FA RMERS' REGISTER— THRASHING MACHINES, &c.— CORN CULTURE. 553 



Deepploughing is singularly unskilful and ruinous 

 upon wet land : it reminds me of the practice of cer- 

 tain calomel doctors, who seek to restore their pa- 

 tient by scraping his backbone, and taking out his 

 teeth: he is left in tlie worst of conditions — dead 

 without being conscious of it. 



The next belt of land I would extend to the red 

 sand, or slate. It is fourteen or si.xteen miles wide, 

 was not originally poor, and it may be restored by 

 good ploughing, clover and plaster. It is very dry, 

 and well watered, and the experiments of the late 

 AV. H. Fitzhugh prove tliat it is good sheep pasture. 

 Upon the Little River Turnpike, industry shews 

 that the land is susceptible of liigh improvement. 

 The upper, or red sandstone, and slate portion of 

 this county, is destined to be very valuable : the 

 calomel doctors may here give stimulants to his 

 patient by scraping his backbone, and stuffing him 

 with clover. One evil practice will long keep in 

 check the developements which time must make 

 in this district : it is that of close feeding their clo- 

 ver. Time will correct this — when their products 

 will rival the limestone and mountain country. 

 Finally sir, looking at the county as it was thirty 

 six years ago, and at the present time, I must say 

 that hope and hope only, keeps two thirds of the 

 population of this county in it. Like the Jews, 

 they look for something supernatural — Ihey look 

 for that which is not in the stores of time. 



F. 



THRASHIIVG MACHINES ALBEMARLE AGRI- 

 CULTURAL SOCIETY. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



jilbemarlc, December 23rcl, 1833. 



It has occurred to me, that some desirable infor- 

 mation (at least, to a portion of your subscribers,) 

 might be obtained through the Farmers' Regis- 

 ter, on the subject of any late and important im- 

 provements which may have been made in the 

 construction of wheat thrashing machines, and to 

 ascertain which of the various plans or models 

 now in use in Virginia, aie most approved by 

 practical fiirmers. Whether those machines, which 

 operate with beaters, or those with cylinders and 

 pins, are the most perfect, is the object desired to 

 be obtained. If some of your numerous subscri- 

 bers and correspondents, who have had an oppor- 

 tunity of testing the value of the several machines 

 now in use, would be so obliging as to give the 

 public the result of their experience, I have no 

 doubt, that the information would be thankfidly 

 received. You can, if you think proper, make 

 such request in the manner most agreeable to you. 



You, no doubt, are apprised of the existence of 

 an agricultural society in Albemarle. It was first 

 established in 1818. Its first president was James 

 Madi.son. The present number of regular mem- 

 bers exceed one huntired — the adjacent counties 

 furnishing a small portion of that number. For 

 the last nine years, we have had an annual show 

 and fair, for the exhibition of live slock, domestic 

 marmfactures, agricultural products, &c. The 

 premiums awarded, have not been of large amount, 

 but quite liberal for the funds of the society, and 

 sufficient to produce considerable competition. I 

 think it very evident, that the influence exerted 

 through the society, has been productive of a great 

 and visible change in the general improvement of 

 our lands, and consequently in their various pro- 



Vol. 1-70 



ducts, — as also in the improvement of our stock of 

 domestic animals of all classes. The encourage- 

 ment, and emulation given to our household manu- 

 fictures of various kinds, have also produced bene- 

 ficial results. It may be proper to remark, that 

 those improvements of which I have spoken, are 

 not exclusively confined to members of our society, 

 but exist in the practice of many others. The 

 stimulus given by example, of successful good 

 management, in all the various operations connect- 

 ed with agriculture, has been greatly diffused 

 throughout a large portion of our county. We 

 could point to some of the members of our society, 

 who deserve to be considered as among the most 

 successful and distinguished farmers in the state. 

 I trust we shall not relax in our zeal and exertions 

 to accomplish the laudable design in view, until 

 we have attained at least something worthy of 

 good citizens, and benefactors to our country. 



From what I have premised, I think you can- 

 not too earnestly recommend the establishment of 

 county agricultural societies, throughout the com- 

 monwealth. There are very few portions, if any 

 of the state, but have the materials necessarj'^ to 

 constitute such societies and objects sufficiently 

 numerous and important to employ their attention. 

 The extensive circulation of your valuable Regis- 

 ter, I consider highly encouraging, as affording the 

 evidence of an increased spirit for the agricultural 

 improvement of the country. The Register will 

 act as an auxiliary in promoting the establishment 

 of county societies; and in return, they would be 

 the means of affording it a still more extended cir- 

 culation, w. 



CORN CULTURE ON WEYANOKE. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



Weyanoke, December Z\st, 1833. 



Your letter, long since written, I have unpar- 

 donably neglected to answer until this time, for 

 which piece of inattention, I beg you to excuse me. 

 Since my return home, it has not been in my pow- 

 er to give the required answers in relation to my 

 mode of cultivating corn, but I now avail myself 

 of a leisure hour to do so. 



The soil of Weyanoke, you recollect is a sandy 

 loam ; an attention to which ciicunistance will su- 

 persede the necessity of explaining more particu- 

 larly, some of the reasons for my system of culti- 

 vation. 



The land is ploughed with the bar share, before 

 planting, and harrowed where necessary. Part of 

 it is flushed ; but the part designed for manure is 

 laid oir in parallels of 5|- feet, by furrows which 

 are cleared out with a bar share going up and 

 doW'U. The manure is then spread upon the sur- 

 face, and the ground thrown into ridges, which are 

 so formed, that the top of each ridge, is immedi- 

 ately over the corresponding furrow made in the 

 first instance. By this means, the manure is 

 buried pretty deep, and accumulated under the 

 ridges where the corn is to be deposited. In the 

 course of the subsequent operations, however, it is 

 desirable on my soil to reduce these ridges, as near- 

 ly to a level as possible, on account of the ensuing 

 crops of w heat and clover. 



A suitable time is taken for spreading the ma- 

 nure, and covering it with the least possible delay. 

 The coarse manure, made in farm pens, &c. is all 

 previously mixed in large ricks^and well incorpo- 



