Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-05-18
From The Cpltipatpr.
WORN OUT LANDS.
friend in Virginia writes US as follows


Enclosed send 10 you thirty dollars, for the Cd
Vol. Of the Cultivaior. You will judge by this our
opinion Of the work Our people have been deeply
engaged in the production OF tobacco and our lands
have been neglected injured, and might almost
say, destroyed. Give some instruction, if
you please, 10 the best plan OF stopping the sul-
lies, and healing the gals with which our fields so
much abound and $50 directions FOR farm yatd,
and for a barn on pretty large scale
A substantial compliment, like This lays us under
an obligation which we are afraid II is GU, Of our
power handsomely TO rcquite.-Wo confess we
have no practical knowledge as to the best method
Of stopping sullles and healing gals, for it has been
our aim to proven, both on the limited grounds We
cultivate but we have much OF these evil Ct.
fects Of bad husbandry, aud will venture prescribe
for their cure.
Virginia farmers, us well az many further north,
have, il would seem, resemtled too much IN their
practice the prodiga son, who, not content TO spend
tho income OF the pnrimonia estate, cncroa.h nm
naally on the principal, nniH that is exhausted, ind
hsis reduced TO want. The soil or rather the un
NAL and vegetable matter which is blended with
the Garth, is the farmers capital. The more this
becomes exhausted or wasted, by iriudicous crop
ping, the moro this capital is reduced and conso-
quenlly, the interest, product upon which he de-
pends for maintenance, undcrgoes corresponding
dimnu'ion,-un,li, at last both principal and intc-
resi-, capital and sol, are wholly exhausted But
there Is q common remedy for both these evils
which, though slow, is nevertheless sure 1T is
perseverng industry, guided by prudence and ami
m nod by hope. And it is here tina, the maxim OF
Poor Richard, that
lie that by the plough would Ihrivo,
Himself must either hold or dave
enphatically applies We fearful that too
many OF the Virginia farmers have trusted 100 much
to oveIseers and stewards instead Of study ing her
business and qualifying themselves personally to
direct the operations of The farm II they will de-
vote their leisure to learn Of the principles OF
their business, AMI 10 directing and superiniend me-
the operations of the farm personally, they will
soon discover ihe defects IN their practice and be
able to apply suitable remedies, aud We can ven
ture TO assure them that they will find this study
and this practice among the most pleasant, and en-.
nob'ns that engage the attention OF man. The Old
Dominion can become MS distinguished in her asti.
culture, ms she has long been Cor her hospitality and
patriotism. But to do this the mind must be
brought TO the aid of labor
Gullies and gals are occasioncd VIC presume by
the exhaustion OF the vegetable matter of the soil
ny severe cropplng,--the omission to alternate
grass seeds while the soil is capable Of sustaining
healthy firm sod and the wart Of ar;ifcia drain
& 10 coDduct ths water into natural channels or Il
prevent It accumulaIng in accidental ones. A sys
TEN OF manag sment the Of the bad ono " hel
has caused these evils, is the best calculated o cur
them. That Isles must be taken off or NOR,
carried on grass seeds must be sown with small
gram ;-grass must intervene more frequently il
tho eliernation all the means Of fertility which
the farm affords, must be well husbanded and ia
sliciousy applied, and cxronoous manures brous h
o1;-and the water conducted off the ids in GENT,
inclined artificial drains
Plans are as much dependent on food for nour
ishment and growth, as animals are and there il
~ much rropriety in expecting horse to thrive a
stall which is never repenishcd with forage o
provender. there is in expecting continuation
good crops fron, held which is never replenishe,
with manure. Philosophers may speculate upot
what coustitstes the food Of plants, but the rIacii
cal farm or kno,es tina; crop is luxuiient and abun
dant, pretty much in tho ratio Of the manure whcl
u applied to the soil. The inference is irresistible
'hat vegetable and animal matters constitute Inc bn
>tOf the food OF vegetables. The elements oil III,
lead and the living plant are the same, and the,
IRE transmitted, by natural process, from the for
mer into the latter. Tobacco is nmong the most ex
hausling crops as it takes much from the soil ant
gives little or nothing TO il in return. We are tolC
THAI u 10 rule in Holland and Flanders not SOW
max on the same hsld ofiencr than once in eight o
ten years, on account Of the exhausting quality o
the CROP which, like tobacco, returns nothing TO tn
soil.
The means Of fertility farm are seldom
either well hush nded or we'll applied. Every We
getabls and animal n,al,ef may be converted int
the food OF plants and the urine of the stock whe
yardsd, and which in Flanders constitutes almos
meiesy Of the manure, might be mostly saved
BY keeping the yard well Uttered, or bedded wit
swamp earth, to absorb il. Gypsum is II pow EFF,
auxiliary on light soils, where clover forms tn
basis Of improvement lime benefits stiff soils, an
mari, where i IS found convenient Is employ ed q
means Of inducing fertility with manifest odvar
tsgs.
We have SEGA the following method pra,,iset