practical husbandman would look on them as "deferred stock," not to be meddled with until he had little, or nothing else to do. CONDITIONS: Should there be a sufficient number of subscribers to defray the expense of the undertaking, the work will be published (if the author lives,) some time in the next winter. It will be in one octavo volume; the price to subscribers $2, in plain binding, lettered on the back; but $2.50 if elegantly bound, with an appropriate frontispiece. FOR SALE, A superior thorough bred young STALLION, of the stock of the honourable John Randolph. This colt is full brother to Mr. Burwell's fine mare club purse, four mile heats last fall, and immediately Hippona, the winner of the Washington city jockey thereafter of the three mile heats at Winchester, and of the three mile heats in Culpepper, Va. (the longest distances at the latter places.) As regards blood and stock, it will be admitted by those who have paid attention to such matters, that this colt has not a superior as a foal getter for the turf; and as such for the road, it is only necessary to add, that he received the premium of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Society, as the best two year old exhibited, without regard to Another part of the author's plan is, to add some cursory views of manufacturing establishments, and their effects upon our agricultural interests; but divested, as It is also well known to all who have travelled, (as naked as he can possibly strip them, of all party politics; He will be four years old the ensuing spring; is now the author has done,) through many of the best culti- for these, he believes, will ultimately ruin any cause in vated parts of our country, to improve their acquain-which they may be employed; and are now not only in nearly sixteen hands high, elegantly formed, of a fine tance with the arts of rural life, that there are many flicting deadly wounds upon all our most valuable politi-bay colour, with black mane, tail and legs, and has a very valuable implements, processes and practices of cal institutions, but are poisoning the purest sources of small star and snip. His pedigree is as follows: Dam, Grand Duchess; grandam Duchess, bred by the husbandry, the knowledge of which is yet confined to our social happiness. particular neighbourhoods, but which require only to be The whole will conclude with an appendix of approved of Georgiana, own sister to Conductor, by Matchem;) Duke of Grafton, got by Grause (son of Highflyer out made well known to be very generally adopted. Several recipes in rural economy, tested either by the author himof these the author himself has already had opportunities self or by such practical agriculturists as he believes fully He was sired by Mr. Randolph's fine horse Roanoke, by Magnet, sister to Johnny by Matchem; Babraham, &c. of noticing in some of the states first mentioned. But worthy of confidence. Such a pledge, he knows to his he believes there is still much to be seen which has not cost, is highly necessary, for many have been the trials the famous Sir Archy, out of the imported mare Lady come within his observation. With all such matters he which he himself has made of nostrums and recipes, Bunbury, (Mr. Randolph's,) bred by Sir C. Bunbury, designs to make himself as thoroughly acquainted as he bearing on the face of them the fairest promises of got by Trumpator, Theaphia, by Highflyer; Plaything by Matchem; Vixen by Regulus, &c. can, by an agricultural tour through those interesting utility, that have proved utterly worthless. portions of our country, in the course of the next summer and autumn, preparatory to the completion of his work-provided the number of subscribers will justify its publication. He will personally observe all he possibly can, and rely for the rest upon information carefully collected from the best informed practical agriculturists to be found in the states through which he intends to travel. In his whole book there shall be nothing of those fanciful theories and speculations which No money will be required until the delivery of the have brought such unreasonable, because indiscrimi- book; nor will the author (as he most conscientiously nate, ridicule and censure upon all kinds of agricultu-affirms,) desire any subscriber, who does not believe ral publications. These, under the general cant term of that he will most probably receive the worth of what "book-farming," have long been treated with ineffable he promises to pay. Some confidence must always be contempt by a certain description of agriculturists, who reposed on such occasions; and some risk of disapseem to consider the various branches of husbandry as pointment will be incurred; names too, are often promatters to be learned without the use of books. But cured, and most reluctantly subscribed, by dint of imthe author hopes to convince even these persons, provi-portunity on the part of the solicitors. But the author ded they will only examine what he writes, that books begs to conclude with an earnest request to his friends are not less necessary and useful in their profession than never to attempt to aid him by such an expedient. Let in all others. To render his work acceptable to his his subscription papers rather remain blank forever agricultural brethren of all classes, who read at all, he than be filled by such means; for he asks no patronage, pledges himself to advance no opinions, but such as he unless it can be given on the fair and honourable princan support by well authenticated facts and experi- ciple of interchanging equivalents. Mere favours he ments to be examined in person, whenever it may be could not receive, believing them to be such; but he is in his power. His attention will be directed to every not too proud to invite subscribers on the above princi branch of husbandry practised among us, and the re-ple; and hopes not to be thought too vain in offering his quisite details given in regard to each, with sufficient literary goods at what he believes a fair price. Should minuteness to fulfil his promise of endeavouring to his undertaking produce any profit, he certainly will make it a convenient manual for all agriculturists. The English tourists, Young and Marshall, who have rendered such essential services to the cause of husbandry, will be his guides in the selection and arrangement of his subjects; but he will promise no more on the score of execution, than accuracy of detail and fidelity of representation. In these particulars he trusts that he can satisfy all reasonable expectations. blood. Feb. 1. BALTIMORE PRICES CURRENT. Corrected for the American Farmer, by Edward I. Willson, Commission Merchant and Planters' Agent, No. 11, Borly's wharf. For Tobacco, the demand last week was rather greater, but little or no variation in prices. TOBACCO.