py results in any pursuit, but more especially in agriculture, are not to be obtained but by care and perseverance. Whilst on the subject of borers I beg leaye to mention further, that in families who use sioves, which require dry wood, the only method to prevent their oak and yellow pine being injured by the borers, is to stow it in a close wood hou-e, from whicb the light is excluded. I had some last season, in an open shed, which was so much injured that the bark fell off from most of it. I had some in a place shul up, where no light is admitted, and it was perfectly sound. From this we may con- clude that the seed deposited in the bark by the jbeetle, requires the light and free air to devel- ope itself into life ; and that wherever the light and air are excluded, it must perish. — If _y)ou think that these notes can be useful, please to give them insertion, and to accept of the good wishes of One of your Subscribers. FOR THE NEW ENGLAND FARMER. POTATOES. Ryfgate, Vt. April 21, 1826. On the third of May 1825 I selected twenty good handsome potatoes, as hear of a size as possible, ten of which I planted whole in ten hills, — the other ten I cut into four pieces each, and planted in ten hills, in a parallel row with the other, four pieces in each hill. Oo the 28th day of September I dug the potatoes and weigh- ed the produce of each row by itself. The row in which the 10 whole potatoes were planted weighed 46 pounds 12 ounces — and the row that was cut into quarters, produced 77 pounds 4 oz. The rows were contiguous to each other, and the soil exactly the same. No manure was used. J. W. est in the prosperity of his country should give the preference to domestic fabrics, the price and quality being equal. — Boston Gaz. From the American Farmer. PLANTATION OF THE WHITE MUL. BERRY. The best method of multiplying the mulberry tree, is from the seed ; for as it grows it be- comes accustomed to the climate, as if it were indigenous. It ought to be taken from the nurse- ry at the end of two years, and placed in a dry and elevated place, about fifteen feet distant from any other tree. Two years afterwards it ought to be transplanted, and placed at the same distance; again, at the end of two years it ought to be transplanted, and always at (he same dis- tance. It may also be multiplied by slips or suckers, but it degenerates, and in the end per- ishes in the flower of its age. The eggs of 4he silk-worm must be hatched I in the month of May, at the time when the ! leaves have all their sap, and are still extreme- ly lender ; (he leaves must be always gather- ed in the evening for the next day morning, lest (hey should not be moist. The quantity of leaves that one has should always be calculated in order that the requisite quantify of eggs may be hatched. One ounce of eggs will produce 40,000 worms, 50 pounds of leaves are suffi- cient for 1000 worms. A tree six years old will not produce more (ban from 60 lo 80 pounds. The house should be very dry and well air- ed ; the shelves on which the silk-worms are placed should be of wood, dry and without any peculiar smell — no bad odour should be suffered to enter the apartment; that is lo say, care must be taken to prevent (he morning air from penetrating the room. The worms arc subject to many diseases. When they are discovered to be diseased, they must be thrown away, lest the disorder should be communicated to (he rest. When the time of making cocoons has come, small branches must be placed in the shelves and the worms must in no wise be disturbed. — When the cocoons are made, the handsomest are to be left for seed ; the others are to be detached from the branches, and thrown into boiling water; (he thread loosens itself, and is to be divided upon a spindle. The price, five dollars per pound. It is necessary that the work should be di- rected by persons of judgment, either for watch- ing the silk worms, or for choosing the leaves. . DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES. We have recently examined a beauliful piece of broadcloth manufactured at the Saxon facto- ry in Framingham, which is for sale by Messrs. Kilham & Mears, pronounced by good judges to be equal to the best English cloths imported in- to this country. We understand that some of the same description of goods have been order- ed by merchant tailors in New York, who give them the preference to English cloths of the 9ame cost. Every American who feels an inter- Eitractcfa Letter from Genera] La Fayette to J. S. Skimi'i , Editor of the American Farmer. "La Grange, Jan. 20, 1826. — It is not an easy task for me to submit to the wide material sepa- ration which now exists between me and my American friends, while my mind is constantly with them ; and the regret for the loss of their society mingles with an ardent sympathy in their 1 public and personal concerns. So prompt I have 'been in recovering pleasing habits, and so much ! attached I feel to my new as well as my old connexions in the United States, that it seems I to me quite strange to think this winter will pass without meeting any of you, either at Bal- timore or Washington. I am eagerly waiting for the papers and letters from my friends, and beg when you write to remember that at a dis- tance minute particulars are very welcome. 1826.] NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 315 The affectionate reception I have met from the people on my journey, and on my arrival to this part of the country, and the family and friendly enjoyments that awaited me, have been sadly troubled by the illness of one of my grand- daughters, who, contrary to all expectations, is happily recovered. I have passed hitherto, most of my time at La Grange ; but am now go- ing for two or three months to town, saving some excursions to my farm. I must give you an ac- count of the stock you so very kindly assisted in forwarding and increasing. One of Mr. Patter- son's Coke Devons, the elder bull, died on the passage; the three others have recovered from the fatigue, and are now in fine order.* The giant wild Turkey we have admired together, died also at sea, — bis brother, and another from General Cocke, of Virginia, arrived safe; two small Virginia hens'never could retrieve the injuries of the sea, but the males are very hearty. Your two hogs have well supported the voyage, and are better shaped than any I have seen, al- though I have chanced to obtain the best of an importation from England. The Virginia plough you have been pleased to forward, has been presented for examination to the Central Socie- ty at Paris. I expect their report. I was anx- iously looking for the ariival of two models kindly promised; the one a steam machine, af- ter that of Mr Robert Smith — the other a thresh- ing machine ; this is senj by Gov. Sprigg, the bleam one by Mr. Morris. T Should they be ready to reach New York by the first of April, Capt. Macey, who sails on the ■fiih, and comes himself to Paris, will take charge of tbetn. Permit me to entreat your kindness for two other articles: I much wish to intro- duce at La Grange, the pretty American par- ;ndge, so called in the south, and quail, in the north, and the terrapin, about whose manage- ment 1 .would need an instruction. Captain Macey would take care of them, and if the kind friend, Joseph Townsend, who had found the mammoth Turkey, persist in his good intention to send some more, or you could gel some of the tame breed, second or third generation, at the good Postmaster's at York, Pa. Capt. Macey might be entrusted with them. 1 have on my farm a fine shepherd's dog, and can find a proper slut for him, but the more 1 inquire and see about those dogs, so very saga- cious and useful here, the more I find that their principal merit is lost when they have not to execute the orders of a shepherd in the marshal- ling of a flock. No letter from you, my dear sir, no number of the American Farmer has been received, al- though I hoped it might come by the last packet; Charles Lasteyrie went to Italy immediately af- ter my arrival; he is daily expected at Paris. The Garden Flea —This is a small fly that cats cabbages, and other plants while they are in seed leaf. They are nearly bbick. Some call them suow fleas. A correspondent informs us that if after the seedsare sown, the ground be covered with straw, and then the straw set on fire, the flea will not injure the plant* as they come up. — Penobscot Gazette. American Manufactures. — A Montreal paper men- tions, that great quantities of goods, of the manufac- tures of the United States, have lately bten transport- ed across the line into Upper Canada ; and that a large i part of that province is likely to be supplied with some j of the coarser articles, cheaper than Ihey can be im- ported from England, as the duty is only 16 per ■;.