Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-05-19

manure and II TINS is the moSt
profitable method Of farming for the
present generation, we have but lit
tie hope of effecting a reformation
by preaching against the morality
of practice. We however by no
means think this is the case, and we
believe a new era is about to com
mence in our agriculture, and the
New World will be noted for her
scientific farming as she already is
for her ingenuity in mechanics and
in the application of scientific prin-
ciples to the great arts OF civilized
life.
The righteousness of crop de-
ponds, within certain limits, on the
amount of availiabie food brought
to the plants by the water they take
up. Most soils, we may say all
soils capable of profitable cultiva-
ton, contain all the mineral ele-
ments of plants, but they are in
dormant or latent condition, and are
consequently incapable of being us
ed as food for plants. Cultivation,
or tillage, convert those dormant la
tent resources of the soil into active
available substances. The former
may be considered as the farm
er's capital permanently INFESTED ;
the latter, the floating capital of the
concern. The profits of the estab-
liShment will be in direct proportion
to the amount of floating capital an
nually turned, without overtaxing
the permanent investment in other
words, the crops and profits of a
farm are in proportion to the dUail-
able substances of plants in the
soil, without drawing too much on
those lying in a dormant condition
that is, we should keep, in an avail
able form, food enough for thirty
bushels of wheat instead of only
sufficient for fifteen for not only
do we lose money in not having
thirty bushels to sell, but we also
in all probability lose considerable
portion of available substances from
the plants being unable to take them
up, from lack of others equally ne
cessary for luxuriant growth. 1t
will therefore be our object TO show
what substances are most available
in the soil, what are removed from
the farm in judicious system of ro-
tation of crops and feeding of ami
mails, and the best means to employ
not only to keep the farm in its
original latent capacity for produ-
cling food, but also how to keep sub
stances sufficient for large crop
each year in an available condition.
That this can be done scientif-
cally, we have no sort of doubt !;
that it can be done economically, at
present, when the farmers Of the
older settled States have to compete
with the rich virgin soil of the west,
and consequently comparatively low
prices, is matter which admits of
some little doubt and which we will
endeavor fully to investigate for
we well know that however inter
esting it may be to know what can
be done under certain conditions,
the vital question ever must be, 1ciU
IL pay under existing circumstances !?
This inquiry stareS us in the face
at every step of scientific investi-
CATION in agricultural economy and
in the application of scientific prin-
ciples to any of the great practical
arts Of life; we will not thrust it a
side, but we will have an eye to the
economic, as well as the practical
and scientific, in examining our sub
ject.
We shall probably express views
that will not accord with the COM
monty accepted opinions on this
subject or, at least, that do not ex-
acily agree, in some important re-
spects, with the teachings Of a GER
tain class of chemico-agrlcultural
writers. We shall, however, assert
nothing but what we believe to have
been demonstrated by a most labo-
rious and extensive series of chemi-
cal Investigations, connected with
systematic experiments on various
crops aud animals with which the
writer has hitherto for some time
enga ged. We shall assert moth
ing that in any way conflicts with
the common practice of enlightened
practical agricuurists, who have, as
we believe, taught by close obser va
ton and long experience, adopted
that very system of rotation and
general farm management which
now is, or will be, indicated and ex-
planned by scientific researches.
Genesee Farmer.
Remedy for the Potato Rot.
Our readers may remember that