CHERAW GAZETTE
4 a a a t- :*f - PEE
DEEfFARMEfi. VOLUME
IV. CHERAW, SOUTH-CARLOINA, FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 1, 1839. NUMBER LI.
- - - ? - - ? 'i
SSs 9SA9&SASf9
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOl
TERMS:
If paid within three months, - . $3 01
II paid within three months after the
olose of the year, 3 5'
If paid within twclvo months after the
closo of the year, ...... 4 0l
If not paid within that time, ... 501
A company of eight new subscribers at
earn 5 po3t o.Hce, whose names are forwar
together, and accompanied by the cash, shall
f ontitled to the paper for ?20*; and a compe
of fifteen new subscribers for ?30.
No paper to be discontinued but at the opt
' of the editor till arrearages are paid.
Advertisements not excoeding sixteen lie
inserted for one dollar the first time, and fi
* cents, each subsequent insertion.
Persons sending in advertisements are rcqu
t?*. .o specify the number of times they aro tc
iuse'ted; otherwise they will be continued
ordered out, and charged accordingly.
UTTue 1'ubUgo most he oaid ou all coinu
n'catjoy. ^ l
Prom the k out hern Agriculturist.
What ought the Agricultural Convonti
do ? Being an Answer to a Lett -r on i
subject, addressed by one of the De
gates to thf Editor of tki Southern Ag
culturist.and now published by reques
My Dear Sir,?I cheerfully comply w
your request in suggesting ''what will
or ought to he the subjects upon which t
Agricultural Convention, to be hoideri
Columbia in November next, should act
doing so, I must premise that thesuggnstic
are not wholly my own ; but the result
frequent conversations had dur'ng the p
summer with agricultural gentlemen throuj
out different portions of the State. Agai
nothing which I suggest can the objecti
of novelty be urged. Impressed with t
belief that we are to learn and not to tea
1 have merely presented what ofh'T Sfa
have don*1, and leave the wisdom of I
plans to recommend themselves.
Never were our agriculturists better p
pared for useful mid concerted action F
several years back, have I in iny editor
relations with tltern recommended a'Gene
Convention, but not until the present ha
they received the recommendation withsu
almost entire unanimiv. They have n<
shaken off their slumber, inquiry is evr
where afloat, and it is with a view of me
ing the demand that I consent to your i
of 11)is letter, should it in your esteem int
publication.
In its memorial, the Convention sltoi
recommend to the Legislature
First, The appointment of an Agricultu
and Geological Surveyor of the Stale. T
vast u ilityvf such an officer to our agric
turists is best exemplified, when the dut
he would he called upon to discharge r
stated. He would travel through each d
trict of the State in routine, and survey, 1
geographical stale and circumstances.
Under this head, observations and i
marks predicated of the observations of oi
ers, rrvghf be made as to the state of i
climate throughout the year?its effects up
animal nnd vogetnble life, and its suhah
ness to the successful cultiva'ion and pi
duction of different staples. The soil m\
erals, nnd face of iho d>?trict might be at
considered ; with a view of presenting
our planters tlrose tests of the kind arid clu
acter of their lands, which are far too exp'
sive for individual accomplishment.
2d. Sta'e of Properly. Underthis he
observations would be made as to the ext<
of plantations in each district, whether lar
or small; whether owned and cultivated
resident or non-resident planters?by wl
kind oflabor?whether by slave or free
and if by both, the relative productivem
f each.
3d. Buifdimgs or Rural Architectu
Observations might here be made as to t
-f=:ylo of building in each district. Wlietl
best suhed to the nature of the climate, I
materials for building, or the purposes
which such buildings arc in'ended. Un<
this head an intelligent nnd observant s
veyor might present suggestions, wh
could no: fiil of producing among our pit
ters an improved taste in the constructi
and nrrangement of their plantation bui
ings.
4:b. Implements of Husbandry. An ei
meration of these might he made?n
ones, nnd proper improvements on the c
might be suggested?by the adoption
which, much labor and time wou>d be sav
that are now injudiciously expended.
