No. 9. 



Dearness of Labour, Sf^c. 



273 



storms in September, especially that of the 

 14th and 15th, my most sanguine expecta- 

 tions would assuredly have been realized. 



To ascertain the yield per acre, a piece 

 was selected, running' 80 yards by 30 — the 

 corn that grew on this space was carefully 

 kept apart, husked by itself in the field, and 

 measured 99 bushels of ears. The 80 yards 

 by 30, is less by about a perch, than half an 

 acre, consequently the yield was fully 200 

 bushels of ears to the acre, measured and 

 heaped as is usual when corn is sold in ear, 

 equal to 100 bushels of shelled corn to the 

 acre — the fodder in proportion, if not greater. 



I should, perhaps, state that the only ob- 

 jection I can point out to planting corn in 

 drill, so close, is, its being so liable to injury 

 from the severe gales that so frequently visit 

 us in August and September. As to the ca- 

 pability of ordinary good land bearing such 

 a crop, and as to its ripening well, 1 never 

 had a doubt, and had I had, the result of the 

 crop in question, could not but dispel it. I 

 am thus particular in order to do away with 

 the prejudice against planting corn in drill, 

 and to point to the folly of planting in hills 

 four to five feet apart, making but 40 to 50 

 bushels only to the acre, when the same 

 land and same work, would produce 80 to 

 100 bushels to the acre, by drill husbandry. 



The land was limed from 30 to 40 bushels 

 to the acre, and had a considerable dressing 

 of the deposit of a mill-dam. This stuff" was 

 very poor of the kind, being mostly sand, 

 and will give trouble in the quantity of dock 

 and other weeds it will furnish, as in the 

 neighbourhood of the dam, the dock in some 

 fields stands thicker than did my corn — these 

 weeds were left to seed, v.-ere washed by the 

 rains into the dam, and being of the amphi- 

 bious tribe, did not perish. The only ex- 

 pense as to manure, was the lime, and the 

 tlirowing out the dirt from the dam and 

 carting it, and it was dear enough at that. 

 I ascribe my success to the mode of planting 

 in drills, in a deep and well pulverized soil, 

 thereby furnishing to each plant a comfort- 

 able space it might call its own, where it 

 could vegetate in peace, without having to 

 fight every inch of its way with some two 

 or three others, packed together in a hill of 

 scarcely the size of a crow's nest. 



Potatoes. — Three and a half acres, Mer- 

 cers, planted from the 2nd to the 6th of 

 June. This patch had been in with buck- 

 wheat the autumn before, which had been 

 sown specially to smother out w^ds, par- 

 ticularly the broad plantain. It was well 

 manured, seeded by one-third more, I think, 

 than I ever saw attempted before, — laid m 

 every other furrow, at the distance of not 

 more than eight inches apart. From the 



generous supply of suitable manure, the 

 great quantity of seed, and the fine condi- 

 tion of the land, I did expect to astonish 

 you with a yield of some 500 bushels to the 

 acre, but this well directed effort was fi-us- 

 trated by the unnatural, excessive spring 

 like weather, which set in after the south- 

 erly gale and rain storm of the 14th and 

 15th of September — the moisture and heat 

 of which affected the roots to an incipient 

 state of fermentation, preparatory to sprout- 

 ing. The vines which but a few days be- 

 fore, looked green and healthy, faded in- 

 stanter, for the roots below had taken it into 

 their heads to dissolve the connexion, and 

 make a start for a new crop. This, like most 

 crazy schemes, brought its own punishment, 

 for they had scarcely begun to nestle in the 

 sunshine, when the return of cold weather 

 showed them they had missed their reck- 

 oning — some had gone too far, and per- 

 ished, otiiers got back with an ill grace, 

 and in poor condition ; so that when I came 

 to muster them, the best part of the field 

 produced but 275 bushels to the acre. Now, 

 had my potatoes alone behaved in this man- 

 ner, it might be easily accounted for by the 

 natives, on the score of its being altogether 

 an Irish concern. The Murphies thinking 

 to help me out with the 500 bushels, kindly- 

 resolved to do double duty, to raise and be 

 raised at the same time. — Well, well ! we 

 will try our hand again, and I hereby give 

 notice, that no one need expect to beat us 

 in 1844, unless he can produce over 500 

 bushels good, mealy potatoes to the acre. 



In conclusion I beg leave to be under- 

 stood, that I consider the time of seedino- 

 those crops as by far too late, v/ith the ex- 

 ception of the wheat, and that was late 

 enough. I make the remark, lest any in 

 that respect should follow my example. 

 The time of seeding was less a matter of 

 choice with me, than of necessity. 

 Very respectfully, 



Your obedient servant, 



James Gowen. 

 Mount Airy, Dec. 28tli, 1843. 



From the Cultivator. 



Dearness of Labour— Effects of Plaster 

 of Paris or Gypsum— Irrigation. 



That land in Europe produces more, acre 

 for acre, than in this country, whether under 

 the plough or laid down to grass, is not to 

 be attributed to the principles of productive- 

 ness being there better understood than here, 

 but chiefly to the want of capital and the 

 dearness of agricultural labour in America. 

 Is there any country where proprietors pos- 

 sess so little means of improving land in 



