Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1847-07-22

where the land is not too much exhausted,
and with other resources to live on, in the
interim.
But to return to the lime; which, to use
the identical ords of neighbor who ex-
amined my experiments, appeared to be my
''onlv chance of salvation" in farming.
These results were sufficient to satisfy
the most incredulous; and induced me as
we'll as some of my more enterprising neigh
bors to lime as freely as our generality
limited means would admit Of
For considerable quantity of lime ] paid
Is to 20 cents per busIiel, and hauled it six
miles then had it delivered at "a cents per
bushel-but as my resources increased,
both from the improvement of the farm, and
otherwise, found that better business
could be done, by burning the lime on the
farm. With this view purchased quar-
ry, paying at the rate offve hundred dollars
per acre; and subsequently, second one, at
the rate of eight hundred dollars per acre;
being more accessible on account of the
road; though both about 5 l-2 to 6 miles
distant. The stcne.is now hauled and burn
ed at our leisure, which is of material adj
vantage, as previously, the convenience of
the seller was alone consulted, be the state
of the roads as they might-all cash ex-
penses included, my lime does not cost me
over about cents bushel.
We all know that with ample means at
command, the same degree of energy and
perseverance will attain similar ends, in
much less time; and | feel confident, that
with my present experience and resources,
could just as certainly and more politically,
have effected the same, or even much
greater degree of improvement in one-third
of the time, than was necessary under ex-
listing circumstances.
"No calling prospers, without industry
and perseverance" and those who are de-
TERED from the attempt at improvement in
small way, because they have not the re-
sources to begin on large scale, are not
very likely to improve at all and was to
venture upon giving advice, it would be to
make 90, 10 or even acres good; for even
The most limited resources may accomplish
this much-lhis will afford the means to
improve another five acre, and as the i'm
provement advances, though at first by al
most imperceptible dngrees, the difficulties
will gradually disappear and vanish; and if
no. literally reducing the "mountains into
mole hills,' they may be passed over with
comparative ease.
So far as my observation and limited ex-
perience extend, lime will improve all stiff
clay soils; and, if instead of p1ougiIiug it
under, it is applied to the SUR face one or two
years in advance of the cultivation Of the
field, so that the winters frosts and rains
may act upon, and dissolve it, the farmer
will not generally have to wait seven, or
even five years, for return. Lime should
be kept near the surface, and Incorporated
perfectly arith the soil.
lneither profess, or possess, any more
"skill and Judgment" than many of my en-
terprising neighbors, though possibly ne
cessity has compelled me to exert rather
more energy than some others.
Now can it be supposed that in lining to
the extent we have, and "using the highly
concentrated and bought manures,' such as
Guano, Poudrette, Bone Dust and Ashes,
we do not find our account in it? We k,aoao,
that by judicious application of them all,
the outlay and interest is repaid by the in
creased product, and the land improved
thereby, much faster than without such aid.
Last season we undertook to make up a
club for obtaining SO tons of Guano, and
get the discount; and very soon had the
names for 3S to 40 tons, and without going
step out of my way.
Putting "dollars and cents" entirely out
Of The question, the rejecting mind-cer-
tainly an adnirer of the beauties Of nature
must derive more satisfaction in Witnessing
his once barren fields clothed with verdure,
and on rejecting that at least in some de-
gree, the change was wrought by his own
exertlons.
As it appears to be the "fashion" to illus
trate by anecdotes, will close these desul-
tory and hasty notes by the relation of one
and in a very few words. In raising my
barn in 1822-quite large one in those
days,-one of the assisting neighbors re-
marked, that he was astonished to see me
spend all my money in erecting so large a
building, as one of one-fourth the size would
hold all ever could grow on this farm
and if it ever was filled, it must be by flint
stones ! which were in fact about as thick
as the 6lackberries, on every field. Mainly
by the liberal use of lime, and with the
s'highly concentrated and bought manures,''
as adiuncts, haze filled it to overlooking,
also large addition and had "to stack outs
besides. True, the flint stones did aid, but
it was by an extended course ofunderdran-
ing, which was found to be as necessary as
the use Of lime. What have done, any
one may do. To show still further the on
ward strides at improvement in this section
-proverbially' barren and unproductive-l
will only add, that when began my lining
operations, there were but kilns within
some IL to Is miles, and all in another
country. Now there are twenty-seven with
in about six miles, nearly all of which are
on the farms of the owners and erected for