, 1859-01-28
AgricuIturs.



the root crops have been the most efficient
means Of making the English the most pow.
erful agricultural nation on earth. Such
crops have greater tendency than most
others to renovate and enrich the soil, and
this should be a chief object with farmers.
Any system, it matters not the amount of
immediate proftii promises, if it continually
impoverishc the land, will sooner or later
bring its subject to want Cotton and TO-
bacco crops enable their producers to gain
wealth fast, while the land is fresh, but in
few years the soil best adapted to them,
without extraordinary care, will become so
poor that heavy crops Of no kind can be
grown.
In the United States we know Of no pro-
S4cts better calculated to improve the hus-
bandry than to give special attention to
manuring and raising roots. To those not
acquainted, roots may seem too small busi-
ness, but this is for want Of knowing the
large amount that may bo produced, and
their various uses. From two to six hun
dred bushels Of potatoes, beets, turnips,
carrots, or parsnips may be produced to the
acre much more easily than one hundred
bushels of corn, and the acre of roots will
60 further in feeding than corn, and improve
the ground at the same time, while the other
deteriorates it. Horses, cows and swine
are all fond Of roots, and they thrive and
continue healthy in being fed with them.
Previous to the season to commence putting
in roots, we hope few condensed directions
Cor putting in and cultivatiug will be service
able.
Potatoes.
There are many varieties Of potatoes
claiming pre-eminence, but the large, smooth.
skinned blues and London Lady, for the
West, have no superiOrs for early use; and
the late reds, Neshannocs, all do well for
the main crop. The soil must be rich.
There are two advantages in planting in hills
Oas to plOv both ways First, they are
more easily cleaned, as the plow will do
most Of the work; and secondly, the digging
Is not fourth of the labor when potatoes
arc in drills
, One Of the best potato raisers told US the
other day Of plan by which he always sue
ceeds in producing large, round, smooth tu-
bers. He cuts Of the eye end and gives it
10 the pigs or cows, splits the tuber open
lslgihwise, and places two or three halves
ineach hill. We have such confidence in the
ezperimcs Of the inSormer, we believe the
gstam good, and therefore recommend it
with confidence. AKA
Just before the young plants come through
ths surface, harrow should pass over them
70 loosen The soil and destroy young weeds.
The vines should be kept perfectly free from
ern@ and weeds, till they are six or eight |
inches high, when they might have one good
hTling, after which they will require little
o. no attention till the digging season comes
round As to their preservation, We will
speak when Il Is more needfal.
lIsns.l Wurssl ana Sugar Bests.
There Is good deal Of dispute amongst
farmers concerning the productiveness Of
fhesstWo varieties oil beets, but this depends
upon several circumstances. If the season
Is wet and the surface very rich and mellow,
the sugar beet is unquestionably preferable;
but IN . dry season, II the soil is deep, the
Wurz6l has proved the better crop, and, as
70 tie n1tritive particles Of each, we have
not nscertained by feeding that one has any
advantage over the other.
Two pounds Of seed to the acre is the
general allowance when the rows are
about two feet asunder and the plants from
eight 10 twelve inches apart. The ground
fhoala Be well manured and perfectly pull
Serizsd The English plan Is to manure in
the trench over which the seeds are deposi-
ted, and the main point is to have enough Of
II A piece of plank four or Eve feet long,
with pins projecting beneath from one and
ahilf 70 two inches, and q handle above,
win answer fora dibble to put in the seeds
- fhe proper distance and depth. Place the
dibbleon the row, and with one exertion Of
de 6ot, holes wiz be made, put in two seeds
70 have sure stand, cover with the foot or
Aeht rake and then roll the ground. II the
seeds are soaked from twenty-four to forty
sight hours in warm water, they will come
earilsr, and better stand viii be insured.
Amer the plants get up two or three inches,
ein out to proper distance, keep out the