176 
Virginia land's.—Farm-gate and road-scraper. 
and to the credit of “ Honest John,” I now say 
it, that I think his subjects are less disposed to 
judge men by their cloth than some other people, 
having long believed the saying, that “ ’tisnot the 
dress that makes the man,” and now having five 
boys to clothe, I find it quite convenient to breed 
such sheep as produce wool sufficiently fine to clad 
any practical farmer. I like the South-Downs 
much better than any other breed of sheep that I 
have ever bred, and I have not, for the last forty 
years, failed to breed a small flock every year. I 
have had the Irish, Leicesters, and some few Me¬ 
rinos. The first two I liked well until I obtained 
the Downs, and began to wear a domestic coat, 
and now I think their wool scarcely fit for stock¬ 
ings. Were I to make a business of growing 
wool, I should most certainly cross the Down with 
the Merino, by which means I could increase the 
weight of the Merino fleece sufficient to make up 
for the wool not being quite so fine, and then have 
a much more profitable sheep for the butcher, be¬ 
sides a much better constitutioned animal. Respect- 
fullv thy friend, 
Joseph Cope. 
For the American Agriculturist. 
VIRGINIA LANDS. 
Washington , D. C ., August bth, 1843. 
Dear Sir : I am thus far on my return from an 
exploration of that part of Virginia, lying within a 
circuit of 50 to 100 miles from this place, and do 
not hesitate to say, that considering its advantages 
as an old country, it is much to be preferred for 
settlers from the north, than any part of the west 
with which I am acquamted. Lands can be had 
here, that are really quite eligible, from $5 to $15 
per acre; and though apparently poor and exhaust¬ 
ed, there is abundant material close by for renova¬ 
tion. I shall give you details hereafter, not hav¬ 
ing time now. Our company have about concluded 
to settle at ——, but more of this anon. Wheat and 
other grains have proved a good crop; corn looks 
well now, though it has suffered some from the 
drought. Yours sincerely, 
G. A. C. 
We are quite obliged to Mr. McLean for the 
following designs of his farm-gate and road-scraper, 
and shall look for the promised subsoil plow with 
interest. We shall give it an insertion in our pa¬ 
per as soon as received. We have seen a great 
variety of farm-gates, but we find nothing superior 
or more simple than the design of Mr, McLean. 
We are informed that it does not sag, the great 
width of the top piece c at the swing-post end, and 
the single brace d, effectually preventing this. 
For the American Agriculturist. 
FARM-GATE AND ROAD-SCRAPER. 
Reynolds Basin , July 25th, 1843. 
Dear Sir : I herewith give you a rough sketch 
of a farm-gate. I do not claim any originality in 
its construction. I made it myself, and take a 
little pride in the thing (being only a natural me¬ 
chanic), because it is made well. 
A Farm-Gate. — (Fig. 42.) 
a, white oak, 2x4; b, ditto, 4X4; c, top rail 
white ash, 3 inches thick, and 3 inches wide at 
one end, by 9 inches at the other; d, brace, half 
on each side and sunk in its thickness say inches 
at the top rail, and heel-post at e, where it is secured 
by a bolt with a nut and screw; /, centre post 
framed into top rail 2X4, and mortises to admit 
the slats; g, fastening, a mortise to be made 
through the post at h to admit the latch; i, 
the spring attached to the upright iron on which 
is attached the latch. The catch is at¬ 
tached to the opposite post. The upper eye at * 
passes through on the upper side of the tenon, is 
let in the thickness of the iron. The end is bent 
