Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-11-26

and such of it as cannot be proftably dispose
of in market is burned on the ground, alon
with the small trees, underbrush and chips
His land after being fenced is ready foT cult
vation.
Having started in the labors of agricultur
/ his first care should be to exercise econom
of means. By this l intend such an applica
| ton of his labor as will yield him the larges
return. One great error in this regard which
readily deludes the majority of our farmer
Is attempting to cultivate too much ground
If labor be distributed over an area dispro
portionately large the result will manifest it
self in meagre crops. In this manner he be-
comes disheartered by repeated disappoint
ments and his energy is wasted in frAuitles:
exertions. In estimating the quantity of LAND
that can be successfully cultivated by each
person there is nc fixed rule susceptible OF
universal application. Each case must be
governed by the circumstances that attend it.
The quality of the soil and climate and the
amount of resources at the control of the cul-
tiyator are all important facts. One farmer
by command of superior means may be able
to till more land than his neighbor but il
is no less true that a thrifty husbandman will
attempt to farm no more ground than he can
preserve in its primitive richness.
In districts ike ours it is especially neces-
sary for each one to cultivate less, not only to
insure good crops bat also. that he may be
able to increase the natural fertility of the
soil For Illustration, 1900 dollars are in
vested in 200 acres Of land by ~ lie dis
covers that be can only devote so acres to
successful cultivation. Thus he loses annu-
ally the interest on the capital invested in the
remaining 15G acres, which is no iuconsider-
able sum. He would have displayed pru-
dence and economy by purchasing but rs or
100 acres, having a surplus of % or so acres
for woodland and pasture and the residue of
his money to invest in valuable improvements
on his farm. Besides it is labor which i'm
parts the greatest portion of its valuesto land
and without which it would be worth compar-
atively little Hence by a judicious devotion
of industry to any fixed number of acres we
rapidly enhance their value and increase our
wealth. 1t is said that in district like ours
one person cannot with justice to the soil and
advantage to himself cultivate more than 30
or 30 acres. And man with the assistance
that an ordinary family may afford should not
extend his labors over an area OF 40 or 5O
acres.
For the purpose of raising abundant crops
of the more substantial productions as wheat
&c., land recently cleared has been discovered
most successful The cause of this is tracea-
bic, not.alone to the fertility of the soil. We
sometimes observe that clearings viii produce
more richly than old land. and yet the sell of
the latter may exhibit deeper and stronger
appearance The ample foliage of the forest,
protects wooGland from the peldng storms of
rain and hail and the baking rays of shcr--
dian sun to which open fields are alternately
L. 1o,1 o,,l
.ivated with experience, becomes in majori-
y of instances baked and hardened, the for
ner is porous and genial in its nature. Be-
SIDES the luxurant growth of spontaneous
regetation and its rapid annual decay, con-
tributes to the free and open character of our
forest earth Therefore, crops planted in new
and, shoot their roots through every part of
he soil, thus absorbing n1nre of its strength,
md producing more abundantly with less cul-
ieation, than those planted on that which is
I'D The vigor of plant is in proportion to
he strength and extent of its roots. They
IRE the source of its life, and if prevented
rom healthy vigorous growth by the COM
,actness of the soil, will produce but a sickly |
talk To preserve in old land the genial |
md porous nature of the soil. We must resort |
o such means as viii counteract the tendency
# open ground TO become too compact for
he free and healthy growth of vegetation.-
70 effect this, there is no better method than
he industrious use of that simple but invalu- |
.ble agent, the plow This is peculiarly ne
,essary where the soil is OF heavy adhesive |
nature. 1t renders the earth light and open. |
Increasing its capacity to absorb moisture |
rom the surrounding atmosphere, and ena- |
sling the plants to strike deep, firm and |
healthy roots.
Every crop that is produced exhausts the /,
oil if an equivalent be not returned to it.
Some plants are called ameliorating, that is
extract less nutriment than others. They
!raw more of their nourishment from the at
nosphere and hence are less severe on the
;oil Yet there is no vegetable In the wide
,ange of nature but extracts with Its growth
, portion of the strength from the land that /
PRODUCES it. Here we have opened up to US
he extensive science of chemical farming
The artiGcer of the universe in organizing the
structure of nature, ordained that by the decay
If animal and vegetable matter vegetation
hould flourish Among the inscrutable mys
cries of nature He has established certain
avs bv which matter should be transmitted
rom the neglect of decay to the health and
igor of usefulness. Intent Oh promoting the
Existence of each class to the most liberal ex-
ept nature has ordained that mamand ma
ority of the amin al creation should deny de-
aying substances, and that vegetation should
lourish on putreseent matter ia all the forms
t has been destined to assume Thus. what
Gems to be like waste in one portion of the
arth is turned to fruitful account, in a re-
generated form, elsewhere. We treat the
oil which sustains our life ungratefully by
making constant demands upon it without
giving corresponding return. The result of
uch neglect soon manifests itself in impover
Sbed folds and barren acres. As each crop