Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1843-05-31
aGRRCIULTURAL.
! Ep,rp tha eharlesica lsrsreHyp.

MQrl.--Nr. Editor s--l Hoiiceu 10 your
napcr OF the 18th, letter from Mr. Ruff.
fin, ia relation 10 the composition Of our
rnarls. the utility Of which rs manure is no
longer a adispuied point. From your, &c.
cus,on,ed readinessio make public what,
ever may be Of advantage to the planter,
I beg leave 10 Offer a remark or Two on
this subject now exciting so great interest
throughout The lower part Of our Slate. il
anpears TO be the opiuion OF some. that
roo much cn,husinsn is eviuced by the
planters generally upon tho subject OF
rnayiing. Now whether they are en,busi.
as,ic or NOT upon this subject. it is time
that something should be done TO restore
ons locg neglected lands, ,ba, have been
looked 10 from year 10 year, 10 yield
cror Of whatever substance might be eplap-
ted, forgelfui entirely that certain inerc-
dients of The soil are consumed by the
growth Of ,hc plant. .
Esyery one il aware, that all plants, IL
husn,, furnish a larger or smaller quantity
OF ashes, which originally existed 10 the
spil; now unless The plan, can be furnish
ed with all the Ingredients Of this ash, os
ia other words unless the soil contains
them all. II isnot 10 be expected that thc
piant mill arrive 10 maturity I; il may grow
70 In fuil size, be furnished with lis proper
quantity OF leaves. but sill lack its fruit,
from the simple fac, that some ingredient
required by The fruit, is either FOL 10 be
found in the soil or If 50 only III very
minute quantity. This fact must strike
every one who has observed the growth
OF our corn. for in one place there will be
found healthy looking stalks, with lir,ie or
no grain, while 10 another place s'alss not
booking so heaI,hy hear twc or three times
the quantity Of grain. >,
or all the eources that plan, looks 10
for It's development, there is bus one under
our control; Ills beyond our power To
modify climate, influence Inc light nnd
hear OF the sun, or aller.iae composition.
OF the atmosphere. bp, cesiaialy we eau
modify The nature and composition OF soils,
bs what are called mauaret, aud as matl
holds q high rank among them il tcertainly
should be rssd for this purpose, by those
within whose reach il is placed. ~.
How mari improves The soil is ret per-
gcctiy understood. Independent OF what
ever stimulating effects it may have, i,
will certainiy restore TO the soil Lime, 40
exceedingly important ingredient 10 the
growth Of aIrnoss all plants, particularly as
II ruay substitute 10 largo extent: the
Potasi, OF plants, and for uu.ht we. snow
be able TO feplacn i, entirely. Another.
function that the carbonate Of lime in the
mari may perform, is, that, os il combines
readily viii, the carbonic acid OF the rain,
II can serve as convenient means 10 con-
yey 10 ,he plant that portion Of tho carbo.
nic acid which passes 10 by the roofs.
have two facts connected with mari To
mention, wbich believe have never been
uo,iee,l before. The frs, is that maris
contain Ammonia. a valuable and indis-
pcasabh Ingredients for plants. In every
specimen examined, IL was found present,
aaG in aeompact, specimen containing a-
muck as 80 per cent. Of Carbonate of
Lime, il was found TO exist in much lar
ger quantity than in one containing less
Iir1e. II is well known that The .Alumnia
or Soils possesses the propriety of absorb.
ins amuIcnia 10 greater or iess cxien:,
bui fog alany reasons tha! would mol be in
place 10 mention here. i am glad 60 be-
iieve thai |, is NOT owing simple 10 the pre-
sencc of Alumnia thai the mar!s are 10.
dsb,ed fsf their ammonia.
There may bs some practical advantage
derived IRON the fac, where VIC have the
choice ol' a 5larl, among several, as that
containing the largest quantity OF Ammo
mia, is perhaps ,se one 10 be preferred
There being little or GO difference between
!, and the others as sresPsc,s,he Carbonate
Of Lime.
The sGcond factto which would refar,
is shat ctit Of Is specimens Of Naris en-
amined. all lexeeP, two were fnune 10 con.
tein a small quantity Of Phosphate or
Lime, and 10 itoso two exceptions ], was
no doubt ewing 10 o large quantity of
Alumiua contained in Them. (which is a
greaf o6ataels in tl,o course of examina-
a.or for prosphc,c for Biu,ey that II wos