5th. Labor or Power. What kind ui
should be s ated?whether manual, hor
mule, oxen, or steam, and what sort b
adapted to the condition of the district.
6th. Live Stock. These ought to rece'
particular attention. The different bre<
should be noticed, and the mode of raisi
and feeding, whether best suited to existi
circumstances.
7ih. Improvements. Under this he
very particular r marks should he made up
the roads, bridges, ferries, water and la
carriages of the district?and everv mei
of improving the same, whether by Sir
Corporation, or individual exertion, sho
be suggested.
These are some of the duties which
Agricultural nnd Geological Surve1
might discharge. I grant, that they app
numerous, and even beyond the acqui
ment of one man ; but the difficulty is o
in our own imagination. Similar surv
hnve been made in England, France, I
gium, Germany, and are now going on a
cessfully in Russia and ot'ier ponions
Europe. In our own country, they have b
partially conducted in several of the S a
and arc now displaying their immense u
ry in 'he improved condition of the ogri<
ture of Massachusetts. In that State,
I surveyor, whose duties are similar to those
r . I have just enumerated, has commenced his
work Already has he gone over two or
three counties, and published his re|>ori of
3 their Geological and Agricultural condition.
The amount of practical information which
these reports embody is inappreciable ; and
5 while everv farmer of Massachusetts must
9 f? e! himself benefited, the agriculture of the
the whole Union must be improved by them.
In a recent journey through the State the
iny demand for such an officer as I have described,
met me at every stage. Every
ion where uncultivated so Is. with porhans rich
minerals under there, lay valueless for the
1?S' want of some competent person to analyze
^ and expose their riches. Farmers wire
ics- ?ll about leaving their exhausted lands, and
>be taking from the country their la or and
till wealth; when just beside them, may have
been opened ho secret cause of <41 lh?U* A<4*
>U~ t Wfrwd'd'Mppftttteifefd. TVstab^one out of
9 an hundred similar instances, a distinguished
agriculturist assured me of the fact, that
. severa' years ago, at his own individual ex^
pense he had a portion of soil in his neigh*
borhood examiner!, with the view of noting
wha< Component part it wanted, which ren\
dered it so unuropitious to the cul ivotion of
111 the fine cotton. The absent pan was dis
.or covred, an further examination pre-ented
it in an adjacent and more spot. Since
which period, from this discovery alon*?,
' I lands in that vicinity have been enhanced
msr in value at least fifty per cent. Let me re?
p"at that this is only one out of an hundred
instances of th?* kind I could adduce; and
, * any one who has paid atiention to the histons
ry of agriculture, could mention many
more. Tne example of Count Clmp'nl, of
T France, should convince the most skeptical.
' That distinguished chemist purchased poor
tos lands?examined and tended them upon
Ie scicn ific principles, and while others about
him were reaping nothing but tares and thisr?*
ties, his lands yielded him fifty and un hundred
fold.
ia Secondly?The Convention should rer'
commend the appointment of an Agriculv?
tural Professorship in our South Carolina
c" College. No Seminary of learning is complete
without such a professorship; and no
!ry well educated man, particularly in a country
?*" like ours, should consider himself ncoomls?
phshed without knowing at least something
*r,t ! of the elements of agriculture. Such has
, not been the sentiment of gentlemen heretoJ'^
j fore. They attend college, pass through
a course of the classics, belle lettres, mat lie.
ra* matics and a few other of tho sciences, and
',R re urn homu Unowrng tis tnrtc ofihc pi n.u'*
ciplea of that science, by means of which
108 they are rlotlvd, fed, end educated, as ifit
l.re were a knowledge of booaish acquirement,
'8* and only fit for their s'aves. Even in the
sf* EuropcanJUn'versities, years ago, ugricuL
ture was deemed unworty of being taught
re* as a science. But this sentiment of a feudal
age has gradually worn away, and for an
educated European not to know some thing
,on of Bo any, Natural Philosophy and Chemisle
(ry? ho essential sciences which compose
rP' that of agricuhure, is at present as remurktrb
able as formerly, such acqu ren?et>U? were
wonderful and liable io pcrsecu ion.
