56 IMPROVEMENT OF THE SOIL. 



thoroughly ; and neither draining nor freeing the surface 

 from stones, where these are in the way, can be managed 

 with economy, if the new settler has the time and the 

 means of doing them. The most approved practice, 

 therefore, is, to sow grass-seeds with the first crop, where 

 the land can be spared for this purpose, and to leave the 

 field in grass, till the stumps, or the greatest portion of 

 them, can be readily drawn out with a team, or turned 

 out with the plough. When this can be done, the other 

 operations of improvement, — removing the surface stones 

 into walls, draining, manuring, thorough tillage, and alter- 

 nation of crops, are more or less necessary, to induce and 

 keep up fertility. But these seldom engage the attention 

 of the pioneer in improvement. He considers that he has 

 done his part ; or, rather, he does not seem conscious that 

 he is capable of going further. He generally goes on 

 cropping, without giving manure to his soil, and without 

 seeming to know, that the soil is every day becoming less 

 and less capable of supplying his wants. The ulterior 

 improvements must be generally undertaken by his chil- 

 dren or successors, or not undertaken at all. Hence the 

 deterioration which has been going on in a great portion 

 of our lands from the time of their first settlement. And 

 hence the inducement of countless multitudes to emigrate 

 to the west, where the natural fertility of the soil has not 

 yet been exhausted by a reckless system of husbandry. 



The natural quality and condition of soils have not so 

 much influence upon their ultimate products and profits, 

 as the good or bad management which they receive. 

 Some of the now poor lands in the Atlantic States, were 

 once as rich and productive as the now rich lands of the 

 Ohio and Mississippi valleys ; and the latter, under the 

 treatment which the former have received, will as cer- 

 tainly become poor, as that like causes will produce like 

 effects. Nature was as bountiful to the east as she was 

 to the west ; and gave to us the same means and capaci- 

 ties for improving and enjoying her bounties, as she has 

 given to them ; but we have abused her gifts — we have 

 disregarded her admonitions — and we are suffering the 

 penalty of our disobedience in an empoverished soil. Nor 



