The Georgia journal. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 1809-1847, July 08, 1845, Image 1
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* i ...11 wMUHfU AN.1UM.IN ADVAttalt
A&^MCd!U*< *t THH m or .»■« W*
jffi'ETvUltfot ba Mat (a *«» Parana ant or tha Ulan,
vffHjJ5a»itptl«« Mooay I# paid in adrrncaoraatlafaeiory
SfeWi-MSMEN PS arn iuMrtail at 75 eanla par aquare
rHWK'lqaaHJoo. w f» r 7»r ••«*>
_JM <*• .haraaftar. A nnnara tnlltaJournnl laaapane oftan
Iw 1 ; .Viliaoa.ooiilainintaa it dona,ana liundrrri words.
ISfiJt it Aalaaof I.ANIM, by Administrators. Esaeutora,
I ara raqnireil by law, to ba held on Ilia lira-
•r^'rHi.iha nlintii, naiweas the linura ol tan In the fnra-
TjraW" . a lux Boon, at tha Ronrt-hnnaa, in tha
US* * rt il oliicb tha laud in aiionted. Notice of tlieae ink*
-"‘iaanUapohlio jaaattaSIXTY DAYS praviutia la
a/lBOlWMW muat beat a public auction,an tha Rrat
v of tba inoath, hatnraen tha naual hnuraofaala.atlha
fanblio aalaain lha county where tha lettera taatainan
^riJ.alniatratioa or Quirdianalilp.inay have boon grant-
n-uliliiMSIXTY DAYS notice thorcof.ln one of tha
A*. „«.ui«ol thia Stata, and at tha door of lha Court,
fA*?Cbera auch aaloa ara to bo hold.
*!?L.r.iHhaaaleof Paraonal Property, muat ba gieanio
^auaaer fORTY daya nravioua to tha day oraale.
,h a Dabloraaud Creditora of an Batata tuuatba
SSsId FORTY daya-
pjojr.k.i loolicallon will ba made In Ilia CourtofOrdina
Wu.’a to Mil LAND, muat bo publiahed for FOUR
^Sks fer lasve lo anil NEGROES, muat ba publiahed for
SfludONTHS,before any order absolute shnllba nindo
Manoa'a for lettera of Adininietralion, muat be publiahed
SlpM-iordiamiedon from adminiatration, monthly Mix
Hr}..,.tiimiation Irom (tuardianaliip,Jorlydnya.
CJulbrtha foraoloaura of Mortgage muat bo publiahed
SjaArftir «•»*!*»—foraatabllahing loot papcra,/br th*
SStMtllhret MtnthM—lor compelling titles from Eaocu-
"f'Vj^jni.iraUirB, where a Bond hat bean given by Ilia
tit fntlipMl of three monthe.
fSictliona will atwaya be continued according lo Iheaa
tlaral require monte, unleaa otherwiee ordered.
InCdneaa of tbit kind conliniiea to receive prompt alien,
I Jfl?iMOfllceol the GEORGIA JOURNAL
AaMOTOfTOAa.
I flgARKS OF JAS. A. MERIWETHER, Esq..
Before fife Agricultural Society of Putnam
County, May, 1845.
[rUBLtSHRD AT REQUEST OF THB SOCIETY.]
fbe depressed price of Southern agricultural
I yodoei* i* l e “d' n K lhe public mind anxiously to in
IldN what relief can be lound from that depres-
IJJ™ 1 To those who inhabit the middle region of
Strgis.il is a proposition particularly interesting,
gjd/a soil once productive, but now much exhaust-
,, ( country almost too poor to live in, and yet
habited by a people unwilling or unable lo abut).
LVonion from it { the relief' from our general
obirrassmeiits is naturally a subject of soli-
lyl. post prostrations of our interests have
ItMrapidly alluviated by a rigid economy for a
b«ytars, succeeded by remunerating prices for
rtllibor. But, It is only justice to ourselves to de.
J it, that the prospect ofsuch a recurrence is very
from being probable. The increased supply of
it beyond the demand—the opening of fresh
, l0 the west, and the yeurly increased quanli-
*' 0 f |ubor employed in them, udmouish us that il
b folly to hope fora return of such prices for our
bboras we have before enjoyed—while we must
frol this evil of low prices aggravated by the coit-
bittd deterioration of our own lands. Besides
it ire consumer*, and not producers, of many of
ill necessaries of life ; the reduced price of uur
cotton vvill not cause a corresponding decline in
Mr prices, and here we must hear the two-fold ag-
jnvaled evils of poor lands, and iow prices for
Mir products, while toe have to pay comparatively
(Mi prices for our necessaries. Then with ex-
blasted lands, and almost profitless labor applied to
tbani, what shall we do, is the universal cry.
Many can and doubtless will leave the “ sinking
diip,” and find partial relief in the productiveness
g the rich alluvial lands of the west; but muny
j, got wish to leave, many cannot leuve, and it is for
Hutto determine the great question, how can this
country be rondored even tolerable fur those who
into inhabit it.
Theanswer to this proposition is clothed in a
few words—'‘'live at home—diversify your pursuits
sad above all, enrich your lands.’’ To usee r win
tbe surest and best mode to attain these ends, is
tbs object of our immediate association.
No people ever have, or ever will permanently
gutper, who rely, as we have done, upon the labor
d other people, for their provisions, und other arti-
dn of prime nocessity. No practical man can
foabt for a moment the high obligation upon every
community of people, erected into States, to pro-
face within itself, the breadstuffs, meats, and all do-
amticanimals employed upon the farm. The first
principles of economy, both political and prfvate,
in disregarded hy a people who will not recognize
tbit obligation ; and if pecuniary embarrnsaments
tbould overwhelm them, it is but the operation of
mute and effect, and is at no time to be regarded
Many matter of surprise, only that the effect is not
■Ore confoundiug.—It is that system of economy,
which tolerates such imprudence, that in its varied
sperntions, overwhelms us with ruin and prostra
VOla. xxxvi.
