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on a field of thirty-one acres, a part of this farm, which was cultivated in corn the last year.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE AMERICAN FARMER.
TO DESTROY SHEEP-TICKS.
Rahway, April 9, 1822.

not to be foreseen, a long time elapsed before the work could be taken in hand. The desire to The field had been alternately in corn, oats, make it very full and satisfactory has increased wheat and clover, the four preceding years, the I have seen in the Farmer and elsewhere, direc the volume of it, much beyond what was anticicrops of corn and oats were nothing remarkable, tions for destroying Sheep Ticks, by means of pated; and thus retarded its final completion, unbut the crop of wheat was unusually great, owing snuff, tobacco smoke, &c. which must be trouble-til we fear the patience of our friends is exhaustI suppose to the quantity of manure that was some, require to be repeated, and I think doubt-ed. The consolation left us, is the hope that carried out on the field after the oats was cut off. ful as to the effect. A very easy and most effec- when in the course of another week it reaches In the fall of 1820,a large stock of hogs was turned tual remedy is detailed in the Complete Gra- their hands, compensation will be found for its on the clover, the whole of which they rooted up zier" and in "Parkinson on Live Stock." It is noth-delay, in the amplitude of its details, and the and entirely destroyed-this was done with a viewing more than a weak solution of arsenic, in which minuteness and accuracy of its references to to destroy the worm. In the month of March the lambs are to be dipped a few days after shear-every subject alluded to, or treated of, in any and following, the field was highly manured with sta-ing the sheep, as the ticks, having then no har-in every page of the volume. ble and barn-yard manures—the last of that month bour on the old sheep, will resort to the lambs for We have experienced that it is not prudent to and beginning of the next, it was broke up with shelter-this is the time to destroy them. The announce, on all occasions, what we wish or inone of Murray's two-horse ploughs, (Peacock's quantity of arsenic I used for about 150 lambs was tend to accomplish for the benefit or gratification patent) and harrowed with a large break harrow. extremely small, and I was satisfied that still less of our subscribers; nevertheless, we may venture It was then laid out in rows or drills, three and a would have been enough, as the ticks on the to advertise our respected patrons that, after the half feet apart, and the corn planted in the drills lamb I examined about one hour after the opera- present half year, the Index shall proceed-par one foot apart. The planting commenced on the tion were all dead. Not the smallest injury ocpassu-with the work itself-each number shall

26th of April, and was completed on the 1st day curred to the sheep, due care of course being be indexed as it is published, and thus each volof May. Before the corn came up, one half the taken to keep the head out of the water. Three ume may goat once into the hands of the binder. field was sprinkled on the drills, either with un-persons are necessary, two to hold and dip the slacked ashes, or the scrapings of the roads lamb, and the third to squeeze the wool, while the American Farmer this day. through the farm, and what manure could be the lamb is held over the tub. The injury sheep collected from the wood heaps at the house and sustain by these vermin, is very great, and the advantage to my flock by their destruction, was of the lambs after the operation. visible in the more healthy and thriving condition

servant's quarters.

With great respect, I am thy friend,
HUGH HARTSHORNE.

Editorial Correspondence.

Prices of the following articles collected for from Mr. Thomas Hammond, Frederick counTOBACCO.-Fine yellow and red mixed-2 hhds.

$25 50 cts.-Fine red Patuxent, John Leach of Calvert county, $13-Two from Benedict, $12 -Good red, $8 to $10-Common, $5 to $7Best seconds, $4 to $6-Worst do. $1 to $2 50

cts.

GRAIN.-White wheat, none in market, $1 25 -Red, $1 15 to $1 20-White corn, 65 to 70 cts.-Yellow do., 63 to 68 cts.-Oats, 25 to 27 cts. to $6 37 cts. -Rye, 65 to 70 cts.-Wharf flour, from $6 25

The corn came up remarkably strong, and regular, and received not the least injury from the worm, although its devastations were general through the neighbourhood. When about four or five inches high, it was ploughed with a barshare plough, throwing the land from the corn, at which time it was hoed and thinned, leaving the stalks about one foot apart-about ten days Extract of a letter dated near Upper Marlboro, after, it was again ploughed with the bar-share, plough, throwing the land back to the corn-a few Prince George's Co. Md. 14th July 1822. days after, it was twice ploughed with the dou- of corn and tobacco promise well. "The weather is now seasonable, and our crops. JONATHAN S. EASTMAN, ble shovel plough-this was the entire cultivation The corn Inventor and Proprietor of the PATENT CYit received. LINDER STRAW CUTTER, Respectfully informs Agriculturists and the publick generally, that he continues making the above Machines, and has now on hand a few of each size, viz: common size with a permanent bottom, capable of cutting 70 bushels per hour; price $45-the same size, with a revolving bottom, $50-and the large size, that will cut from

crop more forward generally, than I recollect of
having before seen.'

