SANDY-POINT FARM. 461 



paper, "La Semaines," announces the invention of a steam-plow — or, rather, a 

 mode of digging by means of steam — from which the most wonderful results are 

 anticipated. The inventor is a young medical man, named Barat. The journal 

 states that " one of two-horse power was in operation at the residence of the 

 maker, who was constructing another of double that power. The machine pro- 

 ceeds along the field, and digs the ground with the greatest precision. Two 

 beams, furnished with five mattocks each, act successively upon the soil, loosen- 

 ing it to the depth of 12 or 15 inches, and pounding it as small as compost. By 

 using only one of the beams, a tillage of the usual depth can be effected." 



Now suppose a discovery equally auspicious for manufacturers or for warlike 

 purposes were announced, how long would it be before we should have it in use ? 

 and, since our Government disclaims all power to do anything special for Agri- 

 culture — on which, if on anything, depends the " general welfare" — why do not 

 Associations which, under national and popular names, seek popular support, es- 

 tablish efficient arrangements under which, by our Ministers or Consuls, or their 

 own agents, they should be immediately apprised of all such discoveries, with 

 the means of introducing them for the benefit of our country ? 



We have pleasure in submitting Mr. Boiling's obliging reply to our inquiries, 

 but first take room to add what Mr. Griscom says of one of our most beneficent, 

 but peaceful, and therefore hardly remembered benefactors: 



" One of the most gratifying incidents of my life was a visit to Beechwood, at Coggins's 

 Point, in Prince George, the residence of Edmund Ruffin, Jr., to meet there his father, the 

 author of the ' Essay on Calcareous ^Manures,' &-c., late Editor of the ' Fanner's Register,'^ 

 works which will insure him the gratitude and veneration of every enlightened agi-iculturist, 

 as long as works on Agriculture remain to be read. To ride and walk with him over the 

 scenes of his early and successful experiments — to visit with him the very marl banks from 

 which his first experiments were made — and to listen to his remarks and observations, the 

 result of so many years of the most jiersevering and indefatigable labor and study — was in- 

 deed most gratifying and instructive. Here the inquirer after a knowledge of the action of 

 calcai'eous manures on soils may have all demonstrated to his satisfaction ; and if he will see, 

 can no longer doubt the capacity of the soil of this region for the highest productiveness, by 

 a judicious application of means which are abundantly supplied in almost every fann in this 

 region." 



Yes, doubtless his writings and his practical illustrations have added hundreds 

 of thousands to the income of Agriculture and to the value of landed property ia 

 Virginia ; but what does the writer suppose would be done to evince their grati- 

 tude and veneration for Mr. Ruffin, by those who are sent to represent the landed 

 interest of Virginia in her Legislature ? Does he suppose, were he to present 

 himself in Richmond, they would rise in one body to receive him, and gratefully 

 acknowledge his visit as an honor to the State? Not they I His has been but 

 a plain, bloodless display of extraordinary zeal and intelligence, in showing men 

 how they may retrieve their exhausted estates, and rear their families in greater 

 comfort and respectability. He has never volunteered to take a life commission, 

 with two or three thousand dollars a year, to go two or three thousand miles to 

 carry death and destruction to the firesides of an ignorant and besotted neighbor- 

 ing people, who wish to be free without knowing how. Our landed representa- 

 tives, of all parties, will tax the people hundreds of millions for war, but dare 

 not demand one dollar for agricultural instruction. 



LETTER FROM R. B. BOLLING, ESQ. 



HUSSEY'S AND McCORMICK'S MOWING-MACHINES— STEAM-MACHINE FOR CLEANING 

 WHEAT— PRODUCE OF VIRCtINIA LANDS. 



Sandy Point, Charles City County, Va., Dec. 11, 1847. 



My Dear Sir : Your favor of the 3d was forwarded to and received by me 

 here a few days ago. Feeling the importance, largely engaged as I am in ag- 



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