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mm (yiiiiMtiiiiw mmirmsiwssumis^ VOLUME VII. CHIiRAW. SOUTH-CAROLINA TUESDAY, AUGUST 9. 1842 NUMBER 39. By M. MACLEAN. Tsbxs:?Published weekly at three dollars a Mr; with an addition, when not paid within three months, of twenty per cent per annum. Two new subscribers inay take tho papffr at fire dollars in advance; and ten at twenty. Four subscribers, not receiving their papers in town, may pay a year's subscription with ten dollars, in advance. A year's subscription always due in advance. Papers not discontinued to solvent subscribers in arrears. Advertisements not exceeding 1fi lines inserted Or one dollar the first time, and fifty cents each Ubseqiiont time. For insertions at intervals of two weeks 75 cents after the first, and a dollar if the intervals are longer. Payment due in Advance for advertisements. When the number of insertions is not marked on the copy, the advertisement will be inserted, and charged til crderod out. lyThe postage must be paid on loiters to the editor on the business of the office. & e-grg From the Transactions of the N. Y. Agricultural Society. ENGLISH AGRICULTUNE? A GLANCE AT ITS PROGRESS AN1> FROSPECTS. By John Hannam, North Dcig'iton, Weth erby, Yorkshire, England.?(Concluded.) And the general results or rue same agency throughout England are, that wheat, instead of bring a luxury confined to the rich, is now tho staff of the poor man's strength. The quaking morass and the arid moor wave with the golden grain, and the acre which formerly gave back four times the seed, now returns it from eight to ten fold. Instead, too, of winter being a season of starvation to the cattle, when existence was all that could be hoped for, it is now essentially the sea. son for fat and plenty ; for, it is now essentially the season for fat and plenty; for if the turnip cultivation has given the grazier the power of increasing the quantity % the skill of the breeder has equally increased the quality of his stock. This will be seen from the estimated weight of cattle and sheep at Smithfield market, at three different periods, by Davcnant, McCtilloch, and Youatt. 1810, Da vennnt estimates cattle at 26 st. 6 lbs. Sheep and lambs, 2 st. each. 1830, McCullocli do do 39 st. 4 lbs. Clo iJ. 81. o 108. 1840, Youatt do do 46 st. 12 lbs. do 6st. 6 lbs. But all theso may be summed up in one grand national result, that while ire have waxed in name and in numbers, wr have increased still faster in wealth and in the means of life* Such, then, is a brief glance at the progress of English agriculture. Trivial as has been the record which we have been able to give of it, sufficient of both cause and effect has been developed, in the history of the past, to make our prophecy for the future a golden one. Such prospects, we are inclined to believe, are not merely because it is natural to look through the past to the prospective, and it is natural also for the object to assume a tinge from the medium through which ^ it is viewed, but because it is an axiom that like causes produce like effects; so the means which have done so much for agriculture, being continued in operation, ** ~~ ? It vol r\n morn. II is lair 10 prcsuiiirj ??.. And that the same agency will continue to operate, we may the more safely judge, because the nearer we look to the present, the more we see its ctrects. Thus we know that since the commencement of the present century, our produce has in. creased faster than our population. Between 1300 and 1820, this is evident, but it is more so from 1320 to the present time. Thus, even Mr. Mncculloch says, ** The price of wheat in England, at an average of the ten years ending with 1320, wasnoless than 83,?. 6:1. per quarter: its average price has since, as we have just seen, been reduced to 58s. 11J/. per quarter; and yet, notwithstanding this tremendous fall, a most extraordinary improvement has taken place in agriculture since 1820, so much so, that we now -provide for ail additional poputa'ioi not only without any increase, hut with a very considerable diminution of imporla /ton." If we look, however, from 1880 to 1810, " -I- ?!., mwr-ilinn r?t we sun see mure tic.mv w.w ? of the spirit of progression; and in the individual nnd united efforts ol the agriculturists, in fostering every germ of improvement, at this present moment, we have a still surer evidence that it is not yet inoperative. If we know, then, that the wheel of improvement has had an impetus, and that impetus has kept increasing up to the present time, may we not conclude that it wil not vet stop? But there is another consideration which induces us to picture bright pros gjp pects for agriculture. The progres" which has been lately made has