LADIES' DEPARTMENT. ON THE CULTIVATION OF TASTE. A female of cultivated taste has an influence upon society wherever she moves. She carries with her that secret attractive charm which operates like magic upon the beholder, fixes the attention and softens the feelings of the heart like those benign influences over which we have no control. It is impossible to be long in her presence without feeling the superiority of that intellectual acquirement, which so dignifies her mind and person. Her words and actions are dictated by its power, and give ease and grace to her motions. The cultivation of a correct taste is so joined in affinity with the social affections, that it is almost impossible to improve the one, without affecting the other. For it is seldom that we see this resplendent qualification attached to minds under the influence of moral principles, neglectful of those social feelings which cement society together, and preserve it from jarring innovations. It is needful in every department of life; and more of our happiness is derived from this source, than we are often aware of. persons of piety should consider this a subject of new milk, and given then, prevent the horse from little importance compared with others, when others taking any food for nearly two hours, then add an are so much affected by it. Truly piety and virtue ounce and a half of laudanum to about three half would shine with double lustre where the faculty of pints of warm water-after it is given let him be taste is properly regarded. [Philad. Album. walked about for nearly an hour and a half then let a dose of strong mercurial physic be given, and worked off in the usual way. a SPORTING OLIO. GREAT HUNT. [Sporting Mag. At a squirrel bunt, held at Cobleskill, Schoharie county, New York, on the first day of June, in which eighteen persons were engaged, there were killed thirteen hundred and fifty-one squirrels. The highest number killed by one man was one hundred and eleven, and the next highest, one hundred and two. MISCELLANEOUS. TO DESTROY COCKROACHES. I have seen one or two articles in the Farmer, describing ways to destroy cockroaches-they may all he good; but as there will be no harın in multiplying facts, and shewing various ways for obtaining the same results, I will trouble you with my method, which I know by experience to be effectual. PEDIGREES OF BLOODED HORSES. Look at domestic scenes with a discerning eye, and see the movements of a woman of taste. If she is the head of a family, order appears to be the first law which governs and controls her actions.All her affairs are planned with wisdom; confusion and discord never disturb her mind. Her house is the seat of social happiness, where the stranger and friend can repose with delight; for neatness and or der are the inmates of her habitation. The proud pedant may boast of her superiority in the literary world; yet, if she is destitute of that delicacy which softens and dignifies the female character, she must certainly yield up her ascendency over the moral world, to that woman (who, perhaps, in science is greatly her inferior) who has, by a constant atten tion to this criterion of the female character, ae quired that knowledge of the propriety of conduct which regulates her actions, and causes her to shine by her own lustre. When this faculty is cultivated, the best use is made of every thing which surrounds us. The moral, intellectual and physical imported? world, presents a volume ever open for instruction; and subjects adapted to the capacity for improvement, are always selected by the correct taste, for meditation and reflection. The beautiful and sublime, are contemplated with increasing pleasure, and every object which strikes the eye affords matter for improvement, and is monopolized to the best advantage. J. J. HARRISON. Several years ago, I entered upon the possession of a large old house that had been for some months unoccupied, and I found it swarming with cockroaches. They devoured such clothing as fell in their way, and were in other respects very troublesome and disagreeable. A neighbour kindly suggested a plan for destroying them, which I adopted as follows: I set two crocks, or earthen pots, each ten or twelve inches high, and about the same in diameter, in the two most infested parts of the house, into which I put a few gills of molasses-against these I leaned shingles, making a bridge from the floor to the rim, that the vermin might easily reach the P. S. Who can give the pedigree of Regulus-luscious bait below, whose fragrance filled the DEAR SIR, SIR ARCHY. Washington, July 11, 1827. Having perceived in one of your late papers some doubts manifested respecting the pedigree of Sir Archy, and a request for information, I send you the pedigree of him in full, (extracted from my stud book,) and I can assure you that he was begotten A woman of taste can render a cottage far more by Old Diomed, as Captain Archibald Randolph desirable than a palace without it; for if Providence (who bred him in partnership with me.) often ashas been less bountiful to her of its rich gifts, yet, by sured me of that fact. Therefore, any doubts rethe influence of this superior faculty, the eye is specting his pedigree are out of the question. You made to rest with the same delight upon that ar-will find his pedigree upon the opposite side. rangement of its goods, as if abundance had been Yours, respectfully, poured into her lap. The direction of the female J. S. SKINNER, Esq. mind is not made to depend upon that variety of scientific pursuits as many might conclude; but more upon certain incidents or associations which JOHN TAYLOE. Taken from Col. Tayloe's Stud Book. Bay colt, Sir Archy, formerly Robert Burns, bred take place in early life. Multiplicity of objects con- in partnership with Capt. A. Randolph, and foaled fuse the mind and leave it embarrassed; when if a in 1805-he was got by the imported horse Old plain and simple subject was unfolded with perspi-Diomed-his dam was Castianira. cuity and ease, the mind would readily embrace the Castianira, a brown mare, got by Rockingham truth; and a channel of correct thinking would be out of Tabitha, own