Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-07-19
AGRICULTURE.
Heat Darably Fsrtiliees Land.
Nh. Porlsoy,


\ In the Sd Vol. Of" Memoirs Of the Philadei.
phia Society for promoting Agriculture" page
214, &c. there IS q communication from Judge
Peters, entitled Saiwa,y E1se.s Of Ere on
Soils" subject little understood until of late
years, is developed in thi paper; which, with
other highly useful communications in that book,
IS worthy the serious attention of Farmers -
More especially ofthose who have Peat Moses,
or other such combustible matter on their lands
which is the case of many in the JERSEYS, and
probably in ether sea board countries though
this fuel is not confined to sea coasts Nor is
there any farm on which may not ne found mate
rails tor burning the surface, either extensively,
or sufficiently to prove the efficacy of the prac-
tee, IN the same volume. page $50. there is a
quotation rom Pirgirs Georges, which shows
that this mode of feriiliz ing land was we'll known
To the ancients and that it is not owing TO the
fishes, 6ut 10 the effects Of t1e rs, that lands are
thus benefited. Among other decisive proofs of
the extraordinary results arising from 5rn-ngg of
Land, have latelymet with one, in recent Eng
lish print--and have taken the pans to copy it
for the information of those who are either pre-.
J0dced, or 'unacquainted with the " .Srln:ary
Efects Of Fire on Soils" No person can suppose,
That the instance mentioned hereafter, could serve
any purpose but that of experiment. No one
would dream of such means cfgoing over large
held ;when means of cheaper execution of the
practice are common, and easily attainable. But
The fact Clearly established notwithstanding
the mode was not intended for extensive applica-
tion.--No fishes appear to have been used HEAT
alone was the agent.
EXTRACT
From Euans and f,.6ys F:zrmers' Journal, .7u-
glss 29th, 1915.
This publication is one of great credit and au-
thoritv, in Great-Britain
!" We observe in a late Monthly Publication, a
report OF an experiment made bv Mr.. John Bower
OF Hunsiet an experiment interesting both TO
the Philosopher and TO the Agriculturist OBJ
servation had for several years, induced this gen.
ueman to suppose, that one of the most effectual
means ofrecoverng the fertility of worn out soil,
was to restore it to its latent hear, and heresolv-
ed TO put this opinion to the test. Accordingly
he erected furnace, (moveable) and burnt the
SOIL, BY several successive operations, for several
square yards, and foot deep taking care not 10
carry the heat beyond dull red, tbs was done
IN the Spring of 1912. II was found the first
year, much to rich for Wheat or Barley-they
grew so luxuriantly, that they could not support
themselves. Potatoes, Beans, Peas, Onions and
'EurnIps, were most abundant crop ; and the
Potatoes deliciously favored. And even this
third year, though the rest Of The fell bts 5esa
si'ice t7pice na'red rO]iis this burnt part has had
none, yet, its luxuriance far exc eds the rest of
the field land what is remarkable, every Summer,
when the other parts ofthe sol are parched and
dry, this appears as fnewly watered Mr. Bower
made some of his remarks many years ago, upon
field where the stubble happened to get on fire.
and burnt over the whole surface and comnu-
nicated an energy TO the succeeding crops for
many years" Seetne paper in the Philadelphia
Memoirs, for similar instances. See also, Colo.
mel Taylor's mode of clearing land: worn out
first, and then abandoned to worthless growth
OF Pine and Cedar. In Virginia there are regions
OF such land. Colonel Taylor attributes the fer.
tiity ofstrlpes covered by felled Pine and Cedar,
to cause only partially correct. The burning
the failed timber was the grandrestorat,ve which
made the burnt stripes equal to those highly
dunged. The cover was useful no doubt but
the fire did the most. Philadelphia Society Me-
moirs, vol 1, page ,22s 229. The English print
proceeds thus" The point endeavored to be es-
tahlished IL, that HEAT applied to land, in any
mode, lastingly improves its fertility"
GEORGICUS.