I have known whitening administered for the ralists have studied the metamorphosis of ants, and upon the table, and left them at liberty to arrange distemper, a table spoonful every morning, with a described the principal circumstances connected them at the bottom of the glazed box, which they little opening physic occasionally. (with it, yet we are about to examine, under new re- did in such a manner, that it was easy to observe I am not aware of any other remedies worth no-lations, the developement and education of these all their galleries, and the apartments to which they tice, though a great many might be added, if we insects in their different states. The history of the led. I at length covered over the whole of the macould give credit to the stories retailed by dealers in egg, had entirely escaped their researches, as well terials, with a large bell-glass, in order that I might dogs as well as game-keepers. Of the recipes given, as several particulars in the history of the pupa witness the movements of my prisoners, as well inI prefer the last but one; but much will be found to and larvæ. side as on the outside, and at the same time guard depend on good nursing, and particularly to prevent My predecessors, not having made use of a glazed against their escape. But when I saw they were the animal from taking cold.-From what I have wit- apparatus, to observe what passed in the interior of accustomed to their fate, and did not seek to leave nessed of Blaine's medicine I should not recommend the ant-hills, had but very rarely seen these insects their prison, I allowed them free issue from under it. engaged in their household occupations; and this the bell-glass, and the liberty of running over the It is very adviseable to inoculate for the distem- was not so easy of accomplishment as at first ap- platform upon which it rested, taking only the preper. If you can meet with a dog already afflicted, peared. caution of plunging the feet of the table in vessel's take a little muscous from his nose, and insert it up These insects, although possessing so little ti- filled with water, to arrest the ants in their passage, the nostrils of your whelp, after having prepared midity, and regardless, as it concerns themselves, should they attempt to escape. him by a dose or two of syrup of buckthorn; if the of the several changes in the weather, evince the This apparatus, and several others of which the animal does not take the disease, repeat the opera- greatest concern for their little ones. For beings explanation would be long and tedious, had all the tion. By inoculating for the distemper, the disease so delicately formed, they dread the slightest varia- success I wished. I observed, with much pleasure, will be as much less severe, as the inoculated small tions of the atmosphere, are alarmed at the least that the ants continued to take care of the larvæ, pox, compared to what is called the natural mode danger which threatens them, and seem particu- which proved, that in taking them, in some respects, of taking it. larly anxious to withdraw them from our notice. from the state of nature, I had not too much dis A dog never has the distemper twice, nor does I was in my first attempts continually disappointed, turbed them. This gave me reason to hope, that I it ever attack him after he has attained the age of from the great repugnance they manifested in al- should observe in its greatest extent, all the care two years; but generally makes its appearance be- lowing the light to penetrate their abode: whenever they took of the rising generation. fore the animal is twelve months old. A notion be- I attempted to glaze their apartments, or to lay I did not, however, always keep to these artificial came prevalent a few years back, that by inocula- open to view any of their halls or passages, if they means. I compared, as often as possible, the conting a dog with the cow pock, the distemper would did not completely abandon them, they at least pre-duct of my prisoners, with that of those ants, inhabe prevented. vented me from following them in their in-door la-biting and ranging about the fields, and as I never The cow pock.-Dr. Jenner has asserted that, by bours. At one time they would darken, by a heap remarked any sensible difference in their manner inoculating dogs for the cow-pock, a "disease simi- of different materials, all the halls which admitted of acting, I concluded I could trust the results ob lar to that which is called the dog's distemper is the light; at another time, as if conscious that the tained by means of my glazed apparatus. produced, but in a very slight degree. What is glass, notwithstanding its transparency, could guard Let us now open the shutter, which conceals most remarkable," adds Dr. Jenner "this inocula- them from the external air, and that nothing was from us the interior of the ant-hill, and let us see tion renders them afterwards unsusceptible of that wanting to render it a true wall, but the power of what is passing there. affection." Dr. Jenner is certainly no mean autho- excluding that glaring light, at all times so disa- Here, the pupæ are heaped up by hundreds, in rity; but, having tried the experiment a number of greeable to them, they preserved entire all the galle- their spacious lodges; there, the larvae are collected times, from what I have witnessed, I can assert, ries contiguous to it, taking the sole precaution of together, and guarded by workers. In one place, that unless much more than ordinary pains are ta- covering it over with a layer of moist