732 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 12 



cess, in eubjuoratinDr its growing enemies. The 

 operation of the rake is perlbrmed so quick, and it 

 ieaves tiie land in such a nice condition, that I gen- 

 erally go over the second time. 



Should the land be Hushed, previous to planting, 

 I complete the process, by running twice in each 

 row, with a five-hoed cultivator, drawn by two 

 horses; and suhsequently, a large rake, which 

 leaves the land in good order, for the reception of 

 wheat." 



That plan seems to have a fair claim to good- 

 ness, which grows in our estimation, as our ac- 

 quaintance increases. "I would here observe, that 

 I commenced using the rake fifteen years ago, and 

 have never thought of weeding corn with a hoe 

 since ; and I am confident, that a boy or giri, 12 or 

 13 years old, can go over more ground in a day, 

 than 3 or 4 men with' hoes, and the work will be 

 a great deal better done." I saw the rakes used 

 by Mr. Gay, in operation, last summer, and was 

 truly pleased with the execution of the work. I 

 think a fair (rial of them will ensure a discontinu- 

 ance of the hoes. 



From actual experiment, Mr. Gay is (aught to 

 believe, that the listing of land, for corn, is a sure 

 remedy against the ravages of the cut worm. He 

 planted corn on land listed last spring, and a piece 

 contiguous that was flushed, on (he same day : 

 the corn on the land listed, sustained little or no 

 injury, while the flushed was nearly entirely des- 

 troyed. The. reason is obvious, whicli (he intelli- 

 gence of the reader will readily perceive. 



Allow me, before closing this hasty scrawl, to 

 ask of your correspondents, if our hill side ditches 

 and water-furrows are not radically defective ? I 

 have seen many in my own neiiihborhood and out 

 of it, which seem to be efficient agents in accom- 

 plishing that, which they were designed to pre- 

 vent. The space between them is frequently so 

 great, that the land sustains great injury, even 

 when the furrows are unimpaired. It is olten the 

 case that the excavations, intended to convey the 

 water ofli', gradually become filled with the very es- 

 sence of the land, and then breaking, the stream, 

 embracing in its course every successive liirrow, 

 " the flood-tide of de])letion," increasing in power 

 and velocity, sweeps away the cream of the soil, 

 as with the besom of destruction — telling the con- 

 etriictor, that be has not sufficiently studied his pro- 

 fession — that " the knowledge required to form a 

 competent agriculturist, is as profound as it is va- 

 rious," and that his fortifications stand in need of 

 some additional strength. I believe, when judi- 

 ciously run, they have a most happy tendency. — 

 Strange to tell, many farmers seem not to recog- 

 nize their utility, and work their land, as did their 

 ancestors, up and down the hill, (familiarly so 

 called) and seem (o conclude, that washing is an 

 inevitable consequence, and that no ellbrt on (heir 

 part is required to prevent it. I believe, that na- 

 ture as much designed that we should use means 

 to save our soil, as that we should level our (ijrests 

 before raising a crop. As well might we expect 

 to reap the joys of the conjugal state, when ad- 

 hering to celibacy, or that the fruits of the earth 

 should ripen beneath the shade, as to preserve our 

 soil, whilst under cultivation, without mental and 

 physical exercise. 



As an improvement on the above system, I 

 would respecffiilly suggest, that, in laying off our 

 lands, (we will say for corn,) we give about 



three inches fall for every twelve feet, and that, 

 in each ploughing, a furrow be left in each row, 

 (which is naturally done,) whose office shall be to 

 convey oft' (he water in an easy and gentle man- 

 ner: and when seeding the same in wheat, form 

 a bed of two rows, (say of twelve feet each) leav- 

 ing a furrow between, that will perform (he iiinc- 

 tion for which it was created. When land is once 

 judiciously laid off in this way, it requires not a re- 

 petition. It is with pleasure that I can announce 

 to those who may adopt the system, that it was 

 invented, and has been practised upon with entire 

 success, by Mr. G., for several years. I hope the 

 dawning excellence of the plan of Mr. G., may be- 

 come extensively developed, and rendered subser- 

 vient to the preservation of our soil. Let us raise 

 high the standard of our attainments, and perse- 

 vere to the end. There is a perversity in human 

 nature, which makes us relax our efibrts, at the 

 moment when they might be rewarded with the 

 most splendid success. 



I have thus, in a very brief and imperfect man- 

 ner, described some of the operations of the far- 

 mer: should the present be deemed worthy of 

 notice, I will attempt to describe, at some future 

 period, others, that seem to merit some considera- 

 tion. 



1 trust that our legislature will afford speedy 

 and etHcient aid to the vital interests of the Old 

 Dominion, and enable her to cast off the habili- 

 ments of mourning, and dilapidation, and again 

 put on her garb of youth and beauty. In the 

 language of Mr. J. M. Garnett, their co-opera- 

 tion is essential to the success of our agricultural 

 pursuits. In conclusion, permit me to repeat the 

 sentiment of Mr. G., and say, that the virtuous 

 and intelligent portion of the fiiir, call forth all the 

 best alTections of our nature, by encouraging us 

 in every good word and work; while the greatest 

 blessinirs of life cannot be lialf enjoyed without 

 their participation. 



R. D. K. 



EMIGRATION TO THE WEST. 



To the Editor of tlie Farmers' Register. 



Goochland, February 15th, 1837. 



Should you deem the following extract worthy 

 a place in your paper, as tending to protract the 

 stay of any of our enterprising and worthy citi- 

 zens in the Old Dominion, you are requested to 

 give it publicity. 



" A thousand airy schemes — bubbles, colored by 

 the excited fancy with rainbow hues — are hatched 

 from busy brains, and skilfully held up before the 

 attracted gaze of the multitude ; while (he igno- 

 rant are entrapped, the credulous deluded, the 

 avaricious caught, with the false hope, that that 

 which is essentially empty, can fill the coffers of 

 them all, and that which is as uncertain as the 

 wind, cannot fiiil to return them ibr their mite, a 

 hundred l()ld. 



" The state of our countr_v, with the general cha- 

 racter of our people, invites, tempts, urges our cit- 

 izens, to leave their old business and liomes, and 

 especially to desert the (juiet pursuit of agricul- 

 ture, and (he toilsome labors of the work-shop, to 

 engage in various speculations, to venture tlieir 



