THE FARMER. Baltimore, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1825. Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Agricultural Society. decided to offer, for the next Show, Premiums for MARYLAND ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. It has been decided to offer the same Premiums members, on the sources of natural springs, and Agreeably to adjournment at Mr. Carroll's, the for 1826 that are offered for June, 1825-and in the practice of obtaining water by boring into Board met on Tuesday, the first of February, in- addition to them, the Premiums for Farms, Crops, the earth*-Ordered that the said paper be printstant, at the Society's Room, at eleven, A. M.- &c., so that the lists of Premiums have now been ed in the valuable journal edited by Mr. Skinner. The meeting was full; and, George Howard, agreed upon, for the next two Shows, and it is The Academy was presented with a very handEsq. having taken the chair, the following Reso- the wish of the Board to give to the whole scheme some specimen of the Native Solanum Tuberosum lution was offered by James Carroll, Esq. and and system, as much permanency as possible. (Potato) in full flower with the tubes-This beauadopted :It is probable that the Exhibitions will hereaf-tiful specimen of the indigenous potato, was found Resolved, That the next Annual Exhibition of ter be always held at the same place, and very upon the Island of San Lorenzo, on the coast of the Maryland Agricultural Society shall be held nearly about the same time. And the friends of Peru, September the 18th, 1824, and transmitted at the Maryland Tavern, on Wednesday and the Society may judge how great is the prospect to the academy by Commodore Hull, through Thursday, the first and second days of June next. of its increasing success and usefulness, when Mr. Skinner. The Board then proceeded to discuss, and final they are informed, that at this last meeting at the Two very beautiful shells, (Buccinium, ) and a ly decide upon a Scheme of Premiums, to be of- Society's Room, provided by the liberality of Mr. box, containing a great variety of specimens of infered for distribution at the Exhibition in June Oliver, the Board met at eleven, A. M.-continu- sects from Germany, were presented of their own next-and also on the list of Premiums for the ed in session until after two, P. M.-met again at accord to the Academy, by Masters, Frederick G. Annual Exhibition in June, 1826. Both of which 5, and did not close their deliberations until some and Theodoric B. Skinner, [sons of the Editor of will be given in the next number of the Ameri- time after candle-light. Four members of the the American Farmer; of 12 and 10 years of ag,] can Farmer. Board, active practical farmers, had come in from and the Academy feel a particular pleasure in J. S. Skinner and J. B. Morris, Esq'rs. were ad- a distance of fifteen miles. acknowledging these donations as an evidence, ded to the Committee heretofore appointed to that their labours will stimulate the youth of prepare such modifications as might be deemed TO CORRESPONDENTS.—A Constant Rea- America, to the cultivation of Natural Science; necessary in the act of incorporation, constitution, der and Subscriber is informed, that his commu- a field from which they may re p a rich harvest of and by-laws of the Maryland Agricultural Socie- nication has been passed to the hands of the in- future renown for themselves, and of glory and ty; and to endeavour to procure from the Legis-ventors of the machines spoken of by him, as the honour for their country. lature of Maryland a donation from the Treasury readiest means of attaining his wishes. of the State, to be expended in premiums for P. MACAULAY. such objects, and on such terms, as shall equally promote improvements in, and benefit the Agri- LITERATURE.-In number fourty-four of this jour- *The paper read by Mr. Tyson, requiring culture of, all the counties in the State. nal we gave an expose of the plan and objects of an engraving to illustrate it; it could not be preThe following Resolution, offered by R. Caton, this Institution, and in this we record its Consti- pared for this number of the Farmer. We have Esq., was adopted; and R. Caton, Allen Thomas, tution and By-laws. We have offered to the Aca- received a paper on the same subject from Jared and James Carroll, Esq'rs. were appointed to demy a few columns of the American Farmer, Mansfield, Esq. Professor of Natural Philosophy, carry it into effect :for the publication of their researches in the at the Military Academy at West Point-and MARYLAND ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND By order of the Academy, Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to walks of geology, natural history, and such other one from the hands of the Hon. D. Trimble, of present a Memorial to the Legislature of Mary-sciences as are naturally allied to Agriculture, the House of Representatives in Congress, from land, setting forth that the state of society and of until they are prepared to publish them in more Kentucky.