The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-08-08
AgriGMlt MTM1.
sandy Soils.

There is very erroneous but strong impression
on some minds, that light, loose sands are value
less for purposes of cultivation. In their natural
state, it u true, they seldom very productiye
afew crops Of rye or buckwhea reduces their prn.
tive fertility, and much manure is thenceforth
requisite to renvgoratc o,c hcrl taria IN heart,
that they are either urr6o Jg, 30 pasture. or aban
doned in despair. hap, had come experience in
the cultivation of this g.egie3 e." SOIL aud my sue
cess has induced me to attach 10 t0Htn much high
or degree Of importance than is usually acCor4ed
And I'm fully persuaded thnt even The igheGt &
most sterile sands, may. by proper management
and without any ruinoU. outlay Of expense, either
in time capital, be made highly and permanent
Iy productive in short tat our poorest plains land
can be redeemed from IL uu rst iuiuutation Of ut
ter worhossness and made 10 yield, not only re-
munerating crops, but crops cqnaliing IN abuud
ancs and richness those afforded By tie most au.
emit soils upon WHICH labor has ever yet been be-
slowed.
In the first place, in order to the successful anne
Iteration of sandy Soils it will be necessary com.
pletely and thoroly to cleanse them from stumps.
After this is effected, let them be powed deeply,
with strong team, in the last of summer, turning in
all the wild growth upon them to the depth of at
least one foot, then harrow thoroughly and roll
with as heavy roller as you can procure. The
next thing is to give the surface good dressing of
clay This earth will generally be found in the
near vicinity Of the field to be clayed either in
in some neigboring run or water course OF beneath
the sand, for the sand and clay never far apart
The finer it is, and the greasy, the better and
more durable will be its action; and the more lib
orally it is applied, the more thorough will be the
Improvement consequent upon its application
The best time for applying 1t is Immediately after
ploughing, and to secure its being refined and bro
ken up, it should be deposited in heaps and spread
evenly over the surface, to remain exposed during
the winter to the action Of the frost In the spring
plough again, not deeply before, in order not
10 disturb the sward; harrow, and again oil. You
can now SOW on rye, or plant, and the crop will
come off in season to allow you an opportunity to
give another dressing Of clay, which in quantity,
should be equal to the frst-say forty cords to the
acre. and spread as before
This will entirely change the texture Of the soil,
and you will no longer have The 6arreuness of sand
to contend with, but d soil endued with all the re-
qHisites Of permanent and vigorous fertility, and
which manure will act with rs much celebrity
thought that the quantity of clay recommended
eighty cords to the acre-is large, but when were
feet that some oultivator5 bostow this amount Of
stable manure. and bear in mind the very impor
tsnt fact that while manure is article for which
money has to be paid, the whole cost of clay is EN-
braced in the carting, the objection arising from
the quantity requisite to insure complete and
thorough improvement being large, will at once
cease to retain its force. 1.-THE farmer cannot afford
this he can apply less quantity at first and add
TO it year by years but in this case he must be
tented with much less lucrative return for bis an
nusl labors. as very large percentage OF clay is
called Tor, in order thoroughly TO improve the soil
and overcome the many and serious mperfections
of sand as it naturally exists Therefore it is much
better and more in accordance with policy of en-
Hghtened economy, TO give enough al hrst to effect
the object desired, aud enter at once into the rof
is of the business than to occupy years with only
limited annual.
The great reason-and indeed regard il as the
prnCipai one-why manure never acts vigorously
on light sands is that tGe extreme porOsity which
characteriZes it. causes the dung to dry, cOnse-
quently to remain inert. q lump OF dry manure
is no better in the soil thdu chip stone, and
will produce Just the same effects upon the crop.
The clay gives cOhesivlncss othe PARTICLES, unles
them by sort Of glutenous attachment and con
soldRti0n. and while it tavUrs the absorption and
ultimate decomposition OF the manure. In few
years the soil will assume fine dark appeaTan, G.
resembling that of garden mould, and tho various
grasses will find in it bed capable Of 0tlOrding ex-
pension to their roots aud a supply Of moisture
and soluble iood commensurate with their wants.
To every person therefore, who is the possessor
of sandy soil, would say, cfay them al 0Hcei No
soil is so easily worked and from no soil, when
managed in this way, win labor secure to itself a
more certain and rich reward.-Cor Ger TEL
Fork or spade.-The time,honored shade is
falling into disgrace. Look at Wonder SON Of Erin
as he drives the shining blade ,uto the moist lnar,
and heaves out square compressed mass two
sides of which are as smooth and C, impressed as
possible. If you standing near or working by
his side he will hit If rap and crumbe The top Of
il little while the mass probably remains intact
The ground will be levelled eff with a rake, and
the Jumps win bake slowly, and remain likely
enough. hard and in pervous all summer il the
ground is not deeply worked again. When spading
Is done in very dry weather, il is not liable 70 the
same objection in degree, yet it leaves the soil al
ways more or less lumpy,
How different IL is with the use of the fork The
spadng fork is found of various forms ill the shop
We prefer one OF narrow tines, rather long and
very thick made of good steel. A good quality of
steel is very important, for often single tine stri
king stone stick, has to take instantly the
whole force of the blow or shove The tines sho'6
be thick az considerable prying-power is often re
quired; and they should be narrow that the earth
may be no more compressed than is necessary A
fork like this may be driven much deeper with the
same force 1t will lift the earth quite as well A.
spade, and without packingit. If roots of trees,
bulbs or anything of the kind present there is
little probability that they will be injured if care
is used; and the ground may be loosened sufficient
ly in many cases, without lifting the earth at all
in a way to bare the roots.
The fork, in fact, may be used wherever the
spade can be, and shovel ia not more desirable
We do not Glenn for it superiority in shoveing sand
or gravel and itmay be used in many places where
q spade cannot be used. About trees, IN raspberry
currant vine borders, especially will the fork be
found of incaculable service and The spade sho'd
4. ~. A.H Cor ahr-rsHl 4