1868. 



NEW ENGLAND FAEMER. 



485 



son enjoys full liberty to fix his location where 

 he pleases, — provided he can pay for it. He 

 manufactures any articles which he desires to, 

 not protected by patent, or raises any amount 

 of crop that his industry and skill may enable 

 him to. He then sells without restriction of 

 any kind, to those who will pay him the high- 

 est price. The government never meddles 

 with him further than to collect the revenues 

 fixed by the legislators whom the people them- 

 selves have selected for that purpose. Capital 

 and labor are united, and no power stands 

 behind to wrest them from their legitimate 

 course. 



KENTUCKY BLUE-QRASS LAJSD. 

 The Lexington Farmers' Ilome Journal 

 is publishing a series of articles, somewhat 

 scientific in their character, upon the causes 

 of the wonderful fertility of the Blue-grass 

 lands of that State, in which, among other 

 facts, it is shown that the limestone on which 

 that soil is based has long been and is still 

 undergoing a slow process of decomposition, 

 from the action of the air and the gases in the 

 soil, by which the fertility of the land is pro- 

 duced and kept up. But is it safe to act on 

 the assumption that this soil is practically in- 

 exhaustible? This question is discussed in 

 the eighth paper of the series of articles above 

 alluded to, in the following manner : — 



It is a very great calamity to any country when 

 the land becomes unproductive ; for it requires no 

 more labor, no more expense for farm implements 

 and stock, &c., to till the rich land than it does to 

 cultivate the poor land, while in the latter case the 

 labor and expense are measurably thrown away, 

 because not remunerative. It is, therefore, very 

 easily to be demonstrated that it Is poor farming 

 to reduce the productiveness of any land, however 

 rich it may naturally be. 



The blue-grass farmer has too frequently lost 

 sight of these agricultural axioms ; and, relying 

 on the natural fertility of his soil, indulged in a 

 scornful kind of pity toward the more skilful 

 farmer of poorer regions, who annually increases 

 the productiveness of his fields by attention to the 

 science of agriculture, and the use of artificial 

 fertilizers. Relying on the large store of the 

 elements of fertility in his rich land, and upon its 

 natural process of renovation by the influence of 

 the limestone sub-stratum, the blue-grass farmer 

 cares nothing for the "phosphates," the "alkalies," 

 the essential mineral ingredients of the soil — "he 

 cares only for the crops," which kind nature gives 

 him, for the simplest and blindest labor. Like 

 the prodigal son of a rich father, his wealth has 

 come to him without any exertion of his own. and 

 he cannot, therefore fully appreciate its value. 



But the largest fortunes have been known to 

 become exhausted, and even rich heirs have at 

 length been brought to know how very inconven- 

 ient poverty may be. All heirs of rich fathers 

 have not shown so little consideration, but em- 



ploying their natural faculties have used and pre- 

 served their capital for the benefit of themselves 

 and their posterity. And this Hue of conduct is 

 more especially the duty of the blue-grass farmer. 

 It is pretty well known to all that the natural 

 process of the renovation of this soil does not keep 

 pace with the exhaustion of modern farming; and 

 as markets become better, this exhaustion will be 

 more rapid ; and it is evident to all good observers 

 that this land is gradually becoming less produc- 

 tive. Many may be disposed to dispute this, who 

 do not severely crop their land, or who use it 

 mainly for grazing. But where do we now see 

 that enormous productiveness which was enjoyed 

 by the pioneer blue-grass farmer, in former times ? 

 The process of exhaustion may be .«low, but, like 

 the motion of the hour hand upon the face of the 

 clock, time demonstrates its progress. It is wise . 

 to begin in time, to take this important matter 

 into serious consideration, that we may check the 

 impending evil before it becomes a public calam- 

 ity. 



THE LIGHTNING APPLE PABEK. 



The Gold Medal of the New England Ag- 

 ricultural Society was awarded last week to 

 the machine represented by the above cut. 

 It also received the highest premium at the 

 Paris Exposition, as it has likewise, we are in- 

 formed, at every State, County, and Town Fair 

 where it has been exhibited, without a single 

 exception. It does its work with an ease and 

 expedition that justifies its name. There is 

 no crank to turn, — a simple horizontal move- 

 ment of the handle strips off the apple's jack- 

 et, and places the knife entirely out of the 

 way while taking off and putting on the ap- 

 ples. It appears to be durable, is well made, 

 entirely of iron, and so constructed that the 

 most careless operator cannot bring the knife 

 in contact with the fork. When seen in the 

 picture the little machine, we think, appears 

 more complicated than when in actual opera- 

 tion. Its simplicity is in fact one of its high- 

 est recommendations. One of these machines 

 has been in use in our family during the year 

 past and has given entire satisfaction. It is 

 for sale at the principal agricultural and hard- 

 ware stores in the country. 



