The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-09-11
Exhaustion Of the Soils.

The following paper, says the Chester
Bulletin, read before the Bull Run
Grange, No. 1O1, on Saturday, July Goth,
1879, has been sent us by the Grange for
publication:
We, your committee, appointed to en-.
quire if there be any way to prevent the
exhaustion of our soils, would respect
fully submit the following to your con-
sideration as the result of our investiga-
tions: By way of preface we would say
that it seems easier to point out the
causes ofthis exhaustion than to specify
means for its prevention. or remedies for
the restoration of the soil. We therefore
present the subject to you in this method :
lst, the causes End, the remedies.
The great and primary causes of this
exhaustion are to be referred to the a7-
arice, want of judgment, indifference
and improvidence of the inhabitants.
When this country was first settled by
our sturdy ancestors, the hillsides and
valleys on every hand were covered with
stately forests. One hundred years ago
gully, an old field pine or broomsedge
held was q curiosity. With q climate
equal to that of any other portion of the
globe, favorable to the growth of a great
staple production, which always COM
manded ready market and abundant
ly remunerated his labors, the farmer
puts forth his energies to produce the
largest possible number of cotton bales,
cleared more lands, not once stopping to
consider what kind of legacy he was
leaving to posterity. Of later years we
find this exhaustion and depletion of our
soils going on with an accelerated ratio; ;
and we'll may the true and patriotic citi-
zen become alarmed.
The discovery Of the Phosphate beds,
and the manufacture of the commercial
fertilizers has largely increased the yield
of the great staple; but is it not being
done at the expense of everlasting the
soil by stimulating it to undue action ?
Under this treatment time will soon be
reached when the soil will no longer con-
tain the elements of crops. The one
crop system has no doubt largely contri.
buted to this exhaustion. To the mind
of your committee, that piece of land
has been cultivated large number OF
years in certain crop, without any SEN
sible diminution of the yield, proves
nothing. Do we not occasionally see a
man, who daily makes use of ardent
spirits, live to a green old age? Yet
this does not prove that alcohol IS not
a poison. The want of rest and proper
rotation of crops is rapidly entailing in
curable evils on the agricultural interests
of the State.
Your committee would now mention
what seemed to be some of the means
by which this exhaustion might be
prevented and the soil recuperated.
1st. We would recommend a system of
rotation of crops, founded on an intelli-
gent observation of experiments made in
this direction, and that each one 60 to
work with this view, thinking and acting
for himself, and not depending entirely
on his neighbor or Dixon.
End. That portion of the lands be al
lowed to rest alternately. Rest is great
law of nature. Hen1e God instituted the
night season and one day out of every
seven for rest, and in his laws for the gov
ernment of his chosen people he ordained
that the lands should rest at the periodi-
cal return of certain year.
3rd. That there should be moderate
and prudent use of fertilizers, and that it
be remembered that guano of itself never
adds to the permanent fertility of the
soil.
4th. That the raising Of stock should
be encouraged, thereby enabling farmers
to make home manure, if not quite SO ac-
tive as the commercial ones, it will no
doubt in the end be more remunerative.
9th. That advantage should be taken
of the laws of nature. We see nature
everywhere trying to conceal lhe scars
on its face by the growth OF vegetation.
The propagation of the old field pine
should be encouraged. This tree, beyond
controversy, is boon like the blackberry
the poor mans friend. The ruthless
burning of the old broomsedge should be
stopped. The straw should be allowed
to lie and rot. Study nature and follow
its precepts if you would succeed.
1t further occurred 10 your committee
that great deal could be done towards
enriching the worn out lands by sowing
and plowing in on the old fields the seeds
of such trees as contain large quantities
of ammonical matter in their leaves, such
as the pride or china tree, the persim-
mon and wild plum, there to spring up
and grow for years, fertilizing the soil by
the fall and decay of their leaves. And
lastly, there be more concentration in the
operations of the farm a smaller acreage
and larger yield. There is no reason
why every acre titled might not be made
to produce twenty bushels of corn or
wheat, forty of oats, or four hundred
pounds of lint cotton. 1t is better to get
the golden egg day by day, than to make
the ruinous attempt to obtain all the gold
al once.
Finally, Patrons, let US adhere more
closely to the grand principles of our
Order, which inculcate to buy and sell
for cash; to avoid debt with all its vexa.
tious concomitants. When this is done
we certainly will have entered upon the
highway to independence. Let every
member of this body resolve by another
year that he will abandon the credit and
percentage system, and be no longer a
newer of wood and drawer of water.
Not until then will all the beauties of
our organization be seen and felt in their
excellencies. Not till then will we be
able to improve our lands, educate our
children, beautify our homes, and sur
round them with the pleasures and COM
forts of life.
w. J. HENRY, Chairman.
WHAT BECOMES OF Our BODIES