The rivers and creeks do in many places form very fine large marshes, which are a convenient support for their flocks and herds. they come to the place, they bid the dogs seek out, and all the company follow immediately. Wherever a dog barks, you may depend upon finding the game, and this alarm, draws both men There is likewise found great variety of earths, and dogs that way. If this sport be in the woods, for physick, cleansing, scouring, and making all the game by that time you come near it, is persorts of potter's ware, such as antimony, talk, yel-haps mounted to the top of an high tree, and then low and red oker, fuller's earth, pipe clay, and other fat and fine clays, marle, &c. In a word, there are all kinds of earth fit for use. Have you pleasure in a garden? All things thrive in it, most surprisingly; you can't walk by a bed of flowers, but besides the entertainment of their beauty, your eyes will be saluted with the charming colors of the humming bird, which revels among the flowers and licks off the dew and honey from their tender leaves, on which it only feeds [he means on which alone it feeds]. It's size is not half so large as an English wren, and its color is a glorious shining mixture of scarlet, green and gold. Colonel Byrd in his garden, which is the finest in that country, has a summer-house, set round with the Indian honeysuckle which all the summer is continually full of sweet flowers, in which these birds delight exceedingly. Upon these flowers, I have seen ten or a dozen of these beautiful creatures together, which sported about me so familiarly, that often with their little wings they fann'd my face. Hunting. they detach a nimble fellow up after it, who must it down to the dogs; and then the sport increases Jave a scufile with the beast, before he can throw to see the vermine encounter those little currs. In this sort of hunting they also carry their great dogs out with them, because wolves, bears, panthers, wild-cats, and all other beasts of prey are abroad in the night, For wolves they make traps, and set guns bated in the woods, so that when he offers to seize the bate he pulls the trigger, and the gun discharges upon him. What Elian and Pliny write of the horses being benumb`d in their legs, if they tread in the track of a wolf, does not hold good here; for I myself and many others, have rid full speed after wolves, in the woods, and have seen live ones taken out of a trap, and drag'd at a horse's tail, and yet those that follow'd on horse-back have not perceived any of their horses to falter in their pace. Wild horses. There is yet another kind of sport which the young people take great delight in, and that is, the hunting of wild horses; which they pursue someThe Indians as have already observed had in times with dogs, and sometimes without. You their hunting, a way of concealing themselves, must know they have many horses foaled in the and coming up to the deer, under the blind of a woods of the uplands, that never were in hand, stalking-head, in imitation of which, many people and are as shy, as any savage creature. These have taught their horses to stalk it, that is, to walk having no mark upon them, belong to him that gently by the huntsman's side to cover him from first takes them. However the captor commonly the sight of the deer. Others cut down trees for purchases these horses very dear, by spoiling better the deer to browse upon, and lie in wait behind in the pursuit ; in which case tre has little to make them. Others again set stakes at a certain dis-imself amends, besides the pleasure of the chace. tance within their fences, where the deer have And very often this is all he has for it, for the wild been used to leap over into a field of peas, which horses are so swift, that 'tis difficult to catch them, they love extremely: these stakes they so plate, and when they are taken 'tis odds but their grease as to run into the body of the deer, when he is melted, or else being old, they are so sullen that pitches, by which means they impale him." they cannot be tam'd. They hunt their hares (which are very numerous) a-foot, with hungrils, or swift dogs, which either catch them quickly, or force them to hole in a hollow tree, whither all their hares generally tend, when they are closely pursued. As soon as they are thus holed, and have crawl'd up into the body of the tree, the business is to kindle a fire, and smother them with smoak, till they let go their hold, and fall to the bottom stifled, from whence they take them. If they have a mind to spare their lives, upon turning them loose, they will be as fit as ever, to hunt at another time: for the mischief done them by smoak, immediately wears off again. MARLING IN SUSSEX. PHILIPS' MARL RAISING MACHINE. To the Editor of the Farmers' Register.⚫ Shellbottoms, Sussex Oct. 15. 