Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-07-02
Papers communicated to the agricultural
Society Of Virginia, and Published by Tie
Committee If Correspondence.
SKETCHES ON AGRICULTURE.

ohE1SfiES ON
Attic request ofthe Agricultural Society
OF Virginia, expressed earnestly, ia tie
address OF their worthy president, thai
men OF different sections of the country
would freely come forward, with written
communications, on whatever may pro-
mote the agricultural interest of our
state +; The following pages are presented.
For a number Of years tie writer has
paid particular attention 10 publications,
on agriculture, husbandry. herds, &c.
&c. aud has made Anew experiments, and
is now pursuing course OF them, TO as
certain what may be The best e neral plan,
for HE farmers of the Valley, and places
OF similar soil and climate: That is, for
country, whose soil Is eravelly CLAW
ground some places stony and some
rocky lime stone billy in most places,
with some drafts and flats of meadow
laud and Astounding with springs and
small streams: whose forests abound with
oak of all kinds, chesnut, hickory, pop
lar and some walnut.
By reading the accounts Of other Dia-
ces by observation and by experience,
he is led 10 believe, That most farmers
lin the Valley, above tie Blue Ridge,
aud adjacent country have annually ex-
pended much time aud labour for lille
grain whilst with better contrivauce, and
we'll directed efforts, they might have
raised themselves TO eminence and in
many instances, 10 aiiinence.
As most fthc lamdbolders in the Val
lev, as well as the writer Of these pages,
have but small tracts, and small force, he
will nearly contine himself 10 plan,
which in his opinion, is most proper for
such. And, therefore, begins with sup
ans ri liz nE .,l.nnt pnn
acres OF the cultivated, say there are
three fields, each 10 acres, designed for
rotatory crops ihe remainder, is kept
for pasture ground, orchards, grass lois,
garden, house aud barn yards, aud loI
| lanes or roads. Rrserviug always plenty
OF forest for fencing, building, and fire.
| wood.
SECT. I. Of Rotatory Cropsand IWaSe.
The rotation Which The writer llS;, been
pursuing, and with encouraging success
| for three years on illrec ficldY, has been
first corn, next wheat, and lastly red clio
yer and oats, in the following manner:
As soon as hecau IN the falIand through
the winter, aud i. mol finished then, earl,
! III the spring, be breaks up lis field de
! signed for cO'u, with bar share plough
| drawn by tj'Tee horses ;plOuglIiDg as deer
Is lie cay, and turning the sod we'll over
| In the iUrrOw, close behind, follows
sirOgg horse, or OK, drawing a mattocl
piOagh, or Us some call II, a COW tongue
whieb leaves the iurrOw nearly lul q
J crude looseHcd earth, The first year; or
which, ihe nest course round, the ba
share lays It's load OF inverted soil ant
heritage. This manner oiplOughiug leave
mass Of loosened earth, twelve or four
ieen inchrs deep, over The whole field
In this way the writer has prepared hi
corn ground the last two crops.
In tie last of April, he prepares 10
planning, 10y listing the field about tv
feet apart both ways, running one dee
iurrow and by throwing on the pOore
spots into each hill shovel of nanur
from his barn yard, or any other plac
whence IT may be brought. II time tail
him, lie plants first, and il;en throws ih
manure on, or near the curunli; wlic
, way succeeds well. lie rolls The seed
plaster ct paris, when planting, au
+ thinks il profitable To dress tie bills
corn Wien damp, With plaster abui
he timc rbe com is six inches bi2h.-
I l he crop must be kept cIeai Of Weeds n.
! lie s0u loose Throughout Ne seasuI..