Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-09-21
AGRICULTURAL.
Extract of an Address,

DeIwered before the Agricultural Society Of
Warren, Augast6h, 1853.
Mr.. President, without any disposition to }
trespass longer eOnthe time and patience Of
the society, | will take the liberty of making
q few suggestions with reference to the sub
iect matter proposed for the consideration
OF the present meeting; viz, the best means
Of resuseitating our worn out land
And here various methods, all good, pre-
sent themselves for reconsideration. 'On
Che present occasion I shall eonine myselfto
one. Assuming then that our old field lands
are deficient in lime, RtlIeRsttto the depth of
previous cultivation, which is proven by the
growth Of broomstraw ,1sheep-sorrel, and the
sapling pine, l wouldslggest that such lands
be broken up with two horse plows at7any
time between the middle Of September and
the last of October, then we'll dressed with
either lime or ashes-at the rate Of ten to
fifteen bushels of the former or fifteen to
twenty Of the latter to the acre, sown broad
cast and allowed to lie until the middle of
March, atwhichtimeitshoHl 5eagain plough
ed with one horse plows, laid off in IL feet
beds, thoroughly narrowed and a single fur
row run ats IL feet distance for corn. I
would then put in the drill our ordinary farm
pen or compost manure to the rate of $50 or
300 bushels, or $50 lbs Guane and IL bushel
of plaster to the acre, then list upon the ma
nure in the usual way, and leave until the
middle of April, when the list should be
opened and corn, previously soaked IL hours
in soap suds and rolled in plaster, dropped
two feet and a half apart. At the second
blowing of the corn, j would drill the com-
mon Black or Cow pea between the rows at
the rate Of 1-2 bushel to the acre and when
they are6 or 8 inches high sprinkle them
we'll with ground plaster, 3 pecks or a bush.
ell to the acre; and run a cnltivator twice in
a row, which will be sufficient work for the
peas previous to laying by the corn crop
as soon the corn crop be gathered in, the
stalks should be chopped down and the beds
reversed on the pea stubble, with a two
horse plough. Then SOW Guano and Plas.
ter, Cl00 lbs of the former and l peck Of
the latter, to the acre, harrow until fine and
SOW the winter cat, one bushel and a half tC
the acre, and harrow OR drag them in. i
che winter oat cannot be obtained, the same
course of preparation for the spring oat al
carly in February as the seasons will per
NIT. If 6 bushels Stacked ashes and l bush
ell of salt were now sown broadcast upon the
OATS it would add much to the crop, anG
materially contribute to the durable fertility
of the soil. The oat field should not b.
grazed but turned over in the fall, so tina
it may get the full benefit of the large vegeta,
bic coat, which will accumulate after tn,
crop is taken off. The next year, this felc
should be soWn down in peas, at the rate o
l bushsl to the acre and spri0kkd with on
bushel Of ground plaster to the acre, wheI
The peas are 6 or 8 inches high when th
peas have ripened sufficiently, put in you
hands and gather what your want for seed
turn in your hogs, aud [ assure YOU the
will be much obliged to you for the treat
and permit them to remain until the vine
are pretty well trampled and cut to piece.
when they should DO turned in with a tW
horse pillow, preparatory to another corn Gre
the next or fourth year, when the same eour,
as recommended for the first year should |
again pursued. Under this three shift sv
tenn, which is we'll adapted to our course
farming, your lands will constantly impro,
in value and fertility and you will soon
able to reduce, at least one halt, the qua
tity of land which itnOw requires for yo
corn crops; when you can either adapt Il
four shift system or devote more labor
your tobacco and wheat crops. For 20
Tobacco and Wheat crops l would strong
recommend the rotation off years from /
beginning. This rotation should be in t
following order. The first year in Tobacco
ofcourSe nell MANFRED. If your lots a
not very rich apply 200 lbs. Guano /
your wheat crop in the fall, and whether ri
or poor be sure to give them at least I
bushels of ashes or Slackened limo with o
bushel Of salt to the acre. Sow clover
tho spring, which should not be grazed /
turned underin September of the third We,
and wheat again sown with the same appli,
ton of guano and ashes, or lime and salt
recommended for the first year. The four
year, after the harvest, you will have AUX
RANT crop Of clover which may be graz