>i. 9. 



vVND GARDENER'S JOURNAL. 



K?8 



nee to try nt the Circuit; eome jjond friend in lh« 

 nor huB sent ub money to pay l«io^, or n power 

 uiorney tn procure n pension lor one of tUe gallant 

 19 wlio shed his Wood in nsstrting our independ- 

 , and wo nuiet sec the CointroUer or the Pension 

 nt: wo have promised to meet our friend Jenkini 

 9 r H>m», and assist him in that UK'y bueincsawilh 

 ■h he is cntnnjilL-d. Wo are in the mreet. There 

 H a eUniJ in the eky, a:id the sun shines ont with 

 aiorial splendor. He has just reached a point in 

 heavens, from which ho looks straight down the 

 et we ar« to walk through, leaving not a foot of 

 de on cither side for shelter. There is no choice 

 to fuce liim in sU his tierconess. The pavement 



^BLdo-w«lk9 are heated to the icnipcraturo of a 

 Sijf. Oar soles are none of the liglitest; but our 

 burn as we tread these pavements of brick, which 

 m freMh from the baking. We pass along the 

 The sun has been shining for hours on the 

 lie of these houses, which are exhaling, for our 

 wnifort, lbs bent they have absorbed. Here comes 

 ut heavily led.-n, drngi;ed painfully over the pave- 

 it. The horse is struggling with -his load, pant- 

 at least thrice for every step ho takes; and the 

 nan is looking for « dry spot in his red bandanna 

 idkerchief, to wipe olV tho streams that are pouring 

 \-n his mottled visage. An unhappy cur, with his 

 e muzzled under the dog-law, has just passed along. 

 :; our Common Council ignorant of the natural his- 

 (■ of the animal, or did tliey invent this torment for 

 express purpose of makin;^ him mid by shutting 

 his tongue in hia mouth, and thus closing the 

 icipil outlet fjr his surplus heat? A li«lf a dozen 

 irer« hsve gathered under this awning, for want 

 I belter shade. They have just finished their half 

 :'e labor, and are breathing a moment before they 

 K>unter tho fiery ordeal, through which tUey ire to 

 8 to their dinner. Wiiat would they not give, of 

 little they hare to give, it they could exchange pla- 

 with one of the thousand groups of their fellow- la- 

 era in the fields, who, at this very moment, are 

 ehing their lunch under a tree of impenetrable 

 ide, and are preparing to lie down for an hour upon 



bosom of their mother earth, with the purest air 

 around, and tho grass and ground and wild fl.iw- 

 beneath them sending up freshness and Iragrance? 

 hat a contrast to all this do we prssent! Wo have 

 'cred up the fair face of our mother with bricks and 

 "ing-alonea: a few trees scattered along the siieets 

 talize «8 with conceptions of shade, which we are 

 to realize; narrow patches of grass of a few feci 

 length, in front or rear of our dwellings, parched 

 'wn, meet the eye here and tb«re — solemn monu- 

 nls, as they are, of the broader surfaces, which we 

 'e overspread and buried alive under our contrivan- 

 I to hide the face of nature. 



But, the heat of the day is past, and the night is 

 ing alike over the face of the country and the 

 >vn. We begin at length to think we breathe more 

 (ly. The streets are no longer blazing with the 

 • of the sun; but nla-l they have been gathering 

 it all the day long, and they are now giving it out, 

 1W0 pass through them, in streams as sensible as the 

 eath of a volcano. Those, who keep or can afford 

 hire vehicles, have driven out of town, and are 

 ■athing the free air, or snatching hasty glimpses of 

 fields and trees before thoy are lost in the darkness, 

 neaearethe favored few. The lot of most of us is 

 pass the evening and the night where we have 

 ised the day — in the heart of the city. And, spite 

 lits heated atmosphere, there is something animat- 

 ; in its aspect at the early hours of night — in its 

 g lines of flickering lamps, in the numberless lights 

 it stream from tho windows of its dwoUiugs, and in 

 '3 hundreds and thousands that are seen ia the streets, 

 ling at their porches or making iha tiinty pave- 

 ents vocal with their tread. 



IBnt the hour of rest has come, bringing nowdis- 

 Bnforts with it. As the air begin j to grow cool and 

 for the renovation of our drooping bodies and spir- 

 ,;, we must shut it out. Tiiis is tho overruling ne- 



lity of every niglil. The city burgess of the mid- 

 e ages was not more vigilant to close up thain- 

 its lo his fortified dwelling than we to shut up our 



martial tenement — he against the feudol enemy, 

 id we against the housebreaker and tho thief. But 

 ere are great occim M which call for fresh precau- 

 ins. The evening i ape i tell us that a gang of des- 

 mie villains aro abro.id, and that our property ond 

 vea are in donger. What a peering into the condi- 

 an of locks ond fastenings do these warnings pro- 

 icel We examine every wind"W', wo lock and bar 



liim. We bring forth >nir pocket pistols, see that 

 they are loaded, put fresh caps on them, and place 

 them within reach of our bed. Thus prepared for the 

 uost desperate e-^lreiniiies, wo commit oursolves to 

 he euro ol' a superintending Provii^cncc, brooding 

 over apprehended invasions of onr domodlic altars by 

 our Icllow-man, and with a host of bloody resolutions 

 at our hearts. 



