Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-06-13
From the Plough Boy.
FLEMISH HUsBANDRY.

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farmer never considers bis work half done
until his fields are completely freed from
weeds. This is effected in great meas
ure, by repeated digging, by which the
upper stratum, that contains the seeds and
roots of uoxious plants, is buried suffi-
ciently deep into the ground TO prevent
their negotiating. When weeds do appear,
they are Immediately extricated either by
the harrow before the grain is sown, or
afterwards by careful and repeated hand
hoeings. This they find the more neces-
sary to rid the earth of parasite plants, the
seeds of which are mixed with the seeds
OF culinary vegetables, and produce plants
that feed on the juices Of the dung, TO the
great injury Of the legitimate stock. A
Flemish farm, in consequence of these
attentions, resembles more highly cult
waited garden, than many places which
bear that name. When / first beheld
these fields, l supposed them actually to
be gardens, and was only andeceived
when farther observation and inquiry con
vinced me, that the whole country was
cultivated 10 a similar manner, and pre-
sented the same delightful scene.
Choice Of Sseds.--It is an invariable
practice in Flanders, never TO use for seed
1.-THE grain grown 90 the land 10 be sown !;
nor is the expense regarded when the OBJ
ject is to obtain heavy and healthy seed.
Farmers 10 distant districts exchange
seeds with each other, and iournies of
hundreds of miles are frequently taken to
accomplish this desirable purpose. Van
derstracten mentions two farmers, whose
grounds were alike, and who cultivated
them with equal skill and industry. They
had both been long 10 the practice of pro-
curing excellent seed potatoes from Bra
bant, which yielded 10 that province two
hundred per English acre. When trans
planted, the produce was regularly, year
after year, five hundred and forty cwt.
per acres One of these men having, one
year, to save the expense OF carriage,
used potatoes Of his own growth, the origi.
nal produce of Brabant, soon repented the
step, and returned to his former practice.
Flanders usually receives its supply o.
flax-seed from the north Of Europe but
having, during the latter years of the
reign Of Napoleon, been deprived of thai
supply, through his restrictive DEGREES
the produce Of that valuable plant was no
more than half the usual quantity, whict
besides was greatly inferior to preceding
crops.
Although the Flemish are the most par
ticuIar people in the world as 10 the choice
of their seeds, they are sometimes de
ceived. Al instance Of this happened I
few years ago, which was followed by
very injurious consequences. A person
brought some flax-seed from Riga, which
he sold for sound seed. 1t was, however
superanusted, but he had contrived t
give it fresh aud healthy appearance
and thus imposed on the best judges. The
farmers, deceived by the false mark
bought aud sowed the seed, none of which
ever appeared above the ground. Tn
desolation Of the country was universal
the loss was estimated at several million
of forms; and the offender escaped tn
punishment he merited, only through tn
intercessions Of several powerful friends
who found means to stifle the affair. not
withstanding the cries Of its numerous vic
tins" / recollect case somewhat simi
lar to this, which happened few year
ago, in Edinburgh. A respectable see,
merchant there purchased quantity Q
flax-seed from foreigner, which he soil
again in small parcels to the farmers, who
on sowing ii, found that it was unsound
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This great produce cannot fail to astonish man
persons living in this country: But let them reco
lect that the upper layer OF the soil. from whic
the crops are produced, is never changed here
that this layer, having been so often used, mus
have lost part of its ancient fertility that dung
not spread in abundance with us as in Flanders
and that is possible the species OF potatoes grow
there have degenersted;