they were also extinguished, except a few solitary
stocks which appeared in 1824.

INSTINCT OF PLANTS.

PRICES CURRENT.

ARTICLES.

BEEF, Baltimore Prime, bbl. 8 00
BACON, and Hams,.
BEES-WAX, Am. yellow
COFFEE, Java, .
Havana,.
COTTON, Louisiana, &c.
Georgia Upland,.
COTTON YARN, No. 10,
An advance of 1 cent
each number to No. 18.

the four front teeth, both in the upper and under jaw,
jagged and uneven, nearly in the form of a flower de
I had in the spring of 1824, ten patches on my
luce, but not quite so pointed at the edges of the jags,
as a flower de luce is. As the dog advances in age, farm, which together, covered a surface of two and
these marks will wear away, gradually decrease, and a half acres. Now, (June, 1825,) there is not the
grow smoother and less jagged every year. Between quantity of half a rod of ground on which the this-
three and four years old, these marks will be full half tles have appeared.
worn down; and when you observe all the four front
teeth, both in the upper and lower jaw, quite worn
smooth and even, and not in the least jagged, then
you may conclude that the dog is nearly, if not full
Dr. Hancock says, if a vessel of water is placed
six years old. When those marks are quite worn within six inches of a cucumber, that, in 24 hours
flat and even, and those teeth quite level and even, time the cucumber will alter the direction of its
you can no longer judge the age of a dog. I have branches, and not stop till it comes in contact with CANDLES, Mould,
seen many huntsmen and gamekeepers ignorantly the water. That if a pole is placed at a considera-
Dipt,
look at the side and eye teeth of a dog; they might ble distance from an unsupported vine, the branch- FEATHERS, Live,.
CHEESE,.
as well look under his tail; for I have seen many es of which are proceeding in a contrary direction FISH, Herrings, Sus.
dogs, not two years old, which have had the canker from that towards the pole, the vine will in a short
in the mouth, with hardly one sound tooth in their time alter its course, and not stop till it clings round FLAXSEED, Rough,.
Shad, trimmed,
heads.
the pole. But the same vine will carefully avoid
attaching itself to low vegetables, nearer to it, as
the cabbage.
[London paper.

MISCELLANEOUS.

METEOROLOGY.

The following general axioms have been established by L. Cotte, respecting the thermometer, from an examination of various meteorological observations made during thirty years.

THE FARMER.

BALTIMORE, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1826.

A PENNSYLVANIA FARMER, well recommend1. The thermometer rises to its extreme heighted to the Editor of the American Farmer, wishes oftener in the temperate zone, than in the torrid to procure near Baltimore, a situation as Manager of a Farm on shares, or on account of the proprietor.

zones.

2. It changes but very little between the tropics, its variations, like those of the barometer, are greater the more we proceed from the equator towards the poles.

S. It rises higher on plains than on mountains. 4. It does not fall so much in the neighbourhood of the sea as in the inland parts.

5. The wind has no influence on its motions.

6. Moisture has a peculiar influence on it, if followed by a wind which dissipates it.

DEAR SIR,

TAKE CARE OF your Fodder.

con

Oats,

Beans, White,

HEMP, Russia, clean, .

Do. Country
HOPS, 1st sort,
HOGS' LARD,
LEAD, Pig

224

Bar.
LEATHER, Soal, best,
MOLASSES, sugar-house gal.
Havana, 1st qual.
NAILS, 6a20d.
NAVAL STORES, Tar, bbl. 1 501 62
Pitch,...
Turpentine, Soft,

Woodly Farm, Aug. 28, 1826. The first crop of hay has been so deficient in quantity, that the attention of the farmer is now no doubt directed towards the securing of his corn fodder, and this, has induced me to state what I 7. The greatest heat, and the greatest cold, take ceive to be the most efficient and expeditious meplace about six weeks after the northern and south-thod. It is simply in laying the blades on the ground, and not binding (they are too apt to moulder under the bands) or thrusting between the corn, as is commonly practised-there is no species of provender so liable to injury from wet or damp weather, and OIL, Whale, common, none preferred to it when well saved, by both horses and cattle. By this simple method the blades may be pulled one day, and hauled in, that evening or the next morning.

ern solstice.