'? It is ofien urged that ths planter may
ir* pursue his vocation without such an elem*
mentnry education. So indeed he may, and
so may the physician pursue successful his
proP-ssion without the study of anatomy, the
rjnt materia medics, or any of tho other branch.
esof his he encc?hut in both cases must
1>.V they be considcr?*d quacks, for wtiom for
,nt tune and good circumstances have done
? more than the results of an enlightened exp'-r.cnce.
Thirdly?The Convention should recom
rc' mend the establishment of an Agricultural
1 ~ - - * j i
ln" School in same heaimy ana cewr?i pumun
,er of the State* To this school should be at'^e
tarhod a sufficient extent of amble lane',
f?r on which might be conducted different agri.
^er cultural experiments. And while in the
j,r- school, the ele ments of agriculture should
ich | be taught, its practicul effects should he tesin
1 ted in the fields, under the eyes and by the
i?n labor of the students themselves. As to
the decided utility of such schools, we are
not without example, that of VonThaer at
1U- Moegahn, in Prussia, is well known to most
ew readers, and in our own county the Vnn
R?n>aller Agricultural School in New
York, and the farm school nt Thompson
ed? Island, near Boston, afford full promise that
such a system of education is neither time
nor money thrown away. The latter school
CA. rni> tlio oiinnnr' anrt education
" *' "oa maiiiuicu IUI i?u
>est of orphan and vagrant boys. Ti?ey there
receive an excellent English education ; and
ive while they are taught the scientific princi?ds
pies of agriculture, they follow out its details
[ng as a means of supporting themselves nnd
ing the institution. The plan has succeeded
beyond the most sanguine anticipation of its
ad, founders, nnd I speak with a knowledge of
>on | facts, when ! say inat in listening to the ex.
tnd | amination of this school, most of our plan,
ins j ters would find then.selves put to the blush
i'e, at their own deficiency of professional
uld knowledge, in contrast with that of many of
the students who as yet have not numbered
an fifteen years. In a s ate like ours, where
por ovrseers are to he educated, their character
ear formed, and iheir habits fixed?of what Hire.
calculable advantages would bo tho crea.
nly tion of such an ins itution.
ays Fourthly?The Convention should reJnl
commend the entire Reformation of our
uc- Free School system. In every disirict in
of the S ate schools would be supported ou' of
oen the public fund. And in theso schools the
tcs, elements of agriculture with the other scien.
tiji- ces should be taught in addition to which,
rul-1 some simple system of military tactics
a should be prepared, whereby the students
might be constantly and efficiently drilled.
Objections may be raised to the expense
which such a reformation might incur, but
when we reflect that the child of every citizen
will be thus educated alike, a id with regard
to our own domestic policy and institutions?all
objection must vanish in tlte
manifest advantages of the scheme. Pride
of State, if nothing else, should awaken us
upon this subject
Fifthly?A ihorough remodeling of our
Militia Patrol and slave laws should be recommended.
As they now stand, they are
confused and altogether unsuifed to our condition.
Sixthly?The annual appropriation of a
sum of money should be recommended to
be drawn by a State society, composed of
delegates from the agricultural societies of
each district, to bedis:ribut,,d by said society
in premiums, for the production of
aricles as may tend to advancement of the
agriculture of the State.
Every planter in the State might become
a competitor for such premiums, and n spanfica
ion of the production of the article for
which he competes may be handed in under
oath, by the delegate who represents his district.
If an agricultural school bo es'ablished,
the meetings of such a socteiy might be held
once a year at the school: at which time an
examination of the scholars might take
place before the delegates. The offers for
premiums compared?and if possible sfiecitnens
or descriptions of them preserved in
a proper la bora.ory or museum for the future
use of the school and its visiters.
