The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-06-04
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Fram hs Naturalist.
IMPROVEMENT OF SOIL.

soil in The UnNed States Nae rich; but
that day has past. 10 many Of the States
the occupants Of Farms have worked their
lands out Of heart, aud abandoned them for
more advantageous posiliona IN The "tar
rest" Many Others, still clesve TO the
homes of their ancestors, with Iille other
prospect than that Of making bare subss
tence, and the grel, majority OF American
farmers, experience sad revefses from The
annual deterioration Of their lands. lea
uessee, which is still the greatest corn.
growing Stale in the Union, could once
boas, Of seventy five aud hundred bushels
of Indian corn to the acre, but at the pres.
ent junc,ure, perhaps, the average crop IS
not more than thirty bushels 10 the acre,
The question might be graveiy asked
why have these changes occurred I \
bad system was at first adopted, and it has
been persisted IN to The great deIrmeni q
the agricultural interest. Farmers have
had too much confidence IN lhe soil, ana
mid too little attention to science end The
nroper plan of managing iaud, aud i the
system heretofore praciiced, be pursued a.
mother century, most OF the Unted States
viii be barren waste Not wishing, how
ever, TO dwell upon what would have the
least tendency to cast gloom upon The hearts
of the farmers Of the country, sm most
happy 10 say, better things are anticipated
There is but one question TO be discussed,
viz We must give up our homes and leave
sour native land" or improve the soil
This can be done, and It only remains 10
show the plan by which II Gao DO accom-
plshed'
Necessity is no, only the "mo!her Of
inventions" but il also will sug.eiI the re
ouisile changes 10 produce different stale
Of eff,i.s. The great Buel's motto was 70
improve the soil and the mind;" bu, al
though bis idea nigh, have been correct,
The order Of The subjects should be chang.
ed. Tie improvement Of The miaa and The
soil, is The true maxim.
It's truth but few receive, that not a
larger number Of he cu.iyoiors OF the soil,
have taken ilue to study ne wants Of q
farm, the true remedies for exhausted land
Again, few have studied the advantages on
their farms l-r Improvement
The q1es,oo to DO determined Is, have
we The means Of improving lands at home,
or are We 10 send to South America anc
Africa, for gldRo and minerals to bring
land 10 life am fully persuaded mos, o
the writings 10 reference TO foreign ma
nures have been specu alive, and merely n
tended 10 aid trade, without being Of per
manen. beneh, to tue couatry. It's mucI
easier foy farmer to make a guaGo 0aat
than TO import one thousand miles. Il !
doubtful, with me, whether it Is not ba
policy for any one to even hau! manure
(admlline there is no other expense,) owe
Two or three miles. Al least, the thought
full agtcuilurs;, should examine vel his re
sources a, home, before he looks abroad 70
enriching materials.
The means 10 enrich the col are n1nel
Gus. Every culiivator IS Obliged to have q
least horso, coz, pig or iso, and lie
sheep; and there Is 90 problem IN auIhmt
lie, more clear than that from any anlDc
properly managed, more MANURE can b
made than vii make produce to supper, i
Suppose We Try the pig FIRST. We vi
give il lhe poorest food Of the place. "
will be al the expense Of constructing ht
good house, and prepare him yard vii
litter. Feed him Cd refuse cabbage leave
roots, scraps from the kitchen, &c. and
one year he sill pay fot his mansion, foo
and the labo, Of giving il to bin, aud fu
Dish enough manure to produce ample f
tEo such pigs anoIher year. If any on
will try ii AID plead disappointment, t
may draw On me for three ptgs.
The COW 10 addition 10 paying ezpens'
by her milk, when housed and well iucFt
will furnish al amount Of manure, that y
by its scientific application, give food
one, if noi two cows. The same may
predicted Of all domestic animals.
But unfortunately, many tanners 10
the most valuable PARTICLES Of manure
exposing il TO the weather. After ferme
iat.on the residuum is inlle better than /
like amount Of chatf Let each farm
have secure shelters Tor both stock and II
nure, and save every morsel, and study
apply It properly, and his farm will tell
good story.
The secret Of improving soil consists
hQgWllAZ lAs Wdhte ahu LSltIS dAtG ~ rLpr
them. The correct combination Of the d
d ieren, properties Of soil must be Studio
On some lands, clay viii very much /
prove Its productiyeness On others, swa
mud will be found most valuable, aud
the other portions, sand will answer
purpose. Rotten wood, dry bones. and
kinds Of litter, may contribute 10 enrich
the soil Oiteu draining ls found adyar
geous, and again there are mDny plots t
nigh, be irrigated 10 the great profit Of
farmer.
On growing crops, soap suds will con
butte wonderfully to the growth Of plat
The bes, European and American farmt
contend that ,he strength extracted #
the soil by grain crop, is repaid. or ne
ly 50 by the hulm Of the corn. The e
mans long since learned, that the surp
branches Of grope vines applied to
rooIs, would supply an ample amount
nourlshmeoi.
Few have studied the value Of gre
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