1839] 



Fii^JElMERS' REGrSTER. 



671 



plough it under, and so leave it to stand. Marl 

 (or lime) jf in lumps or masses, no matter how 

 soCt, vviil be of no use" as manure. The manure 

 should be mixed and diffused through evey part of 

 the soil, and not placed deep at first. 



We have heard belbre of the value and opera- 

 lion of the machine of JMr. George Philips, (of 

 Petersburg,) and have urged its ingenious inven- 

 tor to serve the marling interest by having such 

 machines erected for his own profit. But though 

 he has aided and given the necessary instructions 

 to build several, which have served their purpose 

 to the entire satisfaction of the difierent proprie- 

 tors, he has not sought (o make the machine an 

 article of profit to himself, and thereby to make it 

 the most profitable to the public. Strange as it 

 may seem too, he has not even wished nor thought 

 ■orprcveating its construction by others, by the pro- 

 tection of a patent right. If we could have ob- 

 tained a draught and description of the machine, 

 we should belbre this, have published them. But 

 we have not seen one, and have formed our favo- 

 rable opinion merely from the report of others. 

 Whoever desires to draw marl from a considera- 

 ble depth, or from wet pits, will do well to apply 

 to JMr. Philips, (at Petersburg,) (or his instruction, 

 which he will not withhold, even if he may not find 

 it convenient to undertake the construction desired. 



—Ed. F. R. 



I.ETTERS FROM A YOUNG FAUMER TO MR. JA- 

 MIESON. 



To the Conductor of the Farmers^ 3Iagazine. 



Sir: Three years ago, I sent you a series of let- 

 ters from a young farmer to his father, (^vide Vol. 

 8. p. 84. et seqq.), which, I understand, met with 

 a liivorable reception. Influenced by the like mo- 

 tive as then guided me, namely, to disseminate 

 practical inlbrmation concerning rural affairs, I, at 

 this time, take the liberty of handing you some 

 letters from the young farmer to his quondam pre- 

 ceptor, written after a farm had been taken on his 

 account, wherein a picture, tolerable correct, is 

 fiirnished of the several articles of business which 

 usually occur during the first twelve months of a 

 lease. The operations formerly detailed were 

 perhaps executed upon a scale rather too large to 

 be imitated by men of ordinary capitals ; but those 

 to be now described merit a different character, 

 being in Ikct an exact representation of what daily 

 occurs in every quarter of the country. I have ar- 

 ranged the letters into lour classes as formerly ; 

 one of which may, if you please, be presented in 

 each number of this volume. In class first, the 

 young man is put into possession of his farm. In 

 the second, the ground is cultivated and laid down 

 for his first crop. In the third, his srass and tur- 

 nip husbandry is described. And in the fourth, his 

 harvest-work, &c. is fully explained. These are 

 the leading and chief subjects discussed in each 

 class, though digressions are often made '.o other 

 matters naturally occurring in the course of the 



correspondence. I trust the whole will be accept" 

 able to your readers ; and, in particular, that such 

 of them as are entering upon rural lile, without 

 having acquired knowledge in the school of expe- 

 rience, will, in several respects, be thereby benefit- 

 ed. At all events, the correspondence may serve 

 to amuse, if it does not prove beneficial to the rea- 

 ders of your work , and, under these impressions, 

 it is respectlully submitted to their impartial con- 

 sideration. I am yours, &c. 



PHILO-GEORGICON. 



Class 1st. 



February 8th. — Having concluded an agree- 

 ment with the proprietor of the farm mentioned in 

 my last, permit me to crave your advice with re- 

 gard to my future conduct. I am encouraged to 

 take this libertj', by a remembrance of your for- 

 mer kindness, and also by an impression that the 

 firmest dependence may at all times be placed up- 

 on your prudence and judgment. Do, my dear 

 sir, favor me with your assistance on this occa- 

 sion ; for, if I once go wrong, it may be a long 

 while before I go right. Listen with patience to 

 my desultory opinions ; and examine with atten- 

 tion the crude and undigested schemes that may be 

 presented. Correct me when wrong, and keep 

 me from straying into the paths of error. Often 

 have you told me, that perfect management could 

 only be learned in the school of practice ; and that 

 a long attendance was necessary before the ablest 

 scholar could merit the character of a good agri- 

 culturist. All these things now rush upon my 

 mind when 1 am going to enter into rural lile, and 

 urge me to unbosom myself to one capable of af- 

 fording the aid that is wanted. Excuse these eg- 

 otisms. Attribute them entirely to that anxiety 

 which every one must, less or more, (eel on such 

 an occasion ; especially if without confidence in 

 their own abilities. 



The farm I have taken contains three hundred 

 Scotch acres, divided into ci^ihteen enclosures, and 

 pretty well situated, both as to obtaining a full 

 supply of lime, and togood markets, where produce 

 ofail sorts may be readily disposed ofat a fair price. 

 The soil is of difierent qualities and varieties ; one 

 half of it being a strong deep loam approaching to 

 clay, and naturally well calculated (or the culture 

 of beans and wheat ; about fifty acres are of thin 

 clay, capable of carrying wheat if well manured, 

 but apparently unfit lor an extensive rotation ; and 

 the remainder is good turnip soil, though not of a 

 gravelly nature ; therefore, able to carry peas and 

 beans. The whole farm is in tolerable good order 

 at present, having been preserved in shape by the 

 former tenant ; that is to say, he was not permit- 

 ted to take two white crops in succession during 

 the last five years of his lease; — a regulation 

 which, so iiir as I know, has been strictly adhered 

 to. According to the lease, he was also bound to 

 leave one sixth ot the farm in grass of dillerciit ages: 

 and the like quantity uucroppcd, as a turnip or 

 fallow break ; which prestations are complied with. 

 He is likewise bound to leave tlie whole dung of 

 the penult crop u[)on the premises for the use of 

 his successor ; so, !rom these iliiMg.'^, you will see 

 that my entry cannot be considered as an \m\l\- 

 vorable one. For the dun;r. and the land that is 

 , unrrnpped, value i^ In hr pnid him, according as 