MILLEDttEYlLLE, TUESDAY. JULY 8, 1845.
NO. 41
f. |3?
would not argue that it is necessary that every fur.
merahould understand the whole aciunce of agri
cultural chemistry in order to improve his lands,
hut 1 do contend that he shuuld understand some of
the elementary principles of it, that he may apply
them to practical purposes. Hence, to obtain this
knowledge—which is beyond the reach of the grout
masses, is the object of agricultural societies and
the circulation of agricultural papers.
A few facte will illustrate the truth of what 1
say. In Rlttfde Island an analysis was made, and
estimate baaed upon it of the saline contents taken
from one Reid which had been cultivated for eight
years, and the rosull was Potash 424 lb.; Soda
1311b.; Lime 532 lb.; Magnesia 64 lb.; Alumi
na & lb;; Silica 390 lb.; Sulphuric Acid 113 lb.;
Phosphoric Acid 108 lb.; and Chlorine 58 lb.
Here then a large quantity of salts have been
withdrawn from the earth by cultivation. Nature
does not restore them as rapidly as they are taken
away, but by knowing them, science enables us to
restore them, and make the land productive, which
would otherwise become sterile.
We have only lo look at the crop just gathered,
or the one to be sown, to learn the necessary and
proper manure for it. We know that wheal con
tains of Potash 33.64 parts ; Lime 3.09; Magne
sia 13.54;Phosroic Acid 49.21. If,therefore, wheat
has been sown, or is to be sewn, the proper manure
to be applied either to restore the laud or to in
crease the crop is that which contains the salts
mostly contained in wheat. It has been ascertain
ed by experiment, that the actual amount of earths.
&c., contained in 2000 lb. of green corn-stalks is
about 78 lb. In every ton of stalks thero are of
Potash, 3.78 lb. Manganese, 0.40 lb.
Soda. 0 08 lb. Silex, 54.10 lb;
Lime, 13.04 1b. Sulphuric Acid, 2.12 lb.
Magnesia, 4.72 ib. Phosphoric Acid, 1.08 lb
Alumina, 12. Chlorine, 0.12lb;
With a knowledge of these facts and the further
knowledge of the properties of each manure, how
easy and how agreeable is tho pursuit for the far
mer to add increased fertility to his soil, while he
draws increased crops from his lands ?
But chemical science not only gives this knowl.
edge to the farmer, but it enables him to learn the
value of all kinds of foods, and the most profitable
use of them. He ascertains the properties of one
kind, to give flesh to his animals, and of another to
give fat—and what particular kinds will accom
plish his object the soonest.
Onsof the subjects to which I shall more partic-
I iktly invite your attention, is the improvement ol
I (Mr lands. A prejudice has grown up in the minds
I of very many persons against what is called “book
l/«ndtxg;" and many valuable suggestions are dis
1 regarded, because they are said lo owe their exis-
I lutes lo such an origin. Science is disregarded
I betiuis il is said to be all theory, and not practice.
Peas contain
Beans “
Oats “
Barley “
Hay “
Turnips “
Potatoes “
Indian Corn,
Fleah forming
principle.
29 parts,
31 parts,
10} parts
14 parts,
8 parts,
1 part,
2 parts,
12} parts,
Fat forming prin
ciple.
51 parts
52 parts.
68 parts,
68 parts,
68 6arts,
9 parts.
24} parts
77 parts,
parts,
Thus it will be seen that there is a great differ
ence in the capacity of the different kinds of food
to form fat or flesh. Peas and Beans give flesh ;
Corn, Oats and Barley give fat.
Again, he ascertains another important foe! by
chemical science ; the relative value of the differ-
ent kinds of food for either purpose of forming./af
or fiesli.
Sixty pounds good hay front clover are equal in
nutriment to 100 Ib. common hay ; 281 of pota
toes ; 520 of wheat or barley straw ; 574 of oat
straw ; 012 lb. of turnips ; 20 lb. of beans ; 31 Ib.
yellow peas ; 49 Ib. wheat; 51 Ib. of rye ; 54 Ib.
oats and 59 Ib. of bnrley.
It ia by the nid of bookfarming, that the farmer
ascertains the existence of all these important facts
—and without a knowledge of them, the true prin
ciples of agricultural economy can never bo appli
ed or practiced.
Our Legislature some few years since seemed to
be impressed with the importance of placing agri
cultural information in the possession of the people,
and ordered a Geological Survey of the State; one
of the objects of which was to obtain an annlvsis
of the soils, and the existence of the different kinds
of natural fertilizers. Some ten thousand dollars
were appiopriated and spent, and because the ben
efits of the work were not realized in the shape of
principal and interest compounded annually in do),
jars and cents, the work was abandoned, and the
people huve been shut out from the information
which had been obtained. The cost of these sur
veys is trifling when compared with the actual bon-
effts derived from them ; and may I not urge this
association to undertnke an examination of the
lands of its members ? The example will doubt,
less be followed by others.
In the remnrks 1 am about submitting, it is my
purpose to attempt a desertution in the constituents
of soils, and the manner in which all vegilution de
rives support from them. I shall advert mostly to
But is it rational to reject the lights which it affords? [ elementaiy principles on which ns a basis, pracli
a
IN
I Mfbat is this earth but a mighty chemical compound.
