jNo. 4. 



AND GARDENER'S JOURNAL. 



•HS5 



53 



It is ascertained tbat there is not a sufficient impost 

 levied on foreign importations, to support the Federal 

 Government. But if it was double the amount it now 

 ia, we would ask what proportion of this revenue 

 would be paid by the cotton planter ? Does his bore- 

 foot black laborer, who receives his yearly suit of 

 Yankee tag lock cloth, and cats his peck of corn a 

 week, consume any article that pays a duty to govern- 

 ment ? I believe there is a single manufacturing 

 town in New England, which, if silks were taxed, 

 would pay more of the duty on that article, than half 

 the cotton planters in South Carolina. At the South, 

 the rich only consume those articles which pay an im- 

 « post duty. At the North, and in all the free States, 

 ' the whole mass of the people, the poor as well as the 

 rich, contribute in this way to the support of govern- 

 ment. But in the cotton growing States, the great 

 working mass of the population, are of no more politi- 

 cal or social account, save in the representation they 

 give to their masters, than the horses and cattle of the 

 North. 



We have shown, in a former article, that all the 

 cotton shipped from the United States to France in a 

 single year, did not pay (or the silks imported from 

 thence the same year. Is it not therefore a wise poll- 

 cy to encourage the culture and manufactnre of silka 

 in our own country, by a moderate impost on the im- 

 iported article. Would not the South be much more 

 (profitably employed, if, instead of all cotton, she turn- 

 led her attention, in part, to silk culture ! Her plan- 

 tations would not then be so continually desolated by 

 that exhausting crop; her banks would not then be 

 ruined; her planters bankrupt by the low price of cot- 

 iton, the result of over production and consequent 

 'glutted markets. 



Our tobacco planters, heretofore so obtuse in rela- 

 ition to the laws of trade, now, quickened by a sudden 

 (insight into the full extent, at least of their own suf 

 tiering interests, begin to ask for protection in the 

 ■shape of countervailing duties. When our fanners 

 complain of the British Corn Laws, they are answer- 

 ed by the fact, that there is generally as much corn 

 and pulse raised in the United Kingdom as will suf- 

 fice its consumption, and that if foreign corn was ad- 

 mitted free, it would only lower the price there, to the 

 itimulating of the manufacturing interest into our 

 more successful competitor. 



But as tobacco is not indigenous either in England 

 or France, the enormous duty levied on it there se- 

 riously lessens its consumption, while it reduces the 

 profit to the American tobacco grower, without oftijr- 

 ling any boon to European Agriculture. 



If ever there was a time when countervailing du- 

 ties might be tolerated, and home productions encour- 

 aged as indispensible to this nation's social health, thai 

 time has now arrived. For years back we have paid 

 for our surplus imports in United States Bonk shares. 

 State stocks, &c. &c. But in the utter failure of all 

 these devices, all balances must now be paid in coin, 

 every dollar of which we are told will give to thecom- 



]~munity three dollars of sound paper currency, which 

 alone can keep up the prices of the real estate of the 



country in like ratio. 



S. W. 





Tiaiisplauting Trees. 



Although we gave some directions last season, in 

 regard to transplanting trees, — yet we feel warranted 

 in calling the subject up again on account of its great 

 importance, and because it is so little understood by 

 many persons who ought to cultivate trees. 



When they are taken np in the nursery, care 

 enough is not commonly taken to guard the roots 

 against drying or freezing. Oftentimes they arc car- 

 ried many miles in an open wagon through warm sun- 

 shine, without as much as a blanket to protect them, 

 and perhaps kept a day or two in tbis state. If the fi- 



brous roots are not all destroyed by such treatment, at 

 least the spungiolcs (tumid ends of tlio fibres) must 

 be all withered; but frost when it reaches them in this 

 uncovered state, is not less injurious if they are allow- 

 ed to thaw in the open air. Bury them therefore 

 without deloy, and keep them so till the frost is all 

 e.\tractcd. Even peach trees, which are more tender 

 than pears and apples, have survived when planted in 

 a frozen state. In short, guard them at the time of 

 transplanting from both cold and dryness; and reflect 

 how much a fresh wound through our own skin would 

 suffer from exposure. 



It is not uncommon for a farmer to determine on 

 planting an orchard, without stopping to consider 

 whether his ground is in a suitable condition, or not. 

 Perhaps it is covered with grass — a meadow or a pas- 

 ture. Holes are then dug just large enough to admit 

 the roots of the trees; and if a prong should project 

 too far, and be too stiff to bend in, a side cut is made 

 for its special accommodation. When the roots are 

 covered, the job is finished for that season. A friend of 

 oui's, three years ago, procured pear trees from our 

 nursery; planted them in the manner we have descri- 

 bed; and the season proving favorable, all of them 

 lived, which however, he had no right to expect; and 

 they continued to live as he informed us to-day, but 

 with no more growth perhaps than just to keep them 

 alive. Now what has been the result of this course ? 

 All the time since they were planted has been lost in 

 regard to them — the period for gathering their fruit 

 has been deferred ; and the money so invested has pro- 

 duced no interest. 



