186 CROPS OP COGGINS POINT FARM. 



(in 1822), was in part owing to the fallow process on a large space. But 

 as the same land had been then marled, and this was its first wheat crop 

 after the marling, I incorrectly ascribed all the great improvement of produc- 

 tion to the new fertility caused by marling. In after time, when the same 

 field yielded a much lighter crop of wheat, following -corn, there was great 

 disappointment, for the supposed diminished fertility. In truth, there was 

 great improvement of fertility at first, from marling, and no diminution 

 afterwards. But a still greater measure of temporary production was 

 superadded at first by the fallow preparation which increase ceased when 

 this kind of preparation was not used. So generally now is known this 

 superiority of the yield of fallow wheat, that no farmer could be deceived 

 in this respect. Nevertheless, not only was I so deceived formerly, in the 

 beginning and partial use of summer fallow, but most other persons were 

 as ill-informed. For nearly all other improving farmers, in addition to 

 whatever means of fertilization they employed, soon also began to fallow 

 for wheat, and on clover, if the land had been enabled to bring clover. 

 The first and all succeeding crops so prepared for, would be more than 

 double any made previously on the same land, in the formerly universal 

 course, after corn. And this more than doubled production of the next 

 succeeding crop, when published, was supposed by all to be the result of a 

 doubled degree of fertility so quickly induced. Several such reports ap- 

 peared from different and excellent improving farmers in the "Farmers' 

 Register;" and great as were the actual measures of new fertility in all 

 these cases, it is certain that the writers of these reports, as well as the 

 readers, were deceived by the then new and little known peculiar benefits 

 of the summer fallow preparation for wheat and consequently ascribing 

 less benefit to the mode of tillage, and more to the newly created fertility 

 of the field, than was proper. It was not until about 1835 that fallow pre- 

 paration had become my annual procedure, even to small extent ; nor un- 

 til 1839 that it was made a regular part of the rotation, extending to one- 

 fifth of the farm each year. Afterwards, as will be seen, the crops of wheat 

 were greatly and permanently increased over the general former products ; 

 they then having all the before produced fertility, caused by marling, to- 

 gether with the surface under wheat being extended to two-fifths of the 

 land, and half of that quantity of fallow preparation, and with clover, so 

 far as this manuring crop could be made to grow. 



I! 13,027 Ibs. of cotton, net weight as sold, or 170 Ibs. to the acre. 



e 1836, the wheat crop nearly destroyed by rust, as was general through 

 eastern Virginia. 



t Corn crop of 1838 and wheat crop of 1839 very much lessened by the 

 ravages of the chinch-bug. 



c c On 26 of these acres the marling was a second application. 



e The root crops (turnips and beets), and pumpkins and cymlings, occu- 

 pied part of the most highly enriched land all consumed on the farm, and 

 products not estimated. 



s s s Second dressings of marl, at about 250 bushels the acre ; applied 

 where first dressings had been lightest, or where more seemed to be wanting. 



v Severe drought in 1845 cut short the corn crop. 



t Remarkable wet time for harvest in 1846, and much loss of wheat. 



u In 1847, much Hessian fly in wheat. 



x In 1849, three freezing nights in April cut down all the forward wheat. 



In 1844, iny residence and labours were removed to the farm, 

 Marlbourne, in Hanover, which had been recently bought, and 



