Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1851-11-19

med'o ~ Iteus laTSe poIuoI VI Ou' Po'P'S
and all our stock :; it furnishes both bread
and mea. for the markets; and, unlike most
other productions, we may probably con-
sumo all we make, and return to the soil
the atoms Of fertility extracted in the course
Of production, and, perhaps, with greater
gain than by any other disposition. The
price Of wheat and tobacco in the markets
is the measure Of their value. 1t would
therefore be improvident to increase either
at the sacrifice of the other, or both by 1i-
minlshing the corn crop.
After careful examination, | can find no
sufficient reason, to attribute our slow pro-
gress in agriculture TO any, nor TO all the
subjects have mentioned. ] am fully con-
vinced, however, that it results from the ab-
sence Of any wellordered system to govern
our operations. We may not expect any
lasting benefit from any system we may a.
dopt, unless il be in harmony with our land
laws, and co-operates with the laws Of ma
,ure. The tendency of our laws, relating
TO real estates, is to cut up our lands into
small farms and such seems to be our Stale
policy. II must be apparent, that SO long
as we oppose system demanded upon such
high thority, we are destined to witness the
failure of all our plans. 1t would, therefore,
be well to acquiesce and do, ourselves, wha,
the law will hereafter require to be done.
But does not our interest, TO a great extent,
demand wha, the Law will exact? 1t is clear,
that so much land as one man, with adequate
force Of aborers, teams, and suitable ulen-
sils, can manage and fully superinlend with
The greatest profit, consistent with the pro-
gresSive improvement cf The soil, is the
greatest measure OF land that should be
worked in one farm.
Now, it seems to be the settled opinion
OF the bes, experience of the present age,
that about four hundred acres is that maxi
mum, aud it does not allow less than one
hundred and ffiv as the minimum. Assum-
ing these to be correct, how shall we man
age them so as best 10 cooperate with the
laws Of nature, at the same time that we de-
rive from them the most profitable return
for our labor? E? Unquesionably TO effec,
these, they should be cultivated in such
manner ss to allow seasons Of rest and shade,
the bene6, Of vegetable decomposition, with
the further aid of such manures as will re-
store the ferliizing atoms removed with the
crops sent from the farm. To accomplish
this, am persuaded tina, four main divi-
sions Of the farm, with several smaller lots,
will be required-regarding proper provi-
sion for stock, supplying necessary COM
forts for the family, and establishing suila-
BILE rotation. With but three fields, as we
generally work our lands in this county, we
Ill c,lt Go ,to Il
confusion, in the frs, of autumn, in secur-
ing our made crops and seeding wheat
After gathering fodder and removing the corn
and stalks, we are always late in seeding
wheat, and never have time to prepare the
land properly for lhs, crop. With the four
field rotation, propose, all these will be a.
voihed. We can have one field in wheat
with young clover, one in clover of the Sc
cond years growth, one in corn and to-
bacco, and the fourth may be in peas. Our
more southern neighbors have derived great
profit by introducing the field pea into their
rotation, no, only as an improver Of the
soil, but affording large amount Of food
for stock, especially sheep and hogs. With
us, used as propose, we avoid the naked
isIlow, TO which some object, and we may
eradicate the blue grass; and besides pro-
viding our stock large amount of food,
we shall have fallow for wheat, easy to
prepare in the incest manner Such sys-
tenn will ensure unnecessary rest and shade,
and return to The soil sufficient am cunt Of
vegetable ma,,er-and our lands will only
require that we furnish in manures whatev-
er ferlilizing atoms we remove with the
crops-anL thus cooperate withihe laws Of
nature in the progressive improvement OF
The soil To be convinced of this, we need
only look at the growth Of the virgin forest,
aud see the immense product Of the land,
and its gradual improvement to the highest
degree of fertility, with no other aid than
the annual deposit of leaves, which, after
serving as blanket to the roots during the
repose of winter, becomes food to nourish
them when the forest awakes into new life
IN the spring. Such would be the case with
sll our lands, if The wants Of man did not
withdraw so much which is essential TO its
strength and vjgor. Hence the necessity of
supplying, in the shape Of manures, what
we may have taken away for consumption.
Ignorant, as we generally are, of the pecu-
liar wants of the diatren, soils we cultivate,
we should mainly rely upon such applica-
lions as experience has shown to be bene-
fetal. With the manures saved on the farm,
plaster, guano end bone dust, if we do not
attain The highes. degree Of permanen. i'm
provemen,, none have yet reached the limit
10 which they may be probably carred.-I
We all know the value of the manures ac-
cumua,ed on The farm, and will admit The
benef. Of plaster with clover; the quick
and generous returns of guano and bone
dust, with The facility of transporting them,
them to the ordinary means of
our farmers. Wishou. presuming in the