The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-11-10
TuRNING IN GREEN cR0Ps, &c.

sell has elaborated, from oxygen ano hydro.
gen, carbon aud nitrogen, from whatever
source derived. Il has decomposeL, du.
ring the short period Of its growth, more
slicates and salts than the air only could
cllec, during The same period, which being
turned in, restore 10 the soil from which
they grew, salts and silcates ia new lorui,
whose action on vegetation is like that Of
aIkales. But powerful as are The effects OF
green crops ploughed in, Il is The experience
of some practical men, that one crop allow.
ed to perfect itself, and then die where Il
grew, and then turned in dry, is superior 10
three turned in green. The whole result is
explained by the fact, that dry plants give
more geiue than green. Green plants fer.
ment-dry plants decay. A large PARTON
escapes in fermentation as gas, and more
volatile products are formed than during
decay. Tbe one is a quick consuming fire,
the other slow moulderiDg ember, giving
off during all lis progress, gases which feed
plants aud deconpose the silicaes Of soil.
The power of fertility which exists in tho
silicates Of soil is unlimited. An improved
agriculture, must depend upon the skill With
which this power is brought iulo action. i.
can be done only BY the conjunction Of salts,
GENE and plants. Barren sands are worth.
less; peat bog is little better but pruc.
teal illustration Of the principles which
have been maintained, is afforded by every
sandy knoll made fertile By spreading sDaEp
muck upon il. This 5 eiSIug gene 10 sll.
Gates. The very &c, OF exposure of this
swamp muck, has caused an evolution Of
carbonc acid gas that dccomposes tie s,l
ica.es Of potash IN The sand that potash con.
verts the lnsoluble into soluble manure, aud
10 a crop. Tha. growing crop adds its
power to The GENE. Ii all the long series
Of experiments under Won Noehi, 10 Ger.
many, are TO be believed, corirntd as hey
are by repeated trials by our own agrlcui,u.
rlss il is not 10 be doubted iha, every inch
Of every sund knoll on every farm, may be
changed into a soil u 3 years, ol hull that
number Of inches 10 good mould.
Thatthe cause Of fertility is derived from
the decomposug power Of The gene aud
plants, IS evident from The fact, that nero
atmospheric exposure Of rocks, enlie hes oil
soil lying near aud arouLd them. II hos
been thought among the lnexplrahe nys.
teres, that the soil under an old stone val,
IS richer than that little distance from IT,.
independent Of its rGl!er action, which has
compressed the soil and prevented The asrl.
al escape Of lis gene, consider that the pot.
ash washed out of tho wall has done this,
and the mystery disappears. The agents
TO hasten this natural production OF alSnli,
are salts and gene. he abundance Of
these has already been pointed out in peat
manure. Next 10 this, dry crops ploughed
IN no matter bow scaDty, their volume will
increase, and can supply the place of thai
swamp muck. OF all soils 10 be cultivated,
or to be restored, none are preferable TO tho
sandy, light soils. By their pofousness,
free access is given TO the powerful effects
of air. They are naturally III tha, state 10
which tfenchlng, draining and sub.oil
ploughing are reducing the sitter LANDS Of
England. Manure may as well be thrown
into water as on land underlaid by water.
Dram this aud no matter II the uppef soil be
almost quieksand, manure viii conuri il
into fertile arabic land. The thin covering
u mould, scarcely an inch IN thickness, tho
product of century, may be initiated BY
studying the laws Of It's formation. This is
The work Of !" Natures prentice hand !"
man has long been her journeyman, aud now
guided by science, the farmer becomes tho
moster workman, and may produce in ono
year quite as much as the apprentice mado
10 seven. - From DR.. Dana Muck Manual