The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1842-04-13
AGRICULTURAL.
EXTRACTS FROM AN GRAFTON

Agricultural Society, by Capt James A. Black.
Asto the importance OF monuring, none
can doubt, who reflects for 4 moment on
the sterile andpovertv stricken condition.
of almost all our fields even now under
cultivation. which we denominatc old lands
That which NC have fresh, or yet to clear
and bring into cultivation, must most as
suredly charc the same fate, unless we
adopt different course, ranoyatc such Is
are in the reach, of redemption BY manure:
I grant that this is not all that is necessary,
yet it is SO important, that all plans OF
measures must fail, unless this forms 4
part, and a prominent one. We have but
little conception inthis part ofthe count
", OF the great quantity of manure, which
can be made, under proper management.
Bit 10 make manure you must have
stock. To sustain siock yon must have
grass. To have grassy you must have a
rotation OF crons-grass forming part
oft. As we have not natural meadows
enough in this country, VIC must make az
tifcial ones. The want of natural mea-
dows Of sufficient extent, however, will be
more than made Up 10 us.by the great ad-
vantagcs of a sward culture. The guam
titv as well as the quality Of the manure
which can bemade, depends not only on
the number of we'll fed stock, which we
are enabled to keep, but on the prepara-
ton of.your feeding yards and farm pens,
and especially on the quantity Of suitable
litter, which you may be able to furnish.
These things, all well arranged and al
tended to, ] feel confident that from to
10 tons of good manure, can be made for
each head Of horses, COWS and hogs which
youmay keep Oh your premises for one
year. Aud this too at trihing expense
compared to its great value. The man
ure once made, the nextimportant step is
to prcserre it aoelI-applyat ca'efully.-|
1t isimpossiblc for me in the bounds Of
this address. to enter into the miDutia of
manure making-thc best method orpre-
serving it, or the time of applying it, to
the greatest advantage. These will be
more properly the duty of committee.
appointed to such purposes. They are
well entitled to.the consideration of our
most intelligent members, and hope will
receive it. will only add, that the Gull
tivator, published at Albany, N. Y, is the
.ablest work have been able to consult
on these points, and I take pleasure in re-
commencing it to your pcrusal. !
The selection of suitable rotation OF
crops is matter on which we may sug-
gest some general rules. Their appIlca-
ton mist depend somewhat on the condl-
tion ofthe farm or plantation on which
they areto be adopted. TO the grain far
mer the SUBJECTS less Intricate. 10 such
as have their farms in good heart, Gf any
such therebe) four years shift will do
viz: lst, Corn. 2nd, Small grain. 3rd
and 4th, the grasses. To such as have
much worn lands to cultivate, a five years
shift is better-as it would give them three
years in grass-support more stock
make more manure and add much to the
vegetable matter to be turnedin.
TO the cotton planter five or SIX years
is necessary, viz: lst Corn, with all the
long manure they can start. end, Cotton,
with all their we'll rotted manure. 3rd
Small grain. To the wheat part of the
small grain crop, they should apply all the
cotton seed they can spare, which can be
bcstunited withwo ashes asa top dress
inc IN the sprng.-With all the small
grain. sow grass seeds bountfully, that the
4th, 5th and 9th years will be in grass
lay. This may look like limiting your Cot
ton crops too much and curtaiing your
active income to an inconvcnient extent!
admit that where cotton grows well, it is
a most important crop. hope it will
long continue with us leading article iori
market. Our great error has been in
making ii our sole Dependence. Wc hace
dra,yn or II for ere,y thing elss, and p4ca
1t has became depressed, ,Oc are IN 'cant Of
almost cccrything ,rlich 1t has herctOf@ q
supplied to>us. While cotton commanded
a high price it was natural that we should
fall into this error. The price is now SO
low.that it would be folly IN US to contl-
ue elonger underthe deusion. And can
not see one gleam Of hope that the price
evercan bebettcr. Indeed we have catlsc
to fear it must yet faIlmuch lower While !
l.