108 



GENESEE FARMER. 



July, 1845 



portion, according tj t!ie extent of the nortlie:-n line 

 drift; fur "t is an import mt iact that the dilaviil 

 current from the no.th, has conveye 1 ami intermix- 

 ed benoficiallj, the r.ck o" each of these groups 

 with all the <)thers : convoying the fertilizino- lime 

 far south of the actual ex.steiice of the rocK, in pla;o. 

 These various groups contain collectively a vcr\ 

 large poition, perhaps one-fourth, and the most val- 

 able soil of the state. 



When the important question arises, where have 

 occurred, and to what causes are due, the evident 

 and conced^^l diminution of the wheat crop of the 

 state? It will be found that it has occurre 1 chiefly, 

 in the la~-t mentioned groups; and generally in the 

 ratio of their distance from the first; owing, in some 

 instances, to the deficiency of lime, deficient miner- 

 al quaiit 63, and excess of vegetable matter and hu- 

 mus in the soil; very frequently to the too level and 

 wet surfice; but more specially and injuriously, to 

 the tenac;ty and imperfection of the subsoil; resist- 

 ing the escape of the superabundant moi.sture, where- 

 by l;irge surfaces are ol'ten snpe- saturated with wa- 

 ter; inducing winter kill, debility, and various dis- 

 eases of the pU'nt, especially un ler the action of su 1- 

 den and extreme frcst, or heat and drouth. Collec- 

 tively, these results become m'jre manifest and inju- 

 rious as th? soil has been retained under long con- 

 tinued cultivation, so that only in the most favora- 

 ble seasons can a full crop be realized in much of 

 these soils: and in these have occurred the principal 

 falling ofi" in the wheat product of the State. 



As there are l^.rge portions of soil thus circum- 

 stanced, in the wheat region of the State, and espe- 

 cially in the last named groups, it foUou's, if the 

 premises ai'e correct, that in no way can the area of 

 wheat growing be so advantageously extended, and 

 in no way can capital an, 1 means be so profitably ap- 

 plied, as in improving and adapting these lands, by 

 open and thcrouirb draining, where the mineral qual- 

 ities of the soil are in other respects proper. It is 

 an indisputable fact, that very large surfaces under 

 C'iUivation, scarcely yield a remunerating return, 

 from the causes here indicated . 



In fuither dlustration, and in order to a more com- 

 prehensive view of the whole subject as connected 

 with the above general principles, I desire to remark 

 briefly upon the influence of climate upon the pro 

 duction of wheat, as I am not aware that the impor- 

 tance of the subject is generally appreciated. 



Perhaps there is not on enrth a better wheat soil. 

 than is to be found in New York ; so far as the nat- 

 ural capability of the soil is concerned ; and yet it is 

 only when the most favorable circumstances of sea- 

 son and temperature combine with a proper condit- 

 ion of the soil, that we obtain prolucts approaching 

 those of Great Britain, from Ian Is under no better 

 cultivation, and in''erior in nat'iral adaptation to ours. 

 The cause of this is to be found in the excessive 

 character of our climate. Our growing crop has to 

 surmount the extreme severitv of our winter, and ihe 

 more injurious and frequent spring frosts, acting up- 

 on a wet surface, producing what is calle 1 winter 

 kill. The succeeding heat and drouth, acting v.dth 

 sudden change on the same wet surface, unon a pLmt 

 flourishing only in a dry soil, and naturallv incapab'e 

 of resisting these adverse conditions. And finally, 

 encountering the excessive heats of summer, (often 

 in connection with moisture,) stimubting the rdant 

 to premature and diseased rioeness. Or. if th'=' foliatre 

 is verv dense, enfeebling and lodgring it so that th" 

 grain is deficient in proportion to the straw. It is a 



frequent ticcurreive, rt^nt the crop is heavier than can be 

 corned t^i profiinble iiinuir ty, under the inllueiice ot cir 

 (dimuli! ; nud piacticnl fiitin^r!- h;ivH loriij i^itice lenrncd diMt 

 croiisof n nicdiuiu v clgiit nre aeni'rally thi- must prnfunWIe. 



These iiifl;i>Ticet of chm'ite apply not only to tit e Smie, 

 bvit With iniTi'nr lets nijiiriniis forc^, to nil the U Stnies, 

 rind Ml one fxiie'iie or tiie "th. r of lient or cold: nnd ii is 

 probiible. thtit in the south wieiern Stnies ot ibe Union, 

 the cuhivjiiion ol the wheat is liiriiied, more by the influ- 

 eiiCf of cl'iiiae. tbnn by imperreetioiia of fojl. 



