health permitting) when we propose to finish a long other regions as has generally been imagined. The tain. Perhaps some better naturalist, or more acmemoir, which is now far from being satisfactory, progress we have described terminates their exist-curate observer, may furnish more facts and further and I hazard this epitome for public inspection, ence after they have left the rudiments of the next illustrations of the abstruse character of this solerather with a view of eliciting than imparting in-generation, to be revived and act a similar part at cism in natural history. We would respectfully proformation. the expiration of seventeen years. pose the following queries? We omit a personal description of the insect with a view of giving a better hereafter. Those who have seen it, who will compare it with the Eastern locust, as it is delineated in Ryley's Narrative, will find no difficulty in discriminating betwixt the two species. The trees usually selected are the oak in all its varieties, the chestnut, the poplar, hickory, beach, and perhaps some others. The oak has either some peculiar attraction, or is fixed upon because it is more general. But few of the fruit trees are subject to the laceration of their softer extreme The locust ascends through the surface of the branches, by the female, as a nidus for her eggs. earth, about the 20th of May, and from that time We have remarked a few of the boughs of the aptill the middle of June; at first very slowly, and ap-ple, cherry, and peach trees in a state of decay, parently almost torpid. When the soil is first bro- from this cause, but as far as our observation will ken it is scarcely animated, but it is soon invigorat-permit us to speak, very rarely. The injury inflicted ed, by the genial rays of the sun. Under the cor- upon vegetables, is not effected by eating the leaves, dial influence of heat it gradually crawls up the like the Egyptian locust, and stripping them of their nearest body, such as a tree, a fence, or side of a verdure, like a swarm of caterpillars; but solely by house, apparently instinctively, for thousands are the process of nidification we have noticed. In devoured in the ground by rapacious birds and about a week or ten days after the small limbs have greedy hogs before they can acquire the use of their been pierced by the proboscis of the female, the wings. When they first appear their wings are limbs begin to fade, wither, and soon die, according pressed close to the body, which is a perfect cylin- to the degree of heat and moisture of the atmosder, exactly the diameter of the hole from which phere. they crept. Thousands of these holes are to be found under the trees where they were deposited in embryo seventeen years before. No sooner can they expand their wings, than they are transported from tree to tree; the male in quest of the female, and afterward the female in search of a suitable place of deposite for her eggs. There are two notes of the locust very distinct; one which is sharp and monotonous when they are molested, and is, we think, common to both sexes; another more variable and somewhat musical. The latter may be aptly compared to the vibrations of the Eolean harp, for the whole tribe seems to keep time, observing all the pauses of a regular cadence. Such myriads of instruments in tune at the same time, soon tire the ear, and sometimes the melancholy strain is so general and almost incessant that all colloquial intercourse of society is not only interrupted but sometimes impracticable. This musical talent, (if music it can be called) seems to be the exclusive prerogative of the male; and in this respect bears an analogy to the privileges of many species of birds. The intercourse between the sexes, commences as soon as the power of locomotion is established, and continues about fifteen or twenty days, as a general rule, to which there are some exceptions, as well as to the time of emerging from the ground. About ten days after impregnation, the female begins to deposite her eggs, by boring the softer extreme branches. The minute perforations for this purpose resemble small gimblet holes, and are so numerous that the parts thus weakened, cannot be nourished by the circulating sap, and therefore soon wither, die and finally fall to the ground, if the wind should not break them before they decay entirely. The eggs are thus deposited about four weeks before any sign of life can be perceived, but they soon assume the state of larva in which they enter the soil and descend into the earth. We know nothing of the chrysalis state which proceeds beneath the surface, beyond our view, and from which they seem recently to have emerged, at their resurrection, after the lapse of seventeen years. 1. Has the locust been found after its descent into the earth? 2. And if so, in what size? 4. At what depth? and Any information will be thankfully received by us, on any point respecting the natural history of the cicada septemdecem,and due respect will be paid to the author, who, unless he can make a better use of it, will find it embodied in our memoir on some future occasion. OBJECTIONABLE PHRASES. The silent residence of the locust in the earth during a period of seventeen years, is, we believe, without a parallel in the whole scale of animated nature, but does it not bear some analogy to the final resurrection of the human body, of which it seems to be emblematical. Its destiny is fixed, by a law of the great Maker of heaven and earth, and all that in them is, and their long and darksome abode in the reAfter the eggs have been laid, they remain gra- gions below, and their apparent resurrection, may dually swelling about six weeks, before they dis- afford a solemn theme for reflection to those who cover the least sign of animation, though the pro- believe that death is an eternal sleep. If an insiggress to the living state may be perceived sooner, nificant worm can remain seventeen years, incarby breaking them, before the larvæ are completely cerated and invisible in the caverns of the earth, formed. As soon as the capsule covering