AGRICULTURE. (From the New York Evening City Gazette.) one year. Probably a considerable part of this was foreign indigo. Since the planting of cotton has become general in South Carolina and Georgia, the culture of indiON THE CULTIVATION AND IMPORTA-go has been in a great measure neglected. TION OF INDIGO. mote the raising of it at home, the interest both of the manufacturer and the farmer will be disserved. By either destroying the requisite supply, or raising the price of the article, beyond what can be afforded to be given for it, by the conductor of an infant From the above statement of the rise and pro- manufacture, it is abandoned or fails; and there gress of the cultivation of indigo in the United being no domestic manufactories to create a deReport of a Special Committee of the American In-States, its former importance as a staple of the mand for the raw material, which is raised by the stitute, on the Cultivation and Importation of In- country and an article of export, is fully shown.-farmer, it is in vain that the competition of the like digo. The culture of the plant has now dwindled into in- foreign articles may have been destroyed. The Committee appointed to make inquiries on significance, and it appears probable to your Com- "The true way to conciliate these two interests, the cultivation and importation of Indigo, respect-mittee, from the best information we can obtain, is to lay a duty on foreign manufactures of the mafully report: that not over 10,000 lbs. are now annually raised in terial, the growth of which is desired to be encouSouth Carolina, and a small quantity in other raged, and to apply the produce of that duty by way Southern states, all of which is of a very inferior of bounty, either upon the production of the matequality. rial itself, or upon its manufacture at home, or upon both. In this disposition of the thing, the manufacturer commences his enterprise, under every advantage which is attainable as to quantity or price of the raw material: and the farmer, if the bounty be immediately given to him, is enabled by it to enter into a successful competition with the foreign material. That they have directed their attention to the investigation of the following points, viz. An inquiry into the rise, progress, and decline of the cultivation of the Indigo plant in the United States. The value of the article to the southern planter, with a view to profit, compared with cotton. The effects of high duties on imported Indigo, with reference to the encouragement of its growth in the United States. tures and commerce. The more advantageous cultivation of cotton as an article of profit to the planter, has doubtless been the leading cause of the neglect and consequent decline of indigo, both in the quality and quantity produced. It is also well known to the southern planters, that the process of preparing the indigo for market from the plant, is deleterious to And a collection of facts on the subject, show-the health of the slaves and other persons employ- "There is no purpose to which public money ing the importance of the article to our manufac- ed. Your Committee, however, learn that the con- can be more beneficially applied than to the acquitinued low price of cotton, and the obvious neces-sition of a new and useful branch of industry; no "Of the Indigofera," (or Indigo plant,) says an sity of a division of labour in agriculture, have in- consideration more valuable than a permanent English writer, there are thirty-five species, the duced enterprising individuals in the Southern addition to the general stock of productive labour." In conclusion of this part of the subject, your most remarkable of which is the tinctoria, now a states to turn their attention to the subject of a renative of the warm parts of Asia, Africa and Ame-vival of the culture of indigo. And here the in- Committee would allude to the example of the rica, but originally of Asia only, whence the Dutch quiry arises, what has been done by our govern- British government. It has been seen that when alone imported it, till about the commencement of ment to encourage the raising of this article in the the Southern states were British colonies, that gothe 17th century, when their exorbitant extortions United States, and what is the true national policy vernment encouraged the growth of indigo by a occasioned its being transplanted to other hot cli- to be pursued, so as to protect the planter, without bounty of six pence sterling per pound. Every arinjury to the manufacturer? ticle of foreign growth used in their manufactures, it has always been the policy of the nation to admit at a low rate of duty. Accordingly, we find by the British tariff of 1819, indigo pays a duty of five pence sterling only, or about nine cents per pound. mates." The following facts are collected from Pitkin's Statistics. "Indigo was one of the principal articles of produce and export from South Carolina and Georgia, before the planting of cotton in those states became an object of so much importance. The culture of it was introduced into South Carolina abest the year 1741 or 1742, and that state is indebted to a lady for the introduction of this valuable plant. An account of the manner of its introduction is given by Dr. Ramsay, in his History of South Carolina. "The second great staple of Carolina," (says the Doctor,) "was Indigo. Its original native country was Hindostan; but it had been naturalized in the West India islands, from which it was introduced into Carolina by Miss Eiza Lucas, the mother of Major General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, "Her father, George Lucas, governor of Antigua, observing her fondness for the regetable world, sent her, among other tropical seeds, some indigo seed as a subject of experiment. After several discouraging efforts, she at length succeeded in the cultivation of the plan. Soon afterwards "she married Charles Pinckey, and her father made a present of all the indig on his plantation, the fruit of her industry, to hr husband.The whole was saved for seed. Pat was planted by the proprietor, next year, at Asapoo, and the remainder given away to his friers for the same They all succeeded. 