The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-03-29
AGRICULTURAL.
From tie Soil Of tie Suuth.
Manuring Land.

NohV'
MK. EDIroR: In my communication OF
last month, upon the subject of farming,
| endcavored to draw a parallel between
two systems Of farming, now being carried
on in Georgia; and think showed most
conclusively, that if confined to cropping
alone, the latter system had greatly tue
advantage. But another advantage is
derived, which results more immediately
to the land, by this mode of farming. ]
will give YOU one case, out of II great
many. which has come under my own
knowIedg'. c. l.. Dupree. ESD, few
years since, purchased farm in Pike
county, part Of which WAS, as we com
monty say, nearly worn out; one fed in
particular, which lay near his dwelling
was to ali "human appearances not worth
culuvating. The first year, that field,
only yielded about 200 pounds of seed
cotton per acre A fine year Tor cotton
700. Mr.. ID. began TO manure it. The
first year he raised on the same field $50
pounds per acre. The second year, ma
nurcd, he gathered $50, and the third
$50 pounds, and another year 10y the
same mode of farming he is sanguinc Of
gathering 1000 pounds per acre.
But will here remark, that consider
MIR. ID. one Of the best planters ever
saw is it not strange, that though there
are hundreds Of such cases rs the one
above referred to, that when the fact is
pressed upon the minds of many OF our
| planters, that tney wHrIeff you II Will
not pay TO manure their old lands I They
are no doubt honest in Hhat they say
1t may be, that my expefience is1too linn
tied TO express an opinion. But let that
be as it may, it is my honest opinion that
there is no labor performed upon farm
which affords the same profit to t plan
ter, AS that bestowed upon making, haul
ing out, and spreading manure. But an
other objection is: the material is so
together to make manure" BY proper
attention, there can be much larger
quantity Of manure collected upon the
farm III the run of the year, than any one
is aware of, who has never tried it. If a
planter will but make up his mind to have
manure, he will find the "matcrial" much
more plentifui than ut first anticipated
You will pardon the liberty which have
taken, in giving my mode of operation.
| have Il rake for each OF my hands; and
when too wet for any other kind of work
put all hands to raking up leaves in the
Dods. | find the best time to do this il.
when the leaves are very wet. At my
lcasure, have them hauled iuto my lots,
and stables, and when sufficiently trod
upon, put them into large pens.
lUok upon the forest rs ''na,urcs vast
s,orchousc" which affords abundant means
to make manure, yet there are other auN-
ilarics which is source OF revenue for
making manure. The chips at your wood
pile, your ashes, wheat and oatstraw, and
shucks all mixed up with the leaves, will
make as much manure as Won can haul
out and spread, in time. This will ma
nure your cotton, and Your cotton seed
will manure your wheat and corn bounti-
fully. Give it fair trial before it is con.
demned by You, and | promise a fair re.
muucration, in fine cotton, wheat and corn,
for all your labor. Try it. but another
planter will say, | have some manure,
perhaps enough to manure onc-third of
my crop, but rs | have not enough to ma
nure all, ] will not manure any rart at
all. This would be aS suIcida! to his best
interest AS for Il planter to say, who has
thirty-tive hogs to fa,ten, | have corn to
fatten ten, but because | can't fatten the
thirty, | "iIl not frttcn any No planter
in his senses would think that was right,
and still their course is perfectly anaIog.
Gus. II n planter coull manure one.third
Of his farm each year, in three years ali
would be manured. This system being
kept up for number OF years, could not
fail to greatly enhance the value and pro.
ductiveness Of his land. The subject
seems so plain, to my mind at least, that
it is needless consumption Of time TO
prosecute it any further. There are none
SO blind as those who will not Sec" so
says
Your old friend,
ABNER