earth, which we observe an assemblage of eggs, in another place, ken in the operation, no disease whatever will be effectually hindered further observation. some of the workers seem occupied in following an produced; and when at length pustules have been Thus disappointed, I employed a method more ant of a larger size than the rest;-this is the moraised, they have not been attended with symptoms simple, though more effectual:-I removed a por- ther or at least one of the females, for there are any way resembling what is called the distemper. tion of the ant-hill, and tuen placed over the remain-always several in each ant hill:-she lays as she The catalogue of dog diseases is extended in der, a thin flat board, inclined to the south; the ants, walks, and the guardians, by whom she is surround some publications to a puzzling length, where the attracted by the heat, brought their little ones to ed, take up her eggs, or seize them at the very movarious ramifications or different stages of each dis- this place By removing this outside shutter or ment of her laying them; they collect them together, ease receive a new name, in direct violation of that contrevent, I could ascertain the progress of their and carry them in little heaps in their mouths.* clearness and perspicuity so preferable, indeed so growth, although the workers, on being disturbed, On looking a little closer, we find that they turn essentially requisite, in a statement of cases, many hastened to convey them to their under-ground them continually with their tongues; it even apof which are frequently doubtful even to the skilful quarters. pears, they pass them one after another between and experienced. Young dogs are very subject to I was often obliged to vary the means I employed; their teeth, and thus keer them constantly moisworms, and appearances thus produced are too of- for the ants soon wearied by my visits, still baffled tened. Such is the first aperçu, which my glazed ten mistaken for other disorders, receive various all my efforts, by making a true wall of earth be- apparatus offered. appellations, and are treated in the most injudicious hind the contrevent. After having for some time Having directed my close attention to these eggs, manner. I shall finish this article by mentioning attended to the manners and habits of these insects, I remarked they were of different sizes, shades and what I have been informed will cure the distemper, I found that we might accustom them by degrees, to forms. The smallest were white, opake and cylinbut I have never tried it; and am rather sceptical suffer the entrance of the light in their abode; but drical; the largest, transparent, and slightly arched as to the fact: it was necessary, notwithstanding, to use much at both ends; those of a middle size, were semi One clove of garlic, given every or every other caution. What succeeded with me the best, was transparent. In holding them up to the light, I obday, or according to the violence of the disorder. MISCELLANEOUS. NATURAL HISTORY that of forming an oblong opening in the middle of served a sort of white oblong cloud; in some, a a table, and affixing underneath, a double frame, transparent point might be marked at the superior glazed on its two longest sides, and opened only at extremity; in others, a clear zone above and underthe upper part, which communicated with this aper- neath the little cloud. The largest presented a ture. These frames, being furnished with shutters, single opake and whitish point in their interior. permitted me, either to observe the ants, or to fa There were some whose whole body was so remarkvour them in their taste for obscurity. This done, ably clear, as to allow of my observing very disI scattered all the materials of a nest of fallow ants tinctly the rings. In fixing my attention more closely upon the latter, I observed the egg open, and the larva appear in its place. Having compared these eggs with those just laid, constantly found the latter of a milky whiteness, OF THE EGGS, LARVE, AND PUPE OF ANTS. The exterior of ant-hills, their form and construction, have hitherto entirely occupied us: it was, affection they evince for their young. This plan, from however, necessary to commence by establishing which we could not well depart, in speaking of insects the ants in their abode, previous to describing the that lead a solitary life, is not so natural, when treating I of numerous and permanent republics, such as those of rest of their labours. The object which will now evidently create some interest, is that solicitude the ants. It would have been difficult to have mentioned completely opake, and smaller by one half; so that every circumstance connected with the reproduction of workers evince for the object of their charge, and the species, before describing the interior of their habi- *The eggs of ants are so remarkably minute, that the maternal attention they bestow upon them, from tations, and the method I found the most successful in there would seem an absolute necessity of their being the period of their quitting the egg, to that of their my observations. The education of their young, being held together by some glutinous matter, otherwise, it complete developement. Although several natu- the chief end of all their labours, offers in part, a picture would render the removal of such small bodies in the of the manners of these industrious insects. It is for mandibles of ants almost impossible; the mandibles be* It would be perhaps more regular to speak of the this reason, the plan I now foilow, appeared the best to ing so constituted as not to be brought into that close fecundation of ants, before making known the care and elucidate subsequent remarks.