8. The thermometer changes more in summer than in winter.

9. The coldest period of the day is before sunrise. 10. The greatest heat in the sunshine and the shade seldom takes place on the same day. 11. The heat decreases with far more rapidity from September and October, than it is increased from July to September.

12. It is not true that a very cold winter is a prognostic of a very hot summer.

N. B. The mean of the greatest cold and the greatest heat in London, observed for 30 years, is 50 degrees.

lb.

2

1 75

gal.

27

40

SOAP, Baltimore White, lb.
Brown and yellow,
WHISKEY, 1st proof,
PEACH BRANDY, 4th pr
APPLE BRANDY, 1st pr
SUGARS, Havana White, c.lb. 12 50 13 50 14
Brown,

do. Louisiana,

Loaf,
SPICES, Cloves, .

Ginger, Ground, .
Pepper,.
SALT, St. Ubes,
Liverpool ground
SHOT, Balt. all sizes,

-

23

5

12 14

51

74

gal.

32

33 38

50

75 100 1 25 34 35 50

15

8 509 25

8 75 9 75 10 11

lb.

19 22

20 22

CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. Essay on the use of Mules for Agricultural purposes terest. The following experiments, made by M. E.-The Climate of Florida-On reclaiming Marsh Land WINES, Madeira, L. P. gal. 2 50 300 350 4 Winchell, in June, 1823, are extracted from a com- On the Choice and Properties of Wool-Science of munication in the N. England Farmer.

Gardening, continued-On the Culture of Grapes-On the Olive and Date Trees in South Carolina-Strength and specific difference of different kinds of Porter-WOOL, Merino, full bl'd lb. On Raising and Making Woad for the Blue Vat-Poetry, 2. I kept the foliage (leaves and stems,) wholly Ode to Folly--Diseases of Dogs, For extracting Thorns, down by the hoe and close feeding of my sheep, on To bring Hair upon a Scalded part, To destroy Fleas, another patch of three fourths of an acre, until the Lice, &c., To recover the Sense of Smell, Sickness or a Foul Stomach--The great Benefits of Loose Stables10th of July in the same year; since which time but How to know the age of a Dog until he is six years three stalks have appeared. old-Meteorology, by L. Cotte-Canada Thistle-In3. Another parcel covering about one fourth of stinct of Plants-To Cure Fodder-Editorial-Adveran acre was ploughed six times during the season; tisement.

Printed every Friday, at $5 per annum, for JOHN S.
SKINNER, Editor, by JOHN D. Toy, corner of St.
Paul and Market streets, where every description of
Book and Job Printing is handsomely executed.

No. 25.-VOL 8.

AMERICAN FARMER-BALTIMORE, SEPTEMBER 8, 1826.

AGRICULTURE.

193

rows of posts, and directly over the in-ends of the pilings of the two inner rows. During all the time caps of the outer posts, forming for these two mid- that the labourers are employed, a few trusty men dle rows of posts two complete rows of long ties, should be stationed in the mud at the dam, and which are bolted to the large posts, and the in-rows should be ordered to pack every wheelbarrow load of small posts are bolted to these long ties. Thus as it is delivered. Should the mud happen to be (From the Memoirs of the Philadelphia Agric. Society.) there will be three distinct apportions or spaces for soft and inclined to slip, it will then be necessary to -(Continued from p. 187.)

ON RECLAIMING MARSH LAND.
By R. G. JOHNSON,

CREEKS AND DAMS.

DITCHES.