•. t. ad valorem. Jfilcs'' Register. — A resolution passed the House of! Representatives on Friday, authorizing the clerk to, purchase ten copies of Niles' Weekly licgister for the use of the members of Congress. Mr Niles will receive $ 1000 from the contingent fund for his books. The Legislature of New Brunswick has been pro- rogued. Among the acts passed is one making an ap- propriation towards establishing a University in New Brunswick. Wool.— It is stated in an English paper, thst 60,000/. worth of wool was offered without efTcct, as a security for a loan of 8,000/. The house of Representatives has ordered 3,000 copies to be printed, of the interesting Report of the Board of Engineers relative to the proposed National Road from the City of Washington to New Orleans. A New Article of Export. — Five hundred bibles have been lately sold in the Mexican market at wholesale for $2,000 ! 500 bibles sold readily at a profit of more than 400 per cent, and apparently an unlimited demand for more ! An Elephant, which gave symptoms of madness, was lately shot in England. 14 men fired upon him several rounds, 132 bullets were discharged, and he was thrust through the neck with a sword, before he was killed. Yet a few years since, in York, Me. an Elephant was kdled by a single bullet, fired at him by a fanatic, from behind a tree or wall. The English Elephant was 11 feet high, and weighed 5 tons. He had been physick- ed when sick — and 100 lbs. of salts were used for a dose. • ■ I pruning the vine. jie sorts of via ' One Dollar, except No. 4, Golden Ci nine, which ii Two Dollars. Commooicalioiii for Hie ubove and subscriptions to hi> ' References, to Dr. David H : Dt of the Horticultural Society. Dr Pascalis President'. 1 n-.ean Society, Dr McNerc o.br Mitchell and Dr Met jenson. Apr - * lhese were of the pure blood, all generously pre- sented by William Patterson, Esq to the old Amer- ican veteran. t Instead of a model, Mr. J. B. Morris sent him a complete and very elegant steam apparatus, for steam- ing food for fifty head uf stock, with every thing pre- pared for immediate use. It must have cost several hundred dollars. Green House Plants, Shrubs, and Fruit Trees. A considerable variety ol valuable PLANTS, and- in high order, are for sale at the Green-house of the subscriber, on Jamaica Plains, in Roxburv, by aj ply- ing to the Cn'bu'T. aUo. ltoois and .' SHRUBS and TREES, and a few thousand of the New- castle Cockspur Thorn, which air tie only sort with me, that have not as yet teen attacked by 'h I ■•r- -r, and are three years old. The proprietor is also bring- ing forward a Nursery c* Fre.it frees, eitry Tire of which is from setd und not suckers, and will be to warranted ; some I unrireds, of superior sort; of A[ pie Trees, are now large enough for removal, other sorts will not be fit for a year or two. A few large while Dutch Currants, and Enjlish Gooseberries. Roibury, April 14, 1836. JOHN PRINCE. Jack for Sale. THE Subscriber efftrs for sale (he high bred Jack Columella. His dam is of the Andalusian href d are. the largest Spanish Jennet i>i the country. His sire the noted Jack Jiurbnrcssa, now owned by Gen. V\ illiams of Stonington Con. who will realize $G0O, for his ser- vices the last season. Columella is three quarter of Spanish blood and ore quarter Maltese, a proper cross to unite vigor and spirit with sufficient bone, is two years old, and give; promise Jej be equal if not superior in size and oth( r val uable properties to any Jack ever bred in the i. nited States. S. W. POMEROT. Brighton. April 21. Subscription for Fine Slock of the Finest Table Grapes. ANDREW PARMENTIER, at the Horti- cultural Garden, Brooklyn, corner of the Jamaica and Flatbush road, two miles from New York, having been urged by several oT~the vine to propose setts of the best kind for sale by subscription, off rs to the Public setts of a doz- en vines with good roots of the most select and choic- est Tapes for the table ; many of which are quite new in this country, and all of which will ripen perfectly in any situation eit'er in town or country. jYames of the Twelve Sorts. 1. White Chasselas, with large fruit 2. Chasselas ofFontaiuebIe.au, near Paris 3. Yellow Chasselas of Thomrry, near Paris 4. Golden Chasselas, the real genuine 5. Musk Chasselas 6. Chasselas, with very large black fruit , 7. Red Chasselas 8. White Muscat, or black Constantia 9. Red Muscat 10. Black Muscat, or black Constantia 11. Black Orleans, bears very well the frost 12. Black Garnet, yb-lds a second crop of blossoms and fruit, when the first are frozen Nos 11 and 12 are as fine for vineyards as for the ta- ble, the fruit is not so excellent as that of the preced- ing kinds, but is equally valuable on account of the certainty of a large crop annually. The Subscribers will receive their vines in the course of the present month. Mr John T. Boyd & Co No. 137 Broadway, New York, are empowered to receive the subscriptions: — Price Eight Dollars; gentlemen becoming subscribers, are solicited to give their addresses with care to avoid mistakes. The subscription receipt will be accompanied by di- Gardeu and Field Seeds, Shrubs, 4"c- JOSEPH BrllL^E, No. 25 Court street, has jus! received per London Packet, a great variety of Garden and Field seeds, which added to his former as- sortment, convprises the most extensive collection in New England, consisting in piart of 50 Bushels Early and late Peas. Early and late Beans 100 lbs Rula P.riga 100 lbs Mangel Wurtzel Blood aud Orange Beet 200 lbs Carrot of various kinds Grass Seeds, viz. 50 lbs Radish do Foul Meadow 10 lbs Lettuce do Red Top 50 Cabbage do Orchard Grass Cucumber do Lucerne Melons do Red and White Clover Onion do Herds Grass and Leek do Millet Celery do Bird Seeds viz. Endive do Canary Earlv and late Caulilflowe- Hemp Purple aud Cape Brocoli Rape and Summer and Winter Spin Maw age Garden Tools Salsafie or Vegetable Oyst- ers corzenera Summer and Winter Savory 10 lbs Sweet Marjoram; Thyme Sage 1400 Flower Pots. With about 200 varieties of Ornamental Seeds, Green House plants. Dahlia roots and Shrubs, viz. Gooseberry anB Currant Bushes. Grape Vines, Honey- suckles, Quicks or Thorns for live feBces, and a few superior standard pear trees. Also, Woad or pastel seed, recommended to Dyers, Manufacturers and Agriculturists. Price $1. per bush- el. 3t. April 13- ROMjI.V. An elegant, lull blooded horse, a bright Bay, with blaek legs, mane and tail, of high spirit and good temper, will stand at the farm o( Mr Stephen Wil- liams in Nort'uborough. (Ms.) at $20 the season, to be paid before the mares are taken away. — See New Eng- land Farmer, April 14. 316 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. [April 28, "ON LANDSCAPE AND PICTURESQUE , in fine condition through the winter months, GARDENS. when sliced and mixed with straw— does away .... r _. the npressitv of hav — and works up the straw It was reserved to the dehcate taste of on « »» "^K^J £thyerwise would Ue to be age to make the most happy changes ir the art I™*™™ * ""J re d and „hich, when of embellishing Gardens and truly to enjoy the I Jrownmw^ ^^ Jots/binQ their bowels, woo, do no, make cloth of so fine a texture as beauties of nature 1 he hnglish haye taicen , g unthrifty state, which (he French and Spanish. The French, Saxony such advantages of the s.tuation and soil of ^th »"^ 1 f "^^^^.^"^^r^^c^a ^ th« mi«t«r« or r««ls, ^^c American sheep are all originally from country, that it forms as it is, merely one vast w j ^^ them with the addition of a Spajn . vet the French and Spanish wool will Garden. From the JV. Y. Slatesman. TO WOOL GROWERS AND MANUFACTU- RERS. It is well known that American and Saxony e^t817mt«hod0ofmecaul,iva«ing these roots is as the value ot the property on wnicn mey die , " ° • ° „„ ,„;,h t»n hnrses olomrh a s.tuated. When .Led with these there is a \M -r,g jnann '. J^Tou «n t„I°nT, 2 ^^!2!