-A. contact necessary for this operation.-T. I had no reason to doubt of the eggs of ants receiv-several small lots, made in South Carolina, and the the process varies perpetually, even in the same cliing a very considerable increase in size; that in Mississippi, of excellent quality. It is true the ge- mate, and these endless variations can be met by elongating, they become transparent, but do not at neral run of indigo made in the Southern states is none but an experienced practitioner. In proof of this time disclose the form of the worm, which is of inferior quality; but this deficiency must be at- this I have only to mention that in two of my own always arched. tributed to the want of skilful manufacturers; for if factories, within a distance of three miles, on the To be convinced of the truth of this statement, one or two lots can be made good, the whole may same day, and the same time of the day, I have I viewed these eggs with a microscope; I also mea-be, if the conditions necessary to make a perfect known the steepening eight hours longer in one than sured them, and having separated them from each article be observed. To obviate this difficulty, I in the other. I have known a similar difference in other, found the longest to be those only, in which have been endeavouring for two years past to col- one factory on two successive days, without any the worms were disclosed in my presence. If I re- lect information relative to the process of manufac- perceptible change in the climate, or any ostensible moved them from the workers, before they had at- turing indigo after the best and most approved cause to account for it. I have observed the same tained their full length and transparency, they dried manner. My object has been to collect instruc- variety in the beating in different factories on the up and the worms never quitted them. tions from practical men who have made the arti- same day, and in the same factory on successive Is it, then, to the care which the workers take in cle in other countries; but the intelligence obtained days without any apparent cause. In such cases, passing them across their mouths, that we must at- falls far short of my expectation. experience alone can lead to a successful result, and tribute the secret of their preservation? Do these The processes of working the wood vat for dying where this is wanting, there will always be great eggs require this humidity, or do they absorb a part blue on woollens, and of manufacturing Indigo from loss." of it, to furnish nourishment to the little worms they the plant, are similar in the most important points, This will appear an appalling description to the contain? It appears at least highly probable; and differing mostly in the mode of producing the results. mere novice in manufacturing indigo, yet there is the observations of M. Reaumur, give weight to this The blue-dyer ferments the Indigo till it returns to nothing to alarm any enterprising person, or to preopinion. I have discovered in his writings, that a green state, collects the green colouring fecula in vent his making an attempt, particularly to one who there are other eggs, which also increase in size, as the pores of the goods dyed, and causes it to oxi- has been accustomed to make any article in which those lodged in the galls of different trees, which dize by a rapid alternating exposure to the atmos- a fermentative process is required, for in every ferare occasioned by Cynips*, or other insects of the phere. The maker of Indigo ferments the plant till mentative process there is ever an incertitude in same kind. the liquor becomes green, draws it off from the plant, the time of its coming to perfection-the brewer, "It ought not," says this exact and judicious ob- oxidizes the fecule by the agitation, and collects the distiller, the wood dyer, have all experienced server, "to be passed by in silence, that the egg the sediment for the use of the dyer. The blue dy- this. Those who follow such pursuits are not alarmwhich I found in the gall, appeared to be considera- er, therefore, ought to have a tolerably correct idea ed at any irregularity, it is only necessary for them bly larger than the eggs of the same species, when of the process of manufacturing Indigo, and may to be able to discriminate between a perfect and imthey proceeded from the body of the fly, or even be able to throw some light on the subject. On this perfect stage of fermentation, so as not to stop it when they are taken from the body of the impreg-ground I shall venture to give my opinion on those too soon, nor permit it to exceed the requisite denated or mother fly, near the time of their being points in making of Indigo which are considered by gree. Written instructions, therefore, pointing out . laid. The whole of those I took from the abdomen manufacturers as the most difficult to perform cor- the colour, smell, and other distinctive indications, of the flies I killed, were remarkably small; it there-rectly. assumed by the steepening liquor when the fermenfore appeared certain, that the egg would have in- There are three points to be attended to in mak-tation is complete, cannot fail of being serviceable creased, and indeed had increased, in the gall." ing of indigo, which when observed by a manufac- to the young practitioner. The process of making We are only in the habit of seeing eggs sur-turer, cannot