These, however, nie eras in our lives. We are nol 

 always thus belligerent. Bnt in our best estate there 

 is no lack of discomfort. Wo must lio down at night 

 in steaming bed-chambers until the summer heats aro 

 over, and rise in the morning, unrefrenhed, for the 

 repetition of the same scenes, through which we pass 

 eil yesterday. Nor are we comforted by the frequent 

 suggestions, which spring up wiihin us, as to the 

 condition of him, who, in the calm and quiet retreats 

 of the country, lays his head upon bis pillow, with 

 the cool breath of Heaven pouring in nt every door 

 and every window, thrown wide open to receive it, 

 and sinks to rest with the assurance that, amid such 

 evidences of the power and benificenco of the Al- 

 mighty as those which surround him, no impious 

 hand will be raised to take from him his property or 

 shed his blood. 



Agriculture in Missouri. 

 We have often remarked that western ogriculture 

 must be peculiar in some of its essentin! features, and 

 are more and more impressed with the importflnco of 

 discussing such psculmritics in a manner that will 

 awaken attention and embody protitnble influmation. 

 We may say with much propriety that the agricultu- 

 ral science, regarded in iis proper construction, as op- 

 plieable to the weet, haa yet to be learned. 



We cannot find a portion of land in the whole 

 earth like ours; and while we admit that ihere are 

 certain principles ascertained to be proper in the 

 management of all soils, still there are others only 

 suitable to such as in their nature renuire their adop- 

 tion. We require a somewhat peculiar mode ol 

 ploughing, a peculiar character of grains and seeds, 

 and peculiar treatment. This must bo admitted, for 

 look at distant removes in any part of the world, and 

 you find local principles and local treatment in tilling 

 soils that are only proper for their own locality. The 

 vast quantities of land amongst us to be tiad at n 

 small valuation, and their exceeding richness, renders 

 t necessary thot our agricultural operations and policy 

 should he pecidiar. 



With what an ill grace do recommendations reach 

 us through the medium of foreign agricultural >voiks, 

 such ap the benefit of a nice system of drill husban- 

 dry — a system that would require na many hands to 

 an acre os we appropriate to a dozen, the one 'cre 

 yielding, perhaps, double one of ours, which is iis 

 only argument. Drill husbandry is neceeeary where 

 practiced, because land is scarce and high, making it 

 important that every inch should be made available 

 in the highest do gree. When we take into accounl 

 the value of labor, the largeness of our pfcntations, 

 and the pioductivcncss of our soil, such nice measures 

 must be discarded as impolitic. 



Then for us to adopt as a generol principle, the lav- 

 ish application of manure, is a doubtful means, and 

 unless an intelligent discrimination is practiced, at- 

 tended with danger. Wo do not tuy that we laok 

 upon the attempt to increase the richness of our soil 

 as useless, or that it ought to be regarded with indif- 

 ference, but would recommend, at present, oiher 

 meons than the application of manure. 



Such ol our soils as are inferior in production may 

 be vastly benefitted by deep ploughing, a mode that is 

 easy in its proctice, and making li'!e additional draft 

 upon our time or force. This, to|i(>.i'>3r with a tho- 

 rough pulverization of sward, will bo I'-und sufficient 

 for our lands for many years — at lisst it will be found 

 oetter to depend upon ihis, unt;' oihcr equally vital 

 considerations are acted upov >-h!oh now plead more 

 strongly for immediate attentsr^a. We will not speak 

 negatively longer in reference to our local needs, but 

 say a few words convey in,;;' our opinion of what we 

 seem to require in order to advance rapidly our inter- 

 ests by a suitable dovelrvment and application of oui 

 resources. 



To this end we njj iist to learn the nature and 

 extent of these ress^rccs. No individual or commu- 

 nity can employ mfttins with a good prospect of con- 

 tinued 9UCCPB3 ui'i^'.s a knowledge is first attained of 

 the character of r.icans in possession; when this is 

 'jy properly to apply. Are the re- 



ecided, it i< .... . . - 



_ ^ sources of a »Sv>te or larger community geographical 



id double-boll the street dixir, and shut up every j ly confined 'o particular policy, diversified in their 

 lening throush which the breath of night can gain nature, ()-.•/< f.-ill it b\ more difTicult to fix upon a 

 imittaice- The dog has his proper station assigned j un.f»r« v.« oi mcaov Vut situated as we are in tun- 



respect, the policy best to bo ndojited is apparently 

 dliTioni", for tvo are, in an unrestricted sense, an ngri- 

 cnltural community. In keeping onr eye upon de- 

 velopment and application, we would e«y that bI- 

 though we might arrive as a community to consider- 

 able eminence as a grain raising portion of our coun- 

 try, yet our markets are, and in all piobability will 

 be each na to make it saicidal to our interest to make 

 this prudact a itnple. 



