430 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



Virginia, I should feel much gratified thatlturbed until the 1st of August, when we 

 my public efforts have caused one good re- put on a good irontooth drag pulled by 



two mules, and harrow thoroughly. The 

 settling of the earth enables us to perform 

 this operation without disturbing the litter ; 

 which,, being coarse when ploughed under, 

 has now fermented, in consequence, we 

 presume, of the moisture in the earth ; — 

 the gasses arising having been absorbed 

 and fixed in the soil render it fit to receive 

 the seed. 



The next step to be taken, is to form a 

 suitable ridge, which is done by throwing 

 together two light furrows with a small 

 plough, and dressing off with the hoe; 

 the land is then ready for the seed, which 

 we plant by hand, (tor we have tried the 

 turnip-drill,) on the ridges at intervals of 

 about eight inches, the ridges being two 

 and a half feet apart ; we thin out and 

 work usually twice with the hoe, and 

 when about to sow the wheat use the 

 plough in order to get it in. 



By this method we raise at the rate of 

 600 bushels per acre, and find them a 

 great auxiliary in fattening our pork, and 

 feeding sows and shoats during winter, by 



suit. 



This communication, I fear, will not be 

 as encouraging to my young brother 

 farmer as his imagination has, no doubt 

 induced him to expect; but, as I have 

 stated facts, I hope he will profit by them 

 and at a future day I shall hear from him 

 through the Planter, with his real name 

 attached to his communication. If hi 

 name is an ugly one, and he does not like 

 to see it in print, the Virginia Legislature 

 will, undoubtedly, permit him to change it 

 to Sam or any other he may prefer. 



ISAAC IRVINE HITE. 



White Post P. 0., Clarke County, Va 



June 17th, 1857. 



Wheat among Rut a Bagas. 



Mr. Editor. — In reading over the Jan- 

 uary number of the Planter I observed an 

 extract from the Germantown Telegraph, 

 headed Rye among Ruta Bagas" — and a 

 qusere from the Editor of the Planter, 

 " what time was the rye sowed among 

 Ruta Bagas." 



Now Sir, though I know nothing about 

 the cultivation of Rye among Ruta Bagas, 

 I have sowed wheat among them, and 

 therefore, speak from experience. 



It is my practice, when I wish my tur- 

 nip patch to remain in the same spot for 

 more than one season, to sow wheat among 

 them, turning in the wheat stubble the 

 ensuing season along with all the manure 

 I can procure, for another crop of wheat 

 and turnips, (I speak of Ruta Bagas, I 

 cultivate none others). 



I select some convenient spot, (not 

 convenient, though, to the Shanghais, 

 they are death to turnips), and cast on all 

 the manure I can, which consists for the 

 most part of such as has been collected 

 about the stables since the spring; this 

 manure, unrotted, or partially so, we 

 spread very thickly over the land, and 

 with two good mules, or, if the land be 

 hard, with three, we turn the furrow to the 

 depth of about six inches, a boy the while 

 following and drawing into the open fur- 

 row all litter collected by the plough into 

 heaps, and thus preventing its due opera- 

 tion. 



This ploughing is done early in July, 

 and the land permitted to remain undis- 



boiling say five bushels turnips with \th 

 bushel of corn meal, the whole thoroughly 

 cooked and reduced to a mush, The tops 

 we use for the same purpose, beginning to 

 cut them off the turnips while in the patch 

 about the 1st October, and apprehend no 

 njury to the root, provided the bud is not 

 injured in cutting; two small boys are 

 employed in making swill for the hogs and 

 much corn saved thereby. 



You will perceive, that by this method, 

 by the time we wish to sow the wheat, 

 tiie turnips have for the most part been 

 deprived of their tops, and thus we are 

 enabled to put in the wheat with more fa- 

 cility, which is done by running a small 

 plough twice in each alley and throwing 

 the furrow up to the turnips ; thus we 

 have two crops on the same land at once 

 and obtain a good yield from each. 



On one occasion while sowing wheat 

 among my turnips, an old farmer passed, 

 and with much surprise, enquired what I 

 was doing, sowing wheat was the reply ; 

 sowing wheat said he ? do you expect to 

 make any ? I have made, and expect to 

 make again was the answer. He went 

 his way, thinking no doubt there was some- 

 thing new under the sun. 

 Gloucester. Jan. 1857. 



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