I lad ho* is it possible properly to appreciate and use
1W ingredients, without a knowledge of their ua-
I lore*7 Soils differ in their composition and nil
liruosiaiheirconstiiuents. Every man knows from
I his own experience, that some soils suit one plant
I Wller than others—and these very men who reject
IdlicUnce in agricultme us mere humbug, act upon
I to principle of adopting their crops to their lands.
|Now if this be a proper courso to pursue, why
l*ill they not go one step further, and learn the rea.
INafor their preferences ? But no, this would bo
rkot/arming.'
I No profitable system of husbandry can bo pros,
licaled without a proper knowledge of the basis An
1 »hieb we should build. The farmer should know
libs elementary constituents of his soil ; he should
Iknow the constituents of the plants he cultivates,—
I Wowing these, lie learns the ingredients wanting
| tu his soil to grow the crop profitably, und with a
Iftsper knowledge of the constituents of each mu
lture, he is enabled to upply that kind which will
IMeotnplith his object. This knowledge is indis-
I psnaible to the farmer who seeks the improvement
I his lands. Labor is often thrown away w ithout
1 jji •hiclt would be profitably employed with it.—
it.
cal operations may depend. In the first place,
plants derive their chief food from the soil. In ull
soils there is what is called humus, which is the
dark colored substunce we see on t he surface of the
earth,and it is nothing more than vegetable and
woody fibres in a state of decay. This is the
source from which plants are said to be directly
nourished, und it is regarded as the chief element
of fertility. Without it, vegetation exists very ini.
perfectly, and in the proportion in which it does
exist is estimated very much the value of soils.—
Humus, however, is not the only constituent of
soil, and it will not of itself pruduce and sustain
vegetation. There must likewise be clay and sund
in the soil;
Clay is valuable and indispensiblo on many ac
counts ; it increases the fertility of the soil by the
adhesion which it contracts with water, by tho solid
support which it affords to the roots of plants, as
well as by the resistance it presents to the two great
extension of their roots—hy preventing the atmos
pheric air from coming in contact with the roots
of the plants—and by attracting oxygen, the sub
stance which is so necessary for the formation of
carbonic ncid. The properties of clay demonstrate
the necessity, und profit oi deep ploughing; and
soils only require sand, others only clay to il is from a correct understanding of them, that
■tala* at. _ t * x . „ , * L. : * J il. n Haas rtfiho unL.enit nlniioh nn >
••ks them productive. Lime, otto of the most
Notable of all fertilizers, is not only rendered val-
Nnm by an improper application of it, but some-
"Ws it renders the soil to which it is applied sto-
jsuind worthless. The secret of success then
** it) a knowledge of the constituents of the soil.
** 'k® hka knowledge of the constituents of the
■utiqre,
Bvsry farmer knows full well, that he cannot
1 succession of like crops upon the same
***• without greatly reducing the Hmotmt of the
JMuct, and the reason is obvious ; oacli crop takes
Njn tha sell tho salts necessary to its existence,
jNsnless they era returned lo it by manuring ex
■JWion follows, aud sterility is inevitable. The
^•wuxitn is to give back In the soil annually full
•M»#re of whatever is taken from il hy the crop ;
«<jl we should give hack annually more than tve
77 ' ,01 » it, by sueh means we increase the crops
^•orich our lands. To do this, tho furmer must
f* 9 * what has been taken away, aud lie must know
* *® °*n give it hack. This alone cun be de-
I**!?* 'hat much despised system, ce\ted*book
U is obvious that without tills knowl.
at
has originated the use of the sub-soil plough, one
which penetrates und breaks the clay, without mix
ing il with the soil, and which should bo used by ev
ery farmer.
An excess of clay is however injurious to plants,
because in damp weather it retains tho water with
which il ia impregnated loo long, thereby prevent
ing evaporation and draining—because in dry
wenlher it becomes too hurd—because “ it forcibly
attracts and incorporates with itself the nutritive
juices contained in the manure beetowed upon it,and
will not part with them for the support of the plont”
Washed hill.sides are unproductive, heenuseof the
presence ol too much clay, and the application of
manure therefore, does not furnish corresponding
benefits. The best treatment for sucli hurrun spots,
is to spreud a large quantity of sand upon them,
mix the sand and clay by ploughing, and then the
farmer w ill find a profitable return iu the mnaure he
muy apply.
Sand, however, becomes injurious to land where
it eulers too largely into the composition of the soil
—because it is not sufficiently retentive of moisture
—because “it does not combine with the humus or
decayed vegetable matter, and hardly enters into a
contains”—because frequent cultivation destroys
its coherence, und because sandy toils being good
conductors of coloric, they Transmit the Influences
of severe heat or cold immediately at each sudden
change which the temperature of the atmosphero
undergoes.
These oro the repectivo properties of clay and
sand, and described by the distinguished Chemist
Thaer. The suit in our own county does nut pus.
sets an excess of sand. Clay predominates with
us, and hence the enquiry which we Itavo to make
is how sliull we improve oor Clay hill sides ? I
liuve already anticipated that question in part, in
the prescription of sand for gahlcd or worn out
spots. This is the basis on winch wo must reBt our
system of manuring.
The next question is, how shall we prepare and
apply a manure which sliull multiply ’heir produc
tion ? We need the very best manure—toe require
the greatest quantity possible, of it—and toe desire to
make it upon the very cheapest plan, and with the
least labor and trouble.
Hore is our necessity, now how shall il be reliev
ed? There arc muny valuable manures, by the
application of which, our Innds would be greatly
improved ; but whether they ure all within our
reach is a different matter; we cannot adopt the use
of any, which in common languugc ‘'costs more
than it comes to." Lime, marl, green snnd, gyp.
sum or plaster of paris, guano, charcoal, are all
valuable fertilizers, and if properly applied would
soon restore the fertility of our once rich soil.
