The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-12-15
AGRICULTURE
Ho,0 he Value Of Farm Productions MAJ
b Increased, and the Necessity
for Rooupratire Culture.

In submitting the ninth report Of the
Commissioner Of Agriculture, / have the
qualification of representing as prosperous
and productive in high degree the foun-
dation interest of the country, the source
of supply of the physical wants of all
classes, and the nursery of energy and
virtue for the equally essential recupera-
ton of the less healthy pursuits Of life
from their waste and enervation.
The season has been one calculated to
test severely the capabilities of our soils
On the eastern slopes of the Alleghanian
system excessive rains at critical period
were followed by heightened drought,
and throughout large area of other sec
tons of the country unusual elevation of
temperature has been combined with a
diminished precipitation of rain, affect
ing the vitality of plants weakened by
starvation, shallow culture, overgrowing
weeds or grasses or imperfect drainage.
Local decrease of small grains has result
ed from these causes, counterbalanced in
part by local compensations from climate
or other influences; yet the effect Of high
temperature has been 30 conducive to the
growth of maize, the most valuable crop
in our arabic culture, the predominant
element not only of the breadstuffs, but
of the meat production Of the country,
that the material for food supplies of the
year is greater than usual.
The fact of increased production, In
season remarkable for excessive heat, in
country assumed to be liable 10 injurious
extremes Of temperature and seasons of
continued aridity, affords strong evil
dences of the available depth and fertil-
ity of our arabic lands. The local dimin-
ution of yield enforces many a lesson of
needed improvement in the drainage,
continuation and amelioration Of imper-
feet soils.
An examination In detail of the facts
Of this years production, in the light of
enlightened agricultural experience and
of science applied to husbandry, would
furnish hints 10 improvement and aids TO
progress, which, if adopted generally,
would increase the present value of farm
production to the extent of $500, 600, 600.
1t WmmAd do more-it would tend to the
increaBe of the fertility of the soil, which
now, in nine farms out Of ten, is annually
decreasing, and it would proportionably
advance il intrinsic as well as market
value.
It is gratifying to believe, from indubi-
table evidence, the examples Of rational
and recuperative culture are relatively
increasing, however slowly and gradually
making inroads upon the destructive, ira
tional modes 20 generally prevalent
These examples are most numerous in
the Middle Statee; are seen with COM
parative frequency In the older sections
of tho West; and are beginning to be
noted In the Southern States; but there
il no State In which exhaustive and ira
tional culture Il not predominant. While
the cost of good land Is less than the inter-
est on its intrinsic value, and tn yearly In
come may be enhanced at the expense Of
the permanent investment, there il little
hope that present necessity or shortsight-
cd greed viii fail 60 work its impoverish-
ment, but with high prices Of land and
labor il is more than folly to expect re-
munerative profits from unystsmatic and
rmemgmfane oulMrm