VOLUME III.
NEW BERN, -N C. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1820.
NUMBER 132.
J
f TASTED AND PUBLISHED XVKE&LY, BY
PASTEUR WATSON,
At $3 per annum half in advance.
AGRICULTURAL,
- FOR THE CAROLINA CENTINEL.
lW. Editors, '.-; .
. I am but a sorry kind of a hand
at the pen, and shall make an a wka i d
business in writing j nevertheless, I
will endeavor to comply, as1 far as I
can, with the wishes of my brother
farmer, in the neighboring county,
as expressed in you? paper ot the
ISih mst. which a friend has just
handed me. I am very much in
hopes, however, that s ome one,
inuch more able and better informed,
both as to scholarship and agricul
ture than my self-will come forward
and aff rd the public information on
the subject to which your correspon
dent alludes the culture of Cotton..
It is one which should excite general
interest ; for, if the cultivation of
the article is found to succeed it
; will J be a great help to us in our
present difficulties, inasmuch as it
will add very materially to the
amount of our exports, and- thus
render more easy the remittances
I-the merchants require to pay tor
their goods imported from New
York, Philadelphia, &c. and it will
h; lp our farmers very much topay
off their debts to the Banks. But
" let me give you the result of my at
tempt this vear to raise Cotton. I
commenced on a small scale ; my
present crop consisting only of forsy
acres. Part of it is planted on new
ground, cleared only two years
the soil light, but good ; former
growth, oak, hickory, ash and pop
lar the other part our land, clea
red about ten years, the growth
nearly the same. I commenced
planting the middle of April, and
finished about the 10th ,qf lay.
I threw up beds ridges, 5 1-2 feet
apart, from centre of one ridge to
the centre of the other My seed
was of two kinds the smooth' black
seed and the green seed, the latter
1 rubbed in sand to get rid of the
wool it would have been well, I am
told, to have steeped them in ashes.
I planted about a bushel to the acre,
dropping the seed in shallow furrows,
and covering with the hoe lightly.
It came ud prettv well, not much
missing. As soon as it was about 3
finches high; I gave it the first
J ploughing, and soon afterwards ho
T
ed up the dirt to the stalks, covering
them up as high as I could. The
spring was eel , backward and dry,
and the. cotton grew slowly and
looked badly : when about six inches
high, I begun ,to thin it, leaving
about six inches between each stalk ;
as it grew, I continued thinning until
I leit a space cf 12 inches! between
each stalk. I ploughed it five times,
weeding it, and keeping it quite
clean, particularly at. first, until the
i
i
plant was strong, and two feet high.
It erew verv slnwlv until okn.,t
1st ot July, when some light rains
and hot weather gave it a start ; it
now luOKea very promis ntr. and T
anticipated an excellent croD I
should have memi-ned that my
ridges were quite high, a foot and
upwards ; this made good water
furrows that carried off the iheaw
rains we have had almost ever since
trie middle ot Tulv m. &D thai" T tin
had no standing water in my fields.
I put . the ploughs in whenever I
J V &AC4 V
found the grass in the way plough
aeep at tirst, but toward th
test, just so as to cut up the crass
ua weeds, l he cotton continued
to grow and, look very promisirg
"le branches locked across the fur
rows, tho . 5 1-2 feet apart, and by
-v- wiuuie oi August, it was m
any parts 4 and 5 feet high. But
an enemy appeared, I did not
pect it was the Rot at least it
answers exactly to the description
-uuoned by Col. Troup in the
American Farmer,' page 237. vol.
1st: and " ' i- i .
7T "as toaunuea to en
crease, and will doubtless destroy
-uunn rr - r-
. w. Mtc tiop, u not more.
I As Col. T. says, I perceive no dif-
lerence as, to sou or weamer us
devastating march continues. About
two weeks since, another enemy has.
appeared : a large green worm was
discovered, which-instead of attack
ing the leaf, as the caterpillar, be
gan on the pod generally - com
mencing under the large end, where
he is hid from common observation
he eats his way into the pod and
does not leave it, until, he has com-
pieted its destruction. The outside
of the pod continues to look green
and healthy for some time, and it is
only on close inspection this insidu
ou8 J enemy is discovered ; aud as;
far as ! can judge, this last, will des
troy another fourth of my crop.
