176 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



years ago was said to be " ryed to death;" that is, its fer- 

 tility had been so exhausted by repeated cropping with rye, 

 without any application of manure, that it had become unfit 

 to sustain the natural pasture grasses, — nothing left but 

 sand and moss. 



The inquiry naturally arises as to the cause of this ex- 

 treme barrenness, for it would seem by the result as if there 

 might be some cause other than simply the exliaustion of the 

 soil by cropping. 



In human aflairs we all feel the force of the proverb, 

 ' ' The poverty of the poor is their destruction ; " and of that 

 other saying, " To him that hath shall be given, and he 

 shall have abundance, and from him that hath not shall be 

 taken away even that he hath." This appears to be a nat- 

 ural law, and just as applicable to the forces that govern the 

 fertility of the soil as to those that govern the affairs of 

 human life. 



In all soils there is a point above which the natural 

 tendency is towards greater fertility, and below which the 

 tendency is towards barrenness. 



In the comparatively cool, moist atmosphere and frequent 

 though gentle rains of England, summer fallowing may be 

 and is practised with advantage ; but in the hot, dry air and 

 drenching showers of our summers it tends to impoverish 

 the soil and is not practised. 



' ' It has been proved by experiments that ^8 worth of 

 nitrates are annually washed away through an acre of bare 

 fallow, and but $1.50 worth from an acre covered with 

 crops, a waste of $6.50 from a single acre, simply from the 

 want of a green covering." 



On the other hand, in this country green manuring has its 

 advocates, and has been practised to some extent. Land 

 has been enriched by plowing in some green crop, as clover, 

 that has been allowed to grow during one season. It returns 

 to the soil more than it has taken from it. By its roots and 

 leaves it has absorbed certain elements from earth and air, 

 and by its vital chemistry elaborated certain organic material 

 that has a stimulating influence on future crops. But it is 

 manifest that this method can be resorted to only when 

 there is a certain amount of productiveness already in the 