1839. Though wholly unaccustomed to write for the public, I cannot repress the strong desire I have to address you a few lines for the purpose, and in the hope at least, that my attempt may be of some service to the great cause you have long zealously and efficiently promoted. But enough of preface. It is known to you, that about two years ago, I They have another sort of hunting, which is discovered on my farm a large body of fine strong very diverting, and that they call vermine hunt-marl, yielding by analysis of three or four pits, 35 ing. It is performed a foot with small dogs; in per cent at top, 55 at 5 feet, and 68 to 72 at 10 fee: the night, by the light of the moon or stars. Thus in the bed, two or three of the pits opened by me in the summer-time they find abundance of rac- having been worked to that depth without any coons, opossums and foxes, in the corpfields and apparent diminution of quality, and one only being about their plantations, but at other times, they so mixed with large lumps of sand at 8 or 9 feet must go into the woods for them. The method is deep, that we abandoned it. My first efforts were to go out with three or four dogs, and as soon as with manual labor, to throw it on the surface; but hearing repeatedly of Mr. Philips', and one other machine of great promise, and indeed, when in use, giving conclusive proof of the value of it, prepared the timber, engaged Mr. George Pinlips the inventor, to assist, and in the month of March last, he, with my own carpenters built one for me, and put it to work. I wish all improvers with marl who get it from pits of caving earth, or water running in so freely as to be in the way, would come and look at mine when at work, being well convinced myself that in such situations they are extremely valuable. I commenced raising marl by hand two years ago in August, and during that year, and the following winter, got out 25,000 bushels, which was applied to the land at the rate generally of 250 bushels per acre. In one instance, on a wet, low, waste spot of land, of about 4 acres, I ploughed in about 375 Bushels to the acre; the corn crop on it was good for such land. In March, it was sown in oats, and in a few days, say by the 20th of the month, in clover seed. The crop of oats was very fine. The clover took kindly, has been, in August, 3 feet high, and is now as thick as need be, and about two feet high. The field in which this spot is situated, contains 45 acres. The whole was marled and ploughed in with double ploughs, 5 inches deep, but the covering very scant, nothing in fact but a scattering growth of weeds and a little crab grass and hen's-nest grass. I marled a slip fifty feet wide, across the field, from north to south, at the rate of 125 bushels per acre, and another of twenty-five feet wide half across, at 500 bushels per acre. I am unwilling to pronounce any opinion as to the difference between the crops, corn, oats, or clover, grown on the scant, on the average, or on the double quantity of marl. You will keep in mind that the body of the field was marled at the rate 250 per acre. I shall notice the progress of the next crops of corn and wheat, and will then let you know decisively my opinion as to the advantage or propriety of apply ing either of the different quantities. I am the more desirous to set some others at observing the difference between the very large and the small quantities, because it is stated in the September No. of the Register, that 100 bushels of marl is enough for one acre of land. the last of July. On my way, and whilst staying over the ridge, I saw not an acre of clover equal to my own sown in March last, on good land to be sure, and marled at the rate of three hundred bushels to the acre. We had cut about one-third of the lot, the whole being 7 acres, for seed, and at my return, 29th September, it was still superior to any left in that fine clover country, which I had just left. It shall not, however, be concealed that the last spring was fatal to clover there. I did not see a stack of clover hay, nor hear of one, in the country. Seed clover was almost as scarce, but under the belief that it could hardly be got for sowing, several in the vicinity of Whitepost were cutting a little for their own use; but only two, men, spoken of in the country, would make over twenty bushels, and those two together, perhaps two hundred bushels. And here more information is respectfully solicited from men of experience, for my own and for the general benefit. Is it best to clean it or pluck it from the straw and stem, and sow it in the chaff? If to clean be best, what is the most approved method of doing so? And particularly, I would like to know if any one has ever tried the cotton gin; passing it between the saws in the manner of cotton. One of your correspondents in the July No., asserts that the diffèrence is nothing at all between using mart as a top dressing and ploughing it in, and this, as he asserts, after an experience of forty years. Now, Mr. Ruffin, let it be understood by all, that I have on the surface ready to be hauled and applied in my best guess, 30,000 bushels, and am within a few days of being ready in every respect to commence moving it; think of the difference to me, between applying 250 and 125 or 100 bushels fo the acre! And not to me alone, but to others, the fact would be important if it were well ascertained that 125 bushels, say, is as good to the acre, as 250, and that the mere sprinkling it on the top of the