Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-10-11

| Snould lu ige lie estimate not 100 ntSn tu'
cold weather few days past, is howeve
agains, the corn crop. The variety of corr
planted is called the Phinney-a fine lone
cared, twelve rowed variety, ard earlie
than the Dulton corn, 10 which It has some
resemblance.
In another lot on bis peat meadow, We
saw q smaller field, on which the corn wa:
more luxuriant and promising than on tht
one Just named, and ifthat produces 90
bushels, we should not be surprised If this
produced 100 bushels to the acre. Think
of this, you that own unreciaimed peal
meadows, and are longing for the fertile
prairies of the west before you sacrifice
your farms and bid adieu 10 The institutions
and hills Of New England make an effort
and bring them into subjeciion it will prove
an anridote to the western fever, or we are
much mistaken.
We noticed 6ne field Of wheat Of 8
acres, which the laborers were gathering
into the granary. 1t appeared well filled
out the produce estimated at 90 bushels
per acre: it was of the variety called the
Black Sea, which We find succeeds best in
ihe vicinity Of Boston and mos: generally
cultivated. We were Informed that about
80 acres were under the plough the present
season. Besides Indian corn, potatoes and
English grain, Mr.. Phinney cultva1es the
root crop extensively. His ruta bagas.
mangal wurtzels, sugar beets and carrots
looked very promising, and will afford an
abundance Of food for his numerous family
of swine, and other stock.
In draining his low lands, Mr.. Phinney
first cuts off all springs from the surround
ing hill by deep cut at the margin or out.
er edge ofthe piece, which is converted into
blind ditch from this most important cut,
the drains are made TO the centre ditch.-
Where there is an abundance of stones as
in this case, all the drains may be filled and
covered over, so that the operations Of the
plough &C., may not be mpeded. We
we were shown one piece over which it was
dangerous for his cattle to pass, and in which
they sometimes got mired, before he CON.
menced the draining process; here his first
essay on draining had been made, in which,
through inexperienee. he cut only the cea.
tre and cross drains but with all he did, it
would produce nothing but skunk cabbage,
hellebore, brakes, &c. and It seemed that
all his labor had been lost, until he learned
the importance ofthe ditch around the mar
gin. which produced the desired effect, and
now it ranks among his most productive
grass lots, and loaded team may be driven
without difficulty over it.
We were pleased with his system ofdig.
ing peat, of which he has an ample supply.
Where peat is generally dug, the grounds
are left in The toughest state, and present an
unpleasant and ursghlly appearance, and
remain an unproduclive waste: but it IS his
rule to have the top spit, depth Of ten inch.
es or foot, he portion unfit for the fire,)
thrown over and levelled as the work Of
digging proceeds in this way it soon be-
comes covered with grass, which answers
very we'll for stock hay.
One peculiar feature Of this farm is the
massive stone walls by which it is enclosed
and divided. 1t would seem Herculean
task to build the wall that has been put up
under the care Of the intelligent proprietor.
In the measurement of the length Of wall
upon the farm. we may safely say there are
miles Of i've know not how much there
may be on this subject we are not informed;
one piece of considerable length is 10 or
IL feet thick, seven feet high. and covered
with grapes which have been set out on the
south side of it fine native variety, found
on The place. The vines were loaded with
fruit, and bring by the quantity from 8 to
10 cents per pound we should judge their
might be ton of them. All the other walls
are double, from S to 10 feet thick and S 10
6 feet high, and must have consumed an
enormous quantity of stone. We noticed
grapes upon many other portions Of wall.
The orchard on this farm is equal if not
superior 10 any we have seen. 1t contains
from 400 to 500 trees, principally Baldwins,
Russets, and Rhode Island Greetings. II
produced a very abundant crop last year,
but there is scarcely an apple upon it. 1t
was planted some where about IA or Is
years since. The soil is generally a ligh,
rich loam, upon a gravelly, and in some
places rocky foundation. The trees were
taken from the nursery IN autumn, and
placed in trenches until the following spring.
They were planted near the surface, and in
many instances, upon the surface, without
digging any holes, and the dirt placed upon
The roots. The orchard is situated on a
side hill having a south and southeast ex-
posure. Many of the trees were severely
injured by the hard winters OF 1885 and
'36, which caused the destruction Of some
Of them. Their places have since been
supplied with young trees. The mice in.
iured some of the trees number of years
since, by gnawing the bark so that in some