Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-09-23


twenty? Why, clearly because the ground
whereon grew the hundred bushels was
naturally, or by scientific treatment, in a
proper condition for corn bearng-had in
its womb all the necessary kinds, and E.
nough of each kind of food, that the young
and the growing plant required for its
leaves, its stalk, its tassel, and its ear
Aud how do you account fc- the fact, that
you do not get an equal crop on the same
ground the next year? Because the frs,
crop has eaten up good share of the food
in the ground pantry; and the third sea-
son, Gf any man is silly enough to try
corn on the same ground, without having
supplied food by manure,) the third crop
would find the shelves pretty well cleaned !;
and the progeny of that year, would be
pigmies.
On bow many farms is accurate calcu-
!ation made of the cost Of growing differ
ent crops, so as to decide which is the most
profitable to raise? On how many farms
is an account kept Of outlay and income
from each field and each animal, that the
prudent husbandman may know where is
the mouse-hole in his meal-bin? This is
not because it would be scientific farming
To be sure, merchant who pretended to
carry on an extensive business without
keeping books, and without taking now
and then can account of stock" or who
would continue to deal in certain styles
of goods without knowing whether he was
making or losing money by the operation,
would be held insane. But surely that is
no reason why a man who prides himself
on being plain, practical farmer, should
farm by arithmetic
Do farmers hereqbout, or farmers gen
orally anywhere, attempt gradually to i'm
prove their seed by early and judicious
selections, and by always planting the
best, instead of reserving the worst for that
purpose, or do they sell all that is fit to be
sold, and keep the poorest for home use
and for seed! This gradual Improvement
of seed, such as Mr.. Brown, on an island
in Lake Winnepesaukee has made in corn
known as Brown corn-and as many
others have made in many plants, and
fruits, and flowers, by the simple selection
of seed, with judicious cul:ivation-this
smacks rather too much of science, for a
practical farmer.
Scientific Agriculture recognizes the
fact. that mannres Aennnr,inalis---<
piled, to exert their best influences, upon
soils where water too much abounds, and
recommends drainage. "And so," say
you, "does every practical farmer, who
knows beans" Well, perhaps every prac-
tical farmer does not "know beans" or
lie would recognize them in a good share
of the ready-burned co5se that he buys !.
At any rate, how different the operations
of the systematic and Of the guess-work
drainer. The first discovers the secret
springs, that supply the superAuity of
water; and so locates his drains, and so to
cut off the vein before it opens on the sur
face. While nine-tenths of your practical
men dig bitches in the lower part Of the
meadow, where the water stands-forget-
full that an ounce of prevention is worth
pound of cure This subject of drainage
opens too vast field for me to venture
upon at this time.
This same rule of prevention causes
your scientific farmer to do oN things az
season. He stirs up the earth between the
drills of his crops, with the hoe or culti-
vator, to kill the weeds, before they attain
to great size, and strength, and appetite.
There is no such glutton as your weed.
Like sharper among honest folks, it de-
frauds the legitimate owner Of what right
fully belongs to him. With coolest i'm
pudence it steals from the young and ten
der plant thrcc-fourths of its food, and
grows in consequence three inches to its
one; Mr.. Weed over-tops it; he bullies
it, as it were, after reducing its strength
by starvation BY and by, he claims the
ground as his own, and fourishes in undis-
turbed possession. He becomes seedy, at
length establishes a large family, in good
quarters, to rob succeeding crops Of Pota-
tatoes and carrots and is only uprootcd
and punished when he has about run the
length of his evil course.
Agriculture is understood to express,
not merely the cultivation of the land, but
also all the operations incidental to it, or
consequential upon it. Accordingly, We
find science in the Stock yard. The en-
lightencd system, that prevails in the field
is introduced here. Acting uron the we'll
established rule that "like breeds like,
she selects fit moulds, and builds up breed
of cattle for the shambles, square and pom
derous, like the lordly Durhams; and agai'
for the yoke she prepares the beautiful
and agile Devon; for the milk-pail she re
..,o, f,u;l;es of each of these breeds, u