No. 4.] EXHAUSTED FARMS. 389 



from the surrounding hillsides, lying dormant and unpro- 

 ductive on account of the presence of water. If tlio location 

 will admit, surface or underdrains can l)e constructed, when 

 the character and producing capacity of the land will he 

 changed as by magic. In improvements of this kind experi- 

 ence is of great value. The service of an engineer may 

 sometimes be required to determine inclination of land and 

 amount of fall, although if water runs in natural channels it 

 may safely be inferred that there is fall enough for practical 

 drainage. 



In reclaiming the higher, dryer portions of the farm, 

 the fields adapted for the cultivation of the cereals, plant 

 food must be bought in some form and brought upon the 

 farm ; but it should l)e a gradual process under any method. 

 As the hand of greed has been staid when attempting to rob 

 the soil of all its stores at a single cropping, so on the other 

 hand by no practicable method can we restore abundant fer- 

 tility by a single application of plant food. It may seem 

 paradoxical, yet the only practical method we know is by 

 continual and profitable cropping, carrying off" an abundance, 

 yet returning more abundantly. Thus it is evident that 

 those crops must be raised, having a market value, which 

 insure a profit over the cost of production. If the crops 

 can be consumed upon the farm, securing a still greater 

 profit, this too may further the end in view. Should the 

 owner decide upon the keeping of farm stock and make 

 dairying his specialty, then each individual cow must return 

 a cash value for all the provender she consumes and some- 

 thing more, or she must be weeded oiit of the herd. Thus 

 the voidings will constantly add to the value and fertility of 

 the farm. 



It is a mistaken idea that nothing should be sold from the 

 farm for fear of impoverishing it. In a certain sense the 

 farmer must consider himself a manufacturer ; his farm is to 

 him a factory or workshop into or upon which he carries his 

 raw material (plant food) and working with nature he pro- 

 duces an article of commerce, which he may sell in the 

 markets at a profit. It is his legitimate business to buy in 

 the markets certain elements, either simple or in combina- 

 .tion, and sell them in other forms and combinations. So, 



