Part 1

Transcriber's Note: Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

Small capital text has been replaced with all capitals.

Minor typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as printed.

Mismatched quotes are not fixed if it's not sufficiently clear where the missing quote should be placed.

The cover for the eBook version of this book was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.

* * * * *

THE

RURAL MAGAZINE,

AND

LITERARY EVENING FIRE-SIDE.

VOL. I. PHILADELPHIA, _Tenth Month, 1820._ _No. 10._

FOR THE RURAL MAGAZINE.

THE DESULTORY REMARKER.

No. IX.

It is a fact of no infrequent occurrence, that erroneous estimates are formed of human conduct, and its immediate and remote effects on the interests of society. When this is the case, we sometimes denounce as hostile to social order and salutary improvement, those who are really their most faithful and efficient friends, and in this way become the agents and disseminators of error and injustice. There is nothing perhaps, more unfashionable, not to say mischievous, in the eyes of the present generation, than what they denominate ENTHUSIASM; a temper of mind, which they are disposed to treat with the greatest contempt, as altogether unworthy the enlightened period in which we live. If the legitimate import of the word were always observed in its application, there would be little controversy on the subject; as no one would become the advocate of "vain imaginations" or "violent passions." But it is believed that much that is truly valuable in its character and tendency, is improperly ascribed to this source; by which hostile prejudices are excited, in opposition to that which is entitled to the countenance and support of the public.

In CHARLES J. FOX'S history of JAMES II. there is this passage:--"We are accused of enthusiasm! are we then fanaticks? Are we enthusiasts because we do not rob--abstain from murder? If by enthusiasm be meant _zeal and warmth_, I freely acknowledge it; I glory in it. Enthusiasm, when it arises out of _a just cause_, is that which makes men act in it with energy; it is that, without which _nothing was ever done great, since the creation of the world_. Enthusiasm of this sort, I hope, therefore, I shall always possess." The historian referred to, will not be classed among credulous, weak-minded men; for he was one of the most eminent statesmen of his day; and his opinion is therefore justly considered as authoritative. The position taken, is corroborated by all experience, that great actions and great achievements are never the result of lukewarmness and indifference; but of "zeal and warmth," directed to "a good cause," without which honourable and permanent distinction can never be obtained. What is too frequently mistaken for enthusiasm, is in reality produced by a profound conviction of the truth, in connection with some particular object, of the greatest importance to mankind.

It was this that guided COLUMBUS across the unknown and boisterous ocean, and opened to his view a new world; which enabled him to encounter and surmount every difficulty, which the malice of his enemies, or the combination of untoward circumstances, arrayed against his great design; a design which was branded as a chimera of enthusiasm.

It was this which induced FRANKLIN to persevere in his philosophical experiments, until they were crowned with success; and the identity of lightning and the electric fluid, completely established, and eventually placed his name among the most eminent philosophers of the age.

It was this, that enabled RITTENHOUSE to emerge from the condition of an humble mechanic in Montgomery county, and by the construction of his wonderful Orrery, to obtain from Jefferson this great but well-merited testimony to his talents;--"that no mortal was ever permitted to make so near an approach to his Creator."

It was this that strengthened the hands of the immortal FOUNDER of Pennsylvania, in his noble determination of sacrificing the bright prospects which birth and connexions imparted, to a sense of duty; and of establishing an asylum in a remote wilderness, where the oppressed of all nations, kindred, and people, might find a covert from the storm of civil and religious persecution, and enjoy in perfect security the sacred rights of conscience.

It was this which guided the footsteps of HOWARD to the distant abodes of wretchedness and wo, unmindful of the comforts and delights of home, to bind up the sorrows of their miserable tenants, and to complete, in the language of Burke, his "noble circumnavigation of charity."

It was this which conducted FULTON to that astonishing result, justly considered as the great wonder of the age--_navigation by steam_; after a crowd of discouragements and difficulties had been subdued, sufficient to disconcert the plans and defeat the object of almost any other man, however sanguine his temper and resolute his purpose.

It was this which under Providence induced that signal victory, obtained in Great Britain, by SHARP, WILBERFORCE, and CLARKSON, over the disgrace of humanity and civilization, the SLAVE-TRADE; after a most doubtful and arduous conflict of more than twenty years, with avarice and oppression.

To conclude, nothing but this active and persevering zeal, will, _in future_, lead to like glorious results. Instead, therefore, of its being opprobriously branded, let it be cherished, when directed to just and important objects, as a prolific source of good to man. Scientific research has an ample field before her still unexplored, in which no doubt laurels will continue to be reaped, and great and substantial advantages be derived by new discoveries. But the _moral improvement_ of our fellow citizens, should be sedulously attended to, as more immediately soliciting our notice; and the cause of such of them as are denied the rights to which they are by nature entitled, should be fearlessly and constantly vindicated, as truth and justice may open the way; notwithstanding those may be denounced as ENTHUSIASTS, who believe that in the eye of the great Creator, "ALL MEN ARE EQUAL." ☞

VARIETY.

