No. 27.—VOL. 10.] AGRICULTURE. AMERICAN FARMER-BALTIMORE, SEPTEMBER 19, 1828. (From the Southern Agriculturist.) INDIGO. On the method of Manufacturing Indigo on the coast of Coromandel, in India, and Senegal, under the auspices of the French government, by GEORGE M. GIBBES, of Combahee, S. C.-addressed to William Washington, Esq, and by him politely handed to us for publication. Combahee, Dec. 3, 1827. 209 so as to permit of its being rolled into balls, and young shoots in the hand; if it cakes, it is not ripe; packed for market; and which is the same process but if it pulverizes, it is then fit to cut." generally pursued in preparing woad in England, When the green weed is to be steeped, from the and in which state the woad imported into this necessity of doing so the same day on which it is country is received. As it is believed that no ex-cut, it is evidently impossible to harvest the whole periments in preparing indigo for market by this crop at the precise period of its perfection, as this latter mode have been made public, it is presumed operation must be dependent on the progress of to be equally entitled to trial as any other, especial- the manufacture; which circumstance, with the ly when it is considered that the African blue dyes difficulty of obtaining skill in the manufacture, as are superior to those obtained from the best Madras well as the scarcity of clear and soft water in the indigo. low country, which is so indispensable in making good indigo, afford additional reasons for confining the planter to its cultivation only, should the plan proposed be found practicable. The great superiority in the quality of indigo now made, over that which was formerly produced SIR,―The importance of multiplying the staple either in India or America, its enhancement in vaproductions of the Southern states, induces me to lue, and the constantly increasing demand, would The improvements which are stated to have taken suggest to the consideration of the Agricultural Soseem sufficiently important considerations to induce place in the large factories in India, are chiefly in ciety of South Carolina, the expediency of encouraging experiments in the cultivation of indigo; and a partial return to its cultivation, in the present de- the attention to cleanliness, by which all extraneous particularly of manufacturing it from the dry leaves, pressed state of the cotton market, independent of matter is excluded, and the expedition with which the benefit which may be expected to the land itself the beating process is performed, by means of maas practised on the coast of Coromandel, in India; by a change of crop. It is true, that considerable chinery, and on which the quality of the indigo is and recently, in Senegal, under the immediate au- doubt has been entertained whether the superiority said so much to depend: for, in the process of oxispices of the French government-instead of from of the indigo now made, is owing to greater skill, or gizing, by which it is converted from the green to the green weed, as was formerly done in this state. to the more favourable soil and climate of India. the blue state, the rapidity with which it is exposed According to information obtained from a highly There are two circumstances which appear cal- to the atmosphere, is considered by chemists as allrespectable proprietor, and extensive practical maculated to promote a belief, that the former is the important to the perfect separation which should nufacturer, during a period of fourteen years in the chief, if not the only cause; viz. that previous to take place of the colouring matter from the salts former country, (and now resident in this,) almost 1779, the year in which the East India Company and extraneous liquor: and to the slow mode of the whole of the indigo made in Coromandel, is commenced making indigo in India, the article there doing which, as formerly practised in Carolina, as manufactured from the leaves of the plant only, was inferior to that made in the United States, from well as to the too great quantities of lime used to after they have been dried, packed, and transported whence Great Britain received her principal sup facilitate the precipitation of the fecula, has been, to the factories by the farmers, and, in most in-plies; and also, that of what is now made in Caro- in a great measure, ascribed to the inferiority of stances, from distant parts of the country. After lina, a portion is of the very first quality, as admit- the article made. In India, lime-water only is used, the plant is cut, it is spread out to dry in the sun, ted by the dyers in the Northern states, who are in and that sparingly; and, in testing the perfection of on a space of ground left for the purpose, for about the habit of using, annually, the small quantity this stage, it is observed that the most certain indisix or eight hours, when it is threshed or shaken in which is still produced in our upper districts. cation, next to that of the apparent separation of the hand to break off the leaves, which crumble The difficulty of obtaining accurate information the dregs, is the colour of the water, which should easily: the stems are then raked off as useless, the as to the most improved modes of preparing indigo, be that of brandy; and if either green or black, impression being, from various experiments, that now practised in other parts of the world, renders that there has been a defect, and the indigo will not this part of the plant contains little or none of the it impossible to institute a comparison with that be good. If my information is correct, that it was colouring matter, and the leaves are packed away which was customary in Carolina, before it was customary, formerly, in this country, to continue in the house, as tight as possible, so as to preserve abandoned as a staple, from which the extent of the beating after the precipitation was observed to them from the air, until the harvest is completed those improvements may be estimated. But it is have taken place, it may be considered as another and the farmer is at leisure either to manufacture reasonable to conclude, that under the patronage great defect, as it is now well understood, that in himself, or to transport them to the regular facto of the British government, and with the aid of che- this event a reversion of the particles, and conseries. If the season is wet, dryins