On clearing Land, 331 



dual mode of clearing is the cause, which reduces die 

 fertility of new countries below that of the old ; the first 

 mode of clearing is leveled at it; the second is one 

 among the numberless means by which new countries 

 may repair the evil, if it should have taken place. *^ 

 April lOth, 1808. 



^ In Mr. Taylor'' s letter inclosing the foregoing memoir y 

 dated April 10th, 1808, he writes. — I have kept a flock of 

 frojn 100 to 400 sheep^ on the farm whereon I live, of our 

 common breeds, with some care. The result is doubt, whe- 

 ther they suit our climate and soil. We are able on any rich 

 land, to make 150 pounds of cotton to an acre. My calcu- 

 lation is, that this acre in cotton wool, produces 15 times more 

 clothing, than it would do in sheep's wool. In a different 

 climate the calculation would be different. However, from 

 several considerations, I persevere in the experiment ; having 

 now, on the same place, 220 sheep ; and should be glad to 

 get a ram, and 3 or 4 ewes, of pure Jllerinos, 



He is pursuing his extensive plan plan of live fences ; and 

 ^'- has planted several thousand young cedars^ this spring.'''^ 



He writes to Dr. Mease^ requesting to be informed of a 

 good mode of preparing the gypsum for the mill ; as "* he 

 intends gradually to encrease the use of it to 100 tons an- 

 nually,'''' Last year he sowed 200 acres with gypsum, one 

 i)ushel to an acre, and planted corn, also rolled in gypsum, 

 at the rate of one bushel, to one of seed corn, — The land 

 was old, and had never produced 15 bushels to an acre 

 within his memory. Thus treated, it produced above 25 : 

 iDUt the year was uncommonly favourable. 



He says, that his memoir on clearing land " contains ac- 

 tual experiments and results ;" and professes to be " more 

 of a practical, than a speculative farmer." 



A few such spirited and " practical" farmers, would soon 

 render the husbandry of this country, an object of emulation 

 to any of the agriculturists, in either the old or the new world. 



