Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-04-10
Kew shall Exhshstea Lands be Reclaimed.


must move with it. The great book Of
nature is spread out before us. and those
WHO wish may, by the light Of science,
read her laws.
| predict that the day will come when
natures storehouse will be unlocked by
he key Of science aud the riches thereof
will be placed within easy reach of
those who labor diligently with brain
and muscle,
The source from which must come a
very large per centage Of the constitu-
ents necessary to plant life. is the
atmosphere. Then, if this proposition
Dc true. the question naturally arises.
How can we secure and turn to practical
account these constituents Of plant life
which a kind Providence has placed
within our reach md Tor our benefit
l will only make a few suggestions,
hopping thereby to draw out some
gentleman who is able to throw some
light on the subject.
First. l would suggest rest, whereby
land may become charged with humu>
which i. an important ingredient OF the
soil, having an affinity fo,' nitrogen.
draws nitrogen and moisture from the
atmosphere. aud holds them unul they
may be taken up by plants. keeps the
soil pourous. friable and in condition t"
permit the rootlets tn permcate the
,oil IN search offnod. holds the seasons
a. they fall charged with plant inod.-
Moisture or water is the great dcsidera'
tum with the farmer. for without II II"
fertilizer will avail anything. The I'M .
porlance ofa porous soil is well under
stood by all experienced agricuiiurlsts.
A deep, mellow soil, made SO BY the
INCORPORATION O, vegetable matter has a
capacity for absorbing and retaining
no,sture over and above lard, Thin soils
as the sponge has over hard substance.
Secondly rotating our ,r"ps. All
plants are different in their constituents
consequently feed On dlii"r' eIr-
ments or REQUIRE them IN different pro
portions. In rotation We grow crops
whose demand Tor some Of the mr. .
dents of the soil is less than were the
preceding; and by the time the rotation
is completed the materials required for
the first crop. have been. t" Sc NE tX-
tent. restored by atmospheric action.
For example: Follow lime plants
with potash plants. potash plants with
silica plants; in this way the soil is
gatie riug one constituent of plant life,
while it is being exhausted Of another :;
thus it is that the fertility oil the soil j.
kept up for much longer period OF timr
without artificial manures.
Third-deep blowing. Where there
is vegetable matter to incorporate with
it. (though there is such a thing as plow
ing too deep, not more than one inch
Of clay should be turned up during
twelve months. A deep soil is very
important, but should be deepcnrd
gradually. A soil twelve inch cs deep
has twice the absorbing caiacity Of one
six inches deep, and will stand drought
lust in proportion to the depth OF soil
and the amount of humus contained
therein.
Fourth. Thorough cultivation is
another means of sustaining and inn
proving our lands. By this means the
organic constituents of plant life, lever
present in the ATMOSPHERIC, are absorbed
by the soil and there held until let of as
drafts are made on them by vegetation.
be that what it may.
Fifth. BY turning green crops, such
as peas. clover aud vetch. but more
particularly peas. as they art infinitely
better for low ATTITUDES, and they will
grow on any kind of land. and grow
two crops in a season for tertilzlng pur-
poses.
Ii the exhausted lands Of the South
are reclined, it must be done through
the instrumentality Of the pea. Min ;
of wealth would follow their general
cultivatlon.- The Southern Pianter and
Farmer.