356 [Senate 



bly it is well for improvement to work its own way, and prove itself 

 to be " worthy and well qualified." The difference in opinion of wri- 

 ters would serve much either to confuse or to disgust ; whilst some 

 hold that lime is indispensably necessary to use, others affirm if vege- 

 table matter be applied there will be all the ingredients necessary, 

 while others speak confidently of the^ atmosphere ; the plain farmer 

 becomes bewildered, and leaves " book farming" alone. I should not 

 find fault wTth what I could not mend, but yet I cannot but express 

 my opinion. At all events, we cannot doubt that the soil of western 

 Mississippi has lime enough, and that all we have to do is to apply 

 vegetable matter, and plow deep. I have experimented, and speak 

 from due reflection. 



« 



The farmers throughout the length and breadth of our country can 

 at least redeem their children, and in no way so surely as by the me- 

 thod now about commencing — using agricultural works in schools. 

 Allow me, dear sir, through you, to express, as an individual, to your 

 society, my warmest approbation of this measure, and to assure ihem 

 that one of their fellow-citizens, though he be in the swamp of Big 

 Black, and in the wilds of Mississippi, yet feels proud of them as his 

 fellow-citizens. 



ADDITIONAL REMARKS ON ROTATION OF CROPS. 



Having been directly engaged in farming for nearly fifteen years, 

 giving my personal attention, and often assisting in all the details; I 

 can with some experience recommend to my brethren the four field 

 rotation as best suited to a southern culture. This rotation is, cot- 

 ton, corn, grain, and rest, in the order named — that is, cotton on the 

 land that was at rest, corn follow, then grain, then rest. 



I go farther than the mere rotation, thinking the good only half 

 effected, — I would therefore advise the cotton fields should be sown 

 down about the first of September in rye and turneps, one bushel of 

 the first, and a pint or even a half pint of the last per acre : when 

 hands walk through to gather cotton, they will cover or press the 

 seed into the earth if rains do not sufficiently, to secure a stand. This 

 will give excellent grazing for sheep and cattle after gathering, until 

 time to plow for corn. 



On corn fields, I would say, sow a peck, or if possible a half bushel 

 of cow-peas between corn rows, just before the last plowing, in May 

 or June ; and after the corn is gathered, say in September or Octo- 

 ber, sow one bushel of rye per acre. In this latitude, in ordinary 

 seasons, the pea vine will have covered the earth before the first of 

 August, this will give one of the richest pastures known to our coun- 

 try for all kinds of stock; and whilst the pasture is being eaten out, 

 there will be peas enough trodden into the earth to make a tolerable 

 fair stand in the succeeding grain crop — no fear about the rye, it will 

 assuredly be provided ibr — all that is required is to sow it down. 



On the grain crop, when oats are required, plow up the rye in Feb- 