The corn was gathered at the usual time, and
great pains was taken in the gathering and mea- Extract of a letter to the Editor, dated
suring by my manager. The whole being mea- ALBRIGHT, N, C. 12th July.-" Our crops of
sured by him in a sealed barrel kept at my mill wheat are very light-Cotton and Tobacco at pre-
for that purpose. The result was three hundred sent very promising."
and ninety-six barrels of ears of good corn. The
field was surveyed this summer by a sworn sur-! Another letter dated Columbia Court-House, 90 to 100 bushels per hour, $60. As the above
veyor of this county-and his report was thirty- Geo. 11th July, says: The rust has injured our prices may appear high, he requests persons
one acres, including rock breaks, which he esti- wheat and entirely destroyed the fields in many wishing to purchase to call and see the machines,
mated to contain one acre, so that it may be fairly places. Northern flour is consumed now two-he can safely pronounce the workmanship to be

stated from actual measurement both of the field hundred miles above the seaboard.
and product, at three hundred and ninety-six
barrels from thirty acres of land, or thirteen bar-
rels, or sixty-six bushels and a fraction, to the
acre. The corn is of the yellow flint kind, with
a red cob.

Extract of a letter, to the Editor, dated Sun-
bury, Georgia, 10th July, 1822.
"The farmer's prospects in this section of our
There was an evident difference in country have been cut short from the repeated
the field; the half that was sprinkled on the and excessive fall of rain, attended generally
drills before the corn came up, being decidedly with severe wind, which has done serious injury
the best. The season was uncommonly propitious to our corn and cotton crops."
-the corn never suffering for rain, except for a
short period in the month of August, just before
it began to fill.

I am with great respect,

Your ob'dt.

SAMUEL RINGGOLD.

THE FARMER.

of the best kind, and for ease, despatch and effica-
they are unequalled.
cy in operation and durability of construction,

held by the Maryland Agricultural Society, was The premium at the late fair and cattle show, awarded to this machine (where four others were exhibited)-as also the Premium by the Philadelphia Agricultural Society, at their Exhibition, in June last, which with the many certificates of gentlemen near this city, who have purchased and fully proved their value, supercedes the necessity of any thing now being said, than, that the proprietor will warrant them to feed and cut every BALTIMORE, FRIDAY, JULY, 26, 1822. description of long forage, either straight or THE TITLE PAGE AND INDEX for tangled, coarse or fine, and to do it with much the third volume of the American Farmer will be greater facility and ease, than any other machine General Ringgold's communication is valuable, Office, along with our next number-that is, on committed to the mail at the Baltimore Post-ever invented. They are perfectly adapted to because the experiment was made on a large scale, Friday next-so that those, if any, who happen Southern States. cutting corn stalks and sugar cane, which must and with his ordinary process of culture-not a not to receive it in due course of mail after that render them very valuable to planters of the SINGLE acre cultivated for Premium. It is our day, should lose no time in recovering it. A few own fault, or rather misfortune, that we have not extra numbers have been stricken off to supply have not yet given in their orders, they are reAt the late fair, a number of gentlemen said had the pleasure to see General Ringgold's estate those who have the receipt of every number they would take machines in the fall, and some -one of the most extensive and fertile, in a pro-guaranteed by the payment of five dollars in ad-quested to do so soon, in order that the proprieverbially fertile county-enriched moreover, by vance. a well kept and valuable stock of cattle, of the best tor may be prepared in season with the kind English blood, at the time of their importation. they may want. Editor Am. Farmer.

Circumstances which it is hardly necessary, now to explain, have delayed the appearance of this Index. Owing to some untoward obstacles,

A machine may be seen in operation at the proket street. prietor's shop, four doors above Eutaw, in Mar

[graphic]

No. 19.-VOL. 4.

HORTICULTURE.

POMARIUM BRITANNICUM, An Historical and Botanical account of Fruits, known in Great Britain, by Henry Philips. -Second Edition. (Continued from page 138.) CACAS-THEOBROMA; OR, CHOCOLATE TREE.

