1835.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



509 



found its way into this neighborhood, an interest 

 has been excited on the subject of improving our 

 lands, which is likely to be productive ol impor- 

 tant results. I know several farmers near me who 

 have had their farms divided lor years into two 

 fields, and until the appearance of* your paper, had 

 perhaps never thought of improvement, beyond 

 the covering of two three acres with farm-pen 

 manure, have now divided their farms into four 

 fields, and have commenced using lime, and clover 

 to a considerable extent. Others again who a^e 

 not prepared to go fully into the foregoing system 

 are making experiments in the small way, by cut- 

 ting off lots, making standing pastures, hauling 

 out sea ore. (which had been neglected for years,) 

 and the like. In short, sir, I think we are on the 

 very verge of a new era in agriculture; and, if I 

 am not greatly mistaken, the face of our country in 

 ten years will wear almost as different an aspect, 

 as did the village of his nativity to Rip Van Win- 

 kle after his sleep of twenty years. * * * 



King 8f Queen, Va., March 26th, 1835. 



I consider the Farmers' Register a most valua- 

 ble work, and particularly the three or four first 

 numbers, which induced me to divide my farm 

 into four shifts, under which system it is improv- 

 ing most rapidly; and whenever I can get clover 

 to stick, I shall think the work done. However, peas 

 are not much interior to clover, and will grow on 

 almost any land. When "laying by" my corn, 

 which I did with cultivators, I sowed peas on se- 

 veral acres: aud when they were beginning to 

 bear, I turned them in with a double plough — and 

 I am sure the wheat would not have looked better 

 had I used the best manure. 



Pendleton, S. C, Aug. 17, 1835. 



I am in hopes the permanent success of your 

 paper is ensured by a liberal patronage. It should 

 be in the hands of every planter who wishes to 

 keep up with the rapid improvements now making 

 in agriculture, or profit by the experience of those 

 who have wasted much time, experimentally, in 

 obtaining their results. But it is a striking fact, 

 that those who constitute the largest, as well as 

 the most solid portion of society, should be so in- 

 different to their interests as to exclude periodicals, 

 whose pages are crowded with matter calculated 

 to cast a flood of light upon their pursuits, whilst 

 their names contribute to swell out the list of the 

 numerous journals, self-styled "Literary Empo- 

 riums," but whose columns are the receptacles of 

 subjects "light as air." 



Caroline, Sept. 16th, 1835. 



The Farmers' Register has rendered, and is 

 doubtless rendering to the farming interest, a most 

 essential service. Your treatise on calcareous 

 manures, followed by the Register, has (I have 

 sometimes thought) brought about a new era in 

 agriculture — at least in Eastern Virginia. Farm- 

 ers are rapidly imbibing the important doctrine 

 that a considerable outlay of capital in ihe improve- 

 ment of their lands is not at variance with imme- 

 diate profit in husbandry — a principle in husband- 

 ry, which if established and fixed in the agricul- 

 tural mind as correct, is .admirably calculated to 

 assist in the resuscitation of old Virginia. For 



could the people be brought to believe in the prac- 

 ticability of a general improvement of their farms 

 without a too great annihilation of profit, a degree 

 of contentment (I imagine) would thereby be at- 

 tained, which would greatly check the present 

 fearful drain of population and capital from our 

 state. Indeed, I am induced to look upon it, as 

 calculated to prove, eventually, one of' the most 

 salutary and effectual checks to emigration. 

 May your valuable labors in this, and many other 

 respects, be crowned with great success. 



Much has been said in favor of both the three 

 and four-field systems, without enabling the farm- 

 ing community to arrive at a definite conclusion 

 touching Ihe matter. From all that I have seen 

 on the subject, and reflection bestowed, I am in- 

 duced to think the three-field system suits all such 

 sections peculiarly well suited to the production of 

 corn, and the four-field, those which suit wheat; 

 for when the unsuitableness of lands to the wheat 

 crop is considered, in connexion with the great 

 uncertainty of that crop, farmers in corn sections 

 are loth to depart from the old three-field system. 



Pendleton, (S. C.,) Oct. 8, 1835. 



Absence from home and my numerous engage- 

 ments, prevented me from perusingthe supplement 

 to the Register, and the No. that accompanied it, 

 till within the last few days. 



1 read them both with pleasure and instruction, 

 particularly the former. Your remarks r and ex- 

 periments on calcareous manures are highly in- 

 teresting; and as a southern planter, I tender you 

 my thanks for the benefit that you have already 

 conferred on lower Virginia, and which I doubt 

 not, will ultimately rescue from poverty and 

 wretchedness, not only that portion of Virginia, 

 but all of the corresponding portions of the south- 

 ern states. 



Iu reflecting on our future prospects, nothing has 

 caused such melancholy feelings, as the steady 

 progress to sterility, which has followed our south- 

 ern agriculture from the first settlement of the 

 country. It must be arrested, or the doom of the 

 southern race will be the most wretched that can 

 be conceived. A universal debasement, morally 

 and intellectually, must follow. To arrest such 

 calamity, you had the honor of making a great, 

 and successful effort — and that on the very spot 

 where the evil first commenced, and which had 

 produced its worst effects. I trust your example 

 will induce others in different portions of the south 

 to follow in the same patriotic course, till the evil 

 shall be entirely arrested. It ought to be a prin- 

 ciple of morals and patriotism, as well as of in- 

 dividual economy with us, that no gain is legiti- 

 mate that does not leave the land as productive as 

 it was before it was taken. 



Prince George, Nov. 17, 1835. 



I should be glad to see, from some intelligent 

 correspondent, a communication on the Hessian 

 fly, with a very minute account of its habits. 

 There are few more interesting subjects of inves- 

 tigation; and a patient and scientific observer might 

 produce results of great consequence in a national, 

 as well as individual point of view. I should also be 

 pleased to get some information relative to the vi- 



