Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

cultural School.

cial ends-Therefore,

IN ASSEMBLY, January 17, 1823. the coach, gig, stage, plough, and wagon. Eastern Shore, at Easton, in the month of OcAn act relative to the establishment of an Agri-only stipulate, that they have size proportionate tober annually, two miles and repeat, carrying to their labour, and food and care to enable any one hundred and ten pounds. The purse to conhorse to labour; a good big horse under equal sist of entrance money, each fifty dollars, togeWhereas the propriety of the state rests on circumstances, will always beat a good little ther with all the tax money remaining, after agriculture as its principal foundation; and it is horse. I also stipulate, that we breed from tho-county sweepstakes, &c. have been satisfied, and therefore the duty of the legislature to enact such rough bred horses of size and form. The tho-at which race any four year old, of the respeclaws as may, in the best manner, promote its rough bred horse is not only a capital performer tive shores, may start upon paying double enimprovements and cherish its interests: And himself, but his ancestors both male and female, trance, and at all these sweepstakes, let it be whereas it is considered, that an institution where- have all been successful upon the turf, and their the duty of the sheriff and constables of the counin the theory and practice of agriculture, toge-produce has been fully tried and approved ;ty to attend, for the purpose of keeping good ther with such of the arts and sciences as are while the mere full bred horse may trace a long order, and to prevent all kind of gaming, the essential to a perfect knowledge thereof, may line of ancestors, none of whom have ever been really ruinous branch of horse racing. be taught by competent instructors, will greatly distinguished by their speed, power of continu- During the week that the four year old sweepfacilitate the attainment of these highly benefi- ance, or ability to carry high weights, and stake is run for, allow a jocky club or subscripprobably many of them absolutely worthless. tion race, four miles and repeat, for all ages, 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of You can import from England, a horse of high one hundred and forty pounds the standard weight, New-York, represented in the Senate and Assem-form, of tried powers, and of generous approved and another purse three miles and repeat, the bly, That be and they are hereby ancestry, for less money than a worthless Anda- same standard, and forbid all other racing.appointed commissioners to digest and prepare a lusian would cost. That we have greatly dete-Should your funds permit, you may give a preplan for the establishment of an agricultural riorated in our breed of horses, for the last twenty mium for the best pair of Maryland bred carrischool, together with the ways and means for its years, is indisputable, and it is equally certain age horses, and for the best hackney. support, and report the same to the legislature at that immense sums of money are annually sent And here, while speaking of hackneys, I will out of the state, to procure harness horses; remind you of that valuable horse, the Chilian II. And be it further enacted, That the appro-twenty thousand dollars a year is a moderate natural pacer, said to be sure footed, spirited, in priations put at the disposal of the Board of Ag estimate, yet a large deduction from the circulat- good form, and remarkably handy. riculture, by the act, entitled "An act to im-ing medium of the state. To which of the coun- If this horse has not been cultivated in England, prove the Agriculture of this state," and the acts ties of Maryland will you go to procure a pair of it is because their climate does not require the extending and amending the same, shall, from fine carriage horses, a fine gig or parade horse? same indulgence, which our hot summers and and after the -day of. for years, be at With few exceptions, these are all imported glowing sun, compel us to seek for. The celethe disposal of the said institution, and be paid from the east or west, the north or south, and brated Naraganset pacer, is no longer to be found, to its proper officer, out of the treasury of the this serious evil can only be remedied by encou-and although from the blood horse we often raise state, in the manner prescribed, and for the pur-raging the breed of blood horses. fine hacks, yet Hamilton's old Doree was the poses intended by this and the aforesaid acts. With the same good care and expense which only imported horse within my knowledge, it would require to rear two three year old hei-whose stock were generally fine saddle horses of fers or steers, one fourth of our horses at three all paces. HORSES the English blood-horse, is the best for years old, would command high prices for har- If my remarks meet your approbation, you are every purpose; ours should be improved by ness or saddle, to supply our towns, or to export; at liberty to make use of them. I am your obesuch as bear the test of the Turf; the inno-the residue would be useful and valuable for our dient servant, cent sports of which should be regulated and country roads, for farm horses, and in a corn JOHN S. SKINNER, ESQ.

its next session.

patronized. SIR,

field, during the heats of summer, the best of all.
Provided, however, that they are not made alto-
gether of legs and bones

10th January, 1823.

AMERICAN GRAPE.

DEAR SIR,

F.

