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THE FEEDING OF COTTON PLANTS.
We hope that no reader of this journal will
object to uniting a little science with the art
of Cotton culture, as it is to be practiced in
the year 1850. The first article in the Farm
er’s creed should be to this effect; Improve
ment is a possible thing. He should reason
in this wise: A good crop of cotton is never
made from nothing; and if I can supply to
the roots of the needy plants such elements as
they most need, to form many bolls well-filled
with lint and seed, (which elements are lack
ing in the soil, to some extent, perhaps to a
large extent,) I may reasonably expect a more
abundant harvest in autumn. All soils do
not equally abound in the raw material for
producing this great staple; therefore, it is
consistent with sound commonsense for me
to study both the natural wants of the plant
which I cultivate, and the natural or artificial
defects of the earth in which my crop is ex
pected to grow'.
With the above preliminary and brief re
marks, suggestive of an important principle
in agricultural science, we proceed at once to
inquire, What are the least abundant elements
in the soil, which are always found on the
anlysis of cotton plants, and without which
they cannot grow? To answer this question,
we copy the analysis of cotton seeds and their
lint, by Prof. Shepard, although we have
published the same once before, as well as the
analyses of Mr. Scemtr, of South Carolina,
made in Liebig’s laboratory.
“One hundred parts of cotton wool, on be
ing heated in a platina crucible, lost 85,89
parts. The residuum, on being burnt under
a muffle till the whole of its carbon was con
sumed, lost 12,735, and left a white ash weigh
ing nearly one per cent, of weight of the cot
ton. Os this ash, 44 per cent, was soluble in
water. Its constituents were as follou r s:
Carbonate of Potash, with a trace of Soda 4-1 ;-9
Phosphate of Lime, with a trace of Magnesia,. 25.34
Carbonate.of Lime 8.97
Silica 4.12
Alumina 2.90
Chloride of Potassium, )
Sulphate of Lime, land loss, 6.23
Phosphate of Potash, (
Oxide of Iron, (a trace), J 100.00
If the reader will carefully look over the
above figures, he will see that potash and lime
united with carbonic, phosphoric and sulphu
ric acids and chlorine, are the important min
erals in cotton. They are no less indispensa
ble in the leaves, stems and roots of the plant.
Let us now examine the earthy, incombustible
part of its seed:
“One hundred parts, treated as before, lost
77.387; and the residuum, after being burnt
under a muffle, left 3.986 parts of perfectly
W'liite ash, the composition of which was as
follows:
Phosphate of Lime, with traces of Magnesia,. .61.34
Phosphate of Potash, with traces of Soda 31.73
Sulphate of Potash 2.65
Carbonate of Lime 1.60
Carbonote of Mogneeia 0.47
Chloride of Potassium 0.27
Carbonate of Potash, )
Sulphate of Lime, I and loss, 1.69
Sulphate of Magnesia, f
Alumina and oxide of iron, J 100.00
The above analysis makes the quantity of
ash in cotton seed larger than was found by
Prof. Ure, arid one or two other chemists.
All, however coincide in their statements of
the elements found in the ashes examined. It
will be seen that phosphates of lime and pot
ash form about 93 per cent, of the earthly
portion of cotton seed; and as one. ought to
gather some 2,000 pounds of seed cotton from
an acre, the supply of these phosphates is
likely to be too small for so large a crop.—
The fact is generally known that the amount
of phosphate of lime in all hones is very large;
and that it is also abundant in the dung of all
animals, and especially of such as eat seeds
or flesh, including man, beasts and birds. In
all countries whore seeds, such as those of
wheat, maize and other plants are largely cul
tivated, (except in the United States,) the ex
crements of all grass and grain consuming
animals are carefully husbanded, and fed to
growing crops. All bones, wood-ashes (which
abound in salts of potash,) and the contents
of the vaults of privies, are made to tell in fa
vor of the harvest. If cotton seed will form
manure, most certainly manure will form cot
ron seed. If we could purchase 100 bushels
of good unwashed or dripped wood-ashes for
815, to apply on 40 acres of cotton, immedi
ately after it was “chopped out,” as a top
dressing around the young plants, (not upon
their leaves, nor against their tender stems,)
we should not nesitate to pay the money, and
haul the ashes five miles, if necessary. If we
were so unfortunate as to have a horse, mule,
cow, hog, sheep or dog, die, we should calcu
late with confidence the pounds of good cot
ton which its bones and flesh would make, as
food for cotton plants. To lose all the ma
nure of an animal while living, and the fertil
izers in its carcass when dead, is the height
of folly. The most economical way to treat
bones, on a farm, is to break them tolerably
fine with an old axe or hammer, and then
boil them to a powder in strong lye, as in
making soft soap. Mix the lye and bones
with welt dried leached ashes or loam, and
place the fertilizers near the roots of cotton,
corn, or wheat plants, and see how liberally
a bountiful Providence will reward you for
studying and obeying the laws of Nature.
If any reader can procure oyster-shell lime
(which is best,) or other lime to mix with his
ashes or swamp-muck, his forest-leaves or
other decaying vegetables, lot him fail to try
it fairly before he condemns this calcareous ‘
manure.
