AMERICAN FARMER-BALTIMORE, MAY 25, 1827. La Grange, May 14, 1827. 73 acres, as would have planted half an acre three feet worthy of attention; and if our naval officers were The grass sprung up after the rain; and a press of other business prevented its receiving that attention which it ought to have had, until some of it, as was the case the preceding year, was almost overpowered; but after once clearing the ground there was no further difficulty. In answer to the inquiries of your Richmond correspondent on Guinea grass, I will give you the re sult of my trials in the cultivation of that grass. Having seen it, with some other valuable grasses, On the 12th of August, thirty-five days after flourishing in their native country, although no rain transplanting, it was from 7 to 8 feet high, when had fallen for six months, I was induced to believe we began to cut for the cows; twelve of which were they would be a valuable acquisition to us in our fed five times a day, and subsisted almost entirely dry summers; and my anticipations, notwithstand-upon this grass until the 18th of September, when ing the uncommon drought of the last two years, we had gone over the lot. That which was first cut have been fully realized. was from 4 to 5 feet high at the time we had finished the crop. Some of the ground on which this grew, was gravelly, so that it was not ploughed deep enough; there, it did not do so well, but appeared to yield in proportion to the depth of the ploughing. I suppose the ground would have produced from 30 to 35 bushels of corn to the acre. I accidentally came across some seed, which you had placed in Mr. Sinclair's seed-store, on the last of May, two years ago. Although too late, by two months, I had some ground prepared, and planted one-fourth of an acre, on the first of June. The ground was rich, and very full of weed seed, which vegetated sooner than the grass, and before that was big enough to admit of cultivation, had nearly I can form no accurate estimate of the product smothered it. It was put in drills two and an half of the second crop. Some was fed green, but the feet apart. The weeds were cleared away from the greater part was suffered to stand until the 11th of hills with the hoe, and then the shovel plough pass-October, when it made a beautiful appearance. ed through it; which was all the cultivation it re- Where the hills were within three feet of each ceived, or required; for after it once starts, it bids other, it entirely covered the ground; and where defiance to every thing, and is as complete a pre- first cut, was from 7 to 8 feet high, and was growparative for other crops, as it would be, to covering fast. But expecting frost, which would injure the land with inch plank. the fodder, it was cut, and after lying several days in the sun, was carried to the barn. There were twelve cart-loads carried in; great difficulty was experienced in curing it at this season of the year. In order to form an estimate of the comparative value of this grass, it was submitted to analysis, and the following results were obtained. The first crop was cut occasionally through the month of August, when it had reached six or seven feet high, and fed to the cattle, which eat it very heartily. On the first of September, there fell a little shower, which, I think, was the first time the ground was wet to the roots of the grass, since it was planted. The quick and extraordinary growth One hill was taken, which was rather under a after the scythe, induced me to send you a speci- medium size; it contained forty-six stalks 9 feet men in exactly 48 hours from the time it was cut. high, (there were other hills of eighty stalks 10 feet You stated, (for I did not measure it,) the growth to high;) at the same time it weighed, in a green state, be ten inches, (vol. 7, p. 183;) in the hurry of send-15 pounds; after lying several days in the sun, ing it, then miscalled Indian millet. The kind which I have, is that figured in your fourth vol. p. 286, fig. 1. The first crop was finished about the 1st of September. That part of the 2d crop, which was left to stand until the frost overtook it, in the frst week of October, had (some of it,) reached me height of 134 feet. It was then cut, cured, and fed in a dry state. some of it was laid on the top of a Franklin stove, in which fire was kept for twenty-four hours. 1440 grains lost in drying in this way 500 grains; being submitted to analysis, it produced 120 grains of soluble, or nutritive matter. An acre of ground, planted in hills 3 feet apart each way— lbs. lbs. T. cwt. q. lbs. Would give,. 4840×151-75020=33 9 3 8 Loss by drying, 25666=11 9 0 18 Dry fodder, 49354-22 0 2 18 Nutritious matter, 6744 If planted early, the second crop would be fully equal to the first, and would give Of green fodder, . Nutritious matter, lbs. 12498 T. cwt. q. lbs. 66 19 2 16 This experiment, succeeding so well, under such unfavourable circumstances, I determined last year to try it on a something larger scale. Immediately after planting corn, had two acres ploughed, which had, the year bere, been a very beautiful white clover pasture; out the excessive drought had so destroyed the roots, that there was at this time but little grass of any kind on the ground. It was prepared by ploughing, and after several harrowings, the plough was passed and returned in the same The following table will shew, at one view, the furrow; manure was then lightly applied in the fur- relative value of some of the most common grasses row, and covered by turning a ridge with the plough; and roots; and if their results be compared with into the two furrows, formed by this operation, the the table given in your 7th vol. p. 355, their value seed was dropped, and the ground being in very in fattening cattle may be seen. fine order, it was covered with a rake. Last year, I thought I had covered it too deep, which was the reason of its being so long in coming up; this year, in avoiding that error, I ran into the opposite extreme; and by that means, and the dry weather together, had like to have lost my crop. It was planted between the tenth and sixteenth of May. No rain falling from this time until the last of June, there did not more than, probably 100 stalks make their appearance before the 1st of July. I had determined to plough the ground and sow corn; but finding it appearing above ground, it was suffered to remain. Where too thick, it was taken up and transplanted, between the fourth and tenth of the month. I was of the opinion, at the time, that there was about as much come up on the two No. 10.