Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-06-15
FARM RENOVATION.
Hon. f. d. Douglas fourth Article in tn
Rutland Herald.l

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One of the most obvious defects in the
agriculture of Western Vermont is found
in the management of the clay soils, of
which very large proportion of the lands
i'm this section are composed, especially
in the towns bordering upon Lake Cham
plain. While argillaceous slate, loan,
and occasionally sand are found upon the
hills and moderate elevations, clay pre-
dominates in the valleys, and more level
portions. except in the immediate vicinity
of Otter Creek and other streams, where
an alluvial soil is found.
These clay soils, as a rule, are never
plowed, but have been moved or grazed
since soon after the removal of the origi-
nal forests. The moving lands have
received little if any manure, excepting
that left upon them by stock while feed
ing upon the annual aftermath. The
pastures, as a rule. have been so closely
grazed that the product has been small,
and the droppings, of course, cor
respondingly so. Vegetation has been so
dwarfed by constant cropping that few
seeds have matured and If any, they have
been from weak and imperfect stocks.
Because of this treatment, the original
vegetable deposit once found upon the
surface of these lands has disappeared,
and the mechanical condition has become
brick-like and impenetrable. Every con-
dition of successful production has been
disregarded, and on almost any other
than clay soil, utter sterillity would have
resulted. The lighter and more loamy
soils have received the benefit of the plant
food which the clays have produced.
With such management as this, ought it
to be matter of surprise that the pas
ture lands of our valley, once so celebra-
ted for the amount and superior quality
of the stock fed upon them, should now
sell for such ruinous prices when thrown
upon the market?
We often hear them spoken of as tex
hausted.' But this is not true. Their
present unproductive state is attributable
more to their mechanical condition than
to exhaustion. The plant food left in
these soils is locked up and unavailable,
because of their present almost impene-
trable state. They have thus become
practically neXhaustible, while in this
condition. Their heavy nature would be
considered very Objectionable to casual
observer, yet it is really a strong point in
their favor. In consequence of this
characteristic, they are very retcntive of
applied fertilizers. while it has prevented
! that complete exhaustion of the original
elements of fertility which must have re-
suited from the bad management of past
generations had they been light and fra.
Bile.
There are probably no soils in the
world which respond more readily tc
judicious treatment, which will more
abundantly and surely reward the farmer
for intelligent effort in the work of reno
walton than the clay soils of Western
! Vermont.
1t is true that they are not adapted tC
the production of crops requiring cultivu
ton, but they are unsurpassed in the pro
duction of grass and small grains, wher
properly managed. In view of the pres
ent high price of labor, the facility will
which machinery may be used in thei
production, and their adaptation to thu
work of extensive farm renovation, thes,
crops are quite as desirable for the pro
duction of stock food as any which thu
farmer can raise.
The adaptation of these soils to fal
blowing is also valuable characteristic
as the time for the blowing and fitting o
the land is thereby greatly extended
The work of spring sowing is also for
warded, and a much more extensive pro
duction of cereals may be secured with ;
given amount Oh IaTul lelp.
The subject of the renovation of on
clay soils is one of vital Importance t.
Western Vermont. The great want o
practical, inexpensive systems of crol
production on clay soils, based upon tn
fundamental conditions of success.
If we examine our unproductive cla
lands we shall find that the roots of thei
dwarfed vegetable growth penetrate tn
ground but slightly. The feeding groun
of vegetation is very limited, because o
the impentrable condition of which
have spoken. The first step of rationa
practice must obviously be to so chang
the mechanical condition that the root
of the crops can readily penetrate to an
depth which the characteristic roc
growth of the crop may require. Th
soil should be so completely pulverzed
the hard brick-like condition so complete
ly broken up, that the smallest rootlet
can easily penetrate it in search of foot
We thus not only extend the feedin
grounds of the crops. but we proteC
them from drouth, excessive moisture
and from upheaval by frosts. Clay soils
in good mechanical condition. will matur
heavy crops of clover in the dryest Sc,
sons. The heavy losses in time pas
resulting from seasons of drouth, migl
thus to great extent have been avoided
By this change of mechanical conditio
alone, the crops NAV often be more tina
doubled, without any additional fertliz;
ton.
: If we thus double the feeding groun
! of the crops on farm, it is more tina
equivalent to the purchase of an adjoinin
farm of the same size and quality, on I'll
principle that the production, and ha
vesiing of given crop on one acre
much less expensive than the productio
and harvesting of the same amount on
field of twice its size.
The value of the average clay farms {
Champlain Valley may be more tina
! doubled by proper attention to this OF
fundamental condition of plant growtl
This change may be brought about at
comparatively small expense, while Il
Improvement in the value of the crol
will each season more than repay a
necessary expenditures annually incu
red. 1t is much more profitable, ever
way to double our farms downward
Sunh nacas thap Inv huuinor ont m