882 



F A R M E R S ' REGISTER, 



[No. 6 



This is at the rate of 1815 trees to the acre; and 



at ^15 each, the amount of cash sales for the two 

 successive years' growth, fi'om l!ie same roolp, is 

 at the rate of ^27,225 per acre. This is pretty well 

 for a "huinbuiT," (as some still call it,) of two 

 years' duration. 



We might state reywrfs, and apparently on good 

 authority, of sundry higiier prices, otfored and re- 

 fused, or taken; but we have disregarded all ru- 

 mors of prices, and all offers not accepted — as 

 most of such reports are founded upon error, and 

 not a few upon fraudulent intention. Judging 

 however from llie real transactions stated, it would 

 seem that the price has been certainly and steadi- 

 ly advancing to this time, and that good profits at 

 any rale may be secured by every planter, whose 

 loss of plants does not exceed SO in the 100. 

 As to whether the prices have reached, or near- 

 ly reached, their greatest height— or whether they 

 will (as most persons suppose,) rise much higher 

 before the crop is ready to be delivered — we shall 

 not presume to ofier an opinion. 



Since writing the above, a private letter from an 

 extensive planter and dealer, in Burlington, New 

 .Jersey, has been shown to us by the friend to 

 whom it was addressed, and at our request, per- 

 mission was given to copy the following extract, 

 which more than confirms what we had stated. 

 The writer is a man who stands on the highest 

 ground lor sound discretion and judgment, and un- 

 impeachable integrity. His facts are important. 

 To his mere opinion, the reader may attach what 

 degree of importance it may seem to deserve. 



''Burlington, N. J.,Q mo. 24th, 1839. 

 "There are very great failures in this region of 

 country, but at this place they are doing^better 

 than in most others. My trees, [from which the 

 planting was made,] were not very large, it is true, 

 but they were in very good condition; and yet they 

 will not give me a return of more than 6 for 1. 

 Some others have as much as 8 for 1, and one of 

 my friends here has more than 12 for 1. But, fi-om 

 what 1 can learn, I think 5 for 1, will be a large 

 calculation for New Jersey and Pennsylvania. "^I 

 have a letter Irom Hartford, from a gentleman from 

 this state, in which he says the trees in Connec- 

 ticut, have come up badly. I have purchased 

 about 60,000 to be delivered in the fall; the first 

 50,000, at 15 cents for three-leet trees, mature 

 wood, exclusive of the roots, nil raised from cut- 

 tings. These were piircha.sfd about two weeks 

 ago; they would now bring 25 cents. The last 

 purchase was 10,000 in this place, which I expect 

 will be very fine, at 25 cents per tree, without re- 

 ference to sizes. Several sales have been made 

 here at 25 cents, and one of 6000, at 30 cents. 

 The last is I think, the highest price yet obtained! 

 But I believe they will lie 50 cents, before next 

 month expires." 



state, but in the same and small districts, and even 

 on neighboring farms. Hence the impossibility of 

 guessing at the general result, from particular re- 

 ports. The product of numerous crops in the tide 

 water region will be reduced, by the ravages of the 

 Hessian fly, and still more of the chinch-bug, to 

 less than the fourth of a fair crop ; yet other farms 

 in the same counties will make an average product. 

 The relative product of the great divisions of the 

 state (in general, though with many exception?,) 

 is still believed to be as stated in our last number ; 

 that is, increasing fi-om very short crops in the tide 

 water and adjacent higher counties, to belter in the 

 middle region, still better in the Piedmont range of 

 counties, and to very fine crops in the great valley, 

 or region west of the Blue Ridge. 



The corn crops are good, and afford a fine 

 prospect, except for the great danger of the chinch- 

 bugs passing fi-om the wheat to the corn fields. 

 We wish that some of our readers would furnish 

 for publication such facts as they have learned by 

 observation, of the history and habits of this de- 

 structive insect. Such a subject at the north would 

 have engaged the pens of scores of observing and 

 suffering farmers ; here, of not one. 



Oats are very good, owing to the unusual amount 

 of moist and cool weather in the latter part o( 

 spring. 



The crop of tobacco is remarkably good. 



LiaiixG. 



STATE OF CROPS. 



The condition of the wheal crop in Virginia is 

 not only very difTerent in different si^clions of the 



To tlie Editor of tlic Farmers' Register. 



It is one of the great blessings of man, that the 

 discoveries and experience of past ages may be 

 handed down from generation to generation, until 

 time shall make his practice in the arts, sciences 

 and professions, perfect. This is what he proudly 

 calls mind, his electrical part; and yet sir, in truth 

 what is he? A poor thing, a "wild ass's colt." 

 We, sir, the good people of Virginia, received 

 from the hands of our Ileavenly Father the fair- 

 est, the kindest portion of dear old mother earth, 

 and what is it now? Thorns and briers? No sir, 

 it is gullies, sedge and poverty grass; the expe- 

 rience of ages has been scotfell; and like that 

 proscribed animal of the Jews, we have rooted up 

 and destroyed the pasture upon which we fed. Is 

 this turning the experience and mind of past ages 

 to our use and benefit? Have we done better in 

 other matters necessary to the civilized man, than 

 that v/hich we have done in agriculture? 1 fear 

 not, "wise in our own conceit,'' folly has had a 

 mark to point at. 1 was going to show, sir, that 

 we had done in many other matters as in agri- 

 culture, but I should trespass upon your rules and 

 space, and shall, therefore, turn my pen to some 

 report of our crop of wheat. 'J'liis is good; for how 

 could it be otherwise upon land well prepared and 

 limed? Wheat, corn, oats and grass, all upon 

 limed land, show that hitherto we have been in 

 the dark, we have literally "toiled all night and 

 caught no fish." Noneof those, or any other crops, 

 can be made to fail upon limed land, if it be well 



