The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1867-07-23

anrhoni
Il Is an ola ayng chat lie who
makes four spires Of grass grow where
bat one formerly grew, na be~neiacior
10 mankind II the farmers % Man
chester would A. improve thcr farms
a. to double their productions would
ihey not be bcnefactors, not 10 the
world only, bat 70 themselves have
often heard the remark II those who
we're former residents Of thls town,
Who, after an absence Of twelve OF hf-
teen years have returned, say they mo-
tced a great improvement a the houses,
barns and out-baildings ofthe farmers
Have our farms been equally improved
Some farms. or parts Of farms, have
been made more productive than they
we're ten years ago, Others are less pro-
ductiye. There is a tract Of land run
ming from the souul-westerly part Of
the town TO the northeast part, om
bracing the valley Of the Battenkill, in
Guiding the Grst ridge Of upland, that
produces good crops ofgrain and grass
These can be made more productive.
There is another tract lying on both
sides of the west road that is called a
"cold, wet soil" and the soil is what
farmers call "hard-pan." The soil Of
the most OF this tract, evidently has all
the materials, organic and inorganic, in
such proportions as do constitute a fer
tile soil. In 1000 parts ola fertile soil,
without manure, there are found GAS
parts SILICA or sand and 81 parts alum
ina or clay--oyer 10 of the whole is
sand and clay. Without the aid OF ag-
ricultural chemistry every farmer can
see this "hard-pan" soil contains a large
proportion Of sand and some clay
lime is in about the same amount AS
clay is necessary, and this we know
these soils possess. There is another
clear evidence that this "hard-pan' soil
is naturally fertile, for when it is thrown
up from q post hole or ditch, the grass
near the margin Of the soil thrown up
soon assumes a d~ark-green color, the
same as it does near o manure heap.
These lands cannot be fitted for the
early planting of corn or for other
grains, without draining. The lands
of this description in this town are ia
yorably situated for draining, as there
is a gradual and sufficient descent to
carry off the water in the drains. When
the water passes of, the warm airtakes
its place, after being drained, this hard
soil can be easily turned up in the
spring with a plow, and then this APP
parently barren soil, when it is exposed
to the atmosphere, becomes a pliable,
1~ark-colored loan, and by the applica-
ton of manure a be made to produce
abundant crops of grass OF grain, and
on no land will manure be more benef-
cial and lasting. Let a few experiments
be made. There has not been a sufi-
Gent amount of draining in this town
to be called an experiment, nor in the
north shire Of this County, with the ex-
oeption of what has been done in Sun
derland by A, & II. Graves. They have
drained ten or fifteen acres, which be-
fore it was drained did not produce
enough grass to pay the interest on
$500. 1t To- produces good crops OF
corn, oats and grass, and when the
drains shall be doubled in number this
land will be the most produ ctiye Of any
up-lands in Sunderland.
Judge French, John johnson and
others, have their fifteen or twenty miles
of drains and say the increase of crops
morethan pays the expense. The Supt.
Of the State Agricultural Society of Con-
neeticut, has sent circulars all oyer the
State, requesting information concern
ing draining, Twenty farmers returned
answers. Thos. A. Mead, of Greenwich,
says he has drained forty acres. 1t did
not, before it was drained, yield So PEI
acre, since, he has made an average Of
S25 per acre. / hope to see the system
of improvement by draining our wet
lands commenced. / have no doubt The
benefit will be 50 apparent hat it vii
be extensively prosecuted. The whole Of
the farm Of John Phelps would be doub.
led in value or quadrupled. The land
on the high part Of that farm, though o.
the same kind Of soil, produces good
crops, much of the land viii not pro-
duce good crops, the hard pan being
near the surface. To get good crops o.
grass or grain on this land, the land
must be drained. The whole Of Curtis
Buttons land needs draining. There il
q small piece near his house that re
quires nothing but draining to make il
~Ul-a ol,ul-Ha III -