Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-01-26
THE FARM:
The Gardcn...The Orchard.

THE FARM
The Garden...The Orchard.
VT The following article, though written
two months ago, contains suggestions which
can hardly fail 10 be of use to every rejecting
farmer.-Lewi,tug Chronicle
The Present Aspect of Agriculture.
BY II. c. VAIL.
At no time within our recollection has
agriculture presented more favorable
aspect than it did at the beginning of the
current year Farmers were elated with the
idea of receiving ample reward for their
anticipated toll; sreculators were kccply
alive to their interests, and endeavored to
lay the groundwork for speedy fortune !;
merchants, manufacturers, and mechanics
alike expected to receive much assistance
from the new impulse given to the farming
community-more tools, special manures,
aud clothing would he required to FL the
enlarged area, and to cover :he forms Of
the increased number of laborers, or to
crafty the tastes of the enriched husband
man; and the broker, too, expected to reap
some benefits, as loans of money would be
required to enable farmers to carry out
their enlarged schemes.
In short, all prospects were fattering in
the extreme, up to the occurrence of tho
devastating storm in the latter part Of
April, which continued for maGy hours,
submerging fields, outlying hil!-sides,
sweeping away bridges, and destroying
many miles Of our mos: important rail
ways, thus cutting off means Of transport
alton, and rendering it utterly impossible
to distribute the fertilizers required for
spring use. Thousands of acres of land
flooded with excessive amounts Of water,
could not be titled until month later than
the proper period. The after culture Of
many crops was thrown into the season of
harvest, hence they suffered materially
from neglect. Winter grain was injured
by the hundred acres, and the grass crop
materially lessened in yield by this storm
Besides all these accidents, the soil was
rendered more compact by the falling of
60 much water upon it, and thus prevented
from receiving full benefits from being
permeated by the atmosphere and gases.
While one field was rendered barren from
the removal Of the fine, fertile portions Of
the surface soil, another was almost ruined
by The reception Of this material.
Notwithstanding the loss Of fruit by the
scveri,ies of the spring weather, together
with the losses detailed above, the crops
looked we'll in June, anu appeared to be
in as fine condition a, could be expected
under the circumstances, and farmers again
began to be cheered, feeling sanguine that
all would yet end well-when they were
visited by drought, more universal and
severe than any yet experienced. Altho'
the crop Of hay was fair, oats about the
same, wheat medium, and all secured, yet
fears were justly entertained for the corn,
potatoes, and SUMMER market crop, as cab
bage, beans, &c. The drought has passed,
and We have not been disappointed in
regard TO the latter crops gencrally-but
there have been many sections where the
drought has not injured crops so materially
as was anticipated. In particular localit-
les, the potato crop is finer than it has been
for many years, while other crops have
been almost destroyed.
Those districts in which the soil is of
sufficiently pulverulent character to admit
of the free ingress Of air, and which is
naturally under-drained by porous STRAIT
um of gravely soil, have escaped much
injury. While in the very heart Of country
which has suffered to the greatest extent,
where thorough culture has been pursued,
whole fields and farms have escaped from
the evils of drought. Each day brings new
instances Of the good effects arising from
superior modes of cultivation. In many
instances, increasing the depth of plowiug
only three or four inches has proved Of
great benefit, while sub-soiliug has proved
its value beyond doubt. So great have
been the differences between ordinary soils
and those rendered deep by sub-soiling and
Undertaking, that tho person residing on
the latter could scareely felie1s that .