408 decree making disposition therein. And I command the justices in whatsoever parts of said kingdoms and seignories, not to make or consent to making any impediment respecting the same, under penalty of 10,000 maravedies for the chamber, against whoever does the contrary. Dated at Toro, February 23d, who delivered a very kind and effectionate speech jesty the advice required from him, only after the Thus matters stand at present, and it remains to to the General and his family; and another who most mature consideration. sung a song, composed by himself, in honour of the bride and bridegroom-after some time they all be seen what the result will be. We will not venwent away, crying as loud as they could roar:-ture to give an opinion, whether a mixed government, or whether a purely tory one, or purely whig "VIVE LAFAYETTE." In a letter from the General himself, of the 13th one, will be recommended to his Majesty. We But our purpose is to introduce the following ex-January, he says, "Our vacation, for George and may, however, safely add, that what we have stattract, to shew that mules are now beginning to be myself, will, also, be soon at an end, as we bothed, is all that can be known at present, and that we brought into actual use in the mail stages of our have been returned members of the Chambre des will state, as soon as we are informed, who is MinDeputies; by two neighbouring districts in this de-ister of this Empire. own country. partment." MR. SKINNER, 1505." Portsmouth, (Ohio,) Nov. 22d, 1827. Sir,-A friend of mine having it in contemplation to engage in the business of raising mules, wishes me to obtain for him the best information, as to the probable profits that would arise from such an undertaking; and also as to the kind of jacks most suitable to raise from, the price at which one of the best could be purchased, where to be obtained, &c. Knowing you to feel a deep interest for the agricultural prosperity of our country, and that your in formation is general on every subject connected with it, I have taken the liberty to address you, for the purpose of obtaining the necessary information and advice. Owing to the low price of every kind of produce raised in this section of country, the farmer is compelled to resort to some other mode of agriculture, or become ruined. The raising of corn at 12 cents per bushel, will not do; to engage in raising wool, is thought to be dangerous; that of pork has been already found ruinous, and this county, and those adjoining, are not altogether suitable for cattle. Several farmers of my acquaintance have proposed raising horses, but I have given it as my opinion, that mules would yield the most profit. Many of the farmers, however, have taken up the whimsical notion, that mares will never more breed colts after having foaled a mule,* and indeed, they know little of the value of mules, or the price they will command in market. The gentle man, Mr. John H. Thornton, for whose benefit, particularly. I seek information at this time, has had some trial of them. He has a pair at his time, the finest that I have ever seen bred from the common jacks. He runs them regularly in the stage from this place to Chillicothe, (about forty-five miles,) three times a week, over the worst of roads, and he thinks they are able to perform more than the service, (at that kind of business,) of two pair of horses. Yours, respectfully, J. A. BINGHAM. Letters to the editor, by the Sully, captain Macy, give interesting accounts of the marriage, in January, of Adolphe Perier, to Natalie, the eldest daughter of G. W. Lafayette. The friends of the La Grange family, (and who in America is not their friend,) will bear with pleasure that this event has been the source of unmixed happiness to all the parties. The following from the editor's son, (at school near Paris) to his mother, presents a pleasing picture of the popularity of the General, and of the simple and constant devotion of the honest peasan try around, to all the household of La Grange. "On Tuesday, we came to Paris, on account of Miss Natalie's wedding, which took place on Wednesday. There I saw our Ambassador, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Barnet, our Consul. Mrs. Brown did not come, on account of indisposition. The mass was over at twelve o'clock, when we returned home to break fast, and about two o'clock, set out for La Grange; on account of the roads being so much frozen, we did not arrive there until after twelve at night; where we found a great number of the neighbour ing villagers, who came to compliment the General on his arrival. There was one of the poor men * A gross error, QUINAR SEED. Baltimore, March 4, 1823. It is sowed broad cast.-It is boiled like rice, and Hoping it will succeed, I am, very respectfully, your ob't serv't, COMMERCIAL RECORD. (From the New York Evening Post, March 4.) By the arrival late this forenoon of the elegant CHANGE IN THE ENGLISH MINISTRY. It appears that the late rumors of an intended change in the British Cabinet, were by no means without foundation. Lord Goderich had resigned the Premiership, and a new Ministry had actually been named, or would be within a day or two The London Morning Herald, of January 10th. publishes the following list of the new Ministers: LONDON, Jan. 11. Cotton Wool-Sales limited; 70 Bowed, 6 1-4d; 30 Madras, 4d; 40 Bengal, 4 1-8d; 30 Demerara, 8d per lb. At Liverpool, 4000 bags sold on Wednesday, at a decline of 1-4d, on new Boweds; inferior to good supported. Rice.-Old Carolina selling 21s. to 238. ex. duty. SPRING BARLEY. 80 bushels very superior Spring Barley, suitable for seed, just received and for sale by 3d mo., 7. GERARD T. HOPKINS & MOORE. BALTIMORE PRICES CURRENT. Corrected for the American Farmer, by Edward I. Willson, Commission Merchant and Planters' Agent, No. 4, Bowly's wharf. TOBACCO.