It is carefully cultivated in all the French and fruit, instead of having the seed enclosed, has Spanish settlements in the warmer parts of the nut growing at the end. America. For what reason our ministerial poli- The cashew-tree, is a native of the Brazils, cy should have so widely differed from that of and other parts of America, where it grows to the neighbouring courts, I am unable to guess; the height of twenty feet or more, in favourable but I trust that the alteration which has lately situations. Lunan gives the following account of taken place in the duty on chocolate, will prove it in his Hortus Jamaicensis. The fruit is full of a benefit to our revenue, an advantage to our an acrid juice, which is frequently used in the colonies, and a credit to the ministers who adopt-making of punch. To the apex of the fruit, ed this measure. grows a nut, of the size and shape of a hare's In Botany, of the Polyadelphia Decandria It is certain that the cultivation of the cacas kidney, but much larger at the end which is next Class: Natural Order, Columniferæ. The generic name is derived from two Greek plantation was both extensive and successful in the fruit than at the other end. The shell is vethe British sugar islands, for many years after ry hard, and the kernel, which is esteemed the words, signifying the food of the gods. The cacas, or chocolate-tree, is a native of they had become subject to our government.-finest nut in the world, is covered with a thin film. South America, and is said to have been origi-Blome, who published a short account of Jamai-Between this and the shell is lodged a thick, nally conveyed to Hispaniola from some of the ca in 1672, speaks of cacas as being at that time blackish, inflammable liquor, of such a caustic provinces of New Spain, where besides afford-one of the chief articles of export: "There nature in the fresh nut, that if the lips chance to ing the natives a principal part of their nourish-are," says he, "in this island, at this time, about touch it, blisters will immediately follow. The ment, it also serves the purpose of money, 150 sixty cacas walks, and many more now planting." fruit is said to be good in disorders of the stomof the nuts, (which are about the size of Wind-At present, I believe, there is not a single cacas ach; for the juice of it cuts the thick tough husor beans,) being considered of the same value as plantation from one end of Jamaica to the other.mours, which obstruct the free circulation of the A few scattered trees, here and there, are all blood, and thus removes the complaint. This a rial by the Spaniards. that remain of those flourishing and beautiful juice, expressed and fermented, makes a fine It is not only an article of great internal consumption, but for exportation it is one of the groves which were once the pride and boast of rough wine, useful where the viscera or solid most valuable fruits. Guthrie considers the ca-the country. "They have withered with the in-system has been relaxed. Barham, who has cas from which chocolate is made, as the next digo manufacture," says Edwards, "under the written on this fruit, says, "the stone of this apple appears before the fruit itself, growing at considerable article in the natural history and heavy hand of ministerial exaction." The produce of one tree in Jamaica was gener-the end in the shape of a kidney, as big as a walcommerce of Mexico, to gold and silver. A gar-ally estimated at about twenty pounds of nuts.-nut. Some of the fruit are all red, some entirely den of cacas is said to produce the owner twenty The produce per acre was rated at one thousand yellow, and some mixed with both red and yelthousand crowns a year. low, and others perfectly white, of a very pleasChocolate was not known in England until the pounds per annum, allowing for bad years. The chocolate-tree grows to about six feet ant taste in general; but there is a great variety, eleventh year of the reign of Henry the Eighth, although twenty-three years had elapsed since high before the head spreads out, and it seldom as some more sharp, some in taste resembling exceeds from sixteen to twenty feet in the whole cherries, others very rough like unripe apples.Columbus had discovered the country of which it height, the boughs and branches beautifully ex-The taste of most of them is sweet and pleasant, is a native. Chocolate is esteemed the most restorative of tending themselves on every side, resembling but generally goes off with an astringency or stipall aliments, insomuch that one ounce of it is the heart cherry-tree, the leaves being much of ticity upon the tongue, which proceeds from it's the same shape. The tree bears leaves, flowers, tough fibres, that run longwise through the fruit. said to nourish as much as a pound of beef. and fruit, all the year through; but the usual When cut with a knife, it turns as black as ink. seasons for gathering the fruit are June and De-The generality of the fruit is as big and much of cember. The flowers spring from the trunk and the shape of the French Pippins, and makes an large branches: they are small, but beautiful, excellent cider or wine." Barham adds, that he and sometimes pale red, but most commonly of has distilled a spirit from the nut far exceeding saffron colour: the pods are oval and pointed, arrack, rum or brandy, of which an admirable and contain from ten to thirty nuts each, almost punch is made.

An acquaintance, on whose veracity I can rely, informed me, that during the retreat of Napoleon's army from the North, he fortunately had a small quantity of little chocolate cakes in his pocket, which preserved the life of himself and a friend for several days, when they could procure no other food whatever, and many of their brother officers had perished for want.

In all countries where chocolate is known, it is esteemed, and found to be a suitable diet for all ages, more particularly for infants, old persons, those of consumptive habits, and such as are recovering from sickness.

about a month.

like almonds, adhering to one another by soft The flowers are very small, grow in tufts of a filaments, and enclosed in a white pulpy sub-carnation colour, and are very odoriferous. The stance, soft and sweet, which some persons suck leaves much resemble those of the common walwhen they take them out of the shells. The nut-tree in shape and smell, and a decoction of pods change from green to a yellowish colour them is equally effectual in cleansing and healing when they reach to their maturity, which is old wounds. It is related in Hawkesworth's Voyages, that known by the rattling of the nuts, when the pods The oil cures the herpes, takes away freckles Commodore Byron, in his passage through the are shaken. When gathered, it is usual to lay South Seas, found plenty of cacas in the island the pods in heaps to sweat for three or four days and liver spots, but draws blisters, and therefore before they are opened; they are then exposed must be cautiously made use of; it also takes called King George's Island, and that many of good defensive round the corn to prevent inflahis men, who were so afflicted with scorbutic upon mats or skins, to the sun, every day for away corns, but it is necessary to have a very disorders that their limbs were become black as The cacas-tree is permitted to bear a moder-ming the part. The inside kernel is very pleasink, and who could not move without assistance, and suffering excruciating pain, were in a few ate crop of fruit the fourth year after the seed ant to eat when young, and, before the fruit is too ripe, exceeding any walnut; and when older days completely cured by eating these nuts, and has been sown: but if the plant is weak, a greater quantity of the blossoms are gathered, in or- and drier, roasted, is very pleasant, exceeding able to resume their accustomed duties. I have often been surprised that the making of der that it may recover strength. The tree at-Pistachio nuts or almonds; and ground up with tains it's full perfection in eight years: after cocoa, makes an excellent chocolate. the small chocolate cakes for eating, should not that it will continue to produce fruit for thirty It has been observed, that poor dropsical have been attempted by some persons in London, when they are in such demand at Paris, where a years or more, if planted in a good soil; but it is slaves who have had the liberty to go into a cacelebrated manufacturer of these chocolate tri- obnoxious to blights, and shrinks from the first shew-walk, and eat what cashews they please, fles assured me that he had then, in 1816, re-appearance of drought. In early times the plan as well as the roasted nuts, have been recovered. ceived an order from a late high personage inters had many superstitious notions concerning These trees are of quick growth: Barham says this tree, and among others, the appearance of he has planted the nuts, and the young trees have England that would exceed £500. comet was always considered as fatal to the cacas produced fruit in two years after. They will conThe oil of the cacas-nut is the hottest of any tinue bearing fruit for more than a hundred known, and is used to recover cold, weak, and plantation.-Lunan. The chocolate-tree was grown in our stoves as years. Many are now flourishing in Jamaica that paralytic limbs. The Mexicans are said to eat were planted when the Spaniards had it in posearly as the year 1739. the nuts raw, to assuage pains in the bowels. session. We cannot but regret that the cultivation of this valuable plant should have been discontinued in our West India islands, nor can we be surprised when we find that the duty, including the In Botany, a Class of the Polygamia Monacia customs and excise, amounted to upwards of four hundred and eighty per cent. on its marketable value, when manufactured.