fail of producing a perfect article. indigo sent me as that of a Mr. Lediard's, which I rounded by a covering incapable of extension; but These are the time of gathering the plant-the pro- shall give in the next essay, enters particularly into why is it that those eggs, which nature has enclosed, per degree of fermentation when the plant is in all the minutiae of the operations necessary to insure in a flexible membrane, do not increase? The en- steep, and the supplying the faeculæ, after the li-success. HOPSON. velope of the egg may, in this instance, be com- quor is drawn from the steep, with as much oxygen pared to the membrane which includes the human as is necessary without exceeding the requisite foetus, and those of quadrupeds. (To be continued.) quantum. I shall proceed to give instructions received from three sources. The first will contain directions from Kirby Dalrymple, Esq. of New London, (Conn.) ON MANUFACTURING INDIGO FROM THE who was for many years an extensive manufacturer of indigo in the East Indies. bled. INDIGO PLANT. PROCESS. GRAIN. Farmers, millers and flour merchants, read the following interesting statement. The recent measures adopted in England for the admission of foreign grain, (for it is to wheat, rye and barley, that the term corn is applied in Eng(From the New York Statesman.) land, where they have not what we call corn) are, we observe, exciting attention in the agricultural The consumption of indigo in this country fifteen "Cut the plant when in full flower, after the wea- parts of our country, and are referred to as likely years ago, was a mere trifle. At this time, owing ther for some days has been dry. Take an iron, to affect considerably the price of wheat here. It to the great increase of manufactures, the annual purchase for domestic use cannot be less than brass or copper boiler, fill it within three inches of may not perhaps be useless to inquire, how far the top with the plants, press down with stones, and such a result is likely to occur,-The purport of the from three to five millions of dollars, and it is pro-cover the plants with water. The liquor must be two bills before parliament, we believe to be, of the bable that in ten years the demand will be dou- heated, not until it boils, but until it begins to blub- one to admit for consumption all the warehouse The manufacturing of indigo in the Southern ber, or simmer. The water by this time will look corn now in the British ports, and of the other, to states, to an extent at least equal to supply home greenish, then draw it off into a shallow vessel or import, if and when the ministers shall judge adconsumption, would certainly be an object of great vat, and beat for one or two hours to incorporate viseable, 4,000,000 bushels from abroad. In pronational importance. We have abundance of land white saucer, little particles will appear in it as big ning estimated the quantity of corn in bond, at from oxygen with it. On taking some of the liquor in a posing the first measure to parliament, Mr. Cancalculated for raising the plant, and were our southern planters to turn their attention to the arti-as the head of a pin and smaller; then stop beating, 2,000,000 to 2,400,000 bushels, equal perhaps to and throw in a little lime water, upon which the in- four or five days' consumption for Great Britain.cle, they would not so often glut foreign markets with cotton. I know that prime indigo can be made digo will precipitate to the bottom, and the super- The additional quantity which ministers may admit, natant water will look like brandy. The water has is equal to eight or ten days more.-The United there, having during a period of thirty years bought now to be drained off to a level with the top of the States have never, we believe, exported in any one *To these insects we are indebted for that valuable sediment, lay the sediment on a cloth to drain, when year, over a million and a half bushels of wheat; article of commerce, the gall-nut. The Cynips is fur-stiff enough put in moulds to dry." though, in the shape of flour, they have exported nished with a finely pointed instrument, with which it The above process was sent me by a Mr. Rock- equal to six millions of bushels. Perhaps the avewounds the leaves and other parts of the tree, for the well, of Winchester. With a view of eliciting rage export from all the ports of the Baltic may be essake of depositing its eggs. The puncture of the leaves, further information I wrote to Mr. Drequesting timated at eight millions of bushels. Supposing then, &c. gives rise to those excrescences termed galls, which more particular instruction, in answer to which I that it shall be deemed expedient by ministers to not only form the habitation, for a considerable period, received the following: admit from abroad 4,000,000 bushels of grain, it ap of the infant insect, but serve it the whole time of its "To attempt to define by rules, what is in itself pears that much more than that quantity may, tak imprisonment for food. On examining the galls, some indefinite, would be an endless task, and would on- ing for our guide the averages of past years, be had will be found to have an opening in them; these are they, from which the fly has escaped: others, that want ly lead to error, and I can assure you, from my own either from the Baltic or the United States. As this aperture, will be found to contain the insect, either experience, that books and written instructions are therefore there will be a competition, great profits in its larva, pupa or imago state; for it appears these always hurtful to a young indigo planter. A few can scarcely be calculated on. It must then be inseveral changes, at least with some of the species, take months practice will teach him more than all the quired, what prices may probably be obtained in place within the body of the gall.