Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1878-06-29

This is a common question, snd il
means much more than is usually sup
posed. The answer is clear: Land should
be just rich enough to grow the best
crops. What is over this is a loss in the
interest and in the manurial properties
that escape, as nitrogen, the best Of
them, will. There msy therefore be too
much fertility. But some crops require
more than others, like corn, the grasses,
and forage crops in general. Not 80 with
the grains, which may be TOO stout, 50
IS TO lodge or grow, IS they are apt to,
more straw in proportion than berry.
Yet the grains (wheat in particularly will
bear considerable northumberland
more than they get. After learning, by
test, what kind Of manure the land
wants, and the manure of the farm usually
answers the purpcs9-the application be
comes only a matter Of quantity, and
the gauge may be maintained by a proper
rotation, using, if enough can be made
(Which eau with proper management J,
only tarmyard manure, and what the
farm furnishes III sod, green crops, etc.
1t thus becomes an easy matter to push
the crops az desired, The question arises,
to what extent they shall be pushed, and
not leave to large a surplus in the land,
As | said beioIe, just enough to grow
the best crops, as land may be too rich
or too poor to realize profits. This always
leaves a portion in the soil, enough to
give the necessary balance and texture.
This is not a very large amount. For
instance, a poor soil that barely pays
EXPENSES, given a good coat of manure,
properly applied, 80 that the top ground
where the roots are gets the benefit of it,
will pay all expenses, including the
manure, with something over besides,
depending on how cheap the manure was
obtained, while the land has still some
lett of the application, which is the
commencement of the improvement,
making, with the same amount of mau-
ure in the second crop, a better yield,
with still further improvement in the
land. Here is profit from the crop, and
increased value of the land. At this
rate it does not take many years to bring
up the land to a high state OF fertility.
But is this advisable? Evidently not, as
it leaves too much unused enrichment in
the sell. The course is to manure
enough to grow the most Profitable
crops, and 10 more. This is economy.
1t still ke ps the soil in good mechani-
cal condition, with small waste of the
nitrates, the crop taking up what is
needed, leaving to the soil its share,
kept up, MT exceeded, by what excess
in application is demanded to supply the
waste. In this way less manure and
more benefit will result.
1t is a fine way of farming, bringing
up the land with comparatively little
outlay, and at the same time realizing
large Yields with increased profit through
the economical us9 of the manure The
poorest land thus becomes an object OF
interest. 1t is the true means OF reno
waiting our New England farms, with
their admirable markets for all kinds OF
produce. and adapted to mixed husband,
nv, With the advantage derived from
keeping manure at the surface, SO as tO
get its full benefit before it disappears
in the depth of the soil, and get it at
once, realizing Jhus du duultloualH saving,
with corresponding reduction in the
expense of manure (amOunt) Of manure
and the labor in handlingit; a new era in
farming has dawned which is slowly but
surely revolutionizing the old wasteful
method of burying beyond resurrection.
Itnnw only needs care in saving and
properly applying. But much-indeed
all--is depending upon the manner in
which this is done, To put the manure
in heaps, and leave it there for a time, is
a twotold loss-a loss of labor aud the
strength OF the manure-and if left for a
long time, the loss of n will be
great, and its strength will be unevenly
distributed, some places, where the
heaps were getting too much, the rest
not enough. Let it be remembered that
it is manure. the coarse material of the
farm, on which the profit of the farm de
pends, and that it accordingly requires
careful management, 20 as to avoid
waste, not only in the stable aud around
the barn (using absorbents aud protec.
tom, but on the field, in the application
aud the amount given.-Country Gente-
man.