the ovum and then arise to life and vigor in the regions of is broken, the insect is not only highly animated, light, by a decree of Omnipotence, why should not but acquires the locomotive power almost imme-man, the most noble of his works, rise again, though diately under its new form. It is seen creeping at he die in corruption, to glorious immortality? first from its cradle down the body of the tree, or has With the best wishes for the prosperity of the fallen to the ground at its exit. We have seen thou- American Farmer, and for your long continued sands on the same limb, but they are scarcely ever health and usefulness, believe me, dear sir, seen on the ground, unless by tracing their descent Yours, very truly, NATH'L POTTER. from the tree, and by a long and vigilant observation; Lexington street, June 24, 1829. their progress is directly from the tree into the earth, upon which they remain no longer than they can find a spot fit for inhumation. After watching many hours, and sometimes half a day, we have never seen one of them at rest on the ground. When they commence their journey to their subterraneous abode, they acquire increased velocity, and they are no sooner in contact with the surface than they penetrate the soil with a celerity incredible to those who have not witnessed it. They seem to be in their pro-sylvania. per element the instant they touch the earth, and such is their agility, that they descend at the rate of more than an inch for every second, as far as they can be followed. On the 20th of August, 1817, we invited several gentlemen to attest this fact in Howard's park, and among others the venerable and lamented proprietor. We picked a dozen of the larvæ from an oak, and placed them on the ground: they descended so rapidly that they could not be overtaken by pursuing them by digging with a common case knife. They were found by raising the whole sod around them with a spade or grubbing hoe. We covered a pine board with fresh soil, six inches thick, and put four of the insects upon the surface; in a little more than a second they were found arrested in their progress in contact with the board; and when brought back to light, writhed in all manner of contortions, seemingly as much distressed as a fish would have been out of water. MR. EDITOR: One of the Croaker Family will thank you to insert the following list of words and phrases, to which he objects: "He done so." I desired him to read, and he done so-instead of he did so. New York, Penn "Beautiful"-beautiful wine, beautiful steak, pudding, &c.! Massachusetts. "Had n't ought”—You had n't ought to speak ill of the dead; for ought not. Ditto. "Likely"-A likely man-meaning agreeable, clever, amiable, although as ugly as sin. Conn. "Ugly"-Cross, crabbed. Mass. Conn. "Improve.”—(R. I.) A man who occupies a hired house is said to improve it, although he may be destroying it. "Avocation" is beginning to get into use as synonymous with vocation. U. S. "Lengthy"--A great favourite for long-Why not breadthy for very broad? U.S. "Gunning"-Hunting with gun is called gunning; then with dogs only, it ought to be going a dogging. Md., Va. "Plunder" for baggage. Kentucky. "Which?" for what. One does not understand you, and asks which? Penn. "Stud" for stud-horse. Md. When the insect leaves it birth place, it is about the eighth of an inch long, of a reddish brown co-handsome. Md. Va. After the first process of procreation, the male lour, inclining to purple, and is nearly as broad as a begins to decline, droops and soon dies. A similar millepede, which it strongly resembles, except that it state of weakness, and decay is to be observed in is a little longer. It resembles the wood-louse in the female as soon as she shall have ceased to de-another respect. Viewed through a good glass, posite her eggs. They adhere to the boughs of the it discovers almost as many feet as are seen in the tree, for three or four days, and either die there or other by the naked eye. fall to the ground, and there afford a rich repast to hogs, turkeys, and other rapacious animals. Hogs often fatten on them. They neither return to the caverns whence they ascended, nor take flight to 66 "Store" for store-house, ware-house. U. S. Carriage" for coach, &c. U. S. "Turnpike," a gate, now means an improved road. U. S. The locust sloughs and leaves its exuvia on the trees, or on the ground, we think, soon after they ac- This list might be greatly lengthened. I do not quire new life from exposure to the genial influence meddle with the technical terms of merchants, who of the sun, but at what precise time we are uncer-will continue, I hope, to say, that wheat is "looking up," that cotton is "a shade bigher," &c. It is the duty of you gentlemen editors to make war on all innovations of this kind, and to correct the procedure. "Fair"—a fair man--fair wine-my servant, although black, is a fair man. John Bull. He also objects to the division of our states. It is bad enough to have a North and a South Carolina-we do not want "East Tennessee" and "West Tennessee, &c. If we go on in that way, we shall puzzle foreigners, and, after a while, not understand ourselves. He supposes it is now settled that men no longer write "under their names," but "over their signatures," and still give deeds "over their hands and seals" at least during the "coming" administration. THE BARONESS HUMBOLDT.--This distinguished lady has lately died. She was the companion of her husband, it is said, in all his scientific voyages, and lent the aid of her rank and education to countenance learning abroad, as well as extended patronage and encouragement to genius at home. Her loss, it is remarked, will be felt by many young artists, whose patron she was. THE FARMER. BALTIMORE, FRIDAY, JULY 3, 1829. Public Institutions, Colleges, Academies, &c. subscribing for 10 copies, or upwards, will be allowed a liberal discount. Subscriptions received by the publisher, F. Lu- STRAW PAPER-A New Article. An Elementary Treatise on Natural History; ex-plates, executed in the best style, representing up- ream, SALEM COUNTY (N. J.) AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. President. 