Rising Sun Times, Volume 2, Number 97, Rising Sun, Ohio County, 19 September 1835 — Page 1

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IJY ALEX. E. KLEXX.

AGRICULTURAL. Wchive met with the following article in the Ccncste Farmer, a. valuable ajricultur.il journal, published at Rochester, N. V. to which we are a subscriber. As Wheat is a staple product nf this country as it now comruan.ls a high price and as this high price will probably induce our Farmers to put in larger crops this lall than is common, we have extracted to our columns this article for their special bom fit, in hopes that the information contained therein may be advantageous to them. CI LTLRK OF WHEAT. As this is considered the most important crop to which the firmer can direct his attention, it is at the midh time one of the most difficult to cultivate with uniform success. 13:111' rent and even opposite courses must he pu tailed under different, circum!u::ccs. in ordei to obtain the same desirable result a ;ood crop; dilferiT.ce of s il difference of chmate dilfeicnre in the time of sowing and d.iU renco in the vniih of seed, all frequently require material variations in (lie mode el culture, rendering the harness of raising w heat one of the most complex of all tiie branches of agricultural practice. In offering a few rcmaiks upon the cultivation of this very impo: taut cte.p, we propose j-rincipally to point out that course which practice has slunui to be most uniformly attended with success; Jind we indulge the hope, tint by placing, at the present time, these fact and instructions concisely hefoie the farmer, he may not only be ei. allied the more effectually to put his previous knowledge into epilation, but also derive new and useful hints from tin; experience of others. ni. AM. PKKPARA1l).. In prepaiing the soil for many other crops, it is rare that much caution or ikill is necessary; for instance, C'n reijuires high manuring and a rich soil, and it is scarcely possible to carry this to excess. But with wheat the case is otherwise; land naturally very lich, or highly manured, is apt to cause during tlie hot season of summer, a too rapid growth of straw, at the expense of the scd, and rust, lodging, and ultimate failure is frequently the consequence. This eil is increased to a far greater degree if strong unfei met. ted manure is employed, which causes a stiii more luxuriant growth of stalks. Unformenled or fresh manure shauld therefore never bo applied to land intend d iniinediately for wheat. IJ.it as a material loss would result from allow ir.g manure to ferment in the open air, and thus w aste a large part of its strength, it is always best, when; practicable, to apply fresh manure to other crcpwhich are to precede wheat. In this way the manure becomes well rotted and thoroughly incorporated with the soil by the time that wheal is sow n upon it. Land may he highly manured by this course, w ithout any bad effects; indeed, some of the best crops are obtained from ground enriched in this manner; instances of which may be ften seen in places where large quantities of manure have been accidentally deposited in previous years, a by el I stacks ot hay, demolished buildings &c, where grain is often three times more productive than oil adjoining ground i.t the v.tnc field. JillEr ri.oL(.inr.. When the above course of manuring w nnrsiip.L land is rareiv made too - i i s lich for wheat, provided it be aecom raided with deep ploughing. This is indeed highly important, especially .in lir:vv fertile, sot s. ieat v all who raise large crops on such soils have made use of deep ploughing in previous years. There an; however some very shallow toils, where the subsoil will not admit of this practice: such of course must form exceptions; but these fnn hut a small pail ef the land in this country. IHMVER r ALLOWS AI ROTATION OF CROl'S. It is a point which appears to b renerallv conceded, that rest is of no use to land and can never improve it quality while nothing grows upon it (round which is not emploed in pro during food for animal', should be oc cupicd in preparing food for plants; or in other words, instead oi lying naweu it should be producing some suitable r iot) to gerve as a coat of "manure to enrich itself. The practice of summer f dlowing therefore can only be of use m destroying weeds with winch land may have become infested, and in pu verizing and mixing soils of a heavy ad hreive nature. In other cases the prac