Lime produces astonishing effects—but yet to
be valuable the land must be manured upon which
il is applied—for the heavy crops consequent upon
its application, are said to be the result of the earthly
exhaustion of the humus so necessary fur vegeta
tion. *'lt acts by accelerating the decomposition
of the humus, and making it soluble, and thus fit to
enter the minute fibres of the runts of plants. It also
deprives sour humus of its acidity and renders it
torlilizing. On lands containing u groat quantity
of sour humus, tbe effects of lime are most henefi.
cial. "When animal manure lias been applied fur
some lime, liino becomes a vuluuble manure, by
decomposing tho particles of vegetable matter in
it, nnd thus making them food for plants.” ‘‘lie.
peated ameliorations of linte will soon exhuust poor
and sandy soils and reduce them to absolute steril
ity. Each application of it exhausts more and
more of tho humus, until it is gone ; the only rem
edy left, is to restore to the land vegetable mutter.”
Lime would muke our clay lands more valuable by
rendering them more 1 ciubio—but it is a manure
which in middle Georgia, we cannot Itopo to ent.
ploy.
Marl is another valuable manure, and is a “ma
terial mixture of clmlk shoils, or carbonate of lime
in some of its forms, with clay or sand, or both.”
Professor Johnston says of it, that “it renders clay
lauds mote open and friable, and to all soils brings
an addition of carbonate, and generally of phos.
phale of limo, both of which a re proved byexperi.
eucc to be not only very influential, but to be nbso.
lutely necessnry lo healthy vegetation.” Green
sand is likewise a valuable fertilizer, containing but
little lime, and valuable because of the potash it
contains. In New Jersoy extensive experiments
have been made with it, and the fact is staled to
have been satisfactorially ascertained, that one
bushel of green sar.d was equal to ten bushels of
stable manure. Both these substances exist iu our
own county, nnd sufficiently so to authorize their
general application,and astnall sum of money spent
in a geological survey, would devolope their local
ities. May 1 not ask some public spirited farmers
to undertake the work ? They are said to exist
abundantly in Morgan, Green and Baldwiu. Some
few years since, I submitted specimens of marl ta.
ken from my own well, and that of Mr. Michael
Dennis in this place, to the examination of Profes
sor Cutting, then State-Geologist—both of which
he informed me was very rich.
Gypsum or plaster of paris, and Guano, are both
valuable inHuures ; the first issuid not to be avail,
able in tho production of corn, wheal and oats—
the latter is a most powerful fertilizer, and upon
poor lands will produce a most astonishing effect;
but its cost is loo great to admit of use on our farms.
An artificial guano has been manufactured, which
is said to be equally vuluable with the natural, and
in time may be made so cheap as to admit of gen
eral use.
Charcoal is a manure which is well worth the
attention of our furmers.and is within the reach of
every one. It is inuro lasting in its effects than any
other, and alike active aud fertilizing. It acts by
absorbing the ammonia from the atmosphere, nnd
from all surrounding objects, nnd holds it thus/xed
as food to the roots of plants ns they require it.—
Some plants ure more benefilled by it tlmn others,
jet all are promoted by it. It should be applied to
wiioat, oats, corn, &c. Considerable economy
may bo practiced in its preparation, by btirningtwo
or more kilns on the same ground, und breaking
tho coul to pieces on it—the portion left after rak
ing off tbe lurgo pieces, will render the earth us
valuuble for miraure as the coal itself; then spread
at the rates of 2u to 59 bushels to the acre. Tho
coal should be powdered in u trough, or ulher ves
sel which will save it front loss. I have tried it
upon several kinds of plants, nnd as'ouishing re
sults have followed its application. I have discov
ered that the coal which litul been burnt two years,
produced much greater eflects than that of com
paratively recent preparation. The wheal crop in
Franco is said to be increased annually, several
millions of bushels bv the use of il.
The question left for our consideration then is,
under the circumstances, what kind uf manure is
the cheapest, best, nnd most abundant for our pur
poses ? Il is furrn yard manure ; and this suits all
kinds of crops the best, because it is compounded
of all the ingredients which constitutes the differ,
ent crops grown-
Johnson,"in his “Farmer’s Encyclopedia,” says,
“of nil fertilizers tits most universal and most val-
unblo to the cultivutior, and yet tho moat generally
misimtmtged is form-yard manure—which bus often
been described as Hie fanner’s sheet anchor.”—
“Tho manure commonly furni-hed by the farm
yard is compounded of a mixture of animal and
vegetable substances, of the putrifjing straw of va
rious descriptions of grain, mixed with the excre
ments und urine of cattle, horses and swine.”—
Nothing, indeed appears so simple at first sight
as tile collection und manufacture of this dung, and
yet there are endless sources of error into which
the cultivator is seen to full if he is not vigilant
in their management. Horse-dung thrown up ia
heaps very soon ferments, and heats to an excess ;
lha centre of tho heap is charred or burned to a dry
while substance, called fire-fanged, and in this
State it luscs from one half to three-fourths its
value.”
Again, he says “the recent manure loses weight
by lying in the farm.yard The moisture evapo.
rates nnd volatile matters escape by fermentation.
By the timu that the straw is half rotten this loss
amounts lo one fourth of the whole weight, while
the hulk is diminished one half. If allowed lo lie
still longer, the loss increases, till at length it may
approach to one-half of the whole, leaving a weight
uf dung fittle greater than that of the food aud
straw which have been consumed.” “In the short
original weight will remain. Hence, the propriety
of unity removing it from the stable ami uf mixing it
nssotmss possible with sonic other material by
wbicli the volatile substances given off moy be ab
sorbed and Hived. The cold and rolloli cow or
hog-dniig, will uiistt er welt for litis purpuse, or soil
rich in vegetable matter, or peat or saw dust, or
powdered charcoal; with peat or saw-dust, it wiil
form n rich compost, nnd to soils which contain
much inert vegetable inullcr, it cun bo applied will)
great advantage,”
In our warm climate evaporation andfermentation
have to be particularly guarded against, for they
readily occur, and it is difficult to prevent either,
unless by mixing tin: stublo manure with earth.
