190 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



[No. 



pressed to us — and therefore we the more value this 

 frank reproof, and regard it as the act of a friend. But, 

 in the same spirit of frankness, we mean to defend our 

 course, where we deem our correspondent's censure 

 misapplied. 



It may not be so plain to other readers, as to us, from 

 priorknowledgeof our friend's views, that one opinion 

 -of ours which he refers to, and dissents from, is the pro- 

 jyriety and necessity of the knowledge and improvement of 

 ■agriculture being promoted by legislative enactments and 

 bounty. Our views on this subject have been so often 

 urged on the public, that it is unnecessary to say any 

 thing of them here; but, in future, believing that all ex- 

 pectations of such aid from the legislature of Virginia are 

 altogether desperate, our jsrac/ZcaZ course will hereafter 

 agree very nearly with our friend's; that is, we shall 

 certainly never again as/c of the legislature any thing of 

 this kind, which he would continue strenuously to op- 

 pose. 



Next, as to the manner of filling our pages. If we 

 were to please our correspondent by republishing many 

 entire, though valuable books, we should certainly dis- 

 please the greater number of all other readers. The 

 most intelligent and curious, and zealous agriculturists, 

 would probably possess most of these works already — 

 and most others would not care to read them. For our 

 own part, such a plan would relieve us of much labor 

 and care; and it would also be deemed of value to the 

 public, if confined to valuable works, either out of 

 print, or very rare in this country. Such a case is 

 presented in one of the works above named (Davy's 

 Agricultural Chemistry,) for a republication of which, 

 with the additions and alterations required by the pro- 

 gress of chemical and agricultural discovery, arrange- 

 ments have already been made. 



But as this kind of matter would lessen our labor, so 

 the other course recommended would incalculably in- 

 crease it. We now are oppressed with the multipli- 

 city of duties, made necessary by the want of that 

 proper division of labor, and combination of effort, of 

 different individuals, so requisite for the whole busi- 

 ness of a publication like this; and we are ready to 

 acknowledge that confinement to mechanical and of- 

 fice drudgery, leaves far too little time for the proper 

 performance of the more important editorial duties. 

 And how much greater would be the deficiencies, if 

 the mass of matter usually presented, was attempted to 

 be refined, condensed, and reduced to its best and most 

 valuable parts, and presented in new language? The 

 Penny Magazine probably has its editorial and me- 

 chanical and business departments sustained by the 

 combined abilities of fifty individuals, each carefully 

 selected for his particular duties — and the expense of 

 this labor is supported by the money of more than 

 100,000 purchasers of the work. We need not con- 

 trast with this, the comparatively small support, pecu- 

 niary and literary, afforded to the Farmers' Register. 



But this is not all. Many readers might object to 

 have thrown aside what our correspondent considers 

 as mere "chaff," and might often value it more than the 

 few "grains of wheat" which either he or we might save 



from the winnowing process. Opinions, instructions, 

 and even statements of facts, which one reader might 

 highly value, might by another be held in supreme 

 contempt. How then, could any individual, if an huu' 

 dred-fold more highly gifted than we can dare pretend 

 to be, decide on what would be most pleasing, or most 

 useful to readers? It is necessary, in an agricultural jour- 

 nal, to admit all opinions from respectable sources, and 

 leave readers to judge of their comparative worth. 



In our correspondent's opinion of the ill effects pro- 

 duced by "paper banks" in this country, we can hear- 

 tily concur — and fear that the damage yet to come is 

 even greater than that which the country has alreari)^ 

 endured. But, our concurrence never can extend to the. 

 effects of "marl banks" — and we are curious to learn, 

 and should be glad to have for publication, the grounds 

 on v/hich he builds his opinions. We know that he 

 resides in a county where some of the greatest benefits 

 of marling have been realized — at least, such is the be- 

 lief of our correspondent's intelligent neighbors, who 

 have had enough faith in its value to try the use of 

 marl. If it is possible that we are all wrong who believe 

 that we have greatly improved our lands, increased our 

 annual profits, and the permanent value of our estates, 

 by marling — and especially for some of us who have been' 

 nearly twenty years under this delusion — it is very im- 

 portant that the correction should be afforded by our 

 friend, aTid we earnestly hope that he will not withhold, 

 from the public his views on this subject — which we 

 are very sure that he will never change. 



Philadelphia, June 24, 1837. 



For the last two or three weeks, we have had con- 

 stantly showery weather, occasionally hot, but ge- 

 nerally cool. Unless a favorable change takes 

 place soon, there is reason to fear much hay will' 

 be damaged. All that is cut, will of course, be- 

 more or less so; and that which remains uncut will 

 soon begin to receive injury, I tear. 01' course I 

 allude to clover — timothy not being as yet fit la 

 cut. The weather is very favorable ibr the oat crop; 

 but I entertain fears that it may prove injurious to 

 the wheat. 



Potatoes, generally, look very well, and the corn 

 is of a good color. If not too late Ibr your next 

 number, urge in it the attention of your readers to 

 the growth of ruta-baga. July is witli us the 

 proper season for sowing them. The culture of 

 turnips is gradually extending over several dis- 

 tricts in our state and New Jersey. Where a 

 knowledge of the real value of the crop is princi- 

 pally obtained, there is little or no danger of its 

 culture being abandoned or neglected. On a part 

 of Mr. W 's crop last year, there was a mani- 

 fest advantaffe resulting from the application of a 

 small quantity of lime, say about ten or twelve 

 bushels per acre. It was spread on the ground 

 after the seed was sown, ^being in a well slaked 

 state, fine powder, it was spread evenly from the 

 tail of a cart with a shovel. 



My impression was that on the part where used, 

 the weight of turnips was 50 to 75 per cent, great- 

 er than where none was applied. 



I thought an increased quantity, say 18 to 20 

 bushels would have produced a greater effect — but 

 this is mere matter of opinion. 



