New-York tribune., 1868-04-18
NOTES ABOUT FARMING. TGROw-
ING &c t'aE

his Ignorance. RI -.- Ert.....1 tI D. L
NOTES ABOUT FARMING. rTGROw-
ING, &C. +"~
From Our Special cOrrespoudsuI -n
- = - .,r|f n GOTTA, Germany.
Any comparison of the agriculture of this part Il
Europe with that of the United States ought pro
perly to be accompanied by running explanation
of the difference of climate, seasons, and atmospheric
influences. The succession of field labor depends
altogether on these agencies and the system Of FAM
ing must therefore, to certain extent be dependent
upon them. For instance, the first harvest, that d
the rye CROP Is rarely cut here before the first ws
In August, while wheat rpens from the 10th to tie
18th of the same month, sometimes even later. n
Northern Spain, In lat. 43o found the wheat out
this Summer, before the end Of May; here In lat SO
il is from 10 to II weeks later. The same dfercss
Of latitude with US (say between Charleston and
Philadelphia docs not advance the harvest more
than four weeks at the utmost The rapidty and In
tensity of our Summer overcomes the delay Of ouf
longer Winter; but in Northern Germany, where the
rain occasions an instant fall of the temperature The
growth Of crops is necessarily much slower.
All the observations have been able TO make con-
firm me In the belief that OF the most fef
trnate climates In the world for the farmer. TN
earlier maturity of grain, as compared with the
greater part of Europe lessons the risks OF the har
vest the rccuperative power Of vegetation is eatc
anL the foes Of to be combatted only more form
dabls at present because our soil is only partially
cultivated / am sure that the same thorough labos
and care which i see everywhere here would pro
duce far more important returns under our fortunah
The richer bottom-lands of Thuringia have been
cultivated-with the Interruptions Of WARRIOR a
least 1900 years How much longer than that We
have no means Of knowing. Until recently, how
over, the system of farming was very primitive
sJii, but fof Constant and generous manurine, saS
that relief which comes from rotation OF cropA
Some of the farmers reckon five and some seven yeas
lin the latter case the land lying one year fallow-
as the proper cycle.
The improvements which have been made in farm
ing are due entirely to the more intelligent of the
large landed proprietors The peasants, when left 70
themselves reject every innovation, no matter how
recommended. They are generally successful. be-
untring habit of industry, and homely thrift and
simplicity in their domestic life which would make
half our American farmers rich In ten years. Yet
must confess should not wish to them becoming
rich in such fashion,. Between here and EiseEach,
there is village inhabited entirely by independent
farmers frs6aaerl, some OF whom are quite weallhy
The most prosperous are those who keep their eye
and ears open and are willing to learn new methods
What most struck me, IN this village was the care
taken to preserve and economic the manure 1hs
dwelling -house, barn, stables, and outhouses are al
under one roof. generally hollow square inclosnga
courtyard, which is devoted to manure Many Of
these farmers till the same fields as their ancestown
direct line for 500 years When the paterfamlh4
has an heir to his acres, with q second son as mar.
gin in case of accident, he manages that his family
shall be no further increased
There is another village to the north of this nhab-
tied by similar class The people were very wealthy
until few years ago, when connagraton swefs
away almost ever, house, and probably much
boarded treasure. They noted both for their In
dustry and their great skill in all farm-work. During
harvest the entire community join working irftcm-
mon. All the grain is cut and harvested in this mas.
ner the force being large that they can work wI9
great rapidty, and, during variable season, have
great advantage over their neighbors. Their test Of
a we'll bound sheaf is, that a man may count out
smallest
without one OF them slipping down between INC
straws.
all the peasant farmers: The grain is allowed to BE-
come too ripe before it is cut. Hence it must DO
reaped, in the old fashion. with SICKLE delicatey
and gently mown with a short straight;handes,
scythe to prevent the grains being shattered out OF
the husks. The work Of harvest occupies twice q
much time as is actually necessary, which, in
the soil is heavy it is carefully formed into conve1
ridges, about ten feet in width, running the whok
length q the held, the channels between forming.
rude kind of drainage. In fact the fields exhibit the
smoothness and regularity of so many garden beds
stone or a stump is, of course, never see, and 4
grass or young grain has the evehhess OF push-ytr
lovely to the eye, yet at first deceptive 20 the
stranger, who is apt to take this perfect suriae.
culture as the evidence OF superior system Oh
farming.
know gentleman who has leased one OF the Gov.
ernment estates containing about 1000 acres II l's
on the plain between this and the mountains, 10 o
rather exposed position The soil IL only moderately
good, and the former lessee gave up his contract oe
cause he could not pay the moderate rent demandea
and have remuneratiye surplus for himself My 40
quaintance-a man of great independence aud ener
gy, born path-breaker-took the property ana ",
the people supposedly became insane. lie plowso
twelve inches instead of i've broke up the pastures
gave them artificial manures and sowed CLOVER ~
the wet mucky bottoms where grain hau heNu
thriven he planted sugar beets He entirely dlsr
garded the traditional system Of rotation cnahgIns
apparently at random, but really from tntt tr tnstt.
which is nothing less than the bnest kina OF ops,
uotin han r.voa hara fan Vaar
begun the work now, can hardly Recognize h.s h
fields the same. tho man Is getting rei anu WI L.
is better, the peasants OF the neighDofhoouAi' Ai' "
ginning to initiate his insane ways. ,.rL,.h
This is the most bounteous year Tot ffut Ia
has been known in long time. The incessast cv.
and rain during June and July does not seem 70 hsrs
had any effect upon the yields The orcnsIus ,o.i
generally small and confined 10 the helgn fsr
of the villages but oil the highways, branchihs -
and wide over the country are planted With cherry.
apple pear and prune trees. The other aay =. Hrty
from here to Sonderhausen, distance on a torty
miles the fruit trees on the way, ayeragins ny io
feet apart would number more than l00ovl oh i.s
OF the trees there really seemed 10 90 more me
and pears than leaves, and the people iioist st nos
that q strong wind (which they prayed msn nt, ths
cone) would break oil the laden benghs' ',stynt 10
Naumburg-at least fifty miles fuitner-vnn nyra-
nothing but pr,lnes In places there were Y,
mids of this delicious fruit heaped on tho s;sd m
thirty feet square by ten IN hight ihey NY 70 All
rudv' temporary ovens Of clay. and eApoi'ee "
believe this fruit Tin German, rssescke h ,sS At
introduced into the United States bns very nv ia
tantion seams 10 he paid 10 its culture Here
steady and prolific bearer. and is never attaeA
a., c,rcIiIio II thryes In tho poorest anu rvus"S