AN ADDRESS, &C. XV 



vigation of our sounds and bays by steam-boats; — and the 

 construction of steam-frigates, by the lamented Fulton. 



The desideratum mentioned of the threshing machine 

 has been supplied by Mr. Dumbleton, who arrived during 

 the last summer from England, and put one into operation 

 at Mr. John Barney's, Port-Pen Delaware, which I am in- 

 formed has given complete satisfaction, by its answering all 

 the ends that can be desired of such an implement, viz, spee- 

 dy and clean threshing, ease of management and porta- 

 bility- 



It appears that burning clay for manure has been prac- 

 tised with great success in Ireland and Scotland; and as there 

 are extensive districts of our country, the soil of which is 

 of that nature, I beg leave to invite attention to this new 

 means of enriching land. But as I propose to give a full 

 account of the mode of conducting the process, I have not 

 deemed it necessary to be particular with respect to it on 

 the present occasion. 



An important addition to the stock of our agricultural in- 

 formation has been made by that indefatigable friend to the 

 art, Sir John Sinclair, in consequence of a visit paid by him 

 in 1815, to Flanders, the result of which he has since pub- 

 lished.* Among other useful facts related by him, he has 

 established beyond the possibility of a doubt, the efficacy of 

 certain mineral steeps in preventing smut in wheat; and the 

 fertilizing properties of the ashes produced by the combus- 

 tion of peat extracted from salt marshes in Holland, on 

 crops of clover, the succeeding crops of wheat, and in pre- 

 venting the increase of all sorts of insects; in destroying 

 mosses and lichens, which injure pasture-lands; and in pro- 

 tecting the wheat from mildew, a disease to which from its 

 situation, Flanders is extremely subject. It is probable, 



* Hints regarding the agricultural state of the Netherlands. 1815. 