1st Vice-President. 2d Vice-President. 3d Vice-President. Corresponding Sec'ry. Francis L. McCulloch, Recording Secretary. Treasurer. Township Committees. [We beg leave to call the attention of our readers to the prospectus of a work, which is about to be published by Mr. F. Lucas, jr. of this city, entitled, "An Elementary Treatise on Natural History, &c." to which we have been induced to give a place in our sheet, because of the general interest which, we think, belongs to its subject. We unite The American translator has nothing to say, as with the author in the expression of our regret, that regards his own labours, further than that he has the study of natural history should be almost en- studied to attain that accuracy, and at the same tirely neglected in our schools; and we will add, time ease of style, which are indispensable, to give that the work which is now announced, may cer- merit to a translation. He has, moreover, endeavtainly go a great way to make up for this deficiency, oured to add to the value of the text, by inserting even as regards those to whom any future improve-in it, for the benefit of the American student parment in this respect could be of no avail. ticularly, an account of such natural bodies and anThe advantages and delight afforded by an ac-imals, as are peculiar to this country. This in. quaintance with natural objects, are acknowledged formation he has principally derived, for the Minby every man of a liberal education; and there is eralogy and Geognosy of North America, from the no one who has not every day occasion to lament, publications of Cleaveland, Maclure, Cooper, Eain his walks, or even in his professional pursuits, his ton, Torrey, Hayden, Vanuxem, Troost, Keating, ignorance of the name, nature, and properties of a &c., and the papers contained in Dr. Silliman's exmultitude of interesting objects that surround him. cellent Journal of the Sciences:-for the Botanical But, whilst he is every day, nay every hour, lament-part, he is indebted to the labours of Michaux, ing this deficiency in his acquired knowledge, why Pursh, Nuttall, Barton, Bigelow, Elliot, Muhlenis there, seemingly, so little exertion made to fill up burg, &c. &c.-and in the Zoological department, the blank? We might venture to suggest, that it is to those of Mitchill, Wilson, Charles Lucien Buonowing to the want of precisely such a work as is aparte, Leseur, Say, Harlan, Godman, Dekay, &c. now offered; for, strange as it may appear, there is &c. and the many classical descriptions of American not one of the kind in the English language; that animals, to be found in the Journals of the Acade- Elunborough-John M. Sinnickson, chairman, is, published since the adoption of the recently im- my of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, of the Ly-John Thompson, William Hall, Clement Hall, Morproved classifications of animals. On each branch, ceum of New York, &c. &c. In a word, the trans-ris Hall. or division, of the general subject of Natural Hislator has spared himself no trouble, to make the tory, there are many and very excellent treatises; work as complete, in this latter respect, as might be but there is no single work, comprising, in a condensed form, the principles, and, we might call them, the characteristic symbols of each department, so as to enable the student or general reader, with very little sacrifice of time and attention, to arrive at a knowledge of any individual object which NOTE. The additions and alterations will consist may for the first time present itself to his notice. in a much fuller account of Rocks; a distribution of Viewed in this light then, the work which is now fossil organic remains; the adoption of professor offered, is calculated to be useful to all classes of Cleaveland's arrangement of minerals, in place of the community, but more particularly so to the res- that followed in the original; the insertion in the ident in the country. We, therefore, sincerely be- text of the American genera and species of animals; lieve, that we are rendering a service to our subscri- many critical notes; and a catalogue of foreign and bers, by recommending Professor Ducatel's Ele- American references. mentary Treatise to their most liberal patronage.] deemed necessary. CONDITIONS. The work will be published in one volume, 8vo. of 500 pages, containing Mineralogy and Geognosy, Botany and Zoology. There will be attached to the work about 35 Upper Penn's Neck--Lewis Green, chairman, Richard Somers, Jacob Goodwin, David Scull, Joseph Black, Hudson A. Springer. Mannington-William Carpenter, jun. chairman, John Denn, Elisha Bassett, Josiah Miller, Joseph Bassett, jun., George Hall. Pilesgrove-Paul Scull, chairman, Josiah Shull, Lower Penn's Neck-Joseph Lippencott, chair- (Signed,) FRANCIS L. McCULLOCH, Rec. Sec'ry. Mr. Prince, proprietor of the Linnæan Bo-1, .8 a .81, No. 2, .5 a .6; Cotton, New Orleans .11 a .13, tanic Garden, near New York, is very anxious to Upland 9. a .101, Tennessee 9. a .104, Alabama 9. a obtain seeds of the Vitis Riparia, or sweet scented 101; Feathers, South. .32 a .33, West. .30 a.31; Flax .74 ;fine 6.00; Rye 3.62 a 3.75; a.74. Flour, super. 6.25 a grape of Ohio, as but one sex is at present known Cornmeal, hds. 12.00 a, bls. 2.18 a 2.25; Flaxseed, to our gardens, and in consequence no fruit is pro- cask duced. The seeds can be transmitted to him by mail, and such favour will be cheerfully reciprocated. a ; bu. FOR SALE, 5 ..... 6 7 -; Grain, Wheat 1.25 a 1.30; Rye .60 a.65, Corn 1. c. white, .44 a .46, 1. c. yellow,.47 Saturday,...... 4 Sunday, a .48, u. c. round, .49 a .51; Oats .33 a .40, Barley, Pa. -a.-; do. East..55 a .60; black-eyed Peas .40 a .50. .: Monday,. Hams, Jersey.9 a.11, Virginia .10a.12, Western.8 a.9; Tuesday,..... Wednesday,. BALTIMORE MARKET.