The Farmers' Register

we have lately seen on this subject for they con- feet drills or less, which must be conclusive, it tain nothing but mere opinions, evidently written those root culturists are right, who assert, that the in bad temper, and apparently more for the pur-nutritive matter in all turnips and beets also, does pose of letting off the peccant humors of the authors, through the press, (which they have thus used as a kind of safety-valve,) than to furnish any matter really useful to the agricultural community. For any thing that I have yet read, they have tried this unlucky corn by no other taste than its ill looks, which is but a very fallacious guide in most things and hence it is that I have commented so freely on the course which they all appear to have pursued a course, which if generally followed, would render it perfectly useless to make any agricultural experiments whatever.

not increase in proportion to their bulk. For the the truth of this assertion, I cannot vouch from my own experience; but it is sufficiently important to be well worth investigation. My second objection to the widest distance is, that straight drills, 2 feet apart, may be worked with a suitable plough or cultivator, (of which we have many,) quite as easily, as drills 3 feet apart; but the single coulter, followed by the hand-hoes, I prefer to either plough or cultivator. My third objection applies to ridges and trench-manuring; and it is this: Since our climate has become so liable to This year, I have made my first experi- excessive drought, all roots, cultivated on high ment with broom-corn. It was planted 3 feet by land appear, manifestly, to thrive best on a level 4, and from 3 to 6 stalks left in a hill, on land of surface, such especially, as grow much above ordinary quality. It produced from a part of the ground, which is the case with the mangle wurtground which I measured, at the rate of 70 or 80 sel, the sugar-beet, and the tankard turnip. And, bushels of unclean seed; but having no conveni- lastly, the manure deposited in trenches, (which ent means of seperating it from the husk, I could operation nearly, or quite doubles the labor of disnot tell how much that quantity would net. The tribution,) benefits the crop only until the fibrous ground received the same culture with the Chi-roots of the plants protrude themselves beyond it, nese tree-corn; and this trial has induced me to as all of them soon do. Even before this takes think, that the grain would be preferable to oats place, the manure in trenehes does not act with for feeding any kind of stock. The northern far-near as much power, as when the same quantity, mers who are well acquainted with it, and have on the same space, is spread broadcast, for the ascertained its value by actual experiments, say, former frequently remains unrotted, and even firethat it is worth a third more than oats, and will fanged, when the roots are dug, as I have often bring more to the acre. In addition to this, I know witnessed in digging Irish potatoes. that the broom-makers give, at present, $5 a hundred for the brush, stripped of the seed, from which they have contrived an excellent implement, that may be made for two or three dollars, and the stalks yield a considerable quantity of good fodder, although less than our Indian corn. These extra values over oats, (which are not mere matters of opinion but of fact,) are surely much more than sufficient to pay the extra expense of its cul-ings around my stable. These were regularly ture. Some writer has lately objected to cultivating it, that he thinks it "a grea: exhauster."But his opinion seems to me no better than the reason he assigns for it, which is, that "th. seed are oleaginous." For even admitting both to be true, the objection applies quite as strongly to Indian corn itself, which is also oleaginous; and with still greater force to fiax, cotton, the castorbean, pumpkins and squashes, the seed of all which plants produce a far greater quantity of oil in proportion than broom-corn seed.

One of my turnip experiments was, to ascertain which acted best of the following kinds of manure-marl, having about 37 per cent of carbonate of lime-undrawn but old ashes-bone dust-fresh cotton seed, mixed with pulverized mortar that had grown hard, although recently preparedbone dust again-old plaster pulverized-and fresh stable manure mixed half and half with the sweep

