The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-12-31

Icultlvatlon produce ana take lnerrlrom any
given quantity Of grain, just in proportion
to the quantity of the ferillizing qualities
oi the substances OF which that grain is
composed, will that land be impoverished, ),
or its grain producing qualities be impaired.
This is true in regard TO all soils, as well
in our rich Western valleys, as III the less
fertile portions Of our country. And our
Western friends had better be aware, lest
they be guilty OF like indiscretion to their
more Eastern brethren. and bequeath to
their unfortunate offspring the mesgre es-
tate of an exhausted soil This has been
too truly the case in the Eastern and int.
rior portions o. our country; and should
our Western brethren presIst in that sys-
tenn of cultivation adopted by many al the
present time. the old adage will be surely
verified, "That always taking out and new
er putting in, will soon come TO The bottom
of the meal.tub."
We want, then, 10 restore to our soils
that which we have taken. and are still en-
gagged in taking from them; and for the
purpose Of doing thus. we must either ap-
propriate such iertlllzlng substance as the
proceeds OF tho soil produce when decom-
posed, and after it has passed the state Of
usefulness to the animal creation. which is
the cheapest and most economical of all
iertilizing substances. or we must resort 10
the introduction and application of foreign
agents, the expense OF which would more
than exhaust all the profits of the labor of
the husbandman. We shall therefore di-
rect our investigation towards the prepara-
ton OF iertilizing agents from sources OF II
domestic character, and herein Of the
management OF the stable and barn We
are aware that much has been said. and
more written upon the subject OF preparing
fertilizers in the form OF manure, for the re
soration of exhausted soils. and rendering
more fortlle our cultivated farms-much
more than has been well received by the
public, and probably more than would
have been profitable. had it been received.
II your land is once fertile. the preserva-
ton OF it in that state is comparatively an
easy matter; or where soil has been at one
time fertile, but rendered sterile by improp.
er and excessive cropping, the course to
pursue is plain, and nature will direct the
remedy; but where the fruit bearing quail
ties of the soil are entirely absent, or where
nature has never furnished them. the GER
tain laws of science alone can direct the
remedy which will produce vegetable, life
giving qualities in that which was by ma
ture barren.
The manure Of domestic animals. as
collected in the barn yard. is the cheapest
and most common fertilizer in the United
States; and this, il properly husbanded,
with such other agents as nature has most
abundanrly provided for the purpose, in
the extensive mineral kingdom Of our
country, would be amply sufficient, exclu
sive OF importation, for the renovation and
sustenance Of our natural soil. And we
here say to our farmers who are cultiva,ing
poor fields. and harvesting meagre crops.
the fault is their own. You neglect to ap-
propriate those means to the strengthening
of your soil. which nature has placed with
in your reach. and hence the poverty Of
your farms and lightness Of your own
pockets, as well as the enterprise and we'll
being OF your families sacrificed. In many
instances your stock is permitted to run st
large summer and winter. without even a
covering TO protect them from the inclem
ency Of the weather, and in this manner
are permitted to waste the manure, which
should be carefully preserved in your STA
bes and sheep-iold,, broadcast upon the
public highways. or upon the uncutivated
lands OF your own, or Of your equally cul
pable neighbors. Again in many instances
where the mercilul instincts OF our farmers
are moved with pity for the animal com
forts OF their stock, and protection is iurn-
shed from the storms Of winter. no other
advantage is sought 10 be derived from it
the accumulations of the winter are all
elected from the tenement. after seasons
feeding, to lie and rot and bleach for the
summer season, or for series Of summers
and winters, TO waste under the influences
and destructive effects of the atmosphere
and the wasting consequences ot rain and
heat After il has been thus exposed till
almost every vestige Of the iertllizing quail
tiles of the manure has been exhansted,
and the accumulations have become so
great as we'll nigh TO prohibit the occupan-
cy of the stable. the comparatively worth
less mass is removed, and distributed over
the farm. or some portion thereof. with lit.
tie apprecisble benefit TO the soil And
thus our farmers, in many instances. are
led to the conclusion. that the ordinary
manures are OF but little value, and results
in the snle and abandonment Of the farm.
that the occupant may seek more fruitful
land in the far West, where the same svs-
tenn is carried out. except that the accu.
mutations of the barn. yard, instead of be.
ing distributed over the fields. is deposited
in the adjacent and neighboring sloughs.
Thus it is in hundreds and thousands of
instances. in a greater or less degree, our