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THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

bacco on. By the application of common putrescent manure, it would be very doubtful if such land would produce a remunerating crop the first year, and to put it in tobacco two years consecutively would interfere with the usual rotation of the farm. By applying the common manure early in the season and following this with an application of 150 to 200 pounds of Guano when the hills were made up, the plants will take a good start, and their roots stretch out to receive the strength of the putrescent manure, as it is mixed and intermixed by every working given to the land. I have never seen it fail to pay well in such a case as this. Moreover the succeeding crop of wheat seems to derive almost or quite as much improvement from this application as if it had been made directly to the wheat itself. I tended a piece of poor old land in this way, and now have a fine crop of clover on it, and the land looks twenty per cent better than where no guano was applied, but treated in other respects similarly.

In the application of Guano to the wheat crop, there is not much difference in the practice of most farmers, and very little difference in opinion as to its beneficial effects. Whether it can be applied to corn with profit, is a more doubtful point. When the price of corn is high, and land scarce or thin, it can generally be applied with profit where wheat succeeds. According to my observation and experience, an application of 200 pounds to the acre, applied broadcast just before the corn is planted, or one half when planted, and the other when the corn is plowed the second time, will make thin land produce five barrels and upwards to the acre. Whether itshould be applied broadcast.or in the drill, circumstances will best determine. On oats, I have never seen it pay a good profit, and doubt the propriety of its being used on this crop.

Whether Guano can be improved by intermixing with it othersubstanceslam doubtful. I have mixed it with Plaster, Kettle-ivell's Salts, and Patagonian and Mexican Guano but like the toper with liquor, I prefer the naked stuff to any combinations I have tried, and but for the hope of finding something really valuable, would hereafter abjure utterly all other fertilizers, salts, renovators and such like. I last year used several tons each of Patagonian and Mexican Guano. The former cost nearly as much as the Peruvian and had about 20

per cent in weight in it of boulders as hard as the nether mill-stone. It did not equal by a great deal the Peruvian, and for this reason, aside from the boulders, I sh-ill not use any more unless I am convinced by observation it can be used to better advantage than in my case. In regard to the Mexican Guano, I cannot speak so positively, as it was used in combination with other materials, forming the Armistead Tobacco Manure. A heavy application of this helped the tobacco considerably, thou»h I have my doubts but what the Peruvian Guano, which was one of the ingredients, was the chief cause of this result. This also is not deficient in rocks.

4th. As to the Agricultural Salts, Renovators, &c, I have tried a good many kinds —some with partial success—some with none at all. The manufacturers all pretend that their Compounds surpass Peruvian Guano, and fro n a desire of gain and possibly some better motive, continue to manufacture and pufflheir productions, and the farmers, hoping to find something valuable continue to buy, every one a little and some more, but in the aggregate a great deal. Their attempts heretofore to produce an article equal to Peruvian Guano, have proven as fruitless (I will not say bootless,) as did the Alchemists, of olden times to make gold. They, the alchemists, could produce compounds rivalling in appearance the precious ore, and deceive the unwary to believe it was, but never did come at the genuine article. So it has been with guano alchemists—I hope it may not ever be so. The truth of the inferiority or worth-lessness of these compounds, is proven conclusively, by ihe fact, that none of the manufacturers continue to make their wonderful renovators for any length of time, while the use of Peruvian Guano is yearly increasing and the whole supply is not sufficient to meet the demand even at rates which are really exorbitant.

Respectfully submitted,

Richard Irby.

REPORT ON THE FARM OF DR. A. A. CAMPBELL.

The committee appointed to report on Dr. A. A. Campbell's farm, beg leave to submit the following report. The following data give the gratifying result of a nett profit on one year's operation of nearly 10 per cent on capital invested.

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Dr.

900 acres ofland at $11, about, 810,000 00

18 farm negroes, 9,000 00

Horses and stock, 970 00

Farm implements and machinery, 425 00

Total capital invested, $20,395 00

Cr. Increase in value of land 1 year,. $100 00

Increase in value of negroes, 300 00

1 colt and increase of stock, 90 00

Beef sold 42—mutton sold 10 52 00

Wheat and Tobacco sold, 2075 00

$2617 00

Expenses of Farm. Overseers wages $125, Guano and lime, $285 ; Blacksmith's work, $50 ; Bacon bought $42 ; Corn bought $40 ; Plows, &c, $25 ; Negro clothing $80 ; Tax account, §24; Grass seed $17, §688 00

Which deducted leaves nett income of 81929 00 Which gives a clear profit of a small fraction less than 10 per cent on the capital invested. The committee examined the farm and found it in good order. The progress of operalions is quite forward except perhaps the breaking of the old-field land. The manure is being hauled out. The manner of heaping, the course manure adopted by the Doctor is of questionable propriety. His crop of wheat looks well for the season and seems to have been gotten in in a very nice style and his oats also. The stables, granary, &.c, seem to be in good repair and plantation roads as good as usual. The horses and mules showed good treatment. We did not see his cattle, as they were luxuriating in the pasture of an old gentleman well known to the club, possibly depositing more of the Doctor's provender there, than would make up for the pickings there found. For all who have the good fortune to have the aforesaid pasture convenient, it would be perhaps best for them to gather all they can for it in the grazing months, but not to follow the Doctor's example, in making some returns in the winter. The farm divided into four fields nearly all under one enclosure, and seems to be improving.

The committee fake great pleasure in being able to make the above gratifying re-

port on the farm of our oldest member, who distinguished as he is for his public spirit and patriotism has never faltered in his endeavors to make the calling of the farmer, respectable and profitable, and who, though verging towards three score and ten years, still preserves the spirit and vigor of youth in furthering the progress of agricultural prosperity in our country. To his honor be it said, that while many of his age and experience are ready to regard wilh coldness, if not with contempt, the attempts of the younger of their brother farmers to improve and augment, by every means, their agricultural resources, his motto has ever been, and is now—"success to agricultural progress and improvement." May he long live to see the rewards of his efforts, while the green fields of this earth grow greener and fresher, fit, but faint emblems of the bright field of eternity.

Respectfully submitted,

Richard Irby, Chrm. Jfotfoway Co., Va. Apl. 12, 1855.

WHEAT.

The wheat crop is one of the great staples of Virginia, particularly of the Eastern and middle portions of the State. Whatever is calculated to effect it favourably or unfavourably, from seed time to harvest, from its germination to its maturity, are subjects of interesting inquiry, well calculated to engage (he attention and call forth the energies of the farmer.

It is not my intention to trespass on the field of the Botanist or Entomologist, but to treat this subject as a plain, practical farmer, to state such facts and advance such opinions as have come under my own observation or are the legitimate deductions of many years experience.

The varieties of this cereal are almost as numerous as the Cornfield Pea; including winter and spring, red, yellow and white, bearded and bald or beardless, including many hybrids or mongrels, too numerous to mention; all possessing more or less claims to popular favour. I shall only mention two or three varieties, more recently introduced among us. The Ward wheat, first introduced into notice by our worthy friend, Capt. N. Ward, deceased, of this County, from a few heads gathered among his growing crop, twenty years or more since , long arid deservedly maintained almost a universal preference in this section of the State. It is a white, clear, flinty

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grain, bearded, well adapted to the manufacture of family Flour, hardy in its nature, growing well on all varieties of soil (at all adapted to wheat culture,) not liable to blast, and when first introduced, was very prolific. It has, however, like all its predecessors, grown tired of our lands or our lands have grown tired of it; from one or the other of these causes, it has greatly degenerated and has nearly gone out of use, and has been succeeded by the red or Mountain Purple Straw, and the Polish or Woodfin varieties. To both of these varieties there is objection. The colour of the former, together with its peculiar liability to smut, have deterred me from growing it. I can say nothing of its good or bad qualities experimentally, and believe it is going rapidly into disuse. The latter or Polish wheat is now the favourite and is in general use. It is liable to several objections, such as the great length of straw, materially increasing the amount of labour in harvesting and threshing the crop, and does not yield in grain in proportion to the growth in the field, ever disappointing the hope and expectations of the farmer, when he tests it by the half bushel. It is also unsuited to low grounds and springy uplands; very liable to blast on such lands and will, probably, in a few more years, degenerate, as all other varieties have done. It is the part of prudence that we should be looking out in time for its successor, for experience has established the fact, that no variety of wheat in our climate and soil will endure and give renumerating returns, for more than ten or fifteen years. These facts demand the attention and investigation of theAgricultural Chemists and the Botanists. A scientific investigation of the habits, diseases and casualties of the wheat plant is a great desideratum. To what extent our present improved, and we hope improving, system of farming and the continued liberal use of Guano will correct this deteriorating tendency of the wheat crop, time only can r'etermine.

It is difficult to say, what peculiarity of land is best adapted to the growth of wheat; it is generally believed, that the red, stiff clay lands, are our best wheat lands, but this opinion is not verified by my experience nor is it fully sustained by reason. Wheat when grown on such lands, rich in animal and vegetable manures, is very liable to lodge from its luxuriance and weight, the straw is weak, probably from a deficiency of the silicates so necessary to give

firmness and strength to it, and is also much more subject to the rust, consequent upon the greater capacity of the land to retain a superabundance of moisture, causing it to remain at a much lower degree of temperature to a later period, and thus retarding the maturity and early ripening of the crop. An early harvest is generally a clean and prolific one. The conclusion to which I have arrived from observation and experience on my farm, is that a moderately, close, grey soil, based on a good, red clay subsoil, not too tenacious and close to permit the redundant moisture, readily to subside and sufficiently undulating to discharge the excess of the surface water, all other things being equal, is the best Wheat land and is not obnoxious in the same degree to any of the above objections to the stiff clay lands.

T. e best time for seeding a crop of wheat is between the first and twentieth of October: few persons begin earlier ; many protract the period of finishing the operation much later. The greatest enemy to the wheat crop is the rust; it is generally most fatal to the late seeded and maturing portion of the crop. In view of this fact and the decreasing liability to the depredations of the Hessian fly, probably due to the liberal use of Guano, I would suggest the propriety of seeding in September whenever practicable.

The quantity of seed per acre varies in the same neighbourhood among the best practical farmers, and is a question not yet settled. From one bushel to a bushel and a half, according to the quality of the land, is probably the average quantity and is sufficiently thick. The average production on my farm, including Tobacco lots, Cornland and fallow, with a liberal use of Guano, has never exceeded ten for one seeded, though others inform us of much heavier yields.

There is great diversity of opinion and practice as to the best preparation of the soil for the reception of the grain. Some still continue the use of the Trowel Hoe. I, for one, prefer it to all other implements on clean land ; Tobacco lots for instance, choosing not to reveise the soil, where there is no vegetable matter or Guano to turn in ; others use the two horse turning plough, under all circumstances, and others again the one horse turning plough followed by the Harrow on Heavy drag. It all may be briefly comprehended in one I short sentence ; a kind soil, a deep tilth, a

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well pulverized surface, followed by a heavy roller.

The present high price of wheat, with the prospect of its continuing, at least through another season, gives to the crop an increased importance in an agricuJtural and commercial point of view. That the price of the growing crop will rule as high as the .present, is by no means certain, but there can be but little doubt, that the far mer will realize very remunerating returns for his capital arid labour vested in its cultivation.

The wheat growing region, proper, of the United States, is supposed to lie within 10 degrees of latitude and 10 degrees of Longitude, embracing the States of New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, a part of North Carolina and Ohio. To which may be now added Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. Other States cultivate the crop, it is true, but the crop is uncertain and the returns meagre, most of them receiving a large portion of their surplus from the more favoured portions of the country.

The aggregate crop of the United States, according to the last census, (1850) is put down at 100,479,150 bushels; of this amount, within a fraction, 85,000,000 of bushels are grown within the above Geographical lines of Latitude and Longitude. I have no reliable data from which I can arrive at an accurate estimate of the quantity of Wheat and Flour exported from the United States on the extent of the Foreign demand, and therefore will not hazard a conjecture. But think the following estimate, in reference to the Virginia crop, nearly approximates the truth :

The crop of wheat of Virginia, in the census of 1850, is put down at 11,232,616 bushels, Bushels,

11,232,616 Deduct for seed one » tenth, supposing the equal ten for one on an average, 1,121,261,

Deduct 6 bushels or a barrel of Flour for every white man, woman and child in the State, the white population being at that time, 894,800, 5,336,800,

6,458,061, 6,458,061

4,774,557.

