Part 5

Although the Flemish are the most particular people in the world as to the choice of their seeds, they are sometimes deceived. An instance of this happened a few years ago, which was followed by very injurious consequences. A person brought some flax-seed from Riga, which he sold for sound seed. It was, however, superanuated, but he had contrived to give it a fresh and healthy appearance, and thus imposed on the best judges. The farmers, deceived by the false mark, bought and sowed the seed, none of which ever appeared above the ground. "The desolation of the country was universal; the loss was estimated at several millions of florins; and the offender escaped the punishment he merited, only through the intercessions of several powerful friends, who found means to stifle the affair, notwithstanding the cries of its numerous victims." I recollect a case somewhat similar to this, which happened a few years ago in Edinburgh. A respectable seed merchant there purchased a quantity of flax-seed from a foreigner, which he sold again in small parcels to the farmers, who, on sowing it, found that it was unsound, as no part of it was productive. The seed merchant was sued, and although he distinctly proved, that he made the purchase himself under the impression that the seed was fresh, and paid a fair price for it, he was found liable in damages to the amount of the loss sustained by the farmer who sued, upon the ground that he was bound to guarantee every article which he sold at the regular market price, whether he was imposed upon himself or not. These lessons were not thrown away. In Flanders, as well as in Scotland, no foreign seed is purchased, until the purchasers be fully satisfied as to the quality of the article, and the character of the seller.

The Flemish practice, with regard to a change of seeds, has long prevailed in Scotland, not only as to potatoes, but as to wheat, barley, oats, and all other grain. The Scotch potatoes have always appeared to me superior to those raised in England, where the same attention is not shown to the choice of seed. It is a fact, also, well known in these countries, that the barley raised in Scotland, though greatly inferior in _appearance_ to English barley, and raised in a colder climate, contains more saccharine matter, or nourishment. This has been tested by experiments at the distilleries, under the immediate inspection of officers appointed by the government, who reported a greater quantity of spirit obtained from barley, the growth of Scotland, than from that produced in England. The beef sold in the London markets, which had been reared in the Scotch distilleries upon the refuse grains, uniformly sells at from three to four cents a pound more than that fed at any of the English distilleries.

This superiority unquestionably arises from the greatly improved system of agriculture, _generally_ introduced into Scotland, but it is owing in nothing so much as to the very scrupulous attention there paid to the choice of seed. Of late years, this branch of husbandry seems to have considerably attracted the notice of the English farmers; some of whom, as appears from the English newspapers, have found it greatly to their interest to cultivate wheat, in particular, obtained from foreign places, which, when grown, they convey to distant parts of the country, and sell exclusively for seed wheat. It was mentioned in the Cumberland Packet (an English journal) of 14th October, 1816, "that a farmer had obtained _l._40, ($170,) per load, of 30 bushels, for seed wheat, on account of its great product. He had also, obtained the same price for seven years past for this wheat, which had been originally imported from abroad."

_Rotation of Crops_--The intelligent agriculturalists of England are well aware, that the more the rotation of crops are varied, the more abundant is their produce; but this opinion is confined to a few in that country. It is only in Flanders that the idea of exhausting the soil, by repeated cropping, is exploded, and the rotation system brought to the greatest possible state of perfection. The ground being prepared in the manner before stated, the Flemish farmer adopts either one or the other of the following courses:

FIRST COURSE FOR THREE YEARS.

_First year._--Oats are sown about the end of February, or beginning of March. These are cut green toward the end of April, or beginning of May, and given to the cattle for food, which they eat with great pleasure. It is found that this crop, as it is not allowed to throw out the ears, does not exhaust the soil, or take anything from the subsequent crop.[12] Winter potatoes are now sown for a _second_ crop; previous to which the land is dug and manured. When of a middling size the potato is planted whole, but if very large, the eye only is used.

