Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-06-05

There Is no end to the growth and yield
of the age in which we live, and who, if
not the farmer, has right to all we
achieve and all that we may enjoy P
The Exchange.
Brains aud Farming.
Mother Earth is bountiful, willing
and forglving provider. If she held up
against us-most of us-the abuses and
hard treatment to which, in ignorance
or recklessness, we have subjected her,
commons" if we did not starve outright.
The reckless abuse of this bountiful
producer of all the necessities of life
grows out Of the very generosity of the
returns generally made by anything
like decent cultivation. When the
planter of crops in virgin soil gets
year after year a rich harvest, he comes
to think it will go on indefinitely.
Probably for few years, as the soil gets
into better filth, there is an increased
instead of diminished return, and posi-
bility of failure does not dawn upon the
farmer. Yet after while, there be-
gins to be falling off. 1t is not per-
ceptible at first, but though slow it is
sure.
This failure may be the result of ex-
haustion OF special elements, from
growing the same crops too consecu-
lively, or of a number of elements
where the crop is diversified and moth
ing done to restore the elements of
plant food, chiefly compounds of nitro
gen, phosphorus and potash.
When this state of things has come
about, and it is a condition that has ar
rived in the experience of almost all
who settled on new land anywhere but
in those regions of eXhaustless fertility,
rich aIluvial deposits and strong lime
stone lands, the necessity to use intelli
gence is imperative, or poverty is inevi-
table.
1t is a difficult undertaking 10 restore
WORKOUT soil, but with economy, care
and intelligence it may be done. 1t is
true that a general principle may be
laid down in a few words. the applica
ton of which will restore fertility to
worn soils, but nothing will take the
place of individual intelligence. AS a
general proposition, when farming has
made land poor, it is safe to advise as
follows: Crop less, take off as little
grain and other crops as possible; grow
stock, sell wool, butter and meat; feed
as much as possible, save manure aud
apply literally, pillow under green ma
nures, permit no washing OF the soil;
be economical, industrious and careful.
In general terms, these instructions
followed faithfully will restore a worn
farm. But when coupled with that sort
of practice the farmer is intelligent
enough to know the needs of particular
crops, the value of different kinds of
food, with reference to both nutriment
and manure, and all those details which
constitute the difference between mere
laundering along on general principles
and directing ones actions Intelligent
" with reference to each thing done,
then poor arm may be managed with
profit and i'm proved at the same time.
But it is even more important to pre-
vent impoverishment than to restore
worn soils. The intelligence necessary
IN the latter case is, therefore, still
more SO in the former. 1t, therefore,
behooves every farmer 10 cultivate his
brains as assiduously as bis soil. There
are many very complete works on
every department OF farming. The
farmes, who fails TO use all such means
to inform himself stands greatly in his
own light.
Agriculture is anything but dry and
tedious study; even without a thorough
knowledge OF the technique of the
processes, study Of practical treatise
on the formation of plants. how they
kinds of soils and foods best adapted to
different kinds; the effects Of light, air,
moisture and tillage, will be found ex-
ceedingly interesting and immensely
profitable. The farmer need not bur-
den his memory with the nomenclature
of either botany or chemistry, need
not struggle with plant biology, nor care
whether particular plants are pheno-
gains or cryptograms, exoeens or endo-
gems; the essential thing is a practical
knowledge of the laws governing repro
duction and growth Of crops. This can
be obtained without difficulty, and will
be of inestimable value. A farmer has
no more business to follow his calling
without at least SO much intelligence,
than medical or law practitioner to
practice his profession. Will the time
ever come when farmers generally pre-
pare themselves as fully for their work
as every other profession is compelled
to ?-Practical Farmer.
Farm Notes.
The radish-fy lays eggs close to the
earth, and when Matched the maggots
feed on the roots. A mixture of tea
spoonful of carbolic acid in strong soap
suds is said to be the best remedy to
prevent the ravages of the insect.
Farmers have much greater sphere
of influence on the flavor of milk they
produce than they suppose, or they are
willing to admit. The reason why a
certain number Of consumers in ali
large cities are willing to pay what, to a
farmer or an average consumer, may
seem extraordinary prices, is because
they get buffers OF high flavor which
are always uniform. The makers of
those buffers nearly all use clover or
meadow hay and corn meal, in varying
proportions with other coarse fodder
and meals.
Young bulls of the improved breeds
J are sold at a very low figure compared