-All these papers are of great inteAgriculture, would be much benefitted by enact-separate form. rest, as connected with a subject of incalculable ing a law on the following subjects, to wit:-That We are sorry to see that the Academy has not importance, to which the publick attention was the several counties be divided into Townships; yet met with greater encouragement; but when drawn by our New-Jersey correspondent in numin each of which shall be established a School for those who have already associated shall have dis- ber 39. educating poor children; that seven discreet men played the practical utility of the Institution, by in each township, landholders therein, be a Board sending some of its valuable fruits into the lite PRICES CURRENT. of Trustees for organising and directing the same; rary market, we have no doubt there will be a Sugar now sold by 100 lbs. and not by 112 lbs. That there be levied on real property, and on speedy increase of demand, and the consumption as formerly-New-Orleans Sugar, per 100 lbs. personal property, more especially dogs, a tax for will increase with production, until the Institu- plenty, $7 a $8 50-Jamaica and St. Croix, first the use and support of said school;-That said tion shall have realised the benefits for which it quality, scarce, per 100 lbs. $10-Coffee, BourTrustees shall have cognizance of the several or was established; and its members shall have ex-bon and Java, scarce, per lb. 18 cents-do. Westdinaries and retailers of Spirituous Liquors, un-perienced the solid and honorable satisfaction of India, green, do. 16-do. St. Domingo, do. 15 cts. der such regulations as the Legislature may di- having done some service to the Republic of Sci-Teas, Imperial and Gunpowder, per lb. $1 25 rect, and as shall more effectually prevent the sale ence and Letters. They too must abide the just a $1 50-Hyson and Young Hyson, 95 a 108 cts.of spirituous liquors to slaves; and that the said declaration of Scripture, that "the tree is known Flour from the wagons, 84 50 a $4 75-Wheat, committee use their influence to obtain a law ma- by its fruit." white, 95 to $100. king every owner of slaves responsible in treble IMPORTANT ERROR TO BE CORRECTED.-In the amount of any damage done by the dogs of our remarks in the last Farmer on the case of a TOBACCO-Only 13 hogsheads have been inhis slaves: Further, that it be the duty of said particular horse, whose life was saved by prompt spected this month at Calhoun's Warehouse-A committee to procure an amendment to the law and efficacious treatment, administered by Mr. great deal has changed hands amongst the dealof trespass, so as to make it more conformable to R. H. Budd, it would appear that two gallons of ers and commission merchants, and the prices the condition and the interests of landholders of oil had been given-instead of which it ought to have certainly improved, though we cannot quote have stated two quarts. The statement in other any particular sales. respects is altogether correct, and goes strongly to shew the importance of knowledge of the diseases of domestic animals, and the means to be pursued for curing them. this State. Not having time to prepare, or space to insert the Schemes of Premiums at length, in this number of the Farmer, we must content ourselves with a few remarks on the general scope of the proceedings of the Board at the meeting above mentioned. CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. On the cultivation of Ruta Baga as a second erop; with an estimate of its comparative value for feeding stock: By J. Buel, of Albany-Proper time for seeding Wheat to prevent fly--Remarks on the culture of Lucerne-Florida CottonSUBSCRIPTION PURSE FOR CORN AND WHEAT. On flax and hemp by the Secretary of the Navy-Constitution First-It will be perceived, that the Board-The gentleman who handed us the subscription and By-laws of the Maryland Academy of Science and I ithave, and it was not without much reflection, de- paper has been made acquainted with the excep-erature-Botts in Horses-On making Ice-Houses, and Vintermined hereafter to hold the Annual Exhibi- tions taken by several highly respectable corres-egar-Agricultural correspondence-Sporting intelligencetions in the Spring, instead of the Fall-and that pondents, to the terms and conditions prescribed; Diseases of Domestic Animals and their cure-Miscellaneous the first and second days, being Wednesday and and he authorises us to declare the whole project Mails-Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Maryland items-Summary of Foreign news-Transportation of the Thursday of next June, have been fixed upon for as suspended until the next Annual Exhibition in Agricultural Society-Editor's notices--Extracts from the the next Show. As it was obvious that crops June, The scheme may therefore be considered proceedings of the Maryland Academy of Science and Lite could not be gathered in before that time, it was at an end, until better digested and revived. rature-Prices Current, &c. No. 47.-VOL. 6. AMERICAN FARMER.