706 



FARMERS' REGISTER, 



[No. 11 



in the United States, is not only able to provide 

 for their wants, but furnish Inrire supplies of hay 

 for exportation, it proves that England is far ahead 

 of ns in productive larming, and that we ought to 

 mend our agricuhure at once. It is the cultivation 

 of roots, that enables English tiirmers to keep so 

 many cattle, and spare us their surplus hay ; and 

 American farmers must follow the example, or 

 fail of their profits and their success. It is sur- 

 prising with what tenacity our farmers cling to 

 old usages; and persist in mowing ten acres of 

 land to get fifteen or twenty tons of hay, when 

 two acres of roots will furnish more and far supe- 

 rior food. There is hardly a crop produced, more 

 certain than the ruta baga, unless attempted on 

 soils decidedly unflxvorable, and their excellence 

 has been fully tested lor feeding and fattening cat- 

 tle and sheep ; yet not one half our farmers can be 

 induced to attempt the culture of the root. It is 

 satisfactory to know, however, that the root cul- 

 ture is gaining ground; and Ihat those who have 



tried the turnip, will not readily relinquish its use 

 and benefits. 



'join-beef papee. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



Scotland Neck, iV. C. 20th Jan. 1837. 

 Below, you will find what is called in this neigh- 

 borhood, a "join-beef paper." It has been found 

 very convenient to the farmers in this neigh- 

 borhood, and will be so to all, where not situated 

 near to a market. As a proof of its convenience, 

 I have now in my possession papers which will 

 show it to have been regularly kept up for the 

 last sixty years in this neighborhood. I have ne- 

 ver heard of it in any other place but here. If you 

 think its publication in the Farmer's Register 

 will contribute any thing to the convenience of 

 your readers, you can publish it — otherwise you 

 can destroy it. 



The first column, A, B, C, &c. represents the 

 "joiners'" names: the Second represents A, the first 

 killer of beef, who puts the weights under tach 

 piece that he sends to the other joiners. When 

 B kills, he puts the weight in second column, and 

 each joiner follows on in the same way until the 

 join finishes. The join can be once or twice a 

 week. li' for once a week, the paper will last 

 eight weeks — if twice a week, only (bur weeks. 

 In our neighborhood, we join twice a week. The 

 beeves weigh from fifty to sixty, per quarter, as 

 this size is most convenient to most farmers here. 

 If one kills a beef rather smalt this year, he gene- 

 rally kills a largernext ; or if he kills one too large, 



he kills a smaller one next time. The weights 

 are put down more for the purpose of keeping 

 them from sending to the wrong person than any 

 thing else. By examining the paper you will see 

 that each one returns the same piece sent him by 

 his neighbor. 



WM. R. SMITH, senr. 



Washington's views of wau and agri- 

 culture. 



We find the following sentiments in a letter 

 written to Arthur Young, Esq., of Great Britain, 



