Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1847-07-15
A GRICU LTU r A L.
RENOVATION OF WORKOUT LANDS.
LAUREL Factory, June, lS47.

fclous and evlncing disposition to pu
myself forward as an instructor, or leader il
the great effort now making to awaken pub
lie attention to the improvement of these
WORKOUT lands, address myself to you a
gain at this early period, in reply to com
munication by "a Learner" published III
your June number.
The communication to which allude ap.
pears to have been called forth by the pub
LEGATION Of a letter of mine dated March, anC
published in your April number. This COM
munication comes before the public, not on.
| ly endorsed by your very powerful name
but commanding great respect and consid
Grafton, because every line, and every SEN
tence stamps the writer gentleman and 8
scholar.
am fattered at the notice he has taken
of my letter, and tender him my thanks fol
the expression Of his kind feelings. At the
same time, am sorry to find that he should
SO materially differ from me, upon Il point
of such vital importance to his native State
as also to that of his and my adoption
The plan proposed by the writer (and which
Iappears to meet your appproval) for the
improvement of these WORKOUT lands, con-
slider utterly and entirely impracticabe.
commence with these principles-I'ha'
with proper degree of energy, and judi
cious application of.:bought manures," these
WORKOUT lands may be renovated, and
brought to high state of productiveness.
in few years, the increased crops paying
for the whole improvement. further con-
tend that no degree of skill can improve
these lands, upon the principles laid down
by "A Learner" of letting the soil improve
itself whilst it yields support. When GA
Learner shall show practical illustration
oihis skill in bringing up one ofthese totally
barren fields, on his principles, he will de-
serve the reward of medal for having dis
covered the Philosophers Stone. lshould
like to see the experiment made of removal
ing this soil, by its own recuperative pow
ers whilst it affords him support. Begin
ming with the ploughing in of green crops,
&c.-Why Mr.. Editor these s'green crops
hide their diminished heads below the clods
upon the fields. They have not been nour-
ished of late with the tears and smiles OF
heaven. 1t would seem the very clouds
had lost the power to weep DER their desc
late appearance.
| wish it further to be understood, that
would use these bought manures, onl Y as
an auxiliary; it is not contemplated in the
use of bought manures, that any of the re-
sources of the farm should be abandoned
but that every means that can be brought in
to use for the renovation of the soil, should
be employed to as great entent, on this ''hlgl
pressure svstem," as on GA Learners" low
pressure. should not have thought this
remark necessary, if the communication re.
ferred to, had not advanced the princi pie
and ! cannot see why , that if yoa adop,
the one, you must necessarily abandon the
other. His principles are axioms in agri
culture as far as they go, and he will fine
them so expressed in my former commune
cation.
| Now Mr. Editor, and "A Learner" let us
start fair, let US jump at no conclusions, no
warranted in the premises: neither let US
by any sophistry in reasoning, endeavor tc
satisfy ourselves that no exertion is neces.
sary, nor any improvement to be made upor
the old system, neither let US con iure uE
imaginary difficulties,
There are many occupants of these old
fields, who do not lack ability, but who &C
tually want the energy to commence ant
carry through radical system of improve
ment. The communication alluded to, Sc
fully in unison with their own feelings, ant
backed as it is by your endorsement, mus
have tendency to perpetuae that Wis iner
la in their system, which has nearly de-
populated some of the fairest portions O
Virginia and Maryland.
The writer's method which he thinks Ca
oyou, it appears unfolds the very elements
which are to bring abouIthIs change, through
the agency of your and other agriculture
periodicals, will answer we'll on lands a!
ready productive but it does not strike a
the root of the evil, and the plan must fai
when applied to accomplish the object which
forms the heading OF these several commu
cations.
am at loss, Mr.. Editor, to know wha
part ofmy letter called forth the followin!
IN the communication of IA Learner %
"That it requires little agricultural skill t.
improve land on the high pressure system
and there is essentially very little difference
between buying highly improved farm 70
$50 per acre, and buying poor one at ST.
and spending $40 upon it in four successive
years." Will the gentleman refer to my
account in dollars and cents, of the improve
ment of the field, as given in my former let
ter,and tell which side the balance is on? wa
there any expenditure of $40 per acre owe
the receipts of one year and would ther'
not have been balance in hand of severa
hundred dollars, if the crop had been cred