-T. books and instructions in the world. The truth is, England, for wheat sent there; and in order to as [N. Y. paper, 3d June. THE FARMER. BALTIMORE, FRIDAY, JULY 7, 1826. certain this, it is necessary to revert to the state-Ohio, via Lakes, Grand Canal, and last from Alba DEATH OF MR. JEFFERSON. COTTON, Louisiana, &c. 12 13 The following letter to the Editor conveys the 6d Sterling, 7s. 6d. But the price to be calculated on in England is only Ss. per bushel; leaving therefore but the chance of 6d. per bushel profit, against the risk of prices that may fall; but which it is the object of every regulation under which the importation is made to prevent from rising. This general result, which is believed to be in the main accurate, is presented in the hope that it may spare some disappointments. The gain in exchange is not computed-It may be set off against possible contingent expenses, which have not been taken into account. [Am. D. Adv. July 4, 1826. COAL TRADE OF THE LEHIGH. A subscriber requests information respecting EXTRACTS TO THE EDITOR-DATED FLOUR, Superfine, city, bbl. 4 37 4 505 004 Fine, do. Lawler,. 4 00 9 75 80 1 05 1 10 75 85 Clover Seed, Red . . bush 3 874 4 25 4 75 lb. 2 00 1 25 1 50 2 25 3 00 56 ) 70 187 Beans, White, Bar. DEAR SIR, Auburn, N. Y. June 29, 1826. "We have lately had fine rains in this part of the country, and nature appears to receive and rejoice. Wheat has failed in an unusual degree in many From the foregoing it will be seen that the parts of this state. The fly has attacked and dewhole quantity of coal dispatched from Mauch-stroyed very many fields. Hay will be light-oats, Chunk to Philadelphia, commencing on the 3d of barley and corn will now revive. Wool is a drug; March last, to the 18th inst. inclusive, is 9627 tons, no price can be obtained that will justify its growth. or 269,566 bushels-being more than double the But if you to the south have suffered as much with amount shipped from hence, to the same period of the drought as we have-wheat must improve in price. last year. The business of the company is carried on with "P. S. Our wheat will not be fit to harvest this increasing energy, and from present appearances three weeks." it is reasonable to conclude, that one million of bushels will be sent down from Mauch-Chunk this season. It would be well for our citizens to lay in their coal early, as by so doing they will avoid the confusion and delay which ensues at the commencement of cold weather, when the orders are very numerous. Another inducement is, that coal purchased now, is delivered free of expense for hauling, within the usual bounds. TOBACCO.-Inspections in the three State Warehouses during the last week: No. 1, CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. Thoughts on Agriculture, by Dr. Johnson-On using Marsh Mud for Manure-Remarks on the construction The demand for Lehigh coal from abroad is very and management of Cattle Yards-Nantucket Sheep flattering, and heavy shipments are about being Shearing-Mr. Watson's Sheep Shearing-Treatment of made to New York, Boston and other ports. Seed Wheat-On Cabbages, Peas, Asparagus, Fruit, &c. Weekly statements of the shipments of coal from-On the uses, properties, &c. of Milk, continuedMauch-Chunk will be regularly furnished hereafter. Mode of Dressing a Turtle-Annals of the Turf, No. IV.-Diseases of Dogs, on the Distemper-Natural history of the eggs, larvæ, and pupa of Ants-On manuNine hhds. of Tobacco arrived here on the 1st, market in England-Coal Trade of the Lehigh-Death facturing Indigo, from the Indigo plant-On the Grain in the tow-boat Dewitt Clinton, from the state of of Thomas Jefferson-Prospect of Crops. [Dem. Press. Loaf, Liverpool ground 2 WINES, Madeira, L. P. gal. 2 50 3 00 3 50 4 do. Sicily,. 1 15 1 20 2 00 1 15 1 20 1 50 175 doz. 4 WOOL, Merino, full bl❜d lb. do. crossed, 00 9 00 1 65 1 85 2 50 Printed every Friday, at $5 per annum, for JOHN S. No. 17.-VOL. 8. AGRICULTURE. AMERICAN FARMER.-BALTIMORE, JULY 14, 1826. THOUGHTS ON AGRICULTURE. BY DR. JOHNSON. (From the Visiter, 1756.) 129 accidental improvement, or natural advantage may state of other countries, that the vineyards of procure a just preference to their commodities; as France are more than an equivalent to the mines of experience has shewn, that there is no work of the America; and that one great use of Indian gold, and hands, which, at different times, is not best perform- Peruvian silver, is to procure the wines of Chamed in different places. paigne and Burgundy. The advantage is, indeed, Traffick, even while it continues in a state of always rising on the side of France, who will cerprosperity, must owe its success to agriculture; the tainly have wines, when Spain, by a thousand acAt my last visit, I took the liberty of mentioning materials of manufactures are the produce of the cidental causes, may want silver. But surely the a subject, which, I think, is not considered with at-earth. The wool which we weave into cloth, the vallies of England have more certain stores of tention proportionate to its importance. Nothing wood which is formed into cabinets, the metals wealth. Wines are chosen by caprice; the procan more fully prove the ingratitude of mankind, a which are forged into weapons, are supplied by