That such an appropriation of premiums
tumiM imn'i.i (Trout mtprntl In OHr HfTficul^
OTWUIVJ >?Vf |SU| I aM.w. - w- .w . .
tural pursuits, and be the direct m-ans of in*
troducing permanent improvements amongst
us, has been amply illustrated by the exam*
pie of other States.
These at: ike me as some of the most important
subjects which should occupy the
time nnd deliberation of the Convention.?
Upon them, among other wants of the planters,
the Legislature should he mcmoralized
?not in a tone which may imply that we
ask as a favor, but that we in justice claim
us n right. Let the Convention be unanimous?let
net incidental questions consume
its s"asion in idle or wrangling debate, and
;lie result cannot fail of proving highly auspicious
to the interest of the S ate.
Respectfully yours,
Charleston October 1839.
From the Southern Agriculturist.
EXPERIMENTS IN CULTIVATING CORN.
Barnwell, Sept. 28, 1838.
Mr. Editor,?Allow me to record in your
valuable work the result of my experiments
this s 'ason with five kinds of corn, and with
two rows of each. The beds were five
feet apart and the corn was planted in chops
in the dleys of the las? year's cotton beds,
every four feet on the 21st of last March.
Nos. 1 and 2, with yellow West-India
flint corn. In each chop of No. 1, two
grains ; and in each chop of No. 2, four
grains were dropped.
in No. 3. two grains : and m Na. 4. four
giamsof North-Carolina white gourd seed
corn were dropped.
In No. 5, two grains; and in No. 6, four
grains North-Carolina flint corn were dropped.
In No. 7, two grains, and in No 8, four
grains of white flint corn (obtained from
Alfred linger, Esqure) were dropped.
In No. 9, two grains; nnd in No. 10,
four grains of Baden corn were dropped.
Ov?r euch chop where two grams were
dronped, onequnrt of cotton seed was placed,
and over each chop with the four grains of
corn, two quirts of cotton seed were place).
The corn was soaked for three days and
two nigh s, in a strong solution of salt|>etrp.
It was well cultivated witluhe hoe and plough.
The drought much iujured ;h? plants.Jand
these t?jn rows were not suckered. I am
induced to conclude the corn was much injured
by these suckers, as ihey produced no
corn.
On the fourth of this month, these ten rows
1 were shelled and measured, after having
been gathered about ten days. The product
of sound corn was thus :?
No. 1, hnd 120 ears, nn I made 15 qnar s,
which is at the rate of 19 bushels and 7
quarts to the acre.
No. 2, hud 134 ears, and made 17 qtinr's,
or ut the rate of 21 bushels and 25 quarts
to the acre.
No. 3, had 111 oars, and made 21 quarts,
which is equal to 26 bushels and 29 quarts
to an acre.
No. 4, had 163eir8.and made 25 quarts,
or at the rite of 32 bushels and 1 quart to
the acre.
No. 5, ha 1109 oars, and made 14 quarts,
which is equal to 17 bushels and 31) quarts
an acre.
No. 6, had 116 ears, and made 14 quarts
and one pint, or equal to 18 bushels, 19
quarts, and 1 pint to the acre.
No. 7, hnd 117 ears, and made 23 quarts,
or at the rate of 29 bushels and 12 quarts
to the aero.
No. 9, had 141 ears, and made 29 quarts,
or at the rate of 35 bushels an-. 28 quars to
to the acre.
No. 9, had 194 eats, and made 27 quarts,
or at the rale of 34 bushels and 19 quarts
to the acre.
No. 10, had 262 ears, and made 38
quarts, or at the rate of 48 bushels and 22
quarts to the acre.
1 calculate each row of corn ns the 41st
part of an ncre, (210 feet square) leaving
, 2 J feet ou side of the first and last row of
i the acre. The Nos. which I wished to
i have 104 stalks of cornf lest about 14 stalks
ft each row, and those I wished to contain
908 stalk* of corn, lost from 40 to 50 stalks
ro each row.
