316 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



From the Boston Daily Advuitiscr. 



THE SEASON. 



We have experienced, this Sprinc:, somethiiij- 

 of the Canadian and Siberian seasons It is well 

 known, that in tiiose countries, veiji'tation seems 

 to ind!>mnil'y itself for its retardation in Spring, 

 by cxtraoniinary and rapid efibrts — and the har- 

 vest of grain is as early in those countries as in 

 more Southern latitudes. The last year (182i.') 

 ne sewed peas, and planted early potatoes on 

 the sixth of March — which we remarked to 

 have been more early, by I.t (1;i}s, than we 

 had ever been able to perform Ibe same oper- 

 ations for 17 years preceding. This year we 

 had nearly two feet of snow on the ground on 

 Ihc frst of .April, and we were not able to com- 

 mit our early seeds to the ground till the 8th of 

 April, a difference of 30 days. Vet on the 20th 

 of this month, we (Ind the natural progress of 

 plants (not affected by cultivation) one day 

 more forward than they were lait year, and 

 nearly a week more forward than during an 

 average of seasons for the last 17 years. 



In the year 1815 Apricots opened their flow- 

 ers on May 1st. 



In 1816'on the 29th of April. 

 _, In 1822 few Apricot blossoms were opened 

 ^n the 21st of April. 



In 182.'5 an equal number of Apricot blos- 

 soms were fully expanded on the 20th of April. 



The Hyacinth gave a correspondent result, 

 and fruit trees generally correspond in forward- 

 ness t(f the plants just mentionei). Generally 

 speaking the season is as forwaid as it ever 

 was on the most favorable years, so far as it de- 

 pends on the progress of nature. The labors of 

 ■man have however been suspended, in a very 

 unusual degree, and much more cNertion will 

 be required in the same sjiace of time, to per- 

 form the ordinary spring iluties of the Farmer 

 and the Gardener. The ground is in a tine 

 state for cultivation. The tender grasses have 

 been admirably protected against those heaving 

 frosts which throw the roots out of the ground, 

 and thus disappoint the hopes of the husband- 

 man. The warm weather has not been accom- 

 panied with searching rays, or drying winds, 

 and the season, so far as it has yet advanced, 

 promises an ample indemnity for the unpropi- 

 tious prolongation of winter, and the decay of 

 agricultural exertion. We may derive from 

 ibis experience, a lesson of patience, and a 

 sentiment of confidence in the wisdom and pro- 

 tecting Providence of the Great Ruler of the 

 Seasons. 



From the American Farmer. 



BURNING SOU. 

 That agriculture in Maryland, has not proved 

 profitable generally, is demonstrated by the de- 

 sertion of many from our lands, and by the po- 

 verty of cultivators, although taxation is very 

 light, and the owners possess slaves, and al- 

 though almost every fiirm is near a navigaJjIe 

 stream. What reason can be assigned for this, 

 but that our land being worn out, will no longer 

 yield as formerly. Corn and tobacco, have been 

 out" principal crops, and these require four 

 ploughings, to bring them to maturity. Our 

 rains fall very heavily, and the oftener the 

 ground is turned over, the more the line parti- 

 cles of mould are of course washed away — few 

 farmers keep up their cattle, and of course lit- 

 tle manure is made. 



For many years, we have been leaving out 

 old fields, cutting down our woods, and cultivat- 

 ing virgin soils, but these being now exhausted, 

 families have been compelled to emigrate. 



Mr. Beatson's pamphlet on clay or sod burn- 

 ing, has con)e most appropos, and promises to 

 restore our lands cheaply, and expeditiously — 1 

 commenced his practice last year, and all my 

 neighbors remarked, what benefit my corn re- 

 ceived, by only putting one or two handfuls of 

 burnt sod in every corn hill, before 1 put in the 

 corn. 1 take up my pen now to inform you, of 

 one experiment which has afforded me great 

 encouragement, and which has determined me 

 to devote the labor of two hands, exclusively, 

 to clay or sod burning. On a very poor spot, I 

 perceived the corn only about two feet high, 

 whilst the adjoining corn was five feet ; having 

 been told, that manure, when placed between 

 the corn rows, would improve the crop, as the 

 roots would shoot into it when the corn began 

 to tassel, I run a furrow between each row, and 

 put in, and covered over the burnt sod — the re- 

 sult was, that this poor corn, became as good as 

 all the rest. In the fall I ploughed in my wheat, 

 and now the wheat where I put in the burnt 

 sod, is so verdant and luxuriant, that you may 

 distinguish it from the rest of the field, half a 

 mile off — my neighbors have been surprised at 

 the great difference, and calculate that it will 

 yield twice or thrice as much as the adjoining 

 wheat, although the soil last year was evident-: 

 ly richer. 