--There has been a depres- Hemp, 210; Lard, .5 a.8; Oil, linseed,.78 a 79; Pork, mess, sion in the prices of flour since our last of from 371 13.00 a 13.25, prime 11.50 a 12, cargo 10.00 a 10.50; Rice, to 50 cents a barrel. Howard street was $5.50 from 2.75 a 3.00; Tobacco, Kentucky .31 a .6, Virginia .44 a.7; Thursday, the wagons yesterday, and it was generally consi-Wool, common washed lb. .26 a .28, half blood 28. a .31, Friday, three quarters blood .31 a .32, full blood .34 a .38; undered worth $5.75 from stores, though many hold-washed, generally 10 cents less, according to quality. ers prefer holding on to selling for less than $6 a $6.124. GRAIN.—There has been a few cargoes of new wheat in market. One cargo of rare ripe wheat from the Rappahannock, was sold for $1.32, and another of red wheat at $1.25; but these prices are by no means indicative of the value of the ar-Rifles. ticle. The first was a superior lot, and was wanted for a particular purpose, and both were early in the market, which induced buyers to advance considerably in their offers. Our quotations, therefore, of wheat may be considered nominal, as there are no two persons who agree in their estimate of the value of it. We have endeavoured to adopt a medium between the extremes of the rates given LIVE STOCK.-Beef on the hoof is very dull, and the prices further depressed-our quotations probably embrace both extremes. Corrected for the American Farmer. TOBACCO.--Maryland, ground leaf, $5.00 a 10.00seconds, ordinary, 4.00 a 5.00-red, 5.00 a 6.00-fine red, 7.00 a 8.00, for wrapping 5.00 a 10.00-Ohio, common, 5.00 a 8.50-good red 8.00 a 12.00-fine yellow 10.00 a 20.00-Rappahannock, S.00 a 3.50-Kentucky, fine 4.00 a 5.00-wrapping, 4.50 a 7.00. FLOUR-best white wheat family, $7.00 a 7.50*-suSusThe subscribers offer for sale a general assortment of perfine Howard-st. 5.75 a 6.00 city mills, 5.50 aCORN MEAL, bbl. 2.50-GRAIN, best red quehanna, Agricultural Implements, comprising a great variety of improved Ploughs, Harrows and Cultivators-Wheat wheat, new 1.05 a 1.10-best white do. new 1.20 a 1.25; Fans, with improvements recently introduced-Corn ord. to good, .60 a 1.00-CORN, white, 45. a .46; yel. .45 Shellers, the gearing of which is so improved as to run a.46-RYE, .53 a.55-OATS, .28 a .33-BEANS, 1.00 a 1.25 light and be very durable-a few boxes of superior Dar--PEAS, .55 a .60-CLOVER SEED, 3.25 a 3.50-TIMOTHY, by Creek and Indian Pond Scythe Stones-Patent spring 2 a 2.50-Orchard Grass, 2 a 2.50-Herd's, .75 a 1.00— steel Hay and Manure Forks. Ruta Baga, and white flat Turnip Seed-a few bushels of Buckwheat. SINCLAIR & MOORE, Pratt-st. wharf, Baltimore. Prices Current in Boston, June 26. ORCHARD GRASS SEED. Apples, best, bbl. $.3.00 a 5.00. Beans, white, bushel The subscriber has for sale from three to four Beef, mess, bbl. 10.25 a 10.50; cargo No. 1, dred bushels of Orchard Grass Seed, raised by Mr. 1, new, lb. .14 a.16. Cheese, ney milk, .7 a .9; skim- mund Evans, near this city, and will be warranted very 5.50; do. trimmed, 6.50-North Carolina, No. 1, 6.25 a med milk, 2. a .3. Flour, Baltimore Howard-st. 6.75 a timore Howard st. Lucerne .374 a.50 lb.-BARLEY, .45 a.50-FLAXSEED,1.20 -COTTON, Virg. .94 a .10-Lou. .11 a .12—Alab. .9 a .10-Mississippi .10 a .12-North Carolina, .8 a .9— Geo..9 a.12-WHISKEY, hhds. 1st pf..23--in bbls. .24 a 25-WOOL, common, unwashed, lb. .15 a .16-washed, .18 a .20-crossed, .20 a .22-three-quarter,.25 a hun-.30-full do..30 a.50, accord❜g to qual.-HEMP, Russia, Ed-ton, $225 & 230; Country, dew-rotted, 136 a 140-waterrotted, 170 a 190-FISH, Shad, Susquehanna, No. 1, bbl. 6.50-Herrings, No. 1, bb). 3.75 a 4.00; No. 2, 3.50 a 3.75-Mackerel, No. 1, 6.50; No. 2, 6.00; No. 3, 4.50BACON, hams, Baltimore cured, .10 a 11; do. Eastern Shore, .124-hog round, cured, .7 a .8-Feathers, .28 a .29-Plaster Paris, cargo price per ton, $3.50, ground, 1.25 bbl.-Prime Beef on the hoof, $5.00 a $5.75. J. S. EASTMAN. GREEN-HOUSE PLANTS. Orders for Green-House Plants from the magnificent collection of Messrs D. & C. LANDRETH, Philadelphia, received by the subscriber. The plants are cultivated in pots, which therefore, admits of transporting at the present season with perfect safety. All orders will be carefully attended to, packed in boxes and received by the steam-boat line. The collection of the Messrs. Landreth's is not surpassed by any in the Union, and comprise the most beautiful, both native and exotic. None are sold by them unless in perfect health, and the prices at which they are offered very reasonable. Catalogues may had gratis on application. be Also, a constant supply of the Messrs. Landreth's Prices Current in New York, June 27. Bees-wax, yellow .23 a.24. Cotton, New Orleans .94 a.12; Upland, .84 a .101; Alabama, .9 a 11. Cotton Bagging, Hemp yd. .18 a .21; Flax .14 a.17. Flax, Ame- ment of AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, such as -; clean ; Davis' Improved Patent Ploughs; Clery's Patent Imrican, 8 a 9. Flaxseed, rough, tierce Flour, N.York, bbl. 6.25 a 6.374; Canal 6.00 a 6.37%; Bal-proved Scotch Ploughs; Improved Bar Share Ploughs; a 6.50; Richmond city mills,; Substratum do. and Shovel do.; Cultivators; Wheat country, 6.00 a 6.124; Alexand'a, 6.00 a 6.25; Fredericks- Fans; Hay Rakes; Straw Cutters; Swingle Trees; Oil burg a 6.00; Petersburg, 6.00 a; Rye Flour, Stones; Patent Scythe Rifles, Cast Steel Axes, &c. &c. 3.62 a 3.75; Indian Meal, per bbl. 2.37 a 2.50; per hhd. All the castings for the Davis' and other Ploughs sold 13.00 a 13.25. Grain, Wheat, Virginia 1.12 a 1.20; N.Ca- by him, constantly on hand to supply the place of those rolina, ; Rye, North, 66 a 67; Corn, Yel. Nor. .50 a worn out-but he does not furnish castings for making .55; Barley, .54 a .55; Oats, South and North, .30 a .36; new ploughs. Peas, white, dry 7 bu.; Beans, 7 bu. 8.00 a 8.50. Provisions, Beef, mess 9.75 a 10.25; prime 7.50 a 8.25; cargo a; shipping, .8 a.11; Lard, 6.00. Butter, N. York, .5 a .6; Pork, mess 12.50 a 13.00; prime 9.75 a 10.121, -; Hams, Va., per lb. .9 a .10; Northern cargo 9.00 a Tobacco, Virginia .31 a.54 a.61; .9 a.10. Rice .21 a .3. Wool, Merino, American Kentucky, .3 a 5 a .61. fleece, .32 a 36; Pulled, .32 a .35; common, .18 a .25; Pulled, spinning, .18 a .33. *Seven dollars and fifty cents by the single barrel, for Ellicotts' Patapsco white wheat family flour. MARKETING.