230 



NEW ExNGLAND FARMER. 



be J'ound to produce a much finer and richer 

 black varnish on the cast iron than either boil- 

 ing the black lead with small beer and soap, or 

 mixing it with white of egg, &c. which are the 

 methods commonly practised. — Dr. Cooper's Ed. 

 of Domestic Encyclopedia. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1824^ 



ICanlinucd from page 223.] 

 TARING AND BURNING. The instruments used for 

 paring and burning in Great Britain as described in the 

 Code of Agriculture, are 1. The Fen Plough. This 

 machine, instead of a coulter has what is called a Scaife, 

 or circular plale of iron, turning constantly round, the 

 edges of which are steeled, and kept sharp for cutting 

 the turf. 2. The Breast Plough or Paring Shovel, which is 

 calculated to be worked by men. The upper part is made 

 of wood, with a share of iron with which the sod is cut. 

 This instrument is pushed on by means of a hilt at the 

 top. The labor is excessive, but a good hand will pare 

 about an acre in four days. 3. The Cobbing Hoe. 

 This is a French tool for cutting and raising up pieces 

 of turf, growing on coarse and rough lands, which can- 

 not be pared by the common breast plough. 4. The 

 ProBg-spade. This is in the shape of the common spade, 

 but with three or four prongs instead of a plate. It is 

 used for digging the turf on the side of waste-banks, &c. 

 where the soil is too full of flints or stones, to admit rea- 

 dily the common or plate-spade. It enters the ground 

 with much less labor than the common spade, and raises 

 the turf equally well. 



" The common plough is also frequently made use of, 

 and in many situations is the best instrument for the 

 purpose ; particularly when instead of the usual share, 

 it is equipped with a paring spade. By using it, the 

 business proceeds with the greater despatch, and is at- 

 tended with less expense in the prerious cuttings, tho' 

 liy this mode it costs more for burning ; but then a 

 freater quantity of the soil is pulverized, and prepared 

 for the ensuing crops, thau when the breast plough is 

 employed. 



" When the plough is used and the soil is a peat 

 moss, the horses must often be accommodated with pat- 

 tens ; a particular description of which, with engrav- 

 ings, is given in Communications to the Board of Agri- 

 culture. In the fen districts, particular attention is paid 

 to breed horses with broad hoofs, that they may be ena- 

 bled to tread the soft soil with more safety." 



" The Depth.— The usual depths are, from about 

 one to six in(', "s. In shallow soils the turf cannot be 

 too thin. In Devonshire indeed, they endeavor, by cut- 

 lin'' them in small pieces, and driving them about by 

 barrows, to shake off the earth, and to leave nothing 

 but the grasses and their roots to burn. Two inches 

 are generally thought sufficient ; but the late Mr. 

 AVilkes, of IVTeasham,in Derbyshirf, frequently plough- 

 ed old, rough pastures, eight or nine inches deep, and 

 burnt th • whole furrow ; and with the ashes, he not 

 only manured the land pared, but as much more. — 

 This, however, was rather burning the soil, than par- 

 ing and burning the surface. 



^- Modes of Burnins: the .Sorts When the sod or 



turf is pared by any of these means, it is dried prepar- 

 atory to burning. This is commonly done by letting 

 the sods lie as the paring instrument left them, several 

 days, thus drying their earthy siite ; then turning the 

 grassy side upwards for two or three days ; and if more 

 drying should bt necessary, they are placed on their 

 edges, two sods supporting each other a day or two, by 

 which both sides may dry at the same time. The 

 burning process may he facilitated, in moist seasons and 

 r.liniate, by the use of portable furtiaces, made of old 

 iron hoops of the following figure and dimensions. 



g g g g e 



A A 



" In general, however, the sod or turf is burnt, either 

 in small heaps, — large ones,— or spread on the surface. 