--Seconds, $2.75 a 7.00-Scrubs, 4.50 a 6.50-common crop, 3.00 a 4.00-Do. red, 3.75 a 4.50good red, 4.00 a 6.00-Fine red, 5.50 a 8.00-Yellow and red, 7.00 a 10.00-Yellow do. 5.50 a 10.00-Fine yellow, 10.00 a 15.00-Virginia do. 3.50 a 7.00-Rappahannock, 3.50 a 4.00-Kentucky, 3.50 a 5.00 do. for wrapping, 6.00 a 7.00. FLOUR-white wheat family, $5.75 a 6 50-sup. Howard-st 5.00 a 5.123; city mills, 4.75; Sus. 4.75 a 4.874; CORN MEAL, bbl. 2.624 a 2 75-GRAIN, white wheat, best, .90 a 1.05-red, .80 a .90--CORN, new .40 a 43RYE, 45-OATS, 24 a 31-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, .11a.13-Alabama, 10 a 11-Missouri, .10 a .101-N. Carolina, .94 a .101-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; Herrings, Susque not be so fastidious as to receive it reluctantly, nor with FRUIT TREES. The subscriber has taken the agency for the Franklin Nursery of Chester county, Pa., which has 54 kinds of apple trees, which will be delivered at his warehouse, in Baltimore, at 124 cents each. Also, various kinds of plums, cherries, and pear trees which will be Those who may fadelivered as above at 374 cents. Whether the title of his proposed work will appear in the eyes of fastidious critics, sufficiently broad to cover all which he may be disposed to introduce into it, ised useful to the best interests of our country more than he can predict. But a part of his design is, to aim at relieving the dryness of details relating merely to rural affairs, by occasional remarks on local peculiarities, prejudices and state character. In regard to this prolific subject, the author has much too often seen occasion to lament the great and injurious extent to which the citizens of the different portions of our union indulge their partialities and antipathies; and he has been thoroughly satisfied that the chief cause of it has been the profound ignorance of each generally, with respect to the ridiculous and culpable traits of their own peculiar character; for you have only to convince any man, that he himself lives in a glass-house to prevent him from throwing stones at the glass-house of another, or despising aim for having so fragile a tenement. It is true, that there is no small difficulty in pro-vour the subscriber with their orders for any of the ducing the conviction, and this augments in proportion to the numbers who stand in need of it. In a national view, however, the task is well worth the effort for its accomplishment; since mutual good humour and cordiality among the different members of our union, heretofore so unjustly and injuriously prejudiced against each other, would, in all probability, be the happy fruit of such an achievement To contribute something, there. fore, towards this most desirable end, will be one of the author's incidental labours, by way of seasoning to the rural dishes which he proposes to serve up to his readers. Very possibly, his cookery may not suit as many palates as he wishes to please; or he may even share the fate of some of those adventurous peace-makers who interfere in the quarrels of man and wife; but his will being sincerely good, the deed, he hopes, will prove acceptable in consideration of its motive. above mentioned fruit trees, would do well to forward He is also prepared to meet the orders of all his nu- this state. No. 36 Pratt-st. opposite the United Hotel. in hhds 1st proof, 22-in bbls. 24-PORK, drove, 3.75 a 4; wagon 4.50 a 4.75; Eastern Shore pork, none-Beef, stall-fed, 5.50; do. grass, 4.00 a 4 50. CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. Arthur Young's Experiments on Agriculture, with remarks by J. Buel-On the Products and Advantages of locality and soil of the Eastern Shore of the State of Virginia-On the Culture of the Mangel Wurzel-On the Culture of Oats-On Potato Husbandry, with a cut --Extracts from Prince's Treatise on Horticulture, Cherries-On the Balsam Apple of Florida-Silk produced in Connecticut by one family-Culture of the Vine and manufacture of Wine in Pennsylvania--Report and Proceedings in Relation to a Rail-road from Baltimore to the Susquehanna, concluded Poetry, Peregrine's Scrap Book-On the Value of the different Strains of Blooded Horses-The Indian Cure for Hydrophobia and the Bite of Snakes-Editorial-Inquiry on Steam and Cotton Machinery-New York PacketsProspectus of the Husbandry and Horticulture of the Middle, Northern and Eastern States, by J. M. Garnett, of Virginia--Advertisements-Prices. Printed every Friday, at Five Dollars per annum, for JOHN S. SKINNER, Editor, by JOHN D. Tor, corner of St. Paul and Market-sts. No. 47.-VOL. 9.] AGRICULTURE. AMERICAN FARMER-Baltimore, FebRUARY 8, 1828. gress [Our readers are, we trust, aware of our readiness to publish at any time, the best dissertations withn our reach on any agricultural subject of general inprovements are of so recent a date, as to be within terest, to which our attention may be invited by those who wish for information on a given topr. A new subscriber at Hudson, N. Y, expressed a wish to know what had been or could be said by persons experienced in the use of lime as a manure, and finding no original communication on our files upon that subject, we turned to the able LETTERS OF AGRICOLA on the principles of Vegetation and Tillage, written for Nova Scotia by JOHN YOUNG, Esquire, Secretary of the Provincial Agricultura Board, and honorary member of the Massachusetts and Montreal Agricultural Societies," from which we copy the following] DISSERTATION ON LIME. 369 “Lime,” continued my instructor, "operated with more success on the prosperity of the country than potatoes; and I look upon it as the best friend we ever saw." "Explain yourself," said I,"for all this seems mysterious, and I cannot conceive how lime could have wrought such enchantinent." "Yes," replied the old man, "there is a vouder- these bedges and stone walls which cross and herful change in this district since I was of