The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-09-10
Sarm, @@rasn : 6oHssbolh
HOW TO BRING Up FERTIL-
1TYON EXRAUSTEDL LANDS.

In Connecticut, especially, it is said
the soil is run down to the lowest poy-
erty. Inquiries are frequent respec-
ting the means to regain the plant
food; and numerous varied methods
recommended; but some would cost
more than buying good soil; others
would lose the purchaser any benefit
for two or three years, and the grow
ing Of clover, the favorite idea now,
cannot be Of much use to plow in; be-
cause even with plaster, ashes, &c.; to
start there is no stamina to produce
any quantity. In England it is the
usual and almost universal practice to
fetch up any light soil which has been
exhausted, by using the most reliable
fertilizers for roots and eating them on
the ground with sheep, which to fur
ther enrich their droppings, they will
feed with grain; but the consumption Of
roots in this way is not understood in
America, and New England climate
would only permit Of its being done in
the autumn and as sheep and hurdles
or other means of distributing the ma
nure and urine are not at hand, this
will not be adopted, and thus other
sources must be resorted to.
With all respect to those who are so
much in favor Of plowing in clover,
+, It must be grown first, and any ex-
hausted soil will not grow enough to
do any good, therefore when by other
means clover is produced the roots are
sufficient for the food Of the ensuing
crop without sacrificing that which
would be worth $50 Or more per acre
as hay.
When land has been completely
worn out by the straining Of the mus
cles and the studied direction Of every
contrivance emanating from the brain
of men whose whole thoughts employ
ed in turning every particle Of support
within reach into the next harvest, it
requires kind Of reverse in the man
agement, as for years it has been suck,
cultivate and suck again and naughtis
left; thus reverse Of system would
be for man to buy good improving
animals, say sheep, and buy food for
them which they would pay for eating,
and by keeping them on this poor land
it would soon become rich.
Mr.. johnson, who is so often refer
red to continually bought sheep which
were only half fat, and by high feed
ing not only gained all the extra
weight made but the frame which he
purchased was worth so much more
per pound than lean, scraggy carcass.
Depend upon it any inan who gets in
terested in high feed as means Of
highly fertiizing his soil, will buy in
such localities and markets as to in
sure 8 liberal profit and a good farm
er, whether he breeds and works mis-
own raising through to the butcher,
81 if he buys well bred animals from
those who have not the heart fatten
anything-and they are hundreds who
grudge everything belonging to them
even their own offspring, enough to eat
or at any rate that which is good
then either the breeder or purchaser
will do we'll himself and his farm.
Poor, thin man! poor, thin COWS,
sheep, &c! poor, thin land, poor in
pocket and poor in ideas! whereas
fertile brain might make jolly sort
of man, with contenfed heavy COWS
and sheep, good rich land, pockets
well lined and ideas ever flowing to
devise ways Of turning more and more
of the good things of the earth into
mutton and beef, into butter and wool,
&c. Trembling, faint hearted men
cannot be made to see how much
cheaper manure is bought by fattening
animals on the land.
"A WorEing Farmer.