Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-08-30
A REMEDY.-In consequence of the povert,


A REhEDY.-ln consequence of the poverty
aud anxiety of our people to rally from their
misfortuDes, they are disposed to be unsteady
in their purposes, in engaging in unsuitable
enterprises and avoiding agricultural and me-
chanica pursuits and you will render good der.
vice to your readers by impressng upon them
the necessity of perseverance in any regular
pursuit, and especially urging the farmers to
stick close to their business and raising q variety
OF crops that do not materially Interfere with
each other
This variety of crops will give steady employ.
ment to the laborers, who should be encouraged
to be constant and contented with their homes;
and their families to be made comfortable and
required to give helping hand at all times 1t
is TO the mutual interest of owner and en-
ployee to do 30. TO keep up proper discipline,
and to see that u ldlcrs or oiterers are allowed
to pass about the farm during work hours.
Whilst We should aim to diversity crops we
should be careful not to undertake unsuitable
crops, or stock breeding, never eogagiog in any
thing simply because others are doing so, who
may be very differently situated. Some should
raise tobacco, whist his next neigtbor probably
should not. Wheat is crop for rotation after
oats, and oats after corn, and thus made more
necessary than desirable as paying crop,
with Western markets opened upon US. Clover
is an improver, and will mix with orchard grass,
or may be sown alone, and the land soon to
be broken up, improved, cultivated year
or two 10 other crops, aud back to clover again
Timothy, as meadow grass on suitable lands,
Is valuable tor hay, but ls an eXhauster of land;
Is too late rlpenlDg to mix with clover for hay
to an advantage. Roots Of the turnip species
are of great value in winter for stock when
green food is not to be bad.
Cattle, sheep and swine of careful selections,
from breeds adapted to the locality, and well
cared for according to the season, will be vau-
able to those so situated as to rear them ad
vantageousy, atfordlng au income to the farm
er without detrment to the land; and often
their cleaning Of the fields is of decided ad-
vantage, especially with sheep; still farmers
had better destroy their focks than to Craze
into The ground youog grasses. When hay is
the crop, what stock they may advantage ously
Use SIX months OF the year, they msy have no
place for 10 pasture months, anu should sell IF
10 spring 10 some form. There is a rapidly In
creaslng interest springlng up in sheep, and as
lar as farmers are situated to raise them, let
them do so, and let there be fifty where there
is ole, and let our people encourage the use of
mutton Ia lieu of Western bacon Each farm
&c., TO support bis shoats; then the grass and
harvest field till corn is in the roastiDg-ear
stage, when it is cheap food 10 feed it whilst
the stalks and fodder are green enough to be
eaten, the latest CORE to be used last then an
abundance till the year old hogs and upwards
are fat towards December; and with Judi
cous curing the bacon will justify an average
OF ten cents or moro for pork, and it will be
sweet home made meat Instead Of probably
swllI-fed hogs Of Western dstierics, slaught-
er.pcns, and other filthy deposits of food for
swine.
The breeding of horses is of great import
ance, and much is to be considered--to what
extent and the kind that should be bred. In
stead of sending our money to the West for
paDpered horses and mules, let each person
attempt to raise their Own animals, selecting
females with view to use and breeding. The
colts are raised with but little perceptible cost,
and from two and ahaf years old, by careful
use, they may pay for their food and then in
year or more are probably wanted at from
500 to $3.50.
All this requires thought and attention, and
the eggs beng well divided in number of
baskets, their results come 10 like mixed crops
at timely hour peculiar to them, and thus
through the year there is a fresh and varied
occupation for each one on the farm.
Stock can be increased rapidly, and if good
kinds, the whole surroundings improved; and
there is DO section above tidewater 10 which
this line OF policy can not be we'll followed,
even 10 the tidewater districts.
Whilst farmer may wish to change off
certain animals, he may wish to have 9th.
ers 10 their stead to suit the season aud the
crops, which may be easily effected by public
sale days or private treaty; and it is but o mat
ter OF time that We of Virginia must be mixed
husbandry people, grazing more and stirring the
soil less frequent, and then to purpose and
with will, and to return it to grass, and in
an improved condition
Now, MIR. Editor, let your articles encourage
TINS llne OF policy and let not your readers
catch at each bubble or reality that present
themselves, but select that which seems sdanted
LOT the SITUATION In which each one finds him.
SELL ana let US De employed that we NAV the
better avoid opportunities to make idle outlaws
and waste time 10 trying to fnd mode to nav
Ing our just debts. and thus educate our minds
to nnd an excuse and way, We, and those who
are to follow US, can dodge the adjusted debt
OF our State, and thus live more by their wits
than by honest labor in whatever branch our
lots ln life may be cast.-Cor. Southern Planter
and Farmer.
EXPLOSIVE OLA decision has just been
rendered by the Supaeme Court of Virginia
which Is of considerable interest to the buyers
and sellers Of different lamp oils. 10 the case
10 question suit for damages was brough, by
woman who had been severely burne by the
explosion OF somc so-called unexposive oil,
against the grocer who had sold her the arti-
ee' The grocer in his defence pleaded that
ne really believed the oil to be unexplosye.
aod ; that 1t had been carefully tested by chem.
Eal experts and declared to be absolutely free
l1ou Iron all explosive properties whatever. Evi.
ucnce to this effect was also given u court, Sew
.aa. , experienced witnesses, on the other hand,
s,,aaGo rs,nt that peculiar kind of gas was gene
10y Uu os the oil under certain conditions which
r'. Ire court held that as the use of the oiI for
dsat'nng d., purposes was not at all times and nu.
~. all conditions ahsnutls, II - ~