The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-15
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE ERA.

YALLEy OF THE CoNNKcncUT, Julz,2 1850,
y FRIEND BAILEY: The rich alIuviaI meadows,
scattered at short intervals from Hsverhill, N.
H., to Middletown CT, are always covered with
uamistakahle evidences of the original richness
of the SOIL as we'll as of the generous aud wisely
directed cultivation of its owners. An instance
of the productiveness of these meadows has just
occurred beneath my own observation, in Green
field Massachusetts,. Henry w. Clapp, Esq,
President of the Bank, has just cut from lot Of
seven acres little more than twenty-eight tons
of hay. This hay was moved, and dried three
DAYS in the open air and then carefully weighed
by disinterested persons. MIR. c. will take from the
same lot second crop about the first of Septem-
Der, which, if the season is favorable, will be
nearly as large as the first. Thus he raises
seven acres at least forty-nine tons of hay-an
amount which, taking into account the size Of the
lot, and especially the quality of the hay, you
may safely challenge the world to beat.
Every foot of land is crowded with vegetation.
The grass never larger The corn, though few
DAVIS behind its ordinary forwardness, is luxuri-
ant and the same may be said of every crop now
upon the ground, and it may be remarked that
nowhere in the United States is the variety of
agricultural productions greater OF richer than
here Immense fields of tobacco, maize, broom
corn, rye, wheat, oats, buckwheat potatoes, hops,
Bugdr-Deet6,
ouire the annual plough, together with the whole
family Of grasses, and almost an endless variety
of fruit trees in gardens and orchards, diversity
the beauty of the landscape, and ravish the mind
of the beholder The shade and forest trees are
now in all their glory, and nature seems to have
been exerting all her ingenuity to display upon
the branches the greatest possible amount Of the
most gorgeous foliage. To many minds this sea-
son displays the beauties of this valley to the best
advantage. But, l am frank to confess, that ]
| have been more delighted by the scenes which
are revealed in October and carly In November
The woods and trees are then cleaning in pur-
ple and gold y the meadows are still green az
spring, and vast herds of cows and fatted oxen
and sheep are quietly feeding or reclining upon
them. These herds are pastured in summer upor
the hills that enclose the valley, and are brought
down upon the meadows after the annual crops
are harvested, to feed upon the rich grass tina,
springs 80 green, 80 tender and so abundant
after the second moving Herds of cattle and
sheep, feeding or in repose, are the browning
beauty of a rural landscape; and when these
meadows are almost covered with the noble ami
mais. wniun the farmers here breed with the mt
most care, nothing that have ever seen in Amer
jca. North, West, or South, can afford pictures
so delightful and enrapturing.
But the agricultural industry Is not the only
source of the wealth Of this delightful valley.
The Connecticut river and its numerous branch
ca. on its right and left banks, are emphaticaly
laborinp streams. At Windsor, Connecticut the
whole river may be used for manufacturing pur-
noses and part Of it is thus used at Holyoke,
| Massachusetts, There is dam across the
tire river. where IL is proposed to the water
several times over. At Turner'S Fall In Mon
tague. Massach usetts, and at Bellows Falls Yer
mont. the same may occur. Thus in at least
four different places the entire water Of the mag
niicept Connecticut may be employed in turning
machinery. Here Is power equal TO millions of
men in one single river. Then its branches, very
near to its bank afford still more power than the
river The Pennington river and nameless
stream on the opposite side, at Enfield, Connecti-
cut. afford the motive power for carrying the
Garnet factories Of Tarifville and Thompson
yille-tbe bert conducted and most profitable es-
Establishments In America. At these mills the rich
and elegant carpets which adorn the Presidents
Uouse and Capitol at Washington, were woven.
Tea miles farther north, the Agawam from the
west and the Chicopes from the east enter, each
furnishing an untold power. AT Greenfield are
the Deerfeld and Miller's rivers, and all
along through New Hampshire and Vermont are
Ashaelot, Ascutney, Sugar, White, Wells, Am
onoosuc and twenty more rapid streams, with
abundant water and advantageous factory loca-
tiops. Add to these opportunities for cheap Wa
ter-power the advantage Of an excellent rail-
road--running the whole length OF this vslley--so
une.ampled for health, beauty, and fertility, and
no human mind can foretell how vast popula-
ton may yet congregste here, nor what an untold
amount Of skill and talent may here be developed.
A fact, which came In possession OF . couple
of years ago, may illustrate the character OF the
New Englanders, and reveal the origin Of some
branches Of their most profitable business s. w.
was the son Of country clergyman, and was sccus-
toned to laboring on farm In summer, and keep
ing school In winter He was moral, industrious,
and frugal, and took wife possessing the same
qualities, together with shrewd propensity TO
calculate the cost Of all articles Of living. One
day her husband brought home the cloth and trim
mings for new coat. ThssWife inquired the
price Of the buttons, which she noticed we're made
Of cloth called Lasting or, moro fully, "eyer-
lasting,n covered on TO wooden button-moulds.
She thought she could afford a. good button,
made by hand, for less money. The next day,
like the true daughter of Yankee, she tried
the thing outp She bought the cloth by the
yard, and the mouids by the dozen; and In Q
week she had better buttons, at q less price, In
the market. The thing would pay w. soon
eft farming and bookkeeping, bought the cloth,
which his wife cut into button-covers and button
moulds, hired the women and girls Of the neigh
boring towns to make them up, and sold them at
great profits. Soon another entered Into part
nership with him, and invented machinery to do
the work. Then the plain lasting was changed
to figured velvet, and satin, and twist Improve
ment on Improvement In machinery was made,
till they equaled the best Epglish, or Preach, or
German buttons 3. w. now owns one Of the
sweetest villages In the Connecticut valley, and
almost supplies the United States with buttons
for coats and overcosts. He has endowed an
academy nunihcently; has contributed like
prince to the funds Of highly distinguished snd
useful female seminary and has rescued noble
college from embarrassment So much for the
carefulness Of prudent wife and 10 much for
q disposition TO earn an honest living In some
way, rather than thrive In idlensss on the hard I
and too often unrequitsd toll Of others
Yours, &c. RICHARD RIsowooD.