'rom that time the culture of indigo was comma, and in a year purpose. or two it became an article of exort." Your Committee find, that in 1789, a duty was The tables of exports and imports of indigo for several years, annexed to this report, will exhibit the importance of this article to our commercial interests. Indeed, it has been shown that the importation of this article, with other dye stuffs, and the oil required by our woollen manufactories, employ more tons of our shipping in foreign commerce, than the whole amount of tonnage required in the importation of foreign woollens into the United States. With regard to the quantity of Indigo consumed in this country, your Committee have not been able to arrive at any definite conclusion. Taking the amount of exports from the imports in the year 1827, the amount left for home consumption will be found to exceed 800,000 pounds, part of which may have been afterwards exported. And as the amount of domestic indigo produced cannot probably be estimated at over 50,000 pounds, we consider it fair to state the present annual consumption of indigo in the United States at about 800,000 lbs.; which consumption, of course, is increasing with the growth of our woollen and cotton manufactures. Your Committee are of opinion that if it should be considered of advantage to the southern planter to encourage the extensive cultivation of indigo, it can more easily be effected by a bounty from government to the agriculturist, than by raising the duty on the imported article, which would operate The tables herewith show that the principal imto the injury of the manufacturer. This opinion isportations of indigo into this country, have been sustained by the following remarks of Alexander from the British East Indies. The quantity, howHamilton, in his report on manufactures, in 1790. ever, received from Mexico and other southern "Bounties are sometimes not only the best, but the parts of America, is gradually increasing; a subject In the year 1748, (21 of Geore II.) a bounty of six pence on the pound on Plantion indigo, when only proper expedient, for uniting the encourage of congratulation, when it is considered that the it was worth three-fourths of th price of the best ment of a new object of agriculture with that of a new Southern republics of this continent afford an French indigo, was granted bythe British parlia object of manufacture. It is the interest of the far-extensive market for our produce and manufac ment. This increased its culte in South Caroli- mer to have the production of the new material pro-tures. na, and in 1754, 216,924 lbs. indigo were ex-moted, by counteracting the interference of the fo- Your Committee also subjoin a statement of ported from that province. Fra November, 1760, reign material of the same kind. It is the interest of facts, connected with this report, submitted to them to September, 1761, 399,3660s. were exported, the manufacturer to have the material abundant or in the form of answers to queries addressed by them and in 1770, 585,672 lbs. valu at 1. 131,552 ster-cheap. If prior to the domestic production of the to a member of this Institute, who is now, and has pound. In 1794, material, in sufficient quantity to supply the manu- been for many years, a considerable dealer in indiling, or about one dollar from the United facturer on good ternis, a duty be laid upon the go, and of course practically acquainted with the 1,553,880 lbs. were expor lates, being the greatest qntity exported in any importation of it from abroad, with a view to pro- subject. No. 52.-Vol. 16 Exports of Indigo from the United States. Pounds. 584,672 Foreign Indigo Imported into the United States, in the year ending 30th Sept. 1823. Pounds. Netherlands, do. Foreign Indigo Exported the same 923 180,866 *67,079 14 [March 13, 1829. A year ago, last fall, I collected, principally I believe from the Early Whites, and the Calicoes, 1,488 a quantity of potato balls, and laid them by, in a 19,575 room exposed to all the inclemencies of the sea4,500 son, until the next spring, about the last of March 296 or first of April, the exact time not known. When 15,966 I came to examine them, preparatory to planting, I found them dried so hard, and shrivelled, that I 36,346 was afraid they were entirely spoiled. I, how1,021,080 ever, selected some of the best of the balls, and 865 after much labour, in soaking them in warm water, 5,500 &c., succeeded in extracting a few seeds, and plant80 ed them in my green house. The rest of the balls 3,372 I kept in water a week or more, without its appear147,814 ing to have much effect on them. As it did not 2,400 appear to me practicable to separate these seeds 1,906 from the balls, I began almost to despair of being 59,889 able to proceed with my experiment to the extent 62,836 I had proposed. The thought occurred to me, that 34,093 if I separated these balls into small pieces, and 562,013 planted them, some of the seed might possibly come up. I resolved to try the experiment, which $1,979,519 succeeded beyond my most sanguine expectations. Year, to In every place where I put a piece of one of these $28,678 balls, the plants came up very thick. In patches of, perhaps, a half inch in diameter, there were 61,617 from twenty to fifty plants, so that I soon found that I had abundance of them. As soon as these plants were well up, and while they were yet in the seed leaf, I took them up, carefully, and planted them out about three inches apart, as I did also others, which I had previously sowed, after they had gained more strength. I found that they bore transplanting remarkably well, as almost every 48,872 plant lived, and that without any particular care of 38,142 shading, &c., though I generally chose a cloudy day to transplant them. I found by computation, after I had pricked them out in rows, that I had about two thousand plants