and reason. [APRIL 28, 1826. And besides all this, listen for a moment to nature their temper wantonly irritated. "I have been intimate knowledge of each others character, seen, Your relations-in-law have lost their sometimes shocked," says Mrs. Chapone, "with the as in their case, undisguised by the mist of too parson and their brother: in truth, gentle lady, they want of politeness by which masters and mistresses tial passion-a suitable proportion of parties in rank have lost him; for when once a man is married, provoke impertinence from their servants." I re- and fortune, in taste and pursuits-are more frethough he may repel the charge with warmth, and member seeing a lady, who filled every station of quently found in a marriage of reason, than in an even with sincerity, adieu to the home and scenes life with honour both to her head and her heart, at- union of romantic attachment, where the imaginaof his youth! adieu to the father who gave him life! tending the dying bed of an old domestic who had tion, which probably created the virtues and accom--to the mother who nursed him in her bosom!-to lived for thirty years in her service.--"How do you plishments, with which it invested the beloved obthe sisters who loved him in the fondest corner of find yourself to-day, Mary?" said her mistress, tak-ject, is frequently afterwards employed in magnifytheir hearts! New objects, new connexions, new ing hold of the withered hand which was held out. ing the mortifying consequences of its own delusion, pursuits, have rivalled and "rent those ancient loves "Is that you, my darling mistress?" and a beam of and exasperating all the strings of disappointment. asunder;" and his wife, and very frequently her joy overspread the old woman's face. "O yes!" Those who follow the banners of reason are like the relatives, now step in, and draw away his love and she added. looking up, "it is you, my kind, my well disciplined battalion, which, wearing a more his attention from all that had hitherto engrossed mannerly mistress!" The poor old creature said sober uniform, and making a less dazzling show than him. Is it any wonder, then, that relations-in-law no more; but in my mind she had, by this last sim- the light troops commanded by imagination, enjoy should look with a degree of jealousy on the woman ple word, expressed volumes of panegyric on her more safety, and even more honour, in the conflicts who has thus alienated those affections and atten- amiable mistress. of human life. tions, which for so many years they were in the ex- Let your commands to your servants be consisclusive possession of?-A wife perhaps will cry out tent and reasonable; and then firmly, but mildly, inand say, "Am I to blame for all this?--am I in any sist on obedience to them. I really think that common degree in fault? Pity, indeed, my husband did not complaint: "My servants never remember what I tell keep himself single to dangle after his mother and them to do," might, in a great degree, be obviated. sisters! Pray, is not a man to leave father and Let them see that you are particular, and that you mother, and cleave to his wife?" Hush, gentle lady, will not pass over any neglect of orders; and when hush! Bear with me for a moment. I mean not to they find that this decisive manner is accompanied contradict you; I mean not to blame you; nay, I do by mildness, kindness, and consideration, and that not even mean to say your husband should have you are not to be disobliged with impunity, they done any thing but exactly what he did do; viz. will soon take care to remember what you commarry you. All I ask is, an effort to make yourself mand them to do. A little effort very easily remean exception to the coldness, the satire, the ill-na- dies a bad memory. ture, which too generally characterizes a daughter- "Never keep a servant, however excellent they in-law or sister-in-law. All I ask is, (and I am sure may be in their station, whom you know to be a compliance is not difficult,) that you will, by guilty of immorality." a poor servant, to be Praise and reward nature will not bear (To be continued under the head of Management and Educa- SPORTING OLIO. FISHING. FROM RURAL SPORTS-BY GAY. As in successive course the seasons roll, kindness and affection, give your husband's family When a servant is sick, be particularly kind and reason to rejoice in the day that he first introduced considerate to them. The poor dependant creature you amongst them. has nowhere else to go, no one else to turn to: and And pray, gentle lady, let your manners to your their pale looks should be always a claim on your sisters-in-law be particularly kind and considerate. sympathy. You are made a happy wife at their expense, at It is very disheartening to their loss-the loss of