108 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



[No. 2 



is required, as every panicle of sap shouKl be re- 

 jected except Ironi the iioliom phinkp. 



Fri regard to inarsh-iiiud I have had no expe- 

 rience either iiy itself or in conipnsi ; peiliapp, 

 having; been deterred from usiiijr it hy JMr. Lew- 

 is' failure, whii'li I eoii^^idered decisive. !f 1 find 

 it convenient, I will, with pleasure, try the expe- 

 jiment» prescribed by you, arni report the results; 

 Though we are generally so much pushed as to 

 have but little linie \'or projects, however rational 

 they may be. I am of opmion, tlial oystcr-shell- 

 lirae unslacked, costs us at the kiln cents a 



bushel. The enclosed letter may, perhaps, enlight- 

 en you as to the price of stone-lime. I send the 

 Jetter with a short article by way of introduction, 

 which you can use if ycu deem them ot' any 

 value. All 1 recollect of C;ipt. B. is, that he once 

 look off a cargo of corn here, and that he seemed 

 to be a respectable person, between wiiom and 

 ourselves some civilities were inierchariied, to 

 whicli circumstance, I suppose I am indebted 

 for the letter. Till the receipt of it, I had even 

 forgotten his name. 



1 cordially reciprocate your expressions of liiend- 

 ship, and shall always be happy to meet vou at 

 home or abroad, but more especially at this |)lace. 



With kind wishes, 1 am, dear sir, truly youis, 

 Geo. E. IIarkison. 



THE USE OF miPORTKn STONE-LiaiE PRO- 

 POSKl? IN LOWER YIRGIMA. J.1-11E FOR 

 HOGS. 



To tlie Editor nf the farmers' Register. 



1 herewith send a letter il'om Capt. Lewis Bos- 

 worth, of Newark, N. J., whose object in addres- 

 sing me will probably be promoted hy its publica- 

 tion in the Register ; and as it may be of service 

 to some of your readers, the benefit may be reci- 

 procal. The information it imparls comes very 

 opportunely. The supply of oyster-shells is pre- 

 carious, and entirely inadequate to the demand. 

 Marl, doubtless the most valuable calcareous dres- 

 sing, is not every where to be had, and is a heavy 

 and expensive alfair when both land and water- 

 carriage have to be encountered. If filty bushels 

 of stoiie-lim'>, in the state and at the price men- 

 tioned by Capt. h.. will suffice for an acre, it will 

 be cheaper than the customary quality of shell- 

 lime; viz: 72 bushels. If a like quantity be re- 

 quired, it will be rather more costly, but will pre- 

 sent the great advantage of being attainable at 

 anytime, and to any extent. I have ordered, (iir 

 myself and one of my neighbors, a small cargo, 

 by way of experiment, and you may again hear 

 from me on the subject. 



Is it known that lime — shell-lime I mean — is 

 much relished by fattening hoes, nnd is very 

 beneficial to them? I think tfie fact may be 

 relied on. I am, myseli; so well satisfied of 

 it, that mine are kept regularly supplieii. The 

 discovery was made here accidentally. The re- 

 markable thriftiness of a large number of those 

 animals confined in a barn-yard, into which was 

 throvrn the refuse lime from the trough used for 

 eoakinir seed wheat, first led to it. The lioizs 

 were observed to eat it with avidity. Its useful- 

 ness, like that of ashes, often ap[ilied to the same 

 purpose, may consist in its being a corrective 

 of acidity. I have frequently, on crossing the 



Blue Ridge, been struck with the superior condi- 

 tion of the swine in tlie "Great Valley," and have 

 ascribeil it to the ubundance of lootl in that fertile 

 region. I\lay it fiot be owing, in some degree al- 

 so, to the liealthfltl tendencies of lime-stone water? 



11. 



James River, Jan. l-iih, 1S39. 



Xcvsark, N. J., Oct. 10, 183S. 

 Dear Sir, 



I take the liberty to inliirm 3'ou a plan our fiarrners 

 have discovered in improving their lands, l)y using 

 stone-!:me slacked at the kilns. Ourlarmers have 

 taken Irom the kilns here, from 2,000 to2,500 bush- 

 els per day, in the. fall and spring, in the time of 

 planting and sowing. The fiictory here is but a 

 lew rods from my house, and is composed of 13 

 perpetual kilns, and employs 75 hands. I find 

 lour oilier kilns liave started this season, in the 

 adjoiiiinir towns, lor the same purposes, but not as 

 laige. The thouglit struck me, that it would be 

 very sood lor the land on the James River, and 

 es|)ecially your neighborhood. It may be sent 

 out 10 your liarms, and not exceed 12 cents per 

 bushel, at your landing. Should this meet your 

 approbation, you will liave the goodness to answer 

 tiiis letter, and give your opinion on the subject. 

 I am, dear sir. 



Your friend and humble serv't, 



Lewis Bosworth. 



VIEWS OF THE DEMAND, SUPPLY AND 

 PRICES OF THE NEXT CROP OF MORUS 

 BIULTICAULIS. 



In the last number, we submitted at length our 

 own views upon this subject; and also gave, im- 

 mediately after, (in the piece signed H. C.) the op- 

 posite opinions of one of the most intelligent agri- 

 cultural writers in New England, Henry Colman, 

 esq., conmiissioner of the agricultural survey of 

 Massachusetts. We have since seen, in the last 

 number of llie 'Silk Culturist,' of Hartford, the 

 following statement of the opinions and anticipa- 

 tions of lis editor, .Tudge Comstock ; and it is here 

 copied, that all (he light, and the most opposite 

 opinions of those who have the best opportunities 

 of being infiarmed on this subject, may be placed 

 belbre our readers. No one has had these oppor- 

 tunities more fully oflered than the editor of the 

 'Silk Culturist,' and no editor or writer could be 

 quoted, who stands higher for integrity and sound 

 judgment. But still we consider Jiim as much too 

 sanguine in his expectations of high prices ; and as 

 much above the most probable results, as Mr. 

 Colman's calculations were below them. Our po- 

 sition, in (his matt(;r, was between these two ex- 

 tremes ; and we have had additional reasons, since 

 the i)nblication of ifie article relerred to, to be the 

 more confirmed in the opinions there expiessed. 

 It is, however, for our readers to compare, ;ind de- 

 cide upon, these several views. 



It is proper to add here, (hat what was then sta- 