There are two or three kinds of
worm appear, or else they arc the
same species at different ages ; some
are large and green, about X to 1
1-2 inches long, with 10 or 12 legs
others smaller,: brown and some
bi own and red. :
I am happy ta say that my neigh
bors are not as bald off as myself,
either 'with the rot or the
worm. This would induce me to
hope, there was something in the
seed ; tho'i a plantation about 12
miles off, is injured by both these,
but not to the extent of mine. I
topped the cotton about the 6th of
September, in the manner pointed
out in the American Farmer, vol. 2,
No. 11. It is now 20th September,
my cotton has commenced to open,
but I think is very backward, and
if we have an early frost, its destruc
tion will be complete. But even
this last bow,' if it falls, will not pre
vent my making another attempt, or
cause, me to regret what I have done,
only that I had not done ; it better.
I think I ploughed too often and too
late ; I planted too late, and shall
commence next season in March,
from the 15th to 20th, if the weather
is mild taking care to cover up
well, Uo protect the young plants. I
will not then widen them 6 inches
apart, and intend leaving some to
S grow as it comes up. I shall make
the beds 5 feet apart, and shall pay
particular attention to the quality of
j the seedthe green seed I much
prefer. I shall select the best land
on the farm ; what poorer land Lam
obliged to use for corn, I shall ma
nure well.
I fear I shall tire your's and the
reader's patience. My object is to
induce others to come forward and
give the result of their experience
and their mode of planting. I wish
you could interest' the Editor of the
American Farmer so far as to in
duce him to procure and publish in
formation on the subject above allu
ded to, from some of his Southern
correspondents. I would take this
opportunity ;f recommending the
American Farmer to every ont
in the least interested in agriculture.
It is a book useful and interesting to
all, but no Farmer should be without
it. Its cost is only 4 dollars per an-
num, and may be obtained by apply
ing to Mr. Watson, Post-Master in
Newbern. K V
I will merely add, that I perceive
very little difference in my two fields
-I am satisfied that but tor the rot
and the worm, the crop would have
averaged 800 lb. seed cotton to the
acre say 200 lbs. clean cotton, at
15 cents, (now sells at 18) is 30 dol
lars per acre : contrast this with
Corn (which is much more injurious
to the land) at 1 50 to 2 dollars the
barrel and hard to sell. v
i A Partner of Jones County.
Fairbanks, Sept. 20, 1820.
MISCELLANEOUS.
SELECTED FOR THE CENT1NEL.
Messrs. Editors. '
Tlie followma rpflp,tinnc: from tra-
vels through the United States, by John
lellish,mustbe eratifvinto the feelings
. "7
of everv trup AmwiMn T. : lmo.
me omy instance of an Englishman,
who has passed through our country
without concealing all it
- . .--
Sk--"0311116 PiCtUie fitS dis"
"
". Farmers and mechanics are best
adapted to the country, and, if they
are industrious, . they are sure to
succeed. A farmer can get a quar
ter section of land, 160 acres, for
560 dollars, with eight years to pay
it. If he is industrious, he may
have the whole cleared and cultiva
ted, like a garden by the end of that
time j when in consequence of the
rise on property, by the encrease of
population, and the cultivation by
his individual industry, his land
may be wortji 50 dollars per acre,
or 80uO Hollars ; -. besides rhis stock
of cattle, &c, which may be worth
half as muchjmore. Mechanics are
well paid lor tneir labour ; carpen
ters have 1 dollar per day.and their
board ; if they board themselves 1
dollar, 25 cents. . Other trades have
in proportion and living is cheap. .
Flour is about 5 dollars per barrel ;
beef 4 cents per lb. ; fowls 12 1-2
cents : each : fish are plenty .'and
cheap. A mechanic can thus earn
as much in two days as will main
tain a family for a week, and by
vesting the surplus in houses' and
lots, in a judicious manner. . he may
accumulate money as fast as the far
mer, and both may be independent
and happy. Indeed, these too clas
ses cannot too highly prize the bles
sings they enjoy in this country, nor
be sufficiently grateful to the Al
mighty Disposer of all ' events, for
casting their lot in a land where they
have advantages so far transcending
what the same classes have in any
other. I know there are many who
hold aditterent opinion, but 1 must
take.the liberty to dissent from it, and
the reader who has travelled with me
tnus tar, wai auow mat , my opinion
is not founded either on a partial or
prejudiced view ot tne subject ; it
is deiuced from plain, unvarnished
lacts, wnicn no reasoning can set
aside, nor sophistry invalidate. r
What would the farmers, and-mechanics,
and manufacturers in Brit
ian give to be in the sahie situation"?