land, answers as well as ploughing it in. I am well convinced, that it takes me nearly as long to plough in, as to haul; and by the rule of three, it would take twice as long to apply 250 as 125 bushels, but such is not the fact, for the more land you marl, the further you would be from the pit at the end of every day or two; it is easy and plain however, to see that the saving of time and labor to the improver would be prodigious. The answers to the questions I have asked, would I think be of general benefit, and under that view of the matter, I hope that men of knowledge and exper rience will give their information to the public through you, and all of us be benefited by their communications. I am now at work with the machine raising marl, though the quantity on the surface at the different pits is estimated (guessed would be the best term,) at 50,000, and from that to 30,000. In three weeks, if weather permit, more will be ready for the carts than I can haul away in twelve months. I am an enthusiast in your cause; in fact it is mine, and every patriot's cause, and I conform Thus must close my first essay in this line, strictly, except as to quantity of marl, with your only begging that whatever you may think tiredirections in your Essay on Calcareous Ma- some, or valueless, may be erased at your discrenures.' I sow clover, but a small portion only is tion, or the whole thrown into the fire if you think to be grazed, and it is accordingly kept sacred it best. Whatever be the success of my letter, I from the hoof; though I have lately obtained at am deeply anxious for the success of the agriculgreat labor, and risk, and some expense of money,tural interests, and am your friend, and humble two fine calves of the Durham short horn half servant, JOSEPH MASON, sen. blood, four lambs, two of each sex, of Bakewell and Merino blood, very fine size, tvool and form, and the calves unequalled before among us; and two pigs of an extraordinary size, and beautiful appearance of their age, milk-white in color. In my endeavors to escape from, or to cure a terrible disease which had afflicted me for three years, I went up to the vicinity of Winchester, November 8th, 1839. P. S. Forgetfulness, rather than the want of importance, prevented me from giving you in my late communication the description of my marl machine, which so well deserves notice. I state this as an apology for adding a few paragraphs, though fearful that it is too tedious and too long to meet with your approval. Mr. Philips, the inventor, | the publication of the Farmers' Register. Yet gave me a bill of the timber, amounting to, say we will dare to assert that if the instruction there 1000 feet, and so full an explanation of the ma- offered, even as to marling alone, had been availchine as to enable my own workmen to do all except two or three days work, which was aided in ed of, that the agricultural value and profits of the and superintended by Mr. Geo. Philips himself. county would have been already doubled, and The machine was put in operation merely to try that by improvements yielding clear gain immeit in March last, but no work done. When our diately and permanently. We proceed to answer crop was "laid by" as the phrase is, my son (1 being in Frederick in pursuit of health so long our friend's inquiries. unknown to me) did not keep an account of the days employed, but it could not be more than 35 days. Four and sometimes five hands were employed. In the want of that sort of daily account of progress it is impossible to say what number of of the marl, 2nd, the texture and degree of bushels were raised in any one day, but of the fertility of the soil, and 3rd, the treatment to general result there is but one opinion by my son which it had been, and is designed to be subjected and myself. Upon my return we decided that in cultivation. Yet with these three data, it is four hands could with ease do four times as much No precise quantity of marl can be correctly prescribed as a general rule. It is necessary to know in advance, 1st, the strength and character as without it; 5 or 6 can work without incommo-easy for any farmer to apply a proper quantity in ding each other. We think the quantity of 20000 every possible case. The more clayey and still bushels, and the work is by no means laborious. more the richer the land, or the more full of vegeIn the preceding twelve months we had raised with table matter, and the poorer the marl, the heavier an equal or greater number of hands a little less than 26000 bushels. I have begun only yesterday should be the marling; and the lighter in proporto haul it with excellent teams, two wagons and tion to the extent of the reverse conditions or to two ox-carts, for I find the wagon and ox-cart the sandiness, poverty and nakedness of the land, more advantageous to employ than single-horse and the richness of the marl. In one case, 100 carts. My son thinks $80 ample pay for building bushels of marl may be as much as is profitable or a machine, every thing being found. We find a material difference between one pit and another; safe to apply; and in another it would be both some ground is very sandy, and caves