The lluger corn i9 at least two sizes largefjLas
it respects the stalk, length of the
cob and of the blades, than any I have ever
planted, and is a fine white flint grain. The
yellow West-India corn is an early corn,
very sound, and the first fit to grind. Those
ten rows of corn wore in a field of Baden.
I am, with respect, your ob't sorv't
JOHN S. BELLINGER.
If is with pleasure we give place to the
foregoing article of Dr. Bellinger. His experiments
are exceedingly useful; and only
Want the h-st of a more extensive trial to
render them worthy of general adoption.?
We are convinced that the proper wav to
make large crops of com in our State is to( r
mtirfbre highly and to pbtbfcloserBy such
apian, we have less land to attend through,
out the entire season, less trouble in gathering
the corn, and much less care in guarding
it from birds. We have ourselves tried ,
similar experiments this season, the result
of which shall be made public in due time, i
Editor.
i
From the Southern Banner.
AlvaradoCotto.v.? In accordance with I
our promise made l ist week, we copy below
an article from the 44 Southern Silk Journal |
and Farmor's Register," in article relative
to this new species ofcotton, which is begin- i
ning, to attract the attention of our farmers i
and planters. Since our las;, uc have had
the pleasure of examining the small stock ' i
raised by Gov. Lumpkin ilie present son** j <
son, nod our estimate of its value has beeh ' <
generally enclianced. Judging from the
spe cimens we have seen, and the statements
of those w hose experiments enabled litem to
form a correct opinion, we are induced to
regard its discovery as a valuable acquisition
to the wealth of the South ; and are
persuaded that it only needs to be known to
be eagerly sought after.
One (act connected with it its culture will
make ij peculiar!) vulunble to the planters
of this region und the Cherokee country,
and other places in the same latitude. It
will mature in three or four weeks less than
ordinary cotton?thus amoving one of the
prea' obstacle s to the culture of this article
in this part of the S.nlc.
i When should be pleasd to see the experiment
thorougly tested thoroughly tested
on a more extensive scale than has heretofora
been practicable for the want of seed,
with which we ran furnish those desirous
to niake the trial.
* From the Southern Silk Journal.
Alvarado, or Multi-B illed Cotton.
?We havi seen u specimen of this new
species of Cotton it was in the hands
Dr. Coo per, from Harris county, and may
well be considered n vegetable wonder. The
stalk was abou' 14 inches long, having
short limbs prcjecling at distances of from
(wo to four inches apart, 011 the extremities
of which ueie from one to five bolls o' matured,
Cotton of a superior staple. The
1 most experienced cotton p'an ers present
pronounced it toe most ,
they had ever witnessed. This stalk con.
tuiued on the at>ove short space, only 14
bolls, and was sta'ed not to he a fair specimen
of the growth of th-* Alvarado Co-ton.
In confirmation of this, we pc.reive in the
Macon Georgia Telegraph, that " Mr Stephen
S. Wrighl, of Knoxville, Crawford
County, of this State, has a few stalks from
seed obtained of Dr. Cooper of Harris.
They are about 6 feet high, on one 96, on
an other 110 good bolls, besides forms that
would not matur -, were counted. One contains
27 matured bolls on a single loot!" It
is by some called okra or twin cott< ?n on accouut
of its r-semblance to the' okra plant,
nnd also 011 account of its productiveness ;
but it is named Alvarado, on account of its
having been originally discovered on the
Alvarado River, in Mexico. The bolls are
about the same size as those of the ordinary
cotton ; and perhaps contains a greater
weight of seed ; nevertheless Dr. Cooper
assures us tltnl bis crop will produce at
least 2.509 lbs. s-wl cotton 'o the acre the
present year, notwithstanding one third of
his croo hus been destroyed by the drought.
He has in his possession a certificate from
a gentleman of Alabama,stating that hit
small crop this year h is produced at the
rale or 4,USJU pounhs to Die acre.
