Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1880-01-22
Exhausting the Soil.

There are no soils, however rich, that
with continuous cropping will not, in
time wear out. With some soils il is
true great liberties may be taken in
the cultivation of crops without regard
to a judicious rotation, and even grow
ing the same crop several years in sue
cession on them; but this cannot be
kept up continually. A day will surely
come when the richest soil under such
treatment will be despoiled of its fertil-
ity and fail to respond to the drafts
made upon it. It is the inexorable
penalty that follows an abused law of
nature. 1t. is lesson which science
long since taught, but which has to be
learned by dear boughtexperience again
and again as one generation follows
another. Death and taxes are not more
certain than that whatever elements are
removed from the soil by cropping
must be replaced in some way, if fertil-
ity is maintained. Twenty-Five years
ago the virgin soils of some portions of
the Northwestern States produced an
average of from twenty-five to thirty
bushels of wheat per acre, now the
average yield of the same land, save
in exceptionally favorable seasons, is
not above twelve bushels per acre, In
like manner the cotton lands in the Gulf
States produced double the quantity of
cotton that they do now. Fifty years ago
wheat was the principal crop of West
ern New York and Northern Ohio;
after time it was wheat and corn, then
other grains with it, until better sys-
tenn of farming became necessity to
render the land more fruitful by re-
storing principles of which it had been
robbed. Going back still further, the
worn-out lands of Virginia, Delaware,
Maryland and other States, impover-
ished by continuous crops of tobacco,
furnish the same lesson of unskillful
farming. Thousands of acres were left
untitled until nature, through chemical
changes, kindly wrought III her grand
alembic, partially restored their orig
inal fertility. The ability of soil to
produce well depends upon the chem
ical constituents that are present in it,
provided its mechanical condition is
such as to render these matters availa-
BILE to plants. These matters or con-
are the food upon which plants
live, and a knowledge of them, COM
Oined with an acquaintance with the
chemical composition of the ashes of
plants, suggest rational sys-
jem of agriculture.
The Importance of a judicious suc-
session of crops in order to maintain
fertility, in the light of these facts, is
vt once apparent. There are many
;hings to be considered in connection
With this subject which cannot be
elucidated within the compass
If single article of reasonable length.
some crops remove q larger proportion
# particular elements than others,
While some derive nutriment from near
he surface, and some send their roots
% greater depth to gather sustenance;
renee the Importance of following the
Ormer with the latter, and of supply
ng in the way of manures the sub
tances necessary to surface-growing
,lants. Science affords invaluable as
istance in this behalf. With its aid,
md the exercise of practical common
ense, wonted fruitfulness may be re-
tored to impoverished soils, and in
tead of becoming less and less pro-
uctive from year to year, their produc-
i've capacity may be increased until
he maximum of fertility is reached
'rairie Farmer @