Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-07-03
Sgris1ltarsl department,
The Advantage derived from Shading
the Soil with Green Crops,

We have frequently contended-and the
additional experience which every year brings
with it odds further confirmation to the fact
that the rapid exhaustion of even our best
soils is not due SC much to constant cropping
as to the hoed crops which play so prominent
part in our system of agriculture. IT is
true that corn aud tobacco draw largely upon
our soils, and especially upon the phoSpnates
aud the potash which they contain. IL Is
true. also, " that shallow and careless cultiva.
tion has done much to assist IN eXhansting
lands which were regarded at one time as of
almost inexhauslible fertility" and statistics
likewise show that whilst the area OF cutiVa-
tion has been extended year after year, the
average product per acre has diminished.
Oae of the primary reasons why these crops
have proved SO dseteIious to the soil, is the
fact hat the system of cultivation required to
bring them to perfection keeps the intervals
between the growing plants utterly bare dur
ing the hottest months of the year. The &C.
lon of the sun upoa sLesey eytexposed surfaces,
together with the constant stirring OF the soil
tor the purpose OF keeping it loose and light
and lriable, whilst it promotes the soublIlty
OF its plant food, yet at the same time exposes
The organic and inorganic substances which
constitute in their several proportions the ee
meats OF fertility 10 great loss, both by evapo-
ration and by washing rains. AS an iIluStra-
tiou OF this process Of exhaustion by the sim
pie exposure Of bare soil TO the action of the
sun and tbe rain in summer time, we may cite
the following facts
4 piece OF land kept constantly plowed,
without any crop whatever being grown upon
il if not suffered to grow I'D in weeds, will
,,radusl,v laps from O state of fertility into
enc of romnaratjye barreuuess 1t has beeu
1oo,ina wear after wear. by evaporation and by
leocli1,o rails the Greater portion of its plant.
food jrs yeritabe and mineral wealth. if we
NAV be- narm:,ted To so term it. Asa signal
proof OF this we have in our minds eye peach
orrhord which twenty wears AGO was PLANTED
,,non os fine niece Of soil rs is 10 be fouDd
,nrvhara within tao miles Of baltimore Itwas
a jirht loose chocolate soil and the quality
VII? the orchard was originally planted. was
that Of the best tobacco land That orchard
was MOVED rarnlarIr n--~-r rcasoa 20 promotp
the Growth of the peach trees and 10 facilitate
the tiponjDr Of the fruit 1t is the usual Gus.
Tom with tie best peach growers. In twelve
wears. or by the TING The peach trees began TO
chow signs OF decay, those fifty acres bore eyi-
demon 81 q soil that had been utterly exhaust
ed, Yet with the execution Of the peach tree
themselves, not & single crop ofany kind had
been taken from the land Now, This rapid
,vIa.,s,;l,. oo,,ii ,,ot no chor~.d IN tho 80.
.A''@us.o 'l CIa' ,n M ~. sn, ~ ,5o ,,ooob ,raas
.,T h,,t =. -, fSnt +ba, ,ho soI n,os l,o,71
amco',.I, -' 49,, ti,rar,o,io'-,~ ,bo ~.,,n,or
pe'Iee'iy care 'u. .o"S"o"- '"e suil-li'e''
aSdil- ldhe lhc coufelse vi Iu0 IA ioPpo!!lo"
So long as i-lds are kept shaded they continue
70 increase IN fertility. Does any one doabt
this Let him turn out al old heid, aud at
ter while new growth OF Wood aud brush
will spgins up, except when the land is worn
iyto ga'lItS, auq win the growth OF this wood
the Groupings CT the leaves and the shade OF
The foliage, portion oI tLe lost iottI"ty oi
the laid Will be restored, Let the trees have
been raw'Eg nutHment from the soil all
through these years. lake another instance
leave bed OF coFnstaiKs, or q pile OF brush
nFcn tetd that tie previous season had