in hours. 5 60 24 12 3 .4 10 1 74 60 8 whole time or speculation. Neither is it by any means clear if cessary for the accomplishment of the work, would 6 Many of the details and estimates above stated, to counterbalance this single quality of the iron way. are taken from a report furnished by William F. In the first place, the wooden rail way, if proper-Small, Esq., civil engineer, whom we engaged to This estimate is made supposing the performance ly constructed, may be made for a sum not exceed-assist and direct our inquiries and operations. We on this proposed road from York Haven to Balti-ing one fourth the cost of iron. have great confidence in his intelligence and judg more, with its slight undulations, may be performed Secondly-It is easily accommodated to the sur-ment, and we return herewith a general topographion with a burden of ten tons with equal advantage face of the country in passing vallies, &c., whilst cal map of the proposed route of the road, with to a level road with a burden of twelve tons. the immense weight of the iron way would require some illustrations and remarks furnished by Mr. Table referred to, showing the actual perfor-solid embankments and other labour and expense to Small immediately after our return home last sum mance of a horse on the rail-ways in England and sustain the superstructure. mer, and we refer to it as exhibiting, not only a fine Wales, from which a comparative estimate may be Thirdly-The wooden rail way is not affected by specimen of his taste and talents for such works, formed respecting the operation on the proposed rail- the changes of temperature, and consequently the but as showing an accurate and instructive view of way from York Haven to Baltimore. work would always remain firm. The iron is con- the whole route. Mr. Small was engaged some stantly affected by the changes of temperature, and years ago, upon the same route, by the Susquehanbesides being constantly liable to break into pieces, na commissioners, and possessed the great advan it would from its liability to expansion and contrac-tage of being perfectly familiar with the country tion, never remain firm in its bed. And this effect, over which it passes. which we know to be true in general, will operate with increased force in a climate so exceedingly variable as ours. N. B. Carrying in view that we contemplate no angle of inclination which will not come under two degrees, aad that the amount of performance in the table is at the rate of two and a half miles per hour, and to be considered the excess of a horse's performance for a short time. со POWER. Four horses do. Fourth-The partial injuries which the wooden rail-way may sustain, can be cheaply and promptly repaired, without the slightest interruption to the travel upon the road. (To be continued.) LADIES' DEPARTMENT. Matrimonial MAXIMS FOR Married Ladies. The following maxims, if pursued, will not only These are certainly prominent advantages be make the men in love with marriage, but cause longing to the wooden rail-way, and if it is properly them to be good husbands:-The first is to be good constructed, and care used in the selection of tim-yourself. To avoid all thoughts of managing a husber, it will be found to be much more durable than band. Never try to deceive or impose upon his unis generally believed. If the same attention is paid derstanding, nor give him uneasiness, but treat him to its preservation, and timely repairs are made to with affection, sincerity and respect. Remember supply the defects of accident or decay, it might be that husbands at best, are only men, subject, like always kept in order, and would probably never reyourselves, to error and frailty. Be not too san10.0 quire to be taken up and renewed. guine, then, before marriage, or promise yourself 18 24 6 12 The construction of the rail-way, its precise form, happiness without alloy. Should you discover any width, &c., will be a subject for future considera-thing in his humour or behaviour not altogether tion; but in order to some general opinion on the what you expected or wish, pass it over; smooth subject of its probable cost, we directed a model to your own temper, and try to mend his by attention, be formed, representing a double rail-way four feet cheerfulness and good nature. Never reproach six inches wide, put together is the best and strong-him with misfortunes, which are the accidents and est manner in which timber can be joined, to be infirmities of life; a burden which each has engasupported on pillars or posts of the most durable ged to assist the other in supporting, and to which timber, and the top or surface of the rail-way to be both parties are equally exposed; but, instead of covered with a plate of iron three-eighths of an murmuring and reflections, divide the sorrow beinch thick, well secured. tween you make the best of it, and it will be easier to both. It is the innate office of the softer sex to soothe the troubles of the other. Resolve every morning to be cheerful all day; and should any thing occur to break your resolution, suffer it not to put you out of temper