^i^ ™™ .he firs, plough sented for embellishing a harden. The country i ;---■-- ••- ,: seats which surround The city of New-York are m . . furrow, w.l . wh at we ,c I a sub so, plough most beautifully situated, but we canno, avoid which loosens and P«'venzes the .subsoil in t he a feeling of regret at not seeing them accom- panied with some plantations and groups of trees happily disposed, which would not only add to their beauty and afford cool and shaded walks, so agreeable during the heats of summer, but would have the advantage of increasing the real value of the property, in proportion to the number and value of the plantations made. A few paths winding without restraint through the grounds, and leading to those parts the most beautiful, not only on account of the view of the water, but also of that of the neighboring country seats, would lend a new charm to the habitation. A few fabrics, rustic bridges, her- mitages, a Temple, or a Chinese Kiosk or Pa- goda, not expensive in their execution, would advantageously complete the embellishment of a country seat. These kinds of gardens are not very expen- sive, the unevenness of the soil being rather a beauty than otherwise, and of which advantage would be taken. If there are already cultivat- ed grounds, they need not be rejected ; for eve- ry thing that produces is interesting — only they should not form the principal object. Mr. Andrew Parmentier, lately from Europe, where these gardens are generally adopted, has made at his place, at the division of the Jamai- ca and Flatbush turnpikes, at Brooklyn, L. I. a garden of this kind, which will be the more in- teresting on account of the great variety of for- eign trees and plants he has there introduced. It is but half an hour's walk from New York. Mr P. by the advice of several of his friends, will furnish plans of landscape and picturesque gardens; he will communicate to gentlemen who wish to see him, a collection of his draw ings of Cottages, Rustic Bridges, Dutch, Chi- nese, Turkish, French Pavilions, Temples, Hermitages, Rotundas, &c. For further partic- ulars, inquiries personally, or by letter, address- ed to him, post paid, will be attended to. From Ike American Farmer. ON THE CULTIVATION OF MANGEL- WURTZEL, BEETS, PARSNIPS AND CARROTS. The three first thrive best on a deep moist sandy loam, and as these crops are becoming every year more important in field as well as garden culture, and they having long since been satisfactorily proven, not only to be very use bottom of each furrow to the depth of six or eight inches more, and leaves the pulverized subsoil to be covered by the next furrow ofthe make cloth of finer texture, whilst that which is fabricated from the Saxony and American is uniformly loose and spongy. It is important to the wool grower, as well as the manufacturer, that this delect should be re- moved, preparatory to which it will be neces- sary to discover the cause. Having turned my attention to the subject, I submit the following as at least a proralde theory, which may be easily tested by experiment. As the animal from which we obtain fine wool has the same origin in all countries, it is a legitimate conclusion, th.it the cause is not in the wool, but in some difference in the prepara- two horse plough, and so on, leaving the good (ion subsequent to shearing. The Spanish and soil on top, and mellow to the depth "of 12 or French wool is sorted as soon as the flocks are 14 inches, which is absolutely necessary to the ; shorn — it is then scoured in hot water and pack- prodnctinn of these tap-rooted vegetables ; in ■ et| . jn this state.il remains for six or twelve the spring, as early as the ground is dry, cross- m0nths . "fore it is worked into cloth. The plough in'the same "manner as above, then spread Saxons and Americans wash their sheep before on a good coat of well rotted manure, andjsh plough it in 4 inchesdeep, and harrow or scari- ana- log, and pack the wool with all its yolk rease. It is said to be an established fact, that wool parked in its yolk and grease will continue to organize after it is so packed, and that for a considerable time — that is, a given weight of wool packed in its yolk and grease, without scouring, will be found to contain moio wool after being so packed for six months than if scoured when taken off the sheep's back. I apprehend that the wool formed after the fleece is taken from the living animal, is but imper- by the assistance of a horse, all the drills may|fec,]y organized, that it is more greasy than be made of regular width, and of proper depth I grRnuine wool, and that in the process of fulling fy until the ground is fine. 1 then proceed to lay out the drills two feet apart by means of an instrument made as follows : take a piece of oak scantling 4 by 4 inches, 7 feet long, into which bore 4 holes 2 feet apart, commencing 6 inches from the end, with a two inch auger, into which drive strong pointed pins 7 inches long, (beside the part in the head) to which oak pieces attach a pair #f shafts and handles, and to receive the manure and seed, and then drill in the seed, which may be performed by mixing them with sifted wood, ashes or fine manure, and drill both in together; if dropped by hand they mu«t be covered with a mixture of well rotted manure, or rich earth from the woods, both which will prevent a crust from forming over the seed and will promote the growth ot the young plant=, as soon as they are cleverly up: weeds will also appear, and must be re- moved whilst in a red slate by hoing and hand picking; the parsnips and beets ought to be thinned to six inches, carrots to three inches, mangel wurtzel to twelve inches apart in the rows. The next dressing may be performed by a small cultivator, and the last one may and ought to be done to the depth of'O or 8 inches, by the subsoil plough, running it as near the rows of plants as possible without disturbing their root by which means the congealing effects of droughts are prevented, by keeping the ground in fine mellow tilth all the dry season ; by giv- ing Ihem the finishing hoeing and cleansing after the subsoil plough, the crop is made ; in this way root crops may be raised in great quanti- ties, and at a very small expense, compared with the usual garden methods. ROBERT SINCLAIR. instead of creeping into shorter lengths by the friction of the hammers, it has a tendency to slide over each other, making the ground ot the cloth thick but not firm. I do not consider this as an indubitable theory, yet I consider it so far reasonable as to deserve an experiment, which can easily be made by any of our wool growers. 1 would recommend them, at their next shearing season, to hare a part ot their fine wool sorted and scoured as soon as shorn. Let this be packed as soon as it is dry, and in four or six months afterwards put it in the hands of some skilful manufacturer to test the result. HOPSON. ful but almost indispensable, in keeping stock lwe|| tf'or g.,y Prolific. — A Mr Chase of Sutton, Mass. has a sheep which brought him the present season, four ewe lamhs all of which are living and doing AGRICULTURE. As circumstances alter, there should be a cor- responding change in the policy and measures of every vocation. The truth of this assertion will be evident to all, on a little reflection. The design of the present remarks is to show the necessity of some change in the articles of produce among our farmers. Until within a few years, we have been almost exclusively an agricultural and commercial people ; and the attention of the former class has been directed to those products most in demand by the latter. The6e have been principally beef, pork, butter, cheese, and some other articles of provisions and raw materials, suitable for exportation and foreign manufactories. But the case is now ve- 1826.] ry different,— Capitalists have already invested lar^e sums in manufacturing establishments, which, are to be found in almost every village in New England. It is not necessary to go in- to an inquiry why (his change has been wrought, whether it is in consequence ot a change ol Eu- ropean policy or (hat of our own government ; or whether it will he advantageous or detrimen- tal to the United States. It is sufficient for the present object to know the fact. That some change is necessary, appears trom (he general complaint of our farmers of the unprofitableness of their business. In view of these circumstances, would it nol he well for our farmers to grow those articles more which are extensively consumed in the various manufacturing establishments.' 