THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



493 



returns of the marehals" and the product of to- 

 bacco in Virginia is there put down at 14,157,841 

 pounds. How came the London editor to lulsily 

 the document? The extravagant returns of 

 hemp, sugar, silk, &c. are thus already circulated 

 in Europe. Does W. need stronger proof of the 

 impropriety of the crude and incorrect publication 

 of the "mere samples," and is il not calculated to 

 mislead, as charged by X ? 



THE TARE CULTURE. 



From tlie Farmers' Cabinet. 



At a late meeting of the Philadelphia Agricul- 

 tural Society, a member inquired if any one pre- 

 sent could speak experimentally on the culture 

 and value of the tare or vetch, which is in such 

 very general use in England, where the eummer- 

 eoiling system is adopted ; remarking, that from all 

 accounts the plant must be astonishingly produc- 

 tive as well as nutritions. Having myselfemploy- 

 ed it for that purpose very largely, and for many 

 years, I would say, its productiveness has never 

 yet been overstated, or its value overrated, as food 

 for all kinds of cattle. Horses, milk cows, fatting 

 beasts, sheep and hogs, will grow fat while feed- 

 ing on it, and the older it grows the more valuable 

 it becomes, as the seed when formed in the pod, is 

 far superior to oats or any other grain for the pur- 

 pose of cattle feed ; the seeds are black, and the 

 size of very small peas. The crop is used for soil- 

 ing, by cutting while green and taking it to the 

 stables ; it is sometimes fed off by sheep, confin- 

 ing them on it by means of temporary fencing or 

 hurdles ; cattle are not liable to become hoven 

 while feeding it in any stage of its growth ; on 

 good land it has been known to reach the height 

 of three leet and even more, producing as much 

 as 12 tons of green food per acre, which, when 

 well dried, will yield 3 tons of the most valuable 

 hay on the farm. The first sowing takes place as 

 soon after harvest as possible in England, upon 

 land designed forthe wheat-crop the next autumn, 

 witfi the winter variety of seed, which can easily 

 be distinguished from thesummer tare, as it is small- 

 er, rounder, and blacker ; these will bear the se- 

 verity of the winter ; rye is often mixed, to ena- 

 ble the crop to stand up, when it attains a consi- 

 derable height, but a sprinkling of wheat has been 

 found best for this purpose, as it remains longer 

 succulent in the summer. The crop from this sow- 

 ing will be fit for cutting for soiling in May, and 

 the stalks, if left in the ground, will afford a second 

 growth for sheep feed ; but as the tare is a fallow 

 crop it is the best management to cut all off and 

 plough the land deep as soon as the crop is re- 

 moved, well working and cleaning it during the 

 summer, preparatotry to wheat- sowing early in 

 the autuiTin, after a dressing of well-prepared 

 compost, if this has not been given to the tares— 

 a far better arrangement for both crops. The next 

 sowing is with the summer variety of the tare, as 

 early in March as the season will admit, on land 

 that has been ploughed preparatory in the autumn 

 or winter ; again in April another crop is sown, 

 and if necessary, two other sowings might take 

 place, the last so late ae the end of June, that so 

 a succession of this most valuable crop might be 



secured for the whole of the summer, and until 

 the end of September. 



Such crops produce immense quantities of ma- 

 nure, which is carried from the sheds and compost- 

 ed [or dressing o\here ; turnips, for instance, which 

 may be sown on the land from which the first 

 crop of tares has been carried, and fed off in time 

 for wheat-sowing in the autumn. It must not 

 be forgotten, that the richer the land, the greater 

 will be the crop of tares, and none will pay so 

 amply for manure; but when the crop is very 

 heavy, there is less chance of obtaining good 

 seed, and if that be the object, it is recommended 

 to mow the first crop early for soiling, and permit 

 the second growth to stand lor seed, which is 

 sometimes a precarious business, nothing being 

 more uncertain ; I have purchased seed at a 

 guinea and a half a bushel, and sold the next 

 year's produce, obtained from it, at six shillings 

 a bushel I When the price of seed is moderate, 

 the quantity sown is two bushels or two and a 

 half per acre, but whatever the price may be, 

 it will be repaid in the crop, if the land be in 

 good heart. As much as 30 bushels of seed 

 per acre has been obtained, but 15 bushels, and 

 often half that, is more common. Under a 

 heavy crop of tares, the land will be found per- 

 fectly clean and mellow, and will turn up like an 

 ash-heap: and there is no question with me, 

 that the crop may be raised with success in this 

 country, if well cultivated on good land, rather 

 stiff in its nature, and lying cool. 



With regard to the value of the tare for soil- 

 ing, it has been calculated that ten times the 

 slock might be kept on them than on any other 

 commonly cultivated crop ; horses require no corn 

 or any other food, and cows give more butter 

 while feeding on them than on any other food 

 whatever. Is it not strange, that no regular expe- 

 riment on an extensive scale has yet been made on 

 such an invaluable crop in this country 1 D. 



HENRICO AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTU- 

 RAL SOCIETY. 



From tlie Richmond Wliig. 



The next exhibition of this society will com- 

 mence on the 20th day of October next, with stock, 

 agricultural implements, &c., and be continued 

 from day to day until completed. 



The farmers of the state, and all others who take 

 an interest in the cause, are respectfully invited to 

 attend. The arrangements of the society, with its 

 advantageous location, justify us in expressing our 

 confidence, that the exhibition and fair will amply 

 repay a trip to Richmond from any part of the 

 state. 



The following premiums will be awarded: 



No. 1. For the best stallion, for harness, the sad- 

 dle, or draught (the premium not having been 

 awarded at the spring exhibition) .^15 00 



Committee— Gen'l. Bernard Pevton, Richard B. 

 Haxall and Charles Marx. 



No. 2. For the most highly improved and best 

 cultivated farm, a premium of ^25. 



For the second best g20. 



For the third best ^15. 



For the fourth best $10. 



Reference being had to the means (as well 



