The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-05-19
Agricultural.
Great Secrets in Cultivation.


Great Secrets in Cultivation.
Those OF eur readers whose recollec.
tons extend back far enough, may re.
mcmber to have heard of great discov-
cry that was once made in the cultivation
OF the earth, and for the public announce
ment OF which, a few hundred thousands
were asked from one of our state govern
iuents. The state government declined
paying the price, but the people individu-
ally paid subsequently large sums IN the
aggregate, to obtain separately the secret.
Many of them have thought that the dol
lar tnus paid by each was well expended.
Without giving any opinion as to the
merits of this discovery, we shall under
take, for the benefit of our readers, to
mention several other secrets in the art
Of cultivation, doubtless quite as new and
original, and which we are confident, if
properly known, appreciated, and acted
upon, would be worth to the mass of A.
lnerican farmers, quite as much as the
sum claimed for the other.
l. The first, and perhaps the most i'm
portaBt of these secrets is, doing eUcrtjtiRg
m Us SeaSo,s-and never putting off till
tomorrow what can be done to-day. We
have known farmers, occupying not over
a hundred acres, who lost by sowing
crops too late, by failing to seize the
most favorable opportunities for planting
and for harvesting, by allowing grain to
get over ripe, by neglecting to provide
and repair tools, and to examine the con-
ditlon of fences at the more leisure per-
lods, and in various other ways, to lose
annually at least one hundred dollars on
an average. Consequently, an efectual
remedy for this evil would be worth in
the aggregate, to half million of our
farmers, no less than Gt7y million dollars
annually. What government will give US
halt this amount for divulging the secret,
How many individual farmers will give
us a dollar for this knowledge!
;. Another great secrect is the proper
SGctne 9f nlHn~reS. Half our farmers at.
least. waste more than half the value of
the manures deposited by their domestic
animals, through the escape of all the
liquid portions, worth one half of the
whole; and by the dissipation and loss of
a large share Of the solid portions. These
losses might be saved by the construction
Of tanks or basins for liquids, and by the
free Use Of straw, dried muck, sawdust,
1ence-corner turf and soil, &c. for absorb
Ins and retaining the portions of manure
commonly wasted. Now, manure is the
main-spring Of good farming: and was
ting one-half or two-thirds of all that
might be saved, is lessening the crops
and starving the land, to an amount G.
quail to hundred dollars yearly for me-
dium farmers. This, for the half million,
would again be fifty million dollars.
3. The knowledge of the great advan-
tages resulting from understanding, re-
mains a secret to many. We have known
a field of land so wet as scarcely ever to
Pay IN crops the cost of cultivation, but
which, after thorough draining, yielded
the first year forty bushels of wheat to
the acre. Those who hare practiced
tile-draining extensively have often found
the whole expense reimbursed at the close
of the second year by the increase in
product. There are few farms that would
not be benefited more than hundred
dollars above all expenses by thorough
draining, making the aggregate grain for
the whole country fully equal to that of
the preceding instances.
We need not multiply examples of this
kind, to show the proneness of men to
leave what is easily learned, and which
may prove eminently advantageous, for
that whichis far fetched and dear. bought,
to show that we need not compass sea
and laud for the discovery of new and ,
arts, Of little value, while so
many advantages lie unimproyed direct .
Iy beneath our feet-Tbe Cultiyator.