For the Rural Magazine.

The fogs of England have been at all times the complaint of foreigners. Gondomar the Spanish ambassador, when some one who was going to Spain waited on him to ask whether he had any commands, replied, "Only my compliments to the Sun, whom I have not seen since I came to England." Caracoli, the Neapolitan minister there, a man of a good deal of conversational wit, used to say that the only ripe fruit he had seen in England, were roasted apples; and in a conversation with George II., he took the liberty of preferring the Moon of Naples to the Sun of England.

JOHN HOWARD.

I have been frequently asked, says this great man, what precautions I use to preserve myself from infections in the prisons and hospitals I visit. I here answer, next to the free goodness and mercy of the Author of my being, temperance and cleanliness are my preservatives. Trusting in Divine Providence, and believing myself in the way of my duty, I visit the most noxious cells, and while thus employed, "I fear no evil."

FRANKLIN.

He that raises a large family, says Franklin, does indeed, while he lives to observe them, _stand_, as Watts says, _a broader mark for sorrow_; but then he stands a broader mark for pleasure too. When we launch our little fleet of barks into the ocean, bound to different ports, we hope for each, a prosperous voyage; but contrary winds, hidden shoals, storms and enemies, come in for a share in the disposition of events; and though these occasion a mixture of disappointment, yet considering the risk where we can make no insurance, we should think ourselves happy if some return with success.

BURNS THE POET.

About the age of thirteen, Burns was sent during a part of the summer to the parish school in Dalrymple, in order to improve his hand writing.--In the following year he had an opportunity of passing several weeks with his old friend Murdoch, with whose assistance he began to study French with intense ardour and assiduity. His proficiency in that language, though it was wonderful, considering his opportunities, was necessarily slight; yet it was in shewing this accomplishment alone that Burns' weakness ever took the shape of vanity. One of his friends, who carried him into the company of a French lady, remarked with surprise that he attempted to converse with her in her own tongue. Their French, however, was soon found to be almost mutually unintelligible. As far as Burns could make himself understood, he unfortunately offended the foreign lady.--He meant to tell her that she was a charming person and delightful in conversation; but expressed himself so as to appear to her to mean, that she was fond of speaking; to which the Gallic dame indignantly replied, that it was quite as common for poets to be impertinent, as for women to be loquacious.

ORTHOGRAPHY.

The following curious instances of spelling are from Bassompierre's account of his mission to the court of Charles I. in 1626.

Sir Edward Sackville, (Hacfil;) Earl of Dorset, (Dorchet;) Buckingham, (Boukinkam;) York-House, (Jorschaux;) Earl of Bridgewater, (Britswater;) Whitehall, (Withal;) Cheapside, (Shipside;) Wimbledon, (Semilton;) Wallingford, (Vialenforaux;) Blackfriars, (Blaifore;) Kensington, (Stintinton;) Berkshire, (Barcher.)

For the Rural Magazine.

INDIAN CORN: ITS BAD AND GOOD CULTURE.

An agricultural traveller, who has recently passed through parts of Montgomery, Berks, Lehigh, Northampton and Philadelphia counties, by the great roads leading through them, wishes, most cordially and earnestly to call the attention of the farmers to their unfortunate style of agriculture in some important particulars.

After leaving the neighbourhood of Norristown, with a few exceptions, a barely tolerable field of Indian corn was rarely to be seen, until he arrived, on his return from Easton, into the southern parts of Bucks county. The foes to all good husbandry, weeds, were predominant in almost every cornfield. If, perchance, the interior was tolerably clear, a circumstance which rarely, occurred, the weeds around the enclosures were so lamentably abundant, that the corn was, in a great degree, obscured. Good and bad land exhibited the like ruinous and disgusting appearance and miserable promise; and the same bad system of culture prevailed. The ploughing was generally shallow, whatever might be the texture of the soil.--Every field was ridged; many had been broken up in bulks, and furrows were always thrown up to the plants, for the drought to turn into dust, or indurate into impenetrable clods.--The middle spaces between the rows were untouched, either by the plough or the harrow in very numerous instances. Countless varieties of pestiferous coarse grasses and weeds took possession of these neglected spots, furnishing a counterbalance to any supplies from the earth or the air, which the corn plants, in the absence of these pests, might have drawn, and effectually preventing the extension of their roots beyond the bounds of the elevated furrows, or narrow ridges, in which they were imprisoned. Can it then be wondered at, that the crops evidenced a sickly, stunted & wretched appearance, both in colour and size? In some fields, where limestone prevailed, and, perhaps, lime had been applied, the colour was better, but the weeds and grasses abundant; on the head lands particularly, which are seldom sufficiently, if at all, stirred and cleaned: thus establishing a mischievous nursery of poisonous pests to perpetuate their scourges on future crops. Fall ploughing was rarely, if at all, practised; and lime little used, even in many limestone districts. One farmer said, "their land was hot enough without lime." It is hoped, that this superlative ignorance of the qualities of lime, which, when slacked, is the coldest of all substances applied to land, is confined to the individual sporting the opinion. One of the uses of lime is to supply the soil, and that not too lavishly, with calcareous matter, when its caustic qualities are subdued.