1 would suggest among these, wool, barley and hops. There are various reasons for increasing our flocks of sheep. In the 6rst place, the large quantity of land in New England, susceptible ol almost no other use than that of pasturage, micrbt be made very profitable. It is also stat- ed by some, that the land fed upon by Sheep is gradually fertilized, and its value enhanced. Another reason is, (he small expence of keep- ing these animals during (he winter which, it is believed, bears no proportion with (hat of most others of equal value and profit. There is no other tRat gets its food from the fields so late in Aut&ron, or so early in Spring, as the Sheep Another is, (he great certainly of the annual profit they vield. Wool and lambs almost al- ways find a quick sale, and at a fair price. The increase of the flock, under careful and judicious , management, cannot fall much, it any, short of, defraying the expence of keeping and tending, it and the Sheep, when unfit to be longer kept, , ro'av be sold to the butcher for the first cost ; s». that the wool, in common cases may be consid- , ered as the interest of (he capital invested. The inducements for growing Barley are | principally these— the increasing demand lor this grain by the breweries, the high price it bears in proportion to other products, and the (rifling labor and expense, together with the greater certainty of a good crop, in its cnltiva- tion. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 317 length of canal line would be extended to at leasl 3000 miles. When we consider (hat at the cpmmencement of (he Erie and Hudson ca- nal, in the summer of 1817, there were scarce ly 100 miles of canal in the United States, and that our system of internal improvement has -rowh from that small beginning to its present stale and prospects in (he short space of nine years, some idea may be formed of the enter- prising character of our citizens. In England there are more than one hundred canals, extending 2682 miles, constructed at an expense of $132,000,000, and yielding an aver- age income often per cent, on the capital in- vested. England has been more than filly years in completing (his extensive line of inland nav- igation. The people ot the U. State? will prob- ably have completed a line equally extensive in less than 20 years from 'be tiiie they commenc- ed. The state of New York has finished her proportion already. — Con. Cour NEW ENGLAND FARMER. FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1826. Canals.— A tale N. Y. Observer contains a j table, prepared by the Editor of that paper, principally from official documents, which lur- ni=hes a brief view of the routes, dimensions,and costs of all the important canals completed, in progress, or contemplated in the United Males, and°the adjacent British N. American Provin- ces It is accompanied with a concise descrip- tion of different works, and concludes Willi the following summary statements. Upon a review of the whole ground, we fand that (here are now, actually completed, within the limits of the United States, exclusive ot im- proved river navigation, 690 miles ol canal, with 2645 feet of lockage, constructed at an ex- pense of $14,500,000; and (here are now- id progress, and to a considerable extent, under contract, 828 miles of canal, with 3,611 teet ol lockage, to be contemplated in a few years, at an estimated expense of $10,250,000 ; maWng in alt, completed and in progress, 1518 miles ol canal, with 6256 feet of lockage, at an expense of $24,750,000. If to these we should add the canals seriously contemplated, and which will probably be completed in ten years, the whole CULTURE OF HOPS. (Concluded Irom page 31 1.) The English growers of hops think ihey have a very indifferent crop, if the produce of an acre does opl sell for one hundred and thirty three dollars^ and frequently they sell for (wo hundred dollars; and have been known to rise as high as four hundred dollars. In the Eng- lish estimate, the expense put down, is, what they can hire the labor done for by those who make it their business to perform the different parts of its cultivation. A great saving may be made by our farmers in the article of labour; for much of it may be performed by women, children and the aged. Add to this, we have another advantage of no small moment. In this country the hop harvesls will come between our two great harvests, the English and the Indian, in- terfering with neither ; but in England the grain j and hop harvests interfere, and create a great I scarcity of hands, it then being the most busy I season of the year. It is found by experience. that the soil and climate of (he Eastern States j are more favourable to the growth of hops than j Great Britain; they not being so subject to] J moist foggy weather of long continuance, which 1 is most injurious to the growth of hops. And the Southern Stales are still more favourable to (he hop than the Eastern States, in point of fla- vour and strength. The state of New York, unites some advantages from either extreme ol the union. An excellent article on the culture of hops, written by William Blanchard, Jun. Esq. of Wil- mington, Mass., was published in the New Eng- land Farmer, vol. ii. p. 52. Mr Blanchard re- commends ploughing Ihe land nine or ten inches deep in October— harrow thoroughly in the spring in the same direction the land was ploughed— manure about 16 cords to the acre, cross plough the same depth— furrow at least four feet apart— plant corn or potatoes (pota- toes preferable) the first year with the hops- plant every other hill in every other row with hops, thus placing the hills of hops at least eight feet apart— put four cuttings from the runnms roots, about eight inches in length, into each hill and cover (hem Ihe common depth of pota- toes— keep ihe hops clean from weeds by hoe- ing the crop among them — in October cover each hill with a shovelfull of compost manure. that from the hogstye preferred — in each fol- lowing spring, before the hops are opened, spread evenly over the yard about eighl cords of manure lo the acre (that which is SOMM and slrawy preferred) plough the land both ways at Ihe first hoeing — but three boeings in a season, unless necessary lo subdue weed- — (he last time of hoeing about ihe beginning of August, or when Ihe hops are in full blossom. '• Alter (he first crop it is necessary (o open the hops every spring by the middle of May ; «h;ch is performed by making four furrows be- tween the rows, turning the furrows from ihe hills, and running the plough as near the same as possible without injuring ihe main roots. — Then the earlh is removed from the roots wilh n hoe— all the running rootscut in wilh a sh rp knife, within two inches of ihe miin roots — the tops of the main roots must alsO^be cut in, and then the hills covered with earth about two inches deep." The poles should be set as soon as (he hop vine? appear, which will save labour in lyi'.g up ihe vines. Mr B. allows but two vine= ■■" a pole, and two poles to a hill, [instead ot three poles to a hi. I. as recommended in me I raaeae- tions of the Agricultural Society of New York,] poles not to exceed sixteen feet in height. — The most thrifty vines must be selected, and trained to (he poles by fastening them by a piece of yarn, slightly twisted by the thumb and finger. Frequent aKention is necessary to tie up the vines," as (hey are subject to be blown off by high winds. The hops are ripe about (he beginning of September, and shea!:! be \m mediately gathered, and picked clean from leaves and stems. Care should be taken, when gathering (he hops, to cut the vines two feet [Ihe New York article says three feet] from the ground that the vines may not be injured by bleeding." Wilh regard to curing and drying hops, we must refer our readers to Mr Blancbard*s com- munication, [N. E. Farmer, vol. ii. pages 52, 53.] We would republish the whole article for the benefit of recent subscribers, who are not in possession of that volume, did our limits and other claims on our attention permit. D Deane observed that "■ the time to plant hops is when they begin to shoot in the spring. , The sets ate cuttings from the roots or branches I which grow from the main root They should be Irom five to seven inches long, with three or more joints or buds on each, all the old and hollow parts being cnt off. Make holes twelve or sixteen inches wide, and of a depth propor- tioned to the nature of the giound. ll shallow, with hard clay or gravel under, dig not into it, lest you make a basin to retain water ; but raise a small hill of good mould. If there is a good depth of rich mTellow mould dig the hole a toot and an half or two feet deep ; the hops will I thrive the better. j '• When all things are ready for planting, hi! up the holes with the mould before thrown out, it'it be good; but if the earth be not rich enou-h, make use of fine fresh mould, or ol a complt previously prepared, but no dung on any account." 