with your husband, Dispute not with him, be the occasion what it may; Whatever may be the advantage of iron in durabut much rather deny yourself the trifling satisfacbility and permanence, the enormous cost of it in tion of having your own will, or gaining the better the first instance would seem to forbid the use of it of an argument, than risk a quarrel, or create a at least in the present state of our knowledge and heart-burning, which it is impossible to foresee the limited experience upon the subject. "If we reckon end of. Implicit submission in a man to his wife is each single rail-way, (says a late English writer) at Making the total cost of the rail-way from ever disgraceful to both: but implicit submission in two thousand pounds per mile, and allow two rails Baltimore to York Haven, $577,500 a wife is what she promised at the altar; what the for vehicles going, and two rail-ways for those re- This we believe to be a liberal and enlarged esti-good will revere her for, and what is, in fact, the turning, the whole sum per mile will be eight thou mate, for instead of falling short, we have rather greatest honour she can receive. sand pounds per mile. In order, however, to guard exceeded the calculation of cost, predicated upon Be assured a woman's power, as well as her hapagainst contingent expenses, let the sum be stated the data upon which it was formed. piness, has no other foundation than her husband's at twelve thousand pounds per mile, which I think This estimate, it will be observed, does not in-esteem and love, which it is her interest, by all posthe most experienced engineers and surveyors will clude the cost of the bed of the road, for which it sible means, to preserve and increase. Study, allow to be the very extent." Taking this data as would be difficult to form an estimate. If the rail- therefore, his temper and command your own. Encorrect, and supposing that the work could be done road should follow the track of the turnpike road, joy with him his satisfaction, share and soothe his and the material supplied as cheap as in England, and the stock of the road companies, who are the cares, and with the utmost assiduity conceal his inthe cost of an iron rail-way in a straight line to the proprietors of the route, should be purchased or firmities. If you value your own and your busSusquehanna, would, at eight thousand pounds per subscribed at the present prices, the amount would band's ease, let your expenses and desires be ever mile, be two millions one hundred and thirty-one be small. If a new route should be adopted, the within the reach of his circumstances; for, if ever thousand two hundred dollars; at twelve thousand cost of it must depend upon circumstances which poverty should follow, you must share the evil. Be pounds per mile, it would amount to three millions cannot be brought into any estimate until an actual very careful never to give him any cause of jeaone hundred and ninety-six thousand eight hundred and detailed survey shall be made. In any event, lousy. Let not many days pass without a serious dollars. It could not be expected that so enormous however, it is not believed that the cost of the bed examination into your conduct.as a wife; and if, on a sum would be embarked in any enterprise whose of the road could exceed two hundred thousand reflection, you find yourself guilty of any foibles or success had not been tested by experience, and dollars; and the probability is, it would fall greatly omissions, the best atonement is to be more carefu! whose productiveness rested alone upon opinion short of that sum. The total amount of capital ne-in future. an celebrated horse, deserves to be known and re- (From the Providence Gazette.) horses by using no other farm stock for work except The foll wing lines were handed to the Editor mules. The value of these animals as work stock, upon the recovery of a favourite child from from an experience of thirty years or more, he alarming indisposition. The source from whence speaks of in the highest terms, and they have enthey came, and the paternal feeling which they ex-abled him to devote all the finer produce of his cite, we are full aware give to them a more than or-farm, such as hay, oats, fodder, &c., to the rearing dinary excellence in our estimation; for self love, of his blood horses, while the coarser produce, such though in its form of least alloy, mingles with the as rye, corn, straw and shucks, &c., have sufficed to Do. attachment we bear to our children. Nevertheless, keep his mules, from their hardy nature, in good we are confident that judgment and taste, divested plight. cal incident. TO HENRY L. H. of these partialities, will appreciate the touching If Mr. B. has been scrupulous in any one thing, Turn again thou little child, Lift thy spirit while 'tis free, Unto him who gave it thee! So shalt thou keep unstain'd and fair, ANNA. Length of body from the point of shoul- Do. at middle of back, Inches 234 25 654 hands. 