Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-11-25

be 50 roucii e~nieebird, # net destroyed, that IT will not
in;ure the ensuing whea, crop, and the decay OF the
sod will give great vigor to IT. The application OF tue
harrow in e shof, time alter the p%iouehIng viii ad ma
'eriallv ~ lis obstruction. Very Close grazing from it's
first pu;ttnr forth in the Spring, until July, viii often
DESTROY it,. Although a line grazing grass, 1t Is not
comparable 10 greensward its ca?ac.'y to elcure The
,oo,h and The toor. This is verified by the fact, that
it is rarely If ever found on Foaa s'oes' commons or
other lands perpe,ually grezcd. 1t has not much after
fna,he or ground leaf, each spire is seed bearing, and
1t does no, seed so close 10 the ground as greensward.
| appreheu! II, would be found rpon observation, that
grasses endure continued grazing in proportion to thei!
grouod leaf or after msthe. As the lands become i'm.
aroved. the lodging OF the straw OH light lands be-
comes a serious evil, materially lessening the yield, and
adding greatly TO the la5ors of harvest. On stiff lands
The straw is not SO tall, The yield Of grain is better
This would indicate the advantage of counterac;ing, az
far as practicable, the defect in the tenacty Of the soil
by the mode occulnre. II is said that lands that have
been long uncul,vated abound with an excrementitous
raatter thrown Of, by the plants growing upon them,
and that they require exposure 10 the air, for q longer
period, TO prepare them for the ensuing crop. Ii is not
denied that repeated ploughings, and perfect filth is
beneficial and necessary for most crops; but the labor IL
lniudiciously directed when applied TO the wheat crop.
We can neither remain stationary nor advance in on.
agriculture, without restoring and continually renew.
inr the vegetable matter exhausted in the process Of
Guilty alton. IL is true there are soils which derive
great aid, from applications Of lime and marie, bnt this
| apprehend will not be found 10 enable their %proprie.
tors TO dispense with The use of vegetable manures.-
The use Of clover and plaster, is n powerful auxiliary
in the career Of improvement, and upon lis first app!i-
cation, induces the novice to think that it is of itself all
sufficient: but tie land tires Of clover as it will OF every
other crop, il too frequently repeated. In England,
where K is called The mother OF wheat, with all their
manu,inr, IL is believed that from this cause it cannot
be advan,ageousiy repeated oiiener than once in eight
years; and their practice - 10 permit 1t TO remain bot
one wear. The use Of plaster on our lands, certainly
a p,t1ae rs In -pn.at II more frP0upullv with manifest
advantage. Tie want OF a healthy and vigorous growth
in the clover alter successive crops, attributed TO The
p!as,er's ceasing 10 act, is no doubt owing, in 4 great
degree, to the lard firing Of the plant. The fact that
land will not continue 10 produce with the same lux
nriance successfully The same crop, IS one too well es.
tablished among practical farmers 10 be doubted here.
If pns,urcs are permitted TO lie longer unbroken by
The plough, turf and other grasses succeed clover, and
the crops succeed turf-the land has then an interval
OF rest from the clover, and when renewed, il grows
more luxurian,ly, and adds more TO the fertility OF the
soil. Under a system of this kind, the wheat and
corn crop progressively in~crease-the increase Of their
offal, and The hay that the grass enables the farmer
10 save, and a stock in good and profitable condition,
adds incidentally TO The supplies Of manure. In his
tobacco, he need not fear the monopoly of the West
He will not cultivate so many plants az formerly, but
lie viii obtain better profits. The ~bhghtlng effects of
drought upon his com will he lessened. He will find
his old land more productive than his new-the abra-
sions and gals Of former bad husbandry will gradually
disappear from the applications of his surplus manure,
after having supplied ~profusely his tobacco lands. The
provendcr which makes the manure, gives the means,
by we'll fed teams, OF removing II to the lands. The
prod uct is more certain-rich land, with good culture, is
less dependent upon the casualties Of the season than
poor-,he crop is less an affair OF accident or chance,
a. we most appropriately term it. The farmer, how.
ever, must consider the whole to be a part of one sys.
tem-each part to receive full attention, as each is de.
