, 1861-09-05
agriculture.
worn.out Farms,


Of failure. He may generally find that
reason in the mismanagement Of the soil /;
that Il has been under an exhausting course
Of cropping and tilling, in which little care
has been taken to keep up its fertility or re-
store the elements used up in the products
removed, and that finally it has become
worn out in the service Of hard master,
who did not understand or could not appre
ciAte the principles upon which depends the
productiveness Of the soil. At any rate,
the course pursued indicates such ignorance
or negligence, and it is very certain that
such Is the usual result Now, what course
offers the best remedy in such case, sup
posing the farmer would "turn over q new
leaf" or that the farm has come into new
hands, who seek to repair the injury it has
suffered, and restore the elements Of pro-
ductiveness exhausted, so that good crops
may be the rule and not the exception, as
heretoforel We shall offer only few
hints on the subject but trust these hints
may not be without bearing and influence on
every interested reader. In the first place,
if &c has not already been done, we would
divide the farm into fields convenient of
access and suited to the course of cultivation
to be pursued. The size and number of the
fields would depend on the extent of the
farm, and the rotation Of crops engaged in,
but should not exceed the maximum amount
Of manure available for applying thereto, at
least for one year, during each rotation.
The second thing in importance and effect
would be to commence the thorough drainage
Of the farm. Where to begin would depend
on the lay Of the land" for convenient out
let, the needs of different fields in this res.
pect, and the present value Of the product
given. If the capital was small, or tho re-
suit thought problemtical, the field requir.
ing the least outlay for drainage might be
taken frst; but with plentiful means, we
should commence with that needing most
work, and where the enhancement in value
would be most apparent from the large in
crease in products effected.
Thirdly, and Of equal Importance, per
haps. Is the thorough and deep cultivation
Of the soil. We think il will be difficult
70 find "a worn out farm" which has been
managed under this system; the culture
has been shallow and careless instead.
Very often but few inches of the top soil
has been exhausted, and thorough eultiva.
zion Is al that Is needed to make the farm
productive again. Any one seeking TO i'm.
prove a worn soil should experiment, at
least, IN deep plowing and subsoiling in con-
neclion with other measures Of amelioration
and cnfichmeht Upon drained and deeply
cultivated soil, manure Is of largely in.
creased value. For this reason we have
placed these operations first on the list. A
wet, cold soil must be made dry and warm
balprc any large increase IN product can be
booked for. A hard, shallow soil must be
rendered deep and mellow before il can
hold food for the growth Of crops in the
best siale to assist their productions. Pro-
pefly drained and worked, 1t will be but
little affected BY extremes Of drouth or
moisture, and the uncertainty Of crop al.
ways existing on an underdrained, shallow
1oiI, vii Be mainly removed.
Hence, in the fourth place, the great
means Of great and continued productive
nesa. Is manure We must feed the soil IL
We would have il feed our animals and our
solves. We must return for the valuable
commodities il gives Us tho refuse remain
ing from their consumption, or at least an
amount sufficient to make good the loss.
No available resource Of fartilizing material
shonld be neglected; nothing which will
fed vegetable growth should be allowed
10 so % uazle. Lime, plaster, bones, ashes,
&C., are Often most profitable applications
70 he scil, stimulating 20 dormant elements
o. preparing them for use-thus repayinQ
their cost annually for years, and, EMPLOYED
n additi0n % barnyard aud green manuFes,
bring thesp into more profitable action in
le production Of the various farm crops.
WeNag hint, lastly, e tho kind Of farming
% be pursued. Il viii be most securely and
most eheaply managed, If Of a mixed char.
-embfac.ng grain and stock-growing--
he iteding out upon the farm Of considera
BE portions Of is prodhctss In no other
way can We conveniently market the crops
and retain the manure 70 feed the soil. By
no other method are We so well ensured
egainlt the eject Of bad years." which
frequently fall on some product or other, 20
he destruction Of all profit therefrom.
How 10 PROPAGATE ITALIAN BRRs.-The
propagation Of this beautiful bee is very
simple. An lmpregnated Queen is convened
% yon By express, n q small wire cage en-.
closed IN 4 wooden box. The Queen from
thenative bee Is removed, and the Queen cells
Destroyed. This Is easily performed in a
movable comb hive. Inaiew days she will
commence laying eggA The Italian bee Is
strongly marked BY bright golden spot on
lho baak. Immediately behind the wing. In
. sh0ft tine you viii observe the black bees
gradually diminishing, and the Others IN.
cIeaalng, until you have pure Italian hive.
Aqueen o9oe lmproguassd, Is ample for ths
residue Of herlile.
WoRk OxEn qnn BEsr PoR BEEY.-Ths
lmrican Sod .lonvnai publishes an articlG
which eonisnds that cattle that have beer