Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-04-16
corre.nondence of the Spectator.

alss.r. E7;tors In my last remarked tina
the scarcity of timber in many places was an %
lection In order to obviate the difficulty so fa
| as fencing is concerned, the Usage Orange Is be
;no Introduced For some time doubts were en-
ltertained whether or not it would stand the WIN
Etars Experience has removed those doubts, ant
we are now going into it pretty freely. Inc
present price of the sprouts at one year OLD, Il
81 80 per thousand, and 33 to the pole Is the
usual quantity, some use more some plant SIN
gle row, say or inches apart, with the same
number of plants that is used in the single row
each row has plant ut the distance OF loot
and alternated. With proper attention, the
hedge will be ready to turn out in from TO
years. 1t will be perceived that the cost OF ma,
terial for fence of this kind is triilg, compared
with rail fence, even in timbered country
bitches and embankments have been tried, Dul
long since exploded, as utterly useless.
Many of our fixtures are of temporary and
primitive character Such, for instance, is our
wheat Garners, (save the mark y They are
nothing more or less than pens, made OF fence
rails, lined with straw, and covered with the
same. Our Corn Cribs are made in the same
way, into which we throw our corn, shuck and
all. Strange as it may appear to an Augusta
farmer if proper attention is paid to the con-
structon of them, grain keeps in them very safe
ly.
Our wheat is cut almost entirely by Reapers;
some drawn by four and others by two horses.
Those drawn by four horses usually cut about
twelve acres per day; those drawn by two cut
about eight acres per day :,
We have variety of threshing machines, all
of which, so far as know, clean the wheat as
they thresh it. and are usually drawn, or pro-
PEELED by eight horses. There is also in use in
some places. travelling thresher, which goes
from shock to shock, having thrown on to it at
each shock, enough grain to do to the next
This machine also cleanses the wheat, and Is
propelled by horses. There is a box under
meath which holds about eight bushels, and
when full has to be emptied.
Our Ploughs are of q very superior order; the
nature of the soil requires them to be so, other
wise they void not clear themselves. man
with one of them, and good span OF horses, can
easily plough three acres per day for weeks to-
gether, and not oppress the horses.
We raise both Fall and Spring Wheat-the
latter, on land that has been in use for several
wears, is said to be the most certain crop. and
some varieties of it, but little, if any, inferior to
fall wheat, both as to the quantity raised on the
acre. and to the quantity and quality OF the
flour.
Corn is, however the principal crop, vast o.
mount of it being raised annually, and most
liberal use made of it. One man, with some as
sistance in planting, together with aspan of hor-
seS. can cultivate sufficient quantity to produce
200O bushels, provided the season is tolerable
one--it would not require an extra season.
The Hessian Fly, until recently, it is said, was
unknown here; it is now making its appearance,
and is becoming more or less troublesome, We
also have the smut, and perhaps some other pests.
The Chintz Bug is, however, by far the most for
midable pest at present Its preference seems to
be for wheat but when that is cut, it attacks
oats or corn, and on the latter is very destruc-
tive. In some instances there are perhaps thou
sands on single hill, and if the season at that
particular time, should happen to be dry, the
destruction is complete; on the contrary II 1t Is
very wet, it operates against the bugs, and in ia
yor of the corn, and in that case there may be
half crop.
have thus given little of both sides-the
good and the bad-for the consideration OF those
of your readers who may not be SO fortunate as
to be comfortably situated in the good Old Do
minion. If have by a simple statement OF a
few facts succeeded in convincing some OF them,
as thoroughly as myself am convinced, tlat IL
would be greatly to their interest to come west,
shall have done all that intended, and quite
as much as | expected.
have made an arrangement by which / trust
YOU will shortly realize my subscription for your
excellent paper. cannot consent to do with,
out it: it brings me news weekly from my old
stamping ground, which would not willingly
dispense with; it causes both JOY and sadness
IRVINE.