New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-04-07
NETWORK TRIBUNE.
Written for The Tribune.
WHAT | KNOW OF FARMING.


my progress in farming - received and it gives
mo pleasure to comply with your request.
To detail all that might be useful to others who
may wish TO avail themselves of my experience
would be difficult bat so far as the allotted space
will permit shall endeavor TO meet your wishes
When looking for a proper locality could not
but observe that the ridge between Newark and
Ehzsbethtown possessed peculiar advantages Tor
my purposes-the land, although fully susceptible
Of Improvement had borne unenviabe reputa
ton aud had ever proved Improbable to its
owners.
At the foot of this ridge commences the great
sslt meadows, the surface Of which is composed Of
organic matter, not IN a state Of decay; and this
organic matter is evidently the washings of the
high land gradually deposited until the surface has
risen far above high water mark.
There are $4,000 Of these meadows
within sight of the very highlands which have
been robbed Of their soluble and lighter surface
particles, to form them and, therefore, could
not but desire to remove part OF these fertilising
materials, back Where they came from. 1t was
evident enough from the experiments of others
that meadow muck could be decomposed and
rendered available as a manure; but it had not
Jersey. A few farmers had carted the muck upon
their land, without previously decomPosing it, and
from not having found immediate beneficial effects,
had abandoned its use. Here, then, was a fine
field for one who was anxious to apply Chemistry
10 Agriculture, and who was constrained by cir
cumstances to get at profitable results with but
little outlay. Newark, too, was by, and the
oHals OF its Tanneries, Soap, Glue, Gas and other
manufactures all added to the desrableness of
locality; spent lye, spent ashes, chandler greaves,
bone and horn turnings, spent tan, leather chips,
hair, hide clippings, hen and pigeon dung after
having been used by morocco dressers, furriers
wastes, &c. &c. &c. were all to be had at mode
rate prices, and many Of them for the cartng.
The slight use that had been made of these artl-
ces by sgricultursts, was In most cases from mere
guessngs as to their utility, and not from their
chemical aptitude to special crops or comPosts
and as in all cases where fertilizng materials are
improperly or improvidently used, their qualities
as fertilizers were doubted. These advantages
added to the ready means of finding market Tor
products, decided my choice.
The surface soil Of the farm now occupy is
clsyey loan, underlaid with a sub soil of red KEEL
liz ldecomposed sandstone). and occasionally
stratum oil clay, 70 Inches tuich w
tween the the sub and surface soils.
Much of the land is springy, and consequently
| unft for cultivation, unless thoroughly under
Il drained and sub soiled. This has been done on
part of the farm and with the most signal success
| commenced operations in the month OF Octo-
| Der. ls47 and had only time, before severe
f,cst prevented to under-drain and sub soil part
Of the land leaving the surface ridged to be rem
dered pulverulent by the freezings and thawings
before Spring. III the Spring OF ls4s the whole
farm was deep powed and sub-soied' ana
| daring the Summer 9 large portion was under
drained the whole farm being left ridged again IN
he Fall Of ls4s and thus, at this time March,
ssel. the soil is in finely pulveruent state ana
apsble of producing crops entirely superior TO
those of last year.
From Oct. ls47. to this time, 800 loads OF muck
have been brought from the meadows converted
INTO available manure and plowed into the land ;
l in addition TO which, large amounts OF oifals from
hctories have been used. During shower
| follow ed the course of the cutters oil Newark 'o'
! ne purpose Of ascertanipg II the WASH oia no'
/ End in its course across the meadows 10 the rNei
4 scne low point of deposit for its sediment ana
l found vbs, had been originally an extensive dtch'
! bot then filed no to the surface with tho deposit
/ from the .,reet.wa.h. This ditch has been cleared
I oct And csrted uponthe farm. have repeated all
he published processes for converting inucA '"''
1 ninure, and have found many OF them 10 prove
h eGcient. My stables, hog pens, &c nave oeen
rendered auxiliary for the rapid conversion Oh inert
organic matters to iertilizing materials anu iHo''
II sf the special manures recommended oy 'ou"'o"
Il md others have been tried under the dnereh'
/ crcau,,tances calculated to test their reIa'''o
nerits During the series of letters OF whon ''''
swns the 6rst, propose to give the p"r'ou'"'' "
nv operatons-including the rstonsles OF the sup
posed advantages arising from sub-soil and deep
Mriace plowiugs, also the different methods nave
adopted for the manufacture oil manures' the 'o'"
lparative values OF the different manures useu ~
g. a. sscertained, the supposed ana ss'er'a'"eu
advantage, arising from UNDERTAKINGS &c
In;n,.,.tion of theories it may also prove neces-
ls,v q, ,.c;,s in general manner the modes OF
ishn,s 81 acme Of the crops. referring your read
L. c. ,,ors minute and accurate information on
sna o,hs, subiec,s connected with Agricu+
n.ns,.,lv. TO the " Working Farmer, when
Am now editing. In accordance WIN your ~
ne., will also detail my method Oh ioeu"s
schns cattle. swine, &c. &c. on the '1'"' . ~"
I'd orchard of apple and other irul' trees n'o''
which were considered vslueless from age o.' y
proper ,reatmen, they have been revived anu al.
ssv in renewed vigor having given 'an ''op' '. '.
tv;s dpr;ns the mast wear. The farm consists Vi
u sore. Of arabic land. which 10 sufficiently s'so
b. snv farm 40 near New.York, a. the pr'ce "
: sad d 10 great anywhere wisnin ~ INV v '-'