pendent upon the other. Ills grass is, perhaps, more
important 10 him than any other crop singly-foT upon
- Ill donpnls-lP must aculy himself to ITS seeding
and setting, with q care commensurate with lis i'm
nortance. lie must consider his attention TO his stock,
and his produce of manure OF equal importance. lie
must not say that he will spare the time for this-he
must consider tie time Of his best hands, when neces.
sary, most ~prof,ab!y employed in these duties. The
loss OF a load Of manure is not simply lis loss in one
crop, but lis loss in all subsequent crops as marketable
subjects, and as ofal TO make additional! loads ofmanure,
which again increases grasses, stock, and crops. His
steps will be slow at first, proportionate to The exhausted
state Of his farm, but he will advance with an acce.
lera,ed peace, his profits will increase like a rapidly
compounding interest. HIS progress al first will be
scarcely perceptible, but his ca'eer, with patience and
perseverance,, will elicit results beyond the most san.
ruine expectations. 1t is now no longer 4 matter Of
choice with US, whether we improve or not, the subject
is forced upon Us in spite Of all efforts to shun it. The
bubble Of a redundant paper medium, with lis inflated
prices, has hurst, and we are awakened 10 The grave
reality Of less than q hard money circu!ation; and he
who expects 10 cscap pc the results by any legefdemain
Of legislation, or human device, other than time, labor
and economy, is as wise Is him who sits upon the river
bank, waiting for the waters 10 pass away, tina, he may
cross dry shod.
An appeal to the patriotism Of asriculturists il mis-
placed aud unarailing. The benefits of an increased
population and national wealth; The beauties of golden
laT;es,s, rich pastures, and lowing herds, are themes
upon which the orator and the poet may dwell; but
The matter Of fact ina ginaticn Of the farmer can only
be reached by immediate appeals 10 has interest,"
And if ever a sutjcc, existed in which appeals could
10 rynneylv made Ia interest tD comfort. and To ease.
this is one. 1t is an axiom which all will admit, that
lhe cultivation Of poor land is IA employment the NEST
hopeless and discouraging; it is literally to SOW with
oat renping, and 10 toll without reward. And II
is TO tins, that large portions of the agricultu!isss oi
Virginia have doomed themselves, by u system Of hrs
bandry which has exhausted the lands by drawing eve
~ thing from them, without returning any thing 10
them. Grass, plaster, the manures Of the stable and
farm yard, and the resources Of The foTes, are all within
.:leir reach. They will say they have not money
fo5 tie one or time for the other. But time will teach
them, without t!.cce aids they will be without money
aud witEcut bread. Hlt!i item hey will be laying up
riches which mo.!l and rust doth not corrupt an where
lhie yes break not through and steal. They will be
! aSi.lg and not rnarring the earth which God has given
them, as a iia5'talion, and will reap their reward.
fsrs% ne r"s;y;;s.;e"1
We suljoin a highly interesting correspondence
between Henry Horn and Martin Van Buten, in
rcfe renee TO tie subjec; Of The next Presidential no.
mina,ion Of the Democratic party. This coyrespor.
dence, as may be seen lrom the date Of The letters,
took place about a year since, and was intended 10
ascertain, for the satisfaction Of Mr.. Van Buren,
friends, the feelings and views entertained by him in
regard 10 the matter of another nomination, a construc.
ton having been put upon his remarks in reply 10 the
Missouri Legislature, which did rot appear 10 be fully
warranted By tie terms used upon that occasion. II
was said indeed, that he declined again being a can
d;da,e, even ii The people desired ii, and as this
erroneous conclusion was widely circulated, it was
thought advisable to obtain Tie means of correct
ing it, VIXEN Ike proper moment should arrive
Publicity IS therefore given To The correspondence
now, III compliance with the wishes Of many who are
found thai Alr. Van Bureaus reply to Tie observations and
enquiries Of our fellow .citizsn II, ir. Horn, are such 81
we're 10 be expected from the sound sense, patriotism
and dis;n:ercs,edness which have always marked his
character. hlr. Van Buren,, though grateful! for The many
Lnrc-2 cnrEArrnd MON Linn Lv the nnnnln winch La ve