in the house is mistry, they must have been considerable. As far quent formation ensues, which completely spoils the resorted to; and when the lea es crumble in the as I have been able to learn from the various sour-colour. hand, it is considered indicatio of their being suffices consulted, they consist chiefly in the period of ciently cured. The advantages of thus separating the two operations of harest and manufacture, (which otherwise go together, from the necessity of steeping the green plants4s soon as cut,) the saving of transportation of He heaviest portion of the Similar expedition is attended to in the previous cutting the plant, as a subject of the very first im- steeping of the weed, as twenty minutes only is preprotance, and next, in the steeping and beating scribed as proper to be allowed for filling the vats. process-size of the vats, &c. It is universally ad- It is in this branch of the business, that the greatest mitted, however, that perfection in the art of indi- advantage results from the use of the dry leaves; go making, is more a matter of experience than of for, in steeping them, only one or two hours is rescience, and that no particular rules will prevail at quisite to extract the colouring matter, and no ferall times, even in the same country; that nothing, mentation takes place: whereas, in fermenting the indeed, short of long practice and minute attention, green weed, twelve hours or more is required. Becan possibly lead to successful results. sides which, there is always some uncertainty in the success of the latter process-for, if the fermentation is too great, the quantity is increased, but the quality certainly injured. plant from the field to the vats, as well as the post ponement of the manufacturing process, until the healthy season, when the superintendance of the proprietor may be obtained, will be at once apparent to the practical agriculturist. And if the culAs regards the proper time of cutting the plant, tivation only could be confined to the plantation, there is much variety of opinion. In Coromandel, and the manufacture performed at regular facto- it is not considered it to cut, until the plant is in ries, where the business could be conducted on a full blossom, and just before seeding; whilst, in In- The dimensions of the vats (which can be furlarger scale, there is little doubt bu) that (as in a dia, generally, (as stated in Loudon's Encyclopedia nished, if desired,) are proportioned to each other, most all other operations of the kind) superiority in of Agriculture,) "the plants are not allowed to come and greater success is found to exist, when the buthe quality of the article made, anceconomy in the to flower, as the leaf in that case becomes dry and siness is conducted on a large, than on a small scale. use of the raw material, would be ne consequence. hard, and the indigo produced is of less value." In the cultivation of the plant, there does not apThe great objections of our old pinters to the pur-The improvement lately introduced into France by pear any material difference in the different counsuit, viz: the uncertainty of the realt, and disagreea- M. Morina, an Italian, in obtaining indigo from the tries where it grows, other than such as local cirbleness, if not unhealthfulness othe fermenting pro-woad plant, by cutting the leaves when very green, cumstances render necessary-and the probability cess, would be removed, and ae simplicity of the instead of when ripe, as formerly, may, perhaps, is, that the mode best suited to our soil is that which whole business promoted. Wh a view to this end, add more strength to the latter opinion, from the was practised. a distinguished professional er of New York, Mr. similarity of the two plants. In a memoir on indi- In the State of Salvador, (the crop of which, for the William Partridge, has offed to receive, to the go, lately received from a cultivator in the neigh-|year 1825, was valued at $2,400,000,) a rich, moist amount of several tons, lea raised the next season, bourhood of Caraccas, it is observed, that "the soil is required-the seed is sown three or four and cured according to die foregoing directions; weed is cut about three and a half months after inches deep, and the plant flowers in two months. and will return to the plaer two-thirds of any pro- planting; and the most certain method of knowing In Coromandel, a cool soil is preferred, by which is fits which may result fro the experiments made the period of its maturity, is, by squeezing the meant, that where water is found at a short distance This gentleman has oined a patent for dyeing below the surface; and the height which the plant from the leaf, either d, or in its fermented state, attains, is a strong indication of the quantity of coaccording to the Afric mode of preparing it, which louring matter to be expected-it being observed, is, by simply moisten and grinding the dry leaves that four feet was the best height, and that when it sufficiently to prod fermentation and adhesion, reached eight feet, the quantity and quality of inNo. 27. l. 10. *See Bancroft on Permanent Dyes, and Mungo Park's Mission to Africa, page 143, for another mode practised in that country. When it is considered that the estimated value of the indigo annually consumed in the United States, is upwards of $4,000,000, and that the increasing demand is likely to keep pace with the increase of manufactures generally; that a protecting duty of fifteen cents a pound already exists, and that complete security from foreign competition must ensue, should the contemplated commercial policy of the country go into effect, the expectation may not be chimerical, that this valuable plant, which is indigenous to the soil of Carolina, will once more become a source of wealth and prosperity to the Its operation is thus accounted for: the grubs, from some cause, having abandoned their usual food, seize upon the stomach, and when the warm blood thus thrown in reaches them, they immediately loose their hold to feed on it; so that instant relief follows. The bleeding has a tendency to allay any fever caused by the attack, and if a sufficient quantity is given it will act as a purgative and carry them off. digo made were both deficient. The quantity of of each, shut them up in separate apartments--the neck; which being caught in bottles, should be indigo made to the acre is not easily