80 



THE GEKESEE FARMER. 



LIGHT AND HEAVY SOILS COMPARED. 



Light sandy loams are generally regarded, by 

 those who are but little acquainted with them, as 

 rather improfitable for the husbandman. I have 

 had considerable experience in the cultivation of 

 this class of soils, and also of the heavier, clayey 

 loams, and I am quite decided in my preference of 

 the former to the latter.* 



Light soils are probably not as rich in the ele- 

 ments of vegetation as heavy ones, but this defect 

 is nearly counterbalanced by the free absorption 

 from the atmosphere of the organic elements of 

 vegetation. A light soil is ready for cultivation as 

 soon as the frost is out of the ground in the spring ; 

 you are not obliged to wait long for the heaviest 

 rains to soak away before you can resume its cul- 

 ture ;, and the most protracted drouths do not sto]) 

 the plow. Light soils are less affected by those 

 extremes of wet and drouth to which our climate 

 has become so subject. They part with their 

 moisture more readily by evaporation, and are 

 therefore more affected by a few days of drying 

 weather; but when the drouth becomes protracted, 

 a reaction takes place. Moisture ascends, by capil- 

 lary attraction, from a great depth ; and the mellow 

 surface permits tlie vapor-laden atmosphere to pen- 

 etrate to the cooler soil surrounding the roots of 

 plants, where it is condensed into dew. In conse- 

 quence, there is a revival of vegetation on light 

 soils, in a drouth, just as it begins to yield to its 

 influence on heavy soils. 



In those very dry seasons which have recently 

 occurred, the only good crops of corn and potatoes 

 (crops requiring nearly the whole season to develop 

 and mature) which I observed, were on light land. 



The fertility of light soils is more easily exhausted 

 than of heavy; but then they are more easily resus- 

 citated by manuring, or by growing red clover to 

 be plowed under for manure. 



The expense of cultivating a mellow soil is much 

 less tlian of a compact one. The annual Avcar of 

 teams, implements, etc., is no small item in the cost 

 of working a tarm containing a stiff, compact soil, 

 to say nothing of the greater ease and pleasure with 

 which one tills a friable, yielding soU. 



Root crops are much less liable to decay, and are 

 dryer, more mealy, and substantially grown, upon a 

 dry light soil, than when grown upon the opposi*-e 

 class. No one knows the real luxury of a dry, 

 mealy potato, who is obliged to rely upon heavy 

 land for the production of that esculent. 



On t!ie other hand, with everything fuvorable, 

 larger crops of grain and grass are produced ui)on 

 heavy than upon light sod. For grazing ])urposes, 

 heavy land is generally more reliable than light; 

 but in case of a severe and protracted drouth, they 

 are liable to an entire failure. They heave in frosty 

 weather, bake in dry, and are flooded, suifocating 

 growing vegetation, in rainy weatlier. 



In view of these considerations, if my choice was 

 limited to one of these two extreme classes of soils, 

 I should choose a hght in preference to a heavy one. 



The texture of the soils we cultivate, has not 

 received the attention from agricidturista which its 

 importance demands. Uow to render liglit soils 

 more retentive, and heavy soils lighter, is iuforma- 

 ition whieli farmers very much need. 



Xmt: rulmyra, Jan'y, 1858. _ P. C. KEYN0LD8. 



LARGE AND SMALL POTATOES. 



Editors Genesee Fakmee: — You are undoubt- 

 edly aware that a difference of opinion exists as to 

 the proper size of potatoes for seed ; also, as to the 

 amount of seed to each hill. As I was with those 

 who believe that large potatoes will produce a 

 gi'eater amount and larger potatoes than small ones, 

 I resolved to test the matter. The result showed a 

 slight dift'erence in size in favor of the large potatoes, 

 but not as much as I expected. I think I shall test 

 this matter more fully at some future time ; if so, 

 perhaps you may hear from me again, on this sub- 

 ject. But I will proceed to give you the fignres as 

 far as tested. 



The rows were eighteen feet long and three feet 

 apart, six rows beuig planted. The foUojving table 

 shows the result : 



I also planted a row, the same lengtli as above, 

 with large I-Jound l^inkeyes, putting two pieces witii 

 two eyes each in a hill, which produced 30 lbs. 



The Long Pinkeye will not produce as much as 

 some other varieties; and you will perceive that tlie 

 row of Round Pinkeyes produced 11 lbs. over thd 

 Long variety, under the same circumstances. 



Caledonia, iV. Y. D. LEATIIEESEICH. 



Eaelt Potatoes. — For early potatoes, a corres- 

 pondent of the Oldo Valley Farmer says: "My 

 method is to hang up my early varieties in a basket 

 near the stove, about the first of April or earlier, 

 and keep them near a summer heat, and plant about 

 the 10th of May, or as soon as the ground is warm 

 enough to let them grow, taking care not to break 

 ott' the sets." I have not the least doubt that they 

 may be forwarded in that manner, to good advan- 

 tage ; yet 1 think the kitchen-maid would not be 

 very well pleased with the plan of hanging a basket 

 or baskets, containing two or three bushels of pota- 

 toes, or even one bushel, around the cooking stove, 

 for from four to six weeks, when they may be 

 started in the cellar nearly as well, if not as early 

 by only a few days. D. — Gates. 



Test toue Seed Coen. — As there is considerable 

 danger of poor seed corn, this spring, I would call 

 the attention of every farmer to the foot, and advise 

 testing it in time, so that, should it fail, rehable seed 

 may be obtained. It may be done by placing a 

 small (piantity of shelled corn in a basin, or any 

 other vessel, and pouring warm water on it in the 

 same manner as for soaking previous to ])lanting. 

 Bear in mind, it must be kept in a warm place 

 during the process. D. — Gates. 



The substantial pros])erity of a country is always 

 in the ratio of its agricultural industry and wealth. 



