146 



£l)c Jmmcr's ittoittljlg Visitor. 



the southern markets, Charleston, Savannah, 

 Augusta, &c, secure a ready sale to any body 

 who wants to undertake the making of it in this 

 region. 



Land can be bought here for §1 25 an acre. I 

 bought mine from Nicholas Haight of New 

 York, who, I suppose, would give all necessary 

 information about the same. 



ALB. C. RICHARD. 

 VValden's Ridge, ) 



Hamilton Co., Tenn., June, 26. $ 



Prize Essay on the Reuovation of Worn-Out 

 Lands, 



BY EDWARD STABLER, 



Of Sandy Spring, Montgomery County, Maryland. 



[The Publisher of the American Farmer having offered 

 one hundred dollars lor the three best Essays on the 

 above subject, viz: fifty dollars for the first, thirty 

 dollars for the second, and twenty dollars for the 

 third — the Committee appointed for the purpose, 

 consisting of Dr. J. VV. Thompson, of Delaware, 

 and Judge Chambers, Messrs C. B. Calvert, A. 

 Bowie Davis, and N. B. Worthington, of Maryland, 

 unanimously awarded to the following the first Prize.] 



In submitting the following Essay upon the 

 "Renovation of Worn-out Lands," it is deemed 

 proper to state, that the writer understands the 

 main object in view of the editor of the Ameri- 

 can Farmer, to be, the eliciting of such informa- 

 tion as is best adapted to the wants of the great 

 majority of farmers; those who are dependent 

 on the product of the soil for a support, and 

 whose resources are comparatively limited : for 

 although it may be equally desirable to those 

 with more ample means, to improve their lands 

 at the least expense of time and money, yet the 

 number of such is comparatively small ; and it 

 is not perceived why the same plan may not suit 

 both: the one who "lives by the sweat of bis brow" 

 improves his ten acres, while he with the "ple- 

 thoric purse," may in the same lime, enrich his 

 hundred acres. With the view, therefore, to 

 adapt it to the more numerous class of readers, 

 the effort will he made to condense the essay as 

 much as possible; and so plain, and free from 

 technicalities, that "he that runs may read." 



It is almost impossible to establish a theory, or 

 mode of farming, that can be made to suit alike, 

 all localities — of soil, climate, and the facilities 

 of obtaining the various kinds of manure now 

 in use in different sections of the country. But 

 it is believed that with proper energy and indus- 

 try on the part of farmers, and even with the 

 present facilities of transportation, an increase of 

 double, if not quadruple the lime, marl, and 

 bones might be used to advantage; the two for- 

 mer, in many sections of our country are inex- 

 haustible for generations to come; and a much 

 greater amount of the latter might be obtained 

 in sections where they are not used, but greatly 

 needed, if more attention was paid to their col- 

 lection and preservation. 



The first step 1 would advise towards the 

 " Renovation of Worn-out Lands," is a complete 

 and thorough draining, both surface and under 

 drains, where the location and nature of the soil 

 lenders it too retentive of moisture late in the 

 spring. It retards early seeding — the winter 

 grains and grass roots are very liable to be 

 thrown out and injured by frosts; and on such 

 land, the injury from drought is much more se- 

 verely felt. The writer has not known a case 

 where ibis operation was performed with ordin- 

 ary skill and judgment, that did not fully repay 

 the expense ; and in some cases the product was 

 increased from five to ten fold. 



To go into a full description of the methods 

 used in different sections, to accomplish this 

 most important branch of the husbandman's 

 duty, would require diagrams, and also too much 

 space ; nor is it considered necessary ; for in the 

 "American Fanner," (which every tiller of the 

 soil ought to possess) very full and ample infor- 

 mation may be obtained on the subjec't. A few 

 general observations here, may sullies. If the 

 soil is rendered too wet by springs, whose sources 

 are lower than the surrounding laud, the drains 

 ; . i extended to at least the same level, le 



the distance and depth what they may; or to a 

 sufficient depth below the surface to admit ol 

 under-draining clear of the plough. This may 

 sometimes be effected by going through the clay 



subsoil, and without much expense of ditching; 

 as the water can then pass off through the un- 

 der-stratum of gravel or sand. 



