The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-03-09
agricultural department.
BY ALBERT CHAPMAN.
IMPROVEMENT OF SOILS.

to the question Of the deterioration of our
soils. Living 10 part Of the country
where it is held TO be ruipous policy to
allow the soil to dcteriorate. l had MOI,
formerly realized fully the occasion for
such a question as the above. But a
recent trip Of observation through the
States. west abd north. as far as the
Mississippi aud the great lakes. has given
rise to apprehension that a widespread
deterioration is going on throughout most
of this line oil travel. 1t is true the
present season has been dry one in most
of the parts visited, but there is cause to
fear that the scarcity of provision is
greater than it would have been under a
course of good farming. 1t might be
quite presumptuous for farmer Of one
locality to insist that his experience
would apply to others Of different soil
and climate. But certain general
principles apply everywhere /; and if our
brother farmers on soils more lately new
are aroused to the fact that the virgin
fertility of those soils is wasting, they
should look around for the best means at
their command to restore it In the
course of this trip have seen extensive
coro6elds with but little appear anco Of
ears In other places, where the crop
was thought about Ed average one, the
ears were short. Pasturage and grass
land generally we're far below the
luxuriance which indicates successful
farming. The wheat crop, said to have
been good, was still much less than the
season should have produced.
can remember when a schoolboy,
learning from the books on geography,
that the farming of Pennsylvania was
superior to that of the other States. |
long regarded this statement of the
geographer as probably unfounded, but
am now inclined to think that farmers of
other sections might learn some lessons
from the care in improvement which
obtains in that section.
conversed with a young man who
had been running threshing machines in
Michigan. He told me the product there
this year had been from 20 to 40 bushels
Of wheat per acre, The farmers were
putting in practice their ideas brought
from Pennsylvania their wheat was
MANFRED by blowing down clover. Now
if this expedient will enable the farmer
in Michigan to grow from 20 to 40
bushels Of wheat per acre, and produce
other crops 10 like proportion, let them
practice it SO long as their maximum
product can 10 this way be sustained. In
future years they may have to vary as
good sense shall dictate, but they should
not be content with diminishing result.
10 the central portion Of New York the
farmers have in lattor years been apply
ing about 200 pounds per acre Of
superphosphate of lime. The effect Of
this has been to Increase the wheat crop
from 10 bushels to 80 per acre, and i'm.
prove tee subsequent face Of the field
from an appearance Of desoation to that
of luxuriant sod. Other crops on lands
thus improved were corresponding. The
lands here were naturally good. 1t is
not likely that 200 pounds of the phos.
phate had added largely to its crop
producing elements, but perhaps it was
the means Of .ffecting some important
chemical changes.
Such items Of experience are worth
knowing. do not assert that a little
phosphate, applied to the lands of Ohio
or Illinois, would work as much change
as 1t has done in parts of New York
Nor is it certain that the clover invest.
ment Of Michigan would be equally pro.
6table in other places. But there is
general similarity in the geological forma.
tion throughout the States named which
would lead us to suppose similar course
would benefit the soil in each Of them.
Some twenty-five years ago. saw
statement in the Farmers Cabinet, Of the
results obtained by DR.. c. Noble, in i'm.
proving WORKOUT farm in Delaware. A
portion had been manured with mari,
portion from the barnyard, and portion
with his peculiar Philadelphia compost"
The crop Of wheat in each case was heavy.
but the greatest yield, nearly SO bushels
per acre, was from the compost Soon
after this, | met with DR.. Noble, and in.
quired whether there was any secret
about his compost. In reply, he gave
me lecture about the improvement. Of
land, that was worth hearing After
some remarks. going to enforce the
highest culture and improvement as
essential to success, he observed: II
found the soil of my farm would not
produce wheat From chemistry and
experience l learned the elements that
were wanting, aud this is a matter that
every owner OF unproductive soil must
decide for himself This being done, the
next question comes up as to where said
fertiizing elements can De obtained most
cheaply, or at price that will be repaid
Ia my case, | observed around me" The
lived in Philadelphia) "woolen factories,
tanneries, glue factories, soap factories
chemical works &c, the refuse of which
was lat that time) thrown out to waste.
From these sources, with the expense OF
collection and admixture, have freighted
II vessels" probably canal boats, land
sent them TO the nearest landing to the
farm. This, besides the mari aud lime,
was my resource ier improvement, but
formers throughout the country generally
cannot have such ample stores. But let
each one look around and see what he
can make available. Much may be done
BY utilizing home manures but whatever
the source Of supply, let every one under.
stand that soil in any respect deficient
must be msnured."
This incident occurred before the days
Of guano, bone dust aud superpbosphaies
These are now introduced especially for
the benefit of farmers remote from
supplies. But in advising their adaptation
by farmers 10 the west or north anywhere,
it must be with extreme caution. Those