318 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. [April 28, We have seen no notice of any attempt toi/,orsej; and raise oxen or rather steers merely great power, and they have much quietness and raise hops from the seed. Perhaps some advan- j for beef." docility." tages might accrue from raising young plants in " My real object is to improve, by the best This is strong testimony in favour of the that manner. Like other small seeds it is prob- 1 meana our native breed of cattle. If on fair short horns, and as respects certain properties, able that those of hops would lose their Poweriand full experiments crossin0- with the impiov- perhaps as conclusive as the nature of the case of vegetation, if exposed too long to air above | e(| ?nort horns 0r with any other foreign breed, | will admit. It does not answer the questions ground. We should therefore advise those, j sna|| ne provec] (0 i,e most efficient and advan- ! proposed by Col. Pickering in his tenth letter who might feel inclined to make experiments) tacreons for (ne combined objects of New Eng-|"on Impmving"lhe Native Breed of New Eng- on this branch of husbandry to commit the seeds | janj farmers labour beef— butter — cheese; and ! land Cattle." Some of those questions could to the earth as soon as they are thoroughly ripe ' r(jcu|.lr|y j'f a]| these may be obtained, as is! not be answered except by accurate experi- in autumn. In other words to sow them by art confidently said at less expense of keep, than ments, of several months,' if not years' duration, as soon as nature would have sown them, if the ' wjjjj |ne present breed, then let every one ex- the results carefully noted, and all the circum- hop vines were left without gathering their pro- \ ert hjrnfiejf to partake of the boon. — I have been stances, which could affect those results taken duce. A few hills might be left for the purpose ; wj||jt,s to he one, to make the experiment; and of ripening some seed for experiment. It is j accordingly sent a large cow, of 'the Bakewel! not impossible that hops as well as potatoes may Dlood, |0°ihe Admiral ; and it was the anticipa- be benefitted by renewing the kind, or introduc- > ,jon of a ()U|| on my tarmi which prevented my ing new varieties from seed. But this is mere- \ sennjn„. a PeCond, one of the two just above ly conjecture, we speak without hooks, or other \ mentio'ned. I also recommended to the farmers to imported breeds of catlle, as We authorities on this point, and our hints may pass j 0|- E<;Sex (by handbills distributed through the proving our native stock, as recommended by for what they are worth. | county) to make a similar experiment." Col. Pickering. "-We say nothing of the pro- The Memoirs of the Pennsylvania Agricultu- Ke8sei1 «*j»ibitions of r;ire anil™|a' h°» »his *«• ral Society contain a communication, made by Mo say that when w. .ravel through England, His Excellency Levi Linxolk, Governor of Mas- \W ^ ourselves among a race ol horned catte, sachnsetts, President of the Worcester County *««rly every one of winch we covet. Let Mr Agricultural Society, from which the following Marshal or Mr Young (old writers) say what . .. . j " - . thev will, nothing can destroy the effect ol ocu- is extracted. . •' ' ,. ° rn, .;. r i? i j 1 lar demonstration. 1 he cattle ot bngland are Upon the subject rf,Denton s progeny [a | fcr gnperjor ,0 our own? as a b(](]y^ ^ g js no, into consideration. But more of this hereafter. The Massachusetts Agricultural Repositorj', for June 1825, vol. viii. No. iv. contains the fol- lowing observations, which are sele'cted from other remarks on the same subject, favourable as to im- Wh'»n bop plants tir'st shoot in the spring, and are pot more than 3 inches long, they may be cooked and eaten like asparagus, and are said to be nut only palatable but wholesome. They are recommended as useful in scurvy, jaundice, C'stlve haiiiis. &r. WilllchV Domestic Encyclo- ■ - ■ mi lie deeflctinoS and syrups tended with much in pwtilflntia' - a pillow filled rfied offspring of Hie improved short horns is larger than our native, breed, I suppose is not to be controverted. English writers declare the short horns to be the largest breed in Eng- land ; and this with the quality of fattening at nn early age may recommend it to farmers in those parts of our country, where oxen are rais- ed for 6m/ not for labour ; and where they have richer pastures than are generally to be found in New England, at least in Massachusetts."-— Again, in the same essay (N. E. Farmer, vo' of their pre-eminence old heifers I have calves of the most promising appearance, and greatly excelling any I have before seen. One of the heifers gives from 16 to 20 quarts of the richest milk, by the day since calving ; the other a little less, from the circumstance of having been in milk continual- ly for more than a year; but her milk is in no degree inferior in quality. The last season she gave eleven quarts at a milking, with grass only, and this not unfrequently. They keep as easily as the native slock, and are as hardy. I have this year a three fourths heifer calf from a half blood of Denton by Admiral, the famous bull sent out by Sir Isaac Coffin last year, to the Massachusetts Agricultural Society, and two iv. pages, 90, 91.) Col. Pickering says'- 1 have j others by the celebrated bull Coelebs, or Den no disposition to question the character of Ih several testimonies Mr 1'oucl has diiiaehiky col- lected and published to prove tbje^upei ferity of the short horns.''' « Jf0r did 1 write for the wealthy farmers of Pennsylvania who culti- vate Hie rich soils of the finest pans of that state; farmers who perform their team labour with ton's halt blood. They are fine promising ani- mal*, 'although in no respects superior to the three fourths of Denton. I have no knowledge of the properties of this stock for labour, never having altered but one of the males. I cannot, however, perceive any reason to doubt their value in this particular. Their form indicates bulls, which selected with care, their progeny raised and kept from contamination with inferi- or animals, for five or six generations would produce a race of cattle which we migbt show with pride in Smilhfield. But who are our capitalists that will select and lake due care of them. Where is the man who has so cautious- ly guarded the progeny of a fine cow-? .and if From my three years j he did, unless he should raise her bull calves as husbands, how can he hope to keep the race pure ? " Would there be any question in the mind of any sensible cultivator about to raise his own stock, that if a neighbour bad improved his own race so that they were eminently fitted for the various uses of this most important agricultural animal for milk, for beef, and for draught, that it would be for his interest to procure that stock and to sell off his own miserable breed? We trust not. Well, then, another nation has done this for us. She offers you the effect of 50 years' experiment. Will yoarefuse it? We hope not. " The Massachusetts Agricultural Society of- fered a premium for the importation of the best races of Great Britain. They came. The pre- miums were awarded. The public admired the animals. The public may have been deceived; they may have been carried away by the nov- elty. Still they lingered and looked and crowd- eed round these imported animals. They thought that they were superior to any of their own. — Esperienced farmers, herdsmen, butchers so 1826.] NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 319 pronounced (hem ; they awarded the premiums. Still this may be all infatuation. The mere love of novelty. They produced calves ; the calves were better formed, grew faster, had flesh on more valuable parts, had better hair and 9 finer fed,'''' indicating a dispositioti to fatten ; they weighed more on the same keeping-. Was all this illusion ? We think not. We say we think not ; we add, we know it is not ull illusion. — We know it to be founded on good and substan- tial grounds. We had some excellent cows of native race which we had carefully kept thro' three successive generations, and we have been amply rewarded for