A thousand grains of the subsoil of our
friend, near Memphis, gave us nearly a grain
of pure sulphate of lime, (plaster, or gypsum,)
in a direct search of it. By all means, let
the cotton-groAver help the roots of his crops
to penetrate the subsoil, in search of their
mineral food. Do try one acre, with deep
plowing, ashing and liming. All experience
and all science go to prove that one acre of
deep, mclloAA-, rich lnnd. Transform the lat
ter worthless article into the former, if you
are to cultivate it at all. Do not wear out
your people, your mules, your patience and
y our purse, in plowing, hoeing and travelling
over, all year lifetime, a thousand acres of
sterile soil. Such a workshop for the manu
facture of cotton, Avhere the raw material is
so scarce and expensive, is too large. Con
centrate your means and mechanical force on
a smaller surface, and not waste so many
steps in a year, and so many rapidly-docav
ing fence-rails. The needless travel, on
some plantations, is equal to the loss of two
bags of cotton to the hand! All this waste of
time Avould be avoided, if th°, science and art
ol feeding plants were well and universally
understood. Raise renovating crops, and
search constantly for fertilizers, and stop
every leak by which they are lost
In recalling to mind the many plantations
AA-hich Ave have visited, in South Carolina and
Georgia, nothing has left so enduring an im
pression as the skillful manner in which hill
side ditches vrere constructed, to prevent the
washing of the surface soil. In this matter,
the planters of those States have excelled alf
that Ave have Avitnessed elseAvhero in the
Union, and aa-c have seen most of it The
saving ol the soil, is simply retaining upon
the surlace of the earth the most valuable
food of -cultivated plants. There are still a
great many farms which need proper ditch
ing; and to help a little in this direction in
our next report to Congress, those gentlemen
who have been pioneers in this important ef
fort to save the cotton lands of the South from -
desolation, by setting good examples on their
own plantations, shall have the credit which
is so justiv their due. We go strongly for
the principle of teaching by example, as well
as precept. Much of the improvements made
in Western New York, have been effected in
this way. An admirably arranged and well
managed farm, is worth ten times more to the
yublic at large, than to its owner. It is like
a city upon a hill, which cannot be hid.
Yesterday, we walked six miles in the sub
urbs of M ashi lgton, and were particularly
surprised to see so many performing expen
sive and unnecessary labor with their com
post-heaps and Bommer-vats. Now, all this
toil is a quasi system of cooking food for
plants, is bad economy, and should be avoid
ed. Concentrated fertilizers, those no more
bulky than guano, poudrette, gypsum, bone
dust, and the like, are the things to be fed to
growing crops, and when they are growing.
It is nonsense to feed a pig with corn enough
the day it is born to last its lifetime, and fat
it into the baagain. We are confident that
the cost of feeding plants may be redueed
one-half, and yet the fertilizers applied to the
crop shall do twice the good realized from
the trash now used to promote the growth of
vegetation. Make the soil right physically,
by deep and thorough tillage, and the lacking
chemical elements may be cheaply obtained,
for a little will answer.
Valuable Wash for Trees.— The prac
tice of washing, or rather, we should say, of
coating fruit trees with whitewash, so preva
lent some few years since in many sections,
appears now to have but few advocates. In
stead of lime wash, most cultivators of fruit
apply a wash formed of common wood ashes,
or potash and water, which they apply in a
very diluted state v ith cloths instead of brush
es. This application has a tendency to re
move moss, imparts a healthy appearance to
the cutis, and destroys the animaleulae which
locate on, and adhere to, the epidermis of
most lVuitiferous trees in May and June.
Whitewash, as it obstructs the pores of the
bark, is an application rarely productive of
benefit; it may remove moss, and dislodge
insects, but the bad consequence insepara
ble from its mechanical action on the circula
tory and absorbent systems, far more than
counterbalances all the good it is likely to
produce. A tree that has become coated
with moss, can, in no way, be more speedily
and effectually renovated, than by a careful
removal of the obnoxious fungi, and applica
tion of soap-suds. Trimming at a proper
season, with judicious manuring, rarely fails
of effecting the result desired.
GUANO vs. WORN-OUT LAND.
In the spring of 1848, I made an experi
ment with guano on worn-out land, and the
result induced me to try it again the follow
ing year on a larger scale. So, last spring, I
broke up about 25 acres, most of which had
notbeen plowed for nine years, marked it out
both ways, and scattered over the hills, about
seventy pounds of Peruvian guano per thou
sand hills, afterwards the field over with a
small covering harrow where the ground was
clear. But where the sedge sward was too
rough for the harrow, I covered the guano
with a hoe. I then dropped the corn in the
hills, covered it the usual way, and it came
up well. By accident, one row between two
others was left without guano, and, without
any prejudice or partiality was cultivated in
other respects the same as the rest of the
field.
Although the land was exceedingly poor,
the corn had a healthy and vigorous look all
the season, and filled out well, wherever the
guano was applied, the fodder being at least
four fold more than that of the unmanured
row. At harvest, I weighed and measured
the corn of 100 hills in the row which had no
guano, and of 100 hills in the next row to it,
the result of which was as follows: —
100 hills without guano produced 10
lbs, of inferior corn, equal to 4 bushels
per acre, valued at 82 00
100 hills with guano produced 41 lbs.
of good corn, well filled, equal to 16 bush
els, valued at $3 00
Cost af 70 lbs. of guano per acre, at the
rate of 70 lbs. per thousand hills, 83 85
Thus it will be seen that the profits attend
ing the guano is 82 15 cents per acre more
than on the land where no manure was ap
plied. C.
Kent County , Del. Feb. 1850.
Gotton.
