The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-08-22
RTEs.fL ECO.VO.HY.
GEOLOGY.


A knowledge Of the geological character
of soils, and the position of the strata from
which they are derived Is Of great conse.
aueuce TO the farmer. By this he can 10 a
great measure determine their capabilities,
their essential elements, and the changes il
is necessary they should undergo in order
TO The greatest fertility. The strata and
the sub. strata, Dad dliuvial deposits, the
course of the currents from which they
we're derived, the mechanical constitution
and condition, with their different degrees
| of porosily or tenaciy, are oil 10 be geolo
gicaIly considered There are, il is well
known, some soils called hungry, or which
absorb all the manures and other subslan
ccs put upon them by the farmer with such
rapldity and so little effect that their cult
walton with profit may be considered as al
mos, hopeless. To The superficial observ.
er such soils do not greatly differ 10 ap
| pearance from another class Of soils y lch
constitute one Of the NOS, valuable and pro-
ductiye. To the geological character of
I tho strata from which these soils are dc
rived this difference is TO be traced. Sill
ceous gravel or sand lrcm rocks loosely ce
mented will, when deposited, osier little
| RESISTANCE 10 fil,ration, and do nc, retain
water sufficient for the ordinary purposes
Of vegetation. When this gravel or sand
| is from strata Of which alumIna is tho prin-
c'r-l cement, the deposit will, while IT re.
'aihs q" 'be necessary friability for easy
WORKING also 10 re,en,lVe OF moisture suf.
tic'entIy for plants, I'D SO. no, be liable to
/ injury from stagnani wafer. Whore The
soil IS derived from clay sha,ss il will be
too retentive and compact, be heavy and
hard to work. and subject to injurr>s from
s,agnant water either on or below the s~,. /,
face.
| There is 20 operation IN the preparation
Of land for tlilago, TO which modern agrI'
culture is more indebted than 10 the sys-
ten Of thorough drainDg that which takes
of not only the surface waters, but those
which coming from below, follow the course
Of the strata, aud render large tracts worth
less and uuproduciivo. No manure can
produce i,s proper effect on soil saturated
with moisture. Lime does 10 good unless
the soil is in dry condition, and 1t produ-
ces the most effect whom laid on IN the
dries, part of the season and every farmer
who uses gypsum, knows that precisely
such is the case with the use Of that inval
liable mineral. The English farmer finds
/ that bone dust is pOwerless on wet soils,
and our own experience abundantly proves,
that barn ward manures are much more
! 1- rf,ny Ira,n fbo
before. But 20 drain land properly and eft
less expenditure Of money aud labor, the
geological condition of the farm or field
must be asceGtained. ]! is not enough 70
ascertain which WHY the water will run
when the drains are dug but the dip and
formation Of the water producing sIru'a
must also be determined. The first may
be don9 by the eye, or by the spirit level
but the last will require examination OF the
| inclination and position of the impervlous
subsoil, and nature Of the springs, by atten,
/ ton TO the position Of the stata, its outcroP,
and by using the augcr freely. From
waut of attention to these things, many
! farmers fail 10 their efforts at draining. and
expend much money most unprof,ably.-
Al ordinary Knowledge Of the principles of
geology, and their application, would pre-
vent this, and ensure all the benefits which
slilful thorough draining is sure 10 give.
Geology, then, is not that useless, bar.
rem science, which many who have paid
little attention TO il, imagine il to be-
There are few OF the natural sciences, less
speculative, or which have more direct,
and important practical bearings. To the
acrlcuIturist, d knowledge Of the facts II
affords, is particularly valuable, leading
him to practical results ID many OF his
operations, of the frs. consequence. II
teaches the origin, mechanical composition
and qualities Of soils, and shows in what re-
spects they may be improved or amended
by the addition Of those essential earths, in
which they are naturally deficient. A
knowledge of the principle of geology, anc
the causes which have operated to produce
the present condition Of the surface of The
: globe, would enable the purchasers OF lane
TO avoid many Of the errors and mis.ake
. into which they frequently fall and enabl'
the farmer 10 procure such soils as arr
suitable for the business he Intends to tol
> low, whether the production of gram, o
the raising of cattle aud sheep; since tn
= fact is indisputable, that the districts in an
i, country are very few, where the soil
: equally apIcd to grain and pasture.
As historical record OF our globe, an
its mutations, geology doss tina, for L
which nothing else can 90, so clearly an
so definitely. II goes back far beyond al
., documents written by the finger of mat
;, and on the imperlshable pages Of the m'et
g tY volume il unfolds to US, IN character
:, traced by the hand Of Almighty power |
" self, we read of times and seasons, an
eras, TO which the assigned limits OF man
residence on this globe, is but as yesteTda!
In studying the characters 80 traced ma
III may err, bu, there can be neither impiet
+ !, nor presumption in endeavor'ng to transla'
ID them, and bring them within the bounds
- human understanding, or rendering Ii
~ truths they teach subservent to utility, an