Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-07-10


are, indeed, who keenly alive 10 every new and
valuable discovery in The art But 10 this the case
with our farmers generally Westate. with grea
confidence as the result Of our observation that j
ia not. Regarding the general intelligence Of oul
population, the quality end kibdiness Of our soil
QUE proximity 10 Market the public lhorogghfare,
which penetrate and border our territory, and the
high stimulants 10 skill and labor which our oca-
ton present ;, we do not know Of an equal extent
Of country which has Iess to boast Of in the
and progress Of its Agricultural Improvement
Relying much upon the intrinsic vigour and
fertility Of iims stone soil, they loo much in
the habit Of neglecting those essential processes
and practices IN husbandry without which the best
soil will yield but poor return for the labor and
money expended upon it.
The limits Of this article will not permit to
present 10 any detail what regard the most
striking in the agricultural system Of this
County. We will hastily glancs few Of them,
reserying for another occasion more extended
consideration OF them.
And first in Importance, as ii occurs to US, is
The cultivation Of too much land for the force
ployed. We are too much in the habit of esiinst-
ing our harvest returns by the quantity Of land
sown-too little by the state Of its preparation for
the reception of the seed From this one radical
error springs variety Of results most disastrous
to good husbandry. Such imperfect cultivation
-scanfy manuring, or neglect Of IL altogether
skipping over large spots OF ground where rocks
Or Ia bo If f,fauoh tng
what tedious and dficult-pIoughing when the
ground is wet not in proper tith for exposure
10 the san--inattention to perncious weeds, which
multiply and exhaust that uutriment which should
be directed to the augmentation OF the crops
slovenly harvesting, with many other unskilful
To those who have ever witnessed the results Of
agricultural labor ia the Northern aud Middle
States where employed upon small farms, this pro-
position requires farther elueidaion--snd to
those who have not, If our space allowed we could
pile fact upon fact, demonstrating the superiority
arrest the attention and overpower the prejudees
of any disbeliever in its manifest advantages.
This County, to The extent of two-thrds Of its
territory, ia blessed with one of the finest wheat
soils in this far-famed valley of Virginia. 1t
is emphaiically that soil which in England is char
And yet venture to assert, and we appeal to the
experience OF every farmer in the County
tain US that under the system prevalent here,
this favored area Of land does produce,
year with another, ten bushels Of wheat to the
Does not this single fact speak Volumes
Secondly. There is amongst shocking mat
tention to the preservation and just application Of
manures. We feel that in entering upon this to-
pic, we are opening boundless field before u.s.
But we must limit ourselves to a few remarks, al
though there is scarcely any subject connected
with agriculture upon which more could or should
be said. And when riding through the County
we have observed large rcks of straw Wondering
into ashes in the field, instead Of being msnuactur
ed into muck in the barn yard-clover fields pas
tured to their roots instead of being occasionally
turned under to freshen and invigorate the soil
manure heaps through long summer so.stice cast
ing their gaseous treasures to the desert air.
limestone rock deforming the fair face of nature
and SCATTERING the implements of agriculture, in
stead of being converted into the most substantial
mine of wealth that the farmer can possess, we
could not but think how much remained yet to be
done before we can claim having performed our
Just part TOW ards ensuring the utmost productive
ness Of our lands.
But we have already extended this article be-
yond our original design. We will close with urg-
ing upon tho farmers Of BERKELEY County TO res
pond with proper spirit TO the suggestions OF the
Agricultural Convention of this State. Form an
agricultural Society in THIS County auxiliary 10
The Parent Society at the seat of Gocefament. -
We have all the materials here for the organization
and management OF such an association with eper-
ey and spirit We are acquainted with young men
dispersed in different sections OF the County who
ought TO feel a generous pride in lending their ex-
eriions to so useful and Praseworthy an object
We are sure that they only require their attention
10 be awakened to its importance. The expert
enee of half a century in this Country and Europe,
has cenclusively demonstrated, that wherever
these associations have been formed and conduct
ed with spirit, they have impaired new life and
vgor TO the Agtcultural energies OF country
They supply that in which the fatmers from the
isolated nature Of the pursuits are so deficient
an esprit de corps which infuses noble and
generous emulation into the mass--Iousins them
from their INDECENT aud slovenly practices and
stimulating them to excellence and improvement
in the various departments Of their art.
LcoMmUNicArED
TEXAS.