Leaving the above surplus of four millions seven hundred and seventy four thousand five hundred and fifty-seven bushels for market, which at one dollar and eighty cents, what is supposed to be the average price of wheat the present season, amounts to the sum of eight millions six hundred and sixty thousand one hundred and ninety-six dollars.

The above calculation is based upon the estimates of 1850, except the price of wheat, which, it will be perceived, is assumed as the averaged price of the present crop.

If it should be objected that the census returns of 1850 are not a true estimate of the population or the wheat crop of 1854-5. I answer, it is true, but that it is the nearest approach to the truth within our reach, and whatever error there may be in the calculations are against both the population and productiveness of Virginia.

A few brief reasons, Mr. President, for the opinion advanced that the price of wheat will keep up through the next season, and I shall be done. In the Southern Planter for October, 1854, page 293, we have a table, kept at the Van Ranssellaer Manor at Albany showing the average price for sixty-one years to be one dollar and thirty-eight cents; seventeen times only, in that period, has it been at or below one dollar, and five times at or above two dollars. And it is worthy of remark that when the price has run up to the highest figures in any given year, the price the next year has always been good ; above the average price for the whole time, showing that the scarcity is felt and the causes continue to operate longer than one year. A principle verified by sixty-one years experience may fairly be considered as established. The high price of labour and all other commodities incidental to and connected with farming operations, the great influx of the precious metals, banking facilities, &c, must all have an influence on the price of wheat and will keep it at or near its present value. To the above consideration may be added the large amount of labour and capital withdrawn from agriculture and directed into other channels of business such as Rail-Roads, mining and domestic manufactories ; and the unprecedented number of immigrants annually arriving in our seaports, (who for the most part are an idle, unproductive population,) all heavy consumers, who must be fed by the farmer, while they

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add nothing to the production of the country.

Again, the extensive war now carried on in Europe, must necessarily create a great demand for our breadstuff's; there are probably at this time not less than two millions of men, either under arms or drafted ar,d undergoing a training for the army, and should the present warlike armaments continue through another year (and the present indications are in favour of it) the allies must look to the United States for a great portion of their supplies to support their armies and fleets. Enlistments must go on to fill up the ranks of the slaughtered thousands who are sacrificed to the pride and ambition of the crowned Despots who are now waging this sanguinary war; want if not famine, must follow in the bloody foot-prints of these mighty armaments.

France and England have each realized the last two years short crops, notwithstanding their boasting reports of abundant harvests. Their crops of 1853 did not more than carry them through to the harvests of 1854 with the aid of heavy importation from this and other countries, (which gave us fine prices for the crop of 1853,) and at the ingathering of the last crop, 1854,— also reported as being of superior quality and abundant in quantity—prices on this side the water began to rise and have continued to advance to the present time. Strong indications, these, that the crops of France and England will not meet the demand and that they must look to the United States, not only for their domestic supply in part, but for the support of their armies and navies to a considerable extent. These and other reasons, not mentioned, justify the opinion, that present prices or a near approach to them, may reasonably be calculated on for our next crop of Wheat. It is a question now being agitated among the scientific Farmers in England, whether the present highly improved conditions of their lands, has not reached it maximum and whether its productive powers have not been taxed to their utmost capacity; while at the same lime the population is advancing and their pauper list increasing to a fearlul extent.

Mr. President, permit me in conclusion, to congratulate you and each member of the club, and through you, the. agricultural community, that while the commercial world is passing through a most trying cri-

sis, the Farmers of Virginia were never in more prosperous circumstances, mutual confidence never stronger and our credit as a class never based on a firmer foundation. Respectfully submitted,

A. A. Campbell.

How to kill Hawks. —Take a large teaspoon full of grated or rasped Nux Vomica, or as it is sometimes called " Ox Vomit," and add it to one pint of grist and mix it thoroughly; after which, feed to the small chickens, in the yard, and as sure as a hawk takes a chicken when the Nux Vomica is in the craw of the chicken, so sure will that hawk never come after a second chicken.

I am satisfied Mr. Editor, that after one year's experiment, never to be without the Nux Vomica if I continue to raise chickens or turkeys, where the hawks are troublesome. So far from the Nux Vomica injuring the chicken or turkey it keeps them lively and thrifty. Of course you will discontinue the use of the Nux Vomica, when the chicken is large enough to keep out of the way of the hawk.

The discovery is not original with me, but so far as I know, was made by an old widow lady, who had more poultry in her yard at one .time, than many others together, and not a gun was fired at a hawk, whilst her residence was near a swamp.

The above you may publish for the benefit of your subscribers.— American Cotton Planter.

Making Vinegar. —A correspondent of the Dollar Newspaper says :—The cheapest mode of making vinegar is to mix five quarts of warm rain-water with two quarts of Orleans molasses, and four quarts of yeast. In a few weeks you will have the best vinegar you ever tasted.

"Whitewash. —Poor whitewash is a serious injury to a wall or ceiling, and when once on it is difficult to get it off or properly cover it and produce a clear white appearance. This is the season for cleaning up, and we will give the recipe for a first rate wash. Quick liine, slacked by boiling water, stirring it until so slacked. Then dissolve in water white vitrol, (sulphate of zinc,) which you get at the druggists, at the rate of two pounds of zinc to a half barrel of whitewash, making it about the consistency of rich milk. This sulphate of zinc will cause the wash to harden ; and to prevent the lime from rubbing off, a pound of fine salt should be thrown into it.

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jffl

TO THE COMMITTEE ON FA BUILDINGS.

Gentlemen —I beg leave to offer for your examination the accompanying plans and elevations of farm buildings. I have endeavoured in the present design to embrace the necessary buildings required in a systematic prosecution of the operations on the farm, having reference in their arrangement to convenience, comfort and economy in cost of construction.

In selecting a proper site for the farmstead, a central location with regard to the farm will possess many advantages. The Figure 1. A

I barn-yard should open to the south, and its : surface incline slightly from each side to 'the centre. Referring to the diagrams you :will observe that the buildings inclose the i barn-yard on the north, east and west ! sides, affording ample protection to its oc-Jcupantsfrom the cold blasts of winter.—

The dimensions of the barn-yard are 104 \X 120 feet, inclosing an area of 12,480 isquare feet, which may be increased by j extending it Southward.

The ground plan of all the buildings, and j their relative positions, also the form of the I farm" court and adjoining lots, are shewn in

Figure 1.

"A," Basement story-of the main barn, on the north side of the court 40 X 80 ft., divided into cow stable " a" 10 X 40; cattle stable "c"30><l 54; " d" main passage to cattle, cow and ox stables, 10 X 60; "e," "e," "e," stalls for cows 5 X 10; "f. f.," gutter.s \\ feet wide, 6 inches deep, and 42 feet long ; to convey liquid manure to vaults ; "g," "g," liquid manure vaults, 4X5 and covered with a moveable platform ; "h," "h," "h," mangers for cattle

1$ feet wide and 1 foot deep ; "J," "J,' '"J" "J," alleys to cow and ox stables; "b," "b," ox stable divided into 4 double stalls, 10 X 10; "m," cow lot 30 X! 46; "n," horse lot 30 X 42; each inclosed with a substantial plank fence; "o," " o," posts to second floor of main barn ; (: H," straw-rack 20 X 40, formed by poles 3 inches in diameter and 8 feet long, inserted perpendicularly in a lower and upper sill with round tenons ; the upper tenon be-

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II

ing cut long enough to admit of the poles being removed when desired, that the shed may be used as a receptacle for the long manure from the farm court; "r," "r," "r,' : gates to cow lot, horse lot, and farm court.

B.—Floor of a building on the east side of the court, 36 X 44, divided into a shed "a," for calves 10 X 24; "b," "b," "b," stalls 6 X 8; "e," manger; "c" walk 3 X 24; d, d, d, doors ; f, hospital 10 H 12 ; e manger , g walk 3 X 12 ; d, d, d, doors to cow lot and farm court; k thed for qarts 10 X 24; 1 double door ; m room for farm implements 12 X 24; n, n, doors; w workshop 14 X 24; t, door; r, r, windows; s, stairs to second floor ; y, wagon shed 10 X 36 ; v, close door ; z, gate.

C, shelter and yards lor sheep 36 X 60 ; a, shed open to the west 10 X 60, with roof sloping outward ; e, e, e, yards 15 X 26; d, d, d, gates; c. c, c, box racks for feeding hay, &c, 2£ X! 2S ; b, b, b, boxes for receiving hay, from shed loft; f, f, posts to shed. The wagon shed y adjoining the sheep yard is intended to be used when wanted, as a shearing house.

D, corn crib, 6 X 36, with bottpm and sides latticed, divided equally into apartments k, k; h, shed for farm wagons, 10 ^36; j, j, gates.

E.—Piggery on the west side of the farm

Figure 5.

court 32 X! 38 ; b, b, b, yards 8X 12; a, a, a, pens for swine 8 X 10 ; d, d, d, self-adjusting doors, hung on wooden pivots, opening in or out; f, f, doors to pens ; e, e, e, troughs ; each pen is separated from feed h, by a door 8 X 8 hung with hinges to girders, and kept in place by wooden bolts sliding into staples ; s, s, s, on either side of the trough ; when supplying the troughs the doors are bolted to the side next the pens, keeping the swine from their food until a proper distribution is effected, then by raising the bolts the doors will swing to the side next the feed room, thus giving all the occupants of each pen an equal chance for their food ; h, feed room 18 X 32; k, k, position of corn and cob-crusher for grinding grain ; 1,1, bins for meal and roots ; v, v, v, vats for cooking food ; a cellar is excavated 18 X 18 feet, under the feed room at the west end, and walled in with stone or brick, to receive a boiler for generating steam to supply the vats.

F.—Building 32 X! 57, divided thus ; a, carriage room 10 X 18 ; b, saddle and harness room 10 X 14 ; w, window ; d, doors; c, c, stables for horses 14 X 32; f, f, f, stalls 4 X 8 ; e, e, manger; i, i, bins for grain; J, box for preparing food; h, feed room 9 X 32; g, g, passage from feed room to stables; d, d, d, doors; 1, stables for colts ; m, m, m, stalls ; e, e, manger.

Figure 5, shews a cross-section through! rack ; t, t, boxes to receive the hay seed horse stables ; a, a, interior of feed room j and dust, latticed over the top and opening which is ceiled with plank, in a triangular! into feed room; e, e, mangers; j, j, spaces form; g, g, receptacle for hay, which with ; to pass feed through to mangers. The ad-the perpendicular slats d, d, forms the hay 1 vantages of this form of a hayrack are ob-

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139

vious to any practical man, no hay seed or [the labour required to fill it is slight, and it dust can get into the eyes of the horses, J is cheap and easily constructed.

Figure 2.

N

W

E

m

h d

o hi

L

0

E3

s

Figure 2 second floor of the buildings on the north, east and west sides of the court, N, second floor of the main barn ; a, a, threshing floors, each 20 X 40 feet; b, b, bays or mows for grains 20 X 20; d, d, rooms for chaff 10 X 20, with tubes 1£ fee) square in the floor of each, and of sufficient length to extend into the mangers of the cow and ox stables in the basement story; c, c, granaries, one for wheat, the ether for rye and oats, 10 M 20, each divided into four garners e,e,e,e, 4 X 6 ; f, f, stairway to basement; h, h, doors ; n, n, windows ; g, g, ladder to mows. The large doors to the main barn are balanced upon rollers of iron which revolve freely upon an iron guide rail, and are opened by pushing them to the right and left; a small door 3 X 6 is hung with hinges into each of the large

doors ; m, straw shed 20 X 40, the sills of this shed are placed upon top of the posts which are used in constructing the straw rack, and on a level with the floor of the barn—sided up and roofed.

