The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-05-18
From the Southern Planter and Farmer.
How To Begin Improving a Farm.

The first thing to be done is to lay it off
into small fields, suited as near as may be
to the less or greater fertility ofthe soil, hav-
ing the fields as nearly square, or in other
words the fences in straight lines from one
point to another so as to give the farm
handsome appearance, when it can be atfor-
ded. I would recommend board fences as
most economical, first because they are sub
stantial and need but little attention or re-
pair for a long time; and, second,
because the land saved, in my opinion,
, with proper cultivation, will more than pay
for the fence, as often as it will have to be
renewed; and thirdly, because there is no
trouble to keep them free from briars and
,bushses. If however, plank fences are
thought too expensive for the time being,
then would, as the next best, if timber is
plenty, make the Jefferson or stake and cap
fence. This, if we'll made, with locust stakes
and good rails, will last long time, and will
give but little trouble in repairing, not like
" to be effected by storm. If timber is
scarce, would advise to make the outside
fence to the foregoing ways; and for divi-
sions use portable fences. By this method
there only would be necessary suficiency
to enclose such portions of the farm as might
be necessary to be kept. Portable fences
may be made during during the winter, in
bad weather under shelter, by any person
who has mechanical genius in the following
manner. For the post and base have the
plank sawed two inches thick and eight or
ten inches wide; cut the base four feet long
and the post about FIVE feet; spike the post
firmly to the base, cutting a recess into the
; post to receive the second and fourth plank,
The plank being cut the roperlength, there
should be three battens, one at each end,
and one in the middle nailed to the plank,
two of which should be long enough to re-
ceive pin out side of the post.
Much has been said and written in favor
of the five field system, and it may do very
well where the farm is uniform in quality;
but where farm is undulating, having some
level and some rolling land upon it, in my
opinion, it is not the thing, because the level
and most fertile portions will bear more, and
the less fertile will bear less cultivating, and
. consequently should be more Or less in grass.
I therefore have not been able in my prac-
tice to adopt this system.
, The next thing, after the farm is properly
= arranged, is thorough plowing, This should
be done with not less than three good hor-
ses Or mules, first because less power than this
will not be able to plow deep enough, nor
can it be turned as well and second, because
it is otherwise more economical in saving
time and labor, for three horse plows will do
as much work in given time, as three two
=. horse plows, thus saving the labor of one
hand and doing little work.
Thorough plowing is indispensable to the
improvement of the land, as we'll as for the
producing of the present crop. BY deep
plowing the soil is deepened, less liable to
wash away, to suffer from drought or exces-
sive wet, as the water will quickly soak away
from the root of the plant and yet be retain
ed in the ground to be supplied when need
ed in succeeding drought. 1t is not only
necessary oplow deep and thorough, but
the ground should be thoroughly pulverized
before the seed is deposited; so that the root
of the plant in search of nourishment may
have opportunity to draw a little from every
particle with which it comes in contact,
which it cannot do, if the land is hard and
cloddy. To accomplish this, replowing, tho
rough narrowing, and rolling is of the great
est advantage. This is the method I adopt
ed in the commencement of my farming, op-
erations, and is to some extent the secret of
nv success. When I commenced farming,
my first object was to improve my farm, and
the accumulation of property was entirely