15 1 15 1 14 13 74 74 362 19 114 44 214 128 72 104 From elbow to the ground, Round the cannon bone, From back to setting on of the tail, Round the cannon of hind leg, Round the head at jowls, taken, having arrived to the full perfection of his Eclipse was nine years old when the above was form. "Stable them at night and turn them out in the day, except in very bad weather: force them all you can the first winter-to do this, their principal food should be cut oats moistened and a due proportion of corn meal sprinkled over and mixed with them. Most foals are apt to be too delicate, forcing them and keeping them warm at night will increase the size of their limbs in proportion to the weight of their bodies. After they are one year old, they should not be kept so fat, nor yet permitted to get poor. A stud colt, which is intended to be kept as such, should be separated from other horses at a year old, and stabled of nights; his rack and manger should be so high as to strain him a little to get food; the windows of the stable should also be high, as he will be looking out at them: by these means his shoulders will be thrown back and his withers raised. If it be wished to increase his quarters, enlarge his muscles and other material With the above, may be contrasted the admeaparts, keep him in the stable frequently for several proprietor, the Lord Marquis of Rockingham, being surement in his legs of Sampson, as taken by his days together, which will animate him; then turn the only admeasurement of any English turf bred him out in a lot, and encourage him to run and ex-horse that has come to my knowledge. ert himself all you can, as his parts will acquire size Dimensions of the fore leg, from the hair of and strength in proportion to the use made of them. "I would recommend a mare of good form and From fetlock joint to bend of the knee, the hoof to middle of fetlock joint, thorough blood, though she cost the most, because From the bend of the knee to the elbow, her colts would cost no more to raise them than Round his leg below the knee, (the cannon,) those from an ordinary mare, and would proba-Round his hind leg, narrowest part, Sir, I have to request you to publish the follow-bly sell for more than three or four times as much. ing mode of raising blooded horses, as pursued by The reason I would wean in a stable is, that in the est horse that ever raced either before or since his Sampson was 15 hands in height, and the strongMr. William E. Brodnaxe, of Brunswick county, usual way of weaning in corn fields, &c., the colts time, and entitled to equal pre-eminence, if viewed Va., the most successful breeder in that state, according to the extent of his stud. This mode of fer wheat lots for mares and colts, because they like run themselves poor before they are weaned. I pre-as a hackney or hunter. raising colts needs no better sanction than to men-it better than any thing else, and I think it agrees tion the fact that Mr. Brodnaxe, by pursuing it, has better with them. I find oats made use of as above made an extensive fortune in the period of thirty stated, not only the most healthy and best, but also odd years, during which time the sales of his colts the cheapest food for mares and colts. In pursuing and horses, (as he informed me,) have averaged the course which has been laid down, I obtained the him from four to five hundred dollars. A single following results: brood mare of his has, in the course of ten years, from the produce of her colts sired by Sir Archie, yielded him, in amount, about eight thousand dollars. SPORTING OLIO. MODE OF RAISING BLOODED HORSES. MR. SKINNER, These facts go to shew the value of the blood horse, and to convince landed proprietors of the importance of turning their attention to the rearing of this noble animal; for while every kind of property, particularly the produce of our farms, has greatly fallen in value, yet the price of fine saddle, harness and turf horses, remains unimpaired, and will con tinue to be so. The success of this mode of raising blooded colts is not more to be admired than its great simplicity; it should, however, be mentioned that Mr. B. has been greatly aided in this mode of rearing blooded It may be generally remarked that men who drive fast have swift horses, not that they drive fast because they have swift horses, but because fast driving makes horses swift. A horse may commonly be trained to a dull and heavy, or to an airy and fleet gait. Nature unquestionable does much; but education does far more towards producing the great difference in the speed of horses, than most I have to request you to publish the following ad- men are willing to allow. Horses are more fremeasurement of American Eclipse, taken by an ad- quently injured by driving them beyond their hamirer and connoisseur of this noble animal, viz. by | bitual pace, than beyond their native power. The Charles Henry Hall, of New York, on the 15th of best direction for the education of horses is, "drive September, 1823. Every thing connected with this fast and stop often." [Williamstown pa. ADMEASUREMENT OF AMERICAN ECLIPSE. MR. SKINNER, MISCELLAEOUS. Drysalteries, &c.