1836.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



183 



I do not regard negro slavery, however miti- 

 gated, as a Utopian system, and have not intend- 

 ed so to delineate it. But it existp, and the difli- 

 culty of removing it is lelt and acknowledged by 

 ail save the liinatics, who hke "ibols, rush in where 

 angels dare not tread." It is pieasiing to i<now 

 that its Imrdens are not too heavy to be borne. 

 That the treatment of slaves in ihis state is hu- 

 mane, and even indulirent, may be inferred from 

 the fiict of their rapid increase, and great lonsevily. 

 I believe that, constituted as they are, morally and 

 physically, they are as hajjpy as any peasantry in 

 the world; and I venture to aflirm, as the result 

 of my reading and inquiry, that in no country are 

 the laborers so liberally and invariably supplied 

 with bread and meat as are the negro slaves of 

 the United States. However great the dearth of 

 provisions, famine never reaches them. 



P. S. — It might have been stated above, that on 

 this estate there are about 1(30 blacks. With the 

 exception of infants, there has been in eighteen 

 months but one death that I remember, that of a 

 man tlilly 65 years of age. The bill for medical 

 attendance li'om the second day of la^t November, 

 comprising upwards of a year, is less than Ibrty 

 dollars. 



upon the Useful Mosses by M, de Brebisson, 

 which has been announced for some lime, this 

 botanist states tliat a pond in the neighborhood 

 of Falain having been rendered dry during many 

 weeks in the height of summer, the mud, in dry- 

 ing was immediately and entirely covered, to the 

 extent of many square yards, by a minute, com- 

 pact, sxreen turf, l()rmed of an imperceptible moss, 

 the Phaseum axillare. the stalks ot which were so 

 close to each other, that upon a square inch of this 

 new soil, might be counted more than five thou- 

 sand individuals of this niiimte plant, which had 

 never previously been observed in the country. 



THE "JOIIX FUAXCIS" LETTER. 



We have learned that the letter signed "John Fran- 

 cis" from Prince Edward county, which was published 

 in No. 1, was a specimen of what is called in polite 

 language, hoaxing — but what some plain speaking men 

 might deem more correctly designated as a lie sup- 

 ported by forgery. The manner in which the decep- 

 tion was practiced, shows that the unknown author 

 possesses a considerable share of the particular kind of. 

 talent that is necessary for success in sustaining fraud, 

 and making falsehood appear as truth. If he is still 

 young enough to cultivate, and give the proper direc- 

 tion to this talent, we doubt not that he will yet cut a 

 distinguished figure at the bar — but whether before or 

 behind it, we venture not to predict. 



From tlie Arcana of Science and Art, for 1836. 

 SPONTAIVEOUS PLANTS. 



Few tilings are more extraordinary than the un- 

 usual appearance and developement of certain 

 plants in certain circumstances. Thus after the 

 great fire of London in 1666, the entire surface ol 

 the destroyed city was covered with such a vast 

 profusion of a species of a crucileroL;s plant, the 

 Sisymbrium irio of Litma?us, that it was calcu- 

 lated that the whole of the rest of Europe could 

 not contain so many plants of it. It is also known 

 that if a spring of salt water makes its appearance 

 in a spot, even a great distance from the sea, the 

 neighborhood is soon covered with plants peculiar 

 to a maritime locality, which plants, previous to 

 this occurrence, were entire strangers to the coun- 

 try. Again, when a lake happens to dry up, the 

 surface, is immediately usurped by a vegetation 

 which is entirely peculiar, and quite different from 

 that which flourished on its former banks. When 

 certain marshes of Zealand were drained, the Ca- 

 rex cyperuides was observed in abundance, and 

 it is known this is not at all a Danish plant, 

 but peculiar to the north of Germany. In a work 



TO MAKE STAKCH. 



To tlie Editor of tlie Farrnp.rs' Register. 



Through the medium of your valuable paper, 

 I wish to communicate to the household econo- 

 tnist, an article of knowledge recently obtained, 

 relative to siarch-makiag. 



The common tedious process of soaking and 

 rotting the wheat, is subject to many inconve- 

 niences, such as the temperature of the weather, 

 the labor of heathig and rubbing the grain, and 

 not hast, the very offensive and unwholesome 

 odor arising irom the fermentation; which last, is 

 entirely obviated by the method I would propose 

 for adoption. 



Have the wheat first ground in a common corn 

 mill, then sift the bran from the flour, and put them 

 both into separate tubs of water. After the expi- 

 ration of twenty-four hours, change the wattr to 

 the bran, and rub it very well, tor the superfine 

 starch is obtained chiefly Irom the particles at- 

 tached to the bran; then strain the water ofi' through 

 a fine hair sieve into the vessel which contains the 

 flour. This also should be strained through fine 

 muslin, but a small blanket washed nicely is most 

 to be depended on. The water should be chang- 

 ed twice a day, and the vessel set in the sun. 

 This should be continued until there is no yellow 

 appearance in the water; then the starch is per- 

 fectly bleached; and when it is well settled, drain 

 off the top, which is of inftjrior quality, and tie it 

 in a bair to dry. The pure and superfine starch 

 will adhere closely to the bottom of the tub: break 

 it up and put it in dishes to dry. The chief econo- 

 my of this plan is, that any spoilt flour, unfit for 

 bread, can be converted into the useful article of 

 starch. 



It must by no means be permitted to ferment, 

 for this would prevent the separation of the two 

 qualities, and can easi.'y be prevented by changing 

 the water as above directed. This process will 

 yield a greater proportion of starch, and of better 

 quality, than can be obtained from the soaked 

 wheat. " ." 



ox THE BIANAGEMENT OF THE TOBACCO 

 CROP. 



[Continued from page 3, vol. IV.] 

 To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



30<A May, 1836. 



Afler an absence of a month from home, I find 

 in your May No. a request, that, in addition to my 

 former remarks on the preparation and management 