your age; sect the whole landscape. A few sheep and black for I can recollect the time when there were nei- cattle picked the scanty herbage, and they were ther inclosures nor wheat in all this country. prevented from eating the growing corn, either by "Is it possible," I answered, "that all these ima herd-boy who tended them, or by a temporary fence erected every year. The common people very the reach of your remembrance. I should like, often collected nettles in the field, of which they you would relate to me the ancient state of the made a kind of coarse soup, thickened with oatcountry, the condition of the tenants, and the pro-meal, and enriched, on great days, by a piece of of agriculture." butter as a luxury. The state of Scotland from my "That I shall do with all my heart," rejoined my birth up to 1745, was miserable in the extreme: the acquaintance, his eyes brightening as he spoke; for lower classes were ill fed, ill cloathed, and ill lodg like myself he seemed fond of the subject. ed; and there was no revival in their circumstances "I was born," continued he, “in 1719, in Loch-fill the introduction of potatoes and lime." maben, and am now 87 years of age The oldest "Of potatoes and of lime," repeated I, “I can perthing I recollect, is the great riot which took place,ceive some reason why the first should improve throughout the whole of this shire, in 1724, in con- their condition, but what connexion had the last sequence of the landed proprietors beginning to en- with it?" close their estates on purpose to stock them with black cattle. The small tenants were turned out to make way for this improvement; and the ground In the year 1806, I was one afternoon leaning over the grave of BURNS, and reading the plain it was fenced by a sunk ditch and wall, called then park dykes Great distress was felt in the country scription on his tomb-stone erected in the churchon account of this alteration; and the tenantry rose yard of Dumfries. This town was the concluding in a mob, and with pitch forks, spades and mat scene of the Scottish bard; and here terminated "To your satisfaction, then, I shall account for it; his follies and his crimes, the last breathings of hstocks, proceeded to level all these enclosures, from muse and of his life. I was indulging in one of one end of the country to the other. My father and my present views have not been altered for the was unfortunately concerned in that disturbance; last twenty years of my life. Seventy years ago, those moods, in which pain and pleasure are and after it was quelled by the help of two troops 1738, there was no lime used for building in Dumequally blended, that the mind is thrown into a sert of dragoons brought from Edinburgh, he was ban-fries, except a little made of cockle shells, burnt at of delightful melancholy: for while I retraced ished to the American plantations for his crime. Colvend, and brought on horses' backs a distance many gay and lively recollections, I was forced, by lived afterwards, and was brought up with my un-of twenty-two miles. All the houses were either present objects, to check the rising emotions and ele in Nithdale, about twenty miles hence, who composed of mud walls, strengthened by upright embitter them with grief His enchanting and rented there a small farm of one hundred acres, and posts, and these bound and connected together by splendid verses were contrasted, in the eye of fa-assisted him in working it. The general produce wattled twigs, or they were built of stone, laid, not cy, with the dark shades of his character, the of all this country was grey oats; although the genin mortar, but in clay or moist loam. The whole strength and manly independence of his intellect tlemen, in their croft or best lands, raised also a lit town was a collection of dirty, mean, and frail howith the silly and inconstant waverings of his mo tle bear or bigg, and some white oats, yet the soil vels, never exceeding one story, because the materal perceptions; the bright and promising morning of his life with the ominous and black cloud which was by all men believed incapable of producing rials had no strength or firmness to bear more. wheat, and accordingly it was never tried. These buildings were so perishable, and stood in settled on the avoning of his days. I was rivet ed o consisted of these grey oats parched.ood of suck constant propping, that people never to the spot; tears filled my eyes; my whole soul was or burned out of the ear and ground in a hollow thought of expending time, labour and money, on absorbed in contemplation; it was a money of rich stone by the hand, of milk, of kail,* of groats, with the comforts of a habitation which was to fall lo enjoyment A slow and altering step struck my ear. never more than one ewe killed at Martinmas for ruins during the course of their lifetime. OI Proand turning round I discovered ap emaciated, but the family. The houses were generally built of vost Bell's house, which was founded in 1740, is venerable figure approaching, in the last decrepi-mud, and covered with thatch; and the cloathing the only one now remaining of the ancient town; "Stranger," said he, "you are paying the tribute was of plaiding, a coarse twilled stuff manufactur and although the under story was built with clay, ed at home from the black and white wool mixed the two upper were laid in lime, which is the cause of respect to the memory of our poet; and I must together. Hats and shoes were only worn by the of its long standing. beg pardon for this abrupt intrusion."