214 



THE FARMEKS' REGISTER. 



omitting what is all-important to the general and 

 inductive agricultural reader, a statement of the 

 former and present condition of the soil, on which 

 euccessful experiments have been made, and a 

 correct detail of the means adopted to obtain such 

 results, the want ol' this information is liable to 

 lead others into errors, who may be induced to try 

 the attainment of similar results, under circum- 

 stances entirely different ; and whose unavoidable 

 want of success leads tf:em to doubt or altogether 

 discredit such reports. Nor is the evil confined to 

 the doubting of such reports, but has also a ten- 

 dency to lessen in the estimation of many the va- 

 lue of agricultural communications, and the valu- 

 able journals throush whose medium they are cir- 

 culated and presented to the public. 



Wiih these views, and if the mode and object 

 conlemplaled meet your approbation, I propose in 

 this and subsequent commiiYiicalions to give you 

 a statement of the present condition of the exten- 

 sive farm now under my care ; our general nr.ode of 

 operations, improvements about to be effected, 

 and such results as may be obtained, whether 

 they may prove successful or the reverse. I am 

 well aware of my incapacity to do justice to such 

 a subject ; one thing, however, I will promise, that 

 nothing but facts shall be stated ; or, that where 

 false inferences may be drawn, they will be the 

 result of error of judgment, not intentional. I am 

 also well awal-e that communications of this na- 

 ture from a source so humble, will, with many, 

 subject the writer to the charge of egotism. To 

 such I have no other apology to ofl'er than to state, 

 that though I own neither a slave nor one foot ol 

 land, but till the humble station of manager of a 

 farm, 1 am willing to communicate my practical 

 experience, not only with the view of benefiting 

 others, but in the hope, that by eliciting remarks 

 from others of more experience and sounder judg- 

 nnent, 1 may by that means be enabled lo attain 

 such additional knowledge as may not only bene- 

 fit myself, but may also enable me thereby to ren- 

 der my services more efficient and profitable to my 

 esteemed employer. I consider it my imperative 

 duty that my employer shall not only reap the full 

 benefit of whatever practical knowledge or expe- 

 rience I may now possess of agriculture, but that I 

 should use every effort in my power to mcrease and 

 improve such knowledge, not only for my own, but 

 his benefit. Whatever statements of practice may 

 be contained in this, or following communications, 

 must be considered as carried into effect either un- 

 der the immediate instructions of my employer, 

 or with his express sanction and approbation. 

 Though not a constant resident on his estate, he 

 never loses sight of the operations going on, or the 

 measures most conducive to his interests and the 

 improvement of his property. There are also 

 some of your readers who 1 know not only consi- 

 der the attempt of a farm manager to commit his 

 views and practical experience to the pages of an 

 agricultural journal as an unpardonable offence, 

 but who also consider the reading of such periodi- 

 cals as being entirely beyond his province; and 

 who will also censure the proprietor who keeps 

 an individual so presumptuous in his employment. 

 To such there need no excuse or apology be offer- 

 ed. It cannot but be matter of regret to every libe- 

 ral mind, that so many of those whose livelihood 

 is obtained as overseers of farms, are not only in- 

 capable of committing their views to writing, but 



who from ignorance are incapable of reading or 

 appreciating the important benefits which they, 

 and, through them, their employers, might derive 

 from the perusal of such periodicals; perhaps 

 some will say, "Where ignorance is bliss 'tis folly 

 to he wise." 



The estate now under my care is that of -Sandy 

 Point, situated in the lower end of Charles City 

 county, Va., and now the proper!-y of Robert B. 

 Boiling, esq. In the present communication I 

 shall endeavor to give aSfiort and general descrip- 

 tion of the estate in its present condition, reservincr 

 for a future opportunity statements which will 

 point out improvements now in progress or about 

 to be commenced. 



The location of this beautiful estate is on the 

 immediate bank of ihe James River, along whose 

 shores it extends upwards of six miles, and is pro- 

 bably a location unsurpassed by any of' the nume- 

 rous and fine estates in this section of country. 

 The area of the whole is, from old surveys, esti- 

 mated at SOOO acres ; and the area of that portion 

 now under cultivation is 2372 acres, at present 

 divided as follows into, 1st, The Neck, or lower 

 farm of 6C0 acres, cultivated in three fields of 

 corn, wheat, clover; 2d, Teddington farm, of 700 

 acres, 600 acres of which are also cultivated in 

 three fields as above, and 100 acres divided into 

 five 20-acre lots and cultivated in 1st. corn, 2d. 

 wheat, 3d. clover, 4th. wheal, and 5ih. clover. 

 8d. Upper Quarter farm of 536 acres. This division 

 of the estate is now nearly one half in wheat after 

 (jlover and weed fallow, one fourth will be in corn 

 this year, and one fourth in oats and peas as a 

 preparatory fallow for wheat. 4th. The Rowe 

 farm of 536 acres. This fisrm has also formerly 

 been cultivated in three fields ; but contemplating 

 an entire change of the now existing divisions of 

 the estate, there will, as a preparatory measure 

 be no corn cultivated this season on that portion 

 of it, two thirds of which are now in wheat after 

 cloverand weed fallowand after corn; the remaining 

 third is in clover and its natural growth of grass 

 and weeds ; the whole of this last division will be 

 in corn in 1842. , 



The surface of the arable land in all of these di- 

 visions is level, yet sufBciently undulating to af- 

 ford facilities for the necessary drainage. The high- 

 est portion of the land is probably not more than 

 20 or 25 feet above high water mark, the texture 

 of the soil throughout is excellent and very nealy 

 unilbrm, very little of it can he properly consider- 

 ed as a sandy loam, and still less could be classed 

 as a clayey loam ; a supposed medium between 

 these would probably best designate the very 

 nearly unilorm texture of the general soil. Gravel 

 is very rarely to be met with, pieces of rock of 

 any description are also rarely to be seen. The 

 general character of the soil is, I believe, what 

 you class as a neutral soil ; the only exceptions to 

 this character are on the portions most remote 

 from the river, or where the original soil has 

 been washed off by galls. Occasional small spaces 

 are to be found, where the natural growth of broom 

 straw and sorrel would indicate an acid soil. These 

 spaces however are small, and constitute only the 

 exception. The color of the soil presents several 

 variations, the prevailing is however a chocolate. 

 The whole of the soil is susceptible of the highest 

 improvement, and in its original and virgin state 

 was doubtless very productive, and wherever 



