Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-11

] A00 HUH EOh IALA4AUEs
| If we remember rightly, ffty-eighr
inches of rain fell in Davidson county
last year, although we had. a severe
drOuth N the summer, which was fav
Orable to army worms and bags. Let
us study the situation of our farming
operations with nearly five feet of water
thrown on all our fields in twelve
months, and q large excess IN early
spring, when we should like to do a
great deal Of blowing, but cannot be-
cause the ground Is too wet. One
cannot plant corn or cotton with
out rillage by breaking the land
in part at least but he may make fine
the surface by the use of a first rate
harrow and SOW grass and clover seeds
where the pillow cannot be used to any
advantage. In a word, European
grasses may be successfully cultivated
on ground too wet for simultaneous
working for a crop of cotton or corn.
In England and on the Continent grass
grows for centuries without ever break
ing the turf or sod; both meadows and
pastures being renovated when needful
by scarifying with a sharp har-
row, Teseeding and brushing in
the seed. After this a light roller is
passed over the smooth surface.
During the last week the writer has
been sowing about two bushels of
orchard grass seed to the acre on
ground (old land which has not been
plowed in two or three years, if in five.
Some low land plowed to seed for
meadow, is too wet to walk over; so
the harrow and brush put IN seed on
higher land. We must SOW grass and
clover when the earth is rather wet or
not at all.
But why should we turn our backs on
the long and successful experience of
farmers in Europe and the Northern
States, who raise so many crops which
require no pillow on the farm? These
farmers spade up their gardens, and
the rest is done with cultivators, har-
rows and horse hoes. When bluegrass
and orchard-grass grow twenty years
without any tiIlage whatever, as they
often do, they demonstrate the sound
ness of the most important principle
in agriculture, which is, neUer do any
unnecessary pIO1Cing. This waste of
mechanical power consumes fer
tility not at proft, but |
a great loss. Many a farmer
or planter loses more by blowing than
he gains by husbandry of any kind. |
Grass, sedge and forest trees grow
without tillage; and growth is the basis
Of all agricultural increase and wealth.
Put the right seed early in the ground,
and then store up reservoirs of water
when there is an excess, to irrigate the
plants when drouth is likely to destroy
them. Our rains are badly distributed
for agricultural purposes. In Cali
iornia, Colorado and Utah, these eli
matte defects are remedied, by human
art, science and industry. An artif-
'ial food will not only water plants
md secure a crop, but kill indefinite
Millions Of worms and insects and con-
7ert them into manure. 1t is a mis-
axe to depend on any annual plant
Ike Hungarian grass, German millet
md corn for hay. In case ones mead
'ws fail, then resort may be had to
INLET, cOrn-fodder and other substi-
utes. But a farmer without perennial
European grasses for pastures and
meadows, belongs not to proper agri-
culture.
The writer has been old enough to
tudy the practice of farm economy
ince 1872, and has found that when
he earth Is too wet to pillow is as good
. time as any to clear off rough land,
md seed it to the best grasses adapted
like to the soil and climate. We are
lot to be understood as making war
N corn, cotton, tobacco, or any other
staple. DR.. Draper, In his last work on
NE Conflict between Science and Reli-
zion" cites authorities to show that
Europe now contains three hundred and
,nemillion inhabitants. They increase
n numbers more In fifty years now,
han in 800 years a few centuries back,
md a market Is opening for all our
neat animals fit for beef, pork and
mutton; and for all good horses and
mules, and for any surplus wool we may
'aise. 1t is better to seed more Of our
and to grass and grow fine stock for
European consumption than cling 50
loosely to the Anticipated pillow and ne
,rO, as though,steam on land and water
md telegraph wires had no meaning
or farmers in the last quarter of the
nineteenth century. We see al
most daily one or two focks of SUI
,erior sheep in the neighbor-
mood of Nashville. The only criticism
We have to offer is that there should be
5en million of such sheep in the State.
We might raise sheep-fescue and other
escues enough TO keep them, to say
'ather of white and red clovers, blue
yrass and all other heritage that may
,e grown with very little labor. Who
will help us make a broad, green spot
u Tennessee? Too much of our farm
took reminds one Of Pbaraoh's lean
rine. All Of our domestic animals
anne from the east side Of the Allan
ic, and need European treatment.
TENNESsEES MODEL Farm.
Grange Outlook.
As now conducted. the farm Is sim
,ly huge farce. We can point to a
hundred farms in Knox county
more of model farms than this make