Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-06-20
SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF
MATURING.
Thlrd Artlele.

we have aimed mainly to show the impor-
tancc of the subject, to point out the ut
ter want of reason in the general practice of
feeding plants, and to strike tho key note Of
new departure in the art of fortilizing the
SOIL So far, we have dealt mainly with the
science Of the subject; wo propose now
to say something of the practice" which
yet will not be very understandable, except
to those who have read and remember the
drift Of the preceding articles.
Our fundamental idea is that the present
system CT manuring is a wasteful one, be-
cause we feed our crops with heterogeneous
mixture Of substances, neither adapted nor
proportional according to their actual re-
quirements, or to the nature of the soil in
which they are planted. We recognize the
difficulty Of an exact adaptation, in conse-
quence of the crudity Of most Of our ma
nurial substances, but we believe and know
that the manure may be much more com.
pletely adapted to the crop and the land
than it now is, and that the result will be an
increase of profit to the cultivator.
The chief trouble we encounter in attempt
ing to write out our views aud detail our ex-
perience ON this subject, arises from its great
ness and conplexity. 1t is worthy of, aud
indeed it requires, long and deep study to
attain any great proficiency in the applica-
ton of its principles aud it is in vain to do
more in these brief articles than outline
those principles and sketch the practice that
follows from them. Farming is daily becom-
ing more and more a learned profession"
and in its fullest development it will only be
successfully followed by men Of thorough
education, both scientific and practical. The
effect of that same application of study and
mental effort to agriculture that is being CIV
en- to mechanics will be to drive ignorant
Hence perhaps it is a natural instinct that
makes such individuals hostile to intelligent
farming. But progress is ruthless and
marches over all such as try to bar its way.
We must either fall into line with its follow
ers, or 60 under.
The first experience that strongly drew
our thoughts to this subject was the immedi-
ate restoration to fertility of an apparently
exhausted tract of land by the application to
it Of liberal dressing of wood ashes. The
expense was slight, the result was great.
10 have produced equal crops by the use OF
ordinary manure would have involved an ex-
penditure beyond our means, and probably
too great, even had the means been at hand,
to have yielded any profit. As the ease was,
good profit was realized in the crops and
hint received from nature. the taking Of
which has been Of incalculable value to us
as n farmer.
The kind Of farming we are now engaged
in is not that which enables us to carry out
and develop these principles to their fullest
extent, or 10 realize from them the greatest
profit but it is sufficient to show their cor
rectness, and their universal applicability
We seek now in every case to adapt the
manure to the crop and, earring occcason'
al mistakes from ignorance or want of ma.
turc consideration of facts,) with uniform
success. On any common farm the differ.
ence between the old and the new method
will be the difference between comparative
or actual failure aud liberal annual prof
it in cash, with continued increase in the
productive capacity and consequent selling
value Of the land itself
The first knowledge we must acquire (sup
posing VIC are experienced in all the ordina'
ry manual operations Of the FARM is Of tn,
general requirements OF all cultivated crop,
for their successful growth; and next the
peculiar requirements Of each individual
crop. We must know what Vile calls tn,
" dominant " Of each crop that is, that par
ticular element Of plant food which that crol
requires above others, understanding tina
the other elements must also be supplied il
due proportion. Without this knowledge
special fertilizers will be useless to US, ex
cept by accident, and we shall not know how
to make up compost for any crop.
With this knowledge we need, and mus
devote time and study to acquire, an ac
quantancc with the actual state Of tn
land. 1t is great help in tins direction i
we eau gather history of its original con
dition as regards fertility and endurance, tn
crops it has chiefly produced, the disposition
that has been made Of them, and the gener
al way in which the place has been carrie,
on before it came into our hands. w
want TO know what crop it is best adapted
to, and among these select such as, consider
ing our situation as regards markets, woul,
be likely to yield the most profit.
Having determined what our crops shall
be, We then want to apply our knowledge o
the requirements of those crops to the prep
aration both of the land and Of the manur
we purpose to apply to it. Although W
cannot regulate the quality and proportion
OF our manures with perfect scientific exact
itude, we can, having the requirements q
the case in mind, make it pretty much wha
we want it, by modifying the feed of GU
stock, the kind aud quantity of stock "
keep the handling and composing Of gu
manure, and the artificial additions which "
purchase The latter, in most cases, nee
not be great, except perhaps in the begir
ming.
We must, by series of careful exper
ments ascertain where our land is weakei
and where it is strongest, i. G. what element