THE MAXIMUM PRODUCT OF THE SOIL. 165 



been gathered at one mowing: 80 bushels of wheat per 

 acre has been produced and more has been claimed: 65 

 bushels per acre has been commonly grown by the best 

 English farmers in good seasons. 125 bushels of oats and 

 80 of barley have been produced on favorable soils. 1329 

 bushels of potatoes have been made per acre by one farmer 

 by ordinary methods of culture : 600 bushels is a common 

 yield in the rich potash and lime soils of the Southern 

 mountain region. 75 bushels of buckwheat per acre has 

 been grown by the Author, 80 tons of mangels ;has 

 been produced in England and 1200 bushels per acre of 

 this root have been grown as an ordinary crop. These are 

 not to be supposed to be unsurpassable. No one knows what 

 a fully fertilized soil may produce under every favoring cir- 

 cumstance, but it is the business of the farmer to provide 

 everything in the soil for as large a product as may be pos- 

 sible and then to accept what a kind and favoring Provi- 

 dence ever ready to recompense honest effort, and sustain 

 the industrious energetic faithful and conscientious worker 

 may enable him to secure. It is very certain that he who 

 does not sow, will not reap, and it is equally certain that he 

 who sows with pains will reap joyfully. 



It is scarcely necessary to extend these considerations to 

 a greater length than to merely mention a few other me- 

 chanical methods of improving the soil. The principles in- 

 volved have been perhaps and as we hope made suffi- 

 ciently clear. Heavy clay soils have been greatly bettered 

 by a mixture of line sand and gravel. As has been ex- 

 plained the presence of silica in the soil exerts a beneficial 

 effect upon all crops, but especially upon the grains. This 

 process is not so costly as it may seem. Where a supply of 

 sand is conveniently situated 160 loads per acre or one to 

 the square rod is spread in the winter on the fall plowed 

 land, left in ridges and as rough as possible to get an even 

 mixture. This may be done for $40 per acre if the work is 

 hired ; but if in the season of leisure, the farmer and his 

 workmen undertake it, the work may be done at a nomi- 

 nal cost. Where 10 acres are to be sanded, it will greatly 



