Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-06-15
Attenuation of Crops.

The obsolete idea of resting land, was substituted
by the practice of alienation of crops, and this
substitution constituted great step in the progress
of agriculture. This alienation rotation of crops,
the great Liebg pronounces in his rk-"The
one consralnt resting still upon agriculture " The
single problem he says " worthy of scientific ag-
rcuure at the present time, is to establish in place
OF a change OF crop, change OF succession OF ma
nures. which shall enable the farmer to grow on
each of his fields that crop, which under the circum
stances will be most profitable" When this prob
lem shall be solved, may look for another revo-
luton in agriculture. In the mean time, it will not
be aniss to revert TO the principles on which the
alternating system is based, that may know at
east just where are at present, and see that we
make the best of the lights we already have
These principles as laid down by Chapta, are
81. All plants exhaust the soil''
g. All plants do not exhaust the soil equally"
go Plants of different kinds do not exhaust the
soil in the manner"
f. All plants do restore TO the soil, the same
quantity quality of manure
S. All plants do not feed the soil equally.'
From these principles he draws the following con-
clusions:
q. That, however we'll prepared soil may be,
it cannot noursh long succession of crops without
being exhausted
80. Each harvest impoverishes the soil to a GER
tain extent, depending upon the degree of nourish-
!nent which II restores to the earth"
3. The cultivation of spindle roots ought to sue
ceed that of running and superficial roots"
4. 1t is necessary to avoid returning too 10
the cultivation of the same or 10 analogous kind OF
vegetables in the same soil.''
IS. 1t is very unwise to allow two kinds of plants
which admit OF the ready growth of weeds among
them to be raised in succession.'
&c. Those plants which derive their principle sup
port from the soil, should not be sown, except when
the soil is sufficiently provided with manure
81. When the soil exhibits symptoms Of exhaus-
tlon from successive harvests, the cultivation of
those plants that restore the soil
sorted to-"
The alternating system is based upon these princ-
pies, and is economical and profitable in proportion
as it adheres TO them. 1t assumes, that all plants
drawing more or less than nourshment from the soil
the soil must be occasionally repIenished with sup
plies of manure. certain class Of plants called
costmJerOus supposed most rapidly to exhaust
supplles-this class embraces wheat, rye, OATS bar
ley. Indian corn, cotton, &c. They particularly
| eXhaustng while maturing their seeds A ludicious
system should not allow these crops to follow each
other closely or frequently, and the common prac-
tce OF cultlvatng Indian corn, wheat and oa 5,
! in quick succession is only allowable on lands of
high character, and when the invaluable quail
ties of the clover crop are faithfully used as an i'm
proven
Another class of plants, legun1inous, embrace
strictly speaking only peas beans and pulse, but for
convenience made TO include all those which are
usually called ameE0ratng, but more properly less
erhauStlng These plants are less eyhausting, be-
from lower stratum of soil than that traversed by
the roots of wheat, corn, &c-their long tap roots
running deep into the soil Some because theil
broad leaves exposed to the atmosphere draw from il
a portion Of their nourshment Some because they
shade the SOIL and all, because ordinarily they dc
not go to seed. The clover is the most ameoraling
because it combines all these qualities to greater
degree than any other, except perhaps the field pea
These plants requiring also, the most OF them, deeI
and thorough cultivation, and their roots penetrating
deeply ly-ameliorate the soil IN this manner
The alternating system is not complete, and an
swers by no means the ends of which it is capable
without the introduction of the cultivated grasses
They cultivated at very little cost-they enlarg
the variety of the plants, and promote the econ0m,
of plant feeding. They cover the soil, protecting
> from the waste of the and frost. Their root
accumulate in the soil, large supply of mould 10
future use. And they afford much material for ma
nure. Thus supplying at cheap rate several i'm
portant requisites of complete system OF alienation
3 AS agriculture improves, there is no doubt,
will embrace a much more extended cultivation O
t the grasses.
upon facts long familiar TO intelligent Observers
While these latter had observed that different casSe
OF plants exhausted the soil in different degrees, an
: that where the soil refused 10 grow those OF on
character another sort might still be poitably cult
vailed the facts accounted for In the analysis
The ashes of these plants. These analysis distnctl
e show the different degrees IN which different sui
e stances are consumed by plants. The grains of a
g kinds show very large per centage OF phosphor
acid equal nearly one-half of the of ash
large per ceniage of potash and ma gnesa, and tt
straw Silica TO large amount. The ash of potatoe
d turnps and plants of that character give potash
much larger amount than the former, posphoric &c
and nagnesiG in smaller amounts, but more lime al
lsmph"r'c ae'd. Hay gives on analysis more l,r