Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-08-13

mus suppose upon land plouyled
inches deep 200 hills OF corn be planted {.
1t The same land be plsughed eight inches
deep 1900 hills Of corn will succeed as
well as halt the number la lie first IN
stance. On land which fifteen years since,
produced but about three barrels of corn
10 the acre, aud which Was i'm progress
sive state ot deterioration. iuOw reap an
average crop, OF from SIN to eight barrels !;
aud tor the two las, years which were Ia
vorable Tor corn crops, have averaged
from eight TO ten barrels per acre. I'm the
fallOt 1917, measured field Of about 40
acres, which produced mne barrels per
acre, by allowing two measures OF ears 10
produce one of grain, but on Smelling one
measure ascpriained the average TO be
563 bushels or II barrels 10 the acre.
liiis corn grew mostly OF upland and
which had been as much DpoNer shed, as
the rest of my farm. '.he average crop
of wheat which has succeeded com, has
believe never fallen below len, and several
years IL has amounted 10 eighteen bushels
per acre.
In the cultivation of corn, IL is quite
unnecessary to commence ploughng ear
iy, when the land has been previously
well taiiowed. Indeed ] much doubt Tie
proprle'y of disturbing the iaIIoN iili the
latter part OF May; as an convinced il
na~ pernicious EFFECT. 49,. During the
month OF May, the roofs of corn are
small, and require nOurIsbment from
small part OF The soil Only. While the
general surface Is uneven from The ope-
RATION OF spring or winter pioughing, il
is secure from the effect OF severe rains
10 which al that season we are exposed,
dnd whlciI without great care are very
destructive IN miiy land. Ii Is also free
from That disposition 10 bake, which is
produced by the action OF the yum on a
smooth pulverized surface, after severe
rams; aud time is given to the vegetable
matter, embedded by the plough, To- be
decomposed, IN order 10 become food for
The growing crop thereby preventing the
iaJury and waste consequent on an early
exposure TO the rays OF the sun.-in the
mean time, however, the hoe can be en-
pioyeu to some advantage in removing
amy grow th which might impede the pro-
sreSS ot The corn crop. have never, |
believe found II necessary 10 plough corn
more than twice, instead of four or five
times as formerly /; frequently but once,
and III some instances, tie coulter and
harrow without The plough have been
amply sufficient. In every instance il Is
well that The harrow should follow the
plough, In order 10 level The lurrows left by
the plough, the tendency of which in this
hiily country is 10 collect water in rains,
auu cause washes.
In many situations, a single coulter
ilNed III stock TO work as plough, is a
most valuable implement OF husbandry
ana IN various situations, its use is much
To berecommended. Where land is rocky,
or covered with very strong sward, II is
extremely valuableto precede the plough,
rendering The subsequent process easy
and IN The cultivation of corn, where there
is hut lille grass, the soil is hard, aud il
Is necessary 10 be pulverized, ii greatly
excels the plough. BY using The coulter
instead OF The plough, and following with
the harrow. The soil is better pulverized,
at the same time, ii is saved from expo
sure 10 the powerful action OF the sun, so
destructive 10 its fertility.
There Is no Kind of manure WHICH one
rates so powerfully OIL the corn crop here
as Ks psum; II Is universally used IN this
way, and always with great advantage.
ihe corn IS rolled IN II when planted and
frequently II Is afterwards sOwu broad
cast, while The crop is growing. In the
rotation, have observed, wheat succeeds
wheat IN the cushing spring. Red clover
is by far tie hes, amelioraiing crop in
use amongst rs and under iudIelous
management, presents the greatest means
OF fertilization. Gypsum ~ as small Il
quantity as halt u bushel To the acre re-
peated every spring, acts mostpOweriully
on clover, also IS manure and without
The lormcr The latter is scarcely worth at
tentlon. From experience am conyiuc-
ed that 1t Is more profitable 10 csc gypsum
on land without sowing grass seeds, than
TO SOW clover seed without gypsum 10
tie tIrSt instance, luXurlant growth,
particularly of white clover, generally
sprung up, and IN lie last, the red clover
* scarcely worth any thing. It is diff
cult 10 ascertain IN what manner gypsum
acts 50 powerfully as manure. A friend
of mihe toll tuc, that he has remarked,
that OH land where gypsum has been used
for the FIRST time, that much more dew
appears, than on land Immediately ad :
Joining where gypsum has not been used;
and another friend remarked that few
mornings since, passing through field
OF clover, on which gypsum had not
been sOwn, there was not dew enough TO
moisten his shoes; and passing thence
into Il parcel OF corn immediately adj
joining, which had been rolled III gypsum,
when planted, that he observed many large
dew drops on every hill. These obser-
vaiIons render the opinion plausible, that
gypsum acIS as d manure by The aitrac-
ton OF water, which enters largely into
the composition OF every plant, and this
opinion is strengthened by The fact, which
have frequently observed, that gypsum
acts much more powerfully in "a dry sea
son than III awCi one. When land is well
clothed with a crop OF red clover, The
best means OF an extended scale are
presented, for improving the soil by sub.
mlllIn9 the crop to The operation Of the