VOL,. XHI. NO. 83 



AND HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



179 



!er is not secured l)y wnrmth alone — and that 

 health is of more importance even tlian economy. 

 Haii Count Rnmford been born in this age of An- 

 ihracitc, he would soon have reconciled all these 

 difficulties. — JVtw York American. 



From the Southern AgriaiUuralist. 

 ASHES OP SALT MARSH AS A MANURE. 



It wouIiI be very idle, at this time of day, to 

 ay to the putilic that manure is an improver of 

 !»nd, and that we should attend to this in our Jlg- 

 icultural country ; but it may not be useless to 

 loint out one of the most abundant sources of ma- 

 lure in this country, wliich has been almost, if not 

 {together neglected. 



In Holland, and the neighboring countries a rna- 

 ure is prepared of such a value that it is a very 

 onsiderable article of commerce, and is transported 

 ven by land carriage, to a very great distance, 

 robablo one hundred miles or more. A proof of 

 le value of this manure is, that it has been in use 

 id thus c.uried abroad for a cintury, or probably 

 inucli longer period, and that it stiil continues to 

 3 used more and more extensively. Another 

 roof of its value is that a i)erson in the Nether- 

 nds has lately formed an establishment to com- 

 junda manure in imitation of the " Dutch ashes," 

 lie mannre here alluded to) and has obtained a 

 itent. His compound is made of refuse bitumi- 

 )us pit-coal with common salt, and I think car- 

 )nate of lime. These ingredients being reduced 

 a coarse powder are made into something, in the 

 rm of bricks and burnt, when it readily falls to 

 iwder :i^:un, and thus forms the imitation of the 

 Dutch ashes," and he even pretends that the iin- 

 oving properties of his ashes are superior to 

 ose of nis model. The " Dutch ashes," called, 

 Fraiii-c, " Cendres de mer," (sea-ashes) are pro- 

 ired by binning peat which is salt or brackish. 

 ieseasii,-s are found very beneficial in most kinds 

 crops, and are, as I have stated above, carried 

 a very great distance, perhaps to a greater than 

 y other manure in any part of the world. This 

 an indMiiitable proof of the very iiigh estima- 

 n in which it is held. Now, I have said that we 

 ve most abundantly the materials for it. 

 What is the peat which is so valuable in Hol- 

 id, ami irj what does it differ from our scdt marsh? 

 seems ,.. me that the peat of Holland was once 

 t-mar.-ii, like those every where on low flat lands 

 rdering on the sea, and that the greater decom- 

 iition of the vegetable matter that composes it 

 I be the only, or at least, the chief difference 

 ween iliem. Now, it is very doubtful whether 

 8 peat IS superior to newer salt-marsh for the 

 rpose II being converted into ashes for agricul- 

 al u»os. The salt-marshes contain the same 

 ;etal)li- and animal matter, the same earths, salt, 

 ills, &r. as are most probably to be found in tlie 

 Hand p,at. We have, then, on our sea-board, 

 1 for a . oiisiderable distance inland, a most in- 

 iiausti, .; source, not only of manure, but of 

 alth, I tJie enterprising persons who would 

 ke it ;. ■ .usinessto dig and burn this matter, and 

 lusaml- of boat loads might be sent yearly as 

 ,li up . .,■ country as the navigation of our ri\er 

 uld p^ 1 ,iit, or as far as our rail-roads may e.\- 

 fl. Si.iely, whatever is so highly valued in 

 rope I list possess a relative value here, and 

 at ca: ;.e more desirable in this country than to 

 der I.:;,- cultivated land more fertile, instead ot 

 ng til uil out as old fields, which are a disgrace 

 iny ag. icnltural country ? Situated as I urn in 



the centre of the State, it is distressing to witness 

 llie continual emigration of our citizens to the new 

 Slates, by which the ])iosperity, the wealth and 

 welfare of the State must necessarily be impair- 

 ed. With all the means within ourselves of 

 rendering our country a real earthly paradise, 

 shall We suffer it to become a desert? Will 

 no patriotic gentleman make some exertions to 

 |)rcvent this by giving the most valuable exam- 

 ple by which they, their posterity, and their coun- 

 try ;nay be not only saved Irom nearly utter ruin ; 

 but improved in wealth, population and power? 

 Our climate and country are generally healthy, 

 some of our soil is very fertile, the whole suscepl 

 tible of improvement, and, to attain this most im- 

 portant object, scarcely any thing more is n'eces- 

 .sary than to will it. 1 assert it without fear of ef- 

 ficient contradiction, thai the territory of South 

 Carolina, by its aptitude for agriculture and com- 

 merce, is, or may be rendered adequate to the sup- 

 port, in abundance and happiness, of a population 

 at least tenfold its present one — and yet it is suffer- 

 ed to dwindle to a mere wilderness. 



I am, very respectfully, N. Hereemont. 



A NOEIiE SENTIMENT. 



The more I am acr|iiainted with agricultural af- 

 fairs, the better I am pleased with them ; insomuch 

 that I can nowhere find so great satisfaction as in 

 those innocent and useful i)ursnits. In indulging 

 these feelings I am led to reflect how much tnore 

 delightful to an uiulebauched mind is the task of 

 making improvements on the earth, than all the 

 vain glory which can be acquired from ravaging it 



by the most uninterrupted career of conquests 



ffashincrton's Letters to .fhtltur Yountr. 