the mud, and four separate rows of pilings to se- spread over it occasionally very thin layers of fine cure it within, so as to receive the body of the dam brush, or, what is equally proper, three-square It sometimes happens in large tracts of marsh to its proper height in the middle apportion or young reeds, or any long grass. Alternate layers of about to be reclaimed, that there are creeks of con- space between the high posts, while the two outer such materials being incorporated with the soft siderable width and depth, with a strong tide setting spaces are to be considered as supports or footings mud, give it such tenacity, as that the workmen through them, and although the sluices may have to the whole; so that by packing the hardest mud can carry up the dam to its proper height and been laid, and the bank completed, and that too at in these outer spaces against the pilings of the inner shape. The width of such a dam would be from a very considerable expense; yet, until they be safe-rows, it is apparent that the whole pressure of the thirty to thirty-four feet, and the work when comly dammed out nothing can be said to have been weight of mud will be directly downward; nor can pleted would exhibit a view, from the edge of the done effectually. No business in the whole circle the body of mud incline either to the right or left water at low tide to the top of the bank, a slope at of agricultural science, appears to me to be of of these middle rows of pilings, because a like or about an angle of fifty degrees. Before the more importance, than a knowledge of the mode of quantity of mud being thrown into each of the out-work of filling up the breach is fairly entered upon, constructing a perfect dam of magnitude upon a side spaces, will produce a like pressure upon the I consider it safest to guard the opposite side by mud bottom, over a deep and rapid creek of tide centre of the dam. For these pilings I would prefer running off a crib, some ten or twenty feet, and sewater. The method which I have found to be the two-inch plank, sawed to suit the varying depths of curing it by good mud packed within; for as the best, I will take the liberty of recommending to the water, because they are more easily pointed work advances and the width of the breach lessens, others. In the first place, I proceed with a hand or and more quickly driven to their proper places by so in the same proportion, will the rapidity of the two in a boat at low tide, and carefully measure, three men using a plank, as prescribed in laying current increase. As the work advances, it would and note down the depth of water at every eight or down the sluice. In filling up these spaces, (parti- be advisable always to let the sluice doors be open ten feet, until I have ascertained the exact depth cularly the middle one,) it will be necessary to ob- to admit the tide into the marsh, and to keep up a from shore to shore, as well as the distance across. serve that no more work is to be laid off for the pressure on both sides of the dam as nearly equal Then all necessary timber is provided, and worked day than can be secured and completed, so that it as possible. so as to suit the different purposes for which it is may not be swept away by the current at night. designed; all such posts and other timber as may In doing this, no greater distance along these four be wanted for a day's work are put on board of a rows of ties should be piled, than can be filled up excluded, it is now necessary to have it divided into The marsh being perfectly enclosed, and the tide large scow, or other vessel capable of the service. by the hands during the day; and as preparatory to lots of such size as may be most easily put into and Having proceeded to the site intended for the dam, filling up the day's work, three light ties or sticks kept in a dry and improveable state. In whatever stakes are to be set up both sides of the creek, of timber, about six inches in diameter, and of number of acres the owner may choose to have his the tops of which must be at least two feet above length sufficient to reach across each of the three lots, they should be so laid off, as that the ditches the intended summit of the bank when finished. spaces, should be laid across the long ties and dividing them should run perpendicularly from the With sheer-poles and tackle, we proceed to set rested for support against the posts. Within and bank towards the centre of the marsh, and be not down a post by lowering it into the mud, and then against these moveable ties, good plank should be more than from twenty to thirty roods distance forcing it down to its proper depth, either by a stuck down close to each other, and as much mud from each other in good mud; but where the mud man hoy, as it is called (being a large block of should be thrown within, as would support them is of a light fibrous texture, (such as is vulgarly wood,) worked by hand by the men; or if that be firmly to their places, and enable them to resist the called horse dung or peat,) the ditches should not not convenient, by having a large log chained with impetuosity of the tide. Without these precau be more than twelve roods apart. The reason I one end to the top of the post, and the other end tions, the rapidity of the current would carry away would assign for such a division is this, that in irriresting on the boat, and by the assistance of half the mud as fast as it was thrown in. This process, gating such grounds the water can pass with facilia dozen men, jolting up and down on it, the post is called cribbing, is necessary to be repeated at every ty along the ditches, and spread its fertilizing qualisoon driven home; another is then set down oppo- lay-off of the work. From these cribbings, in the ties through all parts of the meadows; and also by site the last, and when done, they are secured to middle space, the mud is to be sloped backward, such distribution, the lowest and poorest parts each other by a large piece of timber called a cap, towards the top of the bank that had been previous would receive the greatest proportion of the sedimorticed to suit the tenons of these posts, and rais- ly finished; and before these cribbing planks can ment. Another reason, I even assign, is, that the ed up and put on them. Thus the labour of setting, be safely removed, there must be another set of drier your meadow and better the mud, the finer diving, and capping those posts is continued until cribbing plank put down, and the four rows of long and more nutritious will be the quality of the grass. these two rows are completed. After that, a single ties piled all in the same manner as the former. It is invariably the case, that you will find the row of long slim logs. (I have used many from fifty Thus we continue to draw up these cribbings next loose or peaty soil in the lowest parts of all marshto seventy feet in length,) are to be bolted to the to the bank, and advance the new cribbings as the inside of these posts, so near low water mark as work progresses, until the breach be completed. To rable quantity of coarse herbage, or by good culties, and although it may sometimes produce a tolethe work can be performed. And here I would accomplish such work to the best advantage, sub- vation, a prolific crop of the improved grasses, still observe, that all pieces of large timber used in the stantial wheeling plank should be laid over the construction of the dam, and which cross the cur- middle row of caps, for the men to run their bar trition, to that grown on good mud. In the divinone of those productions will be half equal in nurent, or run parallel with the dam, are called ties. rows on in safety; and when it is necessary to bring sions of the marsh, let all the ditches be cut eight All pieces of timber that cross the dam and rest on their mud from a greater distance than about eighty feet wide by three feet deep; a narrow ditch would the posts, are called caps. All pieces of large tim feet, another gangway should be formed, that all be unsafe for the cattle.