--Scrubs, $4.00 a 7.00-ordinary, 3.00 a 4.00 -red, 4.00 a 5.00-fine red, 5.00 a 6.00-wrapping, 6.00 a 12.00-Ohio yellow and red, 4.00 a 7.00-yellow, 7.00 a 20.00. FLOUR-white wheat family, $6.00 a 6.25—sup. Howard-street, 5.00 a 5.124; city mills, 4.50; Susquehanna, 4.623-CORN MEAL, bl. 2.62-GRAIN, best red wheat .95 a 97-best white wheat, .95 a 1.10-ordy. to good, .85 a.95--CORN, .34 a .36-RYE, 48 a 50—OATS, 21 a .23 -BEANS, .80 a 1.00-PEAS, .45 a .50-CLOVER seed, 4.75 a 5.25-TIMOTHY, 2.50 a 3.00-BARLEY, .60 a .62siana, .10 a 13-Alabama, .9 a .12-Mississippi, .10 a FLAXSEED, .75 a .80 COTTON, Virginia, .9 a .10-—Loui13-N. Carolina, .9 a.104- Georgia, .9 a .104-WHISKEY, in hhds. 1st proof, .21-in bbls 23 a 234-WooL, common, unwashed, .15 a.16-washed, .18 a .20-three quarter, .25 a 30-full do. .30 a .35-HEMP, Russia, ton, $280--Country, dew-rotted, ton, 136 a 140-waterFirst Lord of the Treasury, Earl Grey; Chancel rotted, 170 a 190-FISH, Shad, Susquehanna, No. 1, bbl. lor of the Exchequer, Mr. Peel; Secretary of State 6 00 a 6.52; do. do. trimmed, 6 50 a 7.00-Herrings, No. for the Home Department, Mr. Frankland Davis;, bbl. 2.87 a 3.00; No. 2, 2.621-Mackerel, No. 1, 5.75; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sir Charles No. 2, 5.374; No. 3. 4.50-BACON, hams, Balt cured, .9; do. Eastern Shore,. 24-hog round, cured, .6 a .7— Stuart, or the Marquis of Wellesley; Secretary for Feathers, .26 a .28-Plaster Paris, cargo price per ton, the Colonies, Lord Bathurst; Master of the Ordi $3.00. nance, Duke of Wellington; President of the Coun cil, Earl of Shaftesbury; Privy Seal, Marquis of Londonderry; Treasurer of the Navy, Mr. Dawson; Chancellor, Lord Lyndhurst; Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Lord Bexley; Master of the Mint, Mr. William Horton. The following is from the Morning Chronicle of the 10th of January: Our readers must have been prepared, by what they have lately seen in our pages, for some ministerial changes. We understand that, on Tuesday, Lord Goderich went down to Windsor, to lay before his Majesty some circumstances of an embarrassing nature in the conducting the government; when his Majesty observed, that, under existing circumstances, he deemed it necessary to form a new government, and desired that he might see the Lord Chancellor that evening, though it might be late. The Lord Chancellor accordingly went down that evening, and the King requested that he would come down again yesterday morning with the Duke of Wellington. The noble Lord and the Duke saw his Majesty, and it was arranged that his Grace should go down this morning to deliberate with his Majesty on the subject of the proposition then made to him, he having expressed a wish, under circumstances of so much moment, to give his Ma-| MARKETING-Apples, per bush. 1.25; Butter, lb. .371; Chickens, pair, .371 a .75; Ducks, .34; Eggs, dozen, .9; Potatoes, bushel, .50; Turnips .50; Beef, prime pieces, a 3.00; Sprouts, kale and turnip, per peck, .64; early .9; Veal, 8; Mutton, 6; Pork, 6; Cabbages, hund., 2.00 brocoli, cabbage and spinage, .124-Live Cattle, & 50. CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. On the Effects of the Protecting System upon the Agricultural Interests, by Samuel Wyllys Pomeroymer, On Lime as a Manure, and on Ploughing-Short Readings on the seventh volume of the American FarHorned Cattle for sale-The Season-N. Herbemont on American Grapes and Wine-Product of SeedsMemorial of the Maryland Commissioners on the Susquehanna Rail-road to the Legislature of Pennsylvania -On early Education of Children, Religious HabitsPedigrees and Performances on the Turf of celebrated Blood Horses, Flag of Truce, and Virginian-Editorial, On the Economy and great Advantages of employreign News-Commercial Record--Advertisementing Mules; Letter from La Grange-Quinar Seed-FoPrices Current. Printed every Friday, at Five Dollars per annum, for JOHN S. SKINNER, Editor by Jons D. Toy, corner of St Paul and Market-sts, where every description of printing is neatly executed. No. 52.-VOL. 9. AGRICULTURE. AMERICAN FARMER-BALTIMORE, MARCH 14, 1828. (Communicated for the American Farmer, by J. BUEL.) ARTHUR YOUNG'S EXPERIMENTS. (Continued from page 395.) 409 of the season. We approximate this natural cli The potato is furnished with two sets of roots, mate of the potato most, when we plant them in the offices of which are distinct and different: one cool, moist and porous soils, such as reclaimed supplies food to the plant; the other conveys this swamps, well drained, and abounding in vegetable food, after it has been elaborated and converted into nutriment by the leaves, to the young tubers. matter.* 2 The potato belongs to the poisonous family of The first, the proper roots, shoot down or obliquely; solanum, of which the deadly night-shade is a mem- and the food should be placed within their range. ber. Its deleterious qualities are developed in pro- The others spread horizontally, after inclining upWhen Young made his experiments, this root portion to its exposure to the sun and atmosphere. wards, and should have a bed of loose earth to rewas not considered a farm crop; it was very little Excluded from these it is a palatable nutricious ve- pose in, and to permit the free expansion of the cultivated for market, and not at all for farm stock.getable. Exposed for a long time to their influ- progeny which they nurture. The fruit bearing The common method then was to dibble in the crop, ence, its colour changes to a livid green, and its roots, or runners, require air and warmth; and as which was done in this way: a man, furnished with qualities undergo a chemical change; and in this often as these agents are excluded