THE FARMER'S MONTHLY VISITOR. 



143 



to this dnotriiie liccaiise they must be supposed to 

 understand their own interests better than those in 

 other pursuits can for Iheni ; because, being edu- 

 cated in tiie school of experience they niay be sup- 

 posed to be, as they are actually found to be, sound- 

 er and safer men to be relied upon ; and because 

 by neglecting to fill our ofiices from the profession 

 of law, the number enafaged in that profession 

 might be diminished, and litig;ation diminished with 

 it ; and by that means the wealtli, the intelligence 

 and tlie virtue of our Republic greatly promoted. 



If tlie education of farmers v/as what a rational 

 and an enlightened system would make it, at a less 

 expense of time and money than is now incurred 

 for the purpose, they would be entirely qualified to 

 jii'rform rnnny kinds of business, for which they 

 now resort to the legal profession ; such as drawing 

 contracts, giving power of attorney, making out 

 bills of sale, cr^nveying property, by deed or other- 

 wise, and various other acts of a similar character, 

 which would save themselves great expense and 

 trouble, nnrl permit lawyers to engage in pursuits, 

 better calcuhited to promote the healtii nf society. 



To avoid the evils and secure tiie benefits here 

 referred to, no one need to act under the influence 

 of prejudice or desire of proscription. Farmers 

 and mechanics have simply to select and appoint 

 individuals from their own professions, to promote 

 their interests and to secure and protect their rights, 

 and they can hardly fail to accnmplish their object. 

 JOSIAH HOI.BROOk. 



Admiral Hosier's Ghost. 



(Glover.) 

 *'It was written by the ingenious author of Le- 

 onidas, on the taking of Porto-Bello, from the Span- 

 iards by Admiral Vernon, Nov. '^2, 1730. The case 

 of Hosier, which is here so patlieticaUy represent- 

 ed, was briefly thist^In April 17*i(j, thai command- 

 er was sent with a strong fleet into the Spanish 

 West Indies, to block up tlie galleons in tlie ports 

 of that country, or should they presume to come 

 out, to seize and carry them to England. He ac- 

 cordingly arrived at the Bastimentos, near Porto- 

 Bello ; but being restricted by his orders, from 

 obeying the dictates of his courage, lay inactive on 

 that station, until he became the jest of the Span- 

 iards. He afterwards removed to Carthngena, and 

 continued cruising in these seas, till the far greater 

 part of his men perished deplorably, by the diseas- 

 es of that unlieiiltby climate. This brave man, see- 

 ing iiis best oflicers and men thus daily swept a- 

 way, h:s ships exposed to inevitable destruction, 

 and himself inade the sport of the enemy, is said to 

 have died of a broRcn heart." 



As near Porto-Bello lyiug 



On tile gently swelling flood. 

 At midnight, with streamers flying, 



Our triumphant navy rode ; 

 Tiiere, while Vernon sate all-glorious, 



From the Spaniard's late defeat, 

 And his orews with shouts victorious, 



Drank success to England's fleet: 



On a sudden, shrilly sounding, 



Hideous yells and shrieks were heard ; 

 Then, each heart with fear confounding, 



A Slid troop of ghosts appeaTcd. 

 All in dreary hammocks shrouded, 



Which for winding sheets they wore, 

 .And with looks by sorrow clouded, 



Frowning on that hostile shore. 



On them gleamed the moon's wan lustre ; 



Where the shade of Hosier brave 

 His pale bands were seen to nuister. 



Rising from their watery grave. 

 O'er the glimmering wave, he hied him. 



Where the Burford* reared her sail, 

 With three thousand ghosts beside him, 



And in groans, did Vernon Jiail. 



Heed, O heed, our fatal stor}' ! 



I am Hcsii-'r's injured ghost: 

 You _who now have purchased glory ; 



At this place, where I was lost : 

 Though in Porto-Bello's ruin, 



You now triumph free from fears, 

 Wlien you think of my undoing, 



You will mix your joys with tears. 



See these mournful spectres sweeping, 



Ghastly o'er this hated wave, 

 Whose wan cheeks are stained with weeping ; 



These were English captains brave : 

 Mark those numbers pale and horrid. 



Who were once my sailors bold , 

 Lo ! each hangs his drooping forehead, 



While his dismal tale is told. 