-A great business has been done in Ashes, 1460 bbls. have been sold at an advance of 1-6 per cwt. in consequence of the small produce in America, and which had been pointed out some time ago. Pots have realized 30, and a few Pearls at 31 per cwt. There has been nothing done in Turpentine; 1550 bbls. of Tar has changed hands without any alteration in prices. LUCERNE SEED. It is understood that there is a deficiency in LONDON, Dec. 4-Sugars. Foreign sugars are firm, our State treasury, and the question has arisen how and refined meet a heavy market: the finer sorts are a is it to be supplied? There is one resource so ob shade higher As the stock is short, the holders are anTHERMOMETRICAL OBSERVATIONS AT WASHINGTON, vious, that as it has not been overlooked heretofore-ticipating higher prices. PENNSYLVANIA. Letters from Manchester likewise refer to the imit may be supposed that it will not escape respect7th January, 1828. ful attention in the present emergency. The land-roved state of things, which has had the effect to make holders in the Liverpool market more stiff in their deDear Sir,-Below you have an extract from our the terra firma That is visible and tangible.-The mands. The transactions have chiefly been in AmeriMeteorological table for the last one hundred days, law can lay its fangs upon it without exciting the can descriptions. or from the 1st of October. I have also set down the cry of invidious inquisitorial searchings into men's LIVERPOOL, Dec. 3.-Our cotton market has been quantity of rain that fell in the three last months of private affairs. No stock lists are to be examined-quiet to-day, and the sales are from 1200 to 1500 bags, 1826; and it will be found, on comparison, that a no ledgers to be opened-no mortgages to be look without any alteration in prices since our last quotation. much more bountiful supply of water has fallen in ed into. A man may have $100,000 in trade, on The corn market at London, on the 5th, supported the same period of the last year,-indeed, our old-which he netts his ten per cent. by speculations in former rates. est inhabitants do not recollect a season so extraor- the products of agricultural labour, and by profits dinary for rain. Of the one hundred last days, on on articles consumed by the landholder, but there forty-six, it rained, with some half a dozen smart is a magic sacredness about all such affairs that showers of snow. Five mill-dams have been swept must not be invaded. You must not pry into the off within a few miles of us. affairs of any body but the Farmer-like virgin It has been a most uncomfortable season for the chastity, to touch, is to ruin any body else's affairs-farmers. Some of the slow and easy ones did not the clodhopper, poor loon, keeps no books, and for get all their seeding done-many thousand bushels his land, negroes, horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, turkies, of potatoes are yet in the ground, and a considera-ducks, chickens, geese-why there they are--"he ble quantity of corn is ungathered. who runs may read," and he who wants money may tax them. True it is, that few things will so well bear to be taxed. We all know that the condition of 1827. of the Farmer is flourishing beyond all example. Adversity has not dared to shew his ugly face since the days of Mr. Jefferson's embargo. All the country gentlemen, and the country is still full of them, are not only out of debt, but they have the wherewithai to live and to revel in luxury. They have hard dollars in their desks to pay all bills on demand, for they have ceased to go in debt, either for fear of going in--limbo-or, because nobody will trust them. Once more we say-tax the Farmer-poor soul, he won't know any better. It's true, that The weather continues mild as May. The honey-if you tax capital in trade, it immediately "maketh suckle is in leaf, and the buds on many kinds of itself wings and flieth away." It will not come to shrubbery are enlarging rapidly. Whilst I write your state; but if you tax the land, from which all the thermometer is standing at 60°, and the barom- our children already run away, like young partridges as soon as they come out of the egg shell, you will have men coming from all parts with money to buy land, and the agricultural life and employment, and capital, will appreciate amazingly. It may even cease to be more than 50 per cent. below par;--but what Farmer cares about sordid per cent. on his labour and capital? Suffice it for him, that from the Most of our flocks of sheep look wretched. Un less where they were under cover, they were frequently soaking wet for ten days together. Great numbers of them will never see the first of May. The present depressed prices of wool begins to produce an apathy amongst our farmers, which I much fear will prove destructive to fine flocks of sheep. No species of property has suffered so great a depression in our country. A good flock of full blooded sheep sold, a few days since, at a price not equal to two dollars per head, in cash. You will readily estimate the loss sustained in this country, which contains such vast flocks. eter is down to 28 5-10. Yours, &c. In October, 1826, 2 7-10 inches of water fell. 66 In November, 1826, 3 5-10 inches. In the three last months of the year 1826, 7 6-10 days of Noah to the present, all classes agree to pay inches. 