Dr. Juckson in his address before tho lust agri
cultural society of Massachusetts, says, “the most
common met od of making a compost with peal, or
swatnp muck is to mix three louds of'.lie pout, with
one of dung, and to allow the whole to undergo
putrifaclive changes. Then previous to spreading
it ou tho soil, a bushel uf recently sluckcd linte
should he mixed will) each load uf compost. Il is
usual to mix the lime in the Spring 19 or 14 days
before spreading the munure ; the limo should bo
slacked until it fulls into powder.” Again, lie
says,“Peat is vuluuble ns a basis for compost, not
only on account of tho lurgo proportion of vegetable
natter it conluins, und the saline matters in il, hut
also, because it retains moisture. It is ulso when
dry a good absorber nnd retainer of heat, nnd tints
serves to maintain a higher temperature in the
fields during night. Charcoal ulso. lias litis prop
erty, and land sprinkled with it, was found by ex
periment 1 made leu years ago, to be of u higher
temperature tliun that udjoingitig il ”
Tne editor of the “American Farmer,” snys that
the riches of manuru may be saved upon
an ensv and cheap plnn. “Let the farmer mix with
his horso and other dung in equal portions, layer
upon layer about any rich eurtli, or mould, and as he
docs so, let him have ground piaster or pulverized
charcoal, silied over enclt layer in the proportion
of a bushel of llm first and two of tho latter to eve
ry twenty loads of dung thus mixed with the earth
or mould. The munure heap when thus reformed,
should he covered over some ten incites witli run it
of some kind, t he tv hole tu present n cone like shape
so ns lo carry off the water.”
Peat should ho spread in the stable to absorb the
urine whiclt is the most valuable part uf animal
manure. One of the best if not the Very bust
modes of making manure in our climate is to spread
both leaves aud pent in the stable—permit tliem to
remain until well saturated will) urine, and until
the leaves linvc become well trodden nnd the dung
and peal mixed ; then throw into a bean, adding
peut until il exceeds the dung iu the proportion of
three to one. By such means, the quantity will bo
very greatly increased, the dung prevented from
fermentaliun, und all the ammonia whiclt would nth-
erwise escape and be lost, would bo preserved nnd
absorbed by the peat, and the whole mass become
belter food for plants, limit lhe ordinary dung. If
a strong smell like hartshorn should at uny lime
arise in the stable, sprinkle powdered charcoal, and
it will be arrested. This smell is the ammonia es
caping, which forms the cniel food for plants.—
The manure itenp should at ull times lie protected
from botlt sun und rain ; if a pit be ting into which
the mnnure is thrown, it will be better preserved.
A great object with tho farmer, is to multiply in
every conceivable way, the quantity of manure.—
He cannot rely alone upon that from the stable—
his cattle are u valuable source oo which he can do.
pend. Profemur Johnson says, “cow.dung forms
by far tlie largest proportion of the animal manure
which in modern agriculture is at tho disposal o(
the practical fainter. It ferments more slowly
than thnt of the horse and the sltecp. It acts more
slowly, though lor a longer period when applied to
the soil. By exposure to the air it undergoes a
sensible loss, whiclt in 49 tlnys lias been found to
equal one fifth ol'lhe whole solid matter which re-
cunt cow dong contains. Although, therefore, tho
comparative slow fermentation as well as the soft,
ness of cow dung fits il better for treading umong
the straw in tint open farm yard,yol the serious los-t
hiclt it ultimately undergoes will satisfy the ecu
notnical furmer Hint the more effectually hu can
keep il covered up, or the sooner ho can gather his
mixed dung und straw into heaps, tho greater pro
portion of this vuluuble manure will lie retain for
the future enriching of Itis fields.” It is very val.
uable and should lie suvud; and instead of per
milling it to be dried up hy the sun, or washed away
hy the ruins, us it now is, let leaves he spread in
tlie cowpens, und let peat bespread likewise; thf
munure of equal 'value to three cords of green
dung. Indeed lltc permanent efleett of this com.
post exceed those of stublo dung. Tlie host plnn
for preparing this manure would be to dry lltc peat,
or swamp muck in tlie fall; in tho spring of the
year let litis be mixed in tbe proportion of
39 ibs. of potash, or 20 ibs. of soda.uslt, or 8
busho s of common bouse usltes, to every cord of
fresh dry peat. If ashes are used they muy be
mixed at once with the muck, ifsodaash or potashes
are used, they must be dissolved in water, and the
pile evenly wet with ;he solution. If spent aslies
ure used lo prepare this muck, add one cord of
spoilt ttsiir s to three curds of peat, or swamp muck.
There are oilier sources of alkali, fur converting
peut into soluble matter. It lias been actually proved
by experiment, that u doad horse can convert 20
tons ol peat into a valuable munure, richer und
more lusting llintt stable dung.” "The next great
und prolific souice of uinmunin is the urine.
1 liuve been thus minute iu reference to pent, be
cause it is a manure wlilcll is to bo found on evory
plantation—is accessible, and by u very little labor
is capable of being mudo very valuable, und it must
tbeivloro of necessity, prove to this region of Geor.
gm tin; basis of ul! compost manure. We need
but a slight acquaintance with its properties, to in
duce us lo make u general application of il. It
should always be composted with oilier manures,
that it may acquire ammonia, tlie gi eat food of all
plants, und. which it lucks. Let me urge you lo
try it ; it may hu hud plentifully for iho labor ufdig.
gi n K-
Another sourco of improvement to our lands, is
tho ploughing in of green vegetables. Professor
Johnson says, "ibis manuring is performed with
tlie least loss by the vegetables in tlie green stale.
coofesrrt wpcm L
•eoaomy hi the prep
U the appilcMten ef it to
ite appikatioa it to nteke * liquid tad, aid
•eed in it.
