Page images
PDF
EPUB

the ground, so as to cut clear and regular; these were put into the sides, two and two, seven in number, three on each side, and one in the middle of the hind cap; and bent in such a manner, that bindweed or refuse-stuff could hang upon them, as on the tooth of the swarth-rake,-what may be termed racked, which causes all refuse-stuff to rise to the top. To the beam was affixed a wheel-coulter, to steady the movement.

SECTION XXVIII.

Particular Explanations on the Subject of the Author's Opinion respecting Salt Marshes.

ALTHOUGH I did not travel into the back lands, I can with safety say, that I have travelled sufficiently in the inhabited parts of America, to take a fair view of as much land as the half of England contains; after which, I hope the reader will allow me to have seen enough to judge of the country. And it was not by riding along the highways, as some travellers and authors do: nay, I believe, some have written from hearsay. A man, although a good judge of land, may be very much deceived by journeying along the beaten roads; even in when growing, unless he goes into them; and much more so in travelling through woods. But the remarks which I have given in this

crops

work, were made in going over the land. I have seen some tracts between Baltimore and Philadelphia, from Newark to Derby, which make a much better appearance, as grazing land, than others I have surveyed. Observing, however, that no sod was formed, I can safely say they are not at all equal to the lands in England.

There is a neck of land near Philadelphia, the best I saw in America, for meadow: but so small a part is not worth general observation. There are tracts about Newcastle, which, as tillage land, make a better appearance than some others, from quicks being set, and having raised thorn hedges; which are a very great advantage to the appearance of a country: and the case is the same about Wilmington. But in riding over the grounds about Wilmington, Ifound them very barren, except for Indian corn: and I conclude the lands from Newark to Derby to be the same, since I never saw

any fine crops of grain grown thereon, as I rode through, but very fine Indian corn;

K K.

and there were small numbers of fat cattle, and tolerably good pastures in the spring.

There are large salt marshes between New-York and Philadelphia. These marshes produce a kind of reed or flag, such as those in the fens in England of which besoms are made. That sort of stuff is mown for hay, brought up to the high land, and laid before cattle, during the winter: but not much of it is eaten. The inhabitants deem it a sort of manure for their land: and I make no doubt it is so, from the salt it imbibes, which causes a moisture, and must be valuable on such hot dry soil. Nay, the bare spreading it over the land, I am persuaded, is good; as I have an idea that if straw or stubble were laid on land during the winter, taken off in the spring, and crops sown thereon, it would be of service. I am from experience convinced, that the more land is kept from the rays of the sun in summer, and the severity of winter, the better. The frost, in the winter, seems to meliorate the land: but I still retain an opinion that the

land so covered would imbibe a richness, and become equally mellow, if not more so, especially in wet winters, without frost. As to the summer season, all doubts are out of my mind. It may be said by the reader that what is here proposed cannot be done without an enormous expence. I should not wish to have it understood, that this can be made general: but in such instances as it can be put in execution, it may prove máy worth observation; and it is a convincing proof that the Americans make the best of their mite.

There is a farm, twelve miles from Philadelphia, in the road to New-York, which belonged to a reputed rich merchant, an Englishman, Mr. William Bell. He built a barn and stables, and inclosed a foldyard, perhaps in as proper a manner as can be imagined. It is a square fold, surrounded with buildings; the lower part for the cattle to eat their fodder under, with racks, mangers, partitions proper for their quietude and composure; a fold

« PreviousContinue »