FARMERS' REGISTER— DEEP PLOUGHING, OYSTER SHELL LIME &c 239 



ces, it is the only practical mode in which it can 

 be done to any advantage ; for private correspond- 

 ence is too circumscribed to have any but a very 

 partial effect. Although it is very desirable to 

 have very -well written essays on the various 

 branches of the science and art of agriculture, the 

 less labored, either in st}'le or matter, the plain 

 statements of matters of fact or of speculation, tliat 

 may be supposed to takephicc when two neighbors 

 meet and discourse on their business, is probably 

 likely to do as much, if not more, than highly po- 

 lished and learned discussions of the highly gii'ted 

 scientific men. A plain colloquial style is intelli- 

 gible to all, and is in ordinary cases perfectly suf- 

 ficient to communicate to the agricultural public, 

 the improvement, discoveries or beneficial prac- 

 tices in which they all feel an interest. If a far- 

 mer, for example, has made the discovery of a new- 

 plant which promises advantages, the plain state- 

 ment of the fact, written just in such a way as he 

 would relate it to one of his neighbors, is probably 

 the best and most extensively beneficial mode of 

 doing it. Take the following instance : Mr. Wil- 

 liam Ellison, of Fairfield district, discovered some 

 time since, that a grass much celebrated in Mexi- 

 co and other places, for its productiveness and its 

 nutritive qualities, together with the facility with 

 which it can be cultivated, grew spontaneously on 

 his plantation and its v4&inity. He communica- 

 ted the fact to the public through the Southern Ag- 

 riculturist, distributed some of the seeds among 

 his acquaintances, and though it is now only a little 

 more than one year since he imparled his discove- 

 fy, several persons have already become so fully 

 satisfied of the great benefit that will result fiom 

 the culture of this grass, that they are now mak- 

 ing arrangements to procure seed of it that they 

 may cultivate it extensively. This grass called 

 commonly " Gama Grass," (in botany Trlpsacmn 

 7n()nostachyon^ is likely soon to wash away the foul 

 blot on our industry which has hitherto made it 

 necessary that we should procure hay from the 

 noi'lh to feed our horses ! May not this also help 

 us in our exertions to raise in our own state, our 

 butter and cheese, our beef ami pork, as also horses 

 and mules, if not for exportation, at least to pre- 

 vent thereafter the importations of these expensive 

 articles. Our soil and climate are yjerfectly ade- 

 quate to the abtmdiint production of all these in- 

 dispensable articles, it is only required that we set 

 our minds to the task ?ind persevere in it. 



I heard, last spring, that the canes, after having 

 seeded last fall, had died and left many of the rite- 

 lield's bank's quite unprotected. They will in due 

 time come up again ; but it seams to me, that no 

 plant is better calculated to protect the rice-field 

 banks than the gama grass. This suggestion ought 

 to cause some experiments to l)e made, the result 

 of which is most likely to terminate in incalcula- 

 ble advantages. The roots of this grass are very 

 large and deep in the ground, and if three rows of 

 it were planted on a large bank, one on the top, 

 and one on each side, it would form such a solid 

 mass that no freshets could affect it. The banks 

 would also thereby be most beneficially occupied, 

 and the fodder made from .them be m.ore than suf- 

 ficient for all the wants of the planter, be they nev- 

 er so numerous. It would certainly be most gra- 

 tifying to see the plantation-boats bring to the 

 Charleston market, a full supply of blades and gama 

 grass fodder, instead of those of northern hay. 



That this grass makes excellent hay or fodder, I 

 can amply testify from a small experiment which 

 ! am making, and which has induced me to plant 

 it as extensively as I possibly can. My experi- 

 ment is in high and very sandy land, and it is now 

 six or seven feet high. A part of it I have cut 

 twice, and is ready for a third cutting this sea.son. 

 It grows also, as I am imformed, still better on moist 

 land. 



Here then, Mr. Editor, is a perennial grass pro- 

 ducing the most abundant crops of any grass ever 

 heard of, suited to every soil and situation. Can 

 any thin"; be more accommodating. It grows ad- 

 mirably ni sv/ampy land, and in dry soils, it stands 

 drought better than any plant I ever saw, and 

 grows so rapidly as to admit of being cut five or 

 six times every season. It seems to me, sir, that 

 it only depends upon us to render our country a 

 land of abundance, replete with the greatest plen- 

 ty of the good things of this world, together with 

 peace and contentment. It only requires a little 

 attention and industry to set tiiat state of prospe- 

 rity a growing ; tor it will grow with our exer- 

 tions, though tlicse need be only moderate. 



I was much pleased, sir, to see in one of your 

 latenumbers, the suggestions of Dr. Joseph John- 

 son, relative to the enclosing of our fields with hedg- 

 es, instead of the detestalde and expensive worm- 

 fence in general use in this country. We have, 

 most undoubtedly, many native shrubs suitable to 

 this purpose, besides, several exotic ones that are 

 as thrifty here as they can possibly he any where 

 in the world. Of these, I know none superior to 

 the " Mespilus Pyracantha," (" Burning-bush," 

 " Evergreea-thorn,"') &c. It has the great ad- 

 vantage of being always full at the bottom, at least 

 my experience of twenty years satisfies me of this, 

 that it never becomes naked at bottom, as most 

 other large shrubs and trees ; also its being an 

 evergreen, is an advantage, its thorns are strong, 

 long, and sharp, and it is with all, of a rapid 

 growth. Its lower branches being horizontal, take 

 root very readily by being covere-d with a little 

 earth in the spring. This circumstance renders 

 it unnecessary to plant it for a hedge closer than 

 betv.een two and three feet apart. Besides this, 

 when one has a few rods of such a hedge, he may 

 rapidly increase it by making layers of part of the 

 low horizontal branches, by putting a little earth 

 on them in the spring, and the next winter they 

 will have fine roots and may be transplanted to 

 form another hedge, at least as long as that from 

 which it is taken ; thus, in a few years, an extensive 

 plantation may be entirely fenced with a beauti- 

 ful, durable, and efTective live-fence. I am, dear 

 sir, your obedient servant, n. iierbemokt. 



On Deep Ploiigliing-, 



OYSTKR-SIIELL LIMK; TH E MANAGEMENT AND 

 APPLICATION OF VEGETABLE AN n ANIMAL, 



MANURES. — By John Hare Powell, Esq. — 

 Powclton. 



From the Proceedings of the Pennsylvania Asricultural Societv. 

 I have reclaimed, by oyster shell lime and deep 

 ploughing, a fiu'm, made sterile by a series of the 

 most exhausting crops, which the cupidity or folly 

 of bad tenants could suggest. I am not ignorant 

 of the objections which have been often brought, 

 and not less ingeniously supported, against break- 

 ing the " pan," and reversing the sub-soil ; but I 



