Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-09-01
fgarnrer5 Dfportn1tnt,
How Lcst the farmers simple life,
How pure the joy it yields!
Far from The world tempcstuoue strife.
Free mid the scented iclds.-EvERETT.
From the Collar Newspaper.
IMPROVEMENT oF THE SOIL.


~ studied by every farmer 1t is 4 great
mistake to suppose that the occupation of
an agriculturist is unattended with severe
mental exercise. There is, PERHAPS, no
profession that requires more profound study
than that of the farmer. Aside from other
subjects that induce deep thought, aud Il
long stretch Of the imaginative powers, tue
subject under consideration, 10 be properly
understood, re luires years of study and
close observation. The man VIII
miiiarly acquainted with the uatur -, a..
ferent kinds of soils, and underst;
principles on which the growth a,
rity of plants, and other vegetables
can convert the sterile sand.knoll
verdant meadow or waving field c
and, in reality cause the desert to .a-
as the rose" Such man is ben .., 80,
only t, himself and the immediate r.,
borhood in which he resides, but to the
whole world.
Whenever field of grain or any other
products of the farm arc harvested, Il portion
OF the ingredients Of the soil, which fed
that crop and supported its growth, is taken
from the land. Those ingredients should be
replaced before the same ora similar kind
Of crop is raised on the same ground. 1T is
quite too common a; l;luls, even with farmers
who wish to be called scientific, to reduee
the s)il to state of comparative barren
ROSS, BY constant succession of those
crops for which there is the least possible
o.itlay, and which they can most readily
turn to money" Although for few
= lars, farmer may realize more "clcar
profit" from rich soil, by this exhansins
mode of farming, hc will at length see its
evil effects in the scattering stalks and small
light heads of grain which greet his vision
in harvest time. He will soon be convinced
that proper expense for fertilizers is a
profitable outlay. The soil needs rest aud
nourishment us much as man or beast. Al
though farmers are more careful to preserve
the soif in its natural condition., than ' in
years gone by" still they are too prone to
study present convenience and availability
rather than principles Of darablc beneSt. a
man who understands nothing Of tho ply.
siology of the human system, would hardly
be considered as 4 proper man to employ az
physician. either to prescribe rules Tor the
preservation of health, or for the removal o
disease. No more should man who un.
d, rstands nothing Of the nature of the soil
Or Of vegetable physiology, be considered
proper man to till the land,
The useful and necessary lessons in the
science of agriculture, are too generally
neglected during the early education of the
youtt, Of this country, leaving them to be
learned by experience This is manifestly
an error. Why should not the funds of the
State Governments be applied to the distri.
button Of agricultural education, as we'll as
to assist students of the professions to be-
come lawyers! Agriculture is the most
important profession and that on which all
professions must depend for existence. Why
not study the improvement OF the soil dur
ing the "sced time of life," as well as Eng.
lsh grammar, or arithmetic 1t is an old
maxim and true one, that those ideas i'm
bibed in youth, are very likely to attend US
to old age. If wrong ideas are continually
iustilled into the minds of youth, in regard
to the manner Of farming, they will be
very likely always to be poor farmers.
1t is very gratifying to the agricultural
community to see that some of our most
distinguished statesmen, and among them
the Executive of the General Government,
are interested enough in their prosperity, to
support the establishment Of an Agricul.
tural Bureau at the expense Of the Govern
ment. But we hope that they will soon
begin to act in the matter, as their talk can
do us but little good, FIDELLITAs.