-VOL. 9. green dry Nutriweight weight tious per acre p. acre matlbs. lbs. ter. to green wt. Proportion In order to avoid the difficulty arising from the slow growth at first, which enables the weeds to over-reach it, I am this year raising it in hot beds, and have it now nearly ready to plant out, which can be done at leisure; and having the ground newly prepared, and by insuring every hill to take before the weeds start, as to entirely shade the ground and require little or no cultivation. By this method I hope to be able to perfect the seed in great abundance. Last summer, seed was brought to perfec tion only on the south side of the spike. E. AYRES. "Pos pratensis, Smooth-stalked Meadow-grass.* "Specific character-Panicle spreading; spikets four-flowered; florets lanceolate, five-ribbed, connected by a web; stipula short and obtuse; stem and leaves smooth; root creeping, perennial. Sm. Engl. Fl. vi. 125. 66 Obs. This grass is distinguished from the Poa trivialis, rough-stalked meadow-grass, by its strong creeping roots, sheaths of the straw being smooth; whereas in the P. trivialis, the sheaths are rough to the touch: the sheath-scale is blunt; in the Poa trivialis it is pointed: the leaves are blunt; those of the P. trivialis are acuminate. E. Bot. 1073. Hort. Kew i. p. 155. Curt. Lond. Native of Britain. "The proportional value in which the grass of the latter-math exceeds that of the grass at the time the seed is ripe, is as 7 to 6. The value of the latter-math and seed crop are equal. This grass is therefore of least value at the time the seed is ripe; a loss of more than one-fourth part of the whole crop is sustained, if not cut till that period: the culms are then dry, and the root leaves in a sickly decaying state; those of the latter math, on the contrary, are green and succulent. This species sends forth flowering straws but once in the season, and these being the most valuable part of the plant for the purposes of hay, and considering the superior value of the latter-math over that of the seed crop, it will appear from these properties to be well adapted for permanent pasture. There are, however, many other grasses highly superior to this one: it comes early in the spring, but the produce is inconsiderable, compared to many other grasses; its strong creeping roots exhaust the soil very much: after midsummer the herbage is slow in growth after being cropped. It is the property of all creeping roots to scourge the soil, and when plants with fibrous roots can be substituted in the place of those, with an equal prospect of advantage in regard to early growth, produce and nutritive qualities, it will be found to repay the labour with interest. As the chief property that gives value to this grass is early growth, it will be of use to compare the merits of two other grasses which possess this property of early growth in common with it. lbs. per acre. "Anthoxanthum odoratum. Sweet-scented vernal grass, at the time of flowering, affords of nutritive matter, At the time the seed is ripe, affords of nutritive matter, "Poa pratensis. As before. 82 for sale at three shillings per pound. He says that it makes a very fine thick turf, and will produce a great quantity of very excellent grass from moist rich soils. He used the straw after the seed was threshed, instead of hay, for his riding horses, and they preferred it to his best meadow hay. To have the land covered thick, more than seven pounds of seed should be sown to the acre. Dr. Smith ob792 serves that it does not bear the frost so well, nor does it shoot so early in the spring, as the Poa pra tensis; but when the weather becomes warm enough to make grasses in general shoot, this grows faster, and produces a greater crop of bottom leaves than most others. The experiments above detailed were made before I met with the observations of Mr. Young and Dr. Smith, just quoted, and all my observations tend to confirm those opinions concern. ing this grass, except as regards its fitness to form a pasture of itself, stated by Mr. Boys. 590 its dam: that he would not be able to raise it; if I thought I could raise it, I might have it. I took the lamb, kept it through the winter on potato and apple parings from the kitchen, it recovered from its weakness, but was taken with the scab and lost all its wool. I got it cured of this disease, which left it quite thin of flesh. Five weeks ago I put it in a pasture, which had not grown much until within about three weeks; the lamb has now become so fat, that the farmers who have seen it, consider it in danger of dying with it. The lamb, I believe to be between eight and nine months old; an age at which no other breed that I am acquainted with, can be fattened in treble the time, even with using every means in our power. Thine, &c. JUS. KERSEY. To J. S. SKINNER. The weight of nutritive matter, in which the produce of the Poa trivialis exceeds that of the Poa pratensis, is . 