Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-07-02
best to sow it broadcast, and plough

best to sow it broadcast, and plough
in Immediately.
LeacAed Ashes.-There are few, or
none, who are ignorant of the value of
this article as manure. But as the
supply is rarely, if ever equal to the
demand, much need not be said on the
subject. At s to 10 cents per bushel,
if the cost of transportation is not too
heavy, they may always be profitably
used; in durability they are next to
lime, and the action immediate. Few
comparatively, except within the vicin-
ity of cities or villages, or those with
water or railroad facilities, can pro-
cure, or afford to use them.
Poudrette.-Much profit has not re-
suited in the use of this (the mer-
chantable) article, so far as have OBJ
served its effects on my own, or the
crops of others. Such as | have pur-
,chashed, has as yet produced but
slightly beneficial results on the crops
to which itSvas applied. Its fertiliz-
ing property was diffused through
such mass of inert matter, that !
concluded with half, if not one-third
of the expense, more benefit might be
derived from the purchase of some
other kind of manure.
In the neighborhood of cities, where
a supply can be obtained without so
much adulteration, its use may be
made very profitably.
Turning in Green Crops.-This
plan of renovating WORKOUT lands,
has long been advocated by many.
have also given it fair trial; and with
the exception of GLOVER as the green
crop, little advantage has resulted
from its adoption: eery poor land,
without some extraneous aid, will not
produce green crop worth the turn
ing in. 1t is questionable, whether
the same amount of time and labor
(supposing the occupant without the
means to purchase manure of any
kind) could not be better employed
on such land, in adding to his stock
by composts; prepared from
decaying vegetable matter, alluvial
soil, &c. &C., Astounding more or less
on all farms. If the land possess fer
tility to produce sufficient clover for
pasture, the use of plaster either with
out, or certainly wiM the aid of lime,
will, with good management, make it
yield a luxuriant crop. But it should
be borne in mind, that to improve in
this way, little moving, and less pas
turing, must be permitted. The land
is not only benefited by what is turn.
ed in, but is also materially aided in
the process of renovation, BY what is
left out, and on the surface: to shield
and protect the soil from u parching
sun, prevent throwing out the clover
roots by the winter frosts, aud wash
ing away os the soil, by heavy dashing
rains.
This. brings to mind another matter
though perhaps not strictly lin the
bargain" but which is of much more
Importance than many seem to be
aware of; and us yet only incidentally
alluded to. 1t is the preservation OF
the land after it is renovated, from
washing away of the soil; and into
gullies, and "galled places" as they
are called: this is best done BY regu-
lar water burrows made with the bar.
share plough, and throwing the earth
on the lower side. | will attempt 4
brief description of my plan of opera.
tions but without diagram, some
may possibly be at loss.
The points to commence ut are lie.
termined by the eye; cheap spirit
level, costing but u trifie, will soon
give the termination with precision,
and the proper inclination. The ope-
rator takes station some so to 100
yards distant from the designated
point; the assistant, having the staff,
with a movable target, and also bum
die of stakes, some 2 to 3 feet long,
places one in the ground, and by its
side raises the staff and moves the tar
get up or down, to range with the sight
from the level: the target is then rails
ed 6 inches and confined by screw ;
the assistant walks IL steps, and rails
es his staff: the operator by merely
turning his level, and not otherwise
varying its position, soon determines
the point for the second stake, by the
assistant moving the staff, backwards
or forwards, excepting his distance
from the first stake) until the target
again ranges with the level; then set
another stake, and raising the target
six inches at each station, throughout
the field. One position for the level,
if selected with judgment, will serve
for s or 10 sights; they should be Ia
ken in adrance, and on, or near the
supposed line of the furrow. With a
little practice the dwelling is done
very expeditiously, and by any person
of ordinary capacity. When ready
for the plough, the 1eveller walks be-
fore it, (the ploughman guided by his
steps, picks up the stakes as they are
reached, and if necessary by much in
equality in the LANDMARKS the line Il
little between the stakes, still more to
preserve the level.
This gives a uniform escape for all
surplus water, u regular fall of about
one foot in the hundred. My expert
ence has proved, that if the burrows
are not too far apart, Zone for each
fall of to 6 feet will generally suffice
they effectually prevent washing; and
the gradual descent of the water does
not form gullies. They are made d.
rectly after seeding wheat-are as
carefully attended to as the seeding it.
self-and remain open until the land
is again broken up. They are valuable
on all lands liable to wash, and have
materilly aided in my efforts in "ren-
ovating worn-out lands" All the un-
slightly "gullies and CALLED places"
have disappeared.
Rotation of Crops.-This is also a