The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-09-05
FARMERS COLUMN.

anv other time, particularly when wet,
it is aot only hurtful, but seriously, last
ingly so. 1t will become harsh, lumpy,
brickbat}y. Working when dry, when it
is seamy, and breaks up in large Jumps,
will not be hurtful, but it requires more
effort to pillow it, and reduce it. A goOd,
soaking rain followed by the harrow af-
ter the water has passed eff, leaving the
Jumps in that condition between the wet
and dry which causes them to c1umble at
the touch of the harrow, will favor this
and this Is necessary, for all efforts at re-
ducing the Jumps, unless moist, will be
work thrown away.
All clay soils must be made good, must
be worked and brought up by mechanic
al and other means, but particularly the
mechanical Originally, clay is cold, and
wet and sour, and has little attraction
for tie fer'ilizing gases, particularly am
monia, the most important of all. It is,
therefore, useless in this condition. But
drain, break up at the proper time, and
reduce repeat the operation, working
in manure, and soon there will be, not
clay, but soil, and if kept in this condi-
ton, one of the best, most lasting, and
profitable of soils. It then (and not in
its wet state) has an affinity for whatever
fertiliziug material comes IN contact with
it, holding it there till the plant abstracts
it. Dur most profitable soils are clay
soils, originally purchased in their low
condition at low price, and with COM
paratively little manure made to yield
well. Clay contains fertility and other
properties which are of little use till
brought up to the air, drained so chat the
air and warm rains are permitted to pass
through, and thus change the condition,
washing also, so as TO remove the delete
rious properties, and thus, aided by the
chemistry Of nature, by mechanical
means, Ito fine it, and fertility added
and incorporated well and evenly, there
will be quite different thing from the
original har h. cold, worthless clay.
It will thus be seen that we must make
our clay soil. And it is delicate opera
ton AS we la re said, it must be work
ed when not wet, and when not too dry;
this only and always after it is drained.
A violation here is fatal. Even when
plowed wet in the fall the frost will but
partially remedy it it will take years
beforc the evil is removed, and then only
with careful treatment It is hurtful to
plow any land when wet, as all soil con-
tains more or less Of clay, and this will
be affected, getting up slight harshness
which is injurious to the life of the soil.
Cor. Northnestern Farmer.
WHEAT LANDs.-In the eleventh cen
fury the average production in wheat per
acre, in England, was stated to have been
only six bushels. To-day the average i'll
England is twenty-seven bushels. This
progress is due to our having more
knowledge about Agriculture. We know
more about soil, about implements, ma.
nures, etc, than in the olden time. One
reason for the advancement we see is the
improvement in our agricultural nipple
ments. Thus the plow has been wonder
fully improved over what it was in Eu-
rope IN the middle ages.
It is knowledge that mer want. The
difference between England of to-day is,
a difference in knowledge. knowledge
has enabled England to multiply many
times the Product of agricultural opera
tions, and also to multiply the number of
human beings she can support. Much of
fuis knowledge is traditional, hut it is
also preserved IN the records-the wri-
sings of those who have studied the sub
jects.
In England to-day there are no ex-
hausted lands they are not allowed to
deteriorate What is taken off is sup
piled again, and this is the only true
economy. We cannot take away from
our land, and not restore it, without in
juring the soil.
Russia, unlike England, seems to be
following in the footsteps OF this country
in the neglect of her wheat lands, and as