202 "Besides this superiority of produce, the Anthox anthum odoratum and Poa trivialis have fibrous roots, which impoverish the soil in a far less degree. The Poa pratensis cannot therefore justify its claim to a place in the composition of the best natural "The superior produce of this Poa over many BOOK-KNOWLEDGE IN AGRICULTURE. pastures, and on this account should be carefully other species, its highly nutritive qualities, the sea- Agricultural knowledge, like all other knowledge, avoided, as an unprofitable plant for that purpose. sons in which it arrives at perfection, and the is founded on experience. Experience is the result It flowers in the beginning of June, and ripens the marked partiality which oxen, horses, and sheep of experiments. If we derive our knowledge soleseed in the beginning of July. In the best perma-have for it, are merits which distinguish it as one ly from our experience, it must, of course, be very nent pastures the smooth-stalked meadow grass is, of the most valuable of those grasses which affect limited. If we call to our aid the experience of according to all my observations, present; but in a moist rich soils and sheltered situations: but on dry others, our knowledge is thereby extended. The much smaller proportion than almost any other exposed situations it is altogether inconsiderable; it experience of others can only be obtained by obspecies of the proper grasses." yearly diminishes, and ultimately dies off, not unservation, conversation, and reading. What we It is the opinion of some respectable American frequently in the space of four or five years. Its pro- obtain by reading may, however, include every botanists, that the plant called green-grass, which is duce* is always much greater when combined with other information. Thus-A. finds out by expeso much esteemed by the farmers of this country, other grasses than when cultivated by itself: with a rience, or by the results of divers experiments, the is only a variety of the Poa pratensis-perhaps the proper admixture it will nearly double its produce, best mode of destroying bugs or caterpillars. A. P. angustifolia of the present work. If they are though on the same soil, so much it delights in obtains his knowledge from the fountain head, his essentially the same plant, our farmers hold it in shelter. Those spots in pastures that are most own experience. A. observes one of his neighbours much higher estimation than Mr. Sinclair appears closely eaten down, consist, for the most part, of in the successful practice of a process for destroying to do. The great length and luxuriance of the ra this grass: I have examined many pastures with bugs and caterpillars. In this case he obtains useful dical leaves, where the soil is good, and the avidity this view, and have always found it the case where knowledge, by means of observation, from the expewith which cattle feed on them, render it a most this grass was more predominant. From all which rience of another. A. communicates this process to valuable pasture. It is rarely, if ever, cultivated it appears, that the Poa trivialis, though highly B. by the word of mouth. B. then obtains his porartificially with us; but in fertile soils, which are valuable as a permanent pasture grass on rich and tion of useful knowledge by means of conversation. not too frequently broken up by the plough, it suc-sheltered soils, is but little adapted for the alternate Thus far all goes on swimmingly. But A. or B. ceeds the artificial grasses, as the latter run out. husbandry, and unprofitable for any purpose on takes into his head to write down the particulars of The culms, or stems of the spear-grass, are said to dry exposed struations. It flowers towards the end said process for destroying bugs or caterpillars; furnish the best materials for the manufacture of of June, and ripens the seed in the middle of July." posts it off to the printer, who sends it all abroad imitation Leghorn hats. It is difficult to determine, from the account here on newspaper wings. The thing now begins to given, whether this may not be the plant known by look a little suspicious, and many who would bethe name of green grass, in our country. The plates lieve the verbal statements of farmer A. or farmer in Mr. Sinclair's work are not executed in the best B. have their dous about the matter, when they manner, and do not enable us to decide. see their remarks in print. The information which has been subjected to the press, begins to appear too much like book-farming, and C. like a blockhead, as he is, refuses to avail himself of the advantages it proffers, because he does not believe in being taught by a printer or an editor or a newspaper, how to manage a business he was brought up to. IN. E. Farmer. "POA trivialis. Rough-stalked Meadow-grass. "Specific character-Panicle rather spreading; spikets three-flowered; florets lanceolate, five-ribbed connected by a web; stipula oblong; stem and leaves roughish; root fibrous. Sm. Engl. Fl. i. p. 124. "Obs. The great roughness of the culms and leaves manifested when drawn between the fingers, the sharp-pointed sheath-scale, and the fibrous root, So conspicuous in this species, sufficiently distinguish it from the Poa pratensis. (To be continued.) VALUE OF SOUTHDOWN SHEEP. ESTEEMED Friend, There has a case occurred with me, proving the value of these sheep as quick feeders, at any age, to surpass that of any other breed that has ever been introduced into this country, combining with it a good fine fleece. Last fall I paid my friend John Hare Powel a visit, and as we were looking at his flock of sheep he observed to me, that there was a full blood South down lamb that had become sickly and had forsaken "The proportional value in which the grass of the latter-math exceeds that of the flowering crop, is as 3 to 2, and that of the seed crop as 12 to 11. TO DESTROY THISTLES WITH SALT. "Here then is a satisfactory proof of the supeA correspondent, in the Farmer's Journal, who rior value of the crop at the time the seed is ripe, dates from Worcestershire, says, "I have no doubt and of the consequent loss sustained by taking it that salt may be made use of with good effect for when in flower; because, in this instance, the weight destroying thistles. I have made several experiof each crop is nearly the same, and the latter-math ments, which have uniformly been attended with which would be produced in the time that is taken success. The most effectual way is, to cut off or up in perfecting