Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-02-04
From the American Farmer.
Preparation of Sedan Important
Experiment.

MEssRs EDIToRs The arrival of your
useful journal for December, reminds me Of
n promise to send you an account Of an ex-
pertinent, made last year, in growing small
grain.
This, and kindred subjects have occupied
my attention for many years and l have ex-
perimented, when opportunity . rmitted, not
with . view to excite, or satisfy others, but
merely to prove to myself the possibility Of
increasing crops, on all soils, by a prepara'
ton OF the seed. The practice Of preparing
seed is Ivy no means a modern invention.-
The learned Blumcnbach once remarked to
me, "what IL new is not true, aud what is
true is no. new" and this would almost seem
II literal truth, for often, on investigation, we
find, what is considered a modern invention,
is in reality, Of great antiquity. The Egyp-
tlGns, and other nations, practiced the art,
and have reasons for believing that it made
a necessary part Of their system of husban-
dry.
After multiplied observations, and varied
experiments, | have arrived at the conclu-
sion, tGat q proper preparation increases,
vastly, production. l also believe, that the
same cause renders the plant less liable to
casualties Of disease, and the destructive &C.
ton Of insects and in small grain, upon
which my experiments have principally been
made, increases the quality and quantity of
the grain, ~ we'll as adding greatly to the
size, healthiness and amount Of straw.
These observations have been repeatedly
corroborsted by those who have had occa-
sion, aud taken sufficient interest in tho
matter, to compare and examine into the
sub ct.
As the experiments we're instituted for my
own personal satisfacti0 on, and they have
hoo, vopinI aud prnrrcyeiva b,ya ,ot
found it necessary 70 DO exact as to measure
ment Of ground and product. Varied plan
tings, side by side, offered the means Of
comparison for my purposes. At the in,
stance VI u friend, | carefully measured the
ground planted last year in rye and wheat,
ia which | was kindly assisted by my neigh.
Dor Nr. ). Crawford, who witnessed the pre-
piration Of toe ground, and the seeding, and
was present ut the threshing. 1t is scarcely
necessary Cor me to remark, that no manure of
any kind was used. Nor do the lands in this
vicinity come under the head of rich on the
contrary, they are considered light, and hea-
Wy crops are not expected Of them, in their
present condition, whatever they may have
been originally, or rendered by fertilizers
NV efforts have been 10 increase the product
economically, and ms all things are relative,
the principle is not changed, whether they be
rich or poor.
The ground seeded, amounted to nine and
half acres-sevcn and n half in rye, and two
in wheat. 1t was exposed to the n. +. and
\. W., and with q gentle declivity of low
grounds, part Of which it included. The top
of the hill, which | thought the poorest, land
those wae have known the place much Ion
ger than myself, expressed themselves as de-
cided upon that point, was sowed with rye,
the seed having been previously prepared
through tho entire length, and in the centre,
II strip Of about two lands, was sowed with
the same seed, in its normal state. The
ground sowed with prepared seed, measured
three acres. There was q manifest difference
in the size of the heads, straw, AMI grain,
between the prepared and not prepared
Even in casting his eye over the field, the
moss casual observer oould at once perceive
the difference, for it was on either side like a
step. That upon which the unprepared seed
was planted, is comparatively new ground,
the stumps still standing, aud the low ground
included, may be called rich, Judging from
the corn ! have seen grown upon it. The
crop from the prepared seed was even, tall
and heavy, the heads long, and bending
over. Tngt from the unprepared was un
even, muck Of it small, mot knee high) anC
rot worth cutting. This was particular,
the case with the wheat, which was injured
by the fy.
The three acres, from the prepared seed
yielded SO bushels. The six and half acres
from unprepared seed, yielded rye, 33 bush
els, and wheat 2 bushels-42 bushels.
The grain from the prepared seed was pro
nouneoi remarkably fine, heavy, full, ant
decidedly superior 10 that from the unpre
pared. Indeed, a neighbor, who had pur
chased tor IN extra price, choice rye, foun,
that my grain from the prepared seed, wa
decidedly superior.
The great merit Of this method is, that !
holds cut a hope for greatly ameliorating III,
condition Of those whose lot has been cas-
upon thin or impoverished soils. To such
the present price Of Guano would appear +
put that manure out Of the question, the an
p~lication Of stable manure in sufficient ouan
tity, impraeticable.
Idesign to experiment upon our great sta
pies, cotton and tobacco, and should the ex
periments prove as satisfactory'as / think. an,
hope they will, the result will lie highly i'm
portant TO older settled Southern States
Very respectfully. yours,
T. G. G.
1.-THE Home" Prince Georges CO., J
nm-A1aw VAAL IOrn a."