I have just read the letter from Captain Jones to you, and am decidedly of his opinion; although We must again patronize the turf, and avoid the a Spaniard may boast of his Andalusian horse, evil which destroyed it. A farmer of moderate rewith a hog rump, long tail, and strait tail, almost sources, will run his horse bred by himself, against matter with which the American Farmer abounds, Among the variety of useful and interesting glued to his buttocks. the same kind of horses of his neighbours, but he I fountain head, for the horse, which is the best of success, against great wealth, having the power Col. Gibbs of this Island, advising attention to But why should we not continue to go to the will not, and cannot, race with any prospect of observe several articles commending the culture of the Grape; and latterly a communication from all others for the sports of the field, for the race, and liberty to pick the world; he knows that it the culture of the grape of the United States; of for the harness or the plough? England, at im-is vain to contend against such odds, and pru-which there are several varieties, particularly mense expense, aided by great skill and long dently withdraws from the turf and contest. Let from the southern states. Whether those grapes experience, has obtained every variety of this us, therefore, in the first instance, and until we be indigenous, exotic or hybrids, is not a matter noble animal, and for more than a century, has have reared a stock of fine horses, patronize Ma- of great moment, provided they can be easily proapplied the best of all possible tests, to ascertain ryland bred horses, and to create a fund, I re-pagated among us by cuttings; are hardy, healthe relative value of the various strains. The commend the following scheme:thy, and productive of good wine fruit. Many turf does not merely ascertain speed, but by the Compel the owner of every public stallion, to distance run, and high weights carried, the take out a licence for the season, paying for the *It has been said that all American Grapes strength and stamina of the animal is fully tried same, at least the price which is demanded for have a tough and rigid pulp, and that where they A king's plate horse would well perform his the season of one mare, exempting from this tax part in one of our stages, or in the gears of a every blood horse, who has won a purse of four reign plants or related to European stock. The are otherwise, it arises from their being either fo Pittsburg wagon. miles and repeat, carrying one hundred and forty origin of the Scuppernong and other Carolina Without the private wealth to support the ex-pounds for aged horses, and giving a premium to Grapes, has occasioned some speculation, and the pense, without the leisure, patience or experience such winner, if he measures sixteen hands or absolutely necessary, is it wise in us to neglect upwards. pursuit of the enquiry may be useful to the history of the plant. Some years since I read in Dawthe fine English horse, almost perfected by the Let there be a three year old sweepstake, one son's History of North Carolina, an account of unbounded wealth of kings and nobles? mile and repeat, carrying one hundred pounds, the Scuppernong Grape; to the best of my remem▾ The Arab horse rarely more than fourteen and a half hands, and seldom that, is no doubt at the county town of each county, in the month brance, it was mentioned as indigenous to that state. of October annually, free for all colts and fillies, Scuppernong is in Washington County, N. C. the source from which the greatest improvement foaled and raised in the county, and none others; south side of Albemarle Sound. It has been sughas been made, but his descendants are now each paying twenty dollars entrance, and in case gested that this grape may have been originally bred to sixteen and seventeen hands high, with the sum of one hundred dollars is not made uplanted by the French settlers, in the 17th cengreat bone and muscle, perfect symmetry of form, for want of numbers, let the deficiency be made tury. About a year since, it was reported here, and fine action. good out of the tax money; and under a high that in the state of Missouri there grew wild, a Discard the blood horse of England, and select penalty, do not allow any other racing in the rich and juicy grape, which ripened in the forests, from all the world, and you would not in two county but for this one day. in the month of July-this report, if correct, dehundred years, have as fine a strain of horses.— Authorize a person to give a certificate to the serves serious attention from those who wish to As far as my own experience goes, I agree with winner, which certificate shall entitle the colt cultivate the Wine Grape. In reference to che Lawrence, that the blood horse of England is the or filly to start for the four year old sweepstake, Grape of Illinois, which adjoins the state of Misbest for every purpose; best for the chase, for for the Western Shore, at Annapolis; and for the souri, ut may not be amiss to mention that, in the

of the gardens and some of the fields in this vi-I presume it to be a variety, and have some rea

CEMENT.
However valuable Mr. Skinner's paper conti-

Plinlimon.

THE FARMER,

M. O.

BALTIMORE, FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1823.

cinity, contain valuable grape vines, and the soil son to think it a hybrid of the Burgundy and Fox of this part of Long Island, seems to be well Grape. The vine from which it was taken at nues to be, I find all his receipts are not infallible; adapted to grape culture, it being a fine sandy Smithville, N. Carolina, came from the vicinity of particularly that on ashes and salt, for cracks in loam. But inattention, business, or something Charleston, South Carolina, as is reported from stoves, as I find after drying, it crumbles off, and else, prevents the proprietors or occupants ob-Dorchester. Some of the seeds of this grape weeping eyes are again renewed, but if you add a taining the knowledge of the proper mode of cul- were planted in my garden in 1818, and the young portion of Plaster of Paris with a little iron filture, and many of them believe the culture to be plants reared with care-last October the first ings, it will produce a substantial cement, and the tedious and difficult; now, the vine, especially of fruits were taken, half a dozen small bunches, a lustre of your eyes be preserved from the great anour country, is a hardy, productive plant, and its fine grape, not differing materially from the pa-noyance of smoke. culture very simple and easy. A little attention rent. The juice of this grape is abundant and and practice will prove the truth of this assertion. luscious, and though I have not yet made wine Close trimming in the fall, (Nov.) of the well from it, I have no doubt that it would afford a formed wood of the current year, to within three high flavoured and rich wine. The plant has to five eyes of the wood of the preceding year, always proved to be a very vigorous grower; the and leaving no more shoots upon one vine than fruit ripens from 5th Sept. to 25th October; I can be trained with ease the ensuing year, will have kept ripe bunches hanging in the open air hardly ever fail to give vigorous fruit shoots in of a dry, cold room, until December. the spring. It is not necessary here to state the Your respectful humble servant, whole process of this simple culture; the reader I. G. SWIFT. may refer to the very intelligent and useful de- Brooklyn, Long Island, 20th Jan. 1823. tail on this subject, contained in No. 1. Vol. VI. page 66, of the Massachusetts Agricultural Repository and Journal-which I presume you will Many of the settlers of Charleston, and republish; those directions correspond in all mate-vicinity, it will be remembered, were Hugonots. rial points with the practice which I have sued for the last four years, except laying down the vines. I am indebted to Father John Abercromby's Practical Gardener, for my instruction, A report of the Tobacco Inspected at and deby following which, I have, for four years, suc-livered from Dugan's Warehouse, during the ceeded in rearing an abundance of garden grapes; quarter commencing the fifteenth day of Novem-these objects, we might venture to say that the and have not, as yet, been troubled with fly or ber, eighteen one hundred and twenty-two, until volumes of the American Farmer contain already, worm, though there were more signs of them" the 22d January, 1823. last fall that in any preceding year; the vine runs upon a trellis. Upon experience, I do not find it necessary to" lay down" and cover my vines, and I am now in the third year of open culture, i. e. exposed to all weather, except the roots, which I surround closely in December, with