the seed, is infinitely less than that bruise the thistle, and then put a smal! portion of According to the account which is given of this of many other species of grass where the loss of salt upon latter-math, under such circumstances, would far of British Plants, it is the famous Orcheston grass. grass by Mr. Swayne, in Dr. Withering's Arrangement it: very few will survive this treatment. It be accomplished without this trouble; but may I outweigh any superiority of the nutritive qualities am surprised to find it remarked of this grass, so long the land should be gone over more than once, to of the crop at the time the seed is ripe, if such su back as 1681, that "at Maddington, in Wiltshire, about see if any have escaped. Salt is also very serviceperiority was great, which is seldom found. nine miles from Salisbury, grows a grass, in a small piotable for destroying weeds of all kinds, say nettles, "The weight of hay produced from grass of the of meadow ground, which grass in some years grows to docks, &c. that grow around farm buildings; but flowering crop is much less than that which is per- a prodigious length, sometimes twenty-four feet long, you must be careful not to use it too near fences or formed by an equal weight of the grass of the seed but not in height, as is usually reported; the length trees, or, perchance, you may destroy those also." crop. In Mr. Young's Annals of Agriculture, we being caused by the washing of a sheep-down, that the Another correspondent confirms this; he says, "A are informed, that so long ago as the year 1785 rain in a hasty shower brings with it much of the sheep small quantity of common salt, about a tea-spoonMr. Boys, of Betshanger, in Kent, a farmer of the not subject to such showers, this grass thriveth not so dung over the meadow; so that in such springs as are ful, is taken between the finger and thumb, and highest reputation, raised, at much expense, and well."Worlidge. The report of a grass growing twen-placed firmly on the centre of the thistle. In two several years' attention, from twenty to thirty bush-ty-four feet in height must have excited no ordinary at- or three days the thistle will turn quite black; and els of the seed of this grass, which he then offered tention. in eight or ten days the root and every part of is will be destroyed. I have found this a cheap and certain mode of clearing land from thistles. One person will salt as many as four or five would cut up in the usual way; and with this difference, that salt completely destroys the weeds; whereas the spud merely retards them for a short period, to be ultimately more productive. The salt should be applied to the large thistles before the stem is put forth; and care should be taken that it is not drop ped upon the grass or cinquefoil." HORTICULTURE. Kilkenny, August 24, 1826. LIQUID MANURE. | by them in a gaseous or liquid state, to which all is so much larger and more extensive than any solid manures applied must be previously reduced, other, or than all others combined in America, that before any benefit can be derived from them, they I have no doubt it would be matter of surprise to would in many cases facilitate the process, by using you in so new a country. The collection of young them in a liquid state. In houses (green and hot-fruit trees, plants and flowers, alone, covers 32 houses,) where the rains have not access, it appears acres compactly filled. The green-houses are 200 to me superior to any other mode of administering feet by 30. The number of species and varieties manure to trees. exceeds 8000. The collection of oranges is the best known out of Italy, and the collection of fruits equal to any in the world, having culled the most select from Brussels, the north of France, Paris and its vicinity, and Marseilles and the rest of the south of France. Those offered for sale as very select, after rejecting several hundred kinds of European inferior varieties, are as follows: apples, 172 varieties; pears, 202; plums, 140; cherries, 76; apricots, (From Loudon's Gardeners' Magazine, Jan. 1827.) 25; peaches, 84; nectarines, 16; almonds, 14; quinOn the importance of Liquid Manure in horticulture, ces, 8; mulberries, 14; figs, 17; currants, 15; raspberries, 15; grapes, 345; strawberries, 21; roses, and the peculiar advantages of Soot as an ingre610; ornamental trees of the largest size, 80; ditto dient for that purpose. By Mr. John Robertson, [We are here reminded of the following passage second size, 65; ornamental shrubs, 150; evergreens, F. H. S.-Nurseryman, Kilkenny. from one of the very amusing and instructive let- 65; hardy vines and creepers, 68; pæònies, 41; carAmongst the many advantages which horticulters of Mr. Carter-dated at nations, 115; Chinese chrysanthemums, 32; iris, 54 ture has derived from Mr. Knight's enlightened apPisa, April 13, 1826. distinct species and varieties innumerable; hardy plication of science to its practice, we may reckon "Thence the coachman, taking a hint from his herbaceous plants, above 1000 species; hyacinths, as not the least important, his earnest and repeated | vehicle, which in speed was likely to outstrip luis 388 varieties; tulips, 620; amaryllis, 60; and other recommendation of liquid manures. In general, li- horses, hurried us down a steep declivity into the bulbs in proportion; oranges, near 40; camellias, quid manures have not had that importance attach-vale of the Serchio, winding through a broad and 32; and the whole collection of green-house and ed to them by gardeners which they merit. They | verdant champaign, under the walls of Lucca. - | hot-house plants exceeding 2500 species. With may at all times be resorted to with advantage; but, This stream is more like a river, or in other words, regard to fruits, I have for thirty years pursued the in a number of instances, and particularly where less like a torrent, than any one that had been seen principle of planting out specimen fruit trees of immediate effect is required, no other manure can