-BALTIMORE, FEBRUARY 11, 1825. HORTICULTURE. FOR THE AMERICAN FARMER. ON THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE 369 are the blue summer grape of our river low change into spirit, which is not alcohol, but pregrounds: I intend likewise to graft some of the pared for separation from its placenta by interindigenous Muscadine, and two kinds of Fox mixture with caloric, with which it bears a greatgrape,-one a dingy red; the other a dark pur- er affinity, than the other component parts of ple, or, indeed, black, with blue bloom, and of wine. highly odorant, strong juice. On partially drying the fruit, I form the followMy first experiment in making wine, was in ing conjectures: The grape, in its green stage, 1816, from a single vine No. 1; I pressed the when it begins to blush toward ripeness, has litjuice, and made no additions of sugar or brandy: tle, if any, of the saccharine principle; but has the wine was vapid, and tart, like Rhenish wine; its greatest quantity of tartar:-As the grape and now, it tastes like vapid hock; and, although progresses to ripeness, the saccharine is secreted, Sir,-My brother, Major Hugh M'Call, of Sa- it has been some years in an ullage bottle, it has from the tartar, and other principles, contained vannah, has favoured me with your letter to him, nothing acetous. ¦in the plant and fruit, through the pulp, and other dated 23d January ult. it gives me some useful In 1819, I had a quarter acre in vines, in partial organs of the berry; and as the saccharine enhints, on the subject, of which I have been in pur-bearing, having been neglected by my absence creases, the tartar decreases, and nearly vanishes, suit for eight years. from home, they had a few grapes, on No. 1, when the fruit is quite dry, as in dried raisins,My friend Mr. Thomas Chase, of Annapolis, and were injured by mildew and thrips: I collect-therefore I conclude, that to add the fruit dried, Maryland, was the first to stick a vine twig in my ed what remained, pressed on the foot-stalks, or partially so, would be a preferable practice, to head, and gave me some information on the cul- and fermented after the manner recommended in that of boiling the must. JOHN ADLUM, ESQ ture: in my dressing the vine, I follow Speechley. books for red wine, without the addition of sugar: From all my enquiries, on the subject of making I have been long satisfied of the vast importance it ran quickly into the acetous stage of fermenta- wine, I discover that there are secrets in the art, to our country, that would be the cultivation of tion; and, in dudgeon, I threw it away. not discovered to book-makers; but, carefully, the vine: with all my preaching, however, from I had read all the books, on wine subjects that kept for the initiated into the wine-schools, of such a text, I have not, in Georgia, made a single I could obtain; but it seems to appear, that the the several European countries: unwilling to be convert to the faith. The people of Georgia, do writers understood but a little of their subject, foiled, I progressed under the following general not look eight or ten years ahead for a large com- and are rather calculated to mislead, than to in- propositions: pound interest for their labour; they must have struct. A friend, in Charleston, sent to me a To make the best wine from any grape, there the simple interest, great or small, for use, at the book, written by L. de St. Pierré, who was a prac- should be a balance of elementary principles in end of the year, or they will not touch;-they tical man, and not a bookmaker by trade; this the must: call me a visionary, and other names, as a reward volume contains much that may be useful to us, That such principles, in proper quantity, to be for my endeavours in giving them, or rather en- but is out of print,-I have made copious extracts ascertained; and it being agreed, by all Amerideavouring to give to them, a new and invaluable from it. He says, never take off the berries of the can experience, that the saccharine principle in staple: their taste, too, is vicious; they prefer grapes, from the foot stalks, before washing them. our grapes was deficient, and that sugar should be Auguadente, Whiskey, and more execrable Peach If red wine is intended, let the mashed grapes re-added to the must to obtain due strength in the Brandy, to the most delicious Wine,-poisons to main in the vat four or five hours, to obtain the wine, I concluded to make the addition, under the sanatives, the liquid fire of the author of mis-required colour, a longer time, if the weather is correction of the Hydrometer, to know when the chief, to the beverage of the gods. of usual heat and dryness, would give to the wine density or specific gravity were sufficient; but I have been at much trouble and expense, in a husky taste; if the weather is warm, the time until that point should be ascertained, to add collecting and cultivating vines of foreign coun- in the vat should be less,-if the weather is cold- brandy in a known quantity, to give a fashionable tries, to the extent of fifteen or more, varieties, er, the time is lengthened,-if cold and wet, the strength to the wine: on half an acre of ground; and have, on trial, cut time in the vat, may be a whole night. If Cham- The strength once ascertained, or nearly so, up above one-half,-their fruit uniformly rotting paigne wine is intended, it must be pressed, as increase the sugar, and diminish the added branfor three years, regardless of seasons: I have re-soon as washed, to prevent its taking colour.