-There was such an air of good nature in the old man, height-entry, and even they often appeared at church with a coat of their wives' making. Potatoes were ened by the sense of his telplessness, that I address not introduced till 1725, and at first were cultivated ed him frankly in reply, and showed no reluctance with much care, and in small patches to engage in conversation. He sketched to me carried to the great towns on horses' backs, and reThey were with all the loquacity characteristic of his years, the tailed at a high price by pounds and ounces. It one generation were enjoyed by the next. habits, the faults, the drunken broils of the man, was about the year 1735 when they came into comime, then, we owe these stately edifices, with all while at the same time he appeared an ardent ad mirer of the faithful colouring, the playful wit, the mon use, and before that period there was often the comforts and conveniences they confer; and it great scarcity of food, sometimes bordering on fa hence contributed, in a remarkable degree, to the winning sprighthness of the writer. ed incapable of raising bread for its scanty popula indebted for the stability of our towns, we are unmine, in this fine country, which was then account-refinement and polish of private life. "If to this fossil," continued the old man, "we are tion. Dumfries at present contains more inhabitants than were then in the whole county'; and twenty der greater obligations for its unprecedented effects tude of old age. "Come," said he, "along with me to the hillock where Burns alternately brutified his senses, or ex, alted them by the varied inspirations of his lyre." I accompanied him, and we ascended together the mound of earth, on the top of which is the sea once the favourite haunt of this immotal and ex traordinary genius; and alike remarkable for wit nessing his fits of intoxication, and in favoured in shown to the curious, lies within the recincts of the tervals, his effusions of poetic raptue. It is still town, and commands a fine pros: ct of the surrounding country. We seated orselves on the grassy turf, and grown familiar byan interchange of sentiment, we conversed on the most intimate footing. From Burns we soon assed to other topics possessing novelty or interest The country." said L. in every crection around, and wherever I have travelled, is mstly arable, and highly cultivated. The red and wite wheats prevail universally, and are sown seemingly by the farmers in equal quantities." No. 47.-VOL. 9. Our "Between the years 1750 and 1760, the old mudwalls gave place to those of stone laid in mortar, and from that period, there has been a visible and rapid improvement. Houses acquired permanence, descended from father to son, and the labours of Го Wheat and clover acres are now more productive than two hundred on the powers of the earth "I have seen," proceeded the old man with great A species of greens used in Scotland for broth, and duction the farmers became rich, land advanced in their present unexampled prosperity. In iny younvalue, the produce was multiplied tenfold, population increased, and these counties quickly rose to ger days, it cost much toil to raise on my uncle's farm two or two and a half bolls of grey oats per acre, and after taking one or two crops, the ground lay for four or five years in natural grass, which was coarse and unpalatable to the cattle. The rent, only 2s. 6d. per acre, we found great difficulty in scraping together, and we fell on a thousand shifts to accomplish it. Now, the same farm is rented at 3 10s per acre, is kept under constant cropping, rears excellent wheat, is wholly drained and enclo ed, supports a genteel family in all the comforts of life, and one year's rent of it is double the sum, which could have purchased it altogether sixty-five years ago. It is lime, that has warmed and melio rated the soil, that has endowed it with productive powers, and that supports all the plenty and pros perity you have been admiring, as you travelled through the district." He paused; I looked in his face, and a glow of animation had overspread the paleness of age. His right hand was extended in an impressive posture, and his left rested on his staff The pencil of Titian could not have done him half justice. I rose and bowed; we came down together, and I retired to my apartment in the inn, to note down the particulars of this interesting con versation. AGRICOLA. (Communicated for the American Farmer, by J. BUEL.) The experiments with this grain were arranged the same as those with wheat. after it had long languished in the most abject state; substance which both of them are in quest of, for the and the first thing too which raised Scotland to purposes of their respective arts. opulence and independence. Lime, as a manure, To the farmer it is an object, to cart the lime, has found its way into France and Germany; and when fresh from the kiln. By exposure to the atit is blended with the soil along the shores of the nosphere, this earth attracts carbonic acid, and reBaltic. In southern latitudes, this mineral manure turns to its original weight, usually in the proporis more generally applied, either incorporated with ton of a twentieth part each of the first five or six clay in the shape of marl, or combined with the days; but if spread out to the air, recovers it much sulphuric acid in that of gypsum. more rapidly. While it is light of carriage, it should This whole province seems to rest on calcareous de transported to the soil with which it is intended formations; and limestone and plaster rocks pro-to be mixed, instantly slaked, and then scattered trude every where on the surface. Nature has thus and harrowed on the surface. Delay here is of persecured its perpetual fertility, by dispensing in such nicious tendency, if inert vegetable matter is to be exhaustless profusion, the fossil manures. The only acted on; as the causticity of the lime, or its power difference between these two substances is in their of decomposing animal and vegetable matter, is chemical combination, for the base of both is the most active in its simple state, before its affinity has In this province we have fortunately an immense same: limestone being a carbonate, and plaster a 'been exerted on the carbonic acid of the atmosabundance of lime; although hitherto it has been sulphate of lime. The last of these is regularly phere: but if the application is meant to improve much neglected, and scarcely applied to use. The exported to the United States as an indispensable the earthy texture of the soil, or to supply calcabenefits of mixing it with the soil seem not to have dressing; and is there found to invigorate and quick-reous matter to the vegetable organization, there is struck our farmers with the force, which the impor- en the principle of vegetation. Here it is neglect- no necessity for such haste, as this fossil, considertance of the subject merits: and the few trials ed, except as an article of commerce; and it is geed as a carbonate, is of infinite value to the farmer, which have been made, have been conducted with nerally reputed to be totally useless on our lands. and moreover is supposed by some inquirers to be