MR. SKINNER, AGRICULTURE. HEMP AND FLAX. Sir,-A subscriber to your paper in Nelson county, Virginia, has asked the comparative merits and demerits of water rotted hemp and that which bas been dressed without rotting. I cannot answer this inquiry as it regards hemp, but as flax is an article of nearly as much importance, and as its character is very much the same, I will state to you the difficulties which have occurred in the manufacture of unrotted flax, which will, I have no doubt, in a great measure refer also to hemp, at least so as to enable your subscriber to draw a conclusion unfavourable. I have been some time desirous of making this statement, because many ingenious men are engaged in inventing machinery to break flax without rotting, before ascertaining what is to be done with it after this great business has been accomplished. the appearance of being either elongated or reduc- unequally macerated. In countries where there is My experiments on flax not rotted, dew rotted, and water-rotted, for manufacturing into cloth, confirm those made by Mr. N. Goodsell, of New York, The best method of all, is that of plunging the as reported by him in the 5th volume of your "Farmer," and I am satisfied myself that the cheapest hemp into the water in receptacles made for the and best method is to water rot flax and hemp, both purpose; some of which, very large, are to be seen I recom- in the territories of Bologna, Arezzo, and Ferrara. for the manufacturer and the consumer. mend Mr. Goodsell's communication to your read- Some put the hemp to macerate in the running ers, and especially to those interested in the growth water of a river; but experience has shewn that it does better in still water, nay, if possible, in water or manufacture of flax. I have been a manufacturer of flax for many that has already macerated other hemp. Having years, on a very extensive scale, and would most chosen the convenient pond, the borders must be gladly second the exertions of any farmer in culti- raised a little to prevent the rain from carrying any vating it, in any way that I could be thought useful; earth into it. They then prepare the hemp; well but with all my endeavours, and those of agricultural dried, and cleansed from the leaves, they cut off its societies to back me, I have not in seven years been roots and thinnest extremities, which they put aside able to procure one ton of native water rotted flax, to macerate separately. They then make it up in although the difference in the price which I offer bundles, all of an equal length and size, not too between this and dew rotted flax is 33 per cent. closely bound, and these they dispose in the pond. There never was, to my mind, any difficulty in American dew rotted flax is now selling in our alternately, one opposite to the other, for these bunbreaking flax by machinery rotted or not; but my neighbourhood at eight cents per pound. Pull the dles being of a shape somewhat conical, they occuexperience in the manufacture justifies me in ha-same flax when the bloom falls and the bolls are py less space, by being so distributed. The bunzarding the opinion that flax not rotted, can never forming, and water rot, it is then worth 11 to 12 dles made of this species of hemp, must be put to be advantageously made use of, unless it be subse-cents per lb., besides that the crop will weigh from macerate separately, from those of a finer quality. quently steamed, or undergo some other process to 25 to 30 per cent. more per acre. This difference The same precaution must be used with the hemp, give it that softness and pliability which water rot-in price and weight ought alone, without any pro- that has been gathered, when fully ripe, and that ted flax always possesses, and without which it can-tecting duties to afford sufficient encouragement to which is less perfect. When the pond is full, let a not be spun economically by machinery, and these any grower of flax, and will be ample, so long as weight be laid upon the bundles, in order to keep after operations will always be more expensive than the manufacturer is sustained to afford him a mar- them always under water. In the ponds of the Bothe simplest of all simple processes-water rotting.ket; for without the demand created by our esta-lognese, they drive in the bottom, some stakes, at An ingenious gentleman invented a machine for blishments, the consumption must be very limited, breaking flax without rotting, and sent me a quan- not certainly sufficiently extensive to make any ef tity of flax prepared for experiment. The following fort in producing it, much less in improving the A FLAX SPINNER.. is extracted from the letter I wrote him, after I had quality. it manufactured into cloth. [The necessity that farmers should diversify the objects of culture, and the appearance that hemp 100 lbs. of raw flax, hackled on a rougher and cleaner, rendered of cleaned flax, 80 lbs and flax are likely to attract more attention and to Total loss in waste, Balance in tow, Now contrast this with water rotted Irish: Loss in actual waste, 12 58 100 55 5 40 be cultivated more extensively than heretofore, espe- Extract of two letters from Mr. Appleton, Consul the distance of three or four feet from each other, "I now send you a bag containing some seed of Thus, in the process of hackling, the machine the far-famed Bologna hemp, and Cremona flax flax lost 12 per cent.; and in spinning 750 lbs. I The former is twice the length, and nearly twice weighed in 657 lbs. of yarn, losing in actual waste the strength of the Russian hemp; it is fair and 93 