advisable; stating also the probable number of such approved books that will be required, and the premium or reward to be given, and I am satisfied that the certainty of remuneration to arise from said premium, and from so large, expe books, would command the talents of competent men, and that geology, anatomy, agriculture, and chemistry, adapted to the use of common schools, would occupy the talents of many an Uncle Philip, Peter Parley, Mitchell, Davies, &c. There is no denying the fact, that _to_most of the farmers of the present day, words of science are "repulsive." They are not understood by them, and although they have a desire, as occasion permits, to read for pleasure and instruction, it is irksome, and indeed impossible, to turn this pas-ditious, and certain a sale of such approved texttime into hard and severe study. They can derive no pleasure from reading in ignorance, not comprehending the technical terms of their subject, or in spending most of the time which they can devote to reading, in hunting out the meaning of words. Hence it is, that not only books of science, but men of science are avoided by the farmers. They receive no pleasure when brought in contact with either. Thus they are induced to avoid them, and thus as a matter of choice, not necessity, they take a lower rank in society than the true dignity of their occupation requires. I trust enough has been said to demonstrate the true cause of the present situation of farmers, and that they have the remedy in their own hands. I will now point out a practical mode of applying this remedy, which in less than fifteen years, (and this in the life of a community is a short period,) will create a class of industrious farmers, for whom it will not be necessary to abridge the works of scientific writers on agriculture, and to present their works in a form less repulsive, because less learned, and consequently, more generally intelligible. ence. Let whatever committees may be appointed to examine and approve of those text-books, be men of science in each department, who will carefully and honestly discharge their duty; let no undue influence be brought to bear in procuring recommendations of books; let the town superintendents employ competent teachers, (a duty not sufficiently estimated at present,) and let the class-books so recommended and approved of, be thus introduced and used in all our common schools. Such an organized and simultaneous movement in this state must inevitably spread through and be adopted in other states, and as I before said, in ten or fifteen years from this time, the compilation of Joseph A. Smith may be required in other countries, but in this, will be of little use. THOMAS ADDIS EMMET. CULTIVATION OF FRUIT. As that which is everybody's business becomes nobody's, I will take the liberty of designating an SOIL. The hard gravelly soil of the eastern institution under whose direction the work of re- states, the sandy soil of New Jersey, the clay soil form should be commenced. In making this se- of Pennsylvania, and the rich alluvial bottoms of lection, I do not intend to reflect upon, or under- the west, all produce an abundance of the differrate the utility of others. I name the American ent varieties of fruit when proper attention is givInstitute, because if its objects are to promote na- en to the trees. Mr. Phinney, of Lexington, Mastional greatness, it will never have a better oppor-sachusetts, has ditched and drained one of his tunity. It is an institution fast growing into im- swamps, and has now on it a luxuriant orchard of portance if properly directed. It is now conducted apples-trees. The great point is to have a dry by men of comparative leisure and much experi- soil. If it is not sufficiently rich, make it so; no It has received much public patronage, and man should expect to have fine crops of anything can not with reason object to incurring the slight unless his soil is rich. expense required for the purposes I mention. Let then the American Institute, through their committee on agriculture, or a committee of the Farmers' Club, or a committee from the New York State Society for the diffusion of useful knowledge, ascertain from the superintendent of common schools, the names of all the town superintendents in the state, and their places of residence. Address a printed communication to each of these, setting forth the object in view, get from them assurances that they will cause to be introduced and used in all their district schools, such text-books on agriculture, geology, chemistry, anatomy of animals, &c., as shall be recommended to them by the Institute, and also the number of such books required in each school, and in the district libraries. Let them also open a correspondence with all the County agticultural societies, &c, to aid in making up a suitable reward or premium to be offered for the best text-books. When this is done, let the same committee advertise for the best elementary text-books on those subjects, to be selected for approval at such time, place, and in such manner, as may be deemed most Setting out TREES.