183S] 



FA II M 10 RS' [IE (J I STi: U. 



197 



sure, and be perfectly protected from Avet and I 

 cold. These could c;o\ no Ibod except what 

 was given to (hem; and that was the same as was 

 given to the others, that is, one ear of corn lo each., 

 twice a day. Tiicy probably helped their ibod 

 somewhat liom the litter ofcorn-stalks and wheat- 

 straw, which I suppose were the kinds I'urnished 

 in part or in whole. The result was, that in 

 sprinrf, when the clover was fit to receive them, 

 the pen-fed hogs were in much the best condi- 

 tion. Some of the others, running at large, had 

 actually died, and alJihat hved were poor and 

 lousy. 



Now it must he admitted that the want of pre- 

 cision in fixing the quantities of food given, (though 

 designed to be equal, and supposed to be as near- 

 ly so as such mode of estimating permitted,) de- 

 tracts much from the otherwise very important 

 value of this experiment. Still, it can scarcely 

 be supposed that one who is so careful, and bo suc- 

 cessful, in his general management of hogs, could 

 have been much deceived in the details of this ex- 

 periment, in which, and in the apparent result of 

 which, he has entire confidence. It should be fur- 

 ther considered, that if cooked, varied and mixed 

 food, of roots and other vegetables, as well as 

 grain, had been given to the confined hogs, that 

 there is no question but their health and flesh 

 would have been better sustained, at equal or less 

 cost, than by corn alone. 



The hogs are all of a cross of the " no-bone" 

 breed upon the common kindj about hall-blood of 

 each, which is deemed preferable to the pure no- 

 bone stock. The front edge of the cartilage with 

 which hogs root into the ground, is trimmed ofij 

 which entirely stops their rooting. 



Having heard the products of this farm last 

 year (1837) spoken of as very considerable, by a 

 neighbor of" Mr. Sinclair's, I inquired of him par- 

 ticularly as to the amount made. The grain 

 crops were as Ibllows : 



1621 bushels of wheat, made on 80 acres, which 

 is at the rate of 20^ bushels to the acre: sold 

 at ^1 65 the bushel, (and counting reserved 

 seed at same,) amounted to - 1^2674 65 

 600 barrels of corn, from 75 acres, or 8 

 barrels to the acre, (of which ,300 bar- 

 rels were sold.) say at ,^3 25 (I ibrgot 

 to ask the actual price obtained,) '"- 1050 00 

 350 dollars worth of pork, lard, and bacon, 

 were also sold; but as the hogs were 

 partly fed on the corn above estimated, 

 I will count half their product as due 

 lo the corn, and tl\e other half to the 

 clover, gleanings of wheat field, and 

 the waste corn, not estimated above — 

 which is, - - _ - - 175 00 

 The smaller articles of product were not 

 noted; but the following, were supposed 

 to be within the amounts actually sold: 

 Butter ------ 90 00 



50 lambs at ^2 50 - - - . 125 00 

 13 grass mutton at ^3 - - - 39 00 



Whole value ^5053 65 



This is exclusive of sundry smaller products 

 sold, as poultry, &c. of which no estimate is made; 

 and of large ones, which though consumed at home, 

 are not less of value as products; as the fodder and 

 other oflbl parts of corn and other crops. Also 



the wool and cotton, produced at home, and from 

 which all the slaves are clothed, by spinninir and 

 weaving only in weather and liriu^s nnfil li)r field 

 labor. This usually very costly part oflarni man- 

 aL':ement (or its substitute, buying all the clothing,) 

 is gotten over easily and cheaply; but the credit lor 

 this, as well as (br nnich else of value in domestic 

 econon)y, is entirely due Jo Mrs. Sinclair, whose 

 aid has been throughout of very great im[)orlance 

 in improving the income of the Jarm. This I 

 may be excused for saying, as it is the report of 

 her neighbors. 



There were no calves sold for veal, last year, as 

 usual, (all being kept to increase the stock,) 

 which lessens the amount unfairly, as this is one 

 of the usual products of the farm. The year be- 

 fore, 1836, 15 calves were sold, at $5 each. 



Much the greater part of the above amount is 

 composed of sums received ibr sales actually 

 made; and the much smaller.part, only, was of 

 things consumed at home. The results will there- 

 fbre appear more striking, if the net amount of 

 actual sales is presented alone, as follows: 

 Deduct for seed, suppose 100 bushels of wheat, at 

 SI 65, leaves for market - - ,<i^2482 65 

 300 barrels of corn sold, (at price sup- 

 posed) 3 25 - - - - 975 00 

 Pork, bacon, and lard sold - - 350 00 

 Butter, lambs, and mutton, as stated 

 above 254 00 



84061 65 

 If it is further considered that there is nothing 

 to be taken from this sum to buy clothing for the 

 slaves, now increased, by purchase and births, to 

 40 in number, the net returns will appear still 

 more important. 



The laboring force on the farm is now that of 

 12 slaves. There are now 50 head of cattle, and 

 107 sheep. 



In all things essential to product, or for improve- 

 ment, the operations of Mr. Sinclair are well exe- 

 cuted; but in things not essential, and in every 

 thing having regard merely to appearance, it must 

 be confessed that he is a very careless and slovenly 

 fiirmer. Nevertheless, in mos} of these omissions, 

 held so important by all martinet farmers, I doubt 

 not that he has been justified, by the sure test of 

 the amount of net product. Still, some very 

 manifest exceptions are to be seen, in which nei- 

 ther economy nor convenience have been properly 

 consulted. 



To tlic Editor of tlio Farmers' Register. 



TROPICAL FinROUS-LEAVED PLANTS. 



Washington, D. U., 8th May, 1838. 



\ have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt 

 of No. 2 of your periodical of the 1st inst., and 

 hasten to send you some very small samples of 

 foliaceous fibres, or substitutes for common flax 

 and hemp, with the hope that they may excite 

 your minute attention towards the articles and 

 plates on the fibrous-leaved plants. Should you 

 visit Washington during the present session of 

 Congress, and examine the full specimens, now in 

 the committee-rooin at the capitol, and soon to be 