sister to Miss Kingsland, who open which it could pursue, with steadiness and per- was got by Trintham out of the dam of Pegasus; severance. The taste thus early cultivated, will was foaled in 1796, per certificates of Alexander unite with the more vigorous faculties of the un- Popham, Esq. and Mr. Weatherby--which refer to derstanding, and blend together until the character with the General Stud Book, for further particulars. was formed. The grand object in view relative to Imported in the Tyne, to Norfolk, June 1799, for the female character is moral beauty; and in my Col. Tayloe. opinion, the early cultivation of taste, with a proper attention to the understanding, heart, and social affections, would make the nearest approaches to this acme of human knowledge, for which the female In the morning, upon an empty stomach, let two character was designed. It is to be lamented that pounds of molasses be dissolved in three pints of HENRY A. TAYLOE. CURE FOR THE BOTTS. chambers; and the better to allure them, I trailed some molasses along the road I intended they should travel to their prisons, and which they did travel in such numbers the first night, that I found the crocks half filled: the second night completed their capture and destruction. The common every day knowledge that now exists diffused and unemployed in the world, if thrown into the public stock would do a great deal of good. As I make frequent and large draws upon the Farmer, I am willing, whenever I can, to deposit my mite for the general fund. COUSIN TAB. TRADESMEN WANTED. Spartanburgh, S. C., 25th June, 1827. Will you have the goodness to say in your "American Farmer," that we are sadly in want of a good tailor in our village. One that will keep sober, and work steadily, and withal faithfully, will meet with liberal encouragement. We are desirous also of numbering amongst our citizens, (which at present we do not,) a saddler and a shoemaker. Industry and sobriety are requisite. Our village is healthyindeed, disease is hardly known in it. It may with propriety be called the Montpelier of South Carolina. Abundant rains have made our crops appear very promising. Should the present prospects continue, corn may probably be bought from the heap at thirty cents per bushel. Our citizens appear to be impressed with the necessity of substituting some other staple for cotton; and I am sanguine in the hope that, at some future time, perhaps at no very distant period, the "vine covered hills" of Spartanburgh will richly reward enterprize and perseverance. THE FARMER. BALTIMORE, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1827. At the close of a collation in the Hall of the State-house, at Boston, on the 4th inst. a number of toasts were drunk by the Governor and other distinguished men of the state; and, amongst others, the following By the Sheriff of Suffolk. Our Territory-Co- So shall your sires, withdrawing from life's race, On the above, a friend who sent it to us remarks, that, "this toast by the sheriff of Suffolk, Charles Pinckney Sumner, Esq. deserves a place in the American Farmer-and ought to be conspicuously suspended in every mansion and log cabin in the United States and territories attached to them"and we heartily unite in the sentiment. Instead, however, of bringing up their sons to pursue this judicious course, on which the salva tion of the state depends; it has been the universal practice of parents to encourage them to flock to the towns-there to get into the stores, and lawyers and doctors' shops; or to send them to West Point, or in the navy: in short, any thing rather than teach them to take the plough by the handles, and submit with a good grace to the will of their Creator-that man shall live by the sweat of his brow. their fortunes by trade, a great majority are over "His habit pure, with plain and temperate meals, that bear it to the skies, reflecting, as it rises, hues more various and splendid than all the colours of the rainbow. We will thank any gentleman in Kentucky, who will supply information of any particulars rebelieved to be thorough bred; once owned by a Mr. specting the pedigree and performances of a mare Tinker, in Kentucky, and there, where she ran with success, known by the name of "Crazy Jane"—or "Tinker's Crazy Jane." The time fixed for the next Cattle Show is Tuesday and Wednesday, 23d and 24th October. It would be well if Editors of papers throughout the country, would suggest the expediency of gathering white mulberries, wherever they are to In regard to the medical profession, there are al-be had, and drying them for the sake of their seed. ready almost as many students as there are various He who thus lays a foundation for a nursery of drugs to be compounded; and doctors so numerous, young mulberry trees, will not fail to find adequate that were every man in the nation on his back, he demand for them. might be "helped to his grave" as speedily as in the days of Sangrado himself-as lancets are equally sharp and calomel is quite as potent as hot water. Lawyers are swarming like locusts o'er the land, and "dream of fees" more than they ever get; measurers of tape and calico are as thick as bees in a pot of honey. The midshipmen are all over every ship, and for applications for the military academy, the only avenue to the army, there are ten thousand!! But, say our young friends, can we not escape the odious drudgery of manual labour, by migrat ing with a few slaves to some new country, whose virgin soil, teeming with fertility, asks only to have the seed sprinkled on its bosom, to make returns beyond measure? No; we say again "Rouse to fertility, by skilful toil, Each dormant acre of your native soil." BALTIMORE PRICES CURRENT. Reported for the American Farmer, by Lewis Sutton & Co. TOBACCO has improved in price, and in demand; we think the rise is principally on the Maryland common, which sells from .25 to.374 per cwt. higher than it did. We have sold a good deal of this kind of tobacco the present and past week, from Calvert and St Mary's counties-one lot of 21 bhds. from Calvert, divided, at $4 and $4.50, and another yesterday of St Mary's (very inferior,) at $3.874 This