not beer a progress or extension of the practice merely, but an extension of the know ledgi of the science of agriculture; for if \v< look to the 20 years preceding 1820, w< ahull find that 167? enclosure hills wen passed, and that 3,069,910 acres of Ian; u-Arp hroupht into cultivation, while ii " v'^ w o the ten years after 1620 only ISO wicio In 1837, the manor farm at rlawstead, 'Suf o&) produced on 66 acres only S62 bushels c wheat, or not quite 8? bushels per acre. Tct average of England it now 24 bushels per a-h According to tke same authority, (Cullum's Haw lead,) 20 aervt ol barley returned JO crt -1 bu?i rie. sure hills were passed, and 340,380 acres reclaimed; and yet it is a remarkable fact that the necessities of life were more plentiful in the latter period than in the former. The advance, therefore, that has been 1 made is an advance that cannot be forgot, i ten. It is an achievement of mind over j the mysteries of matter; and now, that the | fruit of the conquest is tasted, it will in. J cite to other and more extensive exploits. , But while the past peformances and j present principles of agriculture entitle j us to hold out such prospects, and to j anticipate. with a hope amounting to ( 1 I I 1) V mi: >11111 ii iiuiiiu i the farmer's produce to n rate lower than he can afford, lias a tendency to mar, in some degree, the present prospects of English agriculture, and to check that spirit of improvement that has already secured to England, along with its fast increasing population, a still faster increas; inS production of the necessaries of life ; { and this attained, it is said, that population I is the measure's of a nations prosperity ; without it the index of lis ruin. This, then, is the cloud which, by threatening the future condition of agriculture, throws a partial gloom over its i present prospects. We say a partial 1 gloom, because we have everv a<s iranee : that it will soon pass away. The reasons I adduced at the commencement of that 1 portion of our subject, incline us to believe that bright prospects have yet to bo realized ; and a knowledge of the position which the friends of agriculture hold in the country, the exertions which they have made to promote its improvement, j and their knowledge of its importance ns . i a national interest, convinces us that this j cloud will not he permitted to destroy t j them. Had this heavy blow and great 1 discouragement been contemplated before English agriculture had assumed its prei sent standing, as a science, it might.per haps, have been carried into effect. It ? never can now. Ignorance and apathy 1 are no longer the characteristics of the i guardians of the j-oil. The lamps ofsci i once shed their light over the once dreary 3 waste,and in it the s'atesinan sows the 3 seeds of naliona! independence and prose ! perilv* and the philosopher finds food for 1 the mind ; and it will not be made the i subject of an experiment. Never will - such a great interest he risked for the sake of trying a novel theory. f. I This then assumed, what a field opens ?f to our view. By developing tho same spirit of progress which actuates modern e science, agriculture* hasbeeome identified r. j in principle, and consequently equally i. j identified in progress with it. Moved, then, j by thesp'rit, and directed by tho pioneers conviction, that they win he gioriousiy realized, \vc must not forget that the * O brightest o!>ject has a shadow. So, it is our duty to notice that even now a cloud hangs about the horizon, which, by threatening the glory of the day, throws n partial gloom over the brightness of the morning of these prospects. Thus, with a full knowledge of what has been done, and what may yet be done, if he ho per mitted to use the same means, the Knglish farmer is, ?t the present time repressed in his exertions by a fear which is not without somo foundation. The immense efforts made by a certain class to deprive him of the protection, on the faith of which he has buried his capital in the improvement of the soil, is this foundation. It is notour object to discuss the merits, or the dements of the free trade theory ; so fur, however, ns it interferes with the prospects of agriculture, as faithfuI chroniclers, we must allude to it. And thfit it should in some decree mar these " D prospects is not strange, when it is considered that the declared object of the theory is to reduce the price of the English farmer's products to a level witn those of the continent, and the declared (vide Lord John Russell's speech) that two or three millions of acres of land must go out of cultivation ; and according to Lord Spencer, that even the good land would go out of corn cultivation, and be converted into pasturage. Knowing, then, these