128 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 2 



enhanced in price,) our lands alone may be expected 

 to rise, after sustaining, slightly and transiently, a de- 

 cline of price at the present time, when the fall in 

 other things is great, and will be permanent. But 

 while all other things, as our slaves, crops, stocks, Stc, 

 were enhanced by the spirit of speculation, that same 

 spirit was directed so strongly to western lands, that it 

 actually depressed our lands far below their true value. 

 Thus, where no improvements had been made, land 

 was lower than at any previous time — and where im- 

 provements had actually advanced the prices of lands 

 (as certainly has been done in the marled parts of 

 lower Virginia,) still the increase was not a fourth of 

 what would have appeared if there had not ope- 

 rated a general decline of price in all lands. Thus, 

 the land that has been doubled in its gross products, 

 and ought thereby to have been more than quadrupled 

 in value, has perhaps not gained 20 per cent, in mar- 

 ket price. The extraneous and luinous influence of 

 western speculation being now n:'arly removed, must 

 serve gradually to cause lanc4s to l^e estimated by their 

 own value, and not by comparison with a fancied El 

 Dorado, to be found in Mississippi or in Texas. 



From the CBiitisli) Mining Jounal. 

 STEAM CARUIAGKa O'S COMMON ROADS. 



Mr. Walter Hancock, accompanied by a party 

 of gentleman interested in meclianicnl inveniions, 

 started on Friday the 21st., in 'Hhe Automaton/' 



from the City-road to Epping. This line ol road 

 was selected by Mr. Hancock on account of ils 

 being, lor the distance, the moet hilly and uneven 

 out of the metropolis. On arrivi.ug at Woodford, 

 Mr. Hancock stopped the carriage, where he pro- 

 cured a fresh supply of water. After remain- 

 ing for nearly a quarter of an hour; he again start- 

 ed at a rapid pace, and having ascended Buck- 

 hurst-hill at the rate of seven and a half miles an 

 hour, entered Epping amidst the loud cheers ot 

 thousands who were collected in the town, it be- 

 ing market-day. The party returned to town ; 

 and the whole journey, notwithstanding the dis- 

 advantages before mentioned, was performed on 

 the average of eleven and a half miles an hour. 



SEASON AND STATE CF CROPS. 



To this time, the spring has been generally and un- 

 usually cool — and therefore unfavorable to the germi- 

 nation and first growth of corn. Drought has also pre- 

 vailed, and very injuriously to oats and clover especial- 

 ly, until within the last ten days, in which time rains 

 have been both abundant and general. The wheat 

 crops were rapidly improving, and promised much bet- 

 ter than at our last report; but since then, the injuries 

 from the Hessian fly, whose visitation we had hoped 

 to escape this year, have become, in many places, ma- 

 nifest to an alarming extent — and it is now said, tha-t 

 on some farms, the crops of wheat, from this cause, 

 added to those previously operating, will fail almost as 

 completely as was the case generally last year. 



Table of Contents of Warmers'^ Mcgister, Jlo. 2, W*ol, Fi 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Page. 



Bridges and abutments, - - - - 72 



The means of making large quantities of ma- 

 nure, and the proper manner of applying it, 77 

 Hedges — Osage orange, - - - - 86 



Easy means to prevent the^avage of black 



weevil, ------- 37 



Diking in Charlotte county, - - - 116 



Kesults of emigration to the west, - - - 117 



Rotatory steam engine, - - - - 117 



Remarks on the soil and cultivation of part of 



the county of Halifax, - - - - 117 



Abundance of resources for manure, and for the 



improvement of the soil, - - . - i22 

 Specimen of the puff-editorial, and the maimer 



m which such are generally supplied, - - 12.3 



Monthly commercial report, - - . - 126 



Prospects of agriculture of Virginia, - - 127 



Season and state of crops, .... 128, 



SELECTIONS. 



Report to the House of Representatives of the 



United States on silk, .... 65 



Cultivation of spring wheat, - - - . 72 



Food for silkworms, 72 



Entomology — Habits of, and remedies for the 



cut-worm and the fruit curculio, . - 74 



A prairie on lire, 76 , 



Page. 



Important experiments with canal boats at high 



velocities, ... - - - 79 

 Observations ni several voyages and travel sin 



America, (extracts from"an old publication, >' 81 



Introduction of turnip husbandry in England, 85 



A new construction of railways, . - . , S7 

 Enactments during the last session of the legis- 

 lature of Virginia, aiding canals, railways, 



roads, &,c. ...... 87 



A new oleaginous plant, . . Hi) 



Bone manure, ...... 90 



Bread as food for cattle and horses, - - 90 



Use of human bones, ,')0 



Water tanks, 80 



Full directions for the manufacture of beet root 



sugar, 91 



Great agricultural dinner at Markethill. Im. 



proveinents by small farmeis, ... loi 

 The patent retarder, or improved drag for car- 

 riages, . -, 106 



Old English fare, ' . . . - . 107 

 Extension of beet sugar culture in Europe, . 107 

 General lemarks on the improvements and pros- 

 pects of British Agriculture, . - - 107 

 Management of the horse, .... 109 

 Impregnation of plants, .... 120 

 Facts worthy of consideration, . - - 123 

 Improvement of agriculture in Maryland, - 124 

 Salt marsh hay lor manuie, - - . - 125 

 Steam carriages on common roads, - . 128 