A late number of the London Times says, it
is we tear, only too probable that the crop of
American Cotton will this year be scant enough
to increase the price of that most necessary in
gredient in the manufacturing prosperity of this
country; and, although the acrual deficiency may
possibly be less than is feared, yet the results
will doubtless supply a sufficient realization of
the contingencies which have often been des
cribed as involved in our present system of ac
tion. Almost all that is said respecting the im
portance of our Cotton imports may be literally
credited, for so vast are the interests concerned,
it is scarcely possible to overstate them. Near
ly as much depends upon the C’otton crop as the
potatoe crop; and a failure in the former admits,
besides, of no corresdonding compensation from
private charity or public bcneA'olence. Yet,
speaking generally, it may be said, that for the
Avholc of this staple import of England, Ave are
helplessly dependent on two provinces of a for
eign State. It is this peculiar limitation of the
produce which makes the case so anomalous
and so full of peril. Were cotton less an arti
cle of the A’ery first necessity to English com
merce, or were it grown, like corn in every coun
try of the globe, the arguments Avhich haA-e been
taken to regulate other imports would be equal
ly applicable here. But the difference is this,
that while our importations of coin could be af
fected only by a coincidence ofso many and such
extraordinary conditions as to be almost beyond
the calculations of probability, our importations
of cotton are liable, as now shown to be influ
enced by occurrences of the A ery commonest
likelihood. A change of policy, a false impulse
gtA T en to speculation, resolutions of hostility, or
Avhat many occur in any season, and must needs
occur in some—a short crop: each and any of
these causes may imperil the daily bread of four
miiions of our population, and deeply afl'ect the
financial prosperity of the entire empire.
The case will appear still more, extraordinary
Avhen it is remembered on Avhat wholly artificial
conditions its existence depends. If cotton, like
spices, could be only produced in certain limited
districts of certain latitudes, there Avould be no
aid for us but prudence and patience. As the
facts stand, however, the present limitation of
the produce is not entirely accidental, but is due
to none but ourselves! There Avas a time Avhen
India did produce cotton; and there Avas a time,
very recently, Avhen Georgia and Carolina did
not. Men still living can recollect the first im
portation of American cotton into Li\-erpool
market, and the extent of present trade is the
Avork of scarcely more than one generation.—
Cotton is not indigenous nor peculiar to the
Georgia uplands. Its cultivation Avas introduc
ed in consequence of our own demands, and
perfected by the unrivalled enterprise and ener
ly of American planter working under such
stimulous. Gradually, this cotton has obtained
almost the monopoly of cur market; nor
would there be anything objectionable in such a
result, due, as it is, to be natural operations of
trade, if it were not for the huge disproportions
between our own particular demands and this j
solitary source of supply. Continental coun- j
tries take a little cotton; the United States them
selves take a quantity someweat larger, and
which appears likely to be increased: the great
bulk comes to Liverpool. But for all the aggre
gate consumption, there still remains practically |
nothing but the crop of these still two provinces, :
which thus, in the best of years, is scanty, in bad
seasons ruinously deficient, and. at all times, a
subject of speculation and source of anxious and
unavoidable misgiving.
TURPENTINE BUSINESS IN GEORGIA.
-
The Savannah Republican says: We pre
presume the extent to which the manufacture
of turpentine is being developed in this State,
is not known to our readers. If its produc
tion goes on increasing for a few years lon
ger as rapidlv as during the last year or two
past, it will not take long to transfer the gen
eral head quarters of the turpentine trade
from North Carolina to Georgia. So far as
we are informed, most of those who entered
upon the business ol producing turpentine in
Georgia, have had as good success as could
reasonably be expected. Such, however, has
not been the case in Barnwell district, in
South Carolina. The planters in that dis
trict seem to have been wrongly instructed
in the outset, which circumstance, together
with the advance in cotton, has induced them
generally to give over the production for the
present.
We are indebted to the kindness ol a mer
cantile friend, who has procured for us the
statistics which ought to be produced in
Georgia, whose entire product will amount
to not less than twenty thousand eight hun
dred barrels! These gentlemen are many of
them personally known to us; nearly all of
them our subscribers, and the information
may be relied on as accurate. To this must
be added the production of seven or eight
more persons, who have more recently be
gun the business in Georgia and ot two in
Florida, whose names we have, but it is out
of our power at present to indicate the prob
able result of their labor. The same remark
| is applicable to the article received by the
‘ river. We are satisfied, however, that the
whole product of Georgia and Florida dur
ing the season ending on the Ist of Septem
ber, will reach the figure of 30,000 barrels,
of which we put down 25,000 to Georgia.
This will represent a value of some eighty
thousand dollars to bedivided among a mod
erate number of producers.
At the same time it is worthy of a remark,
that the distillation of crude turpentine is
rapidly increasing at various points. Includ
ing the large distillery in this city, under the
charge of Young & Gamill, we count no less
than ten distilleries in Georgia, either actually
erected or ordered,and on their way to their
destination.
Manufacturing at the South.
Within a few years, a most important enter
prise has been developing itself, in the form of
manufactories established at various points in
the Southern States. The enterprise began in
Georgia some six years ago, and has spread to
other States, and has already become a fixed
and profitable fact. The manufactories thus far,
are from the working of cotton, the planters
having come to the conclusion that, with the
raw material at hand, and splendid water priv
ileges, cheap labor, and every other facility lor
fabricating it, they may as well save the costot
exporting their cotton to Lowell or Liverpool,
the expense of packing it, and the freightage and
various profits upon manufactured cotton re
ceived in exchange. They have come to see in
fact, that if their raw material can set up half a
dozen trades and agencies before it returns to
them in cotton cloth, they had better do the man
ufacturing themselves, and take to themselves
the profits now absorbed by others. By manufac
turing at home, they further save the otherwise
refuse cotton, not worth shipment, but equal to
the manufacture of all the coarse jeans, or Negro
cloths consumed by the South, and all the bag
ging used tor shipment.
