Contrary to all my calculations, our young wheat promises well-I would rejoice to say the same of our currency: let us believe that "chastisement leadeth to wisdom." I have planted for 3 years, 7 or 800 locusts each season, and expect to double that number in future. They are planted on ditch banks and turning rows. I would not give up my subscription to the Register for the best horse advertised in the Richmond papers. Our oat crop is promising, and as I use this as a part of my preparation for fallow, it is not uninteresting; for it gives my horses a good support, and pays well for making the land ready for our wheat crop. Our corn is very unpromising, as it has been cut down twice by frost, and can, at best, do no more than give the produce of crippled plants. My free use of the coulter is all that gives me hope. Though planted early in April, the corn is not visible at many yards distance. I am, nevertheless, giving it the third stirring with the coulter, and the earth is in fine tilth to the depth of ten inches. Should the season become more favorable, all that I can do will be already done for the security of the crop. Our clover is the worst I have seen for 20 years. JEREMIAH. in which all washings will be left, and the work stewardship." The moral and political strength ultimately ruined. This important fact in draining of every country can be measured by the condiI had to learn by experiment: and upon so long tion of its agriculture. and crooked a stream, (and that a boundary) to straighten all the angles, and make the drain at my own cost and loss, was not exactly pleasant. As a short rule for making drains, let me say that they should be straight, and of full capacity to contain the water thrown into them, always taking care to begin at the outlet or lowest point. By measure and estimate, sufficiently accurate for all my purposes, I have not less than thirty thousand yards of water and fence ditching, fifteen-sixteenths of which is necessary to the drying and draining of my farm. Not less than one-quarter of all these must be scoured and cleaned every year. Like a gambler, I was drawn into this work by imperceptible degrees, and finally played on because I had already lost so much. Separately considered as a matter of profit, I am not prepared to justify such expensive works. Nevertheless they show young farmers that perseverance, with a very limited degree of knowledge and experience, will, in time, surmount what would seem to be insuperable difficulties. Though my land was once remarkable for its great growth of rushes, I believe it would now be difficult to find one. Clover and plaster operate well even upon that land that was covered 50 years by the mill pond. As for covered drains, I have made many, but they were I pray your correspondents to excuse my desulvery unsatisfactory: and I would not advise any tory and irregular communication-but trust they to make them. No wet land will be benefited by will excuse a sick man. I am in debt to them, plaster: but the same land made dry, if it had ori- and offer this, crippled as it is, as 'part and parginally good constitution, will give surprising re-cel" of the currency of the times. sults a young farmer, by the use of clover and plaster may feel his way into necessary draining: for wherever the land is diseased and unsound, from excess of water, plaster is as useless as sand. I will take this opportunity to say that I am no advocate for deep ploughing, but a decided one for deep stirring. Five or six inches deep for the plough, and then 10 or 12 with the coulter (including that which is broken by the plough,) is the best that I have any knowledge of. No land thus cultivated, will ever wash. It is a great defect in our laws that there is no way for constraining all who are benefited by expensive drains to do their proportion of the work. Nothing can be more just. Bonaparte in his "Code Napoleon," provided for this-but in a community like this, where the politicians rule, and are found at the head and lead of those whose interest it is to keep up a wide spread common, the waste and ultimate desolation of the country is a matter of certainty, and susceptible of mathematical demonstration. Since my agitation of this subject, I have been much amused to hear the little lawyers and political jaybirds chatter about "vested rights," and denounce the high handed aristocracy that would dare to claim the exclusive enjoyment of their own. Poor Virginia!-land of my fathers-land of the virtuous, the brave, and the patriotic-thy destiny may be paralized and arrested for a season-but, like the shorn and maltreated Sampson, time must and will restore thee to thy pristine powers and loveliness-and with "healing on its wings," it is already upon our border. To our highly respected General Assembly I would say, "Ye are the salt of the earth-take care of her rights-to her lap sooner or later you must all go-and for all that I know, must render to her some account of your THE QUAIL. About thirty years ago, this bird was unknown in Canada. It abounds in the Upper Province, but has not yet appeared in the Lower. Its habits appear remarkable, although probably not more so than those of any other wild fowl, when carefully watched. A gentleman, of much patient research in regard to wild animals, who has been a resident in Upper Canada since the quails first made their appearance, happened to have above a hundred at one period alive, and took much pleasure in the evening watching their motions, where they were confined. As it grew dusk, the birds formed themselves into coveys or parties of twelve or fifteen in a circle, the heads out, and tails clustered in the centre. One bird always stood on guard to each party, and remained perfectly stationary for half an hour, when a particular chuck being given, another sentinel immediately took his place, and relieved him with as much regularity as any garrison could boast. It became a matter of further curiosity to observe how they would meet the extra duty occasioned by the havoc of the cook. For this also a remedy was found; and the gentleman remarked with admiration, that as their number decreased, the period of watch was extended from a half to a whole hour, in the same form, and with unfailing regularity. [The quail here mentioned is supposed to be the Virginian Partridge, Perdix virginiana, the quail of Europe, Perdix Coturnix, not being indigen ous in any part of America.