Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-07-31
A. r9anlIL lrLLrzlLs


I / ne present season IS perhaps he most
remarkable Of any taat has occurred since
1916. Its peculiar character well de.
serves notice; and il il should continue
I as il has begun, an interesting memoir
might be drawn Hp concerning it. Veg
Ielaiion commenced az an unusually early
lpericd, but the frost on the 9th Of April
caused great damage TO early plants, such
as tobacco, cabbage, garden peas, &c;
and in some measure also to the MAY
wheat. The wheat, however, notwi,h.
standing the drought which ensured, mex
lneeiedIy recovered and yielded fair crop.
THE most disastrous effects were on The
Z fruit, every species Of which was nearly
destroyed and the stone fruit en-.
trey. This is the second time within
the r,c1llectloa OF the writer that The
Strawberries have been cot of by frost.
Ia l62S they were totally destroyed this
year thay Welded about the fourth Of
crop. Raspberlies, also, have very geu.
orally suffered. even 10 The native yayio-
tics, which may be supposed to be the most
hardy They likewise persisted suhso
quently an Ter the witherIag influence OF
the sun as the fruit was approaching ma
turlty. The usual delicacles OF the s. a.
sou, therefore. afforded BY the garden--,o
say nothing of tae ichard-haye been
scarce and Of inferior quality.
WHEAT In regard 10 this important
crop, the state ofthe weather has been an
interesting subject for observation. Cold
and warm by turns, and at all times dry
lears were entertained by many farmers
that the product would be materially di.
minished. But The only injury, i, is be.
LEVIED, that resulted, was rom few DAYS OF
extremely warm weather while the wheat
was turulng, aud when the earth was par
ched by drought. This caused some of
the later varieties, on certain soils, to II.
pen prematurely. Dry, cool weather is IN
doubtedlv the most favourable TO the pro-
duction of wheat. la the memorable year
of 1906, according TO the accounts hand
ed down by the old people-when no rain
fell between April and ep:ember--there
was most abundant crop. In many 81,
ua,ions the ears did no. emerge from the
boot, but there was no bligbting and no de.
feet in the quality of the grain. The dry,
cold summer oflSl6 was also one Of the
most productive Wheat years that had
been known. Those were times-from
% to 30 years ago-when the heart of
the Farmer reoiced within him: Heavy
crops and high prices rewarded bis tolls,
and prosperity smiled upon the land. 1t
is true, that day Of clouds and darkness
and tempest followed after; but the one
was the gift oS God, while the other was
brought about by our own wrong doings.
Bat the question arises, lctp Is ii that since
that time, the aoheat crop has become so pre-.
carioas, inSomuSh that Of late years one
good crop in four is as much as The Farmer
dare hope for F? An investigation into This
subject, would lead 10 the consideration Of
occult causes, which would be out Of place
in desntory observations like these. But.
that there is a cause, who can doubt
Aud why should it remain hidden from
him who inteligently seeks for itl Ma
ny imagine they find it in the change of
the seasons. which is supposed to exer.
else an uppropitious influence in engen-
dering rust, cheat, and host Of other
evils. There may be-snd indeed this !
year furnishes abundant evidence that
there is great diversity in the partcu
lar characteristics Of successive seasons; |
but there is no reason to believe there
has been any essential modification Of |
climate. AS long as seed time aad har-
vest remain the same, we have 90 need
10 look 10 extraneous influences, except
for partial effects. The probability
may we not say certainiy?--iS thai il is !
TO our O1eR fcroRg Management, TO The de- |
feels OF our agricultural syStem--io The long
continued practice of taking all ,oe can Oh
tain FROM the soil, and returning Eile or
nothing to st--to the desire, IN short, Of
reapiHg tchere we hare not Sown-ikat our
lands haze become so aafraitfuk The dis |
coyeries OF science have long since devel. !
oped the Tact that f-iere are in all soils |
cgriain inorganic substances which are
essential to their fertility, but which are
exhausted by continual cropping. II will
be necessary for US 10 r0traco .oIr steps
to ascertain what nature has done, and
to learn that we cannot undo il with i'm. |
punity and diligently 10 replace the |
waste occasioned by this cesseless ex-
haustlon, as carefully as we would supply /
our own physical wants or those Of our
animals. II is Only BY this means that we
can restore tho once exhuberam fertility
Of the soil. Alta suitable time, it would |
DO proper to teat this subject in detail. -
Ia conclusion, aud 10 connection with the
subject Of wheat, il may not be unintcr-
esling 10 offer few words 10 regard to.
Rusr.-This disease does not appear
to have prevailed 70 any considerable ex
tent during the present season, Acc re- /
lug to no theory which aas been received I
could i, be expected 70 have supervened. /
Whether tie rusg arises from plelhora,and |
the consequent exlrayasai'oR Of tho sap; (
or whether it DO parasite, fastening it's
roots in the stems and leaves OF the plants, +
tho conditions requisite to no deyelope- /
ment did not exist. Perhaps il is Of 90
great practical importance ia what man
ner rust has Is origin; but il is always
desirable TO arrive al the truth, even in 4
matters Of speculation, We haze other
tights however, than those OF speculation (
m regard to this subject, by which we
are enabled to penetrate into some Of the I