-Raspberries, 124 a 184 per quart; Cherries, 3 a 10 per qt.; Currants, 64 per qt.; Blackberries, a 10 per qt.; Cucumbers, 10 a 124 per doz.; Beans 18 per peck; Peas, 12 a 25 per 'peck; Squabs, 182; Butter, lb. .20 a 25; Eggs, .16 a .18; Potatoes, Irish, bush. 1.00 a; Chickens, doz. 2 a 3.00; Beef, prime pieces, lb. .8 a .10; Veal, .8; Mutton, .6 a .7; Pork, .6; young Pigs, dressed, .874 a 1.00; Sausages, lb. .8; Pork, 5.50 a 6.00 cwt. CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. Hemp, McComb's Machine for cleaning and preparing for market, recommended-On the advantages of an Agricultural Life-On the cause of Smut in WheatTobacco, quantity and value of exported, and duties laid on it in Great Britain-Lucerne-Remarkable Cow and Calf-Prospect of Crops in New York and in Georgia-Disease among Silk Worms, letter from Mr. O. S. Smith--Fruit Trees; to prevent the canker, black rust, Rees, of South Carolina, and answer by Mr. G. B. &c. &c.-Duty of Parents to Children in relation to the Marriage of the latter-Poetry, on revisiting the cottage of Rosa, in early spring after a long absence-The Snipe-Great Running of Selim, at Philadelphia, in 1767--Fishing Song-On the Natural History of the Locust by Dr. Nathaniel Potter-Objectionable Phrases used in various parts of the United States-Baroness Humboldt-Editorial; An Elementary treatise on Natural History, by Julius T. Ducatel-Straw Paper; Officers of the Salem County Agricultural Society; Baltimore Market; Prices Current-Almanac. Printed every Friday, at Five Dollars per annum, for JOHN S. SKINNER, Editor, by JOHN D. Tox, corner of St. Paul and Market streets. AGRICULTURE. A NEW TREATISE UPON WOOL AND SHEEP. out deranging them; but it will be very apparent in Translated from the French by the Editor of the American butes much to efface the character of the fibre. Farmer. (Continued from page 114.) Of the connexion between the properties of Wool and certain external circumstances. The exterior circumstances which are usually prejudicial to the qualities of wool, in its growing state, are: 1st, Humidity. 2ndly, The heat of the sun. Srdly, The presence of external bodies which attach themselves to it. 4thly, The rumpling (froissement) to which it is exposed. Humidity is more or less injurious according to its nature, and according to the degree of heat with which it is accompanied. But it will be asked if the various effects upon wool, attributable to humidity, will exist after the wool shall have been properly dried? one hand, to relax its tissue, and to enlarge its pores; and on the other to be the principle of a great number of maladies. Humidity has in many sheep folds been the cause of the loss of entire flocks; and it is in a great measure to this cause that we must attribute the ravages of the watery cachexy-an ill habit of body proceeding from the bad disposition of the fluids and humours-but we will return by and by to this subject. In treating of the effects of humidity upon wool, we have spoken of the pernicious influence of dung which attaches itself to the extremity of the locks of the fleece, we have nothing to add at present to what we have said on that point. The light sand which composes almost exclusively the soil on the borders of the sea, lifted and carried in all directions by winds as violent as they are frequent, is easily introduced into the fleece where it attaches itself and accumulates the more in proportion as the fleece is finer, more curled, and its grease more abundant-The quantity of sand with which the fleece is sometimes charged, is so considerable, that on separating the locks it is not possible to see the skin. The sand absorbs at the same time, 1st, the moisture or transudation of the skin which is destined by nature to contribute to its suppleness; and 2ndly, the grease (suint) which performs the same functions in regard to the fibre. It opposes itself too, to the natural connexion of the fibre in every lock, a connexion on which depends in a great measure, the regularity of character. It contributes also in a manner yet more marked, to the alteration of this character, in mixing itself with the excrement which already adheres to the end of the lock, and in adding, by an augmentation of weight, one degree more of tension to the fibres that compose it. We cannot but answer affirmatively to this ques- The heat of the sun tends to dry up a part of the tion. The traces left by humidity on the fleece in greasiness (suint)-existing in the fleece, and conits growth, are as evident as they are pernicious: at sequently to alter the qualities of softness and supAfter having shewn how the divers properties of the same time that the water has dilated the tissue pleness of the fibre. Its influence, as we have alwool are connected one with another, and how they of the fibre, the nourishing juices of the latter have ready remarked, is particularly injurious when it depend on the condition of the body and of the skin been taken to refil the great void which this dilation takes place upon wool which has been wet; for the of the sheep; we apprehend it may be useful to in- has caused in the interior of the tube in such a man-wool having been thus deprived of a portion of dicate, without more delay, the accidental circumner that even after the evaporation of th humidity grease (suint) which protected it, becomes so much stances which most frequently alter some one of the fibre remains coarser than before. The tension the more susceptible of being dried and hardened these properties, and thus cannot fail to injure the occasioned by the weight at the end of the lock, by the effect of ardent heat. wool in the mass. when it has been wet, having exercised out of pro- The external matters, the presence of which is But in treating of the influence of certain exterior portion or measure the faculty of suppleness which most habitually injurious to wool, are: First, the circumstances, upon wool, our intention is not now the moistened fibre had acquired, and