FARMERS' REGISTER— SEASONS AND CROPS. 



447 



lion still was made at his cost •- and he had an equal 

 right to insert any advertisement that could not have 

 been refused, if coming from another person. The pro- 

 prietor's interest is but remotely and indirectly concern- 

 ed in the advertisements, and even the lists of receipts, 

 editorial notices, &c. on the cover, are paid for as are 

 other advertisements. 



The Farmers' Register has not been, and shall not be 

 connected in any manner with the support or denuncia- 

 tion of party measures, or individual struggles for of- 

 fice. This course is not more strongly dictated by a 

 sense of duty to our subscribers, and the work we have 

 undertaken, than by feelings of contempt for the game 

 of party, and for those who are the players for personal 

 gain, or aggrandizement. But though politics in this 

 sense will receive neither admission nor countenance, 

 there are important political questions which are inti- 

 mately connected with the interests of agriculture, and 

 which will be discussed in the Farmers' Register freely 

 and fully. To treat of the great interests of an agri- 

 cultural people, without considering in any manner the 

 influence of laws, and of the policy of the government, 

 would be as great an omission as to treat of tillage, and 

 forget the influence and inequalities of heat and mois- 

 ture. Whatever measure of government, or operation 

 of law, may tend to the injury of the interests of agri- 

 culture, is a proper subject for examination and discus- 

 sion in an agricultural journal. But so far as it can be 

 done, such discussions shall be confined to their relation 

 to agriculture, and not converted to questions of con- 

 stitutional law, or used to subserve party or personal 

 views. 



This course was indicated in our prospectus, and our 

 opinions on such subjects on all proper occasions will 

 be advanced and maintained without regard to conse- 

 quences, or to any personal considerations whatever. 



REPORT OF SEASONS AKD STATE OF CROPS. 



The department of " Agricultural Intelligence'''' has as 

 yet been very badly filled, or rather has had no place in 

 the Farmers' Register. We now ask the assistance of 

 correspondents for the purpose of supplying this defi- 

 ciency. It will serve the interest as well as add to the 

 information of many of our readers, if we can obtain 

 and publish general reports of the weather, and pros- 

 pects and products of crops in every region of Virginia, 

 or as far as the Farmers' Register may be extensively 

 circulated. There is nothing easier than to be mistaken 

 on these subjects, and to make incorrect reports, notonly 

 from want of accuracy in making observations, but also 

 from extending too generally the particular facts which 

 have been correctly observed. The fear of falling into 

 these errors, from relying on information which was li- 

 mited and imperfect, has prevented our offering any re- 

 ports of the kind referred to, but which it is now thought 

 may be easily prepared, and safely and advantageously 

 published, if a sufl[icient number of our friends will 

 concur in the attempt. 



In addition to other obvious considerations, reports of 

 the state of agriculture in every district, from respecta- 

 ble and known individuals, made with as much accura- 

 cy as a subject necessarily so uncertain will admit of. 



would prevent much of the fluctuation of prices which 

 is caused by erroneous views of the effects of seasons 

 and amount of crops, and which is always injurious to 

 both producers and consumers, as well as to the regular 

 trader who deals between them, and is beneficial only 

 to crafty or lucky speculators. The general interest of 

 farmers requires that the prices of their products should 

 be fairly fixed according to the real demand, and 

 not above that rate, any more than below it, on account 

 of mistaken opinions as to the amount of the supply. 



For this as well as for other purposes, it is desired 

 that as many of our readers as may find it convenient 

 will furnish concise general statements of the weather, 

 state of growing crops, and the estimated products of 

 such as have been secured, together with any other ag- 

 ricultural intelligence which is worthy of notice, in the 

 particular county or district undertaken by each repor- 

 ter. In this manner many things interesting to most 

 readers, will be conmiunicated, or commented on, which 

 would have been considered (improi^erly) of too little 

 importance for independent communications. It will 

 be proper that every statement of facts intended to form 

 part of these reports, should be accompanied by the au- 

 thor's name : though unless sent in the form of a re- 

 gular communication for the Farmers' Register, the 

 name will not be published. It will, however, be de- 

 sirable that each one who may propose to correspond 

 with us for this purpose will permit the use of his 

 initials, or some other letters as a signature, and as a 

 uniform designation for the same person. 



It will be most convenient and proper for these re- 

 ports to be published quarterly. The number for Jan- 

 uary (if our proposal is approved and seconded,) may 

 contain the report of the weather, and of general ope- 

 rations for the preceding three months, embracing the 

 sowing of wheat, and the harvests of corn, tobacco, 

 cotton, &c. with any general remarks on the whole pre- 

 ceding year, which will most properly belong to the re- 

 port of the last quarter. In April, it might be stated 

 in what manner the various preparatory labors, which 

 belong to the first quarter of the year, had been either 

 favored or retarded by the weather, and its general in- 

 fluence on the prospects of crops. The report for July 

 would embrace the important harvests of hay, wheat, 

 oats, &c. and that of October, the then known results 

 of those crops, and the prospects of all others then 

 standing on the land. 



It is always most agreeable to publish whatever may 

 be communicated in the language of our correspond- 

 ents. But if any do not choose to furnish more than 

 materials for constructing a report, that aid will be not 

 the less welcome. Indeed, no report of the kind contem- 

 plated can be expected to owe much of its value to its 

 form and style. The materials will neceesarily be re- 

 ceived late in the quarter, and must be put together in 

 haste. We shall use the whole, or only extracts of se- 

 parate communications — the substance only, when the 

 same general statements have several authors — or both 

 the words and matter, when the case may require it. In 

 short, as the whole scheme is an experiment, the means 

 for conducting which must be furnished by others, we 

 can only now state what we wish, and not what will be 

 performed. 

 Of course the aid we ask will be acceptable from any 