E, second floor of building "B," (Fig. 1) divided thus—b, wool room 12 M 16, lathed and plastered ; c, gardner's room for seeds, tools, &c, 12 X 12; a, a, lumber room for miscellaneous articles 20 X 24 ; c, room over piggery 18 >A 32, for storing corn and other feed for swine ; e, tube leading to hopper of corn crusher on the ground floor; h h, doors.

W, second floor of stables ; a, a, hay mows each 14 XI 32 ; b, b, alley over hay rack 9 X 32 ; c, c, c, doors; S, elevation of main barn.

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Figure 3,

Elevation of buildings on west! side of the court.

Figure 4.

O □ O, D

Elevation of buildings on east side of the court. The .building on the north side of the court is designed for a bank barn, the wails of the absement to be built of stone or hard brick 8 feet high and

18 inches thick, the superstructure of wood ; and the exterior covered with two coats of lime paint. The floors in the stalls of the cow and ox stables to be raised 4 inches above the floor of the alley in their rear.

Figure 6.

i

PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF INTERIOR.

The buildings on the east and west sides of the court all to be constructed of wood, on stone or brick foundations, and to have two coats of lime paint. I estimate the cost of the whole stedding complete at $2,500, at the average price of labor and materials in Virginia.

The introduction of pure water into the >farm court, is a matter of great importance; the facilities for its accomplishment varying with the locality, and site chosen for the buildings, render any specific directions impracticable.

Respectfully submitted,

Sam'l F. Christian. Augusta Co. Va., Oct. 1855.

Kennon's, Amelia County, > January 1, 1856. )

Dear Sir— Your letter of the 18th ult., directed to our friend W. H. H. was by him submitted to me, with a positive refusal on his part to comply with your request. I was somewhat surpised at the confidence with which you stated in your letter that I would not do what you desired Mr. H. to do. You must have formed your opinion of me from information obtained from others, as I have not the pleasure of your acquaintance.

The plan on which T cultivate corn is not original with me. In the year 1816 I became acquainted with Col. John Overton of

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Louisa county, one of the most sensible men I ever knew, and to me, one of the most interesting, and whilst lam compelled to admit that he was practically a very unsuccessful farmer, yet from him I learned more that I have found useful than from all other men with whom I have formed an acquaintance. The great advantage I obtained from my association with Col. Overton consisted in this, that I was compelled to give a reason for every opinion advanced—and very frequently after having given an opinion very confidently, upon attempting to sustain it by reason, I found myself involved in a difficulty from which I could not extricate myself, except by acknowledging that I had not considered the sub-ject, but was giving what I had heard from others in whom T had confidence.

As to the culture of corn—First. Prepare the land well before planting. I use a plough with the mould board to the left hand, drawn by three horses or mules, in breaking up my corn land—the advantage of this plough is this : the horse under the line walks in the furrow and needs scarcely any attention : the other two walk on firm unbroken land. I have very little system, and cannot s^y how many acres you ought to plant per hand, but this I say confidently—I can cultivate all that I can break up in time -to plant,—I think a good horse can cultivate 25 acres after it is planted. I rarely plant before the weather is sufficiently mild to cause the buds and grass to begin to grow. Just before commencing to plant, I run a heavy drag, drawn by at least two good horses over the land. I endeavor to plant all the land dragged before it rains on it—the fur-row in which the corn is dropped is opened with a small plough, drawn by one horse, with a mould-board—my reason for using a turning plough is, my land is stony, and if the clods have not been reduced by the drag, the stones and clods are thrown aside by this plough. We endeavor so to run the rows that each may carry off its own water, so as to avoid washing, this is frequently accomplished by an experienced ploughman without the aid of a water level—but when necessary, we use the level. On ordinary high land, the rows are laid ofF 5£ feet apart, and the corn dropped 2 feet apart; this is done by the eye. If my breaking up is behind, I begin with two horses dragging, one laying

off rows, one man dropping and one horse covering. The force not engaged in planting being kept fallowing, so that the two operations are finished almost simultaneously.

I cover with an implement made of two cultivator teeth 2£ or 3 inches wide, slightly curved, fixed in a frame, adapted to run in the furrow in which the corn has been dropped—if properly fixed, it leaves the land slightly elevated, not unlike the track of a mole. In that position it is not apt to bake after a hard rain.

I would not open the furrow which receives the corn as dropped more than 2^ or 3 inches deep. The implement with which it is covered should be so guided as to run on each side of the corn dropped, and so to throw the earth as to cover the corn and form the slight elevation of theearth overthe corn.

After planting I do nothing to the crop until the corn is large enough to thin. This process should never be neglected—before thinning I commence with single-horse turning plows—the bar next to the corn, and throw the earth from the corn each side— following with hoes, thinning, cutting out briars, bushes, weeds, &c, not pretending to work the earth or hilling the corn. I rarely replant corn ; a if hill be missing, I leave two stalks in the next.

When the corn is large eaough to receive the earth, I commence with the same ploughs, the mould-board next to the corn and throw the earth to the corn each side. This is an important operation, and \f well done supersedes the necessity of hoe-work altogether. The earth should be thrown so as to meet and cover up all the grass about the corn, but not to lap, or one furrow to be piled on the ot her. Here the manager has need of all the observation and common sense he can command : when the crop has received a furrow each side, I consider it comparatively safe.

In eight or ten days after the earth has been thrown to the corn, I would throw another furrow each side, going over the whole crop, and here the hoes should follow, doing only what the ploughs failed to do—not attempting to dig deep and pull up high hills—but simply when the earth was not thrown so as to cover up the grass about the corn, let the hoes pull loose earth over the grass. Briars, bushes, and large weeds should be cut up. Dont mind the middle of the row, nor think you must again go near the corn, and be sure that not a lick

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

be struck by the hoes unless necessary. My hands frequently walk fifty (or more) yards with their hoes on their shoulders— the ploughs leave the earth in a far better condition than it can be put with hoes. If I could have things precisely as I desire, when the corn begins to tassel I would throw out the middle of the rows, which can be done with two -additional furrows.

I have been cultivating corn on the plan here described with slight deviations since the year 1818, and although tobacco and wheat have been my staple crops, and I have never cultivated corn, with a view to selling it, I have never failed a single year to make an ample supply for my own use (viz : 600 barrels) and have sold as much as 400 barrels one year. I sold last year (crop of 1854) 200 barrels, and think I have between 1 and 200 barrels for sale now, crop of 1855—the last was by far the most unfavorable year I ever knew for the corn crop.

You have observed that the whole process of cultivating corn on the plan described, consists of eight furrows to the row, two thrown from, and six to the corn ; the philosophy of the plan is this : avoid breaking the corn roots, and afford range for them to spread in quest of nutriment. 1 know the popular idea is to break the roots in order to make the corn grow. I have on several occasions known the attempt made to make the crop with one ploughing, the whole row ploughed at once; and in every instance the tesult was a failure. The polishing process of laying by the crop with harrows, &c, I consider more than useless ; and I would not accept it if gratuitously offered.

I find, Sir, that it will make this communication too long to write all that I think useful, which has been learned by forty years experience in cultivating this useful, nay, indispensable crop, to us of the South. I must therefore close with an invitation to you to visit us in order to a full and free conversation on this subject, and others of modern improvement, the use of guano, the drill, the reaper, &.c, &c.

I have failed to say anything on the culture of corn on flat land, from which I fear you may infer it is unsuitable to such land. Such is not the fact, the land is thrown into beds 10 or 11 feet wide, two rows are planted on each bed 4 feet apart on the top of the bed and 6 or 7 feet across the water

furrows—the reason for having so much space is, that you may throw the earth from the corn without filling up the water furrows. In other respects the cultivation is the same on rich flat land ; with a propitious season work.faster. I met last year at the Springs (Virginia) a very intelligent gentleman from North Carolina, a large corn maker (crop 20,000 barrels) who would not even listen to me, when wishing to suggest to him the amount of labor he might save by adopting this plan. He insisted that, on his rich Roanoke flats, the Spanish needle and cuckold bur would destroy the corn. I admitted to him, that if he could convince me that the fertile soil and genial seasons so favorable to the growth of these pests, were not equally favorable to the growth of corn, then his objection to the plan was valid, otherwise it was not.

In closing I will only suggest that for thirty years, I have never hedged or shocked any corn on the land designed to be sown in wheat. In cutting down the corn, I use small light hoes, with short helves adjusted to the length of the operator's arm, taking hold on the stalk of corn with the left hand it is severed from the ground, leaving no stubble, so objectionable when knives are used, and laid in heaps, three rows in one—the hands whose business on the old plan, is to pick up and pile, take up the corn already piled by the cutter, and put it on carts on which it is hauled either to the farm yard where it is to be shucked and housed, or if the farm yard be more than hall a mile from the field, to some spot not designed to be sown in wheat and more convenient than the farm yard. I plough with two horse ploughs the whole of my corn land previous to sowing the wheat, and get it in with drags.

My force consists of 27 hands, men, women, boys and girls ; among these are two coarse carpenters and tvfo old men— 15 horses—12 oxen—3 ox carts—3 wagons and 1 tumbrel cart. I sow usually, 300 bushels of wheat, and between 2 and 300 bushels of oats; and I plant between 5 and 6000 tobacco hills to eacli hand. I sold last year (crop of 1854) $4,000 worth of wheat, $2,100 of tobacco, $1,000 of corn and $100 of seed oats. I have as yet sold no portion of the crop of 1S55. My force, I am confident, would not be considered as more than equal to twenty efficient hands. The

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substance of this communication was published many years ago in the Farmers' Register. If however you think any good will result from its being again published, I do not object.

Have you ever attempted to give a reason for making large high hills in preparing \>ur tobacco lots ? I mean old manured land. I can imagine but one, that is, to to cut them down. I find that a simple list, foimed by running two furrows with a two horse plough, throws the land so high that I have this list cut down.

When my ploughers breakfast and dine, my plough horses are fed, always in the field, if at work half a mile from the stable, I have, prepared for this purpose, light trough- made of plank one ineh thick, and move them, to avoid traveling long distances frequently in order to feed. I have not attempted to write connectedly, but without regard to system or style, have put down what I thought might be useful, as it seemed to me. I submit it for better, for worse, as we take our wives, and have written for you, not the multitude, who had rather show their Jolly by criticising than their wisdom in learning.

Respectfully, John H. Steger.

F. G. Ruffin, Editor Southern Planter, Richmond.

THE GREAT GUANO DISCOVERY.

As a matter of vital interest to the farmers of Virginia, we once more refer to the fact that the American Guano Company, formed of some of the strongest men in the commercial metropolis—with A. G. Benson as President, and # B. H. Powell as Vice President—have secured possession of islands in the Pacific Ocean, covered with a very heavy deposit of amnioniated guano and have despatched men and means for two expeditions to maintain possession thereof, one from the Atlantic, and, to guard against loss, another from the Pacific. Last October the following, with other affidavits, was filed in the Navy Department :

District of Columbia, ) County of Washington. )

Before me came personally Michael Baker, ship-master, of South Dartmouth, Mass., who being duly sworn, deposes and says that in the year 1832, he discovered and landed on a certain barren and uninhabited island situated in the Pacific Ocean, more

than five hundred miles from the main land, and more than two hundred from any adjacent island ; and that he had been cruising in those seas anterior to the time of said discovery, and the said island was wholly unknown (as far as he has been able to ascertain) prior to said before-mentioned discovery.

He also landed on it in the year 1835; also, namely on the 14th day of August, 1839, he landed for the purpose of burying an American seaman, when, by digging for the place of interment, he discovered, as he has since ascertained, that said island was covered with guano.

He also landed on said island in the years 1844, 1845, and 1851, and the island remained unoccupied and uninhabited, except as the burial place of said American

seaman. Further, he is informed by

who landed about September, 1854,

that said island was still unoccupied, which he verily believes remains so to the present time.

The said island is of a coral formation, from eight to nine miles in circumference, extending in a northerly and southerly direction ; is quite low, not rising more than twenty to thirty feet above the level of the sea, its shape nearly crescent. Being situated in the easterly trade-winds, a large number oi ships can safely lay and load on the leeward side at most all seasons of the year.

It was the resort of myriads of birds, and its entire surface presented a lightish crust, sufficiently hard in some places to walk upon, and in others so porous that one would slump through. There was found thereon, neither tree, nor shrub, nor any trace of vegetation.