66

pur

PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE STATE.

Growth

Domes-
tic

not of

this

growth.

Reinspected.

state.

rotten manure, placing about five bushels to the Number inroot of each vine, which manure I spread in the

57

spected.

spring; the chief strength or salts of this manure are probably carried to the roots, by the wet and

livered.

rain of the winter, when the weather is mild.-Number de-
From the exposure mentioned, I have not found
any diminution in the quantity or quality of the
grapes, which are of fine, rich flavour, and the vine
is the greatest bearer that I have seen in any part
of our country. The bunches of fruit are com-
pact, weigh from 4 to 1 lb.; the grapes are of a
deep purple colour, oval shape, and have an un-
usually thin skin, for an American grape. I es- this office.
timate the number of bunches on a double trel-
lis of 30 yards length, at about one thousand per
annum, i. e. that number were permitted to ri-

[blocks in formation]

54

We publish with great pleasure the ob. servations of a new subscriber and correspon dent, on the AMERICAN GRAPE, and would fain cherish the hope of frequent contributions, from the pen of a gentleman so well known to his its country, as one of scientific and general information. There are few subjects more interesting in their nature, or more important, than inquiries and experiments respecting our native grapes-their susceptibility of improvement by their capacity to yield a generous wineculture-their excellence as a table fruit, and

To those who would turn their attention to

more in explanation of the subject, than is to be found in the aggregate of all other American works, and yet there remains abundant room for Total. enquiry and illustration, by new and interesting views of it, as will be seen in our subsequent numbers. In this as in many other cases of equal interest to the nation, it may be remarked that this journal has served as a kind of national speaking trumpet, whereby attentive observers in every state and climate have compared notes, and interchanged opinions.

hhds.
111

340

R. WATERS.
TREASURY OFFICE, JAN. 27th, 1822.
True copy from the original report on file in
B. HARWOOD, T. W. S. Md.

[blocks in formation]

pen; nearly as many more were removed, in/THE HAMPTON DAIRY-NEAR BALTIMORE. white, $1 35 to 1 40-Red do., $1 30 to 1-32trimming and thinning. This grape was brought We have been kindly permitted to take from Rye, 71 to 75 cents-Corn, 58 to 60 cts.from Smithville, North Carolina, by Mr. G. the farm register the following account of sales Oats, 35 to 37 cents- Beef, live cattle, $5 Gibbs, of that state, and was reared by that of butter from Gen. Ridgley's dairy, at Hamp-to $5 50 per cwt.-Beef, 8 gentlemen at this place, (Brooklyn,) with great ton, in the year 1822. cents per lb. -Bacon, round, 10 to care, under an impression that it was necessa January, 319 lb. sold at market 11 cts.-Pork $4 50 $143 64 to 5 50 per c lb. 6 to 8 cts. per lb.-Mutton, 5 169 66 to 6 cts. per lb.-Beans, $1 37 to 150-Peas, 171 31 black eyed, 55 to 60 cts.-Red Clover Seed, $8165 50 Orchard Grass do. $3 50-Herds' Grass do. $3148 96 Timothy do. $5-Millet, $2-Flax Seed, 75 to 80 127 181 cts.-Whiskey, from the wagons, 32 to 34 cts. 147 49 per gal.-Apple brandy, 30 to 32 cts.-Peach do., 159 90 65 to 70 cts.-Shad, none in market—Herrings, 126 98 No. 1, $3 621 per bbl.-No. 2, $3 37-Fine 129 53 salt 80 to 90 cts. per bush.-Coarse, do. 75134 80 Butter, 20 to 25 per lb -Eggs, 25 cts. per doz. 138 844-Turkeys, 75 cts. to $1-Geese, 371 to 50 cts. Chickens, $150 per doz.-Straw, $12 50 to 13 per ton-Hay, $17.

[blocks in formation]

No. 46.-VOL. 4.

AMERICAN FARMER.-BALTIMORE, 7th FEBRUARY, 1823.

361

THE AMERICAN GARDENER the edges of the trenches; and do not go into the Sow a parcel of seeds in this earth; and cover at

CHAPTER IV.

