Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-04-25

The following remarks, taken from q
late report on the subject of agriculture,
by Mr.. Coleman of the Massachusest,
Legislature, deserve the serious atten.
ton of every practical farmer. AS the
chief object Of agriculturists is to produce
the greatest amount possible Of useful
vegetable matter, at the smallest expense
and the least extent of ground. the facts
here stated in reference to the respective
value of hay, Indian corn, carrots or ru.
Ia baga, are entitled to much weight
Baltimore American.
81 wish briefly to draw the attention
OF farmers to the value of hay, compared
with other crops, for the feeding oil
stock. An acre Of hay yields one ton
and half of vegetable food. An acre
OF carrots OF Swedish turnips, will yield
from ten TO twenty tons, say fifteen tons,
which is by no means an exaggerated
estimate. 1t has 6een ascertained BY
experiment, that three working horses,
fifteen and half hands high, consumed
at the rate OF two hundred aud twenty
four pounds of hay per week, or five
tons one thousand and forty eight pounds
OF hay per year, besides twelve gallons
OF oats each per week, or seventy eight
bushels by the year. An unworke ed
horse consumed at the rate Of four and
one quarter tons of hay in the year. The
produce, therefore. of nearly six acres
OF land is necessary 10 support work.
ing horse by the year; but half an acre
of carrots. at six hundred bushels 10 the
acre with the addition of chopped straw.
while the season for their use lasts, will
do as well if not better.-These things
do not admit OF doubt. They have been
subjects Of exact trial.
sit is believed that the value of a
bushel of Indian corn in straw and meal
will keep healthy horse in good con-
dition for work week. An acre of In>
dian corn which yields sixty bushels will
be ample for the support of horse
through the year. Let the farmer then,
consider whether it be better to main.
tain his horse upon the produce of half
an acre Of carrots, which can be cult
waited at an expense not greatly exceed
ing the expense of half an acre Of pota>
toes, or upon half an acre OF ruta baga,
which can be raised at less expense
than potatoes, or upon the grain produce
on an acre of Indian corn. or on the 9TH
er hand, upon the produce of six acres
of his best land in hay and grain for
six acres will hardly do more than to
yield nearly six tons of hay and seventy
eight bushelf of oats. The same econo-
my might be successfully introduced in
to the feeding Of our cattle and sheep.
"These facts deserve the particular
attention Of farmers who are desi-
rous ofimproving their pecuniary con-
dition. 1t is obvious how much would
be gained by the cultivation which is
here suggested how much more stock
would be raised, how much the yearly
produce might be increased; and how
much the means of enriching the land
and improving the cultivation, would
be constantly extending and accumulat-
ing. But when we find on farm Of
two hundred acres, that the farmer cuI-
tivates only two acres OF potatoes, one
acre OF ruta baga, and perhaps quarter
of an acre of carrots, we call this get
ting along" in the common phrase, but
we can hardly dignity it with the name
Of farming. | am aware that labor of a
proper kind is in many cases difficult to
be procured, and with our habits, as diff
ficult to be managed. Farming, like
wise, can in few situations be successful.
ly managed, unless the farmer has CAPT,
tai to employ equal at least, to one years
crop. A larger portion of our farmers.
also. from the nature of their habits and
style OF living, are SO prosperous and
independent. that they have no occasion
TO extend their cultivation beyond what
it now is. in order to meet their wants !;
and to incur all the trouble, vexatioD,
and risk of employing more labor, ex-
pending more capital, and increasing
their cares"
IMPORTANT DIscovERY.-A Mr.. Cad