Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-07-03

would be greatly accelerated by having 4 iew
branches in different parts of the state, from
the principal agency in the metropolis, and in
even current with the accelerated impulse
which the whole would give to raising aItifcial
grasses, ii aided by corresponding exertions TO
make manure by all means in our power, would
How comfort and peace, followed BY degree
or wealth ana pecuniary Independence, not at
this time or lately known by the generality OF
our farmers. The necessity of "a general and
strenuous effort to improveour lands, is ielt by
all. Ii must be done, or the incr easing emi.r;l-
zion FROM the middle parts OF the state mM pro
duce the melancholy drpopmlation so trdiy de-
sciibed aud feelingly deplored by Mr. Garrett,
III his late communication to the Agricultural
Society of Virginia.
La the day of agricultural Improvement do
not think that horticultural comfort should be
overlooked and as almost every nei-hbor-
mood, anu even individual, have some peculiar
modes Tor taisin. vegetables, n publication of
such rs have proved better than The common
practice. think, is rightfully due to the pub.
nc. 10 Threw IN my mite towards improving
the present. and forming a better system, 1
VIII mention two instances, wherein vary
from the common practicc-I now from
small spot Of poor ground. raise the greatest
proiuslon OF melons, whereas, until lately. l
couiu not make sutticcncv on four or five
times Tue space of rich land. 1 dig holes ten
feet apart each way tor watermelons, and a.
pout SIX feettor mu>kmelons-for the first two
rect deep and square, for the last is inches
deep, and about the same over. The roots run
Dut short distance in horizontal direction
but striking deep into the earth, they ar, So,
cure from the effects of drought, aud b. filling
the holes nall full ofmanure and finishing then,
10 lew inches above the surface with a mix
ture OF manure aud SOIL or what is better with
compost, formed from the accumulated de.
composition ofvegeta lie aud other substances
commonly 10 be met with around ont l,ouses
ana pig pens, a deptl, of soil of sucI, fine and
iisht tiith is formed az topreveut any probabili
II
not attempted TO raise pumpkins i'm thix ,y,y
but fecl no doubt but that il would answer for
all kinds OF vines, quite as well as for ,.Ioss
itiS frequently difficult to procure the seed
y, yer! Yauao'e e'cnient root, (the SWEET
PoTATo.) It's hard TO keep the m throurh ihe
winter, IN consequence OF which they are al
ways GEAR ana some times scarce in the spriup
que DnShei may be made 10 plant ms many hills
as .nfee OF iour, simply by pulling OIL about this
time OF year, or sooner, a part of the slins or
sprouts from the potato sets first planted and
udnSpiantng them into other hills from no
10 Zosprouts frequently spring from one pstatn
d,l out three OF four may be pulled of, and
~ tno !; or three IN hill, without injury
W .he uts', ana produce nearly or quite as large
Poratoes as those first planted. The common
uiuue oi raising seed has been to cut of nor
,loA o, the vine. when is or 20 inches long and
IVY Tue greater part III the earth BIZ this.
S"iah ioots that may answer FOR seed are Dro.
ouceh, but as there are always plenty of small
ones FOR TINS purpose in the hills first made
the other way must certainly be best. inasmncb
as me sips are more certain TO live, NAV be
p aeu Oh rom the potato set when onlv an
inch or two long, and even then have m,nx
s S roots to each spront, destined to pro-
duce the future crop.
nave extended this communication mucb
beyond my first calculation. and probably far.
Their than you, Mr.. Editor. NAV wish 10 5ri,t
or your Subscribers, generally. to read. Yet
as II Is my rist. and will in all pI obabitv be mn
iast attempt in this way. / hope thai Won and
.nes VIII overlook its defects ; and as it may
possibly (at this tine, when the snbi.ct Of r.
seems an uncommon degree TO bear on Tho
minds OF all, be of some little service TO some
OF yo"r country subscribers suffer it TO take
~ enance' ara pass on TO the oblivion TO Which
1t Us destined. In the preseut dearth of nov
when the Editors of orr newspapers are fire..
quentiy clad ofamostanv thing, nv well meant
endeavor maypOssibly be ranked AT least with
:. me nluI'ipiiea accounts we so often receive of
" MORE SEA sERPENTs"
Yours, &c. AGRICJITOR