a beloved brother. Enter continually found fault with. into their feelings, endeavour to gain their confi- them when you can; human dence; your matronly experience qualifies you to constant chiding. be their adviser as well as friend. Do all you can to make them appear to advantage, and to forward their advancement through life. As a married moman, much lies in your power. Should there be a favourite swain, approved of by father, mother, and prudence on all sides, remember your own feelings on a similar occasion, and take every opportunity to promote the union. Married women are some- It were judging hardly of him to suppose that the When floating clouds their spongy fleeces drain, times extremely apt to forget girlish pursuits, hopes, mere belief that he had attracted her affections more Troubling the streams with swift-descending rain; and wishes, and to speak satirically of the very man- easily than he expected, was the cause of his un- And waters tumbling down the mountain's side, ner which perhaps before marriage they had them- gratefully undervaluing a prize too lightly won, or Bear the loose soil into the swelling tide; selves been remarkable for. Avoid such inconsis- that his transient passion played around his heart Then soon as vernal gales begin to rise, tency, and give your sisters-in-law reason to say, with the flitting radiance of a wintry sunbeam flash- And drive the liquid burthen through the skies, "No: we have not lost our brother;-far from it; ing against an icicle, which may brighten it for a The fisher to the neighbouring current speeds, we have gained a sweet sister and friend!" moment, but cannot melt it. Neither of these was Whose rapid surface purls unknown to weeds: precisely the case; though such fickleness of disposi Upon a rising border of the brook tion might also have some influence in the change. He sits him down, and ties the treacherous hook; The truth is, perhaps, that the lover's pleasure; Now expectation cheers his eager thought, Chapter VIII. ON THE TREATMENT OF SERVANTS. ON LOVE AND MARRIAGE, "Next to your children," says an admired writer, like that of the hunter, is in the chase; and that the His bosom glows with treasures yet uncaught; "your servants are your nearest dependants: and brightest beauty loses half its merit, as the fairest Before his eyes a banquet seems to stand, to promote their good, spiritually as well as tempo- flower its perfume, when the willing hand can reach Where every guest applauds his skilful hand. rally, is your indispensable duty. Let them always it too easily. There must be doubt-there must be Far up the stream the twisted hair he throws, join your family devotions, and endeavour to make danger-there must be difficulty-and if, as the poet Which down the murmuring current gently flows; them spend their Sabbath properly." says, the course of ardent affection never does run When, if or chance or hunger's powerful sway I have heard an old domestic remark, the worst smooth, it is perhaps, because, without some inter- Directs the roving trout this fatal way, mistresses a servant ever lived with were young vening obstacle, that which is called the romantic He greedily sucks in the twining bait, married women. "They are unreasonable," said passion of love, in its high poetical character and co- And tugs and nibbles the fallacious meat: she, "in their commands: they expect too much; louring, can hardly have an existence, any more Now, happy fisherman, now twitch the line! nor do they know rightly when to commend or than there can be a current in a river, without the How thy rod bends! behold, the prize is thine! when to blame." stream being narrowed by deep banks, or checked Cast on the bank, he dies with gasping pains, In your manner to your servants, be firm without by opposing rocks. And trickling blood his silver mail distains. being severe, and kind without being familiar. Ne- Let not those, however, who enter into an union You must not every worm promiscuous use, ver be in the habit of conversing with them, unless for life without those embarrassments which delight Judgment will tell the proper bait to choose: on business, or on some point connected with their a Darsie Latimer, or a Lydia Languish, and which The worm that draws a long immoderate size, improvement. But, with this reserve and distance are perhaps necessary to excite an enthusiastic pas- The trout abhors, and the rank morsel flies; of manner, be particularly careful to maintain kind-sion in breasts more firm than theirs, augur worse of And, if too small, the naked fraud's in sight, ness, gentleness, and respect for their feelings. their future happiness, because their own alliance is And fear forbids, while hunger does invite. Their patience is often unnecessarily exercised, and formed under calmer auspices. Mutual esteem, an 'Those baits will best reward the fisher's pains, Whose polish'd tails a shining yellow stains: But when the Sun displays his glorious beams, Dazzles our eyes, and easy hearts betrays. When a brisk gale against the current blows, MANAGEMENT OF COLTS INTENDED FOR THE TURF. the American Farmer. "I keep my colts tolerably fat, though not overloaded with flesh-turn them out in good weather, and keep them up in bad-taking care not to let the horse colts smell or see other horses more than can be well avoided." MISCELLANEOUS. DIRECTIONS FOR THE USE OF ANTHRA CITE. [From the New York American.] CHAPTER I.