It is only surprising that the capitol and en
terprise of the planters have not long before been
turned to home manufacture, not only of what
they consume themselves, but to supply other
markets. There is no good reason why cotton
cannot be wrought into every fabrick of which
it is susceptible as cheaply in Georgia or Ala
bama, as in Massachusetts or Connecticut. We
believe it can be manufactured at a cheaper rate
on the soil where it is grown, even if the foreign
manufacturing market was at. no expense for j
transportation, etc., because for factory purposes, j
the natural facilities of the cotton growing States j
are greatest. The South has labored under a
serious disadvantage in not being able to turn j
its great staple into the market in both forms, j
raw and fabricated, failing thereby to derive a j
legitimate profit on the raw material, because j
forced to pay a greate'r profit on the manufac- |
tured article. The factories, so far as establish- j
ed in the South, hve been entirely successful, |
and their increase will be proportionate to the ;
awakening of the planters to their true inter- ,
ests.
And there is another reason, than the pocket
ing of the profits of manufacture, that will more
and more stimulate the South to factory enter
prise. The English GoA-ernment and English
foctors, are bending every energy to the culture
of cotton Bombay and other Eeast India provin
ces, both to render English looms independent
of American cotton fields, and to secure cotton
at loAver prices. If they succeed, and the expi
ration of the East India Company’s Charter, in
1853, Avill open a field for a powerful trial, the
South will be thrown upon New England for its
principal cotton market. Harfing but one cer
tain customer, it Avill be forced to sell its cotton
at reduced rates —in fact it will be at the mercy
of that customer. The establishment of a A’igor
ous factory system by the South will make it in
dependent of the market for the raw material.—
If it cannot sell cotton to Old England, it can
fabricate it and enter the general market of the
world as a competitor for the sale of calicoes,
sheetings and shirtings. Growing the raw ma
terial, Avith cheap labor and every facility in hand
for manufacturing, it ma carry the whip in its
own hand, and beyond saving profits, make
them. And the South should not confine its
manufactures to cotton, but as rapidly as possi
ble establish them for general purposes.— Y.
Sun.
The Oyster Trade.— FeAv people ha\-e any
idea of the immensity of the oyster business
done in the United States. The Chesapeake
and Delaware bay oysters go all over the Avorld,
and Ave learn, from a late number of the “Balti
more Sun,” that one establishment in that city,
during the oyeter season, keeps twenty-five men
constantly opening the shells, and they sometime *
open sh-e hundred gallons a day, Avhich are all
designed for exportation. The oysters are put
up in cans, in their OAvn liquor, Avhich are made
air-tight and hermetrically sealed; they are war
ranted to keep fresh in any climate. Fi\'e men
are kept constantly employed in making the
cans. The oysters are sent principally to the
Western States, but considerable quantities are
sent to the West Indies, South America, and
some haA-e been eA*en sent to China. On Satur
day Aveek, the first day of the oyster-taking sea
son in Fairhaven river, si:? or seven boats Avere
ready for operation with the sunrise. The
bell in the brick church Avas the signal to begin,
and soon all Avas stir and commotion amongst
men and shell-fish. During the day between
thirty and forty thousand bushels of oysters hav
ing been undisturbed for two years, Avere unu
sually large and A'ery fine. Some boats took
from seventy-five to one hundred bushels each,
and some few went much aboA r e this quantity.
Transient oystermen sold their products at the
bank of the river for twenty and twenty-five cents
per bushel, while those who make “oystering”
a regular business, preferred to hold on for a
speculation.
Pitcairn's Island.
The inhabitants of Pitcarian’s Island are
industrious, especially the females. They all
rise with the sun, and retire to rest very early.
The men are occupied chiefly in cultivating
the ground and carpentering ; several of the
young men are good at cabinet-work and as
blacksmiths. From August to November
they have plenty of employment, digging
yams, also planting them, with bananas and
potatoes, weeding, ect.; and, when not busi
ly emsloved, they generally meet in the morn
ing, and, if the weather is favorable, go fish
ing; while on Saturdays* they go out hunt
ing for the Sunday’s dinner. The Sabbath
is still kept most strictly. The females usu
ally assist in the cultivation of the ground,
preparing thatch for the houses, and, in fact,
are more employed than the men; they are
generally’ very strong, many of them being
able to carry a barrel of potatoes down to
the landing-place, the path to which is very
rugged and steep, and in the rainy season
very difficult to ascend or descend. The
food of the inhabitants is chiefly yams and
potatoes, animal food two or three times a
week. Fish is becoming scarce. Bedclothes
are generally manufactured by the females
from a species of mulberry. Wearing appa
rel they obtain from the whale ships, in ex
change for the produce of the Island. Cot
ton cloth is much wanted, and amongst the
other scarce articles are blankets, wollens,
and soap. The jurisprudence of this primi
tive community is exceedingly simple. On
the first day of each year a chief magistrate
and counsellor are elected ; all persons, male
and female, over sixteen years of age, being
voters. The chief magistrate then chooses
his counsellor or secretary'. His duty is to
convene meetings, and to preside over courts
assembled to settle disputes. These, after
the hearing of each side, are referred to a jury
of five persons, who return a regular verdict.
In criminal cases, the punishments are either
labor or fines. If in civil disputes the decis
ion of the jury is not satisfactory to both
parties, they are altowed to appeal to the
commander of the first of her majesty’s ships
of war which may touch at the island. A
reference made to Captain Beechy while
there, less on a judicial matter than on a point
of concience, is a touching instance of the
scrupulous regard these people have for a
vow, even when inconsiderately made: —
wives, it may be imagined, are very scarce,
as the same restrictions with regard to rela
tionship exist as in England. George Adams,
son of the patriarch, in his early days, had
fallen in love with Pally Young, a girl a little
older than himself; but Polly', probably’ at
that time liking someone else, and being at
the age when young ladies’ expectations are
at the highest, had incautiously said she “nev
er would” give her hand to George Adams.
