, 1863-04-09
Iht farmers Corner.
q, shading the Son.

eAAS
We have frequently Contended-and the
additional experience which every year
briugs with 10 adds further confirmation TO
the hCtAthAt the rapid exhaustion of even
our very best soils is not due so much to
coustant cropping, as to the hoed crops
which play 30 prominent part in our sys-
tenn Of agriculture. Il is true that corn aud
tobacco draw largely upon our soils, and es-
pecially upon the phosphates and the potash
which they contain. Il Is true, also, "that
shallow aud careless cultivation has done
much TO assist in exhausting lands which |
were regarded ct one time as Of almost inex. |
haustible fertility" and statistics likewise |
show that whilst the area Of cultivation has |
been extended year after year, the average |
prpduct per acre has diminished.
Oae o. the primary reasons why these
crops have proved 80 deleterious to the soil,
Is the fact that the system Of cultivation re.
quiled % bring them to perfection keeps
theinteryals between the growing plants ut
tefig bare during the hottest months Of the
year. The action Of the sun upon those ex-
posed surfaces, together with constant stir.
ring Of the soil for the purpose Of keeping
Il loose and light, and triable, whilst il pro.
NOTES the sOlubiIity Of It's pIant.food. yet at
the same time exposes the organic or inor.
ganic substancss thst constitute IN. their sew
eral proportions the elements Of fertility, to
great loss, both by evaporation and by
washing mis-. Is an illhstr6liOn Of this
process Of exhanslidA by lhe simple expo.
sure Of bare sOil to the action of sun and
rain in summer, we may cite the following
fai.ss A piece Of grpand kept constantly
whhOat any crop whatever being grown
upon Il, II not suffered to grow up in weeds,
will gradually lapse from q state Of fertility
into one Of comparative barrenness. It has
hen losing year after year, by evaporation
and By teaching ains, the greater portion Of
its plauifood, is vegetable and mineral
Wcalih--if We be permitted 10 80 term it.
A. DIAL prot d This We have sih tour
minds eye peach orchard which twenty
years ag0 ~ planted upun as line Q piece
Of sol q is 10 be found within ten miles of
Baltimore. ID was dlighL loose, chocolate
soil, and the quality when the orchard was
originally planted was that of the best to.
bacco land.
npiprrhri wss pluwsd jrsRuiariy essry
season 10 pFolh0ie the growth of the peach
trees and facilitate the ripening Of the fruit.
i i the usual custom with the best peach
growers IN twelve years, or BY the time
the peach trees begin 20 show signs Of de-
cay, l00 ny a1fes bofs every evidoncs Of
soil that had been perfectly exhausted. |
Yet with Tie exception Of the peach trees
themselves, not . single crOp Of any kind |
bad been taken from the land. Now, this |
rapid rrhonsllcn could not b charged q. tha |
demands made upon The soil by Tie peach |
trees alone, but 10 the fart that the soif was |
perfectly bnretlronth thdui The snmmeF.
Again take the converse Of the PROPOSE |
sion. 50 long us lsnds are kepl shaded, they |
coullhdo 70 incFease in fertility. Does any |
one doubt thisl Let him turn out on an |
old field, and after awhile new growth Of
wood and brush will spring up, except where |
The land 4 worn into gulleys, and with the
growth of tbs wood th6 dropping Of the
blllgo and The shade Of the leaves, q por.
don q ~ los fertility viii Be restored.
from ne soIl ali through these years.
Take smother insiance-leave q bed Of
oornslplks, or pile Of brush, upon Geld
that he previous ooa1un bad been planted
With COM and = cnnnequenily lire Of her
ba1. and weeds; o., build fodder stack IN
a. field and fence Il Of from cattle. When
~ Ind comes INTO crop again, the next sea- !
1o0. i1e place from vi ich that pile Of stocks, 1
Of brn,h Or lodderlslacl, Is taken, will show
aflnksr growth than any other part Of the
Geld. WIN ~ Ih4 rson| II Ms differ.
onosi Noldldt nolt l1hn lhal tho ground |
uas kept shndsd-svnpoFaiIon was prevent |
"a. he soluble nalfs were rotained--and The |
land r11 % honoif q ihsm -rrlFrrr
IuIntoh ~ tlit kid roctutfdhtIy com
ii4 nb btlofe he eyes Of the ubsorvant far |
n1r. and from them be may draw the follow
cnnclnsions, for they are susceptible Of none
nlhrr. q c41rfll <lAi NTAh
FIr.l-Thut he exposure Of the soil to |
he y. heat and rain of our semi-tropical |
lum1nn llpilll l1haulllll1f itsilrtlilzipg |
rIcm1nla
eeonnd- -Thecoverlngor shading preserves
fhoso oleululs. - Al..f1 uiF " ~
The green crops. such as clover, should |
inko ~ place II bred crpps more efFequently
NJ OF si Slt|A of husbandfy, and that ihe les
Iltonlnl|y he surface of the soil 5 exposed
% ihe wasting iilnuehce of sun, wind, and
rain, ths longer J eilI lslilh y original con-
lIIIon of ftIliliiys
PunrWaIrn ponsrocx "A good draueht
= |p1Fh4i q. p1.lablf, : FaatshhfI
= 6s.sis = & b % people. Bot in ihe