1S38] 



FARMERS' 11 K G r S T E R 



665 



to Ihrmers — ''Depart at once Cvom antiquated and 

 ruinous usaijes; lor a (generally iMiproviilenl suici- 

 dal mode ol' cultivation, adopt an improving and 

 ameiioratini>' one; restore to the soil the constitu- 

 ents of toriiliiy, of which, long-continued and 

 scourging cropping have dej'rivcd it; appi\-, with a 

 liberality comtnensurate with Tormer unnatural ex- 

 actions, a supplyoCpuiivscent, and a judicious ap- 

 plication of your inexhaustible stores of calcare- 

 ous manures, and I have no doubt the grateful 

 soil will again yield you a liberal and remunerat- 

 ing crop ot" wheat lor many generations to come." 



If the tem[)erature ol" this country is injuriously 

 lowered, by having been so improvidently denuded 

 ol' its original forests, the fact ouglit to prove a 

 warning voice to landholders, carefully to hus- 

 band what remains, under the present forest ex- 

 teniinating system. The want of wood even lor 

 the ordinary purposes of a farm, will at no remote 

 period be seriously Jelt; and its past and present 

 wanton destruction deeply regreted. Many farms 

 now sufi'er from this cause, and many sufler Irom 

 the want of that warmth and shelter which 

 clumps and belts of trees afford. In such cases 

 young growths should be carefull}" nursed and 

 protected, or even artificial plantings adopted. A 

 general improved system of farming, would of 

 necessity include the properly draining of wet and 

 moist lands, together with the many swamps and 

 river marshes which so largely abound. These im- 

 portant and desirable improvements would also 

 tend much to improve the climate. 



Should the theory of Dr. Muse prove true, the 

 forward prospects of the farmer, and community 

 at large, are certainly not very encouraging, while 

 there is the prospect of nature compelling a short- 

 ly succeeding generation of our descendants to 

 part fi'om the wholesome and nutritious wheaten 

 loaf, and to accept in stead, probably something 

 like the cortical loaf of the Laplander; for if this 

 climate should become of too low a temperature 

 lor the production ot wheat, the loss of this main 

 staff of life, like every other misfortune, would not 

 come single-handed. The same cause would, 

 doubtless, pioduce a similar effect on other life- 

 supporting plants, many of which are more sus- 

 ceptible of a change of climate than wheat ; and 

 then this beautiful and highly-favored country 

 would, within the lapse of a few generations, be- 

 come no better nor more cheering than the dreary 

 polar regions. I am, at least, unwilhng to believe 

 that sucli is the tendency of the working, or the 

 destined course, of nature; one thing, however, I 

 do believe, that if the same generally ruinous sys- 

 tem of agriculture is pursued tor fifty years more, 

 that not only will much of the soil of this section 

 of country, at the end of that period, be incapable 

 of producing wheat, but also of raising a scanty 

 produce of any other grain. The general falling 

 off of the produce ol'corn, is, I believe, no less re- 

 markable and stiiking than that of wheat. A 

 general belief in this theory woidd not; only afford 

 a powerful inducement to every farmer, in this or 

 higher latitudes, to emigrate to a southern and 

 more genial clime as speedily as possible, (that 

 these desolating changes which he believes are 

 approaching, may be the longer reaching him,) 

 but would also have a tendency to damp the en- 

 ergies of many farmers from making necessary 

 and important improvements so essential to their 

 present and future welfare. 

 Vol. V~84 



Without taking into account the main induce- 

 ment which Dr. Muse has held forth, li:)r the iii- 

 iroduction of grains, &.c., from a higher latitude, 

 I believe such a cliauije would, in many respects, 

 be advantageous. Changes of seed even, Irotu 

 one farm to another, or an occasional change of 

 variety, experience has often proved to be benefi- 

 cial. There are, however, many instances of use- 

 ful plants being acclimated from lower to higher 

 latitudes with success. The successful culture of 

 tobacco fi'ora the island of Cuba, by Dr. Muse 

 himself, is a proof of this; and though he does nott 

 appear to have tried its acclimation 'by re-produ- 

 ing from seeds grown in Maryland, the success 

 which he says has attended its culture, would 

 seem to warrant the probability that it might be 

 acclimated. 



Dr. Muse's remarks on the usual practice of 

 pulling fodder and cutting tops from corn, are I 

 believe, both philosophically and practically true, 

 though in practice iew are willing to admit it. 



To the ju.?t "t.'-ibute of respect and acknowl- 

 edgement," paid to the author of the 'Essay on 

 Calcareous Manures,' and editor of the 'Re- 

 gister,' every unprejudiced reader will cordially 

 respond. It is only to be regretted, that works so 

 eminently calculated for conferring important be- 

 nefits, and conveying indispensably useful infor- 

 mation to the practical farmer, should be so seldom 

 found in the hands of those for whose benefit they 

 are evidently more immediately intended. 



With the concluding portions of the address- 

 few I believe would materially dissent, though 

 slight shades of difference of opinion and practice 

 may exist. 



Excuse my occupying so much of your patience 

 with matter probably so little relevant to the grand 

 object of your invaluable periodical. 

 RespectfLilly, &c., 



N. L. 



THE INCREASING USE OF LEAVES FOR MA- 

 NURE. 



[The following testimony is furnished by a highly 

 respectable gentleman, and also a good farmer; and 

 it places in a striking point of view the great import- 

 ance to agriculture of the making known even a sin- 

 gle useful agricultural fact, that is sustained by the 

 favorable judgment and experience of a farmer of 

 high reputation. The mere statement of Mr. Samp- 

 son's practice and success, may induce hundreds to fol- 

 low his example, and may add, in time, millions to the 

 products of agriculture in Virginia. We had before 

 been gratified by hearing the opinion expressed by 

 farmers, whose opinions are worthy of high respect, 

 that the report on Mr. Sampson's farm alone was well 

 worth a year's subsciiption to this journal. We may 

 venture to express concurrence in that opinion, inas- 

 much as the value of the article consists in the matter 

 presented, and not in the manner of the description.] 



Orange, Jan. I7th, 1838. 



Dear Sir — Owing to my leaving Petersburg 

 some days sooner than I purposed when I saw 

 you, I was prevented from giving you the statement 

 you requested of me, of what I witnessed in coun- 

 ties in my immediate vicmity, a? well as in those 



