The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-02-26

not led me 10 this conclusion. Ground
that is loose To the bottom Of the iurroW
VIII absorb more water than that which
Is loose for an inch or two on the surface
and solid under. In the latter case the
water running of and carrying the inch
or two OF loose earth with 1t.
The subject OF manure might be intro
duced and discussed in connection with
this subject, and Is indeed inseparably
connected with the preparation Of the soil
Tor crops, but presume the subject OF
manure will form aquestion for discus.
sion at a future meeting Of the club. /
shall pass 1t for the present without fur.
Their notice.
The depth we pillow Is another item
which enters largely into the discussion OF
this subject; this, too, is question on
which different opinions are entertained,
and which yet remains undecided. Much
has been said in favor OF both deep and
shallow blowing, and, after all, we believe
that much depends on the character Of
the soil. These are questions which every
farmer should settle for himself and to hts
own satisfaction.
The statistical report OF the department
Of agricultural for 1870 is to the wide
awake farmer rather interesting reading.
The report OF 1879 in reference 10 wheat
and corn shows some large figures and yet
they only present to us possibilities OF
what might be done by more thorough
cultivation. The yield OF wheat was but
ID bushels per acre for the whole country,
giving total yield on S2,545, 200 acres OF
AS, 765, 600 bushels. Now we have nu-
merous instances where the yield per acre
has reached So, 40 and even so bushels per
acre, but, suppose that by improved
methods OF cultivation we succeed in add
ing bushels per acre to the general aver
age we have total increase OF 162, 729,500
bushels and still We have but an ordinary
yield under good cultivation being IS
bushels per acre. The same report gives
the average price OF wheat to the farmer at
ST. II, this would place in the pockets Of
the farmers OF the United States in round |
numbers the sum OF $3.50, 100000 and this
a clear profit. What an argument this
presents for the more thorough cultivation
Of the soil, and II we examine tho report
in reference to the corn crop the figures
are still more startling The average
yield OF corn for the whole country Is
but POI bushels per acre, and this in ex-
cess Of the yield OF 1878 OF nearly BUSH
els per acre, and yet the aggregate value
OF the crop at this low average is about
5000 100000. Now, II we add one-sixth TO
this average, we still have what We would
consider low yield per acre, about 81
bushels, and yet We place in the pockets
Of the corn.growers OF the United States
The snug little sum OF Sl00O00,00 These
are arguments in favor of thorough cult
vation which are unanswerable. And we
might 90 over the entire list Of crops
grown by the farmer with the same re-
suit, but these will suffice to show US the
possible good things that arc yet in store
Tor the agriculturists OF the United States.
These are items which should encourage
rs to press forward in the good cause,
striving together for the attainment Of
still greater results.
iAfter the reading OF the above, the subjec
was discussed pro and con by Messrs. Nc
Conn, McCausland, Supler, James Orr
and others. At our next meeting We will
have a paper on Grape culture, by our
J. NJ. Bell, who is one OF the
most successful grape growers in this Vi.
cinity. The paper will be looked forward
to with interest at our next meeting, Feb
Fuary 2S.
The meeting closed in the best Of feel
ing, all being well pleased with the even.
ing talk. Hope the meetings may con-
inue to grow in interest and be benefit
o all.