184 



FARMERS' REGISTER— PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE, &c. 



farming of this geutlemaa is worthy of all iniila- 

 tion, and if his example is not followed, now that 

 the description of it is given, his fallow citizens do 

 not deserve success, for his system is upon the best 

 English and Flemish models. 



Passing over many excellent articles, we now 

 come to the chapter on Slavery and Emancipation. 

 This is very properly introduced into tlie publica- 

 tion, as their slaves perform all their agricultural 

 labor, and it is a subject of thrilling interest to all 

 the states south of the Potomac. Each side of 

 the question is alternately taken ; for slavery and 

 against it, for emancipation and against it ; and it 

 is discussed for good and evil with a liberality and 

 frankness, a force and clearness, an evident desire 

 to arrive at the naked truth, that during the entire 

 reading of the article the interest excited is truly 

 painful : And the inquiry, what are the circum- 

 stances under which slavery exists in these states — 

 what its cousequenc es, in a civil and moral aspect — 

 what the remedy, and wliat the most attainable 

 means of applying it.' is pursued Avith equal can- 

 dor and patriotism. — There is no concealment of 

 the effects of slavery ; t!ie combatants are above 

 it; and when the public will listen to the argu- 

 ment, as it is here conducted by men of sti'ong in- 

 tellect, who understand their subject and are not 

 afraid to grapple with it, a judgment will be pro- 

 nounced according both to the law and the testi- 

 mony. It is another proof that " error of opinion 

 may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat 

 it," and that upon this subject our southern friends 

 are seeking information, and need no interiiied- 

 dling in the decision of what so nearly concerns 

 them. But Ihiik is not all, the free discussion of 

 this question is all important to Virginia. She has 

 long complained that the embarrassment of her ci- 

 tizens has been increased by the disquietude of her 

 blacks. The hrst step to cure an evil, is to ascer- 

 tain its cause. The ability and earnestness with 

 which she has commenced the investigation, is a 

 sure precursor to success ; and if there has been 

 an improper interference by little and malicious 

 spirits to produce this disquietude, their efforts 

 hereafter will be unheeded, for in the collision of 

 great minds, the ravings of weak and wicked ones 

 are neither felt nor regarded. 



A FRIEJVD TO AGRICULTURE. 



The reputation of the Farmers' Register belongs to 

 its contributors, and they have a right to know how 

 Iheir work stands in the opinions of impartial and in- 

 teUigent agriculturists abroad. Of the intelligence of 

 the writer of the foregoing remarks, his own language 

 is sufficient testimony — and his impartiality is equally 

 certain, as we know not who is the writer, and have not 

 the good fortune to have either personal acquaintance 

 or correspondence with a single agriculturist, (and in- 

 deed with scarcely a single inhabitant) of the great 

 state of New York. — [Ed. Farm, Reg. 



WATER DETAINED BY BORING, IN THE CITY 

 OF NEW YORK. 



JVeiu York, July 8. 

 We are happy to learn that the persevering en- 

 deavors of Mr. Holt to obtain Avafer by boring- 

 have at length been crowned with success. About 

 the middle of last week, the person engaged in 

 boring was delighted to find that he had struck a 

 stratum of limestone, from which he predicted that 



he should find water in three or four days. On 

 Friday afternoon, the drill, which had teen sink- 

 ing with increased rapidity since it entered the 

 limestone, suddenly dropped about two feet at a 

 single blow, and then struck upon a very hard 

 rock below. Immediately a strong current of wa- 

 ter arose, and there is reason to hope it may prove 

 to be of the desired quality. It is supposed to le 

 so copious that it Avill afibrd a constant supply of 

 as much as can pass through the pipe, v.hich is 

 about three inches in diameter. On this point, 

 however, it will be impossible to determine with 

 certainty, until the water ceases to be affected by 

 the foreign matter introduced into the passage. 

 The two or threc.fcet through which the drill drop- 

 ped, is no doubt a brook or fountain ; and the fact 

 of a flint rock or something like it, underneath, 

 promises well. The boring v/ill now be discon- 

 tinued. We understand that no vein of water 

 of any magnitude had been struck since entering 

 the rock about 130 feet below the surface. Some 

 water, we believe, Avas obtained before entering 

 the rock, but it Avas of an inferior quality. The 

 cost of the undertaking cannot be less than ^2,000 

 or 83,000. It has been in progress nearly two years. 

 [The drill had, Avithin the last six months pene- 

 trated 650 feet in depth, of Avhich 510 feet are of 

 solid rock. So much for perseverance] 



EXTRACTS FRO.AI PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 



^^melia, June 19ih, 1833. 

 I congratulate you and the agricultural public, 

 on the appearance of the first number of th.e Far- 

 mers' Register — the more, as the style and execu- 

 tion of the Avork so far surpasses Avhat Ave had a 

 right to expect in a first effort. It is perfectly ob- 

 vious that unless aided by liberal contributions (on 

 the part of farmers,) of the results of their la- 

 bors and observations, a Avork so large cannot long 

 be sustained by the efforts of any single individual ; 

 and, as I believe the existenceof it is almost essen- 

 tial to any great improvement in our agriculture, I 

 shall feel impelled by duty to contribute my poor 

 mite from time to time to fdling its columns, Avith 

 the belief that nothing in my practice is Avor- 

 thy of imitation — but under the h' pe that I may 

 effect something by Avay of example. With this 

 vieAv, I beg have to suggest to you the making of 

 such direct inquiries of farmers Avho ai-e distinguish- 

 ed for their success, as may serve to elicit from 

 them a sort of history of their practices. 



* * * # # ^ 



Such inquiries, made of R. S — , J. R — , F. L — , 

 T. M— , W. O— , J. W— , R. H— , &c. I am sure 

 Avould be cheerfully ansAvered, and Avould go fur- 

 ther to spread through the state a knoAvledge of 

 the best systems applicable to our country, than 

 any other plan I have thought of. 



South Quay, JVansemond, June 21. 

 * » * Will you do me the fi^vor to inform 

 me in Avhat manner the instrument used in boring 

 for marl, should be constructed ? I am induced to 

 believe that there is no marl on my land, but be- 

 ing thoroughly convinced of its benefits Avhen pro- 

 perly applied, I am desirous to ascertain beyond 

 doubt Avhether I have it or not. 



As a similar inquiry has been made by another cor- 

 respondent, Ave think it may perhaps be useful to others 

 also to ansAvcr here. 



