The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-01-24
Agricultural.
From the American Agriculturist.
Too Much Land.

Too Much Land.
During recent excursion in this, and some
ofthe New England States, Twas struck with
the compartive sterility of land which might
by proper cultivation become 'the garden of
the world" Instead of seeking fields OF
wheat bearing thirty bushels to tho acre, we
! find scarcely twelve TO fifteen in the yield;
where two tons ofhay should be cut hardly
one is the product; where thriving fruit trees
might be expected, bending beneath the
weight of their delicious fruit, our eyes are
panied by the sight of gnarled, stunted, and
hali-deud trees, scarcely able 10 sustain the
life Of the few curlcd-up leaves that come
forth ms tito rcproach their owners by the
sight oftheir consumptivc appearance. Ii
they had tongues TO speak, how bitterly would
they complain oftheir treatment. Is it be-
cause nature is so misery that she does not
reward man for the labor lie bGstows on her
or because man will not let her yield II bounti-
iiIl supply in reward for his labor? What is
the cause ofthis sterility, and the complaints
of the farmers that they cannot make II living:
though they have hundreds of acres ut their
command? 1t is evident the iiult is with
themselves They attempt the cultivation of
TOO much idRd.
Our farmers lave from fifty to five hun
dred acres under what they call cultivation
Still they arG in debt, and in many cases the
more they possess the worse they are Off
Their land is scattered far and near. Two
acres here and ten there instead of being
compact together. In this manner, more
time is often lost in going from one lot to an
other, in the building fences ofothcr people,
and keeping out their cattle, than the Whole
income of the land amounts to. | have my
sclflost moro time in this way in n single year
than il would take to keep ten acres in the
finest condition.
What is the remedy? Sell half of your
land and spend the proceeds oft on the re-
maiudcr, and tlIus make what YOU have Weld
n liberal income. This may appear to those
who have ALWAYS followed in the footsteps
of their forciathcrs," ofadding field 10 field
TO their farms, rs the height ofloily, hut ann
confident it will he their salvation. There is
n good adage, one that should be remem-
bcred by farmers as well n others. "Ncver
attempt too much" Depend upon il, there
is no course so suicidcal as that of owning
and attempting to cultivate Two hundred acres
when YOU can hardly do justice TO one hun
drcd. Suppose, for instance, man has fifty
acres of naturally good land, and lac has but
n certain amount OF manure time, &c. TO use
in It's cultivation, which Is not enough To keep
II in heart, or pay thut attention To rotation of
crops, which II requires, is il not evident that
with it, must suffer? Would rot all intclli-
gent persons condemn such course: Yet
how many instances are To- be seen all around
It's! | believe il would he for the interest of
many farmers even To give away "A portion of
their land, rather than have so much i'm their
care. Selt-intercSt tells us il IL the true poll
cy OF such a man In sell what he cannot prop
erly use, for he would gain time to devote To
the remainder u money 10 purchase all that
il required, his crops would yield in double
ratio, his l1nd increase in value AS il incrcas-
ed in fertility, and thus he would be in every
way benefited.
Ihavc seen acres oft best land, overrun
with daisies, mullcus, and other noNous
plants, that root out the grass and eat up the
life of the soil without nfiording nourishment
To man or beast, which might by little at
tcntion yield rich harvest. But the farmer
has no time 20 attend TO it, and the land be-
comes worse than useless; for it is seli-cvident
that land must either increase in fertility or
decrease in value-therc is no middle way
il must afford profit or be an expense.
Look again ut the swamp and meadow
lands with which our country ubounds that
are not worthless, and causing sickness and
death in their vicinity All these might be
reclaimed and made the most productive land
by small outlay oftime and capitalize own
crs have neither, because they have too much
land already calling for their attention. The
muck contained in these places, can be made
to pay better interest than bank stock. Yes,
Improperly used, it may be the farmers mine
of wealth.
This lends me to inquire how are our lands
rightly to he cultivated? Ireply by using the
experience and directions ofthosc who have
Studded the chemical formation of soils, and
the effect different manures have on different
soils. Much time is lost and land injured, by
the farmer not knowing the relative value of
his manure, and the theory of rotation of
crops which might be saved by the expendi-
ture ola little time and money in procuring
and reading agricultural papers and books.
There is too much of the saving cent, and
losing dollar economy in this age. When
the time shall have arrived that men will be
willing to study the theory and practice of
farming in all its details, then shall we see
agricultural pursuits elevated to proper
standing and yieldinga profit that shall re-
joice the hearts ofall.