Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1859-04-27
A6agC1gGNGAs.
American Agrjcuiturc.

1t is smelanchoy truth and one that re-
fleets much on the skill and foresight OF
American farmers, that while the wheat crop |
of England has increased at least htty 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,
Delaware and Virginia raised wheat as an
ordinary crop; now wheat held Is 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 thir-
en- bus hels t. the acre.
If we go on as we have for the past cen
tury, from bad to worse in our tlllage, the
lands in Ohio, in half century from this
time, we will not produce wheat enough to
sunnlv our wants. 1t is less than tbatsstime
since Vermont was a large wheat exporting
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 productiyehess of our wheat land, as in
England, our wheat region is diminished
more than one half, and the productive quail
ity of what is still used has diminished in
equal proportion.
This is practical matter-offac view OF
the case, and one that addresses itself seri-
ously to the common sense Of the farmer and
national economist. Instead of all vain boast
that we can feed all Europe from our sur
plus wheat we have got to improve our
farming, or swallow the unpalata5le truth
that we imrort our bread-stufs from Eng
land.
We talk much of the woru-out-lands of
Maryland; Virginia, and California; but New
York, that has destroyed the productive quail
ity 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 formerly got thirty five. lave the same
prospects before them. The great question
regards the future; the past cannot be re-
called, nor remedied.
One great source of deterioration in ex-
hausting our soils, has been 10 the mauufac-
ture of potash and the export of it to foreign
countries, or to manufactures. In this
way our soil has been robbed of an ingredient
without which no plants can mature, and nj
cereal grain form, As cur forests have dis
appeared. this source ofdeterioration must bt
cut off, but serious idjury has bcen inflicted
which nothing cure but the re-furnishIns
of the potash to the soil: How it can be done
is the great inquiry for our farmers.
The export of our -four has been an othe
source of exhaustion to tho soil. in takin;
away from it the phosphate of lime that
necessary to give plumpness to the kernel.
The exhaustion can be more easily RENE
died by the application of bone dust Fo
many years the English farmers have carrie
large traffic in old bones, paying fv
dollars a ton for them. This has stimulate
many to gather them up, and even to rob tn
battle-6elds of Europe of the bones of thei
brave defenders to enrich the wheat fields
England. By this course, the fields of En-
land have been made more productive, viii
the countries from which the bones are take
have been permanently injured By the
loss.
The English, too, have sent to every islar
of South America, to procure neitre in ii
form of guauo, to fertalize their fields. VIII
the Americans not only import little or non
but negligently wastes that which natu
forces on them.-Ohio Farmer.