ascertained. measure or rather weigh out (as there is a consi- immediately poured down the horse. The bottles, In the West Indies, where it is cut three or four derable disparity in the quality of corn, and some while held to receive the blood, may be immersed times, the yield has been as high as five hundred variety in the rule for measuring potatoes) a quan- in hot water, to prevent coagulation, and to keep it pounds-and, in some of the interior provinces of tity of Indian corn meal for one, and a quantity of in a warm and liquid state; the horse should be Hindostan, when they have as many as nine cut-potatoes for the other--after properly feeding each made to swallow from three quarts to a gallon I tings, it is said to be still greater. with his appropriate food for some weeks, weigh never yet knew this fail to give relief in five mi them again, and record the quantity of food con-nutes; this is asserted on an experience of thirty sumed by each, and the increase in weight of each. years. In like manner let an experiment be tried by the same farmer or his neighbour on two other shoats, feeding one with peas and the other with meal and potatoes mixed. Let a farmer select from his neat stock two animals as near alike in age, size and condition, measure them as a farmer does his oxen, if weighing be impracticable, feed them separately, weighing a quantity of hay to one, and half the quantity to the other, with as much meal as may be judged enough to supply the deficiency; after a It is not an uncommon thing for grubs to attack sufficient time, measure or weigh them again-re-a horse soon after he is relieved from the colic.cord the result with such observations as circum- They are disturbed either by the disease or the stances may suggest. To arrive at a greater de-means used to cure. When once roused to action, gree of certainty, it would be well to repeat these they never fail to seize on the most vital and danP. S.-I send you a few roots of the madder, experiments. Their utility must be obvious--and gerous part. It would therefore be well, in all cases which, as well as the wild plant, and the Sicily su- if any of our agricultural friends should be induced of either colic or grubs, to give an active purge mach, are articles of increasing consumption in the to try any or all of them, and will acquaint us with after the horse is relieved from pain; as when loose, manufactories of the north, and may be well worth the results, we shall take pleasure in giving them they are easily carried off with the medicine, but trial in this climate. Several very profitable experi-publicity in the "Citizen." when attached to the stomach, nothing that would ments have been made with them recently at the leave life in the horse could force them to quit their north; and the wild sumach has been cultivated to hold. This may be demonstrated by attempting to detach them from the stomach of a dead horse. some extent, although the quality in that climate is so inferior as to command only one half the price of The grub is surely produced from the nit; is frethat which is imported from the more mild regions quently seen on horses, which only requires beat of Portugal and Sicily. and moisture to hatch: thus, if slightly moistened, and the breath blown on it with the hand partly closed, it will in a few moments produce a most active little worm; which, if he gets in the mouth, is as well calculated to travel down the throat, as he is afterwards to produce the most fatal effects. state. With great respect, I am, sir, GEORGE M. GIBBES. AGRICULTURE. It is a fault too general with our farmers, that they suffer themselves to remain ignorant of important facts, which they might easily ascertain from experiment. To gratify our curiosity, we have inquired of several experienced farmers and dairymen, what quantity of milk, of common quality, will make a pound of butter—and how much cheese a given quantity of milk would produce-and have not been able to obtain any thing like a satisfactory answer to either question. We get nothing but conjectures, and they are extremely various. Now, how easily these points might be ascertained-only by measuring two quantities of milk and making one into butter and the other into cheese, aud weighing—and how important to a judicious decision whether it is more profitable to make butter or cheese. [Wiscassat Citizen. GRUBS IN HORSES. MR. SKINNER, Halifax, N. C., Aug. 27, 1828. I saw an article in your paper some days since, requesting information on the subject of grubs or botts in horses. Always fond of that animal, their diseases have been, with me, a study, and there are few complaints to which he is subject that I cannot cure with certainty; the grubs I never fail to relieve in five minutes. My father, who spent much of his long and active life on the road, assured me often that blood was an infallible remedy for the grubs, which he had used in a number of instances with invariable A few weeks feeding on green oats, or corn cut up, stalk, ear and all, will generally carry off most of the grubs that may be in a horse; at least they will thus get rid of large quantities, which must surely lessen the langer. It is vain to endeavour to destroy them; what would kill a horse in fifteen minutes, would scarely affect them, or if it would, the remedy would beas bad as the disease. D. As you notice stock, and all that belongs to farming, inform those curios in cattle, that I have a milk white heifer now two years old, not one co loured hair about her. I elieve such a one bas never been seen before in merica or England. I wish she was in the possession of Mr. Powel, or stock; she is indeed beautiful, and in good shape. some other gentleman in the habit of raising fine cattle and swine. One will say that three bushels effectual in carrying them off; the quantity which a But ours is not a farming country, and our cattle are particulary neglected. There is no fine stock corn; another will say four, and a third, living in am not willing my name should appear to the arti-here to breed from, or I should be tempted to try what might beraised from her. Farmers disagree, too, very essentially, as to the comparative value of different kinds of food for success. The method of feeding on green oats is equally of potatoes will make as much pork as a bushel of horse will thus discharge is almost incredible. the same