Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-10-01
IMPROVEMENT OF THE SOIL.

Time was when mos, Of the cultivated soil
in the United States was rich but that day has
passed. In many of the States, the occupants
Of farms have worked their lands out Of the
heart, and abandoned them for more adyania.
geous positions in the Far West. Many 9th
ers still ceaye 10 the homes of their ancestors,
with little other hope than that of making a
bare subsistence, and the great majority Of
American farmers experienced sad reverses
from the annual deterioration of their lands
Tennessee, which is still the greatest corn
growing State in the Union, could once boast
of seventy iive to a hundred bushels Of corn to
the acre
The question might be gfayely asked why
have these changes occurred? A bad system
was at first adopted, and has been persisted in.
Farmers have had too much confidence in the
sol, aud paid too iule attention TO its wants.
The great BUEL's motto was "to improve
the soil and the mind" HIS idea might have
been correct, but the order of the subject
Should be changed. The improvement of
the mind and the soil is the true desideraium.
The means 10 enrich the soil arc numerous
Every cultyator is obliged to have at least a
horse, COW, pig OF two, and a few sheep /;
aad there Is no problem IN arithmetic more
clear ,haa that from any animal properly man
aged more manure can BE- made than will be
required to make produce supper TO il.
Suppose we try the pig first. We will give
II the poorest food Of the place. We will be
at the expense OF constructing him a good
house and preparing him yard with litter
Feed him on refuse cabbage leaves, roots, scraps
from the kitchen, Sc; and in one year he will
pay for MS mansion, food, and the labor Of si-
wing 1t TO him, and furnish enough manure to
produce ample food for two such pigs another
year. II any one will try II, and plead disap-
pointment, he may draw on me for three pigs.
The cow, IN addition 10 payln expenses BY
milk, when housed and well Uttered, will fur
nish an amount Of manure that will, by lis
scientific application, give food for one, if not
two cows. The same may be predicted Of all
domestic ANIMALS But unfortunately, many
farmers lose the most valuable particles of ma
nure By exposing it to the weather After
fermentation, the residmin is lutte better than
the like amount fchafi
The secret in improving the soil consists in
knowing us wants and beng able 10 supply
them. The correct combinations ofthe differ.
cnt properties of a soil must be stud
ned. On some lands clay will be useful on
others, swamp mud will be found valuable
and on others, sand will answer the purpose.
Draining is often advantageous, and many
plats may be irrigated 10 the great profit of The
farmer Few have studied the value Of green
crops-oats and rye in particular One crop
Of oats, consumed on the field. win cIlab.e the
cultiyajor to reap double the amount the sec
ond year, The same may be affirmed of rye
Soap-sudS wood ashes, and charcoal have
al tendency TO improve the soil. Another
means Of improvement is deep ploughing
and The last, but perhaps no, the least valua
ble,. consists IN completely pulyerzng the
land.--.Naf,nGhst