Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-04-05
AGRICULTURAL.
From the American Farmer.
Work for the Month.
APRIL.

Az the time has come for action, we
shall at once proceed to point out few OF
the many things demanding prompt stten-
tion
ON THE FARM.
Hauling ont manNre.-This is always
an onerous job. but it is one that should be
executed with good grace, as the pro-
duct Of the land depends upon the crop
being fed: for manure is the parent Of
crops. Having accumulated the manure,
it should be the study of the agriculturist,
to prevent the loss of its fertilizing virtues
while being removed from the compost
heaps, manure piles. or cattle yards, or
while exposed on the fields before being
ploughed in; and as this can be effected at
trifling expenditure Of money and labor,
we will briefly state how this loss can be
prevented.
At the time Of breaking the bulk of the
manure, intimately mix with every 20
doublc-horse cart loads of it, either Of the
following substances, in the quantities
uamed,-l bnshel of plaster, bushels of
salt. 20 bushels of finely pulverized char.
coal, or sprinkle weak solutions of copper
as and water. or of sulphuric acid and wa
ter, over the manure as shoveled over to
be loaded into the cart. Twenty or thir-
ty pounds ofCopperas, or as many pounds
Of Sulphuric acid, would be sufficient to
impart the fixing property to hogshead
of water, to be used for such purpose. IF
either of these agents be- used at the time
e IL. Il Il
enriching gases will be triaing, from the
time of removal to that of ploughing it in;
whereas, If hauled out and exposed, with
out such precautions being observed much
ofthe fertilizing properties of the manure
will escape by evaporation, and its value
be greatly deteriorated. So firmly convinc-
ed are we Of the efficacy of treating manure
in the way we have indicated, that we look
upon it as truth, that it would operate as
. saving of 334 per cent. This may be
said to be mere opinion; but it is not so;
for we have practically demonstrated its
truth, and we do know, that the labor bes-
towcd on such mixing of manure, as well
to be applied, will prove, on trial. to be
economical expenditures Of both the one
and the other.
Barley.-If you have a fertile loamy
soil, seed it to Barley. But before you
commit your seed to the ground, be sure
that you have ploughed your land tho
roughly and deeply; that You have har-
rowed ard rolled it until the filth is per.
fectly fine; for it is useless to put Barley,
or. indeed. any other crop. into the ground,
withoutpreviously subjeeting it to thenicest
preparation. And as for expecting a re-
munerative crop from land that is merely
scratched and SKINNED. it is as unrcason
able as it is unphilosophc. The plants
must have deep bed to pasture in. or
their supply Of food will be restricted
will be inadequate to their demands and
wants. Besides, in proportion to the depth
Of soil. SO will be its capacity for ensuring
exemption from the bad effects Of drought,
~ well as from the excess Of moisture
from rains.
Barley Soil-The 81 in which Barley
most delights, is fertile deep loan, which
should be neither too dry. nor too wet
Such soil, which. when properly prepar-
Cd. would bring 20 bushels of Wheat,
would. If seeded to Barley. bring 80 or 40
bushels per acre. If the soil be not in
good heart, it must be assisted by manure;
for good crop Of Barley cannot be cal
cula,ed upon when raised on unmauured,
poor ground.
Mdswe for Bay1ey--l0 loads of marsh.
mud. river mud, or mould and leaves from
tho woods. 5 loads Of barn-yarJ manure.
and S bushels Of ashes, mixed together,
and left IN bulk two or three weeks, and
then spread broadcast over the land and
ploughed in. would manure an acre of
ground for barley, and enable you to sow
clover and grass seeds on it.
200 lbs. Of Guano and SO lbs. of Pla.-
ter. or 10 bushels of bone dust and 10 bush
els Of ashes, mixed together. and treated
~ above, would be sufficient for an acre.
Quantity Of Seed per Acre-Two bush.
els Of barley should be seeded on each
acre.
Early Pofatoes.-If you did not get
your early potatoes in last month, getthcm
In a. early this month as possible
Spring JVheat.-This grain should be
got in as early this month as the frost is
out Of the ground. and the seed should be
soaked in brine and dried with lime, before
being sown. to destroy the germs of smut.
to which disease. as far as our experience
goes. it is much disposed. We are not
the advocate Of growing Spring Whea,
this side Of Pennsylvania or New York;
for experience taught us that it was very |
uncertain crop in Maryland, and we be-
leve that it would prove SO in any, of the
more southern states.
Oafs.-This crop should be got in, as
soon as, from the absence of frost, the
ground ean be put In good order. Aswe
were fuii last month in our remarks upop
the growth Of this crop, we will not re
Peat them here; but refer the reader n wh,,
We then said; con,enting ourself with the
observation, that large crop Of oats can.
not be grown, unless there be food in the
soil. and the soil itself be deeply plouehed
snd thoroughly pulverized.
AyticA0kes.-Upon the culture Of this
tuber, our views were too fully given last
month. to need repetition; but We will give
il a. the honest conviction of our jud gment,
after mach study and reflection, that its
cultivation. to the extent Of u few scres.
would be highly conducive to the interest
u every farmer.
Lxcevss.-If you have an acre Of land
iAas you can spare for an experiment in
shs growth Of this excellent provender-
ana-manure il heavily. plough it 81
fees deep. hssrow and roll it until Il is in
~ e:nhi then sow thereon 2 bushels of
60 Aarrow and cross-harsow them in,
usespeeed6ey bushels q line;or the sane