1854. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



499 



moved at the moment assigned; there were no mis- 

 takes, no hurry or confusion, although the num- 

 ber of persons in attendance was quite large, and 

 at the dinner more than usually sit down at the 

 County Shows. 



The exercises in the Town-hull, wei'C an ad- 

 dress by the agricultural Editor of the Farmer, re- 

 marks by Mr. Earle, Editor of the S>pj, ^Vorces- 

 ter, and the announcement of the awards. 



Such associations are the germs from which 

 will spring the improvements so much desired in 

 agricultural affairs, and we wish them all that 

 success they so eminently deserve. 



For the New England Farmer. 



IMPROVING SOILS BY SHADE. 



Mr. Brown : — In the Country Gentleman, of 

 July 6th, there appeared an article on a " New 

 Method of Fertilizing Land," by Elihu Cross, of 

 Renssalaer county, N. Y. Mr. Cross says, " I 

 believe it is generally argued by farmers that 

 shade tends to impoverish the soil ; but, after a 

 careful examinatiun, I have come to the con- 

 clusion that sliade makes land rich. Perhaps 

 those opposed to t'.iis tlicory will say, ' If shade 

 makes land rich, why does not the soil under! 

 very large trees become vei-y fertile ? ' It seems j 

 to me that every intelligent husbandn^an might 

 answer this question'without much hesitation.; 

 The reason is this : the growth of the tree is con-j 

 stantly drawing the strength from the soil, and' 

 if the shade did not tend to enrich the land, the' 

 soil would soon be so much impoverished that the 

 tree would die. If any person wishes to be con- 

 vinced of the truth of this new theory, let liim 

 try an experiment on a small scale. Take a piece 

 of poor ground, one rood square, and cover it over 

 with brush two feet deep ; let it remain covered 

 in this manner four years, then remove the brush, 

 and, if I am not very much mistaken, he will 

 find that the soil has become rich, although no 

 manure has been added. Let any man enter the 

 forest, and examine the soil which has had grow- 

 ing timber consuming its fertilizing matter for 

 centuries, and he will find that the soil is still 

 very rich. Now I will ask how the fertility has 

 been kept up, if the shade does not tend to fer- 

 tilize the soil ? I shall, doubtless, hear many 

 say it has been kept up by the manure made of 

 the leaves of the trees. I admit that the foliage 

 tends to fertilize ; but the quantity of matter re- 

 turned to the soil in this way is so small in com- 

 parison to what is taken up by the growth of 

 timber, it is evident there must be a greater 

 source of fertilization, or the soil would long 

 since have been exhausted. By shading land 

 properly, the soil is made to undergo the putre- 

 factive process, and is converted into a strong and 

 durable manure. x\sk farmers that raise flax and 

 spread it upon their land, if the grass is any 

 larger where the flax was spread than elsewhere, 

 they will answer yes. You may ask them why it 

 is larger ; they will say the flax has enriched the 

 land. Ask them how it luis enriched the land, 

 and I presume to say not more than one in ten 

 can tell you," &c. 



To this there is added an editorial note, which, 

 in substance, says : ' ' The simple process of shading 



land cannot impart any fertility whatever, else 

 the north side of a building would soon become 

 enriched by the process. Neither can the shade 

 of trees prove beneficial to the soil ; and, although 

 their growth is constantly withdrawing the 

 strength from the soil, yet the annual extension 

 of the roots, and their penetration into the soil, 

 brings them successively into contact with fresh 

 portions of earth, and their growth continues un- 

 checked. But when a porous substance is placed 

 upon the surface of the earth, sufficiently dense to 

 prevent the evaporation of its moisture, and at 

 the same time to admit the free passage of rain 

 and air, two very important advantages are 

 gained, viz : the preservation of the riches of the 

 soil, and the addition to its fertility by the con- 

 densation of volatile manures, thruugli the agency 

 of rain, and by the gradual decumposltion of the 

 surface soil, through the action of air and water. 

 If the earth is covered air tight, as, for example, 

 by a solid stack of hay, or stra,w, resting directly 

 upon it, no improvement follows, as would be the 

 case if a pervious stratum merely was laid on its 

 surface. For the same reason, the subsoil is never 

 benefited by the shade of the upper soil, because 

 it is totally excluded from air and moisture," &c. 



Some five or six years ago, I gave out a few 

 hints and ideas to the fiirmers, through the 

 Albany Cultivator, in regard to improving waste 

 lands. Such lands as steep hill sides, barren 

 knolls, rocky ledges, and other waste places, by 

 letting those points grow up to trees of the 

 forest — naturally, if they would — if not, to plant 

 them out, or sow the seed, by hand. When 1 first 

 gave out this advice to farmers, I thought it good, 

 and every year since has convinced me more and 

 more of its importance, although at first I had no 

 idea of offering any " new theory " for improving 

 waste lands ; still, if others feel disposed to give it 

 that " name," I have no objections, not knowing 

 whetlier 1 was before or behind otiiers in first 

 offering the improvement. Since that time, how- 

 ever, Ihave had the satisfaction of seeing other 

 writers advocate the same cause, while some 

 " agricultural orators " have held forth to " audi- 

 ences " on improving waste lands by growing 

 trees, which is all very well. The principles held 

 forth in the theory offered by Mr. Cross I believe 

 to be true ; and, as he has done it in a very sys- 

 tematic way, I will make no attempts at im- 

 provement on that point. !My attention was 

 called to tliis suliject a itivf years since, first, by 

 observing a white oak tree growing on a barren, 

 gravel knoll, upon my own land ; and under this 

 trcj the soil was noticed to be pretty well swarded 

 over to grass, while a few feet distance i'rom the 

 tree nothing but " fine finger vines and rattle 

 I ox-plants " could grow. The (|uestion then 

 I arose, — what caused the soil to become more pro- 

 ductive, and sward over to grass under the trees? 

 JThe falling leaves, under single or standard trees, 

 I would not be of much account as a fertilizer, as 

 the wind would blow them away as. they fell. 

 The droppings of cattle under such trees, at 

 times, might be of some importance during the 

 warm season. But the main cause of productive- 

 ness I consider comes from shelter, and protection 

 of the soil from the scalding and burning rays of 

 the sun, together with the heavy washing and 

 drenching rains of the season. 



That there is a principle involved in the growth 