spread in the order in which they are mentioned, in equal quantities as well as I could judge by the eye, and on equal spaces by measure as to length and breadth. Across these spaces I drilled in rows 15 inches apart, seed of the globe or Norfolk white turnip-the yellow Scotch, called the Aberdeen-the ruta baga, and Dale's hybrid turnip, which is also yellow. The seed of the last was at least 5 years old, but came up as well as the rest. Each kind of turnip appeared to be equally benefited by the same kind of manure; but there My experiment with turnips of several varie- was an obvious superiority in the growth of all ties, (drilled at different distances.) but chiefly upon the spaces where the bone dust and the cotruta baga, of which I think as highly as any per- ton-seed, with pulverized mortar, had been apson who has expressed any opinion on the subject, plied-between the effects of which two manures has led me to a conclusion which I now offer for I could see no difference. The plants on the marl what it is worth. It is, that the practice with and ashes spaces were the next best; but slightly many persons, of making the rows 2 or 3 better on the latter. The old pulverized plaster, feet apart, and sowing the seed on the top of and the fresh horse manure, mixed as above staridges formed over trenches filled with manure, is ted, evidently produced less benefit than the other highly objectionable for several reasons. The manures. There might possibly have been some first is, that between 3 feet and 2 (which appears little difference in the strength of different parts to me quite enough,) we lose in the number of of the ground on which the experiment was tried; roots, without any thing near the proportionate but I perceived none, and the spot being only ten gain in the size of the last number. This is con-or eleven yards square, my eyes could not have firmed by the fact, that the greatest crops ever re-deceived me much. This I mention to show the corded in our papers have been made from grounds necessity of the utmost possible accuracy in all where the distances were less than 3 feet, the wide way. But, even admitting that the gain in size at the latter distance will make up for the loss in number, there is another argument in favor of 2

agricultural experiments that can be of any real value. Unless thus made, their publication often leads inexperienced farmers into injurious practices, causing the loss both of time and

labor, which is virtually a loss of money also. Before I quit the subject of drill culture, it, may perhaps be useful to some of my brethren briefly to state my own process, as I have found it a very great saving of labor. In making the drills for the seed, I use a marking rake, in which four pegs, an inch square, with sharpened ends, are fixed at the distance from each other, I prefer for the particular kind of seed to be sown. The same rake may serve for two different distances, by having a row of pegs in opposite sides of the timber which holds them. It has two handles whose ends are connected by a cross piece, and by this the sower pulls it backwards, marking in the first instance, four small furrows at once, in which he is guided by a stretched cord that he suffers just to touch the outside peg all the way as he walks. After this, each time of passing the outside furrows serves instead of the rope to keep the furrows straight, but then he marks only three at once. The rake should be heavy enough to make the furrows about an inch deep. In these the seed are drop-bably at less expense than we should necessarily ped from a very simple hand drill, which may be incur to move to a new country; to erect the inmade for three or four dollars, although it will dispensable buildings to clear lands for cultivation; last for a man's lifetime, and is so contrived as to and then have to wait some years before we could sow seed of any size or shape that will pass rea- make any other income, than "hog and hominy." dily through a hole; and to perform at the same In proof of the great capacity of almost all our time, the three different operations of opening the lands for speedy improvement, I will here state furrow, dropping the seed and covering them. what has resulted from a small trial of my own With this drill and marking rake, one man can soil, although it never was of the first quality. easily finish the whole work of sowing an acre The fields have been cultivated ever since I could in a very few hours, and with far greater regularity first remember, which is more than half a centuthan can be done in any of the common methods. ry, in three-shifts, one of which has been annually In an experiment made with the Rohan potato, pastured during the whole time, except for a short the 63rd part of an acre produced seven bushels period that I followed the inclosing system of and three pecks, which was at the rate of 488 my good old friend Col. John Taylor, of Carobushels per acre. The quantity certainly would line, whom I have always considered as the father have been greater, as the seed would have plant- of Virginia agriculture, and whose memory wil ed more ground; but fearing a loss by cutting be honored and cherished as long as a single friend them into pieces having only one eye, many were to our cause is left in the state, who either knew planted having two or three eyes to each. Even this product, however, far exceeds any yet made in our part of country, from any other variety of this valuable root, and must give Rohan potatoes a decided preference-at least for a quantity, over all the kinds at present known to us. But we may possibly obtain a still more productive variety, since it is now well known, that by planting the apples, entirely new and unknown kinds will continually be produced. I ought to mention that my Rohans were planted 15 inches apart each way, in a level surface, well manured broad cast, and then dug. Twelve of the largest together weighed twelve pounds, and one of these a pound and a half. covered with straw 5 or 6 inches deep; in which state they remained untouched until they were dug. This mode of planting saves all the labor of cultivation, and improves by the straw instead of impoverishing the land.