Vegetables and Herbs.

middle of the intervals for the earth that you took night with a bit of carpet, or sail cloth, having out of the trenches. Keep working backwards, first fixed some hoops over this little bed.-Betime after time, that is earthing after earthing, fore the plants show the rough leaf, plant two 210. CELERY.-The qualities of this plant till you come to the earth that you dug out of the into a little flower pot, and fill as many pots are universally known. There are three or four trenches; and, by this time the earth against the in this way as you please. Have a larger bed sorts. The white, the red, the hollow, and the plants will be above the level of the land. Then ready to put the pots into, and covered with earth solid. The hollow white is the best; but the pro- you take the earth out of the middle, till, at last so that the pots may be plunged in the earth up pagation and cultivation of all are the same. The the earth against the plants forms a ridge and the to their tops. Cover this bed like the last. whole of that part of the year, during which the middle of each interval a sort of gutter. Earth When the plants have got two rough leaves out, frost is out of the ground, is not a bit too long for up very often, and not put much at a time. Eve- they will begin to make a shoot in the middle.the getting of fine Celery. The seed, sown in ry week a little earth to be put up. Thus, in Oc- Pinch that short off.-Let them stand in this bed, the cold ground, in April, will lie six weeks be-tober, you will have four ridges of Celery across till your cucumbers sown in the natural ground fore it come up. A wheel-barrow full of hot one of the Plats, each containing 168 plants. I come up; then make some little holes in good dung, put in a hole in the ground against a wall, shall suppose one of these ridges to be wanted for rich land, and taking a pot at a time, turn out or any fence, facing the south, and covered with use before the frost sets in for good. Leave anoth- the ball and fix it in the hole. These plants will rich and fine mould, will bring the seed up in two er ridge to be lock-up by the frost, a much safer bear a month sooner than those sown in the natuweeks. If you have a hot-bed frame, or a hand-guardian than your cellar or barn-door. But, you ral ground; and a square yard will contain 36 light, the thing is easy. A large flower-pot will must cover this ridge over in such a way that the pots, and will of course, furnish plants for 36 bring up out of ground, plants enough for any wet will not get down into the hearts of the celery. hills of cucumbers, which, if well managed, will family. As soon as the plants are three inches Two boards, a foot wide each, their edges on one keep on bearing till September.-Those who high, and it scarcely matters how thick they side laid upon the earth of the ridge, formed into have hot-bed frames, or hand-lights, will do this stand, make a nice little bed in open free air; a roof over the point of the ridge, the upper matter very easily.-The cucumber plant is very make the ground rich and the earth very fine. edge of one board going an inch over the upper tender and juicy; and, therefore, when the seedHere prick out the plants at 4 inches apart; and, edge of the other, and the boards fastened well lings are put into the pots, they should be waterof course, 9 in a square foot. They are so very with pegs, will do the business completely; for, ed, and shaded for a day or two; when the balls small, that this must be carefully done; and they it is not the frost, but the occasional thaws that are turned into the ground, they should be watershould be gently watered once, and shaded 2 days. you have to fear, and the wet and rot that they ed, and shaded with a bough for one day. That A bed 10 feet long, and 4 wide will contain 360 produce.-For the celery that is to serve from the will be enough.-I have one observation to make plants; and, if they be well cultivated, they are setting in to the breaking up of the frost, you upon the cultivation of cucumbers, melons of more than any common-sized family can want must have a bed of sand, or light earth, in a all sorts, and of all the pumpkin and squash from November till May.-In this bed the plants warm part of a barn, or in a cellar; and there tribe; and that is, that it is a great error to sow stand till the middle of July, or thereabouts, when you must lay it in, row after row, not covering the them too thick. One plant in a hill is enough; and they are to go out into trenches. Make the points of the leaves.-To have seed, take one I would put two into a pot, merely as a bar against trenches a foot deep and a foot wide, and put plant, in spring, out of the ridge left in the gar-accidents. One will bring more weight of fruit them not less than five feet asunder. The den. Plant it in an open place, and you will have than two (if standing near each other,) two more ground that you make the trenches in should not seed enough to serve a whole township. For soup than three, and so on, till you come to fifty in a be fresh dug; but be in a solid state, which very the seed bruised is as good as the plant itself.square foot; and then you will have no fruit at conveniently may be ; for Celery comes on just as For the number of years that the seed will keep all! Let any one make the experiment, and he the Feas and early Cabbages and Cauliflowers good, see Paragraph 150. will find this observation mathematically true.

have gone off. Lay the earth that you take out 211. CHERVIL is an annual plant. Its leaves When cucumbers are left eight or ten plants in a in the middle of the space between the trenches, a good deal like those of double parsley. They hill, they never shoot strongly. Their vines are so that it may not be washed into them by the are used in salads. A small patch, sown in rows, poor and weak. The leaves become yellow : and heavy rains; for it will, in such case, cover the like parsley, is enough. if they bear, at all, it is poor tasteless fruit that hearts of the plants, and will go very nearly to 212. CIVES a little sort of onion, which is they produce. Their bearing is over in a few destroy them.-When you have made your perennial. The greens only are used. A small weeks. Whereas, a single plant, in the same trench, put along it some good rich compost ma- quantity is sufficient for a garden. This plant space will send its fine green vines all around it to nure, partly consisting of wood ashes. Not dung; may be propagated from seed, or from offsets. a great distance, and, if no fruit be left to ripen, or, at least, not dung fresh from the yard; for, 213. CORIANDER is an annual plant that will keep bearing till the white frosts come in the

