Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-10-04

time is seldom more than i footin height. II
these ploughngs are of the depth before men
toned, there viii not be the least danger of
the soil becoming compact for few weeks,
until the growth is SO much INCREASED, as al
most completely to shadeit; after which it will
need no ploughing 70 keepit open. This eff
feet will generally take place in. this state a
bout the middle of the seventh month"; for it
is to be remembered that in this mode Ii NAV
be planted much closer than in the common
way the number of plants not being estimat-
cd SO much from the surface as from the quan.
tum of soil employed, as before limited for
instance, If one plant requires yard SQUARE
of soil, of three and half inches depth, the
same surface will be more certain to bring 10
perfection two plants, when worked seven incb-
es deep; experience having proved. that Is
some particular rich deep soils, corn win adj
NIT OF being planted four times closer than is
usual, without suffering from a want Of air.
Thus 1t Is probable, nay experience has AREA
dy reduced it to certainty, that half the
ptoughsngs usually given to corn may be
made to produce double the quantity on the
same ground: What an immense saving az
labour What an immense saving of land
Much of what has been said with respect to
corn will apply to the other crops; but an
they are more generally hlIed, / am willing
to express sentiment on that practice in ge.
neral
1t has long been matter of doubt with me.
whether any kind Of crop we cultivate re.
quires this mode of tillage, except it be on
low grounds, merely to avoid too much wet.
and the greater opportunity ! have had Of
making observations, to ascertain the fact. the
more have been confirmed in the sentiment.
believe it will always be found that nature
disposes plants to make the best of their situa-
ton; to project their roots at such distances
| from the surface, and in such directions as ara
| best calculated to extract their food from the
surrounding soil; is it not then reasonable to
suppose, that in removing the earth from the
ertremities of the roots, and heaping it about
the body of the plant, we more or less de-
4 range the economy of nature? and instead
of aiding we involve her in difficulties not to
be surmounted, but at the expense Of part OF
her UitaB secrsti0ns.
have examined the vines and roots of no.
tatoes that have been much billed, which
plainly showed, that no less than three differ.
ent sets of roots had been projected at as ma.
NY different times, designed by nature to bear
the fruit the first and second having bulbs az
large as peas or goosberries the third and
nearest the surface bearing the burden of the
fruit: These last springing from part Of the
vine that must have been above the surface
before the first killing.
/ For notwithstanding the fbrous roots ex-
tend as deep as the fine open soil, the potatoes
incline to lie about four or five inches from
the surface. The shape Of the hills or ridges.
are also unfavorable to the retention of mois-
ture. have frequently seen potatoes dug
that have been MANFRED in the roots and seve-
raj times hilled, which appeared to have derive
ed very little advantage from the manure.
which has been turned out dry, and nearly in
the same crude state in which it was applied.
not having received moisture sufficient for the
purpose Differentiation. The best potatoes
ever had, were produced with scarce any hill
| ing, the ground being kept open BY other
| MEANS the same thing have known to hap
| pen in the practice of others.
Having mentioned that within certain limits.
exhausted lands may be reclaimed at half the
expense that new lands are cleared, and also
| the quantity Of manure that apprchend ne
cessary for the purpose it may perhaps be ex-
pected, that should say by what means such
quantity is to be collected, and also point
out the favorable rotations before alluded to.
ITO be continuedI
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