Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-01-28

too apparent: let US suppose the farm
divided inta four fields of 1875 acres each
The first objection 10 this division is, tina
by far too large a-propnrtiun of tbe farm
will be devoted Ia the culture of corn
: The second, that too much labor viii be
required the third, that no ground vii
be left for tallow. The last objection
annually three fields out Of four, and MAX
ing the crop of corn intervene between
the i"o small grain crops; bu, few farms
could sustain so impoverisl,ing course,
aud the rapid deterioration of the soil
would soon prove This rotation Ia be as
improvdeni as the old system al three
fields. The only advantage which this
division enjoys over others remaining To
be considered is, that il requires less
cross fencing but as every one knows
that land spasiurcd by all kinds of stock,
with the greatest benefit 10 themselves
and the least injury Ia the soil, when they
can be frequently shifted from one field
TO another, 10 farmer will be disposed TO
forego this advantage, and have recourse
al the same time 10 an exhausiing course
Of crops, for the sake Of economy in
f,ncing. On the contrary, If he should
find, by Increasing the number of his
fields. that he will at once improve his re-
4nanliiy OF the most valuable grain, he
VIII spare neither trouble nor expense in
the collection Of materials Tor that pur-
pose. In this section of the country, a
practice prevails very generally among
the farmers who have made sufficient
progress in the Improvement of their
lands. OF purchasing in the summer or fall
q! every wear, poor cattle, which az dr
ven from the western and north western
sections at this stale. or from the adj DIN
ing states; keeping them during the VIII
Ter upon the olia! Of the grain crops, with
the occasional use of hay faitening them
upon grass IN the ensuing sum mer, and
selling Them tn tue butchers, who come
from The sea port towns 10 purchase them.
This trade, il il may be so called, has
heretofore been gainful one, and beneii-
ciai io,ke community at large. Itenables
The SraZler 20 Turn 10 good account the
grass and hay with which his farm "a
bounds 10 manure his fields extensively
aEd at the same time To prepare them in
the best manner for the plough. This
iasi advantage cannot be properly esti-
mated by any but those who have at
tempted 10 turn in ii heavy crop of clover
amt blue grass with small adrnixiure Of
weeds, as preparation for crop of
wheat. No crop, perhaps, depends more
Tor It's success, upon nicely of cultivation;
and The ground cannot be properly pre-
pared unless those distractions be rcmov-
ed by grazing or by moving; of which
The former is by tar the more convenient
aud profitable mode.
Suppose, in The next place, the far m TO
be divided into five fields of one hundred
acres each. There are two rotations suit
td 10 his DIVISION, which, suppose the
same quantity of ground allotted 10 corn,
and The same quantity tn wheat, i'll each
but the arrang, meni of The crops is diff
icreni. The FIRST is as follows:
lst. corn 2.i. wheat; 81. clover; 4th.
wheat 9th. clover. The second, which is
generally adopted i'll TINS part OF The
country, is tins:
LIST. wheat I'd. corn Sd. wheat 4iIl.
clover; 5ih. clover.-The latter mode is
preferred because the corn is planted up
on stubbe ground: which is allowed 10
be greal advantage, although by no
means peculiar 10 this system. Both
courses are esteemed, because corn oc-
ours sufficiently often to clean the land
without impoverlshng il; and either may
be adopted where circumstances render
the cultivation In corn OF so large por.
ton OF tie land, as one fifth, necessary
or profitable but where these circuni-
stances do not exist, the farm NAV GER
tainy be cultivated VITA less labor, par
ticulariy manual labor, and greater profit
10 the proprietor, ttIe quantity of ground
devoted 10 corn be diminished, and that
allotted 10 falloW proporiiona!iy encreas-
cd-Wiih tive fields such a change can
moi take place, for one or the other of the
above courses must be adopted ; unless
indeed only a part of field should be
cultivated in corn al time, in which
case very long period must elapse before
the other part wouli come into corn
and thus one of the principal advantages
ascribed to the five field system would be
LOST.
Let our farm be now supposed 10 be
divided into six fields of eighiy-lliree and
third acres each, and greater variety
IN the mode of cuiiivaiion presents itself.
j shall notice but two rotations. The
first, which is generally recommended, is
The following:
LIST. corn I; 3D. wheat; 81. clover; 4th.
clover; 9TH wheat 9th. clover. One adj
vantage which The six field system is
thought 10 possess over all Others is that
il furnishes the best period for the r, Urn
OF the corn crop, so far a. the proper
cleansing Of the land is considered but
according 10 my experience, one sixth
part of the land is more than enough for
corn, and entirely too little for fallow.-
The above course is faulty in this resp eci,
that the corn is not planted OIL stubbe
ground an error which may be correct
ed ~ The following manner
lsi. wheat; I'll. corn; Sd. wheat 4ih.
clover; 9TH. clover 9th clover-Bul this
course is liable to another objection, that
the ground lies too long in clover at
time. and bv this means must become full
OF troublesome weeds, and. present seri.
nue ir1ne uitucnfS Tn tho ,,lo,,rL a. -, H.