CASHEW-NUT.-ANACARDIUM.

a

I have lately received from Jamaica a cashew appic, bearing two distinct nuts, which was conered so rare a circumstance that it was reClass. Natural Order, Holoraceæ. served in spirits. It's appearance is unna.ril, The generic name is derived from two Creek resembling a lemon pippin apple, with two lambs words, signifying without a heart; because the kidneys stuck on the end.

ried.

forded by the State, to effect that desirable_ob-attention to that portion of the country through The wood of the cashew is excellent, strong, ject, but when they find that the State of Ma- which the Susquehannah flows, they embrace and lasting timber. These trees annually transude in large quanti-ryland has already advanced one hundred and within their view a field of greater and more ties, viz. often to ten or twelve pounds' weight of fifty thousand dollars for that purpose, without enlarged dimensions. By an accurate measurement deriving the slightest benefit from it, they can- of those expanded regions situated upon the fine, semi-transparent gum, similar to gum-arabic, and not at all inferior to it in virtue and not but think that it is time to pause before Susquehannah, and its numerous wide spreading quality, except that it contains a light astringen-advancing further sums of money, except so far branches, they have been found to contain about cy, which perhaps renders it the more valuable as to complete the surveys already taken or un- 20,000 square miles, exclusive of 10,000 square in many respects; for this reason it is often used dertaken, to procure correct estimates of the miles more of adjacent country lying upon other expenses of effecting the proposed object, and waters in the states of Pennsylvania and New as a succedaneum in the Jamaica shops. The thick oil of the nut or shell tinges linen of the extent to which the improvement of the na- York, for the produce of which country, should a rusty iron colour, which can be hardly got out; vigation of that river is intended to be car-the navigation of the Susquehannah be improved to the extent contemplated, Baltimore must and if any wood be smeared with it, it preserves And here your committee would remark, that inevitably become the most convenient Market. it from decay. From the body of this tree is some doubts of the value of this improvement From these estimates, it is abundantly eviprocured, by tapping, or incision, a milky juice, which stains linen of a deep black, and cannot be has been suggested to their minds, by a perusal dent, that the trade of the Susquehannah, (flowdischarged. Dr. Grew mentions the juice being of the following extract from the report of the ing as it does through a country of vast extent, used for staining of cottons; but it is doubtful late Mr. Latrobe, dated March 16th, 1808, to and inferior in point of fertility to no portion of which of the species he means, though Sir Hans Mr. Gallatin, then Secretary of the Treasury of the United States,) is a trade involving in its the United States: "The trade of this canal, nature a very extensive.permanent and growing Sloane supposes it to be of the acajou or cashew, especially during the year 1807, has been so interest. here mentioned. Were the navigation of the Potomac improved Long seems of opinion that this juice has the great, that there appears every prospect of its becoming a productive work, in those years in to the utmost possible extent, its trade must be same property as the Japan lac. The oil between the rinds of the nut, if held to which there is a considerable and equal quantity considered but of minor importance when comthe candle, emits bright, salient particles. This of water in the river, but on this circumstance pared with that of the Susquehannah; the Potoit must always depend. The information repect-mac flowing as it does through a country of oil is used as a cosmetic to remove freckles and sun burning, but the pain suffered, makes it's use ing it which can be obtained from the company comparatively small extent, and by no means on the spot, renders it unnecessary for me to say celebrated for its richness and fertility. In adnot very frequent.-Grainger. dition to this it may be remarked, that to howThe pith, or medullary part of the anacardi-more upon it." Mr. Latrobe's opinion upon a subject of this ever great an extent the productions of the soil um, is extremely pungent and acrimonious; whence the ancients made great use of it in cold nature, being in the estimation of your Commit- may find their way into the Potomac, however diseases of the head, particularly to strengthen ceive that before any further advances should George Town and Washington, the state of Matee entitled to the greatest respect, they con-extensive the demand for foreign commodities at the memory; but the abuse of it sometimes making them stupid, delirious, or even mad, the be made for the improvement of the navigation ryland can derive but little benefit from it. The of the Potomac, the doubts suggested by this ex-advantages secured flow into a different channel; moderns rarely venture on it's use, at least not tract from his report, should be fully and accu- they go to fill other coffers-not those of the state without great correctiveness.-Chambers. The cashew nut-tree can only be rasied in rately examined into, in order to enable the of Maryland. But improve the navigation of the stoves in this country, where it has been cultiva- General Assembly to form a more correct opini- Susquehannah to the extent proposed, and you on upon the subject, than the information which bring to the City of Baltimore a trade of incalthey now possess will enable them to do. It ap-culable extent and value, the benefits of which (To be continued.) pears from a report of the Potomac company, must be imparted to every section of the state, that the total amount of tolls received by them and which cannot fail richly to remunerate us from the 1st day of August, 1799, to the 1st of for whatever aid may be extended to it. August 1817, was $162,379 95 cents, or $9021 The obstructions to the free navigation of the Of the Committee of the Senate of Maryland, on per annum, all of which amount, except the River Susquehannah, exist near tide water, that sum of $3,890 55 cents, was applied to the fur-is to say, below Columbia.-Above that town the Internal Improvement, to whom was referred ther improvement of the river. The value of difficulties are removed by Pennsylvania, and a so much of the Executive Communication property brought down the river during the boat navigation at present exists to near the as relates to that subject. December Session, 1821. Transmitted for publication in the Ame-same period of time is estimated at $7,002,370 New York line. The distance from Columbia 62 cents, equal to $389,000 annually. to Port Deposit is thirty five miles, twenty miles rican Farmer, by order of the Legislature of Maryland.

