The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1952-07-03

When our forefatherS first be-
gan to settle in this country, il
was covered with forests and
vegetation. A place of beauty, il
was rich in virgin soil. The lanc
was fertile, being developed By
master of soil conservation
Mother Nature.
Upon the soil, every plant anc
every animal, whether living on
land or in the sea, depends fol
its sustenance. Everything mar
eats and wears, therefore, comes
out of the soil. The soil is the
worlds treasure house. From the
time man first began to farm
until this day, his most important
and most difficult problem has
been that of keeping his sol
from wearing out while he made
a living from it. Whenever a new
land has been occupied, man has
had to learn the old lesson over
again that unless the soil is wise
ly managed and carefully con-
served, it cannot be used long
with profit and satisfaction. The
farmer needs, therefore, to un-
derstand how soils were made,
how they are worn out, and how
their fertility may be maintained
or restored.
In Buffalo township, Noble
county, where l live, farmers
have been waging losing battle
with the elements, because OF
improper methods of farming.
This part of the county is hilly
and subject to heavy erosion
And because of the abuse it has
received, most of the farmers
have resorted to public works for
the greater part of their liveli-
hood. The land is poor and thin,
so it cannot produce a living for
them and their families.
The past owners of these farms
had very little outlook for the
future, so they misused the land
by constant cultivation, plowing
the entire hill fields and cutting
off almost all of the timber. They
raised one certain crop year after
year until the soil was no longer
able to produce. They left some
fields open with no protection
and very few ever used any
fertilizers, for they thought il
was a waste of money. They gave
little thought to pasture fields,
but took them for granted; as
long as their cattle had a field
or two to run in, and a place to
get water, the farmer was con-
tented. And while the farmers
were depicting the soil by con-
slant cultivation and abuse,
Nature was playing havoc also.
Almost all of the top soil was
washed off and gullies began to
appear in the fields until some
of them became so bad that the
fields were abandoned. Some
of these fields are still idle
today, and a greater part of them
are unable to produce a paying
crop. -a-
1t is up to the younger genera
ton of today to start to rebuild
this land. Conservation farming
is a must" if we have any
success. First, we will have to
have soil samples taken so we
can determine the different
nutrients the soil needs. A farm
map is very valuable in putting
our practices to work. We will
have to lime and fertilize as
needed over a period of years,
and have our fields laid out with
an instrument so we can farm
on the contour. Crop rotation
will be of the utmost Importance
in rebuilding the soil. Pasture
fields will have to be lined and
fertilized, and many of them re-
seeded by trash mulching. Pas
ture rotation will also be import
ant.
If we are to be successful In
farming, we will have to follow
a strict conservation program
How we'll We succeed, will de-
pend on how we'll. we apply the
knowledge that is obtainable
for us through schooling and the
soil conservation agencies which
are run by our county and gov
ernment. These agencies f are
always willing to cooperate with
the farmer, and are in the posi-,
ton to give us professional ad'
vice whenever we call upon
them.
Farming is more than the pro-
duction and marketing of farm
crops and livestock. 1t is a good
life as we'll as a good living. Il
we combine management, capital
and labor with conservation
practices, we will truly have
abundant living.