386 



THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



county. In improving by marl, one of tJie main 

 principles acied on is, to conihine with the appli- 

 cation of marl the non-<;razing eysiem. All ihe 

 vegetable matier grown on the lauJ, when not in 

 crop, iiS allowed to liall ai.d rot on it. Grazing is 

 most studiously avoided in the beginning ol' ihe 

 improvement. Clover is sown as soon as ihe land 

 will bear ir, generally wiih the first small grain 

 crop alter the marling. The culture ofclover and 

 applicaiion ol putrescent manures are the chiel" 

 means relied on to perlect the imprcvemenl begun 

 by the marling. Until marl, the -main-spring ol 

 all our impiovements on originally poor and acid 

 land, is applied, clover will not grovV; and manure 

 yields no profit, the main result ol iis application 

 being an abundant growth ol' sorrel. Calcareous 

 and vegetable matter are the two great insirumenis 

 lor improving the soil, and which have been Ibr- 

 nished without limit, by an all-bountiful Provi- 

 dence. 



When the land becomes well filled with vege- 

 table matter, which it will do in a lew courses 

 ol< the rotation, if it is not subjected to the 

 hoof, some liirmers think that mild grazing is 

 judicious, particularly on light or putty soil, as 

 serving by the trampling of the caiile to render 

 them more compact, and also to destroy many 

 insects inimical to ihe succeeding crop. The 

 plan of not grazing has led in a lew neighbor- 

 Jioods to the adoption of a common (cnce, enclos- 

 ing several I'arms. There was one instance ol 

 ten or a dozen (arms, containing together several 

 thousand acres under one enclosure. So long as 

 they were opposed to grazing, each farmer kept 

 no more stock than absolutely necessary lor his 

 comlort and farm operations, and thej^e were 

 looked alter by a liitle boy lo prevent trespass 

 on the neighbors. Where ience limber is scarce, 

 labor dear, and grazing not desirable, this system 

 is attended with many advantages. As tht; lands 

 have improved, a larger supply of slock has be- 

 come advisable, grazing is thought more desira- 

 ble, and this system of a common enclosure is 

 gradually abandoned. 



Rotation. — The system of rotation on the 

 marled lands most in use is thai of three fields; 

 lit, corn, 2d, wheat, with oats on the most in- 

 lerior portions, 31, clover not grazed. A standing 

 pasture in addition is necessary lor the cattle in 

 summer, or if without one the cattle are turned 

 into the woods. Under this rotation, an average 

 ol 22 to 25 bushels ol corn, and 10 to 12 bushels 

 of wheat is made to the acre. There can be no 

 doubt, that to our tide-water section, where the 

 land is generally level, and better adapted to the 

 growth of corn than wheat, and where a choice 

 of markets is presented to ihe larmer, this rotation 

 is admirably adapied. A rotation of four years 

 wilh only two grain crops, viz: corn, wheat, 

 clover, clover, (or if land is too thin for clover, 

 weeds instead,) has been adopted with marked 

 benefit, where land was very poor in the be- 

 ginning. As the land improved, however, it be- 

 came necessary to abandon it, for in the second 

 year of rest ihe land became excessively Ibul. 

 In some lew cases, the famous Ibur-field and 

 fallow rotation, of corn, wheat, clover, wheat, 

 has been tried, but has been found too scourging, 

 except on the line alluvial loams of Brandon 

 Neck, where it is still in use on one or more ol 

 the |avm8. Besides drawing loo heavily on the 



soil, the amount of land in corn annually ia 

 thought too small, iu what is a belter corn than 

 wheat growing soil. On a lew farms, either Inlly 

 and roiling, or well adapted to wheal culture, a 

 rotation ol five years has been introduced, with 

 three grain crops, viz ; corn, vvUeat, clover, wheat, 

 clover. The second field ol clover to be grazed. 

 At Evergreen, a portion of ihe larm, a fine wheat 

 soil, marled, ha« been kepi aliernaiely in wheat 

 and clover lor 9 or 10 years. The first crop of 

 Clover has been usually mowed, and ihe whole 

 partially grazed, yei the land has greatly im- 

 proved. The wheal crop however iiaei diminish- 

 ed, on account of the blue grass and other vege- 

 table pests which have taken possession of ihe 

 land. The introduction of a hue ciop lor the 

 purpose of cleansing it has become necessary. 

 Under the rotations in which fallowing lor wheat 

 is done, the average crops of corn are about 25 

 bushels, ol' wheal alter clover 15 to 20, and of 

 wheat alter corn 8 to 10 bushels per acre. 



Maivures. — Under all these systems of rotation, 

 much attention is paid to the collection and ap- 

 plicaiion of manure. All the ofial ol the corn and 

 wheal crops, and Irequently leaves Irom the woods 

 are used lor this purjjose. When the larn)er has 

 not Slock sufficient to trample these materials, 

 they are olien applied in a raw state, and always 

 with benefit. Ou land which has been marled, 

 the application of straw, pine beards or any ve- 

 getable matter, however coarse, has unilbrmly re- 

 paid the farmer lor his trouble. Straw is very 

 economically hauled on the land in return loads, 

 ai the tune ol hauling in the wheat to the thrash- 

 ing machine. Spread over the young clover at 

 ihat season, it will produce a most marked effect 

 the Ibllowing spring. With regard lo the mode 

 and time ol applying manures, there is a great 

 diversity of opinion and practice. Most com- 

 monly ihe manure is given to the corn crop, 

 eonieiimes ploughed under, sometimes applied on 

 ihe top. A lavoriie mode of application with 

 some lew is in the spring, on the clover or grass 

 land lo be lallowed in liie lall lor wheal or corn. 

 Its advocates contend that this application is not 

 only the mosi easily made, but also that, in the 

 following crop, they receive the benefii of the 

 manure greatly increased by the additional growth 

 given by it to the clover or other grass. Others 

 again (jreli^r to apply their manure as a top dress- 

 ing to wheal in the lidl or winter. For this pur- 

 pose they preler manure well rotted. 



Where good and practical lisrmers differ so 

 widely, your commiitee leel sale in coming lo the 

 conclusion that though some mode ol application 

 may be more economial and beneficial than 

 others, yet all the dillerent modes are good. The 

 best farmers use all diligence in ihe collecting 

 and applying manures. They make it a matter 

 of primary importance, not a mere secondary 

 business which is made to yield to more yurcssing 

 jobs, and put ofi for a more convenient season. 

 "Siock of every kind, hor:jes, cattle, hogs, and 

 sheep are made to increase the manure heap, and 

 are lurnished with abundant materials lor that 

 purpose. Let no farmer hesitate to carry out his 

 manure, because he may be either too late to 

 give it to the corn or because he may be unable 

 to plough it under immediately. The greatest 

 error committed by our farmers is in failing to 

 carry out their summer-made manure. It is too 