ted since the year 1699.

IMPROVEMENT OF THE SUSQUEHAN

NAH REPORT

As it regards the improvement of the naviga- of which may be considered as tolerably good tion of the river Susquehannah, your Committee, navigation, either in ascending or descending. viewing it as a subject of great and boundless From Turkey Hill, to Neale's Falls, near The Committee to whom was referred so much importance to the state of Maryland, have gi- Muddy Creek, a distance of fifteen miles, the of the Governor's Message, as relates to Inter-ven to it their fullest and most attentive consi-navigation is bad, and it is here that the prinnal Improvement, beg leave to report: deration. The attention of the citizens of Ma- cipal obstructions exist, the removal of which That whatever difference of opinion may ryland has recently been directed towards it, are so anxiously desired. heretofore have existed, as to the expediency of and all, convinced of the vast utility and benefit Your committee have taken considerable pains. Internal Improvements, the time appears now to be derived from it, seem anxiously solicitous to ascertain the value of the produce which has to have arrived, when every citizen of the State that some Legislative aid should be extended come down the Susquehannah for several years of Maryland, is solicitous that all proper means towards it. Under these circumstances, your past; they have however only been able to proshould be adopted to bring into life and activi-Committee cannot but recommend it as a subject cure an estimate of what has come down from ty every Internal Improvement of which the worthy of the deepest reflection, and fraught last spring to December past; and they find it to state is susceptible. That fully aware of this with considerations of vital importance to the be valued at $1,121,250. The number of rafts feeling, your Committee would respectfully sug-state of Maryland. and boats, that came down the river to Port Degest some distinct objects of Internal Improve- That particular district of country to which posit, during the same time, was 925 rafts of lumment, which they cannot but regard as of the the benefits of the turnpike roads in Maryland ber, averaging 25,000 feet each, and 535 Arks very first importance and welfare of the state-are most immediately extended, lying between loaded with flour, whiskey, pork, &c. that is: The improvement of the Navigation of the Susquehannah on the one side, and the Po- The Susquehannah canal, commencing at the the Rivers Potomac and Susquehannah, the cross tomac on the other, and extending north west Maryland and Pennsylvania line, and ending at cut Canal, (as it is usually called) to unite ward from Baltimore, to the north mountain, the head of tide water, is now completed and in the Bays of Chesapeake and Delaware, and the comprehending the Conococheague valley, has good order for the passage of rafts. It appears making of a turnpike road from Boonsborough been accurately measured on a map of the coun- to have a full supply of water at those seasons to Hager's-town, with a view to join the great try, and found to contain 5,000 square miles. of the year when the river is not high, and innational road, lately completed by the United Those portions of the country bordering upon sures a safe passage for all produce that may States, from Cumberland to Wheeling in the the various tributary streams of the Potomac, come down the river to the mouth of the canal. state of Virginia. westward of the south mountain in Maryland, It is certainly of great importance to the state With respect to the improvement of naviga-and the blue ridge in Virginia, have been also of Maryland, that this canal should be kept in tion of the river Potomac, your committee are measured and found to contain 10,000 square perfect condition, and that the proprietors be of opinion that any reasonable aid should be af-miles. But when your Committee directed their protected in all their just rights.