Ground to be appropriated for an orchard or fruit 

 garden, should be ploughed deep, and reniiered per- 

 fectly mellow before the trees arc planted out. No 

 better crop can be selected for this purpose, than pota- 

 toes. To those who intend to have things done in Ike 

 best manner, we would recommend holes of six feet 

 in diameter, and eighteen inches deep; but those who 

 feel as if they could not work in that style, may dig 

 holes four feet in diameter; and then the tollowing di- 

 rections maybe useful: — 



Lay the rich soil at the side of the hole; but the 

 yellow or sterile subsoil throw back, so as to have it out 

 of the way, and not in danger of mixing with the 

 better materials. Chip-dirt, or something similar, 



should be mixed with the earth in filling the hole 



perhaps one-fourth, beginning from the bottom. All 

 trees that we have tried, seem to luxuriate in such a 

 soil. Set them nearly at the same depth as they 

 stood originally in the nursery; but then the earth 

 should be raised about six inches above the level of the 

 ground round the hole, to allow for settling — other- 

 wise the tree in a year or two may stand in a depres- 

 sion. 



It is important to have fino earth to throw amongst 

 the roots, leaving no hollow, but every fibre coming 

 in contact with the soil; and it is a good practice 

 when filling in, to shake the stem from time to time, 

 an inch or so up and down, to lot the earth settle in 

 between thern. When it is all filled in, press the 

 earth down firmly with the foot. 



There is another way of planting trees that may do 

 however, when a man has no spade, or is unwilling to 

 use one; and tbat is, to plough trenches where the 

 rows are to stand. Broad hoes or shovels well worked 

 would soon make the necessary excavation; and the 

 rich mould may be removed into it by the scraper, at 

 the same time taking care not to mix with it the ste- 

 rile subsoil. 



Well, what next 1 Why, havepvery tree fastened 

 to a stake, so that the wind shall not shake it and loo- 

 sen its roots; or by pressing the stem against the earth 

 near the surface, make a hole down which the air can 

 reach them and dry them. It is ecMom, if ever, that 

 n young tree does well when it is bent about in that 



manner, either by the wind or by the pigs. If the 

 stake is to be upright, it should he act clothe to the 

 stem; and as it might injuic the routs if driven in 

 amongst them, we prefer driving it before the tree is 

 set, which can then be placed near the stake without 

 danger. Sometimes however, wo drive the stakes 

 slanlhig into one side of the hole, and thus avoid 

 bruising the roots. Straw bands are the best for fas- 

 tening, becaiise if we wrap the band onca round the 

 stake before the tree ia connected with it, it prevents 

 them froin chafing. 



When the trees are planted, they are not to be for- 

 gotten. Neither horses, nor cows, nor sheep, must 

 approach them. If bogs are permitted to range there, 

 first and foremost, tie branches of the sweet brier 

 round every tree as a sign for these aiiininio to keep 

 their distance. Hogs will take hints of this kind, 

 and faithfully observe them. 



Not done yet 1 No — we have some more advice to 

 offer of great importance. Strawy manure from tho 

 stable or barn- yard, may be very usefully employed 

 round the trees to stimulate their growth, to keep the 

 ground cool by shading it from the tun, and to keep 

 it moist by retaining the light showers that fall through 

 the growing season. But this is not all. As often as 

 once a month, the litter should be raked off, and tho 

 ground round each tree well hoed to the distance of 

 two or three feet, and to the dcfth of three or four in- 

 chci. See that the workmen do it faithfully, for 

 some may think an inch is deep enough; and then re- 

 place the manure. 



A tree planted and treated in the manner recom- 

 mended is almost sure to grow, if the soil is not woik- 

 ed when it is too wet; and will grow many times 

 faster than one that is neglected. Besides it will come 

 much sooner into bearing, and always bear larger and 

 better fruit. t 



Agricalture in IVova Scotia. 



Through the politeness of the Secretary, Dr. C. C. 

 Hamilton, we have received a paper contoining eome 

 transactions of the Cornwallis Agricultural Society. 

 We extract the following remarks from the report of 

 a committee on the condition of agriculture, and the 

 best means for its improvement in Nova Scotia: — 



'* Vour coilimittee do not hesitate to say, that one 

 grand cause, why our agriculture does not occupy 

 that exalted position among us, to which it is entitled, 

 18, the want of intelligence in the farming population. 



This can oiily be remedied by the acquisition of 

 agricultural knowledge, and its application to practi- 

 cal purposes; and your committee would earnestly re- 

 commend the members of our society, and others, to 

 jioruse the periodicals end standard worts devoted to 

 their calling, which can be so cheaply obtained, and 

 which so much abound in interesting and instructive 

 matter to the Farmer. 



In pioof of our deficiency in this respect, it may be 

 mentioned, that although there are about 450 farms, 

 only li! agricultural newspapers are taken, throughout 

 this Township. The great advantages of iniellectuol 

 cultivatioit cannot be too highly prized, and can only 

 be appreciated by those who enjoy them. Of all other 

 ai ts and sciences, a thorough knoH'ltJge of their prin- 

 ciples, is considered indispensable to success: surtly 

 the farmertviU not remain inert, and Indiircrent, with 

 ample means of infiirmation within his reach, and 

 with prospects of a speedy, and adequate reward to 

 animate his exertions. 



Your committee in directing their attention to those 

 sources, from which our Agriculture may be revived' 

 and improved, cannot but deeply lament the withhold- 

 ing of Legislotivc assistance. 



In England, Scotland, Fraoce, and the United' 

 States, &Q., large sums are annually given for tbe en- 

 couragement of agriculture, ond in proportion to the 

 expenditure, has been its rapid advance, in oil tboso 

 countries. Any one conversant with tbe suite of ilieir 

 agriculture, can readily draw the painful coutrast. — 

 Your-coriunittee hoving observed tbe spiiit heretofore 

 manifested by the House of Asseniblv, cannot forbeaj' 

 from urging on onr member?, the necossity of renewetl 

 diligence, in the hope that somtihing lyay be accom.- 

 plished, era another session eballpass by,' 



