Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-09-27
indications of Good soil.

prairie land is Of the same quality. True, we
have no sterile lands; bu, our lands possess
various degrees of fer,ility-even such lands
as are contiguous and such as seem 10 state
of nature to be entirely similar. 1t is mat.
ter of some importance to those who are look.
ing for land, to know the RICH, indications and
the true criterion of a good soil. We find
some excellent hints on this subject, copied be-
low from "Thaer's Principles of Agriculture"
contained in the September No. of tina, ex-
celent periodical "The Farmers Library
a work to which we are indebted for several
former extracts-a work of which we have for
several weeks published the prospectus in this
paper. We take this opportunity to recon-
mend "The Farmers Library and Monthly
Journal of Agriculture" TO our readers, in the
highes, terms, and invite them 10 examine the
numbers received a, the Herald Office. l. is a
scientific and practical work. II plants Ag.
riculture where alone it can really flourish,
upon the profound truths of chemistry.
sIn general examination of the land,
the growth of the trees and copses, if
there be any on the land, their species,
their soundness, the elevation of their
branches, and the cleanness of their
bark, are among the surest marks of
the quality of soil. The plants which
grow spontaneously there, even those
that are injurious, afford also valua-
Bile indication; but it is not sufficient
that they grow isolated and slowly,
but, on the contrary, their increase
should be rapid and abundant. Thus
the corn or field thistle (surratuia
arvensis,) indicates a rich productive
soil; the butter bur or great petasities,
| (tussilago petasifesD an argillaceous
soil; the colts foot, (tussilago .farfa-
RAJ and the bramble, a marty soil; the
common chickwood and pimpernel,
(alsinc media,) the common SOW this
tie, (sonchuS oleraceus,) the charlock,
I(Sinapis arUen5is,) grow on soft and
tenacious lands; while the wild radisll
(raphonus raphanistruna,) grows in
dry and poor lands. The black me.
dick or nonsuch (0aedicago Myulina,
is sure sign of the marty quality o.
the soil in which il is found.
An abundant growth Of grass, by
which persons who value estates often
suffer themselves to be much influenced
is very deceptive indication, as it i:
often occasioued by humid atmos'
phcre or by recent manuring, and
sometimes even by the bad state Of the
cultivation.
The appearance Of the crops in al
early stage is no less deceptive sign
for, when they are sown thickly, anc
in the early part of autumn or in thu
spring, on a bad soil, they may ap
! pear, on superficial inspection, to b.
superior to those which grow on a BET
ter soil. Sometimes, indeed, the corr
is sown in a much greater quantit,
than it ought to be, for the purpose O
deceiving the unwary purchaser.
A far more correct judgment Of tn
! quality of the soil may be formed b,
examining the corn in the car, or tn
, stubble, provided the examination OK
tends to the whole of the farm, and i
not coninod to one particular field. oil
which, perhaps, an abundant crop ha
been produced by extravagant manur
: ing, or by some extraordinary mode o
, culture which has, perhaps, caused TIN
neglect OF some other fields of tn
farm.
A dark color Of the soil after recen
ploughing is one Of the surest signs o
fertility, except in heatbs and marshy
lands. A dark color Of lie waters il
tie burrows and Of the deposits taker
from them is likewise an indication o
rich soil.
Practice will soon distinguish BY
pressure of the foot, or by thrusting q
stick into the soil, or even by the sen
sation which is experienced in passing
over the ground on horseback, the de.
gree OF tenacity in the soil; whether il
consists of tenacious clay, or if it be a
yielding soil, or whether sand be the
principal ingredient. We may also
readily Judge of the quality by the
state Of the clods after recent plough
ing, and from noticing the degree Of
diyisibility or tenacity when they have
been some time exposed to the inhu-
ence of the atmosphere; but more par
,;cniarIv tba nronorfions of fho soft