na- ducts of France have not always been equally crime often charged upon them, and often denied, ture with the help of art. Manufactures, indeed, esteemed; but there never was any age or people than the little regard which the disposers of honora- and profitable manufactures, are sometimes raised that reckoned bread among superfluities, when once ry rewards have paid to agriculture; which is treat- from imported materials, but then we are subjected it was known. The price of wheat and barley sufed as a subject so remote from common life, by all a second time to the caprice of our neighbours. [fers not any variation, but what is caused by the those who do not immediately hold the plough, or The natives of Lombardy might easily resolve to uncertainty of seasons. retain their silk at home, and employ workmen of I am far from intending to persuade my countrytheir own to weave it. And this will certainly be men to quit all other employments for that of madone when they grow wise and industrious, when nuring the ground. I mean only to prove, that we they have sagacity to discern their interest, and vi- have, at home, all that we can want, and that theregour to pursue it. fore we need feel no great anxiety about the Mines are generally considered as the great schemes of other nations for improving their arts, I have already observed, how differently agricul- sources of wealth, and superficial observers have or extending their traffick. But there is no necesture was considered by the heroes and wise men of thought the possession of great quantities of pre-sity to infer, that we should cease from commerce, the Roman commonwealth, and shall now only add, cious metals the first national happiness. But Eu before the revolution of things shall transfer it to that even after the emperors had made great al-rope has long seen, with wonder and contempt, the some other regions! Such vicissitudes the world terations in the system of life, and taught men to poverty of Spain, who thought herself exempted has often seen; and therefore such we have reason portion out their esteem to other qualities than use- from the labour of tilling the ground, by the con- to expect fulness, agriculture still maintained its reputation, quest of Peru, with its veins of silver. Time, how- trade, which are not, in my opinion, always true; We hear many clamours of declining and was taught by the polite and elegant Celsus ever, has taught even this obstinate and haughty and many imputations of that decline to governors among the other arts. nation, that without agriculture, they may indeed and ministers, which may be sometimes just, and give fodder to the ox, that I think there is room to question whether a great part of mankind has yet been informed that life is sustained by the fruits of the earth. I was once indeed provoked to ask a lady of great eminence for genius, whether she knew of what bread is made? The usefulness of agriculture I have already be the transmitters of money, but can never be the sometimes calumnious. But it is foolish to imagine, shewa; I shall now, therefore, prove its necessity: possessors. They may dig it out of the earth, but that any care or policy can keep commerce at a and having before declared, that it produces the must immediately send it away to purchase cloth or stand, which almost every nation has enjoyed and chief riches of a nation, I shall proceed to shew, bread, and it must at last remain with some people lost, and which we must expect to lose as we have that it gives its only riches, the only riches which wise enough to sell much, and to buy little; to live long enjoyed it. Trade and manufactures must be confessed often to enrich countries; and we ourselves are indebted we can call our own, and of which we need not upon their own lands, without a wish for those There is some danger lest our neglect of agriculfear either deprivation or diminution. things which nature has denied them. ture should hasten its departure. Our industry has Of nations, as of individuals, the first blessing is Mines are themselves of no use, without some for many ages been employed in destroying the independence. Neither the man nor the people kind of agriculture. We have, in our own coun- woods which our ancestors have planted. It is well can be happy to whom any human power can deny try, inexhaustible stores of iron, which lie useless known that commerce is carried on by ships, and the necessaries or conveniences of life. There is in the ore for want of wood. It was never the de- that ships are built out of trees; and, therefore, no way of living without the need of foreign assis- sign of Providence to feed man without his own when I travel over naked plains, to which tradition tance, but by the product of our own land, improv- concurrence; we have from nature only what we has preserved the name of forests, or see hills arised by our own labour. Every other source of plen- cannot provide for ourselves; she gives us wild ing on either hand, barren and useless, I cannot ty is perishable or casual. fruits, which art must meliorate, and drossy metals, forbear to wonder, how that commerce, of which which labour must refine. we promise ourselves the perpetuity, shall be conParticular metals are valuable, because they are tinued by our descendants; nor can restrain a sigh, to them for those ships by which we now command scarce; and they are scarce, because the mines when I think on the time, a time at no great disthe sea, from the equator to the poles, and for those that yield them are emptied in time. But