The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1855-10-31

ndrusnips Ol settllnS WIFI country leave
but little opportunity Tor more than preparing
for cultivation and Cropping such parts Of
the land as are absolutely necessary for main
tanning the colony. Land was plenty--tim-
ber an incumbrance, and labor scarce and
costly; so that, in reality, it was cheaper,
and the s0under economy in them to bring
new fields with their exceeding superficial
fertility into culture, rather than manure
those which they had reduced by imperfect
tillage and scourging cropping. Throughout
America the land suffered by the exhausting
operations of the settlers and their descend,
ants for several generations but that can
only go to certain extent, and then il must
stop. When getting to be 50 reduced as not
to pay Tor cultivation, necessity forbids a
further reduction Of the soil, and the process
Of regeneration begins. At first it proceeds
slowly; but every degree of Improvement
furnishes means for still greater. and accor,l-
ingIy it increases its pace, and by improved
culture, manures, rotation OF crops, and the
like, it ends in productlyeness beyond its
original capacity.
II not to the lowest, certainly to very
low condition, much of the land in the State
had been brought; and the time came, when,
4 if improvement was ever to be made, it would
be commenced. use the expression, .the
time came" instead of "has come," because
it is joyful fact, that some persons in va
rious parts Of the State, many in some parts.
have improved, and continue to improve
their lands and increase their crops-profit
ing much thcrefrom in their fortunes, and
setting the rest Of US examples by which we
ought also to profit. We have all heard for
some years past, that the era Of Improvement
had begun in the great and wealthy county
Of Edgecombe; and llearn from unquestion-
able sources, that the intelligent and enter
prising planters Of that county have been re-
war,led by signal success. do not propose
to enter into detail Of their system further
than to say, that it consists chiefly in drain
ing BY bitches and embankments, making
and applying composts, the use OF suano and
plaster Of Paris. and the feld.pea as an ane-
liorating crop, as well as food for stock. adj
wise every one, however, who has the oppor-
tunty, by minute inquiries, TO obtain from
those who have put this system into use, de-
tailed information respecting il /; aud feel no
hesitation in preferriDg request TO the
planters Of Edgecombe, as public spirited
gentlemen, to communicate through our ag-
ricultural periodicals, the histury Of their
improvements, aud their experiments-as
well those III which they failed as those in
which they succeeded, with all other matters
which NAV be useful 10 their brethren in 9th
er sections.
In other parts Of the country, with which
| am more intimately acquainted, much i'm.
provement has been made, 10 my knowledge.
or lie counties ranging along our northern
border, from Warren TO Stokes. inclusive,
have had for about fifty years considerable
knowledge. That was the principal region
Of the tobacco culture. According TO the
course Of that culture, wherever it prevail
ed in our early annals, the country was cut
down rapidly, cropped mercilessly with 4
view TO quantity rather than quality, then
nut into corn, and exhausted quickly and al
most entirely. When first knew il, and
Cor a long time afterwards, there were
Astounding evidences Of former fertility, aud
existing and sorrowful sterili,y. Corn and
tobacco and oats were almost the only
crops. But little wheat and no cultivated
grasses we're 10 be seen in the country. War.
rem aud Granville bought the little flour they
used from Orange wagons. Large tract.
were dsligured by gals and lrightful gul
lies. turned nut as cold fields with broom
straw and old-fcld pines for their only YES,
ture, Instead Of their stately primitive for
ests, or rich crops for the use Of man.
This isa sad picture. But il is true one
aud there was more fact than figure IN iii,
: saving by many, whose work Of dcsiruc
! ton rendered that region 50 .desOlate, and
, whu then abandoned il, that il was "olt
, and worn out" Happily. some thought Il.
condition not so hopeless, and, cherishin:
their attachment for the spnts Of their na
tiyity, within these lew years--sincc the tim,
Of river navigation aud railroads began
: set about rcp.iring the ravagcs Of fUrmc
: days. DO you suppOse they were conten
, with less crops, aud therefore they cult
waited less land than before, leaving q large
!. area 10 natural recovery by rest Tia
. was not their course. .'rhey did not giy,
! up the culture Of tobacco, but greatly in
! creased ii, and corn also and they addci
I 10 their rotation, wheat, when 81 inu6l
: more easily aud chcapiy carried to market
} Hut they greatly increased the collection
! and application Of manurcs from The sta
T bIrs, aud tie cattle yards, witlrconsidem
HE additions Of The concentrated manure
!, obtained from abroad, and protected th
{ land from washing By judicious hill.sid
i irenching aud more thorough plowing. Til
result has been, that many old fields hiv
) been reclaimed and brought into cultivation
{ the lands generally much increased 10 fertil
I ity, and Of course, IN actual and market yalu
i IL the like proportion, While the production
!. has, probably, doubled in quantity and val
i uc III al the range of counties mentioned
!. sucl, examples are honorable TO thOse VII
i set them, and useful 10 others, who irsir
: to improve. For that rrason have though
e il proper thus 10 signalize them, al | woul
!. Gladly do others, which may, and ! bop