Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-11-06

change from Olqs Wen eelaDshel usage, IS regafdeo
with suspicion. Not q fast people. moving aloWl y,
quietly and firmly, The Germans dislike the hazard |
Of frequent experiments. Most Of their farms are /
so small that the loss of any part Of his crop would
Be a matter Of serious importance 10 German az /
rieuiturist. Hence results are communicated to
the people from the model farm to which all these
classes look up, until their perfect utility be
practically demonstrated.
In the spacious stables connected with the school
are kept forty mich cows The management Of
them is peculiar. They are never let out, even 10
water but stand the year round in their roomy, airy
stalls where they are regularly aad systematically
fed and tended / was assured that by many expe>
riments it had been ascerianed that the best food
for mieh COWS. during the summer and part Of aur
tumn, consisted Of cut oats peas and vech, raised
together and given TO them green, as we feed blue
grass and clover Some Of these cattle were the
most noble specimens Of iheir species have ever
seen.
One thousand sheep are kept upon the farm, prin-
oipally for their wool. By many careful aud min
ute experiments and calculation in regard to feed,
it has been Rsoeraned that the profits realized upon
every hundred pounds Of hay fed to sheep, is thirty
kreuizer (about twenty cents Of our money! while
upon ike amount fed TO cattle. the profit is only
twenty four kreutzers (about sixteen cents;) demon
strating q profit Of about 20 per cent in favor OF
sheep. as compared with cattle.
Is it not strange fact that our people do not de
vote more attention 10 the raising Of Sheep By the
our State is less thsn million, and, if remember
right one half Of the entire value Of the live
stock Of Indiana, according 10 the census Of
1850 at that time consisted Of he value of hogs
But if, in this country, sheep are more profitable
thsn cattle how would il be with us. where land is
cheap and where well fenced pasture grounds
wculd enable US to dispense with The services of
shepherd? It has been well said Of lie sheep that
be never dies i0solgent his fleece will always pay
his cost; his manure is always better than that Of
o her animals; he destroys briaIs and thorns, and
in every respect exerts good influence on the char
aoter Of vegetation. Wherever he runs, wild grass
disappears and his sure productiveness viii always
make him a Of profit. With our immense
possessions, extent Of territory hundred times
larger than Great Britain more than sixice times
as large as France, larger, by more than tTeye
times than all Germany ana with such large
proportion of this territory well adapted TO sheep
grazing is il not most abeurl and wicked that
should continue to import wool to the amount Of
millions Of dollars from those Countries instead of
raising 1t within our own borders?
Great attention is given at Hohenheim, and indeed
throughout Germany, to the preservation Of the ma
nurs aud Offal Of the country. On the "Rothschild
farm an estate Of about 800 acres Frankfort
Main one fourth Of which is in grass lands
I found that about 200 guden expended yearly
for city oa While every nights hauled out in large
hOgsheads. The Batman farm of 500 acres, also
near Frankfort pays a large sum for the blood from
the slaughter houses, and, in addition, is annually
enriched with 800 loads Of manure. Here il msy be
stated that Napoleon has laid cut twelve additional
farms about his military camp at Chslons, in order
to turn the little and ofal Of the horses TO
the best practical account.
In this country, as everywhere else, the great
problem for the agrculturst is this How TO obtain
The best manure at such prices, and in such qUanti
ties. that the poorest land may be made probably
productive In some districts of Germany, however,
the soil is so peculiar that even manure viii not
he of of
agents. Thus the common iupias, which grows lux
urianty in many parts of our country, will not only
flourish upon sandy plains where thistles would
die but impart TO, develop 10 the soil property
which enables it to receive uutriment from manure,
and thus be prepared to support potatoes grain and
other crops. 1t has been discovered, also, that
forest trees have the fertiliziBg property; and &C
cordiDgly, whole districts may be seen in Germany
covered with low growth of pine, chestnut or oak,
where in few years. the golden harveRts will waive
and ripeni in the sun.
From the manner in which the Germans preserve
and improve their forests, our countrymen might
take valuable lesson At Hohenheim, this forms
one of the most important departments of study.
The pupils instructed in the best methods Of pre-
serving, prOpagating and improving their forest
trees, while at the time proper estimation Of
the pecunary and moral value OF these noble pro-
auctions Of nature is instlled into their minds which
must eventually become the common sentiment Our
people must give attention to this subject sooner
la'er and every days neglect OF this aocal science
will entail evils upon US for which years of labor
will hardly make amends. w do not as people,
appreciate the value of our forests NeghgeBtly,
carelessly and WantOnly, are destroying them on
every side, not considering that in them lies mine Of
unto veal h; for the time comes with every people,
when they can turn their oEn natural productions to
the most advau aeeOUs use for themselves and thslaW
applies as firmly to IT, 10 the coal and various
miuersores Yetwhatde true ion ofthe best and most
valuable timber, have you and Witnessed during the
pas forty years in Indiana! statistical statement
of the pecuniaTy loss would a,tonsh the reader; to
say nothing of the loss Of health and domestic com
fort The connection of family health. enjoyment
and comfort, with grove Of primeval forest trees
about the homestead, never entered the practical
heads of fathers; aud their sons true to the
ample before them, pursue the same suicidal course.
Down come the lofty oaks and the beautiful naples,
leaving the homestead to Parch, and the spring to
dry up in the scorching rays of the If there
are exceptions here and there, you will find the
value of the farm increased thousand fold, simply
because the trees have been let alone; but what if
they we're cultivated with proper care? All along
the line Of the railway in Southern Germany, | saw
acres and acres of forest trees from ten fifteen,
and perhaps twenty years old, planted in rows as
regularly corn is with us, and all cultivated in
the most scientific manner When will our people
learn wisdom in this matter? Will they heed the
warning of the old world, listen to the admonitions
and counses Of science and be prudent in good time
viii they wait to learn it, too late, from their
experience? We, certainly, who boast so freely,
and with good reason, of our practical foresight,
should take shame to ourselves TO be surpassed in
this important matter by the Germans.
Writing of trees reminds me of another popularity
Of this country from which Young America might
learn an important lesson. Along the public roads,
for hundreds of miles, rows Of fruit trees,
protected by ditch, hedge feucs yet the ripe fruit
may hang in profuson on their bOughs, cover the
very road side and not apple pear will be pur
Joined not cherTystWg will be broken. Frequently
some poor man buys the fruit of one or more trees
for season. All he must do to have it sacredy re-
speced is to bind Withe Of straw about the trunk,
in token of ownership
To return to forest trees. In some portions of
Germany have seen efforts made to introduce for
eigu trees and shrubs, with view to the improve
ment of the scenery. You have witnessed the same
thing in America. Generally these efforts have end
ed ia failure. The operation is too expensive and
preearous, and questionable as matter Of taste |
Many large mansion, around which native groves !
would flourish, is surrounded by i'll looking half
preserved foreign growth, to which the climate and
soil are alike injurious, and which give an air of
decay and mesnuess to the whole Let our people |
not attempt ape the bad ussges of other nations
Rather than waste time and money in the importa- !
ton Of unsuitable foreign trees for the decoration
-four grounds let US improve forests fields,
meadows and pastures With tastes cultivated By |
study and directed by experience, shall find with
in our own borders all the materials WhereWith to
enrich, adorn and beautify cur homes. There is
nothing that dignifes beauties, and adds TO the
comforts of a country residence, so much as the
tasteful preservation Of the primitive forest around
the family mansion.
But to return to Hohenheim-the high home! 1t
IL -. I .