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

the wheat, and The
plant OF partridge pea in their tender state and not
enough plants will again rise ~ materially hurt the crop
wheat Thus the partridge pea makes still later sowing
necessary than tho HessiAn Nv NV own practice Of
pou hing ION lau deep aud we'll and then sowing
and borrowing in The seed wheat With little delay as
possible l. no safeguard whatever against this wccdas
every seed brought up by the plough is left spring up
with the wheat. AT Cures' Neck, was shown a piece
OF excclen, land under wheat early last month"; and
on which partridge pea had sprung in abundance. al
though IN the course Of the rotation, three previous
ceSve growihs OF that plant had been brought up by the
plough. sproutcd enl then destroyed by lage. The in.
dvdua plsnts OF partridge pea easily killed by the
plough and harrow as any plant whateverbut the
cession OF plants is endless.
Mr. c. has usually kept 20 horses abou 100 head of
horned cattle and sufficient stock of hogs for home con-
sumption. lie has also 200 sheep, but not here they
being kept poor farm a,cw miles distant the cutv,.
on OF which has been abandoned With the stock above
named and the vegetable materials for litter furnished by
the crops OF grain and hay only, there are annually
MANFRED about fifty acres Very little hay is made be.
needed for food since the marsh was
NO leaves used because there sufficiently ac
ccssibc and abundant. No roots succuen, crops 10
any extenD are used for feeding either lean cattle or
beeves being supposed that OF land corn will
produce alment than the land and labor can
bring in ruta baga, or mangel wurtzel, SC.
me winter cow-yArd Is now being prepared with en-
closure and sheds To receive the cattle They have no,
yet been moved from the summer pens but will be as
soon as the yard Uttered 1t is made every wear i'm the
field which the is TO be applied the
autumn Dry sheds, made of long rived slabs stretch
along The whole north side of the yard and partly along
me adjoining east and west sides. The and other
ed OF fence rails crossed low horizontal pole and
these racks when full form additional shelters for The
ne rom wind and driving rains The cattle leave
the pen except be waered AMI that more than twice
dIy-and in the coolest weather. only once which is
thought sufficient if done about o'clock The stock have
never appeared to suffer injury from this long
In Inc spring, when the necessity Tor feeding has ceased
and the cattle moved the naked summer pens the
manure as IT lies in the winter yard is usually about two
tee tck, and is lett in that compact state until
being sheltered from the by a thick coat Of sraw-It
is carried ont and spread ahead that nre
turnhg IN thr clover lay for wheat The narrowing that
immediately follows the ploug closes the seams and less
loss is sustained Gus Mr. c. thinks or more profit gained
from the manure. than could be by other more usual
modes OF management The manure is sufficiently though
not completely rotted without the trouble of moving and
heapng il to ferment in the spring; and the ermenla,on
must be slow and gentle from the compressed state OF the
Elass. ~
The unusual extent annually MANFRED by MIR. c. and
the unquesonabe general and great increase of fertility
which he has thus produced alone sufficient 10 com
mhnd much respect for his opinions the proper an
rcaion OF manure SIl others certain tina, there
great loss III not using The spring crop TO
prcccde wheat, well from its being
so broad surface in the pen through the summer and in
the earth alter ploughng under, in September lie being
buried beneath a good liirrow- slice while Tho tenns
ure OF The earth is high without GLIDING air or mois
lure must serve I'm my opinon excite a ne lermen.
t"hon aud cause great loss Of products, here would
be no growing plants to absorb them.
Reclaimed .NdrShes.-1he diked tide swami of Slir
icy so beautiful piece of the tile land and is
KEPT IN such perfect good order, that whenever have
seen IT, my hst feeling OF admiration has almost compe
ed me for time 10 yield all my objections 10 such i'm
povemenS and in enjoying the view of the beauty and
fertility thus created by enterprise and industry ~ forget
my conviction OF its transient value, certain future
end This piece, OF eighty five acres was covered
oy me 'hlcE growth OF ash and gum, which is com
mon on fresh water marshes of elevation above or.
binary tides has now been dked and drained seven
years II may judge the soil by examinations of INV
own ahds OF Ike appearance and of the embarked salt
marsh OF fog Island, this contains fifty per cent of its
weight (when perfectly died for examination of veqe.
table mater, desrucuble by fire, and CONSEQUENTLY by
pu'refac,on, when exposed the air. and the
OI weather. hla ofp "A,
soil Composed of rotten roots, &c which is found At all
known depths is so porous and pongy, and light when
dIed mat forit to form halt the weight ii must con
'ue hne-tenths oil the bulk OF the soil. NV knowing
hese facts OF the composition of marsh Soils was
enough 10 convince me that whenever drained and cult
Va'eu, tey would as certainly rot away would large
dung hill il left standing Tor number of wears THE
careful and excellent management of the Shirley swamp
VIII cause TO present the strongest confirmation of INV
ophlon Most OF the embarked marshes on James River
nave, from neglect been returned under the dominion of
me deS so Soon that the cause have mentioned not
pet"ed 10 be seen operating alone In every such case
the lna ure of the embaukmcnt has been attrbutedto
some extraordinary high Tide, to the cutting through
me oank by muskrats TO the penetrating under
ana blowing up the hood-gaes or trunks. Here there
has been no neglect. Disasters have occurred in
deed oil such magnitude and frcque that there are
nor many persons who would have abandoned
me improvement in despair But, whatever damage
mas Deen sustained, was speedily rcpaired-and the
land has every successive year Welded crop Of corn The
pest oil winch was than fifty bushels the acre and
the whole making general average Of thirty five bushels
oil sound corn Tor every year. and through every disaster
to my eye (and confirmed by Mr. Carriers opinon 10 he
already eighteen inches lower than that without which
was sun subject to the tides The bank was originally six
Ieet hgh Every winter since ii built foot of addi.
uoh"i earth has been laid the bank, which was not
enough 10 coHnefbalance the loss of the ensuing sum-
her ior alter all these additions (Which are exclusive
OF the repairs oil extensive breaches made NV hqh
udes) Tie bank Is now lower than at first But what
Is most important in the matter, the clear profit from the
crops has already greatly overpaid the whole expense M
making and preserving the embankment and therefore
The usual loss attending such improvements will be avoid
ednnes the proprietor should long endeavor TO de-
fend his work from its inevitable end the water resumino
possession oil the whole space Though am no advocate
Tor the embankmen OF tide marshes compared with
oher lmProvements yet If such works are undertaken il
IS oil The utmost importance that they should be well exc.
cuted and all who are unable 10 resist this most
temptation OF tide water popreors, will do well TO prsc.
ice the same liberal expense OF labor the and watch
uness and the perseverance through difficulties and dis.
ase that have concurred to the success and pro-
TIT OF the embankmen and cultivation of the Shirley swami
James city Soils, and resources for their Improvement
December 7lh, 1882. The highest land living between
ork river side, and James river and Chckabom
ny on The ether generally poor, sandy soil of very
worthless qualities, except for Astounding with beds of
sll shells Cor mari as il is mscaed) OF the richest kind
This manureis now generally used, and though i'm such
manner as not TO yield has value still il has done much
Ior THIS part OF the country, aud presents remarkable
contrast with all other OF the usual farming practice
Contrary TO what's found higher up the country the beds
OF mari here are plenty only under the highest Tor rec
land where exposed in most of the ravines-and be
appear but in very few places either OF the NEIGH
boring borders Of the three rivers Almost every person
who has mail uses TO exten-and il accessible IN
almost all The uncommon richness OF of the mari thai
saw makes lis use as cheap at mile from the pit az AT
less Ihan hall that distance under circumstances