Among the circumstances which should increase our zeal and animate our hopes in abiding by old Virginia forever, is an abatement in many parts of the state, of the mania, (as I always considered it,) for abandoning our native homes, and all that can endear them to us, in search of new, unknown, untried lands, where, in a vast multitude of cases, the design first avowed by most emigrants, of making money for the sake of their families is very soon converted into the settled, ever anxious, heart-corroding passion for making it solely for its own sake, to the neglect of almost all the conveniences, comforts, and enjoyments of civilized life. What has produced this abatement of the migrating mania, which to me seems evident, I cannot tell, unless it be, that the newly awakened spirit for agricultural improvement has already so far and happily operated upon most of us, as thoroughly to have convinced us, that even our most exhausted lands are, in general, capable of soon being rendered very productive; and pro

Here ends my detail of experiments with which I have detained you so much longer than I wished or expected, that I almost fear to proceed, as I heretofore have done, at our anniversaries, to offer you a few concluding remarks by way of caution against prevalent erroneous opinions and practices, and of encouragement to perseverance in all the means best calculated to promote our cause. But since my age admonishes me that it is very possible I may now be addressing you for the last time, this consideration I trust will excuse my proceeding for a few minutes longer.

him personally or by character. But to proceed with my statement; the field in corn this year had a few acres cow-penned last year, and not ploughed up until the past spring, a practice, by the way, which is the result of many trials made by myself and others, that have most thoroughly convinced me of its superiority to ploughing up each pen as soon as it is romoved. The corn on these acres was planted in April, the hills five seet by three apart, with one and sometimes two stalks leit standing in each. One of these acres which appeared somewhat better than the rest, produced, by accurate measurement, eleven barrels of sound corn. Another acre, (both of twin-corn,) in a different part of the field that had been an old clover lot, but cultivated, with only one or two sprinklings of manure, for several years past in corn, wheat or oats, was also accurately measured, and produced fifteen barrels, within a fraction of a bushel, and this quantity be it remembered, is worth double or triple as much here, as the same would be in most of the new states, Only a short period has elapsed since you could visit scarcely a family of your acquaintance without finding them in distress, at recently parting with some intimate friend, or near and dear connexion, hurrying away to far distari lands. Now, comparatively speaking, it has be come a rare sight; nay, I know several instances of individuals and whole families having returned from this voluntary banishment, to their former neighborhoods, determined never to quit them

again. If they have been long absent, they find, | on coming back, a new condition of things, in many parts of their beloved old state. Improved modes of culture, and zealous, active efforts, in various ways, to restore the fertility of our soils, are causing our much abused and neglected fields, once more to "smile and blossom," as in the olden time; whilst the class of planters and farmers is fast rising, in public estimation, to that rank in society to which the pre-eminent importance of their profession to our national prosperity and happiness so justly entitles them. They themselves evidently begin to feel it, and consequently to cherish a laudable pride in their own improvement in agriculture-not only as an art, but a science also; for there are hundreds of books and papers on the subject, now read and studied, for one that was even looked at, a few years ago; so that the few individuals who, in these times, are silly enough to expose their own ignorance and self-conceit by declaiming against what they call "book-farming," are fast becoming objects both of pity and contempt. These, my good friends, are all circumstances truly well calculated to encourage every man among us, who is a real friend to his own native state, never to weary in his efforts for her welfare and happiness, as long as there is a single shot in the locker. But they are especially encouraging to the whole body of our yeomanry, by the proof they afford, that the abandonment of our homes, kindred, and friends is far-very far from being at all necessary to secure every enjoyment that a rational man ought to desire in the present life.