-If by exposure the roots have become dry, immerse them in water for 20 or 30 hours previous to setting them out. Prepare a compost as follows: Take 3 bushels of rich soil, or 3 bushels of swamp muck would be better, 1 bushel night soil, 1 bushel fine charcoal, (if charcoal is plenty 3 to 4 bushels is to be preferred,) 1 bushel slaked lime, 1 bushel of unleached, or 2 bushels of leached wood ashes, and 1 peck of salt. Mix the above well together. Dig the holes 3ft.wide, 2 feet deep, keeping the top soil by itself, fill in a portion of the bottom soil until nearly ready for the tree, then fill in half a bushel of the compost and set in the tree, spreading out the roots to their natural position, and fill in the top soil, gently shaking the tree two or three times to settle the soil around the roots. The tree should be set the same depth in the orchard, that it stood in the nursery. Leave the soil a little hollowing about the tree to catch and retain the rainwater. Put around each tree half a peck of fine charcoal, and half a peck of slaked lime. With these precautions, neither peach nor any other fruit-trees will be infested with worms at the roots GEORGIA LANDS AND AGRICULTURE. provided they have suitable after-culture. For many of the above suggestions the writer is in debted to R. L. Pell, Esq., of Pelham, Ulster Co., New York. CULTURE OF ORCHARDS.-The soil around the trees should be kept loose, either by spading, digging with a mattock, or by plowing. If a crop is put in the orchard, nothing should be planted or sowed within five feet of the trees, as the nourishment taken up by the crop is so much taken from the growth of the trees. After the lime and charcoal has laid around the trees one year, spread it around the trees in a circle of ten feet in diameter. This should be done in the spring, when the soil is cultivated, and a fresh supply of lime and charcoal applied. When the trees have been set out three or four years, the soil should be enriched with a compost of manure, swamp-muck, and ashes. Early every spring the trunks of the trees should be washed with strong ley, strong soap-suds, or thin soft soap. Apply either of these with a whitewash brush as high as a man can reach. When the trees grow rapidly, their growth will be increased by slitting the outer bark the whole length from the ground up to the limbs. This gives the trees room to expand. As soon as the trees blossom, throw over them lime perfectly slaked-this should be done while the dew is on. TORENDER OLD AND BARREN ORCHARDS THRIFTY AND PRODUCTIVE.-Early in the spring plow the entire orchard and enrich with a compost of manure, swamp muck, lime, and chip manure. Scrape off all the old bark with a deck scraper, or a hoe, ground sharp. Apply half a bushel slaked lime, and the same of fine charcoal, around each tree. Apply then soft soap or strong soap-suds on the trunks and limbs as high as a man can reach. While the trees are in full bloom, throw over them a good supply of fine slaked lime. 117 diseases engendered by miasma; but others, and the larger portion, (I speak of Georgia,) are as free from them as any section of the Union. Middle and upper Georgia is, I presume, as healthy a region as you will find in the world. The lower part, comprehending the pine land, is nearly a level plain. The growth is almost exclusively long-leaf pine, and, except on the streams, the soil is generally a sandy barren. This region extends from the Atlantic 150 or 200 miles, then comes the middle region, which is undulating, well watered, and timbered with oak, hickory, &c. This section extends from the pine land to the mountains, and is about 100 or 150 miles wide. Then comes the northern or mountain portion of the state, where all the northern fruits and vegetables grow in great perfection. But to return to the middle region, with which I have to do. This is the great cotton portion, and when new, much sickness was occasioned by killing thousands of acres of heavy timber, in preparing the land for cultivation. That portion of country lying between the Oconee, I may say even the Ocmulgee, and the Savannah rivers, is now called "the old part of Georgia." Much of it, particularly on the Savannah river, was settled soon after the revolution, and some of it, as Wilkes, Columbia, &c., during that period. There is now but little new land cleared, and the consequence is, that fever is hardly ever found except occasionally on the water courses. Many northern people live and die here without ever having had a chill or bilious fever. Consumption, and those diseases occasioned by cold, are almost unknown. I believe my own family is a fair specimen of the health of the country in which I live. I have been housekeeping ten years, have had a family numbering from 20 to 60, and have only had one bilious case during the time, and that was a light case of chills following the Tyler grippe last fall. TO DESTROY CATERPILLARS.