which occupied about 5,335 one-fourth part of my green house. I let those 26,000 plants remain in the green house, till all danger of froet was past, or about the middle of May, when I re-transplanted them into a well prepared spot in 54,643 my garden, about six by eight inches apart. Here, I found afterwards, I had committed a great error in 28,099 planting them too close; for the vines by their luxuriant growth soon covered the ground. Notwithstanding they were planted so thick they bore bulbs, and even ripened their seeds, and grew as stout and as stocky as any I ever saw, even from the long red potatoes; and the yield of some of the 712,080 plants would cover nearly double the space of 703,721 ground allotted to them. Hilling was entirely out of the question, and some of them were destroyed in attempting to eradicate the weeds, although the operation was performed by a very faithful man, with a strong injunction to be careful. I was led into this erro by supposing as I had both read and heard, that the yield, the first year, would be very small, not moe than two or three potatoes, about as big as a common walnut. This I found by experience, which the best schoolmaster, to be a mis take; for I had on a considerable number of my vines, some fairsized potatoes, and a few larger than the average rowth of early whites. 104,811 In 1770, 1791, 497,720 1,530 Russia, 12,716 Sweden and Norway, 615 Denmark, 37,335 England, Man, and Ber wick, Foreign Indigo imported into the United States, in Gibraltar, 7,561 21,057 British Am. colonies, 10 Hanse Towns and ports of Germany, 21,444 33,001 French European ports Dutch West Indies, and on the Atlantic, 18,551 1,318,677 Hayti, 15 Hanse Towns and ports Teneriffe, and other Ca of Germany, French European ports Cuba, 14,463 on the Atlantic, s Italy and Malta, 30,288 Manilla and Philippine Trieste, and other Adri Islands, Honduras, Campeachy, Turkey, Levant, and E and Mosquito Shore, Cuba, Mexican ports on the At Spanish South America, lantic, 16 Colomb. and Mexico, Central Republic S. Am. 1,971 3,681 832,713 328,126 4,592 American Indigo Exported in the same Year. 625 The Hanse Towns and French ports on Atlantic, 3,152 5,289 (From the New England Farmer.) 84 63,025 8,514 8,350 965 2,557 3,922 'The most intereting part to me, and that which had been anticipang all summer, was the digging Mr. Editor,-As my name has found its way into of them. It is a mitter of great interest to me, to some of the papers of the day, in relation to rais-see with what smil beginnings, and apparently ing from the seed a large variety of potatoes, I weak means nature thieves her great designs. My 95,882 thought it might not be unacceptable to your read-anticipations in this use were not disappointed. I ers for me to give a description of the potatoes dug them principall myself, and mostly with my method of raising them. In doing this, I hands, for the doublepurpose of not injuring, and shall endeavor to relate the experiment in as intel-keeping the potatoes om each plant separate. I ligible a manner as possible, in order that if any found them of all colers, from black to white, beperson into whose hands your useful paper sides a great number at were variegated, and of may fall, should be desirous to repeat the experi- all sizes, from that of bea to a full grown potato; ment, they may be able to profit as much by my and of all forms, from round to a long red, iaerrors as by any successful method I may have cluding some handsomevals; and in all numbers, from one to several hured in a hill, if I may be $2,141,881 American Indigo Exported the same Year. 2,617 1,499 and my other 2,024 adopted. [Capell Brooke's Lapland. QUINAR SEED. allowed the term. The greatest yield was from a ladjoining the row of whites, from among which led cellars at Keilvig, close to the North Cape, vine which produced fifty-two, nineteen of which this potato was taken. I have preserved it among Hammerfast, and Alten, it never freezes; that the were tolerably fair sized potatoes. There was a my seedlings, and intend planting it with thein.stream of fresh water which enters the bay of Hamgreat difference in the growth of the vines, both in I had some seedlings marked in precisely the merfast from the little lake above it, flows unfrozen the green house and in the garden. In transplant- same manner. The third question is, what me- during winter; and that the long grass, which springs ing them from the green house into the garden, I thod shall I adopt to test their quality the next among the crevices of the rocks of the North Cape discovered on some of the small vines, a few small season, should I live to finish the experiment? itself, does not cease to vegetate powerfully beneath potatoes about the size of peas, while on those, For, if I have fifteen thousand hills of potatoes, the snow, in the absence of the sun. which were much larger, and looked more thrifty, and must try every hill separately, if they are I could not discover any. And so it was in some cooked three times a day, it would require thirmeasure in the fall, when I dug them. Some of the teen years to finish the trial. You see, Mr. Editor, largest sized vines had no sign of a potato on them; into how much difficulty my prying curiosity has Cleves, Ohio, Feb. 19, 1829. but then again, some of the largest vines bore the involved me; and that it will require much time, J. S. SKINNER, ESQ. Sir,-Observing in some of your late papers, nogreatest crops of potatoes. I found that the size trouble and expense to carry on this experiment of the vine was no criterion by which I could judge to completion, in the same style in which it was tices from two or three of your correspondents of the probable crop of potatoes. There were a commenced. From the success which has so far whom you favoured with Quinar seed last season, I good many varieties, which I think worthy of no- attended my weak endeavours, I feel desirous that am reminded of my negligence in not acknowledgtice, a few of which I will name, and attempt to it should be continued under the best possible ing likewise the receipt of some from you, and indescribe. auspices. Although I candidly confess that curiosi- forming you of the result. I planted but a few There was one vine which had, I should think, ty, combined with amusement, was the chief in-seeds of the Nankin cotton, as the season was too several hundred, all about the size of a pea. They ducement at the commencement of the experi- far advanced. They vegetated and grew finely, but hung in clusters, something similar to grapes.