lbs., nearly 13 per cent. more-making together white, and sells here at 50, when the latter will 25 per cent; whilst the Irish flax loses in those ope- only command 30* The Cremona flax sells inva-means of a ring at one of the extremities, with the rations about 14 per cent. The tow of water rotted riably for double as much as all other flax known. flax can be as readily manufactured as the flax-I also send a sample of this flax, that it may be comand the tow of the machine flax can be made no pared with others, and with the produce of the use of whatever in our mills. From 2500 lbs. of seed; and also a translation of instructions, by Promachine flax, costing $250, I received 657 lbs. of fessor Tozzetti, of Florence, on the cultivation of yarn, which cost me 38 cents per lb. exclusive of hemp and flax." the cost of labour in manufacturing [The instructions as to the culture do not seem to be well adapted to this country, but it may be of service to some of our patrons, especially in the To enable you to judge of the possibility of spinning and weaving this flax, I send you a sample of the yarn and the cloths woven therefrom, and although I took some pains to soften by letting it stand west, to be supplied with what follows, under the coarse quality for cordage, is put up in bales for over the race-way some weeks, to imbibe moisture, you will find on examination that it is so harsh as to render it impossible for the weaver to bring it together; which will account to you for the lack ap pearance of the cloth. head of] commerce; and the finest quality is carded, in order to be spun. MACERATION AND PREPARATION OF THE HEMP. There are several methods for macerating hemp, FLEMISH HUSBANDRY. in order to loosen the fibrous parts of it. This can SIR-Much has been said in praise of English be done, by exposing the hemp on a meadow, to In the construction of our machinery we are com- the influence of the atmosphere, and especially to husbandry, it is a well known fact, that this vaunted pelled to compensate for the want of adhesion and that of the dews, turning it every day; and then, system is surpassed in many countries which do not elasticity in the fibres of water rotted hemp and while still wet with dew, let it be heaped up to un-possess equal natural advantages. In Scotland, flax; but the ingenuity of man has not yetprovided dergo some degree of fermentation. But this prac agriculture has progressed at least half a century for spinning the fibres of a hickory tree, to which tice is not one of the best, because the hemp gets beyond that of England, where the soil and climate is far more congenial to the productions of the I must assimilate the machine flax: the ow thereearth than the "bleak mountains of Caledonia." from breaks short off in the teeth of the card, to But no where in the world is the contrast so marked such a degree as to cover the floor, without having at Leghorn. No. 2.-VOL. 10. * Livres is here meant: hemp is sold by the 100 lbs as that between the Flemish and English mode of bushels; and where the borders of the fields are sugar and hides. The sea island cotton is produced cultivation. planted with trees, in such numbers that by their at a distance of thirty miles from the sea, but the The average produce of a crop of wheat, in Eng-sale the proprietors acquire every forty years, a sum quality is better in proportion to the proximity to land, is twenty-four bushels per acre. In Flanders of money equal to the soil; to say this, appears, to the coast. From the best information I have been it is thirty-two bushels. In England, the system of other than English readers, to repeat a tissue of able to collect, several thousand bales of cotton of a fallows almost universally prevails. In Flanders, it fables. The less informed attribute this uninter superior quality, will form the crop of the coming has been unknown from time immemorial; two crops, rupted succession of harvests to the inexhaustible year. There is another source of wealth which bids in many cases three, being uniformly raised annual-fertility of soil; but intelligent and well informed fair to become important before many years. In ly upon the same field. The following comparative travellers attribute it, on the contrary, and with the the vast grassy undulating pine lands which spread tables, as exhibited in "Vanderstracten's sketch of best reason, to the indefatigable industry of the in from the Flint river to the coast, checkered only by the Flemish system," shew clearly and correctly its habitants, and to a highly improved mode of culture, spots of fertile land, the stocks of cattle are increas superior advantages over that of England of the details of which they are themselves ignoring with incredible rapidity. Many individuals Produce of the Flemish farmer, Produce of the English farmer, ant, and which besides, from their complication, and own from one hundred to a thousand head, and as from one acre, for 12 years. according to the Norfolk the great variety of the productions of the soil, re- these herds are sufficient to double their numbers course, for the same period. quire a profound study, of many years duration, to every three years, it may be readily imagined that Crops. which few of them have either the inclination or the their hides, and the dried beef for the Havana marWheat, 32 bush. per acre, 4 Wheat, 24 bush. per acre, leisure to apply,” ket, may form no unimportant item of the exports Barley, 60 do. do. 4 Barley, 32 do. do. of St. Marks. Perhaps live stocks, especially bogs, considering the certainty with which a voyage