neighbourhood, will prefer a bushel of corn to six bushels of potatoes. One will say that a bushel of peas is worth five pecks of corn for the same purpose-another will prefer the same quantity of corn to peas-and a third will say they are of just about equal value. One farmer will say that a ton of hay and six bushels of corn are equal to two tons of hay for keeping neat cattle-another will require seven bushels of corn-another eightanother nine-another ten for the second ton of hay. Now it is evident those farmers have come to their several conclusions from no data to be relied on that they have not had recourse to weight and measures-yet these disputed points might easily be as certained to such a degree of certainty as would render the farmer essential aid in profitably applying his labour and disposing of its effects. We venture to suggest the following easy and cheap experiments: Let one farmer select two shoats as near alike in age, size and condition as may be, weigh them, make a record of the weight cle in the paper, but am willing you should give I it Permit me to add, that any disease which is fatal I am, sir, most respectfully, yours, D. PROSPECT OF CROPS. enambler, Amherst county, Virginia, S. SKINNER, ESQ September 1, 1828. Sir,-The 23d Amber, vol. 10, of the American Farmer, has just come to hand, and I find it con tains, under the hea of "prospect of crops," an extract of a letter fro Mr. Wm. Woods, dated Albemarle county, Virgia, in which he communicates to you an accou of the destructive effect which has been produce upon the growing crops, by the excessive drough which has prevailed in that part of the state. REMEDY FOR GRUBS IN HORSES. All the symptoms of colic and grubs in horses are the same; and unless a horse swells no one can discern the difference. It would be well, therefore, to commence for the grubs, as the more fatal and dangerous disease-add to which, the remedy here [* Our valued correspondeis mistaken in this. The recommended, is an alleviation, if not a cure, for the colic, and in a slight attack would relieve imme-very beautiful heifer, White he, imported by the Editor, from Charles Champion,., an eminent English diately. So soon as a horse shows symptoms of agriculturist, was, we think, wi ut a hair of any other uneasiness, such as groaning, looking back towards colour but white. We believe at many of the imhis sides, laying down, &c., he should be bled in proved Short-horned cattle are irely so.] As the interest of the grower of crops is materially involved, in its being as widely circulated as possible, when, from any cause whatever, the aggregate quantity of any article of produce has sustained a considerable diminution, I take the liberty of adding to the statement of your correspondent, (Mr. Woods, of Albemarle,) that all the country intervening between his county and mine, besides much the greatest portion of Amherst, including the counties of Rockbridge and Botetourt, has suffered under the same calamity, extended to a more aggravated and destructive length. The rain, which terminated the drought in the neighbourhood of Mr. Woods on the 10th of August, which had continued from the 17th of June, has not yet come (Sept. 1st,) to afford us the little relief which it might occasion, after such a protracted spell of dry and hot weather as we have endured. You may judge of what will be the diminution of the crops of Indian corn in our neighbourhood, by the drought this summer, from my own case. My crops differ very little in amount, from year to year; yet in the autumn of 1827, I gathered between five and six hundred barrels of corn, and the present season I do not expect to make more than one hundred and fifty. The tobacco, which stands a drought better than corn, has suffered less than the corn crop; though the aggregate quantity of this article throughout the south-western part of our state, (which may be called the tobacco district of Virginia,) will also sustain an enormous diminution. For if the season had been as favourable as could have been desired, the scarcity of plants in the spring would alone have been a sufficient cause to make the present crop of tobacco a smaller one, than has been grown in Virginia for many years. the first mowing. It grew rapidly for the third [N. E. Farmer. (From the New England Farmer.) The Criteria of a beautiful Cow, according to much celebrity in Warren county, Georgia, and has been supposed to be a native, I find on examination to be a foreign variety. I received two grapes, also, from New Jersey, called "Jordan's large blue," and "Cooper's wine," which were stated to be natives, but they proved to be exotics. I have a dark purple grape under culture, which Wil-is known about Albany as the "Winne" grape; it is very productive, and a native. A very superior kind was sent me last season from Missouri, called there "Solander's large purple;" its growth is very strong and vigorous. She's long in her face, she's fine in her horn, HORTICULTURE. The astonishing diversity of foliage in the American species and varieties, is particularly interesting, and in none more striking than in the Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Arkansas vines. The leaves of the Texas are some of them entire, others three lobed, and a part five lobed on the same vine. The Scuppernong may also be easily distinguished, by its foliage alone, from all other grapes. Another circumstance worthy of note is, that a number of the native species are diccous, including vitis riparia, scuppernong, and probably Long's Arkansa. I have now thirty-four genuine American varieties, which are sufficiently increased to offer to the public in my new catalogue, which will shortly issue from the press, and which will comprise about 400 varieties of exotic and native grapes, which form my present collection. I have now 25,000 vines ready for the supply of those who desire them the present autumn. Your obed't serv't, WM. PRINCE. THE COW CABBAGE. J. S. SKINNer, Esq., Linnæan Botanic Garden, Sept. 2, Sir,-During the past year I have received from gentlemen in different parts of the Union, various kinds of grapes, with statements as to their quality, supposed origin, &c., and accompanied, in most instances, with a desire that I would give my opinion relative to them. To some misconceptions which exist, I am able now to reply, and know no better The crop of