Year: 1868

TIE PROSPECTS OF THE FARMER.


| 1t is conceded that the coming wheat crop OF
the two varieties of Spring and Winter is large


and on the whole in good condition through
out the whole country, and by no means ex-
cepting California and the interior Territories


But regarding corn, which, in various ways Is
| the basis of vast amount of food, and iuiiy
| equal in importance to wheat, the prese1t pros
pect is more dscouraging than it has been tor
many years. From the Atlantic tc the western
line of Illinois, where the greater part OF the corn
of the United States is raised, there have been
rain-fas with few intervals through all this
| planting season, which is nOw rapidly drawing
| to a close. Except on sandy soil, 1t Is safe to
say that, at this date it would be difficult to
find single considerable-sized field OF corn
planted and growing well, between the ocean
and the Mississippi And yet there has scarcely
been planting season within this generation
of which such a statement could have been
made. Still, the exceptions in this broad ex-
tent where inactivity reigns are important.
| Through almost all Of the Southern States corn
was planted in due season, and the same is to
be said of parts of Missouri, and of large
portion of Iowa. while in Minnesota and Wis
cOnsin, almost always bringing up the rear the
young corn is now out of the ground, and rap
idly growing. But regarding the great corn
| belt the farmer waits day after day, and week
after week, for sunshine and drying weather.
and waits in vain. Each day is like another
a day of mist and showers. Of course, garden
work is in like backwardness. Less than a
week now remains to the month of June, and
should favorable weather come now, this time,
at least, is required to fit the ground for the
pow, while bottom fields, always producing
puny crops, will need longer period.


Thus, under the most favorable condition in
the present and Immediately approaching days,
| the seed to make the bulk Of the great corn
crop of the Northern States for this year can
not be got in the ground before the first month
of Summer, which gives it scarcely more than
ninety days 60 mature Within seyenty-hye
days from the first of June. we have had frosts
several times which killed all late planted corn.
| Precisely the same is 10 be said of the potato
and of several other products though of less
importance but on which much dependence is
placed. Certainly these are dark and gloomy
hours. Trade, manufactures, finance, all kinds
of business, the expectations of youth, the IN
comes of the aged, and even National pros
perity, depend upon our having sunshine during
! this present week-a part OF which, dark with


threatening clouds, already has passed away
Still. may we not rely on the divine promise


given when the radiant bow of hope was SET
in the sky, that seed-time and harvest always
should rctum9 When favorable days come
as come, we may say, they certainly will-great
will be the activity in garden and field
| Through long lines of latitude, crossing farm
landscape more than thousand miles wide,
seed-con will simultaneously fall from the
tubes of the planter, from mems, boys, wo-
mems, and childrens hands, in quantity sufli-
cient, in the aggregate, to give bread to such
a nation as old Rome for year and day.


The lesson which this wet Spring teaches
| should be carefully considered. In other ages,
! such year as this was sure to be followed
| by famine; and with a vast population i'm
pending neither will we be able to avoid
famine unless we learn from passing casual
ties, and avail ourselves of the experience of
the wise. The advantages of deep plowng in
connection with a corresponding depth of
fertility are great but when understanding is
added, n condition of the soil is secured which
enables one TO plant and TO cultivate almost
regardless of protracted rain. He who has
fields SO prepared is enabled to proceed with
the work of the season nearly as uninter-
ruptedly as though the days had been
! admirably divided by sunshine and shower;
| and it is not too much TO say that, to him,
| the year will be longer, by at least a month,
| than to another. In too many instances is
this statement proving itself true either to be
denied or hidden. We would urge upon all
cultivators to make arrangements for under
draining at least one acre, and to demonstrate
! to themselves, by the bounteous yield from
such limited piece of land, how pleasant
and how profitable farming may become,


whether the season be favorable or adverse.
When our farmers shall have adopted this
method of preparing the soil, and, of course,
in connection, deep culture and bountiful
application of manure, they will add to the
length of the year. Beside this, by requiring
| less ground, they will increase the number of


acres from which food can be produced, which


will be the same as to enlarge the surface OF


the earth. From such a condition reform


will naturally arise regarding limitation IN


landed estate, and which will give a denser


population and happier people.


| =


An Impression prevails very generally that
| Congress has passed an act extending the
| ono,ot;on oF ,t.hat Ia Lnown 80 tha tftV-onnt