can be performed by taking advantage of a northerly wind in the winter, may at some future day, be sent from this place to Cuba. Crops. Flax, hemp, coleseed and potatoes, Roots and vegetables for the food of cattle, In 12 years, Turnips, 4 Clover, 10 22 In 12 years, 3 3 3 3 12 The immense difference in favour of the produce of Flanders, does not arise, as might be supposed, from its possessing a better natural soil, or a milder This correct, though “bird's eye" view, of Fle mish husbandry, merits farther amplification, in order to furnish distinct data to the intelligent and en terprising agriculturist. My subsequent communications will be directed to that subject. Respectfully, yours, GEO. HOUSTON. FLORIDA, [Though the latest territorial acquisition of the climate than England, but entirely from the differ- United States, its inherent fertility and local bear-at no distant day to furnish a most important item ent mode of cultivation, pursued in these two coun-ing have commended it to the notice of the publick tries At no very distant period, the fields of Flan-in such manner that its population is increasing ders, now so productive, were little else but loose with wonderful rapidity, and the attention of the sand and gravel, whereas the soil of England, was government has been attracted towards it on varialways naturally fertile, and in part, lies under a ous occasions by the connection of its local situa more southerly parallel than Flanders. tion and resources with the "general welfare." The delegate who so ably represents it in Congress, ever watchful for what may accelerate its growth and augment its consequence, has recently made au ex position to the committee on commerce, to shew the importance of making St. Marks a port of entry, and of building there a light house and improving the harbour.-The committee have so far concurred with the honourable delegate as to recommend an appropriation for the two first named objects, and a survey of the harbour with a view to the last. The rich, abundant and healthy crops obtained by the Flemish farmers, may be traced to the following causes: 1st. The abundance and judicious application of manure. 2d. Digging all the lands on their farms with the spade every six or three years. 3d. The complete extirpation of weeds and noxious roots. 4th Regular and repeated hoeing. 5th. A careful choice, and alteration, of grain and seeds for sowing. 6th. An approved rotation of crops. The following extracts from Mr. White's letter, shew the value of that part of the country and its productions; which looks to St. Marks as its proper outlet.] But by far the most valuable product of the country will be the article of sugar; and in this article I have no hesitation in saying, that Middle Florida, and the adjacent counties of Georgia, are destined to our domestic trade. Few who consider the im mense value of the sugar crop in Louisiana, and which supplies at least one-third of the consump tion of the United States, are aware of how small a portion of the rich lands of that state are occupied in its production. Perhaps the lands thus occupied would not, in the whole, constitute three entire townships. They consist of very narrow strips along the margin of the Mississippi and the Teche, in the southern parts of the state. Climate is the most serious consideration in the culture of the cane, for it is, by no means, a plant which requires a soil of extraordinary fertility. Hence it is that so small a part of Louisiana, or the state of Georgia, is adapted to its growth. The great river Mississippi, which forms the conduit of the north and south "The whole secret (observes Vanderstracten) reswinds, is probably the cause of very sudden changes pecting the superiority of Flemish agriculture, conand inequalities of seasons, which tend to render sists in this: the farmers procure plenty of food for the crop a less certain one. And it is moreover, the their cattle--food, which, excepting clover, is raised opinion of well informed persons, that the moistness from the same lands which have already yielded "It is little more than three years since the remoof the soil, and the dampness of the climate, have their crops of grain, &c. They keep the greatest val of the Indians, and since the first stroke of the an injurious effect on the quality of the sugar, and possible number of cattle, feel them in the stables axe was heard in its woods, and in that period it tender it unfit for transportation to foreign counplentifully, and render their food palatable. They has acquired a population little short of four or fiveries. The sugar which, within a few years past, collect the greatest possible quantity of manure, of thousand souls." has been made on the small spots of high land to which they preserve the fertilizing salts by a suitable "Nearly the whole of the extensive tract which lies the west of the Mississippi, and near the coast, is progress of fermentation. They weed their grounds south of the Flint river, embracing several valua-said to be of a superior quality, more dry, and cathoroughly and repeatedly. They totally extirpate ble counties of Georgia, particularly Decatur and pable of being kept for a longer time. I do not noxious plants and roots, every six or every three Thomas, and which stretches from the Oclockney hesitate to say, that the climate of Middle Florida is, years, by digging all the lands on their respective to the Suwaney, perhaps of sufficient extent to form in some respects, preferable to that of Louisiana. farms-an operation by which they revert to the a respectable