The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1867-12-06

lowing sensible article on TINS snojcct
Ina tour 10 the northwest. under
taken for the purpose Of increasingly
and improving facilities for the col.
lection 81 agricultural statistics, and
for conference with professional or
other Intelligent agricnlturists relative
10 department cooperation In aid OF
The interests and supply OF the wants
~ that great section. the editor OF this
report was struck particularly with the
rninons tendency Of the current sys'
tenn or want Of system) OF wheat cul-
tnre. A fewsuggestions on this point
will be hazarded.
In what respect ruinons! In inn
roverishment OF the soil. deterioratlonI
IL seed. in oyerrunning tho country
with weeds. in promoting a false and
wasting system of political economy.
These are serions charges. but they
are made in good faith. can be easily
snbstantiated, and will be acknowl'
edged Just by thousands OF western
wheat growers.
The prevalent mode Of operating
involves first partial breaking Of
the soil. rendering sowing irregular in
position and depth, and drilling dfi-
cult and imperfect, giving weedsquite
rs good chance as the wheat. The
next year a superficial, hasty plough.
ing partially covers the stubble, and
very slightly the tangle Of weeds, and
wheat is again put in. Year after
wear wheat follows wheat and weeds
increase, while the yield OF grain d.
minishes, partially from loss Of Ger.
tain elements Of the soil and partly
because weeds have usurped large
area Of the fields. In the mean time,
"a IL to increase the loss from the
wheat necessarily carried away. the
straw by millions of tons, worth al
most as much per ton for feeding az
the marsh or prairie hay Of the coun-
try, Is burned nightly in harvest time
till the sky is bright with q continued
holocaust Of greenbacks in straw; and
the excuse for thus dissipating in the
thin air, not only elements Of nutri
ton, but valuable elements Of fertil
ization, is that the way may be clear
for the plough to scratch over again
maltreated soil. This picture may
not be verified in every wheat field o.
the west, but who will deny its strik
ing likeness in most cases!
Il proof OF Impeachment wanted
One witness only is needed-the sol
itself. First, thirty bushels per acre
ia the boast Of the farmer; then tn
yield drops to twenty five, to twenty
to fifteen. and finally to ten and eight
Minnesota claimed twenty-five bush
els average few years ago. tsome Q
her enthusiastic friends made ittwen
ty seven, but she will scarcely aver
age this year twelve, and will neve
again make twenty-five nnder he
present mode Of farming. To be sure
there are excuses. The seasons q
not suit as formerly. blight or rms
comes, or the fly invades, but all thes
things are evidences of exhaustion
and prey upon the soil in proportio
to lie deterioration. Yet in comparI
lively new soils the depreciation
caused by excess Of weeds Il rone
careless culture more than actual 10
of fertility.
The same cause that deplete the &C
produce degeneraoy in ihe seed, whit
perpetuates weakness and imperfe
ton, reducing the yield so rapid
that new seed must be obtained at on
or all pofit muat be foregone. A car
iul selection Of seed should eve
year be practiced, and new seed u.s.
after successful test. 1t is as easy
improve seed BY special care as It
to injure it by this special neglect, q
he who will undertake such impro'
ment wisely as business, will ma
fortune and prove public ber
factor.
The weed nuisance Is stupendo'
destroying annually tens Of millic
Of bushels Of wheat. They have {
tanned strong foothold. The evil
q radical one, and can only be cur
by being torn up by the roots, viii
can never be done without mt
thorough and careful system Of G
rs~ll &c 81. oot