FARMERS' I:N^STITUTES. , 169 



AIDS AND IXDUCEMENTS TO BETTER FAEMING. 



By tlic cultivation of the soil the farmer is enabled to supply the two most 

 important articles in the catalogue of civilized human wants, namely, its food 

 and raiment. Tlie great purpose, then, which should animate and inspire the 

 farmer should consist in the determination to grow these indispensable articles 

 of utility of a very superior quality, and at the same time avoid diminishiug the 

 capacity of tlie soil for continued production. 



How we shall bring our farms up to their greatest capacity for production and 

 maintain them there is a question of great present moment to the farmer. It is 

 not a theme for speculation only, but it has become a matter of great importance. 

 The cost of groAving our crops under our present mode of culture and the net 

 proceeds approximate so nearly to the same sum, that a radical change which 

 shall result in giving a larger margin of profits is a necessity that has become 

 imperative. 



If it should follow as a result of an improved system of culture that the 

 farmer shall receive an increased remuneration for his labor aud also a larger 

 interest iipon his capital invested, he will thus have added very materially to the 

 value of his real estate by having made it more desirable as a paying investment. 

 It furnishes a class of securities greatly preferred by those seeking permanent 

 investment, because it is less hazardous. From its imperishable nature it 

 inspires an amount of confidence which no other class can possibly confer. 

 Then, if we can by the adoption and practice of any judicious metliod, cause 

 our farms to yield us a still better interest upon an increased valuation, it would 

 furni-h the strongest inducements to inaugurate the system of culture furnish- 

 ing the strongest proofs of its ability to meet so desirable an indication. 



Any system of farming, then, which does not contemplate as one of its prin- 

 cipal objects the maintainance of fertility and productiveness, we must of neces- 

 sity denominate a failure ; and any system which does answer the just require- 

 ments of the present, -will still much less those of the future. It should constitute 

 one of our chief aims to adopt and practice the system of culture which shall 

 answer not only for the present, but for all time. 



In order to make our ideas more p)lain and more easily understood, we pro- 

 pose to give the sources of plant food and the scientific names by which they are 

 de-ignated, and the proportions of each. All do understand, of course, that 

 these sources consist of the earth and the atmosphere. The atmospheric source 

 is necessarily gaseous in its nature, and is termed the organic, and constitutes 

 the stem and leaf -producing element. That which the earth produces is of a 

 a mineral nature, and is termed the inorganic. AVhen a plant is consumed by 

 fire this combustion resolves it back into its original elements. That passing off 

 into the atmosphere in the form of gas is the organic, and that which is left, or 

 its a-hes constitutes the inorgaTiic. The term by which these last are usually 

 designated are the ash constituents. These two elements, when considered to- 

 gether, would be represented by 100 parts. Of this number the atmosphere 

 furnishes from 95 to 98 per cent, and the earth the other 2 or 5 per cent. 

 When a soil is constituted naturally very productive it is found to contain a 

 largo amount of this organic matter, which is dissolved by the rain-water, and 

 which is taken up by the roots of platits, while the leaves, which are their 

 lungs absorb it directly from the atmosphere. 



In the e inorganic or ash constituents consists the basis of the capital which 

 we possess in our farms. They bear a similar relation to the organic plant-fcoi 



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