The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-06-30
kER.fE ECO.sO.WY.
From the Southern Planter.
DRAINING AND MANURING.

! 'l-Nb hND MAN Chi.Nh.
Mr. Editor-lt may be safely affirmed
That The two most important remedies fer
the Improvement Of land consists 10 drain.
ing aud manuring. To bave good under.
standing Of these will go far TO the speedy
/ restoration OF our worn out lands. ] know
a piece Of land on which friend of mine
has put hundreds Of loads Of manure, and
yet the land looks very poor, arising from
the too great abundance Of water retained
IN the soil. As oiien see in your useful
paper, communications Oh these subjects
differing somewhat from my own views,
beg leave through the Planter 10 state few
things in reference TO both.
LIST. As il regards draining. There are
many who, although convinced that water
retained IN the soil neptr6izes tue fertilz.
ing qualities OF it, yet, are deferred from
draining on account Of labor and expense,
especially if wood is scarce with them
Now. the plan pursue is certainly the
cheapest Of any have yet seen recommend.
ed. II is as follows; dig my drain, if
possible, three feet deep, but so narrow at
the bottom as just 10 let two pine poles lie
side by side. Within four inches Of the
bottom, | lay pieces Of pine of the same size
with the poles across the drain, about four
feet apart, on which the pine poles are 10
rest. These cross pieces are TO keep the
long polls from falling down on the bottom
Of the drain, and being four inches from il,
give abundance Of vent to the water. When
put down The long poles, it is necessary to
reverse them, laying the thick end Of one
with the small end of the other; then, on
the top Of the poles put the pine brush thick
enough 10 prevent the loose dirt from falling
under the poles. know some have been
IN the practice Of laying down three poles
IN the bottom, but it does not answer good
purpose long, aud in a short time i, is seen
that The labor and poles are thrown away
bu. as long as poles will las. under ground,
sou have a good drain one, that will last
longer than box drain Of plank. More.
over, Ia many places, tho ground, through
which you cut ditch, is so soft that no box
dram will be of any service, on account of
IT'S sinking this you will see is remedied by
the cross pieces, which can be made 10
stretch far enough across on both sides ofihs
dram, as 10 resist the pressure or if you
choose, drive stop down on each side of
The drain for the cross pieces to rest upon,
as have done many times. III were near |
a saw mil, and had plenty Of outside plank
offered TO mo for nothing, would make use
of them 10 lay on the cross pieces; but as
every body has pine poles, it is poorly worth
while 10 be hauling slab plank from dis
lance. have only TO add, thai have
made drains ofs,one, of plank, and Of polls,
and prefer the latter, for expedition and
chcapness. could say much on the impor.
lance Of draining land, but as fear should
be troublesome 10 you, shall proceed to
The next article.
I'd. On the most judicious method Of US.
ng manure. take it for granted that
majority Of farmers admit that mauure
ought not OF be deeply covered, but kept near
he surface ofthe earth, and shall not, here
ore, give the why or wherefore, only Oh
serving, that il is ore thing to put manure
lcdr the surface, and another, 20 pu, il on
he top, and leave il exposed 10 The wasting
influence Of exhaalion. IT, Tor example, il
,e hauled out and spread on the crop Of
wheat 10 the spring, or laid on the top Of
,orn, so much of il is wasted by the iulu
'nce of the sun and wind. Now, | am not
saying that no good viii be done to the
wheat and corn by the above plan of surface
iresSing what We are IN pursuit OF, is the
most ludicious method of using manure
Let piece OF land be taken which has been
q corn The previous year, plough it W well
haul out all the manure that can be spar.
d-letit be scattered on tins land, and, af.
err oats has been sown, borrow it over with
large harrow, then SOW clover and run o
leayy roller over il, and when tue clover
nd oatsare above the ground, sow a bush. |
! of ploster TO the acre, and you have, in {
ny jud gment, the best way manure can be
sej, both as il regards saving it from waste c
nd improving the land. The harrow in
orporatos i, with the earth sufficiently 10 4
reyeut the ammonia from escaping, while
very clod is pulverized by the roller, and
manure and earth together brought directly J
n contact with the seed sowu. J. +. q
CORN STALK SUGAR. 4