-As soon as the I presume the other reason why many of your nests can be seen, procure some pure spirits of people are deterred from our country, is on account ammonia, tie a small piece of sponge to a pole of the institution of slavery. That may be avoidthat is long enough to reach the highest nests, filled by owning none-for thousands live in the midst the sponge with ammonia, and once filling will be sufficient to rub off and destroy from thirty to forty GEORGIA LANDS AND AGRICULTURE. I WAS struck with a communication in a former number of your paper, apprizing your readers that farmers from the middle states were turning their attention to the lands in Virginia. I have often wondered why all the immigration from those states should tend westward. It can not be that such a cold, not to say wild region, is more desirable than our genial clime. I can think of but two causes to deter the immigrant from our sunny clime, and they are imaginary. I understand that northern people suppose we are much exposed to fever and ague. From all I can learn, there is much more of it in the west than the south. Some parts of the southern country, it is true, suffer from of them without owning one, and I have never heard the first man complain that the black population was the least in his way. But the objection, if such it be, may be obviated by selecting a county where the population is white. By reference to the census, you will perceive that some counties have no more than many counties in New York have of free negroes. The advantages of Georgia are many and striking. Thousands of stock have lived throughout the winter without feeding. It is a very common occurrence for hogs to run wild, and live for years on the mast to be found in the woods. Now hundreds, nay thousands of bushels of acorns might be gathered on the creeks. Our green crops are kept all winter, without being removed. My cabbages and ruta baga are now standing in my garden, green and growing. Beets need not be removed until you wish them to feed. Potatoes will lie in the ground all winter, and grow off finely in the spring. Most of the northern fruits grow well with us; besides which, we have the fig, and might have many other tropical fruits in GEORGIA LANDS AND AGRICULTURE. great abundance. Only a few of the grapes grow cess. on them, until they are as fertile, it would seem, The soil from the upland has been washed as any soil in the world. had an abundance of fresh upland to cultivate, that they would not risk the destruction of their crops Planters have so long ing, and clearing the channels, this can often be by inundation. But by proper draining, straightenprevented; and experience has shown that corn is seldom injured by an inundation. The streams being small, the water passes off in a few hours, or days at farthest. But what will be most interesting to your agricultural readers, is, that we have land in great abundance, and at very low prices. Our planters have had land so plenty, that they have usually found it most convenient to cut down the forest, cultivate the land, until too much exhausted to make heavy crops, and then desert it for a new manured, is the surest soil for cotton. We are now beginning to learn that old land, county. The consequence is, that no attention has been turned to manuring, or any other im- deposites, as rich as vegetable deposite can be, no end to the materials for manure. There is provement. When one of these plantations has are inexhaustible. During summer the pasturage The swamp been "worn out," as it is called, it is sold to an adjoining planter for a very low price, say from port any number of cattle that one may choose to on old lands and woods, not under fence, will supone to five dollars per acre; consequently, one man will often become the owner of thousands of in April. When our corn is gathered in the fall, turn upon them. We usually stop feeding early acres, with one tenth or one twentieth in cultiva- it affords abundant pasturage until Christmas, and tion. The old lands are suffered to remain uncul- then we feed away the corn-shucks, or husks, till tivated and unfenced, when they grow up in pines, April. In this way our planters keep 50 to 100 briers, and finally the original forest growth of head of cattle, less or more, according to their the country; these are again cleared and put un- wealth. And yet, there are men who keep 100 der cultivation. This process has been repeated head of cattle, 20 horses, 200 to 300 hogs, sheep, more than once, on the same piece of land, with &c., who do not make 50 wagon loads of manure success. It is interesting to perceive how rapidly, during the year. I might say sagaciously, nature will renovate the king manure would