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tice should never be. resorted to. For although it generally is followed by good crops, yet these are produced at such expense, as to render it in the end much more, unprofitable than a judicious rotation. For in addition to several expensive ploughing?, the use of the land for nearly two years is appropriated to a single crop. But one of the worst practices in husbandry, is that of raising successive crops of wheat on the same field. In this way land always must deteriorate, at the same time it becomes foul with chess and other weeds. In many parts of this state where this course has been practised, fields have been seen the present season with little else than chess grow ing upon them. It is true theie are some fanners who have succeeded in raising a succession of good crops on one piece of ground, but such instances are compaiativcly very rare; and even where they exist, the practice should not he continued. For it has been proved by repeated experiments, that where the same crop is taken year after year from a piece of land, it becomes, sooner or later, exhausted of its specific food for that crop in some instances this speedily takes place, in others it requires a long seiies of )ears. but in all cases it is the inevitable conH quehce. Instances of soils thus w orn out are not wanting in the older settled parts of this country, which were once remarkable for their fertility, hut which now nlford crops scarcely w orth raising. And it may be. regarded as a universal tiilc, thai lands, once capable of producing good crops, and afterwards losing thi qualify, are brought to that state improper cultivation by a too freuent succession of exhausting crops, instead of a constant change from one crop to another, from crops of as differ ent nature from each other as possible, nd changes from tihage to seeding ilh grass, ami from grass again to tillge. IYa, beans, and clover, are among the best crops to precede wheat, as thev ire very different in the ir nature from it, and consequently afford a greater change in the succession. Clover in articular, possesses several advanc es; its roots loosen the soil, it furnishes excellent manure when ploughed unr, and unlike the natural grasses, ves not form so tough a r ii sod as to rein order to juire summer tallowing reaic and pulverize it. F.F.ST SORTS OF SLED. In favorable seasons, and on good ground, the red chaff bald wheat is generally to be preferred as affording the irgest and best product; but as the white, flint is a hardier plant and more ipable of w ithstanding the vicissitudes of seasons, there is more certainty of its pioducing a uniform crop; it is more peciaily lobe preferred on wet soils, or w here w heat is liable to be w inter kiilor otherwise suffer ft om unfavora ble cau-es. On soils of unequal nature, or where the uncertainty of the coming season renders it impossible to know what variety may be best adapted, it ias sometimes been found useful to mix c d of opposite properties, such as flint md red chaff, so that where one does not succed, the other may take its place. Die crate wheat, and some otherofthe bearded varieties, produce good crops, nit are not perhaps equal in all repects to those above mentioned. It is not only important to obtain the est varieties, but also to use the finest tnd largest seed which can be procured of such varieties. ell A .G F. OF SEF.U. There is also a great advantage in a change of seed from different climates, and from soils of an opposite nature, if the qualify be otherwise equally good Certain vai ieties, if cultivated for a long succession of years on the same spot, gradually change in their nature and quality, according to the nature of the climate and soil. If this change is such as in any particular to lessen its value, the seed should be changed by substitu ling that which grew where such change is not produced. An instance may serve to illustrate this, "in some mountaineous countries," says Professor Bronn,"in Scotland for example, they bring the seed from the low country and from the plains, where the climate is more mild, and consequently the seed more forward, a quality which it al w ays preserves for many generations We ate convinced that the cultivator of this mountaineous district, if he had always used seed from his own crops I would reap later and later harvests, so

party's arbitrary sw-v. t mi r m ,.. . " . " .-

" iRtin whmieeu IT LEADS THE WAY.

Sl lA'DiAXA, SAT UK DAY, SEPTIUIIIEK 1, 18S.7.