since leaving France. It rolls on through its gay every variety, to ascertain decisively as to their be so well applied. To enumerate their uses and and flowery borders with a broad, rapid, but silent | correctness; and I have now above 1200 varieties, preparation, however, would demand more consi current. From its bridge, a straight, spacious ave- which stand as bearing trees to afford permanently deration than I am enabled to bestow; my present nue, lined with trees, leads to the gates of the city. genuine grafts, and to show the genuine kinds to object being solely to point out a material for the The fields on either hand are so many gardens, persons visiting the establishment. I take as my purpose, which I have long availed myself of with every foot of which is manured and cultivated to guide for French fruits, Duhamel, the Bon Jardisuccess, though it seems to have been overlooked the highest degree, by an overstocked population. nier, and the government publications. I have oriby most gardeners-it is soot. Not a tendril of the vine, not a plant, nor a blade ginated a great many extremely valuable fruits by Sir H. Davy characterizes soot as "a powerful of corn is suffered to be out of its place, or to oc mixture of the pollen; one of the oldest, and which manure, possessing ammoniacal salt, empyreumatic cupy more ground than is just sufficient for its sup-is of about 30 years' standing, is the Prince's St. oil, and charcoal, which is capable of being ren port. The peasantry of both sexes are always in Germain, originated by my mixing the pollen of dered soluble by the action of oxygen, or pure vital the fields, sometimes apparently only to watch the the Virgouleuse with the St. Germain, and it is air;" all which component parts rank high as nutri-growth of plants under their charge, which they known throughout our country as one of the finest tious or stimulant manures. On meadows I have feed and nurse with more care than they do their fruits; the original tree is now full, and if I can reused soot with great advantage in substance, and children. They mix manure with water in casks, call it to mind, I will send you a box of the pears though sown by the hand, one dressing gave me forming a sort of nutritious pap, which they ladle this season. I estimate very highly the experiments always heavy crops of hay for two successive sea-out daily in exact proportions, for the food of vege making by the Horticultural Society; but the theosons; but this is a wasteful mode of applying it, a tables. To the American farmer, who is lord of ry as to the duration of fruits for a certain period, great proportion of its ammonia, one of its most hi hundred or his thousand acres, this exactness and that they then become universally extinct, can active ingredients, being volatilized and dissipated might seem piddling business; but here it is abso- be very easily overturned, as I will show you in the atmosphere. When dissolved in water there lutely necessary, that every rood should maintain hereafter. I am at this moment engaged in tasting is no waste: it is available, and for horticultural its man. It would take but few such farms, as are the fruits of every section of Europe, in order to purposes I have mostly used it in that state, mixing found in the interior of New York, to cover the arrange the synonyms, and you will see when my it up in the proportion of about six quarts of soot whole duchy of Lucca, which contains only 320 pamphlet catalogue reaches you, that I have paid to a hogshead of water. Asparagus, peas, and a square miles, more than half of which consists of great attention to that particular.' variety of other vegetables, I have manured with it barren mountains, incapable of tillage. Yet this with as much effect as if I had used solid dung; territory has a population of 120,000, who depend but to plants in pots, particularly pines, I have chiefly on the cultivation of the soil for support. found it admirably well adapted: when watered The richness of the landscape bears ample testimowith it, they assume a deep healthy green, and grow ny to their honest industry, and to the utmost nicestrong and luxuriant. I generally use it and clean ty in the mode of culture. Females who never saw water alternately, and always overhead in summer, festoons of silk or damask, are engaged in adjustbut except for the purpose of cleansing, it might ing festoons of vines, stretching from tree to tree be used constantly with advantage; and though in waving and graceful wreaths. cannot speak from my own experience, never having bad either scale or bug on my pines, (pine apples,) yet I think it highly probable, as the ammonia it contains is known to be destructive to these insects in a state of gas or vapour, that in a liquid state, if it does not totally destroy them, yet that it will in a great degree check their progress. Other materials for liquid manures are often diffi-den, at New York.] .cult to procure, and tedious in their preparation; but soot, sufficient for the gardener's purposes, is almost every where at hand, and in a few minutes prepared. PRINCE'S BOTANIC GARDEN. [We find in the January number of the Gardener's Magazine and Register of Rural and Domestic Improvement, published in London, the fol|lowing notice of Mr. Prince's Linnæan Botanic Gar "Linnæan Botanic Garden, Flushing, near New York, Feb. 14th, 1826.