kind is getting very scarce, most of it being bought up for shipping. Maryland fine and Ohio are nearly the same as usual, the change being confined chiefly to Maryland common. ordinary, good .75 a 80-inferior, none-CORN, .48 a .50-RYE, .50 a .55-OATS, .24 a .25-WHITE BEANS, 1.25-PEAS, .60--CLOVER seed, 4.00 a 4.50-TIMOTHY, 10.00 a 11.00-common do. 9.00 a 10.00-North Carolina, 9.00 a 10.00-Louisiana, 11.00 a 13.00-WOOL, Country, washed on the sheep's back, 18.00 a 22.00-mixt do. 20.00 a 22.00-half blood, 24.00 a 26.00-threequarters, 28.00 a 30.00-full blood, 30.00 a 35.00-FISH, Herrings, No. 1, p. bbl. 2.374 a 2.50-Shad, in good order, 6.50 a 7.00-Mackerel, 3.50 a 5.25 a 5 75-BACON, best hams, 9.00 a 10.00-hog around, 5.00 a 6.00-midLIVE STOCK, beef on hoof, 5.00 a 5.50-Hogs, do. 4 a dlings, 6.00-WHISKEY, in hhds. .28 a .284; bbls..29 a.30 4.50-Mutton and Lambs, 1.50 a 2.00-Veal, 3.00Chickens, per dozen, 1.50 a 2.00. 3.00-BARLEY, 1.00-FLAXSEED, .90-COTTON, Upland, The products of those states in which you are al- 3.50 a 4.00-Do. red, 4.25 a 4.75-good red, 5.00 a Seconds, as in quality, $3.50 a 6.00-common crop, lowed to carry slaves, will scarcely pay all expenses 6.00-Fine red, 7.00 a 8.00-Yellow and red, 6.00 a of cultivation and transportation to market; except, 9.00-Yellow, 5.00 a 15.00-Fine Yellow, 15.00 a perhaps, sugar and rice, which are the growth of 25.00-Virginia fat, 6.00 a 8.00-Rappahannock, 3.50regions and modes of culture, mortal in their effects Kentucky, fine, 4.00 a 5.50--do. wrapping,7.00 a 8.00. upon the health of adult white settlers. FLOUR-Howard-street, $5.00-City mills, 4.50 a To arrest at least, in a great degree, the course | 4.624-Susquehanna, $4.371 a 4.50-CORN MEAL, per When regarded with just discrimination, can there of deterioration under which the middle and south-barrel, 2.75 a 2.874--WHEAT, best white, .80 a 82be any station in life more truly honourable than ern states are sinking in respect to population and that of him who practices the utmost economy and social comforts, a few things appear to be necessacleanliness in clothing and diet; and who is not de- ry, and these are happily within the reach of the terred by laziness or false pride, from wielding the rising generation of young men. The first is, to axe or guiding the plough; his mind having been first shake off, as inglorious and disreputable, the haenlightened by a good solid education, and in that bits of idle consumers, drones in the hive; and fall manner qualified to understand the moral duties to work as industrious producers-active bees; each that belong to his social condition, and to appre-gathering more honey, be it ever so little more, than ciate the political blessings of his country? he eats. Let every one firmly resolve to lop off In that portion of the United States which is most every superfluous expense in diet, drink, clothing, highly cultivated, where few hold large landed pos- equipage, servants, and furniture, and make it a sessions, but where all are independent; where eve-point of honour to set an example, in his own perry comfort abounds, and gaming and drunkenness son, of regular industry. Your idle companions, are alike unknown-every man takes his share of who murder time in whiskey stores, and village card labour. Judges and governors, and members of and billiard tables, may sneer for a time at your Congress are not ashamed to be seen in their work- early rising, your homespun coat, your frugal meal, ing frock and trowsers; and better would it be for your rough hand, your sun-burnt cheek, your conus, were the example of the Roman general revered tempt of the bottle, and your abhorrence of the more in the field, and less in our cups. dice; but you will soon realize the unspeakable deBe assured, young men, to this honourable destiny light of getting, and of keeping out of debt; you you must come at last, willing or not willing. It will see, that by the skilful culture of your native is the irresistible tendency of our institutions to soil, with your own hands, it makes you ample recrumble up all large estates into small ones, and to turns; that all essential comforts are accumulating bring the whole population to that condition in about you; that, in every reasonable sense of the which fortunes must all be very moderate, and near-word, you have enough and to spare; and that there ly equal, and in which each member of society will is no longer any occasion to fly in cowardly fear of have to perform his portion of the manual labour honest labour, either to the more enervating or less necessary for the support of all. The political manly pursuits of the town, or to half savage, half creed in which we have been reared, inculcates civilized frontiers. So far from regarding as dis equality, and inspires all with the will to divide creditable your change of habit from that of loung their estates equally; and where the few casual ers, too proud to lead and too lazy to drive; nati holders of large landed estates that yet remain in consumere fruges; the man of sense who sees you the country die intestate, the law steps in to enforce rise with the lark, and call out, come boys!—will that division. A large estate may be even yet, it look upon the metamorphosis, as more beautiful and is true, sometimes, but very rarely, accumulated worthy of admiration, than that which ensues the by a series of commercial good luck, or by specu chrysalis state of the insect, that enters as a loathlations acutely conducted; but of those who push some worm, and emerges on wings of independence One vessel load of wheat from St. Mary's, 750 bush. new crop, sold to-day at .814-and 14 hhds. of tobacco, Anne Arundel county and Ohio, at $4.50 round. CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. A Report, accompanied with sundry letters on the causes which contribute to the production of Fine Seaisland Cotton, read before the Agricultural Society of St. John's, Colleton, by Whitemarsh B. Seabrook, continued-F. H. Smith's Rice Planter and Cotton Planter, or Cultivator-On cultivating Turnips-Prospect of Crops at Pittsburg-Roanoke, or Scuppernong Grapes, for wines-On the cultivation of Silk-An Essay on the use of Timber for Rail-ways, with an explanatory engraving, by Robert Mills, civil engineer-On the cultivation of Taste in Females-Inquiries for the Pedigrees of Blooded Horses-Pedigree of Sir Archy-Cure for the Botts in Horses-Great Hunt in New York-How to rolina-Editorial, Remarks on Agricultural Labour, &c. destroy Cockroaches-Tradesmen wanted in South Ca for Printed every Friday, at Five Dollars per annum, JOHN S. SKINNER, Editor, by JoHN D. Toy, corner of St. Paul and Market-sts., where every description of Book and Job Printing is handsomely executed. No. 19.