The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1858-02-17

iaClLndt, Win JuulSiUuo oy StclIi VI IiUppiHSt
guano deserves the name of a permanent
improyer in the same sense as other manures.
Why then the endless contention about the
permanency of improvement from guanoT
We approve highly Of horizontal ditchng
whenever the surface is sufficiently uneven
to require It. Properly graded (Which we
believe is seldom the case) horizontal bitches
are of great service, for the deterioration Of
the soil in hilly sections Is principally owing
to the loss it suffers from washing rains.
Improperly graded, they are great disad-
vantage.
They should be as short as practicable, and
should in almost all cases empty up the
stream or ravine at which they terminate.
The first field is ploughed, manured and
ditched, and ready for corn and tobacco.
The corn should be planted early, so as to re-
ceive, if possible, its last working before
harvest, by which arrangement two objects
are gained: First, the corn is not liable to
suffer from want Of attention at very i'm
portant stage, as is the case when laving by
is deferred till after the wheat and oats are
secured. Second, the peas, which should be
sown at the last working Of the corn, will
have more time to mature for the benefit Of
the succeeding crop Of wheat. The follow
ing autumn the corn and tobacco having been
removed, No. is sown in wheat or wheat
and oats, and the next spring in clover. After
harvest the stock is allowed to CLEAN the field
but should be removed soon enough to prevent
injury to the young clover. The field should
then be unmolested with its crop of clover
till the ensuing spring II months, viz: its
fourth year, (having been, first in corn and
tobacco, second in wheat, third in cioyer) al
which time the clover will have matured, and
in the regular rotation the field will become
the pasture. 1t will have been i months in
clover, undisturbed, and thereby much i'm
proved. Tie fourth spring the stock is
turned upon it, at which time it affords ex-
cellent pasturage, while the partial removal
Of the vegetation by grazing will diminish
the number of insects which would otherwise
be injurious to the succeeding crops of corn
and tobacco.
We have thus followed No. ! through its
first, second, third and fourth years after
which il again becomes the corn and tobacco
field. Nos. 2, 8 and Of course follow the
same rotation.
The facilities for Improvement, and the
advantages generally O. tie four field system
appear to Us much greater, to the tobacco
\ planter at least, than either the three or five
/ 1t is to be preferred to the former, because
it admits of the maturity of the clover before
grazing, and at the same time affords an ex-
cellent pasture every year, without injury Y
the land, which is impossible with the three
field system, unless there is standing pas
ture. And its advantage over the latter !:
because this requires more land than many
planters are in possession Of, and long inter
walls of tillage induce the growth of shrubs
and sedge, &C., rendering subsequent cult
vation more laborious.
\ Upon the value of clover as an improyel
and food for stock Of all kinds, it is unne
cessary for Us to dwell.
I The four field system precludes the neces
sity Of grazing more than is beneficial to th'
land. Ii keeps the land in constant stat'
Of improvement, which in short time wil
render the planter independent Of all import
ed manures, or such as are not afforded BY tn,
plantation. Supplying good pasture, i vii
ensure plenty OF meats, and OF milk aad but
ter. Indeed we believe it only requires som,
such system as the one now proposed 10 pa
an entirely new face on those sections 0
Virginia and \. c., whose washed and sedg,
hill sides show the severe scourging to whlcl
they have been subjected, since it is frcn
those districts that the great emigration (
the fresh lands Of the south and west ha
taken place.