so little skill, and fallen so much short of expecta- Of all this I am not only doubtful, but incredulous! peculiarly useful in this latter case. Directions are tion, that the value of this inestimable fossil has and I wish that some experiments were instituted even given against using it in the former, particunot been sufficiently prized. The cheapness of to set the question at rest: for without the testimo-hrly in soils rich in putrescent manure, because it land, the decided preference in favour of the graz-ny of stubborn and well attested facts, no man can lessens the solubility of those compound products ing system, the easy and independent circumstances believe that the substance which fertilizes in Mary that go directly to the nutriment of the plant. within the reach of moderate industry, the natural land and New York, and now in Massachusetts, Halifax, Jan. 17, 1819. productiveness of a new country, have all operated will be inoperative in Nova Scotia. I am aware, in repressing the elastic spring of vigorous and spi- that climate exercises over the vegetable kingdom rited exertion. The toil and experse of burning a mighty and imperious dominion; and that the ef and carting lime to the extent of 150 bushels to an fects of gypsum here may be less striking, and perEnglish acre, would have been viewed like an her- haps less profitable; but that it is altogether inefficulean effort by men who had encountered the cient is so incompatible with the known principles hardships of cutting down the forest, to procure of order and uniformity, which prevail throughout subsistence. There was, moreover, in the early set the laws of matter, that every one has a right to tlement of the country, less necessity for the appli-suspend his judgment, till the foundation of this Ication of this beneficial manure. The exuberance opinion be given to the public. of vegetable matter incorporated with the soil, and which had accumulated for past ages by the annual decay of leaves and plants, yielded liberal returns under the most careless cultivation. The marshes and intervals, and, at times, the deep loamy uplands were put under the most rigorous and unsparing system of exaction, and crop after crop succeeded each other, till the original richness of the soil was drained. When it refused to pay back the seed and labour, it was abandoned to natural her bage, and allowed to regain its strength by the heal ing process of nature. Weeds and grasses sprung up indiscriminately, and contended on equal terms Lime is found of extremely different qualities; for the mastery of the soil: and there are at present and in proportion as science comes to enlighten Produce on gravelly loam, vast tracts, which the occupiers are afraid to break our practice, we will turn our attention to the cha-Do. on clayey loam, up, because the weeds would instantly start into life racter of the rock from which this fossil is taken. Profit on gravelly loam, and choke whatever grain would be intrusted into Pure limestone consists of nine parts of carbonic Loss on clay loam, the earth. New lands, in such circumstances, have acid, and eleven of calcareous earth: and of course, been sought after to furnish bread corn; or the in the process of burning, which is employed solely more ruinous expedient has been resorted to of im to expel the acid by the action of red heat, it will porting it. We are now happily ripe for a change. lose 9-20ths of its specific weight as drawn from the The agricultural classes are beginning to study kiln. Shells of first quality will require more than their profession with keenness and enthusiasm. their own weight of water to slake them; and eveNew and more liberal ideas are gaining the ascen-ry one bushel, when reduced to powder, will mea dant; a spirit of enterprise has gone forth; the no-sure three. When the lime is intermixed with sand, ble, the wealthy, the wise, are striving with each flint, or clay, its loss in calcination will be less, the Produce on fallow, other to raise our prostrate and fallen agriculture to shells will yield a smaller proportion of powder, Do. after falow crop, some sort of eminence; and a few years of such and what is still more curious, will require a less Profit after acrop, promise will alter the complexion of our affairs. quantity of water. As there are great inequalities Do. on fallow It is inconceivable what effect lime has on the in the mixture of these foreign ingredients, so the productiveness of the earth. Philosophers have in-product in powder and the quantity of water used vestigated its nature and properties, to find out the in slaking, may be employed as certain measures of secret spell by which it works; and while some the value of the limestone. The colour, to a cer have attributed the effect to its power of decompos-tain extent also, ascertains the purity; but this can ing putrescible matter, or to its affinity for carbonic not be relied on infallibly, as there may be a portion acid, others have ascribed it to the change effected of magnesia in combination, which, on account of on the constitution of the soil. All, however, are its equal whiteness, cannot be discriminated by the agreed, that no land, after its first and natural rich-eye. It is plain, that when our different rocks come ness has been exhausted by cropping, can continue to be wrought, these tests will be of infinite advan fertile without a mixture of this fossil. Its use was tage, and point out to the farmer and mason, those the first thing which revived English agriculture which will yield the most calcareous earth-the But waiving this questionable point in the mean time, there can be doubt of the utility of lime. In all northern climates it has produced wonder benefits; has been tried here lately with success; and is scattered with sufficient liberality to justify its general introduction. I recommend it warmly to the friends of agriculture, and I hope this recom mendation will not be lost. It is beginning to at tract pretty general attention, has been searched for with care in several parts of the province, and preparations are now making for a fair and full experiment in spring. I Broadcast or old method.-Thirty experiments; sixteen in the ordinary, and fourteen in the improved method. The average price of barley during the four years 11. 2s., the quarter of eight bushels the average expense of culture in the common way being 21. 