Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-10-19
ss.ssszzss1,vzzIz,-,,srzr.rn,--,r,-,.x ,,.,s.
SPEED THE PLouGHp
LEACHED ASHES AS A MANURE

! ~ appears 10 us that the attention of far
ners Can scarcely lie called toe often 10 tn,
SUBJECT of manures, or their varieties ane
modes OF action too fully discussed or Illus
lraied- Constituting as they Go his wealth
and furnishing the only means Of raising
good crops. or renovating impoverished soils
every substance that can enhance and perpel-
| uate The fertility Of his lands should be care
| fully tried by him, and its value estimated
| accordingly.
In The western part OF this state, and in all
new countries, such is the fertility of the
soil, and The abundance of native salts and
vegetable matter furnished during long
course OF growth and decay that the first Sc
ries OF cultivation find little use for The ma
nures and the eXpedients for amelioratlng The
suil, which are so necessary in the older Gull
iiyated countries Hence materials, which
are considered invaluable for these purposes
IN the states, on the seabuafh, or in Europe
an countries, are In cur new settlements con-
sidered nuisance, and wasted in immense
quantities The gradual decrease which has
taken place in the annual production OF " heat
per acre for several years, on most Of our old
farms, shows, we think, that the native ener>
gies OF the soil, ere weakened, and that the
course adopted for improving soils in other
places must be Tesored 10 Ivy us.
One OF the most prominent articles used
as manure in older settled countries, and
sought after with avidi,y that showsiIs value
IN ameiioratiGg the soil is ieached ashes
substance which as yet has scarcely created
d tho't among us, except il vas TO devise some
easy method OF disposing of the quantities 90
rapidly accumuiatIng around our leeohtubs
and asheries. Millions of bushels W e might
almost say loads of this valuable material
are annually wasted hen The time has arri>
we'd, as we think, than il could most proiita-
bly, be used upon our farms.
There is scarcely & process, in farming,
or an article used for substantially imprev ing
the land, for which more decisive testimony
can he found, than can lie adduCed in favor
oil leached ashes as manure. Under the
head al Stimulating Manures,' Chaptal, in
his celebrated werk on Agriculture, max es
these remarks: "The ashes produced by
the combustion OF weed in our common do
nestIc fires gives rise 10 some very remark
able results. Without being Ieached these
ashes are much too active bu, after having
been deprived by The action Of water OF ear
iy all their salts, and employed in this state
under the name OF buch, ashes, they still pro
duce great effect. The action Of the buck
ashes is most powerful upon moist lands and
meadows, which not only facilitate the growth
OF useful plants, but If employed for several
years they will iiee The soil from weeds By
The use Of them, land constantly drenci,sd
With water may he freed from rushcs. and
prepared for yielding clover and other plsn,s
OF good kinds. Wood ashes possess the dou-
| BILE property of amending wet and cha. ey
soil, by dividing and drying it, and Of pro-
noting vegetation 10y The salts they contain. -
Cenesee Farmer.