1^25.] 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



21; 



Competition for preserving Leather. — A friend 

 to the Editor iissurcs us, Ui.it a mixture of three 

 parts of tallow and one part of tar, melted and 

 stirred togather, makes a composition, which he 

 Las found by esperipnce to be valuable for presci- 

 ving the leather in boots, shoe?, &c. He applies 

 the composition warm but not hot, to new 

 shoes or boots, inside as well as ont, till the 

 lojither is satuialed or has taken in all which it 

 will imbibe ; bjr which means it is rendered pli- 

 able, proof against water, and more durable than 

 by the common applications. 



jF.irmcv's Ctalculjar. 



[by the editor.] 

 Fire Woop. — As soon as a sufficient quantify 

 of snow shall have fallen, it will be expedient 

 to lose no time in cutting and drawing your fire 

 wcod. Nothing more deranges all the operations 

 of a correct cultivator than to be under the ne- 

 cessity of tackling his team in summer, perhaps 

 in the hurry of haying or harvest, to draw a lit- 

 tle wood in order to " keep the pot boiling." — 

 If is almost as necessary to provide wood in win- 

 ter for summer's use, as it is to provide meat, 

 vegetables, hay, &c. in summer for winter's use. 

 The farmer, who permits the business of one 

 season to interfere with that of another will soon 

 find himself running behind-hand with regard to 

 property ; besides his affairs being always "at 

 sixes and sevens" &, " every thing at loose ends,"' 

 he will always be stretched on the tenter-hooks 

 of anxiety, and instead of enjoying life, he will, 

 as it were, run the gauntlet of e. lis fence, contin- 

 ually harrassed and bufi'cfed by adverse circum- 

 ces. 



It wa.=; formerly the custom, and if may be still 

 the fashion, with some who think they are par- 

 agons of prudence fo traverse every part of their 

 wood lots, cutting roads in all directions as thick 

 (comparatively speaking) as the marks on a 

 chess board, in order to select the largest and 

 most decayed freps forjtimber or fuel. But in 

 this way we believe it generally happens thai 

 much more damage is done to the young growth 

 of wood than the value of thesavinijby ?electing 

 old or decayed trees. The following arlicle, 

 written by one of our most able agiiculturisfS) 

 and published under llie head "• Wood Land''' in 

 the last edition of Deane's Nci^ England Far- 

 mer, will corroborafe our ideas on this subject, 

 and well merits the attention of every friend to 

 rural economy. 



" The practice of the populous nations of Eu- 

 rope, whose forests have been cut off" centuries 

 ago, and who arc compelled to resort fo meas- 

 ures of the strictest economy, fo supply them- 

 selves with fuel, ought to h;ive great weight 

 with us. France, in an especial manner, ought 

 fo be looked fo for wise laws on this subject. Her 

 vast and thickly settled population — her numer- 

 ous manufactures — her poverty in mineral coal 

 — the eminence which she has attained in all 

 economical arts. — entitle her to great respect, 

 If is the practice of the French people not to 

 cut ofTlhoir woods oflener than once in twenty 

 or twrnfy-livc years ; and by lau; when they arc 

 cut over, the owner is obliged fo cut the whole 

 snooth, with the exception of a vesy few trees,' 



which the oflicers of the government Iiad mark- 

 ed to be_spared for a larger growth. Williout giv-> 

 ingany opinion, as fo the propriety of flu: direct 

 interference of the government on such a topic, 

 we should say that the example proves that in 

 the o[iinion of the French scientillc and practical 

 men, if is expedient when wood lands are cut, 

 that they should he cut smooth, in order fliaf the 

 new growth might sfart'alfogether, not overshad- 

 ed by other treesofa larger growth. We have 

 no opinion of cuffing down trees in ascatfeiing 

 manner, as they appear to fail, and still less of 

 planting acorns in thinner spots of the t'orest. — 

 The groivth thus produced must remain forev- 

 er feeble. 



Massachusetts Lcmslat ure. 



A chain bridge is about to be constructed over 

 the canal of Muica in Russia ; the first of the 

 kind in that country. 



JVational Legislature. 



Senate. JAN. 17. A resolution was reported au- 

 thorizing the purchase of Copies of the Journals of the 

 old Congress, from 1774 to 17S3. 



The bin to abolish imprisonment for debt was taken 

 up, and after debate was negatived Yeas, 20, Nays 23. 



A bill tojappropriate ifC X'O for the purchase of PeSle's 

 Equestrian Portrait of Washington w as read twice. 



Messages were received from the President, inclosing 



reports from the Secretary of St<atc and of the N.ivy 



The former gave information that the cause, whicb pre- 

 vented the execution of an article of the treaty between 

 the U. -S. aud Spain, which relates to surveying the 

 western boundary of the U. S. was the situation of ths 

 g.^^rnment of Mexico in respect to the kingdom of 

 Spain. The latter gave the foUowiag information on 

 the subject of hemp, viz. 



1. That hemp may be cultivated in tlie U. S. to any 

 extent which our necessities may require. 



