The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-02-27

are, In the absence Of 1udicious treat
ment, continual source Of disappoint-
ment TO the cultiyator. They allow a
rapid descent Of water through them,
are incapable Of supplying moisture
from below by capillary attraction and
are deficient i'm the power Of absorbing
moisture or fertilizing gasses from the \
atmosphere. Fertilizers applied 10
these lands are of little or no use be-
cause they are not retained. The con-
sequence Is failure Of crops, especially
in times Of drouth. These soils, how
ever, with proper management have
| their mechanical defects corrected and
their value many times enhanced. Fall
blowing when there is clay subsoil
within reach is very beneficial, because
il brings up the clay to mingle with the
sand surface by The action Of frosts and
rains. A green crop or two turned nn-
der further assists in stiffening the tex
ture of the land. improving its capilla-
~ action and facilitating root action.
When there is not a clay subsoil within
reach Of the pillow, the use Of lime in
conjunction with vegetable matter turn
ed under is advised as one Of tie most
effectual and economical means for the
amelioration of the land.
The successful management and cul-
tivation Of clay or stiff lands are much
more laborious than the lighter soils
Clay soils under proper treatment, how
ever, endure long and yield great va
ricty Of crops. They are generally
adapted TO the cereals, make good grass
and pasture lands and grow fine fruits.
Clay lands are deficient in veg
etable matter and are there
fore greatly benefited by an
application Of the same. Lime j. also
beneficial to such lands, assisting TO
remedy their stiffness and tenacity- Any
substances which serve as divisors, pre-
venting the adhesion Of the particles Of
earth both in times Of drouth and ex-
cessive wet are OF great service.
Good drainage is especially necessary
: for clay soils. Without drainage sea-
, sonable work can seldom be done in the
spring. Every farmer knows how
troublesome clay land becomes If run
together and packed after having been
plowed. Much needless work l. caused
by blowing such lands too early in the
spring. Fall blowing is great assist
ance: il adds humus through whatever
growths may be on the farface, and the
alternate freezes and thaws Of winter
break up the inert clods and grind down
! the soil into a more soluble mass Cold
and unproductive soils which have stag
nant water sufficiently near the surface
! TO be reached by the roots Of plants re-
: quire to be underdrained.
y Alluyial soil may be said to have nc
r distinctive character, being composed
Q Of successive deposits, continued through
Q long period. They partake somewhat
Of the soil of the country from which
z running waters have washed and de
q posted them. Alluvial lands, Of course
z are rich in humus and do not need tbs
g assistance Of green crops turned undel
/ or the application in any form OF vege
!, table matter. They are generally de
T; ficient in the mineral elements and ar
:, benefited by phosphofic acid. potasl
p and other mineral plant-food. Th'
same NAV be said OF soils known As veg
etable molds and containing large pc
e cent. Of vegetable matter.
Loans are soils in which clay ant
Il sand unite, sandy loans being those y
n which the sand predominates and cla
loans those in which the proportions
!, sand and clay are reversed These mus
!, be treated according a the sand or ella
y predominates-
/, II all the crops annually produced NJ
- on ones land were returned 10 II Tn
soil would annually improve in fertility
- With this fact in view II il easy 10 ar
y derstand that as part, At least, Of eac
y crop Il annually removed plant-foo
Va equivalent TO that contained in the POI
ton Of the crops carried off must be n
IN turned to the land 10 secure its endurin
10 fertility. Ii has been practically den
le onstrafed over and over again that IN
r, roots Of all plants, and especially n
legumes, have power ct acting :
ar chemical agents upon the mineral eli
te mcnts OF the soil i'm manner whic
kc renders them available rs plant-foos
mt This in part explains the desirable e
It. fects Of the cultivation Of peas, Glove
Is and the like.
While the general principles here lai
:. down and already familiar to man
n farmers are the same everywhere, the
III application To practice must Of nece
"a sity vary with the differing circun
he stances surrounding individual farmer
by Certain practices which give admiral
AZ results AT the North may fail 10 be
ant any avail at the South, and vice vers
I'M Many Of these differences farmers mu
learn from experience, though mus
20 knowledge may be gained by observ
N ton. The interchange OF experience
NJ from all sections Of country throua
M journals devoted To the farmers int
ne ests, agricultural stations and farmer
IA clubs can not be too highly priced !
~ encouraged. Every farmer who tax
III the trouble to promulgate facts comir
Il into lis own line and VI general intere
~ i soon rewarded for that trouble
,lv some equally valuable fact, otherwi
unknown to him, from another farm
-. ,..,;,.;,,,v xx-ara callsl otif mayh