it. We have recently cros- sed them with the foreign breeds ; the calves were manifestly superior. Not having a large farm, we parted with the calves to our friends and recently upon inquiry of a friend who had two of our calves, and had a stock of eleven cows, we found the two highest, as to milkers, vvere of this mixed race. " We have now two cows of the mixed race, one out of Fill Pail, and one out of Mr Parsons' Holderness, and they are much superior to any cows we have been able to purchase for 20 years. We are now raising calves of the half blood to supply the cows which are now getting aged. One advantage they certainly have; they keep their flesh better without diminish ing their milk. Still there are native cows, a very few, as good, and some better. "We now proceed to' the most important eon- sideration in relation to these imported animals. " Their calves sell better; they are more care- fully watched ; they have introduced a habit of attention to stock; they excite a spirit of rival- ry, and one of the most valuable and important effects of the late interesting letters of Col. Pick- ering will probably be to induce our farmers to endeavour to compete with and surpass the im- ported breeds. " While Col. Jaques, the most successful and the most intelligent of our breeders, who under great disadvantages of location, seems to rival the celebrated Bakewell in his skill and atten- tion, can sell his pure breed, as he has done this spring, at 300 dollars for an eight months' bull calf, there can be no doubt that the experiment will be fairly tried. As Col. Pickering does not seem to believe that any serious evil has re- sulted from the importation of a worse stock, we think we may safely encourage the crosses of this race with our own, keeping in mind as we ought to do, as he wisely suggests, that far the most ready and rapid way to improve our stock, is to select and ,iaise only ths best of our own treed. " The above extracts from the Mass. Ag. Rep. were, we believe, written by the Hon. Johh Lowell, President of the Mass. Agric. Society; whose character as a scientific, judicious, and discriminating agriculturist could not be enhanc- ed by our eulogy. The comparative merits, of different breeds of cattle can be correctly esti-' mated by those alone, who have kept both or all the kinds, with, regard to whose superiority a question exists. Mr Lowell, having made long and continued trials of native cattle, and crosses with imported cattle, gives the preference to the latter. Mr Lowell, perhaps, as intimated hj, Col Pickering,* gave his cattle better food and attendance than most farmers bestow on their stock. His experiments, therefore, have not tested the hardihood of the cattle of either breed. Whether the short horns, or any other of the improved breeds will endure hard fare, care- less attendance and exposure to the vicissitudes of the climate of New England a9 well as our common breeds, is a question ; and we know o no facts, which may aid in its decision y.ii.r: of saxoxy sheep. Imported by George i 'II. r; E arle. On '1 1. day, 4th May ruxl, ..t Brighton, neai Br.ston, Will be gold at Public Auction. The tnlire Flock of .-.AVON V SHEEP, imported in the ship .Marcus, and expected per ship Ainu. Bremen. These sheep were selected by the same Agents who purchased the flock sold at Brighton last year, which |;u( ban given so general satisfaction to purchasers. They have been selected alter a thorough examioa- their acknow edged superiorly in certain par- .. „r .,„.. f „ , • c ■ J .r . I tion of every line liock in Saxony, without regard to expense ; aud gentlemen ii.terested in the growth of fine wool i:i this country, may be assured that the present flock consists entirely of shetp equal to the ticulars does not imply, much less prove, inf riority in other points. If the short horns, or mixed breeds of which that breed composes a part, will thrive most on good keeping it tloes ljest »fa"y previous importations not follow of course that they would suffer most V»*%* "u"'! ',' '" ■! ' '" :;™ ™5202BlJ*s ..„.-' . and 12a Ewes, ol which aboi:l ou<- half have arrived. — on poor keeping. The same strength of con j A ■. i 1st \ielding milk — and of this kind. Ml tainly no objects for the rcgitlar dairy, however J Coates retries among others, Western Lady, in pleasing and convenient they may be in the pri- Mr Whhaker's herd. As the keeper of the vate family way. Yet they have" been formerly i Herd Cock, and a hreeder so successful, as to used with success at Epping in Essex, in cr.c or\ have obtained 500 guineas for a bull, as early tteo instances ; as a balance to which. as i prior to Colling's sale, he trust be con- '.iniversaUy rejected by the dairies of ;' . a»n amdl sioVfed a competent judge. (See Strickland's the neighbouring counties" , Survey, page -23.J It appears that Mr Lawrence thinks with you I The ~.c.\ Mr Berry, of Acton Rectory, Eng- lhem a distinct breed, 1 might have saved lb ' that " one swallow does not make a snmmer," ; 'and sman ol great sagacity and much trouble of n:;rnin<» them ill all : "as 1 it;v. ibis breed too delicate and tender ever to he much attended to by our British farmers. " In a former .'number of the New England Farmer, in quoting Lawrence, page 615, an error of the press is evident. Lawrence says, " Doubtless the fault I found with the ,'orm of the Holderness oxen, ought in great measure to be ascribed to the milkiness of the breed or the Alderney cross." Not to the " Holtierness" cr<-ss as it is given in the New England Sarmer.t Laurence, page 74. — The Alderney ind Nor- man Cattle. " The cattle of the isla-.ds on the French coast, are, I believe, collectively known by be name of Alderney. These are a variety OF, AND SMALLER THAN THE NoRMAN : light red, yeliow, dun, and '"awn coloured ; short, wild- hornr ri,ecked, witha generai resemblance TO THAT ANIMAL ; THIN, HARD, AND SMALL BONED ; IRREGULARLY, OFTEN VERY AWKWARDLY SHAPED. — Thi- description refers chiefly to the cows. — Th. y are amongst the best milkers in the world as to quality, and in that respect, are either be- fore, or immediately next to the Long Horns ; but in weight of butter for inches,! they are far superior to all."* * * * * " This species is, in course, a proper cross for the large and coarse boned, but in that view I should preler the real i ' ture, vol. v. page 471. Dr r.irry, a scientific Short H and practical farmer, tracing the evils of -breed mg in. mentions the North Devon Cowr, " long and their Pretensitons, 18S4"1 Ibat he ascertained upon the spot, that Yellow Rose enve at 4 years old, 4 gallons 3 quarts — Red * I he page was beaded "'Culley on Live Stock;" and no other author's name Iteiug mentioned on thai page, nor the following one. we supposed they were both quoted from Culley, but observed that we had not seen the original work. — Editor. t It should have been * Alderney Cross." — Editor. J Qutre— How are Alderney? " in we ight of butter" oli hate br.cn dignified with lh.it tide) is just beginning to he understood in Great Britain. For about ten years the new method of constructing' roads, first adopted and practised by Mr EH' Adam, lias been pursued there ; and such has been the success which has attended it, so complete has been the conviction of its superiority over all former methods, wherever it has been introduced, that conflicting interest and prejudice, which, in com- mon with every important improvement, it has had to encounter, have in this short time been] so completely removed, that its excellence can no longer be questioned; arid there can be no doubt That it will henceforth be adopted in pre- ference to all other modes of making and re- pairing roads in that kingdom. Travellers of all descriptions, mail contractors, and civil en- gineers, parliament and people, unite in the most ample testimonials in its favour, and libe- ral grants have been made to Mr M'Adam in remuneration for his services in this department as a public benefactor. A concise description of the plan on which these roads are constructed is all that our limits will admit. For a more particular and satisfac- tory account we must refer to the Essay of Mr. M'Adam himself,the eighth edition of which was published in London the last year, and which we hope soon to see republished in this country. His method mainly consists, after preparing the bed of the road for the purpose (in doing which all the stones near the surface must be removed.) in covering