-Of Buying and Breaking. when broken up, makes a cart and a quarter of 3. Refuse a load that appears to contain dust, in CHAPTER III-Of the Poker. well being of an anthracite fire. This is the most 1. A judicious use of the poker is essential to the delicate part of the science of COAL burning, and 4. Break the COAL before housing it, unless you nice a matter is this, that I am almost ready to say, the strictest attention should be given to it. Sø would have to break it yourself at the risk of either that I can form my opinion of a man's intellect 5. Do not take a man from the yard with his pa- his pleading, preaching or physicking. from his application of the poker, as well as from tent hammer, to break your COAL for you, unless 2. An ignorant, a meddlesome, or nervous person, you would pay twice what the job is worth, and what a dozen, in less than five minutes after the COAL is dumped, will offer to do it for. eye. 6. In breaking, see that each piece is broken by itself on the pavement, and not as is usual, on the mass, unless you wish to burn half the COAL as powder. 7. Let the pieces into which it is broken be about the size of a half pint tumbler. 8. Watch the fellow who breaks, or he will not break half small enough—or, he will break it on the mass-or he will take care to wet it all in the gutter before he takes it up. CHAPTER II. Of the Kindling. 1. This is a great mystery, therefore proceed with caution and with a mind divested of all prejudice. 2. Let the grate be perfectly cleared of all foreign substances, and begin the fire at the bottom. you will often see thrusting in the poker at all adventures, without rhyme or reason-as often marticularly, the poker should always be kept out of ring as making the fire. In a cold winter day, parhis reach. 3. The legitimate office of the poker, in the case accumulate on the lower bars, and promote a free of a hard coal fire, is to clear away the ashes which breaking a large coal in picces, or by changing the circulation of air. Not to quicken the blaze by position of pieces, as in fires of Liverpool. 4. A fire should be poked when at its zenith; if you wait till it is much below that, your poking will only poke it out; the more you poke the less it will burn. 5. If the fire from having been too long neglected, appear to be in a doubtful state, hesitating between life and death-never touch a poker to it; it will be the death of it; never stir it; scarce look or 3. The best material for kindling is dry hickory. breathe upon it--but with the step of a ghost, clap The cheapest method is this; buy a load of dry on the blower, and if the vital spark be not wholly hickory, stipulate that it shall be large, have it extinct, the air will find it out and in a few moments sawed three times—the wood now will be in chunks, blow it up to a generous heat; then gradually add split it up as fast as wanted, and no faster. fresh coal in small clean pieces, devoid of dust, and 4. Having got the kindling proceed to the grate. I advise the use of the fingers, because the work is in the morning, when a fire has been perpetuated. I 7. Many more niceties might be enumerated 6. The fire being now well under way, it will need to be fed but three times during the day and touching the poker; but I refrain, and willingly leave something to the imagination of the reader. evening. The first replenishing should take place would conclude, as the preachers say, with only one immediately after breakfast, when the family break up-the gentlemen retreating to the counting room, anthracite fire, till you have broken your husband, practical remark-that you will never have a good office, or study, and the ladies to their dressing brother or wife, of the mischievous habit of poking. rooms; the second, about an hour before dinner; It is surely an unseemly habit in itself, as well as the third, a little in the evening. an injurious one to the fire. It shows, too, a med7. If my readers are willing to be truly economical, let them replenish a fourth time. viz. at go- never help thinking, when I see one of this sort dlesome, prying, insinuating disposition; and I can ing to bed-which I call the perpetuating process. poking the coals, that he only wants the opportudled but once during the whole winter, say on the Since, if it be done properly, the fire need be kin-nity to thrust himself into my private affairs. 