Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-06-16


roots, caused by the frequent ploughinps
necessary TO keep under the quick grow
rug aunuals infesting thin land. The
wheat also following corn planted on a pc.
rennial grass lay Is cleaner; for although
tile perennial grass seeds will often sprout
IN the spring, and although they ough,
universally TO be sown with or upon the
wheat, yet providential aptitude tor the
benefits they bestow, is discernible in
their slow growth until the wheat crop is
perfected; whereas the annuals often grow
IA rapidly as the wheat itself. There are
many weighty items of profit belonging
TO the labor-saving article, by the culture
Ofperennial grasses. BY diminishing ara
BILE space, whilst the crop is increased,
the diminished space consumes less labor.
From division OF the objects of labor, "a
succession of emplOyments ensues, ena-
bling a farmer to prevent either from suf-
fering by the want Of cultivation i'm due
season. For insianCe--a fall crop of corn
aud wheat, or crop equal to the whole
labor on farm, is the consequence Of
comparing labor with space and great
demand OF both crops for labor at the
same period. especially il aggravated by
unpropitous weather, generally produces
some neglect, and often considerable
loss. BY diminishing space, not onlv
without diminishing, but actually increas-
ing produce, these crops will be more ma
nageable by the labor, and receive bet
ter cultivation. And the time saved by
Tins diminutloD of space is moreover pro-
htabiy employed early in the spring, i'm
applying manure and sowing grass seeds
previously 10 the " heat harvest, in making
hay; autumn, i'll ditching, draining, fem
eng d stubbiDg;and at all times in vari-
ely OF less important, but improving occu-
Pations. Thus the losses accruinp both
from surplus of labor at one season, and
from It's deficiency at another, are avoided.
Some labor is saved by the effect of the
roots and tops of perennial grasses, TO
keep the ground loose and friable: and
much, after it is thrown into high ridges
of five and an half feet width, because
when the ridges are reversed, very deep
ploughing is more easily practicable, by
turning the earth back into the burrows
without working at all on the space these
burrows occupy. BY the frability of tue
ground, resulting from great quantity of
vegetable hbres, we are also secured
against its baking, and save the labor ne
cessafy In that event, for crumbling or re-
ducing II againinto proper state for We
& talion. Naked ground possesses neither
IL
The deep plOugling necessary for forming
proper ridges, and it is liable both to wasI,
and bake from heavy rains, so as to re.
quire much severe labor, again to level
and pulverize it, highly prejudicial to the
crop.
s.. But the greatest benefit from the
cultivation ofartiticial grasses, arises from
their exclusive capacity TO make highland
meadows. Some grasses are so well d.
dapted Tor high, dry and billy land, if The
soil Is improVable, that it may very often
be made more valuable and more produc-
live than low land meadows. The ex-
pence OF clearing and draining The latter.
will generally exceed that of manurino
the former yet draining is considered
every where as highly profitable and use
ful. The comparative expence between
that and making high land grass, is not
materially affected by the probable COM
parailve protlt. A good spring crop Of
high land grass ~ more common in our
ciiinate, than Oflow land. fl is not ex-
posed to inundation. A pound of high
land grass, green or dry, generally con-
fains as much nutriment as two of low
iaud. 1T is more easily made into good
hay. And high land grasses possess the
great exclusive value of enriching the
high and dry lands on which they are
so"n. These considerations disclose i
temsof Proht, resulting from the culture
ct artificial grasses, which, when united.
warrant the conclusion, that it is capable
of rendering great proportion of our
high, dry, and billy lands as valuable as
reclaimed meadow land.
Its next to he considered WHIT grasses
are best adapted to the soil and climate
ot Virginia, and consequently most wor-
Thy OF selection. The merit Of red clover
a' an improving high land gyass, is too
we'll established TO require proof. Its de-
iecTs are, that 1T Is speedily destroyed by
grazing; bearing, however, that of hogs
The longest That In our warm and dry
summers, IT soon perishes without being
grazed, especially Oh sandy soils-Phat
II IS difficult TO be made into bay-And
that Its hay can only be preserved by par
tIculsr exertions. 1t stands however bi-
therto unri,alIed in lis capacity to enrich
the ground, ifleft uncut to be turned in
by the plough. Timothy, in The lower
parts oi The state, especially If grazed, is
also liable TO an early death TO be eaten
out by bFoomsiTaw; 10 have itsleaves burnt
and dried by the sun before il is Mt 10
cut; and 10 ripen so late as to iucommode
the wheat harvest, without possessing
fhe quality Of waiting long for the scythe.
In the section OF Virginia below the noun
fains, it must also be assigned to the class
OF low land grasses. The red top. or
herds grass, as ii is indiscriminately call
ed, IS superior to timothy in many re-
spects. Ii lasts longer; il bears grazing
better; It's leaves are not so liable 10 be
snn-burnt; itresists invaders much more
poweriully-Sown, mixed with timothy il
eats out the latter in two or three years:
And although, il ripens about the same
time, II waits longer for the scythe, with
ont sustaining any considerable irinr,,