The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-11-09
RENovATING A POOR FARM.

A correspondent makes the following
statement with request for advice II
have lately come in possession OF worm
out farm, but which was formerly consid-
cred as fertile as any in the neighborhood-
one, by the way, that contains as good farm
land as any know Of Bad management,
consisting of continuous cropping without
rest or manure for long time, probably
"a years, and generally shftless tillage,
have reduced the soil, or productlveness OF
the farm, so that it does now hardly bring
oats tall enough to cut, and the grass can
only find food in the low places, while the
ridges and the knobs are pretty much bare.
Now, what wish to know is the best and
most profitable course to pursue to bring
the farm in good condition"
Without giving specific advice for this
particular case, for we have not sufficient
knowledge of the circumstances to do so,
we will indicate some means by which we
think land in the condition described might
he profitably brought into better. First,
we will say there are two methods, one by
which the result may be reached quickly in
wolves the use of considerable capital, and
the other is the slower work Of time. 1t
both are pursued with skill we do not think
there is much difference in point of profits,
for if the quick process uses capital 1t also
makes quicker and larger returns, and IT
the slow method is comparatively inexpen-
siye it must be remembered that the income
is likewise slow. If man has the capital
and knowledge sufficient to use it probably,
it is better to employ it, but if he has not,
we should not advise loading himself down
by borrowing.
Surprising we meant to use capital and
renovate the farm quickly, we should begin
operations this fall by blowing portion, If
the soil were clay, or clay loan, deeply
and well. This would be for barley next
spring. Next we should provide sufficient
buildings, even if they were of a temporary
character, to feed large number of sheep,
putting, however, not more than one hun
dred in one yard. To feed these sheep,
straw, or corn-stalks, and grain would have
to be purchased. If bright straw could be
had at much cheaper rate than hay, we
should use it mostly, and depend mainly
on corn for fattenng. We should expect
to make the manure clear of expense and
perhaps something more, selling the sheep
before the last of March. The finest part
of the manure made should be used to top
dress the field plowed in the fall, applying
at the rate Of twenty-five or thirty
large loads per acre, and blowing
it in with gang to the depth
of three or four inches. With the barley
clover seed should be sown in abundance.
The rest of the manure should be compost.
ed. and the pile increased as much as posi-
bly by the addition of sod from the road.
sides and other accessible places, muck
&c. This pile Of manure should be made 1
net of during the summer, and increased az
largely as possible. The operations of thu
next season would chiefly be summer fall
lowing, with the view Of killing weeds, ant
of thoroughly stirring the soil and exposin9
it to the air. Wheat would be sown on al
much Of the fallow as could be adequatel.
top-dressed with fine manure, and the res
of the fallow should lie over till the follow
ing spring. The plan of feeding stock witt
purchased food would be pursued on as al
extensive scale as practicable in the winter
and barley and clover seed sown. Glove
would, of course, be sown on the wheat.
The main objects kept in view would b
to first cultivate the soil thoroughly to XII
weeds which usually infest worn out farms
expose it to the air and frost if of tena
cious or clayey nature, fertilize heavily o
the surface, and get good stand OF clovel
When the farm was brought under thick
strong growth of clover, it would be pract
cally renovated, and a systematic rotatio
should be adopted and carried out. Otht
means might also be resorted to-. Drail
ing should be done, and very likely SON
soiling crops could be grown and fed
stock with profit, but the chief reliance IL
bringing up the farm is indicated aboy
What we understand by good condition,
applied to the soil, is that it is clean, di
and capable of producing good crops;
clean it we would summer tallow, to dry
make drains, to enrich it apply manure al
grow clover.-R,udJ Home.