1S37] 



F A il M E R S' R E G I S T K R , 



543 



these new varieties may supply the desideratum, 

 is a quosiion ot" intense intcrcsi, iuid merits the 

 most prompt, and earnest invosliixation: I have 

 purchased some small parcels for experiment, and 

 ehafi he enabled, at the next aututtmal exhibition, 

 flir I lie Eastern Shore of Maryland, to be held at 

 Easion, to report liie result. 



The hope ol" a chan<re of climate, propitious to 

 our winter wheat, is delusive and irroundless. 



The extent of our continent, and its connection 

 with the polar circle by a vast chain of hiirh lands, 

 have fixed upon us a climate of excessive rigor and 

 nmtability; when the continent of Europe, sepa- 

 rated from these arctic re<rions by an ocean, enjoys, 

 in the same parallels of latitude, a climate more 

 temperate and more equable; and it is nmch to be 

 apprehended from well known physical causes, 

 that the excessive character of our climate will in- 

 crease, rather than diminish. 



The fellincr of our forests and the cultivation oC 

 our lands, a? Mr. Lyell, and others have inliirred. 

 and the well known principles of philosophy teach 

 us, will allow a copious absorption of heat, under 

 our nearly vertical sun; which, radiated into the 

 Titmosphere, will rarity it, and bring in upon us an 

 influx of the condensed, freezing currents of the 

 norlhern mountains; and, the transilions from heat, 

 to cold, will probably become more frequent, more 

 sudden, and more considerable, in the direct ratio 

 of those causes, which are progressive. 



The same authorities too, teach us, and the gen- 

 eral principles of mettrorology su|)port the doctrine, 

 that forests have the effect of promoting rain: they 

 cool and condense the atmosphere around them; 

 which, minnfling with the aerial currents flying 

 over them, arrests their progress, and supplies us 

 with genial showers, that otherwise might have 

 passed in vapor. 



From these considerations, it, would seem too 

 clear to be questioned, that our climate will not im- 

 prove; but, on the contrary, will become more ex- 

 cessive, and the mean temperature, lowered — our 

 winters more rigorous — our summers more subject 

 to intense heat, and frequent drought, and wind; 

 and the fluctuations greater than formerly, or at 

 present. 



Hence, the necessity to summon fortitude — and, 

 by future wisdom, economy, and perseverance, to 

 expiate our past follies — adopting the golden mot- 

 to, 'ne cede 7nalis, sed contra, andentior itoJ 



Under a conviction of this truth, and fi'om re- 

 peated abortive attempts with the old routine, I 

 have made the experiment of many new crops — 

 and I regret to acknowledge I have not yet ac- 

 complished my views; yet, I have the consolation, 

 that by the detection of many errors, I have ad- 

 vanced so many steps to my final purpose. 



A cotton crop which 1 continued three years, 

 produced, on the second, a strong hope of success, 

 yielding twent3'-five thousand pounds of seed cot- 

 ton, from thirty acres; the third crop, on seventy 

 acres, was almost a total failure; the texture was 

 fine, and it commanded a better price than the 

 upland southern; yet I found it too precarious for 

 profit. 



An experiment, a few years past, with hemp, 

 was flattering. I have no doubt, that in our low 

 black lands, the hemp crop would be a valuable 

 acquisition. 



I have, this season, grown the sugar beet — the 

 white Silesian, and have a large product of fine 



roofs which I contemplate manuti^cturinc, when I 

 receive niy mill, which is coniracted l()r — having 

 prepared all the other necessary implements. A 

 laithfiil report will be made of the result. 



Upon a liiir trial of the shipping bean, which 

 had been highly commended, I experienced almost 

 a total tiiilure — under the most favorable circum- 

 stances, it did not pay costs. 



An experiment with the palma chrisli, convin- 

 ced me, thouirh the growth was fine, that the 

 tediousness of the gathering was nearly equivalent 

 to the product of the crop, and I have denounced 

 it, as interruptinir more lime than it is worth. 



Mv crops of Spanish tobacco, from seed directly 

 from Cuba, which I have, lor the last two years, 

 extended, in the growlh and manufacture, to a 

 lame amount, have far exceeded my most sanguine 

 expeclalions, in respect to both quality and num- 

 ber — the impediment to this crop arises from the 

 difficulty of obtaining the seed, annually, (which 

 is essential,) from its native soil and clime; in 

 which, 1 have been disappointed, eight years in 

 the last ten, either l)y the failure of the orders for 

 it, or by its not vegetating, when received. 



I have a finv thousand mulberry stocks, multi- 

 caulis and white Italian, yet too young for the 

 worm, without injury to their grow'h. This article, 

 ■with its manulacture, needs no comment — produce 

 it, and, pro tanio, you produce wealth — yet, with 

 arms folded, we invoke the aid of Hercules; un- 

 conscious of our own resources — of our own abili- 

 ties, to extricate the wheel. 



Some saccharine and farinaceous roots— pota- 

 toes — beets — parsnips — carrots— though not profit- 

 able for field culture, might occupy a few acres to 

 advantage, and would enable us to send to mar- 

 ket more of our Indian corn, which, for several 

 years, has been a scarce and costly article. 



The turnip, the ruta baga, and all its varieties. - 

 though its introduction into England, is said to 

 have made a memorable era in the agriculture of 

 that country, 1 hold to be the most worthless of the 

 cultivated roots. Its fibres are chiefly ligneous — 

 its juices, aqueous. Without meanuitj any disres- 

 pect to Its numerous eulogists, I might, fitly and 

 technically, term it a simple hydrate of wood. It 

 may answer the mechanical purpose of filling the 

 stomach, and enabling it to grapple the nutritive 

 matters received in it, and but little else. One of 

 the best analysts in England, Sir Humphrey Davy,. 

 reports the common turnip to contain only forty- 

 two parts of soluble, or nutritive matter, in one 

 thousand — the ruta baira but little more. 



In respect to the Indian corn, a crop of the first 

 magnitude, it may seem superfluous to make a re- 

 mark. Though well cultivated, on this shore, par- 

 ticularly, yet, it is a singular fact, that in the 

 northern states, where the climate cannot be so fa- 

 vorable to its growth as that of Maryland, their 

 crops are much more productive, yielding 80 to 

 100 bushels per acre, on lands of moderate capaci- 

 ty: when, on our f)est lands 30 to 40 is considered 

 a good field average — and one-half of this quanti- 

 ty IS more than an ordinary product. It follows, 

 tliat we are defective, in some material point. It 

 is possibly, in the sort that they excel us. I have 

 this year, tried three of their varieties — but will 

 say nothing decisively of them, until further ex- 

 periment. 



It is more probably, in the unnatural practice, 

 of stripping the blades, and cutting the tops, be- 