quiring it-modes of which we are utterly ignorant although we often suffer ourselves to be scduced into them by humbugs-so excessively extravagant, that we could not fail to see them in their true light, if the baneful lust of wealth did not make us stone-blind to their absurdity. I would here quote that wisest of men, king Solomon, against those who "hasten to be rich;" but it seems hardly worth while; for as most of his admirable lessons of wisdom have generally been disregarded, for more than two thousand years, it is hardly probable that we, of the present day, should obey them any better, than the millions upon millions who have lived and died before us. But there is one argument, I think, in support of my caution, that comes home to the selfishness of us all, and is so plain that he who runs may read it. Let us ask ourselves what proportion of our brethren has ever become rapidly very rich by cultivating the soil in any thing whatever? Is it one in a thousand, or one in ten thousand? If not, ought any man in his sober senses, to venture in a lottery where the blanks to a prize are ten thousand to one? Common prudence and common sense would, at once, answer no-never. The worst of it is, that as high seasoned viands and strong liquora, if long used, create in our stomachs a distaste for plain, wholesome food; so these enormous profits, although only in expectancy, by an almost countless majority, excite in their minds a similar distaste for the comparatively slower, but far surer profits of our ordinary husbandry; although this, if judiciously and industriously pursued, will, more certainly procure us all the conveSo far for our encouragements to live in and die niences, comforts, and rational enjoyments of life, by old Virginia. But now come the cautions and than any other employment that we can possibly warnings to which I beg leave to call your atten- pursue. Even in ages long past, when husbantion; for unless they are duly regarded, none of dry was, almost, in its infancy, one of the best and these encouragements can be rendered available most celebrated of the Roman poets-in his enthuto any great extent. First then, beware of adopt- siastic admiration of our profession, exclaimeding the conceit, which is so common, that we al- "Oh! fortunati nimium, si sua bona norint!”ready know enough of any branch of our profes--Oh! too fortunate, if they were only conscious: sion to supersede the necessity of striving to know of their own good!" more; for it certainly produces the practice, (if The incontestible proof that this is generally standing still can be so called,) of stopping short deemed the best of all professions, is, that all men, in all efforts at improvement; whereas, there is no (with very few exceptions,) strive to become, ulticalculating the extent to which this may be car- mately, owners and cultivators of the soil. This ried, if we would only act with the same common was man's first occupation, and seems to be dessense that we do in regard to the preservation of tined by God himself, to be estimated, throughout life. This we anxiously endeavor to prolong, as all ages, as the chief source for supplying his well as to increase the means of enjoying it, not-wants-augmenting all his innocent pleasures, and withstanding we are perfectly certain that all must ministering to his happiness, so far as the things of die, although we know not when. Why, there-time and sense can contribute to promote it. fore, should we not also strive to increase the I could here give a most edifying history of the means of improving our profession as one of the latest of our humbugs. But too many of our chief sources of our pleasures, since every one be-shoulders have been recently wrung by it, and the lieves this may be done, although all are equally ignorant of the extent to which these means may be carried; and none can tell but that there is a point of improvement far beyond any thing ever yet attained, even by the most skilful and best informed agriculturists of the world? Would we constantly act under a thorough conviction of this fact, our husbandry would soon reach a degree of perfection which the most sanguine amongst us have hardly ever yet formed, even a faint conception.

galled places are still smarting too much, for the recital now to do any good, I therefore forbear, for the present; but will certainly give it, (if alive,): upon the earliest threatenings of a similar visitation.

The last of my warnings and cautions which, above all others, I would most earnestly press upon your attention, is against a moral disease of such universal prevalence, that it affects every class in society, but ours, I think, most injuriously Another caution which seems every day, to be- for I consider it the chief cause of the numerous come more and morc necessary, is, to guard our- emigrations heretofore made by our brethren to selves most anxiously, against that inordinate pas- the new states and territories. In a word, it is the sion for the rapid accumulation of wealth, which disease of extravagance-of expenditure beyond tempts us to rush headlong into new modes for ac-income. It may perhaps, appear both foolishi and

presumptuous in any single individual to offer furnish salt to our bread! and away they scampe even one word of admonition in regard to any in thousands of instances, without having eve moral disease whatever, which is so widely spread seen, or possessiug the slightest knowledge eithe as nearly to destroy all hope, either of mitigation of the country to which they are going, or th or cure. But the less the hope, provided there be character of its population, abandoning foreve any left at all, the greater seeins the necessity, and their native homes-although in reality, they re the more imperative the duty of exerting ourselves quire nothing under heaven, but a few years of in for its removal. I must beg leave, therefore, to dustry and economy, to yield them every conve offer my pittance of advice and prescription in a nience, comfort, and enjoyment, that rational me case of such vital importance to us all. ought to desire.

