148 



$!)c jfcmtur'js iitontljln bisttor. 



doubt, several contiguous acres might Iiave been 

 selected on liie lowest ground (the portion under- 

 drained) on which the yield was over forty bu- 

 shels to the acre.* This season, the same field 

 yielded the heaviest crop of grass 1 ever harvest- 

 ed ; and even on what was originally the poorest 

 part, there is now a luxuriant crop of second 

 growth clover, and intended for seed, that is 

 lodging over the whole extent. We will esti- 

 mate the profit and loss by figures : 



To 60 bushels of lime, cost at the kiln, 

 16 cents 



Seven years interest, (though it paid 

 in pasture in less time,) 



Sixty bushels of lime, cost at the 

 kiln, 12i cents 



Three years interest 



Six bushels ground bones, at 50 cts., 



One hundred pounds guano (African) 



$27 48 



CONTRA. 



By 33 bushels of wheat, average 



price sold at 1 31 $43 23 



Estimate increase of corn crop, 

 at least 6 barrels, at $2, (and 

 entirely owing to the lime,) 12 00 



Estimate increase of oat crop, 

 20 bushels, at 40 cents (en- 

 tirely owing to lime,) 8 00 



Estimate increase of hay, one 



ton, (entirely owing to lime,) 10 00 



Estiuiute value of clover seed, 

 (for there would have been 

 none without the lime,) 1£ 

 bushel, at $4, 6 00 79 23 



$51 75 



Making, in round numbers, fifty dollars per 

 acre in favor of " renovating," nor is the estimate 

 a forced one. The actual increase of the crops 

 is greater than the amounts assumed ; and if a 

 fair average was made of the wheat, in the joint 

 crop of oats and wheat, the aggregate result 

 would be increased some five to six dollars per 

 acre. 



There should, perhaps, in the view of some, 

 be a charge for draining, and for hauling and 

 spreading the lime; also for the manure for the 

 crop of wheat; and for the expense of harvest- 

 ing the increased crops. 



The two former are amply paid for in the in- 

 creased pasture ; and the manure was no more 

 than the actual yield of the land itself, after'the 

 use of lime, &c, which are charged in the ac- 

 count, and at more than the cost: and it is be- 

 lieved that the increased product in straw and 

 fodder fully repays the expense - of harvesting : 

 to say nothing of the present state of the land, 

 as compared to what it was originally. It is 

 now radically and permanently improved. 



When lime has been freely used, plaster will 

 generally, if not always, act promptly and effi- 

 ciently ; and thus at very small expense, materi- 

 ally aid in perpetuating the improvement. Pre- 

 vious to its application in this case, plaster was 

 liberally'used; but with no visible effect what- 

 ever: now, its action is as marked on the same 

 land, as I have ever seen any where. 



Wherever lime can be obtained lit a reasona- 

 able price — say from twelve to twenty cents per 

 bushel in a caustic stale (or at half price, if air 

 slaked) with even five to ten miles hauling, it 

 may he used to advantage on most, if not all 

 stiff clay soils. 



In some sections these prices are paid, and it 

 is hauled fifieen to twenty miles; and by a class 

 of men unsurpassed for industry and thrift. The 

 writer has known no instance where its use was 

 persevered in, under whatever disadvantage it 

 might be, in which success, to a greater or less 

 extent, did not crown the effort; and many who 

 borrowed money lo procure it in the first in- 

 stance, have mainly by its use, become indepen- 

 dent ; and money-lenders themselves. 



Hones — composed principally of phosphate of 

 lime, and gelatinous animal matter, when crush- 

 ed or ground, form one of the richest manures. 

 It acts well either alone or with other manures : 



1 

 ji.. buffi ... ill . eJ .< is ,. i on .... ...... pi .... . i, . 



year, a volunteer crop of wheat with the grass, estimated 

 by many who saw it, as well worth harvesting. 



and it is particularly valuable to aid the growth 

 of clover; for this reason, 1 class it decidedly 

 before guano, at an equal expenditure of money, 

 for " renovating worn-out lands." Although not 

 so prompt in acting, it is far more durable, and 

 more likely to produce a good crop of clover to 

 turn under — clover being almost the only " green 

 crop" that I have ever found much advantage 

 from turning in. 



