100 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



much the better. The first ploughing is with 

 the lists ; and the whole intermediate space is 

 broken up, close and deep — as deep as one horse 

 can draw. When this operation is finished, the 

 next thing is to plough the land crossways ; 

 and so on alternately, with the same implement, 

 during the whole course of cultivation, always 

 running as deep as it will go. I continue the 

 cultivation as long as practicable, even until the 

 corn is tasseling and silking ; and the ground 

 should have a thorough working, at least every 

 eight or ten days. It cannot be worked too much 

 or too deep. When the soil is kept clean and well 

 stirred, the breaking of the roots is an advantage 

 instead of an injury. The benefit derived from 

 a free admission of the air into the soil is incal- 

 culable ; and the frequent stopping of the roots 

 causes them to throw out numerous rootlets 

 which rapidly imbibe the nourishment from the 

 earth. In short, the great secret of raising a 

 good crop of corn is to work early, work well, 

 work deep, and work incessantly. Cultivate 

 no more than you can cultivate thoroughly. — 

 All beyond that is overcropping, and will not 

 yield a profitable return. Fear not to work in 

 dry weather, provided the cultivation has been 

 conducted with regularity. Stirring clean land, 

 however dry, adds vigor to the growth ; but 

 ploughing corn in the grass is death to it, in 

 time of drought. I have said nothing about 

 hoeing : I make no great use of the hoe, but it 

 cannot be entirely dispensed with. I do not 

 permit the grass to be cut up around the corn ; 

 it is better to smother it while young, by draw- 

 ing some loose earth over it. This may be done 

 by following after the ploughs, in the early 

 stages of cultivation ; and the soil will be left 

 in a mellow state. The suckers should never 

 be pulled up." 



A NOBLE EXAMPLE. 



We were informed by a friend a few days 

 since that Mr. Moses H. Carter, of Henrico, 

 who has a very fine bed of marl upon his plan- 

 tation not only makes liberal use of it himself 

 but throws his gates open to the neighborhood 

 and invites his neighbors to share with him in this 

 bountiful gift of nature. The gentleman stated 

 that as he passed his gate that morning, he ob- 

 served seven carts coming out of it loaded with 

 the richest marl. We do not know Mr. Carter, 

 but cannot help expressing the admiration such 

 an act of liberality is calculated to inspire. A 

 great many very distinguished advocates of 

 agricultural improvement would not do half as 

 much to advance its progress as this quiet and 

 liberal country gentleman. 



For the Southern Planter. 



Oakley, Mecklenburg, Va., March 16, 1843. 



Messrs. Editors, — Below you will receive the 

 report of a committee, appointed to report upon 

 the condition of the farm of Richard Russell, 

 Esq., which it is requested by our club that you 

 publish in your next number of the Southern 

 Planter. 



Yours, most respectfully, &c. 



R. A. PURYEAR, 



Corresponding Secretary of the Upper Hole 



and Corner Club of Mecklenburg. 



The Committee appointed to examine Mr. 

 Richard Russell's farm, and to inquire into his 

 manner of conducting it, have performed that 

 duty, and beg leave to report as follows : 



Beginning at the house, we would highly 

 commend the ample and comfortable arrange- 

 ments about the homestead — his own dwelling 

 and out houses, the servants' cabins, stables, &c. 

 On leaving the hill, our attention was first at- 

 tracted by his hog pen. It contained a fine 

 stock of bogs, and there seemed to be every ar- 

 rangement necessary for the production of a 

 large quantity of manure of fine quality, but 

 we were not a little surprised to find that one 

 who had been pursuing this plan for two or 

 three years, was, up to this time, unprovided 

 with either shelter for his hogs or even a cabin 

 for the feeder, who must of necessity spend 

 most of his time at the pen. We would say 

 that this is not in accordance with his other 

 movements, and would recommend that he should 

 without delay furnish sheds for his hogs and a 

 cabin for the feeder. Going a little farther, we 

 find a most ample and finely arranged prize, 

 barn, and stable, and farm yard for his teams, 

 all answering well the purposes for which they 

 are intended. We found his farm houses of 

 every description in good condition and were 

 particularly struck with the neatness and eco- 

 nomy with which all his matters were con- 

 ducted, even down to the corn stalks and other 

 materials to be converted into manure. His 

 teams were in unusually good condition, and 

 his style of cultivation neat and effectual ; his 

 ploughs and plantation tools were generally in 

 good order, and as an example worthy of the 

 imitation of the club, they were either in use or 

 housed and carefully protected from the weather. 

 He has for two or three years past been pursuing 

 the progressive plan of manuring, and proposes, 

 as speedily as his means will allow, to manure 

 the entire surface of his plantation. This sys- 

 tem we cannot too strongly recommend as the 

 only feasible means of restoring our exhausted 

 country, and furnishing the agriculturist with a 

 fair return for his labor. In a word, the farm 

 and all of its appurtenances presented the most 