13s. 8d. per acre, was equal to eighteen bushels at the general average price. General average expense per acre, common crops, al. 13s. 8d. bush. pecks. 19 0 Average product of . Average profit of do. Gravel superior per acre to clay, Difference, Superiority the former, 1. 3. d. 4 8 1785 bush. pecks. 20 3 17 2 19 9 6 10 เ d. 3 Average expense of crops under im- Average produe of do. 7 17 bush. pecks. 2 7 2 * Davy's Agricultural Chemistry, page 320, 321. d. effect sufficient to recommend it to practice, but varying the soil was found to be of much importance. Our author makes two suggestions, which III. Ten experiments, comparing broadcast with be conceives very important in the cultivation of drill husbandry. d. this grain: first, that the seed to be sown on clay 7 Average expense drilled, 526 S. d. Average product do. bush. pecks. 11 0 Average loss do. 2 1. 3. 10 2 10 5 1. 8. 3 Do. 16 bush. pecks. 63 Do. of broadcast 31 1 16 8 Average product of the unmanured, Do. manured, 68 Superiority of the former, Average profit of the unmanured, Loss by the manured, Superiority of the former, 26 1 18 0 6 should be raised on sand or gravel, and vice versa and, second, that the seed should be the brightest, weightiest, plumpest, and best that can be got. 3. Experiments of curiosity.-These were made 9 upon a small scale, with a view of ascertaining the Oweight of crop which the soil could be made to produce. One experiment gave at the rate of 85 bushels, another 120, and a third 145 bushels the acre. 1331. and 2631. per acre. The expense of culture, &c., was at the rate of 40%., 9 These experiments go fully to justify our prac- N. B. The unmanured portions were well manur-vation of barley. ed with the ameliorating crops which preceded the barley. Comparison between the experiments conducted in the common way and those which include a perfection of culture. Average expense of improved hus 2 pecks on the acre produced 7 Having omitted to notice in the proper place, insert them here, merely as matter of curiosity. the result of experiments of curiosity on wheat, I A single grain of wheat, sown in September,.separated and transplanted repeatedly, and well nursbush. pecks. ed, was made to yield at harvest five pints of good grain. The loss on cultivating an acre in this way, with like product, is stated at 271. 13s. 6d. In another experiment, he obtained at the rate of 70 bushels, at an expense of 70l. per acre. In a third, the product was at the rate of 88 bushels, and the expense 2001. the acre. 0 1. 8. d. 1 bushel do.. bandry, 7 1 71 bushels do. Do. 21 do. do. do. 15 2 In order that the reader may better understand the distinction between the common and improved system of culture, I subjoin an account of the outline of an experiment made in each way. Manure applied to preceding crop. "Culture, expenses and produce of a rood, field L. 1765. "This rood yielded turnips broadcast, in 1764, which were manured for in that complete manner sketched in so many of these experiments. It was ploughed twice in March, after the turnips were eat (on the ground,) by sheep; again the first week in April; the second week ploughed it again, and harrowed in a bushel of barley. This crop made an extremely fine appearance the whole of the season; was mown and thrashed in August. The produce The expense consisted in four ploughings, two harrowings, seed and sowing, mowing and harvesting, rent, &c., in the whole 118. 8d. The product being worth 2 178. 6d., left a profit of 21. 5s 10d. on the rood, or of 91 3s. 4d. per acre. This profit, it will be perceived principally accrued from the charged to the turnip crop which preceded the barley. manure, and a good portion of the tillage being Manured crop. "Culture, expense and produce of a rood, field S. 1766. more. "Ploughed for the first time in autumn 1764. when. it was thrown on to the ridge. In March, 1765, it was manured with four loads of town manure-by the twelfth of August it received four ploughings The first of September it was again manurOctober it was thrown on to the ridge for winter, ed with the same quantity of the same manure; and and in March was ploughed, sown with one bushel, and manured with ten bushels of soot. In August it was mown and threshed. The produce 2 qrs. (16 bushels,) and 1 peck The manurings amounted to 24. 12s., and the other charges swelled the exmust not look to the first crop of corn for a reimpense to 31. 8s. id. The loss was 17s 4d. or 3l. 9s. 6d. per acre. A fresh proof (says the author,) that we bursement of the expense of ample manurings." I would remark, in regard to the third inference In these experiments, five bushels of seed per drawn from these experiments, that according to acre seems to be the most advantageous on unma my observations, manure does not answer so well nured, and three bushels on manured ground. The for any of the small grains, especially if unferment-product given above is the quantity remaining after ed, when applied directly to the crop, as when apdeducting the seed, and is called the clear product. plied to the crop immediately preceding. Manure This quantity of seed is much greater than is does not become aliment to the culmiferous family sown in the United States. Two bushels is most of plants until it has undergone decomposition. To common, yet it has been nearly doubled with advanperfect this process in the soil the heats of summer tage. On poor soils, three bushels or more, may are requisite; and before this is accomplished the be profitably sown to the acre. grain is matured and the crop harvested. Those V. Time of sowing.-The results of the experi-in err still more who suffer their manure to ferment ments were as follow: completely before they bury it in the soil, as its fertilizing properties are thereby diminished more than Do. one half. The gasses which escape from a heap Do. of manure undergoing fermentation, would feed a Do. corn, potato, or other ameliorating crop, if mixed Do. with the soil on which they are planted, and the residuum would be as beneficial to the grain crop which follows, as if the fermentation had been con ducted in the dung-yard, and the manure applied directly to the wheat or barley. It would have an advantage. The fermentation would be less violent and wasteful in the soil, and the manure would be more intimately blended, by tillage, for the second crop. "Yielded horse hoed turnips in 1765, which were II New or drill husbandry. Fifteen experiments 1. Steeps. The experiments under this head sa-drawn for cattle in March. It then received three resulted in a loss of nine and a half bushels the tisfied Mr. Young, that "the use of steeps is a mere ploughings, and was sown with three pecks of baracre—that is, the expense exceeded the product to piece of nonsense," and that "barley requires ley the middle of April-mown and threshed in Au1. S. d. none." gust. The product 5 bushels 2 pecks. The ex9 41 pense was 9s. 3d., and the profit 17. 