30 



FARxMERS' RlilGISTER, 



[No. 1. 



there was no indications sufficient to justify the 

 expenditure of even a sinfjie dollar. 



it is believed that in the valley of the Hudson 

 alone, enonjih had been expended in fruitless 

 mining enterprises to defray the whole ex[)ense of 

 the rrcoiocpical survey. 



The landholder and farmer are perhaps more 

 interested in the invesliirations of creoloirv than 

 any other classes of the community, and it is a 

 matter of jrreat iniporlance to them to estimate 

 correctly, not only the ngrhultural value, but the 

 mineral ivcalih of their lands. 



The farmer, perhaps, may suppose, that frp^'o- 

 flical inveslioation and science have little to do 

 with airriculture : if so, he is in error. The exam- 

 ination of soils, (which except they v/ash from 

 hills, fivers, &.c. result fron) the decomposition of 

 the subjacent materials,') is one of the most impor- 

 Tant of all the economical applications of •jeolonry. 

 The applications of ffcolofrical science have not un- 

 frequetuly converted barren wastes and sfatrnant 

 marshes into fruitful fields. Examples have been 

 into so numerous that it is deemed unnecessary to 

 mention any in this brief sketch. 



In reirard to the economical application of (jeoi- 

 ogy to the agricidtural iMterests* of the first jreoio- 

 gical district; I must beo; leave to refer to the "Ge- 

 oloi'icai Ref)ort," which will be published tmderlhe 

 authority of the lefjislature, as it would be improper 

 lor me to mention ihem before its appearance. In 

 that report, this and other subjects coimected 

 with agriculture, are discussed more extensively 

 than is practicable while preparino; this hasty arti- 

 cle : numerous suggestions have been made in re- 

 gard to improved methods of cuhivation, and new 

 manures, and varied application of those now in 

 use have been recommended. 



Although our soils now yield millions to our 

 Hirmers, yet, they are capable of much higher 

 cultivation; and our deposites of ores, salt, gvp- 

 sum, limestones, marbles, irranites, peat, marl, &c. 

 productive as fliey already are, have scarcely he- 

 gun to yielil their rich and productive harvests. 

 Comparatively few of their localities have yet 

 been brought to the view of the public eye. 



A knowledge of some of the applications of ge- 

 ology are of the highest importance to the enizi- 

 neer in the construction and location of public 

 works, such as roads, bridges, aqueducts, canals, 

 rail roads, public edifices, fiirlifications, breakwa- 

 ters, &c. 



The applications of geology are of so great eco- 

 nomical importance to every class of our citizens, 

 that it is not only hoped that such a knowledge of 

 this subject as will be practically useful nuiy be 

 generally diffused through the community, by 

 means of our schools, academies, and collerres ; 

 but that a department will be created in the pro- 

 posed agricultural college or school, in which the 

 applications of chemistry, mineralosy, geology, 

 &c. to agricidture, miniufr, metallurgy, and the 

 arts, shall be thoroughly and systematically 

 taught. 



I have mentioned metalhu-gy, mining and the 

 arts in connection with the applications of the 

 science, because, it is mainly owing to improve- 

 ments made in them, that asriculture, civilization, 

 and the arts have progressed to their present im- 

 proved slates. 



New York has made a more liberal appropria- 

 tion for the objects of the geological survey than 



any other state, aud if the results he worth any 

 thing to tlie community, they will be of infinitely 

 more value than the amount expended, and it is 

 probable that the revenues arising from the addi- 

 tional transport on our rail roads and canals, will, 

 in a sincle year, more than compensate for the 

 whole appropriation. 



In preparing this article, I have had time onlyto 

 glance, without much order, at a lew of the 

 many important advantatres which will result from 

 the geological survej'; but it is confidently be- 

 lieved, that if be carried on with that minuteness 

 of detail, which is necessary to the developement 

 of our rich and varied resources, as great an im- 

 pulse will be given to the ireneral uiterests of the 

 state, as has been by the Erie canal; and New 

 York, in this project, as will as in that, will have 

 the credit of having been guided by the most lib- 

 eral and enlarged views of state policy, and of 

 having set an example vyorthy of" imitation by 

 others. 



Resolved, That the thnnlcs of tlii= convention 

 be tendered to Messrs. Mather, and Hall, lor their 

 report, and that a copy be requested for publica- 

 tion. 



LONG CONTIXCKn VITALITY OF SEEDS. 



It was mentioned in lS.j4 that in a body found 

 on opening the ancient British tumidus, near 

 Maiden Castle, there was a mass of seeds discove- 

 red in the viscera; they have been set by Professor 

 Lindley, who has reared several filants of common 

 raspberry, now bearing fine fruit. This proves 

 that this plant was known at a very early period 

 ill England. — Dorset Chron. 



For tlio Farmers' Register. 

 REMARKS ON MR. VENAELe's FARBI. 



There is no more beautiful or more fertile part 

 of Virginia, than the valleys of the two rivers, Dan 

 and Staitnton. As [\x\- as my inliirmation and ob- 

 servation extend, the flat land of Stmuiton is su- 

 perior to the flat land ol Dan ; but the tributaries 

 of Dan, particularly those that discharge them- 

 selves in the upper jiart of Halifax county, and the 

 circumjacent high lands, are more fertile than the 

 high lands of Staunton. 1 hope to be able at a 

 future day, to give the readers of the Register some 

 account of several planting districts on these fine 

 rivers; but will now content myself with giving a 

 brief account of the management of a single farm, 

 lying in the county of Charlotte, on Staunton 

 river. 



Mr. Richard N. Venable's plantation is adjoin- 

 ing, and in full view of the road that leads to Coles' 

 ferry. It is in the midst of a very fertile country, 

 and surrounded by some of the plantations be- 

 longing to Mr. James Bruce, Sen'r., of Halifax. 

 The low grounds of Staunton are here so level 

 and extensive, that the traveller has under view 

 several |)lantations on either side of the road, em- 

 bracing an extent of at least four or five thousand 

 acres of flat land. Most of these lands, notwith- 

 standing their original fertility, (being capable in 

 their virgin state of producing twenty barrels ol 

 corn to the acre,) afewj'ears back, were so exhaust- 

 ed, as to produce generally Irom six to ten. But a 

 spirit of improvement begins to show itself among 