He, nevertheless, indulged a hope that she
would one day relent, and to this end was
unremitting in his endeavors to please her. In
this expectation he was not mistaken; his
constancy and attentions as he grew into
manhood, his handsome form, softened Pol
ly’s heart into a regard for him, and had
nothing passed before, she would willingly
have gived him her hand. But the vow of
her youth was not to be got over, and the
love-sick couple languished on from day to
day, victims of the folly of early resolutions.
The weighty case war referred for Captain
Beechy’s consideration; and the fears of the
party were in some measure relieved by the
result, which was, that it would be much bet
ter to marry than to continue unhappy, in
consequence of a hasty determination made
before the judgment was matured. They
could not, however, be prevailed on to yield
to this decision, and the blossom left the un
married. Love, however, eventually proved
too strong for overwrought principles; and a
letter from Pitcarian’s Island, dated 19th
Morch, 1830, stated that George Adams was
married to Polly Young, and had two sons.
I
Thu Mysterious Rapping. —lt is truly
sickening to see the amount of excitement
just now existing in community, upon the
subject of the Rochester knocking. People
who are entitled to be considered sensible,
and who would be very much offended if ac
cused of believing in Salsm witchcraft, or the
Flying Dutchman, or the Morman miracles,
do not hesitate to give their minds up to the
serious consideration of this stupid and sallow
hoax, and with open ears listen to, and with
wonder recount the mysterious doings of the
spirit,, world, as evinced in kicking over stools
and pulling hair. Without for a moment
looking among natural causes for these ef
fects, they suffer their love of the marvellous
to carry them away into the realms of the su
pernatural, just as an old lady will sometimes
search all over the house for the spectacles
which she carries safely on her nose.
Probably there is not one in fifty of those
good citizens, now engaged in making them
selves positively unhappy by pondering over
the performances of the Rochester charlatans,
but have witnessed the clever tricks of con
juring showmen, who have this advantage
over their Rochester rivals, that they seldom
fail; but no one ever thought of ascribing the
doings of Blitz or Alexander to “spirits,”
though ten times more inscrutable than the
ghostly capers in our siater city. But we
had a story to tell, which we assure our read
ers is true, if the word of a gentleman who
relates it to us in all sincerity is worth any r
thing.
A young man called, a day or two since,
upon the ladies in whose keeping are the Ro
chester spirits. His bearing was sad, and
his voice was tremulous with emotion. Sor
row was in his countenance, and a weed was
in his hat. He sighed as he took a seat, and
the bystanders pitied him as they saw him
draw forth a spotless handkerchief and wipe
away a tear that had gathered in his eye.
After a few moments of silence he took one
of the ladies aside, and requested, if consist
ent, to be put in communication with the
spiritual essence of his mother—and here he
wiped his radidly and sobbed.
A period of quiet elapsed and a knock was
heard, signifying that the desired correspond
ence could be had, and with a hesitating
voice the young man commenced question
ing the invisible one.
“How long had I gone before you died ?”
A length of time was stated. .
“Where are you now, mother?—are you
happy?”
The knocking indicated that the spirit was
at rest
“Are those of your friends who have gone
before with you ?”
They were, said the knocking.
“Then you can recognize them perfectly ?”
The noise certified the affirmative.
“Can you see me at all times when you wish?”
The raps proclaimed the perpetual clear
ness of the shake’s vision, in that respect
The gentleman seemed relieved, and the
spectators stood, overwhelmed with wonder.
Taking his hat, the mourner rose, thanked
the ladies, and, as he stood in the door, quietly
remarked—
“l have been very much entertained, and
doubt my mother herself wiil be, for I left her
at home, not half an hour since, basting a
turkey for dinner !”—Buffalo Couvkr.
Popping the Question.
“Why don’t you get married?” said a boun
cing girl, with laughing eye, to a smooth
faced, innocent^okirig&outh.
“Well, I—^saK^theGrßuth, stopping short
with a gasp, -QxecWiis eyes on vacancy
with a fWli^Lexpression.
“Well, go cross question
er, almost inclining nearer to
the young man. “Now just tell me right
out—you what?”
“Why I—pshaw, I don’t know.’’
“’i ou do, I say you do: now come, I want
to know.
“Oh, I can’t tell you—”
“I sav you can. Why, you know I’ll nev
er mention it; and you may tell me of course,
you know, for haven’t I always been your
friend?” * J
“Well, you have, I know,” replied the be
leaguered youth. t
“And I’m sure, I always thought you liked
me,” went on the maiden in tender and mel
low accents.
“Oh, I do, upon my word—yes, indeed I
do, Maria,” said the unsophisticated youth,
very warmly, and he found that Maria had
unconsciously placed her hand in his open
palm.
Then there was a silence.
“And then—well ?” said Maria dropping
i her eyes on the ground.
“Eh! Oh, well!” said John, dropping his
! eyes and Maria’s hand at the same time.
“I'm pretty sure you love somebody; in
fact,” said Maria, assuming a tone of railery,
“I know you’re in love, and John, why don’t
you tell me all abont it at once?”
“Well, I—”
“Well, I—oh, you silly mortal, what is
| there to be afraid of?”
| “Oh, it ain’t because lam afraid of any
, thing at all; and I’ll—well now, Maria, I
! will tell you.”
“Well, now, John.”
; ”
I “Eh ?”
i “I—”
| “Yes.”
“I am in love! now don’t tell; you won’t,
I will you ?” said John, violently seizing Maria
i by the hand, and looking at her face with a
■ most imploring expression.