- ment, as I performed all the work, except weed- had not time to develop their blossoms and arrive Another kind resembled in some measure, in form, ing, with my own hands, yet I will not deny that at perfection. The balance of the seed I will try the sweet potato. Another bore all the potatoes the honour-the honour, Mr. Editor, should I be this spring. The South American beans appear to on the stem above ground. They were black, and successful in raising a very superior potato, in be very fine. My stock of them is increased a bunin considerable numbers, and would average about point of precocity, quantity, and quality, which dred fold from the seed I received from you. But half size. They did not hang in clusters, but were present appearances seem to justify me in antici- the Quinar from South America-that was the seed distributed along the main stem to the distance of pating, is not without its influence on my mind.- for which I thanked you most when I received it, about two feet, and bore it, by their weight, down Should I not succeed in obtaining a variety, in having long been anxious to obtain the Chenopodito the ground. In another, the potatoes all grew which all these good qualities unite, yet I hope to um quinoa, which I understood was grown in the in one clump, so much so as to be indented one into have several in which two of them shall predomi-cold regions of the south, and which I immediately JACOB TIDD. conceived to be the Quinar you sent me. Was I the other, and pressed into all kinds of shapes, with nate in an eminent degree. right in this supposition? The Quinoa is thus menobtuse edges. There did not appear to be any soil tioned by Humboldt and Don Ulloa. to speak of between them. In some of the hills, the potatoes were all small; in others there were no small ones, but all middling sized. In others all large; and in some mixt, large, small, &c. There were some round, some oval, some long, some very smooth, shining delicate skins, and some remarkably rough. I have all colours in all shapes, and am doubtful if there ever was before so great a variety of potatoes seen together. "The plants which are cultivated in the highest and coldest parts of the Andes and Mexican Cordilleras are the potato, the tropaeolum esculentum, and the chenopodium quinoa, of which the grain is an aliment equally agreeable and healthy." Humboldt's New Spain, vol. 2, p. 351. "Whenever the old historians use the expression small Peruvian rice, (arroz pequeno,) they mean the chenopodium quinoa, which I found very common in Peru and the beautiful valley of Bogota." Ibid. CULTIVATION OF THE POTATO IN NORWAY. So slow has been the progress of this root in Norway, that Von Buch states that it was scarcely known at Bergen in 1762; a circumstance the more remarkable, as at least a century has elapsed since its introduction into Iceland, the climate of which is less favourable than that of Norway. In about twenty years the potato found its way into the Nordland, There seems to me to be considerable difficulty, and not long afterwards was introduced into FinMr. Editor, in regard to what will be the best mark, where it has now become pretty general. course for me to pursue, in order to secure the The potatoes of Alten, though seldom exceeding "Besides the grains of the same species with this greatest benefit with the least expense, from my the size of a small egg, form, nevertheless, a valuexperiment. The first question is to know if it is able addition to the resources of the inhabitants of in Spain, this country," (province of Quito,) "has necessary to plant all the potatoes from each plant, Lapland. Their produce usually averages about one peculiar to itself, and very well deserves to be in order to obtain all the varieties; or in other thirty fold. In one recent instance it reached to ranked among the most palatable foods, but still words, will all the potatoes, produced from the forty-four. The price is usually from 3s. 6d. to 5s. more valuable for its being one of the preservaThe tives against all kinds of abscesses and impossame vine, the first year from the seed, yield po. the barrel, or sack, of four English bushels. tatoes possessing the same qualities? If I could potatoes grown in Finmark are remarkably sweet thumes. This useful species of grain, here called be well assured that all the potatoes produced to the taste, of a waxy nature, and in colour of a quinoa, resembles a lentil in shape, but much less, from any single seed would yield potatoes possess- deepish yellow. Some that were sent me lately and very white. When boiled it opens, and out of ing precisely the same qualities, then, instead of from Alten, were planted in good garden ground, in it comes a spiral fibre, which appears like a small having twelve or fifteen thousand potatoes to plant, the early part of the summer, and prove to be a valu-worm, but whiter than the husk of the grain. It is I should not be under the necessity of planting able kind of early potato. The originals were all of a an annual plant, being sowed and reaped every more than about fifteen hundred; or for fear of ac- round shape; the produce, however, which are good, year. The stem is about three or four feet in cident, say three thousand. I lost in those vines, and exceed the former several times in size, are ma- height, and has a large pointed leaf, something like which bore no potatoes, which died in transplant-ny of them oblong, and not unlike the common kid- that of the malloro; the flower is of