be a blessing to any neighborA farmer who understands maearth when turned over to her fostering care. these deserted plantations are always to be found On hood in which he might settle. small lots, containing from 10 to 100, and sometimes several hundred acres of woods. A small farmer may always buy an abundance of good land for cultivation, by taking the old land for nothing. Several hundreds of acres are often sold for a dollar, or less per acre. rule is to sell the wood land for what it may be The usual thought to be worth, and give to the purchaser the old land and houses for nothing. Perhaps I could not give your readers a better idea of the state of real property, in the old part of Georgia, than by an account of a trade made a few weeks ago by a gentleman in this vicinity. He purchased a tract of land containing 1,000 or 1,200 acres, very desirably located, having 320 acres in woods. He gave $10 per acre for the wood land, and nothing for the balance. On it there are 50 or 60 acres of low grounds that will bring 40 or 50 bushels of corn to the acre. The balance of the wood land will produce 25 to 30 bushels of corn, and 1,000 to 1,200 lbs. of seed cotton to the acre. A favorable year it would average a light bag of cotton per acre, the bag weighing 300 to 350 lbs. The wood land is well timbered with oak, hickory, poplar, walnut, &c. The old land, most of it grown in pine, would produce near half as much as the wood land. With manure, and the care given to land in countries where it is scarce, it might soon be made to double and treble the products above supposed. soil has a fine retentive clay foundation; some of Our it covered with a gray, and some with a strong mulatto loam. Our planters are beginning to bring their creek and river-bottoms into cultivation, with great suc large planters accustomed to the old habit of deThough the old part of Georgia does not suit erate, or small farmers, or even large ones, dispostroying the finest soil in the world, yet for modsed to improve, I believe it to be the most desirable portion of the globe. For $1,000 or $1,500, a may be had, with several hundred acres of land, comfortable house and out-houses, garden, &c., out of which might be selected 30, 40, 50, perhaps sides, out of the old land lots could be found of all 100, or even more, acres of good wood land. Besizes, say from 5 to 20 acres, of good level land, wanting nothing but a fair chance to become as fertile as may be desired. lately, and in a few instances, which is sufficient No attention has been given to ditching until to show that a wonderful revolution will be effectloam from the hills is deposited on the banks of ed in our agriculture by this means. creeks and branches, entirely susceptible of cultiThe rich vation, in almost every instance by judicious draining. In thousands of places, a few acres may be had fit for cultivation without draining; but our people having been in the habit of plowing fields, varying from 10 to 100 acres in size, overlook these rich little nooks and corners, and will continue to do so as long as by removing to a new country they can be indulged in their old ways. washed off by the heavy rains to which our cliWhere our land lies rolling, the soil is soon made to prevent this; and where land is cultivamate is much subject. Very little effort has been ted from year to year in corn or cotton, it is obvisides. Indeed, the temptation to make cotton is ous that the soil will soon be gone from the hillso great, that our planters have generally been THE ENGLISH OAK IN AMERICA.-PLASTER NEAR SALT WATER.-ETC. 119 willing to sacrifice their lands for quick returns. My residence, with a few acres of land around The late low price of cotton had somewhat arrest-it, is about half a mile in a direct line from the ed this destructive system, but I fear it will return | Sound, and fully open to the influence of winds with the increased value of the great staple. The middle, and particularly the mountain portion of Georgia, has water-power sufficient, I presume, to turn every manufactory in the United States. It may be had for almost nothing. There are some 20 or 30 cotton factories in the state, which are said to be doing well. An English company, I learn, has purchased a shoal on the Savannah river, and several thousand acres of land adjoining for the purpose of appropriating the whole of this copious stream to manufacturing purposes. GARNETT ANDREWS. Washington, Wilkes Co., Ga., Jan. 24th, 1844. THE ENGLISH OAK IN AMERICA. from the east and southeast, charged with the moisture of the ocean. I came to New Rochelle in the summer of 1839, and found a piece of land which was at my service as a pasture, and a little farther from the salt water than my house, (say a quarter of a mile,) almost completely worn out. The grass and daisies it produced were so worthless, that I gave them away to any one who would be at the trouble of