state, must look to St. Marks as the is less liable to sudden changes, is more mild and surface a stratum of fresh soil, that for three or for only outlet for its trade. The produce of this reless humid. The great dryness of the soil will have six years has been absorbing the salts of manure as gion, which will enter into commerce, and which favorable influence on the quality of the sugar; at they filtered to the bottom of the roots, a stratum already forms an item of export, consists of cotton. made, exhibit this result. It is well known that the least the successful experiments which have been of soil which has produced no crop during the same period. They, moreover, dress their grounds to the *In Flanders, wheat yields twenty; rye, twenty-six; clayed sugars of Brazil, and the muscovadoes of precise point of perfect pulverization. These are barley, twenty-six; and oats, forty, for one. Wheat Cuba, imported into the United States, are made on inestimable advantages, which cannot be obtained holds only the fifth rank in value in the harvest of Flan- dry soils. The sugar of Middle Florida will probaders. In England, wheat never yields more, on an aver-bly partake of this character, and may possibly be by any plough whatever: hence the drift of the Flemish adage-Never to let the naked ground lie age, than ten or eleven for one; barley, something less found as well adapted to the use of the refineries as than ten to one; and oats only between eight and nine open to the sun in summer for more than three for one. those which are imported." In some highly ameliorated farms in the coundays.' ty of Suffolk, Arthur Young reports a produce of thirty"In truth, to say that there exists a vast province, six bushels of wheat, and sixty-four bushels of barley, in which the price of lands has been quadrupled to the acre; and that in the county of Kent, soils of within fifty years, and which is neither placed un- middling quality, equally ameliorated, yield per acre; der a more favourable climate, nor enjoys a greater fifty-two bushels of wheat, and the same quantity of fertility of soil, than England; from which fallows barley. But in Flanders, there are soils which yield in general have been banished from time immemo wheat, 120 of barley, 128 of beans, and 72 of coleseed. much more than this-namely, seventy-two bushels of rial; in which the greater part of the lands pro- These, however, are extreme cases, which do not affect duce in nine years at least fifteen harvests, of which the general question of comparative growths; while, those of grain yield, one year with another, as high however, they show that the amelioration of land, in as thirty two bushels of wheat per acre; those of any country, is calculated greatly to increase its probarley, sixty bushels; and those of oats, ninety ductiveness." a "I would consider it a low estimate, if I were to say, that the quantity of land in Middle Florida, and in the adjacent parts of Georgia, adapted to the cultivation of the sugar-cane, is five times as great as that actually in cultivation on the sugarplantations of Louisiana; and consisting of uplands These lards have already been purchased by indientirely, he sugar will be of a superior quality. viduals, o are daily entered at the Land office. Those who have settled them, are all, more or less, engaged it the cultivation of the cane. The greater part of these settlers, are laborious and industri ous farmers, who put their own hands to the plough; at the Philadelphia market price, and delivered on Propagation. The rose is generally increased and such is the mildness of the summers, that they a farm at the distance of four miles. From a cal-by suckers from the root, or by layers; there are find it as easy to work in the fields, as in the upper culation made, which I believe correct, it will re- also many varieties which succeed by cuttings, but parts of North Carolina, South Carolina and Geor-quire 200 bundles of straw of the usual average these are principally the Chinese varieties. They gia. The lands of a better quality, lying, for weight (say 14 lbs.) per acre, which you may pur-may also be increased by inoculating and grafting; the most part, in small bodies, but surrounded by chase and have delivered at 8 cents per bundle-16 but these seldom survive beyond the third year, fine pasturage, afford only occasional situations for dollars. Twenty-two horse cart loads of stable when others should be budded from them to supply plantations, on an extensive scale Hence the pro manure (more frequently twenty-five are put,) per their places. portion of white population will be much more con-acre, first cost of which and delivery at a low rate, siderable than it might be supposed It is true, (say three dollars per load.) 60 dollars. Saving, 44 that but few would possess the means of erecting dollars. [Memoirs Phila. Agric. Soc. sugar-works at the expense of 5 or 10,000 dollars, which has hitherto been thought absolutely indispensable; but of late I am informed, that important improvements are about to be made, by which the A correspondent in Orange county informs us, planters in middling circumstances, will be enabled that in November, 1826, he had seven ewes, a ram to cultivate the cane to equal advantage; that is, by and a wether; that during the winter, the seven the establishment of sugar-works, by persons unewes had nine lambs, which just doubled his stock. connected with the plantations, for the purpose of In August, 1827, one of his ewes had another lamb; manufacturing the cane cultivated by others." so that in less than