Said island cannot be seen from the deck of a ship more than six miles, while the birds hovering over it can be seen twice that distance.

On his examination of Peruvian guano in this country, (since his return in 18 ,) he finds the deposit on said island to be of the same color and smell, and verily believes it to be of the same kind and of equal quality to that of the Chincha Islands.

(Sd.) MICHAEL BAKER.

Sworn and subscribed before me, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Washington, in the District of Columbia, the 13th dav of October, A. D., 1855. (Sd.) ' HENRY L. HARVEY.

Justice of the Peace.

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

At the same time the trustees submitted to the consideration of the President of the United States, a memorial requesting a recognition of their rights to the guano on said island, and that one of the United States vessels of war, attached to the Pacific Squadron, should be ordered (hereto for that purpose. Consequently, on the 20th October, 1855, Secretary Dobbin sent an order to Commodore Mervin, commanding the squadron at San Francisco, to despatch a vessel to the island, with a view of ascertaining the correctness of the information, of protecting our citizens in their rights, and of taking care of the interests of our country, and reporting to the department as early as practicable. Information has been received, that on the 18th January last, the United States Razee Independence, Commodore Mervin himself in command, with the company's agent on board, left San Francisco, via the Sandwich Islands, direct to the Guano Islands. The report of the expedition will give an official stamp to the proceedings of the company. That it will fully substantiate the just and complete possession and title of the company, and the boundless treasures of the richest fertilizing agent, we cannot entertain the least doubt. Recent accounts from the two islands (it has lately been ascertained that both of them are covered with ammoniated guano,) confirm, in the strongest manner; the previous reports. The existence, of the islands is still further confirmed by the testimony of Capt. Netcher; who recognizes in the published description of these islands the precise locality visited by him in 1841, and when he saw the head board erected by Capt. Baker, the original discover, over the grave of one of his crew. He mentions, says the New York Journal of Commerce, in which we find his affidavit, as a curious circumstance, showing the innumerable flocks of birds frequenting that region, that the top of the board was perforated, and very much worn away by the claws of the birds alighting on it. Captain N. cruised around the islands eleven Tonths:

George E. Netcher, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, mariner, being duly sworn, deposes and says that in the years 1842, 1843 and 1844, he commanded the bark Isabella, of Fair Haven, Mass., employed in the whaling business.

That on the 18th day of August, 1842, the man on the look out for whales, sud-

denly saw land, and said it was near enough to be seen off deck I instantly sprang into the rigging, and saw what I sepposed to be a new discovery, as I had never before kno.vn of land in that quarter, nor seen any notice of it in any nautical book or upon any chart. I ran down under the lee of an island, and sent a boat with the mate on shore, and followed in another myself soon after. On landing, saw a monument erected by Capt. Baker, over the grave of seaman, buried from the ship Gideon How-land of New Bedford, in the year 1839. This island is of coral formation and perfectly barren, nothing being there except birds innumerable, and their deposits, of which there appeared to be any quantity, I saw the Island before mentioned many times that year, repeatedly sent my boats on shore there to get eggs, and subsequently often saw it during the voyage of the ship " Maine," of Fair Haven, in the year 1847.

The following are extracts from my Journal and Log-book of the bark Isabella :

"Thursday. August 18th, 1842.—First part of this day light breezes fiom E., steering N. N. E. under all sail, at 3 P. M. very unexpectedly saw land, bearing N. W. distant about 10 miles ; kept the ship off, and ran down to it at 5 P. M., landed on it with the boats, and found on it great quantities of birds, and one grave.

" Latitude by observat on .

" Longitude by chronometer .

" Friday, 19th.—Commenced with strong breezes from E. N. E.; steering Southeast at 4 P. M. found by overhauling an old Journal kept on board the Emily Morgan that they saw an Island,"agreeing with the longitude of the one we saw yesterday; the name they called it was Barren Island.

" Latitude —.

" Longitude ."

I could give further particulars but for the fact that I lost all my books, charts, &.c, in the last named ship, in 1848.

(Signed) JOHN E. NETCHER.

Sworn to before me. this 22d day of March, 1856.

(Signed) Wm. Currie, Com. of Deeds.

We may well congratulate the farmers of Virginia upon the bright prospect before them of obtaining guano at a much more reduced price than at present. The Peruvian guano, from the Lobos and Chincha islands, is pledged by Peru to British Bondholders for sixty millions of pounds sterl-

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141

tog, and the trade is consequently a perfect monopoly. When these uewly discovered islands, covered with guano, equal to the Peruvian, to rthe depth of nine to fifteen feet, shall be brought into use, as must sooa be the case, there is every reason to believe that guano may be obtained at from $35 to $40 a ton, equally as good as the Peruvian, which now brings the high price of $60 per ton. Are we not therefore fully justified in announcing the discovery of these islands, and their possession by American citizens, as one of the most important events of the day !

THE SOUTHER^ PLANTEE.

RICHMOND, MAY, 1856.

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THE NEW GUANO. Following the lead of our friends of the Enquirer, who, notwithstanding their obliquity on Inspections, are firm friends of the agricultural interest; we sent to the printer early in the month a notice which they had published of The Great Guano. Discovery. Since we did so we have received a copy of the "Prospectus of the American Guano Company," which we are bound to say somewhat modifies our yiews and damps our hopes. 2

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

Using, ourselves, from $900 to §1,200 worth f Mass., (a whaler of guano per annum, we are, as much as most people, interested in getting it at "§35," instead of §55 per ton; and wo wish* for our own as well as every body else's sake, that it may be obtainable at that price. But wo see no immediate prospect of it from the Prospectus.

The following are the second and third paragraphs of that document:

The capital stock of said Company is ten millions of dollars, and is represented by one hun dred thousand shares, at one hundred dollars a share. Fifty thousand shares of stock have been expended to purchase the island; [in other words, one-half is given to the discoverer by the managers ;] ten thousand to tit out the first expedition sent from the Atlantic in August last. Fifteen thousand have been sold to the public, and first instalment paid; from the avails of which, the expedition has been fitted out from the Pacific and expenses and cost of the agents paid. And when the other instalments on the fifteen thousand shares shall have been received by the Company, it will have a cash capital of about eighty-five thousand dollars.

Twenty-five thousand shares of the stock arc still reserved, of which the trustees now offer for sale five thousand, at twenty (§20) dollars per share.

At p. 10 we find an estimate of the profits of sales at §4,000,000, which is supposed to be less than will be afforded when the enterprise is in full operation.

On the basis of their valuation of capital stock, this is 40 per cent., and purchasers of the shares now offered at §20, at the same rate, will realize the handsome dividend of 400 per cent., or sixty-six times more than legal interest.

But the sacrifice the company makes is much heavier than this. They admit % cash capital of only §85,000 when their present sales of stock are settled for. Suppose their five thousand -hares at $20 also sold. Then they have §185,000 cask capital, on which the profit of $4,000,000 is 2054 per cent!! The figures are rather large.

Now how happens it that such stock as this is not all taken at §100, or a premium on that, its par value, in the great city of New York, where "some of the strongest men in the commercial metropolis" are at the head of the company ? And why in the prospect of such tremendous dividends is the stock depreciated by the holders 500 per cent, in two paragraphs?

Again : Why have we not heard of this thing before? In 1832, 35, 39, 44, 45, 51, Michael Baker, shipmaster, of South Dartmouth,

visited this Island. Yet in 1855, four years after the last visit, for tli3 first time we hear of the great discovery in an affidavit, stating among other tilings, that since his return in 18— (why that blank?) he finds the deposit of said Island to be "of the same color and smell with Peruvian guano," and " verily believes it equal to that of the Chincha Islands." Now "colour and smell" may not be all that is necessary to test good guano. Where is a scientific analysis of it ? Where a recorded experiment with it? Where are the samples ?

And both latitude and longitude are kept secret. Why is that? According to the Prospectus the vessels must be there by this time with a title guaranteed by the "U. S. Frigate Independence," and " Cormnodore Mervine ;" and there is no need of secrecy that we can divine. The Enquirer thinks that this expedition of Commodore Morvine's "will give an official stamp to the proceedings of the company." But the navy is bound to protect our commerce, and a ship of war may joist as well cruise in search of an island situated in latitude and longitude ■ as cruise anywhere else. And Commodore Mervine, when he gets tired of following his own nose may, with perfect propriety, follow the nose of Michael Baker. It may lead to guano—good. It may not—no harm done— none at least to the navy.

But who are the managers of this company, " formed of some of the strongest men of the commercial metropolis?" A. G. Benson, if we mistake not, is the individual who got Mr. Webster into the Lobos Island scrape. George W. Benson, we think, is a well known Wall Street operator.

Of the rest we know nothing, and they are every one of them, so far as we know, very respectable men. But we can hardly suppose that they will sell 40 per cent, stock at 500 per cent, discount. They do wild things in Wall Street sometimes, but this would be insanity.

Suppose the expedition fails. What then ? Why nothing, except as to those who may buy that five thousand shares of reserved stock; and as to them—only a transfer of a hundred thousand dollars of their money to Wall street, New York.

Suppose it succeeds. Then—our best wishes to The American Guano Company, and forty or four hundred per cent, dividend to them for

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147

ever. So we get guano " equal to that of the Chincha Islands" at §35 per ton, -we are content. So will be the farmers of Virginia. Only let us not desert Mr. Barreda, bad as it may be said he treats us, until it does succeed.

We repeat the hope that it may succeed. Can our friends of the Enquirer give us reason to hope? As they state facts not found in the Prospectus, (for instance, that the deposit is " from nine to fifteen feet deep," whereas that only states it in an extract from the New London Daily Chronicle,as "of an indefinite depth," ■which may be from nine to fifteen inches,) and seem familiar with the matter, we beg they will do us the favour to give further particulars if they have them.

OVERSEERS.

[Continued from page 51.) In managing negroes the first aim of an overseer should be to obey the master's orders in respect to them: the second to satisfy them that he is doing so. Acknowledging no allegiance as of right, except to his master, and naturally jealous of his superiors, as men of a lower rank whether black or white, always will be, the negro cannot be expected to yield that willing obedience which is necessary to his own happiness and the overseer's comfort, unless he is certain that he is not oppressed or imposed upon. If the overseer's first order to the negro were that on all occasions he should go openly to his master just when he pleased, and tell him how he was treated, we are sure it would be the firmest basis of discipline, and the avoidance of much unwelcome responsibility. That it is

comfiture of the effort; the permission to complain would be a measure of justice which the negro would be the first to recognize, and which could not fail to act beneficially on his temper and submissiveness.

But this privilege cannot extend to accusations against the overseer's character. For the reasons that the negro cannot testify against a white man, and that the master has no power to try the overseer for legal offences, the negro cannot accuse him of such offences. The master is very apt to hear of all such through the negro, directly or indirectly, but he can take no official cognizance of them, and must investigate them or not, as discretion shall dictate. The best way to avoid all trouble on this head, is to give no cause for it.

We have, known overseers to declare that a negro should not complain of them to the master, and that they would whip him in spite of the master if he did. This is simply brutal; and no man of spirit will permit it. We have known others to agree that they would never punish a negro for whatever offence until they had first obtained permission of the master ; and this is far wrong the other way. If an overseer is fit for his business he must have some discretion ; and there is none more appropriate or necessary than the punishment of slaves within the prescribed terms and limits.

When the slave therefore comes within the general rule which prescribes his punishment, let him be punished, and appeal to the master afterwards, if ho chooses.