by earthing up an iron-pointed dibble, struck holes promiscuously, state potatoes are said to have proved a poison to the crop, the plant sends out new runners near the about 12 inches asunder, women and boys followed animals which have fed upon it. Why do we ad surface, and within their influence, which in their and dropped a cutting in each hole; and the whole mire this root most when fresh dug, or just taken turn are furnished with tubers, which monopolize was then covered with the harrow. The crop was from the pit, where they have lain buried in the the food supplied by the plant. Frequent hoeings, hand-hoed generally three times, and the plough cold moist earth during winter? Why do they so therefore, may increase the number, without augused only in taking up the crop. This method has soon become clammy and strong in a dry cask and menting the bulk of the crop. since given way to the drill and horse-hoeing sys-warm cellar? And why do they deteriorate in protem. I shall, therefore, omit the experiments with portion to their exposure? Correct answers to these the dibble, as irrelevant, and confine my notice to interrogatories surely indicate, that potatoes intendthose made with horse-hoed crops. These gene ed for our tables, should be exposed as little as posrally received three preparatory ploughings; and sible to the sun or atmosphere. the after culture consisted of three or four horse hoeings, and as many hand-hoeings. The results are stated below. No. Preceding Expense. crops 1. s. d. 1, fallow, 3 19 Profit. 1. 3. d. 2 18 5 7 11 10 000 5 6 2, barley, Product. 0 16 11 2009 0 20 0 0 0 0 Upon a sand or gravelly loam, or other light soil, the potato is materially benefited by a grass lay or sod. This shields the roots from extreme heat, and counteracts the severity of drought. Manure is profitably applied in this case; but on stiff adhesive soils it is indispensable to a good crop. To produce early potatoes, I find it recommended in Loudon's Gardener's Magazine, to save seed before the tubers have fully ripened; expose them some days to the influence of the sun, and to select the top ends for the earliest crop. A correspondent made the following experiment. He dug every other row for seed while the vines were fresh, exposed them in the sun until they had become wilted and green. In February he cut them crosswise, 3. If a cool and humid soil and atmosphere are most congenial to the perfection of this tuber, in its growth, they certainly must be essential to the Loss, preservation of its good qualities, after it is taken 0 0 from the ground. I appeal to the experience of any 00 one who has taken cognizance of the fact, do we 01 not reject those which by exposure have become 00 green, as worthless for the table? Do they not de00 teriorate in proportion to exposure? And to what 0 0 cause can this change be ascribed. but to the absence of humidity and the presence of heat? leaving the top and bottom in separate sets; he cut was formerly in the habit of putting my potatoes those which had been suffered to ripen, in a similar into dry casks, and freeing them from dirt. Under manner, and planted the four kinds in alternate this management they became, in a few weeks, rows. They were all planted on stable litter, and comparatively worthless. Reflection taught me to covered with about three inches of earth. A part vary my practice. I now put them in bins, with of each kind received no subsequent earthing. I all the dirt which comes with them from the field; give the result in the writer's words: and I have added earth to the extent of two cart loads a season, and keep my cellar windows as open as the weather will admit, to preserve humidity and coolness. They now do well, and are but little impaired in quality by keeping. 0 These results show the importance of manuring The manure employed in these experiments, I ob serve, was uniformly rotten or fermented. Modern experience has demonstrated, that in our climate, except upon very warm porous soils, which are not exactly adapted to this crop, long or unfermented manures are preferable. The product is in general diminutive for improved husbandry, and it was far the most so upon clay wet soils. "The early potatoes not earthed up, grew close around the stock or stem, like eggs in a nest, and so near the ground that they might be picked off with the finger, leaving the stock or stem uninjured, to produce more potatoes from the runners. From There are many erroneous notions in regard to 4. Size is a bad criterion of quality, in vegeta- the eye-sets of the unripe tubers, we had a full supthe culture and treatment of the potato, which every bles as well as in animals. I gave illustrations upon ply every day for a fortnight, when those from the class in society have an interest in exploding, as this subject in the American Farmer last winter. bottom sets came into use for another fortnight; at this root has become a necessary food in every fa-Suffice it, for the present, to say, that one pound of that time potatoes from the eye or top sets from mily These errors consist in supposing: 1st. That the small kidney potato has been found, on chemi- the ripe seed came into use, and were succeeded by potatoes should be grown on a dry warm soil. 2d cal analysis, to contain about as much nutritious potatoes from the bottom sets of the ripe seed.— That they should be dried in the sun, or washed, matter as two pounds of the large ox-noble. [See Those kept for seed, or the table, were earthed up to render them pleasant to the eye. And 3d. That 4th vol. of the British Board of Agriculture, on the as usual, and each row produced almost as large a they should be kept warm and dry during winter, to culture, &c of this rot.] For delicacy of flavour crop as any two rows not earthed up-the luxury fit them for culinary uses; and 4th. That they should and handsome appearance at table, the kidney has of an early potato being a greater object than the be of large size. In contradiction to these popular no less the advantage. And as to product, the dif quantity."