carrying them off. Next spring I sowed plaster on it; and nothing else was used for manure. The crop of grass and red clover it produced struck the farmers who saw it with amazement. It was near a church, and a natural object of attention to a rural congregation, who knew it well. When the question was asked, "What manure has been used to resuscitate the land so wonderfully?" and the answer was "Plaster, and nothing else," some were sorely puzzled. The lot has been constantly used since, both for mowing and pasturage, and large crops obtained by the use of plaster, and nothing else. New Rochelle, Feb. 7th, 1844. I NOTICE a communication in your February number, relative to the English Oak, (quercus robur.) That species was long since introduced by my grandfather, and a few years since we had 10,000 of them from 6 to 10 feet high, and adverI have tried the same experiment on ground tised them, specifying their character of holding nearer the Sound, though there it has not been as their foliage late, and being a kind of sub-ever- clear a test of plaster alone; for stable manure green. The name of oak, however, is so familiar was employed also. However, there where plasto every one, that there were few or no purchasers, ter was used most freely the red clover was thickand after presenting a score or two to our then est. townsman, Richard L. Franklin, Esq., and a few T. W. COIT. to other neighbors, the balance were consigned en masse to the brush heap. There are two species of European oak that are much preferable to the English oak, and for the same properties for ERRORS CORRECTED IN THE REPORT OF which that is recommendable, as well as for others MR. PELL'S EXPERIMENTAL FARMING. which that does not possess. One of these is the See an account of Mr. Pell's experimental farmTurkey oak, (quercus cerris,) the foliage of which ing in the report of the proceedings of the New is much handsomer, and remains green longer than the English oak. It is one of the most beau-York Farmers' Club, page 359, Vol. II., of the tiful trees of the middle and south of Europe-in American Agriculturist, in which the Secretary of majesty equaling the most lofty; leaves long and the Club wishes to make the following corrections pinnatified, and its long oval acorns borne on long of errors. peduncles, presenting the appearance of small pipes. The other is the Tawzin oak, (quercus tawza,) a tree of humbler growth than the preceding, but perhaps surpassing it in the beauty of its foliage; the leaves very deeply lobed, and as persistant as that species. This has also the property of flourishing on the most sterile soils, and I am inclined to think the Turkey oak will also do so. WILLIAM R. PRINCE. Prince's Nursery, Flushing, Feb. 13th, 1844. N. B. Will your correspondent, S. S., page 43 of your February number, please to state what species of cherry his peach-trees are worked on? PLASTER NEAR SALT WATER. I AM no farmer, and make no pretensions to familiarity with agricultural chemistry; but having tried plaster of Paris as a manure, and with much success, and seeing you are disposed to call the attention of your readers to the use of it on the seaboard, I place the following facts and reasonings at your disposal. 1. "6 The communication salt over every load of hay." It should have been The object in thus planting, was to obtain fruit ten or twelve years after they came into bearing, as fruit from young trees is usually found to be of superior quality. When they interfere with each other, the centre tree will be cut out, and they will then be 38, 40, and 50 feet apart. 3. "That he employed a man from Vermont to engraft 10,000 apple-trees." It should have been "400 apple-trees, (being 18 years old,) in which trees, 10,000 grafts were set." 4. "That out of the 20,000 grafts, few fail ed." It should have been "that out of 10,000 grafts, not more than ten per cent. failed." H. MEIGS, Sec. of the N. Y. Farmers' Club. March 7th, 1844. Lime as Manure. In answer to inquiries in your paper, Vol. III., page 71, relative to the price of lime by the quantity, I will furnish, delivered in New York, or in the vicinity, for the sum of 85 cents per cask, of three bushels each, at any good landing-place where a vessel can safely go drawing 8 or 9 feet water. I should be happy at any time to receive orders for lime, which will be promptly met. Wм. A. NORWOOD. Camden, Me., March 5th, 1844. CHOICE FRUIT. A FARMER finds few things in life more difficult and perplexing, than to make his selection of fruit trees from a nursery containing several hundred varieties of fruit. To obviate this difficulty, I propose giving a list and short description of such as will give satisfaction to purchasers. I give the name best known in capitals, but when there are several names for the same fruit, I give the synonymes in italics. APPLES. EARLY HARVEST, Prince's Yellow Harvest, July Pippin.