1837] 



F A JIM E R S' U i: G I S T K R. 



379 



inor the skins, so that with the abundant and lonfi' 

 rains we liad at that tiine, they destroyed about 

 one halfofa very bcautilui crop ot ifrapes. Other 

 insects, as bees, wasps, &c., and birds, even that 

 beautiliil little one, the huiiuiiinii; bird, assisted the 

 "Junc-buir" in the work of destruction. 1 confess 

 I iirudirod tliem ihcir feast, except to the lovely 

 liiile one last mentioned, which did but hitle mis- 

 chief Indeed I was much amused to see how the 

 httie fellows sipped the nectar of the trrapes, which 

 1 never had observed them to do be(!jre. 



I must also say this much in (avorof the culture 

 of ihe rjrape — that I was much indisposed before 

 1 beixan to sj^ather ihem and make them into wine, 

 by which I underwent much faliijue. I did not 

 <ret quite sick, which I believe I should have been 

 under other circumstances. On the contrary, I 

 considerably improved in health, although there is 

 still much room for further improvement. You 

 will think, perhaps, by my verbositv and irarrulity, 

 tbat I am not now without some ftjver. Peihaps I 

 am not, l)ut I am certainly imder the influence of 

 liiliu'ue. But why should I write all this stuff 

 which can be of no interest to you or the readers 

 of your Rpgister? But I am not (joiner to criticise 

 my own letters, and therefore. I shall here stop 

 wrilinir if I can. 



In liealth, or otherwise, I assure you that I am 

 truly, my dear sii-. 



Very resnectflilly, 



Your obd''t. serv't. 



N. Herbemoivt. 



ColumMa, S. C, Sept. Vllh, 1S37. 



To tlie Editor of tlie Farmers- Register. 



I reirret. my dear sir, to be so troublesome to you, 

 but I beg vou will put up with an old man whose 

 head is easily confused, and has had ol" late a full 

 share of confision in it. 



The object of this is to request you will correct 

 some errors in the amounts of wine as stated in 

 my letter two or three days ago. It appears to 

 me that I have not been as accurate as proper, 

 particularly as when I wrote I had still a small vat 

 to press. I have since measured the casks which 

 1 filled, with a guaging rod, the accuracy of which 

 I have repeatedly tested. The iiillowing state- 

 ment is correct, and I beg you will correct by if 

 any difference which may be in that sent a lew 

 days since. 



I made at my f^irm called "Palmyra," 750 gals. 

 At my garden at home, - - - - 528 



In all, .----.-.. 1278 gals. 



That crop fvnm my garden, beinir only the sixlh 

 part of an acre, is enormous, being at the rate of 

 3168 gallons to the acre. A greater crop than 

 perhaps ever was made any where. At least I 

 never have seen any account of any more than 

 2000 gallons, which was considered exceedingly 

 great. iNline is a true and correct statement, wit- 

 nessed by several gentlemen of the first respecta- 

 bility. 



As to the product of the two vines mentioned, 

 the most accurate estimate which I can make of 

 it, makes it reach to the incredible amount of up- 

 wards of 170 gallons. I must leave it to stand at 



130 gallons to render the statement more credible. 



Very respectfully yours, 



N. IllORBEMONT. 



[Mr. Horbemont need not fear that any one will 

 suspect a false or designedly delusive statement in any 

 couiinunication subscribed by his name ; and there- 

 fore, and because the arithmetical coriections he re- 

 quests could not easily be made without altering the 

 language of bis first letter, we have thought it best to 

 print both ; the second serving to correct any errors of 

 quantity in the first. 



The quantity of wine produced by the two vines 

 alone, and by tlie vines on the two arbors, considered 

 in any point of view, shows an enormous product ; and 

 a result which must be highly gratifying and fincour- 

 agin"- to all who are prosecuting or design to com- 

 mence the culture of the vine. But we do not consider 

 tb.at the one-sixth of an acre on which the vines stood, 

 is all the land that fui nished to them nourishment. — 

 Their roots probably extended considerably beyond the 

 hmits of the enclosure ; and if not, their branches cer- 

 tainly did, and would have greatly injured the growth 

 of any grain crop planted beneath the shade or cover. — 

 En. Far. Reg] 



I''or tlie Fanners' Register. 

 ROTATION FOR SANDY SOILS. 



" Still let me country culture scan, 

 My farm my home — my brother, man — 

 And God is everywhere." 



In opposition to the plan proposed for the man- 

 agement of sandy lands by General Cocke, in the 

 transcript of his letter to you, published in this 

 mouth's Regisier, I would suggest one practised 

 here and elsewhere in the light lands of the east- 

 ern counties. 



It is a yearly alternation of corn and oats, ex- 

 cluding the hoof, and setting apart a portion of 

 ground (or pasturage, to which soiling and tether- 

 ing is superadded. The black pea is sowed to 

 much advantage with the oat crop, affording a 

 fine shelter to the land, and (if you choose) a 

 certainty of good mutton. 



Due attention is paid to manuring, (always on 

 the surface,) and limiuf? and marling is practised 

 to a laudable extent. Experiments are also mak- 

 inir in green sand, which is thought to abound in 

 this region. 



By planiino; the corn in squares, it is cultivated 

 advantageously, and with immense saving of 

 labor. The praiseworthy efforts of Mr. James 

 M. Garnett, of Essex,, have introduced amongst 

 us tiie twin or prolific corn, which has greatly 

 enhanced our crops ; and I take this opportunity 

 of awarding to an estimable and ineriloriotis in- 

 dividual, the tribute of my heartfelt thanks for his 

 untiring zeal in the cause of neglected agriculture. 



As an humble laborer in the same field, I 

 earnestly ask the attention of my agricultural 

 brelhern to this invaluable kind of corn. Testi- 

 monials of the most satisfactory character, are 

 daily proving its decided superiority to all other 

 corns. 



Under the course of management as related 

 above, our lands are improving, wnich they would 

 do under that mentioned by Gen. C. I suppose^ 

 but for the grazing ; and the fields lying out thus 



