FARMERS' REGISTER— FARMING IN NORFOLK COUNTY, &c. 



247 



coaraiERciAL report. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



Sir — Your unexpected call for a communication 

 at an hour's notice, must plead an excuse for 

 greater imperfection than usual, and brevity will 

 consequently be arecommendaiion. 



In the months of August and September, wheat 

 is in V^irghiia the most important article of com- 

 merce. 'I'he competition which existed among 

 the millers, as noticed in July, was of short dura- 

 tion, but attended with very advantageous results 

 to the iarmers. During the present month the 

 price has been gradually but slowly declining, and' 

 ^1 10 |5er bushel is now an extreme price — ij>l 00 

 to.Sl 05 may in general be more correctly quoted, 

 and some of the millers expecting a greater de- 

 cline, show no disposition to extend their purchases 

 beyond their immediate wants. 



The productiveness of the wheat crop in Vir- 

 ginia falls greatly short of the expectations of the 

 most reasonable farmers. If I am wrong in esti- 

 mating the deficiency at 25 to 35 per cent, no one 

 is more competent to correct me than yourself 

 The price of wheat in all our Atlantic markets is 

 nearly or quite as low as in Virginia, and not the 

 slightest cause exists at present to induce the ex- 

 pectation of any European demand. How can it 

 be expected when the price of grain in the Baltic 

 is much below ours? Cargoes of wheat are there 

 contracted for, deliverable on board ship, at 23s. 

 sterling per quarter of 560 lbs. or about 2s. 6d. per 

 60 lbs. A decline, rather than an ad\Tince in the 

 prices of grain may be anticipated. 



The current rates of cotton and tobacco have not 

 varied this month. The cotton crop of the United 

 States grown last year is ascertained to be about 

 1,200,000 bales, of which 1,000,000 have been ex- 

 ported to Eurojie since September last. The pre- 

 vious year (1832) produced 1,070,000 bales, of 

 which 867,500 were exported to Europe. That 

 so great an increase of supply should not have 

 caused a proportionate reduction in the value, 

 proves the flourishing state of the manufacture in 

 Europe — but the diminished supply from other 

 countries must also be taken into the account. 



The inspections of tobacco m Virginia, thus far, 

 prove about 3000 hhds. less than last year, but the 

 export will not shoiv a similar deficiency, as the 

 quantity manulacmred at home the present year 

 is much less than usual. The low price of grain 

 in Holland, &c. has no doubt caused a considera- 

 ble increase in the cultivation of tobacco there and 

 elsewhere in Europe, and it is evident that the 

 Kupplies required from this country are much 

 smaller than formerly. 



The pressure for monej" which existed during 

 the winter and spring has ceased, and its removal 

 may be readdy accounted for. The immense 

 sums which were required to make advances to 

 the Western and Southern planters and merchants, 

 the still larger ones necessary to meet the purchase 

 of the crops of cotton, sugar and tobacco, have 

 generally reverted to the sources fi'om whence 

 they Avere obtained. Bills which were drawn at 

 the South have reached maturity and been paid by 

 bills on Europe. The commercial wheel has per- 

 formed its revolution. At this moment the m.er- 

 chant finds no active and extensive use fijr his 

 funds. Every one engaged in commerce must 

 have observed that the months of August and 



September are holiday times with the merchanta 

 of the large cities, their period of recreation at 

 watering places, or other resorts for health or plea- 

 sure. 



Stocks generally have risen, and exchange also, 

 owing to the temporary abundance of money, and 

 to the recent change in the legal \ alue of gold, aa 

 noted in my last communication. 



Exchange on London is 106 — Virginia Bank 

 Stock 106— Farmers' Bank 102— United States' 

 Bank Stock 110. x. 



.August 19, 1834. 



THE FOREST PRUPJER S GOLDEK RULES. 



No branches to be cut off which do not interfere 

 with the leader; no wound, thus or otherwise made, 

 to be larger than an inch in diameter; and no prun- 

 ing in autumn. — Gardener'' s Magazine. 



FARMIjVG in NORFOLK COUNTY. 



To the Editor of the Fanners' Kegister. 



White Plains, Norfolk County, July 1, 1834. 



I have read each number of your very valuable 

 periodical with increased delight, and must con- 

 tinue to do so, so long as it is a source of such 

 useful information to the farmer. We need veiy 

 much a work of the kind in this county, to guide 

 us in our agricultural pursuits. We know noth- 

 ing here from experience- Our old men are no- 

 vices, and our young men the hopeless victims of 

 lumber getting. VVe are infatuated with that 

 potent tempter, and many hug their chains with 

 enthusiastic delight. It will require some power- 

 ful means to break the spell, and I would to God 

 that the Register might be the talisman. Though 

 this biLsiness has threatened our highly favored 

 county with destruction, yet we hope that the 

 growing intelligence of the community, and the 

 melancholy experience of past time, will cause us 

 to rise in the majesty of our strength, and assert 

 our claims to character and respectability in the 

 agricultural world. I have persuaded many of 

 my neighbors to subscribe to your Register, and 

 the success that I have met with has not left me 

 without hope. If we can get our farmers awake 

 to their best interest, we have every thing to hope 

 and nothing to fear: for our lands are onlj- excelled 

 by the western soil. They are well adapted to all 

 kinds of artificial grasses, for we have never at- 

 tempted to grow any kind, but our success has 

 exceeded our most sanguine expectations; and as 

 far as my limited experience will allow me to 

 judge, plaster and lime take very Aveli on our high 

 sandy lands, by a judicious course of management. 

 I would here give you some account of our system 

 of cultivation, but the modes are almost as much 

 diversified as the farmers are numerous. There 

 is no fixed mode among us; and each follows his 

 own as the best. My plan has been partly upon 

 the drill system: fast, to fallow the land with a 

 single horse plough as early in the spring as the 

 season will allow, in lands five feet wide and plant 

 the corn in the riilges, (if the land is high and not 

 likely to be inundated with water, to run a small 

 furrow on the top of the ridge, but if low and 

 springy, no furrow,) and plant the corn two feet 

 a part, with four grains in each place, (though 

 but one is to stand to secure if possible a level crop) 

 the corn being first mixed with tar, Bulphur, and 



