120 



FARMERS' REGISTER— PINE LEAVES ON MARL— SILK, &c. &c. 



Pine liCaves on Marl. 



June 17, 1833. 



To the EiUlor of the Farmers^ Register. 



I give 3'ou the result of an applicatioa I made 

 this year, of marl combined v/ith pine leaves ; I 

 took a piece of land, of equal texture, and well 

 adapted to the culture of wheat and corn, where 

 the strength was as generally dilTused, as any I 

 could find. A part I marled, and gave it a co- 

 vering of leaves ; a piece adjoining, I did not marl, 

 but gave it a coat of manure, principally from the 

 stable, and fallowed the whole, which I put in corn. 

 The difference at the present time, though the 

 crop is not hall' matured, is very perceptible; that 

 which was marled, in conjunction with leaves, is 

 fifty per cent, better, in size and color, than (hat 

 which was manured only. Hence I am of opi- 

 nion, that in eastern Virginia, where pine is the 

 spontaneous production, and very abundant, that a 

 person cannot haAe a more economical or belter 

 dressing for their land, v/hen united with marl. 



EXPERIMENT. 



Silk Ciiltiire. 



To the Edilor of the Farmers^ Register. 



Sir — I was much amused to-day in reading your 

 intelligent correspondent's letter on the subject of 

 grailing the White JMulberry. It reminded me of 

 what I have often ridiculed in our Virginia cha- 

 racter — our peculiar habits of splitting hairs, and 

 controverting every assertion, however trivial the 

 subject matter asserted. 



Of every species of tree that I know, the White 

 Mulberry is the easiest to propagate ; and this is not 

 only established by experience, but by every book 

 that treats on the subject. The best method I have 

 tried is by seed, if it is intended to feed the silk 

 worm ; but for this purpose I should greatly prefer 

 the common red : either are good and easily raised. 



In two years, I have been able to rear trees, both 

 white and red, to feed, without injuring the trees, 

 1-5,000 silk worms; and if I chose to encounter the 

 trouble of a second crop, Avould furnish leaves for 

 double that number. I should however not regard 

 the trouble of growing a second crop of silk this sea- 

 son, if I could receive a willing support from my fa- 

 mily and those around me. But this wantof support 

 in my family will drive me from the culture of silk, 

 after having laid the foundation of a small eslab- 

 lishment, Avhich I had flattered myself might be 

 made profitable through the agency of my three 

 hearty, healthy and intelligent daughters. 



It is impossible sir, to resist the force of example 

 and the habits of tliose with whom we associate. 

 My girls are the very lifeofthe society with whom 

 they associate, and might make any thing they 

 would undertake popular; but as all Virginia people, 

 want perseverance, the young ones cannot stand the 

 prejudices of the old folks that are around them. — 

 However, this spring I availed myself of having 

 them athome with me alone ; we undertook to hatch 

 10 or 1.5,000 eggs, and in 36 days we succeeded in 

 forming about two bushels of cocoons, which look 

 as well after being cured as those considered of the 

 best quality. After getting the cocoons, they bog- 

 gled at reeling. I have the approved Piedmont 

 reel — we have tried to use it. After (wo attempts 

 we have failed ; and I shall now I fear, be obliged to 



tndallour cocoons to the north, for them to derive 

 {profits tour labor, as Virginia is obliged to do 



v/ith all her rough materials. We have the Ma- 

 nual published by Congress, and understand, and 

 can (alk learnedly on all (he principles — we can 

 split hairs and make pleasing calculations, but 

 want perseverance to do (he work. 



I think sir, you had better make an attempt to 

 excite this sentiment among our young people. — 

 While you are trying to improve our lands, you 

 must try and improve the people. I have scratch- 

 ed these lines hastily, and hope it will be in your 

 power to improve them, and make them suitable 

 to be published in your Register. 



I am pleased with (he first numl)er of your Re- 

 gister, and shall do you all the good in my power 

 to promote its circulation. 



AM OLD MAN. 



The letter of our unknown correspondent needs no 

 editorial " improvement," and we are ]}leased tliat lie 

 has made the desirable commencement of treating of 

 small but useful matters ^1 an easy and familiar man- 

 ner. 



Q,ueric3 Conceriiiiig- Field Peas. 



To the Editor of the Farmers'' Register. 



I have wished to make field peas a regular crop 

 in my rotation, with the view of profiting by their 

 meliorating qualities — but I have been deterred by 

 the ill success of my former attempts, though in 

 truth, none of them were fair experiments. My 

 anxiety on this subject has been increased by 

 reading in your first number, the esssay on " Ro- 

 (a(ion of Crops," and the remarks on field peas, 

 by " a Subscriber," (page 33.) I shall endeavor 

 to make some careful experiments on peas next 

 )"ear, and if they be v/orth it, shall send you a re- 

 port of the results for publication. In the mean 

 time, I shall be obliged to any of those among your 

 readers ■who are more experienced, to answer the 

 following queries : 



1. What is the supposed difference in expense 

 and labor in cultivating, and securing when ripe, 

 the crops of corn and peas, each being planted 

 alone, and on hind equal to that of the other.'' 



2. What is (he usual comparative product of 

 corn and peas, when planted separately, and also 

 wlien growing (as is usual in some districts,) in 

 alternate rows, in the same field ? The kind of 

 peas, and the time for planting them among grow- 

 ing corn, should be mentioned. 



3. What is the supposed diminution of the corn 

 crop caused by planting peas between the rows, and 

 can that loss be prevented entirely by the peas be- 

 ing planted late? 



4. Has sowing peas broad-cast been found to 

 be a safe and profitable practice, whether to obtain 

 forage for stock, or, by being ploughed in, to im- 

 prove the land for the succeeding crop of wheat? 



N. T, 



Plaiiliiig^^ Irisii Potatoes. 



From the Virginia Fanner. 



Buckingham, May 1833. 

 3Ir. Editor : — I planted a piece of ground in 

 Irish Potatoes, some of Avhich I cut in pieces, 

 leaving an eye to each ; the others I planted 

 whole. Those planted whole produced more than 

 those cut, though the same quantity in weight was 

 put in each hill. «• g. 



