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THE GENESEE FARMER 



Jan. 29, 1831. 



TBX1 GENESEE PARMER 



SATURDAY, JAN. 29, 1831. 



CARD. 



The editors of the Genesee Farmer feel un- 

 der obligations to the public for the patronagi 

 their paper has received thus far, and are hap 

 py to find among the contributors to its col 

 nuns, some of the most scientific men of our 

 state, together with assurances from them that 

 they approve of the undertaking and will con- 

 tinue their contributions as time serves. We 

 also invite all practical men, who feel an inter- 

 est in this method of distributing useful infor- 

 mation, to favor us with communications re- 

 specting their several occupations, detailing in 

 the plainest manner, any operations which 

 they may think interesting to the public ; and 

 any enquiry they wish to make relative to the 

 arts and sciences, they are at liberty at all times 

 to make through this paps r Any not : ce of 

 improved breeds of stock, choice fruit or trees, 

 or any new and valuable seeiis, or discoveries, 

 will be inserted, for in this manner we hope to 

 serve the public, who we trust will favor us 

 with their patronage. 



THE AGE OP TREES. 



There is no hypothesis better established, 

 than that the concentric rings, or grains in 

 wood are annual, and that their numbers 

 are sure indications of the age of trees. — 

 The rings are sometimes not continuous, and 

 run out before they reach around the tree, they 

 are not always uniform in thickness, and fre- 

 quently vary in different sides without any fix- 

 ed rule, and again certain sides have a thicker 

 grain, constantly &, uniformly, the whole length 

 of the tree, which may be owing to some bend 

 it took ingrowing, wheteby the sap was Inn 

 derod from descending on one side, or to the 

 situation of large and extensive roots, attached 

 to that particular si do. By what rule the rings are 

 formed in the tap rooted vegetables, like the 

 beet, carrot, &c. or in the stems of the herbace 

 ous annuals, seems as yet unexplained. We 

 were led to these remarks by passing a few days 

 since, a large white water oak, cut for a mill 

 shaft; and on counting the grains, found from 

 the pith to the bark, 503 distinct and well mar 

 ked Cinccntrio rings, and it was yet to appear 

 ance fresh and green, and had only attained the 

 vigor &. man(tree;hood of its days. VVh;it migh- 

 ty winds and storms, tornados and convulsions, 

 what revolutions, what nations, anil Kings and 

 governments, has it outlived : where are the 

 red men that counciled under its shade, or the 

 grim warriors that ambushed behind its body — 

 gone, gone liko its own sire aud grand-sire, who 

 might have been a " «aplin ot sturdy growth," 

 when the vail of ihe temple was rent, or have 

 been coeval with Rome, in her " high and pal- 

 my state," the everlasting city, seated on her 

 seven peerless hills, now condemned to be 

 bound and fettered with bands from Baltic's 

 farthest shore, and with unnumbered circum* 

 girations, "cycle in Epyclcle, orb in orb," to 

 obey man's behests, who before knew none but 

 .heaven's command, tortured till the vegetable 

 fibre cracks, and has neither life nor strength, 

 and like all things, " yea, the gorgeous temple, 

 and the cloud-capt towers, dissolve like the 

 baseless fabric of a vision, and leavo not a 

 wreck behind." * i 



FLAX. 



There is no article which is the produce of 

 our farms, over which foreign interest and ig- 

 norance have held such undisputed sway, as in 

 the cultivation and preparation of FLAX. — 

 During the years of 1821-2-3, there seemed 

 a disposition on the part of our government to 

 encourage the growth and manufacture of this 

 article ; since that time, we hear very little a 

 bout it, and at this time a domestic manufactu- 

 red linen shirt is as rare as a white colt, and 

 the distaff and wheel will soon be reckoned by 

 our young ladies as instruments belonging only 

 to the age of chivalry. 



There are several opinions with regard to 

 flax, prevailing among us, which arc incor- 

 rect. 



First — That the climate and soil of the Uni- 

 ted States are not calculated to produco a good 

 growth of flax. 



Second — That flax which has been allowed 

 to stand until the seed was ripe, is not capable 

 of being manufactured into fine cloth. 



Third — That flax is not capable of being spun 

 by machinery. 



Fourth — That spreading flax upon the ground 

 and dew-rotting it, is the cheapest and best 

 method. 



Now we shall attempt, from our own obser 

 vations, and the authority of others, to show 

 these opinions incorrect. 