-VOL. 9. AGRICULTÜKE. AMERICAN FARMER-BALTIMORE, JULY 27, 1827. FINE SEA ISLAND COTTON. A Report, accompanied with sundry letters, on the causes which contribute to the production of Fine Sea island Cotton; read before the Agricultural So ciety of St. John's, Colleton, on the 14th March, 1827-By WHITEMARSH B. SEABROOK, Corresponding Secretary. DEAR SIR, (Concluded from page 139.) Q. 11th. Are you in the habit of using the whip-| per? A. Before the cotton goes to the gin, but not Q 12th. What is the character of your soil and St. Helena, Dec. 26, 1826. On my arrival from the north, I received your faI have once used a machine gin from St. Simon's vour of August, and hearing of your absence from island, to the rollers of which, made of hickory, I home, have delayed acknowledging its receipt. The gave as many as six hundred revolutions in a mizeal you manifest in promoting the interest of agri-nute. I ginued about twenty bales of cotton with culture, and particularly that branch of it, in which this gin, and heard no complaint about the staple we are mutually interested, by seeking the inter-being injured; but my negroes continually putting change of opinion, would alone be sufficient apolo- it out of order, and my impelling power proving degy in addressing the circular. It would afford me fective, I laid it aside. I introduce this remark, much satisfaction, could my limited experience enahoping that the want of a gin, as well adapted to ble me to throw a ray of light on the subjects emthe Sea island cotton as Whitney's saw gin is to the braced in your queries. The replies to them, you upland, may stimulate some of our planters, in their will accept, more as matters of opinion than con exertions to produce one. clusions founded on definite practice. I am, very respectfully, THOS. ASTON COFFIN. Question 1st. Is all your cotton equally fine, &c. Answer. I think not, but I have never heard pur-To WHITEMARSH B. SEABROOK, &c. chasers remark any difference, when I have separated the high from the low land. I prefer the colton on the most sandy high hills, it being more productive and silky. Q. 2d. What manure do you esteem the best, &c. A. I have generally used the marsh mud taken from the creeks; sometimes green marsh Q3d. Is your cotton, so distinguished for one quality, remarkable for others, &c. A. My cotton derives its character from its silkiness, strength and evenness of fibre. Q. 4th. What has been your average crop for the last five years, and what quantity do you plant to the hand? A. Caterpillars and storms have destroyed some of my most promising crops; but I think 450 lbs. per hand are about the average. I generally plant nearly three and a half acres to the hand. Q. 5th. Are you particular in the selection of your seed? which kind do you prefer, &c. A. I have generally preserved the seed from my earliest pickings; sometimes I have planted seed, exchanged with my friends, both north and south. I think the cotton produced from the seed with a green tuft, the finest and most silky, though not the most productive.* Q.6th. Have you ever tested the experiment on the difference of the product and quality of cotton, from seed taken from the bottom, middle, or top of the stalk? 145 4th. My average crops for the last five years, have been 98 weight per acre; and two and a half to three acres are usually planted to the hand. 5th. I have generally been particular in selecting from the earliest ripe cotton, produced on the best land, the seed which has a small tuft at the point, and that which is clean and black; but neither of these will always produce the same kinds of seed only; they must be annually cleared of their degenerated woolly associates, which sometimes produce fine long cotton; but generally the staple is short or of an uneven length. I have found it a good rule in saving all kinds of seed, to select that portion which is most perfect and comes to maturity first. The size of cotton seed varies like all other seeds, according to the strength or poverty of the soil in which it is produced. Its colour is also changed from black to brown, by exposure to the sun or frost. 6th. I have never made this trial with cotton. 7th. Hitherto, my seed has been kept in a close room. I do not know that it is necessary to ventilate it, unless it be damp. 8th. My instructions to the gatherers are, to gather from the field, at every picking, all the cotton, good or bad, which is blown open sufficiently to enable them to extract the wool with ease. The reasons for being so particular are these: if the bad cotton be left, to be gathered at a future period, before John's Island, St. John's, Colleton, Oct. 4, 1826. the gatherers return through the field, it will have DEAR SIR,-It not being convenient at an earlier become so much bleached by the weather, that it date, I have postponed the reply to your letter of cannot then be readily distinguished from the good, the 9th of August, to the present time, and now either by them or by the hands who afterwards sort proceed to give you the requested information as it for the gins; and, if ginned with the good, the far as my own observations and circumstances will extreme weakness of its fibre will depreciate the permit. To some of my answers I have subjoined value of the general crop in proportion to the quanthe remarks of a distinguished spinner, who has fa- tity of it, which may be mixed with the good. voured me with his opinion on some of the points 9th. My directions given, are, to dry the cotton of inquiry contained in your interrogatories. They in the sun, only so much as