The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-06-22
STAR OF THE NORTH.
American Agriculture.

II is a melancholy truth and one that re.
fleets much on the skill and foresight of
American farmers, that while the wheat
cropof England has increased at least fifty
per cent. in the last century, that of the
United States has fallen off in nearly the
same proportion. A century ago, New
England, Delaware and Virginia raised
wheat as an ordinary crop now a wheat
field is a rarity in these States, and they
may be considered no longer wheat pro-
ducing 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 go on as we have for the past CEN
tury, from bad to worse in our tillage, the
lands in Ohio, in half century from this
time, will not produce wheat enough 10
supply our own wants. 1t is less than that
time since Vermont was large wheat ex-
porting State now she does not export a
bushel; but imports at least two thirds of all
the -four consumed in that State. Instead
of increasing the productiveness of our
wheat land, as in England, our wheat region
lis diminished more than one half, and the
productive quality OF what is still used has
diminished in equal proportion.
This is practical, matter-offact view of
the case, and one that addresses itself seri.
ously TO the common sense of the farmer
and national economist. Instead of the vain
boast that we can feel al. over Europe from
our surplus wheat, we have got TO improve
our farming, or swallow the unpaatable
truth that we import our breadstuffs from
England.
We talk much of the worn ont 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 she gets but thirteen bushels
where she formely got thirty five, have the
same prospects before them. The great
question regards the future the passed can.
not 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 10 for
eign countries, or 10 our manufactories.-
In this way our soil has been robbed of an
ingredient without which no plant can ma.
ture, and no cereal grain form AS our
forests have disappeared, this source of de.
teriora:ion must be cut OF, but serious in
jury has been inflicted, which nothing can
cure but the furnishing of the potash to
the soil. How it can be done is the great
inquiry for our farmers.
The export of our flour has been another
source of exhaustion to the soil, in taking
away from it the phosphate of lime that is
necessary 20 give plumpness 10 the kernel.
This exhaustion can be more esily RENE.
died by the application of bone dust. For
many years the English farmers have car.
ried on large traffic in old bones, paying
five dollars ton for them. This has slim
uiated many 10 gather them up, and even
TO rob the battlefields 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 10 every is
land of South America, 10 procure nit,e in
the form of guano, TO fertilize their fields,
while the Americans not only import little
or none, but negigently wastes that which
nature forces on them-Ohio Farmer.