Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-11-06

Sity dS Tic Udtlcty 10 HlOlC I'm P'~sS -
fective. In the water taken into the CIR
cnlation of plarts by the agency OF this
electric current, is conveyed the materials I
that go to their formation or psrfection;-
and however powerful the battery, howev-
err active the electric current, the plant
can be benefited no further than the ma
terials suited to the purposes or wants OF
the plant, is provided.
That a very small quantity Of lime in
soils otherwise properly constituted Is
sufficient for all the purposes OF vegeta-
ton, or the production of the best OF
wheat, no one can question, who has paid
attention TO the analysis of soils or perus-
ed the agricultural sections of the Geo
logical Reports that have been made to
the public. Of these, we consider Pro-
lessor Hitchcock's the most full and valu
able; the parts of DIR. Jackson's report,
and those of the survey OF this State, be-
ing thus far nothing more than incidental
notices relating to this topic. Examina--
ton, chemically, of some oil the most fer
tile virgin soils of the western States,
shows but small portion Of carbonate of
lime; only from to per cent The
quantity of vegetable or soluble matter
suitable for the food Of plants. was, how
ever, great; and with this small quantity
of lime, gave exuberant crops.
Some of the soils analysed both by
Professor Hitchcock and Dr. Jackson,
contained not trace, or but the merest
trace, of carbonate of lime. But where
it did not exist as carbonate, it was
found as phosphate, or In some other of
its many combinations. Thus, among
the numerous instances of ana ysis given
by DR.. J., we may mention the farm at
Wilton, of which the analysis gives of
lime 18th; and of soluble vegetable mat
ter 100: and this land produced As bush
els Of wheat to the acre.
Some writers seem to suppose that a
soil cannot be exhausted of its calcareous
matter by cultivation. AS vegetables con-
tain considerable quantities of phosphate
and sulphate of lime, it appears reasona-
bic to us to suppose, unless all the yegeta-
bic matter taken from the soil is returned
to it again, that exhaustion will eventual
v ensue; and we think experience proves
that such is the case with lime as we'll as
with the vegetable matters of the soil. =
Soils based on limestone do not always
contain the greatest quantity of lime IN
their composition; but such are rarely
exhausted of their lime, the gradual de-
compositisn furnishing the adequate sup
ply; while soils not so based, though con-
tanning at first more of the carbonate, be.
come more speedily exhausted, and re-
quire applications of this manure much
earlier In several instances we have
found soils formed from the decomposition
of the shale lying Immediately above the
great limestone formations Of western
4 New Y ork, to contain as much lime as
those based on the limestone itself The
: experience of every. farmer in that dis
trict, however, is conclusive of the fact
that the first is the soil that soonest re-
quires the application Of lime to render il
fertile.
: We are convinced tina. soil that is
called dry, or which is SO constituted as
retain no stagnant waters, will be fertile
and produce good crops of wheat, with
much less lime, provided other manure;
are equally present, than soils with ar
SuUStIdLuliI, duui COuSSduCHI
", wet and cold. Limestone soils ar
dry, because the assures of the rock al
Y low all superfuous water to pass off; the,
5 are warm because the heat is not carries
! off by evaporation; and they are fertile
1 because lime is always present to orig Ia
$ ate and keep the active powers of vegeta
II bic life. We have come to the concl u
sion that no soil can be good for farmin:
= in which lime, in some one Of lis forms
does not exist. We consider it indspens
5 able; as, without it, we have no proof tina
s those electric currents on which vegeta
~ BILE growth and nutrition SO much de
!, pend, would exist without it. To sur
IL pose that the application of lime alon
: will keep up or ensure fertility, is as at
t surd rs to suppose that sand or clay alon
= could do it. Even pure vegetable m;
d. nure cannot support plant; the pcope
m mixture aud combination of the eartt
IT. and the food of plants, is necessary; ar
e. the great end of agricultural chemistr
o. and the aim of the scientific and practic
on farmer is, to ascertain the nature of thes
n; combinations, and the power of adaptr
as them with certainty.-Gc nesee Farmer.
IS,