The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-04-29
ALetter to the Grangers.

II
that meadow or a wheat field, near
ly surrounded by a body of woods.
looked fresher and more vigorous
than other fields. / thought at first
that this might be an incidental cir
cumstance, that probably more ma
nure might have been spread on such
places, than on other parts of the
farm. But after observing this so Oft
en- 1 draw the conclusion that the
woods form protection to the soil.
They check the currents of wind and
thus prevent the hasty evaporation.
The soil is impoverished by a current
Of wind passing continually over it,;
especially when it is not projected by
some covering, from the heat of the
SUMS rays. In the woods the ground
is shaded during the hot weather, by
the leaves that cover the branches of
the trees. When the leaves fall in
autumn they make thick covering
that is not removed by the winds of
winter, and the evaporation from the
soil is prevented by this covering of
leaves on the ground and as they de-
cay it helps further to enrich the soil.
On the prairies the tall grass grows
up in the spring, and forms shade
for the ground in the hot season Of the
year, so that the wind and warmth
does not carry away much strength
from the soil. During the winter
this tall grass falls down and and
makes a thick matted covering over
the ground which retains the strength
OF the soil and as this, like the falling
leaves, recurs year after year, the soil
becomes rich and deep. When the
land is brought under cultivation,
both Of these sources of enriching it,
are removed. In places where the
soil is very deep, it will bear
crops for many years in succession
without any fertilizer being added to
it. But in this country it is best to
save it in every possible way, and add
to it all we can. And it is just as
good economy in clearing farm, to
arrange the fields SO as to prevent
evaporation by the wind, az it is to
Zurich them By thousands of loads Of
manure. Both practices would be
commendable. In some parts Of Iowa
the wind is strong enough to carry
small particles of the soil from one
place to another. If this is true of the
sensible particles it is also true Of the
insensible qualities of the soil. The
volitile salts are brought back to the
earth in dew and rain =; if we can re-
tain them, they will assist to support
vegetable growth if they are carried
away again by evaporation they are
lost to US. If farmers continue to cut
the timber off of the front ends of
their farms, in few years the wind
will have q fair sweep from Randolph
to Ellsworth. And it will become
more and more like desert every
year. Some farmers say their land
will not bear blowing. If it is to be
exposed to such a source of evapora-
ton, they had better put it into sod
and let it remain SO, and save it from
becoming barren as long as possible.
But instead of clearing of Sc thorough
ly it would be better to SOW the seeds
of forest trees where they are needed.
A farm would be much more product
i've if it was protected by woods on
three sides of it. If there were six Or
eight rods of woodland between each
farm of one hundred acres I think
land would be worth much more than
it now is for farming purposes. Some
farms lie in such way that it seems
more convenient to clear field here
and there and leave the rest in woods.
Such farms are generally productive.
If remember right Mr.. L. Hough's
farm in Rootstown is surrounded by
woods ON three sides. The high loca-
tion gives it the credit Of being good
fruit farm. But think the high tt ees
on the north, south and west, ought
to have share Of the credit. 1 went
by this farm last summer, when most
meadows were dried up with the
dreuth, or covered with a growth of
about eight inches of June grass, and
[ saw by the north woods, field Of
bright tall timothy standing thick on
the ground, which attribute in part
to the protection of the woods.
Some people contend that the storm
and sunshine enrich the land and to
prove it bring instances where worn
out fields have been made to yield
good crops by fallow plowing, repeat
ed two OR three times, without the ap-
plication of any manure. This does
not prove that the soil is enriched the
strength of it may be brought to the
surface, SO as to yield one good crop
after having a rest; but l think it
would not yield second one without
being enriched by some kind of ferti-
lizer. Frequently stirring corn ground
in dry weather is supposed to protect
the corn against the drouth. by furn-
ishing moisture in fresh soil around
the roots of the corn; but this does
not add new strength to the soil, it
only uses what is there, and if not re-
stored in some external way the land
becomes poor, And SO with falloW
blowing. There may be roots in the
ground which will add some to the
soil when they decay, but for any
thing more to be gained it must be
protected from evaporation.
The woods are benefit to US in af-
fording US protection against the
strong winds. l know several places
on the north and south reads where
the woods on the back ends of ada
cent farms have been cut away, and