Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

7 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

CIIIT-CHAT IN THE GARDEN.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

CIIIT-CHAT IN THE GARDEN. 'EDWAUD.—I see you are going to use your hoe, Thomas; much is said in books and newspapers about hoeing, but I cannot see what good purpose so much of it can answer what s your opinion upon the subject ? THOMAS.—My opinion cannot be of much importance; but as far as my knowledge extends, I consider hoeing to be of as much service to growing crops as manure. E.-Tliat is going too far, Thomas; for you know that crops of corn may be raised without hoeing, but not without manure. T.—You are mistaken, my friend; for crops of corn may be raised and have been raised with hoeing without manure. -fethro Tull, who attempted great improvements in farming a hundred years ago, raise-I good crops of wheat for twelve years successively upon the same land, without applying any manure. His plan was to sow in drills, and stir the soil frequently be- tween the drills..He says that every stirring of the soil, when it is not in a wet state, creates a new fermentation of the par- ticles of which it is composed, and furnishes fresh and imme- diate nourishment to the plants." E.-Have any other persons tried Mr. Tail's plan of raising corn without manure? T.—Yes, several; as you may judge from the following re- port of the Wilts Agricultural Society :—"Mr. Saunders gave a short account of the Tullian system, as tried by Mr. Richard Box, at Lavington. In the year of 1824 Mr. Box sowed an acre of wheat on the principle laid down by the late Mr. Tull, Quland of a middling quality. This acre, in 1825, produced ssLcks in 1826, 8 sacks; in 1827, 7 sacks 2 bushels; in 1828, i sacks H bushels; in 1829, 5 sacks; in 1830, 7 sacks 2 bushels in 1831, 6 sacks 2^ bushels; and, in 1832, 7 sacks 1 bushel; or, on the average of years, 6 sacks and a trifle more than three bushels. Mr. Box had also several other crops of wheat on the same principle, which has veragetl as much as on the nar- row drill system. Last year his barley averaged 4 quarters G bushels per acre, and his oats G quarters per acre. Mr. Saun- ders here produced a sample of Mr. Box's eighth year's wheat, which looked remarkably line; and also observed that he had two pieces of wheat this year, sown on land of extremely bad condition, the produce of which was likely to he seven or eight sacks per acre. Mr. Saunders said that he had closely watched Mr. Box's acre, which was now producing the ninth crop without dang. The land was very poor and certainly not ex- traordinarily attended to; but so satisfied was he (Mr. Saun- ders) of the advantages of the system, that he commenced at Michaelmas sowing eight acres of wheat and six acres of bar- tey, all without dung; two acres of the wheat was very fine, and the barley sown on the besi; part of the land remarkably goocl lie determined at present not to use any dung on the good land, but a 8m-all portion on the poorest. Mr. Bennet said that Mr. Tull had tried the experiment a great many years ago, but prejudice was then so strong against him, that the system was not acted on. A great deal, however, had been done within the last few years to conquer strong prejudices; and he trusted now that Mr. Tull's system would have a fair trial. It was well known that it was to pulverise the earth, and to expose it to the atmospheric air. lIe himself should give it a trial." E.—A very strange plan certainly but how much is a sack r T.—You know a sack of Hour is 43ftlbs.. a sack of coal three bushels but I understand the sack in this report to de- j note four bushels. E.—Are you aware of any persons pursuing that plan of late years ? T.—I cannot say that I am; we Welshmen "living under the hatches" cannot be expected to know much of what is ijjing on in the world. Possibly the system of raising corn crops without manure is not much attended to in these days, because green crops, such as clover, vetches, turnips, carrots, cabbages, mangold wurzel, are much more extensively culti- vated than in former years. These leave the Land in a good con- dition for corn crops, which, after being properly hoed and kept clean, produce larger returns than on the Tullian system. E.—How is hoeing generally performed ? T.—Sometimes with a harrow, sometimes with a horse-hoe, and sometimes with a hand-hoe, spade, or fork. E. —What! Do you call harrowing hoeing ? T.—You may call it what you like but my meaning is that when the harrow is judiciously applied to corn crops in the early stages of their growth, it answers the purpose of a hoe; so that in one sense harrowing is hoeing." z, E.—But will not the harrow root up the corn plants ? T.Not one in five hundred; and in proof of this, and of the advantages of the operation, I can tell you of the success -of a neighbour of mine last year. He had wheat in a portion of one field which could scarcely be seen through the course of the winter. In the spring he had some thoughts of ploughing tlut land for barley. But having heard of the good effects of harrowing growing wheat in the spring, he determined to make a trial, not caring much if the small quantity of wheat which tould then be seen were entirely destroyed by the operation; because he could then attempt to succeed better with a barley crop. When his harrows and roller were brought to the add, and set to work, Ms neighbours told him he had better leave it alone for he would certainly spoil his wheat. Ilowever, he proceeded with the operation, *nd in the course of a few weeks the thin corn began to tiller rapidly, quite exceeding his own or his neighbours' expectation. E.—Very surprising and pleasing so far; but how did the crop turn out at harvest? „ T.—Very satisfactory; fo* he had more than 25 bushels ot -e oellent wheat from less than an acre sf land; which must be considered a fair crop from land not worth more than 7s. per acre. So convinced is my neighbour of the advantages of har- rowing his crops, that the last spring he has applied the harrow "J E.-It occurred to my mind that the harrow would tear up more than half the corn plants, and bury many others, so that the crop must be materially damaged. T.—You must remember, Edward, that there is a wide dif- ference between harrowing a field which has been recently ploughed, and harrowing a neld which has not been moved since Michaelmas, which has been beaten so much by winter rains. In the latter case the harrow tines will not sink above an inch or two in the soil, whilst the plants slip between them unhurt. Besides, the corn plants root deeper in the ground than is generally supposed. B.—I should think the roots do not descend more than two or three inches. T.I am prepared to show that unless obstructed they will descend two or three feet. E-Enough, enough. Good by. Study your subject better by the time I call next.

Ftltieties. '.

----------_-----EDUCATION…

'' (Selected for the PRINCIPALITY.)

PICTURES OF MEMORY.

A MONKISH DISTICH. ,

THE TURNIP FLY.