The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1877-03-03
Capacity Of the Soil
From the Country Gentleman.

"
iuction), but you can not thus h"rt
the ground that will bear all yo"
can do with it in the way of growth. :,
The reason of the difference is, the l.
former Is organized. the latter is not Il
# is only an accumulation OF harm"- "
NOUS material, which the plant quiet Il
" appropriatcs, to be replaced ny Z
aimilar material, without effort by the I,
sol. This dispoSes of the idea that ..
land needs rest. What rest has II Q
land had that grew for ages the
American forests and prairics-a|ways
busy, and growing the same pr"'t"ct
At that; or, the product removed,
growing equally well another and an
entirely different one? 1t is because
the material is there, and in a conal-
ton 90 BE- taken up-the soil being
dry enough and porous enough, the
weather shnwery and VAIN. we
have. therefore, something that we
can PUT to the greatest STRAIN, the
highest pressure-realizing the most
chat it is possible to yield, without
harm !; only we must not abuse 1t.
This, however, is generally done
sometimes less, sometimes more, &C
cording to the nature of the soil ana
Che careless or ignorant treatment IT
gets. 1t may be poisoned, as is some
times the case, with iron compounds,
OF hurt for u while by an excess OF
strong saline ingredients, like com
mon salt. There are other ways to
hurt it, but the worst, because the
most extensive, is to work the land
when wet, followed by the strong
arying heat of the sun. This bakeS
1t, and for years makes it harsh ana
unfit for high prodnctiveness. Wen
treated, with only the necessary ele.
ments and conditions for the highest
Weld, it may be worked for any
Such q soil is not only lasting, but
it has many advantages which are
wanting, or of less value, in an or
Cina,y soil. 1t is warmer; it is more
porous, yet sufficiently compact: 1t
is also more mellow, and more easily
kent so: withstands drought much
better, and disposes readily of sur
plus water; not alone because 1t IS
drained, but is in balance, 80 that II
hvors every advantage; there is nc
one constituent in excess or wanting
The question now is, will such
soil nav Or will it pay better tha1
where there is less labor and fertility
bestowed? The labor in draln'n!
and working the land is certainly
more profitable than where these az
neglected. 1t is only where the pro
per mixture is made, where sand 0
cIay haste be carted, that the ques
ton assumes q doubt. If this has t.
be done at great expense of distanc
or difficulty of getting, there will b
boss at first, but in the long run
may be different This is to be &c
sermined. The sand and clay thu
sreated are considered to be lasting
"A lasting as any soil, as it is compt
aed of the materials of good sol
The question ms.y arise here, If tn
saving and carting of baruyard ms
nure pays, why not the carting
sand or clay9 TO answer this, it
TO be considered whether the latter
~ be baueed farther or secul ed at
greater expense, and what is the bel
eft thus realized as compared vii
manure. TO begin at the beglnnln
how much will it take of clay to mai
4 well. balanced soil on a basis
sand, or vice versaq This again W
depend upon the depth Of soil wan
ed, This, with sub-stratum of san
would have to he greater, on accol'
of the danger from dronth, th
where the surface is mderlaid wi
clay. In the latter case a cuHiva'
depth, say of five or six inches, wo'
Be sufficient, not for perfect soil, +
~ meet tho highest attainment, b
where the subsoil admits of DRAMA!
high state of success, and un'
some circumstances the highest,
where the season is IA warm, shove
sne, and grass is the product. | hi
also seen crops OF wheat and oats, 4
! may add barley, approaching
maximum yield on such land.
corn it will not do, at least not "
and l would not put ont an orch
with suLsoil of clay 80 near
surface; though with no more Il
six or seven inches of soil, we'll l
Aured from time to time, c"nside
ble success is Obtained, OF cours
greater depth of improved soil
give an increased value.
Save Your Horses Backs
TO prevent saddle gals, the SAL
should should be lined with 81
smooth, hard substance. Elan
wooden cloth is bad. A hard. fin
ed, smooth, rawl,i,le lining, simila
those of. military saddles, is pref
bic. Then, if the saddle is prop
fitted to the horses back, there
be 20 gals, unless the horse is '
hardly used. Calls should be W
ell with soap and water, and
with a, solnfi,,n nf siv GRAINS IF