" It is most convenient for the workmen, to collect 

 the sods in small heaps on a field, ten or twelve feet 

 apart, and to fire the heaps by a few red hot ashes, tak- 

 en from tl>e heaps that have been previously fired. 



" Mr. Boys strongly recommends large heaps, each 

 containing twenty cart loads, as more advantageous 

 than small ones There would thus be more inside, if 

 properly attended to, converted by the smothering pro- 

 cess, into a carbonaceous substance, by which the ash- 

 es would acquire more fertilizing properties. 



" In one instance, instead of the sward being collect- 

 ed into heaps, it was all burnt over the surface, in the 

 state in which it was left by the paring spade, and 

 charred, instead of being reduced to ashes. This plan 

 was attended with the best effects ; for though the for- 

 mer produce was Bierely heath and ling, yet it produc- 

 ed spontaneously, a most luxuriant crop of grass, 

 which continued permanent. There is something re- 

 sulting from heat, applied to the surface of the soil, the 

 advantages of which are not yet sufficiently un- 

 derstood." [To be Continued.] 



The following handsome notice of Mr. Bates'' Ad- 

 dress is taken from the last No. of the American Far- 

 mer. We are happy to perceive that the merits of that 

 valuable performance are duly appreciated by the Edi- 

 tor of a Journal so widely circulated and soably con- 

 ducted. We hope Mr. Sedcwick's Address will meet 

 with similar attention from the same quarter, and 

 should be very much gratified with the assurance that 

 both these productions were in the possession of every 

 Agriculturist in the United Stales, and were to bedili- 

 o-ently perused till their sound and valuable maxims 

 were indelibly imprinted on the memory of every citi- 

 zen capable of deriving; benefit from such estimable 

 sources. 



" We shall be Blamed, at the first glance of it, for 

 publishing an article in one paper, so long as Mr. Bates' 

 address. All we have to ask in extenuation or justifi- 

 cation is, that we be not condemned, until the address 

 is rrarf. The views of political economy it exhibits are 

 profound, and yet clearly and simply expressed, a great 

 excellence in writing on that subject — but they are not 

 so clearly conveyed as not to require it to be read with 

 attention. The subject does not admit of that— stu- 

 dies of this nature are as necessary to young Farmers, 

 who would understand their interests and their rights, 

 as experience is to a practical workman. We would 

 recommend that such papers be read at the family fire 

 fide — and aloud by the farmer's son. Thus will amuse- 

 ment be mixed with utility, and the ideas and (he 

 truths they convey will in this way be impaited at the 

 same time to several minds instead of cue. As to the 

 applicntion of Mr. Bates' premises, that is another mat- 

 ter— about which our readers can form their own judg- 

 ment. The reasoning may be clear and good, which 

 leads us to perceive and unders!and important (ruths in 

 political economy ; and yet those truths may be used in 

 attempting to establish ulterior positions and hypothe- 

 sis, which are not tenable. The benefit which agri- 

 culture is to Tcct'we horn an increase of duties on im- 

 ported articles consumed by the farmer, and paid for 

 with his products, will be better understood when we 

 come to publish some additional papers on the score of 

 its expedii ncy — in the mean time, those who would de- 

 ny or afiirin the constitutional power of Congress to 

 enact such an increase, with an exclusive view to the 

 enrouragemrnt of particular branches of domestic in- 

 dustry, are rospectfully reTerrrd to the able essay un- 

 der (lie signature ol RvBis CoNSui.Tus, in number 42 

 of this volume." 



)) 



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FOREIGN. 

 A London article of I'ec. 15, states, in substance, that 

 the Russian and Hutch Government intend, early in 

 the spring to unite their efforts to put the Spanish Mon- 

 arch in possession of Spani.'h South America. 



Pirates.— The last news from Porto Rico is that (he 

 I'iiatrs were renewing their depredations and had 

 boarded two American vessels, which were not after- 

 wards heard of. 



