Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-07-13
FARM and HOUSEHOLD.
DIVERSIFIED FARMING.
New York Observer.

because Of it's Importance, cotton
was the principal crop of the South
cotton was king, but the effect up
on the agriculture Of that section
was not such one as might have
been desired.
With regard to some portions oil
New England, the same may be
said of tobacco; when prices were
high and there was a lively de-
mand, IN the Connecticut valley all
other crops we're considered OF
secondary Importance as compared
with tobacco, and as a result, the
soil was injured to very great de-
gree by the unnatural demand that
was made upon il.
1t is quite natural, so long as
there is demand for any partlcu-
lar crop at good prices, to continue
its cultivation without giving a
thought to the possible conse-
quences that may result in the nm
balancing Of the natural elements
of natrition. Where the SOIL is
new. or has been subjected to
cultivation for a comparatively
short time, as is the case upon the
Westera praiIIes where there ap-
pears to be an almost unlimited
supply of plant food, successive
cultivation of the same crop NAV
be INDUCED in with less danger,
but it must be remembered that III
the most fertile soil there is a
healthy proportion of the elements
of nutrition.
A soil may be possessed OF an
almost exhaustless supply of nitro
gen and phosphorc acid. aud yet
be so deficient in potash as to rem
der the soil largely unavailable; 1t
is a cultivation oil crops that draw
heavily upon the soil tor any one
impor.ant element Of nutrition that
soon renders them poorly adaPtPa
to the growth Of any crop that re-
quires a free supply of the ex-
hausted element. 1t is for this
reason that many of the most liz
telligeut farmers believe that a
proper rotation OF crops is neces'
sary to maintain a good healthy
fertility of soils; this condition is
of the utmost importance, not only
in the production of the growing
crop, but also for the successful
cultivation of future crops. Not
long since we noticed a statement
that farmer had been very sue
cessfuI in producing crops by the
use of commercial fertilizers alone,
and so long as crops we're eultiyat-
ed aud the fertilizer was applied,
everything was all right, but upon
seeding to grass there was failure
Now, it appears that crops can
he grown upon a soil for a number
of years With very satisfactory re-
suits by the use of commercial
Iertllizers, but when it comes tc
seeding to grass there is a failure
to respond that is Objectionable tc
every farmer.
II is probable that a rotation Of
crops, pursued with intelligence, Is
much more proftabletO most farm
ers than the attempt to succeed
wlth one crop. This, then, re
quires diversity, and affords q
smaller chance for failure than by
any one crop method. 1t is very
seldom that all crops should &C
begging for a market, and yet how
often is IL the case that the abun
dance of some one crop renders il
undesirable.
Eastern farmers have been, per
haps from necessity, compelled L
adopt system OF farming adapted
to the surface of the country, a
condition that has had its advan
tages as we'll as its disadvantages
aud today the average New Eng
land farmer will be found carrying
on a little of nearly every kind o
farm industry. In the first place
he has his variety of crops of vege
tables and grains; while making
no pretensions in the line o. breed
ing, he will raise his colts, hi
calves, bis pigs. his poultry, hi
bees and so on in the line of liy
stock then you will 6Id him en-
gagged in growing fruit, fattenlnl
beef and pork, aud so on through
the various directions Of farm IN
duslry, and If he does not amas
wealth, he secures an honest livnI
and saves little for time OF need
It ma, be that great undertaking
are more likely to secure riches
that il the chief end AIMED al, bu
even then hilnre or disaster
liable 10 cO.ue.
Contentmrnt is point OF niue
import nee to the farmer, and l
the practice of that his mind mus
not I've .arned to the rapid account
lstions of manufacturing capita
its. WIN. III. y EOMANs'
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