Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-02-15

STRIKING INSTANCEOFTHEB BENE-
FITS OF THE THOROUGH I'M
PROYEMENT OF LAND.

From the American Farmer.
STRIKING THE BENE-
FITS OF THE THOROUGH I'M
PROVEMENF OF LAND.
It is now some nineteen years since we
have had charge of the editorial manage
ment Of this journal, and during the whole
of that time, it has been among our OBJ
jects to impress the truth upon our rea-
ders, that there is no Investment lChich a far
n1er or planter can make, that eUiU bring him
so large an interest for money expended, as
aOM judiciOuS OutIays for naanareS to i'm
prove Ills lan2. But independent of the
question Of proit-which should be al
ways kept in view as a cardinal consider
ation-there are other motives which
should incile him to action-mOlives of
the most enobIing character. When one
comes to reflect, that by his expenditure,
he has SO improved the productive capa-
cities of his land, that one acre will pro-
dUce as much as three did before, he feels
cOncious pleasure in the fact, that he had
thereby enhanced the value Of his estate,
and fulfilled an obligation of duty to-
wards his children, who are to inherit af-
ter him. When he reflects that the ex-
ample which he has set his neirhbors,
will exert an influence upon them, and
encourage them to engage in the laudiblc
work Of me! Grating the condition Of their
lands, and shat he will have been the
means thereby OF adding to the wealth of
the nation-wc say, when one comes to
reflect upon the good effects Of his own
generous eXtsnp!e, he derives harvest
Of feelings even more valuable than the
immediate benefits accnrins to himself,
because they are void OF all selfish con-
slderatiOns, repOse upon the broad basis
of public good, and difuse their blessings
throughout the community. 1t has been
handed down to rs as an axiom, which
carries upon its face reproach TO human
nature-that " PFecePtS y0vcrn and EXAM
pies .ta1j;" but so far as Agricultural ex
amples, of a salutary and profitable kind,
may be concerned, we do not think that
the axiom just quoted will hold good for,
however slow some agrlcultOrs, may be
i'll departures from the old beaten tracks
of their pro5enitOrs, the great mass, in
the present day, arc disposed to take coun-
sci from the successful experiments of the
cnteprising' around them for self
respect and pride of character, will urge
men forward to the performance of good
works, when interest bcckons, and the
onward spirit Of the aye not only mar
Phals them to the conflict, but forbids their
inactivity.
With this passing introduction, we will
introduce to our readers one of the most
striking instances of through improve.
ment that has ever come to our knowl-
edge. This improvement was effected
by Mr.. John @. Hewlett. of our City. He
purchased farm on the Frederick Road,
Of Rnlt ~,
summer of I 846. On Oneol the fields, ron-
sisting Of 16 acres, there was crop OF
wheat growing AT the time, The yield
Of this field was such, as to convince him,
that the soil was exhausted of its produc-
tive elements, and would inquire through
improvement. Having understood, from
what we considered good authority, that
Mr.. Hewlett had restored this worn oul
field TO high state of productiveness, we
applied to him for the facts in the case
and received from him the following re.
ply,-and as we like to give facts in the
words of the narrator, we shall copy the
note as we received it from the writer -
Mr.. sHEwLETr's NoTE--" The land
spoken of came into my possession in
June, l848. bought tho crop Of wheat
on one of the fields containing 16 acres
The product was II bushels per acre"
During the winter of l849, I spread
100 bushels of Baltimore County uucl
lime per acre, which cost Is cents per
bushel. cents per bushel for hauling, and
g cents per bushel for spreadinr-ma.
king the cost of lime 800 per acre. -
iClovpr seed had been previously sown
by the proprietor in the Spring Of 1913 /
cut two crops Of clover in the yeaI
l049 and 1850, permitting the second crop
each year, to fall on the ground, neither
Pasturing nor cutting the second crop.
"In the Spring of 1851, sowed 2OC
Tbs. of GuanO per acre, on the land, broad
cast, ,-Ploughed it in. planted the field il
corn. (thick for the season, 1 think, ane
gathered 1OI bbls. per acre.
&c In che Spring of 1859, ploughec
the field, and sowed thereon bushels o
Black Peas per acre, for which l charged
the land nothing. as the pasturage ii
August and September following, was
'uI! equivalent for the cost"
- In the fall Of 1852, / sowed 100 lbs
Poo ""no' orn per acre, and ploughed in the
ebaIa EPt oS narrowed, then sowed 20 bu
~ n"1t - nO"e-dust. and 10 bushels of dir,
SowoI ' 6I PT' "cTe' narrowed these in, then
Is2 UoSnel5 Of Wheat ner acre
narrowed the Wheat in, and rpIIol "Ie ,,'1
ianu' Inc product of the cron nf WI,
on the 10 acres, at the harvest of ,ose
was 617 bushels, which sold at SI'18.|1G30,
per 6Hshel-for the crop, S728 6. 100 ~ y
VI the Hay grown on this field 7 sold