I, by twenty sail attended, 



Did this Spnnish town aftright; 

 Nothing then — its wealth defended, 



But m}' orders nut to fight. 



O ! that in this rolling ocean, 



I had cast them with disdain. 

 And obey'd m}'^ heart's warm emotion, 



To have quelled the pride of Spain ! 



For, resistance, I could fear none, 



But with twenty ships, had done, 

 What thou, brave apd happy Vernon, 



Hast achieved witli six alone. 

 Then the Bastimentos never 



Had our foul dishonor seen ; 

 For tlie sea the sad receiver 



Of this gallant train, kad been. 



Thus, like thee, proud Spain dismaying, 



And iier galleons leading home, 

 Though condemned for disobeying, 



I had met a traitor's doom : 

 To have fallen, my country crying, 



*'He has played au English part^" 

 Had been better far, Ihiin d3'ing. 



Of a grieved and broken heart. 



Unrepining at tlry glory, 



Thy successful arms v.'e Iiail ; 

 But remember our sad story. 



And let Hosier's wrongr-j prevail; 

 Sent in this foul clime to languish, 



Think what thousands fell in vain, 

 W^asted with disease and anguish, 



Not Iq. glorious battle sluhi. 



Hence with all my train attending, 



From their oozy tombs below, 

 Through the hoary foam ascending, 



Here 1 feed my constant woe. 

 Here the Bastimentos viewing. 



We recal our shameful doom, 

 And our plaintive cries renewing, 



Wander through the midnight gloom. 



O'er these waves forever mourning 



Shall we roam deprived of rest, 

 i^^ to Britain's shores returning, 



Yon neglect my just request. 

 Al'ter this proud foe subduing, 



When your patriot friends you see, 

 Think on ven.»eance for my ruin. 



And ior England — shamed in me. 



Gen. Washington's residence wa.s named for 

 Admiral Vernon, one of his relatives having serv- 

 ed under that commander at the capture of Porto- 

 Bello. 



*Adtnir:il Vrrmm's flni: ;tiip — a thrfe decker. 



Fiom the nosion Cultivator. 

 Orchards, 



We would not say much on Orchards at this time 

 of year were we not constnntly reminded, winter 

 and suumier, as we pass along the road, of the a- 

 mount of labor that has been thrown wholly away 

 by inefficient attempts to plant an apple orchard. 

 We have come to the conclusion from the orchards 

 we have observed in our various travels that the 

 owners of nint'ty-nine in a livindred had generally 

 thrown away thrir labors, and that the orchards 

 they attempted to plant were only a nuisance to 

 their grounds. Those lands were generally quite 

 rich enough for trees of this kind. This was not 

 the evil. The trees were not well selected at the 

 first — they were not carefully taken up — they were 

 not tilled after setting, and the cattle in most cases 

 were called in to trim the trees. It was an old 

 maxim that he who plants nn orchard plants it for 

 the next generation ; we should say for his cattle 

 to rub against, or for his hogs that were fond of the 

 bark oi the trees. 



Now he that plants an orchard need not make 

 up his mind that he is necessarily ^t work for oth- 

 ers, and we hope if we can but make him believe 

 he is at work for himself and is not an liircling or 

 disinterested, he will proceed in his labor with faith- 

 fulness and skill. 



We will, warrant him, if he v/ill exercise any 

 common degree of judgment, a good crop of ap- 

 ples within five years of his transplanting, nnd if 

 he plants an acre, he shall have winter and fall 

 fruit enough lor a dozen in a family. 



Now to the work. His land sliould have been 

 tilled the year before setting his trees, and made as 

 rich as usual for Indian corn. It should be plough- 

 ed in the spring, before setting the trees, and well 

 harrowed. This ploughingneed not be deeper than 

 for corn. It is a great error to set trees deep in the 

 earth ; some do it to procure moisture for the tree ; 

 some to make room to thrust in a quantity of ma- 



nure ; and some so that the tree may have a firm 

 support and not be racked by the winds. 



Now we say to you breChren, imitate none of 

 these modes ; a tree, set deep, is set in the poorest 

 earth. Place your trees so that the roots may have 

 the richest. Never put manure of any description 

 about the joots if you would have your trees live. 

