The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-11-21
From the American AgrcultuIis,
now TO SUSTAIN AND IMPROVE
THE QUALITY OF THE SOIL.

II has become an imporssnl inquiry a.
mong msny OF our farmers, how shey shall
Cerulze such Of our lands es are Welding
Iaree burdens OF produce, which ART taken
of Ihe premises for salei--W Where remote
from large city, or places for supplying
nanures, ,ihls is most important query and
one which lasy are highly interested III hay.
ing answered correctly. Il is absolutely
certain that farmers cannot annually tUb
,hrr (alms Of large oops Of grain, grass 4
roots, w''houi either supplying manure TO
the soil, or losing rapidly in iIs fertility
~ shall briefly indicate some Of The most
obvious resources for sustaining and
improving the producIiyeness Of the soil.
la The tifs place, not an ounce oil animal
manure should be suffered 10 be wasted,
eilher liquid OF solid, U'hen not dropped
On 'he feeding grounds, ba. around the sta
nIes aud yards, ii slouiL be carefully ssved
md treasured up where It csunot be wasted
Ill used. This shouIt be carefully aud ju
iiriuusIy compounded with turf or pea. oI
vegetable Gs.ev, so as TO retain all i.s gasrs
u.t DOT be pcrmUIed TO drain away aud as
soon as propee time offers, II should b.
rsr.iel on 10 he fields aud q, once incorpC.
irutgd with The soil. AGoIher resOurce for
oany Of our Essen farmers, IL the !m-
iucnse ,uIes Of peat aid muck that are
within ,hsr reach, and which Tend, grealIy
10 benef'Ins light sandy or loamy soil,
all lhe animal mstlcr ashes ,esChed or uns
eacheL should be carefully collected aud
pphcd 10 their land Il, cry oIher ieruIizpg
SUBSTANCE which 10 10 be found around the
pre- or Can be collected a, not too great
an expense in the ueighborhoOd.
But in many csses where the stock Of
cattle is not large ant tho Eroduc. sold from
he laud is considerable some more d, INIT,
sld certain means for sustaining farm
mu.l be resor!ed TO. Wlh the mos, intel.
IligenI and systematic agricuItullst, proper
rotation is adopted which has been found By
|oxpetence 10 be adapted 20 the Iocsll'y anu
products. By this is meant regular sue.
Icession Of clOps on the same haId through a
series Of years which at their expiration ate
gain repeated. They ste 80 arranged ihsl
Two grain crops never follow each other, bu'
Are separated b. root crops, grass. g..
fhis system prrpens the necessity OF the
soil yielding slniIa' ingredients through
wG OF more successive seasons, which l.
yili seldom do 10 30 exIen,sutiicienl 10 pro.
luce a good second crop. Time is requir
1t for it TO decompose such Of lhe lngredI.
enls which il contains, us are necessary Il
Torn. what are called the in o gsnic porion,
If the plant, in such conditions to be taken
up and appropriated BY the plant. II also
euabIes The cuIlvslor 10 apply his green OF
lpulrescens msnures TO such crops as ar,
most properly adapted to receive them
Such are corn and ROOFS, md n-srIy all ,he
objects Of cultivation excepting the smaller
grains.
The great ohjscs Of rotation, however, II
10 give the Isni res! as it 10 termed. whei
allowed 10 remain 10 srass y, Meadow o.
teireshnsn, when clover or other ferniItlni
,rops are plowed into The soil for manure
Such crops cariy back TO the soil SO mutt
of ils naie'isls az they sssa !axsa !!om I!