The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1853-11-10

tingly corroborates, and adds that, while
rotation has taken more from the soil
it has nevertheless left it in better con.
dition to bear future harvests; and this
experience will in due time ratify and
establish
Here, then, experience has been out.
stripped by science, whose torch IRA
dates the future with light drawn di-
rectly from the present, not reflected
the past. Experience has shown that
particular rotation is preferable to the
growth of the same plant on the same
soil for a succession of years; but
science forecasts beyond this, and af-
firms that any possible rotation must
be preferable TO inceSsant and IN
changing repetition, for reasons which
lie deep in the bosom of Nature and
are inseparable from her very vitality.
As surely as experience has demon
strated the expediency of keeping cat
tie where they have grass and water
both, instead of shutting up a part
where they will have grass enough but
no water, and the residue where they
will have abundance of water but no
grass or other food, so clearly does
science demonstrate the advantage Of
growing different crops in rotation.
But in answering our first question:
"Why should /" different crops be grown
in rotation 2" Science has thrown open
wide field of profitable inquiry. We
have seen that five good crops of IN
dian corn cannot be grown off the same
ground for five successive years, unless
by virtue of profuse and expensive man
uring; because each crop has absorb
ed an undue proportion OF certain ele-
mentS or properties essential 10 corn,
leaving others, less vital to maize, but
more necessary TO wheat clover. &C.,
undisturbed in the SOIL We now know
therefore, that any average soil, re-
garded with reference to any particu-
lar plant, possesses certain elements
IN excess, while II is deficient in others:
and we demand of Science that she
tell Us Just how we may most cheaply
and easily supply, not elements of fer
tllity in general, but those particular
elements which are deficient. consid-
cred with reference 10 our purpose
We desire not 10 spend our time and
means III filling soil on which wheat
is never to be grown with costly ele-
mentS which wheat alone will require
or take up, but to invest each dollar
and day, SO far as we may, in enrich
ing that soil with the elements wherein
it is now deficient, but which our next
crop will nevertheless require. And
to do this, we appeal TO Science for an
analysis of the different soils of our
various fields, TO determine wherein
each is deficient, each relatively redun-
dant, that we may apply various fertil-
izers accordingly. And this is the ba-
sis, and all the basis, in Scientific Farm
ing. sa
Let me linger still on this topic of
Book farming, and pile illustration ON
of its true character and
manifold advantages. You may tell
me that this is needless, but know
better; since know there are tens of
thousands of farmers in every quarter
nay, right here in Indiana-some of
Them, doubt not, now before me-
who take no Agricultural paper-nay,
no paper at all!-because they think
hey can't afford it!-that it has no
other than a speculative or fancy value
or their use-that they would be the
poorer for taking it Now maintain |
hat no farmer or artisan that can read |
'an really afford to do without at least
hree weekly newspapers-one to bring |
lin the general news, politics and So
,ial movements of his time another
o teach him whatever of discovery,
invention or improvement may from
ime to time be made in his own pur-
uit or calling; and the third 10 keep
lin advised of whatever of interest
nay transpire in his own locality or
country. He may be SO Uery poor and
Inefficient that he is justified in obtain
ng two of these by exchanges with
lis equally luckless neighbors; but
hese three he should at least read every
week, because he cannot afford to be
Without the intelligence they bring
i'm. And, while there are thousands
Who are bringing up sons for farmers
nd daughters for housewives without
aking periodical or even owning a
ook that treats of Farming or House
7ifery. it is absurd to say that this stu
i'd prejudice against Book farming has
cen already sufficiently dealt with,
ince it is this day so potent and mis-
hievous. Bear with me, then, while
attempt 10 let in some daylight upon
through the relation of few homely
acts:
was visiting some old friends in
ermoat last summer, when observed
i the garden of one of them the most
lrifty and luxuriant grapevine that
ad ever seen growing in so cold cli-
late. / al once asked the lady TO tell {
e by what means she had insured it
lch yigor and productiveness, and she
,plied that she had made it her rule,
rer since the vine was set there, to
row a pail-full of soap-suds at its root {
the close of every washing-day.- ,
gain in the same garden, remark S
| scar or ring around each plum =
ee, just above the ground, and, on in S
liry ascertained that these trees had a