The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1858-05-26
From the North Carolina Farmer.
CLEARING UP NEW GROUND.


CLEARING UP NEW GROUND.
A little experience in clearing up new
ground, has led the undersigned to the fol :
lowing conclusions, which he recommends to
the careful consideration Of all persons about
TO engage in that business:
ln the FIRST place, there is scarcely anything
connected with il worthy Of more serious at
tcntiun than the manner Of cutting down the
trees. IL certainly is not quite so easy to cut
a tree down even with the eartlps surface, or
very little above il, a. il is to cut il about
two ieel above, the ordinary height al which
slumps are suffered to stand. And vet, On fair
trial, il will be found 10 require bntyery lntle
more time or labor in fact, nothing Of either.
worthy OF being compared with the manifest
disadvantages of leaving the stumps upon the
ground. to render its appearance unsightly,
obstrurt the succeeding cultivation. occupy a
large portion OF the surface, break plows, har-
rows. cultivators, ard gearing; wear out the
brute force employed, break down The strength,
consume the time and exhaust the patience
and temper of the laborer. A little more
bending OF the back, and few more strokes
Of the axe. and your tree is down and out Of
NhG way Wh1ttact " VI lNt usual
mode, a part OF ii, in the shape Of an ugly
stump, remains constant eye-sore and an
nnyance for ten, fifteen, or twenty wears
perhaps even ten added TO that; especially
il cut at the usual time Of the year, which I
now proceed TO show is on all grounds of
reason and common sense the wrong one.
The late fall the winter, or the early spring
is the time commonly selected for this pur-
pose and the reason assigned is that other
work being at those parts Of the year less
pressing. this can be attended 10 with more
convenience. But, observe, we are not here
speaking of the whole work Of clearing up new
ground, but only Of that part Of il which con-
sists in Telling the trees. Chop your fallen tree
up-ro!l your logs-pile and burn your bru sh
clean off and plow at whatever time YOU
can, or please to do so; but If you are man
who studies the economy Of labor and the adj
vantages Of taking time by the forelock. by
\ al means cut down your trees during the
month Of August, or il It that be incon.cni.
ent, be sure and attend To ii from the middle
uf July to the middle Of September; aud for
The following reasons:
! In the first place yuu will thus have secur-
ID, TO the convenience and comfort of your.
self aud family. an abundant supply Of the
very best kind of winter iuel-light. dry, easy
to haul and handle.
4 In the second place, when cut down at this
season Of The year, the stump of tree does
not require hall the time to rot out; and. il
cut very low as above recommended, il does
not require one third. il even one fourth Of il.
For some reason OF other, probably because
the sap Is then fully up. the tree Is well
known 20 decay much faster when cut at this
season aud i cnt very low, the stump will
+ naturally take on hollow crown, which re.
tain,ng rain will cause il to be constantly moist
and decompose with great rapidity.
4 A third advantage Of this plan u, that all
sproutlng. except from the few Sour. wood.
and Persimmons present. aud tre they icR
starcely iciihsiGnd This erterminaiing process
is utterly and forever Al al end. The root,
Of every other species Of tree cut down, ol
sappling grnbbed up. will die dead in Few
weeks. leaving nothing which the plow viii
not easily eradicate and subdue.
A further advantage Of this course is. tina
the labor Of rolling and burning the large log
will be greatly diminished. This is certain
ly fact, aud most important one. The log
having become dry and scarcely hallthe weight
they are therefore managed with much les
expense 81 time and labor, and burn Of will
twice the facility.
In The fifth place. any one, who adopts thi
course, will be surprised to observe the com
parat,e lightness and lriableness d the soil
Compared with that IL lands cleared in th,
, winter or spring. Il is like bed af ashes
And then again, on inserting his plpws he viii
be equally pleased in observing The ease viii
! which they are drawn. No tough roots sr
there 10 obslruct their progress. These ropt
are etead---rvttOn--atd easily give aWay to th
force of single mule or horse. There is littl
jerking or straining oi the poor animal. ~
! chucklng Of the plowman under the chin B.
The upward t,liing of Tie plow handles; y
breaking OF back bands aud traces; eouse
! ! quently less amount 10 pay TO the tanner an
I blacksmith.
A sixth reason. u is almost IN axiom anon
those WIN plaht new lands in corn, that &c.
: crop Is never more than half crop. II ma,
therefore, With good reason, be considered as
sixth advantage of this plan, that the first year
produce will be greatly increased By Il. III
soil being more light and friablr, The pIow dc,
\ \ lie work much mure thoroughly. and the ront
! Of plants, in consequence. find free range. u,
sines, the process ul decay ismore advance,
!. and Il is Oh decayed vegetable matter that a
:. plants feed. In fact all nanures, with ver
!, lew exceptions, are traceable to this sour,
!, they are dscomposed rsgdabie matter. al
Il is mainly BY arccleratiag this decoInpos
r. 4fa -