-Gard. Mag. 11. 172. opinions, I will venture to say, and will endeavour ference is not so great as might be apprehended. By way of contrast to Mr. Young's experiments, to provenumber of them. One gives the largest tubers; the other the greatest subjoin two experiments made by myself, in which But mark! While the woody the results were carefully noted. It is proper to refibre and water of the ox-noble abounds in all soils, mark, however, that I improve a light silicious soil, the starch, mucilage, and saccharine matter of which is rather injured than benefited by repeated the kidney, should be liberally furnished in the ploughings. form of manures. A good potato requires a rich That the best potatoes are grown upon cold, moist, but porous and rich soils. 2. That it were better the sun should never shine upon them; that they should be housed with all the dirt that adheres to them; and that it is beneficial to add more in the bin or cask, to exclude external air as much as possible. 3 That their surface should be kept moist, and the atmosphere which surrounds, as little above the point of freezing as possible. And, Lastly. That those of medium, or small size, na turally, are best for all purposes; for they generally possess the best flavour, and contain the most nu tritious matter according to their volume. 1. The best potatoes are grown in the vest coun ties of England, in Ireland, and in Nova Scotia, where the average temperature of sumner is pro bably twenty degrees lower than in New York, and where clouds and fogs obscure the sun great part Manured crops. Culture.-The field was in clover. I carted into lands of equal breadth, 20 feet, and having my seed it 25 loads long manure in May, and dropped it at suitable distances for spreading; marked out two prepared, proceeded to plant, which occupied three men, a boy and team, three half days. One man took charge of the team; a second raked the ma*In 1826, I planted the same variety of potato on a warm sandy soil, and in a reclaimed swamp, which pure into the furrows and trod it down; a third might be called cold and moist. Both were manured. spread the manure, and assisted the boy to drop The latter was most abundant in product, and decidedly the seed. The rake followed the first furrow, and preferable in flavour. Those on the silicious soil were the manure from 2 feet of surface was drawn into half cooked ere they were dug; and, on being brought it, and the sets dropped at eight inches distance on to table, were found comparatively clammy and strong. the manure. The plough followed, and turned AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTURES. three furioWS In the mean time, the seed was drop- EXPENSE. Team 11 days ploughing in seed, 2 men and boy planting, 11 days, 25 loads manure, 25 bushels seed, Rolling, harrowing and horse ploughing, 15 days taking up crop, Rent, 37 25 zens, thus advancing internal improvement, aug $42 25 PRODUCT. 430 bushels; at 25 cents, Deduct expense, $107 50 PROFIT, EXPERIMENT 2. Culture, Expense, Product and Profit of an acre of A. D., 1835, shall, before commissioners to be ap sand loam Culture-This crop had been preceded by wheat. It had 25 loads of long manure spread and ploughed in. The ground was then harrowed, furrowed, or listed, with 24 feet intervals, the seed dropped at 8 inches, covered with the plough, a furrow on each side, and the ridgelets rolled The after-culture consisted of two horse and hand hoeings. The crop was harvested with the plough and potato hooks. The product determined by the agricultural committee. Sect. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylva vania in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enact ed by the authority of the same, That the sum of ten thousand dollars is hereby appropriated, to be drawn by the warrant of the governor in favour of the person who on or before the first day of March, pointed for the purpose by him, exhibit and try the most perfect machine or machinery for dressing and reducing flax or hemp, without dew or water rot ting, to the state fitted for manufacturing, and who shall satisfy them by such trials as they shall deem proper that the said machine or machines are fitted to effect the objects aforesaid, and that the expense of constructing, erecting, keeping in repair and working said machines shall not be too great for the purposes contemplated by this act, and who shall secure to the citizens of this commonwealth the right of employing said machine or machines free of any charge whatever. fact, long since published in your valuable paper, with regard to the superiority of cotton, over flax and hemp, for bagging. That experienced importer and manufacturer, whose capacity to judge cannot be questioned, asserts, that he has been extenMr. PowEL, chairman of the committee on agri-manufacture, and is well satisfied, that cotton packsively engaged in the purchase of cotton and in its culture and manufactures. ed in bags made of cotton, can be transported to An act for the promotion of Agriculture and encou- England, in as good order, as that put up in hemp or ragement of Manufactures. flax bagging; and when well put up, it will comWhereas, the agricultural interests of this com- mand more in the market, particularly if in square bales. One reason for the difference of price, he aid. And whereas, the farmers, as well as all our ci- says, is, that the bag can be applied to a valuable tizens are made dependant upon foreign supplies for purpose. Another is, that the bag can be again $1 50 the raw materials necessary for the manufacture of worked up into coarse goods, and sold at half price. 