The herald., 1894-05-20
NOTES ABOUT THE RANCHES,
Mr.. H. B. Martin Notes Some
Agricultural Mistakes.
Mrs. Flora Kimball Gives Pointers
on Street Tree Planting.
EsrtiliKing orchards-Profitabls Foul
try-Pswers of horticultural
Commissio - In
secticides.

The inventive genius of the American
people has placed the standard OF our
industrial i'm plements on a high plane,
and perhaps in no department is that
fact so manifest as in that of agriculture
vet there still remains a margin for I'M
provement in varying the appliances
pertaining to that department, either In
construction or manipulation. to meet
local requirements. Indeed 30 perfect
are those appliances in their respective
lines, that in our zeal to fully realize the
mechanical excellence of their service,
we are liable, through losing sight OF the
actual needs of the soil, to mistake in
some of the most essential particulars
For instance, unless it is rendered
necessary by the induration OF the cub
stratum. deep blowing is mistake, Tor
reasons hereafter shown,
We mistake in turning under the sur
face soil that has been decomposed and
fertilized by the action OF the sun and
elements. for we thus rob 1t OF Its
warmth and fertility by absorption;
and we mistake in throwing to the sur
face the cold, dead earth from below in
which to compel the seeds to struggle
for termination. 1t is a mistake Tor the
further reason, in average soils, unless
followed by rain, we lose all the moist
ure In the portion turned over, which
will require, on an average, 20 days to
replace by upward percolation. involv-
ing the loss of that length OF time in
planting, and corresponding loss in
termination and subsequent growth.
OF tnrnlnQ
under the surface soil as in ordinary
blowing, we imagine we are adopting
the most etfectual means for the final
elimination of noxious woods, forget
ting that they held their place under the
law of "the survival OF the tittest;" that
their presence is evidence of their hardi-
ness and is due to their vital tenacity:
that their seeds have great powers OF re-
sistance against adverse conditions, and
therefore to pillow them under tends
rather to their preservation than destruc-
ton, since 1t affords protection from buds
and insures germiuation, sooner or later,
of the entire product.
Mature never reversee the soil stratum,
nor has she made the least provision Tor
its accom- plishment, and although crop
has succeeded crop tor countless ages
under her administration, the fertility
of the virgin soil, under the Influence OF
the sun, air and moisture, continues I'M
diminished; and it is only when we at
tempt bedrock fertilization, at the ex-
pense of the surface, ~ continually
turning it under and destroying its vital
ity, that we discover that our lands are
worn out-literally worn out with the
pillow.
In those localities where intensive
cultivation" is the rule, the mistake is
often made of too much blowing, re-
gard esq OF the fact that time is an i'm
portant factor in the recuperation OF the
coil for further production. lime
should be allowed after blowing for the
settlement of the soil and for reorganiz-
ing the circulation of it's vital forces and
adjusting their proper relation to each
other. By disturbance while this action
is in progress we not only lnjure the
crop but the soil also.
1t is always mstake'to reverse the
natural arder, which may be outlined in
few words:
By decomposition and aqueous action,
silica, alumlna and oxide OF iron, which
constitute the base OF all soils, are borne
into and spread over the valleys.
Through the vitalizing influence OF the
sun, air and rain, fertility is impaired to
the eurface, and to meet the wants of
coming vegetation, the fertilizing ingre-
dents are crrried into the earth in eolu-
ton by lixivia ion.
This process, simple and effective,
yielding its aurpus as required, always
repeating itself upon the same surface,
prevents exhaustion, and having its
source in nature, may be regarded as the
true principle for preserving the soil and
for developing its possibilities.
1t is not necessary for the purposes of
this article to attempt to strengthen the
position assumed by further comment,
the farmer being amply capable of draw
ing his own conclusions.
H. B. MARTIN.
Chino, May 9th.