Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-23
SOIL CULTIVATION As 4 PROBES
SION.

Az AH Nh--a- A-- -
DAVIDSON COUNTY, Tenn, April,
IS75-The whole system of ~cultivating
the soil is IN q measure enveloped IN
a mystery, q lesson full of instruction,
reflection and deep Investigation, the
contemplation Of which carries US up
and beyond the more selfish things Of
this world to Him VINO causeth the wind
to blow when it Isteth, the rain and the
dews TO descend, the sun TO warm and
quicken into life and maturity the
smallest seed scattered upon the earth.
Every farmer knows that seed sown IN
due time VIII terminate, grow up, ma
ture and yield, ''some an hundred fold,
some sixty fold, some thirty fold" but
how all this Is accomplished they
scarcely gives second thought. Whether
the plant draws its food from the
earth, We appear 70 care but little about
so we get the increase. Observation
has satisfied US that some derive their
principal support from the soil,
some from water, some from
the air, while others derive
their food from al. The farmer
sows plaster on his clover. He sees
with his OWL eyes that the dew upon
that portion where the plaster was
sown was twice as heavy as where II
was not, and Jet he may not reflect
that it Is a chemical agent that attracts
the ammonia from the atmosphere.
/ Every farmer should be a sensible, dis
I eliminating person, and common sense
should guide him at every step. There
is upon the farm cause to bring into
daily use the full exercise Of sound
! judgment. If a farmer in Tennessee
wishes to know whether spring barley
s0wn In the fall viii do well let him
make the experiment. If the farmer
/ is anxious to know whether it is more
/ profitable to cultivate less land well OF
more slovenly, try the experiment. Ii
/ the farmer wishes 10 learn what crops
and manures are best suited to particu-
/ lar soils, try the experiment. If thefaTm,
/ er wishes 70 learn the most profitable
| crop TO raise. the best kind Of stock tC
/ grow, the best tillage; to ascertain
/ what breed Of cattle viii furnish the
most beef, and hogs the most pork at
the least expense; what sheep the most
I IN value for mutton and wool; TO as.
! certain the best time and man.
uzr OF putting IN crops, the
best time and manner Of har.
vesting them, the best manner Of
/ preparing the ground 20 receive the
/ seed; whether 1t is best TO plow deep
! whether It is best to use the sUbsOil
! and whether "a rotation of crops would
/ increase producuou-to each and ali
( the questions here prOpOUnded. and q
/ every ono that can be asked touching
any uncertain point IN the practice Of
/ hUsbandry, my answer would be en-.
phatic, s~ettleit by experiment.
Experience IS the great agricultural
school, the great teacher. 1t IS the
only way in which any progress h4I
ever been made; 1t is a straight, SIM
pie, easy way, one that all can walk In
Ii is to make constant experiments
note the results; draw correct conclu,
siOus from those results and practic,
/ accordingly. And we viii GUARANTEES
that no farmer who loves TO till tn,
soil Win ever feel the least painful
sensation. The art Of agriculture II
progressive, as swell as other arts, anC
Is ut far from perfection. It is Of al
GRADES the most djficult to master
none requires somuch thought, a judg
ment so discriminating, II such con
slant exercise Of the reason. In n
other occupation are results dependen.
upon the watchful observance Of diff
/ ferent causes ~fuctuating continualll
] under the influence Of wet or dry, hea.