Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-02-04

been tired IN various parts OF the country
during the past season, and wherever it |
grows the largest a0d most luxuriantly, it
necessarily affords more juice, in which its
value consists Il is found that it will
grow even as far north as the new England
States, and arrives to that degree of per-
fecton that it is considered - be much
cheaper to raise ii for feedlg stock, than
grain; and it viii in all robsbiliiy become
substitute for it, as hogs and all kinds of
cattle are very fond of it and it is highly
nutritious.
The timber in the eastern part of the
country is mostly cypress aud gum ]; in the
western part there is considerable pine
mis- Is the forest pFimeviall; the maF1uf-
ing pines and the hemlocks,
Bearded with moss and in garments green,
indistinct in the twilight,
Stand like druids of old, with voice sad and
proph etic,
Stand Ike harpers hour with boards that
rest on tn cir boso MS"
The surface of the country is fat, being
but few feet above the tide water of Pam
lico sound. From one point, in the cas-
tern part, can be seen forty two farm hous-
es, one hundred and fifteen granaries and
other buildings, four school houses and two
windmills and one chapel. Oats, wheat
and corn are the principal articles of ex-
port about three hundred thousand bush
els of the latter are exported yearly
According to the census of 1850, there
was more corn raised, in proportion to the
number of improved acres of land, than in
any county In the State. There are many
places where the soil has been cultivated
with succession of crops without measure,
for hundred years, and the crops which it
now produces have the appearance of those
upon virgin soil. But there are places
where the soil has greatly degenerated
from its original richness and verdure, and
it would be well for the Inhabitants to en-
quire into tie cause Of this, and apply the
proper corrective, if within their reach
before it extends to other portions of the
county. There are combination of causes
which, in all probability, have conspired
to produce this degeneration in the soil
and these causes, no doubt, are physi
cal and moral The physical cause of i'm
poverished soil is palpable, and does not
escape the observation of the individual
who give it careful estigation but
the moral cause often escapes the observa
tions of the most penetrating and far seeing
minds, and many are decidedly of The
opinion that the soil is never affected il
any way by moral causes But when it il
recollectcd that the earth was cursed fo
mans moral deprayity when in it's pristin
loveliness and beauty, it is reasonable t.
suppose that the same cause which the
operated upon the soil still operates upo
1t, IN proportion to the extent of evil whicl
prevails among those who cultivate, liv
upon, or derive their subsistence from it
The same cause always has and always vii
produce the same effect. The effect ma
not be immediate-it. may be remote
may not fall upon US; but it will mos
certainly fall upon some of our descendants
In all neighborhoods where there hav
been whiskey distilleries, the soil has ru
down. In all neighborhoods where tbel
have been large quantities Of whisky an
other spurious liquors sold and drank, th
soil has run down, and so have the peopl,
This is so in this county, and is it not
in every county in the State? AS far
the observations Of the writer goes, it is
in every neighhorhood throughout IL
country. "Re turneth fruitful land int
Iarrenness, for the wickedness of thel
that dwell therein"
Matan,uskeet Lake, in this country,
some sixteen miles long-from four to 81
wide, and about one foot deep. It is 81
i uated five miles in land from Pamlic
sound, lying in north easterly and sout
westerly direction. According to th
Indian tradition, this Lake was made
the burning Of juniper swamp, the fire
which cont to rage for taceIre moon
That this tradition is true, there seen
abundant evidonce in tie charred legs an
roots which occasionally come up from Il
bottom, as well as in the combustibility
the present soil adjacent to it. II
waters are dark and turbid and file
with particles SO minute and light, th
;, they never settle. If the water of tn
Lake was taken up and conducted over IL
farms in the right way, it would irriga
and enrich them in the most efectual ma
ner This could be done in the same ma
ner as the water is thrown over the dix
in Holland, by Windmllls with forcepum,
attached. 1t is natural to Judge people
the clothes they wear and the houses the
live in but circumstances and associ
tions have much to do in the developmel
of mans nature and no less powerful is Il
effect of scenery in the formation of cha
acter; and if it is desired to judge corree
ly of the general charaeser of people, Il
mind must make requisition upon Il
topography Of the country in which tn
live, and the peeuliarities of the soil th
cultivate. The richness of the soil be
! is only surpassed by the liberality al
$ generous hospitality of the people.
''The Banks" from New Inlet to Ocl
coke Inlet, embraced within this county,
], continuous sand bank, intersperced oct
t sionally with capes of live oak, cedars a
: yeopon trees These trees, Her Cassiu
= grow most luxuriantly, and when ma
J. into tea is, with fish and oil, the only
i ticles of export from this part of the cor
d try The leaves, twigs and small branch
It Of this tree are cut off in the months
S April aid November, and being chopI
IL fine, are placed in hogshead-a layer
,e yeopon and layer of heated stones-ur
n the hid. is filled. 1t is then covered tig
Iy ", and suffered to remain about twel
le four hours, when it is taken out and pla
b. upon scaffolds erected for the purpose