I prefer its use, following the lime, anil on the 

 oat crop; at the rate of from six to ten bushels — 

 or as much more as the renovator may please, 

 for an increased quantity will do no injury. On 

 the wheat, succeeding the oats, my practice is to 

 apply a light dressing of guano — say eighty to 

 one hundred pounds to the acre, to mature and 

 perfect the grain ; and only on such portions of 

 the field as (he manure from ihe barn yard will 

 not extend to. By the lime the clover requires 

 the aid of the bone, it will have become suffi- 

 ciently disintegrated and incorporated with the 

 soil, to give the clover a vigorous start; and its 

 effect on the grass crops is generally more dura- 

 ble than the vegetable manures. 



The supply of ground bones is a limited one; 

 but when to be had at a reasonable price (usually 

 selling at forty to fifty cents the bushel) it may 

 be used to advantage on all crops and on all 

 soils; but with decidedly less advantage, after 

 passing through the alcmbick of (he glue manu- 

 facturer, (as I iiave proved — at least to my satis- 

 faction); thus depriving it of much of its fertil- 

 izing property. It is usually harrowed in with 

 the seed, as it loses less by exposure to the 

 atmosphere than most kinds of putrescent ma- 

 nures. 



Guano. — This is one of the most active of all 

 manures; and if the price would justify the ap- 

 plication in sufficient quantities, it might aid ve- 

 ry materially in "renovating worn-out lands." 

 But considering the evanescent nature of its 

 most active principle, ammonia, and the present 

 high market price, viz: the Peruvian at sixty to 

 seventy dollars — and the more inferior kinds at 

 forty-five to fifty-five dollars — for the ton of two 

 thousand pounds, it is much doubted whether 

 the ultimate advantage calculated on by many, 

 will be realized. If ihe Peruvian could be ob- 

 tained at about half this price — and it is be- 

 lieved such would he the case with a fair com- 

 petition in the Peruvian market — ihe case might 

 be different. 



The writer has made liberal use of guano ; 

 and generally to profit, as to the immediate re- 

 turn ; but in no case has much benefit been de- 

 rived beyond the first crop ; and rarely was any 

 material effect perceived after the second year. 



This opinion, so different from that entertain- 

 ed by some others, is not lightly formed, nor 

 without several years careful observation ; and 

 also testing the matter by numerous experi- 

 ments, and on a scale sufficiently extended to 

 prove the truth or fallacy of the doctrine held 

 by some, that it is only a stimulant. Reference 

 to one experiment may suffice, as they all tend 

 to the same result, and nearly to ihe same de- 

 gree. 



In a field of some ten acres, one acre was se- 

 lected near the middle, and extending through 

 the field, so as to embrace any difference of soil, 

 should there be any. On ibis acre two hundred 

 pounds of Peruvian guano, at a cost of about 

 five dollars, were sown with ihe wheat. Ad- 

 joining the guano on one side, was manure from 

 the barn yard, at ihe rale of twenty-five cart 

 loads to the acre ; and on ihe opposite side (sepa- 

 rated by an open drain the whole distance) ground 

 bones were applied on Ihe balance of the field, 

 at a cost of six dollars to the acre: the field 

 equally limed two years preceding. Tliere was 

 no material difference in the lime or manner of 

 seeding; except that the manure was lightly 

 cross-ploughed in, and the guano and bones har- 

 rowed in with the wheat. 



The yield on the guanoed acre was thirty-five 

 bushels; the adjoining acre with hone, as near 

 as could he estimated by dozens, and compared 

 with the guano, was about twenty-seven bush- 

 els; anil the manured, about twenty-four bush- 

 e Is. The season was unusually dry ; and the 

 mat tired portion suffered more from this cause 

 lliet f tin " 



. . _, ...u, e clei .... .., tii . xpo 



sure. 