The manners of an overseer to negroes should be kind. Kindness, and even gentleness, is not

not done proceeds either from bad temper, mistaken ideas of dignity or duty, or from a confu- inconsistent with firmness and inexorable dis-sion of ideas which leads to the conclusion that | cipline. If they require whipping, whip them, because the negro has no independence he has and be done with it. If they require a repri-no rights, and that it is dangerous to allow him mand, give it privately, and in a low tone of

the privilege of complaint. But it is evident to all who know negro character that the slave, when satisfied that he is treated as his master prescribes, is in better temper and more submissive. Let him go then when he pleases. If I the master be fit to own slaves, as some "good masters" are not, and the overseer be a man of good character, as we presume he is, it can do no harm. Nor should penalty attach to a false complaint. If every man were punished who could not prove his accusation, there would be no use in a criminal code. The failure to prove

voice. Whether it be " mesmeric" we cannot say, but those who have been habitually in command, if at all observant, will have noticed that a loud and angry tone, whether addressed to man or beast, excites corresponding emotions, or scares away the wits. The best ox driver we ever saw only said, "come boys go it." The best waggoner never scolds his team: the best rider never frets at his horse : the best seaman never storms at his men: the best overseer we ever had never lost his temper. A mild expostulation is better than a fierce rebuke, a delibe-

would carry in its own punishment in the dis-j rate warning more effective than a hasty threat

THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.

Nor should an overseer ever fret at negroes, fgence. Others have more or less of the same

It injures their capacity for work. If they are ■working wrong show them how to work right: have patience and they will soon learn ; or if they are too stupid put them at something else. We have seen negroes injured in value by being fretted at and terrified when young.

This exhibition of anger or petulance towards the negro is an injury to the overseer also. He should always have his wits about him, and be prepared to " take advantage of his work," as the phraze is. But let a man who is angry or irritated try to think, and he will see that he cannot do it. The habit then once acquired is always in a man's way, and he gets bothered and confused about his business. The habit of swearing either at or before negroes an overseer should never indulge in. If the negro is not allowed to swear because it is disrespectful to the overseer, the latter should not swear because it is disrespectful to his Maker. Besides it shocks some pious negroes, and sets a bad example to all, and is provocative of the very habit of anger and petulance we have been arguing against.

•Judicious discrimination of character is a faculty that overseers, and masters too, should cultivate more than they do, for much success in management depends upon it. A word of encouragement is better in many cases than a flogging, and a suitable reward will often accomplish more than a week's hard driving.

The overseer should also aid in promoting cleanliness in the negro cabins, by occasional visits to them; and he should see that their clothes are washed and patched, and their shoes kept in good order. And on Sundays they .should be required to come out cleanly clad. If they dress themselves in the ridiculous finery iwhioh they sometimes display, and which will often provoke a smile, it should never be made a subject of derision or scornful remark. Rather encourage than repress their taste in dress. It aids very materially in giving them self-respect.

Both the master and overseer will often be benefited by consulting with the negroes in regard to their work. A very excellent overseer once told us, that he had learned a great deal from old negroes. We have known many of them who were very intelligent about their work-. Nearly every large plantation further South has a driver, who is a negro advanced to the post from his good character and intelli-

intolligence, and a great deal of useful experience may be gained by conference with them. At the same time it gains their confidence and esteem.

Nothing more reconciles the negro to his work' than the overseer's sharing it with him. If they shuck corn at night;- let him be present till the last moment; if the sun shine's hot, let him stand it as much as they do ; if it rains, let him take his share of it; if it is coM, let him not go to the fire oftener than they do ; in a word, in whatever work is undertaken, involving/ anything unusval in JiardsJhyp or exposure, let the overseer take-all "fhis share that constantsirperintendence may impose. It is a principle in all men that are commanded to shrink from difficulties in which the leaders do not take their proper share: the work will thereby be better done ; more of it will'be accomplished; fellows that are inclined tc shirk can be kept up to the bit, and there will be a head to direct operations in case of emergencies.

PROFESSOR BLEDSOE'S BOOK.

We have received from J. W. Randolph, a copy of the above book. Instead of our own opinion, we give below a review of it which we have solicited from a friend. We make no apology for doing so further than this: that as we should consider it due to the agricultural interest to publish any new speculation affecting the tenure of real property, we deem it even more our duty, in the present attitude of things, to present a paper which rests our title to slaves on a basis that cannot be shaken. Terse, original, profound and unanswerable, we commend to our readers the finest argument we have ever seen on one branch of the slavery question. Its main feature is an effort to reconcile the dogmas of the Declaration of Independence with property in man; its chief value lies in what we eon-ceive to be the success of that effort, whereby we shall hereafter be able to maintain that those dogmas are true—in a different, and, perhaps, a higher sense than was meant by Mr. Jefferson—but still that they are true, that negro slavery is in entire accordance with them, and that it never was either a moral or political wrong, but a divine necessity.

When we say that the book itself is every way worthy of the review, we sufficiently indicate our opinion of a work which is destined to

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become the standard of its class, and which Trill stay, if mind can stay, the furious war which License wajres against Liberty.

LIBERTY AND SLATERY.—PROFESSOR BLEDSOE.

I have read with great pleasure and commend to your favorable consideration, Professor Bledsoe's admirable work on "Liberty and Slavery." It is the best fruit of the slavery controversy, which, heretofore prolific of evil only, seems at length about to make some atonement for its "woes unnumbered." The primary object of the work is to vindicate Southern slavery on the principles of revealed religion and natural law. I '- is done triumphantly, but the author ranging beyond the vexed question of slavery, enters the field of political science and investigates the relative rights of society and its members. The re-.ult of his enquiry is, the best treatise on Government extant. Indeed, the publication of hi- bo 'k may well be considered an era in the history of political philosophy, inaugurating new principles and establishing them on a basis equally permanent with truth itself.

He discards the time honored fiction of a social compact, whereby society engages to protect its members, and they in return promise obedience. A fiction answering good purposes in its day, but giving place now to juster views of the rights and duties of society. " The very necessities of our nature enjoin the institution of civil government," says Professor Bledsoe.— "God himself has laid the foundations of civil society deep in the nature of man. It is an ordinance of Heaven which no human decree can reverse or annul."

He rejects also the useless fiction that society derives its rights from the cessions of its members. "Civil society," he says, "arises not from a -urrender of individual rights, but from a solemn duty imposed by God himself. It docs not abridge our natural rights but secures and protects them." "Without being aware of the i'act, apparently, the atithor" here adopts an opinion expressed by Mr. Jefferson forty years ago. "The idea is quite ci nfounded," said Mr. -Jefferson in a letter to Francis W. Gilmer, "that on entering society we give up any natural right. The true office and duty of our Legislators is to declare and enforce only our natural rights and duties and to take none of them from us." Jeff. Corr. 4th vol p. 278.

Professor Bledsoe's theory of the rights and duties of society, is at once simple and comprehensive, and its result • most important. Man is formed for society and society is reciprocally designed for man. His natural state is society, and his natural rights are derived from the laws of God. Here, then, are both the source and the limit !-rnmental power. Society is enjoined by natural law and commanded to protect natural rights ; it may do all things necessary for this end, but cannot infringe the rights it is created to defend. Society is an instrument of the

Creator, designed for the defence and perfection of man. Government is the instrument of society, contrived to accomplish the end of its creation. Society being a natural institution has natural rights as well as its members, but unlike them it is the sole judge of its own rights and their only executor. This results from necessity, there being no higher tribunal on earth. From necessity also arises the power of punishment, fur without such power society could not obey the law of its foundation. Such power must be commensurate with its end, and hence the right to inflict capital punishment if it be necessary to protect society and its members. If capital punishment be necessary, it is commanded by natural law, and therefore is no infringement of natural right, for life ceases to be a natural right when natural law commands it to be taken.

After establishing the rights of society and of its members in the nature and constitution of man, and discarding the fictions heretofore received, Professor Bledsoe proceeds to discuss the question of slavery.

He selects the favorite dogmas of trie chosen champions of abolition, Drs. Wayland and Chan-ning. and Senators Chase and Sumner, and . searching with admirable patience through bushels of chaff for grains of arguments, incontinently grinds them, when found, to native dust. A few examples must suffice.

As devils quote scripture so abolition'sts frequently pervert it to their purposes. "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you do ye even so unto them." "If these precepts were obeyed," says Dr. Wayland, "slavery could not exist a single instant. It is semper ct vbique, a moral wrong."

"The first precept," replies Professor Bledsoe, " is found in the 19th chapter of Leviticus, and in the 25th chapter, the Israelites are commanded to enslave the Canaanites. If the precept and the principle of slavery always and everywhere conflict, how comes it that both are embodied in the same Code by the Ruler of the world.

"The second precept as expounded by Dr. Wayland," continues Professor Bledsoe, "justifies a wrong act by a wrong desire." A poor man coveting his rich neighbor's possessions must give him his own pittance. A person accused of crime, if transferred to the judicial bench, must acquit criminals because he desired to be acquitted. The meaning of the* precept, rightly understood, is, that we should do unto others what we ought to desire them to do unto us if our situations were reversed. In strict conformity with this construction of the precept we hold our negroes in slavery because we ought to desire slavery if our respective characters and capacities were reversed, for then slavery would be best for us as freedom would be for them."

" If slavery be right," says Dr. Wayland. "it sanctions the whole system of the slave trade." Professor Bledsoe answers this sophism well,

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but there is another view of it worthy of consideration. It is perhaps one of the most extraordinary blunders ever committed by a writer on moral science, and it is particularly surprising from one who styles himself " the author of the moral science."

The slaves now in the United States were born here, and hence are as much members of our society as we are ourselves. To maintain, therefore, that our rights over them, if well founded, authorize us to kidnap native Africans, is to hold that society has the same rights with reference to strangers that it possesses with regard to its own members. That the State of Massachusetts, for example, which compels her children to attend her free schools, may kidnap the children of Dr. Wayland's State, Rhode Island, for the purpose of giving them compulsory imstruction. For if compulsory education be right, Dr. Wayland would say, "it sanctions the whole system" of kidnapping children wherever they may be found, for the purpose of compulsory education. Or, rather, to state the proposition as he intended it to be understood. Massachusetts has no right to kidnap the children of other communities for the purpose of compelling their attendance on her schools, and therefore she has no right to compel such attendance from her own children.

He might extend his proposition from States to individuals, and maintain that the right of a parent to punish his own children " sanctions the whole system" of correcting his neighbor's children, and that the right of a husband to the society of his wife equally entitles him to the society of his neighbor's wife.

Society may prescribe the condition of its members by virtue of the same law which authorizes it to take their lives. That law commands it to regulate the condition of its members in the manner most conducive to their well-being and safety. In conformity with this injunction of natural law, the Southern States hold their own negro race in slavery, but of course possess no right to reduce other societies of the black race to that condition.

A favorite dogma of the abolitionists is founded on the declaration contained in the Bill of Rights of Virginia, and also in the Declaration of Independence, "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." If all men be created equal, and librty be an inalienable right, how can any portion of mankind be held in slavery ? say the abolitionists.

Professor Bledsoe concludes a strong reply to this fallacy with a declaration in conflict, as it seems to us, with his own principles and subversive of his argument. He says: "Indeed, if'for the general good, he (an individual) would not cheerfully lay down both liberty and life, then both may be rightfully taken from him. We have, it is true, inherent and inalienable rights, but among these is neither liberty nor life. For these upon our country's altar may be sac-

rificed; but conscience, truth, honor, may not be touched by man." p. 111.

This paragraph implies that life and liberty are not inalienable, because they "may be sacrificed upon our country's altar," and "may be touched by man." Yet the author had previously pointed out the error of defining inalienable rights, as those over which society had no control. " An inalienable right," he says, (p. 35,) "is either one which the possessor of it himself cannot alienate or transfer, or it is one which society has not the power to take from him. According to the import of the terms, the first would seem to be what is meant by an inalienable right. But "according to the view of the abolitionists, an inalienable right is one of which society itself cannot, without doing wrong, deprive the individual." Why, we respectfully ask, does the author reject the " import of the terms," and adopt "the view of the abolitionists ?" Was it necessary for his argument in behalf of slavery, to maintain that man has a right to alienate his life and his liberty. Had he not previously stated that " society arises not from a surrender of individual rights," and hence, need not appeal to the alienation of such rights in support of its powers ? Was it wise to abandon this impregnable position for the purpose of maintaining; that slavery is justifiable, because life and liberty are alienable rights? The reply of the abolitionist to this proposition is unanswerable. If life be alienable, then suicide may be right, for man can not alienate a right over his own life without possessing that right himself. If liberty be alienable man may by his own act, incapacitate himself for the discharge of his duties to society. Moreover, the mere quality of alienability does not transfer a right or any other piece of property. Actual alienation is necessary for this purpose. And when and where, the abolitionist may most triumphantly ask, has the southern slave performed the act of alienating his liberty ? Who were the witnesses and how was the transfer evidenced. How pointedly might he address Professor Bledsoe in his own language, "do we then live, and move, and breathe, and think, and worship God, only by rights derived from society? No, certainly. We have these rights from a higher source. God gave them and all the powers of earth combined cannot take them away." p. 30. And how well might he maintain that rights derived from God cannot be alienable.