SEEDING OF MEADOWS.

ber driven into the mud, and connected by caps, the loaders (or, as they are sometimes called, shovelare called posts. All small timber that a man can men,) may be kept constantly at work. There handle, such as poles, boards or plank, which are should be two sets of wheelers for one set of shovel- As soon as possible after the marsh has been enforced down by the weight of men into the mud to men; one set of the former to wheel up the mud closed, and while the ditches are cutting, set to work secure it from slipping, are called pilings. The half way to the dam, and there to meet the other in good earnest to have your grass seed sown. It is all long ties being bolted to the posts, prevent them set returning with their empty barrows. At this important to have it sown as speedily as practicable. rocking about by the rapidity of the current; and place they exchange their barrows; those who Often have I seen the good effects of early and expethey are also the main support to the tops of the came up loaded, return with their empty bar- ditious seeding of a new marsh, and frequently have pilings which rest against them, and confine the rows to he again filled, while the others, turning I known that a delay for a year or two, has cost a mud to its proper place. Another set of posts, about, proceed to discharge their loads in the breach. length of time and labour to put in the seed, and much shorter and lighter than the former, are driven That all parts of the work might advance aright, even then to very little purpose. Should the marsh midway in the space between the large posts, and there should also be two large flat-bottom boats, have on it a great quantity of wild herbage; no pressed hard against and inside of the long ties. (scows,) which could be very advantageously em- matter, be not dismayed: sow among them, throw Opposite to these, and furthest from the long posts, ployed; the one within the dam in the creek, and on the seed plentifully, and you will in a year or other short and light posts are driven down and the other on the outside, with hands sufficient to two see your account in it. If any part should recapped, on a range with the surface of the marsh. work them. Their business should be to bring main not seeded when the winter sets in, you may These outside posts are secured by a single row of mud from the sides of the creek, and discharge burn off the rubbish (if you think best,) and comlong ties bolted to them; second row of long ties their loads into the two outer spaces, viz. the foot-mence sowing your seed in February; and that it are then put on the inside of the large or middle ings, by throwing the mud with force against the may be evenly scattered over the surface of the No. 25.-VOL. 8.

marsh, sow the lots twice, by crossing the first with derably brackish, but not so much as those border-was detained in my level water furrows to nourish the second sowing. The roller is always to be pre-ing on the ocean. It is asked, what method should the roots of my famished corn plants, while in the ferred for the purpose of beating down the rubbish, a farmer adopt, so as to render a light peaty mea- fields of some of my neighbours, favoured by downrather than destroy it by burning. It is the prac-dow more compact? I answer, the only probable hill furrows, it glided over the baked surface so tice here to sow the grass seed among the reeds, and sure way would be, to fodder his cattle through- quickly as to do them little good. The eyes of flags and wild oats, disregarding their height. I out the winter on it: for their treading would have some will be opened to better courses, for the menhave been credibly informed a man a few miles a tendency to consolidate the surface, and to cause tal vision of many is so weak that their faculties of from me sowed timothy among a most extraordina- a much thicker growth of young grass the follow-perception must be roused by a rap over the ry growth of such plants, and who, when the seed- ing spring. It may appear incredible to those per-knuckles, ere they can plainly see what is fairly set ing was finished, took a common gate (not hav-sons who are strangers to this kind of marsh, when before them; and this year we have been rapped ing a roller,) and dragged it over the rubbish I tell them that a mass of such peat or horse-dung with a vengeance." until it was flattened down; the rubbish soon rot-mud, as large as a hogshead or wagon body, exted upon the moist surface, and afforded an abun- posed for a few weeks in summer to the sun and dant nutriment for the tender sets; the consequence winds, would take fire as soon as it was applied; or was an extraordinary crop of grass the following if thrown into water, would float as light as a cork; year. yet, extraordinary as it may appear, (if proper care