108. per acre. in May, The same conclusions have resulted from our prac VI. Miscellaneous experiments. 2. Change of seed, from a distance, produced no Without manure. "Culture, expense and product of a rood, field M., 1766. ON NEW MANUFACTURES AND PRO- MR. EDITOR, marvellously discovered in the midst of one of our of Merino-wool, which, in those happy days, was a most extensive and impenetrable Frida swamps.part of the regular entertainment in all our most Tuckahoe's friend has clearly demonstrated to him select companies. You might well suppose, Mr. January 16, 1828. their great superiority to silk worms in several Editor, that such a proof of the extreme tenuity of As your late kind notice of your correspondent highly important particulars. the spider's thread, would have confirmed TuckaTuckahoe, well deserves some acknowledgment on In the first place, that they are vastly cheaper la hoe's fears beyond the possibility of removal. But his part, you would, in all probability, feel some sur-bourers, since they can procure their own food, not so, my good sir; like many other sanguine men, prise, if not displeasure, at his failure to make any, which silk worms never do-to say nothing of their he is so much disposed to believe what he wishes, were his silence to remain unexplained. A volun sleeping and gormandizing for months together, that the finer looks the thread, the stronger grow teer representative, therefore, takes upon himself before they ever earn (as the saying is,) "salt to Tuckahoe's hopes, and of course, the more captivathis duty; and deeming short prefaces best in every their bread." This procurement too, is accom-ting his friend's arguments. But the reasoning good cause, he will, at once, come to the point. plished by certain dispositions and arrangements which I expect will remove all doubts, may be callKnow then, my good sir, that the man who now ad best known to themselves, of the very same raw ed, the a gumentum ad passimum. It is this:-supdresses you, is the near neighbour and friend of your material to be subsequently manufactured into an posing that spider-web habilaments should prove late correspondent, Tuckahoe. We have been bred intimite variety of those beautiful gossamer fabrics, less lasting than those made of silk, every body together, from earliest infancy to the present day; so fashionable among our ladies of the present day who has the least knowledge of fashionable life and and now that old age has overtaken us, we have Secondly, that they (the spiders,) conanually serve fashionable people, must know, that the oftener they concluded (fools like,) to stick by each other to the for exemplars, which silk worms never can, to the have good pretexts for buying new dresses, the betlast bour, in spite of common usage, and numerous manufacturers themselves, in constructing their ma ter; and by necessary consequence, that the estiillustrious examples to the contrary. This will both chinery;-all spiders, but especially those of the nation in which any recently invented article of explain and justify my taking up my pen in his be true native breed, having invariably discovered wearing apparel is held, will be inversely to its duhalf, as he is too much occupied, at this time, to do great natural talent for mechanical philosophy rability--or in other words, exactly in proportion to such a job for himself. To tell you a bit of a se And lastly, that give 'em an even start, a spider the rapidity with which it wears out. cret. Mr Editor, the poor old gentleman has gone will beat a silk worm all hollow, in the rapidity This, Mr. Editor, I must admit to be rather a clean out of his wits. No attempt at concealment with which they perform their respective tasks; at melancholy account of my poor friend's present could long be successful, and I have, therefore, the same time that he will spin a thread running at predicament, for it proves an entire abandonment thought it best to let you know the worst, without least four times as many yards to the pound. The of his former opinions in regard to what is called further delay, that none of the exaggerations, so only stumbling block in the way, after the qualms government encouragement and protection to docommon on such occasions, might reach your ears, of conscience were appeased, is a small doubt start-mestic manufactures." It also furnishes the strongbefore you heard the truth. His misfortune has ed by our friend Tuckahoe, as to the durability est presumptive evidence, that nothing else but selfbeen brought upon him by a very sanguine and of the new manufacture. This is in a fair way interest must have produced this change. My own most eloquent projector, with whom he happened of being successfully combatted by his friend, private opinion is, that the poor old fellow is-into get acquainted, who has so far got the blind side the projector, in one of two ways: for like all sane; but although this will probably be a good of him, as completely to have turned his head with good schemers, he has two strings to his bow. plea with you, who know the former goodness of a vastly ingenious scheme to make a joint and The first is, by having shown Tuckahoe the infinite his heart and soundness of his principles, I am sure splendid fortune in a very short time-provided only, simality (if you will pardon a new word,) of the it will not with the public at large. You will therethey can prevail on government to give them the spider's thread, through one of those admirable in-fore, greatly oblige me by citing, as soon as practineedful encouragement and protection. Tuckahoe, struments invented some years ago, by some Merino cable, in palliation, at least, of our friend's conduct, poor felow, who you know has a conscience