1851 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
357 
that, too, when practicable, in autmn, and the liberal 
cultivation of the clover plant, have been at all exten¬ 
sively practiced, the average product of wheat has been 
in almost every instance, remunerative. The cultiva¬ 
tion of the soil, when done in a through manner, is 
found to be as productive in profits, in an average of ca¬ 
ses, on a prairie soil, as on timbered land. But the great 
barrier to improvement in this, as well as other coun¬ 
tries, may be traced to the fact, that the cultivators of 
the soil themselves have not been able to trace unerring¬ 
ly, the failures to their true cause, and hence, have not 
been able to adopt those salutary means of improvement 
which would thoroughly remove the agencies producing 
those failures. Occasionally, the severity of the weather, 
or other causes, present insuperable difficulties that can¬ 
not be counteracted by the most skillful cultivator; but 
on the whole, these may be viewed as exceptions, and 
not the general rule. 
The natural tendency of a rich prairie soil is to be 
inert, and in order that it may become active and friable, 
it is necessary to bring to bear upon it powerful mechani¬ 
cal agencies, such as may be easily and cheaply employ, 
ed by the farmer. Its latent powers, it is obvious, from 
the long period in which the small particles of the soil 
have remained buried beneath the surface, too deep to 
receive any benefit from the action of the rays of the 
sun, and atmospheric influence, can only be brought into 
active and profitable service, by those parts being acted 
upon by winter frosts, thorough cultivation and deep 
plowing, and by the puncturing operation of tap-rooted 
plants. The soil of this country contains all the requisite 
organic and inorganic properties, to fit it for the produc¬ 
tion of cereal as well as other grains for an almost in¬ 
definite period. No one can doubt this fact who will 
take the trouble to investigate the surface and subsoils 
to the depth that plants send down, if permitted, by 
deep tillage, their fibrous roots in search of the requisite 
food for their growth and maturity. It is the business 
then, of the husbandman to aid nature in her efforts to 
supply the human race with the necessaries and luxu¬ 
ries of life, and if he fails in doing this part, the miseries 
that are entailed upon all ranks of mankind are too ob¬ 
vious to require enumerating. 
We hold that deep culture, autumn plowing, a ration¬ 
al rotation of crops, and the extensive cultivation of the 
clover plant, are among the prominent features that 
must be engrafted upon the agriculture of the west, in 
order that it shall take rank among the profitable 
and pleasurable pursuits of our country. Among the 
most important of those means for the amelioration of 
a soil rich in humus, lime, potash, and all the other re¬ 
quisite elements of fertility, are frost and clover. The 
clover roots ordinarily enter the soil to the depth of from 
twelve to twenty-four inches, and the frost and air, fol¬ 
lowing the course of these roots, have by a gradual pro¬ 
cess, a mechanical action upon the soil, to the full depth 
they puncture the surface, which in due time change its 
stubborn character, converting it into a finely pulverised 
soil, adapted especially for the cultivation of the wheat 
plant. The soil does not require to be enriched by 
plowing under a heavy growth of clover, as would be 
found advisable on thin soils, such as are found on the 
uplands bordering the Genesee valley, but is solely re¬ 
quired for the reasons already stated, the proof of which 
will be more fully illustrated on future occasions, when 
discussing this and other subjects of a kindred charac¬ 
ter. 
We find the space alloted us for this paper is exhaust¬ 
ed, and the items we proposed at the start to have dis¬ 
cussed, are of sufficient interest to those who are desi¬ 
rous of becoming acquainted with the capacity of the 
west, for the profitable culture of wheat, to warrant their 
further elucidation in the December No. of the Cultiva¬ 
tor. Keokuk, Iow a, Sept. 1, 1851. 
Sketch of Putnam County Farms. 
FARM OF LEONARD D. CLIFT. • 
Editors Cultivator —My time has been so much oc¬ 
cupied of late, that I have not been able until now, to 
perform my promise of giving you a sketch of a Putnam 
county farm. The one I have recently visited with a 
view of giving you notes of it, is that of Leonard D. 
Clift, of the town of Carmel. I will begin by saying a 
few words of the 
Drive to Mr* Clift’s. —It was a fine August morn¬ 
ing when I left home: the weather was excessively dry, 
but still the country wore a beautiful aspect for my eyes 
as in truth it always does. Part of my route skirted the 
northern extremity of the county of Westchester, and 
I saw there some fine farms and pretty scenery, to which 
the clear sunshine and soft summer air lent a peculiar 
charm. After a ride of some seven miles I reached' 
Lake Mahopac; the suddenness with which this beauti¬ 
ful lake first bursts upon the view of the traveller, is 
such as to produce emotions in the mind of one who is 
an admirer of nature, more easily felt than described, 
and often as I have visited this charming scene it never 
grows wearisome tome; without the least intimation, 
upon rising a slight eminence, the lake in all its beauty 
for a distance of nearly three miles, is before you. I 
cannot loiter here to tell you of its beautiful islands— 
of its clear waters—of its pebbled shores, but passing on, 
ride along its margin for two miles, when the quiet scene 
that was before me but a few moments ago, is changed 
to one of busy activity. Here are situated the hotels 
filled to overflowing with men, women, and children, 
who have left the crowded city to seek a cool and healthy 
retreat by the margin of Mahopac. Here too are all 
sorts of scenes, some rowing on the lake, some fishing, 
some walking too and fro on its margin, others sitting in 
the shade of the balcony enjoying their “ otium cum 
dignitate,” while umbrellas and large-brimmed hats,both 
for ladies and gentlemen, told that the wearers were not 
disposed to brave the piercing rays of the god of day, 
to which we farmers are exposed. But good bye to the 
lake. Half an hour more brought me to the 
Farm of Mr. Clift. —This consists altogether of 
about 280 acres of land, 85 of which is woodland, the 
rest tillable. The soil of the farm was originally a heavy 
loam, but good culture has made it a rich, deep, light 
loam. His home farm contains 160 acres, and this has 
been the especial care of Mr. Clift. Thirty-six years 
ago when Mr. C. first took possession of the farm, its 
aspect was very different from what it is at present, at 
least I should judge so from an anecdote he told me. 
Pointing to a beautiful meadow covered with verdure, 
