Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-07-02
4. FROM the American Farmer of ocios.r ls.S
PRIZE ESSAY
IN THE
RlIOVAfI0I Of WORKOUT IAID!.
BY EDWARD STABLER,
BY EDWARn STARLER

BY EDWARD STABLER.
Of SaHdy !spriHs, Koaf9omery CoaAiy. Nd.
In submitting the following Essay
upon the Renovation of Woru-out
Lands" it is deemed proper 10 state.
that the writer understands the main
object in view of the Editor of the
imsrioaa farRisT. TO be. the eliciting
OF snch information as is best adapted
to the wants of the great majority of far
mers, those who arr dependent ON the
product of the soil for u support, and
whose resources are comparatively lim-
tied: for although il NAV b. equally
desirable To those with more ample
means. to improve their lands at the
least expense of time aud money, vet
the number of such Is comparatively
small aud it is not perceived why the
sane plan may not suit both: the one
who Lives hy the sweat Of his brow
improves his ten acres. while he with
the '.plethoric purse, may in the
same time, enrich his hundred acres.
With the view, therefore. To a,lap. ii
to the more numerous class of readers.
the effort will BE- made Ia condense
the essay as much as possible; aud SO
plain, and free from tcchnicalities,
that "he that runs NAV read.
IL Is almost impossible to establish
a theory. or inosle Of farming. that eaQ
be made to suit alike. all localities
of soil, climate. aud the facilities of
obtaining the various kinds of manure.
nov III use in different sections of the
eonntry. But il i believed that with
proper energy and industry ON the
part Of farmers, and even With the
prssemt facilities OF transportation. AN
increase of double. ii not quairupIe
the lime, mari. aud bones might te
used To advantage: the two former. In
many sections ut our country are inex.
haustible for generations to come: aud
q much greater amount of the latter
might b. obtained in sections where
they are not used, but greatly needed.
II more attention sas paid To their col
lection and preservation.
The first step | would advise towards
the Renovation OF Worn-out Lands"
is complete and thorough draining.
both surface aud under drains. where
the location and nature Of the soil rem
ders il too retentive of moisture late
in the spring. II retar,ls early seed
ing-the winter grains aud grass roots
are very liable 10 be thrown out and
injured by frosts; and on such land,
the injury from drought is much more
severely felt. The writer has not
known case where this operation Was
performed with ordinary skill and
Judgment, that did not fully repay the
expense; and in some eases the pro-
duet WAS increased from five to ten
fold.
To 60 into full description Of the
methods used in different sections. to
accomplish this mostimportant branch
of the husbandmans duty, would re-
quire diagrams, and also too much
space: nor is il considered necessary;
for i'm the ''Imeriean Farmer" (Which
every tiller of the soil ought to possessl
very full and ample information may
be obtained OH the subject A few
general observations here, may suffice.
If the soil is rendered too wet by
springs, whose sources are lower than
the surrounding land. the drains must
be extended to at least the same level,
be the distance and depth what they
may; or to a sufficient depth below
the surface, to admit of under-drain-
ing clear of the plough. This may
sometimes be effected, by going through
the clay sub-soil, and without much
expense of ditching; as the water can
then pass off through the under-strat-
um of gravel, or sand.
Wherever the nAder drains will an
swer the purpose, they should be
adopted; for the land thus reclaimed
is often the most profitable for culti-
vation; and where the expense of
brick, or tile, is too great, or suitable
stone connot be had to construct trunk
drains, good substitute is generally
within reach, by II to Is inches in
depth of small loose stones; covering
first with leaves, straw, or small brush,
to prevent filling the interstices with
the returned earth. Logs or poles,
laid lengthwise, also form good under
drains; but are more liable to clog
from decay.
The next important step in my opin-
ion, in "Renovating Worn-out Lands" :"
is to plough deep, and thus expose a
new surface to the action of frost, and
atmospheric influence, in order to make
u soil in place of the one provided by
nature; but which either from cupidi-
ty, or bad management-perhaps both
IMAM has destroyed. 1t is consider
ed one of the most certain means to
attain this desirable end: and although