64 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 1. 



not more called for by patriotism, than by sound calcu- 

 lations of private and pecuniary interest. Our indi- 

 vidual share of this general effort recommended, is 

 making through the Farmers' Register — and even that 

 seems likely to be cramped and weakened by the pre- 

 sent prospects, and extent of emigration. But this ef- 

 fort will not on our part be relaxed, while its continu- 

 ance is encouraged by public favor — and if that should 

 cease — this work will at least serve as our "last ditch," 

 in which to die, so far as it relates to service to, or con- 

 nexion with the public. 



From Malte Bran's Geography. 

 PHENOMENON OF THE BLACK WATERS. 



Tn the upper part of the region of this river (the 

 Oronoke, in South America,) between the third 

 and fourth north parallels (of latitude,) nature has 

 several times displayed the singular phenomenon 

 of what has been named Black Waters. The 

 waters of (he Atabaco, Temi, Tuamani, and 

 Guainia, are of a coffee color. Under the shade 

 of the woods: of the palm tree their color becomes 

 of a deep black, but in transparent vessels it be- 

 comes of a golden yellow color; the images of the 

 southern constellations are reflected in it with sin- 

 gular brilliancy. The absence of crocodiles and 

 of fish, a greater degree of coolness, a smaller 

 number of musquitoes, a healthier air, distinguish 

 the region of the black rivers. They probably 

 derive their color from a solution of carburet of 

 hydrogen, resulting from the decomposition of the 

 multitudes of plants that cover the soil through 

 which they flow. 



[The appearance described above is always found 

 in the waters of many sluggish streams, and of mill- 

 ponds or swamps, in lower Virginia. Blackwater 

 Swamp, and its branches, and the lake and canal of the 

 Dismal Swamp, are well known, and remarkable ex- 

 amples. We are not able to appreciate properly the 

 supposition above of the cause of this coloring. But 

 we had before attributed this effect simply to the solu- 

 tion, or suspension in the water, of vegetable extract 

 derived from the vast quantity of fallen leaves and 

 other vegetable substances, over or among which the 

 water flows. The same tinge is often seen in the 

 smallest pools of recent rain water, after standing a 

 short time on poor woodland. So far as our observa- 

 tion has extended, these colored waters are never 

 found, either flowing or standing, over calcareous soil, 

 or where any notable amount of lime in any form is 

 present in the soil; though such soils may be most 

 abundantly supplied with vegetable matters, which 

 yield their extract to every soaking rain. These dif- 

 ferent circumstances have appeared to us as additional 

 proofs of the chemical power of calcareous earth to 

 combine with and hold this vegetable extract, and to 

 use it for fertilizing the soil — instead of its flowing off, 

 in waste, where enough lime for this purpose is not 

 present. These facts and deductions would have been 

 used as proofs in another place, but for an unwilling- 

 ness to resort to facts, the extent of which was so im- 

 perfectly known. Observingthe statement above, has 

 induced us to present the subject here, with the view 

 of its drawing forth further information, or correction 

 from others.] 



For the Farmers' Register. 

 COMMERCIAL REPORT. 



The demand for every article of domestic pro- 

 duce continues brisk, and prices generally have 

 advanced. The unfavorable aspect of the wheat 

 crop, gave rise to some speculation in flour, and 

 at one period during this month, the price had 

 risen full one dollar per barrel. Sales were made 

 in a few instances as high as $6.25 per barrel, but 

 some reaction has since taken place, and the price 

 may now be quoted $5.75. It is stated that the 

 wheat crops in the northern and western states 

 are not so much injured as had been apprehended 

 — but there is little doubt that the deficiency in 

 Virginia will be great, and that the market will 

 open at a higher price than for many years. 



The price of tobacco has also advanced during 

 the present month. The sales reported at the in- 

 spections, embrace all rates from $5.50 to $17 per 

 100 lbs. Purchases are based, not on the existing 

 prices in loreign markets, but on the expectation 

 of advance; and the spirit of speculation which is 

 unusually active, may not find itself sustained 

 abroad. Such at least has frequently been the re- 

 sult. 



Cotton has more than sustained the prices of 

 last month. The current sales in Petersburg of 

 fine quality, have been at 18 cents. Choice has 

 commanded 18i — and the range of quotations is 

 16£ to 18Jt. The quantity received in the various 

 ports of the United States to the 1st May, is 

 about 1,130,000 bales, against about 1,000,000 at 

 the same period of 1834. But this success has 

 been in a great measure absorbed by increased 

 consumption. 



Stocks of almost every description command 

 high prices. That of the United States' Bank, 

 although its charter is about to expire, has ad- 

 vanced to 113, 



The success of the Petersburg Rail Road is 

 pretty well demonstrated by a recent declaration 

 of 4 per cent, dividend for six months, and an ad- 

 vance in the prices of its stock of 15 to 20 percent, 

 during the current year. 



x. 



May 27. 



TO SUBSCRIBERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. 



In consequence of the increased amount of matter 

 recently furnished by our correspondents, most of the 

 pieces have necessarily been kept back longer than 

 has been usual. 



To avoid a continuance of such delay, and also for 

 several other considerations of convenience, the 2nd 

 No. will issue on the 15th of June, and the 3rd at our 

 regular time of the 1st of the succeeding month, July 

 — after which the publication will continue, as punctu- 

 ally as before, on the first of each month. With this 

 view, this No., though not issued before June 1st, is 

 dated in May. 



GEOLOGICAL SURVEYOR. 



Wm. B. Rogers, Professor of Natural Philosophy 

 and Chemistry in the College of William and Mary, 

 has been appointed by the Board of Public Works to 

 make the geological reconnoissan.ee of Virginia, as 

 directed by the act of last session of the legislature. 