1st day of November, and thus an immense amount of kindling matter be saved. CHAPTER IV.-Containing Miscellanies. 1. If the Saving Bank is a good thing in Wall8 The method of perpetuating is exceedingly street, it is a better thing in our houses. If we save simple, and consists merely in adding a few pieces at home, we need not put our money there; we shall of COAL, at 11 o'clock say, and then covering the be rich enough without money at interest. We whole with cinders and ashes, usque satietatem, waste in nothing more than in the use of hard coal. i. e. till you have shovelled up as much as the grate The cinders which I see every day lying in the can bear. In the morning all you have to do is to streets, nay before my own door, would, if gatherclap on the blower, and presto, the fire is before ed up, afford fuel to many a poor family; yet I conyou, red hot. Following this plan, my parlour has fess that I cannot perceive how the evil is to be realways been comfortable at breakfast. medied. The cinders get so mingled with the ashes, 9. Let not the ladies murmur: the grate can still that it is difficult to separate them, and servants be cleaned. When the servant first approaches the will not do it. But till a way is discovered of savgrate in the morning, every thing is calm, quiet, ing them, a Schuylkill may be a clean and hot fire, slumbering, and cool-you would hardly believe but it will not be a cheap one. Of Liverpool coal the fire to be there: and the brass can therefore be you can burn every atom. 2. Stand by and see that large pieces only are polished without the least hindrance. And not till 2. The blower should, questionless, be the size of put into the cart, for a cart of very large pieces, that is done should the blower be applied. the whole grate. But it should be used with discretion. 1. Buy from the vessel, if possible; for a chaldron there is more than at the yard. 3. As to the forms of grates, I think on the whole that the Lehigh grate with horizontal front bars, and rake ones for the bottom, possesses the greatest advantages. There is the greatest objection to one of the common Liverpool construction, which is, that the floor of it, the bottom bars, are altogether too thickly set. The ashes cannot fall through, but collect upon them, deaden and finally extinguish the fire, while the coal is not half consumed. In order to keep the fire agoing at all, there must be a very frequent clearing away of the ashes with the poker. A practice to be deprecated, as it tends to generate the worst habits. AN AMATEUR. THE FARMER. BALTIMORE, FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1826. MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. FEATHERS, Live,. 849 25 12 14 16 10 124 8 10 12 15 31 32 37 bbl. 2 50 It was unanimously resolved, That the volunteer premium so liberally and handsomely placed at the FLAXSEED, Rough,. disposal of the Trustees by Mr. JOSE SYLVESTER FLOUR, Superfine, city, bbl. 4 00 4 25 5 00 6 00 REBELLO, Minister from Brazil, to consist of a silFine, FLAX, lb. Thursday, April 20th, 1826. 4 25 9 11 5 50 Wheat, Family Flour, do. Red, Bar. An imported full bred Devon Bull, will stand this John O'Donnell, John Hunter, T. Snowden, Jr. Swine. Christopher Carnan, Samuel W. Smith, Sheep and Wool. Domestic General J. Mason, Daniel Murray, Edward Gray, George Hoffman, John C. Wilson, Jr. Robert W. Bowie, county, Samuel Stevens, LEATHER, Soal, best, lb. ful breeder of North Devon cattle in England, and Gar- NAVAL STORES, Tar, bhl. 6724265 Pitch,. -- 3172 53 75 100 1 25 36 37 50 Garrick took the highest prize at Easton Cattle Show [For fineness of bone, compactness of form, and CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. On the manufacture of Butter and Cheese, by S. De 9 00 9 50 7 75 9 50 10 11 bush cwt. 9 00 12 50 No. 7.-VOL. 8. AMERICAN FARMER.-BALTIMORE, MAY 5, 1826. 