Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1883-05-31
THE PROBLEM OF THE SANDS.

The question of the agricultural ca
pabilities OF our light, sandy soils is an
important one in determining the fu
ture history of large portions of the
northern counties in our peninsula
The question has been raised and earn.
| cstIy discussed. What shall we apply
to these soils so that we may produce
good and paying crops of wheat, oats,
corn and grass What shall we use for
manure for these unpromising plains!
The labor and material for manuring n
| section, much more township or "A
county, are not triiles. Indeed, when
| one sits down to count the cost, the
| expense is astounding.
In discussing this question, we seem
20 have taken il for granted that sue
1 cessful cultivation of these soils nee
essarily implies that they must be made
| TO produce the same crops that other
soils are now producing, that nj salts
| factory solution of the agricultural
problem is reached till we Sow how
Lake ana lioScommon can produce
paying crop, OF wheat and clover, the
same a. Branch and Hii.alaic May
it not be that we have been looking for
| salvation for the sands in the wrong
directions! 1t seems TO me that we
ought first TO nsk; What crops are
adapted 10 these sands i'm their present
condition, and without ihe a., Oi gen
-ral manuresl II we can lind crops
which will give remuneratite returns
from these very light sands in their
present condition, we may introduce
such changes by rotation of crops as
will enable us to bring in other crops
which we cannot now raise with any
hop of profit. Any suggestion in this
direction deserves the careful consid
Grafton of thoughtful citizens.
wish to call the attention of farm
ers ON light, sandy soils to the amber
cane, or sorghum, as plant full OF
promise in this direction 1t is a plant
that grows we'll on soils too light tt
produce a good or paying crop of corn
will withstand the effect of summer
drought far better than corn, SO tha
! il will grow and ripen in circumstances
where corn will burn up, and its value
as source of syrups and sugar, anC
rs a forage crop, is only beginning tC
be appreciated. While sorghum vii
, , make large and vigorous growth oil
heavy soil sand those containing abund
ance of organic matter, the value o
the sugar products from such soils i
4 less than on sandy soils which are de
ficient in vegetable matter. The syr
4 up made from amber cane raised oi
= such light soils is lighter in color an'
= superior i'm flavor to that made iron
cane raised on rich soils. The roots o
b the cane penetrate deeply in sand.
sells, and it is thus able to withstan,
I dry weather in summer much bette
than corn.
As forage crop, it is of great prom
Use, because il is very nutritious, an
is eagerly consumed by stock of a
z kinds. 1t is found by some who hav
: tried sorghum for fattening beef cattl
that il has wonderful fattening proI
= ties, and that the quality of the bee
t. is very superior. The sorghum mus
} be fed cautiously at first until cattl
y b.conie used to it, on account of dar
Il ger of their eating too freely of til
u material. causing securing, etc. III
e seeds OF cnne are equal in value. poun
for pound, to oats or corn.
The plant being so we'll adapted
sandy soils. and of so much value
. itself. il rcinaius to be determine
!, whether it can be successfully raise
:, on liglit sands, and especially on I'll
ria;ns 10 nat nsk anyone TO max