The average of corn crops last year, on un- 

 manured, and commonly cultivated fields, did 

 not amount I fear to more than ten or twelve 

 bushels to the acre, the cost of four ploughings 

 and planting, cannot I think be estimated at less 

 than seven dollars ; if the price of corn be 

 three dollars and a half per barrel, the cultiva- 

 tor is nearly repaid for bis labor, and nothing 

 remains for wear of animals, and of implements, 

 and for contingencies. 



I calculate that two hands can make 140 bush- 

 els of burnt sod in two days, which arj the 

 most that can be advantageously put upon an 

 acre — say that these 110 bushels, only couble 

 crops of corn, wheat, clover, &c. for ony six 

 years, and then consider the profit. To rrake it 

 clear, I will put down the expense and profit in 

 an account. 



E 



practised it with success, and in gardening, 

 iiad last year several stalks of corn, in his « 

 den, with six or seven ears. Think how. 

 restoring worn out soils, we can support mc 

 cattle, &c. — and thus make stable manure, a 

 then estimate the profit to land holders throo{ 

 out Maryland. 



When 1 cut down my wheat, I will give » 

 a statement of the produce from the land t 

 luired with burnt sod in the rows, and from ti 

 adjoining not- so manured. I hope that emig 

 tion will henceforth cease, till we are e< 

 populous, and that our lands will rise in vnl 

 and that prosperity will be exhibited by C( 

 furts and cheerfulness, instead of long faces, ; 

 complaints and sickness, which are now prod 

 ed by bad harvests. Your's respectfullv, 



THOMAS LAW 



P. S. I have not a fixed kiln, but carry 

 stumps and sticks to the place where I ploi 

 up the clay, to cover the stumps and slicks n 

 it. and after setting fire to the sticks, I contii 

 throwing on clods wherever the smoke coi 

 out. The clods ought to be dry. 



Dollirs 57 



Let every one buy Mr. Beatson's book, and 

 he will see, that my calculation is very mode- 

 rate, and that it might be doubled on the 

 credit side. 



When 1 consider how many stumps and sticks 

 are left to rot in the woods, and to be washed 

 into our rivers by rain, which might be con- 

 verted into ashes, and to useful sod burning, 1 

 sigh at the loss of riches by ignorance — of this 

 mode of making manure. 



Three or four free negroes, who have used 

 it on tobacco, and in their gardens by my ad- 

 vice, tell me that it has astonished them — my 

 neighbor an excellent English farmer, has lonjf 



Extract from Bordley's Husbandry. 

 In many parts of America are idle impn 

 dent people, masters of farms, who spend tl 

 time in taverns or other places of wast 

 amusement : any where rather than at h( 

 These haunts are at the expense of their doi 

 tic and true happiness. Sooner or later 1 

 bring on them debts, wants and grating ch 

 of creditors. Such a people can never be broi 

 to soil cattle, or at all to improve their fa: 

 Where is solid comfort to be found if no 

 home'! The meanness, the selfishness and 

 folly of these husbands, fathers or masters, 

 conspicuous, degrading and shameful ; who, 

 gardless of tc'(/c, child and dependents claii 

 their protection, their affections and theirs 

 tions, and even regardless of the true inte> 

 of their precious selves, fly from their own ] 

 piness in the moment when they mount t 

 horses and hurry to the tavern, the race, o 

 pins, billiards, excess upon excess of toddy, 

 the most nonsensical and idle chat, accor • 

 nied with exclamations and roarings, brutal j' 

 foreign to common sense and manners as ! 

 mind of wisdom can conceive of depraved i 

 Had these men, so deficient in character, ' 

 trained but a few years among the ord. 

 thoughtful good farmers of some neighbo . 

 district, they would have learnt valuable {" 

 sons for conducting (heir farms, themselves 1^ 

 their domestic affairs, greatly to their con ' 

 and advantage, and to the comfort due to t j 

 families and dependents, to whom they j'' 

 more than they are accustomed to feel ' ' 

 them. There are on the other hand, those 

 with industry aim at providing for their fanii ■ 

 but it is not with an honest mnid and fairne 'I 

 reputation. The strength of these is in • 

 cunning : If indeed they wish to be perfei » 

 that detestable of all qualities, they needncO; 

 far from home ; unless for the sake of en !• 

 lisbing the satanical talent with some v. 

 ty. They might then associate with tht 

 lanous class of people distinguished for moi 

 this base quality than of provident indu 

 fairness, and honest manly candor. 



Boasting. — A man who boasts of his honesty, ' ^ 

 woman of her chastity, are both to be suspected. 



