FARMERS' REGISTER— DWELLINGS AND CLOTHING OF SLAVES. 703 



da3's — f?ay eight, or ten — into a solid substance or 

 etonc, as impenetrable almost as granile, and sus- 

 ceptible oi" a beautiful polish. It is, apparently, 

 chie.ly of a calcareous nature, or like the hardest 

 kind of marble. Any color may be {]fiven to it; 

 and it not only defies, but actually acquires great- 

 er density and solidity, and less brittleness, under 

 the changes of the atmosphere. He h^is obtain- 

 ed aseries of patents — and at Calskill, recently was 

 built, as a specimen, tlic wall of a small edifice 

 eigiit (eet high, which in eight days — recalling to 

 mind the lidile of JNledusa — was perfectly pefr//icrf 

 Avith its door, windows, &c., all of which is lesiifi- 

 ed to by the owner to us personally, and by the 

 certificate of the judges of the county and the 

 principal citizens of the place. It is impossible to 

 foresee the consequences of such a discovery. It 

 surpasses, without doubt, all other cements; and 

 the material is so chea|), that entire houses, of 

 any shape or dimensions, fortifications, catials, 

 acjueducts, &c. may be thus built up in a lew days, 

 which would utterly supersede brick and stone, 

 and ellect a complete revolution in architecture. 

 What will not art yet imitate and accomplish? 



For the Farmers' Register. 



HINTS IN RELATIOIV TO THE DWELI^INGS AND 

 CLOTHING OF SLAVES. 



In the construction of negro houses it is desira- 

 ble to combine thorough ventilation with the re- 

 quisite warmth. The ibllowing suggestion may 

 contribute somewhat to that object. Let the un- 

 der plank of the boxing at the ends of the joists be 

 furnished with hinges, so as to hang loosely ofi*' 

 from the house in summer, and occasionally, in 

 mild weather in winter; and at other times to be 

 hoisted and fastened by bolts placed at suitable 

 distances along the inner edge. This pendent lid 

 will not admit rain, and yet alTbrd a- circulation of 

 air between the joists, the spaces between which 

 should be left open — thus relieving the room from 

 foul air, which being specifically lighter than that 

 of the atmosphere, ascends. Candor, however, 

 requires it to be stated that in too many of our ne- 

 gro-quarters it is wholly unnecessary to resort to 

 this extraordinary method of admitting fresh air. 



On southern estates of much magnitude it is 

 impossible to employ, advantageously, all the fe- 

 males within doors; and besides, with care, wo- 

 men are well adapted to nmch of the labor of the 

 farm. It behooves us, however, to make them as 

 comfortable as possible; and a large cape of knapped 

 cotton, or some stouter material, descending half 

 way between the elbow and the wrist, will be 

 found extremely conducive to that end. It should 

 be buttoned closely under the chin, but be loose in 

 front. It protects the neck and shotdders, other- 

 wise exposed; is easily put on and oflf', and but lit- 

 tle encumbers the arms when at work. 



A SOUTHRON. 



WASTE LANDS. 



It seems there are upwards of eight millions of 

 acres of waste lands in the Scotch and English 

 counties; or more probably, according to the wri- 

 ter, ten millions of acres, and four millions in Ire- 

 land. 



ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 

 AND THE IMPORTANCE OF LEGISLATIVE 

 AID TO THAT OBJECT. DESCRIPTION OP 

 THE SOUTH WEST MOUNTAIN LANDS. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Kegister. 



Charlttiesvilh, March 7, 1835. 



Sir — The Agricultural Society of Albemarle, 

 has adojned a resolution recjuiring one or more of 

 its members, at each annual tiiir, to present an 

 essay on some agricultural sidjject. I now send 

 you a copy of the first essay, in j)ursuance thereof, 

 read to the society on the 31st October last; to- 

 gether with Gov. Barbour's introductory remarks. 

 1 am directed by the society, to re(iuest their pub- 

 lication in the Farmers' Register. 



I am, with gi'eat respect, 



A. BROADHEAD, 



Secretary A. S. A. 



Gentlemen. — I avail myself of the occasion, to 

 ofler you my very sincere congratulation on the 

 past usefulness, and the present prosperity of our 

 society. While we have to regret the liiilure in 

 Vii-ginia, of so many attempts kindred to our own, 

 it is a subject of just pride to us, and particularly 

 to those who have per.'jevered from the beginning 

 of our institution, that ours has lived so long; and 

 instead of declining, furnishes at this time, in its 

 increase, a sure guarantee of its successful dura- 

 tion. 



Of its past usefulness, we of the society (whose 

 misfortune it is to be advanced in years) are swift 

 witnesses. Such of us can well remember the 

 barbarous system of cultivation that prevailed in 

 our )"outh, and the consequent desolation of our 

 lands which met us wherever we turned our eyes. 

 Behold now the vivid contrast — striking as be- 

 tween tht^ living and the dead. When I say this, 

 it is not idle vaunting, but founded in sober truth. 

 I am quite sure you will all respond to it affirma- 

 tively. The proof of its justness is furnished, not 

 only in the increase of our products, the gratifying 

 sjxjctacle of verdant fields in lieu of li-ightful wastes, 

 but in the testimony of our brother farmers, who 

 come from afar to profit of your agricultural know- 

 ledge, whose boundaries you have so much en- 

 larged. And although 1 am aware that other 

 causes may have contributed their influence in 

 producing the improvement which has ensued in 

 the country round about, and therefore it is iiTipos- 

 sible to assign with precision the exact quantum 

 to this society, yet none will hesitate to yield it a 

 large share. In exploring the causes whose result 

 has been so propitious, we are forcibly struck with 

 a iiict worthy of particular consideration — and that 

 is, the elevation of our calling in public opinion, 

 and the consequent influence upon the direction of 

 the intelligence of our people. Heretofore, the 

 learned professions, as they have been by courtesy 

 termed, absorbed almost the whole of that uitelli- 

 gence; drawing after them the flower of the land, 

 as being the only road to distinction, and the least 

 laborious method of acquiring wealth. The efii?ct 

 was to crowd to o\ erflowing these vocations. Hun- 

 dreds, in consequence, who might, by a proper 

 direction of their time and talents, have contributed 

 to the advancement of their country, became a 

 useless incumbrance. This evil begins to dimin- 

 ish, and in a good degree, from the elevation 