designs, knowing too, that in his present situation in society, with heavily taxed soils, and with dear labor, he cannot compete with the produce of the untaxed soil and cheap labor of the continent; and that the land upon which he has invested the must capita! in improvements or in tillage, must suffer first, because the interest of this capital has to he repaid by the increased crop, and because the management of such soils are the most expensive (as na I tural deficiencies cannot be supplied artificially without expense.) Knowing, we say, this, is it possible for l.itn, at the present time not to fuel misgivings, to hesitate, and often to finally relinquish those improvements which, Were he sure of reaping a fair return for his capital, he would undertake? Whether or not it !>e proper national policy to experiment with such a great important interest, and to produce so much certain evil for an uncertain good ; whether or not it he justice to unroof one house to repair another ; and whether or not Mr. Van Buren's opinion, that " noth ing can compensate a nation for a dependence upon others for the bread they eatf be a fallacious one, I leave. Thus much, however, we are compelled to say, that the very agitation of the question, and ; the possibility of a measure being passed . I f /x-.i.lo f..rA icnnl/i rprlu^p or to promulgate the truth that practical observation or scientific knowledge may have taught him. For much that is known has yet to be applied to practice. Thus geology has given us a key to tho formation, nature and properties of soils, and their base*; and affords us, as is evidenced by Sir J. V. Johnson, [Jour, of the R. Agr. Soc. of England, vol. 1, p. 273.) such practical results, as. ' 1. The knowledge of apply, ing lime.; 2. Laying down fields to advantage to grass, and when and how to plant wheat ; 3. What trees to plant in each stratum." Chemical analysis, too, supplies us with the relative proportions of the constituents of the soil, and shows U9 what clement or earth it i9 deficient in. Geology again teaches us where that element is found ; yet how seldom do we find this method of improving the soil resorted to, although Davv long since made known that 44 the m O best natural soils are those of which the materials have been derived froin different strata, which have been minutely divided by air and water, and are intimately blended together; and in improving soils artificially, the farmer cannot do better than imitate the process of nature. The materials necessary for the purpose are seldom far distant; coarse sand is often found immediately on chalk, and beds of sand and gravel are commonly below clay. The labor ot improving me lexuire is repaid by a great permanent advantage; and capital laid out in this way secures for ever the productiveness, and consequently the value of the land." (Lecturo, p. 204.) Although, too, we arc aware, from the writings of agricultural chemists, of the high value of liquid manure?that, in fact, 1 lb. of urine will produce one lb. of wheat, how seldom do we see it pre. served at all. A writer in the Prize Essays of the Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland, (Quarterly Journal of Agr. for this month, Dec. 1641,) calculates that as much is lost as would, if applied, have an effect equal to the whole of the lime, rape dust and bones which arc commonly used. By the amateur agriculturist, and in this class we include statesmen and every [one who is a fanner by choice, much is i required. By him, an example should I be set, in the adoption of all improvements, and |the support of the means which are publickly proposed for the encouragement of agriculture, and every facility afforded to the tenant to follow in his wake. Adopting this principle, there is one change in his power to make which will tenu lo stimulate tne impiu?e- ; men! more than nnv other. This is, a ; change from the present tonant-at-will j system of letting farms, to the sort-lea.se plan, with a corn rent, "depending on the marketable price of the produce." The advantages resulting from this would be, 1st. A tenant with capital equal to his farm ; for ho would never think of taking it, as is often the case, now, till he met with a better, and after robbing it, or it robbing him, for a few years, leave it for another lo experiment upon; but, as his i engagement would bo one of some dura: lion, ne would consider well before he bargained, and after, he would endeavor I to make the best of it. 2d. As the only way to make the best of it would be by good management, he would lay his capital our freely, being 01 ,ra his tmore, and consequently of fJ'W ? I of science, who can point out an end to its I progress or say, "thus far" to