Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-05-18


remarks we shall offer, it will be ou
endeavor rather to explain the principle,
upon which the new system is founded
and which have common application, anc
TO demonstrate their beneficial influence n
husbandry generally, than to detail the
mlnutG of practice. which must, in some
degree, ever be Influenced and controlled
by local causes.
|. MATURING.
The first requisite to improving the
fertility of the soil. is plenty Of food for
the crop, which il is destined to nourish.
The meal chest must be occasionally res
p|enlshed, or it will not long serve to sup.
ply the wants Of the family. The kline
must have daily her forage, or her grain,
or she will withhold her accustomed tri.
butte Of milk. The field which yields an
annual contribution to the husbandman.
will become sterile, it nothing is returned
to replace the crops annually carried off.
Philosophers have speculated for ages, as
to What constitutes The Jood Of plants /?
Without rccapitulaling he various theories
| which have had their day, upon this point.
every farmer can readily respond to the
question, from personal knowledge-that
it is interchangeable and animal mat.
tors, which constitute the true food Of
farm crops. Mineral, fossil and earthly
substances, may meliora,e the soil and
increase its capacities for the healthy de.
velopmcnt and maturity of plants-or may
Impart wholesome stimuli to the organs Of
plants themselves, but vegetable and
animal substances, after ALL constitute
mainly the elementary food of plants
Crops arc always good, on well prepared
grounds. when these, in soluble state, are
known to abound; and they are always
defective. or prove a failure, when these
are wanting Farmers should hence re-
gard manure as q part Of their capilaI-a
money-whlch requires but to be properly
employed, to return them usurous interest!
They should husband it as they would
their cents, or shlI'ings, which they mean
to increase to dollars. They should econ
omzc every animal and vegetable sub
stance on the farm, aud when it has sub
served other useful purposes, apply it, by
mixing it properly with the soil, TO the
increase of the coming harvest-put it to
interest. that 1t may return the owner its
per cen,age of profit. in grain, roots and
forage, and ultimately in the increase
meat. and IN the products of the fleece and
dairy. Every load Of manure, well applied
to the farm. will increase its products to
the value Of one dollar. The farmer,
therefore, who wastes load Of manure. is
as reckless and lmprovident, as he who
throws away a bushel of corn, in these
dear times. Not only what is denominated
manure, as the contents Of the cattle and
hog yards. and the ceanlngs of the stable
the amount Of which may be greatly
increased, by stalks, weeds, vines, and
other vegetable matters-may be trans
formed into farm produce but the rich
earth Of swamps, bitches and waters, the
leaves Of The forest, urine, soap suds, &c,
are all convertible to like use. He that
will not feed his crops with manure, should
not complain if his crops fail to feed him
with bread.
A The grain, roots and forage destined
to feed the family, and the farm stock,
require the best care Of the husbandman,
to prevent waste and injury, SO does the
manure which is destined TO feed his crops.
Fermentation, if suffered to exhaust its
powers upon it, materially lessons It's value
the wind and the sun dlsspate It's virtues
and rains leach it. and waste its fertlizlng
powers. The same care given to the food
OF vegetables which should be given to the
food Of ANIMALS. will be richly recompenset
10 the increased produce, Of the harvest.
Lime, mari, gypsum and ashes, are al
benehcially applied TO increase fertility
under certain circumstances, which it !!
unnecessary for us here to partcularize
Stlff clays are also benefited, by the appl
cation Of sand; light sands are improved
by the admlxture Of clay; while both ella,
and sand are improved by the addition o
marl or other calcareons substances.
If we contrast the common with th
improved practice, in regard to the man
agemen, of dung, we shall readily see
hat the difference, in preserving the fer
nifty of the soil, Is incidentally great
enough Ia induce poverty IN one case, an
to enrich the proprietor IN the other
f Even the best class of our farmers, VIII
are deemed judlci0us managers, seldom
ava, themselves of hslf the resources G
fertility which their farms or neighborhood
afford-not half that are put in successfr
requ silion by the farmers Of Great Bri,ai
and Flanders. Besides, what manure the
do make is in general badly husbandet
They suffer the gaseous portions to vast
in the air, instead Of being absorbed b,
and enriching the soil ; and the liquid ,
! course down hill to the highway or TIL
brook. But what shall we say Of the mas
, of our farmers? We have travelled hui
/ dreds of miles to the west, and seen gret
, quantities of manure, in the yards an
= about the barns. often the accumulation
4 years, seemingly considered by the owne
rather as an incumbrance, or a nnisanc
!. than as source of fertility and Of wealt
In the new system Of husbandry, the ia
|, mer's profits are IN measure graduated
g the quantity Of manure he is enabled
II produce from his farm. Ia the first nun
:. Der Of our fourth volume, we gave esl
o mates, from high authorities, OF the amou