9^ 



THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



fertility and improvement of those farms on which 

 if was judiciously practised, I will here state 

 somewhat in detail euch consequences as 1 ob- 

 served growing out of each system. 



My tour exieniied from the James river to the 

 Potomac, in the Valley, and through a i»an of 

 Loudoun county. 



It is well known that nearly all the Valley of 

 this state is highly calcareous, based on limesione 

 rock cropping out in many instances so as to ob- 

 struct agricultural operations. To me, in some 

 ioetaijces, it was matter oi' perlect astonishment, 

 that with the materials ol" inexhaustible fertility 

 lying in profusion around them, 1 observed some 

 fields going to waste and profitless ruin, from the 

 want of clover and other grasses sown upon 

 them. I perceived that even there, where the 

 land was cerlaiBly calcareous, if tliey failed to 

 combine the vegetable matter, all iheir eflbrts at 

 general improvement were given to the winds ; 

 as they had added nothing to stimulate into active 

 use the leriilizing properties of the lime. 



I saw, in various situations, huge mounds of 

 calcareous tula, or travertine. This is deposited 

 from water holding carbonate ol lime in solution, 

 by means of carbonic acid. As the excess of the 

 acid escapes, as it does generally at some fall or 

 ripple, the lime is deposited in the Ibrm of an im- 

 pure porous carbonate, frequently encrusting 

 stones, leaves, and sometimes trees. Never, I be- 

 lieve, has the hand of Providence placed any 

 other substance of such utility to agricultural 

 purposes, more readily at the command of the 

 iarmer. It is easily calcined, and then used as 

 lime ; or may be readily ground like plaster, and 

 applied in large quantities on clover sod previous 

 to turning under. In no instance where it exists 

 in such abundance could I learn that it was used 

 for any purpose whatever. 



I could wish, for the future welfare and future 

 improvement of the spot ol my nativity, that Mr. 

 RufRn, the editor of the Farmer's Register, would 

 at some time extend his trips up into the Valley, 

 and bring into active and general use this treasure, 

 now neglected and unnoticed. 



It is thus, that often the treasures of our country 

 lie dormant and unknown, from our not having 

 proper agricultural surveys to bring thera to light, 

 life, and usefulness. 



I found on every estate, where due attention 

 was paid to grazing, and alternating their crops, 

 evident improvement, particularly when aided 

 by the grazing of cattle, long considered there 

 as almost indispensable to the perfect manage- 

 ment of their lands. In Loudoun, through their 

 cattle, wheat, clover, and plaster, an impulse has 

 been given to good farming, unequalled, I believe, 

 by any county in the state. I there saw with 

 pleasure, lands that I well knew thirty years ago, 

 then poor, exhausted, gullied, and worn out, now 

 perfectly reclaimed, and covered with cattle and 

 most luxuriant crops of grass. I was satisfied, 

 by comparing their oldest grazing farms with 

 those more recently converted into them, that it 

 was to that system mainly they were indebted 

 for their high state of fertility. The use of plas- 

 ter first gave them clover, that created ihe neces- 

 sity of buying stock to consume it ; and the con- 

 tinued repetition of the use of both has now pro- 

 duced such consi'quences as evidently jusiily the 

 wisdom of this practice. But little corn is raised ; 



wheat and cattle are staples of the best managed 

 farms. Their oldest pastures are now well com- 

 bined wiih green-sward, indicating increased fer- 

 tility, it enables them to compete successfully 

 as graziers with Bny other part of the state, and 

 sell annually upwards of twelve thousand cattle. 



To that county I may justly appeal for full evi- 

 dence of what may be realized by the use of 

 clover and its concomitant advantages. We have 

 seen her exhausted fields reclaimed and made 

 productive, her people prosperous and increasing 

 in wealth, number, and resources. Why should 

 we not profit by her example 1 I have no doubt 

 that we now possess a much finer natural soil 

 than theirs, and containing more calcareous com- 

 binations, the converting agent of vegetable mat- 

 ter. X)ur rolling hills and alluvial bottoms present 

 a noble field for continued improvement. They 

 now invite the fostering care of good husbandry. 

 Let us then take counsel from that experience of 

 others which is before us. Let us pursue that 

 course which will surely increase the fertility of 

 our land, and careflilly avoid such a suicidal policy 

 as would allow any part of our land to remain 

 uncovered with clover or other grasses. 



In thus urging on you the propriety of sowing 

 grass on all occasions as the first move in a course 

 of regular improvements, 1 would remark that 

 proper care and attention should always be given 

 to other resources at your command as auxiliaries, 

 to be applied when necessity and circumstances 

 may indicate. Your cornstalks, straw, hay and 

 barnyard manures have their appropriate place, 

 and time of application, in a correct rotation of' 

 crops. 



The weeds that annually spring up on everj' 

 farm should be cut before they mature their seed. 

 Nothing more exhausts your soil, and prevents 

 the formation of a good sod. 



I will here warn you to beware of the blue 

 thistle and ox-eye, two of the most foul and nox- 

 ious weeds I know. They have topped the 

 Alleghany on their march to the west, and high 

 waters in a short time will assuredly float their 

 seed among us. Declare a war of extermination 

 against them at sight. Care and attention given 

 in time can prevent their spreading, and hold 

 them in subjection ; but if neglected they will 

 take entire possession of whole fields, to the 

 utier exclusion of every production. I have seen 

 whole sections of the state so polluted with these 

 weeds, as very materially to lessen the income 

 and value of the land. 



The last season has very generally proved un- 

 favorable to the maturity of wheat. In the 

 Valley and in Loudoun, I was informed, that 

 the early spring gave indications of a most abun- 

 dant crop. At harvest I found those promising 

 appearances blasted, and universal destruction 

 occasioned in that county by the rust. 



Our crops this year have certainly excelled 

 that fine wheat growing region. As I returned 

 to the west, I observed a change commence at 

 the North Mountain, and gradually improving 

 to the Ohio. 



Some experiments were made last year by 

 Mr. McMullin, a member of our society, with 

 a view of ascprtaining the best period for seeding 

 wheat. A part of his crop was sown on the 

 first day of August, another part in September, 

 and the balance in October. The product has 



