The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-09-30
President Canfield's Address
fconcludcd.1

President Canfield's Address. |
[concludcd.1
When clover is preferred, / would |
recommend the plan practiced..in the |
States ofOhio and Pennsylvania, viz: |
To pillow in the second crop of clover
when the seed is fully ripe, then SOW
down in wheat and harrow in, which
generally insures good crop. The
clover thus plowed in when in seed,
will insure good clover crop after
tho wheat, without any moro seed or
labor.
After having wheat and clover al
ternately for several years, ii is the
best possible chance for two or three
good crops Of corn, thus by alterna.
ting the different grains, either with
clover or the other grasses, farm
cannot only be improving, but the
Agriculturist can have a remuncra-
ting reward for his labor.
In spreading on manures | prefer
putting it on corn land, you cannot
glut the corn crop by nanuring (if 1,
may be allowed the exprcssion) but
l have never been successful with
small grain after fresh manuring. l
prefer having the manure properly
mixed with the soil at least one year
before sowing. Small grain after
1resh manurlng, growa too much to
straw, and frequently falls down
without properly caring. Ono great
error in this country is over calcula-
ting. Ten acres well rested, and we'll
manured, is better than twenty, with
but half the ground to plow, one half
to go over in gathering in the crop,
and with little over half the expense
in fencing, yielding double pleasure
and double profit.
| will here recommend Gas the fore.
going rules and directions would be
rather imperfect without IT'D that ev-
cry farmer should make and save all
the manure possible, and that he
should also select the best specimens
of seeds and grains and the very best
breed OF every variety of stock. l
have laid down rules whereby every
farmer can raise an abundance Of
"feed" every season, it will then be
all important to get stock worth feed
ing it to. They are less expense and
double profit. will conclude by re-
marking that l do not aim so much
at q theoretic essay, as to lay down
such practical rules and directions Of
may DO instrumental in correcting
those manifold errors in Agriculture,
which close observation and numer.
GUS experiments have brought under
my notice. In other words, my gen.
eral aim Is utility. 1 cannot see any
advantage in troubling you any long
er with alpng desultory essay treat
ing only on generalities, which can
not be specially and practically ap
piled for the benefit Of the agricultu
rist. IA essayist on Agriculture
should be like a sklllful physician who
aims to reach the case of his patient
by administering a remedy which
not only combats the disease, but as
sists nature in her efforts.
Some Of the most disastrous errors
) in Agriculture for W hich have sug
gested q remedy are exhausting anc
improving the soil by continuou.
} cropping without judiciously alterna
J ting or maturing; shallow blowing
which wears out the surface soil ane
starves the crop for want of a deer
loose mould, and also for want O
, drainage, for which deep blowing il
an excellent substitute; over calcula
ting, some of the ruinous effects O
which may be seen in careless cult
walton and course Of management
or rather want of management, NOR,
favorable to the weeds than the crop
and We may add to this q poor seed
, which has almost run out for want o
changing and selecting. is sown upo,
a poor soil, the proceeds of which i
fed to poor stock, yielding scanty
reward either for feed OF labor. Sucl
q course which is but too prevalent
seldom fails to lead to bankruptcy ant
ruin, while the opposite course i,
! pursuing a proper system of Agricul
tnre as above recommended Away
conduces to three of the creates
blessings oflifc, health, happiness ant
independence.
But why, icllow-citizens, have yol
organized yourselves into q Count,
: Agricultural Association Why thi
y annual exhibition Of all the rich pro
duction Of your farms; for what, thi
display of needlework, and the beau
tiful devices eff womcn's inventions
f why this collection of the most per
Y feet specimens ofyour fast improving
stock; it is for the accomplishment Q
! a praiseworthy object it is for tn
purpose Of stimulating generou
!, emulation in the cultivation of you
i farms, in the production Of the mos
o profitable species of all Agriculture
n productions; Of stimulating tho farm
er to raising the best and mos
lucrative stock, which either consti
n tutes the food Of man or assists hin
t in the cultivation Of his land; nay
has for its object the beautifying Q
your homes and farms, developing t
\ the fullest extent all the sources O
: A Agricultural wealth, and securing al
8 those domestic and national element
!. which are calculated to improve an,
! render this world q fit dwelling plac
for man in the full development of al
his noble attributes. Happy are W
: in bearing witness to the fact tina
0 you have commenced noble work il
the right way, the energy, enterpris
and perseverance, that have marke,
your beginning will insure perma
nent and signal triumph.
For the Courier.
fl | attended the Sunday School Con
, vention Oh Wednesday evening-ho
, ping to be benefited thereby-heart