(To be continued.)

HORIZONTAL PLOUGHING.

Its great advantages in protecting crops from
effect of severe drought-from a correspondent in
middle county of North Carolina.

the

a

HINTS ON SHEEP.

should have continued to follow the same rule had

[The following hints from one of the most judicious graziers that ever settled in our country, deI would wish to be distinctly understood, that the be taken to get a sward of herdgrass upon it,) it seed should be sown on the marsh, while it is yet in would astonish the beholder to view the abundant serve particular attention.] its wet state, and before the frost of winter or heat crop. The innumerable roots of the herdgrass, J. S. Skinner, Esq. Philadelphia, Aug. 1, 1826. of summer, should either pulverize or dry the sur- while they obstruct the rays of the sun, and the Sir, I take liberty in sending you a few hints on face; for both these natural causes operating on the winds from penetrating the surface, at the same the subject of sheep. If you should think them of surface after the seed has been sown, will do more time shut in and retain the moisture for their own any interest to the publick, you are at liberty to for the embryo seed just springing into existence, benefit; yet, if cultivation in proper time should be give them a place in your useful paper. The than (in large bodies of marsh,) hundreds, nay, I neglected, this kind of marsh will finally become so season has arrived in which every good shepherd might say, thousands of dollars worth of labour very light and porous, that a man in attempting to should attend strictly to his flock; he will wean his could effect. After the seed shall have been sown, walk over it would sink to the depth of his ancles. lambs, select his oldest ewes for fattening, and give (and from long experience I can assert,) that the Am I asked by what method are meadows to be them the best pasture on his farm, and the worst to best and only sure way of speedily getting your continued improveable, so that they may be ren his ewes intended to keep over, to be turned with meadow into grass, is to pasture it, as severely as dered capable of yielding considerable quantities the ram or or about the first of September. He possible, for the first and even second year. The of grass by the ordinary resources of any practica- should be looking around him at his neighbours' wild herbage being kept down by the number of ble farmer, and that in the most easy and least ex- sheep. If he sees a ram, or a few ewes better than cattle continually feeding thereon, will afford the pensive way? I answer, by IRRIGATION in three any of his own, he should by all means purchase tender grass an opportunity to take root; while at ways: 1st. Partial. 2d. Effectual. 3d. Internal. them; but if not, then select one of his best rams the same time their continued treading of the soil, from his own flock. To do this he ought to have tends to bury the seed among the loose and decayat least ten to make his selection from, providing his ing rubbish, and to render the surface more comflock of ewes amounts to fifty in number. Let the pact; for on that depends the growth of the artifigreat men of these times say what they may about cial grasses, and the destruction at the same time breeding in and in, I have been running rams seof the wild plants. I consider as a truth, that the lected from my own flock for twelve years past, and mellower a marsh is made, the less liable are grass seeds to take root, (although directly the reverse is not have seen your imported one. I believe he the case in upland,) or, if they should happen to "The extremely severe drought which has visited excels in two particular points-size and wool; but take root, they might vegetate for a while; but, this state, and so far as I can learn, the United for fattening qualities and beautiful forms, I think when the heat and droughts come on, they will most States and Europe, has been a heavy calamity to my old stock equal if not superior. If any of your assuredly perish." the middle counties of North Carolina. Corn crops friends feel a desire to become purchasers of this Different marsh soils require different kinds of on our good lands have been diminished one half, valuable breed of sheep, (sometimes termed Bakeseed. The firm blue mud is best adapted for green and on poor thin soils, which comprise a very con- well or Dishley sheep,) I have a few ewes and rams grass, timothy and the clovers, particularly the siderable proportion of the whole, the diminution for sale. The ewes shall have a chance of running white. The light spongy marsh (called horse dung has been greater. Want threatens very many, and with the imported ram till the first of October next. or peat,) is fitted for none other than the herdgrass. absolute famine stares not a few in the face. The I will sell them for $20 each; the rams from 20 to Immediately after the bank is completed, this kind drought, co-operating with our poor soil and bad $25, delivered on my farm near Port Penn, Delaof soil should be sown with herdgrass, while it is farming, has withered the patriotism and uprooted ware, or in Philadelphia and Baltimore, free of any yet new and in its wet state, and before it has time the attachments of many, who are transferring further charge. even to exhibit dryness on the surface. While it is their affections from the sunny dales of North Cayet wet, a sward of herdgrass may be formed upon rolina to the shaded plains of Chickasaw. But it, and by pasturing it closely for some time, it will other parts of the state are bountifully favoured. then be useful for nowing for many years. I would In all the low country where droughts are generally never recommend the sowing of herdgrass on good favourable, the corn crops are very abundant, and mud, because the timothy, clovers and green grass, for a line of fifty miles in width across the state. SIR, are all far preferable, much more nutritious, and next to the Alleghany mountains, the crops are exbear pasturing until quite late; on the contrary, the cellent. If the numerous rivers which traverse our herdgrass is not so good for pasture, nor will it re-state, were navigable, the abundance of one section a very flattering account of the state of our crops; sist the effects of a late frost in the spring, nor could readily relieve the wants of another; but but the seasons since that time, until a short time an early one in the fall. Besides, it has a wonder- they flow in vain, and the expense of transporting past, have been very inauspicious, but I am in ful tendency to root out all the other grasses, with bread stuffs to places of want will exceed the cost hopes that the farmers in my neighbourhood will make abundant crops, or at least a sufficiency to its innumerable long and very fine roots, and from of the purchase.