“Why of course, you know, John, I’ll nev
| er breathe a word about it; you know I
won’t, don’t you, John?”
This was spoken in a low whisper, and the
cherry lips of Maria were so near John’s ear
when she spoke, that when he turned his head
to look at her, there might have occurred a
dangerous collision.
“Well, Maria,” said John, “I’ve told you
now, and so you shall know all about it,* I
have always thought a great deal of you,
and,”
“Yes, John.”
“I’m sure you would do anything for me
j that you could.”
“Yes, John, you kxow that I would.”
| “Well, I thought so, and you don’t know
j how I’ve wanted to talk to you about it.”
“I declare, John, I—you might have told
me long since if you wanted to, for I never
was angry with you in my life.”
“No, you wasn’t; and I have often felt a
great mind to, but—”
“It is not too late now, you know, John.”
“Well, Maria, do you think I’m too young
to get married ?”
“Indeed I do not, John, and I know it
would be a good thing for you too, for every
body says the sooner young people get mar
ried the better, when they are prudent and in
clined to love one another.”
“That’s just what I think ; and now, Ma
j ria, I do want to get married, and if you’ll—”
“Indeed I will, John, for you know I was
j always partial to you, and I’ve said so often
i behind your back.”
“Well, I declare, I have all along thought
! you M ould object, and that’s the reason I’ve
, been afraid to ask you.”
“Object! no, I'll die first; so you may ask
of me anything you t -lease.”
j “And you’ll grant it 1”
: “I wili.”
| “Then, Maria, I want you to pop the ques
i tion for me to Mary Sullivan, for—”
i “What?”
“Eh ?”
“Do you love Mary Sullivan
“Oh, indeed I do, with all my heart.”
“I always thought you were a fool.”
“Eh ?”
“I say you are a fool, and you had better
go home; your mother wants you; Oh, you
—you—you Stupid!” exclaimed the morti
fied Maria, in a shrill treble, and she gave
poor John such a slay on the cheek that it
sent him reeling.
Unhappy Maria—“ The course of true love
never did run smooth.”
[From theN. Y. Spirit of the Times.]
“NOT QUITE THE CHEESE.”
A STRONG SKETCH.
On entering my room a few evenings since,
I found a large package lying on my table,
and tearing off the wrapper I found it was
! Vol. 19th ol the “Spirit,” fresh from the bin
dery. Opening it, I commenced carelessly
turning over the leaves, when my eyes fell
on the sentence above, “Not quite the Cheese.”
Now, what the deuce gave rise to that say
ing ? thought I as the words recalled to mem
ory a scene which was rather of a cheesey
nature, and as it made rather a strong impres
sion on a sensitive organ, i did not easily
forget it.
Some years since I was employed as ware
house clerk in a large shipping house in New
Orleans, and while in that capacity, I came
across something that wasn’t “quite the
; cheese,” as the sequel will testify.
One day a vessel came in, consigned to
the house, having on board a large lot of
cheese from New York; during the voyage
some of them had become damaged by bilge
water, (the ship having proved leaky,) conse
quently the owners refused to receive it, as it
was not as the bills of lading said, “Delivered
in good order and well conditioned;” they
were, therefore, sent to the consignees of the
ship, to be stored until the case could be ad
justed. I discovered a few days afterwards
that, as to perfume, they were decidedly too
fragrant to remain in the warehouse in June,
and reported the same to the Concern, from
whom I received orders to have them over
hauled, and send all that were passable to
Beard & Calhoun’s Auction Mart, (then in
the old Camp-street Theatre,) to be disposed
ot for the benefit of the underwriters; and the
rest to the swamp.
I got a gang of black boys to work on
them, and when they stirred them up, “be
the bones of Moll Kelly’s quart mug! but
the smell was illigant, intirely.” I kept a
respectable distance, believe me, for strong
nigger and strong cheese, on a hot June day,
just bangs all common essences, including a
certain varmint we read about
Presently the boys turned out an immense
fellow about 3 feet C “across the stump,”
from which the box had rotted off; in the
centre a space of about ten inches was. very
much decayed, and appeared to be abont the
consistency of mush, of a bluish tint, which
was caused by the bilge water. The boys
had just set it up on its edge on a bale of gun
ny bags, when I noticed over the way a big
darkey (then on sale at S. B.’s,j from
Charleston, S. C. who was notorious for his
butting propensities, having given most of
the niggers in the vicinity a taste of his quali
ty in that line. I had seen him and another
fellow the night previous, practising; they
would stand, one on each side of a hydrant
some ten yards distant, and run at each other
with their heads lowered, and clapping their
hands on the hydrant, they would butt like
veteran rains.
A thought struck me that I might cure him
of his bragging and butting, and have some
sport also, so 1 told the boys to keep dark,
(which, by the way, caused very little exer
tion to them, being all niggers,) and I called
“Cld Jake” over.
“They tell me you are a great fellow for
butting Jake?”
“I is some, Massa, dats a sac—l done butt
de wool ’tirelv ors old Pete’s head last night,
and Massa Nichols was gwine to gib me
goss! I kin jiss bang de head ors ob any nig
ger in dese parts, myself—l kin.”
“Well, Jake, I’ve got a little job in that
line for you when you haven’t anything else
to do.”
“I’s on han for all dem kin of jobs, myself
—I is.”
“Well, you see that large cheese back
there ?”
“I doesdat! I does, myself.”
“Now if you can butt a dent in it, you shall
have it.”
“Golly, Massa, you foolin’ dis nigger!”
“No, I’m not, Jake—just try me.”