2. Tliat in the present mode of cultivation, there are 

 some errors which may readily be corrected when more 

 attention is paid to it. 



3. That in its nattural state, it is, in all important 

 qualities, equal to that which is imported. 



4. That it is injured in the mode of rotting and pre- 

 paring it for manufacture. 



5. That if sown thicker on the ground, water rotted, 

 and prepared with care, it will be equal for all purpo- 

 ses to any other. 



C. Tjjat canvas, cables, aud cordage, manufactured 

 out of it, as now cultivated, are inferior'in colour, du- 

 rability, and strength, to those manufactured from im- 

 ported hemp, and consequently are not so safe, or prop- 

 er for use in the navy. 



House.— JAN. 17. The bill on the subject of the 

 Cumberland Road was considered in Committee of the 

 Whole. 



Mr Clay advocated the bill in an eloquent speech, 

 and the blank was tilled with $130,000. 



JAN. I8r The hill relative to the Cumberland Read 

 was considered. Mr Webster made an able speech in 

 favour of the bill, which was at length ordered to be 

 engrossed — Yeas 93, Nays 82. 



JAN. 19. A resolve passed referring the subject of 

 of repairs of Plymouth Beach to the Committee of 

 Commerce. 



A bill for the relief of the Niagara sufferers passed — 

 Yeas 123, Nays 69. 



Senate JAN. 19. A resolution was pasrrd for ob- 

 taining a survey of Nantucket under the anthorily of 

 the (ieneral <iovernmerit. 



A Com. was appointed for considering the propriety 

 of so altering the law as to prevent a debtor from dis- 

 posing of wood or timber on land under attachment. 



JAN. 20. A message from the Governor, covering 

 a communication fiom the Executive of Georgia, in re- 

 lation to a resolution of the vtate of Ohio, on th'- .tiiliject 

 of Negro Slavery was relf rred to a committee. 



A resolve passed in favour of the Bristol Agricultural 

 Society. 



The Senate adjotired at an early hour to attend ti' 

 the concerns of the Harvard University. 



JAN. 21. 'I'his day was likewise chiefly devoted to 

 the concerns of Harvard University. 



JAN. 22. A Committee was appointed to consider 

 the expediency of causing an accurate survey of the sev 

 eral towns and counties in the Commonwealth to be ta- 

 ken, S; a map constructed at the public expensf — a com- 

 mittee to consider the expc<iiency of perambulating the 

 State line between Massachusptts and New Hampshire. 

 A great number of private petitions were presented and 

 committed. 



JAN. 24. Bills for incorporating a number of insui" 

 ance companies, factories, &c. passed to be engrossed 

 A Committee was appointed to consider the expediency 

 of appropriating by law a portion of the revenue derived 

 from the tax on banks to provide books and Etationary 

 for indigent children, ic. 



JAN. 25. A Message was received from his Excell" 

 ency relative to a resolution of the Geneial Assembly of 

 Rhode Island, proposing the appointmsnt of arbitrators 

 to settle and define the boundary line between that 

 State and this Commonwealth. 



House, JAN. 19. Committees were appointed to at- 

 tend to the following subjects, viz. The expediency of 

 altering or amending the laws relating to the admeas- 

 urement of wood and bark. — To consider if any and 

 what alterations are necessary to be made in the law 

 respecting landlord and tenant. — To inquire what alter- 

 ations may be necessary in the several acts giving rem- 

 edies in equity. — On the subject of Sheep going at large. 

 — To review the law to relieve towns from the expense 

 of persons imprisoned for debt. 



The House resumed the consideration of business con- 

 nected with the Amherst institution, and the Commit- 

 tee of Investigation presented a report in favour of the 

 Petitioners. 



JAN. 20. A number of Bills passed various stages, 

 and a Committee was appointed to consider the exped- 

 iency of exempting towns from liability of expenses at- 

 tending sick seamen, landed from vessels from foreign 

 countiifcs, or from coasting vessels. 



JA.N. 21. A communication was received from the 

 Governor relative to the quantity of arms, &c. received 

 by this Commonwealth from the United States- 



A Committee was appointed to inquire into the expe- 

 diency of making fu-rther provision for the support of pri- 

 mary schools. 



A Committee was appointed on the subject of procur- 

 ing a survey under the authority of the U. S. of the 

 harbour of Marblehead. Likewise a Committee to con- 

 sider if any and what alteration it may be expedient to 

 make in an act to protect the sepulchres of the dead, 

 and another Committee on the subject of lecovering 

 fines and penalties by law. 



JAN. 22. Bills relating to the recovery of fines and 

 penalties, and to prevent fraud in the admeasurement 

 of fire wood were read a first time. 



JAN. 24. A report in favour of a tax of $75,000, 

 and to provide for $24,898 paid to Representatives was 

 accepted. Some other business of a private and local 

 nature was transacted. 



JAN. 25. A bill relating to fire wood, and several 

 private bills were committed, when the order of the day 

 respecting the Amherst Institution was taken up, and 

 Mr Sumner addressed the House in favour of the report 

 of the Investigating Committee. 



