Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-10-21


growth there must be full and free flow of sap,
which is the blood of the plant. Tn, plant grows
by absorption from the atmosphere but in order to
absorb the PARTICLES freely and then deposit them,
there must be sap. This is why plants do not grow
IN time ofdrought. This being the case the ground
must be so prepared as to supply the sap in large
quantities. and nothing more is needed Mechapi
cal preparation of the soil has much to do with this
The ground must be thoroughly pulverized and
rendered suitable for medium for the infinitely
small rootlets. These rootlets, entirely invisible
TO the naked eye, are the agents which suck up the
moisture from the soil. So extremely fine and
delicate, they need finely pulverized soil, and
plenty of decaying vegetable matter, such as we
lind in our barn-yards, to supply the requisite
moisture. have not time to develop this subject
as fully as | could wish. leave il with you as q
study for yourselves. In my opinion you will find
It correct, and better than ALL it will stand tle test
of experiment; and if the principle which I have
advanced be true, it is easy to see that artificial
fertilizers to supply special elements to particular
plants must be generally humbugs. The chemical
theory has given currency to the prevalent belefin
specific fertilizers, and they are now extensively
manufactured to the benefit of nobody but the man.
uiactuFers. They much like patent medicines.
The farmer hears Of fertilizer which ia tocure
all the ills that Land is heir TO- He bu,s rbe n,e.
cious patent medicine, and soon finds that he him
self Is bought ] have very little confidence in
these patent "rejuyenators'' of the sLops. bu, !,
the ''rejuyenatcre'' Of the barn yard my faith is
unlimitcd.
Now thu xrt,.r =, =
sition to the chemical theory, has the sanction %
experience and is mere theory, but is eminent
ly practical To the farmer, observation Of sue
cessful practice is worth everything. Obcervatiop
and experiment form the foundation of svstematis
farming If my neighbor and have farms of the
same quality of soil, and raise but half as MANY
bushels of grain to the acre as he, then will adopt
and try to improve upon his methods of cultivation.
and would. if found successful, prefer such test
to all the theories propounded. And if want
to be successful in farming, and learn by chem
ica ANALYSIS just what my land needs, and prepare
my fertilizers to suit the exactly, mixing to-
grther, it may be l6 pounds Of pl,obates, 2pounds
of soda and magnesia, a few ounces of lime and
silica, and some iron, and suIphurie acid; and with
this preparation | obtain fort, boshcs of corn to
the acre, while d. s, Conger simply cIean~ cot his
BARNARD and puts the contents on the same kind
of land and in the fall takes off eighty bushels Of
corn from each acre, then will consider him the
wiser man and will govern myself accordingly
Farming is more OF an art than a science, and the
farmer, Ia b, successful, must bring to his aid, OBJ
servatoD, Skill, Industry and Perseverance,
These are better than all the analyses of soils
ever made. trust | have a proper respect for
Agricultural Chemistry. though from what have
said YOU might think otherwise; but it is only the
quackery condemn There is far too much of
this. Some question arises about which there is
variety of opinions. Jntermnablc discussions
ensue. Chemistry proves the thing one way, some
thing else proves it some other way. and last it
is left unsettled. TheChessq question springs up
II is proved and disproved that Wheat turns into
Chess. The war goes bravely on for years. Mean
while, a plain, practical, common sense ETmcr
over in Michigan, has been selecting the best qua-
ity of seed every year, undertaking. all the low
spots where water mi ght stand on his land allowing
no chess to ripen it, blowing it up deep md we'll;
and when the warrior knights are ready TO ground
the weapons of their warfare, from sheer exhaus-
sufficient dust in each others eyes to prevent eth
or seeing his way clearly, the OF common sense
and rcrs vcring industry is raising pure and un-
adu,seratcd wheat as ever And lf the
Michigan farmer can 60 this, Lyman IL. Andrews
can 10 the same thing.
Again, discussion arises about the best method
Of applying manurcs. We have seen this DISCUSSED
icarncdy in books and parers for the .cst ten years.
and il is still being discussed notwithstanding a
good, common sen f,rmcr in New Jersey has
: been hauling out his manure in the fall snd carly
winter, and applying it then as a top dressing, with
uniformly good results, and all who have followed
his example have met with similar success, yet the
old discussion goes on. Why not stop and call il
settled until experiment. sboss something better
If jeremiah Thompson OF New Jersey can thus
raise larger crops than his disputing neighbors,
James A. Corsc and all the farmers of Marshall
County can do the same thug
mention these things shew that it is established
facts that make scientific farming in the true sense,
and til 1t things of this kind should always receive
the farmers attentions This is the true agncultu-
raj education and every farmer needs it, and If lie
don't get it he never will take the first premium as
fairs, and not many dollars will cross the threshold
of his pocket. But give him Observation to take
note Of and collate facts as to the best methods Of
farming. Skill to apply them to practice Industry.
to 'plow deep while sluggards Sleep" and Persever
ance to make thorough work of all he undertakes.
undiscouraged b, storm or drought, and his
is sure. He'll take your premiums He'll coin
money. You will usually find him man of liberal
and enlarged views, intelligent and honest His
education ia such that he can appreciate the beau
tiful in the products of nature and of art. His
house is not merely four brick or wooden walls,
lit is farmers home, tastefuly situated, surrounded
by tall and graceful ems, and NAPLES, and flower
garden and lawn ft Paradise for the Peri Of Ara
biau song and story. He does not believe vi: an
old-time predecessor that education is valueless
because "t'e cows will give none more milk, tie
butter will pring none more moonish" Nor does
he aejisvethst the gr0hnd occupied by Rose, or
Chins Aster, or a Honey-suckle ora Lil6c bush, 8
wasted land. They minister 10 the higher wants
of his nature and hence useful as his cabbage
and potatoes. He has learned, too, that the best
varieties of grains and fruits the cheapest, that
they occupy no more ground, and with the same