49 AGRICULTURE. Jalso the best buttermilk, obtained; which, besides them altogether. The reason of it is evident. The affording an excellent beverage, makes, with the churning, which must be always uniform and conaddition of a little sugar or molasses, and rusk or tinual, communicates a slight degree of heat, which ON THE MANUFACTURE OF BUTTER good bread broken in it, a dish to crown the far- would give a disagreeable taste to the butter, if the AND CHEESE. By S. De Witt, Esq., of Albany. (From the 3d [last and best] vol. of the Memoirs of the Board of Agriculture of the State of New York.) [EXTRACT.] (Concluded from p. 42.) mer's dinner, more refreshing and more exquisitely cream were churned alone; while churning the relished than the strawberry-flavoured ice creams whole together, the acidity of the whey tempers of the luxurious rich. the heating effects of the churning, the cheese part There are yet a few, and it is sadly to be lament- helps the separation, and the butter comes fresh ed, yet but a few, farmers left in the country sur-out of the churn. rounding Albany, who manage their dairies in this It is to preserve the fresh taste, that in summer manner: but their butter is mostly all pre-engaged, our butter women, as soon as they see the small at twenty-five cents per pound, by their oldentime globules of butter beginning to form, do not fail to The art of making good butter is well known, but acquaintances, who cannot help recoiling at the throw into the churn (by the hole of the churnpeople generally will not practice it; and for such sight and smell of what is generally brought to our staff, and without stopping the churning,) some it is useless to publish any improvements. In order market, and with difficulty sold for eighteen cents. pints of spring water every ten minutes; that is, a to be wise, it is necessary to know both good and This fact, it is true, is not very creditable to our pint to every fifty or sixty pints of milk. In winter, evil. It will, therefore, not be amiss to say some-country; but it is, notwithstanding a fact. Every on the contrary, they add warm water; but they thing about the art of making bad butter. Although citizen knows that it is extremely difficult, in Alba- pour it in as soon as they begin to churn, in order this is generally known, and almost universally ny, for a family to get a supply of eatable butter. to accelerate the slight degree of heat necessary practised, still I know some who are yet unacquaint-But where the object is to cure an evil, it is neces- for the formation of butter; but when they perceive ed with it, and it is to put them on their guard, as sary that it should be pointed out and correctly de- the first butter globules forming round the churnwell as to reform others, that I make this commu- scribed, whatever effect such a procedure may have staff, then they cease pouring warm water, and the on the feelings, reputation or interest of those whom temperature warns them putting any more cool In the first place, then, after your churn and it may immediately concern. Such things affect water. Thus, to make butter it is requiredother vessels, have been used in making butter, be the general interest as well as the character of our 1st. That milk must have curdled and soured, sure not to scald them, for hot water will deprive country, and therefore it is proper that they should but not fermented. them of the oily substance that will adhere to them, be faithfully exposed, and duly attended to. 2d. That milk must have naturally soured, withand soon acquire a strong, rancid flavour and taste, The making of butter, one would suppose, were out any help but a little quantity of sour milk, and which will impregnate every succeeding batch, in well understood in the vicinity of Boston; and yet especially without warming it. the same manner that leaven does in the making of there is no market in any of the large capital cities 3d. That all milk should be put into the churn bread. Secondly, keep collecting your cream into in the United States, so noted for the bad quality together, and churned without extracting any parts one vessel, day after day, until it has made some of its lump-butter, as this very town of Boston. of it. nication. progress in putrefaction, then churn it, and the bu- Philadelphia has long been celebrated for the uni- 4th. That the churning should be continual and siness is done. You may work it, and season it, as form excellence of its butter, and its clean and always uniform, avoiding to strike the bottom of the you please, afterwards, but its constitution is un-wholesome appearance in the market. In New churn. alterable. The principal quality of which will be York, many individuals with laudable liberality, 5th. That churning, without interruption, coma tendency soon to become unfit for any use what- recently awarded premiums for the best butter municates to the milk a slight degree of heat, which ever, in any article of food. When butter is thus brought into that city for sale; which, it is said, has is necessary, and which in winter may be acceleratmade, it will be often beautified with a variety of produced an obviously good effect in the general ed, by adding some warm water from the moment colours, and possess a rapidly increasing rancidity, quality of the article. one begins to churn, and without stopping the a which may be agreeable enough to those who have It deserves consideration, whether our Agricul- churning motion. the churning is immediately commenced, and con- 1st. The aqueous part, called whey, which is very summer. 