Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-08-18
WORKOUT LANDS.
what Can he Done 10 RscIaim ana Re.
store Them.

Brownsville (Tenn.) Democrat: There is
nothing that can so quickly restore a wornout
and tired farm, that has been cropped year
In and year out, as 10 put upon it barnyard
manure, and to underdrain it to prevent
washing. But az few farmers possess .he
means to thus bring up such land TO it's
former fertility, We must content ourselves 10
do the next best thing, and that is to restore
it by means that all can do, if we will have
the patience apd energy to do il.
Vegetable msterial Of any kin will do
this, in a clay soil, changing its mechanical
character and action. From a heavy, COM
pact, impervious condition, it will soon be
brought TO a mellow, friable condition, filled
with bumus-ihe source of fertility of all
soils in its virgin state. Such spills absorb
the rain and snow, and when under-drainsd
the process is rapid and sure. When once
this condition is resched, clover and the
grasses will of themselves do the rest, and the
farmer can raise stock on such lands all the
while, resping a fair profit. Hog weed,
broomsedge, and other natural productions
OF the s)il, will do this when turned under
yearly every summer after crops are laid by,
but clover and peas are preferable, and the
process more speedy. B sides the manufsc-
turing of humus, the origin of all fertility,
when just a small portion of manure is add
ed when such soil is planted in wheat or
corn lis action is more decided aud the ma
nure is retained in the soil mora readily, not
being washed out by heavy rains.
West Tennessee has a great deal of land
now lying idle, run down, worn out aud not
paying the owner even the taxes levied by
county and State. What can be more dis
gushing and a perpetual eyesore 10 an ener-
getic, live farmer, than q compact clay soil
bare of vegetation, quilted and scanned with
little rivule,s after every rain? Nov the
remedy for this must be apparent to every
sensible farmer. 1t must bs covered with
grass or clover or peas to make the humus'to
absorb this water and to stop the gullies.
But, ga s one, grass will not stick, will not
grow on such q soil. We admit that if il is
filled with sullies 80 large and SO numerous
that it cannot be plowed his is 20, but if 1t
can be plowed and the gullies flied with
brush there is hope. Clover or peas and
gypsum-or land plaster-will make it stick,
even ON bare, red clay. But, says he, gypsum
costs money. Yes, 80 it does; a bottle of
whisky costs seventy five cents, a pound Of
tobacco costs the same, yet one bottle of
whisky not bought and the money invested
in one bushel of land plaster will make your
clover grow on one acre Of ground. A pounds
worth of tobacco will do the same.
Your tobacco you can raise and one gallon
of water is cheap, drink that and it will do
you as much good as the quart of whisky
and it is just four times as much. We drink
whisky when we please 10 do 30, yet between
the two we pe.se 10 buy the land plaster
every time.
Before land can be restored to fertility a
sod must be formed, or rather the soil must
be able 10 produce a sod. When once this
sod is formed, the machinery for perfect sue
cess is set in motion, with all the cog wheels
we'll oiled. Let not any farmer who has
Eftv ~ 1nn ucraa IF C,nk lanI ha ltsbaorf-
ened, but begiu on a small scale, try ten
acres If you are able, and if not Try five, #
that is TOO much try two. We urge upon
you, my friends, make a beginning. We
know il you do and see the incalculable BEN
e6ts to yourself and your posteriiy you will
never stop until you try more. We have in
our minds eye a man who bought fifty acres
of land five years sgo, who for the last three
years has raised three crops OF wheat on the
ssme land, and this year, even as bad a
year rs it was for wheat, has threshed
out twelve bushels OF wheat 10 the acre.
He did it by sowing peas as SOON as he could
after cutting his wheat and turning them
under before sowing his next crop. He is a
poor m an and Just finished last January in
paying for his land.
This green mauuring every farmer can do,
even q cotton farmer, for when the crop is
laid by there is nothing pressiog 10 do from
August Ist to October 1s'. If this generation
of farmers do not practice this plan OF reno
vaiing the lands of w at Tennessee, a gener-
alton succeeding this must 90 il or else give
way for a race OF farmers who will come in
and take their placer. Oar lands must be
improved or poverty aad decadence will be
the result. Why not begin now, when the
proce s can be so much more easily and
psc6iably accomplished? We do not advo-
cate the total abandonment of cotton, but
raise all the grain and hay needed on the
farm, all the cattle and hog, and then just IS
much cotton as possible. The farmers Of
Northern Georgia have practic.d this plan
for years and the whole Stale feels the ei-
fectr, and that State is taking the front rank
in all the Southern Sta e..