Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-09-20
Whole No. 642.

4 deeper
| than usual, would very likely choose to do IL
formed soon sfter which the crop is to be
planted or sowed, which proves the worse for
the experiment. and the planter is disguised
with the practice: he informs his neighbours
of the i'll success of his experiments and
perhaps, whole neighbourhood is thereby n
fresh confirmed in their former belief that the
good old way is best--to plough as deep as
| they find black soil, and nc deeper
Ploughing land that contains a considerable
portion of clay, in a state too scet TO break.
as the furrow leaves the plolgh, is thereby,
rendered more compact anc when hardened
by the sun, becomes entirely .intitied for the
production OF vegetables and is scarcely to
be reduced by any succeeding tilase during
the same summer; indeed, believe nothing
short of triater' frost will eisectually nut
veri1e it,, The best devised system of prac-
tioe may be rendered entirely abortive, by
being put into the hands of unskilfu practi.
TONERS to execute.
Lands that are to be ploughcd much deeper
than usual, ought to be broke up III tho fall;
and would be the better to be ridscd. that
more surface might be exposed to thef frost:
If omitted till spring, it ought to be done as
soon as it becomes dry enough to break freely
that season, that requires to be seeded before
it can have several ploughings and harrow
ings at proper intervals otherwise, the cx-
pectation of the cultivator will probably be
blasted.
If, notwithstanding what has been advanc-
ed, should be called upon for proofs should
be told that the evils complained of on one
hand, are, in great measure, idle and that
the advantages proposed on the other, are
theoretical, and remain to be confirmed by
practice.
With respect to the first, 1t would, perhaps.
only be necessary to say--what further proofs
need we, to convince US that the practice of
agriculture, particularly in the southern states.
is miserably defective, than the deserted old
fields that so frequently present their disgust
ing surfaces from Susquehanna to Georgia
Some years ago | was of opinion, that this
speedy reduction Of soil, was altogether occa-
stoned by the nature of the crops cultivated
thereon but, on attending more accurately
to the subject, | am of different og,inion.
and believe as | have already said--it il
more from the manner Of cultiUation than
from the exhausted properties of the crops:
of this, one thing has tended to convince me
have observed, that when an Industrious
person, from another state or country, where
on the exhausted lands, that they frequently
improve for some years; although the same
crops, or those equally as eahaustihg are
cultivated , and, instances | have known, Of
some of these old fields, becoming very pro-
ductive without manure.
Almost every summer furnished abundant
proofs of the great disadvantage of the prac-
tice of shdlgoso ploughing to both summer
and winter crops; if we were but disposed to
open our eyes and look for them. A very Gu
rious one lately happened on my own farm.
A field was sowed with wheat bya tenant.
the ploughing from three to four inches; q
deep hollow extended across part of the field.
in a direction nearly east and west the side
exposed to the north tolerably good the south
exposure very rich; as might be expected.
the wheat on The strongest soil made the most
promising appearance in the fall, and also for
some time in the spring in the early part of
which clover seed was sown on the whole.
which came up well a drought came on late
in the spring; the south exposure drying
first, the wheat soon showed the effects Of it:
and, the drought continuing, a considerable
part entirely persisted; the north exposure al
80 suffered, but being more shielded from the
action of the hot sun, was not SO effectually
dried. At harvest it was much the best wheat.
notwithstanding the superior richness of the
soil on the other side A still greater diffe-
renee appeared in the young clover; on the
south hill side it was almost entirely killed,
on the other very little injured
have had some experience of the bcne-
fetal effects to be derived from deep plough
ing but the Instructions in the most of my
fields particularly large stones just below the
surface) have prevented my adopting tho
practice SO fully as | could wish yet the sue
cess that has always attended my experiments,
in conjunction with my observations on the
practice of others, has been conclusive evi.
dence to my mind.
IN the year 1895, ! took possession of my
present farm, and had field ploughed for
wheat which had been thought for several