There (I speak particularly of Scot
land) there a farmer pays from 7 to
28 dollars per acre, yearly, for the
use of his farm, besides the taxes
and public burdens. He gets in
many instances a lease of 19 years,
and is bound to cultivate the ground
in a ceftain way, prescribed by the
tenure of his lease. If he improve
the farm the improvements are for
another, not tor ..him ; nd, at the
end of the lease, if another is wil
ling, to give one more shilling than
him, or if the proprietor has a fa
vourite, or wishes to turn two or
more farms into one, or has taken
umbrage at his politics, or his reli
gion, or any thing else regarding
him or his family, he will not get a
renewal of the lease. Many a fami
ly have I known, who have been ru
ined in this way. Being turned put I
of the farm, they retire to a town ori
c.t wnere tnere suostance is soon
spent, and they pine away in pover
ty, and at last find a happy relief in
the cold grave. Nor is there" any
remedy the lands are nearly all
entailed on the great families, and
the lords of the soil are the lords t
the laws ; they can bind the poor
farmer in all cases whatsoever.
Compare this with the situation
of the American farmer. He culti
vates his own soil, or, if he has none,
he can procure a sufficient quantity
for 200 or 300 dollars. If he has
jjno money, he can get credit, and all
tnat is necessary to redeem his cre
dit, is to put forth his hand and be
industrious. . He can stand erect on
he middle of his farm and say.
t This ground is mine: from the
highest canopy of heaven, down to
the lowest depths, I can claim all
I can get possession of within these
bounds ; fowls of the air, fish of the
sea, and ail that pass through the
same." And, having a full share of
consequence in the political scale,
nis equal rights are guaranteed to
U: , T I
!m'
i him
in one a are encroacn upon
he can set under his own vine,
and iinrlnliia rwn firrtrff nnrl nnn
.. I J , '
to make him afraid.
Look at the mechanic and raanu-
farnirr In A mrir Kv ran earn
from 6 to 9 dollar per week, and
' have provisions so reasonable, that
' they can have their wheat-bread and
roast-beef, or roast-pork, or fowl
every day, and accumulate property
for old-age and their offspring. In
Britain they can earn from a dollar
and a half to three dollars a week,
and pay at the rate of 14 or 15 dol
lars for a barrel of flour. ' and
from 16 to 22 cents per lb. for
beef. But, why do I talk of nbur
arid beef? small, indeed, is the pro-
portion of these that fall to their
lot. No ; they are doomed to drag
out a miserable existence on nota-
toesahd oat-meal, with this farther
curse entailed upon them, that, by
the mandate of the powers that be,
they are bound to the soil ; they can
not they dare not leave their coun
try except by stealth 1"
From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine.
THE NO NOSE CLUtf. '
The origin, of this club is thus
facetiously related. A certain.whim
sical gentleman, having taken fan
cy to see a large party of noseless
persons, invited every one he met
in the streets to dine on a certain
day at a tavern, where he formed
them all into a brotherhood bearing
the above name.
u The gentleman, against the
time, having ordered a very plenti
ful dinner, acquainted the vintner
who, were like to be his guests; that
he might not be surnris'd at soiill-
favor'd an appearance, but pay them
mac respect, when they came to ask
for him, that might encourage them
to tarry. When the morning came,
no sooner was the hand of Covent-
Uarden dial upon the stroke of the
hour prehx'd, but the No-Nose
vuiiijjdu ucgan to arop in apace.
like scald-heads and cripples to
mumper's least, asking for JVIr.
Ciumpton, which was the feigh'd
name the gentleman had taken upon
him, succeeding one another so
thick, with iarring voices, like the
brazen strings ot a cracrd dulci-
more, that the dravyer v could scare
shew. one up stairs before he had
another to conduct: the answer at
the bar being, to all that enqutr'd
that Mr. Crumpton had been there,
and desirM every one that ask'd for
him would walk up stairs, and he
would wait upon 'em presently. As
the number encreas'd, the surprise
grew the greater among all that were
present, v who $tar'd - one another
with such unaccustomed bashfulness,
and com us d odness, as if every sin
ner beheld their own iniquities in
the faces of their companions.
