The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-03-28
PREVENTION OF SOIL WASTE.
An Interesting Paper on an Interesting
Subject by the Able Secretary Of the
N. c. Horticultural Society.


Correspondence Of The Progressive Farmer.
We are constantly reading about the
building up of soils, but how is it that
we hear so little about the maintain
ance of such soils after time and money
has been expended to bring land to
high state of fertility3
There are many ways to prevent SOIL
waste, but is it not fact that we see
no more evidence of such conservation
than if we knew nothing whatever
about agricultural
Travel about where you Will, and
poverty poverty !! poverty III is IN
view. Gullies go on to larger gullles,
hill tops wear down at an alarming
rate, beds of streams rise, banks OF
sand deposit prevent natural drainage
and former valuable tracts become
filed with water, become sour and un'
productive. If heavy washing rains
could simply wash down the fine par
ticles and very kindly and evenly de
post them in the valley, we would say
''let her wash, " but it does not stick to
that rule in every instance. and where
it does not we must seek to overcome
the difficulty and loss, The best tertll-
ity goes on down the small streams
into larger ones, come is saved but by
far the larger amount is lost. Through
out the Piedmont section where the
soils are pretty evenly mixed clays and
sands, the billy places suffer irrepar-
able loss. Sand is deposited in large
quantities over the most fertile places.
One thousand years hence this SAND
will wear into very fine particles and
becoming mixed with the annual
growth of vegetable matter will make
comparatively fair soil. But can we
afford to do in one generation what
should be charged up to fifty genera
tions9 Hills are destined to wear down,
but with all our care to preserve them
they will disappear altogether too fast
for profitable culture unless under the
very best management.
In the Southern States the problem
Of preservation Of fertility Of the soil
will always be the chief concern OF the
farmer. 1t is not so nov, but it ought
to be nnd will be, for believe there
are more thousands of dollars wasted
in every State in the Union where
there is heavy rainfall from mis-
understanding in this matter than
from any other one cause. The South
has twice the rainfall of the North,
and therefore needs separate and dis-
tinct management from that given
soils in the N orth. Top dressing in the
fall may be good for Michigan; not 80
for North Carolina.
Then let us abandon all existing
methods and bear in mind that the
chief problem is conservatism Of fertll
ity. A kind summer climate enables
the Southern grower to fill his land
with whatever plant food he needs and
humus in the soil can be easily made,
but it is saving that is the question.
The Southern climate reminds me OF a
rattling good COW possessed of a very
bad habit. The COW gives large pail
of milk, but watches her opportunity
and Just as soon as the last strippings
are made and the very troth is trick
ling down the sides of the pail from it's
fullness, she kicks it all over and the
mixer falls with it
The Southern summer and long sea
son is the pail brimming full OF rich
milk. The Southern winter is the cows
hind leg that upsets all our plans. The
cows feed that produced the milk il
lost; the mans time to milk the cow IL
lost, and the mans tumble into the
mire represents the condition of South
ern agriculture. Rise up, brothers,
and make the most of your opportun
ity. The COW is all right, but we must
tie her legs. You can save the sum
mer addition of vegetable growth il
you will put some crop on the soil tc
tie it down. Grasses, dried up COW
peas, winter oats, rye, wheat, or even
weeds, will prevent the soil washing
away.
Another essen tiaI feature in the
maintenance of soil fertility lies in the
proper care of all barnyard manure
Scientists tell US there is no waste il
good Judgment be exercised from any
vegetation once produced. According
to this a man should value his pile oil
manure in proportion to the money
paid out for all feeding material. II
one would pause a moment at this
point he would see the urgent need oi
sheds to cover all the manures made
from fall to spring One of the most
valuable SOURCES of plant food is am