Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-30
THE TUCKAHOE BOYS.
A PLEASANT MEETING HELD AT MR.
JAMYsB B. wrNsT0ES
Cordial Hospitality Enjoyed and Fail seed
ing OF Wheat, Oats. and Grass
Discussed


September 9th, at the residence OF Mr.
James b. Winston, at Glen Allen, Hon
rico county.
On the arrival OF the train which bore
the members and visitors there MIR.
Winston, with the natural PRIDE OF a
farmers heart, showed his guests his
beautiful and undulating green fields OF
grass. his orchard. and vegetable garden
together with the handsome dwelling
and tho out-buildings so admirably To-
Gated and adapted TO the purposes LOT
which they were constructed.
Having owned the farm for two years
only Mr.. Winston has shown himself to
be a careful and pains-tsking farmer:
The condition of the cattle, horses, and
other animals, together with the PROV
sion made for their accommodation, indl-
cate the humane farmer who ID 'mercl-
full to his beast.
There were present ut the meeting b.
Puryear (president), Frank Guy, a: W.
CARRIER. X. y. Cha rn, II. Swineford,
James K. Branch, James b. Winston,
together with the following visitors: Dr.
A. Hopkins, Noryell Ryland, Captain
John Cussons, and George HOPKINS.
Mr.. James Il. Branch read the follow
ing essay on the subject
GAIL SEEDING or WHEAT, OATS, AND
GRASS:
RrcHMoxD, September 26, 1858.
Mr.. President and Members of the
Tuckahoc Farmers Chpb:
Gentlomen.- time is now here Tor
preparations for our fall sowing Of wheat,
oats. grass. etc. The question is tho
best method for doing so. An instructor
of man, Mr.. W. Gordon McCabe, once
said "Rules were made for fools.
Now "a none Of us Tuckahoes lay claim
10 this honor we cannot afford to have
rules laid down for orr guidance. Con
seduently ! Will only give a method
which / have seen. give satisfactory re-
suits. There is OF course an amount OF
variety in sowing light grains, caused by
different soils and seasons, but what ap-
pears 70 me as a self-evident truth Is
thought by some better and more eXpe-
rienced farmers entirely unnecessary, but
"Ouot homincs tot sentcafierc. The
axiom I speak of is the MOr0Ugh prcpG-
ration Of the land. and among my rea-
sons for thinking so are these
First. The soil which promotes growth
is the almost impercepiblo PARTICLES Of
earth which cling closely 10 the tender
roots, and their minute PARTICLES ere only
obtained by thoroughly pul'erizing the
soil.
Second by the proper preparation OF
the land before sowing VIC obtain a more
rapM gr0Wth, and although the spires
of grass. oats. or wheat are better OH by
| the frosts. still the roots have extended
| so deep in tho warmer earth they can
| withstand the cold and come out with re-
newed vigor III spring. When tue ground
has been we'll ploughed. narrowed, and
cross-harrowed it is ready for the wheat
or Data, which can he sowed III quaint
ties ranging from one to two bushels PEI
acre when sowed by hand. 4 good plan
for regular sowing is after laying OF
Glands" for guides, to divide the seed
and SOW half lengthways Of the field am
The rest across the field. This IS an nd
ditional trouble, bat pays by PRODUCING
more regular seeding and consequently
larger crops.
4 light harrow should follow the sOwcr
and cover up the seed. The grass-seec
can now be sowed on the same plan and
put in as far as quantity al bbtttD', rs
have seen as much as five bushels Of
seed sowed per acre. An iron roller vii
press these seed IN plenty deep and
level tho field and crush also the ciOdsi
thereby making the seed sprout quickly
and giving them q firm hold on the soil
There is no doubt IN my mind thet the
drill saves time and expense IN addition
to sowing regularly and manuring N
nominal cost, but rs drills are scarcel
than they should be | give the details o.
hand-sowing.
No farmer should be without q good
drill, which viii pay for itself IN shor
while, as it will plant oats and grass a
the same time and cover the seed an
manure them in an economical wGy.
have tried the plan of seeding and ONLY
narrowing cortland, and while | canno
say a crop cannot be obtainedln this wa.
| will say it has diUaYs failed me and
never Sdw g crop obtained in this way
think the extra trouble and expense o
doing anything well generally repays Il
the end. The loose and careless way o
farming which t0e can 1)TcroHt IS NOR
often the cause of bad crops than tn
droughts and hot seasons over which ~
have no control
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES Il. BRANCH.