Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-10-04
AGRICULTURE.
From the Winchester Gazette.
THE
GREAT ERROR
AMERICAN AGRICULTURE
EXPOSED, &c.
lcoNTiNuEp.l


spring, let not the industrious improver be
discouraged, but instead OF potatoes, substi
tute some shading crop that does not require
mucn seiengtn OF sosi, such as peas, beans
or bucKwheaI | have no doubt that if the
foregoing instructions are attended to, on
ground that has ever been tolerabIe, that one
otner OF these crops may be cultivated TO
profit: This will also better prepare the ground
for the next years operations, by wnicn time
it is presumed the cuitivator will be furnished
with manure to proceed as before mentioned
In planting potatoes on hilly ground, or any
other crop set in rows, ana requiring to be
ploughed or hoed whist growing, more atten-
ton should be paid to the rows being horizon.
tai, than in straight lines, as being more ia
vorabie to derive advantage from nasty show
ers, and also to prevent washing. In most 81
tuations and soils it will be found that the clo-
yer will be much improved by the use of pias-
ter of Paris, as top dressing, and ought not
to be neglected when it can De procured.
If by these means good swarth of clover is
produced, consider the land as reclaimed
for know of no better preparation for crop
of wheat, than clover lay well turned, after
being moved two years the wheat sown Oh
the ploughing and narrowed in.
Lands once reclaimed by these means, will
by a similar course of management, that is
BY deep cuitiOation, zceH chosen rotation
and snanuring as often as practicable be kept
in fine filth with much Tess labour than in the
present mode May we not then expect by a
proper attention to these interesting considera-
tons, great improvements in the cultivation
of Indian corn, tobacco, potatoes, peas, beans,
Sc ? We have found by experience, that these
crops particularly, require the soil to be kept
open and clear OF weeds during their growth
in order to effect these purposes the common
practice with respect to corn is, to plough ire
uuently, three or four inches deep, until abou,
the time of tasseling or blossoming; in addi-
ton to which, many hill several times, and
nearly all once at least: The other crops are
mostly ploughed, and almost universally killed.
Rnt provided we can attain these ends (viz.
the destruction of weeds, and an open soiD by
other means, are those practices rational? Any
one who will be at the pains to search, may
easily discover. that the roots of corn soon ex-
tend themselves considerable distance from
the hill; by the time the top is knee high the
roots are extended nearly from row to row (if
not too frequently cut off by the plough) though
so small as to be scarcely visible
Is there any good reason to suppose, that
nature requires those numerous organs, pre-
pared for the express purpose of supplying the
rising plant with sufficient nourishment, to be
SO frequently mutiIated as must always happen
in ploughing thereby not only depriving the
plant Of that quantum Of supply contained in
The amputated vessels, but also of all future
supplies by the same sources
True it is, that above ground we frequently
find it necessary, apparently tooppose the ope-
rations of nature in some measure, in order to
bring her to act more consistently with our
views. For instance fruit trees, and many
kinds of plants that bear their fruit upwards,
often project SO many branches and suckers,
that Notwithstanding the fruit may be thereby
INCREASED in number. yet we lind 1T necessary
to lop off part, in order that the whole of the.
nutriment may be applied to the remainder
improving the quality, and frequently en-
creasing the quantity thereby, But, that it is
necessary to diminish the roots that supply the
nutriment, I believe has never been proved by
any experiment.
Yet nevertheless, we constantly see the good
effects of frequent ploughings the reason is
obvious in the common mode the ground be-
comes too solid in few weeks sometimes in
a few DAYS, for the roots to penetrate, and
therefore it is better for the plant, when all its
vessels of supply are enlarged, to part with
one half if thereby admittance is obtained
for the other half to act freely. So that it
NAV be fairly said, in the culture of Indian
corn. of t1ro evils, we choose the least The
important questions, how shall we avoid both
MAY not answer, by attending to the fore
going instructions?
A suitable rotation, and the necessary pre-
paration of the ground before planting, will SO
far clear it of weeds, that one or two plough
ings and as many harrowings afterwards, will
complete that business; all which may be done
by the middle of the sixth month, without ma
terial injury to the roots, as the corn at that