The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-11-08

largely increased, and their value over the same
number of common stock about ten to one.
l might detain you with the recital of many
other incidents of benefits have resulted under my
observation, but doubtless similar eircum-
stances have transpired within your knowledge.
Before conclude this part of my address, per-
NIT me TO say few words 10 the young men Of
this audience and Of Iowa Although | am not
much your senior in years, have seen much OF
life, and the avocations which men pursue To
those of you who are about determining upon
your course in life-the business you are to pur-
sue, l beg of you to consider well before You
leave the farm for city life-the healthful employ
of agriculture for the duties of an Office or
the counting room. l know that parents have
much influence, and justly too in the selections Of
their sons avocations and it is too frequently the
case that an oyer-fond parent thinks he discovers
Superior intellect in a son. and at once, in false
ambition to make him figure IN the world deter
mines that he shall be lawyer, or doctor, or mer-
chant If he truly possesses superior talents
where they be made more available than on a
farm There every faculty that belongs to intel
ect may be exercised. There is the widest field
in no position in life will these qualities bring
more honor fame or distinction-more usefulness
to your fellow men, or happiness to yourself, and
those who may cluster around your hearth stone.
Then young men, avoid the temptations and
haunts of vice in city life, stay in the country
where everything i'll its purity shall remind you,
daily and hourly, of the holiness of nature-re-
member, God made the country, and man the
towns
But my friends l desire for a few minutes TO
call your attention to the more practical opera
tions of the profession and occupation of the far
mer In this State you are blessed with most
fertile soil-you have genial climate, and every
influence favors rich reward to the labors of the
husbandman. But soil, however fertile, will
long continue thus, unless some equivalent is re
turned for that which is taken from it. If it is,
year after year. required to give up its powers of
vegetation, and no return made to it, the soil must
eventually become barren and unprolifc. True,
there are some places which do not require the
agency of man to continue this reinvigoration,-
The rich alluvial bottom lands along the Father
of Waters"-the ppi-wllich flows on your
eastern borders, and which are annually overfown
derive new life each year from the bountfal hand
of nature. and cannot be destroyed by bad nrm-
ing or continued cultivation. There are other
soils. too which are not easily destroyed, because
they are composed of ingredients which attract
from nature-from air and water, reinvigoratins
powers. But these are exceptions to the general
rule, and therefore it becomes necessary that the
farmer should study the best means Of preserving
the rich fertility of even the lands of Iowa.
Among perhaps the most effective means to re-
tain this fertility is the rotation of crops. A dis
tinguished writer upon practical agriculture, in
speaking of rotation Of crops, says: 1t forms the
basis of all successful agriculture. Whatever
pains we take, whatever expenses we incur in col
lectng instruments of husbandry--in accumula-
ting and applying manure, and tilling the earth,
all is to little purpose unless we superadd a sue
cession of crops adapted to the nature of the soil,
and "never in any case to permit two crops of the
same species or kind, to follow each other The
experience of every farmer present, has shown him
that however highly he may manure field with
ordinary manure Immediately before sowing his
wheat, profitable crop will not be the result. IL
will produce a great growth Of straw, but the
berry will be deficient, and nothing but rest
rotation of crops can prevent such result, how
ever liberal may be the application Of manure
The reason for this must be apparent to every re-
fecting mind 1t is the formation of the seed
which principally causes the deterioration OF the
soil; for if the crops be fed off in green state
before the seeds have matured but little disadvan
tage will result to the soil. Glover and wheat are
considered good alternatives, because the wheat
derives much of its substance from the soil, and
~, +I,ao Of, 1sy,lar
hence, if after crop Of wheat, good crop Of
clover be returned to the soil il is rested and rein
vigorated for another crop of grain. 1t is useless
however, TO enlarge upon the Importance of this
branch of the subject, the practical experience
of every ore present has demonstrated It's neces
sity.
The next important step in retaining the ferti
t. of the SOIL is the direct application of manures
These manures are so numerous that 1t would re-
ouire volumes to enumerate them and their quail
ties There is, however. one general principle to
be observed, and that is to return to the soil all
the ingredi, nts that have been taken from it 10
the cultivation Of crops All cultivated plants
contain some fifteen distinct ingredients. and the
perfection of vegetable grswth cannot exist until
the soil shall possess 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-dressinc as it must be evident to every
one, that at least one half o. is manarial value
BY such application, escapes into the atmosphere
Incorporate your manure ii the soil, and particu
larry in clay land SIS their effect is not oaly 10 add
fertilization thereto bat TO make it less tenacious
ard more easily pulverized- Make tie applica-
ton general We noticed not long since. { very
intelligent farmer, and one teo. who has been very
successful in the cultivation Of grain attempting
to manure an orchard. He had carefully prepared
verv rich manure and vas rIacinc- Il a-orrd the