The committee have only to state in conclu- rises four feet in both rivers. No expensive spears into pruning hooks, and as the scripture sion upon this subject, that when the water of aqueducts or bridges are to be made, and the expresses it, the nations learn war no more." the Susquehannah is high, boats and rafts fre- principal obstacles have been already overcome. We are informed by judge Peters, that it was in quently pass to the head of tide water, without The supply of water drawn from Elk river by contemplation by this same illustrious person, entering the canal. a feeder which is now completed six miles in and the object was measurably carried into ef

The committee now come to the third object length and three and a half feet in depth, and fect, in the year 1796, to bring under the considof Internal Improvement, to which they are which is itself a boat canal, united by a lock of eration of Congress, "his great plan of engraftdesirous of directing the attention of the Legis-ten feet high, to the main canal, is calculated ing the subject of AGRICULTURE, into a national lature, that is, the Canal to unite the bays of to fill daily one hundred and forty locks, a quan-system of education, and placing the cultivators Chesapeake and Delaware. tity sufficient, on an average, for the daily of the soil and their instruction and excitements In the year 1799, the Legislature of Maryland passage of twenty four vessels. The canal is to improvement in their art, under national papassed a law, which in the year 1801, was fol- twenty six feet wide at the bottom, and fifty tronage. He was anxiously solicitous in this palowed by similar laws on the part of the Legis-feet at the water's edge. It is intended for ves-triotic endeavour. It was not imputaible to him latures of the states of Delaware and Pennsylva-sels of from forty to seventy tons, drawing se- that it failed. Had he been fortunate enough to nia, incorporating a company with a capital stock ven and a half feet. The banks being intended accomplish it no action of his, life would have deof $400,000 for the purpose of opening a canal for towing paths, are twenty feet wide, one of served more celebrity, and public gratitude." between the bays of the Chesapeake and Dela-which may be converted into a turnpike road, Such is the constitution of the human mind, ware. In pursuance of these laws, subscriptions being raised three feet above the level of the that it must have some concentrating object for were received for nearly the whole amount of the water, and will, by increasing the height of the the exercise of its powers. If the transition two thousand shares, at 200 dollars each. Sur-lock gates one foot, admit a depth of nine feet from war to peace be too great for immediate and veys were made-engineers and workmen em-water in the canal. The expense of digging one general adoption, let us endeavour to call forth ployed-a route selected for the canal through mile through rocky ground was $15,000, and that the ardent and active minds of men to the conthe Isthmus which separates the two bays, and of digging the same distance through a level templation of the smiling fruits of industry.— some material progress made in the execution of country free from obstructions, $2300, which Let us cordially receive the sentiments of our the work. But unfortunately, after having gone gives an average of $7,650 per mile. The political father, and philanthrophic statesman ; thus far in the execution of this important object, whole length of the canal is about twenty-two and endeavour to inculcate a love of Agricultu and after having expended upwards of 100,000 miles, and the whole cost is computed to be about ral pursuits. dollars, in the purchase of water rights, and in $850,000. These estimates were made at a time the construction of a feeder and reservoir, the when labor was comparatively high; it is prework was suspended in the year 1803, in conse-sumed they would be much less at the present quence of the non payment of the subscriptions-time.

and it appearing daily more evident, that the This information of facts the committee have whole amount of the capital stock, even if sub- thought proper to furnish, in order to enable scribed for and collected, was a sum totally ina- the legislature to form a correct opinion upon the dequate to the completion of so extensive a work. subject.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE AMERICAN FARMER.

DEAR SIR,

I fear you have forgotten me, as I have not lately been favoured with seeds.

I have been secured from fire by making the At this period also, the energy and spirit of the The fourth and last object to which the com- inside of my chimnies circular, as they are easicompany began to subside, unaided as it was by mittee have directed their attention, and which ly swept or may be burnt; when my wooden further support and encouragement, or by that they have thought it proper to direct the con- house was building, I ascended the ladder and individual enterprise and activity which had ena-sideration of the legislature, is the making of a found my brick layers very negligent in forming bled them up to that period to continue their turnpike road from Boonsborough to Hager's- the chimnies, and in putting in mortar, the usuoperations. town to join the great national road, leading] al from is an oblong square as thus:

na.

By order,

THOMAS W. LOOCKERMAN,
Com. Clk.

FOR THE AMERICAN FARMER.

THE FORMATION OF AGRICULTU-
RAL SOCIETIES.

The following is extracted from the last annual
report of the RALEIGH PEACE SOCIETY.

I made them put in broken bricks at each corner, and plaster them in the inside as thus :