66 In December, 1826, 1 4-10 it the compliment of being the most honourable call- A gentleman, well qualified to instruct in the Grass Seed, from Germany, of prime quality, the growth 1st mo., 28th, 1828. BALTIMORE PRICES CURRENT. Corrected for the American Farmer, by Edward I. Willson, FLOUR-white wheat family, $5.75 a 6.50-sup. Howard-st 5.00 a 5.12; city mills, 4.624; Sus. 4.75 a 4.87; CORN MEAL, bbl. 2.62 a 2 75-GRAIN, white wheat, best, .90 a 1.05-red, .80 a .90--CORN, new .38 a .40— RYE, 45-OATS, 24 a 28-BEANS, .80 a 1.0-PEAS, 45 a 50-CLOVER seed, 5.00 a 5.50—Timothy, 2.00 a 2.50; BARLEY, 60 a 65-FLAXSEED, 90-COTTON, Virginia, 10 a 101-Louisiana, .11 a .13—Alabama, 10 a .11—Mis. souri, .10 a 10-N Carolina, .94 a .104-WOOL, common, .15 a.16-wash'd,. 18 a.20-half blood, .20 a 25three-quarter, .28 a 30-full do. .30 a .35-Hemp, Russia, ton, $275 a 290--Country, dew-rotted, ton, 136 a 140-water-rotted, 170 a 190-FISH, Shad, Susquehanna, 6 a 6.50; do. do. trimmed, 6 50 a 7; Herrings, Susquehanna, bbl. 275 a 3.00-Mackerel, 4.75 a 5.75-BACON, hams, .9 . 124-Feathers, 26 a 28-WHISKEY, in hhds. 1st proof, 22 a 23-in bbls 25-PORK, drove, 3.75 a 4; fed, 5.50; do. grass, 4.00 a 4 50. Average temperature of October, 1827, at one college. Reference to the Editor of the American Wagon 4.50 a 4.75; Eastern Shore 4.50 a 5-Beef, stall THE FARMER. BALTIMORE, FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1828. We have received the first number of the "SOUTHERN AGRICULTURIST," by J. D. Legare, Editor-printed and published monthly, by A. E. Miller, Charleston. Terms, $5.00 per annum, payable in advance. Farmer. The Trustees of the Maryland Agricultural COMMERCIAL RECORD. Cotton. The cotton market is little varied. This af- It is remarkably well printed, and edited with so much zeal and ability, as to leave no doubt of its claim to extensive patronage, and that it will prove proportionately useful in developing the resources, Extract of a letter from London, of Nov. 30. This morning's advices from Liverpool, bring acand in improving the practice of agriculture, not in counts of an increased demand for cotton; 3000 bales the South alone, but wherever it circulates. Sub-had been taken on speculation, in some instances at 1-8 scriptions for the Southern Agriculturist will be re- to td. per lb. advance. Transactions mostly are in ceived at the office of the American Farmer. American. CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. Report on the Establishment of Cotton and Woollen Manufactures, and on the Growing of Wool, made to the House of Commons of North Carolina, by Mr. Fisher, of Rowan, concluded-Proceedings at the Annual Meeting of the Philadelphia Society for promoting Agriculture-New Variety of Oats introduced into Nova Scotia Weight of Hogs in North Carolina, and Premiums awarded-Uses made of old Bones-Profitable ries-Great and choice Varieties of Grapes, received Dairying-Sheep-Prince on the Culture of Strawberby Wm. Prince-Pea Bug, Inquiry-Report and Proceedings in Relation to a Rail-road from Baltimore to the Susquehanna, continued--Matrimonial Maxims for favourite Child--Mr. Wm. E. Brodnaxe's Mode of raisMarried Ladies-Poetry, Lines on the Recovery of a ing Blooded Horses-Admeasurement of American Eclipse-Swift Horses-Thermometrical Observations at Washington, Pa.-Editorial-Prices. Printed every Friday, at Five Dollars per annum, for JOHN S. SKINNER, Editor, by JOHN D. Toy, corner of St. Paul and Market-sts., where printing of every description is neatly executed. No. 46.—VOL. 9.] AGRICULTURE. AMERICAN FARMER-BALTIMORE, FEBRUARY 1, 1828. ARTHUR YOUNG'S EXPERIMENTS IN AGRICULTURE, Although made sixty years ago, afford much valuable information to the modern cultivator. These experiments amounted to nearly two thousand, and embraced various branches of husbandry. They fill 900 quarto pages, and are therefore too voluminous and expensive to be accessible to the common farmer. I propose to furnish abstracts of the most interesting results, as leisure will permit, with such observations as the subject may suggest. It may not be amiss to premise, for the informa tion of those who are unacquainted with the cha racter of Mr. Young, that he was, more than any one individual, the father of modern improvement in British husbandry. This great benefactor of the human family, devoted a long life to the study and practice of farming. His Experimental Agriculture, Agricultural Annals, Tours and Surveys, and his successful efforts to establish a national board of agriculture, mainly contributed to that high improvement which now so pre eminently distinguishes British husbandry. The experiments of which I now propose to give a digest, were made in 1763, and the four subse quent years, upon a farm of nearly 300 acres, em bracing a variety of soils. I shall begin with wheat. His experiments with this grain are arranged in the following order: 1. Culture in the old method. 2. Culture in the new method. 