2 00 various articles now made the objects of indirect This gentleman has been a manufacturer in Man18 75 bounty by the fostering care of the general govern-chester, thirty years, and now is connected with 6 25 ment. And whereas hemp and flax constitute im- establishments in the state of New York, which 50 portant items of home consumption, and might be use one thousand bales annually, which costs, at his 75 come the basis of valuable manufactures for foreign factories, from eleven to fourteen cents per pound. 750 trade, giving stimulus to agriculture, affording em He thinks that he can make cotton bagging, as ployment for the capital and labour of our own citi-good as could be wished, forty-two inches wide, and sell it for fourteen cents per yard. That used by the Mississippi and Alabama planter, made of hemp, costs from twenty to thirty three cents It may average twenty-eight cents per vard. Indeed, the Kentucky bagging seldom, or never, can be had as low as twenty five cents. With the cheap and abundant material in the south, and the low price of slave-labour in that country, is it not astonishing that southern planters will persist in the use of hempen bagging, when, with their own hands, and with their own low priced cotton, they could produce more than would supply the market with an article "as good as can be wished, forty two inches wide, at fourteen cents per yard." The price of a few of their useless slaves laid out in machines, would enable them to clothe the rest most comforta bly, and to retain among them that immense amount of cash, which goes to Kentucky and to Britain for hempen bagging When the people of the south believed that slaves could not manufacture with machines, or when they thought that cotton could not be transported to England in cotton bags, their apathy on this subject might be ascribed to mere inattention. But since they are furnished with the reSect 2 And be it further enacted by the authority ports of the committees of Congress, and that of aforesaid, That immediately after the passage of North Carolina, it would seem like obstinacy to 6 25 this act the governor shall appoint three commis- continue to purchase hempen bagging at twentysioners, whose duty it shall be to publish the same, five and thirty cents, when it is obvious they can 100 and to give notice of the place where such machine make better for fourteen! Many of the eastern 125 or machines are to be exhibited, and who, or a ma- manefacturers who pay high for labour, assert, that 600 jority of them, shall examine and try the same; and if they did not make a great profit spinning fine if in their opinion any machine or machines so ex-numbers, they could, by changing their machines, 34 25 hibited, after ample trials in the preparation of at spin cotton into bagging for less than two cents per 500 least five tons of flax, neither dew nor water rotted yard, and weave it with power-looms for the sameshall appear to them fitted to effect the objects of for the tariff which the cotton planters pay to Ken$39 25 this act, they shall certify the facts together with tucky-for an article manufactured wholly by slavethe name of the inventor or proprietor thereof, ac- labour, without the incalculable benefit of machi$115 00 companied by a conveyance in due form from the nery. GOSYPIUM. 39 25 said inventor or proprietor, authorizing the citizens of this commonwealth to erect, use and employ all $75 75 such machine or machines, and process or processes necessary for the accomplishment of the intentions I charge the whole manure to the potatoes, al of this act, free of all charge whatever; and on the J. S. Senner, Esq. I noticed in No. 25, vol 9, of your paper, an acthough the subsequent crops receive half its bene-receipt of such certificate and conveyance the gofit. The manure was purchased at 124 and 25 cts. vernor shall draw his warrant on the state treasurer, count of the extraordinary product of the Guinea He will do me a great the load, and drawn two and a half miles. The in favor of such inventor or proprietor, for the afore-corn, by a practical farmer. crop is estimated at the minimum price, the medi said sum of ten thousand dollars. favour by stating, in his opinion, the best mode of cultivation, and whether it is or is not more profitaum being at least 50 per cent. higher in market. ble to the cultivator to feed stock, particularly oxen, in the winter season, than the product of the same, or an equal quantity of ground planted with Indian On the Manufacture of Cotton, by Slave labour. corn. I am about to make an experiment by plantThe luminous report of the committee of the ing a few acres the present year, and shall be glad North Carolina legislature, has settled the importo reciprocate the favour. He will render me a tant question of the comparative value of slave and great favour by stating the time and manner of gawhite labour, and the testimony of Mr. Joseph Mar-thering it, and whether the stalks are cut and cured shall, given on oath, before the committee of Con with the grain. Yours, &c. gress, has removed all doubt of the truth of the R. DUNBAR. One ploughing, EXPENSE. Harrowing, furrowing, rolling and horse hoeing, Planting and covering, Taking up crop, Rent, $1.00 GUINEA CORN. Fayette, Jefferson co., Mississippi. (From the Agricultural Magazine.) Ashes, Lime, Street Manure, &c. Dear Sir,-In compliance with your request, I embrace the first leisure moment to answer your inquiries on the subject of my experience in the use of manures, &c. &c. AMERICAN FARMER. that state, land in the highest state of cultivation | want of experience, too