The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-10-10
RTFs.fE ECO.ND.NY.
From The Southern Cultirator.
RENOVATION OF SOILS.

From the Southern Cbttirdi0r.
RENOVATION OF SOILS.
Il is not my purpose 10 discuss the ques.
liou Of renovaiiHg soils, but 10 state the re
suit of an experiment in wheat culture
The soil was rather a stiff clay. end having
bnen some thirty Eve years in arabic con
ttion, aud for much of The former part OF
this time very productive Of wheat, il had
been, for want OF knowledge OF the ben
eGts of the rotation system" sadly abus
ed. In 1888, it was sumner fallowed,
having laid the four years previous to
sheep pasture, but the crop Of whca.
that followed was very ordinary, not yield
ing ten bushels TO the acre which in part
arose from the adhesive and clammy nature
Of the soil, causing the frost 10 hcave We.
~ considerable portion Of the plants on The
surface TO perish. This is well Known 10
bt i very common occurrence, IN our eli
mate, with heavy clay lands, If sowed late !;
lar, and the growth in the fall was beyond
an average. After the crop was harvested
observed on all parts Of the field, numer
Gus cracks on the surface, TO much great
er extent than is usual with similar Soils
| contemplated giving the field a heavy
man1rng the following season, and plant
Vith corn; bot subsequently changed my
plan, having resolved to adopt tic coutse
recommended as above, by Chaplal. !
consequently applied about twenty five
+ T., &c "a, Il
manure, drawn from my sheep barns, to
Inc acre, which was spread no faster thnn
the pluughs wauld cover. The plants, in
tho lall, assumed SO dark green, tina,
was little appreheusiye Of the usual rank
growth before harvest, which almost iva
uably follow tho direct application Of ma
nure TO the wheat crop, us well as large dis
proportion Of straw 10 the berry. But
doubtless owing to the great poverty Of the
soil, these results did not follow. The field
averaged over twenty bushels 10 The acre,
which is the average production Of well
tilled lallow land, sown timely, md in "a
vo:abc seasons, IN this immediate quarter.
The coarse manure had evidently affected
material modification OF the SOIL as few
cracks we're dIstlngulshabe on the surface,
afles heryes,, showing most clearly, that il
was more frablo. |, is a year ago last
spring, since the grass seed was sown upon
II, and more luXuriant covering of clover,
have rarely seen, than tia field now pre-
SCENTS which is another proof of some rcn
ovation of the soil, otherwise very much
OF the clover would have been thrown out
by the lfssis Of las, spring. II is my pres
ent impression, that if this field is permit
ted 10 rest for two or three years longer,
and then sowed with buckwheat and plough
ed under when in blow, preparatory to
wheat, ID consideration of what has already
been done, IFS original fertility will DO near
Is restored, and IN some measure, the ad
hesiye aud clamny texture Of the soil de.
sIroyed.
Bat while on this subject | beg leave TO
enter protest against applying manure,
except compost, directly to the wheat crop,
unless as in the above case, when the soil
IS rendered quite unproductiye, by long and
slsiuuing management before agricutn-
raj periodicals taugh; US better. you will
pcrnrit me 10 quote your remarks gentle
men, on this point, for am quite sure they
cannot be KEEP, too much before tho pee
pie from the 18th volume Of the CuItivator,
taken from a sterling article on Nv heat
Culture" "One of the greatest evils Of
direct maturing for the wheat crop, arises
from the liability ofthe grain SO MANFRED to
lodge. The rapid growth Of the stem,
tenders il unable to support lis own weight.
1t is soft and iltYible, contains much less
silex than those grown in poorer soil; the
wheat does not usually perfect its Der.
nv, and at all times from the ihinness OF tho
skin or culcle, ii is more liable to mlldew
and rust. These things render il certainly
unadusable, unless the land is very poor
and reduced, TO apply unfermented manure
TO wheat" My own experience, as well
as thousands Of others, III times past, viii
attes, the truth Of these remarks. As near
y as possible my practice conforms to the
" rotaiion systems" and apply my manure
IN an uuiermented state, TO my corn and
potatoe crops, and top dressing of mead
ows. L.. A. MoRRELr.