FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 175 



It has been generally observed, that when crops are suf- 

 fered to stand on the ground, until they have fully ripened, 

 they exhaust the soil considerably more, than if taken off in 

 a greener state. The same is the case in regard to weeds 

 of every description. Perhaps the remark is not so fully 

 applicable to crops of roots. 



Jt may therefore be said that lands are negatively im- 

 proved, in a saving of their usual exhaustion, by taking 

 such crops off the ground as soon as they have attained a 

 sufficient degree of maturity. 



This is a matter that is worthy of consideration, especial- 

 ly when it is remembered that several kinds of crops may 

 be severed from the ground, without injury, in some cases 

 with a saving, before they have fully ripened. 



Thus, Indian corn may be cut up while the stalks are 

 still green, and set up in shocks for the ears to harden ; and 

 in this way much good fodder will be saved. By harvesting 

 oats while the stalks are somewhat green, they will be the 

 better for fodder, and the grain will receive no injury there- 

 by. The same may be observed, to a certain extent, in re- 

 gard to crops of wheat and rye. 



Flax pulled when just out of blossom is much the best; 

 but in that case the seed is lost ; which, however, is not 

 always of much account. The pea-crop is injured by stand- 

 ing too long ; as in that case the haulm becomes of little 

 value. 



la short, no crops of grain derive any benefit from stand- 

 ing until the stalks are completely dead, except when the 

 grain is to be used for seed. 



The improvement of land is also to be effected by vari- 

 ous other means, which will be treated of under different 

 articles of this work. 



The improving of a Country in the highest degree, not 

 only by making its natural barren tracts as highly product- 

 ive as they will bear; but also by adding the highest addi- 

 tional fertility to the better parts; is the foundation of its 

 wealth and prosperity. 



The lands of a Nation are its principal capital: If these, 

 therefore, become so exhausted, or be suffered to remain so 

 little improved, as to yield little more in products than what 

 is merely equal to the value of the labor bestowed on them, 

 the condition of that Nation must, in general, be poor; that 

 of its Farmers, in particular, can be but little better than 

 that of the Laborer who has to earn his daily bread. 



But if the lands be generally so improved, and enriched, 

 as to yield twenty dollars in product, for every ten dollars 

 bestowed upon them in labor; then the Farmer may grow 

 rich, and his affluence will b& more or less felt by all classes 

 of Community, 



