344 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 6 



of the Ph(Pnix Mine, and Ihcy arc of extreme 

 wealth undoubtedly. They are now undergoing 

 analysis by Dr. Johnson, and we may state the 

 result at an early day. 



The early hit:tory of the Ph(Enix Pi'Iine is cu- 

 rious. It was worked some 15 or 20 years before 

 the Revoluiion, and the ore sent to Entrland to be 

 smelted, its richness may be conjectured horn its 

 bearing transportation across the Atlantic, and still 

 paying profit. 



There is, we are happy to say, a deep interest 

 beginning to be taken in the mineral wealth of 

 Yirginia,and a spirit of active enterprise displa3'ed 

 in developing it. For the gratification of the cu- 

 nous,and in the hope ol impelling Ibrward the spirit 

 now awakened, we throw together the ibllowing 

 dnla as indicating the value of the Phoenix copper 

 mine. They have been prepared on careful in- 

 quiry, and we believe may be received with con- 

 fidence. 



1. It is proved that there is a regular well de- 

 fined vein, the absence of which, it is believed, 

 has prevented the success of any copper mine j^et 

 undertaken in America. 



2. This vein is from two to five feet in width, 

 which in Cornwall would be considered very con- 

 siderable. 



3. The vein cuts the formation at a high angle, 

 and when that is the case, it never gives out in 

 depth. 



4. No reliance can be placed upon any mine, 

 however favorable the superficial indications, 

 when the existence of a regular vein cannot be 

 demonstrated. 



5. The vein is not only free from any admixture 

 which might injure the copper, or render its reduc- 

 lion difficult, but actually contains an abundant 

 quantity ol' limestone, the substance employed for 

 its flux. 



6. The ore is exceedingly kindly and rich, and 

 will bear comparison with specimens from the fa- 

 mous mines of Cuba and Chili. 



7. Considerable quantities of ore have been 

 taken from the mines and shipped to Europe, as is 

 proved by the refuse left on the surface, and the 

 testimony of numerous traditions. 



8. In England, kw copper mines are pro- 

 ductive for the first few hundred feet, whereas 

 this one has yielded nmch fine ore about that of 

 fifty. 



9. The present formation, which is intersected 

 by the vein, is superficial. This is the opinion, 

 expressed with great confidence, of Professor Ro- 

 gers, who states that the copper has come irom 

 beneath where the regular mineral formation will 

 be found alter penetrating through the upper iiori- 

 zontal strata. 



10. The vein is probably of desirable length, as 

 specimens of ore have been found upon its course 

 at a considerable distance in both directions. 



11. The property includes nearly a mile upon 

 the supposed course of the vein. 



12. The existence of a branch at the depth of 

 fifty feet makes it probable that there are other 

 veins — parallel veins. It is rare that a single iso- 

 lated vein is found. 



13.^ The mine is but 25 miles from tide water, 

 and four from a canal now in process of conslruc- 

 struction. 



14. There are roads and settlements, and above 

 all, abundance of wood in the neighborhood. 



15. The mine is in actual operation — a steam 

 engine and ample minnig materials are upon the 

 spot, and an opportunity wjll soon be furnished 

 of obtaining any additional machinery of the 

 most improved kind in the immediate neighbor- 

 hood. 



From tlie Genesee Farmer. 

 STACKING IIAV. 



The plan of stacking hay is one which is not to 

 be commended in itselfj and which should be 

 avoided by every farmer as much as is possible 

 with the other arrangements of the farm. The 

 reasons which to us are conclusive against stack- 

 ing where it can be avoided are these: The out- 

 sitle of the stacks, forming no inconsiderable part 

 of the whole, by exposure to the weather becomes 

 utterly worthless as fodder — in feeding it out, much 

 of the iiay is blown away, or trodden down by the 

 stock, and is thus lost, that would be saved were 

 it fed from the rack or in the yard — the manure is 

 not at the command of the farmer, and of course 

 cannot be applied to those parts of the farm that 

 most require it, and to those crops that would be 

 the most benefited ; and when the stacks are made 

 in the meadow, as they most generally are, the 

 turf all around them is poached up by the li^el of 

 the cattle, and the surface rendered uneven and 

 unfit for mowing. Besides, hay fi^d out at the 

 stack will not go near as far as when fed in stables 

 or warm yards, nor will the stock receive tlae same 

 benefit. 



Still, stacking hay to a considerable extent must 

 be practiced for the want of barn room, and where 

 it is thus necessary, the best means of doing it 

 should be adopted. If it is intended that the hay 

 shall be sold, the larger the stack is constructed the 

 better, as the surface ,exposed is always less in 

 proportion to the size. If it is intended to be fed 

 out where stacked, smaller stacks will be prefera- 

 ble, as the loss from injury by the weather will be 

 more than compensated by the greater distribution 

 of the manure, and the less permanent poaching 

 of the ground. The better way of making these 

 ordinary sized stacks, is co lay up a square pen of 

 sound rails to the height of six feet ; on the bottom 

 tier of rails let others be laid across at little dis- 

 tances to serve as a flooring for the stack ; let the 

 top rails be well secured at the corners by notch- 

 ing or otherwise; a pole of suitable height, if de- 

 sired, planted firmly in the centre, and the pen is 

 fit for use. If the stack is well laid up, it will pro- 

 ject over the rails all around, to the distance of two 

 or three feet, thus entirely scieening the lower and 

 more solid part of the stack from the influence of 

 the weather, and is at the same tune completely 

 fenced against cattle and sheep. Such a stack 

 may easily be made to secure three tons of hay, 

 which is as much as can be beneficially fed out at 

 one place, to an ordinary stock. After a stack is 

 laid up the requisite height, and topped ofl, great 

 care should be used in throughly smoothing and 

 raking the surface downwards, so as to prevent 

 the action of rain and weather in the best manner. 

 We have seen stacks so constructed, that the rain 

 was thrown ofl" with almost as much certainty as 

 from a shingle roof; and others, the outside of 

 which was so arranged as to invite the moisture 

 to enter, instead of warding it ofl". In stacking hay, 

 English farmers generally show more skill than 