if you use that, the celery will be rank and pipy, some persons use in soups and salads. It is sown fall.-The roots of a cucumber will go ten feet, and will not keep nearly so long or so well.-Dig in spring. The seed is also used as a medicine. in fine earth, in every direction. Judge, then, this manure in, and break all the earth very fine A small patch, probably two square yards, will how ten plants, standing close to one another, as you go. Then take up your plants, and trim be enough. must produce mutual starvation!-If you save a

off the long roots. You will find, that every 214. ČORN (Indian). To have some early, the cucumber for seed, let it be the first fine fruit plant has offsets to it, coming up by the side of early sorts must be got. A dozen or two of plants that appears on the plant. The plant will cease the main stem. Pull all these off, and leave only may be easily raised in pots, as directed for Cu-to bear much after this fruit becomes yellowish. the single stem. Cut the leaves off so as to cumbers. See Cucumbers. I have said enough, under the head of Saving Seeds (Paragraphs, 139 to 146) to make you take care, that nothing of the melon, pumpkin or squash kind grow near a seed-bearing cucumber plant; and that all cucumbers of a different sort from that bearing the seed be kept at a great disnot water the plants; and, if you plant in fresh 216. CRESS (or Pepper-Grass) is very good tance.-There are many sorts of cucumbers; the dug ground, and fix your plants well, none of the in salads along with lettuces, white mustard, or Long Prickly, the Short Prickly, the Cluster, troublesome and cumbrous business of shading is rape. It should be sown in little drills, very thick and many others; but, the propagation and culat all necessary; for the plant is naturally hardy, (as should the white mustard and the rape) and tivation of all the sorts are the same. and, if it has heat to wither it above, it has also cut before it comes into rough leaf. A small quan- 218. DANDELION.-This is a well-known that heat beneath to cause its roots to strike out tity, in the salad-season, should be sown every six and most wicked garden weed, in this country as almost instantly. When the plants begin to grow, days. This salad, as well as the mustard and the well as in England; and I am half afraid to speak which they quickly will do, hoe on each side and rape, may be very conveniently raised in a cor- of using it as food, lest I should encourage lazibetween them with a small hoe. As they grow ner of a hot-bed, made for radishes or cabbage-ness. But, there may be people without gardens, up, earth their stems; that is, put the earth up plants. and without the means of purchasing greens in

leave the whole plant about six inches long. 215. CORN-SALAD.—This is a little insig Plant them, six inches apart, and fix them, in nificant annual plant that some persons use in te manner so minutely dwelt on under the arti- salads, though it can hardly be of any real use, cle, Cabbage, keeping, as you are at work, your where lettuce seed is to be had. It is a mere feet close to the outside edges of the trench. Do weed.

to them, but not too much at a time; and let the 217. CUCUMBER.-To give minute rules the spring; and to them what I am about to say earth that you put up be finely broken, and not at for the propagation and cultivation of this plant, may be of use. The Dandelion is as early as the all cloddy. While you do this, keep the stalks in a country like this, would be waste of time.-earliest of grass; and, it is one of the very best of the outside leaves close up to prevent the However, if you wish to have them a month ear-of greens, when it is young. It is a sort of wild earth from getting between the stems of the out-her than the natural ground will bring them, do Endive. The French, who call it (from the side leaves and the inner ones; for, if it get this. Make a hole and put into it a little hot shape of its leave) Dent de lion, or Lion's tooth, there it checks the plant and makes the celery dung; let the hole be under a warm fence. Put use it, bleached as salad, and, if fine, large and bad. When you begin the earthing take first 6 inches deep of fine rich earth on the dung.well bleached, it is better than Endive, much