-We have received an account of this extensive establishment from its proprietor, Mr. Prince, that we cannot but think will Were gardeners more generally aware that no be gratifying to our readers. The efforts of Amemanures can be taken up in a state of solidity by ricans in every useful art are gigantic like their plants as food, and that they can only be absorbed | country. This establishment,' Mr. Prince observes, A composition for the cure of diseases, defects, and injuries in all kinds of Fruit and Forest Trees, invented and practised by Wm. Forsyth, gardener to the King of Great Britain. FRUIT AND FOREST TREES. One bushel of fresh cow dung, half a bushel of lime rubbish from old buildings, (that from the ceiling of old rooms is preferable,) half a bushel of wood ashes, and one-sixteenth of a bushel of pit or river sand: the three last articles are to be sifted fine before they are mixed, then worked together well with a spade, and afterwards with a wooden beater, until the stuff is very smooth, like fine plaster used for the ceiling of rooms. All the dead, decayed, and injured part of the tree must be cut away to the fresh sound wood, leaving the surface very level, and rounding off the edges of the bark perfectly smooth. Lay on the plaster about one-eighth of an inch thick, all over the part so cut away, finishing off the edges as thin as possible. Take a quantity of dry powder of wood ashes, with one-sixth of the ashes of burnt bones; put it into a tin box, with holes in the top, slacked a month at least. wound. ORNAMENTAL TREES. [Though the following was intended to have a particular application, the suggestions it contains may be useful in many cases.] from Europe at a price that will enable our dyers with a little sand, or some such material, at the In Norfolk, England, it is sown with other crops. Any farmer or dyer desirous of raising the weld plant can be supplied with seed, by the first of April next, by applying to Wm. Partridge, 45 Fulton-st. leave a portion of the plant for seed, in order to prevent the necessity of importing, and that it may be naturalized to the climate. HOPSON. The effects of this composition have been inquir- That nothing may be wanting to facilitate the ed into by the commissioners of the land revenue, use and cultivation of this valuable dye drug, I shall in Great Britain, and a respectable committee of point out to our dyers its most prominent proper both houses of parliament; ten of whom viewed ties, and to our agriculturists the mode of cultivat-It is requested that those who may raise it, will the trees which Mr. Forsyth has undertaken to re-ing it. novate; and were so well satisfied, that the king The colour obtained from weld is more permagranted a reward to Mr. F. for disclosing the me-nent, with the common mordants, alum, cream or thod of making and using the composition as above. crude tartar, than any other yellow dye. The co lour it gives is also more delicate than any other; but its chief superiority consists in the property it possesses, in a very superior degree, of imparting BEDS AND BEDSTEADS. a great softness to the woollens dyed with it. Our There is not a single article of furniture in & manufacturers cannot but be aware of the advan house, which if good, contributes so much to the tage of using such dyes as will give a softness to comfort and refreshment of the family, as the bed. The ornamental trees, commencing on the south their wool, in preference to others which from their it is, therefore, to be regretted that from the influeast corner of the President's Square, and extending astringency, have the effect of giving a harsh feel ence of habit and fashion, the bed is so rarely fitted by the north side to the south-west, are now in a to their fabrics. So much are European wool dy-to secure the soothing and invigorating effects which thriving state. The object of this communication ers impressed with the superiority of weld over any it might be made to produce. As it is now conis to call the attention of those who have the care other yellow dye, that they use it in all furnace colours structed, it frequently produces languor and restof their preservation, to the open frames placed that will admit of it, though it cost them more than lessness, instead of refreshment and repose. The round them for protection: for, notwithstanding the double the price of other dyes for which it is sub-bedstead has high posts and curtains, and is coverpains taken with leather and cords, to prevent the stituted. The drabs dyed with weld are more per-ed with feathers; the curtains deprive the sleeper wearing off the bark, if left as they are, the trees manent, and the colours more delicate, than from of fresh air, and the feathers, like false friends, surwill be destroyed. A tree must have room to grow, any other yellow. The olive browns and greens, round, incommode, and exhaust one while he trusts and the least play, when the winds agitate the top, and the bronze greens, are in every way superior, them, but desert him most at the very point of preswill wear through the tender bark, weaken the as it respects their brilliancy and permanency.sure, where support is most needed. stem, and, from the firmness of a frame inserted in When used for wool colours, the wool is found to Whoever wishes to possess a rational couch for the ground that surrounds it, it is soon broken off at work softer and better in every subsequent opera-sleep, should first provide himself with a proper the weakened place. This has been repeatedly ob- tion. bedstead; and the best support of the recumbent boserved in this city. And a tree surrounded by a Weld is greatly preferred to all other substances dy which science has yet devised, is Adams' bedstead. high, firm frame, even if the stem could be preserv-in giving the lively green lemon yellow. "It is It is neat, strong, and portable; easily put up and ed from wear, would be broken at the top of the much used by the London and French paper stain- taken down. By means of the swelled beam, lever, frame by a strong wind: for until the trunk has ac-ers. Diffuse any quantity of fine whiting in boiling and ratchet wheel, the sacking bottom is easily kept quired a good size, the whole length is bent by water, add to it one ounce of alum for every pound tight, and most tight and level where the incumbent powerful winds. The unyielding frame brings this of whiting, and stir these materials well together, weight is the greatest. This we have never seen strain high up, where the body is small, and it must till the gas is disengaged. Boil in a separate vessel done by any other