Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-11-21


sandinr pasture enciosed-ihe cattle mnitpeo ah'
prosp.fei-two blades OF grass we're mace !" gro"
where not one before, AND he had Tue my" 'a''s
iacon The shoe; space of two wears 70 una nay N
fe,d adj .oc become converts 10 his policy, ana hat
lopped off parl al ,hei. Tor The same purpose
Such the ir:ce of example ana s"ccessiu' ~
EQUAL perseverance, aad combined eSeioh on o"' pa
usv nv m aons al our assocutiun, seyes the hohos
orpiud ce and babt-erronSous psaciicrs n"ee
III =, i'm. NAV t reformed --overwecnibg eoniidehc
gon,dad on shallow observation .a"d u"fnt'ghtehe'
expsrienee .ay be shaken, and we may a. no oiS'ah
nas,od enjoy the proud gtathcalion ot having ava
ts,ed nm interest in professson ana aoVahCeu y"
h,,,,,ess and prosperity OF our community.
In the narrow limits 10 which these remarks mus
be confined wouid b. al unnecessary taN "Fou 9'u
paeuce 10 enter 4, length INTO The details o. r!acs'
cal agriculture. Il vain, Oh an occasion ''Ne 'i'
present u attempt n prescribe rules IN reference &c
This subject tor the government OF all mere aye
however, important general pT'ncp!es aPp'c'p'e "
all cases Nee ssarY IL be Observed ana properly 1P
preciated before there can h@ mat acfaheefh IN ou
sgr,culiure which would place Il on leSci WI" .h'
improvements IN other arts. The system OF hrsoanofy
proper 10 be pursued n gwen peFoa, n paf"cuiu
region Of country depends CHIEFLY an the conoioh' tie
circumstances, and the wants OF that country. ANY
theory therefore, that may be adopted, however ''ef
;to,,o,s IN Itself II not suited the circumstances
those adou,nr II must be- icent, Improbable, and
not unfre ouentiy nischievous Inc nfsl inquiry, neh
IN no made BY the rejecting farmer, should te what
system j. best adapted 10 his peculiar circumstances
10 the character and condition ot his SOIL To the mes
rapid and permanent improvement oi II, and, at the
same time the production OF the supplies necessary
for domestic consumption. Ii asked, what was the
frs, and most principle 10 be observed ~ our
practice, my unqualified answer would be, complete
ard ,horou Th tllaoe-if the second, would with as
little hesaiion reply, the hhFa! aud skful application
of clover and plaster. Ii farther interroga'ed would
point TO The necessity Of tie s:Tctest attention ~ ras
ing and applying manures Fhese general rules EN-
brace the elements of good husbaodry, and, with such
additions as will practice be readily suggested py ah
ncve and discriminating mind, II ca:eiully observer ao
steadily pursued woain speedily restore our exhausted
fields 10 degree at fertility and produc:iveness, com.
mensurate with The huPes al The most sanguiae Oo"a
,I,os - TOO frequently made h. object III s-con-
darv importance. TIE prevailing disposition %! our
farmers has heen, 10 supply ths Differences arising
from the exhaustion and poverty OF The soi, ny Tes"f
mo to means condemned hy ant insthcent IN
PRACTICAL reliance upon larger sa'ace supehciay
cultivated in preference smaller, deeply aud tGp-
roughly tllcd Tac extent OF our farms has Ai'hef'o
encouraged this preference, detrimental 10 lie nes'
interests of the country AMI erroneous practices have
grown of II, which time aud the Introduction o'
more enlightened views can alone abolish.
1t has been observed, by practical men, that even
upon good sails piaus that produce from the original
germ only, having no branches as Indian corn ana
some Others do tionr,sh and fail To mature, II an
Inadequate space allowed /" each; and hence, aro-
trary rules are established, requiring for CERTAIN crops
an almost unlimited suriacs leading, necessarily 10
irpperfact aad n>kfui hus5anGrr Ire justice at
these rules VIII l0un0 10 We odSeu
on superficial culture, rather than upon the absolute
demands of the plants themselves. they have arisen
and been acquiesced an stGpy fron na,ienon 10 the
fact tina, the Of plants find their appropriate TODD
IN the depth Of SOIL allowed free access 10 H. as well
as IN the surface, aud, that proportion 10 the IN
creased pasturane afforded them by deep culture, and
thorough preparation al the SOL, will be the increased
number capable o being sustained on gwen area and,
consequently, the diminished surface necessary to
produce gwen amount. The maxims found IN the
n, hand .nea
BY them with signal success-''sow less and plough
bettera small farm cultivated Is mnre fruitful than
large one ne geced''-ae applicable to us as 10
them and sustain The position assumed 10 the I'm
por,ance Of thorough tll!age conceive u, therefore,
10 be rule OF tie first Importance boih IN reference
to the preservation and improvement OF ou SOL, and
the progressive OF our crops, to prepare and
cultivate land thoroughly and deeply, to deve"Pe
the concealed rchss oi the earth aud 10 abandon Tor
extended and superficial cuture-s practice found
ed in ignorance and persisted IN through habit.
