SOLTHERN CULTIVATOR 
259 
one of those who “preach” but do not “practice,” we 
subjoin the following brief sketch of his farm — truly a 
model one— from the Pennsylvania Fan?? Journal : 
When approaching the form, it requires but a casual 
glance to perceive at once, that everything is marked 
with the air and appearance of the progressive farmer, 
from the very entrance gate c^nd lane, to every part of the 
extensive form buildings. This becomes the more appa- 
rent however, -when we are shown the means employed 
to conduct the very systematic arrangement that is 
necessary to produce the result so desirable. Barns of 
beautiful design, and particularly arranged for conve- 
nience and comfort, contribute greatly to harmonize with 
the other essential requisites of a well-managed farm. 
The ventillator on the apex of the main barn, permits the 
confined air and noxious effluvia evolved from the horse 
and cattle stables, to pass oft’ without detriment to the 
animals, thus preserving a constant state of healthful 
respiration, highly conducive to their natural wants. 
In proximity to the barn, may be seen the gigantic 
arms and wings of the self-regulating wind mill, rearing 
itself high in the air, and absorbing the power of the 
breeze to aid in alleviating the labors of the practical form- 
er, as well to afford him a perpetual supply of fresh water 
for his homestead and his stock. The threshing machine 
of improved pattern, is convenient to prepare his wheat 
and oats for the market, while the farmer’s portable grain 
mill, is frequently in use, supplying all the necessary 
wants of the farm. Winter fuel is abundantly supplied by 
the aid of a power saw, thus avoiding the tedious and 
laborious process of sawing by hand. Spring, that genial 
season of bland invitations to the -thrifty husbandman, 
finds him prepared with the latest improved tools to be- 
guile the earth to yield her richest treasures. The im- 
proved plow, harrow, roller, limespreader, cultivator, etc., 
is now used with marked success, and when the ardent 
smiles of summer, warns him the “ harvest is ripe,” the 
stalwart arm is no longer needed to bow the grain and 
make the sheaves, but the sleek, well-fed horses from the 
barn, drive the reaper and mower with untiring zeal. 
But from this interesting theme our attention is directed to 
view the numerous stock of cattle, horses, swine, and 
poultry. These, also, bear evidence of a peculiar judg- 
ment, and plainly indicate the experience required to ob- 
tain a practical knowledge of these animals, best adapted 
to the wants of the thrifty farmer. Indeed, it was a strik- 
ing fact, that all the stock from the symmetrical and beau- 
tiful form of the deep-milking, butter-producing cow of 
the dairy, to the improved porker, whose thrifty condition 
plainly acknowledged the source from which it derived, 
in part, its happy existence, had been selected with much 
care and attention, in order to conduce to the prosperity 
of the owner, etc. 
RECLAIMING AN OLD FIELD — DEEP PLOW- 
ing) <&;c. 
A correspondent of the East Tennesseean^ writing from 
Laurel Spring, under date of May 18, says : 
Mr. Swan : Permit me to relate the following experi- 
ment in subsoiling, as related to me by a Mr. Lonis, who 
resides a few miles west of Knoxville, and spends a por- 
tion of his time and capital in supplying this vicinity in 
goods and groceries, on easier and better terms than we 
have had before. Mr. Lonis had an old field of 25 acres, 
the surface soil completely exhausted, he plowed and sub- 
soiled twice and reached the depth of fifteen inches, and 
seeded in wheat, and says it now looks more vigorous, 
and bids foirer for a heavy yield per acre than he ever had 
on the best portions of his well-cultivated form. I for one 
feel thankful to him or any other gentleman for trying to blot 
outsttch stains, as (old fields) in a Christian and reading 
community. An exhausted and worn-out field, witJi a lime- 
stone base and clay surface, if it has depth of soil, cannot 
be worn out, for if the clay, which rests upon the rock 
should be 50 feet, it will be more productive near the bot- 
tom on exposure than the top. I could cite you to hun- 
dreds of cases to prove this fact without chemical ana- 
ly.sis. Look at the earth thrown from mines, wells, deep 
cut races, &c., after one winter’s frost, it ■will give you a 
nev/ species of herbs of luxurious growth. This is one 
point in regard to the true philosophy of deep or subsoil 
plowing, and yet there is another important point gained 
by deep cultivation. In an extreme cold winter, like the 
past, where wheat has been sown on shallow plowed 
lands it is much winter-killed for want of depth of root. 
I yesterday passed through a field of wheat, sown in corn, 
the last plowing of the corn was thrown hardly to the 
hill, and gave a deep loose bed near the bill. Now this- 
wheat looks as if it had been drilled in rows 4 feet apart, 
all the centre being winter-killed, it could not get depth 
of root. Yours respectfully, Calvin Post. 
RENOVATING OLD LANDS. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — Please give the cheap- 
est mode of renovating a poor sandy soil by turning un- 
der green crops, in your next No., for tlie information of 
your subscribers that cultivate poor sandy land. How 
would the following process do for improvement, in the 
absence of manures, such as guano, poudrette, &c., to be 
applied, viz : on stubble land, or land that has lain idle 
this year ? To sow and turn under peas with the green 
vegetable matter that is growing upon it in the fall ; sow- 
ing it down with wheat for next year’s crop. Or sowing 
it down with rye, to be turned under next spring for plant- 
ing a corn crop. Will such a course, aided by such ma- 
nure as can be raised on a small farm, and a regular rota- 
tion of coni, wheat and peas, improve the soil and make 
it productive ? I find by experience that scattering pine 
straw, leaves, &-c., over the land and burning it off previ- 
ous to sowing wheat, or planting corn, has a very marked 
effect in improving the crop, and, when conveniently ob- 
tained, to haul into the field, v/ill pay well on light sandy 
soils. My method for wheat is to scatter in the morn- 
ing as much as can be plowed in the next day. After 
sunset I burn it off, it becomes cold by morning, and the 
dew damps it sufficiently to stick the ashes to the ground 
and prevent the wind from blowing them away next day 
while being plowed in. And for corn, I open a deep fur- 
row, and fill it full from end to end, burn off and turn two 
furrows on the ashes as soon as they become cool enough 
for a horse to walk,sthen either drill or check, planting 
the corn on the ashes, thus covered up. In the absence of 
manure this is a good method on light sandy soils. Would 
such soils be benefitted by subsoiling'? Would portions 
of sandy soils around swamps and in hollows that are of a 
close, loamy quality, with a subsoil inclining to clay, 
and that sometimes, or in some places seems to be dead 
and unproductive, be improved by subsoiling'? Would 
portions of low sandy land, inclining to be moist, with 
(in some spots) large portions of the oxide of iron, be 
benefitted by subsoiling ; the application of lime, or gyp- 
sum; and what quantity per acre"? Would any of the 
above qualities of land be benefitted by sowing down with 
grass and pastured '? And what kind would suit the dif- 
ferent soils best'? Yours, most respectfully, 
Sawyer^s MiUs, S. C., June, 1857. S. D. 
[The course indicated by our subscriber, viz ; manuring 
and deepening the soil, lies at the bottom of all agricul- 
tural improvement, and if he follows out faithfully the 
different plans he suggests he cannot fail to be remunera- 
ted by a vast increase of product from his lands, There 