that at last perhaps they would not come to perfect maturity; a circumstance easily explained by the short duration of the summers in the mountains. If, on the other hand, the cultivator of a flat country, the climate of which is mild, and the soil dry and light, continually made use of his own seed, it would head every year sooner, the stalks would become shorter, and the heads and grain smaller and smaller, and in time there would result but a poor produce. In this last case, the cultivator brings his seed with advantage from a country more cold, fhe soil of which is good and substantial." THE QUAJiTITV OF SEED PER ACRE, Should be from five pecks to two bushels. It should vary with the time of sowing, and with the size of the grain. Late requires more than early sowing; and large and full seed should be in grealcr quantity than that which is small, in order to compensate for the less number contained in a bushel. TO 1'HEVE.NT WINTER KILLING. Winter killing is caused by the heaving of the soil by frost, generally during the severe nights in the latter part of winter, after the covering of snowhas melled from the ground. This breaks the roots, and the plants, as soon as the dry w eather of spring comes on, w ither and die from the want of nourishment and moisture. The freezing of the large quantity of water with w hich the ground is saturated early in spring, proves particularly destructive to wheat. Jlence the great importance; of thorough draining; both by surface channels and by covered ditches. Supei ticial furrows should not only be cut through the field, wherever they may be needed, to carry oft what may fall upon it; but also at its upper sides, to prevent the water from contiguous fields from flowing upon it. Covered frains should he from two to three feet deep, and three or four rods apart, where the object is to drain olf the water which rests in the soil on low wet nd. Where underground streams are to be cut off, the depth, course, and distance asunder, must be suited to circumstances, w hich nothing but an examination on the spot can determine. I he great profit of draining has been proved by some farmers in the wesfcrn iart of this state, who have by a thor ough course rendered low, heavy, and ich land, which formerly was wholly unfit for wheat, on account of its wetness, now capable of yielding from thirty to forty bushels to the acre; and in ome cases almost repaying in a sin gle year, the whole expense of the woik. Manuring, often on certain soils pre vents wheat being winterkilled. Thus ioor and heavy land, where crops are iable to this injury, may be greatly im proved in this respect by manure; as is roved by the fact, often witnessed, that such parts of fields as have been well manured produce abundantly, while other parts unmanured are left bare by the action of winter frosts. Another mode of preventing winter illing is to cover the surface of the ground with a coating of straw. When (his is employed, it should be spread upon the surface after sowing and just before the wheat comes up; or else in the winter, (or when the danger is to be ipprehended,) and removed again with i horse rake as early in the spring as the weather will admit Sow ing early in autumn has also a tendency to prevent winter killing, y affording the roots time to attain strength sufhcient to resist the action of the frost. But as wheat sown early is more liable to attacks of the Hessian fly, farmers must exercise their discre tion as to the time of sowing. As a general rule, where the principal loss is to be apprehended from winter killing, w heat should be sown early ; but w here the Hessian fly is considered the most formidable evil, sowing a few weeks la ter is recommended as best. IMPORTANCE OF FURTHER EXPERIMENTS Notwithstanding the great improve ments in agriculture, the art of cultiva ting this important crop may yet be con sidered in its infancy. I he average product of wheat throughout all parts of the world, has been estimated not to exceed six bushels reaped for one sown. But that this amount might be greatly increased none can doubt. The enormous crops which, are sometimes raised in this country feach us what may be done under favorable circum stances. Take for instance the account of the crop raised in 1816 in Spiingtield, Mass. on jour arret ot land, the

product of which w as tzco hundred bushels, or fifty bushels to the acre; also that raised in 18.33 by Jirah Bl ackmer of Wheatland, Monroe county, w ho obtained the piemium of the agricultural society, for a crop of sixty-eight bushels rind forty-three pounds on a single acie. Now the great point to be determined is to know what are the essential requisites of a good crop; and to he able to distinguish these from accidental circumstances not connected with success. It is therefore important that numerous experiments should be made; and above all, that every one w ho is success

ful in raising great ciops of this grain. houid publish a particular account of lis method, describing ns accurately is possible the; nature of the soil, the quantity and kind of seed, the condi tion and preparation of the land, the mode and kind of manuring, and in horl a minute description of the w hole course of culture. Fven a slight im provement, if generally adopted in the Genesee country alone, would be of the value of many thousand dollars annually; every new fact or suggestion hould therefore receive ail the atten tion which its importance demands. From the Ohio Farmer. AHICUIrUKK AN i AGItlCUI.TL'It AL SOClIi'iTKS. If there is a theme connected with this life's comforts on which the statesmar, philosopher and christian might Iwell with profit and pleasure, it is that of Agriculture. This admitted, is it not surprising to find so few who seem to take pleasure in making themselves ecquainled w ith all the know ledge with in the scope ol their anilities and searching after experiments which a one can lead to successful improve ment. There are a thousand little circumstances daily occurring, which though small in themselves yet when collected together and made known through some general channel of communication, and experimented upon by a whole community, produce the most leneficial elfeets, and a lasting good upon society generally. But instead of finding the cultivators of the soil and even the keepers of that useful and necessary appendage of the table and frequent resort of the economical and well informed cook, the "Kitchen Gardner anxious to catch every new improvement, or to be better informed in the old way, it is not an uncommon thing to find them actually reject, paper, hook or pamphlet, on any of these subjects, even though they were to mingle pleas ure with information. Many seem to think, that it is actually a reflection up on iheir intelligence, to ask them to read on a siubject they were bred to. They had been farmers all their lives and it were almost insulting to say that fhey did not know all about it. To such an extent is this feeling car ried, that were it not for those intelli gent Agriculturists, scattered at different points through the country, who have learnt and experienced a dillerent lesson, and act upon more enlarged and mere sensible principles, such a thing as an Agricultural paper, could not find the means of subsistence while publi cations of almost every other character, however vicious or dangerous to the public peace mav be their tendency, 1 ..... . i . i . spread and tnnve witn as mucn rapiuuy as the Canada Thistle, though not per haps as much in defiance of our Statute Books. But a brighter day is dawning upon .... r . l . . . u. i he farmers are awaiveninir io their true interests, and where but a year or two ago, we could hear only ol an occasional notice of an agricultural meeting, they are now pouring in upon us from every quarter. The months of September and Octo ber will be months of great life and stir among the numerous Agricultural Societies in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. These movements are gratify ing and must leave lasting benefits be hind them. In many counties, the pro gross will no doubt be slow for a time, but the continued exertions ol a few will produce the desired result in the end. TOUCHING ADDHESS. Among the prisoners tried and con victed at the late session of the Circuit Court, for the county of Washington, was a respectable man in appearance, by the name of Christopher Brown, who nlead tniiltv to an indictment for stealing one cut glass emit and other articles from Alexander Ray. When asked by the court in the usual form, if