Auxiliary 10 tbs and scarcely inferior in mpor-
lance are the skilu and ud,cinns application OF
clover and plaster, certain means OF rapidly re-
storing exhausted lands. Depender. farms are,
exclusively upon their resources, Tor the means OF
increasing their fertility by direct applications, would
be idle to aelnp. the raising OF manures such guam
titles as would be required 10 MAINTAIN them IN con-
don TO repay, with profit, the expense Of cultivation
or even 70 at sensible aI3 to oneioG7th OF the sur
face necessary 10 be annually cultivated it TINS
be attained recourse iau> be had other
more comprs hensve lis effects though less speedy
and striking in IT'S operauon. Some amel'c'o,ng pro-
restoration must be introduce a.
and form compouer: part Of every system Of rotation
Our fields, WHEN not under cultivation, must not bs
jorgoen abandoned 10 plundcr aud abuse, as II nf
future draught ever To be made upon them IL /:
their season Of and recovery from the exhaustion
previous eia7tsrnd the rejecting farmer should ever
bear Ia mind, that f. during this period, there ha
al s. M
creased a5v 10 NEE, succeeding demands, diminished
products wal follow, and gradual, hat cefia'f
sterty ultimately be &c consequence. Oar Stale has
already feaped tie butter abundant fruits of mar
row aud contracted ioicV, shat looks beyond Pre-
profit aud Temporary interests.
The introduction Of clover, however, as part 81 ou
rotary system, has recently effected the happeSt re
sus-has opened - view brighter and more en-
courag,ng prospects, and Is destined 10 advance Oil
agriculture 10 Z punt OF Improvement which ne9e
could be reached wuhont ITS aid. But TO avail our
selves Of lis ful nts, the mode ri operating viii
- should not he misunderstood The farmer, who woniC
commit to the hare surface OF the earth his seed, corr
wheat leaving II uncovered and exposed 10 ever
casualty wonld be regarded lItlle better than mad
nan-yet such - almost the universal practice witt
clover seed ], scattered to the winds without guild
or Compass and whether u falls by the wayslde,
stony places. or among thoris and thstles, is huh
needed Il - TO he wondered all then, that Their
ere so many aiiureslt IS rather subject of aston,sh
inenl that there should be partial No
should cny f." ar mistaken economy be practlsed II
limiting tie qua"ur 10 the least possible allowance
economy consists not lees in the ud'cons application
than in the careful administration OF means r.
enso-r lccess, It is npo-o-, INT it be eitsciuay 10
60, os pres q -'o t1o -oil, and, 10 goar
aga.as. r.. F. VI ~ f'n-e, >5ou!d, il
all eases, be tad 10 81, 3be'a. 4s.' ,.'aser
careful employment OF tines F ~, Il
most cases greatly dlmin b' c',au;y o SEED usua.
deemed necessary, a.d never .a,,, the mos
satisfactory results IL intended fertilizer OF tn
soil, clover should be converted by the plough III
food of plants, and made that OF animal,-tor IN
latter purpose, il nerl"r 10 oil other grasses,
for the first should be regarded rs the sheet anchor
the iarmerthe great panacea 0f poverty and despair
Yet how few of comparatively, appreciate lis uuttJ
or, approaching it, how many trom supne ind,lfer
ence or erroneous views of economy, have never fe
the benefits of use, the satisfac,io
arlsiu. from the proper application of it, the mean
wisely placed at our disposal tor Improving our cond
ton and restoring its original fertility sell not ni
natural capacities 10 the most highly favored
1t is difficult 10 invei. reasons to justify us
practices, to winch are faniarired By haitian