2d. The cheese part, which is substantial. Preparation for Butter. When the butter is made, if the weather is hot, it is well, after having gathered it in the churn, to let it cool about two hours; but when it is very hot weather, as that time is not sufficient to cool it, it is well to put it in a very cool place during some hours, till it is very firm, in order to extract the buttermilk out of it. the purpose, and kept exclusively for the service, 3d. The butter part called cream, of an oily naand put into a large wooden bowl, where, with the ture, and which comes up naturally to the surface same ladle, the whey, or rather buttermilk, is tho- of the milk, even before its decomposition. roughly worked out of it. No hand or finger is ever It is this cream that is turned out into butter by suffered to come in contact with it. Where dairies churning. are any way considerable, churning is a daily ope- In order to make good butter, the decomposition It is by kneading and turning repeatedly with a ration, and done early in the morning, especially in of milk must have begun; I mean its three parts wooden box spoon, and a beach dish made of one must be exactly separated, as it happens when it piece, that the women about Rennis extract the butThere is a period when cream will be completely begins to turn sour. Milk must necessarily be sour termilk; leaving it now and then to rest and grow formed, and be in its highest perfection; after which before beginning to churn; but it is urgent to churn hard, and then beginning again, till it does not yield it will deteriorate, and should not be suffered to re-it as soon as it is sour; and not to wait its fermen- any buttermilk; it is only in the last extremity, and main unchurned. Inattention to this is one of the tation. in the hot days of summer, that they knead it in principal causes of the bad quality of butter. It must have curdled and soured of itself without cool water in order to extract the buttermilk out of In this manner, is not only the best butter, but fire. In the winter season, however, it is proper to it: they put nothing in it, but some salt for preservThe scrubbing is done with a small broom, made of pour a little sour milk into it, to make it coagulate. ing and relishing it. a black ash or hickory sapling, after the Indian manner; Though the cream is the elementary part of but- They never touch the butter but with the wooden the body of it is two and a half or three inches thick, ter, and neither the whey nor the cheese part con box spoon, which must be impregnated, and also and about four inches long; the handle five or six. Ittain any of it, yet it is necessary to throw into the the dish, with some light brine, to prevent the butchurn the three parts of the milk, and to churn ter from adhering. is called a boonder. No. 7.-VOL. 8. All the utensils employed for milk must be care-ments, out of a great number, which have all com- to answer the description, but the ears were small, fully washed with boiling water every time they bined to prove the above, to my satisfaction. and few of them ripened before frost. I saved have been made use of, then washed again with In or about the year 1746, my father procured some of the largest and earliest, and planted them cool water and exposed to the sun, that they do not the seeds of the long warty squash, which have between rows of the larger and earlier kinds of get a musty smell. It is necessary to remove from been kept on the farm ever since, without changing, corn, which produced a mixture to advantage; then the dairy all the disagreeable or strong smells, and and are now far preferable to what they were at I saved seed from stalks that produced the greatest to observe the most scrupulous cleanliness in it, but first. Our early peas were procured from London, number of the largest ears, and first ripe, which I without humidity, which would give a mouldy taste the spring before Braddock's defeat, (1756,) and planted the ensuing season, and was not a little to milk. have been planted successively every season since, gratified to find its production preferable, both in water. The churn is made of chestnut wood; it is scald- on the same place. They have not been changed, quantity and quality, to that of any corn I had ever ed every time it is emptied to churn again; it is rub- and are now preferable to what they were when planted. This kind of corn I have continued to bed with a bunch of hollyoak, that scratches and first obtained. The seed of our asparagus was pro- plant ever since, selecting that designed for seed in cleans