The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1841-09-01

neither will the latter show the constltu-
ent part If the seed. 1t may. indeed, be
said, that Is the straw aud Leaves are heal
lhv, the grain must b" so also, and there
fore, TO know the conslitinn of the for
mer is enough; and this would be true if
we merely wished TO secure seed capa-
BILE of producing healthy seedlings. But
it is the end Of all art to render nature
subserrient to The wants Of man as the
substances called gluten is that which
forms The most nutritious part of corn, so
it is necessary for the cullivator to pro-
mote the prelernatural formation Of that
principle; and he docs this by increasing
the quantity Of nitrogen in the snil, through
the aid of animal manure, because nitro
gen is an essential element of gluten. On
the other hand, if we could conceive it
| possible that a wheat field should he cut
off from all access tn nitrogen. the forma-
ton Of gluten would be impossible, because
nothing comes of nothing. To know,
i then, the chemical constituents ofa plant
is indispensable.
Having ascertained what matters given
plant naturally contains, the next step is
to determine chemically. the exact nature
of predominant matters found in soil; 9th
erwise, all manuring is blind hazard
Suppose soil to be already rich in phos-
phate Of lime, which is an indispensable
manure for wheat, to add more phosphate
of lime is waste Of materials. On the
other hand, let snil be rich in ammonium,
ak allies, and in carbonaceous matter. but
containing phosphate Of lime in sufficient
quantity to give such soil nitrate of soda
would be merely adding matter of which
there is already an abundance, and with
holding the only principle that The land
realy required. In such case, bone-dust
would have been useful, and nitrate Of soda
wasted. Itis, therefore, evident, that to
determine The chemical constituents Of
soil is sequally indispensable.
But the labor Of the theorist does not
stop here. He must also determine the
chemical nature of the manures he makes
use of; otherwise, he cannot tell what
kind of manure to employ ineach partcu.
lar case. Simple manures, indeed, such
as salt. cubic, nilre, saltpetre, gypsum. and
oven bones, the elementary parts Of which
are uniform and well ancerrained, cause
no difficulty; but as regards compound ma
nures, il is far otherwise. Nothing is
more variable than the chemical compost
tion of well rotied dung, or Of the various
kinds Of peat; and few agriculturists have
any idea Of the real nature Of poudrette,
or even of yeast, malt-dust, SCOT, greases,
and rape.dust. Suppose for instance, that
the black soil Of the marke.-gardens near
this city, already bounding in carbonace-
Gus matter, were manured with some sub.
stance consisting of little else; il is clear
that no effect could be produced: but if it
receives aIkaies and ammonia in proper
state, such a manure will supply what is
really deficient.
We must have very unskillfullyexplain-
ed our meaning, ifilis MOI NANTES, to eve
ry one, that a knowledge of the exact
chemical nature "( manure is as indispen.
sable as that Of plants or Of soil.
He, then, who would apply manure in
a manner theoretically correct, must as.
certain with accuracy the chemical consli-
turnts, 1st, Of the plant to be manured;
2h, of the soil in ohich it'grows; and Sd,
Of the manures that can be applied.
That this object is of the first impor.
lance, cannot be doubted; but how is it
to be obtained! Chemical analysis can
only be we'll performed by very skilrul
chemists, and they are expensive. Indi-
'iduas in this country can hardly be ex-
pected to incur The labor and cost of such !
inquiries, even if convinced of their i'm.
PoFt"nce' and possessing the skill to con.
duct them.
The investigation must be special la
Dor, undertaken for the general welfare.
al the expense of public bodies.
The united efforts of those interested
in the promotion Of scientific agriculture,
would quickly produce an accumulation Of
positive data, which. by converting manu-
ring into branch Of science, and establish.
ing it upon solid foundation, would be
gift of the greatest value 10 The rural popu-
lation OF the whole world.
DOMESTIC ECONOMY.
N InnE m m III