more tender, and of a better flavour. It is very border. The plants will come in for use in Oc-ways do this. The leaves, thus broiled, become common in rich pasture land in England; and cat-tober, November, and December. Some sown a crisp; and, they are then of a very fine flavour. tle and sheep, particularly the former, prefer it, little later must be preserved for winter use. Be-In winter, the seed, bruised, give fish the same as far as my observation has gone, to every other fore the frost sets in, they must be tied up in a flavour as the leaves do in summer; and, to my plant in the pastures. It is full of milk-coloured conical form, as before directed, and all dead, or taste, butter, seasoned with Fennel, is better than juice, and fuller of it than either the Endive or yellow, leaves must be taken off. Then dig them any of the fish sauces, bought at the shops. It is the Lettuce. In the spring (June) 1817, when I up, with a ball of earth to each, and put them a very hardy plant, Two yards square will concame to Long Island, and when nothing in the into light earth in a cellar, or some warm build-tain enough for any family; and, once in the shape of greens was to be had for love or money, ing. Put only the roots into the earth; do not ground, it will stand there for an age, or ten ages, Dandelions were our resource; and I have always suffer the plants to touch each other; and pour a as far as I know. since that time, looked at this weed with a more little water round the roots after you have put 222. GARLICK.-Almost all nations except friendly eye. them in the earth. If they be perfectly dry the English, the Americans, and the French, make 219. DOCK.-I have frequently mentioned when tied up, they will keep well till spring.great and constant use of Garlick; and, even the the leaves of this weed as being sold in the mar-To have them as early as possible in the spring, French use it, frequently, to an extent that would ket at New York. This weed and the Dandelion sow in the third week of August, and do not trans-drive us from the table. It is propagated from are the gardener's two vegetable devils. Nothing plant. When the hard frost is come, cover the seed, or from offsets; and is sown, or planted, eibut absolute burning, or a sun that will reduce whole of the ground over with straw six inches ther in spring or fall. For winter-use the roots them to powder, will kill their roots, any little deep, and throw (if at hand) some leaves of trees are taken up and kept in the dry, as onions are. bit of which will grow, and that, too, whether over the straw, and some sticks to keep the leaves 223. GOURD.-I do not know any use that it lying on, or in, the ground. Both bear seed in from blowing away. But, the best covering of is of. See Pumpkin. prodigious quantities.-The Dock (which is the all, in this case is, boughs of cedar, or of fir, or 224. HOP.-To range the Hop amongst the wild Rhubarb) puts forth its leaves very quickly laurel; though these boughs must be, for this Vegetables may appear odd; but, it is a garden after the Dandelion; and hence it is that it is purpose, cut up into small parts, so that they plant in America, and does give you, if you like resorted to as greens in the spring. This is will lie close and compact and keep out the light. to have it, a very good dish for the table. It is however, a coarse green compared with the Dan-Some ever-green boughs, and some leaves of wanted to produce its fruit for the making of yeast, delion. However, it is better than no greens at trees thrown over them, form, perhaps, the best or beer, or both; and, to get good hops, there all after five months of winter, which has left covering in the world for plants of this descrip- should be some cultivation. Any bit of a root nothing green upon the face of the earth.-If a tion. But, observe you must let the frost come. will grow and become a plant. The young plants rod or two of ground, on the south side of a wood, The ground must be right hard when you put the should be planted in the fall, three or four togethwere trenched and made rich, and planted with covering on; or else, the plants will rot. They er in a clump, or hill, and the hills should be Docks, or Dandelions, the owner, even though must see the sun no more till spring. When the from seven to ten feet apart. The first year of he had no garden, would not be in want of early frost breaks up, take off the covering: hoe the planting, put, four rods, or little poles, to each greens; and, it would be better to do this than ground as soon as dry, and proceed to perfect the hill, and let two vines go up each pole, treading to have to go upon the hunt after these vegeta-plants in the manner before described. One of the rest of the vines down to creep about the bles, which, though weeds, are not, in every these plants will produce seed enough to last you ground. In a month after the vines begin to place, to be found in any considerable quantity; for five years.-There need not be many of these mount the poles, cut off all the creeping vines; on at least, not without spending a good deal of plants. Lettuces are their rivals, and are a great and draw up a hill of earth against the poles all time in the pursuit.-The Dock-leaf is very deal better.-I have mentioned matting in this round, and cover all the crowns of the plants. In wholesome, as is also that of the Dandelion.article, as a thing to tie with. This matting is short, make a hill a foot high with a flattish They do not produce gripings as the greater part nothing more than the threads of those large top, and then fork up the ground between the of the cabbage kinds are apt to do.