[12] It is well known, that vegetables will grow in pure sand, by watering them, and that it is not till they blossom, or rather till they produce seed, that they perish. It is mentioned by Bracconnot, in the _Annales de Chimie_, for February and March, 1808, that he sowed the seeds of various plants in pure river sand, in litharge, in flour of sulphur, and even among metal, or common leaden shot; and in every instance he employed only _distilled water_ for their nourishment. The plants throve, and passed through all the usual gradations of growth to perfect maturity. The author then proceeded to gather the entire produce, the roots, stems, leaves, pods, &c. These were accurately weighed, dried, and again weighed; then submitted to the ordinary means used in a careful analysis, when he obtained from these vegetables, all the materials peculiar to each individual species, precisely as if it had been cultivated in a natural soil. "Oxygen and hydrogen, (says this writer) with the assistance of solar light, appear to be the only elementary substances employed in the constitution of the whole universe: and Nature in her simple progress, works the most infinitely diversified effects by the slightest modification in the means she employs."

_Second year._--Wheat forms the first crop; and scarcely are the sheaves removed from the ground, when the farmer promptly turns up the earth, and sows spurry. Sometimes carrots are sown with the wheat.

_Third year._--Rye; which is followed by Turnips.

SECOND COURSE FOR THREE YEARS.

_First year._--Flax preceded by green oats. After the flax, carrots.

_Second year._---Wheat; followed by Spurry.

_Third year._--Rye and turnips.

THIRD COURSE FOR THREE YEARS.

_First year._--Female Hemp; after which, Turnips.

_Second year._--Flax, then carrots.

_Third year._--Wheat and spurry.

FOURTH COURSE FOR THREE YEARS.

_First year._--Flax, preceded by green corn. After the flax, carrots.

_Second year._--Cole-seed; then turnips.

_Third year._--Wheat; then spurry.

These courses are sufficient to give a pretty correct idea of the Flemish system of rotation. It will be seen that wheat never succeeds to clover: it almost always follows flax, hemp, cole-seed or potatoes. Clover greatly encourages the growth of dog grass, which, if not completely torn up, with all its roots, the least fibres of the latter which escape, will each produce a new plant, greatly to the prejudice of the wheat. In England the fields are always more or less infected with this pest, while the practice pursued in Flanders completely protects them against it--Wheat is also materially benefited in Flanders, by the repeated digging up, and hoeings, which potatoes require; and by the abundance, and judicious application of manure, spread during the first year of the course. This loses only part of its fertilizing salts, leaving the earth in a high state of fertility, which the Flemish farmer knows well how to augment to the requisite degree without causing the wheat to shed; a circumstance apt to occur, where too great a quantity of manure is used.

The following comparative tables, shewing the value which is obtained from one acre in _four_ years, by a farmer, following the Norfolk course, in England, and that obtained, from the same space in _three_ years according to the Flemish course, will best illustrate the superior advantages of the latter over the former:

TABLE I.----ENGLAND.

1st. _year_. Turnips, according to Arthur Young, _l._2 4 0 2d. do. Barley, 4 0 0 3d. do. Clover, 3 12 0 4th. do. Wheat, 6 0 0 Wheat Straw, 3 2 6 Barley, do. 0 15 7 ------------- Total produce in 4 years, _l._19 14 1

Giving one year with another, _l._4 18 6-1/4 per acre.

TABLE II----FLANDERS.

1st. _year_. Green Oats, _l_. 0 16 8 Potatoes, 10 5 1 2d. do. Wheat, 3 7 8 Spurry, 2 0 1 3d. do. Rye, 2 0 0 Turnips, 2 1 6 Wheat Straw, 1 0 10 Rye do. 1 3 2 Halm, or straw of potatoes, 0 6 2 ------------- Total produce in 3 years, _l._23 7 2

Giving one year with another, _l._7 9 1 per acre.