wheat, too, has been a very short mode of imparting the information than through getable is extracted from the Gardener's Magazine: The following account of this extraordinary veone in my immediate neighbourhood, this summer. And whilst upon the subject of wheat, I will men- Christian Backman, Esq., of Lancaster, Pa., some introduced from La Vendee, by the celebrated your widely circulating paper. I received from "I enclose a few seeds of an arborescent cabbage, tion that it has of late years become so unproduc- vines of a grape which he states is extensively culti-Comte de Puisaye, which promises to be an importive a crop in this section of the country, that vated by Mr. Eichelberger, of York, Pa., and other tant acquisition to agriculture. I have seen it have almost determined never to sow another grain gentlemen in that vicinity; and that their vineyards growing in the garden of my friend, Admiral Brookof it, until the cause of its regular and almost total are almost wholely composed of it. Mr. B. remarks, ing, here, to the height of eight feet. In La Venfailure with us has been ascertained, and a remedy this grape is considered preferable to all the others dee, I am told, it attains an altitude of from 12 to pointed out; and I now advert to the fact, in the cultivated in the different vineyards at York, and as 15 or even more feet. Being a native of a warmer hope that some of your scienfic correspondents to vigour and growth, it appears to be next to the climate, it should be planted in a warm and sheltermay go into an investigation of the subject, ascer-Isabella and Catawba, but not quite as great aed situation: sixty plants are said to afford suffitain the extent of the evil of which I complain, bearer as either of these. Mr. B. further states that cient provender for a cow for a year, and as the point out the cause of our want of success in the it is there called "Black Madeira," and that he has side shoots only are used, it lasts four years without cultivation of this crop, and give us a system which been informed "that it was brought from the island fresh planting. A square of 60 feet will contain may enable us to counteract its effects. For in my of Madeira by a gentleman of Maryland, from whom 246 plants, four feet apart, or 16 more than four neighbourhood it is certainly true, that the same Mr. Eichelberger received it in the year 1819;" cows require for a year's provender, without the quantity of seed, sown upon land of exactly the the fruit is black, and contains a pulp that is sweet aid of other food. W. Hamilton, Oxford Place, same quality, with the same sort of cultivation, and very juicy," "it is a certain bearer, and the Plymouth."-Mr. William Lee, a native of Leeds, which ten years ago would have produced 1200 hardiest grape that grows in that part of the counbushels of wheat, will not now yield more than from try." Touching this grape, I have to state that it quantity of the seed of the cow cabbage, which he now resident, in France, has brought over a small Permit me to say, sir, in conclusior, that I cast proves, on examination, to be a genuine native be- has distributed to his friends. from me in disgust, the political squabbles and yond all doubt; it therefore follows, that the idea about its coming from Madeira is imaginary. abuse with which almost all the journals of the day are filled, and turn with pleasure to the American Virginia, and represented as very fine and producA grape, received from George Carter, Esq., of Farmer, from which I rarely fail to derive both tive, proves also to be a native, which I have called amusement and instruction. Wishing you every in my new catalogue "Carter's favorite." success in the useful career which you have selected, and cordially offering to recprocate the polite offers made to me in your letter of last spring, beg leave to subscribe myself, 400 to 600 bushels. I Very respectfully, your bed't serv't, LUCERNE Mr. DAVID BEAL of Kingston, Ms. informs us that he sowed two lbs. of Lucerne in the spring of 1827, which yielded hm two heavy crops the first season. It was sowel with oats, and red top.-In 1828 it was mowed on the 20th of June-on the 11th of July the second crop was cut, when it was 21 inches high, ha ing grown 1 inch per day, since! The vines received by the name of "Sloe," from Virginia, and of "Black or purple oval Muscadine," from Georgia, are the same as the Black Scuppernong or Roanoke grape, of which it is doubtless well known that there are two, if not three varieties. The grape received from Major Adlum, under the name of "Naebacker's Muscat," is not a native, but an exotic grape. The "Muncy pale red," received from the same gentleman, is a native, greatly resembling in foliage the Blands, and may prove to be the same; the "Raisin de côte," from Louisiana, and "Norton's Virginia seedling," have also foliage resembling the Blands, although the fruit is very different. The "Warrenton" grape, which has acquired RURAL ECONOMY. (From the North Carolina Register.) ICE HOUSES. following remarks on the best method of collecting We are indebted to an intelligent friend for the and preserving ice: The great difficulty in obtaining a full supply of this article in the climate of North Carolina, arises from the short continuance of the ice in its mild and changeable winters. It often happens that ice does not form thick enough to be worth collecting more than once during the season, and remains only two or three days before a change in the weather carries it suddenly off; within this short period, it is scarcely possible to obtain a full supply, especially where it is to be hauled a mile or two to the house in which it is to be preserved. To remove this difficulty, it has been proposed to build a temporary ice-house near the pond from which the ice is to be taken, into which the ice may be thrown, to be carted afterwards to the ice-house as may be convenient. The following plan was tried the last winter by a gentleman in a neighbouring state, and attended with complete success: A pen of logs, about 18 feet square, was put up on the margin of a pond, and this was raised about 5 feet high. It was then covered with planks, so as entirely to exclude the rain and sunshine. Into this pen the ice was thrown without further preparation, except that a small ditch was dug around the pen, to prevent the water from rain running under