-See Rhu-things, in which foreign. goods sometimes come hills and break it fine. When weeds begin to apbarb. packed up. These things are in England called pear, hoe the ground clean; and at the end of 220. ENDIVE.-This is a salad-plant, though Mats, and the threads of which they are compos another month draw some more earth up, and like the Dandelion, it may be eaten as greens.-ed, are by gardeners called matting. The gar- make the hill bigger and higher.-When the fall There are two sorts, the curled and the plain, deners use this for ties to Espalier trees; they comes, cut off the vines that have gone up the just as there are of the Dandelion, which, as tie on their grafts with it; they tie up their pole, a foot from the ground; take down the poles}; I observed before, is a sort of Endive.-The cur- flowers with it; and, in short, it is the string of dig down the hills, and with a corn-hoe, open led is prettiest, and is, therefore, generally. pre- the gardeners. The Mats, thousands of bales of the ground all round the crowns of the plants; ferred; but, the plain is the best.-Sow Endive which are imported into England from Russia, and before winter sets in, cut all close down to in drills a foot apart; when the plants come up, are used to cover the hot-beds with, and for vari the very crowns, and then cover the crowns over thin them to a foot apart in the row, if they be ous other purposes.-But matting is to be had, with earth three or four inches thick.. Through not to be removed by transplantation; keep the and with very little trouble, without sending to this earth the hop-shoots will start in the spring ground clean, and hoe deep and frequently be- Russia for it. Any one who has a spare tree may You will want but eight of them to go up your four tween the plants. When they get to a good size, have plenty of matting. When I came to Long poles; and the rest, when three inches long, you they are to be bleached before they can be used as Island, I cut down a chesnut, of about a foot dia- may cut, and eat as asparagus; cook them in salad for, while green, they are very bitter and meter, and that furnished me with a store of mat- the same manner, and you will find them a very not very crisp. In order to bleach them, you ting ties. The tree was cut in June; the outer delightful vegetable.—This year you put poles 20 must take them quite dry; gather all the leaves bark taken off; and then the inner-bark came off feet long to your hops. Proceed the same as becarefully up with your hands; draw them into a'in long flakes, some broad and some narrow, the fore, only make the hills larger; and this year conical form, and tie them round with matting or whole length of the clear trunk, which was about you will have plenty of hops to gather for use.— soft string, or little splinters of white oak.-15 feet. I just hung this up to dry; and that was The next, and every succeeding year, you may When they have remained in this state for about matting, to be cut into any length, and ready to put poles 40 or 50 feet long; but they must not be a fortnight, they will be bleached and fit for use. Juse for any tie, where much strength was not re- too large at bottom. Be sure to open the ground The time of sowing may be as early as the weath-quired. The only precautions are: keep the mat- every fall, and to cut all off close down to the er will permit in the spring, and there may be ting in the dry, and when you use it dip it in wa- crown of the plants, which, when pared off with a another sowing for summer; but, it is for winter ter first for a few minutes, and take it out of the sharp knife, will look like a piece of cork-In and spring use that Endive is most wanted; so water as you use it. If you have put more into England, where there are more hops used than in that, the late sowings are of the most importance. the water than you want for that time, take it out all the rest of the world, it requires four or five Sow about the end of July, in fine rich ground. and hang it up in the dry again; and it will re- years to bring a hop hill to perfection. Even then, If you do not transplant, leave the plants at the ceive no injury. a pole from 15 to 20 feet long is generally long distances before-mentioned; if you do, trans- 221. FENNEL.-Fennel is a perennial plant; enough; and the crop of thirty hills is, upon an plant at the same distances (a feot every way;) propagated from seed, or from offsets; and sown, average, not more than equal to that of one hill in do it when the plants have ten leaves, and tip off or planted, either in spring or fall. The plants the hop-plantations on the Susquehannah; notboth leaves and roots when you transplant. Fix should stand about a foot asunder. It is a tall withstanding that, on the Susquehannah, they the roots well as directed in the case of cabbage; plant with hairy leaves. Its leaves are used in merely plough the ground in spring; never open and, as the plant is very juicy, and the weather salads, are chopped up fine to put in melted but- the crowns and pare them down, leave the loose hot, plant in the evening, or early in the morning, ter eaten with fish, they are boiled with fish to creeping vines together with the weeds and grass water a little, and lay some bows over to shade give the fish a flavour, and, they are tied round to be eaten, in summer, by sheep, which also for two days, but take the bows off at night.mackarel, particularly when these are broiled. eat the leaves of the mounting vines as far as The best place for Endive would be the shady the French, who excel in the cooking of fish, al- they, by putting their fore feet against the poles,