Havana. — A considerable portion of that city a 

 the Island of Cuba are not satisfied with the presei 

 der of things, and seem determined not to submit t 

 present government of Spain. 



The Marquis of Casa Ir'ijo, formerly F.mbassat 

 the United States, is appointed by Ferdinand the 

 cnth Prime Minister of Spain. 



The loans raised by the former Cortes of Spaii 

 swept away, and declared void by the present ; 

 ment. 



DOMESTIC. 

 Mr. Webster. — Mr. Webster, the distinguished 

 resentative of Boston, in the National Congress, ; 

 personally known to the people of Charleston, who 

 therefore feel some interest in the following 

 sketch of his character and history. 



He is a native of New Hampshire, and was edui 

 at Dartmouth College in that state. After a few 

 practice at the bar he was elected a member of 

 gress at a period when our difficulties with foreig 

 tions, and our internal dissentions rendered our n; 

 al legislature the theatre of the most important 

 most impassioned discussion. At that time Mr 

 ster obtained and still enjoys the esteem and rf 

 the most virtuous and enlightened men with who 

 was associated. 



The concerns of his famUy requiring his attent: 

 his profession, be declined a re-election to Congre 

 and, subsequently, only a few years since remov 

 Boston. 



The enlightened people of that place — who for 

 had enjoyed intercourse with the profound learni 

 Parsons — the dignified eloquence of Dexter — anc 

 unequalled fascinations of Otis, looked eagerly Ic 

 who should remind them of these. And the gentl 

 of the Boston Bar, actuated by the most kind 

 brotherly feelings, welcomed Mr. W ebster as an 

 ciate, w ith the most perfect conscionsness that he 

 to surpass them in the race. 1 here is no envy in 

 minds — and nothing selfish in the votaries of truth 



The town of Boston has always been ally rtpr< 

 ed— but at the last election, af a public meeting 

 nuiel Hall to select a candidate in the roem 

 Gorham, who declined re-election, that gentUmai 

 dressed the meeting, and doing great iipjustice to 

 self, .-poke lightly of his own ability, and reccnit 

 ed Mr. Webster to supply his place — because . 

 well known reputation lor talents and virtue, .and 

 ticularly because the lale Mr. Lowndes, ever 

 named with love and with sorrow, had spoken tb 



him " We in the South have not his superior 



you in the North have not his equal." beautiful 

 monial of kindred genius ! 



The people of Boston felt this appeal and ack 

 ledged it, and Mr. Webster was elected by an imn 

 majority over a highly respectable opponent. 



His career at W'athington will illustrate itself. 



In private life, he is beloved for extreme disinf< 

 edness, for a love of mankind, and a carelessnt 

 wealth, because wealth cannot and ought not to Si 

 the slightest aspiration of the lofty mind. 



He is a man of dark countenance ard, scemii 

 of stern features, artless in manners, generous in d 

 sition, and holdirg his great talents only astiuste 

 truth, and learning, and liberty, and happiness. 



[Charleston Ccyurii 



The annual Report of the Secretary ef the TrfBi 

 was transmitted to Congress, en the2dinsl. Th' 

 telligencer furnishes the following summaiy of its 

 tents. 



The precise amount of the actual Recti) Is into 

 Treasury during the three first quarters of the depa 

 year (1B23) are ascertained to be $16,1';4,(: 3, and 

 receipts for the fourlh quarter of the sail e y<ar is 

 mated at $4, 2'0.(i00, making a total rtvi uue for 

 year, of $20,444,035 ; and with the balance which 

 in the Treasury on the first day of that year, inaki: 

 total amount of $24,681,462. The Expenditures! 

 in" the three first quarters of the same year » 

 <;r6,422,847, and the Expenditures for the fourlh q 

 ter of the same year are estimated at $3,l;94,559, n 

 in" a total expenditure during the last year of |l5,3 

 407, and leaving a balance in the Treasury on the 

 day' of the present month estimated at $9,364, 'J55. 