generally lay down one B. B. COOPER. (From the Liverpool Albion, Dec. 31.) COTTON TRADE. Question When did you commence the use of ashes? The price given? The quantity used, &c.? Answer. Twenty two years since; the quantity then used, from twenty to thirty cart loads, (of about sixteen bushels the load,) per acre; price at that time from 25 to 30 cents the load. For the last five years the price has been varied from $1.10 to 130, at the factory in Philadelphia; freight and other expenses to be added. When I commenced, but few farmers purchased ashes; they were generally taken off by New England and Long Island Chester counties have kilns erected on their farms, Most of the extensive farmers of Lancaster and sloops, as return cargoes. At this time the demand collect and burn the lime stone at the most leisure Present State and Future Prospects of the Cotton is so great, but few, if any, are exported; they are season at an expense not exceeding from six to ten principally used by the Jersey farmers, (with a few cents the bushel, and put it upon the land at difin the county of Bucks, near the Delaware.) They ferent seasons and for different crops, from twenty-make a few brief remarks on the above interesting Market. appear better adapted to cool the warm lands of five to a hundred bushels per acre; though upon commercial topic. The statement of the brokers Jersey, than to warm the cold clay land of Penn-worn out land about thirty bushels appears to be will be made up in the course of to-day; and the We purpose, according to our annual custom, to sylvania, where they are but seldom used. As they the most approved quantity. I commenced my ex-announcement of the stock is looked for by holders have advanced much in price, I now use from ten periment at thirty bushels per acre, upon a loam and speculators with an anxiety commensurate with to twelve cart loads per acre, spread evenly over the naturally good, though worn out; with twenty cart the interests which they have at stake. ground from a cart or wagon, and harrowed or loads of stable manure upon adjoining land in the vourable or unfavourable character of those stateploughed immediately in. In the use of ashes, those wishing to have the thy seed, second week in September, clover first the stock on hand will be found to be unprecedently same field and condition, sowed with rye and timo-ments, much is generally supposed to depend. That full benefit of a first crop of winter grain should put week in March following Result-crop of rye large, no man, who has noticed the imports of cotthem on in the month of August, September, or by from stable manure, twelve bushels per acre; crop ton during the present year, and compared them the middle of October. I once sowed part of a field of rye from limed land, four bushels per acre, not with the outgoings, will feel the least surprised. of rye the first week in September; disappointment ripe or cut for seven days after the stable manure; But whether that stock, heavy as it undoubtedly is, in getting ashes for the residue prevented my sow- the rye injured with mildew and rust, as are most will, when officially declared, depress or elevate the ing until the first week in November; difference backened or backward crops. Grass on the limed hopes of holders and speculators, depends, in no tinued to increase, while that where the stable ma-the very temperament of the individuals whose atland much the best, both as to hay and pasture; coninconsiderable degree, on knowledge, the forecast, nure was put diminished. Expense of each: Stable manure, twenty loads to the acre, $20 00 Carting 1 miles, five loads per day-team $1.50 per day, or 30 cents the load, more than three to one in favour of the first sown If sown early, the nutritious qualities of the ashes are imparted to the earth, and from the earth to the plant. If late sown, the grain receives no benefit from the ashes until the warm rains in the spring, when too late to materially benefit the first crop, (except when the land is saturated with ashes or other manure.) I have seen it backen a crop and create mildew and rust, as is sometimes the case in sowing plaster on wheat, in the spring keeps it green and prevents it ripening. Q. Did you purchase horse or stable manure at the same time, and try the difference with ashes, and compare prices and results? A. In 1808, I had them spread on adjoining lands in the same field, on different plans. The first crop of winter grain preferable from the stable manure, and every succeeding crop quite deficient. Though seventeen years have elapsed, the contrast is still great. The land spread with ashes, shows every spring an abundance of white clover, while on that spread with barn yard and stable manure, there is but little or none to be seen. Q. Have you ever tried the street manure of Philadelphia? At what time? The quantity per acre, price and result? A. I have made use of this manure, occasionally, for the last ten years; the quantity per acre from twenty to twenty-five cart loads; price about forty cents the load in Philadelphia; result more certain than ashes or stable manure for the first winter crop; much better for succeeding crops than stable manure, though quite deficient compared with ashes. Thirty bush. of lime from Leheigh or New 6 00 $26 00 $6 60 On the fa made it a matter of minute examination as to the tention has been fixed on the subject, and who have past, and of probable calculation and reasoning as to the future. The great, the engrossing question with these persons is-Will the present holder of cotton and the future importer realize better prices during the ensuing year? To enable them to solve this all important question, the declaration of the probable stock in the ports is supposed to be indispensably necessary, although the loose and unsatisfactory manner in which that stock is ascertained, $6 90 renders the statement scarcely more to be depended on than the private calculations of individual immarket, and however its accuracy may be quesration of stock has always a powerful effect on the porters, brokers, and speculators. tioned, its influence is universally felt and acknowStill, the declaledged. 