112 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



would sell them richer acres somewhere this side of 

 sundown for a less sum than it will cost to fence 

 their old homesteads. 



A general knowledge of the true principles of 

 agriculture would soon correct most of the evils 

 that now afflict American society, such as over- 

 trading, over-banking, and reckless speculations in 

 lands, rail road and other stocks, city property, and 

 lottery gambling. It is by robbing the soil of its 

 natural fruitfulne^ss, that onr population has the 

 means to feed and foster habits of idleness, luxury, 

 vice, crime, and shamelessness, which could not 

 exist if every cultivator performed the labor of 

 making full recompense for all that the earth gives 

 him. A fair restitution to the soil of the elements 

 of fertility, would require more honest industry on 

 the part of the community ; would keep far more 

 of the wealth of individuals and of States in farm- 

 ing lands, where it is safest and most useful to the 

 republic and mankind at large. There would be 

 less extravagance in cities and villages, and more 

 real wealth and power in the country. A worn 

 out farm is much like the dry bones of a dead horse 

 — useful mainly as showing the extinction of life, 

 and what has been by the mechanism of a curious 

 organization. Some of the fossil remains of an old 

 tobacco plantation exhausted before the Revolution, 

 are as wortliy of preservation in a museum as Dr. 

 Frantvlin's printing press in the Patent Office. 



If one were to commence in New Jersey, near 

 the Hudson river, and travel south to the center of 

 Georgia, inquiring of farmers and planters all the 

 way what substances had been most useful in reno- 

 vating partially exhausted soils, he would be told 

 that shell marl and green sand had proved most 

 available and efficient, in addition to the resources 

 of the land it-self. It would extend this article to 

 An unreasonable length to cite authorities on this 

 point; but at another time I will bring together 

 many facts that :ap{>ear to me important as a part 

 of the agricultural history of tlie central and south- 

 ei-n Atlantic State*. The rocks, soils, and climates 

 of the extensive region more immediately subject 

 to the influence of -the Atlantic ocean and the Gulf 

 Stream, diti'er widtiiy from those of tlifi still more 

 expanded country lying west of the AUegany 

 mountains. Different locaKties have very unlike 

 advantages find resources for the improvement of 

 arated and depastured fields; and every farmer 

 ought to study the fertilizers, of whatever sort, 

 within his reach. a. lee, 



At^ieTU, Oa., FeVy 12, 1866. 



Crops after Buckwheat, — I would say to Mr. 

 McAlley, in partial reply to his inquiry, ithat corn 

 very seldom succeeds well after buckwheat. A 

 neighbor wl^ sowed barley on a lot adjoining ours, 

 a part of which had been sown to this crop, found 

 the buckwheat ground to yield only about half as 

 much as that previously in corn, though otherwise 

 treated alike. I can not say what crops do best, 

 for my experience in buckwheat is limited, I hope 

 others will give their views on the question. A 

 Young Farmer, 



Simple but Essential, — Putt he feed box on the 

 right side of the manger, and when you put the 

 horse in, he will keep his own side, and not crowd 



against you, CrKue Avert — Camptown, Fa. 



SUGGESTED ITEMS. -No. 19. 



Winter, judging by the snow and the level of 

 the thermometer, was only postponed awhile, and 

 we have it now in earnest. Let us be thankful for, 

 and improve its opportunities. 



^^ Roman Agriculture'''' shows us how truly Solo- 

 mon declared, "There is nothing new under the 

 sun," and that nmch may be learned from the wis- 

 dom of the ancients. Give us more on the subject. 



" What shall we plant ? " is a question of general 

 interest, just now. What crop promises to be most 

 profitable this year ? We can not say, but go for 

 " mixed husbandry" and "diversified crops," with 

 your * correspondent. This is the only true policy. 



"J[ few Words <m Manures'''' are never out of 

 place in the Farmer, One half the value of sur 

 barn manures are wasted by exposure and misman- 

 agement. Our neglected fertilizers, if saved, would 

 double the crops of the country ! 



^'' Sheep on tlic Prair'ies^'' can be made profitable, 

 by proper care, as Mr. Bkackett shows. His sys- 

 tem of feeding is a good one. 



'"'•Light and Heavy Soils Compared,'''' is a good 

 article. Bat with plenty of help and means, I 

 would choose a heavy soil before a light one ; then 

 I would seek to make that light by underdraining 

 and deep culture, with plenty of muck in my 

 manures, 



'■'■ Muclc, applied unmixed- to the Soil,^^ serves s 

 valuable purpose as a fertilizer, especially on lands 

 deficient in vegetable matter. Let all who can, 

 detail their experience on the subject; it is one 

 which should be urged upon farmers, 



'■'■ Freparing Fire-wood in the FalV is urged 

 because it is a leisure time with the fiirmer. Not 

 often, so far as my experience goes. Get up your 

 wood in the wint-er, enough to last a year; saw 

 and split in spring, before you can do field work, is 

 my advice in the matter, 



'■'■Best Rotation for a Clayey Farm.'''' This essay 

 talks as though a clayey field could be worked and 

 planted early. Clayey farms about here are mud, 

 if worke<l early, and sometimes if worked late. 

 Tell us how you plow, width of lands, need of 

 drainage, etc, if you please. 



^^ Getting Land too Rich." No danger of it, says 

 G, C, L., even on Illinois prairies. Rank heresy, is 

 it Bot ? So Western men have told me ; but a few 

 years and a little experience changed their story. 

 Manure is not dangerous — not at all! , 



''■Making and Freserving Feather Beds." Mother - 

 says this teaches good doctrine, and needed ; for , 

 many a bed is spoiled by inattention and misman- , 

 agement. Under beds of corn husks are much 

 better than tliose of straw, we think, and perhaps 

 will send you our way of making them, in time for 

 next corn-husking. 



^'^ Prize Essays.'''' We are glad to see so many 

 competitors are called out ; but, prize or no prize, 

 let every reader whose yiews differ from those pre- 

 sented, and who can give facts illustrating them, 

 write them out for the Farm-er. The first I ever 

 wrote for an agricultural paper was when a mere 

 boy, and my communication was published in the 

 Genesee Farmer, some fifteen years ago. I shall 

 continue to write, for I have gained much thereby. 



ifiagwra Co., N. Y., March, 1858. B. 