-EDIT.]-Quar, Jour, of Agr, Diary of the temperature and state of the weather in May, observed at Shellbanks, Prince George county, 37 deg. 14 min. N. Lat. 123456 Fair or sunshine, f-cloudy, c-rain, r. 28828 INR Twilight. Weather. Change of wea- night. 72 r 50. с 70 с 8 r f 9 с 69 с 10 с 67 f 61 с 75 с good deal of earth upon the firm sod of the meadow below, which had recently been mowed. Going into it immediately afterwards for the purpose of having the obstructions in the water trench removed and other damages repaired, I observed that with the earth left on the meadow were many grains of wheat. I had no apprehension of evil consequences at the time, and supposed that those seeds would either perish from want of covering, or the watering of the meadow during winter, or would be wheat and removed at the next year's mowing. They however, vegetated and grew vigorously, and the next spring every bunch proved to be cheat, while not one single head of cheat was discovered among the wheat which remained and grew on the hill where it was sowed and ploughed in-which yielded a good crop, exceeding 20. bushels to the acre, and would have been larger, if it had not received injury, for a short time, from the clover caterpillar. In addition, I have to state that in no part of the meadow was there cheat, except where the earth and seed wheat washed from the hill, were deposited. To me this phenomenon seems inexplicable, on your hypothesis-but I do not mean to reason on it-leaving that to you and "taking on myself the responsibility" for the fact only. Yet, while I dare not affirm that you are in error, I must say that it seems to me imprudent to deny positively the metamorphosis alleged by so many persons upon observations apparently careful and accurate. It is true that generally, "it hath pleased God to give to every seed his own body," and we expect, in the order of nature, when we sow, to rain all night reap "after its kind." Nevertheless, we know but little of substances, and we know also that nature is constantly working wonders and producing monsters both in the animal and vegetable portions of her productions. Facts alone can decide a controversy, and they alone ought therefore to be looked after-and looked to. * EXTRACTS FROM PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. Orange county, N. C., April 30th, 1834. Sumpter District, S. C. 14th May, 1834. The subject of marl is a very important one, for the declining states of the Atlantic section. Is it not probable that it is to be found at the same distance from the sea coast, and the primitive formation in the Carolinas? I should suppose so. It is a great pity a good geological, topographical, mineralogical and geographical survey, could not be had of the States. Why could not there be a class at West Point especially organized for this purpose, whence would issue surveyors of the proper kind? With these the States could join their intelligent youth, who formed into companies, could traverse the country with their instruments, and confer all the benefit which could be required. The seasons here have been up to this period, very disastrous to the crops of cotton and corn, both of which look miserable from the excessive cold. Corn is selling in Columbia and Camden and the country below, at 87 to 100 cents per bushel, and will be in some districts worth 125 to 150 cents, before the harvest. In Charleston, the North Carolina corn is to be had at not less than 72. It would be curious to know, what part of these 72 cents go to the grower; and whether a rail road from Roanoke to Fayetteville, and thence to the Peedee, would not put a larger portion into his pocket, and open a much more extensive market. By growing a large quantity of oats, many planters might buy corn, if sold at a cheap rate, and thus for a few years rest, could restore their land. Isle of Wight, Va. 23d May, 1834. I now congratulate you on the success and high character, of that publication. And I trust, it will greatly contribute to accelerate the hitherto slow, and almost imperceptible progress of agricultural improvement in Virginia. I am not one of those, however, who imagine that the exhausted fertility of the lands of our state, can be restored in any short period of time. The impoverishment and devastation, which it required more than two centuries to produce, can only be repaired by the successive efforts of several succeeding generations. Nor do I think that improvement in agriculture, necessarily or even essentially depends on any particular system or manner of husbandry. There is only one thing, and that is manuring in some way or other, essential to keep up fertility in land that is cultivated, or to import it in a short time to that which has been exhausted. My own opinion is, that expectations far too sanguine, are indulged by young farmers, as to the facility of improving land; and these are unreasonably encouraged by most of our writers on the subject. And the disappointment of these unreasonable expectations, has perhaps as great a tendency to drive respectable emigrants to the west, as any other cause. terlined, so as to require but few words to serve my purpose. "MR. L. TUCKER-I think your correspondent "T. S. P. may be assured that gypsum ground "fine, and laid for a long time exposed to the at"mosphere, will lose much of its fertilizing quality. "Gypsum and limestone, when reduced to powder, "have a strong affinity for carbonic acid." [Neither of them has the slightest affinity for carbonic acid for limestone is already furnished with as much as its proportion of earth (lime) can combine with and gypsum is equally saturated with a stronger acid (the sulphuric) which effectually prevents any affinity for, or any effect being produced by carbonic acid.]