I

Yours, most truly,

JOHN BARNEY.

PROSPECT OF CROPS.

Red House, N. C., August 27, 1826.

I believe at the time I wrote you last, I gave you

the production of such an immense quantity of seed, "Our system of farming, or rather, our total want live on, provided they use economy and care. which are so easily shattered out and wafted by the of system, always injurious, is this year a heavy ca- The prospect in the adjoining counties is gloomy wind every where; that should but a very small lamity. We cultivate little for the sustenance of and dismal beyond description. You no doubt have portion of the seed be mixed with the other grasses man or beast, excepting Indian corn; and when that seen an account in our state papers of these prosand sown on blue mud, it would be discovered in a staff fails, we have not another to lean upon. Few pects. Unless they are relieved by importations very few years, that the herdgrass had obtained of us think of multiplying our dependencies, as we from the northern states, the poorer class must sufthe complete ascendancy. The herdgrass is admira- ought, by cultivating peas, rye, grass, &c., not con- fer in the extreme. This has been the fruit of the bly adapted for the salt marshes. It is wonderful sidering that by this variety we are supplying the cotton mania. If they had followed the good adhow easily it can become the companion of even means of increasing each individual product. Though vice laid down in your worthy paper, they would the red salt grass; and in proportion as it acquires I throw out this general censure, I am not entirely ex- have been in a very different situation. I expect strength and root, so in the same proportion does empt from it myself; but thanks to one improvement that it gives them a lesson that they will not forget it take the place of that natural proprietor of the which I have adopted, I shall make enough for my soon. saline soil. When I speak of salt marshes, I wish own use, and a little for the wants of others: it is hori- Yours, &c., very respectfully, to be understood, those marshes which are consi-zontal ploughing. A hasty rain or two which fell,

JAMES W. JEFFREYS.

HORTICULTURE.