“Wot! you gib me de hull ob dat cheese
’f I butt a dent in urn ?”
“Yes.”
“De Lor! I’ll burst *im wide open, I will,
myself. Jess stan back dar, you Orleans
niggers, and clar de track for ole Sous Car
lina, case I’se a comin, myself-—I is.”
And Old Jake started back some fifty feet,
and went at it at a good quick run, and the
next instant I heard a dull, heavy sound, a
kind of squash, and Old Jake’s head disap
peared from sight, with the top just visible on
the other cide, as he arose with his new-fash
ioned necklace, the soft rotten cheese oozing
down all around him as it settled down, so
that just bis eyes were visible. From the
centre of it Jake’s voice was scarcely audi
ble and half smothered, as he vainly tried to
remove the immense cheese.
“O-o-o-o! er de Lor! Mas—took uni ors!
O-o-o-o! bress de Lor! Lif um up! Gor a
mity! I ”
Meanwhile I was nearly dead myself, hav
ing laid back on a cotton bale, holding my
self together to keep from bursting, while the
boys stood round Old Jake, paying him off.
“De Lor! how de nigger’s breff smell!
You doesn’t clean your teeth, Old Jake.”
“I say! you didn’t make more dan four
times dat han, did you, ole boss?”
“Well, you is a nasty nigger, das a sac!”
“Well you is de biggest kine of Welsh
Rabbit, you is,”
“Whar you git your har greese?” and
thus the boys run old Jake—now half smoth
ered—until I took compassion on him, and
told them to take it off. Jake didn’t stay to
claim his prize, but put out, growling—
“Gor amity! I done got sole dat time.
I’se a case ob yaller-feber—l is, myself.”
Old Jake was never known to do any but
ting in the vicinity after that, and I am still of
the opinion that it was “Not quite the cheese .”
“Little ’Un.”
Island of Jamaica.
This beautiful Island, w ith a salubrious
| climate, and a soil fruitful beyond descrip
| tion, is going rapidly to decay. Its magnifi
j cent sugar and coffee plantations are over
run!! with foul weed, the rank Guinea grass
is growing in the streets of its once popu
lous and busy towns, its wealthy, luxurious
and hospitable inhabitants are reduced to
poverty and want, and the evidences of de
cay and industrial prostration, are stamped
upon all animate and inanimate nature; the
once teeming fields and the once prosperous
cultivators, hear equally the proof of the hea
vy pressure of misfortune and misrule,
There is no spot on this fair earth superior
to Jamaica in natural wealth and spontane
ous productiveness. The land rarely if ever
needs manuring, and such a thing as an
abandonment of of an estate because of ex
haustion was never known.
The editor of the New York Evening Post,
who has visited the Island, describes it as a
terrestrial paradise, a gem of the ocean,
where nature has done every thing, but the
policy of man has marred the fair work, and
is rapidly making it a barren and desolate
waste—the
“land of the olive and vine,
Where all save the spirit of man is divine.”
The Island comprises about 4,000,000
acres of land, the- greater part of which is
susceptible of the highest cultivation; and
yet, not over 500,000 acres have ever been
improved and appropriated. As an evidence
of its productiveness, Mr. Bryant states the
fact, that sugar ratoons there, on most plan
tations three or four times.
The fruits of the Island are of the greatest
variety and abundace, most of them growing
spontaneously, or requiring very little cul
ture. Those which grow iif the greatest pro
fusion, are the pine-apple, shadduek, orange,
pomegranite, fig, grenedillo, cashaw, apple,
banana, star apple, chirimya, tamarind, co
coa-nut, olive, date, plantain, mulberry, akee,
jack fruit, bread fruit, every variety of mel
ons, grapes, pears, plumbs, mangoes, dec.
Vegetables are easy of cultivation. The
most common are potatoes, yams, cassava,
: peas and beans of every variety, all the com
j mon table vegetables of the United States,
| ocra, choco, calalue, and a curious variety
|of salads. Maize and Indian corn grow lux
! uriently.
The Island also abounds in dye-stuffs,
j drugs and spices of the greatest value. To
; these may be added the aloe, cochineal, li
: quorice, spikenard, castor-oil nut, vanilla, and
I peppers of every variety, arrow root, ipieae
uana, jalap, cassia, senna, and many others.
The forests of Jamaica abounds with the
rarest cabinet woods, in wonderful variety,
and of the choicest and most valuable qual
ities.
The mineral wealth of the Island, though
only partially explored, is doubtless very
great. The copper mines is said not to be
inferior in richness to any in the world, and
very extensive coal beds have been discover
ed. And yet, notwithstanding all these ad
vantages, and the profusion with which na
ture has so munificently favored this lovelv
spot, prostration, abject want, and ruin meet
the eye on every side.
It seems from reliable statistical informa
tion, that since 1832, out of six hundred and
fifty-three sugar estates then in cultivation,
more than one hundred and fifty have been
abandoned and broken up. This has thrown
out of cultivation over 200,000 acres of rich
land, which,, in 1835, gave employment to
about 30,000 laborers, and yielded over 15-
000 hhds. of sugary and over 6,000 punch*
eons of rum.-
During the same period, over five hundred
coffee plantations have been abandoned, and
their works broken up. This threw out ol
cultivation over 200,000 acres more of land,
which in 1832, required the labor of over
30,000 men.
It further appears from official returns, that
during the last three years, the Island has
exported less than half the sugar, rum or gin’
ger; less than one-third the coffee, less than
one-tenth the molasses, and nearly two mil
lion of pounds less of pimento than during
the three years which preceded the emanci
pation act.
