xii Notices for a Young Farmer 



It is evident, that this and other modes of practise herein 

 mentioned, are calculated for farms of the extent deemed 

 competent in our part of the Union ; where permanent clean- 

 liness, and valuahle covers of grass, for hay and pasture, are 

 contemplated. In southern sections, where the mere grain 

 crop is the object, and vast extent of surface occupied ; so 

 that numbers of acres are multiplied, to produce an aggre- 

 gate, which might be had from a few; such details of opera- 

 tions for dressing and cleaning the soil, although highly as- 

 sistant to the immediate crop, would be considered inapplica- 

 ble and unnecessary. But until, in those districts, some such 

 practices as are used in less extensive husbandry, are more 

 commonly introduced, landholders should not complain of 

 broom-straw, and other noxious pests, overrunning and steri- 

 lizing their worn and finally abandoned fields; urged on their 

 march to poverty, by double cropping, and rough farming. 

 Great advantages might, however, be now taken of former 

 mismanagement, by pursuing some such means to recover 

 waste and abandoned lands, by using the spontaneous growths 

 of scrubby timber, first for cover, after felling, and then 

 burning it ; as Col. Taylor has practised. See 1 vol. Phila- 

 delphia Memoirs, pages 32, 8, 9. He has not only set an 

 encouraging example for farther experiments ; but has af- 

 forded the strongest proofs of the benefits resulting from 

 cover and fire, on soils. From experience in the like ex- 

 periment, it could be shewn, that his cover remained unne- 

 cessarily long unburnt. 



If the numbers of Slaves are burthens on the southern 

 Landholders, in the farming districts ; confining their atten- 

 tion to a better stvlc of agriculture on a smaller scale, would 

 relieve them. If emancipation or colonization be prudent and 

 practicable, those emancipated or colonized, might be spared ; 

 when fewer labourers were required in improved husbandry. 

 If less land were occupied in exhausting culture, there would 

 be a surplus, for a white population to cultivate to greater 

 advantage. The improved state of the husbandry in some of 

 the counties of Virginia, particularly Loudoun, is an example 

 of peerless value. The plaster and clover culture has pro- 