3. Comparison between them. 4. Quantity of seed. 5. Time of sowing. 6. Miscellaneous experiments. 7. General remarks on the culture of wheat. I. Under the first head there were eighteen experiments, embracing 60 acres of this grain. The crops were variously managed. Some had all possible advantages of fallowing, manuring, handhoeing, &c., while others were without manure or extra labour. The seed was sown broadcast. The results were as follows: Average expense of all me crops, includ- l. ing rent and taxes per acre, Average product per acre, Do. on gravely loam, Do. on clayey loam, S. d 3 9 0 bush. pecks. 13 2 15 1 Generd average profit, Prost on the gravelly loam, Average product of the ma Do. of crops not manured, Average loss on the manured crops, Do. profit on the unmanured, Average expense of the fallowed crops, 4 Do. of those which followed ameliorat The manured crops rejected—they areFallowed ones, After ameliorating ones, Average profit on the fallowed, 15 12 0 S. 36 complete pulverization of the soil than in America Upon gravel and sand loams, two ploughings and the same number of harrowings are sufficient with d. us. The band-hoeings, which are principally for 0 9 the extirpation of weeds, might be profitably intro0 2 6 duced with us, with suitable instruments. It is a 0 10 6 and one warranted by our own experience, that fair inference to be drawn from these experiments, fallow crops could be profitably substituted for fallows; and that if the manure, unfermented, was ap9 plied to these fallow crops, the wheat would receive all the benefit, without any of the injury, that results, in the old method, from its immediate appli The manured crops rejected-these articles stand thus Comparison between the commonly conducted experi- cation to the wheat crop. Experiments, showing ments and the expensive ones. the comparative profit of a wheat crop upon a clover dlay, upon a summer fallow, and after a fallow crop, O would be interesting, and would afford a useful 0 guide to American husbandry not, however, be lost sight of, that some soils never This fact should 0 can repay the expense of cultivating wheat, because they do not contain the elements of this grain. This is particularly the case with all primitive formations, and maritime alluvions, remote from the mouths of rivers. II. The culture in the new method, that is, by d. sowing in drills, and hand and horse hoeing 8 S. 12 5 1 0 10 9 Improved husbandry, average profit of Common do. average profit, Superiority of the former, Improved husbandry, average loss, three do. average loss, The latter better by 9 8 1 As there are no inducements to introduce the drill system among us, upon the score of profit, and as the high price of labour and the low price of land present serious obstacles, were it preferable to the broadcast husbandry, I shall pass this division of experiments with merely observing--that The experiments under this head amounted to 31. The average expense of the crops was 61 Os 8d 1 per acre; of the manured 11l 6s 9d; and of the unmanured 5l 48 Od. The product was inferior to that of the improved broadcast method. The expense 9 consequently more than consumed the product. Drilling machines have been much improved since Mr. Young's time; and they are now resorted to more to enable the farmer to clean his ground of weeds, by means of hand and horse hoeing, than which is a cleansing crop, supersedes the necessity with the expectation of greatly augmenting his crop. The extent to which we cultivate maize, and of resorting to the drill system to extirpate weeds. Twenty-six experiments resulted in a full convicIII. Comparison between the old and new methods. tion that the broadcast was superior to the drill more than two to one. From this comparison, it appears- 2. That it produces in quantity three times more 3. That the profit attending it is seven times as great as that of the common. 4. That bad years alone taken, it is more unpro-system, on the score of profit, in the proportion of fitable than the common. The general average prices of wheat during these years, was 11. 18s. 24d. per quarter of eight d bushels. The average expense per acre was there8 fore equal to 14 bushels 2 pecks. tion of the latter, I refer to the common American believe, does it range as high as two and a half tling the quantity of seed best adapted to our soil gene became acclimated by repeated sowings. Melons its inmost core. By way of digression and for the V. Time of sowing. Many experiments were made By adopting Bakewell's system, of breeding only from select individual Van Mons has succeeded in the fifth and sixth generation of improvement, in ties. The florists of Europe have, in like manner, enVI. Miscellaneous experiments. riched the pasture and the green house with finer 1. Steeps. Many were tried, such as lime, salt, tints and more rich, brilliant, and diversified colours nitre, urine, blood, pigeon's dung, drainings of the than were known to our ancestors. Knight, predung-bill, &c. None of them appeared to increase eminent in horticultural science and practical knowthe