twelve months, from his original stock he had ten lambs, making in the whole, nine ON THE CULTURE OF POTATOES. Rockland Place, 6th mo., (June,) 19, 1820. GENTLEMEN, Any discovery made, substituting a substance in the place of barn yard or stable manure, that will operate equally well in promoting the growth of a valuable esculent for the table, at a much cheaper rate than said manure, I am of the opinion ought to be generally known; and, therefore, I have been induced to state the result of an experiment I made last year in the culture of potatoes: substituting rye straw, in the dry state, on a part of them, in the place of stable manure. teen. INCREASE OF SHEEP. [The above is from the Raleigh Register-but here is a case of "increase" yet more extraordinaExtract to the Editor of the American Farmer, dated March 18, York county, Virginia, from a respectable citizen:] ry. hood talk." Varieties.-These are so numerous, that it is impossible to give descriptions of them in this limited work. Many of them, however, have brief remarks attached to their names in the catalogue, descrip tive of their characters. Although the author's collection is very numerous, still the selections have been made with great care, and they combine a rich accumulation of the varied beauties of this favourite flower. I will now proceed to make a few remarks relative to some particular varieties. Moss Rose. Of this there are a number of varieties, varying in colour, size, and other circumstances. The one most generally known is the Red moss. The others are the Blush moss, with very large flowers of an exceedingly delicate colour, and by many considered to surpass all others; the New Red moss and the Scarlet moss are very fine; the White and the Striped moss, the Small moss, Dark moss, Single moss, &c. are also much admired, and the whole form an unique collection in this family of flowers. "You can state in your useful paper, a fact which Shield, clerk of our court, has a ewe which has has occurred in my neighbourhood. Mr. Samuel Yellow Roses.-There appears to exist some diffiHe resides about six miles below York Town, and will therefore remark, that it requires an airy siproduced eight fine lambs in the last twelve months. culty in making the Double yellow to flower well; being an unusual occurrence here, is a neighbour-tuation, and in dry and gravelly soils; and that the old wood should be cut out near the ground every autumn, which will cause a succession of thrifty blooming shoots. When budded on the Common China, or the White musk, it is said to bloom exceedingly well; and one instance is mentioned by Loudon, where it was budded on the China rose at the height of ten feet from the ground, in which case it was found to flower abundantly. At a wood chopping frolic in Forks' township, on the plantation of Mr. Edward B. Shimer, an oak tree was felled a few weeks ago, which measured six feet in diameter. It was sawed and split into the usual size of firewood in fifteen minutes, by eight hands, and yielded 124 cords of wood. HORTICULTURE. (Extracted from "Prince's Treatise on Horticulture.") ROSES. The following remarks are also extracted from his Magazine: The Double Yellow rose flowers better on an east or west, or even a north wall, than on one exposed to the south; it should never be pruned further than by cutting out the dead and irregular shoots, and and west ends of a house. It flowers as freely budder such treatment for several years on the south thinning out the blossom buds; it has flowered unded on the Rosa indica, as Rosa odorata does on the Common Blush rose. Another writer recom an east or north-east wall, and others that had produced abundance of flowers when planted on a very dry chalky soil. The Single Yellow, and Red and Yellow Austrian, bloom freely in almost any soil, and with little or no care. There are various other yellow roses, viz: the Single and Double Yellow Scotch, the Yellow Tea-scented, the Yellow Multiflora, &c. yields more intrinsic delights to the amateur; the No class of plants, so easy of culture as this, diversity of size, colour, fragrance and form, have been varied by art to an almost infinite degree, and The seed potatoes were first dropped or placed in the collections of Europe above 1400 varieties mends a northern aspect in preference to a southern in the furrows, the usual distance apart, say ten to are enumerated. Since the catalogue of the au-one, and mentions one that bloomed very freely on eleven inches; a moderate quantity of straw then thor's establishment was put to press, above 100 spread immediately on them; after which the pota-new varieties have been received, and the collection toes and straw were covered with the soil, by means now exceeds 600 varieties, including 100 kinds of of the plough, in a similar manner to those planted China and India roses, and 15 varieties of the Moss with the stable manure, and their treatment the rose. Enduring the rigour of the severest winters same during the season. The strawed and manur- uninjured, and yielding with so little attention such ed potatoes were both planted on the 19th of fifth a rich accumulation of beauty and fragrance, every month, (May,) and on the 21st of the tenth month garden should possess at least all the more conspi(October,) following, I had the produce taken from cuous varieties of this unrivalled flower; and it is the ground; and as the season throughout had been hoped, ere long, we shall see the fashion followed remarkably dry, as is well known, I was surprised in this country, which has for years prevailed in to find (presuming that a wet season would have England, of training the hardy climbing varieties best suited the dry straw,) that my straw potatoes of the Chinese and other twining roses against the were quite equal in quantity, quality and size, to sides of our country houses and cottages, as the those on which I had been liberal in the application profusion of flowers which they daily afford from of stable manure. The nature of the soil on which spring to autumn, gives to the retirement of these these potatoes grew, is about the medium between rural scenes a degree of Floral enchantment, and a light and a heavy loam. Encouraged by my suc-throws an air of magic round the spot. cess last year, I am again trying the straw on a more extended scale this season. Soil. The rose, with few exceptions, delights in I should like others to a light fresh soil, not subject to become sodden with try it, and on different descriptions of soil. rain and wet. I have found a mellow loam very I am, with sincere respect, successful in causing them to flourish, and to throw out vigorous shoots and abundance of flowers; but the rose is by no means difficult to accommodate to almost any soil not saturated by superabundant moisture. ISAAC C. JONES. Comparative difference in the expense, between stable manure and rye straw, in the culture of one acre of potatoes, provided each were to purchased has long been a subject of comment, but does not Black Roses.-The desideratum of a black rose in fact exist. Those so denominated are of an exceedingly deep purple colour, with some shades of black intermingled. Of these some are darker than others, and they vary in point of size, form, and in being more or less double, &c. The author has imported from every country those which are there considered the darkest or blackest, which have all his opinions with accuracy. The darkest of these produced flowers; he is consequently able to give is the La Belle Africaine; next are the Imperial, the Sable, the Black Mogul, and the Gloriosa Superba Noir; then follow the other twelve varieties enumerated in the catalogue, including the Tuscany, which was a few years since the darkest then krown, and is still considered as one of the most beautiful roses. Tricolour, or Belle Alliance.-This is a most sin guler and beautiful rose; there is no other that at be protected by setting two boards on the edge so Sweetbriar, or Eglantine.-This delightful species of the rose family is well calculated to train against the sides of houses, or up the pillars of the piazza, or to intermingle with the vines which entwine bowers, &c. There are a number of varieties, the most common is the Single Red, which is found frequently growing in wild luxuriance by the sides of roads, hedges, &c.; the next is the Single Blush, imported from Europe; after which follow the more rare varieties, viz: the Semidouble Red, the Double Red, Double Blush, Double Marbled, Double White, the Evergreen, and the Chinese White. Some of these are as large as a middle sized rose, and two inches in diameter. After training these in the situation they are to occupy, the branches may be inoculated with numerous other kinds of roses at a considerable height from the ground, which will render them particularly interesting. (From the New York Farmer.) ON THE CULTIVATION OF EARLY PEAS. By William Curr, Gardener, of New York. As the least improvement in any art or science is of consequence, not only to those engaged in the particular department treated upon, but is of advantage to the whole human family; and as there is, perhaps, no art can give a more healthy, rational and useful amusement to man than horticulturewhatever tends to the promotion of any part of it, cannot be unacceptable to the public. As I have been very fortunate in the early raising of that excellent vegetable the pea, I flatter myself that these few observations may not be altogether uninteresting to some of your readers. I have for a number of years paid a good deal of attention to having peas early, and have tried a great many methods to attain that end; and I think the method I have adopted has some advantages over the common plan. I have often sown my peas in the month of February, and beginning of March, and I have never lost a pea from frost. Peas ought to be got of the earliest sorts, and, if possible, without bug holes in them, which although holed, may grow till they will be found to produce more sickly plants than those which are well kept and sound. The peas which I have found to do best with me, are the early double blossomed frame peas. I prefer to have them two or three years old, as they bear earlier and do not run so much into vine. An early piece of ground should be selected for this purpose, not too rich, and if possible lying dry. It should be well dug without dung, and made fine with the spade and rake. The drills should be drawn 34 feet apart, six inches deep and two inches wide at the bottom, and about one inch of well rotted short dung laid in them, which should be covered with two inches of earth, and the peas sown over them with about six inches of earth, which leaves a small ridge immediately above the peas. In this state they may lie for eight or ten days; the ground may then be raked level to await the coming up of the peas. Should they make their appearance in cold weather, a little litter or straw may be laid along the drills, and taken off whenever the air is free from frost. When the peas are about one inch high, the earth should be gently stirred with the hoe on each side of the row, and when they are