contrivance. The next best bedbreak. Two remedies occur: one is to cut off the some weld, with water just sufficient to cover it for stead, is one made like this, excepting the sacking, stakes of the frames even with the surface of the fifteen minutes, filter the yellow decoction, and mix in place of which it has slats, or slips of some elasground; remove the leather and cords; the frame it with the whiting and alumine. The precipitate tic wood, as pine, &c. will then tilt when the tree is bent: the other, to is used for staining of paper." shorten the frames, leaving them only high enough to prevent the cattle from striding them for the foliage; which will equally protect them from the hubs of carriage wheels; and in three years the frames may be dispensed with entirely. RURAL ECONOMY. F. And here it is proper to remark, in the first place, The soils most suitable are of the fertile mellow that the want of feathers is altogether artificial, kinds, whether of the loamy, sandy or gravelly arising from a disregard of the physical and moral sorts; but it may be grown with success on such as well-being of infants and children—and he who has are of a poorer quality. In fact a light quick soil, had the good fortune never to have been accustomapproaching to the sandy, is the best; for the small-ed to a feather bed, will never in health need, or er the plants, provided they blossom well, the bet- desire one, nor in sickness, excepting in cases of ter. A soil rather moist, but mellow, seems the great morbid irritation, or excessive sensibility, or most suitable and proper for it. some local disease in which the pressure of a firm It is necessary in the preparation of the ground, or elastic substance might occasion pain. But that there should be a tolerable degree of fineness when a rational regard to the preservation of health produced in the mould of the soil, which may be shall pervade the community, feathers will no more effected by repeated ploughings, given in the more be used without necessity, or medical advice, than early spring months, and suitable harrowing. The ardent spirit will be swallowed without the same surface of the land in the seed furrow should be necessity or advice. The physician has frequent left as level as possible, that the seed should be dis-occasion to see persons who are heated, sweated, persed more evenly over it, and with greater regularity and exactness. Weld, or wold, resida luteola of Linnæus, is a From two quarts to a gallon is sufficient seed for plant used by dyers to give a yellow colour. Some an acre, according to circumstances, when sown parcels of this plant have been imported; but owing alone; but when sown with other crops, a little to its excessive bulkiness, it never can be brought more may be required, which should be blended and enfeebled by sleeping on feathers,-rising in the morning, as if from a fit of sickness,-enervated, dispirited, relaxed, and miserable. But if feathers are to be discarded, what shall we substitute in their place? We answer, hair, cornhusks, and straw; either of which will be found sur NEW YORK CANAL. Extract from the Report of the Commissioners ap perior to feathers, so soon as their good qualities gentlemen, to obtain all the information on this Curtains, besides obliging the enveloped to breathe the same air six or eight times, which ought to pass through the lungs but once, have occasioned many human beings and human dwellings to be burnt; but who can testify that they ever did any good? So long as the body is duly covered, and protected, and warmed, who was ever injured by breathing a cool and fresh, or even a cold air? Why then resort to curtains? One essential condition of good rest is the even ness, or levelness of the bed. What peasant, guided by instinct or experience, ever thought of lying down on the side of a steep acclivity in order to sleep? We have often been twisted, and strained, and kept awake from the rising sides of a feather bed, forsaking one in the centre, and swelling up like two bags of cotton, one on each side, to heat, confine, and annoy the prisoner. Neither a mattress of husks, of straw, nor of hair, will treat one in this inhospitable manner. [Boston Medical Intelligencer. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. NORTH CAROLINA. Machinery has hitherto been used, with most success, in the heavy business of grubbing and clearing. By means of an endless screw, connected with a roller, a cable, a wheel, and a crank, one man is able to bring down a tree of the largest size, without any cutting about its roots. For this purpose, these means are all, except the cable, combined in a small but very strong frame of wood and iron. This frame is immoveably fastened on the ground, at the distance of perhaps one hundred feet from the foot of the tree, around the trunk of which, fifty or sixty feet up, one end of the cable is secured, the other being connected with the roller. When this is done, the man turns the crank, which suc cessively moves the screw, the wheel, and the roller, on which, as the cable winds up, the tree must gradually yield, until, at length, it is precipitated by the weight of its top. The force which may be exerted in this way upon a tree, is irresistible, as with the principle of the wheel and the screw, by the application of the cable at a point so far from the ground, it unites also that of the lever. through the rim, and with the other end loose, but one in common use. It is very narrow or thin, and ESTEEMED Friend, RAIL-ROADS. Westchester, 5th mo. 9, 1827. As the spirit for forming rail-roads appears to be tent, I have one idea to propose to those concerned general, and the work likely to go on to a great exin it, not knowing whether it has ever been thought of or put in practice, or even possible to put in practice to a certainty; yet as it appears plausible, though I do not claim it as my own, I have thought proper to communicate it, (and let it go for what it is worth,) by giving the outlines, leaving