However, seeing, the cloth laid in
extraord'riary order, every one was
curious when once enter'd, to attend
the sequal : At length a snorting
old fellow, whose cose, was utterly
swallowed tip by hischeeks, as if
his head had been troubled with ah
earthquake, having a little more im
pudence than the rest of the snuffie
tonians, 4 Egad,' says he, 4 if by
chance we should fall together by
the ears, how long might we all
fight before we should have bloody
noses ? 4 Ads flesh,' says another,
now you talk: of noses, I ha ve been
looking this half hour to find one in
company.' 4 God be prais'd? says a
third, tho' we have no noses, we
have ev'ry one a moush, and tk , by
spreading of the table, seems at pre
sent to be the most useful member '
4 A mere trick I dare engage,' says
a bridge-fallen lady, 4 tht is put
upon us by some whimsical gentle-
.1 . 1 i .. - n
.- . V
other peoples mjstortunes.' 4 Let
him jest and be damn'd,' cries a
d ibsnouted buUv, if he comes but
among us, and treats u handsome
ly. 4 If he does not,' says he, 4 I'll
pull him by the nose till he wishes
himself without one like the rest of
the company.?- 4 Pray, gentlemen
and ladies, cries an old drowthy
captain of Whitefriers, wh had for
saken the pleasures of whoring for
man. tnat loves to mase a iei oi
those of drinking, , 4 dont let us set
and cnoiK at tne iuuuunu-ucau , j
and with that they kpocked for the j
drawer, and askedhim, If they
micht not call for wine without the
: danger of being stop'd for the reck-'
i oning ? Who answer'd, 4 yes, for
! what they pleas'd only the gentle-
man desiid it might be the forfeit-'
ure of a quart if any one should
presume to put their nose in th
gtass.' ' ; 4 V. - . .
This club met once a month for a
whole joyous year, when its founder
and patron died, and then, the flat
faced community, were unhappily
dissolved.,, An Elegy was recitetl
at the final meeting, from wiich the
following, extract is not without
pathos. : ' Y
" Mourn for the loss of such a generous
friend, " .
Whose, lofty Nose no humble snout d
. Gain'd; -But
tho' of Roman height, could stoop so
low
As to 1 soothe4 those who ne'er a Nose
could shew, ? -w
Ah I sure no noseless club could ever
find ' - M :
One single Nose so bountiful and kind.
Dut now, alas !" he?s sunk into the deep.
ivhere neither kings or slaves a . Nose
shall keep. -
But where proud Beauties, " strutting
Beaux and all. "
Must soon into the noseless fashion fall;
Thither your friend in complaisance is
. ; gone ' '. ; '
To have his Nose, like yours, reduced to
none." .
From the Boston Daily Advertiser.
ON SHAKING HANDS
l Mr. Editor, There are lew
things of more common occurrence
than shaking hands ; and yet I do
not recollect that much has been
speculated upon the subject. I con
fess when I consider to hat unim
portant & j futile concerns the atten
tion of writers and readers has been
directed, I am surprised that nourie
has been found to handle so impor
tant a subject as this); and attempt
to give the public a rational view
the doctrine and discipline of shak
ing hands. It is a subject on which
I have myself theorized a good
deal, and 1 beg leave to offer you
a few remarks on the , origin oi the
practice and the various forms in
which it is exercised.
I have been unable to find in the
ancient writers any distinct mention
oi shaking hand. They followed,
the heartier practice of hugging of
embracing, which has not wholly
disappeared among grown persons
in Europe and children in our t. wn
country and has unquestionably the
advantage on the score of cor
diality. When the ancients trusted
the business of salutation to the
hands alone, they joined but did not
shuke them ; and although 1 find
treqaently such phrases as jungre
dextras hospito ; I do not recollect
to huve met with that of agitare dex
tras. T am inclined to think that,
the practice grew up in the ages of
chivalry, jwhen the cumbrous iron
mail, -in which the knights were
cased, prevented their embracing ;
& when with finger s clothed in stet I,
the simple touch or joining of the
hands wouid have been but. cold
welcome : so that a prolonged junc
tion was a natural resort, t exps
cordiality ; and as it would have
been awkardHo-keep the hands un-
employed in tuis position, a gentle
agi anon or shaking might have been t
naturally introduced. How long this
practice may have rerrlained in this
incipient stage, it is impossible, in
the silence of history, v to say ; nor
is there any thing in the Chronicles,
in Philip de Comines orhe B-,zi-tine
historians, which enables us to
trace the progress of the art, into the
torms ?n which it 'now exists.
Without, therefore, availing my
self of the privilege of theorists to
supply by conjecture the absence of"
history or tradition, I sh dl p.s im--mdiatelv
to the enumeration of
those forms : ;
1. The pump-handle shake is the
first, which deserves notice. ' It is
executed by taking your friend' I;
hand, and working it up and down,
through an arc of fifty degrees, for
about a minute and a half. To have
its nature force and character," tbis "
shake should be perfoi med with i
fair steady' s rnoti -n. No attempt
should be made 'to give it graw, ,
and still less vivacity ; as the tew
instances, in which the latter ha
been tried, have uniformly resulted
in dislocating the shoulder of the
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