Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-09-03

and convinced that almost every farm might be di.
vided into seven eight fields with advantage. We
should in that better land, aud larger pro-
ducts, with less labour and trouble.
ROTATION OF CROPS.
Chester County, Pa. Jiiy 20, 1880.
j. S. SKINNER, Esq. In compliance with the re-
quest of subscriber in the Farmer of the 10th in
stant propose oera few additional particulars, rea-
tive to mode of farming. in this district OF country
though former communication in fact, exhibits the
principal features Of the which is most approved
here. The subordinate operatonssuch as cultvatiog
more or less OF roots, feeding hogs, or sheep, making
butter, &c.-may be varied according 20 the demands
OF the times to suit the local circumstances Of the
farmer but the main object, wo apprehend, is to i'm
prove the condition OF the land by iudcious rotation
Of crops, and to get the pasture fields and moving
grounds covered with mellow productive sod-full Of
valuable ROOTS and clear of mullins briars daisies
,hstes, and all sorts of weeds and rubbish. To this
add my own conviction that the farm should be divided
into such number OF fields, allow them ALL in
cession to rePose four live in pasture. IL is
usual, here TO let the land rest about three years in
grass; but am satisfied that, where the soil is duly
improved and well filled with the roots OF useful herb
age would be advantageous TO crted the term of pas
urage In this case, the leading object with the farmer
would be the feeding cate,or ifhe lived near enough
to market, and had good cool spring house he might
find his account in dairy. Our best farmers i'm this
REGION have generally turned their attention to feeding
cale,as being less laborious than dairy at the dis
tdnce we from the city and less exhausng 10 the
IAN than severe cropping with grain but still each
Held takes its turn in regular succession, in the
ner described in my last Root crops not much at
tended TO, except potatoes and those chiefly for family
use,-planted along the marquis OF the Indian fields.
However valuable the esculen roots may be found, in
European agricul,ure il does not appear to me- that
they will ever become prominent objects of attention in
this country where the Indian be raised
ccsstu'ly. At any rate, main reliance in Chester
county, next after feeding stock is upon crops of
dian corn, barley, and wheat The number of horned
cauled, hogs and sheep, which be fed farm of
given size, Of depends the quality and condi-
ton of the land. A good farm of medium size, (say
with 100, or 100 acres of cultivated and) will feed
from 20 to 80 bullocks, averaging about 600 pounds
each AMI thcse will make sutciency of manure TO
keep the land in good order Hogs usually fed
I'm any great numbers but every farmer keeps enough
TO supply his family and also TO spare hams aud
bacon for the market Sheep frequently procured from
other Districts and faened for the bucher but the
ing oil Hooks does not TO DO exactly suited our
small, highly cultivated farms. Sheep do relish our
rank, artificial grasses. so much the spontaneous
growth of comparatively sterile hills; and inclined
TO think the extensive ranges OF our mountainous dis
rcts will be found much better adapted the raising
large ii"cks. Our farmers are generally good ccono-
mists and keep sheep enough to cothc their families in
winter; but beyond that they rarely co. for the
already suggested. Our surplus grain is either fed TO
Stock or sold TO the merchant millcrs for ready money
AS the state of the markets may render eligible. The
BARLEY crop, of course, goes TO the brewers. Tho best
moving fields yield about two ions of hay 10 the acre
and our Objects 10 NOW only much ground as will
suffice to keep WELL through the winter as MANY cat
Tic as we can feed TAT the ensuing summer; do not
consider il beneficial TO moro than tha and by no
means approve OF curg grass to SELL or to be consum-
ca gu INC iarin with respect TO the quantity OF tCheGt
raised per acre, in this county, ii is variable as the
quality of the land Our good farms will yield from 10
TO 20 bushels of clean wheat and have heard of
30, and more, bushels to the acre: but would willingly
compound for regular crop of 20 bushels per acre. II
is quite as much, think farms will average
The truth is, rarely have any of those extraorna-
ry products amongst that read of elsewhere We
seldom acquire large fortunes here, aud never sudden
~ Indeed, we have very few marvellous occurrences
OF any sort All our improvements have been gradual
and are the result of steady operations, and well known
causes Our farms small, 1--we work them with our
own hanis,-and profits moderate: but if we do
not hold great estates generally endeavour 10 be
content with what we have and find, perhaps as much
real comfort in the economical culture of small fields
as II we had Thousands of little farm we'll
tllied with the usual accomplishments. YOU know has
long been considered desirable acquisition: and know
OF no neater dress for such farm, than goodly portion
oil clean, uxurian swar enclosed by substantial fences
or well trimmed hedges. | believe, also, that such
farms Will be found more profitable in the long rum
with less labor than the quantity of acres subject
ed TO inordinate, or extravagant oppng of grain
These desultory and hastily written remarks, are
cheeriully placed at your disposal If you think they
VIII in any degree meet the wishes of your corrcspon
dent or be acceptable to any of agricultural BRETHREN
IN other sections OF our country, you will give them
place in the American Farmer.
Very respectfully, SC. w. ID.