it with a flooring of broken stone of eight or ten inches in thickness, the largesi stone not to exceed six ounces in weight. These fragments of stone are soon worn smooth by the travelling, and unite by their angles into a solid. impenetrable mass, over which the wheels ol the heaviest carriage will pa-s without making any sensible impression. Another important part of the system is to have the side-gutters or water-courses so as effectually to chain the water from the earthy bed of lite road, that it may not be injuriously affected by the winter, frost ; and for this purpose it is desirable, that the bed of the road should not be below the level of the adjacent fields, but when practica- ble raised a little above that level. The im- pervious covering or roofing of stone will pre- vent any inconvenience from the rain, which fall* upon it ; and, thus protected, the road is subject to no other injury than the necessary but gradual wear of the stone materials of which it is constructed. Under such circumstances an earthy bed is even preferred to a rocky one, as it yields more beneath the weight of the load carried over it, and the wear of the road is less on that account. It is particu'arly insisted on by Mr M'Adam, that no stones exceeding six ounces in weight be admitted in any part of the road. If larger stones be placed at bottom, according to the method which has been long pursued by many road-makers, while those of a smaller size are placed on the surface, the larger stones will in a short time rise to the top, thus making the surface rough and uneven, and at the same time penetrable by the rain-water, which will gradually undermine and destroy the foun- dation or bed of the road. Such is a brief outline of the manner of mak- ing roads, which we hope ere long to see ex- tensively introduced into our country. Tlia experiment has been tried, and with the' was about to abandon the coal mid i best success, in this country. Two of the streets Messr- .Me!:<.u and I, ish< >[.,.<,! J1..1. ware comity in the town of New Bedford were constructed madejjn expeiinnnl mil, tome «i ih< last year upon this plan, and we believe a few (heir felling mill, and I ,-.,,...,! I-- other attempts have been made on a small scale. >0nd exp.i i.iln.n, mid lobe a highly v»h\i A sufficient to satisfy all, who have had an op- "useful i,,,.|. The result of their <-v. : im-n s portunity of witnessing them, of the excellence ww p„MMied at ihe lime in the Philadelphia of the system. In the cities of London ai paper >me experiment! u';iti ihe seat were Bristol, the pavements of several entire streets m!,de in Ihe w irks al Ihe falls 1 I Si hiiylkJH, I ill have been taken up, and the broken-stone roads without sacce#*. Mr Wei n wag, the manager al of Mr M'Adam substituted in their place. This the gbBSfiix vroiks al Fsench ui< a mo Bide has been done from a conviction of ihe superi- |rjH| 0f our coal, and found then I ininenll) n-e- ority of the stoned road for smoothness and ease |„|. From that lime forward, Ihe use of the of draught; while in cases where pavement- co9j spread rapidly, and now? hide fair lo beceaa are not already laid, it will be found to afford a m0st important and valuable branch of trade* not only a much better road, but a much more , .,n,| (0 produce, result* highly beneficial lo the economical one, than the old method of paving. ■ interests of Pennsylvania generally. ~ I ; T j The foregoing statement may appear minute. Discovery and introduction of Schuylkill Coal— buj it is due~lo 'lhe individuals H|10 |B|,r.riH 10 Anthracite- Stone Coal of Schuylkill Cant;,. | ,-(irre „,,„„ „s ,[ie gre;lt benefili which coal is We are led lo believe that the following his- ! and will be in our state. We are aware lhat tory of the use and introduction of anthracite in i lhe credit of pointing out lhe use, and perhaps Pennsylvania, will not be uninteresting lo our I of discovering lhe Anthracite, has been claimed readers. This coal was known In exist in this ! by, and .awarded lo.individual- in another pari of neighborhood more than forty years ago ; and 1 our .-tale : but it is within the knowledge «. tire- some search was made, but lhe coal found being ny, thai Shoe individuals joined in pronouncing so very different from any which was previous- ■ ;he r.oal good for nothing. We have abundant ly known, it was not thought 40 he of any value, j testimony also tor the facts and dales we have and the search was abandoned. It is supposed igiven; from which it uppears, that to Mr David lo be forty years, since a blacksmith by the Berlin, George- Shoemaker, and Messrs, Mellon name of Whetstone, found coals and used them & Bishop, aie w e. indebted for lhe discovery in his smithshop. At a very early period, of the'use au. I introduction of our Anthracite or Judge Cooper declared his belief in the exist- stone coal. — Miner's Jour, ence of coal in this district, and Ihe Messrs. Potts explored various places along the old Sun- bury road, but success did not attend their ope- rations. A Mr William Morris, afterwards be- came the proprietor of most of Ihe coal land sal . . LUSH ROPE. A vi'-e called the bush rope by lhe wood-cut- lers, on account of its use in hauling out the heaviest ;.-has a singular appearance in* the head of our canals ; he found coal, and look | the forests of Demarara. Sometimes yon s*-e v some quantity to Philadelphia, about the year 'nearly as thick as a man's bodv. twisted like a 1800; but all his efforts to bring them into use. 1 cork-screw, round lhe tallest tree-, and rearing failed, and he abandoned the project, and sold I its head high above their tops. At other limes his lands to their present proprietor, Mr Pott, j three or four of them, like slrands in a cable, ll does not appear that much notice was taken join tree and tree, and branch and branch to- ol'the coal from the lime ofWhetstone, and thejgelher. Oihers descending from on high, take search made by the Messrs Potts, until about root as soon as their extremity touches the twenty years ago ; when n person by the name | ground, and appear like shrouds and slays sop- of Peter Basleus, a blue dyer, in building the parting the mainmast of a line of battlle ship • valley forge, found coal in the tail race. About ; while others, sending out parallel, oblique, bor- the same lime a MrDavid Beilin.a blacksmith,1 izontal, and perpendicular shoots in all direc- in Ihis neighborhood, permanently commenced lions, put you in mind of what travellers call and introduced the use of Stone Coal in ihe a matted forest. Oftentimes a tree, about a smith's forge, and continued to use and instruct hundred feet high, uprooted by the whirlwind, others in their use for many years afterwards. | is stopped in its fall by these amazing cables of But few persons, however could be induced to \ nature ; and hence it is that you account for use them ; prejudice and old habits again be-, ihe phenomenon of seeing trees, not only vege- came victorious, and appear lo have held un- Mating, but sending forlh vigorous shoots, though disputed sway until about the year 1812, when' far from their perpendicular, and their trunks Mr George Shoemaker a resident of this town, inclined to every degree from the meridian to and Nicho Allen, discovered coal, on a piece 01 ihe horizon. The heads remain firmly support- land they had purchased, now called Centreville. ; ed by the bush rope ; manv of their roots soon Allen soon became disheartened and gave up | refix themselves in the earth, and frequently a the concern to Shoemaker, « ho, receiving en- ; strong shoot will sprout out perpendicularly cooragement from some gentlemen in Phiiadel- : from near the root of the reclined trunk, and in phia, got out a quantity of coal and look nine j lime become a fine tree, wagon loads to Philadelphia. Here again, our C)al met with a " wagon loads, Mr b. goi uie carriage pi others he gave away to persons who would at- i den streets, calledT.xchange Buildings.werejle- tempt to use them. The result was against the I stroyed by fire on Friday morning last. 'hiladelphia. Here again, our host of opposition. " On twoj Fire in New York— The new and beautMul S. got the carriage paid, the! range of buildings situated in William and Gar- The coal, those who iried them, pronounced them stone and not coal, good for nothing, and Shoe- maker an impostor. At length, alter a multi- tude of disappointments, and when Shoemaker loss is estimated at not less thin £200,000; and there was insurance to the amount of «$132,uOO. The range consisted of seven four story brick, buildings. 