1838] 



FARMERS' REGISTER, 



79* 



nre, at present, tryini^ the sprin<i; wheat, to avoid 

 the etiects of tlieir moileni winters; and much to 

 the honor and sairacity of that section of country, 

 under tlie encouragement ol' legislative patronage. 

 JNlany ofthe northern and eastern states, from the 

 same necessity, have, with legislative assistance, 

 also introduced new crops, in place of the wheat; 

 and, with acknowledged advantages to the public 

 and private wealth and convenience. A similar 

 policy has been adopted in Europe, in regard to 

 both new crops and spring wheat, with good effect; 

 and tins is a point wliich Dr. Muse was obviously 

 desirous to demonstrate the necessity of attaining, 

 for the safety of Maryland agriculture, whose le- 

 gislature have uniformly refused any participation 

 or regard tor the interests of this branch of indus- 

 try. 



Moreover, Dr. Muse in his address, admits 

 that other causes, as well as climate, may conduce 

 to the extensive failure of the wheat crop in the 

 south, as well as the north; such as the migration 

 of parasitic insects to their choice plants :and this 

 cause should show its effects as strikingly, if not 

 more so, in the loarmer, than in the "colder sta- 

 tions;'''' because, in the former, this class of ani- 

 mal evils is generally the most abundant; and this 

 may be one great cause of tlie frequent failure of 

 southern wheat. 



The general scope of my remarks will apply 

 equally to some ofthe 'Exceptions' taken by your 

 correspondent 'N. L.' to the same address. 



He ascribes the failures of the wheat crop, to 

 the want of a "Jit soiV and "good culture,''^ "ra- 

 ther than to the want of a suitable climate.'''' The 

 general ^i;iess of the soil, cannot materially have 

 differed in its constitutional character, and the 

 "culture,^'' under the advantages of science and 

 experience, and increased devotion to this branch 

 of industry, for the late and long term, in which 

 the failure has been occurring, must be obviously 

 better than formerly. These two propositions be- 

 ing, it would seem, undeniable, the climate must 

 be held largely answerable for the defect. 



Indeed, it does not seem reasonable to entertain 

 the idea, that a whole class of men, possessing 

 now more knowledge of principles and practice 

 than formerly, which must be conceded, as hav- 

 ing grown out of time and experience; and, hav- 

 ing equal, if not larger interests at stake, as well 

 as improved implements, should execute their 

 work with less skill, judgment, and attention, than 

 their ancestors, who did not possess them. 



Your correspondent 'N. L.,' adduces the suc- 

 cessful growth of the Cuba tobacco by Dr. 

 Muse, as evidence of the power of acclimation, 

 and against his position, that plants should be 

 brought from higher latitudes. 



This very article affords good proof of the cor- 

 rectness of Dr. Muse's position, "that plants from 

 the north will be more likely to continue longer 

 with us." Gen. Hernandez and others, enthled 

 to full confidence, assert the fact, upon trial, "that 

 the Cuba tobacco, though very fine, from the im- 

 ported seed, grown in the southern and middle 

 states, will very shortly degenerate by reproduc- 

 tion, and not be recognized as the same article, 

 diflfering so widely in its structure and qualities, 

 &c. &c. it would seem to furnish an instance of 

 transmutation, almost as considerable as that of 

 vvlieat into cheat. 



Agricultor. 



Fioiii the Britisli farmers' Magazine. 



ON GREEN CROPS — THEIR USES AND CUL- 

 TIVATION. 



Most of the arts and sciences during their pro- 

 gress from inluncy to their present state, have 

 been greatly advanced by some single discovery 

 which has accelerated their progress much be- 

 yond wliat might have been expected during a 

 long period of years, and has introduced a new 

 era in the history and application ofthe art. The 

 invention of printing greatly lacilitated the pro- 

 gress of all improvements; and has spread know- 

 ledge and civilization to the remotest corners of 

 the world; the discovery of the magnetic needle, 

 altered entirely the system of n\aritime intercourse; 

 and the invention of gunpowder completely chang- 

 ed the whole art of war, and introduced an entire- 

 ly new system of tactics, more simple and direct, 

 bringing the strength of nations more nearly to a 

 level, and has rendered war less bloody, and suc- 

 cess to be more nearly a matter of calculation. In 

 our present time, the invention and application of 

 steam power to arts and manufactures, and the 

 substitution of it tor animate labor, will mark an 

 epoch in the history of machinery, not less inte- 

 resting or less usetlil than any of the great dis- 

 coveries which have so much benefited the hu- 

 man race; and the prospects we may reasonably 

 entertain of its future developemenf, lead us to in- 

 dulge in the pleeising hope, that the uses of this 

 wonderful power, in simplifying the production of 

 the necessaries of lilii, are many of them still un- 

 known, and will lead to useful and valuable ap- 

 plications. The introduction and cultivation of 

 green crops, tor rearing and feeding the different 

 animals used by mankind, has constituted an era 

 in the history of agriculture, similar in its nature 

 and results to the many discoveries that have flow- 

 ed fi-om the labor and ingenuity of man, and 

 which have contributed so materially to the ame- 

 lioration of the different conditions of society. 

 The introduction ol' these crops in districts where 

 cultivators have had the penetration to discover 

 their utility and value, has completely overturned 

 the mode of farming practiced lor centuries — the 

 value of land has been much increased — immense 

 tbrtunes have been realized, and a better and more 

 regular supply of nil kinds of human food, has 

 been provided at profits amply remunerative to the 

 cultivators and owners of the soil. Nearly two 

 hundred years elapsed after the potato was known, 

 before it was cultivated in the field: and notwith- 

 standing the ravings of Cobbett, and the aversion 

 yet shown to its growth as a scourge ofthe soil — 

 it may be affirmed, that this island is not blessed 

 with any root more valuable, or of more general 

 use, from the table ofthe grandee to the feeding of 

 pigs and poultry; or witli any esculent which will 

 more amply repay the cultivator for his pains. 

 Upwards of sixty years have now elapsed since 

 turnips were cultivated, their uses known and 

 value proved; yet at this day we find many places 

 where they are little known, the cultivation neg- 

 lected on account of expense, and recommenda- 

 tions yet given by periodicals to farmers, of a plant 

 of long establishment and of acknowledged value.. 

 The method of cultivating these crops, the prepa- 

 ration of the land, and the application of manure, 

 and the subsequent management, have been so 