 Place nothing but good garden mould next the 

 roots. Give them suflicient room. Make the hole 

 for them broad but n«it deep. 



When you liave covered the roots with good gar- 

 den nmuld, spread oiit the fibres so as not to 

 crowd a peck of them into one heap ; roots are not 

 fond of close intimacy. V/hen V'^^i have covered 

 tiiese roots with good soil, take from your cow- 

 yard any coarse litter that will retain maisture,and 

 place it round the tree, treading it down elo.se, so 

 that it shall form a support to the tree. This litter 

 should lie several inches thick alter it has been 

 trod down. If you have none of iliis litter, coarse 

 manure may be used — old stack hay or straw will 

 answer the purpose. This litter must be here 

 through the season and be kept trod down close. 

 Now you need no stake to gall the trees : your lit- 

 ter is a sutl^icicnt prop. You need put no water a- 

 bout the roots, for your litter or coarse hay impedes 

 evaporation to such a degree that the earth under 

 it will continue moist through the whole summer. 

 If the tree is racked a little by the winds, so much 

 tlie better; it is thus taught early- to rely on its-,,., 

 for support. A staked tree is bke a spoiled child. 

 Spoilod with too mucli nursing. Tiie litter about 

 the tree will prevent the racking by the winds, and 

 the opening of the ground to let the air to the 

 roots, and will save you tiie tmulde of any hoeing 

 or tilling for the first year. No weeds will grow 

 under this litter — no grass — the two great obstacles 

 to the extension of the roots. Your soil will tliuB 

 be kept mellow, and porous, and moist. 



In autumn — before any snow falls, you must re- 

 move all the litter, tiiat has not become rotten, to a 

 distance from the trees. You will thus give some 

 olTence to mice that are always fond of making 

 their bed close to some towering object that may 

 afl'urd them future support. Ifyour cats have done 

 their duty and killed off tlieir fresh meat stock in 

 due time, you have nothing further to do tlie first 

 season. But if your cats iiave been negligent and 

 got their rations out of your commissariat rather 

 thfm glean them abroad in honorable service in the 

 field, you must go out as soon as the first snovv has 

 fallen and tread it down close about the roots of 

 your trees. Your field mice must now seek some 

 other habitation, in case they bad commenced 

 building as squatters on your soil, and you need be 

 at no further trouble through the winter, for they, 

 like the Cherokees, are not for voluntary emigra- 

 tion in the midst of snows. Now yvur trees arc 

 well set. They have not only put out the leaf, 

 but their limbs have extended — if you saw to the 

 work yourself — from lialfa foot to a footeachway. 

 Tliey will need but very little trimming this sec- 

 ond season if you trimmed them a little on setting 

 them. 'I bey must have top. Their leaves are 

 their lungs, and a good proportion of leaves are in- 

 dicative of good health as good lungs are in ani- 

 mals. What will you do with your trees this sec- 

 ond Summer .^ Will you sufl'er the grass and weeds 

 to draw away all moisture from tiie neighborhood 

 of the roots and occupy the space intended for 

 them.'' We trust not. Keep your land in tillage 

 three or four years at the least. You may raise 

 exhausting crops if you will apply ni'inure. You 

 may raise beans or drilled turnips without manur- 

 ing this season — you may sow turnips broad cast 

 as late as the first of July without injury to the 

 trees. In fine you may plant almorit any thing a- 

 mong your trees, and they will grow quite as fast 

 as they should grow, provided always you keep up 

 good tillage. 



On the first of October in the fourth year we 

 will call on you — in case you took your trees from 

 our nursery- — and help you pick half a dozen bar- 

 rels of winter apples from an acre of trees. If this , 

 happens not to be a bearing year we shall wait one 

 j'ear longer, and then give you a friendl}' call and 

 see that you have appointed some tjco feggcd animal 

 to trim in preference to such as sometimes, for want 

 of proper instruments, cut a little too close and do 

 not leave the body quite so smooth as it might be 

 left with a knife. 



Destroy your Meeds, 



Every farmer should be up and doing, be active 

 and vigilant. in waging a war of extermination, a- 

 gainst weeds of every name and nature, from the 

 Canada thistle to the insignificant chickweed, that 

 is sucii a grievous annoyance in our garden. l( 

 you have not had time to rid every part and por- 

 tion of your premises, around your buildings, and 



