PRACTICAL PAPERS—SANDY LAND. 171 
bring the barren sands to the surface. A plow and cultivator 
i might be combined in such manner as completely to mix and 
pulverize the surface, retaining the soil on the surface, where the 
young plants and feeding rootlets of large plants would find 
their supply, and yet would furnish a good depth of mellow 
earth below, whence the plants could draw their supply of 
water. * 
Wherever there is sufficient vegetable matter in the soil to 
grow the plants, no lands in Wisconsin produce grain, corn or 
potatoes of so fine a quality as do these same sands. The 
wheat grows here heavy in the kernel, and the straw is so stiff 
that it seldom or never falls. Corn matures rapidly, and al¬ 
ways is sound and ripe. Potatoes yield much larger crops, 
ripen better, are more mealy and consequently are more nutri¬ 
tious and valuable than those grown farther south, or on the 
clay soils. This is an exhaustive crop, but the proper manures 
to keep up the lands for its production are found in the fire¬ 
place and the stable. To these lands our large cities and vil¬ 
lages must yet look for their supply of this useful article of 
diet. 
Whatever crops may be grown on these lands, those are 
preferable which yield a large amount of leaves, straw or other 
vegetable matter, to be left where they grow, or returned to the 
ground in the shape of stable manures. The grasses and 
clovers are foremost of all, followed by corn and grains. These 
need no special notice, as all will grow them, who grow any 
crop. But, a few special crops require a notice, and the pump¬ 
kin, squash, grapes, raspberries, blackberries, mustard, poppies , 
and hemp will be spoken of. 
Pumpkins and squashes should be largely grown on every 
farm where sand predominates. The Hubbard squash is the 
best. What are not sent to market, will be eaten raw by all 
stock, and furnish a great amount of nutriment. The yield is 
large, and they are easily preserved in a dry cellar through 
most of the winter, if gathered before they have been frozen 
in the fall. The seeds of pumpkins and squashes ought to be 