From these statements, proceeding upon the most correct data, it is seen that the value of the produce of one acre of ground, cultivated according to the Flemish system for _three_ years, is, (within a fraction,) 50 per cent. more than what is produced in _four_ years from an equal space of ground, managed agreeably to the most approved principles of English husbandry. The advantages of the Flemish farmer, will appear still more striking, when the nett profit which he clears, after paying the necessary expenses of cultivation is contrasted with that of the English farmer. According to Arthur Young, the English farmer receives about four and a half twentieths of the produce, calculating the gross produce of the soil at twenty. This upon _l._4 18 6-1/4, (the result per acre, for one year, as in Table I.) would give _l._1 2 1-1/4.

The produce, per acre, for one year, in Flanders (see Table II.) is _l._7 9 1; the expense of cultivation, land tax, and rent, according to Vanderstraten, is _l._4 0 1; leaving to the farmer _l._3 9 0; or nearly _four_ times the amount obtained by the English farmer.

The subject of _Flemish Husbandry_ is by no means exhausted. I shall resume it in future communications.

Your's, respectfully,

GEO. HOUSTON.

_New York, June 1, 1820._

CHESTER AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

WESTCHESTER, (PENN.) JUNE 21, 1820.

[The following interesting document giving an account of the proceedings of the Chester County Agricultural Society, is well worthy the attention of our agricultural readers.--ED.]

At a meeting of the Agricultural Society of Chester County, held at the Courthouse in Westchester, 6th Mo. 10th, 1820, Dr. William Darlington, Vice-President, in the Chair; Isaac Sharpless, Secretary. The Committee of Correspondence produced to the meeting the following Report; which being read was unanimously adopted, viz.

REPORT.

The Committee appointed by the Society to propose plans for its adoption, believing that the objects which may properly claim the attention of the Association, are very numerous, are therefore free to suggest, whether it would not be advantageous to institute several standing committees, each of which should cultivate a particular department of Agriculture, or some of the sciences that may minister to its improvement.

If the Society should approve of this plan, we propose that these committees should be made up by voluntary associations among the members as far as practicable, each being at liberty to join himself to such as he may choose, and all vacancies and deficiences in the numbers of said committees should be filled by the presiding officer. They should in no case consist of less than five members, whose names should be entered on the minutes of the Society; and they should each have a secretary to receive communications, to arrange and digest the scattered materials they may collect, and to lay before the society such as may be thought worthy of its attention.

All books, models, drawings, or specimens, that any of these committees procure in the course of their labours, shall be kept in such place as it should direct.

It is recommended that the formation of the following standing committees be authorized at the time--to be renewed at the first stated meeting in each year.

1st. A committee on farm buildings, fences and implements of husbandry. To study the improvement of houses, barns, barn-yards and out buildings, both as it regards the plan and materials. To examine the relative cost of the different kinds of fences, and the best methods of constructing or raising them. To make improvements in the implements of husbandry, and to introduce such as may be made in other places.

2d. A committee on the Veterinary Art--To investigate the nature and origin of the diseases of domestic animals, and endeavour to ascertain the best methods of prevention and cure.

3d. A committee on Natural History, particularly Mineralogy and Entomology. To develope the mineral productions of the County, and to ascertain its geological structure, partly for the purpose of designating the kind of soil in each neighbourhood. To examine the habits of such insects as injure the crops of the farmer, with a view of discovering the means of destroying them, or preventing their ravages; and such other branches of Natural History as are interesting to the Agriculturalist.

4th. A committee on Political Economy. To attend to the political interests of Agriculture, and examine the manner in which public measures affect it. To inquire into the utility of public improvements, such as canals, bridges, and turnpike roads, and into the means of giving the Agricultural class its due weight in the government.

5th. A committee on Domestic Animals. To inquire after and introduce the best kind, to endeavour to ascertain the most economical and the best methods of rearing, managing and feeding them, together with facts on the relative advantages of the employment of horses and oxen for labour.