30 Difference in the expense per acre, most competent persons to form a decision, it would On a question which commercial men are the opinion. We shall, therefore, content ourselves be the height of presumption in us to hazard in with making a few general and desultory observathey cannot possibly do harm, may. in some detions on the subject; observations which, whilst gree, tend to the elucidation of the interesting topic which will to-day, engage the almost exclusive attion of the mercantile classes of this great commercial town. curred, and nearly all is said; I am well satisfied When manuring with lime, the first cost is inmanures, and from what I have seen for the last eighfrom experience of 22 years, of ashes and lime as teen years, and experienced for five years, lime to grass than any manure that I have a knowledge of be much cheaper and more durable for grain or am, however, fully satisfied that it would be better to procure either, than to be employed in tilling land that gives a crop below profit; that is rather the amusement of folly than food for the purse. How ever, it may be within the means of the farmer to purchase manure, he must not forget that the barn stated that the comparatively low prices of cotton In our last article on this important subject, we Q. Have you ever experienced the use of limehould not anticipate additional crops without the on the contrary, we anticipated that they would inyard is his mine, his manure his gold dust! as a manure, the quantity per acre, price, time you improvement of our soil, and to do that it is necesWe at that period were not likely to check production: commenced-and what is the result? manure, and without manure no crop. sary to secure grass and hay; as without stock no the produce of slave labour, the deficiency in price crease it, because, cotton being, for the most part whip had forced from the slave that effort beyond season being propitions,) until the crack of the would, most probably, be made up by quantity, (the which his physical strength could realize nothing This position has never been doubted, and A have, though not until within the last five W ther the superabundant crop which the United States yielded, during the year 1826 and 27, was the consequence of such forced labour on the part of the slave, and whether the utmost has been extracted from the soil which his labour can be made to produce, we have not the means of judging. We are informed, that in addition to the large plan tations, it is common for even children to clear strips of land and to sow them with cotton seed; that they weed the plants and gather the fruit when there is nothing else to employ their time; and, such is the accommodating character of these little crops, that the picking can be put off until all other necessary labours are at an end. This class of producers may have sprung up in consequence of the high prices of the year 1825. But, be that as it may, the system continues, and the annual amount of the crops, from whatever cause, is greatly augmented This is evident from the crop of cotton, in the United States, during the three preceding years, for which the returns were as follows: The vast and increasing consumption of cotton, in the manufacturing states of Europe, requires, it is evident, a correspondent augmentation in the pro duction; and although prices do not appear, at present, to keep pace with the increased consumption, no other article of general use can be fixed on which offers greater inducements to speculators and capitalists than the staple. Whether or not the prices which have been current have reinune rated the planter, we know not; but we know, that too many of the importers have lost, this year, money on most of their transactions in cotton. And, if the following statement, which was handed to us in October by a respectable spinner, be correct, the manufacturing department of the business has been equally unprofitable. as follows: Cotton, 3 lbs. at ¶d. per lb. The prominent features, in the above statement. ply, better ground to expect improvement than to are the great increase of consumption; the heavy fear the further decline. A revival in the foreign stock remaining; and the great disparity between markets is, however, essential to a permanent imthe prices at the present and at the correspondent provement; and we trust that this indispensable period of the last year. The consumption of 1826, support to the cotton market, will not be long dewas 175,000 bales less than during the current year. layed. This great increase may be partially accounted for, We anticipate no reduction on imports during by supposing, that more than ordinary proportions the next year. The same sources will, we doubt of Brazil cottons have been used, which are only not, continue to yield the same supplies. The cothalf the weight of American bales. If this be the ton must come to Europe. It is the chief payment case, the great bulk of the present stock, must be which the Americans and Brazillians can make to of the latter description; thus constituting it really us; and, if they exported every pound of their wool, heavier than at first it appears. they would still be in debt to the Europeans for manufactured goods. The question, however, whether or not cotton Whatever may be the future prospects of the cotton market, and he must be a