174 



Some of the Principles of the New Huahandry. Vol. IV". 



exclusively on this root, with a daily allow- 

 ance, as near as can bo guessed, often pounds 

 each, increasing to twelve as spring advances. 

 No corn or grain of any. description is given. 



The preceding remarks are hastily thrown 

 together for the benefit of those whom they 

 may interest, but more particularly for the 

 perusal of Virginia farmers, and for the au# 

 thor of the communication which has drawn 

 them out. 



In conclusion, a brief statement is given 

 of the expenses incurred by the writer the 

 present season, in cultivating tliree acres of 

 Swede turneps, and presuming 2100 bushels 

 to be the produce, a comparative statement 

 may then be found. 



Interest on land, $100 per acre, - 



Twice ploughing three acres, 



Harrowing do. 



Seed, 



Ridging, two furrows thrown toge- 

 ther, the tops of ridges three feet 

 apart, one day, - - - - 



Drilling the seed, and rolling with 

 a light roller, taking two rows, 

 one day, - - - - - 



When the plants have six leaves, 

 ploughed from the ridge a light 

 furrow each side, going as near 

 as possible with a one horse 

 plough, one day, 



Setting out the plants to ten and 

 twelve inches apart; tliis opera- 

 tion must not be delayed five days, 



Hoeing tops of the ridges effectual- 

 ly at the same time, then return 

 the furrow each side carefully ; 

 and presuming the work well 

 done, there will be no weed alive. 



In three weeks, governed by the 

 condition of the land, run the cul- 

 tivators one bout through the in- 

 tervals, . . - - - 



Then with the hand hoe, go over 

 again, cutting out here and there 

 weeds that have escaped former 

 hoeings, - - - - - 



In a few days plough out the mid- 

 dles, which will close the account 

 for cultivation, one day, 



If any more work is re<iuisite, pass 

 the cultivator tlirough the inter- 

 vals. The harvesting of a crop 

 of 2100 bushels, would occupy 

 four men and two teams three 

 days, say $1 each, board and 

 wages, - . - - - 



^18 00 

 6 00 



1 00 



2 00 



1 00 

 1 00 



1 00 

 5 00 



1 00 



50 



50 

 1 00 



12 00 



$50 00 



2100 bushels turneps at 

 ten cents, all they are 

 worth for feeding, $210 00 



Profit, 



160 00 



$210 00 

 Cost of production in New Hampshire, 

 $128, in New Jersey $50, difference, $78. 



Referring to my farm journal, for a series 

 of years, the whole cost of production has 

 never exceeded four and a half cents per 

 bushel. William Boweer. 



The following is e.xtracted from the lamented Judge 



Buel'slate work, enlitled, " TheFarmer^s Companion, 



or Essays on the Principles and Practice of American 



Husbandry." It will be read with interest, as one of 



the last productions of his pen upon his favourite 



subject, agriculture. 



Some of the Principles of the New Hus* 

 handry* 



The new system of husbandry is based upon 

 the belief, that our lands will not wear out, 

 or become exhausted of their fertility, if they 

 are judiciously managed; but, on the con- 

 trary, that they may be made progressively 

 to increase in product, — in rewards to the 

 husbandman, and in benefits to society, at 

 least for some time to come. It regards the 

 soil as a gift of the beneficent Creator, in 

 which we hold but a life estate, and which, 

 like our free institutions, we are bound to 

 transmit, unimpaired, to posterity. 



The principles of the new husbandry teach, 

 that the soil is the great laboratory for con- 

 verting dead into living matters — the useless 

 into the useful — manure into plants — plants 

 into animal food : That plants, like animals, 

 are organized beings ; that is, they live, grow, 

 and require food for their sustenance — have 

 organs to take in food, to elaborate it, to 

 transmit it through their systems — organs of 

 sexual intercourse, of reproduction, &,c., all 

 acting together to one end : That plants can- 

 not, any more than animals, live upon mere 

 air, or earthy matters, as clay, sand, and lime, 

 but that they require, for their growth and 

 perfection, animal and vegetable matters : 

 That the effect of growing and carrying off 

 the ground successive crops, is to e.-yhaust the 

 vegetable food in the soil ; and that continued 

 cropping will ultimately render it barren and 

 unproductive, unless we return to it some 

 equivalent for what we carry off 



The principles of the new husbandry also 

 teach, that by carefully .=aving, and suitably 

 applying, all the fertilizing matters afforded 

 by the farm; by an alternation or change of 

 crops, and by artificially accelerating or re- 

 tarding the agency of heat, moi.sture, air, and 

 light, in the process of vegetable growth; 

 by draining, manuring, ploughing, harrow- 