advanced to about three inches in height, a little earth may be drawn up to their stems; if the weather be cold, they may cultivating, especially in a southern aspect, being one of the principal aromatic plants, from which the bees in the neighbourhood of Narbonne collect their honey, which is esteemed the finest in Europe. Fields of beans, white clover, and buckwheat are of great benefit. Rivers, or streams of water, are also very beneficial, as bees make use of a great deal of water. SITUATION OF A GARDEN. A garden, if possible, should be on a gentle declivity towards the south, a little inclining to the east, to receive the benefit of the morning sun. If it be situated in a bottom, the wind will have the Should the weather be dry, it may be requisite to less effect upon it; but then damps and fogs will be water the rows; this should be done at night, and very prejudicial to the fruit and other crops; and if should be continued every night during the continu- situated too high, although it will, in a great meaance of the drought. Peas thus raised are seldom at-sure, be free from damps and fogs, it will be expostacked with the bug, as those depredators are not of-ed to great winds, much to the hurt of the trees, by ten astir so early in the season. For the later crop, breaking their branches and blowing down their the double row is generally used, and answers better blossoms and fruit. A garden should be well shelthan the single, as the double take nearly the same tered from the north and east, to prevent the blightquantity of sticks, and are more shaded from the ing winds from affecting the trees; and also from sun, which is a great advantage when the sun gets the westerly winds, which are very hurtful to garhigh The ground may likewise be stronger and dens in the spring and summer months. If a garthe sticks longer, but for the earliest peas the small den be not naturally sheltered with gentle rising quantity of manure used is quite sufficient to push hills, which are the best shelter of any, plantations them forward, without giving too much force to of forest trees, made at proper distances, so as not their after growth, or to keep them from flowering. to shade it, will be found the best substitute. setting, and filling their pods. In the saving of peas the same time, there ought to be a free admittance for seed, the earliest pods should always be select- for the sun and air. On that account, a place sured, as they are better filled, and the peas from rounded by woods, is a very improper situation for them will produce earlier than those saved from a garden or orchard, as a foul, stagnant air, is unvines which have bore long, and are less subject to favourable to vegetation; and it has been also obbe infected by the bug. served, that blights are more frequent in such situations, than in those more open and exposed. I am, sir, yours most respectfully, WILLIAM CURR. GRAPE VINES. The quickest method of procuring grapes, is to graft into the body, near the ground, or which is preferable, into the roots of large vines. In the following year, if the graft has taken, fruit will be produced. Thus every farmer, who has wild vines growing on his grounds, may, by procuring cuttings of hardy foreign or native kinds, and paying a little attention to the grafting and training, be soon and amply supplied with grapes for market or winemaking. RURAL ECONOMY. TO CULTIVATE BEE-FLOWERS. [Forsyth. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. RAIL-ROAD At From the City of Charleston to the Towns of Colum- The committee appointed by the citizens on the subject of the proposed rail-road, are happy to have it in their power to lay before the public the information that has resulted from the reconnoisance of the civil engineers lately employed for that purpose, who have had the aid and co-operation of Colonel Blanding, the superintendant of public works, who Bees are most fond of those places where their has also devoted a portion of his time to this im- and wax in the greatest abundance: in most situa-TO TIMOTHY FORD, ESQ. same extent, connecting two such important points as Charleston and Augusta, can be found in the United States, where the same facilities of graduation and construction are combined in the same degree as on this. It may be proper that I should state some of the ther, and the summit may be gained. On this plan, The marriage of the young Prince of Moskwa, principal facts on which the above opinion is form- the road would no where have a rise of more than (Marshal Ney's son,) and Mademoiselle Lafitte, ed. From Messrs. Parker and Payne's levels, in sixteen feet to the mile, except for nine miles, where daughter of the celebrated banker, took place at which entire confidence may be placed, the summit the rise would be forty feet to the mile. On these Paris, with great pomp, on Sunday week. Mr. Labetween Charleston and Hamburg, is found to be nine miles, an additional number of horses may be fitte signalized the marriage by great charitable dothree hundred and seventy-five feet above the latter used. This might be done, although between the nations and splendid presents. He sent 100,000 place at the Augusta bridge; and from facts which summit and Charleston, locomotive engines alone francs (4,000l.) to the bureaux of the different Can be satisfactorily illustrated, I assume that this should be used, all the carriages might be brought charities of the capital, and ordered each of his summit is five hundred and forty-five feet above up from Hamburg to the summit by horses, and clerks to receive a gratification