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

has been sent US ny The orange lor publ
cation
We, your committee, appointed to eli.
uuirc if there be amy way t. prevent the cX-
haustion Of our soils, would respectfully sub
nit the following to your consideration as
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 Tor the restoration Of the soil.
We therefore present the subject to yon i'll
this method: 1st, the causes 2nd, tn,
remedies.
The great and primary causes of this cx
haustion are to be referred to the avaricc,
want Of judgment, Indifference and inprov
idcncc of the inhabitants. When this coun-
Try was first settled by our sturdy ancestors,
the hiIlsilcs and valleys on every hand
were covered with stately forests. One
hundred years ago Il gully, an old field pine
or broonscdgc field was Il curiosity. With
a climate equal to that of any other portion
Of the globe, favorable to the growth OF Il
great staple production, which always COM
nlandcd Il ready market and abundantly
remuncratcd 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 OLA legacy he was leaving to
rustcrity OF later years VIC find this cx
haustion and depletion Of our soils going
un 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
L.. ;,,,.r,,.,1 fhn ,.i,.ll ni
the great staple !; but is it not being done
ut the expense Of ovcrtaskin% 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. The Omc.crop system
has no doubt largely contributed to this
exhaustion. 10 the mind of your commit
tee, that Il piece Of land has been cultivated
large number OF years in 4 certain crop,
without any sensible diminution oi the
yield, proves nothing. DO We not occasion.
ally see a man, who daily make use Of ar
dent spirits, liro to green old age! Yet
this does net prove that alcohol is not Il
poison The want Of rest and proper rota-
ton OF crops is rapidly cntaiuy incurablc
evils Oh 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 rccupcratcl.
lst We would recommend system OF
rotation Of crops founded on an intelligent
observation of experiments made in this
ur,ov.,u., ...,n .,,av o"vm 50 "u.~
with this view, thinking and acting for him
self, and not depending entirely on his
ncighbor or Il Dixon.
md That 4 portion Of the lands b. al.
lowed to rest alternately Rest is u 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
mcnt Of his chosen people be ordained that
the lands should rest at the periodical return
Of a certain year.
3rd. That there should b. moderate
and prudent use OF fertilizers, and that it
hr remembered that gaano Of itself never
adds to the permanent fertility OF the soil
lth That the raising OF stock should be
encouraged, thereby enabling farmers to
make home manure, itno quite so active
rs the commercial ones, it Will no doubt in
the end be more rcmuncrativc.
9th. That advantage should be taken Of
the laws q nature. We sec nature every
where trying to conceal the sears on its
tHcG by the growth Of vegetation. The
propagati1n of the old field pine should be
encouraged. This tree beyond controversy,
is 4 boon like the bEckbcrry-thc poor
mans friend The ruthless buruin, Of the
cid broom sclyc should be stopped. The
straw should be allowed to lie and rot -
S'nly nature and follow its preccpts if
'