In necotdiiiice with the atiove principles, nnd for the rea- 

 son nssiiined. it will be always practicable i' equal, or e- 

 veil iiifi-rior toiiditione of the soil, to rai.=e heavier crops, 

 where the cboiate i,* more tcinijeratc and uniform; for the 

 rc'isoii, in addition to those stated, that ibe crop occiip ea 

 the soil a much ioiiiier time in arrivins<at maturity, niid is 

 also less yiihJHCt to ibe adverse vicissitudes and iiifliiFnccs 

 nl'uiled to. This believed to be the cns-e in sonie pans of 

 Europe and in Great Briiain, in vvliicii la-i, the crop uen- 

 erally occupies the s-oii, in a growing state, exduduis: the 

 tall and winter, from the first of Mticb to the niid'Me of 

 Aufifust: biit (fiuhdess its insular position has a favorable 

 influence. In sudi clim.'Ues also, it is more ninciicable, 

 for the same reasons, to carry down the cultivation of 

 wheat, to soils of inferior naturel adnp aiion. 



As the influeuc of climate is a llx^d condition, and lit- 

 tle subject to buiiinn agen y, onr alternaiive is to adapt 

 our Boil to the climate: v.nd this we may do, chiefly, hy 

 laying the land drv. and obviating on a laroe extontof our 

 BOil.thw injuii.oiis (fftcts of fcuperbbiindnrit moisture. 



In clearing new'land, the irnpoitance and economy of 

 oh'.aining, or even planting, a; proper intervnU. narrow 

 belts of timber, as protec:t on against the winter winds, still 

 ctlgnge the attentioii of practical men. The white oak, 

 which retains its ieave-s through die winter, is admirably 

 suiti'd for this purpose, and indigenous to the soil. 



In Continuation. It nnv be remark) d. that the winter 

 frost, and tl'e heat and drouth of our summers, while of- 

 fering superior advaiUniTPs for cultivating and subduing the 

 fallows, affect injuriously at the same time (lie tirowing 

 crop, esiieciady in wet and h'^avy s nls: urging their drai- 

 nage also from the consideration that tliey an^ afterwards 

 m.'rc easdv and hca-onaldy tilled, and more productive of 

 all other crops as well as wheat. 



The additional conclusions resulting from these general 

 views and principles, are. .that the first requisite, in the 

 cuhi^'alion of wlieat, is to be obtain a gn^d soil.. that a 

 iiood soil is one that abounds in bme, it, c'e>in and dry, 

 and rit-dit ut tle^ mixture ami qiiidiiy of its mineral matter, 

 including fertility nir.l nbsorbeni qualities of the 8ubs(>il . . 

 that a soil containing vegetable fibre or bunuis in excess 

 produces much straw and bttle gram, and that consequent- 

 ly alluviiil soils are not well adapted to wheat except when 

 naturally ove la-d by n proper mixture of the neighboring 

 iiplan 1 m'lierals. .that there is miicfi unpiotitable ap|)lii'a- 

 tion of labor and capital, because of noncoiif.irmity to the 

 natural laws ol soil and climate. . that the cultivation of 

 wheat maybe profitibly continued or extended on large 

 portions of our land, bv adnpiing tiie S' il to the climate, 

 and thus to the cultivation ot wheat, on lands that are 

 too level or wet. provided the mineral qualities of the soil 

 are pioper in other respects. 



1 wo'ild liiniiy offer the su22est'on to practical men, that 

 ns good wheat soils are well adapted to the production of 

 nutritious pasturage, it will be found most profitable at the 

 relative prices of products and labor, to renovate lite soil 

 to a areater extent than is now practiced, by rendering 

 pasturase accessary to the cultivation of wheat, in prefer- 

 ence to'cdsily or artificial manures, beyond a judicious e- 

 conomy and applicatioii of those iha' accumulate on the 

 farm; and that lands not natural to wheat will be most pro- 

 fitably appl'cd to otlie? crops. 



Nkw PoFAToKS, rnVed by M'. St t-^on, of Hanfnrd's 

 Landinsr. were in market on the v;7ih .hine : good, con- 

 sidering tlie se-iscii. 



Wf.kos. — Let not one crow. j*ll snurinus vesetation 

 is injivrinus alike to lh> growing crop a'ld thesoil. It costs 

 more to mature one rank pig weed, than it doea to ripen 

 three times i'8 weight of corn or any other grain. 