having effaced dung of sheep folds-Secondly, sand, earth and to enlarge upon the different treatments which in part its character, it results that the fibre will ne- dust-Thirdly, the broken remains of fodder and this primary matter should undergo in the hands of cessarily have lost, never to regain, a part of that straw litter. the washer and the manufacturer; we will limit our-strength, and of that elasticity of curl, (du frisé,) selves to considering it in its growing state. It is in which, as we shall hereafter see, is so useful to it in that condition that one in general can best judge of the operation of felting (feutrage,) or fulling-In a it; all the characteristic signs appear then at once, word, the water having partially dissolved the greaand furnish precious indications for appreciating in siness (suint) which laid over or covered (enduisait) the most certain manner its real merit. the fibre, the heat of the sun in drying it, has crisped it more easily, and it will have become so much the less soft and flexible, as it has been more frequently in turns wet and dry. The effects of humidity are not less prejudicial upon wool separated from the body of the sheep, and though the water has thickened the tube by dilating it, it seems that the wool after having been dried, resumes very nearly its original fineness; nevertheless it cannot be affirmed that it has completely done so; and some Hot and humid winds, the fog, the dew, rain, experiments, the results of which are not sufficiently snow, the accidental immersion of the animal, and conclusive to be mentioned here, incline us to belastly, the habitual action of the urine and of excre-lieve that it would not be without detriment to its ments; such are the causes which most frequently fineness, that one could wash wool even in pure cold subject the fleece to the pernicious effects of hu- water and leave it to dry, many times in succession. midity. It is in vain that nature seems to have Humidity proceeding from urine and from excresought to guard the fibre of wool against the influ- ments, produces upon wool in its growth, effects still ence of humidity, in imbruing it with those oily more pernicious than those we have described. matters that we call greasiness and surge, (suint et These matters are endowed with a corrosive faculty, surge.) which attacks the surge, (the grease which inheres We already know that pure and cold water is of in the fibre itself, le surge.) Their action is so much itself sufficient to dissolve le suint, (the yolk or ex- the greater as it is permanent; it alters the colour of terior grease,) and the surge itself, or grease which the fibre, in staining it, of a pale yellow colour at inheres in the fibre, as we shall presently shew, can- first, then more and more dark until it becomes Perhaps also it may be proved that sand opposes not defend the fibre against the serious changes ef- almost black. These various shades denote a pro- itself to the natural play or operation of the air and fected in it by the influence of urine and excremen-gressive deterioration of the substance of the fibre, of light, as much upon the interior of the fleece, as titious accumulations, (les crottins.) which is sometimes decomposed to the point of upon the skin itself-and we are not ignorant how Water renders the fibre coarser by dilating it; it losing all its strength, and of breaking as easily as much their influence is necessary to the development renders it for the moment more supple and more a piece of straw which is found on the dung hill af of bodies in general. The neighbourhood of the susceptible of extension-in a word, it partially ter fermentation. Independently of the ordinary sea shore exposes the royal flock of Perpignan, to destroys its character. These facts will be evident effects of humidity, which are the causes of render- all the inconveniences we have specified, and the to all observers who will take the trouble to establishing the fibre coarser, and the alteration of its elastic quality of the wool furnished by this flock incontesthem. The cause of increased coarseness of the faculties and of its character, urine and the excre-tibly suffers by such exposure. tube consists, according to al appearance, in the ments occasion then, the alteration of its colour, Earth and dust produce effects analogous to those faculty of absorption, by means of which its pores and the deterioration of its very substance. It is in of sand. It is during the sojourn of flocks upon imbibe more or less of humid particles. That of a effect that which we constantly remark on the fleeces certain kinds of soils, that these foreign matters find greater susceptibility of extension does not appear of beasts whose litter is not kept fresh and in good opportunity to introduce themselves into the fleeces; to us so easy of explanation, and, without recurring order; the wool of the belly and thighs is yellow, and one recognizes by the red, yellow, or white, the to any doubtful theory, we will content ourselves coarse and dry. The end of every lock on the kind of soil on which the animals pasture. The with relating the fact, remarking only that this sus-flanks and elsewhere carries a humid accretion of particles of vegetables which serve to nourish and ceptibility had already teen acknowledged, since excrement, in the interior of which we find the ends to litter sheep, attaches to their wool in such a manwe find that in the writings of our naturalists that of the fibres, without character, without fineness, ner, that it is only with great trouble that one can it is in a dry hair, compared to a wet one, as five without strength, and often in a state bordering on separate them from it in the operation of washing, to thirty-fire. As to the alteration that the charac-decomposition. beating, (battage,) and picking This inconveter of the fibre undergoes when it has been wet, it Until now we have spoken only of the direct in-nience depreciates the wool more than it is possiseems to as to explain itself by the dilation, and by fluence of humidity upon the fibre; that which it ble to believe, and one will not fail, when the mothe augmentation of suppleness that it has acquired. exercises indirectly upon the wool, in attacking the ment for it arrives, to recommend to wool growers This alteration will, without doubt, not be very condition of the skin first, and then the health of the greatest precautions to prevent it; in the mean remarkable, if it takes place, (s' il s'agit) or acts upon the animal, may be yet more hurtful. In fact it is time, we will content ourselves with remarking, that fibres of wool united in a lock, which one has indubitable that the skin absorbs a considerable the presence of these foreign bodies causes damage moistened and left to ry, with precaution and with- quantity of humidity, which has a tendency on the to the beasts, as it causes them to scratch and rub No. 17.