The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-10-25

From the American Farmer.
PRIZE ESSAY ON THE RENOVA-
TION OF WORKOUT LANDS.
BY EDWARD STABLER.
of Sandy Spring, Montgomery County,
Ma'yland.
In submitting The following Essay upon
the sReuovation of Worn out Lands, 1t Is
deemed proper To state, that the writer un-
tlerstands the main object in view "f The
Editor of the American Farmer, to be. the
cliciting of such information as is best adap-
ted to the wants Of the great majority OF
farmers; those who are dependent on the
product, of the soil for a support, and whose
resources are comparatively limited: for al
though it NAV be equally desirable to those
with more ample means, to Improve their
lands a, the least expense oftunc and money!
vet the number Of such is comparatively
small; and il is not pei celvcd why the same
plan NAV not suit both: the one who ''lIvcS
bv the sweat of his brow improves his ten
acres, while he with the ''plethorIc purse,
NAV in the same time. enrich his hundred
acres With the view, therefore, to adapt 1t
to the more numerous class of readers, the
effort will be made to condense the essay as
much as possible; and so plain, and Tree from
tcchnicalities, that "he that runs may read"
It is almost impossible To establish a the
orv, or mode Of farming, that can be made
tn suit alike, all localities Of soil, climate, and
tho facilities of obtaining the various kinds
of manure, now in use in different sections
of the country. But it is believed that with
proper energy and industry Oh the part "i
farmers, and even with the present facilities
of transportation, an increase OF double. II
not quadruplc the lime, mari. aud bones
nriutt be used to advantage; the two iormcr,
in many sections of our country arc lnexhans-
,,ble for generations to come: and mnch
greater amount oflhc latter might nc "h'aln'
ed in sections where they arc not used, but
greatly needed, if more attention was paid
10 their collection and preservation.
The first step would advise towards the
"Renoyation of Wurn-ou: Lands" is. a com
plc,c and thoirngh draining, both surface
and under drains. whcras the location aud
nature Of the soil renders it two rctcn'Ivc o'
moisture late in ll.e spring Ii retards carly
seednc-the winter grains and grass roots
are very liable To be thrown ont aud injured
bv frosts; and on such land. the injury from
drought is much more severely felt. The
writer has not known case where lh:s "pc.
ration was performed with ordinary skill and
judgement, that did not fully repay the eX-
pense; and in some cases ;hc product was
Increased from..fve to ten lnld
To 60 into full description oi the meth
ods used in different sections, to accomplish
this most important branch OF tho husband,
mans duty, would require diagrams, and
also too mu:h space; nor is 1t considered
necessary; for in the "Amcrlcan Farmer
(Which every tillcr of the soil oaght to pos
sess) very full and ample information may
be obtained on the subject. A few genera
observations here, may suffice. If the SOL
is rendered too VIC, hv springs whose soHr
ces are lower than The surrounding land the
drains must be extended to at least The same
level, be the distance. and depth what the!
NAV; or to a sufficient depth below the sur
face, to admit Of understanding clear ol the
plough. This may sometimes he elected
by eorg through the clay sub-soil, and with
out much expense of dItchlng; as the water
can then pass off through the under s;atun
of gravel or sand.
Wherever tho unclcr drains will answer
the purpose, they should he adopted; for the
land thus reclaimed is often the most profit
able for cultivation; and where the tcXpcnS'
of brick or tile, is too great, or suitable stone
cannot be had to construct trunk dlalns {
good substitute IS generally within reach, D,
i2 to Is inches in depth small loose stones
covering first with leaves, straw. or smaI
brush, to prevent filling the intcrsiIces viii
the returned earth. Logs or poles, laIc
lenghwise, also form good under drains
but are more liable to clog from decay.
The next important step in my opInon, II
"2enovating Worn-out Lands" IS to plougf
deep, and thus expose new surface to TIT
action Of frost, and atmospheric influence, II
order to make soil in place ofthc one pro
vided by nature; but (which either from Gu
pidty, or bad management, perhaps both
man has destroyed. 1t is considered one o
The most certain means to attain this deSlra
BILE end: and although sub-soi ploughing
fully approved of, ii IS considered less Impor
,ant than to break up the earth from to II
inches: ifthe subsequent treatment IS prop
erly attended to.
The writer is we'll aware, that there IS
strong feeling of prejudice in the minds G
many individuals against this practice. ma
are the arguments of the advocates OF sha
low PIoughing7 They say in 50 man: