The Republican journal., 1881-11-03
VOLUME SO.
Keeping up the Soil.

The editor OF the Petersburg (Na.)
Rural Messenger says the Importance of
sound practice, no less than sound
views, in regard to exhaustion and recu-
peratlOn Of the soil cannot be Overestimat-
ed, Unless the farmer can preserve, and
increase the fertility of his lands, as year
by year he crops them, he is slowly but
surely losing ground, and will sooner or
later be brought to want if he does not
mend his practice. The native or natural
fertility Of land is the country's vital
strength, and the Improvement of this
land SO as to make II doubly or trebly
productive is the nations power in the
marts of the world. This is also true of
each individual farm and man who is en-
gagged in farming.
1t follows, then. that all exhaustion of
the soil which it not Immediately replac-
ed, is a gradual destroying Of the force of
individual and national prosperity, and
decline in both must be looked for in pro-
portion to the rate of that exhaustion.
How important, then, that farmers look
well to their ways, and strive not only to
prevent depletion but to promote recu-
peratlOn.
In the occupancy of newly cleared land,
there is a tendency to a great waste of
the virgin fertility, until the owner dis
covers that the land is giving back and
needs recuperating. But then the work
is too burdensome, and ten to one recu-
peration is never adequate to the neces-
sites of the case. The true way is, to SO
cultivate and crop as to add something
to the fertility every year Nature is a
most wonderful helper, if but the farmer
will meet her efforts in Just the right time
and right way This he must be mind
ful to do year 10y year, and then the work
Of increasing the fertility of the soil be-
comes comparatively easy and ineXpen-
sive. This is the true course, which
ought always to be pursued where the
land is now in good plight.
But word about rCcupcratiOn. How
is this to be attained Ploughing under
green crops is one OF the cheapest and
readiest methods, and one that every far
mer can employ. 1t ought to be practic-
ed extensively throughout the length and
breadth of our land, for there is nothing
superior, if, fortunately, there is anything
green to turn under: and we may add
that there almost always should be, at
some time III the season at least. In our
recent article headed "Oats and Rye" we
stated that we had raised fair oats on our
sweet potato patch by simply sowing the
oats among the vines in advance of the
plough which was digging the crop Of
potatoes. That oats made splendid
green crop to turn under as manure in
the spring. Working on tins plan We can
always have a green crop to turn under
in spring at very small cost-nevcr
greater than that of seed oats or rye, and
the simple breaking Of the land in the
fall to turn under the seed
Another method of recuperation, says
ourcontemporarA is 10y pasturlng to sheep.
And here lies one Of the greatest benefits,
that many Il farmer could derive from
this animal. Take any field in any con
diti0n that ii may happen to be in. Put
as many sheep upon it in summer as can
get their living from its grass and shrubs.
Let them pasture it thoroughly three
years. Return nothing to the land eX-
cept what the sheep deposit in a natural
way yet the land viii advance in tertili-
ty to a marked extent,
But why continue to give methods
The enterpriSing farmer who will think is
able to devise hisown plans and methods,
and the dilatory and doubling would not
act. were we to advance Il hundred We
can only hope that one example of good
tanning here and there will eventually
lead all to adopt sound practice, and
then poor farms will lie the exception and
not the rulp