Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-09-25
WHAT SHOULD BE. DONE WITH WHEAT FIELD
AFTER THE GRAIN Is HARVESTED.

The above is question of much importance TO all
wheat-growers. At the Norlh the fields are gener-
ally seeded with clover, and where the stand is good,
all excellent pasture is furnished for stock TIL winter.
At theSouih, coMparalyely few SOW either clover or
grass seed of any kind, cover the earth and render
il profitable, Immediately after the wheat harvest
The ground, however, is often pretty well supplied
with the seeds ofindigenous grasses; which germI-
nate and grow off qnpe luxuranlly. To promote
this result, it is the practice OF good farmers to plough
the land; and the use 'cf sharp harrow, or two
horse cutiva.or, will answer on most soils as we'll.
Judging from the few thathaTe fallen under our
observation, we should harrow. OF plough wheat
fields as soon as The grain was eu, n the earih were
not quite green with valuable grass or yer
A Southern clover is grsailynssded, she AgrI-
cultural Department Of the R1eht Ohis sent an
order TO Valparaiso 10 procure quanusy OF ChiiIan
clover seed for gratuilous distribution. Should any
reader of the Culivalor know OF any plant peculiarly
adapted to the Southern climate and soils, which may
be profably grown with wheat; he will confer fas
vor by writing short communication on The suo)ec'
for this paper.
What is The value Of the yellow clover, for the pur-
pose indicated !. will never do TO leave stubble
field naked for several months afier harvest, TO be
burnt up By consuming Southern sun and the
question is What plant will yield tie most shade to
the land and forage to domestic animals IT is the
heat of summer aud autumn, and the usual amount
of drv weather. such as 10 forbid the uxurant grown
of The cow-pea, of turnips, barley or ryef
We cherish the hope that Chilian clover may prove
of great value 10 the South, aud shall spare no pains
to have the matter tested IN the most thorough man.
ner. Oar faith is strong that profitable crop Oh
some kind may be made on land from which wheat
has lust been harvested; but what the crop should
be. IS the information which we seek. The climate
best adaped TO cotton culture possesses peculiar and
great advantages 1t can be made to grow cereals,
legums and grasses but who Will name The best sys-
tenn of rotationi Where is the clover of the South
which will yield two tons Of good hay per acre, IN
addition 10 fair crop OF whealf
There is prodigious waste oil travel ana loss OF
sunshine on many plantations which ought TO be d.
yoded Why make hand and mule take 100 steps
to accomplish purpose that may be attanded by 5Os
There is as much solar light and heat lost for all eco
nomca purposes. after wheat harvest in the South
ern Atlantic and Gulf States, would suffice TO pro-
duce crop of corn which, from the lack OF sunshine
and solar heat cannot be grown at all IN England ana
Scotland The capacity Of the South to grow cotton
better than any other known portion OF the globe,
implies capaby of doing many other things IN an
agricultural way, of equal and we believe OF greater
importance TO It's citizens and The human family at
large. The natural power exists and its development
must not be much longer delayed.
One of the best cultivated counties in England 10
Ox(ordshire writer, whose remarks we find IN tho
London Farmers Magazine, says: "As soon as ono
crop is removed another takes its place, and even be-
fore The peas are reaped that which is to succeed mas
been ,sown. The rye vetches and late turnips arc
grown during the winter months, and derive much OF
their nourlshment from the damp atmosphere. and be-
n ,h, n
than they derive from it, especially il the sheep are at
the same time fed on corn. The droppings of the
sheep and their treadng of the land, give it that ric-
ness and solidity which, on these warm soils are em-
ineny favorable successful grain crops The crops,
both white and green, are sown in rows" &c.
We have long been convinced of the wisdom ofthe
system which places the seed Of new crop in the
ground at or before the harvesting Of he one already
matured. The culture Of peas among corn is on this
principle as is also the sowing Of clover and grass
seed on wheat some months before II is ripe. Inc
nakedness of many wheat, corn and cotton helds, al
Ter the crops have been removed, is notlceablede-
feet in southern husbandry. Too often in place Of
gaining fertility there is good reason to fear thatth
denuded soil is parting with share of the organic
and Inorganic food Of plants.-Southern Cultiudtor
EtEcrRo-MAGYETlsM-P Page, in the
lectures which he is now delivering before The Smith
sonan Institution, states that there Is no longer any
doubt of the application OF this power as Substitute
for steam. He exhibited the most imposing expert
ment ever witnessed IN this branch of science. An
immense bar of iron. weighing one hundred and sixty
mounds, was made TO spring up by magnetic action,
and to move rapidly up and down, dancing ike
feather in The air, without any visible support The
force operating upon this bar he stated TO average
three hundred mounds through ten inches OF lis mo-
tion. He said he could raise this bar one hundred
feet as readily as through ten inches, and he expect
ed no difficulty in doing the same with bar weigh
ing one ton or hundred tons. He could make
pile-driver, or forge-hammer, with great simplicity;
and could make an engine with stroke Of six twelve,
twenty, or any number OBJECT
The most beautiful experiment we ever Witnessed
was the loud sound and brilliant flash from the GAL
yanic spark, when produced near certain point IN
his great magnet Each snap was as loud as pistol;
and when he produced the same spark at little dis
tance il made no noise at ALL This recent discovery
he stated to have practical bearing upon the con-
s,ructon OF an electromagnetic engine. Truly, .
great mower is here and where is the limit 10 ii
He then exhibited his engine, of between four ana
five horse power, operated by battery contained
within space of three cubic feet. 1t looked very
unlike magnetic machine. II was reciprocallng
engine of two feet stroke, and the whole engine and
battery weighed about one ton. When the power
was thrown on by the motion Of the lever the engine
started off magnifcenty, making one hunorea ana
fourteen strokes per minute though, when J! drove
circular saw ten inches IN diameter, saving up
boards an inch and quarter thick into aths the en-
oine made about eighty strokes per minute. There
WAS GREAT anxiety the part of the spectators to OBJ
tain Specimens of these a,hs, to preserve trophies
of bis great mechanical triumph. The force opera
tug upon his magnetic cylinder throughout the whole
motion of two feet, stated to be SIX hundred
pounds when the engine was moving very slowly,
but he had not been able to ascertain what the force
was when the engine was running at working speed,
,bouoh It was considerably less. The most impor-
ant and interesting point however, is the expense of
| - - procnssnr Pare stated thai he had re.