will be necessary to are marked as quotations. If any thing I may com- prevent the seed being crushed by the rollers. This municate will add but one idea to the general stock must be varied according to the state of the wea of useful knowledge, already possessed by the agri-ther, and the condition in which the cotton is gacultural community, I shall be gratified in being in-thered from the field. When the weather is dry, if strumental in promoting that object. The answers the gatherers go out after the dew has evaporated, to your queries will be set down in the order you and the cotton is exposed to the sun on the sheets have numbered them. as fast as gathered, then spread in the house until the next day; then on the scaffolds for five or six hours; and again spread in the house a few hours, to let the heat fly off, before it is packed away; I have found it sufficiently dry for the gins. If packed away damp it will generate heat in a short time, ruin the fibre and unfit the seed for planting. I prefer drying in the shade altogether, when practicable. One thing we are sure of, the less cotton is exposed to the air, and the closer it is packed, the better it is. We think that exposure to the air is prejudicial, by drying the natural moisture of the fibre. Cotton dried before the fire, becomes brittle and tender, and we doubt whether, if damped again, it ever regains its natural strength. 1st. The cotton raised by me is all fine, but not equally so: I apprehend some shade of difference in the cotton of every field, will be a certain result, where there is any diversity of soil; or, while any inequality of strength in the land exists. I have hitherto believed that high, light, rich soils produce the finest cotton; but I have not yet tested this opinion by repeated or satisfactory experiments, to decide whether I am correct or not. 2d. In different parts of my fields, as most convenient, I have used fresh mud; salt mud; salt marsh; rushes; leaves and rotten wood; and composts of the four latter, with cow dung; applied in proportion to the natural strength of the land, and to the fertilizing qualities of the manure; from 21 10th. The gatherers commence their labour after to 84 single horse cart loads per acre, so as to give the exsiccation of the dew; at every emptying of health and vigour to the plants, and equalize their their picking bags, the stained and rotten cotton growth as nearly as possible. I am best pleased are taken out, with any leaves that may have fallen with the salt mud, salt marsh, and the compost of in. If the cotton has been gathered with care from salt marsh and rushes, combined with animal ma- the field, 100 weight to each labourer, may be sepanure. They improve the length, strength, and silky rated with ease for the gins. The cotton is then appearance of the staple in a great degree; but, 1 passed through a double drum whipper, and goes to fineness of the fibre. I have noticed, that cotton ned in the evenings, or 25 weight of clean cotton am unable to say, positively, that they increase the the gins. Five to seven weight to each gin, is ginwhich has not arrived at full maturity from being for a day's work. The ginners are directed not to injured by rust or frost, will be finer, but of more screw more pressure on the rollers than is necessatender fibre than cotton produced in the same field, fully matured, particularly on strong land. 3d. The length and strength of the staple depend chiefly on the natural strength of the soil: and on the application of fertilizing manures, where neces sary, in order to equalize the strength of the land as much as possible; when this is accomplished, the cotton produced will be nearly all alike. ry, to prevent the seed being crushed, and the cotton should be as evenly spread to the rollers as possible, to prevent injury to the staple. The moters prepare 25 to 30 weight each, for the bag. One person searches for a bag of 300 weight, if the cotton has been cleanly moted. The sorting of the seed cotton; moting of the ginned cotton, and searching of the packer, are all done on frames of wood, or on coarse wire sieves reversed. The sieves I have found very convenient. 11th. I have generally used the whipper for the seed cotton only; but latterly, have used it for the ginned cotton also, I think, with great advantage, before moting. It expedites the moting and does no injury to the fibre, if passed through but once. "The less fatigue the fibres are exposed to, the better; switching, if done in moderation, and so as not to string the cotton, (which is to be apprehended in long fine staple,) is a very harmless, and, we think, effective operation. Ginning, by means of rollers, if much pressure is applied, or if the cotton is not evenly spread, so as to distribute the pressure equally, is dangerous; since pressure completely destroys the fibre." I send you a "sample of cotton, which has undergone pressure between a pair of smooth iron rollers; the staple is perfectly destroyed." Iron rollers are now generally out of use in this part of the country; but, too much pressure upon hard wood rollers, will, also, do much injury. 12th. My soil is partly of a low, heavy loam and sand, on a clay foundation, and partly high brown mould on sand and clay, indented with creeks, and situate on a large salt river about six miles from the ocean. I remain, with respect, Your most obed't serv't, TO WHITEMARSH B. SEABROOK, &c. Dear Sir, In answer to your letter of the 20th of August last, in which you have given me the merit of being one of the growers of fine long cotton, I must briefly state, that in my experiments on the culture of this valuable staple, I have not been as particular as other gentlemen: relying too much on my soil and situation, and the advantages of manure. 1st. Is all your cotton equally fine? I answer, no. The cotton produced at my John's island plantation is preferred to that of Edisto; and the cotton of the latter to that of Slann's island. My soil at John's island is generally grey or dark; at Edisto, yellow; and at Slann's island, a tenacious loam. I am decidedly of opinion, that grey land produces as fine cotton as any other soil: however, I believe it is the contiguity to the ocean that renders my cotton so fine at John's island. 