-Vol. 11. themselves, which results in a striking derangement cabins of logs, with clap-board roofs, to shelter their culture, the poverty of farmers, the absence of eduof the fleece, and a pulling and plucking, (tiraille-heads from the rigor of the season. The floor some-cation and polite manners. mens) which is very injurious. times consisted of earth, sometimes of puncheons; Those obstructions to every thing desirable are The rumplings froissement) which the wool un- a partition was unknown; the single room served diminishing. Titles are becoming better ascertaindergoes during its sojourn upon the body of the the purpose of a kitchen, eating room, work shop, ed, suits in ejectment are fewer, and the landlords sheep, sensibly alter its different qualities: in fact and bed chamber, for the family. Perhaps an equal-desirous of selling and giving the preference to the we have seen that the most essential of these quali-ly wretched hovel contained their horse and a cow tenants, and making the payments favourable. In ties were connected in a very close manner not only or a hog. The first year a patch was cleared for justice to the non-residents, it ought to be observed, with the character of the fibre, but also with its potatoes and corn. Next year a field for wheat. that with one solitary exception, I have never known strength properly called, and its different modes of The labour of clearing land fit for the plough is pro- a tenant treated with severity, but every indulgence elasticity for these last properties are so much the digious, and to open a farm of a hundred acres is has been extended to them to enable them to pay more entire, as they are the less acted upon-as for the work of years. Many years must necessarily their rent, or the purchase money if they have conexample, the first quality of a bow is to be endowed be passed in painful toil before enough is cleared to tracted for the land. We may fairly hope to see with the property of regaining its position, (redressé- maintain a family and keep a pair of horses. In the Bedford from this time forward progressing as rament) as prompt in effect and as complete as possi- mean time the first cleared was worn out. Add to pidly in agricultural improvement as she is in popuble; but after reiterated use this power of self-con- this the perpetual apprehension the squatter is under lation. traction and regaining its original condition is natu- of being removed by a non-resident landholder, from 99. Very little advance has been made in imrally diminished-one conceives that the result the spot of his affections, the spot where he has provement of stock, because too much dependence ought to be the same in a fibre of wool, the elastic struggled and toiled from youth to age, suffering all is placed in the woods for pasture, and the policy of faculties of which shall have been exhausted by the privations to which a pioneer of the forest is the general government possesses no stability; white rumplings, (froissemens,) or by having been frequent- subject-and we will cease to condemn the bad oak leaves and hickory buds never make good catly stretched. buildings and bad husbandry of our people. tle. People must sow more clover, and plough less, In order that the matter may be rightly under-before they can raise good stock; and they must stood, it is necessary to take a coup de oil of Penn- have more confidence in the government before they sylvania tenures. will go to the expense of purchasing the improved breeds. The improved breed of hogs from Chester county has been introduced, and Merino sheep, but the extent of the latter is limited. Our cattle are little better than highland stags. We will avoid here, as in the whole course of this section, to speak of the means indicated by experience to prevent the inconveniences that we have judged it necessary to point out at present. It will be time enough to do that when we come to speak of the care necessary to be given to flocks. End of section 5.-The next treats of the relation between the properties of wool, and its employment in manufactures. Charles II. granted the state of Pennsylvania to William Penn, by a charter, who held it in free and common soccage by fealty alone in lieu of all other services. The purchasers from Penn held of himself and his heirs, "by such services, customs and 100. The price of unlocated lands, bought of the rents, as to him or them should seem fit, and not im-government of Pennsylvania, is at present $26 67 mediately of the crown," the Penns covenanting to per 100 acres. It has varied at different periods, SKETCH OF BEDFORD COUNTY, PENN- extinguish the Indian title. The tenures under Penn having been 50 shillings currency per 100 acres. have therefore been said to be by a kind of rent In states where the United States possess lands service. A complete title consists in a warrant, sur-the price is $1 25 per acre. There are no United vey, patent and possession, and then the allodium is in the purchaser. SYLVANIA. (Concluded from p. 115.) 