The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-04-14

| StupoIe lett on inc ground In CONSEQUENCE
OF the cradle having been used, would
have added 90 or IS per cent to the uuan.
uty. l then won't over the field, and
found the stubble to DO about half leo
high and in many places much taller
But the protection which it afforded n
the ground, and the benefit which I pre.
sumedit would derive from its being
turned in for the reception ofsmall grain
determined mo in future 10 pursue the
same mode OF cutting, believing tina, this
sacrifice OF part Of the hay would be
more than compensated by tho improve.
pent on the land, and the increased
product OF the succeeding crop of grain.
another advantage in grading seems to
oe' that the hay, by being spearcd can
be more easily removed and put away
than II II were moved and treated a,
timothy or clover.
The mlllet cut from the last acre on
the Esd ofJuly was carefully threshed in
the autumn, and to my great disappoint.
pent, produced only Is bushels Of clear.
COED seed. But then discovered from
tho quantity of chat and ligh. grains
thrown away by the fan, that I had cut i,
much too early for seed. Had il re.
NAMED on the ground until the seed
were ripe, think it highly probable that
the quantity would have doubled or ear
~ so. The millet was generally from 6
to feet high through the lot, and the
heads from to inches long, and well
hiled. Judge Peters says that he has
raised very fine crop OF wheat on the
millet stubble when in the same year his
crop was Indifferent in tho GA, stubble un.
der the same circumstances,
Extracts Of letter fromPaul Bust. ESQ.
near PhiladeIPhia, an Intelligent & prac,i.
cal farmer, dated Blockley, March IL.
Sir Flattered as / am with the honor
OF your letter OF the 9TH inst. might
wish to be entitled to the reputation
which our good friend, Mr.. Casenove, so
generously gives me, Of an experienced
farmer. My avecations, my age, and the
stubborhness Of our free and independent
labourers, are all heavy impedimen,s 10
my inclination and wish to deserve that
name Deficient however az | am in
many respects, feel gratifed that in tho
present instance of your inquiries about
the cultivation of the miliet, am enabled
to satisfy all your inquiries in the mos,
perfect manner with u the greatest ease
The enclosed cut Of the publication.
made just now on the culture of millel,
by Mr. Hare Powell, will amply answer
all your queries on the subject. must
however be allowed to differ little Of
opinion in some points from this gentle.
man. Millet being kind OF grain that
requires a light soil, should never
dream to enrich il With limes AS far as
my limited experience goes, the manur-
ing of lime answers we'll the first year
upon sandy and gravelly soils, but leave
them the year after in the former, and,
perhaps worse situations. Ii the field in
which you intend to try the millct, is of
that quality, would rather prefer put
ting no manure al all than use lime. In
the manner MIR. Powell expresses him.
self it would appear as if he has moved
down his millet into hay at the time IL
was almosI ripe tor he asserts tina,
the grains dropt down easily. In doing
this he has undoubtedly committed an
error The quantity of his hay nigh
! have increased in bulk, but the quality
must have suffered +: for the stem of the
4 OSibE ulihooN az ehiSh eS wat "
4 oats, cannot be very much better liked by
the cattle than oatestraw. In Italy where
nillet is raised after the reapIng of rye
or wheat, il is always cut Gown, for hay as
soon as the millet shews the ear filling,
but vet perfectly green.
In the selection Of millet seed, must
advise you TO use particular care
The grain being SO minute is apt to de,
ceive the sharpest eye. need not tell
you how important it is that grain des,in.
ed for seed be full and heavy. Now in
every ear Of millet great proportion is
| defcien, in those qualities. Ii is therefore,
necessary that either by passing through
fan the light grains be discarded or that
by throwing the seed into tub oi water
those that are driving should be poured
off. tits by want OF using hose precau-
tons that have mol yet met With a field
of millet growing up at an equal height
IN America.
Were II not too much presumption in
foreigner to find fault with American
farmers, would be tempted to reproacb
them with the error l veptured to sus.
pect in Mr.. Powell moving OF the millei
Hay is here generally made in July, when
the grass is full in seed and ripe. Even
in the north of Italy, at as degrees, the
1 r. ~ rnoxuino, &c Jonc - A.. n, =.