badly, and safe and profitable to give 800. General rules to the water comes in more freely. We have, how- this effect, but more fully stated, are given at page ever, few such spots. I think the machine will 56 of Essay on Calcareous Manures, 2nd Ediraise in my common pits, with 5 hands, 600 and tion. probably 750 bushels per day, and the digging the J. M. marl is the hardest of the labor. REMARKS. We have never attached much importance to the difference of laying marl on the grass or weeds, and ploughing under for a crop, or on the surface of the land after being ploughed. Each mode We are much gratified to meet our good old has its peculiar advantages and disadvantages, friend as a contributor to the pages of the Far-which are so nearly balanced, that it is best to mers' Register; and it adds much to this gratifi- consult convenience in other respects, and choose cation to know, from this and other sources of in-accordingly. If to be ploughed under with the formation, that in his old age (and diseased and turf or weeds, (and mixed by the tillage of the feeble, as we regret to learn,) he is marling his land crop,) marl will have most of early effect, because with all the energy and enthusiasm of youth; and of its being in contact with the putrescent matter, in a few years from the first discovery of his marl, and of their reciprocal and beneficial action on his labors will have doubled the product of the each other. But the attendant disadvantage is, farm which he had so long before cultivated, with- that, if ploughed under with a good furrow, or out producing any increase of fertility or produc- even five inches deep, the subsequent tillage will tiveness. May he not only see the certain and not serve fully to bring up and mix the mark with speedy result of his present labors, but live long the soil, without which (and especially if lying in health to enjoy the greatest reward which can beneath) the marl is of very little effect. If cartbe bestowed on a farmer-the seeing the new and ed on after the land has been ploughed, and mixpermanent productiveness of his land caused by his ed by the, subsequent tillage, the mixture will be own labors of mind and body. His example, too, much more perfectly made. But the labor of cartwe hope will do more for his countymen, than haveing on ploughed land is greater, and the operation our precepts and example united. For, very few is of course hurtful, by making the ground hard. landholders in Sussex have yet availed properly of But the ploughing under of marl is worse than the marl which underlies the whole county; and labor thrown away, unless for the immediate culthere is no county in Virginia, possessing that tivation of a crop. If laid on land a year or more natural advantage, which is less indebted to our (as may sometimes be convenient) before the field instruction, or that has heretofore given less sup-is to be cultivated, it will be much better to spread port to, and of course received less benefit from, carefully, and leave it on the surface, than to plough it under, and so leave it to stand. Marl correspondence. I trust the whole will be accept(or lime) if in lumps or masses, no matter how soft, will be of no use as manure. The manure should be mixed and diffused through evey part of the soil, and not placed deep at first. able to your readers; and, in particular, that such • PHILO-GEORGICON. Class 1st. We have heard before of the value and operation of the machine, of Mr. George Philips, (of Petersburg,) and have urged its ingenious inventor to serve the marling interest by having such machines erected for his own profit. But though he has aided and given the necessary instructions to build several, which have served their purpose to the entire satisfaction of the different proprie- February 8th.-Having concluded an agreetors, he has not sought to make the machine an ment with the proprietor of the farm mentioned in article of profit to himself, and thereby to make it my last, permit me to crave your advice with regard to my future conduct. I am encouraged to the most profitable to the public. Strange as it take this liberty, by a remembrance of your formay seem too, he has not even wished nor thought mer kindness, and also by an impression that the of preventing its construction by others, by the pro- firmest dependence may at all times be placed uptection of a patent right. If we could have ob- on your prudence and judgment. Do, my dear sir, favor me with your assistance "on this occatained a draught and description of the machine, sion; for, if I once go wrong, it may be a long we should before this, have published them. But while before I go right. Listen with patience to we have not seen one, and have formed our favo- my desultory opinions; and examine with attenrable opinion, merely from the report of others. tion the crude and undigested schemes that may be Whoever desires to draw marl from a considera-me from straying into the paths of error. Often presented. Correct me when wrong, and keep ble depth, or from wet pits, will do well to apply have you told me, that perfect management could to Mr. Philips, (at Petersburg,) for his