its prospects ? Before the philosophic mind, whatever may be its favorite sphere of action, there ; is ample fooJ. In animal and vegetable i physiology, in the formation, classification, constitution, and fertilizationofsoils, and in the elucidation of, and the supplying the wants of vegetation, much has already been accomplished; but cur best guarantee that much will yet be done is the fact that much wants doing. For instance, wo know the structure and peculiarities of vegetables, the chemical constitution and mechanical process of vegetation; but wo are ignorant of the elements of vitality. We know that certain soils are more fertile than others; wetcan trace the constituent elements of each, and discover external or mechanical causps influencing the fertility, but of the essential principle of nutrition?the elixir vitce?or of the combination best adapted to the wants of the vegetable life, we can hp *aid to know the Ions*. We J " - - --- may apply this ignorance to a single so I, how much, then, has to be accomplished before it be removed in toto. We know something of the uses of ani. mnl and vegetable manures; hut how can we know their proper economy till the mystery of vegetation is more clearly developed, and the constituents and conditions best adapted to special cases ascertained. Much, in fact, has yet to be developed before the essential elements of the soil; the operation of each constituent, the operation of various manures, and the effects, mechanical and chemical produced by certain crops, are clear to us; yet these must be known before agriculture reaches its fair and legitimate standing as a science, and before we can produce the conditions most essential to fertility. To the practicalist are duties no Ie9s urgent. It is for him to banish from his ? vocabulary the word best; to think nothing good because it is old, and nothing worthless because it is new, but to lend an observing eye to its proof, and toendeav reaping the benefit of his improvements. And this is not the case under the year to year plan. A landlord may be ever so liberal, and the tent may have great confidence in him; still he is human and ( may err, he is a man and will die ; then | who can speak as to the consequences? i The prudent man, thereforo, is content to J mane such reforms in his farm as will be J of immediate benefit, and to use his capital in a manner thai it is always at his com- J mand. This is the general rule?of { course there are exceptions. 3d. He would be partially preserved ( from the pressure of the times, as his rent : would settle with the price of the grain. c 4th. If from the above security to ten. ure springs a liberal use of capital, and from the security against bad times a s more equable condition to the farmer, the j general result must bo on equal improve, c ment in the condition of agriculture itself. 1 All these heads might be illustrated by many practical cases. The agriculture * of Scotland, where the system ?s largely j employed ; has made a most wonderful t progress in the face of every disadvantage ^ of soil, climate and locality. And we t can have no better proof of the value of ? thissvsteiu, than that afforded by the evi. 1 dence of the Scottish farmers, given be- 1 fore a committee of the House of Corn n -i * i - - * mons in ieav. r rom tnis eviaence we , are told that the great improvement made ; in the agriculture of the Lothiana, during f late years, is owing to the adoption of the i system of leasing, upon n rent regulated 1 l?y the price of corn ; that the improve- 1 ments made by them, individually. on [ their farms, would not have been made, ^ had they not had such leases; that in the \ low seasons of 1834-35, &c. they were ] preserved from much injury by the reduc- j tion of their rents, which fell immediately ' with the price of corn. The evidence of ! one of our first agriculturists, Mr. John F.llrnan, corroborates these facts. And ( wherever the system has been fairly tried , in England, its results are equally favorable j to the improvement of the soil. I Several English landlords have already < adopted a measure so fraught with benefit 1 to the whole community, and which tends ^ to increase the production, and consequently to decrease the price of food. The , Earl of Leicester's estates are already a < striking example of such results from such an agency. These then are a few, out of the many steps which have to be taken in the march ' of improvement. And though some of - J i J:a: I.: them may be encompassed Dy ciimcumcs, , which it appears impossible to overcome ; i they arc, as we have said, so far from be- i ing dark spots in the prospects of agri- ' culture, our best guarantee of thei? being I realized. They are, in