Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-02-16
Hints on Farm Improvements.

"How can ] improve my sarm-how 'cau
] increse its symmetry. fertility and capac.
ity for profitable cultivation" asks the
progressive farmer, and the question re-
csive his earnest and freqent consideration.
He studies the condition Of his farm and its
faculties for improvement, with an eye to
putting it into the highest state Of produc.
tiveDess within his reach. He looks TO
different products, and to the best means of
preparing for large returns from those suit
ed to its capacity; not by the twilight Of
Of tradition alone but in the sunshine of
modern agriculture literature, an aid to
which he gratefully ocknow lodges his obli-
gstions. Every farmer should study this
-socld esrneslly seek TO make the best OF
tho means aud opportunities he possesses.
One Of the first queslions-to take prac-
ticlo pariiculnrs--to be considered Is this:
DO ! avail myself Of every means within
my reach 10 insrease,m my stock of manure!
Do ! give care and labor to this objec. with
its I'M ortsnco In iarthering the ends pro-
posed" II so, tho ground and basis of farm
improvement is laid. II not, let the matter
receive greater attention, resting assured
that q reason able amount of labor in this
department will be rewarded, and cannot
be withheld without great prejudice to prog.
ross.
Fhs division ofa farm into fields of an
extent appropriated to the amount of man.
ore made In any year. should DO accomplish
cd. Especially should this be the case on
oil farms where q mixed husbandry Is prac-
ticsd. The true wsyito put a farm into
god order is, take one or more fislls each
year, and finish up the work Fence 1t well
clear u osstones and stum2s, underdrain Il
needed, manure It heavily, and plant to corn
and potatoes Tsese carefully cultivated
will leave the ground In q good condition
for . grain crop. and seeding 10 clover and
other pgrssses. and this courre followed
from Ss'd to field, with good management
Of every crop, will pu, a new face on any
Of tour common run" Of farms.
Upon the amount Of manure should de.
pend upon the size Of our felds-ai any rate,
II should DO our aim to give each field the
quantity which will enable tito grow a
large crop. 1t 10 a poor policy to attempt
the cultivation Of more land than we can
fully ~icrtilize and thoroughly cultivate.
We mention corn, % a first crop, because
II 10 one well suited to the place-and not
injured By any amount Of manure, fresh or
fsrmsntsdr whi:h csn be spplied-on which
can receive that culture necessary to clear
the land Of weeds, and one having no dele.
FERROUS influence on any after crop. F-om
Q field 90 treated we took fifty bushels Of
shelled corn pei. acre; the next year good
crop Of barley; and the clover seed not ia
king we'll from drought had the season fol.
lowing with a light dressing Of manure
twenty-five bushels Of whest(the nudge
took ten Of it)-snd the presen: year, two
tons Of hey per acre. with luxurisnt sec.
ond crop OF the ground, 1t may be that the
field needs undertaking, the whole or In
part, In order TO profitable cultivation. Why
should not this be dons-this small field
which we would devote 10 corn, and which,
Writ draining, will become one Of the best
on the fern! Let US not leave this part Of
the iaim Improvement uuperformed. Its
results will be retained for msny years 10
largely increased protuctiveness.