Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-02-19
AGRICULTURAL.
From the American Farmer
Work for the MOnlll-February

FROM tue American
Work for the MOnlll-February
Asin many parts of our far-reaching
country opportunities of culture occur du-
ring this month. we shall seize the occa-
sion to make few suggestions, which APP
pear to us as being opportune to the occa-
sion and time.
In our opinion, no agriculturist should
do any thing in the way Of the growth of
crops. unless he hath both the disposition
and the means of doing justice to their ca
pabilities of production. Let us. for in
stance, take the Corn plant. This plant, as
every one knows, who have studied It's
nature, can only be made to yield in album
dance. when grown in very rich soil, or
where the land may have been literally
MANFRED. And yet, we often see large
fields Of poor lands devoted to its cultiva-
ton. without a single spoonful Of manure
being given to such lands. The product.
under such circumstances, is always mea-
gre, scarcely giving back the cost of in ter
est and labor bestowed. Whereas. had
q moiety Of the labor thus devoted, to
grow corn on soils wherein there were
nothing for it to eat, been appropriated to
the collection Of materials to compost into
manure, those very fields would have
yielded profitable crops. All! but says
these large feld-culturist,-it takes SO
much time to collect such materials l.
But we ask,-is it not better to devote this
time. TO providing food for your corn. than
to cultivate it on land that is destitute of
those elements which are essential to vcge-
table lile-which are necessary to enable
the corn plant to grow in vigor and mature
its grainl We think it is. and thus be-
heving. we are free to declare, that the
true policy is. that no more corn should be
grown on farm than can be well provi-
ded with food, and well cultivated. If
the corn plant is generously fed, its pro-
duct will be abundant and highly remu-
ncfative-stiat it, and what is the conse-
quencesi A wretchedly poor crop-a
crop that brings its grower in debt and in
creases the poverty of his land. For our
part; we would never plant corn under cir
cumstances that did not authorize us TO
look for yield ofeight barrels to the acre,
under favorable condition the seasons.
We say eight barrels. because we believe
that less than that quantity ,eiH not pay
cell, and, because we do know. that more
than thrice that quantity may be raised on
an acre Of good land, if the grounds well
prepared. and plenty Of food, and clean
ness Of culture, are looked to as the cardi-
nal points Of success. Andyet, how many
fields do we see, that do not average three
barrels TO the acrel Hundreds and thou
sands there are of that character in our
country. We know farm within three
hours ride Of Baltimore which, at the re-
quest Of its owner, we visited in 1916, ear
~ in the month of June, to examine TWEEN.
~ acre field which he had in corn, which
had then received second working
The field was as clean Of weeds as new
penny is of corrosion, and its proprietor,
who had then but recently purchased the
farm, with exultation, asked us.-"How
many barrels ofcorn do you expect shall
get from this 6eld!' Our reply was-"If
you get bushel of good corn from the
twenty acres, you may consider yourself
fortunate. Our answer was laughed at
by him-though he confessed to us, after
wards, chat he did not get a single year of
corn from the whole 6eld-all tina, il Weld.
ed was a few au6bins. Under our in
structions, he afterwards lined and manur.
ed that field. and when we again visited
him in 1s4s, he had growing on the same
6eld, one Of the most luxuriant crops OF
clover that we had ever seen-his crop OF
wheat. the previous year had been up
wards Of twenty bushels to the acre.
With these remarks. we will be content
for the present. and would next direct
your attention to matters necessary to be
done
- ON THE FARM.
Composts accumulation OF the
raw material. for being formed into COM
posts. should clam present attention.
Seize then. We beseech you, every suira-
BILE occasion during this month. and the
next. to collect them. Ii is unnecessary
to specify what you should gather, for as a
general rule. any thing that ever had life,
will reproduce it.
Fencing SfsE-1fyou have not already
secured ssuprly, do so withOutf,rther de-