Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-04-24
AgriowlGurale
IMPROVEMENT OF AN OLD FARM.

land. The soil naturally would rank as
second quality IN this part Of Penusylva-
MIA. but was much reduced in fertility,
and sadly out of order, by bad farming,
continued during series OF years, and
! the last fourteen in the hands of yearly
tenants, the last OF whom paid one hundred
dollars year, and frequently ella med an
abatameni Of that The soil generally
ncllnes TO yellow or redish clay, with
occasional stony ridges of sandy loan,
the whole based upon subsol Of imper-
meable red clay. In wet weather this
soil becomes saturated with water, and
during the winter and early spring, when
midday thaws alternate with freezing
nights, clover and other taprooted plants
are thrown out OF the ground and general
/ ly perish.
The fences on this property we're in a
decayed STATE: not one good PANEL could
be found, but bfiers, elder, sassairas, cher
ry, noxious weeds aud stones, occupied
both sides ofevery fence. On the ridges,
red sand rocks, from the size of stove to
bake oven were Instructions to farm
ing, and in spots small stones were SO MI.
merous as TO throw the plough out when
in the best hands. Brars, garlic, st.
Johns wort. yarrow, will carrot, and eve.
ry other noxous weed in this part of the
country, abounded liz the fields, and TO add
10 the evils of this bad system OF farming,
the water from the public road, and the
adjacent higher ground, ran through the
dung yard, leechlng the manure Of its fer
tlllzng principles and carrying its best
substance TO waste in the nearest mill
dam, leaving fifty or sixty loads Of light
sirawy substance, TO supply the exhaus-
ton of the cropped soil. Ten bushels OF
wheat, twelve Of rye, fifteen Of corn, and
one ton of rough field hay. PEI acre, may
be set down as lis produce IN favorable
season.
The experienced reader vii believe
this picture too highly colored, until |
mentlon one encouraging feature on this
farm, which alone enabled its occupant TO
pay rent at all. About eight acres form.
ed valley, through which ran a small
but constant stream of water. Half a
century ago, artificial channels were dug
at the proper level, along both sides of lis
banks, for this stream TO flow in, enclus-
ing about shat quantity of ground. which
could be watered at pleasure, ard with
due attention could be made to produce
two tons or more of hay to the acre, max
ing the most valuable kind Of provender
Tor mich cows.
On taking possession Of this land, my
partner aforementioned and |, sat down
to calculate the cost Of making the neces.
sary improvement TO bring this land into
profitable condition. We borrowed FIVE
hundred dollars and commenced working.
We enlarged our garden to an ample size,
and enclosed it with a good picket fence.
| enlarged my bog pens TO contain thirty
o: forty two horse loads of manure; had
many loads of small stones hauled from
the fields into the roads, and breaks made
across the road, with nlets tor the water
into the sod fields and open bitches or
covered drains to carry the excess OFF ;
ploughed the road down below the barn,
and filled up around the dung yard, SO as
to turn the water off the manure next
cleared the meadow Of all distractions OF
wood, stone, or unsightly heaps of earth,
narrowed the surface with sharp and
loaGed harrow, sowed timothy seed, open
ed the bitches on the SIDES and the middle
of the meadow, and spread the water
evenly over lis surface; then moved the
fences, grubbed the headlands, chopped
level with the ground every tree not use.
fol for fruit, shade or ornament: collected
the bones Of animals, and oyster shells
and on heaps OF brers or brush reduced
them TO cindeTS, applied this as top dress
ing to poor spots Of sward; applied thirty
or forty bushels of fresh Stacked LINE Il
every acre Of arabic land, and about ons
hnll has second dressing Of the same
amount applied; have taken up, split, aBl
carried to convenient places for building
wall, every rock in the way of farming
have enclosed the landa and divided The
fields with substantial fencing, and plant
ed aboUt two hundred and fifty grated
fruit trees; and lastly, but not least il
importance, | made during the last yea
upwards of two hundred two horse load,
OF good manure.
Now, what is the result 10 figures q
this system of larmng--book farming, i
you choose to call it sol Last summer
fattened SIX steers on grass, Chat fed in,
previous year on straw and corn fodder,
and sold them to the butcher in hay max
ing; iattened and sold 43 sheep, one third
OF them my own raising sold one fresh
COW, also my own raising sold four hn'
dred pounds Of chickens, besides lot Of
other poultry; sold seyea barrels Of vim,
egar; butcherej four hundred and fifty
pounds Of corn fed beef, and one thousand
nine hundred ana fifty pounds OF pork
also my own raising sod fifty bushels
OF early potatoes, and sell sbou: eighty
pounds Of butter weekly the year round
raised enc two year old and one three
year old colt made the last season,
though dry one, one ton and a half Of
clover aud two tons Of clear timothy hay
to the acre, and raised twenty bushels oil
wheat, lhlrty-eght bushels Of corn pei
acre, each.
IN presenting this statement of improve
ment in exhausted land, claim no par