it well, and then washed again with cold cured from New York, in the year 1752, and since the manner I would wish others to try, viz: When that time I have not planted a seed, except what the first ears are ripe enough for seed, gather a sufThe pots and churn must keep no smell of the grew on my beds; and by selecting the seed, from ficient quantity for early corn, or for replanting, sour milk, and none of the utensils employed should the largest stalks, I have improved it greatly. and at the time you wish your corn to ripen genebe, or have been put to any other uses, for fear of A complaint is very general, that potatoes of rally, gather a sufficient quantity for planting the spoiling the whole. every kind degenerate, at which I am not surprised, next year, having particular care to take it from when the most proper means to produce that effect stalks that are large at bottom, of a regular taper, is constantly practiced; to wit, using or selling the not over tall, the ears set low, and containing the ON THE CHANGING OF SEED. best, and planting the refuse; by which means, al- greatest number of good sizeable ears, of the best Change of Seed not necessary to prevent degeneracy; most the whole of those planted are the produce of quality; let it dry speedily, and from this corn, Naturalization of Plants; important caution to se- plants the most degenerated. This consideration plant your main crop; and if any hills should miss, cure permanent good quality of Plants. By Joseph induced me to try an opposite method. Having replant from that first gathered, which will cause Cooper, of Gloucester county, New Jersey. often observed that some plants or vines produced the crop to ripen more regularly than is common: (From Memoirs of Pennsylvania Agric. Society.) potatoes larger, better shaped, and in greater abun- this is a great benefit. The above method I have practiced many years, THE following paper on several important agri- dance than others, without any apparent reason, excultural subjects, has already been published in the cept the operation of nature, it induced me to save a and am satisfied it has increased the quantity, and United States, and in Europe, and has deservedly quantity from such only, for planting the ensuing improved the quality of my crops, beyond the exexcited very general attention. The writer is enti season, and I was highly gratified in finding their pectation of any person who had not tried the exproduction exceed that of the others, of the same periment. The distance of planting corn, and the tled to every degree of respect, both for his prae- kind, planted at the same time, and with every number of grains in a hill, are matters many differ tical knowledge, and integrity of relation. His experience and opinions differ widely from those equal advantage, beyond my expectation, in size, in. Perhaps different soils may require a difference generally received. The results produced, require shape, and quantity, by continuing the practice, I in both these respects; but in every kind of soil I the care and attention which few will give. The am satisfied that I have been fully compensated for have tried, I find planting the rows six feet asunder each way, as nearly at right angles as may be, and merit of Mr. Cooper is therefore the greater. That all the additional trouble. both sides of a question, in which agriculturists are A circumstance happened respecting potatoes, leaving not more than four stalks on a hill, produces highly interested, might fairly appear, the society which may be worth relating: a woman whom I the best crop. The common method of saving have thought it right to add to their memoirs, this met in market, requested me to bring half a bushel seed corn, by taking the ears from the crib or heap, developement of the practice and success of the of sweet potatoes for seed, the next market day, is attended with two disadvantages; one is, the writer. And this, not with a view to promote con- which I promised to do; but going through the taking the largest ears, which have generally grown troversy, but to encourage and invite candid in-market on that day, previous to her son's coming for but one on a stalk. This lessens the production; the potatoes, I observed the woman selling such as the other is, taking ears which have ripened at difquiry: I had brought for her; when the boy came, I asked ferent times, which causes the production to do the him the reason they wanted potatoes for seed, while same. Respected Friend, Cooper's Point, April 17th, 1799. they were selling their own. His answer was, that A striking instance of plants being naturalized, Kind Providence having placed me in a situation his father said, if they did not get seed from me, happened by Col. Matlack sending