STUDY THE CAPABILITIES OF SOILS. 201 



of his soils. Of coiirse, a knowledge of the chemical and geo- 

 logical sciences is of great advantage to a farnaer in successfully 

 conducting his labors ; but an intelligent observer can secure a 

 good knowledge of the nature of his soils in ten years, and 

 know but little of any of the exact sciences. Without any 

 knowledge of anatomy, of ])hysiology, the farmer obtains, by 

 observation, a knowledge of the peculiarities of his animals. 

 He learns how to feed his pigs so as to fatten them most rapidly 

 and profital)ly, how to supply nutriment to his cows so as to 

 cause a copious supply of milk, and he learns the temper and 

 habits of liis horses and oxen, and accordingly controls them to 

 his advantage. Why should he not learn by observation the 

 nature and capabilities of his fields, and be able to a great 

 extent so to feed them as to obtain the highest and best crop 

 results from year to year ? Any farmer, from ten or even five 

 years' observation, can ascertain the extent to which his different 

 fields are retentive of moisture. He must learn how well they 

 withstand the drought or the protracted wet of summer, how 

 different crops behave when the rain-fall is small or copious, in 

 the growing months. Physically considered, some farms are 

 not adapted to the raising of corn, and perhaps some other 

 grains. Corn withstands drought better than almost any other 

 cereal, but that fact affords no reason why it can be raised to 

 advantage on loose, dry soils. WeaTf, puny corn can be raised 

 in a sand bank ; but foolish indeed would a farmer be to plant 

 his corn in such a locality. Corn requires a good, retentive soil, 

 a good fine loam, in which to grow in perfection, and if the 

 owner of lands has none such, let him not attempt to grow it. 

 His fields are better adapted to melons, beans, rye, or perhaps 

 wheat. It is useless to attempt to force corn or any of the noble 

 grains to grow upon naturally wet or low clay bottom lands, 

 without thorough drainage and deep tillage. Such are better 

 adapted to grass, and grass farms, if kept in good tilth, are the 

 most profitable of any. Every cultivator of the soil must first 

 become acquainted with the physical character of each parcel 

 he has under his charge, and then he will know what crops are 

 adapted tq the several localities. 



By drainage and deep tillage, the physical condition of most 

 lands can be completely changed, and with the supplying of such 



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