Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-03-03
[FrOm the Richmond Republican
Agricultural Society.

number of members the State Agricultural
Society held meeting in the Senate Chamber OF
the Capitol on Wednesday night last. The Presi-
dent of the Society being absent the list Vice Pres
dent Mr.. Ruffin, took the Chair and explained the
object OF the meeting, and why it had been called.
number of gentlemen from the country had vsi-
ted the CITY, expecting to attend the Society, which
was to have convened on the 23d inst, but which
was now postponed for the 10th of March. On
their account this meeting was called, and it was
now proposed TO hold conversational meeting, in
which gentlemen would be called upon for their
experience in Agricultural Improvements. The
Chairman then invited Col. Randolph of Abe
marie, to state such experiments as had come
within his observation, for the benefit fthose pre-
sent.
In 1884, said Col Randolph, in CO npany with
fr end made trip to the W-st, where we had an
opportunity of observing the luxurance of the
prairieS, which had been annually burned over for
hundreds ofyears by the Indians, and notwthstand-
ing the settled conviction of most farmers that fire
was injurious to the lands, on my return home
determined to test it. Since that time have fire.
quenty burned of the Stubble and grass from por-
uonS of my field, and have always found the sue
ceeding ctop improved by it. This the Colonel
afterwards admitted was probably owing to the |
TACT that the vegetable matter SO thick that it
could not perform its functions and that the burn
Ing might possibly destroy the surplus, rendering
that which LETT more active and of course more
valuable.i In reply to Il question as to what was
the best preventive against the joint orn in wheat
the Colonel replied, "good cultivation and sowing
II In one body, instead of scattering it about in
|
where the wheat was nearest the woods or clover,
the worm was always worse than in any other por-
ton of the field. He had received more injury
| from the fly than the worm.
MIR. B. j. Barbour of Orange, was satisfied that
the JOINT worm was most destructive where the
wheat was nearest to the wood. The best protec-
tlon against 1t was to cultivate wheat in large
bodies. The worm had been in his county for five
years, and seemed to increase its radius at about
80 miles each year. Both the worm and the fly
were worst where the lands were poor and the
wheat Sown late
Mr.. Barton, from the Valley, dreaded the ravages
of the worm, which had made us appearance in his
section of the country. The HesSan fly, which, AT
one time was very destructive is never seen in the
Northern part OF the Valley now, but ne had no.
tlced where the cultivation was best during the
prevalence al the fly, its ravageS were least felt
| The improvement i'll agriculture in Frederick
county was rapid and steady, shown by the
increased amount OF wheat made in that county
This improvement is attributed to deep ploughing
and clover following.
Mr. Oyerton Of Hanover, was in favor O: deem
ploughlng. He used four torSe plough, and turn
ed up the soil for about 10 inches. He thought
that deep p!oughng enabled the land to resist the
drought better, while the field by that means, was
more easily dlaned. The soil on his farm was
from eight inches 10 three feet Deep SO that it took
deep ploughing TO reach the sub soil beneath. He
was satisfied that where the turf was strong the
four horse plough would go over as broad an era
and do its work much better, than two two horse
ploughS could do ii. He had used three horses
abreast but preferred the four, because they could
plough deeper and make wider fuIrow.
lQulte discussion here sprang up as to witch
was the most eectual three horses abreast or four
hourSeS-two before and two behind. Col Ran
dolph thought the three Just as efficient as the
TOUR, owing to the different lines of draught Great
al by the four horse system, IN whc h consider
able amount of power was lost. For instance-if
the front horses pulled and the hind ones refused
to do so, the point of the plough would be forced
III the ground too deep, " lille II the hind ones drew
steadily and the front ones did no, the plough
would be pulled out of the ground. This must be
the elect III broken land, but it may not be per-
ceptab'e on a level surface. Mr. Overton had dis
covered nothing Of tie sort mentioned by Col.
Randolph, but his field was level one. A gentle
man IN the rom suggested that the conflict i'll the
line OF draughtSpoken OF, had been correct in Eng
land and on the Continent, by attaching the second
horse to the names of the first. This, how ever is
mistake, as that gentleman has no doubt seen.
The conflict may be partially; but only partially,
destroyed, by the system he mentioned.
Mr. Nelson of Clarke alluded to the cultivation
OF Corn IN his section, where they had abandoned
the use OF the hoe altogether. The land is flushed
up ana lad oil four feet each way, and the Dutch
shovelis then used. True they had no wire grass
to contend with, as in old Virginia, bu the timothy
and herds grass, which were very luxuriant, were
easily Killed by ploughlng each way and covering
them up with The shovel. After the land is broken
up they never use turning plough. The corn is
planted four feet apart, two in u hill, and plough
ing completes its cultivation.
Mr. Bowler, of King and Queen, lived on the
where deep poughing would prove most disastrous
he was surprised to writer's on agriculture ad-
vocate deep ploughing indiscriminately. The soil
IN his section is not more than three, four or five
inches deep, and if four horse plough were run
through it, the subsoil would be turned up 10
such an extent as 10 render the land entirely I'M
productive. Where the soil is deep, as in the case
OF Mr. Overton, then deep ploughng is no doubt
advantageous; but where II is shallow, as in my
section, it should be poughed accordingly. Burn
ing the land. as described by Col. Randolph, was
new to the speaker. If the soil is over charged
with vegetable matter, burning portion Of it
would be beneficial but where vegetable matter
was sparSey deposited, then to destroy it by f1e
would be injurious. He was glad 10 say that
spirit OF improvement was abroad in his section Of
the State, and that lands had rapidly risen in value
since the introduction of guano into the State.
M Stovall of Halifax, knew but little of FARM
ing Improvements, practically. He was interested
in the growth Of tobacco, and desired to know the
effect OF gnano upon that plant.
Mr.. Overon had tried guano on tobacco with
good effect. If the season was wet one it was
very beneficial but ifdry he thought it had ten
dency TO burn the plant. He used it broadcast
on the day the hills were made.
Mr.. Jones of Brunswick, had used guano on
wheat with admra BILE effect and was now using il
on tobacco. One of The best managers in this
country goes into the field, cuts down the pines
poughs up the ground, and then applies 800 lbs
OF guano to the acre. HissucceSs has been truly
wonderful. Farmers in Charlotte have used it in
Their plant beds with the happiest results. For
plants 1t should be mxed-one buShel of pulyer-
lzed guano to threeof charcoal. Those who have
tried IT. think the crop is advanced ten days at
least by its use. Mr.. Jones had also used a drill
ling machine for putting in his wheat, with adni-
Fable effect. In December, 1851, he nut in his
wheat, one half by drilling, the other with the
hand, broadcast. None of it came up until Feb
rua:y. That portion which was drilled made a
SPLENDID crop, while that sown broadcast proved
almost failure. The drilling machine can only
be used with good effect where the land is clean
In foul fields it does not act SO well.
Mr.. Booth OF Nottoway, had seen great i'm
pIoVemenls IN his section, since the introduction
OF guano. We find. however, that it pays much