6th. A committee on grasses, grains and roots. To inquire after and recommend the best and most profitable kinds, the time and manner of sowing and planting, with the most proper quantity of each per acre, also the previous preparation of the ground and seed, together with the best method of culture.

7th. A committee on Manures.--To endeavour to ascertain the relative advantages of barn-yard manure, plaister, lime, burnt clay, ashes, and all other kinds of manure, with the time and manner of application of each, whether best applied on ploughed or grass lands, on the surface or ploughed in, deep or shallow; together with the best methods of accumulating and preparing barn-yard and stable manure.

8th. A committee on fruit and forest trees.--To endeavour to ascertain the best and most useful fruits of all kinds, with the best method of making wine, and cider, &c. To examine the causes of the premature decay of fruit trees, with a view to their preservation. To ascertain the best time of cutting forest trees, as it respects the durability of the wood, under ground, or exposed to the weather; also for fuel.

9th. A committee on irrigation and draining.--To ascertain the most profitable times of irrigation, with its uses. Also, the best and most effectual methods of constructing drains.

10th. A committee on Horticulture.--To ascertain the best and most approved methods of managing kitchen gardens, attend to the introduction of useful vegetables, modes of culture, &c.; and also to promote good taste in the planning and arrangement of gardens generally.

We further propose that the society recommend to each of its practical members, regularly to enter in writing, the preparation and state of the ground, at the time of sowing or planting each crop, the quantity and kind of manure and seed per acre, particulars relative to the weather, the process of culture, the times of sowing and gathering, and the amount of produce per acre, with such other particulars as may be thought worthy of notice, each part of which to be annually laid before them, in order that such facts as are deemed worthy of preservation, may be laid before the society.

Resolved, That the members of the society generally, and such others as are friendly to the objects of the association, be requested to furnish the several committees above named with such information relative to the subjects for which they are appointed as may be in their possession.

WM. DARLINGTON, _V. Prest._

ISAAC SHARPLESS, _Sec'y._

ON THE CULTURE OF TURNIPS.

Turnips for fall and winter use are generally sown in the last of July. I have been long apprehensive that this sowing was too early. The weather at this season of the year is generally very hot and very dry; and drought has a direct tendency to dwarf and spoil a field of young turnips; the black fly, also, a natural enemy of the turnip, is at this period very voracious, and the crop is too often destroyed, or rendered unprofitable from one or the other of these causes.

With a view to remedy these evils, I sowed my turnips two seasons ago, very late in August. My neighbours laughed at me, and said I would not have a single mess. I had, however, more and better turnips than any of them. Encouraged by the success, I sowed the last year, on the 25th of August, a small piece of ground, eight rods only, with turnips. They came up well, and not a fly touched them. When they had four or five leaves I directed one of my men to weed and thin them, so as to have them stand eight or ten inches apart. The ground afterwards was slightly stirred with a garden hoe. The leaves grew rapidly, covered the ground, and prevented the further growth of weeds. On the 11th of November, I pulled the turnips, trimmed and measured them, and had on the eight rods of ground, (the twentieth part of one acre only,) forty-five bushels of as large and well formed turnips as I ever saw. This produce is at the rate of nine hundred bushels to the acre. The soil is a sandy loam, in good heart, but by no means in high tilth.

I sowed two other small pieces of ground, the one on the 1st, and the other on the 8th of September. Neither of these yielded like the one sowed on the 25th August; but each of them produced much larger and better turnips, than I have seen, that were sowed at the usual time.

I attribute my success altogether to the late sowing; the heat is then less intense, the rains more frequent, the dews more copious, the fly harmless, and the crop abundant.

I would earnestly recommend to the farmers to set apart a small piece of ground, and try the experiment of late sowing, and I am confident they will be amply compensated for making the attempt, by a greater increase of crops.

[_Connecticut Courant._

(From the American Farmer.)