NUTRITIVE QUALITIES OF CHARCOAL.
Though the importance of mixing Charcoal
with the food of animals, particularly
that of *wm<\ lias been generally acknowledged,
and U8 benefits extensively tested,
still it has been supposed that it only acted
as a corrective to the acid tendency 01 food,
and facilitated fattening, by improving the
health of the animal. Some experiments
are, however, on record, which would seem
to show that charcoal acts a mora important
part in the matter, than has usually been as
signed to it.
In 1793, a family being driven from New
York by the fever, were absent about six
or eight weeks before it was deemed prudent
to return. A number of fowls confined
in a loft in the workshop of the house
were forgotton at tiie time of leaving, and
as it wa9 known thore was nothing provided
for th-ir subsistence, it was expected on the
return, they would bo found starved to
death. To the astonishment of all, the
fowls wore found alive and fat, though there
was nothing upon which they could have
fed, except a quantity of charcoal and shav.
' ings; water being supplied from the grindstone
through.
These facts coming to the knowledge of
mmmmmmmmmmmaammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmam
a gentleman in New York, as we learn
from the Recorder, he instituted the following
experiment. He placed a turkey in a
box or enc osure, 4 feet long, 2 feet wide,
and 3 or 4 feet high, excluded light as much
as could be done, and allowed a free circu.
latioti of air, and fed the turkey with soft
brick, broken fine pounded charcoal, nnd
six grains of corn per day. The box was
kept locked. At the end of the month, the
turkey was ki led in the presence of several
gentleman, was large and heavy, and on be.
ing opened was found tilled with fat. Nothing,
on dissection, was found in the gizzard
and entrails but charcoal and hrick. Last
winter the experiment was repeated, and
with the same successSeveral
years since, in fi ting out one of
the Liverpool traders at New York, a pig
on board was missing, and was supposed to
have been lost. The cargo was taken on
hoard, stowed, and the vessel sailed. It
was now discovered that the pig was alive
in the coal, hoie, but as he could not be
got at readily, it was cone dod te leave him
to bis fate. He remained in this rctrrnt un.
til the passage was made, when his pigship
was found to be not only alive and well, bu'
materially improved in condition, though
there w >s nothing, coal excepted, he could
have swallowed.
When it is remembered that wood, sugar,
nnd several other substances, soni" of
w hich are most nutritive, are compounded of
nen rly the same originul elements, it would
seem possum*, uy animal cnemisry, to mnvert
them to the purpose of sustaining life ;
though all experiments with wood or char
coal have failed. The (Herman chemists haveconverted
wood into very palatable bread,
hy roas'ing and pulverizing; but calcination,
it has been supposed, would destroy whatever
powers of nutrition wood might i-riginally
contain. The chemical action of
vegetable seems unable to produce the leas'
effect on coal, and not the least particle of
it h?8 ever been found in the structure of
vegetables, though mixed with the earth
and water in which the plants nrc growing,
in the form of the most impalpable powder.
Whether animal chemistry is able to do
what vegetable organization cannot, remains
to be seen ; though if there is no mis.
take in the statements alluded to, it would
seem probable that this intractable substance,
is, in souio way made subservient
to the nuri-ion ofanimds.
Gcnnesce Farmer.
From the Edinburgh Farmer's Magazine.
LETTERS FROM 4 YoUNG SCOTCH FARMER, AT
SERVICE TO HIS FATHER,?CONTINUED.
Class 2nd.
May 9. My residence with Mr. J imei
son continues to furnish me with 'ns'rucrion
in every branch in rural work ; and nothing
has occurred to obstruct or lessen fiie en
joy men i repeatedly express- d in my former
letiers. My master is kind and communicative.
My fellow s<-rvan:s join in promo
ting his views to improve and instruct m'-;
and hitherto the slightest difference has not
taken place betwixt ine and any of the numerous
body of pec?|?l? belonging to this ex
tensive and well regulated undertaking.
