Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-06-15
AAWI0WHHJU ls<As.
(FTom the American Farmcr.)
RECRUITING WORN OUT LANDS.
.AfooR's Mount, Caroline Co. Ya March All.

7. S. SKINNER, ESQ,
have, since turning my attention SONS what from an
exclusively professional TO agricultural life, taken
your valuable paper, from which have derived much
use ul instruction. In your 50h No. dated rs Feb
ruary you have published letter from Mr. b. b. Coop
the subject OF recruiting out land in which
think costly maDuring 10 the dispardgement OF rest
and routine Of crops ia rather too Unfortunately
commended Had he more distinctly have confined
his remarks 10 the immediate vicinity of large cities
and towns, where the land is costly and ready, daily
cash market is at hand for hay, vegetables fruit &.
and drawn a distinction between such cases and the
generality OF agricuursts, not having these local adj
vanages appre could arise of misleading the
unwaty and indiscrimina,ing.
II is readily accorded to Mr.. Cooper, that earth re-
quires lood but that is udicous TO at an ex
pense of fifteen twenty dollars per acre, in th.
country, except in the situation above mentioned, is |
think very doubtful |, seems 10 that the product,
even where the coil il adapted for retaining manure
at the prices of tn. great agricultural staples would
not pay a moderate interest the capital invested.
Were lands generally high priced, either from rsdun-
dsn population or high prices Of produce IL might be
otherwise; but Will, there billions of acres Of pub
lie land in market, at 81 25 per acre. richer tb'n Mr.
Coopers lots lands will in The old States be CHEAP; and
il i. obvious that capital he more Internationally
used in cuivaling the rich and still cheaper new snds
than in manurng poor land at such expense az from
$l5 10 500 per acre.
The above comparison refers 10 emigration, which ii
s lar from my present object to recommend The OBJ
ect at present is TO vndicate the system OF restoring
out lands by rest and rotation of crops and
to prevent needless attempt TO at great ex-
pense 10 situations remote from sitrs and town. with
hope Of profit greater than from the and routine
Systemand for illustration sake, propose TO take the
of two merchants quitting business to settle on
farms, each winding up with the moderate capital saw
ed Of $1,000 TO be invested. One buys tract Of 300
the other 500 acres, in eastern Virginia or MARYLAND
800 acre, the 230 farmer cxpends SIG per
IT'S which makes his farm cost The same
his neighbors 500 acres to take 45 Of eac for fuel and
timber, and the 500 farm will hsve 400 acres TO lay
OF in four fields and so for standing spring pa
ture-with Eve acres for orchard we'll as the small
farm; TO keep The IT'S mauured and gradually inn
proving il should like the larger farm, be cultivated a.
the large on; That is In what is called four shifscorr
one, wheat one, clover one and pasture oue-The pro-
dHct think would stand ordinarily follows:
| From ~ the manured farm in corn,
at bhs. rer acre, 26l bbls
| From 81 7cres In wheat, at is bushels per
| acre, ESQ be- sh
| From 100 sores on the MANFRED farm in corn,
at 3 barrels per acre, 300 bill,
Fiom 100 acres in wheat, at Z 1.2 bushels
| per acre, $50 bush
/ The qTanty OF hay and provender To- stock gyou,
not he very unequal, and should be used in supporin
stock and working team, costing on each $500
To cultivate th>ss two farms suppose So 500 TO fur
ni'h slaves Tor the large and 500 for the SINAI
one, which will leave 81 900 OF the 23O acre firm
capital 10 invest or keep nteres. Must II not be al
mted that the productveness OF the large firm ~
iocrta'e more rapidly han The smi one-at least ,i
Is the conclusion have drawn from much o. crya,ilf