River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-01-10
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Restoration of Exhausted Lands.

The London Field, in answer to a
question from America as to the best
mode of restoring fertility to worn out
lands, discusses the subject at some
length, and sets forth very clearly the
difficulties there under the system
of tenant farming. 1t also refers to
some false ideas concerning it, which
is that "of considering and treating
grass land as natural condition, ca
pable of sustentation, and only
requiring to be let alone to sue
ceed." 1t also adds that it is true
that nature is so prolific that the earth
cannot remain uncovered; but we are
told on the highest authority that its
produce will be briars and thorns,
sedge and moss, and such it will con-
tinue unless we honestly cultivate,
clean and improve it by the sweat of
our brows. Grass is a cultivable crop,
requiring to be nourished by manure,
laid dry and made healthy by drainage,
and kept clean by the uprooting of
weeds. The results may not be so
broadly marked as in the case of
rotation crops, but nothing can be
more grateful or profitable in the long
run"
As to ,subsoiling, it says that it is
unnecessary when the land is properly
drained, provided the soil is not tena-
cious as to prevent the water from
reaching the drains. If the subsoil
has so much hard-pan in it to prevent
moisture rising from below by oapil-
larry attraction in a dry season, then
subsoiling is an absolute necessity.
Two experiments in retaining worn.
out pasture lands are given, both of
which were failures, or nearly so, but
which are valuable in showing how
easily great labor and experience may
be thrown away where the conditions
of success are not understood. In our
care "the surface was in so deplorable
condition, the breaking up and TAX
ing course of crops was strongly rec.
commended. This was followed, the
turf being either burnt or dug IN, the
land was throughly cleaned, well man
ured and chopped then after course,
sown down with permanent grasses,
clover, etc. At first the growth was
satisfactory, but toward the third year
the plants became weak, and it
required a long course OF care
full and liberal management to secure a
sward. A second experiment consist
ed in pairing off the turf, and deeply
digging the soil, so as to break up the
pan and allow circulation of air, and
then relaying. The vegetable deposit
which had gradually accumulated was
destroyed, and the grasses, missing
e.
many years, until by degrees fresh
stock OF humus was produced" A last
experiment consisted in improving
the sward by narrowing, sowing suit
able seeds, and applying a heavy
dressing of compost formed of soil
and pig manure, thereby adding those
elements, mineral and organic, of
which by ill-treatment the soil had
been deprived The result was most
successful, proving that it is better to
improve than to reconstruct grass
land
And this is the treatment which the
Field recommends to its American cor
respondent. Continued cropping has
deprived the soil of certain ingredients
necessary to fertility, and these must
be supplied in some form of manure :;
nature may do it in time, but that is
too slow a process. Apply the harrow
so far as to open the surface, sow seed
suitable to the climate, and then fertil-
tie literally, almost everything in the
shape Of decomposed vegetable matter
being beneficial. As to grazing stock,
young cattle are better than sheep or
horses, as the latter gnaw too closely.
Manuring should be kept up annually
until fertility is assured, and then oc-
casional dressings will suffice. As a
good artificial manure the following is
named: 3 cwt. of superphosphate of
lime, 2 cwt. of kainit, and cwt. of
sulphate of ammonia or nitrate of soda,
the former being preferable. "This
course, the Field remarks, twill am.
ply justify the outlay"