a deep red ing, or were destroyed in weeding, about five hun-ney. The remarkable alleviation of disadvantage and five or six inches in length, and in it are condred plants, so that I had about fifteen hundred, in respect to climate which Finmark presents, the tained the grains or seed. The quinoa is eaten which bore potatoes. The second question is, how frequent luxuriance of its indigenous plants, and boiled like rice, and has a very pleasant taste; and far apart they must be planted in order to prevent the powerful vivifying influence of an arctic sum- the water in which it has been boiled is often used them from mixing? This I conceive to be very immer, encourage the supposition that, under proper as an apozem. The quinoa is used in external apportant; for if they should mix, the potatoes management, its soil might be rendered far less un-plications; in order to which it is ground and boilmight select to test the quality, mght be entirely grateful than is generally supposed. The culture of ed to a proper consistence, and applied to the part different from all the rest in the sane hill, creating the potato in particular, it may be hoped, will both affected, from which it soon extracts all corrupt confusion and uncertainty in my next year's crop. improve and become extended; a circumstance that, humours occasioned by a contusion."-Don Ulloa's And if I must plant them at any considerable dis- in the present almost absolute dependence of Fin-Travels, vol. 1, p. 305. "The province of Caraugas is about 70 leagues tance apart, it will require more gound than I shall mark and Nordland upon Russia for a supply of bread corn, is earnestly to be desired; and, if we ex-west from the city of Plata, and extends above 50 be willing to spare. That potatoes will mix in th ordinary way of amine the character of the climate of the Islands leagues. The climate of this jurisdiction is so cold planting them, I had occular e idence last season. and coasts of Northern Norway, the degree in that the only esculent vegetables here are the Papa, My man, who knew that I wa something curious which it differs from all countries under the same Quinoa, and Canagua."-Ibid. If then the quinoa and the quinar are the same, in these things, brought me a ptato, apparently an parallel, and the circumstance by which this differearly white, with a light red freak, in imitation of ence is apparently produced, such an expectation entreat you to procure some fresh seed, through the calicoes. He said that it grew among the will not appear ill-founded. Von Buch, who cer- the medium of your naval friends-for I regret to early whites in the vicinityof some calicoes. A tainly did not form too favourable an idea of the cli-state that I have been as unsuccessful as your other row of calicoes ran parali to, and immediately mate of Finmark, justly remarks, that in well secur- correspondents in getting that which you sent me human race?" prosperity to vegetate. It was doubtless too old or damaged. found. Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina, to throw discouragements in the way of the With Humboldt before me, I will take the liberty the north have for ages enabled the proprietors of of this country; but whether prompted by selfishof making another quotation from that celebrated their soils to roll in splendor and wealth; and are ness or by ignorance, Florida will advance-and the author. now again offering greater rewards to the husband-productions of her soil will contribute greatly to"Why have not, every where, the names of those man by inviting to new objects of agriculture. Inwards the independence of these states. In a nabeen preserved, who, in place of ravaging the Louisiana, far west, the happiest results appear in tional point of view, it should be the desire of every earth, have enriched it with plants useful to the the products of that state. If sugar cane will grow patriot that Florida should be improved; and it is a several degrees of latitude north of us, and several most satisfactory evidence of the enlightened wisYours, very respectfully, degrees of longitude west of us, can any one ra- dom of our delegate that he has yielded his talents tionally undertake to place Florida in a more unfa- and influence to this object; and though the Terrivourable condition. If South Carolina, and Geor- tory has been obliged to encounter many difficulgia, and Alabama, and Louisiana, whose soils bear ties; there is great satisfaction in cherishing the bethe same growth of timber, are fit for the "habita- lief, that it is now beyond the control of fortuitous tion of man," is it not likely that Florida is equally events. With great respect, I am, &c. as fit for his use. E. B. GOULD. J. C..S. [We have no doubt it is the same vegetable, and will procure some more of the seed through some of many friends we have amongst our officers of the navy, now in, or on their way to the Pacific.] CLIMATE OF FLORIDA. St. Augustine, February 12, 1829. HORTICULTURE. KITCHEN GARDEN FOR APRIL. If you omitted sowing or planting any principal crops as directed for last month, let it be done early in this, particularly the main crop of onions, leeks, parsnips, carrots, red-beet, &c. for when sowed late, they never attain the equal perfection, as when at proper season. Finish sowing asparagus, if not done the preceding month, to raise plants for fresh plantation and forcing. Sow the main crop of the green and red borecole, in an open situation, to plant out in May and June, for autumn, winter, and the supply of the following spring. Sow likewise some of the purple and cauliflower sorts of brocoli, to plant out in summer for the first general autumn crop. That Florida is susceptible of very great improvement is evident from a number of facts. First, that the Territory is watered on the east and west To the Editor of the American Farmer: by the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, for several Sir,-From a letter of our respectable delegate, hundred miles. Second, that there are many natural the