Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-09-05
Poor Land and Tia" Cheapest Way TO
Improve Il.

Three years ago we published an experiment
made Tor the direct purpose OF testing theory
which we had held for years, but were pecuul-
arlly rather afraid TO test We made the cx.
periuIent on variable handsome bad, some
good; some wild, some in cultivation; some Of
one exposure, some Of another; and under such
circumstances that the experimental test OF the
proprietor was regarded as full and satisfactory
by all who saw it, With small garden farm
of twenty or fifty acres, ii Is easy to see that
with tarn- yard manure, suttlclency OF labor, and
the careful attention which one can give SO
small u farm, immediate and direct improve
mcut is the result Of a few years labor; but
with 500 or 1000 acres, the outlay for blowing,
hauling, seeding, etc; is 100 great Tor poor pco-
pie, unless there be direct results.
We asserted after thar xxi er ment, aud We
repeat the ASSERTION now, thar every old held
aud poor field IN cur county can, IN IL tew years,
Ue set IN .lass, aud b. put III such condition as
to SUSTAIN the crop; and utlIua'ely, without
further cost. br made va,uab!. a. 4 productive.
Were this done, 1t would produce such Il differ
euce III the appearance of the county that
straugcrs-now deferred would be attracted
and The general value of lands greatly cuhanccd,
and the practcabillEy OF quick sales promoted
No one will doubt the advantage to the county,
or its attractivcncss to travellers, il clover and
grass met the eye where We now see hrlarS,
broomsedge, sasSafras, and gals and gulIleS.
The experiment was simply breaking up this
kind OF land for wheat, sowlDg heavily with
fertilizers, OF which pure bone formed large
part, and then seeding in clover aud grass. The
fertilizers were las they may be now bought
on credit until the wheat came ID, and cost
from 81 to $l3 per acre. The result was that
the wheat (uot good wheat year, paid for the
fertilizers, seed wheat, grass seed, and pio"lug,
and lett as profit the straw and most tnagn!tl-
cent stand Of grass aud clover-so good that 1t
was moved The next year, and sInce grazc'l;
and it is now sod field, capable OF producing
a uIl crop Of corn and mauy parts would pr
duce tobacco committee pronounced the
land 10 be worth double its former value. This
can be done to any extent farmer has the
time and teams TO make the trial. We suggest
to any one who desires to make the experiment,
300 lbs. Of bone-hour (purc,j loo pounds "f
guano, or some fertilizer having about these
proportions. Ashes, salt, and plaster make
the ouIy cheap fertilizer that we know Of worth
Cent, aud these must be applied 10 large
quantities..
We advocate to the fullest extent the max
ing of ali the home madc manure possible, aud
from every source We knew farmer n old
10 each week, ''raiu, hail or shine, seed time
or harvest" and he made ten acres for tobacco
every year But the breadth Of poor land has
become TOO great, and the labor to make man
ure too scarce and costly to accomplish our re-
Cupcratl0n. II
The growth Of grass on our poor lands, II |
not sufficient to now would enable our farm.
ers to keep more cattle and sheep, TO make
more farm manure, and derive some profit from |
lands now useless.
Our Iaods are improving but so slowly that
our young men are Leaving the lauds, aud often
the State We must improve the lands, or
they will be deserted. More than this; there
must be Inducements TO engage 10 agriculture,
or our young men will Ga to other pursuits aud
other lands -4n,herst Enterprise.
FATAL ACCIDENTAL young man named
Garrett or Garrison, while engaged in wrestling
with another at the Warrenton camp meeting
Saturday last, was kick d in the face by a horse
from The effects of which he died 10 few hours
while he was being conveyed to his home
Manassas Gu=ette
The credentials OF the newly appointed Span