-Fruit medium size; bright straw color; flavor fine-ripe in July and August. EARLY RED JUNEATING, Red Margarett, Strawberry. -Rather small; very rich and fine-ripe in August. SUMMER QUEEN, Early Queen.-Fruit large and oblong; striped with red on a yellow ground; high flavored and fine-ripe in August. SUMMER PEARMAIN, American Summer Pearmain, Early Summer Pearmain.-Too well known to need any description-ripe in August. PORTER APPLE.-This is a new variety that originated on the farm of Rev. S. Porter, Sherburn, Massachusetts. Fruit large; oblong shape; skin bright yellow, with a red blush-ripe in October, and commands the highest price in the Boston market. FALL PIPPIN, Golden Pippin, Holland Pippin, Cobbett's Fall Pippin, Vandine.—Of all fall apples, this stands at the head of the list. Fruit large and of a roundish oblong form; skin smooth and yellowishgreen, tinged with orange; flesh tender, with rich juice-ripe in October, and keeps till January and February. SEEK-NO-FURTHER, Rambo, or Romunite.-This fruit is much cultivated about Philadelphia. Shape flat, resembling the Vanderveere, but is a better fruit; skin pale yellow, streaked with red; flesh tender and sprightly during the fall-is both a fall and winter apple. BLUE PEARMAIN.-A well-known fruit about Boston Large size; color red, covered with a blue bloom; flavor delicious, and keeps till January. HUBBARDSTON NONESUCH.-A most popular new fruit lately brought out in Massachusetts, often comNovember, keeps till February. manding $5 per barrel in the Boston market-ripe in MAIDEN'S BLUSH.-One of the handsomest fruits in the country. Size large, roundish shape; skin pale greenish yellow, tinged with a blush; excellent for table use or cooking-ripe in August and September. yellow color, deeply tinged with red on one side; flesh LADY APPLE, Pomme d'Api.-Fruit small; of pale crisp and pleasant-ripe in November, and keeps till April. MONSTROUS PIPPIN, Gloria Mundi, Ox Apple.-Fruit of enormous size, sometimes weighing 28 ounces; of a pale yellowish green color; sprightly flavor-ripe in October, and keeps till January. NEWTON PIPPIN.-Of this most valuable apple difference in quality; keeps till May, and retains its there are two varieties, the yellow and the green; no flavor-the most valuable variety for shipping to Eu rope. RHODE ISLAND GREENING.-Fruit large; skin greenish yellow; flesh slightly acid and of fine flavor; keeps from November till April. ROXBURY RUSSET, Boston Russet, New England Russet.-Has been long known about Boston; size medium; fine yellow russet color; flesh rich, juicy, sub-acid; and keeps till June. SWAAR APPLE.-A celebrated winter fruit in some part of New York; of fine flavor; skin greenish yellow, tinged with a blush-keeps till March. WINE APPLE, Hay's Winter, Large Winter Red, Fine Winter.-A beautiful fruit highly esteemed in the Philadelphia market-keeps till February. HOLLOW-CORE PIPPIN.-A new variety raised in Jefferson county, Ohio. It resembles the yellow Newton pippin in its fine flavor-keeps till April and May. OHIO PEARMAIN.-A new and beautiful variety in Ohio; good size; striped red and yellow; quality excellent-keeps till May. HARRISON AND CAMFIELD.-Both long raised in the neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey, and HUGH's VIRGINIA CRAB, much cultivated in Pennsylvania and Ohio, are decidedly the most valuable varieties for cider to be found in the country. In the west and other portions of our widely-extended country, many new varieties of choice apples are constantly coming into use. The above are varieties found at most of the nurseries in the eastern states. PEACHES. The following varieties of peaches are those principally cultivated by the peach-growers of STROAT, Straut.-A fine fall apple, introduced by New Jersey and Delaware for the markets of Philthe late Judge Buel, of Albany-in use from Septem-adelphia and New York. They furnish a succes ber to December. sion of fruit for ten or twelve weeks. TROTH'S EARLY RED.-The finest of all early peach ESOPUS SPITZENBURG.-Fruit large and oval shape; color red, covered with light yellow spots; flesh of the finest flavor for dessert or cooking, and keeps till Feb-es-ripe in August. ruary. BALDWIN, Baldwin Pippin.-In the Boston market this fruit has long brought the highest prices. Color bright red, tinged with yellow; flesh juicy, rich, sweet, and most agreeable flavor-ripe in November, and keeps till March. BELLEFLOWER.-A beautiful fruit long celebrated about Philadelphia as their finest winter fruit-ripe in October, and keeps till March. RED CHEEK RARERIPE.-One of the best peaches cultivated in the country; size large; flesh rich, juicy, and delicious-ripe in September. EARLY YORK, Early Red Rareripe, Early York Rareripe.-Size medium; color rich red; flesh juicy, rich, and luscious-ripe early in August. MORRIS RED, Gross Mignonne.-Fruit large; skin greenish yellow, with a blush; flesh melting and delicious-ripe in September. |