the ice. The ice was afterwards carted to the ice-bouse in all the month of January, selecting for that pur pose clear, dry weather, without regard to sunshine. Ten hands filled this pen in less than two days, and this quantity afforded an ample supply for a large family during the succeeding summer. A large shelter or covering of rough plank or boards, raised about two feet above the top of the ice-house, is the next and the greatest improvement in the construction of ice houses, which modern enterprise has been able to effect. By attending to the above suggestions, a supply of this agreeable article in domestic economy may be obtained with a greater certainty of success than by any method now practised. the seeds of their neighbours. And hence besides INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. The Rideau Canal, by the Gannoniqui, Rideau and Ottawas rivers, is in progress. In the ensuing week we intend inserting in the Farmer, a geographical notice of the Rideau, its position, extent, and the points it will serve to connect. It is merely trite to say the people of Canada, and their government, have a right to construct any public work; but the government and people of the United States ought to be on their guard, against any application of such improvements to an infringement of either their laws or policy. We have suggested the necessity from the laws of nature to canal the south side of lake Erie; we shall pursue the subject in a future paper of the still greater necessity of such a work from the relations of national policy.] LADIES' DEPARTMENT. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT OF CANADA, Affecting the United States. WELLAND CANAL.-The conduct of the American government, in passing the obnoxious tariff bill, has been a means of calling the attention of the country more generally to the Welland Canal, a work which has been commenced and considerable progress made in it by a company incorporated in Upper Canada for the purpose, in the year 1825. This canal will connect lakes Erie and Ontario, and will be of sufficient dimensions to admit the passage of vessels of 125 tons burthen. There are (From the New York Advertiser.) An ice-house is incomplete, if it be without a two conmunications with lake Erie, the one by PRESERVATION OF FRUITS AND JUICES. drain to carry off the dissolved ice. Where this the Niagara, which will be finished by the first of Our late English papers contain several articles cannot be conveniently obtained, a well six or eight November next; the other by the Grand River, under this head, extracted from the "Mechanic's feet deep may be dug on one side of the pit to re- which has been contracted for, and will be finished Oracle and Artisan's Complete Laboratory and ceive the water which drains from the ice, but the by the first of November, 1829. There has scarce-Workshop," a work published in London. Although first plan is much to be preferred. And as mois-ly been a measure yet brought before the public the season has gone by for trying experiments in ture is very unfriendly to the preservation of ice, which, as it appears to us, holds out a fairer pros-several of the articles enumerated, yet this docuan ice-house should be constructed with a window pect of a profitable investment of money than the ment may be preserved against another season. at each end, which should be opened in dry, but Welland Canal, or one in which the manufacturing, The common method of preserving fruits is by closed in damp weather. mercantile, and shipping interest of this country means of sugar, but they retain their natural flavour are more directly interested. The high duties im- much better when this is done without the use of posed by the new tariff of the United States on the such an agent. As the process, though very simple, staple commodities of this country will almost ex-may be unknown to many of our readers, we state clude them from that part of the continent of Ame- the method of manipulation in few words. It conrica; and the opening of this extensive water com-sists in enclosing the fruit to be preserved, in communication in Canada will give an extent of lake mon quart bottles, or in jars, corking them with and river coast, bordering on the United States, great care, as the success depends principally on equal in extent to the whole coast of the Atlantic, the complete exclusion of the air; and in submitand completely counteract the attempt of the Ame-ting the bottles to the heat of boiling water, in a rican government to exclude our fabrics. But, in-water-bath, for a longer or shorter time, according [A correspondent wishes to know how ice-houses dependent of this consideration, the investment to the nature of the article. may be constructed above ground, in low, damp si- must be a profitable one, on account of the extent Fruit intended to be preserved, either whole or tuations, where water lies too near the surface to of country which this canal will connect; a country in quarters, ought not to be completely ripe, being admit of making them below it, in the usual way. becoming daily more valuable, and the trade of then apt to dissolve in the water-bath. Nor should To this we can only say, what appears obvious, that which is rapidly increasing. From lake Erie there it be gathered either too soon or too late. The first a pen of logs must be raised above ground, sur is an uninterrupted communication to lakes St. and the last of the crop have neither the fine flarounded by some means, no matter what, with earth. Clare, Huron, and Michigan, and the connexion vour, nor the perfume of those which are gathered in such manner as to exclude the effect of the heat with lake Superior at the Sous St. Marie may be in the height of the season; that is, when the greatof the sun. Suppose a double house, with the inter- rendered navigable at a small expense; and, al-er part of the crop of each species is ripe at the vening space so wide as to be filled in with earth though the trade of the country bordering on lake same period. or tan-bark to exclude the heat? This would, per- Erie alone is a sufficient object for this canal, its The water-bath best adapted to this purpose conhaps, be easier than to build up a mound of earth profits must eventually be increased by the naviga-sists of a boiler furnished with a cock close to the from a considerable distance from the