The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-04-15

Sehsonable Suggestions About Farming
Tuekahoe Thoughts About Raising
RrOOm-Ccru,

The Tuckahoe Farmers Club met re-
Gently at the residence of DR.. J. G.. Beat
tie, on the Grove road, about one and
bali miles from the city. where they were
entertained with true Old-Virginia hospi-
tality. The subject OF Corn Culture"
was fully discussed, all insisting upon a
thorough preparation OF the soil before
| planting, and that as soon ~ the corn ar
peared it should be carefully worked with
IA cultiyator.
The following paper was read before the
meeting by Mr.. j. A. Lynham, one Of its
members:
1t has been well said by some writer
"that the greatest benefactor OF his race is
one who can find new employment for the
people, for it means an increase in tie
general wealth Of the nation" ! 90 not
arrOgate to myself the smallest claim IN this
respect, nor pretend that anything herein
advanced is new. But all will admit that
the farming interest in this locality is in a
most unsettled condition, and our farmers
in great perpleXity, " casting about" with
| constant inquiry as 70 what will pay us to
cultivate and raise for our present market.
Not only the revolution in our pursuit,
caused by the results OF war, but the rapid,
lengthy railroad combinations and cOnnec-
tions west and north, making us daily COM
pettors on the grain market with the broad
rich, virgin fields OF The west. whereby. as a
paying price 10 them, they can afford
TO sell their wheat on our market at 81,
and corn at fifty cents per bushel. They
are encouraged TO do this by the railroads
OF our own state, which charge us for Nir-
glnia freights az much, often, as they
charge the western man 10 send his grain
here from Illinois and Missouri. All this
would not so sOrely affect us if we, like
the closely populated North and West. bad
ready and Convenient markets AZ home for
all that we might raise. But such is not
the case. Ours here can be easily over
stocked; and the question then 10 my
mind is one Of serious import, and should
engage the attention Of our Agricultural
Department and the leading farmers OF our
State
We have many papers and much discus
sion as TO the various manufactured fer
tilizers. and how by them and otherwise
we can increase our yield Of grain. ask
il the last few years have not demonstrated
that upon settlement-deduction for fer
tiizers. &C., &c.. and vOur wheat sales ave
lI-ll- 81 UfI biANittl. ONiN ~ W f'i.. anu
corn 50c.-the question has not then forci-
bly, presented itself. "What viii it pay ne
hereafter TO raise 7" One thing is certain,
that unless the farmer is very easily satisfied
he must find something to raise other than
wheat. corn, or oats.
To us around Richmond, and in fact in
all Eastern Virginia, that is not strictly a
grass country, there must be, before our
prosperity comes. an utter and compete
revolution in our agriculture.
As 10 how TO meet this grave and per-
pleXmg question is not for me to suggest.
| but invite the discussion from those more
competent to deal with it.
My attention has been recently called to
/ the cultivation OF brOOm-cOTn.' For
some reason not known TO me Out probably
good reasOn) this culture is almost entirely
neglected in our country. The demand
for the brush is great, but. like most other
things. we are dependent on the North
with but two factories that know of-onC
here and one at Atlanta.
ON this subject. al a leisure moment from
professional duties, | wrote Mr.. ii. :. ID,
Forest. of Schenectady, \. y, one of tn,
largest growers and manufacturers OF thi'
article in our Union. His crop last year,
as | am informed. amounted TO 100000
pounds. sold at 8 cents per pound, brought
| him the handsome sum of $4,000.
Mr.. John B. Borst. formerly OF the same
State. but now residing in Culpeper
county. Va, raised about $50 acres Of
| broom-corn last season with great success.
To be successful with this crop Qlke all
others that | know anything about it de-
mands a good soil. 1t requires in addition
an extra amount OF moisture. So that rich
low or bottom land j. best. From such
/ 600 to 700 pounds Of dry-hush per acre
NAV he expected. rs Mr.. De Forest tells
me. Furthermore il is said ltat its culti-
yation j. very much like that OF Indian
corn. but after harvesting the top OF the
! stalk or bush there is lett 10 he turned into
/ the ground for manuria purposes, which
with lime affords fine preparation for
wheat. large and abundant green failow.
/ The seed /, planted in the spring. about
/ the 1T OF May and "a, late ~ June 18th. in
| rows two feet ten inches apart, and drilled,
! | suppose. clOsely-say one or two inches
/ in the drill. When the plants are three or
I four inche, high the ground i Scraped
/ from the plants by hand-aocs. 80 ~ 10 keep
out the wecds-an essential requirement
| then cultivate with h0rse-culiyatOr, about
| three times during the season. Later il i
hllled, or not. according 10 the notion OF
the farmer. I'm the fall OF tae year. A. soon
as the brush is headed out, and almost out
Of the leaf. it should be quickly harvested
and the seed scrlpcd from The brush. and
then placed on poles in a covered building
10 cure. which usually takes from ten to
twelve days. The most particular part oi
this business j. 10 harvest the brush early,
50 A. TO cure it a. green in color II posi-
ble. for the grcener the more valuable II Is,
Mr.. De Forest. Of New York. who in
such ready and polite manner gives mC
general ideas - 10 ITS cultivation, say, thai
he has to pay for his labor Sl.j0 per day
whereas we can get the same labor at ilftN
cents per day Tor men and twenty-fiv,
cents for women and boys. who are just ls
useful in the harvest. IN hi; cOmmunica
ton to me he says: Il fail 10 see why
brOom-corn raising On a large scale upon
the best b0ttOm-nndS i'm Virginia should
not be a very profitable business Nhc'
ther so or not cannot from any eXeperl-
ence OF my own say, and knowing too
much about agriculture TO be fancl-
iul or oyer-enthu,iasiic about any
thing that grows, and approaching III,
differences i'm the varied soil. and climatl,
influences a. well, | would be neither lee
nor tempt any one else into a new field o.
perhaps costly operations without full con
sideration and information, yet think IL
the present juncture OF our affairs the eX
periment is worth trial, and one not with
out hope. We TOO easily conclude that w
cannot do what our northern farmers S'
easily accomplish. They 20 TO work il
4 "a. la fol
low the result OF their efforts. For th'
reasons first stated think the subject wor
thy at least Of discussion, and ! think oul
honorary member. Colonel Randolph iiar
rison, and probably Others. can enllghtei
us and advise those that may be desirou'
or forced by circumstances to try some
| a ,,o,,- o~der ~ ~ in - -