324 NEW ENGLAND FARMER. [May, SCIENTIFIC MEMORANDA, APPLICABLE j The fertility of a soil depends materially (the TO RURAL ECONOMY. food of vegetables being alike present) on us t- ■ ... .v, ~..a ,„i™ ,i;„pS»Prf' absorbent qualities; or the power which it pos- Lime is an a kaline earth, and when divesteo , \-- '„„„.;■ ,, ~f mniotnre neces- UlC !lcv,ta growth i J spssps of retainin°r a auantitv of moisture neces of the acid with which it is naturally combined, I se r* « ;*♦* ■ ™rL-= in sary for the nourishment and Vigo is cans ic like potash. It exists an ™ckv£ of J ant9. wllen this ower is great, Davy ob- earths, in water, id vegetables, and is the basis P supplied with moisture in of animal bones. It is combined with carbonic serves, me piani is sun ■ ■ th ... ,. . ,. un „„.! dry seasons : and the effect of coapoiaiion in uie acid in common lime stone, chalk, marble, ana , J . > .,,■",• „l„„„„#i„„ „/• nmiemit .. . „ f ■ • ' i. .,-,1, eili„h,.rir ! dau *s counteracted by the absorption oj aqueous the shells of marine animals; with sulphuric "2 ° J , i i„tprior nnrts . , .,, a ■ , i • r,„L' i,;„ ' vapour from the atmosphere, by the.iutenor pans and in gypsum ; wi h tluoric acid in Uernyshire "™r" J . '' ' J, , l„,l .^ :_._ . -J r , . . ■ c j j of the soi durinar the day, and oy ooin me mie- spar, trom which is manufactured vases and °] ule 50> "«""» .' ,•>'. ,J • ., Thi .u •.. u u„ :„ „„:j ;„ th- nor and the exterior during the nigni. i ms other ornaments ; with phosphoric acid in the '" . . ° - lh n-i innce , ,- . i . i h i » rr„ „njor shows the importance of keeping the sou loose, bones of animals and shells ot eggs, lo render , . ' r . _„„jOP it nprmpnl . .,. , ,. °°. . „\ _„i„.-_ even in droughts, in order to render it permea- carhonate of lime (common lime stone) subser- r= c ' » ' . , Vari'nnn soils be to the atmosphere and dews. *ient to agriculture and the arts, the carbonic acid is expelled by heat, in the common process of burning. It thus becomes caustic or quick lime. But its value as such is impaired in pro- 1 -- it recombines with carbonic acid, 000' in proportion to the vegetable and finely dried at 112, were found by Davy, to acquire !in an hour, by exposure to a moist air of 62° an increased weight of from 3 to l<-> portion as which it does rapidly if exposed to the atmos- phere. It also possesses a strong affinity for water, and will absorb one fourth of its weight of that fluid ; and yet remain perfectly dry. — The water becomes solidified, and • identified with the earth. The heat, therefore, that is evolved in the process of slacking lime, is the caloric of the water, as it passes to its solid state, and does not proceed from the lime as is sometimes supposed. — Parkes. Upon an aver- age every (on of lime stone has been found on experiment, to produce 11 cwt. 1 qr. 4 lbs. of quicklime, weighed before it was cold ; and that when exposed to the air it increased in weight daily, at the rate of a hundred weight per ton, for the first five or six days after it was drawn from the kiln. — Bishop Watson. These facts suggest the importance of transporting lime, where it is, to be used at a uhtance from the kiln, as soon as possible after it is burnt ; and also of using it speedily when its caustic qualities are to be relied od. Slacked lime, therefore, is a combination of 55 parts of lime, and 17 parts of water solidified; and in this state it is called hydrate of lime, to denote its union with hydrogen, the principal constituent of water. — See Davy's Ag. Chem. p. 283. Caustic or quick-lime is extensively used in the arts, but I shall confine my present observa- tions to some of its benefits in husbandry. When lime, freshly burnt or slacked, is mix- ed with any moist fibrous vegetable matter, there is a strong action between the two, and they form a kind of compost together, of which a part is usually soluble in water. Lime thus renders matter which was before inert, nutri- tive to vegetables ; and as charcoal and oxygen abound in all vegetable matters, quick lime is converted into mild lime by absorbing carbonic acid, which is their joint product. — Duvy. Lime possesses the property of hastening the dis- solution and putrefaction of all animal and veg- etable matters, and of imparting to the soil the power of retaining a quantity of moisture ne- cessary for the nourishment and vigorous growth of plants. — Park Mild lime, powdered lime stone, marles or chalks have no action of this kind upon vegeta- ble matter. By their action they prevent the too rapid decomposition of substances already dissolved; hut they have no tendency to form soluble matters. — Davy. They are mechanic- ally beneficial upon sands, in rendering them more firm and adhesive; and upon clays, in ren- dering them less so. useless in a state'of solution if it so abounded as wholly to exclude air, for then the fibres or mouths, unable to perform their functions, would soon decay and rot off. Earths are bad conductors of heat ; and it would be a considerable time before the gradu- ally increasing temperature of spring could com- municate its genial warmth to the roots of veg- etables, if their lower strata were not heated by some other means. To remove this defect, which always belongs to a close compact soil, it is necessary to have the land open, that there may be a free ingress of the warm air and tepid rains of spring. Animal and vegetable substan- ces, exposed to the alternate action of heat, moisture, light and air, undergo spontaneous de- compositions, which would not take place inde- pendent of it. Thus pulverization increases the nwnber of the fibrous roots or mouths of plants; facilitates the more speedy and perfect prepar- ation of their food ; and conducts it, so prepar- See Grisenth- divided matter contained in the different speci mens— the absorption being greatest where these most prevailed. Vegetable substances I ed, more readily to their roots possess the power of absorbing and retaining ttaife and Louden. moisture in the greatest degree. Mild lime, orj These principles are illustrated by the fertili- carbonate of lime imparts this property to sands ; ty of a clp\ er lay. The roots of this plant pene- in a remi uable degree; and marles are there- tratt; thp soil in every direction; and as they decay, they aff rd not only the elements of food, tiut free admission to heat, air and moisture, the agents for preparing this food. A complete pul- verization is induced. Hence most crops are benefitted by a clover laj ; and probably none fore useful on such soils in proportion as they abound in this carbonate. Pulverization.— Even a free silicious soil will if left untouched become too compact for (he proper admission of air, rain and heat, and for j more so lhan Indian corn, which is enabled to the free growth of the fibres ; and strong upland multiply its months to an incredible extent. It clays, not submitted to the plough or spade, is Ihe property which they possess of pulveriz- will, in a few years, be found in the possession ing the soil, that renders almost all root crops of fibrous rooted perennial grasses, which form i meliorating, and proper to precede barley and a clothing on their surface, or strong tap root- j wheal. The effects of pulverization in mulli- ed trees, as the oak, which force their way I plying fibres is particularly apparent in trees through the interior of the mass. Annuals and and shrubs. Trees taken from a forest are ramentaceous rooted herbaceous plants cannot j found to possess far less fibrous roots than those penetrate into such a soil. I taken from a cultivated nursery. This is the The first object then of pulverization is to, reastft ihat forest trees, raised in a nur-ery, are five scope to the roots of vegetables ; for without much more liable to grow than those taken from abundance of these no plant will become vigor- uncultivated grounds. Curwen has furnished a ous, whatever may be ihe richness of the soil in 'remarkable evidence of the benefit of pnlveriza- which it is placed. The fibres of the roots take (jon, i„ his '■ Hints on agricultural subjects."— up the exiract of the soil, or food of ihe vegeta- He grew thirty-five and an half tons of cabba- ble, in proportion ;o their number. The more l vegeiate, 'grow and ripen, in 90 days this year, instead of 130 that it had las! year. Such is the difference in the two seasons. — Hamp