-dy, until I could dismiss the brandy to the grogtained but three kinds for the table; and two that When the fermentation subsides, tighten the bruiser, and retain the pure wine for the wise, makes wine, neither of which Mr. Chase suppos- bungs as soon as it can be done with safety to the the witty, and such as are wont to set the table ed, would make good wine;-one is called the cask. Bottle Champaigne between the 10th and in a roar. Madeira, for no reason but its colour,-its bunch-14th of the March moon, through a syphon,-| The Hydrometer of Fahrenheit, or that of Ates weigh four ounces-berries the size of a mus- cork immediately, and fasten with pack-thread kins, are scientific and suit every purpose; that ket bullet, with a pulp, juice pleasant, but pulp and seal;-lay the bottles in the cellar, on their which I have been obliged to use is Beaume's quite tart, the taste is somewhat astringent at sides and cover them three inches deep in sand; Pese Scrop Hydrometer; all others, but the two full ripeness-this I call No. 1-the other grape and in six weeks the wine will mantle and froth: first mentioned, are mere quackery: they answer has long bunches, small dark purple berry, whitish if the wine is removed to a distance, especially in but a single purpose. Beaume's sinks to zero in juice, which is pleasant, little pulp, and bunches summer, it must remain a month at rest to re- rain water, and its 24th degree answers to the sp. about 4 ounces, which I call No. 2. It is a grape cover its briskness. But, it is a better practice, gr. 1.200. brought to Georgia by Henry Hunt, Esq. a kins- to let the wine remain in cask, and bottle it be- In 1820, the season was wet. The grapes No. 1 man of the Earl of Shellburne, before the revolu- tween the 10th and 14th of the August moon, and did not ripen well,-all my others rotted. Aution, and planted in, then St. Paul's Parish, now, the wine will have lost its verdure and sweetness-gust 12, collected ny grapes-picked off rotten Columbia county, from thence it was planted in it will be ripe: manage as before. and unripe berries-mashed and pressed off 12 Warren county, and is called the Warrenton I have noted no method of fining wine, from St. gallons of juice: Hydrometer in the must 6 degrape, but I call it the Hunt grape: the Hon. Mr. Pierré, except the following:grees-added nine pounds of brown sugar, which Milledge thought it indigenous, until I informed To sweeten harsh or green Wines.-Take sweet raised the Hydrometer to 10 degrees. Therhim otherwise. Several years ago, the Secretary cow's milk, skimmed, and pour two pints, Paris mometer in the shade 89°, and in the must 83°. of the Treasury, issued a prospectus, that use measure, to a muid of 230 pints, when the wine Filled two demijohns. Sept. 14, racked off the ful things could be had from foreign countries, has not turned yellow, to any great degree; but wine from the lees-fumigated with sulphur; through our Consuls; and supposing that what if it is much yellowed, put at least four pints to a and at several times added 10 per cent. of French was wanted, would not be understood without be- muid; then stir it well with a stick cleft in four, brandy, of common sale proof: vessels not full,— ing applied for, I wrote to him for the vine: my and add four or five handfulls of clean dry sand, bunged close. Nov. 18, racked again: there was letter remains unanswered. Recollecting a con- and a demi quarteron of common salt; bung the much lees, which lessened the quantity in the versation I had, nearly forty years ago, with cask, and let it stand to settle. vessels. Dec 23d, racked again, and added to a Mons. Estave, a French Vigneron, who came to None of the books, that I have read, say a word five gallon demijohn 11⁄2 lbs. unstoned raisins, as Georgia, intending to cultivate vines, amongst about the density, or specific gravity of the must directed by L. de St. Pierré to make Spanish other things he observed that he would cultivate of grapes, to make wine of good quality, and an wine. March 13th, tasted the wine without the the native vines of any country, preferably to assigned strength. Some have said boil the must, raisins, and compared it with a good wine of Siexotics: this recollection induced me, the last when it is too watery and poor,-this is quite cilly,-mine was drier and preferable. April 3d, spring, to take into culture one of our native vague,-I reject this practice, on several suppo-bottled the wine, with raisins,—it was pleasant, grapes, with long slender bunches, small berry of sitions;-it is a bad economy, dissipates the aro- but with a slight taste of Rhenish. I opened a a dark blue colour, with redish juice; such of matic principle, and gives to the wine a mawkish bottle of this wine in October, 1823, I thought it these as were grafted partly grew, but the slips taste,-it destroys the boquet: beside, it does not very good,-by a good judge it was called Sautern, placed in the ground, in the usual manner all produce a poise of the leading elementary prin- a wine I never tasted there was lees in the botdied: this year I intend to take up, and graft a ciples, tartar and sugar, from which the spirit tom. number of these, and will call them No. 3. They 'is generated,-for, when in balance, they both' 1821.-Grapes much injured by hail and thrips VOL. 6.—47. 