SOCIETY-The adjourned meeting of the Society N CHINE SHOP, Removed to Jonathan S. Eastman's Old STATE ACRICULTURAL

will be held at the Hall of the Mechanic's Institute, over the Post Office, in this city, on WEDNESDAY EVENING, 8th November, at 7 o'clock-The members and all persons wishing to join the association are invited to attend.

By Order C. B. CALVERT, President.

AMERICAN FARMER,

RENOVATION OF WORN-OUT LANDS,

BY THOS. P. STABLER,

OF BROOKEVILLE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND.

To which was awarded the THIRD PREMIUM, a Piece of Silver Plate valued at $20.

WHEN reflecting upon the progress of improvement exhibited around me, and observing so much of the spirit of enterprise and industry; and being also aware of the effective and powerful aids brought to bear upon this subject by the diffusion of scientific knowledge, now so liberally imparted to the tillers of the soil; and being myself in possession of but a very limited share of this kind of information, except as derived from sources common to all, I have sometimes almost doubted the propriety of any attempt on my part to tender advice or instruction to others.

Yet I am well aware that there are very many, and amongst them some good farmers too, who, like myself, are deficient in this department of knowledge. To these particularly, I would address this essay, and invite them, carefully to free the mind from prejudice, either in favor of their own peculiar systems or plans, as they may exist in opposition to the practice of others, or against the lights thrown upon the subject so interesting to them, by those whose labors and researches have enabled them to shew us much that would otherwise long have remained beyond the range of our vision.

In offering a system or plan for the " renovation of worn-out land," I propose to commence with the operation of plowing.

So far as my experience for near forty years, and attentive observation during that time, have enabled me to arrive at conclusions, I have long been fully satisfied, that nearly if not all soils with which I

have become acquainted, either in Maryland, Vir-
ginia, or Pennsylvania, (and within these States I
have observed a great variety) should be plowed at
least as deeply as three strong horses can do it.-
This I would in all cases, assume as properly the
grand basis upon which to rely, in connection with
a thorough pulverizing to the full depth of the plow-
ing. for "the renovation of worn-out land" and its
restitution to a state of fertility. To a summer crop,
a clod is a greater enemy than a stone of equal size,
because, in addition to its incapacity for furnishing
food for plants, (which is perhaps the worst that can
be said of the stone,) it acts as an absorbent, and
thus robs the plant of a portion of the moisture it
might otherwise obtain. The great benefit derived
from the retention of moisture in the ground, both in
order to its "renovation," as well as in regard to
the production of crops, is perhaps evident to all.-
And in such a climate as ours, where perhaps most
of the rain that falls during the summer mor.ths, is
in hasty showers; land well pulverized, say to the
depth of seven or eight inches, will not only receive,
but retain a much larger amount of water than such
as has received but a superficial plowing.

Upon this branch of the subject, I have as yet, only referred to my own experience and observation, but would invite every farmer to the perusal of a work by the late Thomas Moore, of Montgomery County, Md., upon the utility of deep plowing, written in the year 1801-and who was most successful in the practice of this system. He remarks,

"if manures are applied to shallow worked soils, their good effects in general will be of short duration, as most kinds must soon inevitably travel the road the virgin soil has before them."

ground some four or five inches deep, and accomplish two acres per day, do we think we do well? Then add a sufficient force of team to stir the land double this depth, and we say the expense is inHe says again, that he "was once of the opinion creased. So it is—but it is not doubled; for we that the speedy reduction of the soil so commonly still have but the one plow, and only the same plow. seen in our country, was altogether occasioned by man. We have only added one-third to the team, the nature of the crops cultivated thereon; but on and scarcely one-fourth to the expense; and this attending more accurately to the subject, he is of a without requiring any more time. Here then an imdifferent opinion, and believes it is more from the portant improvement is made, which probably manner of cultivation than from the exhausting could be effected in no other manner at anything properties of the crops; of this one thing has tend-like so small an expense, and time saved, which ed to convince me; I had observed that when an in- could not be, if the system of shallow plowing was dustrious person, from another State or country, pursued, and consequently the opportunity for imwhere the cultivation is generally deeper, has set-provement lost. tled on these exhausted lands, they frequently improve for some years, although the same crops, or those equally exhausting are cultivated; and instances I have known of some of these old fields becoming very productive without manure." The same authority assures us, that he "had plowed a field for wheat which had been thought too poor to cultivate either in wheat or Indian corn; that he saw rye growing on the best part of it two years before that he thinks could not yield two bushels to the acre; it was plowed early in the spring eight inches deep, and repeated with harrowings during the summer, and sown in wheat in the fall, and the product was between sixteen and seventeen bushels to the acre."