ON THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE.

whether it is that they do not see them, or can find precautions; but a little trouble taken at first may no place to perch upon, so as to eat them at their save a great deal afterwards. Indeed, in every ease, certain it is that they do not commit one thing we do, we ought to recollect this maxim, that fourth the depredation on them when thus hanging "what is worth doing at all, is worth the doing it J. S. SKINNER, Esq. Columbia, S. C., Aug. 20, 1826. under the cover of the leaves, than when they are well." It is a very good plan when you plant your Sir,-Having promised you, or rather threatened differently exposed. cuttings, if you have enough of them, to plant two you with a communication on the subject of the It requires at least six or seven years from the near each other, where you intend having only one; grape, I must keep my word, at the risk of only say time of planting the cuttings, for the vines to have but plant them so that the lower ends diverge from ing what most people know already, and of being acquired strength and thickness sufficiently to be each other, the tops being a few inches apart, thus. blamed by "An Old Man" (your late correspondent,) trained to this height; for this must be done gradufor writing as if I thought the farmers and planters of ally; or else one would run the risk of having the this country were still learning the A, B, C, of agri- bodies of his vines too slender and too weak to do culture. And, in truth, many have not gone much well. They will bear fruit, notwithstanding, every further in the rudiments of it as a science. I hope, year from the third; but the vines will not be fully and fasten them upright to small stakes, stuck by however, I shall not be accused of this, particularly formed till the sixth or seventh.

If both grow, one of them may be taken up, at a proper time, and planted elsewhere. Suffer only one shoot to grow from each cutting,

them for this purpose. In putting the stakes in the as the branch of which I treat, according to my lit- When trained in this manner, the vines must not ground to support the young vines, have the pretle stock of experience, is not generally understood be planted as near each other as when kept lower. caution to put them on the back of them; that is, in this country; and the experience and practice of I think ten feet one way by seven or eight the other, on the side opposite to the sloping of the plants, other countries, however valuable they may be, are will do very well; and even if the soil is good, the that the stakes may not injure the tender roots. not to be absolutely relied on, and implicitly follow-distance may be increased with advantage. That The grape vine will grow in almost all kinds of ed in this. I shall instance one which is of some there may be no loss in the use of the ground, I soils; but they will do best in a light sandy soil, importance, and it is this: that in France it is con- would recommend to plant the vines much closer dry, and of such a degree of fertility as to produce sidered as an indisputable fact, almost an axiom in at first, and dig up, occasionally, the weakest of from eight to fifteen bushels of corn per acre; the culture of the vine and the art of making wine, them to make room for the best, as they grow large though it will grow, thrive and do tolerably well that to make good wine the grapes must be raised and require more space. even in poorer soil. The situation ought to be seas near to the ground as possible, so that they do It may not be amiss to say something here as to lected high, airy, and with a gentle slope facing not touch it, and that grapes raised higher, even the manner of planting cuttings, so as to insure the east or south; but they will do well in any exonly two or three feet, make comparatively an infe- their success; though this has been said and re- position in this climate. rior wine. This is very true there, especially in the peated in your valuable "American Farmer," and If it be true (and of this there cannot be any north and middle of France; and they, therefore, elsewhere. Good cuttings having been well select- doubt,) that a poor, light, sandy soil will produce very seldom have their vines more than four or five ed. They must be of the preceding year's growth, not only good wine, but an abundance of it, what feet high altogether, the bearing part of them being the wood being well matured; and the best are excuse can we, of the Southern states, have for sufwithin one foot of the ground, and sometimes nearer. those that have a few inches of the old, or two fering millions of acres of land to lie idle, despised They need this, that the heat reflected from the earth years old wood, though the next cut of a strong and uncultivated? We pay every year large sums may sufficiently mature their grapes. Here, the great vine is also very good; have holes dug about eigh- of money for wines and brandies brought from foardour of our summer's sun, renders this additional teen inches deep an 1 two feet square, or more, (the reign countries, when we can make as good, and heat not only unnecessary, but very frequently larger the holes the better-I have even thought perhaps better at home, at a much cheaper rate. hurtful. Certain it is, that after an experience of it best to make a continuous trench of that depth It cannot be that we think it not worth while to add fifteen years or upwards, the consequence of almost two feet wide and the whole length of the row,) re- to our present white population, a laborious, indusunremitted experiments during all that time, my turn into the bottom a part of the surface vegetable trious and honest set of people, which is almost algrapes never have done well as long as I aimed at earth, which must for this purpose have been put ways the character of industrious cultivators of the having them low. I say aimed; for I could not suc- on one side of the hole or trench; and on this place soil; and there are millions of such individuals in ceed in restraining the vigour of their growth, not- your cuttings a little sloping, and fill up the hole France, Germany and Italy, who would come and withstanding all my endeavours to this effect. I with the remainder of the vegetable earth; and as cultivate our neglected sandy lands, if they had the have then been obliged to give up the low vines, the quantity of it dug out may not be sufficient, means of leaving their country, and knew how and and to train them higher, about six or seven feet, rake up in the vicinity a sufficient quantity to an where to find us. This view of the subject gives spreading them fan fashion. They did a little bet-swer your purpose, leaving the earth around the rise to many reflections and most serious thoughts ter, but not so as to satisfy me. In short, after hav- planted cuttings rather higher than the general level on the present and prospective situation of our ing tried a variety of devices, I finally trained my of the ground. As you fill in the earth, press it Southern states, and we may find, when perhaps it vines with a naked stem seven or eight feet high, gently against the cutting, but not too hard. The is too late, that our security might have been affectand then led the bearing branches horizontally over cutting so planted had better have but one bud out ed by inducing such an increase of population as is head. I had long before thought of adopting this of the ground, provided it be a good one. The here contemplated.