2d. What manure do you esteem the best to improve the fineness of the staple? Answer. Salt mud has the preference to all other manures. 3d. Is your cotton, which is so distinguished for one quality, remarkable also for the length and strength of its staple, or both? A. I have always been of opinion that my cotton at Edisto was longer and stronger than that raised on John's island. 4th. What has been your average crop for the last five years; and what quantity do you plant to the hand? A. At Edisto, I have averaged about 160 lbs. per acre, and at John's island, about 120 lbs. I plant three and a half acres to the hand. 5th. Are you very particular in the selection of seed? Which kind do you prefer, the small or the large, the perfectly clean, or that which is a little woolly? A. I have never paid particular attention to the selection of seed. I change my seed every second year. 6th. Have you ever tested the experiment on the difference of the product and quality of cotton, from seed taken from the bottom, middle or top of the stalk? A. I have never attended to this subject. 7th. How do you preserve your seed? Is it kept in a confined situation, or in a well ventilated room? 9th. Do you dry your cotton in the sun or in the shade? If in the sun, how long? A. I have always been in the habit, until the last 10th. What is your mode of preparation, and A. My land at John's island, lies immediately on I am, dear sir, with sentiments of respect, WILLIAM SEABROOK, Sen. Dear Sir, About a bushel of seed was carefully selected one year, by dividing the pods of cotton as they were gathered, so as to separate the top from the bottom; the seed thus obtained, was planted the following season, but the experiment failed, in consequence of a severe gale and unusually cold weather destroying a majority of the plants when young. The cotton has been always dried in the sun, until last year, when it became the fashion to dry it in the shade. I am, however, of the opinion, that it is more judicious to give it a few hours' sunning, before it is stowed in the cotton house. I finish thinning by the 15th of June, if possible; and hoeing, about the 15th July; between these dates, one hauling, or two at farthest, are fully sufficient. Cotton plants are much injured by too much nursing with the hoe. To keep down the grass, and thin early, are of primary importance.-The bed should be kept very firm, to prevent, as much as practicable, heavy rains from penetrating it, and to assist it in retaining moisture during å drought. Hauling gives the plant fresh growth, as often as repeated; and, therefore, when resorted to late in the season, proper for hoeing, it has a tendency to cause disease in the fruit, or to make it drop at each repetition. The bed should be hoed by drawing the hoe obliquely from the alley to the top, and the grass carefully shook off by hand. In gathering the crop, no selection of cotton or seed was made until the year 1826. My cotton is not equally fine, neither can any cottons, correctly be deemed so. It is now ascertained, beyond all doubt, that the finer qualities of I have to apologize for not replying earlier to this valuable article are fast disappearing from us. your very useful circular. The delay principally In a letter to me, from a very sensible and wealthy arose from want of data, to give satisfactory an-spinner, in Manchester, the following observations swers to your various queries. I am not aware that are made: "Some years ago, we readily found I can throw any new light on the subject of cotton among the cottons of different planters, a sufficient planting, or on the preparation of the article for number of bags to spin all the fine yarns that were market; but at your solicitation, I cheerfully submit required; at the present period, when the consumpto you my usual proceedings in regard to the same. tion of fine yarns is doubled, we do not find, among Previously to breaking the land, with plough or all the cottons we examine, one bag per annum. hoe, about 120 cart loads of salt mud, to the acre, This deterioration of our cottons, appears natural, are placed in convenient heaps at equal distances; a when we reflect, that the same effect is produced labourer then chops and scatters it, at the rate of in our gardens and orchards, unless yearly applicaabout fifty cart loads per day. After the spreading tion is made to the seedsman, horticulturist or nurseof the mud, the surface of the field appears to be ryman. We do not select the best melons or peachcovered with it. The field is then tracked for list-es, cabbages or cauliflowers, carrots or turnips, for ing; upon the track, cowpen or animal manure is propagation, by the plumpness, colour or the pecuspread, at the rate of thirty one-horse cart loads liar formation of their seed; but, rather, from the The ground is then listed with a plough, flavour, or outward appearance of that part which drawn by a yoke of oxen, which partially turns in determines their respective value. The same rethe mud under the list and covers the cowpen ma-mark will apply to the fibre of cotton: it is imposnure; it is then bedded, either with the plough or hoe, in the usual manner. If the plough is used, both for listing and bedding, a portion of the mud will be placed under the list and another portion above it; which is the best mode of disposing of the manure, to give support to a needy soil. per acre. sible to test its superiority, by the different appearances which the seed may assume. Some seed, which is sound, clean and black, produces an inconsiderable quantity of coarse cotton; the pod affording little else than seed. Again, I have seen one stalk, indeed, one pod, produce three or four difI commence planting about the 25th of March. ferently marked seeds. It was the general impresThe seed, without selection or preparation, is plant-sion, that the clean, black seed was the best: now, ed in hills, about twelve inches apart, or in the it seems, an opposite opinion prevails; the seed codrill, as inclination suggests. The foregoing re-vered with wool being