FARMERS' REGISTER 



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better than ibe last seeded ; indeed I have seeded 

 it first and at all times during the seednig season ; 

 etiH I lie same deficiency invariably ensues. How 

 can it l>e otherwise when it succeeds the moslex- 

 hauslinjf grain crop that we cultivate? 



Now, it may be very reasonably asked, why I 

 am about to abandon a system that has improved 

 my estate so greatly, and at the same time liir- 

 nisiied so good a reward lor my labor; embracing 

 undoubtedly the two desiderata of profit and im- 

 provement to so great an extent ? 1 nuisl answer 

 that it is with reluctance that 1 do leave it. But 

 while we are doing well, why should we not do 

 better? The system that I am about to substitute 

 <br the four-field and fallow embraces, I think, ;dl 

 of its good features, and discards its bad ; as I will 

 endeavor to show. 



The system I am about to adopt, is a five-field 

 and liillow system as follows : 



Ist year, corn, 



2nd do. peas, 



3rd do. wheat, 



4ih do. clover, 



5th do, wheat, 



1 will first state that I have added another field 

 of 100 acres of good farming land to my estate, 

 thereby furnishing me with the requisite number 

 of fields of 100 acres each ; an arable surface of 

 500 acres. 



The inducements then for the substitution of 

 this five-field and fallow rotation, for the four, 

 and the advantages (as I believe) resulting from it, 

 are these: 



That it will obviate the objectionable feature in 

 the former, by breaking the succession of the three 

 narrow-leaved, fibrous-rooted exhausting grain 

 crops (of wheat, corn, wheat,) by the substitution 

 of a leguminoias, broad-leaved, improving crop, of 

 peas, entirely a different one in all its qualities 

 and properties ; an alterative, preparatory, and 

 improving crop. 



That by adding the 100 acres to the arable sur- 

 face, I am still furnished with the same desired 

 number of acres for my grain crops, without en- 

 larging or diminishing my Ibrmer cultivation, and 

 at the same time am enabled to overcome the ob- 

 jectionable feature in the four-Held rotation. 



That I believe it will increase my crop of 

 wheat Irom 1000 to 1500 bushels more in conse- 

 quence of its being seeded in this pea fallow, 

 instead of its succeeding corn ; after which I have 

 never been able to average more than 10 or 12 

 bushels per acre, whereas I am very certain after 

 a year's rest, and a good pea fiillow, I shall be en- 

 abled to average from 20 to 30 bushele per acre. 



That It will enable me to get in my wheat crop 

 so much earlier, as I can commence fallowing the 

 peas in as soon as I have finished my clover fal- 

 low, not having to wait for the corn to mature, 

 and then the tedious process of removing the corn, 

 which has always retarded me so much as to 

 make it about the middle of November before I 

 can finish seeding. Under this arrangement, I 

 think I can always seed my 200 acres in wheat in 

 October, as I can commence on it sooner ; and not 

 having the corn to remove from before the ploughs, 

 it will require mere draining. JMy fallow usually 

 is seeded in 7 or 8 days, and tlie same number of 

 acres of corn land, takes lour times as long. 



That it will enable me to lime my corn crop, 

 and do my ploughing for corn always in the 



month of November. As the corn will not be shock" 

 ed on the vvlieal land, it can be gathered in as 

 soon as you are done seeding wheat, having no- 

 thing to prevent ; whereas from unfavorable wea- 

 ther you cannot rim on the wheat, and you are 

 delayed housing it until late in the winter, by 

 which great loss is susiuitied. And as you will 

 under this system, finish your wheat in October, 

 you will have the irood n)onth of November to 

 plough up your field intended for corn ; theieby 

 forwarding and securing both of these important 

 jolis in their [)roper time. 



That it. will be a still more improving system, 

 as there will be a less surfiice under exhausting 

 crops; three-fifths only, instead of three-fourths; 

 and two-fifihs instead of one-fourth of the estate 

 will be annually improved from green fallows ; both 

 fiillovvs of the most improving kind, and turned 

 under when in the greatest perftjclion for improve- 

 ment. And as the mass of materials for putres- 

 cent manures will become greater, so will the estate 

 be more largely improved by this means. 



That the pea crop may be made a source of 

 considerable profit not only by increasing the crop 

 of vvtieat which will succeed it, (as I think,) at 

 least 100 per cent., but by saving with your oiher- 

 wiee insufficient force a considerable quantity for 

 sale; for if the rotation is a successful one, they 

 will be in demand as much or more so than seed 

 oats are now, (although strange to say every far- 

 mer almost makes oats:) and if not sold are of 

 great value lor slock. Your field may be also 

 gleaned by your hogs, beeves, and other stock 

 that are to be fiitleiied, before it is fallowed in for 

 wheat. By which means they may be fiiilcncd 

 much earlier, and at a great saving of corn, &.c. 

 That excellent farmer and great economist, Mr. 

 Fielding Lewis, of VVyanoke, cultivated them ex- 

 tensively, and considered them of great value for 

 ftieding mules, &c. ; if so, the crop will be of still 

 greater value. The want of judicious economy 

 on our farms is one of our greatest faults. Who 

 amon2st us considers broom corn seed of any 

 worth 1 Yet to the north they arc carefully saved 

 and fed to stock. 



That it carries out fully the principle of the al- 

 ternating system of green fallows for wheat, after 

 which they are so much more certain and profita- 

 ble. The desired number of 200 acres is furnished 

 me for the purpose, as more than that (which I 

 should have if the whole 500 acres were in culti- 

 vation under the four-field rotation) my present 

 force could not seed in proper time, and save, if 

 good wheat. 



That you are not of necessity forced to cut 

 down, or to remove your corn at so early a period ; 

 but that it can remain in the field in its best situa- 

 tion until in order, and you are ready to house it. 

 I lost this corn season from shocking it too green 

 or too damp. 



That it must effectually keep the estate clean 

 by the frequent ploughings and successful spring 

 cultivations, &c., and is destroying the obnoxious 

 grasses and weeds, and thereby diminishing the 

 food and habitations of insects, which are now so 

 injurious to our crops. 



That it will be decidedly a more convenient 

 and better distribution of the labor, as you dis- 

 pense with your wheat crop in the months of 

 August and September and October. Your field' 

 intended for corn is ploughed in the month of No-' 



