TO IMPROVE THE SOIL AND THE MIND. 
New Series. ALBANY. JUNE, 1851. Vol. Yin.— No. 6. 
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Suggestions in Relation to Improvements.—No. VI. 
Having noticed some of the principal improvements 
which have been achieved in agriculture, we would now 
call attention to several subjects to which efforts for fur- 
ther improvements might be profitably directed. 
1. The greatest defects in American agriculture at the 
present time, arise chiefly from carelessness and waste. 
The disregard of order, system and economy, is the bane 
of our farming. It is the occasion of constant and im¬ 
mense loss in many ways. The most striking example 
of this, perhaps, is the great negligence in regard to the 
saving of manures. Notwithstanding the frequency 
with which this subject has been brought to the atten¬ 
tion of farmers, there is scarcely a neighborhood in which 
many instances of the neglect and loss alluded to, are 
not seen. On most farms there is nearly a total loss of 
the urine of the stock, during the time it is kept at the 
barn; and even the other portion of the excrement is 
often so much exposed that one-half its value, probably, 
is lost. It is often washed into the highway, and is seen 
in the coloring of the water of brooks, which carry off 
the soluble portions. It would not, probably, be an over 
estimate of this loss, to say that with many farmers, it 
is more than equal to the money they pay in taxes. 
This loss might be almost wholly prevented, and with 
but little comparative expense. The first thing towards 
this would be to use plenty of substances to absorb all the 
liquids of the stables and yards. Cellars under barns and 
stables, where the shape of the ground would render it 
convenient to make them, would be preferable, as re¬ 
ceptacles for manure, to any other plan. Where cellars 
are not made, there might be excavations under the 
stalls, and .being filled with muck, peat-charcoal, or 
charcoal dust, the urine would be retained in a form con¬ 
venient for application to the soil. Yards should be so 
formed by means of embankments, if necessary, that 
there will be no soak or wash from them. If the roofs of 
the buildings throw more water on the manure than is 
sufficient to keep it moist, (not wet) gutters and spouts 
should be put up to lead the water off. 
The practice of having plenty of water in barn-yards, 
should be more general. In many instances animals 
sustain much injury from the want of this requisite, and 
much valuable manure is lost from the same cause. 
2. More attention should be given to neatness in farm 
management, especially in preventing the growth of per¬ 
nicious plants, and in keeping fences and buildings in re¬ 
pair. There is a general carelessness—in many instances 
a downright slovenliness, evinced in this respect, which 
detracts much from the beauty of the country, and at 
the same time greatly depreciates the value of the land. 
It is astonishing that this matter should be so little re¬ 
garded. It is not uncommon to find the door-yards 
of farm-houses grown up to thistles, burdocks, &c. 
Sometimes a half acre or more of the best land the farm 
affords, is thus appropriated as a seed-bed for the propa¬ 
gation of these vile things, and from which they are scat¬ 
tered round the country. Even the spot misnamed 1 £ the 
garden,” frequently has a wide border, which, perhaps, 
amounts to one-half its area, wholly filled and occupied 
with weeds and bushes. 
The injury from these foul plants is much greater than 
is generally supposed. They increase the expense of 
cultivation, lessen the yield, and debase the quality of 
crops. When the soil is full of weeds, they often get 
the start of crops, and smother them down. In broad¬ 
cast crops, it is hardly practicable to eradicate weeds, 
and they run to seed—the seed mingles with the grain 
and depreciates its value in market. Much of the choic¬ 
est land in the country has been greatly deteriorated in 
value, by this careless cultivation and the consequent 
growth of weeds. In some of the western states, this 
has been strikingly the case. 
It should be a standing rule with farmers to prevent 
weeds from seeding. This will at least prevent their in¬ 
crease, except with those species which spread by the 
root. In addition to this, the thorough extermination 
of all noxious plants should be followed up at every con¬ 
venient opportunity. These efforts should not be con¬ 
fined to the limits of the farm j but the sides of high¬ 
ways, rail-roads, and all public thoroughfares should be 
guarded with the same attention. There is a law in this 
state requiring thistles, which grow on the banks of the 
canals, on the sides of railroads, &c. to be mown twice 
a year, but the work is often neglected, or done in so 
poor a manner, that the object sought is not attained. 
They should be cut close to the ground, while in blossom, 
but before any seed is formed. 
3. We need a more appropriate division of farms, as 
regards wood-land and cultivated fields, and a better 
adaptation of the various portions to those purposes 
most consistent with the nature of the soil, and general 
appearance of the country. This is a matter which re¬ 
ceives but little attention from farmers. An indiscrim¬ 
inate destruction of forest trees has been made in many 
instances, ■when the land was first occupied, and a new 
