Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-03-26
Dont Cultivate too much Land.

We endeavored to show, recently, that one
of the prime causes of the exhausted condi-
ton of our fields is attributable to the prevail
ing custom of killing the calceS, from the fact
that that deprives us of the natural source
from whence we receive and make the essen
tial fertilzing qualities which are requisite for
the production of remunerative crops. An
other cause,-twin sister to the above, not
bit less prevalent or less pernicious in its eff
fects,-is found in the custom of hlling tUo
acres, cheR lCe hare manure for hG1dty one
When our lands were new, hard bargains
were driven with nature, and the crops OBJ
tanned were in proportion to the breadth of
land planted This system has been pursued
until the land claims protection from the in
evitable law of production, requiring its own
err, if he would have good crop, to furnish
the raw material from which the crop can be
made Now it is not the largest number of
acres that produces the largest crop, as for
mery, for large crops can only be produced
by high cultivation, and the liberal use of
proper fertilizing agents.
Aside from the fact that double the profit
may be realized from one acre properly man
aged than from two poorly managed-when
we take into consideration the high prices now
being demanded for labor for the coming sea-
son, it must be apparent to all that now, OF all
other times, every days work done upon the
land should be turned to the very best ac-
count. And that, instead of spending our
means and strength and time in the cultivation
of a large breadth of land for thirty. bushel-
to-the our corn must be planted
upon less breadth, and at a proportionate less
express. 1t need not follow however, that the
crop be less. For with better cultivation and
and higher manuring it would be sure to be
more.
Let US look little at the profits arising
from the culture of corn. We believe double
the profit may be realized from an acre well
managed, than from two poorly managed, and
we propose to give reasons for the faith that is
in US. We will say, then, that at reasona-
BILE estimate, the labor required TO pillow, plant
hoe, and harvest an acre, would not be less
than the value of twenty bushels. Suppose
the yield to be thirty bushels, the profit, of
course, would be ten bushels. Now, if forty
bushels should be obtained, the profit is dou-
bled--if fifty, trebled; and if sixty bushels
should be raised the profit is four times great
en- than in a yield of thirty. This same princi-
pie supplies to stock, and everything raised or
produced upon the farm. If yoke of oxen
selling at eighty dollars, pays profit of TWEEN
ty, another yoke having the advantage of a
little better blood, or a little better keep
ing, other things being equal, selling at
one hundred dollars, pays a profit of twice
twenty dollars, or as much again as the eighty
dollar pair. So that just in proportion as the
value of a crop, or the value of an animal is
increased, just in that proportion is the profit
doubled! Then, again, the profit arising
from the well MANFRED and well cultivated
acre, is not all realized from the first crop
The enhanced value of succeeding crops
will 60 to swell the profits to still higher
ratio.