In our humble judgment, to vindicate slavery on this ground, is to surrender the argument. It is to deny a correct premise instead of refuting an erroneous conclusion.

The abolitionist is quite right in maintaining that life and liberty are inalienable rights, but wrong in thence condemning slavery. He misconceives the nature of the rights possessed by society. They are derivative it is true, but they are derived from God and not from man, and are not at all affected by the inalienability of individual rights. Society does not derive its

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rights from the alienation of its members; if it did, society would have no power, for there has been no such alienation.

He is also right in affirming the equality of rights announced in the Declaration of Independence, and wrong in supposing slavery to be in • conflict with such equality : and his error here, consists in a misconception of the word "right." It is true that " all men are created equal," or iu other words, possess equal natural rights, for no sane man supposes that an equality of physical or intellectual strength, or moral perceptions, or civil rights, was intended. But it does not follow that slavery impairs the equality of natural right; indeed, this inference betrays a total misconception of natural right.

Writers and lexicographers, with one voice, define right as conformity to law. " Right," says Paley, " is consistency with the will of God."— Moral and. Political Philosophy, p. 41. "Right," says Richardson, "is conformity to the will of God or his law."— Richardson's Dictionary. "Right is no other than rectum the past participle of the Latin verb regcre." — "When a man demands his right he only asks that which it is ordered he shall have."— Tooke's Diversions of Purity, p. 304-306. Natural right is therefore conformity to natural law, and the cc Eiat i n of Independence only declares that all men are equally bound to conform to this law. This definition establishes both the equality and the inalienability of natural right. For it is a self-evident proposition that all men owe equal allegiance to the laws of God, and that they cannot divest themselves of that allegiance. Rut it does not follow that slavery conflicts with this proposition. On the contrary, it may be the condition best suited to habitual obedience to God. Slavery subverts equality of civil rights, but inequality of civil rights, so far from conflicting with equality of natural rights, is indispensable to the attainment of such equality. If one class of a community be disposed to invade the natural rights of others, it must be restricted in political and civil power. If one class be less competent than others to exercise civil and political power, it must in like manner receive a smaller share of it. No society on earth ever conferred equal, civil and political rights on all its members If slavery were what it is not, a state of total extinction of civil rights, it might still be the very best contrivance to secure equality of natural rights, or in other words, equal obedience to the laws of God.

Bur it will be said that the Declaration of Independence declares liberty to be a natural right, that slavery destroys it, and therefore violates natural law. Liberty is no doubt a natural right, but slavery so far from destroying, may be the best means of protecting it, paradoxical as the proposition appears. Liberty and slavery are not antagonistic, if the former be rightly understood. Independence and slavery are incompatible, because the former means an absence of all control, and the latter implies control. But liberty, so far from implying the absence of control, necessarily supposes a con-

trolling power. "It consists," says Montesquieu, "in the power of doing what we ought to will, and in not being constrained to do what we ought not to will."— Spirit of Laws, 1st vol. p. 186. "Ought" recognizes obligation, and obligation implies duty and obedience to law, either natural or civil. According to Montesquieu, therefore, natural liberty means the capacity to obey natural law. Professor Bledsoe's definition of liberty conforms exactly to this conception. He says " that liberty consists in an opportunity to enjoy our rights." p. 29. But right is synonymous with obedience to law, and liberty therefore is "an opportunity to obey law." One mode of giving this opportunity of' obedience to natural law, may be deprivation of civil rights, or slavery. Hence civil slavery may lie the means of enjoying natural liberty. This truth is universally recognized by the common saying that certain nations are not fit for freedom.— They are not fit for freedom when civil subjection is necessary to confer on them the enjoyment of natural rights. Natural liberty, or in other words, the capacity to obey the laws of God may flourish under civil despotism and be utterly extinct under free government. The Russians, without change, of Government, may possibly come to possess a greater degree of natural liberty than is now enjoyed by the people of this country. All experience teaches us, with reference to the white race, that more or less, civil liberty is conducive to natural liberty, hence, the former is usually adopted as a contrivance to attain the latter. But it is a mere human contrivance, varied according to circumstances, and properly abandoned where it fails to attain its end. When it is abandoned slavery is the rightful substitute.

If these views be correct, it follows that the abolition notion of the incompatibility of slavery, with equal natural rights, and with natural liberty as one of those rights, is an error. Thus understood, the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights merely declares, " that all men owe equal obedience to the laws of God; that among these, are laws requiring them to live, to pursue their happiness by proper means, and to strive for that position in which obedience to divine law is practicable."

Thus understood, these organic laws are the foundation of negro slavery as it exists in the Southern States. They embrace within their sacred precincts all orders and conditions of our countrymen, and recognize and secure the rights of the slave as fully and as explicitly as they do the rights of the master.

Nay, more than this, slavery is absolutely ne-cessuay to confer on the negro race the enjoyment of their rights as proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence. Remembering that these rights are, equal obedience to the laws of nature, capacity to yield such obedience, and the first law of nature, self preservation, or life, we shall examine their relative enjoyment by the two conditions of the negro race mis-called slavery and freedom.

The primary injunction of natural law com-

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rnands us to live, and to preserve unimpaired.' as best we may, our moral and intellectual faculties and our physical organs. Mere existence is not obedience to this law, it requires if possible, the maintenance of sound mental and bodily health. Which of the two conditions of the negro race conform most faithfully to this injunction ?

The Census returns of 1850, show that the increase of slaves and free negroes were respectively, 28 to 12 per cent for ten years, and that flight and emancipation diminished the former 1 per cent, and augmented the latter 6 per cent during the same period. The relative natural increase was therefore more than two to one in favor of slavery.. The rate of increase of the slave population had remained uniform for fifty years, while that of the free negroes regularly declined, deeending in the last two decennial periods from 20 to 12 per cent. Under the law of population thus established, the free negro race will become so nearly extinct at no distant day, that it will only exist as an appendage of slavery.

This phenomenon is explained by the sanitary condition of the free negro. In his class there are seven times as many lunatics, twice as many idiots, twice as many deaf mutes, and more than twice as many blind persons in proportion to number as there are among the slaves.

Freedom is therefore, with the negro, a condition of such flagrant disobedience to the first law of nature, that it is punished with death.

Does the free negro yield obedience to the great moral commands of the natural Code ? In 1840, covictions for crime were twelve times as numerous among the free blacks of the six New England states as among the whites. In Massachusetts, the proportion was 9 58-100ths to 1 for the ten years preceding 1850 ; 13 to 1 for 1851, and 13 37-100ths to 1 for 1852, evincing a steady decline of relative moral condition in the race of free blacks. Taking the white race as the standard, free negro convicts'were more numerous in the proportion of 9 58-100ths to 1 in Massachusetts, 17 85-100th's to 1 in Connecticut, 7 18-lC0ths to 1 in Virginia, and 8 39-100ths to 1 in Mainland, for the period of ten years, ending in 1850. In Virginia, convictions increased 2 12-100ths from 1850 to 1853; in Massachusetts they increased 3 79-100ths from 1850 to 1852.

In Virginia the free black has a very limited amount of civil privilege, in Massachusetts he is equal to the white man. Freedom, therefore, seems to poison his moral condition and restraint toinvigorate it. Must we not hence infer that if the restraint be increased to slavery, the morality of the negro will increase in the same proportion.

These facts show that freedom in the negro race is a condition of habitual disobedience to the injunctions of natural law commanding life, health and justice, while slavery, on the contrary, evinces comparative obedience to these divine commands. Could we extend the examination

through the entire code of natural law, the result .would, no doubt, be the same; hence, we must infer that freedom destroj r s and slavery preserves the enjoyment of. Natural rights in the negro race.

With what justice, then, can it be maintained that slavery violates the Declaration of Independence, that it destroys the natural liberty of the slave, or in othe'r words, incapacitates him from obedience to Cod? Does it not, on the contrary, establish that liberty? Does it notj in the language of Montesquieu, compel him "to do what he ought to will," and hinder him from doing "what he ought not to will ?" Does it not, in the language of Professor Bledsoe, "give him an opportunity to enjoy his natural rights?" Is it not liberty itself? While, on the other hand, the free negro handed over to those tyrants of his constitution, indolence, improvidence and sensuality, does not "what he ought to will," does "what he ought not to will," has no " opportunity to enjoy his natural rights," and is in fact a slave. His condition is a standing violation of the Declaration of Independence, a constant crime against natural law, which punishes him with lunacy, idiocy, deafness, dumbness, blindness and death.

We shall be told that such was not the view taken of slavery by the authors of the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Bill of Rights. That in their opinion it violated those great organic laws. Wo grant it to the ftfllest extent. But our departure from! theij; opini is neither disrespect to them nor arrogance In us. On the contrary, we believe, that situated as they were, it was impossible for them to think otherwise. They knew slavery, but they did not know abolition. History taught them that freedom was a good contrivance for the preservation of natural rights, and hence,-in their eyes, freedom was liberty. Bht history had not then disclosed the rem'afkahle exception to this principle furnished by the negro race. It had not demonstrated their utter incapacity for the enjoyment of natural lights without help in the form of compulsion. This has been done fully and completely by the events of the last thirty years. They have given us reliable statistics of free negroism in this country, in the West Indies and in Guiana. In the face of such facts, for us to maintain that freedom promotes the enjoyment of natural rights in the negro race, is to declare that such enjoyment consists in mental and bodily disease, moral depravity and death. In the absence of such information,'for our forefathers to have advocated slavery as sy-nonomOus with natural liberty and as the foundation of natural right, would have been to reject a contrary principle furnished by history, and apparently without exception.

They declared general truths, and applied them by an induction from history, which time has shown to be imperfect. We now know that freedom and liberty are not synonymous with reference to the negro; we could not have known it had we lived fifty years ago, but must ■

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'iought the-contrary. ' The science of Government is inductive and dependent on facts for the establishment of its principles, hence, it vrould be as absurd jn us to receive all the opinions of our forefathers on political questions, as" it would be to adopt their notions in Physics. They never dreamed of the horrors of abolition, of races of men mouldering away as if by a consuming pestilence, their morals, their minds and their bodies rotting down 1 in one universal ruin. "With as, these are familiar facts, hence, we cannot fall into errors which they could not avoid. The appalling array of facts drawn by Professor Bledsoe, from the history of British Emancipation, should open the eye of blindness if If, to the folly of conferring freedom on the n,egro as a measure of projection to his natural -.It blasts them more effectually than the slave trade itself, for that first robs and then restores, but abolition is a permanent deprivation of natural right.

Professor Bledsoe's argument from the Scriptures is learned, ingenious and pr,.found. It is a fit complement to a discussion of the question on principles of natural law and completes a work entitling its author to the united and hearty thanks of his countrymen. R.

Valedictory address of Chas. P. Moncure, Esq., President of the United Farmer's Club of Orange, Culpeper and Madison. [Published by unanimous request of said Club.]. Gentlemen of the United Farmers' Club.

Under oar constitution, the term of my office expires to-day. We have now to go into the general election of officers, for another year.

' In declining a reelection to the post, with which you have honoured me, the first and only year of our existence, I am actuated by motives and feelings, which have solely in view, the usefulness and permanence of our association. It wears the appearance of selfishn'ess to appropriate' honours, when a suitable opportunity offers to share them with other and more capable colleagues.

Rotation in office, like rotation in the cultivation of the soil, is an admirable principle. I advocate an entire change of officers, to-day, believing such a course calculated to inspire additional zeal and interest, as also, to bring into effective action, a corp- of fresh and energetic recruits. The division of responsibility, when judiciously made, always inures to the general strength of any combination.

