290 A WOED ABOUT MANURES, 



CHAPTER XXI. 



A WORD ABOUT MANURES. 



The people of the South have much to learn in regard 

 to the successful management of meadow lands. Many 

 farmers seem to think it is possible to take large crops of 

 hay from the same land, year after year, without adding 

 any fertilizers. This is a grand mistake. One had just as 

 well expect to check on his bank account day after day, 

 without making additions to his deposits, as to check on 

 the soil for large crops without properly feeding the land 

 which grows them. 



The question we ought to consider is, how to man- 

 age meadows after they are properly sown, and a stand of 

 grass secured, so as not only to keep up their fertility, but to 

 increase their power of production. 



This question is so well understood by English farmers, 

 that they seldom take a crop of hay from a piece of land 

 without making a forge and expensive application of ma- 

 nure. If the hay is cut several times a year, it is a heavy 

 draft upon the soil, and some restitution must be made to 

 the soil or it will soon cease to meet the expectations of the 

 husbandman. The English farmer, enlightened by exper- 

 ience, in order to strengthen the land and stimulate the 

 grass roots to renewed exertion, will draw out upon the mea- 

 dow various kinds of manure to supply whatever wants he 

 may deem the land requires. 



There are not many kinds of manure in reach of a 

 Tennessee farmer, unless he takes the forethought to pro- 

 vide them. But if, he does take this in mind, and watches 

 closely for every thing that will contribute to this end, 

 he will be surprised, himself, at the result in a very short 

 time. Besides those elements that are at the command of 



