Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-09-06
VALUE OF MANURE.
Interesting Experiments IN Edrm,n,

Interesting Experiments IN Farming.
JAMES w. Thomson, Nj. D., Cor
Sec. Ag. Society :-Although am not
what might be called practical farmer,
not having had the time to devote to it,
that could have wished, yet having
done something in that line for a cons
siderable number OF years, feel free
dom in submitting lew experiments in
the raising Of produce, which NAV be
Improved upon by those better caIcula-
ted, have more time and are more devo
ted TO the business Of farming than am.
But TO proceed to the experiments
Having purchased small trac. or poor
land, near Wilmington, Delaware, " hicb
was overrun with the Daisy, Tor Rich.
ardson's Pink and wishing to eradicate
that pernicious weed as early as posi-
Bile, determined to work the ground
hard, by quick rotation Of crops, ia.
king care to lime and manure i'm pro.
portion. Alter progressing in this way
Tor lew years. it occurred to me that
1t might be worth while TO ascertain the
amount raised, aud the value per acre,
by the process | had adopted The first
lot OF ten acres was treated as follows
In the fall put on twenty six loads of
oarn.yard manure to the acre, spread it
evenly, and ploughed it in after which
1t was we'll narrowed, and so left until
spring when it was again twice harrow
ed; the last time crosswise. 1t was then
run out as near north and south as the
field would admit of, and planted in
drill as follows, the first two rows three
feet apart the third row seven feet; the
next three feet, and so on, alternately
through the field. The object in plant
ing every other row seven feet apart,
was, that it might have all the advau-
tage of sun and air-but not wishing to
lose too much ground, by planting so
wide apart, planted row of potatoes
in each seven loot space-the produce
as follows: 800 bushels corn, a. 60 cents.
$500; and 500 bushels potatoes, sold at
oO cents, exclusive Of small ones } $3.50
The corn was cut off in the fail, and
shocked in the field, and the ground
sown with wheat, Except where the
shocks stood,) which was sown in the
spring with millet. The produce was
800 bushels wheat at ST 10 cents.
$3.50. Alillet, A tons, with the seed
worth SIG per ton, S64. Directly after
harvest the wheat stubble was ploughed
in, and part OF the field sown with turn
fps; the other part with buck wheat
produce 200 bushels Of buck " heat,
| which sold at 50 cents, 500; and 600
bushels turnips, fed to cattle, at say %
cents per bushel, $50; in all, SiI9l
independent of straw, fodder, Sc
The field was then MANFRED, aud laid
down in wheat, and sown with grass
seed, The mex, experiment was on an
adjoining lot often and half acres, ma.
nured and titled as the first, aud planted
in rows five feet apart ole way, and tw o
feet the other. and not exceeding three
stalks in the hill, more frequently one
and two; produce so bushels to the a.
ere at IS cents per busheI. $500. The
next spring it was ploughed and planted
IN potatoes, in rows six feet apart and
nanured in the row. | then struck
out between the rows Of potatoes, and
planted corn two feet apart as above
The corn had 10 manure-produce as
follows: 800 bushels sound corn, sold at
80 cents, $500; 1000 bushels Of potatoes,
sold from 80 to 81 l-2 cents, saw 35
cents per bushel 1925. The seasons Of
1880 and 1887 were unfavorsble for
corn with us, and it ripened late. Part
OF the above field is in with wheat, sowD
| in the fall, with light dressing Of CONS