We aay, that having properly nscertalncd all our 

 relations as an agricultural comnumity, we must, if 

 we wouki thrive, make our staple pioductiont — 

 Stucic, Tuhucco and Hr.iup. There must be mad* 

 the arlicles ol export. Upon ibise we must depend 

 for our circulating medium. All of these articles are 

 steadily rising in value and the demand for them 

 glowing greater. There ia no danger of oversteck- 

 ing the eountry, for we are importing and shall Ijo 

 for many years, two of them, viz: Slock and Hemp, 

 and there is a substantial market of Tobacco in Eu- 

 rope, and this is growing better, — Mo. Furrner. 



Subsoil Cultivatiuo. 



Sir — I am an old man, and an old farmer; but my 

 eyes ore not so dim, but I can see that there is much 

 to learn in the way of n profession that has hitherto 

 been considered eilhw loo high or too low— Jf/jie/i, 1 

 cannot soy — to odmit of much advantage from obeei- 

 vation or relleciion; indeed it is plain that w* shall 

 he distanced in tho race i f improvements that is ta- 

 king place aiemnd us, in farming, as well as in every 

 other science. But the eubject that has awakened 

 me to new life and fresh vigor, even in iny old age, 

 is, the cnltivntion of the subsoil, by means of moving 

 it by such an instrument cs that, c! which you have 

 given us a drawing in your last, the Deanslon Plough; 

 and for the first time in my life, I regret that I was 

 born so soon, by 20 years. Why, Mr. Editor, I can 

 see with half an eye that the thing will work, and 

 can fully understand how that the operation must be 

 as beneficial for a sandy, as feir a clay soil, much of 

 the former, as well as of tho latter, having a retentive 

 subsoil, which operates in a two-fold way to the injury 

 of the crop; first, in wet weather, as preventing a glut 

 of water from passing nwny, until it baa become pu- 

 rid and poisonous to vegetation, and next, in a timo 

 of drought, preventing ihe descent of the roots of the 

 ,ilant8 in search of moisture, which is ever present, 

 even in the driest seasons, within a given distance of 

 the surface of the eartli, and where, as yon say, they 

 go for water, which by their tap tools is pvvipcd up 

 to the lateral roots, while busily engaged in eean h of 

 food in the surface soil — a pretty idea that, ond worth 

 many times the subscription money of the Cabinet. 



To a want of deep ploughing might be attributed, I 

 have no doubt, the weakness of our whcnt-crop', 

 which ale so liable to be prostrated by any little gust 

 of wind, after it has shot into the ear, and often, in. 

 deed, before that period. With o strength, equal in 

 appearance to any vicissitude of climate, we find our 

 crops ready to fall by their own weight, and wonder 

 iliat with straw oftentimes like reed, they have ihs 

 substance only of the common grasses. This is tho 

 cause, depend upon it, and it is but natural thot it 

 should be so, for I have long considered the tap-root 

 of a plant — and which even wheat is furnished with — 

 to act the part of an anchor, and the lower and deeper 

 this is cad, the greater will be the power of resisl- 

 ance; while the secondary purpose which it serves, 

 thot of " pumping from below the moiture that ia to 

 serve as drink to the food which is collected by the 

 lateral roots iH tho Eurlace soil," is new to me, and 

 finishes the picture admirably. I consider thereleire, 

 theopeiation of subsoil-ploughing the "nephis ul- 

 tra, " as the old blacking makers soy — of suecetsi'ul 

 agriculture, and have great hope that by its adoption, 

 -ine-half, at least, of the the evils attending the culti- 

 vation of the wheat-crop will bo obviated, possibly 

 the blight ond rust, and even the Hcsoian fly, and e» 

 lecially (Ac lifling of the crop by frost.— rurmtre 



Cabinet. __^ 



Improved Husbandry. 

 The vast improvements in Agriculturul Products — 

 in roots, grain, fruit, and live stock — show what may 

 be done by judicious ctdtivation. It should be the 

 <iim of every farmer to secure the best that can bo 

 raised. The comfort of his family, and his pecun- 

 iary profits would thus be alike promoted. " A littio 

 farm well cultivated,'' is more pleasant and profitable 

 than great deserts of land overgrown with mullens 

 ind thistles. Thousands of farmers who now cat 

 -scarce "make "both ends meet" on a hundred-acre 

 arm, might realize double tho income and IcnfoJJ 

 ■omfurt from fifty well-cultivated nctos. 