mode, but was deterred from it on account of its proper length for cuttings is about two feet. In There is now no doubt of success, and I have expensiveness. The frames required to support the our Southern states, I would recommend to plant this year made upwards of 150 gallons of wine on vines in this manner cost much more than in any in the fall, the sooner after the cuttings have been about half an acre of land, which, if planted in other way; but by making them of good materials, separated from the vines the better. They will do, corn, would not in a common year produce more they will last, I hope, several years, perhaps eight however, planted any time until March during mild than seven or eight bushels to the acre, and would or ten. So that it may be the cheapest ultimately. weather. As soon as you have your cuttings, if you not this year have produced five bushels, with all I made use of split lightwood, about the size of are not ready to plant them, bury them entirely in the care and cultivation that could have been becommon fence rails, for posts, which were placed the ground, or keep them in a cool cellar; but the stowed upon it. The wine thus made will not only ten feet one way by seven feet the other, and joined burying of them is the best. Although I have be good, but very good—better, probably, than nine them at the top by long sawed laths, three inches known vine cuttings to grow after having been se-tenths of the wines imported into this country. I wide and one and a half inch thick, covering the parated from the vines six months, and that without am well aware that the above assertion will draw square spaces between them with sticks and poles, having been buried or protected by any covering, upon me the incredulity of some and the sneers of with intervals between them of about eighteen inches other than the bundles of them being deposited in many; but neither the incredulity of the one nor or two feet, so as to form a kind of trellis over head. a warehouse and in the hole of a ship, I have al- the sneers of the other, can prevent a fact from Another reason, also, that weighed with me consi-ways found them to succeed much better when they being a fact; and it is easier to deny an assertion derably, is the greater inconvenience of working at had not been exposed, even one night, to the frost. than to prove its fallacy. the vines when they are raised so high. The ad- After the cuttings have been planted as above di- The present season has been very favourable to vantages, however, were found to preponderate. rected, it will conduce to their success to cover the vines, except in the spring, when late frosts did The vines certainly bear more fruit. The grapes with earth the bud left out to grow, making a little so much injury that, but for the immense resources hang loosely, and, as it were, detached, on the un-hillock over it to protect it from the frost; and of this climate, the vines would have produced but der part of the ceiling. They are sheltered by the when vegetating weather comes on in the spring, little, or rather no fruit. Such frosts in Europe, leaves from the burning heat of the sun, and the uncover it gently, and should you have reason to particularly in the North, would have destroyed all sides having neither leaves nor fruit, allow a free fear a frost after the bud has pushed, cover it gently hopes of a crop for the year; and no doubt my circulation of the air beneath, and I think prevent again with earth, and uncover it when the danger crop would have been much greater but for this. the bad effects of the hot steam that sometimes is past. In doing this, great care must be taken In order that the manner of repairing the injury arises from the earth and causes the grapes to rot lest the bud or young shoot be broken off in co- done by the spring frosts may be understood, it by scalding the skin. There is another advantage; vering, and particularly in uncovering it. Grape must be observed that the upper buds of the vine which is, that the birds cannot get at them so easily; cuttings will sometimes do well without all these are always the first to grow, except sometimes