of 3,000 francs, Charleston Neck at the lines. This summit is one then be conveyed to Charleston by steam power. (1501) The Prince, who is by no means in affluhundred and twenty-three miles from Charleston by These views are presented with a full conviction ent circumstances, refused a present of 2,000,000 the public road, and seventeen miles from Ham- that the ground possesses all the facilities which are of Francs, (80,000l.) which his father-in-law offered burg. So that a regular ascent from Charleston to above represented; and it may be found on the mi- on the marriage contract. This marriage has givthat sum it would have a rise of four and a half nute examination which must precede the formation en rise to the following impromptu: fert to the mile, and from Hamburg to the same of the plans of execution, that still greater facilities Lafitte asked his girl, if she'd marry a Prince, summit, a regular rise would be twenty-three feet exist. to the mile. On the Charleston side of the summit, But judge his surprise, in return for his hints, Expecting, of course, she'd say yea! the ground is remarkably regular; the depressions and swells in its surface are not great, and I am When she blushingly whispered out "Ney!" clearly of opinion that with very moderate expense, a graduation may be obtained, on which the approach to Charleston will no where have a rise of more than ten feet to the mile, and in the contrary direction sixteen feet to the mile may be made the maximum rise. On the other side of the summit all the difficul ties are to be found in the way of the locomotive engine, as a power on this road. They begin about Horse creek bridge and extend about twelve miles. At the first view these difficulties appeared formidable indeed, but they vanished on a careful examination of the whole ground. The country where this rise of three hundred and seventy-five feet must be made, is a high ridge, beginning near Savannah river, and winding with a very broken surface and devious course, between the waters of Horse creek and Hollow creek, until it runs into the highlands between Edisto and Savannah rivers. On this ridge the present road runs. It rises at some points as high as three hundred and seventy five feet above Hamburg, and it has depressions across it which sink as low as three bundred and twenty-two feet above that place. On the North (or Horse creek) side of this ridge it is indented with long, deep val lies, extending nearly up to its summit, separated from each other by long, high and broad hills, pro jcting down the valley of Horse creek with a gra dual depression of surface. Some of them are two miles long It is by winding round these hills and up these vallies that the road may be regularly gra duated, with a rise of twenty feet in the mile, and thereby the distance will be increased about six miles. And this is the price which must be paid to avoid a stationary engine. From the above views, it results, that the compa- 1st. Of running entirely through from Charles- To which of these plans the preference should be Respectfully, yours, LADIES' DEPARTMENT. VERNAL ODE. See! see! the genial spring again View these gay seenes; their sweets inhale, Married, at Black lake, (L. I.) Mr. James Anderson to Miss Anne Bread. While toasts their lovely graces spread, And fops around them flutter, Extract from a member of the Washington, to one of March 20, 1828. If this increase of length of road should be made an objection, then a different course may be pursued The valley of Horse creek may be followed up to Wise creek, which on the map is represented as heading near the Horse-pen pond and up the valley of the latter creek to one of its head branches, one of which is found to be one hundred and sixty feet lower than the summit, and two hundred and fifteen feet higher than Hamburg. The road from Homburg into this branch may be graduated on a rise of less than twenty feet to the mile, and the remainder of the ascent must then be gained by a stationary engine, working on an inclined plane, of any angle of rise which may be deemed advisable. Should animal power be used on the road, a difA BELLE IN THE YEAR 1350. ferent course and graduation might be adopted with Her head was encircled with a turban, or covergreat facilities. The direction of the road may thened with a species of mitre, of enormous height, Be, to follow up the valley of Horse creek to Myers' from the summit of which ribbons floated in the Fox HUNTING IN PENNSYLVANIA. mills, about eight miles from Hamburg, in which air, like the streamers from the head of a mast. distance thirty or forty feet elevation may be attain- Her tunic was half of one colour and half of anoGreensburg, Pa., March 14. ed. From this point, Messrs. Payne and Parker ther; a zone deeply embroidered and richly orna- The bells rang their merry peals-a thousand marked a line of graduation of forty feet rise in the mented with gold, confined her waist, and from it horns sounded ten thousand discordant notes-ratmile, and gained one of the depressions in the ridge was suspended in front two daggers in their respec-tles, boys, men, women, and children, were in mobetween Horse and Hollow creeks, in the distance tive pouches. Thus attired, she rode in the comof seven miles and fifty chains. Pursuing the same pany of her knight to jousts and tournaments rise from this point, one mile and forty chains fur[Lingard's History of England. tion-and at 8 o'clock, on Friday last. the hunt commenced. Every thing proceeded well, and about one o'clock the inner line was formed, on the farm of |