no rain fall upon them, and that they be not out equally distinguished for his skill in agriculture

(To be Continued.)

PAPERS DIRECTED TO BE PUBLISHED BY THE DE-
LEGATION OF THE UNITED AGRICULTURAL SO-

CIETIES OF VIRGINIA, AT THEIR MEETING

HELD IN THE TOWN OF FREDERICKSBURG, ON

WEDNESDAY THE 7TH INST.

No. 6.

AN ADDRESS,
DELIVERED BEFORE THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIE-
TT OF NOTTAWAY, BY DR. JAMES JONEs, pre-
SIDENT OF THE SAME, 20гH Nov. 1822.
Gentlemen,

can reach up; and yet, in England, the Hop-fis still annually appointed when the Emperor subject, in consequence of the unparallele dislands are called hop-gardens, and are cultivated goes in solemn procession to a field, where he tress produced by the wars of that period, which and kept in a garden state.-But, hops are to be shews his sense of the inestimable benefits of had well nigh desolated the fairest portion of preserved. They are fit to gather, when you see, agriculture, by undertaking for a short time, the the civilized world. Prize questions were proupon opening the leaves of the hop, a good deal of laborious occupation of directing the plough in posed by some of their academies and by socieyellow dust, and when the seeds, which you will person. Among the Romans the rural art was ties instituted for the improvement of agriculAnd at the sockets of the leaves of the hop, begin deemed so honourable a pursuit that the most ture. The example was followed by most of to be plump.-Gather them nicely, and let no distinguished Senators, at their leisure intervals, the powers of the Continent as well as by Great leaves or stalks be amongst them; and lay them applied themselves to the cultivation of the soil. Britain, from whence it was translated into this out on a cloth to dry in the sun, taking care that Numa Pompilius, one of their first Kings, was country. Let us then recollect, gentlemen, that we form in the dew. When perfectly dry, put them, very as for his exemplary piety; and such was the ami- one link in that great chain of association which hardly and closely pressed, into a new bag, made able simplicity of those times, that their greatest has existed for nearly a century, which has its of thick Russia linen, such as they make strong Warriors and Legislators were often called from origin in a Godlike Benevolence, characteristic trowsers of. And, in this state, they will, if ne- the active labours of the field to the higher offices of the great and the good in all ages and in all cessary, keep good and fit for use (if kept in a dry of the state. Cato the Censor, who had gov- countries, whose aim is the melioration of the place) for twenty years, or, perhaps, three times erned and subdued many warlike nations, did not condition of the human family, by adding to their twenty. I have used hops, for brewing, at ten consider it beneath him to write a Treatise on other comforts and enjoyments, that greatest of years old, and found them just as efficient as new Agriculture; and valuable works upon this sub-all earthly blessings, the possession of food in hops of the same original quality. However, ject have appeared at various periods of the Ro-plenty. Modern Europe, and especially In treating upon most subjects of the Arts or people say that fresh hops have a more lively man Empire. flavour; and, as any stick will, in America, Great Britain and France, exhibit many illus-Sciences, it has become customary to reduce them carry enough to supply a family with hops for the trious characters who have thought it no degrada- to the two general heads of Theory and Practice. making of yeast-cakes, it must be shocking lazi- tion to devote all the energies of their personal Upon most occasions this course is proper, beness not to put a few by every year. exertion, as well as their princely fortunes, in cause, in order to ascertain a correct system of promoting and improving agricultural and rural rules in the practice of any given art, it should Occupations generally. In the former country be an indispensable preliminary to obtain a thoparticularly, this spirit displays the greatest ac- rough knowledge of the fundamental principles tivity, not only among private individuals but on which such art is based, with which all its in the Government itself, to increase the national procedures are intimately connected, and without resources for food and subsistence through the a knowledge of which all the results of the pracmedium of an extended and improved cultiva- tice are at best uncertain, often highly defective tion of the soil. In the U. tates of North Ameri- and sometimes injurious. In reviewing the hisca, advantages are possessed and inducements tory of the world, the mind is forcibly struck exist to stimulate to agricultural occupation un- with the strange phenomenon that in almost all known in any other country on the Globe. The the varied pursuits of human ingenuity and inEcclesiastical incumbrances of Tythes and the dustry, the natural and rational order of profeudal impositions of Service, which cramp and ceeding has been totally reversed, and systems paralize every effort made towards the improve- of practical rules in the various arts, have generThe pursuits of man have been as vari- ment of this science in too many other countries, ally preceded a system of fundamental princious and diversified as the circumstances under are happily banished from us; and the improve- ples, which should have been guides in the which he has existed upon the Globe; yet under ments of the farmer and planter accrue to them- practice. If the discovery and application of no circumstances whatever has he failed to rely selves and their families, inheritable as a clear mathematical principles to the various arts at on the productions of the earth, for his subsis- estate, or transferable at their option to any an early period of Grecian history, forms an tence, for his clothing and for shelter. The ani- purchaser. Tyrants and despots who hold the exception to this general statement, it is at the mals which he pursues in the chace for the pur- property as well as the persons of their subjects, same time worthy of remark and of regret, that poses of food, as well as the vegetables which he to be their own by a divine right, will encourage the knowledge of those principles, dry and abfinds profusely scattered around him by the be- husbandry with a view not only to the requisite struse in their nature, was exceedingly limited, nificent hand of his creator, are all the bountiful supplies of Cavalry and Provisions, but of able being confined exclusively to the schools, which, gifts of his Mother Earth. The busy scenes of bodied Soldiers for their armies; whilst the friends at the period referred to, had lost much of their commerce which mark the advanced stages of of free government, not discarding from their general influence in society, from that air of myshuman society, consisted originally of an ex- system the ultimate necessity of defensive war, tery and sophistry which enveloped all their change of commodities either in the crude state will not lose sight of that as a motive, but con- teachings and doctrines. Agriculture has sufin which the hand of industry obtained them sider it secondary in point of importance and of fered from the same causes which have retarded from the earth, or fabricated by ingenuity into propriety to the permanent benign influences of the progress of knowledge generally. Besides manufactured articles for use in the various de- rural life, in forming the powers of man on the that host of impositions and burdens imposed on partments of domestic economy. It is impossible most perfect models, whether viewed in relation it by governments, and the low grade it has too to separate the business and interest of human to his moral and intellectual or his physical cha- generally occupied in the scale of society, it has had Society from the intimate connection with, and racter. To the advantages to be derived from to struggle against ignorance and prejudice, the dependence upon, the employment and products the spirit and form of our political institutions, most baueful enemies of human improvements. of Agriculture, in some form and modification or may be added the natural superiority of our soil, If in the science of Medicine, a knowledge of other. It is the substratum upon which the whole the peculiarly favorable condition of our climate, the laws and principles of animated nature is superstructure rests. It is the vital principle both enabling us to supply the demands of fo- deemed indispensable to a correct and safe pracwhich animates the whole mass and maintains all reign nations, for the rich and valuable staples tice of the healing art; so in the nurture and its motions. "It is one of those arts which from of our country, beside an abundant supply for our cu tivation of vegetables, a knowledge of the the earliest periods have been deservedly held own use and consumption at home. For the im principles of their organization and the laws in the highest estimation. One of the first in provement and melioration of this noble art, ma- by which their growth is regulated, would seem junctions upon our original progenitor, after his ny devices and many plans have suggested them- to be equally indispensable, or at least a valuable dismission from the garden of Eden, was that he selves to the considerate and reflecting mind. auxiliary. I would by no means be understood should" till the ground." The experience of all But the exertions of individual industry and in- as intending to sanction the opinion that there the world, at all the periods of its History, has genuity could avail but little towards such a can be no good husbandry without this prelimifully proven that the cultivation of this necessary general diffusion of knowledge as was desirable nary knowledge. There is no doubt that its pracart essentially contributes to the prosperity of upon so important a subject. The formation, tice may be carried on successfully, independentmankind; and that it ought to form a primary therefore, of Societies has occurred as the best ly of an acquaintance with scientific principles. object in all moral and political regulations So mode of giving a salutary stimulus as well as a No person need be deterred, therefore, from atsensible were many nations of its importance, general currency and circulation to such improve-tempting any improvements, because he is not that according to the history of the ancient Per-nents as have resulted from the ingenuity and in- conversant with the abstract parts of physical sians, their Kings, once in every month, divested vention, not only of individuals, but of societies science; and it is to be hoped that no member themselves of regal pomp and partook of ru and of Nations. As far back as the year 1756, of this society will withhold a communication of ral fare among the husbandmen. In China a day France began to pay particular attention to this his sentiments and experience upon any subject

« ÎnapoiContinuă »