- -"and in as far as they are satu"rated with this principle, they love their attraction "for it." [This taken alone is true, and would have served to have overturned the preceding part of the same sentence, if the writer had known that one of the substances, limestone, is already and always saturated with this principle, and that the other, gypsum, cannot possibly take up the least particle of it.] "If either be reduced to pow"der, and spread thin on a plate, and the plate be "set in [over] a fermenting tub of beer, they will "soon be converted to carbonate of lime, or chalk." [That is, would be converted to what the limestone is already, and what neither this, nor any exposure, can possibly make of gypsum. If quick lime, instead of limestone and gypsum, was the substance so treated, then such a conversion to carbonate of lime would take place.] "The same "will occur partially if left exposed to atmospheric "air, and in as far as they imbibe this principle, "they lose their fertilizing qualities. Such are my "ideas on this subject, and remain yours, R. M. I have seen several communications in the "W." As such effects cannot take place at all, Farmers' Register on the subject of enclosing. for the reasons before stated, under any circumSince, I have spoken to a dozen or more of my stances, it is not worth showing that this inference acquaintances on the propriety of our legislature, is as much mistaken, as the theory upon which it passing a law prohibiting cattle, hogs and sheep, rests: nor is there any need of more words to show, from running at large, and thereby enabling us to that if gypsum loses its power by standing exposdo without fences-and every one of whom highly ed to the air, (which cannot be inferred from its approved of the plan. I have no doubt but that chemical composition or qualities,) we must search the farming interest would derive more benefit from for other, and very different causes, than those the passing such a law, than from any other legis-presented by R. M. W. It is not however my lative aid it could receive. THE FENCE LAW. May 24th, 1834. I entirely concur with the views of your correspondent on that subject in No. 12 of the Farmers' Register, under the signature of "Anti-fence." Before seeing that communication, I had been thinking myself of getting up a petition and circulating it in this county, praying the passage of such a law as that Anti-fence speaks of. It is my opinion it would receive the signatures of a decided majority of the voters of the county. But as was suggested by Anti-fence, for the sake of uniformity, I think it would be better that a petition come through the Farmers' Register. ERRONEOUS VIEWS RESPECTING GYPSUM. For the Farmers' Register. The last Genesee Farmer, (of May 10th,) contains a communication professing to answer some earlier inquiries respecting gypsum, which may be considered as a curiosity, on account of the number and magnitude of the errors which the writer has contrived to pack into so narrow a space. I will quote the whole piece, and in its regular order, but with my own remarks attached, or in intention to discuss that question, but simply to expose the errors which by being presented so confidently, and in so respectable a journal as the Genesee Farmer, might possibly be imposed on some readers for truth, and knowledge. J. B. According to the intention expressed in a former communication, I proceed to consider the means by which government may promote the improvement of agriculture; and shall direct my observations more particularly to those institutions and plans, which have been least discussed by my fellow laborers in this cause. I shall now consider Experimental and Pattern Farms. Among the establishments for the improvement of agricultural science and skill, which have been recommended at different times, a "model or pattern farm" has held a conspicuous place. If I have rightly understood what this establishment was to be, from the words of its advocates, the model farm was to exhibit, for the example of the to his country, as they are to be hurtful to his own agricultural community, the best cultivation and private interest. management, the most perfect processes of farming, In conformity with the views formerly expressed the use of the most improved utensils and ma- on the subject of the legislative aid needed for the chines, and the trial of experiments on a plan cal- improvement of agriculture in Virginia, I shall not culated to obtain full and satisfactory results. Now notice those means which others have treated of all these subjects are important, and their being in the Farmers' Register; and I may pass over the attained is highly desirable: but by combining discussion of the importance of experiments, and so many on one farm, and under one directing the course respecting them which agricultural mind, I have no doubt of a failure in almost every societies ought to pursue, because these parts of part of the scheme. The view to profitable crops the subject have been considered at large, in seveand products, (the main object of course on a farm) ral pieces in the early numbers of this journal. would prevent any thing like proper and continued Taking it for granted, or as proved, that numerous attention to courses of