There is another and most important view of "facts" connected with the system of deep and thorough cultivation, and which was urged with much force by the successful and distinguished agricultur ist before quoted, viz: That land when under deep cultivation will imbibe and retain almost any amount of rain that falls, and consequently is comparatively, if not entirely, free from injury by means of the water's collecting and passing off in large bodies; when an adjoining field but half so well plowed, would perhaps in a single summer lose half its loosened surface by means of what are called washing rains.

If no more than the common space of time (two or three years) is allowed between the different plowings the land receives, it will be found upon practice, that land which when last plowed was stirred to the depth of eight inches, may now more easily be broken to the depth of nine inches, than it was to the depth of eight in the first instance. This "fact" is in favor of the permanency of the improvement.

In reference to a piece of land which had been deeply cultivated twice, (the second time after an interval of four years,) he says, "I took several of my friends to see the difference in the appearance of this piece and the adjoining ground that had laid the same length of time out of tillage; it was discerni ble to a furrow; 'the deep ploughed piece appeared of a fine open texture, and dark color, thick set with white clover, the adjoining ground compact and And here I would urge, what perhaps none will hard, of a pale ash color, bearing scarcely a blade of object to, that under the application of any kind of any kind of grass, than that common to old fields, manure whatever, (and these must vary according to known by the name of poverty grass. In short one the circumstances attending their application, and had the appearance of an exhausted old field, and the facilities of procuring and rendering them availthe other of land lately manured. Those who ex-able,) when the system of cultivation is deep and pressed a sentiment on the subject were of opinion, thorough, the improvement must necessarily be that to those who did not know what occasioned the more permanent. difference, the deep plowed piece would sell for double the price of the other." And he likewise states that "all his experience and observations have uniformly tended to establish the fact, that in order to insure success for a length of time, it is necessary that the soil be kept in fine tilth, and that to a considerable depth."

I am aware that "the time of effecting, and the permanency of improvement when made" are among the very important considerations involved. And now let us, (having assumed a thorough and deep cultivation as our grand basis,) examine the matter as it relates to the time required for improvement, and see how we may come out practically. If we plow with two horses, oxen or mules, breaking the

Let us still recollect that the object in view is the "renovation of worn-out land," involving its speedy and permanent improvement.

Theorists may speculate, and objectors may cavil, and perhaps cases may, and do exist, where reference is had, only to the production of a single crop, where a more superficial plowing during a moist season, may be the means of bringing into more immediate action, all that may remain of the productive qualities of poor land-and here I apprehend is to be found the cause of the great mistake that many are led into who continue to advocate shallow tilth.

They look only to the present, and it would seem as though this practice of having reference only to the immediate result of a single operation, is, in

some measure imposed upon many of those who | considered about an average quality of the land.rent land, for in numerous instances, the landlord un-On the 12th of the 9th month, (September,) I sowed wisely requires such terms of his tenant, as compel him almost to exclude the idea of anything like "permanency of improvement." But tenants are not alone in the commission of this great error; and if we would reflect upon what is constantly passing in our view, it would perhaps do much towards re-ed this in with the wheat, immediately after sowing, leasing from the trammels of prejudice many who are scarcely aware of its influence over them.

