126 



THE NEW GENESEE FAR M E R, 



V'OL. 1, 



from the Farmers' liegistcr. 

 On tlie different proposed Schemes of Rotation. 



One of iboBC lucky chances which eomeiimce occur 

 to the wny faring man, has brought me to-dny, nolens 

 ToUns, to this place: n place which ho8 been rendered 

 not quite eo noted in your journal by the essays of its 

 worthy proprietor, as was Carysbrook of England by 

 the temporary occupancy of Charles, who, it I re- 

 member aright, took refuge there from the common- 

 wealth's men. How are thif apparent errors of short- 

 sighted inortals turned to good account by n kind 

 Providence ! 1 deplored missing my way ns a great 

 evil; but what a treat was in store for me in the sight 

 of this interesting spot I Still more I lamented my 

 fate when I ioiind the landlord « as from home ! But 

 you and your readers are the gainers by my ill luck, 

 insomuch that it has produced this raluaMe communi- 

 cation. Nor is it a total loss with me; for the absence 

 has been the means of bringing out in fi[\er reliet, the 

 ehining merit of his representative, a jierson bearing 

 the name of the immortal author of the Declaration of 

 Independence, who in his sphere, (the department o( 

 butler,) is no less perfect than was his great namesake 

 in the cabinet; and to whom, if Pope said true, equal 

 honor is due: 



"Act well ) our part, there all the honor lies." 

 Casting my eye around the hall in which I now sit, 

 where are to be seen the appliances of hunting and 

 fishing, it fell upon s ime of the numbers of your Reg- 

 ister, which among other appropriate periodicals, are 

 scattered in careless literary confusion about the room. 

 . In the March number I found an essay on " five-ticld 

 rotation and grazing;" this referred to other communi- 

 cations on the same subject in the February number. 



Now, JNlr. Editor, my success in the discussion of 

 Jeflerson'a eatables, has not inspired me with the van- 

 ity to pretend to discuss farming matters with these 

 gentlemen. It is true I am a sort of a farmer in a 

 humble way. Having failed at one of the learned pro- 

 fessions, 1 betook myself to my present occupation, as 

 a make-shift, hoping that if I failed here too, my er- 

 rors would be more apt to escape observation. 



The first thing thot struck my attention in the above- 

 mentioned essays, was the remarkably civil, compli- 

 mentary style of your tip-top farmers to each other. — 

 I like it much. It is so different from that gascona- 

 ding, insulting mode of writing practised by politi- 

 cians; and not in writing only, but in debating too. — 

 I trust the new code of honor which authorizes one 

 man to give another the lie, or charge him with dis- 

 honesty, and then to avoid responsibility by averring 

 that he means a political lie, or political dishonesty, 

 will never find acceptance among the agricultural 

 community. Among us, let there be no distinction, 

 between an agricultural lie and any other. 



But to the point. With all due deference, permit 

 me to state an objection to each of the systems of rota- 

 tion proposed. To Mr. Carter's, because it appears 

 to be bottomed upon the presumption that the land 

 has become too rich already, and requires depiction, 

 an effect which, it strikes me, the three successive 

 grain crops are well calculated to promote. To Mr. 

 Bnxton's, because it leaves the land naked and per- 

 fectly idle through one winter, and of course losing 

 ground. I have always thought a spring crop after 

 corn inadmissable for that reason. Besides that, grass 

 sown on oats in the spring of the year is extremely li- 

 able to perish under the influence of the summer's sun. 

 To Rivanna's, beenuse without the common, or sixth 

 field, it ditTers but little from the exploded three-field, 

 or make-shift system. It is true he considers this 

 common important to all rotations; but to his it seems 

 indispensable, for where else are your cattle to find 

 sustenance till the 20ih June, the day set for the feast 1 

 Before that day comes they will have feasted the buz- 

 zards. And even with the aid of the common or 

 " short bite," (by the way, if it is a "short bite" in 

 the Green Spring country, what can be expected from 

 "old Flu," or some other places I could name !) they 

 would exhibit in their " unfed sides" demonstration 

 strong against the system; they would sing, in very 

 dulcful tones indeed, the old song, 



" 'Twiis on the 21st of June, 

 In charminj? suiiinier weather." 