We give a few facts from the experience o(
Mr. Bryant, which go to show how, in the
midst of plenty and the most unlimited pro
fusion, this beautiful and fertile island has
fallen in hopeless prostration and ruin.
The Spring Valley estate, in the parisli of
St. Mary’s, embracing 1,244 acres, had been*
sold once for £IB,OOO sterling. In 1842, it
was abandoned, and in 1845, the freehold 1 /
including work, machinery, plantation uten
sils, and a water ower, was sold for £IOOO.-
The Tremelos estate of 1450 acres, onc6*
worth £68,265 sterling, has been since sole i
for £8,400, and would not now bring half
that sum. The Golden Valley sugar estate/
containing about 1200 acres, was sold irt
1846 for £620, including machinery ond*
works.
The Caen-wood sugar eestate, which once’
cost £IB,OOO, was offered by its preseMi
owner, but found no purchasers, at £1,500,
and its cultivation has been abandoned,
The overseer of Friendship Valley estate
used to receive a salary of £l2O per annum
for his services; he has been offered the
whole estate, within three years, for £l2O.
Fair Prospect estate which used to yield
500 hhds. of sugar, and was valued at £4O
- was sold in 1841 for £4OOO, and now
would not bring any thing like that sum.
Ginger Hall, which used to yield £1,200
sterling per annum, has since been for £l
-
Bunker Hill estate, which had been mort
gaged for £30,000! was last sold for£2sooo.
A sugar estate lying in the parish of St.
Thomas, in the East, embracing 1000 acres
of land, with a good dwelling house, works,
machinery, copper stills, and other apprppri
ate fixtures, was put up at auction in 1547,
in Kingston, and sold for £G2O.
Provision lands about the Rio Grande riv
er, which had never been opened, and which
were exceedingly productive, have been sold
for one dollar per acre.
Mr. Bryant states, upon the authority of
the Governor, Sir Charles Grey, that there
was ten thousand acres of land, lying alto
gether, which could now be bought for £l
-or abont fifty cents an acre. What is
the cause of this great change ? What has
produced this immense prostration of the
productive power of this highly favored Isl
and, where climate and soil contribute, to
an extent hardly any where known, so much
of the facility of accumulation ? The an
swer is plain and convincing. No one doubts
the cause, and not even the wildest and most
zealous fanatic pretends to gainsay it; the
emancipation act passed by the British Par
liament in 1833, abolishing slavery, is the
sole and only cause.— N. O. Bulletin.
THE INSANE ORATOR.
An intelligent looking and well-dressed
! Irishman went into Recorder Genoi’s court
j room, yesterday, and begged the attention
i his honor for a few moments. The Re
i eorder, of course, granted the request of
I the unknown, and asked him for his state
| merit.
j With a patronizing bow, the stranger as
cended the steps which led to the Record
er’s desk, and commenced one of the most
S wonderful speeches that was ever deliver
| ed. From his lips the wild ravings of in
; sanity would occasionally fall, and his eye
would kindle with the \yild fires of the mani
ac. Again the triumphs of intellect would
j appear; and, in a moment, the raving mad
man would he converted into the poet, the
; statesman or the philosopher. He laughed
I to scorn the civic legislation which makes
| mockery ol its own ordinances; and in this
connection, he instanced the hall-rooms of
j the Third Municipality—to which ordinan
j cos are cobwebs. He animadverted on the
! triune government of the city—its petty ri
; valries—its mischievous enactments—its
‘■ reckless policy; and, when on these .subjects,
| the unknown appeared to have a “method in
| this madness.” After treating on these sub-
I jects at length, the orator was again lost
i in the madman.
The officers of the court., at this, under.
| took to confine the strange intruder, but
he shook them off’, with as much ease, ap
| parently, as dew-drops are shaken from the
I lion’s mane. Rising then in his frantic mood,
■ he uttered blasphemies the most revolting.
; Besides, he governed, he said, all the fleets
the sea, and the armies of the earth; the
stars of heaven were the lighted lamps of his
palace home, and angels the fleet messen
gers which waited on his will. The devils
in hell—they too were under his'subjection,
and with ropes of sand he could bind them
at his bidding, or send them abroad, on the
four winds, as ministers of vengeance.
After this, he told a disjointed tale of “mur
der most foul,” about which, he said, the
Recorder would have to accompany him to
Washington, to lay the matter before Con
gress, as the sovereign tribunal of the na
| tion; and it was only by promising to go.
with him, that the Recorder could quiet the
| strange unknown.
His Honor then ordered a cab, to convey
the insane to the place, in the Second Mu
i nicipality, at which he said his residence
was situated. The poor man entered the
cab and rolled away for a few squares, but
becoming dissatisfied, he jumped out and
ran towards the swamp at a fearful pace,,
since which time he has not been seen.
[ True Della.
A Corkscrew Direction. —“ Come to my
room, I want to see you.”
“Where is your room ?”
“In St. Charles’ Exchange.”
“Well, I believe there are several rooms in*
that house, how shall I go to get to yours.”
“Come right in and turn round left —come ■
up one pair of stairs, turn right round left
again, come forward, come up, turn round, ,
come up two pair of stairs, turn round three
times, come forward and knock at the door.”’
“Stop, don’t you think I could get there
quicker, if I was to go down the middle and
up again, cross over, turn round, forward two
dos-a-dos, Indian file, promenade, shake ft
stick, ent stick, fiddle-stick, dance round two
pair of partners, and so follow my nose ?”
“No, no. just follow my directions, and
you’ll be sure to find me.”
“Or lose myself to a certainty.”
Epitaph on a Lady.— An excellent epitaph
was engraved many years ago, in few words, on
the tomb stone of an elderly lady:
She was always busy—and always quiet.