The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-08-22
EXHAUSTION uF THE SOILS.

NO. lOl, on saturday, July -otn, 1919,
has been sent us by the Grange for publ
cation
We, your committee, appointed to en-
quire If there be any way t. prevent the ex-
haustion Of our soils, would respectfully SUBJ
nit the following to your consideration rs
the result of our Investigations: BY way
of preface we would say that it seems easier
to point out the causes of this exhaustion
than to specify means for its prevention, or
remedies for the restoration Of the soil
We therefore present the subject to yon in
this method 1st, the causes End, tn,
remedies.
The great and primary causes of this cx
haustion are to be referred to the avarice,
want of Judgment, indifference and inprov-
idcnee of the inhabitants. When this coun.
try was first settled by our sturdy ancestors,
the hillsIcs and valleys on every hand
were covered with stately forests. One
hundred years ago gully, an old field pine
or broomscdgc field was curiosity. With
a climate equal to that of any other portion
great staple production, which always CON-
nlandcd a ready market and abundantly
remuncratcd his labors, tho farmer puts
forth his energies to produce the largest
possible number Of cotton bales, cleared
moro lands, not once stopping to consider
what kind of legacy. he was leaving to
postcrity OF later years VIC find this cx-
haustion and depletion of our soils going
on with an accelerated ratio and well may
the true aud patriotic citizen become.
alarmed.
The discovery Of the Phosphate beds,
and the manufacture Of the commercial fer
tilizcrs has largely increased the yield Of
the great staple but is it not being done
at tho 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 contain tho
clements of crops. Tho onc-crop system
has no doubt largely contributed to this
exhaustion. TO the mind Of your commit
tee, that piece of land has been cultivated
Il large number Of years in certain crop,
without any sensible diminution OF the
yield, proves nothing. Do we not occasion
ally sec man, whqrdaiiy makes use of ar
dent spirits, liG0stoa groen old age? Yet
this does net prove that alcohol is not a
poison. The want of rest and proper rota-
tion Of crops is rapidly cntaling incurabc
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 night be prevented and the
soil rccuperated:
1st. We would recommend system Of
rotation of crops, founded on an intelligent
, observation of experiments made in this
orrovpivns rr1ra rfrau- cucrr go ro-uurh-
with this view, thinking and acting for him
self, and not depending entirely on his
ncighbor or Dixon.
2nd. That portion Of the lands be al
lowed to rest alternately. Rest is great
law Of nature. Hence God instituted the
night season and one day out of every
seven, for rcstand in his laws for the govern
ment of his chosen people he ordained that
the lands should rest at the periodical return
of certain year.
3rd. That there should be a moderate
and prudent use of fertilizers, and that it
bo remembered that gaano OF itself never
adds to the permanent fertility Of the soil.
4th That the raising Of stock should be
encouraged, thereby enabling farmers to
>ihake home manure, if not quite so active
as the commercial ones it will no doubt in
the end be more remunerative.
9th. That advantage should be taken of
the laws Ct nature We sec nature every
where trying to conceal the sears on its
face by the growth of vegetation. The
propagation of the old field pine should be
encouraged. This tree. beyond controversy
is a boon like the blackberry-thc poor
mans friend. The ruthless burning Of the
old broom scdgc should be stopped. The
straw should be allowed to lie and rot -
Study nature and follow its preccpts if
you would succeed
1t further occurred to your committee
that great deal could be done towards en-.
riehing the worn out lands by sowing and
plowing in on tn, old fields the seeds of
such trees as contain largo quantities of
ammonieal matter in their leaves such as
the pride or china tree, the persimmon and
wild plum, there to spring up and grow for
years, fsrtilizing the soil by the fall and
decay Of their leaves. And lastly, there
be more concentration in the operations of
the farm; smaller acreage and larger yield
There is no reason why every acre titled
might not be made to produce twenty bush.
els of corn or wheat, forty of oats, or four
hundred pounds Of lint cotton. 1t is bet.
ter to get the golden egg day by day, than
to make the ruinous attempt to obtain all