esteemed the better for promarks apply to a tract of poor, high, light land, on ducing fine cotton. This opinion, if correct, will which I reside, on Edisto island. My crops, until lately, have not been abundant, owing to the difficulties I have had to contend with in fertilizing a poor soil at one plantation, and in re claiming a swamp at the other. I usually plant four acres of cotton to the hand. go far in accounting for the great deterioration of the article, complained of by the spinners; this being the seed, hitherto rejected, under the impression that it produced inferior as well as unproductive cotton Some of the finest cotton I have seen, grew in Persia; its seed bears a strong resemblance I consider salt mud, as manure, highly valuable; to the green seed which produces our upland cotit has a powerful tendency to increase the producton, it being covered with a green wool similar to tion of the cotton plant; to hasten its maturity, and that. Some foreign, coarse woolly seed have, after to make the fibre stronger and finer; it also gives three or four years' cultivation in this country, beconsistency and strength to light, weak soils. come clean, black seed, and produced cotton of On my plantations, no particular plan has been fine fibre, partly retaining its original nankeen coadopted to preserve the seed, intended for planting, lour. From some of the finest cotton I have raised with the exception of cautiously preventing its ex-(and it was pronounced by purchasers and spinners posure to moisture. to be very superior,) the seed was clean and blacks without a particle of wool: Again, I have seen a market of this place; and gave, at the same time, fore, come in competition with Maryland, and must fine, long and strong cotton produced from seed, extracts of letters from respectable houses in Bre- be purchased at prices much less." which would readily be pronounced the green seed men and Holland on the same subject. I am sorry If such evidences as these are not to be relied on of the upland cotton. I have been thus particular, to find that my communication has given umbrage by the shippers of tobacco for their government, I to show, as far as I have learned from experience, to some of those persons who are engaged or inter-know not where they will find them. They will, that no rule can govern us in the selection of seed, ested in the vending of Ohio tobacco in our market, certainly, not resort for information to, or be influ by its outward appearance, best adapted to the because the quality of it has been represented to be enced in their purchases by the opinion or judgproducing of superior cotton. inferior to that produced in Maryland. An extract | ment of any dealer, planter, agent, or other interA broker, of considerable judgment, in Liver- of a letter," purporting to be "from a tobacco deal-ested person on this side of the water, who cannot pool, to whose liberality and candour I am much in- er in Baltimore to his correspondent in Ohio," pub-be as competent to decide upon the quality of the ardebted, assures me, in a letter dated 30th Decem-lished in the Patriot and American a few days ago, ticle as those who manufacture and consume it. ber, 1826: "That a superior cotton to any produced contains insinuations and statements that require In making this communication, I am influenced on your shores is much wanted by our finest spin (as well for the vindication of my own veracity, as by no other considerations than those I have stated. ners." A very respectable broker, in Glasgow, ob- for the information of the trade,) some notice. The I have no wish to create an artificial depression in served, "a superior cotton is much wanted, and that extract commences thus: "Letters have recently the prices of Ohio tobacco, or to give to it a charac price is only a secondary object to the dealers in been published in the newspapers of this city, in-ter which it does not deserve. That, if properly this valuable quality of your staple produce." One tended to produce an impression that Ohio tobacco managed in the cultivation, curing, and assorting, of the writers previously referred to, remarks, "We had been cried down and would not answer in Eu. it may be made equal to Maryland, is very possible. have never regretted the purchase of really fine rope. These letters are mere fabrications of inter- But that, generally, so far, it is inferior, there can cotton; and although competition renders it neces ested persons here, or otherwise they were written be no doubt. Most of the shippers from this place sary for us to purchase our cotton as cheaply as by persons over the water, not conversant with the have the best evidence of this-their accounts of possible, yet we shall always feel a pleasure in ade subject. The truth is, that if neatly handled, well sales, which show that in almost every instance quately remunerating the growers of a really supe- cured Ohio tobacco, in prime order, were shipped Ohio tobacco has been sold at 25 per cent. less than rior article." He further adds, that "it cannot be in the same vessel with the same quantity of Mary the Maryland-the colour and general appearance too strongly urged on the planter, the necessity of land-the most competent judge amongst these let and condition being the same. enclosing in each bag, a card or two containing his ter writers could not distinguish the one parcel from July 19, 1827. address; his reasons in favour of this procedure, I the other." have previously laid before our society. My cotton is always fanned, both before and after ginning, by passing it through a machine adapted to the purpose, to separate from it, as far as prac ticable, all dirt or other extraneous matter. If the writer of the above had known who the person was that made the communication to you on which his remarks were grounded, he would not, I am certain, have insinuated that I was capable of fabrication, or that any correspondent of mine, My lands are surrounded by rivers and creeks, in Europe, could have a motive to lead me astray and are contiguous to the ocean. Of the soil plant-in a business in which his interest is connected ed in cotton, one portion is