The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-01-28
Fixed Principles in Agriculture.


All lands on which clover or the grasses
are grown, must either have lime and every
other inorganic constituent which may be
found in the ashes of the clover if buried,
or those minerals must be artifcially sup
piled. All permanent Improvement of lands
must look to lime, potash, and other con-
stituents common to plants, as its basis
Lands which have been long in cultivation,
will be benefited by applications of phos-
phate of lime, treated with sulphuric acid
so as to render it soluble phosphate ;
supplied in the form of boue-dust, COM
posts of fish, guano, ashes and oyster-shell
lime.
All highly concentrated animal manures
are increased in value, and their benefits
prolonged by admixture with plaster, salt,
or pulverized charcoal. Deep blowing
greatly improves the productive powers of
every variety Of soil, that is not wet, though
the depth should be increased gradually.
Sub-solling sound land, that is, land that is
eminently conducive to increased produc-
ton. All wet land should be drained, and
especially such land As has heavy clay sub
soil. All grain crops should be harvested
before the grain is thoroughly ripe. Glover
as well as the other grasses intended for hay,
should be moved when in bloom. Sandy
land can be most effectually improved by the
addition of clay. When such lands require
lining or marling, the lime or mari is most
bene6cislly applied when made into compost
with clay. In Stacking lime salt brine is
better than water.
The grinding of grain to be fed to stock,
and mixing it with cut hay or straw, ope-
rates as a saving of at least twenty five per
cent. Draining of wet lands and marshes
adds to their value, by causing them to pro-
duce earlier, and greater quantity and bet
ter quality, and improves the health of
neighborhoods.
To manure or lime wet land, is to throw
manure, lime and labor away. Shallow
blowing operates to impoverish the soil. By
stabling and housing stock through the
winter, q saving of onc-fourth less food may
be effected that is one-fourth less food will
answer than when such stock are exposed to
the inclemencies of the weather. A good
dressing of plaster or clover, where the land
is deficient in lime and sulphuric acid, will
add one hundred per cent, to its produce
Periodical applications of ashes tend to keep
up the integrity of soils, by supplying most,
ifnot all the inorganic substances. Thorough
preparations of land is absolutely necessary
to the successful and luxuriant growth of
crops. Abundant crops cannot be grown for
a succession of years, unless care be taken
to provide an equivalent for the substances
carried off the land in the products grown
thereon.
To preserve meadows in their productive
ness, it is better to harrow them every second
autumn, apply top-dressing, and roll them.
All stiff clays are benefited by fall and win
ter plowings; but should never be plowed
while they are wet. If at such plowings,
the furrow be materially deepened, lime,
mari or ashes should be applied. Young
stock should bs moderately fed with grain
in winter, and receive generous supplies of
Provender, it being essential to keep them in
fair condition, in order that the formation
ofmuscles and bones may be encouraged and
continuously carried on. Mich cows in
winter, shonld be kept in dry, moderately
warm, but well ventilated quarters, fed and
watered three times day, salted twice
week, having clean beds. and in addition to
their long prevender should receive roots
Full complement of tools and implements of
husbandry are intimately connected with
success.