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FARMERS' REGISTER. 



tensive regions in the southern Atlantic states,) 

 we may venture lo assert, that the profit, both in- 

 dividual and general, ofevery new case of the ap- 

 plication of the doctrines and precepts referred to, 

 will exceed more than a thousand-fold the cost of 

 the volume coniaiiiing them. 



In the cheap Ibrm of the second edition (of 

 which a very large number of copies were print- 

 ed, and not many now remain on hand,) the facil- 

 ty of extensive circulation was the main object in 

 view; and for that object, there was sacrificed 

 much of the pride, and all the (possible) profit of 

 authorship. Several thousands of copies have 

 been distributed, and a large proportion gratui- 

 tously ; and we would be pleased to dispose of all 

 that remain on hand, also as gifts, if sure that 

 they were sent where acceptable and valued, and 

 where they would be of most service to the im- 

 provement of agriculture. Therefore, to all claim- 

 ants on that ground, we shall not be rigid as to 

 conditions or payment ; for even with a smaller 

 proportion of payments then hereto/ore received, 

 we shall be content and gratified to send copies of 

 ihe work to any quarter where they will be ser- 

 viceable to agricultural and general interests. 



Ed. F. R. 



PREPARATION OF MANURE. 



To tlie Editor of tlie Farmers' I'egister. 



March 1th, 1840. 



I am sorry to complain of a typographical error 

 in my communication of January, which occurs 

 in the second line ; i.e. "manifested" for maintain- 

 ed, or sustained, (I am not sure which, as I never 

 keep rough copies,) but, I think the la'ter. 



I cannot blame your compositor, being too sen- 

 sible of the illegibility of my hand ; but do assure 

 you, that an unwillingness to give trouble, causes 

 me great pains in writing, (unavailing as they 

 seem,) and often deters me from communicating 

 with the Register. In this instance, I am only 

 surprised at ihe accuracy of the piece — no other 

 mistake occurring than the triflinsf one of omilling 

 the letter n in an imlefinite article, before a vow- 

 el. But noiwiihstanding my chariness of giving 

 trouble, i am led by the occasion to jjive you my 

 manniiement of an operation in which we are 

 now engaged, having never seen a communica- 

 tion on it. 1 mean as relates to manure. li. may 

 be worth something, at least to tyroes. 



During the season ol' (ijeding and littering farm- 

 pen stock, having accumulated in the early part 

 of winter a considerable body of corn-stalks, I 

 use aliernately wiih them, straw in piles, instead 

 of racks, which mixture promotes decomposition, 

 and retains, better, the liquor of manure. Leaves 

 are in the same method occasionally introduced. 

 Manure from the floored pens of fattening hogs, 

 littered in the same way, is advantageously haul- 

 ed and scattered over the farm-pens. This being 

 the richest made on a farm, can be better distri- 

 buted on land by being thus mixed with the 

 weaker manures; and with the same view I in- 



troduce, at different limes, the manure from 

 stables. 



I make it an invariable rule to lurn over, with 

 two or three-pronged dunghoes, the whole mass 

 of manure twice or three times during the season 

 of making it; the advantages of which are tvvo- 

 Ibld ; first, the thorough admixiure of the diH'er- 

 ent qualities, and secondly, the encouragement 

 uivento decomposition by partial admission of air ; 

 with which motive I frequently let in the stock- 

 hogs. 



Lastly, when about to commence hauling out, the 

 contents of the farm-pens are put into ricks with 

 dunii- hoes and pitch-ibrks ; roads being left be- 

 tween for carts and wagons to drive in at one end 

 and out at the other. The object of v/hich is to 

 facilitate loading, both as to convenience and 

 liuiitening the manure, which loses very liule 

 strength by the operation, if ploughed under as it 

 should be, as fast as hauled on the land. Indeed, 

 the sudden drying of manure in this month pre- 

 vents much escape of iis essence by evaporation. 

 Fire-fang is apt to occur if these large ricks re- 

 main more than one week. Rivanna. 



It has been always a cause of regret that our 

 friend who signs as " Rivanna," should favor the 

 readers of the Register with so few of his always 

 excellent and valued communications; and it will 

 add much to the regret if our fault should make 

 him still less communicative than heretolbre. We 

 know by report that "Rivanna" is one of the 

 best farmers of Virginia, and there is no one 

 whose anonymous communications are more de- 

 sired than his. His real signature, as in all cases, 

 would add greatly to their value. We trust, that 

 neither " Rivanna " nor any other correspondent 

 will again have just cause to complain of our 

 proof-reading ; and we may venture to assure him 

 that he will not be at all justified by that excuse 

 in keeping his pen idle. — En. F. R. 



EXTRACTS OF PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE, 



East Tennessee, March lOth, 1840. 



" Your favor of the 5lh February has been re- 

 ceived ; also the last volume of the Register. Pray 

 accept my thanks for your kind remembrance. 

 My zeal in the silk culture is unabated. Rather 

 higher than in my first love, notwithstanding 1 

 have some million and a half of buds which I 

 could not sell. They are surpassingly fine, and 

 all boxed up in tan, lor the market, which did not 

 offer. Be it so. Perhaps 'lis all the better lor the cul- 

 ture of silk. I shall plant immediately (the ground 

 is ploughed) twenty-five acres, (my very best 

 wheat field.) Don Quixote, you know, gave his 

 best grain land for books of knight errantry. My 

 cocoonery 200 feet by 60 is going up. Four mil- 

 lions of eggs are in the ice-house ; half of which 

 I wish to keep back, if I can, for a second crop. 

 My plan is, to feed so large a number of worms 

 as will justify my employing reelers the whole 

 year ; and thus secure their permanent services. 



China, in my opinion, cannot surpass East Ten- 