As regards the quantityof flax produced pr acre 

 m Ireland, Marshall, in his report to the Linen 

 and Hempen Board, in 1817, gives the averagej 

 quantity at 500 lbs. In receiving this estimate, I 

 and comparing it with the produce of our owni 

 soil, we must make allowance for the differ- 

 ence in acres, between the Irish and Ameri 

 can : also, that their flax is water-rotted, by 

 which it will give about twenty-five per cent 

 more than when dew-rotted, for which see re- 

 port from the Secretary of the Navy, transmit- 

 ted to the Senate of the United States, Janua- 

 ry 5th, 1825, and republished 1830. In addi. 

 tion to this difference, flax does not waste as 

 much in cleaning, by the Irish process, as by 

 ours, as they merely free it from the woody 

 part of the stalk, leaving it to be made fine by 

 what they term dressing, which is the same as 

 we call hatcheling. Now by looking into the 

 records of our agricultural societies, we find 

 that the produco of flax offerod for premi- 

 ums, was considerably above Mr. Marshall's 

 estimate for Ireland. In the Ploughhoy, vol. 

 2d, page 188, we find that the first premium 

 was given on 773 lbs. pir acre, and at page 

 179, a premium awarded on 619 lbs. per acre. 

 Now, il wo add to these crops fifty per cent 

 for the difference in measure and in rotting and 

 cleaning, we have the produce of 1040 lbs. 

 per acre. Our own opinions are, that we have 

 seen fiuer flax grown in America.lhan we eviri 

 saw in Ireland ; but do not think our land and 

 climate are gonerally is good as theirs. 



The seccond erroneous opinion is, that flax, 

 that is allowed to ripen seed, is not fit fur fine 

 elk-th. This point the LineH and Hempen 

 Board of Ireland havo put at rest. 



Having been convinced of the superiority of 

 the Lutcli flax over the Irish, in 1822 they sent 

 Peter Besnard, Esq. Inspector General for 

 Leinsler, Munsterand Connaught, into the Ne. 

 therlands, in order to ascertain the reasons for 



the superiority of the Dutch flax. In his re- 

 port be says — 



" Why so general an opinion as has prevail- 

 ed in Ireland, for u series of years, that flax 

 which gives seed is not adapted for her fine 

 linens, should have taken place, I canot con- 

 jecture." Again, speaking of an establishment 

 at Antwerp, he says, "I called at the manu- 

 factory and purchased a small quantity of the 

 yarn, lor the inspection of the Honoura- 

 ble Board, and which is sold at the rate of 

 £47,780 13s 4d. per ton. The yarn whioh I 

 purchased, is not of the finest kind, but I have 

 every reason to suppose, from the enquiries I 

 made, that it was spun from flax that had given 

 seed." We have had some yarn from Valencien- 

 nes, which was much finer than that alluded to a- 

 bove, which was made from flax which ripen- 

 ed seed. 



As to the generally received opinion.that flax 

 cannot be spun by machinery, it is ridiculous. 

 The machinery is not as complicated, nor as 

 costly, as for spinning cotton. But dew-rotted 

 flax is not worth manufacturing, when that 

 which is water-rotted can be procured. As 

 the season approaches, we propose to give the 

 Dutch method of managing their flax, from the 

 time of pulling until it is prepared for the fi- 

 nest of lace ; and I would here observe, that a 

 female might work one year od one or two lbs. 

 of flax to advantage. 



SHEEP. 



This is an important season for farmers who 

 would have fine wool from their sheep. Du- 

 ring extreme cold weather, when the groom! 

 is covered deep with snow, sheep frequently 

 suffer much in health by being fed entirely with 

 dry food : they become costive and feverish. 

 This never fails to cot the wool more or less, 

 or as it is commonly called, they become hide- 

 bound. This materially injures the quality 

 and quantity of the wool. To prevent this, 

 sheep should be fed with green food, where 

 that is to be had, where not, boiled grains have 

 a very good effect, and even turnips, potatoes, 

 or carrots, an- much better for them, after be- 

 ing boiled, and a little meal or bran, and salt 

 being added. 



Do not neglect them ; remember that Janu- 

 ary and February are the most trying months 

 lor sheep. It is a mistaken notion that sheep 

 do not want water in cold weather ; let them 

 be kept where they can git it ; if they do not 

 want il they will not drink it, as they are tem- 

 perate animals. 



■WASTED IN THIS VILLAGE 



TOR THE YEAK 1^31. 



More industry and less idleness. 

 More economy and less extravagance 

 More honest men than rogues. 

 More monoy than creilit. 

 More shirts than ruffles. 

 More morality than giog-shops. 

 More mechanics than dandies. 

 More stoekng-yaiii than street-yarn. 

 More stability than excitability. 

 More duration than ignorance. 

 More laborers than loungers. 

 More justice and less law. 



And " last no' least" the Printers wajil 

 More subscribers, and tho Editors want 

 More correspondents to.the Genesee Farmer 



