338 



THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



in the winter as they can, throwing up the land 

 in beds, and replough in the spring. 



On good land the twin corn is preferred to all 

 others. 



Most of our wheat is sown on corn land at the 

 rate oC about three pecks to the acre ; few farmers 

 exceed a bushel. The advantage of the fallow 

 system, however, is gradually developing itself, 

 and we estimate the product on fallow land at one- 

 third more than on corn land. This is not to be 

 ascribed entirely to the improved condition of the 

 soil, but measurably to the opportunity it affords 

 for early seeding, and the better preparation of the 

 land. We usually sow the bearded golden chaff. 



When the land will allow, that is, where it is 

 not liable to suffer from standing water, we prefer 

 the flat tillage; wherein it is thrown up in beds 

 about five feet wide for corn, and ten or twenty 

 for oats or wheat. 



Our average product per acre throughout the 

 county may be estimated at 25 bushels of corn, 10 

 of wheat, 20 of oats, and 150 of sweet potatoes. 



Ruta baga turnips have been extensively culti- 

 vated by some of our farmers, but cenerally our 

 patches do not exceed an acre. We sow about 

 the first of July ; the land being well manured, 

 thoroughly ploughed, harrowed and listed ; the 

 lists or ridges flattened by running a light harrow 

 over them. We leave the plants about 12 or 14 

 inches apart on the ridges. The principal work 

 is effected with a narrow cultivator, and when the 

 plants are of sufficient size to receive the dirt, a 

 furrow from the plough is thrown to them from 

 each side. This completes the cultivation. 



On a small scale every farmer might cultivate 

 the ruta baga or mangel wurtzel beet to advan- 

 tage, because they would not interfere materially 

 with his general crop, and are certainly a very 

 agreeable change of food to his stock in the win- 

 ter ; but 1 doubt whether it would be profitable to 

 go largely into their culture. They are a trouble- 

 some and rather uncertain crop, consuming an 

 immense quantity of manure, and, withal, yield- 

 ing but little nutriment. According to Sir Hum- 

 phry Davy, 1000 parts of ruta baga yield but 64 

 parts of nutritive matter, whilst the Irish potato 

 yields 200. One bushel of potatoes, then, is worth 

 three bushels of turnips ; and an acre of potatoes 

 is cultivated at less than one half the labor re- 

 quired for an acre of turnips. Mangel wurtzel 

 yields about 148 parts in a thousand, but they oc- 

 cupy the ground from March to October, and 

 consequently require a great deal of labor. 



Our principal implements consist of the cast- 

 iron mould-board plough, the cultivator and har- 

 row. Of ploughs we have many varieties, but 

 the Freeborn is in most general use. I have 

 used Chennivvorth's self-sharpening plough for 

 three years past, and am highly pleased with it. 

 Prouty and Mear's premium plough was intro- 

 duced with a loud flourish of trumpets last year, hut 

 proves to be worthless: it will do good work in very 

 clean land, but choke immediately where there is 

 grass. It is moreover very expensive : one for a 

 single horse, sent to me from Boston, cost, deli- 

 vered here, upwards of S8. Davis' plough is 

 highly recommended by all who use it ; it does ex- 

 cellent work, and is little liable to choke. 



It is very important that a farmer should adopt 

 one particular variety of plough. The advantage 

 is manifest, for then the parts of one will fit ano- 



ther, and a broken plough can at any lim* be re- 

 paired by the fragments of another. This rule 

 should not be confined to ploughs, but should ex- 

 tend to carls, wheels and axles. 



The use of the roller is gradually extending 

 through our county. I have found it an invalua- 

 ble implement, peculiarly adapted to our light 

 soils. I usually plough in my wheat and oats ; 

 if the land is very rough, I run a harrow over 

 them and follow with the roller, but generally the 

 harrow is dispensed wiih. The roller leaves the 

 land in beautiful order for the scythe. 



Thrashing machines of various patterns are in 

 use with us. Parker's is highly spoken of. I 

 prefer Sinclair and Moore's horse-power to any I 

 have seen. They all work well if well managed, 

 but in the hands of careless negroes and overseers 

 are good lor nothing. Upon the whole, I think 

 the small farmer had as well dispense with them ; 

 he can tread out his two or three hundred bushels 

 of wheat in four or five days, and with a small 

 machine he can do no better. A new corn and 

 cob crusher has been recently introduced by two 

 or three of our farmers. They speak in the high- 

 est terms of it as performing all that was pro- 

 mised by the patentee. The cob is crushed by 

 passing ihrough iron cylinders. 



Our fences are usually made of pine rails. 

 When convenient, oak is used. In ihe James 

 river district chestnut is found, and is of course 

 preferred to any thing else. We have no stone, 

 and there is not a live fence or hedge in the county. 



Our cattle and hogs are improving. The Dur- 

 ham and Devon stocks have been iniroduced with 

 decided advantage. The Berkshire hog is highly 

 lauded by many, whilst others contend that the 

 same care bestowed upon our native stock would 

 make them equal to the Berkshire. Two gentle- 

 men who purchased a boar and sow each from 

 Bement, after .'Telling one or two farrows, have 

 sold out, considering them worthless, and are 

 breeding now in preference from the New Jersey 

 grass hog. On the other hand, a gentleman on 

 Back river, who purchased (r-om Losping, says 

 there is no comparison between his Berkshires 

 and any other hog he ever saw. The fact is, 

 there are no doubt good as we'l as bad Berkshires, 

 and a bad Berkshire is very little, if any better, 

 than any other bad hog. The hog mania, how- 

 ever, has had the effect of attracting the farmers' 

 atteniion to the subject ; and in that way, I be- 

 lieve, more than by the introduction of any nevv 

 breed, have our hogs been improved. We 

 feed better than we did two or three years ago. 



Horses are chiefly used for the labor of the 

 farm : a few prefer mules, and you may occasion- 

 ally see a yoke of oxen attached to the plough. 

 We raise no stock for exportation. 



Of dairy management I can say nothing. Very 

 little butter is made beyond the requirements of 

 the farmer's family. The time however is not 

 distant when this will form an important branch 

 of our agriculture. The lands on Back river are 

 peculiarly fitted for pasturage ; they are covered 

 with white clover, and the increasing demand for 

 butter will ere long effect a change in that region. 

 The prevailing growth upon our wood lands is 

 oak, hickory, pine, gum, elm, walnut, locust, ma- 

 ple, sycamore, beech and chestnut. The chestnut 

 is confined to that region of country bordering on 

 James river. 



