St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-03-31
IHr Erif,!ify OT OHr !SOit---HoH
IOSi. nud HOW ReSfOrcd.
A Paper read ut thu mcctin. OF the Nrr-
mont Board of Agriculture, ut its se>-
sion in ST. John>Duy, March and 10,
lA1I
EY JONATHAN LAWRENCE

If one of the jewellers of this village
bad requested me to come into his shop
and assist him in taking TO pieces and
adjusting Il nice gold watch, should not
have been more surprised than | WIS 10
receive from the Hon. Secretary Of the
Board of Agriculture, Manufactures and
Mining, Il request that should prepare
a paper upon some subject pertaining TO
agriculture and read it before this meet
inc. so those with whom am acIlaint-
cd ofl,r no apology. To those with
whom | am not acquainted my paper
when read will be sufficient reason why
| should not have attempted it.
The pioneers Of our safe were not
strictly tillcr- of the soil. Their first OBJ
icct was TO subduc the forest and make
for themselves and families homa. They
believed us do the pioneers Of the West
that the soil WAS incNliaustaLlr, and -ior
many years bounthul crops repaid their
hard and ru".rlt But gradually the
soil began TO fail, the crops 10 decrease,
and the result WAS an inheritance to their
sons OF Il worn ont and exhausted soil.
The fertility Of our -oi-how lost. and
how restored Now TO the question what
has become Of the fertile soil that exist
cd in the days of our lorclalhcr-.
HOW LOST.
ry excessive and continuous cropping
without returning what has been taken
from it. We all know that il was moth
ing unusual TO fake four or five success
>ivc crops from new y cleared land with
out returning any manurial substances
whatever. Now il is only by the most
liberal and ,Iudicious system of manuring
that the same amount Of products that
was easily crown by the Indifferent cul-
tiyation OF the pioneer, can he realized.
Another source Of exhaustion is the long
continued grazin@ Of our pastures. The
"cattlc upon thousand hills" have car
ricd from them in beef, mutton, sheep,
wool, butter and cheese, millions of dol
l;rs' worth, returning only their mcager
droppingS 10 supply the constant deple-
ton. The united cry from Massachu.
sets to Canada, Is that the pastures tic
not keep the same amount of stock a.
formerly. Where ten head of cattl,
would then thrive and iattcn now fv,
can barely get Il living
Another and greater source OF cN-
hau5tion Is the ruthless dcnudin" OF SC
large an ARA OF our lard of its timber
At til present rate OF timber cutting
twenty years will see Caledonia County
nearly shUrn Of It's original forest il
fact most OF our farms have now only
what i absolutely necessary for fuel ant
fencing. Shall nothing be done to ar
rest this growing evil! Shall those whC
feel interested in the prosperity Of til,
state, who do not wish TO have it bccom,
, a desert, refrain from raising the cry o
! the poet, NV Goldman spare the trees >
The direct consequence Of this wEolesal
slaughter Is TO expose our slop!ng hill
sides to the sweeping winds, TO be wash
cd by the melting SHOWS OF spring an,
the rains OF summer, thus carrying tn
richer and finer portions Of the soil tc
the lowland and forming rich dcltas a
the ocean mouths of our largest rivers
These and other causes that time woulC
fail to cnumeratc arc the means by whicl
the soil Of Vermont has lost its nativ
fertility.
HOW HESIuEED.
/. Ey rigidly economizing the manu-
rial resources OF the farm. But very few
OF our farmers seem to appreciate thi
= necessity OF their calling. Too many al
low their manurcs to 90 to waste by cX
poSurc to the sun, winds and rains 9th
els still do not see the Importance of say
ING liquid from their stock, as of equa
/ value with the solids. The waste iron
1 the kitchen and the contents of the wa
h ter closet, ii properly compostcd, woul
be OF greater value than the same amour
OF many OF the commercial manurcs tina
are bought ut 4 HIGH tigurc by our farm
5 crs.
,. by composing the muck and othe
vegetable matter that has been ac.umu
lating for ages i'll our swamps and low
lands. BY continual washing the hill
sides are being carried into our swamp
). where they are at present OF no value t
: The farm, and never will be until the,
Y are removed to the higher lands or mix
cd again with the soil from whence the
came And here is Just where we nee
: Inc assistance OF the Hon. Board OF AZ
II rlculture We want samples from thes
sWampS ana lowlandS sufficiently analyz
ca 10 enable us 10 know their value n
fertilizers; with what they should b.
: composted 10 the greatest advantage
c how lar they may be transported will
profit and how applied 10 the soil will
! the best results. Many of our farmer
have drawn ont from their swamps 4;
large amount OF muck. They have no
had the necessary information to enable
them to work it 10 the hest advantooo