experiments: and still there well planned and well conducted experiments on would be enough experiments, and trials of new the disputed and doubtful points in agriculture, utensils and machines, and of new plans of til- would be highly beneficial, (if not more beneficial lage, to prevent economy and good management, than all other aids,) to the improvement of agriculand the permanency of any regular system, and tural science and practice, I proceed to maintain, to cause every year to be marked by disappoint- that to secure this end, the state should establish ment and loss. It does not require much foresight one or more experimental and pattern farms-not to be satisfied, that a farm on this plan would ex-to reap farming profits-but to obtain and dissemihibit any thing but a pattern for others to copy, innate agricultural truths. all respects; and the contrast between its object and its results—its promise and its performance would render it a subject for general and unsparing ridicule, and a means of injuring the cause it was intended to sustain. But putting aside these obstacles to the deriving any farming profit from such an establishment, it may be well doubted whether profit could be made from the crops of any farm, under any possible management, when owned by, and cultivated for the benefit of an agricultural society, or the commonwealth. We know how wasteful is the management, and how unproductive the labors of the agents of the public, and of all joint stock associations: and if a farm of the richest soil, and completely stocked, was managed in like manner, it would most likely yield loss, rather than profit, on the investment of capital. For all these reasons, it would be safest not to calculate on any pecuniary profit being derived from such establishments; but to look for the benefits to be derived, from other sources, and through other means; and these will be found to promise so rich a harvest, that the commonwealth may well afford to pay the cost of making such experiments. If there were a dozen such establishments, there would be no lack of proper subjects for experiments. Indeed it may be truly said that there are more doctrines and facts in doubt, than have yet been clearly settled. But I am not advocating so large a commencement. One such farm would be enough to render great general benefit, and would consume but a small portion of the funds which the legislature ought to appropriate, and I hope will appropriate, for the general improvement of agriculture. But though I consider profitable farming as out of the question on such an establishment as I propose, it does not follow that it may not show what good farming is, and serve as the best of models for profitable farms. If it was intended to test the value of the product to be derived from a clover fallow, such as has been described by Mr. Carter and Mr. Selden in the Farmers' Register, and for that purpose all the operations were conducted in the most perfect manner, and the crops of wheat were to be thereby doubled-it would not lessen the value of the result, that no regard had been paid to economy in the general management. If there was exhibited an important result from the Though an experiment sometimes leads at once preparation of a certain field in a particular mode, to highly profitable results, such cases are very or with particular kinds of ploughs and harrows, rare; and whatever may be the value of the truths we could imitate the process, and obtain the like thus established, to the public, the individual who results, without imitating the bad and wasteful institutes experiments in agriculture, is almost sure management which might have been evident in to lose by ninety-nine of them in the hundred-that, as in every other operation. When engi and to have his losses increased (on the average) neers, chemists, and scientific mechanics, have in proportion to the care, accuracy, and patience made a series of experiments to establish some with which he conducts his experiments. In other particular truths, who was ever so silly as to exwords, his losses increase in proportion to the in-pect profit from such experiments, or to undervalue crease of benefit which the public derive (or might the results on account of their cost? Governments derive if they were made known,) from his labors. have often ordered such experiments, and their It is not therefore surprising that there are but wisdom in so doing has always been deservedly few experiments made by individual farmers-and applauded. Let our government only do the same scarcely any conducted in the careful, patient, and for agriculture, which has a ten fold greater claim expensive manner which is required, to obtain un-than all other arts, and has a ten fold greater need doubted and valuable results. But this is not the of such assistance. worst. Though not one truth is ascertained by It would be worth the employing of the best experiment, where one hundred ought to be, and chemical talent that our country can produce, and might be, even the few which are discovered re- | the expenditure of $10,000, if so much was remain unknown to the public, and are often forgot-quired, to carry through a proper series of experiten completely, for want of sufficient means of ments on the preparation, preservation, and use of communication: and thus, the labors of the ex-barn-yard and stable manure. All sorts of conperimenting farmer are almost as sure to be useless tradictory opinions are held and acted upon on this than can be afforded by the northern millers, who have heretofore procured a portion of their supplies from Virginia. subject, although volumes on volumes have been | may be enabled, in consequence of the immense written, and a century consumed in the discussion, establishments which will be in full operation this without having