508 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



of lots has beeu made, there will be constantly npon the farm one field 

 of corn, potatoes, «S:c. ; one in wheat, one in oats, barley, and lij^ht 

 grains, and three lots, or one-half of the farm, in grass. AH the lots 

 in grass should receive ii dressing of plaster each year 5 that in. corn 

 should also be plastered at least once during the early stages of its 

 growth. 



After enumerating various methods for restpring worn-out and ex- 

 hausted soils, preference is given to that set forth above. Pasturing is 

 the least expensive and most profitable system, in that the farmer's 

 animals are made to perform the work of enriching his laud while ac- 

 cumulating valuable products in flesh, milk, or wool. 



A large portion of the lauds of Wisconsin is composed of a warm, 

 thin, sandy loam, and is therefore easily exhausted of all those ele- 

 ments necessary to vigorous plant-growth. To prevent the exhaustion 

 of these lands, while at the same time they are required to yield an 

 income to the cultivators of the soil, is a question which seems to be 

 receiving the attention which its great importance demands, especially 

 among the more intelligent class of farmers. Two essays are contributed 

 on the practical management of sandy lands ; one by Mr. J. G. Knapp, 

 of Madison, and the other by Mr. J. W. Wood, of Baraboo. The essay 

 of the first-named gentleman having been awarded a x)rize, we quote 

 from it as follows touching the qualities of this soil and the crops least 

 likely to exhaust their fertility : 



From tlie best informatiou furnished by science of the luanner in wbicb plants grow, 

 it is inferred that tbey find tbeir main supply of food near tbe surface of tbo ground. 

 From that fact it may be adduced that in tbe tbin soils of tbe sand tbe soil sbould 

 always be kept, as far as possible, on tbe surface, and never buried beneatb a tbick 

 layer of tbe lower barren sand. This principle is well understood and acted on by tbe 

 tillers of tbe sands in tbe Soutbern States ; and to it may be traced tbeir opposition to 

 tbe " turn-over" plow, as tbey term tbe i^lows used in tbe Northern States. Tbis sub- 

 soil of barren sand ougbt, nevertheless, to bo stirred, though it be not brought to the 

 surface. Roots of j)lants in quest of water will penetrate into tbe ground, and the 

 stirring of tbe subsoil to the depth of 8 or even 12 inches will greatly aid tbis plant 

 action. Such roots j)enetrating and decaying in the sand will in time form a soil to a 

 proper depth. After that depth of soil has beeu obtained, the furrow may be 

 turned as deep as desirable. The result may be expedited by a free use of salt, wood- 

 aslies, lime, or sulphur, all of which dissolve the silex of tbe sand and fit it for the use 

 of plants ; hence a free use of these, or some of them, applied to the surface in conuec- 

 tiou with vegetable manures, is of great value, and would largely compensate for a 

 natural deficiency of clay in the soil, or where that material cannot ho procured. Some, 

 or .ill of them, are valuable on all lands in this State. Until a good depth of rich soil 

 has been formed tbe surface only should be turned over, and in these sands the turn- 

 iug sbould be done while the herbage is yet green, or after the first frosts. Tbe sub- 

 soil can be stirred by means of the teeth or knives of a properly constructed cultivator, 

 penetrating to the desired depth in the bed of the shallow furrow. Such au implement 

 would thoroughly loosen tbe earth, but would not bring the barren sands to tbe sur- 

 face. 



Wherever there is sufficient vegetable matter in the soil to gi-ow tbe plants, no lands 

 in Wisconsin produce grain, corn, or potatoes of so fine a quality as do these same 

 sands. Tbo wheat grows hero heavy in tbo kei'nel, and tbe straw is so stiif that it 

 seldom or never falls. Corn matures rapidly, and is alwa;^ sound and ripe. Potatoes 

 yield much larger crops, ripen better, are more mealy, and consequently are more nu- 

 tritious and valuable than those grown farther south, or on the clay soils. This is au 

 exhaustive crop, but the iiroper manures to keep np tbo lands for its pi'oduction are 

 found in tbo fire-place and tbo stable. Whatever crops m.iy bo grown on these lands, 

 those aro preferable which yield a large amount of leaves, straw, or other vegetable 

 matter, to be left where they grow, or returned to tbe ground in the shape of stable 

 manures. The grasses and cJover are foremost of all, followed by corn and grains. 



The writer then enumerates some special crops which can be profita- 

 bly grown on these thin lands, among which he mentions pumpkins, 

 squashes, grapes, raspberries, blackberries, mustard, poppies, hemp, 

 &(i. Of mustard and hemp he says : 