In recurring to the history of fhe year tl at ha- juft pa- ed, I think we have much to recall that was pleasant, besides the decided evidences of agricultural improve-

ment, which-have marked.our course. The want of combination has been, one of the greatest draw back among the agricultural classes of every country. While no one can deprecate more than I do, the arraying of classes against each other, yet, there is much good to be attained by a common union, and fraterity among the different professions. I think I am sustained by the facts of the case, when I say there is less community of feelling and " esprit de corps" among farmers, than any other class or profession of people.

The dawn of a brightei era in Virginia Agriculture, has been signalized by the formation of our great State Society. The success of this noble institution is a fair test of the awakened and substantial enterprise of the farmers of the present day. The annual gathering ot so large and imposing a concourse of Virginia Farmers, at our metropolis, conveys a moral most cheering to every heart. These national convention* are but the general expression of joy. Provincial societies exhibit their peculiar local ardor and enthusiasm.

Neighbourhood Clubs, like our own, partake more of individuality, and when their objects are fully and faithfully carried out, more, practical benefits are derived from them than from larger associations. All are useful in heir way, and should be auxiliary to each other in>, carrying out the great ends of Improvement.

Among the advantages'of a club like ours. I cite the following, as being sufficient to induce others, who have not reflected upon this matter, to form themselves into a similar union. First of all, I note, Example. I have known instances where one thorough going, industrious farmer, would revolutionize a whole neighbourhood. In our monthly inspections of farms, we endeavour to bestow praise and censure as truth and justice both alike require. When disputed points are raised, they are discussed freely. Here we have the combined experience of our whole section, to enable us to arrive at proper conclusions. We are all made cognizant of the system and minutia of the management of the best, as well as the most indifferent farmers. We see the results of bad management, and have the example of the good, to stimulate to improvement. Then again, our social relations are so much im proved and strengthened. Here we are brought together by the strong ties of in-

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terest, and discuss them around the family fire side and the'social board. We cultivate kindliness while we talk of the cultivation of the earth. I think our region has certainly kept pace in improvement with the general spirit which has manifested itself in other parts of the State. While we have done a good deal, we have yet much to do. We are very far from being such managers as we ought and can be. What is known as " high farming" in some parts of England, comprises a degree of perfection, far beyond our present acquirements ; but not beyond our capacity. I will undertake to say, if we gird our armor closer around us, and devote more of our personal attention and care to our business, the maxims of Franklin, so useful in practical affairs, are much more closely observed, by the thrifty farmers, of New England. We should at least take that famous one, more to heart, which says, " If you want your work done, get some one to do it, but if you want it well done, go and do it ypurself. We farmers of Virginia have been toiling for many years, without receiving our proper reward, until within some short time since. The present prices are abundant to afford such encouragement to our profession, as under good management, to insure the happiest results. A season of prosperity is the time for wise men to reflect the more. Sudden gain, too often leads the unweary into thoughtless, and sometimes hopeless extravagance and ruin. We have all been blessed with abundant harvests, and remu

less. These things are now passing away. The great staples of cotton, sugar, tobacco, and grain, have settled their respective boundaries. We are beginning to understand our own resources much better. The greatest enemies we have to contend with, after we make the crop, are the Speculators. These wily gentry, at the commencement of the present season, represented the crop of the West so enormous, as to swell the aggregate crop of wheat of the U. S. to 170 millions bushels. The last estimate I have seen, reduces this same crop to less than 100 millions. Again, the Census reports shew the fact of the more rapid increase of the population of the Towns and villages, generally, in the free states, over the country. We wish the people of these states a happy time of their great experiment of society, and especially, as this tendency to the towns, increases the demand for our productions, and thereby adds to our Agricultural prosperity. And again, the sudden and extraordinary impetus given to Commerce, consequent upon the immense discoveries of Gold in California and Australia. As you stimulate Commerce, you increase the population of the towns, abstract from the productive power of the producing districts, and in a two fold ratio, increase the demand for bread.— Lastly, the high price of labor and land, correspond with the productions. No new beginner could think of succeeding, with prices any lower than at present quoted. I cannot cl-ise this part of the subject with-

nerating prices, the past season. While!out paying a tribute to the Editors of the such bounty is sure to fill our hearts with l " Richmond Whig" and " Examiner." The buoyant hopes, we must not forget our Commercial Press, with these two honour-past history. The speculative spirit, so 'able exceptions, so far as I know, give ex-characteristic of our country, should be ! pression solely to the views of speculators tempered by us with a careful revision of| in grain. The farming interest, the first our past experience. With this much of in importance, is lost sight of—"The last admonition, I will proceed to give expres-j Steamer" and "The last Dispatch," in the sion to oph.ions, which are the result of,'commencement of a season, are no friends some care and observation ; tending to show, j to the Farmer. These two papers have

why we may expect better prices for our staples, in all time to come. First, the region of country as supposed to be adapted to the Cereals in this country : The idea was, that the soil and climate, peculiar to the culture of grain, was boundless: " The immensity of the crops of the great West, would glut the markets of the world." This was a favorite "telegraphic dispatch" for speculators fbr a long time. Indeed it seemed to be a very popular idea, that the West itself, and its productions were end-

nobly stepped forward and placed the Farmer in possession of the' real facts of the case. I undertake to say, the Farming Interest of Virginia has been more benefited by the timely hints of the^e Journals, during the past two seasons, than it'will ever receive from the Federal and State Governments in a century. Thu Southern Planter and the American Farmer have also earnestly fought our battles, but this was only their duty, they are wholly enlisted in our cause to serve as regulars. The Whig and

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Examiner proved themselves gallant and patriotic volunteers. For their efficient services, they are entitled to, and no doubt do receive, the warmest acknowledgments of our whole brotherhood.

It has been a very common idea, that " Farmers have no business speculating. This branch must be left to the merchants. A farmer must send his crops to market as soon as they are ready." This habit was in vogue before we had any rail roads. When it took ten days to market fifty bushels wheat, and it was sometimes impossible to get all the crop off the same year it was made. At the present day, the farmer is placed in possession of all the news as soon as the merchant. He can take advantage of a good market, and have some discretion in the sale of his produce.

The labour of seeding a crop of wheat, the anxiety attending the winter frosts. The imposing hosts of insects, storms of hail and wind, and the million of other ills wheat is heir to, bring the final garnering of this crop, with no little wear and tear, to both body and mind. In comparison with this, it is but little trouble to seek the best information respecting the markets of the world, with the view of foiming a judgment in the sale of the crop.

In reflecting upon the duties which imperatively call for our attention, I note as first in importance, the working of our neghbourhood roads. Since the construction of the several lines of public improvement, through our country, it seems our citizens have been more neglectful, if possible, of these avenues. This neglect is a crying shame to our country—our lands have rizen in value from $20 to $50, and indeed some lands are held as high as $70 per acre, our produce is bearing a good price, and in spite of all these advantages, we have horried roads to contend with. The system of working roads, as required by law, is totally inefficient. Good citizens should require no law, to point out their duty to them. We should take hold of this matter ourselves, and make good roads. By doing this, we will increase our sociability and good feeling, facilitate our internal commerce, and bring to bear all the other advantageswhichwe all will understand. Taking the Valley Turnpike as an example, (which is the best road in Virginia,) this road is raised in the middle, and carefully graded on both sides to drain the water off. No stones are suffered to be put upon the

road that will pass through a 3 inch ring. Dirt turnpikes have no stone upon them, unless gravel is found in the way. I mention these facts to exhibit the horrible contrast, nearly all the neighbourhood roads in Piedmont Va. present. In my estimation, most of the working I have seen performed by the overseers of the road, has done more harm than good. These overseers pursue the opposite course from the Engineers who construct the pikes. Whereever a depression is found in the roads, they throw in stones, varying in size from an ordinary pumpkin to the circumference, I was about to say, of a cart wheel. I give it as the fixed rule of Engineers, to grade with an eye to drainage and to keep off all stones, that will not pass through a 3 inch ring. I asked an overseer of a road on one occasion, why he threw such large stones in the middle of his road ? He replied, " the Superior Court meet the next Monday. That neighbour so and so, had threatened to present him if the road was not worked before court. That he had not time to do much, but by rolling in these large stones, and throwing in some brush, it would be seen that he had worked the road, and it would save him a fine " My own opinion was, the amount of the fine had better have been paid to this overseer, to have gone home and left the road alone experience satisfies me, that large stones instead of filling up permanently, increases the washings, wherever there is much fall in the land. 1 know of no better criterion of a good road, than for a prim bachelor to drive his new turn out, without complaining of injury to his wheels, or for a rheumatic old lady, who utters no complaints from jotting. Let us work our own roads upon the suggestions I have made, and my word for it, we will never regret the expenditure of either time or labour. I earnestly recommend the appointment of a committee, with strict instructions to do something at once.

There is another subject, I think, should claim our attention. Which is the importance and expediency of a fence law, requiring owners to take care of their own stock, and by so doing, they will be compelled to keep them at home within their own enclosures. The evils of the present system are numerous and well understood.

It is truly gratifying to see so good an attendance here to-day. It is a bright omen for the future. I would fain hope to

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meet you all at the close of another year, as full of hope, of health, and prosperity. Would that I could close the history of the year that has gone without the painful duty of noting absentees, whose presence we are never to have again. Within a very small ^space of time of each other, three of our honored and prized members, have been summoned upon that long journey, from whence there is no return. John Jaquelin' Ambler, John Marshall, and Benjamin. Franklin Taliaferro, have followed closely upon each other's footsteps to the grave. Were I to give full expression to my own private grief, occasioned by the loss of these, my most esteemed friends, I should transgress far beyond the limits and time of this • occasion. These gentlemen were well known, and most highly appreciated in this whole community. Mr. Ambler, I have known almost from my infancy. His love for the retired and peaceful pursuits of a country life, hid him from the public view, a mind filled with a store of knowledge, rarely met with, now a days, and particularly among these, who thrust themselves foremost to the popular gaze. His education was most complete. His taste for literature and the fine arts, was of the highest order. Above all these, his chief adornment, his brighter page may be described with his private, his home virtues. Here his light shone in all its brightness. As Husband, Father, and friend. There are the themes that compose the volume of his life. Now that the last chapter has been closed, he has bequeathed to those of his friends, who are to follow him, the rich legacy of an example of a virtuous and well spent life.

The next traveller to that distant home, was John Marshall. The arrow of death is never sped without causing a shudder, or producing a marked sensation among the friends of its victim. But when the insatiate Archer pierces one in apparent health ; the shock is stunning ! Mr. Marshall was struck -down literally, in the midst of life. He had but recently, lost his endeared wife, and it was supposed, his sorrows in consequence were more than he could bear- To a mind so sensitive, a heart so full of love, and so keenly alive to all the tender feelings of a generous nature. This blow came with a force too strong for his spirit to overcome. Bereft of the most precious tie which bound him to earth, his soul wandered with the departed, until in

its ardent loungings, it burst the bands of earth to join her in the realms above. Mr. Marshall had but recently become a resident of our section of country. He was, however, well known here, and much beloved. His intimate friends saw many ennobling qualities in his character. His utter unselfishness. His exceeding gratitude for even the smallest token of kindness. His love of doing good. His chivalry of feeling were among his prominent characteristics.

The third vacancy which has occured in our ranks, is occasioned by the death of Doctor Taliaferro. While Mr. 4mbler and Mr. Marshall entered our lists, and gave us all the encouragement in their power towards the attainment of our ends, yet tliey lived distant from our central 'point, and could rarely favour us with their welcome presence. In the loss of Doctor Taliaferro, we encounter the additional one, of a near neighbour and a regular attendant upon our meetings. His wonted form will rise before us.

THE SOILS OF THE VALLEY OF VIRGINIA.

In my opinion, Professor Gilham's Essay on the Soils ol the Valley of Virginia, is marked by ingenuity and ability, and will be useful, as well on account of the information it gives, as by turning our attention more to the investigation of the subject. But however willing we may be, to accord due credit to Mr. Gittiarri, it seems to me, that some of his hypothesis, ought to be received with caution, and investigated with care. The opinion that our clay soils have been formed wholly from the disintegration, of limestone rocks, is attended with so many difficulties, as to cast doubt at least upon its correctness.

