The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-08-24
farm aud Garden.
conducted by DR.. THOMAS POLLARD, State
Commissioner Of Agriculture.
The Crops and the Drought.


Virginia this summer, as well as over
many other States, and has extended to
Europe and the East. The rains have
been local, and the drought in many Sec
tions has been, and is now, excessive
and we are apprehensive of short crop
of corn. We are afraid we shall have
scarcity Of long forage the coming winter,
and fortunate is the farmer who has sowed
q good crop of fodder-corn. The weather
has been too dry for root crops and these
must be very short. Farmers should
economize as much as possible in their
forage, should save all the fodder they
can; see that their wheat straw is well
ricked or stacked, so that it will keep
properly; and this fall cut all the "crab
grass they can get. If we have anything
ike such crop as we had last fall,
large quantity of hay can be made from
it. Another resource is to SOW rye, to
8 bushels to the acre, as soon now as
practicable, and also winter oats, which
will get such start before cold weather
that they may be grazed all the winter
by sheep and cattle. When the ground
is not wet, SOW not less than l. to 2
bushels. The returns we get from CORE
spondents in regard to crops do not vary
much from those of last month, except in
falling off of corn and tobacco. Wheat is
put at 76, corn 80, tobacco 70.
Sheep Husbandry.
We are disposed to pursue this subject
further, on account of its great impor-
lance, and give suggestion on the SUBJ
ject from Col. James Newman, published
in Southern Planter for March, 1880. We
think his advice is worthy of considera-
ton:
$50 much has been said and written
on the waste and improbable lands of
Virginia, and the benefits likely to accrue
from them in connection with sheep hus-
bandry, without the diversion, in any
material degree, of public attention to the
subject, that it seems almost idle longer
to discuss the matter.
"In my last communication to the
Planter, l presented some views on the
adaptability of the red lands of Virginia
to wool-raising, the certain profits of the
business, and the benefit to the soil there
of. Along the line of our railroads, on
the north as well as on the south side of
James river, the traveller is struck by
the immense areas of land abandoned to
the common, on which, in spring and
summer, roam few scrub cattle which,
at their best, do not pay for their winter
keep. These lands are unenclosed, and
generally belong to parties residing in
the vicinity, who pay the taxes without
deriving any appreciable revenue from
them. Now, how to make these lands
Immediately and indirectly available
ought to be question of interest and re-
Election to their proprietors- profitable
Immediately from the annual clip of wool,
and Indirectly in the enriching of the
winter fold. The cooperative system is
suggested as likely to be most successful
IN attaining the desired results. A num-
Der of farmers or planters residing at con-
venient distance of these old felds-in
many parts turfed with the natural grasses,
overrun with briers and other weeds and
shrubbery-could combine and purchase
such number of Merino sheep as, in
their Judgment, could be easily thus sus-
tanned in summer and fed during winter
on their cultivated land. The flock
could be divided and allotted to each
party interested in proportion to his
ability to care for them in winter and
to secure to each the indirect benefit of
improving his arabic land. In summer
they should be attended by a careful
shepherd, one or more, as the flock may
be divided, and at night folded in field,
not penned, which affords some grass.
This field will soon be enriched and well
turfed, and hence the indirect profit. An
active boy or two, at moderate wages,
and at first vigilantly watched, would in
short time have the flock so well trained
as to give little trouble, and afford much
pleasure and some profit.
=, This scheme may seem quixotic to
those accustomed to the heavy long woods,
Or to those Bourbons who are determined
never to be pushed from the groove ira
,yersed by their grandfathers. But let it
oe remembered that the Merino is an &C
i've, omniverous animal, seeking it's food
with an industry not common to other
breeds, and will live and do well where
nc no other domestic animal can subsist.
This IS the only solution presented to my
mind of the question, how these hume
Ious and extensive wastes which mar the
surface 1yy OF Virginia are to be reclaimed.
we hope these reflections will at least be
suggestive and turn the attention of 9TH
eIS better suited to form a practical iudg-
uiSht on the subject to its impartial con-