124 galls. [of improved fabrique. Beaume-specific gravity, 1.040 nearly My Vineyard grapes No. 1 and 2, 8° Beaume and specific gravity, 1.060 66 Wild grape No. 3, 11° Beaume, and specific gravity, 1.080 -season very dry: August 24th, collected the must, in which the Hydrometer raised to 15 de- | Loss by fermentation and lees 20 per ct. 31 galls. grapes-seven bushel baskets of No. 1 and half grees (sp. gr. 1.118)-turned into a keg and 10 gallon of berries of No. 2. My other grapes all bottles. This wine has been racked and sulphur- Made Wine, rotted: mashed, and pressed off 16 gallons of ed twice ;-a little of it which bottled is, I think, juice: Hydrometer in must rose to 8 degrees-the most perfectly delicious wine that I ever added 14 lbs. brown sugar, when the Hydrome-tasted; colour rather lighter than Madeira, but The wine, in which grape No. 2 predominates, ter rose 12 degrees: Thermometer in shade the taste is quite different: if it shall improve by is the best, at the present, it gives a finer bou 85°, and in the must 76 degrees: turned it in a time, it will shew that to make the very finest quet, as well as flavour. The next season, I inkeg and demijohn, to ferment. Sept. 8th, racked wine is no longer a desideratum in the U. States. tend to make each grape separately; and if I can the wine into sulphured vessels, and added 8 per If the strength of this wine shall prove to be suf- collect as many wild grapes No. 3, as will fill even cent. of French brandy,-wine tastes Rhenish.- ficient, I will make no alteration in the fabrique a keg, I will try it by itself. I am not of the opiOct. 18th, compared the taste, with that of last henceforth,-perhaps I may raise the must to nion, that the Muscadine will make a good wine year, the Fabrique seems improved. I disco- rather more than 16 degrees, or to specific gravi-alone: it is the weakest of any; and No. 3 the vered that a bottle of last year's wine, which had ty of 1.125, say 12 per cent. heavier than rain strongest. In round numbers the must will stand lees in it, was much more improved, than that water. There has been neither brandy nor old as follows, viz:which was bottled clear, which seems to hint, wine added to it. It is the first time that I have Wild Muscadine (scupernon) 6 deg. that wine should have had a greater action on made a wine of this grape, so nearly by itself; the second lees. This wine is now (1824) a fine but in the future I will manufacture my grapes sefull bodied wine resembling Madeira wine good parately. The weather became dark and wet, quality, and I lost at least a third of my grapes No. 1 by 1822.-Season wet. August 8th, collected 84 thrips and mildew. bushel baskets No. 1, and 11 baskets of No. 2— August 10th, collected 3 baskets grapes No. 1 ; in all 19 baskets-picked off rotten and unripe 8 baskets of No. 2, and 2 baskets of wild grapes No wine, I conjecture, if strong, will be at full berries, and mashed in a vat by 3 o'clock, P. M.-No. 3,-in all 13 baskets. Mashed No. 1 and 2 strength, until it has lived three winters; if weakrain prevented my pressing until 7 o'clock. The together, the mere gout was eight degrees of er, two winters. I object to fining altogether, mere gout was 8 degrees, about a fourth of the strength; and the wild grape No. 3, yielded mere unless for present use. When every component whole, and the juice by pressure was 7°, and the gout of 11 degrees by the Hydrometer: mixed principle in must of wine, has done its duty, it mixt was 71 degrees of strength-quantity 45 gal-all together in the vat,-added 52 lbs, brown su- will remain, or, become excrementitious and full lons, to which I added 54 pounds of brown sugar, gar, and left it in the vat between 4 and 5 hours-in lees, or go off in spume,-when lees subside, which raised the must to 14 degrees, nearly, of pressed, and cut up the mare twice the must drawing off the wine in dry cool weather, is all the Hydrometer: Thermometer in shade 8240,- was 15 degrees (sp. gr. 1.114)-must 37 gallons that is necessary: fining before the wine is wantI did not try it in the must. August 12th, col-when tunned, and of a full Madeira colour, with ed for use, or to be bottled, is like taking physic, lected 9 baskets of grapes No. 1, and 4 baskets a slight purplish tint. On the same I collected a when a person is in good health:-as Judge Peof No. 2, and obtained 32 gallons of must, 7 de- basket of wild grapes No. 3, and a basket and a ters would say―let very well alone. grees of strength,-added 33 lbs. brown sugar, half of wild Muscadine (scupernon) which were Since my last vintage I have obtained a copy of which raised the Hydrometer to, large, 13 de just ripened: the Muscadine gave juice of 6 de- your essay, on vines and wine, together with M grees, and tunned. August 17th, collected two grees, only, mixed and mashed, and added 12 lbs. Culloch's books,-on both I place high value, and baskets of grapes No. 1-pressed and fermented brown sugar, and let remain in the vat all night,-return my best thanks to you and to him. In this without additions,-it was poor stuff and consign- pressed in the morning 74 gallons of must of 14 letter you will have a full view of my intentions, ed to the vinegar cask. Sept. 7, my wine tasted degrees (sp. gr. 1.107) and tunned in a demijohn and experience, in wine-making. To all my wing Rhenish. October 12, racked off wine, and sul-and bottled. This is the most delicious red wine made in 1823, I added 6 per cent. of my wine of phured: tried the Hydrometer in the wine, and I ever tasted; it is richer than the best Medoc, 1822, instead of brandy, except the two kinds it sunk to 1 degree below zero-and was lighter and perhaps more resemblant of the best Bur- which I have puffed about, to which I have add. than rain water: it had lost 15 degrees, nearly, gundy,--but the taste of Burgundy I have much ed nothing. My brother thinks my wine wants of its density, or weight, since it was tunned.