_On the use of Oxen and deep ploughing in New England, by Josiah Quincy, Esq._

BOSTON, Nov. 2, 1817.

_My dear Sir_,

In reply to your inquiries in your last letter I answer:--Oxen are used almost wholly for plough and team work in this quarter of the country. A single horse is usually kept by our principal farmers, to go to mill, and to church, and for the convenience of the family. Occasionally he precedes the oxen at plough, or on the road. This is so universal as to be almost without exception, among mere farmers. They certainly answer all purposes, except perhaps speed; and in this, on a long journey, they are considered as quite equal to horses. But of this our farmers have not many opportunities of comparison, oxen are so universally used. They are "worked" with yokes, and "broken" when very young, pretty much as men break horses.--Our farmers are so satisfied with their utility and economy that no argument would induce them to change.

A very good yoke of oxen will cost when well broke, and about five years old, if well matched and of good size' from 80 to 100 dollars. They continue good, without accident, and with good usage, until ten years old; then they are usually fatted, and bring from the butcher according to their size and fatness from 100 to 120 dollars.

Whether oxen are not more susceptible of _heat_ than horses, I am ignorant. My opinion is that they are. A circumstance in your climate to be ascertained in forming an opinion of their comparative utility.

With respect to "deep ploughing," a considerable change is producing in this state, in the opinion and practice of farmers in this respect. Deep ploughing begins to be more general than formerly. I should state _five_ inches to be the most approved practice, on turning up the sord for corn. With respect to deepening it for other crops, after the sord is broken, it depends upon the nature of the crop and the resources of the farmer, and also the state of his soil. My own rule is never to lay down land to grass until it has been turned up to the depth of _fourteen inches_. But my practice is peculiar, as I carry a regular succession of, 1st corn, 2d potatoes, 3d carrots, 4th grain, 5th grass, over my whole farm; considering, as I do, that _carrots_ is of all farm products the most profitable, and using them as the test of the actual state of the depth of tilth on my farm.

Undoubtedly when the depth of ploughing pass the old tilth, and enters upon the virgin soil, "manuring" must be in proportion to the depth of the virgin soil, which you turn, otherwise you sacrifice present crop to future crops;--a practice very discouraging to any farmer.

I enclose you the newspaper account of our last cattle show. A more detailed statement will appear in our Repository.

Respectfully,

I am your humble servant,

JOSIAH QUINCY.

GEO. W. JEFFRIES, ESQ.

SUGAR MAPLE.

A letter writer in the Albany Statesman, in giving an account of the New York canal, says--

"I saw for the first time the famous ascersaccharinum, or sugar maple. It grows spontaneously like all other trees of the forest, and is a most beautiful and stately tree.--It is said that each tree will produce from three to five pounds of sugar. An acre will contain 30 trees, and a tree will be fit for use in 15 years, and will probably continue so for two centuries. An orchard of ten acres would produce annually two hogsheads and a half of sugar, which can be made as good in all respects as the produce of the cane or the sweet beet. I speak from ocular observation and from taste. Mon. Le Ray, a very respectable and sensible land holder in Jefferson county, showed me at Washington Hall, in New York, a sample of maple sugar, which I have never seen excelled, and which was raised on his estates in that county; and I have been told by Mr. George Parish, a most accomplished and public spirited gentleman, from St. Lawrence county, that the inhabitants of that region not only supply themselves with maple sugar for domestic uses, but have a surplus for market. A plantation of maple trees of ten acres, beside being highly ornamental and beneficial for pasture--besides the use of the decayed trees for fuel, and the acquisition of excellent syrup and molasses, and a sufficiency of sugar, for family purposes, will yield a profit of $100 to the proprietor; and these operations are carried on in the month of March, continue but a short time, and interfere with no other business. The forests of the north and west, will supply the other parts of the state with the best of sugar and molasses through the great canals."

From Scoresby's Voyages.

SURPRISING VIGOUR OF A WHALE.