Hon. Joseph M. White, lately published in your drains emptying into the ocean on the east, and invaluable agricultural journal, it appears that re-numerable outlets to the great basin on the west ports, injurious to the interests of Florida as a Su-side of the peninsula which runs into the sea more gar growing region, have been put in circulation; than four hundred miles; to which natural drains, and I have direct information that an individual of artificial ones may easily be created at small exhigh reputation in your city has been the means of pense. Third, that many parts of this Territory, deterring several persons possessing large means, now apparently forbidding as to prospect, were unfrom transferring their property to this Territory, der a high state of cultivation, while this country under the assumption that nothing here would re- was in possession of the English. And that it is ward the industry of the planter for his care and well adapted for the culture of sugar cane is most diligence, in consequence of the sterile quality of conclusive from the following facts. First, that in some of its soil, and the low situation of the rest. Georgia, and South Carolina, and Alabama, from So much has been said upon the subject of Flor-one to three degrees north of us, great success has ida, that has been deemed abroad unworthy of be- attended the cultivation of the article; and that in lief, that I cannot now hope to gain much attention Louisiana, it has become the principal staple, which from the statements I shall make, because my mo- lies several degrees west. Second, that while the tives may be suspected, but so may the statements seasons were too short to permit the cane to ripen of those who create suspicions of the unfitness of its (or tassel) in the states mentioned, in Florida it al soils for civilized uses, be suspected of a want of ways arrives at maturity; and when ground exhibits patriotism, in disseminating what will in the end be the greatest evidence of perfection by the superior strength of its saccharine matter. Third, that on Soon after the United States came into possession the 11th of January last, being our coldest day, and of this country, a society was formed in the city of the only one we have had during the season, that Be particularly attentive to your melons, which St. Augustine, with a view to collect information on the cane in Florida was unable to resist the cold, are in hot-beds. Train the vines regular, give them all subjects relating to agriculture and political the thermometer stood at 319, while at Charleston air daily, with occasionally moderate waterings. economy generally. Some of its members were on the same day, it stood at 14°, and at Magnolia Cover the glasses every night, and keep up a good practical men, and spent much time in exploring 4°, west of St. Augustine, at the same time, it was heat in the beds; linings of hot dung. the country and gathering specimens of the various at 17°. Fourth, that sugar has, this season, been Sow full crops of peas, for succession of mardescriptions of soils for exhibition at regular meet-manufactured in quantities of from ten to fifty hogs-rowfats once a fortnight, also of rouncivals, moretings of the society, which were experimented upon heads by several planters this season, who were inuntil the members were enabled to arrive at con- duced to change their culture by the extraordinary found to be real absurdities. clusive results. These results have generally appeared before the public in the form of reports, and may be relied on. By none of which will it be seen that Florida is a "barren sand bank" or a "sterile region unfit for the habitation of man." Sectional jealousy alone has contributed to check the value of these reports, but when it shall have been spent, then will it be seen how valuable they are. prospects presented to them by this change. Men who have lived all their days in cities, and cane culture is more valuable than the same quanbeen rocked in the cradle of indulgence, or brought tity of the richest land in Maryland, is to the Maryup to professional pursuits, can have no practical land farmer if planted in corn; and I care not when knowledge aside from that profession; and are less the comparison is made or how soon. I have been likely to know much of what pertains to husbandry favoured with samples of sugar by most of the than those who have made it the business of their planters to whom I have referred, and I have now lives. Those whose views have been confined to before me a most beautiful one from Mr. McIntosh, well stocked farms, and splendid houses of princely who resides in Alachua county, seventy miles west cost, will not see much in new countries to please of this city. He has manufactured this year sixtythe eye; and those who long for velvet cushions and seven tierces of sugar, of more than 700 lbs. and brilliant assemblies, with all their circumstance and twenty hogsheads of molasses, with a wooden mill, show, need not think of Florida as a means of pre-which cost him probably not three hundred dollars. sent gratification. Florida, though one of the ear- Added to this pleasing state of things of what I liest discovered countries on the Atlantic coast, and know, the information, which is creditable, that Col. St. Augustine though the first settlement, are but Robinson who resides three hundred miles west, and new; and will only smile pleasantly on those who far west of Magnolia, where the thermometer was "put their shoulders to the wheel." at 17 on the 11th January, has equally well succeeded, is also most gratifying. The facts and reasoning I am here enabled to present are at variance with the assumed premises of those who wish to That Florida is not more sterile than the countries which surround it will appear manifest. Cuba on the south is as fertile a region as any that can be Kidney-beans of the early dwarf kinds should now be sown in a warm border, as also some speckled dwarfs, and a larger supply in the open quarters in drills two