some water meof life which obliged me to procure a living by in- once in three or four years, their potatoes would lon seed from Georgia, which, he informed me by dustry, and that principally in the agricultural line, be good for nothing. Query-if he had used the letter, were of superior quality: knowing that seed it has caused me to be a strict observer of the same means in selecting his potatoes for planting, from vegetables, which had grown in more southern works of nature, with respect to such parts of the as I did, whether he would have profited by chang climates, required a longer summer than what grew vegetable creation as have come under my particu- ing with one who used the other method? here, I gave them the most favourable situation, lar notice, and have been greatly embarrassed at In discoursing with a friend, who lived at a and used glasses to bring them forward, yet very the opinion very generally entertained by farmers great distance from me, on the above subject, few ripened to perfection; but finding them to be and gardeners, that changing seeds, roots and he mentioned a fact in favour of changing seed, as excellent in quality as described, I saved seed plants, to distant places, or different soils or cli- Some radish seed which he had from me, produced from those first ripe; and by continuing that pracmates, is beneficial to agriculture; such opinion not radishes preferable to any thing of the kind ever tice four or five years, they became as early water agreeing with my observations or practice. This seen in that neighbourhood, which was near 100 melons as I ever had. induced me to make many experiments on that miles distant: but in two or three years the radishes Many admit the importance of a change of seed, head, all of which, in more than forty years' prac degenerated, so as to be no better than what he from the fact of foreign flax seed producing the tice, have operated to prove to my satisfaction, that had before. I asked his method of saving his seed. best flax in Ireland; but when it is considered that the above opinion is not well founded; and if so, He said he had no other radishes in his garden, and it is the bark of the stalk only that is used in Iremust be extremely prejudicial to agriculture, as it when they had pulled what was fit for use, let the land, and that this is in the best perfection before turns the attention of the husbandman from what others go to seed. I then told him my method, viz. the seed ripens, the argument fails when applied to appears to me one great object, viz. that of select- As soon as the radishes are fit for use, I dig up ten other vegetables. ing seeds and roots for planting or sowing, from or twelve of those which please me best, as to co- For many years past, I have renewed the whole such vegetables as come to the greatest perfection, lour, shape, &c. and plant them at least 100 yds. from seed of my winter grain, from a single plant which in the soil which he cultivates. where any others bloom at the time they do; this, I have observed to be more productive, and of What induced me to make experiments on the informed him, was the best method I knew of to better quality than the rest; a practice, which I am subject, was, my observing that all kinds of vege- improve any kind of vegetables, varying the pro- satisfied has been of great use; and I am fully of tables were continually varying in their growth, cess agreeably to their nature. I asked him if he opinion, that all kinds of garden vegetables may be quality, production, and time of maturity. This thought I should be benefitted by exchanging with improved by the foregoing methods, particular care led me to believe that the great author of nature, him? His answer was, he believed I was the best being taken, that different kinds of the same species has so constructed that wonderful machine, if I may gardener. of vegetables are not in bloom at the same time, be allowed the expression, as to incline every kind In or about the year 1772, a friend sent me a few near together, as by this bad practice, they mix and of soil and climate to naturalize all kinds of vege-grains of a small kind of Indian corn, the grains of degenerate.* tables, that it will produce at any rate, the better which were not larger than goose shot; he informed to suit them, if the agriculturists will do their part me by a note that they were originally from Guinea, *The above remark of an observant, practical agriin selecting the most proper seed. In support of and produced from eight to ten ears on a stock. culturist, has so often been confirmed by the observathis position, I will subjoin few facts and experi-Those grains I planted, and found the production' tions of others, that no doubt can be entertained of its |