Having ascribed the numerous desertions of our Having exposed to you, as forcibly as I car lands by their former proprietors, chiefly to our in- the errors and the evils which vitally concern ou creased, and still increasing extravagance, permit prosperity as a class, perhaps you will expect me me now, concisely to offer the proofs. None, I to suggest a remedy, if any can be found. I asser think, can truly deny, that the whole cultivated that it must originate with, and be applied by the Jands of Virginia produce more income than they masters of families, for they generally may be conformerly did; either because more surface is under sidered the heads of the same, although the extillage, or its culture better, or the efforts have been ceptions are numerous, wherein, according to the greater and more successful to improve it. Why vulgar saying, "the grey mare is the better horse. then the supposed necessity for emigration? Sim- This is generally spoken in bad sense, indicative ply because our expenditures in household and of a devilish temper and untameable tongue in personal expenses, in dress, furniture, equipage, the mistress, and a chicken's heart, and dastardly but above all, in our vagaries over the face of the spirit in the master; yet to the shame of our sex earth and the waters in steamboats and rail-roads, be it said, the expression is too often true in a good without any apparent object, (unless to be idle, sense, for every one has seen many instances and to escape from our domestic duties,) have in- where the whole burden of family affairs has de creased geometrically, while our landed income has volved on the poor wife, from the utter worthlessaugmented only in an arithmetical ratio. In other ness of her husband, and where she alone has words, we agriculturists in general, now spend dol- proved the main stay that preserved all from ine lars where we formerly spent cents. Add to all trievable ruin. Many, very many of these cam this, our boys, poor fellows! are not unfrequently are as pitiable as they are real, and cry most loesleft, nay often encouraged, to spend their time and ly, for that reform, which, as I before said, shoul large portions of the family income, in assiduous commence with the masters of families. Let them efforts to spoil God's own image by preposterous then, only begin, for if they are idle and wasterst and deforming fashions, and in playing the man, they have no right whatever to expect or require while yet mere children; instead of being trained any thing better of the mistresses. Let the mas to aid their fathers in all their farming operations. ters then, only take their proper station, and set in Our girls, God help them! are no better managed, it constantly as they should do, and most sincerely in cases innumerable; for multitudes of them are do I believe, not only that all these worthy and taught, long before they are out of their teens, to excellent women of whom I have last spokes. ape all the airs of fashionable women, to elec- would gladly confine their labors within their own tioneer for husbands, in any way that promises proper sphere of action, but that they would be success, at all places of fashionable resort, ofien on able to incite multitudes of their own sex to follow borrowed funds, for which their fathers' lands have their highly laudable example. For, thank heaultimately to pay; whilst they should be assidu- ven! we still have left enough of the descendants ously seeking physical and intellectual improve- of the genuine old stock of Virginia wives, in ment at home, and taking lessons from their moth-every class of our society, thus to honor the meers in that most essential and comprehensive art mory of their mothers and grandmothers; and to called "house-keeping," without a competent know- hand down unimpared, untarnished, all those doledge of which no woman is fit to become the mis-mestic virtues which adorned their characters and tress of a family. All this utter waste of time, of rendered them inestimable blessings to their familanded revenue, of the intellectual and bodily la- lies. Those virtues all still live as perfectly fresh bor that might be applied to augment it; all this in my memory, as if the admirable possessors of abuse of God's best gilis goes on amongst hosts of them whom I can first remember, yet lived among our brethren, in a vast multitude of cases, appa- us, and God grant that they may never, never be rently without any looking either forward or back-forgotten by any of their posterity. ward. The farming profits having long vanished, Could the reform I have spoken of once begin give place to dealings upon "credit," until the with the masters of the household, not even a sheriff calis for taxes; or the convenient, accom- shadow of doubt, I think, could exist but that a modating retailer of goods, comes down upon vast majority of them, instead of having their them for some small matter, a few dollars only, if wives to aid them in wasting their common funds. not convenient to pay the whole account; the an- would find them always ready and most willing nual, but very unnecessary tribute paid to northern to co-operate, with heart and hand, in every act of importers, for goods which our Virginia merchants useful retrenchment, of domestic economy and could just as well import for us, if the want of good management, which promised to promote foresight in themselves, and misgovernment in our rulers, had not prevented it. Then it is, that the paroxysms of the emigrating fever seize us; then, it is, that, you hear the cry: Oh! we can't live here any longer, we must move to a new country; our lands are worn out past recovery, they will not

