The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1859-03-30
AMERICAN AGRIcULTURE.

II is melancholy truth, and one that re.
fleets much on the skill and foresight q
American farmers. that while the wheat cror
Of England has increased at least fifty per
cent IN the last century, that Of the United
States has fallen off in nearly the same pro.
portion. A century ago New England and
Delaware raised wheat as an ordinary crop
now wheat6eld is a rarity in these States,
and they may be considered no longer wheat.
producing regions. Portions Of New York
that formerly produced thirty bushels to the
acre now seldom average over eight bushels
and Ohio, new as she is, with her virgin soil,
does not average over thirteen bushels to the
acre.
If we 20 on as we have for the past centu-
ry, from bad to worse in our tiilage, the
lands in Ohio in half a century from this
time will not produce wheat enough to sup
ply our own wants. 1t is less than that time
since Vermont was a large exporting State
now she does not export bushel. but i'm
ports at least two thirds of all the flour con-
sumed in that State. Instead Of increasing
the productiyeness of our wheat land, as IS
done in England, our wheat region is di-
minished more than one-half, and the pro-
ductiye quality of what is still used has di-
minlshed in equal proportion.
This is practical, matter-oi-iact view Of
the case, and one that addresses itself seri-
ously to the common sense 0f the farmer and
national economist. Instead OF the vain
boast that we can feed all Europe from our
surplus wheat, we have got to improve our
farming or swallow the unpalaiable truth that
We import our breadstufs from England.
We talk much of the worn. out lands Of
Maryland, Virginia, and Carolina; but New
York, that has destroyed the productive
quality Of her soil so that she can get but
eight bushels where she formerly got thirty,
and Ohio so that she gets but thirteen bushels
where she formerly got thirty Eve, have the
same prospect before them. The great ques-
ton regards the future; the past cannot be
recalled nor remedied.
One great source OF deterioration in ex-
hausting our soils has been in the manufac-
ture of potash, and the export of it to foreign
countries or TO our manufactures. In this
way our soil has been robbed If an ingredi-
ent without which no plant can mature and
no cereal grain form. As our forests have
disappeared, this source Of deterioration must
be cut OF, but serious injury has been in
flicted. which nothing can cure but the re.
furnishing Of the potash TO the soil. How
can il be done is the great inquiry for our
farmers.
The export Of our -four has been source
OF exhaustion to the soil, in taking away from
il the phosphate Of lime that is necessary to
give plumpness 10 the kernel.
This exhaustion can be more easily rene
died BY the application Of bone.dust. For
many years The English farmers have car.
ried on a large traffic in old bones, paying
five dollars ton for them. This has stimu-
lated many TO gather them up, and even 10
rob the battle-felds Of Europe Of the bones
Of their brave defenders 10 enrich the wheat
fields Of England. By this course the fields
of England have been made more productive.
while the countries from which the bones
are taken have been permanently injured by
their loss.
The English, too. have sent TO every ISL
and Of South America procure nifrs, in the
form Of guano, 10 fertiile their fields. while
the Americans not only import little, but
negligently waste that which Nature forces
upon them. ohio Farmer.