alluvial, and the other is with my own. Having been thus drawn out to vinhigh, light and sandy. dicate myself from the insinuation, that my com The most laborious part of the work, on each munication to you was interested and intended to plantation, is principally performed by oxen. Of produce an impression that Ohio tobacco had been these patient and frugal animals, I cannot speak in cried down and would not answer in Europe, I will too high terms. Their economy and usefulness to now add, for the information of those who are conthe southern low land planter are not duly appre cerned in the tobacco trade, other extracts of letciated. They, in effect, cost the attentive farmer ters from houses in Europe of the very first standno money; their food is of the simplest kind, such ing and respectability, which go to shew that Ohio as straw, moss, cured potatoe vines, pea shells, tobacco can be distinguished from Maryland, even blades, hay and cotton seed; these (in a great mea- when shipped as such, (and it is rarely ever ship sure,) offals of a plantation, will support them at ped as Ohio,) and that the prices are much lower, hard and constant labour. When regularly work-in consequence of its defects and destitution of the ed only part of the day, and then turned out, their kind of flavour most esteemed. own industry upon a moderately productive pasture will keep them in good condition for the succeed ing day's labour. Their food is not as costly or portable as that of mules and horses; hence, dis honest servants find more difficulty in passing it from them into the hands of the illegal trafficker in grain. Boys and girls drive them more humanely and better than grown persons. Their gear, originally a trifling cost, will outlast the oxen. I This is a fit opportunity to state the success have had in the use of Mr. Smith's Virginia Cotton Planter. About fifty acres of my fields were planted with it, as an experiment, by one hand and a mule, at the rate of from eight to twelve acres per day, according to the speed of the animal; the cot- | ton came up about thirty hours sooner and more regularly than that which was planted with the hoe: the latter, I had to supply twice, through the care lessness of the hands in dropping too little seed, and covering it irregularly; the former did not need any supplying. I am so satisfied with the merits of the machine, that henceforth I shall invariably use it, where stumps or other obstacles do not interfere. With great respect, I remain yours, JOHN R. MATHEWES. To WHITEMARSH B. SEABROOK, &c. MR. SKINNER, OHIO TOBACCO. At your request, I furnished in May last, some information in regard to the state of the tobacco ON GRASSES AND OTHER PLANTS. Extracts from G. Sinclair's Hortus Gramineus—with (Concluded from page 132.) Of the Grasses which afford the best culms, or straw, for the manufacture of Straw Bonnets, such as will equal, and may surpass, the finest Leghorn manufacture. horn manufacture, has been made in England for "Straw-plait, in imitation of the celebrated Legmany years past, but the practice till lately had been confined to the London manufacturers of straw bonnets. Above seventeen years since, land was taken at Ampthill, on the estate of the late Earl of Upper Ossory, for the express purpose of raising straw for this kind of plait; and a few years since, a very fine straw bonnet was sent to the Duchess of The first extract is as follows: "The yellow to- Bedford from Leighton Buzzard, where it had been baccoes now require double attention and precau manufactured from English straw. About three tion, since so much Ohio is found among them. - Fears since, Miss Woodhouse, a farmer's daughter This kind of tobacco has a good yellow colour and of Connecticut, transmitted to the Society of Arts deceives at first sight, and has deceived many per-horn, made of the straw of Poa pratensis, smoothin London, a straw bonnet in imitation of the Legsons. For this reason many shipments have turned out to advantage. After close examination, how-stalked meadow-grass (or the spear-grass of Ameriever, it is found that this tobacco has a very dry ca,) which, from its excellence, obtained the reward and brittle leaf, coarse brown stem, and a very bad of the society. Mr. Cobbett published an account flavour. Yellow tobacco suitable for the Baltic, of this circumstance in his 'Cottage Economy,' and (which for this reason commands high prices) must also an account of his own experience in selecting have a sweet smell, a fine but very tough leaf, in the best grasses for the purpose, and of bleaching order to be cut very fine and long, which cannot be the green culms or straw, and for which Mr. Cob done with the Ohio; because it breaks to pieces in bett received the society's medal. this process, and for this reason very little Ohio is suitable for the Baltic." you The lady of the Rev. Mr. Morrice, of Great Brickhill, Bucks, manufactured a very beautiful straw bonnet, in imitation of Leghorn, of the culms of the crested dog's-tail grass ( Cynosurus cristatus,) which, being submitted to the Society of Arts, obtained the society's medal. Very great merit was displayed in the manufacture of this bonnet. yel-successful trials with the bleaching and selecting of "Mrs. Grant, of Leighton Buzzard, has made very The next extract says: "Let me recommend A third remarks, that whilst good superior the straws of the perennial grasses for the Leghorn plait, and, from Mr. Grant's extensive knowledge of * About twenty years since, Mr. Corston, an eminent In addition to this evidence, I have a letter dated the 20th May from Bremen, written by a respectable, well informed American gentleman, at present manufacturer, then of Ludgate Hill, and now of Finchthere, who is perfectly conversant with every de-am, Norfolk, succeeded with the straw of rye, which had scription of tobacco, who says, "the Ohio tobac-ing fine Leghorn plait, which, from its great merit, obbeen raised at Ampthill for the purpose, in manufacturcnes are not adapted to this trade, from their thin tained the award of the gold medal from the Society of leaf and want of substance. The best cannot, there- Arts in London. |