-forgotten. The grape No. 3, I conjecture when body; I think otherwise, but will increase it a Added 5 per cent. of brandy. manufactured by itself will make a wine equal to little next year. I propose to make some very the finest Medoc. I must be indulged with a lit- strong, to decide if I cannot make Malmsey, or a tle puff about this wine, and that made from good substitute. From our facts in the art, we grape No. 2, for really I am pleased with them ;- can soon demonstrate, and build a theory of mak Lost by fermentation and lees, 15 gallons. but not too fast, for I may be like the Owl and ing wine, on unquestionable principles. The wine was much improved, but somewhat the Crow, in the fable in praise of their young: The candour which your letter evinces, has in tart. December 24th, racked again and sulphur- they may be strong enough. On the 21st of Au- duced me to give you a precise view of such facts, ed-The clear wine 61 gallons, and was quite po- gust, collected 12 baskets of No. 1, and 4 baskets as to shew if I am right or wrong in practice; No. 2, mashed, and mere gout 8 degrees-added and I assure you of my good wishes for your suc table. Pressed Must, Racked Wine, . 77 gallons. 62 66 I am, Sir, Your most obedient servant, The wine of 1820, had considerable lees, and 69 lbs. sugar, and left in the vat 4 hours; pressed cess, and of the pleasure it will give me to hear was decanted into other bottles. In Feb. 1, 1823, off 50 gallons-must 14 degrees. On the 29th from you, when any thing shall turn up that you the wine of 1821 had become turbid by reason of August collected 9 baskets No. 1 and two baskets believe may be useful in our common pursuit,the frost it has now become again clear, and No 2, mashed and added 47 lbs. sugar-I omitted and I will follow suit. I should like to have must be decanted into other bottles:-I have sel- to try the strength of the must,-quantity 38 gal-sketch of your practice, and your critique on my dom drank a better wine than this is, of Madeira lons. The residue of my grapes ripened but ill-method: by this I might discover error, and ap quality, I think it rather strong. The wine of the colour remained green; and being fearful of ply a corrective. When at maturity, and an op 1822, has been turbid for a time in the former losing them altogether, by the rainy dark, weath-portunity can be had, I will endeavour to have part of the winter, but it is again nearly clear: er, and supposing the quantity not enough to conveyed to you, through my brother, a bottle of they must be decanted, as soon as quite clear-fill a cask, I collected two baskets of wild Mus- my several wines of 1823. In June, (1823) drew off a cask of the wine of 1822 cadine berries, which had generally fallen off the into smaller vessels, and observed a difference in vines,-these I carefully washed and culled, and my wine of that year, favourable to that which dried them in the air-and Sept. 11th, collected had remained a few hours in the vat before pres- the remainder of my grapes No. 2 with a few of sure,—it was more bland and pleasant; the other No. 1-mixed altogether and mashed-they gave which was pressed, as soon as mashed, was some- mere gout 8 degrees-left in the vat all night, P. S. I am surprised at the quantity of brandy what tartish. with 40 lbs. sugar added,-in the morning press-which is put into the foreign wines; but feel sa 1823, the weather had been favourable for a ed off 29 gallons, of 14 degrees of strength-tast-tisfied that it is correct: My vineyard grapes, will short time, and on the 6th August I collected 5 ed strongly of the over ripe Muscadine, and as if never arrive at a strength to make wine without baskets of grapes No. 2, and about of a basket it had been sweetened partly with honey: I dis-some artifice,-not being stronger than about 9 of another grape, which was of a deep blue co. liked the flavour; but it now wears off. lour and quite harsh tasted, both quite ripe: The whole quantity of Must in 1823, 173 galls. rive at 12 degrees by culture, and may make mashed them, and the mere gout was 9 degrees Deduct for wild grapes, by the Hydrometer (sp. gr. 1.072)-added 15 pounds brown sugar and let it remain in the vat Must from 86 vines No. 1, and 30 vines ustfr, ona vinester acre of govind, four hours and pressed off nearly 11 gallons of 18 66 155 THOMAS M'CALL. degrees;-my wild grape No. 3, may possibly at tolerable claret without sugar, but much better with some addition. I believe it to be untrue t any grape will make wine of Madeira strengt without sugar, or an abundance of brandy. Do. best pair of Merino Ewes, best pair of Ewes of any other breed, best fleece of one year's growth, wool when washed to be not less than 6 lbs. a premium of 50 cents per lb.-certificate of the weight of the fleece, and a sample of the wool to be exhibited at the fair. MARYLAND CATTLE SHOW AND FAIR-Do. The Board of Trustees of the Maryland Agricultural Society, at a meeting held at the Society's Room, on Tuesday, the first day of February, 1825 Resolved, That the next Annual Exhibition of the Society be held at the time and place above mentioned; and that the following Premiums be offered and awarded to the successful competitors. The Premiums to be given in pieces of Plate of the value stated below. That is to say— HORSES. est number of lambs in proportion to the To the farmer whose flock yields the greatest 8-and none to be opened but those which belong 8 to the preferred sample. The mode of making and preserving to be described for publication in the American Farmer. 