According to the analysis stated by Mr. Gilliam, and according to general observation, our limestone rocks contain a very large proportion of lime and magnesia, and a very small proportion of alumina ; and it strikes us as a singular fact, that soils formed wholly, of the debris of these rocks, should contain so large a proportion of alumina, and so small a proportion of lime and magnesia. In the analysis given, the rocks contain some one or two per cent of alumina, with a very large per cent of lime and magnesia, and yet the soils supposed to be derived from them, contain only, from one per cent, to less than one tenth of one per

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cent of lime. It mast therefore have required the disintegration of mountains of limestone, to -furnish the best amount of clay found in this valley.

That limestone rock ma undergo disintegration near the surface, and add some-thiucr to the soil, seems probable, but how this process can be carried on at the bottom of deep beds of clay, almost impervious to water and air, is extremely difficult to understand, and equally difficult is it to understand how the lime can be brought up, arid carried off by water, as soon as it is disengaged from the rocks.

If deep beds of clay were found only in the lower parts of our valley, then it might be supposed thev were accumulated by washes from tin hills, but the fact cannot escape notice, that some of our high ranges of hills, consist of deep beds of clay. It may be remarked too, that our soils that rest upon states of a fissile nature, and therefore of easy disintegration, are generally thin, having too little depth to bring good crops in dry seasons. Some soils too, as stated in Mr. Gilliam's essay, that rest upon non-calcareous rocks have a greater proportion of lime. Why is it that the lime in such soils is not dissolved and carried off by water, a 5 the Lime is supposed to be, that must be derived in large quantities from the disintegration of lime stone rocks ?

Now may it not be, for aught we know, that in the primeval ocean, whose waves once rolled over the fair land which we now inhabit, that after the body of limestone were formed, the character of the deposites underwent a change, and the clay and sand of this valley, were then deposited, somewhat in the condition that we find them now ? If at the time God was forming the bed of that ocean, he was preparing it for the habitation of human beings as every thing around us would seem to indicate, to have converted ihe whole bed into one solid mass of stone previous to its upheaval, would have been liable to one objection at least. It would have been attended with a great loss of time, inasmuch as it would have required millions of years i'jt the disintegration of the solid stone, and to prepare it for our enjoy merit as we now find it. And I believe it is not thought, that the portions of the earth, that have been derived last from the sea, have undergone this process of disintegration. *I am aware that this is more a specula-

tion, than a practical question, and I would not desire to attach undue importance to it. But if lime be so easily dissolved, aad so readily carried off, as Mr. Gilham would teach us to "believe, will it not discourage us from applying lime to soil ? We can only apply it to the surface, where it soon comes in contact with water, and what little we can apply, would be immediately washed out by rains. And this it would seem, brings us to a conclusion widely different from the commonly received opinion. For it is generally believed, that of old manures, lime is ihe one whose effects are most slowly developed, and last the longest. Perhaps Mr. Gilham will give us some farther light on this subject.

SHEEP HUSBANDRY.

Mr. Christian's Essay on sheep is a well written, sensible, and practical article, I have read it with pleasure, but there is one suggestion in it to which I would call the attention of the readers o-f the Southern Planter. Mr. Christian says, that in the Valley of Virginia, where showers are frequent, and dews and frosts are heavy, sheep may do without other water, though they thrive best, and build up better constitutions with it. Now there is a vulgar error that prevails to a considerable extent, that sheep don't need water—and therefore every man of intelligence, who writes, or speaks upon this subject, ought to set his face against this idea, and inculcate every where, and upon all occasions, that sheep requires water as our other domestic animals do, and that they always suffer without it. My flock of sheep have been very much under my eye this winter, and I have noticed that they go to water with as much regularity as other stock. On account of (he severity of the weather my cows and lambs have been kept much of the time in a stable, I have them turned out to water twice a day, and they drink with as much avidity, and seem to enjoy it as much as my horses and cattle. How can digestion go on without moisture to dissolve their food ? I consider a man guilty of the greatest inhumanity, who dont give his sheep plenty of water, and when the streams are frozen up as they have been this winter, that is the time they need it most, (but they always need it,) and they have but little power to break the ice for themselves. Docile, timid, amiable, profitable, contributing more to our comfort and happiness than any other domestic animal, our sheep are pecu-

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liarly entitled to our vigilant care, and to our kindness, and the man commits a great sin who does not give them plenty of water and plenty of food.

G. H Chrisman. Rockingham Co., March 1, 1856.

Messrs. Editors. —At the suggestion of Mr. Gilmer that we farmers should write a little more for our agricultural papers, [ will try it once, (as theDutchman would say.) In the first place I will say, that I in part concur with the opinion set forth in your last No. concerning the Horn Ail, it has always been my belief that if horned cattle were well sheltered they would rarely be troubled with the Horn Ail, although from some other disease, the horn might sympathize and produce an absorption of the bone of the horn which is Horn Ail, but I must beg leave to differ with the student when he asserts that the remedies usually applied are absurd, and he may think he is right as long as he is a student, but when he comes to practice he will find it different. If you can let out the surplus matter through the horn, and relieve the animal immediately, why wait for the slow escape through the nostril. I cnce had an overseer who had but one cow, which was always in good order: he came tome one morning with a long face, saying, he believed his cow would die. Said I, bore her horns, perhaps they are hollow. He did so with a small gimlet, and found them a mere shell. A day or two passed and she was no better. Said I saw her horns off about half way, and put a little salt and pepper in them. He said no, that would spoil her beauty ; he would as soon she would die. The next day he came again, well he says 1 believe my cow will die, and I might as well saw her horns off. He did so, and the next day she was eating as heartily as ever she did, much to his relief, although she did look ugly.

I will also add my concurrence to the subject upOn the principles of breeding, more particularly in sheep. I have been breeding for the last three years from what we call here mountain sheep ; a long legged, coaise wooled hairy stock, which are brought from the western part of Va. and Pa. I put as good a Cotswold Buck as I can get with these ewes, and raise many lambs that will compare with the half, and three quarter blood of the best (locks. And these kind of ewes are rarely affected with blind staggers as it is called, besides they are gene-

rally good mothers, attending well to their young. Now gentlemen if you think any one will profit by the above, please give it an insertion in your paper.

J. W. M.

(From the Wool Grower and Stock FtegistPr.) WASHING SHEEP AND PACKING WOOL.

Messrs Editors. —I notice in the large quantities of wool annually produced in Ohio and New York, a great deal of the wool poorly put up for market. For the benefit of our wool growers generally, but more especially new beginners, I herewith give my views upon the subject, the result of years of experience in the business. To have good wool, and have it look well, the sheep should be kept in good condition the whole year.

To have the wool right, the sheep after washing, should be kept in a field well set with short grass, and free from black stumps and logs. The sheep should be washed until only clear water runs from the wool clear.

This can be done in a creek or river, taking care to have a clear outlet naturally, or made so by straw, gravel or boards. If there be no creek or river convenient, the washing can be done in a box placed in a small stream. The box should be 13 feet long by 3.j wide, and 3£ deep, having, a platform of 4 feet, with lath nailed across it for the sheep to walk out on. Or they may be washed under a water fall, if water is plenty and falls a sufficient distance, say four feet. Sheep may go a week or more before shearing, according to the heat and dryness of the weather. When shearing, the fleece should be kept as unbroken as possible, and should be done up in the following manner :

Place the cord on the table double, having each cord about five inches apart, with the loop from you—this is the first step toward good rolling. When the fleece is shorn, leave the tops of the wool out; take the neck in the left hand and the butt in the right, hold the left fast and give the butt a slight jerk, and the fleece will fall into a good shape for rolling; now remove all tags, bugs, &c.; spread or shove the fleece to a proper size, repairing all breaks that may be in it, patting with the hand to make it firm. After this is done, double the fleece by putting neckband butt together. Put in all the broken pieces of wool in the butt, patting and keeping the fleece compact. Now turn the side of the fleece next to you half over, then turn the belly to you so as not to be on the outside, press the sides and make it the proper breadth and length according to the size of the fleece. To keep the fleece from breaking, lay your arm along the centre, and double over it, then draw out your arm and place your knee on the fore end of the fleece, roll from the tail, packing tight with one hand, as you roll with the other. When nearly rolled take the knee from it and turn the fleece, with your breast pressing against it. Turn in a little of the other end, still pressing the fleece firmly with your breast. Now take the fleece

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and lav it on the cord, tie tight and when tied lay it upon the table. If not a good shape, you can improve it by pressing it into the shape you desire. After this is done, pack it away nicely in a clean room, granary, or bos—put a weight upon it, and you have it ready for market.

Thomas Reed. Dalton, Wayne Co., 0. May, 1855.

DEVON CATTLE.— The subscriber's second annual Catalogue of DEVON CATTLE is now ready, and will be sent by mail to those desiring it. It embraces full pedigrees of all his herd, including his Ihree imported Bulls, his imported Cows, and their progeny. Several superior Bulls and Heifers are offered for sale. 1 Alao ESSEX PIGS bred from the best importations. Address,

S. WAINWRIGHT, myo—5t* Rhinebeck, Duchess Co., N. Y.

Q AL.ERATUS.—The subscribers offer

O to the trade Salosratus of different grades of strength which they claim to be of superior quality to any other in market, and entirely free from any deleterious ingredients.

We are the only manufacturers whose process of manufacture is conducted under the immediate superintendence of an experienced practical chemist. Having been engaged for several years in the manufacture of our peculiar kind of Salaeratas, and being the originator of those manufactured, we can offer to consumers a

guarantee of its great excellence which no other manufacturer can do ; the new kind of Salsera-tus pompously set forth, under various names, in different advertisements, being merely imitations of the article we originaly introducod to the public.

We warrant the quality of all goods sold by us, and agree to return the purchase money, together with expenses of transportation on every article that proves to be inferior to our representation of its quality.

JOHN DWIGHT & CO.,

March—3t* No. 112 Pearl St., N. Y.

SEYMOUR'S

CELEBRATED SOWING MACHINES.

THE subscribers having been appointed sole Agents in this City, tor the sale of the above celebrated Machines, are now prepared to execute orders for them, which should be sent in enrlv to avoid disappointment. BALDWIN', CARDWELI. &. CO. Richmond, May 1st, 1850—it

MANNY'S IMPROVED REAPER AND MOWER.—We beg lo call the attention of Planters to this Popular MACHINE, which has no superior ; we solicit early orders to avoid disappointment, as we are making a limited number of them.

BALDWIN, CARDWELL &, CO. April 16, 1856.—3m

Farm Wanted.—A Farm of two or three hundred acres of land, below the Blue Ridge and above tide water in a healthy section, which will afford at the same time a good location, for a physician and a good situation for a Female Boarding School. Apply at the Office of the Southern Pianter, by letter, giving full description of premises and neighborhood. up tf

Paym'tstulhe Southern Planter from the 19 March to 22 April inclusive. All persons who have made payments early enough to be entered, and whose names do not appear in the following receipt list, are requested to give immediate notice of the omission, in order that the correction may be made in the next issue : J Alexander, Jan 57* 4 75

F Fitzgerald, " 58 1 00

T W Downer, July 56 2 50

P Carr April ■■ 5 00

T W Chapman, July 57 2 00

P C Lauck, Sep " 2 00

W H Clore. July " 2 00

Mrs l.ucv Binfori), Mar 57 1 00

W C Kerfoot, Jan 56 5 00

N W Harwell, " 57 2 50

W H Tyler, it, Jan 57 5 00

G P Richardson, Jan 56 1 25

Robert Marks, Jan 57 100

R D Hill. July 56 1 25

S McD Reid, Jan 57 1 00

J \V Dabnev, Jan 57 1 00

W 3 Dabnev, Jan 57 1 00

E Ruffin Jr"Jau57 1 00

J C Ruffin, Jan 57 1 00

A C Carrington, Jan 56 2 00

W B Lee, Jan 57 1 00

RPavne, July 56 2 50

R P H Campbell, Jan 57 1 00

J S Groseclose, April 67 1 00

W H Roy, Jan 57 1 00

T Bronangh, Jan 57 2 25

J B Lasley, Julv 56 1 25

N Parker, Jan 57 2 00

F D Wheelwright, Jan 57 1 00