302 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 6 



mon scow, built for tlie purpose. It is rather 

 smaller than wood scows; and cost about i§2o. 

 The grass ripens about the first of August, and 

 becomes loose from the bottom, and is easily 

 drawn up vviih rakes. I continue to gel it through 

 ■the fall; and in mild weather in winter. Two hands 

 will get about twenty cart-loads a day. 



There are several varieties of it, all of which I 

 have used extensively, and with equal benefit. 

 But there is one species more succulent than the 

 rest, which is rapidly decomposed, when sullered 

 to remain in loads. This kind should always be 

 scattered as soon as carried out. The efiect of 

 this manure is striking on all crops; but it is more 

 conveniently and prolitably applied to corn. Like 

 the sea-toeed, it is much more beneficial on light, 

 than on stiff land. 



I have now, my dear sir, answered in substance, 

 all your interrogatories; and I need hardly assure 

 you, that it will afford me peculiar satisfaction, to 

 Jearn that, by the inlbrmation imparted, I have, 

 in the least degree, benefited either you or the 

 public. But my pleasure would be unbounded, if 

 at a future day, I should learn, as I confidently 

 trust I shall, that, by the use of the means, to 

 which I have called your attention, and others 

 equally within our reach, extensive tracts of land 

 now waste and unproductive, have been restored 

 to fertility; the tide of emigration checked, a rest- 

 less and dissatisfied population rendered content- 

 ed and happy; and prosperity, abundance, and 

 wealth extensively diffused over our beautiful, but 

 hitherto neglected country. 



Whilst I regret to learn that you are prevented 

 by age and infirmity fiom the active superintend- 

 ence of your liirm, permit me to congratulate you 

 that your zeal in so noble a cause is not extinguish- 

 ed; and to remind you that "there are pleasures 

 in rural affairs, (for which we have the high au- 

 thority of Tully,) perfectly consistent |with every 

 degree of advanced years, as they approach the 

 nearest of all others to the purely philosophical 

 kind. They are derived from observing tha na- 

 ture and properties of this, our earth, which yields 

 a ready obedience to the cultivator's industry, and 

 returns with interest, whatever he deposited in 

 her charge; if not always indeed with equal in- 

 crease, yet, always with some." Nor can I re- 

 frain from expressing my satisfaction that you are 

 instructing your son, for whose benefit the fore- 

 going information has been sought, in the art and 

 science of husbandry. Such examples are calcu- 

 lated to produce the happiest eflects. Virginia 

 can never be what she ought to be until the minds 

 oi" our educated young men take a proper direct 

 tion. The rage for speculation, politics, and the 

 miscalled liberal prole?sions must abate, and ag- 

 riculture assume the position to which it is entitled 

 among the noblest pursuits of educated and enlight- 

 ened men, beforethe physical resourcesof ourslate 

 can be properly developed, or the moral and intel- 

 lectual faculties of our people, cultivated to their 

 full extent. In ancient Kome, there were many sig- 

 nal examples of the high estimation in which ag- 

 riculture was held by the most illustrious charac- 

 ters. Curius Dentatus, after having conquered 

 the Samnites, the Sabines, and even Pyrrhus 

 himself, passed the honorable remainder of his de- 

 clining years in cultivating his farm. Cincinnatus 

 was following his plough, when notice was brought 

 to him that he was appointed dictator. And all 



the venerable senators of that age, as we are in- 

 formed by Cicero, constantly resided at their vil- 

 las, and were employed in rural afiairs. The writ- 

 ings of Cato, Varro, Virgil, Pliny, Columella, 

 and others, may satisly us, that the cultivation of 

 the eartii and of elegant letters, were in ancient 

 times deemed by no means incompatible. And 

 the noble example of our illustrious Washington, 

 who amidst the cares of state and the ceremo- 

 nies of ofiice, retained in an eminent degree his 

 taste for rural pleasures, and his desire to benefit 

 his countrymen, by the dissemination of useful 

 knowlege on every branch of agriculture, incul- 

 cates the usefiil lesson that the practice of hus- 

 bandry, whilst it calls into exercise tlie finest 

 feelings and liaculties of our nature, is not beneath 

 the dignity of the most exalted in station, or gift- 

 ed in intellect. Agriculture can no longer be con- 

 sidered a mere mechanical employment. The 

 physical sciences, the wonderful creations of mo- 

 dern times, are so intimately connected with it, that 

 it cannot be pursued with pleasure or its great- 

 est profit, without some knowledge of their prin- 

 ciples, derived either from the study of books, or 

 from the practice of others. It is, now, therefore, 

 peculiarly proper, that the rising generation should 

 be educated with the view to \he pursuit of agri- 

 culture as a profession. And if the happy period 

 shall ever arrive, when a class of well instructed 

 farmers shall supply the places of the speculators, 

 demagogues, quacks, and pettifoggers that now 

 swarm over the land, we may expect to see the 

 natural resources of our beautiful state fully de- 

 veloped, and her moral, political and intellectual 

 character elevated io the highest standard of ex- 

 cellence, that has ever been attained by the most 

 distinguished nations of ancient or modern times. 

 But I have wandered from my subject, and shall 

 weary you Avith these speculations. Permit me 

 in conclusion, to express the hope that amidst the 

 peaceful scenes by which you are surrounded, you 

 may enjoy long life, and a useful and happy old 

 age, and to subscribe myself, with sentiments of 

 sincere respect and esteem, yours, 



WlLLOUGHBY NkWTON. 



To Willoiighhy Newton, esq. } 

 Westmoreland Co. Va. ^ 



Laurel Spring, June 20, 1838. 



Dear Sir — According to your request, I furnish 

 you with what I believe to be a correct estimate of 

 the cost per acre to manure my land with creek- 

 grass. On land convenient to the creek, with five 

 men and a cart, I got up, hauled, and scattered 

 fifteen larire cart-loads per day ; which manured a 

 half acre. The cost of the laborers, including food, 

 clothing, &c. at the average price of farm labor, 

 was about as follows : 



Five hands at 3'2 cents per day, - ^ 1 60 

 One cart and two yoke oxen, 40 



2 GO 

 Which is per acre, S4 00 



This may, at the first view, appear to be a costly 

 way of manuring, in proportion to the price of 

 poor land, but if we consider the great increase in 

 product, it is evident that it is the most profitable 

 way that the labor can be applied at that season of 

 the year, (from the middle of .Tuly to the last of 