10 10 DOMESTIC FAMILY MANUFACTURES. For the best Stallion adapted to get stock for the saddle, do. do. do. do. 10 Do. do. 10 yards, 10 Do. 10 Do. Do. Do. best Mare adapted to slow draft, mare. do. Kersey, 20 yards, adapted to la- do. 8-4 Linen Diaper, 15 yards, best and handsomest 10-4 Woolen Coun- do. 6 A Silver Cup, valued at twenty dollars, to be given to the owner of the best Čalf, reared by hand, and to be not less than ten months old, to be exhibited at the next Cattle Show for the Western Shore. The owner to furnish a written statement for publication in the American cluding a reasonable charge for attendance, econoFarmer, of the mode pursued, and the cost, inmy, and effect to be taken into view:-By D. Williamson, Jr. A Premium of five dollars to the house wife who shall rear the greatest quantity of Domestic Fowls-in proportion to the number of Stock 8 fowls:-By the Editor of the American Farmer. To the author of the best essay on the natural 8 history of the MULE-and its value, for the ge8 neral purposes of agriculture, in comparison with horses-the residence of the author not material 5-a Silver Cup valued at thirty dollars. For the best essay (by any citizen of the Unit5 ed States,) on the value and use of OXEN, in com5 parison with horses, in the Middle and Southern 5 States-to be accompanied by a description of the 5 best method of gearing and breaking them-a Sil3 ver Cup valued at twenty-five dollars:-By C. Carroll, of Carrolton. Do. Do. ASSES AND MULES. Do. best and handsomest 10-4 do. do. For the best Jack, $10 Do. 10 Do. 2 do. 8 Do. best pair of Woolen Hose, full size, do. 1 Do. 2d best, Do. best Bull between 1 and 2 years, of any Do. best Milch Cow over 3 years of age, cer- Do. 2d best do. as above, do. 1 Straw or Grass Hat, imitation of Leghorn, 5 10 To the spinners of the greatest weight of cotton, wool, and flax, in 5 hours for each article, 3 IMPLEMENTS OF HUSBANDRY. 8 10 8 8 6 For the best pair of well broke Oxen, reference being had to their performance in the yoke, $10 HOGS. [It requires no argument to prove, that of all domestic animals, there is none of more value than the hog-He lives through the whole range of our various climates, and not a table is spread, from the humblest cottage to the most gorgeous palace, upon which his flesh does not make a portion of the repast, whilst he is so little of an epicure, that scarcely any thing is rejected by him. In town he plays his part more effectually than the two legged scavengers in our streets; and in the country the most offensive offal is converted, by his accommodating taste and strong powers of digestion, into the most valuable of all our meats. But such is the difference in the condition and the domestic habits of various portions of our country, that the same breed of this animal is not every where best adapted to the farmer's purposesThe short legged hog of the Eastern States, where their swine are all kept up and fed through$5 out their lives, and finally cured into fat pork, Do. Gooseberry, rasberry, or strawberry wine, 5 would starve in the wide ranges of a Southern For the best Flax and Hemp Breaker from any FERMENTED LIQUORS. For the sample of the best Cyder of any pre- Do. Wine of the native or cultivated grape, 5 For the best ploughing by 3 or more horses or 10 10 $8 6 8 2 plantation; where vegetables are raised in little variety, and hardly in sufficient abundance for the farmer's table, and where the hog must roam abroad during the greater part of his life, to seek a precarious subsistence in woods and pocosins. An English farmer of excellent character and judgment, who came in the year 1823, with letters of introduction to the Editor of the American Farmer, and who travelled under his advisement, was present at the Cattle Shows of several states, and took very particular notice of all our domestic animals-before he left America, he observed, that he thought it would be in his power to contribute to the improvement of our sent breed of hogs, and accordingly on his return to Do 2d best do. do. Do. best ploughing by 2 or more oxen, 16 and For the best specimer, to consist of not less than 8 be sent in roll or lump, 10 5 Do. 2d best, as above, $8 Do. best of any other breed, over one year, Do. best preserved Butter, not less than 12 Sealed labels will accompany each parcel 5 8 England, he sent to the Editor of this journal, a boar that came along with her, from Mr. Wright, hogs are both black, and the engraving below boar and sow of the breed which he considered and the pigs will be on sale, for $10 per pair, gives the figure and proportions of the sow,-we the best in England, and which we are fully per- deliverable on the ground; at four weeks old, have seen all the breeds of the country, and are suaded, would be of great value in crossing any of or for $12 per pair, with pen feed, &c. for transpor- of opinion, that for the general purposes of farmthe American breeds.