The field has since been mowed three times ; 



the i?rs( crop of grass was evidently in favor of 

 the boned part ; the second and third were fully 

 two to one over the guano, and also yielding 

 much heavier crops of clover seed. On a part 

 of one land, eighteen bushels to the acre of the 

 finest of the bone were used ; on this, the wheat 

 was as heavy as on the guanoed, and the grass 

 generally lodges before harvest, as it also does 

 on much of the adjoining land with twelve bu- 

 shels of bone. 



The action and durability of guano probably 

 vary on different soils; and although it may 

 generally be used to advantage in aid of a 

 single crop, I have as yet, no satisfactory evi- 

 dence that its fertilizing properties are very 

 durable — unless applied in such quantities as 

 may in the end, "cost more than it comes to." 



Guano should not be used with caustic lime, 

 or ashes; nor very soon succeeding their appli- 

 cation. It may with decided advantage he mix- 

 ed with plaster, to fix and retain the ammonia; 

 and for nearly if not all crops, it is best to sow 

 it broadcast, and plough in immediately. 



Leached ashes. — There are few, or none, who 

 are ignorant of ihe value of this article as ma- 

 nure. But as the supply is rarely if ever equal 

 to the demand, much need not be said on the 

 subject. At eight to ten cents per bushel, if the 

 cost of transportation is not too heavy, they may 

 always he profitably used ; in durability they are 

 next to lime, and the action immediate. Few 

 comparatively, except within the vicinity of ci- 

 ties or villages, or those with water or railroad 

 facilities, can procure or afford to use them. 



Poudrelle. — Much profit has not resulted in the 

 use of this (the merchantable) article, so far as I 

 have observed its effects on my own, or the 

 crops of others. Such as I have purchased, has 

 as yet produced but slightly beneficial results on 

 the crops to which it was applied. Its fertilizing 

 property was diffused through such a mass of 

 inert matter, that 1 concluded with half if not 

 one-third of the expense, more benefit might be 

 derived from the purchase of some other kind 

 of manure. 



In the neighborhood of cities, where a supply 

 can be obtained without so much adulteration, 

 its use may be made very profitable. 



Turning in green crops. — This plan of " reno- 

 vating worn-out lands" has long been advocated 

 by many. I Iiave also given it a fair trial ; and 

 with the exception of clover as the green crop, 

 little advantage has resulted from its adoption : 

 very poor land, without some extraneous aid, will 

 not produce a green crop worth the turning in. 

 It is questionable, whether the same amount of 

 lime and labor (supposing the occupant without 

 the means to purchase manure of any kind) 

 could not he better employed on such land, in 

 adding to his stock of manure by composts; 

 prepared from decaying vegetable matter, alluvi- 

 al soil, &c. &c, abounding more or less on all 

 farms. If the land possess fertility to produce 

 sufficient clover for pasture, the use of plaster 

 either without, or certainly wilh the aid of lime, 

 will w iih good management, make it yield a lux- 

 uriant crop. But it should be borne in mind, 

 that to improve in ibis way, little mowing and 

 less pasturing must be permitted. The land is 

 not only benefitted by what is turned in, but is 

 also materially aided in the process of renova- 

 tion by what is left out, and on the surface ; to 

 shield and protect the soil from a parching sun, 

 prevent throwing out ihe clover roots by the 

 winter frosts, and washing away of the soil by 

 heavy dashing rains. 



This brings to mind another matter, though 

 perhaps not strictly "in the bargain," hut which 

 is of much more importance than many seem to 

 be aware ofj and as yet only incidentally alluded 

 to. It is the preservation of the land after it is 

 renovated, from washing away of the soil, and 

 into gullies and "galled places," as they are call- 

 ed: this is best done by regular water furrows 

 made with the bar-share plough, and throwing 

 the earth on the 'lower side. 1 will attempt 

 a brief description of my plan of operations; 

 but without a diagram some may possibly be at 

 a loss. 



The points to commence at are determined by 

 the eye ; a cheap spirit level, costing Inn 



will soon give the termination' with |>re , 



and the proper inclination. The operator takes 

 a station some eighty to one hundred yards dis- 