base of the tion of the lakes beyond. A canal from lake Erie bottom, to let off the water; but any common washhouse to the top of it. Both would be expensive; to Ohio will be finished next season, by which the ing copper will serve for domestic processes.but no doubt the thing may be done, and the object When it can be made convenient, the bottles should is worthy of much labour to accomplish it. each be put in a bag open at both ends, with runThe ice which was brought here from the north ners to draw them together at the shoulder, and last winter, is found to be much clearer, harder and over the edge of the bottom; or they may be put in more durable than that which is usually collected common stockings, without injury to the latter. in this immediate vicinity.] This preven's the necessity of employing hay or straw, in the boiler, to keep the bottles from touching. But there is yet another method, namely, to tie a string round the neck of each bottle, and hang them upon sticks. The bottles should not only be well corked, but have a good luting smeared over the cork and neck, for farther security, and this should be done before they are put into the bath. The bottles being placed or hung upright in the boiler, cold water is to be poured into it up to their necks, and then the fie is to be lighted. VILLAGE POULTRY. produce of a great portion of the country border- Ohio. [It is probable that the people of the United We have often admired the policy of our villa- States, are generally unaware to what extent the gers, who keep fowls to scratch up their gardens. Welland Canal offers facilities to carry into effect Having a few precious feet of ground, not a parti- the smuggling so openly suggested on the floor of cle of which should be misimproved, they lay out the British House of Commons. We have, under their beds and plant their seeds, and then let in the head of Internal Improvement, already given their hens to mar their labors, and destroy the hopes the locality and navigable capacity of this great of the season. A single old hen, well practised in work; we have shewn that it is fully adequate to the use of beak and claws, will do more injury in a convey from Erie into Ontario, any vessel which The Luting for the Vessels.-An excellent luting garden in one hour, than the eggs and chickens of can find safe harbours in the former. It therefore, fit for this purpose is made of fresh quicklime, a dozen can compensate in a year. But if they in effect removes the falls of Niagara, as far as the slacked in the air by addng water till it be reduced merely injured the property of their owners, (how-operations of commerce are concerned. But, the to a powder which should be kept in corked botever questionable the policy of keeping poultry in a Welland is not the only canal in progress in Cana-tles. This powder, mixedwith skim-milk cheese, village might be) no other person would have just da, which when completed will superinduce the or with curd of skim-milk, from which the whey cause of complaint. But where gardens and tene. same effects; that is to draw the western commerce has been separated, and worked to the thickness of ments join each other, these marauders think it no down the St. Lawrence, and aid any scheme of paste, produces a luting whichhardens rapidly, and hardship at all to scale the walls, and scratch up clandestine transportation which could be proposed. stands the heat of boiling wate, No. 27.-VOL. 10.] To preserve Gooseberries.-Take any quantity, full grown, but still hard; for ripe gooseberries do not suit so well.--Top and tail them, and put them into bottles-beating the bottles gently on a stuffed Cork and stool, to lessen the vacant interstices. lute them; put them in the copper, separate one from the other, as directed above. Light the fire, and, before the water boils, examine the bottles from time to time, and when the fruit changes colour, and becomes white, draw out the fire, and let off the water. If it be a common copper, without a cock, lift the bottles out of the water with as little delay as may be. Another way to preserve Gooseberries.—Proceed as above, but don't cork the bottles; and when the fruit begins to change its colour, withdraw them from the water-bath, and having boiling water ready for the purpose, pour it into each bottle, so as to overtop the gooseberries, and fill the bottle half way p the neck; then cover them with a blanket, and when cold, pour into each a small quantity, say half a teaspoonful, of olive oil. After which, cork and lute the bottles. The oil serves most effectually as a hermetic seal to prevent air from reaching the fruit, should the corking prove defective. (To be continued in our next.) It was also RESOLVED, That this Association be governed by the rules and regulations of the Old Maryland Association, until altered or amended by this Association. The Association then proceeded to the election JOHN S. SKINNER, President. Jacob G. Davies, Committee of Management. Committee of Finance. MISCELLANEOUS. AMERICAN PATENTS. [It cannot fail, as we suppose, to be both useful and interesting to our readers to be kept regularly informed of the inventions for which patents are granted from time to time at the patent office, for things immediately connected with the several subH. E. Ballard, (U. S. Navy.) jects discussed and explained in the American Farmer. In that very valuable work the "Franklin Journal, and American Mechanics' Magazine, devotJohn Thomas. ed to the useful arts, internal improvements, general science, and the recording of American and other patented inventions," edited by a gentleman, whose habits and acquirements eminently fit him for the duties of its editor, and the superintendant of the patent office, we are favoured with a monthly list of patents and short descriptions of their objects and the structure of the machines. From that list we extract from the American patents for July, such as promise utility and improvement to the farmer and planter and housekeeper. It will be seen that several Baltimoreans are amongst the patentees, and we hope that Mr. Underwood, the intelligent and enterprising manager of the Orange Farm, will realize a suitable remuneration for an application of canine power, which promises to turn to so many valuable If the Editors of papers in Virginia and the purposes, animal force, which like that of the human race, if not well engaged is apt to employ itself misCarolinas would have the goodness to copy the nochievously. "Idleness," says the proverb, "is the tice, so far as it respects the arrangement for the next nest in which mischief lays her eggs," but we hope, races, they would oblige many of their liberal pa-in behalf of the genuine well bred sporting dog, who trons and the many persons in those states who are fulfils his calling, that the drudgery of pumping paying particular attention to the objects of our water, churning butter, cutting straw, &c. &c. may association. frantic, vagrant race."] devolve upon the "base brood of coward curs, a Committee of Elections. G. R. Richardson, Edmund Gibson. The Association then adjourned. 