Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-07-23


One OF the early steps taken by Mr. Carter for the i'm
provement OF Shirley the reverse of cur general
practice OF extended cultivation. From about Sc en- hun
dred acres the previous of the arabic land lie re-
duced the whole space Of high land subject iagc TO
four hundred acres, al, ied into four fields besides
some twenty in lots which are oy KEEP, i'm grass
The remaining body of three hundred acres, the poo
the arm formed sanding pasture, until lately when il
was again brought under cultivation, and subjected to the
general rotation OF crops The purchase aud substitution
OF two hundred of poor land for standing pasture
made this change practicable and expcdienI A i'd
swamp OF eighty five also ade! to the extent
Tor cultivation eight years ago. when first dkcd and
Drained ms has been under every year since,
and by its abundant product Of grain, of forage and
litter for manpre permits to I've excluded altogether
from the general rotation, which l. a. follows:
lstyear--WheA clover lay-not NOV ed pre- viously,
and but partially grazed.
2d-Oats
3d.Whea stubblc plougle,l in, and clover seed
sowed.
4th.-Cover-to be turned in for wheat in autumn, as
before.
The ploughng of the clover land is begun in the frs,
moist state OF the soil in August, and continued usually
until October, before il is completed The ploughng is
as deep can be done three good horses each plough
All The manure is given just before the latest this deep
poughing and usually for fifty acres including the
summer running cowpens. This is the only deep plough
Ing given to prepare for the CROP but shallow Ching
and repeated borrowings given required before and
after sowing the wheat.
should suppose that bat few soils could resist exbaus
ton under this severe rotation with all the aid here
derived from manure and general cool manag ement !:
though Mr. Carriers observation aud experience have led
on inferior SOILS with proper attention to vegetable manure
three grain crops may be made in each rotation of four
years and yet the land be kept improving in product.
The general soil OF Shirley is dark brown clay loa,n
deep, and originally very Iich aud possesses in high de-
gree the valuable qualities OF the low level on the
tide water Of James river, which seem 10 have heen
originally formed by alluvion. The higher part Of The
farm is OF a different AMI inferior soil Mr. c. received
'he estate greatly impoverished by the usual
OF overseers during his mnoryand since, has restored
1t TO nearly quite its former fertility The soils natural
ly the poorest he upposes productive than
at hrs Fortunately for the of his labos, the
surface was too level TO be much hurt by being washed
(the most eilecual means for destroying land1 and vet il
sufficiently unduating 10 be kept perfectly drained
and great is used for this pnrpose The fields
kept in beds OF fifteen fee-and that lately sowed in
has every waterfurrow well atty opened and cleared
out by the plough and small shallow bitches (or grips
cut across the beds in every depression OF surface
as 10 draw all surface water from the burrows and
from the held These grips opened by ploughs aud
spades alter sowing and covering the wheat and small
as not 10 obsuct the future lildge. The productive
cropof wheatye made by Mr. C. Qhough not the argesO
was some years before his present rotation was com
pleely in operation. From 10 acres of wheat ON
examined 1922 bushels between 27 and % of
product TO the acre. or this, the part succeeding
was OF course much the BEST and OF il proba-
bly, brought 40 bushels The wheat after clover in the
present rotation is usually double much as the same
Ianu WIN Dnng Two years alter when succeeding Be-
sides the objection to this rotation OF being too exhaun
Tor most lands, should have supposed that would
The soil ull OF weed-as there is cleansing or horse
hoed crop introduced. But this evil does not SCI IN IN
list here for, though Mr.. c. complains loudly of his an
noyance from blue grass, and partridge peas the ap.
pearance of his fields when under grain and the
amount oil crops rcaPed and Sold sufficiently prove that
these pests must be kept from doing much injury The
deep and eflecual Ploughing rapid succession OF crops
ioiowed oy heavy, smoIhcring crop of clover must be
e means Wch serve to keep down the growth OF weeds
Gypsum acts here well clover and has been used
extenslvely-bu is not continued be applied 10 every
crop OF clover II is used however whenever the
growth Is endangered by dry Stone lime from
Maine,) TO the amount Of 500 casks was used a few
years ago. Qn such mode Of application to be
ly carbonalel, made mild before acne)and viii,
great benefit TO The first crop wheat, which | saw
when nearly ripe OF the benefit will he per.
manent The lime was bought a price unusually
low, Cess than 81 the cask) and the effects so well pal
Tie cost, that Ike applications would have been made
every year SINCE ont Tor The higher price Of lime.
Tor manure, "a is done benehcally on some of the
taes lower down the river. MIR. G.. proposes NOW as
cheaper Than me in any way to give cacareous manure
70 ma helds by bringing mail the river from the
beds 10 Prince George county
The deep Pouging Of he clover 10y, and The sol no,
oeng turned back by second pougting prevents most
OF e clover seed rom coming up aud TO avoid any risk
OF loss by relying the volunteer grow Il, fora cgop
iuli allowance OF seed is the proper time in
ry course oil crops The thicker the clover plants m
ssnd the seed will be made TO the acre. nis CO
10 aCand il directlt opuosed IN onini,,s n =,
have been published.
The partridge pea is Of The worst pests ON such
soils as that OF Shirley, and have found il TO Increase en-
much on sandy land after maug, that il seemed that
wheat culture would ultimately be rendered a,ogofLor
Improbable. These evils we're experienced oGcr
early sowing Any soil over which This Mani re o,,c,
been spread, is 80 filled with it, hard almost ndes,r,c
ubie seeds, that the most careful lage will never remove
ihem Every deep ploughiDg brings 10 the surface a
new supply on dormant seeds, which will sprout az soon
as the hst cold weather in October begins 1d mt be-
FIRE. Tokeep Ibis growth IN check Mr. C. barros lie
clover lay alter The deep ploughing and does not SOW
saco these notes wefo wilton, have learned op Mr. e. that
its growth destructive to tho eyo, % " 80
mooh hg pPaa9n o. me land ot wheat that hood