Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-11-23
KlUlIMOND, NOVEMBER -. 1927.
FOR TuE Enquirer.
TO .1R.1TOR.

| TO .fR1TOR.
Caroline. 1921
Though the highly and Justly celebrated aorcuii,-
raj work ulder this signature has been in print fu.
eight years, ct ii has been only a few weeks since
had the satisfaction of seeing it. To condemn u
work ot such distinguished merit, merely because o.
differs from II on points of subordinate importance
would he the cvidcncc OF Il mind equally futile and
destitute OF justice. Ii is, sir, have opportunity
al having certain doubts removed which have forced
themselves upon that part of yu,lr work which,
comprises the ainospherical principle in Vegetation
that now take the liberty of addressing YOU IL
vegetables extract their matter chiefly from the ut
moSi'here and II they are surrounded by swim ia
an atmosphcrical manure, and are continually inhalinu
i's refreshments, why does poor soil produce SO
poor Il vegetation: Or why do plants, when trans
planted IRON a poor into rich soil, suddenly he
come invisora,ed and lourishing il their chief sup
ply oil food be found in the atmosphere. and not in
tic earth admit that no truth appears evil
dent than that the atmosphere is replcc with vegea
bic MATTER from the continual cx,lations of vegc,a-
Die, animal and mineral substances. Tie pores Of
the external parts of plants also imhbng this u, IN
c'pe' seem to coun'enhncc your opinion and hence
probably has arisen the error, that vegetables extract
their matter chiefly from the atmosphere, Common
experience, however, denies the fact we must look
To SOME other cause or mode of operation for the
vegetation o plants and That will appear the most
probable solution, which is uniform, with experience
while it is not inconsistent with reason. That ma
nnrcs may he too weak, too strong, for the vcgela-
ton OF plants, presume may he admitted us ALSO
that the weak principle and r,rfed state of the at
nosphere, is the cause why it does operate in
greater degree plants and that its chief, ii not en-
tire efficacy in It's aerial form, is in rains and dew.
In this form II Is carried into the earth lis proper
natrix, or receptacle, there TO be elaborated into
solid form" One OF the great why plants Pc
rlsl, by drought, and Instantly revive from ir
rigation Is because they require water moisture eli
ther as medium 10 convey as Il mixture To mode
rate the tenuity and subty of the vegetable matter
and this very apparent IN heavy dressings either of
vegetable mineral manurcs jim these particulars
| rain or water is more especially necessary.
! In support OF the idea that the atmosphercal ma
nure rs the chief auxiliary To vegetation, Arator re-
cites the circumstance of the Locustree the farm
oil Colonel IL. Smith, in King and Queen, which was
belted or the bark taken om around the body, eight
or ten inches, and this exposure wrapped around
with some other bark for IFS preservation this tree
grew much larger Gbore than beioic the cxcjson be-
cause, says Araor, the part above rooted in
the atmosphere, than the part below, and received
more abundant!y the circulating fluid With all de-
ference Tor the superior abilities of the author, sub
NIT inc ioiiowinS exposition oil the phenomenon. We
geiahcs growing III the earth naturally receive their
CHIEF support from it. No fact is more evident or
more universally admitted, and the vegetation is al
ways IN proportion 10 the supposed degree of the iefti-
liy ct the soil and the general fact is, the growth OF
trees is larger the surface, because they derive
their supply OF food from the earth and from its more
immediate applications and from the softer te xture OF
the wood, and ITS adaptation 10 assimilation. The
departure of the locust Gom the Ordinary growth ot
trees, presume, was from the cxci.cnem, and deii-
vaiion o the sap, and consequent loss through the
destruction OF the vessels of The bark IN the lower
part OF the cXcision whilst the upper from the great
er tendency of The sap ascend lost but small ~
portion and although, the chief Of the sap, which is
through the inner bark, off from the upper
and confined to the lower part Of the tree, and the
upper derived its only supply from the inner circula-
ton yet tins greater excitement through the wound
cd pores IN the ascent OF the sap from the might
account Tor the greater size above. will illustrate
tins circumstance, by nearly similar one. Let n
stalk of corn he cut off immediately above the shoots
and they scarcely ever to any toersble degree
oil perfection, except IN wet season. but generally
entirely fall from the great excitement through the
wounded vessels, and draw of the sap from the shoots
IL single ear acquires the greater growth, IL gene
rally keeps from the greater flow of the sap that
car. This excitement is well known to exist in the
animal system; and has the serious tendency III
Diseases and occupies important part in the prac-
tIce OF physc An experiment is related in Cham
hers S Cyclopedia under the head of the circulation
ot the sap, OF plant being confined around the body
by mctalllne ring: the swelling extension was
below the ring and presume, for this very simple
reason, that the compression of the ring prevented
the free of the sap, and concentrated create
proportion at this particular spot. But cut away III,
bark where the ring placed, and the sap which
was thus concentrated will he wasted through the
wounded pores, and the greater size will be above
as in the instance ofthe locust OrperIaps, the SAP
III IFS descent from its greater gravity, in of
greater degree of cold, collects in the lower parts
trees and in the locust collected at the upper
part of the excison, until new vessels and new bark
were formed, and had tendency TO produce thi:
greater size. relate the following fact without il.
particular application. In an excision of the bark o
tree ofthe common sweet gum, the effort of nature
to rebark was very observable. From the glutinou.
nature OF the sap, its greater tendency appeared il
The body of the excelsior. very considerable sign
existed ~ the upper, whilst little or none was in tie
lower As the sap collected and formed in any par.
tcular part of the excision, it increased in Il greater
proportion as 1T formed the bark, preventing the
perspiration and any kind Of bandage must secure
the wounded part, and expedite the renewal of the
z bark.
Hit should not he deemed too great departure
from brevty, will add few lines on the principle o
lsxnu fl Il.
i enclosing system though it was not Intended in the
commencement of these observations. As the prin.
cpa feature or fundamental principle in agrcuItur,
is the preservation Improvement of the soil, tina
system will be the most successful, which returns
to the soil the greatest portion of its own pro-
ducts, through the medium Of live stock will adj
~rt to experience as an evidence of this fact ant
which has been so very ably Illustrated by Co
lionel Taylor III his dissertation artificial grassc.
in his reasonngs on British and Dutch Agriculture -
Great Britain, deyotng great portion of her soil tC
the raising OF live stock, and Holland the entire pro
duct of her soil, stronger evidence could not be re
! quested OF the success of this principle, than tho
very ourshng state of the agriculture of those coun
tries. The objections TO our climate and SOIL pre-
sumo, will not be found of that magnitude rs To pre-
? sent any serious impeachment TO proper application
of the principle of selecting such grasses and vegcla
bles with gram as are best adapted the soil anC
climate and suited 10 the raising of live stock baset
TOO the principle of berality and the economical
mode OF sOilipe. The dairy, which has been so verI
generally neglected in Eastern Virginia. as incapa
BILE oi success, am confident, from what expert
ence have had, could be advanced to a very consde
rabe degree of perfection whilst ii would give AZ
excitement 10 The cultivation and to the increase
. domestic comfort.
ri Ut il an agricultural question, whether vegetable
ploughed in green diy state afford the creates
fertility to the soil The latter opinion is probable
il entertained by the Virginia farmers generally tn
Z later by European turner's and farmers Of TN
northern states of the United States II appears cvi
IDENTITY paradox, aud the solution is ljy no means 81
p iisfactory II would strange, that vegetable
+ should he left standing the field exposed TO entr
destruction Of their elaborate juices the richest paI
ofpan,s, and Of a considerable proportion Of hei
snlf. and Le(,rc