1838] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



253 



piven, either for the benefit or the prostration of the 

 best interesls of the commonwealth. This may 

 be done in various modes; but only one will he 

 here specified, and recommended, as beini2;thc 

 most obvious, and the most intimately connecled 

 with the practical operaiions of" trade. This \s, to 

 increase the bankini; capita! of Virginia to tiie 

 amount rcquireii ibr the trade and business of tlie 

 state, and at tlie same time to reform the system 

 of bankinu, so as to guard as much as possible 

 against the strong tendency of all such institutions 

 to sacrifice the general interest of the country 

 whenever the se[)arate banking and stockholding 

 interest can be thereby benefited. The reforma- 

 tion of banking operations is required at least as 

 much as their extension; and both ought to be car- 

 ried through together. Heretofore, Virginia has 

 suH'ered her full share of the great evils of the 

 general banking policy and operations of all the 

 states, and has profited by but few of the advan- 

 tages which a full participation in the direction of 

 the operations would have secured to us, as they 

 have, and in a great degree at our expense and 

 loss, secured to the northern states. It is highly 

 expedient that Virginia should enjoy more of the 

 benefits o( the banking system, and be better se- 

 cured from its dangers and evils. Our state policy 

 heretofore has been to refuse the good helonsing 

 to, or to be drawn from banking, and to receive, 

 and submit to its worst evils, inflicted by the 

 hands of others over whom we had no control, 

 and whose gain was our loss." 



This amendment was rejected, ayes 21, noes 

 60 ; and the report was then adopted, together 

 with the following resolution. 



" Besolvp.d, That a vigorous and persevering 

 effort be made to build up and sustain a large and 

 increasing foreign import trade — that a committee 

 of merchants be appointed, to sit after the adjourn- 

 ment of the Convention, to prepare an address to 

 our fellow-citizens, unfolding the importance of 

 such a trade, and the ready capacity of Virginia 

 to obtain it — stating the support the trade will de- 

 rive from an increase of banking facilities, under 

 such restrictions and modifications as the wisdom 

 of the legislature may devise, and from an addition 

 to the banking capital, if the addition authorized 

 by the existing laws shall be lound, alter a suffi- 

 cient trial, to be inadequate to sustain and support 

 the various interests of the commonwealth — and 

 stating the aid the trade will derive from a judi- 

 cious system of internal improvements; and that 

 the legislature be respectfijlly requested to meet 

 the advances of any neighboring state, who may 

 have enacted laws to transport her products and 

 merchandise mto Virtrinia." 



would not hurt the corn ; that the sheep were pur- 

 posely kept in the field for the purpose of keeping 

 down the blue grass, &c. On further conversation, 

 he infirmcd us that sheep will never touch the 

 jjroen or growing corn plant; that they must be 

 very huntrry if they do, &c. Having seen the 

 sheep in his corn, and observed his undisturbed 

 manner on beino: informed of the fact, I could not, 

 of course, doubt the correctness of his theory ; but 

 I had never before known the fact, and thought 

 there must be many others ecjually ignorant. If 

 sheep will not only not injure the corn, but contri- 

 bute to its culture by destroying the grass, and 

 especially blue grass, I suppose it would be a 

 frreat object with all corn-planters to have large 

 flocks of them. I have mentioned the circum- 

 stance to several persons, who promise to try their 

 sheep in their corn-fields. Pray, sir, is this old or 

 new to you ? If the former, say nothing about it ; 

 if the latter, let your readers have it. 



Gideon B. Smith. 



JAUFFRET S NEW MANURE, 



The conductor of the Gardener's Magazine speaks, 

 in the May No., as follows of Jauffret's new manure, 

 of which several notices have been lately published in 

 the Farmers' Register. 



"We have obtained satisfactory information from 

 Paris respecting Jauffret's manure, and have also ex- 

 amined a heap of it prepared under the direction of 

 M. Lozivy, at Durnsfield Lodge, near Wandsworth. 

 The secret composition is given in detail in the Repei- 

 torij of Patent Inventions, No. 51, p. 166; and we 

 shall give it, with our opinion on the subject, and the 

 facts on which that opinion is formed, in our next 

 Number." 



SHEEP GRAZING AMONG GROWING CORN. 



To the Editor of the fanners' Register. 



Baltimore. June 20, 1838. 

 A few days since, I took a ride into the country 

 with a friend, and, on passing a farm about twelve 

 miles from the city, we observed a flock of sheep 

 quietly feeding in a corn-field. The corn was 

 about a foot high. Supposing we should be doing 

 the owner a service, we took speedy occasion of 

 informing him of it. He laughed, and said they 



SINGULAR DISCOVERY OF A SUBTERRANEAN 

 RIVER. 



A sincrular discovery was made in Blaen-y-nant 

 lead mines, near Mold, Flintshire, a few days 

 arro. The workmen at the end of one of the 

 levels were surprised, and obliged to run for their 

 lives, in consequence of an immense rush of water 

 suddenly bursting in upon them. After three 

 days the water totally disappeared; and, on cau- 

 tiously proceeding to the place, they found an 

 opening of about four inches diameter, through 

 which the water had issued. Hearing a sound as 

 of a heavy run of water inside, th^y enlarged the 

 aperture so as to admit of their pissing through, 

 and found that it was the bed of a subterraneous 

 river, which in all probability aflbrds the principal 

 supply to the far-famed St. Winifred's Well, at 

 Holywell, from which it is distant about twelve 

 miles. The stream being then shallow, they ex- 

 plored it about sixty yards down, and were asto- 

 nished to find several large caverns to the right and 

 lel"t, from the roofs and sides of which were sus- 

 pended numerous and beautiful specimens of white 

 spar or stalactites. The company are in high 

 spirits, these appearances being considered favor- 

 able for a large lodgment of ore. — Shrewsbury 

 Chronicle. 



