The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-09-05
Communicated.
FU3'llljn0 Don't PHU.

This is the cry with great many farmers and some
amateur agricultursts too They feel if they would
much like know the true for this unfortunate
fact and are so uneasy in their minds they
would be willing to pay good sum for any information
which could be relied for helping them out of the diff
cuty. In the first place look at all the circums ances
connected with farming in the United States the cry
proceeds from the Eastern shore ana oudest from tne
N E. and New England, growing fainter as the West is
approached. Now why is thisP Because the soil has
become sick of growing corn grain and timothy, these
crops having reduced the fertility to such an ebb that
the cost of cultivation exceeds the receipts for produce
1t be and why can corn, gran meat, put
and wool be sent to the Eastern markets such
heavy sums for freight? And why can Canadians pay
import duty and send horses and mutton to New YORK
city? ,,,
average bushels per acre. wheat 49, and other crops
in proportions and as the cost of blowing and working
the soil would be the the farmer would then nave
a sufficient income to live well and save money IL APP
pears very extraordinary that gentlemen OF education
and with business talents understand this and
that they will change their system of cropping 80 as
to reimburse the land they go But the evil has
become serious that if man buys farm in the East
it will take much per acre to restore the soil to
bear remuneratng crops as 1t does to Duy IL,
and in some instances more There are several expla
nations which can be given why the United states farm
continually eSsening their yield while the Eng
ish tenants increasing theirs First, the Americans
have crops which mature seed where the English
have one and when hay Is made in the States II
exhau sting grain CROP because 1t gets SO old De-
fore it moved, and when it is grazed SO much of the
heritage seeds. Then wheat is sowed after oats, which
is heard of in England. The English four courS
feeding add to the fertility till the soil becomes
so rich as grow 60 bushels of wheat per acre. $40
bushels of per acre. and other products in proper
ton. All the manure made on the farm is USED there
for the crop which follows the year after the wheat
and often artificial fertilizers drilled in with the
seed give the turnipS, &c, vigorous start Then
three fourths of the heavy crop OF unpS ana
swedes the ground by penning sheep over
it, and during this folding hay and sometimes
oil cake and corn given in addition so that the
droppings and urine enrich the soil to wonderful de-
gree Then barley is planted after this winter ioldins
ha w is
being often early the last week in May, and
put IN where the turnipS will be so that the shep
herd can take it in cuts he requires 1t DAILY
for the sheep Thus the clover ntervenes between tht
barley and wheat and the turnps or roots OF other va
retes between the wheat and barley ana the greater
portion of both crops go directly 10 Iertize, anu a
| everybody Knows green crops which are cut before
blooming for seed take little from LIE Sqi
eaf cqfefrJ fff E11ffea tc
the farm still maintains its stamina. And where, a
stated above good farmers feed with oil cake and corr
the fertility increases.
In addition to the land which is treated in this way
there is generally every farm some old grass lant
which is never powed and that which is plowed is al
ways distinguished as arabic; but the term meadow
or even grass land' is applied to the emporar.
seeded portions which come round in rotation for 1t Il
generally spoken of as 1.-The clover, or frye grass ant
seeds have been it is called the Seeds AM
the hay is called seed hay by which alone any on
understand that the regular old meadow hay ant
the old grass land is regular Institution everywhere
This old grass land is of different qualities according
the soil and sub-soi In valleys aud near rivers muc
this moved and where it is subject to occasional
Overlooking with water the nay can De is Cdkeu
year after year without impairng the productive power
but where there is flooding and the soil such as
be adapted for permanent grass IL Is grazeu OF
according to the requirements OF the occupler IN
district portion is apart for grazing with the milo
and hay from this old turf is the best for dal
cows in the winter and spring. great variety of az
finals grazed En- gland on the old grass land Il
of the best districts vast quantities OF beer an
mutton go from the fields to market ripe as meat can
without having had aught whatever to help tn
grass to atten In other parts darylng Is the genert
custom, and either butter or cheese the COWS Al
E grazed on the old green sward which mas known II
change in the memory of generations long past Whe
| was in England butter averaged about 70 cents pt
pound from latter end of March till December, an
up to SO cents winter Now the price is bette
here but as there is old grass land lying here whc
costs nothing for cultivation aud yet grows abundant
of the most nutritious heroage 'he american farat
soil is and to lime or buy manure is equivaleI
to buying the crop, and not only that, but general
speaking after lining the land is really worse OF tina
it before for that application sets all latent matte
in the soil at liberty which being then absorbed by I'll
growing crop there is positively nothing left either
tive or dormant great deal of Maryland is fast al
preaching this stage and any may know that 9th,
States too have arrived at most deplorable pitch
poverty of soil for when manure applied it is obge
to be put the surface because II it plowed III IL
soil is too poor to support the roots and give the
strength reach the manure and 1T has come to sue
complete poverty in the sub soil and the top stratu
has become so thin that deep cultivation, the pride
our forefathers, has to be abolished and two or thr
inches only be stirred up so that light blowing
, becoming the recognized necessity of the times.
The facts of this universal cry in the Eastern STATE
stand thus The farmers, although being close to goo
markets, being able to deliver their wheat, &c. wit
their own teams cannot compete with those who hay
to pay half the price for freghtand Canadian farme
pay 20 per import and freight in addition and u
nish New York with better horses and nicer mutton
At the same time English tenant farmers grow wool
sufficient quantity to shame the United States farme
and only receive about twothrds of the price for
and excuse themselves this country agriculturis
say they can't keep sheep account of dogs, and
they will tell you English sheep cannot be kept eXcel
in focks of dozen or so together when every tra
L nd h.