The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-04-25

more engage the attention OF those
who realize the need of earnest re-
form in agricultural systems. This
food may be artificial, that l., con
sisting Of combinations Of certain
chemical agencies in a concentrated
form, in which are supposed to be
gathered all the elements OF plant
food, to retouch the soil with the
principles of fertility with which 1t
was originally endowed by Nature;
or, it NAV be natural, consisting OF
animal manures, or composts, or
green crops turned under. The
first has been rapidly and greedlly
seized upon as a ready and quick
way of attaining profitable results,
and its use, because Of It's extrane-
Gus origin, has been heralded as
| the attainment Of the very acme OF
high and progressive farming. But
the objection to this may be made
that, while efficient on n crop, 1T
makes little permanent impression;
and, like the action of stimulants
| upon the human system, the use OF
them becomes compulsory, if de-
sired effects are to be produced;
and, like them, after a while, be-
coming wholly inert, leaving the
body helpless and exhausted, to
link into death and ruin without a
hope of remedy. This Is not high
| farming, nor is it IN the direction
of it, if looked upon as the only
efficient agency; though high farm
ing, already attained, may very
properly call in artificial fertilizers
as a valuable ally. The substantial
reliance is, after all, upon the barn
| yard, and upon the free use OF
green crops. The first, Sc demon
stratiye of its value, escapes the
notice of no farmer, however blind
ed he may be to the merits Of "new
ground" But the trouble is, hat
there is almost universal careless
ness in the collection and manage
ment of this invaluable material.
1t is exposed to weather, dried by
the sun, drenched by the rain until
half its value is totally wasted.
The negligence of, OF blindness to,
such an accessible means Of main
tanning or restoring fertility is
amazing, and almost criminal. We
remember, not long since, passing
through a lane almost blockaded
with cattle. The farm house stood
on the summit of a gentle hill
which sloped away on either side.
The barns and cribs stood just in
side the fence, but there was no
yard or enclosure for the cattle.
They came up to be fed, and were
fed and MIXED In the public road.
AL their droppings fell in the road,
were cut up by passing teams and
the wheels of vehicles, baked by
the sun into cakes thin and light
enough to be blown off by the
wind, or, commiserated by contin-
ued trampling, floating off on the
breast of the first rain torrents,
whilst, over the fence, the naked
red clay of the still naked but COM
pletely worn out land seemed to lift
up its voice in clamor for the food
so improvidently wasted within its
sight and grasp. This was an eN-
IRENE case, we admit. 1t is, how
ever, scarcely more improvident
than the practice everywhere COM
mon in the South of c~ow-penning
cattle to make a turnip patch. No
doubt a good turnip patch is made;
but was the cost of it ever counted?
Probably as much was expended in
fertilizing an eighth of an acre, as,
iudiciously husbanded and distrib-
uted. would have enriched a dozen
acres. And it is a rare thing to
see barn yard manure gathered or
placed under corn, or protected in
any way from the weather, or its
volume increased 10y the addition
of earth, or leaves, or any other alb
sorbent or material that would be
animalized in combination with it.