fact, the golJen apples which will tempt the inquiring mind, further and further forward in the j j race of research ; they are incentives to j t that observation and spirit of investigation to which agriculture owes so much, ' and they must be useful. Without in- 1 centive man is powerless, with it he may 1 perform wonders; but he must do much. For, if the mind once seeks, it must find ; something; and it may he something of more value than that which was originally sought for. Thus, to the vain search after the philosopher's stone, we owe the discovery of many chemical truths; and, to the equally futile attempts at perpetual motion, we are indebted for much that is ingenious and useful in mechanism. An apple'a fall, thus led th?? toarehing eye, To the deep mine of rich discovery." But there is another inlet, through which I seeaptospect of some agricultural knowledge, shining upon England. The Chinese war, will, I hope, open this door. How, will not require much explanation. The present war is not an opium war. As the Hon. John Quincy Adams proves, (in his admirable lecture on that part of the law of nations which applies i to the existing war between Great Britain and China.?(Boston Notion, Dec.?4th.) The cause of the war is the Ko-ton ! the arrogant and insupportable pretensions of j * *1 1 1 1 ? ?- n 1 Into j China, that stic win noiu cuinniMuiai , course with the rest of mankind, not upon j terms ofequal reciprocity, but upon the insulting, and degrading forms of relation between lord and vassal." England will bear this no longer; the final instructions to the plenipotentiary, demands that future intercourse shall be carried on upon terms of equality, and according to the forms which regulate the commerce of other nations; imposts and restric. lions upon certain articles, being, of course at j the optton of each party. That England will j compel the abandonment of what Mr. Adams, | tenns 44 an enormous outrage upon the rights of human natuie, and the first principles of the rights of nations." is not a question of ability, (I think.) but of will. And that she has the will her present preparations showMoreover, she must now have a trade upon fair terms, or no trade; as she ha6gone 60 far that the Chinese, if not forced, will not trade | at all. That they will be compelled to bow to the laws of civilized nations, there is no doubt. England will have the credit, and ali j I the world the benefit, of having taught a lesson ! of humility to, and of having laid the foundation of the future civilization of a people whose vanity and ignorance has hitherto induced ; them to consider China, the very heart of the ! universe. This accomplished, and agriculture must' i benefit from it; for though they are so exclu! fiive and iemorant. universally speaking, every I "" author allows that their practical agriculture I is the most perfect in the world. Let, then, i an intercourse upon equal terms, be fairly established with such a people, and there will soon be a barter of knowledge, as well as of goods. By having made every art, an experi1 mental one, a thousand years ago, without th* aid of scientific principles, China has made many brilliant discoveries. It ?s, therefore, j fair to presume, that if we carry principles, she , will give us in return, some facts, and amongst the rest some agricultural ones. Surh. thpn. ia a hripfcxlanr#* at the nrrnrress " ? " &? r"'5*w? of English agriculture, and at the prospects based upon i:. That such a foundation warrants such a superstructure, we have fully j >hown. And our v;ew of it, depends upon no imited examination or partial deductions, rhc movement that has been made, has been j | l movement of mind, and with the principles [ ( >f philosophy as their lamp, its professors and ! jracticahsts have become students in the store- ! louse of nature. Henceforward, the prospects ! )f agriculture are the prospects of science ; I ind its future progress, will be the progress < )f universal knowledge ? I ? * * * * * * ? . Although writing currento alamo, there is a | [uestion which I feel inclined to ask, and an- . iwer, before I close this paper. It is, what s the American farmer to learn from a onsideration of the progress and prospects of 1 English agriculture ? s It was the saying of an ancient author, that j here never was a book from which something j jocid, might not be derived, so, in the following ( nanner, this imperfect sketch may not be un iseful. As the history of one man is t he pro ' ihecy.of another, as his iife is the record of cer- 5 ain principles of conduct tpsted by experience, 1 in i as thatrecord shows what should be adop- i ed, and what rejected, if we would pursue, the < jalh of our predecessor ; 6o a ylance at the