The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1872-04-19
Ion rnn MAnmrrA JounNAL
LaRrouLruRE IN VIRGINIA


The German farmers of the She
nandoah Valley, Virginia, are thu
most careful and successful agricul
turalists on this continent. As one
travels along the smooth pike from
Martinsville to Staunton, every evil
dence of industry, thrift and wealth,
is seen, in the square, well-fenced
fields, the large neat and comforta.
bic houses, the capacious bank
barns, the powerful, well-kept
horses, the beautiful fields of clover,
timothy and bluegrass, which adorn
the landscape, on every side. Too
shrcwd to stake a years labor on
any one special or favorite crop,
and, likewise, too provident Of their
soil, to indulge in drafts upon its fer
tility, that would evidently impov-
erish it, they make haste to get rich
SHORTY, and they do not fail. Rota-
ton in crops is their theory and
practice; and, though, they are
careful to grow the heaviest crops
possible, yet, the careful tillage, the
regular manuring, the clovering, the
sowing of plaster and lime, show at
the end of ten years an increased
fertility, an Astounding vitality, not
possessed by the virgin soil. On a
farm Of $50 acres-and but few are
larger-25 acres are sowed in wheat,
on which, in March clover is sowed
! 20 acres are devoted to oats 10 tc
rye 10 to barley II to corn Il
to timothy +; 20 to blue grass pas.
ture 10 to orchards and orchard
grass; ) to potatoes and vegetables
From 30 to 90 tons Of timothy hay
are housed in May, worth, at least
| $3.50; at the end of June, the wheat
is cut and likewise put in the barn,
the product of which is 800 bushels
worth $3.50 straw $500; then
in the middle Of une, the rye is cut,
$50 bushels, worth $3.50, straw $50
in July, the oats is cut, 1000 bush
els, worth $500, straw $500; then
the barley 800 bushels, worth $500,
straw 500; lastly, the corn, SOC
bushels, worth $500, fodder $780,
| During this time, the thrifty wife
from her 6 cows-fat, sleek, well
blooded, most carefully attended TO-
turned into the pastures at sunrise
watcred at noon, brought to the barr
myd after sunset to be MIXED anC
to pass the night, so that the drop
pings are not lost, and the pastures
not uselessly trampcd, the thrifty
wife, while the men are cultivatln@
and gathering, is carrying to mar
ket, at least 30 lbs OF rich COLDER
batter every week for which she re
ceives 20 cts pr To-, $40, which am
ply supplies groceries and clothing
for the family; and, also, s dozel
eggs, worth $1,50-making her in
. come, with the soap, young chick
ems, feathers, turkeys, dried AM
ripe fruits, which she carefully look
to, at least S75 per month.
In the fall, farmers look for stool
cattle to winter, three year old bul
locks, which he purchases at from
SIS to S23 pr head his theory be
ing, that no feed shalt be caricC
apay from his farm. Thus his hay,
oats, fodder, corn, straw, &C., are al
fed and in abundance thus insurin&
rapid growth in his cattle, and BOO
loads of the best manure i'll TIT
world. His cattle at the end of thu
next fall, will bring him $50 head
amply paying him for his feed ant
time, and the manure worth 5000, i
clear gain.
Now, my cotton raising friends
can you show such an exhibit 0
$50 acres ? to say nothing of thu
fact, that this Germans farm i
growing in fertility and value, every
year, while yours is growing poorer
and more worthless 7 We will dis
cuss this system again.
w. 4. BARNrrZ,