284 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 5. 



plants grown in the same situation, is to be prefer- 

 red to any benefit which changes of seed from dis- 

 lanl localities can produce. We in the South prac- 

 tice on the. opposite system very extensively; the 

 planters of Bayou Bceui grow cotton seed from 

 Mexico, and furnish seed to the planters of Petit 

 Gulf; these in their turn supply Louisiana, Missis- 

 sippi, and Alabama, and from them our Petit 

 Gulf cotton seed comes— gradual changes lake 

 place in its character here, and the genuine varie- 

 ty is kept up by annual importations. 



It is not to be doubted that instances occur of re- 

 markable improvement both in the quality and 

 quantity of our rice crops upon the use of North 

 Carolina seed rice. And it has been the settled 

 habit of our rice planters from the commencement 

 of that culture on our River Swamps, to draw their 

 supplies of seed from the Inland Swamps; this 

 shows a deep conviction of the advantage derived 

 from change of seed. 



On the other hand, Mr. Gibbes, of Chester dis- 

 trict, in this state, grows corn known there as the 

 three eared corn, which his neighbors buy for its 

 prolific tendency; this he. obtained by selecting 

 stalks having three ears; and every body knows 

 that ol" late our Sea Island planters have been 

 zealous in the selection of fine samples from their 

 crops for seed; so far was this intent examination 

 carried in one instance, that the long use of mag- 

 nifying glasses, to aid in selecting the finest, fibre, 

 threatened blindness to one gentleman of John's 

 Island, as we are told, he is rewarded by sending 

 to market a "fancy brand." — South, s/gr. 



For the Farmers' Register. 

 DESULTORY OBSERVATIONS, AND INQUIRIES, 

 ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF LAIND. 



Charlotte, Va. Aug. 1, 1835. 



We arc disputing in this section of country 

 whether the three or four-shift system is most 

 suitable to our lands, and I propose making a few 

 remarks relative to this question, as well as some 

 desultory observations on other matters connected 

 with the subject. Of agriculture. 



In order to arrive at any thing like accurate con- 

 clusions, it is necessary first to define the terms 

 three and four-shift system, as used in this com- 

 munication. By the three-shift system, we mean 

 a farm divided into three equal parts, cultivated 

 successively, one year in corn, one in oats, and one 

 in grass. By the lour -shift system, we mean a 

 farm divided into four equal parts, cultivated suc- 

 cessively one year in corn, one in oats, and two in 

 grass. From this it will appear that on the three- 

 shift plan there is in fact but one year's rest — and 

 on the tour-shift plan only two — which in my hum- 

 ble opinion, is but a slender chance lor improve- 

 ment — that is, where we depend on grass alone. 



The farm on which I now reside, has been un- 

 der what is called the four-shift system, for some- 

 thing like fourteen years— eleven of which, I can 

 safely say, there has been little or no grazing du- 

 ring the spring and summer. Occasionally in the 

 months of November and December I have per- 

 mitted my cows, and sometimes a small head of 

 horses, to glean the fields. My stock of hogs ne- 

 ver yet enjoyed the pleasure of the harvest field 

 more than twice, or thrice during the fourteen 

 years; and strange to tell, I have never bought 

 pork or bacon, except the two first years of my 

 little farming career. The different shifts have 



been tolerably well set with herds grass or clover, 

 (wherever either of these grasses would grow) 

 for the greater part, if not the whole time abo\ e 

 mentioned. Still my lands arc poor and unpro- 

 ductive — and I am now in whatis commonly call 

 ed a quandary. Shall I continue my efforts on the 

 four-shift plan — or shall I abandon all hope, and 

 try the three-shift system/? 



It would, Mr. Editor, be a source of much gra- 

 tification not only to the writer of this article, but 

 also to many other readers of your valuable Re- 

 gister, to see this subject fidly discussed by some 

 of your able and practical correspondents from the 

 tobacco growing country. The excellent remarks 

 already published in your columns, relative to the 

 three and four-shift systems, apply more particu- 

 larly to the wheat growing country. My opinion, 

 though entitled to but little weight, if any, rather 

 inclines to change; and the reasons which influence 

 my mind in relation to this important subject, will 

 be candidly and plainly submitted to you and 

 your readers. 



The first which suggests itself in favor of the 

 three-shift, is, a greater proportion of the best land 

 of the farm will annually be brought into cultiva- 

 tion. Now, in order to elucidate this idea as clear 

 as possible, let us take for example, a tract or farm 

 containing 320,000 corn hills, and where tobacco, 

 corn and oats are cultivated, (as is common here) 

 8,000 per hand of each, is considered lair crop- 

 ping for an average parcel of hands, although 10, 

 and sometimes 12,000 per hand is cultivated. This 

 320,000 divided into four-shifts, and worked by- 

 ten hands, gives four shifts of 80,000 each. If the 

 same farm be divided into three-shifts, and ffian- 

 aged by the same force, we have three shifts, con- 

 taining about 106,000 hills each. Out of this we 

 may select the best 80,000 for the year's work. 

 The. remaining surplus of 26,000 may be sowed 

 down in small grain, which will not. materially in- 

 terfere with, or affect the general management of 

 the crop; or it may be suffered to improve by rest, 

 and be occasionally cultivated, as time and cir- 

 cumstances may direct. From this view of the 

 question, it would appear a matter easily decided: 

 but then another question arises — does the land 

 improve as much when cultivated once in three 

 years, as' when cultivated only once in four? Ex- 

 perience, as already remarked, is but a small in- 

 ducement with me to hope for much improvement 

 to our common lands from grass alone; and we 

 may add to this, the combined advantage of non- 

 grazing and deep ploughing. These remarks are 

 intended to apply only to the common corn land 

 of this section of country, or to lands of a midling 

 quality, for there is not the least doubt that fresh 

 land of good quality, or even old land in good 

 heart, under judicious cultivation, with the use oi' 

 clover, may be not only kept up to' its original fer- 

 tility, but is susceptible of a high degree of im- 

 provement. But. on the common corn land let me 

 ask what is the improvement of three or four years 

 worth, when, as before remarked, that of ten or a 

 dozen is scarcely perceptible? 



Another advantage which the three-shift system 

 possesses, consists in the great, saving of labor 

 both in the preparation and cultivation of the crop. 

 It generally requires the greater part of my hands 

 to shrub and clean up the. briers, bushes, &c. near- 

 ly the whole time, of Ihe ploughing season, (say 

 from the 15th November till the 15th of January,) 