VllIil'llK II.--XO.97. he had any thing to say why sentence should not be passed upon him, according to law, he stepped forward a fewpaces, and, with a manifest contiition in his looks and deportment, addressed the court in the following correct and touching Planner: "May it please the court, I am sensible that I have offended against the laws of God and my country, and I am truly ashamed of my conduct, and sincerely sorry for it. I am an old soldier, now in the decline of life, and have, in lime past, fought and bled for my country. I have got an honorable discharge from the army, which is now in my possession. All I can say, in extenuation of my conduct, is, that I was, unfortunately, inebriated at the time 1 committed the offence, having been ungardedly induced rto drink too much, in company with a brother soldier whom I chanced to meet. 1 know I have done w rong (here the old man seemed much affected.) and deserve puishment: but 1 hope the court will he pleased to take into their consideration, that I am now in the evening of life, and will pass upon me a merciful sentence." At the close of his touching address, which seemed to effect the court and all who heard it, a petition, in favor oftiie prisoner was immediately drawn up and signed by the court, the District Attorney, and almost every man present. The prisoner was soon discharged not, however, before a collection, amounting to $12, was made for the. poor man, to enable him to get clothing, and to return to his family. iJEiNG i iEirr. From 'a Father's Confession,' in a late numbur ol t razcr's Magazine. Believe me, my son, that of all the kinds of tyranny by which the spirit of man is bowed down and crushed, and ill his energies, moral and physical, are aralyzed and withered, there is none o active in its oppression, and so bitter ts torture, as that which a creditor exercises over his debtor. It is a ty ranny w hit h can even quell the springing elasticity of youth's sanguine am bition. Observe, too, that its existence does not merely depend upon the dis position or acts of the master. fne latter may be the mildest and most long suffering man upon earth; and so far from endeavoring roughly to enforce his claims, many even refrain from asserting them. Still by the very nature; of the relation which subsists between the parties, is the debtor reduced to the condition of his bondsman or serf; for the real intensity of the tyranny con sists in this that the creditor has ever in his service an officious and infatigable agent, who acts not onlv without his order:', but often in spite of his expressed wishes, and thai agent is (be memory of the indebted party. 1 he master may be willing to give time to his slave, he may even desire him not to be disquieteil by the apprehen sions of violence; but can the latter for get the existence of an obligation w hich may be forced upon his memory by the slightest circumstance of the passing moment Can he forget, too that, how ever human his present lord may be, his rights and claims may, alter his death, pass to another of an imperious and violent temper. Such are some of the considerations which make the mere existence of a debt, without any otiieraggravaling circumstances in itself tyranny of the most loathsome description. The parish pauper, despicable as his lot may appear, enjoys a higher degree of liberty and independence than the man who has put it into the power of another to come up to him and say. pay me what thou owest. Hunk not that my description is overcharged. The tool and the profligate would laugh at the picture which 1 have displaced to you the one, owing to his mental infirmity, not being able to understand true liberty the other, from the baseness of his nature, being dead to the degradation of servitude. But the man of an ingenuous and sensitive; dispositon, will readily allow that there are fetters for the mind as well as the body; and that, in order to be apprised of a subjection to bondage, it is not necessary that one should actually hear the clank of the iron chain. "Another circumstance which tends to make the debtor's constraint still more intolerable, is, that in most cases the infliction of it is either occasioned or expedited by his own weakness and folly. A weak submission to the imperious yet trifling mandates of fashion,

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