Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-10-15
From the Southern Cultivator.
HOW TO MANAGE a WORKOUT FARM.

Using for addition to the fact that weeds and briar
Observation-Disclosures rows were in bad order, and the
buildings scarcely tenantable; the land to all
pearances thoroughly impoverished. Being young
man. but newly married, most of my friends remon
strated strongly against my taking the farm. They
pointed out all the disadvantages attending the step
and every one predicted that would starve before
the farm would produce as much as my family and
cattle would consume. must confess the picture
drawn by my dear friends was not the most encour-
aging, so that began to have some misglvlngs my
self, and concluded, before made final determine
ton to hold consultation with my wife, in whose
good sense and Judgment placed as much conf
dence as in my own. Accordingly, one evening
preached the subject to her. fairly and honestly set
ting forth the advantages and disadvantages which
would be likely to follow. Mrs l.. was a farmer s
daughter, and good farmers daughter at that. She
was one of those young ladies, whose of duty
always led her to estimate the uSefWL more highly
than the ornamental. She was industrious and fru-
GAL and withal of thoughtful and observant turn of
mind. The loss of her mother at early age threw
the whole management of her fathers large house
hold upon her. She improved the opportunity thus
offered rather pressed upon her; not only by rem
dering herself familiar with the domestic affairs of
her fathers house. but also from the fact of frequent
conversations with him in relation to his farming
operations acquired pretty good knowledge of the
manner in which he conducted them. She was
therefore no bad counsellor but one whose opinion
preferred infinitely to many of those friendly rea
tons who are always more liberal with their advice
than their money
After stating the case fairly to her. she quietly
marked, &c Well that the farm you think of renting
is out of order may not be denied The house is not
very comfortable one, but with little of your as
sistance will engage to ender it habable at least.
A little economy and good management will enable
me to supply our table with vegetables, and sell
enough beside to provide such matters as we may
need to render our situation most pleasant. If you
will manage the farm, I'll take care OF the house, and
if you will give heed to one of my fathers favorite
sayings 'ploac deep' 1 think we shall be able to
make both ends meet" Enough said,' was my
only reply. The farm was rented and as much
stock and many implements purchased as our lit
tie capital would allow. With hopeful hearts, my
confident little wife and myself took possession of
the old farm.
From small manure heap Cleft by the former ten
anti we gave the garden good DRESSING and after
wards thorough blowing, my wife occasionally ad
me to ptoac deep.'' She then took pos
session of it y remonstrances to the contrary not
and very it gave satisfactory evil
dcnce of her skill and tastes. =
But now came the "tug of war;" Field blowing
was to be done for oats, corn and potatoes; but
where was the manure to come from. Our little
stock of money barely sufficient to purchase the
actual necessares of life for ourselves and Stock
til the garden and fields would produce their crops
so that not dollar left for the purchase of
nure 1 had not thought of this before, and for a
moment regretted the step we had taken. With a
heavy heart l mentioned my troubles to my
wife, who with cheerful tone remarked, "pLoao
deep, this year, George, and let the result.
Re-assured by her confident manner geared my
blowing. The ground was in fine condition, and re-
Mrs. LIS. admonition, set my coulter
1eep. Away went, and after furrow or two, 1
stopped to examine the soil had turned up. Much
to my surprise, and assure you, sincere pleasure,
observed that it differed materially in appearance
rom that turned up by the former tenant. There
was mystery about this, that puzzled me for mo-
nent; but recolleeting that plowed some four or
began to see the wisdom of my wife's advice, to
pLO,o Deep" 1 had found manure heap. My lit
lie knowledge of soils, (or had been attentive
,eader of the only Agricultural Journal then knew
'f the Albany CuLtsUatOr) satisfied me of this fact
Every round made, my heart grew lighter, until,
when at noon returned home, felt as well salts
led that should have good crops, any of my
leghbors who had applied their hundreds of loads
If manure.
The oats were sown and the and potatoes |
planted. Ny neighbors looked on and smiled at my
in hoping to realize anything from that |
oil without manure and verify believe toa should
doubted, but for the hopeful spirit of my wife.
She was always cheerful aud happy. Busy bee |
he livelong day, the house hourly grew more COM
ortable and snug. The COWS yielded a good supply |
# milk, which her ready hand turned to first rate |
,utter and cheese. The garden yielded most excel |
ent vegetables, which, with the butter and cheese,
readily disposed of for cash at county town.
The chickens too acknowledged her fostering care,
md in fact every thing she turned her hand to aP
,eared to prosper.
With an anxious heart, however, looked forward
o the time when I should be able to Judge of the
IlAIdCCeE vi my growing Helu CIOpS. AAC SSdSOh
vas good, and I soon had the pleasure of seeing
hem as furnishing as any of my neighbors, and
vhen harvested, they proved to be equally good
But this could not last long had strong faith in
he virtues of deep ploughing now; but common
ense taught me that the time must come when, with
ut some kind of manure, should be worse off than
yer. My manure heap was increasing, but not rap
1ly enough to furnish the supply necessary. My
wheat ground requiredit ALL and more than all and
knew that every fork full could make during the
7inter would be insufficient for my ground in
he spring At,this juncture, my agricultural paper
anne in as an adviser. / had read with much care
nd interest an article Glover, fertilizer, when
urned under in its green state and at once resolved
o try it. as had done the deep blowing. Glover
eed purchased, and sown among the wheat late
February, and soon after harvest as l found it
D fe in. what l considered its rankest stage Of
rowth, | turned it under keeping in my mind my
Jife's motto, &C ploao Deep" 1 again put it in
yheat, and the following season harvested fine
rop. [ do not now remember the average yield, but
now that it was nearly thirty bushels to the acre.
hus far things looked so encouraging that began
ung fall, at a very low rate As the extent of my
lrming operations enlarged, so did the number of
~ stock, and consequence, the manure heap
also. But this latter fact did not deter from
ursuing the plan had originally adopted plODing
eep and turning IN green cI0cer.
In concluding this hasty sketch, l would remark
nat it was prepared not with any desire my part
ther to extol the merits of my better half claim
riginality for the method pursued; but simply to
how that it is not so difficult method to restore
that is generally termed ao0rn-0Ut lands, many
opposed. By deep ploaoing and green noanuring, 1
ave brought my farm from state of almost barren