-The Editor was from tation-for a single pig, $6 will be charged on the ers in the middle and Southern States, we have home when the hogs arrived, and the sow, then ground, or $8 with pen feed, and a put on board seen none so well suited, as that which is now of. fered. The demand will, for some time, exceed heavy in pigs, was put in a cart and sent out four ship. miles from town-As might have been expected, The freight alone, of these hogs, cost $24, the supply, and a register will be kept, and apthe next day she lost twelve pigs-she is now and the expense of keeping them, where every plicants served in the order in which they ap again in pig and nearly ready to farrow, by the thing is to be bought, is not inconsiderable. The ply. SKINNER'S BREED OF HOGS. Further extracts from Report of the Secretary Kentucky, it has been ascertained by experience, rotted hemp does not retain the tar necessary to of the Navy. HEMP AND FLAX, Extract of a letter from Manufacturers in New that the land, by being afterwards put into grass, the protection of the cordage from the effects "The quantity obtained from an acre, by the "In order to make our hemp equal to any of ordinary process of rotting and preparing the foreign growth, and to supply its place altogethhemp, is from 500 to 800 pounds; but when er, as far as quality is concerned, nothing further "We have the honour to acknowledged the re- cleaned in an unrotted state, it is supposed that is necessary than that it be water-rotted, or preceipt of your letter of the 20th, desiring infor the yield will be from one half to two thirds more. pared without rotting, if, upon proper investigamation respecting the cultivation and manufac- The perfection to which machinery for cleaning tion, it be found that the machines which have ture of hemp in the United States; and it affords hemp, both in a rotted and unrotted state, is been constructed for the purpose, will make the us much pleasure to comply with your request, now brought, warrants the conclusion that, in a hemp suitable for all kinds of cordage. as far as our own experience and knowledge of short time, it will be in general use. "We have long and anxiously looked forward the subject, together with the hints derived from "The ordinary mode of sowing the seed, is to an improvement in the culture and preparation other respectable sources, may enable us. considered to be defective, from the small quan- [of the hemp of our own country, and inquiries "A considerable portion of the lands in the tity put into the ground. At present, a bushel which we have diligently made, have resulted in states of Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois. and Indiana, and a quarter is the usual quantity, which produ the conviction that the expense and difficulties of is well adapted to the profitable culture of hemp. ces too rank a growth, and of course, the fibre water rotting hemp, have been much overrated It may also be grown to advantage in several of is coarse and harsh. It is said by judicious farm-with us. It was tried upon a small scale, in the counties of the state of New York, and on ers, that, upon rich soil, two bushels of seed at Orange county, in this state, the last year, in the borders of the Connecticut river; or, indeed, least, ought to be used to the acre. wooden tanks, and the experiment resulted very in any of the middle and eastern states, where "The hemp of this country, before rotting, is satisfactorily. the soil is composed of a rich loam, or on alluvial fully equal to any hemp of foreign growth, the "The usual mode of water-rotting hemp, is to bottoms. texture of the fibre, generally, resembling that steep the plants in pools of standing water, or in "Kentucky is the only state where it is at pre-of the St. Petersburgh and Archangel; and the clear and running water. The length of time resent raised in any considerable quantity, and the finest kinds being fully equal to the best Riga. quired for steeping is various, and a complete crop of last year, in that last state alone, was "The price of St. Petersburgh clean hemp knowledge of it can only be attained by practice; probably from 500 to 1000 tons, which is manu- here, at the present, is $170 per ton. [The ave much will, of course, depend upon the temperafactured chiefly into cotton bagging, and the rage price for this kind, may be taken at $180 to ture of the water. In some cases, ten to eleven coarser kind of ropes, such as bale rope, &c. $200 per ton.] Riga is worth $10 to 20 more; days may be necessary, whereas, in others, four, "With respect to the extent to which it may while American (solely from the imperfect man-five, or six, will be found sufficient. The slenbe cultivated, we have no hesitation in express ner of rotting it) sells now for about $110 per ton. derest hemp is said to require the most soaking, ing our belief that Kentucky alone can furnish a "Our hemp is almost invariably what is term-and the operation is known to be finished by the sufficient supply for the consumption of the Unit-led dew-rotted, and experience has satisfactorily heart separating easily from the reed or woody shewn, that cordage made of hemp of this de- part. The bundles should be laid in the water "Hemp being an exhausting crop, it is said scription, is by no means so durable as that made crosswise upon each other, taking particular notice the best of land will not advantageously bear of water-rotted hemp; and the foreign hemps, of the manner in which they lie when put in, in orcession of more than three crops; but, in above mentioned, are all water-rotted. Dew-der that they may be taken out without difficulty. ed States. |