These experiment* in flen—njr
similar *nee in the United StMan. Dr.
of New Hampehirn has tried the t
corn iu the common Sal ammonik
tho druggist*, and th* result wa* *»r,
solution waa prepared M th* rat* of I
bushels of corn, to one pound of i
ed in water andeoaked for five I
the same ear was planted, aonked nnd 1
in hills aide by aide, and the following trap dm in
sult ; No. 1, wae planted in good light noli, 4Mb
which u fair dressing of stable manure had been
ploughed—5 kernels planted m each Mil; nrnll s
the soaked corn produced 8 ear*, thtl Wimrf'dd’ooi'k
only 4 ears. No. 2, soaked hill gave 6 earn, tie
unsoaked 3 ears ; six Itilla were triad With CorYaa*
ponding result*, and ns each hill was (ranted atmt-
lurly the fair conclusion is, that tbe reeult if to b*
attributed to the ammonia. The cost of tMa'pbr
pound is only 59 cents ; and one pound" wHI beadf.
licionl to manure an entire crop. LeteMr litrmtrt
try the experiment next year I
A chemical preparation is now trending in tho
Northern States. It is Hauterive’a chemical aolu-
lion for the benefit of wheat and other aeeda,nnd it
said to improve the crops very much,by tboan whw
liuve tried it.
Mr. Campbell of Scotland, bte published tho
results of expert n ents which hie has made, and the
process ho has pursued, which present altogether
extraordinary facts. He says,“I steeped the aeeda
of tho vurious specimens exhibited, in sulphate, ni
trate, ami muriate of ammonia; In nitrate of sod*
und potash, and in combinations of these, nd hr
all cases the results were highly favorable. For.
example, seeds of wheat, steeped in sulphate of
ammonia on 5th of July, had by 10th August, til
lered into nine, ten and eleven sterna of nearly
quul vigor, while seeds of the same sample wa-
prepared, aud sown at the same time, in the same
-ml, bud not tillered into more than two, three amp
four stems. I prepared tlie various mixture* from
the above specified salts, exactly neutreliaedpand'
•hen added Irom eight to twelve measure* of wav
ter. The lime of sleeping varied from 50 to 09
0 no other form can the same crop convey to the soil hours at a temperature of 69 degrees. 1 found that
an equal amount of enriching mutter as in that of I harly does not succoed so well, if ateeped beyond
green leaves and stems." Tho crop should be \ sixty hours. Tlie very superior specimen, of tall
ploughed iu while green, for if exposed to (lie air- ’ ——— , . . noe
green vegetable substances gradually give up
portion of tlie saline matter they contain to the
ruins that full, und lienee a great fertilizing property
is lost. A distinguished agriculturist iu Maryland,
stales on his own experience, that tlie very best
green manure, even better than clover is green corn,
8ow it broad cust, when of convenient bright,
plough it under—sow again, and again turn il un.
dor, und so of the third sowing in tho same season.
He says, “many suppose the old plan of clover lay.
iug, is tlie cheapest and best; 1 differ with them;
sou can put but one clover Inver in every two years
•you can turn under three crops of corn in u year
oats averaging 160 grains ou each stem, and eight
available stems from each seed were prepared from
sulphate of ununouin. The specimen of barly, wae
prepared from nitrate of ammonia, it bed ten avail
able stems, and each stein had an average of thirty
lour grains. The second most prolific specimen of-
oats was from muriate of ammonia, and the other
specimens, strong, numerous in stems, (aome he*,
ingnol less than fifty-two) were from nitrate of eo-
du und potash nnd those not so tail from the aulphate-
or muriate of ummonia. To avoid the difficulty
of the grain being too high, a combination ofsul-
' phates of ammoniu and soda, or potash, should be
used.” Speaking of another experiment he had
amt each crop of corn will carry as much nutritive | tried, he snys, “1 found that plants from prepared
matter into the soil, ns each crop of clover can do.” ; seoui excelled, in a vory marked degree, those
Let the experiment be tried; the labor bestowed on ■ from seed sown along side, but not prepared. The
one acre is nut much, if wholly lost; if successful, : furmer hud from five lo eight stems, while the let--
you liuve gained a great deal.
Thero is an indisposition however with many to
commence u system of manuring because they say,
it takes too much time, is too troublesome, and has
to be repeated every yenr, nnd not having manure
for ull bis land, tlie farmer concludes il is not worth
while to manure any. But is there uny truth in
these objections? Laud well manured, will in
crease the product muny fold ; by increasing the
fertility, you cun reduce the Dumber of acres in cul
tivation, tho time saved in cultivation, may be ap
plied to tlie preparation of manures, by which an
annual increase is made, and so iu succession on
tlie crops increased, and the lands enriched. A
retrenchment in tlie expenditures for tools und their
repair is effected—an outlay of capital for horses,
dec., is saved, and otherwise employed. In fact,
it is tlie most effective system of economy which
cun bo resorted lo; for everyone knows, thnt if by
u system of cultivation thirty acres of lund cun be
made to yield us much ns one hundred ucres did
before—that there must be a saving in tlie number
of hands and horses which cultivate it, as well as
in tlie food which supports them, and Ihc capital em.
ployed. As a matter of economy let every farm
er improve his lands, und if he lias only manure
enough la make 20 acres tolerably riel), or ten ucres
very rich, let him enrich the ten, us a matter of
economy. Last ycbr, 1 attempted an experiment
in this way; l selected one ucro of ground very
poor, so much sous not to bo fit for cultivation.