Wherever the imrfer-drains will answer the 

 purpose, they should be adopted ; for the land 

 thus reclaimed is often the most profitable for 

 cultivation; and where the expense of brick, or 

 tile, is too great, or suitable stone cannot he had 

 to construct trunk drains, a good substitute is 

 generally within reach, by twelve to fifteen inch- 

 es in depth of small loose stones; covering first 

 with leaves, straw, or small brush, to prevent 

 filling the interstices with the returned earth. 

 Logs or poles, laid lengthwise, also form good 

 under drains; but are more liable to clog from 

 decay. 



The next important step in my opinion, in 

 " Renovating Worn-out Lands," is to plough 

 deep, and thus expose a new surface to the action 

 of frost and atmospheric influence, in order to 

 make a soil in place of the one provided by na- 

 ture ; but which either from cupidity, or bad 

 management — perhaps both — man has destroy- 

 ed. It is considered one of the most certain 

 means to attain this desirable end : and although 

 subsoil ploughing is fully approved of, it is con- 

 sidered less important than to break up the earth 

 from seven to ten inches, if the subsequent treat 

 ment is properly attended to. 



The writer is well aware, that there is a strong 

 feeling of prejudice in the minds of many indi- 

 viduals against this practice. What are the ar- 

 guments of the advocates of shallow ploughing? 

 They say in so many words, "our soil is only a 

 few inches deep, and if we do not plough shal- 

 low, we shall turn up so much clay or dead earth, 

 as to raise no crop at all." If two or three 

 inches of soil is buried in the spring, under a 

 bed of five or six inches of clay, and thus left 

 without further aid, or preparation for a crop 

 that season, the result would generally he, as 

 stated. That shallow ploughing enables the 

 farmer to get clear much more readily of the lit- 

 tle soil or mould, he may have on his worn-out 

 lands, is susceptible of easy demonstration ; 

 nor is it less so, that either in a very wet or 

 very dry season, the crop from this cause, gene- 

 rally suffers. 



During the summer months, the greater por- 

 tion of the rains fall hastily; and whenever the 

 ground is not opened and pervious to a sufficient 

 depth to imbibe the whole, before the surplus 

 water can penetrate, and be absorbed by the 

 compact subsoil, a large portion of the surface 

 becomes fluid, and rapidly passes off or "washes 

 away," unless the land is perfectly level. What 

 remains, after being so thoroughly saturated, has 

 a tendency to settle into a compact mass; soon 

 parting with its scanty supply of -moisture, un- 

 der a hot summer's sun, and rendering it imper- 

 vious to the roots of plants. If a drought suc- 

 ceeds, a soil in such state, can afford but a mea- 

 gre supply of moisture to nourish a crop ; and 

 at a period too, when the greatest amount is 

 needed. Nearly all plants imbibe more or less 

 moisture from the earth by their roots; audit' 

 this support is withheld, they cannot continue in 

 a healthy and vigorous state: indeed so necessa- 

 ry is this element, that many of our grass seeds, 

 and plants, will not only vegetate, but grow vig- 

 orously fur a considerable period, with no other 

 support to their roots, than what can be derived 

 from pure water. 



1 am confident that in most of our lands that 

 have become sterile, the cause is to he attributed 

 more to sW/ou'^tloughing, and washing away of 

 the little soil they possessed, than to the extrac- 

 tion of the vegetable nutriment, by the growth 

 of plants; in fact it is almost a necessary conse- 

 quence of this pernicious practice. If the toil- 

 ing farmer or planter is able to purchase a dress- 

 ing of mineral manure, or fortunate enough to 

 scrape together a scanty supply of vegetable 

 matter from the resources of the farm, a large 

 portion of it is carried off by the first dashing 

 rain, to enrich still more, the beds of creeks and 

 rivers. 



Having stated some of the disadvantages 

 which attend shallow ploughing, wtt will now 

 1 ally enumerate some of the advantages of 

 de p ploughing, when judiciously pursued. 