Give the three-field shift the advantago of a com- 

 mon, and where is the difference 1 No other than one 

 field of clover instead of two, covering a somewhat 

 emnller portion ol your (arm, one-third being less than 

 two fifths. I am of Mr. C's opinion, that under Ri- 

 vanna's system the clover has not imparted to the land 

 all its benefit before it is re-fallowed. It ought to be 

 an object, in a judicious and economical course of hus- 

 bandry to obtain hay and seed from a clover crop, or at 

 least a part of it. If then one of the two fields is 



mowed and seed is gathered from it, it cannot be gra- 

 zed at all the same year. Only one field therelore is 

 left for grazing, and that between the 20th June and 

 fallowing time — a very " short bite" indeed. It ap- 

 pears to me there should be two clover years in suc- 

 cession — cutting the first, if the crop will bear the 

 scythe, and grazing the second — and two grain years 

 only in succession, which is a four-field course; and if I 

 am allowed the common in the bargain, this is a valu- 

 able auxiliary, to enable the pasture field to get a lit- 

 tle ohead in the spring, before the stock is put on. 



The long and short of the matter is, that systems 

 for all things must be controlled by circumstances. — 

 A system of mental improveinents must be adapted to 

 the capacity of the particular inind, eo must be a sys- 

 tem of agricidture to the qualities of the soil, general 

 condition, and localities of the particular farm. Ri- 

 vanna, for example, or the author, enjoys the advan- 

 tage of a very fine meadow, and abundant crops of 

 corn, with a plenty of wheat straw, &c., which af- 

 ford no small help to the " short bite." By the way, 

 in passing through the front gate, I observed some 

 horses standing with their chins resting on the fence, 

 and looking with longing eyes into the adjoining clo- 

 ver field, and seeming to pray f.ir the advent of the 

 20th June; and some hogs peering, with optics sharp, 

 through the rails. 



Ill conclusion of these very eniditf remarks, permit 

 me to say that the present condition of this splendid 

 farm furnishes a refutation of all objections to the man- 

 agement of it. The science of agriculture is here 

 beautifully illustrated, whilst its profits are largely re- 

 alized. A TRAVELER. 



Curyshrooh, May 12, 1840. 



From the Farmers' Cabinet. 



Dialogue Continued—Cultivation. 



Sijkes. — Poor Grabb I he's a kind-hearted man, 

 truly; but if his father had not lived before him, ond 

 left him at his death, the fine farm which he so niise- 

 erably manages, he would, by this time, have been in 

 the alms-house. It is a pity, however, that he did 

 not do a little in the way of cultivating his son's mind 

 at the same time — his suh-soil must be in a wretched 

 state, I guess. Well then, neighbor, my team shall 

 be here by peep of day to-morrow, to join yours, and 

 as I wish to drag, and roll, nnd harrow, three times 

 in a place, the field designed for turnips, we must 

 make up our mind to stretch a point, and complete it 

 before we leave; and they can then collect the weeds 

 and burn them the next day. My heart aches when I 

 look at the poor widow of an excellent friend, and 

 her bereaved little ones; and I have made up my mind 

 and my vow, if God spares me, to assist her in her 

 trouble, until her fine lad is capable of taking a father's 

 place, nnd work for his poor mother and sisters. 



Father. — My noble friend, I must partake with you 

 in that luxury, and I shall not only be ready and wil- 

 ling, but be glad to meet you at any time with heart 

 and hand !— God bless you — good bye. 



Frank. — What a contrast ! I think, however, 

 that there must be a difference in the nature of the tree 

 as well as the soil — the fruit is so very unhke. 



father. No doubt there is, but cultivation will al- 

 ways work wonders. 



Frank. — How droll to hear Grabb talk of a song I 

 It must be a gloomy one to fit his state of mind; I 

 should like to hear it. 



father. — And so it is — words and tune: it is one of 

 Dibdin's happiest efforts: and you must fancy it, sung 

 in the most doleful strains, to a tune in the minor 



key. 



■\Vc bipeds, maile up of frail clay, 1 



Alas: are the chililreil of soriow. 

 Anil tliou2h brisk anri merry to-Jny, 



We all ni.iy be wretched to-morrow. 

 For sunshine's succecil by rain. 



Then, fearful of life's siormy weather; 

 Since pleasure can only bring pain, 



hct us all be unhappy togethei. 



_Fra;!/i.— Capital ! but how would you reclaim a 

 soil so sour, cold, and sterile, and which produces such 

 crabbed fruit, as that of which Grabb is the similitude I 



father. — Oh nothing is easier or more agreeable: I 

 would remove the soil from about the roots to a good 

 depth and distance, and fill the opening with fresh 

 mould, mixed with a copious supply of lime; prune 

 very close, nnd leave the event, trusting to the sweet- 

 ening influence, so beautifully expressed by the Meth- 

 odist preacher, " lime to a sour, stubborn soil, is like 

 the grace of Goil to a wicked man's heart." 