This is not exaggerated, but is a regretful picture. It is held up to intelligent and well-disposed farmers, who, by viewing its deformities, may banish entirely their present mode of culture, which, by its own showing, is proved to be radically wrong. A corn crop is not only in itself, but, when well cultivated, is in its consequences the most valuable of all our products. With an abhorrence of weeds, the test of intelligence in a farmer, he can, with a corn crop, more effectually clean and prepare his fields for succeeding crops, than can be done by any other culture. Whilst he is attending his corn, which will not, with impunity, suffer neglect, he is not only invigorating and increasing his crop, but he is subduing his worst enemies--weeds of all kinds. This makes ample amends for the exhaustion of the soil by this gigantic plant.

The change recommended, is dictated not only by reasonable theory, but is founded on long experience and multitudinous practical proofs.

_Deep and Flat Culture._

Plough your fields throughout _deeply_; and _that_ in the fall, to expose and destroy the eggs of the grub moth; and roll, to pulverize the clods. Harrow in lime at this season, or on spring ploughed ground, for corn; and do not spread it on your fallows for wheat; because it is then injurious to your winter grain crop; as frequent experience has shown. Mark out your squares or drills, lightly, with the plough; and thereafter never suffer the plough to enter your fields. Work entirely with _harrows_; whereof procure the necessary variety; some with large, and others with smaller _hoes_. These cut up weeds, and sufficiently stir your intervals to any depth you choose. If the hand hoes be found indispensable, use them near your plants; but never hill or plough up furrows. The common harrow will have its share of usefulness; and spare it not. As often as young weeds appear, or your surface becomes crusty, often occasioned by drought after rains, ply the harrows. You will then have a deep, loose and light body of pulverized soil, for your roots to penetrate. It will imbibe the dews and gases from the atmosphere; and afford, in the severest droughts, perpetual moisture and nourishment; which will be exclusively applied to your corn plant; having no robbers to contend with. In droughts, deeply stirred soil inhales and _retains_ moisture. In wet seasons it is the least injured; because it affords room for superabundant wetness. Being elastic and buoyant, it does not consolidate or settle into concrete bodies, like shallow ploughed, cloddy, and unstirred ground. The corn roots (which have, in such ground, been measured ten feet long,) will have a continuous and not a divided soil, wherein to expand and extend themselves; in which, it being loose, deep, and constantly moist, the roots will far exceed those confined to narrow detached ridges, wherein they are short and starved. It is an idle opinion, to suppose that plants spend themselves in roots. The stronger, the root, the more vigorous is the plant.

If you _will_ introduce the plough after the first breaking up, either before or after planting; and squares are the most commodious for thorough stirring and cleaning; plough shallow; so as not to disturb the deeply buried sod. Let the harrows level and flatten your surface at the next operation; and continue them exclusively in all future stirrings. Your culture will be easier, cheaper, and more abundantly profitable, than those who are accustomed to the old modes will _believe_, until they _see_.

If your field requires drains, draw furrows in proper places. If it be naturally wet, break up deeply in very broad lands, on which the harrows may still be used, and drains sufficiently multiplied. If it be stony, rugged, or harsh, either plant other crops; or strengthen your harrows; ridged ground dries the soonest, and burns through; so does all shallow ploughed soil, whether ridged or flat. Attraction of moisture is trifling, and evaporation rapid.

Be not afraid of cutting corn roots, which benefit by excision; throwing out, on the parts attached to the plants, numerous fibres, to draw in and communicate their food.

Your corn, in deeply ploughed and frequently stirred ground, will resist storms and heavy rains, owing to the strength and numbers of its roots, far beyond hilled or ridged plants. If it yields to the storm, and leans, the extent, tenacity, and re-acting contraction of the roots, will generally restore the erect position of the stalks: whereas, in the ridged or hill culture, the roots are short, brittle, and incapable of recovery. It is not uncommon in the deep and flat culture, for those called finger roots, to grow entirely or greatly extended _under_ instead of _above_ the surface; and throw out innumerable fibres, to support the stalk.

Detach all suckers, which are robbers; and top, in due season, to shorten the lever, insure the standing of the stalks, and facilitate the ripening of the grains.