In the successful cultivation of all our crops, 

 it is neeessary thai ample food be provided, aid 

 in an accessible form ; and that moisture, equally 



necessary, be administered, in neither too grea 

 nor too small quantities. This will probably be 

 admitted by all, and it is presumed the admis- 

 sion will also be made, that the greatest amount 

 of nourishment derived by all our field crops is 

 from the earth. By deep ploughing, it rarely 

 occurs that a fall of rain is so great or sudden, 

 as completely to saturate the body of earth acted 

 on by the plough ; and until such is the case, but 

 little danger is to be apprehended of " washing 

 away;" and just as little, that the plants will so 

 soon require a renewal of moisture, caused by 

 evaporation. The soil much longer retains its 

 loose and friable texture, and enables the roots 

 readily to extend in all directions in search of 

 their appropriate nourishment; for the same 

 reason, deep tilth admits of closer proximity of 

 the plants, without sustaining equal injury from 

 drought, and turning yellow; or firing, in com- 

 mon parlance. 



I would ask the advocates of shallow plough- 

 ing, or the skinning system, as it has been aptly 

 termed, if they have not observed the beneficial 

 effects of earths taken out of cellars, wells, pits, 

 &c, when applied to very poor land ? And 

 have the# not observed a luxuriant growth of 

 grass and weeds on ditch banks and mill-races; 

 even to the highest points, when level enough to 

 retain the moisture that tails ? I have often no- 

 ticed such effects; and have a'most uniformly 

 observed, that if earth thus taken from below 

 the surface, was capable of being pulverized by 

 frost or tillage, increased fertility was the result. 

 Such being the case, is there any valid reason 

 for supposing, that still nearer the surface, so 

 much difference can exist, that while one will 

 render the same land sterile, the other will posi- 

 tively enrich it ? If advantage will result from 

 mixing with the soil, the earth taken from many 

 feet below the surface — and that such is the case 

 1 have had repeated evidence, and using it for 

 ibis express object — I cannot perceive why a 

 portion of the same fertilizing property may not 

 he found in the earth, only a lew inches or a foot 

 below the surface. And last, though not least, 

 in the catalogue of advantages, the all important 

 item of manure, is rendered more available ; and 

 consequently, the land is both immediately and 

 permanently benefitted. 



But deep ploughing alone, much as it is advo- 

 cated, will not speedily make poor laud rich. It 

 also requires some judgment when, and to what 

 extent it should be oarried. Lands that are to 

 be ploughed much deeper than usual, should be 

 broken up in the fall; no crop should be seeded 

 the ensuing season that does not admit of fre- 

 quent ploughing or harrowing; and if practicable 

 give it a dressing before planting, (unless previ- 

 ously prepared for the operation, by liming a 

 year or two in advance) of lime, or some other 

 kind of manure. 



These two branches, viz : Draining and 

 Ploughing, are considered important in the sys- 

 tem of renovation, and more might be added; 

 but perhaps sufficient space has been devoted to 

 them, with the further remark, that no land with 

 a clay subsoil, should be ploughed either deep 

 or shallow, when in a state too wet to crumble 

 or break freely before the plough. The injury is 

 irreparable, at least for that season, as nothing 

 short of a winter's frost will effectually pulver- 

 ize it. 



We will now proceed to the third important 

 step in the process of " Renovating Worn-out 

 Lands." The proper kind and application of 

 manures, viz: stable manure, and vegetable 

 matter produced by the farm ; lime, marl, 

 bones, ashes, guano, plaster, and turning in green 

 crops. 



It may be considered almost an axiom in 

 fanning operations, that no one should go in 

 debt for any kind of manures, unless in favored 

 situations where the price is very low, and the 

 transportation cheap, (except perhaps for lime) 

 without first having fully availed himself of all 

 his own resources; and his manure heap too, 

 should be his first care. No farmer need ever 

 be at a loss for profitable employment for himself 

 and hands, in adding to his stock of this all im- 

 portant requisite to successful operations; and 

 iii preventing the loss ami waste of what is al- 

 ready accumulated. When not necessarily oth- 

 erwise engaged, the time is well employed in 

 many situations by hauling the rich earth, and 