pro- j jress. and prospective condition ot English ( tgriculture affords a lesson of instruction to he Am -rican agriculturist. In that sketch, ' le sees cause and effect developed ; if, there- ' ore, there be aught therein, which is de. ' rable, the cultivation of the same means, .vi11 produce the s*me result; for science id | jniversal ; she regardi not tlie ties of kindred | )r nationality, nor confines her gift9 to the , old"' or "new world," provided her demands which are equally universal and unalterable, 1 ae satisfied. If, ihen, the achievements nt " English agriculture be worth aiming at, the ! ^a*h which hasbeen pursued, is worthy of be- I ing pursued again; or, in plainer words, h?? I oresent improved condition of the science in | England, will incite tne American farmer to ?rnploy the same means to attain the same ' gnd ; and this is the more likely, because A- I merican agriculture has advantages which I are peculiar to itself. Thus, in the first place, ( t is not an old practice, and there is con9equently, no fixed spirit of imitation or custom to l remove, before advancement can be made. 2d. As this i9 the case, and as tnany of her farmers are strangers to the country, and to | prevailing customs, they are compelled to make , a practice of observation; lo the adoption of which, at an early era, China owes her present agricultural excellence ; and to her obedience, though late, to the same principle, England as we have ehown, i? indebted for " the progress and prospects" of her agriculture. 3d. Having, in many cases brokenfrom fainily and fatherland associations, these farmers, must possess some energy of mind, a qualification which will, at least, teach them M to know themselves," the first step to knowledge and induce them to adopt every means of improvement which is in their power. 4th. The American farmer is generally the freeholder or owner of the farm he cultivates. The improvements he makes, are, therefore, ii? own, without doubt, and his best policy is o increase the value of his property. That these influences are in operation at I he present moment, this volume of transacions," is sufficient evidence. It is impossible, herefore, that a glar.cc at English experience 1 :an he uninteresting or useless. J. U. ( North De'ghcon, Welkerby, Yorkshire, Dec. 31, 1941. From the Soulh-Wrstern Farmer. Utica, 10th July, 1842. Messrs Editors:?I have read with much pleasure, on the pages of your val- 1 unhle paper, the communication signed Farmer," on the subject of curing cotton; and in reply to a previous article of my own. It is a subject which has hitherto caused hut little enquiry in Hinds, allho' " of equal or greater importance than the i /.aiititpo r?f th? nrticle. or anv other calling 1 u Vl *"w I - / o the attention of the cotton planter. I i hcg leave to state that there is not so i great a difference in our plan as "Far. mer" supposes, particularly in the picking and drying process. He suns until the dew is "dried cut;" I. until the "seed crack." Now, if the dew be "dried out" of the ripe cotton, the seed will undoubtedly be hard. There is however, particularly in the early part of the season, a good deal of green cotton that requires j drying, although but little or no dew J will have fallen on it, which would otherwise become blue in colour, although "Farmer" should move or scatter it ubout in his house once a day for two months. By the "din^y red" I had re-| j ference to the colour given to cotton ; by the plan pursued by a great majority of our fanneis, viz: housing it without any sunning whatever. It > then "heats," and I have absolutely seen it smoke. "Farmer" is certainly well aware that cotton, allho' as dry as sun could dry it, will, when thrown into a bulk, go through ; a sweat. 1 let it sweat, uninterrupted, ( when, not only the dew is dried out of j the fibre, but the sap out of the green seed. The vegetable oil is then pure nnd imparts to the fibre ''softness, toughness, pliancy," anJ a better color than a steam of dew, sap and oil combined. The reason of its being "impossible to mako fine cotton of that suffered to remain in tho field for a length of time" is, [that it injures the body and strength of the 1 fibre, which "Farmer" is w illing t?? allow, i It also acquires a dingy blue colour?im- I parted perhaps by the drippings of dow off I the leaves impregnated by the colouring ! 