93. The food of the agricultural labourer, or help, as they are called, is the same as that of their emIn the early settlement of our state, bodies of ployer. No farmer in Bedford county could get a forest land were taken up by companies and indivihireling if he made any distinction, and the entire duals on speculation, who never contemplated setfamily, maids, men, children, wife and master, eat tlement or improvement, but who purchased with a at the same table. The quality of the fare depends view of holding them until a rise in the price would on the circumstances of the master; usually it is cof-pay them a heavy interest on their capital. This fee, wheat bread and bacon, fresh meat, poultry, or speculation business has retarded the population of salt fish, for breakfast. Wheat bread, bacon, fresh Pennsylvania more than any other local cause. Some meat or poultry, with abundance of vegetables and lands in this county, surveyed in 1763, are yet a pies, with a glass of whiskey, for dinner. Tea, the wilderness. same sort of meat and bread, for supper; sometimes mush and milk in winter. 94. In summer farmers work from sunrise to sunset, allowing an hour or an hour and an half for breakfast, and the same for dinner. In winter they breakfast by candle light, and join their work at the first dawn of day; they are called to dinner, eat and go to it again. 95, 96. Such a domestic as an English butler is unknown to the Bedford farmers, and servants almost as much so. They adopt the admonition given by Martha Trapbois to Glenvarlock: "The wise man is his own best assistant," and are aware that no man is truly independent who depends on the labour or fidelity of others for his comfort. States lands in Pennsylvania. The United States owned a tract on Lake Erie, including Presque Isle, which was not deemed to have heen conveyed to Penn by Charles; and by deed dated March 3, 1792, the United States, for the consideration of $151,640 25, conveyed the Lake Erie tract to Pennsylvania, and thus extinguished the claim of the general government to lands within this Commonwealth forever. brow. 103. There is a bank here, or the ghost of a bank. It has been endeavouring to wind up its concerns for several years. The public lands of this Commonwealth formerly belonged to the Penn family under the charter of Charles; but in 1779 the Assembly by act, made for As the eastern part of the state became more that purpose, divested them of the lands, and vested thickly settled, and lands became difficult to acquire, them in the commonwealth, and abolished quit-rents, the poorer farmers moved out back; that is, to the reserving to the Penns, the proprietary tenths or west, and finding uncultivated lands without a manors then actually surveyed and their private esclaimant, they squatted on it, erected_temporary tates. To the lands thus divested the United States buildings and began to raise grain. These were never had any claim. Had the Penns continued to joined by emigrants from the adjoining states and possess Pennsylvania, they would at this time have from Europe, and in process of time became a nu-been the richest family in the world. merous and formidable body of men. When the 101. Every landholder lives by the sweat of his proprietors discovered the intruders, they brought suits in ejectment against them. In some instances the squatters took leases and became tenants; in other cases they held out and plead to the declaration; relying on defect of title in the plaintiffs, or on 104. It is hazardous to attempt to establish the a possession of 21 years. An actual, adverse bona comparative fertility of soil in the eastern and wesfide, uninterrupted possession of 21 years, without tern states. The com on Lake Champlain appearthe shadow of written title, will cut out the best of- ed to me not worth rasing. In some parts of New 99. A few spirited individuals are adopting the fice title in Pennsylvania. Actual settlement and York it is as good as in Pennsylvania. I have heard use of lime, clover, gypsum, and a more advanta- improvement have at all times been peculiar favour- it said in Lancaster county, by experienced farmers, geous and less exhausting course of crops. The ites of the legislature, of courts and juries, and that one year with another 25 bushels shelled corn culture of clover is rapidly increasing. It has been where non-residents brought suit against actual set- was a good yield; and Lancaster is proverbial in the custom heretofore to crop the land as long as it tlers, if a flaw could be picked in the title the plain- Pennsylvania for fertility of soil and excellence of will produce any thing, and no means taken to reno tiffs were mulct in costs. However, the title gene-tillage. It is not uncommon on the Ohio, Mississip vate it. This destructive system is to be attributed rally was good, and the squatters aware that nothing pi, Missouri and their tributary streams, to raise 75 to the peculiar circumstances of the country. Bed short of 21 years' possession could protect them, bushels shelled corn to the acre. An aged farmer, ford has been principally settled by emigrants from expended nothing in improvement, and scalped the on what is called the American bottom, in Illinois, Europe, the lower part of this state from Maryland land. This is one cause of the absence of good told me, that having raise corn on the same land and New Jersey. They were generally very poor, husbandry in Bedford. for 30 consecutive years, le tried a corner of it in and had barely the means of reaching here. There Again, tenants leasing from year to year have no wheat, and it grew rank, taller than a man's head, were large tracts of unseated lands in all parts of inducement to erect costly and permanent buildings, moulded and produced no gain. Maurice Birk back the country, the property of persons living at a dis-or sow artificial grasses, because there is no certain-estimated the produce of con at English prairie at tance, some of them in England. On this land the ty of their enjoying the benefit of their labour. 50 bushels per acre. In Luisiana they raise two emigrants squatted. They constructed wretched Those two causes produce a wretched state of agri-crops of corn in a year. Th Ma-ta-po-ny bottoms 97. The wages of maids vary from 50 cents to 75 cents a week. |