3rd September, 1828. E. L. FINLEY, Secretary. It will be seen that the course is open for any horse, mare or gelding; and though the purses are not. large, they are sufficient to incite those whose object is rather to establish the reputation, by testing the power of a fine horse, than for great gain by a An improved wind wheel, for grinding grain, and for pumping; Abner Murray, Athens, Bradford County, Penn. July 8. BEAUTIFUL CHEMICAL EXPERIMENT. The following beautiful chemical experiment may easily be performed by a lady, to the great astonishment of the circle of her tea party. Take two or three blades of red cabbage, cut or tear them into small bits, put into a basin, and pour on a pint of boiling water, let stand an hour, then decant the liquid into a crystal bottle; it will be of a fine blue colour. Then take four wine glasses, into one put two or three drops of sulphuric acid, or five or six drops of strong vinegar; into another put five or six drops of a solution of soda; into a third put as much of a strong solution of alum, and let the This is a vertical wind-mill, with sails made of fourth remain empty. The glasses may be prepar-particular race. ed some time before. Fill up the glasses from the The views of the Maryland Association are, what wood, tin, or sheet-iron, the wheel about 20 feet in crystal bottle, and the liquid poured into a glass they purport to be: to improve the breed of our diameter, the sails to be from 4 to 8 in number, and containing the acid will quickly change colour, and horses, by keeping up the pure stock of the bred set at an angle of two and a half degrees. The become a beautiful red, that into a glass containing horse in his highest spirit and greatest vigour, know-shaft turns an iron wheel of 2 feet in diameter, and the soda a fine green, and that into the alum a fine purple, whilst that poured into the empty one will, of course, remain unchanged. By adding a little vinegar to the green, it will immediately change to a red; and on adding a little of the solution of soda to the red, it will assume a fine green; thus showing the action of acids and alkalies on vegetable blues. SPORTING OLIO. this, two pinions of 8 inches diameter, each of which carries a burr stone for grinding, of 14 inches in diameter. Each pair of stones stand vertically, one of them has a concave, and the other a convex surface. The stationary stone to have a hole in it, one and a half inches from the centre, to let the grain through. When used for pumping, there is to be a crank to give a nine inch stroke to the piston. ing that unless we do preserve that blood for farmers to have recourse to, we can never have the benefit of saddle and harness horses of the best bottom and the finest action. The association calculate that purses of moderate amount, will answer that purpose as well as larger, and though they may not be so inviting to speculators and gamblers, they will be sufficient to tempt gentlemen to train their young horses for the course; and they indulge the hope that when a The description of this machine is general, the horse makes a good race, evincing his possession of the great requisites of speed and bottom, the fortu- patentee not informing us whether he claims the nate owner, who will, it is hoped, in most cases, be whole arrangement, or some particular parts only. also the breeder, will then, instead of risking large A machine denominated the rotary washer; Calsums of money on him, either keep him as a stallion, or sell him for that purpose into some neigh-vin Post, Spring-Port, Cayuga County, New York, bourhood where such horses are wanting. It may July 15. be expected that any horse or mare, which, on trial, NEW MARYLAND ASSOCIATION, shall run, at three years old, the two miles in less For the Improvement of the breed of Horses. than four minutes, or at four years, the three miles At a meeting of the Subscribers to this Associa-in less than six minutes; or at five years, shall run tion, held in pursuance of notice at Barnum's Hotel, on Wednesday the 3rd September, 1828, THOMAS RUSSEL, ESQ., Chairman, It was RESOLVED, That the first annual races of the Association, take place over the Association Course at Canton, on Wednesday the 22nd October next, and continue for three days, for the following purses, to be run for agreeably to the rules of the Association, viz: 1st Day-Colt's purse, for 3 year's old2 mile heats, 2nd Day-3 mile heats, Srd Day-4 mile heats, the four mile heats and repeat in eight minutes, NORFOLK RACES. 'There is a cylinder of about 6 inches in diameter extending across the washing tub, or trough. This cylinder is fluted, and is made to revolve by means of a crank; above this, there is a second plain cylinder, having vertical play in its gudgeons; or else of playing vertically. The articles to be washed a hollow piece, suspended as a rubber, and capable are allowed to pass between them, they being held, and turned about by the hand. It is proposed to add a fly wheel to the cylinder, and sometimes to turn it by means of a treadle and pitman. This machine has the merit of differing more than usual, both in its form and action, from most The Norfolk Jockey Club Full Races over Garri- of its predecessors, but few of which have been son's Course, commence on the 23d inst. The sufficiently long lived to be introduced into society; $150 Beacon says that a large number of the most cele-we shall be happy to hear that this last born of the 200 brated horses on the turf of the United States are family is more fortunate. The only washing ma400 to contest for purses on the occasion. Ichine which appears to have received continued ap |