Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-07-20
To " iison {. Nicholas, Fsp. sc.
AmeHa, Ilav !, I

To wilson {. Nicholas Fsu. sc.
Amelia, Eay !, 1910.
GENrLEMEN- incompetence " i,nynur
request, take pleasure IN communicating
such information as The resolution OF our
society, enclosed Ia me, calls for, aud as
nv limited acquaintance and observation
will enable me.
The state of agriculture in the district
in which reside, lrom its iunu,nerahle
defects, has a. strong CLAIMS to the and
and attention ot our society, as any sec
INN ~ the stat. Ii is as Vet in its inian
cy. er ! should better say In all the Tau
g,ur and exhaustion of old age. Called
r. lis interSpersed with broomstraw aud
s,vntrd p'-eI, are every where To hc seen.
nariiculariv IN this county. None, ar
srnr 81, any of those appearances su
pleasing in well cultivated countries. OK
j., here No meadows, no luxnriant
fields "f clover, no rich crops OF grain, no
LARGE and fat cattle, aud indeed nothing
tina, INDICATES good husbandry. On the
g ,,,irary, the crops are small, the pastures
bare, tie cattle lean AM dinuuiive, anne
li,raiing crops scarcely known, and even
ni,nure bui illy appreciated. Add Ia which
the spirit of Improvement, though consi.
derablv augmented at late. ~ wholly ina
dtquate To the task Of amending materi-
sllv our condition, unless with the aid of
state of husbandry YOU will readi, per-
crive nothing ediiying 10 others can be
CLEANED bui omr object being To obtain 1
rempdv for our SsD agricultural defects,
i hiil attempt 10 point them out whilst
answer the questions prcpounded by tho
r. solution.
The soil of tie county OF Amelia, (vi,h
which alone am we'll acquaiutrd) origi
nally of good quality, is very varlous.-
frequently on an extent of four or five
hundr al acres, soil of every quality con
taiued in the middle part at Virginia may
be- found. But in The main. II is divided
iulo stiff red clay, native growth. OAK,
hickory &c.-and lgni, free, gravelly,
sandy land. growth pine, dc. Nv tarm
and those in my nelghbourhooi, are of
tie first character, and may he described
by the following qualities. Ii is hard,
still aud ditHruli ip piough-!iable 10 gall
and 10 be CALLED when exhausted, has
no self restoring power; when rich very
retentive of its fertility spews much
in frosts, and bakrs hard in droug hts not
vrrv much benefited bv plaster, and
lastly, when rich by manure, or fresh,
will produce fine crops of clover and
wheat.
You will AT once see extraordinary
eXerllons AMI skill are required 10 render
lands of the above description, and ia the
state ours nov are, fertile. Yet scarcely
tue rudIments OF agriculture are attained
among rs (; IN the first and most impoctau,
drsIderaiiIm-viZ. a proper rotation, we
are wofuiiS deficient. Most of US, who
follow any system at all, siill aih.'ring TO
three fields. Some few nov adopting tour.
amt a grral number cullivatlOS their Ian Is
alternately in wheat and coru. i'he
succession in which crops are cultivated
l. invariably corn, wheat, and pdSiur" III
thr three field rotation. Seldom aiding
the field out OF cultivation with an amriI
Grating crop, and generally devoIIng ali
the manure made IN two lots for tobacco
and wheat alternately. There is but lIri
iani fal owed for wheat. The crops are
consequently SNAIL both as TO quantity
seeded, and as To The produce per acre.
The same succession is observed IN the
f9pr field SySten viz. corn, wheat and
clover, or shop more properly say for
clover weeds still admitting no ia!low
fer wheat. THIS last being in aliits parts
The rotation recommended 10y Ara or
Wheat aud tobacco are the uul crops
raised Tor market corn and OATS tor
plantation consumption. The average
produce per acre Of these crops | am led
I, believe hy such nturnaliOn as | can
collect, and my Own observation, does
not exceed, of wheat SIX bushels, corn
two and half TO three barrels, aud If
OATS from eight to ten bushels. | am an
able TO say What quantity of tobacco Is
grown 10 the acre moi 'uli, aiIIS ~ NY
self, but am told not more Than 700
weight.
am aware many farmers greatly over
go the above estimate but they ar -
he considered "a exceptions, either on
&C 'nuBt of The superiority of ii'eir lands
or better li'ld q corn Is sometimes sold
III particular section. OF tbiS county, but
IL generally finds market within tie
county, thor being as much made AS
will meet The demand, and moi more
This ~ true lIkewis' III regard TO pork
and beef OF the first oi winch not more
is consumed IN The county Than raised
there; though or at deal more might
and ought to he used IN feeding our labor
ers. This negligen e is al EVIL not COZ
lined 10 our section OF lhr state, ami -
onp TO correct which the efforts at the
society ought TO be directed. am III
formed IL is not unusual III many parts OF
New YOIk 10 see a large Ten OF iatled
hogs average 400 weight nett. II such
I've the fact, they must he possessed oI Il
breed, ora me,hod of raising them, vastly
superior To ours Of either vi which ihe
society might inform themselves, and
communicate for the benefit Of IL. | an
satisfied il is impoliic 10 depend oil
supplies OF this necessat, OF life f.. NJ ,iI.
western country. | have often heard
horse would moi thrive on bought corn
and il is equally true . iab0rrT vii not OF
bought pork and far Me sure reasoa. u
Is needless 10 point out The economy y.
we'll as humanity of providing good an
sufficient food oT-our labOIers. II is 81
obvious to al thai THINK arr plan tot