Demoine courier., 1855-12-06
4 atgs of AObutlslns.
canno. be destroyed by sad farming, Or


canno. be destroyed by Sad farming. or
continued cultivation. There are oil er
soils, TOO, which arc not easily des.ro, :
ed, because they are composed OF ingfe-
dients, whick attract from nature-ffom
air and water. re-invigora.ing powers
But these are exceptions TO the general
rule, and therefore j: becomes necessary
hat The farmer should study the best
means of preserving the rich fertility of
ever the lands OF Iowa.
Among perhaps the most effective
means to retain This fertility, is the ro,a
lion Of cro;s. A distinguished writer
upon practical agriculture. in speaking Of
a rotation Of crops, says: 1t Tor ms ,he
basis of all successful a2ricul.ure.-
Whatever pains we take, wha,e re. expen.
ses we incpr in collecting instruments OF
hnsbandry- 10 accnmulating and appIy-
ing n and tilling the earth, all is
TO little purpose unless we superaId a
succession of crops adopted to lhs ma
,ure of the SOIL" and "nerer. 10 any
case TO permit two crops Of the sans
species or kind. to foil w each other"
The experience Of every farmer pr sen,
has shown him that however highly he
may n a fieiu with ordinary MT
nure, Immediately before sowing his
wheat, q profitable crop will no, be the
result. II will produces grss. growth
of straw, bu. ihs berry will be deficient.
and Eo:hing but rest or a rotation al
crops. can proven, such a result, how
ever liberal may be the application o.. ma
nure. The reason for this must be ap-
parent to every rejecting mind. l, is
the formation OF ,ae seed which princ;-
oally causes the deterioration 1f the soil:
for il the crops be TED off in a green
state, before the seeds have malured, bu,
lis,le disadvantage will result, to tue soil.
Clover and wheat are considered good
alternatives, because the wheat derives
much Of its substance freT the soil. AMI
clover much Of its growth from the at
mosphere; hence. il after crop Of wheat
a good crop Of clover be returned to the
soil. it is rested and re invigora,ed for an
other crop Of grain. liis useless, how
to enlarge upon the importance OF
this branch Of tire subject. as The prac.
teal experience Of every one ptesen; has
demonstrate! i,s necessity.
The mex, important step in retaining
The fertility Of The soil, il in the direc,
application Of manures. These manure
are so numerous tina, il would require
volumes to enunerate them and their
qualities. There is. however, one gen.
eral principle TO be observed. and tina, j,
to return 10 the soil all the ingredients
that have been taken from it in The cult
vation of crops. ALL cultivated plans
contain some fifteen distinct i~ng,edisnts,
and the perfection Of vegetable growth
cannot exist until the sol. shall pos, ess
each OF these ingredients which enter
into the composition of plants. The
manner OF applying manure is also an
important matter for consideration. We
are not an advocate for top dressing. as
il mcst be evident 10 every one, tia, a,
leas, olehalf Of lis maEurial value, bv
such application escapes INFO lie a,mos-
phere. Incorporate your ma in The
soil, and particularly in clay land, az
their effect is no, only to add fer,iliza.
ton thereto. bu, to nakeitless tenacious
and more easily pulverized. Make the
application general. We noticed not
long since.a very intelligent farmer, and
one too. who has been very successful in
the cultivation Of grain, attempting to ma.
nure an orchard. He had carefully pre-
pared a very rich manure. and was pla-
cling it around the trunk of The tree, in
a circumference of not moro than ihres
feet, when a momen.'s reflection would
have convinced him that the roots which
absorb mos, nourishment, are ten, twenty
and esen thirty feet from The trunk OF The
tree. The roots draw nourishment from
greater ex,en. in the ground than ,hs
leaves do from the atmosphere. And az
it is a conceded fac, lha, the mouth OF
roots, whereby they feed are q. the ex.
tremi.ies of the roollets, all will see the
necessity of incorpasing The fertilizers as
generally as possible, as well az the ne.
c~essi,." o! deep iillage.
We have som ewhere heard ola priest
who was called upon to pray over the
helGs OF his congregation in an unpro-
pi.ious season, tina. blessings3 might de-
scend upon Them, and they produce more
plen.ifully. He accordingly passed from
field TO field, and successlvcly invoked
The desired blessing-fnally he came 10
the field Of d most ;ndolent farmer
= All. my friend said he. "lhere is no use
of praying here -this field needs me-
nure." there was perhaps, as much
philosophy as religion in this priest. for
IL is no, in the economy Of God to favor
,he in2olent. |, was his high command
I'm the sweat Of thy face shalt .hous ca,
bread and that command has been faith
fully administered.
A few words TO another, aud the fair
sr portion Of This audience, aud | am
done. 10 the mothers is conided an
important trust. Upon you rests much
OF The future character Of the feemsn Of
Iowa. The stately forest oak NAV not
be changed from wha. il has grown 10 be
amid the storms and whirlwiads Of many
years; but the tender twig. destined, per.
haps, hereafter. 10 be the pride Of HE
forest. is under your con,ro,-.Just AZ