product, and it was to settle this point that the ledge, has given us many new varieties of superior experiments were instituted. The seeds of plants, fruit, by observing the law which governs in the like the eggs of birds, contain within themselves animal kingdom-that improvement in the offspring the proper and only requisite aliment for the em- can only be expected from excellence in the pa bryo The first extraneous food that the young rents. That Mr. Young's seed from the rich vale plant can receive, must come through its roots; and of Evesham, should prove superior to that from the best way, therefore, to nurse a progeny of young the poor sands of Norfolk, is no more surprising, plants, is to place an abundance of nutritious food in than that an animal from the rich borders of the the soil where the roots are to penetrate. This Tees, should be preferred for breeding to one from food is neither sand, clay, lime, or other earthy ele- the bleak mountains of Wales or Scotland. Ferments, but animal or vegetable matter which has tility of soil is as indispensable to the development become incorporated with those elements. The of vegetable as of animal excellence. preceding experiments show, that where this food Albany, Jan. 23, 1828. is supplied in abundance, and well blended by pulverization, the product is four fold greater than when it is stinted or imperfectly mixed. To econo THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA-ITS PRODUCTS mize and judiciously administer the food of vege tables, is one of the principal arts of good husbandry. 2. Change of seed. Mr. Young's experiments under this head led him to the following, among other conclusions. seed. 1. That foreign wheats, from the most opposite climates, are superior to most native kinds, for 2. That sowing wheat that has for several years been raised in the neighbourhood, is evidently a most unprofitable practice, and worse than any change that can be made. J. BUEL. as this AND ADVANTAGES. Northampton county, E. S. of Virginia, MR. SKINNER, A general sentiment, I believe, pervade this com} January 10, 1828. munity, that the completion of the Baltimore railDear Sir,-Being at the residence of Mr. John road will give a vital stab to their agricultural pur Eyre, of this county, and taking a cursory view of suits, from the vast amount of grain which will anthe American Farmer of the 21st ultimo, I therein nually flow over it to the markets of the Chesa. observed the weight of a turnip raised by Mr. An-peake, now visited by them. I dissent, however, drew, of Danvers. This turnip is stated to have from this received opinion-for, so soon weighed eight pounds and a half, and in truth, was great work shall have begun to diffuse over the large of its kind. Curiosity prompted me to see if eastern frontier, the riches of the west, thus soon 1 could find one on the grounds of Mr. Eyre equal to it, and this curiosity was gratified after a few minutes search. I raised one from its bed, which, when closely trimmed of its branches and roots to the very rind, and washed clean, weighed precisely twelve pounds. There is but little doubt, had made diligent search, others might have been found of greater weight. Three others hard by I took up and preparing them as above, each weighed eight pounds. Of the latter order I could have selected hundreds in the space of half an acre. This, then, beats Mr. Andrew by nearly one-third, and I wish him to know it through the medium of the Farmer. The first maxim does not coincide with my expe-In most cases, vegetables of inordinate growth are rience. I have sown wheat from England, Spain pithy or spongy in the interior, and of course infeand Chili, all of which may be considered "opposite rior in quality; but on making a central section of elimates." It uniformly failed to do well, until it this twelve-pounder, I found it solid and sweet to 3. That seed from the rich vale of Evesham, is far preferable to that from the poor sands of Nor folk. 4. That there is not much difference between white and red wheats, the bearded ones yielding a larger produce, but an inferior quality. And, 5. That a mere change of soil appears of much consequence, as appeared from the superiority of the clay wheat on the gravel soil, and the gravel wheat upon the clay soil. will Baltimore commence her rapid march to an overflowing population, and these counties will become its garden. Wheat, corn and other grains, will give place to horticultural products. The good people of Baltimore will resort for the earliest and choicest vegetables and fruits to innumerable steam boats from the south rather than their markethouses, and the industrious husbandman of Northampton will rejoice in the sunshine of prosperity. The geographical position of this peninsula justifies these prophetic suggestions, and I must here acknowledge myself indebted to Mr. Caton, of your city, for them. A strong desire to rescue from unmerited oblivion, this beautiful but sequestered region, my natal land, has given rise to this too prolix communication. Should there be any matter in it you deem worthy |