On clearing Land. 331 



dual mode of clearing is the cause, which reduces the 

 fertility of new countries below that of the old ; the first 

 mode of clearing is leveled at it; the second is one 

 amona: the numberless means bv which new countries 

 may repair the evil, if it should have taken place.*" 

 April lOt/i, 1808. 



*In jNIr. Taylor'^s letter inclosing the Ibregoing memoir^ 



dated April 10th, 1808, he writes I have kept a flock of 



fro7n 100 to 4-00 sheepy on the fann whereon I live, of our 

 common breeds, with some care. The result is doubt, whe- 

 ther thev suit our climate and soil. We are able on any rich 

 land, to make 150 pounds of cotton to an acre. My calcu- 

 lation is, that this acre in cotton wool, produces 15 times more 

 clothing, than it would do in sheep's wool. In a different 

 climate the calculation would be dilTerent. However, from 

 several considerations, I persevere in the experiment ; having 

 now, on the same place, 220 sheep ; and should be glad to 

 get a ram, and 3 or 4 ewes, of pure Merinos. 



He is pursuing his extensive plan plan of live fences ; and 

 ^' has planted several thousand young cedars^ this spring.'''' 



He writes to Dr. Mease^ requesting to be informed of a 

 good mode of preparing the gijpsiim for the mill ; as " he 

 intends gradually to encrease the use of it to 100 tons an- 

 mially.'''' Last year he sowed 200 acres with gx-psum, one 

 bushel to an acre, and planted corn, also rolled in g\-]Dsum, 

 at the rate of one bushel, to one of seed com. — The land 

 was old, and had never produced 15 bushels to an acre 

 within his memory. Thus treated, it produced above 25 : 

 but the year was uncommonly favourable. 



He says, that his memoir on clearing land " contains ac- 

 tual experiments and residts ;" and professes to be " more 

 of a practical, than a speculative farmer." 



A few such spirited and "practical" farmers, would soon 

 render the husbandry of this country, an object of emulation 

 to any of the agricidturists, in either the old or the new wurld. 



