80 



" Sandy Point," No. 2. 



Vol. VII 



grains skimmed off, and then rolled in lime. 

 Nearly all was ploughed in with " two-horse 

 mould-board ploughs," and these were fol- 

 lowed by heavy harrows, as often as the na- 

 ture of the ground required. Sixteen two 

 horse ploughs, with seven harrows, having 

 three yoke of oxen to each, were employed 

 during the whole time of seeding ; and this 

 occupied twenty-four and a half days, aver- 

 aging 51 1 bushels of wheat put in per day. 

 The wheat vegetated freely, and presented 

 a beautiful and regular appearance. Its pro- 

 gress was of course watched with much in- 

 terest ; and at the " end of March, the general 

 appearance of the crop was very promising." 

 On the 3d of May, however, the Hessian fly 

 made its appearance on most of the wheat 

 sown on the corn ground ; and by the 10th, 

 it was found generally over the whole crop. 

 Notwithstanding the appearance of this ene- 

 my, it improved rapidly, and by the 17th 

 presented a pleasing and gratifying appear- 

 ance, giving promise of a profitable and re- 

 munerating crop. Several who saw it about 

 this time, estimated that the yield would not 

 fall below an average of ten bushels for 

 one sown. On the 24th of June, twenty- 

 seven cradles were put in motion, with the 

 necessary gleaners, and sufficient hands for 

 shocking. From this time, during the har- 

 vest, frequent showers occurred, and the 

 weather was "warm, damp and cloudy," 

 and the " rust" made its appearance in seve- 

 ral portions of the crop. From twenty-seven 

 to forty-two cradles, assisted to some trifling 

 extent, by Hussey's reaping machine, con- 

 tinued to operate till the 5th of July, when 

 all was cut and shocked up, presenting 2,501 

 shocks, judged to average from 4 to 4^ bush- 

 els each. Threshing commenced on the 21st 

 of the same month, and the rains having very 

 considerably hindered this work, it was not 

 completed till the 21st of August. Two 

 machines were employed. During this time, 

 the extent to which the rust had prevailed, 

 was alarmingly exhibited. "Every portion 

 of the barns and the labourers employed, 

 presented the appearance of having been 

 heavily powdered with red lead ; and where 

 it was left to accumulate undisturbed, it 

 could have been taken up in handfuls, fre- 

 quently causing sickness and vomiting among 

 the labourers." The results of the thresh- 

 ing were not such as they promised to be, 

 previously to the cutting. Instead of the 

 10 or 12,000 bushels hoped fbr, the yield 

 was about 6,600. Nearly 5,000 bushels 

 were sold, and 1,600 bushels preserved for 

 seed. In the opinion of A. Nicol, the rust 

 was almost the sole cause of the falling off 

 of the crop: he thinks the injury from the 

 fly was very limited. The purple straw 



wheat weighed the best, and proved the 

 most productive; it weighed from 58 to 61^: 

 the white turkey weighed from 56| to 58| ; 

 and 600 bushels of it were saved for seed, 

 and 1000 of the purple. 



Now, up in these " diggins," it would re- 

 quire several of our pretty staunch farmers 

 to furnish seed for this " Sandy Point" con- 

 cern : and yet I strongly suspect that many 

 of our farmers here — I mean in the vicinity 

 of Philadelphia, — have more land under their 

 care than they can do justice to, or make 

 profitable. 



To myself it has been interesting to follow 

 the operations on this estate ; and I hope the 

 brief abstract I have made, may not be te- 

 dious to the readers of the Cabinet. 



Z. Y. 



"Dear Wife." 



I hasten from the cares of day. 



With weary heart and sad; 

 Sure at my welcome door to meet 



A smile to make it glad: 

 A smile to make it triad, dear wife, 



A tone to lull to rest; 

 What wonder, like a drooping bird, 



I seek my sheltering nest ! 



I hasten from the gayest scene 



To greet a home so dear; 

 Sure, when the dull delight is past, 



To find my pleasure here: 

 To find my pleasure here, dear wife. 



Too happy in the choice. 

 To barter splendour for thine eyes, 



And music for thy voice. 



I hasten from the death of friends, 



A prey to sorest grief; 

 Sure in thy kind consoling arms 



To find my best relief: 

 To find my best relief, dear wife. 



Where every wound I cure — 

 Where, beggar'd of all other love, 



I could not yet be poor. 



I waken when my restless frame, 



Subdued by sickness, lies; 

 Sure, bending o'er my helpless head, 



To meet thy faithful eyes; 

 To meet thy faithful eyes, dear wife, 



Though dim with watching me — 

 Smiling to bide the weariness 



'Twould pain my heart to see. 



I quicken as I think of thee. 



When journeying far I roam; 

 Sure, at thy prayer, a heavenly hand 



Will guide me safely home; 

 Will guide me safely home, dear wife. 



To little ones and thee, 

 Eager with mother's pride to show 



Their newest tricks to me. 



I hide within thy breast my shame 



At passion's wayward will, 

 Sure, in that pun' confessional 



To tind forgiveness still: 

 To find forgiveness still, dear wife, 



All generous as thou art: 

 I cannot pay thee as I would — 



Heav'n bless thy gentle heart! 



Selected. 