feet, or two and a half distance. Sow different kinds of lettuce two or three times this month, for succeeding crops. to, and other large kinds; likewise some hotspurs, them in drills, two feet and a half or a yard asund&c. to have a plentiful variety, and young. Sow er, or the large kinds for sticking, four feet distance. Finish planting the main crop of potatoes as directed last month. Sow the seed for pot-herbs of thyme, savory, sweet-majoram, borage, burnet, dill, fennel, chervil, marigolds, corainder, tarragon, sorrel, basil, clary, angelica, hyssop, anise, beets, and parsley. Plant aromatic herbs, as mint, sage, balm, rue, or full plants, as also slips, parting roots, and off rosemary, lavender, &c. all of which either by young sets, and some by slips and cuttings of side shoots. Continue soving successional crops every fortnight of radishes, in open situations to have an eligible variety, young and plentiful. Those that have already come up you must thin or they will run with great tops, but small roots. Sow a principa crop of savoys in an open situation, detached fnm walls, hedges, &c. that the plants may be strong and robust, for planting outin summer to furnish full crop well cabbaged in autumn, and for the general supply, till next spring, before a most valuable autumn and winter cabbage. To destroy Caterpilars and Canker Worms. Sprinkle your fruit rees in the spring, by the help of a garden engine, with soap-suds, twice a week, for two or three weks. VEGETABLE KINGDOM. and abroad, were to use a moderate portion of able Fondante des Bois (Boschier;) the Capuchins zeal and industry by sending seeds and plants home of Louvaine obtained their Pastorale; and the The subscriber respectfully acknowledges the at every opportunity that would offer, I would soon Comte de Colona of Malines, L'Urbaniste.-During receipt of the following named seeds for the use of exhibit on the public grounds of the capital of this these times thousands of plants were originalthe Capitol Square, and other parts of the public happy republic, and of this my adopted country, a ed annually at Brussels, with a view of studying the grounds within the City of Washington: grand display of the beauties of the vegetable king quality of their fruits. The result of the whole bas Last spring, received from his excellency J. Qdom, and place it before the passing and scientific been published by Professor Van Mons, in a cataAdams, President of the United States, the Quer-world in its own beautiful and natural garb. logue dated Louvaine, 1823.-Messager des Sciencuo Suber; from the hon. T. Baldwin, the Morus ces et des Arts, livres 1 et 2, 1826, p. 77. Alba. eus. Oh, how long will that science, the most beautiful of sciences, be obscured with that cloud of dark. This fall and winter, from the hon. Mr. Williams, ness which now hangs over it? And when will we of the Senate, the Carya Olivaformes; from the have the pleasure of seeing ten, fifteen, or twenty (From the New York Farmer.) hon. Mr. Sloane, Escules and Rosa Scandens; from thousand of its inhabitants display and expand their SCUPPERNONG VINE AND GRAPE. the hon. Col. M'Kee, Esculus; and from the hon. Mr. foliage, and beautiful and sweet-scented flowers, to Extract of a letter from B. Blodget, Esq., to Dr. S. Roane a sample of sweet-scented Vernal Grass. the fashionable world? And when will the time arLeft at my house, in the name of Mr. Washing-rive when we can see, in the month of February, L. Mitchell-dated Raleigh, N. C., Jan. 6, 1829. ton, Magnolia Acumenala, and a species of Hileis- when the ground is clad with snow, four, five, ten have collected fifty-two sorts of grapes, the sponta"I have recently returned from Alabama, and thousand or more bunches of grapes hanging from Sent to me, planted in a box, from the state of their vines; and when, at the same time, will we collection is the Scuppernong in Washington counneous growth of our United States. Among the Massachusetts, by S. Dinsmore, Esq. a species of see one, two, or three thousand of the Bromelia Ananas, supporting its beautiful and delicious fruit, offered some of the wine to taste, that was fourty, in North Carolina. Captain Wm. Burlingham It gives me a great deal of pleasure that the the pine apple? And when, too, shall we see the teen years old. He has cultivated four acres for gentlemen composing that honourable body, (the Agava, called the American Aloa, from whence the notice of that natural production which I have in-drink-I say, when shall we see it in our public lific, that a single plant has produced him one ton Congress of the United States,) have taken such Spaniards of South America extract a delicious eighteen years, and thinks the wine superior to the best Madeira or Champaigne. The vine is so protroduced within the Capitol Square, from that por- square, lawns, or gardens, putting forth its magnifi- of fruit, and yielded him eight barrels of wine. I tion of the vegetable world which is in and about cent stem, which supports the many beauties that intend to introduce this species of vine. It receivthe District of Columbia, as to induce them to add hang on it? And when, too, shall we, at this time ed its name from the circumstance of being first to that number by introducing seeds from the dis- of the year, see the peaches, cherries, and the inno- discovered near a swamp of that denomination. I tricts which they have the honour of represent cent sweet little strawberry, in full bearing of fruit? intend to send you a cask.” And when, too, shall we behold a fine range of Ires. ing. I hope the gentlemen will, while at their respec-orange and lemon trees, extending east and west tive homes, and when perambulating their farms, from the President's mansion? (all of which should observe where Flora lavished her store; and if they be before this time.) But stop! this is all a dream. cinnamon gardens good naturedly sent some of the should take notice of any plants that are beautiful, Oh, no! I must have been translated into a northern ornamental, or useful for