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By connecting the waters of the Chesapeake from the latter place to Wheeling, in the state and Delaware, the contemplated canal will throw of Virginia. Upon this subject, the committee, open an internal navigation of great extent, from would remark, that this important object is now the north west part of the state of New York to likely to be accomplished, in conformity with the southern extremities of the state of Virgi-the law passed at the present session, aud which your committee trusts will be carried into full The particular advantages which the state of and complete effect. Maryland would derive from this improvement, need scarcely be detailed by the committee. They will suggest themselves to the understanding of every reflecting man. In a national point of view, all will concur in the opinion of its importance, and looking to an event which your committee is by no means anxious should soon You will readily conceive that this will prevent occur, but, which in the opinion of the committee A NEW INDUCEMENT OFFERED FOR the fire from going through the bricks which are may reasonably be expected to take place at some frequently hollow between, for want of mortar.distant period, it may be regarded as an object of Mr. Latrobe very much approved of this mode. peculiar interest, as productive of the means of Pray explain it in appropriate terms, and connational defence, affording as it no doubt will a sult some builder to have his opinion. That mafacility of transportation of troops, ordinance Let none be surprised, or express a doubt, ny houses in the country are annually destroyed and military stores, from one part of the coun- when we say AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES are an by fire, in consequence of defective chimnies is try to the other, the want of which was mate-important appendage to our institution. The notorious: if these ruinous consequences can be rially felt during our late war with Great Bri- scriptures have predicted, what has already prevented by practising this hint-haud inutile become true, that military men are laying aside vixi. I think the mode will be adopted as the exBeneficial as it certainly will be to the state their implements of war and of death, and are pense is trifling, broken bricks only being used. of Maryland, the committee have thought pro-devoting themselves to Agriculture and the arts of Your's most truly, per to direct the attention of the legislature to-peace. The world has long ago had an example T. LAW. wards it, but viewing it as an object of national of this wise choice, in a Cincinnatus. In modern I am burning sod, and am delighted by succoncern, and not alone productive of local ad-times we have it in a Washington, whose exam-cess. vantage, the committee would remark that it ple and repeated declarations go hand in hand.is a subject to which the attention of the nati-Allow us here to make use of his own words:onal legislature should be drawn. 'Your young military men who want to reap the The canal begins at Welch Point on the Elk harvest of laurels, don't care how many seeds of river, an arm of the Chesapeake, and is to ter-war are sown; but, for the sake of humanity, it minate at a distance of twenty two miles, on is devoutly to be wished that the manly em- I cannot distinctly answer the inquiry of a Christianna river, a branch of the Delaware. ployments of Agriculture and the humanizing correspondent of the American Farmer, W. R. At low water the depth of water in Christianna benefits of commerce, should supercede the waste whether ground oyster shells have been used as river is nine feet, and in Elk river twelve feet, with of War, and the rage of Conquest; that the a manure; but I can state, what will probably in one hundred feet from the shore. The tide swords might be turned into ploughshares, and meet his views and wishes, that I have seen

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FOR THE AMERICAN FARMER.

OYSTER SHELLS AS MANURE.

ON BARKING FRUIT TREES.
Comely Garden, near Edinburgh
SIR,
May 23, 1821.

fi s covered with oyster shells, in their entire when we read of them; and should not believe! state, with great apparent advantage to the soil. it, were not the facts too well vouched to be In the spring of 1814, I made a tour along the questioned. We lately met with an account of banks and sounds of Carolina, from the line of the premiums given at a Massachusetts meeting, A paper of your s, taking notice of my pracVirginia to the mouth of Cape Fear river, and some time last autumn, and a few of the results tice of peeling Fruit Trees, was yesterday sent several times witnessed fields that were white are stated below, for the gratification of the cu-me by Sir John Sinclair. As you wish to have with oyster shells, particularly on the main land rious in such matters. some information from me on that subject, and fronting Currituck sound, and was told that such as I do not wish to conceal any thing that may fields were much more productive than contigu- Five hundred and fifty-one and a half bush-be useful, I shall endeavour to answer your que ous ones of similar soil that were without shells. els were raised on one acre of land, by Payson ries as well as I can in an epistolary correspondThe lands bordering on this sound have a rich Williams, Esq. of Fitchburg, in the county of ence. soil of loam and sand; and the most remarka-Worcester, (from 24 bushels of seed.) ble growth that I remember was the chinquopin ;

OF POTATOES.

OF TURNIPS.

but it had also grape vincs, dog-wood, pine, &c. Seven hundred and fifty-one bushels, of the The shells were placed there before the memo- common English sort, weighing fifty-four pounds ry of the present inhabitants, and by means unto the bushel, were raised by Messrs. T. and Enown to them. They were worn smooth and H. Little, on one acre of ground.

OF MANGEL WURTZEL.

a good deal diminished in size. I was told that
in the driest weather the earth immediately
Six hundred and forty-four bushels were raised
under the shells would be usually moist, and to this
accumulation or retention of water, as well as to on one acre of ground, by John Prince, Esq. of
the admixture of the slowly decomposed shell with Roxbury.
the earth, was the fertilizing effect ascribed,

OF CABBAGES.

1st. I published, a few years ago, on this subject, a small pamphlet, entitled "A Treatise on lieve it is not now to be found any where but with the Physiology and Pathology of Trees." I bemyself. I shall send a copy to Sir John Sinclair, to get transmitted to you. 2d. The practice is conducted by taking off all the bark but the inner; that is, leaving it next the alburnum about the thickness of a shilling: I do it on all kinds of fruit trees in my possession, as pear, apple, cherry and plum. 3d. On the trunks, and large boughs of old trees, it may be done any time in

