The American Farm Book: A Practical Treatise on Every Staple Product of the United States, with the Best Methods of Planting, Cultivating, and

Even if you're not a farmer, this is a great book to help understand how far we've come from sustainable farming practices and what we need to do to get back to a more kind and gentler assault on Mother Earth. Down with the mega farms, seek out and know your local farmer, buy her goods and help the cycle of renewal instead of destruction.

I pastor a church in a rural area, so I felt that it was in my best interests to learn a little bit about the chosen profession of some of my parishioners. I was surprised by how interesting this book was and how practical and wise the counsel is 160 years after it was first written. The author begins with a discussion of the different kinds of soils in North America (rocky, clay, alluvial, light, dark, etc). He talks about how spreading manure or lime or charcoal or crushed bones on the soil can go a long way toward its resuscitation and/or continued fertility. In the section on irrigation, the author favors underdraining to get rid of excess water. He notes that creating ditches and reservoirs are occasionally the best way to go, but he cautions against this in most instances because it will use up precious soil that could be used for planting and growing. There is also a section on the different kinds of grass in the country. There is also a relevant section on how to grow sugar cane, cotton, oats, grain, corn, fruit, roots, and others products. The author also discusses rotation crops and shade trees and how to build adequate farm buildings. Some of the material in the book is dated, especially when the author talks about plows and harrows that are no longer used today. But most of what is here seems to be good, sane advice for the farmer. Recommended.