some-amateur, for examining and comparing specimens the numerous high and illustrious examples furnishwhat tender, was seized at first with some severe ed by our civil annals, of men who have been paqualms, when he heard of the enormous prices at appeared so inadequate to the effect, that our explorer triotism itself personified, against particular projects which the government would enable then, as it was, at first, so lost in wonder, as to fear he was dream- involving great public interests, so long as they would be necessary at first, to sell their commodiing, until he luckily recollected the case of the famous themselves had no private interest to promote by ties; but these qualms were soon quieted by the as Captain Lemuel Gulliver, who was hampered and throtsurances of his new friend, that by and bye, (which, tied in the same way by those pigmies, the Lilliputians, applauding them; when, behold, the weathercock from all I can understand, means something like on his first visit to their island. This, at once furnish- itself has never more rapidly veered round, than the coming of two Sundays together,) they would ed him with a very plausible conjecture, that the spiders they have done, the instant their cupidity has been must have caught the crocodile napping, as the Lillipu- excited in favour of what they had, but a short supply their customers at one-fifth of the present tans did Gulliver; and admonished him to take special time before, condemned. Press this matter, good prices. This hopeful scheme has now so entirely care how, when, and where he himself should venture Mr. Editor, for I know you can do it better than I filled Tuckahoe's brain, that he can neither think, to sleep. The difficulty, however, of hitting upon a com- can; press it, I beseech you, at least until you either nor speak of any thing else: and would you believe plete solution of the phenomenon, did not diminish, inget poor Tuckahoe out of his present hobble, in it, Mr. Editor, the poor old soul talks and raves his eyes, as it would have done with some philosophers, about it, even in his sleep. But to come to the the merit and vast importance of his discovery. For furnishing so many strong suspicions against the point-the project is neither more, nor less, than with the rapidity of intuition, he instantly saw in this sincerity of his former professions of patriotism, or to substitute for silk worms-what do you think, my the raw material with which they worked, an exhaust-reliction of principle, to some more conspicuous single operation of these self-taught mechanicians, and draw off the public attention from his apparent dedear sir?—why spiders!* of a breed lately, and most less supply for the manufacture of our finest fabrics, as and mischievous offenders. Let not his unhappy well as of cordage for our navy-the tying fast of this case furnish another proof in corroboration of the *This most interesting discovery, (for all the parti- enormous alligator being demonstrative proof that the adage, "that the little fish are always caught, culars of which, I beg you, Mr. Editor, to bear in mind, new discovered raw material was admirably adapted whereas the big ones constantly are suffered to that I will not vouch, having a strong suspicion that it to this latter purpose. Our explorer, although up to his is one of the numerous highly coloured tales, with ears in mud, and consequently but illy situated for mewhich Tuckahoe's friend has lately so bamboozled ditation, was struck instanter, so forcibly. with the him,) is said to have been very recently made by one of amazing advantages, in a national view, to be derived those sagacious and indefatigable explorers of hidden from his discovery, that he scrambled out with all postreasures, whose governing principle seems to be San-sible celerity; hastened to a capitalist, whom he enlistcho Panza's favourite proverb, that, "where you are leasted in his cause; took prompt measures to secure a paaware, there starts the hare." While plunging and scuf- tent right; and now bids fair to be handed down to fting through bushes, briars, and almost bottomless mud, reckless of consequences, and without any very definite object, except, in the true spirit of adventure, "to see what was to be seen"-his attention was arrested by a very strange and most extraordinary noise, as Our adventurer took care, in leaving the swamp to of some large animal in great distress. Being of that chi- which he was so much indebted, to bring along with valric temperament which instantaneously impels the him, in a little snuff box which happened to be empty, possessor to bear relief, either to man or beast, when in a few pair of these precious spiders, who have already The author adopts the opinion of Linnæus, that need of it, our bold adventurer hastened, as fast as he stocked a large tract of country on the Florida and all the different kinds of sheep which exist are decould, to the spot whence the cries proceeded; when, Georgia line, heretofore deemed worthiess; and by to his utter astonishment, he beheld an aligator of the crossing with other breeds, bid fair to supply the derived from a common stock, the Ovis Argalis, [or largest size, in the last agonies of expiring nature, most mand, as fast as may be required. Indeed, some al- the wild sheep which inhabits the rocky mountains securely and ingeniously fettered, haltered, jaw-locked, ready contend, that the hall, is far superior to the of Asia and Greece.] The largest species of sheep and put to death by a troop of spiders, of a species he whole breed; although the best judges still insist, that in Europe is the breed of Flanders, which the Dutch had never before seen, who had already commenced, the old, fult-blooded patriarch of the flock, whom they imported from india about two centuries ago. The most industriously, to devour their prey. The cause have christened Nonpareil, will never be equalled...... smallest race is that of Scotland. [M. Ribbe refers posterity, as the great public benefactor who added the break through the net." I remain, Mr. Editor, TUSCARORA. (From the Hampshire Gazette.) SHEEP AND WOOL. The "Bulletin des Sciences Agricoles,” for July, 1827, contains a review of a German work on sheep and wool, by J. C. Ribbe, published at Prague, Bohemia, from which we have translated the following, save what is enclosed in brackets. |