medical purposes, to mark clime. I must wipe the web from my eye, and see it by sticking a stick down by it, or some other the light of heaven. All this may happen, and soon mark by which they may know it when the seeds too. It has happened so in other countries, and are ripe, when they can gather the seeds and take why should it not happen so under this happy reup the plant, if they choose, and send one or both public, where we know of no difference between on to me for the use of our public grounds. the many situations that now exist in this counOur agents among the various tribes of our abo-try, but which of them will support the constitution rigines, would do well by taking notice, and select-the best: and may it continue so, and in the greatest ing from the beauties that surround them, which no purity, while the vegetable kingdom continues to doubt are many, and forward on to me, at every produce a plant, is my sincere wish. opportunity, for the use of the public grounds, as many species as they possibly can collect. Our ministers, consuls, and other agents, residing in foreign countries, should take great notice of the trees, shrubs, and plants in general, which are the natural growth of the countries wherein they reside, and forward on to me, time after time, for the use of our public grounds at this, the capital of our Union, where they may, at some future day, on their arrival home, have the pleasing satisfaction of seeing them in a fine growing state. Our navy officers, too, who should visit or land at foreign ports or countries, would do well if they would bring or send on some rare or choice seeds or plants that would aid in embellishing our grounds. FRUITS. Γ. ΓΟΥ. Preparation of Cinnamon.-The manager of the cinnamon peelers to our bungalows, that we might see the way in which the spice is prepared. They brought with them branches about three feet in length, the rough bark of which they scraped off with knives, and then, with a peculiar instrument, stripped off the inner rind, in long slips; these are tied up in bundles, and put to dry in the sun, and the wood is sold for fuel. In the regular preparations, however, the outer bark is not scraped off; but the process of fermentation which the strips undergo, when tied up in large quantities, removes the coarse parts. The peelers are called Chailers. [Heber's Narrative. The art of improving the Quality of Fruits is said The Culture of Culinary Vegetables in the Sandto have originated in Belgium; and while the Acad-wich Islands, was introduced by Marini, a Spaniard, emy of Munich were doubting the possibility of about the end of the last century. Marini formed this description of improvement, and even giving a extensive gardens, where melons and gourds of all prize to an essay which maintained the negative kinds, various species of cabbage, potatoes, and side of the question, the art had already made an other vegetables common in Europe, were cultivatimmense progress in the Netherlands. It is not ed with great success.-Voyage to the Sandwich Is lands in 1824-25, 4to. p. 41. RURAL ECONOMY. SCHABZIEGER CHEESE, If each individual who should have it in his pow-meant that new fruits were never raised from seed er, would act as described above, we should soon before, but that the business of raising new sorts of have our grounds as beautiful and as ornamental as fruits from seeds was never before undertaken on the grounds about Paris, London, or any other scientific principles. Chance has, at all times and part of proud Europe. in all countries, discovered new sorts of fruits from seeds which have sprung up accidentally; but it was only in Belgium, towards the latter end of the eighteenth century, that seedlings were raised in Is that species of Swiss cheese made by the large quantities with reference to this object. The mountaineers of the Canton of Glaris, and readily city of Mons made the first attempt, and obtained distinguished by that peculiar marbled appearance. In my communication last year in the National four exquisite new pears, viz. the Passe Colmar, the and aromatic flavor, communicated by the pressed Intelligencer, I ventured to say that there was not Beurrée Rance, the Beurrée Spence (in honour of flowers or the bruised seeds of the Melilotus ofheina disease that the human system was subject to, the celebrated entomologist,) the Beurree d'Hiver, alis. The practice of mixing the flowers or seeds but there was a plant to ease or cure it, if properly and Les Délices d'Hardenpont. These were raised of plants with cheese was common among the Roapplied; and if so, is it not laudable to collect and in the garden of Counsellor Hardenpont. Other mans; thyme was generally used by them. That a send on seeds or plants for the use of our public amateurs have devoted themselves to the same sub- similar method was pursued in the middle ages is grounds? Here we have every kind of soil, situa-ject, and obtained several pears of excellent quali- apparent from an anecdote told of Charlemagne.— tion, and aspect, and can have every kind of cli- ty; the Bonne de Mons, the Doyenné de Mons, and When travelling without attendants, he arrived at mate, by the aid of a little art. many more. M. Siart procured La Napoleon; and a bishop's palace: it was a fast day, and the bishop, that learned pomologist, the Abbe Duquesne, rais having no fish, was obliged to set cheese before the ed among others, the excellent Marie Louise. M. monarch. Observing some small specks (parsley Petit pursued those researches which M. Duquesne seed) in it, and mistaking them for rotten parts, he was obliged to abandon from ill health and other took the trouble of picking them out with his knife. causes. In Flanders they discovered the incompar-The bishop told him he was throwing away the best There are about 30,000 species of plants, or perhaps more; and when will we have them represented on our public grounds; or when will we have one half, or even one fourth? I know not when. One thing I know: if the lovers of plants, at home |