Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-07-29

the easier, and, as rule the more profita-
bic, the farming.
If untoward seasons interfere with the
system adopted, the only way is to get back
to the regular rotation as soon as possible.
This the particular necessities of the case
must suggest.
If, for instance, grass tails to catch,
more must be sown the next year, and
less meadow must be broken up until the
proper ratio of grass is again had. So
with other crops.
One ofthe popular fallacies, to our mind
and this is the result of experiments
that land runs out. The fact is, any nat
urally fertile soil may be cultivated indef-
initely, and without impairment, if a
proper rotation be established and means
are used to save the manure resulting
from the material fed to stock. These,
and keeping the mechanical texture of the
soil intact, are the three principal requi-
sites. More rich soils have been rendered
infertile by blowing and cultivating when
wet than by any other means whatever.
And the older the country, and the longer
the land is cropped, the more apparent the
necessity for rotation.
A soil being new and fertile, it will
the constituents necessary to this crop be-
gin TO fail. Then it will raise some other
crop for time. But, if this course is
pursued, in time the land is exhausted.
Hence the necessity of rotation, to enable
the soil to reacquire its proper pabulum
from the depths of the soil, the air, and the
manure applied. Cultivation enables the
soil TO reacquire proper constituents from
| that great storehouse, the air.. in which is
constantly held the elements of fertility
and which only require representations
| to enable deposition in the soil.
Some soils-alluvial river-bottoms, for
| instance as the Miami lands in Ohio, the
| Illinois River bottoms and the American
bottom on the Mississippi Riyer-produce
heavy crops year after year without APP
parent diminution. But these soils are
| subject TO overflow, by which heavy de-
| posts of silt and mud are left.
| Plants of different kinds require differ
ent food, just as animals do. 1t is the
province of the good farmer to know
| enough of these necessary requirements TO
so adjust his crops and rotation that they
may be properly supplied. The wheel
| plant, for instance, delights in soil rich
in the phosphates; corn wants potash and
nitrogen; clover grows luxuriaatly under
the application of gypsum, for it sets free
elements contained in the air and soil nee
essary to sustain growth.
Years ago summer fallow was consid-
cred necessary to the renovation of the
soil The filth brought about by success
| sive plowings does enable soils To take up
much valuable matter from the air; but
| with clean culture and a crop of corn or
other fallow crop growing the same pur.
pose is subserved. Recent experience has
| shown that naked fallOws are not the best
means of renovating the soil, nor are they
necessary where a judicious system of
cultivation is practiced.
What is needed is that every farmer
should study the capabilities OF his soil
and adopt such rotation and culture as is
| best suited to his situation, so that he may
get the best present returns consistent with
the continued fertility of his soil. Ma
lures rotation is very simple one, and
yet very effective. Oaks succeed pines ;
particular soils produce particular classes
of trees; or many varieties adapted to a
given soil may grow together. As one
| tree falls and decays another sort springs
up in its place, and so the succession Is
kept up from century TO century.
| The prairies produce variety of grass
es and plants that are continually succeed
| ing each other. Herbivorous animals eat
part, and these, again, are devoured by
carnivorous animals The rest decay or
else are burned up to refertiiize the soil.
| La the end the animals die and are re-
turned, part to the soil, while the greater
portion is thrown off into the air, to be
waited hither and thitker until soil in
proper condition is found 10 again take up
and assimilate them.
| What are these proper conditions?
Porosity and friability.
Here is lifelong lesson for the intelll.
gent and progressive cultiyator of the soil
to study -Fdam and Garden, IN Chicdgc
| Tribune.