FARMERS' REGISTER— HAMPDEN SIDNEY COLLEGE— BUCKWHEAT. 345 



Of this class, deciduous trees are preferable to 

 evergreens — because tliey preserve our dwellings 

 from the solar heat in summer, but admit it in 

 winter, when it adds to our comfort. The variety 

 caused by the change of the seasons in the foliage 

 of trees, from the first budding, to the fall of the 

 brown and golden leaves of autumn, also, serves 

 to relieve the mind from the dull uniformity of the 

 cone-bearing and resinous evergreens. 



The rich display of colors which our forests pre- 

 sent in the autumnal months, are not less pleasing 

 to the eye, than the varied greens of our summer 

 groves. Orange and scarlet, and brown, and 

 crimson, and yellow, mingle in every variety of 

 shade and tint. 



The culture of the locust is very easy — for it 

 may be propagated, either from suckers or by 

 the seed. Every one knows how prolific its roots 

 are in scions, if severed from the tree : — but it is, 

 perhaps, not so generally known, that the seed, 

 which may be gathered in autumn and sowed in 

 March, in a bed of good sandy loam, will come up 

 in 3 or 4 weeks, with as much certainty as may be 

 expected from any garden or field seeds. When 

 one year old, the young trees may be transplanted 

 to the nursery, and at the age of two or three 

 years, may be set out at proper distances for orna- 

 ment or use. 



Locust hedges, are much admired, though, as 

 yet, rarely, if at all, found in the .Southern States. 

 This, however, is a different species, (robina his- 

 pida,) which bears beautiful rose-colored flowers. 



W. 



For the Farmers' Register. 

 HAMPDEN SIDNEY COLLEGE. 



Anniversary Exercises. 



The public examination of the students com- 

 menced on the 20th of September and closed on 

 the 24th. During a protracted and critical exami- 

 nation an unusually large proportion of the stu- 

 dents were distinguished for their proficiency in 

 their respective studies. 



The commencement took place in the College 

 church on Wednesday the 25th. The following is 

 the order of exercises. 



PRAYER SACRED MUSIC. 



Oration in Latin, — De Italia, — with the Salu- 



MUSIC. 



VIII. Master's Oration,— Hugh P. Kirkpat- 



RICK. 



IX. Master's Oration, — Ethelbert A. Cole- 

 man. 



music. 



X. Degrees Conferred, 



XI. English Oration, — Sensibility to public opin- 

 ion, — with the Valedictory Addresses, Ro- 

 bert G. Branch, Prince Edward. 



sacred music. — prayer. 



The Degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred 

 on Robert G. Branch, Alexander S. Dillon, Ed- 

 ward Y. Hamlin, John R. M'Intosh, George W. 

 Pollard, John Shelton, Walter C. Shelton and 

 Thomas Watkins. 



The Degree of Master of Arts was conferred on 

 Patrick H. Elcan, M. D., Hugh P. Kirkpatrick, 

 Algernon E. Coleman, M. D., and Wm. C. 

 Flournoy, Alumni of this Institution, and on Hen- 

 ry J. Venable, a graduate of Centre College, Ken- 

 tucky. 



On Thursday the 26th, the anniversaries of the 

 following societies connected with the institution 

 were held in public : The Institute of Education 

 was represented by the Rev. E. Ballantine, who 

 gave a lecture on Classical Education, and by the 

 Rev. Wm. S. Plumer of Petersburg, who delivered 

 an address on the importance of elevating the 

 standard of Female Education. 



The annual address before the Philanthropic So- 

 ciety, w as delivered by George T. Swann, Esq. 

 and that before the Union Society, by the Rev. J. 

 Kirkpatrick. 



The Bible Society composed of the students of 

 college, was addressed by the Rev. Wm. S. Plu- 

 mer. 



The annual meeting of the Trustees took place 

 on Friday the 27th, when Socrates Maupin, A. M. 

 was elected a professor in the institution. 



peter m'viccar, 

 Secretary of the Faculty. 



1. 

 II. 



HI 



tory Addresses, — John Shelton, Louisa. 

 English Oration, — The influence of Chivalry 

 on National Character, — Edward Y. Ham- 

 lin, Amelia. 



English Oration, — The proper objects of the 

 Historian, Novelist and Poet, — George 

 Wm. Pollard, Hanover. 



IV. English Oration, — The influence of Skepti- 

 cism on Human Character, — John R. M'In- 

 tosh, North Carolina. 



V. English Oration, — Characteristics of the south, 



— Thomas Watkins, Charlotte. 



music. 

 VT. English Oration, — On Prejudice, — Alex. S. 



Dillon, Prince Edioard. 

 "VII. The Philosophical Oration, — The influence 

 of the inductive system of Philosophy, on the 

 progress of sound knowledge, — Walter C. 

 Shelton, Louisa, 

 Vol. I.— 44 



buckwheat. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



Although the 4th No. of the Register contains 

 a very good article on Buckwheat, I send you ac- 

 cording to promise, a few facts and remarks, re- 

 specting the cultivation and product of that crop. 

 Understanding some years past, that some farmers 

 in Goochland and Henrico, were succeeding well 

 with this grain, I procured three bushels, which 

 were seeded about tiie 25th July, on about six 

 acres of land, which had been ploughed the winter 

 or spring before for corn, but being detached from 

 the other corn land, and very subject to depreda- 

 tions from birds, &c. was left out. — It received 

 another ploughing, and was harrowed, before it was 

 seeded in Buckwheat. A second harrowing served 

 to cover the grain at a moderate depth. — So far 

 the crop was well managed, grew rapidly and ma- 

 tured in good time — but we waited too long before 

 it was cut, which should always be after the first 

 frost, however slight, or before, if there is not too 

 much in bloom. However, we saved eighty bush- 

 els of good grain, besides about ten damaged in a 

 stack, which was given to the hogs ; and a part 

 lost by cutting, after the dew had evaporated, say 

 at least ten more, so that we made upwards, as I 



