Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-04-27

farm. One Of the most important features
Of the system is this: the green or other
crop grown upon the land with view of
preparing it for fall wheat will be of such
description, and grown upon such scale,
that in most cases the proceeds thereof
will pay the rent Of land and the entire
expense of managing both the summer aud
winter crops-thus leaving the latter clear
profit to tie cul.ivator. The average yield
Of wheat, extending over period of ten
or fifteen years, on the best managed wheat
farms in this country does not exceed thirty
bushels per acre. Now, it is quite certain
that even when this high average is OBJ
tanned by superior cultivation and by the
aid of naked fallows, quite as great yield
of wheat may had without summer fallow-
ing the land as with it, and therefore, why
should such practice be longer tolerated
by American farmers. The Chinese, who
are noted for the superiority of their Agri-
culture, have not found it difficult to keep
up the fertility of their soil by annually
growing heavy crops, without giving it any
rest. In the best cultivated portions Of
England farms and even whole parishes
are in great abundance in which the yield
Of wheat, extending over long period of
years has equalled forty bushels per acre,
and during the whole course of cropping a
naked fallow has not been made. Indeed,
the enlightened and scientific portion OF
the farmers of Great Britain have long
since exploded the semi-barbarous prae-
tice of making naked fallows, and there
appears to be no valid reasons, why ST.
milar view of this important question
should not be favorably received by the
wheat growing farmers of America. To
enlighten public opinion regarding the va
rious systems of cultivation adapted to Sc
cure this object and at the same time keep
ing in mind the climate, the soil, high
price of labor, scarcity Of capital to be en-
ployed in agriculture as compared with
Great Britain and some portions of the
continent of Europe, and ether prominent
features that have an influence to greater
or less degree upon the character of Anne
rican Agriculture, are the real grounds
that have induced the writer to take bold
stand in discussing this somewhat intricate
suhject, which in many of its features will
be found opposed to the practice Of many
of our very best farmers, with whom on
many ether points Of husbandry we per-
fcctly agree, and the contributions of whose
pens we shall be pleased to receive, on
this or other subjects, whether their OPT
Mons and practice correspond with ours or
not. Without further PREDATORY remarks,
we shall briefly at this time take up the
subject in tangible point of view, and in
our newt resume it in several of its prac-
Seal bearings
INDIAN CORN.
The maize plant may be probably cul-
tivated in nearly every portion of this great
Republic. In the most northern sections,
where it is grown as preparative crop fol
fall wheat, an early variety should be Sc
lected, and by literally manuring the land
and clean culture, it may be pushed for
ward to full maturity by the first week il
September, after which it should be cu
up and drawn off, and the land plowed and
prepared for fall wheat. By planting the
hills Of corn in rows about four feet apart
both ways, and by passing the steel tooth
cultiyator twice in each direction between
those rows, the land will be in as good 8
condition for fall wheat as if it had beer
summer fallowed Besides, tie manure
applied to the land for the corn crop vii
have passed through its various stages Of
fermentation, and the juices having beer
partially absorbed or extracted in giving
strength and vigor to the maize plants
there is but little apprehension on tho
score Of having fallen or rusted crop, az
would probably have been the case had th'
manure been applied to the land willis
being summer fallowed. This influence
however operates only on soils where Their
is great depth of decayed vegetable mat
ter on the surface, and where strong ant
luxuriaut growth of straw is produced
without extraordinary means being use'
to secure that result. There are bu. fey
soils On which uufermented barn yard ma
nure can be applied Immediately befor
the sowing of wheat, without doing nor
or less injury to that crop. On soils wher
this is not the case, it will be found tina
human or vegetable mold forms yer.
small proportion of their ingredients, ant
doubtless on soils Of this kind, crude anc
unfermented barnyard manure may b
applied without producing the foregoin:
results. In those cases where vegetabl
deposits form a small proportion Of the ac
tive soil, unferllented barn yard manure
buried in the soil to depth of six or min
inches with the plow, will aid matcriall