Upon it I placed 300 bushels of mnnure, nnd the re.
suit was u crop of 43 bushels ofcorn, and 964 Ibs.
of well cured fodder. I do not think that the iund
would have produced three, bushels without tlie ilia,
nitre. The ground was laidoffin drills four feet a pa 11,
the rows wore first rim with a scooter, then plough,
ed deeper with n long pointed shovel, and in the
Dot tom of those a long broad pointed coulter was
again run. Tlie manure was deposited in the but
urine will thus be preserved, as well us the cxcre. ! tom of the furrow—tlie corn planted on it, nnd cuv-
ment. If the dung could he collected daily arid
mixed iu equul portions with peat the quantity
would ho doubled, nnd tho valuu improved. An
additional source of supply of manure may he had
by spreading leaves and peal in the hog.pen, hy
which the urine will he absorbed aud preserved,
red with the plough. The land w ns then broken
with iho coulter, once ploughed with the shovel,
und unco lined. At no time, did the corn even
wither, or droop, while sumo near by, was very
much twisted and affected by tho drought.
But after applying tlie manure to (ho laud,u
and u compost made with the dung. Asa basis for i groat ol joct is, so lo apply it, its to make il the most
allcompusi,peal is the very hurt—because it retains nvniluble and euduiing. Ou our brokon lauds, il
moisture lo a greater extent limn any oilier earth, is subject to he wushed away along with the soil, by
and hence, will suit our dry and warm seasons.— ! the heavy rains. To prevent this, hill-sido ditches
Professor Johnson says of il,“to soils which are do- have been found to answer valuuble purposes. 11
ficieutin vegetable mutter, it is clear that a judicious { properly constructed, with sufficient lull und capuci-
admixture of peat must prove advantageous, fie- j ly, und proper lunglfi, they will he found to answer
every purpose. In tlie improvement of broken
lauds, this seems to be liie first consideration, und
illioul this preparation, tlie after labor of munur-
cuuse il will supply some at leusl ol those snbstun
ces which are necessary to tlie production ofu high-
or degree of fertility, it decays very slowly in the
air, and lienee, its apparent effect when mixed with j ing seems to he badly und almost uselessly applied,
the soil is very small. It will not immediately pro- But supposing tlie ditches opened and tlie ma-
pare the land for tlie growth of uny particular crop; ! nure ready to bo applied, how sliull il hu done ?
but if its decay be promoted then its immediate
and appurent effect upon tlie soil is increased, and
on tile surface, oral the rout of tho grain ?
I upprnhund I sliull ho encountering some old
it becomes nn acknowledged fertilizing manure.— and stubborn prejudices, in advancing iho opinion,
Tbe ball dried peal may bo mixed with from ono- i litul it should be applied beneath tlie surface. Broud
cast niuiiut mg is decidedly lobe preferred lo that
in tlie hill, because, tlie roots extending out, pass
beyond the limits of the mao'ire in tlie hill, und
therefore draw no support or nourishment front it,
suve those roots whichurc immediately in its vicinity,
whereas if the manure is iprend broad cast, tlie
more they extend the greater tlie supply of it. If
the soil he sandy, it would doubtless hu best leap,
ply tlie manure between me surfuce nnd the grain
when applied in iho Id'), out on soil not sandy, up.
.j efforts at restoration are controlled by so - -----/— - 0 - - . ■ ,
uncertainty; and the result must ami physical omon with it alilficlepily strong lo absorb
m *<*'• uosaiiifactoiy and discouraging. I thoae fertilizing partial** winch tha atmosphere
” " " ,,,v " “" VM v«w»H.««s at* taaw •■*«#*• S....S..W...W. • u- sw vws.^s - »
period of 24 hours, borte.duttg heats and bagins to how much alkali is to ba added to swamp muck, or
suffer loss by fermentation. If la it in a heap lor
two or thr«o weeka scarcely aeven-lenths of its
fourth to one liu'f its weight of fermenting form-
yard manure—tlie heap being covered with peut to
prevent tlie cscupo of fertilizing vapors—or tlie
liquid of the farm yard may bo employed for tlie
same purpose.”
Pent may likewise be rendered a valuable ma
nure by saturating it with iho contents of tho wash-
tub—by pouring upon it human urine—hy pouring
an it the slop from tlie kitchen, and by mixing ash
es with it. It is tlie great natural manure of mid
dle Georgia, and it requires but little art and labor, j ply it beneath iho ,^'oy:o and beneath llm grain,
to mnko it a source of great profit to our farmers. I A commuiwhn are drprevnils, that manure sinks
It is lound on every branch nnd creek in Putnam | and Iherefor-ar never ttt tlie plant, you should piuco
county, and the valley of Leek creek has enough to j it on the sun °f a wririn making its descen^ tho
manure the whole county for years. Dr. Dana in | roots may catch' lP. * But who ever dug into tlie
his Muck Manual says, : “it is highly concentrated ground and found where tiie mature sank lo 1
vegetable food,” and is nothing mure than “pond j But one fact will contradict this (injury ; ammo,
mud, the slusbrv material found at tlie bottom of j niu, is said to he the life-giving property ol manure,
this is gaseous—intungible uud incapable of being
seen—if exposed to tho air, il escapes, and is
lost to tho plant. Go lo u manure heap, and tlie
offensive smell like hearlshorn which meets you is
tlie ammonia. Now if it did not rise, hut sank,
then those heaps would yield nu smell at all.
To put manure upon tho surface is hut to expose
to evaporation its most valuable parts. Rain aud
sun, huve the effect lo dissiputo alt the salts and
gaseous matters and to leave the manure a heap uf
matter little better than chuff.
