1835.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



275 



improvements'? Is it unreasonable that in turn we 

 should require a small portion of our own to be 

 applied to our peculiar benefit? A small portion 

 of the Interesl paid annually by the University, 

 would in a few years put our scheme completely 

 in operation, and 1 verily believe after that it 

 would be able to support itself. However, all 

 these things might be discussed in convention, and 

 digested in a form that would be most acceptable. 

 And I may be permitted to add, that for once we 

 should have a convention whose soleobject would 

 be the good of the country— a spectacle so singu- 

 lar in these times, that, it could not. tail to be as 

 consolatory as the oasis to the weary traveller of 

 the desert. 



If you agree with me on this point, you can 

 greatly promote the object by inviting the meeting 

 in your journal. If I thought my name would be 

 of any service, you would be at liberty to use it. 

 with my remarks. But I (ear not. However do 

 as you please. I have it much at heart, to do 

 something. Better heads than mine may sug- 

 gest better plans, to which I will most cordially 

 submit. 



Accept assurances of my high consideration, 



JAMES BARBOUR. 



We concur entirely with the foregoing views ami 

 recommendations, and shall he pleased to aid them, as 

 has before been attempted, through this journal. We 

 are also clearly of the opinion that nothing in aid of 

 agricultural interests, or agricultural science, is to be 

 expected from our legislature, unless prompted and 

 urged by the expressed wishes of their constituents: 

 and therefore the more ready admission of the necessi- 

 ty, and probable advantages, of consultation among the 

 zealous and intelligent friends of agriculture — ei- 

 ther in the mode proposed above, or in some other. 

 There' is is no individual whose voice is entitled to be 

 beard with more respect on this matter, than our cor- 

 respondent; but it is desirable that, others should also 

 present their views, both as to the objects to be sought, 

 and Uifi mode ef seeking them. Though willing to 

 support, and lend our efforts to further any other plan 

 of combining our force that may be found more pleas- 

 ing to the greater number of the agricultural commu- 

 nity, we see no reason now to object to the particular 

 plan proposed above, viz: a meeting and free confer- 

 ence of all the members of the agricultural interest in 

 Virginia, who may have enough zeal to join in the ef- 

 fort, for the purpose of determining on what aidof go- 

 vernment agriculture most needs, and of asking it re- 

 spectfully of the legislature. In the mean time the ex- 

 pression of different views on this subject, and discus- 

 sing the comparative merits of the different ultimate 

 objects in view, will greatly facilitate the operations 

 of such an agricultural conference — and we invite to 

 our pages, the expression of opinion of any of those 

 who feel interest in this important subject. 



It is hoped that the several societies will take the 

 proposal into consideration, and give it their support. 

 In whatever manner the meeting may be constituted, 

 there can be no sound objection to the qualifications of 

 any individual as a member. The agricultural inter- 

 est in Virginia, however overlooked and neglected by 



the government, is still the national interest — and no- 

 thing can be derived for its benefit, by the whole or by 

 any portion of those belonging to il, which would not 

 be as beneficial to the commonwealth, as to agriculture. 

 Such a meeting could not do otherwise than honestly 

 labor for the good of the country — because that would 

 be most effectually done by supporting their own. All 

 bodies' of men may be trusted implicitly when their 

 private interest is to be promoted by the same measure, 

 that will support that of their country — and none ought 

 to be truste 1 when these interests are separate and op- 

 posed. 



A STRANGE FISH. 



A sea monster has been caught somewhere in 

 the neighborhood of Norfolk, which is thus des- 

 cribed by the Norfolk Beacon: 



"Its general outline is that of a turtle, the fins or 

 Mappers being much longer. The whole fish is 

 covered with a shining black cuticle or outer skin, 

 (easily removed,) with the exception of the top of 

 the head and the spinous processes of the back, 

 which arc white, with irregular outlines, as if it 

 had been rubbed in three places. Immediately 

 under the skin is a bony covering, extending oven 

 the back and down the sides, ridged with seven or 

 nine bony prominences or spines, running nearly 

 parallel with the back bone. The head is that of 

 a turtle, with the upper lip or bill notched, so as to 

 form two prominent pointed teeth or tusks. The 

 throat and inner part of the mouth is l'retted with 

 spikes about two lines thick at the base, an inch 

 long, of a horny substance, hanging loosely, but 

 looking towards the throat, so as to permit a ready 

 entrance, and completely preventing regurgitation, 

 or egress. It measured eight feet in length, and 

 nine leet from tip to tip across the fins." 



From the Hartford Patriot. 

 ERIE CANAL,. 



In consequence of the great increase of busi- 

 ness upon the Erie Canal, the Legislature of New 

 York, at their last session, passed an act directing 

 the Canal Commissioners to commence the con- 

 struction of a double set of lift locks, as soon as in 

 the opinion of the Canal Board the public interest 

 should require it, and the enlargement of the Ca- 

 nal itself the dimensions of the canal and locks to 

 be determined by the Board. On the 30th ult. ihe 

 Canal Board convened at the Comptroller's office, 

 in the city of Albany, and adopted several resolu- 

 tions, among which is a resolution that the public 

 interest does require the construction of a double 

 set of lift locks and the enlargement of the Canal. 

 It was resolved to commence the construction of 

 the locks immediately, and the enlargement of the 

 Canal as soon as a sufficient sum shall have been 

 collected from the canal revenue, to discharge the 

 Erie and Champlahi Canal debt — that the width of 

 the Canal shall be in general sixty leet on the sur- 

 face of the water, giving a depth of water of six 

 feet. Several other resolutions were adopted lor the 

 purpose of facilitating the work. The Board ad- 

 journed to hear the report of the Engineers until 

 the 20th of October next. The time required lor 



