326 



FARMERS' REGISTER-SEASON AND CROPS, 



^rm artificial cliffs on flat coasts, to restrain the 

 inroads of the sea. The stems of Andropogon 

 scha-nanthus, the leaves of Androjjogon citratum, 

 the roots of Androjiogon nardus, and the whole 

 plant of all the species of Anthoxanthuni, exhale 

 an aromatic odor, and possess slightly tonic pro- 

 perties. To conclude, the epidermis of grasses 

 has been found to contain a considerable quantity 

 of silex. 



bagby's thrashing machine. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



The drum of a wheat thrashing machine has 

 been lately invented, by a citizen of this county, 

 (James Bagby) which for its easiness of draught 

 and strength, and the rapidity and cleanness with 

 which it thrashes wheat, niakes it, in my opinion, 

 superior to anj' I have seen. The cost of this 

 drum is between sixty and seventy dollars, and 

 can be easily attached to the horse power of any 

 other machine. Tlie one I use is propelled by the 

 horse power of an old beating machine, and is 

 easily drawn by four horses. 



About a fortnight ago I made an experiment to 

 eee with what rapidity it thrashed wheat: the re- 

 sult was fifteen bushels in thirty minutes. No ex- 

 traordinary exertions were used, except to make 

 the mules by which it was drawn, walk a little 

 faster than their ordinary gait (as my horse power 

 did not give sufficient motion) and having a plenty 

 of wheat ready and applied to the machine to pre- 

 vent its waiting. Allowing ten working hours to 

 the day, this will make three hundred bushels 

 which this machine is capable of thrashing clean 

 from the straw in that time. I examined the straw 

 after it had passed through the machine, and very 

 little wheat remained: I could find but few grains 

 in a handful of straw. The wheat thrashed was 

 the red shuck, a smooth headed red wheat of 

 good quality. Another advantage which this ma- 

 chine possesses is, that the wheat and straw pass 

 off in diflerent directions; and its strength and du- 

 rability are such, that in my opinion, with care it 

 would not require any repairs for twenty years; 

 and its construction is so easily understood, that 

 almost any mechanic could then put it in order. 



As all improvements in implements of husban- 

 dry are of great importance to a farming commu- 

 nity, I concluded the public Avould be benefited by 

 making this machine known through the Farm 

 ers' Register. 



RICHARD G. MORRIS. 



Buckingham, ^ug. 26, 1834, 



REPORTS OF THE SEASON AND STATE OF 

 CROPS. 



Through all August drought was severely felt in 

 Lower and Middle Virginia, and part of North Caro- 

 lina: how much further correct information docs not 

 yet enable us to say. Some crops of corn were fa- 

 vored by abundant showers in time to save them: but 

 these favors were partial and few — and in general, the 

 crop of Lower and Middle Virginia h:is been greatly 

 injured. The long drought ended September 1st, 

 when a spell of rain commenced, but which was too 

 late to benefit any corn, except the few replanted, or 

 otherwise very late and immature stalks. The crop 



must be short of an average. In some neighborhoods 

 where the suffering has been less, it is expected tliat 

 the crop will be equal to that of last year. The price 

 througliout the year has been higher than usual — vary- 

 ing between .f 3 and $Z 75 in Petersburg — and higher 

 in the southern counties, which have received part of 

 their supply from Petersburg, by return loads of the 

 wagons which brought their wheat to market. 



A freshet of very unusual height is reported to have 

 inundated the rich and extensive lowlands of the 

 Roanoke, early in September. No particulars of this 

 visitation have reached us — but it must have caused 

 g^reat destruction. 



The reports of the amount of the wheat crop in 

 Lower Virginia, have varied greatly indifferent places 

 — but no correspondent has spoken of the quantity be- 

 ing equal to an average, while others have counted the 

 crop of their neighborhood not much more than half 

 of an average for the land. The quality of the grain 

 is excellent every where. In the mountain region of 

 Virginia, the crop was very abundant. 



The cotton crops of the South were as promising as 

 could be desired previous to the commencement of 

 drought in August: it is not known yet whether any 

 considerable loss has been sustained from that cause. 



The drought in Lower Virginia made land generally 

 so hard as to prevent fallowing in August, and that 

 operation will be much more backward than usual — 

 and it may be inferred, less perfectly performed. 



The rainy spell of the first week of September, was 

 very destructive to the early gathered corn fodder — and 

 a second spell of showers and cloudy weather which 

 began on the 17th, and has continued with but little in- 

 termission to the 24th, will be not less injurious to the 

 latter gathering. 



Rockbridge, August 19. 



You can do nothing at this time, that will more 

 promote the interest of this, and (as I believe) of 

 every other section of our state, than to urge on 

 the James River and Kenhawa improvement. 

 From last Riclimond quotations, Avheat is worth 

 115 to 125 cents, whilst here an article of better 

 quality will only bring 75 cents, and no purchases 

 at that sum for any considerable quantity. 



The wheat crop is good, and the quality better 

 than usual. We are now sufii^ring under a very 

 severe drought. The corn crop must be cut short 

 one-third or perhaps one-half. I have cut com 

 the last of September, and the blades not more 

 injured than they are now on many farms. 



New Store, Buckingham, 28th August, 1834. 



I see from your Register, accounts from many 

 parts of the country of the present crop. This 

 neighborhood has and is now suffering very much 

 for want of rain: we have had little or none for 

 almost six weeks, and every thino; is literally burn- 

 ing up. The fodder in many fields has burnt to 

 the tassel, and corn could be but little benefited 

 by rain now — it might be made heavier, but gen- 

 erally the substance is too far gone. That which 

 was planted in good land early, is very fine; but 

 the common high land will yield nothing. A 

 portion of this county has not suffered mucli, and 