bold man who will undertake, after the experience of the two last years, to pronounce a dogmatical opinion on the subject, one fact is certain, that there will be no scarcity of cotton during the coming year. There will be "enough and to spare." Egypt, as we predicted twelve months ago, has ceased, for the present, to afflict the holders of cotton by sending hither any of her plagues in the shape of cotton; and 100,000 the Pacha of that country is too busily engaged in 700,000 war and politics, to attend to agriculture and mer300,000 chandize. But America will continue to pour her 130 000 myriads of bales into Europe, and make up, from her super-abundant stores, for any deficiency in the 1,230.000 imports from the East. The supplies are supposed to be as follows: East and West Indies, Egypt, &c. In conclusion, it must be expected, that this arti900,000 ele, like all descriptions of property, will be sensi250,000 bly affected in price by the acts of this legislature, 100,000 in the ensuing session of Parliament. If the government, as at present constituted, would continue 1,250,000 to rule the destinies of England, it is possible, that Those who have watched the market, during the the rigid course of legislation adopted last year, Present year, must have observed at different pe- with reference to what the economists term the riods, that a spirit of speculation has occasionally monetary system of the country, will, for some time shown itself; but no sooner had a small advantage at least, remain undisturbed, and that the nominal A third seventy-four band loom calico, in Octo-in price been gained, than languor again seized the value of all commodities will be thus forced down dealers, and prices drooped below the currency. to a point of unexampled depression If, on the ber, was selling at 5s. 10d. The price of cotton, Capitalists were too doubtful, and importers too ne contrary, any material change of the ministry boweds, was bad. and Pernams. 9d. The proportions of these descriptions for twist and weft make cessitous; and the improvement was not sustained. should occur, or any attempt be made, by the prean average of 7d. per lb. The calculation, then, is It is certain, however, that notwithstanding the sent cabinet, to soften down that inexorable policy heavy stocks in the ports, some bold operators en- which limits the small-note circulation to April, tertain a favourable opinion of a speculation in cot- 1828, we may look for an immediate and a very ton; and, looking at the production and consump-perceptible advance in every species of property. tion abstractedly, we can readily suppose these per The uncertainty which is felt on this subject, and sons have before them a flattering hypothesis as to the vivid recollection of the ruinous consequences the causes which may tend to increase the value of of frequent changes in the money arrangements of the article. The only doubt in our minds on the the kingdom, have, by creating a strong disinclinasubject, originates in the unprofitable character tion in the minds of capitalists, to invest their maof trade in general, owing to the action of a ney in articles of commerce, produced an effect combination of causes, at which we can only glance. such as might have been expected from any circumAmong these may be enumerated: The great di stances tantamount to the annihilation of half the minution of capital by former overtrading The unemployed capital of the kingdom The attenweight of taxation. The multiplicity of commis tion of importers and speculators should, therefore, sion houses, whose system of advances and accom- be strongly directed to the position which ministers modation to consigners, has inundated all the take with regard to this all-important question; and known foreign markets with goods to such excess, abstracting their minds from the more obvious conthat years will be required to run off the stocks. siderations of supply and demand of cotton, they and to restore prices to a remunerating level. The ought rather to watch, with an observant eye, those increase of foreign manufactures, as shown by the great public measures which influence the demand consumption of cotton in France* and the Nether and the supply of money. lands, &c. The present heavy stock. And, lastly, 880.000 the system of national legislation, which partially 342,500 shuts the English merchant out of the Indian mar 2s. 8d. 5 106 1 2 1/2 1 10 of } 0 3 Interest of capital in machinery, cards, incidental expenses, &c. Weaver's wages, Carriage to market, expenses of sale, &c. kets, and closes the continent of Europe against 1,222,500 our manufactures. But, in spite of all these drawbacks, there is, we think, from the detail we have given of the stock, the consumption and the sup 725.000 Prices, last year, Uplands, 64d to 74d. *We have before us the quantity of cotton taken out of the Havre market alone for the last ten years. SUPERIOUR BEEF. The curiosity excited by the information that a bullock, of unusual size, raised and fed in Chester county, would be exhibited and slaughtered by our enterprizing neighbours of the Green Tree, Messrs. Osborne and Matlack-brought to our borough the bone and sinew of Chester and Delaware counties. The ox was killed on Tuesday, the 19th instant, 1817, 62,166 1821, 122,820 1825, 120,749. and we regret to state, that in the bustle to witness 1818, 90,049 1822, 129,221 1826, 180,430. 1819, 95,321 the knock down, of nearly twenty who were crowd1827, 160,000. 1820, 96,158 Stock, 50,100.ed off the bridge leading to the barn-floor, one citiThe quantity taken out at Antwerp, this year, is up- zen had bis leg severely strained, and slightly frac wards of 50,000 bales. tured; and another, who had, in presence of the 1823, 112,626 1824, 144.970 |