the minutia for those engaged in that way. Build a stone wall, wide at bottom and narrow at top; place the rail, or channel for the wheels to run in, on top of this wall; balance two carriages across it; support them from the outer edge by shafts having friction wheels on one end, running in channels secured to the side of the wall. where stone is plenty. LADIES' DEPARTMENT. There is no grubbing so difficult and expensive, by the common methods, as that of sound, green stumps; and as our citizens west of Utica, are every day multiplying those evidences of their industry, it was desirable to discover some easier means of eradicating them. Such means have been found; but the cost of machinery, in which they partly consist, would forbid the use of them in ordinary cases. Two strong wheels, sixteen feet in diameter, are made and connected together by a round axle tree, twenty inches thick, and thirty feet long; between these wheels, and with its spokes inseparably framed into their axle tree, another wheel is placed, fourteen feet in diameter, round the rim of which a An act was passed at the last session of the Le-rope is several times passed, with one end fastened gislature, directing the Board for Internal ImproveESSAY ON DRESS-No. I. ment to have surveyed one or more of the large It may be affirmed that man is born in a state of marshes or swamps, situate between the Virginia perfect health; for though an hereditary predisposiline and Roanoke river, between the Virginia line This apparatus is so moved as to have the stump, tion renders some individuals more susceptible than and Albemarle sound, between the Roanoke river on which it is intended to operate, midway between others to peculiar diseases, yet, when the corporeal and Albemarle sound, and the Tar river and Pamp- the largest heels, and nearly under the axle-tree; organization is complete, and the degree of vitality tico sound, between the Roanoke and Tar rivers, and these wheels are so braced as to remain steady sufficient to actuate the machinery of the human between the Tar and Neuse rivers, between the A very strong chain is hooked, one end to the body frame, an infant thus constituted and endowed canNeuse and Cape Fear rivers, between the Cape of the stump, or its principal root, and the other to not be regarded in any other state than that of Fear and Lumber rivers, and between Lumber ri- the axle-tree. The power of horses or oxen is then health. If it be the intention of Providence, as there ver and the South Carolina line. The object of applied to the loose end of the rope above mention- is every reason to believe, that the animal body these surveys is to determine which of the said ed, and as they draw, a rotary motion is communi- should be capable of resisting with impunity the marshes it may be practicable to drain-the proba-cated through the smallest wheel to the axle-tree, impressions of heat, cold, light, air and all the other ble cost of such draining-the quality of land that on which, as the chain hooked to the stump winds external agents of the world into which it is usherby such draining will be reclaimed for cultivation, up, the stump itself is gradually disengaged from ed at birth, it may be demanded, why this primitive and the quantity of vacant land. the earth in which it grew. After this disengage state of health cannot be maintained? The cause The Board is required to report to the Legisla- ment is complete, the braces are taken from the is obvious-the artificial circumstances in which soture upon this subject, and authority is given them large wheels, which then afford the means of re-ciety have placed the human race;-and as mankind to employ one or more competent surveyors, to car-moving that stump out of the way, as well as of are acquainted with no state of existence in which ry the requirements of the act into execution. Un-transporting the apparatus where it may be made these circumstances do not operate, reason teaches der this authority, the Board have engaged the to bear on another. The expense of the wheels. that means should be taken to obviate their baneservices of an engineer from New York, by the axle tree, chain, and rope, is about two hundred ful influence. But, instead of listening to the dicname of NASH, who brings the highest testimonials and fifty dollars; and with them, in this way, seven tates of reason,-rather than make himself acquaintof his qualifications from Governor Clinton, with hands and a pair of horses, can grub from thirty to ed with the nature of his constitution, and study to whom Governor Burton had corresponded on the to forty large stumps in a day. A few stumps have preserve it in health and vigor,-man too often subject. Mr. N. arrived in this city on Monday been found to require the strength of four horses yields himself up to the government of ignorance last; and will proceed immediately on his survey. The gain of power by this machinery, is some-and presumption; the first moment even in which Governor Burton has contracted to pay him at thewhat more than eight fold, with very little loss by he draws breath sees him placed under the control rate of $2,000 per annum until the meeting of the of individuals totally inadequate to the important Legislature, when his salary can be fixed by law. Great obstruction to the excavation has been charge of preserving the infant constitution in its Mr. Brazier set out last week to survey one of the offered by the small roots and fibres which over original state, and aiding its progress to maturity, swamps near the South Carolina line. So that we spread the surface, and every where penetrate the In support of this general remark, let us trace thehope, in the course of the present summer, the top soil of timbered land. A plough has been i-management of the infant from its birth, and exBoard will be able, by the united exertions of these vented for cutting up these, greatly superior to the amine how far its dress, its food, its exercise, and friction. |