the sur-tance, when our neighbours may deprive us of our sums with which we have shewn ourselves able to face of the earth is more liberal than its caverns. naval influence, by refusing us their timber. arm the nations of the North in defence of regions The field which this autumn is laid naked by the in the Western hemisphere But trade and manu- sickle, will be covered, in the succeeding summer, ed; and by agriculture alone, can we live in plenty By agriculture only can commerce be perpetuatfactures, however profitabe, must yield to the cul- by a new harvest; the grass, which the cattle are without intercourse with other nations. This, theretivation of lands in usefuless and dignity. devouring, shoots up again when they have passed fore, is the great art, which every government Commerce, however re may please ourselves over it. Agriculture, therefore, and agriculture ought to protect, every proprietor of lands to pracwith the contrary opinio, is one of the daughters alone, can support us without the help of others, in tise, and every inquirer into nature to improve. of Fortune, inconstant ad deceitful as her mother, certain plenty, and genuine dignity. she chuses her residencewhere she is least expect Whatever we buy from without, the sellers may ed, and shifts her abode hen her continuance is in refuse; whatever we sell, manufactured by art, the JUMPING PLOUGH. appearance most firmlysettled. Who can read of purchasers may reject; but, while our ground is co- SIR, Washington, Mississippi, May 6, 1826. the present distresses the Genoese, whose only vered with corn and cattle, we can want nothing, choice now remaining from what monarch they and if imagination should grow sick of native plen-rectors of the Adams Athenæum, I have the honour In pursuance of a resolution of the Board of Dishall solicit protection? Who can see the Hanse-ty, and call for delicacies or embellishments from to enclose to you, an Address delivered before said atick towns in ruins were perhaps the inhabitants other countries, there is nothing which corn and institution, the 27th ult., together with the annexed do not always equal th number of houses; but he cattle will not purchase. drawing of the "Jumping Plough," by Col. B. L. will say to himself, the are the cities whose trade Our country is, perhaps, beyond all others, pro- C. Wailes; which you are requested to publish in enabled them once tgive laws to the world, to ductive of things necessary to life. The pine apple the "American Farmer." whose merchants prins sent their jewels in pawn, thrives better between the tropicks, and better furs from whose treasuriesrmies were paid, and navies are found in the northern regions. But let us not supplied!—and who a then forbear to consider envy these unnecessary privileges. Mankind can-To the Editor of the Am. Farmer, trade as a weak and certain basis of power, and not subsist upon the indulgencies of nature, but wish to his country gatness more solid, and felici- must be supported by her more common gifts. ty more durable? They must feed upon bread and be clothed with Very respf'lly, your most obed't serv't, Baltimore. Farmer, } It is apparent, thevery trading nation flourish wool; and the nation that can furnish these univer- MR. PRESIDENT, es, while it can be d to flourish, by the courtesy sal commodities, may have her ships welcomed at Adams Athenæum-27th April, 1826. of others. We cant compel any people to buy a thousand ports, or sit at home and receive the ment, not generally known, and but recently introHaving recently examined an agricultural implefrom us, or to sell ts. A thousand accidents may tribute of foreign countries, enjoy their arts or trea-duced into our state; one, in my opinion, of great prejudice them in fur of our rivals; the workmen sure up their gold. of another nation labour for less price, or some It is well known to those who have examined the 'would not prove uninteresting. I refer to the Jumputility;-I have thought that a description of it No. 17.-.8. ing Plough, as it is termed. It is simple in its con- and pursues its course, throwing the earth on both Hessian fly, has produced the necessity for a most struction, being merely a shovel plough of large sides and leaving a deeper and wider track than the active inquiry and exertion to elude its ravages, size preceded by a strong coulter, somewhat of a bar-share plough. and my petition to you to endeavour to procure the sabre form, affixed to the beam in an inverted po- With two horses this plough will break up tho-early wheat, was founded upon a conviction, derivsition, or inclining backwards and touching, nearly, roughly, and with ease, the almost impervious mat ed from a knowledge of the character of that wheat, the point of the shovel, and penetrating the ground of cane roots with which most new ground in the that it would probably be most exempt from the efrather less than an inch below it. The annexed western section of this state abounds; much more fects of the Hessian fly. In this county we seed with sketch exhibits the relative proportions of its dif- so than two yoke of oxen and a bar-share plough. perfect security against the effects of the Hessian fly ferent parts, the principal of which are as follow. It is particularly serviceable in planting the first in autumn, by commencing after the first week in Length of the beam four feet; helve of the shovel crop in cane land, and cotton sown in a single October-but we are altogether dependent upon two feet three inches; from the bottom of the beam trench made by it, raked