American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-07-13
For the American Citizen.

we endeavored to render apparent
the utility of hedges, and in that
connection alluded to the benefits
accruing from stock. We now pro-
pose to demonstrate how the two
branches of MISUNDERSTANDING
and stock raising-gO hand in hand.
1t is an unmOOted question that
lands fertilized, by whatever means,
are rendered vastly more productive
than i'll their natural condition.
The only question that embarrasses
the farmer is, Where or how shall /
obtain fertilizers at such a cost as
to be remunerative
Now, let us reason together, and
see if there cannot be a reliable,
cheap and permanent supply at ev-
cry farmers command.
"A piori," let us presume that
wide-awake, intelligent and far-see-
ing farmers will have their lands
hedged, and that said lands-e. g.
amount to one hundred and fifty
cleared acres each, subdivided by
hedges into three lots of fifty acres
each. This year he cultivates lot
No. 1, pastures all his stock upon
No. 3 or the commons as he chooses,
and pens them upon No. 3 in porta-
BILE pens one acre in size for one
week, to each acre, and he will fer
tiIize the whole of No. 3 in the fifty
two weeks of the year, at the expi-
ration of which time he will have it
thoroughly enriched, and which will
produce much or more than one
hundred acres will do under the old
system, at half the cost of cultiva-
ton. After No. 3 is disposed of Nos.
l and 2 are taken in order. All this
is accomplished too with an outlay
of only a few dollars for plaDks to
form the portable pens and youth
(if the farmer does not chose to do
SO bimselD to herd the stock and
move the pens weekly-and he
could be employed otherwise two
thirds of the time. Now is there
anything chimerical about this mat
ter? Is it not eminently practical
bles Is it not cheap? Does it not
present large prospective gain both
iu stock aud farm products Yes.
Well, why don't you put it into prac-
ticei Simply because you don't
try. You want some one to take the
We shall not only be
to point the way, but shall
become a pioneer. Itmight be urg
ed that the same results could be
obtained by penning stock in one
regular pen, collecting the drop
pings and composing with other
but we reply that this is
done at a much greater cost be-
sides one OF the most essential ele-
ments in stock iertiliZinG, urine,
which is rich in ammonia is dissipat-
ed to avery great extent in this way.
1t should be directly applied to and
absorbed by the ground to where
it is Intended to be used, and the
iroppings will form, to considera
BILE extent, a mulch to prevent evap-
DratiOn Eesides, charcoal, cotton
), |, sedge-2rass or some other alb
sorbent, may be applied as the pens
are filled. 1t seems to us that this
is the most economical source of
fertilization that could possibly be
levised. Commercial fertilizers are
humbugs, and to cart
muck and leaves for several miles,
f accessible, and buy lime or any
other material for which you have
70 pay money, is not to be compared
with plan that costs almost no.
hing for production and applica-
ion. Let us see how many stock
pens and cotton seed will be applied
20 lands this fall and winter, even |
f you will not systemitiZe the mat |
Ter, (Which you cannot well do on
arge plantations until you have the |
ledges) and proceed by the year.
In conclusion, Mr.. Editor, permit
Is to suggest that Il Farmers Club
De formed for the county or for
ZACH neighbOrhOOd, where farmers
an at least meet Saturday after
ICONS and interchange views for
mutual improvements and benefit.
Young men will have to take the
and the older ones will
,e induced by example and perse-
-erance to cooperate. We hope
hat the power of THE CITIZEN,
which has ever exer ed more influ-
nee in forming public opinion in
ladisOn county than any other jour
lal published within its borders,
nay be brought to bear upon this
pregnant as it is with ma
erial prosperity. Why, some will
ay, not let such matters fall into
gricultUraI periodicals, their legiti-
nate channels! Simply because
HE CITIZEN is read by more indi-
iduals in this county in one week,
nan all these periodicals in twelve