Yesterday Mr. Jem-eson desired me to
accompany him in his rid'* to examine the
winter sown wrieuts. The break of one
hundred acres, after summer fallow, upon
which grass seeds were lately sown, looked
astonishingly well. It had been thinly seeded,
it practice Mr. Jamil-son is fond of upon
well prepared ground, a d was tillering or
stooling with the g-ea cst vigor. The ear
is already fully lorined ; though Mr. Jamieson
says it w i I not come out of the shot blade
in less than a month, fie added- that smut
or black may be observed in this early
stage,?though alter the most attentive in.
vestigation the smallest a go of that abominable
disorder coul l not be discovered.
The field of wheat afier beans appears to
be cnusideraUy thicker seeded than the one
alter fallow ; and the reason assigned by
Mr. Jurnieson for ihe difference was, that
upon a bean stubble, the plants rarely gather
so freely us those upon a well wrought
f How fr- sh impregnated by manure. 1 no
:i ed, however, that tins field was green
and thriving ?that the blade was broad,
uiul n most places twisted something like
h s rew. The soil is h heavy loam which
Mr. J-tmieson says is better calculated for
currying superior crop*, both us lo quantity
and quuli'y, than of the other varieties.
Our lambs were handled last we k, and
prov? d^to the satisfaction of the butcher.?
II- marked one hundred thai are to be removed
to-morrow. I think that Howard
said twenty score were sold, and that th?* re.
mauuJer are to be weaned a d hogged ?
They are going with tlioir damn upon rich
grass; and also received ruta bnga till about
tue ni'ddle of April.
JSilioi has got all the turnip land cross
ploughed and is now employed at the surnm'T-fallow.
He has already run over some
of the bean land with the serap'T or Dutch
horse.hoe and has set apart eight horses,
and the like number of men, for ploughing
and cleaning he bean and turnip crops of
this year. The best and steadiest hands
are selected for this purpose?, ns it requires
dexterity and attention. Of this husbandry,
Mr. Jamieson ha9 promised me a full description
at a leisure hour. My corps have
of late been much employed in scouring
ditches and cleaning hedges, on which matters
Mr. Jamieson bestows mueh atteo'ion.
They ore thinned a little by a draft of four
to Elliot for his bean ploughs; and th? se
were men who bad been tnJftihi's of receiving
similar employment in former seasons.
May 15. Hitherto I have said nothing
ab ut Mr Jamieson's thrashing machine,
therefore s;,till now communicate some parlicubrs
concerning that noble implement,
imparted by my friend Fairbrain, to whom
the sole direction and superintendence of it
is entrusted. The machine is wrought generally
by water, but has a six.horse impelling
power also added, which prevents inconvenience
in the driest season ; though,
except in the summer months, and sometimes
in autumn, a full supply of water is
rarely wanting. The ou'er wheel is large,
and placed on it gentle declivity, affording
the impelling power its full weight, and
throwing off the water cleverly, without
hanging on or obstructing the volieity of
| the wheel Uy remaining in the tail dam ?
The barn or house in which the com
thrashed is of dimensions, being fifty feet
in lengljj, twentyffouimbiyadih, and twenty
feet in height of sjjJe.ltalls above the
lower floor, which givdf? large gtowoge for
thrashing corn and offil, fill tlfine'ifi allowed
for cleaning the whole by hand-farmers for
the market. This is a convenience, .1 am
1 told, too much neglected in oil the original
!)ou8"8 ; iind owing to the want of it, thrushing
must often be giveti up, till the offal or
broke is arranged and put in less bulk. 1
am informed that with wind machines, the
w ant of barn ro >m has been found a serious
disadvantage, as often the impelling power
is lost before matters can be put in order lor
using it. Out to reiurn from this digression.
