PRINCE GEORGE S AND ANNE ARUNDEL. 375 



vil, and the hatter and the miller, are close at hand to demand every peck of po- 

 tatoes, and every bushel of turnips, and every bunch of onions, and every head 

 of cabbage, and pound of butter, and pint of milk, and dozen of eggs, and barrel 

 of apples, down even to a bunch of parsley, or a sprig of sage or thyme. 



It was the fear of appearing to look too pryingly into his personal concerns 

 that prompted the apology which may be inferred from a passage in this letter — 

 a letter not volunteered but written with manly frankness, on our assurance that 

 such facts may be useful, if well applied, to the young farmers of the State and 

 the Union. For ourselves, we are free to confess that we value an exhibit like 

 this as calculated to do more good to society than all the details of the bloodiest 

 battle-field that any warrior's bulletin ever described — even such a field as that 

 wherein a " Hancock hoy," as an Editor says, writes home to his friend in Mary- 

 land ihat, in a late battle in Mexico, he and his brother Americans " butchered 

 the Mexicans like hogs in a slaughter-fen.'''' Beautiful scenes to which to innure 

 the " boys " of a christian country. Be it understood that we do not write here 

 as a partisan, but as a Christian and a patriot, whose position in life makes it his 

 duty, without respect to party, to watch over the general Landed Interest of the 

 country, and who cannot but experience inexpressible affliction at seeing an accu- 

 mulation of hundreds of millions of dollars of debts and pensions, for which 

 that Interest must be the ultimate security, and by which, in very large propor- 

 tion, it must, in som e shape and form, be ultimately paid. We speak as an Amer- 

 ican, in behalf of all parties that make up a class far more numerous and far 

 more liable to abuse than all others — one which exercises with so much less of 

 union and sagacity than any other the power of self defence. Believing as we 

 do, would it not be treason to be silent ? We do n't view it as a question of party 

 politics, else prudence if not contempt would lead us to be silent ; but we look 

 upon it, (the debt of the Government,) as one accumulating to a fearful and enor- 

 mous amount against the Farmers and Planters of this Union. So viewing it, 

 before Heaven, would they respect us the more for being silent ? 



Portland Manor, Dec. 10, 1847. 



My Dear Sir : Your letter did not reach rae until Friday last, but I hasten to 

 answer it as accurately as possible in the absence of papers and account sales, 

 necessary to a correct statement of all the proceeds of my farm. 



I think the proper distance to plant tobacco, to make it of fine texture, is 2 

 feet, 8 or 10 inches. In no case would I exceed it. Any distance over 3 feet 

 increases the coarseness and thickness of the leaf, as will, also, loiv topping. 

 My experience teaches me, if I wish to make fine tobacco, to top it as high as it 

 will make a tolerable leaf. The number of leaves will depend very often upon 

 the size or hight of the stalk, and again on the variety : probably you are not 

 aware that there are many kinds of tobacco. Some will yield one-third more 

 than others; but 1 prefer that of a good quality to a large quantity of very infe- 

 rior stuff that does not pay half as well as that of better quality. As you will 

 see, I have greatly curtailed my crop : I think I always average about 1,500 

 lbs. to the acre ; but that average greatly exceeds the quantity generally raised 

 to the acre. My rule \\\ hanging also depends upon the size. Plants that yield 

 from i to 3 of a pound when cured should be hung when green 8 inches apart 

 upon the slick ; the sticks should be the same distance. If it is my intention to 

 fire, (which is nearly dispensed with generally,) I hang about 2 inches nearer 

 than described above. 



The increase of the uwrm has not been gradual but rapid ; almost amounting 

 to a plague. I attribute it to the great increase in the crop, persons being una- 

 ble, from tiie quantity of tobacco planted, to keep the worms down, and all that 

 were not killed went into the ground and came out breeders for the next year. I 

 am confident that the fly that attacks the plant in spring in the bed is the turnip- 

 fiy. 1 will state my reason some future dav. 



(-35) 



