Norwich bulletin., 1909-05-15

CWritten Specially for the Bulletin.)
one Of the most common mistakes
which we farmers make in matters OF
practical soil management is in gem
eralizing from exceptions. Some par
ticular happening impresses us, fol-
one reason or another, with unusual
force. Henceforth we lay undue stress
upon it--quote it as an eXample-base
our plans upon the principle which 1t
seems to suggest. We forget that one
swallow doesn't make a summer; that
one good crop doesn't imply continu-
ously and consecutively good crops;
that one season is no criterion of an
other; that few soils are alike, but
that each acre differeth from most
every other acre in glory.
It takes a long series of experiences
before one can really learn his own
little farm. Nay, it takes many years
before he can learn all he should
know even about garden patch. Yet
ii Is q matter of almost daily occur
renee to hear some farmer-nei ghboT
tell Of happenings quite out of the Or
binary and, perhaps, opposed to the
common run Of experience, on the
repetition of which he is banking for
future success. This is not good judg-
meut no matter who tries It, OF
course, q farmer would be blind to his
own interests, unreSponsive to the les
sons nature is teaching him every
year, If he should ignore any happen
ing Whatever that comes under his
observation. That is part Of his
business and his duty-to watch every
move nature makes on the chessboard
of his fields, and try, as far Is in him
lies, to understand what 1t means,
what 1t may mean for the future. But
I am talking of the habit too many
have Of magnifying unusual happen
ings and Of making them the basis for
general deductions.
II can't be too often or too emphat-
ioally taught that, il the practical,
everyday management of a farm-in
the matters of crop rotation, Of culti-
walton, Of fertilization, etc, we are
compelled to work blindly in a large
degree. A very great deal depends
upon the natural character Of the soil.
This, by continual experimentation
and practice, we can, in the course Of
many years, come to have some in
telligent understanding of. A very
greet deal depends upon the character
of the season. This, under present
conditions Of weather knowledge, we
can know absolutely nothing about,
beforehand. And beforehand Is the
only time knowledge Of that matter
can be Of any practical advantage. On
at least one of the sides from which
we can approach the years problem Of
how to raise the best and most profit
able crops we are up against it,"
against a barrier. impermeable, I'M
scalable, with no crack or crevice to
peep. through. And it is not good
judgment to base principles or farm
plans on the testimony of the occa-
sional fog banks We dimly glimpse
over the top Of that barrier.
Again, It is too common for farmers,
dealing with one set Of conditions, to
assume that the devices and make
shifts with which they succeed VIII
be equally successful If adopted by
other farmers working under other
conditions Indeed, when we ourselves
see neighbor winning out by follow
ing certain policy, we are all of us
apt TO think he has discovered a Sc
cret which will also bring us success.
We Initiate him, and then wonder why
we, too don't get bumper crops. We
fail to consider the differences in our
soils; we omit all reckoning on diff
ferences Of season; we simply follow a
rut somebody's wagon wheels have
made, and too often get mired.
Years ago my neighbor on the north
put ten tons OF ashes on his ten-acre
meadow, right after haying That fall
saw on that field the biggest growth
Of clover aftermath I ever remember.
II was so dense and rank that on
Thanksgiving day. taking an after
dinner walk through It, l had to dis
entangle each foot from the snarled
vines before, by lifting the other knee
high, l could safely take another step.
We had nothing stronger than coffee
20 drink at that dinner, either! Next
year I put a ton of ashes on an acre
OF my own moving next to this field.
The soil is the same to all appear
ances, only Tine fence" dividing the
farms. Both are a graveliy loan. This
was at the same rate my neighbor
used per acre. The ashes were put on
IN the same way, and at the same time
directly after haying. initiated his
treatment as closely as I knew how in
every little detail. Result: Not a sin
gle stalk of clover; no additional
growth in the other grass; no benefit
whatever that season nor any sue
casding season. Ny ton OF ashes to
the acre did my field no more good in
1909 than If I had just blown a Whit
Of pipe smoke over it's surface. while
his ton to tho acre In 1901 brought in
simply astounding growth of clover
and renewed the vigor OF the lot for
fdiiy two years more.
'vhat made the dIHerenee7" Say,