which had continued for perhaps a century: Forty-three tons nineteen hundred and ten winter, not beginning earlier than the middle of perhaps also something might be ascribed to the pounds weight, were raised, by E. H. Derby, November; young trees, and smaller branches, reflection of light and heat from so many white Esq. of Salem, on one acre, one quarter of an acre, must not be done till the month of March the and polished surfaces. I think I have seen two and twenty-seven rods, being at the rate of thir- soonest. 4th. The effect both formerly and now, or three fields of fifty acres each and upwards, ty one tons to the acre. has exceeded my most sanguine expectations, in that had a shell for every 20 or 30 square inches Mr. Derby received also the premium of thir-rendering the trees more productive, and improvof surface. What I thought very surprising, ty dollars, for having raised the greatest quanti-ing the quality of the fruit; for I never considerthough the fertilizing effect of the shells was ty of vegetables, (grain, peas, and beans except-ed it an experiment, but only following out a law universally admitted, and though much of the ed,) for winter consumption, of the stock on his of Nature. I know some people have not only land that was destitute of them was tired, almost own farm. He raised the last season on his farm, injured, but actually killed their trees, by atto exhaustion, and the shores and banks of the 749 bushels of mangel wurtzel, 530 bushels of tempting to follow my practice; but this I must sound contained an abundant supply of the means carrots, 526 bushels Swedish turnips, 1288 bush- ascribe to judicious or clumsy performance.of resuscitation, and though good productive els of potatoes, 126 bushels of Russian raddish- You are mistaken with regard to the case referland there at that time bore a high price, yet es, 757 bushels of common English turnips, 43 red to by Sir John Sinclair: mine is perhaps the no one had ever practised upon the wise hint tons and 19 hundred weight of cabbages, and fif- richest and deepest soil in Britain, and, of conwhich natural causes or their indian predeces-teen ox cart loads of pumpkins. sequence, much given to canker. Mr. Knight, sors had given them. If W. R. possesses the means of making the improvement in manuring] Mr. David Little raised six hundred and eigh-made some very injudicious observations, but has which he desires information of-I hope he will ty-eight bushels on one acre. not neglect them, nor omit making the public acquainted with the successs of his experi- Thirty-two bushels and four quarts were raised on one acre by Wm. Mears, of Marble

ments.

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OF RUTA BAGA.

OF WHITE BEANS.

Nat. Int.

Wake Forest, Nov. 25, 1821.
P. S. On reflection, I think I have rated the
quantity of shells which appeared upon the Cur-Selections from late numbers of the London Far-
rituck fields too high; but when I saw them mers' Journal, received at the Office of the
nearly eight years ago, my mind was so much
American Farmer.
occupied with subjects quite foreign to agricul-
ture, that I fear the accuracy of my recollection QUERIES ON THE CULTURE OF LU-
of the little I observed will not justify a specific
correction. I vouch for the general facts.

FOR THE AMERICAN FARMER.

SIR,

CERN.
Perthshire, May 26, 1821.

in his Treatise on the culture of the apple, has
not followed them out. He says, "in very rich
soils, such as old fold yard, I have scarcely been
able to preserve the native crab from canker."-
You will seldom find moss and canker on the
same soil; canker proceeds from a rich cultiva-
ted soil, moss from a poor, barren, uncultivated
soil. If there is any other information, I shall al-
may hear from me on another subject, when more
ways be ready to give it cheerfully. Perhaps you
at leisure.
I am, with respect,

Sir, your's sincerely, P. LYON. We shall be very glad of this gentleman's future correspondence, and hope to receive his pamphlet as specified. We doubt not but so acMay I take the liberty to beg that you will in-curate an observer will attend to such remarks as sert the following Queries in your valuable Jour-the subject suggests to our recollection, for the QUERIES BY A CORRESPONDENT. nal, in hopes that you, or some of your corres- purpose of leading our readers, by his superior The Editor of the American Farmer will oblige pondents, may, through its medium, convey such knowledge, to precise conclusions, or of enabling answers as may be useful to some of your north them clearly to perceive the difficulties, and a number of his subscribers, i: he will call upon his correspondents for information upon the fol-country readers. What time of the season should the objections. First, Canker and moss are often Lucern be sown? Should it be sown in drills, coexistent, and we believe always, when the first lowing points. and at what distance? How much seed will sow has existed long. Trees planted where they Scots acre, and what is the general price per make a vigorous growth at first, that is, in a deep b.? Is it sown with any other crop? How long and friable surface soil, or planted incautiously in is it before it acquires maturity? What may be pits which have been excavated, and filled with the relative value of an ordinary crop for soiling prepared compost (in both cases supposing the compared with clover and ray grass, at 200 stone subsoil not to be of a kind calculated to sustain per acre? It being a native plant (medicago sa-this vigorous growth,) canker early, and before tiva, I suppose) at what height is it cultivated they are mossy; but moss will follow, and utter with advantage? Is it probable that it might poverty, and death itself, in a period of ten or a succeed in Scotland? Your answer to these que-dozen years; during which the produce is someries will infinitely oblige, Sir, Your obedient servant, A SCOTS FARMER.

What are the properties of the weed known as the St. John's Wort? What are its effects upon grass lands-upon stock of all kinds, and upon grasses? Which are the most judicious methods to extirpate it? Montgomery County, (Md.) 2 July 12th, 1822.

a

times numerous, but always imperfect. Second, It is difficult to describe a subsoil in an intelligible manner, which is peculiarly calculated for healthy fruit trees, nor will all trees succeed

PRODUCTS OF AGRICULTURE. The amount of the product of the well-cultitated lands of the Eastern States, would astonish any but those who have been accustomed to the river bottoms on the western rivers, or to * As to elevation or latitude?-Editor Far-equally on any pear trees thrive admirably on a the alluvial lands. We can scarcely believe mers' Journal.

rich marshy soil, incumbent on gravel, with a

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