The drum of Mr. Jumieson's machine is
thr>*e f*et in diameter, five feet in length,
armed with (our scutchers or beaters, and
moves witli the velocity of 2400 feet per
minute. To work this machine in a com.,
plete style, two men are required to (eed the
rollers; three eirls or boys to open the
sheaves, and hand them to the thrashing
! !>?> ird ; the same number of women to riddle
;hc grain in the under apartment, and four
men to remove and stack the straw, Geoerallv
n woman also is employed to clean
I tl?r eh iff house and keep the offal ill order,
j Tho corn is brought to the barn as wanted,
by two ono-horso carts closely boarded. ~
Tiit'v usually have full employment; and
as ? man is required to cast or take down
the stark, altogether sixteen hands and two
horses are employed; though, in point of
fact, ilie wages of two men?and three girls
ran only he charged Hgninat tlie machine,
because the work of the others would have
heori equally called for, had the gra n been
thrashed in the old way by Hails.
T lie saving to the owner, when such mn?
hi -es are employed, mu*', even in the first
nstanc*, be considerable ; and, when the
perfect way in which tho grain m separated
from the strnw is taken into account per#
haps it may lie equal to one-fifth or one six'h
I tic gross produce. Fairbairn maintains
hnl the saving is greater upon whutr
which formerly, when hard flails were used,
was with every attention seldom thrashed
clean, especially in cold raw seasons. Ho
adds, that one hundred bolls, or fifty quarters
of wheat may be thrashed in a day of
eight hours, unless the grain has been
slootrei! or mildewed ; and ihat with oats a
still greater quun'.iy may be turned out. As
the m icli n-* is protided with two pair of
faun rs, the grain is, in many cases, fit for
mark't alter being once riddled; but tho
u-uul custom is to run it again through hand
fanners, Mr. J.iniie>on being very nice in
dressing ol Ids grain that is to be marketed.
May 20. Ye?terduy and to dav ten acres
| of the turnip break were sown with runt
baga or Swedish turnip fur late spriug food.
The heaviest part of the bieak was selecn-d
for this purpose, Mr. Jamieson being of
opinion, iliat a sirong loam, if incumbent on
a dry bottom, is better calculated for ruta
haga than lighter soils. The ground, bud
got three ploughings, was harrowed, rolled
hand picked, lid it was perfectly reduced,
| and free of root weeds, when it was formed
into drills with 27 inch in:ervals by n bout
of the plough. Into the interval of these
drills plenty of dung was deposited, (Mr*
Jamieson says that ruta bnga requires almost
double tiie quantify ot dung that is
sufficient for common turnips ;) after which
the drills were split, and tho dung complete,
ly covered, when ihc seed-barrow was run
upon the top, which finished tho operation.
Mr. Jumi -son mentioned two particulars
which des rveattention when ruta baga is
hown. 1st, Thai,-in forming drills, the
i plough out to go deeper than when common
I .urnips arc m ended, so as a proper bed may
j tie made for the extra quantity of dung
i given otherwise it will not be sufficiently
covered. 2d/y. Thut enrly sowing is ud
vnntageous, so hs the root may have time
lo arrive at maturity, Ha added, that ruta
baya is a dull grow mg plant, making slow
j progress it) iis passage; *?nd that, if the
ticKi yellow turmp runntuiu its character,
he is not sure but he will abandon the 5cul?
ture of ruta baga altogether.
The remaiader of the break intended for
turni s (90 ucr-s) is in a forward state of
prepurauon, and is now harrowed down so
procure the vegetation of annual weeds,'?
Fite plain summer.fallow break ia erosaploughed,
and receiving the full advantage
of the present dry weather. I presume it
will iir'm this state nil ine seed is over;
through Elliot says, ifn slxjwer comes soon,
lie will give it a trimming with bis harrows,
so as the root weeds may be loosened, and
the growth of annuals forwarded. My
squad, now reduced to six men, are turning
dunghills from morning to nigh^ except
when detached for incidental purposes,'
May 27. Sir. Jamiesoa has just furn- jk
ishod me with a circumstantial detail of hit>9
bean husbandry ; some particulars of which
must be interesting to you* According **
; his mode of erhpping, this plant gen^pPf