instruction, only be learned in the school of practice; and that which he will not withhold, even if he may not find a long attendance was necessary before the ablest it convenient to undertake the construction desired. scholar could merit the character of a good agriculturist. All these things now rush upon my mind when I am going to enter into rural life, and urge me to unbosom myself to one capable of affording the aid that is wanted. Excuse these eg ED. F. R. LETTERS FROM A YOUNG FARMER TO MR. JA- otisms. Attribute them entirely to that anxiety MIESON. To the Conductor of the Farmers Magazine. which every one must, less or more, feel on such an occasion; especially if without confidence in their own abilities. Sir: Three years ago, I sent you a series of let-The farm I have taken contains three hundred ters from a young farmer to his father, (vide Vol. Scotch acres, divided into eighteen enclosures, and 8. p. 84. et seqq.), which, I understand, met with pretty well situated, both as to obtaining a full a favorable reception. Influenced by the like mo-supply of lime, and to good markets, where produce tive as then guided me, namely, to disseminate of all sorts may be readily disposed of at a fair price. practical information concerning rural affairs, I, at The soil is of different qualities and varieties; one this time, take the liberty of handing you some half of it being a strong deep loam approaching to letters from the young farmer to his quondam pre-clay, and naturally well calculated for the culture ceptor, written after a farm had been taken on his of beans and wheat; about fifty acres are of thin account, wherein a picture, tolerable correct, is clay, capable of carrying wheat if well manured, furnished of the several articles of business which but apparently unfit for an extensive rotation; and usually occur during the first twelve months of a the remainder is good turnip soil, though not of a lease. The operations formerly detailed were gravelly nature; therefore, able to carry peas and perhaps executed upon a scale rather too large to beans. The whole farm is in tolerable good order be imitated by men of ordinary capitals; but those at present, having been preserved in shape by the to be now described merit a different character, former tenant; that is to say, he was not permitbeing in fact an exact representation of what daily ted to take two white crops in succession during occurs in every quarter of the country. I have ar- the last five years of his lease;-a regulation ranged the letters into four classes as formerly; which, so far as I know, has been strictly adhered one of which may, if you please, be presented in to. According to the lease, he was also bound to each number of this volume. In class first, the leave one sixth of the farm in grass of different ages; young man is put into possession of his farm. In and the like quantity uncropped, as a turnip or the second, the ground is cultivated and laid down fallow break; which prestations are complied with. for his first crop. In the third, his grass and tur-He is likewise bound to leave the whole dung of nip husbandry is described. And in the fourth, his the penult crop upon the premises for the use of harvest-work, &c. is fully explained. These are his successor; so, from these things, you will see the leading and chief subjects discussed in each that my entry cannot be considered as an 'unfàclass, though digressions are often made to other vorable one. For the dung, and the land that is matters naturally occurring in the course of the luncropped, value is to be paid him, according a the same shall be ascertained by neutral men of dung, 2. wheat and seeds; 3. clover and ryeskill and capacity mutually appointed. The con- grass; 4. oats. You have often told me, that dition of the houses and fences is also to be sub- grass husbandry did not pay on such soils after the mitted to neutral men. Here, my dear sir, allow first year, and that as good oats were got after one me to request that you would act as my arbiter on year's grass as alter three years. Satisfied that this occasion. The matters to be determined, are these sentiments are well founded.. I propose that of some importance to me; and I am the more the fifty acres of thin clay should be divided into anxious to have my interest under your guidance, four breaks, and cropped in the way described. since learned from my father that heavy losses, : According to any other plan, the same quantity of on one side or other, are olien sustained, when produce cannot be obtained at so little expense unqualified persons sit in judgment. The clause of labour.. In fact, five, or at the most six ploughiwith regard to fences bears, that they are to beings, are only required during the whole rotation. capable of keeping in cattle and sheep; and as, to Third-As to the light soils, I am clear that houses, that they are to be in good habitable con- turnips should be the basis of any rotation that dition. To me these terms appear loose and un-may be adopted. This, I know, will gain your precise; though, to persons of experience, their approbation. I am more doubtful about the after