Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-06-08
RICHMOND, JUNE 8.
AGRICULTURAL PAPERS-Ne. .

many examples IN tnis oper-6dnhUg age. Editor.)
A Narratire Of the course of Improvements
adopted by Dr.. William Me,iwether, on a
tiuie tarm an the county Of Amelia.
In the winter Of the year 1885,, came
IN possession fthe little farm, the subject
ct tins narrative. The tract contains 800
acres, which, when i'm a state of nature.
was of a medium quality, being neither a
poor as some adjoining, nor as rich as
others 1; aud though cornering within 100
Yards ct Flat creek, yet there is not one
square acre Of flat land together on the
tract. Ii is extremely well watered with
several little branches, which have never
been dry, since have been in possession
OF 1t. The soil is generally a light grew
one; the growth of which is pine, oak
and hickory {; rather broken than other
wise (: IL Is not a light sandy loan, but a
coarse, gritty, spungy loan, rather thin.
on substratum of coarse tenacious CLAW.
ofvarious colors, from fiery red TO a
light yellow aud even white: this CLAW is
as coarse as the s,tperstratum, and i'm some
Dlaces passes into soft rock il is very
hard 10 lie penetrated by water, which I
believe is the principal cause Of lis spun
glness, though thereare few springs. in
places, rising 10 the top of the ground
The top of the ridges has good deal of
post and black oak. The soil is such as
Is generally found on The ridges between
tide wafer and the mountains, and ia ra
Their unfriendly ia Improvement. There
was about one-half cut down, and almost
exhausted, being more CALLED than any
plantation Gifts size in the county. Some
OF the gullies were 25 feet deep. Part of
the open land was IN cultivation. uart
turned out IN pines, and several hill sides
III gullies, with the whole Of the original
soil washed off. The reason this land
was quilted so much more than the adj
joining plantations, was the great differ.
ence between the super and sub-stra-
tum; Though both were coarse, the upper
was very porous, and under much more
tenacious than any land adjoining, with
The exception Of a little. When first set
''ed on tins land, could not walk il. the
wheat field through the greater part of
The winter, without being mired. The
mode of cultivation adopted at that time
aided much in making the difference
greater, while the frowel hoes (the pioughs
IN general use at that day) scratched nm
ana rendered the surface more porous
they were unable TO break the basis. and
otcourse the surface was carried off. more
by the winter than by the summer rains.
The hrst year | settled on this land.
fllere was crop of tobacco cultivated.
which turned out tolerably well. Consid.
erlng that one half of the land w2s cut
down and exhausted, and that if cut
down more annually, and made tobacco.
that the whole land might be Gu, down,
ana the tobacco crop permitting no leis-
TIRE for Improvement, and that while WAS
opening the land for tobacco. should be
compelled TO buy corn these circnm-
stances together with others, and having
bat few laborers. (viz. only three) indn,
ced me to attempt tho cultivation of small
gram tas IL is called) alone, and fo inn
prove my land, so that il might support
s'ock sufficient for domestic use and con
sumption, OF which there was then no
prospect. The land was also as deficient
III fences as in fertility. The common
mode OF cultivation IN the neighborbood
considered as most miserable there moi
being good .foifing plough. within nv
knowledge, i'll HE county, 10 be drawn Ell
ther by one ~ two or more horses. My
profession giving me muc!, opportunity of
riding about and observing the state of
agriculture, made enquiries every where
sbou1 Improvement. could meet with
no Information to aid me consequently.
III this attempt, found that was com
pie,eiy Isolated; that every thing would
depend Oh my own cXcriion for all NV
ncigbbors considered il as iii of Madness.
found that should be compelled 10 be
cFen my own carpenter, though perfectly
unacquaIBted with the use of tools vel
under all these Instantaneous circum-
stances, L was determined 10 try the tx.
pertinent. In dong This, the first circum-
stance mat arrested my attention, was 10
ger all Inc land open, that was 10 be clear
ed. as quick as possible, reserviny between
a third and d fourth in woods, never 10 be
cleared by me, to arrange il into four
Iieids under good fences: The next. TO
deepen The staple OF the soil gradually.
taking care that al the fine of plouglIing
u ny, mat tie new soil shOuld be as much
exposed to The atmosphere aud the winter
HOSTS as possible this phenomenon be-
ing so new aud so contrary 10 all the ideas
Oh my neIghbors, they pronounced il
complete destruction of the land. In
order TO execute IlI,s business, had 10
make my OVID pInughS, and then teach
Vie lab0rers the nsa OF them. I'm The ear
~ commencement. found The obstacles
great and numerous but willing mind
WI remove almosiiI ciedibIl.tes. Al the
lime OF clearing. whether obi field or
woods, carried INV brush al l,dsi where
yer " was convenient, into the gullics,
ana The trash on the galled spots and
Mntrc TIE gullieS were not too deep, their
SIDES were cut IN, 10 cover The bru ii. and
Tended across them. In executing This
pian OF clearing, il took me six or seven
years III that time | had cleared Nh Of
plney old field and woods, upwards of
one hundred acres. which procured me
four fields, lille over fifty acres in
each, and reserved eighiy acres Of woods
round Tie outline Of The plantation
plan which have iodnd since extremely
beneficial Now ] have a ring fence
round the wboIe limo ,.,tl ,t, -. -