the comforts, the enjoyments, and the happiness of their homes. Then, my good friends, but a few years would pass away, before we should witness peace, plenty and joy in numerous tamile where we now behold little else than paine! struggles against poverty, and vain, cowardly e

To George Rowe, of Spottsylvania, for the

best ram,

"Win. C. J. Rothrock, of Spottsylvania,
for the best ewe,

"George Rowe, of Spottsylvania, for mut-
ton.t

forts to keep up a show to the last, until the final
severance from friends, country and kindred is
forced upon them by their own most culpable im-
providence. Then, ere long, we should contem-
plate with deep and delightful emotion, the old
dwellings of our long buried ancestors, rapidly re-
pairing, instead of tumbling into shapeless ruins ;
or their bricks and stones, like some that once
were parts of our venerable churches, converted To
to the meanest purposes. Then, would our love

country soon receive a new impulse; a vivid encouragement from beholding our long worn out barren wastes converted into fertile fields, teeming with luxuriant crops; and to cap the climax of well-earned, perfecily justifiable pleasure, we who have resolved to live in and die by our mother state, might continually exult in reflecting that all this has been our work. In a word we should soon behold so happy a change wrought over the face of the whole country, as well as in its people, that a true-hearted Virginian would almost as soon think of committing suicide as of giving up his native home-the graves of his parents, relatives and friends-all that from his childhood he was taught to hold most dear, for any new state' or country on the face of the earth.

And now, my brethren, one and all, I must bid you farewell, perhaps-and not improbably, for the last time. Should it be so, listen, I pray you, to my parting entreaty: cherish our society; keep it up; and however feeble may be the encouragement given to it here, where it should surely meet with most; however small may be its annual accession of members, let the few faithful friends of our cause constantly bear in mind the all important fact, that there is no other way yet devised so well calculated to promote the husbandry of this or any country, as that of organizing and maintaining, in the proper spirit, societies of agriculture.

PREMIUMS AWARDED BY THE AGRICULTU-
RAL SOCIETY OF FREDERICKSBURG.

Annual meeting, November, 1839.

The premiums were awarded as follows, viz:
To Garland B. Taylor, of Louisa county, for
his common blood stallion, Expunger,
"J. Cole Dickinson, of Louisa county, for
his mare, Bett Badger,

"A. B. Hooe, of King George, for his
three-year old filly, Tranquillity,
"G. B. Taylor, of Louisa, for his riding
horse,

"John Stuart of K. George, for his jack,
"George Hamilton, of Spottsylvania, for

$10.

his mule colt,

"Thomas Scott, of Orange, for his bull, Boliver, of the Durham breed,

"John Ferneyhough, of Spottsylvania, for
cow, of the Alderney breed,
"F. W. Taliaferro, of Spottsylvania, for
grass fatted beel,*

Domestics.

Mrs. Dickinson, of Louisa, for the best
suit of clothes, of domestic manufac-
facture, the same having been worn
by Mr. Dickinson at the fair,
"Mrs. Virginia Scott, of Orange, for a
carpet,

"Mrs. Hamilton, of Spottsylvania, for a
piece of negro clothing,

"Miss Stevens, of Stafford, for a piece of
plaid,

"Mr. Lyon, of Fredericksburg, for 4 oz.
sewing silk,

$10