meaning may not be doubtful. crops; but let me suppose the course to be as fol I come now to the rent agreed upon, which I am lows: 1. turnips; 2. wheat on the portion of fearful may be too high, but, being offered under ground cleared by the first of March; barley on the express sanction of my lather, must be reckon the remainder; grass seeds to be sown with both; ed as not higher than the market value of similar 3. clover and rye-grass, either to be used in 8soils. In short, the rent agreed upon is one throu-ing, or manufactured into hay; 4. oals; 5. peas sand guineas, or three pounds ten shillings perucre, and beans drilled; 6. wheat. There being one which is a smart one especially as the public bur- hundred acres of light soil, this gives about 15 dens, say property-tax, horse-tax, window lights, acres for each break. My father says the rotation statute labor, &c. must be added; and these may is a good one, if dung can be administered twice be computed at ninety pounds, or six shillings per in the course of it a point which cannot be asacre more. My father, in valuing the farm, trus- certained at the present moment. ted much to the goodness of its condition, and the Now, let me bring the crops of the several roregulat mode of cropping exercised for several tations into one view, before calling your attent years; and assured me, that, under different cir to the number of men and horses that will be recumstances, his estimate would have been curtail- quired in their cultivation. Upon looking back, ed considerably. He added, that he has known it appears that there will be nearly thony-seven farms newly taken, where one year's rent could acres of wheat upon the strong loam; twelve and not be paid out of two crops; whereas, in the a half acres upon the thin clay; and twenty res present instance, the rent might nearly be paid at upon the fight soils, supposing one hail of the the outset. This, to be sure, is an important mat- turnip break cleared in time, making, in all, ev ter; freeing me from an expensive outlay in the enty-four and a half acres annually under wheat. first instance, which in fact, would operate alter-The extent of barley ground will be eight acres wards exactly in the same way as so much more and a half, or thereby; of oats about lory eigh rent. I wished greatly to have had the benefit of acres; of beans and peas about thirty-five acres, your advice before the transaction was concluded; of turnips nearly seventeen acres, besides thirtytherefore, felt much concern when I learned that two acres of plain summer-lallow. The t your other engagements prevented us from obtain- number of acres, therefore, under the plough ing it. one season, according to these rotations, is t hundred and fifteen; whereof one bonded and thirty-one will carry white corn crops, and fiftytwo beans, peas and turnips; whilst egy-five acres are in grass of different ages; and the remainder of the farm, viz. thirty-two acres, under the radical preparatory process of summer-fallow. In my humble opinion, the above sketch is not far amiss, especially as it includes the cropping of various soils, whose properties are so disunite, as to render what may be called good manage ment upon one of them altogether inexpedient upon the others. Allow me, in the next place, to solicit your advice concerning the most suitable, rotationis of cropping for the several soils described. I shall throw out my crude ideas on that subject, submitting them entirely to your better judgement. t First-On the strong loam, I am inclined, to think that an eight, course shift may be nost profitably followed, especially, as that soil is divided into eight enclosures, some of them more, some of them less than twenty acres, which would cause the arrangement to suit well when grass was resorted to. The rotation might cominence with complete summer-fallow; 2. go on with wheat Do you think five ploughs and ten horses will and grass seeds; 3. pasture; 4. pasture; 5. pas-be quite sufficient for carrying on the work hare ture; 6. oats; 7. beans; 8. wheat. My father chalked out? Or would you consider six to be the thinks, as the land, is well enclosed, ani profits cessary? To save a plough in these times, is the from grass husbandry on the increase, that the same thing as to save one hundred guineas, thoug benefits of this rotation may exceed those to be 4 am well aware, if the strength kept is below the obtained from employing the plough more exten- work to be executed, that every saving in the sively; and that whilst only one dunging was first instance will ultimately turnout a real los required during the rotation, the whole crops my the person who attempts it. Still, as I remem be expected good from the vegetable manure accumulated during the three years of pasturage, Send-On the thin clays, it appears expedient to exercise a gentle rotation, otherwise full crops cannot be expected. Sty, 1. summet fallow with that a plough with you cultivated more acres at I have mentioned, and know that an extensive farmer in this neighborhood, whose farm is che Iv composed of loam and clay soils, had last seash 330 acres under grain crops, whilst his strengin |