The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-03-27
GRANGER CORRESPONDENCE.
Our Belmont County Agricultur.
al correspondent Gives a
Glimpse of Country Lie nj this
Season Of the YeaF-A Few
WOFdStO wheeling and bridge.
port About Railroads.
ST. CLAIRsvrLLE, OHIO, /
March 81, 1877.

ST. CLAIRsvTLLE, ONO, /
March 81, 1877. J
Editors IntellErnceI:
Old weather seers predicted an early
spring, and so universal was this belief
especially among farmers, that many in
this neighborhood were deluded by the
tine weather in February into sowing
oats and planting potatoes. Alas how
trasitory are the visions Of spring; blust-
cry March rudely checked their unseA.
sonable haste; the plow was left standing
in the unfinished furrow, and the fields
were again covered with Il mantle OF
snow. sleighs were restored from their
corner in the loft and the naturalization
OF the bells for Jew days proved the
sovereignty OF winter. The last yes
tigc OF snow has finally disappeared,
and the warm sunshine and rains have
started anew the grass on southern slopes,
and transformed the brown and sere
looking wheat into broad, verdanl fields,
in pleasing contrast with the unattrac.
tive stock ground and naked forests. A
visit to the country at this time would
reveal the activity with which the farm
ers are entering upon their spring work,
such as pruning trees, trimming vines,
uncoyering berries, making hot.beds and
top dressing early vegetables. The pillow
is again running on all sides, and the
stubborn sod is being turned under for n
crop Of corn. Observe the plowman as
his jaded horses stop to rest from their
stralning work, leaning upon the pillow
handles with folded arms, reviewing the
I long, evenly cut and well turned burrows
OF dark, rich soil. Note the eagerness
with which he responds to the distant
dinner bell, o We dyspeptics, and envy
him the aroma OF the freshly plowe d
ground.
The curling blue smoke ascending
from every forest suggests visions Of sugar
making, and brings TO mind long buried
reCollections Of youthful pleasure ex-
perienced at the "stirrlng OFF, when you
were happy in the possession OF lew sugar
eggs and the Sweets Of life" were ex.
trac;ed from an Ruger hole in maple
tree.
4 careful inspection Of the iruit budt
will reveal considerable injury to peaches
and cherries Many fruit growers in,
sist that the former are entirely destroy.
ed. ! do not share in this belief how
ever. The apple buds are injured, al.
though We cannot expect more than a
halt crop this year our beat bearers
yield only alternate years, and uniortu.
nateiy for our prospects next summer
the trees were all burdened last year.
The large crop OF apples stored away last
fall were mainly hauled TO market dur.
ing the winter when the Shedding was
good, and the dealers who anticipated a
rush upon the market when spring open
ed will! be disappointed. The same is
true Of potatoes and hay. The favorable
winter enabled the farmers to transport
all their surplus products to market.
There is consequently less on hand than
usual this spring.
The average Of wheat sown last fall
was large and at this time it looks re.
markabty well. 1t is safe TO predict a
yield fully up to last year.
Potato culture in this country was for.
merly conducted almost exclusively by
market gardGrners.
Oi late, however, the farmers who here.
toiOre raised barely sufficient ior their
own wants have been growing large crops
which, with the exception OF the crop OF
4 1873, have yielded handsome returns
Encouraged by their sncceas last wear in
obtaining good prices large acrrage will
be planted again this spring. Ii the sea.
sOn should prove favorable an over
production must inevitably ensue, when
the low prices that ruled last spring will
prevail ugain.
The failure of the crop in the East last
year was in Il large measure owing TO the
ignorance oi growers in combating the
ravages Ct the Colorado beetle. The
methods pursued in the Wes: for its de.
struction will be generally adopted next
year, and It is not likely another failure
will occur from the same cause.
Hungarian grass and milIct ia being
introduced among our farmers rs a val
liable forage, desirable as rotating crop
TO succeed corn instead Of the exhausting
and Improbable oat crop so universally
planted The yield OF these crops varies
IRON two to four tons per acre, and the
heads are heavily laden with rich seed,
atiording stock in winter All abundance OF
grain and hay.
An intelligent Englishman, discussing
our system Of farming, remarked 10 me,
u short time ago, that the plan adopted
throughout this whole country Of sue.
ceeding u corn crop with oats; and that
again with wheat, was robbery to the
soil which no amount OF rest or manur.
ing would restore, and evinced an igno.
rance OF the lirst principles Of agriCul'
ture lamentable to witness. "Why,n he
added, do you not adopt the English sys.
ten OF rotating, viz: corn, roots (potatOes
or beets), wheat and grass? D.? Thus each
succeeding crop in measure supplies
the soil with the food necessary ior its
nourishment' The only answer that
suggested itself to my mind was that the
English and German husbaudmen upon
their adoption as American citizens ior.
sock the system in vogue "at home" and
fell into the groove pursued by the Amer.
lean farmer.
The Usage orange for hedging is being
planted extensively throughout this
neighborhood, and all lovers OF the
beautiful in nature will encourage the
enterprise. Charles Dickens in his
American notes, refers to the universal
worm fence US an eye sore to every cult
waited man or woman, detracting i'm,
measurably from the picturesgness Of
the country, and rendering a Journey
through the interior monatonous, in
spite OF natural scenery. The scarcity oi
timber will ultimately compel farmers tc
adopt other methods Of fencing, and for
chcapness, durability, and neatness, moth,
ing will surpass the hedge. 1t adds to
the beauty OF the landscape, and prop,
erly managed is the most effective bar.
rier TO all kinds Of stock.
our narrow gauge road is about com,
pleled, Ten days more Of good weather
and regular trains will be running to
/, Neti7s Siding, The Shrill whistle Of the
locomotive have startled from their
sleep, all the Grip Van Winkles" on the
hills and glens OF Belmont county
II the merchants OF Wheeling and
Bridgeport, especially the latter. desire IA
maintain trade which they have lopr
. controlled, no time should be los, in the
construction Of the proposed narrow
gauge from Bridgeport via. ovcrbaugf
Gap to the intersection OF our road. II