in and cultivated with the the course of the weather in the spring, as to the deto the top of the shovel, nine inches; shovel fifteen hoe, will produce almost as abundantly as by any gree of injury we sustain. A cold, moist, and what is inches long, twelve inches wide; handles four feet; other process of cultivation. called a latter spring, affects the progress of wheat coulter twenty-three inches; rod eighteen inches in By whom it was first introduced into the state, less than that of any other plant, and in such a length. This plough is designed for breaking up whether it be a late invention, and whether it is in season it gets such a growth and such strength beand cultivating newly cleared land, and is admira- use in other states, I have not been able to learn. fore the fly makes its appearance (as it requires bly calculated for this purpose. The position of I am rather inclined to believe that we are entitled much warmer weather to bring it forth,) that it rethe coulter and its consequent motion through the to the credit of the invention. sists its ravages in a great degree, where there has ground, enables it readily to sever all smaller ob- It cannot fail to recommend itself to general use, been proper attention to manuring and cultivation. structions to its progress, whilst those of a firm and in new land, wherever known A very forward, warm and genial spring is almost unyielding character raise it until the impediment is uniformly destructive to the wheat crop, because it brings the fly into existence and action much earlier, and causes its depredations to be commenced upon the wheat plant in that stage when it is younger, smaller, and weaker, and of course less capable to resist or to bear them. surmounted, when it plunges again into the ground Adams county, Mississippi. JUMPING PLOUGH. 12 inches. MR. SKINNER, RARE RIPE WHEAT. Talbot county, July 6, 1826. B. L. C. WAILES. 5 Generally speaking, the first effect produced by the fly in the spring, is visible from about the 20th of April to the 1st of May, according to the season; and that injury is continued for two or three weeks, when the insect arrives at that stage when its destructive influence ceases to be felt, and the wheat plant has from that time until about the 25th of June (the ordinary period of wheat harvest with us.) to recruit and to mature. Upon these facts I reasoned in relation to the early wheat. This wheat bears late seeding as well or better than any other sort of wheat, and is least of all subject to rust or scab: few instances, if any, are known, when it ever suffered from rust. It can be used, therefore, with a certainty of avoiding the autumn fly: it is always forwarder than any other sort of wheat in the spring by at least ten days or a fortnight, and becomes jointed by the time the Hessian fly first makes its appearance. In that state the young fly can make but little impression on it; it is too far advanced to suffer from its depredations. Two years ago, fortunately procured five bushels of this early wheat from a kind friend who had obtained it the year before from the state of Delaware. My friend's wheat was seeded in a piece of good land, and I had an opportunity of seeing it frequently from the timeit was seeded (early in Öctober,) until harvest, and carefully marked its progress. The Hessian fly id not affect it at all. On the 1st day of May it vas strongly jointed and produced a beautiful cro The effects of the fly in all other wheat were vry visible and much felt. I seeded my wheat the foowing autumn about the 3d of November, the last of my crop; the ground wet and heavy and in abad state. The wheat came up badly, as might hae been expected; looked ill during winter, and grevoff in spring puny and not much to my satisfaction The attack of the fly was rather early and sere last spring, and I thought if it could injure he early wheat, it had vest in 1804, affected this wheat particularly, be the best possible chance destroy mine, which cause it ripened earlier than the other kinds. and was unusually weak and inpromising. Whilst was, on that account, more exposed at a critical other wheat suffered, the ear wheat regularly proYou may recollect, that a few years past, I wrote period to the destructive influence of the wet. All gressed, unaffected to all aparance, and truly too, to you to ask the favour, that you would make an wheat was excessively injured that year by wet, but by the fly, and made as go a crop, considering inquiry among your numerous correspondents, for the early wheat, from the cause I have mentioned, the unfavourable circumstane under which it was some of the "Early, or Rare ripe Wheat," as it is most of all. This wheat was then universally con- seeded and its bad aspect ring the winter, as called; and notwithstanding your kind exertions you demned, and has never been cultivated in Ma- could have been expected. reaped more than were unable to procure it, or to learn whether it ryland, as far as I can learn, since, until within twelve bushels to the acre. was still cultivated. the last three years. Upon reflection I was per of May of last year aided thiss well as the fly afsuaded that this sudden rejection of that wheat was fected wheat. injudicious and unreasonable. I grew that wheat twenty-two years ago, and for three or four years immediately preceding. The unfortunate wet season just before and during har The ruinous destruction of the wheat crop by the e seasonable month Like all the other wheat, early wheat was much injured by the weevil fly the stack, and as I |