114: WHAT I KNOW OF FARMING. 



taken from a field, that field no matter how deep and 

 fertile its soil is less rich in corn-forming elements 

 than it was before. Just so sure as that there is no 

 depletion or shrinkage when nothing is taken from 

 nothing, so sure is it that something cannot be taken 

 from something without diminishing its capacity to 

 yield something at the next call. Rotation of crops 

 is an excellent plan ; for one may flourish on that 

 which another has rejected ; but this does not over- 

 bear Nature's inflexible exaction of so much for so 

 much. Hence, if there ever was a field so rich that 

 nothing could be added that would increase its pro- 

 ductive capacity, the first exacting crop thereafter 

 taken from it diminished that capacity, and rendered 

 a fresh application of some fertilizer desirable. 



Years ago, a Western man exhibited at our Farm- 

 ers' Club a specimen of the soil of his region which 

 was justly deemed very rich, taken from a field 

 whereon Corn had been repeatedly grown without 

 apparent exhaustion. A chemical analysis had been 

 made of it, which was submitted with the soil. It 

 was claimed that nothing could improve its capacity 

 for producing the great Illinois staple. Prof, Mapes 

 dissented from this conclusion.- " This soil," said he, 

 "while very rich in nearly every element which 

 enters into the composition of Corn, gives barely a 

 trace of Chlorine, the base of Salt. Hence, if five 

 bushels per acre of Salt be applied to that field, and 

 it does not thereupon yield five bushels more per 

 annum of Corn, I will agree to eat the field." 