1 matter of the same; by the boll of that | portion adhering thereto, nnd by the particles of dried I4af falling on it, which , all the heating thaf "Farmer1' cculd givo ' ? i - ! rt vrouiG nor cnang*. \ f - -'3* % p" cents, a difference which I am convinced would he made by tho alteration of soma Gins I haveaeen, and there then would he a gain of one thousand dollars, save perhaps fifty, seventy.five or even a hun. dred that he would pay the Ginwrigbt* R. NUTT. CORNSTALK SUGAR. # Wc understand that one of our subscribers living beyond the Mississippi springs has a fine crop of fifteen acres corn, sown broadcast, with which he intends to make the experiment of supplying hi* plantation with sugar and molasses. We wish liitn the utmost success, and ^ope he will let us hear from him. Cf Mr, Ellsworth and Mr. Webb, in their articles upon this subject, are correct, of which we have no reason to doubt, the time is not far distant when tho sugar plantations of Louisiana may be turned to some other business?for every family in the U. Slates will ho able to manufacture its own sugar and molasses. From the Connecticut Farmer's Gazette. A CHAPTER ON COMPOSTS. Mr. Storer,? Notwithstanding the great value in which this kind of manure is held hy most of the farmers, yet it ia believed by us that there arc yet many farmers who do not make a single shovelful of this Compost manure in a year.? ?To all such we would say, make a beginning this season, and my word for it you will never regret it, nor the time spent in this business, which will add nnd increase the fertility of your lands. The business of Compost making is so well understood by most of the farmers, that it needs no particular description. It is made by mixing together rich sods, wash of the roads, swamps, mud and muck, sUhlc manure, green weeds, and all kinds of vegetable matter, with a mix. turo of lime, ashes, or piaster, as the case may bo. We have lor two seasons past made about forty loads single, oftiiis valuable manure, and we find it good for every kind of crop, particularly for a top dressing for corn and potatoes, meadows, and the like. Not having sufficient room in our barn yard for making the Compost heap, we make it by the road-side, having a good wall for the back side of the heap. We then raise it up to the top of the wall, nnd then, after we have made it of sufficient width,and length, we turf it up at the side and the ends. It happens that we have not a swamp upon our farm, so that in making our compost we do not have swamp mud or muck. However, as a substitute for this, we go into the wood* and get leaves, and scrape eff one or two inches off the top of the ground, which togather w ith the half decayed vegetable matter, forms some of the best materials for mixing with the compost heap, that wo have ever tried. l#imc or ashes sboulu be used in making eompas?l*a*tHey help to decompose the vegetable matter, and also to make the whole mass thorotrjb. iy decomposed. Somo experiment* have l>een made, with both ashes and lime, for a test; and the result was in favor of ash. es,as heing the best. We intend to try * ? -in Ii I r ? r.iif r AmilMt. astiica iui? sviisfiii iii iimnn.jj ,? ? There atfe several kioq* of -< \ ' * V# 1 -<"/* * The case of Messrs M. and P. does not in my opinion settle the question in dispute. M. might have sold his cotton for nine cents, P. foi ten?while Messrs. A. B. and C., farmers pursuing my plan, havo been on the same day selling theirs for fifteen. Now. Messrs. Editors, I was also raised where a considerable nttcntion was paid to the quality of cotton. I have also "picksd, ginned, helped press," drove the horse, told the cotton, and, "infandum Regina spent the money. Although I may not ie so old a planter as "Farmer," nor live m so long a creek, yet I will bet my bobtail pony against his sorrel horse, that, f I should not out-write him, I will next fail out-sell him in the Now Orleans market. In conclusion, I will remark that Mr. Blailock, a gentleman formerly of the same country with myself, and who, by he by. is well informed on those things, nforms ino that I have neglected to menion, in my last communication, a very mportant matter in relation to the construction of the Gin Stands used by my ather and many others, whose cotton com* nanded the highest prices, viz: that the rag cylinder had a diameter of twelve or thirteen incho> and the brush full twenty}ight, being much greater than those a good deal in use throughout this county, lie thinks a cylinder and brush of thatsize will make better cotton than the smaller. Messrs Broomfield dc Woolly of Utica, extensive Manufacturers of Gin Stands, think differently, yet are anxious to have the experiment tried. Certainly, the next thing of importance to the curing of :nt(on is the ginning. A few dollars ipent in repairing the Gin will bo more than doubly replaced in the difference it) the sale of the cotton. Suppose the difference in the salo of the article would inly he a cent, thero would then be a gain to him who made fifty bales of two hnnrlrod rlnlLin! and onlv think of four