1846.] Art and Science of Jlgriculture. 153 



bors', although in the same vicinity, and in the midst of a lime- 

 stone formation. 



A scientific examination of the soils from several localities in 

 the vicinity by a membei of the late Geological Board of Ohio,* 

 disclosed the fact that the soils of these defective farms were 

 made up of the detritus from a primitive region, containing hard- 

 ly a vestige of lime, and composed mostly of argillaceous and 

 silicious materials, notwithstanding the rocks beneath were car- 

 bonate of lime. At his suggestion a top dressing of lime was 

 furnished, and the lands became fertile and productive. Art would 

 never have suspected that in the midst of a limestone region the 

 cause of sterility in the soil could be the absence of that mineral. 

 Instances the reverse of this occasionally occur in some of the 

 northern parts of Ohio, which are of a different geological forma- 

 tion, where limestone is not found in place. As an instance, cer- 

 tain farms in Rockport and Olmsted, along the course of Rocky 

 river, in the county of Cuyahoga, are known to be more favora- 

 ble for the production of wheat than many of the claylands in the 

 same townships, though the soil presents no very flattering appear- 

 ance to the eyes of Art. 



To Science the cause is evident; the boulders large and small, 

 are principally limestone, and the soil contains a large per 

 centage of lime mixed with clay and sand. Bad tillage and a 

 grasping system of husbandry are, however, rapidly exhausting, 

 these lands of their vegetable and animal matter, and lime alone 

 will not render lands fertile that are deficient in these ingredients. 



When Science shall be permitted to control the operations on 

 these lands, understanding the matter, she will so manage as to 

 add from time to time to the exhausted soils, carbon, hydrogen 

 and nitrogen, by dressing with manure and plaster, turning in 

 gi-een crops, particularly clover, and by attention to a correct 

 routine of crops, she will be constantly raising the condition of 

 the soil, and at the same time obtaining productive crops in re- 

 turn. 



Northern Ohio is becoming exhausted under the course pursued 

 by Art. Few farms will produce half the crops at the end of 

 twenty years' cultivation that they would when first cleared from 

 the forests. Such results are not necessary. Under skillful and 

 scientific management, they should yield more abundantly. We 

 go farther and assert that even when thus exhausted, they may be 

 reclaimed in five years by good management and placed in a 

 better condition than when taken from the hand of nature — at 

 the same time the cultivator may obtain annually better rewards 

 for his labor than he that follows the exhausting course of Art. 



At such an assertion we are aware Art is disposed to express 



* Prof. Locke. 



Vol. IL, No. 1. 12 