Banish all apprehensions, that working among corn in dry weather, is injurious. The contrary is the truth; for your harrows will, in such weather, have the double effect of more certainly destroying weeds, and pulverizing, to open mouths to take in moisture and gases, from the dews and the air.

It being seldom practised in Pennsylvania, I need not warn you against sowing winter grain in the same year with corn. This not only scourges your land, but interferes with the great use of the cleaning culture, affording the time and opportunity for weeds to recover their pestiferous reign, and is a sure test of slovenly and covetous farming.

If you will not at once believe in this system of corn husbandry, now frequently and ever successfully practised, where the best crops are to be seen, try a small portion of your field--do it justice--and compare it with the old mode, for your own and your neighbour's conviction. Whatever may be hastily thought of these observations, they are, with the most friendly wishes for their prosperity, offered for the serious consideration of liberal minded and unprejudiced farmers; among whom numberless instances of good farming, in other respects, are to be found, and to which the greatest proportion of the corn culture is a mortifying contrast.

_September 10, 1820._ MENTOR.

SEPT. 18, 1820.

Messrs. Richards & Caleb Johnson--

In the Lancaster Journal of September 8th, 1820, there is an excellent charge of Judge Franklin to the Grand Jury, on the subject of the Act of Assembly "for promoting agriculture and domestic manufactures." I think it well deserving a place in your Magazine; as it contains, in epitome, much useful and impressive advice on the importance of agriculture, and the formation of agricultural societies; by the instrumentality whereof both the principle, and practice of husbandry can be successfully promoted, and most effectually encouraged.--Your obedient servant,

RICHARD PETERS.

_Address._

But I am desirous at this time, gentlemen, of introducing to your notice an Act of Assembly of this Commonwealth, passed at the last session of the legislature, which, if its provisions be duly attended to, may produce many beneficial effects. It is entitled, "An Act for the promotion of agriculture and domestic manufactures." The 1st, 2d, and 3d, sections enact:

"That as soon as the Board of Commissioners and two-thirds of the Grand Jury, of any county within this Commonwealth, shall agree, in writing under their respective hands (which agreement shall be filed in the office of the Prothonotary of the proper county) that a society shall be established within the same; then it shall and may be lawful for twenty or more inhabitants of any such county, fifteen of whom shall be practical and actual farmers, under the name of The Society for the Promotion of Agriculture and Domestic Manufactures, in and for such county, to sign an agreement, promising to pay the treasurer of said society, so long as he shall remain a member thereof, the sum of one dollar each, or more, annually, for the purposes hereinafter mentioned, and cause such agreement to be filed in the office of the Prothonotary of proper county; every such society shall by virtue of this act become a body politic and corporate, in deed and in law, with perpetual succession, and all the rights, liberties, privileges, and franchises incident to a corporation, for all the purposes of this act, and to admit new members upon the terms aforesaid. _Provided_, That the association which shall have first filed their articles of agreement shall be the only one entitled to the privileges granted by this act.

"That the said societies, respectively, shall meet at some convenient place on the Wednesday of the next Court of Common Pleas, after the said agreements shall have been filed as aforesaid, and choose by a majority of votes, out of their number, one president, ten directors, one treasurer, and one secretary, who shall be officers of said society for one year and until others are duly elected. And the said societies respectively, at their first meeting, shall have power to fix on the time and place of their annual meetings on such day of the year as they shall designate, which shall continue to be the day of the annual meeting of the societies respectively, until otherwise altered by a vote of the members as aforesaid; and also to make their own rules and by-laws, not inconsistent with the constitution and laws of the United States, or of this state; and to add other officers to those designated, and prescribe their respective duties. And the president and directors shall have power to summon special meetings of said societies respectively, at such other times as to them shall seem proper.

"That at the next assessment of county rates and levies, after said societies respectively shall have been established and organized in any county within this commonwealth, and annually thereafter, the county commissioners are hereby required to assess, levy, and cause to be collected, in the same manner that county rates and levies are assessed, levied, and collected, an additional sum of fifty dollars for every member which said counties respectively are or may be entitled to elect to the House of Representatives of this commonwealth, and to cause the same to be paid to the treasurer of the society, by warrants drawn on the county treasurer: to be expended, together with their annual subscriptions, in the manner hereinafter mentioned."

I need not read the remaining sections of this law. The pamphlet containing it will be laid upon your table, and you will have an opportunity of deliberately considering it in all its parts.

I wish to impress you, gentlemen, with the importance of this subject, as it affects the vital interests of our country; particularly at a time when our foreign markets are almost destroyed, and we must learn to establish our prosperity on the interchange of commodities within our own limits. This will produce a solid independence, teach us the value of our connexions with one another, and bind us in bonds of mutual interest. The struggle has heretofore been (and a fatal one it has proved) to get _rich_: the endeavour now must be, how to _live_ in comfort and plenty.