The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-03-11
RANDOLPH.
Correspondence

NAM
Correspondence
FRIEND HARRIS: The great ques-
ton among farmers is how to main
tain or increase the fertility of the
soil. The pioneers of the Western
Reserve labored for half a century to
subdue the immense forests of timber
which covered this portion of the
country. During this time the soil
appeared extremely fertile. and when
the seed was placed in the ground al
most always bountiful harvest fol-
lowed. Much complaint is now heard
on every hand about failures of cops,
Where once from twenty-five to forty
bushels of wheat were the usual yield
per acre now from ten to twenty is
the rule. Where grass grow almost
spontaneously and the yield of hay
was from two to three tons per acre,
now, from half ton TO a ton and a
half is the usual amount obtained. It.
was nc uncommon thing 10 hear our
fathers tell of digging frein three to
four hundred bushels of potatoes per
acre now, from fifty 10 one hundred
and fifty bushels is about an average
yield. Farmers are anxious TO know
why this diminuiioM of crops. and
W hat system of farming to pursue in
order to again receive those bountiful
harvcsts which were gathered in the
early settlement of the State. Pro-
fcssor Leibig say: The first colonists
of Virginia found country in which
air, water and change of temperature
had prepared the different species of
rocks to yield to plants the alkalies
which they contained. From every
acre of land there was rem owed in the
space Of one hundred years 1900 lbs.
of alkalies in leaves, grain and straw,
1t became unfruitfal because it was
deprived of every particle of alkali
which had been reduced to a soluble
state. He says it is the greatest possi-
BILE mistake to suppose that the tenn!
porary diminution of fertility in a
soil is owing to. the loss of hunIus; it
is the mere consequence Of the ex-
haustion Of the alkalics. A portion
of the alkalies arc rendered sotuable
year butno in sufficient quantities to
keep up constant fertility" And now
the question is what artificial means
shall be used to promote fertility. The
farmer very naturally looks 10 his
barnyard as the source from which he
Is to derive the necessary supply. But
in many instances he is partially dis
from the fact that The most
valuable portion of his Manures have
gone to waste. They are mere putn-a
ice heaps with the valuable juices sx-
tracted. The solid excrements of the
stable are in many i'm stances piled up.
SO as to be washed by the spring rains
and lose much of their value, while
but little thought or care is bestowed
upon the liquids of the stable In
most cases these are left to go 10
waste, SO that the manure pile loses
much of its value as fertilizer, and
the fields, instead of retaining their
original fertility are constantly losing
in this respect, although these indif-
ferent tnanures are applied yearly to
the soil. Davis in his History of
China, says "Human urine is, If
possible, moro hasbanded by the Chi,
nese than nj shtsOiI for napiIre eyary
farm, or patch Of land for cultivation,
has tank where all substances con-
vertible into manure are carefully de-
posted, the whole made liquid by
adding urine in the proportion requir-
ed and invariably applied in that state.
The business of collecting urine and
night soil employs an immense num-
ber of persons, who deposit tubs in
every house in the cities for the fecep-
tion of the urine of the inmates,
which vessels are. removed daily with
as much care as our farmers remove
the honey from the hive" When we
fully realize the fact ithatethe eXcre-
ments of OneI person each year are
sufficientt 10 apply to one acre of land
in order to produce the largest crops,
we can scarcely compute the Immense,
loss sustained by the agricultural COM
from the constant waste which
is allowed uponsev farm. a-a' Il.
a. t'.. LII A------ . u