Frank.— 1 should like to try the eflect of such li- 

 ming in Grabb's case, for, poor fellow, he is so misera- 

 ble, that I e.ipect he is as great an object of charity 



and commisseration as Mrs. Williams and her poor 

 family — is there nothing that can be done for him 1 



father. — I fear not. 



frank. — And yet, you said, ctdtivation will aIwn^^ 

 work wonders. 



father. — That's good — and so it will: and suppt - 

 that I get Sykcs to assist ue to take him up and cm 

 him, as though he were a bereaved tcidow ? 



lO 



frank. — Oh, pray do, I will be answerable for him: 

 present he appears quite friendless and miserably 

 within doors as well as without — os he says. 



No. 9. The rich nnd healthy surface and poison 

 sub-soil. This is an interesting case — shall we t.i,, 

 the beautiful Newington Peach tree, which flourished 

 so finely for two years in our garden, and died so pre- 

 maturely last year ? I think wc shall find the analogy - 

 complete. That fine tree was trained with the great- 

 est care in the nursery, until it was fit for transplant.' 

 ing into the garden, when the s lil, a firm, rich, hi;- 

 loam, was trenched, and cleaned, and limed for it= 

 ception. The first season after its removal, it liOn 

 much fine fruit, of the most delicious flavor, and large,-- 

 handsome appearance, bringing them oil to maturity.f 

 and perfectly ripening its wood. The next season ii 

 bore most abundantly, and made noble shoots, whid 

 required no pruning or heading back; its blossomi 

 were remarkably large, and of healthy appearance 

 both fruit and wood were well ripened, and fully testi 

 fied the care and attention which had been exercised ii 

 its culture from the first. 



On the appearance of the blossoms next spring, the; ;' 

 were observed to be much smaller, and paler in color 

 and although the fruit set well, many fell off whei 

 they wore the size of peas; and at midsummer, man; 

 of the under leaves withered and fell from the branch 

 es. Before Michaelmas, the color of the foliage he 

 completely changed; the fruit ceased to grow, and lb 

 treewos declared to be infected with the disorder ca 

 led the ycUotcs. The worms had made sad havoc biF 

 ncath the bark near the ground; nor wos it amattertr 

 surprise when, on the opening of the last spring, not t 

 bud or blossom made their appearance — the tree wi ^ 

 quite dead. On removing it, I was detcrminerl, 

 possible, to learn the cause of such premature dc 

 nnd sudden death, and therefore very caretuUy re • 

 ved the earth from about the roots, laying them q 

 bare without wounding them. All appeared healt 

 and the soil in the finest condition imoginablc, un. 

 discovered that o small and tender root had exten 

 itself until it had reached a small oozing of water, i 

 color of the rust ol iron, which proved to be the hf 

 of a mineral spring of the strongest quality. Tl 

 small root was decayed for a considerable way towar 

 the body of the tree, and at leojt three feet from : 

 source of the evil; and this was no doubt the cause 

 the disease and death of the finest tree I ever taw. 



frank. — How very strange, that so trifling a c 

 cumstance as the point of a small root reaching a li; 

 water at such a distance from the tree, sliould be i 

 cause of such sudden dettruction. 



father. — It is: but to show you bow certainly t , 

 icas the cause, I will copy from our fovorite TuU 

 account of some useful experiments which he rni 

 expressly with the view of showing the truth of 

 position, that vegetables will take up and circulate 

 discriminately, the most deleterious, os well as 

 most wholesome substances; and that they often do 

 their destruction. 



E.xp. 1. " I put a mint stock into a glass of wni 

 but I immersed one string of its roots, being brou 

 over the top of that glass into another glass of salt \ 

 ter, contiguous to the top of the other glass—, 

 mint very soon died. 



Exp. 2. I put the upper root of another root in 

 small glass of ink — this root was also killed by sonii 

 the ink ingredients. i 



Exp. 3. I made a very slrongliquor with water i | 

 the briueedsced of the garlick, and placed the to 

 it close to the top of another glass, having in it a ; 

 plant, two or three of whose upper roots put into i 

 stinking liquor, and there remaining — it killed 

 mint in some time; and when the edge of the len 

 of the mint began to change color, I chewed mom 

 ihcm in my mouth, and found at first the strong flo 

 of the mint, but that was soon over, and then the t\ 

 SC0U9 taste of the sarlick was soon perceptible." 

 you see, how readily plants, whose roots reoch toa| 

 sonouB sub-soil, imbibe and circulate the deleter) 

 matter to their destruction. I once grew some H 

 nips on land having a wet sub-soil, and on «tor 

 them for winter use, 1 observed that the point of 

 taprootof every one was decayed; but as that was 

 near the bulb, I did not consider the circumstanc 

 any consequence. On opening the pit in the wini 

 however, I found that three pans of them wercrotl'l 