And bursts the crowded barns with more than promised gains; the aid of the guano, I could not have saved more

before. If this cannot be effected on account of dis- these districts, I will answer for all, that such a visi tance, and the inquirer is an inhabitant of Maryland, tor, with such an honest purpose for his object as the or the adjacent parts of Pennsylvania or Virginia," renovation of worn-out land," shall receive a make a visit to the neighborhood of Sykesville, and hearty welcome, information freely and courteously view George Patterson's improvements; then pass given, so far as we are in possession of knowledge on via the rail road to the Laurel Farm in Prince that will qualify us to impart it; and when he may George's county, and wonder as others have done at be about to leave us, we will tender him the expresthe effect of the almost magic wand, waved by Hor- sion of our good will, and good wishes for his success ace Capron, over what was ten years ago a desolate in all good measures-and say to him "go and do barren waste-thence a few miles, ten or fifteen likewise." Let industry guide the plow, and science only, to the neighborhood of Sandy Spring and bear her lights along, and success in "renovating Brookeville, in Montgomery County, Md., and where worn-out land" is certain. in proximity to all these enough is left yet unimproved to shew what has been done and is still doing. And though but one of the inhabitants of one of

THOS. P. STABLER. Near Brookeville, Montgomery Co., Md.

Proceedings of the Maryland State Agricultural Society.

WEDNESDAY EVENING, Nov. 8, 1848.

from that of his neighbor, either by a visible and Agreeably to adjournment, and in pursuance of tangible fence, as one field is separated from another public notice, the Society met this evening, at the by a hedge or a wall-or by an ideal invisible boundHall of the Maryland Instititute. CHAS. B. CAL-ary, existing only in the contemplation of law, as VERT, Esq. President, took the chair at the appointed hour, and called the meeting to order.

Mr. A. B. Davis, of Montgomery, moved that all incorporated companies, or firms, may be received as members of this Society, to be represented by some designated member of the corporation or firm in all meetings of the Society-which motion was adopted.

Mr. Davis then proposed that Mr. Miller, be admitted as the representative of the Triadelphia company-which was concurred in.

Mr. W. W. W. Bowie, of P. George's, moved that the committees appointed to act as Judges at the Fair, be called over, and, that any vacancies which may be found therein be now filled.

Mr. Carey, of Baltimore County, moved that the subject be laid over until the morning.

Col. Capron moved an amendment, that the President appoint a committee of five to fill all vacancies which may occur in the list of Judges-which was adopted, and the following gentlemen were appointed accordingly, viz: Col. N. Goldsborough, of Talbot, Gen. T. Tilghman, of Talbot, Dr. Wharton, of Washington Co., Col. W. W. W. Bowie, of Prince George's, and Mr. Faulkner, of Montgomery.

G. W. Dobbin, of Howard District, from the committee on Fencing, made the following Report on the subject specially committed to them, which was read, and on motion of Mr. Lyles of A. A. Co., was accepted, and ordered to be published with the proceedings of the Society.

REPORT ON FENCING.

The standing committee on Fencing, to whom was specially committed the duty of examining and reporting upon the laws of enclosure, or Fencing, in existence in Maryland,, and of suggesting amendments thereof, have had the subject under consideration, and now beg leave to report.

The common law recognizes the fact, that the land of every owner or occupier is enclosed and set apart

when the land of one man adjoins to that of another in the same open or common field. Hence every unwarrantable entry upon the land of another, whether the same be enclosed by a visible fence or not, is a trespass, for which the law has prescribed appropriate remedies, by means whereof, the party trespassed upon, recovers damages, greater or less, in proportion to the injury he has sustained. This obvious principle of justice is co-eval with the sepatranslated by our ancestors to this country with rate existence of individual property in land; it was themselves, and is as much now the general law of Maryland, as it ever was the law of England, from whence we derive it. Of course it at once sets at rest the idea that it is the duty of the land owner, "to fence out" stock, and imposes upon the stock owner the duty of fencing it in.

It is obvious then, that the law of trespass, as generally applicable to the State, with reference to the subject specially referred to the committee, needs no legislative modification. In the counties of Allegany, Washington, Charles, Baltimore, Cecil, Kent and Caroline, the rule of the common law has been changed, and the right to recover for a trespass is made to depend upon the proof by the party trespassed upon, as a condition precedent to his recov of a prescribed height. All who live in counties ery, that he has enclosed his property with a fence where the trespasser is thus shielded by the necessity of proving what is called a "lawful fence," know from experience the exceeding inconvenience and often impracticability, of this preliminary proof, to say nothing of its hardship and injustice. But as these modifications are local, it seems to the committee to belong more properly to the county Societies to consider and determine whether any, and what, amendments, may be expedient with reference to them.

Although the committee are of opinion that no a mendment in the law of trespass as generally appli cable to the State, is called for, they cannot but think that an improved condition of public sentiment