Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-05-30
Proceedings of the Milford Agricultural
Society,

Proceedings of the Milford Agricultural
Society.
SATURDAY, May 18th, 1867.
Society met pursuant to adjournment, and |
the minutes of last meeting were read and |
adopted
Mr., Wood wished the Club to give some
decided expression of opinion about shallow |
blowing, custom which had been so pre-
valent in this State.
Mr. Miles did not favor sudden deep plow-
ing-the land in this State will not bear it /;
ifthe yellow dirt was brought to the surface
in large quantities it covered the soil with
earth of no fertilizing properties, which was
packed down by heavy rains, forming
crust, and the atmosphere was thereby pre-
vented from having its proper influence upon
the soil. The best system is not to pillow
very deep and to keep something growing
upon the surface.
Mr.--thought land should have peri
ods of res, and would not pillow deep at first
on ordinary Delaware land.
Mr. Wood did not believe in the common
system of letting land rest; the present sys-
TEN is bad one-that Of planting to corn,
or any crop, and then the next year or two
leaving the ground at rest, or uncultivated,
and giving the weeds chance to occupy
dead soil. The better way is to put the pillow
in deep and to keep some crop other than
weeds growing on the land. He said also
that it was best often to change the kind of
fertilizers some of the land near New York
| was at one time rendered unproductive by
using but one kind of manure for successive
years, but some of the poorest land had been
completely renovated by using some special
fertilizer-as guano-then follow with stable
manure, poudrette, &C., in succession.
DR.. Davidson remarked that If the system
of resting land is good one, why ought not
the old,worn out barrens, which have rested
so many years, to become fully restored to
their original fertility, instead of remaining,
as they now do, as sterile as ever?
Mr.. Coursey said the general practice of
Delaware farmers has been to pillow shallow,
plant to corn, then follow in wheat, and in
case any grass happened to appear among
the stubble, turn in cattle and bite it of. -
lie held to deep blowing, and would use lime
} on land which contained sufficient vegetable
!, fihro, but lime or guona on poor, naked land
does little good. Lime on our soil acts bet
ter than plaster, on account of its effect to
neutralize the acid which is common. This
was concurred in by several Others
, Mr.. Barker inquired whether wheat and
clover in alternate succession for series o.
! years would injure tho fertility of the land
The opinion was expressed by several thai
/ it would improve the land if the clover were
c turned under
g The Chairman (NIr. Yardley) favored deel
! blowing, and Notwithstanding the caution b,
: others that he would ruin his land, he hat
Il ventured to ruin few acres in that way III
J would gradually deepen the sell by turning
q up some of the substratum each year, and tn
n yellow earth by being brought to the surface
n would, by atmospheric influence gradual,
!, change Its color and chemical properties will
a proper fertilization. He had seen yellow
f earth taken from wells and cellars spread OF
IS the surface, and the crops showed marke
e evidence of its beneficial effects.
r. Mr. Wood spoke of rye as a very good fer
f tilzer. In some parts of the South 1t ha
Ii been raised twenty years or more in success
;, ;, sion; the stubble was turned under eacl. yea
il and the fertility of the soil appeared to be sus
n tanned Peas 70 follow clover did well. Blu
q the great error with Delaware farmers is i
~ occupying too much land for thorough q
Of profitable tillnge.
IS Mr.. Sharp said kind of pea grew viii
n in his section and other parts of the State
10 1t comes up spontaneously, grows very ranl
and is an excellent thing for the land whe
10 plowed under. He thought it well wort
nj raising for that purpose.
II Mr.. Miles and Mr.. Wood thought rye til
il, next best to clover as fertilizer
til The opinion of the Club was adverse to IL
old custom Of resting land. The theory VT
well discussed pro and can, but ,he gener
in decision was in favor of cropping the Ian
e, with something every year. The atmosphel
is constantly charged with elements whic
It, cannot be effectually appropriated by I'll
'.s soil except through the medium of vegetab
is growth.
ty Mr.. Coursey inquired of Northern farme
ng if their land ever become clover sick. Ye
y, y, frequently. The clover roots If left for mar
rs years penetrate into the soil so deeply as /
IT. exhaust after while the elements whc
or feed in. Lebig says that the roots penetrai
an so deeply into the subsoil as to exhaust |
a and IL is impracticable to restore it,
al DIR. Davidson said the same theory no
~ tains to all other crops,
're Mr.. Coursey said that there was this di
. ferencc the deficiency in tho surface SC
d could be restored by manuring while Il
On deep subsoil that feeds the cayey roots WI
. not so easily reached. He thought sulpha
of lime or gypsum was better for clover tha
as quick lime,
III Mr. Barker inquired if it would pay to so
plaster on clover in the Spring? Yes.
90 Ii is said that lime ahsorbs enough carbo
,al ic acid in the seven years to reconyert
os. with lime stone.
Mr.. Wood said there would require to
az a large excess Of acid to do this, and cons
p quently 1t would not occur where vegetal
~ matter was growing, Adjourned.
v w. O. DAVIDSON, Secretary,