Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-05-14

On Ms different effects y burning, ana PtVRshtns
IN, rough vegetable matter.
To the Editor Of the Formers Register.
A correspondent in yoat February no. page d =
very properly comments on tia advantage nna pro
priety of every writer for your paper signing lis
preDer name, TO oil amunieatlons, stating facts
n agriculture. His remarks IRE sound, AMI we'll
exrre.,cJ We cannot all write either with lie
rance or learning Bat, there are few farmers thai
are subscribers to the Register who are unable 10
express the results &C their experience, III bret
and good phrase Numbers have already attempt.
Cd IT, under thair own signatures with complete sue
cess and ben, fcallyc TO the community, We ought
all 10 be aware TINT yout work IS not intended ior
tho display of fine WHITING or book learning and,
whoever writes for il, should make his style as
pnin as he can, avoiding tee4aie1hficS, when II can
ueau '"nS.~s--' r-~~, ,ha FOREIGN or
dantry, at best when there n cores ,ondlng ex-
preston in our own tongue. The sciences, con
necied with agriculture, have peculiar terms TIT
c,nno, be well dropped but, wherever is posi-
bic, tho commoa parlancc mode of conveying the
SINE idea ought 10 be employed also, that every
class OF readers may get the meaning with the least
trodbls.
The correspondent, alluded TO- Peter De Our,
ought 10 have praeiiSea on his own rule. lie udds
p. S. to his letter. and asks the following qucs
tons, TO be answered, either by the editor or some
OF his friends.
Is II ever advantageous or proper 10 burn lnnd
10 there any kind OF vegetation which grows IN our
fields, that II would be more profitable TO burn off
than plough under VIII the ashes produced there.
by, compensate for the loss of vegetable matter
will not the crop be better the first year when coarse
grass or broom sedge is burnt than il would be,
If ploughed in But will not the land be ultimate
ly benefited in greater degree by turning in such
u cover I"
Many years observation on the subject of these
questions has enabled me TO form an opinion on
them. which think is not essentially diff rent from
the opinions of mos, practical farmers. Thu, opln-
ION, however, IS at tho service Of =. ID. q and
others, who have doubts on 50 plain subject.
There are very few circumstances that can JUST
fy burning. With some men, who use small
ploughs, aud advocate shallow rloughing, i, is n
sistom to burn The dead vegetable matter on their
fields, when it is the lens, IN the way of thei,
rloughs.a particularly for and oats have en-.
deavored TO reason several out of the practice but
was actually laughed at by them, as theorst
have noticed that if the dead matter be so thick as
10 impede the perfect operation of ploughins ii IN
de' the after ,llage if corn be the CROP is more diff
hcult and when the covering tie broom se1sc OF
very coarse grass, the first crop il apt 10 suffer
from the ground not being properly rulver,zed in
time. the crop be wheat rye, it is greatly help
ed by turning in any sort of cover. Grasses aud
weeds with their roots and sods are frequently gath
cred into Pill by the harrow, after bad poughing
yet upon these very spots the crop is almos, always
more luxurlant and productive showing, plainly
the advantage of,he vegetable matter thus gathered
together.
After any heavy covering is pl,ushed under,
which Is more easily done with the help of a weigh
" chain, the harrow should follow while the ground
rs mellow, and then the roller. The harrow fills
up oil the cracks and breaks LETT by the 81 ugh
levels and puivcriz the soil the roller mashes II
down and presses the layer of vegetable matter into
small compass When thus treated, Fermentation
and decomposition follow as soon us enough hea,
and moisture are supplied by the seasons. What.
ever IS thus tuned under IN the fall or winter will
b; found mouldly and tender In the spring and soon
becomes fool for plants Broom-sodeo is the nos,
diifcui. to make rot but even that time enough
- benefit wheat Ii the unavoidable opea ines and
seams lett by the plough be not filed up and pressed
down, Fermentation willnot take place soon enough
an consequences Of u too free circulation OF air: an
The soil on top, no, coming enough TO the Garth
below is az, the sooner TO saff T from drought But
tAesc things arc too PLAIN TO occupy more time in
explaining.
some oi the largest corn cops ever produced in
the united States were male on land, in good heart
'"' "s' sS'''e" W. " ht u lhith sou ana coat OF
vegetable matter. 1t Was well MANFRED broad cast
whhled completely over, narrowed and pressed
ao.n with the ro err But the after l.Aage was not
more than three inches dep ncithsr breaking nor
turning ~ The sod again am inclined to think
ihst all segstioie iaa!,er put below the operation of
image anj pressed d'wn must greatly improve the
ianl. All II not disturbed enlarge the crop GRO wng
adtink the process Of decom POSITION. The stratum
VAL nj Ice thick it f.etly admits and retains
in,is ufe and as The moulI commences TO
~, supplies aau ida II f1pJ 10 the roots that are
Spreading out incvery daccoa in scacch Ct food