Grout discoveries are making daily in this im.
portant branch of ugticullure. Tlie chemists of
Germany liuve discovered that the seed of plants
may alone he manured by whiclt ea heavy eropa
will be produced, as though the soil wa* manured.
If this discovery should prove practicable, it will in
i truth result iu tbe greatest benefit, which could b#
ponds when dry, or in low grounds, the wash of
iiigher lunds.” Some is more valuable than otiiers ;
that which is depusiled by eddy water is tlie best,
yet all washings contain vegetable matter, und tire
therefore valuable. It lucks only ammonia to make
it equal to cow.duug. Dr. Dana says, “it is certainly
a very curious coincidence ol results, that nature
herself, shuuld liuvo prepared a substance wlio-e
agricultural value approaches so near cow.dung, the
type of manures.” “The great question comes,
how is to be given to peat, (a substance winch in
all its other characters, is so nearly allied to cow-
jdung) that lacking olemont, ammonia ! By the ad.
dition of alkali to peat, it is pul into tlie state which
ammonia givos to dung. The question then arises,
peat, to couvert that into cow.dung 1 A cord of
stable dung composted with two of peat form* a
ter but two and ttinee from each seed.”
These experiment?, thus vouched for by very good 1
authority, are well worthy of being tried by oar
farmers, and should they prove practicable, will be
of immense advamago—to the agricultural world.
It is a fuct long known to thj farming communis
ty that seeds suuked in water alone, and roHed in-
plaster of paris. are much beuefitted, beoause itis
an iihsurber uud retninei of ammonia^’ husband
ing tlie gaseous bodies in the immediate neighbor
hood of lite piuuts, uud thereby serving the purpose
of a reservoir to contain uud dole out their active
nutritive properties, lo the roots, as their neeessi-
tios may require.” Bowdered charcoal, would'
doubtless answer the same ends.
Another subject uf deep solicitude to our farm-
ers, should hu I lie improvement pf their seeds. It
requires no moro labor to plant and cultivate a stalk
producing hut ono ear, limn il does to rearnstalk
which will produce three ears of corn, and the
sumo labor und capital must be employed to pro
duce u crop of wheat, rye, barly, oats, or pees,
half ruined by blast,nnd decay, than ia requisite to
rear one, which is free frum all these defects. If
tho principle bo true, ‘that like produces like,’ from
imperfectly matured seed, from defective seed we
need not expect a vigorous and prolific production.
U'e might us well look for a superior race of cate
tic, from an inferior stock, as to hope for good crops
Irom inferior seed. Let the seed be selected in the
fit .it rather than in the grainary. Select seed-corn
Irom those stulks having the greatest number of
ears—tike the ear which cornea first, and thereby
nn curlier and moro prolific variety is obtained
8elec> seed-wheat, rye, oats, &c., from those
hunches having the greatest number of ahools—
take from these the largest ears, and from Iheaa
the heaviest grains—sow them, and in a few yeare
an improved variety is obtained, and in this way, it
will ho preserved. By selecting the first cotton-
bolls which open and planting their seed, an earlier
variety «ill be obtained. This attention to seed ia
a mailer of economy ; for by it, the greatest poaai.
bio product is afforded to labor.
Another subject of interest to the farmer, I* (ha
improvement of his cnttle and swine, hia horses
and mules, and of tho vurious implements which ba
employs in agriculture. In the use of tools, tha
grout objects to be utmined, are the combination of
such principles,ns will enable the furmer to per
form llio greatest quantity of labor with the least
fatigue to his laborers. In the use of agricultural
niuchiues labor is not only saved, but the farmer ia
unable to duvelopc the various uses to which his
products may he applied, and he is also enabled to-
economise in their use. Sueh as the eomoob-
crusher, by which the farmer is enabled to aonvert
lo vuiuublc purposes in feeding his cattle, the oob
which has hitherto been regarded as valuable alone
for fuel. An improved stale of our agriculture,
will disclose the propriety mid value of the intro-
ductiou of ull tlie improvemciils in agricultural in
struments among us, which ure| now enjoyed and
used by our more economical brethren of tbe Nor-
them and Middle Stales. We must hope for im
provement, only us we difloso a taste for agriaui-
tuic umong tlie people. This must be a work of
patience and labor. Our school* can de much—
ur colleges und higher schools cun und abould do
a great deal in giving direction to the mind* of the
young men of our country, in this important
particular. Instruction should be given in agri
cultural chemistry—in tho practical aaalysi* of
soils,tho composition of manures, &c. The young
men should bo educated for lurtners as well ae for
lawyers und doctors. The learned profession* are
overfluwing, and with them, iu u pecuniary point of
view, it is a “beggarly account” uf famished client*
and pennyloss patients- But make it a part ofev.
erv one’s collegiate course to study the application
of' science to agriculture and n taste for the pur-
suit will ho created, nnd extended, and society will
reup the benefits uf it.
Another subject of no less importance, perbapa
of equal importance, consists in diversifying our
pursuits. Experience has told us, and every other
civilized people, that we cunnul acquire a continu- •
ing prosperity without this. Tho policy of tha
South for the lust forty yours, has b4en to make cot
ton, with which lo buy negroes, and lobuy negroes to
make cotton,. While we have made ourselves de.
pendent ou the labor of other* for our brend-atufi*
in part—our meat in a greater degree, and for our
horses and mules in a much greater degree, wa
Itavo bean the insurer* against rain and drought,
against high and low prices, and now wa ore pay
ing dearly (or the risks assumed. We have railed
upon our cotton, to furnish us all the necessariee Of
■ife, instead of providing them at borne, and piao*
ing our surplus labor beyoud their provision, to tbs