Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-05-23

J.
pIoughing in the months of May IL June,
or (if the force be adequate) in the latter
month altogether, with the bar-sheer, and
make IT Il common for the admission of
sheep and black cattle, till seeding time,
to the end that 1t be kept perfectly free
from grass, briars, &C.; cross it with a
thoroughbred ploughing the last of July,
or as early I'm August as may be; then liar-
row and commence seeding with rye from
three pecks TO bushel " acre-endea-
vouring to finish the crop i'm August, or
early in September. If ability permits, a
bushel of plaster " acre at the time of
seeding, or shortly afterwards, would be
highly advisable, and like quantity the
following Spring. Thirty or forty bush
els of ashes, or lime, sown over the
acre anterior to seeding time, would
prove exceedingly beneficial. On this
first f;illow-crop of rye, commence in
March, by sowing clover-seed, at the rate
of "a busliel over ten or twelve acres. If
produce any thing like luxuriant crop
OF clover, the farmer may rest satisfied lie
has gained his point and the third year
following, If no blue grass be intermixed
with the clover, may delay breaking his
field till September; then give il Il good
ploughing with three or four horses TO
the bar sheer, harrow perfectly smooth,
and sow with wheat, (say purple straw
one and half bushe1 " acre, from the
25th of September till the 10th of Octo-
Der, and harrow neatly on the seed
then SOW plaster in Autumn and Spring,
and you may set the fly at defiance. If
my courteous reader shall say, ! cannot do
without certain quantity of corn TO sub
slstmv slaves and animals, beg and en-
frn.a hin, 10
possibly Il proper proportion of his force,
make sale OF Tor give away all his super
fuous animals, horses In particular, and
commence the system here proposed to-
day, else he must ever continue III re-
trogade motion and merit gears man.
The writer of these remarks has tested
the efficacy and fortunate tendency OF
this system ofculture these twenty years,
and from his own progress and experience,
would moi be afraid TO put in jeopardy
his estate, reputation and life, if this sys-
tenn should prove abortive, after pro-
per and fair trial. To render it still more
complete, would recommend, in the
most urgent and forcible manner, strict
adherence TO the iDImitable advice of
Poor Richard, alias our illustrious coun-
trymaD, DIR. FRANKLIN. No man can
farm TO advantage, who is overwhelmed
by debt, as every exertion and fresh eff
fort TO extricate himself, in the general,
adds to his difficulties.
To close this communication with the
generalremarks not embraced in the fore
going queries, the changing seasons pre-
sent themselves for consideration. The
times have changed, and the agricultu-
ralist must change with them-Dr. Frank
lin stated, that during period of forty
years observation, he found the Winters
moderating and the Summers becoming
cooler and drier and this progression he
attributed to the advancing settlement of
the country, and effects of the axe and
plough. Moisture and heat being the
main pabulum for Indian corn, the plant
er must perceive most clearly that the
cultivation of it must be more and more
circumscfibed, till it be almost aban-
doned. If DIR. Franklin be correct, the
same cause being stiilin rapid progressi-
on, We must look for and certainly calcu-
late on still cooler and drier Summers
than heretofore; therefore, a rapid change
in the system of farming is imperiously
incumbent-Wheat, rye, barley, speIts 81
cloverwill carry us safely on TO the re-
hottest period of time. The number of
horses in Virginia is another most serious
and sore evil; they eat up the bread de
signed for man--Every supertluous horse
ought to be dispensed with and the ag-
gregate number is tremendously at
least an hundred thousand i'm the State,
consuming at least three millions OF bush
els of corn and rye, and an immensely of
oats and hay. To bring about this truly
interesting and important change, Legis-
latiye assistance is wanting because, in
consequence of the wretched state of
our highways, and the neglect of having
our fine streams made perfectly navigable,
an host of those animals are kept exclu-
siyely for waggOning.
There are two extremes in the popula-
ton of countryside few, or too many.
The same immortal philosopher above re-
ferred TO says, that these United States
compose the only portion of the habita-
BILE world, whose population have been ex-
empted in the general from the heart-ap-
palling effects of famine and the strong
presumption is, many years have yet to
roll away, before teeming population
can threaten TO bring about this fatal G.
vent.-Nothing but our extensive and fer
tile Western outlet could prevent the APP
proach of this dreadful scourge in East
ern America, under the present mode of
cultnre.-The dust of those unfortu-
mates, who first attempted permanent
settlement in Virginia, reposes under the
sod in the environs of Richmond-wlio
breathed their last in state of absolute
starvation. /, therefore, entreat my coun-
trymen aud fellows griculturaists, TO a.
void the cultivation of cornand tobacco |
as they would the most deadly and dread |
ed enemy to all their hopes and future
For entire satisfaction and conclusive |
information on each Of the foregoing que
ries, refer to a strict examination of the |
systemp pursued by the farmers in Freder-