COMMUNICATION. 



For ttie New Engtand Farmer. 

 HOG PENS. 

 It is a trite, though no less true remark, that 

 " experience is the best teacher of loisdom." In no 

 respect is this more true than in the planning and 

 construction ofdwelling-houses, barns, &c. There 

 is scarcely any one, who, after the most deliberate 

 reflection and consultation, has erected a house, 

 barn or any other building, who cannot, upon use, 

 see something that might have been made better or 

 more convenient — and something that he would 

 alter or amend if he could. Man's judgment is 

 not perfect, nor never can be. We can scarcely 

 go into the smallest dwelling-house, — even "the 

 lowly cottage,"_or visit the smallest farming 

 premises, where we cannot see some convenience 

 not common to others ;— and some domestic ar- 

 rangement, which might be copied l)y others with 

 advantage. It is thus, by combining the greatest 

 i/unil)er of the conveniences of others, about onr 

 premises, that "the greatest happiness of the 

 greatest number" will be promoted. 



In no respect is there need of more improve- 

 ment in the arrangement and construction of the 

 out-buildings of the farmers in this vicinity, than 

 in that of Hog Pens. I have often regretted to 

 see very lady and gentleman-like appearin'g hogs, 

 with their numerous offspring around them, whose 

 sweet and melodious voices, — particularly just be- 

 fore dinner, — indicated a remarkable propensity 

 (as a phrenologist would say) losing, compelled to 

 mliabit premises, in which every thing but com- 

 fort and convenience seemed to be united. With- 

 out even a bed of straw, with a dirty place to take 

 their food, and without any place in which they 



could exercise the business of "furrow-turners," 

 an employment so congenial to their health and so 

 agreeable to their feelings. I could not but feel 

 sorry that so respectable and useful a race of ani- 

 mals, as the whole-hog family are generally consid- 

 ered, were nut provided with quarters more con- 

 venient, pleasant and profilalile. 



Many years since, when 1 vv.ns a mere tyro in 

 the business of farming (and 1 now feel great want 

 of skill in that occupation), an old gentleman re- 

 marked to me that " hogs ought to wor/c erwugh to 

 pay for their keeping." Hogs woi-k ! thought I, 

 the man must be crazy, — or does he mean to have 

 them labor on the tread-mill ! Ent time and ex- 

 perience have learned me, that by providing hogs 

 with a plenty of muck, turf, &c. they will, at least 

 pay much towards their keeping, by the manure 

 of the best quality, which they \v\\\ mamfacturc, 

 — and that too, without the aid of any kind of 

 machinery or any water power, steam power, or any 

 other power, but hog power. 



Having had occasion, recently, to construct a 

 bog pen, in which I believe there is at least one 

 improvement, I will describe it for the benefit of 

 my brother flirmers, and the good of all poik eat- 

 ers and pork makers in general — hoping' and be- 

 lieviiig that for these my iihihaiibroiiic efforts in 

 the swinish cause, I shall, at least, receive a vole 

 of thanks (an honor conferred on manv others be- 

 fore me) from the innumerable 'nog multitude, with 

 which our country abounds. 



The aforesaid hogpen ig 21 feet long by 18 

 feet wide, with posts 8 feet long, which gives room 

 for a chamber above, from which, by a board left 

 loose for the jiuriiose in llie floor, the hogs can be 

 fed wish corn, aiul ii; the snnmier with |)otatoep, 

 &c. that may be put away there, without much 

 labor. Ten feet across one side is occujiied with 

 3 pens, — and each pen has a yard in the rear 

 (an indispensable I consider it) in which the raw 

 material is manufactured into first rate manure. 

 Rut what I consider the improvement is in first 

 placing down the slee|)ers, then the floor, and then 

 the sills on the top ofthefoor. Kach pen is hoard- 

 ed inside as well as out: and here is the advan- 

 tage, that notwithstanding the continual wet of a 

 hog pen, the sills being above the floor, they aro 

 kept dry and free from decay. 



The great difficulty with hog pens is that the 

 sills rot so quick. By my plan a new floor can be 

 laid, and I cannot see why my hog pen will not 

 last as long as any other building. 



The remaining part of it, not occupied by the 

 pens, into whicli an extrriial door opens, is occu- 

 pied by a cauldron fur cooking potatoes, &c. for 

 my hog family, and by swill barrels, provender 

 casks, and the usual et'ceirras of a hog pen. The 

 floor of tlio part not occupied by the hogs, is 9 

 inches above the other part, which makes it dry, 

 and affords a handy jdace to feed tbtm. One 

 corner of each of the 3 liog apartments is devoted 

 exclusively for their lodging, — which is constantly 

 supplied with dry straw, to the no small comfort 

 of my porkers, young and old. 



If the above description shall conduce, in any 

 small degree, to the better and more convenient 

 construction of the hog [lens of my brother far- 

 mers, — or to the comfort, and consequently ty 

 the growth and fattening of iliat very necessary 

 appendage to a farm, — short-nosed, short-cared, 

 short-legged and broad-backed swine, then my pur- . 

 pose will be fully answered. Farmer C. 



Bernardston, [Mass.] Dec. 2, 1834. 