decided any thing. Perhaps none summer, to obtain a higher price for their wheat of these opinions and practices are right-and certainly the greater part must be wrong-and the manure destroyed and wasted by our ignorance in Virginia every year, would support an experimental farm in every county in the state, and every other public institution that has been ever thought of for agricultural improvement. There never will be much light thrown on the mysterious subject of the fermentation of manures, until it is made a matter of the most attentive investigation by scientific and practical chemists and even if any one individual farmer could be found who was qualified for the investigation, there is none who could submit to the long continued attention and labor, and the very heavy expenses, which would be required for the purpose. These illustrations are merely brought forward as examples of what an experimental farm could do, and not as the objects which it would be most advisable to begin upon. Every one who will think on the subject will discover, in abundance, proper and profitable work (profitable for the general interests I mean,) to employ all the labor and money that may be appropriated for such purpose. If I induce any to think, it is enough: it is not my object, and is altogether needless, to state what will occur to every mind that is directed to the subject. MONTHLY COMMERCIAL REPORT. R. N. To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. Sir-Since my last communication there has been scarcely any change in the situation of commercial affairs. A state of torpor prevails in all the large cities north of Virginia. The spirit of enterprise, which had given activity to commerce and manufactures, continues paralyzed; the industry which was engaged in other than agricultural pursuits, finds no occupation, and not one of the many avocations which employed the capital and labor of our northern brethren, retains its former activity. Bankruptcies have ceased, because few new engagements were made after credit received its shock. This state of inactivity does not prevail so sensibly in the Southern States, whose commerce, instead of being ramified like that of our large cities, throughout every part of the world, is chiefly confined to supplying raw materials to the manufacturers of other countries. Those countries will resort to us, as we do to China, and carry on the trade of which we debar ourselves—a much larger portion of our commerce is therefore conducted on foreign account and with foreign capital than has been in former years. The prices of our produce have not varied materially during the month. Very fine tobacco, of which the crop contains a smaller proportion than usual, sells at $7 to 11-good 5 to 6-inferior and middling 3 to 5. The quantity inspected is less than any former year. The price of cotton (12 to 13 cents) has scarcely varied during the month, and has been higher in our markets than in those south of us, where all commercial operations are now greatly embarrassed by the difficulty of making negotiations. Bills on New York, which command a premium in Virginia, are at a discount in the southern cities, and the requiste amount cannot be negotiated unless at a sacrifice to brokers. X. P. S. Can you not induce some of your intelligent agricultural friends in different parts of the country, to give you a monthly report of the growing crops? From the 12th to the 16th of this month there were severe frosts-most unusual in our climate. It would be interesting to learn what injury was done. The Hessian Fly is said to have committed extensive ravages on the wheat cropthis is another subject of interest. May 28th, 1834. X. [Reports of seasons and crops have been already asked for, with very little success. The facts alluded to by X. are enough to show the want of such information. The effects of the frosts of the nights before and after the 16th, were not only unusually severe, but operated very unequally. No considerable damage however, it is believed, was sustained by any field crops though the first alarm caused some cotton to be ploughed up, and planted again. The Hessian Fly will cause much greater damage than has ever been previously suffered by our own wheat, though it was sowed within the time which usually insures safety. Other neighboring fields suffer as much, and will not yield the half of average crops: but it is said that others within ten miles, are but little affected. Thus it is, that a single reporter, confined to his own farm, or even his own neighborhood, might serve to spread error, more than correct information on such subjects, though many reporters would fully serve the purpose desired, and be of great service to the whole agricultural community.] CHEAP EDITION OF THE FARMERS' REGISTER. The only objection which has been made to the Farmers' Register is its price—and this is the principal obstacle to its circulation being extended very far beyond its present limits. It would not be difficult to show that the dearness of this work is alleged without good ground, and by a very unfair mode of comparison As usual at this season, there is no wheat in with low priced newspapers, in which mere bulk is market, and most of the mills are idle. Offers are considered, without regard to the nature of the conmade of early deliveries of the growing crop at tents, or the execution of the work. The appearance one dollar per bushel, or a fraction higher. Flour of a paper that is usually thrown aside as soon as it has is worth about $4 50, except that made at the been looked over, is not judged severely by its subscriCity Mills, of high repute, and which is exported almost entirely to South America. Our farmers bers; and if it is so printed as to be both legible and intelligible, most readers are content. But a periodical |